coÌ„fessed them to the Pope and whan they were confessed they returned agayne into the shyp and tooke theyr way towarde Fraunce Shortly to speake they dyd so muche by theyr iourneys that they came to Ardeyne about noone whan the pleople of Adeyne wist the Reynawde Mawgis were comyng they were neuer so glad went to alarde and sayd wit that your brother Reynawde our lorde is come and also Mawgis your cosin whole and souÌ„d thanked be god ANd than whan Alarde and hys brethern heard these tydynges of theyr brother Reynawde that was come they had almost swouned for great ioye that they had and anon went to the gate of the towne agaynst theyr brother but they fouÌ„d him that he was all redy in the towne whan they saw him they ran him agaynst and Alarde enbraced hym fyrst weepyng and after kyssed him by great loue in likewyse dyd Guicharde and Richarde and thaÌ„ kissed mawgis theyr good cosin And whaÌ„ they had thus welcomed hym they weÌ„t together in the palays whaÌ„ thei were therr Alarde said to Reynawd fayre brother tell vs howe ye haue founde out cosyn mawgis Brother sayd Reynawde I founde him in coÌ„stantinople bi fortune than he began to reherse vnto them all his aduentures that he had sith he became pilgrime And whan he had tolde al he looked on his brother Alarde in his face saw he was pale whiche gaue hym suspeccion sayde Fayre brother now is it with my wyfe and mi children I meruaile me moche that I see them not heere Brother sayd Alarde haue no doubt for theym for they ben whole and sound at Mountawban and wit it that sith your departing we haue doo repayre again the towne haue doone garnisshe the castell with vitayle ynoughe for feare of warre yf any thynge had happed vs amys And than whaÌ„ Reynawde hearde good tydynges of hys wyfe of his children he was right glad of it and so he kneeled downe and thanked God of it WHan Reynawde knew that hys wyfe his childreÌ„ were wel it recoÌ„forted him muche begaÌ„ to make good cheere but whaÌ„ he saw that his brethern made no great ioy he meruayled muche so turned hym selfe towarde Alarde the syghed sore and sayd to hym Brother I awayte for to heare some heuye tidinges I trowe that that ye haue tolde me is not trouth and if ye tel me not how is it of al I shall go fro my self and therfore I pray you tell it me for I wyll know it WhaÌ„ alarde saw that Reynawde helde him so short he began to weepe full tenderly and than said vnto him Sir sith that it please you that I tell you the trouth I shal doo so Wit it that my lady your wife is deceassed out of this worlde vnto god For euer sithe that ye departed she ceassed not her sorow for nothynge that we could doo or shew vnto her And than she cast all her clothynge into a fyre and wolde neuer were vpon her but a sory maÌ„tel a smocke so longe she wept and sorowed dai and night that she died at last wherof I am sory for it for she was the goodliest and the fayrest of all the worlde WhaÌ„ Reynawde vnderstode these wordes he swouned downe to the erth for great sorowe that he tooke at his herte of the death of the good duchesse Clare his wyfe whan he was come agayne to himself he began to weepe sayd Ha king Charlemayne how wel may I hate you by you haue I lost my wife for she is dead bycause she se that ye chased me out of Fraunce with so great shame to make me goe a foote begging my bread lyke a truaunt but I knewe well that my sinnes ben cause of al this And whaÌ„ Reynawde had made hys mone he sayd to Alarde his brother fayre brother I pray you come shew me the tombe where my wyfe is begrauen Brother sayde Alarde with a good wil I shal doo so and thaÌ„ he brought him to the chirche where his good wife the Duchesse was buryed And whaÌ„ Reynawde cam there he swouned three times vpon her tombe and whaÌ„ he was come again to himselfe began to make great sorow for he rented his clothes and pulled his heaâ—es And whan he had sorowed longe he said as a man replenysshed with sorow Ha god what a pylgrym I am I beleue that there is none in the worlde more vnhappi than I am Now see I wel that I haue lost all my ioye and my coÌ„forte syth that I haue lost the fayrest lady of the worlde and the goodliest And as he was speakyng these wordes came there his children Aymonet yonnet that kneeled before theyr father And whan Reynawde saw the kneelyng afore him he weÌ„d his hert should haue brest So tooke he them vp and kissed them by great loue all weepynge and after sayd to them Mi fayre children see rhat ye be good men for I fere me that ye shal misse me soone And whan Reynawde had sayd this to his children he began to make more sorow than he had doone afore so did Mawgis ThaÌ„ begaÌ„ the sorow through al the towne right great and lasted .x. dayes without cease and whan came to the .xiii. daye Reynawde tooke hys way towarde Mountawban that was almoste as well peopled as it was or the warre began And Mawgys habaÌ„donned neuer reynawde where someuer he went but went alwayes on foote in his hermites araye and as they went thus to MountawbaÌ„ the brethern of Reynawd his children went on foote for to bere company to Mawgys theyr cosin And whan they of Mountawban knewe the coming of theyr lorde they were ryght glad of it made al the streetes for to be hanged with fayre clothes they came agaynst him al together makyng great ioye and made hym great reuerence welcomed him honourably And Reynawde receyued them gladly made theÌ„ good cheere for at that tyme he dyssimuled hys sorowe that he had at his hert bycause he should not dyscomfort hys folke that so great ioy made for hys comyng And also they of MouÌ„tawban welcomed mawgis honourably bicause they loued him of olde very well theÌ„ they brought Reinawde making great ioye vnto the castell and whaÌ„ Reynawde founde himself wythin hys castell of Mountawban he was glad of it and came to a window looked downe into the towne saw that it was as well peopled as euer it was and had meruayle of whens so muche people was come there for to dwell he was ryght glad of it for he weÌ„de neuer to haue seen mouÌ„tawban in that plyght as it was before the warre began After that the feast was ended â—eynawde called his brethern sayd vnto them Lordes I holde me destroyed for loue of the good duchesse whiche I haue lost wherof I am ryght heuy for it for loue of the great goodnes that I haue knowen in her I make my vowe to god that
fayre Cosyn take heed what I shall saye and leaue this sorowe ye knowe well that ye be all my cosyns and therfore we ought to perforce oure selfe for to socoure the one the other whan it is need I haue socoured you manye tymes and wit it that all the harme that Charlemaine bereth to me it is al through your occasion he slew my father but late wherof I beare yet at my hert greate heauynes that was your vncle that died for your loue that know ye well But yf ye wyll promise me afore all youre barons for to come wyth me into the tente of the kynge Charlemayne and helpe me to sawe hym for to auenge vpon hym the death of my saide father yf we can I shall deliuer to you Richarde euyn now whole and sound wythout any sore And whan Reynawde vnderstoode these wordes he came vnto Mawgis kissed him in the brest all weeping and said to hym Righte sweet and fayre cosyn for god mercy Delyuer to me ayen my brother Rychard whole yf it please you And yf ye will that I doo any thyng for you coÌ„maund me and I shal doo it with right good hert For ye wot wel that I dyd neuer any thyng that was ayenst your wyll nor there is no man in the worlde for whome I wolde doo so much as I wolde doo for you whan Mawgys sawe Reynawde weep so tenderly he had greate pitie of it and sayde to him Nowe be not dysmayed of no thyng fayre cosyne for ye shall haue Rycharde whole and sounde incontynente And than lyghted downe from his horse and toke a bottell with white wine and washed the wounde of Richarde therwithall ryghte well and had away all the bloode that was about And be not meruaylled where he gatte all suche thynges as apperteyned vnto this cute For he was the subtelleste nygromancyer that euer was in the worlde And whan he had doone soo he toke his bowelles and put theym agayne in to his bodye and than he toke a nedell and a threde and sewed vp the wounde full maysterly hurted not Rycharde and after he tooke a salue Whereof he anoynted all the wounde and as soone as the wound was thus anoynted it was as whol as thoughe he had neuer be hurte in that place of his body And whan he had doone al this he tooke a drinke gaue it to Richarde for to drynke whan Richard had dronken it he rose lyghtly vpon his feete al deliuered and quyte fro his disease and sayde to his bretherne where is Ogier gone and his folke are they scaped fro vs brother answered Reynawde we haue dyscomfyted theym God gramercye and Mawgis that came for to succoure vs for otherwyse we should haue ben al dead so he hath saued vs and our lyues at thys tyme now ought we well to loue him more than our selfe brother sayde Rycharde ye saye trouth and after Alarde sayde to Mawgys fayre cosyn heale me I pray you for I haue a greate wounde in the thie And I also sayd Reynawde for I am hurte right sore and I also sayde Guychard for goddes loue gyue vs health vnto al vs than sayde Mawgys vnto theym be not dismaied my fayre cosynes for I shal helpe you all anone Than tooke Mawgis of the white wyne wherof he had washed the wounde of Richard and washed their woundes of them all and after anoynted them sweetly and anon they were all whole And whan they were al garnyshed they made Richarde to light vpon a horse and put them self to the way for to returne againe to Mountawban And thus thei went on their waye a spye departed fro the felowship of Reinawd and came to MouÌ„tawban to the king yon and sayde to him Sir I bringe you tydynges Now wit that Reinawde and his brethren been scaped fro the plaine of Valcolours where that ye had sente them and they haue dyscomfited Ogyer the dane al the folke of Charlemaine and also they haue slaine Foulques of Morillon and the earle Guimard so many of other knightes that I caÌ„ not tel you the nombre ANd whan the king yon vnderstoode these tidinges he was sore abashed of it that he wyst not what he should saye and after he said Alas how goeth this here ben euil tydynges how may this be dyd they fynde the busshemente of the kynge Charlemayne Syr sayde the spie yea certaynly and shoulde haue been cursedly handled if their cosyne Mawgys had not socoured them for the socours that Maugis brought with him Ogier was discomfited all his folke of Charlemaine so that fewe of them scaped For Mawgys brought to Reinawde Bayarde hys good horse that was cause of all the harme that was doon there of the other parte Alas vnhappy myschauÌ„t said than the king yon and what shal I doo if I abide Reinawd Mawgis Alard Guycharde and Richarde I am deade without doubte for all the worlde canne not defende me therfro And also it were well ryght nor Reynawde should doo but well yf he slewe me cruelly For I haue wel deserued death for neuer Iudas ne the Emperour Neron of Rome made so great a treason as I haue doone that wolde haue brought to a cruel death the best knightes of the worlde that been the foure sonnes of Aimon for the thretning of a prince And whan he had said these wordes he begaÌ„ for to make great sorowe and saide Ha fayre sister Clare this daye shall departe our loue ye shall neuer seme more This day shal I forsake Gascoygne for I shall neuer come again therin And than he cried with an high voice Now go hence faire lordes for goddes sake be lyghtly ready For the need of it is nowe come and lette vs goe bringe with vs the best knyghtes that I ye haue and if we may doo so much to get the woode of the serpeÌ„t whiche is a great forest we shal be safe ynough we shal maye scape at our ease For we shall lodge our self within an abbay of saint Lazare and we shal take such habyte as the monkes there haue And by all thus shal we may be saued For I know so much goodnes in Reinawd that whan he shall fynde vs shorne as Monkes he shall doo vs no harme Than was there a spye that was called Pygwade that was so great that he had well .xv. fote of leÌ„gthe and went as fast as anye horse coulde trot This Pygwade had wel heard all that the kyng yon had sayd wrote it in a skinne of Parchement and wente lightlye ought of Mountawban at the gate called the gate fawcon and passed through the wood of the serpent in a litle while and met with Reynawde his bâ—ethern Mawgis that came agayne to MouÌ„tawban that brought with them a great multitude of prysoners and Pigwade that great theefe watched vpon them And anon he tanne as fast as he might to MouÌ„tbendell and went into the pauilion of Charlemayne and called Rowlande and sayde
king charlemayne that strongly threteneth you and also your folke My lorde sayde the porter shall I open the gates vnto theÌ„ yea sayd the duke For I doubt them nothynge and we ben ynough for them And many worthy knyghtes and esquyers ben no where able for to defende vs all were Charlemayne himself with them with hys puissauÌ„ce So ran incontineÌ„t the porter downe agayne for to open vnto them the gate Lohier his felowes entred wtin and mounted vp vnto the dongeon of the castell where the duke was that sayd to hys barons Lordes heere cometh the eldest sonne of the kyng Charlemayne for to tell me his message But di that god that suffred death and passyon Yf he speake wysely to vs he shal do as sage And yf he sayth any thyng that shall dysplease vs we shall soone without delaye take vengeaunce therof So was the duke Benes well accompanyed nobly of wel two hondred knyghtes more Thys was in the moneth of May that all creatures humain ought wel for to reioyce theÌ„ and that folke preu and worthy in armes taken hert and hardinesse for to defende them self wel and warre agaynst theyr enemyes And this during Lohier the sonne of King charlemayne entred into the halle of the Palays of Aygremount ryght nobly armed and his folke also and saw the halle ryght well garnyshed of fayre folke rychelye arayed And the duke sittynge right proudlye amonge his barons and the duchesse hys wyfe next by hym and before hym his sonne Mawgys that was a great mayster of the science of Nigromancy that played afore his father of his art of nigromancy wherin the Lordes that were there tooke great pleasure And wit it well that in all the worlde was not a worthyer chrysten nor more able than was the sayd Mawgys Except onlye hys cosyn Reynawde one of the Sonnes of Aymon wherof specyally treateth now this History Than marched forthe Lohier and wente in the fyrst of all and after hym hys folke by good conduyte And salued the duke Bâ—nes of Agremount in thys wyse wherby moch great euill happed vnto him at last That God that created the firmament and made all thynge of nought for the people to susteyne And on the crosse suffred death and passyon for all soules to be redemed out of the paynes of hel keep and saue the king Charlemayne Emperour of Aimayne and king of Fraunce and all hys noble lyne and confound thee Duke Benes of Aygremounte My father the kyng by me expressely seÌ„deth to thee word thou come incontinent to Paris with fyue hondred knyghtes for to do to him right and reason of thys that thou were not wyth him in armes in the partyes of Lumbardy for to fyght agaynst the enemyes of the christen fayth Where by thy faute were dead there Bawdoyne lorde of Melanke Gesfroi of Bourdel and many other great Dukes Prynces knyghtes and barons And yf thou wylt not doo it I tell thee duke benes that the kinge shall come vpon thee wyth an hundred thousand men of armes So shalt thou be take and brought into Fraunce And there thou shalt be iudged as a theefe and a false traytour vnto thy Souerayne Lorde for to be slayne and hanged all quicke thy wyfe brente and thy chyldren destroyed and banysshed Doo therfore this that I commauÌ„d thee in the kinges behalfe for thou knowest well that thou arte his maÌ„ vassayle and subiecte WHan the Duke Benes of aygremount had heard Lohyer thus speake Than yf ye had sene hym chaunged hys coloure pouffe blowe as a maÌ„ cruel proude and outrageouse and sayd to Lohier in thys maner I shal not goe to kynge Charlemayne nor nothynge of hys wyll I shall not fulfyll For I hold nother Castell ne Fortresse of hym but I shall goe vpon him with all my puyssaunce and shall destroy all the lande of Fraunce vnto Parys Than sayd Lohier vnto Duke Benes of Aygremount Vassayle sayde he how darest thou answere thus And it the king knew now that thou thretenest hym thus as thou doest he should come incontynent vpon thee and should vtterli destroy thee well thou knowest that thou arte hys liege man and that thou canne not say agaynst it come than redely and serue thy souerayne lorde kinge Charlemyan and beleue me yf thou wyll saue thyne owne lyfe For if thou doo it not I make thee sure and certayne that yf he can haue thee by force that he shall make thee to be hanged there as the ayre and the wyndes with theyr great blastes shall dry vp the bones of thee Whan the duke heard Lohier speake to him in this maner he stode vp anon vpon his feete and sayd that to his euel chere he cam there for to make to hiÌ„ hys message ThaÌ„ came foorth a knyght named syr water that was a man of the Duke of Aygremount and sayd to the Duke My lorde keep for gods loue that ye doo no foly Let Lohier say all hys wyll for ye be neuer the worse for his sayenge and as ye well knowe kynge Charlemayne is ryght puyssauÌ„t and so moche that there is nother castell Citie nor towne neuer so stronge that can holde agaynst hiÌ„ Go than to him by my counsell for ye be his man his vassayle his subiect and of hym you holde your castell of Aygremount and all your laÌ„des and yf ye so doo ye shall doo as sage and it shall be your prouffyte also of al your lande and for to war agaynst your ryght wise Lorde nothyng but euil can come to you thereof Whan the Duke had hearde the wyse knyght to speake he coulde to him right good thanke therfore but alwayes all angry he sayd to hym holde your peace For I shall holde nothyng of hym aslonge that I shal may beare armes and mouÌ„te a horse backe I shall sende for my deere bretherne Gerrade of Roussyllon and Dron of Natuell and Garnyer his sonne and than we shal gone vpon kyng Charlemayne and yf I canne mete with him in any place we shall destroy hym shall doo of hym that he troweth to doo of me Wene he that I am a cowarde nay by my faythe for I should not take all the gold in Parys but that I should slea the messanger Euyll was to hym whan he durst so threten me And than sayde Lohier I nether prayse you nor doubt you not Whan the Duke benes of Agremount vnderstode Lohyer he wexed for great wrathe as red as ony fyre in hys face and began to ryse vp and to call Nowe Barons vpon hym brynge hym to me for he shall neuer be wraunted but that I shall make hym to dye shamefullye And the baroÌ„s durst not say against theyr lorde but drew al theyr swerdes And incontynent did ren vpon Charlemaynes folke And Lohier called his baner and than began he and his folke to defende them selfe sharpely And god knoweth howe many heades and armes were there cut of that day For at the same houre began
shall gyue theym to the gentyll Reynawde as to hym that is as I wene the moste valyaunt of all and of other good armes I shall gyue to the other three bretherne So brought there the stewarde the armes that were full fayre and riche and than were armed the foure gentyl brethreÌ„ children to the good Aimes of dordoÌ„ne and Ogyer of Denmarke that was of theyr kynne dyd on theyr spurres to the new knight Reynawde the kynge Charlemayne gyrde hym his swearde and than doubed him to a Knighte sayinge God encreace in thee goodnes honour and worthines And than mounted Reinawde on horsbacke vpon Bayard that was suche a horse that neuer was his like in all the world nor neuer shall be except Busifal the horse of the great Kinge Alexander For as for to haue ronne .xxx. myle together he wolde neuer haue sweted The sayd Bayard thys horse was growen in the Isle of BoruscaÌ„ and Mawgys the sonne of the duke Benes of Aygremount had gyueÌ„ to his cosin Reynawde that after made the Kynge Charlemayne full wrothe and sory as ye shal now heare here after REynawde was a horse backe with a Sheelde paynted hangyng at his necke and thwerled his swerde by great fyersnesse And wyt wel that he was a fayre knight wounderful great and well founded and of hym was a fayre syght for well he semed one of the moste valyaunt Knightes that men coulde fynde in all the worlde And the Barons that were there sayde Ha god what a fayre Knight is he Neuer was nor shall be sene so fayre a man of armes as Reynawde god encrease to hym honour and worthynesse goodnes and pryse And after were moche honourably and worthily arayed and armed the other three bretherne of Reynawde and sith lyght all on horsebacke vnder Saint Victor nyghe Parys Than made the kinge Charlemayne to set vp in the grounde a poste agaynst whyche he made the new knightes for to assaye them selfe They Iusted moche worthely but Reynawde Iusted best vpon his horse bayarde ryght well lyked and were a greable vnto charlemayne the faytes of the valyaunt knyght Reynawde vnto whome the king sayd Reynawde froÌ„ hens forth ye shal come with vs in batayle and Reynawde answered him in thys maner Syr god yelde it you an hundred thousand tymes and I promit you in good fayth to obey and serue you truly Nor neuer ye shall fynde my selfe in no forfayte but yf it com of you THe Emperour Charlemaine after the Iustynge was doone he retourned to his Palays in Parys Than he resoned wyth hys prynces and BaroÌ„s and there were the duke Naymes of bauyres Oger the dane and the Aâ—chebysshop Turpin and sayd to them in thys wyse barons sayd he I cannot maruayle me to moche of Lohier my eldest son that â—aâ—ieth so longe in hys message I haue great feare that some incontinent be happed vnto hym I dremed this night in my slepe that the thonder bolte fell vpon my Sonne Lohier and then came the Duke benes of Aygremount vpon hym and smote his head of but by my bearde yf he haue doone so whyles he lyueth he shall neuer accorde with me Nor I shall neuer haue Ioye at my herte For it is he that I loue best in this worlde Syr sayd the duke Naymes I beleue not such thinges nor vnto suche dremes ye shall not gyue no credence alwayes sayde the king yf he haue doone so I shall neuer leue him the value of a peny for I shall sende for the Normans the Bernygeâ—s the Fleminges the chaÌ„penoys the Almaynes the Bauiers and for Englishemen and so shall I goe vpon hym and shall vtterly destroy hym and Naymes sayde euer vnto hym that he shoulde not fraye hym selfe of nothynge tyll that he knewe the certentye And as they spake thus there came rydiÌ„g a messenger vpon a horse fauell sore sicke and werye and also sore wounded vnto the death He came vnto Parys afore the Palays where Kyng Charlemayne was at the wyndowes And whan he sawe come the Messanger he came downe lightlye from the Palays halle vnto the gate and with him Naymes of Bauyer and Ogyer the Dane And whan the Messanger saw the kinge he salued him fall soft as he that was ryght sorye and sore wounded and that wyth payne myght speake and said in this maner wyse Great folye ye dyd whan ye dyd sende my Lorde your sonne for to aske trybute and obeyssaunce of the Duke Benes of Aygremounte the whiche trybute your sonne asked him shaÌ„fully but the duke whiche is sore fel and cruel whan he heard speak my sayd lorde your sonne he coÌ„mauÌ„ded to a mayny of knightes that were there that he should betake that he should neuer retourne agayn to you for to recouÌ„t his message nor what answere he had founde to the which takiÌ„g the medle was great and cruell so that your dere soÌ„ne Lohier was dead there And the Duke Benes of Aygremount kylled hym and all your folke except me and .ix other that conduyte and bryng your sonne in a byere And I my selfe am sore hurt as ye may se And than the messaÌ„ger could speake no more But fell downe in a swoune of the greate greefe and sore that he felte bycause of hys woundes And whan the kiÌ„g had heard these wordes he fel down vpon the grouÌ„d for the great sorow that he tooke therof and wrange his handes and pulled his beard And tare all hys heres sayinge Ha good lorde that made heauen and erth ye haue brought me in great sorowe tourment Irrecouerable that neuer shall cease with me So requyre I vnto you the death humbly For neuer more desyre I not to lyue The good duke of Bauyre began to recomfort him sayinge For goddes loue syr tourment not your self but haue good hert and hope in god and recomfort your folke And thys wolde say the duke Naymes for theÌ„ that he saw weepe there for theyr kiÌ„smen and freendes that were dead with Lohier And doo sayd he to the kyng let your sonne be worshypfully buryed at saynt Germayne of the medowes And than ye shall goe vpon the Duke Benes of Aygremount wyth all your noble power and great puyssaunce and shall destroy hym and all hys landes at your pleasure Than the kinge Charlemayne recomforted him selfe and well he knew that Naymes couÌ„selled hym truly and lawfully Than sayd the kyng Barons make redy and wee shall go agaynst my dere sonne Lohier And incontinent all the prynces and Barons made them selfe redye for to doo the commaundement of the kinge And whan they were gone two myle out of Parys they met with the corps And were there with the Kinge Naymes Ogyer Sampson of bourgoyne and many other great Lordes Than sayd the kinge Charlemayne whan he sawe the body of his deere sonne Lohier Alas how shamefully am I created he descended from his horse a foote tooke vp the cloth that was vpoÌ„ the biere behelde his sonne Lohier Than saw he
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
and knew him ryght well by a wounde that he had in his face whiche was doone to hym of a fall whan he was in his tender age ThaÌ„ she said to hiÌ„ as glad as ani mother may be Reynnawde my sonne whose peere is not among al the knightes of the worlde Howe see I you so sore appayred and chaunged Where is gon your great beaultie why my sonne doo ye hide you towarde me that loued you more than my selfe And while that she said these wordes she looked aboute her and knew her children anon she went towarde them wyth her armes spred abrode for to coile and kisse theym sore weepynge for great pitie that they were so sore apayred of theyr beaultie and so long she kissed one and than another that at last she fell downe in a swoune And Reynawde tooke her vp in his armes wher she abode a good while and Reynawde his brethern ceassed not from weeping for great pitie that they had of theyr mother ANd whan the duchesse was come agayne to herselfe she tooke her children made them sitte downe by her and sayd to them how is it that I see you thus poore dysfygured why is it that ye haue with you no knightes nor none other coÌ„pany where haue ye ben that haue endured so great pouertie and so great disease whan the duchesse spake thus to her chyldren she dyd weepe styll sore tenderly and foundred all in teres holdynge her sonne Reynawd betwene her armes and kissed hym sweetly Lady sayd Reynawde we haue with vs but three knightes that keep our horses yoÌ„der without For our father hath slayne all our knightes all our folke And also he should haue slayne vs yf it had not be our lorde that kept vs therfro through his pitie mercy Sore hard parentage dyd he shewe to vs our naturall father Whan the Duchesse vnderstoode these wordes she was ryght sory for it And called to her one of her seruauntes and saide to hym Goe and make my sonnes horses to be had into a good stable and that they ben well tended And brynge hither that three knightes that keep the horses without for I wyl see them Madame sayde her squyer it shal be doone incontinent And then he went to the three knyghtes and sayd to them that the duchesse wolde see them Whyche incontinent dyd as the ladye had commaunded and came to the Palays where as Reynawde taryed for them Lordes said the duchesse to them ye be right welcome Madame sayd the knightes God gyue you good life longe and Ioye of your children For they ben the best and the moste worthye knyghtes of all the worlde Thys hangyng came there a yeman that sayd to the duchesse Madame yf it please you to sit at the table the meat is redy ThaÌ„ the lady tooke Reynawde and the other with her lede them to dinner and made them syt downe all afore her and theyr three knyghtes at the left side of her There made good chere the foure sonnes of Aimon and ete at theyr case at theyr owne wyll For it was longe syth that they had ony good mele where they myghte take theyr naturall food at theyr ease And as they were at the table Thenne came theyr father Aimon from hawkynge and huntynge whiche had taken foure hartes and two wylde bores and dyuerse pertryches and Fesauntes Whan Aymon sawe them he knewe them not and he sayd vnto the duchesse Lady what are these folke that ben thus couÌ„trefer whan the duchesse vnderstode her husbande she was sore a gaste and began for to weepe and sayde Syr these ben your chyldren and myne that ye haue trauaylled so moche and sore hunted as wylde beastes The which haue dwelled loÌ„ge tyme in the foreste of Ardeyne where as they haue ben sore tourned as ye now maye see Now are they come vnto me by cause I am ryghte glad whan I see theym For to you they ben not come For they knowe well that ye loue them not But I praye you for god that for the loue of me ye wyll lodge them this night For they shall departe to morow erlye I wot not yf euere I shall see them Wherefore of this I beseeche you right humbly Than whan Aymon vnderstode these wordes he shooke al for anger and tourned hym selfe toward his sonnes and made to them euill there and said to them GlotoÌ„s goddes curse haue you For ye ben not worthe a strawe For ye haue nother folke nor money nor no prisoner that might pay to you a great hauoyre Father sayd Reynawde by the fayth that I owe to you if your lande is in peace the other ben not so For ye might goe sixe score miles that ye should not finde nother riche man nor poore but that they keepe them selues within fortresses and in Castelles But ye doo great wronge for to doo vs the worst that ye can ye tooke fyrst from vs our good Castell of Mountaynforde And after that ye had assayled vs in the wood of ardeyne and slew all our folke so that of fyue huÌ„dred knyghtes that I had ye left a lyue with me but enleuyn whereof .viii. ben dead and these .iii. that ye see heere ar abyde a liue now beholde well father and thynke how ye bare your selfe towarde vs. But syth it is thus that ye ought to vs no good wyll and that ye may not see vs Make vs the heades to be smyten of and so shall you be beloued of Charlemayne and hated of god and of all men ANd whan the olde Aymon vnderstode Reynawde thê° speke he knewe well he sayde trouth and began to fyght sore at his herte and then he sayd to hys chyldren Myschaunt your lidernes slouth hath ouercome you Ye were neuer my childerne For yf ye were such as meÌ„ wene ye should not haue suffred the great pouertie that ye haue endured so longe But ye should haue gone win vpoÌ„ your enemies for to maintein your self honestly make good warre to Charlemayne through all hys lande But ye are become myschaunt therfore I tell you that ye get nothyng of me Now theÌ„ voyde out soone of my Palayce and goe begge where ye wil at a nother place Syr sayd Reynawde ye say that an euyll and an vnkynde father ought to saye For I tell you for very certayne that we haue slayne so manye theues and brygauntes that I can not numbre them wherof I fele my selfe in great synne But for god we requyre you that ye wyll helpe vs to recouer our laÌ„des of Charlemayn and yf ye wyll not doo so gyue to vs of your godes and we shall goe ferre from you I wyll not sayd Aymon Father sayd Reynawde here I se well your euyll wyll I and my brethern haue doone so muche that we ben comen into your place that we should fare the better for it but I see wel ye wyll cast vs therfro with great afraye And I swere to you by the
I come from the great Citie of Paris where I haue stolen three horses laden with golde here they ben the whiche Charlemayne wende for to haue hid well I gyue you the half of it for I might not bestowe theÌ„ better than to you Cosin sayd Reynawde god thanke you And whaÌ„ he had sayd so he went out of Ardeyne with his bretherne his folke fouÌ„d his father that came fro the wood whan Reynawde saw his father he made hym reuerence bowed hymselfe to hym Aymon sayde to them fayre sonnes no when ye well garnysshed honestly arayed I praye you that ye doo so in FrauÌ„ce that men speke of your prowes ye my other chyldren I commauÌ„de you that ye obey Reynawde and keep hym aboue all thing for as longe as he shal lyue ye ought not to be aferde of no harme THan sayd Alarde syr we shal doo your coÌ„mauÌ„dement and we pray you for gods loue that ye will be euermore our good father I wyll be so my children sayd Aymon thaÌ„ Reynawde tooke leue of his father of his mother that conueyed them out of the towne But the good lady fel downe in a swoune whaÌ„ she saw departe her children And all the towne began to make such a sorowe that it was great pirie and Reynawde and his bretherne went on theyr waye And whaÌ„ the duchesse came to her self and saw her children departe She began to say Ha poore herte myne why breakest not thou alas if I had dyed longe a goe my soule were the better at ease I am not a mother but a stepmother Alas I se my ryche burden go to exile and yet I cannot witholde them nor helpe them that they abyde with me thus as the Duchesse made her moue to her women Aymon came and tooke her betwene hys armes and recomforted her and sayd vnto her Ladye dyscomfort not yourself so muche for my hert giueth me that we shall yet see them in great prosperiti and honour and great Ioy and gladnes ye shall once haue of them in shorte tyme. Shortlye to speake the good Aymon recomforted so muche the Duchesse that she lefte her sorow went agayne to the palays with the duke Aymon I leue heare to speake of the duke Aymon and of the duches hys wyfe and returne to speake of Reynawde and of his brethern ¶ How after that Reynawd his brethern and his cosyn Mawgys were departed out of Dordone fro theyr mother for to seeke their aduenture they rode so longe that they came into the Realme of Gascoyne ¶ And how by the waye they made greate harme to the Realme of Fraunce And how the kynge of Gascoyne reteyned them in his seruyse ⧠Capitulum .v. NOw sayth the tale that after that Reinawde Alarde Guicharde Richarde and Mawgys their cosyn were yssued out of ArdeiÌ„ with all theyr felawshyp that was wel of .vi. hundred men well mounted arayed they passed thoroughe Byhense and wasted all Fraunce and passed through the countrie of Gastynoys so forth to Orleaunce where they went ouer the riuer of Loyre and wasted all the lande vnto Poyters And whan they were come to Poyters they hearde tidinges that the kinge Yon of Gascoyn that was a puissauÌ„t prynce was assayled of the Sarasyns And whan Mawgys heard these wordes he caÌ„ to Reynawde sayd to him Cosin the Kinge Yon of Gascoyne is a prince of great renome and of great power go we to hym and serue hym and suche seruyce we shall mow do to hym that Charlemayne shall not mow hynder vs by no wayes Cosin sayd Reynawde let vs than go there syn that it semeth to you good and whaÌ„ they were here to accorded they tooke theyr waye towarde Gascoyn and rode so longe by their iourneys that they came to Burdews a fayre citi where they fouÌ„d king Yon with a great company of knyghtes and whan they were downe from theyr horses Reynawde sayd to his folke go we lodge vs. Cosyn sayde Mawgys we shall not doo so but we shall speake streight with king Yon yf he reteyneth vs in a good houre be it yf he not doo so we shal serue borgoyns tâ—e sarasyn whiche is ryght prue sage hath al redy coÌ„quested almoste all the lande of kynge Yon as Tholouse Montpeller Lietary saynt Gyle Tarascon Arles yf we fayle heere we shall not fayle there Cosyn sayd Reynawde ye speke well and wysely we shall doo as ye haue sayd And thaÌ„ Reynawde tooke with him L. knyghtes hys three brethern Mawgis and tooke of his armes and clothed hymselfe honestly and rychelye and whan he was well arayed he went to the king Yon 's court vpon a litle nagge and whan he rode thorough Bordews all the people ran for to see him bycause he was so great so wel made and so fayre with all and also hys three brethern but they were not al euin so great And whan they were come to the gate of the kinges place Reynawde light on foote went vp to the Palays and founde the king at the counsell And whan the stewarde saw Reynawde so fayre a man and so goodly and so many folke wyth hym he came him agaynste and sayd to hym My lorde ye be right welcoÌ„ And Reynawde answered to him god giue you good auenture Nowe tel and please you where is the kyng My lorde sayd the stewarde the king holdeth now his couÌ„sell for Bourgons the sarasin is entred in his laÌ„d and hath doone to hym great harme and dommage For he hath brente townes and castelles abbeyes hospytalles Churches and al other monasteries and nowe he is parforce within Tholouse with a great puissaunce Certes sayde Reynawde This Borgons is of great power as me semeth and after that menne sayen Thus as Reinawd the stuard spake togither came king yoÌ„ out of the couÌ„seil chambre whan Reynawd saw him he tooke his brethern his cosin mawgis with him went ayenst the king which Reynawd salued right humbly said to him Sir I am come to you fro a ferre londe with me three brethern my cosyn that ye see heere for to doo you seruise oure folke if it please you we shal serue you in such a maner that we will haue nothing of you but our seruise be agreable vnto you ye shal promise me as a king if it be your pleasure that ye shal be my warraunt help ayenst al other good freend said the king yon ye be righte welcome to me where ye saye ye be come for to serue me I thanke you for it with al my hert but I wil first know what folke ye ben for ye might be such that I should defende you or that I shoulde be youre enmy Syr said Reinawd sith that it please you to know what we ben I shall telle it to you wyt that my name is Reynawd am sonne eldest to the duke Aimon of
harme thaÌ„ I shall wyll ye promise me thys said Borgons yea said Reynawde Now hold my swerd sayd Borgons I put my self al together in your hand And Reynawde tooke hys swerde and assured hym that he should not dye and they two went together for to take theyr horses and whan they had theym they lyghted vpon and tooke theyr way towarde Bordews and as they cam againe they met with king Yon that came and hys folke renning agaynst hym as fast as they myght Whan Reynawde saw the kyng he thanked hym muche that he was comyng after hym and presented to hym Borgons that he had thus taken and coÌ„quested as I haue rehersed to you sayd to him Noble king of Gascoyn I beseche you that Borgons haue no harme for I haue assured hym Good freend sayd king yon no more he shall but all honour for the loue of you and I praye to God that I may doo nothynge that is agaynst your wyll And whan Alarde Guycharde Rycharde Mawgys saw Reynawde that brought Borgons prisoner they were neuer so glad for they wend to haue lost hym so ranne they and kyssed hym ful sweetly and made hym great feast and great honour For they had ben in great sorow for the loue of hym BRother sayd Alarde into a great sorow and heuines ye had brought vs this day for we wende that ye had betake but sith that ye haue taken Borgons the warre is doone and blessed be the houre that ye were borne the pappes that ye sucked and whan they were wel feasted they tooke on theyr way towarde Bordews where they led Borgons as a prisoner And whan the kynge yon was at Bordews he lighted downe and tooke with him Reynawde and his brethern by the hande Mawgys also went vp to the palays fouÌ„de his folke that made great feast and he called them to hym and sayd Lordes bere honour and worshyp more to this knyght than to me for I am king of Gascoyn by theyr worthynes and great prowes For if thei had not ben I had ben dead and ouer throwen blessed be that good lorde that dyd put in theyr myndes for to come into this coste for they haue quyted my land haue set all my realme in peace To speake shortlye the kynge made the buty to be dealed Wherof the moste party he made to be gyuen to Reynawde hys bretherne And Reynawde wolde take nothyng of it but gaue it all to his folke and whaÌ„ the kynge saw the great largenes of Reynawde he loued hym more than he did afore and than he sayd that he wolde make Reynawde lorde ouer hym and of all his lande THe kyng yon had a syster the whych was a right fayre damoysell Whan she hearde speake so moch good by Reynawde she called to her a knyght that was called water and sayd to hym tell me by your fayth who hath the pryce of the batayle Madame sayde water I shall tell it you with a good wyll Nowe wyt that Reynawde is the best knyght of all hys brethern of al the world for he tooke Borgons the sarasyn by force wherby he hath brought the warre at an ende whaÌ„ the pucell vnderstode this worde she was ryght glad dyd thanke our lorde for it with al her hert And the king his knightes ceassed not to make ioye for the victory the god had sent to them thorouh the great proâ—esse of the valiauÌ„t Reynawde Whan borgons saw him selfe in pryson he sent worde to kiÌ„g Yon that he should come speake wyth hym And as soone the king Yon wyst of it he went to hym And whan borgons saw him he salued hym after sayd to hym Syr I am your prysoner also the moste party of my folke yf it please you ye shal put me to rauÌ„sone and my men also I shal gyue you .x. horses laden wyth golde for me for my folke Borgons said the kynge I shall doo wyth a good wil yf Reynawde counsel me so and no otherwyse I wyll not doo and thaÌ„ the kyng Yon sent for Reynawde for his bretherne and all hys other barons And whan they were come he helde his counsell howe he should doo for the delyuerance of borgons Reynawde his barons counselled the kyng that he should put borgons to rauÌ„son whaÌ„ the kinge saw that his barons counselled hym the same he made borgons to be called and made his delyuerauÌ„ce to be sygnyfyed vnto hym And thus was borgons delyuered and went with his folke into his countrey yelded Tholouse agayne to kynge Yon sent to hym x. sommers all laden with fyue golde as he had promysed to hym And incontynent that the kynge Yon had receyued them he gaue them to Reynawde and to his brethern but Reynawde did as a worthy knyght For not a penye he wolde take of it nor his bretherne also IT happed vpon a day the Reynawde his bretherne wente in a forest that was not ferre thens toke foure wilde beastes as they were comynge homwarde they fouÌ„d themself vpon the riuer of Gironde as they wente Alarde looked ouer the riuer and saw a hyghe mountain and all hyghe on the toppe of it was a fayre roche And whan Alarde saw so fayre a grounde and so stronge he turned hymself towarde Reynawde and sayde to hym Brother yonder vpon that hyghe Mountayne is a fayre grounde and a strong I beleue that there hath be sometime a castel And yf we myght doo so muche to buylde there a stronge place for our selfe Charlemayne should neuer take vs there And ye wyll beleue me ye shal aske it of kyng Yon and yf he gyueth it to you let vs doo make there a stronge castell Cosyn sayde Mawgys to Reynawde Alarde giueth you good counsell And I pray you that ye wyll doo so as he hath sayd Cosyn sayd Reynawde I shal doo it syth that ye counsell me so And whaÌ„ they were accorded to the same they entred into a barge and wente ouer Gyrounde whan they came a lande they ceassed neuer tyll that they came afore the kynge and presented hym the beastes that they had taken And whan the kynge saw them he receyued them curtoysly for he loued them moche And than the kynge enbraced Reynawde in hys armes THe morowe nexte after that the kynge had hearde masse Reynawde tooke the kynge drew him a lytle at a syde and sayd to him Syr we haue serued you longe well and truly Certes sayd the kynge ye say trouth and therfore I am holde towarde you well for it now looke yf I haue in al my lande cities townes or castelles or other thyng that ye wyl haue for ye shal haue it incoÌ„tineÌ„t Syr sayd Reynawde I thanke you muche of your good wyll But heare my wordes yf it please you say on hardly sayd the kynge Syr sayd Reynawde I and my brethern were the other daye comyng fro the chase and as we came alonge by
had receyued the lettres of the kinge Charlemayne he called to hym his secretary Godras and said to him Looke what this lettre sayeth And the clerke brake in continent the seale and beheld the tenoure of the lettre and founde howe Reynawde and hys brethern should be betrayed and liuered to the death whan the clerke had redde the lettre he began to weep sore tenderlye and if it had not be for doubt of the king he wolde gladly haue vttered it and whan kinge yon saw his secretarye weep he saide thus to him keep wel vpon your lyfe that ye hide nothinge fro me but tell me all that the lettre conteineth and what the kynge Charlemayne wryteth to me By my fayth said Godras It is a sore thing for to reherce Nowe lightely sayde the kyng yon tell me what the kyng Charlemayne sendeth me syr sayde Godras I shall tell it you gladlye And than he beganne to shewe to kyng yon howe Charlemayne sente him worde that yf he wolde doo as he had wryten vnto him he shoulde encreace his power of fourtene good castelles more than he had For the suretie wherof he swereth it vnto you vpon our lorde god and saint denys of Fraunce his patrone And he sendeth you foure mantelles of scarlete furred with ermines that ye shall geue to the foure sonnes of Aymon for to were theym thus they shall be knowen For Charlemaine will not that none take any harme but only the foure sonnes of Aimon And he dooth you wyt that his folke are with in a bushement within a woode by the plaine of Valcolours that is to wyt Foulques of Moryllon and Ogier the dane with three hundreth men wel horsed and well armed that abiden there foure sonnes of Aimon the which ye should deliuer in to their handes Whan the kinge yon vnderstoode the tenoure of the lettre he made haste for to fulfil his promise And incontinent he lyghted on horsebacke and tooke in his company a hundred men wel arraied and tooke his waye towarde Mountawban And as soone as he might he came entred with in at the gate fletcher And whan he was within he made his folke to lodge them in the borow And he went vp to the palays as he was wont to doo whā he cam there Thē whan his sister the wife of Reinawd wist of the coming of the king yon her brother she came ayenst him and tooke him by the hand wolde haue kissed him as she was accustomed to doo whan he came there but the king full of euell treason turned hys face a syde and sayde he had the tooth ache and wolde not speake with her but litill But he sayde that men should make him a bedde ready For he wolde rest him selfe a lytell And whan he was layde he began sore to thinke and saide to him selfe Ha good lord what haue I wrought ayenst the best knyghtes of the world that I haue betrayed so falsly Now shall they be hanged to morow withoute faute I pray god to haue mercy and pitie vpon them Now maye I well saye that I shall be lykened to Iudas from hence forthe and I shal haue loste the loue of god and of hys mother and also myne honour But I must needes doo it sith I haue promysed it so and the wyll of my barons is such for thus they haue coūcelled and haue made me do it Wherof I am ful sore displeased AL thus as the king yon thoughte in the greate treason that was thus machyned vpon the foure sonnes of Aymon there came in Reinawde from hunting al his bretherne with him and had taken four wild bores sore great and whan Reinawde was within Mountawban he hearde the noyse of the horses and wende that it had been straunge knightes that were come vnto him to take wagis And than he asked of a yemā what folke were these straūgeres that were come in withou leue Syr said the yeman they ben the folke of king yon that is come within for to speake with you of some maters But me semeth by his folke that he is not well at ease of his persone THan said the good Reinawd Ha God why hath my lorde traueylled himselfe so muche for to come hither For I wold with a good will haue gone to him And after whan he had that saide he called to him a seruaunte of his and sayde to him goe fet me my horne Boudiere For I wyll make feast and Ioye for the coming of my souerain lorde and incontinent it was brought to him and Reynawde tooke it and sayde to his bretherne Nowe take eche of you his owne and let vs make feast for the loue of king yon Than they tooke eche of them his horne and began to sowne all foure at ones right high and made so greate noyse that the castel sowned of it For they made so great Ioye for the loue of kinge yon that it was merueyll Whan the kynge yon heard the trumpettes that thus sowned so sore that the chābre where as he laye shooke of it he arose vp from the bed and cam to the wyndowe and said to him selfe Ha what euyll haue I wrought ayenst these knightes Alas howe make ye Ioye ayenst so greate a combraunce the which I haue purchased to you I haue betrayed you right falsely as a wycked and vntrewe kynge that I am For a man that betrayed hys freend oughte neuer to haue honoure nother in this world nor in the other but oughte to be lost bothe body and soule For he hath forsaken god and hathe gyuen himselfe to the deuyll And whan he had saied that he returned agayne vpon his bed sore vexed at the hearte and euell at ease more than any man might be Than Reynawde and his bretherne came vp to the palace where thei foūd the king yon and whan he sawe theym come he rose ayenst them and tooke them by the hande and saide to Reinawd Be not merueylled that I haue not enbraced nor kyssed you for I am sore laden with great euyll And it is wel fourtene daies gone that I could nother eate nor drinke anye thyng◠that dyd me good Than saide Reynawd sir ye be in a good place where ye shall be tended vpon ryghte well with goddes grace And I and my bretherne shall serue you to oure powere gramercy saide the kinge yon Than called he his stuarde and sayd to him Go and bring me the mantelles of scarlet furred wyth ermynes that I haue doone make for my dere freendes Incontinente the stuarde dyd the commaundemente of kynge yon And as sone that he was come agayne the king made the foure brethern to put the foure mantelles vpon them and praied theim to were them for his loue Sir saide Alarde this is a gladde presente and we shal were theim for the loue of you with very good will Alas if they hadde knowen how the thing was brought aboute they shoulde not haue borne them but they should haue doone al
so mightye that none could haue ouercome them but they were than so feble that they fell where they went musselinge in the grounde as hogges ANd whaÌ„ Reinawd saw the great pitie that was among his folke he had of it great sorow because he mighte not put no remedye therto and than he began to saye in himself O good lorde what maye I now doo now I se wel my wyt â—uailleth me nothing for I wot not where to seeke vitailles Alas god where may Mawgis be now that he know not my great need and the outrage that Charlemaine dooth to vs. And whaÌ„ the good lady clare saw her lord Reinawd that complained him selfe so piteously she began to say vnto hym in this wise For soth my lord ye doo not wel for to discomfort your self so sore for ye discourage vs al within moreouer I promise you that heere been yet within mo than a C. horses I pray you let one of theim be killed and ye my selfe and our poore childreÌ„ shal eat of it for it is more than three daies agoe that they nor I eate anye thing that did vs good and whaÌ„ she had said this she fel down in a swoune at the feete of Reynawde her husband for greate feblenes for lacke of meate And whan Reinawde sawe her fall he tooke her vâ— anone in his armes and after that she was come againe to her selfe she saide all weeping Alas dere lady mary what shal I poore wrâ—tche doo for all my heart failleth me and almost wil my soule departe also sore is my bodye famished alas mi childreÌ„ who should euer haue wende that ye should haue died for hungre WHan Reynawd saw the greate distresse wherin his wyfe was he had greate pitie of heer and the teeres began to fall ouer the cheekes of hym and al weepyng he went to his stable and there he made a horse to be slayne the whiche he made to be dressed for meate to hys folke but I promyse you that horse flesh lasted not longe afore theym for they were menne ynowe to eate it vp lyghtly And heere ye must know that all the horses that were within Mountawban were in lykewise eaten one after a nother excepte foure that is to wyt Bayarde and the horses of the three bretherne of Reynawde the whiche foure horses they wolde not eat by cause they wolde not be a foot And whan Reinawd sawe that there was no more thyng that they might eate he called his bretherne and said to them Faire bretherne what shall we doo we haue no more foode to take vs but onely our foure horses that are left alyue Lette vs doo kille one of theym that oure folke may eat with vs. By my heade sayde Rychard that shal not be mine and yf ye hâ—ue iust to it let yours be slayne for ye shall not haue mâ—ne and yf ye haue great myscheeftye be wel worthy for throughe youre pryde we are brought in this plyght bycause that ye lette goe the king Charlemayn for and if ye had beleued me thys greate myshappe had not be fall vs. Thys hanging came the lityll Aimon the sonne of Reinawd that sayde to Richard in this maner Holde your peace myn vncle for that thing that mai not be amended men oughte to let it passe in the best wise For it is to shamefully to reherse that that is passed but doo as my father commaundeth you ye shal doo wel For ye doo nor well to angre him so as ye doo and though he hath missed of his entent he hath boughte it deare ynoughe as wel as we if the king Charlemaine hath domaged you longe it may well hap that god shall helpe you or ought longe if it please him and I beleue certenlye that he shall doo so for the kyndnes that my lord my father did shew vnto charlemain whan he had him heere can neuer be lost as I weâ— GReat pytie had Richarde of his neuewe whan he hearde hym speake thus wysly tooke him betwen his armes and kissed him al weeping and than he said to Reinawde Brother commaund my horse to be slayne whan it please you and giue some comfort therwithall to thys folke and to my lady your wyfe and to my yong neuewes youre children For my litel neuew that is here hath wel deserued to eate of it for the good â—ounseyll that he hathe giuen to me now Brother said Alard let be slain whiche ye will of three for it were to great adommage if bayard should dye and also I tell you that I had leuer dye my selfe than that Bayarde shoulde be slayne Brother sayde Guychard ye say wel and anon the horse of Richard was killed and dresed to their meat and so in lyke wise was doon with the horses of the two other bretherne and full sauourly it was eaten And whan Reinawde sawe that there was no meat more he wist not what he should doo for he was more sory for his bretherne and for his wife and his childreÌ„ than he was for him selfe and began to saye in this wise Alas what shal I doo I am vanquished ouercome with out any stroke It had be better for me to haue beleued my brother Rycharde for I had not be nowe in the myserye and greate need where I am in at this houre Now I see wel that Charlemaine hath chased me so muche that he hath betrapped me within his gynnes wheroute I can not scape and I know wel that I ought not to be complayned for I haue made my selfe the rodde wherwith I am beaten and yf I shoulde repente me therof it shoulde profyte nothinge for I come to late for to doo so whan Richarde saw his brother Reinawd make suche sorowe he knewe well hys mynde and was ryghte sory for hym so that he shooke al for sorow and wyst not what he shoulde saye For yf Reynawd wolde haue hadde of his owne fleshe Rycharde wolde wel haue gyueÌ„ hym of it yf he might haue be comforted therwith Then spake Guychard that other brother and sayd My good brethern what shall we doo we shall yeelde our self or elles dye heere for rage of hungre and we may no more from heÌ„ce forth on but onelye wayte after deathe What say you brother Guichard said Reinawd wyll we yeeld our selfe â—o the moste cruel king of the world for he shoulde make vs all tâ—â—â—anged shamefully if any pitie 〈◊〉 fouÌ„de in him I wolde yeeld 〈◊〉 â—ladlye but ther is none in him 〈◊〉 â—herfore I am delybered that we shal not yeelde vs to him we shall rather eat my children and after our bodyes But alwayes if ye will eaâ—e bayarde I am therof contente for to passe the tyme for thou for I haue ofte hearde saye that a daye â—espite is worthe muche But neuerthelesse what so euer he sayde he had no courage to eat Bayard for it was al his succours Brother sayde Alarde I counseyll that we eate Bayarde rather then we shoulde yeelde vs in to the handes
of Charlemyane for he is to cruel nor he shall neuer haue mercye of vs. And whan Reinawde sawe that they wold eat bayarde hys good horse he tooke for it such a heresy sorow that he almost fell in a swoune to the earth but he tooke togither his strengthes and stoode vpryghte and began to saye Faire bretherne what wyll ye doo will ye eate bayarde my noble horse that so ofte hath kept vs from death and from perill mortall and I pray you that afore ye slea him that ye slea me for I maye not see him die and whan ye haue slaine me slea him hardelye And if ye will not doo so I forbed you in as muche as ye loue me that ye touch not baiard for he that shal hurt him shal hurt me And whan the duchesse hearde Reinawd speake thus she wist not what to doo than she said to him in greate wrathe Ha gentill duke debonayre and what shall now doo your poore chyldren wyll you that they die for hunger for faute of youre horse For it is three daies passed that thei eat any meate shortely shal theyr lyues come at an ende and mine also for my hert cleaueth in my body for fine force of hungre and so shall ye see me die presently but if I haue succours Whan the children heard the mother speake thus they saide to Reinawde Good father for goddes loue deliuer youre horse for he shal die as wel for hungre and it is better that he dye fyrste than we afore him And whan Alard Guycharde and Rycharde hearde their nenewes speake thus Richard spake and said to his brother Ha gētill duke for god suffre not that your children nor my lady youre wife dye for hungre and we also And whan Reinawd heard his brotoer Richard speake so to him his hearte tendred with al right sore fel to wep said my fayre bretherne sith that it please you that bayard shal die I praye you goe and slea him And whan they were al accorded that baiard shoulde be slaine and eatē they went streight to the stable where thei found baiard that casted to them a greate syghe And whan Reynawde sawe that he saide he shoulde rather flea himselfe than that baiard should die that many tymes hath saued him fro deathe And whan the children had hearde this they returned agayne to their mother weeping al dead for hūgre THan whan Reinawde sawe that his children were gone he went to bayarde and gaue him a litill hey for he had none other thing to giue him And than he came to his bretherne and found Alard holdinge Aimon his neuewe that wepte and Rychard held you and Guichard the duches that in his armes was swoned and said to theim Alas for God mercy I praye you take in you courage till night and I promise you that I shal doo so much that we shal haue meate and god wil. Brother said Alarde we must suffre it wolde we or not So longe abode the knightes that the night came and whan it was come Reinawd said to his bretherne My brethern I wil go speake to our father for to see what he shall say to me and if he shal let vs dye for hungre Brother said Richard I wyl goe with you if it please you and ye shal be the more fure that I be in your cōpani My brother said the good knight Reinawd ye shall not so for I wyll goe there alone and if I bringe you not meate I shall than delyuer you bayarde And whan Reynawde had said this he made himselfe to be wel armed and lyghted vpon bayarde and wel secretly went oute of Moūtawban and came to his fathers pauillion the which he knew wel For he had aspyed it from aboue the great towre while it was daye And it happed so that he found his father Aimō oute of his pauillion all alone waytynge yf he might by anye waie vnderstand some tydynges priuelye of the castel And whan Reynawde saw his father he said to him What arte thou that goe nowe at this tyme of the nighte all alone And whan Aymon heard him speake he knew him anon and was right glad but he made of it no semblaunt and said to him but what art thou thy selfe that goest at this houre so hie mounted Whan Reinawde hearde his father speake he knewe him wel and saide to him Syr for god haue mercy vpon vs for we die all for hungre and al our horses ben al ready dead eaten so we haue no more but bayarde that shall not die as longe as I lyue for rather I should let me be slaine for to me to my bretherne he hathe often saued our lyues Alas father yf ye wyl not haue mercy on vs haue mercy of my yonge chyldren HA faire sonne saide Aimon I can not helpe you for nothing but goe your waye agayne for I haue you forsworne ye wot it well and therfore I wolde not doo ayenst min othe for all the good in the worlde and my hearte is ryghte sorye that I may not helpe nor gyue you succour Syr sayde Reinawd ye speake yll saufe your reuerence For I promyse you if ye gyue vs no succoures that my wife my children my bretherne and my selfe shal die for rage of hungre or euerthree daies ben passed For it is all ready more then three dayes that none of vs eat any meat and so I wot not what I shall doo Alas ye be our father so ought you to comfort vs. For I wot well if the kinge haue vs he shall make vs all to be hanged and dye shamefully Whyche were not your worshippe wherfore my father ye ought not to faylle vs yf the lawe of nature is rightwyse My father for god haue pitie mercy vpon vs and holde not your courage ayenst your poore children for it were great crueltie and also ye know well that Charlemaine dooth to vs great wronge for to persecute vs as he dooth whan Aymon hearde Reynawd speake thus he had greate pity of him and was so sory that almoste he fell downe in a swoun to the erth and after he began to behold his childe Reynawd sore wepinge he sayde to him Faire sōne ye haue said trouthe that the kinge doothe you greate wrong therfore a lyghte fro youre horse and entre within my pauylliō and take what it please you for nothynge shall be saide naye to you but I shall not gyue you nothing for to saue mine oth And whan Reinawd heard his father speake so he descēded a foot kneled before him said an hundred gramercyes deare father and than he entred within the pauillion of his father and laded bayarde with bread with flesh both fair and freshe and wyt it that bayarde dyd bere more then x. other horses should haue doone And whan Reynawde had wel laded bayarde with vitailes he tooke leaue of his father went a gayne to Mountawban it is not to be asked what welcome Reynawde
muche by hym that yf he had you as he hath Rycharde He durst well hange yourself al vs. Syr Olyuer sayd the messanger I swere you on my fayth that Reynawd ceassed not all thys day to pray the duke Richard that he should forsake Charlemayn and he should saue his lyfe wherof Rycharde of Normandy wolde doo nothynge but spake great wordes to Reynawde And whan that the Messanger had sayd thus he sayd to the kyng Syr gyue me leue to goe if it please you and tel me what I shal say to Richarde of Normandye fro you Freende sayd Charlemayne ye shal tell him on my behalfe that he put no doubt in nothiÌ„g For Reynawde shall not be so hardy to doo him any harme WhaÌ„ the messager that was a wyse knight vnderstoode Charlemayne he coulde not absteyne hym selfe but he sayd to hym syr Emperour ye be ouer proude but I promyse you that Reynawde setteth lytle by your pryde and I make you sure that Alarde wayteth well for my comyng agayne For he wolde not take a hundred thousand pounde for to leue Rycharde but that he should hang him his owne handes And as soone as he had sayd so he went his wayes wythout any leue taking of the kyng streyght to Ardeyne ANd whan the .xii. peeres saw the messanger go with an yll answer they were full sory for it Ha god sayd Ogyer how the deuyll the kynge is felle and hard of hert that wil nother peace nor concorde I am well sure that his pride shal be cause of a shamefull death to Richarde Ogier sayd Rowlande ye saye trouth but I see him hang god neuer help me at my need if I abyde after it with Charlemayne whyles I liue whaÌ„ he had sayd so he went to the other peeres sayd to them Lordes what shall we doo shall we let thus Rycharde be hanged our felawe one of the best knightes of the worlde and moste hardy for thoroughe his prowes he is there as he is neuer no foule worde issued out of his mouth alas we shall now see hym hange with great shame certes yf wee suffre it we ben shamed for euer ROwland as a man disperate came than to the kyng al wroth and sayd to hym in this maner Syr by my soule I go now oute of your seruise without your leue after he sayd to Ogier Ogyer what wyl ye doo wil ye come with me leue this Deuyll heere for he is all beside him selfe By my head Rowland sayde Ogyer ye say trouth I shall neuer in my lyfe abyde with hym but I shall go gladlye wyth you where ye wyl And I shal not leue you for no man in the worlde syth that he suffreth that suche a valiaunt maÌ„ shall dye as the duke Rycharde of Normandy that he loued so muche He should soone doo so bi vs for he is a man that hath in hym nother loue nor pitie And whan Oliuer of vyen vnderstoode these wordes he stoode vp and sayd Lordes I will go with you I haue dwelled heere to longe and I also sayd the duke Naymes in likewise Escoufe the sonne of Oedon And whan the bisshop Turpin saw this he casted a great syghe and sayd By my fayth Charlemayne it is euill to serue you for of good seruyce ye doo yeelde an euill rewarde as it is well seen now by the Duke Rycharde of Normandye that hath serued you so well and so truly And if I dwel any loÌ„ger with you I pray god punisshe me for it THan whaÌ„ Charlemayn saw his peeres that were so sore moued with angre agaynst him he sayd to them Lordes haue no doubt of nothyng for the duke Rycharde shall haue no harme Syr sayde the Duke Naymes ye doo great wrong for to say so for a foole neuer beleueth till he feele sore weene you to make vs fooles with your wordes We se the galous made vp for to haÌ„g our felaw wherfore I tel you that a myschiefe take me if I dwel with you any lenger Whan the duke Naymes had sayd so he went out of the â—â—â—â—lion of Charlemayne and in likewise all the Peeres of Fraunce with hym and wente into hys tente the whiche he made to be pulled downe incontinent And whan they of the hoste of Charlemayne saw that they were sore afrayed And ye ought to wyt that they were so sore moued within a litle while that there abode in the hoste of Charlemayne not one baron nor knyght but onlye the poore symple gentilmen and comin people whan Rowlande saw thys he went on his wayes wyth the other peeres And wit it at that houre the hoste of Charlemayne was made lesse than it was afore by .xl. thousande men REynawde that was vpon the hyghe gate of Ardeyne saw so great numbre of folke cominge togither so called he to hym the messager that was but comen fro Charlemayne and sayd to hym in thys maner Come heere messanger tell me what Charlemayne hath sayd vnto you Syr sayd the messager wit it that ye haue missed of peace for charlemayne wil nothyng of it but he seÌ„deth you worde by me that ye be not so hardy vpon the eyen of your head to doo any harme to the Duke Rycharde of Normandy And whan he had said this he turned him toward the duke Rycharde and sayd to him Syr duke now may ye know howe muche Charlemayne loueth you Wit it for certaine that ye get nother helpe nor succours of him and for the loue of you Rowlande and all the other peeres of Fraunce ben ful sore an angred with him For ye may perceyue it well by theyr tentes that beÌ„ pulled downe And so I am sure that the moste parte of the hoste shall depart for the loue of you And so shal not abyde there but only the erle guanellon his lignage For theyr tentes ben righted all the other brought downe Whan Reynawde wyste that the frenchemen were angry with Charlemayne for the loue of the duke Rycharde of Normandy he chaunged his courage and could not keep him from weepynge And after he turned hym towarde Rycharde of Normandy and sayd to hym for god my cosyn I praye you for to pardon me the great shame that I haue doon to you Reynawde sayd Rycharde I blame you not for I wot wel that ye cannot doo therto For the greate pride and cruelnes of Charlemayne is causer of al this WhaÌ„ Reynawde had cried mercy to the duke Richard he vnbounde him and Alarde and Guycharde came to helpe hym for they were all glad that Rychard was deliuered Notwithstandynge afore that they were disposed for to make him dye shamefully And whan they had doone so Reynawde sayd cosin Rycharde lene vpon this walle and we shall looke what Charlemayne wyl doo Syr sayd the duke Rycharde ye say well let vs see it ANd whan Charlemayn saw that his barons went away as it is said he was sori for it that he wexed almoste madde all quicke for the
our coming Children saide the duke Naymes we ben all youre kinnesmen And than the duke Naimes tolde them all theyr names And whan the childrē knew what that they were they meeked themsele before theim honestlye and after yonnet sayde to theim Lordes our father greteth you wel and praieth you that ye wyll haue vs for recommended as youre kynsmen And than whan the barons heard the two children speake so wisely they were glad of it and also of their comming But the two sonnes of Foulques of Moryllon were full sory and wrothe for it by my soule sayde Constans to his brother Rahars the father of these two chyldrene slewe oure father wherof the hert in my body swelleth highe for angre that I see them heere nother min eyen can not looke vpon them brother said Rohars nor I nother by my trouthe but I counseyll not that we fight with them not heere for it were foly But let vs await a tyme and place couenable for syth that they shall dwell heere We shall auenge vs vpon them Brother said Constans lette vs doo one thynge that I shall tell you whiche is easye for to doo that ye shall calle the one of treason and I the other sayinge that theyr father slewe our father by treason And also we shall proue that their father wroughte treason ayenst the king Charlemayn brother sayde Rohars ye speake well but we must suffre a while till we see howe they shal bere themself in court for they doo any otherwyse than they oughte to doo We shal mowe kylle them and be not blamed for it After this doon ye oughte to knowe that the children of Reinawde of Mountawban bare themselfe full honestlye in courte for all the barons loued them dere saue only the two sonnes of Foulques of moryllon wherof Aimonet and yonnet perceyued it ryght well and spake not with them nor haunted theim not It was greate meruayll of the great giftes that the sōnes of Reynawd gaue to the Barons and gentilmen of the court of Charlemain as were fayre horses and harnays and many clothes of sylke of dyuers coloures and in lyke wise they gaue to the ladyes and gentil women fayre gounes of clothe of golde and of syluer And of the other parte they kepte a great estate and good house to al poore gentylmen and squiets and dyd so much good that they were greately praised of euerye manne What shoulde I telle you more the childrene of Reynawde dyd so muche in the courte of the king Charlemayne that of all the worlde they were loued and princypallye of the kinge Charlemayne whan the kinge sawe that they behaued theim so well and so wisely in his court he was ryght glad of it so loued he theym moste of anye yonge knyght of his courte and made them his keruers a fore hym And thenne whan the two sonnes of Foulques of Moryllon sawe that the kynge loued theim so muche they were full angrye in so muche that they wexed mad all quicke for angre of it and so swate by greate angre that they should slea thē or euer theishould goe to from the courte It happed so that vpon whyt sonday euyn as the kyng was at Parys and wolde keep opē courte and there was Aymonet and yonnet with the other barons in the halle This hanging aryued there a knyghte of Almayne that presented to the kynge a fayre knyfe after the facyon of the londe then called the king yonnet gaue it him by greate loue And whan yonner had receiued this gyft of the kyng as he shoulde haue gone to his place agayn he shoued Constans with his elbowe ayenst his wil. And whan Constans saw that yonnet had doon so he had greate dispite at it and saide What is this must there be so muche set by these two boies the sonnes of a traitour whiche been not worth a roten apple this one is all redye become so proude that he hathe nowe shoued me with his elbowe by great enuye and pride muche other langage constans saide by Yonnet Whiche he ought not for to saye and whan yonnet hearde that Constans had called him the sonne of traytour he was sore an angred So came he to him and saide Constans ye haue learned a foule craft that is that ye can speake shrewdely withoute a cause lawfull why for I haue hearde that ye haue called me and my brother the sonnes of a traitour that the kinge knoweth well that our father slewe yours by treason wherof I will ye wyt that ye lie falsely but your father did assail oures by treason as a traitour come of the lignage of traitoures But God wolde not that my father shoulde dye so nor myne vncles my father slew your father it is true but it was in his defendynge of hys body he did then as a noble knight as he is and if ye be so hardy that ye wil maintein that he did it by treasō heere I cast now my gage afore thys noble companye saying that ye haue lied falsely saue the reuerence of the kinge Charlemayne and of his felawshyp THan whan the kynge Charlemayne sawe that none of the barons said nothyng of the stryfe of yonnet and of Constans he was angry for it and sayde Constans ye doo greate wronge for to saye that I and the twelue peeres of fraunce know well that Reinawde of Mountawban slewe your father by treason holde your peace said Charlemayne for yf ye knew well how the matter is ye shaulde not speake of it wherfore I commaund you in as much as ye feare to angre me that ye make amēdes to yonnet of that ye haue said or elles voide incontinent my courte and my realme for ye haue troubled all my courte wherof I am not contente And whan Rohars hearde this that the kinge Charlemayne had sayde to Constans his brother he was angry and so rose on his feete and said Sir I am redy to proue vpon Aimonet that his father slew our father by treason and heere is my gage Rohars saide Charlemain heere ye take a wronge waie and it shall be to you ouer late whan ye shal repent it Whan Aymonet and yonnet vnderstoode these wordes thei kneeled afore the kynge Charlemayne and saide to him Syr for god we praye you ryght humblye that ye take the gages that Rohars hathe caste for with goddes grace we shal wel defend our father of the traison that they put vpon him Childrē saide the king sith it please you that I take them I shall doo so and than the king Charlemayn tooke the gages Constans auaunced himself saide Syr we vnderstonde that we shall fyghte two and two the one ayenst the other ¶ whan the kynge Charlemayne had take the gages of bataile of Constans and of Rohars he asked theym who shoulde be theyr suretes than lept forth the traytoure Guanellon betenger Escouf of moryllon Lyon of pygnabel Gryffon of hautbraunche the whiche said to king
them redy than tooke theyr waye toward Croyne by Coleyne vpon the Ryne And they dyd so muche by theyr iourneys that they came vnto Croyne And lyghted before the churche they and theyr folke where they found so great flowyng and gatheryng of the people and so great prese of folke that wyth great payne they myght entre wythin the Churche And whan the knyghtes were within they wente nyghe the holye corps that was vpon a fayre bere all vncouered and saw so great lyght aboute the corps as there had ben an hundred torches Than wente they as nyghe hym as they coulde for to looke hym in the face and anon thei knew that he was theyr brother with that they loked vpon hym they fell downe in a swoune to the erth And whan the archebysshop saw that he was sore abasshed and sayd to some of his Colege Syrs I beleue that wee shall soone know that we haue desyred so long For I wene that these lordes knowe wel this holy corps This hanging were the three brethern comē agayn to themselfe and began to crye and fare as they had ben mad than sayd Alarde al weepynge in thys maner Alas what shall we nowe caytyfes knyghtes doo poore of honour and of al we le syth that we haue lost our brother by whome we were so sore doubted and dred Alas deere brother who was so hardy to laye hande on you I beleue that he knew not your debonayrtie kindnes for he wolde not haue slayne you so crueltye And than he turned hym towarde hys two brethern and sayd My fayre brethern we ought wel to be sory syth that we haue lost our brother Reinawde that was all our hope our trust and comfort Alas sayde Rycharde brother Reinawde whi had ye euer that courage for to habandone vs as ye did seyng that ye loued vs so muche Alas ye stale awaye yourself by night for to come amonge the handes of the murderers that haue slayne you so cruelly Alas they wyst not the great domage that is of your death whan the three brethern had wepte ynoughe in great sobbynges and lamentacions for the loue of theyr deere brother Reynawde they went kissed the corps on the mouth the one after the other and with this thei fel downe agayne in swoune And whā they were come agayn to themselfe Rycharde began to crye and saye Alas fayre brethern now ben we loste for euer For we shall no more be set by nother doubted nor dred more than children wherefore I say that we should slea our selfe to the ende that we may be with you for we ought not to liue after your death Wit it that who had be there he should haue had an harde hert but he should haue wept for to see the three brethern make theyr mone WHan the archebishop and the Burgeys that were there saw the great sorowe that the three knightes made the good Archebysshop came to them and sayd Lordes be ye not dyspleased of that I shall say to you Syrs to my semynge ye doo not wel for to make so great sorow nor to discomfort your selfe so muche as ye do but rather ye should make great ioy and be glad for your brother that is a saynt in heuen the whyche had suffred martyrdom in the seruice of our lorde wherof ye may see that he rewardeth him wel for it For ye see now before your eyen the great miracles that he dooth wherfore I pray you that ye wyll recomforte your selfe And tell vs yf it please you what ye ben and howe is thys holy body named and what hys name was whā he liued in this worlde to the ende that his name be wryten aboute his tombe And whan his brethern heard the archebysshop speake thus they began a lytle to leue theyr sorow And than Alarde that was theldest after Reynawde sayd to him Lorde sythe it please you to knowe what we be and howe this corps is called I shall tel it you wtout faute Ye muste wyt that this corps was called whan he was amonge vs aliue Reynawde of Mountawban the ryght worthy knyght and we three that ben heere are his brethern and wel I wot that ye haue heard speake of the foure sonnes of Aymon the whiche Charlemayne the great king of Fraunce warred so longe Than whan the archebysshop and the people hearde that they were the foure sonnes of Aymon of the whyche all the worlde spake and that the holy corps was the goood Reynawde of Mountawbā the noble and valiant knight they began all to weepe for pitie and for ioye bycause they sawe al before them the moste noble worthiest knyght of the worlde that in his lyfe was more to drede than any man alyue that was dead in the seruyse of our lorde doinge penaunce After that these three bretherne had thus left a lytle theyr sorowe they made theyr brother to be layde in his tombe that was right riche that the archebisshop had doone make where the holy corps resteth yet at this day as euydently is knowen and he is called saynt Reynawde the martyr The memory of him was that time put in wrytyng auctentykly eueri yere is there kept for him great solēpnitie and feast And after the sepulturyng of the holye corps the brethern went agayne into theyr owne Countrie MY fayre lordes who that this present booke shall rede or heare we shall pray our lorde god the gloryous Saynt Reynawde the marter that he giue vs grace to perseuer and continue our lyfe in good workes by the whiche we may haue at our endyng the life that euer shal last AMEN ¶ Here finissheth the hystory of the noble valiaunt knyght Reynawde of Mountawban and his three brethern ¶ Imprinted at London by Wynkynde worde the .viii. daye of Maye and the yere of our lorde M. CCCCC.iiii at the request and commaundement of the noble and puissaunt erle the Erle of Oxenforde And now Imprinted in the yere of our Lorde M. CCCCC.liiii the vi daye of Maye By wylliam Copland dwellyng in Fletestrete at the Signe of the Rose Garland for Iohn waley