grete comfort of ryche yeftes of large almesses cam· vnto the peple of surye and also fro the londe of antioche But thenne they had loste alle had none hope that euer ony ayde ne socours shold come to them wherfor they supposed euer to be in seruage captyuite without ony rauÌ„son Of many maners of tormens that the cristen peple suffred for theyr synnes in that tyme capitulo xjo. wHyles that this tyme was so peryllous for the seygnorye of thyse hethen men cam oftymes in pylgremages the grekes and the latyns in to Iherusalem ffor to praye oure lord and crye hym mercy that he wold not forgete thus his peple yet many cam theder in grete perylle ffor alle the countrees by whiche they shold passe were ful of theyr enemyes and ofte they were robbed and slayn And whan they myght escape and come to the holy cyte they myght not entre therin But eche persone muste paye a besaunt for trybute wherof happed ofte that they that were despoylled had not wherof they myght paye this trybute myght not entre in to the town And for this they suffred Colde hungre and grete mesease And many deyde And herof the Casten men of the town were moche greued For they susteyned them that lyued And muste burye them that were dede and secâ—e such thyng as was nedeful to them self other They that myght entre in the town were yet more greued ffor som were murdred in the holy places of the cyte secretely was doon to them moche 〈◊〉 repreef openly· Ther was fyl the caste in theyr visage other spytte in the myddes of theyr visage som men bette them wâ—erfore the cristen men of the town that had som acqueyntauÌ„ces with the hethen men conduyted and ladde thâ—m to thâ—yr pâ—lgremages for to kepe them to theyr power There were in the cyte of them of Malfe which is a cyte of puyeâ—l which had a chirche in 〈◊〉 nâ—med saynte marye de la latyne whereby was an hospital of â—ouâ—e peple where as was a chappel that was named saynt Iohn â—lâ—â—mont This saynt Iohan was a patriarkâ— of Allâ—â—andrâ—◠〈◊〉 of the chirche of our lady had in his cure in his 〈◊〉 this hospital pourchassed alle that was nedeâ—ul for them There were receyuyd alle the pour pylgryms whiche had not wâ—erof â—â—â—yue And this how 's was of moche greâ—e chaâ—yte Thus were â—f â—â—ccisten peple in grete disease in the toun But there was nothyng that displesyd them as whan they had made theyr deuocion◠〈◊〉 holy places in the toun with grete traueylles grete cosâ—â—e And whan they were in the seruyse of our lord the hethen 〈◊〉 cam in with grete noyse crye· and satte vpon the aulceâ—â— threwe doun the chalyces brake the lampes the tapres yet for more to angre the cristen peple they toke ofte the patriarke which was theÌ„â—ne by the herde and by the â—eer And threwe hym down to the grounde defowled hym vnder theyr feet of whiche alle 〈◊〉 had grete sorowe moche pyte In thyse soâ—owes meseases weâ—re the cristen men in the londe of Sâ—râ—e as I haue sayd you to fore CCCC four score ten yere and alwey cryed vnto our lord for mercy with syghes treres prayde hym deuoutly that he wold not alle forgete them But the good lord that aftir the tempeste derke weder can wel brynge clerenes and fayr season behelde this peple in pyte And sente to them comforte and delyuerance of the tormentes in whiche they had longe ben How aftir the had ben four CCCClxxxx yere in seruage of the hethen peple our lord pourueyed remedye for his cristen peple capitulo xij i Haue wel said to you byfore that out of many londes cam pilgryme in to Ihrlm emong all other ther was one which was of the royame of ffrance born in the bisshopprych of Amyens That is to were one named peter whiche had ben an heremyte in a wode And therfor he was called peter theremyte this was a litil man of body as a persone had in despite lytil preysed by semblaunt But he was of a merueyllous grete herte of moche clere engyne and good vnderstondyng and spak right wel whan he cam to the gate of Iherusalem he payd the trybute of a besauÌ„t entred in to the cyte and was lodged in a good cristen mans how 's This petre alwey enquyred demauÌ„ded moche of his hoost of the gouernaunce estate of the cyte And how the cristen men conteyned them vnder the hethen men And how theyr lord demened gouerned them his hoost whiche had longe ben in the towne tolde to hym alle the maner playnly of the tymes passyd And how the cristentâ— had be defowled And the holy places dishonoured whiche was sorouful to here And he hym self which a good while had be in the town for to doo his pylgremage sawe wel perceyued a grete partye of the caityfnes in which the cristen men were he herd saye that the patriarke was a good wyse man deuote religyoê° which was named symeon Peter thought that he wold goo speke with hym demande of hym the estate of the chirches of the clergye of the peple he cam to hym dyde so as he thoughâ— And asked of hym alle thise thynges The patriarke apperceyued wel by his wordes and his couÌ„tinaunce that he was a man that dredde god right wyse and vnderstondyng And began to telle to hym by layser alle the meseases of the cristen peple whan peter herde thise sorowes of the mouthe of this good man whom he byleuyd wel coude not absteyne hym fro grete syghes wepyng many teeres for pyte ofte dâ—maÌ„ded of the patriarke yf ther were ony coÌ„seil remedye for this werke the holy deuote patriarke answerd hym· we haue made many orysons prayers vnto oure lord god for to receyue vs in to his mercy and grace But we apperceyue wel that our synnes be not yet purged ffor we ben certaynly in the culpe and blame whan oure lord whiche is so rightwys holdeth vs yet in the payne But the renoÌ„me of the contrees by yonde the montaynes is moche grete here that the peple there and specially of them of ffraunce ben good cristen peple and moche stedfaste in the fayth And therfor oure lord holdeth them at this day in moche grete peas and in hye puissance yf they wold praye our lord that he wolde haue pyte on vs or that they toke counseyl for to socoure vs we haue certaynly hope that our lord shold helpe vs by them for taccomplysshe oure werke ffor ye see wel that the grekes and themperour of Constantinoble whiche ben our neyghbours and as kynnesmen maye not helpe ne counseyle vs ffor they them self ben as who sayth destroyed And haue no power to defende theyr owne lande Whan peter herd this he answerd in this maner fayr fader trouthe
toun for honger and mesease in suche wyse that they abode not but the wylle of oure lord Ofte cam in theyr remembraunce what goodes Rychesses and grete eases they had lefte in theyr countrees for the loue of the seruyse of oure lord And now yelded he to them suche guerdon that they deyed euery day for honger And kept hem not fro thyse dogges cruel whichâ— byleuyd not in hym but they slewe and beheded them in despyte reprouche of the Cristen fayth· In this maner wold they chyde with our lord often as men that wyste not what to do ne saye How the spere was fonnden of whiche Ihesus was percyd on the crosse· And of the comfort that our pylgryms toke therby Capitulo Cxxxvo. wHyles as they were in this anguysshe th erle herman an hye man of duche land was in so grete pouerte that duc godeffroy dyde do delyuer to hym euery day one loof of breede for pyte whiche was not moche grete But the Duc myght nomore gyue hym ffor he had not wherof Harry dasque whiche was one of the beste knyghtes of thooste was brought in so grete pouerte that he deyde for hongre It were a long thyng for to recounte alltheir meseases· but our lord that in alle his werkes may not forgete mercy seÌ„te to them grete coÌ„fort· ffor a clerk born in prouynce named â—eter cam on a day to the bisshop of puy and to th erle of tholouse sayd to them in moche grete drede· that the holy apostel seynt an drew had appiered to hym thryes in the nyght slepyng· warned hym that he shold goo to the barons saye to them that the speer with which our lord was percid in the syde on the crosse was hyd in the chirch of seint peter in the cyte the place where it was he had certainly shewd to hym he said wel that he was not come for to saye ne signefye them but that seynt andreu had menaced hym at the last tyme yf he dide not his message he shold meshappeÌ„ in his body It was no merueylle yf the clerke doubted for to saye this ffor he was a poure man and of a lowe lygnage And but lytil lettred Thyse two hye men whan they herd hym they brought hym to fore the other barons· They assembled them and they wolde that he shold saye to them the same wordes as he had sayd to them whan the other Prynces herd this they mysbyleuyd not the clerke They cam in to the Chirche of seynt Peter And sayd theyr confessions And cryed our lord mercy in teres wepynges and wayllynges And repentaunces of theyr synnes Thenne began to delue and dygg depe in the place that the clerke had shewed to them They fonde the spere lyke as he had sayd to them· Thenne had they a Ioye emonge them so grete lyke as euery man had had as moche as he myght They ronge the belles And thâ—s thynge was anon spred al about the toun They ran aâ—le to the chirche hastely And sawe this noble relyquye whiche was doluen out of therthe ThenÌ„e were they recomforted alle both men and wymmen poure and ryche as they had our lord emong them and seen hym· there were thus many other good men that sayde certaynly that certeyn vysyons of Angeles and apostles were appered to them By thyse thynges the peple forgate moche of theyr meseases· The bisshop of puy and other holy men that wâ—re in the companye sayd to the pylgryms that oure lord shewde to them tokene and signe that shortly he wold sende to them his ayde and his couÌ„seyl They concluded alle noble and vnnoble men and wymmen greâ—e and lytil And sware vpon the holy relyques that yf oure lord wold delyuer them oute of the peryll· in whiche they were And gyue them vyctorye of theyr enemyes that they shold neuer departe fro this holy companye vnto the tyme that they had conquerd Iherusalem that noble Cyte where oure lord suffred deth for to saue his peple· And shold delyuer the holy sepulcre oute of the handes of the fals mysbyleuyng houÌ„des turkes and saresyns that kepte it in theyr power How Peter theremyte was sente by our men vnto Corbagat the wordes what he sayde· And the answer of the sayd Corbagat Capitulo Cxxxvjo. tHey had suffred this famyne xxvâ— dayes in the Cyte In so moche that the people to whome our lord god had sente good hope in theyr hertes began moch to be comforted fylle alle to one wyll in such wise that they sayd emong them that it were good to brynge theyr mesease to an ende Therfore was theyr comyn acorde that they shold fyght with the turkes that had assieged them· ffor them thought a fayrer thyng that yf our lord wold that they deyde in bataylle that they shold doo it in deffendyng theyr cyte that they had conquerd to the Cristiente than to languysshe and to faylle within without essayeng yf our lord wold ayde them herof sourded a comyn word emonge them that alle cryed bataylle· bataylle the bataylle· whan they myght see ony of the Barons· Alle they sayde that they taryed alle to longe This word was thus meuyd of the mene peple The barons thought that this enterprise myght well come of our lord· And so by comyn acord they assembled in couÌ„seyl they alowed muche this that the peple made this request· and acorded that they wold sende to this proude prynce Corbagat Peter theremyte whiche was an holy man moche wyse and wel bespokin And delyuerd to hym for felaw a valyaunt man named hellom trewe and of grete wytte that coude wel speke the langage of the sarasyns And specially the langage of perse They charged them with the message like as ye shal here what they sayde to Corbagat· Thise two sad men to fore sayd dyde do demaunde trews for to goo to the sayd Corbagat ffor they wold speke with hym in the name of the pylgryms hit was graunted with good wyll They wente out of the Cyte and toke with hym good companye whiche were assygned to them they wente so ferre that they arryued at the pauyllon of this noble prynce Corbagat· They sawe hym sytte in moche grete bobaunce emonge his ryche men Peter salewed hym nothyng ne made to hym honour ne reuerence· But spak heeryng alle in this maner This holy companye of hye noble men barons noble knyghtes and other peple of our lord god that ben yonder within the cyte sende to the comaunde that thou departe fro this siege that thou nomore assaylle them but late them haue and kepe the toun in pees whiche our lord Ihesu crist hath delyuerd to them for to holde his fayth for to doo hym seruyse· ffor seynt peter the prynce of thappostles vpon the creaunce of whom our fayth is founded hath conuerted it fyrst by his precâ—yng And by the merueyllous myracles that he dyde our peple hath conquerd it not long syth by the wyll and ayde of
withdrawe them fro the werke in suche wyse that euery man dyde nought· ffor it plesyd them wel that th erle were greued and ennoyed that he myght departe and lede them forth with the other barons How thoost murmured of the spere founden in Anthyoche of the grete myracle that happed in the presence of alle the hoste Capitulo CLxjo. tHere was renewed a word· by whiche the comyn people also soÌ„me of the barons whiche began to doubte of the spere that was founden in Anthyoche lyke as ye haue herde to fore· ffor somme sayde certaynly that it was the very spere that opened the Syde of oure Lord on the crosse And that was with his precious blood bydewed And by reuelacion of oure lord had be founden by an holy good man for to recomforte his people whiche had grete necessyte and nede Other sayde that it was not but fals 〈◊〉 tromperye and abuse ffor th erle of tholouse had fonden this contryued for to mene the peple to drawe and gete syluer of theyr offrynges And this altercacion was meuyd by a preest named Arnold chppellayn and moche acqueynted with the noble duc of normandye· he was wel lettred but he was not of good lyf· he was ouer malycious and pourchassoure of discordes As ye shal here afterward in this book· This rumour was grete in thoost as I haue sayd The man that had fonde the spere herde the doubte of the peple And cam to fore the barons moche hardily And sayd to them in this maner Fayr lordes doubte ye nothyng that this werke hath ben by barat nâ— by tromperye· For theryn hath be none But it is comen of god And certaynly for the comfort of the cristen peple sâ—ynte andrew appered to me by the wylle of our saueour Ihesu crist whiche deuysed to me alle the maner how I haue founden it And for to shewe to yow that this that I saye is trouth I praye you that ye make a grete fyre and merueyllous And I shal entre in to it And holde the spere in my hand and shal passe and goo thurgh hool and sauf whan they herd this they acorded alle therto· The fyre was made and brennyd lyght which was greete merueyllous And this was on the blessyd good fryday And it plesed them that this thynge shold be thus pâ—euyd the same day that our lord was smeton to the herte with the same spere he that thus of fred hym self thus and enterprysed for to preue it was named Peter bertilme we clerk and but litil lettred after that it coude be vnderstonde without forth· and was a moche symple man â— TheÌ„ne was alle thooste assembled aboute the fyre Peter cam forth kneled doun for to recommande hym vnto god whan he had made his prayer he toke the spere· And entred in to the fyre And passed thurgh it· and was nothynge on hym perysshed nâ— hurâ—e that ony man coude see or knowe whan the peple sawe this alle they ranne for to kysse hym And made to hym moche grete ioye Of this doubte thenne they wende veryly that it had be quenchid But yet sourded a gretter errour and murmur than to fore ffor it was not longe after but that this Clerke deyde thenne sayde somme that by thanguysshe of the fyre he toke his deth And that shold be thoccasion therof· The other sayde that he yssued oute al hool and sauf fro the fyre But it was the wylle of ours lord syth the trouthe was knowen that he shold deye thus· or peraduenture the prees that cam vpon hym was so grete whan he yssued ouâ— of the fyre that he was therby hurte that he 〈◊〉 In this maner murmured yet the peple emong them Of thamabassade of Egipte comâ—n with our men in to thooste of pylgryms of the reuerence that was don to them cao. C lxijo. sOmme messagiers that were sente in to Egypte by our barons atte requeste of them that cam vnto Anthyoche fro the Calyphe of Egypte had be reteyned and holden there by force and barat wel a yere But now they were retourned And with them were comen the messagers of the Calyphe which brought to our barons fro hym wordes moche dyuerse moch chauÌ„ged fro that· they had sente to them to fore Anthyoche· ffor thenne he sente to them that they shold conteyne them vygorously ayenst the Sowdan of Perse· And they shold haue of hym grete ayde of gold of syluer and of vytaylles Now had he chaunged moche his langage· ffor he sente them worde that he thought· that he dyde moch grete thyng for them yf he suffred that the pilgrims myght goo to Iherusalem .ij. C to gydre or iij· C alle vnarmed And whan they had made theyr prayers· and don theyr pylgremage to retorne saufly agayn· whan oure barons herd this· they had herof grete desdayne And sayde to the messagers that they shold retorne agayn to theyr lord and telle hym that by his licence ne leue wold they not goo to Iherusalem vnarmed one after another But they shold goo maulgre hym alle to gydre in bataylles renged and the baners reysed and desployed Now I shal say to you why the Calyphe of Egypte was reysen in so grete prydeâ— whan our men had discomfyted Corbagat to fore Anthyoche The power of the Soudan of Perse was moche affebled· in such wise that none of his neyghbours doubted hym ne fered to make warre agaynst hym ffor he had alwaye the werse· By whiche occasion it happed that a conestable of the Calyphes of Egypte named Emites had taken the Cyte of Iherusalem fro the men of the soudan of Perse whiche had holden it xxxviij yere Therfore sawe nowe the Calyphe that he was at his aboue by the disconfyture that our men had don to Corbagat And had wende that he shold not haue had nede of ony ayde Therfor he despysed now our peple Of an ambassade fro themperour of constantinoble comen to our pylgryms of thanswer to the sayd ambassade ca Clxiijo. oN that other syde were comen messagers fro themperour of Constantinoble· whiche complayned moche on buymont and also on the other barons ffor they sayde that all the barons were becomen his men· And had sworn vpon the holy ewangelyes that alle suche Cytees and Castellys by them conquerd whiche had be vnder the power of Constantynoble shold be rendred to hym as his owen thurgh out alle the londe to Iherusâ—lem Now buymont dyde contrarye this whiche helde Anthyoche and the other Barons that had gyuen it to hym· Thus spak they of the couenauntes But they spak not of alle ffor withoute faylle trouthe it was that they had couenaunted this but themperour had promysed to them that he shold folowe them with his grete hoost And shold furnysshe to them grete plente of vytaylles by seâ—· he was the fyrst that had broken the couenaunt and promesses· ffor he had not don that one ne that other And he myght wel
them that were in the castel How the day folowyng our peple made a merueyllous assault And how the turkes defended them subtylly and wel Capitulo Clxxxo. He daye begonne strongly to wexâ— clâ—re Thenne as it waâ— enterprysed and deuysed our men were alle· armed foâ—â—â—pproche the walles· They alle were and had one purpoos That iâ— to wâ—te or they wolde take the toun vpon thenemyâ—s of our lord And delyuer the ordures of the mescâ—â—auntes fro the holy places or ellys in the seruyse they wold rendre theyr sowles to hym that made them Ther were none that had wylle to drawe abacâ— fro this werke the old men forgate theyr age the seke men theyr maladyes the wyues and childeren enterprysed in theyr â—erteâ— to doo grete thynges· Alle generally payned them to drawe forth the castelles to ioyne them to the walles in suche wyse that they myght approche them that defended it they of the toun â—essyd not to drawe and shote Incessantly grete plente of arowes and quarellys And with theyr engyns caste grete stones the moyen peple with theyr handes threwe fro the walles and towres their entente was therwith to make oure men to withdrawen fro the walles The good cristen men that doubted nothyng to deye couerd them with targes sheldes thise other habyllemeÌ„s they sette to fore them for to kepe them fro the stones shotte they that were within the castellis of tree lefte not to shote caste stones vpoÌ„ the turkes Incessantly· And other had grete leuers and plente of ropes and Cordes with whiche they laboured and payned them to drawe forth the castellys they that were put for to throwe the stones and to occupye thengyns were not ydle· but had theyr thynges wel adressyd and threwe to them that defended the toun grete stones moche asprely and trauaylled moche for to do thynge that myght greue their enemyes But they that wold haue put forth the castellys myght not doo that they wold ffor ther was a dycâ— moche depe to fore the barbycane ffor whiche they myght not make theyr engyns ioyne to the walles the strokes of the stones of that were throwen on the walles dyde not moche harme to the walles of the cyte· ffor the turkes had sackes ful of heye· of coton· And grete peces of tymbre bounden with cables of shippes whiche henge a longe by the walles and towres in suche wyse that whan the stones of thengyns smote thyse softe thynges the strokes were lost and made no hurte to the walles On that other syde the turkes within the toun had moo engyns adressyd than we had without more quantite of other artyllerye of Arbalestres wtthoute comparyson that we hadde by whiche they slewe many of our pilgrims· it myght not be but that our peple were fore aferd· Thus was thassault moche grete peryllous fro the mornyng vnto euensong tyme and duryng thassault it cessed neuer of Arowes and stones fleynge more thycke than was in a M· yere to fore There were so many that ofte the stones mette hytte eche other in thayer in suche wyse that they brak and flewe in pyeces Thassault was in thre places· And the barons payned them sore to greue the turkes men myght not wel knowe whiche partye had the better Oure pylgryms were put to grete payne to bere erthe for to fyll the dyche· to th ende that the castellys myght ioyne to the walles They within threwe fyre moche thycke in to the castellys men myght see many arowes brennyng brondes wâ—tes ful of sulphre of oylle and other thynges nourysshyng to fyre The stones to brak that the pyeces flewe thurgh out the sydes And it myght not be but that many were hurte that were aboue for tassaylle hit semed many tymes that alle shold falle to the ground but our men quenchyd the fyre with water and vyneger and had redy pynnes for to stoppe the holes and also for to holde to gydre theyr castellys moche Iustely in suche wyse that theyr contenaunces were in alle thynges good and hardy The nyght departed the sayd assault Our peple withdrewe them and how they watched wel theyr engyns and the turkes the toun Capitulo Clxxxjo. tHis grete assault perylloê° that so long endured the derk nyght departed· Our men retorned to theyr lodgys for to ete and reste they lefte grete watche aboute theyr engyns by cause the turkes shold not brenne them and they of the toun made grete watche to kepe theyr walles· ffor they doubâ—ed moche that oure peple whom they had seen so vygorously assaylle and defende them myght by nyght come vp on the walles by laddâ—es and entre in to the toun· Therfor they peyned them to make good watche alle this nyght and to goo round about the walles and ferche the towres The stretes also made watche within the toun with grete nombre of people by cause of fere of trayson They sette beâ—oâ— grete entente ffor it was for the sauacion of theyr lyues theyr wyues theyr childeren alle theyr goodes hoolly Our peple that were in the tentes and in the lodgys had not theyr hertes in reste but they remembryd of thassault that had be Euery man remembryd hym what hâ— had doâ— And hym 〈…〉 â—eft many thynges vndon· that he ought to haue do â–ª And moâ—he desired they alle to come to the poynt for to doo prowesse· the dayâ— taryed longer it cam as they thought â—â—em semed that they had no greef ne ennoye of the trauaylle that they had suffred that day They had grete hope in theyr hertes that assone as they shold come agayn to gydre for tassaylle· that they by the helpe of our lord they shold haue the better And they were in grete anguyssâ—e by cause them semed to be in more mesease in theyr lodgys than in thassault How our peple retorned agayn on the morn to thassault And of the sorceryes that they wold haue charmed one of our engyâ—s Capitulo Clxxxij o He sprynge of the daye appiered· the peple Incontinent were awaked Eche wente to the place where he had ben the daye to fore Thenne shold ye haue seen somme renne to thengynes and other goo vpon the castellys for to shote with bowes and arabalestres· And many abode vnder for to drawe the sayd castellys forth Nowe were they of the toun anon redy for to defende vygorously ayenst the assayllers There deyed ynowgh on bothe sydes as wel of stones as of quarellys but not for that· the other lefte not but gretely they dyde theyr deuoyr ne neuer was fouÌ„den lasse cowardyse in so peryllous affayre werke One thynge happed that ought not to be forgoten that is that our men had an Instrument called Caable so strong and so wel made· that it threwe thre grete stones attones And dyde moche hurte in the toun where it atteyned the turkes sawe wel that they coude not breke it ffor it threwe fro so ferre that their engins myght not come ther to therfor
the sayd place was fast shette and closed with good walles of towres and yates But this auaylled them but lytil· ffor incontinent Tancre which ladde a grete partye of thoost with hym ranne theder· and toke it by strengthe and slewe many therin And it was· sayd that Tancre founde therin grete hauoyr and gold syluer precious stones and cloth of sylk He made alle to be born a way· But after whan alle was sette in râ—ste he rendryd all And made it al to be brought in to the comyn The. other barons that had enserched the toun and slayn alle the turkes that they encountred herd saye that within the cloysture of the temple were fled alle the remenaunt of theyr enemyes They alle cam to gydre theder And founde that it was trewe· Thenne commaunded they to theyr men that they shold entre in to the place and put them alle to deth And so they dyde It was wel couenable thyng that the hethen men and fals mysbyleuyd whiche had fowled and shamefully had maculated with theyr mahometry and fowle lawe of machomet shold abye there theyr fals rytes And that theyr blood shold also be shedd· where as they had spred the ordure of mescreaunce· It was an hydeouse thyng to see the multitude of peple which were slayn in this place· They them self that had slayn hem were sore eÌ„noyed so for to beholde them· ffor fro the plaÌ„te of the foot vnto the heed was none other thyng but blood Ther was fouÌ„de that within the closyng of the temple were slayn .x M turkes withoute them that leye in the stretes and other places of the cyte· Thenne the mene peple of the pylgryms ran serchyng the lanes and narow stretes whan they fonde ony of the turkes that had hyd them· were it man or woman anon he was put to deth the barons had deuysed to fore that the toun was taken that euery man shold haue the how 's in the toun that he toke and fyrst seased and it shold be his with alle appertenauntes Wherfor it was so that the Barons sette vpon the howses that they had conquerd theyr baners The lasse knyghtes and men of Armes theyr sheldes the men a foote sette vp theyr hattes and theyr swerdes ffor to shewe the tokenes that the howses were theÌ„ne taken and seased· to th ende that none other shold come in to it Of the fayr ordenaunces that the Cristen men made to fore they wente for to vnarme them after the toun was taken Capitulo Clxxxvâ—ijo. wHan the holy Cyte was thus taken and alle the sarasyns that coude be founded were slayn the barons assembled them to gydre to fore they vnarmed them and commaunded to sette men in the towres for to make good watche and keâ—e the toun· And sette porters for to kepe the yates that noman from without shold come in to the toun without leue vnto the tyme that they had ordeyned and chosen a lord by comyn acorde that shold holde the toun and gouerne it at his wylle It was not merueylle if they doubted yet ffor alle the countre was ful of sarasyns And myght peraduenture assemble and sodenly come and smyte in to the toun yf ther were not good watche and hede taken· thenne departed the barons and disarmed them and toke of theyâ—â—arnoys in theyr hostellys and weesshe theyr handes and feeâ—e moche welâ— and chaunged theyr clothes Thenne began they goo bare foot and in wepynges and teeres vnto the holy places of the Cyte where oure sauyour Ihesu Criste had ben bodyly they kyssed the place moche swetly where as his feet had touched the Crysten peple and the clergye of the toun to whom the turkes had many tymes dâ—n grete shames for the name of Ihesu Criste cam with processionâ—â— bare suche relyquyes as they had ayenst the barons and brought them yeldyng thankes to Almyghty God vnto the Sepulcre and there it was a pytous thyng to see how the peple wepte for ioye and pyte And how they fylle doun a crosse to fore the sepulcre It semed to eueryche of them that eche sawe there the bodye of our lord there deed there were so many teeres and wepynges that euery man thought certaynly oure lord was there whan they cam in one of the holy places they coude not departe but yf it were for thardaunt desire that they had for to goo in another· They had so moche ioye and gladnesse of this honour that our lord had gyuen them the grace to see the day that the holy Cyte was delyuerd fro thenemyes of Ihesu Cryste by theyr trauaylles in such wyfe that they rought not ne sette not by the remenaunt of theyr lyues· They offred and gaf largely to the chirches and to men of the chirche and made bowes to yeue yeftes in their countrees· whiche thenne sette lytil by temporal thynges ffor them thought that they were atte yates and entree of paradys ffor neuer in this world myght gretter ioye entre in to the herte of a man than was in them in sechyng and goyng to the holy places where our sauyour Ihesu Criste had ben· One shold haue had a moch harde herte and lytil pytous that had seen this syght and myght haue holde hym fro wepynge whan thyse barons and alle the other peple had made thus glad chiere of this that they had accomplysshyd theyr pylgremage The Bysshoppes and generally alle the peple of the chirche myght not departe fro the chirche of the sepulcre ne fro the other holy places· They prayd our lord moche deuoutly and ententyfly for the peple and rendred grete graces and thankynges vnto Ihesu Criste of this that he had suffred them to see thyse holy places where the fayth of Cristendom was fyrst gyuen In this daye happed certayn thynge that was seen of many men in the Cyte of Iherusalem· that was· the valyaunt man Aymart the bisshop of puy whiche was dede in Anthyoche lyke as ye haue herd to fore many noble men whom men ought to byleue affermed certaynly that they sawe hym first mouÌ„te and goo vpoÌ„ the walles of the toun that he called other to come aftir hym Of many other pilgryms also that were to fore by the waye deed It was certayne that they appiered to many men the daye whan they vysyted the chirches of the Cyte By thyse thynges may wel be knowen that our lord loueth this holy cyte aboue alle other And that this is the hyest pylgremage that may be whan deed men ben reysed by the wylle of oure lord for taccomplysshe theyr pylgremage whan oure lord Ihesu Criste aroos fro deth to lyf· the gospel sayth that the same day aroos many bodyes of them that had ben deed and appiered to many in the cyte This myraclâ— was renewed this day by Ihesâ— Criste· by this cyte whiche had ben longe holden in the seygnorye of the paynems whan it was vnder them that serued the lawe of machommet So grete noyse was thurgh the toun of the
ioye that was made· that they remembred not the grete trauaylle that they had suffred by alle theyr waye Thenne was accomplysshed alle euydently this that the prophete sayd Enioye ye with Iherusalem and make ye ioye within them that ye loue How the Cristen men that had charged their message for their delyueraunce to peter theremyte knewe hym cao. Clxxxixo. aS many pour cristen men as had dwellid in the toun which had seen Peter theremyte four or fyue yere to fore whan they delyuerd to hym lettres for to bere to our holy fader the pope and to the barons of ffraunce to th ende that they myght setâ—te remedye for theyr affayres they knewe hym emonge the other theÌ„ne they cam to hym and fyl donn to his feet and wepte for ioye And moche gretely thanked hym of this that he had so wel performed his message ne they cessed not to yeue preysyng and lawde to our lord that had gyuen suche counseyl to the barons and to the peple by which they had performed such an hye werke which was aboue the hope of alle men· sauf by thayde of oure lord Alle the gree and thanke they gaf to Peter theremyte whiche so vygorously had enterprysed for to delyuere them by thelpe of our lord fro the caytyfnes and seruage dolorous in whiche they had ben so long holden by the cruelte of the sarasyns lyke as ye haue herd to fore The Patriarke of Iherusalem was goon in to Cypres for to demaunde Almesse and ayde of the cristen men there for to helpe and socoure the cristen men of Iherusalem to paye the cruel taillages that the turkes had sette vpon them ffor he doubted yf they faylled of their payment that they wold bete and throwe doun theyr chirches or put to deth the beste men of theyr peple lyke as they had don many tymes to fore· This good man the Patriarke knewe nothyng of this good auenture that oure lord had don of the delyueraunce of the toun But supposed to haue come and to haue founden it in suche seruage as it was whan he departed How they clensed the toun of the dede bodyes Of many other ordenaunces And how the turkes rendred the dongeon vnto the erle of tholouse· Capitulo Clxxxxo. wHan the barons and the other pylgryms had made theyr prayers and vysyted the holy chirches thurgh the Cyte of Iherusalem The hye men of the hoost assembled and sayd that it was a peryllous thynge yf the toun were not voyded of the dede bodyes and purged of the blood and ordure· ffor in short tyme the ayer shold be corrupt by which sekenesse and Infyrmytees myght ensiewe and folowe There were somme turkrs yet that were not slayn but were kepte in yrons· to them was commaunded this werke for to bere the bodyes out of the toun but by cause they were but fewe of them and myght not suffyse to doo it shortly· they toke the poure men of thoost and gaf to them good hyre for to helpe taccomplysshe this werke whan the barons had this deuysed thyse thynges they wente in to theyr howses and made moche grete ioye they gaf largeli to ete drynke ffor the toun was repleneshed of alle goodes in suche wise that they that were to fore poure fonde in the howses alle thyng that was nedefuf to them· wherof they had endured to fore grete anguysshe â— and penurye· ffor they fonde the cysternes alle ful in alle the howses On the thyrd day was ordeyned that market shold be holden in the toun And that they shold bye and selle suche thynges as they had conquerd in the Cyte· They were moche refresshyd and rested ffor they abode now no trauayll· They forgate not our lord whiche had brought them in so grete honour· as for tacoomplysshe his werke by them And by comyn acord of the prelates· of the barons and of alle the people was ordeyned that this daye· in whiche Iherusalem was gotâ—n and conquerd shold euermore after be holden feste and holy day in remembraunce of the cristen men to thanke and preyse our lord and also praye to our lord for the sowles of them that thyse thynges had accomplysshed A grete partye of the turkes that were in the dongeon of the toun named the tour dauid sawe wel that alle the cyte was takeâ— And that they had none hope of rescows ne socour ayenst our men Therfor they requyred by messagers th erle of tholouse whiche was next to them And dyde do be sayd to hym· yf they myght departe with their wyues children and suche goodes as they had in the tour they wold go theyr waye and delyuere ouer the tour he agreed and acorded it to them And so they departed And he dyde them to be conduyted sauâ—ly vnto Escalonne Thus was the tour yolden They that had the charge for to purge and voyde the dede bodyes oute of the toun dyde it ententyfly and dylygently in suche wyse that in shorte tyme this thynge was alle don· ffor they beryed them in depe pyttes withoute the toun the moost parte The remenaunt they brente in to asshes that the cendres with the wynde was blowen away· Thenne were our men in good sewrte and ease within the toun to goo and walke thurgh the stretes and other places and dyde dayly goo in pylgremages· that vnnethe myght they departe thens· They abode so gladly there· In this manere as ye haue herd was taken the holy cyte of Iherusalem In the yere of thyncarnacion of oure sauyour Ihesu criste M. lxxxxix the ·xv daye of the moneth of Iuyll on a fryday at the hour of none The iiâ— yere after that the pylgryms had enterprysed this â–ª viage Tho was pope of Rome Vrban· And Henry Emperour of the Romayns· Alexis emperour of Constantynople· And phylyp kyng of ffraunce How the hye barons of thoost assembled for to chese a kynge of Iherusalem· And thoppynyon of the clergye vpon the same Capitulo· Clxxxxâ—o. lYke as ye haue herd the pylgryms whiche had grete nede of reste soiourned in the toun The barons deuysed the affaires of the cyte· In moche grete ioye were they there viâ— dayes On the viij daye assembled alle the barons for to chese one of them· to whome the garde· gouernaunce and kepyng of the toun shold be delyuerd and the seygnorye of the holy cyte· and the charge of the Royamme entierly as it was reason and right· They made theyr prayers and orysons And with alle theyr herte called the holy ghooste that he wold counseylle them that daye and to yeue to them grace to chese suche a man as were worthy and couenable to susteyne the faytes of the Royamme ·whyles as they were in this affayre and moche entended with good fayth ther about An hepe of clerkes assembled whiche had not good entencion· but thought on malyce by pryde and couetyse They cam where as the barons were assembled And senâ—e to them for to speke to them a short word or
and aroos a crye a noyse and a clamour so grete thurgh alle the toun That ther was nothinge spoken of but of this hounde· They assembled and put out of doubte that this was not doon ne caste there but by the Cristyens Alle the hethen men Accorded to this poynt that alle the cristen peple shold be put to deth with the swerd And there were theyr swerdes drawen redy out And they also that sholde smyte of their heedes· Emonge the crysten men was a yonge man of a moche grete herte and of grete pyte And spak to the peple and said to them ffair lordes trouthe it is That I am not culpable in this thinge ne none of yow as I byleue certaynly But it shold be ouermoche grete doÌ„mage yf we alle shold deye thus ffor by this shold alle the CristendoÌ„me be quenchid in this londe Wherfore I haue thought in my self How I shal delyuer yow alle by thayde of our lord Two thynges I desyre of you for the loue of god That one is that ye praye for my sowle in your orisons That other is that ye deporte and honoure my poure lygnage ffor I will take this thinge on me and saye that I all one haue doon this fayt whiche they put on vs alle they that doubted the deth had grete Ioye whan they herd this and promysed to hym their orisons and thonoure of his lygnage In this maner that they of his lygnage eueâ—more on palmsonday shal bere tholyue whiche signyfyeth Ihu Criste whan he cam in to Iherusalem Thus this man cam to fore the Justice And said to them that the other Cristen men were nothyng culpable in this fayt and sayde that he hym self had doon the dede whan they hâ—rde this they delyuerd alle the other And he only had his heed smeten of How at the requeste of Themperour of Constantynoble the cristâ—n men obteyned lycence to bylde agayn the chirche of the holy seâ—ulcre capitulo .vijo. sVche diseases suffred the peple of our lord in this tyme but Ihu cryste that wel can sette remedyes in thinges mâ—ruâ—illous out of ordre recomforte them after ffor tâ—is vntrâ—we prynce of egipte hetam deyde and his sone named dâ—â—â—r regned aâ—ter hym This daher renewed the alyauÌ„ces with themperour of constantynoble whiche was a Romayn and named Elioâ—â—litans he prayde the said daher whom he moche louâ—d that he wold suffre that the Cristen men myght reedefye the chirche of the holy 〈◊〉 whiche his fader had do beten dounÌ„ he graunted it for the loue of themperour It was not longe after that this emperour deyde and after hym regned Constantyn whiche had to surname Monomaâ—ques whiche is to saye in grece as a man fyghtyng allone Tâ—e poure cristen that were in Iherusalem had lycence for to make agayn their chirches but they had not the power for their pouerâ—â— And herupon they had a counseyl that they wold sende to themperour and requyre hym for goddes sake that he wold helpe and socour of his Almesse for the reedefyeng of this holy werke Ther was in the tounÌ„ of Iherusalem a good man named Iohan Cariaintes born in Constantynople had ben a grete gentilman of the contre as of his lignage But yet was he more gentil of herte good manere This man was comen on pylgremage to the holy sepulcre and had lefte alle the bobauÌ„ce and thonour of the world had taken thabyte of relygion ffor to folowe our lord Ihesu Criste in ponerte in the place where he suffred pouerte messease for vs This said Iohn was prayd of alle the cristen peple there that he wolde entrepryse this message for to go to themperour for the loue of god and of them he dyde it with a good wylle and departed and cam in to Constantynoble and spak to themperour and dide alle that he was requyred ffor themperour graunted that he wolde make alle the dispences that shold be nedeful to the byldyng of this holy chirche and wolde reedefye it at hiâ— owen coste This Iohn was moche Ioyous whan he had so wel accomplissyd his message and toke leue of themperour and cam agayn in to Iherusalem whan he had said to the peple the good tydinges that he brought they made grete Ioye And many weâ—te grete terees for pyte by cause they thoughte that our lord wolde not alway forgete them whan he had doo to them suche câ—mforte In this tyme was patriarke in Iherusalem an holy man named nycesores Themperour held ryght wel his promesse ffor he sente without taryeng grete partyr of his tresour and dide do make the chyrche of the holy sepulcre moche hye in thestate and manere that it is yet And was ful made the yere of thincarnacion of our lord a M xlviij And had ben xxxvij yere destroyed This was ryght the yere to fore that our peple recouerd the cyte Whan the Cristen men there had made agayn the chirche they were moche Ioyous and were also therin well comforted of all theyr mescases and repreues that they suffred wherof they had grete plente not only in Iherusalem But also in alle the cytâ—es aboute as in bethleem And in the cyte where Amos the prophete was born named Tecua As ofte as the Caliphe sente in to the lande a newe bayly so ofte were sette on them new tributes taillages whiche they myght not well paye yf they payed not anon they menaced them for to caste doun their chirches to the ground saide they had of their lord coÌ„mandement so to doo thus in this sorow were the cristen peple one while vnder them of egipte another tyme vnder them of Perse but this was not but yet a begynning to them as whan they cam vnder the power of the turques ffor the turques conquerd the Royame of perse and also of Egypte Thus the holy cyte fylle in to their demayne whiche demened it so cruelly tormented it so cruely that it semed to the peple of our lord that they had be in fraunchise and in grete reste vnder them of Egypte and of perse Thus helde the turkes them there viij yere Of the turkes fro wens they cam and how they grewe in to grete puisaunce and dide chese them a kynge for to mayntene their warres capitulo vijjo. for as moche as we haue spoken of the turkes shal ofer speke of them in this book me semeth good that I saye to yow fro whens this peple cam first wherby they had so grete power The turke turkemans cam out of a lynage Roce of a contre toward the Eest whiche is in surye And were a peple moche rude without ordynauÌ„ce ne had no contreye ne no certayn dwellyng place But went all aboute fro londe to londe sought pastures for their beestis ne neuer duellid in castel ne tounÌ„ And whan they wolde meue from one place to another tâ—enne wente euery lynage by hym self And they made in euery kynred or lygnage a
kepte alwey the riergarde with grete nombre of his peple wel armed aboute hym the ayer of the contre was so ful of mystes and so thycke that they byhynde myght vnneth folowe them to fore ffor this londe as I said to fore is ful of ryuers and rennyng waters of lakes and mareys that a grete nyle sourdeth euery day it semed that it shold neuer sesse On that other syde the sclauouns and the dalmaces that knowe the places and the countrees made on them many assaultes at certayn paaâ— and shewe many of them that were vnarmed The Erle and the good men of the hoost closed them in And slewe many of them And many moo shold haue slayn yf the wodes their râ—traytes had not be so nyghe Somtyme it happed that th erle toke of them a lyue And made to smyte of theyr feet and handes And lefte them lye in the waye for to fere with the other that cam after In this maner they were thre wekes in that londe in grete paryl And in grete mysease After they cam in to a castel named serdre there they founde the kyng of sklauonye The Erle that was wel bespoken spak moche fayr to hym and gaf to hym largely grete yeftes and Iewellys ffor he hoped ther by that he wold haue holden his peple in peas And haue don beâ— had couenable market of vytaylles But it auaylled not ffor neuer for prayer ne for no seruyse myght thâ—y aswage his courage ne mollyfye the peple of the countre But they founde them more cruel and more vyllanous than to fore Thus were they foure wekes after in this sorowe ffor they were fourty dayes in passyng this contre After cam they to duras Ambassadours of themperour to the sayd Erle and bisshop And of the contenue of his lettres And of the daunger wherin the said bisshop was thenne capitulo xlvâ—o. tHemperour had in suspection the comyng of th erle by cause that he knewe wel that he was a moche wyse man and of grete courage· And wel herd saye that he had with hym grete plente of good men Therfore he sente to them to duras noble men of his londe that delyuerd to hym lettres fro themperour which spak in this maner after the salewyng The good renomme that renneth of the thurgh the world hath made vs to haue certayn tydynges that thou art a man of grete wyteâ— of grete power and of grete prouessâ— Therfore we moche desyre to see the and honoure as hym that we loue of good herte and preyse And we praye the moche acertaynly and requyre for a grete yefte that thou doo thy peple passe our contrees without oultrages and doyng harme And haste the to come to vs alle sure to haue oure grace and oure bounte we haue coÌ„manded that vytaylles and other necessyâ—ees shal be sold to thy peple at prys resonable whan the Erle and alle the barons herde thise tydynges by thyse lettres they were glad and ioyous ffor they had longe suffred grete diseases They toke theyr waye by forestes and by montaynes· and passed the londe of Epyre. Aftir they cam in to pelagonne where they fonde moche grete plente of alle goodes The valyaunt bisshop of puy lodged hym on a day fer fro the hoost in a fayr place that he founde and in the nyght the bongres assaylled hym in his lodgys and toke hym But by cause he was necessarye to cristiente our lord sauyd hym that they slewe hym not ffor one of the barbaryns demaunded of hym gold therfore he defended hym fro the other that they slewe hym not In the mene whyle the noyse was herde in the hoost Thenne they ranne to armes and syth ran on them And recouured the bisshop with alle his thynges On the morn they toke theyr waye and passed saleuyke And alle macedome And after grete trauaylles and many iourneyes they cam to a cyte named Redost Thether cam the messagers of themperour agayne And spak to the erle prayeng hym in theyr lordes name that he wold come to fore his hooste with a fewe of his companye in to constantynoble Messagers ther were also fro the barons that had passed the braas And requyred the same by mouthe· And by lettres fro theyr lordes The erle hym self had sente messagers to fore to knowe the beyng of the countre and of the barons And they were retorned whiche acorded moche to the same and counseylled hym to doo that themperour requyred How the Erle of Tholouse beyng with themperour wold not do hoÌ„mage to hym of the despyte that themperour dyde ca xlvijo. bY the prayer of so moche peple th erle muste nedes doo soo at theyr instaunce And thus lefte his hooste And cam in to constantinoble with a fewe of his meyne many messagers encountred hym whiche alle cam for to fetche hym whan he cam to fore themperour he was well receyued with moche grete chere and ioye of hym and alle the barons of the palays· After themperour dyde to be sayd to hym and requyred hym right swetly that for to haue alwey alyaunce and amytre with hym And also for the grete prouffyt that he shold haue therof· he shold make hommage to themperour lyke as alle the other had don he answerd shortly that he wold none make ne doo to hym· Themperour had grete desdayne and was moche wroth he sente to fetche the conestables of his souldyours and for them that had the charge of his men of Armes And commaunded them secretely in counseyl· that they shold auyse theyr tyme and poynt and smyte in to the hooste of The Crle And doo to them alle the harme they myghte And slee grete plente of them This dyde Themperour comaunde them the more surely by cause that he wyste wel that they that were on that othersyde myght not helpe them And by cause they were his men they wold not sâ—ne greue them And had commaunded that alle the shippes to bere ouer vytaylle sholde come hastely ageyn in to the Cyte· So that they on that other syde shold not come ouer a gayn ffor euer he had suspection thassemble of oure peple And therfore he made them to passe ouer eche after other as they cam The grete chere that he made to them And the grete yeftes that he gaf cam more by barate and of drede than of loue or of largesse But oure peple and specially the ffrenssmen myght not byleue that this Ioye that he made to them Ne the Rychesse that he gaf myght come of ony trayson ne of euyl They knewe not by experyence so moche theÌ„ne as they dyde afterward How themperour for tauenge hym on th erle made his Conestables tenbusshe them assaylle the hoost of th erle ca xlviijo. tHe conestables whiche had commandement of Themperour spak to gydre to theyr men And made a bussâ—ement nyghe to the hooste of the Erle of Tholouse In the nyght whan they had supposed alle well to be assured themperours peple smote
pryme vnto nygh none ofte our peple had the werse ffor as I haue said solyman had ij C M men alle on horsbak our peple were but l· M on horsbak whan they were alle assembled the one with the other whan our lord had thus gyuen this victorye to his peple they rested them in this fayr place where the tentes were thre dayes theyr· horses refresshed them right wel in this whyle of the armures other gayne that they had conquerd vpon theyr enemyes they arrayed apparaylled them right wel that to fore were euyl armed Moche wel dyde they in this bataylle grete honour had they and shal euer haue· in especial they that here be named Bawdwyn leborgh thomas de fedre regnault de beauuays Gale de ehamont gasâ—e de bedyers gâ—art de cherysy theÌ„ne was ordeyned acorded by the barons cryed in thoost that no man shold ryde fro thens forth by hym self without leue of the capytayns How the iiij day after this victorye our peple went forth on their waye of the grete mesease of thoost the same day capo. lxvijo. Fter this whan they had abyden there thre dayes the fourth daye folowyng by tymes to fore day they dyde doo sowâ—â—e theyr trompettes wente forth on theyr waye Syth they passed bythyne And entred in to the londe that was named pisideâ— They trauaylled so long that at the laste they fonde a contre moche drye infertile without waters The tyme was moche hoot and brennyng as it falleth ofte in Iuyll They had so grete thurst that they wyst not what to doo· the peple on fote specially faylled and faynted alle for the duste for the heete and for thurste ther deyed wel this same day of mysease fyue honderd men wymmen And knowe ye certaynly that ther happed a merueyllous thynge that day in the hoost· that we fynde nowher in none other historye ffor the wymmen with childe that yet were not come to theyr terme by thanguyssh of the heete of the mesâ—ase of thurst that they were delyuerd of theyr childeren childed not only the â—our wymmen but the ryche also this was a grete sorow pyte to see The men that ought to be more hard stronge ayenst trauaylle wente theyr mouthes open sought thayer and moysture therof whiche they myght not haue the heete also the swote destroyed them ye shold haue seen the horses and other beestes that myght not goo forth in suche wyse that they muste leue them whiche deyde in the waye houndes for the chace huntyng fowles for the flyght as ffawcons hawkes fperhawkes ye shold haue seen that day abyde deye· in lyke wyse the grete stedes cursours whiche were moost perylloê° becam alle araged wood for thurst with grete payne were ledde forth whan they had ben long in this mesease Our lord beheld them in pyte· made them to adresse in to a valeye where they fonde a rennyng water fayr grete theÌ„ne ranne oure peple to the brynke or ryuage with grete haste many ther were that draÌ„k so moch that they deyde vpon the place ffor som of them that had eschewed the deth fonde it there by cause they kepte no mesure· this fylle vnto knyghtes other men beestes whiche dranke as moche as they wolde whan they were escaped this euyl aduenture· they cam in to a londe moch fayr and fertile ful of woodes of ryuers of medowes and of good feldes labourable This was by anthyoche the lasse whiche is the chyef cyte of the londe of pisside and there lodged they with theyr hoost How somme of the grete Barons of thoost after to haue approuched Antyoche the lasse departed for to goo vytaylle them Capitulo lxviijo. fRo thens departed som of the barons of thoost â—elde their waye by cause it was a greuous thyng to fynde vytaylles to so moche peple to gydre The fyrst was Bawdwyn Brother to the duc· with hym was peter th erle of scaruay· Reynart th erle of â—oul Bawdwyn de borgh guyllebert de montcler ther wer wel v. C on horsbak ladde with them men a fote largely The second was tancre with hym Rychard du pryncipat· Robert danse other knyghtes grete nombre that they were v C on horsbak had also many men a foote as the other had theyr enteÌ„cion and purpose was to ride about· the thoost in the contre for so seche somme aduenture and vytaylle yf they had founde ony paryll grief pas or plente of theyr enemyes that they wold â—ete thoost haue knowleche therof they wente strayt theyr waye passed by syde ij cytees that one was named lychonie that other Eraclee· after thâ—y torned on the right honde and passed toward the see side The duc Godeffroy the other prynces abode in theyr lodgys for the plesaunt delytable places that they had fouÌ„den by cause they wolde playe refresshe them of the trauaylles aÌ„noyes that they had suffred thenne said they that they wold goo hunte in to the forestes which were nygh to them on alle sydes were ful of wilde beestes On the morn they entred in the woode eche helde his way at his will· the duc as he wente a path thurgh the foreste herde a man crye he drewe thederward he sawe a poure man that was goo for to fetche wode for to bere in to the hoost fledde strongly cryeng to fore a grete bere The duc ran vpon hym drewe his swerd for to delyuere the pour man fro the beeste thenne the bere adressyd hym vnto the duc and lefte the pour man that fledde fro hym he hurte the dukes hors so sore that he caste the duc to therthe The duc 〈◊〉 a foote drewe oute his swerde· the beeste was nothyng afâ—rd of hym but made a felonnoê° crye horryble hydous syth ran vpon the duc bote hym right cruelly in the thye after he adressyd hym right vp embraced hym with his poâ—es or feet to fore for to haue caste hym to grouÌ„de the duc thus hurt as he was was yet moch stroÌ„g fyl not to theerthe theÌ„ne but caught hym by the skyn about the reck with his lyfte hande for to put away his heed from hym with that other hand he put his swerd in to his body thurgh bothe the sydes vnto the crosse and so slewe hym After he wente and sette hym doun on therthe right by ffor he had so moche bledde of his wounde that he had in his thyâ— and was so merueyllously sore hurte that he myghte not stonde longe on his feet The poure man whiche he had delyuerd fro deth can hastely in to the hoost and tolde them this tydynge of the duc Alle they that herde it were so effrayed that they ranne with grete haste theder The barons and alle the other that myght goo they founde hym
had Capitulo Cijo. aSsone as it was nyght they yssued out lyke as they were commanded They passed the brydge of shippes And they were not passyng vij C men on horsbak they that weÌ„te cam to a laye whiche was bytwene the laye of whiche I haue spoken to fore And the Ryuer named helle whiche ben that one fro that other nyh a myle there they rested them this nyght· theyr enemyes that knewe nothyng of theyr comyng were this nyght passed the brydge whiche is vpon the Ryuer of helle In the mornyng as sone as our men apperceyued the day they armed them and made vj bataylles ef them The turkes had sente by fore their corrours which cam sayde that the grete peple cam ayenst them they sente to fore ij of theyr bataylles aftir cam the grete peple whan they approuched they were in grete desraye the Archers approuched first whiche shotte thycke But oure men smote in with the speres moche asprely in suche wyse that they made them to flee and chaced them to theyr grete bataylles· There were they in suche a destrayt bytwene the Ryuer and the laye that they myght not shoâ—ene flee after theyr customme There was the medlyng grete and fiers And the barons and men of armes dyde moche wel But the turkes that had lost the maner of fyghtyng myght not deffende them· ne endure the strokâ—s of oure peple but fledâ—e theyr way al that thâ—y myght Thenne whan our barons sawe this they began to doo wel And commaunâ—ed that noman shold faygne but folowe the chaas asprely The turkes fledde vnto bernant· Oure mâ—n folowed alwey sleyng and bewyng of heedes and armes that al the waye that they passed by was so wen with dede men This chaas endured wel .x myle The turkes that were within the castel of hernant sawe that theyr men cam alle discomfyted They sette fyere on the castel they them self fledde But the hermyns the other cristen men of whom were many in the castel recouuerd the fortresse and yelded it to oure men whan they cam This daye were slayn of the turkes moo than ij thousand They toke .v C heedes of them that were best arrayed And brought with them in signe of vyctorye· They wan there wel a M horsed for Armes grete and myghty wherof they had grete nede Thus retorned they to theyr lodgys charged ful of prayes of armures of dispoylles makyng grete ioye and thankyng oure lord that had comforted them in theyr meseaseâ— How the turkesof Anthyoche sprange out and assaylled the lodgys of our peple Capitulo Ciijo. tHe cytezeyns and habytantes of Anthyoche had herd tydynges how the turkes that had ben so discomfyted were departed and meuyd fro theyr contrees for to come socoure them Therfor they had they re ere 's opene to here tydynges of theyr comyng And were alle armed and redy for to make thassaylle by the brydge alle incontiyent whan they shold see them but whan they sawe that the nyght passed and that the day cam without hauyng ony knowleche of theyr approuchement Theyr espyes made them certayn that our men were goon on horsbak ayenst them Therfore they toke herte And yssued vnto the lodgys· ffor oure men were not yet comen agayn in to the thooste· They assaylled them moche asprely and harde so longe that somme of them that were in the playns within the toun wente vpon the toures and vpon the walles by cause that oure men that fought shold be abasshed by thoccasion of theyr peple that shold come And as oure peple approuched the turkes they apperceyued that the other that they abode were discomfyted by cause oure men cam ioyously with alle theyr despoylles· Thenne aroos the sorow grete thurgh alle the toun Our men approuched the toun And dyde do throwe ij·C heeâ—es of the turkes that they had brought with engyns in to the cyte for to make them certayn of theyr victorye· And yet to th eÌ„de that they shold not forgete theyr sorowe that was entred in to theyr hertâ—s The other iij C that were lefte they pyght them on stakes at the foote of the walle And sette there men for to kepe them By cause they shold be alwey in theyr syght· whan they cam to the deffence the nombre of them that were disconfyted were xxviij M. Thus were somme grete turkes taken brought prisonners This was don in feuerer the vj day the yere of thyncarnacion of our lord M lxxxxvijo. Of a castel that our men made of somme pylgryms that arryued at the porte and how they were discomfyted by a busshement of turkes capo. Ciiijo. alle the barons of thoost toke couÌ„seyl and acorded that vpon a territoire whiche was at the tentes of Buymont shold be made a fâ—trresse which shold be wel garnysshyd with good men of armes· to th ende that yf the turkes made theyr assayllies as they were acustomed they of this fortresse shold renne on hem· And this towr was a barbycane of thooste like as they had deuysed ordeyned so was it made without taryeng and valyaunt men and hardy were sette in this fortresse largely· thenne was alle thost assured as they had ben within the walles of a good Cyte The siege had endured thenne ·v· monethes A shippe of genewes cam theder whiche had brought pylgryms and vytaylles they aryued at the porte sette them in the Ryuer of helle as it falleth in to the see they had sente ofte messagers in to the hoost that they shold fetche them by som of the grete baroÌ„s with so good company that they myght be saufly conduyted in to thoost· they of the toun had thenne apperceyued that messagers wente and cam fro the shippe in to thoost And sente out men that slewe somme of them And therfor durst none goo more without grete companye Our barons had aduysed to make a grete fortresse at th ende of the brydge in a mahommerye that the turkes had and wold sette men of armes there for to kepe and deffende thyssue of the brydge yf the turkes wolde come But by cause that there were peple yssued out of thoost for to goo to the ship· were chosen somme of the barons whiche shold goo and fetche them ffor they were peple that were goon for to here tydynges of theyr contrees and wold haue comen agayn but they durst not· therto was chosen buymont the Erle of tholouse Euerard du puyssat· And th erle garnyeâ— of grece whiche also shold conduyte the messagers of the calyphe vnto the port of the see· and at retornyng shold brynge agayn and conduyte them of thooste they of Anthyoche herd saye that the sayd Barons were departed fro thoost and descended toward the see And sent out four M knyghtes of the moost noble that they had for to lye in a wayte at theyr retornyng It happed that the fourth day that our men sette them on the way for to rotorne and brought Armures and many horses laden with vytaylles and other
put awaye thesperaunce of theyr flyght· commaunded to shette the yates after them· they cam pryckyng ayenst oure men wold haue made theyres to retorne whiche were discomfyted but the affraye and the drede was so grete in them that they neuer made semblaunt therto they them self that frely cam on whan they sawe the prowesse of our men and the grete strokes that they gaf torned theyr backes with the other ne neuer made grete resistence there was the fyghtyng grete and merueyllous betyng doun of the turkes that men myght not but with grete payne passe ther was so grete noyse so grete crye· so terryble neyhyng of horses oueral that a mā shold not haue herd thondre they that had made the yates to be slette after them were ofte this day in peryl to lese theyr lyues· the wyues of the turkes the maydens and feble peple of the toun were vpon the walles and tourettes where they sawe theyr peple torne to meschyef and to destruction ye may wel thynke that they had grete sorowe wepynge and moche grete crye and noyse wel cursed they that tyme that they so longe had lyued that they shold see suche meschyef happen to them Ancean sawe that he loste alle his men and had none hope for to recoure them commaunded that that yate shold be opened for to receyue in to the toun them that were lefte whan the turkes sawe the yate opene they had so grete wylle to entre in to the toun that vpon the brydge they pressyd so euyl for haste that they fylle in to the water of them gret◠plente· The Duc Godeffroye that al that day had so wel don And whan it cam for to departe to fore the brrdge he gaf a strook moche valyaunt and suche one that it shal perpetuelly and euermore be spoken of in wele and in honour ffor I trowe ther happed neuer none suche to fore ne neuer shal happen here after There were this daye many heedes smeton of Armes and sholders at one stroke he wel apperceyued one of his enemyes whiche helde hym nygh to Godeffroy· And auaunced hym ofte and peyned to greue hym The valyaunt Duc smote hym with his swerde by suche myght and vertue that he smote hym in two pyeces in the myddle in suche wyse that the ouerste part of hym fyl to the ground And that other parte abode styll syttyng on the hors whiche entred in to the Cyte with the other And knowe ye certaynly that this sayd Turke was armed with a good hauberk and moche stronge Alle they that sawe this merueylle were gretely abasshed And the Turkes them self had grete fere and deed◠O mercyful God what myght and strengthe gyuest thou to thy seruauntes that haue their fayth and truste in the Suche a stroke hath not be herd of to fore this tyme That same daye they of Anthyoche loste moo than two thousand men· And yf the nyght had not comen so sone on· they shold haue ben so enfebled of men that with payne shold they haue conne holden and kept the toun ayenst oure men· It semed wel that at the brydge were many Turkes slayn ffor it was thycke there of deede bodyes· The ryuer that descended to the see was alle blody vnto the See Somme Cristen men of the londe yssued oute of the toun· And cam to our peple that told them that· xij grete admyrals had the Turkes loste in the bataylle For whom they were ouermoche sorouful For they were so endommaged that neuer in theyr lyf shold they be therof restored How the Cristen men thanked oure lord of this vyctorye And made a Castel in theyr mahommerye where there they fonde grete gayne· Capitulo Cvjo. tHe next day whan the daye was wel cleer· the barons assembled alle for humbly to thancke our lord of the victorye that he had gyuen to them· And after spak of the comyn besynes· Comynly was deuysed and acorded of alle that there shold be made a tour as they had entreprysed at th ende of the brydge for to take away the yssue fro them of the toun And for to kepe and warante oure peple whan they ranne to fore it There had the Turkes buryed by nyghte the dede men that had ben slayn in the bataylle to fore whan the peple afoote knewe this they ranne And there vnburyed them And toke them out of theyr sepultures and graues And toke and bare away Gold Syluer And theyr robes the whiche they had buryed with them in their sepultures after theyr customme They of the toun had moche sorowe by cause they sawe to fore theyr eyen the corses taken vp of theyr frendes whiche they had buryed with grete costes and dispenses· And it displesyd them moche that the nombre of theyr deed men shold be knowen whom they had supposed to haue kepte secrete ffor without them that fylle in the flood or Ryuer And withoute them that were buryed in the toune And them that were hurt vnto the deth and buryed in the toun were taken vp oute of theyr graues in the mahomerye a thousand and fyue honderd They smote of thre honderd heedes and sente them to Themperour for to late hym haue certayn tydynges of the bataylle that they had ayenst the turkes The messagers of the Calyphe of Egypte were not yet departed fro thens And whan they sawe this· they were ioyous of the deth of theyr enemyes But they were alway after a feerd and dred oure peple There were many of oure owne men that had fledde in to the woodes and montaygnes whiche after retourned in to thooste There cam many in to thooste that men supposed had ben deed the barons commanded that the fortresse shold be made adressyd moch hye strōge hastely It was made of such stones as they drewe out of the tōbes sepultures of the turkes after the barons began to aduyse to whom the kepyng of this tour shold be delyud which was fayr strong to fore was made a dyche moche depe· ther were Barons ynowe whiche excused them by many reasons why they myght not kepe it But the valyant Erle of Tholouse prouffred hym self And prayde that it myght be delyuerd to hym ffor to gouerne ffor by the grace of God he shold kepe it wel Alle the Barons coude hym moche good thancke And by this recouerd he the grace and loue of the comyn peple whiche he had alle loste ffor fro the somer to fore by thoccasion of a sekenes and maladye that he had he had don none auauncement of ony werkes and nedes of the hoost· Eueryche of the other barons had don his power But he dyde right nought therfore th empyre coude hym thank ffor it was supposed that he was the rychest· but for tentreprise of this thyng· they sayd wel alle that he was not a ferd ne euyll And on that othersyde yet he dyde more· ffor he leyd out· v C marck weyght of syluer in the hand of the Bisshop
that toke none hede wyth bowes with swerdes they slewe them but whan they were apperceyued our men chassed them But they put them in to the dongeon where they were sauf thus dyde they oftymes harme ffor they knewe another way to descâ—nde than that whiche our men had garnysshed The barons assembled for to take couÌ„seyll what they shold doâ— of the peryll wherin they were By comyn acorde it was ordeyned that Buymont and The Erle of Thoolouse shold make there a dyche moche depe and brode ynowgh bytwene the toun· and the pendaunt of the montayne they made it there as it was deuysed And made there a fortresse whiche they garnysshed wel with men wel armed The turkes that were in the dongeon And they also that were comen in by this gate descended ofte by a way couerte vnto this fortresse· And assaylled it moche fiersly· in suche wyse as they 〈◊〉 them haue no reste that it happed on a day that so grete plenâ—â— of turkes descended that the crye aroos in to the toun that and yf the other barons and knyghtes whiche were a brode in the toun had not come and ronne to them they had slayn or taken thyse noble men that is to wete Buymont Euerard du puyssat Raoul de la fontayne Rembault crecon And somme other lordes that were in theyr companye Alle they were grete men and good knyghâ—es that were put in this newe fortresse for to defende it But th erle of Flaundres· the duc of normandye And â—uon the mayne ranne moche hastely theder And metâ—â— with the turkes er they myght entre in to the dongeon They slewe many and many they reâ—eyned prysonners The other turkes that escaped cam to fore Corbagat And counted to hym that thyse men of the toun were ouer fiers hardye· And it semeth whan they ben in werke that they doubte nothyng the deth ne this ne that· Corbagat whiche was lodged in the montayne as I haue sayd dyde not theron moche his prouffyt ne his honoure ne he founde not there pasture for his hors as he dyde bynethe in the valeye whan he sawe this he commâ—undâ—d that he shold be dislodged descended in to the valeye with his 〈◊〉 he passed the riuer of helle· there deuised he the places to his barons about the toun· on the morn it happed that I can not say how many turkes approched the cyte descended fro theyr horses for to shote at our peple that were on the walles for to come more ner· Tancre yssued by the gate toward the eest and stopped the way fro them in suche wyse that er they myght take theyr horses he slâ—we ·vj· of them And brought them in to the toun for to recomforte our peple for the deth of Rogyer de barneuylle How our cristen men that a lytil to fore assieged the toun were now assieged in the same Capitulo Cxxvj o iN this tyme durynge the peple of the cristen men that had assieged Anthyoche but a litil to fore as ye haue herd They were now them self assieged within· Thus goon the chaunges and mutacions of the world they had moche grete trauayll for to kepe and deffende the· Cyte It was to them ouer peryllous that the dongeon was so strong so wel garnysshed as it was· They made to them ofte grete assaylles by daye and by nyght· ffor they of the hooste cam in by the yate vnder the dongeon as ofte as it plesyd them· Our men began to be moche abasshed Ther were many that toke no regarde to theyr oth that they had made to mayntene the companye ne to theyr honoure But by nyght descended doun of the walles by ropes or cordes and fledde to the see And many of them the turkes toke whom they slewe and brought in prison They that myght escape cam vnto the porte sayeng to the marchauns and to other pylgryms that were there comen· that they shold disancre theyr shippes and flee anon ffor this prynce Corbagat whom so moche peple folowed had taken Anthyoche by force and had slayn alle the barons and alle them that he founde within And that they were escaped by ouer grete peryll and fiers aduenture Therfore sayd they to the maronners· that they shold departe and flee withoute taryenge ffor yf the turques cam serchynge the countre vnto the see and founde them there they shold be alle delyuerd to deth Thus they fledde alle for feere And they them self that brought thise tydynges wente with them· And to th ende that ye shold not suppose that thyse were but mene peple for the trouthe of this hystorye spareth noman I shall name somme that thus dâ—parted shamefully· that is to wete GuyllaÌ„me de Gratemeuyl a noble man born in Normandye whiche held grete londe in puylle And had to his wyf the suster of Buymont· Aubery charpenter· Guy croseanlx Lambert be poure And many other had they with them· Somme there were that wente for pyllage· And for the mesease of hungre and drede for to be slayn· yolde them to the turkes And they tolde the certaynte of the meschief that oure men suffred alle a longe to the turkes· Many abode in the toun that gladly wold haue goon But buymont by the counseyl of the bisshop of Puy dyde do make watche atte alle the gates and vpon the walles And toke kepe bothe by daye and nyght that none shold goo vp ne doun And they swore alle that they shold not departe fro the companye ne breke the commaundementes of Buymont· He hym self wente euery nyght thurgh the toun wyth grete plente of men and with greâ—â— lyght to th ende that no peryll shold happe ne trayson Foure fortresses had he whiche he muste nedes kepe and better than the other Than one was on the lasse tertre ayenst the dongeon And that other was lower ayenst the assaylles that they made The thyrde was withoute the eest gate the whiche was made to kepe thoosteer the toun was take thhe fourthe was at th ende of the brydge by whiche the port of the brydge was kept And th erle of tholouse kept it fyrst· But whan the Cyte was taken he lefte it and entred in to the toun· Th erle of fflaundres toke it and garnysshyd it wyth fyue honderd men of Armes of knyghtes and other wel in poynt ffor he thought yf the turkes toke it our men myght not after yssue by the brydge by which their strengthe shold be moche empeyred How Corbagat dyde do assaylle a fortresse which th erle of FlauÌ„dres kepte without the gate and of that enslewed cao. Cxxvij o oN a daye it happed that Corbagat thought that they of the toun had ouermoche lyberte to yssue onte to entre agayn· Therfor he coÌ„maunded to a bataylle of his peple in whiche were .ij. thousand turkes wel in poynt that they shold so longe assaylle the fortresse of the brydge tyl they were taken· it happed so that th erle of Flaundres
entierly for to susteyne the pour gentilmen· in suche wyse that he had nothynge hym self There were many knyghtes that rychely were come in to the hoost atte begynnyng that were brought to so grete pouerte that this day they rode on asses and on pour mares And many hye men as knyghtes valyaunt and hardy myght not cheuysshe for to ryde but wente afoot emong the foote men where they helde moche wel theyr place ffor they mayntened and taught the mene peple how they myght doo to theyr enemyes grettest dommage The power of perse was moche affebled this day· For ther were so many slayn and deed that alle therthe ther aboute was couerd The nombre of them that were slayn was neuer verytably â–ª knowen Moche was chaunged the state of our men ffor he that in the mornyng yssued oute alle poure in suche wyse that he had not for to ete At euen he entred in to the cyte ryche of good and of vâ—taylles in suche wyse as he myght haue holden a grete court and companye This good aduenture whiche honoured alle cristiente and specially the Royamme of ffraunce happed the yere of thyncaâ—nacion of oure lord ·M lxxxxviij the .xxj day of the moneth of Iuyn Of the fayre ordenaunces that oure peple made in the chirches of Anthyoche And in other townes by after this vyctorye Capitulo Cxliiijo. sYth that the barons were retornâ—d fro the bataylle and the thynges of the Cyte were wel ordeyned By the counseyl of the valyaunt bisshop of puy and by the prelates that were in the hoost was acorded by them alle· that the chirches of the toun were entierly made clene And ordeyned to doo the seruyse of oure lord God And specially the chyef cathedralle chirche whiche is founded in thonour of seynt Peter They establysshed therin clerkes and curates that shold serue in the chirche And other to gouerne and kepe the holy places clene ffor the false and vntrew sarasyus had defowled them They had sette in the chirches somme theyr kyen Oxen and sheep· And other theyr horses and asses The comyn wymmen and euylle knaues had made theyr ordure and fylthe in them that it was pyte to see And also they defowled thymages of Iâ—esu· Crist of our lady and of other sayntes with fylth myre and ordure And lyke as they had ben a lyue they had drawe them and cut of theyr noses and pycked out theyr eyen The barons and alle the pylgryms acorded that there shold be ordeyned and establyssyd rentes to the clerkes that shold serue in the chirches· there was offerd gold syluer ynowgh· for to make crosses chalyces· And also clothes of sylk for to make agayn vestemeÌ„tes for men of the chirche and aâ—urnementes for aulters The patriarke of the toun whiche was a greek named Iohan they ordeyned and sette hym agayn in his place with moche more grete honour and solempnyte The turkes had caste and put hym onte with grete shame and had don to hym many euyllis for the fayth of our sauyour Ihesu Criste that he helde in the Cytees beyng aboute Anthyoche Oure men sette bisshoppes in the cytees where as none were at that tyme But in Anthyoche where as· they fonde one they sette none other til afterward that the good man apperceyued that he lytil prouffyted there· by cause the latyns vnderstode no grekysshe langage· And lefte his dygnyte and wente in to constantynoble with his good wyll without ony forse or constraynt Thenne assembled the men of the chirche· And they chose and elected for to be patriarke the bisshop of Tarse· whiche was named bernard born at valence He was comen with the good bisshop of puy And he had made hym his chappellayn· he was made patriarke The Seygnorye of the Cyte graunted alle the barons to buymont lyke as they had promysed and couenaunted sauf the Erle of tholouse whiche helde the yate of the brydge I wote not how many dayes he had garnysshed it And in no wyse wold gyue it ouer But sayde that it was his parte· And by cause that Buymont to fore was called prynce of the peple of his contre· Therfor that name abode to hym to alle the lordes after hym of the Cyte and ben alwaye called Prynces of Anthyoche How our peple sente ambassadours to themperour of Constantinople for to somone hym to come and socoure them as he had promysed Capitulo C xlvo. tHe tydynges were thus ordeyned in the cyte as I haue deuysed to you Thenne was the counseyl taken emong the baroÌ„s that they shold seÌ„de to themperour of coÌ„staÌ„tinoble for to somone hym by his fayth that acordyng to the couenauÌ„tes that he had made to them that he shold not tarye but come in his propre persone for to helpe them· specially at the siege of Iherusalem to whiche they entended for to goo yf he wold not thenne knewe they that he wold not forthon holde his couenauntes that were made with hym ne kepe them And for to doo this message they chaas huon be mayne broder to kyng phelip of ffraunce and bawdwyn th erle of henawd Thyse two departed fro thoost for to goo vnto Constantinoble But in the waye certayn turkes assaylled them in whiche medle was lost th erle bawdwyn in suche wyse that neuer after were tydynges heâ—d of hym Somme sayde that he was slayn there And other sayde that he was taken and ladde in to ferre countrees But the trouthe of hym was neuer knowen huon le mayne escaped alle hool with out hurt and cam vnto constantinoble to themperour· but there â—e empeyred moche his renommee ffor he that was of so hye lygnage And alway had ben in thoost large wyse· noble and a moche â—alyaunt knyght had thenne no regarde to them that sent hym ne wolde not retourne to them agayn but departed fro themperour and went strayte in to fraunce hit was a gretter blame in â—ym than in a lasse man whyles the pylgryms soiourned in Anthyoche a mortalyte and deth sourded and roos emong them so greâ—e that ther was no day but there were xxx oâ— xl bâ—ers in the chirches It was so grete that euery man awayted presently the detâ— there was none that supposed to haue escaped Thenne happed a grete dommage in thooste ffor the valyaunt man of grete trouthâ— and of hye counseyl deyde that tyme Aymart the bisshop of puy ffor his deth was grete sorowe thenne thurgh the toun he was entered and honorably buryed in the chirche of seynt peter where as the spere that opened the syde of oure lord was founden be was moche bewaylled as the fader of thoost After deyde a right valyaunt knyght a trew wyseman and of grete courage henry dâ—soâ—e in the castel of torbesel where he soiourned and there he deyde and was buryed In the same place reynard de mollac a good knyght and of hye lygnage deyde in Anthyoche· he was buryed in the porche â–ª of seynt peter Alle the wymmen
that were in the toun deyed by this pestylence sauf a fewe in such wyse that of this lytil peple deyde in a lytil whyle in this toun· L. M. men and wymmen The occasion of this mortalyte was many tymes demaunded of the fisiciens wyse clerkes The soÌ„me sayde that thayer was corromped The other sayde that the peple had had ouer longe moche anguyssh of hongre of thurst And whan they cam therto pleÌ„te of vytaylles they toke therof ouer oultrageously By whiche they ranne in a grete Infirmyte and sekenes This shewde they euydently by them that ete but lytil and by mesure ffor they that so dyde cam lyghtly to conualence and helthe How the pylgryms of thoost desired to goo vnto Iherusalem for to eschewe the mortalite· taccoÌ„plisshe their vowe cao. Cxlvjo. tHe pylgryms for teschewe the mortalyte of the toun also for taccomplysshe their pilgremage began to crye for to goo to Iherusalem· ffor therfor were they departed out of theyr countrees They moche prayd the barons that they wold make them redy and dylygently lede and conduyte them theder The barons that myght not be in reste for theyr requestes assembled and had counseyl on this mater Somme sayde· that it were good that they shold anon go forth toward the holy Cyte by cause the comyn peple desyred it And also that euery man was bounden by his vowe so to doo The other sayde that it was not tyme for to goo forth ffor the brennynge hete was ouer grete and the drought shold cause that they shold lacke water The peple shold not fynde whete the horses shold lacke pastures But counseylled to tarye and delaye this passage tyl mychelmasse thenne shold the tyme be more attempered and moderat· And duryng the mene whyle men myght do reste theyr horses· and gete newe for them that had none and had nede of somme and also men myght refresshe them self whiche were wery and seke· To this laste counseyll acorded they alle And therfor it was late or they departed ThenÌ„e deuysed the barons that they wold remeue for thynfyrmyte of the place to goo there as they myght haue vytailles better chepe Buymont descended in to the londe of Cylyce There toke he tarse Adane· Mamstre Aunaure Thyse four cytees a fore sayd he garnysshed well with his men· And helde entierly alle the countree aboute· The other wente ferther in the countre and ladde theder theyr horses for to soiourne there were many knyghtes and men a fote that passed the Ryuer of Eufrates for to goo forth at al auenture thurgh the countrees tyl they come to bawdwyn broder of duc Godeffroye to Rages whiche receyued them gladly And gaf them vytaylles and made them good chere as long as they were there And atte departyng he gaf to them fayre and good yeftes It was not longe after that it happed that one Rodahan the lord of halappe had debate and warre ayenst a baron of his whiche was Castelayn of a castel named Hasart· And ye shal vnderstande for certayn that there was founden first the playe of dyse and fro thens it cam· and it is named so· This grete man of halappe assembled his peple And assyeged this castel with alle his power The lord that was within sawe wel that he myght not holde it ayenst his lord And he had no turkes for to socoure hym· ne helpe hym Therfor he spak to one his frende a crysten man· which was pryue with hym· and sente to duc godefroy many grete yeftes And requyred and prayd hym moche affectuously that he wold socoure hym in his nede ffor he had desire to be his and wold be bounden to hym to doo hym grete playsyrs and seruyses· And sente to hym his sone in hostage for surete Thâ— valyaunt duc that had a softe herte and debonayr receyued the loue and thalyaunce of the lord of hasart· he thought wel that it was not ayenst the wylle of our lord for to afeblyssâ—e one of his 〈◊〉 for another Thenne sente he to his brother Bawdwyn to Râ—â—ges for to sende hym peple ynowâ— ffor his purpoos wylle was to reyse the siege to fore this castel for to socoure his frende Roâ—â—han had holden· vj dayes longe siege to fore this castel· The Duc godefroy cam by grete iourneyes the messagers of the lord of 〈◊〉 castel were with hym ffor they myght not goo in to the caâ—tel to their lord ffor it was besieged round about· therfor they tokâ— two douues or culuers which they had takeÌ„ brought with them for to doo this that is to saye they toke lettres and wrote theryn 〈◊〉 theyr entent And bonde thoo lettres to the tayles of the douues â–ª and lete them flee And the douues flewe and cam sâ—rayt to â—aâ—sart fro wheÌ„s they were had beÌ„ there nourisshed they that awayted on them toke them the lord toke the lettres â–ª and fonde therin how he had alyaunce of the duc his loue and grâ—ce And how he cam for to socoure hym with grete strengthe he had thenne grete Ioye and toke to hym grete hardynesse in suche wyse that be hym self yssued out of the yates with his men largely And assaylled them of the siege vygorously whom he had sore doubted not long byfore The dylygence that duc godeffroy made for to socoure a turke to whom he had promysed And how he reysed the siege beyng to fore his castell cao. Cxlvij o nOw was the duc Godeffroy approuched whan his brother cam with iij M horsmen noble valyaunt and hardy men â—ight wel armed They were but on iourneye fro the castel Th erle Bawdwyn acorded wel to thentâ—rprise of the duc his broder but he sayd wel that Rodohan the lord of halappe had moche grete peple· And that he knewe wel for certayn Therfore he counseylled hym that he shold sende for the other barons that were abyden in Anthyoche· and praye them as his frendes that they wold addresse them â—accomplisshe this that he had enterprysed Trouth it was that he had moche prayd buymont and th erle of tholouse to fore er he departed but they had a lytil enuye· by cause the turke had more requyred the duc than ony of them· but now whan he had sente for them· them thought that they myght not goodly abyde behynde And ordeyned moche dilygently theyr goyng forth And wente so ferre that they ouertoke hym whan they were alle to gydre they were wel .xxx M. men of armes Rodahan had his espyes by whome he knewe certaynly that thyse men cam vpon hym he doubted them moche· he had wel· xl M men· but yet he durst not abide them but departed fro the siege And retorned to halappe The duc knewe nothyng that the siege was departed but weÌ„te strayt toward hasart There were ynowe in Anthyoche of knyghtes gentilmen other which knewe that the valyaunt duc had to doo with men· and departed fro thens and wente toward hym for to
CLvo. He thyrde day they cam to fore the Cyte· of Baruth And lodged them vpon a Ryuer that ran to fore the toun The baylly of the toun gaf to them grete good And made do come plente of vitayll and good cheep for to spare the trees the fruytes of the contre· On the morn cam they to the Cyte of Sayette there they lodged them vpon a Ryuer therby· he that gouerned and kepte the Cyte wold not doo thynge ne bounte to them I wote not wherin he trusted but he sente out many of his men for to doo hurte to thoost and for to atteyne certayn knyghtes which were lodged by for tassaylle them but our men toke theyr horses and ran on them vygorously And slewe of them I wote not how many And the other fledde in to the cyte· And had nomore talente to atteyne our peple in suche wyse that our men rested them in pees that nyght On the morn for to reste and refresshe the mene peple they departed not thens But sente oute for fourage many men a foote and certayn men of Armes to kepe them in to the contre and vyllages about· They brought largely vytaylles and horses wyth grete quantite of beestes grete and smale· and cam agayn without lesyng of ony thyng· alle to gydre sauf only a knyght named Gaultier de ver he wente by his valyauÌ„ce ouer ferre ffor he retorned neuer agayn· ne neuer was knowen where he becam they were all moch sory for hym in thoost The day aftir passed they by a moche sharp aspre way· after descended by a destrayt in to a playne· and on the right syde they lefte this auÌ„cyent Cyte named Saâ—â—pte wherin helyas the prophete was in After they pessed a water whiche is bytwene Sur and Sayette They wente so fer that they cam to this noble cyte of Sur. There they lodged them by the noble fontayne and pytte of water lyâ—yng lyke as scripture sayth They lodged this nyght in gardyns moche delectable· whan it was daye they sette them forth on theyr Iourneye· And passed by a strayt moche peryllous· whiche is bytwene the montaines the see· They descended in to the playnes of the Cyte of Acres therevpon and by a water rennyng they sette vp theyr pauyllons he that had the charge of the toun made them to haue vytaylles at resonable prys· and made acqueyntauÌ„ces good and honorable in this maner that yf oure people myght take the Cyte of Iherusalem and dwelle there after xx· dayes in the Royamme in suche wyse that they were not put oute of it by force or yf they myght disconfyte in the felde the puyssaunce of egypte that fro thenne forth on they shold yelde and gyue ouer the Cyte of Acres without makyng of ony resistence The pylgryms wente fro thens on the lyft syde they leâ—te galylee bytwene the mount of Carmely and the see they cam in to Cezaire whiche is the second Archebisshoprych of the londe of palestyne they lodged them vpon a water that yssueth oute of thâ— palus or maryles· whiche ben by the toun there helde they theyr penthecost or wytson tyde thre dayes after thentre of Iuyn they abode there on 〈…〉 they toke their way On the right side they lefte Iaphe And by a grete playn and euen waye they cam in to the Cyte of Lâ—deâ— where the bodye of the glorious martir seynt gâ—orge lyeth In thoâ—noure of whom Iustynyen that was Emperour of Rome made there a moche fair chirche and ryche But whan the turkes herde tydynges that our men cam they bete it doun and brence tâ—e tymbre werke whiche was moche grete For they doubâ—ed that oure pilgrims shold take them for to make engyns to caste sâ—onâ—s and castellis to assaile with thenne herde our barons saye that ther fasâ— by was a moche noble Cyte named Rames they sente the erle of Flaundres with v·C horsmen to fore the toun for to knowe what semblaunt they wold make None yssued out whan they approuched it they cam ner and founde the yates open And entred in to the Cyte And founde neyther man ne woman For the nyght to fore they had herd tydynges how oure pilgrims cam ladde to the montaynes wyues and childeren and alle their howshold whan th erle knewe herof he sente to the barons how the mater was and counseylled them to come in to the toun they were moche glad of thyse tidynges they made deuoutly theyr prayers at the tombe of seynt George And after cam in to the Cyte whiche was al ful of wyne of whâ—te of oylle and of other vytaylles to them necessarye they abode there .iij. dayes they chose thâ—r a bisshop of the cyte and was a normant named Robert whiche was born in tharchebisshopryche of Roen They· gaf to hym entierly the two Cytres for euermore that is to wete Lyde and Rames and the countree and vyllages about them ffor they gaf it to honoure god and seynt George for the fyrst gayne of the same holy londe How the Cristen men of bethlehem receyued moche wel Tancre and his rowte And sette his baner on the chirche of our lady Capitulo CLxvjo. tHe turkes beyng in Iherusalem herde wel tydynges of the comyng of our pylgryms wel knewe they certaynly· that alle theyr entencion was to come to the holy cyte ffor whiche thynge they were pryncipally meuyd and departed fro the couÌ„trees· whan they herde this they were moche esmeuyd And sayd that it was reason to deffende it The Cristen men that were in bethlehem sente certayn messagers to the barons desyred of them that they wold delyuere the toun in to thâ—ir handes if they wold sende men to receyue and kepe it They sayd that it was reson to doo that they requyred They toke an honderd men of Armes wel horsed noble valyaunt and hardy And delyuerd to them Tancre for a Capytayn· They that cam to fetche them conduyted them in such wise that erly in the mornyng they entred in to the toun· Alle they of the Cyte clerkes and laye men receyued them honorably· and with moche grete ioye with procession brought them in to the chirche whiche standeth in the place· in whiche the gloryouse vyrgyne marye was desyud chylded oure lord Ihesu criste the saueour of the world they sawe the crybbe in which was leyde in to resteâ—che swete childe that made heuen erthe whan our peple sawe thyse holy places they were moche ioyous and had grete tendrenes in theyr hertes The Cytezeyns of the toun for signe of ioye And for demonstraunce that oure lord and his dere moder oure lady shold gyue to them vyctorye· toke the baner of Tancre and sette it on hye vpon the chirche of oure lady They that were lefte in thoost had moche grete desyre to see and vysyte the holy places that wâ—re nygh by as it was sayd· ffor for the loue of god for to honoure hym were they departed fro theyr countreee and had suffred
many annoyes and grete trauaylles· And they myght not slepe this nyght· suche brennyng desire had they forto see the cyte which shold be th ende of their trauaylle· and thaccomplysshement of theyr vowe Them thought longe er the daye cam and them semed that thys nyght was moche lenger than the other ffor to a corageous desire ther is not haste ynowgh Of thardaunt desire that the peple had for to see Iherusalem And how the hoost approched and were lodged by ordenaunce Capitulo· CLxvijo. sYth that it was knowen certaynly in the lodgys that the Duc hadde receyued this nyght the messagers of bethlehem And that he had sente his men in to the toun The peple afoote abode neuer for leue of the barons ne myght not suffre til the dayâ— was come· but began to calle alle the nyght for to goo vnto Iherusalem· whan they were goon a whyle forth One of the noble men of thooste named Gaste de bedyers had moche grete pyte of this peple that they shold be slayn in the waye· And therfore be toke his hors and toke .xxx men of Armes with hym wel hoâ—sed and ordeyned in arraye· And thought that he wolde goo nygh to Iherusalem for to see yf they myght fynde out of the toun beâ—â—tes and other gayne for to take and lede a way with hym Alle thus as he thoughte it fylle thus in partye ffor whan he cam nygh the toun he fonde Oxen kyen largely in the pastures and but fewe that kâ—pt them· they fledde away whan they sawe our men come Gaste and his men began to gadre the beestes to gydre and droof them hastely toward thoost but the hâ—rdmen and kepaâ—s of them made a grete crye In the toun were turkes hardy and desyryng to doo armes They armed them dilygently ronne hastely after for to rescowe the proye gaste his men sawe them come· knewe well that they were not strong ynough for the turkes therfor they left this that they brought mouÌ„ted vpon an hye montayne therby moche angry of this mesauenture whan they had abyden a whyle vpon this montayne· They behelde in to the valeye And sawe Tancre come fro bethlehem retornyng to thoost with an â— C. men on horsbak· whan Gaste sawe them he smote his hors with his spores cam to hym and told hym of his mesauentuâ—â— and moche auguysshous and sayd that the turkes were not ferâ—â—â— they ran alle to gydre after them and ouertoke them â—r they myght to me in to the cyte In theyr comyng they discomfyted the turkes that they that myght fledde in to the Cyte The remenaunt they slewâ— And oure men recoueryd theyr proyâ— And brought iâ— in to thoost with grete ioye Alle they that were in the lodgys assembled about them· And demaunded of them ententyfly fro whâ—nâ— this proye cam· They answerd that they had take it to fore the yaâ—rs of Iherusalem whan they herde named the holy Cyte of Iherusalem· and knewe certaynly that it was so nygh thenne began they tendrely to wepe And fylle doun on theyr knees and rendred thankynges to oure lord with moche grete syghes of this that he had so moche loued them and conduyted that they myght see shortly the ende of theyr pylgremage that is to wete the holy Cyte of Iherusalem· whiche our lord so moche louyd that he wold dye therin for to saue the world Grete pyte was it to see and here the teres the cryes of this good peple They departed in this same maner And wente so forth that they sawe the towres and the walles of the toun Thenne lyft they vp theyr handes toward hâ—uen· and dyd of theyr hosen and shoes men and wymmen and kyssed therthe who that had seen this thaugh he had had an hard herte he shold haue be meuyd to pyte ffro 〈…〉 the waye greued them nothynge· but they wente moch lyghtly til they cam to fore the toun There they lodged them all aftir thordenaunce and deuyse of the barons whiche delyuerd to them the places Thenne semed verytably that the worde of the holy prophete was entirely accomplysshyd whiche sayd longe to fore Leua Iherusalem â— Aryse vp Iherusalem and lyft vp thyn eyen· And beholde the puissaunce of the kyng thy sauiour which cometh to onthynde the and put the oute of the bonde wherin thou art· O lord god how the hye barons the knyghtes the gentylmen of our hoost and alle the other generally men and wymmen were recomforted and reconcyled of the grete trauaylles and meseasâ—â— that they had â—onge endured whan they founde them to fore the holy Cyte of Iherusalem And how eche of them had good wylle to conteyne hym self in this nede and werke Of the situacion of Iherusalem and descripcion and also of many other cytees townes countrees ther aboute cao. CLxviijo. tRouthe it is that the holy Cyte of Iherusalem stondeth bytwene two montayneâ—· wherof dauid sayth in the psaulter Fundamenta eius in montibus sanctis The fondementes oâ— it ben in the holy montaynes toward the wâ—st is the see and the londe of the philistees ·xxiiij myle vnto port Iaphe and that is the next part of the see Bytwene bothe is the castel of Emaus where as oure lord after his resurexion appered to two discyples There is modyn the cyte and the fortresse of the machaâ—ews There is the place temple where alymelech the holy preest gaf to dauid and to his squyers the loues of breed to ete that were offred vpon the table of our lord wherfor saul dyde do slee hym and the other admynystratours of the chirche and men of the toun There is lyde where seynt Peter heeled a lame man named Eneanx· and had leyen viij· yere paralityk There is also Iaphe as I haue sayd where seynt Peter reysed a dede woman named thabyte There was seint peter herberowed in a tanners how 's that tanned leder whan he receyued the message fro Cornelle whom he baptysed as is sayd in thactes of the apostles· toward the â—est is the flome Iordan And the deserte is by yonde where the holy prophetes were woont to repayre There is the vale sauage whiche is named the dede 〈◊〉 whiche was a moche fayr and delectable countre lyke a paradys to fore that oure lord made do synke .v. Cytees Sodome and the other as is sayd in Genesys On this syde Iordan is the cyte of Iherycho that Iosue wan more by prayer than by bataylle Theder wente oure lord Ihesu Caste â— and made a blynde man to see There is galgala where helyzeus the proophete dwellyd· Toward the south is the cyte of Bethlehem where our lord was born and lâ—yde in the crybbe emonge the beestes There by is tâ—cua the cyte where Amos and Abacuc the prephetes were born Toward northeest is Gabao where atte prayer of Iosue the sonne rested â–ª til he had vaynquysshed the batayll There is Sâ—eirs where as our lord spak to the woman of Samarye There is
bethel where as the peple of Isâ—ahel worshipped the calf of god ayenst the wylle of oure lord There is Sebaste whiche is named seynt Iohan de sabaste· There is the sepulcre of seynt Iohan baptist â—â—lizeus and Abdyas the prophetes were there buryed It was sommetyme named Samarye The Cyte of naples is there which somme tyme was named Sychem· And it was there where Symeon and leuy sones of Iacob for to venge theyr suster whiche had ben enforced slewe them of the toun and brente alle the cyte How Iherusalem had many names after dyuerse lordes therin â—â—nnyng and yet of the situacion wel at a longe cao. Clxixâ— iHerusalem is the chyef cyte of Iudee It is withoute medowes and withoute Ryuers ne no brooke ne welle· It was first called Salem after Zebus After in the tyme whâ—â— tyme were caste out the Iherubesees whan dauid had regned vij yere in Ebron he grewe and amended moche this cyte And wold that it shold be the chyef and hede place of alle the Royamme Thenne was it named Iherusalem To fore that dauid assayâ—led the toun he toke the towre of Syon whiche was named the cyte of Dauyd Thenne made dauyd the cyte to be made about the place whiche was named Mellon Ioab made the remenaunt of the toun After whan Salamon regned in Iherusalem It was named Iherosolima· That is to saye Iherusalem of Salamon· As they saye that made thystoryes After the deth of Ihesu cristâ— Titus the sone of vaspasian was a moche grete prynce of Româ— And assieged this cyte with a grete hoost toke it by force and destroyed it and threwe it doun to therthe After cam Elyus Aâ—drian the fourth Emperour after hym and called it after his name elye ffor he reedefred it moch wel ffirst it stode in an hangyng of an hylle in suche wyse as toward theest and south it was sette in the roundnesse of the tertre of the mount of syon· And of another mouÌ„t named Moria The temple only and the toure named Anthone was on the toppe of the tertre· But the same Elyus made alle the Cyte to be born and reedefyed right on the toppe or sommet of the tertre in suche wyse that the place where oure lord was crucyfyed and the holy sepulcre· where his blessid body was leyed in whiche to fore were without the Cyte· were thenne enclosed within the walles The Cyte was not ouer grete ne ouer lytle It was more long than brood hit is on the four quaters enuyronned with depe valeyes toward the eest is the valeye of Iophat There stondeth a moche fayr chirche made in thonour of the glorious vyrgyne Marye where it is sayd that she was buryed ther is shewed yet the sepulcre Ther vnder is the rennyng water of which seynt Iohn euangelyste sayth that Ihu Crist passed Toward the southe is a valeye named Ennon there is the felde that was beught with the pens that Iudas sold oure lord fore which is made in sepulture of pilgrims named acheldemach toward the weste is a parte of the valeye where as the piscyne is whiche was a grete thynge whan the kynges of Iude were there it stratcheth vnto the Cysterne whiche is called the lake of the Patriarke By the old Cymetyer whiche is in the caue named the Lyon toward the northeest may men goo vp playn to the Cyte There is shewed the place where seynt Stephen the prothomarter was stoned of the Iuys· whan he prayd vpon his knees for them· that so pytte hym to deth And so deyed a very marter Here thystorye deuyseth of many merueyllous edyfyces conteyned in the same Cyte of Iherusalem And who made them Capitulo Clxxo. sO as I haue sayd two montaynes ben enchayned within the walles of Iherusalem· a litil valeye is bytwene them both whiche departed the toun as in the myddle Syon is toward the weste on the soÌ„mete or toppe theron stondeth the chirche which is named Syon And after there is a tour of dauyd whiche is the dongeon of the toun made of moche stronge werke· walles and barbycans there be many that ben aboute the toun· Trouthe it is that to fore oure pylgryms cam in to this holy lande· the place where our lord was crucifyed whiche was named caluarye And there where the very crosse was founden And where our sauyour Ihesu Criste was taken doun of the crosse· And enoynted with precioê° oynementis enuoluped in whyte lynen cloth this places were strayte as lytil chapellys But after that oure cristen men had the power them thought that the chirche was made ouer sâ—aâ—t and lytil where so grete and noble thynges were Therfore they made it al newe walled about with good strong werke and hye whiche conteyned and enclosed within it the fyrst chirche and the holy names that I haue named Toward the parte of the ocyent is the other mount named mona On the hangyng therof as who beholdeth toward the south stondeth the temple whiche the laye peple calle it Templum domini There as Dauyd bought the place for to sette in the Arke of oure lord And Salamon his sone made there the temple by the commaundement of God At the begynnyng of this book we sayde to you· that Omar the sone of Captap dyde make the forme in this manere There is a place square longe as moche as an Archer maye shote at twyes And as brood closed with good walles stronge· and hye And there toward the weste ben two gates by whiche men entre Thâ—â— one is named Speciosa where â—eynt peâ—er heelâ—d hym that was lame fâ—o his byrth· and fatâ—â— to fore the gate for to demaunde Almesse· That other gate had no name toward the north eestâ— Toward the thoryent is another gate named the Golden 〈◊〉 Toward the south is the how 's Ryall whiche is the temple of salamon· vpon eche of thyse yates· By whiche men entre in to the toun· And on the cornes ben hye towâ—es vpon whichâ— the prouostes were woonte to goo vp at certayn howres for to warne and somone the peple to praye and saye theyr orysons and to honoure our lord after theyr custommes Somme endure yet the other ben falle in the cloysture of this place ther dar noman dweâ—â—le ne noman is suffred to entre but bare foot and clene wasshen ffor there ben porters sette at alle the yates that take hedâ— therof In the mydle of this place whiche is thus closed is another place more hye and square toward the weste men goo vp therto in two places by degrees or stappes and in lyke wyse toward the southe But toward the south goth noman vp· but by one place In eueryche of the angles or corners were woont to be oratoryes where the sarasyns made theyr orysons and prayers Somme endure yet And many ben beten doun In the myddle of this hye place stondeth the temple whiche is made ·viij square And with out ben the walles couerd with tables of marble
the· barbyâ—ans taken and in suche wyse they cam playn to the walles ffor they within entremeted not moche but laâ—nched and shotte vpon the walles The duc commaunded to his peple that were vpon the castel that they sette fire in the pokes of coton in the sackes of beye that benge on the walles They dyde his commaundement thenne aroos a smoke so blacke and so thycke that they myght nothynge see The wynde was northeeste and blewe vpon the Turkes that were at defence vpon the walles· in suche wyse that they myght not opene theyr eyen ne theyr mowthes· But by force they muste avoyde the place that was delyuerd to them to deffende The valyaunt Duc Godeffroye whiche soynously entended to the werke apperceyued first that they were departed theÌ„ne be commaunded that they shold drawe diligently the· ii pâ—eces of tymbre that were falleÌ„ fro the wall as ye haue herd to fore this was don anon in suche wyse that the two endes of the two trees were leyd vâ—on the castel And the two other endes vpon the walle Thenne commaunded that the syde of the castel that myght be late doun shold be late doun vpon the two pyâ—ces of tymbre And thus was the brydge made good and strong vpon the tymbre of theyr enemyes The fyrst that entred and passed by the brydge vpon the walles was the Duc Godeffroy of boloyne and Eustace his brother with hym After thyse tweyne cam two other knyghtes that were also bretheren whiche also were fyers noble hardy That one was named lutol and that other gâ—lbert· They were borne in tornay Anon ther siewed them grete nombre of knyghtes· and of peple a foote whiche ranne moche thycke· as moche as they myght susteyne Anon the turkes apperceyued that our men were entred in to the toun and sawe the baner of the duc vpon the wallys And were disconfyted and gaf ouer the toures and descended in to the toun· and put them in to the strayt and narowe stretes for to defende them Oure peple sawe that the duc and grete partye of the knyghtes were now entred and that they had taken I wote not how many towres they abode no commaundement but adressyd laddres to the walles and wente vp· It was commaunded a good whyle to fore that euery ij knyghtes shold haue a laddre Therfor ther were grete nombre in thoost whiche anon were adressyd vp· The duc ranne moche dylygently vpon the walles and sette the peple as they cam in the towres he moche hasted for to take the fortresse Anon after that the duc was entred· entred in the duc of Normandye· Th erle of fflaundres Tancre the valyaunt Th erle of seynt poul Bawdyn deltors Gace de barce Gaste de bedyers· Thomas de fere Gyralt de Roussylon Lowys de Monco Conam lybres Th erle Remboult of Orenge Conain de Montagu· Lambert his sone and many other knyghtes· whiche I can not name whan the valyaunt Duc knewe certaynly that they were in the toun he called them· and commaunded that they shold goo hastely to the yate named the yate of seynt Stephen And that they shold opene it whan it was open Alle the people cam in with mâ—â—he grete prees· In suche wyse that there abode but fewe withâ—â—â— But alle were comen within the toun This was vpon a fâ—ydaye aboute None It is a thynge for to be byleuyd that oure lord dyde this by grete sygnefyaunce ffor on this daye and about that hour suffred he deth on the crosse right cruel in the same place for the Redempcion of man Therfore wold the sweâ—e lord that the peple of his trewe pylgryms shold gete this tonâ— and delyuer it oute of the seruage and thraldom of the hethen men and make it free vnto Cristen men that his seruyse myght be had therin and encreâ—ed Of the mayntenyng of our peple entred in to the toun toward the northeest And th erle of tholouse herof alle ygnorant assaylled alle way ca o Clxxxvjo. He valyaunt duc godeffroy of buyllon the knyghtes â–ª and the other men· of armes that were with hym desceÌ„ded fro the walles all armed in to the toun They wente to gydre thurgh the stretes with their swerdes in their haÌ„des glayues alle them that they mette they slewe smote right doun men wymmen and childeren sparyng none· There myght no prayers ne cryeng of mercy auaylle They slewe so many in the stretes that there were heeps of dede bodyes and myght not goo ne passe but vpon them that so laye deed The foote men wente in the other partyes of the toun by grete rowtes holdyng in theyr handes grete polaxes· swerdes malles and other wepens sleyng alle the turkes that they coude fynde ffor thei were the men of the world whom our men had grettest hate vnto and gladlyest wold put to deth They were thenne comen vnto the mydle of the Cyte Th erle of tholouse ne his men knewe nothyng yet that the toun was taken but assaylled moche fyersly the toun ayenst syon The turkes that defended them ayenst hym apperceyued not that our peple were in the toun But whan the crye and the noyse of them that men slowe began to growe The turkes behelde and sawe fro the walles And knewe wel the baners and Armes of the cristen men And were moche abassâ—â—d They lefte alle theyr deffences fledde there where they supposed best to be saued· And by cause that the dongeon of the toun whiche was by and was the grettest strengthe of the cyte Alle they that myght entre entred therin And shetâ—e faste the doores on them The erle of tholouse made the brydge of his castel auale vpon the walles and entred there in the toun he hym self and the Erle of â—ye ysoar· remon pelet guyllem de sabram the bisshop of albareâ— the other barons moche hastely wende that they on that part of the toun had be the first that had entred thenne they wente doun of the walles And alle the Turkes that they founde in the stretes and in the howses they brought to deth and shewe doun right ffro than forthâ—n myght none escape ffor whan they that fledde to fore Duc Godeffroye and his rowte mette with other rowtes of oure peple whiche smote them doun and slewe them without mercy I may not reherce ne can not to you the faites of euery man by hym self But there was so moche blood shedde that the canellys and rumyssheauls ronne alle of blood and alle the stretes of the toun were couerd with dede men In suche wyse that it was grete pyte for to see· yf it had not be of thenemyes of our lord Ihesu Criste How .x M. turkes were slayn in the temple And of the grete tresour that Tancre founde in the sayd temple cao. Clxxxvijo. iN to thynner part of the temple were fledde moche grete peple of the toun by cause it was the moost seynorously and rial place of the toun And
two They suffred them to come in· whan they were comen in One of them spak in this manere Fayr lordes we haue vnderstanden that ye be assembled here for to chese a kyng that shal gouerne this â—onde whiche thyng pleâ—â—th vs moche And we holden it for right wel don yf ye doo it in the manere that ye ought to doo it ffor without doubte the spyrituel thynges be more digne and worthy than the temporall Therfore we saye to you that the moost hye thynges ought to goo to fore And thus wolde we that ye shold doo And thordenaunce shold not go forth other wyse than it ought to be Now theÌ„ne we praye you and requyre you in the name of oure lord that ye entremete not you to make a kynge til that we haue chosen a patriarke in this toun that can gouerne the cristiente· yf it plese you that this be don fyrst it shal be good and wee l for you And we shal thenne holde hym â—or kyng that ye shal gyue to vs· but if ye wylle do otherwyse we shal not holde it· for good ne wel don But we shal discorde And after that ye doo shal not be fâ—rme This wordâ— semed outward to haue somme apparence of wee l But it cam of euyl purpoos· Ther was therin but deceyt and trecherye Of this complot and barate was mayster capytayne a bisshop of Calabre horn of a cyte whiche was named lamane This bisshop acorded moche to one Arnold of whome I haue spoken to fore whiche was ful of desloyalte he was not yet subdeken· and was a preestes sone and of so euyl and fowl lyf that the boyes and garsons had made songes of hym thurgh thoost and yet not with stondynge alle this the bisshop of Calabre ayenst god and reson wolde haue made hym patriark ffor they knewe ouermoche euyl therfor were they both acorded to gydrâ— They had made a bargain bytwene them that as sone as this Arnold shold be patriarke the sayd bisshop shold haue tharchebissoprych of bethlehem But oure lord ordeyned this thynge in another maner as ye shal here Ther were in thoost many clerkes of euyll contenaunce· that lytle entended to the seruyse of our lord· they litil preysed relygyonand honneste ffor syth the tyme that the valyauÌ„t bysshop of puy was dede which was legat of 〈…〉 the bisshop william of Orenge was in his place whiche was a relygyous man· and moch doubted our lord but he abode not longe after but was deed in suche wyse lyke as ye haue· herd Thenne was the clergye without pastour and garde And lete them falle in euyl lyf The Bisshop of Albare conteyned hym holyly in this pylgremage· And somme other that were noble· But the comyn of the clerkes made it alle ylle How the duc Godeffroy was chosen kyng of Iherusalem and how he was presented to our lord in his chirche of the holy sepulcre capitulo Clxxxxijo. He wordes that the Clerkes had brought to the barons in theyr electyon was not moche preysed but â—â—etted it to grete folye ne therfore letted not to doo that they had bygonnen· To th ende thenne that they myght knowe the better the couynes of alle the barons· they ordeyned wyse men that shold enserche the lyf of eueryche of them and the maners They dyde do come to fore them suche men as were moost pryue of the barons and toke eche of them a parte by the leue of theyr lordes· And toke of them theyr othes to saye the trouthe of that they shold be examyned that was of the lyf and manere of theyr lordes withoute â—â—syuge and fayllynge of the trouthe· Thus it was acorded emonge them It was a grete thynge whan the lordes abandouned tâ—em self â—enserche theyr lyues â–ª But the wyse men that made this enquest were trewe men and helde alle thyng secrete that as ought not to be knowen Many thynges were sayd to them of whiche they toke but lytil hede· Emonge alle other thynges they that were moost pryuee of the duc Godeffroye whan thâ—y were demaunded of his maners and his tetches· they answerd that he had one manere right greuous and ennoyous ffor whan he herd masse and the seruyse of oure lorde he coude not departe out of the chirche but sente after payntours glasyers vnto the clerkes gouernours of the chirches he herd gladly the ryngyng of the belles and entendeth mocheyf they discorded so longe that it displesyd moche to his felawship and seruauntes· And oftymes his mete appayred by cause of his long taryeng in the monasteryes and holy places whan the wysemen herd this and that this was the grettest vyce that coude be founden in the duc they had moche grete ioye ffor they thought wel that he dyde this for the loue of oure fayth and for thonour of our sauyour whan they had herd alle that they wold enquyre of the Barons they spak to gydre And grete partye of them were acorded vpon th erle of tholouse if it had not be for one thynge ffor alle they of his countre· that were moost pryue with hym· thought that yf he were chosen kyng that he shold abyde there and reteyne the peple of his countrey· And yf he were not chosen he shold sone retorne in to his countrey fro whens he cam and that desyred they moche· Thefore mâ—n wâ—ne that they were forsworn wyllyngly And sayde vpon hym somme euyl 〈◊〉 of whiche he had no blame Neuertheles he had neuer Intencion to retourne to his londe as it appered after ffor euer after he abode in the seruyse of our lord whiche he had enterprysed whan the barons herde all the tetches after many wordes they acorded al â–ª vpon Godeffroy of boloyne And named hym to be kyng and was lad with alle the peple with grete ioye vnto the chirche of the holy sepulcre And presented to oure lorde Euery man was glad grete and smal ffor he was the man that had the hertes of alle the comyn peple How the duc godeffroy after his election requyred th erle of tholouse that he shold delyuer to hym the tour dauid cao. Clxxxxiij iN this maner was the duc godeffroy chosen to be kyng· and lord of the holy Cyte of Iherusalem Th erle of tholouse helde the gâ—ettest fortresse of the toun whiche was called the tour dauyd The turkes had delyuerd it to hym lyke as ye haue herd to fore It is sette in the hyest parte of the Cyte toward the weste strongly walled with square stones and ther on meÌ„ may see ouer al the Cyte entierly whan the Duc sawe that this tour was not in his power It semed to hym that he had not the seygnorye whan the grettest fortresse of alle the countre was not in his possession Therfor he demaunded th erle of tholouse in the presence of the barons· prayd hym debonayrly that he wold delyuer it to hym Th erle answerd that he had conquerd it· and thenemyes of
oure lord had yolden it to hym And therfor he helde it But he had concluded to goo in to his countre at ester And thenne he wold delyuer it with a good wylle· But in the mene whyle he wold kepe it This requyred he for to be more honoured and in the gretter surete· The duc answerd playnly that yf he had not the toure he wold leue all· ffor how myght he be lord of the countre whan another had gretter power and gretter strengthe in his londe than heâ— Thus were they in debate· The Duc of Normandye and th erle of fflaundres helde with the duc godeffroy Of the other barons ther were that counseylled· that he shold doo his wil with th erle of tholouse They of therles countre attysed and counseylled hym that he shold not leue the tour by cause they wolde gyue hym occasion by this discorde to retorne in to his countre Atâ—e laste they acorded that the fortresse shold be put in the hande of the bisshop of Albare vnto the tyme that they were acorded what shold be doo therin whan he had it within a short tyme after he delyuerd it to the duc It was demaunded hym why he had so delyuerd it Thenne he answerd that it was taken from hym by force It was not knowen for trouthe whether it was taken from hym by constraynt or yf he delyuerd it with his grâ—e and wyll whan th erle of tholouse sawe this he was moche angry And hym semed that the barons were not wel content with hym lyke as they ought to be consyderyng that by the way he had don to them many grete bouÌ„tres and good seruyses whiche they remembryd not as it was sayd ffor desdayne herof· And by atysement that his knyghtes made to hym· he enterprysed to retourne in to his countre And descended vnto the fflome Iordan And there bayned hym After he ordeyned his affayre for to departe out of the londe Of a Patriark chosen and elect in Iherusalem And how ther was founden a part of the very crosse Capitulo Clxxxxiiij tHis euyl man of whom I haue spoken to fore the bisshop of maturane was ful of grete malyce and of desloyalte And payned hym moche in alle maners to sette discorde bytwene the Barons and the people ffor they sayde that the Barons wold not suffre that a patriark shold be chosen by cause they helde the rentes of the chirche And wold not delyuer them â—e fondâ— moche peple that byleuyd hym and acorded to hym in suche wyse that by thayde of them ayenst the wylle of other also by thayde of the duc of normandye to whom he was moche pryue had â—e at his table in all this werk he chose for patriark this arnold that was his felaw in alle euyl condicions by force they sette hym in the seete of the patriarke in the chirche of the sepulcre This was ayenst reason ayenst alle right Therfore it happed ne fyll not wel to hym ne to that other Thenne it happed that a parte of the very Crosse was founden in therthe by the Chirche of the sepulcre in a secrete place ffor the cristen men that were in the 〈◊〉 to fore it was taken in so grete meschyef as ye haue â—â—rd â–ª doubted that the turkes wold haue taken it fro them Therfore had they hyd it moche surely· and fewe knewe of it But a good man a suryen whiche that knewe it discouâ—â—d it to the bâ—rons And whan they had doluen and dygged a good whyle they fonde it in a châ—ste of syluer lyke as he had to them sayd and deuysed Thenne was the ioye moche grete and they bore it a â—â—â—cession in syngyng vnto the temple· all the peple weÌ„te after which 〈◊〉 for pyte As moch as if they had seen our sauyour 〈…〉 yet hangynge on the crosse They alle helde them for moche recomforted of this grete ttesour that our lord had thus discoueryd How the duc godeffroy payned hym to amende the Royamme of his good constitucions and estatutes cao. Clxxxxvo. gRete ioye was it thurgh the londe of this· that the valyaunt duc godefroy was chosen kyng· Alle they obeyed hym with good herte· he amended dylygently alle the discordes thurgh the londe And alle the other thynges that had nede of amendement in suche wyse that his power grewe fro day to day moche appertely Of hym shal I saye in shorte wordes the very trouthe he regned not but one yere and that was moche grete dommage ffor he had the wylle wytte and power to doo grete good in the Royamme for tenfeble thenemyes of oure lord Ihesu Crist· and for tenhaunce and exalte the Cristen fayth But our lord called hym fro this world to hym to th ende that the malyce of it shold not chaunge his herte in thonour wherin he was he was born in the Royamme of Fraunce at boloyne vpon the see whiche was somtyme a Cyte And nowe it is but lytil more than a castel· he cam of hye and noble folke and good crysten peple his fader was named eustace noble puyssauÌ„t erle in that couÌ„tre· whiche had doon many hye werkes bouÌ„tees vnto our lord noble werkes vnto the world his moder was a noble lady of gentilesse more noble of herte than of hyenes of lygnage She was named yde· was suster to the duc of Loreyne whiche was named godeffroy boâ—ce he deyde withoute heyer· Therfor he lofte alle the duchye and the Countreye to his neuewe whiche bare his name And adopted hym in to sone and heyr Therfore he was duc of Lorâ—yne whan his vncle was deed he had thre brethren whiche were moche wise men and good knyghtes and also moch fathful and trewe That one was Bawdwyn th erle of Rages whiche after hym was kyng of Iherusalem The second was named Eustace whiche bare the name of his fader· And was Erle of boloyne The kynge Stephen of Englond toke his doughter to wyf whiche was namde Maulde· The barons of Surye sente for this Eustace for to make hym kyng after the deth of his broder bawdwyn· whiche deyde withoute heyer But he wold not goo ffor he doubted the barats discordes of the londe whiche he knewe wel The fourth broder was william a good knyght and a trewe ne he discorded not in the bounte of his bretheren Bawdwyn and Eustace folowed theyr lord and broder in the pylgremage to Iherusalem· the fourth broder guylliam abode in his countre for to kepe the londe Alle the four bretheren were of moche grete valeur But the duc Godeffroye lyke he was the oldest· so bare he awaye the prys and auantage of the other as he that was ful of vertues· of bounâ—â—s and was moche noble and rightful withoute couetyse he dredde and louyd oure lord aboue alle thynge he honoured relygyous men and good he was moche ferme and constant of his worde he despysed merueyllously bobaunces pompes and dishonestâ—â—s and hated them
tabarye whiche stondeth on the laye of Geme· And with that alle the pryncipalyte of Galylee with the Cyte· whiche was woned to be named porphire And nowe named Cayphas· and alle thappertenaunces of thyse thynges Tancre helde thyse londes so wel and so wysely that he was alowed of god honoured of the world he fouÌ„ded the chirches of this countrey moche rychely he gaf to them grete rentes and endowed them with Aournementes fayr and of grete valure· Specially the chirche of Nazareth of tabarye and that of mount Tabor· he lefte them in hye estate and in moche ryche poynt But the barons that after hym haue be lordes of the countrey haue taken from them ynowgh of their tenours This Tancre was wyse and trewe And delyted hym to doo wel to the chirches as it appereth after whan he was prynce of Anthyoche· ffor he enhaunced the chirche of seynt peter and the pryncipalyte and seygnorye of aÌ„thyoche made he moch teÌ„crece enlarged as ye shal here How buymont and bawdwyn beyng certayn of the pryse and conqueste of Iherusalem wolde accomplysshe theyr pylgremage Capitulo CC·iiijo. wHyles that the Royamme of Iherusalem was in such estate Buymont the prynce of Anthyoche And Bawdwyn Erle of Rages broder of the duc godeffroy had herd certayn tydynges that the other barons that helde them to gydre as bretheren for the accompanye of theyr pylgremage had by thayde and helpe of our lord Ihesu Criste conquerd vpon the turkes and recouerd to oure fayth the holy Cyte of Iherusalem by whiche they had accomplysshyd theyr vowes and theyr pylgremages Therfor they assembled on a day named for to goo to the holy sepulcâ—e to th ende that· they were assaylled of theyr vowes And desired moche for to see the Duc and the other Barons to whom they wold gyue ayde yf they had nede â–ª that is to wete of their bodyes of theyr goodes and of theyr men that were vnder them Thyse two hye men were not at the takynge of the holy Cyte of Iherusalem ffor by the wylle of the pylgryms that one of them abode in Anthyoche And that other at Rages for to kepe soygnously and defende the turkes fro thyse two Cytees whiche were fer fro Cristiente· Eche man had to doo ynowgh in his countrey· But they lefte alle for to come to the other Buymont cam fyrst fro his cyte with a moche fayr company grete nombre of men of Armes on horsbak and a foote· he cam vnto a Cyte vpon the sâ—e named valerne on the castel of margat there he lodged hym maulgre them of the cyte· Bawdwyn cam fro his countrey sone after and so moch iourneied after that he ouertoke the prynce buymont to fore this Cyte And there they assembled In that same tyme were arryued pylgryms of ytalye at the lyche in surye Emong them was a good man wyse and wel lettred Relygyous and of grete honneste named daybart Archebisshop of Pyse Another was in his company Archebysshop of puylle of a Cyte named Acianâ— Thyse men with theyr meyne cam in the companye of thyse two barons for to passe more surely vnto the Cyte of Iherusalem· Of them was moche encreced thoost of thyse two prynces in suche wyse that they were wel .xxv M· on horsbak and a foote· Thus thenne helde they theyr waye by suche manerâ— that they fonde no Cyte but of theyr enemyes wherfore they passed with moch grete payne They suffred moche in theyr way for lack of vytaylles ffor they fonde none for 〈◊〉 hyâ—· And suche as they brought fro theyr countrey was faylled They haâ—e grete cold and so grete rayne that nothyng myght endure it was so meâ—ueylous· It was in the moneth of Iuyll· whiche is moche rayny customably in that countrey ffor this cause many deyed of â—esease in that companye ffor in alle this longe waye they myght fynde none that wold selle to them ony vytaylle sauf they of Tryple â–ª and they of cesaire They had grete sarceâ—e of vytaylles for theyr horses Atte laste by the mercy of our lord they cam to Iherusalem There were they receyued with moche grete ioye· of god of the barons of the clergye and of alle the peple· They vysyted the holy places of the cyte in teâ—ris and grete sorowes of herte they fylle doun flat and stratched in the chirches they kyssed and ete therthe that our lord had bought After they cam in to theyr hostel lys where alle they of the toun made to them grete ioye whan the hye feste of the natyuyte of our lord Ihesu Criste approuched Alle the prelates and barons yssued out of Iherusalem· wente to Bethlehem There helde they theyr Cristemas There behelde they gladly and moche ententyfly the holy crybbe wherin the sauyour of the world laye bytwene the beestes deuoutly made they theyr prayers orysons in the place whiche is as a lytil dyche where the swete lady that was moder and vyrgyne after that she had chylded wrapped her sone with lytil and smale clothys gaf hym souke of the Mylke of her pappes How our Cristen men chosen a very Patriarke in Iherusalem and assigned to hym rentes cao. CCv o vN to this tyme had the See of Iherusalem ben without pastour and patriark that duely and truly had entred It was wel theÌ„ne v monethes that the cyte was conquerd Thenne assembled the Barons for to counseylle to haue suche a man that were worthy of honour myght to bere the faytes Ther were wordes ynowgh The somme wolde haue one and other wold haue another· Atte laste by the counseyl and good wyll of alle they chees this Daybart Archibisshop of pyse whiche was but newly come They constituted and sette hym in the siege of Patriark ffor he that had be made by this baratour arnold of whom I haue spoken to fore lyke as he was made ayenst right and reson In lyke wyse he retorned agayn to nought whan this good wyse man was sette in his dignyte The duc godeffroy and the prynce buymont cam to fore hym whiche had gyuen to hym this honour as for to be the vycayre of Ihesu Criste in that londe and thanked and preysed alle to gydre oure lord whan this was don they assygned rentes to the newe Patriark suche as his predecessour whiche was a greeke had holden· And other gretter aboue that in suche wyse that he myght honorably mayntene a good and honest company of peple Thenne bawdwyn and buymont toke leue of the duc and of the other barons and descended vnto flom Iordan and there bayned them ffro thens they wente by the Ryuer syde til they cam to tabarye Thenne passed by the londe named Fenyce And lefte cesayre on the right syde· After they cam to the Cyte named manbec After helde they the see syde and so moche exployted that they cam al hool and sound to Anchyâ—câ—e How by thatysement of somme men a grete debate sourâ—ed bytwene the duc and the patriarke of
he drewe his swerd and smote the camel on the neck where it was grettest· And smote it of as lyghtly as it had ben a sheep· whan the turke sawe this he merueylled ouer moche In such wyse that he was all abasshed whan he had a litil he thought hym he sayd in his langage I see wel sayd he that the duc hath a good swerd wel trenchant cuttyng But I wote neuer yf he coude smyte so grete a strook with another swerde· The valyaunt duc demaunded what he sayde And whan he knewe· he began to smyle a lytil And after sayd that he shold delyuer to hym his owen swerde The turke dyde so· the duc thenne smote therwith an other Camel· In suche wyse that he made the hede to flee of moche lyghtlyer than of the other thenne merueylled ouer moche the turk And sayde that it was more by the strengthe of the Arme· than by the bounte of the swerd he had wel preuyd that it was trewe that was sayd of the Duc in his Countreye· Thenne he gaf to the duc many fayr Iewellys of gold and of ryche stones and moche acqueynted with hym· And after retorned home in to his countre· The valyaunt duc cam vnto Iherusalem with alle his proye the trusses fardellys of his gayn which wer so grete that all the men of his companye were ryche In that moneth of Iuyll· the velyaunt duc godefroy whiche was gouernour of the Royamme of Iherusalem had a maladye and sekenes moch grete Alle the phisiciens of the contre were sente for· They dyde alle that in them was possible But alle auaylled not· ffor the payne encresyd alway more· After this he sente for men of relygyon as prelates curates other good deuoute men for to haue coūseyll of them for the helthe of his sowle he was moche wel confessyd and veray repentaunt with grete wepynges And in his right mynde with grete deuocion departed out of this world Certaynly we ought to thynke that the sowle was brought vp with angelis to fore the face of Ihesu crist he deyde the .xiij day of Iuyll the yere of thyncaruacion of oure lord· M j C he was entiered and buryed in the chirche of the holy sepulcre vnder the place of the mount of Caluarye where our lord was put on the crosse That place is kept moche honestly for to entere and burye the kynges vnto this day Thus endeth this book Intitled the laste siege and conquest of Iherusalem with many other historyes therin comprysed Fyrst of Eracles and of the meseases of the cristen men in the holy londe And of their releef conquest of Iherusalem and how Godeffroy of boloyne was first kyng of the latyns in that royamme of his deth translated reduced out of ffreusshe in to englysshe by me symple persone Wylliam Caxton to th ende that euery cristen man may be the better encoraged tenterprise warre for the defense of Cristendom and to recouer the sayd Cyte of Iherusalem in whiche oure blessyd sauyour Ihesu Criste suffred deth for al mankynde and roose fro deth to lyf And fro the same holy londe ascended in to heuen· And also that Cristen peple one vnyed in a veray peas myght empryse to goo theder in pylgremage with strong honde for to expelle the sarasyns and turkes out of the same that our lord myght be ther seruyd worshipped of his chosen cristen peple in that holy blessyd londe in which he was Incarnate and blissyd it with the presence of his blessyd body whyles he was here in erthe emonge vs by whiche conquest we myght deserue after this present short and transitorye lyf· the celestial lyf to dwelle in heuen eternally in ioye without ende Amen Which book I presente vnto the mooste Cristen kynge· kynge Edward the fourth humbly besechyng his hyenes to take no displesyr at me so presumyng whiche boook I began in marche the xij daye and fynysshyd the vij day of Iuyn the yere of our lord M. CCCC·lxxxj the xxj yere of the regne of our sayd sauerayn lord kyng Edward the fourth in this maner sette in forme enprynted the xx day of nouembre the yere a forsayd in thabbay of westmester by the sayd wylliam Caxton
â—He hye couragyous faytee And valyaunt actes of noble Illustrous and vertuous personnes ben digne to be recounted put in memorye and wreton to th ende that ther may be gyuen to them name Inmortal by souerayn laude and preysyng And also for to moeue and tenflawme the hertes of the Redars and hierers for â—â—â—che we and flee werkes vycious dishonnest and vytuperable And for tempryse and accomplysshe enterpryses honnestes and werkes of gloryous meryte to lyue in remembraunce perpetuel ffor as it is so that thystoryagraphes haue wreton many a noble hystorye as wel in metre as in prose By whiche thactes and noble fayttes of thauncyent conquerours ben had in remembraunce· and remayne in grete large and aourned volumes and so shal abyde in perpetuel memorye to thentente that gloryous Prynces and hye men of noble and vertuouse courage shold take ensample tempryse werkys leful and honneste Fyrst for goddes quarell in mayntenyng oure fayth and the libertees of holy chirche· For the recuperacion of the holy land whiche our blessyd lord Ihesu Criste hath halowed by his blessyd presence humayne and by shedyng therin for oure redempcion his precious blood ffor the releef of suche cristen men as there dwelle in grete myserye and thraldomÌ„ And also for the defence of theyr Royammes Londes Enherytages and subgâ—â—tes And for thyse causes tendeuoyre theym in theyr noble persones with alle theyr puyssauÌ„ces and power tadresse and remyse theym in theyr auncyent Fraunchyses and lyberte Acordyng to that we fynde wreton in holy scripture of many noble historyes· which were here ouer long to reherce· But in especial of thre noble and mooste worthy of alle other that is to wytte fyrst of duc Iosue that noble prynce whiche ladde and conduyted the Childeren of Israhel the chosen people of God oute of deserte in to the londe of promyssyon the Londe flowynge Mylke and hony· Socondly of Dauyd the Kynge and holy Prophete Whome God chaas after his herte And achyeuyd many grete Bataylles gouernyng the sayd chosen people of God by the space of fourty yeris And the thyrde of the Noble Iudas Machabeus· how he deffended the sayd people in fyghtyng many and merueyllous bataylles· for veray zeele and loue of his lawe and mayntenyng of the same· vnto the deth ffor which causes a forsayd the names of thyes thre abyde perpetuel for thre of the moste beste and Nobleste of the Iewys And in the nombre of the moost digne and moost worthy aNd by cause valyaunce and prowesse is remembryd emong the gentyles paynmes· as emong the brewes I fynde wreton of the incredible cheualrous prowesse of the noble and valyaunt Hector of troye whos excellent actes wryten Ouyde Homer Virgyle Dares Dyctes and other dyuerse· and eche better than other reherchyng his noble vertues strengthe and humanyte Secondly of Alysaundre the grete kynge of Macedone· which domyned and had to hym obeyssaunt the vnyuersal world And the thyrde the noble Iulyus Cezar Emperour of Rome· whos noble actes ben wreton by poetes as lucan stace and other And dayly remembryd as newe and ffresshe as he yet lyuyd whiche thre ben sette as for the moost worthy emong the gentyles and paynems nOw lete vs thenne remembre· what hystoryes ben wreton of Cristen men of whom ther be many wreton· But in especial as for the best and worthyest I fynde fyrst the gloryous most excellent in his tyme and fyrst founder of the round table Kyng Arthur kyng of the brytons that tyme regnyng in this Royamme of whos retenue were many noble Kynges Prynces lordes and knyghtes· of which the noblest were knyghtes of the round table· of whos actes and historyes there be large volumes and bookes grete plente and many O blessyd lord whan I remembre the grete and many volumes of seynt graal ghalehot and launce lotte de lake Gawayn perceual Lyonel and tristram and many other· of whom were ouer longe to reherce and also to me vnknowen But thystorye of the sayd Arthur is so gloryous and shynyng that he is stalled in the fyrst place of the mooste noble beste and worthyest of the cristen men Secondly of Charlemayn the grete Epemrour of Allemayne and kyng of ffraunce whos noble actes and conquestes ben wreton in large volumes with the noble faytes and actes of his douze pieres· that is to saye Rowlond and olyuer with the other whos name and renommee abydeth also perpetuel and is stalled in the second place emonge the most worthy of Cristen men Of alle thyse historyes a for reherced the bookes and volumes ben had in latyn ffrenssh and Englysshe and other langage tHenne as for the thyrd of the Cristen prynces taken reputed and renommed for to be egal emong thyse worthy best that euer were· I mene the noble Godefroy of Boloyne whiche now but late not yet four C. yere syth he flowred· and was stalled in the thyrde stalle of the moost worthy of Cristen men whos hystorye is made and wreton in Latyn and ffrensshe in large and grete volumes And as not knowen emonge vs here whiche ben adiacent and neyghbours to the place of his natyuyte whos noble hystorye I late fonde in a booke of ffrenssh al a longe of his noble actes valyaunces prowesses and accomplysshement of his hye empryses In whiche I fynde very causes as me semeth moche semblable and lyke· vnto suche as we haue nowe dayly to fore vs· By the mescreauntes and turkes emprysed ayenst Cristendom And yet moche more nowe than were in his dayes ffor in his dayes the turkes had conquerd vpon Cristendom but vnto the braas of seynt George by Constantynople· And had no foote on this syde the sayd Braas· But at this daye it is so that they haue comen ouer and goten that Imperial Cyte Constantynople a forsayd and many Royamâ—â— and countre to the grete dommage and hurte of alle Cristendom To the resistence of whom as yet fewe Cristen prynces haue put theym in deuoyr· Thenne I returne agayn vnto the conqueste at suche tyme as they were come to the sayd Braas that by the dylygent solicitude of a 〈◊〉 heremyte the sayd Godeffroy of Boloyne· and other dyuerse prynces lordes and comyn peple auowed the croysyng and empryse to warre agayn the mescreauntes And to recouere the holy Cyte of Iherusalem whiche afterward they achyeuyd and conquerd fro the sayd braas vnto the holy lande and recouerd the holy cyte of Iherusalem as in this sayd boook al a longe and playnly shal appere· In whiche cyte the sayd Godeffroy was elect and chosen for his vertue prowesse and blessyd diâ—posicion to be kyng of the sayd Iherusalem· and the londe therabout tHenne I thus vysytyng this noble hystorye whiche is no fable ne fayned thynge· But alle that is therin trewe Considerynge also the grete puyssaunce of the Turke grete enemye of oure Cristen fayth destroyar of Cristen blood and vsurpar of certayn Empyres and many Cristen Royammes and countrees And now late this sayd yere
of our engynâ— capitulo CLxxxij Of the dispar of our peple at the sayd assault· And how they we 〈◊〉 recomforted by a knyght vnknowen and euydent myracles capitulo CLxxxiij How th erle of tholouse assaylled vygorously toward the south· And of thardaunt desire that eche man had to doo wel capitulo CLxxxiiij Of the pryse and takyng of Iherusalem and how duc godeffroy entred fyrst on the walles and who folowed capitulo CLxxxv Of the mayntenyng of our peple entred in to the toun toward the northeest and th erle of tholouse herof al ignoraunt assaylled alwey· capitulo CLxxxvj How x M turkes were slayn in the temple and of the grete tresour that Tancre fonde in the temple capitulo CLxxxvij Of the oâ—denauÌ„ces that the cristen men made tofore they vnarmed them after that the toun was taken· capitulo CLxxxviij How the cristen men that had charged theyr message for theyr delyueraunce to peter theremyte knewâ—hy in cao. Clxxxix How they clensyd the toun of the dede bodyes Of many other ordenaunces And how the dongeon was yolden to th erle of tholouse capitulo CLxxxx How the hye barons of thoost assembled for to chose a kynge of Iherusalem· And thoppynyon of the clergye vpon the same Capitulo CLxxxxj How the duc godeffroy was chosen kynge of Iherusalem· And how he was presented to our lord in his chirche of the holy sepulcre capitulo CLxxxxij How duc godeffroy after his election requyred th erle of tholouse that he shold delyuer to hym the tour dauyd· cao. CLxxxxiij Of a patriarke electe and chosen in Iherusalem And how there was founden a part of the veray crosse capitulo CLxxxxiiij How duc godeffroy payned hym to amende the Royamme of his good condicions and statutes· capitulo CLxxxxv Of the sayeng of the countesse of boloyne moder of the sayd duc that she sayd of her iij oldest sones was verefyed cao. CLxxxxvj Of the wagyng of a bataylle which was bytwene duc godefroy and an hye baron of almayne capitulo C Lxxxxvij Of a fayr fayte of armes· which that the duc dide in a bataill that theÌ„perour of Almayne had ayeÌ„st them of saxone cao. Clxxxxvij How the valyaunt duc godeffroy augmented holy chirche and he wold neuer bere crowne capitulo CLxxxxix How the turkes of Aâ—abe and of Egypte made their sommance for to come in to Sury tassaylle our cristen men capitulo CC How the crysten men whan they knewe thyse tydynges cryed to god for mercy and for to haue vyctorye· capitulo CCj How oure men assembled and ordeyned theyr bataylles for to fyghte ayenst the turkes And how the turkes were disconfyted capitulo CCij How somme of oure barons wolde retorne home after that they had don theyr pylgremage capitulo CCiij How buymont and bawdwyn acerteyned of the conquest of Iherusalem wold accomplysshe theyr pylgremage cao. CCiiij How our cristen men chosen a very patriark in Iherusalem And assigned to hym rentes capitulo CCv How by thatysement of somme men a grete debate sourded bytwene the duc and the patriark of Iherusalem cao. CCvj Here recounteth thistorye how the fourth part of Iherusalem 〈◊〉 vnto the patriarke of the same capitulo CCâ—iâ— Of the same maâ—er cao. CCvâ—â— How duc godeâ—froy for taugmente cristiente assyeged one of 〈◊〉 tounes of the turkes capitulo CCâ— How the turkes brought presentes to the duc Godeffroye at tâ—e sayd siege and of theyr deuyses to gydre capitulo CCx How buynâ—ont was taken in goyng to meletene whiche 〈…〉 lord of the toun wold haue yolden to hym· capitulo CCâ—â— How the duc godeffroy assembled his peple and entred in to â—â—rabye And of the gayn that he made of two greâ—â— strokes that 〈◊〉 smote on two camellis And of his deth capitulo CCxij Here endeth the table of the content and chapytres nombred of this present book entitled the siege and conqueste of Iherusalem by cristen men Here begynneth the boke Intituled Eracles and also of Godefrey of Boloyne the whiche speketh of the Conquest of the holâ— londe of Iherusalem conteynyng diuerse warres and nobâ—◠〈◊〉 of Armes made in the same RoyaÌ„me and in the contrees 〈…〉 And also many meruayllous werkes happed and fallen as we on this syde as in tho partyes this tyme duryng And how he valyant duc Godefrey of Boloyne conquerd with the werâ—â—he sayd Royamme And was kynge there The ffirst chapitre treateth how Eracles conquerd Perâ— and slewe Cosdroe and brought in to Iherusalem the very crâ—se capitulo primo tHe Auncyent hystoryes saye that Eracles was a good crysten man and gouernour of th empyre of Rome But in his tyme Mâ—chemet had ben whiche was messager of the deuil And made the peple to vnderstonde that he was a prophete sente from our lorde In the tyme of Eracles was the fals lawe of maâ—chomet sowen and sprad abrode in many partyes of thoryent and namely in Arabye in so moche that the prynces of the londes 〈◊〉 wold not gyue faith to his secte that he prechid and taught whiche is cursed and euyl but he constrayned them by force and by swâ—rd to alle their subgets to obeye to his commandemens and to byleue in his lawe Whan Eracles had conquerd Perse and slayn â—â—sdroe whiche was a puissaunt kynge he brought agayn to Iherusalem the very Crosse whiche they had ladde in to perse And abode and dwellyd in the londe of Surrye And dide do ordeyne and chose a patriarke a moche wise man named Modesâ—e By whos counseil he dyde do make agayn the chirches and habylled the holy places and clensed them that the tyraunt Cosdroâ— of Perse had smeton doun and destroyed Eracles sette grete enâ—euâ—e made grete 〈◊〉 for to repayre them And whiles he entended ther abouâ—e homar the sone of captap whiche was a prynce of Arabe the thirde after machomet cam in to this contree named palesâ—yne with so grete nombre of peple that alle the londe was couerd with them and had thenne taken by force a moche stronge Cyte of that londe named Iadre ffrom thens he drewe hym toward damaske and assieged the cyte and by strengthe toke hyt ffor he had sogrete a nombre of peple that nothyng myght resiste hym themperour heracles which yet dwellyd in a parte of this londe named Cylyce herde tydynges â—f this peple And sente good espyes trewe in whiche he trusted 〈…〉 see and serche their couine ffor he desyred moche to haue a 〈◊〉 with thise peple on the felde and fyghte and chase them out of 〈◊〉 londes and cytees whiche obeyed to Cristente to th empyre of 〈◊〉 But whan his messagers cam he had by them knowleche cerâ—â—ynly that he had not peple ynowhe to fyhte ayenst them ffor theâ— were so fyers so orguylloê° of the grete nombre of peple that theyhad that they thought nothyng myght resiste them And ther vpoâ— heracles had deliberaconÌ„ and counseilled with his peple that it â—â—ld be lest
alle theyr thynges were taken awey fro them namely by them that helde of themperour In this debate was done alle the shames and repreues to the pope Thenne the holy fader sawe that he was not obeyed as he shold be and that he was in paryl of his lyf And he went in to puylle by the helpe and counseyl of Robert guichart whiche theÌ„ne was lord of the contre This Robert dyde vnto our holy fader and to his peple as moche of honour of servyse and bounce as they wold take and yet more at laste on holy fader wente hym in to salerne becam seke and laye doun there deyde was there buryed The Cardynals that were there Chose another whiche was named viator whiche endured but one moneth or there aboutes After hym they choos this vrban that I spack of to fore This vrban sawe that themperour was yet in his maâ—â—ce his angre durst not abandone to hym ne put hym in his power but helde hym in the forteresses of some barons that for goddes sake retryned hym in grete doubte whiles he was in this poynt peter theremyte cam to hym and brought to hym the message fro the Crysten men in the holy londe our holy fader the pope knewe moche wel the bounte the wytte and the religion that was in this peter And ansuerd to hym moche swetly and sayde that he shold goo hastyly speke to the princes and barons of the royame of ffrannce of this werke for yf he myght escape sauely fro the handes of themperour he hym self had Intencion to passe the montaygnes and drawe hym toward tho parties for to helpe the better to this wherke yf it were possible Thenne peter was right glad of this good answere of our holy fader and passed lombardye and the montaygnes and cam in to ffrance And began diligently to gete the barons like as he was sent expresly to them and tolde to eche of them the shames and disconvenyences that the hethen peple dyde to the Crysten folke in the holy londe And the same he said to the mene peple for he assembled them oftymes and tolde to them the sorouful state of the londe Cyte of Irlm in suche wyse that he made them to wepe many a tâ—ere And at euery tyme he made some fruyt by his sayeng and exhortyng the peple to gyue socours to the holy lande And like wise as saynt Iohn baptyste preched to fore to make the way to fore IhuÌ„ cryste so in the same wyse this Peter brought tydynges to fore the comyng of our holy fader wherfore he hym self whan â—he cam was the lecter heâ—d and byleuid and the more dyde in this werke Of a general counseyl that the pope vrban ordeyned for the reformacion of holy chirche thamendement of the peple capo. xvo. iN the yere of thyncarnacion of our lord M. lxxxxv regned the fourth harry kynge of almayn and emperour of Rome the xviij yere of his regne and the xij of his Empire and In frannce regned thenne philipe the sone of harry ThenÌ„e sawe our holy fader the pope vrban that the world was moche empeyred and torned to evyl and helde a counseyl ther vpon of the prelates of ytalye at playsance where he made establysshemens by theyr counseyl for tamende the maners of the Clergye and of the laye peple After he knewe wel that he was not sure in the power of themperour and passed the montaygnes and cam in to the royame of frannce he fonde the peple euyl endoctryned and ouermoche enclyned to synne-Charite faylled and warres and discordes were emonge the riche men And thought that it was nede to doo his power myght for tamende Cristiente he ordeyned a generall counseyl of alle the prelates that were bytwene the montaynes and the see of Englonde this counseyl was sette fyrst at Clony Another tyme at puyâ—â—rÌ„e dame And the thirde tyme at Cleremont in anuergne This was in the moneth of Nouembre Ther were many Archebisshops bisshops abbotes and grete prelates and persones of holi chirche of thise parties Ther were by thâ— general counseyl many coumandements gyuen for â—â—mende clerkes layefee for teshewe synnes and recouâ—re good maners There was holy chirche al reformed of whiche it had grete nede Emonge alle other Peter theremyte was there whiche forgate not the werke that he was charged with but admonesced the prelates eche pryuatly by hym self prayde the comune peple openly moche wel and wysely TheÌ„ne toke our holy fader the wordes and shewed generally to alle the counseyl what grete shame it was to alle the cristen men of our faith that was so nyghe destroyed yâ—d faylled in the place where it began and it myght be grete fere and drede whan it faylled at the heed welle that the ryveâ—â— shold not endure that were rennyng thurgh the world And saide moche wel that alle the very Crystâ—n peple shold take herof grete despite of thus desheryted by their defaulte and his contre dâ—lâ—uerd to his enemyes And promysed that yf they wolâ—e toke vpon this pylgremage he wolde chauÌ„ge theyr penaunce in to this werke· And yf they deyde in this waye confessid and repentaunt· he wolde take it on his fayth that they incontinent shold goo in to the Ioye of heuen On that other syde as long as they were in the seruyse of our lord they were in the warde and kepyng of holy chirche bothe they and theyr thynges in suche wyse that they that dyde to them ony domage shold be acursed alle this commanded he to be kept of alle the prelates that were atte couÌ„seyl This doon he gaf euery man leue and commanded shold preche this pylgremage and pardon And tolde to them that alle men shold trauayll to gyue and make longe trewes and pees of the warres for taccoÌ„plysshe the better this pylgremage and to performe it How many noble hye men and other of the Royame of fraunse crossed them for to goo ouer see ca xvjo. oWr lord gaf his grace vnto our holy fader the pope in vtteryng of the word of god· which was said in suche wyse that it was fyxed roted in the hertes of them that herde hym and not only of them that were present but of alle other that it was recorded and told vnto ffor the bisshops wente in to theyr countrees preched to theyr peple like as it was to them commanded How be it that it was a strange thyng right greuoê° for a man to leue his contree his wyf his childeren and lygnage And leue them that he loueth by nature But whan one thynketh what reward he shal haue of our lord so to doo thenne he geteth a feruent loue in hym self for the charyte of our lord and leueth the naturel loue of his flessh for to saue his sowle and this myght wel be perceyued and sâ—en ffor the peple of the Royame of ffraunce and the grete barons and other lasse that were
godeffroy reffused to goo in to constatinoble vnto hym capo. xxxv wHyles they spak thus to gydre cam the messagers fro themperour to the duc· And requyred them in theyr lordes name that he wold entre with a fewe of his companye in to the town And come speke with themperour The duc had counseyl herupon and answerd that he wold not yet come in to the toune whan themperour herd this he had therof moche grete despite And deffended oueral that ther shold nomore vâ—taylle be sold to them ne none other thynges The noble men sawe this· and sente out on fouragyng ouer alle the countrey· And they brought in vytaylle grete plente in suche wyse that they had ynowgh poure and ryche Themperour sawe that this contre shold be destroyed and doubted that they wold yet doo werse therfor he commanded to his marcheauntes that they shold goo in to the hooste and selle to them suche thynge as they neded The daye of Cristemasse or of the Natyuite of oure Lord approched Therfore the Duc and the Barons dyde do crye in the hooste that no man shold forfaytte ne trespace in tho foure dayes The mene whyle cam the messagers of themperour that spak to the barons moche saye that they wold passe the brygge and come on the syde of the palays whiche was named blaquerne· ffor there myght alle the hooste lodge in grete howses whiche were nygh the braas of seynt george And alle this said they for tricherye and deceyte Neueâ—theles our peple byleuyd them lyghtly ffor the wynter was moche cold and sharpe of raynes and snowes in suche wyse that the pauyllons roted and ne myght not hold out the water of the rayne the horses and poure peple myght not endure it· herof toke themperour his occasion for to sende in to the hoost and that they shold passe toward the town and semed that he had grete pyte on them but his entencion was alle other wyse ffor he dyde this to th ende that he shold enclose them in a place more strayt that they shold not renne in to the contre And that he myght haue the gretteâ— power to constrayne them therin Of the descripcion of constantinoble And of many countreâ—â— and londes ther aboute capitulo xxxvjo. fOr to vnderstoÌ„de how the barons were enclosed by the desloyaulte of themperour it is to wete how the cyte of constantinoble stondeth the see whiche is in venyse cometh nygh vnto xxx myle of constantinoble ffor thens departeth an arme like a fresshe water And estendeth it toward the eest in lengthe ij C xxx myle it is not lyke euen ffor in somme place it is· but a myle broode And in another it is wel xxx of brede or more after the places that it renneth in· And it renneth bytwene thyse two Auncyent cytees Sexton and Abydon of whiche that one is in asye And that other in europe ffor the arme is deuyded fro thyse two londes Constantinoble is in europe That other parte is nycene whiche is in asye This braas or arme thus as it is moost brode toward the see lyke a roode where the porte is it is sayde that it is moostâ— paysible And easyer than the see is nyghe therto stondeh constantinoble whiche is lyke a tryangle The first syde is byâ—wene the porte and this arme Ther standeth a chirche of seynt george of whiche that see is named the braas of seynt george And this enduâ—â—th vnto the new palays of blacquerne after the porte That other pan of the walle dureth fro this chirche of seynt george vnto the porte aire The thyrde pan fro that yate vnto the palays of Blacquerne The towne is moche wel closed toward the champayne of walles of dyches of towres and of barbicans Atte porte descendeth a fressh water rennyng whiche is lytil in the somer but in wynter it becometh moche grete for the rayne This water hath a brygge on whiche oure men passed ouer whiche is enclosid bytwene the grete see and the braas behynde the yate where they lodged for tabyde that comyng of other barons Themperour sente ofte his messagers to the duc· And sente for hym to come and speke with hym· The duc doubted moche his tricherye and wold not goo But to th ende that he toke it not for euyl he sente to hym thre noble men that is to wyte Canon de montagu Henry dasque and bawdwyn de bort and excused hym by them that the barons that were with hym wold not counseylle hym to goo and speke with hym· tyl that the other barons were comon Themperour was moche wroth and deffended agayn that no vytaylles sold be shold to the hoost And dyde yet werse ffor he senâ—e on a daye erly in the mornyng shippes al ful of archers that cam sodenly by the braas right there as the duc was lodged they shotte grete plente of arowes in suche wyse that they slewe moche peple that was goon on the see syde· And many they hurted by the dores and wyndowes How our peple brente theyr lodgys and toke theyr harnoys And of an assault that the grekes made on them cao. xxxvijo. wHan the Duc and the other barons herd this by comâ—â— counseyl they sente the brother of the duc for to take the brigge to th ende that they of the toun shold not sease ne take it They toke v honderd men what knyghtes as other wel armed and cam fyrst to the brygge and kepte it and sawe that alle the cyte was meued and armed for to come on them· Our men were thenne adcerteyned that they of the towne were theyr enemyes And sette fyer in the howses were they lodged in and in other by whiche they doubted and fered wel a vj thousand or seuen in suche wyse that som of Emperours owne howses were brente After they dyde do sowne theyr tompetâ—es And wente them alle in ordenaunce after the Duc toward the brygge· ffor they doubted moche that they of the towne wolde come theder for to deffende them the paas but as I haue sayd bawdwyn brother of the duc had thenne goten it vpon the grekes whom he had oueâ—throwen and chased ryght ferre The hoost and alle the cariage passed ouer alle in to the contrey And arrested there alle in ordenaunce in a fayr playn moche fyers and courageous by the chirche of seynt cosme and damyan which now is named the palays of buymont the palays of blacquerne whan it was come nygh the euentyd there were many slayn of them of the town of the other but not so many The grekes myght no lenger sufre but the pylgryms discomfyted them chassed them sleyng and he wyng alle them that they myght arreche in suche wyse that they droof them in to the toun by force· Thenne retourned they agayne as they that had wonne the felde And lodged in the playne The grekes were moche swollen and angry of that they had lost so many men and had ben so euyl demened· And
began to ordeyne thurgh the town how they myght yssue oute with moche more affraye and strenger than they had But the nyght cam that destourned their counseyl This was an euident thynge that themperour had dâ—n the barons passe the brygge by tricherye and vntrouthe for to haue closed them as within barryers How after this our peple began to destroye the contre And ofa message of buymont vnto duc godefroye And the answer of the duc vpon the same· capitulo xxxviijo. aS sone as thoost apperceyued on the morn the day it was cryed that euery man on payne of deth shold arme hym on horsbak and on fote The Capytayns of som bataylle were ordeyned for to lede the peple in fourage The other sette them in ordynaunce for to kepe their lodgys ffor wel they apperceyued certaynly that themperour pourchassed for them alle the euyl that he myght They that wente for vytaylle withdrewe them wel lx myle They pylled al aboute them alle the townes that they fonde And brought Corn Wyn Beestys and other Rychesses Wherof the londe was full that vnnethe myght they conduyte alle And they were oute sex dayes And aftir retornned in to the hooste with alle this merueillous gayne whyles as they conteyned thus· Messagers cam fro Buymont to fore the Duc And salewed hym in theyr Lordes name And delyuerd to hym lettres whiche saide in this manere He salewed in his letrres the duc as he ought to salewe suche a man Aftir they sayde knowe ye sire that ye haue to doo with a moche vntrewe man whiche alwey sette his herte and purpoos to deceyue them that truste in hym Specially he hateth the Latyns to the deth And doth his power in alle maners that he can to doo euyl to our peple And yf ye haue not yet apperceyued it ye shal knowe al by tyme as I saye to you ffor I knowe wel the malyce of the grekes And also the trycherye of themperour Therfor I pray you that ye withdrawe you fro constantinoble And retorne to ward the playnes of andrenoble or of sympole and there ye may wyntre you where as is grete plente of alle goodes And I my self yf it please god assone as the sprynge of the yere cometh shal come and hast to meue And shal assemble with you And shal helpe you as my lord and frende ayenst the vntrew prynce that entendeth to doo euyll with alle his power vnto cristiente whan the duc had herd thyse lettres by the couÌ„seyl of his barons He sente to hym ageyn other lettres that after the salewyng spak thus we thanke you gretely And so doo the other prynces that ben with vs of the loue and trouthe that ye haue sente vs And knowe ye certaynly that we haue founden on the prynce and on the peple of grekes lyke as ye wene wel to knowe we knowe wel that ye saye it of wysedome and of trouthe But we doubâ—e moche the armes that we toke in our contrey for to warre on the hethen men shold retorne and conuerte ayenst them that bere the name of cristiante as we our self doo we attende and desyre moch your comyng Thenne yf god will whan ye shal be comen we shal doo take you to our counseyl How themperour appesed the duc godefroye and senâ—e for hym and of the honour that he dyde to hym capitulo xxxix tHemperour was moche anguyssous emong his pryue couÌ„seyl thought how he myght appese to hym the duc his peple by cause he destroyed his contre of which he herd the clamours right grete and ofte And by cause that he knewe that the messagers of buymoÌ„t were come had brought tidynges that he wold hastely come he sente ageyn his messagers to the duc prayd hym that he wold come speke to hym yf he doubted of ony thyng he wold sende Iohn his sone in hostage in to the hoost This message plesyd moche to the barons whan they herde it they sente canon de montagu bawdwyn de borgh for to receyue the hostage they receyued hym and delyuerd to Bawdwyn brother of the Duc whiche abode for to Reule and gouerne the hoost and to kepe the hostage The duc and other barons wente in to Constantynople to fore themperour which had moche desyred them The grekes made to them grete Ioye merueyllously what someuer they thoughte Themperour kyssed them alle And demanded of euerych his name for to honoure euerych by hym self as he that wel coude do it they were wel beholden of alle them of the palays At last themperour satte in his mageste and the barons aboute hym And sayde to the duc thyse wordes we haue herd saye many tymes in this londe that thou art of hyghe lygnage and of moche grete power in thy contre and a good knyght and trewe in suche wyse that for the fayth of Ihesu criste â—enhaunce hast enterprised to warre ayenst the mescreauntes and hethen peple whiche greue the cristen peple merueyllously ffor alle thyse thynges we prayse the and loue in our herte And wylle honoure the with grettest honour that we may doo ffor thou art worthy and dygne It playseth vs and therto acorden our barons that we cheese the auowe for our sone And we put our Empyre in to thyn hande that thou kepe it as our sone from henssforth in good estate and in termes of loue whan he had seyde this he dyde hym to be clad with the robe of an Emperour And to sytte by hym And thenne the barons made to hym right grete feste solempnyte aftir the custom of the londe in suche thynges And thus was the pees affermed bytwene the prynces and also bytwene the peple Of the yeftes that themperour made to duc godefroye to the barons and to the gentilmen of his hoost·capitulo xlo. aNone whan this was don the tresour of themperour was opened was presented to the duc and to his felawship so grete yeftes and so grete rychesses that it was merueylle to see Ther was grete plente of gold of syluer· and of precious stones many clothes of sylk ryght ryche vayssellys of dyuerse facions whiche were merueyllous of facions and of matere Oure peple meruellyd moche of this grete rychesse Thyse yeftes cessed not at the fyrst tyme but fro the day of the Epyphanye vnto thasâ—encion tyde themperour gaf to the Duc euery weke as moche as two myghty men myght susteyne of pierrye of pens of gold of copper and of tyn he gaf to hym ten muyes euery muye is four busshellys· But the duc departed alle thyse thynges vnto knyghtes and alle aboute where he sawe that it shold be wel employed Whan they had ben with themperour a lytil whyle they tâ—ke leue cam agayn in to the hoost They sente agayn Iohan his sone whom they had holden in hostage moche honourably Themperour dyde do crye vpon peyne of deth that noman shold doo harme to the pylgryms but shold do selle
tholouse aduysed and sawe that ther were so many of the turkes that the erle of fflaundres myght not suffre alle And adressyd theyr bataylle to that parâ—e And smote in emonge them· The mâ—dle was moche harde and aspre And many turkes were slayn Ther was so moche don and so wel that Guy de geâ— lande â—eneshal of the kynge of ffraunce Guy du puysett Rogier de barneuylle Thyse bare awey the prys to fore alle otâ—er But this bataylle endured wel an houre al hoole In th ende the turâ—kes myght suffre nomore our peple But were discomfyted and fledde away moche fowly Our peple folowed them not ferre ffor the montaynes and the wodes were ouer nere in which they fledâ—de But were of turkes slayn iiij thousand and som ther were a lyue taken Oure peple had moche grete ioye of this vâ—ctorye and cam ageyn to theyr siege and besieged the toun as wel as they myghte for to angre and discourage them within the toun whiche awayted after socoure· They made to be casâ—e with engynes to them within the toun grete plente of heedes of the turkes thaâ— had ben slayn in the bataylle The prisonners a lyue and a thousand heedes of the turkes they sente to themperour He coude them grete thanke and had therof moche ioâ—â— And sente to them agayne newe yeftes of Iewellys of clothes of sylk and other thynges right largely And commaunded to the marchauntes that they shold lede vytaylle ynowe vnto the hooste and other thynges necessarye How oure barons were lodged in the sayd siege of their mayntene And how euery daye they enforced them tassaylle the toun Capitulo lvijo. mOche thought our barons how this cyte myght be assieged on alle partyes· ffor other wyse them semed they myght not gete it By comyn couÌ„seyl they lodged them alle They sette ayenst the sonne rysyng the duc and his two bretheren Toward byse were lodged buymont and tancre and the other barons that were in theyr companye The duc of noâ—mandye and the erle of fflaundres lodged by them to ward the south The erle of tholouse hue le mayne the bisshop of puy th erle of chartres· and other barons many with alle their peple were so lodged that alle the cyte was enclosed sauf the lake whiche was in the weste And after sente they hastely in to the forest And made to come grete plente of tymbre for to make engyns Alle the carpenters of the hooost and sawyers cam forth of whom was grete nombre· In a lytil whyle reysed they engynes and slynges And made in therthe wayes and caues couerd for to fylle the dyches and to myne the walles Ther was grete caste of grete stones at the walles and tourettes so that in many places the walles were clefte and broken in many partes â— ffor to doo thyse thynges they were wel .vij. wekes There were in this whyle many assaultes and fyghtes ofte to fore the yates On a day the barons acorded that the toun shold be assaylled· but this assault endamaged lytil the toune ne them within· But ther were lost two valyaunt men that one was named Bawdwyn handeron a ryche man and a good knyght of berry That other was of fflaundres named Bawdwyn of gauÌ„t noble and hardy Thyse two wente so ferre to fore daye that the one was slayn with a stroke of a stone And that other with an Arowe Guyllem Erle of forest And Galles de lylle thyse two were hye noble men and assaylled moche that day In this tyme deyde of sekenes in the hoost guy de possesse a moche good knyght The hooste were sorouful of the deth of thyse noble men but euery man hoped that our lord wold gwerdone them perpetuelly in heuen ffor the good seruyse that they deyde in They were honorably buryed And after entended vnto theyr werke How our barons made theyr castellys of tree and approuched the toun· And how they within the toun brake one of them and slewe them with Inne· Capitulo lviij oN a day the capytaynes of the hooste were acorded that the castellys that they had made shold be drawen forth and aproche the walles ffor eche of the greet men had commaunded to make an engyne hastely in his parte The erle herman of duchelond amd henry dasque that were good knyghtes and enterpâ—â—sers had deuysed a thyng of a grete tronke of an oke and had sette theron xx knyghtes alle couerd aboue And vnder they had men ynough sor to myne the walle They approuched the castel that it ioyned to the walle The knyghtes aboue began to deffende them And they vnder persed the walle The turkes within had dressed the grettest part of theyr engyns to this castel and many strokes had smeton so longe that wyth the strok of a grete stone they brake alle and fylle doun to gydre in suche wyse that neuer one escaped aboue ne vnder but alle were deed â–ª There was grete sorowe in the hoost And moche more shold be ne had not be the grete comforte that they had in our lord They lefte not herfore but euery man payned hym more and more to greue them with Inne And gaâ— to them so many assaultes day and nyght that they lete them â—aue but lytil reste but one thyng ther was that greued our peple moche And that was that ther cam euery day in to the toune fresshe vytaylles and newe men Armours and artyllery by the lake And they coude not defende it wherof they were moche marryd Of the couÌ„seyl that our men toke for tassiege the toun by watâ—â— for to constreyne them not for to entre ne yssue capo. lixo. hErof wold our barons haue counseyl how they myght distrouble this comyng by water They assembled and acorded that they wold sende of theyr knyghtes grete plente wyse men and men a fote and take alle the shippes at the see syde that they coude fynde and sette them vpon charyottes of the â—oost and brynge suche as they myght brynge hoole· And the other they shold parte in two pyeces or thre And also they wold sende to themperour and praye hym that he wold delyuer to them shippes They that had charge of this wâ—â—ke cam to the see withoute â—aryeng and fonde shippes grete plente suche as they had nede of And by the commauÌ„dement of themperour whiche grauÌ„ted gladly drewe out of the water ynowgh Thenne coupled they to gydre four cartes or fyue after that the shyppes were and sette them theron by force of peple al hole and with many men drewe them forth with cordes and with trayse of the cartes in one nyght vij longe myle or more Thise shippes were taken of and launched in to the lake moche hastely· ffor many hondes make light werke And the peple wente therto with a good wylle· They had emonge them many maronners that coude wel shippecraft And they were sette therin· moche peple offerd them self to entre alle armed they toke as many as neded and garnysshed wel
delyuerd to oure peple for to lede and conduyte them had soynously taken heede of the gouernaunce of thoost vnto this day and of the rewle of the barons alway peyned hym for to deceyue them in alle the maners that he myght Now apperceeued he wel that th affayres of thooste were not in good poynt ne in good disposicion· and doubted moche for he was ful of cowardyse and thought the pylgryms shold somme day be surprised of the turkes of the toun· and shold alle be slayn therfor he spak secretely to one and other and counseylled them to leue the siege· And that al thooste shold departe in to the cytees that our men helde vnto the newe tyme· ffor it was certayn he sayde that themperour had sente for the gretâ—est hooste that he myght assemble for to come and socoure them as sone as he myght fynde grasse on the erthe for the horses And he hym self By cause he loued the werke of oure lord with the noble men that he had wold eÌ„terprise vpon hym for the comyn prouffyt a grete trâ—uayll And he hym self wold goo dylygently to themperour for robaste hym with his hoost and alle the vytaylle that he myght fynde And to make hym come Many of the Barons knewe vpon this poynt his falsenes And apperceyued that he sought manere by this waye for to flee And byleuyd hym not but acordedâ— that he shold goo his waye he made semblaunt for to retourne and come sone ageyn and lefte his pauyllons and som of his men to whom pereaduenture he had sayd that they shold folowe and come after or ellys that he neraught what myght come of them· Thus departed he whom the deuyl had brought· And lad hym away agayn ffor by the wordes that he had sowen and by thensample of his departyng· began many men to departe fro thoost And toke no regarde to theyr auowe ne to the oth that they had promysed but wente secretely one after another The famyne was moche grete in thooste· The barons conde fynde no remedye ne counseyl therfore· Trouth it was they sente ofte two and two of the grettest lordes with grete companye of men for to pourchasse vytaylles They wente moch surely in the landes of theyr enemyes right deep and ferre And sleyng many of them that wold haue deffended theyr passage but vytaylles brought they none ffor the turkes of the contre that had apperceyued that oure peple wente for to secke vytaylles had do ledde away alle theyr beestes and theyr vytaylles vnto the montaynes and deserte places where none myght come· somme had they hydde in the wodes and caues vnder the erthe whiche our men coude not fynde How the prelates of the hoost counseylled to doo penaunce for tappese god And of thordenaunces that were made teschewe synne Capitulo lxxxxviijo. fAmyne mortalyte and many other peryllys cessed not to renne on the peple of oure lord The noble and wysemen of thoost that were trewe good and relygyous as the bisshop of puy that was legate for oure holy fader the pope and other spak to gydre thenne And sayd it was moche to drede and· doubte that our lord were angry with his pylgryms for their synnes therfor they aduysed that they wold speke with the barons for to make peas and acorde vnto our lord And was ordeyned by the consentement of alle them of thoost· that they shold faste in prayers and in penauÌ„ce for to crye mercy vnto our lord by the space of iij dayes to th ende that he wold pardone theyr trespaces beholde them in pyte· this was don with grete wepyng wayllynges of herte after this they commanded that alle the comyn wymmen of euil lyf shold be voyded cast out of thoost was cryed thurgh out al the hooste that who that after that were taken in adulterye or in fornycacion shood haue his heed smeton of Incontinent the droncardys of the tauernes the players of dyse and the grete othes were deffended vpon the same payne fals mesures and thefte alle suche thynges were commaunded to be lefte and eschewed there were choosen wise men and trewe that shold take heed for to punnysshe the malefactours After thyse ordenaunces and statutes were somme founden culpable in the same where were so punnysshed therfore that the other were chastysed therby whan the peple were amended vnto our lord· the mercy of our lord cam without taryeng on them ffor the duc Godeffroy whiche was 〈◊〉 the surete of thoost And as theyr estandart had ben longe seke by thoccasion of his hurte that he had taken in the londe of pysside by a bere as it hath be sayd to fore nygh by lytil Anthyoche· and was now sodenly come to good helthe wherof alle they of thooste had moche grete ioye and byleuyd fermely that theyr penaunce and prayers had lengthed his lyf and respyted it How Buymont fonde a subtil remydye for to delyuer and purge the hooost of the espyes of the turkes capo. lxxxxixo. gRete renommee was spradd thurgh out al thoryent and toward the contrees of the south that ouer grete nombre of peple of the contrees where the sonne goth doun were comen and had besieged the noble cyte of Anthyoche hit was a grete thyng in trouth But the tydynges were moche more gretter withoute comparyson Eueryche of the puyssaunt lordes of that countrees and londes had sente theyr espyes in to the hoost and ther were so many that they cessed not to come and goo and continuelly vnnethe myght ony thyng be don or sayd in thooste ne in the lodgys but that it was auon knowen in the panemye It was a 〈◊〉 and easy thyng for them to be with our peple in those â— Ther were of the turkes that coude speke greek and the langage of Ermenye And toke thabyte of the surreyens â–ª of grekes and of them of hermeny ther were many of suche maner of peple the barons toke couÌ„seyl emoÌ„g them how they myght voyde purge thoost of this pestelence of espyes ffor they helde them in grete paryll grete dauÌ„ger that theyr couyne purpoos shold be knowen in the loÌ„des of theyr enemyes and it was no light thynge to knowe them that were suche espyes Emonge alle other thynges they coude fynde none other remedye but to holde theyr counseyl secrete and fro them forthon saye lasse to the peple than they were woont to doo Buymont whiche was of moche grete wytte and hye hertâ— spak to the barons and sayd in this manere ffayr lordes I praye you that ye wil late me cheuysshe with this matere ffor I haue remembryd how we shal be delyuerd of this peryl wherfor I praye you gyue to me the charge therof The barons helde Buymont for a moche wyseman and prudent And gladly sette the charge therof on hym and departed fro the counseyll Buymont forgate not this that he had promysed whan tyme of soupper cam he disposed and ordeyned hym for to
And this I shal doo for goddes loue and youres But yf they entende that euery man shal haue his part as of thyng goten by warre therupon wyl I not laboure ne doo payne ffor I wote neuer to what ende it shold come· therfor I pray you fayr swete syre trew frende that ye put you in deuoyr payne that this toun be youres not for couetyse but for the prouffyt of the cyte Cristen I promyse to you that the day that I shal knowe that it shal be thus graunted to you I shal delyuer to you the entree of the toun· Alway one thynge I saye to you for certayn· that yf it be not made within short tyme that ye shal neuer day of the world recouere it ffor euery day come to the lord of this toun lettres and messagers certefyeng that they that come to socoure the toun ben about the ryuer of eufrates whiche is not ferre And they ben wel a .ij C M men of Armes· yf they come an you on that one syde And they of the Cyte on that other ye may not suffre ne withstande them but ye shal be alle deed or taken And therfore take ye here vpon hasty counseyl How buymont discouerd this thynge to duc godeffroy to huâ—on the mayne to the duc of Normandye and to th erle of fflaundres Capitulo C xijo. fRo the day that buymont had herd this he began tenanyre moche subtylly and examyne the hertes of the barons And demaunded them otherwhyle what they wold doo with this Cyte yf it were taken Of the ansuer somme of them thought that it was fer of Therfore taryed buymont to discouere his herte and his thought til he sawe better his poynt and tyme neuertheles he drewe a part duc godefroy huon de mayne the duc of normandye and th erle of fflauÌ„dres· To them he sayde that he trusted so moche in oure lord that yf the cyte myght be graunted to hym it myght be wel in short tyme conquerd They acorded it and moche preysed in theyr courage the wytte of this man that had in wylle to accomplysshe so grete a thyng By thaccord of them this thyng was discouerd to th erle of tholouse he ansuerd that he wold neuer yf the Cyte were taken gyue his parte to another man The barons prayd hym moche· but he wold not consente therto for nothynge Therfor the thynge was in suche daunger that almost the thynge was alleloste ffor Buymont put not the payne ne his frende of the toun wold not but yf the toun shold be alle his Neuertheles for alle this Buymont sente to hym ofte grete yeftes for to kepe hym in acqueyntaunce and in the loue that was begonne bytwene them Of the grete socours that the Soudan of perse had sente to them of â—nthyoche and how Câ—â—hagat assyeged rages capitulo Cxiijo. iN the whyle that thyse thynges ran thus in Anthyoche the messagers that fro Ancean were goon to the soudan of perse for to demaunde ayde were retorned as they that had wel don theyr thynges· ffor that grete prynce atte requeste of them of Anthyoche And atte prayer of his men had enterprysed to efface and destroye alle our pylgryms that theder were comen And ther fore he sente theder grete plente of Turkes and of cordyns in to this countre And had delyuerd alle the seygnorye and gouernauÌ„ce of the hooste to one his acqueynted ffor he trusted moche in his wytte in his loyalte and in his prowesse This man was named Corbagat he commaunded alle men to obeye to hym· he sente lettres pendantes oueral his londes and commauÌ„ded that they shold be delyuerd ouer all that where he shold lede them that they shold goo And alle that he commaunded them they shold doo without contradiction he departed fro his countrey with alle his peple and his power he passed so ferre that he cam in to the countre of rages Ther was told to hym that one of the barons of ffraunce helde the Cyte of Rages which he had conquerd and alle the londe about it He had therof grete despyte and sayd to fore and er he passed the Ryuer of Eufrates he shold take the toun and destroye alle the fren Themen that he shold fynde within Bawdwyn was not of lityl courage And had wel herd tydynges of this peple he had wel garnysshed his Cyte with armes vytaylles and noble men And doubted but lytil his comynge ne the menaces ne the grete wordes of thyse peple that were reported to hym Corbagat commaunded that the cyte of rages shold be assieged And after dyde do crye to assault grete peyne dyde they wenyng to haue taken the cyte and alle them that were therin But they that kept the toun deffended them moche wel in suche wyse that they endommaged moche them that were without· And they within loste no thynge They helde them about the toun thre wekes he had no worship ne prouffyt there At laste the grete and noble men of thooste cam to hym And sayde and counseylled hym to departe fro the siege ffor he ought fyrst do that thyng for whiche he cam that is to saye for to take and slee alle them that were to fore Anthyoche And after in his retornyng in a morowtyde he shold haue the toun of Rages And Bawdwyn yf he were not deed· they shold take and bynde hym And presente hym to theyr lord as a sheep or a moton hâ— acorded to theyr counseyl and departed fro thens But allewaye the taryeng that the turkes had made sauyd oure prlgryms ffor the mater was not so acorded bytwene Buymont and his frende that yf they had comen strayt to Anthyoche oure men had ben in ouer grete meschyef bytwene them that he brought and the other turkes that were in the toun· How our men beyng aduertysed of the grete hoooste of corbagat sente somme of theyr knyghtes for to esteme them And what they reported of that they had seen cao. Cxiiij o tHe tydynges began strongly to growe of this people that cam And it was no merueyll yf they were effcayed in the hooste of the pylgryms The barons assembled in counseyl And ordeyned by comyn acord that somme of theyr wysemen that vnderstode them in· suche thynges as to esteme peple in the felde shold goo and knowe their couyne to this were chosen Dreues de Nelle Clarembault de venduel Euerard de cherysy Renard th erle of toul They ledde with them other knyghtes knowen and preuyd in Armes they departed fro thoost so ferre that they approuched the turkes whom they sawe and folowed them fro fer Neuertheles they wel apperceyued that lyke as water renneth in the see cam fro alle partes grete rowtes and merueyllous plente of peple in this hooste of Corbagat Thise noble men wente so ferr that they sawe and knewe alle theyr beyng and sâ—rengthe And syth drewe them to the barons and sayd to them the trouthe The barons prayde and
the watche that kepte it they slewe And after opened the gate A squyer of Buymontys ran til he cam to an hye towre whiche was vpon the tertre by the dongeoÌ„ of the toun there be fyxed the Baner of Buymont his lord Whan oure peple that were in the toun appercâ—yued that the daye was nyghe· And the dawenyng appiered· thenne they made to sowne theyr trompettes and â—usynes for to calle al the people of the hooste The Barons vnderstode the signe and smote the hâ—rs with the sporâ—s And entred by the yates whiche they founde opene with alle theyr bataylles· The foote men of thooste a wooke that knewe nothyng of this counseyll They sawe the tentes empty and voyde· and apperceyued that the toun was taken· thenne began they hastely to â—enne to the gayne· in suche wyse that none abode other· The turkes of the toun a woke and herde the noyse and sawe the men of armes thurgh the stretes· Thenne apperceyued they in what poynt they were· They began to flee out of theyr howses and lede theyr wyues and chylderen with them· whan they fledde fro one rowte of our men they â—ecountred another gretter· whiche slewe them alle· The surryens the hermyeus the other cristen men of the toun apperceyued that the thyng wente so· they had moche grete ioye and toke the armes hastely· and wente forth with our men and tolde to them the places where mooste peple were And where the tresours were· They them slewe the turkes moche gladly· They payned them moche to rendre to them the guerdon of betynges and tormentes that they had don to them Thoost was theÌ„ne entred in to the toun The barons had sette their baners on the toures· grete occision and slaughter had be in the toun they spared noman ne woman ne childe they brak vp dores and chestes· ye shold haue seen gold and syluer departed in the stretes It semeth well a thyng conquerd and wonne by warre· what shal I make long deuyses· ther were slayn of them of the toun that day moo than ·x·M· of whom the bodyes laye alle bare in the wayes and stretes How Ancean lord of authyoche fledde by a posterne out of the toun· And he was recountred and put to deth cao. Cxxjo. wHan Ancean sawe that the cyte was thus bytrayed· And that his peple that myght escape fledde an hye in to the fortresse of the dongeon he doubted moch to goo theder ffor he thought wel that the cristen men wold enuyroÌ„ne incontinent this tour yf be entred therfor he yssued out at a posterne out of the toun and wente allone as he had be oute of his wytte Ne he knewe not whether he myght goo· And flee for to kepe hym whan he wente thus by the feeldes moche ferre fro the Cyte Certeyne Hermyns mette hym and knewe hym And moche merueylled what this myght be· And after thought that the Cyte was taken And they approched hym lyke as they wold haue enclyned to hym as they were woonte but theÌ„ne they toke hym smote hym doun to therthe and after with a swerde smote of his heed and bare it in to the toun And presented it vnto the barons to fore the peple one maner peple was comen in to aÌ„thyoche which were not of the toun· that were come for to deffende theyr lawe and other for to be souldyours And other for prowesse of armes· to gete honour and prys· thyse knewe not wel the leyng of the toun and were mouÌ„ted vpon their horses alle armed and begonne to renne ayenst the hylle toward the dongeon and by aduenture they mette a route of our men thus as they wente sechyng in the toun which ran on them moche hardyly· Thyse maner of peple wold haue eschewed them and smote theyr hors toward the valeye and fylle doun of a bancke in suche wyse· that they were alle to brused men hors harnoys and abyllementes ther were deed wel a iij C. som ther were that in the toun were born whan they apperceyued in the mornyng that our men were within· They toke their hors and rode out by the yates that our men had opened ther were of oure men that wente aftir and sued them and brought many of them agayn whom they put in pryson som other escaped ran vnto the montaynes about the hour of tierce whan the toun was serched Our peple assembled and anon apperceyued that in alle the toun was no vytayll· and it was not wondre ffor the siege had theÌ„ne endured nygh ix· monethes and moche peple had ben therin duryng the siege but gold syluer preceoê° Iewellis and vessel of dyuerse facions clothes of sylke ryche tappets· of other thynges they fouÌ„de so moch that eche of our meÌ„ was alle charged as moch as they myght bere It cam wel to poynt to oure poure pylgryms for to fynde suche rychesse after the grete mesease that they had suffred ther were fouÌ„den in the toun v C. good hors of armes But they were riyht lene and wery· thus was the cyte of Anthyoche taken the yere of thyncarnacion of our lord a M·lxxxxviij the iij day of the moneth of Iuyn How aftir that our men had made grete slaughter of theyr enemyes our men helde counseyl for to take the dongeon theÌ„ne beyng seased of the turkes cao. ·C·xxijo. tHe pylgryms that were theder comen fro many couÌ„trees by grete labour were theÌ„ne ful of shedyng of the blood of their enemyes The Barons assembled in counseyl and aduysed emonge them that this werk was not yet parfyght but that ther was yet trauayll and peryll tyl that the dongeon were taken and goten· whiche was right stronge and wel garnysshed with walles of the toun they sette good warde and kepers of alle the yates And dyde do crye thurgh alle the toun to assault and commanded that all shold come to the tour that was on the montayne whan they cam theder· they knewe wel certaynly· that this was not a thynge lightly to be goten ffor the fortresse myght not be goten but by famyne therfor they trauaylled but lytil but withdrewe them and made the peple to retorne this montayne that is aboue the toun is deuyded in tweyne like as I sayd to fore by a depe valleye whiche is as stepe as it were plom doun The syde whiche is toward thoryent is moch fayrer vpon a playne wel brode ful of vygnes and londe erable· That other partye toward the west is moche hyer as a man shold goo vp right And right vpon the sommet ot toppe of the tertre stondeth the dongeon ferme of ouer stronge walles and thycke toures they be hye and grete toward thoryent and toward northeste about the valeye it is so deep that it semeth a right helle And it is an hydous thynge to beholde It coude neuer be ymagyned how it myght be myned and fro this dongeon vnto the toun is a way whiche is so strayt that with grete payne one man
oure lord vpon the turkes that haue holden it with wrong by force a certeyn tyme. Therfor thou oughtest to suffre vs to enioye oure herytage And retorne thou in to thy countrey and yf thou wilt not so doo knowe thou for certayn that within the thyrde day swerdes shal fynysshe and ende this debate And to th ende that thou complayne not that we desire and wille the deth pourchasse of so moch peple in comyn bataylle they shal offre to the this that is to wete yf thou wilt fyght in thyn owne persone they shal sende ayenst the· one al so hye a prynce as thou art· to whom thou shalt fyght And whiche of you maye vaynquysshe and ouercome that other· shal conquere the quarelle for euermore withoute other debate yf this thynge plese the not take certayn nombre of thy men vâ—·x or xij or as many as thou wylt our pilgryms shal sette as many ayenst them· withoute ony moo of that one syde and that other· And that they that shal wynne thâ— feelde shal allewaye haue the gayne of this debate Whan Corbagat herde this message he was moche wroth and angry and had grete desdayne and despyte Thenne he tourned hym toward Peter and sayd to hym Peter they that hath sente the hether· ben not in suche poynt as me semeth that they shold offâ—e to me for to chose of theyr deuyses But they be brought by my pussaunce and â—â—reng the that they maye doo nothynge of theyr wylle But I shaâ—l doo with them alle my playsyre But retourne thou and saye to thyse musardes and saye to them that haue made the to mene fro the Cyte and come hether· that they vnderstonde not yet· the maleurte that they be in And byleue certaynly that yf I had wold· I had or now broken and destroyed this toun and sette my men therin by force· in suche wyse that the cristen men had be alle slayn men and wymmen lytil and grete But I wyll that ye abyde in more caytyfnes and mesease· dyeng languysshyng for hongre lyke as other houndes· And whan it shal please me I shal entre in to the toun· alle them that I shal fynde men and wymmen of couenable eage I shal put them alle bouÌ„den handes feet in pyetoê° estate And shal lede them alle to my lorde for to serue hym And they shal be his esclaues Alle thâ— other I shall slee with the swerd lyke an euyl tree that wyll bere no fruyt How the sayd Peter retorned in to the toun and wold openly haue sayd his message of the subtyl counseyll of the duc whiche wold not suffre it cao. C·xxxvijo. pEter theremyte vnderstode his pryde whiche was grete and of the grete quantite of peple that he had And also of his Rychesses whiche were ouer moche Thenne he departed and cam agayn in to the toun he wold haue sayd the message of Corbagat openly in the presence of them that wold here hym ffor theder ran grete and smale But the duc Godeffroy that was moche wyse and knewe moche drewe hym a part and called only the barons and bad hym saye that he hath founden he recounted to them alle· as he that had wel reteyned in his mynde coude saye and vtter it in the beste manere The duc doubted that yf the peple had herd this grete pryde and the menaces that Corbagat had sayd that they shold be ouer moche abasshed and feced Therfor he commaunded to Peter that he shold saye none other thyng But that only Corbagat desyred and demaunded the bataylle ayenst them And that they shold make them redy Peter acorded wel therto· And sayd to them lyke as the duc had commaunded hym And vnnethe Peter had sayd the worde But that alle cryed with one voys And we wylle also the bataylle ayenst hym in godes name They shewde wel by theyr sight and semblaunce· that the desyre of the bataylle was grete in their hertes· Alle their meseases were forgoten for Ioye to haue the vyctorye· The Barons whan they sawe that theyr peple made suche ioye they were moche glad And moche the more trusted in them By comyn counseyl they ordeyned the day of the batayll on the morn And that thus wold Corbagat haue it· they byleuyd it wel· And hastely wente euery man to his lodgyng There ye shold haue seen Armourers put in poynt· hauberks and helmes fourbousshed swerdes and custrellis whette This nyght slepte they not in the toun noman Thâ—y that kept the hors toke good hede this nyght And made alle thynge redy As soone as it was nyght It was cryed vpon peyne of deth that alle man shold be in the mornyng to fore the sonne rysynge alle armed as he best myght And drawe hym in to the bataylle where as he was ordeyned And that euery man shold folowe the baner· of his Captayne whan the spryngyng of the day apperâ—d in the mornyng the men of the chirche were redy fâ—r to synge masse· And songe deuoutly They that shold goo to the batayll were confessyd and alle receyued the bodye of oure lord which gaf to them surete of body and of sowle· Alle rancour and wrath were entierly perdonned by cause they wold be in parfyght charyte· And therin doo the seruyse of our lord whiche sayth in the gospell In this shal alle men knowe that ye be my disciples yf ye haue loue and charyte emonge you whan they were thus redy oure lord sente to them his grace which gaf to them so grete hardâ—nes· that they that were the daye to fore so ferdful feble and bene that they myght not susteyne them self for feblenesse becam stronge and delyuer in suche wyse that the armes that they baâ—â— weyed nothyng as them semed· and were hardy and vygorous so that ther was none so litil but he had talente to doo grete thyng in the bataylle· The tyme cam that the bisshops and alle the other men of the chirche were reuested as for to synge masse· they helde the crosse and the sainctuaryes with whiche they blessyd the peple And recommaunded them to god· They graunted pardon and remyssyon to them of alle their synnes yf they deyde in the seruyse of our lord· To fere alle the other the bisshop of puy prechyd and spak to the barons And prayd them that they shold thyncke to auenge the shame of our lord Ihesu Criste· that thyse vntrewe sarasyns had don to hym so longe in withholdyng of his herytage Atte laste he blessyd them with his hand· and commaunded them to god deuoutly How to fore er our men departed they made redy theyr bataylles right wel in poynt of the nombre of them cao. ·C xxxviijo. oN the morn erly our pylgryms assembled as it was ordenyed deuysed the thyrde day to fore thentre of Iuyll to fore the yate of the brydge to fore thyssue oute of the yate They had theyr bataylles ordeyned and deuysed lyke as who shold
wrought with fyn gold moche rychely The couerture aboue was of leed alle round right wel made eche of thyse places aboue and bynethe is paued with moche fayre whyte stone in suche wyse whan it rayneth· alle the waters of the temple· of whiche ther falleth grete plente falleth doun cleene and cleer in the cysternes whiche ben within the cloystre· There bytwene the temple and the place which is emonge the pylers There stondeth an hye Roche and lowe bynethe a dyche or a fosse· It is sayd that the Angele stondeth there on whan he slewe the people for the synne that dauyd had nombred his peple vnto the tyme that oure lord commaunded that he shold put the swerde in to the shethe· there made Dauyd after an Aulter To fore that oure men entred in to the toun· it had ben a certayn tyme alle discoueryd But after they that holde it· they couerid it with a fayr whyte marble made an aulter aboue where the clerkes dyde the seruyse of oure lord How the turkes of Ihelm whan they knewe the comyng of our hooste stopped the pyttes and fontaynes of the toun cao. Clxxjo. tHe londe in whiche Iherusalem stondeth is named Iurye· by cause that whan the ·x lygnages or trybus departed fro the heyer of Salamon And helde them to Ieroboam The tweyne abode in Iherusalem with Roboam that were the trybe of Inda And the trybe of beniamyn And of the name of Iuda it is named â—urye It is named also palestyne for the phylystees· This Cytâ—â—â—â—andeth as it were in the nauyll of the londe of Byheste or of promyssion after the termes that were named by Iosue whiche endure fro deserte of the mount of Lybane and fro the grete flood of Eufrates vnto the see The place in whiche the cyte standeth in is moche ayerye deye Ther be no waters in the toun but only of the rayn ffor in wynter tyme whan it is acustommed to rayne mocâ—e in the londe it is receyuyd in to the Cisternes of whom be many in the toun and they occupye this water in all thynges that then haue nede of Neuertheles somme scriptures saye that they were woonte to haue fontaynes whiche were without the toun· and ran in to hit But they were stopped by the warre The leste of allâ— the fontaynes was gyon· whiche Ezechyas the kyng stopped lâ—ke as the scripture sayth Gyon is now a place in the toun towaâ—d the south within the valeye that is named Ermon There is a chirche founded in the worshyp of seynt pretopt marter There in that same place was Salamon enoynted as is red in the thirde beok of kynges· without the toun a two myle or thre ben founden somme fontaynes but they be but fewe and they rendre but lytil water· In the partye toward the south where as the two valeyes assemble is a fontayne moch renommed whiche is named Sylâ—e our lord commaundes to the blynde maÌ„ that neuer had seen that he shold goo wasshe hym in the water there of this fontayne he sawe clerely incontinent was made hool this foÌ„tayne is but a lytil myle fro the toun It semeth that it boylleth a lytil som tyme it spryngeth not· somme saye that alwaye the ·iij daye the waâ—er cometh agayn atte ferthest· whan the turkes of the toun knewe that oure men cam they stopped the mowthes of thyse fontaynes of the Cysternes a fyue or ·vj myle aboute ffor they thought that the pylgryms for lacke of watres sholde not mayntene theyr syege to fore the toun And without fawte that they had grete lack and mesease therby as yâ— shal here folowyng· they that were within the cyte had grete plente of water in Cisternes and fro the fontaynes without cam grete haboundaunce by conduytes whiche descended in to .ij pyscynes right grete by the temple that one endureth yet in to this day and is named probatica piscina where as they were wonte to wassâ—e the flesshe of the sacrefyses of whiche the gospel speketh and sayth that it had v porches where the angele descended and meuid the water And he that fyrst entred after the meuynge of the water was made hool· of what dysease that euer he had In that place oure sauyour Ihesu Crist heeled a lame man that had beyn there many yeres Of the nombre of them of thoost of them of Iherusalem and how oure men lodged them in the siege to fore Iherusalem Capitulo Clxxijo. iN the yere of thyncarnasion of our sauyour Ihesu Criste M lxxxxix in the moneth of Iuyn the vij daye of the sayd moneth was lodged the hoost of cristiente to fore the holy Cyte of Iherusalem The nombre of them that were there as wel men and wymmen were xl M. There were not men defensable of the foote men aboue xx M· On horsback were not passyng a xv C· Alle the other were feble men as seke men and wymmen and also old peple· within the toun were men able to bere Armes .xl. thousand whiche were comen in fro cytees and castellys ther aboute· And they were the best men of Armes and chosen for the valyauntest that they coude fynde After that oure men were arryued to fore the toun They hadde a grete counseyl emonge them· And called the Cristen men of the Couâ—â—re for to demaunde of them in what syde they myght beste assiege the Toun They sawe wel that toward thoryent· Ne toward the Southe they myght nought doo for the deepe valeys that ben there Therfore they acorded to sette the siege to fore the northeste Wherfore it was so that fro the yate named the yate of Seynt Steuen whiche stondeth in the Northeste vnto the other yate that standeth toward the weste And is named the yate of Dauyd were lodged alle the Barons and the other pylgryms· The valyaunt Duc of loreyne had the fyrst place In the second was th erle of fflaundres In the thyrde was the duc of Normandye The fourth place helde Tancre besyde a tour of a Corner whiche yet is named the tour of Tancre And other grete men were lodged there with hym· ffro this toure vnto the yate of Occident comprysed th erle of tholouse the place and the people that were with hym But after Tancre sawe that by cause the tour defended the yate so wel and also for the valeye that was so nygh he myght but lytil prouffyte there therfore by the counseyl of the wyse men that knewe wel the beyng of the toun he remeuyd fro thens and wente on the tertre on whiche the cyte is sette on bytwene the toun the chirche of seynt Symeon whiche is withoute the Cyte as fâ—r as an Archer maye shote at ones There he lodged hym to th ende that he myght beste greue the toun there· And for to deffende the turkes this sayd chirche· whiche is holy· ffor there sowped our lord with his discyples and weeshe humbly theyr feet· There descended the holy ghoost in fyry
Guylliam Ebryac â— he made them to hastâ— moche the werke and to amende it Thus was alle thoost occupyed in this werke four monethes aâ— hool They had so moche exployted that eueryche of the barons had doo made right that whiche he had begonne and entreprysed· Therfor they counseylled emonge them ordeyned at a day sett· to goo to thassault But for as moch as th erle of tholouse and tancre had be grete Rancour and wrath and somme of the other Barons and knyghtes that loued not wel to gydre for dyuerse reasons The barons by the admonestacion of the bisshops wolde that of alle debate shold be good peas and that eche shold pardone other all euyll wyll and talente by cause that our lord shold helpe them the better in doynge and accomplysshyng his werke· And yf it happed them to dye the surer myght they attende the deth Of the fayr processions that oure pylgryms made to th ende that god shold gyue them vyctorye and how they pardonned eche other theyr mal talentes and euyll wylles cao. ·Clxxviij tHe daye was ordeyned and taken by comyn acorde of alle that procession shold be made the relyâ—uyes shold be borne suche as were had in thoost· They shold alle goo vnto the mount of Olyuet· And they shold mayntene them this day in fastyâ—g In repentaunce of theyr synnes and in orysons and prayer vnto our lord to th ende that he wold haue pyte of his peple and receyue in greâ— theyr seruyse in suche wyse that by them his herytages myght be recouerd fro the haÌ„des of his enemyes which helde it in their possession Peter theremyte on that one part and arnold the chappellayn of the Duc of Normandye whiche was a grete clerk and wyse of that other parte made the sermon to the peple They exhorted them by swete wordes to enterpryse vygorously the werke of oure lord wherin it were better to deye than to lyue· The mount of Olyuete is ayenst Iherusalem in the eestâ— partye about a myle fer fro the toun ffor the vaal of Iosaphat is bytwene bothe thâ—re assembled our lord his discyples and sâ—yed and ascended vp to fore them alle in to heuen the day of thassension and wente vp in a clowde which toke hym whan alle the peple had ben there in grete wepynges and prayers and alle the debates â—â—peased that were emong them they descended fro the hylle in to the chirche of mount syon whiche is by the Cyte as I haue sayd in the side toward the southe on the toppe of a tertre The sarasyns of the toun that were in the toures and vpon the walles of the toun merueylled moche what this myght be that oure men made there and where they myght see the presse nygh to them within shotte· They cessed not to shote arowes and quarellys in suche wyse that they hurted somme· Thenne adressyd they crosses vpon the walles and in despyte of our sauyour and in reproche of oure fayth spytte on them· and made other shames and fowle thynges whiche be not for to be sayd The peole of our lord· which were in holy wylle for to serue hym sawe wel thise thynges that the turkes made theyr desyre grewe and encreaced moche in theyr â—ertes for tauenge the shame of our lord Ihesu Criste whan they had made theyr orysons and prayers in the chirche of mount Syon The daye was to them ordeyned and named for to make thassault by comyn acorde Thenne they retourned to theyr lodgys yf ther was ony thyng to be made on theyr engyns anon it was accomplysshyd ffor euery man toke good hede aboute hym that no thyng faylled that shold be necessarye to make thassault ayenst theyr enemyes How oure men sodenly transported in the nyght theyr engyns vnto that other part of the toun for tassaylle on that side Capitulo Clxxixo. wHan the day approched that they had named for tassaylle the Cyte the nyght to fore the valyaunt duc godeffroy theâ—erle of fflaundres and the duc of normandye sawe that this partye of the Cyte that they had assieged was moche wel garnysshed of alle maner of engyns and the moost defensable men of the Cyte they had sette there Therfore they doubted more this part· than ony other The noble men had herupon counseyll They knewe wel that they myght not endommage the toun there And enterprysed a thynge of a right grete affayre and of moche grete trauaylle ffro alle thengynes that they had by them And the castel to fore the sydes were Ioyned to gydre· they barâ— them alle· On that other syde whiche is bytwene the gate of seynâ— stephen the tour of thaÌ„glâ— that is toward the northeest ffor them sâ—med it was trouth that by cause that the cyte had not be asâ—ieged on that syde that ther shold be the lasse defence wherof it hâ—pped that they woke al the nyght as wel the barons as theyr pâ—plâ— in suche wysâ— that theyr engyns were alle ioyned and reysed vp by fore day or or the sonne aroos in the places where they ought to be The castel was so approuched the walle and was moche hyer in so moche that they that were therin were almoost as hye as one of the toures and knowe ye for certayn that this was noo lytil trauaylle ffor fro this place where they were fyrsâ— lodged vnto the place where they sette theyr engyns was nygh half a myle And the thynges were so wel and so hooly ordeyned that to fore the sonne rysyng all thyng was redy at them on the mornyng the turkes byhelde on the walles and towres And merueylled what this myght be that our men had so trauaylled all the nyght they sawe that the lodgys of the Duc and of the other barons aboute hym were remeuyd They sought them about that other side of the toun And founde them there· where as they had sette no garde· whan they sawe thengyns and the castel dressyd they merueylled ouer moche how they myght doo this werke in so lytil tyme. ffor this cause they doubted moche the more them that had thus enterprysed and accomplysshed so sodenly in the nyght about that syde of the toun the barons that were lodged as ye haue herd to foâ—e were not ydle· but reysed theyr engyns eueryche in his parte And th erle of tholouse had made tapproche the walles a castel that he had made with moche grete trauaylle bytwene the chirche of mount Syon and the Cyte the other that were nyghâ— the corner whiche is called the tour of tancre redressyd a castel of tree moche hye Thyse thre castellys that were about the toun were nyâ—e alle of one facion ffor they were alle square the sydes that were toward the toun were double in suche wyse that one of the panâ—s that was without myght be aualed vpon the walles and thenne it shold be lyke a brydge· But for alle that the side was not vnclosed ne discouerd But it was hool for to deffende
desired moche to be auenged of so grete oultrage Therfor sente he for alle the barons of th empyre and assembled moche grete court and made to be sayd and shewde in the presence of them alle the pryde and rebellyon of them of Saxone· wherof he demaunded debonayrly counseyl and theyr helpe They acorded alle that this thynge was for to be auenged asprely They habandouned bodye and power to themperour for thamendynge of this trespaas They departed and eche wente in to his countre· Themperour somoned his hooste as strongly as he myght at a castel on the marche of Saxone· whan they were entred in to the londe theyr enemyes sayde that they wolde fyghte ayenst them ffor they were prowd and fiers in suche wyse that they sette but lytil by the power of themperour whan they knewe that they must fyght they ordeyned theyr bataylles ffor they had moche peple And had ynowe Thenne demaunded themperour of whom they were acorded that shold bere thaygle which is the fawcon of th empyre They choos to fore alle other for to doo that the valyaunt duc of Loreyne worthy and moost sufficiant to do it They reputed it for a moche grete worship that he was thus chosen by comyn acord of them alle Neuertheles he with sayde it and refused as moche as he myghte But he muste nedes take it on hym This daye cam and that one partye approuched that other in suche wyse that they assembled fiersly ther were many men put to deth ffor they were merueillously wroth eche ayenst other whyles thus as the bataylle was grete and fyers in many places· the duc Godeffroye that conduyted the bataylle of Themperour espyed a grete Rowte of men wherin was this Raoul whiche was lorde of saxone ayenst them in the duc dyde do assemble the peple of themperour The duc knewe this Raoul· and smote the hors with his spores ayenst hym· And with the gonfanon that he bare Iusted ayenst hym in suche wyse that he bare hym thurgh the bodye and slewe hym that he fylle doun deed in the place And Incontinent he redressyd and reysed on heygthe his baner alle blody his peple sawe that they had loste theyr lord and anon were disconfyted Somme fledde· somme fylle doun vnto the feet of themperour and put them in his mercy Alle the gentilmen and other gaf good hostages for tobeye euer after to hym and be at his commauÌ„ment Many other prowesses made the valyaunt duc godeffroye but it behoueth not to put them alle in this historye ffor my purpose now is for to recountre of the holy londe by yonde the see and not of them on this syde· but of them of whom ye may vnderstande that he was in his countre noble and a valyaunt knyght· Of his largesse ayenst oure lord I shal saye to you one thynge by whiche ye maye vnderstande the other In the duchye of Loreyne was a castel whiche was moost renommed and chyef of thonour of buyâ—lon And bare that name whan he shold meue to goo 〈◊〉 his pylgremage by yonde the see he gaf this castel as the mooste noble and hyest of his herytage vnto oure lord in Almesse in to the chirche of lyege for to abyde there for euermore How the valyaunt duc godeffroy augmented the holy chirche And how he wold neuer bere crowne· cao. Clxxxxâ—â— sYth that he had thus by election the RoyaÌ„mâ— like as a deuoute and a relygyous man as he was 〈◊〉 louid moch holy chirch the seruise of our lord by coÌ„seyl of the bisshops of other wise clerkes that were in thoost he ordeyned fyrst in the chirchâ— of the sepulcre of our lord and in the temple clerkes for to serue· establysshed chanonnes gaf to them grete rentes large herytages of which they shold take theyr preâ—endes· he wold that the chirches in thoo partyes there shold be ordeyned after the establementis vses and custommes of the greâ—e chirches of fraunce He began moche hyly wel had accomplysshed yf our lord had gyuen to hym lenger lyf He had brought with hym oute of his countre relygyous Monkes whiche sayde and songe theyr 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 al a longe the waye as he cam· he gaf to them 〈◊〉 Abbâ—ye in the vale of Iosaphat· and establysshed them therâ— And endowed them there moche Rychely with good rentâ—s and reuennes And gaf to them grete pryueleges he was a very relygyous and deuoute man· And had his herte moche large vnto holy chirche· And gaf therto many grete thynges whan he was chosen to be kynge alle the barons requyred hym that he wold do hym be crowned and receyue thonour of the Royamme aâ— hyly as the other kynges in Cristendom doo he answerde that in this holy cyte where our sauyour Ihesu Criste suffred deth and had born a crowne of thornes vpon his heed for hym and for the synners he wold neuer bere yf it playsyd god crowne of gold ne of precious stones but hym semed that it was ynowe of that coronacion that he had the daye of his passion for to honoure alle the kynges Cristen that shold be after hym in Iherusalem ffor this cause he refused the crowne Ther ben soÌ„me men that wyll not accompte hym emong the kynges of Iherusalem but me thynketh that therfore he ought not to be lassed ne dymynued of his honoure but the more and hyer exalted and enhaunced ffor he dyde not this for despysyng of the sacrament of holy chirche· but he dyde it for tesche we the bobaunce and pryde of the world and for the grete mekenes humylyte that he had in his herte wherfore thenne I saye not only that he was not kynge but he was gretter than ony kynge that holdeth ony Royamme syth that the holy londe of Iherusalem was conquerd How the turkes of Arabe and of Egypte made theyr somauÌ„ce for to come in to Surye tassaylle our cristen men cao. CCo. nEwly whan the cyte was taken yet er that the Barons were departed cam tydynges in to the toun of Iherusalem trew they were that the Calyphe of Egypte which was the mooste puyssaunt and myghtiesâ— of all the londe of thoryenâ— had somoned alle his power· knyghtes gentilmen and alle otheâ— that myght bere armes in suche wyse that he had assembled a grete hooste merueyllously· ffor he had grete desdayne and despyâ—e of this that so lytil peple whiche were of a straunge londe and ferre â—ountrâ—y were so hardy and durst come in to this londe and Royamme and had taken the cyâ—e whiche he had â—onquerd vpon his enemyes he made come to fore hym his conâ—stable whiche was prynce of his hoost· he was named Elafdales To this man he commaunded that he shold take all this peple with hym goo in to Surye And renne vygorously vpon this peple that were so folyssh and oultrageous that had torned his peas and made warre to his peple Therfor he commaunded hym that he shold efface and destroye
them alle In suche wyse that neuer worde be spoken of them This Elafdales was of Ermenye born And was called Cimireenx by another name Of the Cristen men he was comen But for the Rychesse that was gyuen hym and for the lecherye that he fonde emonge the mescreauntes he renyed our lord and Cristen fayth for to become sarasyn This same man had conquerd the Cyte of Iherusalem vpon the turkes· and sette it in the puyssaunce of his lord the same yere· that the cristen men had besieged it And had not yet holden it ·xj monethis· whan thoost of the pylgryms toke it vpon them and rendred it to Cristiente hit was a thynge that it moche displaysyd his conestable that his lord had hold it so short a whyle And enioyed nomore his conqueste· ffor this cause he enterprysed in hym this werke and for to rennâ— vpon oure peple· And hym thought it but a lytil thynge and a light for to doo· consyderyng the grete plente of peple that he had for to disconfyte them that had taken the Cyte He cam in to Surye· brought with hym alle the power of Egypte· he had grete pryde in his herte by cause of the grete people that he had And was moche angry toward our men But our lord that can fettâ— wel counseyl in alle the purpoos of men ordeyned this werke all in another maner than he deuysed he cam with alle his men to fore the Cyte of Escalone There they lodged them and pourprised grete space of ground with them were ioyned alle the dukes of damaske and they of arabe that were in thoo partyes moche grete pâ—ple Trouthe it is that to fore eâ— oure peple entred in to the londe They of Egypte and the turkes of arabe louyd not to gydre but doubted moch thencreacyng of the one and other But after they accompanyed them togydre to come vpon oure men· more for 〈◊〉 of oure peple than for loue that they had emonge them self They were alle to gydre to fore Escalone· And they there concluded to come after to fore Iherusalem for tassiege the toun ffor they supposed veryly that oure barons durst in no wyse yssue out ayenst them in bataylle How our Cristen men whan they knewe thyse tydynges cryed to god for mercy and for to haue the vyctorye· ca o CCjo. wHan thyse tydynges were spradd thurgh the cyte of Iherusalem Alle the peple were gretely affrayed grete and smale By comyn acord of the bisshoppes they cam wullâ—n and barfote in the chirche of our lord There were alle the peple and cryed mercy to oure lorde with syghes and treris And besought Ihesu Criste moche swetly that his peple whiche he had kept and deffended vnto that day he wold delyuer fro this peryll ne suffre that the cyte and holy places that they late had rendred and yeuen to his name and to his seruyse and that he wold not that they shold be remysed agayn and habandouned in ordure and fylthe and in the desloyalte of the hethen men ffro thens they weÌ„te a procession syngynge with moche grete pyte vnto the temple of oure lord There dyde the bisshops and the clerkes the seruyse And the laye peple prayde with moche good herte and pytous whan this was don the bisshops gaf to them the benediction And after they departed The duc ordeyned barons and knyghtes that shold kepe the cytâ— After this he yssued out and th erle of fflaundres And cam in to the playnes of Rames The other Barons abode in Iherusalem The cytezâ—yns of napples had sente to fetche eustace broder of the duc and Tancre for to come theder to them· they wold yelde to them the cyte· They were goon by the commaundement of the duc and garnysshed moche wel the toun with peple and vytaylle of which the countre was moche fertile therfor they abode there and knewe nothynge of thyse tydynges But the duc sente for them And they cam hastely and were with the other barons· whan the duc and the erle of fflaundres arryued atte Cyte of Rames they knewe wel the trouthe certaynly that this admiral was lodged to foreEscalone with so grete peple that the contre was couerd Thenne sente they hastely messagers in to Iherusalem vnto the other barons which abode and awayted the certaynte of this thynge And he bad them hastely to come alle· sauf suche as shold kepe the cyte And shold brynge alle the peple moche hastely as for to fyghte ayenst grete plente of theyr enemyes How our men assembled and ordeyned· theyr bataylles for to fyghte ayenst the turkes And how the turkes were disconâ—yted Capitulo CCijo. tH erle of tholouse the other barons that were with hym knewe the certaynte how theyr enemyes cam vpon them with so grete power therfor they gadred to gydre alle theyr men that were in Iherusalem and yssued out and come to them moch dilygently in to the playnes where the duc was atte a place named now yâ—elyn whan they were alle assembled they nombred theyr peple and fonde xijC horsmen and of footemen ix M. whan thoost of our men had ben there one day or therabout after euen songe whan it hegan to wexe derk they espyed a fer a greet prees that cam takyng vp the couÌ„trey and couerd grete partes of the playnes Oure men had supposed certaynly that it had be thoost of the sarasyns And merueylled moche how they cam ayenst them at that hour Thenne they sente oute ij·C horsmen armed lightly wel horsed for to see more nygh what peple they were that cam how many were of them they roode forth a good paas whan they approuched them they knewe that it were Oxen· Kyen and mares ther were so many of them· that them semed there were no moo in alle the world and that it myght suffyse for alle the peple ther about· with thyse beestes were comen men on horsbak whiche kepte them from theuys And commaunded to the herdmen what they shold doo They that were sente forth by the barons retorned and sayde that ther was none other but beestes Thenne alle oure men ran theder The kepars of them fledde that myght Somme ther were that were taken· whiche tolde the trouthe of the turkes In suche wyse that it was wel knowen· that this grete hooste of sarasyns were lodged but .vij myle from them· And that theyâ— purpoos was to come on them and to sâ—ee them alle· Our barons were thenne certayn of the bataylle And deuysed emonge them ix bataylles And commaunded that thre shold goo to fore on that one syde· For the playnes were greet· And thir shold goo in the mydle and thre shold come behynde Of the samsyns myght noman knowe the nombre ffor ther was so grete plenâ—e that euery daye they encreaced and grewe of the contre about whiche ranne to them in suche wyse that it was not for to be estemed whan our men had goten this grete gayne that I spak
prynce of the weâ—te 〈…〉 and had slayn so many 〈…〉 saunt a Royamme· contâ—yned 〈…〉 hym tappytys ne clothes of 〈…〉 hym ne had not aboute hym sergeanâ—â—◠〈…〉 naked swerdes or haches or axis 〈◊〉 by 〈…〉 that sawe hym shold doubte and fere hym but satt◠〈…〉 he were a maÌ„ of lytil affayre The valiauÌ„t duc demauÌ„ded 〈…〉 that knewe vnderstode theyr langage what they sayde It was told answerd of this which they merueylled Thenne he sayd that it was no shame to a man mortel to sytte vpon therthe ffor theder muste he retorne after his deth and lodge there in his body and become erthe· whan they herd this answere they that were comen for teâ—pye and essaye what he was began moche for to allowe and preyse his wytte and his humilyte· They departed fro thens sayeng that he was shapen and lyke for to be lord of alle that londe and to gouerne the peple that was so withoute pryde And knewe pouerte and the fragilyte of his nature so wel This word was sprâ—dd ouer al by the m that had herd hym he was so moche deadde and doubted of his enemyes that enquyred of his affayres whiche founde not in hym but vygour· Rayson and mesure without ony pryde or oultrage How buymont was taken in goyng to Meletene whiche cyte the lord of the same wold yelde to hym cao. CCxjo. iN the Royamme of Iherusalem they conteyned them thus as ye haue herd Thenne it happened that a ryche man of eâ—menye named Gabryel was lord of the cyte of meletene which stondeth by yonde the Ryuer of Eufrates in the londe of mesoâ—â—tayne· This gabriel doubted moche that the turkes of Perse shold â—ome on hym ffor the men that they helde ran ofte on hym in suche wyse that he myght not wel suffre it Therfore he toke counseyl And sente messagâ—â—â— to buymont prynce of Anthyoche that that shold saye to 〈…〉 name that he shold haste hym in to his londe ffor he 〈…〉 ouer to hym his Cyte by certayn couenauntes 〈…〉 whiche he sente to hym· he loâ—yd buymont And 〈◊〉 that he had leuer that buymont had his cyte by his 〈…〉 the turkes sholde take it from hym ayenst his wyll whan 〈…〉 herde thyse tydynges as he that was hardy hasted 〈◊〉 â—oche for to make hym redy· And toke with hym a good company and went forth on his way he passed the Ryuer of Eufâ—aâ—â—s and entred in to mesopotayne And was nyghe the Cyte of meletene ffor whiche he wente for to receyue whan a puyssaunt amyral of the turkes named domsmayn that had certaynly the â—â—ry knowleche of his comynge And laye in awayte for hym and ranne vpon hym sodenly· and his men beyng alle out of arraye and dispourueyed They that abode were alle slayn ffor ther were oâ—er grete plente of turkes The other fledde Buymont was taken and reteyned· and they ladde hym the handes bounden with cordes And his feet chayned wyth yron Of this auenture mounted the turke in grete pryde And â—rusted moche in his hoost that he ledde that he cam to fore the cyte of meletene and assieged it by cause he supposed that they wold haue delyuerd it without taryeng But somme of them that escaped fro thens where the prynce was taken cam fleyng in to the cyte of Rages They told to th erle Bawdwyn this grete mesauenture that was fallen to them whan the valyaunt Erle herd this he was moche angrye· And had grete pyte of the prynce whom he helde for broder for the companye of the pylgremage And by cause they had theyr countrees so nygh to gydre It shold haue displesyd hym yf the turkes shold conquere this cyte that buymont shold haue had Therfor he somoned hastely alle his men that he myght haue on horsbak and a fote· and toke with hym that was necessarye for suche a vyage and wente toward thoo partyes· wel a thre daye iourneye was Rages fro meletene· he had sone passed this waye in suchewyse that he was nyghe the cyte· But the sayd donysmayn knewe wel the comyng of th erle and durst not abyde ne fyght with hym But lefte the siege and departed and ledde forth with hym buymont faste bounden and straytly whan Bawdwyn herde that he durst not abyde hym but fledde to fore hym he ran after with his men and chaced hym thre dayes longe whan he sawe that he myght not ouertake hym he retourned in to the cyte of Meletene Gabryel the lord of the toun receyued hym with moche grete ioye with alle his men and made to them good chere· And after gaf ouer the cyte to hym by the same couenauntes that he had offred to buymont· whan he had don this he reborned home agayn to Rages How the duc godeffroy assembled alle his peple· And entred in to Arabye And of the gayn that he made· And of his deth Capitulo CCxijo. gOdeffroy the valyaunt Duc and his men that were lefte with hym for to kepe the Royamme began to haue moche grete mesease and suffre suche pouerte that vnnethe it may be deuysed Thenne it happed that good espyes and trewe brought to hym tidynges that in the partyes of arabye on that other syde of fâ—om Iordan were moche ryche peple whiche doubted nothynge And therfore they dwellyd out of fortresses· yf they were surprised there shold be moch grete gayne wonne The valyaunt Duc that so moche had suffred toke with hym peple a foote and on horsbak as many as he myght sauf the garde of the Cyte Thenne entred he sodeynly in to the londe of his enemyes There gadred be many grete proyes· that is to wete· horses beufes â—yen and sheep And ryche prysonners brought he grete plente Thenne retorned he toward Iherusalem Somme turkes ther were hye and purssaunt of them of Arabye whiche were moche hardy· and noble in Armes· And had grete prys· Emonge all other ther was one that had longe desired for to see the duc Godeffroye of boloyne wold fayn knowe yf it were trewe that was said of his force streÌ„gthe acqueynte hym with his peple of ffraunce of whom he had herd so moche that were come fro the occident vnto thâ—â—yent And had conquerd so many londes And sette them in theyr subiection Aboue alle other he desired to see duc godeffroy and knowe yf it were trouth that was sayd of his prowesse his strengthe he dide so moch to such meÌ„ as he spak· that he had good sureâ—â— trie ws to come vnto the duc· he salewed hym moche lowe enclynyng lyke as is theyr customme And after he prayd and desired of the duc moche humbly that it wold plese hym to smyte with his swerd a Camel that he had brought moche grete· ffor as he sayde it shold be grete honour to hym in his countre yf he myght recounte ony of his strokes that he had seen hym self The duc knewe wel that he was come fro for to see hym And dyde that he requyred hym