make bayarde to be slayne For I may no lenger lyue without meate nother yet my bretherne THan whan Reynawd heard his brother Alard speke thê° he was ryght sorye for it and tooke his swerd went to bayarde for to slea him And whan bayarde sawe Reynawde he began to make greate Ioye and whan Reynawde saw the there that bayard him made he sayd to him Ha bayarde good beaste yf I had the herte to doo thee harme I were well cruell And than yonnet the yonger sonne heard that he cried vnto his father sir wherfore tary ye that ye slea not bayarde sith he must dye for I wexe madde for hungre and so I tell you yf I haue not shortly some foode ye ye shal seeme die afore your eyen yet my mother my brother also for we may not lenger lyue thus so harde we been famished And whan Reinawd hearde hys sonne speake to him so he had great pity of him and great sorow in his heart and so he had of bayarde that cheted him so muche Than wiste not Reynawde what he should saye nor doo and so began to thinke alonge while And whan he had bethoughte him selfe longe ynoughe he aduysed him howe Bayarde shoulde not dye And thaâ— he called after a basyn and made bayarde be lette bloode much and after he had let him bloude ynough Reynawd stopped the vayne and gaue the bloud to Alard for to be dressed And whan it was soden they eate all alytell therof whyche gaue them great sustenaunce And to saye the trouth Reinawde and his folke were well foure dayes without any other foode And whan it came to the v. day that they wolde haue had bayard let bloud againe he was so feble that he caste no bloude at all And whan the duchesse sawe that she began to weep tenderly and sayde Sir for god sith that he giueth no more bluod let him be slayne and so shall eate your poore children of him that dyen for great hungre I also Madame saide thanne Reinawd I wyl not doo so For bayard hath born vs good companye in oure lifes and so shall he doo till the houre of our deth for we shal dye all togyther And ye ought to know that Reinawde and his company were brought so lowe that they waited none other but deth the whiche was them nigh ynough Than an olde man that was amoÌ„g theim came and sayde to Reynawde vp Syr what shal it be I see that you Mountawban shal be destroyed but in you is not the faute for it hath be well defended as longe as ye might as it apeereth and sith that I see yee mai no more doo come after me and I shal shew you away where throughe we shall well all goe out wyth out any daunger and I wyll well that ye knowe Mountawban was once made and shytte afore ye dyd make it and the Lorde that buylded it fyrst let make a waye vnder the erth that bringeth folke to the wood of the serpent I was a yonge childe whan that way was made I know well where it lieth doo digge where I shall shewe you and ye shall finde it without any fayle and thus shall we go free wtout any daunger whaÌ„ Reynawde heard theese wordes he was so glad of it that none might be more so that he forgat his hungre with all and sayde O fayre God that all made blessed be you Now haue I founde that I desyred for I shall goe to Ardeyne whiche I ought to loue deere And thaÌ„ he tooke the olde man by the hande and made him to bringe him to the place where he said and there he made to be digged in the erth and founde the way that the olde man sayd wherof he was right glad and than he wente to the stable and put the sadle vpon Bayarde and after brought him to the way but wit it that Bayarde was so feble that he scante coulde go the pase and thaÌ„ Reynawde hys wyfe hys brethern hys chyldren and the remenaunte of hys folke put theym selfe to the way vnder the erthe so that no creature a lyue abode wâ—thin the castell GReat plentie of torches Reynawde made to be fyred that thei might see the better within the caue as they wente and he ordeyned hys forwarde of that fewe folke that he had and wente forth in good ordeynaunce with his baner displayed he with his bretherne made the reregarde And whan they had gone a longe whyle through the Caue that was wyde large Reynawde made his folke to tary and sayd to hys brethern my brethern wee haue doone euyll For we haue lefte behinde vs kynge Yon in the prison certes I should leuer dye than that I should leaue him so for he should dye there for hungre as a famisshed wolfe that were to vs great sinne By god sayd Richarde he hath well deserued it for of a man that is a traytour men ought not to haue pitie brother sayd Reynawde ye say yll And than he returned agayne came to the pryson where the king Yon was whiche he tooke out brought with him And whaÌ„ the duchesse sawe her brother the kynge Yon come she sayde to hym Ha my brother ye are right yll come to me for al the harme that we haue suffred cometh thoroughe cause of you I am sory that ye be not dead roten within the prison for ye haue well deserued it Madame sayd Reynawde let that alone I pray you for he shall not dye yf I maye For I haue doone to him homage wherefore I ought to obey hym and how be it he hath wrought ful yl agaynst vs yet shall I neuer be forsworne agaynst him whaÌ„ his brethern heard him speake thus they sayde to hym brother ye speake well wyselye ye doo that ye ought to doo nor ye shall neuer he rebuked of vs for it doo therin as it pleaseth you and after these wordes they went on their waye SO longe went these knightes that they came out of the caue and found themselfe at the wood of the serpent euyn at the spryng of the day as soone as they were yssued out of the sayd caue they were so scaped fro Charlemayne Yonnet than the lytle sonne of Reynawde swouned there for great hungre And whaÌ„ Reynawde sawe that he was ryght sori for it and tooke him vp and said Fayre sonne I praye you be a good cheere for we shall haue soone meat great plentie And whan he had said this he tooke his other sonne AymoÌ„ in his armes and recomforted hym muche And whan Reynawde had doone so he looked aboute him and knew well where they were and he sayd to his brethern Lordes me semeth that we ben nyghe the hermytage of my good freende Bernarde syr sayd Alarde yee saye trouth but what shall we doo Brother sayde Reinawde I couÌ„sel for the moste profytable that we go there and we shal abide there tyll the nyght be come than we
knyght with his spere in his sheeld rought him with so great a might that steâ—ke deade he ouerthrewe him So seased Reinawde the knyghtes horse and tooke him to his brother Alarde that lyghted anon vpon the backe of him And after that he was on this good horse he went smote a nother knyght with his swerd so that he made him fall deade afore him and so betooke this knightes horse to his brother Guicharde that thanked hym muche for it And a nother knighte of the kynge Charlemayne came to theym Glotons sayd the knighte ye shall come to the king that shal make you al for to be hanged Ha by my fayth said Reynawd thou shalt lye and with this Reinawd tooke vp his swerd gaue him suche a stroke that he ouerthrew him dead at the grouÌ„d than tooke Reinawd the horse by the reyne and gaue hym to his brother Rycharde that great need had of it Now be the three brethern new horsed Reinawd is vpon bayarde and his cosin Mawgis that he loued so wel behynde him now they goe god wyll leade them keep them from euyll Charlemayne pursued after them but for nought he trauayled for they were neuer the rather taken for hym Than was the sonne gone vnder and the nyght began to come and the foure brethern their cosyn were come into the towne of SoissoÌ„ SO much rode Reynawd by nyght and by daye vpon bayarde that bare him and Mawgis his cosyn that they came to Dordon there they met with the duchesse theyr mother that ranne for to kysse them and colle them And syn asked what they had doon of theyr father and if they were departed from the courte with wrathe Lady sayd Reinawd for I haue slayne Berthelot the neuewe of the kynge Charlemayn the reason why I dyd so was because he called me horeson gaue me with his fyst vpon my vissage so that the bloud came out of it And whan the ladye vnderstoode him she felle downe all in a swoune and Reynawd tooke her vp redely And whan the good lady was come againe to her selfe she sayde to Reynawde Fayre sonne and howe durst you doo this that ye haue doon For I promit you ye shal once repent for it And your father shal be destroied therfore and cast out of his loÌ„des And if he scape on liue it shal be great meruayl So pray I you all my children that ye flee awaye but take afore all my treasour For yf youre father come againe from the courte he shall will yeeâ—d you to the king Charlemayn Lady said Reynawd weene ye that our father is so cruel so wroth with vs that he wolde take deliuer vs in to the haÌ„des of the kyng Charlemaine that is oure greate enemye mortall REynawd his three bretherne Mawgys wolde make none other soiournynge but tooke so muche of the hauoyre and treasoure of theyr father and mother that they had ynough of it And thenne tooke theyr leue of their lady mother wherof there was great pytie at the departinge For the children wept tenderly and the mother also of the other side whan she saw that her children that thus went fro her wist not yf she should euer see them again so departed the newe knightes with theyr cosin Mawgis and yssued out of the towne entred in to the greate forest of Ardeyne streyght through the valeye of Feyry and rode so much that they came vpon the ryuer of Muse and there they chose a faire grounde where they made to be buylded a faire castell vpon a fayre roche muche stronge at the foote of it passed the saide riuer of Muse And whan that the castell was made vp they called it Mountaynford as I trow there was not suche another of strengthe fro the said place vnto Mountpeller For it was closed with great walles enuyronned rounde about with dyches sore deep well garnished with all maner of vittailles of all thinges be nedeful to be had in a fortres now doubte the newe knightes nothinge Charlemayn yf he wrought not by treason Charlemayn was at paris much angry for the deth of his neuew Berthelot the which Reinawd had slayne playing at the chesse as it is sayde so made he to come afore hym the duke Aymon of dordonne the father of the foure knightes and made hym to swere that he shoulde neuer gyue no help to his children and that they shoulde neuer be the better of a peny by hym in what place that he should them fynde he should take theÌ„ and shoulde bringe them to him the which Aymon durste not saie ayenst hym but sware that he should doo so wherof afterwarde he was sore repreued And after that he had sworn thus he departed oute of Parys all wroth angrye of this that he muste chase thus his children and came to Dordon And whan the duches saw him she began to weep full sore and the duke knew wel what she yeelde Lady said the duke where be my sonnes gone Syr sayde the ladye I can not telle whether they are drawen but why suffred you that oure sonne Reynawde slewe Berthelot the neuewe of kynge Charlemaine ladye saide he I coude not doo therto wit that oure sonne Reynawde is of so greate a strength that neuer syth the incarnacion of oure lorde was not seen so stronge a knyghte as he is Nor all the assemble that than was in the pallays at Parys myghte not keep him but that he slewe berthelot afore all the lordes that were there And afore this our saide sonne Reynawde demaunded of kinge Charlemayne ryght and reason to be doone to him of the deathe of my brother his vncle the duke Benes of Aygremount wherupon the king fulshamfullye and outerageouslye answered to our said sonne wherfore Reinawd was wrothe and sore angred and the cause why Reynawde slewe Berthâ—lot was for to aueng him of the king Charlemaine Not withstandynge that Berthelot had Iniuryed oure sayde sonne ful sore at the playe of the chesse And also he smote hym fyrste outrageously that the bloud came out of his face so Reinawd for his great and hardy courage might not suffre this by no wise And therfore the kiÌ„g hathe made me swere that yf I can take my chyldren that I shal brynge them to hym at Parys and that no helpe they shal neuer haue of me nor succours nor that they shall not be the better a peny of all my hauoure Wherof I am wrothe and full sorye ⧠We shall leaue heere to speake of the duke Aymon and of the duchelle that ben ryght sory for theyr children And shal shew you how the worthye kynge Charlemain made to seeke after the foure sonnes of Aymon thoroughe all his realme but he myght not know nor vnderstande no tidinges of them tyll that at last came to hym a messenger that recounted to hym howe he had founde them in the forest of Ardeyne In which they had edyfyed a
spurred hys horse with the spurres and shoued him betwene Rohars Yonnet so that it was force to yonnet to let goe hys prise wolde he or no. And whan Aymonet saw that Constās had deliuered Rohars from the hādes of yonnet he went rāne vpon Constans and smote him with flamberge vpon the sheelde so harde that he made of it two peeces Shortlye to speake the chyldren of Reynawde hasted so muche the two sonnes of Foulques that they began to lese place were so werye that they asked none other thyng but for to rest themselfe But Aymonet yonnet had none other wyll but for to fight still I tell you for certayne that they were all foure sore wounded that they lost much bloud for they had fought longe And whan Constans had soiourned a litle he came vpon Aymonet and gaue him suche a stroke so that he made him a great wounde but no dead wounde And whā Aymonet saw him so wounded he gaue Constans so great a stroke vpon the eare that he bare it away withal the iawe bone whan charlemayne saw that great stroke he might not forbeare but he said By god now is he worse arayed thā he was before for the two sonnes of Foulques of morillon bē shamed and confused Sir sayd Reynawde they haue well deserued it for they haue forsworne thē selfe falsly This hanging Yonnet went vpon Rohars and gaue him so great a stroke vpon hys helme that he brake it and made his swerde to entre in his head a finger deep Wyt it that the batayle lasted longe the one agaynst the other and it happed that by force of fighting the one against the other they were fyghtyng two two together wel a bowe shot from eche other and so made they two batayles for aymonet fought agaīst Constans yonnet faught agaynst Rohars which was fore greued for Yonnet had brought hym to the erth And whan yonnet sawe that he had brought downe rohars he sayd that it were shame to fyght with hym on horsbacke agaynst him on foote so lighted he downe for to fyght wyth Rohars But whā he had habādonned his horse In contynent the said horse ran to the horse of Rohars and wolde haue strāgled him And whā Charlemayne saw that he began to laughe with it and sayd by my fayth we haue three batayles But I se well that Yonnet hath brought Rohars so lowe that he may no more whan Rohars saw that he myght no more endure the great strokes of Yonnet he began to crye and sayde Ha fayre brother Constans where are ye that ye come not helpe me that are so good a knight and that toke first the quarell in hande wherof it goeth full euyll with vs. For yf ye succour me not now I shall dye incontinent And whan Constans heard his brother crye thus he left Aymonet and went towarde Yonnet for to helpe hys brother but wyt it well that he went not very sounde from Aymonet for he had made hym moe than xx woundes And whan Constans was come to hys brother Incontynent he ranne vpon Yonnet wyth his horse And whan Aymonet saw that he began to crie after Constās and sayd By my soule he baptysed you full yl the named you Constans For I saw neuer more towarde thā ye be that so renneth away for feare of me whan he had sayd so he ran after for to succour hys brother yonnet And whan he was come there he went a fresshe vpon Constans Constans vpon hym the which gaue him a great stroke vpon his helme but the stroke slyded vpon the horse and slew hym withall And whan Aymonet haw him a groūd he righted hym quickely smote Constans vpon his helme and it was so harde that flamberge coulde not entre in it the stroke slyded vpon the vyser brast it and a great part of his visage so that the teeth were seen plainely and with that fel the stroke vpon the horse necke so that he kit it in two peeces and so fell the horse dead to the erth SOre abasshed was Constans whan he saw his horse slain and than Aymonet sayd to him By god false traytour nowe shalt thou dye ye dyd yll whan ye called euer my father of treason whiche is as true a knyght as is anye in all the worlde but now is the daye come that ye shall abye it ful deere And whan Reynawde heard his sonne speake thus he was ryght glad of it thāked God therof hertlye whan Aymonet saw Constans vpon his feet agayne he went him vpon and hasted hym ryght sore with strokes so that Constans had no power to strike one stroke more but he went abacke heere and there for to eschew the strokes of Aymonet And whan Constance saw that he wyst no more what to doo he cast hys sheelde to the erth and tooke Aimonet by the waste for to wrastle with hym And whan aymonet saw this he was not afearie of it for he was stronge and lyght so tooke he Constans by the helme and drew it towarde him with such might that he pulled it from the head of him And whan Constās saw him so sore handled he cryed vpon his brother Rohars sayd Ha brother succour me for I haue no power for to defende my selfe Whan Rohars heard his brother call thus he was ful sory that he might not help him for he had lost so much bloud that he might not well stand vpon his feete but alwayes he forced himselfe so muche that he came vnto his brother Constans and wende to haue smittē Aymonet from behynde but he dyd not bycause Aymonet saw hym come went and smote hym suche a stroke that he felled hym to the earth And than went agayne vpon Constans and gaue him suche a stroke that he smote almoste his left arme of Than began Constans to crye and sayd Ha fayre brother succour me or els I am dead Brother sayde Rohars I can gyue you nother succoures nor helpe for I am my self nere gone and whan Charlemayn saw this he sayd by god now are dead the sonnes of Foulques or morillon by theyr false wit Syr sayd Ogier ye ought not to recke for they maynteyned a false quarell ye say trouth sayd Charlemayn Nowe theyr falshoode apereth well Whan Reynawde saw rhat his children were to their aboue he was ryght glad of it but so was not Guanellon for he was so angry for it that he became as blacke as a moore Then called the sayd Guanellon Berenger Hardock Henry of Lyon and Pignabell of Moryllon and sayd to them Lordes now be we all dyshonoured for the sonnes of Foulques of Morillon are discomfited I wolde fayne succour them yf I durst but I feare to sore the kynge that is there wyth great puyssaūce Syr sayd Hardres or Hardocke wo is me for it but we can not doo none other thing as for this time therfore we muste refrain our wrathe shew a good face
a thynge wherof afterwarde so manye ladyes and damoyselles were with out husbandes wythout louers so many of children fatherlesse and so manye chirches wasted and distroyed that neuer sythe were repayred What shal I tel you more wyt it that they fought there so longe wythin the halle of the Palays that the noys went through all the towne Thā should ye haue seen the bourgeys Marchauntes men of craft with axes swerdes and other wepyns and came to the Castel warde aboute seuen thousand men and more But the entre of the Palays of Aygremount was narow and the Frenche men were within that kept them well that they entred not in at theyr case Alas what terryble and vnhappy a slaughter was there that daye For the folke of kyng Charlemayne were but a few to the regard of them of the other parte And as ye may knowe suche assemble was ryght euyll So defended them selfe moche noblye and valyauntlye the folke of kyng Charlemayne and so muche that Lohier seynge that that he and hys folke had the worse he smote a knight by fore the duke Benes of Aygremount by suche a wyse that he ouerthrew hym downe dead forth sayd he gods curse haue thou and afterward he sayd pyteously in waylyng himselfe Lorde God that within the holy wombe of the blessed vyrgyn Marye tooke thy herbowrynge and suffred death passyon for to redeme mankynde wilt defende me thys daye from shamefull death and from tourment for I wot well but yt it be that your hygh diuynitie socoure me this day I shall not see the king Charlemayne my father no more Than the Duke called hygh vpon hym sayenge Lohier so helpe me God thys day shall be your laste It shall not be so sayde Lohyer And with this he smote the Duke vpon the head but hys helme saued hym And the stroke descended to the heele of him so that the bloud ranne out By God sayd Lohier ye shall not escape Than came the duke Benes of Aigremount to him as woode and sore an angred sayinge I should prayse my selfe full lytle it I might not auenge me vpon thee So heaued vp the Duke hys brande of steele and smote Lohyer so harde vpon hys bryght helme that he cleued hym to the teeth And Lohyer fell dead afore hym vpon the pauement of the Halle Ha God what great domage hath done the Duke Benes of Aygremoūt to haue thus slayne Lohier the eldest sonne of the great kyng Charlemayne Forafterwarde al the oste of Fraunce was in moche great and innumerable tourmente therfore and in ryght greate payne continual and the Duke himselfe dyed therfore full soryly That was the payment that he had for it as ye here after shall heare yf peasybly ye wyll heare me NOw is outrageouslye slayne the good Lohyer the eldest sonne of kinge Charlemayne And the duke Benes of Aygremount full of cruelnes tooke the hed from the body of hym And after that the folke of the sayd Lohyer the sonne of the great kyng Charlemayne saw thei Lorde dead thynke ye they made no great defence Alwayes of a hūdred that they were entred within the palays with theyr Lord Lohyer abode there on lyue but .xx. wherof the duke incontynente made .x. of them to be slayne and the other .x. he reteyned a lyue and to them sayde yf ye wyll promyse and sweare to me vpō your othe and fayth of knighthode that ye shall beare your Lorde Lohyer to hys father the Kyng Charlemayne and say to hym that I sende to hym his sonne Lohyer in good aray and that in an euyll houre he dyd sende hym to me for to tell me suche wordes I shall let you goe quyte and saute and to hym ye shall saye that for hym I shall not doo the mountenaunce of a Peny and that I shall go vpon hym in thys Sommer next comynge wyth fourtye thousande men and that I shall destroye hym and all hys lande They answered Syr wee shall doo that that shall please you to commaunde vs. Thā the Duke dyd doo make redyly a byere and made the corps of Lohyer to be put wythin the sayd byere And after he delyuered it to his .x. knightes that were left on lyue and put it in a carte to drawe wyth two horses And the Duke conueyed theym thorough the Towne And whan they were in the feeldes the .x. knightes beganne to weepe and to make great mone for theyr Lorde Lohier saying alas my lorde Lohier what shall wee no we saye for you to the Kynge your father that so great sorowe shall haue whan he shal knowe your cruell death We may well be incertayne that that he shall make vs all dye Thus weepynge and makynge theyr mone for the loue of theyr Lorde Lohyer the rode on theyr way streyght to Parys ¶ But nowe we shall heere leaue to speake of the messangers and shall tell you of the Kynge Charlemayne that was at Parys CHarlemayne that was at Parys with a great multitude of Lordes that were there assembled And there vpon a day kynge Charlemayne sayd vnto hys Lordes and barons Lordes I am moch wroch and sory of my sonne Lohyer that I haue sente to Aygremounte and I feare me sore that they haue take debate wyth the duke Benes of Agremounte whiche is fell and cruell I doubte me leste he hath slayne my sonne Lohier But by my crowne yf he haue so doone or any thynge that turneth to dyspleasure or dommage to my sayd sonne I shal go vpō him wyth a hundred thousand men and shall make hym to be hanged at agybet Syr sayd the good Duke Aymes of Dordonne I shall comē you ryght sore yf he hath offēded against you that ye make punyssyon therof and wreke on hym greate vengeaunce He is your liege man and ought to serue prayse and honoure you Alwayes yf he hath trespassed agaynst you in any manere I am ryght sorye for it and yf ye haue a cause to be wrothe wyth hym I haue heare my foure sonnes That is to wyt Reynawde Alarde Guycharde and Rycharde that ben ryght valyaunt as ye syr well knowe which shal be trusty and true to you Aymon sayd the kyng Charlemayn I conne you great thanke of the offre that nowe ye haue doone to me And it is my wyll that ye make thē to come hether presently to the ende that I make them knightes and I shall gyue to them Castelles towres and Townes and Cities ynough Than sent the duke Aymes Incontinent for hys children and made them to come afore kynge Charlemayne And whan the king Charlemayne saw them they pleased him moche and Reynawde was the first that spake and sayd Syr yf it please yon for to make vs knyghtes we shal be euer redy for to serue you and your noble Lordshyp Thā the king Charlemayne called hys stewarde and sayd to hym Bringe to me the armes that were the kynge Cedres whyche I haue wyth my handes slayne in batayle before Pampelune and
the courte into theyr couÌ„trey and by them were tydinges brought through all the landes vnto Rome that kynge Charlemayne made a great assemble of men of armes so that the renome therof floughe vnto the duke Benes of Aygremountes court which of that other parte dyd sende for his kynsmen and freendes and in especiall for his brethern Gerarde of Roussylon and Dron of Nantuel so that they were whaÌ„ they came together well foure score thousand fyghtynge men and mo and as fayre folke as euer were sene whiche than sayde I beleue yf the kynge besyege the Castell that the worse shall returne vnto hym Than sayd the Duke Benes of Aygremount to Gerarde of Roussilon Brother sayd he be not dysmayed for I hope to hurte the kyng so sore yf he come vpon vs that he shal be wery of his bargayn but let vs goe forth towarde Troy in chaÌ„paygne and there wee shall fyght wyth the kynge vygorously For well I wote that God shall helpe vs agaynst hiÌ„ This was at the begynnyng of the moneth of Maye and Charlemayn was at Paris that abode after hys men that should come for to go with a great puyssaunce vpon the Duke Benes of Aygremount And bode not longe that Rychard of NormaÌ„dy came to the kynge wyth .xxx. thousande fyghtyng men And of a nother syde came to hym the Erle Guy that had wyth hym a ryght noble a great company of good men and after hym came Salamon of Bertayne and the Erle Huon And of al sydes ye should haue sene come to the Kynge Charlemayne PoeteuiÌ„s Gascoyns Normans Flemynges Bernyers and Bourgoynes and so many other great Lordes that it was great wonder for to see which came all and Lodged themselfe in the medowes of saynt Germayne THan whan the kyng Charlemayne knew that this folke was all arryued he had of it greate Ioye and incontynent made hys batayles to departe for to goe to hys enterpryse and made of Rychard of Normandy of Valleran of Buyllon of Guydellon of bauyere of yzacar of Nemours of Oger the bane and of Escouf the sonne of Oedon wyth them .xl. thousande men hys forewarde There should ye haue seÌ„ a ryght noble companye and manye hardi men they departed from nigh Parys And put them self to the way strayght to Aygremounte and they thê° rydyng after many dayes Iurney whiche I can not tel came there streyght to Ogyer the Dane that was in the forewarde a messanger sore hastyly rydynge That asked to whome was thys noble coÌ„pany and he answered to hym that they were kynge Charlemaynes folke Than sayd syr the messanger that he wolde well speake wyth hym than went Oger the Dane and shewed hym the kyng And assone as the messanger saw hym he made hym due reuereÌ„ce and the kyng gaue hym agayne hys salute and him demaunded what he was and fro whens he came and the messanger tolde hym that he was of Troye and that vnto him he was sent fro Aubery the lorde of Troye that was his liege man whiche besought hym humbly for socoures For the Duke Benes of Aygremount his two bretherne Gerarde of Roussyllon and Dron of Nantuel and with theim an hundred thousande fighting men had besyeged him within Troye And that yf ye came not to helpe hiÌ„ he must yelde vp the towne also the fayre towre that Iulius Cesar dyd buylde there WHan Charlemayne the Emperour vnderstode that Troi was besyeged by the duke Benes his bretherne he was full sory of it and he swore by Saynte Denys of Fraunce that he should go there with hys army and that yf he might hold the duke of Aygremounte he should make hym dye a shamefull death so called he the Duke Naymes of bauyere Goodebew of fryse and the Duke Walleran and sayd to theym Barons ye vnderstande what thys messaÌ„ger sayth let vs ryde hastelye towarde Troy or it be take and they answered to hym ryght gladly that they wolde doo it so So dyd they ryde a good pace tyll that they came nyghe Troye And firste of all came the forewarde with the Oryflame Of the whyche were gouernours Ogyer the Dane Rycharde of Normandy the duke Walleran and which them fourty thousand men And the Messanger of Troy that conduyted them And whan they were come so nyghe that they sawe Troye afore theÌ„ a messanger came to Gerard of roussyllon that was afore Troy saying to hym that the kinge Charlemayne came vpon them for to socoure Aubery with a ryght great puissaunt companye Than layde Gerarde to hys bretherne that is to wyte Duke Benes of Aygremount and the Erle Dron of Nantuell that it were good that they should go agaynste kynge Charlemayne with all theyr puissauÌ„ce and that eche of them should proue himself a good man They did so as they had deuysed and Gerarde of Roussillon was the first in the forewarde and they rode so longe till that the one partye saw the other Than sayd Ogier the Dane to Richard of Normandy whan he sawe come Gerarde of Roussillon se sayd he howe Gerard of Roussyllon weneth for to fare foule with vs. But now let vs thynke for to defende vs wel so moche that the worshyp abyde to the Kyng Charlemayne and to vs. And than they let renne theyr horses fro one parte and fro the other and Gerarde of Roussyllon wente smote an Almayne wyth his speare so moche that he made it to entre through the body of hym Whiche fell anon dead to the ground and Gerard tooke his baner cryed with an high voyce Roussyllon Roussyllon THan began the batayle sore stronge fell and cruell And whan Ogyer the dane saw thus his folke dye he was wood and mad with it So went he and smote a knight named Pouson by suche a wyse that he put his spere thorough the body of hym whiche fel downe dead afore him And whan Gerarde had seen the same he went and smote one of Ogyers men so that all dead he cast him afore hym And then he said ye haue this for your maysters sake Ogyer Muche great and meruayllous was the stoure and the batayle so fiers For there should ye haue sene so many of sheeldes perced and clouen and so mani a habergeon broken and salettes and helmes vnbokled and sore beten and so many meÌ„ lying vpon the other dead that all the earth was couered with the bloud of the dead men and of theym that were hurt there so the it was a great pitie to for to see And than came the duke Benes of Aygremounte that spurred hys horse terrtblie and weÌ„t and smote Enguerran lorde of Peroune of saint Quintine so harde that he ouerthrew him dead afore hiÌ„ and than sayd Now go goddes curse haue thou and cryed with an highe voyce Aygremounte and than came to him his brother the Duke of Nantuell with all his folke and they went al together vpon Charlemaynes folke and of the other part came with great puissaunce Almaynes poeteuins and
of the saide duke Benes of AygremouÌ„t And to the said feast came William the Englyshe Walleran of Bullon .xv. kinges .xxx. dukes and well .lx. erles were there at that daye for to crown Charlemain And also was come there the duke Aymon of Dordon with his foure sonnes that is to wit Reinawd Alard Richard Guichard to the which Aimon the kynge said AimoÌ„ said he I loue you your children wel and wyt that I voyl make of the fayre Reinawd my stuard the other shall serue me for to beare my faucons goe with me Syr said the good Aymon I thank you muche of the greate worshyp that ye doo to me to my children And wyt that thei shal serue you truly as your lieg meÌ„ but wel I tol you good king that ye mysprised sore whan my brother the duke Benes of Aygremount vnder your saufconduit in treason ye made thus shamefullye die beleue that it greueth me ful sore at the hert if we doubted not you so much certes vengeaunce we should take therof But sith that my brother Gerard hath pardoned it to you I forgeue it you also AimoÌ„ said the king ye know better than that ye saye For ye know wel the offence that your brother had doon to me for to haue slaine so crueâ—ly Loihere my eldest sonne that I loued so much Now set the one ayenst the other let be spoken nomore therof No more we shal saide duke Aimon but wel I pray god to haue mercye of his soule for he was a right worthy knight TheÌ„ came forth Reinawde Alard Guychard and Richarde which reasoned with the kinge saying in this maner Sir said Reinawde the fairest of al knights and moste expert in faites of knighthode ye haue made me my brethern that been now afore you knightes but wit it for very certain that we loue you not that we haue toward you a greate and a mortall hate for the deathe of our vncle the duke Benes of Aygremount of the whiche deathe ye haue not accorded with vs. Whan the king vnderstoode Reinawde he looked grymly and fyerssly in his visage for greate wrath and became blacke as a cole and smote his forhed for angre and after said Reinawd thou yong boye voide out of my presence For I swere by saynt Simon and if it were not the companye of the barons that be heere I should make thee to be put in suche pryson that thou shouldest not see nother hande nor foote that thou haste Syr said Reinawd it wer not reason But sith that it is so ferre come that ye will not heere vs we shall keep our peace THus lefte the foure sonnes of Aimon the debate and spake no more to the kyng Charlemayn for that tyme of this matter Fayre was the courte and the day was ful fayre and bryghte and fayre was the companye as of .xv. kinges .xxx. dukes and .lx. erles They went to the chirch for to heare the faire masse that was songe and muche rych was the offeryng And whan they had hearde the masse they came agayn to the palays and asked after water for to washe theyr handes and the dyner was readye so they washed and set theym downe to dyner And the .xv. kynges were all set except the king Salamon that serued that daye with the Duke Godfraye But Reynawde at thys dynner myght not eat by cause that the kynge Charlemayne had rebuked hym so shamefully Ha saide Reynawde to hymselfe Alas howe shall I conne doo so muche that I may auenge my selfe of Charlemayne for the death of my vncle that so much was beloued whiche traitorusly and shamefully hath be slain if I take not vengeaunce of it I shal wexe mad In this wise sorowed the good Reinawd and his brethern recomforted him The baroÌ„s came out after diner for to play sporte theym selfe and Berthelot the neuewe of Charlemayn called Reynawd for to play with him wherof grew a great mischeef for afterward many a good knight died therfore manye a fayre childe fatherles as here after ye shal herken well NOwe was set Berthelot and the worthy Reynawde for to playe at the ches whiche were of yuory wherof the boord was of golde massy and so longe they played that debate fel betwene them two by such maner that berthelot called Reinawde horsonne and tooke vp his hand and smote Reynawde in the vysage so that the bloud fell to the grounde and whan Reynawde sawe himself thus shamefully outeraged he was ryght wroth and sore angred sware by god him should yl betyde therfore ThaÌ„ tooke Reinawd the ches boord and smote Berthelot vpon his head so harde that he cloued hym to the teeth and thus Berthelot fell down deade to the grounde afore hym so began the crye at that houre sore strong in the Palays that Reynawde the sonne of Aimon had slain Berthelot the neuewe of kyng Charlemayn Whan the kynge vnderstoode thys he went nyghe oute of his wyt and called of heyghte Barons keep well that Reinawd scape not For by saint Denis of Fraunce he shall not escape quicke yf we maye holde hym for he hath slaine our neuew Berthelor Than ran soone the knightes vpon Reinawde And his kynnesmen defended him nobly And thus was there greate stryfe and manye heres pulled and many gownes toren For suche a fray was there neuer seen as that daye was in the palays of Parys Many strokes gaue there Mawgys the cosin of Reinawd and sonne to the duke Benes of Aygremount And while that this fraye was in the palays Reinawde and his three bretherne and theyr cosyn Mawgys escaped redyly out of the palays and came vnto theyr horses that soone were made redye So lyghted they on horsebacke and tode soone oute of Parys and fled streight vnto DordoÌ„ towarde theyr lady mother ANd whan themperour Charlemaine wyst that Reinawd and his bretherne were gone oute of Parys he made for to be redy wel two thousand knightes for to folow them Now keep them our lorde that on the crosse suffred passyon For yf the kynge holde them they shall dye withoute remyssyon but Reinawde vpon hym is no care For he was vpon his horse bayard that goeth as the wynde So taryed not the foure brethern theyr cosyn tyll that they came vnto Sawmore and they bayred theyr horses of Alarde Richard and of Guycharde Thanne began Reynawde to make sorowe sayinge Fayre god that suffred deathe and passyon keep thys daye my brethern and my cosyn from the deathe and from combraunce and from fallinge in the handes of Charlemayne the cruell and of the other parte chased them the frenchemen brochyng with the spurres as fast as theyr horses myght renne so muche that a knight that was better horsed then the other were ouertooke Reynawde and sayd to hym ye shall abyde ye vntrue knyghte and I shall brynge you to kinge Charlemayne And whan Reinawde heard hym he turned bayarde ayenst hym and smot the
the kyng he made to hym reuerence and than withdrew himself abacke And sayd to hys men let vs goe fourth for here cometh the kynge I wolde not for nothing in this worlde that any of you should laye hande vpon hym Whan the folke of Reynawde vnderstode these wordes they put theyr swerdes in theyr shethes and went agayne vnto theyr castel right glad of theyr fayre auenture that was happend to them that daye And whā that they were within theyr Castell of Mountaynforde they made the drawe brydge for to be drawen vp went and vnarmed them and foūde the supper redy and so they set them selfe at the table And there was a great mainy of prisoners And whā thei had eaten and dronken their fil Reynawde came to hys brother and thanked hym muche with al his hert of that he had slayne the erle of Estampes ANd whan themperour Charlemayne saw that Renawde was with in his Castell he lighted downe from his horse into his tente and sware by god that he should neuer departe from thence vnto the tyme that he should haue the foure sonnes of Aymon or that the castell were take ¶ What shall I tell more themperour Charlemayne lay well .xiiii. monethes at syege afore that castell of Mountaynforde and there was no weke but they had a batayle or a scarmyshe I tell you that Reynawde was not so sore besyeged but that he went to chase in woodes and in ryuers as often as hym pleased And dyuerse tymes it happed that Reynawde spake wyth the Frenche mē of trayte the one to the other sayinge thus to them Fayre Lordes I pray you that ye speake to the Emperour Charlemayne tel hym that he shal neuer take vs by no force for our castell is right stronge and well garnished But know the kynge one thing that whiche he may haue by goodnes he need not make by force He may haue the castell and vs also yf it please hym in such maner as I shal tell you Whan I shal put in his hād the castel of Mountaynforde my bretherne and my selfe our goodes and bagage saufe that the warre take an ende that hath lasted so longe he may be well content Reynawde said Ogier the Dane ye say wel and wisely I promyt you I shall shew the same to the kinge as ye haue sayd yf ye will beleue my coūsell I ensure you I shall tell hym that ye doo so for ye are not folke for to be set lytel by thus nor for to be for the courte for yf the kinge had you nyghe him he soulde be the better for it ALl thus as Reynawde Ogier spake together there came Forques of Morillon that cried to Reynawde vassayle yee be but a tool for certes I haue heard youre wordes well ye shall leue vs Moūtaynforde for it is not your herytage and your heades in lykewyse Foulques sayd Reynawde ye haue repreued me full often I know well all the harme that the Emperour Charlemain wyll to me is because I haue slayne Berthelot his neuew with a Chesse borde of whome god haue mercye Certes I could not doo therto but I was full sory for it god wot it It is trouth whan we played together we had some wordes by whyche without any wordes he gaue me suche a stroke vpon my face that the bloud ranne downe at the groūd And whā I saw my selfe so armed I myght not be so soft that I could endure the great ontrage that he had doone to me with out a cause So defended I my selfe to my power For who letteth hym selfe to be slayne his soule shal neuer haue pardon And thou knowest wel Foulques the I dyd was in my defēdyng But to this must be made shorte wordes and if it please you ye shal tel to the king charlemain that he taketh vs to mercy and that we may be freendes And yf ye doo thys ye shall doo your honoure For as soone may ye be slayne there as a nother Than sayde Foulques by god all thys is nought worth vnto you for ye shall die therfore ye and your brethern Foulques sayd Reynawde ye threten to muche it apperteineth not to you for to threten knightes so muche that ben better than you and yf ye haue ony thyng vpon your hert doo it wythout any more wordes for I tell you well that ye purchace your death And whanne Reynawde had sayd these wordes they wente agayne to theyr pauylyons And thus abode the hoste vnto than without any fyghtyng but the frechemen came agayn wolde they or not wherfore the kynge Charlemayne was wrothe THan the Emperour Charlemayne sent for men through all hys lande and whan they were all come he sayd to them Syres I complayne me to you of the foure sonnes of Aymon that hath my lād destroyed and wasted And Mountaynforde is so stronge that bi strength it can neuer be taken but by famysshyng Now tell me what I ought to doo for I shall doo therin your counsell whan the barons heard the complaynt that the kynge made to them of the foure sonnes of Aymō there was none so hardy the durst say a worde but the duke Naymes of Bauiere that sayd to the king Syr emperour yf ye wyll haue good coūsel I shall gyue you good yf ye wyl beleue me Let vs retourne nto hyghe Fraunce for we be to nighe the winter for to make warre And whan that newe tyme shal be come ye shal mow come agayne to lay your syege afore Mountaynforde For I doo you to vnderstond that Reynawde is not sore presed but that he goeth in wodes in riuers at all tymes that he wyl And a man that may goe out and in at his wil is not ouer sore besieged And of the other parte Reynawde and hys bretherne are suche knyghtes that they shall not be lyghtly ouercome This is my coūsel syr who knoweth a better let hym tell THen spake Hornier of Saueyne and to him said syr I shal gyue you a better counsell yf ye wil beleue me gyue me the castell and al the hauoyre that is with in and the Lordshyp fyue myles aboute it and I shall yelde to you Reynawde and al his brethern for prysoners afore a moneth cum to an ende And thā shal we goe into Fraunce for to see oure wyues and children Hernyer sayd the kyng ye haue sayd well and wysely yf ye may doo thys that ye haue said I graunt to you the castell and all that ye haue asked with the same Syr said Hernyer I thanke you for it an hūdred thousād tymes And I promys you I shall delyuer vnto you Reynawde and hys bretherne as youre prisoners or euer that a moneth be passed But knowe you that Hernyer dyd mysse of his enterpryse for he kept not couenaunt to the kynge as he had promised him for Reinawde tooke hym and made hym to be hewen all in peces and made all they that were wyth hym whan he made the treason
sore angred and sayd to hys brethern what shall we doo here for yf we tary any lenger we shall all be brent or taken and yf it were not the fyre that thus warreth agaynst vs I make myne a uowe to god that we should yet caste this folke out of thys castell but syn that the fyre is in it we cannot kepe it no lenger And than he sayd to his bretherne come all after me they went to the fausebray that was all wayes open and yssued out he his brethern his folke with them and whan they were out than were they more abasshed than they were afore for they wyst not whether to goe Now heare how they dyd as worthy knightes For whā they saw the castell brenne they entred wythin a pyt that was there vnder the erthe for feare of the fyre set the dore vpon them there they began to defēd themselfe so strongly that none entred therein but he lost anon hys head And whan Hernyer the traytour was aware of the same he tooke his folke with him came to the pyt began to assayle Reynawde sharply and his brethern and al they that were therin with them wyt it that there at thentre of the sayd pyt were made great faytes of armes for they of within defended themself so wel that none myght come in but he were dead anon ¶ Whyle that the foure sonnes of Aymon were in that pyt vnder therthe they hearde the crye that his men made the whiche Hernyer made to be slayne Than began Reynawde to sai to his brethern Lordes let vs go succour our folke for and they should thus dye it were to vs a great blame Syr sayd hys bretherne goe in goddes name whan it please you and whan they were come out of the pitte the batayle began to be there ful terryble for ye should haue seen Reynawde his brethern gyue there great strokes and manye For Reynawde smote so merueyllouse strokes wyth hys swerd Flamberge the whyche did cut al that he rought For Reynawde was all wrothe and for great angre he habandoned and Ieoparded both lyfe and gooddes And therefore he bare greate hurte and harme to hys enemyes For he had cast hys Sheelde ouer hys backe and helde his swerde Flamberge wyth both his handes made so great destruccion of the folke of Charlemaine that the place was al full of bloud And whan Reynawde saw that theyr enemyes were sore abasshed and that they durste not abyde him he sayd to his brethern It was to vs great cowardnes to hyde vs so Syr sayd Alarde ye say trouthe Than sayd Reynawde My Lordes my brethern let vs to doo well For traitours ben good to ouercom they shall not now endure longe agaynst vs. And whan he had sayde these wordes he came to that gate of the castel and the fyre was a lytle quenched and maugre al his enemyes he shee the gate of that doungeon and had vp the draw bridge of the sayde castel And whā he had doone this he came agayne to the batayle found his brethern that slewe and beate downe so many knyghtes and bare themselfe so worthelye that it was maruayle for to see For they smote no stroke but they slew a man THan was Hernyer the traytour in the medle within the doungeon whereof Reynawde had locked the gate and drawen the bridge and the good Reynawde saw that he was safe of the hoste of Charlemayne and began to put hymselfe in the medle so sharpely that he dyd so muche he and hys brethern that of the folke of Charlemayne that were wythin the doūgeon abode of thē aliue but Hernier and .xii. other and whan Reynawde saw that they were all dead he and hys bretherne and hys folke tooke Hernyer and the .xii other And than Reynawde did doo make agybet vpon one of the hyghest towres and there he made to be hanged the .xii. men And made Hernier to be bound his foure membres that is to wyt feete and handes to foure horse tayles And so he was drawen all quicke and quartered in foure peeces as a traytour ought to be doone vnto And whan Hernier was dead Reynawde dyd make a great fyre and made hym to be cast therein and as he was al together brent he made the asshes of hym to be cast in the ayre to the wynde ¶ And heere ye may see how the traytours that wolde betraye Reynawde were dead and slayne For they were punysshed as they had deserued THan whan king Charlemayne wyst that his folke were thus dead and that he should not haue Reynawde nor his brethern he was sore angry therfore and sayd to him selfe Ha good God lorde how am I euyll dealed wythall by this foure knyghtes bretherne I dyd my selfe great harme whan euer I made thē knyghtes And it is often sayd that men make often a rod for them self And that I may well nowe take to me For theyr vncle slewe my sonne Lohyer and Reynawde my neuewe Berthelot that I loued so deerelye and yet nowe he hath hanged my men and many of them slayne Well I myght call my selfe vnhappye whan I that am the moste puyssaūt of the worlde cannot auenge me of the foure symple knyghtes I shall neuer departe from hens till that I be auenged or els they shal ouercomme and all mine armye Syr sayde Folques of Morillō ye haue a good cause why and Reynawde is a foole that he fereth you not For if he had doubted you he should not haue hanged your men but he hath doone so in dispyte of you Thā sayd the Duke Naymes of banyer had ye beleued me ye should not haue lost your men ye wolde beleue Hernier it is happed of it as ye see Now beholde your folke the ben shaking with the winde ANd whan thēperour Charlemayne vnderstoode this that the duke Naymes sayde to hym He knew that he sayd trouth and wyste not what he should say to it but looked downe all ashamed This hanging Reynawde hys brethern are gone vpon the walles and looked aboute them and sawe that the base courte of the castell brenned there as their vitailes were Then began reynawde to say to his bretherne fayre lordes the thinge goeth well syth that we ben scape thanked be god from so perillous and harde auenture It lacked lytle but that we were al dead by false treason but the worste that I see is that we haue loste our store of vitayles so that we haue nothing to liue vpon and me semeth that yf we dwell anye lenger heere within we doone not wysely But yf it seme you good it is tyme that we departe hence Brother said Alarde ye speke well and wysely and we shall doo as ye haue sayde For as longe as the lyfe is in our bodyes wee shall not leue you Whan the foure brethern were together accorded for to depart thens they trussed al theyr harneys and taryed tyl that it was night and than they armed themself
helpe me god It is longe sith I dyd take heede to that ye saye now but I feared me full sore to telle you therof lest ye wolde haue be dyspleased with me for it but sith that ye haue opened the wordes yf ye wyll beleue me I shal gyue you good couÌ„seyl as we semeth Sir we haue suffred heere great pouertie a longe time we may not goe into no couÌ„rtie but we shall be take for as ye knowe all the barons of fraunce namely oure father al our kinnesmen hateth vs deadlye and if ye will beleue me we shal goe streight to Aâ—â—eine towarde out mother for she shall not fayle vs and there we shall soiourne a lytell And whan we shall haue soiourned we shal take with vs some company and shall goe serue some great lorde where we shall get some good for ye be not such a man but that ye shal yet ones haue great plenti of goodes for I know no man in erthe that of worthynes of strength maye compare to you Brother said Reynawde ye saye well and wysely and I promyt you I shal doo so WhaÌ„ the two other knightes hearde the couseil that Alarde their brother had gyue to Reinawde they began to saye Brother Alarde we know wel that ye gyue good couÌ„seyll to our brother Reinawd Than sayd Reynawd Sith that this couÌ„seyll semeth to you good we shall doo it to nighte so muche abode the foure sonnes of Aymon that the nyghte came and whan it was come they lighted on horsebacke and put theimselfe to the way so well clothed and araied as I haue tolde you aboue and in suche wise that their flesh was seen naked in manye places of their bodies And so longe they rode by nyght and by daye that they came there as they were borne that was nigh the citie of Ardeyn and whan they were so nigh the citie that they myghte well see it they looked vpon it and they remembred the greate ryches wherfro thei were cast and banysshed and of the greate pouertye that they had suffred longe And as they aproched nyghe the cytye Reynawde sayde to hys brethern we haue doone euyl that we haue not taken suretie of oure father for ye knowe well that he is so cruell that yf he may take vs he shal yeelde vs prisoners to Charlemain Brother saide Rychard ye saye well but my herte gyueth me not that oure father wolde doo as ye haue said and he so dyd yet haue I leuer die afore Ardeyne than for greate dysease and hungre in the forest let vs ryde surely for I telle you that no bodye shall know vs. And of thother parte if we can set oure feet within Ardeyne we shal be safe ynough for we be wel beloued and my laid our mother should neuer suffre that men shoulde doo to vs any harme ne dyspleasure CErtes fayre brother saide Reynawde ye haue sayde tyght wel and wisely and much ye haue recomfort me Nowe let vs ryde in a good houre And whan he had sayd these wordes they entred soone after with in Ardeyne and they tode thorough the maystres streate that they were not knowen of no bodye they went streyght to the castel without any taryinge And wyt that whan they passed thoroughe the stretes the folke that behelde them merueylled muche of them for they wyste not what folke they were and sayd the one to the other see what folke ben these I trowe that they ben not of oure lawe nor of our beleue Than they asked theym what ben ye lordes that are so countrefaite are ye Paynemes or of what countrey ben ye Syrs answered Reynawde ye enquere ouer much see ye not what folke we been And whan they were come to the palays they lyghted downe a foote and tooke their horses to keep to their knightes that were come of late in their felawship and thaÌ„ the foure brethern wente vp to the halle and met with no body For the olde Aymon theyr father was a hawkyng vpon the riuer the duchesse their mother was in her chambre where she was contynually pencyful and sory bycause that she might not heare no tidinges of her childreÌ„ Whan thou foure brethern were entred wythin the haile they fouÌ„de no man to whom they should speake wherof they were sore meruayled and they set themself downe the one heere and the other there abode thê° a longe whyle that no body came there And whan they had caried longe ynoughe than came the duchesse theyr mother out of her chambre and she looked a longe the hall where she saw her sonnes thus counterfayte whiche she knew not but meruayled herself greatly what folke they were And whan Alarde sawe hys lady mother come he said to his brother Reynawde and to his other brethern yoÌ„der is our mother that we sore desyred for to see let vs goe agaynst her yf it please you and tell her our great penurye and oure need Brother sayd Reynawde wee shall doo so but we shall tary tyl she speake to vs or not and thus taried the foure brethern tyl that theyr mother was come to them And whan she sawe them so blacke so hidous principally Reynawde that was so great so rough she tooke so greate feare of them that she wolde haue gone agayn into her chambre but anon she assured herselfe said to theÌ„ God saue you Lordes What be you or of what nacyon are ye christen or paynimes or folke that dooth penauÌ„re wyll yee not haue some almesse or some clothyng for to couer your bodi with for I see ye haue great need of it and yf ye wyll haue it for goddes sake I shall giue it you gladlye to th ende he haue mercy on my chyldren and that he wyl keep them froÌ„ ylle combraunce and fro peril for it is wel seuen yeres that I did not see them And whan the Duchesse had sayd this she tooke so great pytie to remembre her children that she begaÌ„ to weepe sore tenderlye And whan she had wept a longe while she sayd so hygh that her chyldren vnderstode it Ha good god whan shall the daye come that I shall see my chyldren Alas good lorde how fayne wolde I see them Was there euer Ladye that bare so riche a bourden as I haue and that were of it so discomforted as I am ANd whan Reynawde sawe his lady mother so sorowful sory he had of it great pitie and the teres began to come at his eyen wolde dyscouer himselfe But whaÌ„ the duchesse behelde well his visage and his behauour and maner her bloud ranne vp to her face and heuered within her body and began to shake full fast so that almost she fel downe in a swoune to the erth and was a great whyle that she myght not speake her hert was so close and so sore pressed all her coloure lost and gone and whan she was come agayne to her selfe she dyd caste her syght agayne vpon Reynawde
heauen all weping and saide in this maner good lord by thy gloryous and blessed name that diddest cast daniell out fro the lyons delyuered Ionas fro the fyshes bely and saued saynt Peter whan he cast himselfe from the sea for to come to the pardoned Mary magdalene and made the blinde to see suffred passion deathe vpon the crosse for our sinnes pardoned Longyus that smot thee with a spere in to thy blessed side wherfro thy blessed bloud fel in to his eyen and incontinent he recouered his syght therby and by thy resurreccion keep this day my body if it please the fro deth and from prison and also my brethren for I wote not where that we goe but me semeth that we go in great peryl And whan he had fynyshed his oryson his eyne wexed were againe for pitie that he had least his brethren should haue any harme for loue of him For it plesed him not wel that thei were so bare of their armes THan whan Alarde saw his brother Reynawde that had his eyne ful of teres he sayed to him Ha brother what ayleth you I haue sen you in right great peril aboute a harde werke but I sawe you neuer make so yl cheere as ye doo now for I haue seen you weep at this houre wher of I meruail me greatly for I wot wel for certayne that ye weep not without some great occasion Than sayd Reynawde Fayre brother me ayleth nothinge By the faithe that I owe to you sayd Alarde ye weep not for nothynge This is the daie that we sholde be at one with kynge Charlemayne so pray I you for god my dere brother that ye leue this sorowe let vs go forth mereli and bere out a good face as longe as we ben alyue for after that a maÌ„ is ones deceassed it is no more spokeÌ„ of him And this I praye you bretherne that ye synge with vs. For ye haue so fayre a voice that it is a great pleasure for to heare you syng whan ye be wyllinge to it Brother said Reinawde with a good wyll syth that it pleaseth you And than began Reynawde for to synge so melodiousli that it was a great pleasure for to here hym So longe rode the foure sonnes of Aymon the lytell pace of their mules syngyng and deuisnge amonge theymselfe that they came to the playne of Valcolours ⧠Now wyl I tel you of the facion of the valey for wyt that if I telled you not ye shoulde not maye know it There is a roch right hie noyous to goe vp it is enuironned rounde aboute with foure great forestes ryght great thycke for the least is there a dayes Iourney to ryde thrugh it ther beÌ„ foure great riuers all aboute it sore deep wereof the gretest is named Gyronde the other is called Dordon the thyrde is named Nore the other Balancon there is nothet castell nor towne by .xx. mile nighe about it And therfore the treason was there deuysed for thys playne of Valcolours was ferre fro all folke there was a way crossed in foure the one waye was towarde Fraunce the other in to Spaine the other in to Galyce and the fourth in to Gascoygne And at euery one of these foure wayes was layde a busshement os .v. hundred men wel horsed and armed for to take Reinawde and his brethren quicke or deade for thus had they sworne it promised to kyng Charlemayne Than come there Reinawd his bretheren with theyr felawshyp of eyght erles that the kynge yon of Gascoyne had take to them the whiche wist well al the mistery of this treason And incontinent Ogier the dane sawe theym fyrste of all the which was all abashed and sayd to his folke fayre lordes ye ben my men my subiectts and my freends ye know that Reynawd is my cosyn I ought not to see his death nor his domage Wherfore I pray you all that ye will doo him no harme at all nor to none of his bretherne my cosyns They answered al that they should doo his commauÌ„dement with a good will This haÌ„gyng Reynawde and his brethrene passed by wente in to the myddes of the playne THan whaÌ„ Reinawd and his brethreÌ„ were come there and found no body they were of it sore a bashed And after whan Alarde saw this he called his brother Rychard and sayd to him what is this fayre brother I se well that we ben berraied for I se you chaunge your colour how think ye Brother said Richard I doubt me sore for Reynawd haue no doubt said Alarde For we shall haue nothyng but good My brother sayd Rychard I promyse you all my heart shaketh nor neuer in my daies I had not so great feare for al my heres ryse vp wherof I doubte me sore that we ben betrayed that more is I should not be aferde yf Reynawde were armed set vpon bayarde and we also for thus as ben now we beÌ„ halfe discomfired And whan he had saied thus he spake to Reynawde said Brother why doo we tary heere sith that we haue fouÌ„d no body with whome we shoulde speake for if .xx. knights wer here armed thei should haue vs where they wolde maugre our teeth as bestes seing that we haue so many enemies in FrauÌ„ce ye wold not beleue this that we told you and also youre wife at Mountawban wherof I feare me sore that ye shall haue no leiser for to repent you of it For if our cosin Mawgis had be heer with vs that ye had your good hors baiard we should not doubt Charlemaine with al his puissaunce of a straw I pray you let vs go hence for I promise you it is foly for to abide heere long for I know wel that Charlemaine hath made vs to come here as bestes clothed with scarlet nor I can not beleue none other but that the kinge you hath falsly betrayed vs. CErtes fayre brother ye saye trouth sayde Reynawde and I perceyue me well of it now let vs goe backe againe all fayre softe as they wolde haue returned Reynawde behelde a side sawe well a thousande knightes armed comâ—ng a greate pace ayenst them Foulques of Morylion came afore at the other wel horsed his shelde afore his brest his spere alowe in the rest the great wallop ayenst Reynawd for he was the man in the worlde that he most hated whan Reynawde sawe com Foulques of Morillon he knew him wel at his shelde was so angred for it that he wist not what to doo A god what shal we poore siners doo I se wel that we must die this day with out doubte Brother said Alard what saie ye by my faithe said Reinawde I se heere great sorow Heere comeâ—h Foulques of MorilloÌ„ for to slea vs whan Alard had sen them coming it lacked litell that he wexed madde fell downe almost for greate angre that he had of the same
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
had of his brethern of his wife and of his men wyt it that whan they saw him bring so much vitailes they swouned al for ioye to the earth and whan Reinawd saw this he wende they had ben dead for hungre So began he to make great sorow and not without a cause and while that Reinawde sorowed and made great mone his brethern began to come again to theymselfe his wife and also hys two children And whan Reinawd saw them al vpon their feet he was glad and presented to them meat for them and for hys folke and they thaÌ„ made great Ioy and eate their fill at theyr ease And whan they had eaten well they went to slepe excepte Reynawde that wolde keep watche hym self And on the morne whan the day was come they rose went to heare masse and after the masse was doon they fell to their meate againe and eat al that was left ouer euyn of that Reinawde had broughte and whan the next night was come Aimon that coulde not forget his children made his stuarde to come before him and sayde to him ye know how I haue forsworn my children wherof I am sori that euer I did so But it is said that ar the need the frend is knowen I let you wit that my children been yonder within in great pouertye and misease and howe be it that I haue forsworn theÌ„ I oughte nor maye not faile them we haue three engyines that Charlemain hath made me doo make for to hurt my children wherof we haue domaged them as muche as we might nowe must we helpe them after their domage And I shall tell you see that ye put within the engynes bread and flesh both salt freshe in great plenty in stead of stones and let this be cast in to the castell for yf I shoulde die my selfe for hungre I shall not fayle theym as longe as I haue wherof to helpe them and also I repent me full sore of the harm that I haue doon to them for al the world ought to blame me therof with good ryghte and we been in the wronge Syr saide the stuarde ye saye well For ye haue doone so muche ayenste them that al the worlde blameth you therof but incontinente I shall doo your commaundement And than the stuard went and made the three engins to be filled with vittailles and after he bad the gouerner to cast theÌ„ in to Mountawban And ye muste wyt that many of the hoste blamed Aymon sore that he made hys engynes to be caste ayenst hys chyldren for they wende it had be stones and whan the nighte was passed that Reinawd was vp he went heere and there within the castel found foison of vittailes that his father had cast wherof he was right glad and sayde Good lorde blessed be you now see I wel that they that haue their trust in you can not fare amis than he called his brethern his wife his childreÌ„ said My bretherne ye see howe our father hath pity of vs. And then he made the vittailles to be gathered vp and put in a sure place and so thei eate therof at their ease for they had well great need therof for they were so sore an hungred that it was greate pitie And wyt it that Aymon made easte so muche vytayll within MouÌ„tawban that they of within had ynoughe for thre monethes with good gouernaunce NOw must we vnderstond that Charlemain had some knowlege howe the olde duke Aimon had giuen vittailes to his childreÌ„ wherof he was sore an angred made Aimon to come incontinente afore him sayd to hym Aymon who maketh thee so bolde to giue any mâ—at to min enemies mortal I know wel al thy wyles thou mayst not excuse thiself but by the faythe that I owe to God I shall auenge me so well or nyght that if I may ye shal leese your heade for it Sir said the duke Aimon I wil not denie it for I tell you truely if ye should make me dye or be brente in a fyre I will not fayle my chyldren as longe as I maye helpe them For my children be no theues traytours nor no murderers but they been the most valiaunt knightes of the world the truest ween not you to slea my children in suche maner ye haue to longe wrought your foly yf it wolde suffise you whan Charlemayne heard Aymon speake thus he was angrye with it for great wrath he loked as fire Almost he smote Aimon whaÌ„ the duke Naimes saw this he auauÌ„ced him forth said Sir sende home Aimon for ye haue kepte hym heere to loÌ„g ye ought well to vnderstande that Aymon wil not see his children to be dystroyed and therfore ye ought not to blame him nor smite him after that Charlemayne hearde the duke Naimes speake he sayd to him Naimes syth that ye haue iudged it ye shall not be gaynsayd than he turned him towarde the duke Aymon sayde to hym Now goe forth out of myn hoste for ye haue doon me more domage than profyte sir said the duke Aimon I shal gladly doo your coÌ„maundemente And anon he went lighted on horsebacke and after said to the peeres of fraunce Lordes I pray you al that ye wil haue my children for recommeÌ„ded for they beÌ„ com of your bloude let the king see well to for yf he make my children to dye by such great vengeaunce as he hath sayd if I shoulde become a sarasyn dwel in Affryque al the dayes of my lyfe I shal stryke of his head for none other gage I wyll not take And whan Aimon had said thus he went out of thost into fraunce to his countrye wel heuy bicause that he left his children in so great pouerty Charlemayne that sawe Aymon goe thus quite and that he hadde garnyshed Mountawban of vitaylles he was full angrye for it So studyed he vpon this a longe whyle And whan he had studyed longe ynoughe he was so sory that none myght be more sorier and returned hym selfe towarde hys Barons and sayde Lordes I commaund you that ye breake al our engynes For by theym I haue myssed to haue the castell of Mountawban And incontinente the Barons made breake the engines as the king had commaunded And by all thus Reinawd abode a long while in good peace but their vittailles began sore to mynyshe And whan Reinawde sawe that he was sory and began to complayne in himselfe saide good lorde what shal I doo I knowe that at longe rennynge we shall not mow holde and so shall Charlemain haue no mercye of vs but he shall make vs die Alas Mawgis where be you For if ye were with vs we shoulde doubte nothinge nor I shoulde not suffre this great distres that I haue All thus as Reinawde complained hymselfe than came Alard that was so feble that with payne he mighte stande vpon his feete and sayde to Reynawd Reinawde for the loue of god
cosyn I am yet dysposed for your loue to beare armes for I coulde not suffre you in daunger And whan the king Symon hearde Mawgis speake so he sayd hym great thanke and went enbraced hym and after sayd by my soule heere is a good Hermite for whan it was need he put wel hand to the swerde Syr sayd Reynawde ye say well trouth and I promyse you men should fynde in the worlde but few suche knightes as he is one After all these thynges sayde euery man tooke his harneys and the kinge all armed went to Mawgys sayd al laughyng My freend Mawgis I pray you that ye wyl beare my standarde this day Syr answerde mawgys yf ye take me it I promyse you I shall haue it in suche a place that ye shall swete or euer ye shall come to me And whan the kynge hearde Mawgys speake so he was ryght glad therof and than he tooke him hys baner And whan Mawgis had it in his hande he sayd to the kynge syr now folow me that wil for this day shall thadmyral be discomfited yf it please God whan Mawgys had sayd so he gaue the spurres to his horse put himself amonge the sarasyns as a lyon Reynawde folowed him nighe recountred a persian whome he smote with his spere so great a stroke that he made hym tumble dead to the ground wherof thother were sore abasshed after he put hande to hys swearde shoued himself into the greatest prece smote on eyther syde of him vpon the persians so meruailouse strokes that they were greatly meruayled with it for al they that he hit he brought theym to thyr ending and whan thadmyrall saw the great efforce of armes the Reinawde made agaynst hys folke he sayd to a neuew of hys that was by hym By mahoune I saw not yesterday that great maÌ„ of armes nother he that beareth now the baner of Simon from whens the deuil are they come that so greatly greueth vs I see wel they be some straunge knightes I am all redy so feard of them that all the bloud in my body trembleth This hangyng the kyng Symon Reynawde made great slaughter of the sarasyns But whaÌ„ the admiral saw that hys folke bare theÌ„selfe so yll he wyst not whether he wolde flee or abyde Than came reynawde brekyng the prece that cried as loude as he could mountawban And whan thadmiral heard that cry he was sore a ferde that he wyst not whether to go but sayd by mahoune I beleue that this deuil helpeth himself with some deuilry for I left him in Iherusalem and now he is heere THan whan thadmyral Barbas knew that he that made so great greef to his folke was Reynawde of mouÌ„tawbaÌ„ he shooke al for feare said to his neuew by machomet my god we haue doone yll to come heere for to make warre agaynst the king Simon syth that he hath this deuill Reynawde of mountawban for his like is there not in all the worlde of knighthoode now wolde I be wel in my ship in the middes of the sea for yf I abyde hym he shall make an ende of me Syr sayde his folke haue no doubt of the greate vilayn for and he come ones in our handes he shal not lyghtly scape vs lordes sayd thadmyral ye wot not what ye say ye know not the greate prowes of Reynawde for we were ten times mo folke than we ben yet should not we endure agaynst hym therfore by the fayth that I owe to mahoune I wil abide heere no lenger And whaÌ„ he had sayd these wordes he turned the brydel as sone as he might fled towarde his galays al his folke after him And whan Reynawde saw that the paynems were discomfited he began to crye after Mawgis after for the truauÌ„tes are discomfited And whan he had sayd so he put hymselfe to the chase the king Simon after him went castyng downe Sarasyns as beastes And wyt that they slew so many of theÌ„ that men should not beleue the numbre but they coulde not take thadmirall for he was the formest BArbas the admyrall of Persie whan he founde hymself saued in his shyp he began to looke a lande and saw the great domage that Reinawde Mawgys made of hys folke for all the shores of the sea were ful of sarasiÌ„s slayne wherof he had great sorow so began he to pull his heres of his berde cursed thoure that euer he was borne Reynawde came to the shores saw that thadmyrall was saued wherof he was full sory wyst not what he should doo more to him but he made to be cast boltes of wylde fyre into the galley of thadmyrall so that he brent the moste part of it and Barbas was fayne to entre into another ship And ye ought to wyt that all the sarasins that bode a land lost theyr liues whan yeâ—ing SimoÌ„ saw that he was to his aboue of his enemies he was ryght glad of it so ranne he and enbraced Reynawde and after sayde to hym Reynawde I know wel that I am kiÌ„g by your prowes for ye had not be the admirall Barbas had distroyed me and had made an ende of me wherfore it is reason that ye be rewarded for it therfore Reynawd I make you lorde of all my goodes of all my lande Than sayde Reynawde syr I thanke you muche of your good wyl for we be not they that haue discomfyted the sarasyns It was god and none other for we be not so puyssaunt I and Mawgys for to doo it without him And whaÌ„ they had thus spoken together a loÌ„g whyle at the sea syde the kyng tooke Reynawde with the one hande and Mawgys with the other hande and went to warde the Citie And whan they were come there the king made the gayne to be brought presented it to Reynawde and to Mawgys wherof Reinawde Mawgis wolde take nothynge but gaue it to the poore knightes incoÌ„tinent Mawgis tooke agayn his hermites werd Than began the feast to be there great for the victorye that god had giuen them The cheere that the kyng made to Reynawde in his paleys is not for to say for it was great and for to make shorte tale Reynawde was honourably feasted the space of foure dayes And than he woulde departe asked leue of the kynge wherof the kyng was ful sory bycause he wolde bide no lenger and whan he sawe that he wolde go he gaue him mani fayre giftes made his ship to be garnisshed with muche good vitayles And whan this was doone Reynawde tooke leue of the kyng Symon of hys barons and the kyng conueyed Reynawde to the shyp And whan he came to the patting the king SimoÌ„ kissed Reynawde sore weepyng and after went agayne to Palerne and Reynawde did doo hale vp saile and tooke sea ceassed neuer tyl he cam to Rome and there they tooke lande and he and Mawgys went and