swearde wolde haue slayne the Emperour Charlemayne but Reynawde drew him a syde And the duke Naymes and Ogyer sayde than vnto hym Rycharde Richarde refrayne your courage For it were not wel doone for to kyll a man that slepeth And also afore that we shal departe hence we shall set all at one and God wyll ¶ Shortelye for to speake Olyuer and the Duke Naymes spake so fayre vnto Rycharde that they made him promise them that he should doo no harme to the Kynge Charlemayne Neuerthelesse Rycharde left not to make great sorow for his cosyn Mawgys that he had lost For al them that saw him make so great mone had pitie for to se him It was no meruayle if Richarde made sorowe for Mawgis For I promise you he had greate need of hym not longe after And so had all his brethern as ye shall heare heere after ALl thus as the foure sonnes of Aymon made theyr moue for the loue of theyr cosin Mawgis The duke Nymes began to speake sayde in this wise By god lordes ye doo not wel for to make so great sorowe I pray you leue this heuynes And let vs begyn to speake of your peace that muste be made with the Emperour Charlemayn that an ende maye be hadde of thys warre that hath endured so longe By god sayd Rowlande ye be passynge slow therupon And also we muste fyrste haue his mercy or euer we moue any thing of the peace For ye wot wel that I left him bycause that peace should be made Syr sayd the duke Naymes ye speake wysely and well but howe shal we speake wyth hym wythout Mawgys were heere we cannot awake hym And but yf god remedyeth it we shal neuer speke wyth him But al thus as the barons spake in thys wyse The charme that Mawgys had set vpon Charlemayne was come at an ende and the strength of it was passed And sodenly Charlemaine began to moue hys body and arose anon vpon his feete and right sore abasshed looked al aboute him And whan he saw that he was at moūtawban in the subieccion of Reynawd the sonne of Aymon he was sore an angred and made suche sorowe for it so that al they that were there trowed that he had ben mad and from hymselfe And whā his wittes were come agayne he knew wel that Mawgys had doone it vnto hym sware that as longe as he were manne on liue he should make no peace tyl that he were out of Mountawban and that men had brought Mawgys to hym And whā Rycharde vnderstode this that Charlemayne sayd he began to saye in this wyse Howe the deuill dare ye thus speake syr ye see well that ye be our prysoner And yet ye thretē vs. I make to god mine a vowe and to Saynte Peter were not that I haue promysed that I shal not doo to you no harme at this tyme I should strike the head from the bodye of you Holde your pease sayd Reynawde let the kynge Charlemayne saye his wyll ye are ouer besy in your wordes And let vs all pray hym that he wyll pardon vs. For the warre hath lasted to longe cursed be he that began it For great euyles and harmes the whiche are happed therby REynawde was wyse and wel taught for to stylle thus hys brethern to whome he said My lordes my brethern yf it please you ye shal come with me for to cry mercy vnto our souerayne lorde the Emperour Charlemayne Reynawde said Alarde we shall doo all that ye wyl By mi faith said the duke Naimes My lordes ye doo ryght wisely and I promyse you that all good shall come to you therof Than Reynawd and all hys brethren and Rowland and Oliuer and Ogyer the Dane the duke Naymes the bisshop Turpin and Escoufe the sonne of Oedō began all for to fall on theyr knees before the emperour And Reinawde spake fyrste and sayd in this maner of wise Noble Emperour haue mercy of vs for I and my brethern wee yeeld vs to you to doo your pleasure of vs your will be so that our lyues ben saued there is nothinge but that we will doo it for the loue of you if it please you to graunt vs peace with you And for that piti pardon that God gaue vnto Mary Magdelene whan she wasshed hys feete in the house of Simeon good syr haue pity of vs. And yf it please you not for to pardon me at the least pardon my brethern And take them agayne theyr landes and I shal gyue you Mountawbā and Bayarde my good horse And so shall I goe into the holy lāde I Mawgis where we shal serue to the Temple of our Lorde And whan the kinge Charlemain heard Reynawde speake thus he blastred all for angre and sayd by that good lorde that made me yf all the worlde speake to me therof yet should I neuer cosēt me to no peace but I haue Mawgys in my handes for to doo my wyll vpon hym Alas sayd than Reynawde now haue I hearde that worde bytynge wherof I am al desperate For I should rather let my selfe be hanged thā that I should cōsente to the death of Mawgys my good cosyn For he hath not deserued towarde vs that we should betraye hym but rather he were worthy by reason for to be lorde aboue vs. Reynawde sayd thā Charlemaine thīke not thoughe I am your prysoner that ye shall make me doo anye thynge agaynst my wyll syr sayd Reynawd wyte it that myne entente is for to meke my self toward you for I haue leuer that we suffre wronge of you than ye of vs now tell me syr how I shall delyuer you Mawgys that is our life hope sucours our comfort sheeld our spere and also our swerde our brede our wyne and our flesshe also our refute our mayster our guyde and our defence in all places wherby syr I tell you that yf ye had all my brethern in your pryson and that ye should make them to be hanged and that Mawgys were with in my power and with me yet wold I not yeelde hym vnto you for to quyte wythall my brethern And also I swere you vpon my fayth that I wot not where that he is gone god wot it Ha sayd the Emperour charlemayne goddes curse haue he for I am sure he is heere within you he is not sayd Reynawde I take it vpon my baptysme And than Reynawde turned himself toward Rowlande and all the other barons and sayd to them Lordes I beseche you for God that it wyll please you for to pray our souerayne lorde the kinge that he wyll haue mercye of me and of my bretherne to the ende the peace maye be had in Fraunce yf it please hym And than Naymes that was kneelinge vpon his knees and that heard that Reynawde had sayd and wyste well that he spake but well sayde to the Emperour in this wise Syr I pray you that ye wyll not be dyspleased of that I shall tell you ye know
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
and the kyng Yon he knewe them well And incontynente he salued the kyng and sayde to him Syr god geue you good lyfe and longe And the kynge rendred to hym his salute and after sayde to him Of whence be you syr sayde Ogyer We been of the sweet Fraunce And also we be sente vnto you And we are of Charlemaynes folke now heare vs if it please you Syr said the kyng ye be ryght welcome Nowe tell on what ye wyll saye Syr sayd Ogyer Themperour Charlemayne sendeth to you worde by vs that ye yelde agayne vnto hym his enemyes the whiche ye haue withdrawen into youre landes and ye sende to hym an hundrede of your men for to conduyte and brynge theym wyth hym vnto Fraunce And yf ye refuse to doo this We by his commaundement defye you of his be halfe And within these iii. monethes he shall be in Gascoigne and shall take all your landes and shall be syege you with in the citie of Bordews And yf he take you he shal punyshe you in your body Now haue we sayde our message and yf it please you ye shall gyue vs an answere OGyer sayde the kynge it is well trouthe that I haue reteyned the foure sonnes of Aymon whyche bene worthye knyghtes and so haue I reteyned theym because they bene prue and valiaunt in armes and also that they haue holpeÌ„ and socoured me at my great need For I was disherited and vndoone for euer if they had not bene And for the greate good that they haue done to me I haue gyuen my syster Germayne to Reynawde for his wyfe And therefore I should be to cruell and eke well mischaunt if I should now take them into the handes of their enemyes mortall sith that they haue doone to me so good seruyse I haue leuer to be disheryted and dye an euyll death than to yelde them or suffre that they haue anye harme nor shame to my power For namely the kynge Charlemayne should than holde me for a foole wel nyce And therfore Ogyer yf it please you ye shall tell the Emperoure from my behalfe that I shall for sake fyrst all my londe and my realme than I should delyuer them in his handes And thys is my answere THan whan the king had sayd thus Reynawde spake after and sayde Ogier I meruayll greatly of the kynge Charlemaine that will not leaue vs in peace He cast vs out of Fraunce poore disherited wherof I am ashamed as ye knowe I wolde be reformed with reason to the sayenge of his barons but it pleaseth him not And so he casted vs out of Mountainforde shamefully so that we wist not where we shoulde goe And yet it suffyseth hym not but he wyll caste vs out of the londe of Gascoigne wherof he dooth great synne For yet am I redy for to doo his wyll in reason ryght And I tell you well that yf he refuse this by his pryde I wyll well that he know that I and mi bretherne are not suche that shall be taken as lyghtly as he weeneth And I promyse you that or euer he hath vs I shall make hym more than .x. tymes angrie and wroth For this that he dothe he dothe it but of pryde Ogyer I wyll well that kynge Charlmayne knowe that the king yon of Gascoigne hath gyuen to vs leue to builde a Castel that hath to name Mountawban the whiche is strong and imprenable yet I haue knyghtes with me that shall not fayle me at my need and tell to kinge Charlemaine that sith I cannot haue no peace nor accorde with hiÌ„ that I shal doo to hym all the doÌ„mage and harme that shal be to me possyble for to doo REinawde said Ogier ye speake not wysely weene ye to abashe vs with wordes ye shal not so but whaÌ„ ye shall see the Hoste and the great power of Charlemayne to gether ye shal be sore abashed and at the ende ye shall be full wrothe and sorye ye knowe well that the Emperour Charlemayne made you knight and ye slewe his Neuewe Berthelot and therfore think not to finde peace toward him and ye weene to be assured bycause the kyng yon hath made you to close a Castell but well I wil that he knowe that he shall repente for it full sore For afore two monethes be past we shal be in the middes of his lande and shall destroy all his Realme and we shall brenne bothe Castelles and townes Ogier saide Reynawde I swere to you vpon my fayth that whan king Charlemaine shal be with his hoste in to this land he shall wisshe hym selfe soone againe in FrauÌ„ce with his folke And whan he shall see the hard Iustyng and sharpe warre that I and my brethren shal make against him he and ye shal be sore abasshed of it and some of you speaketh nowe hye that whan the deed shall come to profe he shall be full lowe Reynawde sayde than Ogyer I wyll hyde nothinge from you The kyng Charlemayne hathe so great a power and is delibered for to besiege Bordews and if he maye take you he shall punysshe you cruellye nowe doo as ye will I haue tolde you al my message and I goo againe to kyng Charlemayne Whan he had sayde these wordes he returned toward king Charlemaine and shewed vnto hym what kinge you and Reynawde had saide And whan the king vnderstoode the same he shooke all for anger saide now shall it be seen how king yon and Reinawde shal defende Gascoigne against me than went forth Charlemaine and passed the ryuer of Gyronde rode so longe that he came to Parys and the daye after he called al his barons that thei should come to him And whan thei were all come the kynge helde hys counsell and saide to them Lordes I haue sent for you to tell you the great shame that the kinge yon of Gascoigne doth to me For he holdeth the foure sonnes of Aymon my mortall enemies in dispiâ—e of me ye knowe what domage they haue doone to me For they slewe my neuew Bertheloâ— I dyd banisshe them out of Faunce than made thei the castell of Mountaynforde within my land and I chased them out of it Nowe been they in Gascoigne wyth the kynge Yon that saith he shal defend them against me and he hathe geuen his Sister to Reynawde wherefore I praye you all that ye wyll helpe me that I be auenged ANd whaÌ„ Charlemaine had said this there was none of the barons that answered to him any worde for they were werye of the warre that they had made so long against Reynawde And Charlemaine sawe that no bodye anwered to him no thing he called to him the Duke Naimes and Ogier the Dane and the Erle Guydellon and saide to them Lordes what counsell doo you geue gyue to me in this matter Syr sayde the Duke Naymes yf ye wyll beleue me I shall gyue you good counseyl Suffre youre hoste to reste thys fyue yeres bycause that your folke is
Iohn that ye will haue pitie vpoÌ„ me ye know wel that I am your kinsman how be it I am poore yet shal I be my brethern your meÌ„ And also I shal giue you baiard shal make you lorde of Mountawban so that it will please you to purchace our peace with the king Charlemaine your vncle and if it please you for to doo so I shal make al my brethern to graunte the same and I shal forsake fraunce al my lyfe And I promise you that I shall goe into the holye lande wyth Mawgys and my bretherne for to make warre agaynst the sarasyns yf ye thinke that I say wel bringe it aboute yf ye canne For yf ye doo it ye shall haue a felow and a seruaunt of me ROwland had great pitie whaÌ„ he heard Reynawde speake in this maner and began to weepe ful tenderly and after sayd to hym By god Reynawde I dare not speake of it but if so be that ye wyll delyuer vnto him Mawgys Alas sayd Reynawde I should neuer doo that for to dye for it For Mawgys is no man for to be giueÌ„ away for to haue peace And thaÌ„ he rose vp toke his swerde and hys sheelde And came to Bayarde and mounted vpon hym wythout stirope than he tooke his spere in his hand And whan he was wel apparelled he went agayne to Rowland and sayd to him Rowland wit that I shal neuer more cry you mercy for fere that I haue of you but I haue cry you mercy for to beare you worship bicause that ye be of my kin but sith that I see that ye be so proude that ye will doo nothyng for me nor for my prayer I shall mowe deale resonably with you to the ende that ye shall not mow reporte nor saye to the other Barons and knightes of FrauÌ„ce that Reynawde the sonne of Aymon hath cried you mercy for feare The cause is suche ye haue wyth you a great company of folke and also I haue of my syde men ynough thanked be god and if our folke asseÌ„ble together it cannot be other wise but that great harme shal fall of 〈◊〉 the sides But and ye will we shall fyght we two together for them all without any help of other and if ye ouercome me ye shall bringe me â—o Charlemayne that shall doo hys pleasure of me if I can conquere you ye shall come wyth me to MouÌ„tawban vnder condition that ye shall haue nother euyll nor shame no more thaÌ„ shall my owne person SHall ye doo this that ye haue sayde sayd Rowlande ye wtout faut sayd Reynawde By my hed sayde Rowlande ye shall make me sure therof fyrste Certes sayde Reynawde wyth a good wyll And thaÌ„ Reynawde sware it vnto him vpon his parte of paradyse Reynawde sayde Rowlande I wyl goe take leue of my felaw Oliuer for I haue promised him that al the batayles that I shall vndertake he shal mow make them himselfe if it please him Goe thaÌ„ sayd Reynawde make it shorte And than Rowlande wente agayne to hys felawes And whan he was come to theÌ„ Hector the sonne of Ocdon Oliuer and Ogyer the dane asked of him sayinge Sir Rowlande what saith Reynawde haue ye spoke with him yea sayd Rowlande and what thinke you bi him Certes said Rowland Reynawde is a sage knight well taught for he hath requyted me to fyght with him bodye to bodye and that our folke be styll of the one syde and of the other Rowland sayd Oliuer ye shal doo in this your pleasure for other yee or I must fight with him but I counsell that ye goe there for as longe as I shall lyue I shal not be enemy to Reynawde only for his worthynes For Reynawde is a knight of great honour Whan the bysshop Turpyn Hector the sonne of Oedon and the other Erles hearde this they began to say Rowland what is that ye wil doo For gods mercy doo it not for Reynawde is of your lynage and of ours and if ye bringe him to death we shal neuer loue you after Syr leue that offre that Reynawde giueth to you and make your folke to assemble with the folke of Reynawde for it is better that they be take of youre folke than that the one of you two were dead wyll ye that it be so sayde Rowland yea syr yf it please you Certes said Rowland it pleaseth me ryght well and than he sayd to al his folke Lordes thinke to defende you well for it is now need therof Syr sayd the other haue no doubte of nothynge for we shall doo wel your coÌ„maundement and than they put theÌ„ selfe in ordenaunce And Rowlande began to crye mount ioye saynt Denys and whan came to settinge on with speres ye should haue seen thaÌ„ many a knight brought to grounde manye horse that ranne maysterles thorough the feeldes so much that it was great pitie for to see so greate a destructioÌ„ of knightes as was made there Whan Reynawde saw the two hostes muste assemble together he spurred Bayarde with the spurres put himself amonge the thickest of the Frenche men and smote a knight so harde in the breste that he ouerthrewe bothe horse and man to the grounde and after smote another so sore that nether for sheelde nor for quyras of steele he let not but that he shoued the yren of his spere thorough and thoroughe his bodi and fell dead to the erth and wit at that stroke he brake his spere and Reynawde set hande lightly to his swerde and began to crye Mountawban as lowde as he coulde And than he made so greate slaughter of Frenchemen that none durst abide afore hym but fled from him as fro the death Shortli to speake Reynawd did so much thorough his streÌ„gth thorough the highe knight hode of his brethern that he brake the fyrste batayle of the Frenche men wolde they or no. WHan the litell Richarde the brother of Reynawde saw that the frenshemen were put a backe He beganne to crie on heighte Ardeyne as muche as he mighte and put him selfe in to the greatest prese amonge hys enemies and beganne to make so great hewing of folke that it was wunderfull to see For Reinawde fought not for to loke the better vpon him And thenne Rycharde that thought hym selfe neuer wery of geuyng of strokes began to calle vpon his brother and saide Reynawde faire brother where ben youre greate strokes gone that ye were wunt for to gyue vpon youre enemyes Alas smite now vpon them for they been almost ouercome make that the frenshemen full of pride mocke not with you and so make we suche a thinge that it be spoken of it vnto Parys Whan Reynawde hearde Rycharde speake thus he beganne to smile and after he smote bayard with the spurres began to smite better thenne he byd afore Who that had seen than his greate strokes departe he might wel haue said that no carpenter smot neuer so wel in wood as
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
am sure that ye haue brought him wyth you Syr sayd Ogier it is trouth verely we haue brought him with vs vpō our faith for to take sureties of you of truce that ye haue graunted hym By saynt Denis sayd charlemayne I will not therof for yf I can haue hym ones in my handes al the golde in the worlde shal not saue him but I shal make him dy a shamfull death Syr sayde Ogyer what say ye I meruel me greatly of that ye haue sayd Damp emperour said than the duke Naymes so greate a kynge as ye be ought neuer to haue sayd suche wordes as ye now haue vttred with your mouth for the value of halfe his realme ha goddes sweete sir giue not to your selfe so great a blame yf ye doo this that ye say I promise you that I Ogier the bisshop Turpin and the sonne of Oedon we shall yeelde you euyll for euill yet wee shall saue Reynawde at our power so that ye shal not doo him harme sith that we haue brought hym vpon our fayth Now shal we se sayd Charlemayne how ye shal conne helpe him Syr sayde Ogyer yf ye doo to vs any outrage or dyshonour I promise you wee shal forsake the homage and the fayth that we owe to you and we shall doo the worste that we can agaynst you and agaynst your realme ¶ we shal now presently speake a litle of Oliuer that was gone to Balancon It happed as by fortune that the sayde Oliuer ouertooke Reynawde so nigh the whiche was on foote that he coulde not haue leyser for to moūt vpō bayard And whan Reynawde sawe that he might not light vpon his horse bycause that Oliuer had ouertaken him so sore he was sore an angred of it that almoste he waxed mad al quicke And than he returned him towarde the bisshop Turpyn and towarde Escoufe sayd to them Vassailes ye haue betraied me falsli and I wolde neuer beleue it wherin ye haue doone greate sinne and great euil Syr sayd the bisshop Turpyn I swere to you vpon my fayth that herof we neuer knew nothinge nor thought it and I promyse you that we shall liue and dye with you and with this Reynawde turned towarde Oliuer sayd to him Oliuer may ye yeelde me againe the goodnes that I shewed to you in the playne of Val-colours I know that one curteysie requireth another for whan ye were to the ground cast I deliuerde you your horse againe and holpe you to light vpon hym agayne syr sayd Oliuer it is trouth that ye say and I promise you that I am ryght sorye that I haue founde you now heere For I know no man in the worlde that wolde doo to you anye harme but I wolde be wroth with him this hanging that Reynawde and Olyuer spake together there came Rowlande that was departed from thost after Oliuer for to help hym to take Reynawde and whan he was night he began to crye Ha ha Reynawde by my soule ye be nowe taken and be trapped And whan he had sayd this there was Ogier behinde him that had folowed hym with the poynt of the spere the which sayde to hym by my head syr Rowlande ye shall doo no harme to Reynawde For the Duke Naymes and I haue brought hym hether vpon our fayth for to take the sureties of the trewes that we haue gyuen to him in the kinges behalfe as ye know he had charged vs to do And I tell you Syr Rowland yf ye doo to him any harme ye shal doo it to vs. Ogier sayd Rowland ye shall now be an euil suretie for him Rowland sayde Ogier I make myne avowe to you that yf ye saut Reynawd we foure that ben heere shall helpe hym agaynst you Rowlande sayde than Oliuer I praye you that ye let Reynawde in peace for I promyse you he did ones to me a curteyse turne and a great pleasur now I wil rewarde him for it if it please you and I shall tell you what wee shall doo we shall lede Reynawde before Charlemayne And wee shall praye hym that he treat hym curteisly and we shall parforce our selfe to make his appoyntment Lordes sayde the Duke Names Oliuer hath spoken honestly I counsell that wee leade Reinawde tofore Charlemaine for to see what he wil doo of him And I swere by god yf he wyll doo any outrage to Reinawde we shall not suffre it for to dye for it we shall help him to saue him selfe to our power After all these wordes they tooke them selfe on theyr waye for to lede Reynawde to Charlemayne WHan Rowland and Olyuer had brought Reynawde into the pauylyon of the kynge Charlemaine wyt it that the duke Naymes the bysshop Turpin Ogyer the dane also Escouf the sōn of Oedon wente neuer one foote frō Reynawd But whan Oliuer wold haue presented Reynawde to Charlemayne Ogier auaunced hymselfe and sayd to the kyng in this maner Syr ye knowe howe yee dyd sende vs foure that ben heere afore you in your message to Mountawban for to tell vnto Reynawde as yee had charged vs to whome wee dyd shew in your behalfe that yf he wolde delyuer to you agayne your Crowne and all the good sweardes that Mawgys had borne with hym and the Egle of golde ye should giue him touce for two yeres that ye should doo turne your hoste into Fraunce agayne wyt that Reynawde hath doone all that we haue required hym of in your behalfe wee haue brought him with vs vnder your saufe conduyte and so we take hym vnder our charge that he should haue no more harme thā we should Notwithstandynge ye haue made hym to be taken the whyche thynge we wolde neuer haue thought that yee wolde haue doone it seen that heere bē your crowne your swerdes the Egle of golde is at your pleasure whan ye will haue it And moreouer wee promysed hym that yf ye dyd to hym anye harme that ye should doo it to vs as well as to hym I promise you yf ye doo to him any harme yee shal be greatly blamed for it of al the worlde But and yf ye wil werke honestly heere in and lyke a true emperoure king for to keep that neyther ye nor we be not blamed for it sende Reynawde agayne to Mountawbā with this that he hath taken to vs whan he shall be therin agayne do to hym the worste that ye can OGyer sayde Charlemayne ye speake for nought all youre felowes also For I shall not doo so but I shal doo after myne owne wil thoughe ye all had sworne the contrary And so shal I not doo of Reynawde as I dyd of the false theef mawgis And whan Charlemayne hadde sayde thus he turned him towarde Reynawde sayd to him Reynawd Reynawde I holde you nowe certes I shall so keep you that ye shall not deceyue me as did Mawgys for I shall make you anon to be smyttē and cutte in small peeces and than brente all
that he brought with hym he was ryght glad and he came agaynst Reynawd and sayd to him Syr ye haue wel wrought this dai that ye haue taken such a proye Ogier sayd Reynawde I promise you that Rowlande hath let himselfe to be taken with his good wyll Thanked be god of it sayde the duke Names Reynawde said Ogier go your way to Mountawban and the bysshop Turpin the sonne of Oedō and I shal returne agayne we shal tary Charlemayne that cometh after you and wee shal doo so much that ye shall be wel at Mountawbā or they ouer take you Ogier sayde Rowland ye say well and I thanke you of your curtoysie whā thei had thus shortlye spoken together Reynawde Rowlande rode so fast that they came to moūtawban It is not to be asked if Rowland was wel feasted at moūtawban I promise you it is not possible to feast a prince better nor more honourablie thā he was at moūtawban This hanging Ogier was come against king Charlemain and he dyd so muche by his fayre lāguage that he helde the king till that he thought that Reynawde Rowlande might be well at Mountawbā by that time And whā he had doone so he spurred his horse and went to Mountawbā after the other where as he myght well goe without to be vnbraied for it for he was one of the suretyes of Reynawde as yee haue heard And whan Charlemaine saw this he folowed him vnto the gates And whan he was come to the gate of Mountawban he began to crye with an hie voyce By god Reynawde this that ye haue doone shall auayle you litle for ye shall neuer haue peace wyth me as longe as I am man a liue And whan that he had sayd this he returned him from the gate and sayd to Oliuer that was there with hym Oliuer go lightlye to Mountbendell and bring heere all my hoste for I wyll besiege all thys Castell Than sayd Oliuer I shall go there with a good wyll but and it please you ye shall come wyth me for I promise you if ye comnot there your selfe they shall not come hither for me Than shall I goe there my self and thus tooke Charlemayne hys waye towarde Mountbendel where his hoste laye whan his folke sawe him come they wente agaynst hym and began to saye to him syr what haue ye doone with Rowlād lordes sayd Charlemayne Rowlād is gone to Mountawban but I commaund you al that incontinent without delaye that my siege be transported all rounde aboute Moūtawban and ye damp Oliuer shall beare the oriflā and damp Rychard of Normandye shall lede our hoste Whan Charlemayne had comaūded all this there was none that sayde agaynst it but set themself to bring downe the tentes and pauilion and to trusse and lede theyr baggages and caryed all to Mountawban RYcharde of Normandy went with .xii. thousande men to Balācon to keep the passage of the ryuer tyll all the hoste were ouer the ryuer This hanging Charlemayne had put himself afore for to se where he might best pitche his tentes and his pauilion for to keep siege royall afore the Castell of Mountawban And whan al the hoste was come a fore Mountawban the kinge made incontinēt his pauilion to be set vp before the great gate And whan all the hoste was set the nyght watche of the great Towre came to Mawgys and sayde vnto him Syr wyt the Charlemaine is come with his hoste and hath put his pauilion before the mayster gate Is it true sayd Mawgis yea without any faute sayd the watche Now care not for it sayde Mawgis for Charlemayne seeketh his domage and he shall haue it soner than he weeneth Than went Mawgys to Reynawde And shewed him howe Charlemayne was come with all his hoste And whan Reynawde heard this he went vnto Rowland and sayd vnto him Sir ye muste wyt that Charlemane youre vnkle hath layde siege afore vs but I promise you that if it were not for the loue of you I should shew him that he hath not doone wel Reynawde sayd Rowlande I thanke you muche but one thynge I wyll tell you saue your correccion me semeth that I ought to sende to myne vnkle the duke Naymes Ogyer the dane and also the bysshop Turpyn that shall shewe vnto him in this maner Syr Emperour wyt that Reynawde for the loue of you wyll not gyue no Irons to your neuew nor he wyl not put hym in prison But he maketh him as good cheere as he doth to his owne selfe And that more is Reynawde his brethern and Mawgys doo present themselfe for to giue thē and theyr castell vnto your handes so that theyr liues be saued ye speake well and wisely syr Rowland said Reynawde and so I am redy to doo as ye wyll haue it Rowland sayde the duke Naymes I dare not goe to hym ye may wel ynoughe sayd Rowland For ye be not hated of the king duke Naymes sayd Ogyer we shal goe to Charlemayne yf ye wyll doo after me And they accorded that thei two should goe togither to the kyng for to shew to hym as Rowland had deuised And whan that these two princes the duke Naymes and Ogyer came to the pauilion of Charlemayne they saluted him reuerently and the duke Naymes spake to him in thys maner of wyse Syr Emperour your neuew Rowland recommendeth him humblye to your good grace the whych Reynawde kepeth within Mountawban for his prisoner not vnkyndly but he maketh to hym as good there and as great honour he bereth vnto hym as he were his owne brother and his souerayn lorde and all this he dooth for your loue And demaundeth of you peace yf it please you to graunt it to hym by suche maner that he shall gyue you Mountawban and the Egle of golde and he shall let goe Rowlande at his libertie without raunsū And also he shall yeelde hymselfe to you and his brethern in lyke wyse and also Mawgys for to doo your wyl with them saue theyr liues and they shall promyse you yf theyr seruyse pleaseth you that thei shal serue you agaynst all mē with all theyr power and puissaunce so that ye shall haue cause to thanke them for it WHā Charlemayne vnderstood these wordes he shooke al for great angre And began to saye to the duke Naymes and to the other that were come to hym flee out of my pauilion euill folke I meruayle me how haue ye durst cum heere within and I tell you that Reynawde shall haue no peace with me but if I haue Mawgis for to doo my wyll of him whan the barons vnderstode charlemayne that spake thus they came out of hys Pauilion and tooke no leaue at hym but returned incontinent to Mountawban whan they were come there Rowland and Reinawde asked theym howe they had doone with Charlemaine Lordes said the duke Naimes it is no force to be asked after it For Charlemayn wyl not doo it but if men take vnto him Mawgis for to doo his will
myne vncle wyl dystroye wrongfully Syr said the duke Naymes heare me yf it please you I counsel that we go hens and whan we shal be afore Charlemayne we shall aske him how Reynawde dyd delyuer him for yf we speake to him of peace he shal be wrothe wyth vs but whan he shal remembre the great goodnes and curteysy of Reynawde his hert shal be molified it cannot be but he shal doo to him some grace and fauour for he shall know well that his hert is ouer great that he hath doone to Reynawde great wronge Certes syr Naymes sayd the barons ye speake wysely and ye giue ryght good counsell And whan they were accorded to the counsell of the Duke Naymes Rowlande asked after his horse and eche of the other barons also And whan they were redye for to lyght on horsbacke there came mi lady Clare the wyfe of Reynawde that kissed Rowlande Olyuer and all the other barons and after she sayde to them in this maner Lordes that be heere present I beseche you in the name of god for his blessed passion that it pleaseth you for to purchace the peace of my lorde Reynawde and semblably of hys bretherne towarde the great king Charlemayn ye know my lordes that the kynge dothe to my lorde great wrong and also ye know the great curteysy and the kyndnes that my Lorde my husbaÌ„d hath shewed vnto Charlemayn and well ye wot that yf my Lorde had not be hys brother Rycharde wolde haue striked the head from the body of hym Madame sayde the duke Naymes doubt not For and god be pleased the peace shal be made with in these three dayes And than they lighted al on horsbacke and the three brethern of Reynawde conueyed theÌ„ to the gate and Reynawde taryed after them vpon the brydge whan they were come to the sayde brydge Reynawde sayd to them My lordes I commende you to God I maye no lenger goe with you prayinge that ye wyl haue me in your remeÌ„brauÌ„ce Then al the Peeres of FrauÌ„ce that were there began to weepe tenderly and tooke their leaue of Reynawde the noble knyght after they tooke theyr way towarde the hoste of Charlemayne And whan the Emperour saw them come he called to hym his barons and shewed them they that were comynge And whan the baroÌ„s saw them they meruayled greatly had greate feare for they wyste not what it was but Ydellon the Erle said by god we haue recouered rowlande and hys felawes yea sayde Charlemain godes curse haue they Thys hangyng Rowland and hys felawes came tofore Charlemayne and lighted a foote and incontinent they kneeled humbly afore the king and thaÌ„ the duke Naymes began to speake first and sayd Noble Emperour wee are come in your presence for to crye you mercy beseching you for God that it will please you to take vs vnto your good grace for we haue doone nothing agaynst you but that it was for your we le But sith that we haue knowen that your wyl was not for to haue peace we haue forsaken Reynawde and all his brethern nor neuer whyle we ben a liue they shall haue no succours of vs. Lordes sayde Charlemayne I pardon you but I tell you yf we tary heere longe stil we shal haue lytle gaynes therby wherfore I pray you that we go assaute Mountawban bothe by day and bi night by such maner that he be taken of vs incontinent they all that ben in it brought to death Sir sayd the duke Naymes ye say well but and yf ony mifortune happeth to vs as it hath doone heere afore time I promise you it shal be to you great dommage and me seemeth it were muche better to haue peace thaÌ„ for to contynewe the warre ANd whan the Barons of Fraunce heard this that the duke Naymes had sayde to the king they began to crye with a high voice Syr Emperour we praye you that ye wyl doo this that Naymes counselleth you For he gyueth you good counsell Whan Charlemayne heard the crye that hys folke made to him he came to the duke Naymes that was kneelyng afore hym and tooke him vp in lyke wyse his neuewe Rowlande and all the other and sayde to them My lordes ye knowe that I haue pardoned you with right good wyll but I wyll well that ye know but yf ye keep yourself fro helpinge of my enemies mortal I shal angre you vpon your bodies For I hate them so muche that yf I should abide heere all my lyfe I shal destroy theÌ„ And wit it that Charlemayne was glad that he had recouered hys neuew RowlaÌ„d and his other Peeres how be it he made no semblaunte of it And he sayd yet agayne that he shold neuer departe from hys syege tyll that he had taken Mountawban and all the foure sonnes of Aimon wherof he shall doo sharpe Iustyce shall doo brenne Mawgys the false traytour Syr sayd Rowland I promise you that Mawgys is not wtin MouÌ„tawban for he feareth you so muche that he dare not abyde you least yee should make him to be hanged bycause he dyd steale you so falsly oute of your hoste Ha god sayde Charlemayne whan shal I see that I haue him for to doo my wyll of hym For than the Sonnes of Aymon should soone be a greed with mee THan whan the kyng Charlemayne had deuysed longe ynoughe he gaue leaue to all hys barons for to go agayne into theyr teÌ„tes for to see theâ—r folke And whan the morow came all the barons caÌ„e agayne vnto Charlemain And whaÌ„ the kynge saw them together within his pauilion he was therof glad spake to them thus Lordes I haue besyeged Mountawban as nere as ye see and I am not dysposed for to departe heÌ„ce nother for colde for hete nor for hungre vnto the time that I haue taken hym by fyne force the whiche thynge shall be lyghtly doone for I am sure that they shall want vytayles wythin And worse is for theym they haue loste the traytoure Mawgys whiche was theyr hope and comforte wherfore I saye that they caÌ„not holde it longe against my power whan the barons hearde that Charlemayne thretened Reynawde so soore there was none of them but thei were sory for it for the most parte of theym loued Reynawde for the worthynes and the kyndnes that was in him Then spake the Duke Naimes and said to the Emperour Syr ye say that they of Mountawban be dyspurueyd of meate and that ye shall not departe from the syege tyll that ye haue taken the castel and that is a thinge that shall be doone lightlye but I promyse you yf ye tarye to their vittailles be doo ye shall lye here lenger theÌ„ ye ween of wherfore syr I beseche you that it wyll please you to beleue my counseyll yf it semeth you good fyrste take heede to the curtoysy that Reynawde hath doone to you for ye wot well that if he had not be his brother Richarde shoulde haue
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
you that the poore folke died for hungre by the streetes and with this was so great stenche in Mountawban of the dead that were there that no man coulde endure it And whan Reynawd saw this he was sorye for it and than he dyd doo make greate charnell wher in he made all the deade bodyes to be buryed And whan Richarde sawe so greate mortalitie within the castel of Mountawban throughe cause of the great dearth that was there and saw his brother Reinawd in so great distresse he could not forbeare but he saied to him by god my brother nowe goeth it worse then euer it dyd it had be muche better if ye hadde beleued me for yf ye wolde haue suffred me to slea the kynge Charlemayne we shoulde nowe not haue be in thys myscheef and great pouertie that we haue nowe nor your folke hadde not dyed for hungre as they doo and thaÌ„ he began to weep tenderly and sayde Alas why doo I complayne other I myght well complayne my selfe sithe that I must dye and be put in to the charnell as the poorest of vs all Ha Mawgis my fayre cosyn where be ye now ye faile vs at oure need for and ye were here within with vs we shoulde not be famyshed for hungre and also we should not doubte muche the kinge Charlemaine for I wot well that ye should get vs vitaylles ynough to lyue vpon for vs and our men and now we muste dye for hungre as the wulf should vpon a sea for Charlemaine hateth vs more than he dooth the sarasyns And therfore it is not for vs to wayte after pitie of him for he is ouer cruell a king vpon vs. CHarlemayne by the reporte of some folke knew the great det the scarslie of vitailles that was within MouÌ„tawbaÌ„ wherof he was right glad called to him his folke and said to them Lordes now can not Reinawd escape but he shal soon be taken hanged the false Richard drawen at an horse tayle Alarde Guichard also and theyr worthines shall be litill worthe to them And whan the kinge Charlemaine had sayde these wordes he sent for all his peeres barons and whan they were al come within his pauillion he was glad of it and sayd to them Lordes thanked be god that I haue brought mountawban so low that Reinawde and hys knyghtes haue no more vitailles in it and now they shal yeeld them selfe at my wyll mawgre their teeth for the moste parte of their folkes ben deade for hungre and yet dien dayly and ye must wyt I wyl that Reynawde be hanged his brethern also but first I wil that Rychard be drawen at an horse tayl And so I charg you that none of you be so hardye to moue my wyll to the contrary for I will that it be doone as I saye whan the duke Naimes Rowland Oliuer Ogier the bishop Turpin escouf the sonne of Oedon that were there heard the king speke thus they were righte sorye for the loue of Reinawd of his brethern looked down said no word at all for feare that they should be shent of the king Ogier with great payne kept his eyen fro weepinge lest Charlemaine should not perceiue his sorowful hert HEere ye ought to wit that duringe the time that Charlemain laye at the siege afore Mountawban persecuting the four sonnes of AimoÌ„ Reinawd Alard Guychard and Richarde Aymon their father helde the party of the king ayenst his children for he had promised him to doo so as ye haue heard about but wit it that whan he heard howe the emperoure thretened his children how be it that he had forsaken them he was wrothe for it for he knew we if his children died so he should neuer haue ioy after that for whatsoeuer warre he made ayenst them he loued them kindli as the father ought loue his childe for nature may not lie therfore he took so great sorow whaÌ„ he heard of hys sonnes that they were thretned to be hanged that he almost fel down dead to the ground of the great sorow that he had could not keep himselfe but he said Sir emperour I besech you that it wil please you to bryng my childreÌ„ to right for though I haue forsaken them yet are they my sonnes of my body begotten Hold your peace Aymon said Charlemain for I wil that it be so doone of theÌ„ for Reinawd did slea my neuew barthelor that I loued so much And after he turned him self saw the barons that spake th one to thother said to them Lordes loue your musing for I tel you for a trouthe that I shal not leaue to doo herin my wil for no maÌ„ that speaketh ye wot wel it is iii. yere gon sith we besieged this castel first and euer sith haue leien here where we haue lost many of oure foâ—ke wherfore I coÌ„maund you that either of you doo make engynes for to brynge downe this great towre all the remnaunt also for with such maner we shal abash them greatlye and ye my neuew Rowland ye shall doo make of the engines .vii. and Oliuer shal doo make vi the duke Naimes iiii the bishop Turpin and Ogier the dane other .iiii. and ye duke Aimon said the king Charlemain ye shal make three HOwe shoulde I nowe doo this good lord said thaÌ„ Aimon for sir Emperour ye know wel that they be my children nother truantes nor knaues but be the best knyghtes of the world so I tel you sir that if I saw theim die I shoulde for goe my wittes for angre And whan Charlemaine heard Aimon speake thus he was wroth and began to gnaw on a stafe that he held in his hand and after said By that god that made me if there be ani of you that gainsaith my wil I shall strike of his heade with my swerde Sir saide the duâ—e Naymes angre not your selfe For that that ye haue coÌ„maunded shal be doone incontinent whan the barons vnderstood the coÌ„maundemente of Charlemain they went their way for to make the engines that the king had commauÌ„ded the whiche were anon made ready these engines were for to cast greate multitude of stones And as soon that they were made they were set for to cast ayen mouÌ„tawbaÌ„ in short time they doÌ„maged it ful sore so I promise you that within the castel were made greate crying of women and of children for feare of the stones they went and hid them vnder the ground and so thei of Mountawban endured this mischef as longe as they had any morsell of meat And I ensure you that there was so great derth and so great mortalitie the men wist nomore where to laye the deade For the charnell was al full Alas who had seen so yong bachelers that for feintnes went leninge vpon their staues thorough MouÌ„tawbaÌ„ for lacke of meat he wolde haue had great pitie For afore that the castel was besieged they were so stronge and
Reynawde did choose an hundred of the best knightes of his felawshyp and sayde to theym Syrs I praye you that ye wyll be wyth me in the fyrste batayle and ye shall doo me great honoure Syr sayde the knightes we shall gladlye doo your commaundement and we shall not leue you as longe as life is in vs and so we thanke you of the great worshyp that ye doo call vs in your company for ye knowe well that wee canne not fare amys as longe as wee be wyth you WHan Reynawde had ordeyned wel hys batayles he made none other taryenge but wente the formest of all the sheelde at the necke and the spere in the fyst was mounted vpon Bayarde that beheld proudly about him makynge greate noyse And then Reynawde gaue him the spurre and went fayre vpon the folke of the Kynge Charlemayne and whan Charlemaayne saw Bayarde remynge that made so great bruyte and Reynawde vpon his backe that cam in so fayre ordenaunce he was sore abasshed of it and sayd in him self O good Lorde and where the Deuyll haue all redy had the foure Sonnes of AymoÌ„ so many folke as I se here now come with them I beleue thaâ— it is some deuylles werke For I had not left many with them late a goe And now Reynawde is so puyssauÌ„t that he feareth me nothyng But I promise god all this shal not auayle hym nothynge but I shal doo iustice vpon him and his brethern or ought longe And than he made his bataile to set in ordenaunce in the best wyse that he coulde and lighted on horsebacke for to come fyght wyth Reynawde And whan the Duke Naymes saw that Charlemayn was so mad that he wolde goe fight with Reynawde he went to hym sayde syr what is that ye will doo I promyse you it were greate folye for to fight with these folke it were better that ye made peace with Reynawd For I am sure that Reynawde shal doo all that ye wil coÌ„maunde him and I tell you wel that if we fight with theÌ„ that ye shall see manye knyghtes to trayle theyr bowelles thorough the feelde wherof it shal be great harme to the one party and to the other And suche shall the losse be that it shal not be recouered agayne Naymes sayd the kinge Charlemayne let vs alone for I shal doo none other wise for no man that liueth I should rather let me to be dismembred And whan the duke Naymes had vnderstande his wordes he was ful sory of it and left his speaking therof from that houre Charlemayne delybered hymselfe for to fyght and alwayes he rode forth in great wrath ANd whan Reynawde sawe that the two hostes were approched sore nighe th one the other as to hande and haÌ„de he sayd to his brother Rychard that was next him I wil go speake with the king Charlemayne for to wyt of hym yf he wil pardon and take vs vnto hys grace For yf he wolde doo so I should doo entierly all his wil and pleasure as to our souerayne lorde By god brother sayd then Rycharde yee be not worthe a botell of hey for the herte is all redy fayled in your bely Goe forth mischauÌ„t sayd then Reynawde thou wot not what thou sayest For I wyll go there no man shall keep me therfro if he refuseth the peace whan I shall axe it of hym I shall make myne auowe to God that I shall neuermore require him therof Brother sayd Alarde ye say wel and wisely go there hardly and doo therin your wyll And than Reynawde made none other delayinge but he smote Bayarde with the spurres and went incontinent towarde the kynge Charlemayne sayd than to hym Syr for gods mercy suffre if it be your pleasure that we haue peace and accorded with you that this warre that hath lasted so longe maye finisshe and that your wrath be put awai from vs if it please you and I shall be redy to doo all that ye wyll and also I shall gyue you Bayarde my good horse Than sayd the kynge to hym goe fro me false gloton the deuyll speed thee for al the worlde shal not conne keep thee but I shall slea thee Syr sayd Reynawde ye shal not doo so and god wyll for I shall defend me well And wit it sith that it is com to this ye shal not be spared of vs but we shall doo the worste that we can Smite knightes sayde the kynge Charlemaine I shall neuer prayse you if this euil glotton scape me now And whaÌ„ that Reynawde sawe thys he sayde Syr kinge of Fraunce I defie you and forthwith he spurred Baiarde and ranne with his spere vpon a knight whyche he smote so harde in the brâ—st that he ouerthrew hym dead vnto the erthe And after that he went agayne vnto his folke And whan that the kinge Charlemayn saw this he cried wan hye voyce smite knightes now shall they ben discomfyted THan whan Rowland hearde the kynge Charlemayne crie thus he spurred his horse and went after Reynawde also many other knyghtes but they ouâ—r tooke hym not WhaÌ„ Rycharde saw his brother come he came hym agaynst sayde to him Brother what tidinges briÌ„g you shal wee haue peace or warre Bâ—other sayd Reynawde let vs doo the best that wee can doo for peace we shal not haue Brother sayd then Rychard god blesse you for the tidinges that ye brynge for I thynke to doo this day suche a thynge wherof king Charlemayne shal be angry Brother said Reynawde I pray you that ye shewe yourselfe vertuous stronge agaynst our enemyes Whan the king Charlemayne sawe that it was time to set vpon him he called hastely the duke Naymes and sayde to hym Naymes hold my Oriflam and thynke for to smite wel and valiauntly as a worthy knight ought for to doo at eyther hande in keeping my worship and herof I praye you hertely Syr sayd the duke Naymes ye need not for to pray me for I am bouÌ„de for to doo the same but it greueth me that ye haue not done other wise that is for to sai that ye should haue graunted to the peace for the warre hath lasted to longe Naimes I commaunde you that ye speake no more therof vnto me for while I liâ—â—â— they shall haue no peace with me Syr sayd the Duke Naymes I am sory for it Now let see what ye shall doo for I goe to batayle fyrst of all and looke that ye folow me yf ye will for I shall put me in suche a place wherof ye shal be sore meruayled not without a cause for there hys no man so colde but he should soone get here there within a litle whyle Frow folow that wyll ANd whan Reynawde saw the Oriflam of Fraunce come he broched Bayarde wyth the spurres and ranne amonge the thickest and smote a knight so harde that he cast hym downe vnto the erth And after he turned him toward his folk chered theÌ„ honestly than