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
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
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
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
ye and what winde driueth you hyther thaÌ„ spake one of the knyghtes sayd to Reynawde Syr we ben knyghtes of my lorde your father that sendeth to you by vs a defiaunce Lordes sayd Reynawde I wyste it well as soone as I dyd see you of ferre But go agayne tel to our father that it wyll please hym to gyue vs trewce for he shall not doo wel for to be fight vs that are his naturall childreÌ„ Syr said the knight of the folye ye speake but thinke to defende your selues well for he shall assayle you wtout doubt ANd whan they had sayd these wordes hey retourned agayne for to reherse to Aymon theyr message how they had defyed hys children Whan the olde Aymon vnderstode them he made none other tarying but spurred his horse with the spurres and ranne the formaste vpon hys soÌ„ne And whan Reynawde sawe his father come he came against him and said Ha father what doo you we haue none so great a foe as ye be to vs and I haue great meruayle that ye come alwayes vpon vs ye doo yll great sinne for to doo so At the least yf ye wyll by no wyse helpe vs be not to vs contrary ne enemy yf it please you Thou theefe said Aymon ye shal neuer doo good syth that ye begyn to preche Goe to the wood so shall ye become wylde beastes euyll day giue you god For ye ben not worth an handfull of straw Now thynke to defende your selfe For yf ye ben taken ye shal be put to a great tourmente Syr sayde Reynawde ye doo vs wronge I shal defende me syth that I mai none other wyse doo For yf I sholde let mi selfe to be slaine mi soule should be put to paine and tourmente Whan Aymon saw that he brought his spere in the rest and put himself among his children lyke as they had ben strauÌ„gers And whan Reynawde saw that he cryed to hys men and sayd heere is none other but doo wel now Lordes thiÌ„ke to smite wel for need coÌ„pelleth vs therto And whan he had sayd the worde he spurred his horse with his spurres and put hymself in the thickest And began to make so great effortes of armes that all the folke of his father meruayled of it greatlye ¶ What shall I say the batayle began so fell and so cruell that pytie it was to see For ye should haue sene gyue and receyue great and horrible strokes of the one parte and of the other and many knightes and horses dye many sheeldes broken and mani white harneys broken So manye heades smittes of and so many legges and armes brokeÌ„ and sore hurt And thinke that this batayle was sore stronge and well holden of the one syde and of the other But to say the trouth Reynawde must lose at that tyme. For hys Father had three tymes as many folke as he had For of fyue hundred meÌ„ that abode with Reynawde after his castel was take which were with him at this bataile were left on lyue what hurt sound but fyfty persones But I tell you well for verye certayne that Reynawde his bretherne dyd so great harme to the folke of theyr father that they slew well halfe of the men that he had But at the last Reynawde must lose and flee away towarde the mountaynes and Aymon chased hym as well as he could for he weÌ„d well for to haue taken theym and whan Reinawde saw them self vpon the toppe of the mountayne he sayde vnto his brethern Let vs not departe froÌ„ hence For this is a good place for to defende Wyt that there was great scarmysshiÌ„g and iustyng made and many a knyght dead and verye sore wounded And there was slayne vnder Alarde his good horse And whan that Alarde sawe himselfe a ground he lept vpon his feete ryght quickli And tooke his swerde in his hande and began for to defende well his bones And whan that Rychard sawe his brother Alarde a foote he turned towarde him for to helpe succour hym and Aymon and his folke came there for to take him So began the batayle yet agayne more cruel then it had be afore And wyt that Alarde should haue ben taken there yf it had not be the noble and worthy knyght Renawde that came for to helpe him And whan that he was come there he smote Bayarde wyth hys Spurres and wente into the greatest prâ—se So that he ouerthrew the Duke Aymon his father doune vnto the grounde and after he sayd vnto hym Father ye haue pledged my brother Alarde For ye be now set a foote as he is Than was Aymon very sore angry that he loste almost his wittes And Reynawde set his hand to his swerde and began for to departe the prese in suche a wise that he brought hys brother Alarde out of the prese and after sayd to hym Fayre brother lepe behinde me vpon Bayarde For to abyde here any lenger it were folye WhaÌ„ Alarde vnderstode his brother Reynawde he was ryght glad for he was so wery that he myght no more and so he mounted vpon Bayarde behynde his brother Reynawde And whan Bayarde wyste him self lade wyth two knyghtes he strengthed hymself so strongly that it semed to Reynawde that he was more Ioyouse and more mery than he had be of al the daye Now wit it that Reynawde made foure Ioustes vpoÌ„ his horse Bayarde with hys brother Alarde behinde hym Whereof he slewe foure knightes of the folke of Charlemayne that were come with hys father Aymon And all thus Reynawde tooke Alarde out of hys enemyes handes Mawgre theyr teeth bare hymself right worthely the same day as here after ye shal mow more playnly vnderstande NOw ben the foure sonnes of Aymon recreaunt almoste wery but only Renawde that neuer was the weker for nothing that he dyd in armes For as he went he turned himselfe at euerye passe that he made and rebuked and kept his enemyes a backe with his harde strokes that he gaue to them so that his folke wente afore hym all at theyr ease and leyser And whan he sawe that his folke were wel ferre from their enemyes he spurred Bayarde and came to his folke his brother Alarde behinde hym as lightly as bayarde had be without anye brydell and no sadle vpon him For this horse was suche that he was neuer werye and thus as Reynawde went away than cam folowed after him Esmenfray that was one of the moste worthy knyghtes of Charlemayne was vpon a horse right good and blacke that Charlemayne had geuen to hym And whan he was nighe Reynawde he cried to them So helpe me God glottons ye ben dead or taken sureli I shal brynge you to Charlemayne And anon weÌ„t and smote Reynawde in his sheelde wherof Reynawde was muche angry and Reynawde smote him agayne in suche a wyse and wyth so great a strength that neyther for his sheelde nor for his good armures of steele he was not kepte but that Reynawde
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
the sydes of Gyronde and of Dordone and namely betwene these two ryuers I saw a Mountayne sore hyghe and yf it please you I wolde well buylde thervpon a castell after my pleasure Wherfore syr it please you ye shall graunte to me thys gift for al the seruyce that euer I dyd to you Whan the king vnderstode this worde he was ryght glad of it and sayd to Reynawde I ryght gadlye graūt this to you And with the same ye shall haue of me .x. thousand marke euery yere for to maynteyne your estate Syr sayd Reynawde gramercie and cast hymself to his feete And the kynge Yon tooke hym vp anon curtoysly and kyssed hym for greate loue and after he sayd vnto hym Noble knight I promise you I shal make you a ryche man and yf God spare me lyfe Syr sayd Reynawde god yelde you and we shal serue you truly thus they departed eche fro other The next day after whan the kynge was rysen out of hys bed he made Reynawde to come afore hym And after he tooke .xx. knyghtes with hym and no more tooke his barge vpon gyrond and passed ouer the riuer Reynawde and hys bretherne with hym and they dyd so muche that thei came vpon the roche and whā they sawe the place so fayre and so pleasaunt the kynge was meruayled of it and Reynawde was ryght glad for the great strength that the place had for if he might doo so muche to buylde there a castelli he should not doubt Charlemayne of a penye nor none other person of the worlde whā vitayles were in it For vpon the highest of the mountayne sprong oute a fayre fountayne and plenteouse ynoughe for .x. thousand persons Whan the knyghtes that were wyth the kynge saw the place so fayre and so pleasaunt and so stronge with all they were greatly abasshed a knight than tooke the kyng and had hym a lytle a syde and tolde him Syr what is this that ye wyl doo Wyl ye haue a lorde aboue you Will ye doo make heere a Fortresse I tell you vpon my faythe that yf Reynawde set heere a Castel he shal feare you litle nother you nor all other barons of Gascoyn for Reynawde is suche a knyght as ye knowe and also hys brethern and theyr cosyn Mawgys and also they be straungers soone they shall beare you great harme yf they wyll doo to hī some other good yf ye wyll beleue me and let thys alone for ouer greate harme myght come to you therof THan whan kyng Yon vnderstode such wordes he became all abasshed of it for he wyste well that the knight sayde trouth and lytell it lacked that the werke of the Castell came not forth he began to thīke a lytle and after he sayde that he had promysed it to Reynawde and thus he sayd to the knyght that thée Castell should be made so called he Reynawde and sayde to hym My good freende where wyll ye that the castel be made Syr sayd Reynawde I wyll yf it please you that it be set here in the same place vpon this roche Certes sayd the kynge I gyue it to you Now hast you to see that it be made and builded vp as ye thynke best and than ye shall doubt nother me nor my folke Syr said Reinawde let be these wordes for it is no need to speake therof For I certyfye you as a true knyght that I had muche leuer to dye an euyll death amonge the Turkes than that I should thīke treason vpon you nor vpon no other Syr I am and haue betake hetherto and holde for a true knyght god giue me grace that I doo not fro hens forthou wherby I should otherwyse be taken Syr thynke you bycause I am enemy to Charlemayne my Souerayne lorde that I should be therfore a traytour and that I haue doone agaynst hym some treason Wyt that whan I slew Berthelot his nenew alas I dyd it in my defence for he drew fyrst bloud vpō me wythout reason or cause whye But I swere to you vpon my fayth that yf any man doo any wrong vnto you I shall auenge you therof after my power but and yf ye haue anye suspection vpon me gyue me it not Good freende Reynawd sayde the kynge I dyd but iape with you For I knowe well your trouth and well ye haue shewed it vnto me god thāke you And therfore I haue graunted it vnto you and yet I doo And I wyll the ye be lorde aboue me and of my lande ANd whan Reynawde vnderstode the curtesye the goodnes of the kyng he thāked him right muche he sent thorough all the lād and made come all the maysters masons and carpēters and many other crafty men in suche worke so muche that they were well two hundred besyde the labourers and whan al hys stuffe was redye he made theym to buylde there a stronge castell wherof the great hall was fyrst made and after many chambres and than the great tower And whā the doungeō was wel closed Reynawde made after all the castell to be closed rounde aboute with double walles hie thick of hard stones many toures vpon that it fered no sawtyng of no syde of it made to this castell foure gates and no mo and also he made the portcolysse fawsebrayes barbacanes well defensable so that it myght be no better Whan the castel was accomplysshed Reynawde and his brethern were therof ryght glad for it semed them that they were assured from theyr enemyes And whā king Yon knew that the castell was accomplysshed and full made he went to see it And whan Reynawde wist that the kyng came he went agaynste hym and welcomed him full honestly made him go vp to the great toure of the fortres bycause he should see the compas of the Castell rounde aboute at his ease for the great toure men myght se all The kyng behelde well the fayre werke that was so pleasaunt and so stronge wyth all and the fayre fountayne that was in the middes of it And thā he called Reynawde sayd to hym Good freende Reynawde how shall this castell be called for me semeth it ought wel to haue a noble name for the great beautie wherof it is garnysshed syr sayd Reynawde it hath no name yet yf it please you ye shall gyue it a name as it shall lyke you best Certes sayd the kyng the place is prety and fayre I wyll that it be called Mountawban and than the kinge made to be knowen through all his lande that who wolde come dwel and enhabite in the sayde castell whyche was as great as a towne he should be free of all maner of duytes the space of ten yeres THan whan the folke of the countrey knewe the freedome of the castel ye should haue see come there knightes gentylmen burgeys yonge and olde yeomen and folke of all maner of craftes so that this castell was so peopled of all maner of folke that in all the
couÌ„trey was no towne so wel peopled for there dwelled .v. hundred burgeys al riche men there were wel L. tauerners and xv.c. men of crafte besyde all other folke shortly to speake Mountawban was so well garnysshed and so riche wtin a litle while that it was great meruayle for to see and wyt it that the kyng Yon loued Reynawde with so good a loue for bycause of the greate worthynes of hym that he gaue to hym valerey and all the Lordeshyp that was worthe a thousande marke of good rente moche well set and whan the barons saw them that the kynge loued Reynawde so wel they were wroth for it and had enuye vpon hym and they came to the kynge and sayd to hym syr take wel good heed what ye doo for mouÌ„tawban is ryght stronge so is Reynawde suche a knight that none better is not in all the remenauÌ„t of the worlde and yf it happe by any wise that he be an angred vpon you he shall mow lyghtly beare to you and to all your folke ouer greate dommage Lordes sayd the kyng ye saye trouth but Reynawde is so gentyl so curtoys of himselfe that he shall neuer thynke vpon no trayson nor to no shame in no maner of wyse Syr sayd than an olde knyght that stode before the kyng yf ye wyll beleue me I shall tell you how ye shall alwayes be lorde and mayster aboue Reynawde al the tyme of your life Freend sayd the kyng tell me thys I pray you Syr sayd the knyght gyue him your syster to his wyfe so shall she be well maryed for Reynawde is well a noble gentylmaÌ„ of al foure sydes and therby ye shall be assured that he shal neuer be angry ne wroth with you Freend sayd kynge you ye gyue me good counsell and I shall doo it as ye haue counselled me but I pray you that ye purchase this mater Syr sayd the olde knyght syth that I know your wyll in thys behalfe I shall doo my best for to brynge the matter to a conclusyon effectuel After these wordes thus sayd the king returned agayne to Bordews with ioye deuysyng with the olde knyght of the matter wherof they had spoken togither THe first dai of the moneth of May Reynawde went from his castel of Mountawban to Bordews for to see kyng yon tooke Alarde his bother with hym And whaÌ„ the kyng yon wyste of it he came to hym agaynst receyued Reynawde with great ioye and kyssed hym full sweecely And after the kynge tooke hym by the hand and went vp together to the hall of the palays and so forth to the chambre of parements whyche was hanged right rychelye And than the kyng called for the cheffe for to playe at it with Reynawde And as they were playing together there came in the olde knyght that had charge of the kinge for to make the mariage of Reynawde and of the kynges Syster whyche knyght was called Godefray of Molins whaÌ„ he was come afore the kyng he sayd Heare lordê what I wil tel you to nyght as I was in my bed a slepe me semed that I saw Reynawde the sonne of Aymon that was set hyghe in a chayre and all the people of thys Realme enclyned theymselfe before him And the king gaue to hym a sperhawke mewed full fayre and good and me semed also that than came a great bore out of the woodes that made an horryble noyse so that no bodye durste not aproche nyghe him three men assayled him but they coulde not hurte him and passed by theym And whan Reynawde sawe that he lighted vpon Bayarde and came agaynst him and faught with hym hurted him sore and than I woke out of my sleape and whan the olde knyghte hadde sayde so then rose a doctour that was called bernarde the whych was ryght wise a great clerke and sayd fayre Lordes yf ye lyst to herken I shall expowne declare vnto you the sygnyfycacion of this dreme Wyt it that the chayer where Reynawde sat betokeneth the castell that he hath buylded and the people that bowed hemself towarde hym signifyeth the folke that are come to dwell there And the gyft that the kyng gaue to hym betokeneth that thou king Yon shal gyue him his sister to wyfe the wilde bore sygnyfyeth som great prince christeÌ„ or Paynym that shall come to assayle kynge yon and Reynawde shal defeÌ„de hym by force of armes and the same is the sygnyfication of the dreame of Godfray I indygne for to speake should counsell that the mariage should be doon of Reynawde of the syster of kyng yon For they shal be thus both right well and richely wedded and than the kynge answered thou haste spoken well and wysely Whan the clerke had declared the betokenyng of the dreame of tholde knyght Godfray the kyng yon sayd that touchynge thys maryage the thinge was well agreable vnto hym And whan Reynawde vnderstode thys warde he sayd to the king Syr gramercy of the fayre gift that ye doo to me but and if it please you ye shal haue a lytle pacyence vnto the tyme that I haue counselled with my brethern my cosyn mawgys Brother sayde Alarde ye haue sayd yll What refuse you of the king so great a gift as he giueth you now yf ye wyll beleue me ye shall fulfyll the kynges wyll incontynent for to me and to my bretherne it shall please well And whan the king gaue you not his syster but a symple Damoysell yet ought you to beleue him and doo after his wyl Brother said Reynawde it is not the fyrste tyme that ye haue giuen to me good counsell and true and I promyse you I shall doo it syth that ye doo counsel me so And than Reynawde turned hymselfe to warde the king and said to hym Syr I am all together redye to doo all that ye wyl and than Reynawde rose vp and the kynge tooke hym by the hand and made his sister to be affyaunced vnto hym THan whaÌ„ the maryage was made accorded made sure of the one parte of thother the kinge yon came to the chaÌ„ber of his sister and found her besy aboute a penouncel of a spere that she made ful fayre for the knight Reynawde but she durst not tell it The kynge salued her as soone as he sawe her and the noble mayde rose vp anon against her brother and made hym due reuerence ryght manerly Fayre syster sayd the kynge I haue doo marye you well and hyghlye Whan the pucell vnderstode hym she began to chaunge her colour and bowed her body to hym and sayd no worde of a longe whyle And whan she had the power for to speake she sayd to the kyng her brother syr to whome haue you geuen me Fayre Syster sayd the kynge I haue gyuen you vnto the best knight of the worlde it is Reynawde the sonne of Aymon the noble knyght valyaunt Whan the noble Damoysell vnderstode that it was to Reynawde to
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
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
good horse and lighted vpon him swymmed agayn ouer Dordon and whan he was ouer he abode styll at the riâ—er side and lyghted downe to the earthe but he had no sadle vpon hys horse for the girthes brake whaÌ„ he Iousted wyth Reinawde Whan Reynawde sawe Brayforde saddellesse he called to Ogyer and sayde Ogier come fetche youre sadle for it shall be to you a greate shame yf ye ride thus and thanke our lorde that ye be thus departed fro me withoute any more harme for yf we had taryed a litell lenger togither I wolde haue brought you into suche a place where ye were neuer for the kynge Charlemaine your lord should neuer haue rescued you in tyme. Reinawde said Ogier ye threten me of feare it longeth not to a good knighte to threaten one so but I wot well that yf it had not be your folke that haue succoured you I wolde haue brought you to kynge Charlemaine or euyn Ogier saide reinawde ye haue well shewed that ye be a good knyghte that passed the riuer of Dordon for to come fight with me but shall ye tary there for me tyll I passe ouer at the other syde vpon my horse bayarde yea vpon my soule said Ogier and yf ye doo it I shall saye that ye be the best knyghte of the worlde whan Reinawde vnderstoode that worde he spurred bayarde with the spurres wold haue passed ouer dordon but Mawgis Alard and Guicharde letted him and wolde not suffre hym to goe but tooke hym by the brydell and Alarde saide to hym Ha fayre brother what is this that ye wil doo ye be ouer hastye for who that dooth you good he leseth well his time ye knowe well and Ogyer had not be we should haue been dead this daie and the succours of Mawgys had helped vs but litell Lette Ogier be in peace I praye you for there is not a better knighte in the worlde than he is one and than cried Alarde to Ogier Faire cosyn goe to god for ye haue well holpen vs whan Alarde had spoken to Ogyer he returned him to his brother Reynawde and saide to him Faire brother me semeth it were good that we should turne backe againe for to wit howe oure brother Richarde doothe that abideth vpon the roche Mountbron so wounded as ye knowe Let goe our enemies with shame ynough for we haue domaged theim righte sore Than called Ogier to Reinawde and said ye haue discomfited vs but by my fathers soule we shal com againe so greate folke vpon you that we shal beare to you greate harme and so shall we take the proye the whiche ye shall not dare defende Now threten al fayre said Reinawde for we haue suche a castell where we dare well abide the kinge Charlemaine and you at anye houre that ye come and also I tell you for certain that or euer three daies be passed ye shall neuer take vs for all that ye can doo And how someuer the game goeth the losse hathe euer be vpon you vnto this time And also ye shall beare no good tidinges to the king Charlemaine And whan Ogier had spoken ynoughe vnto Reinawde he spurred braiford and went after his folke that hadde lefte him and he rode so longe that he came to Mountbandell and lighted downe before the tente of the kinge Charlemaine And whan Rowland and Oliuer sawe come Ogier thus wounded and making so euill chere they trowed that there hadde be a battaile and that Ogier had taken Reynawd and his brethrene and so they dyd calle the Duke Nâ—imes Salomon of Breten Richarde of Normandye and the earle Guidellon And whan they were all assembled they saide the one to the other Poore vnhappy and what shal we doo this day shall we see hanged the foure sonnes of Aymon they be cosins to vs al and if the king Charlemain maketh theÌ„ to be hanged we be dishonoured for euer And whan the king Charlemayne sawe come Ogier he said to him Ogier where ben the foure sonnes of Aymon haue ye taken them or slaine theim or remysed theim for prisoners Sir saide Ogier all fayre and foftlye wit it that they been no children but they are the best knightes of the world and they be alyue I tell you sir that we founde them in the plaine of Valcolours all foure clothed in scarlet furred with ermines and vpon mules and bare in their handes floures and roses wel hath the king of Gascoygne kepte his couenaunt to you for he hath seÌ„t theym forth in such maner as he promised to you but the worthynes and the prowes was such that they chauÌ„ged theyr mules to good horses and recouered both sheelde and spere And whan Reinawde had goten a horse he slew Foulques of Moryllon first of all and mounted vpon his horse but at the last they found a roche coruen after the maner of a caue that is a strong place where they defended themsele a longe while and Richard one of their bretherne had ben slaine and the other three should haue beÌ„ other taken or slaine and if Mawgis had not come there to succoure them mounted vpon bayard and broughte with him .v. thousande knyghtes which haue discomfited vs and haue slaine the Erle Guymarde HA said themperaur Charlemaine is it true that they been so scaped sir said Ogier yea verelye whan the king vnderstoode that Reinawd and his brethern were scaped he was right wroth ful angry for it and said A good lord of glorye how am I shamed for foure gluttoÌ„s certes this weries me sore but no force let them doo the worst that they can for if they haue scaped me now they shal not scape me another time syr said Ogier wyt it but if Mawgis had not be they coulde not haue scaped Goddes curse haue he for it said Charlemaine and an euyll yere for often hathe he holpen them ayenst me and so I wote well that yf I helde Reinawde and hys bretherne within my pryson Mawgis should delyuer theym oute and therfore I hate him to death wherof I pray out lorde that I die not till I be fyrst auenged of it syr saide Ogier by the faith that I owe to you Reinawde gaue me so greate a stroke that the corner of my helme fel downe wythall to the earthe and I promyse you I was wel glad whaÌ„ I was escaped from his handes for of three thousand that we brought with vs there are come againe but three hundred the surples is all slaine other taken Whan Rowland vnderstoode theyse wordes he shooke al for angre said by great wrathe By god syr Ogyer ye were sore hardy ye had not felowes that dyd so well as ye dyd but by saint Peter the apostle I sawe neuer so strong a cowarde as ye be nor neuer came oute of Denmarke a good knight Ha whoreson coward kaytif howe haue ye anye eyen that dare behold vpon a man but another thing there is for ye haue spared them for they ben your cosins and your
syr that I am suretie for Reynawde and so is Ogyer the dane but me semeth that we ought now to be discharged therof sith that ye be here presente within his castell but another thynge I wyll tel you me thinketh that ye ought to take that the erle Reynawde proffereth to you or that any more harme come to you therof and so helpe me God ye shall doo wel And al they of your courte shal be glad of it And whan the barons hearde this that Naymes had sayde to the kinge Charlemaine they spoke all and sayde Syr doo that the duke Naymes hath tolde you for he hath gyuen you good counsell and true And yf so be that ye doo it not ye shall come to late for to repente you of it But WHan Charlemayne vnderstode this that the duke Naimes had sayd to him he was ryght wroth of it For his herte was so harde astonyed with great angre that he tooke no hede of good coūsel and he sware by saynt Denys of Fraunce that he should not doo it for no man but yf he had fyrst Mawgys in hys handes for to doo hys wyll ouer hym And whan Reynawde hearde these wordes he blustered in his face for angre and rose vp from kneelinge his bretherne and all the other barons also And then Reynawde sayde to Rowlande and to all the other Lordes that were there Syr I wyl wel the Charlemaine know my wil my entente the whiche I shall shew afore hym vnto you Wyt it that syth I cā fynde no mercy in him I praye you that ye wyll not blame me frō hence for thou yf I seeke my ryght For I shall seeke it in all the maners that a true knight ought to doo And whā Reynawde had sayd this he turned him towarde the kynge and sayd to hym Syr ye maye goe hens whan it please you for by my soule ye shal haue no harme of me now for ye be my souerayne lorde with good wil we shal be in good peace wyth you THe barons of fraūce that were there wundred sore of the great kindenes of Reynawde Thā sayd the duke Naymes haue ye heard the great humilite of the noble knight Reynawde By soule sayd rowlande Reynawde sayth meruaylously I wolde not haue trowed that he should euer haue fared so fayre with Charlemayne And whan Rychard vnderstoode that that his brother Reinawde had sayde he spake in thys wise brother Reinawde I holde you mad What wyll ye doo ye see that we haue in our handes this vengeable kyng the whiche we may kyll or els suffre hym to lyue yet he is set so sore to pryde that he wyll doo nothing that his good counsell telleth hym but he threteneth vs alwayes more and more and ye wil let him go thus a waye surely brother if he scapeth vs so he shal yet angre vs right sore and I promise you yf he hadde vs as we now haue hym he should make vs all to dye shamefullye not al the golde in the worlde should not saue vs therfro And therfore I tell you that ye doo greate folye to let him go thus away For and ye wyl ye shall now make our peace but me semeth ye seeke none other but your death wherof I pray god yf ye suffre him thus to goe awaye that he maye make you to dye a shamefull death And whā Reynawd heard his brother speke so he was wroth sayd to hī in angre Holde your peace brother for he shall goe his wayes quite will you or no and the peace shal be made whan he wyll and no soner it shal not be for there vnto he shal not be compelled of me and go you hens from me for your great wordes displeaseth me WHan Reynawde had sayde this he dyd call a gentylman of hys to whome he sayd go lightly without any taryenge to the yoman of min horses byd him bringe me my horse Bayarde For I wyll that my souerayne lorde ryde vpon hym vnto his hoste for he rode neuer vpō no better horse And whan Richarde heard this he wēt fro thens al swellinge with angre as a fyersfull lyon bycause he knew that Charlemayne should goe so And wit it that the king Charlemayne hearde and vnderstode well all these wordes but he durste not saye nothyng so sore he feared the fiersnes of the yong Richard This hangyng came there agayne the gentilman that was gone for Bayarde whiche he brought with him than Reynawde tooke his good horse baiarde came to Charlemayne said to hym syr ye maye lyght whan it please you and goe at your lybertye for to comforte your folke whiche I am fure ben full sory for the taking of you And whan Charlemayn saw this he lighted anon vpon Bayarde went out of Mountawban for to goe to his hoste and Reynawde conueyed him to the gate of Mountawban whan the kinge was gone he made the gate to be shet anon And the frenche men that sawe their king come agayn they were right gladde and receyued hym worthely after they asked hym how it wēt with him and yf he had graunted the peace lordes it is wel with me God gramercy but of peace I haue made none nor neuer shall as longe as I am man a lyue for no man that shal speake to me of it but yf I haue the traytour mawgis for to doo with him mi wyll Syr sayd some of his barons how haue ye be delyuerd By my fayth sayd charlemayn Reynawde hath delyuerde me agaynst that the wyll of hys bretherne all quite at my lybertie Syr sayd the barons haue ye not seen Rowlande Olyuer the duke Naimes the bisshop Turpin Ogier the dane nor Escouf the sonne of oedon yea surely sayd Charlemayne but they haue all forsake me for the loue of Reynawde wherof by that god that hynge vpon the crosse yf I can haue them agayne I shall shew thē that they haue not doone well and whan he had sayd thus he lyghted from Bayarde and made him to be brought agayne to Reynawde ANd whan Reynawde sawe bayarde that Charlemayne had sent hym agayne he called rowland and his felawes sayd to thē fayre lordes I know well that ye be not in the grace of the greate kynge Charlemaine for the loue of me but I wyll not that ye haue mawgre for me nor for my brethern and therfore fayre lordes I quyte you all quarelles that I maye lay vpon you and gyue you leue to goe whan it please you And whan the Duke Naymes vnderstode the kindnes of the hert of Reinawde that was so noble he thāked hym hyghly and kyssed and enbrased hym for great loue wolde haue kneeled downe afore hym but Reynawde wolde not suffre hym Than the duke Naymes began to saye let vs thynke to goe after the kyng Charlemayne your vncle sith it please Reynawde to gyue vs leue Naymes sayd Rowlande how can we doo this shall we leue Reynawde the whiche ye se
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
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
of the saide duke Benes of AygremouÌ„t And to the said feast came William the Englyshe Walleran of Bullon .xv. kinges .xxx. dukes and well .lx. erles were there at that daye for to crown Charlemain And also was come there the duke Aymon of Dordon with his foure sonnes that is to wit Reinawd Alard Richard Guichard to the which Aimon the kynge said AimoÌ„ said he I loue you your children wel and wyt that I voyl make of the fayre Reinawd my stuard the other shall serue me for to beare my faucons goe with me Syr said the good Aymon I thank you muche of the greate worshyp that ye doo to me to my children And wyt that thei shal serue you truly as your lieg meÌ„ but wel I tol you good king that ye mysprised sore whan my brother the duke Benes of Aygremount vnder your saufconduit in treason ye made thus shamefullye die beleue that it greueth me ful sore at the hert if we doubted not you so much certes vengeaunce we should take therof But sith that my brother Gerard hath pardoned it to you I forgeue it you also AimoÌ„ said the king ye know better than that ye saye For ye know wel the offence that your brother had doon to me for to haue slaine so crueâ—ly Loihere my eldest sonne that I loued so much Now set the one ayenst the other let be spoken nomore therof No more we shal saide duke Aimon but wel I pray god to haue mercye of his soule for he was a right worthy knight TheÌ„ came forth Reinawde Alard Guychard and Richarde which reasoned with the kinge saying in this maner Sir said Reinawde the fairest of al knights and moste expert in faites of knighthode ye haue made me my brethern that been now afore you knightes but wit it for very certain that we loue you not that we haue toward you a greate and a mortall hate for the deathe of our vncle the duke Benes of Aygremount of the whiche deathe ye haue not accorded with vs. Whan the king vnderstoode Reinawde he looked grymly and fyerssly in his visage for greate wrath and became blacke as a cole and smote his forhed for angre and after said Reinawd thou yong boye voide out of my presence For I swere by saynt Simon and if it were not the companye of the barons that be heere I should make thee to be put in suche pryson that thou shouldest not see nother hande nor foote that thou haste Syr said Reinawd it wer not reason But sith that it is so ferre come that ye will not heere vs we shall keep our peace THus lefte the foure sonnes of Aimon the debate and spake no more to the kyng Charlemayn for that tyme of this matter Fayre was the courte and the day was ful fayre and bryghte and fayre was the companye as of .xv. kinges .xxx. dukes and .lx. erles They went to the chirch for to heare the faire masse that was songe and muche rych was the offeryng And whan they had hearde the masse they came agayn to the palays and asked after water for to washe theyr handes and the dyner was readye so they washed and set theym downe to dyner And the .xv. kynges were all set except the king Salamon that serued that daye with the Duke Godfraye But Reynawde at thys dynner myght not eat by cause that the kynge Charlemayne had rebuked hym so shamefully Ha saide Reynawde to hymselfe Alas howe shall I conne doo so muche that I may auenge my selfe of Charlemayne for the death of my vncle that so much was beloued whiche traitorusly and shamefully hath be slain if I take not vengeaunce of it I shal wexe mad In this wise sorowed the good Reinawd and his brethern recomforted him The baroÌ„s came out after diner for to play sporte theym selfe and Berthelot the neuewe of Charlemayn called Reynawd for to play with him wherof grew a great mischeef for afterward many a good knight died therfore manye a fayre childe fatherles as here after ye shal herken well NOwe was set Berthelot and the worthy Reynawde for to playe at the ches whiche were of yuory wherof the boord was of golde massy and so longe they played that debate fel betwene them two by such maner that berthelot called Reinawde horsonne and tooke vp his hand and smote Reynawde in the vysage so that the bloud fell to the grounde and whan Reynawde sawe himself thus shamefully outeraged he was ryght wroth and sore angred sware by god him should yl betyde therfore ThaÌ„ tooke Reinawd the ches boord and smote Berthelot vpon his head so harde that he cloued hym to the teeth and thus Berthelot fell down deade to the grounde afore hym so began the crye at that houre sore strong in the Palays that Reynawde the sonne of Aimon had slain Berthelot the neuewe of kyng Charlemayn Whan the kynge vnderstoode thys he went nyghe oute of his wyt and called of heyghte Barons keep well that Reinawd scape not For by saint Denis of Fraunce he shall not escape quicke yf we maye holde hym for he hath slaine our neuew Berthelor Than ran soone the knightes vpon Reinawde And his kynnesmen defended him nobly And thus was there greate stryfe and manye heres pulled and many gownes toren For suche a fray was there neuer seen as that daye was in the palays of Parys Many strokes gaue there Mawgys the cosin of Reinawd and sonne to the duke Benes of Aygremount And while that this fraye was in the palays Reinawde and his three bretherne and theyr cosyn Mawgys escaped redyly out of the palays and came vnto theyr horses that soone were made redye So lyghted they on horsebacke and tode soone oute of Parys and fled streight vnto DordoÌ„ towarde theyr lady mother ANd whan themperour Charlemaine wyst that Reinawd and his bretherne were gone oute of Parys he made for to be redy wel two thousand knightes for to folow them Now keep them our lorde that on the crosse suffred passyon For yf the kynge holde them they shall dye withoute remyssyon but Reinawde vpon hym is no care For he was vpon his horse bayard that goeth as the wynde So taryed not the foure brethern theyr cosyn tyll that they came vnto Sawmore and they bayred theyr horses of Alarde Richard and of Guycharde Thanne began Reynawde to make sorowe sayinge Fayre god that suffred deathe and passyon keep thys daye my brethern and my cosyn from the deathe and from combraunce and from fallinge in the handes of Charlemayne the cruell and of the other parte chased them the frenchemen brochyng with the spurres as fast as theyr horses myght renne so muche that a knight that was better horsed then the other were ouertooke Reynawde and sayd to hym ye shall abyde ye vntrue knyghte and I shall brynge you to kinge Charlemayne And whan Reinawde heard hym he turned bayarde ayenst hym and smot the
haue I now lost Guyon of hym it is greate domage Now wot I not from hens forth on howe I should wyn sith that I haue lost the foreward and than he called Ogyer the dane said to him Ogier goe to the succours you Naymes for Guichardbereth with him al my hauoyre haue slayne all my folke than Ogier the dane abode not but lighted on horsbacke he and the duke Naymes with three hundred knightes well armed well araied went after Guycharde but theyr laboure was nought worth to them for Guichard his men were all ready with in Mountaynford with all the hauoire that they had won Whā Reinawd saw his brother come with so greate hauoyre he went ayenst him kissed them al than he said to Guychard fayre brother where haue ye taken so greate hauoyre that ye bryng heere syr sayde Guycharde I shall tell you tydynges wherof ye shall be greatly meruaylled Nowe wyt that kynge Charlemain commeth for to besyege you with all his hoste hath so great chiualry with him that it is wonder for to see my bretherne I come fro the chase out of the wode of Ardeyn we haue recountted the forewarde of Charlemain that the erle Guy conduyted there foughte we togither with them but god be thanked my men myne enemyes were discomsited ouerthrowen one parte we haue slaine the other fled away so haue we brought theyr hauoyre that ye see heere And there is dead the earle Guy and many other greate lordes all theyr men Than sayd Reynawd I ought to loue you dearly whā ye canne war so wel that ye haue ouerthrowē your enemies at the fyrst comyng on and than he called all his bretherne his folke and sayd to them fayre lordes nowe is the time come that eueryche of vs must preue himself a good mā wherfore I pray you that euery man force himselfe to doo worthily his deuoire that your worshippe and oures be kept and that men may not wyt vs no towardes let vs doo knowe oure prowesses to kinge Charlemayne so that he holde vs not for feble myschaunte whan Reinawde had spoke to his brethren and to hys folke they answered to hym in thys maner my lorde haue no doubte of none of vs but be sure that we shal neuer fayle you for the hewynge of our limmes as long as we shal liue and whan Reinawde vnderstood the good wil of his folke and namely of his bretherne he beganne againe to speke to thē and sayde let the gate be sherre and drawe vp the brydge so go we to the windowes for to se this folke that come ayenst vs. And than they went there as Reinawd sayd whan they loked out of the wyndowes they saw Ogyer the dane comminge with a thousand men with him whiche whā he saw that Guychard was entred into the castel he retourned agayne sayd to the king how it was and than he sayd Sir I let you wyt that the castel of Mountainford is the fairest the strongest that euer ye saw for it is set vpon a hye roche of harde stone and well I tel you for certayne that it shall not be so taken so lyghtly as men ween For suche folke doo keepe it that wel and worthely shall defend it WHan the Emperoure Charlemayne hearde speake Ogyer the dane he was of it so wrothe that he went nyghe out of hys wyt and sware god that he should neuer returne into Fraunce but that Reinawde were take and that yf he maye haue hym all the worlde shall not saue hym but that he shall make him to be hanged his brother Guychard to be drawen at horses tailles syr said Ogier well ye oughte to doo so for they haue trauaylled you full often and haue gyuen you greate laboure payne Sir sayde Foulques of Morillon haue no doubt for shortely we shal auenge you of them make to be cried incontinent that youre hoste goe lodge lightly about Mountenford Certes said the king ye saye well and than he made trompettes to be blowen of a heyghte for to assemble togyther al his men of armes and commaunded that all the castell of Mountenforde should be enuyronned rounde about with folke that euery baron shoulde doo pyghte there his pauillion and they dyd so as the king had commaunded Now wyl I shewe to you how noble the castel was set The said castell was closed set vpō a hie roche of the one side of it was beting a great riuer called Muse of the other side it had euyn at hand a great woodful pleasaunt of a nother syde it hath a fayre plaine and of that othersyde a full faire medowe greate and pleasaunt to beholde ¶ Whan the folke of the king Charlemaine were allodged themperour lighted on horsebacke with a few felawship for to see the strength of the castell when he had well beholden it seen at his case he began to say in him self ha god how is this castell closed set in a stronge place god how these knightes know wel the crafte of warre not withstandinge that they be but yonge folke fayre lordes thinke to warre wel for we haue somwhat more to doo thā I wende whā the pauillions tentes of the kinges were dressed vp he made to be set a charbonkle right rich all hye on hys tente whiche stone full precious was shining as a torche that brēneth with the same a great appell of fine golde of great value whan the said tents were al spred hanged themperoure entred within made the duke Naymes to be armed charged him that no man of warre so hardy for to light on horsbacke of eyghte dayes but it were for to sporte himself For I wil doo know through al the realme that men brynge to vs vitayles in greate habundaunce afore that the castell of moūtenforde be by vs assayled and make my chappel to be apparailed to th end that we pray god that he wil help vs to be auenged of that four sonnes of Aimon the which we shall famish or euer it be a moneth For they shal not can haue no vitailes fro wtout by no way thas said that duke Naimes to the kīg sit you mai doo better if it be your pleasure send a messager to Reinawde to tel him that he yeeld to you guichard his brother ye shal quite him al his londe if he yeeld him to you make him to be beheaded anon if that Reinawd refuse for to do this he mai wel be sure that warre shal not leue him as long as he shal be aliue than answered Charlemain ye saye well and ryght wysely but certainlye I wote not where to fynde a messenger to whom I myght well trust Syr said the duke Naymes yf it please you Ogier and I shal doo thys message It please me well sayde the king and ryghte greate thanke I shall conne you for it for ye neuer
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
to be hanged and slayne as more playnly ye shall vnderstand here after yf that ye lyste to harken HErnier of Saueyn made none other taryenge but he sayd to kyng Charlemayne in this maner Syr cōmaunde ye Guyon of Bourgone that he doo put in array a thousand knightes well armed and that to morrow afore the day he goe vpon the moūtayne fayre and softly with out noyse I shall put hym within the castell shortly Whan he had sayd this he went to hys tente made hīselfe to be armed And whan he was armed he lyghted a horsbacke and rode to the gate of the castell sayd to them that kepte warde Alas for god fayre lordes haue mercye of me if it please you let me in or els I am but dead for the Emperour Charlemayne maketh to folow and seke me all aboute for to make me dye bycause I haue said to him much good of Reynawde also I tell you wel that I shall shew to Reynawde a thing wherof he shall he ryght glad yf hys pleasure is to heare me WHan they that were aboue vpon the gate heard hī speak thus they without lōg taryeng let goe downe the draw bridge and made him come in dysaimed him did to him great honour But the false traytour rewarded thē full yll for it after that This hangyng Charlemayne commaunded Guion to make him redy a thousand knightes with him and sent them vpon the hylle without makyng of anye bruyte tyll that the day were come And wyt that Guyon had wyth hym of the best Knyghtes of Charlemayne NOw is Harnyer the traytour within the castell of Mountaynforde vnto whome men made good cheere And whan Reynawde wyste that a knight of Charlemayn was come He sayde that he wolde speake with hym And so he was brought afore hym And whan he sawe him he sayd to hī What be you fayre knighte that are come hither And he answered syr my name is Hernier of Saueyne I haue angred kinge Charlemayne for the loue of you and for this cause I am com hither praying that ye haue me for recommaūded for I wot not whether to goe nowe Good freend sayd Renawde syth that ye say that ye be oure freend ye be ryght welcome to me For of suche goodes that God hath sent me ye shall not fayle Now tell me I pray you how doth the hoste of the Emperour Haue they anye great plentie fo vytayles Syr sayd Hernyer they ben scarse wyth them But I tell for very certayne that they shall goe theyr wayts within these fourty dayes for none of the barōs wyll no lenger abyde there Wherefore the kyng Charlemayne is sore an angred with them And I promit you yf the hoste wente awaye ye might hurte theym ryght verye sore and gette verye muche good yf ye wyll sette then vpon the tayle of them Freende sayde Reynawde to hym ye haue comforted me ryght well yf it is so as ye say For yf the king Charlemayne be once ouerthrowen he shall not come a nother tyme vpon vs wyth so good a wyll as he dooth nowe And then Reynawde had hym wyth hym to hys brethern that made vnto hym good cheere And whan the supper was redy Reynawde and his bretherne set thē downe vnto theyr meat and supped gladly And in theyr companye was the traytour Hernier vnto whom they made good cheere After supper all the knyghtes wente to slepe For they were wery of bearīg of theyr Harneys and they had not ceased to fyght all that day And wit that Hernier was well and honestly brought to bed For Reynawde had so commaunded And whan all the knyghtes were fast a slepe Hernier as the false Iudas slepte not But he rose and tooke hys harneys and armed hym selfe And whan he was well armed at his ease he came to the drawe bridge and cut the cordes that kept it vp and let the draw brydge go downe and than he went vpon the walles where he found him that made the watche and slew him And whā he had doone this he came to the gate and opened it For he had taken the keyes from hym that he had slayne whyche had them in his kepyng THan whan Guyon of Bourgoyne saw the gate open he made no tarying but came and entred into the castell and al hys folke with hym And began to kylle and flea all thē that they found ¶ Now shall ye heare of the fayre aduenture how that Reynawde his brethern were saued from this mortall slawghter Wyt that whan the yemen of the stable had supped thei were drōke and went to theyr bed whan they were a slepe the horse of Alarde that was sōwhat proude began to make noyse agaynst the other And Alarde and Richarde heard the noyse of the horses they rose vp and saw the doore of the halle open and perceyued out of it the harneys that glystered agaynst the moone that shone full bryght Than went they to the bedde where they had brought the false Hernyer whyche they foūd not there Whereof they were ryght sore abasshed And than was Reynawde awaked and asked who was there that maketh thys noyse Let our knyghtes take theyr rest that haue so sore trauayled all the day it is euyl doone for to go thus stampyng at this houre thā cryed Alarde to Reinawde and sayd Fayre brother we ben betrayed for Hernyer that false knyght hath put the folke of Charlemayne within thys castell the whiche kyll and slea your folke and put them to a greate matter whan Reynawde vndestode this he made no taryīg but he arose and armed hymself quickly and cried vnto his brethern and to his men Now my freendes let vs beare our selfe worthy we had neuer so great need any wyt that Reynawde had with hym but .xxx. Knyghtes within the dongeon of that fortresse for al the other were within the base courte whiche was as it had ben a lytle towne well peopled where as Guyon of Bourgoyne his folke slew them This hanging Reynawde his brethern had armed themselfe right wel hopynge for to defende theymselfe well THan came Hernyer the traytour steryng about throughe the maystres strete with him well an hundred knightes Thā sayd Reinawde to hys brethern fayre Lordes come forth for yf god helpe vs not we are all lost than Reynawde and his brethern came to the gate defended so well the none durst passe but he was slayne what shall I tell you more the base courte began to be sore moued and the erye was so great for al them of the dongeon defended themselfe valyantlye Whan the folke of the Emperour Charlemayne sawe that they that were wtin the dongeon defended themselfe so well they set the base court in a fire and began to brenne and pul down the houses and al that they founde And the fyre was soone so great that it tooke the dongeon of the castell Whan Reynawde saw that he was so taken wyth fyre he was
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
ouerthrew hym sterke dead to the grounde And whā this knight was dead Reynawde tooke his horse by the bridell and sayd to Alard his brother holde fayre brother light vpon this Blacke Horse whiche is good For I gyue him to you ANd whan that Alarde sawe the fayre present that his brother Reynawde had doone to hym he was as glad of the same as thoughe he had wonne Parys And thā he made none other rarienge but that he lighted downe from Bayard and mounted vpon Esmenfrays blacke horse that his brother had giuē hym smote him with the spurres went and Iusted agaynst a knyght of his fathers folke that was called anfrai so harde that he ouerthrew him dead to therthe And shortly to speake after that Alarde was in this wise set agayne on horse backe began the batayle of a freshe sore hard and fell in so muche that at that houre were slayne .xx. of the best knyghtes that Aymon had with him Whan Aymō saw this he was sore angry for it cryed to hys folke Halordes yf they scape you I shal neuer haue ioy for they haue slayne Esmenfray the good knyght that king Charlemayne had gyuen to me Whan the folke of Aymon vnderstode these wordes the wyll theyr Lorde than they dyd ren vpon Alarde so much that thei made hym to leue the place by force and if it had not be the passage of a lytle riuer that eased and holye them greatly Reinawde and hys brethern had muche to doo but I tell you without faute that Reynawde and hys brethern made so great occisyon of that folke of theyr father that it was pitie for to beholde for there dyed well of them .xxv. at the passage of the ryuer and yf Reynawde had had wyth him a fyfty knightes more thē he had at the passage he should haue dyscomfyted his father and all hys folke but for faute of mē Reynawde must for sake the place and myght not saue with hym but .xiiii. knyghtes of hys owne Nowe see how sorowfull was the batayle for of fyue hundred knyghtes that Reynawde had with hym there abode wyth him alyue but .xiii. and ye maye well wit that the olde Aymon had dommaged his children right sore but that they passed ouer the Riuer for as it is sayde they had loste all theyr men wherof they were full sorye and wrothe ¶ Now hath Reynawde so fewe folke that he wot nomore what to doo but he might not doo therto wherof the teres fell downe continually frō his eyen and in lykewyse wept Aymon hys father at the other syde as the historye dooth tell and whan he had wept ynough he sayd in this maner Ha fayre Sonne pane and worthye howe sorye am I for I am the occasyon of your harme and domage now shall ye all goe as exiled for ye haue nought to lyue vpon I cannot helpe you by anye wyse wherof I ensure you I am greatlye displeased and sory for it The deuil take his soule that fyrst begā that strife so shal he Whan he had made hys mone and lamētacions longe ynoughe he made incōtinent all the dead bodyes to be taken for to be buryed And they that were hurte he made to be brought wyth hym as well as he coulde And made the bodi of Esmenfray to be put vpon a litter and tooke on his way towarde Ardeyne where he bode but a night and in the mornyng he made the litter to be borne vpon two horses went agayne to Paris and came afore Charlemayne and sayd to hym Syr whan I went now last towarde my countrey wyt that as I was on my way I founde my children and fyue hundred knyghtes wyth them in the forest of Ardeyne for thacquitaunce of myn othe I dyd send to them mi diffiaunce wolde haue taken them for to haue brought them to you as prisoners but I myght not for they bē sore doubted And that I assailed thē it hath cost me sore dere for they haue borne vnto me so great harme and domage that it can not be estemed and I slew al theyr folke excepte .xii persones that ben scaped with them but they haue slayn your knyght Esmenfray but at the last they went away discomfited and ouerthrowen And they should haue ben taken yf it had not be a ryuer that they passed ouer wherby they were saued Whan Charlemayne vnderstode these wordes he was ryght sore an angred so muche that he loste almost his wytte And than he sayd to olde Aymon in angre by God Aymō ye excuse your selfe falsly for neuer Rauen eate his yonge byrdes to a nother ye shall make thys to beleue but not to me Whan thou olde Aymon vnderstode the kynge that he spake thus he sayd to hym Syr Emperour wit that I doo tell you is trouth and I doo shewe it to the ende that my trouthe be knowē for none other cause doo bring afore me your reliques and halowes that I shall swere vpon the sayntes that ben in heauen that it was as I haue recountred sayd to you and yf it please you ye shall beleue me yf ye wyll not ye may chuse therof Aymon sayd Charlemayne I know well your herte for yf it went all at your wil your sonnes should be lordes of all Fraūce and of all my empyre Syr sayd Aymon ye be wrothe of some other thynge wherof I may not doo therto yf ye haue any knight in your courte the wyl make good this that it please you for to saye I shall proue it on hym wyth my body that he lyeth falsely But euermore ye haue be such that ye neuer loued a true knyght but flateres and liers wherof mani euilles ben happed and shall happe And than Aymon came downe from the Palays and lyghted vpon hys horse and went agayn to his countrey without any leaue that he tooke of the kynge he rode so longe a day after another that he came to Ardeine and there he found the Duchesse his wyfe that came agaynst hym and receyued hym with a glad chere and asked hym howe he had doone THan sayde the duke Aymon ful euyll haue I doone For I foūd my foure sonnes in the wood of Ardeyne so I assayled them cruelly wenyng to me for to haue takē them whiche I coulde not doo but I stewe discomfited all theyr folke they haue doone me so great harme of my folke and so many they haue slayne of them that I know not the nombre And I tell you for very certayne but yf it had ben the prowes great worthynes of our sonne Reynawde I had taken Alarde for my men had slayne his horse and had brought hym so lowe that he myght no more goe but Reynawde his brother came vpon vs and brake vs so sore that he brought Alarde out of the prese mawgre vs and oure folke made hym syt behinde hym vpon Bayarde And I tell you that Reynawde fought so sore that neuer
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
so moche that he brake the great preses and came where Reynawde was And whan Reynawde saw the kynge Yon he sayd to hym Syr be sure and certayne that the Sarasins are discomfited than sayd the kyng Reynawde I am well assured that god shall do me grace through your high prowesse blessed be the houre that ye were borne came into these marches To speake shortly the batayles were assembled of one parte and of the other but whan Borgons sawe the great harme that Reynawde bare to hym of his folke he sayde to hys men we ben ouercomen by the prowesse of these fyue knyghtes Let vs go backe agayne for it is tyme. And whan he had sayde these wordes he and his folke begaÌ„ to flee And whaÌ„ Reynawde saw Borgons that fled he smote Bayarde with the spurres and ranne after him and said to him self that BorgoÌ„s should abide there or els it should coste hym his lyfe Wythin a shorte whyle Reynawde was ferre from hys brethern ferre from his felawship so that they wist not whiche way he drewe Whan that Alarde saw that he wyst not where Reynawde was drawen he sayd to hymselfe Ha god whiche way is my brother drawen to that I am not wyth hym than came there kyng Yon that sayd to them Lordes and knyghtes wel ye know gramercy God that it is not wysdome for to chase ouermoche his enemies for often tymes cometh there a great dommage let vs withdraw vs I pray you syr sayd Alarde what say ye we haue lost Reynawde our brother wot not where he is nor yf he is dead or taken whaÌ„ kyng Yon vnderstode this worde he was full sory and wrothe and they wente and sought amonge the dead men that lay vpon the feelde And whan Alarde sawe he coulde not be found he made great sorowe wyth Guycharde Richarde and Mawgis also And whan the folke of Reynawde saw that he was not found they began to make so great sorowe that it was pitie for to see ALas sayd Alarde what shal I doo I departed fro my lande poore exyled but I dyd not care for it for I wente with the best knyght of the worlde and trowed by the prowesse of hym to haue recouered honour and hauoyre my selfe my bretherne now I haue lost him thorough my defaute Alas my chauÌ„ce what shal we doo fro hens forthou for the erth shal not mow susteyne vs no more But that it shal fouÌ„dre vnder our fete whan the kynge Yon saw the great sorow that the poore knightes made for theyr brother he sayde to them Lordes and knightes what is this that ye doo sith that he is not dead it ought to suffyse you for yf he be take ye shal haue him agayne it should cost me al that I haue in the worlde And also we haue so mani of them prysoners that Borgons shal not doo to hym no harme for nothiÌ„g Syr sayd Alarde let vs go after for goddes sake let vs wyt where he is become Freende sayde the kyng I wil doo so gladly And thaÌ„ they spurred theyr horses and went as fast as theyr horses might renne wit that Alarde Guycharde Richarde Mawgys rode a good pase so moche that it semed that the erthe should haue clouen a sondre vnder them ¶ No â—owill I tel you of Reynawde that went after Borgons so fast as yf the tempest had chased hym and he was gone so ferre in a short while that it is woÌ„der for to hear tel for there was no beast that went afore Bayarde his horse And whan Reynawde had ouertaken Bargons he cryed vpon him as hye as he myght doo Certes Borgons thy horse may no more I see it well and therfore flee no ferther but turne thy self towarde me for yf thou dyed flyeng thou shouldest be shamed whaÌ„ Borgons heard Reynawde speake thus to hym he returned incontinente and whan he saw Reynawde he knew well that it was the good knyght that had dyscomfyted al his folke and sayd to hym Syr knyght go backe agayne and marre not your horse aboute nought for it ye lese him ye shal neuer recouer suche a nother and this he said for to abasshe the good knight Reynawde for he durste not Ioust with him bicause of the great prowes that he had seen in him but Reinawde was not the man that should be made aferde wyth wordes and than Reynawd sayde agayne to him Borgons this worde nedeth not to you for to say for ye must nedes defende your selfe And than he spurred incontynent bayarde and whan Borgons saw that he myght not be delyuered of Reynawde but by Iustyng he spurred his horse and ranne vpon Reynawde as harde as he might smote Reynawde so sharply that the spere wente in peces Reynawde fell not but smote Borgons suche a stroke that he ouerthrew both horse and man to the grounde and wounded borgons in his brest full sore And whan Borgon saw hymselfe at the grounde he rose vp lyghtlye and tooke hys swerde in hys hande and caste his sheelde vpon his head And whan Reynawde perceiued the stroke that he had giuen hym in hys breast he cryed to hym and sayd Certes it shal not be reproched to me that ye fyght wyth me a fote and I on horse backe and with this he lighted down fro bayarde drew out his swerde went against Borgons BorgoÌ„s agaynst hym there began a sharpe batayle and whan the horse of the payneÌ„ felt him selfe fro his mayster he begaÌ„ to reÌ„ne away ouer the feeldes and whan Bayard sawe him renne away he went after and ouertooke hym soone ynough and thaÌ„ he tooke hym by the mane with his teeth and drew hym with so great myght that he brought him agayne to hys mayster in the same place where the two worthy knyghtes fought to gether and Reynawde gaue a stroke to borgons with his swerde vpoÌ„ his shelde and all that the sworde roughte he cut through to the fleshe and well an hundred mayles of his flancardes and made hym a great wounde into the haunce THan whaÌ„ borgons the sarasyn saw that wonderful streÌ„gthe of Reynawde the great strokes that he gaue to him he was sore afrayed and fered least he should die and so he withdrew himselfe a backe and sayd to Reynawde Ha gentyll knyght I pray thee for the loue that thou hast to thy God that thou giue me truce and I shall make the lorde syre of all the I haue in this worlde Certes sayd Reynawde I wyll not doo so for I haue promysed to kyng Yon that I shall helpe hym agaynst all men and he in lykewyse hath promysed me but and yf ye wyll make your selfe christen I shal doo it gladly Syr sayd Borgons I wyll yelde me to you for to no better knyght than ye be I cannot yelde my selfe if ye wyll saue my lyfe and my membres Borgons said Reynawde yf ye wyll yelde you to me ye shall haue no more
harme thaÌ„ I shall wyll ye promise me thys said Borgons yea said Reynawde Now hold my swerd sayd Borgons I put my self al together in your hand And Reynawde tooke hys swerde and assured hym that he should not dye and they two went together for to take theyr horses and whan they had theym they lyghted vpon and tooke theyr way towarde Bordews and as they cam againe they met with king Yon that came and hys folke renning agaynst hym as fast as they myght Whan Reynawde saw the kyng he thanked hym muche that he was comyng after hym and presented to hym Borgons that he had thus taken and coÌ„quested as I haue rehersed to you sayd to him Noble king of Gascoyn I beseche you that Borgons haue no harme for I haue assured hym Good freend sayd king yon no more he shall but all honour for the loue of you and I praye to God that I may doo nothynge that is agaynst your wyll And whan Alarde Guycharde Rycharde Mawgys saw Reynawde that brought Borgons prisoner they were neuer so glad for they wend to haue lost hym so ranne they and kyssed hym ful sweetly and made hym great feast and great honour For they had ben in great sorow for the loue of hym BRother sayd Alarde into a great sorow and heuines ye had brought vs this day for we wende that ye had betake but sith that ye haue taken Borgons the warre is doone and blessed be the houre that ye were borne the pappes that ye sucked and whan they were wel feasted they tooke on theyr way towarde Bordews where they led Borgons as a prisoner And whan the kynge yon was at Bordews he lighted downe and tooke with him Reynawde and his brethern by the hande Mawgys also went vp to the palays fouÌ„de his folke that made great feast and he called them to hym and sayd Lordes bere honour and worshyp more to this knyght than to me for I am king of Gascoyn by theyr worthynes and great prowes For if thei had not ben I had ben dead and ouer throwen blessed be that good lorde that dyd put in theyr myndes for to come into this coste for they haue quyted my land haue set all my realme in peace To speake shortlye the kynge made the buty to be dealed Wherof the moste party he made to be gyuen to Reynawde hys bretherne And Reynawde wolde take nothyng of it but gaue it all to his folke and whaÌ„ the kynge saw the great largenes of Reynawde he loued hym more than he did afore and than he sayd that he wolde make Reynawde lorde ouer hym and of all his lande THe kyng yon had a syster the whych was a right fayre damoysell Whan she hearde speake so moch good by Reynawde she called to her a knyght that was called water and sayd to hym tell me by your fayth who hath the pryce of the batayle Madame sayde water I shall tell it you with a good wyll Nowe wyt that Reynawde is the best knyght of all hys brethern of al the world for he tooke Borgons the sarasyn by force wherby he hath brought the warre at an ende whaÌ„ the pucell vnderstode this worde she was ryght glad dyd thanke our lorde for it with al her hert And the king his knightes ceassed not to make ioye for the victory the god had sent to them thorouh the great proâ—esse of the valiauÌ„t Reynawde Whan borgons saw him selfe in pryson he sent worde to kiÌ„g Yon that he should come speake wyth hym And as soone the king Yon wyst of it he went to hym And whan borgons saw him he salued hym after sayd to hym Syr I am your prysoner also the moste party of my folke yf it please you ye shal put me to rauÌ„sone and my men also I shal gyue you .x. horses laden wyth golde for me for my folke Borgons said the kynge I shall doo wyth a good wil yf Reynawde counsel me so and no otherwyse I wyll not doo and thaÌ„ the kyng Yon sent for Reynawde for his bretherne and all hys other barons And whan they were come he helde his counsell howe he should doo for the delyuerance of borgons Reynawde his barons counselled the kyng that he should put borgons to rauÌ„son whaÌ„ the kinge saw that his barons counselled hym the same he made borgons to be called and made his delyuerauÌ„ce to be sygnyfyed vnto hym And thus was borgons delyuered and went with his folke into his countrey yelded Tholouse agayne to kynge Yon sent to hym x. sommers all laden with fyue golde as he had promysed to hym And incontynent that the kynge Yon had receyued them he gaue them to Reynawde and to his brethern but Reynawde did as a worthy knyght For not a penye he wolde take of it nor his bretherne also IT happed vpon a day the Reynawde his bretherne wente in a forest that was not ferre thens toke foure wilde beastes as they were comynge homwarde they fouÌ„d themself vpon the riuer of Gironde as they wente Alarde looked ouer the riuer and saw a hyghe mountain and all hyghe on the toppe of it was a fayre roche And whan Alarde saw so fayre a grounde and so stronge he turned hymself towarde Reynawde and sayde to hym Brother yonder vpon that hyghe Mountayne is a fayre grounde and a strong I beleue that there hath be sometime a castel And yf we myght doo so muche to buylde there a stronge place for our selfe Charlemayne should neuer take vs there And ye wyll beleue me ye shal aske it of kyng Yon and yf he gyueth it to you let vs doo make there a stronge castell Cosyn sayde Mawgys to Reynawde Alarde giueth you good counsell And I pray you that ye wyll doo so as he hath sayd Cosyn sayd Reynawde I shal doo it syth that ye counsell me so And whaÌ„ they were accorded to the same they entred into a barge and wente ouer Gyrounde whan they came a lande they ceassed neuer tyll that they came afore the kynge and presented hym the beastes that they had taken And whan the kynge saw them he receyued them curtoysly for he loued them moche And than the kynge enbraced Reynawde in hys armes THe morowe nexte after that the kynge had hearde masse Reynawde tooke the kynge drew him a lytle at a syde and sayd to him Syr we haue serued you longe well and truly Certes sayd the kynge ye say trouth and therfore I am holde towarde you well for it now looke yf I haue in al my lande cities townes or castelles or other thyng that ye wyl haue for ye shal haue it incoÌ„tineÌ„t Syr sayd Reynawde I thanke you muche of your good wyll But heare my wordes yf it please you say on hardly sayd the kynge Syr sayd Reynawde I and my brethern were the other daye comyng fro the chase and as we came alonge by
wery of the warre so shall they reste them selfe a lytell And whan they shall be fresshe than shal ye mow make warre at youre wyll for euery manne shall than come to it with good wyll And whan themperoure vnderstoode this counseyll he was sore an angred for it that he wente almoste oute of hys witte and as he would haue sayde ayenst the duke Naymes there came a yonge gentylman of greate beautye and brought in his company xxx faire squiers well arayed this yongelynge came to the palays and went vp and whan he came afore the Emperour he made hys obeysaunce to hym full curtessye freend sayde the kynge ye be ryght welcome what winde brought you hither and what be you syr sayde the squier I am called Rowlande of bretayne and I am the sonne of youre sister and of the duke of Myllon THan whan Charlemayne vnderstoode Rowlande speake thus he was right glad of him and tooke him by the hand and kissed him many times sayd to him ye be righte welcome I wil that ye be made a knyghte to morowe in the mornynge ye shall assaye your selfe vpon Reinawde the sonne of Aymon Syr saide Rowland I shall do your commaundement and I promyse you Reynawde shall not be spared of me and he shal not bere awaye nothinge of yours He slewe my cosyn Berthelot wherof I am ryghte sory and therefore I shall auenge hys death yf I may by ony maner or elles Reynawde shall slea me And in the mornynge the kynge Charlemayne dowbed hys neuewe Rowlande to a knyghte with muche Ioye and with great honour as the feast was a doinge there came a messanger that said to the Emperoure Moste hye moste puyssaunte prince your menne of Coloyne recommende them righte humbly to your good grace they doo you to wyt that the sarasyns haue besyeged them and haue hurte them ryghte sore For they haue brent and destroied all the country Wherefore they beseche you ryght humblye that ye come for to helpe socoure them if it be your pleasure or elles they are but dead and vtterly destroyed ANd when the Emperoure vnderstood these tydynges he bowed his head toward the erth and beganne to thinke a litell And whan Rowlande saw his vncle that mused thâ—s in him selfe he said to him wherof be ye so dismayed Geue me some parte of your menne And I shall goe reyse the syege of Coleyne And whan the Emperour heard Rowland speake soo he was ryghte gladde of it and enbraced and kyssed hym full sweetlye and sayde to him fayre neuewe blessed bee the houre that euer ye were borne For I knowe for sertayne that ye shall keep me from payne and trauayle and in you shall be my reste and my comforte And I wyll that ye goe there And than he gaue hym twenty thousand men of armes well horsed and well arayed And whan they were wel apparelled RowlaÌ„d lyghted vpon his horse and sayde to hys vncle the kinge Sir I coÌ„mende you to god Fayre neuew said Charlemaine I haue taken to you my meÌ„ in your keeping I praye you that ye will keep them well do so muche that ye get worship god be with you Sir said Rowlande be not dismaied for at my retourne if it please god ye shal know how that we haue doo And whan he had saide thys worde he tooke leaue of his vncle went on his waye with his folke they rode so longe by their iourneys that they came to Coloine all by nighte put their busshement nyghe their hoste as they were nighe the hoste thei met with certeine sarasins that came againe with a great praie of oxen and sheep and of men women that were their prysoners and made them suffre great martyrdome WHan the frenshemeÌ„ saw their enmies they saide in this maner lordes oure lorde hathe sente vs hyther Heere bene the traytours sarasyns that so sore we haue desired for to fighte with them Now shall it be seene what we shal do with theÌ„ put vs amonge theÌ„ for at this houre they shall be ouerthrowen whan they had spoken ynough they made none other taryinge but spurred their horses and ran vpon the sarasyns by great strengthe so that in a lytle whyle they had them dyscomfited so sharpelye that they slew them all and recouered all the prysoners the bestes ¶ And shortly to speake whan the hoste of the painimes hearde the noise of the frenshemen they moued theim selfe lyghted vpon their horses vpon the frensshemen And whan the frensshemen saw theÌ„ come they went agayne to their busshement as well as they could and beganne to chase theim ANd whan Rowlande sawe that it was time to set vpon he yssued oute of his embusshmente with his folke and went and smote vpon the sarasyns so harde that he casted to the earthe a greate parte of theim And to speake shortly the batayle began so cruell so fell that it was pitie to see For ye should haue seene so many speares broken so many sheldes in two so many sarasins lying dead on the grounde so that with paine men might goe by for the deade men that laye so thicke one vpoÌ„ thother Rowlande spurred his horse with the spurres weÌ„t smote a sarasin that was a kynge the chiefe of the sarasins hoste with so great mighte that he ouerthrewe him to the erthe but he slew hym not of that stroke but taryed vpon hym and gaue to him suche a stroke with his swearde vpon his helme that he made him all astonyed And whan Rowlande sawe hym also euyl araied he bowed hymselfe tooke hym for his prysoner and dyd sette hym againe vpon his hors brought him with hym And whan the sarasyns sawe their lorde taken and sawe the wundres of armes that Rowland made and of the frenshemenne they put theimselfe to flyghte full shamefully And whan Rowlande saw the sarasins flee thus he cried wyth a hyghe voice Lordes goe after theym for they flee al and if they scape vs it shal be to vs a greate blame towarde myne vncle the kyng Charlemaine and we shal be holden for cowardes wherfore I pray you lette not one escape for ye shall haue theym lyghtlye syth that I holde in my hande theyr kyng Whan the frenshemenne heard RowlaÌ„d speke thus they said free knight be not dysmaied of nothyng for we make no doubte that none of theym shall scape but they shal be taken or slayne Lordes sayde than the king sarasin that Rowland had taken that had to name Escorfawde They bene all mine I praye you that ye kylle theym not for they ben all ynough discomfited sith that ye haue taken me but gyue theym truce and haue me to kyng Charlemayne yf it please you And yf ye may doo so much that Charlemaine pardone me the great offence that I haue done to him I shall boide fro hence forth all myne heritage of him yet all my lygnage shall
be obeysaunte vnto his will and of this ye may beleue me By my heade sayde Rowlande ye speake curteously by my faith saide Naimes Escorfawde sayth well and we shall doo so they gaue truce to the sarasins and tooke their waie againe to Charlemayne brought Escorfawde with theym and so long they rode that they came to Paris And whaÌ„ the king Charlemayne knewe that his neuewe Rowlande was come againe to Parys and that he had dyscomfyted the sarasins and brought prisoner with him kyng Escorfawde he was right glad of it and anon he mounted on horsebacke and came ayenst his neuewe Rowlande And whan Rowland saw him he lighted down from hys horse and went and kest hym selfe to the feet of kyng Charlemayne his vncle And anon he made him to rise vp and kyssed him sweetly And than Rowlande said to him Sir here I deliuer vnto you the king Escorfawde that we haue taken He hath tolde vs that he shal make himselfe a christen maÌ„ and that he his lignage shal holde their landes of you yf ye will pardone him youre ylle wyll Neuewe sayde the king Charlemayne there is no trust in him and therfore I wil keeâ— me from hym Than commaunded the emperoure that Escorfaude shoulde be brought to prison and that he shoulde be wel kept and that he shoulde haue all his will of meate drinke And after whan Escorfawde was put in prison the king Charlemayne dyd calle to him the Duke Naymes and sayde to him what thinke you by my neuew Rowlande what dyd he whan the batayl was assembled Sir sayde the duke Naymes of Rowlande nedeth not to speke for neuer sith that god was borne of the vyrgin Marie suche a knight was not seen For he alone hath ouercome the sarasins by hys great prowes And yf he had a horse that might beare him whan he were armed I swere by my fayth that ye should neuer haue enmye but that he should bring him to your mercye by force of armes So muche he is prue and valyaunte The kyng Charlemayn swore by his head that he was right glad therof But tell me sayde he to the duke Naymes where might menne fynde suche a good horse as ye speake of Sir sayd the duke Naymes yf ye will beleue me I shal geue you good counseyll Make to be cryed with a trompet vpon Mounte martyr that ye wyll see renne al the horses of your hoste And he that shal renne best shal win youre crowne of golde and fyue huÌ„dred marke of fine syluer and a hundred rolles of sylke And all thus ye shall mowe knowe the best horse of your realme And whan ye shall haue seen him by hym and gyue hym to your neuewe Rowlande and after gyue leue to all youre barons vnto the feast of saynt Iohn the baptyst next comming Duke Naymes said the Emperoure Charlemaine ye gyue me good counseyll I shal doo thus as ye haue deuised Than the kinge Charlemayne made to be cryed vpon Mounte martyr euyn thus as the duke Naymes had deuised and did make the listes for the horses to renne in And whan thys was done he made his crown to be sette at the ende of the lystes and also the fyue hundred marke of siluer and the hundred rolles of sylke and this hanging a yeman went to hys countrey in Gascoine and as he passed thorough MouÌ„tawbaÌ„ he recounted to Reynawde and to Mawgys all the thyng that menne wolde doo at Paris And how Rowlande was come to the courte And how he had dyscomfited Escorfawde the kyng sarasyn and howe the king Charlemayne wolde haue the best horse of all his realme for to gyue hym to Rowlande and shewed the sayd yoman the price that the King had â—et And also how the Emperour Charlemayne gathered his hoste for to come to Mountawban And howe the course of the horses should be made at saint Iohns time next commyng THan whan Reinawd vnderstode this worde he began to laugh and after he said to Mawgis Cosyn by all halowes of god Charlemaine shal see the best turne of the worlde but he shall not knowe that I shall haue his crowne For I will goe there vpon Bayarde to see how he shall proue himselfe at this time Syr sayd Mawgis ye shall not doo so yet but and if ye will goe there suffre that I here you companye so shal you be more sure haue with vs knightes well armed Gladly sayde Reynawde sith that ye will doo so whan it was time for to mâ—ue towarde Paris Reinawde called to him Alarde Guycharde and Rycharde his brethren and Mawgis hys Cosyn and sayd vnto theym It is time that we goe to Paris Take knightes chosen and put oure selfe in the waye Syr sayde his bretherne your commaundemente shall be doone And whan they were all appareylled Reynawd came to his wyfe and sayde to her Lady I praye you that ye doo keep wel my castel and I shal come sone againe Syr sayde she coÌ„maunde your knightes that they ben not oute of the waye and I promyse you if the king yon my brother came himself he should nor come in nor none other vnto the time that ye be come again Now go god be with you Than tooke Reinawde leue of his wife sette himselfe toward the waye and his folke went to Paris And whan they were come to OrleauÌ„ce had passed the riuer of Loire menne asked theym of whens they were And Mawgis that spake for them all answered Lordes we bene Bournoys that goe to Paris for to assaye our horses for to win the price that the kinge hathe set vpon Yf god will so consente Than by fayre wordes they passed forthe so long they rode that they came to Melym but they entred not within the towne but lodged theym selfe in a great valey and there they soiourned theym selfe and their horses foure dayes THan whan came the euen of saint Iohan Reynawde called Mawgis saide to him What shall we do to morowe shall be the courses of the horses wherfore I say that it is couenable that we goe lye to night at paris cosin saide Mawgis ye say wel wisely Nowe lette me do a litilâ— and please you Than tooke Mawgis an herbe stamped it vpoÌ„ a stone with the pomel of hys swerde and tempered it with water and rubbed bayarde therwith so that anon he became all white in suche wise that they that had seen him before knew him not after he enointed Reynawde with an oyntymente that he bare alwaies with him in continente he became to the age of xx yeres And whaÌ„ he had thus aturned Reynawde his horse he tooke hym brought him afore his brethren afore the other knightes said to them Lordes tel me how thynke you haue I not wel traÌ„sfigured him shall not they maye come againe and not be knowen Behold bayard how he is wexen white he shall lese the price for age THan whan the barons saw
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
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
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
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
hym with his brother vpon the horse necke and after put them selfe afore to breake the prece of the Frenchemē And they did so muche that they came to the roche But wyt it well that Reynawde made there so great faytes armes that all hys enemyes were meruaylled with all For he slewe at that tyme wel thyrty knightes that neuer wylde Bore nor tygre nor Lyon nor Bere dyd that Reynawde made there of his body But for to say the trouthe Reynawde setted nought by his lyfe and ieoparde himself al together for he was as a man desperate And whan they were come to the roche Alarde set downe his brother Rychard to the erth And began to defende quyckly but I wot not how they might endure for they had nother Castell nor fortresse but onlye the roche ALl thus as the three brethern defended theymselfe wyth greate woe Than came there Ogier the dane and hys folke and had in his company Magon of Frise with well a thousande knyghtes cryed vpon Reynawde Certes knight ye shal be dead wee haue sworne your death This day is the departyng that ye your brethern shall suffre death Ye did as fooles whan ye beleued the kynge You for he hath put you all to death Whan Alarde saw so great folke come he was sore an angred and sayd to Guycharde See howe great a sorow is heere afore vs and the great nombre of folke that be redy for to slea vs foure knightes certes yf we were fyue hundred wel armed yet should not we scape for they ben wel armed and a great quantiti of knightes Surely sayd Guichard heere is a meruaylouse companye but yf God helpe vs nowe wee ben com to the ende of our dayes It is no great dommage of me nother of Richarde but the great dommage is of Reynawde that is the best knyghte of the worlde And whan Alarde and Guycharde had spoken togyder they wente to Reynawde and kyssed him full sore wepynge and sayde vnto hym O brother Reynawde giue vs a gyfte yf it please you for the loue of oure lorde God Lordes sayde Reynawde what thynge aske you of me ye know wel ynough that I can not helpe you of no thing and thys day muste I needes see you dye before min eyen BRother said Alarde Herke what we wyll tell you and yf it please you ye shall doo it Say on hardely sayde Reynawde Brother sayde Alarde men sayen comenly that it is better to doone one harme than two I say thys bycause that if ye dye heere it shal be great dommage the losse shal neuer be recouered agayne for none shall auenge your death but though we dye heere and not you it shal be no great domage for ye shal auenge vs wel and therfore we pray you sweet brother for al the pleasures that ye wolde doo euer to vs that ye wyll goe your wayes and wee shall abyde heere And whan the death shal come we shall take it a worthe This that we say ye may well doo for ye be well horsed and ye shal wel saue your selfe maugre the Frenche men yf they goe to Mountawban whan ye be at Mountawban lyght vpon Bayarde well armed bringe anon wyth you our cosyn Mawgys for to succour vs. Brother sayd Reinawde ye speake to folyshlye Certes I wolde not doo so for all the golde of the worlde I should be sore bad and full vnkynde yf I dyd so for I coulde not spyll my selfe souer than for to leaue you in so great peryll Other we shall all scape or els we shal all dye together for the one shall not fayle the other as longe as we may lyue now God that suffred death and passion saue vs. Thus as Reynawde spake to hys bretherne came the erle Guymarde to whome God gyue euyl aduenture and sayd to Reynawde knight ye be take and ye must dye wyth shame vpon thys roche Whan ye beleued the kynge You ye dyd great foly He wrought great treason whan he dyd sell you to the kynge Charlemayne that hateth you so muche for ye loued hym more than ye dyd your cosin Mawgys He hath well rewarded you for the great loue that ye ought to him tell me Reynawde whether ye wyll yeeld you or defēde you Certes sayd Reynawde now speke ye for nought I shall neuer yeeld me as longe as I am a liue Reynawde sayd than Ogyer what wyll ye doo wee cannot helpe you of nothynge other gyue your selfe vp or defende your selfe Ogyer sayd Reynawde by hym that made the worlde I shall neuer yeeld me I was neuer no theefe and therfore wyl I not be hanged I haue leuer dye like a knyght than to hange lyke a theefe Lordes sayd Guimard let vs sawte them for they shall not may kepe longe agaynst vs. Lordes sayd Ogyer ye maye well sawte thē if ye wil but bi my soule I shal doo thē nothyng for they ben my cosins nor I shall not helpe theym For ye shall take them well wythout me Certes sayd the Frenche men we shall than assayle them worthely Than Ogyer drewe hymselfe and all hys folke a syde wel the length of a bow shot and began to make so great sorowe as thoughe all the worlde had finisshed afore hys eyen and all hys sorow was for Reynawde hys cosyn and for hys brethern and thus as he made his mone he began for to saye Ha fayre cosin Reynawde it is great pitie of your death And I vnhappy mā that am of your kynne suffre you to dye afore myne eyen yet I cannot helpe you for I haue it promysed to Charlemayne nor I ought not for to breake myne othe But the historye telleth that Ogyer duaange himselfe greatly that day And through his purchace the foure sonnes of Aymon scaped For yf he wolde haue put payne to it they should not haue scaped by no maner but as men sayd True bloud maye not lye BEfore the roche were foure Erles for to sawte the foure Sonnes of Aymon and made them moche a doo For theyr folke sawted thē in foure partyes Wherof Reynawde kepte the two partes and Alarde Guycharde kepte the other tweyne For Richarde lay downe vpon the erth sore wounded as I tolde you afore And yet was Guicharde woūded sore throughe the thye wherof he had bled so longe that ye was feynt and fell downe to the erth And whā he sawe that he myght no more defend he began to cal vpō Reynawde and sayde Ha Reynawde fayre brother let vs yeeld vs I pray you for I nor Richarde maye no more helpe you Brother sayd Reynawde what say you now shew ye wel that ye be ferdfull but I let you wyt that yf I trowed to scape other for Golde or for Syluer or for Citie or for Castelles or my horse Bayarde that I loue so muche I should haue yeeld me prisoner to daye in the mornynge For ye wot well that yf we ben take that all the golde that is in all the
put downe hys pryde but onelye Reynawde ⧠But heere I leue to speake of Rowlande Oliuer and of Ogier and of their folke and of the kynge yon of Gascoygne that they brought wyth them for to be hanged and retourne agayne to shew of the foure sonnes of Aymon ⧠Howe after that Reinawde and his brethern were garnished of their woundes that they had in the plaine of Valcoloures they went agayn to Mountawban And howe they rescued the kynge yon from the handes of Rowlande ⧠Capitulum .xi. IN this partye sheweth the history that whan Reinawd and his brethern were wel whole of their woundes by the helpe of Mawgys that had healed them they put theym selfe vnto the waye againe towarde Mountawbā And whan they were come there my ladye Clare went ayenst thē and broughte with her two chyldren yonnet and Aymonet that had wept and scratched theyr sweet vysages so sore that there appeered of theym nother eyen nor mouthes alwayes they wist not wherfore they dyd so for they were verye yonge And she also was all dysfygured for weepyng and of great lamentacions that she made for she wyst well how her brother the kynge yon had betraied Reynawde her housbond and his bretherne and wende that they had been dead But whan she sawe them come she was neuer so gladde And the two children ran at their fathers feete wolde haue kyssed them And whan Reinawd saw that he shoued theym away with his feete so strōglye that he had almoste broste theym And the lady wolde haue taken him in her armes and kyssed hym but he wold not suffre her and fayde to her Ladye goe oute of my syghte to your brother that fellon cruell and false traytoure for ye shall neuer haue my loue again for it hathe not holden in him but that we shoulde haue be deade by thys tyme yf God and oure cosyn Mawgis had not succoured vs nowe goe after hym all a foote and without companye for ye shall not take nothynge of myne and as an euyll woman ye shall goe youre wayes for ye be the syster of the king yon the greatest traytoure and the vntruest kinge of the worlde and I shall angre your chyldren for I feare me lest they should be traytours as theyr vncle Sir for god mercy sayd the ladi I shal swere to you vpon al halowes that I had doubt of your goynge and many times I dyd tell you of it through the occasion of the dreme that I dremed that night and I tolde you that ye should not beleue the king my brother And not withstandyng that he was my brother I doubted this that is be fallen syth Sir for God I cry you mercy for in this I am nothinge giltye and so God haue mercy of my soule For I loue moche better the least toe of your foote than al king Yon my brother nor all the lande of Gascoin And whan she had sayd this she fel downe in a swoune vpon the feete of Reynawd And whā Guicharde saw the Ladye in a swoune he tooke her vp sayde to her Madame discomfort not your selfe so sort let Reynawde saye hys wyll for ye be our owne Lady and our syster now be of good cheere as long as we be aliue we shal not fayle you and thoughe our brother Reynawde fayle you we shal not doo so but we shall serue you wyth all our hert Brother sayd Rycharde let vs doo one thyng go we pray our brother Reynawde that he pardon my lady our syster hys euyll wyll for she is not gilty in the mater And yf we wolde haue beleued her wee should not haue gone one foote out of thys place and now we ought to shewe the green and the russet Mantelles of ermynes the good horses and palfreys that mi lady did giue vs more oftener than did Reynawde now let vs rewarde her for it for she hath mystre of it and at the ende the freende is knowen By my fayth sayd Alarde ye saye well And than wente the three brethern vnto Reynawde and drewe hym a syde and after Alarde sayd to hym Fayre brother for goddes loue be not thus angrye for ye knowe that my Lady hath no culpe at all the treason that her brother that king yon hath doone to vs. For if ye wolde haue beleued her wee should not haue gone thether Wherfore we praye you that ye wyll pardon her Than sayd Reynawde my brethern for the loue of you I graunt the same and I pardon her myne euill wyll presently Whan the brethern vnderstode him they were ryght glad and came to the Lady Clare and sayd to her Madame be of good cheere and make ioye for we haue made youre peace And than Alarde and Guycharde tooke her by the handes and brought her to her husbād Reynawd whan Reynawde saw her he went and tooke her by the chyn and kissed her And than began the ioy and the feast ryght great at Mountawban And they wasshed their handes and went to theyr meate And thus as they sat at the table there came in the messanger of the king Yon that cam to Reynawde and whā he was afore Reynawde he sayd to hym Syr the kyng Yon sendeth you worde by me that ye com to succour him for other wyse he cannot scape the death For Rowlād and Olyuer ledeth him for to be hanged at Mountfawcon and doo thys syr yf it please you for god and beholde not his euyll wyl but take heed to your goodnes for oure Lorde pardonned Mary Magdalen and longis of their sinnes He knoweth well that he hath deserued death for the great faute that he hath doon to you and yf ye slea him he pardonneth to you his death GOddes curse haue he sayd Alarde that shall set hys foote thitherwarde nor that shal bye him agayne though he might be had for a strawe but goddes curse haue Rowland yf he hāgeth him not as a traytour approued whā Reynawde had heard this that the messanger sayd he looked downwarde and studied a good whyle that he sayd no worde whan he had thought long ynough he begā to weepe beholding his bretherne for a good herte can not lye whā it cometh to a need Than sayd he a good reason as a noble knight Lordes sayd Reynawde to hys brethern to his knightes Now heare what I wyll say to you Ye knowe how I was disherited at paris wrōgefully vpon a feast of Penthecoste that Charlemaine helde open court and full in hys palays where was a compani of great lordes For there were .vii. hundred knyghtes all gentilmen bothe of name and of armes and a hondred what of Dukes and of Erles and more than foure score bysshopes and many barons that tyme was slayne the duke Benes of Aygremount myne vncle that was so good a knyght as men knew wel I dyd aske right for him to Charlemayne afore all hys courte wherof the kynge rebuked me and called me all to nought and greate iniurye he sayd
suche a childe as ye take me for Whan Rowlande felte that great stroke that Reinawde had gyuen to hym he was all meruaylled of it and withdrewe hymselfe a backe for he wold not that Reynawd should haue recouered a nother stroke vpon hym sodenly and sette hande to Durandall his good swerde and ranne vpon Reinawde and Reynawd helde his sheelde ayenst it and Rowlande smot in to the sheelde so great a stroke that he cloue it by the middes through and through the stroke descended vpon the helme and dyd it no harme And whan Rowland had made that stroke he said to Reinawd Vassail ye be now quite for I haue yelded you againe that ye lended me ryghte nowe Nowe shall I see who shall begynne agayne By my soule sayd Reinawde fowle fall haue I now yf I feyne me nowe For I dyd but playe afore nor your fraunchyse shal neuer auaylle you ayenst me but that I shall brynge youre pryde all downe to the erthe Reynawde said Rowland yf ye doo this that ye say ye shall werke merueilles And all thus as they wold haue begon again the bataylle so came there Mawgis al his company said to Reinawd Cosyn mounte vpon bayarde for it were to great a losse yf you or Rowlande were deade there came Ogier Olyuer and made Rowland to light agayne vpon his horse But wit it well that Ogyer had not be so gladde yf one had giue to him a great cytie as he was be cause that Reynawde had cast downe Rowland his horse And whan they had recouÌ„tred Rowland they began a sore batayle and a cruell and so fell that it was pytie for to see for the one hewe the other without anye mercye And whan Rowland sawe that the batail was begon again his hert dyd swell for angre by cause that Reinawde bad ouerthrowen him to the ground so beganne he to cal as hyghe as he myght Where are ye gone Reynawde the sonne of Aymon goe a side and lette vs parfornyshe our batayl for men knowe not yet whiche is the best knyghte of vs two Syr sayde Reynawde ye haue the courage of a knyght that wyll conquere honour but and we fyght heere togyther our folke shall not suffre it But lette vs doo one thyng that I shall tell you ye be well horsed and I am also let vs bothe swyme ouer the ryuer and goe to the wood of serpente For ye canne not wyshe no better place for to fyght and we shal not be there departed th one fro the other of our folke but wâ— shall maye fyght there togyther tyll the one of vs two be discomfited ouercome Certes sayde Rowlande ye haue well spoken and I graunt it as ye haue said and thaÌ„ they spurrrd their horses for to goe to the wood of the serpent but Olyuer tooke heed to them tooke RowlaÌ„d by the brydell and withhelde hym wolde he or no and Reinawde went for to haue passed ouer the ryuer vpon bayarde that ran as the winde and walloped so harde that he made al the erthe where he passed to shake vnder him as he raÌ„ in this maner he looked afore him saw the king yon that was auyronned with well foure score knightes that keept hym for feare of Reinawd lest he and his bretherne shoulde haue rescued hym these knyghtes ledde him shamefullie as ye haue hearde afore And whaÌ„ Reynawde sawe the kyng he was gladde of it and sayd Ha good lorde blessed be thy name whan ye haue graunted me so fayre aduenture and with this he set hande to hys swerd and spuâ—red bayard with the spurres and cried as highe as he could lette goe the kyng yon euell folke that ye be For ye be not worthy to ley hande vpon him And than he entred wyth in them and smot a knight vpon his helme so rudely that he cloue his head to the harde teeth and ouerthrewe him dead to the earth And whan the other sawe Reynawd amonge them they put themselfe to flyght and said the one to the other The deuyll hath brought this cruell man heere nowe lette vs flee goddes curse haue he that shall abide him for the soule of hym that wilfully suffreth him selfe to be slaine shall neuer come to the mercye of god And than they put themselfe into the thyckest of the forest and lefte behynde theym the kynge yon that they lodged as a prysoner And Reynawd came streyght to hym and vnbounde hym and vnstopped hys eyen and after sayde to hym Ha euell kynge how haue ye the hert for to betray vs so falslye as ye haue doone me and my brethern dyd we euer any thing that was in your displeasure It is not longe on you but that we should haue been all hanged by this but I shal smite of your head euen anon and shall auenge me and my bretherne vpon your body WhaÌ„ the kynge yon sawe Reynawde that hadde delyuered hym he kneeled a downe before hym and sayde to him Certes noble knyghte it is well reason that men slea me Wherof I pray you for god that your selfe will take the lyfe fro me and cut of my heade and lette it be doone by none other and pulle out my tonge wherwyth I spake that treason For I haue well deserued greater martyrdom and all this made me doo the erle of Ansom and the erle Anthony Now slea me for god for such an euil man as I am oughte not to liue longe I haue much leuer that ye kill me with your swerde than that cruell kynge Charlemayne should make me to be hanged Now lyghte vp sayde Reynawde for ye shall be well payed as ye haue deserued ⧠But heere leaue I to speake of the kyng yon of Gascoyne and of Reinawde that been in the wood of the serpente where that he taryed after Rowland for to fight with him as he had promysed vnto hym and shal retourne for to speake of Rowland and of Oliuer that spake vnto their folke for to tell theym a parte of their besines howe they had be dyscomfyted IN this parte sheweth the history that after Reinawd was departed from the bataylle for to goe fight body to body ayenst Rowlande the neuewe of the king Charlematiâ— in the wood of the serpente Rowland Olyuer and Ogier the Dane fought ayenst Alarde Guycharde and the litell Rychard ayenst Mawgys and ayenst theyr folke and the batayle was there so sharpe and so fell of one parte and of the other so that greate hurte and scathe was there made of both partes but at the laste the dyscomfyture turned vpon Rowlande and vpon his folke In so muche that Rowlande and Olyuer were constrayned by force for to goe backe againe all dyscomfyted for the three bretherne and Mawgis made ayenst them so greate efforte of armes that they gate the pryce that daye And thus as Rowlande wente backe againe all dyscomfyted he bare his head low for he was a shamed that he had be so
not me nay wtout fawt sayd Ogier For ye bere the armes the baner of Rypus I haue done so syr said Riâ—hard bycause that I should not be knowen By my soule sayde Ogyer I wil see your face naked For otherwyse I wyll not beleue the that ye saye Syr sayde Richarde and ye shal see me anon And than he vnbuckled his helme shewed hys vysage And whan Ogyer sawe him he was right glad and wente and kissed the mouth of Richarde ful sweetly and tooke him in hys armes many tymes and sayd to Richarde all laughynge Cosyn what haue ye doone of Ripus by mi fayth sayd Rycharde he is nowe Archebisshop of the feeldes giuyng the benediccion wyth his foote For my brother Reynawde hath haÌ„ged hym with his owne handes wolde not suffre yâ— none other should set hande vpon hym but only hymselfe by my soule sayd Ogier he hath doone right well And than he sayde to Rycharde fayre Cosin see to your selfe for heere cometh Charlemayne and god be with you thus returned ogier And whan Charlemayne saw Ogier he sayd to hym why went ye towarde Ripus afore me Syr said Ogier if ye were not so nyghe me I should smite of his hed But I dare not doo it for loue of you goe yee to hiÌ„ for I make you sure he shal haue none harme by me Then sayd Charlemayne I shal defende him against al men And than he spurred the horse with the spurres came to Richard weenyng to him that it had ben Ripus and sayd to him come nere my specyall freende Ripus and take no feare of nothynge For I shall keepe you agaynst all men WhaÌ„ Rycharde heard Charlemayne speake thus he sayde to hym I wyll that ye knowe now that I am not the false traytoure Ripus but I am Richarde the soÌ„ne of Aymon and I am the brother of Reynawde the beste knight of all the worlde and of Alarde and of Guycharde and cosyn to the valyaunte Mawgis that ye loue so muche ye smote me to day in the mornyng with a staffe in the head whereof ye mysdyd greatly and therfore my brother Reynawde hath hanged your ryght welbeloued rypus there as he wold haue lodged me and .xv. of his felawes with hym for to beare hym felawshyp now beware of me for I defye you Whan Charlemayne vnderstode these wordes he was so sore an angred of it that none can be more and spurred his horse and ran vpon Rycharde Richarde agaynst him and gaue the one to the other so great strokes in theyr sheldes that they brake bothe theyr speres al iÌ„ peeres And with the same they recountred eche other with their bodyes so mightly that the strongest of bothe habandon ned the stiropes but it happed wel to Charlemayne that he abode within tharsons of the sadle but Richarde fell downe to the erth And whan Rycharde saw himself a ground he was wrothe for it rose vp quicklye and set hande vnto his swerde and went and smote Charlemayne vpon hys helme so great a stroke that he maâ—e him all astonyed withal but the swerd slyded vpon the helme that was good and fiue downe vnto the horse necke so harde that he cut it a sundre and wyth this stroke he felled the horse sterke dead and by all thus was Charlemayne brought to the grounde And whan Charlemayne saw hym selfe a grouÌ„de he was sore an angred for it and lept vpon his feete ryght quyckely and tooke hys swerde in hys hande and smote Richarde vpoÌ„ his helme so harde that he made him reele withal and than begaÌ„ betwene Charlemayne and Rycharde a sore sharpe medlyng And whan they had fought a great whyle together charlemayne began to crye Mountioye saynt Denys And whan Rycharde hearde this he drew him a syde and tooke hys horne and souned it right hye so that his brethern heard it wel and so did Mawgys And than incoÌ„tyneÌ„t they spurred theyr horses and came towarde Rycharde for to succour hym And than sayd Mawgys I doubt me that Rycharde is taken but we shall dye al wyth hym or els we shall haue hym agayne GReate dylygence made Reynawde for to succour Richard And whan he was come where he was he cryed sodaynly Mountawban and Alarde pauereyment Guycharde BalaÌ„con Richarde ardeyn and Mawgis went ranne vpon a knight that was called magon other wyse Sampson Lorde of Pierrefrit and rought hym suche a stroke that he felled hym dead to the grounde Reynawd smote vpon another knight by suche a wyse thar he shoued his swerde throughe and throughe his bodye Guycharde smote another with hys swerde so fyersly that he cleued his head in two peces Alarde smote the fourth knyght vpon his helme so great a stroke that he caste hym dead to fore hys feete after he ranne vpon another knyght rychely arayed and gaue eche other suche strokes that they bothe fell downe from theyr horses to the erth than came there Reynawde that dyd so muche that the sayde knyght was taken prysoner whych was called Hughe of Almayne brought hym to mouÌ„tawban what shal I tel you more the batayle began to be fell so cruel that it was great pitie for to se for the one spared not the other but slew eche other as thicke as beastes And whaÌ„ Reynawde saw al redy that the Sunne was gone vnder that the night came fast on he was in a doubt for his brethern sayd good lorde through thy mercy and redempcion keep me my brethern from death and from prison for the night that is at hand maketh me to be aferde And as he spake these wordes came there king Charlemayne as fast as his horse myght walop agaynst Reynawde and Reynawde against him bicause he knew him not smote eche other so harde in theyr sheeldes that they made theyr speres to flee in peces and recouÌ„tred together bothe with theyr bodyes sheeldes so meruaylously that they ouerthrew eche other to the ground and than they rose quicklye bothe at ones set hande to theyr swerdes than Charlemayne began to crye Mountioye Saynte Denys and after sayd if I be outraged by one knight only I ought not for to be a kiÌ„g nor to bere crowne WhaÌ„ Reynawde vnderstode Charlemayne speake he knew him well withdrewe hiÌ„self a side sayd Alas how am I dyffamed it is charlemayn to whom I haue lousted I haue misprised to sore for to haue set hande vpon hym Ha good lorde it is wel .xvi. yeres a gone that I spake not ones with hym but I shal now speke to hiÌ„ if I shoulde dye for it for by reason ryght I ought to lese the fyrst wherfore I will make to hym a mendes presently and let him doo with me what he wyll and whan he had sayd this he went to Charlemayne and kneeled before him and sayd to him Sir for God I crye you mercy gyue me trewes tyll that I haue spoken wyth you With
a good wyll sayd Charlemayne but I wote not who ye be how be it that ye haue iusted with me I thanke you huÌ„bly sayd Reynawd of that it pleaseth you to saye so by me Syr wyt that I am Reynawde the sonne of Aymon and I crye you mercy And for that pytie that oure lorde had vpon the crosse of hys mother whan he recommended her to saynte Iohn his disciple I beseche you that ye wyll haue pitie vpon me and vpon my bretherne ye knowe that I am your man and ye haue disherited me of my landes and haue chased me out of Fraunce It is a goe .xvi. yeres and by cause of thys are dead so many noble knyghtes and valyaunt men and other in so great nuÌ„bre that it can not be sayd For God ye see well what losse that cometh of the warre for a lorde that hath no piti in hym hath a hert as hard as a stone And therfore syr I beseche you for god that ye haue merci on me and of my brethern that ben such knyghtes as ye know I speke not these wordes for feare of death ne for couetyse of richesse For god gramerri we haue goodes ynough but I speake it for to haue your loue onely Syr suffre that we haue peace with you and we shall become your men for euermore and we shall swere to you fayth and legeaunce and also I shal gyue you MouÌ„talban and my good horse bayarde which is the thing that I loue best in this worlde after my brethern and Mawgis For there is not in all the worlde suche another horse And yf thys caÌ„not satisfy your mind I shal doo yet more pleseth it to you for to pardon my bretherne and I shall for swere FrauÌ„ce for euermore that I shall neuer be seen there And I shal goe to the holy sepulcre in Ierusalem bare foote for the remembraunce of you and I nor Mawgys shal neuer come agayne into FrauÌ„ce but we shall warre styll on goddes enemyes as ben turckes and Sarasyns THan whaÌ„ Charlemayn hear de Reynawde speake thus he answered hym and sayde Reynawde ye speake for nought ye dyd an ouer great foly whan ye tooke that hardines vpon for to speake with me in my palays as ye dyd and yet yee dyd worse whan ye slew my nenew berthelot that I loued so muche now ye speake of peace ye crie me merci I promyse you for certayne that ye shall haue no peace with me but yf ye doo that I shal tell you Syr said Reinawde what shall that be tel me I pray you I shall shewe it to you wyth a good wil sayd Charlemayne and if ye doo it ye and your brethern shall accorde wyth me and I shall gyue you agayne your heritage and yet I shal gyue you ynough of myne owne It is that ye gyue me Mawgis in my handes for to doo my pleasure with hym For I hate him more than ony thyng in the worlde Syr sayd Reynawde yf I should deliuer hym to you what wolde ye doo to hiÌ„ Reynawde sayd Charlemayne I ê“myse you I should make hym to be drawen shamefully at foure horses tayles through Parys after that I should take from the body of hym the lymmes one after another and than I should make hym to be brent and his asshes to be cast at the winde And whan he shall be arayed as I tell you let hym than doo his incaÌ„tacions his magyke as he wyll I pardon hym all that he can doo to me after yâ— Than sayd Reynawde to the Kynge Syr wolde ye doo it in deed as ye say yea said Charlemayne in good fayth Emperour sayd Reinawde wolde you not take townes ne castelles golde nor syluer for the raunsom of Maugis certes nay sayd Charlemayne Syr sayd Reynawde than shall we neuer be accorded to gither For I tell you for certeyn that yf ye had all my bretherne in your pryson and that ye were delibered for to make them to be hanged yet should I not gyue you mawgys for to haue them delyuered oute of your handes Holde your peace than sayd Charlemayne and beware of me for otherwyse get ye no peace wyth mee Syr sayd Reynawde I am sory for it for we be no men that ought to be caste from your sexuyse and sith that ye defye me I shal defend me and our lorde shall me doo that grace yf it please hym that I shall not betake of you And whan Charlemaine heard this he was sore angry and ranne vpon Reynawde and whan Reynawde sawe hym come vpon hym he sayd to hiÌ„ Syr for god mercy suffre not that I sette hande vpon you For if I should let my selfe for to be slayne by you I wexe well a myschauÌ„t Vassayl sayd Charlemayne these wordes auaileth you not for ye muste needes defende yourself And thaÌ„ Charlemayne smote hym with Ioyuse his swerde vpoÌ„ his helme and the stroke slided downe vpon the sheelde of Reinawde so that he kytted quyte and clene a great parte therof WhaÌ„ Reinawde felt so greate a stroke that kynge Charlemayne had gyueÌ„ hym he was sore an angred for it He vaunced hym selfe foorth and caught the kyng with bothe his armes by the backe by the waste in maner of wrastelynge For he wolde not smyte hym with his swerde flaÌ„berge and tooke layd him vpon the necke of his horse baiard for to haue brought hym with hym to Mountawban without any other harme And whan Charlemayne sawe that he was haÌ„deled of this fation he began to crye as lowde as he myghte Mountioye saynt Denys and than he sayd ha fayre nenew Rowlande where be you Oliuer of vyenne and ye duke Naymes and bysshop Turpyn shall ye suffre that I be thus taken and brought as a prysoners and if ye doo so it shal be a great shame to you al Reynawde began thaÌ„ to crye Mountawban as hyghe as he coulde whan he heard Charlemayne speake so And after he sayd ha my brethern and ye cosyn Mawgis come hyther and let vs goe for I haue gyuen the kyng suche a checke that if we canne now brynge him with vs wee shall haue peace in FrauÌ„ce froÌ„ hens forth on Than the noble peres of FrauÌ„ce as Rowland Oliuer the other cam to the succours of Charlemayne and of that other parte came there for to helpe Reynawde his bretherne and Mawgis wel foure huÌ„dred knightes well armed And whan the valyaunt knightes were assembled together of bothe partyes ye should than haue seen a merueylous batayle For they slewe eche other as beastes and there were so many speres broken and so manye sheeldes clouen and hewed into peeces and so manâ— helmes vnbuckled and so manye a quiras broken and perced and so many horses that drewe after theyr guttes a longe in the feeldes and so manye a man slayne that it was pytie for to see And whan Rowland was come to the meddle he wente vpon Reynawde and gaue him so great a stroke vpon his helme
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
his swerde and girded about him and then after he weÌ„t to Rowland and tooke from him durandal his good swerde and after he tooke Hauteclere from Oliuer and Cortyn from Ogier And after thys he went to the coffres and tooke there out all the treasour of Charlemayne and went with all this streyght to Mountawban And whan Mawgis had taken all this he tooke an herbe and rubbed Charlemaynes nose and his lippes with it and vnhosed hym and after he shoued him wyth the fynger and sayde to hym awake sir emperoure I promysed you yester night that I should not goe wythout I should take my leue of you farewell I goe now And whan he had sayde this he went out of the pauilion and set him to the way towarde Mountawban And whan Charlemayne vnderstoode that Mawgys had said to him he rose vpon hys feete so wrothe that menne could be no more and called vpon hys twelue peeres that he coulde not awake And whan he sawe that he bethought hymselfe an herbe that he had broughte wyth hym from beyonde the greate sea and tooke it and rubbed withall the nose the mouth and the eien of Rowlande and in like wise to all the other .xii. peeres of FrauÌ„ce and incoÌ„tinent they were awaked and rose vpon their feete sore abashed whaÌ„ they were all awaked they beganne to looke the one vpon the other And the first that began to speke was the duke Naymes that sayde to the king where is mawgies By my soule sayd Charlemayne ye shall delyuer him me agayne for ye haue let hym goe wilfully For yf ye wolde haue suffred me to haue hanged him yesterday I had be otherwyse ryd of hym Rowlande said Olyuer sawe ye him goe hens Naye by saynt Denys said Rowland I saw him wel goe saide Charlemaine Syr said Rowland ye ought thenne to haue tolde vs of it for he shoulde not haue escaped so And in saying this Rowland loketh at his side and he sawe not durandal his swerde wherof he did cast a great sighe And than Charlemayne sayde to him Neuew where is your swerd by my head I know well that the theef Mawgis hath be wytched vs. For none of vs hath his swerde and also he hath my hosen with him Nowe hath he well mocked vs. ANd whan the .xii. peeres of fraunce saw that thei had lost al their good swerds they were right sory for it more than any man canne saye And after Rowland sayde by my faythe Mawgis hath wonne a great gayne whan he bereth away thus our swerdes for they ben more worthe thaÌ„ is all Paris And whan Charlemayne perceyued that his cofers were open he went anon looked in he was sore an angred whaÌ„ he founde not his Crowne nor the best parte of hys treasoure wherof he made great sorow and after sayd Ha false theefe Mawgis full litle I haue goten of thee of thy takynge And who than had seen the sorowe that the .xii. peeres of Fraunce made wolde haue had no luste to lawghe ⧠Nowe shall we tell you a lytell of Mawgys that wente as fast as euer he coulde towarde Mountawban and he came to passe ouer the water of BalaÌ„con at that place where Reinawde was full heauy and full of sorowe by cause he knew no tydinges of Mawgys but whan Mawgys had passed ouer the water bayarde smelled hym and begane to crye and came toward Mawgys wolde Reinawde or no. And whan Mawgys sawe Reinawde he knewe hym well and saide to him lawghinge Knighte what be ye that rideth at this time of night and Reinawd said to him ye know wel I am your cosin Reinawd the sonne of Aimon thâ—n he lighted from bayard and came to Mawgis and kyssed him by greate loue many times and than sayde to hym Fayre cosin thanked be our lord that I see you delyuered from the haÌ„des of Charlemaine By my faythe saide Mawgis ye forgate me well behinde Cosyn saide Reynawd by my soule I coulde not doe therto For I haue be heere syth yester day euyn And I promyse you that I was delibered for to haue succoured you or elles to haue dyed with you My cosin sayde Mawgys I thanke you ligâ—t vpon your horse and lette vs goe to Mountawban Whan Reynawde was vpon his horse againe he sayd to Mawgis My cosâ—n what is that ye haue laden Cosyn sayd Mawis it is the crowne of Charlemayne his swerde Ioyous durandall the swerde of Rowlande and the swerdes of al the .xii. peeres of FrauÌ„ce Cosyn said Reinawde ye haue wroughte well god gramercye but of the swerde of Ogyer me displeaseth Cosyn sayde Mawgis I haue doon it all wilfully to the end that the king should marke therby none euil and that he were not a peched of treason And than he shewed him al the cause and the maner that Charlemayn had holde him Cosin saide Reynawde ye did ryghte well And whan he had sayde thys they went on their waye towarde Mountawban and they mette in their waye Alarde Guicharde and the lytil Richarde that came ridinge makinge greate mone for doubte of Reinawde And whan Reinawde sawe theim come he saide to them whether goe you my fayre brethern Sir saide they we went seekinge after you ye haue founde me said Reinawde and I haue founde our cosin Mawgis And whaÌ„ they vnderstood this tydinges they were righte gladde and thanked oure lorde of it And after Alarde saide to Mawgis Faire cosin where became ye that ye came not with vs again Alard said Mawgys whan Richarde was entred within the pauillion of Charlemain and had take the egle of golde I taried in the pauillion for to slea Charlemaine and it lacked but litill that I slewe him and whan I trowed to haue comen after you I founde a greate rowte of knightes that arested me and so I defended me of all my power And than came Oliuer of Vyenne that ouerthrewe me downe and I yeelded me to him for his prisoner the whiche deliuered me to Charlemayne that wolde haue made me to be hanged shamefullye but lorde I thanke you I haue doon so muche that I am escaped Cosin said Alarde it is well happed to you whan thei had deuised longe ynough they went to Mountawban where they made greate feast whan they were come there it is not to be asked if the good lady clare was wel glad For incootinente she did to be made ready diuerse meates for the diner whan they hadde eaten they went to rest for they were wery and specially Reynawde and Mawgis wold faine haue slept And the nexte daie they went to heare their Masse at the chirche of Mountawban and whan the masse was doone Reinawde called Mawgis his cosin and his bretherne and saide to them Lordes shewe me the bothie that ye gate yesterdaie Sir saide Richarde gladlie sith that it please you And than he tooke the egle that was of golde massi and of precious stones and gaue it to Reinawde And whan Reinawde saw
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
slayne you al the golde in the worlde should not haue saued you Item thynke thenne also in the great mekenes that he hath alwaies shewed to you also for the great trust that he hathe had in you he leued you his good horse bayarde that hath no matche in all the world syr yf ye ouerthynke well al ye shall find that no manne dyd neuer to none other so greate curtoysye as Reynawd hath doone to you and of that other parte he and his bretherne ben such knightes as euery body knoweth I swere to you syr by al hallowen that or euer ye shal take Mountawban Reynawde and his brethern shall beare to you suche domage wherof ye shal be wrothe And yet ye ought well to take heed how we wast and destroye the country and the feeldes and great good ye doo dyspende whiche for youre honoure were better to be employed vpon the sarasins than vpon the foure sonnes of Aymon for the sarasins been now in rest makynge great ioy for the cause of this warre and they doo well For warre hathe left them and it is come among our selfe so horrible and so cruel that many noble and worthy knyghtes ben deade therof THe kinge Charlemain was sore abashed whan he hearde the duke Naymes speake so and it moued his bloud ful sore and became pale as a white cloth for the greate wrathe that he had at his heart and casted a syde his sight angrely vpon the duke Naymes and sayde to hym by great wrathe Duke Naymes by the faith that I owe to that blessed ladye that conceyued the sonne of god in her virginitie that if there be any man so hardy to speake more to me of accorde to be made with the four sonnes of Aymon I shal neuer loue him but I shal angre hym on his bodye For I am not dysposed to make peace with them for nothynge that can be sayd but I shal hange them what soeuer it coste me or I departe from this syege whan the barons hearde Charlemaine speake thus proudely they were sore meruaylled of it and left to talke of this matter But whaÌ„ Ogier sawe that al the barons held theym stylle he began to saye to the kynge Charlemaine Cursed be the houre that Reynawde suffred not Rycharde to smite of your heade for ye had not thretned him so now And whaÌ„ Charlemayn heard that Ogier sayde to him he bowed his necke and looked downeward all pensifull and syn he sayd now lordes make you redy see that euery man fal to his armures for I wil now gyue assaute to Mountawban And whan the frenshemen hearde the commaundemente of the king they made no tarying but went armed themselfe and whan they were al ready they came in good ordenaunce and broughte ladders other instrumentes with them for to saute withal the castell and engynes for to breake downe the walles and presented theÌ„ before Charlemain for to accomplysh his wyll And whan the kinge saw them so wel apparelled he commaunded theÌ„ to goe saute the castell of Mountawban ANd as soone as Reynawde saw his enemies come he called his brother Alarde and sayde to him Brother I pray you take bondy my good horne blowe in it strongly to the ende that our folke arme them selfe when they heare it for heere come the frenshmen to saute vs. whan Alard vnderstoode the commaundement of Reynawde he tooke bondy and blewe in it with so great a winde three tymes that all they of the castel hearde it and were all abashed wyth all and without anye taryinge they went armed themself and lyghtly gate vpon the walles for to defend the Castell Neuerthelesse the frensh men came neare and entred in to the dyches as hogges doone in a myre and dressed vp their ladders to the walles But wyt it that they of within the castel beganne to defende so stronglye with castinge of stones that they domaged sore the frenshemen so that many of them lay deade within the dyches For Reynawd his bretherne dyd there so great feates of armes that no body myght endure their strokes who had seen the poore duchesse and her yong children at that saut bryngynge stones to Reynawde and to his brethern vpon the walles he wolde haue had pytie of it For the two yonge sonnes of Reinawd said to theyr vncles holde our vncles these stones for they been greate ynâ—ughe Suche defence made they of Mountawban that they ouerthrewe them that were vpon the ladders to the botome of the diches all dead and sore wounded and whan the king Charlemaine saw this he was wrothe for he knewe than wel that he should neuer take MountawbaÌ„ by force nor also the noble knightes that were within it as Reinawd and his bretherne And therfore he made the trompette to be blowen to call his folke a backe with so greate angre that he was almoste out of his mynde and whan the frenshmenne hearde blowe the retrete they were glad for they were shrewdly handeled and I promyse you that Charlemain left such a company dead with in the diches that he longe after was full sory for it WHan Charlemayn and all hys folke were wythdrawen again he beganne to sweare Saynte Denys of fraunce that he should neuer departe thence til he had famished Reynawde his bretherne within the castel of MouÌ„tawban than he commaunded that afore euerye gate of the castel should be layed two hundred knightes for to keep that no bodye might in nor oute but he should be take And whan Reinawde sawe that he kneeled down vpon his knees and heued vp his handes toward heauen and said Good lord that suffred deth on the crosse I beseche you that ye wil grauÌ„t vs that grace that we maye haue peace with Charlemain saue our liues And whan Richard heard the praier of Reinawd he tooke heed to it and said Brother I promise you if ye wolde haue beleued me we shoulde nowe haue be in good rest peace For Charlemaine wolde haue be glad therof for to saue his life ye know that our cosin mawgis broughte him not heere for none other cause to be our prisoner but to the entent that we should make our peace but ye wold not take heed to it whan we might haue had our wyll and I promyse you we shall not doo as we wolde THe emperour Charlemain abode so longe at the siege afore Mountawban that they that were within it had great need of vitaylles for he that had any meat he hyd it incontinent and so great scarstie of vittailles was there within a while that men coulde get there no meat for golde nor for siluer and many other fell downe at grounde heere and there so feynt for hungre that it was great pitie for to see for the derth was there so great that th one brother hidde his meat from the other and the father from the childe the childe fro the father fro the mother And shortlye to speake I promise
wente agaâ—ne vpon his enemyes and of them he ouerthrew foure one after an other and vpon the fyft he brake his spere into two peeces and hurted hym ryght sore and anon he 〈◊〉 hande to flamberge his good swerde and smote a knyght withall vpon his helme so great stroke that he cleued him vnto the harde teeth and forth with he smote another with suche strength that he made flee the head from the body of hym And after that he had doone these two strokes 〈◊〉 cryed Ardeyn as hye as he could for to reioyse his folke and whaÌ„ he had cryed so he sayd to them Now vpoÌ„ them good knightes for this day we shal auenge the great shame the Charlemayne hath doone to vs so longe wythout any reason And whan Alarde Guycharde Rycharde heard Reynawde speake thus they ranne vpon theyr enemies by suche a maner that eache of theÌ„ ouerthrew .vii. knightes at the enpraynte who that had be there than he should haue sene great faytes of armes doone of the foure sonnes of Aymon For after that they were ones assembled together the folke of the kinge Charlemayne myght not endure afore them For Reinawde and hys brethern wente smytynge at eyther hande and felled theyr enemies downe sterke dead as beastes so that the moste part of theÌ„ were slayne or dyscomfited WHan the Kynge Charlemaine sawe the great dommage that the foure sonnes of Aymon bare to him he was right sore an angred for it And wyth great wrathe he wente and ranne vpon the folke of Reynawde and smote a knyght so vengeably that he cast hym downe dead to the erth and brake his speare all in peeces And after he tooke his swerd in his hande wherof he did meruayles of armes so muche that his folk praysed hym for it for he bare hymselfe there valyauÌ„t and stronge And wyt that this meruaylous batayle was so cruell that it was great pytie for to see ¶ It is trouth that Rowland was aferde for his vncle charlemayne that he should be ouerthroweÌ„ whaÌ„ he saw him in the prese wherfore he went anon nyghe him and so dyd Oliuer Ogyer and all the .xii. peeres for to keep that he should haue no harme And whan the great batayles were asseÌ„bled the one against the other ye should haue seen there a sharpe and a heauy batayle so that it was pitie for to see for syth that Rowlande Oliuer and all the .xii. peeres of Fraunce were come in the medle they began to make so great slaughter of the folke of Reynawde that they made them leaue the place And whaÌ„ Reynawde and his brethern saw that they medled them so sharply among the Frenche men that euery man made them waye for they raught no man but they threw hym dead to the erth so muche that there was nothynge but it trembled afore them ye ought to wyt that from the houre of pryme vnto the houre of noone endured this mortall batayle that none wyst who should haue the better of it But whan noone was passed the folke of Reynawde beganne to wyth drawe themselfe for they might no more And for to saye the trouth yf the folke of Reynawde wtdrew them they were not to be blamed for it for Charlemayne had foure tymes moe folke than Reynawde beside the .xii. peeres that were suche knightes as men wel knewe But this that the folke of Reynawd dyd Was for the good ensample that they sawe in Reynawde in his brethern And whan the noble knyght perceyued that hys folke withdrewe themselfe he came to hym that bare his standarde and sayde to hym My freende ride towarde Ardeine in the wysest wise that ye can for this day we haue fought ryght sore and it is tyme that we goe rest ourselfe Syr sayde the knyght I shall well doo your commaundement and incontinent he tooke his way towarde Ardeyn And than Reinawde called his brethern and sayde to them let vs be behinde for to keep our folke for otherwyse we are lost Brother sayde Rycharde doubt not for as longe as god giueth lyfe to you to Bayard We need not feare nothynge WHan Charlemayne saw that Reynawde and all his company was gone he cryed wyth a hye voyce nowe after Lordes after for now ben they dyscomfyted But this worde of Charlemayne was cause that many a worthy knyght lost his lyfe For suche dyd folow after Reynawde that payed deerely for it For Reynawde and his brethern slewe more than an hundred that folowed after them And wolde Charlemain or no. Reynawde and his bretherne entred agayne with their folke with in Ardeyne And ye muste knowe that Rycharde the brother of Reynawde Iusted with Richarde the Duke of Normandye by the gate of Ardeyne as they wolde haue entred in And there the Duke was ouerthrowen the whiche was taken prysoner by Rycharde the brother of Reynawde and brought him into the Citie mawgre the folke of Charlemayne And whan Reynawde and all the folke were within Ardeyne he made the gates to be shet And after went and dysarmed theÌ„ for to take some ease For they had well need therof YE ought to wit the whan Charlemayne saw that the foure soÌ„nes of Aymon had saued them self and that thei had taken Richarde the Duke of Normandy prysoner that was one of the .xii. peeres he was sâ—â— angrye that no man can be more for he feared sore lest Reynawde should make to dye Rychard of normandye and whan he sawe that he might doo none other he commaunded that the Citie should be besieged of all sydes the which thing was incontinent doone as he commaunded And than sware Charlemayne that he should neuer leaue his syege vnto the tyme that he had taken the Citie and the foure sonnes of Aymon to be hanged shamfully Syr sayd Rowlande ye know that I am he that moste hath hurted the foure sonnes of Aymon nor neuer I speake to you of peace bewene you and them but froÌ„ hence foorth reason coÌ„maundeth me that I should speke moue there vnto Syr ye know well that it is a go .xv yeres and more that ye haue warred with the foure sonnes of Aymon we had alwaies the worse of the warre and not wythout a cause for Reynawde his brethern are valiaunt knightes nor they be not to be lyghtly brought to dyscomfiture And I promyse you yf ye had warred so loÌ„g vpon the sarasyns as ye haue doone on the foure sonnes of Aymon yee should haue be lorde of the moste part of them whiche had be to you more worshyp and lesse dommage worse is ye know howe Richarde of Normandy one of the best knightes that ye had is taken and yf otherwise it happeth to hym than well it shall be to you great dyshonour and blame For therof ye shall see all Fraunce in a rore and trouble but if ye put som remedy therto I tell you if I were in the case that Reynawde is in I should slea hym Syth that I might haue no peace
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
I am your lorde that shal defend you ayenst this vnhappy christeÌ„s Where is Margaris become that I see hym not Sir said one of the sarasins he is dead at the first Ioustinge that he made whan thadmiral hearde this he wend to haue gon out of his wyt and said who is the hath borne me so great harme as to slea the noble king margarys is it not the great earle with the forke yea sir said the folke for he is called the best knight of the world and also he hathe brought this daye to death many of your men with hys handes Muche sory was thadmiral for the death of Margaris and swore the god mahoune that he shoulde perse the herte in his bely And whan he had made this oth he gaue the spurres to the horse and put him selfe to the medle and the first that he recountred was wallerauen of fayete to whom he gaue such a stroke thorough the sheeld that he made his spere head to apere out at the backe of hym and slewe him dead to the erthe And whaÌ„ the admyrall had giuen that stroke he put hande to his swerde and shoued him amonge the thickest crying percie as hie as he coulde and saide barons smite vpon this vnhappy christens for now shal they be discomfyted And whan therle Iaffas Geffray of nasareth saw that thadmyrall fared so foule with the christens they put them in to the pâ—ece amonge the Sarasyns and there was greaâ—â— slaughter made of both partyes but at the last the christen had ben shrewdely handled if Reinawd and mawnys had not come lyghtly there Reinawde that sawe this harde batayll shoued him selfe amonge the thickest as a wolfe among a flocke of sheep and smot a persian that was cosin to thadmyrall that had to name Orrende and gaue him such a stroke with his swerde that he made his heade to slee wel a spere lengthe from his bodye with helme and all And after he smote a nother that was neuewe to Malbon so that he slewe both horse and man with one stroke To say the trouth Reinawd made there so great merueylles of armes that al the painymes were fore abashed for he had hys sheelde cast behynde his backe and held the â—eyne of hys horse about hys arme and helde his swerde in bothe his handes and habandonned his body smytyng merueyllous strokes on ether side vpon the sarasyns so that he smot no stroke but he slew a turke or paynim And whan thadmyrâ—â— sawe the great greef that Reinawd bare to his folke he sware his god appoâ—lyn he shoulde neuer eate meate till he had slaine the great villain Sir said than the king AlebroÌ„dye to him I pray you leaue this entrepryse for I tâ—ll you for very certaine that if ye goe afore him he shall kylle you with one stroke Than said thadmyrall â—o him yf I had nowe a good guysarn in my hande he should as lytil endure myn efforce as should a boy â–ª for and I bring him not downâ— I shall neuer require to beare any armes more nor to ryde vpon anye horse more MVche cruell and harde was the medlyng Mawgis was there that made great occysyon fro the one syde and fro the other And whan reinawde saw Mangis that did so wel he was glad and so smot he a turke vpon his helme suche a stroke that he cleued his head in two peeces and so he smot a nother at the sydes so that he cleued all his ribbes and cut al to gyther a sundre his bodye and after this he smot a nother so that he hewed his heade clene of one of his armes and whan he had slain these .iii. with one enpraint he cried mouÌ„tawban saying smite barons for the sarasins bothe turkes persians been dead ouerthrowen and thâ—nke to auenge your lord Thomas which is so excellent a king And whaÌ„ thadmiral barbas heard cry mountawban this worde abashed hym more than any other thinge for he anewe well than that he that his men called the great carie with the forke Was the valiaunt Reynawd of mountawban of whome he had heard speake of many tymes afore that and that he was the best knight of al the worlde and whaÌ„ he knewe this he wold ful fayne haue be again in percie than he tooke his way anon to ward the citye as a man discomfited and ouerthrowen and drewe to the gate fore for to haue gone in to it but the vallyaunte erle of Rames pursued him so nyghe that he suffered him not to goe at his wil. And than the admyrall sawe that he was so sore pursued he was aferde to be take and so he smote his horse with his spurres and gat in to the citie with great payne lefte all his folke behinde and saued hym selfe but the moste parte of his men were there slayne And whan Reynawde wyste that the admirall of percie was so scaped he was right sory for it and than he looked about him and saw there a great peece of tiÌ„bre that had .xv. foote of length he lyghted downe a foote and tooke the balke and trussed it vp afore hym vpon his horse necke as lyghtly as it had be some peece of welow ThaÌ„ he sayd to them that had victori as wel as he Lordes folow me yf it please you with a good will sayd the baroÌ„s for we shall neuer leue you nother for death nor for life NOw wyl I tel you why Reinawde did take that balke afore sayde Ye ought to wyt that Reynawde bethought well that the admirall barbas should not make the gate to be shet after him for loue hys folke should come in that were out therfore bare Reynawde the great balke or beme to the ende that if he found the gate open he should put it vnder the porte colisse that it should not be shit lyghtly agayne And after he had be thought hymselfe therof he went on his way with the christens as faste as they coulde runne towarde the gate of Iherusalem where the admyrall had saued hymseflfe whan he came there he sawe the gate open wherof he was glad so tooke he thaÌ„ his beme and put it vnder the port colisfe so that it myght not be lette downe nor the gate could not be shyt nother but ye may well know that Reynawde dyd not this wtout great trauayle for there was so many bodyes bothe quycke dead in his wai that he myght not well helpe hym self but one thyng helped hym wel for whan the Sarasyns saw hym they were so fearde of hym that they made him waye fled all afore him WHan the noble knyght Reynawde saw that the porte colisse was well faste vpon the beme that he had brought there without any tarying he put haÌ„d to his swerd and put hymself within IherusaleÌ„ And whan he was in he began to crye as hye as he myght Mountawban MouÌ„tawban the citie is woÌ„ne and made there so muche of armes the Mawgys
Reynawde was vpon the ladder thynkyng what he might best doo al the barons of the lande began to crye to Reynawde sweete syr suffre not that our kynge lese his lyfe so it were great shame to vs and to you also Lordes sayde Reynawde by the fayth that I owe to my bretherne and to my Cosyn Mawgys I wolde not that the kynge should take death for me and whan he had sayd so he came downe fro the ladder and after cryed to the admirall Leue the kyng Thomas doo hym no harme for ye shal be deliuered by suche a couenauÌ„t that yee and your two men shall go on foote into percie and ye shall leue here al your goods By mahouÌ„e sayd thadmiral I wyll not doo so but shall ryde on horsebacke I and my two men so shal ye gyue me saufconduyt vpon your fayth if ye wil not doo thus I shall let fall downe the kyng Thomas Admyrall sayd Reynawde the ye aske I graunt it to you vpon my fayth For ye haue with you suche a pledge that ye shal not be touched at this time for me Thadmirall was ryght glad whaÌ„ he heard Reynawde speake thus so drew he vp the kyng Thomas agayne and sayde to hym kyng Thomas ye shall go quite froÌ„ me and than he wente downe with the kyng opened the gate went our he his two men There was made great ioye betwene the kynge Thomas and Reynawde And after of all the other barons of surre and the great thankes that the kyng did to Reynawde and to Mawgis are not for to be named the langage the was betwene them are to longe to be recounted After this thadmyral tooke his saufconduyt and went his way towarde percie Heere of him is made none other mencion and after he was gone the king Thomas reynawde with all thother barons weÌ„t togyther into the towre whaÌ„ they were come vp the kynge Thomas kneeld afore Reynawde Syr sayde Reyaawde ye ought not to doo so Yes verely sayd the kynge whan Reynawde saw that he wexed red for shame and tooke vp the kyng thaÌ„ the kyng colled hym and sayd Blessed be our lorde that brought you in thys lande for ye haue succoured Iherusalem the holy citie brought miself out of the sarasins handes Now tell me and it please you if ye haue made peace with Charlemayn the great kynge of FrauÌ„ce that hath doon you so great hinderaunce Syr sayde Reynawde yea bycause of the peace I am come heere begging my bread poorely arayed and whaÌ„ the king Thomas heard him speake he had great pitie of him and swore by the holy Sepulcre that he should araye hym honourably as to hym apperteineth for to returne into Fraunce After that the kynge had sayd thys worde they came downe fro the towre of dauyd for to go to the holy sepulcre And ye ought to wit that they made great feast through out the Citie of that was so befall ThaÌ„ went they al to the holy sepulcre for to yeelde thaÌ„kes to our lorde of the citie that was recouered fro the handes of the sarasyns And whan all this was doone the barons of surre tooke leue of the kyng of Reynawde of mawgis after went euery man into hys place in theyr couÌ„trey the kiÌ„g toke Reynawde Mawgis and brought them to hys palays where he feasted them a hundred dayes honourablye And this hanging he shewed them all the crountrey aboute IherusaleÌ„ whaÌ„ Reynawde had sported him ynough with the king Thomas he wolde depart for to go agayne into the marches of frauÌ„ce And whan the kyng saw that he gaue to Reynawd many riche giftes as horses silkes gold syluer many other thynges in great plenti And ye ought to wit that Mawgis wolde take nothyng nor chaunge his hermites araye in no wyse but arayed hym agayne as a pylgrime and bare foote wherof Reynawde was sory The kynge made a ship be redy honourabli at the hauen of Iaphes Reynawde ful teÌ„derly weepyng tooke leue of the kyng of his barons and entred into the ship And wit it that by fortune of wedryng they were well eyght monethes vpon the sea at last they tooke lande at a towne called Palerne whan they had takeÌ„ land Reinawde commaunded that the ship should be vnlade al thus as they vnladed the ship the king of Palerne which was called Simon af puill loking out at a wyndow of his castel than he said to them that were aboute hym I see yonder in the hauen a shyp setteth her good a lande and it cannot be but there muste be some great man in it for I see horses that beÌ„ had out great riches I cannot say what it may be but it were pilgrimes thaÌ„ he commaunded an horse for to be made redy for he wolde sporte himselfe to the hauen syde THe valyauÌ„t kyng Symon of Puill wtout any more taryeng came to the sea syde with many a noble knyght in his companye And whan he was come to the hauen he founde Reynawde that was come a lande assone as the king saw him he knew hym well wherof he was ryght glad also Reynawde knew wel the good king Symon So thaÌ„ enbraced they eche with other and made great cheare th one to thother Reynawde sayd the kyng ye be ryght welcome I pray you come lodge in my castell for thadmyral barbas is entred in my lande wasteth it dayly I fought yesterday with him but he droue me out of the feelde shamefully dyd great harme to my folke I am sure he shal come to besyege me to morowe I had thought to haue sende for succours towarde Charlemayn but sith that god hath brought you heere I feare not the kyng nother his admiral of Percie Syr said Reynawd I make you sure I shall helpe you withal my power if thadmyrall come to morowe â—he shall not mysse of batayle for I shal neuer eat bread till I haue discomfited him Than the kinge Simon brought Reynawde to hys palays where he made him good cheere and thus as Simon feasted Reynawde came there a knight that was called Ymes that said to the king Simon Syr thadmyrall of Percie is come before Palerne with so great folke that all therth is couered withall Whan the kynge vnderstoode these tidinges he was sory for it and Reynawde glad Than sayd Reynawde to the kynge Syr I pray you be not abasshed of nothynge for this daye shall ye be aueÌ„ged and god before the holy sepulcre fro whens I came but late and whan the kyng hearde Reynawde speake so he made be cried that euery maÌ„ should arme hiâ— self and whan Reynawde saw that he sent for his herneys and armed hym and sware the body of God he should doo greet to thadmyral that dai sith that he had found hym agayne And whan Mawgys saw that Reynawde wolde arme him for to fight he sayd to hym My
neuer whyle I lyue I shall neuer mary agayn Cosin sayd mawgys ye doo well but I praye you recomforte yourselfe for ye know wel that a thynge that may not be amended must be left alone Cosyn sayde Reynawde ye say well I shall doo so Whan Reynawde his brethern Mawgys had doone great cheere that day at Mountawban Mawgys on the morow next tooke leue of hys cosyns weÌ„t agayne to his hermytage whan he wolde departe he sayd to Reynawde Cosin remeÌ„bre you wel that for you are dead so many folke for whome ye beholden to pray god that he wyll haue mercy on their soules And whaÌ„ Mawgis had sayd so he tooke his way wolde not suffre no body to conuey him and he dyd so muche by his iourneys that he came to hys hermitage where he lyued a holy lyfe For after he was come agayne to his hermitage he ete neuer but herbes and rootes of the wood in this maner wise liued Mawgis the space of .vii. yeres that he sawe nother man nor woman And whan it came to the .viii. yere the good mawgys deceassed fro this worlde about Easter Iesu for his pitie pardoÌ„ hys soule ¶ Heere leueth the history to speke of mawgis whome god pardoÌ„ tourneth to speke agayne of Reynawde of his brethern of hys children how they were made knyghtes ¶ How Reynawde sent his two soÌ„nes to the kynge Charlemayne muche honourably for to be made knyghtes at Parys IN this party sheweth thistory that after that Mawgys was erturned agayne to his hermitage Reynawde was euer after sory for hym also for his wyfe But he recomforted hymself as wel as he might with his brethern A long while abode Reynawde with his brethern making as good cheere as he could and wit it that aboute that tyme died the olde duke Aymon which left greate goodes to his children but shortly to speket Reinawde departed gaue all his goodes as well that he had of his owne as that was fallen by the death of his father AymoÌ„ vnto hys brethern except onlye that he reteyned for himself the castell and town of Mountawban and found the wayes that they were al maryed noble rychely Who that should speke of the brethern of Reynawde and of theyr dedes it were to long to be recouÌ„ted Reynawde thaÌ„ dwelled loÌ„ge at Mountawban with his children which he endoctrined taught in al good and vertuous maners as wel as he could nouryshed them tyll that they were men and coulde beare bothe sheelde and spere And vpon a daye he had theym to the feelde on horsebacke and made to be brought there speres and sheeldes for to assay themselfe and tooke with hym tweÌ„ty knightes whome whan they were comen in the feeld he made his children to iuste with And ye ought to wit that the two sonnes of Reynawd Iusted as well as thoughe they had be hauntynge the warre ten yeares more And whan Reynawde saw that they did so wel he called theym afore hym afore the knyghtes and sayd to them My fayre children thaÌ„ked be our lorde ye be raile men and well made of body It is now tyme that ye were made knyghtes wherfore I wyl that ye go serue the king Charlemayne your souereyne lorde whyche shall make you knyghts for or more noble hande ye canne not be dowbed to the noble ordre of knight hode Syr sayd Aymonet we are redy to fulfyll your wyl in euery thing that ye commaunde vs. Father sayde Yonnet ye say well to vs for it is tyme that we folow the warres but sith it is your pleasure to sende vs to Charlemayne We must go there honourabli but it caÌ„not be wtout great cost My sonne sayd Reynawde care not for the cost for we haue good ynoughe gramercy our lorde for to brynge you there accordyng to your â—state I promise you I shall sende you there or I be .vii. night elder as honourably as any went thither sin my tyme. Father sayd the childreÌ„ we are redy to goe whan it please you WhaÌ„ Reynawde had sayd this to his children he wente home agayne to MountawbaÌ„ wel ioyful of his two sonnes that proued so well whan he was within his castell he called his stewarde and sayd to hym Stewarde I commaunde you that ye aâ—ay my childreÌ„ honorably richelye of diuerse maners of clothing and of thynges that longeth of them for I wil send them to the court of the king Charlemayne for to be made knightes of hym sâ—e that they goe as honestly as any went thyther this .xx. yeres My lorde sayd the stewarde I shall wel doo your coÌ„mauÌ„demeÌ„t sith that it pleaseth you for ye haue inough clothes full ryche of your owne of dyuerse colours WHan the stewarde heard the coÌ„maundement of hys mayster wythout anye taryeng he dyd right well al that was commaunded him by Reynawde for he made to be redy many palfreis and coursers wel barbed and couered wyth ryche cloth of golde with belles of siluer gylte in great plentye and purueyed for two good harneyses al complete for speres swerdes and for al suche other thinges as a perteyneth for the two yonge bachelers Shortli to speake it was not possible to ataye better two yonge squiers than the two yong sonnes of Reynawde were by the purueyaunce of his stewarde and whaÌ„ all thinges were redy he brought theÌ„ before his maysters And whan Reinawde saw this he was glad said by god stewarde I conne you thanke that ye haue purueyed so wel for my childreÌ„ Reynawde made .v. C knightes wel redy to bere coÌ„pani to his sonnes And whan they were al redi Reynawde called to his sonnes and sayd to theÌ„ Mi fayre sones ye be wel apoynted thaÌ„ked be god heere is a fayre bende of noble meÌ„ to beare you felawship therfore ye shal now go to the court of Charlemayn our great kyng whiche shall make you great cheere and honour for my loue my chyldren ye be of hie lynage ryght noble therfore beware that ye doo nothynge ayenst your noblenes ne that myght returne to anye shame to me nor to your lygnage and I comaund you vpon the faith that ye owe to me that the money that I delyuer to you now ye dyspende it honestly spare not to doo good therwith to poore gentilmen and yonge bachelers that wold faine come to worship whan ye haue all spended it honestly sende to me for more and ye shall haue ynough and aboue this I charge you that ye serue god alwaies afore anye thyng that ye haue a doo and that ye speake no worde foule oute of youre mouth to no lady nor damsell worship your better and loue your neyghbour and so shal you be praysed of euery man Moreouer I charge you that ye liue freendly togither as two brethreÌ„ ought to boo to you yonnet my fayre sonne I commaunde you the ye bere honour and reuerence to your
brother for he is your elder that know ye well THan sayde yonnet father be you sure I shall serue my dere brother as I wolde doo you that are my lord my dere father By my faithe faire sonne saide reinawde if ye do so ye shal be praised for it whersomeuer ye come or goe But yet one thing I forbid you that ye speake not to muche for if ye doo the contrarie the frensshemen shall saie that ye be not like inconditions to your parentage Father saide the childrene we haue suche a trust in oure Lorde god that he shall keep vs from al thing that is contrarye to his will and that we shall so gouerne vs that ye shal gladlie auowe vs for your children all they of the courte of Charlemayne shall loue vs but yf they wil doo wrong whan Reynawd heard his children speake so the was 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
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
them redy than tooke theyr waye toward Croyne by Coleyne vpon the Ryne And they dyd so muche by theyr iourneys that they came vnto Croyne And lyghted before the churche they and theyr folke where they found so great flowyng and gatheryng of the people and so great prese of folke that wyth great payne they myght entre wythin the Churche And whan the knyghtes were within they wente nyghe the holye corps that was vpon a fayre bere all vncouered and saw so great lyght aboute the corps as there had ben an hundred torches Than wente they as nyghe hym as they coulde for to looke hym in the face and anon thei knew that he was theyr brother with that they loked vpon hym they fell downe in a swoune to the erth And whan the archebysshop saw that he was sore abasshed and sayd to some of his Colege Syrs I beleue that wee shall soone know that we haue desyred so long For I wene that these lordes knowe wel this holy corps This hanging were the three brethern comē agayn to themselfe and began to crye and fare as they had ben mad than sayd Alarde al weepynge in thys maner Alas what shall we nowe caytyfes knyghtes doo poore of honour and of al we le syth that we haue lost our brother by whome we were so sore doubted and dred Alas deere brother who was so hardy to laye hande on you I beleue that he knew not your debonayrtie kindnes for he wolde not haue slayne you so crueltye And than he turned hym towarde hys two brethern and sayd My fayre brethern we ought wel to be sory syth that we haue lost our brother Reinawde that was all our hope our trust and comfort Alas sayde Rycharde brother Reinawde whi had ye euer that courage for to habandone vs as ye did seyng that ye loued vs so muche Alas ye stale awaye yourself by night for to come amonge the handes of the murderers that haue slayne you so cruelly Alas they wyst not the great domage that is of your death whan the three brethern had wepte ynoughe in great sobbynges and lamentacions for the loue of theyr deere brother Reynawde they went kissed the corps on the mouth the one after the other and with this thei fel downe agayne in swoune And whā they were come agayn to themselfe Rycharde began to crye and saye Alas fayre brethern now ben we loste for euer For we shall no more be set by nother doubted nor dred more than children wherefore I say that we should slea our selfe to the ende that we may be with you for we ought not to liue after your death Wit it that who had be there he should haue had an harde hert but he should haue wept for to see the three brethern make theyr mone WHan the archebishop and the Burgeys that were there saw the great sorowe that the three knightes made the good Archebysshop came to them and sayd Lordes be ye not dyspleased of that I shall say to you Syrs to my semynge ye doo not wel for to make so great sorow nor to discomfort your selfe so muche as ye do but rather ye should make great ioy and be glad for your brother that is a saynt in heuen the whyche had suffred martyrdom in the seruice of our lorde wherof ye may see that he rewardeth him wel for it For ye see now before your eyen the great miracles that he dooth wherfore I pray you that ye wyll recomforte your selfe And tell vs yf it please you what ye ben and howe is thys holy body named and what hys name was whā he liued in this worlde to the ende that his name be wryten aboute his tombe And whan his brethern heard the archebysshop speake thus they began a lytle to leue theyr sorow And than Alarde that was theldest after Reynawde sayd to him Lorde sythe it please you to knowe what we be and howe this corps is called I shall tel it you wtout faute Ye muste wyt that this corps was called whan he was amonge vs aliue Reynawde of Mountawban the ryght worthy knyght and we three that ben heere are his brethern and wel I wot that ye haue heard speake of the foure sonnes of Aymon the whiche Charlemayne the great king of Fraunce warred so longe Than whan the archebysshop and the people hearde that they were the foure sonnes of Aymon of the whyche all the worlde spake and that the holy corps was the goood Reynawde of Mountawbā the noble and valiant knight they began all to weepe for pitie and for ioye bycause they sawe al before them the moste noble worthiest knyght of the worlde that in his lyfe was more to drede than any man alyue that was dead in the seruyse of our lorde doinge penaunce After that these three bretherne had thus left a lytle theyr sorowe they made theyr brother to be layde in his tombe that was right riche that the archebisshop had doone make where the holy corps resteth yet at this day as euydently is knowen and he is called saynt Reynawde the martyr The memory of him was that time put in wrytyng auctentykly eueri yere is there kept for him great solēpnitie and feast And after the sepulturyng of the holye corps the brethern went agayne into theyr owne Countrie MY fayre lordes who that this present booke shall rede or heare we shall pray our lorde god the gloryous Saynt Reynawde the marter that he giue vs grace to perseuer and continue our lyfe in good workes by the whiche we may haue at our endyng the life that euer shal last AMEN ¶ Here finissheth the hystory of the noble valiaunt knyght Reynawde of Mountawban and his three brethern ¶ Imprinted at London by Wynkynde worde the .viii. daye of Maye and the yere of our lorde M. CCCCC.iiii at the request and commaundement of the noble and puissaunt erle the Erle of Oxenforde And now Imprinted in the yere of our Lorde M. CCCCC.liiii the vi daye of Maye By wylliam Copland dwellyng in Fletestrete at the Signe of the Rose Garland for Iohn waley
lyghted on horsebacke And whan they were redy Reynawde sayde to them Lordes how many men ben we We ben answered Alard well .v. hundred It is ynough sayd Reynawde But wot ye what we shal doo let vs keep ourselfes alwayes together without makynge of anye affraye and so goe thorough the lande of Almayne and yf the folke of Charlemayne hap to assayle vs thynke to defende ourself well and smyte harde vpon them so that we haue to our worship the better of them whan it was tyme to light on horsebacke Reynawde moūted vpon Gayarde and the other also lyghted vpon theyr horses And whan they were all horsed they opened the gate and wente out at theyr leyser wythout makynge any noyse And whan they were all yssued out Reynawde behelde and saw the castell the brente wherof he tooke greate pitie and sayd Ha god good castel it is great domage that ye be thus distroied and wasted goddes curse haue he that betrayed this good castel It is a goe seuen yere that ye were made fyrste Alas we haue had there in so muche good and so mykyl worshyp and nowe we leue you mawgre vs. Certes ye were my truste after my brethern And whan I muste leese you there is none so sory for it as I am And as he spake these wordes the teres fell downe from his eyen and he was so taken with greate heuynes that almoste he fell downe in a swoune so muche of sorowe he had in his herte ANd whan Alarde sawe Reynawde so full of sorowe he came to hym and sayd By my fayth brother ye be to blame to say so ye be not the man that shall come to mischief For all the knightes that ben a lyue are not worthe you and therefore I pray you that ye wyll confort yourselfe for I swere you vpon all halowes that afore two yere be passed ye shall haue a Castell that shall be worthe suche foure as this is but now let vs put our selfe to the waye for we haue no need to tari Brother sayd Reynawde I haue founde euer in you good counsell Now goe we than our way and take you Guycharde the forewarde and I and Rycharde shall come behinde Syr sayd Alarde all shall be doone as ye saye And than tooke Alarde his brother Guycharde with him and wente afore with a. C. knightes with them and had forthe theyr caryage in the myddes of theim And Reynawde Rycharde came after with the resydue of theyr folke but they could neuer make nor passe so softli but that the folke of the hoste of the emperoure ouertooke them THan whan Charlemayne knewe we that Reynawde came he was muche wrothe made his cōmaūdemente that euery man should be armed than the hoste began to moue and went incontinent and armed themselfe whan Alarde and Guycharde that wente afore sawe that they myght not passe but that they must medle they spurred their horses ranne vpon Charlemayns folke so sharpely that they were all an angred with it for thei ouerthrew two knightes to the grounde and in continent was there greate a doo And whan Reynawde sawe that the hoste moued he called to hym twenty knyghtes and bad them take and lede foorthe the caryage afore out of the hoste he should go helpe hys bretherne syr sayd they we shall doo your commaundemente And than Reynawde spurred Bayarde and entred amonge the thickest and began there to make so great meruayles of armes that all the folke of Charlemaine wondred vpon for he and his bretherne ouerthrew there dead so many knightes that none durst com afore them but he was slayne ¶ What shall I tell you wyt it that the folke of king Charlemayne was so discōfited for bicause that it was nyght and myght not well see what nombre of folke the foure bretherne were that Reynawde and hys company passed mawgre them of the hoste And also I tel you for certayne that Reynawde and hys brethern dyd so great harme to the folke of Charlemayne that he was sory for it mani dayes after whan Reynawde was passed he foūd his sommers and his caryage and his Knightes that conduyte them wherof he was glad Thā he sayde to his brethern Syrs go on your waye and they dyd hys commaundement and Reynawde wyth his brother Rycharde abode behynde and whan Charlemayne wyste that Reynawde went a way he was glad by cause he had left the Castell of Mountaynforde and incontinent he made hym to be folowed and also the hoste was redelye armed and whan they were well arayed they tooke theyr way after the foure sonnes of Aymon NOw ben the foure knyghtes bretherne ryght sory of that they haue thus left theyr fayre castel of Mountaynforde and wit it that Charlemayne folowed them well of nyghe and sayd that it should hurt him sore but yf he might take them But Reynawde the worthy knyght is not abasshed but he taketh all his folke and setteth them afore hym sayde to hys brother Alarde Good brother Alarde take kepe of thys folke betwene you and Guicharde and yf the folke of Charlemayne assayle vs we shal defēd vs wel Syr sayd Alarde as ye haue sayd so shall it be doone And than they saw come Charlemayne and Ogyer the Dane the duke Naymes of bauiere Foulques of Moryllon and many other and whan Charlemayne that came afore well horsed saw Reynawde his folke he cryed to them and sayde So helpe me god glotons ye be now dead this is the day that I shall make you all foure to be all hanged Syr answered Reynawde it shall not be so as ye wene and it please God for yf god gyue me lyfe and health and to my horse Bayarde the pursucte shall sore dere be bought that ye nowe doo And whan he had sayd the same he turned Bayarde agaynst Charlemayne for to smite him For he wēde well to haue slayne him wythout any faute The kynge Charlemayne was in daunger to dye yf Reynawde had raught hym but Dampe hughe wente betwene the kynge and Reynawde that came with hys spere in the rest wylling for to doo great harme And at this coming he smote Dampe hughe thorough the sheelde so harde that he perced his herte wyth the Iron of his spere and so he fell downe dead afore the kynge And whan Reynawde had gyuen that stroke he wente hys waye after hys brethern WHan Charlemaine saw hughe fall dead he cryed with an highe voyce Now after lordes after for if these glotons scape vs I shal neuer be mery Reynawde came agayne to hys folke and sayd to thē Lordes doubt you not as longe as I am a lyue but be al assured and so ryde on hardly and in good araye ¶ What shall I tell you more Wyt it that .xxiiii myle lasted the chase and there was neuer a myle but that they iusted together many knightes were there ouerthrowē slayn But Reynawde and his folke bare themself so māly that they lost but
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
heauen all weping and saide in this maner good lord by thy gloryous and blessed name that diddest cast daniell out fro the lyons delyuered Ionas fro the fyshes bely and saued saynt Peter whan he cast himselfe from the sea for to come to the pardoned Mary magdalene and made the blinde to see suffred passion deathe vpon the crosse for our sinnes pardoned Longyus that smot thee with a spere in to thy blessed side wherfro thy blessed bloud fel in to his eyen and incontinent he recouered his syght therby and by thy resurreccion keep this day my body if it please the fro deth and from prison and also my brethren for I wote not where that we goe but me semeth that we go in great peryl And whan he had fynyshed his oryson his eyne wexed were againe for pitie that he had least his brethren should haue any harme for loue of him For it plesed him not wel that thei were so bare of their armes THan whan Alarde saw his brother Reynawde that had his eyne ful of teres he sayed to him Ha brother what ayleth you I haue sen you in right great peril aboute a harde werke but I sawe you neuer make so yl cheere as ye doo now for I haue seen you weep at this houre wher of I meruail me greatly for I wot wel for certayne that ye weep not without some great occasion Than sayd Reynawde Fayre brother me ayleth nothinge By the faithe that I owe to you sayd Alarde ye weep not for nothynge This is the daie that we sholde be at one with kynge Charlemayne so pray I you for god my dere brother that ye leue this sorowe let vs go forth mereli and bere out a good face as longe as we ben alyue for after that a maÌ„ is ones deceassed it is no more spokeÌ„ of him And this I praye you bretherne that ye synge with vs. For ye haue so fayre a voice that it is a great pleasure for to heare you syng whan ye be wyllinge to it Brother said Reinawde with a good wyll syth that it pleaseth you And than began Reynawde for to synge so melodiousli that it was a great pleasure for to here hym So longe rode the foure sonnes of Aymon the lytell pace of their mules syngyng and deuisnge amonge theymselfe that they came to the playne of Valcolours ⧠Now wyl I tel you of the facion of the valey for wyt that if I telled you not ye shoulde not maye know it There is a roch right hie noyous to goe vp it is enuironned rounde aboute with foure great forestes ryght great thycke for the least is there a dayes Iourney to ryde thrugh it ther beÌ„ foure great riuers all aboute it sore deep wereof the gretest is named Gyronde the other is called Dordon the thyrde is named Nore the other Balancon there is nothet castell nor towne by .xx. mile nighe about it And therfore the treason was there deuysed for thys playne of Valcolours was ferre fro all folke there was a way crossed in foure the one waye was towarde Fraunce the other in to Spaine the other in to Galyce and the fourth in to Gascoygne And at euery one of these foure wayes was layde a busshement os .v. hundred men wel horsed and armed for to take Reinawde and his brethren quicke or deade for thus had they sworne it promised to kyng Charlemayne Than come there Reinawd his bretheren with theyr felawshyp of eyght erles that the kynge yon of Gascoyne had take to them the whiche wist well al the mistery of this treason And incontinent Ogier the dane sawe theym fyrste of all the which was all abashed and sayd to his folke fayre lordes ye ben my men my subiectts and my freends ye know that Reynawd is my cosyn I ought not to see his death nor his domage Wherfore I pray you all that ye will doo him no harme at all nor to none of his bretherne my cosyns They answered al that they should doo his commauÌ„dement with a good will This haÌ„gyng Reynawde and his brethrene passed by wente in to the myddes of the playne THan whaÌ„ Reinawd and his brethreÌ„ were come there and found no body they were of it sore a bashed And after whan Alarde saw this he called his brother Rychard and sayd to him what is this fayre brother I se well that we ben berraied for I se you chaunge your colour how think ye Brother said Richard I doubt me sore for Reynawd haue no doubt said Alarde For we shall haue nothyng but good My brother sayd Rychard I promyse you all my heart shaketh nor neuer in my daies I had not so great feare for al my heres ryse vp wherof I doubte me sore that we ben betrayed that more is I should not be aferde yf Reynawde were armed set vpon bayarde and we also for thus as ben now we beÌ„ halfe discomfired And whan he had saied thus he spake to Reynawde said Brother why doo we tary heere sith that we haue fouÌ„d no body with whome we shoulde speake for if .xx. knights wer here armed thei should haue vs where they wolde maugre our teeth as bestes seing that we haue so many enemies in FrauÌ„ce ye wold not beleue this that we told you and also youre wife at Mountawban wherof I feare me sore that ye shall haue no leiser for to repent you of it For if our cosin Mawgis had be heer with vs that ye had your good hors baiard we should not doubt Charlemaine with al his puissaunce of a straw I pray you let vs go hence for I promise you it is foly for to abide heere long for I know wel that Charlemaine hath made vs to come here as bestes clothed with scarlet nor I can not beleue none other but that the kinge you hath falsly betrayed vs. CErtes fayre brother ye saye trouth sayde Reynawde and I perceyue me well of it now let vs goe backe againe all fayre softe as they wolde haue returned Reynawde behelde a side sawe well a thousande knightes armed comâ—ng a greate pace ayenst them Foulques of Morylion came afore at the other wel horsed his shelde afore his brest his spere alowe in the rest the great wallop ayenst Reynawd for he was the man in the worlde that he most hated whan Reynawde sawe com Foulques of Morillon he knew him wel at his shelde was so angred for it that he wist not what to doo A god what shal we poore siners doo I se wel that we must die this day with out doubte Brother said Alard what saie ye by my faithe said Reinawde I se heere great sorow Heere comeâ—h Foulques of MorilloÌ„ for to slea vs whan Alard had sen them coming it lacked litell that he wexed madde fell downe almost for greate angre that he had of the same