confessour Syr I wot not what I should more say giue me absolucion he gaue him penaunce accordinge to the terme of hys lyfe and the confessour went from him all weeping And whan rypus sawe that richard was confessed he came to him and put the halter aboute hys necke and made him mouÌ„t vpon the ladder dyd shyt the cheyne wherat he should hange And whan rycharde sawe that his bretherne came not for to saue him he wende none other but that he shoulde haue died and delybered hymselfe for to suffre death at the houre and than he said to ripus My freend I pray thee for God that thou suffre me a while till I haue saide an oryson that I dyd lerne in my youth to the ende that god haue mercye on my soule I wyl not sayd ripus thou shall haue no lenger respyte Syr sayde his men yes ye shall if it please you For if he may doo so muche that his soule be saued he shall praye for you in the other worlde and for vs also And thaÌ„ rypus gaue respit to richard wherof he did like a foole And than Richard turned him self toward the cast and began to saye his praier with a good heart and deuoutly For he trowed to haue death withoute remyssion and he sayd in this maner GLorious Ihesus by thy blessed name that made heauen and erthe and al the elementes that been and went in this worlde as a poore man And saued Ionas from the bellye of the fyshe And in Bethleem reisedest Lazaron And deliuered Daniell from the pyt of the Lyon The synnes of the theefe ye dyd pardonne on the Crosse where the felons Iewes had crucyfyed you Also to Mary Magdalene her synne ye forgaue in the house of Symon For she weshe there youre feete wyth her greate deuocyon Iudas the false traytoure murmured through enuy wherof ye did shew to him that he did great foly and Iudas kyssed you by greate treason and deliuered you to the Iewes wherof he was rewarded after his deseruynge Good Lorde ye created and made our father Adam of the slyme of th earth and Illumyned him with the grace of the holye ghoste and after ye did abandon to hym the fruites of paradise but he brake your commaundemente wherby mankynde went to dapnacion and we all were dampned withoute remyssyon but after ye redemed vs by the meryte of youre blessed passyon ye dyd suffre greate euylles and greate affliccions for vs poore synners wythoute anie deuocyon Whan Longys dyd shoue the spere in to youre dygne side the water ran out of it and also the bloude septe into his eyen wherof he recouered his syghte â—nd ye pardonned him hys synnes whan he called vpon you for mercie And also to Noe ye let make by your carpenters an arke for to saue himselfe and of euery beast a couple In Iosaphat good lord ye brought your Appostles where ye dyd make a fayre myracle for with .ii. fyshes and fyue loues of barly ye fed fyue thousande men all their fylle O good lorde as I doo beleue this that I haue sayde stedfastly keep this day my bodi fro death that is so nigh that I be not hanged nor put in prison but delyuer me from the handes of my enmyes that I be not vyrupered nor brought to shame by Rypus of ryplemond that holdeth me in his gynnes Ha Reynawde my ryghte deare brother that ye be not heere now with my bretherne and with my cosyn Mawgys ye haue now forgoten me and let me heere die wherfore I recommende me to god of heuen And than Richarde began to weepe full tenderlye and sayde to Rypus Rypus doo with me what ye wyll NOwe shall we speake of bayarde the good horse of Reynawd of his brethern and Mawgis It is trouthe that Bayarde the horse of Reinawd the sonne of Aymon that came of the fery and thus he vnderstoode the worde whan it was spoken as well as it had be a manne whan Bayarde vnderstoode the noyse that the folke made about the galous and faw that his master slept fast he cam to Reinawde and smot hym so harde with his feete in the myddes of hys sheelde that he made hym awake So lept Reynawd vpon his feet al afraied and behelde what it was and looked toward Mountfawcon and saw his brother vpon the ladder so made he none other tarying but lighted vpon bayarde that ranne as the wynde for at euery time he lepte .xxx. foote in a playne grounde And Alarde Guycharde and Mawgis awoke for loue of bayard that made greate noyse And whan they were all awaked Mawgis began to crye as hyghe as he coulde vpon his horse the deuyll speed the euyll beast that thou hast let me slepe so longe and than he lyghted quickly vpon his backe for ther was no better horse in all the worlde after bayarde WHan Rypus of riplemoÌ„de that wolde haue strangled Richard saw come his bretherne and Mawgys he was so sore abashed with it that he wist not what he shoulde doo he sayde than to Richarde richarde ye be delyuered oute of my handes for here comen Reynawd and Mawgys and all theyr puyssaunce that come for to succoure you and yf it please you ye shall haue mercye on me For this that I dyd for to haue brought you heere it was but for to haue a waye the debate that Charlemaine had with the .xii. peeres of Fraunce and I knewe well that ye should be rescued without any faut by youre bretherne and of Mawgys Ripus saide richarde mocke not with me for heere is to harde a mocke for me and ye wynne not muche by for to gabbe me of this facion By my soule saide ripus I mocke you not it is in good ernest that I saye ye maye see them heere not a bow shot a ferre nor I seeke not to doo you any harme but goe downe fro the ladder and haue mercy on me I beseche you for goddes loue RYcharde was meruelouslye abashed whan he hearde ripus speke and he turned his heade a syde and sawe reynawd that came a good pase and whan he sawe hym he sayde rypus I shall neuer clayme my brother reynawde for my brother yf he hange you not by the necke to the same gybet where as ye thought to haue hanged me ryghte nowe This hangynge that richard spake to ripus reynawde was aryued and hearde this that Richard had sayd to Rypus And Reynawde beganne than to crye with highe voice so helpe me God Ripus ye be deade for ye be a cursed man and for youre cursednes I shall hange you my owne selfe at this gybet so shall you be possessoure of my brother Richardes place for al the power that Charlemayne shal make shall not saue you therfro This hanging came there Mawgis sore chaufed said to Ripus Ha Ripus thou traitour euil man ye haue alwaies be readye to doo some euil againste vs but sith that I haue founde you heere I shall not seeke you no
otherwise Alas and what sorowful harme they hadde of this that they were thus clothed For that were the tokens and recognyssaunce wherof they were in dauÌ„ger of death if god had not holpen them of his pitie and mercy And whan the foure sonnes of AimoÌ„ had their mautelles on the kyng yon behelde them and had of them great pitie and began to weep There was his stewarde that the â—rayson well wist that saide not one word for â—ere of king yon And whaÌ„ the mete was redy Reynawde prayed muche the king that he woulde eate For he made him to be serued ryght wel Whan they had eaten the kyng yon rose vpon his feet and toke Reynawde by the hande and said to him My faire brother my frend I wil tell a counseyll that ye know not Nowe wyt that I haue bee at Mountbenden and I haue spoken with king Charlemayne the which charged me of treason by cause that I keep you in my realme wherof I haue presented my gage afore all hys company and no maÌ„ was there so hardy that durste speake ayenste that that I sayd After this we had many wordes togither among whiche we spake of good accorde and of peace whereof at the laste the kyng Charlemayne was contente for my loue for to make peace with you in the maner that foloweth That is to were that to morow erly ye shal goe to the playne of Valcoloures ye and your brethreÌ„ al vnarmed but of your swerdes mounted vpon youre mules and clothed with the mantelles that I haue geuen to you and that ye shall beare in your handes Roses and floures and I shall sende with you eyght of myne earles for to goe more honourably the which ben al of my lygnage And there ye shal finde the king Charlemaine and the duke Naymes of hauyere and Ogyer the Dane and all the twelue Peres of Fraunce and there Charlemayne shall gyue you suertie And ye shall doo to him reuerence in such maner that ye shal cast your selfe to his feet and there he shall pardone you and he shall gyue you agayne all youre londes entierly THan sayde Reinawde syr for gods mercy For I haue greate doubt of the king Charlemaine by cause he hateth vs to death as ye know And I promyse you it he holdethe vs he shall make vs to die a shamefull death Good freend saide the traytoure kynge yon haue ye no doubte at al. For he hath sworne vnto me vpon his faith afore al his baronye Sir answered Reynawde we shall doo your commaundements Ha God sayde Alarde What saye you my brother ye knowe well that kynge Charlemayne hath made his oth many times that if he may take vs ones by ony maner of meane he shall bringe vs to a shameful dethe Now I meruayle me greatly of you faire brother how ye wil accorde for to goe put your selfe and vs in to his handes al vnarmed as a poore mischaunte Neuer haue god mercy vpoÌ„ my soule yf I goe there without mine armes nor without to be as it apperteyneth brother said Reinawd ye saye not well God forbed that I should mistrust my lorde the kyng yon of any thing that he telleth me And than he turned hym towarde the kyng yon and sayde to hym Sir without any faute we shall be there to morowe earlye in the mornyng whatsoeuer happeth of it Fayre lordes said Reynawde god hath holpen vs wel that we haue peace with the kynge Charlemayne to whome we haue made so longe time so mortall a warre but sith that my Lorde the king you hath made thys peace I am content to doo to him as much reuerence as to me is possyble For I am delybered to goe naked in my small lynen clothes to the Mountesaynt Michael And whaÌ„ Reinawd had sayd this word he toke leaue of kyng yon and went in to the chambre of the faire lady his wife fouÌ„d there his other two brethren that were with her whaÌ„ the lady saw her husbonde come she came ayenst hym and tooke him betwen both her armes by great loue and kissed hym Lady sayd Reynawde I ought wel to loue you by great reason For your brother the king you hath trauailed hm selfe right sore for me and hathe be sore blamed at the courte of Charlemaine for me but he hath doone so muche blessed be god that he hathe made my peace with the king Charlemaine And that Rowland and Oliuer Nor all the twelue Peeres of frauÌ„ce might neuer make he hathe graunted vs againe all our landes And all thus we shall be riche and shal liue al our life in reste peace so shall we mow helpe and gyue the hauoyre that we haue vnto the poore knightes that haue serued all theyr lyfe truely and wel THan sayd the lady I thanke god greatly therof with al my hert But tell me where the concordaunce shall be made and hyde it not from me yf it please you Lady sayde Reynawde I shal tell it you without any faute Wit that to morowe we muste ryde to the playne of Valcolours there the peace shal be made but I and my brethren must goe thither without armes but onely oure swerdes and vpon mules berynge roses in oure handes And there we shal fynde the duke Naymes of bauyere Ogyer the Dane al the .xii Peeres of Fraunce that shal receiue othes whaÌ„ the lady vnderstod these wordes she was so sore an angred thereof that almost she had lost her witte and saide to Reynawde Syr yf ye wyl beleue me ye shall not goe one fote there For the plaine of Valcolours are so daungerous for there is a roch ryght hyghe and there ben foure grete woodes rounde aboute yf ye will beleue me ye shall take a day for to speake with Charlemaine heere in the medowes of Mountawban ye shall goe there mounted vpon bayarde and youre brethren with you there ye may conferme youre peace or elles continew your warre take two thousande knyghtes and gyue theym to Mawgis youre cosyn whiche shall keep them in a busshemente vpon the ryuage if it happe you to haue need for I doubte me sore of treason wherfore I pray you that ye keep your selfe well sure For I dyd dreame to nyghte a dreame that was fereful merueilous for me semed that I was at the windowes of the great palace and sawe come out of the greate wood of Ardeyn well a thousande wilde bores that hadde greate and hortyble reeth the which flewe you and rented your body al in peeces and also I saw that the great towre of Mountawban fel downe to the grounde moreouer I saw a shot of aduenture that smot your brother Alarde so harde that it perced his body through and through and that the chapel of Saint Nycolas which is within this castel fell downe to the earthe and all the ymages that been in it wepte for greate pitte And the two auÌ„gelles came downe from heauen that haÌ„ged your
vpon hym By God Reynawde this daye shall ye haue a doo with me I promise you that whan ye shall goe fro the feeld ye shal neuer doo faytes of armes agaynst me nor agaynste no other whan Reinawde heard Rowland crye so he came agaynst him sayd to him syr RowlaÌ„d it becometh not to suche a knyght as ye be for to threte me thus I tell you that I am heere redye yf ye wyl batayle ye shall haue it incontynent Reynawd sayd Rowland I am not come heere for peace but keep you fro me yee shall doo as a wyse man Rowland sayde Reynawde beware of me for I am sure that I shall brynge downe the pride of you that is so great ANd whan Reynawde had sayde that worde he spurred bayard with the spurres came agaiÌ„st Rowland Rowland agaynst Reynawde they gaue to eche other so great strokes at theyr brestes that they brake bothe theyr speares al to peces and with the reÌ„ning that they made agaynst eche other they recountred the one the other soo harde wyth theyr sheeldes that Reynawde muste needes fal downe to the erth with hys saddle betwene hys thyes bicause of the gyrtes that brake a sunder rowlaÌ„de lost his stiropes with al. And whaÌ„ Reynawde saw himself a ground he rose vp right quickly and lighted agayne vpon bayarde without sadle and came vpon Rowland wyth his swerde in his hande gaue hym so great a stroke that RowlaÌ„d felt him selfe sore greued with all whan he sawe that Reynawde had stonyed hiÌ„ so sore he set hande to durandall his good swerde ranne asprelye vpon Reynawde And whan Reynawde saw him come â–ª he went right fyersly vpon Rowlande than began the batayle to be harde and fore cruel betwene them two and I promise you they lefte not one peece of theyr harnes whole nether vpon the one nor vpon the other but it were al to brosten and beaten a sondre in so much that the barons that looked vpon theÌ„ had great pitie of th one of thother whan the duke Naymes had beholde a longe whyle of this wunderfull batayle he began to cry as loude as he coulde saying in this maner Ha kyng Charlemaine ye are ouer cruel for thoroughe your cruel malice ye put to death two of the best knyghtes of the worlde wherfore ye shall ones aby or longe whan Reynawde saw that neyther of them two coulde not ouercome the other he sayde to Rowlande Yf ye beleue me we shal lyght downe a foote bothe to thend that we kyll not our horses For yf wee slea them we shall neuer recouer none suche nor so good ye saye well sayd Rowlande and I am so conteÌ„t And than they descended a foot vpoÌ„ the medowe Rowlande sayde Reynawde now are we per to per now it shall be seen the whiche of vs two shal be mayster of the place And with this they ranne the one vpon thother as proudly as it had ben two Lions who that had seen than the greate strokes that dangerous that they gaue to eche other he shold haue said that there had be neuer suche two knyghtes in all the remenauÌ„t of the worlde whan Rowlande sawe that he coulde not wynne Reynawde he came to hym tooke him with a ful arme and so dyd Reynawde hym in lyke wyse in maner of wrastelynge togyther a great whyle without that the one coulde cast downe the other by no way And I promyse you that a man should wel haue gone a mâ—â—â— or euer they left eche other goe whaÌ„ they were coupled ones togyther at the last whaÌ„ they saw that the one coulde not cast downe the other they let eche other goe the one there and the other heere for to take their breth for they were ryght wery sore trauayled so muche that almoste they myght not stande no lenger theyr helmes sheeldes and theyr armes were all to cut and brooken and the grounde where they fought thus was all to stamped and beaten with theyr feete as men had beaten corne there vpon WHan Charlemayne saw that the one coulde not ouermaister the other and howe they were both euyll arayed he was sore aferdâ— for his neuew Rowlande and than he kneeled downe vpon his knees heued hys handes together towarde heauen and began to say Good lorde gloryous that made the worlde sea heauens and the erth and delyuerde the holy virgyn margarete from the bely of the horyble Dragon and Ionas from the bely of the fysshe I beseche you also that ye wyll delyuer my neuew Rowland from this batayle mortall and sende me suche a token wherby I maye departe these two knightes from eche other to the honoure of the one and of the other whan Alarde Guycharde and Rychard saw theyr brother so wery they were a ferde of hys person and than they began also to praye god that he wolde keep theyr brother Reynawd fro death and from prison And whaÌ„ they had made theyr prayers oure Lorde for the prayers of Charlemain shewed a fayre myracle for he made ryse so great a clowde so thike that they myght not see eche other Than Rowland sayd to Reinawde where are ye gone Reinawde other it is night or els I caÌ„not see neuer a whit No more doo I sayd Reynawde verely Reynawde sayd Rowlande I pray you doo to me a curteys turne a nother tyme I shal doo as much for you yf ye require me therof Syr Rowland sayd Reynawde I am redy for to doo al that ye wyll require me of so that my honour be saued Gramercye Reynawde of that ye haue graunted me wyt that the thing that I wyll desyre of you is this that ye bring me with you to Mountawban Syr Rowland sayd Reynawde yf ye wyll doo this I shal be ryght glad therof By my fayth I shal go there wyth you without any faute if it please you Syr sayde Reynawde God of hys goodnes yeelde you the worshyp that ye wil now doo to me for I haue not deserued it vnto you Syr Reynawde sayde Rowlande wyt that I doo this bycause that I know wel that ye be in the right and that ye fyght in a good quarell and I am in the wronge And whaÌ„ rowlande had sayd this the receyued hys syght and saw as he dyd afore and than he sawe Vylaunche his good horse and he lyghted vpon hym and in lyke wyse Reynawde vpon bayarde And whan Charlemayne sawe this he was sore abasshed and begaÌ„ to call and to crye Lordes Lordes nowe see I wot not what I should saye for Reynawde ledeth RowlaÌ„d with hym Now shall I see if ye shal let him goe whan Charlemayn had spoken thus he came to his horse lyghted vpon him and began to crie Now shall I know who ben my freÌ„des whan the barons of Fraunce heard Charlemaine speake thus thei spurred theyr horses and ran after Reynawde WHan Ogier sawe Reynawde come wyth Rowlande
telle it you with a good wyll Nowe wyt it that I am called Reynawd of Mountawban but Charlemayne hathe casted me therfrom wrongefully the Duke Aimon is my father and I am now come in to the holy londe for to serue our lord ayenst his enmies For thus hathe commaunded me to doo Charlemayne my souerayne lorde whan I made peace with him And that worse is I must needes come thus poorely arrayed as ye see beggyng my brede where so euer I goe or come where ayenst I wolde neuer goe for to haue peace Whan the erle of rames vnderstoode Reynawd he was gladde of him and heaued vp his handes towarde heauen and thanked God and after sayd O noble knight Reinawde of Mountawban the best knyghte of the worlde take heere my homage For I gyue my selfe vnto you and al my goodes And whan Reynawde sawe this he sayde to the earle of Rames Stand vp for ye profer me outrage By god sayd the erle I shall neuer aryse tyll ye haue graunted me a thynge Sir sayde Reynawde I graunt it you with a good wyll and with good herte Gramercye sayd the erle and than he stoode vp and sayde to Reynawde Is it trouthe that ye haue peace with the great king Charlemaine Alas where been youre bretheren the worthy knightes and Mawgys youre cosyn in whome ye haue so great trust your good horse bayard Sir said Reynawd wit that I had peace with the kinge Charlemaine of the warre that so longe hath lasted by suche maner as I shall tell you that it is that I must come heere in suche clothyng as ye see vpon me and heere is Mawgis my cosyn that is comen heere with his free wyll for he is not constrayned therto for the kynge Charlemayn weneth he be deade longe a goe and my bretherne been abyden with my wyfe and my chyldren For the kyng hath returned all oure lyuelode vnto theym again And whan the earle vnderstoode the trouthe of all he was ryghte gladde of it so that he beganne to crye with a hyghe voyce Ha duke Reynawde of Mountawban howe greately be you welcome heere to vs as the most valyaunte knight of the world blissed be the good lorde that hathe conduyte you hyther And I praye you for god that ye receyue myne homage so shall ye saue the worshyppe of the kynge thomas that is nowe prysoner there within the citie for and ye be oure capitayne and oure heade I put no doubt but we shall well soone take Iherusalem And thus shall the kynge Thomas be belyuered oute of the handes of the false sarasyns THere came all the barons of Surrye that were full glad of the coming of Reynawd of mountawban to whome they made greate reuerence and feasted hym ryghte hyghly And shortly to speake they al prayed him to be theyr lorde and head capitayne and that he wolde guyde them as the erle of Rames had doon afore And whan Reynawde sawe that all the barons of Surrye desyred and prayed him so sore for to receyue theyr homages he sayde vnto theym Lordes sith that it pleaseth you for to doo me this great honour I take it saufe alwaye the ryght of kynge Thomas whiche is your souerayne lorde Syr sayde the barons we will haue it thus And thenne he receyued their homagis and whan he hadde receyued theim the erle of Rames kneeled before him and sayd Syr I wil that ye giue me now that thinge that ye haue graunted me Sir sayde Reynawde saye what it is and ye shall haue it Syr sayde the erle of Rames it is that ye wyl vouchesaufe to be lodged in my pauyllion and thâ—t ye spende none other good but myne And if ye wyl gyue any thing I shall delyuer it to you and I shal gyue you syxe of my knightes for to serue you Good earle of Rames gramercye of the worship that ye doo to me â–ª than the erle tooke Reynawd by the hande and broughte so hym in to his pauyllion and made him to be serued as his souerayne lorde and whan all the barons hadde conueyed Reynawde to the pauyllion of the erle of Rames they tooke leaue of him and went again in to their pauyllioÌ„s and thanked God that he hadde sent theym suche a knyghte and so vallyaunte a manne to be their capitaine and theyr Lorde And than whan the erle of Rames sawe that all the barons were gon to theyr pauillioÌ„s he made to be broughte there manye good horses and fayre paifrays and ryche raymentes of dyuers coloures furred with ryche furres and all maner of good harneys for the warre curaces and ryche helmes and noble swerdes and greate plentye of plate bothe of fyne golde and of syluer and all thys he presented to Reynawde But he wolde take nothynge but onlie a complete harneys for his body and a swerde that he chose there amonge all and an horse And all the remenaunt he made to be dealed to the poore knyghtes that had mystre and need of it And whan the erle of Rames sawe that Reynawde hadde taken but one horse one harneys and one swerde he sayde vnto him Syr for God take on you a nother raymente for ye wot well it apperteyneth not to suche a man as ye be for to goe clothed as ye doo Sir said Reynawd pardonne me and it please you for I shall neuer were none other raymente but this that I haue nowe on tyll that I haue kyssed the holy sepulcre wherin God was put after that he was brought downe fro the crosse Sir said then the erle doo as ye wil and than he went to Mawgys and said to him I praye you put awaye this capye and this hood and take other raimentes syr said Mawgis than I pray you be not dyspleased yf I full fyll not youre desyre at this time for I tell you that I haue promysed that I shâ—ll were no other cloth as longe as I lyue but such as the same is Thenne whanne the erle sawe that Reynawde nor Mawgys wolde not take none other raymentes for no thinge that he coulde saye vnto them he was sory for it And than he made the tables redye for to goe to supper And whan they hadde supped the erle of rames called wallerauen of fayer and Geffray of Nazareth and sayde to them Now thinke for to doo well syth that god hath sent to vs suche succour And whan the baroÌ„s heard the erle speake thus they answered we shal doo oure best by the grace of God And than euery man went to his pauillion and made greate plentie of torches to be fyred so that it was merueylles of the light that was in the hoste and euery man began to daunce and disporte theymselfe aboute their tentes and pauyllions a longe while for Ioye of the comynge of Reinawde And whan turkes that kept the towre of Dauyd sawe the greate lyghte that was in the hoste of the christen they were all merueylled of it Than some of them went and shewed it to
the loue of his mayster Reynawde And whan he was come in to the chaÌ„bre he began to crye as he had be from hymselfe sayde Fayre lordes what shal we doo sith that wee haue loste our lorde For he is gone his wayes wulwarde barefoote with a sory staffe in hys haÌ„de he sendeth you greetiÌ„g by me praieth you for god that if euer ye loued him that ye wyll worship eche other and that euerye man haue his parte as he hath deuysed it And he doth you wit that ye shall neuer see hym for he is gone to saue hys soule so hath he giuen me the ringe of his finger that ye may see heere WHan Alarde Guicharde and Richarde Aymonet heard these tidiÌ„ges they tooke so great sorow at the hert that they fell downe in a swoune to the erth whan they were come agayne to themself they began to make a ryght great sorow and so meruaylous that he that had seen it hys hert had be full hard but he should haue wept for pitie Alas sayd Alarde my fayre brother Reynawde ye haue lefte vs in muche great sorow Certes it had be muche better for vs that ye had slayne vs all than for to haue lefte vs in this wife For from hens forthe we be no thyng And whan he had sayd so he fell agayne in a swoune And whan he was come agayne to himselfe he pulled hys heres of his bearde and scratched his visage Alas my brother sayd Rycharde howe shall wee now liue without you Alas nowe haue we lost hiÌ„ by whome we haue had so great honour in this worlde alas my brother there is not your like vnder the cope of heauen that euer bare swerde sheeld or speare syth that we haue loste you we may say farewell the Ioy of this worlde whan he had sayd so his hert swelled so that he lost his speche so that he coulde not speake a good whyle after Of Aymonet and of Guycharde what shall we saye I promyse you none can tell ne reherse halfe of the sorow that they made so that it was great pitie to beholde Great sorowe was made of all foure for the loue of reynawde that was gone as ye haue heard praying our lord to be with him and for to recomforte hys bretherne ¶ But presently leueth the historye to speake of Alarde Guicharde Rycharde and Aymonet that were at Mountawban making their mone and returneth to speke of Reynawde that was gone at his aduenture sekyng his brede for to saue his soule ¶ How Reynawde went to Coleyn vpon the Rine where he found that men edefied the churche of saynt Peter And there tooke hym a wyll for to serue there the masons for the loue of our lorde and did so but at the last the other labourers had so great enuye bycause he dyd better hys deuoyre thaÌ„ they and that he was better loued than they of the maysters for the good seruice that he did that the slew him and put him in a sacke and casted hym in the water of the rine But by the wyll of god his body apered aboue the water makynge great myracles so that he was named a Saynt that daye that he was buryed IN this party sheweth the hystory that whan Reynawde was departed from mouÌ„tawbaÌ„ he tooke his way through the woodes went a longe whyle that he eate but Apples and Medlers wilde all that day and whan the night was come he layde him down vnder a tree and as he wolde slepe he made the sygne of the crosse vpon him and commended to our lorde and slept till it was day And whan the day appered Reinawde rose vp went on his wayes through the wood and wente euer more through the trauers of the wooddes well the space of .viii. dayes wtout any other meat but wilde fruit and so longe he wente by hys iourneis that he cam out of the woodes and incontinent he founde a house of religion where he abode that night the monkes woulde haue giuen him meat but he tooke nothing but bread and water And whan the day came he went on his way dyd so muche day by day that he came to Coleyne vpon the rine and whan Reynawde was come to the Citie he founde the churche of saynt Peter a makynge where were many masons and mani labourers that serued them And whan he saw this he wente into it and kneeled before the hie aulter and made his prayers bi great deuocion And as he was thus kneelynge full busely aboute his orysons It came sodaynlye into hys mynde that he wolde abyde there and serue the masons for the honour of god of saynt Peter And whan he had made hys prayer he rose vp began to looke the place well vpon the workemeÌ„ that wrought there and sayd to hymself that it was better to serue the Masons than to walke styll in the forest among the wilde beastes whan reynawde had bethought hym wel he went to the mayster mason and said to hym Mayster I am a straunger and haue no gooddes of the worlde wherof I maye lyue if it please you I shall serue the Masons of suche thynges as them needeth for theyr werke as a poore labourer needeth and whan the mayster mason heard Reynawde speke so and saw he was a tall man and wel made he answered to hym sweetly in this wise My freende ye seme not to be yssued of a poore house for ye are more lyke a kyng than a mason or a labourer wherfore I dare not put you in werke by no wise Notwithstanding that ye be thus poorely arayed Mayster sayd Reynawde care ye not therfore for and it pitie you I shal serue you truly afâ—er my power My freeÌ„d said the mayster of the werke syth it please you to doo so it pleaseth me ryght well but I wyll not reteyne you for that prise that I doo knaues for I shall pay you in conscience after the werke that ye shal doo mayster said Reynawde I am wel content ThaÌ„ the mayster mason sayd to hym my freende goe helpe these foure that ye see there that may not bere the stone for they be but truauÌ„tes mayster layd Reynawâ—e be not angry with the poore folke for I wyll go fetche it to you anon frend sayd the mayster payne not your sâ—lfe therto for it is not in your puyssauÌ„ce wtout ye had more helpe than thylke knaues For the stone is of great weight mayster let me alone sayd Reynawde I shal brynge it to you and whan Reynawde had sayd so he cast his mantell fro him came to the foure men that helde the stone and sayd to them Lordes and it please you goe fetche another stone and I shall beare the same freende sayde the foure men ye say well if ye can we wyl let you doo with a good wyll Than Reynawde tooke vp the stone and charged it vpon his necke and bare it vpon the walle where it
brother Richarde at an apple tree and then the saide Richarde cried with an hyghe voice Fayre brother Reynawd come and helpe me and Incontinente ye went there vpon youre horse bayarde but he fell downe by the waye vnder you wherfore ye mightht not come time ynough wherof ye were ful sory therfore good syr I counseyle you that ye go not there LAdye sayde Reynawde holde your peace for who that beleueth ouer muche in dreames he dooth ayenst the commaundemente of God Than said Alarde by the faythe that I owe to god I shal neuer sette foote there nor I nother saide Rycharde Alas saide than Guycharde yf we must goe there lette vs not departe thitherwarde as men of counceylle but let vs go there lyke as prue and worthy knightes hauing eche of vs his armes vpon him wel horsebacke not vpon mules on that our brother Reinawde he well mounted vpon baiarde which shal may beare vs al foure at a need by god sayde Reynawd ye shal say what ye wil but I shal go there as I haue saide what so euer happeth and than he went out of his chambre came to king yon and said to him By god I merueill me muche of my brethren that wil not go with me because they haue no horses with them and yf it please you ye shall giue vs leaue to take eche of vs a horse ye shal keep stil your eyght earles with you and we shal go there as ye haue commaūded vs I wil not doo it said the kyng you for the kyng Charlemaine douteth you to sore and youre bretherne and your horses also I haue giuen hostages suretes that ye shal beare no maner of harneys with you but onely your swerdes as I haue tolde you afore and that ye shal ride vpon mules not vpon horses And yf ye go there otherwise arayed Charlemayne shal thinke that I wyll betraye hym and so shall he destroye al my lande that shall be the paymente that I shal haue for you I haue trauailled my selfe full sore for to bring you and youre bretherne at one with Charlemaine therfore go there yf ye will and if ye wil not leaue it Than said Reinawd sir syth that it is so we shal go there And than he wente from kyng yon in to his chambre again and founde his wife that noble lady Alard and Richarde that asked him how he had doone if they should haue his good horse bayarde with theym By God said Reinawde I can not haue leaue to doo so but my bretherne doubte you not for the kynge yon is a true prince and if he shoulde betray vs he should be sore blamed for it for he shal make vs to be conduyted by eyght of the moste great erles of his realme god confounde me yf I sawe euer ony euil doone by him Sir said hys bretherne we shal goe gladly with you sith that ye wyl haue vs needes to doo so Whan they were thus accorded herto thei wente to bed slept vnto the daye appeared and whan Reynawde sawe the daye he rose vp and saide to his bretherne Arise sits and make vs redy for to goe there as we should goe For yf Charlemayne be sooner to the plaines of valcolours than we he shal hapely be angry for it Syr sayde hys bretherne we shall soone be redy whan they were all redy they wēt to the churche of saint Nycolas for to heare masse whan it came to the offryng Reynawde his bretherne offred many ryche gyftes And after the masse was done they asked after theyr mules incōtinent they mounted vpon in their felowship were eyght earles the whiche knewe all the maner of treason whan they were all mounted they tooke on theyr way but the foure sōnes of Aymon were good to knowe by the other for they had on greate mantelles of scarlet turred with ermynes bare in their handes roses in tokē of peace also their swerdes for they wold not gyrde theim Now god be with them for if he keep them not they bene in waye of perdycyon neuer to come againe to Moūtawban whan the king yon sawe them thus go he fell downe in a swount more then foure times for the great sorowe that he had at his hearte for how be it that he had betrayed them so yet had he great pitie of them but this that he had doone euyl counseyl had made him doo it And than he be gan to make the greatest sorow in the worlde said ha good lorde what haue I doone dyd euer man so great treason as I haue doone nay verely for I haue betrayed the best knyghts of the world and the moste worthye and true THan sayde his folke Syr ye doo not wel to make suche a sorowe for Reynawde is very wise he shal it perceiue ryght soone Ha god sayd the king yon were it as ye saye for I shoulde be more gladde than yf I had wonne tenne of the best cyties of Fraunce for Reynawde is my freend and my brother Ha Mawgys how shal ye be sory whā ye shal know this matter Reynawde did great foly whan he tooke not your aduyse in this thynge for yf he had knowen of it ye should not haue suffred him to go there Lordes sayd the kyng yon I poore wretche whether shall I become yf the foure sonnes of Aymon di◠for Mawgis shal slea me without mercy and also it is well reason for who that betrayeth a nother and princypally his freend carnall ought not to lyue nor haue euer any worship but his folke tooke hym vp incontinente and began to recomforte him by many greate reasons that they layed afore him NOw begynneth the piteous hystory of the foure sonnes of Aimon that wente to theyr deathe by the meanes of the traytour kyng yon And bycause of the treason that he cōmited ayenst the foure sonnes of Aymon he loste the realme of gascoygne the name the dygnyte therof for neuer sith that tyme was no kyng crowned in Gascoygne Now shall I tell you of Reynawde and of his brethren than tode Reynawde and his brethren towarde the plaine of Valcolours and as they toode thitherwardi Alarde began to syng ryghte sweetly and Ioyfull a newe songe and Guycharde and Rychard dyd in lykewise but I tell you that no instrument of musike sowned neuer so melodyouslye as the three brethren dyd syngyng to gither alas what pyty was it of so noble and so worthy knightes that went singing and makyng Ioy to their death they were as the swanne that syngeth that yere that she shall die Reynawd went behynde them sore thynkyng hys head bowed down towarde the earth and beheide hys brethern that rode forth makyng great Ioye and he sayd o god what knyghtes be my brethrene that there been none suche in all the world nother so gracyous And whan he had saide this he sette his hands together and heued them vp towarde
heauen all weping and saide in this maner good lord by thy gloryous and blessed name that diddest cast daniell out fro the lyons delyuered Ionas fro the fyshes bely and saued saynt Peter whan he cast himselfe from the sea for to come to the pardoned Mary magdalene and made the blinde to see suffred passion deathe vpon the crosse for our sinnes pardoned Longyus that smot thee with a spere in to thy blessed side wherfro thy blessed bloud fel in to his eyen and incontinent he recouered his syght therby and by thy resurreccion keep this day my body if it please the fro deth and from prison and also my brethren for I wote not where that we goe but me semeth that we go in great peryl And whan he had fynyshed his oryson his eyne wexed were againe for pitie that he had least his brethren should haue any harme for loue of him For it plesed him not wel that thei were so bare of their armes THan whan Alarde saw his brother Reynawde that had his eyne ful of teres he sayed to him Ha brother what ayleth you I haue sen you in right great peril aboute a harde werke but I sawe you neuer make so yl cheere as ye doo now for I haue seen you weep at this houre wher of I meruail me greatly for I wot wel for certayne that ye weep not without some great occasion Than sayd Reynawde Fayre brother me ayleth nothinge By the faithe that I owe to you sayd Alarde ye weep not for nothynge This is the daie that we sholde be at one with kynge Charlemayne so pray I you for god my dere brother that ye leue this sorowe let vs go forth mereli and bere out a good face as longe as we ben alyue for after that a maÌ„ is ones deceassed it is no more spokeÌ„ of him And this I praye you bretherne that ye synge with vs. For ye haue so fayre a voice that it is a great pleasure for to heare you syng whan ye be wyllinge to it Brother said Reinawde with a good wyll syth that it pleaseth you And than began Reynawde for to synge so melodiousli that it was a great pleasure for to here hym So longe rode the foure sonnes of Aymon the lytell pace of their mules syngyng and deuisnge amonge theymselfe that they came to the playne of Valcolours ⧠Now wyl I tel you of the facion of the valey for wyt that if I telled you not ye shoulde not maye know it There is a roch right hie noyous to goe vp it is enuironned rounde aboute with foure great forestes ryght great thycke for the least is there a dayes Iourney to ryde thrugh it ther beÌ„ foure great riuers all aboute it sore deep wereof the gretest is named Gyronde the other is called Dordon the thyrde is named Nore the other Balancon there is nothet castell nor towne by .xx. mile nighe about it And therfore the treason was there deuysed for thys playne of Valcolours was ferre fro all folke there was a way crossed in foure the one waye was towarde Fraunce the other in to Spaine the other in to Galyce and the fourth in to Gascoygne And at euery one of these foure wayes was layde a busshement os .v. hundred men wel horsed and armed for to take Reinawde and his brethren quicke or deade for thus had they sworne it promised to kyng Charlemayne Than come there Reinawd his bretheren with theyr felawshyp of eyght erles that the kynge yon of Gascoyne had take to them the whiche wist well al the mistery of this treason And incontinent Ogier the dane sawe theym fyrste of all the which was all abashed and sayd to his folke fayre lordes ye ben my men my subiectts and my freends ye know that Reynawd is my cosyn I ought not to see his death nor his domage Wherfore I pray you all that ye will doo him no harme at all nor to none of his bretherne my cosyns They answered al that they should doo his commauÌ„dement with a good will This haÌ„gyng Reynawde and his brethrene passed by wente in to the myddes of the playne THan whaÌ„ Reinawd and his brethreÌ„ were come there and found no body they were of it sore a bashed And after whan Alarde saw this he called his brother Rychard and sayd to him what is this fayre brother I se well that we ben berraied for I se you chaunge your colour how think ye Brother said Richard I doubt me sore for Reynawd haue no doubt said Alarde For we shall haue nothyng but good My brother sayd Rychard I promyse you all my heart shaketh nor neuer in my daies I had not so great feare for al my heres ryse vp wherof I doubte me sore that we ben betrayed that more is I should not be aferde yf Reynawde were armed set vpon bayarde and we also for thus as ben now we beÌ„ halfe discomfired And whan he had saied thus he spake to Reynawde said Brother why doo we tary heere sith that we haue fouÌ„d no body with whome we shoulde speake for if .xx. knights wer here armed thei should haue vs where they wolde maugre our teeth as bestes seing that we haue so many enemies in FrauÌ„ce ye wold not beleue this that we told you and also youre wife at Mountawban wherof I feare me sore that ye shall haue no leiser for to repent you of it For if our cosin Mawgis had be heer with vs that ye had your good hors baiard we should not doubt Charlemaine with al his puissaunce of a straw I pray you let vs go hence for I promise you it is foly for to abide heere long for I know wel that Charlemaine hath made vs to come here as bestes clothed with scarlet nor I can not beleue none other but that the kinge you hath falsly betrayed vs. CErtes fayre brother ye saye trouth sayde Reynawde and I perceyue me well of it now let vs goe backe againe all fayre softe as they wolde haue returned Reynawde behelde a side sawe well a thousande knightes armed comâ—ng a greate pace ayenst them Foulques of Morylion came afore at the other wel horsed his shelde afore his brest his spere alowe in the rest the great wallop ayenst Reynawd for he was the man in the worlde that he most hated whan Reynawde sawe com Foulques of Morillon he knew him wel at his shelde was so angred for it that he wist not what to doo A god what shal we poore siners doo I se wel that we must die this day with out doubte Brother said Alard what saie ye by my faithe said Reinawde I se heere great sorow Heere comeâ—h Foulques of MorilloÌ„ for to slea vs whan Alard had sen them coming it lacked litell that he wexed madde fell downe almost for greate angre that he had of the same