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
¶ The right plesaunt and goodly Historie of the foure sonnes of Aimon the which for the excellent endytyng of it and for the notable Prowes and great vertues that were in them is no les pleasaunt to rede then worthy to be knowen of all estates bothe hyghe and lowe ☞ The Prologue AS the Philosopher in the fyrst booke of hys methafysyque sayth that euery man naturally desireth to know and to con newe thynges â–ª And therfore haue the Clerkes people of great vnderstandynge desyred and coueite to lerned sciences and to know vertues of thinges Some by Phylosophy other by Poetrye and other by Historyes and cronyckes of thynges passed And vpoÌ„ these three they haue greatly laboured in suche that thanked be God by theyr good dylygence and laboures they haue had greate knowledge by innumerable volumes of bookes whiche haue be made and compyled by great studye payne vnto thys day And bycause that aboue all thinges the princes lordes of hie estate and entendement desyre to see thy storyes of the ryght noble and hye vertues of the prodecessours whiche ben digne and worthy of remembraunce of perpetuall recommendacion Therfore lace at the request and commaundement of the ryght noble and vertus Erle Iohn Erle of Oxeforde my good synguler and especial lorde I reduced translated out of Frenche into our maternall and Englyshe tongue the lyfe of one of his predecessoures named Robert Erle of Oxeforde tofore sayd which diuerse many great myracles whiche God shewed for him as wel in his lyfe as after his death as it is shewed all a longe in hys sayde booke And also that my sayd Lorde desyreth to haue other Hystories of olde tyme passed of vertues chyualry reduced in lykewyse into our Englishe toÌ„gue he late sent to me a booke in Frenche conteynyng thactes and faytes of warre do one and made agaynst the great Emperour and king of Fraunce Charlemayne by the .iiii. sonnes of Aymon other wyse named in Frenche Les quatre sylz Aymon whyche booke accordynge to hys request I haue endeuorde me to accomplyshe and to reduce it into our englyshe to my great coste and charges as in the translatinge as in enprynting of the same hopyng not doubtyng but that hys good grace shall rewarde me in suche wise that I shal haue cause to pray for his good and prosperus welfare And besechynge his said noble good grace to pardon me of the rude and this simple worke For accordyng to the coppy whyche he seÌ„t to me I haue folowed as nigh as I can and where as any defaute shall be founde I submyt me to the correccion of them that vnderstande the cronycle hystory besethyng theÌ„ to correcte it amende there as they shall fynde faute And I shall praye almighty God for them that so doo to rewarde them in suche wyse that after this shorte and transytory lyfe we all may come to euerlastyng lyfe in heuen Amen ¶ Thus endeth the prologue ⧠Heere foloweth the Table of this presente booke WHo that wyll know the history of the foure noble and worthye knyghtes named the foure sonnes of Aymon wherof the fyrste was called Reynawde the seconde Alarde the thyrde Guychard and the fourthe Rycharde let hym first reade this presente table folowynge In whiche men shall fynde that thys presente booke conteyneth .xxviii. chapytres which speaken of many faire and dyuerse matters whiche they that shall reade thys sayde chapytres shall mowe see the history all alonge And ye shall see in this fyrst chapytre howe that after kynge Charlemayne was come agayne from the partyes of Lombardy where he had had great and merueyllouse battaylles ayenste the sarasyns he helde vpon whitsoâ—daye open courte at Parys where was a fayre felawshyp of Prynces and Barons as ye shall heare after alonge And in the same chapitre ye shall also see howe the same daye the duke Aymon of Ardeyne broughte to the courte hys foure sonnes that is to wit Reynawde Alarde Guichard and Richarde and howe kynge Charlemayne made theim knyghtes wyth his owne handes also howe the duke Benes of Aigremounte slewe Lohier the eldest sonne of kyng Charlemain the duke benes was vncle to the foure soÌ„nes of Aimon and after how the duke Benes of aygremount was slaine coming to Parts by the commaundemente of kinge Charlemayne after that he had appointed for the death of his sonne And also in this first chapitre men shal nowe see many other faire matters whiche were to longe for to be reherced in this preambule of this present booke fol. i. THe seconde Chapyter sheweth howe Grysson of hauitefelle and Guenes after that they had slayne the Duke Benes of Aygremount-retourned to Parys and recounted to kynge Charlemayn the mortall treason that they had put to execucyon wherof the kynge was ryghte glad and syn after he was ryghte sorye for it For after that the two bretherne of the Duke Benes made great warre ayenst him and so dyd Gerarde of Rousillon and Dron and Mawgys the sonne of the duke Benes and after they made peace and accorded togyther But the kinge Charlemain accorded not with the foure sonnes of aimon nor to their cosin Mawgys ⧠Item howe Reynawde slew the neuew of king Charlemayne with a chesse boorde as they plaied togyther at the chesse wherof the warre began the whiche was so mortall and lasted so longe that it bare a great dommâ—ge to the realme of fraunce fol. xiii THe thirde chapitre speaketh how after that kynge Charlemayne hadde made all his barons to forsake the foure sonnes of aymon He went and besyeged them at mouÌ„tenforde where he was discomfyted two tymes but the castelle of MouÌ„tenforde was taken after that by treason And after howe Reynawde and his bretherne auenged theim of the traytoures that betrayed theym And after saued theym selfe wythin the forest of Ardeyne where theyr father found theÌ„ as he went from the syege towarde his londe of Dordon And howe for to keep his othe that he had made to kynge Charlemayne He dyd assayle hys sonnes so that of fyue hundred menne that they were there abod on liue with his sonnes but xvii persones But Reynawd and his brethern had none euil but slew many of their fathers men fol. xvi THe fourth chapytre sheweth how after that the olde Aimon had discomfyted his chyldern they went and dwelled in the depest of the forest of Ardeyne and abode there tyll that they were al counterfayte blacke and roughe as wilde beastes for the greate hungre that they had suffred and after they went to Dordon for to see their father that made them good chere and feasted them greately And gaue them of hauoyre so muche that they myghte well make war with ayenst the king and howe Mawgis their cosyn arryued whan that they should haue departed whiche went with theym in to the realme of Gascoygne with fyue hundred knightes And whan theyr mother sawe them departe she was for it full sorye fol. xxxi THe fyfthe
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
otherwise Alas and what sorowful harme they hadde of this that they were thus clothed For that were the tokens and recognyssaunce wherof they were in dauÌ„ger of death if god had not holpen them of his pitie and mercy And whan the foure sonnes of AimoÌ„ had their mautelles on the kyng yon behelde them and had of them great pitie and began to weep There was his stewarde that the â—rayson well wist that saide not one word for â—ere of king yon And whaÌ„ the mete was redy Reynawde prayed muche the king that he woulde eate For he made him to be serued ryght wel Whan they had eaten the kyng yon rose vpon his feet and toke Reynawde by the hande and said to him My faire brother my frend I wil tell a counseyll that ye know not Nowe wyt that I haue bee at Mountbenden and I haue spoken with king Charlemayne the which charged me of treason by cause that I keep you in my realme wherof I haue presented my gage afore all hys company and no maÌ„ was there so hardy that durste speake ayenste that that I sayd After this we had many wordes togither among whiche we spake of good accorde and of peace whereof at the laste the kyng Charlemayne was contente for my loue for to make peace with you in the maner that foloweth That is to were that to morow erly ye shal goe to the playne of Valcoloures ye and your brethreÌ„ al vnarmed but of your swerdes mounted vpon youre mules and clothed with the mantelles that I haue geuen to you and that ye shall beare in your handes Roses and floures and I shall sende with you eyght of myne earles for to goe more honourably the which ben al of my lygnage And there ye shal finde the king Charlemaine and the duke Naymes of hauyere and Ogyer the Dane and all the twelue Peres of Fraunce and there Charlemayne shall gyue you suertie And ye shall doo to him reuerence in such maner that ye shal cast your selfe to his feet and there he shall pardone you and he shall gyue you agayne all youre londes entierly THan sayde Reinawde syr for gods mercy For I haue greate doubt of the king Charlemaine by cause he hateth vs to death as ye know And I promyse you it he holdethe vs he shall make vs to die a shamefull death Good freend saide the traytoure kynge yon haue ye no doubte at al. For he hath sworne vnto me vpon his faith afore al his baronye Sir answered Reynawde we shall doo your commaundements Ha God sayde Alarde What saye you my brother ye knowe well that kynge Charlemayne hath made his oth many times that if he may take vs ones by ony maner of meane he shall bringe vs to a shameful dethe Now I meruayle me greatly of you faire brother how ye wil accorde for to goe put your selfe and vs in to his handes al vnarmed as a poore mischaunte Neuer haue god mercy vpoÌ„ my soule yf I goe there without mine armes nor without to be as it apperteyneth brother said Reinawd ye saye not well God forbed that I should mistrust my lorde the kyng yon of any thing that he telleth me And than he turned hym towarde the kyng yon and sayde to hym Sir without any faute we shall be there to morowe earlye in the mornyng whatsoeuer happeth of it Fayre lordes said Reynawde god hath holpen vs wel that we haue peace with the kynge Charlemayne to whome we haue made so longe time so mortall a warre but sith that my Lorde the king you hath made thys peace I am content to doo to him as much reuerence as to me is possyble For I am delybered to goe naked in my small lynen clothes to the Mountesaynt Michael And whaÌ„ Reinawd had sayd this word he toke leaue of kyng yon and went in to the chambre of the faire lady his wife fouÌ„d there his other two brethren that were with her whaÌ„ the lady saw her husbonde come she came ayenst hym and tooke him betwen both her armes by great loue and kissed hym Lady sayd Reynawde I ought wel to loue you by great reason For your brother the king you hath trauailed hm selfe right sore for me and hathe be sore blamed at the courte of Charlemaine for me but he hath doone so muche blessed be god that he hathe made my peace with the king Charlemaine And that Rowland and Oliuer Nor all the twelue Peeres of frauÌ„ce might neuer make he hathe graunted vs againe all our landes And all thus we shall be riche and shal liue al our life in reste peace so shall we mow helpe and gyue the hauoyre that we haue vnto the poore knightes that haue serued all theyr lyfe truely and wel THan sayd the lady I thanke god greatly therof with al my hert But tell me where the concordaunce shall be made and hyde it not from me yf it please you Lady sayde Reynawde I shal tell it you without any faute Wit that to morowe we muste ryde to the playne of Valcolours there the peace shal be made but I and my brethren must goe thither without armes but onely oure swerdes and vpon mules berynge roses in oure handes And there we shal fynde the duke Naymes of bauyere Ogyer the Dane al the .xii Peeres of Fraunce that shal receiue othes whaÌ„ the lady vnderstod these wordes she was so sore an angred thereof that almost she had lost her witte and saide to Reynawde Syr yf ye wyl beleue me ye shall not goe one fote there For the plaine of Valcolours are so daungerous for there is a roch ryght hyghe and there ben foure grete woodes rounde aboute yf ye will beleue me ye shall take a day for to speake with Charlemaine heere in the medowes of Mountawban ye shall goe there mounted vpon bayarde and youre brethren with you there ye may conferme youre peace or elles continew your warre take two thousande knyghtes and gyue theym to Mawgis youre cosyn whiche shall keep them in a busshemente vpon the ryuage if it happe you to haue need for I doubte me sore of treason wherfore I pray you that ye keep your selfe well sure For I dyd dreame to nyghte a dreame that was fereful merueilous for me semed that I was at the windowes of the great palace and sawe come out of the greate wood of Ardeyn well a thousande wilde bores that hadde greate and hortyble reeth the which flewe you and rented your body al in peeces and also I saw that the great towre of Mountawban fel downe to the grounde moreouer I saw a shot of aduenture that smot your brother Alarde so harde that it perced his body through and through and that the chapel of Saint Nycolas which is within this castel fell downe to the earthe and all the ymages that been in it wepte for greate pitte And the two auÌ„gelles came downe from heauen that haÌ„ged your
into Gascoyne the death of my father the duke benes of Aigremount for I shal giue to you such a stroke that ye shal neuer make warre to vs nor to none other And with this he bare vp his speare for to haue shoued it through the brest of charlemayn but charlemaiÌ„ abode not the stroke but he turned himselfe aside the spere entred into the bed of the king wel two foote whan charlemayn saw this he was aferde he begaÌ„ to cry mouÌ„ioye saynt denis than he said Ha fayre neuew RowlaÌ„d where are ye now Whan Mawgis heard call Rowlande he looked about him and saw not Reynawde nor his brethern for they had put themself to the way to retourne home agayne OVer longe taried Mawgis in the hoste of Charlemayne for Reynawde was all redy passed ouer Balancon and Rowland Oliuer were all redy come to the callinge of Charlemayne sore afrayed whan Mawgis sawe them he made no lenger taryinge but gaue the spurres to his horse went after Reynawde as fast as his horse myght runne And whan he wolde haue passed balaÌ„con he met wyth a great company of the folke of Charlemayne and Mawgis smote one of them so hard in the sheeld that he ouerthrew both horse man to the erth And after that he smote the sonne of Mylen of Puyll so that he cleued his sheelde a sonder cast him downe to the grounde with a wounde mortaâ—l than he cryed MouÌ„tawban sayd Ha fayre cosin Reynawde where be you succour me for god for if ye lose me ye shal haue harme therat And than Mawgys thought well that Reynawde was gone this hangynge came Olyuer throughe the prese and came vpon Mawgis smote him so harde that it abode not nother for sheelde nor for courset of steele but he made hym a wounde in his breste and caste hym downe to the erth WHan Mawgis felt hymselfe thus hurt and ouerthrowen he was ryght wrothe for it So rose he vp quickly vpon his feete tooke hys swearde in his hande did meruayles of armes and the nyght was very darke that almoste the one knew not the other And whan Oliuer saw Mawgys defende hymself so well he sayde to him I knowe not thee knight whom thou art but and thou yeeld not thy selfe to me I shall now smyte of thy head from the shoulders what is thy name sayd than Mawgys for and thou be a good man I shall yeelde me to thee and els not knight my name is Oliuer of Vien whan Mawgys heard him named he knew him well and sayd to hym Ha gentyll knight Oliuer I yeelde me to you vpon your fayth vnder suche a condycion that ye shall not delyuer me to Charlemayn for if ye delyuer me in his handes I am dead wythout remedy he shall make me dye shamefully as a theefe By my fayth sayd Olyuer this wyll I not doo for I dare not hyde you from Charlemayne but yeelde you and I promise you that I shal help you to my power for to make your apoyntmeÌ„t with the king sir sayd Mawgys I yeeld me to you vpon your trouth and tooke his swerde to hym Olyuer tooke it after made hym to be lighted vpoÌ„ a litle horse brought him to the pauilion of Charlemaine where they fouÌ„d not the kyng bycause he was al afrayed as ye heard afore And whan Oliuer saw that he fouÌ„d not Charlemaine he was sore aferd the Mawgys should scape from hym through his incantacions wytche crafte and sayd to him Mawgis ye know how I haue taken you by armes and that ye are my prysoner I wyll that ye gyue me your fayth truly that ye shal not go out of with in with out my leue Syr sayde Mawgis with a good wyll and thus he dyd swere this Olyuer And whan Oliuer had taken the othe of Mawgys he made him to be vnarmed and made hys wouÌ„de to be wrapped and gaue him a mantell vpon him and made hym to lye vpon a bed Now shal we leue a litle to speake of Charlemayne of Olyuer and of Mawgys And shal shew of Reynawde and his brethern what they dyd whan the host of charlemayne was moued and how they wonne the Egle of Golde that was of so great value how Reynawde sayd to his brethern lordes let vs se now for to quyte vs wel for it were not good for vs for to tary heere ani lenger And than he made to withdraw his folke and made them put to the waye And as they wente Rychard sayd to Reynawde Syr wee haue gotten a ryche proy thanked be God For Charlemayne shall be many a longe day wrothe therfore Certes sayd Reynawde fayre brother ye saye trouth and also we haue slayne a great many of hys folke Ha God sayde than Alarde where is our cosin Mawgis for I se him not heere Brother sayd Richard be not aferde for Mawgys for I beleue that he is gone to Mountawban afore vs god be with hym wheresoeuer he be sayd Reynawde For he is right sage and a noble knyght I wolde not for all the Golde in the world that my cosin Mawgis had ani harme ¶ We shal leue a lytle to speake of Reynawde and hys brethern that are bounde to Mountawban glad of theyr proye And shall nowe speake of Charlemayne that was so sore wrothe as I haue sayde afore WHan Charlemayne was fro his harneys he fel in a swoune for the greate angre that he had of that he had be thus distressed And whan he was come agayne to hym selfe he sente for the duke Naymes the bisshoppe Turpyn Escoufe the sonne of Oedon for SalamoÌ„ of bretayne Richarde of NormaÌ„dy the erle Guydellon and for Ogier the dane And whan they were all gathered together the kynge began to shewe to them his complayntes in thys maner Lordes I haue kepte and maynteyned you vnder mi tuicion the space of .xl. yeres and more that no man hath not wronged you of a penye ye haue no neyghbour that dare aske you any thinge Now me semeth because that I am now olde that I am but half a man yet not so good as I wolde be and I maye not be a kyng without you for whan ye faile me I am no kynge ye know well that ye haue left me for loue of Reynawd wherof I am ryght sory as I maye well for Reynawde hath taken me where I was habandoned of you he hath chased me out of the feeld certes I am worse thaÌ„ mad of thys that ye haue forsake me for Reynawde And syth that it is thus wyth me I seeke not to lyue anye lenger nor to be kynge any more and now I take to you the crowne to the ende that ye shall gyue it vnto Reynawde whan ye wyll and that ye make him king of Fraunce For I wyll be no more your kynge WHan the .xii. peeres of Fraunce the other lordes hearde Charlemayn speake so sorowfullye
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