Lumbardes also that were of the parte of kinge Charlemayne So medled theym selfe the one party amōge the other And ther was moche harde and horryble assēble For there were slayne many mighty and worthy knightes of bothe sides and Richarde of Normandye shewed wel there his great prowesse and worthines For he wente and smote a knight that Gerarde of Roussillon loued moche by suche a strength that he ouerthrewe hym dead from his horse to the erth afore the sayd Gerarde Whiche than sayd Now am I wel sory and wrothe for hym that now is dead that I loued so sore certes I shal neuer haue Ioy at my hert but that I be auenged therof shortlye Than tooke Gerarde of Roussillon his baner in his fist But hys brother Nantuell came anon to hym and sayd brother I coūsell you that ye tourne agayne For here cometh Charlemayne wyth hys folk and well I tell you that yf wee abyde hym the losse shall tourne vppon vs. And whyle they were speakynge thus Walleran of Bollon smote the neuew of Gerarde of Roussillon so that he foyned at hym with his swerde through the body of hym fell downe dead to the earth Than trowed Gerarde to haue gone out of his wytte and sente anon for the duke Benes his brother that he should come soone to succoure him and he dyd so as pren and valyaunt that he was And of the other syde assembled there the kynge and hys folke ¶ So shal you now hear of a thing meruaylous of so greate a nobles the at the same feeld were cruelly slayn This was in the moneth of Maye vpon a mornynge that kyng Charlemayne did assemble his folke with the folke of the duke of Aygremoūte and of his bretherne To the whych assemble ye should haue sene manye fayre harnayses shynynge for the Sunne that fayre and cleare was the day the whyche assemble was wunderfull stronge For there were so many feete and heades smytten of so many good horses slayne and the other ranne thorough the medowes wherof the maysters lay dead vpon the grasse And wyt it for trouthe that there were dead that same day of the one syde and of the other more than xl thousand men A God what slaughter there was muche great nobles dead The duke Benes sore angred went and smote syr Walter Lorde of Pierrele in his shielde so that hys spere went through the body of hym and fell downe dead afore hym Than cryed he with an hye voyce his baner Aygremounte GReat was the preas and the batayle fyers and meruaylous And there shewed Rychard of Normandy much worthili his great hardynes For he Iusted agaynst the duke of Aygremoūt so that he perced hys sheelde and dyd hurt hym right sore and sayd to him by God ye shall not thys daye escape death It was an euyll daye for you whan ye dyd slea my Lorde Lohier with that he did draw out his swerde and smote the duke agayne vpō his helme in such a wise that if it had not ben a coyfe of steele that made his stroke to slide the said Benes had be dead the houre And the stroke fell downe vpon the horse cut the horse in two as though it had be nothing And thus fell the horse dead vnder hys mayster Thā was the Duke Benes sore abasshed whan he thus foūd him self a groūd But he stoode vpon his feete redely as he that was preu and valyaunte holdyng his swerde in his hande went and smote a knight named sir Symon so that he kylled hym sterke dead in the place And than he called wyth an highe voyce Aygremount his baner Than came to hym hys two bretherne the Duke of Roussillon and of Nantuell and of the side of kinge Charlemayne came Ogyer Naymes Wallerā of Bollon Huō lorde of Mauns the Erle Salamon Leon of Frise the archebisshop Turpyn and Escoufe the sonne of Oedō And than should ye haue sene there at that assemble muche great meruayllous noblesse of knyghtes that lay dead vpon the erth the one vpon the other that it was a pyteous syght for to beholde TO this inhumayne occysion was come thēperour Charlemayne cryinge barons if they escape vs we shall neuer haue honoure and than he bare vp his spere to the rest and went and smote into the sheelde of Gerarde of Roussyllon so that he ouerthrew both horse and man to the ground and there had be his last daye yf it had not ben the Duke Benes and Dron his brethern that muche worthely and wyth great dylygēce succoured hym Of that other party came Ogyer the Dane vpon hys good horse Broyforte that smote a knyght of the folke of Gerard duke of Roussyllon called Syr Foulquer so that he cloue him to the teeth and fell downe dead vnto the erth And whan Gerarde of Roussyllon sawe thus hys knyght slayne he called to god to our lady saying Well haue I thys daye lost my fayre and good knight And the duke of Aygremoūt was sore abasshed and prayed God also full pyteously that it wolde please hym to kepe hym from death and from fallynge in to the handes of Charlemayne Nyghe was the sonne vnder and it was well aboute cōplyn tyme the fyghters of the one parte of the other were voery sore chauffed And so wythdrewe the thre bretherne abacke vnto theyr Tentes with moche wrathe and in especyal Gerarde of Roussyllon that had lost that day Aymanoy his cosyn and a hundred other of the best Knyghtes of his company And he sayd in this wyse An euyll houre it was whan the sonne of Charlemain was slain Than came to hym the duke Benes of Aygremoūt bledyng as he that was horriblie wounded And whan Gerarde saw hym he began to sygh tēderly sayinge Fayre brother are ye woūded to death Nay sayd he I shal soone be whole Than swore Gerarde the duke of Roussyllon that to morow at the sonne rising He should begyn agayn the batayle against king Charlemayne and hys folke wherfore thyrty thousande shal lose their lyues Alas for god nay sayd his brother the Duke Nantuell But yf ye wyll doo my counsell we shall sende xxx of the wysest knightes that wee haue vnto kynge Charlemayne and by our sayd knyghtes we shall doo hym to wyt and shew hūbli that he haue pitie and mercy of vs and that the Duke Benes our brother shall amende hym the death of hys sonne Lohier euen so as it shal be aduysed by the prynces barons of hys felawshyp and of ours ye know wel all redy that we ben hys lyege men that for to warre agaynst hym we doo cruel falshed yet more it is that yf he had loste all his folke that he hath here with him or euer that it were a moneth passed he should haue recouered twyse as many so may we nothing doo agaynst hym And therfore may we nothyng doo against him therfore I pray you my brethern that ye wyll doo thus
fayre castell sore stronge And whan the kynge vnderstoode these tydinges he sent worde incontinente to all his folke of armes that they should make ready themself the whiche dyd so without delaye ☞ How after that kyng Charlemaine hadde made the duke Aymon to forsake his sonnes he went and besyeged theym at Mountaynforde where he was discomfited two tymes But the castell of Mountaynforde was taken by treason And howe Reynawde and his bretherne auenged themselfe of the traytoures that had betrayed theym and howe they saued them selfe after that with in the forest of Ardeyne where theyr father found theym as he went from the siege towarde hys countrey and howe for to keep his othe that he had made to kinge Charlemaine he dyd assayle to his sonnes so that of .v. hundred men that they were abode a liue with his sonnes but .xvii. persones but Reynawde and his brethern had no hurt of their bodies howe be it that they slewe manye of theyr fathers men Capitulum .iii. NOwe sayth the hystorye that sith the time of the kinge Alexander was none suche hearde as this same therfore faire lordes please you heare and vnderstande how it befell of the foure sonnes of Aymon that were enmyes of the emperoure Charlemayne kynge of fraunce for the same time king Charlemain had banyshed them oure of the realme of fraunce made all his barons bothe yonge olde to seeke after them and also made thē swere that they should neuer helpe ne confort theym by no maner of wise And the same oth had made with many other the olde duke Aimon theyr father as ye haue heard afore wherof he was full sory afterwarde It happed than that the kyng Charlemayne helde a greate courte in Parys And as this courte was assembled where all the barons of fraunce were togyther a messenger came there before the kynge Charlemayne kneeled afore him and sayd Syr I brynge you tydynges of that ye dyd sende me for wyt syr that I cam frō the great forest of Ardeyne where I haue founde the foure sonnes of Aimon that dwell there with in a stronge castell well sette vpon a roche and if ye wyll fynde theym and be auenged of them wyt that ye maye well ynough doo so as I byleue for certayne Whā Charlemayne vnderstood this messenger he began to meruayle hymselfe sore and called hys barons and sayd to them Fayre lordes whan it is so that ye be heere it apperteyneth not that I shoulde sende for you at your places So I pray you and require as to my lyege men that ye help me to be auenged of the four sōnes of Aimō that so great domage haue doon to me as ye know well WHan the barons vnderstoode the prayer that the emperoure Charlemaine made to them they answered withone voice Sir we shal doo your commaūdement without doubt gyue vs leaue if it please you that we may goe to our coūtries for to make vs ready to harueys and of horses the which thing the king graunted them And so departed al the barōs fro the court and went in to theyr countreys the which abode not long that they came agayne to Parys all a rayed and ready for to warre with their army And whan the kynge Charlemayne sawe them he receyued them gladly and in continent without anye taryinge he departed out of Parys went with al his hoste to Mountiyon a towne of his and there he laye that nyght And at the morowe as soone as the daye appered the kinge Charlemaine departed from Mountlyon and went on his wai with his hoste ordeined the foreward to the erle Guy of moūtpeller that wolde much great harme to Reynawd whan they had set thē selfe in the way the emperour Charlemaine called to him his good vasseylles Renyer Guyon of aubeford the erle Garner Gefray Langon Ogier the dane Rycharde of Normandy the duke Naymes of bauiere and saide vnto them all Lordes ye knowe well what ye haue to doo I praye you that ye keep well your selfe from Reynawde and goe not to nyghe but abyde all togither in such a stronge place that we may haue no domage and let good watche be made euery night for my hearte geueth me that we shal dwell there longe THan saide the duke Naimes of bauyere Sir we shall doo so Than made they the trompettes to be blowen all the hoste they made to come togyther And thus they rode so muche that they came to Mileyne otherwise called Aspes whā they were come there they sawe the castell of Mountaynforde that Reinawde his bretherne their cosyn Mawgis had doo make euen at that houre that kinge Charlemayne and his hoste were com to Aspes the three bretherne of Reynawd were coming fro the chase oute of the wood of Ardeyn and Richard the yongest bare a right riche horne bothe fayre good the which Reinawd loued full deare And in their felawshyp myght well be .xx. knightes and no mo And as they returned to Mountainforde Richarde beheld and sawe ouer the Ryuer of Muse thoste of the king Charlemayn wherof he began to be sore merueylled called Guycharde his brother said to hym Fayre brother what folke maye be they that I see yonder I heard say the other day of a messenger that tolde it oure brother Reynawd that the emperoure came for to besyege vs within our castell ANd after whan Guycharde vnderstoode his brother he behelde ouer the ryuer sawe the forewarde that Guyon conduyted and whan Guychard sawe them he smot hys horse with his spurres he his folke went ayenst Guyon sayde to hym Fayre syr what are these folke syr sayde Guyon these been the folke of the emperoure Charlemaine that goeth to Ardeyn for to besyege a castell that the foure sonnes of Aymon haue doo make there for theyr strengthe they trauayle vs much god gyue them euyll rest Certes said Guycharde I am a souldier with Reynawde con you nother thanke nor grace of that that ye saye for I am holden to defend them at my power with this he spurred his horse and smote the said Guion throughe hys sheelde so harde that he ouerthrewe hym deade to the grounde and than he tooke the horse of the sayde Guion and tooke him to one of his squyers and assembled al the knightes togyther of one parte of the other they of Fraunce cried Mounridye saynte Denys the bretherne of Reinawd cried mountaynforde Than shoulde ye haue seen a fell batayle and ryght cruel the one aienst the other sheeldes broken and helmes broken som dead and som sore wounded so muche that it was great pitre to see What shall I tell you more al the folke of Guyō that made the forewarde were there slayne This hangyng came a squiet to the king shewed him howe hys foreward was vtterly dystroyed that Guycharde the brother of Reynawd had slayne the earle Guyon O God saide than the emperoure Charlemaine
and the kyng Yon he knewe them well And incontynente he salued the kyng and sayde to him Syr god geue you good lyfe and longe And the kynge rendred to hym his salute and after sayde to him Of whence be you syr sayde Ogyer We been of the sweet Fraunce And also we be sente vnto you And we are of Charlemaynes folke now heare vs if it please you Syr said the kyng ye be ryght welcome Nowe tell on what ye wyll saye Syr sayd Ogyer Themperour Charlemayne sendeth to you worde by vs that ye yelde agayne vnto hym his enemyes the whiche ye haue withdrawen into youre landes and ye sende to hym an hundrede of your men for to conduyte and brynge theym wyth hym vnto Fraunce And yf ye refuse to doo this We by his commaundement defye you of his be halfe And within these iii. monethes he shall be in Gascoigne and shall take all your landes and shall be syege you with in the citie of Bordews And yf he take you he shal punyshe you in your body Now haue we sayde our message and yf it please you ye shall gyue vs an answere OGyer sayde the kynge it is well trouthe that I haue reteyned the foure sonnes of Aymon whyche bene worthye knyghtes and so haue I reteyned theym because they bene prue and valiaunt in armes and also that they haue holpeÌ„ and socoured me at my great need For I was disherited and vndoone for euer if they had not bene And for the greate good that they haue done to me I haue gyuen my syster Germayne to Reynawde for his wyfe And therefore I should be to cruell and eke well mischaunt if I should now take them into the handes of their enemyes mortall sith that they haue doone to me so good seruyse I haue leuer to be disheryted and dye an euyll death than to yelde them or suffre that they haue anye harme nor shame to my power For namely the kynge Charlemayne should than holde me for a foole wel nyce And therfore Ogyer yf it please you ye shall tell the Emperoure from my behalfe that I shall for sake fyrst all my londe and my realme than I should delyuer them in his handes And thys is my answere THan whan the king had sayd thus Reynawde spake after and sayde Ogier I meruayll greatly of the kynge Charlemaine that will not leaue vs in peace He cast vs out of Fraunce poore disherited wherof I am ashamed as ye knowe I wolde be reformed with reason to the sayenge of his barons but it pleaseth him not And so he casted vs out of Mountainforde shamefully so that we wist not where we shoulde goe And yet it suffyseth hym not but he wyll caste vs out of the londe of Gascoigne wherof he dooth great synne For yet am I redy for to doo his wyll in reason ryght And I tell you well that yf he refuse this by his pryde I wyll well that he know that I and mi bretherne are not suche that shall be taken as lyghtly as he weeneth And I promyse you that or euer he hath vs I shall make hym more than .x. tymes angrie and wroth For this that he dothe he dothe it but of pryde Ogyer I wyll well that kynge Charlmayne knowe that the king yon of Gascoigne hath gyuen to vs leue to builde a Castel that hath to name Mountawban the whiche is strong and imprenable yet I haue knyghtes with me that shall not fayle me at my need and tell to kinge Charlemaine that sith I cannot haue no peace nor accorde with hiÌ„ that I shal doo to hym all the doÌ„mage and harme that shal be to me possyble for to doo REinawde said Ogier ye speake not wysely weene ye to abashe vs with wordes ye shal not so but whaÌ„ ye shall see the Hoste and the great power of Charlemayne to gether ye shal be sore abashed and at the ende ye shall be full wrothe and sorye ye knowe well that the Emperour Charlemayne made you knight and ye slewe his Neuewe Berthelot and therfore think not to finde peace toward him and ye weene to be assured bycause the kyng yon hath made you to close a Castell but well I wil that he knowe that he shall repente for it full sore For afore two monethes be past we shal be in the middes of his lande and shall destroy all his Realme and we shall brenne bothe Castelles and townes Ogier saide Reynawde I swere to you vpon my fayth that whan king Charlemaine shal be with his hoste in to this land he shall wisshe hym selfe soone againe in FrauÌ„ce with his folke And whan he shall see the hard Iustyng and sharpe warre that I and my brethren shal make against him he and ye shal be sore abasshed of it and some of you speaketh nowe hye that whan the deed shall come to profe he shall be full lowe Reynawde sayde than Ogyer I wyll hyde nothinge from you The kyng Charlemayne hathe so great a power and is delibered for to besiege Bordews and if he maye take you he shall punysshe you cruellye nowe doo as ye will I haue tolde you al my message and I goo againe to kyng Charlemayne Whan he had sayde these wordes he returned toward king Charlemaine and shewed vnto hym what kinge you and Reynawde had saide And whan the king vnderstoode the same he shooke all for anger saide now shall it be seen how king yon and Reinawde shal defende Gascoigne against me than went forth Charlemaine and passed the ryuer of Gyronde rode so longe that he came to Parys and the daye after he called al his barons that thei should come to him And whan thei were all come the kynge helde hys counsell and saide to them Lordes I haue sent for you to tell you the great shame that the kinge yon of Gascoigne doth to me For he holdeth the foure sonnes of Aymon my mortall enemies in dispiâ—e of me ye knowe what domage they haue doone to me For they slewe my neuew Bertheloâ— I dyd banisshe them out of Faunce than made thei the castell of Mountaynforde within my land and I chased them out of it Nowe been they in Gascoigne wyth the kynge Yon that saith he shal defend them against me and he hathe geuen his Sister to Reynawde wherefore I praye you all that ye wyll helpe me that I be auenged ANd whaÌ„ Charlemaine had said this there was none of the barons that answered to him any worde for they were werye of the warre that they had made so long against Reynawde And Charlemaine sawe that no bodye anwered to him no thing he called to him the Duke Naimes and Ogier the Dane and the Erle Guydellon and saide to them Lordes what counsell doo you geue gyue to me in this matter Syr sayde the Duke Naymes yf ye wyll beleue me I shall gyue you good counseyl Suffre youre hoste to reste thys fyue yeres bycause that your folke is
saue him but cleued hym to the teeth What shall I tell you more Nowe wit it that at that time Renawde slewe wyth his owne haÌ„des foure earles thre dukes and sixe knightes and after he begaÌ„ to crye Mountawban with a hye voice And after his crye he went smote Roberte the lorde of Dygeon that was sonne to the duke of Burgoine so that the head with the helme he made it lepe to the grounde after he slewe a nother sterke dead that came to rescue the said lorde ANd whan Rainawde hadde doone this noble prowesse he behelde about him and trowed to haue seen his brethren than but he saw none of them wherof he was sore abasshed O god sayd he where are my brethren gone nowe be they well ferre from me we shall neuer come togither again And than came there Alarde that in likewyse had wonne a horse the sheeld and the spere for he had slaine a knight and had taken his hors but he was sore hurte Neuerthelesse he came held side with his brother and Rycharde and Guycharde came soone at the other side Than Alarde saide to Reinawde Brother be al sure that we shall neuer faile you to the deth And whan the foure brethreÌ„ were assembled togither againe they began to make so great distruccion of frenshemen that none durste abyde theym For all they that they hytte scaped not the death whan the frenshemen sawe this they were meruailled and said the one to the other By my soule this passeth all other wunder I trow that they ben no knightes but that they beÌ„ deuils now let vs make to theÌ„a sawte both behinde and before for if they liue long they shall do vs greate hurte And whan they were hereto accorded they ranne all vpon the foure sonnes of Aymon so harde that they parted them woulde they or not But Reynawde passed throughe them al and broughte himselfe out of the prese and Alarde after hym And Rycharde retourned fleeing toward the roche MountbroÌ„ and Guychard abode there on fooâ—e for the frenshemen had slayne hys mule vnder him and had wounded him with two speres well deep into the flesh and was taken for prysoner and they bounde him bothe hande and foote and layed him vpon a litel hors ouerthwarte like as a sacke of corne so wounded as he was and I promyse you men might wel folowe him by the trase bicause of the bloud that came oute of his bodye and so leed him so shamefullye as that it may had be a theef and went all betynge vpon hym saying to hym that they led hym to Charlemayne the which should make him to be haÌ„ged for to auenge the death of his deere neuew Berthelot that he loued so muche the whyche Reynawde slewe so shamefully playinge at the Chesse ANd whan Reynawde saw that hys enemyes led his brother Guycharde so shamefully he wexed almoste madde for angre and called his brother Alarde to him and said Fayre brother what shal we doo see how shamefully they fare with our brother Guycharde yf we suffre theÌ„ to brynge hym forth of this facyon we shall neuer haue worshyp in our dayes Brother sayd Alarde I wote not what we maye best doo for to abyde or for to goe to them For I tel you that we be no mo but two and they be so great nombre of folke that wee can doo nothing agaynst them O god sayd Reynawde what shall I doo if the king Charlemaine make my brother to be hanged I shall neuer be at my hertes case nor I shall neuer come to no courte but men shal poynte me with the fynger and shall saye see yonder is the sonne of Aymon that let his brother to be haÌ„ged to the pyn tree of MouÌ„tfaucon he durst not succour hym Certes sayd Reynawde to Alarde brother I had leuer dy fyrst but if I should rescue our brother fro death Brother sayd Alarde now set your selfe afore I shal folow you after my power I wyl helpe you to rescue hym And whan Reynawde heard that he cast his sheeld behinde him and habandonned his body all boldely as a Lyon and cared not how the game should go for ye saw neuer wood men hew in a forest nor make so great noyse as Reynawde made with his swerde amonge his enemyes for he cutted hewed legges and armes by suche wyse that no man should beleue it but they that see it Thus made Reynawde at that time that the FrenchemeÌ„ must needes make him way to passe whether thei wolde or no. And mani made hym way for the loue of Oâ—ier for they knewe well that the foure sonnes of Aymon were his cosyns And whan Reynawde was passed he sayd to them that led his brother Guycharde Let goe the knyghte ye yll folkes for ye be not worthye to touche hym and whan they that led Guycharde sawe come Reynawde they were sore afrayed that they put them selfe to flight left Guycharde free and sayde the one to the other here cometh the ende of the worlde And whaÌ„ Reynawde saw that they fled the sayd to Alarde Goe ye fayre brother and vnbinde Guicharde our brother and set him vpon this horse and gyue him a spere in his hande come after me for the traytours ben dyscomfyted Brother sayd Alarde I shall goe where it please you but I tell you yf we parte one from the other we shall neuer come together agayne seyng that we be so few so yll armed but let vs keep together helpe th one thother Brother sayde Reynawde ye say well wisely and we shal doo it And than they wente bothe together to Guycharde vnbounde hym and made him mounte on horsebacke the sheelde at the necke and the spere in the hande Now goe there the three brethern together and the fourth fighteth agaynst a greate nombre of folke that was the valyaunt Richarde that was the moste worthy of all after hys brother Reinawde But men had slaine his mule vnder hym and was wounded ryght sore But he had slayne fiue erles and well .xiiii. knyghtes wherof he was so sore trauayled and so wery that he might not all moste defeÌ„de himselfe no more but went rounde aboute the roche And than came gerarde of valcome that was cosyn to Foulques of Moryllon the whyche he had founde dead wherof he made great sorowe sayd Ha gentyl knight it is great domage of your deth Certes he that hath brought you to this death he is not my freend Now shal I auenge me if I maye than he came to the roche And whan he saw Reynawde in so great greefe he spurred his horse with his spurres bare his spere alowe smote Rycharde through the mantell of scarlet that he wrapped aboute his lifte arme so harde that the spere entred ferre in his bodye so muche that he brought hym to the erth and as he drewe hys spere agayne the guttes of Richarde came out of the body into his
into Gascoyne the death of my father the duke benes of Aigremount for I shal giue to you such a stroke that ye shal neuer make warre to vs nor to none other And with this he bare vp his speare for to haue shoued it through the brest of charlemayn but charlemaiÌ„ abode not the stroke but he turned himselfe aside the spere entred into the bed of the king wel two foote whan charlemayn saw this he was aferde he begaÌ„ to cry mouÌ„ioye saynt denis than he said Ha fayre neuew RowlaÌ„d where are ye now Whan Mawgis heard call Rowlande he looked about him and saw not Reynawde nor his brethern for they had put themself to the way to retourne home agayne OVer longe taried Mawgis in the hoste of Charlemayne for Reynawde was all redy passed ouer Balancon and Rowland Oliuer were all redy come to the callinge of Charlemayne sore afrayed whan Mawgis sawe them he made no lenger taryinge but gaue the spurres to his horse went after Reynawde as fast as his horse myght runne And whan he wolde haue passed balaÌ„con he met wyth a great company of the folke of Charlemayne and Mawgis smote one of them so hard in the sheeld that he ouerthrew both horse man to the erth And after that he smote the sonne of Mylen of Puyll so that he cleued his sheelde a sonder cast him downe to the grounde with a wounde mortaâ—l than he cryed MouÌ„tawban sayd Ha fayre cosin Reynawde where be you succour me for god for if ye lose me ye shal haue harme therat And than Mawgys thought well that Reynawde was gone this hangynge came Olyuer throughe the prese and came vpon Mawgis smote him so harde that it abode not nother for sheelde nor for courset of steele but he made hym a wounde in his breste and caste hym downe to the erth WHan Mawgis felt hymselfe thus hurt and ouerthrowen he was ryght wrothe for it So rose he vp quickly vpon his feete tooke hys swearde in his hande did meruayles of armes and the nyght was very darke that almoste the one knew not the other And whan Oliuer saw Mawgys defende hymself so well he sayde to him I knowe not thee knight whom thou art but and thou yeeld not thy selfe to me I shall now smyte of thy head from the shoulders what is thy name sayd than Mawgys for and thou be a good man I shall yeelde me to thee and els not knight my name is Oliuer of Vien whan Mawgys heard him named he knew him well and sayd to hym Ha gentyll knight Oliuer I yeelde me to you vpon your fayth vnder suche a condycion that ye shall not delyuer me to Charlemayn for if ye delyuer me in his handes I am dead wythout remedy he shall make me dye shamefully as a theefe By my fayth sayd Olyuer this wyll I not doo for I dare not hyde you from Charlemayne but yeelde you and I promise you that I shal help you to my power for to make your apoyntmeÌ„t with the king sir sayd Mawgys I yeeld me to you vpon your trouth and tooke his swerde to hym Olyuer tooke it after made hym to be lighted vpoÌ„ a litle horse brought him to the pauilion of Charlemaine where they fouÌ„d not the kyng bycause he was al afrayed as ye heard afore And whan Oliuer saw that he fouÌ„d not Charlemaine he was sore aferd the Mawgys should scape from hym through his incantacions wytche crafte and sayd to him Mawgis ye know how I haue taken you by armes and that ye are my prysoner I wyll that ye gyue me your fayth truly that ye shal not go out of with in with out my leue Syr sayde Mawgis with a good wyll and thus he dyd swere this Olyuer And whan Oliuer had taken the othe of Mawgys he made him to be vnarmed and made hys wouÌ„de to be wrapped and gaue him a mantell vpon him and made hym to lye vpon a bed Now shal we leue a litle to speake of Charlemayne of Olyuer and of Mawgys And shal shew of Reynawde and his brethern what they dyd whan the host of charlemayne was moued and how they wonne the Egle of Golde that was of so great value how Reynawde sayd to his brethern lordes let vs se now for to quyte vs wel for it were not good for vs for to tary heere ani lenger And than he made to withdraw his folke and made them put to the waye And as they wente Rychard sayd to Reynawde Syr wee haue gotten a ryche proy thanked be God For Charlemayne shall be many a longe day wrothe therfore Certes sayd Reynawde fayre brother ye saye trouth and also we haue slayne a great many of hys folke Ha God sayde than Alarde where is our cosin Mawgis for I se him not heere Brother sayd Richard be not aferde for Mawgys for I beleue that he is gone to Mountawban afore vs god be with hym wheresoeuer he be sayd Reynawde For he is right sage and a noble knyght I wolde not for all the Golde in the world that my cosin Mawgis had ani harme ¶ We shal leue a lytle to speake of Reynawde and hys brethern that are bounde to Mountawban glad of theyr proye And shall nowe speake of Charlemayne that was so sore wrothe as I haue sayde afore WHan Charlemayne was fro his harneys he fel in a swoune for the greate angre that he had of that he had be thus distressed And whan he was come agayne to hym selfe he sente for the duke Naymes the bisshoppe Turpyn Escoufe the sonne of Oedon for SalamoÌ„ of bretayne Richarde of NormaÌ„dy the erle Guydellon and for Ogier the dane And whan they were all gathered together the kynge began to shewe to them his complayntes in thys maner Lordes I haue kepte and maynteyned you vnder mi tuicion the space of .xl. yeres and more that no man hath not wronged you of a penye ye haue no neyghbour that dare aske you any thinge Now me semeth because that I am now olde that I am but half a man yet not so good as I wolde be and I maye not be a kyng without you for whan ye faile me I am no kynge ye know well that ye haue left me for loue of Reynawd wherof I am ryght sory as I maye well for Reynawde hath taken me where I was habandoned of you he hath chased me out of the feeld certes I am worse thaÌ„ mad of thys that ye haue forsake me for Reynawde And syth that it is thus wyth me I seeke not to lyue anye lenger nor to be kynge any more and now I take to you the crowne to the ende that ye shall gyue it vnto Reynawde whan ye wyll and that ye make him king of Fraunce For I wyll be no more your kynge WHan the .xii. peeres of Fraunce the other lordes hearde Charlemayn speake so sorowfullye
thretenynge the duke Benes of AygremouÌ„t saying that they should take the head from the body of hym yf he doo ought to them agaynst his deuoyre But it shal go all other wyse with them For it haped all contrary to theyr myndes and purpose wherof afterward many ladyes abode widowes wtout husbaÌ„des many gentil womeÌ„ with out a louer And so many churches destroyed and so many landes breÌ„te and wasted wherof it is yet pitie for to see And thus ridinge thretynge Benes of Aygremount a spy heard all that they sayd and came hastelye to Aygremo sit to ward Benes that was in his Palays and tolde hym how messaÌ„gers were coming vnto hym from kyng Charlemayne that sore thretened him and that the soÌ„ne of kyng Charlemayne was there in person Than sayd the Duke to hys folke wherof he had at that houre foâ— son with him in his Palays bicause of the feast of Penthecoste Lordes sayd he the kynge Charlemayne setteth lytle by me that will that I shal go serue him with all my power and my puyssance and that wors is he sendeth to me his eldest sonne for to tel me some message the threteneth me greatly what counsell ye me therto my bretherne freendes Than spâ—ke a good knyght that was called syr Simon sayd My lorde I shal counsel you truly yf ye wyll herken and beleue me Receyue honourably the messangers of the kynge Charlemayne For wel ye wote that he is your ryght wyse lorde and wit that who that warreth against his souerayn Lorde he doth agaynst god rayson and haue no regarde to your kynne nor to thys that your bretherne Gyrarde of Roussyllon and the duke of Nantuell wolde not obey hym For I aduyse you wel that Charlemayn is myghty and he shall distroye you of body and of goodes but yf that ye obey him And yf ye amiablie go to hym he shall haue mercy of you Than answered the duke that thus he wolde not doo and that the sayd knight gaue him euill counsell For yet sayd he I am not so low brought but that I haue three brythren that shall helpe to susteine and beare out my warre agaynst Charlemayne also my foure neuewes the sonnes of my brother Aymes of Dordon that ben full fayre knightes worthy and wel taught in faytes of warre Alas sayd than the duchesse My good lorde beleue your good counsell For no men shall prayse you that ye make warre agaynst your right wyse lorde and wit it well that it is agaynst the coÌ„maundementes of God against all equitie Wherfore yf ye haue misdoone any thiÌ„g agaynst hym doo so much that ye be accorded with him And take none heed to your brethern as syr Symon dothe counsell you For neuer good may come therof for to be euyl in fauoure with his souerayne Lorde Than behelde the duke the duchesse in great wrathe and had her that she should holde her peace in the deuilles name that she should neuer more speake to hym of this mater For in certayne he should not do for the kyng Charlemayne the mouÌ„tenaunce of a peny So helde her peace the duchesse sayd that she should speake nomore to hym therof GReat was the noyse and the bruyte within the palayce of Aygremount for some counselled the duke that thus as the duchesse sayd he should doo and many other sayd nay Than sayd the duke vnto them that counselled him naye and that he should not accorde nor make peace with the kyng Charlemayne that he could theym thanke muche longe they spake of this mater And the messangers of the Kyng Charlemayne duryng the same haue riden so muche that they ben come to Aygremount And the castell was see vpon a roche ryght hye and well enuyroned with stronge walles thycke highe and wel garnyshed with great towres so that for the strength and sytuacyon of the castell it was imprenable but only by famyshynge Than sayd Lohier to the lordes that were wyth hym Lordes nowe see what a fortresse is there what walles what a ryuer teÌ„neth at the foote of it I beleue verely that in al christendome is not her lyke It can neuer betake by force but yf it is by famysshyng ThaÌ„ spake a knight that was called Sauary and sayd to Lohier his lorde syr sayde he it semeth me spekynge vnder correccion that my lorde the kynge Charlemayne your father hath enterprised a great foly whan he troweth to come to at an ende of this duke of AygremouÌ„t for in good sothe he is right puissauÌ„t And I beleue that he shall make as mani men for to make the warre as shall my lorde your father yf it cam there to that he wolde make hym warre It were a fayre thynge yf they myght be accorded together and of my parte I shoulde counsell the same yf it myght be doone But well I wot that yf your father had hym al the golde in Paris should not kepe hym but that he should do hange hym or els slea hym quycke So beseche I you ryght deere syr that ye speake humbly vnto the duke benes of AygremouÌ„t For in certayne he is ryght fyers and outragyous incontinent might haue there a sore meddle betwene you and hym wher of the losse should tourne vpon vs. For we ben to lew folke Than answered Lohier and sayd to hym that he sayd well and wysely but alwayes sayd he we doubt hym not of any thynge We be here al redy an hoÌ„dred knyghtes well appoynted and for sothe yf he say vnto vs anye thynge vnto our dyspleasure he shal be the fyrst that shall repent and be sory for it Than sayd the knight Sauare al softly to hymself that this were not wysely doone For wel I swere said he vpon my fayth that yf it hap you to say any thyng to hym that by any maner shall displease hym he shall make you sorye and shall wreke it vpon you bodye And happelye we shall all be in a waye for to dy Syr aduyse your selfe well wyll to procede prudently in your message For well I say vnto you that he is ryght cruell and of greate worthynesse accomplysshed THus spekyng of one thyng and of other rode so longe the messangers that they ben come to the gate of the castel which was sone shet by the porter then knocked the sayd knightes and the porter answered to them Lordes what be you Freende answered Lohier open to vs this gate presently For we wyll speake to the Duke Benes of Aigremount from the kinge Charlemayn Now abyde you a lytle and hast you not sayd the porter And I wyl goe speake redely to my lorde the Duke So went the sayde porter into the halle where he sawe the Duke his lorde He kneeled incontynent afore him tolde him howe downe at the gate was a right great company of men of armes And that they were well an hondred men or more ryght well horsed well armed and with them is the eldest sonne of
king charlemayne that strongly threteneth you and also your folke My lorde sayde the porter shall I open the gates vnto theÌ„ yea sayd the duke For I doubt them nothynge and we ben ynough for them And many worthy knyghtes and esquyers ben no where able for to defende vs all were Charlemayne himself with them with hys puissauÌ„ce So ran incontineÌ„t the porter downe agayne for to open vnto them the gate Lohier his felowes entred wtin and mounted vp vnto the dongeon of the castell where the duke was that sayd to hys barons Lordes heere cometh the eldest sonne of the kyng Charlemayne for to tell me his message But di that god that suffred death and passyon Yf he speake wysely to vs he shal do as sage And yf he sayth any thyng that shall dysplease vs we shall soone without delaye take vengeaunce therof So was the duke Benes well accompanyed nobly of wel two hondred knyghtes more Thys was in the moneth of May that all creatures humain ought wel for to reioyce theÌ„ and that folke preu and worthy in armes taken hert and hardinesse for to defende them self wel and warre agaynst theyr enemyes And this during Lohier the sonne of King charlemayne entred into the halle of the Palays of Aygremount ryght nobly armed and his folke also and saw the halle ryght well garnyshed of fayre folke rychelye arayed And the duke sittynge right proudlye amonge his barons and the duchesse hys wyfe next by hym and before hym his sonne Mawgys that was a great mayster of the science of Nigromancy that played afore his father of his art of nigromancy wherin the Lordes that were there tooke great pleasure And wit it well that in all the worlde was not a worthyer chrysten nor more able than was the sayd Mawgys Except onlye hys cosyn Reynawde one of the Sonnes of Aymon wherof specyally treateth now this History Than marched forthe Lohier and wente in the fyrst of all and after hym hys folke by good conduyte And salued the duke Bâ—nes of Agremount in thys wyse wherby moch great euill happed vnto him at last That God that created the firmament and made all thynge of nought for the people to susteyne And on the crosse suffred death and passyon for all soules to be redemed out of the paynes of hel keep and saue the king Charlemayne Emperour of Aimayne and king of Fraunce and all hys noble lyne and confound thee Duke Benes of Aygremounte My father the kyng by me expressely seÌ„deth to thee word thou come incontinent to Paris with fyue hondred knyghtes for to do to him right and reason of thys that thou were not wyth him in armes in the partyes of Lumbardy for to fyght agaynst the enemyes of the christen fayth Where by thy faute were dead there Bawdoyne lorde of Melanke Gesfroi of Bourdel and many other great Dukes Prynces knyghtes and barons And yf thou wylt not doo it I tell thee duke benes that the kinge shall come vpon thee wyth an hundred thousand men of armes So shalt thou be take and brought into Fraunce And there thou shalt be iudged as a theefe and a false traytour vnto thy Souerayne Lorde for to be slayne and hanged all quicke thy wyfe brente and thy chyldren destroyed and banysshed Doo therfore this that I commauÌ„d thee in the kinges behalfe for thou knowest well that thou arte his maÌ„ vassayle and subiecte WHan the Duke Benes of aygremount had heard Lohyer thus speake Than yf ye had sene hym chaunged hys coloure pouffe blowe as a maÌ„ cruel proude and outrageouse and sayd to Lohier in thys maner I shal not goe to kynge Charlemayne nor nothynge of hys wyll I shall not fulfyll For I hold nother Castell ne Fortresse of hym but I shall goe vpon him with all my puyssaunce and shall destroy all the lande of Fraunce vnto Parys Than sayd Lohier vnto Duke Benes of Aygremount Vassayle sayde he how darest thou answere thus And it the king knew now that thou thretenest hym thus as thou doest he should come incontynent vpon thee and should vtterli destroy thee well thou knowest that thou arte hys liege man and that thou canne not say agaynst it come than redely and serue thy souerayne lorde kinge Charlemyan and beleue me yf thou wyll saue thyne owne lyfe For if thou doo it not I make thee sure and certayne that yf he can haue thee by force that he shall make thee to be hanged there as the ayre and the wyndes with theyr great blastes shall dry vp the bones of thee Whan the duke heard Lohier speake to him in this maner he stode vp anon vpon his feete and sayd that to his euel chere he cam there for to make to hiÌ„ hys message ThaÌ„ came foorth a knyght named syr water that was a man of the Duke of Aygremount and sayd to the Duke My lorde keep for gods loue that ye doo no foly Let Lohier say all hys wyll for ye be neuer the worse for his sayenge and as ye well knowe kynge Charlemayne is ryght puyssauÌ„t and so moche that there is nother castell Citie nor towne neuer so stronge that can holde agaynst hiÌ„ Go than to him by my counsell for ye be his man his vassayle his subiect and of hym you holde your castell of Aygremount and all your laÌ„des and yf ye so doo ye shall doo as sage and it shall be your prouffyte also of al your lande and for to war agaynst your ryght wise Lorde nothyng but euil can come to you thereof Whan the Duke had hearde the wyse knyght to speake he coulde to him right good thanke therfore but alwayes all angry he sayd to hym holde your peace For I shall holde nothyng of hym aslonge that I shal may beare armes and mouÌ„te a horse backe I shall sende for my deere bretherne Gerrade of Roussyllon and Dron of Natuell and Garnyer his sonne and than we shal gone vpon kyng Charlemayne and yf I canne mete with him in any place we shall destroy hym shall doo of hym that he troweth to doo of me Wene he that I am a cowarde nay by my faythe for I should not take all the gold in Parys but that I should slea the messanger Euyll was to hym whan he durst so threten me And than sayde Lohier I nether prayse you nor doubt you not Whan the Duke benes of Agremount vnderstode Lohyer he wexed for great wrathe as red as ony fyre in hys face and began to ryse vp and to call Nowe Barons vpon hym brynge hym to me for he shall neuer be wraunted but that I shall make hym to dye shamefullye And the baroÌ„s durst not say against theyr lorde but drew al theyr swerdes And incontynent did ren vpon Charlemaynes folke And Lohier called his baner and than began he and his folke to defende them selfe sharpely And god knoweth howe many heades and armes were there cut of that day For at the same houre began
a thynge wherof afterwarde so manye ladyes and damoyselles were with out husbandes wythout louers so many of children fatherlesse and so manye chirches wasted and distroyed that neuer sythe were repayred What shal I tel you more wyt it that they fought there so longe wythin the halle of the Palays that the noys went through all the towne Thā should ye haue seen the bourgeys Marchauntes men of craft with axes swerdes and other wepyns and came to the Castel warde aboute seuen thousand men and more But the entre of the Palays of Aygremount was narow and the Frenche men were within that kept them well that they entred not in at theyr case Alas what terryble and vnhappy a slaughter was there that daye For the folke of kyng Charlemayne were but a few to the regard of them of the other parte And as ye may knowe suche assemble was ryght euyll So defended them selfe moche noblye and valyauntlye the folke of kyng Charlemayne and so muche that Lohier seynge that that he and hys folke had the worse he smote a knight by fore the duke Benes of Aygremount by suche a wyse that he ouerthrew hym downe dead forth sayd he gods curse haue thou and afterward he sayd pyteously in waylyng himselfe Lorde God that within the holy wombe of the blessed vyrgyn Marye tooke thy herbowrynge and suffred death passyon for to redeme mankynde wilt defende me thys daye from shamefull death and from tourment for I wot well but yt it be that your hygh diuynitie socoure me this day I shall not see the king Charlemayne my father no more Than the Duke called hygh vpon hym sayenge Lohier so helpe me God thys day shall be your laste It shall not be so sayde Lohyer And with this he smote the Duke vpon the head but hys helme saued hym And the stroke descended to the heele of him so that the bloud ranne out By God sayd Lohier ye shall not escape Than came the duke Benes of Aigremount to him as woode and sore an angred sayinge I should prayse my selfe full lytle it I might not auenge me vpon thee So heaued vp the Duke hys brande of steele and smote Lohyer so harde vpon hys bryght helme that he cleued hym to the teeth And Lohyer fell dead afore hym vpon the pauement of the Halle Ha God what great domage hath done the Duke Benes of Aygremoūt to haue thus slayne Lohier the eldest sonne of the great kyng Charlemayne Forafterwarde al the oste of Fraunce was in moche great and innumerable tourmente therfore and in ryght greate payne continual and the Duke himselfe dyed therfore full soryly That was the payment that he had for it as ye here after shall heare yf peasybly ye wyll heare me NOw is outrageouslye slayne the good Lohyer the eldest sonne of kinge Charlemayne And the duke Benes of Aygremount full of cruelnes tooke the hed from the body of hym And after that the folke of the sayd Lohyer the sonne of the great kyng Charlemayne saw thei Lorde dead thynke ye they made no great defence Alwayes of a hūdred that they were entred within the palays with theyr Lord Lohyer abode there on lyue but .xx. wherof the duke incontynente made .x. of them to be slayne and the other .x. he reteyned a lyue and to them sayde yf ye wyll promyse and sweare to me vpō your othe and fayth of knighthode that ye shall beare your Lorde Lohyer to hys father the Kyng Charlemayne and say to hym that I sende to hym his sonne Lohyer in good aray and that in an euyll houre he dyd sende hym to me for to tell me suche wordes I shall let you goe quyte and saute and to hym ye shall saye that for hym I shall not doo the mountenaunce of a Peny and that I shall go vpon hym in thys Sommer next comynge wyth fourtye thousande men and that I shall destroye hym and all hys lande They answered Syr wee shall doo that that shall please you to commaunde vs. Thā the Duke dyd doo make redyly a byere and made the corps of Lohyer to be put wythin the sayd byere And after he delyuered it to his .x. knightes that were left on lyue and put it in a carte to drawe wyth two horses And the Duke conueyed theym thorough the Towne And whan they were in the feeldes the .x. knightes beganne to weepe and to make great mone for theyr Lorde Lohier saying alas my lorde Lohier what shall wee no we saye for you to the Kynge your father that so great sorowe shall haue whan he shal knowe your cruell death We may well be incertayne that that he shall make vs all dye Thus weepynge and makynge theyr mone for the loue of theyr Lorde Lohyer the rode on theyr way streyght to Parys ¶ But nowe we shall heere leaue to speake of the messangers and shall tell you of the Kynge Charlemayne that was at Parys CHarlemayne that was at Parys with a great multitude of Lordes that were there assembled And there vpon a day kynge Charlemayne sayd vnto hys Lordes and barons Lordes I am moch wroch and sory of my sonne Lohyer that I haue sente to Aygremounte and I feare me sore that they haue take debate wyth the duke Benes of Agremounte whiche is fell and cruell I doubte me leste he hath slayne my sonne Lohier But by my crowne yf he haue so doone or any thynge that turneth to dyspleasure or dommage to my sayd sonne I shal go vpō him wyth a hundred thousand men and shall make hym to be hanged at agybet Syr sayd the good Duke Aymes of Dordonne I shall comē you ryght sore yf he hath offēded against you that ye make punyssyon therof and wreke on hym greate vengeaunce He is your liege man and ought to serue prayse and honoure you Alwayes yf he hath trespassed agaynst you in any manere I am ryght sorye for it and yf ye haue a cause to be wrothe wyth hym I haue heare my foure sonnes That is to wyt Reynawde Alarde Guycharde and Rycharde that ben ryght valyaunt as ye syr well knowe which shal be trusty and true to you Aymon sayd the kyng Charlemayn I conne you great thanke of the offre that nowe ye haue doone to me And it is my wyll that ye make thē to come hether presently to the ende that I make them knightes and I shall gyue to them Castelles towres and Townes and Cities ynough Than sent the duke Aymes Incontinent for hys children and made them to come afore kynge Charlemayne And whan the king Charlemayne saw them they pleased him moche and Reynawde was the first that spake and sayd Syr yf it please yon for to make vs knyghtes we shal be euer redy for to serue you and your noble Lordshyp Thā the king Charlemayne called hys stewarde and sayd to hym Bringe to me the armes that were the kynge Cedres whyche I haue wyth my handes slayne in batayle before Pampelune and
shall gyue theym to the gentyll Reynawde as to hym that is as I wene the moste valyaunt of all and of other good armes I shall gyue to the other three bretherne So brought there the stewarde the armes that were full fayre and riche and than were armed the foure gentyl brethreÌ„ children to the good Aimes of dordoÌ„ne and Ogyer of Denmarke that was of theyr kynne dyd on theyr spurres to the new knight Reynawde the kynge Charlemayne gyrde hym his swearde and than doubed him to a Knighte sayinge God encreace in thee goodnes honour and worthines And than mounted Reinawde on horsbacke vpon Bayard that was suche a horse that neuer was his like in all the world nor neuer shall be except Busifal the horse of the great Kinge Alexander For as for to haue ronne .xxx. myle together he wolde neuer haue sweted The sayd Bayard thys horse was growen in the Isle of BoruscaÌ„ and Mawgys the sonne of the duke Benes of Aygremount had gyueÌ„ to his cosin Reynawde that after made the Kynge Charlemayne full wrothe and sory as ye shal now heare here after REynawde was a horse backe with a Sheelde paynted hangyng at his necke and thwerled his swerde by great fyersnesse And wyt wel that he was a fayre knight wounderful great and well founded and of hym was a fayre syght for well he semed one of the moste valyaunt Knightes that men coulde fynde in all the worlde And the Barons that were there sayde Ha god what a fayre Knight is he Neuer was nor shall be sene so fayre a man of armes as Reynawde god encrease to hym honour and worthynesse goodnes and pryse And after were moche honourably and worthily arayed and armed the other three bretherne of Reynawde and sith lyght all on horsebacke vnder Saint Victor nyghe Parys Than made the kinge Charlemayne to set vp in the grounde a poste agaynst whyche he made the new knightes for to assaye them selfe They Iusted moche worthely but Reynawde Iusted best vpon his horse bayarde ryght well lyked and were a greable vnto charlemayne the faytes of the valyaunt knyght Reynawde vnto whome the king sayd Reynawde froÌ„ hens forth ye shal come with vs in batayle and Reynawde answered him in thys maner Syr god yelde it you an hundred thousand tymes and I promit you in good fayth to obey and serue you truly Nor neuer ye shall fynde my selfe in no forfayte but yf it com of you THe Emperour Charlemaine after the Iustynge was doone he retourned to his Palays in Parys Than he resoned wyth hys prynces and BaroÌ„s and there were the duke Naymes of bauyres Oger the dane and the Aâ—chebysshop Turpin and sayd to them in thys wyse barons sayd he I cannot maruayle me to moche of Lohier my eldest son that â—aâ—ieth so longe in hys message I haue great feare that some incontinent be happed vnto hym I dremed this night in my slepe that the thonder bolte fell vpon my Sonne Lohier and then came the Duke benes of Aygremount vpon hym and smote his head of but by my bearde yf he haue doone so whyles he lyueth he shall neuer accorde with me Nor I shall neuer haue Ioye at my herte For it is he that I loue best in this worlde Syr sayd the duke Naymes I beleue not such thinges nor vnto suche dremes ye shall not gyue no credence alwayes sayde the king yf he haue doone so I shall neuer leue him the value of a peny for I shall sende for the Normans the Bernygeâ—s the Fleminges the chaÌ„penoys the Almaynes the Bauiers and for Englishemen and so shall I goe vpon hym and shall vtterly destroy hym and Naymes sayde euer vnto hym that he shoulde not fraye hym selfe of nothynge tyll that he knewe the certentye And as they spake thus there came rydiÌ„g a messenger vpon a horse fauell sore sicke and werye and also sore wounded vnto the death He came vnto Parys afore the Palays where Kyng Charlemayne was at the wyndowes And whan he sawe come the Messanger he came downe lightlye from the Palays halle vnto the gate and with him Naymes of Bauyer and Ogyer the Dane And whan the Messanger saw the kinge he salued him fall soft as he that was ryght sorye and sore wounded and that wyth payne myght speake and said in this maner wyse Great folye ye dyd whan ye dyd sende my Lorde your sonne for to aske trybute and obeyssaunce of the Duke Benes of Aygremounte the whiche trybute your sonne asked him shaÌ„fully but the duke whiche is sore fel and cruel whan he heard speak my sayd lorde your sonne he coÌ„mauÌ„ded to a mayny of knightes that were there that he should betake that he should neuer retourne agayn to you for to recouÌ„t his message nor what answere he had founde to the which takiÌ„g the medle was great and cruell so that your dere soÌ„ne Lohier was dead there And the Duke Benes of Aygremount kylled hym and all your folke except me and .ix other that conduyte and bryng your sonne in a byere And I my selfe am sore hurt as ye may se And than the messaÌ„ger could speake no more But fell downe in a swoune of the greate greefe and sore that he felte bycause of hys woundes And whan the kiÌ„g had heard these wordes he fel down vpon the grouÌ„d for the great sorow that he tooke therof and wrange his handes and pulled his beard And tare all hys heres sayinge Ha good lorde that made heauen and erth ye haue brought me in great sorowe tourment Irrecouerable that neuer shall cease with me So requyre I vnto you the death humbly For neuer more desyre I not to lyue The good duke of Bauyre began to recomfort him sayinge For goddes loue syr tourment not your self but haue good hert and hope in god and recomfort your folke And thys wolde say the duke Naymes for theÌ„ that he saw weepe there for theyr kiÌ„smen and freendes that were dead with Lohier And doo sayd he to the kyng let your sonne be worshypfully buryed at saynt Germayne of the medowes And than ye shall goe vpon the Duke Benes of Aygremount wyth all your noble power and great puyssaunce and shall destroy hym and all hys landes at your pleasure Than the kinge Charlemayne recomforted him selfe and well he knew that Naymes couÌ„selled hym truly and lawfully Than sayd the kyng Barons make redy and wee shall go agaynst my dere sonne Lohier And incontinent all the prynces and Barons made them selfe redye for to doo the commaundement of the kinge And whan they were gone two myle out of Parys they met with the corps And were there with the Kinge Naymes Ogyer Sampson of bourgoyne and many other great Lordes Than sayd the kinge Charlemayne whan he sawe the body of his deere sonne Lohier Alas how shamefully am I created he descended from his horse a foote tooke vp the cloth that was vpoÌ„ the biere behelde his sonne Lohier Than saw he
the head that was smytteÌ„ of from the body and the face that was all to Hewen Ha good Lorde sayd he how well maye I be made now al quicke well I ought for to hate the duke Benes of AygremouÌ„te that thus hath murdered my sonne he than kissed his childe al bloudiful often and said vnto him in this wise Ha faire sonne ye were a talle man and a gentil knight Now praye I the puyssant God of glorye that he take your soule this yf it be his pleasure into hys Realme of Paradyse Great sorow made the kyng Charlemayne for the death of his sonne Lohier But alwayes recomforted him the good Duke Naymes And theÌ„ Ogyer the Dane and Sampson of Bourgoyne tooke him vnder the armes of him and ledde him vnto saynt Germayne of the medowes And there the bodye of Lohier was buried and enoynted with balme as it apperteyneth vnto all the sonnes of kinges Thus was he put into hys graue God haue of hys Soule mercy WE shall bene heere to speake of the good king Charlemayne that was moch sori of his sonne Lohier as ye haue heard and shall tell you of the good Duke Aymon of Reynawde his sonne and of his three bretherne that were at Parys My children sayd Aymon ye know how the Kynge Charlemayne is moche wrothe and not without a cause by cause that my brother your vnkle hath slaine Lohier his sonne And I wote well that he shall go vpon him with all his puyssaunce but verelye we shall not go wyth him But rather shall we goe to Dordon and yf the Kyng make warre agaynst hym we shall helpe him with all our power So lyghted anon on horsebacke the good duke Aymon the foure knightes his children and bayted no wher tyll they came to Laon from theÌ„s they rode so longe tyll they came to Dordon And whan the Lady sawe her Lorde and her foure children she was right glad and went against them for to welcom them and asked after tydinges and yf Raynawde hys other childeren were made knightes Than the good duke answered yea and after she asked why they were departed fro the kinges court And than he rehersed vnto her word by word how hys brother the duke Benes had slayne Lohier the sonne of the Kinge Charlemayne Wherof the good Lady Margery was wondeâ—full wrothe and sorye For well she knew that this death of Lohier was the totalle dystruccion of the Duke Aymon her housbande of her self and of her childerne and of their lande She heard Renawde her eldest Sonne that thretened Charlemayne the great Kynge then sayd to hym the Ladye hys Mother My Sonne Reynawde I pray thee vnderstande me alytle Loue thy souerayne and thy naturall Lorde and dread him aboue all thinge and bere him honour and reuereÌ„ce And God shall rewarde thee for it and ye my Lorde Aymon I am moche maruelled of you that are departed from Charlemayne without leaue of him the hath doone to you so moche good and so great worship and hath geueÌ„ to your sonnes so noble and so riche armes and hath made them knightes with his owne handes more great honour he might not doo to you nor to your childreÌ„ Lady said the Duke we be thus departed froÌ„ King Charlemayne because that my brother hath slayne his sonne as I haue tolde you afore A God sayd the Lady that of the virgin was borne in bethlehem howe hath that euyll thys day surmounted the good For goddes loue my Lorde sayde the Ladye medle not withall For ye shall see this next soÌ„mer that the kinge shall go vpon your brother by my counsell serue the kynge your rightwyse Lorde nor fayle him for nothynge For and ye doo otherwyse ye shall be vntrew and false towarde your Souerayne and naturall Lorde Lady sayd the duke by god omnipotente I wold leuer haue lost my castell and the halfe of my lande than that my brother should haue slayne Lohier Now the wyl of god be done therin and none other wyse TO speake of the good Duke Aymon of DordoÌ„ and of his wife the duchesse and of theyr soÌ„nes we shal heere leue shall returne to speake of kynge Charlemayne that was come agayne to parys makiÌ„g great sorowe for his sonne Lohier There had you seene many a gowne torne broken many a hande wrongen and manye heares of the head pulled so that it was piti and wonder for to se Alas mi dere sonne said kyng Charlemayne he that hath slayne thee so cruelly loued me but lytle I shall neuer be in quiete nor in reste till that I haue take vengeaunce of thy death Syr sayd the duke Bauyere haue mercy of your selfe For it behoueth not so great a prince as ye be for to make so great sorow as ye doo And in the meane whyle came a messenger afore the kynge which shewed to him howe Aymon Duke of Dordon his foure soÌ„nes were gon into their countrie wherof the kyng was sore an angred and wrothe And sware god and saynt Denis the afore he sholde dye that Aymon and his chylderen sholde abye full sore for it that the duke Benes of AygremouÌ„te sholde not kepe them therfro The dyner was redy they wasshed their handes and were set at dinner but wyt it that the kynge dyd eate but lytle as he that was in greate melancolye the fayre Salamon serued that day afore hym the cuppe great people was there After diner the Emperour Charlemayne did reason with his barons and sayd to theÌ„ lorde sayd he the duke Benes of Aygremount hath doone to me greate outrage that so shamefully hath slayne my sonne Lohier But and it please God I shall go wreke it vpon hym this next somer and I shall destroye all his land and yf I may take him I shall not leaue hym for the duke Aymon the shamefullye is gone from mee nor for his foure sonnes that I haue made knightes wherof I me repente sore but that I shall make them to be hanged Syr sayd than the duke Naymes nowe heare what I shal say to you your soÌ„ne is dead by great vnhap well in an euill hour was he put to death for neuer death was so sore solde ne so dere bought as this shal be So sende nowe for your folke through all your londes and than from hens toward Aygremounte take your waye And yf ye may take the Duke Benes let the death of your soÌ„ne Lohier be to him ful dere soulde NAymes sayd the kynge ye be a good man sage curtoyse valyaunt euen thus shall I doo for well wysely ye haue counselled me Than gaue he leaue to many of hys barons and gentil men that were in his courte at that time tolde them that eche of them should go into his countrie for to make them self redy and that they should come agayne to him the next sommer So was it doone as the kynge had commaunded And thus wente the barons and the gentil men from
to hym answered his two bretherne that they wolde doo it syn that he counselled thē so and cōcluded together that they should sende thyther as soone as it were day They made that nyght good watche vnto the morning and than they made redi their messangers for to sende to the kyng Charlemayne And whan they were redy Gerarde of Roussyllon sayd to them Lordes say wel to kynge Charlemayne that we be sore dyspleased of the death of hys sonne Lohier and that our brother the duke Benes repenteth him selfe of it full sore that yf it please hym to haue mercy of vs that we shal go serue hym where it shal please him to sende vs wyth .x. thousand fyghtynge men And also ye shall saye to Naymes of Bauyere that we pray hym that he wyll enploy hymselfe towarde the kyng Charlemayne that this accorde may be had AFter that the messāgers had well all alonge vnderstand what they should saye to the Kynge Charlemaine from the three brethern dukes They lyghted on horsbacke eche of them berynge braunches of Olyue tree in their handes in token of peace And ceased not to ryde tyll that they were come afore the tente of the kinge charlemayne Than spake one of them whiche was named steuen that salued the king in this maner Syr I praye our lorde that of his grace giue you good lyfe long And wyt syr that the duke Gerarde of Roussyllon and the Duke Benes of Aygremount and Dron of Nantuell ben come hither the whiche cry you mercye and beseche you ryght humbly that it please you to pardon them the death of your sonne Lohier Of the whiche they are wrothe sory And the duke of Aygremount let you wyte by vs that yf it be your pleasure to doo so that he and hys bretherne shal be your lyege men shall come to serue you with .x. thou sand fyghting men in all that shal be your pleasur to enploy them syr for goddes sake haue remembraūce that god forgaue his death to Longes the cruelly sticked him to the hart wherfore syr please it you to pardon thē take them to your good grace And of this right hūbly they beseche you WHan the kynge Charlemayne had thus heard speake the messangers of the three brethern He frō peled his forehead knitted his browes and looked full angrely and at that houre he answered to them nothynge and than soone after he begā to speake in this maner Bi my faith syr Steuen sayde he well had the duke Benes lost his wittes whan he so shamfully slew my deere sonne Lohier whiche I loued so tenderly Now is he my man wyll he or not Syr sayd Steuē I am certayne that he shall doo to you all reason to the direction of your good counsell Than sayd the kinge of this we shal counseyll vs and withdrewe hym a lytle a side and called to him duke Naymes Ogyer the Dane syr Salamon Huon of Mauns Walleran of Bollon Odet of Langres and Leon of Fryse sayd to them Lordes heere ben the messangers of the duke Benes and of his bretherne that sende me worde that they wyll come for to serue me where my wyl shal be wyth .x. thousand good fyghting mē yf we wyll pardon theym the death of my sonne Lohyer And they shall be our vassayle and true liege men of vs they shall holde theyr landes and theyr lordeships Syr answered the duke Naimes in this is nothing but well So counsell I you that ye pardon them For they be muche valyaunte and of great renome Wherfore pardon them yf it please you THan by the Counsell of the Duke Naymys of Bauyere the kynge dyd pardon the three bretherne called to him the .iii. knightes and said to them how he pardoned the three dukes the death of his sonne Lohier by suche a condicion that the duke Benes of Aygremoūt should come for to serue hym at the feast of Saynt Iohn next comynge wyth .x. thousand fyghtyng men wel arayed and ye shall tel to them that they surely come nowe to me for to take of theym theyr othe and fayth that they shall fro hens forthe obey and serue truly And that of me they shall holde all theyr landes Then departed the knyghtes from afore the kyng Charlemayne and came agayne vnto the Dukes and shewed vnto them how they had sped of their message with the king Charlemayn wherof the three brethern thanked much humbly our lorde God Then sayd the duke Rycharde of Roussyllō it is reason that we take of our good gownes and go to the kynge Charlemayne naked and crye hym mercy of this that we haue thus offended agaynst his hygh puyssaunce lorde shyp and the other two brethern answered that well they ought to doo so So tooke the noble knyghtes their clothes of and al naked bare foote and in poore estate departed from theyr lodges and well foure thousande knightes wyth them all bare fote and in their shertes and in such estate as were theyr maysters In thys wyse they came tofore the king Charlemayne And wyt wel that in right great humilitie were set the three bretherne for to haue peace and accorde wyth the kyng Charlemain that was wroth to them specyally to the Duke of Aygremount as more playnlye ye shall heare here after WHan the kynge Charlemayn sawe thus come the three bretherne wyth theyr barons knyghtes he called to hym the duke Naymes many other barons and sayd to thē can ye not tell me what folke ye see yonder comyng Syr sayd the dukes Naymes it is the Duke Benes of Aygremount with his folke that come for to requyre you of mercie This hanging the Duke Benes of Aygremount came afore the king and cast hymselfe vpon hys knee sayd vnto hym in this wise Syr for god I crye God mercy we ben heere comen by your commaundement if I haue slayne your deere Sonne by my foly I now as your man yelde me my bretherne also Gerarde of Roussyllon and Dron of Nantuell and wyl be your lyege men and serue you with all our puyssaunce where your plesure shal be to set vnto and neuer dayes of our lyues we shall fayle you but yf it belonge in you Than whan the kynge sawe theym thus come humblie towarde hys presence in theyr shertes barefoote and had hearde this that the Duke of Aygremount had sayd to hym he had of them ryght great pitie pardoned them the death of his Sonne Lohier and all his euyll wyll Than should ye haue sene from one part from the other kysse and colle eche other their kynnesmen and som wept for Ioye and the other for pitie WHan were peased the barōs with the king Charlemayne by the counsel of the good duke Raymos than sware promised the three brethern good fydelitie to the kynge Charlemayne and that they should serue him at all tymes that he should cal for thē So tooke they a glad leue from the
haue sene that dai so moch braynes in the feelde so manye feete and heades smyten of that it was a pytious thyng to behold After cam yet agayne Guenes that smote Ioyusselyne of Bloy so that he casted hī dead to the erth and he made soone to goe backe the Duke Benes folke of Aygremounte Than was sore a basshed the duke of Aygremoūt the whyche knewe well that wythoute death he myght not escape So went he and smote one of Guenes folke so great a stroke that he ouerthrew him dead For none other wyse he coulde doo but defende hym selfe as well as he could for to length his lyfe wythall Ha god what a greate dommage it was to haue thus shamfully betrayed hym For after many chyrches many townes and Castelles were therfore set in a fyre and so many great nobles full pyteouslye brought to death So much sped the traytour Guenes agaynst the good duke of Aygremount that the folke of the duke were weke almost gō For of two hūdred that he had brought he had no moe with hym but fourty Barons sayd the duke Benes of aygremount ye se that we ben almoste all dead yf we defende vs not wyth great herte and worthynes And for goddes loue let euery of vs be worthe three as longe as we shall now be alyue For ye se that here pyteously we must departe breake felowshyp Than wente the duke agayne smote a knight named syr Helye so that he made hym to fall dead to the erth And than cryed with an hyghe voyce Smyte well barons The valey was fayre and soūded of the noyse that was made there at that hour one named Gryffon of Hautefell wente smote the dukes horse into the breste wyth hys spere so that he ouerthrew him vnder the horse and the duke anon arose vpon his feete tooke his swerde wenyng to smite the sayd Gryffon but the stroke fell vpon the horse so that he cutte him a sonder as it had ben nothynge WHan the duke of Aygremoūt saw himselfe thus on foote he knew wel that it was doone of him but well he sware that hys death he should sell ryght dere but sodaynly came there vpon him the erle Guenes that sat vpon a good courser the which smote the duke Benes of Aygremounte with his speare suche a stroke that he shoued hym through through his body thus fell downe dead the duke Benes of Aygremoūt and than the duke Griffon the father of the sayd Guenes came to the Duke Benes of Aygremoūt that lay dead vpon the sande shoued his swerde in to his foundement Than sayd the duke Gryffon no whast thou thy rewarde for mi lorde Lohiers death that thou let slew shamefullye with in thy palays Now is the good and worthy duke Benes of Aygremount deceassed god of his soule haue mercy the treatour Genellon the Lord of Hautefell that lighted vpon a good horse wente after the duke of Aigremountes folke that fled whiche were but .x. a lyue of two hundred and yet these .x. were soone ouertaken and than the traytours made theym to swere and promyt that the bodye of the late duke theyr mayster they shold beare to Aygremount lyke the he had doo bryng the body of Lohier to paris in a byere and the sayd knightes promysed them for to doo so So toke they the corps from the other bodyes dead wherof was there greate number put hym in a byere And than went on theyr way with all whan they were gon a lytle fercher God knoweth what sorowe and lamentacion that they made for the death of theyr mayster sayinge Ha god good duke that so worthy was how now we are sory for the certaynly full euyll hath doone kyng Charlemayne that vnder this saufcōduyte hath made thee to be slayne in treason These sorowful knightes went thus makynge theyr mone bearyng the body of the Duke Benes theyr mayster vpon a byere that two horses bare whiche corps neuer staunched of bledyng by the spare of .viii. myles how many dayes Iourney that these knightes were with the bodye of theyr mayster by the way I cannot tel you But they went so longe that they came nygh Agygremount and approched so moche that the tydynges came to the towne to the duchesse that her lorde had be thus traytoruslye slayne So ought not be asked of the greate sororow that the duchesse her sonne Mawgis made They yssued after out of the towne with them of the church went agaynst the corps Nor also ought not to be asked yf there were made that day great wepynges lamentacions For whan the duchesse saw her lorde the woūdes that he had in his body more than three times she fell downe in a swone vpon him And in this wyse they bare the corps to the chief churche the bisshop of the towne dyd the seruyse And thā he was put in his graue was right reuerently buryed Thā sayd his sonne mawgis Good lorde what a domage is this of such a worthy lorde to haue be thus slayn cruelly by treason but if I liue lōg Charlemayne and the traytours that thus haue doone shal abye for it ful deerely His lady mother he recomforted and said to her My deere mother haue a litle patience For myne vnkles Gerarde of Roussyllon Drō of nantuel and my cosyns Reynawde Alarde Guicharde and Rycharde shall helpe me wel for to auenge the death of my lorde my father Nowe shal we leue heare to speake of them of Aygremount that ben in great lamētacion weepinges for the death of their lorde and shal returne to tel of the traytours Griffon of Guenes his sonne that with theyr folke were gone agayne to Parys ¶ How Gryffon of Haultefell and Guenellon after that they had slayn the Duke Benes of Aygremounte they retourned to Parys recounted to the kynge Charlemayne the mortall treason that they had commysed and doone Wherof the kyng Charlemayne was glad But afterwarde he was ful wrothe sory for it For after the Duke of Aygremoūtes death his two bretherne Gerard of Roussyllon and Dron of Nantuel warred sore agaynst hym with their neuew Mawgys than they made peace and accorded together but the kynge Charlemayne apoynted not wyth the foure sonnes of Aymon nor to Mawgys theyr cosyn ¶ Item sheweth also the same chapter how Reynawde slewe the neuew of kyng Charlemayne wyth a chesse borde as they were playng together at the chesses Wherof the warre began The whyche was sore and mortall as ye shal now heare here after and lasted so longe that it dyd great dommage to the Realme of Fraūce Campitulum .ii. Fo. xiii YE shal mow heare and vnderstand from hensforthon a terryble and a piteous songe yf ye thereafter lyst to herken Thys was at the feaste of Penthecoste after the holy thursdaye that the king Charlemayne helde a great court at Parys after that he hadde accorded with the bretherne
three of theyr felawship at that tyme but they rode so longe tyll that they came to the riuer The kynge called to him his barons and sayd to them Lordes let a loue the chase it were foly from heÌ„s forth on for to folow them for I see in al our horses may no more let theÌ„ goe to a hundred thousand deuyls for yf Reynawde wrought with witch craft he could doo no more thaÌ„ he doth Let vs thinke for to lodge vs heere nyghe the ryuer For the couÌ„trey is good and pleasauÌ„nt as me semeth Syr sayd the barons let it be doone as ye haue commauÌ„ded Than they vnladed theyr sommers and pyght there their pauyllions And whan they were set vp the king made him to be dysarmed And in the meane whyle the supper was made redye lyghtlye for all the daye the king had nother eateÌ„ nor droÌ„keÌ„ nor none of hys felowshyp And Reynawde was passed ouer the riuer he and his bretherne and his folke safe souÌ„d where as they wolde be by the grace of our Lorde and whan Reynawde and his brethern saw that the chase was ceassed and left they went all softly and whan they had gone ferre from the oste of king Charlemayne they found a fountayne fayre and cleare and aboute that fountayne was muche fayre grasse and thicke WhaÌ„ Reynawde saw the place was so pleasauÌ„t he sayd to hys folke Heere is a fayre ground for to lodge vs for our horê Sir said Alarde ye say trouth And thaÌ„ they vnladed theyr soÌ„mers and theyr cartes and wyt it the horse were wery but the poore knyghtes were euyl lodged for they had there no meate nor drynke but cleare water But wyt it that Reynawde nor none of his knightes disarmed them not but made good watche all the nyght one after another And whan they saw the daye come Reynawde made hys harneys to be trussed and they lyghted horsebacke and tooke theyr way through the great forest of Ardeyne and whaÌ„ they had riden longe they lyghted downe afore another fountayne that they that had watched the nyght afore should rest themselfe there NOw myght well say Charlemayne that he can neuer hurte the foure sonnes of Aymon And wit that he was lodged vpon the riuer where he abode whan he wolde no more folow after Reynawde and whan the day was clere he sayde to the duke Naymes What thynke ye what we ought to doo Syr sayd the duke Naymes yf ye wyll beleue me wee shall tourne backe agayne For to goe any ferther this waye it were but a foly for thys wood is to thick and the riuer ouer muche perillous also Reynawde his brethern are suche knyghtes that they be not for to belyghtly ouerthrowen while the king and the duke spake together there came many knyghtes to hym and whan Charlemayne saw them he called Vydelon Reynier Ogier the dane and sayd to them Lordes I will that ye come agayne to parys wyth me And whan they vnderstode this they were glad and sayd to the King Sir it is the beste counsell that ye caÌ„ doo and after that thei were so accorded Charlemayne made to be cryed that euery maÌ„ should returne agayn into his countrey that they should kepe it well that he prayed theym so to doo Syr sayd the barons wee shall doo your commaudement and whan all was sayde they made the hoste to descende take theyr way the king went streyght to paris and the barons in theyr countryes and whan Charlemayne was come to Paris he called afore him his baroÌ„s to them sayd fayre lordes I am the moste vnhappy kyng of the worlde whan I haue no power to auenge my selfe of the foure sonnes of Aymon and they led me as ye know I wene they shall returne into theyr countrie or to theyr castell and it be so I wyll that we go there agayne for to ley syege there Syr sayd the duke Naymes that shal they not doo for they are in Ardeyne And ye knowe that the forest is so great that they shall fynde some cheuysauÌ„ce That might wel be sayd the kyng Charlemayne But where some euer they go euell way myght they fynde And whan he had sayd this he tourned toward Ogyer and sayd to him Take Gerarde Foulques the Almayne and Dron of Moudidier and gyue leaue to the frenche men and to the other Syr sayd Ogyer well shal be doone your commaundement And then weÌ„t Ogier to Foulques to Gerard and vnto Dron and tolde them that that Charlemayne had commaunded And after came to the frenche men tolde to the other knyghtes gaue them leue And whan the kynges folke haue had leue eueri man went to his countrey not the right waye But trauersynge the mountaynes And thus as Aymon went trauersynge the lande towarde hys countrie It happed to him so that he came by the fountayne where hys sonnes dwelled Whan Aymon saw hys chyldren he was abasshed and ryght sory for it And then he sayd to his barons Lordes counsell me I praye you what I ought to doo agaynst mi childreÌ„ For and I assayle them and that they ben slayne or taken I shall neuer haue Ioye And I I let them goe I shal be forsworne to Charlemayne Whan his barons hearde him speake so there was neuer one that answered anye worde And whaÌ„ Aymon sawe that he was counselled of no man he sayd agayn to them Syth it is so that ye wyll gyue me no counsell I shall doo after myne owne wyll For god forbid that it be layde to me that I haue fouÌ„d theÌ„ heere And haue not fought with them But well I tell you that it is for my synne that I haue founde them here But froÌ„ hens forth it shal be doone therin as it pleaseth God fortune Syr sayd Esmenfraye yf ye assayle your children ye doo not amysse for ye sware it to the kynge Charlemayne kepe syr Aimon that ye be not forsworne For a man of your age should rather dye than he should doo any treason Good freend ye say well sayd Aymon and I shall so doe that I shal not be blamed and than he called two of his knightes and sayd to them Go towarde Reinawde and his brethern and defye them in my behalfe Syr sayd the knightes it is a harde thinge for to be doone but sythe it please you we shall doo as ye haue commaunded than thei wente towarde Reynawde that was sore abasshed for he knew well that they were of his fathers folke wherof he was full sory for it And after he sayd vnto his bretherne Lordes now arme your selfe For a man that is well garnysshed is not of lyghte ouerthrowen and of the other syde I know so muche the hardynes of my father that he shall not feyne to be fyght vs. Brother sayd Richarde ye saw trouthe Thys hangyng came the two knightes afore him and whan Reynawde sawe them come nyghe hym he went agaynst them said to them Lordes what be
whome her brother had maryed her she was ryght glad of it for she loued Reynawde of a great loue and sayd to the kynge Syr I wyll doo withal my hert your commaundement and your wyll Thā the king tooke her by the hand brought her to the palays and said to Reynawde afore al his bacōs Holde heere worthy knyght Reynawde I gyue you my syster to your wyfe and spouse Syr sayd Reynawde a thousand gramercyes of so fayre a gyft that ye giue to me presentlye for it apperteyneth not so great a gyft to so poore a knyght as I am than tooke Reynawde the pucell and fyaunced her and sware And the kynge wolde make no taryeng therat but tooke the pucel by the hande and brought her to the churche well honourably and the byshop of Bordews wedded thē And whan Reynawde had his wyfe espoused he sente for hys bretherne for his cosyn Mawgys that were at Mountawban the whiche made great Ioye and made all Mountaban for to be hanged wyth ryche tapissery And than they moūted their horses all couered wyth sendall and wente to Bordews and met with Reynawde and hys wyfe by the way where as great Iustinge was made afore the ladyes And after the Iustyng was doone they came all to Mountawban and whan they were come there the Ioye began for to be greate in the castell as god had descended there For to say trouth .viii. dayes lasted the feast many great gyftes were presented and gyuen to the lady And whan the feast had endured as longe as I tell you The king Yon went againe to Bordews ryght glad of the maryage that he had made of Reynawde and of hys syster For he thought wel that Reynawde should helpe hym agaynst al men and he sayd trouth For after that the Mariage was ones made there was no baron in all Gascoygne that durste looke vp and yet there were some that wolde not doo theyr deuoyre to the kynge but Reynawde made them well come foorth for to doo the kynges commaūdement accordynge to theyr lygeaunce wolde they or not For reynawde was both loued and doubted through all the lande of Gascoygne ¶ But now leueth heere the history to speke of Reinawde and of his bretherne and of Mawgys And retourneth to speke of the king Charlemayne that went to saynt Iames in Galyce for to do penaunce for hys synnes ¶ How the king Charlemayne maie a vyage to saynt Iames of Galyce And how at his comynge agayne he knew how Reynawde and hys bretherne were in the Realme of Gascoygne in a ryght stronge eastell called Mountawban And how the kinge Charlemayne sente worde to the kyng Yon of Gascoygne that he should yelde to hym his enemyes that is for to vnderstand Reynawde Alarde Guycharde and Rycharde whyche be the sonnes of Aymon and in case that he wolde not he should com besyege him in his lande afore .x. monethes came at an ende Wherof the kynge Yon answered that he wolde doo nothynge for hym in this behalf And howe after that kynge Charlemayne was returned to Parys with his felowship Roulande his neuew arryued at Parys the whiche the king made knyght and after he sente him to reyse a syege afore Coleyne that a Sarasyn had besyeged that was called Escoufrawde the which Rouland conquered And after sheweth how Reynawde wanne the Crowne of kyng Charlemayne for the good rēnyng that his horse Bayarde made at Parys ¶ Capi. vii Fol. NOw sheweth the History that Charlemayne was at Paris and came to hym a deuocyon for to go in pylgrymage to saynte Iames in Galice And so he departed out of Parys and tooke in hys companye Ogyer the dane and the duke Naymes of Bauyere and many other barons and great lordes Whan they were vpon theyr waye they dyd so muche by theyr Iurneys that they cam to saynt Iames in Galice And whā they were arryued there The kynge went streyght to the churche and offred afore the auter .x. marke of fyne Golde And whan he had offred and doone his deuocyon he tooke on hys waye agayne and came with hys felawship to Bordews And in his cominge thither he looked ouer the riuer of girond not ferre thence and saw the castel of Mountawban that was vpon a roche so fayre so wel made and so well shette wyth fayre walles and thycke in the forme as I haue tolde you afore And whā that Charlemayne sawe it he behelde it well a longe whyle and than sayd A good lorde yonder is a fayre castell strong and wel set I see well that the kyng Yon hath made it of late for it semeth yet to be all newe and it can be none otherwise syth that he hath buylded it in suche a strong place but that he thynketh to make warre to some body And than he called to hym a knight of the lond and sayd to hym tell me howe ye call that castel Syr sayd the knyght the name is Mountawban He had great lust to speake for yf he had keped his peace there had been none other thyng of it but he had suche woordes that afterward bare great harme to hym selfe and to manye other For he tolde Themperour that Reynawde and his brethren the sonnes of Aymon had doo make the castell was called Mountawban And how that the kyng Yon had geuen to Reynawde his syster to his wife WHan Charlemayne vnderstode these wordes he was ryght angry for it and wrothe And wyst not what he should saye and helde hymself a great whyle that he spake not and whan he had mused a lytle he sayde to his folke fayre lordes I shall tell you a wonder For I haue founde myne enemyes in this lond that ben the foure sonnes of Aymon Now vp Ogyer and you duke Naymes lyght on horsbacke incontinent and seke so muche kyng Yon that ye fynde hym and tell hym in my behalfe that he yelde to me againe the foure sonnes of Aymon that be mine enemyes them whiche he hath wythdrawen and borne out agaynst me And that he fynde me knyghtes for to bryng them onlye in to my lond for I am delyvered syth that I haue founde them for to hange them or fley them quycke And yf he wyll not doo so defye you hym on my behalfe And tell hym that wythin this thre or foure monethes I shal be with in his land of Gascoygne wyth all my Hoste and I shall distroy and ouerthrowe all his townes and castelles and yf I maye take hym I shall punysshe hym wythout any mercy Syr sayd Ogyer we shall doo youre commaundement but we shall take with vs Sauces and hostes the whiche been prue and sage and Charlemaine said that he was content and incontinent they went on theyr way And wente aboute to vnderstande where kyng Yon was And so long they asked after hym that they founde hym at Mountawban euen at the foote of the roche For the king yon went agayne to Bourdews and Reynawde conueyed him Whan Ogyer sawe Reynawde
sayd the duke Naimes leue this angre in peace ye know how Reynawde is your enmye prayseth you nothinge but ye wyll I shall gyue you suche couÌ„sell that Reynawde shal be brought to distruccion and his brethern and Mawgys also Syr doo that your barons be redy at candelmas nexte comyng and that euery one of them make good prouysyon of vitayle for vii yere than abide so longe afore mountawban tyll that ye take them and after ye shall auenge your selfe at your wyll vpon them THan whan the kyng Charlemayne vnderstode the good counsell that the duke Naymes had gyuen vnto hym he lyft vp his hed and sayd Naymes it is noâ— the fyrste good counsell that ye haue giuen to me and I wyll it bee doone as ye saye And than the kynge Charlemayne dyd doo make his letters and sente them through all his empyre In the whiche letters was conteyned that euery man that was accustomed to beare armes to go to warre should come to hym at the feast of Candelmasse nexte folowynge well garnisshed of vitayle for the space of .vii. yeres for to abyde at syege afore mountawban Whan the barons knewe the kinges wil eueri maÌ„ made him selfe redy as well as he coulde and came to Parys and presented them to kyng Charlemayne to hys neue with Rowlande and by cause of the great numbre of folke that were com there they myght not lodge al within Parys but they lodged wythout the towne vpon the riuer of Saine Whan the kinge saw that all his barons were come he made them al to come before hym sayd to them lordes ye all knowe right well at the lest the moste party of you howe I haue ouercome subdued .xl. kinges in my dayes the whyche are all to me obeyssaunt excepte the kynge Yon of Gascoyn that hath withdraweÌ„ in his lande my enemies mortall that ben the foure sonnes of Aymon ye know well the great dishonour thei haue doone to me wherof I me coÌ„playne vnto you praye you commaunde you that ye come wyth me into Gascoyn for to helpe me that I be auenged of the greate harme and shame that these foure sonnes of Aimon doo to me for by your othe ye ben all beholden thervnto THan sayd the erle of Nantuel Syr wee shall not goe there at this tyme. Ye know well that that wee ben come out of Spayne but late wherof we ben yet all werye And also in this felawshyp ben many princes and barons that haue not ben yet in theyr couÌ„trey nor seen theyr wiues and children and ye wil that that we go into Gascoyn vpon the kyng Yon vpon the foure sonnes of Aymon And I tell you that the two wouÌ„des that I receyued in Spaine be not yet whole and therfore we may not goe into Gascoyn at thys tyme. But yf it please you ye shall doo as a good kynge and a sage and shall shewe that ye loue your folke For ye ought to kepe them as youre selfe Wythdrawe your hoste vnto whytsonday next coming and gyue leaue to all your barons to goe to their places for to rest them a while And whan the tyme shall be come that your pleasure is to call theym they shall than be all fresshe and redye to fulfil your commaundement wyth all diligence Whan the kynge vnderstode these wordes he was wrothe and sware by saynte Denys of Fraunce saying in thys maner if I should be dyssheryted I shall goe now into Gascoyn and I shall take wyth me all the younge folke of my hoste the whiche I shall put in good straye honestly and I shall gyue theÌ„ all that they shall need thoughe ye should abyde behynde as weke men and feynte Syr sayd the duke Naymes ye say well for thys yonge men shal be ryght glad for to assaye them selfe Therfore wyll I doo it sayde kyng Charlemayne and so shall the kyng Yon be destroyed and whan I shall haue Reynawde and hys brethern and Mawgys the theete takeÌ„ I shall departe the lande of Gascoyne to these yonge knightes for theyr herytage This hangyng that the king Charlemayne sayd these wordes a spye that longed to Reynawde was in thys companye that vnderstode all that sayde is And whan the spye had hearde all together well he put hymself to the way and dyd so much by his Iourneys that he came to mouÌ„tawban where he founde Reynawde his brethern and Mawgys And in contynent that Reynawde saw him he demaunded of hys what tydynges bryng you fro Parys and from the courte of kynge Charlemayne My Lorde sayd the spye wyt it that kyng Charlemayne is greatly wrothe with kynge yon and agaynst you and against your brethern against Mawgys He hath sente for all his subiectes in his Empyre but none wolde haue comen with him into Gascoygne And then he sware Saynte Denys that he should come into thâ—se partyes and should brynge wyth hym none other but al yonge knightes To the which he shall gyue all Gascoygne And sayth that he shall besyege MouÌ„tawban and shall doo to be cast downe the great towre and shall set al Gascoygne in a tyre and flame Than sayd Reynawde to his folke be not discouraged of nothing For I shall see how Rowlande and Oliuer shall beare themself agaynst me and mi brethern And than went Reynawde into the halle And found his brethern and Mawgys with his knyghtes and sayd to them Lordes I brynge you tidynges Now wyt that the kyng Charlemayne cometh to besyge vs and bryngeth with him all the puyssaunce of Fraunce Nowe let vs thynke to receyue him well for he shall haue more to doo than he weneth brother sayd Alarde haue no doubte for they shal be well receyued for as longe that we shall lyue and shal see you ryde vpon bayarde we shall not fayle you nor wee shal not be a ferde to be taken nor ill handled For no man aliue is worth you nother of goodnes nor of prowes THys hangyng Charlemayn was aduysed and thoughte vpon the counsell that the Duke of Nantuel had gyuen to him And after he called his folke sayd to theÌ„ Lordes I gyue you leue and let you wyt that at Easter I shall holde my counsell generall and it please you Now keep that ye faile not to come than well apparelled and redy for I wolde not leaue for nothynge but that I should goe see the kyng Yon. And yf he yelde me not the foure sonnes of Aymon I shall doo to hym with out doubt so much shame that I shal make his berde to be cut of harde by the chynne And also I shal take the crowne of Gascoygne from his hed and I shall make hym come a foote after me begginge his bread And whan he had sayde these wordes The barons tooke leaue of Charlemayne and wente into theyr countryes but at theyr departing Charlemaine sayd to them Lordes remeÌ„bre well your selfe that ye come at the terme that I haue set For I swere vnto
the whiche tooke anon pen and ynke and wrote the letters word for worde as the king had deuised to hym And when they were wryten and sealed the kynge called hys stuarde and sayde to hym Now make you ready on horsebacke and goe to the syege of Mountawban and recomende me vnto the kinge Charlemayne and gyue hym these letters And tell him yf he wyl quite my londe I shall doo this that is of reason and none otherwyse Syr sayde the stuarde I shall gladly doo your commaundement doubte not for it than went the stuarde in his house and made him readye on horsebacke and rode out of Tholouse and tooke the Heraude of the kinge Charlemaine with him And whan they were com vnto Mountawban they foūde the Emperoure Charlemaine in his pauyllion where the stuarde lyghted down and went within and saluted the king Charlemayne fro the kynge yon of Gascoygn and presented him the letters fro his behalfe and sayde vnto hym Right mighty Emperour the kinge yon sendeth you worde by me that yf ye wil ensure his lond he shall fulfil the tenour of this lettre and otherwise he wyl not WHan Charlemayne vnderstood these tydynges he was ryghte gladde he tooke the lettre of the messanger and called Rowlande to him Olyuer the byshop Turpyn the duke Naymes Ogier the dane and the .xii. peeres of Fraunce and said to them Fayre lordes be not displeased goe out of this pauillyon for I will talke with this messanger priuely Syr said they al with a good will And than they went all out of the pauillion and whan they were al gone Charlemayne opened the lettres and red theim all alonge And he found therin that whiche he most desyred in this worlde that was the treason as it was ordeyned whan Charlemaine had red the lettre he myghte be no gladder than he was And of the great Ioye that he hadde of it he began to smyle Syr sayd the stuarde yf ye see oughte in the lettre that pleaseth you not blame not me for it For I know not yet what it is Than sayde Charlemaine to the stuarde Your lorde the kinge yon speaketh ful curteously and if he doo that he dooth me to wyt he shall be well my good freend And so shall I doo to hym great worship and shal make hym a great man and also I shal defende him ayenst all men Syr sayde the stuarde of this that ye say ye shal giue me sureties yf it please you Than said Charlemayne I wyl doo so gladlye This I swere vpon the sonne of the vyrgyn Mary and also vpon saint Denis of Fraunce whose man I am Sir ye haue said all ynough answered the messanger of king yon and none other surety I aske of you THan Charlemain called his chamberlayne said to hym make a lettre to king yon of gascoyne in my behalfe as I shall deuyse it vnto you Wryt that I sende him salutacion and good loue and that it he dooth for me as he sayth I shall encrease hys realme with fourtene good castelles and therof I giue him for suretie our lorde and saint denys of Fraunce and that I send him four manteles of scarlette furred with ermines for to clothe withall the traytoures whan they shall goe to the playne of Valcoloures and there they shal be hanged if god wil and I wil not that any other haue harme but only the foure sonnes of Aimon Syr said the chambrelain your commaundement shal be wel doone and than he made the lettres as themperoure had deuised him And whan he had made them the emperour Charlemayn sealed them and after he called the messager afore his presence and saide to him Holde these lettres and take them to king yon from me and recommend me to him And than he dyd gyue hym .x. marke of golde and a Kyng that he tooke of his fynger Wherof the messanger thanked him much humbly and incontinente lighted on horsebacke and whan he was aryued he salued the kyng yon of Gascoyn from king Charlemaines behalfe and tooke him the letters and the mantelles as Charlemayne had commaunded him THan whan the messanger of the king yon was gone Charlemaine made come afore hym Foulques of Moryllon and Ogier the dane and sayd to them Lordes I haue sente for you For I wil that ye two knowe a litill of my secretes But I tell you vpon your faith that none other shall know the same but onely we vs three vnto the time that the deede be accomplyshed Syr sayd Ogier yf ye thinke that we shoulde discouer youre secrete tell it vs not And if ye truste vs declare hardelye your pleasure Certes said the emperoure to Ogier ye be well worthy to knowe al for I know you for a good and a trusty knight Sir saide Ogier your good gcamercy But I tell you that I wyll not know nothyng therof but that ye take fyrste mine othe therupon Lordes said Charlemaine I take it Nowe shall ye goe to the plaine of Valcolours with three hūdred knightes wel armed and whan ye shall come there ye shall finde the foure sonnes of Aimon And thus I commaunde you that ye brynge them to me other dead or quicke Syr saide Ogier I saw them neuer but armed howe shall we know theym Ogier saide Charlemaine ye shal well may knowe theym For eche of theym shall be clothed wyth a mantell of scarlette furred wyth ermynes and shall beare roses in theyr handes Syr saide Ogier that is a good token and we shal doo your commaūdemente They made none other taryinge but departed from the hoste of the kinge Charlemaine as pryuelye as they myght doo And rode to the plaine of Valcolours and put them selfe in a busshemente wythin a woode all of serpyn trees vnto the tyme that the foure sonnes of Aimon came to the playne of Valcoloures Ha god whye knewe not Reynawde and hys bretherne this mortall treason for they wolde not haue come there vpon mules But they shoulde haue come there vpon good horses and well armed as prue and worthy knightes that they were But god had not remedied it thys Reynawde and his bretherne shoulde haue been so one taken in a litill space for they were in daunger of death Whan Ogyer the dane Foulques of Moryllō were in their bushement Foulques called his folke and sayde to theym Fayre lordes I oughte well to hate Reynawde for he slewe myne vncle by great wronge Nowe am I come to the poynt that I shall be auenged on hym and I shall tell you howe Nowe wyt it that the kynge you of Gascoyn hath betrayed thē and they shall come hyther anon all vnarmed sauf their swerdes And therfore I praye you all that ye thynke to smite well vpon them then shall I know who loueth me best Doo so that none of theim scape and ye shall be well my good freendes and I shall loue you well NOw shal we telle you of the kynge yon that was at Tholouse Whan he
whan so fayre I was deliuered of theim And after I asked of the folke of the countrey what menne they were that so hadde slaine my men and they dyd tell me that they were the foure sonnes of AymoÌ„ and a greate theefe that was called Mawgis with theym And I asked them why they wold set themselfe to so foule a craft vnhappy seen that they were so greate gentilmen born and the people of the couÌ„trey answerde me that they were constrained for to doo so bycause they had so greate pouertie within Mountawban that they wist nor what to doo But I did neuer see so cruel a man as the same Mawgys is for he bounde my handes behinde my backe whan he had robbed me and thaÌ„ he bet me so sore that I weened to haue dyed therof and hath araied me as ye see Syr ye be the best kynge in the worlde and ye be the lorde of all this land wherfore I pray you for god that ye wyl doo me ryght of these four sonnes of Aymon and of Mawgis that greate theefe And whan Charlemain vnderstood these wordes he ryghted his heade vp said Pylgryme is it true as thou saiest yea sir said Mawgis Nowe tell me thy name said Charlemayne Sir said Mawgys my name is Gaidon I am borne in Bretayne I am a great man in my contrey wherfore I require you in the worshyppe of the holye sepulcre that I haue sought that ye doo me ryght Pylgrime sayde Charlemaine I can not haue no ryght of them my selfe for I promyse thee if I had them all the worlde should not saue them but that I shoulde make them dye a shameful deathe Syr sayde then Mawgys sith that ye can do me no ryghte of theym I beseche almightye god that is in heuen that it pleaseth him for to doo it Syr saide the barons thys pilgrime semeth to be a good man and a true as we suppose For it is well seen on him geue to hym your almesse yf it please you And thenne the kinge commaunded that men should giue him twentye pound of money and Mawgis tooke them and put it in his hoode and he saide in himselfe ye haue gyuen to me of your own good but ye haue doon like a foole I shal rewarde you ryght euel for it or euer I departe fro you whan he had the syluer he asked for some meate for gods sake and oure ladyes for sythe yesterdaye he hadde not eaten as he said by my faith said Charlemaine thou shalt haue meat drinke ynoughe And anon they did brynge him meate and he sette him downe and tooke and eate wel of the best And the king saide to him nowe eat free good pilgrim For thou shalt be wel serued and Mawgys eat styl answered neuer a word but beheld onely the king in hys vysage And the kinge saide to him tell me Pylgryme and hide no thynge from me whi hast thou loked so on me sir said Mawgis I shall tel you with a good wyll Wyt that I am a wel trauaylled man but in no place that euer I was I saw neyther christen man ne sarasyn so goodly a prince ne so curteous as ye be one wherof of all the pardones that I haue wonne in my vyage makinge I giue you the haue freely Certes pilgrime said the king and I take it gladlye And I thanke you muche therof And Mawgys gaue hym for a witnesse of the same his palmers staffe for to kysse it thaÌ„ said the barons euery chone certainlye syr the pylgryme hath giuen vnto you a verye fayre gyfte ye oughte to rewarde him wel for it Syr said thenne Mawgis I aske none other rewarde of you for it but that it please you for to take my poore gyfte a worthe and that I may rest my selfe heere a while for I am verye sycke wery And thus as the kynge spake to Mawgys came than Rowlande and Oliuer and al their folke that brought Richard for a prisoner ANd whan Ogier Estorfawd the sonne of Oedon and the duke Naimes saw that Rowland wold goe to the pauilioÌ„ of charlemaine with Richard They came to Rowlande and saide to him Syr Rowland howe can ye hate Richard so sore that ye wyll yeeld hym to Charlemaine Lordes said RowlaÌ„d what wyll ye that I shall doo wyth him tell me and I shall doo it Syr sayde they we wyll that ye delyuer Richard and ye shall say that it was a noâ—her prisoner Lordes sayd Rowlande yf I canne doo this I shal doo it gladly And these wordes hearde a yoman that incontinent spurred his horse and came to the kinges tent said to Charlemayne Syr I bringe you tydynges sore straunge we haue foughten by the ryuer syde of Balancon where that Reinawd the sonne of Aymon hath keept his own right well ayenst Rowland your neuew and setteth not a straw by him And Rowland lost there more than he wan Whan the Emperoure charlemayne vnderstood that worde he was abasshed greatlye and after he said to the yoman Tel me my freend howe was yet of my neuewe Rowland Sir said the yoman he fought with the foure sonnes of Aimon that defended themselfe well But Rowlande hath brought with him prysoner one of the foure sonnes of AimoÌ„ the which is the most hardy and the most valiaunt of theÌ„ al in al pointes CHarlemayn began than to lepe for Ioye whan he vnderstoode these tydynges and came out of his tent and behelde and sawe Rychard that Rowlande broughte and whan Charlemayne sawe Richarde he knewe him well incontinente and began to crie for greate Ioye that he had By my soule neuewe it is well seen that ye haue ben there For elles Richarde shoulde not haue ben take Certes sir said Rowlande well lied Ogierro you for yf he hadde not be the foure sonnes of Aimon were take aswell as one and than said the king to Rychard Whoresone by the faith that I owe to god ye shal be hanged by the necke but fyrst ye shall haue of euil and of tormentes ynoughe sir said Richard I am in pryson I feare me not to be hanged as longe as my brother shal may lyght vpon bayard and that Mawgys be alyue Alarde and Guicharde my ryghte deare brethern for if ye do to me any outrage no castell ne town ne fortresse shal not keep you but they shal make you dye an euell deathe or two dayes be passed Whan Charlemayne heard Richard speake so proudlye he was ryghte an angred for it and tooke a staffe with bothe hys handes and smote Richard therwith vpon hys heade so hard that he made the bloud renne out of it to the earthe and whaÌ„ Richarde felte himselfe thus wounded he vaunced him selfe and tooke themperour Charlemain with both the hys armes by the waste wrastled togither a longe whyle so that they fell both downe the one heere the other there And Rycharde rose vp quickely and wolde haue renne vpon Charlemayne but Ogyer and
that gifte so riche he was gladde of it by cause of the great valure of it Reinawd called Mawgis saide to him Cosin what shall we doo with this egle My cosin saide Mawgis me semeth that ye ought to put hym aboue vpon the apple of the greate towre of this castell to the ende that Charlemayne and all his hoste maye see it By my soule said Reinawdeye saie wel And they tooke the egle and made it to be borne vpon the highe towre of Mountawban And whan the sonne dyd shyne vpon thys Egle it casted so greate a light that it might be seen .x. myles thence And whan Charlemaine and his folke apperceued it they were ryght sorye for it and an angred WHan Charlemayne the greate Emperoure saw that the foure sonnes of Aymon mocked him thus he called to him Rowland and Olyuer and all the other Peeres of Fraunce and sayde to them Lordes it is sore mishapped to vs sith we came in this londe of Gascoygn for I haue lost my crowne and Ioious my swerde myn egle of golde that was of so great value as ye all know and ye al haue loste youre good swerdes where of we beÌ„ wel shamed also we haue ben chased fro the feeld shamefully Now haue wel the four sonnes of Aimon shamed vs al through that falce theef Mawgis Wherfore my faite lordes I complain me vnto you prayinge that you wil helpe me to auenge me vpon theim for they haue doone you shame as wel as vnto me Than said the .xii. peeres of FrauÌ„ce syr we be ready for to doo all that ye wyll I wyll saide the kinge that ye Ogier also the duke Naymes and ye byshop Turpyn and ye Escoufe the sonne of Oedon that are of the kinred of Reinawde that ye goe to Mountawban and so tel to Reinawde to his brethern and Mawgys that they deliuer me againe my crowne Ioyous my swerd and also myne Egle of gold and the swerdes of you al and I shall giue them truce for two yeres And I shall doo al mine hoste to returne againe in to fraunce syr answered Ogier I shal with a good wyll doo your commaundement but I feare me of Reinawde that he will keep vs prisoners Ha Ogier sayde Charlemayne ye feare him but litell whan the barons heard the coÌ„mauÌ„dement of the king they made no tarying but lighted on horsbacke and rode to Mountawban And whaÌ„ thei were come togither to the draw bridge the porter that keept warde vpon the gate said to them lordes what be ye my freend said Ogyer we are of the folke of Charlemaine goe youre waye to Reinawd and tell him that the Duke Naymes the byshop Turpin Escoufe the sonne of Oedon and Ogier the Dane wolde speake with him My lordes said that porter I shal goe to him incoÌ„tinent than he went to Reynawde and shewed him howe foure knightes were at the gate that wolde speake with him what be they said Reinawde My lorde said the porter they tolde me that the one is called the duke Naymes that other the bishop Turpin and a nother Escoufe the soÌ„ne of Oedon the fourth is named Ogyer the dane Whan Reynawd heard this he stood vp and said to his three brethern My lordes heere cometh foure valyaunt kâ—yghtes and wise I beseche you that we shew to them that we been no children for to be rocked in a slepe Cosin sayde Mawgis ye speake well and wisely Me semeth it were good that we should know wherfore they come or they entre to the ende that we may best answere to them Than they went vnto the gate and made the drawe brydge to be lette downe And whan it was doone Rycharde yssued out first vpon the brydge and went ayenst them and made to them greate honour and sayd to them My lordes ye be ryght welcome thys castel is â—t your commaundement For I holde me so sure of my brother Reinawd that I dare offre it to you cosyn said the messangers gramercye And than Reinawde auaunced him selfe and saluted them honourablye and after tooke Ogier by the hande he him thother three he brought to the Dungeon where they were receiued honestly by the lady Clare the wife of Reinawde And whan Reinawde had receyued them he made them to sit vpon a benche and than he saide to them fayre lordes I praye you that ye wyll tell vs wherfore ye become For ye come not without a greate cause ye knowe wel syr Reynawd said Ogier that all we that been heere haue euer loued you well And I promise you yf it had been our will ye should haue had good peace with the kinge Charlemayne but many tymes he hathe vnbrayed vs therof ye must knowe that your cosyn Mawgis hath shamed vs al for we were his suretie to Charlemayne vpon our othe to deliuer hym at hys will And the said Mawgis is come hyther without our leaue ayenst hys promyse and that worse is he hath robbed the crowne of the king Charlemayne and his swerde and all the swerdes of vs all .xii. peeres Wherefore Charlemain sendeth to you worde by vs that ye see heere that ye deliuer him again his crown the egle of golde and all oure swerdes And he shall gyue you truce for two yeres and he shall doo returne al his armie in to fraunce After that Ogyer had said this Mawgis stood vp and spake by the leaue of Reynawde said Lordes ye ben right welcome in this castell of Mountawban And yf it please you ye shall not speake no more of this matter now and ye shall abyde this night with vs and to morowe ye shal haue an answere of that ye haue sayde Reynawde saide than Ogier wyl ye keep that Mawgys hath said yea without fault said Reinawde sith that it pleaseth you we shall abyde for the loue of you And than Mawgys went to the stuarde of Mountawban and aduised him the meates Wherof the knightes of Charlemaine should be feasted with all and tolde that they should be wel serued what so euer it coste And see that the great cup be borne afore the duke Naymes the whiche I did conquere at reyns My lorde answered the stuarde doubte not ye shall well be serued at my power And theâ—â—â—e Mawgys came agayne And whan Reynawde sawe him come he calles hym and saide to him my cosyn I praye you see that we be well serued sir saide Mawgis I haue purueyed for it al ready WhaÌ„ Reinawd vnderstood him he was gladde of it and begaÌ„ to deuise with the folke of Charlemaine right honestly and of many thinges And whan he thought that the meate myght be well ready he his bretherne tooke the foure knightes and brought them to the halle to theyr meate whan they were there Mawgys made them washe than he tooke the duke Naimes and made hym syt downe and my lady Clare next hym And he made syt downe the bisshop Turpyn and Reynawde and than Ogyer and Alarde
and after Guicharde and Escoufe the sonne of Oedon and than the lytle Rychard And whan they were all set at the table the meates of the first course were brought to the borde thā the other one after another by good ordenaūce and fayre And to say the trouthe they were well and honourablye serued and of many and dyuerse seruises of royall meates And after that they had well eaten at theyr ease the duke Naymes called Reynawd and sayd to him Good cosin I pray you that ye wyl delyber your selfe for to gyue vs a good answere of that ye haue heard of vs. Lordes sayd Reynawde I shall doo it in so muche that the kyng shall haue a cause to be contēte of me For I shall doo all that he wyll for to haue peace and hys loue withall and that for the loue of the other my lordes that be heere now And than Reynawde made to bryng the swerde of Charlemayne the swerdes of the twelue peeres and also the crowne and the Egle of golde And whan Ogyer sawe this he began to laughe and sayd By my soule Reynawde ye had heere a fayre gayne yf ye had kept it And whan Rycharde saw that his brother wolde delyuer the Egle of golde he began for to say By saynt poule my fayre brother ye shall not doo so Ye shall not delyuer agayne that I haue wonne wel and truly by force of armes brother Richarde sayde Reynawde let me doo I pray you I will not sayd Richard by my soule for Charlemayne hymselfe smote me whyle that I was prysoner within his pauilion full shāefully wyth a staffe Lordes said the duke Naymes let thys a lone And take we that Reynawde giueth to vs in thanke for he hath doone ynough By my fayth sayd the bysshop Turpyn he dooth so And than they tooke the crowne of Charlemayne all theyr swerdes And whan thei had them Ogyer sayd to Reynawde My cosyn I counsell you that ye come with vs and Alarde Guycharde shal abyde heere to keep your castell Syr sayd Reynawde I feare me to sore the kynge wolde make me for to be killed outrageously Come on hardely sayd the duke Naymes for we shall lede you wel surely For syth that ye shal be with vs ye ought not to fear nothyng Lordes sayde than Reynawde I shall doo your commaundemente vnder your assurynge WHan Reynawde was accorded for to go wyth the Duke Naimes and with the bisshop Turpyn wyth Ogyer the dane and Escoufe the sonne of Oedon they lyghted all vpon theyr horses and Reynawde mounted vpon bayarde and armed hym And in like wise dyd Alarde And whan the duchesse Clare saw that Reynawde her Lorde wolde go with the folke of the Emperour Charlemayne she came before them kneeled downe before them and sayd vnto them my lordes I thanke you muche of the fauour that ye did shew to my brother Richarde and to Mawgis now agayne I pray you that ye will haue Reynawde for recōmended mi lorde and my deere husbande the whiche ye lede with you Madame said Ogier haue no doubt that Reynawde shall haue anie harme For wee should not suffre it for nothing for to leese both life gooddes And than they put them to the way for to goe thens and Reinawd tooke ten knyghtes wyth him for to beare hym felawship whan they were come to the riuer of Balancō they sought after the passage and passed ouer And whan they were all ouer Ogier began for to sai Lordes ye wot well all is of euyll courage agaynst Reynawd wherfore I doubt me of him that we haue brought heere wyth vs. I counsell that we knowe fyrst the wyll of charlemayne or euer he see Reynawd Ogier sayd the duke Naymes ye speake well and wisely we shal go speake ye and I to Charlemaine and Reynawde shall abyde heere tyll we come agayne Lordes sayd than Reynawde I shal doo that ye counsel me but I pray you holde me that ye haue promised me that is that ye shall keep my bodye and my lymmes from harme Reynawde sayd the duke Naymes we shall rather dye than that ye should haue any harme And than he and Ogyer tooke the way towarde the hoste of Charlemayne and Reinawde abode with the bysshop Turpyn and wyth the sonne of Oedon Now herken of Pynabell a spye that longed vnto the kynge Charlemayne wyt it that the spye was at the riuer side of Balancon with this felawship whan the wordes afore sayde were spoken whan the spye had well vnderstand all the conclucion he stale hymselfe fro the companye and rode a good pace as he myght in the worlde and came to Charlemayne to whome he sayd in this maner syr I bryng you tidinges wherof ye shal be ryght glad my freende sayd Charlemayne thou art well come I praye you tell me what tidinges ye brynge wyt it syr that I haue left Reynawde and Alarde hys brother at the ryuer side of Balancon with the bisshop Turpyn and Escouf the Sonne of Oedon and the duke Naymes and Ogyer are coming towarde you for to aske leue yf they shall brynge them to you wyth sureti Is it trouth said Charlemaine yea without faut said Pinable By my soule sayd the king I shall rewarde thee for it ryght well but keep well that ye shew not this to no man vpon thy life for I shall put therto a good remedy And than he behelde aboute hym and saw Oliuer and sayde Olyuer incontynent and without any desaye take two hundred knyghtes with horses and wel armed and lede them at the ryuer syde of Balancon where yee shall fynde Reynawde and Alarde see that ye take them bring them hither and if ye doo this aske of me what ye wyll ye shall haue it And than sayd Oliuer syr I shal wel doo your commaundemente And than he tooke wyth him two hūdred knightes as the kinge Charlemayne had ordeyned hī tooke his way towarde the ryuer of Balancon Now god through his pitie saue the good knight Reynawde and Alarde his deere brother for they ben in great peril of theyr lyues This hangyng that Olyuer was gone towarde the ryuer of Balancon the duke Naymes and Ogyer came to the hoste and lighted a fore the pauilion of the kinge and went in And whan they sawe the kyng they made him the reuerence but he sayd no worde to them whā Ogier saw the countenaunce of the king he sayd to hym Syr what sēblaunt is this that ye shewe to vs I meruayle me greatli that ye make vs so euyll cheere seen that we come fro thens where ye haue sende vs that was to Moūtawbā where we haue spoken with Reynawde the sonne of Aymon the whiche is al togither redy for to doo al that your pleasur is and so he hath delyuered vs agayne your crowne and al our swerdes as for your egle ye shal haue it whā ye wyll Ogyer sayd than Charlemain what haue ye doone of Reynawde for I
doo euen anon yf ye wyl deliuer him vnto me After these wordes Reynawd ryghted his head vp and sayde My brethern ye know well that Charlemaine is our souerayne lorde And of thother part ye see how Rowland the Duke Naymes Ogier the dane the bisshop Turpin and also Escouf the sonne of Oedon are wythin for to make our poyntment with Charlemayne for they know well that we ben in the right the king in the wrōg and thus yf we kyll hym be it wyth ryght or with wronge all the worlde should renne vpon vs nor neuer as lōge as we liue we shal not be wtout warre And whan Reynawde had sayde thys Alarde spake in thys maner Brother ye haue spoken wiselye but ye see that we cannot haue peace wyth Charlemayne by no wise me semeth that wee ought to aske it of hym oute for all and yf he wil not let vs keep hym prysoner brother sayd Guycharde ye say wel but my hert telleth me that he shall neuer make peace wyth vs nor loue vs Lordes sayde Rycharde me semeth that wee haue a good head of Reynawde our brother thanked be our Lorde the whyche hath gouerned vs ryght well herto let hym shyfte wyth the kynge as he wyll And that that he wil shall be doone By my faythe sayde Alarde Rycharde speaketh well And whan they were all accorded to that that Reynawde should doo the foure brethern went to the Chambre where Rowlande was to whome Reynawde spake in thys wyse Syr Rowlande a ryse I praye you that ye wyll sende for Ogier the bysshop Turpyn and for all the other that be heere wythin of the folke of Charlemayne For I wyll tell you one thynge And whā Rowlande saw Reynawde and hys brethern at that time of the night come into his chambre he was meruaylled Neuerthelesse he sent for all hys felawes as Reynawde hadde tolde hym And whan they were al come Reynawde stoode vp and sayd Lordes ye ben all my freendes god gramercy and you wherof I wyll not hyde nothynge from you Yee must know that I haue heere within a prysoner by whome I shal haue peace all myne herytaunce agayne Reynawde sayd Rowlād I pray you tel me what he his For heere is no mā but that wolde fayne ye should doo wel By my soule sayd Reynawde it is the great emperour Charlemayn to whome al fraūce belongeth And whan Rowland vnderstode these tidinges he was sore maruayled of it sayd Reynawde ye tell me nowe a wunderfull thynge Howe haue ye taken myne vncle so lyghtly tell me it please you how ye had him heere within haue ye taken hym by force of armes nay verely said Reynawd Tell me then how I pray you sayd Rowlande wit it sayde Reynawde that I wot not howe Mawgys my cosyn did to night but well I wot that he hath brought the king heere within out of his pauilion and hath laide him in a bed in a chambre where he is now fast a slepe WHan Rowland and al his felawes heard these tidinges they were greatly abasshed how it myght be that mawhis should bringe the kynge there I meruayle much ther of sayd the duke Naymes for ye knowe well that the king made hymselfe for to be kepte bothe night and day well sure Lordes sayde than Ogyer all this hath doone our Lorde for the loue of reynawde bycause he setteth hym al to mischeif against Reynawde and that the warre hath lasted to longe the whiche shal now be left wherof I thāke God for my parte For manye good knightes haue loste their lyues for it And whan Ogier had sayd thus Reynawde tooke Rowland and the other and brought theym alwayes speakinge vnto the chambre where Charlemayne laye so faste a slepe that they coulde not awake hym for nothing that they could doo to him For Mawgys had charmed hym so harde And whan the barons sawe the kinge so harde a slepe they wundred full sore vpon it they were greatly abasshed of it Than spake Rowlād fyrst and sayde Reynawde where is Mawgis that hath wrought so well to night I praye you let hym come heere and that he awake mine vncle Charlemaine out of this slepe And whan he shall be awaked wee shall all fall at hys feete and shall crye hym mercy And so I pray you that thoughe yf ye holde mine vncle in your handes that ye wyll not be the prouder for it in youre wordes by my fayth syr Rowland sayd Reynawde I wil that ye know I should rather dye than I should say so my souerayne lorde a foule worde But I shall put me my goodes and all my brethern to his wyll to the ende that it wyl please hym to graunt vs peace wyth him And I wyll go fetche Mawgys to you therto doo with hym what ye wyll And than Reynawde wente and sought Mawgys the whiche he coulde not finde wher of he was full sory And whan that the porter wyst that Reynawde sought after Mawgys he came to hym and sayd Syr ye seeke hym for nought for he wente his wayes out right now And how knowest thou of it sayd Reynawde Syr wyt it that this night he made me open the gate and he wēt out vpō your horse bayarde And he had not taryed longe whan he brought a great man a bigge vpon the horse necke afore hym went in I wot not where And soone after he came agayne vpon another horse and he had clothed hym selfe poorely And than he made me to open the gate and he wente oute and he came not sith againe And al this is trouth that I tell you now ANd whan Reynawde had vnderstande these wordes he was so wrothe that he wist not what to say nor doo For he knewe well by hymself that Mawgys was gon his wayes bycause he wolde no lenger abyde the wrathe of Charlemayne Than began Reynawde for to weepe full tenderly for hys cosin that was thus gone And all weepynge he came againe vnto the barons and sayde to them how Mawgys was gone away wythout his knowledge wher of he was so worth and so sori that he went almoste out of his minde And whā Alarde Guycharde and Rycharde had well vnderstāde thys they begā for to make great moue and sorowed full sore And than Richarde began for to sai Ha my fayre cosyn Mawgys what shall we doo from hens forthon sith that we haue loste you we may wel say that we be discomfited For ye were our saluacyon our succours oure hope our counsel our refute our defence and also our guyde For it is not yet longe ago that I should haue dyed an euyll death yf I had not bē succoured through your helpe Alas all the heuynes that ye bere of the wrathe that the kinge Charlemayne hath agaynst you cometh onli by vs. And whan he had sayd so he knacked his teeth for angre and sayde wee ben nowe well all lost syth that we haue lost Mawgis And with this he set hande to his
swearde wolde haue slayne the Emperour Charlemayne but Reynawde drew him a syde And the duke Naymes and Ogyer sayde than vnto hym Rycharde Richarde refrayne your courage For it were not wel doone for to kyll a man that slepeth And also afore that we shal departe hence we shall set all at one and God wyll ¶ Shortelye for to speake Olyuer and the Duke Naymes spake so fayre vnto Rycharde that they made him promise them that he should doo no harme to the Kynge Charlemayne Neuerthelesse Rycharde left not to make great sorow for his cosyn Mawgys that he had lost For al them that saw him make so great mone had pitie for to se him It was no meruayle if Richarde made sorowe for Mawgis For I promise you he had greate need of hym not longe after And so had all his brethern as ye shall heare heere after ALl thus as the foure sonnes of Aymon made theyr moue for the loue of theyr cosin Mawgis The duke Nymes began to speake sayde in this wise By god lordes ye doo not wel for to make so great sorowe I pray you leue this heuynes And let vs begyn to speake of your peace that muste be made with the Emperour Charlemayn that an ende maye be hadde of thys warre that hath endured so longe By god sayd Rowlande ye be passynge slow therupon And also we muste fyrste haue his mercy or euer we moue any thing of the peace For ye wot wel that I left him bycause that peace should be made Syr sayd the duke Naymes ye speake wysely and well but howe shal we speake wyth hym wythout Mawgys were heere we cannot awake hym And but yf god remedyeth it we shal neuer speke wyth him But al thus as the barons spake in thys wyse The charme that Mawgys had set vpon Charlemayne was come at an ende and the strength of it was passed And sodenly Charlemaine began to moue hys body and arose anon vpon his feete and right sore abasshed looked al aboute him And whan he saw that he was at moūtawban in the subieccion of Reynawd the sonne of Aymon he was sore an angred and made suche sorowe for it so that al they that were there trowed that he had ben mad and from hymselfe And whā his wittes were come agayne he knew wel that Mawgys had doone it vnto hym sware that as longe as he were manne on liue he should make no peace tyl that he were out of Mountawban and that men had brought Mawgys to hym And whā Rycharde vnderstode this that Charlemayne sayd he began to saye in this wyse Howe the deuill dare ye thus speake syr ye see well that ye be our prysoner And yet ye thretē vs. I make to god mine a vowe and to Saynte Peter were not that I haue promysed that I shal not doo to you no harme at this tyme I should strike the head from the bodye of you Holde your pease sayd Reynawde let the kynge Charlemayne saye his wyll ye are ouer besy in your wordes And let vs all pray hym that he wyll pardon vs. For the warre hath lasted to longe cursed be he that began it For great euyles and harmes the whiche are happed therby REynawde was wyse and wel taught for to stylle thus hys brethern to whome he said My lordes my brethern yf it please you ye shal come with me for to cry mercy vnto our souerayne lorde the Emperour Charlemayne Reynawde said Alarde we shall doo all that ye wyl By mi faith said the duke Naimes My lordes ye doo ryght wisely and I promyse you that all good shall come to you therof Than Reynawd and all hys brethren and Rowland and Oliuer and Ogyer the Dane the duke Naymes the bisshop Turpin and Escoufe the sonne of Oedō began all for to fall on theyr knees before the emperour And Reinawde spake fyrste and sayd in this maner of wise Noble Emperour haue mercy of vs for I and my brethern wee yeeld vs to you to doo your pleasure of vs your will be so that our lyues ben saued there is nothinge but that we will doo it for the loue of you if it please you to graunt vs peace with you And for that piti pardon that God gaue vnto Mary Magdelene whan she wasshed hys feete in the house of Simeon good syr haue pity of vs. And yf it please you not for to pardon me at the least pardon my brethern And take them agayne theyr landes and I shal gyue you Mountawbā and Bayarde my good horse And so shall I goe into the holy lāde I Mawgis where we shal serue to the Temple of our Lorde And whan the kinge Charlemain heard Reynawde speake thus he blastred all for angre and sayd by that good lorde that made me yf all the worlde speake to me therof yet should I neuer cosēt me to no peace but I haue Mawgys in my handes for to doo my wyll vpon hym Alas sayd than Reynawde now haue I hearde that worde bytynge wherof I am al desperate For I should rather let my selfe be hanged thā that I should cōsente to the death of Mawgys my good cosyn For he hath not deserued towarde vs that we should betraye hym but rather he were worthy by reason for to be lorde aboue vs. Reynawde sayd thā Charlemaine thīke not thoughe I am your prysoner that ye shall make me doo anye thynge agaynst my wyll syr sayd Reynawd wyte it that myne entente is for to meke my self toward you for I haue leuer that we suffre wronge of you than ye of vs now tell me syr how I shall delyuer you Mawgys that is our life hope sucours our comfort sheeld our spere and also our swerde our brede our wyne and our flesshe also our refute our mayster our guyde and our defence in all places wherby syr I tell you that yf ye had all my brethern in your pryson and that ye should make them to be hanged and that Mawgys were with in my power and with me yet wold I not yeelde hym vnto you for to quyte wythall my brethern And also I swere you vpon my fayth that I wot not where that he is gone god wot it Ha sayd the Emperour charlemayne goddes curse haue he for I am sure he is heere within you he is not sayd Reynawde I take it vpon my baptysme And than Reynawde turned himself toward Rowlande and all the other barons and sayd to them Lordes I beseche you for God that it wyll please you for to pray our souerayne lorde the kinge that he wyll haue mercye of me and of my bretherne to the ende the peace maye be had in Fraunce yf it please hym And than Naymes that was kneelinge vpon his knees and that heard that Reynawde had sayd and wyste well that he spake but well sayde to the Emperour in this wise Syr I pray you that ye wyll not be dyspleased of that I shall tell you ye know
muche by hym that yf he had you as he hath Rycharde He durst well hange yourself al vs. Syr Olyuer sayd the messanger I swere you on my fayth that Reynawd ceassed not all thys day to pray the duke Richard that he should forsake Charlemayn and he should saue his lyfe wherof Rycharde of Normandy wolde doo nothynge but spake great wordes to Reynawde And whan that the Messanger had sayd thus he sayd to the kyng Syr gyue me leue to goe if it please you and tel me what I shal say to Richarde of Normandye fro you Freende sayd Charlemayne ye shal tell him on my behalfe that he put no doubt in nothiÌ„g For Reynawde shall not be so hardy to doo him any harme WhaÌ„ the messager that was a wyse knight vnderstoode Charlemayne he coulde not absteyne hym selfe but he sayd to hym syr Emperour ye be ouer proude but I promyse you that Reynawde setteth lytle by your pryde and I make you sure that Alarde wayteth well for my comyng agayne For he wolde not take a hundred thousand pounde for to leue Rycharde but that he should hang him his owne handes And as soone as he had sayd so he went his wayes wythout any leue taking of the kyng streyght to Ardeyne ANd whan the .xii. peeres saw the messanger go with an yll answer they were full sory for it Ha god sayd Ogyer how the deuyll the kynge is felle and hard of hert that wil nother peace nor concorde I am well sure that his pride shal be cause of a shamefull death to Richarde Ogier sayd Rowlande ye saye trouth but I see him hang god neuer help me at my need if I abyde after it with Charlemayne whyles I liue whaÌ„ he had sayd so he went to the other peeres sayd to them Lordes what shall we doo shall we let thus Rycharde be hanged our felawe one of the best knightes of the worlde and moste hardy for thoroughe his prowes he is there as he is neuer no foule worde issued out of his mouth alas we shall now see hym hange with great shame certes yf wee suffre it we ben shamed for euer ROwland as a man disperate came than to the kyng al wroth and sayd to hym in this maner Syr by my soule I go now oute of your seruise without your leue after he sayd to Ogier Ogyer what wyl ye doo wil ye come with me leue this Deuyll heere for he is all beside him selfe By my head Rowland sayde Ogyer ye say trouth I shall neuer in my lyfe abyde with hym but I shall go gladlye wyth you where ye wyl And I shal not leue you for no man in the worlde syth that he suffreth that suche a valiaunt maÌ„ shall dye as the duke Rycharde of Normandy that he loued so muche He should soone doo so bi vs for he is a man that hath in hym nother loue nor pitie And whan Oliuer of vyen vnderstoode these wordes he stoode vp and sayd Lordes I will go with you I haue dwelled heere to longe and I also sayd the duke Naymes in likewise Escoufe the sonne of Oedon And whan the bisshop Turpin saw this he casted a great syghe and sayd By my fayth Charlemayne it is euill to serue you for of good seruyce ye doo yeelde an euill rewarde as it is well seen now by the Duke Rycharde of Normandye that hath serued you so well and so truly And if I dwel any loÌ„ger with you I pray god punisshe me for it THan whaÌ„ Charlemayn saw his peeres that were so sore moued with angre agaynst him he sayd to them Lordes haue no doubt of nothyng for the duke Rycharde shall haue no harme Syr sayde the Duke Naymes ye doo great wrong for to say so for a foole neuer beleueth till he feele sore weene you to make vs fooles with your wordes We se the galous made vp for to haÌ„g our felaw wherfore I tel you that a myschiefe take me if I dwel with you any lenger Whan the duke Naymes had sayd so he went out of the â—â—â—â—lion of Charlemayne and in likewise all the Peeres of Fraunce with hym and wente into hys tente the whiche he made to be pulled downe incontinent And whan they of the hoste of Charlemayne saw that they were sore afrayed And ye ought to wyt that they were so sore moued within a litle while that there abode in the hoste of Charlemayne not one baron nor knyght but onlye the poore symple gentilmen and comin people whan Rowlande saw thys he went on his wayes wyth the other peeres And wit it at that houre the hoste of Charlemayne was made lesse than it was afore by .xl. thousande men REynawde that was vpon the hyghe gate of Ardeyne saw so great numbre of folke cominge togither so called he to hym the messager that was but comen fro Charlemayne and sayd to hym in thys maner Come heere messanger tell me what Charlemayne hath sayd vnto you Syr sayd the messager wit it that ye haue missed of peace for charlemayne wil nothyng of it but he seÌ„deth you worde by me that ye be not so hardy vpon the eyen of your head to doo any harme to the Duke Rycharde of Normandy And whan he had said this he turned him toward the duke Rycharde and sayd to him Syr duke now may ye know howe muche Charlemayne loueth you Wit it for certaine that ye get nother helpe nor succours of him and for the loue of you Rowlande and all the other peeres of Fraunce ben ful sore an angred with him For ye may perceyue it well by theyr tentes that beÌ„ pulled downe And so I am sure that the moste parte of the hoste shall depart for the loue of you And so shal not abyde there but only the erle guanellon his lignage For theyr tentes ben righted all the other brought downe Whan Reynawde wyste that the frenchemen were angry with Charlemayne for the loue of the duke Rycharde of Normandy he chaunged his courage and could not keep him from weepynge And after he turned hym towarde Rycharde of Normandy and sayd to hym for god my cosyn I praye you for to pardon me the great shame that I haue doon to you Reynawde sayd Rycharde I blame you not for I wot wel that ye cannot doo therto For the greate pride and cruelnes of Charlemayne is causer of al this WhaÌ„ Reynawde had cried mercy to the duke Richard he vnbounde him and Alarde and Guycharde came to helpe hym for they were all glad that Rychard was deliuered Notwithstandynge afore that they were disposed for to make him dye shamefully And whan they had doone so Reynawde sayd cosin Rycharde lene vpon this walle and we shall looke what Charlemayne wyl doo Syr sayd the duke Rycharde ye say well let vs see it ANd whan Charlemayn saw that his barons went away as it is said he was sori for it that he wexed almoste madde all quicke for the
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
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
brother for he is your elder that know ye well THan sayde yonnet father be you sure I shall serue my dere brother as I wolde doo you that are my lord my dere father By my faithe faire sonne saide reinawde if ye do so ye shal be praised for it whersomeuer ye come or goe But yet one thing I forbid you that ye speake not to muche for if ye doo the contrarie the frensshemen shall saie that ye be not like inconditions to your parentage Father saide the childrene we haue suche a trust in oure Lorde god that he shall keep vs from al thing that is contrarye to his will and that we shall so gouerne vs that ye shal gladlie auowe vs for your children all they of the courte of Charlemayne shall loue vs but yf they wil doo wrong whan Reynawd heard his children speake so the was â—ight glad therof and drewe them aside and said to theim My fayre children ye goe now into frauÌ„ce remember well heere after al which I shall tell you now ye must know the there be in the courte of Charlemaine a great lygnage of folke that neuer loued vs but litel the which are of the greate power thei be of mauÌ„t I charge you that ye ne goe nor come with theim for nothing that they can tell you yf thei hurt you by any wise see that ye reueÌ„ge your selfe wysely shewe them that ye be the sonnes of Reinawde of mountawban Father said the chyldren doubt not we shal not suffre that anye outrage be doo to vs if we mai Faire children saide reinawde kneele afore me they kneeled anon afore their father reinawd gaue theÌ„ his blessyng after kissed them weeping manie times gaue them leaue after turned him to his knightes and saide My lordes I commend you to god pray you that ye rend wel my children suffre not that any wrong be don to them to your power for ye knowe wel that we ben hated in fraunce I praie you giue theÌ„ alwaies good couÌ„seil and that thei be alwaies courteous gentil liberal of their goodes for a priÌ„ce couetous was neuer praised whan reinawd had said this he withdrew him sore weeping Thus leueth thistorie to speake of reinawd of his bretherne and returneth to shew of his children that were gone to the courte of Charlemâ—ine ⧠Howe after that the kyng Charlemayne had receyued ful sweetly the sonnes of Reynawde they foughte with the suÌ„nes of Foulques of Moryllon discomfited them in the ysle of oure lady within Parys bycause they had layde treason vpon reynawde theyr father for cause that he had slayne Foulques in the playne of Valcoloures NOwe sheweth the tale that after that Aimonet yonnet were departed fro theyr father they rode so muche by their Iourneys that they came to parys and lodged theym by the palays and whan thei were lodged the two childreÌ„ clothed themselfe honestly all theyr folke than they went with their felawshyp holdyng eche other by the handes to the palays And whan the barons of Charlemaine sawe come the .ii. brethern so rychely arayed and so goodly a felawshyp of knyghtes after them they meruayled greatlye what they myght be so said th one to thother heere be two fayre chyldren by lykelyhod they shoulde be brethreÌ„ and they must be of som hie lignage The barons theÌ„ folowed them whaÌ„ they mouÌ„ted to the palays they entred within the great hall where thei found the king Charlemayne that deuised with some of his barons there was the duke naimes Richard of Normandy Salamon of breteyn Ogyer the dane therle GuaneiloÌ„ also Constans and rohats which .ii hated reynawde of Mountawban ryght sore for they were the sonnes of Foulques of morillon that reinawd had slayn in the plaine of valcoloures whan he and his bretherne defended them so wel at the roch of MouÌ„tbron These two bretherne Constans and rohars had great name in the court but their hertes were full false and the kinge Charlemayne loued theim well for theyr prowes and greate knighthode With Charlemain were also many other greate prynces and barons wherof the booke maketh no mencion For it were to long a thing for to be recounted THan whan the two brethern the sonnes of Reinawde of Mountawban were come in to the hall they saw the kinge amonge his barons so went they vnto hym and kneeled downe afore him and kissed his feete And than Aymonet spake first and said Sir god giue you good life longe and keepe from euill all youre noble companye Sir we are come to you for to haue the ordre of knighthod if it plese your good grace to giue it to vs for of no better hand than is youres We can not haue it wherfore sir we beseche you humbly for god and for the loue of our father that it will please you to receyue vs in your seruise vnto the time ye giue the saide ordre of knightehode who beÌ„ you said the king that speake thus Sir saide Aymonet we are the sonnes of Reynawde of Mountawban And whan the kyng Charlemayn vnderstoode that they were the sonnes of Reynawde he rose vpon hys feet lyghtly and receyued them honourably and after said vnto theym My chyldrene ye be righte welcome and how fareth your father syr sayde the chylderne he doothe well thanked be god and he recommendeth him right huÌ„bly to your good grace beseeching you that ye will haue vs for recommended and we haue lefte hym at Mountawban but he draweth now sore to age Thus goeth the worlde my children said the king euery man must take in it an ende Muche glad was the kynge Charlemayne of the comynge of the two sonnes of Reynawde and ryght gladly he looked vpon theim for the loue of theyr father for the more he behelde theim and the more fayrer he founde thâ—im and better lyked theim and well he loued theim because they were lyke the father And whaÌ„ that he had looked vpon them ynough he said to his barons Lordes if the children wold forsake the father they coulde not for neuer children were more lyke to him than they whan he had sayde so he turned roward the children and sayde to theym Fayre childrene ye shall be made knightes at al tymes whan ye will for the loue of youre father my good freend and I shal giue you more londes than your father hath and for loue of you I shal make an hundred knightes more with you for ye ben of suche a stocke come that ye be worthy for to be honoured prâ—ised and holden dere And than whan the duke Naimes Rowland Oâ—iuer that came there and all the other Peeres of Fraunce sawe that they were the two soÌ„nes of Reinawd of mountawbaÌ„ they were ryght glad of it than euery man kissed theym by great loue and asked them howe Reinawde and his bretherne bâ—d lordes saide Aymonet what are you that be so glad of
our coming Children saide the duke Naymes we ben all youre kinnesmen And than the duke Naimes tolde them all theyr names And whan the childrē knew what that they were they meeked themsele before theim honestlye and after yonnet sayde to theim Lordes our father greteth you wel and praieth you that ye wyll haue vs for recommended as youre kynsmen And than whan the barons heard the two children speake so wisely they were glad of it and also of their comming But the two sonnes of Foulques of Moryllon were full sory and wrothe for it by my soule sayde Constans to his brother Rahars the father of these two chyldrene slewe oure father wherof the hert in my body swelleth highe for angre that I see them heere nother min eyen can not looke vpon them brother said Rohars nor I nother by my trouthe but I counseyll not that we fight with them not heere for it were foly But let vs await a tyme and place couenable for syth that they shall dwell heere We shall auenge vs vpon them Brother said Constans lette vs doo one thynge that I shall tell you whiche is easye for to doo that ye shall calle the one of treason and I the other sayinge that theyr father slewe our father by treason And also we shall proue that their father wroughte treason ayenst the king Charlemayn brother sayde Rohars ye speake well but we must suffre a while till we see howe they shal bere themself in court for they doo any otherwyse than they oughte to doo We shal mowe kylle them and be not blamed for it After this doon ye oughte to knowe that the children of Reinawde of Mountawban bare themselfe full honestlye in courte for all the barons loued them dere saue only the two sonnes of Foulques of moryllon wherof Aimonet and yonnet perceyued it ryght well and spake not with them nor haunted theim not It was greate meruayll of the great giftes that the sōnes of Reynawd gaue to the Barons and gentilmen of the court of Charlemain as were fayre horses and harnays and many clothes of sylke of dyuers coloures and in lyke wise they gaue to the ladyes and gentil women fayre gounes of clothe of golde and of syluer And of the other parte they kepte a great estate and good house to al poore gentylmen and squiets and dyd so much good that they were greately praised of euerye manne What shoulde I telle you more the childrene of Reynawde dyd so muche in the courte of the king Charlemayne that of all the worlde they were loued and princypallye of the kinge Charlemayne whan the kinge sawe that they behaued theim so well and so wisely in his court he was ryght glad of it so loued he theym moste of anye yonge knyght of his courte and made them his keruers a fore hym And thenne whan the two sonnes of Foulques of Moryllon sawe that the kynge loued theim so muche they were full angrye in so muche that they wexed mad all quicke for angre of it and so swate by greate angre that they should slea thē or euer theishould goe to from the courte It happed so that vpon whyt sonday euyn as the kyng was at Parys and wolde keep opē courte and there was Aymonet and yonnet with the other barons in the halle This hanging aryued there a knyghte of Almayne that presented to the kynge a fayre knyfe after the facyon of the londe then called the king yonnet gaue it him by greate loue And whan yonner had receiued this gyft of the kyng as he shoulde haue gone to his place agayn he shoued Constans with his elbowe ayenst his wil. And whan Constans saw that yonnet had doon so he had greate dispite at it and saide What is this must there be so muche set by these two boies the sonnes of a traitour whiche been not worth a roten apple this one is all redye become so proude that he hathe nowe shoued me with his elbowe by great enuye and pride muche other langage constans saide by Yonnet Whiche he ought not for to saye and whan yonnet hearde that Constans had called him the sonne of traytour he was sore an angred So came he to him and saide Constans ye haue learned a foule craft that is that ye can speake shrewdely withoute a cause lawfull why for I haue hearde that ye haue called me and my brother the sonnes of a traitour that the kinge knoweth well that our father slewe yours by treason wherof I will ye wyt that ye lie falsely but your father did assail oures by treason as a traitour come of the lignage of traitoures But God wolde not that my father shoulde dye so nor myne vncles my father slew your father it is true but it was in his defendynge of hys body he did then as a noble knight as he is and if ye be so hardy that ye wil maintein that he did it by treasō heere I cast now my gage afore thys noble companye saying that ye haue lied falsely saue the reuerence of the kinge Charlemayne and of his felawshyp THan whan the kynge Charlemayne sawe that none of the barons said nothyng of the stryfe of yonnet and of Constans he was angry for it and sayde Constans ye doo greate wronge for to saye that I and the twelue peeres of fraunce know well that Reinawde of Mountawban slewe your father by treason holde your peace said Charlemayne for yf ye knew well how the matter is ye shaulde not speake of it wherfore I commaund you in as much as ye feare to angre me that ye make amēdes to yonnet of that ye haue said or elles voide incontinent my courte and my realme for ye haue troubled all my courte wherof I am not contente And whan Rohars hearde this that the kinge Charlemayne had sayde to Constans his brother he was angry and so rose on his feete and said Sir I am redy to proue vpon Aimonet that his father slew our father by treason and heere is my gage Rohars saide Charlemain heere ye take a wronge waie and it shall be to you ouer late whan ye shal repent it Whan Aymonet and yonnet vnderstoode these wordes thei kneeled afore the kynge Charlemayne and saide to him Syr for god we praye you ryght humblye that ye take the gages that Rohars hathe caste for with goddes grace we shal wel defend our father of the traison that they put vpon him Childrē saide the king sith it please you that I take them I shall doo so and than the king Charlemayn tooke the gages Constans auaunced himself saide Syr we vnderstonde that we shall fyghte two and two the one ayenst the other ¶ whan the kynge Charlemayne had take the gages of bataile of Constans and of Rohars he asked theym who shoulde be theyr suretes than lept forth the traytoure Guanellon betenger Escouf of moryllon Lyon of pygnabel Gryffon of hautbraunche the whiche said to king
¶ The right plesaunt and goodly Historie of the foure sonnes of Aimon the which for the excellent endytyng of it and for the notable Prowes and great vertues that were in them is no les pleasaunt to rede then worthy to be knowen of all estates bothe hyghe and lowe ☞ The Prologue AS the Philosopher in the fyrst booke of hys methafysyque sayth that euery man naturally desireth to know and to con newe thynges â–ª And therfore haue the Clerkes people of great vnderstandynge desyred and coueite to lerned sciences and to know vertues of thinges Some by Phylosophy other by Poetrye and other by Historyes and cronyckes of thynges passed And vpoÌ„ these three they haue greatly laboured in suche that thanked be God by theyr good dylygence and laboures they haue had greate knowledge by innumerable volumes of bookes whiche haue be made and compyled by great studye payne vnto thys day And bycause that aboue all thinges the princes lordes of hie estate and entendement desyre to see thy storyes of the ryght noble and hye vertues of the prodecessours whiche ben digne and worthy of remembraunce of perpetuall recommendacion Therfore lace at the request and commaundement of the ryght noble and vertus Erle Iohn Erle of Oxeforde my good synguler and especial lorde I reduced translated out of Frenche into our maternall and Englyshe tongue the lyfe of one of his predecessoures named Robert Erle of Oxeforde tofore sayd which diuerse many great myracles whiche God shewed for him as wel in his lyfe as after his death as it is shewed all a longe in hys sayde booke And also that my sayd Lorde desyreth to haue other Hystories of olde tyme passed of vertues chyualry reduced in lykewyse into our Englishe toÌ„gue he late sent to me a booke in Frenche conteynyng thactes and faytes of warre do one and made agaynst the great Emperour and king of Fraunce Charlemayne by the .iiii. sonnes of Aymon other wyse named in Frenche Les quatre sylz Aymon whyche booke accordynge to hys request I haue endeuorde me to accomplyshe and to reduce it into our englyshe to my great coste and charges as in the translatinge as in enprynting of the same hopyng not doubtyng but that hys good grace shall rewarde me in suche wise that I shal haue cause to pray for his good and prosperus welfare And besechynge his said noble good grace to pardon me of the rude and this simple worke For accordyng to the coppy whyche he seÌ„t to me I haue folowed as nigh as I can and where as any defaute shall be founde I submyt me to the correccion of them that vnderstande the cronycle hystory besethyng theÌ„ to correcte it amende there as they shall fynde faute And I shall praye almighty God for them that so doo to rewarde them in suche wyse that after this shorte and transytory lyfe we all may come to euerlastyng lyfe in heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the prologue ⧠Heere foloweth the Table of this presente booke WHo that wyll know the history of the foure noble and worthye knyghtes named the foure sonnes of Aymon wherof the fyrste was called Reynawde the seconde Alarde the thyrde Guychard and the fourthe Rycharde let hym first reade this presente table folowynge In whiche men shall fynde that thys presente booke conteyneth .xxviii. chapytres which speaken of many faire and dyuerse matters whiche they that shall reade thys sayde chapytres shall mowe see the history all alonge And ye shall see in this fyrst chapytre howe that after kynge Charlemayne was come agayne from the partyes of Lombardy where he had had great and merueyllouse battaylles ayenste the sarasyns he helde vpon whitsoâ—daye open courte at Parys where was a fayre felawshyp of Prynces and Barons as ye shall heare after alonge And in the same chapitre ye shall also see howe the same daye the duke Aymon of Ardeyne broughte to the courte hys foure sonnes that is to wit Reynawde Alarde Guichard and Richarde and howe kynge Charlemayne made theim knyghtes wyth his owne handes also howe the duke Benes of Aigremounte slewe Lohier the eldest sonne of kyng Charlemain the duke benes was vncle to the foure soÌ„nes of Aimon and after how the duke Benes of aygremount was slaine coming to Parts by the commaundemente of kinge Charlemayne after that he had appointed for the death of his sonne And also in this first chapitre men shal nowe see many other faire matters whiche were to longe for to be reherced in this preambule of this present booke fol. i. THe seconde Chapyter sheweth howe Grysson of hauitefelle and Guenes after that they had slayne the Duke Benes of Aygremount-retourned to Parys and recounted to kynge Charlemayn the mortall treason that they had put to execucyon wherof the kynge was ryghte glad and syn after he was ryghte sorye for it For after that the two bretherne of the Duke Benes made great warre ayenst him and so dyd Gerarde of Rousillon and Dron and Mawgys the sonne of the duke Benes and after they made peace and accorded togyther But the kinge Charlemain accorded not with the foure sonnes of aimon nor to their cosin Mawgys ⧠Item howe Reynawde slew the neuew of king Charlemayne with a chesse boorde as they plaied togyther at the chesse wherof the warre began the whiche was so mortall and lasted so longe that it bare a great dommâ—ge to the realme of fraunce fol. xiii THe thirde chapitre speaketh how after that kynge Charlemayne hadde made all his barons to forsake the foure sonnes of aymon He went and besyeged them at mouÌ„tenforde where he was discomfyted two tymes but the castelle of MouÌ„tenforde was taken after that by treason And after howe Reynawde and his bretherne auenged theim of the traytoures that betrayed theym And after saued theym selfe wythin the forest of Ardeyne where theyr father found theÌ„ as he went from the syege towarde his londe of Dordon And howe for to keep his othe that he had made to kynge Charlemayne He dyd assayle hys sonnes so that of fyue hundred menne that they were there abod on liue with his sonnes but xvii persones But Reynawd and his brethern had none euil but slew many of their fathers men fol. xvi THe fourth chapytre sheweth how after that the olde Aimon had discomfyted his chyldern they went and dwelled in the depest of the forest of Ardeyne and abode there tyll that they were al counterfayte blacke and roughe as wilde beastes for the greate hungre that they had suffred and after they went to Dordon for to see their father that made them good chere and feasted them greately And gaue them of hauoyre so muche that they myghte well make war with ayenst the king and howe Mawgis their cosyn arryued whan that they should haue departed whiche went with theym in to the realme of Gascoygne with fyue hundred knightes And whan theyr mother sawe them departe she was for it full sorye fol. xxxi THe fyfthe
the courte into theyr couÌ„trey and by them were tydinges brought through all the landes vnto Rome that kynge Charlemayne made a great assemble of men of armes so that the renome therof floughe vnto the duke Benes of Aygremountes court which of that other parte dyd sende for his kynsmen and freendes and in especiall for his brethern Gerarde of Roussylon and Dron of Nantuel so that they were whaÌ„ they came together well foure score thousand fyghtynge men and mo and as fayre folke as euer were sene whiche than sayde I beleue yf the kynge besyege the Castell that the worse shall returne vnto hym Than sayd the Duke Benes of Aygremount to Gerarde of Roussilon Brother sayd he be not dysmayed for I hope to hurte the kyng so sore yf he come vpon vs that he shal be wery of his bargayn but let vs goe forth towarde Troy in chaÌ„paygne and there wee shall fyght wyth the kynge vygorously For well I wote that God shall helpe vs agaynst hiÌ„ This was at the begynnyng of the moneth of Maye and Charlemayn was at Paris that abode after hys men that should come for to go with a great puyssaunce vpon the Duke Benes of Aygremount And bode not longe that Rychard of NormaÌ„dy came to the kynge wyth .xxx. thousande fyghtyng men And of a nother syde came to hym the Erle Guy that had wyth hym a ryght noble a great company of good men and after hym came Salamon of Bertayne and the Erle Huon And of al sydes ye should haue sene come to the Kynge Charlemayne PoeteuiÌ„s Gascoyns Normans Flemynges Bernyers and Bourgoynes and so many other great Lordes that it was great wonder for to see which came all and Lodged themselfe in the medowes of saynt Germayne THan whan the kyng Charlemayne knew that this folke was all arryued he had of it greate Ioye and incontynent made hys batayles to departe for to goe to hys enterpryse and made of Rychard of Normandy of Valleran of Buyllon of Guydellon of bauyere of yzacar of Nemours of Oger the bane and of Escouf the sonne of Oedon wyth them .xl. thousande men hys forewarde There should ye haue seÌ„ a ryght noble companye and manye hardi men they departed from nigh Parys And put them self to the way strayght to Aygremounte and they thê° rydyng after many dayes Iurney whiche I can not tel came there streyght to Ogyer the Dane that was in the forewarde a messanger sore hastyly rydynge That asked to whome was thys noble coÌ„pany and he answered to hym that they were kynge Charlemaynes folke Than sayd syr the messanger that he wolde well speake wyth hym than went Oger the Dane and shewed hym the kyng And assone as the messanger saw hym he made hym due reuereÌ„ce and the kyng gaue hym agayne hys salute and him demaunded what he was and fro whens he came and the messanger tolde hym that he was of Troye and that vnto him he was sent fro Aubery the lorde of Troye that was his liege man whiche besought hym humbly for socoures For the Duke Benes of Aygremount his two bretherne Gerarde of Roussyllon and Dron of Nantuel and with theim an hundred thousande fighting men had besyeged him within Troye And that yf ye came not to helpe hiÌ„ he must yelde vp the towne also the fayre towre that Iulius Cesar dyd buylde there WHan Charlemayne the Emperour vnderstode that Troi was besyeged by the duke Benes his bretherne he was full sory of it and he swore by Saynte Denys of Fraunce that he should go there with hys army and that yf he might hold the duke of Aygremounte he should make hym dye a shamefull death so called he the Duke Naymes of bauyere Goodebew of fryse and the Duke Walleran and sayd to theym Barons ye vnderstande what thys messaÌ„ger sayth let vs ryde hastelye towarde Troy or it be take and they answered to hym ryght gladly that they wolde doo it so So dyd they ryde a good pace tyll that they came nyghe Troye And firste of all came the forewarde with the Oryflame Of the whyche were gouernours Ogyer the Dane Rycharde of Normandy the duke Walleran and which them fourty thousand men And the Messanger of Troy that conduyted them And whan they were come so nyghe that they sawe Troye afore theÌ„ a messanger came to Gerard of roussyllon that was afore Troy saying to hym that the kinge Charlemayne came vpon them for to socoure Aubery with a ryght great puissaunt companye Than layde Gerarde to hys bretherne that is to wyte Duke Benes of Aygremount and the Erle Dron of Nantuell that it were good that they should go agaynste kynge Charlemayne with all theyr puissauÌ„ce and that eche of them should proue himself a good man They did so as they had deuysed and Gerarde of Roussillon was the first in the forewarde and they rode so longe till that the one partye saw the other Than sayd Ogier the Dane to Richard of Normandy whan he sawe come Gerarde of Roussillon se sayd he howe Gerard of Roussyllon weneth for to fare foule with vs. But now let vs thynke for to defende vs wel so moche that the worshyp abyde to the Kyng Charlemayne and to vs. And than they let renne theyr horses fro one parte and fro the other and Gerarde of Roussyllon wente smote an Almayne wyth his speare so moche that he made it to entre through the body of hym Whiche fell anon dead to the ground and Gerard tooke his baner cryed with an high voyce Roussyllon Roussyllon THan began the batayle sore stronge fell and cruell And whan Ogyer the dane saw thus his folke dye he was wood and mad with it So went he and smote a knight named Pouson by suche a wyse that he put his spere thorough the body of hym whiche fel downe dead afore him And whan Gerarde had seen the same he went and smote one of Ogyers men so that all dead he cast him afore hym And then he said ye haue this for your maysters sake Ogyer Muche great and meruayllous was the stoure and the batayle so fiers For there should ye haue sene so many of sheeldes perced and clouen and so mani a habergeon broken and salettes and helmes vnbokled and sore beten and so many meÌ„ lying vpon the other dead that all the earth was couered with the bloud of the dead men and of theym that were hurt there so the it was a great pitie to for to see And than came the duke Benes of Aygremounte that spurred hys horse terrtblie and weÌ„t and smote Enguerran lorde of Peroune of saint Quintine so harde that he ouerthrew him dead afore hiÌ„ and than sayd Now go goddes curse haue thou and cryed with an highe voyce Aygremounte and than came to him his brother the Duke of Nantuell with all his folke and they went al together vpon Charlemaynes folke and of the other part came with great puissaunce Almaynes poeteuins and
kynge but the kynge charged the Duke of Aygremount that she should come to serue hym at the feast of saynt Iohn next comynge And than returned kynge Charlemayne towarde Parys the bretherne went agayne ryght gladde eche of theym towarde hys place for well they trowed for to haue accorde the Duke Benes of Aygremount theyr brother towarde Charlemayne but otherwyse it weÌ„t full lytle was worthe theyr accord for soone after dyed therof the Duke Benes of Aygremount by treason and vnder the saufe conduyte of the kyng Charlemayne as ye shall vnderstande yf ye wyll heare me ¶ Ye shall wyt that a lytle afore the feast of saynt Iohn baptyst that the kyng Charlemayne helde a greate courte in Parys and the Duke Benes forgat not to goe thyther as he had promised so departed he fro AygremouÌ„te wyth two hundred knightes and tooke his way to Parys towarde the kyng for to serue hiÌ„ where he wolde put hym vnto Now shall ye heare how the kynge beyng in parys came towarde hym the earle Guenes his neuewe Aâ—ry foulquet of MorylloÌ„ Hardres Berenger which told hiÌ„ how the duke Benes cam for to serue him with two hundred knightes sayiÌ„g by this maner Syr how may ye loue or well be serued of him that so cruelly hath slayne your sonne oure cosin if your plesure were we should well aueÌ„ge you of hym For in good soth we should slea hym Guenê said the king it were treason for we haue gyuen to hym trewes alwayes doo with it your wyll so that the synne tourne not vpon me kepe you for in certayne the duke of AygremouÌ„t is ryght mighty of great kynred well ye myght happe to haue a doo yf ye fulfil in this your owne enteÌ„t Syr answered Guenes care ye not therfore for therin is so ryche a man in all the worlde the durst vndertake any thynge agaynst me my linage Syr sayd Guenelon to morowe erly we shall departe with foure thousand fyghting meÌ„ take no care for it For we shall delyuer this worlde of hym Certes sayd the king it were treason care not therfore sayd Guenes he slew well your sonne Lohyer by treason whyche was my kynsmaÌ„ and therfore I wyll be auenged and I can Now doo you there in sayde the kynge protestynge alwayes that I am not therto consentyng WHan the mornynge came departed well erly fro Parys the sayd Guenelon and his felawes and wyth them well foure thousaÌ„d fyghtynge men and neuer they taried tyll that they came in the valey of Soyssons and there thei recountred the Duke Benes with hys puyssaunce and whan the Duke Benes sawe them come he sayd to his folke lordes I trow that yonder be some folke of the kynges that retourne again from the courte It is no force sayd one of his knightes I wote not what it may be said the duke For the king Charlemayne is sore vengeable for to auenge hym self and also he hath with hym a lynage of folke the whiche be fell and cruell It is Guenes Foulquet of Moryllon and certayne other of his courte and in trouth to night in my sleape I dreamed that a Gryffon came out of the Heauens that perced my sheelde and all myne armes so that hys nayles stacke into my Lyuer and my mylte and all my men were therof in great tourmeÌ„t they all were eaten wyth bores and of Lions and none of them scaped but one alone And also me semed that out of my mouth yssued a whyte Doue Than sayde one of hys knightes that it was all but well that for cause of thys dreme he ought not to dismay hymself I wote not sayde the duke what god shall sende me but of thys my herte dredeth So coÌ„mauÌ„ded the duke Benes that euery man should arme hiÌ„ selfe hys knyghtes answered that ryght gladly they wolde so doo So began eueryche of them to seeke his armes and habylymeÌ„res Here shal you heare of the harde hewynge and of a thynge heuy to be recounted of the great slaughter that made the tray tour Guenellon of the good Duke Benes of Aygremount THe Erle Guenes rode wyth great force that was wonderfull stronge and fyers well accompanyed Than went and met with the Duke Benes fyrste Foulquet of Moryllon the whiche sayde to him that he had doone il for to slea Lohyer the eldest sonne of king Charlemayne but or euer the euyn cam he should haue a sory rewarde for it Whan the duke vnderstode hym he meruayled hym selfe muche and said Ha god howe myght one kepe hym from traytours Alas I helde the king Charlemayne for a true prince I se now the contrary but a fore that I dye I shall sell my death ful dere Than went they fought the one party agaynst the other muche angry in so muche that Guenes smote by force the duke his cosyn Reyner so that he ouerthrew hym downe dead to the erthe afore his fete and after he cried with an hye voyce smite on knyghtes for he slew my good cosin Lohier the duke Benes of AygremouÌ„t dayned not accorde with me but nowe I shall sell it him ful deare So ranguenes his folke vpon the duke of Aygremount and the Duke ryght worthyly defended himself smote a knyght named syr Fawcon so that he shoued his swerde into the bodye of hym and he fell dead afore hym And after thys the Duke Benes of Aygremount tooke himselfe for to weepe strongly wisshed much after his two brethern also after his neuewes Alas sayd he deere Sonne Mawgys where be you now that ye be not here for well I wote yf ye wyste this enterpryse ye should well succour me Ha my deere brother the duke of dordon of naÌ„tuel Gerard of roussyllon wel I know the ye shall neuer se me a lyue Alas that ye knowe not the false enterprise of charlemayn of the erle Guenellon that so cruelly by great treason shal this dai make me in humainli for to dye wel I wot that right worthely ye should come helpe me Ha my deere neuewes reynawde Alarde Rychard Guichard so much nede I haue this day of you Ha my deere neuew Reynawde worthy knight as thou art yf it please vnto god of hys benigne grace that thou might know the greuous turment and the sorowfull matter vnto the whiche by treason I am thys day lyuered Wel I wot that by thee I should haue succours For in al the worlde is not thy peere of beautie of goodnes of prowesse of worthynes Now may not this day succoure me al my noble and worthy linage but that cruelly and vnder the saufconduyte of Charlemayne I shall dye pyteously HYers was the bataile right harde to endure but well ye may wyt that the duke of AygremouÌ„t myght not resyste agaynst so manye folke For he had not with him but two hundred knyghtes and the other were more than foure thousand thus were they euyll matched ThaÌ„ should ye
knyght with his spere in his sheeld rought him with so great a might that steâ—ke deade he ouerthrewe him So seased Reinawde the knyghtes horse and tooke him to his brother Alarde that lyghted anon vpon the backe of him And after that he was on this good horse he went smote a nother knyght with his swerd so that he made him fall deade afore him and so betooke this knightes horse to his brother Guicharde that thanked hym muche for it And a nother knighte of the kynge Charlemayne came to theym Glotons sayd the knighte ye shall come to the king that shal make you al for to be hanged Ha by my fayth said Reynawd thou shalt lye and with this Reinawd tooke vp his swerd gaue him suche a stroke that he ouerthrew him dead at the grouÌ„d than tooke Reinawd the horse by the reyne and gaue hym to his brother Rycharde that great need had of it Now be the three brethern new horsed Reinawd is vpon bayarde and his cosin Mawgis that he loued so wel behynde him now they goe god wyll leade them keep them from euyll Charlemayne pursued after them but for nought he trauayled for they were neuer the rather taken for hym Than was the sonne gone vnder and the nyght began to come and the foure brethern their cosyn were come into the towne of SoissoÌ„ SO much rode Reynawd by nyght and by daye vpon bayarde that bare him and Mawgis his cosyn that they came to Dordon there they met with the duchesse theyr mother that ranne for to kysse them and colle them And syn asked what they had doon of theyr father and if they were departed from the courte with wrathe Lady sayd Reinawd for I haue slayne Berthelot the neuewe of the kynge Charlemayn the reason why I dyd so was because he called me horeson gaue me with his fyst vpon my vissage so that the bloud came out of it And whan the ladye vnderstoode him she felle downe all in a swoune and Reynawd tooke her vp redely And whan the good lady was come againe to her selfe she sayde to Reynawde Fayre sonne and howe durst you doo this that ye haue doon For I promit you ye shal once repent for it And your father shal be destroied therfore and cast out of his loÌ„des And if he scape on liue it shal be great meruayl So pray I you all my children that ye flee awaye but take afore all my treasour For yf youre father come againe from the courte he shall will yeeâ—d you to the king Charlemayn Lady said Reynawd weene ye that our father is so cruel so wroth with vs that he wolde take deliuer vs in to the haÌ„des of the kyng Charlemaine that is oure greate enemye mortall REynawd his three bretherne Mawgys wolde make none other soiournynge but tooke so muche of the hauoyre and treasoure of theyr father and mother that they had ynough of it And thenne tooke theyr leue of their lady mother wherof there was great pytie at the departinge For the children wept tenderly and the mother also of the other side whan she saw that her children that thus went fro her wist not yf she should euer see them again so departed the newe knightes with theyr cosin Mawgis and yssued out of the towne entred in to the greate forest of Ardeyne streyght through the valeye of Feyry and rode so much that they came vpon the ryuer of Muse and there they chose a faire grounde where they made to be buylded a faire castell vpon a fayre roche muche stronge at the foote of it passed the saide riuer of Muse And whan that the castell was made vp they called it Mountaynford as I trow there was not suche another of strengthe fro the said place vnto Mountpeller For it was closed with great walles enuyronned rounde about with dyches sore deep well garnished with all maner of vittailles of all thinges be nedeful to be had in a fortres now doubte the newe knightes nothinge Charlemayn yf he wrought not by treason Charlemayn was at paris much angry for the deth of his neuew Berthelot the which Reinawd had slayne playing at the chesse as it is sayde so made he to come afore hym the duke Aymon of dordonne the father of the foure knightes and made hym to swere that he shoulde neuer gyue no help to his children and that they shoulde neuer be the better of a peny by hym in what place that he should them fynde he should take theÌ„ and shoulde bringe them to him the which Aymon durste not saie ayenst hym but sware that he should doo so wherof afterwarde he was sore repreued And after that he had sworn thus he departed oute of Parys all wroth angrye of this that he muste chase thus his children and came to Dordon And whan the duches saw him she began to weep full sore and the duke knew wel what she yeelde Lady said the duke where be my sonnes gone Syr sayde the ladye I can not telle whether they are drawen but why suffred you that oure sonne Reynawde slewe Berthelot the neuewe of kynge Charlemaine ladye saide he I coude not doo therto wit that oure sonne Reynawde is of so greate a strength that neuer syth the incarnacion of oure lorde was not seen so stronge a knyghte as he is Nor all the assemble that than was in the pallays at Parys myghte not keep him but that he slewe berthelot afore all the lordes that were there And afore this our saide sonne Reynawde demaunded of kinge Charlemayne ryght and reason to be doone to him of the deathe of my brother his vncle the duke Benes of Aygremount wherupon the king fulshamfullye and outerageouslye answered to our said sonne wherfore Reinawd was wrothe and sore angred and the cause why Reynawde slewe Berthâ—lot was for to aueng him of the king Charlemaine Not withstandynge that Berthelot had Iniuryed oure sayde sonne ful sore at the playe of the chesse And also he smote hym fyrste outrageously that the bloud came out of his face so Reinawd for his great and hardy courage might not suffre this by no wise And therfore the kiÌ„g hathe made me swere that yf I can take my chyldren that I shal brynge them to hym at Parys and that no helpe they shal neuer haue of me nor succours nor that they shall not be the better a peny of all my hauoure Wherof I am wrothe and full sorye ⧠We shall leaue heere to speake of the duke Aymon and of the duchelle that ben ryght sory for theyr children And shal shew you how the worthye kynge Charlemain made to seeke after the foure sonnes of Aymon thoroughe all his realme but he myght not know nor vnderstande no tidinges of them tyll that at last came to hym a messenger that recounted to hym howe he had founde them in the forest of Ardeyne In which they had edyfyed a
fayled me at a need Than went Naymes and Ogyer and made theym ready and whan they were ready they tooke in theyr handes braunches of Olyue tree for to shew that they were messengers and so went they both togither without any other company whan Alays that kept watche sawe that two knights come he went asked theym what knightes they were that came there Syr saide the duke Naymes we been messengers of the kynge Charlemaine that hathe sent vs hyther for to speake with Reynawd the sonne of Aymon and incōtynent the saide Alays went to hys lorde and tolde him howe at the gate were two messengers of the kinge Charlemayn that wolde speake with him Reinawde commaunded forthwith that the gate shoulde be opened to them that the drawbrydge should be let downe for he wold see the messengers speake with theym Than were the two batons let in brought afore Reynawde and whan Reynawd saw them he salued them curtously and after that they had saluted eche other they set them al there vpon a benche And than began the duke Naymes to speake said thus Reynawde saide he the emperoure Charlemaine of Fraunce lette you wyt by vs that ye sent to him Guicharde your brother to make of hym his pleasure and his will and yf ye wyl not doo so Charlemayne defyeth you and sayth that neuer he shall leaue you vnto the tyme that he shall haue you all and whan he shall haue you he shal make you al to be drawen and hanged and dye an euyll deathe with great shame WHan Reynawde vnderstoode these wordes he wexed all red for angre than he saide to the duke Naymes Bi the faith that I owe to al my freēdes if it were not that I loue you I should make you both to be hewen al to peces and ye haue wel deserued it For you Naymes are my nigh kinsman as me semeth ye oughte well to helpe and defende me ayenste all men and ye now counseyl me to my great dyshonoure ayenst mine honesty Tell to Charlemaine that he shal not haue Guichard my brother that he leaue his thretenyng doo the worst that he can for we shal not doo for hym nor for hys thretnynges the mountenaunce of a peny and goe you to tel him in my behalfe that afore that he take vs he shall haue a greater need of helpe than he weneth Now voyde from our syght lyghtely oute of oure palays for to see you thus heere greueth me to sore Whan the duke Naimes ogier vnderstood Reinawd they made no lenger dwellyng but departed incontinent with out any more speaking and are come to Charlemaine recounted to him all this that Reinawd had sayed WHan the emperour Charlemaine vnderstood this answere he was so sore an angred that he went almost oute of his wyt and thā he commaūded that the castel should be assayled to the whiche they sawe but three gates Wherof was set afore the maysters gate their Reiner Folques of Morylion the earle of Neuers and Ogier the dane And afore the second gate was the duke of Bourgoin the erle of Alphinors afore the thirde gate was that olde Aymon the father of Reinawd that was come to Charlemayn for to warre ayenst his sonnes as thother Nowe weneth themperour to haue besieged well Reinawde and his bretherne but and god keep Reinawde in good helthe Coarlemayne shall lese there more than he shall wynne Reynawde and his brethern were such knightes so sage that they defended well their castell ayenst Charlemayn alwayes it was besieged with so great numbre of folke as I haue sayde afore that it was merueyll to see for there were bretons fleminges maunsealx origners english bourgoines the bauyers and the frensheman but Reynawd made one thinge that turned hym to a great worshyp For he sayde to his folke fairelordes I pray you that ye mounte not vpon youre horse tyl that ye heare the trompettes blowe For I see wel that Charlemaines folke ben right sore trauailed and nowe while they been thus wery it were no worship to vs for to tenne them vpon but whā they shal be a litill cased of their wyrenes we shall thanne make dyligentlye and worthely our first yssue vpon them and I praye you and require you all in general that euery man shew than his prowesse and strength and wyt it that in the castell of Mountenford was a faucebray vpon a roche thorough the which Reinawd and hys brethern went out vnder couerte at all tymes that they wolde withoute daunger wHan Reynawd saw that it was time fo to goe oute vpon their enmies he called to him Sampson of bourdelloys this was a knight a trusty man that was come there for to help Reynawde and his bretherne and hadde with him an hundred knightes Reynawd said to him sit it is nowe tyme that our cumies know what we been for if we tary lenger the kinge Charlemain mought wit vs of cowardnes And whan he had said these wordes he came to his brother Guicharde saide to him Faire brother Guicharde leaue not for to be alwayes bolde and hardy as longe that I am a man on liue for I loue you as much as I doo myne own body and it is reason that I doo so for ye I are bretherne bothe of father and mother and also I beleue ye be the best knighte of my lygnage And than he taketh hym betwene hys armes and kyssed him by greate loue and whan he hadde doone thus he sayde Brother make the Trompettes to blowe vp of heyght and lette vs make ready our selfe for to yssue oute for to shewed Charlemayne what folke that we bē yf god wyll that we might take the erle of Estampes I should be therof ryght glad For it is the mā among all our enemies that worste dooth to vs that more hath hurted vs happely he shal not scape vs for he is alwaies in the forwarde whan these wordes were fynysshed all the foure bretherne and al them of theyr companye arayed them self and yssued out of the castell at the fawcebray wyth out to make any noyse nor crye and so gone they vpon the hoste of Charlemayne by so great wrath that it was marueyle and begā to make so great destruccion of folke and to cast bothe tentes and pauyllions a groūd that it was wonder and pitie for to see And who had seene than Reynawd the worthy knight vpon hys horse bayarde and the faytes of armes that he made vpon his enemyes should haue great merueyl for to looke vpon him for that man that he recoūtred myght well say that he was borne in an euyll houre for to say the trouth Reinawde smote no knight so that his stroke came ryght but that he cleued hym as lyghtly as thy had not ben armed Whan the folke of Charlemayne saw theyr enemyes they rā incontynent to their harneyes and whan they were armed they ran vppon Reynawde and his folke than began
the batyle so cruell that it was pytie for to see For ye should haue sene many speres broken and seeldes broken and clouen a fondre and many a good haubergen vnmayled corsettes flancardes all to broken and sore beaten and so many a goodly man and noble knyghtes beyenge full myserably vpon the earth Whā that olde Aymon heard the crye he moūted on horsbacke also sone as he mighte he and his folke and came to the batayll ayenste his sōnes and whā Reynawde apperceyued there his father he was right sory for it sayd to hys brethern See here is a greate meruayle for her is our father and by my counsell we shall make hym runne For I wolde not for nothīg that none of vs should set vpon him And than they turned at another side of the batayle but Aymon theyr father came there agaynst them and began to set sore harde vpon them theyr folke And whan Renawde sawe that hys father leyd sore vpon them and bare them greate domage of theyr men he sayd to him al an angred Ha father what doo you certaynely ye doo great sīne For ye should helpe defende and kepe vs ye doo to vs worse thā the other doo Now I see well that ye loue vs so lytle and that ye be dyspleased that we bē so pru and so good men of armes agaynst Charlemayne for yf ye haue forbanysshed vs wel we knowe it and that we shall neuer haue nothīg of your herytage and we haue made this lytle castell for to kepe our selfe therin and yet ye come hether for to helpe it to be destroyed It is no Fathers werke but it is operacion of the deuyl yf ye wil doo vs no good at least doo vs no harme For I swere you vpon all Sayntes that yf ye come any ferther agaynst vs I shal forbere you no longer but I shall gyue you wyth my swerde suche a strooke that ye shall haue no leyser for to repent you of the folye that ye doo Whan Aymon vnderstode the wordes of his sonne Reynawde he tooke therof so greate angre an hys hert that it lacked lytle but that he fell downe in a swoune to the erth for he knew well that Reynawde tolde hym trouth But he could doo none otherwyse for feare of Charlemayn but alwayes he wyth drew himself a backe suffred his sonnes to passe by hym harmles at that tyme. The wyche went and dommaged right sore the folke of king Charlemayne DVrynge the tyme that Reynawde spake thus to his father Aymon came Charlemayne Aulbery Ogyer and the erle Henry and Foulques of Morillon And whan Reynawde sawe them come he made hys trompettes to be blowē for to brīg his folke together again whan they were assembled of one parte of the other a knyght of charlemayne that was called Thiery made hys horse to renne agaynst the folke of Reynawde and whan Alarde saw hym come he spurred hys horse and came agaynst him and smote him so harde in hys sheeld that he shoued a great hauberke that he bare through the body of hym so that the sayd Thyery fell dead downe to the erth And whan kyng Charlemayne saw falle dead his knight Thieri he was therfore so sore angred that almoste he lost his wit and his vnderstandyng Than began he to crye wyth a hye voyce sayinge in this maner Lordes and barons deliuer you for to auenge me of these gluttons that leden our folke so cursedly See that they ben wel punysshed sharpelye whan the olde Aymon heard Charlemayne speake thus for doubt to be blamed he spurred hys horse went and smote one of his sonnes knightes that was named amaney so cruelly with his brand of steele that he smote his head cleane of fro the shoulders of hym father cryed Reynawde to hym ye doo yl whan so cruelly ye slea my men but by the fayth that I owe to god if I trowed not to hurt therbi my honour I should take therof cruell vengeaunce And than said agayne the valiaunt Reynawde Ha lady mother how should ye be sorye yf ye knewe the great werkes and the great harme that our father doth to vs this day WHan Foulques of Morillonsaw that the folke of Reynawde maīteined thē selfe so worthely agaynst them he began to cry Sir Emperour and king what meaneth this I beleue that ye beforgottē send for many of your tolke and cūmaunde them that they take incontynent the traytours that now fayne themselfe agaynst youre enemyes without delay make thē to be hanged and slayne all quicke whan the Frenche men vnderstode this that Foulques sayd to Charlemayne they made nnoe other abydīg but spurred theyr horses and smote vpon the folke of Reinawde so hard that they made them to recule backe wolde they or not whan Alarde saw hys folke goe backe he was ryght sorye for it and tooke his swerde and began with his folke to make so great effors of armes that the frenche mē were all abasshed of it what shall I tell you more of this batayles wyt it that it was so meruaylous cruel that it was pitie for to see for euery one made the worste that he could the one agaynst the other And wit that the foure sonnes of Aymon made so great occision of men of horses the none durst come afore thē but none might compare with Reynawde for to doo well For he made there so great meruaile of armes that the frenche men durst not come forth for feare of him for to say the trouth Reynawde smote no stroke a right but that he slew him where vpō it lighted What will ye that I tell you more Wyt that in thys batayle kynsmen nor parentes spared not eche other for they slew the one that other as dōbe beastes There should ye haue sene coming through the battayle the kyng yon of sayncte Omars that rode vpon a good horse that ranne well agaynst him came a knyght called Guyon yon smote Guyon suche a stroke that he ouerthrew both horse and man to the erth whan Reynawde saw this he was ryght wroth for it And thā he tooke hys baner sayd to hys folke doo so muche that I haue that good horse for yf he goth away I shall neuer haue Ioye at my herte for I wyll that he kepe felawshyp to Bayarde And whan Richard his brother that was so worthy a knyght and so gentyll vnderstode his brother that so spake he made no taryeng but spurred hys horse and smote yon of saynt omars so harde that hys sheelde nor hys harneys might not kepe but that he shoued hys glaue through the brest and ouerthrew him dead to the erth and than Richarde tooke the horse by the brydell led hym to Reynawde and sayd to hym syr we haue the horse that ye haue called after so sore Nowe maye you lyght vpon hym whan it please you brother sayd Reynawde gramercy of this present for wel ye haue
sore angred and sayd to hys brethern what shall we doo here for yf we tary any lenger we shall all be brent or taken and yf it were not the fyre that thus warreth agaynst vs I make myne a uowe to god that we should yet caste this folke out of thys castell but syn that the fyre is in it we cannot kepe it no lenger And than he sayd to his bretherne come all after me they went to the fausebray that was all wayes open and yssued out he his brethern his folke with them and whan they were out than were they more abasshed than they were afore for they wyst not whether to goe Now heare how they dyd as worthy knightes For whā they saw the castell brenne they entred wythin a pyt that was there vnder the erthe for feare of the fyre set the dore vpon them there they began to defēd themselfe so strongly that none entred therein but he lost anon hys head And whan Hernyer the traytour was aware of the same he tooke his folke with him came to the pyt began to assayle Reynawde sharply and his brethern and al they that were therin with them wyt it that there at thentre of the sayd pyt were made great faytes of armes for they of within defended themself so wel that none myght come in but he were dead anon ¶ Whyle that the foure sonnes of Aymon were in that pyt vnder therthe they hearde the crye that his men made the whiche Hernyer made to be slayne Than began Reynawde to sai to his brethern Lordes let vs go succour our folke for and they should thus dye it were to vs a great blame Syr sayd hys bretherne goe in goddes name whan it please you and whan they were come out of the pitte the batayle began to be there ful terryble for ye should haue seen Reynawde his brethern gyue there great strokes and manye For Reynawde smote so merueyllouse strokes wyth hys swerd Flamberge the whyche did cut al that he rought For Reynawde was all wrothe and for great angre he habandoned and Ieoparded both lyfe and gooddes And therefore he bare greate hurte and harme to hys enemyes For he had cast hys Sheelde ouer hys backe and helde his swerde Flamberge wyth both his handes made so great destruccion of the folke of Charlemaine that the place was al full of bloud And whan Reynawde saw that theyr enemyes were sore abasshed and that they durste not abyde him he sayd to his brethern It was to vs great cowardnes to hyde vs so Syr sayd Alarde ye say trouthe Than sayd Reynawde My Lordes my brethern let vs to doo well For traitours ben good to ouercom they shall not now endure longe agaynst vs. And whan he had sayde these wordes he came to that gate of the castel and the fyre was a lytle quenched and maugre al his enemyes he shee the gate of that doungeon and had vp the draw bridge of the sayde castel And whā he had doone this he came agayne to the batayle found his brethern that slewe and beate downe so many knyghtes and bare themselfe so worthelye that it was maruayle for to see For they smote no stroke but they slew a man THan was Hernyer the traytour in the medle within the doungeon whereof Reynawde had locked the gate and drawen the bridge and the good Reynawde saw that he was safe of the hoste of Charlemayne and began to put hymselfe in the medle so sharpely that he dyd so muche he and hys brethern that of the folke of Charlemayne that were wythin the doūgeon abode of thē aliue but Hernier and .xii. other and whan Reynawde saw that they were all dead he and hys bretherne and hys folke tooke Hernyer and the .xii other And than Reynawde did doo make agybet vpon one of the hyghest towres and there he made to be hanged the .xii. men And made Hernier to be bound his foure membres that is to wyt feete and handes to foure horse tayles And so he was drawen all quicke and quartered in foure peeces as a traytour ought to be doone vnto And whan Hernier was dead Reynawde dyd make a great fyre and made hym to be cast therein and as he was al together brent he made the asshes of hym to be cast in the ayre to the wynde ¶ And heere ye may see how the traytours that wolde betraye Reynawde were dead and slayne For they were punysshed as they had deserued THan whan king Charlemayne wyst that his folke were thus dead and that he should not haue Reynawde nor his brethern he was sore angry therfore and sayd to him selfe Ha good God lorde how am I euyll dealed wythall by this foure knyghtes bretherne I dyd my selfe great harme whan euer I made thē knyghtes And it is often sayd that men make often a rod for them self And that I may well nowe take to me For theyr vncle slewe my sonne Lohyer and Reynawde my neuewe Berthelot that I loued so deerelye and yet nowe he hath hanged my men and many of them slayne Well I myght call my selfe vnhappye whan I that am the moste puyssaūt of the worlde cannot auenge me of the foure symple knyghtes I shall neuer departe from hens till that I be auenged or els they shal ouercomme and all mine armye Syr sayde Folques of Morillō ye haue a good cause why and Reynawde is a foole that he fereth you not For if he had doubted you he should not haue hanged your men but he hath doone so in dispyte of you Thā sayd the Duke Naymes of banyer had ye beleued me ye should not haue lost your men ye wolde beleue Hernier it is happed of it as ye see Now beholde your folke the ben shaking with the winde ANd whan thēperour Charlemayne vnderstoode this that the duke Naymes sayde to hym He knew that he sayd trouth and wyste not what he should say to it but looked downe all ashamed This hanging Reynawde hys brethern are gone vpon the walles and looked aboute them and sawe that the base courte of the castell brenned there as their vitailes were Then began reynawde to say to his bretherne fayre lordes the thinge goeth well syth that we ben scape thanked be god from so perillous and harde auenture It lacked lytle but that we were al dead by false treason but the worste that I see is that we haue loste our store of vitayles so that we haue nothing to liue vpon and me semeth that yf we dwell anye lenger heere within we doone not wysely But yf it seme you good it is tyme that we departe hence Brother said Alarde ye speke well and wysely and we shall doo as ye haue sayde For as longe as the lyfe is in our bodyes wee shall not leue you Whan the foure brethern were together accorded for to depart thens they trussed al theyr harneys and taryed tyl that it was night and than they armed themself
and knew him ryght well by a wounde that he had in his face whiche was doone to hym of a fall whan he was in his tender age ThaÌ„ she said to hiÌ„ as glad as ani mother may be Reynnawde my sonne whose peere is not among al the knightes of the worlde Howe see I you so sore appayred and chaunged Where is gon your great beaultie why my sonne doo ye hide you towarde me that loued you more than my selfe And while that she said these wordes she looked aboute her and knew her children anon she went towarde them wyth her armes spred abrode for to coile and kisse theym sore weepynge for great pitie that they were so sore apayred of theyr beaultie and so long she kissed one and than another that at last she fell downe in a swoune And Reynawde tooke her vp in his armes wher she abode a good while and Reynawde his brethern ceassed not from weeping for great pitie that they had of theyr mother ANd whan the duchesse was come agayne to herselfe she tooke her children made them sitte downe by her and sayd to them how is it that I see you thus poore dysfygured why is it that ye haue with you no knightes nor none other coÌ„pany where haue ye ben that haue endured so great pouertie and so great disease whan the duchesse spake thus to her chyldren she dyd weepe styll sore tenderly and foundred all in teres holdynge her sonne Reynawd betwene her armes and kissed hym sweetly Lady sayd Reynawde we haue with vs but three knightes that keep our horses yoÌ„der without For our father hath slayne all our knightes all our folke And also he should haue slayne vs yf it had not be our lorde that kept vs therfro through his pitie mercy Sore hard parentage dyd he shewe to vs our naturall father Whan the Duchesse vnderstoode these wordes she was ryght sory for it And called to her one of her seruauntes and saide to hym Goe and make my sonnes horses to be had into a good stable and that they ben well tended And brynge hither that three knightes that keep the horses without for I wyl see them Madame sayde her squyer it shal be doone incontinent And then he went to the three knyghtes and sayd to them that the duchesse wolde see them Whyche incontinent dyd as the ladye had commaunded and came to the Palays where as Reynawde taryed for them Lordes said the duchesse to them ye be right welcome Madame sayd the knightes God gyue you good life longe and Ioye of your children For they ben the best and the moste worthye knyghtes of all the worlde Thys hangyng came there a yeman that sayd to the duchesse Madame yf it please you to sit at the table the meat is redy ThaÌ„ the lady tooke Reynawde and the other with her lede them to dinner and made them syt downe all afore her and theyr three knyghtes at the left side of her There made good chere the foure sonnes of Aimon and ete at theyr case at theyr owne wyll For it was longe syth that they had ony good mele where they myghte take theyr naturall food at theyr ease And as they were at the table Thenne came theyr father Aimon from hawkynge and huntynge whiche had taken foure hartes and two wylde bores and dyuerse pertryches and Fesauntes Whan Aymon sawe them he knewe them not and he sayd vnto the duchesse Lady what are these folke that ben thus couÌ„trefer whan the duchesse vnderstode her husbande she was sore a gaste and began for to weepe and sayde Syr these ben your chyldren and myne that ye haue trauaylled so moche and sore hunted as wylde beastes The which haue dwelled loÌ„ge tyme in the foreste of Ardeyne where as they haue ben sore tourned as ye now maye see Now are they come vnto me by cause I am ryghte glad whan I see theym For to you they ben not come For they knowe well that ye loue them not But I praye you for god that for the loue of me ye wyll lodge them this night For they shall departe to morow erlye I wot not yf euere I shall see them Wherefore of this I beseeche you right humbly Than whan Aymon vnderstode these wordes he shooke al for anger and tourned hym selfe toward his sonnes and made to them euill there and said to them GlotoÌ„s goddes curse haue you For ye ben not worthe a strawe For ye haue nother folke nor money nor no prisoner that might pay to you a great hauoyre Father sayd Reynawde by the fayth that I owe to you if your lande is in peace the other ben not so For ye might goe sixe score miles that ye should not finde nother riche man nor poore but that they keepe them selues within fortresses and in Castelles But ye doo great wronge for to doo vs the worst that ye can ye tooke fyrst from vs our good Castell of Mountaynforde And after that ye had assayled vs in the wood of ardeyne and slew all our folke so that of fyue huÌ„dred knyghtes that I had ye left a lyue with me but enleuyn whereof .viii. ben dead and these .iii. that ye see heere ar abyde a liue now beholde well father and thynke how ye bare your selfe towarde vs. But syth it is thus that ye ought to vs no good wyll and that ye may not see vs Make vs the heades to be smyten of and so shall you be beloued of Charlemayne and hated of god and of all men ANd whan the olde Aymon vnderstode Reynawde thê° speke he knewe well he sayde trouth and began to fyght sore at his herte and then he sayd to hys chyldren Myschaunt your lidernes slouth hath ouercome you Ye were neuer my childerne For yf ye were such as meÌ„ wene ye should not haue suffred the great pouertie that ye haue endured so longe But ye should haue gone win vpoÌ„ your enemies for to maintein your self honestly make good warre to Charlemayne through all hys lande But ye are become myschaunt therfore I tell you that ye get nothyng of me Now theÌ„ voyde out soone of my Palayce and goe begge where ye wil at a nother place Syr sayd Reynawde ye say that an euyll and an vnkynde father ought to saye For I tell you for very certayne that we haue slayne so manye theues and brygauntes that I can not numbre them wherof I fele my selfe in great synne But for god we requyre you that ye wyll helpe vs to recouer our laÌ„des of Charlemayn and yf ye wyll not doo so gyue to vs of your godes and we shall goe ferre from you I wyll not sayd Aymon Father sayd Reynawde here I se well your euyll wyll I and my brethern haue doone so muche that we ben comen into your place that we should fare the better for it but I see wel ye wyll cast vs therfro with great afraye And I swere to you by the
Ardeyn and these three knightes ben my brethern heere is Alard Guichard Richarde heere is Mawgis our cosyn one of the best knightes of the world most wise Charlemayne hath cast vs oute of Fraunce hath disheryted vs our father hath disauowed vs for the loue of him for this cause sir we goe seeke a bout after a lorde that is good and true that shoulde helpe vs to defende ayenst Charlemayne and we shall serue him wel and truely WHan king yon hearde this that Reynawde sayde he was right gladde of it that they were the foure sonnes of Aymon the best knyghtes of all the worlde and most doubted Mawgis that was the moste subtyll of the worlde that were come for to serue him he wolde not haue ben so glad yf men had gyuen to him al parys For he wyst well that yf euer he shoulde fynishe his warre it shoulde be by their meane Than he looked vp toward heauen and thanked our lorde of the comyng of these worthye knyghtes than he sayde to them Lordes ye are reteyned of me for ye ben not the men that ought to be refused I promyt you truely and in feith of a kinge that I shall defende you with all my power ayenst all men ye are dysheryted I also therfore it is well reason that we be togyther and that the one helpe the other of all his power Sir said Reinawd we thanke you a thousande tymes I promyse you that we shall die in youre seruise or elles your londe shall be recouered again The king called his stuarde sayde to him and commaunded that Reinawd his felawshyp should be well lodged Incontinent the stuarde tooke Reynawd by the hande fulfylled the commaundemente of the kyng Now are the foure sonnes of Aymon acqueynted with the kinge yon of Gascoyn whiche went to haue doo wel but he repented him soone after ¶ But here we leaue to speake of king yon and of the foure sonnes of Aymon return to speake of bourgoyns that were at Tholouse the which he had take by force of armes ⧠How Reynawd and his brethern and Mawgys destroyed Bourgons the sarasins that had dystroyed the realme of Gascoygne and chased the kyng you vnto Bordews vpon Gyronde that durst not goe theÌ„ce for feare of the Sarasyns And after howe kyng you gaue my ladye Clare hys syster to Reynawde for to be his wife for the greate seruyse that he had doone to him And howe he made for hym the castell of Mounta whan ⧠Capitulum .vi. IN this party sheweth the hystorye that after bourgons had taken tholouse he made a great parlyamente to his folke And sayde to them Lordes ye knowe well that whan the yron is well hot it werketh the better This worde I haue sayde afore youre lordshyppes for to gyue you to knowe what we oughte to doo And therfore me semeth that we ought to ryde now towarde bourdewes while the corne is in the ere For our horses shal haue meat ynoughe sir saide his folke ye speake wel and wisely let it be doone as ye haue deuised whan the morowe came Bourgons departed oute of Tholouse with well .xx. thousand knyghtes wel armed and ceassed not for to ryde tyll that they came afore Bourdews in .ix. daies And he set all hys folke in a bushement within a greate woode that was nygh abode there with theym excepte foure hundred men that wente to the cytie wâ—sting and brennynge all the countrie vnto the citie of Bourdews and whan the daye watche that was vpon the gate of the citie sawe the sarasins come he cried with an highe voyce arme you knightes for heere ben the Paynymes that come for to hurte you whan the Citie vnderstode this she began to before moued THan whan Reynawde sawe that it was tyme to take hys harneys on he sayd to hys brethern Goe make you all redye and make our trompettes to be blowen that al our folke put them self in armes In contynent made hys brethern his coÌ„maundement And whan they were al armed Reynawde mounted vpon Bayarde and came to kinge You sayd to hym Syr be not abasshed of nothynge but be sure that god helpe vs thys daye My self my brethern and all our folke we goe afore and make your folke to be redi incoÌ„tinet for my hert giueth me that this cursed Sarasyn shal be thys day dyscoÌ„fited and ouercomeÌ„ wyth the helpe of god Freende sayd the king god be wyth you and I shal doo that ye tâ—l me And thus Reynawde went out of Bordews the formest of all hys folke agaynste the Sarasyns vpon hys horse Bayarde the sheeld at his necke and his swerde in hys hande and ranne fiersly vpon hys enemies and incontynent smote a Paynym throughe his sheelde so that he ouerthrew him dead to the grounde and forth wyth he cast a mother god wot he helde well his swerde for he hew the Sarasyns as they had ben without Harneys And shortly to speake after that Reynawde and hys folke were assembled the Paynymes might not endure For Reynawde and his brethern slewe them as beastes so that they must nedes flee toward theyr busshement And whan bourgons saw hys folke câ—me thus he yssued out of the wood wyth hys company and made bussynes hornes to be blowen came for to succoure his men And whan Reinawde saw so great numbre of folke coming out of the wood he was sore meruayled and turned hym self towarde his bretherne and sayd to them Lordes keep that ye be not dismayed for we shall get a great worshyp thys daye and I praye you that euery maÌ„ parforce hymselfe to doo well brother sayd Rycharde we shall neuer be dysmayed as longe as ye be vpon Bayarde Brother sayd Reynawde doo as good men for yf ye wyll parforce your selfe a lytle These Paynems shal not holde afore vs. Thus as Reinawde spake to his bretherne they sawe BourgoÌ„s come the spere in his rest and smote a man of Reynawde by such a strength that he shoued his spere through and throughe his body so that hâ— fâ—ll downe dead to the earth Whan Alarde saw that he was wrothe sparred his horse and ranne vpon a Paynym so harde that he felled hym sterke dead afore hym And shortly to speke there was neuer seene suche a distresse of folke as Reynawde his brethern mawgys hys cosyn made wyth so fewe folke as they were agaynst Bourgons the Sarasyn THan whan the king you that came to the succours of Reynawde saw the great faytes of armes that he and his bretherne made and how hardlye they dyd set vpon and ouerthrew all that they recountred afore them the blessed hymself of the meruayle that he had of theym And than he sayd to hys folke go we succour these worthy knyghtes for it is tyme longe a go and whan the king You had sayd these wordes he spurred his horse put hymself amonge the thickest began to doo wel and dyd
Reynawde bayarde so turned they begaÌ„ to laugh were greatly merueylled how Mawgys hadde thus disfigured them Whan Mawgys had transfigured Reynawde bayarde and himself also Reynawd mounted vpon bayarde and Mawgys vpoÌ„ morel tooke leue of their folke But Reynawde at his departynge sayd to his brethren haue no fere for me For I shall not be knowen yf god wyll Than wente Reynawde on his way his folke wept for him for Reinawde went in such a place where he hadde manye enmyes For yf Charlemayne had coâ—ne take him al the golde of the world had not saued him but he shold haue caused him to be hanged And whan they departed Alarde sayd to Mawgis I pray you for god that ye haue my brother Reynawde for recommeÌ„ded for if it were not for the trust that I haue to you I should not suffre that he shoulde go to parys for al the golde of spaine And than Reynawde and Mawgys went on theyr waye ⧠Now shall I leue a litil to speke of them And shall retourne to the kyng Charlemayne that was at the Parys with his folke CHarlemaine sawe his barons that were all come and than he called the Duke Naymes Ogyer the Dane and Foulques of Moryllon and said to them Lordes I praye you that ye take an hundred knightes wel armed and goe towarde the waye of Orleaunce and beware that none goe by but ye knowe their names that they bene well aduised for I doubte me sore of Reynawde that he shall come for he weneth well him selfe to be ouer subtyll and yf it came in hys head he should come sone hytherward Syr sayde the barons we shall doo gladly your commaundemente and if Reynawde be so folisshe that he come hytherwarde he shal not escape vs but he shall be deade or taken and brought afore you And thaÌ„ they tooke leue of Charlemayne and wente to make them ready nere their horses after mounted on horsebacke with an hundred knyghtes well armed and rode the waye towarde Orleaunce and arested themselfe in the myddes of the waye foure myles oute of Parys and there they were a longe while that no bodye passed by and endured great hungre and thurste And whan the duke Naymes saw that they were there for nought he sayde to Ogyer Syr Ogyer by my faythe the Kynge Charlemayne maketh vs lyke fooles and holdeth vs for nice and musardes that he maketh vs to tary heere about nought Syr sayde Ogyer ye saye trouth and God confounde me yf I tary ony lenger And whan they wolde haue comen againe abacke the duke Naymes sawe come a farre Reynawd and Mawgys ThaÌ„ said Naymes to foulques of Moryllon yonder I see commyng two menne on horsebacke And whan that Foulques saw them he cried with an hyghe voyce by my faith heere commeth Reynawd Nowe can he not escape by no maner but he shall be hanged By my faythe said the Duke Naymes ye say trouth For the horse that cometh afore is much lyke Baiarde the horse of Reinawde yf he were of a nother coloure Whan that Foulques vnderstode these wordes he sette handes to his swerde and came ayenst Reynawde ryghte nere and when he was well nyghe them he behelde them And whan he sawe that it was not Reynawde he was a l abasshed and drewe hym selfe abacke and Reynawde and Mawgys rode furthe theyr wayes And whan the Duke Naymes sawe that they came furthe be went ayenste them and called Mawgys and sayde to hym what ben ye and whether go ye Sir saide Mawgys I am borne of Peâ—on and my name is Iousser Freend said the duke Naymes canne not ye â—ell me nothing of Reinawde the sonne of Aymon the worthy knight yea saide Mawgis by my faithe he hath ridden with vs two daies and he is not passed two miles behind vs. At that horre Reinawde spake not thaÌ„ said Naimes what is he that is with you that holdeth him soo still and that saieth no worde I beleue that he hathe some euill thought sir saide Mawgis it is my sonne and he can not speake no frensh For he hath bene nourisshed in the greate Bretaine Whan the duke Naymes vnderstoode this he sayde to Reynawde tell me vassell knowest thou no tydynges of Reynawde the sonne of Aymon and Reinawde answered to him in this wise By my fayth no poynt frenche grauÌ„t Bretaine horse a Paris cloyth ganera my And counterfetted thus hys longuage bicause the duke Naymes should not knowe him THan whan the duke Naymes heard Reinawde speake thê° euyl he began to laugh And after saide to him againe a hundred deuylles haue well taught thee to speake so good frenche vassell I wote not what thou sayest thou arte more lyke a foole than a bisshop And so Naymes let him in peace And than Reynawde and Mawgys tode so longe that they came to Parys tyme ynoughe for to doo theyr enterpryse And at the entre of the towne they mette with an euill rybaude vnto whome GOD geue yll aduenture For he knew Reinawde And as soone as he sawe him he beganne to cry with an high voice heere commeth Reinawde the sonne of Aymon Whan the folke vnderstoode the cry they wente that way And whan the yl rybawde saw com so many folke he was yet more hardye than he was afore and wente afore the other and tooke Reinawde by the bridle of Baiarde And whan Baiarde sawe that he lifted his forefoote and smote the ribaude vpon the brest that he brast the herte in his belye casted him all dead to the erthe And whaÌ„ the people saw the stroke thei began all to laugh and Bayard went forth Maugis after that thei were not knowen passed through the towne to the market And whan thei were comen there afore the lodges thei founde all the Innes full Wherof Reynawde was maruailed And so they lighted at a cordeners house that was of the deuilles side For by him was almoste Reinawde and Mawgys taken and delyuerd to Charlemaine that his bretherne sholde not haue holpen hym of no thynge whan they were lyghted and lodged where it is sayde that their horses were well dressed Mawgys dyd doo make a bedde for Reynawde and toke a thred of sylke and sered it well and came to Bayarde and bounde hym the mowes of the feet there withall well streyte And the hoste behelde well this and after said to him Why haue you thus bounde this horse he shall not conne well goe But tel me what knighte is he that oweth the horse For if he had of age more than he hath I should wene to knowe him For he is muche lyke Reynawde the sonne of Aymon Syr saide Mawgis I haue bounde thys horse thus bycause he wyll fyght and the yeman that rydeth vpon him is my sonne Now haue I telled you that that ye haue asked me Certes answered the hoste youre sonne is a fayre felawe but I beleue ye mocke me ¶ Nowe shall ye heare a greate
way that it semed that the tempest had chased hiÌ„ And whan the kynge Charlemayne vnderstode thys that Reynawde had sayd to hym he was wode angry for it that he wyste not what he should doo so that he myght not of a greate whyle speake a worde And whan he had recouered his speche he began to crye with a hye voyce nowe after lordes after for it is myne enemye Reynawde the sonne of Aymon And whan the knyghtes heard thus crye the kynge Charlemayne they spurred theyr horses with the spurres and went after Reynawde but their goynge auayled theym nought For Bayard was ferre from them with in a whyle so that they wyst not where he was become and Reynawde cam to Sayne and passed ouer it al at his ease with swymynge for Bayarde was well wonte therto and also he had passed it afore with more great haste And whaÌ„ that Reynawde was thus passed the ryuer of Sayne he lyghted from Bayarde at the banke of it Thus hanging the king Charlemayne and his knightes that folowed after hym came to the ryuers syde and began to call Reynawde sayd to hym Ha true man soone yelde me my crowne agayne and I shal gyue thee .x. tymes as muche as it is worthe and I shall gyue thee truce two yeres so that thy selfe and thy brethern shall mow go in ardeyne to see your mother the which desireth sore to see you and there is no knyght in my lande that shal say coÌ„trary to it by god sayd Reynawde as for these wordes auayle you nothiÌ„g for ye shall neuer haue agayne your crowne I shall sell it and shall pay my knyghtes withall and the charboncle that thus shyneth shal be set hye vpon my pauylyon to the ende that they that shall go to saynt Iames in Galyee may see it the better and ye shall be blamed of your knyghtes that ye haue loste your crowne by the horse Bayarde whan Charlemayn hearde hym speake thus he wyst not what he should say for angre kept himself styl like as he had ben dead And whan Reynawde had sayde so he mounted agayne vpon Bayarde and put hymself to the way but not the ryght way but rode throughe a lytle pathe whyche he had passed afore tyme. NOw shal I tell you of Mawgys how he dyd for to come out of Parys that was mounted vpon his horse morell Whan he wyst that Reynawde was passed Sayne he issued out of Parys and passed the ryuer ouer the brydge as soone as he might And whan he was without he began to looke after Reynawde as he rode he looked a trauerse and sawe Reynawde so called he after hym as hie as he could cosyn thinke to ryde fast for to tary heere no good shall come to vs cosyn sayde Reynawde ye saye well and we shall doo so And so they tooke theyr waye towarde Myllon And whan Alarde saw his brother come and Mawgis he sayd to his folke Lordes we may well come out of our busshemente for I se come my brother Reynawde Mawgys Alas sayd Richarde I see them come wyth greate haste I fere me muche that men chase them Now light we al on horse backe and yf they haue mystre of vs let vs go helpe and succour them And they answered all we ben all redy whan they came out of theyr busshement there came Reynawde and Mawgis that sayd to them lordes thynke to make haste For the longe taryenge might doo to vs harme bicause that I brynge wyth me the crowne of Charlemayne the whiche Bayarde hath made me wynne by his prowesse And whan Alarde vnderstode his brother speake thus he was so greatly in Ioye that he wyste not what he should say but colled kyssed his brother Reynawde with greate Ioye And than incontineÌ„t they put themselfe to the waye and so longe they rode that they came to Orleaunce and passed the ryuer of Loyre wyth all dylygence and after they made so muche by theyr Iourneys that they came to Mountawban whole and glad thanked be god THan whan they were at mouÌ„tawban the lady came them agaynst receyued them right gladly and made them ryght great there and all the folke of the Castell were ryght glad of the comynge of Reynawde and of hys bretherne and asked him how he had doone in his viage lordes sayd Reynawde wel god gramercy I was knowen of myne hoste the whych wolde haue betrayed and accused me but I solde it to him ful deere I cloue his head to the teeth and went out of hys house by night and put vs in the prese of the other but ye wyst neuer folke so wel scorned as we were for the folke of charlemayne mocked me and Bayarde wherof the king was angry thus they left me in peace And whan the trompettes began to blowe for to begyn the course they that should renne departed incontinent and I bode be hinde well the shotte of a bowe and I tell you well for certayne there were well twenty thousande horses And whan I saw me behynde I said to Bayarde that it should be great shame to hym yf he abode behynde but god gramercy and Bayarde I ouer ranne them al. And bare awaye the pryce and of it I haue brought wyth me the crowne of the kynge charlemayne wherof he is ful sory WhaÌ„ thei of MouÌ„tawban vndestode these wordes they were ryght glad But heere I leaue for to speake of Reynawde and of his bretherne and returne to speake of the king Charlemayne that was at parys ryght sorye for hys crowne that he had loste ¶ How the kyng Charlemayne weÌ„t into Gascoyn with his hoste And how he besieged Reynawde and hys bretherne within the Castell of MouÌ„tawban And how Reynawde wan the fyrst batayle of the king the whyche Rowland conduyted Olyuer and the bysshop Turpyn ¶ Capitulum viii IN this party sheweth the hystory that whan Reynawde had wonne the crowne of kynge Charlemayne The kyng abode all wrothe and sore an angred and he called all his barons sayde to them Lordes I pray you that ye counsell me how I shall may auenge me of Reynawde the sonne of Aymon For ye know how he hath angred me I promise you but that I may haue my crowne againe I shal wex mad al quicke For my courage telleth me that he shall doo breke it he shal put the carborâ—tle that is theron vpon his pauyllâ—on bycause the folke that goe to saynt Iames shall see it to my great vytupere shame Syr sayd Rowland yf ye wil auenge you well of Reynawde go we vpon him and we shall exyle and destroye hym and his lande and yf the kynge You of Gascoyn may be taken so make iustice of hym in suche wyse that it may be remeÌ„bred perpetuallye Neuew sayd the kinge ye saye well and wysely it shal be doone as ye haue aduysed me I promise you that I shall neuer haue Ioye till that I be auenged at my wyl Syr
sayd vnto them Lordes Reynawde sēdeth me worde that he shall doe nothynge after my wyll And for this cause I wyl that the castell be assayled forthwith Sir sayd the duke Naymes me semeth as I haue vnderstande the Reynawde offreth to you fayre and yf ye wyll belyue me ye shall take hym to mercy wyth hys brethern For ye knowe well that they bē folke that may doo to you good seruyce And yf Reynawde be once in peace with you ye shall be the better beloued and more dred therfore But sith that your wil cannot accorde to the same we maye not doo therto To assayle the castel I counsel it not For ye see that the Castell is fayre and ryght stronge and Reynawde hath whym a good company of good men and he and his brethern Mawgys ben suche knyghtes as ye knowe yf ye doo assayle the castel they shall yssue out at the fauce posternes and shall doo to you so great a dommage of your folke that ye shall be wrothe for it but and yf ye wyll beleue my counsell ye shall besyege the Castell so nyghe that no man shal not come out nor cutre in but he shal be take and thus ye shall mow haue the Castell by famisshynge For by no sawte ye shall not haue it CHarlemayne vnderstode well these wordes and knew well that the duke Naymes spake wel wysely and sayd to hym I wil that it be doone thus as ye haue deuysed it And thā he made crye through his hoste that euery man should lodge hymself euyn nighe by the Castell and he himselfe commaunded that his pauyllion should be pight as nighe the gate as coulde be doone After thys was cryed ye should haue seen wyth in a litle whyle moe than ten thousand pauillions rounde aboute the Castell of Mountawban Whan the hoste was al lodged Rowlande departed out of the hoste well with two thousand knightes wel armed wel horsed and all yonge men of pryme berde whiche were very frenshe born of the douce fraunce and went at the other side of Moūtawban in a place whiche is called Balancon where was a riuer great and deape in the whych was fisshe ynough and there he dyd pytche his pauillion And so full he was of great pryde that he bad set the dragon aboue vpon hys pauillion and did doo make the lodgis of his felawes roūde about him And they were in suche a grounde where as they myght see from thens the woodes and the Ryuers and all the countrey and Mountawban that was vpon the great roche well closed behelde the two great ryuers that is to wit Gyround and Dordone that enuyronned Mountawban ROwlande sawe the place so stronge that he meruaylled greatly sayd to hys folke Lordes I meruayle me sore of thys castell I meruayle not yf the foure sonnes of Aymō make warre agaynst mine vncle Charlemayne sythe that they haue so good and so stronge a place for to withdraw theym selfe For I promyse you that Moūtawban shal neuer be taken of vs ye say not well sayd Olyuer For we tooke well by force Lezonne also we ouerthrew downe the great towre and the doungeon of Sernoble wherof I saye that we shall well haue Mountawban And yf Reynawde and his bretherne come not and yelde them selfe they shal be in daunger of death I promyse you sayde Rowlande that they shall doo nothynge of that ye saye For I promyse you that the gentyll Reynawde shall make vs so sore aferde that the moste hardy wolde be at Parys Reynawde is prue and coragious and his brethern in lykewise and also they haue within the castell many noble and worthy knightes Wherfore I say and I am of opinion that as lōge as they haue vytayle they shall neuer be taken Whā the pauillion of Rowlande was dressed and pight vp Rowlande behelde the riuer and saw that it was full of byrdes than he sayd to the Bysshop Turpyn and to the other Barons See howe wee are lodged in a good place Let vs goe in these Ryuers to let flee our Fawcons Syr sayde the Bisshoppe Turpin goe in the name of God Then lyghted Rowlande on horsebacke and tooke with hym wel .xxx. knightes and no mo And they tooke their hawkes rode the moste parte of them vpon mules all vnarmed saue theyr swerdes and came and sported them alonge the ryuer syde tooke many byrdes vpon the water in so great quantitie that they laded a horse wythall the bysshop Turpyn and Ogyer wente not there but abode behynde for to keep the hoste and they were before the tentes where they made two auncient knightes to recoūte and tel how the great Troy was taken and dystroyed this hangyng was a spye in the hoste of king Charlemaine that longed vnto renawde the whyche he had sent there for to know what they wrought and howe they dyd all the fayte of Rowlande and incōtinent the spye departed out of the hoste and wente to Reynawde and shewed to hym how Rowlande and Olyuer were gone to sportynge with theyr Hawkes vpon the ryuer and wyth them thyrtye of the best of the hoste WHan the spye had recounted these tidynges to Reynawde he was of it ryght glad Than he called his brethern Mawgys his cosyn tolde them how Roulande and Olyuer and .xxx of the beste barons of Charlemayne were gone to hawking vpon the ryuers in the plaine of Balancō What ought we to doo sayd Reynawde Cosyn sayd Mawgys we may well kill thē if we wyll for they ben well proude folyshe remēbre ye not wel that a messāger tolde you a moneth a goe that Charlemayne had left all olde knightes of his Realme had taken of the yonge that he had departed all Gascoyne to the yonge bachelers of Fraunce And by thys boban Rowland Olyuer ben mounted into so great pryde that they trow in al the worlde is no man that dare assaile them nor looke vpon them an grely But and yf ye wyl beleue me I shall tell you suche a thynge that shal make them wrothe sory And thā reinawde made sowne his horne the which mē neuer herde sowned but that it was need for whan men hearde it euery man ran to his armes for to arme hym And incontynent Reynawde and his bretherne and Mawgys made themselfe to be armed And whan they were al armed and well apparelled Reynawde lyghted vpon Bayarde his good horse and spurred hym wyth hys spurres so that he made hym to lepe wel thyrty foote of length Ha good horse sayd Reynawde how ye make your selfe to be beloued And how wel I mistre you this dai Let vs go assayle these vnhappy folke of the kyng Charlemayne of Fraunce and make we by suche a maner that we need not retourne twyse and therof I praye you all ANd whan Reynawde sawe that his folke was wel apparelled he wente out with his men at a false posterne that they of the hoste coulde not see them
armes that none durste abyde longe afore him And than the frenshmen were so sore and werye that they mighte no more and were all dyscomfited at the passage of the ryuer than they dyd put theym selfe to flight and the gascoines chased them all beating a longe mile after returned to the hoste and tooke al the hauoyr that they founde there and Mawgis came to the pauillion of Rowland and tooke the dragon of golde that was set vpon the said pauillion and they passed through Balancon and so returned to MouÌ„tawban with greate ioye And whaÌ„ they were come there they disarmed them selfe eate right wel For they had well mister therof Whan they hadde caten at their ease Reinawde made brynge the boty afore him And after dealed it among his folke And keepe to him noâ— one peny Whan Reinawd had thus departed all this goodes Mawgis went vpon the great towre of Mountawban And dyd set the dragon of Rowland vpon the same so that the folke of choste of bothe sides of the castell myghte see it And whan Charlemaine saw the dragon vpon the towre of â—ountawban he wende that Rowland his neuew had taken Mountawban by force but the thinge went wel otherwise For Reinawde and his bretherne had discomfited al the folke of Rowland and had brought with them al theyr hauoyre and the dragon of the sayde Rowland they had set vpon the towre of Mountawban ⧠How Reynawd and his brethern were betrayed and solde to the kinge Charlemayn by the king yon of gascoyn that sent them in the playne of Valcoloures all without armes but their swerdes and were mouÌ„ted vpon mules and were clothed with mantelles of scarlet furred with ermine Fro the whiche they escaped by the wylle of god but they suffred muche payne and great trauayle for they were greatly hurt and sore wouÌ„ded but of the king Charlemains party abode there dead Folques of Moryllon and manye other barons and worthy knightes wherof the kinge Charlemayn was wrothe and sory ⧠Capitulum .ix. NOw must we tel of Rowland and of Oliuer that came againe fro hawking vpon the riuers wyth theyr felowes and beseming they were ryghte gladde that they hadde so well chased and taken a greate quantitie of byrdes and thus as they came againe they met wyth damp Rambault the free knight that tolde them by a great angre ye haue taken manye byrdes see that ye be good marchauntes selle your proy well For I promyse you ye shall neuer selle your chase and hawking so deare as it hath coste you And yf ye haue taken byrdes I let you wyt that Reinawde his brethern haue taken knyghtes and horses and whan ye see youre dragon vpon the greate towre of Mountawban ye oughte wel to be than glad thanke muche therof the foure sonnes of Aimon For all tho that seen it set there of an heyght they ween that ye haue gotten the castell by force Whan Rowland vnderstood these wordes it lacked lityll that he went oute of hys mynde he lyghted downe from hys mule and sette hymselfe vpon a stone and begaÌ„ to thinke and muse sore and so dyd Oliuer in lyke wise and whan Rowlande had thoughte ynoughe he called to him the byshop Turpyn Ogier the dane Richard of Normandye and sayd to theym For god fayre lordes what counseyll gyue you me vpon thys deed For I dare neuer mote finde my selfe before my vncle the kyng Charlemayne for I feare me to sore of euyll reporte and that menne tell of me otherwyse than the trouth And he said to the byshop Turpyn For goddes loue good father in god geue me leaue to departe for I wolde goe into the holy londe to see the sepulture of our lorde for to warre there ayenst the sarasins For sith this my shappe is thus come to me I wyl no more beare armes ayenst christen men Syr sayde the byshop Turpyn be not dysmayed for nothinge for thys is but an vse of warre suche a thyng befalleth often to manye one I promise you that ye shall haue or three dayes been past as many of the folke of Reynawde as he hathe of yours Sir said Rowlande ye geue me good courage and I promise you that to your prudence I shall arrest my selfe Whan Rowland had said these woordes the bysshop Turpyn Ogier dyd so muche that thei made him â—ight a horseback and they went togither all towarde Charlemayn wit that after Rowlande came mo than a hundred yonge gentilmen all a foote by cause they had lost their horses and whan they were come to thoste of Charlemain they went streyghte to the pauyllion of the duke Naimes and whan Rowland entred within he was ashamed and abode there two dayes that he came not out durste not goe to the courte nor loke no maÌ„ in the face but helde himselfe in the saide pauillyon as a man all abashed of the great sorowe that he had at his heart Whan Rowland Olyuer was thus abideÌ„ in the duke Naymes tent this hangyng Turpyn came towarde kinge Charlemayne in hys rente Where he entred within saluted the kyng right honourably and the emperour rendred to him his sauâ—e and after sayd to him Damp byshop ye be welcome Syr said Turpyn god be your keeper I beseche you to pardoÌ„ me yf I tell you any thing that shal displease you Now tel harâ—â—â—y said the king what ye wyll For nothing that ye can tell canne not dysplease me Syr sayde the byshop Turpyn wyt that the foure sonnes of Aymon haue discomfyted vs. And haue take with them al that we had in our tentes bothe horses and harneys and al our pauyllyons and namely the dragon of Rowland beside a greate mâ—iny prisoners and they haue slain the moste party of our folke THan whaÌ„ the emperour vnderstoode this that Turpyn had tolde him he was a long while as a man all forcened And than he sware saint Denys by greate angre and said Now haue ye found that ye went telling the great pride that ye had ye haue wel found At this houre he did send through al his hoste by expresse wordes that euery lorde and baron should come incontinent afore him in his tente for he wolde keep parlyament with them Whan the prynces knew that commaundemeÌ„t of the king ye should haue seen them come with greate haste toward the king and whan they were all assembled within the kinges pauillion he stoode vpon his feete said to theim in this maner Lordes I haue sent for you for to shewe vnto you thaâ— to vs is happed of newe Now wiâ— that the four sonnes of Aimon haue discomfited all youre knightes that Rowlande my neuew had with him at Balancon wherof I am ryghte wroth and sorye for I wolde I had lost a greater thinge and that thys were not happed but a thyng that can not be amended must be suffred and borne as well as men may I require and beseche you all my lordes and freendes
vpon the othe that ye haue made to me that ye will counseyll me truelye howe I shall be ruled in thys matter and howe I myghte haue thys Castell of Mountawban whan the kinge had thus spoken there was none so hardye that euer durste saye one worde but onely the Duke Naymes of Bauier the prâ—e and wyse knyght Syr said the Duke Naymes ye aske counsell for to besyege Mountawban but no manne that hathe any reason in his heade oughte not to counseyll you the same for whye the daunger is there greate because that Guynard the lorde of Berne knoweth of it and so dooth Godfray the Lorde of Poycy that are good knightes and sore dread for theyr worthynes and also the kinge yon that is at tholouse the whiche shall come all to helpe and succour Reinawd by cause they be of his aliauÌ„ce and also they know that he is one of the best knyghtes of the worlde And they knowe well also that Reynawd gyueth to vs muche to doone and so I tell you if they see themselfe togyther they shal giue you ynoughe to doo and shall maye beare to you a great dommage But and ye wil haue good counseyll and beleue me I shal gyue it to you truelye Syr sende worde to kynge yon that he withdraw not nor keep your enmyes within hys londe but that he yeeld them in to youre handes for to doo with them youre pleasure and your commaundemente And yf he wyll not doo so ye shall destroye all his londe and no mercy ye shall haue vpon him Naymes saide the kynge nowe gyue you me good counseyll and I wyll that ye haue saide be doone incontynente Than the kyng made come an Heraude of hys and sayde to hym Nowe goe lyghtlye to Tholouse and tell kynge yon on my behaulfe that I am entred in to Gascoyne accompanyed of the twelue peeres of Fraunce with an hundred thousand fyghting menne and with Rowlande and Olyuer and telle hym that by saynt Denys of fraunce yf he yeelde me not my enmyes that been the foure sonnes of Aymon that I shall waste and destroye all hys londe nor to hym shall abyde nother cytie nor Castell but it shal be ouer throwen to the earth And yf I canne take hym I shall take from him hys crowne so shall he be called kynge ouerthrowen Syr sayde the Heraude your commaundement I shall doo without varying of one word euen as your good grace pleaseth to commaunde me and thus departed the Heraude from the hoste of Charlemayne and tooke hys way towarde Tholouse there he founde the king yon of Gascoyn in his pallays with a right fayre company assone that he saw the king he knew hym well so made he than to hym the reuerence and said to him in the Emperours behalfe the thing worde by worde wherof he was sent there ANd whan the kyng yon vnderstoode the Heraude that spake so he bowed hys head towarde the earthe and began to thinke a longe while and said not a word And whaÌ„ he had thus longe mused ynoughe he said to the messaÌ„ger Good freend ye muste cary heere a seuen nyght I praye you and than I shall tell you my wyl and what I purpose to doo Syr saide the Heraude I shall abyde with a good will sith that it please you Than wente the king yon in to hys chambre and eyght earles with him and coÌ„maunded that the doores should be well sheete and than they set theim all vpon a benche And whan they were al set the kyng yon tooke the worde and said in this maner Lordes I beseche and require vpon the faith that ye owe to me that ye geue me good counseyll to the honoure of me not at my will but by reason Nowe wit it that the kynge Charlemain is entred within my loÌ„d with the tuelue peeres of Fraunce and Rowlande and Oliuer with an hundred thousande men And he sendeth to me word but if I deliuer vnto him the four sonnes of Aimon he shall not leaue me nother citie nor towne but he shal cast all to chearth and shal take the crown fro my head and so shal I becalled a kinge ouerthrowen My father helde neuer nothing of him and no more shal I it is better to die with great worship than to liue in great shame THan whan the king you had thus spoken there rose vp a knight named Godfraye that was neuew to king yon and sayd to him sir I merueyll me that ye aske counseyll for to betray suche knightes as ben the foure sonnes of Aimon Reinawde is your man and your carnall freend ye know what good he hathâ— doone to you and to your londe It is not longe a goe that he dyscomfited Marcyl the puysaunt Sarasin and chased him well foure mile and smot of his heade and presented it to you and ye haue promysed and sworne to him that ye shal defend and keep him him ayenst all menne Mine vncle if ye thynke to faylle him and wil not holde that ye haue promised to him let him and his bretherne goe out of your londe in to some other countrie to seeke theyr aduenture And hapely they shall serue some lorde that shal doo to them more good then ye wyll doo and also I praye you my deare lord and vncle as much as I caÌ„ that ye wil doo nothing that turneth you to blame nor to dyshonour nor that can be caste by maner of reproche toward your freendes Than spake the olde earle of Ansom and said Sir ye wil that we giue you counseill yf ye wil doo that we shal counseil you ye shal doo wel for your selfe Now say on hardely said the king that semeth you best to be doo for I wyll doo as ye shall counseyll me Syr sayde the earle ye haue wel heard saye and so it was trouth that Benes slew the earle Lohier wherfore Charlemaine sente for him and made hys head to be smyten of at Parys and at that time Reinawd and his brethern were verye yonge and of them was none mencyon made And afterwarde whan they were great the kyng wold amende it to them For the thynge toucheth them but they had the hert so fell that they wolde take none amendes and lasted theyr hate longe wherof euer syth hathe come greate harmes and euylles For Reynawde slewe Berthelot the neuewe of the king with a chesse borde sir I know not why I shoulde hyde anye thynge fro your knowledge ye knowe well that Charlemaine is so myghtye a kyng that he neuer vndertooke wanâ— but he came to his aboue of it Wherfore I doo geue you counseyll that ye yeelde Reinawde and hys brethern and Mawgis to the kynge Charlemayne and thus shall ye be delyuered of a greate thoughte and of a greate daunger And after thys spake the erle of Mobandes and sayde syr yf ye wil doo this that the erle of Ansom counseilleth you yee and we shall be traytours For Reynawd is your man and so muche ye haue
loued him that ye haue giuen hym your sister to his wife And whan he came in these marches he came not lyke a knaue but he came to you as a noble knighte prue and worthye For he brought in his felawship foure thousande men well armed and well horsed and said to you afore vs all oreuer he tooke of his spurres that he had warre with the kinge Charlemain Neuerthelesse ye receiued him with good herte and after made of him at your wil. And for you he conquested mani batailles did so much that he delyuered you from the handes of your enemyes And therfore syr I tell you that ye be not worthye to calle your self ne to bere the crowne vpon youre heade if for feare of death ye betray such knightes as are the foure sonnes of Aymon For ye haue not yet loste nother Castell nor town if ye doo it otherwise ye shal be taken and holden for a traytoure After spake Anthony the olde earle sayde to the kinge Syr beleue not this counseyll for suche counseyll he gyueth you now wherof ye shall be betrayed at the last For I know better then tent of Reinawde than anye man that is heere ye must vnderstoÌ„de sir that Reynawd was sonne to a maÌ„ that had but one town and was so proude that he dayned to serue nor obeye his lorde the king of Fraunce but slewe Berthelot by his great pride and outrage Wherfore the kynge Charlemaine chased hym out of the realme of Fraunce Nowe it is happed so that he is in Gascoygne and ye haue gyuen to hym great landes and because he hathe youre syster to wife he is become so proude that none maye dure afore hym And he setteth not a peny nother by you nor by your courte Wherfore I swere to you by the head that I beare if he may by any wise he shal take the life from you for to haue all the realme to him selfe Wherfore I aduyse to you by rightwise counsell that ye yeeld him and his bretherne to Charlemayne And ye shall doo as a wise king and so shall you pease the great wrath of the kyng Charlemayne of Fraunce After spake the duke Guymarde of Bayon and sayd to the kynge Syr I tell you that the earle Anthony lyeth falsly and giueth you euill counseyll for Reynawde as sonne to the duke Aimon of Ardeine which is of ryght great lygnage And Charlemayne made to slea the duke Benes of Aygremount their vncle by great wronge and Reynawd tooke therof vengeaunce vpon Berthelot by good reason and that more is it was his body defendinge Wherof I tell you that no kinge is not worthye to beare any crowne nor to haue honour that wil do treason for thretening of a nother lorde And after spake Humarb an olde knighte and sayde By god Guymard I beleue that ye haue losâ— your wit to counseill the kinge you for to beare out Reinawd ayenst the great king Charlemain for to make al the lond of Gascoyne for to be destroied wherof ye should care but litell if the realme were wasted and the king brroughte to shame so that ye had laude and praising Than said Guimard thou liest falsly and if we two were in an other place than here I should shew thee that thou were an olde doterd and a foole For I wolde not couÌ„seyl the king yon but al thing that concerneth his honour and profite also of his realme AFter spake one named sir hector an auncient earle said to the king Sir ye aske counseyl of suche that can not counsell theim selfe For it is all otherwyse thenne Guymarde saith And I ensure you that if ye lose in this matter he shal lese therby nothyng Syr ye knowe that Reynawde is a knyghte good ynoughe But by his greate prydâ— he hath made warre with Charlemain For he slewe Berthelot his neuewe by his outrage Now he is come in Gascoygne and ye haue gyuen him your sister in maryage wherof ye dyd great foly and ye made hym the castel of Mountawban vpon the stroÌ„gest grounde that is within youre realm Now is come the king Charlemain that hath besieged him wherfore I counseyll you that ye accorde with the kynge Charlemain and deliuer your selfe of Reynawd as sonne as ye may For it is better that ye lese foure knightes than al your realme take from him your sister and giue her to another that is a greater gentilman than is Reinawde and that haue no suche enemyes as is Charlemaine and fynde some meanes to yeelde Reynawde and his bretherne to the king Charlemain And this ye shall well may doo wiâ—hout blame yf ye wil doo that I shal couÌ„sell you Freend said the king yon I am ready to doo that whiche ye shall couÌ„seil me aboue al other that ben heere THan whan the kinge yon of Gascoigne saw that the moste party of his counseil accorded to that he shoulde yeelde Reinawde and his brethern to king Charlemyane he began to weep right tenderly and said in him self that no body could here it by god Reinawd I am sore charged for you nowe shall departe my loue for you for ye shall lese the body I shal lese therby the loue of god of his mother for I shal neuer fynde mercy in hym for to be tray suche a knyght as ye be But I tell you that GOD shewed that day for Reinawde a fayre miracle for the chambre where the couÌ„sell was kept that was al white chaunged colour became al blacke as a cole Lordes sayde the kynge yon I see well that I muste yeelde the foure sonnes of Aimon syth that the most parte of you accordeth therto and I shall doo it sith that that ye counseyl me so But I wot wel that my soule shall neuer haue therof no pardon And shall be therfore taken all my life as a Iudas and than they left the counseyll and went oute of the chambre And whan the kynge was come out of the chambre he set him downe vpon a benche and began to thinke sore And as he was in this thought he began for to weep sore for greate pitie that he had And whan he hadde thoughte and wepte ynoughe he called his secretary and saide to him Come forthe syr Peter and write a letter froÌ„ me to the kiÌ„g Charlemaine as I shall tell you It is that I sende him salutacion with good loue And yf he wyll leaue me my londe in peace I promyse hym that afore ten dayes been passed I shall deliuer vnto him the foure sonnes of Aymon and he shal find them in the playne of Valcolours clothed with scarlet futred with ermynes and rydynge vpon mules betynge in their handes floures and Roses for a token for because that menne shall better knowe them And I shal make theym for to be accompanyed of eyghte earles of my realme and if they scape from him that he blame me not for it Than sayde the secretory syr your commaundement shall be doone
had receyued the lettres of the kinge Charlemayne he called to hym his secretary Godras and said to him Looke what this lettre sayeth And the clerke brake in continent the seale and beheld the tenoure of the lettre and founde howe Reynawde and hys brethern should be betrayed and liuered to the death whan the clerke had redde the lettre he began to weep sore tenderlye and if it had not be for doubt of the king he wolde gladly haue vttered it and whan kinge yon saw his secretarye weep he saide thus to him keep wel vpon your lyfe that ye hide nothinge fro me but tell me all that the lettre conteineth and what the kynge Charlemayne wryteth to me By my fayth said Godras It is a sore thing for to reherce Nowe lightely sayde the kyng yon tell me what the kyng Charlemayne sendeth me syr sayde Godras I shall tell it you gladlye And than he beganne to shewe to kyng yon howe Charlemayne sente him worde that yf he wolde doo as he had wryten vnto him he shoulde encreace his power of fourtene good castelles more than he had For the suretie wherof he swereth it vnto you vpon our lorde god and saint denys of Fraunce his patrone And he sendeth you foure mantelles of scarlete furred with ermines that ye shall geue to the foure sonnes of Aymon for to were theym thus they shall be knowen For Charlemaine will not that none take any harme but only the foure sonnes of Aimon And he dooth you wyt that his folke are with in a bushement within a woode by the plaine of Valcolours that is to wyt Foulques of Moryllon and Ogier the dane with three hundreth men wel horsed and well armed that abiden there foure sonnes of Aimon the which ye should deliuer in to their handes Whan the kinge yon vnderstoode the tenoure of the lettre he made haste for to fulfil his promise And incontinent he lyghted on horsebacke and tooke in his company a hundred men wel arraied and tooke his waye towarde Mountawban And as soone as he might he came entred with in at the gate fletcher And whan he was within he made his folke to lodge them in the borow And he went vp to the palays as he was wont to doo whā he cam there Thē whan his sister the wife of Reinawd wist of the coming of the king yon her brother she came ayenst him and tooke him by the hand wolde haue kissed him as she was accustomed to doo whan he came there but the king full of euell treason turned hys face a syde and sayde he had the tooth ache and wolde not speake with her but litill But he sayde that men should make him a bedde ready For he wolde rest him selfe a lytell And whan he was layde he began sore to thinke and saide to him selfe Ha good lord what haue I wrought ayenst the best knyghtes of the world that I haue betrayed so falsly Now shall they be hanged to morow withoute faute I pray god to haue mercy and pitie vpon them Now maye I well saye that I shall be lykened to Iudas from hence forthe and I shal haue loste the loue of god and of hys mother and also myne honour But I must needes doo it sith I haue promysed it so and the wyll of my barons is such for thus they haue coūcelled and haue made me do it Wherof I am ful sore displeased AL thus as the king yon thoughte in the greate treason that was thus machyned vpon the foure sonnes of Aymon there came in Reinawde from hunting al his bretherne with him and had taken four wild bores sore great and whan Reinawde was within Mountawban he hearde the noyse of the horses and wende that it had been straunge knightes that were come vnto him to take wagis And than he asked of a yemā what folke were these straūgeres that were come in withou leue Syr said the yeman they ben the folke of king yon that is come within for to speake with you of some maters But me semeth by his folke that he is not well at ease of his persone THan said the good Reinawd Ha God why hath my lorde traueylled himselfe so muche for to come hither For I wold with a good will haue gone to him And after whan he had that saide he called to him a seruaunte of his and sayde to him goe fet me my horne Boudiere For I wyll make feast and Ioye for the coming of my souerain lorde and incontinent it was brought to him and Reynawde tooke it and sayde to his bretherne Nowe take eche of you his owne and let vs make feast for the loue of king yon Than they tooke eche of them his horne and began to sowne all foure at ones right high and made so greate noyse that the castel sowned of it For they made so great Ioye for the loue of kinge yon that it was merueyll Whan the kynge yon heard the trumpettes that thus sowned so sore that the chābre where as he laye shooke of it he arose vp from the bed and cam to the wyndowe and said to him selfe Ha what euyll haue I wrought ayenst these knightes Alas howe make ye Ioye ayenst so greate a combraunce the which I haue purchased to you I haue betrayed you right falsely as a wycked and vntrewe kynge that I am For a man that betrayed hys freend oughte neuer to haue honoure nother in this world nor in the other but oughte to be lost bothe body and soule For he hath forsaken god and hathe gyuen himselfe to the deuyll And whan he had saied that he returned agayne vpon his bed sore vexed at the hearte and euell at ease more than any man might be Than Reynawde and his bretherne came vp to the palace where thei foūd the king yon and whan he sawe theym come he rose ayenst them and tooke them by the hande and saide to Reinawd Be not merueylled that I haue not enbraced nor kyssed you for I am sore laden with great euyll And it is wel fourtene daies gone that I could nother eate nor drinke anye thyng◠that dyd me good Than saide Reynawd sir ye be in a good place where ye shall be tended vpon ryghte well with goddes grace And I and my bretherne shall serue you to oure powere gramercy saide the kinge yon Than called he his stuarde and sayd to him Go and bring me the mantelles of scarlet furred wyth ermynes that I haue doone make for my dere freendes Incontinente the stuarde dyd the commaundemente of kynge yon And as sone that he was come agayne the king made the foure brethern to put the foure mantelles vpon them and praied theim to were them for his loue Sir saide Alarde this is a gladde presente and we shal were theim for the loue of you with very good will Alas if they hadde knowen how the thing was brought aboute they shoulde not haue borne them but they should haue doone al
brother Richarde at an apple tree and then the saide Richarde cried with an hyghe voice Fayre brother Reynawd come and helpe me and Incontinente ye went there vpon youre horse bayarde but he fell downe by the waye vnder you wherfore ye mightht not come time ynough wherof ye were ful sory therfore good syr I counseyle you that ye go not there LAdye sayde Reynawde holde your peace for who that beleueth ouer muche in dreames he dooth ayenst the commaundemente of God Than said Alarde by the faythe that I owe to god I shal neuer sette foote there nor I nother saide Rycharde Alas saide than Guycharde yf we must goe there lette vs not departe thitherwarde as men of counceylle but let vs go there lyke as prue and worthy knightes hauing eche of vs his armes vpon him wel horsebacke not vpon mules on that our brother Reinawde he well mounted vpon baiarde which shal may beare vs al foure at a need by god sayde Reynawd ye shal say what ye wil but I shal go there as I haue saide what so euer happeth and than he went out of his chambre came to king yon and said to him By god I merueill me muche of my brethren that wil not go with me because they haue no horses with them and yf it please you ye shall giue vs leaue to take eche of vs a horse ye shal keep stil your eyght earles with you and we shal go there as ye haue commaūded vs I wil not doo it said the kyng you for the kyng Charlemaine douteth you to sore and youre bretherne and your horses also I haue giuen hostages suretes that ye shal beare no maner of harneys with you but onely your swerdes as I haue tolde you afore and that ye shal ride vpon mules not vpon horses And yf ye go there otherwise arayed Charlemayne shal thinke that I wyll betraye hym and so shall he destroye al my lande that shall be the paymente that I shal haue for you I haue trauailled my selfe full sore for to bring you and youre bretherne at one with Charlemaine therfore go there yf ye will and if ye wil not leaue it Than said Reinawd sir syth that it is so we shal go there And than he wente from kyng yon in to his chambre again and founde his wife that noble lady Alard and Richarde that asked him how he had doone if they should haue his good horse bayarde with theym By God said Reinawde I can not haue leaue to doo so but my bretherne doubte you not for the kynge yon is a true prince and if he shoulde betray vs he should be sore blamed for it for he shal make vs to be conduyted by eyght of the moste great erles of his realme god confounde me yf I sawe euer ony euil doone by him Sir said hys bretherne we shal goe gladly with you sith that ye wyl haue vs needes to doo so Whan they were thus accorded herto thei wente to bed slept vnto the daye appeared and whan Reynawde sawe the daye he rose vp and saide to his bretherne Arise sits and make vs redy for to goe there as we should goe For yf Charlemayne be sooner to the plaines of valcolours than we he shal hapely be angry for it Syr sayde hys bretherne we shall soone be redy whan they were all redy they wēt to the churche of saint Nycolas for to heare masse whan it came to the offryng Reynawde his bretherne offred many ryche gyftes And after the masse was done they asked after theyr mules incōtinent they mounted vpon in their felowship were eyght earles the whiche knewe all the maner of treason whan they were all mounted they tooke on theyr way but the foure sōnes of Aymon were good to knowe by the other for they had on greate mantelles of scarlet turred with ermynes bare in their handes roses in tokē of peace also their swerdes for they wold not gyrde theim Now god be with them for if he keep them not they bene in waye of perdycyon neuer to come againe to Moūtawban whan the king yon sawe them thus go he fell downe in a swount more then foure times for the great sorowe that he had at his hearte for how be it that he had betrayed them so yet had he great pitie of them but this that he had doone euyl counseyl had made him doo it And than he be gan to make the greatest sorow in the worlde said ha good lorde what haue I doone dyd euer man so great treason as I haue doone nay verely for I haue betrayed the best knyghts of the world and the moste worthye and true THan sayde his folke Syr ye doo not wel to make suche a sorowe for Reynawde is very wise he shal it perceiue ryght soone Ha god sayd the king yon were it as ye saye for I shoulde be more gladde than yf I had wonne tenne of the best cyties of Fraunce for Reynawde is my freend and my brother Ha Mawgys how shal ye be sory whā ye shal know this matter Reynawde did great foly whan he tooke not your aduyse in this thynge for yf he had knowen of it ye should not haue suffred him to go there Lordes sayd the kyng yon I poore wretche whether shall I become yf the foure sonnes of Aymon di◠for Mawgis shal slea me without mercy and also it is well reason for who that betrayeth a nother and princypally his freend carnall ought not to lyue nor haue euer any worship but his folke tooke hym vp incontinente and began to recomforte him by many greate reasons that they layed afore him NOw begynneth the piteous hystory of the foure sonnes of Aimon that wente to theyr deathe by the meanes of the traytour kyng yon And bycause of the treason that he cōmited ayenst the foure sonnes of Aymon he loste the realme of gascoygne the name the dygnyte therof for neuer sith that tyme was no kyng crowned in Gascoygne Now shall I tell you of Reynawde and of his brethren than tode Reynawde and his brethren towarde the plaine of Valcolours and as they toode thitherwardi Alarde began to syng ryghte sweetly and Ioyfull a newe songe and Guycharde and Rychard dyd in lykewise but I tell you that no instrument of musike sowned neuer so melodyouslye as the three brethren dyd syngyng to gither alas what pyty was it of so noble and so worthy knightes that went singing and makyng Ioy to their death they were as the swanne that syngeth that yere that she shall die Reynawd went behynde them sore thynkyng hys head bowed down towarde the earth and beheide hys brethern that rode forth makyng great Ioye and he sayd o god what knyghtes be my brethrene that there been none suche in all the world nother so gracyous And whan he had saide this he sette his hands together and heued them vp towarde
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
rebuked And than Ogier saide to him Lord Rowlande who hath a rayed your sheelde of this facion I see your horse hurâ—e in the thyghe and vnder the croper he was felled vpon the righte syde you also it is wel seen on your syde I trowe that ye haue founde Reynawde the sonne of Aymon haue ye brought him with you Where haue ye put him Whan Rowland vnderstood the reproche that Ogyer made vnto him he wexed almost madde for angre So tooke he hys swerde and ranne vpon Ogier for to haue smiten him vpon the head But whaÌ„ that Oliuer saw this he tooke Rowland by the bridell and the erle Guidellon tooke Ogyer and thus they were departed and thus as they were departed that Rowland went on his waye came there after hym the litell Richard the brother of Reinawde that began to calle as hie as he might damp Rowlande ye goe towardely awaye returne agayne that I may see your sheelde and lette vs haue a course we two togyther Knight answered Rowland I graunte therto by my faith And than they spurred their horses with their spurres and Rowland came ayenst Rycharde so harde that he ouerthrewe hym and his horse with all in a hepe to the grounde And whan Richard sawe himselfe thus a grounde he rose vp quickely and came to his horse and lighted vp againe without anye styrop And whan he was on horse backe he set hande on his swerd and defended him selfe nobly against hys enemy Rowland WHan Rowlande saw thys and that he knewe that it was one of the bretherne of Reynawde he had so great ioye of it that him semed that he had been in Paradyse and incontinente he beganne to crye Mountioyc saynt Denys And said vpon him nowe my frendes for yf he scape vs I shall tell it to the king Charlemayne And whan that the frenshemen saw that Rowland wolde haue taken Richard they sette al vpon him so that they smote hym wyth more then foure swerdes al at once and it happed so that his horse was kylled vnder hym and he ouerthrowen to the erthe And whan that Richard saw his horse dead a grouÌ„d he was ryght sory for it and rose vp quickelye vpon his feete and smote the erle Anthony so greate a stroke with his swerd that he wounded him ryght sore Humall the breton sawe that he smot Richard and Richard recouered vpoÌ„ him with such a stroke that he felled both horse and man to the erthe And with this GuidelloÌ„ came from behynde and ouerthrewe Richarde fro the arsons of hys sadle to the grounde And whan Rowland saw Richard at the ground he came to hym and sayde Nowe yeeld you and abyde not that we slea you for it were great domage syr sayd than Richard the yongest sonne of Aimon to you Rowlande I shall yeeld me to none other For I caÌ„ not yeeld me to no better man than ye be one And with this he tooke him his swerde Rowlande receyued it with a good wyll and made the lytell Rycharde to light vpon a mule And thus they hadde hym prysoner Alas and what a domage shall it be yf the prue Rycharde be hanged he is well lyke to be but that god Mawgys delyuer hym all this myshappe sawe a seruaunte of Richarde And whan he saw that men ledde thus his maister Richard he spurred hys horse with the spurres and auentured him selfe to passe ouer the riuer and came lightelye to Reinawde and saide to hym Syr I bringe you euell tydynges wyt that Rowlande leadeth wyth hym your brother Rycharde for prysoner well shamefully Whan Reynawde vnderstoode these wordes he was sore angry for it that he had almoste lost his wytte and after he sayde to the yemon come hither tell me my freend are they that leden my brother terre hence Syr sayd the yeman yea it is not possyble that ye shoulde ouertake theim And whan Reynawde vnderstood this he was more angry than he was tofore and fell from bayarde in a swoune to the erthe And whan he was come again to him selfe he behelde afore hym And sawe his broher Alarde come with his folke that came after Reynawde by the trase For they wende that Richarde hadde be gone to hym longe afore them And whan Alarde sawe Reynawd make such a sorow he came than to hym and sayde in thys maner Ha fayre brother and what eyleth you It longeth nor to such a knight as ye be for to make so great a sorow as ye doo Alard sayd Reinawd ye haue doone ful yl for I haue left my brother Richarde with you to keep hym and ye haue lost him for Rowland ledeth him with hym as prisoner and he is all ready so ferre brought that we can nor succour hym whan Alard Guichard vnderstoode these tydynges they beganne to make suche a sorow that it was meruaile for to see the lamentacion that thei made alas sayd Reinawde what is he that hath parted our company to day in the morning we were foure bretherne togyther nowe we been but three Ha fayre brother Richard it is greate domage of you for if ye had liued your age ye should haue passed all your brethern seyng that ye were the yongest of vs all and yet ye were the most hardye and throughe your hardynes ye are taken fayre brother sayd Alarde all cometh by you that brought vs heere ayenst our wyl for to succour the kiÌ„g yon Now haue we loste Rycharde wherof the losse shall neuer be recouered for we shall neuer see hym a lyue And whan he had sayd thys he sayd to Guycharde Brother drawe out your swerde so shall we cut of the head of thys traytoure kinge yon therwith for whome we haue nowe lost our brother Richarde brother saide than Reynawde I praye you for the louâ— that ye haue to me that ye touche not the kinge yon for to doo hym anye harme for he hathe yelded hymselfe vnto me but brynge hym vnto Mountawban and see that he be kept sure And I shall abyde heere wyth my good horse Bayarde and flamberge my good swerde wythout any other company So shall I goe in to the pauylion of Charlemayne where I shal recouer my brother Richard or a nother prysoner for hym or elles I shall die with him And whan he had said that word he spurred bayarde with the spurres for to haue gone thyther but Alarde tooke him by the brydell and Guycharde tooke him with both his armes fro behind for to keep him that he should not goe and than Alard said to him by saynt Peter of rome ye shall not goe no foot there for it is better that Rycharde dye yf it must be sothan ye should dye And thus as the three bretherne made theyr mone for Rycharde came there Mawgys theyr cosin that folowed them when he saw his cosins make such sorow he was sore a gast and said to them Wha eyleth you fayre cosins it is no worshippe nor the maner
Salamon seassed him and kept him therfro and after they sayd to Charlemayne Syr ye haue doone ouermuche amys for to beate a prysoner Certes my lordes saide Richarde it is more dyshonoure to the kynge to smite me than it is to me for to defende my bodye but he is well wunt to doo suche outrages for it is not the fyrste that he hathe doone nor it shall not be the last And whan Mawgis sawe that Charlemayn had smytten Rychard he was sore an angred therfore that he had almost layed vpon him wyth his palmers staffe but he thought yf he had doo so bothe Richarde and he shoulde haue be dead And whan Charlemaine sawe that Richarde spake so boldly he sayde to hym Rycharde God confounde me yf ye scape me for all your wickednes for ye shall soone be haÌ„ged by the necke Syr sayd Richard speake more courteouslye yf it please you For I shal see you sooner be flein quicke than ye shall see me hange nor ye shall not be so hardye to doo so what someuer ye prate saye or crake Charlemayne sayd ye shall not scape me but ye shall be hanged or nyghte and wolde God I helde as fast youre bretherne and Mawgys that theef as I holde you nowe for they shoulde be hanged wyth you to beare you company because ye should not be afetde And thus as Rycharde stroue with Charlemayne he turned hymselfe and sawe Mawgys behinde hym that helde him selfe styll lenynge vpon hys staffe and he knew hym well wherof he was wel gladde for he wyst well he shoulde not dye syth Mawgys was there And whaÌ„ Richarde had seen Mawgis he was sure of his lyfe and sayde to Charlemayne Syr where shall I be hanged tell me certes sayd Charlemaine at the gybet of Mountfawcon there shall your brethern maye see you and Mawgys youre cosyn Syr it is no reason that such a maÌ„ as I am should be hanged but make peace with vs ye shal doo wysly and yf ye doo not so ye shall sore repente it as I trowe And whan Mawgis had hearâ—e all that he wolde heare he made no longer taryinge but he went outâ— of the pauyllion and sayde no worde and whan he was out of it he beganne to walke so greate a pase that no horse myghte not haue folowed hym and passed throughe the wood of the serpent and dyd so muche that he came to MountawbaÌ„ where he found Reinawde and his folke that wayted for him And whan Reinawd sawe him come without Richarde he was full sory so that he fell do â—ne in a swoune And Alard and Guycharde tooke hym vp and saide to him Fayre brother ye doo as a chylde ye oughte not to make suche a sorowe Holde your peace traytours sayd Reynawd for ye haue lost the best knyghte of the worlde for I see Mawgis come alone wherfore I beleue that Richarde is deade for yf he were a lyue Mawgys wolde haue broughte hym with him For he neuer myssed of no thing that he tooke in hand And whaÌ„ Alard Guychard vnderstood these wordes they tooke therof so greate a sorowe that they fell both downe in a swoune to the earthe and whan they were come againe to theim selfe they made so great sorow that it was pytie for to see And this haÌ„ging cam there Mawgis And whan he sawe the great sorow that his cosyns made he was wrothe for it and sayde to them What eyleth you faire cosyns that ye make so euill cheere Alas Mawgys said Reinawd what is doone of oure brother Richard Cosyn sayd Mawgis Richard is yet in prison but Charlemaine hath saide that he shall make him to be haÌ„ged at the gybet of mouÌ„tfawcon and hathe sayde that ye shall not keepe him longe a liue leste ye and I should rescue him and heere is .xx. li. of money that Charlemayne hathe gyue me in his pauillion and made me haue both meat and drynke at my pleasure Nowe shall it be seen yf ye loue Richard if ye be a good knight or not for ye must succour and deliuer him by force of armes or elles he shal die for all the world shal not keep him otherwise therfro REinawd was wel recomforted whan he heard Mawgis speake and after he sayd sith that it is so the Richarde is yet aliue if I had but my selfe my brethern and Mawgis yet should I keep Richard fro death mawgre the power of Charlemayne thaÌ„ Mawgis without any longe abiding tooke of his cope his hod and tooke an herbe eat it anon the swellinge went fro him whan he was armed he presented himself to Reinawd and incontinent all his brethern put them selfe in armes and anon they tooke their way toward mountfawcoÌ„ And whan they were come to a bowe shot nyghe fro it Reynawde sayde to hys folke Lordes if ye euer loued me thinke for to doo nowe so muche that my brother Richard may be rescued from this shamefull death For I promyse you that I shal brynge hym with me or els I and my bretherne and Mawgys shall die with him Syr sayde his men doubte not of vs for we shal doo oure deuoyre Brother sayde than Alard let vs lyghte heere down and let vs hyde oure selfe within that bushe that we see yonder for yf we were seen the frenshmen mighte kille oure brother Richarde or euer they wolde come Brother said Reynawd ye speake wisely and than they lyghted down a foote and put themselfe in a busshement within a wood that was nighe mountfawcon Reinawd at the ryght side of it Alard at the left side wyth him Guichard and Mawgis HOw they were sent to the plaine of Valcoloures ye haue well hearde and the paine that reynawd his bretherne suffred and than howe they wente and succoured kynge yon of Gascoyn that had betrayed theim And howe reynawde dyd fyght wyth Rowland wherof he was sore trauaylled and hadde been all ready three daies without slepe and therfore ye oughte not to be merueiled yf Reynawde his bretherne and mawgis fel a slepe and to say the trothe as soone as Reinawd his bretherne and maugys were enbushed vnder the sarpyn trees they fell into so harde a slepe that they forgate Richard Now god for his pytie haue pytie vpon him keep him For otherwise he must die NOw shal we tel you of Charlemaine that was in his pauyllio he called to him the duke Naimes and Richard of Normandy and saide to them Lordes what counseil gyue you me ye knowe that Richard the soone of Aymon is of great power I feare me that Reynawde shall come to succoure hym whan I shall sende him for to be hanged and therfore I must send company for to with stande Reynawde his bretherne and Mawgis And thus as the king and the duke Naymes spake togither he looked before him sawe Berenger of valoys and called him and said to him Berenger ye are of my men for ye holde of me scotlande Wales ye
oughte to come serue me in Fraunce with all youre power euery yere once whan I haue need I shall now quite you and release vnto you all the seruise that ye owe me to you to youre heires for euermore so that ye will take richarde the sonne of Aymon and see that he be hanged and strangeled at mountfawcon And yf reynawd com there for to rescue hym I praye you that ye wil take in hand my quarell Syr said Berenger I see well now that ye loue me but a lytell whan ye sende me to doo suche a deed it were to me a great shame yf I dyd it for nothynge that is to my dysworshippe I wyll not doo wyth my good wil and also ye ought not to counseyll me to it nor suffre me to doo so yet haue I leuet to serue you as my dutye is for to doo than that I should doo the same that ye wolde put me to And whan Charlemaine sawe that Berenger wolde not doo it he called to therle Guydellon said to him Guidellon ye be my man and holdeth Bauyere of me and ye ought to serue me at any time that I call you with three thousand men yf ye will goe hange Richard the sonne of Aymon I shall make you free and shall giue you the citie of Mascon I wil not doo it said therle Guydellon But I tell you for certeine that Richarde shall haue no harme if I may help him fro it to my power Than saide Charlemayn goe oute of my sighte for ye be no good men And than he saide to Rycharde by god yet shall ye be hanged in dispyte of theym Than called Charlemayne Ogier the dane and saide to him Ogier ye be my man it is shewed vnto me that ye did the other daye treasoÌ„ ayenst me in the plain of Val-colours for loue of Reynawde nowe shall it be seene if it is true or not Yf ye wyll goe hange Richarde I shall gyue you the cite of Lion and I shall gyue you quit of al the seruise that ye owe me youre heyres also for euermore By the faith that I owe to you sir I shall not doo it for ye wot 〈◊〉 Richard is my cosin germayne 〈◊〉 I tell you that who so euer shall â—â—â—ge Richard the sonne of Aymon I defie him and I shal helpe Reynawde with al my power Goe from me said Charlemayne Goddes curse haue ye neuertheles by my bearde sayde he yet shall be hanged And whan he had saide so he called to him the bysshoppe Turpyn and sayd to hym Ye byshop I shal make you Pope of rome yf ye will hange Richard syr said the byshop Turpyn what say ye ye knowe wel that I am a preeste yf I dyd so I should lese my masse and be reguler and also ye knowe well that rycharde is my cosyn Wolde ye that I shoulde commyt treason vpon my kynsmen certes it were ayenst reason So help me god said Charlemaine ye leaue it neither for kynred nor for masse but as a cowarde ye leaue it onelye for feare that youre crowne should be beat THan called Charlemayne Salamon of breton said to him Salamon ye knowe well that ye be my man and that ye holde Breten of me I shal giue you the duchie of Ansom yf ye will hange rycharde the sonne of Aymon Syr answered Salamon if it please you to commaunde me any other thinge I wil be readye to doo it with a good will but this I will not doo And I tell you for certayne that rycharde shall haue no harme yf I maye Salamon sayd the kinge ye be a traytoue sith that ye wyll not doo my commaundemente And after this he sayde Richarde I will that ye knowe well that ye shal be hanged in dyspite of all thy kynsmen Syr saide richarde perauenture it shall be other wise thanye weene and than Charlemayne turned hym selfe towarde Rowlande and said to hym Fayre nenewe goe and see that he be haÌ„ged I pray you For it is well reason that ye doo thoffice syth thar all the frenshemen haue faylled me and also ye haue taken him wherfore ye must needes hange him and I shal gyue you Coleyn vpon the ryn and so many other countreys that ye shal haue ynough Sir answered rowland yf I dyd this I shoulde be taken for a traytour For I haue answered rycharde afore that I tooke hym that he shoulde haue no harme of his bodie and yf ye make hym dye no man shall neuer truste me vpon my faith wherfore I praye the .xii. peeres of Fraunce that none of them wyll take the charge vpon hym for to see hym haÌ„ged for yf he were haÌ„ged I should be diffamed And I promise you that who shall hange Rychard I shal goe to Reynawde and shall put my selfe in his pryson and yf he wyll pardon me hys brothers deathe I shal help him vnder my othe ayenst all menne with three thousande fyghtinge men well atayed on horsebacke Neuewe sayde than Charlemaine the deuyll speed you ye ben al false vnto me ANd whan Charlemaine saw that he might not bring his wyll about for to hange Richard he was so wrothe that he shooke for angre and rose vpon his feete and said Lordes ye knowe well that I am the sonne of kinge Pepin and of the Quene Bethe my father was norished in Fraunce and I sledde in to Spayn to Alaffre vpon the sea And there I dyd so manye meruaylles of armes that I was made knyght and dyd conquere salien my loue that forsoke .xv. kynges bearinge crowne for my sake and she came with me in to fraunce and than I was crowned kinge accordinge to the righte of my patrimony and than I dyd wedde the sayde ladye Galyne with ryghte great ioye and weend to haue had my realm in peace but the same day that I was crowned the .xii. peeres of Fraunce purposed to haue made me dye at christmasse next followynge but our lorde sent me an aungell and made him to tell me that I shoulde goe hyde my selfe the whiche I dyd so and I durste not saye ayenst it nor I wyst not where I should hyde me but god wolde that I shoulde fynde BasoÌ„ a great theef that brought me in to a pytte and this hanginge men conspired my death but Basâ— shewed me al togither and through his aide I tooke myne enmyes and I punyshed them afterwarde at my wyl and so shall I doo by you if there be any that wil doo contrary to my wil. And I am delybered to enquire eche of you by this maner for to see who shall be false or true to me Whan Charlemaine had sayde this he turned towarde the sonne of Oedon and sayde to him Escoufe come forth I haue brought you to greate honoure and we haue nouryshed you ful dearly ye knowe that ye holde langres of me yet shal I doo to you muche more good than I haue doone for I shall gyue to you therldome of mounfertaunt of cleremount so that
ye will goe hang that whoreson Richard sir sayd Escoufe ye wot well that more Oedon holdeth all the londe that ye speake of and I had neuer nothynge therof but I am felaw with Rowlande in armes And whan I shal be lorde of that lond that my father holdeth in his hand I shal fulfyll youre commaundement by saint Denis of Fraunce ye must goe see that he be hāged said Charlemain and I shal make you lorde of mo londes Syr sayd Estorfawd is it earnest that ye speake yea saide Charlemayne By my head sir saide Estorfawde ye wolde not be with me for to see Richard hāge for halfe of your realm Whan the kinge heard that he was thus repreued he tooke a staffe and cast it after Estorfawd but Estorfawd stert from his place and the staffe brake in peeces ayenst a post And whan the .xii. peeres saw that they went all oute of the pauyllyon of Charlemayne and whā that Charlemain returned him and saw that none of all the .xii. peeres wolde abyde there with him Than he saide to the duke Naymes where be my .xii. peeres gone sir said duke Naymes they ben all gone out of your pauillion and not without a cause for it becometh not to suche a noble kinge as ye be to smyte his barons for ye should be sore blamed THan whan Charlemayn saw this he called to him Richard of montrolonde saide to hym come foorthe Rycharde of montrolonde heare what I shal tell you ye knowe well that ye be one of theym that I loue best in this worlde but ye must doo one thinge at my request It is that ye wyll goe hange Richarde the sonne of Aimon at the gybet of moūtfawcon Than Richarde of montrolonde answered Syr I shall doo so with a good wyl for I am your man and so I ought not to refuse your cōmaundemente but by my soule syr Emperour yf ye will that I goe hange Richarde ye shall come with me with a thousand knightes well armed and I shall hange hym where soeuer to please you And if Reinawd and hys bretherne come there for to rescue I shall ieoparde mine owne body for to saue youres Nowe see to yf ye will doo this or no for none othewise wil I not goe there one foote Goe from me glotton saide Charlemain gods curse haue thou THe kinge than called to hym the duke Naymes and sayde to him What counseill gyue you syr syr sayd the duke Naimes good if ye wyll beleue me sir ye wot that Reynawde his bretherne and Mawgis are the best knightes of Fraunce as euery man knoweth well this warre hath lasted ryght longe For it is wel xvi yeres that it began fyrst and many a noble knight hathe be slayne for the same if it please you ye shall send worde to Reinawde Alarde Guychard and Mawgys that they wyl become your men and ye shall delyuer agayne vnto them theyr brother Rycharde alyue and that ye wyl doo make Reinawde and Alarde of the xii peeres of Fraunce And whan Reinawd his brethern shal se that ye haue doone to theym so great worshyp they shall serue you with good herte and so that ye shall con them greate thanke for it and I ensure you ye shal be the more dredde and more redoubted for cause of theym and yf ye haue once the foure bretherne and Mawgis theyr cosyn to youre freendes there shall be no prynce in all christendom so hardy that dare moue watre ayenst you and I promise you syr that the more that ye keepe thys warre ayenst them the more shall ye lose therby and moreouer they be all of our house by theyr father Aymon this know ye wel and thefore I can not hate them by no wyse Naymes sayd Charlemaine I will not doo so for they all haue doone amys ayenst me and so shall I doo hange Richard by the faithe of my bodye syr sayde the duke Naymes ye shall not doo so and god wyll for he is of greate lygnage of our lignage for we shoulde neuer maye suffre it nor endure and ye also shoulde be blamed ful sore for it But and ye wyl make hym dye I shall gyue you better counseyll Tell me howe sayd Charlemayn I shall doo it yf it semeth me good Syr sayde the duke Naymes syth it please you that Richarde shall dye let him be cast into a deep prison vnder the earthe and make him to be kepte surely therin that he scape not awaye and commaund that no meat at all be broughte vnto him and so shall he dye for hungre And ye shall not be blamed if ye doo so Naymes sayde the Emperour Charlemayne ye doo Iape with me I knowe it wel whan ye doo tell me this ye knowe well that Mawgis is to great a nigromancer For I should neuer may keepe Richarde in pryson but that Mawgis wolde haue hym out thorough his craft and therfore I wyll not doo as ye say Than came Ogier the dane and said to the duke Naymes ye make to longe a sermon let the kinge doo with it as it pleaseth him For the more that ye praye him the worse shall he doo but he shall make peace whan he see that he can none otherwise doo But this daye shal be seen who loueth richard And whā Ogier had said this he went oute of the pauillion and Escoufe with him and Richarde of Normandy the byshop Turpin and Guidellon of Bauyere and made theyr folke to be armed whan they were armed they were well .xii. thousande men And than Ogier began to crie with a hie voice Now shal it be seen who shal be so hardy for to leade Richarde the sonne of Aimon to hāgyng For such shall bring him that neuer shal come againe but he be headles and Ogier went in to the pauyllyon where richarde was that was bound both handes and feet and was blindfeld And whan Ogyer sawe rycharde that was thus arayed he had of hym greate pytie so went he to him to haue deliuered him but he aduysed himselfe and sayd that he should not doo it but he wolde tary for to see an ende of it what the kynge should doo therof And whan rycharde hearde Ogier speake he called to hym and said in the presēce of the duke Naimes and of rycharde of Normandye of Guydellon of Bauyere and of the byshoppe Turpyn and of rowlande that than happed to com thete Faire lordes I knowe well that yf it were at youre pleasure ye wolde let me goe quyce and all ynoughe ye haue trauaylled youre selfe for me wherof I thanke you right much but syth that I must needes be brought vnto the galous it is better that I poore vnhappy die alone than that ye should haue anie harme for my sake wherfore looke that ye lose not the good grace of Charlemayne and I praye you that ye will goe vnto hym and telle him that he doo his wyll vpon me for I haue leuer die shortly than to liue longe in
that he was all astonyed therwith and after he sayd to him Vasell ye haue doone euyll that ye trowed to haue brought away the king in this maner of wise ye wot well it is to heauy a bourden for to lede of this facion ye shal leue him and yet ye shall abye full deere for it or ye escape me And whaÌ„ Reynâ—wde saw that he was thus repreued and felt the great strooke that rowlande had giuen to him vpon his helmet he was wrothe and tooke hys swerde in his hande holdyng alwayes Charlemaine afore hym vpon bayardes necke came to Rowland and sayd to hym Damp Rowlande come forthe so shall ye wyt how flaÌ„berge cutteth And whan Rowlande vnderstode hym he came vpoÌ„ hym whan Reynawde sawe hym come he let fal downe Charlemayne ranne vpon Rowland And there began amonge them two afiers medlynge This hangyng came Alarde Guycharde and the lytle Rycharde and ranne vpon Rowlande at ones and gaue hime so muche to doo that he muste put hymselfe to flyght wolde he or no. And whan Reynawde saw that Charlemaine and RowlaÌ„d had saued them self he was ryght sorye for it and he sayd to his bretherne My bretherne ye haue wrought yll for yf ye had be styll by me wee had doone a great fayt for I had taken Charlemayne that wee should haue brought wyth vs to MouÌ„tawban Syr sayde his brethern we are sory for it that we dyd not so but we had so muche to doo in a nother place the it is well to vs that we be scaped saue wyth our liues But let vs see that wee doo well and sowne our horne to the ende ye may gather agayne together your folke that be so sperkled abrode for there is daunger bycause of the nyght that cometh so faste on and call agayne your baner for we haue wonne more than we haue lost and let vs go to MouÌ„tawban Reynawde that was sage dyd as his brethern and Mawgis counselled him whan Charlemayne sawe that Reinawde had withdrawe hys baner he was glad of it for he saw well that his folke was at the worste hande so made he to sowne the retrete and passed Balancon and did so muche that he came agayne to hys hoste And whan he was lyghted downe a foote he sayde to hys folke By my soule it goeth not well with vs for Reinawde hath put vs from the feeld Syr sayd Rowland speake no more of it for it is not longe on you but that wee had be almoste shamed ye dyd great folye whan ye iousted with Reynawde for yf he had slayne you or take the warre had be ended that hath lasted so longe ¶ I leue now heere to speake of Charlemayne of Rowlande his neuew returne to speak of Reynawde and his brethern and of Mawgis theyr cosin and of theyr folke ¶ Howe after that Reynawde hys brethern and Mawgys had discomfited Charlemayne after that they had rescued Rycharde that Ripus wolde haue hanged at Mountfawcon weÌ„t agayne vpon hym and pulled down his pauyllyon and bare away with them the Egle of golde that was ther vpon wherof the kyng was full sory for it so that he wolde haue taken agayne hys crowne into the handes of his barons saying that he wolde not be no more theyr kynge because that they had faylled hym and had habandonned hym for the foure sonnes of Aymon And sayd to them that they should crowne Reynawde ther with so should he be their kyng For they loued hym better than they dyd hym And how Olyuer sayd to charlemayne that he should take agayne his crowne and that he should yeeld him Mawgis that he had taken as he robbed the pauilion For he abode there alone And how Charlemayn tooke agayne hys crowne and was ryght glad of the pryse of Mawgys that he hated so muche HEre sheweth the history that whaÌ„ Reynawde the sonne of AimoÌ„ saw that the kyng Charlemayne was gone agayn to his hoste he made his baner to ride before him railed his folke togither And whaÌ„ he had mouÌ„ted the mountayne of mouÌ„tfawcon he called his folke sayde to them Mi freÌ„des put your self in ordenaunce take on your way to MouÌ„tawban I my brethern Mawgis shal come behiÌ„de For I feare me lest the frenche men that be so wroth that we haue discoÌ„fited them so shall folowe for to hurte vs yf they can and yf they doo Wee shall better suffre the payne thaÌ„ our folke I wolde not for no good that Rowlande and Oliuer should mocke with vs nor that they should fiÌ„d vs in disaraye By my soule sayde Alarde Brother Reynawde ye speke well and wiselye And than theyr folke put themselfe in ordenaunce and they abode behinde til that their folke had passed BalaÌ„con And whaÌ„ the moste part was passed he tooke three thousaÌ„de men of the best of his folke and sayde to the other go your wayes to Mountawban For I wil goe assayle the kyng Charlemayn in his pauilion what so euer it hap of it And so shall I shewe his folke what I can doo and that I am a man for to seeke hym and not he me ANd whaÌ„ Reynawde had sayd this he came to the water of Balancon and passed ouer with his three thousande men And they rode so longe that they came to the hoste of Charlemayne that was wrothe more than mesure requireth bicause that he had loste the feelde agaynst Reynawde And whan Reynawde sawe the pauilion of Charlemayne he sayd to his brethern and to al his folke I praye you that ye gouerne you wysely Syr sayd Richard the hardy he that wyll be enhaunced in pryce he ought not to looke so nygh but he must Ieoparde for to conquere worshyp And whan Richarde had sayd so he set hande to his swerde spurred his horse with the spurres and wente streyght to the pauylyon of Charlemayne cut of the cordes made it fall downe to the erth with the Egle of golde massy that was of great value Whan Reynawde sawe this he called Mawgis said to him cosin come hyther helpe me to bring a way this gayne syr sayd Mawgis with a good will and they lighted a foote tooke the Egle of golde that was so riche that no man wilte what it was worth Reynawde sayd to his folke My lordes smite now well fayne not your selfe he that beginneth a game he ought to see an ende of it to his profyte yf he can Who than had seene the folke of Charlemayne arme them com out of their tentes ranne vpon the sonnes of Aymon he wolde haue meruayled it was pitie for to see the great slaughter that was doone there Whan Mawgis had put the egle of golde in sure handes he wente agayne to the pauilion of Charlemayne he fouÌ„d the kyng sayd to him By my head syr Emperour ye haue troubled vs sore a longe whyle but ye shall bye it ful deere at this houre your comyng
thei were sore abashed that there was no man so hardye that durst saye one worde And the one looked vpon the other and were abashed And whan the duke Naimes of bauiere vnderstood the wordes of Charlemain he put him self forth and said Sir Emperour god forbyd that ye should doo as ye saye for it were great shame to vs all and also to you but I wot wel that we haue mysprysed ayenst you in that we haue supported Reinawde but ye oughte to consydre that we haue doone was by no malyce but for good entencion For we wend for to haue made the peace of the warre that hath endured so longe wherby many good true men are deade but sith that we see that it pleaseth not you to make peace with the four sonnes of AimoÌ„ take again your crowne and be not wroth with vs and we shal promyse you that we al shal serue you well and truely and that we shal take Mountawban or a moneth be passed or elles we shall die all from hence forth on he that shal spare the foure sonnes of Aimon shal be slaine of vs. Than saide the kinge Charlemayne lette all this alone I tell you for certaine that I shall neuer be your kynge but ye yeeld to me Reynawde or Mawgis the cursed theef that hathe mocked me so often And whan Charlemaine had saide this he entred within his pauilion sore an angred And than came theere Olyuer that was sore abashed of that he sawe the king make so euill chere and after he saide to Charlemayne Syr wherof are ye so sore angry by my faith saide the duke Naymes he hath shamed vs for he hath forsaken his crowne and his realme Sir said than Olyuer doo not so but take ayen your crown and be our lorde and our kyng And who dooth not youre commaundemente chastyse him in such a maner that meÌ„ take ensample therby Olyuer saide Charlemayn ye speake for nought for I wyll not doo it but I haue Reinawd or Mawgis dead or quicke syr saide Olyuer now pardon vs than I shal delyuer to you Mawgis or euyn DAmp Oliuer sayd Charlemain I am not a chylde wherof men ought to mocke with For I â—oe well that Mawgis doubteth you of nothing Syr said Olyuer yf ye will promyse me that ye shall take again your crowne and that ye shall keep vs as ye haue doone afore tyme I shall bringe him nowe afore you by my faithe sayde Charlemayne yf ye doo it and that I maye haue hym at my will for I hate hym most of all men in the worlde I shal doo al that ye will desire of me and also I shall giue you londes ynough that ye shal be conteÌ„t of me for if Mawgys were not the sonnes of Aymon myght not endure ayenst me for yf I had them in prison and thoughe I had sworn to keep them yet shoulde that theefe Mawgis stele theym awaie fro me Syr said Olyuer I shall bryng him to you witout any doubte And than Olyuer went to his pauylyon and Rowland with him and many other knightes for to see Mawgis Oliuer sayde then to Mawgis Mawgys ye must come to Charlemayne Oliuer saide Mawgys ye haue betrayed me but I wot well that Charlemaine shall be more curteous than ye haue be for he shall do me no harme and let vs goe to him in the name of god whan ye wyll And than Olyuer ledde Mawgys to Charlemaine and whan he was within the pauillion he went streighte to the king and saide to him Syr ye haue promised me that if I brought Mawgis that ye should take againe youre crowne And that ye should keep vs to right as ye haue doone afore time Certes saide Charlemain it is trouthe and if ye keep your couenaunt I shall doo that I haue promysed you Now holde you sir saide Olyuer here Mawgis that I delyuer to you for to doo your pleasure with him the which I haue take and conquered by force of armes WhaÌ„ the kyng Charlemaine sawe Mawgis he was so gladde that no man mighte be more and after he saide by my fayth nowe haue I one parte of my desyre thou false theef Mawgys now I holde thee nowe shalt thou be rewarded of thy pride that thou hast shewed to me whan thou barest awaye myne egle of golde and for all the good turnes and theftes that thou hast doone in thy daies For many times thou hast angred me sore wherof thou shalte be nowe payed after thy deseruynge Syr saide then Mawgis ye shal doo with me what it please you for I am now in your handes but I counseyll you for the best that ye let me goe and that ye make peace with Reinawde and with his bretherne for ye shall get no thinge by my deathe and my cosins been such that they shall aueÌ„ge it right wel by force of armes and if ye doo as I saie ye shall haue with you the floure of knighthode of all the worlde A theef said Charlemain how fearful thou arte now Certes this that thou sayest shall auaylle the nothynge Syr saide Mawgis I am no theefe Now can I not doo nothing sith that I am in your handes And whan ye shall haue put me to death ye shal doo me no more nothinge and yet ye shal be sory for me or euer .xiiii. houres comen at an ende Rybawd saide Charlemaine speake not so boldly for I can thou shalte haue an euil night or euer thou scape me nor the glutons thy cosyns shall not helpe the therfro but that I shall make the die in dispite of al thy witch craft that thou cannest doo ☞ Now we shal leue a litel to speake of Charlemain and of Mawgis and we shal speake of the good knight Reynawde Alard of Guichard and of the litylle Richard his brethern WHan Reynawd was departed from the hoste of Charlemayn as I sayde before he rode so longe that he came to Mountawban and his folke with hym And whan that lady wist that her lord came she came him ayenst and said to hym Sir ye bee righte welcome haue ye deliuered Rycharde yea verely sayd Reinawde god gramercy and blessed be god sayde the lady And than she went to Rycharde and kyssed hym more than ten tymes there was a cheere and a feast made ryght amyable And after they had made greate Ioye Reynawd began to demaunde after hys cosin and the lady answered my lorde I knowe no tydynges of hym and whan Reinawde heard that he was sore agast of it and turned himselfe towarde hys bretherne and sayde to theym My bretherne I praye you that we may know whether our cosyn mawgis is come or not and goe seeke him in his lodges for haply he is goe for to vnarme him selfe And incontynent Guicharde and Richard sought hym at thys lodges and asked for hym to two of his men the whiche sayde that they had not seen hym sith he was gone with them And whan they hearde that they were
full sory and went agayne to theyr brother Reynawde and tolde him howe they coulde not fynde hym Whan Reynawde vnderstoode that they hadde not founde hym he beganne to make more sorowe than yf all his brethern had be deade and than who had seen the greate mone that Alarde Guycharde and the lytyll Richarde made for theyr cosyn he wolde haue had greate pitie for to see theym for they pulled theyr heres from theyr heades and scratched theyr visages whan the good lady sawe the greate sorowe that Reinawde her husbande and his bretherne made she fell downe in a swoune to the erth I promyse you he that had seen that sorowe how heard hearted that he were coulde not haue kept him from weepyng AFter that Reynawde hadde thus made greate sorowe he refrained himselfe a lytyll and than sayd Ha my cosyn Mawgis well ye haue stolen your selfe from vs and what shall we doo fro hence forth sith that we haue lost you Whan they had made theyr mone in this maner a lōge while Remawde said to his bretherne and to his folke My Lordes I pray you that ye leue your sorowe for by no sorowe the matter can not be remedyed I praye you recomforte yourselfe for I wyll put me agayne to the waye for to goe to the woode of the serpent for to speake with the abbot of saynte Lazare to wyt yf he canne tell vs anye tydinges for my hearte iudgeth me that afore .xxiiii. houres I shall knowe the certentie and fare well my bretherne tyll I come againe ye speake well and wisely saide Alarde but we shall goe with you for to keep you Certes said Reinawd ye shall not come a foote with me And thā Reinawd went in to his chambre and made him to be armed and came and lighted vpon bayarde his good horse yssued out of moūtawban the sheelde at the necke and the spere in the hand and came to balancon and passed ouer the water whan he was ouer the water he foūd two laddes that came to water their horses from the host of Charlemain whan the laddes sawe Reynawde that was so greate and was all alone they sayde to hym Syr what be you that are alone ye seme to be ◠noble man Children saide Reinawd I am of Rypus folke that dyd scape whan the sonnes of Aymon hanged hym at mountfawcon And than he sayde agayne to theym What dooth the valyaunt kynge Charlemaine so it is supper tyme with hym Syr said the laddes the kynge is well merye and maketh good chere he hath forgoten all the sorowe that he dyd make for your mayster Rypus For men haue brought to him Mawgys that he hated so muche Now tell me saide Reinawde is Mawgis deade Syr saide the two laddes he is yet a liue Whan Reynawde vnderstoode that Mawgys was a lyue hys here lepte all in his bely for greate Ioye and than he saide my fayre chyldren blessed more you be syth that Mawgys is not dead Now I feare me not that he shall dye this daye All thus as Reinawde spake this the laddes went their wayes and Reynawde abode alone thynkynge at the ryuer syde and whā he had thought ynoughe he saide to himselfe fayre God what shall I doo I wote not nowe what shall I thynke or saye for yf I goe assayle Charlemayne at his supper the night is derke and he shall wen that I haue great folke with me and he shal be aferde to leese Mawgis and thus he might kill him anon But sith that I knowe so muche of him I shal tary till to morowe and yf he bringeth him than for to be put to death I shall defende him with mi power or els I shal dye with him ¶ Here leueth the histori to speake of Reinawde that is at the riuers syde of balancon al alone vpon Bayarde and returneth to speake of Charlemayne the emperoure kynge and of Fraunce ¶ How the king Charlemayn wolde haue doone hange Mawgys incontinent after that Oliuer had delyuerd him to him but thorugh the meane of of the .xii. peeres of Fraunce that at the request of Mawgys were his surety for one night only he dyd so muche that he scaped with his honour and acquitaunce of them that were hys sureties And he brought with hym to mountawban the crowne and the swerde of the Charlemayne the same night and also the swerdes of all the peeres of Fraunce Wherof the Emperour was right sory and how the kinge Charlemayne sente worde to Reynawde that he should sende hym agayne his crowne and his swerde and all that Mawgis had borne awaye with him and he should giue him truce for two yeres to the whiche thing Reynawde graūted wherto happed many greate euyl les afterwarde IN this party sheweth the historye that whan Charlemaine saw him seased of Mawgis he called Rowland Olyuer Ogier the dane the bishop Turpyn Richarde of Normandy Guidellon of Bauier the Duke Naimes and said to them My lordes I pray you as muche as I can that ye doo make a greate galous for I am delybered that afore supper Mawgys the great theef shal be hanged by the necke for yf all the worlde had sworne the contrary yet shall I not keep him to the day were come Syr saide the duke Naymes syth that it please you that Mawgis shall dye ye shall make hym dye by a nother maner of wyse if ye doo after me And how than sayde Charlemayne Syr I counseyll you that ye hange not Mawgis by nyght for Reinawde and his bretherne should mocke you and they shall saye that ye durst not make him dye by daye light for feare of theym and therfore syr abide till the day become and thā maye ye doo execucion vpon hym with worshyp And whan the tyme shall become that ye wyll sende him forth send many folke with him that and Reinawde and his brethern come there for to succure him that thei may be take and hanged with hym Naymes sayde the kinge ye mocke with me for yf this theefe scape me I am defamed Syr sayde Mawgis if ye be a feard that I should goe awai I shall giue you suretye that I shall not goe Who is that saide Charlemayn that shal be thy surety is there nye man in the world that is so hardie that dare take this Syr saide Mawgis I shal finde ynoughe yf it please you Nowe shall we see saide Charlemain how ye shal finde them and thā Mawgis looked about him saw the twelue peeres so called he Olyuer and said to hym Syr Olyuer ye promysed me whan I yeelded me to you that ye wolde helpe me toward Charlemayne Now I require you that ye wyll be my suretye yf it please you wyth a good wyll sayde Oliuer vpon my life and my goodes I shal be your surery and ye sir Rowland saide Mawgis shall ye not be also for god my surety and ye duke Naymes and ye Ogier and ye Escouf and ye byshop Turpyn and ye damp
Richarde of Normandye and ye Guydellon of Bauyere I praye you all that ye will be my surety for the loue of the good knight Reinawd Mawgys said than the duke Naymes will ye promyse to vs vpō your faithe that ye shall not goe from vs without our leaue ye said Mawgis vpon my faith And than came the duke Naymes with the other peeres of Fraunce before the kyng Charlemayne and said to hym Sir we wil be suretie for Mawgys vpon our lyues vpon our landes that we holde of you that he shall not goe a waye without your leaue also of al your company and we shall deliuer hym agayne to you to morow in the mornynge for to doo with hym what ye wyll My lordes saide the king sith that ye wyll be his suretie I remyse him in to your keepynge by suche a condicyō but that I haue him to morow in the morning erly ye shal leese all your londes And ye shall neuer maye returne in to douce fraunce again Sir said Oliuer we graunt it as ye haue sayd Lordes sayde the duke Naymes sith that this is doon lette vs goe recomforte Mawgys for he is well sory Lordes sayd than Mawgis to them againe Sith that ye haue doon me one good turne doo me a nother I pray you get me some meate for I am yl a hungred Whan Charlemayne vnderstoode Mawgis speake he looked vpon hym and said all laughinge And shalte thou eate sayde Charlemaine yea said Mawgis if I can haue any meate Nowe heare said Charlemaine what it is of this deuil heere that asketh for meate and so lytell a terme he hath to lyue For I were in his plyght I should not nowe haue courage for to eate Syr sayd the duke Naymes ye saye yll for who hath eaten well he is the better at his ease wherof I pray you that ye let him haue some meat And thenne the kinge washed his handes for to goe to soupper and said where shall Mawgis be for to eate syr said Rowlande he shall well be by you Neuewe said the king ye saie ryghte well for heere shal we be sure of him and I hadde thoughte for to doo so For I shoulde not date trust hym to none other man And than the kinge was sette at the table and he made Mawgys to syt nexte hym and serued hym at the table for as longe as the supper lasted he durste not eate nor drynke least that Mawgys shoulde werke wytche crafte vpon him but Mawgis eate ryghte wel for he had a good appetit to his meat And whan Oliuer sawe that he beganne to lawghe and shewed Rowland and after saide to hym Haue ye seen how the king durste not eate all this supper for feare that mawgys should werke wytchecraft vpon hym Surely sayde Rowlande it is true After supper Charlemaine called his stuarde and sayde to hym stuwarde I praye you brynge me .xl. torches and that they brenne all the nyghte Syr sayde the stuarde I shal doo your commaundement And whan Charlemayne hadde ordeined this he retourned him toward Rowlande and sayd to him Fayre neuew I pray you that ye and Olyuer and al the twelue peeres of Fraunce that ye wyll watche to nyghte with me for to keep this theef Mawgys and make an hundred men to be armed that shall watch with vs and make the play at the tables and at the chesses to th ende that none of vs falle a sleepe and also make a thousand knightes to make good watch wythout to the ende that yf Mawgys should escape vs thei should take him againe And whan Charlemayne hadde ordeyned this he set him downe vpon his bedde and he made Mawgis to sit downe by hym And of that other parte Rowlande Olyuer Ogier the Dane and all the twelue peeres rounde aboute the bedde Syr sayde then Mawgys where shal I sleep What say ye said Charlemain wyll ye slepe yea sayde Mawgys full fayne if please you to suffre me By my soule sayde Charlemayne ye shall haue euyll reste heere for ye shall not sleep as longe as ye be a lyue For ye shal be hanged to morow-at the spryngynge of the daye Syr sayde Mawgis ye doo me greate wronge Wherfore haue I giuen you suretie but only that I may haue my ease for so longe as I haue for to lyue Other suffre me to take my reste and that I may slepe or elles holde quite my suretees certes false theefe saide Charlemaine all this shal not auayl thee For I wyll that thy sureties goe quite and discharged But therfore ye be not out of my handes And than he made to be broughte a greate payre of yrens and fetted him with them bothe hys feete togither And made the cheyn to be fastned harde at a piller and with all he gaue him a greate coler of yron aboute his necke wherof the kynge kepte the key himselfe And whan Mawgis was arraied of this faciō Charlemaine saide to him By my soule Mawgis ye shall not escape me now Sir said Mawis ye mock well with me But I tell you nowe before the .xii. peeres of Fraunce that I shall see Mountawban or it be to morowe prime WHan Charlemayne vnderstoode this that Mawgys saide to him he trowed to haue wexed madde all quicke So he stood vp and set hande to hys swerd and came vnto Mawgys all wrothe for to haue smiten of his heade But whan Rowland sawe that he auaūsed hym and sayde to the kinge Syr for God mercy for yf ye slewe him we been all shamed for euermore syr ye ought not to take heed to that he sayth to you For that that he sayth he saithe it like a man that is in despeyre And howe might that be that he shoulde escape you as ye hold hym now Verely my neuewe I wote not how but that he heere afore tyme hathe so often mocked me maketh me to doubte of him but at all auenture I shall leaue hym in peace tyll to morowe that he shall be hanged Syr sayd Rowlande ye saye well Than all they that were there beganne to playe at the tables and at the chesse and many other games And whan it came that they had played longe they began all to haue greate luste to slepe And whan Mawgis saw that he made his charme And whan he hadde made it they beganne all to fall in a stronge slepe and Charlemaine hym selfe slepte so harde that he fell backewarde vpon hys bed And whan Mawgys sawe that Charlemayne was so fast a slepe all the twelue peeres of Fraunce and all the company of them he beganne to make a nother charme that was of suche vertue that his feters that were on his feete the coler and the cheyne of yren fell all to the grounde a sundre And thenne Mawgys rose vpon his feete and saw Charlemaine that slept so wel grouelynge with his head a wrye and he tooke then a pelow righted vp his heade with all And then he vngirded him and tooke Ioyous
myne vncle wyl dystroye wrongfully Syr said the duke Naymes heare me yf it please you I counsel that we go hens and whan we shal be afore Charlemayne we shall aske him how Reynawde dyd delyuer him for yf we speake to him of peace he shal be wrothe wyth vs but whan he shal remembre the great goodnes and curteysy of Reynawde his hert shal be molified it cannot be but he shal doo to him some grace and fauour for he shall know well that his hert is ouer great that he hath doone to Reynawde great wronge Certes syr Naymes sayd the barons ye speake wysely and ye giue ryght good counsell And whan they were accorded to the counsell of the Duke Naymes Rowlande asked after his horse and eche of the other barons also And whan they were redye for to lyght on horsbacke there came mi lady Clare the wyfe of Reynawde that kissed Rowlande Olyuer and all the other barons and after she sayde to them in this maner Lordes that be heere present I beseche you in the name of god for his blessed passion that it pleaseth you for to purchace the peace of my lorde Reynawde and semblably of hys bretherne towarde the great king Charlemayn ye know my lordes that the kynge dothe to my lorde great wrong and also ye know the great curteysy and the kyndnes that my Lorde my husbaÌ„d hath shewed vnto Charlemayn and well ye wot that yf my Lorde had not be hys brother Rycharde wolde haue striked the head from the body of hym Madame sayde the duke Naymes doubt not For and god be pleased the peace shal be made with in these three dayes And than they lighted al on horsbacke and the three brethern of Reynawde conueyed theÌ„ to the gate and Reynawde taryed after them vpon the brydge whan they were come to the sayde brydge Reynawde sayd to them My lordes I commende you to God I maye no lenger goe with you prayinge that ye wyl haue me in your remeÌ„brauÌ„ce Then al the Peeres of FrauÌ„ce that were there began to weepe tenderly and tooke their leaue of Reynawde the noble knyght after they tooke theyr way towarde the hoste of Charlemayne And whan the Emperour saw them come he called to hym his barons and shewed them they that were comynge And whan the baroÌ„s saw them they meruayled greatly had greate feare for they wyste not what it was but Ydellon the Erle said by god we haue recouered rowlande and hys felawes yea sayde Charlemain godes curse haue they Thys hangyng Rowland and hys felawes came tofore Charlemayne and lighted a foote and incontinent they kneeled humbly afore the king and thaÌ„ the duke Naymes began to speake first and sayd Noble Emperour wee are come in your presence for to crye you mercy beseching you for God that it will please you to take vs vnto your good grace for we haue doone nothing agaynst you but that it was for your we le But sith that we haue knowen that your wyl was not for to haue peace we haue forsaken Reynawde and all his brethern nor neuer whyle we ben a liue they shall haue no succours of vs. Lordes sayde Charlemayne I pardon you but I tell you yf we tary heere longe stil we shal haue lytle gaynes therby wherfore I pray you that we go assaute Mountawban bothe by day and bi night by such maner that he be taken of vs incontinent they all that ben in it brought to death Sir sayd the duke Naymes ye say well but and yf ony mifortune happeth to vs as it hath doone heere afore time I promise you it shal be to you great dommage and me seemeth it were muche better to haue peace thaÌ„ for to contynewe the warre ANd whan the Barons of Fraunce heard this that the duke Naymes had sayde to the king they began to crye with a high voice Syr Emperour we praye you that ye wyl doo this that Naymes counselleth you For he gyueth you good counsell Whan Charlemayne heard the crye that hys folke made to him he came to the duke Naymes that was kneelyng afore hym and tooke him vp in lyke wyse his neuewe Rowlande and all the other and sayde to them My lordes ye knowe that I haue pardoned you with right good wyll but I wyll well that ye know but yf ye keep yourself fro helpinge of my enemies mortal I shal angre you vpon your bodies For I hate them so muche that yf I should abide heere all my lyfe I shal destroy theÌ„ And wit it that Charlemayne was glad that he had recouered hys neuew RowlaÌ„d and his other Peeres how be it he made no semblaunte of it And he sayd yet agayne that he shold neuer departe from hys syege tyll that he had taken Mountawban and all the foure sonnes of Aimon wherof he shall doo sharpe Iustyce shall doo brenne Mawgys the false traytour Syr sayd Rowland I promise you that Mawgys is not wtin MouÌ„tawban for he feareth you so muche that he dare not abyde you least yee should make him to be hanged bycause he dyd steale you so falsly oute of your hoste Ha god sayde Charlemayne whan shal I see that I haue him for to doo my wyll of hym For than the Sonnes of Aymon should soone be a greed with mee THan whan the kyng Charlemayne had deuysed longe ynoughe he gaue leaue to all hys barons for to go agayne into theyr teÌ„tes for to see theâ—r folke And whan the morow came all the barons caÌ„e agayne vnto Charlemain And whaÌ„ the kynge saw them together within his pauilion he was therof glad spake to them thus Lordes I haue besyeged Mountawban as nere as ye see and I am not dysposed for to departe heÌ„ce nother for colde for hete nor for hungre vnto the time that I haue taken hym by fyne force the whiche thynge shall be lyghtly doone for I am sure that they shall want vytayles wythin And worse is for theym they haue loste the traytoure Mawgys whiche was theyr hope and comforte wherfore I saye that they caÌ„not holde it longe against my power whan the barons hearde that Charlemayne thretened Reynawde so soore there was none of them but thei were sory for it for the most parte of theym loued Reynawde for the worthynes and the kyndnes that was in him Then spake the Duke Naimes and said to the Emperour Syr ye say that they of Mountawban be dyspurueyd of meate and that ye shall not departe from the syege tyll that ye haue taken the castel and that is a thinge that shall be doone lightlye but I promyse you yf ye tarye to their vittailles be doo ye shall lye here lenger theÌ„ ye ween of wherfore syr I beseche you that it wyll please you to beleue my counseyll yf it semeth you good fyrste take heede to the curtoysy that Reynawde hath doone to you for ye wot well that if he had not be his brother Richarde shoulde haue
you that the poore folke died for hungre by the streetes and with this was so great stenche in Mountawban of the dead that were there that no man coulde endure it And whan Reynawd saw this he was sorye for it and than he dyd doo make greate charnell wher in he made all the deade bodyes to be buryed And whan Richarde sawe so greate mortalitie within the castel of Mountawban throughe cause of the great dearth that was there and saw his brother Reinawd in so great distresse he could not forbeare but he saied to him by god my brother nowe goeth it worse then euer it dyd it had be muche better if ye hadde beleued me for yf ye wolde haue suffred me to slea the kynge Charlemayne we shoulde nowe not haue be in thys myscheef and great pouertie that we haue nowe nor your folke hadde not dyed for hungre as they doo and thaÌ„ he began to weep tenderly and sayde Alas why doo I complayne other I myght well complayne my selfe sithe that I must dye and be put in to the charnell as the poorest of vs all Ha Mawgis my fayre cosyn where be ye now ye faile vs at oure need for and ye were here within with vs we shoulde not be famyshed for hungre and also we should not doubte muche the kinge Charlemaine for I wot well that ye should get vs vitaylles ynough to lyue vpon for vs and our men and now we muste dye for hungre as the wulf should vpon a sea for Charlemaine hateth vs more than he dooth the sarasyns And therfore it is not for vs to wayte after pitie of him for he is ouer cruell a king vpon vs. CHarlemayne by the reporte of some folke knew the great det the scarslie of vitailles that was within MouÌ„tawbaÌ„ wherof he was right glad called to him his folke and said to them Lordes now can not Reinawd escape but he shal soon be taken hanged the false Richard drawen at an horse tayle Alarde Guichard also and theyr worthines shall be litill worthe to them And whan the kinge Charlemaine had sayde these wordes he sent for all his peeres barons and whan they were al come within his pauillion he was glad of it and sayd to them Lordes thanked be god that I haue brought mountawban so low that Reinawde and hys knyghtes haue no more vitailles in it and now they shal yeeld them selfe at my wyll mawgre their teeth for the moste parte of their folkes ben deade for hungre and yet dien dayly and ye must wyt I wyl that Reynawde be hanged his brethern also but first I wil that Rychard be drawen at an horse tayl And so I charg you that none of you be so hardye to moue my wyll to the contrary for I will that it be doone as I saye whan the duke Naimes Rowland Oliuer Ogier the bishop Turpin escouf the sonne of Oedon that were there heard the king speke thus they were righte sorye for the loue of Reinawd of his brethern looked down said no word at all for feare that they should be shent of the king Ogier with great payne kept his eyen fro weepinge lest Charlemaine should not perceiue his sorowful hert HEere ye ought to wit that duringe the time that Charlemain laye at the siege afore Mountawban persecuting the four sonnes of AimoÌ„ Reinawd Alard Guychard and Richarde Aymon their father helde the party of the king ayenst his children for he had promised him to doo so as ye haue heard about but wit it that whan he heard howe the emperoure thretened his children how be it that he had forsaken them he was wrothe for it for he knew we if his children died so he should neuer haue ioy after that for whatsoeuer warre he made ayenst them he loued them kindli as the father ought loue his childe for nature may not lie therfore he took so great sorow whaÌ„ he heard of hys sonnes that they were thretned to be hanged that he almost fel down dead to the ground of the great sorow that he had could not keep himselfe but he said Sir emperour I besech you that it wil please you to bryng my childreÌ„ to right for though I haue forsaken them yet are they my sonnes of my body begotten Hold your peace Aymon said Charlemain for I wil that it be so doone of theÌ„ for Reinawd did slea my neuew barthelor that I loued so much And after he turned him self saw the barons that spake th one to thother said to them Lordes loue your musing for I tel you for a trouthe that I shal not leaue to doo herin my wil for no maÌ„ that speaketh ye wot wel it is iii. yere gon sith we besieged this castel first and euer sith haue leien here where we haue lost many of oure foâ—ke wherfore I coÌ„maund you that either of you doo make engynes for to brynge downe this great towre all the remnaunt also for with such maner we shal abash them greatlye and ye my neuew Rowland ye shall doo make of the engines .vii. and Oliuer shal doo make vi the duke Naimes iiii the bishop Turpin and Ogier the dane other .iiii. and ye duke Aimon said the king Charlemain ye shal make three HOwe shoulde I nowe doo this good lord said thaÌ„ Aimon for sir Emperour ye know wel that they be my children nother truantes nor knaues but be the best knyghtes of the world so I tel you sir that if I saw theim die I shoulde for goe my wittes for angre And whan Charlemaine heard Aimon speake thus he was wroth and began to gnaw on a stafe that he held in his hand and after said By that god that made me if there be ani of you that gainsaith my wil I shall strike of his heade with my swerde Sir saide the duâ—e Naymes angre not your selfe For that that ye haue coÌ„maunded shal be doone incontinent whan the barons vnderstood the coÌ„maundemente of Charlemain they went their way for to make the engines that the king had commauÌ„ded the whiche were anon made ready these engines were for to cast greate multitude of stones And as soon that they were made they were set for to cast ayen mouÌ„tawbaÌ„ in short time they doÌ„maged it ful sore so I promise you that within the castel were made greate crying of women and of children for feare of the stones they went and hid them vnder the ground and so thei of Mountawban endured this mischef as longe as they had any morsell of meat And I ensure you that there was so great derth and so great mortalitie the men wist nomore where to laye the deade For the charnell was al full Alas who had seen so yong bachelers that for feintnes went leninge vpon their staues thorough MouÌ„tawbaÌ„ for lacke of meat he wolde haue had great pitie For afore that the castel was besieged they were so stronge and
had of his brethern of his wife and of his men wyt it that whan they saw him bring so much vitailes they swouned al for ioye to the earth and whan Reinawd saw this he wende they had ben dead for hungre So began he to make great sorow and not without a cause and while that Reinawde sorowed and made great mone his brethern began to come again to theymselfe his wife and also hys two children And whan Reinawd saw them al vpon their feet he was glad and presented to them meat for them and for hys folke and they thaÌ„ made great Ioy and eate their fill at theyr ease And whan they had eaten well they went to slepe excepte Reynawde that wolde keep watche hym self And on the morne whan the day was come they rose went to heare masse and after the masse was doon they fell to their meate againe and eat al that was left ouer euyn of that Reinawde had broughte and whan the next night was come Aimon that coulde not forget his children made his stuarde to come before him and sayde to him ye know how I haue forsworn my children wherof I am sori that euer I did so But it is said that ar the need the frend is knowen I let you wit that my children been yonder within in great pouertye and misease and howe be it that I haue forsworn theÌ„ I oughte nor maye not faile them we haue three engyines that Charlemain hath made me doo make for to hurt my children wherof we haue domaged them as muche as we might nowe must we helpe them after their domage And I shall tell you see that ye put within the engynes bread and flesh both salt freshe in great plenty in stead of stones and let this be cast in to the castell for yf I shoulde die my selfe for hungre I shall not fayle theym as longe as I haue wherof to helpe them and also I repent me full sore of the harm that I haue doon to them for al the world ought to blame me therof with good ryghte and we been in the wronge Syr saide the stuarde ye saye well For ye haue doone so muche ayenste them that al the worlde blameth you therof but incontinente I shall doo your commaundement And than the stuard went and made the three engins to be filled with vittailles and after he bad the gouerner to cast theÌ„ in to Mountawban And ye muste wyt that many of the hoste blamed Aymon sore that he made hys engynes to be caste ayenst hys chyldren for they wende it had be stones and whan the nighte was passed that Reinawd was vp he went heere and there within the castel found foison of vittailes that his father had cast wherof he was right glad and sayde Good lorde blessed be you now see I wel that they that haue their trust in you can not fare amis than he called his brethern his wife his childreÌ„ said My bretherne ye see howe our father hath pity of vs. And then he made the vittailles to be gathered vp and put in a sure place and so thei eate therof at their ease for they had well great need therof for they were so sore an hungred that it was greate pitie And wyt it that Aymon made easte so muche vytayll within MouÌ„tawban that they of within had ynoughe for thre monethes with good gouernaunce NOw must we vnderstond that Charlemain had some knowlege howe the olde duke Aimon had giuen vittailes to his childreÌ„ wherof he was sore an angred made Aimon to come incontinente afore him sayd to hym Aymon who maketh thee so bolde to giue any mâ—at to min enemies mortal I know wel al thy wyles thou mayst not excuse thiself but by the faythe that I owe to God I shall auenge me so well or nyght that if I may ye shal leese your heade for it Sir said the duke Aimon I wil not denie it for I tell you truely if ye should make me dye or be brente in a fyre I will not fayle my chyldren as longe as I maye helpe them For my children be no theues traytours nor no murderers but they been the most valiaunt knightes of the world the truest ween not you to slea my children in suche maner ye haue to longe wrought your foly yf it wolde suffise you whan Charlemayne heard Aymon speake thus he was angrye with it for great wrath he loked as fire Almost he smote Aimon whaÌ„ the duke Naimes saw this he auauÌ„ced him forth said Sir sende home Aimon for ye haue kepte hym heere to loÌ„g ye ought well to vnderstande that Aymon wil not see his children to be dystroyed and therfore ye ought not to blame him nor smite him after that Charlemayne hearde the duke Naimes speake he sayd to him Naimes syth that ye haue iudged it ye shall not be gaynsayd than he turned him towarde the duke Aymon sayde to hym Now goe forth out of myn hoste for ye haue doon me more domage than profyte sir said the duke Aimon I shal gladly doo your coÌ„maundemente And anon he went lighted on horsebacke and after said to the peeres of fraunce Lordes I pray you al that ye wil haue my children for recommeÌ„ded for they beÌ„ com of your bloude let the king see well to for yf he make my children to dye by such great vengeaunce as he hath sayd if I shoulde become a sarasyn dwel in Affryque al the dayes of my lyfe I shal stryke of his head for none other gage I wyll not take And whan Aimon had said thus he went out of thost into fraunce to his countrye wel heuy bicause that he left his children in so great pouerty Charlemayne that sawe Aymon goe thus quite and that he hadde garnyshed Mountawban of vitaylles he was full angrye for it So studyed he vpon this a longe whyle And whan he had studyed longe ynoughe he was so sory that none myght be more sorier and returned hym selfe towarde hys Barons and sayde Lordes I commaund you that ye breake al our engynes For by theym I haue myssed to haue the castell of Mountawban And incontinente the Barons made breake the engines as the king had commaunded And by all thus Reinawd abode a long while in good peace but their vittailles began sore to mynyshe And whan Reinawde sawe that he was sory and began to complayne in himselfe saide good lorde what shal I doo I knowe that at longe rennynge we shall not mow holde and so shall Charlemain haue no mercye of vs but he shall make vs die Alas Mawgis where be you For if ye were with vs we shoulde doubte nothinge nor I shoulde not suffre this great distres that I haue All thus as Reinawde complained hymselfe than came Alard that was so feble that with payne he mighte stande vpon his feete and sayde to Reynawd Reinawde for the loue of god
Reynawde did choose an hundred of the best knightes of his felawshyp and sayde to theym Syrs I praye you that ye wyll be wyth me in the fyrste batayle and ye shall doo me great honoure Syr sayde the knightes we shall gladlye doo your commaundement and we shall not leue you as longe as life is in vs and so we thanke you of the great worshyp that ye doo call vs in your company for ye knowe well that wee canne not fare amys as longe as wee be wyth you WHan Reynawde had ordeyned wel hys batayles he made none other taryenge but wente the formest of all the sheelde at the necke and the spere in the fyst was mounted vpon Bayarde that beheld proudly about him makynge greate noyse And then Reynawde gaue him the spurre and went fayre vpon the folke of the Kynge Charlemayne and whan Charlemaayne saw Bayarde remynge that made so great bruyte and Reynawde vpon his backe that cam in so fayre ordenaunce he was sore abasshed of it and sayd in him self O good Lorde and where the Deuyll haue all redy had the foure Sonnes of AymoÌ„ so many folke as I se here now come with them I beleue thaâ— it is some deuylles werke For I had not left many with them late a goe And now Reynawde is so puyssauÌ„t that he feareth me nothyng But I promise god all this shal not auayle hym nothynge but I shal doo iustice vpon him and his brethern or ought longe And than he made his bataile to set in ordenaunce in the best wyse that he coulde and lighted on horsebacke for to come fyght wyth Reynawde And whan the Duke Naymes saw that Charlemayn was so mad that he wolde goe fight with Reynawde he went to hym sayde syr what is that ye will doo I promyse you it were greate folye for to fight with these folke it were better that ye made peace with Reynawd For I am sure that Reynawde shal doo all that ye wil coÌ„maunde him and I tell you wel that if we fight with theÌ„ that ye shall see manye knyghtes to trayle theyr bowelles thorough the feelde wherof it shal be great harme to the one party and to the other And suche shall the losse be that it shal not be recouered agayne Naymes sayd the kinge Charlemayne let vs alone for I shal doo none other wise for no man that liueth I should rather let me to be dismembred And whan the duke Naymes had vnderstande his wordes he was ful sory of it and left his speaking therof from that houre Charlemayne delybered hymselfe for to fyght and alwayes he rode forth in great wrath ANd whan Reynawde sawe that the two hostes were approched sore nighe th one the other as to hande and haÌ„de he sayd to his brother Rychard that was next him I wil go speake with the king Charlemayne for to wyt of hym yf he wil pardon and take vs vnto hys grace For yf he wolde doo so I should doo entierly all his wil and pleasure as to our souerayne lorde By god brother sayd then Rycharde yee be not worthe a botell of hey for the herte is all redy fayled in your bely Goe forth mischauÌ„t sayd then Reynawde thou wot not what thou sayest For I wyll go there no man shall keep me therfro if he refuseth the peace whan I shall axe it of hym I shall make myne auowe to God that I shall neuermore require him therof Brother sayd Alarde ye say wel and wisely go there hardly and doo therin your wyll And than Reynawde made none other delayinge but he smote Bayarde with the spurres and went incontinent towarde the kynge Charlemayne sayd than to hym Syr for gods mercy suffre if it be your pleasure that we haue peace and accorded with you that this warre that hath lasted so longe maye finisshe and that your wrath be put awai from vs if it please you and I shall be redy to doo all that ye wyll and also I shall gyue you Bayarde my good horse Than sayd the kynge to hym goe fro me false gloton the deuyll speed thee for al the worlde shal not conne keep thee but I shall slea thee Syr sayd Reynawde ye shal not doo so and god wyll for I shall defend me well And wit it sith that it is com to this ye shal not be spared of vs but we shall doo the worste that we can Smite knightes sayde the kynge Charlemaine I shall neuer prayse you if this euil glotton scape me now And whaÌ„ that Reynawde sawe thys he sayde Syr kinge of Fraunce I defie you and forthwith he spurred Baiarde and ranne with his spere vpon a knight whyche he smote so harde in the brâ—st that he ouerthrew hym dead vnto the erthe And after that he went agayne vnto his folke And whan that the kinge Charlemayn saw this he cried wan hye voyce smite knightes now shall they ben discomfyted THan whan Rowland hearde the kynge Charlemayne crie thus he spurred his horse and went after Reynawde also many other knyghtes but they ouâ—r tooke hym not WhaÌ„ Rycharde saw his brother come he came hym agaynst sayde to him Brother what tidinges briÌ„g you shal wee haue peace or warre Bâ—other sayd Reynawde let vs doo the best that wee can doo for peace we shal not haue Brother sayd then Rychard god blesse you for the tidinges that ye brynge for I thynke to doo this day suche a thynge wherof king Charlemayne shal be angry Brother said Reynawde I pray you that ye shewe yourselfe vertuous stronge agaynst our enemyes Whan the king Charlemayne sawe that it was time to set vpon him he called hastely the duke Naymes and sayde to hym Naymes hold my Oriflam and thynke for to smite wel and valiauntly as a worthy knight ought for to doo at eyther hande in keeping my worship and herof I praye you hertely Syr sayd the duke Naymes ye need not for to pray me for I am bouÌ„de for to doo the same but it greueth me that ye haue not done other wise that is for to sai that ye should haue graunted to the peace for the warre hath lasted to longe Naimes I commaunde you that ye speake no more therof vnto me for while I liâ—â—â— they shall haue no peace with me Syr sayd the Duke Naymes I am sory for it Now let see what ye shall doo for I goe to batayle fyrst of all and looke that ye folow me yf ye will for I shall put me in suche a place wherof ye shal be sore meruayled not without a cause for there hys no man so colde but he should soone get here there within a litle whyle Frow folow that wyll ANd whan Reynawde saw the Oriflam of Fraunce come he broched Bayarde wyth the spurres and ranne amonge the thickest and smote a knight so harde that he cast hym downe vnto the erth And after he turned him toward his folk chered theÌ„ honestly than
they left Charlemayne bycause he wolde not make peace And howe he sent worde to them that they should come to hym agayne And he should make peace with Reynawde IN this party sheweth that the kyng Charlemayne was at the syege of Ardeyn sore an angred that he myght not know howe Rychard of Normandy dyd So sent he for all hys Barons for to come to hym And whan they were come in his pauillion he sayd to them thus Lordes I see wel that it goeth now yll with me bycause I see that Reynawde hath not sent me agayne Richarde of Normandy and he might well haue delyuerd hym free quite and haue sende hym vnto me for all the harmes that he hath doone to me Vncle sayde Rowlande I merueyll greatly of that ye saye ye shew wel to vs that ye be wythout counsell By the fayth that I owe to you ye shal neuer see Richarde of Normandye but yf ye pardon Reynawde his brethern diuerse times he hath meked himselfe vnto you and hath be alwayes redy to fulfyll your plesure ye wyll not take hym to your grace be not than merueyled if Reinawde shewe nowe some dispite agaynst you For and ye consider wel the great curtesie that he hath doone vnto you namely whan he had you at his will within mountawban that he delyuered you and suffred you goe quite and free fro him at your liberti ye should doo for him otherwyse than ye doo but syth that Reynawde seeth that he may not finde no mercy in you he wyll not leese his curtesye but he shall doo the worste that he can as ye maye well perceyue experience of it euery day for he dōmageth vs dayly and keepeth his prisoner the best knyght that yee had that is Richarde the duke of normandy the whych I weene be dead by thys time Neuew sayd the kinge Charlemayne I promyse you that Reynawde hath not put hī to death but he kepeth hym wel at his ease with great honoure syr said than the duke Naymes Syth that the wordes ben come to this I must tel you my mynde Syr yf Reynawde beareth you dommage ye cānot blame hym for it For he hath prayed you so many times humbly that ye wold haue mercy on him and ye wolde neuer heare hym but ye haue alwayes shewed your selfe the moste proude kynge of the worlde agaynst hym the moste angry and ye wyll beleue no counsell and so I tell you if Reinawd hath not made to dye Richard of Normandy he is the kyndest mā of the worlde But I beleue better that he is dead than otherwyse for no man heere can tell whether he be dead or a liue WHan the kyng Charlemayne heard the Duke Naymes speke thus he knew wel that he tolde hym trouth So began he to syghe sore and to these wordes came forthe the Bysshop Turpin Ogyer the dane that sayd in this maner Sir wyt it verely that Naymes telleth you trouth For Reynawde hath a good cause to be angrye wyth you And whan Charlemayne heard his barōs speke thus he was all abasshed of it And called the duke Naimes the bisshop Turpyn Ogier the Dane Escouf the sonne of Oedon sayde to them Lordes I pray you goe to Ardeine tel Reynawde in my behalf that he wil sende me Richarde of Normandy And whan he hath doone so that he thā deliuer Mawgys into my handes for to doo my wyll of hym And then he shall haue peace wyth me al the dayes of my lyfe Deere syr sayde the duke Naymes ye sende vs for nought For I wot wel the Mawgis is gone from Reynawde it is three yeres passed and more And yf that Reynawde wolde delyuer him he may not For he knoweth not him selfe where he is Naymes sayd the king Charlemayne yee shall at leste heare what Reynawde shal say vnto you and ye shall also know how Richarde of Normādi dooth Syr sayd the duke Naymes syth that it pleaseth you that I shall goe I am well contente but I pray our Lorde that we maye returne agayne whole and sounde of our persones without to be dyshonoured whan the barons saw that kinge Charlemayne wolde that they should goe to Ardeyne for to doo his messager they durste not saye there agaynst And so they wēt thether anon and eche of them bare in his hande a braunche of an oliue tree in tooken of peace And whan they came vnto the gate they founde it open for them For Reynawde had seen thē come from ferre Wherfore he commaunded that the wicket should be open And whan the barons saw the litle gate open they went into the towne and cam to the Palays And whan Reynawde wyst that they were come within the palays he wēt and layde hymselfe downe vpon a bedde wyth hys legges crossed and sware God and his blessed mother that he should not praye the kinge Charlemayne of nothing For he had doon him to great harme for throughe the kynge Charlemayn he had loste his good cosyn Mawgis and Moūtawban that he loued so muche This hanginge came there the messagers of the king Charlemaine afore Reynawde Whan the Duke Naymes that was the formest saw Reynawde he saluted him honourably And after he sayd to hym Syr Reynawde the kinge sendeth you worde by vs that ye sende hym agayne Richarde the duke of Normandy And more ouer he sendeth you worde that yf ye wyll delyuer him Mawgys ye shal haue peace with him al the dayes of his lyfe And he shall deliuer you agayne all your landes And he shal keep bothe your childrē in his court with him and he shall make them knightes with his owne handes My Lordes sayde Reynawde ye be ryght welcome to me as the knightes of the worlde that I ought to loue best But I meruayle me greatly of Charlemaine that sendeth me these wordes for eueri man knoweth wel that I haue not Mawgys But by him I haue lost hym And wolde to god that I had heere Charlemayn as wel as I haue Rycharde of Normādye And yf he wolde not graunt me peace with him I promise you he should leaue his head for a pledge So should I be than auenged of all the great harmes dommages that he hath doone to me syth that I haue be made knight of him lordes I wēd that Charlemayne had be more curtoys then he is For if I had wyll that he wolde haue ben so fell vpon me and my brethern I should well auenged it vpon him But it is to late to repente me that I did not so wherfore that ye voyde out of my Palays and goe tell your king that I haue not Mawgys but I haue loste hym for him and also yf I had him he should not haue him And bicause I haue thus loste my good cosyn Mawgys for hym I shal make to morow Richarde the duke of Normandy to be hanged vpon the chefe gate of this Citie in the dispite of him for no lenger respite
greate angre that he had and helde a demylaunce in hys handes the whiche he began to gnawe with his teeth so angry he was and whaÌ„ his wrathe was a litle gone he called a knyght and sayd to hym Now lyght on horsbacke lyghtly and ride after Rowland and after the other barons and tell them in my behalfe that they come speake with me and I shal be demened as they wyl themselfe and that I shall pardon Reynawde yf they wyll come agayne to me Syr sayde the knyght blessed be God that hath brought you to thys mynde And than this knight tooke an horse and rode hastelye after the xii peeres of Fraunce And whan Reynawde that was with the duke Rycharde of Normandye vpon the gate of Ardeyn apperceyued this he sayde to the duke Richarde of Normandy cosin I se rome a knight out of the pauilion of the kynge Charlemayne I beleue that he goeth vnto the twelue Peeres of Fraunce for to make theym to returne agayne I weene we shall haue this daye peace and god before Syr sayd Rycharde ye shall haue peace mawgre them al that letteth it I ought for to loue deerli my felowes the whiche be cause to keepe me from death also to haue peace Wyt it that the knight rode so fast that he ouer tooke Rowlande all the other peeres of Fraunce and said vnto them in this maner of wise Lordes the kinge Charlemayne sendeth you worde by me that ye wyll returne agayne to hym and he shall pardon Reinawd for the loue of you for goddes loue come lyghtly For he neuer left weepyng sythe that yee went your waye from him Naymes sayd Rowland let vs retourne agayne For I holde the peace made wherof this sorowfull warre shall fayle that hath lasted so longe a whyle Whan the Duke Naymes hearde Rowland speake so he was ryght glad of it and Ioyned hys handes towarde heauen and sayde in this maner wise Good lorde Iesus blessed be the tyme that it hath pleased the to tourne the courage of the kynge Charlemayne and that this vnhappy warre is brought to an ende And whan the Duke Naymes had sayde this they returned agayne towarde Charlemayne ANd whan Reynawde apperceiued that the twelue yeeres wente agayne to Charlemayne he sayd to the Duke Rycharde of Normandy Cosyn the Barons returne agayne I beleue that the peace shal be made and that we shal mow wel goe soone at our libertie now shall Reynawde maye say that I and my brethern ben at his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t and shall be as longe as we ben men on lyue Well glad were the Barons of the one part of thother bicause that God had suffred that the peace should be made And whan Charlemayne saw his barons come agayn he went agaynst theÌ„ sayd By God my lordes ye are wel ful of great pride that ye make me to be come peasible with Reynawde agaynst my wyll ye know that I haue hated hiÌ„ so muche that I may not see him but I shal be angry bycause of his pride that is so great Wherfore yf ye will that I make peace wyth hym I wil that he goe into the holy lande poorelye clothed on foote And so I wil haue his hors Bayarde And I shal also returne agayne to his brethern all theyr lyuelode out of my handes Therfore yf thus he wyl doo I shal fal to peace and accorde with hym els not For I make mine a vowe to God that I shall neuer doo other wyse therin thaÌ„ I tel you now And therfore looke wel whiche of you shall doo thys message Syr sayd the duke Naymes I shal go to Reynawde with a good wyll yf it be your pleasure that I go to hym Naymes sayd Charlemayn It pleaseth me well And than incoÌ„tinent the duke Naimes rode to Ardeyn And whan Reynawde saw him come he knew hym well and wente him agaynst and so did the duke Richarde and the brethern of Reynawde whan the duke Naymes saw the Noble Barons come agaynst hym he lyghted from the horse anon went and kyssed them all and after he had doone so he sayd Reynawde Charlemayne sendeth me to you with his greetynge God yelde hym sayd Reynawde Now haue I that I haue desyred so longe Naymes shal I haue peace yea sayd the Duke Naymes vnder a condicion the whiche I shal tell you It is that ye must go poorely clothed and begging your breade for godes sake in the holy lande and so shall ye leue bayarde wyth Charlemayn and this doone ye shal haue peace And he shal giue agayne your herytage to your bretherne Duke Naymes said Reynawde ye be right welcome And I promyse you that I am redy to doo the commaundement of the kinge And yf he wyll haue of me ony thynge more by any wyse I shall in euery poynt fulfyll his wil if it be possible for me to doo it Now shal I be a good truauÌ„t for I can well â—ske bread whan me nedeth Whan the duke Naymes heard Reynawde spâ—ake thus he was wel glad of it and so was the duke Rycharde that they saw the noble Reinawde agreed to the will of Charlemayne so muche as for to be come a poore begger for to haue peace And after that Reynawde was thus acorded therto he went into hys stable and tooke Bayarde deliuered him to the duke Naimes than he tooke his â—auer bare it on hie vpon the highe rowre in token of peace And whan Charlemayne saw the baner of Reynawde he shewed it to Rowland Ha god sayd Rowlande howe meke is Reynawde good of kynde to haue made peace in this maner of wyse Blessed be Ihesus that â—ath giuen him that wyll for to go nowe a foote wherof I playne hym sore Rowland sayd Ogier Reynawde is a lambe full of mekenes and in him are all the good condicions that a knight ought to haue This hanging came there the duke naymes that brought Bayarde with him and preâ—â—â—ed him to Charlemayne said to â—â—n Sir â–ª Reynawde is redy for to 〈◊〉 all that ye haue coÌ„maunded hiâ— and he shal departe to more wyl ye wyll sythe your pleasure is so I wyll wel said Charlemayne but tell me where is the Duke Rycharde for I wil know it Syr sayd the duke Naymes wyt that the Duke Rycharde fareth well and is abiden with Reynawde for he wyll conuey hym whan he goeth And wyt that Reynawde this hangyng made great cheere with his folke at his ease and after sayd to theÌ„ Lordes I beseche you be not sory that I go for I haue made this peace more for you than for me I pray you that ye holde wel togither tyl I come agayne and whaÌ„ he had layd this to them he went into hys chaÌ„bre and vnclothed hymself from hys good raymentes and cast vpon him a poore mantell a payre of big shoone wel clouted made for to be brought to hym a palster well yrenned for to beare in his haÌ„de And
ye must wyt that the duke Rychard was styll with him to whome Reynawde commended his wyfe and his chyldren and all his brethern And that he wolde pray the kinge that he should haue theym for recommended And whan he had arrayed hymselfe so he came towarde the halle to the duchesse hys wyfe ANd whan the noble duchesse Clare saw her husband so arayed in his beggers clothynge she tooke suche sorowe for it that she fel downe in a swoune to the erth as she had be dead And whan Reynawde saw her fal he ran for to take her vp and after sayd to her Lady for God take it not so sore at your herte For I shall soone come agayne and god before And wyth you shall my bretherne abyde that shall serue you as theyr lady And so I tell you that I am so glad of the peace that me semeth that I am come agayne al redy Madame my deere wyfe I pray god keepe you from all euilles And with this he kissed her full sweetely And than he tooke on his way and whan the duchesse saw hym goe she tooke for it so great sorow that she swouned agayne and abode thus a longe while that all her gentil women went she had ben dead And after she was come againe to herself she maâ— great mone for her lorde Reynawde For she scratched her face pulled her heres from her head for great sorow whan she had made so muche sorow she said O good husbaÌ„d Reinawde whose like is not in all the worlde of goodnes god be with you For I wot well that I shal neuer see you And whan she had sayde these wordes she went into her chambre tooke all her noble raymentes â—ast them in a fyre and whaÌ„ they were al brent she tooke a poore smocke and cast it about her said she should neuer were none other clothes till she saw her lorde husbande agayne AFter that Reynawde had takeÌ„ leue of his wife he departed the duke Richarde his brethern and his folke conueyed hym a great waye alwayes speaking that it was pitie to heare And whan Reynawde thought that they had gone ferre ynoughe with him he turned him towarde them sayd Lordes I praye you huÌ„bly that ye returne home again for as long as ye be with me I am not at my ease go your way in the name of God and recomforte my wyfe the duchesse that weepeth so sore to you my brethern I coÌ„mende her my children also Wyt it whan Reynawde had sayd this there was none that coulde take leue of him so ful of sorowe they were except Alarde that sayd to him Mi deere brother I prai you hertely that ye come shortlye agayne for your departinge is so heuy to me that I trow I shall die for sorow And whan Alarde had sayd so he enbrased his brother tooke leue of him making great sorow so did Richarde of Normandye to whome Reynawde sayd my cosyn I coÌ„meÌ„de you ones my wife agayne and my children al my brethern for they be of your bloud well ye know it Reinawde sayd the duke Richarde I promyse swere as knight that I shal helpe defende them agaynst all meÌ„ except agaynst the king doubt not for them for they shal want nothiÌ„g ¶ Now leueth the hystory to speke of Reynawde that went to the holy lande araied as ye haue heard and retourneth to speake of his brethern howe they came to Charlemayne with the duke Richarde of Normandy ¶ How after that Reynawde was departed fro Ardeyn to make his viage beyonde the sea clothed poorely as a pilgrim askiÌ„g his meat for god sake the duke of Normandi tooke alarde Guycharde Richarde brought theÌ„ with him to Charlemayne whiche receiued them honourably tooke vp his siege went to paris But whan he cam to the citie of lege vpon the riuer of meuze he made bayarde to be cast in it with a milstone at the necke of him But meÌ„ sayen the bayarde scaped out and that he is a lyue yet in the forest of Ardeyne IN thys party sheweth the hystory that whaÌ„ Reynawde had put himselfe to the way as yee haue hearde Richarde of Normandy and his brethern came agayne to Ardein full sory for Reynawde where as they found the good duchesse Clare that made greate sorowe for her lordes departyng And whan they were come agayne there the duke Richarde tooke the duchesse by the hande and began to recomforte her so many fayre wordes he layde vnto her that she slaked a litle her sorow and after thys the duke Richarde sayde to the brethern of Reynawde in this maner Lordes goe make you redy and we shall go vnto Charlemayn Sir sayd the three brethern let vs whan it please you And then they went tooke on the best clothing that they had And I promise you they were three fayre knightes and after they were wel apparayled they mounted eche of them vpon a palfraye of hye pryce ryght fayre wythout anye armes And for to speake shortly they yssued out of Ardeyn and came to the pauilion of Charlemayne And whaÌ„ the king saw theÌ„ he was ryght glad So he commaunded al hys barons that they should go againe them Ha god sayd Rowland now comen the three bretherne well sorye certayne they haue a cause for they haue lost theyr helpe succoure and hope Now I see that the duke Richard cometh with them wherof he dooth well for he is their kynsman NOw ye ought to wit that the three brethern of Reynawde came to the pauilion of Charlemain well honestly arayed And whaÌ„ they were afore the kyng they kneeled huÌ„bly at his feete and Alarde spake fyrst sayd Sir Reynawde our brother recoÌ„mendeth him huÌ„bly to your good grace salueth you as his souerayne lorde he sendeth you Rycharde the duke of Normandy whiche ye se heere and so he praieth you that ye will haue vs for recommended for he hath taken his way towarde the holy lande for to accomplisshe your commauÌ„demeÌ„t Freende sayd Charlemayne ye be right welcome Syth that it please our lorde that we shal be freendes I shall doo for you and shal bring you al to honour as it apperteyneth to suche knightes as ye ben And yf god wyl bring Reynawd saufe agayne from his viage I shal holde him as deere as I doo mine owne neuew Rowland for he is replenysshed with great worthines Syr sayd Richard god bring him agayn whan the king had thus spoken with the brethern of Reynawde he came to the duke Rycharde of Normandy kissed him more than .x. times and whan he had feasted him ynough he said to him duke Richarde I praye you that ye wil tel me what prisoÌ„ gaue you Reynawde what meates for to eat Sir said the duke of NormaÌ„dy by the fayth that I owe to god and to you I had better prison and was more at mine ease than euer knyght was
in parys with greate Ioye and pleasure vnto the daye of the batayll that shoulde be of his childerne And this hangyng Reynawde had doon make good harnays for his chyldren and had pourueyed two good horses for them THan whan the day of the batayll was come the chyldren of Foulques of Moryllon came and presented them afore the kynge redy for to fyght And whan the kyng saw them he saide to theim Childrene ye haue had euyll counseyll to chalenge the sonnes of Reynawde of Mountawbâ—n as ye haue doon For I am sure it shall repent you but this is not the first faut that your lygnage hath doon nor it shall not be the last I feare me of it And whan the earle Guanellon al they of the lygnage of Foulques of morillon heard the king speake so they were so greatlye abasshed that thei wist not what thei should doo but kept al their peace aswered no word And than said ConstaÌ„s to the king Syr we pray you for god that ye wyll telle to vs the place where we shall fight ayenst our enemies Than stood vp the duke Naymes of bauyere said syr Constans speaketh well ye must deuise the place and where they shall fyght two ayenst .ii. or one ayenst a nother alone Naymes sayde the kyng I wyl that ye Iudge this matter sir sith that it please you so I shal bespeake it with a good will Syr said the duke Naymes me semeth bycause that Constans hath called the sonnes of Reynawd to batayl both for one mater that they ought to fight two ayenst nawde to battayl both for one matter that they ought to fyght two ayenst two and al foure togyther Syr sayd Reynawde the duke Naymes sayth ryght well By my fayth Reinawde sayde the kinge Charlemayne and I graunt it so but I wyll that the bataylle be made in the ysle of our ladye within sauoine to morow in the mornynge And whan the kynge Charlemayne had sayde thus the barons tooke leue of him eche of theÌ„ went to their lodges and Reinawde also the which tooke his two sonnes with him and the two soÌ„nes of Foulques of Moryllon went also with theyr freendes Whan Reinawde and his bretherne had souped and had made good there he made brynge harneis ynoughe and made Alarde and Rycharde and hys two chyldren aymonet and yonnet to be armed And thaÌ„ he made to be shewed to Aymonet and to yonnet howe they shoulde defende themself of their enemies and in what maner they shoulde assaylle them And whaÌ„ that this was doon Reynawde dyd sende hys chyldren to sainte Vyctoure and the traytoures went to saynt Germayne for to watche that nyghte And whan the daye came a byshop that was of the lygnage of Constans and of rohars sange masse afore his cosins the bysshoppe Turpyn said masse affore the sonnes of Reinawd which was with them at saint Victoure and also the tuelue peeres of Fraunce And whan the yonge knightes had hearde the masse they came al in their harnays to the palays before the kynge Charlemayne And whan the kynge sawe them he called his neuew Rowland and Olyuer the duke Naimes of bauyete and Richarde of Normandye and sayde to them Lordes ye ben all my menne I commaunde you vpon the trouthe that ye owe to me that ye goe keep the feeld by such maner that my honoure be saued by it and that ye keep to euery man his ryghte For by the fayth that I owe to god yf there be any man so hardy that wyll doo any outrage I shall angre hym right sore Wherfore I wyll that ye passe the water of Sayne in to the ylle wyth the fyghters and that ye beare wyth you the halowes for to make theym swete there vpon a fore they shall entre in to the feelde that they goe to it all in good quarell truly Sir saide the barons we shall doo youre commaundemente and also we shall keep therin well your honour for we ben bounde therto Lordes sayde the kynge Charlemayne ye speake wel but ye must take good heede well to all For there shall be great folke gathered of the one parte of the other wherfore I feare me that some medlynge shall happe amonge them For Rohars is full of greate treason and all his freendes I know it well And of the other parte Reynawde hys bretherne are ryghte puyssaunte and wise and thei haue great power with them and they wyl not see themselfe wronged and namely Rycharde the brother of Reinawd for if he be ons angrye he spareth nother kynge nor erle And therfore I feare him most of all the other for he wolde once haue slayne me I am yet remembred therof Of Reynawde I doubte not for he is in euery thyng reasonable Sir saide the duke Naymes be not dysmayed of nothyng for we shall keep well youre ryght and your honoure without to doo any wronge to any body This hanging the children of Foulques of Moryllon went to the said ysle where as the king Charlemain had told them that they should fight And whan they were passed ouer the riuer in to the ysle with their horses they bounde theim and than they set theim selfe downe vpon the faire grasse waytinge after theyr aduerse partie Now heare what the traitoures had ordeyned ye ought to wyt that whyle the kynge Charlemaine had spoken with his Barons as ye haue heard Berenger Ardock and Griffon of haute braunche dyd put themselfe in a bushe nygh by the saide ysle of oure lady and purposed that yf the sonnes of Reynawde had the better of the feelde ayenst the two other sonnes of Morillon that than they shoulde yssue oute vpon theym with a right great numbre of folke for to slea them shamefully WHan that Reinawd saw that it was time that hys sonnes shoulde goe to the ysle for to accomplysh their battaille he called Aymonet said to him com hither faire sonne ye be the eldest and therfore ye ought to be honoured afore the yonger brother holde I gyue you flamberge my good swerde by the whiche ye shall take vengeaunce of these traytours For ye been in the righte and they in the wrong father said Aymonet ye may be in a suretie that ye shal see this day suche a thing that shal be to youre hertes ioye for we shall bring the traitours to their shamefull death it please god And whan Reinawd heard hys sonne so valiauntly speake he was glad and kissed him And than he gaue hym his benediccion and in lykewise to yonnet And whan he had doon this he broughte his bretherne his children to the ysle of our lady And whaÌ„ they were ouer he and his bretherne came again towarde the kynge But as they wolde haue gone there came a messengat that ascried to Reinawde as loude as he might Reynawde haue mercy on thy children For yf thou see not wel to them they be lost wyt that Griffon of haute braunche is embusshed
with a greate numbre of folke by the ille for to slea thy children And whan Reynawde vnderstoode these wordes he blustred red in his face all for angre and sayde Ha sweet fraunce that it is great domage that ye may neuer be withoute traytoures And whan he said this he called his brother Richarde and said to him Faire brother goe wythout tarying and arme your selfe and doo arme al our folke and than bring theym to the ysle and if the false traitoure Griffon of hautbraunche come for to greue my childerne slea hym incontinence And whan ye be there doo that ye maye be seen of both partyes And for God keepe well yf the soÌ„nes of Foulques of morillon haue the better that ye help not in no wise my childerne but let theym dye if it come so For it were greate dyshonoure for vs yf ye dyd otherwise Brother sayd Richarde let me alone therof our worship shal be saued by the grace of god For I wolde not helpe yf it came so for al the good of the worlde For all oure lyfe dayes we should be rebuked of it all oure lygnage also And whan Richarde had sayd so he departed fro his brethern and went and armed hym and all his folke and then they lyghted on horsebacke went anon there as Reynawd had sayd This hanging went Reynawde to the kinge in hys palays and when the kynge sawe him he sayde to him Reynawd ye be ryght welcome Syr sayde Reinawde god encrease youre honoure and whan Charlemayne sawe not Richarde with his bretherne he tooke some susspecion of him and sayde to Reynawde Where is youre brother Rycharde that he is not heere with thother Sir sayd Reinawde he is gone there as I haue sent him but take no susspeccion at al for him nomore I doo said Charlemayn as loÌ„ge as ye be a liue but we must goe vpon the towre of saine for to see the bataille of youre children let vs goe there sir said reinawd whan it please you than went they vpon the toure with theim the byshop Turpyn salamon of breten Ogier the dane Guidellon of bauyere and manye other barons THus as the kynge Charlemayne was gon vpon the toure for to see the battayll he looked sawe come the brother of reynawd and a great company of men armed And whan Charlemayn saw him he knewe hym well for he bare hys owne cote of armes and Rycharde had doon so for bycause he should be knowen And whan Charlemayne saw this he was all abasshed of it and thenne he called Reynawde and sayde to hym What wyl ye doo Reynawde wyll ye dyshonour me haue ye forgoten all redy youre trouthe Syr sayde Reynawd nay saue your reuerence but I wyll serue you and worshyp you as my souerayn lorde why said the kynge Charlemayne is Richarde gon in to the ysle of our lady with so great felawship for to breake the feelde of the which thinge I shal be dyshonoured Sir sayd reynawde haue no doubte therof for I take god to suretye and waraunte that knoweth all thynges that rycharde shall doo nothynge that shal turne to your dyshonour ne to no domage to you and I shal tell you why my brother rycharde hathe put hymselfe in armes ye must wyt that the traytoure Gryffon of hautbraunche is enbâ—shed vnder Saynte Marcell in a gardyn with a greate numbre of folke armed that wyll breake your feelde for to slea my chylderne And therfore hath my brother armed him for to succoure them if neede be and yf ye see that rychard doo any thing againste youre wyll and comaundement heere I am that vpon me take the vengeaunce is It trouthe sayde Charlemayne that Gryffon hathe doon so as ye saye yea said reynawd verely for I wolde not tell you none otherwise Right angry was Charlemayne whan he hearde that Reinawde had tolde him Than he sware god and all his sayntes that if he might take Griffon of hautbraunch that he should make hym be hanged and all his folke with him He called than Salamon and the earle of poiters and Guidellon of bauiere faid to them Lordes make me anon a thousande knyghtes to be armed For I wil go in to the ysle for to see the pride of these traitours And I swere you by saint Iames yf I may they shall doo me no more dyshonour and yf I cane fynde theym they shal aby it ful deerely Syr sayde Reynawde ye speake lyke a kynge The barons than dyd that Charlemayne had sent in to the ysle sawe rycharde with his folke in armes And whan rowland sawe that they weare armes he was not well contente with it and sayde to the other Barons that were come wyth hym for to keepe the feelde what wyl Rychard doo blame haue the kinge Charlemayne yf he take not vengeaunce vpon Reynawde of that they haue doon ayenst his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t by my faith said Oliuer and the duke Naymes ye saye well Than sayd Ogyer lordes I promyse you that Reynawde knoweth nothynge of that that rycharde dooth Thus as the peeres of fraunce were spekynge of that rychard was come in to the feelde in armed Gryffon yssued oute of his bushement with his folke bicause he was aferde that richarde wolde greue the chyldren of Foulques of Moryllon And whan rowlande sawe hym he cryed to him with a hie voice By god traytoure this shal nought auayl you for afore that anye stroke be gyuen of theym they shall make theyr othe and ye shall abye it full derelye that ye haue doon Ryght sorye was Rowlande whan he saw the foule treason that Griffon wolde haue brought about This hanging came there Charlemayne wyth a great company of folke well armed And whan he sawe Rowland he sayd to hym Neuewe whye doo ye suffre the outerage that the sonnes of Foulques of Morillon wolde doo to the chyldreÌ„ of Reinawde of mountawban I blamed Reynawd bicause his brother had armed him but I know now wel that they had reason sir said Rowlande none caÌ„ beware of traitours Neuew said Charlemane ye saye trouthe but by the fayth that I owe to god I shall make theym all to be hanged in dyspyte of all theyr lygnage onely for the treasoÌ„ that thei haue doon this day By god syr sayde Rowland ye shall doo well And than came there Reynawd vpon a palfrai without swerd And whan Rowlande sawe hym he saide vnto him Syr Reinawde is it youte will that Richarde youre brother is com hither in armes sir rowlande sayd Reynawd yea verely for nothing that I haue doon shal not be hydde from you ye haue now seen the treasoÌ„ that the traitours wold haue wrought ayenst my children therefore whan I knew their falshode I commaunded my brother Richard that he should put himselfe shortly in armes with my men for to succour them that the traytoures came them vpon yf ye thinke that richarde or I haue doon amys in any thinge so let the kyng make Iustice of it By my
soule said Rowlande nother you nother youre brother be not to be blamed but ye haue doone as good knightê should doo And I promise you that youre enemies shal be this day brought to shame and confusion ANd whan Rycharde of mouÌ„tawban sawe Charlemayn he knew well that he was come for to keepe the feeld and that the traytours should not con doo any thing to his neuews So said he to his folke let vs take of our harneys For syth that the kyng is heere himself we need not to wayte heere no more Than went Richarde and his folke and dysarmed them And whan Richarde had doone so he lyght agayn vpon his horse and came agayne ouer the ryuer of Saynt swyminge vnto the foresayd ysle And whan he was on lande he spurred his horse and made him to lepe three or foure lepes afore the company And than he came streyght afore the kyng and made to him reuerens honourably whan the kinge sawe Rycharde he sayd to hym and ye Rycharde wyll ye dyshonour me that are come in arme for to breke my feeld Syr said Rycharde saue your grace for I neuer thought it but wyt it well for certayne that yf Gryffron of hautbrauÌ„che had come for to greue mine neues I wolde haue made his forhead for to swete Syr ye be our souerayne lorde so ought ye to maynten and keepe vs and so shall I tell you a thing afore al your barons that yf ye beleue the traytours of MauÌ„t ye shall ones repent it I am well a payed that ye your .xii. peres haue seen the treason of Griffon of haut-braunche how he wolde haue slayne mine neuews Ha by god said charlemayne ye saye trouth he is well worthy to be blamed and I tell you they that shal be ouer come shal be haÌ„ged nor shall not be saued for none of theyr lynage Syr sayd Rycharde it pleaseth me well but I tell you that yf I should dye I should neuer suffre my neuews to be wronged By my head sayd the kynge ye shall see that I shal doo reason vnto euerye party For I shall bryng thâ—m together let god helpe the ryght Than whan Charlemayne had sayde so he went to the two children of Foulques of Moryllon and sayd to them now lordes hye you of that ye haue to doo goe and swere vpon the halowes that iustly ye entre in this quarell Syr sayd they we shall doo it with ryght good wyll for the chyldren of Reynawde ben dead but yf that they confesse that theyr father slew our father by treason Then spake the bisshop Turpin and sayd Lordes come hither and swere vpon the halowes see to that ye forswere not yourself for he that forswereth him selfe shal be ouer throwen no doubte therof whan the bisshop Turpin had said this the two sonnes of foulques of moryllon kneeled downe afore the halowes and sware that reinawde of Mountawban had slayne theyr father by treason after they had made theyr othe they kyssed the Halowes and offred two besans of golde And than went and lyghted vpon theyr horses And thê° as they lyghted they were to nye eche other so that th one hurted thother so hard that they fel downe almoste both to the erth And whan Reynawde saw this he sayd to the other barons heere is an euyll token I beleue that they ben forsworne This hanging cam the children of Reinawde that kneeled afore the halowes and swore that the two sonnes of Foulques of Moryllon had lied falsely all that they had sayd And then they put their haÌ„des vpon the halowes and offred a ryche gifte and the Bysshop Turpyn gaue them the benediction in lykewyse the kynge Charlemayne and all the other barons than of Reynawde and of his brethern and after they wente and mouÌ„ted vpon their horses lightly WHan the foure Champions were vpon theyr horses thei made none other taryenge but gaue the spurres to theyr horses and ran one against an other and smote eche other in theyr sheeldes so sore that the speres flew in peeces without that any of them fell on the ground And whaÌ„ they had broken their speres thei set hande vnto their swerdes Than Aymonet that helde Flamberge in hys hande sayde vnto Yonnet hys brother I pray you brother thynke to doo well For if ye helpe me they shal be vtterly shamed and discomfited as traytours as they ben Brother sayd Yonnet doubt not for I shall neuer fayle you to the death also we ought to recomfort vs. For we ben in the ryght and they be in the wronge Whan the two brethern had spoke ynoughe they went bothe at ones vpon theyr enemyes wyth theyr swerdes in theyr handes And than Aymonet ouertooke Constans with flamberge his swerd and gaue him suche a stroke that the swerde slyded vpon the viser and kut it and his nose a sunder And whan Aymonet sawe that the nose of his enemie fall to the erth he mocked him said to him By god Constans it is worse with you than it was afore for ye shall neuer ben without a mocke for that that this stroke hath doone vnto you for Flamberge slew your father and so shal it doo you it please god And whan Rohars sawe that his brother was so sore wounded he ranne vpon Yonnet and gaue hym so mighty a stroke vpon hys helme so that yf it had not ben of good fine steele he had slaine hiÌ„ without fayle This hangyng Aymonet ranne agayne vpon Constans and gaue hiÌ„ suche a stroke vpon hys helme that he made him for to bowe hys backe vpon the sadle for the great might of the stroke the horse muste for veri need fall down vpon his knees and smote his mussell into the erth And whan that the horse felt that stroke he rose lightly vp agayne all afrayed and began for to runne thoroghe the medowes maugre of his maister as mad nor Constans had not the myghte for to rule hym bycause he was a mased and a stonied of that stroke that he had receyued And than Aymonet and Yonnet wente bothe vpon Rohars and beganne to fare foule with him and whan Rohars sawe hymself so sharpelye handled he began to crye with a hie voyce Brother where be you shall ye ler me thus to be slayne falsly CoÌ„stans that ranne throughe the medow was comen agayne to himself and apeased his horse a litle heard his brother crye So came he agayn to hym and smote Aymonet vpon his helme a great stroke but the helme was good and dommaged hym not And whan that Constans sawe that he had not slayne Aymonet with his stroke he wend to haue gone out of his wit of the other part he saw the place that was al couered with the bloud of his brother so wyst not coÌ„stans what to doo For Aymonet gaue hym so muche to doo THys hanging Yonnet tooke Rohars bi the helme wolde haue straÌ„gled him by fyne force But whan Constans saw that he
spurred hys horse with the spurres and shoued him betwene Rohars Yonnet so that it was force to yonnet to let goe hys prise wolde he or no. And whan Aymonet saw that Constās had deliuered Rohars from the hādes of yonnet he went rāne vpon Constans and smote him with flamberge vpon the sheelde so harde that he made of it two peeces Shortlye to speake the chyldren of Reynawde hasted so muche the two sonnes of Foulques that they began to lese place were so werye that they asked none other thyng but for to rest themselfe But Aymonet yonnet had none other wyll but for to fight still I tell you for certayne that they were all foure sore wounded that they lost much bloud for they had fought longe And whan Constans had soiourned a litle he came vpon Aymonet and gaue him suche a stroke so that he made him a great wounde but no dead wounde And whā Aymonet saw him so wounded he gaue Constans so great a stroke vpon the eare that he bare it away withal the iawe bone whan charlemayne saw that great stroke he might not forbeare but he said By god now is he worse arayed thā he was before for the two sonnes of Foulques of morillon bē shamed and confused Sir sayd Reynawde they haue well deserued it for they haue forsworne thē selfe falsly This hanging Yonnet went vpon Rohars and gaue him so great a stroke vpon hys helme that he brake it and made his swerde to entre in his head a finger deep Wyt it that the batayle lasted longe the one agaynst the other and it happed that by force of fighting the one against the other they were fyghtyng two two together wel a bowe shot from eche other and so made they two batayles for aymonet fought agaīst Constans yonnet faught agaynst Rohars which was fore greued for Yonnet had brought hym to the erth And whan yonnet sawe that he had brought downe rohars he sayd that it were shame to fyght with hym on horsbacke agaynst him on foote so lighted he downe for to fyght wyth Rohars But whā he had habādonned his horse In contynent the said horse ran to the horse of Rohars and wolde haue strāgled him And whā Charlemayne saw that he began to laughe with it and sayd by my fayth we haue three batayles But I se well that Yonnet hath brought Rohars so lowe that he may no more whan Rohars saw that he myght no more endure the great strokes of Yonnet he began to crye and sayde Ha fayre brother Constans where are ye that ye come not helpe me that are so good a knight and that toke first the quarell in hande wherof it goeth full euyll with vs. For yf ye succour me not now I shall dye incontinent And whan Constans heard his brother crye thus he left Aymonet and went towarde Yonnet for to helpe hys brother but wyt it well that he went not very sounde from Aymonet for he had made hym moe than xx woundes And whan Constans was come to hys brother Incontynent he ranne vpon Yonnet wyth his horse And whan Aymonet saw that he began to crie after Constās and sayd By my soule he baptysed you full yl the named you Constans For I saw neuer more towarde thā ye be that so renneth away for feare of me whan he had sayd so he ran after for to succour hys brother yonnet And whan he was come there he went a fresshe vpon Constans Constans vpon hym the which gaue him a great stroke vpon his helme but the stroke slyded vpon the horse and slew hym withall And whan Aymonet haw him a groūd he righted hym quickely smote Constans vpon his helme and it was so harde that flamberge coulde not entre in it the stroke slyded vpon the vyser brast it and a great part of his visage so that the teeth were seen plainely and with that fel the stroke vpon the horse necke so that he kit it in two peeces and so fell the horse dead to the erth SOre abasshed was Constans whan he saw his horse slain and than Aymonet sayd to him By god false traytour nowe shalt thou dye ye dyd yll whan ye called euer my father of treason whiche is as true a knyght as is anye in all the worlde but now is the daye come that ye shall abye it ful deere And whan Reynawde heard his sonne speake thus he was ryght glad of it thāked God therof hertlye whan Aymonet saw Constans vpon his feet agayne he went him vpon and hasted hym ryght sore with strokes so that Constans had no power to strike one stroke more but he went abacke heere and there for to eschew the strokes of Aymonet And whan Constance saw that he wyst no more what to doo he cast hys sheelde to the erth and tooke Aimonet by the waste for to wrastle with hym And whan aymonet saw this he was not afearie of it for he was stronge and lyght so tooke he Constans by the helme and drew it towarde him with such might that he pulled it from the head of him And whan Constās saw him so sore handled he cryed vpon his brother Rohars sayd Ha brother succour me for I haue no power for to defende my selfe Whan Rohars heard his brother call thus he was ful sory that he might not help him for he had lost so much bloud that he might not well stand vpon his feete but alwayes he forced himselfe so muche that he came vnto his brother Constans and wende to haue smittē Aymonet from behynde but he dyd not bycause Aymonet saw hym come went and smote hym suche a stroke that he felled hym to the earth And than went agayne vpon Constans and gaue him suche a stroke that he smote almoste his left arme of Than began Constans to crye and sayd Ha fayre brother succour me or els I am dead Brother sayde Rohars I can gyue you nother succoures nor helpe for I am my self nere gone and whan Charlemayn saw this he sayd by god now are dead the sonnes of Foulques or morillon by theyr false wit Syr sayd Ogier ye ought not to recke for they maynteyned a false quarell ye say trouth sayd Charlemayn Nowe theyr falshoode apereth well Whan Reynawde saw rhat his children were to their aboue he was ryght glad of it but so was not Guanellon for he was so angry for it that he became as blacke as a moore Then called the sayd Guanellon Berenger Hardock Henry of Lyon and Pignabell of Moryllon and sayd to them Lordes now be we all dyshonoured for the sonnes of Foulques of Morillon are discomfited I wolde fayne succour them yf I durst but I feare to sore the kynge that is there wyth great puyssaūce Syr sayd Hardres or Hardocke wo is me for it but we can not doo none other thing as for this time therfore we muste refrain our wrathe shew a good face
to the ende that no medlyng falle not vpō vs let vs abide tyll tyme come y◠we may auenge vs therof THis hanging Aimonet saw that he had smiten Constās a dead woūde so was he ryght glad of it by god brother ye haue doone yll that ye haue slayne this false traytour for I wolde haue slayne hym wyth myne owne handes but syth ye haue brought it so ferre make an ende of hym at ones and I shall goe slea Rohars Brother sayde Aymonet ye speake wel now go slea the one and I the other for thus ought men to doo wyth traytours Thā ran the two brethern vpon theyr enemies that laye on the groūd that is to wyt vpon Constans to whom he sayd al on hye bycause all they that looked vpō should heare it Tell me Constans false traytoure why dyd ye call my father of treason Withstandynge that men know wel that he is one of the truest knightes of the worlde And that he slew your father in his bodye defendynge Where as your father had purchased for to haue slayne hym by treasō Now tell me your falshode and confesse your treason afore the kyng or els I shal now cut your throte Aymonet sayd Constans for god haue merci on me For I yeelde me to you and than he tooke him his swerde And whā Aymonet had the swerde of the said constās he tooke him vp brought him afore the kynge Charlemayne to whome he said Syr holde this traitour doo with him as reason requireth and whan Charlemayne sawe this he was glad of it and said to Aymonet freende ye haue doone well your deuoyr I can no more aske of you And wit it that whan the other is vaynquisshed I shall make theym bothe to be hanged Syr sayd Aymonet doo your wyl wyth them And whan he had sayde so he went agayn to his brother Yōnet for to helpe him holdynge his swearde in his hande all bloudy with the bloud of Constans and sayd to Rohars by God false traytour ye shal dye heere anon and wolde haue smyten hym but Yonnet that sawe that sayd to his brother Fayre brother slea him not nor touche hī but goe your way and test your self for I wyll conquere him by my selfe as ye haue doone yours brother sayde Aymonet ye say yll for it was ordeyned that we should eche helpe other and whan Yonnet saw that his brother wolde needes helpe agaynst his wyll he sayde to hym Fayre brother I make mine avowe to god if ye touche Rohars I shal neuer loue you brother sayde Aymonet ye saye not well but I shal forbere me sith it please you so but I promise you if I see you in daunger I shall help you if ye should slea me brother sayd yonnet I wyl wel than Aymonet wtdrew him a litle abacke and than ranne yonnet vpon Rohars that rose vp agayne for to defende hymselfe than gaue yonnet to hym so great a stroke vpon the shoulder that the arme with the shoulder bone fell clene of to the grounde and his swerde withal whan yonnet had giuen that stroke he put his swerde agayn into the sheeth sayd to Rohars the false traytour that must now confesse with thine owne mouth that Reynawde my father is no traytour but he is one of the truest knightes of the worlde and yf thou wylt not doo so thou shalt die incōtinent And whan he had sayd so he tooke Rohars by the helme and pulled him to hym warde so harde that he drew it fro his head and begā for to smite him with the pomell of hys swerde vpon the bare head And whā Rohars saw that he was so shrewdlye handled he began for to crye sayd good lorde haue mercy vpō mi soule for I know well that it is doone wyth my body And whā Constans heard his brother say so he began to weepe for he coulde none other doo And whā yonnet sawe that Rohars wolde not forsake that he had sayd nor wolde not cry him mercy he smote him with hys owne swerde so hard that he tooke awaye the one legge from the body of him And than he put his foote vpon him and said Now anon false traytour confesse your falshode or els ye ben now dead to the whiche thynge Rohars answered not And whan yonnet saw that he smote hym the head of Whan Aymonet sawe that hys brother yonnet had slayne Rohars he was ryght glad of it and went to hym and sayde Brother ye haue doone valiaūtly lorde gramercy that ye haue slayne so this traytour the two brethern tooke eche other by the hande and went to charlemayne to whome Aymonet sayd in thys wyse Syr like it you that wee haue doone for we be redi for to doo muche more for you yf ye cōmaūde vs. Fayre sonnes said Charlemayn ye need not for to doo more For ye haue doone ynoughe for Constans is ouercomen Rohars dead Now go rest your self and see that ye haue good leches for your woundes And I promyse you that I shal doo with the traytours as it aperteineth and than Charlemayne commaunded that Constans should be hanged and the body of his brother by him whan the king had giuen this commaundement Constans was anon taken and the body of his brother were drawen at horses tayles before all theyr lygnage and than were hanged as they had well deserued whā they were hāged Charlemayne said Lordes wyt that I wolde not for a great thyng that it went otherwise wyt it that whan Guanellon sawe hange the sonnes of Foulques that were his neuewes he was sore an angred for it that he almost had lost hys witte Than called he Hardres Berenger Malger that wyll more falshode than Lucifer Henry of Lion Pygnabell Geffray men that neuer dyd good and sayde to theym Lordes ye see howe Charlemayne hath doone to vs great dyshonour for he hath doone hange our kinsmē shamefully but we shall see yet the day that this shame shal be auenged he sayd trouth the traytour For he be trayed afterwarde the .xii. Peeres of Fraunce and made them all die at the batayle of Rounceuales AFter these thīges aboue said Reinawde of Mountawbā saw that his childrē had vainequisshed the children of Foulques he was right glad of it thanked much our lorde god therof than he and his brethern went to them and asked howe they dyd father sayde the children we doo ryght well lorde gramercy Than Alarde Guicharde behelde theyr woundes wherof they were glad This hāging came there charlemayne and the children came hym agaynst kneeled afore hī thā charmayne asked them children how is it with you be ye sore wounded Syr sayd the children it is well with vs thanked be our lorde you we shal soone be whole Than the kyng sēt for al the leches sayd to them that they should looke the woundes of Aymonet of Yonnet the whyche thyng they did wtout any taryeng after they sayd to the
king that they made no doubt of them that they should be soone whole And after that the Iustice was doone of the sonnes of Foulques of MorilloÌ„ Reynawde abode in Paris til his children were whole whan they were whole they went to the Palays to see the kynge Charlemayne the whiche made theÌ„ good cheere gaue theÌ„ manye fayre giftes as ben castels fortresses of great name thaÌ„ Reynawde and hys brethern asked leue of the kyng he gaue it theÌ„ against his wil prayed them that they wolde come see him agayne syr sayd Reynawde we shal doo gladly your coÌ„mauÌ„dement WhaÌ„ Reynawde had taken leue of the king and also his brethern childreÌ„ they tooke on their way towarde mouÌ„tawban and they did so muche by theyr Iourneys that they came to bourdews And whaÌ„ Reynawde had rest hym a litle he called his chrildren afore his brethern and sayd to them my children heare what I wyl say to you I ordeyne at this tyme that yonnet shal haue ardeyne for his parte and Aymonet Mountawban for it is not longe a goe syth I heard saye that god sayd that the tree that beareth fruite shal neuer dye wit it that I haue offended god greatli and me semeth that the time is now come that I should amende my self for I feare sore my poore soule wherfore I shal doo my deuoure for to yeelde it agayne to the blessed lorde that made it after his Image whan his brethern hearde speake this they know wel what he wolde doo and therfore they began to make great sorow And whan reinawde saw that he sayd to them forsothe syrs ye are not wyse to make suche sorowe for ye knowe not yet what I wyll doo see ye not that I am yet with you Wherof are yee abasshed be not yee ryche ynoughe there is nother of you but mai keep a thousand horses in his stable Of the other part thoughe I am nowe whole of my bodye thanked be our lorde yet wyl I gyue in my lyfe to my children theyr part to the ende that they fall not in dyscorde after my death and therfore I wyll that eche of you knowe from hens forthon what he shal haue And whan Reynawde had thê° ordeyned for his children yonnet departed from his father with his blessing went to Ardeyne where they of the land receyued him to be their lorde and made to him fewte homage And after that Yonnet was gone Reynawde his brethern with Aymonet wente to Mountawban and whan they of Mountawban saw theyr lorde thei were glad receyued hym honourably And whan the feast was passed Reinawde commaunded al his subiectes that they should make theyr homage vnto hys sonne Aymonet whan al this was doone that nyght was come euery man went to bed than Reynawde entred hys chaÌ„bre walked in it til it was midnyght passed than Reynawde vncle theo himself al naked tooke a cote of sory russet vpon his fleshe wtout any shert thervpon a great mantel of the same And thus arayed barefoote wtout any wepyn but onlye a staffe in his hand to defende hym from the dogges yssued out of hys chambre went out of the palays came to the gate of the towne and made it to be opened whaÌ„ the porter saw his lorde so yll in so poorely aray barefoote he sayd to hym Syr alas whether goe ye thus without felawship so yll apoynted I wyl go awake your brethern my lorde your sonne for ye be in great daunger of theues because ye haue nother armour nor wepyn for to defende your selfe freende sayd Reynawde let alone go not there For my trust is in god that he shall keep me from all daunger But thou shalt tell my bretherne whan thou seest theym to morowe that I greete them wel to my sonne also and that they thynke alwayes to doo wel that they loâ—e eche other as thei ought for to doo and so tel them that they shal neuer see me more as I well trowe For I go to saue my soule yf God giue me the grace to doo so so shall I dye whan it please god for thorough mi cause are dead many a man wherof I feele my poore soule greued sore therfore wyll I beare payne on my body for it doinge penaunce all the remenauÌ„t of my lyfe and if I maye saue my soule I aske none other thing And whaÌ„ Reynawde had said this he looked on his finger tooke a ringe with a precious stone whiche was wel worth .v. mark gaue it to the porter sayd to him my freende ye be wel rewarded of your seruice that ye haue doone to me Syr said the porter gramercye of this gifte but alas syr ye put now all your countrie in great sorow for your departynge than he began to weepe right sore This hanging went Reynawde on hys waye thus arayed as ye haue heard and as he went the porter looked euermore after hym by the light as longe as he might see him whaÌ„ he might no more see hiÌ„ he fel down in a swoune to the erth and was thê° a longe while whan he was come agayne to himselfe he made greate mone sith sayd Ha God whether goth now my lorde so poorely arayed after he had made great sorow a longe whyle he shet the gate again and went into his house And whan he was there he looked vpon the ring that Reynawde had giuen him and knew wel that it was a ryche gyft wherof he was glad ¶ We shal leue heere to speake a litle of the valyauÌ„t Reynawde of Mountawban that goth for to saue his soule and to doo penaunce for hys synnes thoroughe the woodes lookyng downwarde and we shall speake of his brethern and of his sonne Aymonet ¶ How after that Reynawde was gone from MountawbaÌ„ neuer to returne his brethern and his soÌ„ne Aymonet made great sorow whan they knew of it that he had not take leue of theÌ„ NOw sheweth the hystory that whan the morowe came and that Aymonet his vncles were vp they went to the churche weenyng to haue Reynawde there as they were wont And whan they saw hym com not to matyns they meruayled sore there was come his chapeleyne for to say matyns there with hym the whyche whan he fouÌ„de not his mayster in the churche he was all abasshed and spered after him to his brethern Syr sayd Alarde I weene he be sicke for god let vs go see how he dooth and than he weÌ„t to seeke him in his chambre where they founde him not wherof they wende all to haue ben desperate Lordes sayde Alarde nowe be we lost for heere ben his gownes his shertê his shone his swearde and all his armours now is he gone from vs. I see it well in poore arai god be with him And as they were thus makyng theyr mone came in the porter that made greate sorow for
you that those that shall not come yf I euercome agayne from Gascoigne they shall repente it full sore Shortly to speake Rycharde wente into his duchy of Normandye salamon into Bretayne Godfray into auinion Hughe the olde and Dyssyers into spayne and Bretons into Almayne And all the other eueriche into hys owne countrey WHan it was time for to come agayne to the courte at the terme that the kyng Charlemayne had set euery man made hym selfe redy as well as he coulde for to come to the courte as they were expresselye charged they should doo fyrst came there Rycharde of Normandye and brought wyth hym manye a noble knyght and presented hym selfe tofore the kynge Charlemayne euyn at saynt Denys After came Salamon of Bretayne and brought with him of hys barons a fayre company and presented hymselfe to the kynge at saynt Denys After came Dyssyers of Spayne which brought with him well .x. thousand knightes wel armed and well garnysshed of vytayles For in all the hoste of Charlemayne was none so well arayed as they were of all thynges And presented hym self in this maner at saynt Denys vnto the kynge Charlemayne Than came Godfray the Ecle of Auynyon and brought with him all his power and a fayre coÌ„pany and foyson of vytayle And presented him and his folke to the king Charlemayne And after came Ponthus out of Almayne brought with hym afayre companye of men of armes For he had wyth him theÌ„ of Islande and of Armony and wel three thousand archers the whych for no doubt of death wolde neuer flee froÌ„ batayle And presented hym selfe and hys felawship to the kyng charlemayne the whiche he receyued ryght honourably Than after came the good bisshop Turpin and brought wyth hym a fayre company and well enewred to the warre and presented hymself to the kynge Charlemayne that was ryght glad of hys comyng for the bysshop was a good true man And the king Charlemaine trusted muche to hym for his great fydelitie and also for the great prowes that was in hym AL the great Lordes that helde theyr landes of the kyng Charlemayne came to Parys presented themselfe and theyr men to the kynge Charlemayne that receyued them with great Ioye and was glad to see aboute hym so fayre a companye of good men of warre but I tel you that whan the hoste was assembled at Parys there was so great a derth that it was great pitie for the rasour of where was solde for fourty shelynges and twenty pence and yf the kynge had taried there any leÌ„ger there should haue ben so greate a derth that all the small people had ben all dead for huÌ„gre But the king Charlemayne began for to make hys mustres for to know how much people that he had And whan the the mustres were made they found that they were well .xxx. thousande knyghtes that had theyr fyrst berdes besyoe the olde knyghtes that were well an hundred thousand And whaÌ„ that this was doone the Emperour Charlemayne called Rowland his neuew afore him and sayde to hym Fayre neuew I recomende to you myne hoste and I pray you that ye wyll conduyte it by good maner Syr sayd Rouland I shal doo therin my deuoyre after my power ThaÌ„ made to be take to hym the oryflambe and departed out of Parys and they did so muche by smal Iourneis that they came to Bloye and than Charlemayne made to be cryed that all the vytaylers of the land should goe wyth vitayle after the hoste And yf that they brought that were worth a peny they should haue two for it And whan that thys greate armye was come to Bloy they passed ouer Gyronde and wente afore the great castell of Mountawban And they lodged themself there rounde about the place And then the Frenche meÌ„ began to say the one to the other by myne othe there is a fayre castel and a stornge and but yf wee get some other parte heere shall we wynne but a lytle ANd whan the batayles were ordeyned rounde about mouÌ„tawban Rowland began for to say to the kynge Charlemayne Syr me semeth that wee should nowe gyue a sawte to Mountawban And the Kynge answered I wyll not that my folke haue any dommage but fyrste I wyll knowe yf the castel wil holde or yelde vp For yf he wyl be gyuen vp I wolde not that anye batayle should be doone to it And than incoÌ„tinent he sent a knyght mounted vpon a mewle all vnarmed the whyche came vnto the gate of the castel and whan they that kept the gate sawe that it was a messanger they opened to hym the gate and the Knight entred into the castel And as he was come in he found the stewarde with an hundred men that wente aboute visitynge the watches and the wardes Incotinente the knyght salued hym and the stewarde rendred hym agayne hys salute and sayd to him What be ye Gentylman and what seke you heere wythin I pray you tell me what folke are yonder wythout so fayre a company Syr sayde the knyght they ben the folke of the Emperour Charlemaine that is come for to besyege the Castell of Mountawban and I am one of his knyghtes that am come heere for to speake with Reynawde from the king Charlemayne Than the stewarde tooke the knyght by the hande and led him before Reynawde the sonne of Aymon And whan the knyght saw Reynawde he made reuerence to him and after sayd to hym Reynawde the Emperour Charlemayne sendeth to you worde by me that yf you wyll yelde your selfe to hys mercy giue to hym your brother Richarde to doo his wyll of hym he shall haue mercy of you And yf ye wyll not doo so he shall doo sawte your Castell and yf he maye take you by force he shall make you for to be hanged or dye a cruell death THan whaÌ„ Reynawde vnderstode these tydynges that Charlemayne sente to hym he began for to smâ—le and sayd Freende go tel the kynge that I am not the man that shal doo any treasoÌ„ For if I should doo it he him self should blame me for it But and yf it please hym my bretherne Mawgys and my self ben at his commaundement and we shall gyue our seâ—fâ— to hym as to our souerayne Lorde our lâ—ues saue and our membres and we shall yelde to hym the Castel al at hys wyll And tell the kynge that he shall doo well and wysely to take such fyue knyghtes as we ben And yf Charlemayn refuseth this I haue myne hope so fast to our Lorde god that wee shall not set moche by the kynge nor of his great hoste The messanger vnderstode well the answere that Reynawde had doone to hym and incontynent he retourned to Charlemain and shewed to hym all that Reynawde had sayd worde by worde Whan the Emperour vnderstode the wordes of Reynawde he began for to thynke a good whyle for he knew that Reynawde sayde but well And than he sent for the Duke Naymes and Ogier the Dane and
that he brought with hym he was ryght glad and he came agaynst Reynawd and sayd to him Syr ye haue wel wrought this dai that ye haue taken such a proye Ogier sayd Reynawde I promise you that Rowlande hath let himselfe to be taken with his good wyll Thanked be god of it sayde the duke Names Reynawde said Ogier go your way to Mountawban and the bysshop Turpin the sonne of Oedō and I shal returne agayne we shal tary Charlemayne that cometh after you and wee shal doo so much that ye shall be wel at Mountawbā or they ouer take you Ogier sayde Rowland ye say well and I thanke you of your curtoysie whā thei had thus shortlye spoken together Reynawde Rowlande rode so fast that they came to moūtawban It is not to be asked if Rowland was wel feasted at moūtawban I promise you it is not possible to feast a prince better nor more honourablie thā he was at moūtawban This hanging Ogier was come against king Charlemain and he dyd so muche by his fayre lāguage that he helde the king till that he thought that Reynawde Rowlande might be well at Mountawbā by that time And whā he had doone so he spurred his horse and went to Mountawbā after the other where as he myght well goe without to be vnbraied for it for he was one of the suretyes of Reynawde as yee haue heard And whan Charlemaine saw this he folowed him vnto the gates And whan he was come to the gate of Mountawban he began to crye with an hie voyce By god Reynawde this that ye haue doone shall auayle you litle for ye shall neuer haue peace wyth me as longe as I am man a liue And whan that he had sayd this he returned him from the gate and sayd to Oliuer that was there with hym Oliuer go lightlye to Mountbendell and bring heere all my hoste for I wyll besiege all thys Castell Than sayd Oliuer I shall go there with a good wyll but and it please you ye shall come wyth me for I promise you if ye comnot there your selfe they shall not come hither for me Than shall I goe there my self and thus tooke Charlemayne hys waye towarde Mountbendel where his hoste laye whan his folke sawe him come they wente agaynst hym and began to saye to him syr what haue ye doone with Rowlād lordes sayd Charlemayne Rowlād is gone to Mountawban but I commaund you al that incontinent without delaye that my siege be transported all rounde aboute Moūtawban and ye damp Oliuer shall beare the oriflā and damp Rychard of Normandye shall lede our hoste Whan Charlemayne had comaūded all this there was none that sayde agaynst it but set themself to bring downe the tentes and pauilion and to trusse and lede theyr baggages and caryed all to Mountawban RYcharde of Normandy went with .xii. thousande men to Balācon to keep the passage of the ryuer tyll all the hoste were ouer the ryuer This hanging Charlemayne had put himself afore for to se where he might best pitche his tentes and his pauilion for to keep siege royall afore the Castell of Mountawban And whan al the hoste was come a fore Mountawban the kinge made incontinēt his pauilion to be set vp before the great gate And whan all the hoste was set the nyght watche of the great Towre came to Mawgys and sayde vnto him Syr wyt the Charlemaine is come with his hoste and hath put his pauilion before the mayster gate Is it true sayd Mawgis yea without any faute sayd the watche Now care not for it sayde Mawgis for Charlemayne seeketh his domage and he shall haue it soner than he weeneth Than went Mawgys to Reynawde And shewed him howe Charlemayne was come with all his hoste And whan Reynawde heard this he went vnto Rowland and sayd vnto him Sir ye muste wyt that Charlemane youre vnkle hath layde siege afore vs but I promise you that if it were not for the loue of you I should shew him that he hath not doone wel Reynawde sayd Rowlande I thanke you muche but one thynge I wyll tell you saue your correccion me semeth that I ought to sende to myne vnkle the duke Naymes Ogyer the dane and also the bysshop Turpyn that shall shewe vnto him in this maner Syr Emperour wyt that Reynawde for the loue of you wyll not gyue no Irons to your neuew nor he wyl not put hym in prison But he maketh him as good cheere as he doth to his owne selfe And that more is Reynawde his brethern and Mawgys doo present themselfe for to giue thē and theyr castell vnto your handes so that theyr liues be saued ye speake well and wisely syr Rowland said Reynawde and so I am redy to doo as ye wyll haue it Rowland sayde the duke Naymes I dare not goe to hym ye may wel ynoughe sayd Rowland For ye be not hated of the king duke Naymes sayd Ogyer we shal goe to Charlemayne yf ye wyll doo after me And they accorded that thei two should goe togither to the kyng for to shew to hym as Rowland had deuised And whan that these two princes the duke Naymes and Ogyer came to the pauilion of Charlemayne they saluted him reuerently and the duke Naymes spake to him in thys maner of wyse Syr Emperour your neuew Rowland recommendeth him humblye to your good grace the whych Reynawde kepeth within Mountawban for his prisoner not vnkyndly but he maketh to hym as good there and as great honour he bereth vnto hym as he were his owne brother and his souerayn lorde and all this he dooth for your loue And demaundeth of you peace yf it please you to graunt it to hym by suche maner that he shall gyue you Mountawban and the Egle of golde and he shall let goe Rowlande at his libertie without raunsū And also he shall yeelde hymselfe to you and his brethern in lyke wyse and also Mawgys for to doo your wyl with them saue theyr liues and they shall promyse you yf theyr seruyse pleaseth you that thei shal serue you agaynst all mē with all theyr power and puissaunce so that ye shall haue cause to thanke them for it WHā Charlemayne vnderstood these wordes he shooke al for great angre And began to saye to the duke Naymes and to the other that were come to hym flee out of my pauilion euill folke I meruayle me how haue ye durst cum heere within and I tell you that Reynawde shall haue no peace with me but if I haue Mawgis for to doo my wyll of him whan the barons vnderstode charlemayne that spake thus they came out of hys Pauilion and tooke no leaue at hym but returned incontinent to Mountawban whan they were come there Rowland and Reinawde asked theym howe they had doone with Charlemaine Lordes said the duke Naimes it is no force to be asked after it For Charlemayn wyl not doo it but if men take vnto him Mawgis for to doo his will
of him Lordes sayd Reynawde I am sorye for it I meruayle how Charlemayn is so harde harted and I make mine a vowe vnto god he shall not haue Mawgys though I should dye for it After these wordes they went to theyr meat Mawgis made theym to be serued plēteously and worshipfully and whan they had supped the beddes were heled and they wente anon to bed And whan Reynawde wolde go to his bed he called to hym Mawgis and sayd to hym cosyn I pray you that ye doo make good watche to night For ye know that oure liues lieth therupon Syr sayd mawgis feare not for to slepe well rest your selfe For I promyse you thou thys castell shal be well kepte by goddes grace whan all the barons were a bed Mawgis wente to the stable and sadled Bayarde and than he lighted vpon hym and he came to the gate and sayd to the porter My frēd open the gate for I must go out a litle abyde me heere for I shal come agayne soone Syr sayd the porter I shall doo so with a good wil. Thā wente out Mawgys streyght to the pauilion of Charlemayne And whā he was come there he began for to make hys charme brought a slepe all they that were in the hoste And whan he had doone so he wente to the bed of Charlemayne and tooke hym in his armes and brought him vpon Bayarde And whan he had doone so he wente his wayes agayn to Moūtawban and brought Charlemayne with him And whan he was come there agayne he tooke Charlemayne from Bayarde and bare him into his chambre and layde hym in his bed Whan all this was thus doone He tooke a torche fired it and pytched it bytwene the strawe the bedsted so that it helde fast euin before the visage of the kinge Charlemayne And after he wente to the chambre of Reynawde and sayde to hym Cosin what wolde ye wel giue that should deliuer Charlemayne into your handes By my soule sayde Reynawde I haue nothyng but that I should gladly giue it so that I might haue him heere within this castell of Moūtawban Cosyn sayd Mawgis wil ye promyse me that ye shall doo to him no harme of his body nother your brethern nor none of yours I shall put him into your handes euen anon Cosyn sayd Reynawde I promyse you that vpon my faythe now come with me sayd Mawgys And than Mawgys brought Reynawde into his chambre and shewed him Charlemayne that was in hys bed and slepte and after he sayde to him My cosyn Reynawde Now ye haue heere Charlemayne keep him so well that he scape not you And whan Mawgis had deliuered Charlemayne to Reynawde he came vnto the stable where he had put bayarde and tooke some strawe and rubbed his backe with all his head than he kissed him al weeping and tooke leaue of him And after he went and tooke the palstar and the cloke and came vnto the porter and gaue him all his other raymentes that he had wered afore and went out of Mountawban ¶ Now leaueth the history to speke of Reynawde and of Charlemayne a lytle and shall shewe of Mawgys that left all his kinred freendes and became an Heremite ¶ How after that Mawgys had deliuered Charlemayne into the handes of Reynawde his cosyn he wēt without any leue from Moūtawbā into a wood beynge the riuer of Dordon into an heremitage whereas he lyued like an heremite a poore life to doo penaunce for his sinnes NOw sheweth the history that whan Mawgys had delyuered Charlemayne for prisoner vnto Reynawde he went out of Mountawban without the leaue of Reynawde and without the knowledge of any of the castell except of the porter And wit it that the sayd Mawgys went so longe that he came to the riuer of Dordon and passed ouer the water in a bote And whan he was ouer he entred into a wylde forest walked withī it til it was noone And whan he had gone ynough through the wood he behelde a syde sawe a lytle hill vpon it a litle house in maner of an heremitage he went to it and founde the place deuoute and pleasaunt For afore the gate sprāge a quicke fountayne And Mawgys went into the chapell and kneeled a fore an ymage of our lady that was there prayed our lorde that he wolde pardon hym his synnes And as he was there makinge his prayer a deuocion tooke him so greate that he made his vowe to God that he should dwell in that place that he should serue god there from that day foorth on and that he should eate none other but suche wilde herbes as grew in the wood And than he prayed vnto our lorde that Reynawde and his bretherne myght haue peace wyth Charlemayne And whan Mawgis had do on his prayer he rose vp and came out of the chapell and tooke the sadle from his horse and the bridel and so let hym goe to the grasse and went agayne to the Chapell ¶ But heere leaueth the hystorye to speake of Mawgis that was become an heremyte and returneth to shewe of Reynawde and of his bretherne that had Charlemaine for theyr prisoner within theyr castell of Moūtawbā ¶ How the barons of Fraunce that were at Mountawban were sory that they could not awake the emperour Charlemayne that Mawgys had brought a slepe throughe hys arte But whan the time of the charme of Mawgys was passed the kynge awoke by himself he foūde hymself at moūtawban he sware that he should neuer make peace with Reynawde as longe as he was prysoner and how Reynawde let him goe agayne to his hoste vpon his horse Bayarde wherof Reynawde repented him afterwarde right sore For soone after that Charlemayne dyd besyege mountawban of so nyghe that he famysshed Reynawde his brethern with in with his wife and children IN this parti sheweth the history that whā Mawgys had delyuered Charlemayne into the handes of Reynawde that he was gone as ye haue heard Reynawde called to hym his bretherne sayde to thē Come hether my fayre bretherne tell me what we shall doo with Charlemayne that we holde now in our handes ye know how long that he hath dōmaged vs hath doo to vs great harmes wythout reason wherfore me thinketh that we ought to auēge vs vpon him syth that we haue him Syr sayde Rycharde I cannot saye what ye wyl doo of hym but and ye wyl beleue me he shal be hanged forthe with For after he were dead ther is no man in all Fraūce that we should feare any thynge whan Reynawde vnderstode the coūsell that Richarde his brother had giuen him he looked downe towarde the erthe and begā to thinke sore And whan Rycharde saw him muse so he asked him what he thought yf he cared who should doo execucion vpon the kynge for sayd Rycharde ye shall not lacke for that for none other shal hange him but my selfe and that I shall