contreye that euery man that myÈt â—ere armes shold be redy for to goo wyth hym ayenst the paynyms and he that wold not come shold be bounde for a good soÌ„me of money for to hyre souldyours that shold goo Thys doon was neuer seen tofore in so lytel tyme so moche peple assembled as thenne were founden And whan they were al departed in the name of god full of one grete fayth in grete hope to obteyne vyctorye vnder the conduyte of Charlemayn capitayne of the fayth And whan they had ryden a grete longe waye they came in to a grete wode of buscage in whyche they myght not passe vnnethe in two dayes and yet wyth grete payne and Charles thought to passe it in one daye wherfore he his hoost entred wythin the sayd wood which was ful of dyuers wilde beestes as Gryffons beres lyons Tygres and other beestes whaÌ„ they were thus in that grete wode and the nyght came on they were al abasshed troubled wythout knowyng whych waye they shold holde And Charles commauÌ„ded that they shold loke yf they myght see or knowe ony habytacyon but they were ferre fro ony and oute of their ryght waye and by force were dryuen to dyspose them to slepe in that estate And whan they were al in reste the kyng charles beyng in his dormytorye trustyng of the ayde of our lord in grete deuocyon began to say the psaulter And whan he came to the poynte that he shold say the vers foloyng Deduc me domine in semita mandatorum tuore quiaipaÌ„m bolui he sayng thys there came a byrde to his ere in the presence of eueriche that were about hym whyche sayd wyth an hye voys kyng thyn oryson is herde Thenne alle they that were presente were moche troubled and not wythstondyng al thys the kyng contynued to say the psaulter vnto Educ me do custodia animam meam all thus whyle he sayd the byrd began more strongely to crye and say ¶ O frensshe man what sayest thou O frensshe man what sayst thou And after that the kyng and hys companye wente and folowed the byrde whyche conduyted them vnto the ryght wayr whyche they had lost the day to fore somme of the pylgryms sayd that after in the same contreye were suche byrdes so doyng But whan charles hys grete puyssaunce were nyghe theyr enemyes they were moche troubled of theyr comyng the crysten lordes were gretely reioysed of theyr comyng For wythoute cessyng he rested not tyl that he had trcouerd the contreye of crysten men and expelled alle the paynyms whyche moche redounded to hym grete honour vyctorye And in retournyng he demaunded of themperour of Constantynoble lycence to departe of the other patryarkes archeperestes And thempeâ—â—ur helde hym an hole day And for remuneracyon the sayd emperour for thonour of kyng â—â—arles on the morne tofore thâ— yates of the cyte dyd do ordeyâ—â— many bestes of dyuers maneâ—s dyuers colours grete quantyte of gold and syluer and of precious stones to th ende that he shold take it for soÌ„me rewarde for the grete good that he had doon in theyr contreye But assone as charles knewe therof he took counceyll of hys people what 〈◊〉 ought to doo in takyng of the precyous ryche yeftes or to retourne in to fraunce wythout takyng of ony thyng And there vpon his barons couÌ„ceilled hym that he shold take no thynge for hys laboure For he had doon no thynge but for the loue of god onely And he beyng wel content of thys ansuer commaunded that noo persone vpon grete payne shold take noo thyng of the Iewellys aforesayd ¶ Of the relyques that themperour charles brought fro constantynoble and fro the holy londe and of the myracles that were doo in capitulo iij WHan themperour of constantynople and the patryarke of Iherusalem knewe that charles wold take no thynge of the good aforsayd he was admonested that he shold take somwhat of them whan he was thus constrayned he by sought them that for the loue of god myght be gyuen vnto hym somwhat of the relyques of our lord and of hys holy passyon whan thys was demaunded It was commaunded to fast euery man thre dayes for to be the more enclyned to deuocyon and for to vysyte the holy reliques and in especyall were ordeyned xij persones by grace whych shold treate see the relyques whan it come to the thyrd day the noble Charles by grete conteycyon confessyd hym to tharchebysshop Turpyn After that moche ruue rently they beganne to synge the letanye wyth somme psalmes of the psaulter And there was the prâ—late of naples named danyel whyche in grete reuerence opened the coffre wherin was the precyous crowne of Ihesu Cryst and there sprange oute of the same so grete an odour that all they that were presente thought to be in paradys TheÌ„ne charles ful of hool and very creaunce of fayth parfyght by contemplacyon kneled doun to the grounde and stratâ—hed hym on therthe moche strongely prayed our lord that for the glorye of hys name persently wold renewe the myracles of hys holy passyon and gloryous rosurrexyon assone as he had prayed in a moment the crowne began to florysshe a meruayllous swete odour yssued out of the floures soo ryÈt delycyous that eche man supposed that hys vestementes clothyng had comen oute of heuen ¶ TheÌ„ne after thys daniel took a sharpe knyf kuttyng wel puryfyed to cutte the said crowne and in cuttyng alwaye more more the sayd crowne flourysshed and the odour smellyd the more habundantly And of the floures charles put a parte in a reposytorye and in a lytel coffre he put the thornes of the crowne and wept so habundantlye that whan he wende to haue gyuen to tharchebysshop Ebroin the floures he wythdrewe hys honde supposed that the sayd Ebroin had holden them in hys honde they were in the ayer houyng by myracle abode there by them self the space of a grete houre And after whan he had gyuen in kepyng the sayd thornes to the sayd Ebroin he sawe the ooffret in thayer whyche was full of floureâ— whyche abode there by them self whiche sone after were conuerted in to manna and in that manere they berpat Saynt Denys in fraunce And it hath be the oppynyon of many that thys was of the maÌ„na that god sente in to deserte to hys people Thenne were there shewed myracles For al seek people that were there present were heled of al theyr maladyes by the odour of the floures aforesayd and the peple that entred in to the chirche by grete vyolence of presse of peple cryed verytably that day was a day of helthe resurrection for by the sauour of the mellyfluous floures alle the cytee was puryfyed and replenysshed of grace for thre hondred one seek man by compte were heled guarisshed of their maladyes Emonge al other ther was one seek of xxiiij yere thre monethes whyche was blynde
to the wode But after that Rolland had slayn kyng Marfuryus he was sore oppressyd in suche wyse deteyned that wyth foure grete speâ—es he was smyton and wounded mortally beten with stâ—ones and hurte wyth dartes and other shotte mortally And not withstondyng these greuous hurte woundes yet maulgre al the sarasyns he spâ—â—nge out of the bataylle and saued hym self the best wyse he myght Bellegandus broder of Marfuryus doubtyng that helpe ayde shold come to the crysten people retorned in to another coutreye wyth hys peple moche hastely And themperour Charles had thenne passed the montayne of Roncyuale and knewe nothyng of these thynges afore sayd ne what had be doon ¶ How Rolland deyed holyly after many martyres orysons made to god ful deuoutely of the complaynte maad for hys swerde durandal capitulo iij ROlland the valyaunt champyon of the crysten fayth was moche sorouful of the crysten men by cause they had noo soâ—ours he was moche wery gretely abasshed moche affebled in hys persone for he had lost moche of his blode by his foure mortal woundes of whyche the leste of them was suffysaunt for hym to haue deyed and he had grete payne to gete hym oute fro the sarasyns for to haue a lytel commemoracion of god tofore or the soule shold departe fro his body so moche he enforced hym that he came to the fote of a montayne nygh to the porte of Cezarye and brought hym self nygh to a roche ryght by Roncyuale vnder a tree in a fayr medowe whan he sat doun on the grounde he byhelde hys swerde the best that euer was named durandal whyche is as moche to say as gyuyng an hard stroke whyche was ryght fayr rychely made the handle was of fyn beryle shynyng meruayllously on hye it had a fayre crosse of gold in the which was wryton the name of Ihesus It was so good fyn that sonner shold the arme faylle than the swerde he took it out of yâ— shethe sawe it shyne moche bryght and by cause it shold chaunge his maister he had moche sorowe in his hert and wepyng he sayd in thys maner pytously ¶ O swerd of valure the fayrest that euer was thou were neuer but fayr Ne neuer fonde I the but good thou art long by mesure Thou hast be so moche honoured that alwaye thou barest with the the name of the blessyd Ihesus sauyour of the world whyche hath endowed the wyth the power of god who may comprehende thy valure Alas who shal haue the after me who someuer hath the shal neuer be vaynquysshed alwaye he shal haue good fortune Alas what shal I more ouer say for the good swerde many sarasyns haue ben destroyed by the thynfydels and myscreauntes haue ben slayn by the the name of god is exalted by the by the is made the path of sauement O how many tymes haue I by the auenged thyniâ—rye made to god O how many inen haue I smyton and cutte a sondre by the myddle O my swerde whyche hast ben my comfort and my Ioye whych neuer hurtest persone that myght escape fro deth O my swerde yf ony persone of noo value shold haue the I knewe it I shold deye for sorowe After that Rolland had wepte ynough he had fere that somme paynym myght fynde it after hys deth wherfore he cencluded in hym self to breke it and toke it smote it vpon a roche wyth alle hys myght iij tymes wythoute hurtyng ony thynge the swerde and clefte the rocke to therthe and coude in no wyse breke the swerde whan he sawe the facyon and coude do nomore therto he took his horne whyche was of yuorye moche rychely made and sowned blewe it moche strongely to the ende that yf there were ony crysten men hydde in the wodes or in the waye of theyr retournyng that they shold come to hym to fore they wente ony ferther and to fore he rendred hys soule TheÌ„ne seyng that none came he sowned it ageyn by soo grete force and vertu and so Impetuonsly that the horne roof a sondre in the myddle and the vaynes of hys necke braken a sondre and the synewes of his body stratcheden And that noyse or voys by the grace of god came to the eeres of Charles whyche was eyght myle fro hym The Emperour herryng the horne he knewe wel that Rolland had blowen it and wold haue retorned ageyn but Ganellon the traytre whyche knewe wel alle the fayt dystourned hym in sayeng that Rolland had blowen his horâ—e for somme wylde beest that he chaced for hys playsyr For ofte tymes he wold blowe hys horne for lytel thynge and that he shold not doubte of nothyng ¶ And thus he dyd the kynge to vnderstonde that he byleued hym and made none other sâ—â— blaunte Neuertheles Rolland beyng in thys sorowe â—e peased hys woundes also wel as he myght and stratched hym self on the grasse to the fresshenes for to forgete hys thurst whyche was ouer grete ¶ Here vpon Baulduyn hys brother came vnto hym whyche was moche heuy and sorouful for hys brother Roulland whyche was in that necessyte And anone Roulland sayd to hym my frende and my brother I haue so grete thurst that I must nedes deye yf I haue not drynke to aswage my thurst ¶ Baulduyn had grete payne in goyng here and there and coude fynde no water and came to hym ageyn sayd he coude fynde none and in grete anguysshe he lefte on Roullandes hors and rode for to fetche charles For he knewe wel that rolland was nyghe hys deth Anone after came to hym Thyerry duâ— of Ardayne whyche wepte vpon Rolland so contynuelly that he myÈt not speke but with grete payne Rolland confessyd hym and dysposed hym of hys conâ—eyence neuertheles that same day Rolland had receyued the body of our lord For the custome was that the subgettes of Charles that day whyche they shold fyght were confessyd comuned wythoute fayllyng by men of the chyrche which alway were wyth them Rolland whyche knewe hys ende by entyer contemplacyon hys eyen lyfte vp to heuen hys hondes Ioyned al stratched in the medowe began to say thus Fayre lord god my maker my redemour sone of the gloryous moder of comforte thou kowest myn entencyn thou knowest what I haue doon for the bounte that is in the by thy grete mercy of whyche thou art enuyronned by the grace whyche in the haboundeth by the meryte of thy passyon holy and bytter with a good and humble hert I requyre the yâ— tofore the thys day my faultes synnes and ygnoraunces may be pardonned to me and take noo regarde to the trespaces that I haue doon to the but beholde that I deye for the and in the fayth that thou hast ordeyned remembre that thou hengest on the tree of the crosse for the synnars and so as thou hast redemed me I beseche the that I be not loste Alas my maker god omnypotent wyth good wylle I departed
capitulo xiij How the peres of fraunce that were in the toure cam oute whan they sawe thoost of Charles how thadmyral was taken and holden prysoner ca xiiij How ballant thadmyral for all the admonycion that was made to hym he wold not be baptysed but was slayn Floripes hys doughter was baptysed after wedded to guy of burgoyne guy crowned kyng the quene of that contre capitulo xv How Florypes gaf the reliques to themperour how they were assayed proued by myracle of the retournyng of charles the ende of this book ca xvj ¶ Here begynneth the iij book whiche conteyneth ij partyes by the chapytres folowyng declared ¶ The first partye of the iij book conteyneth xiiij chapytres speketh of the warres in spayne of two grete geantes How saynt Iames appyered to Charles how by the moyen by the conduyte of the sterres he went in to Galice what citees he there subdued ca primo Of cytees goten in spayne by charles how somme of theym were by hym cursed capitulo ij Of a grete ydolle whyche was in a cyte that myght not be beten doun and of the sygnes condycyons thewf capitulo iij Of the chyrche of saynt Iames in Galyce of other chyrches that he dyd there do founde iiij How after that Aygolant the geaunt had taken spayne destroyed and put to deth the crysten men Charles recouerd it other maters capitulo v How aygoland sent to Charles that he shold feably come to hym with lytel peple to make Iuste warre how charles in habyte dissimyled spake to hym other maters capitulo vj How charles accompanyed with moche peple retorned to the place forsaid took the cite of agâ—ne other maters capitulo vij Of the vertuous operacions that charles dyd whan he was retorned in to fraunce what baroÌ„s he had in his companye and of theyr puyssaunce capitulo viij Of the tryewes of charles of aygolant of the deth of his peple wherfore aygoland was not baptysed ca ix ¶ Of the deth of aygolaÌ„t of his peple how moche people of the criâ—â—en men were dede by coÌ„cupysceâ—ce of money the crysten fouÌ„dâ—n dede by myracle ca x ¶ Of fâ—â—agê° the meruayllous geant hoâ— he 〈◊〉 aweye the barons of frâ—uÌ„ce without dauÌ„ger how afteâ—ward rolland fouÈt ayenst hym câ— xj How on the morne rolland and ferragus foughten to gâ—der and of their desputyng of their fayth and by what meane Ferragus was slayn by rolland ca xij How Charles went to cordube where as the kyng of that place the kyng of abyllâ— abode hym of their destructyoâ— ca xiij How the chirche of saint Iames was hallowed sacred by turpin tharchebisshop 〈◊〉 chirhes of spayne subgettes to the same of that pryncypal chyrches xiiij ¶ The second partye of the iij book conteyneth x chapytres speketh of the trayson doon and made by Ganellon of the deth of the peres of fraunce How the trayson was comprysed by Ganellon of the deth of the crysten men how ganellon is repreued by thauctour ca j Of the deth of kyng marfuryus and how Rolland was hurte wyth foure speres mortally after that al his peple were slayn and deed capitulo ij How Rolland deyed moche holyly after many maters orysons made and prayed to god moche deuoutely and of the complaynte made vpon hys swerde durandal capitulo iij Of the vysion of the deth of rolland shewed to tharchebysshop Turpyn of the sorowe of charles how he complayned hym pytâ—ously other maters iiij How olyuer was fouÌ„den slayn and of the deth of the sarasyns of the deth of ganellon whyche was hydous capitulo v How after the thynges aforesayd Charles gaf thankynges and preysynges to god and to Saynt Denys And of the constitucions that he made in frauÌ„ce capitulo vi How Charles wente in to Almayn where as he deyed holyly and of his deth shewed to tharchebysshop Turpyn and of his buryeng Imperyally ca vij Of the recapitulacion of al this werke and of hys deth at 〈◊〉 of his sepulture capitulo viij Thexcusacyon of thauctour ix Thenuoye of thauctor ca x ¶ Explicit AS it is redde in thystoryes of the troians After the dystructyon of the noble cyte of Troye there was a kyng moche noble named francus the whyche was felowe of Eneas which whan he departed fro Troye came in to the regyon of fraunce begaâ— to regne in grete prosperyte for the felycyte of his name he dyd coÌ„pose do edyfye a cyte whiche he named fraunce so folowyng all the regyon was called frauÌ„ce after whaÌ„ frauÌ„ce was enhauÌ„ced reduced to mageste ryal Priamus was the fyrst that regned vpon the frensshe men v yere The second was marcurius xxxiij yere The iij pharaâ—â—uÌ„dus regned xj yere The iiij clodyus xiiij yere The v Meroneus x yere The vj hildericus xxvij yere the vij was Clodoneus the fyrst crysten kyng whyche regned vpon the frensshe men after thyncarnacion of our lord CCCC lxxxiiij yere of whome I entende to make a litel mencyon vpon hys â—â—â—ueyllous conuersacyon ¶ How the kyng clodoneus paynym had to wyf the noble clotildis doughter of the kynge of burgoyne capitulo ij IN that tyme was kyng of the burgoynons guydengus the whiche had iiij sones al of good aege that is to wete Agabondus the ij godogesylus the iij Hyspericus the fourth Godamarus The fyrst agabondus repleynsshed of al inyquyte put to deth by swerd his broder hispericus and after henge his wyf put a stone aboute hyr necke drowned hyr This hyspericus had two fayre doughters theldest was named throne whom agabondus her vncle bannysshed fro hys contrey sent hir forth in habyte dyâ—â—ymyled The yonger of these ij douâ—ters was named clotildis whom he reteyned for hir beaute wyth hym in his hous duryng thyâ— the kyng clodoneus or Cloys iij frensshe beyng a paynym whyche byleued with his subgettâ—â— but vpon ydâ—lles oftymes fâ—r hys affayres sent his messageâ—s 〈◊〉 to burgoyne clotyldys thâ—â— fayr mayde was ofte seen of â—he messagers of the kyng 〈…〉 by holden affectuously and for hir grete beaulte dyscrescyon the sayd messagers â—â—tyfyed it to the kyng 〈◊〉 â— and whan thys kyng Cloy◠〈◊〉 ynough informed of the grete beauteâ—â— wysdom of this mayde whyche was crysten he was moche curyous to sende his herawdes vnto agabondus â—ncle of thys doughter for to haâ—e hyr to maryage Duryng those dayes the kyng Cloys had a subtyl man wyth hym named aurelyanus which by comaundement of hys lord wente to the place where as was thyâ— mayde put hym self in habyte moche poure and dyssymyled leâ—t his good habytes with his felowes in a wode weÌ„t moche holyly tofore the moder chyrche of that place the day of a grete feste set hym self in the myddes
deef dombe but at meuyng whan the thorne was drawen fro the crowne he took hys syght and whan it was layed in ageyn he recouuered his heeryng And in florysshyng of it he was restored to his speche ¶ After thys the sayd danyel took a nayll of which the percyous body of our lord in his passyon had be perced and in grete reuerence was put for a relque in alabastâ—e in takyng oute of it a chylde was heled whiche of hys lefte syde was drye and Impotent fro his byrthe he ranne hastelye to the chyrche and cryed at the houre of none and said that he beyng in an extasye was he led and guarysshed and tolde the manere ¶ Also there was gyuen to the kyng Charles a pyece of the holy crosse and the holy sudarye and therwith the smocke of our lady the clothe wherin our lord was wrapped and also the arme of saynt Symeon and al reuerently in precyous pyxes â—â—asses he hâ—nge them aboute hys necke and in passyng by a castel there was a chylde newe dede whom kyng charles touched with the reliques that he bare anone the chylde was reysed to lyf And whan he come to Acon in Almayne whyche is a moche fayr cytee where as kyng charles had made his paleys moche fayr ryche and a ryght deuoute chapel in thonour of our lady wherin hym self is buryed There atte laste were guarysshed heled blynde men and seek men of the feures wythoute nombre xij demonyaks viij lazars of the palescy xv of mysharen xv â—roke backed lij of the fallyng sekenes lxv of the gowte many of them of the same place many of other maladâ—es And it was ordeyned that in the moneth of Iuyl at Acon in the cyte that al peple myght come see the forsayd relyques which kyng charles had brought fro Iherusalem and constantynoble And more ouer was establysshed that one day of the weke of the fastyng of ymbre dayes and in the moneth of Iuyl shold be made this demostraunce and notyfycacyon And in thys constytucion was Pope Leo Tharchebysshop Turpyn Achylleus bysshop of alex andrye And Theophyle of anthyoche many other bisshoppes abbottes whyche werk was moche vertuous ful of helthe ¶ Here begynneth the ij book of thys present werke whyche conteyneth thre partyes by chapytres folowyng declared ¶ The fyrst partye of the second book conteyneth xvj chapytres and speketh of the bitayll doon by Olyuer Fyerabras a meruayllous geaunte ¶ How in a place which was called mormyonde charles abode folowyng the warre ayenst the paynems after a lytel prologue ¶ The fyrst chapytre I Haue spoken tofore in the fyrst book superfycyally of the first kyng of fraunce baptysed in descendyng after my purpoos vnto Kynge charles of whome may not wel be recouÌ„ted the valyauÌ„ce of hym and of hys barons whych were named called pyeres of frauÌ„ce Of whome of their behauyng I shal make mencion after that I shal mowe coÌ„ceyue by trouthe but thys that I haue tofore wryton I haue taken it oute of an autentyke book named myrrour hystoryal and in auncyent cronycles And haue onelye translated them oute of latyn in to frensshe And the mater folowyng whyche shal be the second book is of a Romaunce maad of thauncyent facyon wythoute grete ordynaunce in frensshe wherof I haue been encyted for to reduce in profe by chapytres ordeyned which book after soÌ„me and moost comunely is called Fyerabras by cause that thys Fyerabras was so meruayllous a geaunte as I shal make mencyon whyche was vaynquysshed by Olyuer And at the laste baptysed was after a Saynt in heuen And in effect it speketh of that bataylle and of the relyques conquered whiche had ben taken at rome and were in the puyssaunce of the admyrall whyche was fader of fyerabras wherfore in thys book folowyng I ne entende but onely to reduce thauncyent ryme in to profe to deuyde the mater by chapytres in the best ordynauÌ„ce that I shal conne wythoute to adiouste ony thynge that I haue not founde in the book competent in lyke wyse as I shal fynde I shal reduce And thys book is applyed to thonour of Olyuer one partye Not wythstondyng that there been many other maters For I suppose that of eueriche of the barons pryncypal of themperour Charles whyche been sayd comynly in nombre xjj or xiij and pyeres of Fraunce whyche were capytaynes of thexcercyte and moche stronge and valyaunte of theyr persones were grete lordes and noble But of the lordes valyaunte capytaynes were more than xiii after that I fynde Fyrst there was rolland Erle of Cenonia sone of myllon erle and of dame berthe proper syster of kyng Charles After hym was Olyuer Erle sone of Reyner of gennes which Reyner was also at thexcersyte of kyng charles After hym Rychard of Normandye Garyn duck of Lorayn Geffroy lord of bourdeloys Hoel Erle of NauÌ„tes Ogyer the danois kyng of denmarke Lamberd prynce of bruxellys Naymes Duke of bauyer Thiery duc of ardanne Basyn of beneuoys Guye of bourgoyne Caudeboy kyng of Fryse Ganellon whych dyd the treson at the ende of the iij book at rouncyuale Sampson duk of bourgoyne Also there was Ryol du mauns Alory guyllermet the soot and many other that were subgettes to Charles And not wythstondyng that they were not alwaye wâ—â—h hym They that I haue tofore â—amed were alwaye redy for to â—o his commaundement And the moost parte of them that I haue tofore named were wyth hym â—â—â—ynuelly ¶ Of Fyerabras how 〈◊〉 to excyte thexcersyte of Câ—â—rles capitulo THe admyral of spayne named ballan a pâ—â—nym moche grete puâ—ssauÌ„t of body and of peple had a sone named Fyerabras the moost meruayllous geaunt that euer was seen borne of moder for of the gretenes hugenes of hys body and also of his strengthe to hym was none like the whyche was kyng of Alexandrye helde vnder hym the contree of babylone vnto the rede see and he was lord of roussye of coulleygne more ouer vnder hym was Iherusalem reteyned the holy sepulcre of our lord Ihesu Cryst a by hys grete puyssauÌ„ce entred on a tyme in to Rome where he dyd moche euyl bare awaye the holy crowne of our lord the holy naylles other relyques ynoughe Of whome thys book shal in th ende recouÌ„te how they were recouerd And he was called Fyerabras of alexandrye whyche after that many warres bataylles were maad in Mormyonde bytwene the paynyms and thexcersyte of Charles Thys fyerabras moche dyssolute came rydyng by grete furour for to fynde soÌ„me cristen man for to fyght ayenst hym came vnto the lyces of Kynge Charles moche furyous and eschauffed as he shold fyght al armed and wel fournysshed of wepen was ryght euyl contente that he fonde no persone to whome he myght fyght nygh vnto the lyces he went to beholde the armes af themperour charles whyche were of
the aygle shynyng And he sware by Mahommet his god by his myÈt that he wold neuer departe tyll he had foughten made batayll to somme crysten man And he seeyng that no man cam to hym began to crpe with an hye voys O kyng of Parys coward with oute hardynesse sende to Iuste ayenst me somme of thy barons of fraunce the moost stronge the moste hardy as Rolland olyuer Thyerâ—y or ogyer the danoys I swere to the by my god Mahon that I shal not refuse vnto the nombre of vj or vij that they shal be receyued of me and yf thou make to me reffuse of thys that I of the demaunde I promyse the that tofore or it be nyÈt thou shalt of me be assaylled dyscomfyted I shal smyte of thy heed as meschaunt withoute ony fayllyng and after I shal lede with me Rolland Olyuer vnhappy meschaunt caytyfs For oultragyously folyly as euyl and olde hast enprysed to come iij to thys contreye wherfro thou shalt haue cause hastely to departe These wordes or semblable spoken Fyerabras wente hym vnto the shadowe of a tree and laye there dysarmed hym of the armes of whyche he was cladde and bonde his hors vnto a tree and whan he was thus at his ease he began to crye with an hye voys o charlemayn kyng of Parys where art thou now whome I haue thys day so ofte called wythoute more lenger delaye sende to Iuste ayenst me rolland or Olyuer of whom thou makest so grete counte and been so valyaunte or ogyer the danoys whom I haue herde preysed And yf perauenture one of them dare not come allone hardyly late come the two or thre or foure of the moost valyauntest and that they be courageous hardy and wel armed And yf the four dare not come late come fyue For vnto the nombre of vi of the moost valyauntest of thyn excersyte I shal not refuse And I thynke not to retorne tyl they be confused and destroyed by me for be ye sure that it shal neuer be to me reproche that I be fugytyf for ony frensshe man lyuyng I haue here tofore put to deth by the valyaunce of my persone ten kynges of grete puyssaunce and that they coude not resyste ageynst my strengthe in no wyse ¶ How Rychard if Normandye sayd to Charles what maner man Fyerabras was ca iij Assone as fyerabras had fynysshed hys wordes the Emperour Charles whyche wel had herde hym meruaylled moche of hys langage And demaunded Rychard of Normandye what was that Turke that so had cryed wyth soo hye a voys vpon the valyaunce of hys persone For kyng Charles sayd I haue wel herkened what he hath said that he shal not fayle to fyght ayenst vj of the moost valyauntest of myn excersyte To whome Rychard Duke of normandye ansuerd Syr kyng thys is a man meruayllous ryche and one of the strengest borne of moder And he is a sarasyn of so grete fyerste that he ne preyseth kyng ne erle ne none other persone of the worl◠¶ Whan Charles vnderstood hym he began to clawe his â—eed And sware by Saynt Deâ—ys of fraunce that he shold not ete ne neuer drynke tyl one of the pyeres of fraunce shold goo Iuste ageynst hym And demaunded of Rychard of Normandye how thys Popnyt was named ¶ Rychard answerd syr Emperour his paynym nameth hym self Fyerabras Which is moche to redoubte and hath done moche harme or crysten men He hath slayn the Pope hanged abbottes monkes and nonnes and hath deffuled chyrches ¶ And he hath robbed taken awaye the holy crowne of but lord and many other relyâ—ues for whome ye take grete payne And he holdeth Iherusalem in grete subgectyon And the holy sepulcre wherin god was buryed wherupon Charles ansuerd of thys that thou hast sayd to me I am more aÌ„gry than I was but knowe thou for certayn I shalle neuer haue Ioye tyll that my desyre be accomplysshed and that he be vaynquysshed And of that fayt al the frensshe men were commoeued and troubled And ther was not one that presented hym for to goo to hym And whan charles sawe that noo persone was of courage for to goo and fyght ageynst thys geaunt Fyerabras He sayd to Rolland My dere neuewe I praye the that thou dyspose the for tassaylle thys turke that thou doo there thy deuoyr ¶ Of the answer of Roulland to the Emperour sodeynlye and what it was capitulo iiij WHan themperour Charles had spoken thus curtoysly vnto his neuewe Rolland Folyly wythoute reason Rolland answerd hym thus Fayt vncle speke neuer to me therof For I had leuer that ye were confused and dysmembred than I shold take armes or hors for to Iuste lyke as ye say For on the last day that we were so nyghe taken of the paynyms that is to say of moo than fyfty thousand we yonge knyghtes bare the burthen and suffred many mortal strokes of whych olyuer my felowe is quasi hurt vnto the deth For yf ye had not be socoured of vs the hole destructyon had been of vs and th ende whan we repayred and were in our lodgys for to take reste at euen whan ye were wel dronken ye maad auaunte openlye that the olde and auncyent knygytes whyche ye had brouÈt wyth you for to ayde vs had moche better borne them in the fayt of armes and had more stronge bataylle than the yonge knyghtes ¶ And euery man knoweth wel how I was that euenyng affebled and wery of trauaylle that I took in that day And by my faders soule that was euyll sayd of you ¶ And now it shal be knowen how the olde auncient knyghtes shal bere them for by god whyche ought to haue al in his subgectyon there is noo yonge man in my companye that euer shal be in my fauour and loue yf he take vpon hym to Iuste ageynst the Paynym Also sone as Roulland had spoken that worde Themperour hys vncle hauyng moche IudignacioÌ„ therat smote hym thwarte the vysage wyth hys ryght ganntetoâ— that hys nose breste a blood habundauntly of the stroke Thenne Roulland in a grete furye sette honde on hys swerde whan he sawe hys blood and had smeton hys vncle yf he had not be lette by them that were presente And whan Charles sawe then tencyon of Roullaud he was meruayllously abasshed sayd O god of heuen who wold haue thought that I shold haue had vylonye of Rolland my neuew whyche been knytte to gyder in one fayth ayenst our aduersaryes And he cometh rennyng ageynst me wyth affectyon mortal He that is moost nexte of my blood and lignage that here is present And that more sonner shold sâ—coure me than ony other ¶ Now I beseche God that on the crosse suffred passyon that this day he be punysshed as he is worthy And this said in a grete furour he comaunded the frensshe men sayd to them anone take ye hym for I shall neuer ete tyl he be delyuerd to
I praye you scorne me nomore I shal wel aduenge me or two monethes be passed Doo sowne to assaulte for tassaylle the toure Sortybrant sayd it is reson that your wylle be doon but the nyÈt is ouer nyghe by myn aduys it is better to abyde tyl to morowe And thenne your excersyte shal be assembled for to werke more surely thadmyral was contente and sayd by grete dysplaysauÌ„ce Ha fayr Lucafer neuer shal I see you more I haue loste 〈◊〉 my Ioye O ye frensshe men accursed be ye ye haue taken hym awaye fro me but by Mahoun my god to whome I haue gyuen my lyf to morne shal the syege be layed tofore the toure And I shal neuer departe for none euyl wether that shal come He for thynge that may be tyl the toure be taken and the walles layed on the erthe And I shal make the frensshe men to be drawen at the taylles of my horses And after I shal make florypes the putayn to be brente in a fyre openly and I am wel sure that they shal yelde them For they be not vytaylled scarâ— for foure dayes And of that other parte I knowe wel they may haue no socours of no maÌ„ what someuer he be For we holde the stronge brydge of mantryble they may haue noo socours but yf it come ouer that brydge of that other parte charles shal haue noo tydynges of his barons ne shal not knowe whether they be dede or a lyue or in lyberte or in subiectyon here vpen they concluded and went to their lodgys tyl on the morne And on the morne erly thadmyral senâ—e for al hys subgettes concluded to laye the syege and sware to holde it seuen yere longe but yf he had of them his wylle Thenne came there so many paynyms in the contreye aboute that theyr lodgyses helde foure myle of space ye may thynke in what daunger the frensshe men were whyche were but twelue persones onely and had none other conduyte ne comforte but to be wythin assyeged in grete peryll of famyne Neuertheles alwaye where as the sarasyns dyd gretely theyr deuoyr for to entre yet they coude no thyng gryeue them Thadmyral called one marpyn a moche fals theef emonge alle humayn creatures sayd to hym Marpyn by the berde that I bere on my chynne yf thou mayst do soo moche as for to stele awaye the gyrdle that Florypes bereth I shal rewarde and gyue to the largely of my golde syluer thou shalt be my grete frende For yf I may haue it I am sure that the frensshemen shal sone be dede for hungre and thenne may they nomore greue me ¶ That gyrdle was of suche vertu that as longe as it shold haue du red wythin the toure they wythin shold neâ—er haue be famyned Syr sayd the theef abyde tyl it be nyght I swere to you that to morne or the sonne aryse I shal shewe to you the gyrdle shal delyuer it to you herupon whan it was nyght he entred secretlye in to the dyches whyche were ful of water and passed ouer and after whan he was at the fote of the toure moche subtylly with his engynes he mounted vp in to the wyndowes entred in to the toure and took a candel after cam to the chambre of Florypes fonde it faste shette But with fals dyabolyke worâ—es he opened it and whan he was wythin he sawe that al yâ— baroÌ„s were fast a slepe and he made so enchauntements that for no thynge they myght awake and thenne he came to Florypes and serched so pryuely that he took the gyrdle after gyrde hym self wyth al and after thys he behelde the doughter al naked whiche was moche fayre was enclyned anone to haue defouled hyr began to take hyr aboute the necke whyche sodeynly awoke began to crye moche strongely and called hyr maydens the barons wherfore the maydens came anone alabasshed aferde whan they saw marpyn the theef as blacke as a moore the moost hardyest of them began to flee A non as Guye of Bourgoyn herde the boys of florypes he came to hyr wyth hys naked swerde in his honde and escryed to hyr that she shold not be aferde of ony thynge And he came so wel to poynte that yf he had not come the theef had defowled florypes but as sone as the theef herde hym he sprange oute of the bedde wyth grete haste and Guye of bourgoyne recountred hym and gaf hym so grete a stroke that he clefte hym by the myddel and cutte a two the gyrdel and the candel quenched The other barons came after and whan they sawe the werke the theef dede they threwe the body in to the see wyth the gyrdle And whan it was knowen that he had stolen the gyrdle and was loste wyth hym in the see there was moche sorowe for the losse of soo noble a Iewel And Florypes wepte ryght sore sayeng that the losse of the gyrdle may neuer be reconuerd Neuertheles the barons wyth fayre wordes comforted hyr in suche manere that they alle were contente ¶ How the barons were assyeged in the toure wyth Florypes and hyr maydens which suffred grete hungre and how the goddes by them were confounded capitulo xij WHan the day was comen and thadmyral sawe not Marpyn thenchauntour retorne he was moche abasshed and demaunded brullant Sortybrant and hys other lordes counceyl what he shold doo consydered that Marpyn was not retorned Sortybrant sayd Syr admyral knowe ye for certayn that the theef is deed sythe he is not retorned and comen but I counceyl you that ye doo soune your trompettes for tassemble your subgettes for tassaylle the toure and confounde the crysten men And wyth slynges and other engynes they doo caste stones dartes enuenymed but blessyd be god the frensshe men doubted them no thynge After they had contynued the syege a whyle brede and wyn began to faylle to the barons and maydens m suche wyse that they had noo thynge to ete Thenne the sorowe of the maydens whyche were so fayre ful of compassyon was ouer grete and were al desolate And emonge the other the noble florypes was moche dysplay saunte for the necessyte of the frensshe men of hyr self and of hyr damoyselles often tymes she swowned fyl to grounde as dede Guy of bourgoyne hyr spouse that shold be took hyr vp moche swetely and recomforted hyr to hys power sayd to hys felawes My brethern lordes ye see the necessyte that we suffre it is now thre dayes passed syth we had ony brede And yet it greueth me more for these damoyselles than for my self And I say you for trouthe that I may no lenger eÌ„dure but yf we do otherwyse And be ye sure that I had leuer to put my body in auenture to be hurt and wounded mortally than I shold abyde here wythin enclosed wyth thys melancolye wherfor I say late vs goo oute for to gete
somme vytaylle for better is to vs to deye wyth honour than to lyue with shame Al the frenssh men were of thoppynyon of guy There vpon Florypes sayd My lordes I wote now wel that your god is of lytel power whan he gyueth to you none ayde ne comforte And I say you wel that yf ye had adoured our goddes they had pourueyed for you mete and drynke Tofore that she had fynysshed hyr wordes Roulland ansuerd and sayd Madame I praye you that ye shewe to vs your goddes that ye speke of And yf they haue the power that ye say that they may gyue to vs mete and drynke that they do soo moche that the puyssaunce of fraunco come hyther for to socoure vs we shal al byleue on them wythout varyeng The mayde sayd anone ye shal see them Incontynent after that she had taken the kayes she ladde the barons vnder the erthe and shewed to them the goddes of the sarasyns whiche were in a place moche noble precyous and ryche And there were in grete mageste Appolyn Mahoun and Termagaunt the god Margot and Iupyn and many other whyche were alle massy of fyn golde of Arabye enorned wyth many Iewellys Odoraunt of bame and encence and many other tresours were there assembled Guy of bourgoyne sayd whan he sawe soo grete tresour A lord god who wold haue wende that in thys place had be so grete rychesse assembled wold god that Rychard of normandye had now Aupyn in hys cyte of Roan For he shold wel accomplysshe wyth it the chyrche of the holy Trynyte And that kyng charles had thother goddes he shold repayre ageyn yâ— chyrche of rome whyche is destroyed And with the remenaunte he shold make men ryche and to sette them in good poynte Florypes ansuerd and sayd Syr Guye ye speke vylaynsly ayenst the goddes crye them mercy adoure them to th ende that they enclyne them to you to doo you comforte guy sayd vnto hyr I can not praye to them Madame for I see theyr eyen al a slepe and ye shal see that they may not here ne see and therwyth he smote Iupyn And Ogyer danoys smote margot that they flewe to the 〈◊〉 and were anone alle to broken wherfore Roulland sayd to the doughter In trouthe madame I see that ye haue goddes that be not worth of them that been fallen to therthe I see not one of them remeue ne make semblauÌ„te to releue hym Fro theÌ„ne forthon Florypes had al theyr goddes in despyte and byleued in Ihesu Cryste sayeng thus I see syr Roulland that ye say the veray trouthe but yf euer I byleue on them I wyl that my body come to an euyl ende and with good herte I requyre that god that was borne of a vyrgyn of whome ye haue enformed me that he sende to you socours of fraunce and that we fynde maner to gete vytalle for to satysfye our hungre ¶ How the peres of Fraunce went out of the toure and dyd a grete bataylle In which they recouerd twenty sommyers charged of vytaylle capitulo xiij WHan Florypes had sayd she fyl doun to the erch a swoune for sorowe anguysshe wherfor guy of bourgoyn wept moche soroufully for the loue of hyr Hreupon Olyuer the courageous came tofore them and sayd My lordes I you assure by the god that suffred deth for creatures humayn I had leuer that my body were quartred and smyton in pyeceâ— than I shold suffre this pryson but that I shold fyght quyckely wyth the paynyms semblably sayd rolland wherfore wythout other delyberacion they sette theyr sheldes in good poynte and mounted on horsluck and aualed the brydge wyth a stedfast courage made them redy whan they were alle afore the toure of marble Rolland sayd to the other Syr Naymes or ye syr Ogyer it byâ—houeth that one of yon abyde for to kepe the place that at the retornyng we may entre surely ¶ The Duke Naymes coude take noo pacyence but that he an swerd thus Syr Roulland thynke not that I be so vnhappy of persone ne of lygnage that euer I shold be reproched and that euer I shold be your portyer I wyl not doo so in noo wyse though I be olde yet can I torne myn hors For I am harde of synewes aud haue myn herte wel assured and wyl be hardy ynough for to smyte vpon myn enemyes whaÌ„ tyme shal reqnyre ne doubte ye no thynge therof Rolland ansuerd syr ye say wel ye shal come wyth vs Thyerry or geffroy that one of you two shal abyde but it was not their playsyr to abyde enclosed Neuertheles at the request of Rolland thyerry abode with geffroy whyche shetted the yates surely after that the other barons were wythoute whyche eche with his shelde tofore hym and swerde in hys hande wente mustryng them tofore the castel Thadmyral lokyng out at a wyndowe knewe the frensshe men wherfor hastely he sente for brullant and sortybrant to come to hym wyth other to whome he sayd my barons and subgettes the frensshe men ben comen aud me semeth they wyl fyght yf they be not al slayn I shal be euyl contente wherfore do sowne your hornes for tassemble your people ye â—ary ouer longe And assone as they had so doon a grete multytude of sarasyns were there assembled came and assaylled the frensshe men But rolland that helde durandal in hys honde with his felowes came vpon the mastyn sarasyns by suche a furour that in a lytel whyle moo than an hondred were slayn For vnhappy was he that came to socoure the sarasyns Thenne came Claryon whyche was neuewe to the admyral with xv thousand fyghtyng men And know ye for certayn that in that tyme in spayn was noo sarasyn more doubted than he whan the barons sawe hym come Rolland escryed gherard Ogyer Guy O noble knyghtes in thonour of god eche of you do so his deuoyr that at thys tyme wyth vyctorye we may obtayne vytaylle for the maydens in the toure That sayd Rolland smote his hors wyth hys spores and wyth durandal smote a fyers Paynym named Rampyn soo myghtely that he claâ—te hede and body at a stroke wherof they that were there present were abasshed thenne the sarasyns doubted so strongly rolland that there was not a man durst put hym self tofore hym but yf he thought to deye Gherard of mondydyer sayd my brethern lordes who wyl here after haue playsyr be honoured it is tyâ—e that he shewe hym for often by one vnhappy man a halyaunt maÌ„ is in dauÌ„ger wherfor with that word al these barons were moche more ferueÌ„t thaÌ„ they had be to th ende that euery man shewed hym self suche as he ouÈt to be after that yâ— batayll was fynysshed for that day as god wold the barons fonde by the tour aforesayd a grete auenture For they sawe passe by the castel xx sommyers laden wyth vytayl that is to say brede wyn venyson other vytaylles ynow and a paynym
sygne yâ— the kyng of frauÌ„ce shold conquere them So theÌ„â—â— in the tyme that the noble kyng chacles regned in spayne for to brynge it to the cristen fayth the ydolle lete the â—ere falle doun to the grounde And whan the sarasyns sawe that They 〈◊〉 theyr tresours as golde 〈◊〉 and precyous stoones in 〈◊〉 by cause the crysten men 〈◊〉 no thynge fynde therof 〈…〉 al wente in to another 〈◊〉 and durst not abyde the comyng of the kyng ¶ Of the chyrche of saynt Iames in galyce and of dyuers other whyche Kyng Charles founded capitulo iiij CHarles beyng in galyce had Innumerable auantyte of gold of syluer and of precyous stones of many kynges prynces and other lordes and of trybutes of cytees that was gyuen to hym as lord ¶ Also he had moche of the tresour that he conquerd of the townes and contreyes of Spayne aforesayd Thenne he seyng the grete habundaunce of good dyd do compose and make a chirche of Saynt Iames in the place where as he had founde the body of hym and he abode there the space of thre yere wythout departyng and in that same place he ordeyned a bysshop and founded there chanonnes reguler vnder the rule of saynt Ysodore the confessour bought ordeyned for them rentes trybutes suffycyent and gaf to them synguler seygnourye The furnysshed the chyrche wyth velles bessellys of golde and syluer adournemeÌ„ts of precyous clothes al thynges necessarye apperteynyng in a chyrche pontyfycal also of bokes vestymentes chalyces other holy escryptures And of the resydue of gold and syluer that he brought oute of spayne he dyd doo edefye these chyrches folowyng ¶ Fyrst at Aoon in almayne where as he is buryed he dyd do make a chirche of our lady and though it be lytel yet is it moche rychely made The chyrche of Saynt Iames in the toun of vyterbe also the chyrche of saynt Iames in the cytre of Tholouse The chyrche of Saynt Iames in gascoyne also the chirche of saynt Iames in parys bytwene the sayne the mouÌ„te of martres aboue the chyrches aforesayd he fonnded rented releued many dyuers chyrches monasteryes other abbeyes in the world in many and dyuers places ¶ How after that Aygolant the geaunt had taken spayne put to deth the crysten people Charles recouerd it aud other maters capitulo v AFter that charles was retorned in to Fraunce a kyng sarasyn of affryque named aygolant wyth grete puyssaunce came in to spayne and remysed it in hys subgectyon And the crysten which charles had left there as many as he myght gete he put to deth and the other fledde And in shorte tyme the tydynges came vnto kyng Charles wherof he was moche abasshed angry bycause it was shewed to hym so pyetously wherfore Incontynent he assembled a grete hoost wyth a grete multytude of fyghtyng men he went thyder wythout taryeng And he made the conduytour of them al Myllon of angleres the fader of Rolland they cessed not tyl that they had iydynges where Aygolant the geaunt was whyche had doon thys feat whan charles knewe where Aygolant was lodged and semblably aygolaÌ„t knewe where Charles was Anone the geaunt sente to charles that he wold delyuer bataylle suche as he wold That is to wete that Charles shold sende to hym xx of hys men to fyght ageynst xx of hys sarasyns or xl ayenst xl or an C ayenst C or a thousand ayenst a thousand or two men ayenst two or one man ayenst one man onely kyng Charles seyng thentencyon of aygolant for thonour of noblesse he wold not refuse hys demaunde but sente to hym an C knyghtes in grete poynte and the geaunte sente another hondred ayenst the crysten men but anone the sarasyns were vaynquysshed put to deth and after were sente by aygolant two hondred sarasyns ayenst two hondred cyrsten men whyche Sarasyns were anone wythoute grete resystence put to deth and slayn Aygolant was not contente ne wold not leue herby but sente two thousand sarasyns ayenst ijM crysten men and whan they were in batayll many of yâ— sarasyns were slayn and the other put to flyght for to saue them self The thyrd day after Aygolant maad certeyn experyences and knewe that yf Charles made warre to hym he shold haue grete losse and sent to charles to were yf he wold make playne warre Charles was contente and there vpon they made redy theyr peple and specyally charles for hys subgettes had grete affectyon to goo to bataylle without ony 〈◊〉 of deth And also somme of the crysten men the day tofore the bataylle dyd do amende and 〈◊〉 theyr harnoys and sette theyr tentes nygh a ryuer named 〈◊〉 and pyght there theyr spâ—â—â—s euen in the place where as the bodyes of saynt faconde and saynt premyt yf rested where after was made a chyrche deuotely founded and also a stronge cyte by the moyen of the sayd Charles and in the place where the sâ—â—res were pyght our lord shewed grete myracle For of them thâ—â— shold deye there and be gloryfyed marters of god 〈◊〉 in heuen theyr speâ—rs on y◠〈◊〉 were fouÌ„den al grene fâ—â—resshed and leued whyche was a percedent sygne that they whyche shold deye shold haue the Ioye in heuen ¶ Eche man took his owne aud cutte of the bowes leues wyth whyche the leues were planted and vnder roâ—ed wherof in a lytel whyle after grewe a grete wode whyche stondeth there yet It was grete a meruayle of the Ioye that the horses made whyche dyd theyr deuoyrs as wel as the men after theyr qualyte whyche was a grete token Thenne valyaunt crysten men were slayne And emonge the other was slayne duc Myllon fader to Roulland Also that same day the hors of charles was slayn vnder hym whan he was a fote he maad grete murdre wyth hys swerde Ioyouse and dyd so moche that the sarasyns dredyng the euenyng fledde wythdrewe them in to place of surete And as it was the wylle of our lord the next day after came to Charles in to his helpe iiij marquyse of ytalye accompanyed wyth iiijM stronge fyghtyng men chosen wherfore Aygolant assone as he knewe of theyr comyng he fled and wythdrewe hym ouer the see toward hys contree but they myÈt not for hast here with them al theyr tresours wherfor frauÌ„ce was enryched meruayllously above alle other contrees ¶ And whan charles sawe his departyng he came wyth al hys rychesse in to fraunce and theÌ„ne duryng seuen yere he dyd do ordeyne the seruyce and offyce of the chyrche by preestes clerkes and the festes of sayntes of all the yere and grete vertu meruayllous effect was comprysed in thys man For whan it was not warre for to mynysshe thynfâ—dellys and encreace the crysten fayth For tenhaunce the name of god he made the offyces and legendes of holy sayntes dyd reduce in to mynde and remembraunce the passyons of holy marters in
desyre frequented the bookes 〈◊〉 vpon the crysten fayth for to be protectour and defer 〈◊〉 of the chyrche the whyche is vysyted on mornynges and on euenes in the nyght oftyâ—es and of good festes be faylled not to doo gretely hys deuoyr in sacrifyses oblacions And also gaf largely almesse for the leue of god and was alway redy to socour the poure people in tâ—e largest wyse Foâ— he socoured not onely the poure folke of his ownâ— contreye with his hauoyr goodes but in many other places beyoÌ„de the see he sente golde and syluer and vytayll after the necessyte of the place as in surrye in egypt in affrique in Iherusalem other contreyes as he that sayd gold and syluer is not myn To euery man he desyred amytye and pees Of body he was moche ample boystous of stature well apparysaunt the coppe of hys heed rounde the heere 's in grete reuerence the vysage Ioyous he had the boys clere of grete force at his souper he ete not for the moost parte sauf rosted veneson whyche aboue alle other flesshe he loued and vsed at his souper Alwaye he loued redars for to rede cronycles or other thynges contemplatyues as he that wold as wel fede the soule whiche is ê‘petuel of spyrituel fode for to mayntene it in vnyon of grace toward god his maker as of refeccyon of the body for to conserue the lyf And emonge al other bookes he delyted strongely in the bookes of saint austyn especyally in that whyche is named de ciuitate dei he draÌ„ke not ouer ofte For at souper he dranke not but thre tymes In somer tyme gladly after mydday he wold ete a lytel faiyt drynke ones wold goo reste hym al naked in his bedde two or three houres In the nyght he brake his slepe foure or v tymes and walked in hys chambre Thus Charles preseuerd in felicyte ryal and emperyal sente oueral thorugh hys empyre hys messagers and grete counceylllours for to vysyte hys prouynces and good townes for to be enformed of the gouernoure of them for to do to eueriche Iustyce and reson and made many constytucyons lawes accordyng to the places and commaunded them to be obserued and kepte vpon grete payne Semblably the sayd Charles sente thorugh al the world for to knowe ouer al the gouernement That is to wete for do knowe the meruayllous faytes that were doon in the world And also for to lerne the lyf of sayntes of whom the festes were halowed and made of them bookes for tabyde in eternal memorye euery day he dyd doo put in wrytyng that whyche he dyd In suche maner that after the wrytyng that he thenne fonde were founde more than thre hondred festes of sayntes one tyme of the yere wherfor he excersycyng his spyrituel werkes he was byloued dere reputed of euery body In that tyme Aaron the kyng of perce for the magnyfycence of charles sente to hym an Olyphaunt merueyllously grete for a synguler yefte and many other thynges precyouses ¶ Thys Charles for hys grete holynesse and no blesse was in suche renommce of honour and of vertures On a tyme aaron the kyng of Perse sente to hym emonge other yeftes the bodyes of saynt Cypryan and of saynt speratus and the heed of saynt Panthaleon marters in to Fraunce ¶ The thyrd parte of the fyrst book conteyneth thre chapytres and speketh how by reuelacion deuyne Charles defyuerd the holy londe fro the honde of the paynyms ¶ How the patryorke of Iherusalem sente to Charles for socours after that he was deiecte and caste oute of the Turkes capitulo primo IT is redde that in the tyme that charles was emperour of rome the patryarke of Iherusalem was soo oppressyd of the paynyms by mortall warre that vnnethe he myght saue hym self And thus whan he knewe nomore what to do He had in remembrauÌ„ce the noble charles and he beyng en formed of hys holynes for socour he sente to hym the keyes of the holy sepulcre of our lord Ihesu Cryst of Caluarye and of the cyte And wyth that he sente to hym the standart of the fayth as to the pyler of crystente and deffendour of holy chyrche After thys the patryarke came to constantynoble vnto themperour constantyn and to hys sone Leo brought wyth hym Iohan of naples preste and another whyche named hym self Dauyd areâ—â—prâ—est whome themperour Constantyn sent incontynent to charles And wyth them tweyne â—e ordeyned for to goo wyth them two other whyche were named ysaac and Samuel delyuerd to them a lettre wryton with his owne hande for to bere to charâ—les And the sayd Constantyn had wryton in one parte of the lettre thus On a nyght me sâ—â—med that I sawe tofore my bedde a yonge womaÌ„ moche fayre stendyng ryght vp whyche touâ—â—ed me softly and sayd to me 〈◊〉 swete wordes CoÌ„stantyn whan thou knewest thaffayre 〈◊〉 of the paynyms whyche hoâ—deâ— the holy londe by gretâ— afâ—ectyon thou hast prayed â—od for to haue helpe â—o what â—â—ou shalhe doo Pourchace that â—â—ou mayst haue wyth the charles the grete kyng of the gallyens whych is protectour of holy crystente and defendour of holy chyrâ—â—â— And after the same lady shewed me a knyght armed in al his body and spores on hys beleâ— had hys shelde rede gyrde wyth hys swerde had his sleue of purple helde a spere moche grete And the heed of yron whyche was on hye caste in to the ayer grete flambes of fyre he helde in his hoÌ„de a bacynet al of golde shynyng and he was auncient wyth a longe herde ryght fayre of vysage and longe of body he had eyen shynyng as ij sterres and hys heerys began to wexe whyte and after was wryton O thou August that neuer refusest the comandements of god enioye the in Ihesu Cryst in thy mynde alwaye yelde to hym thankynges be enclosed in Iustyce lyke as thou hast be reclamed in honour Ihesu Cryste gyue the grace to preseuere and kepe alwaye the commandemeÌ„ts of god as thou oughtest to doo feemely And as it is wryton themperour Constantyn in hys tyme had deiected the paynyms oute of Iherusalem seuen tymes wherfore whan he myÈt nomore he sente his messagers to kyng Charles whyche at that tyme was at parys And whan the messagers had presented the letters and he had seen them he began to wepe moche greuously in contemplacyon of pyte of the holy sepulcre of our lord so holden of the paynyms After this he sente for tharchebysshop Turpyn and maad hym to preche openlye the pyteous tydynges whyche were thenne presentlye comen the whyche wel herde and vnderstood the peple alle generally were enclyned to goo thyder ¶ How charles with a grete companye wente for to conquere the holy lande and many other maters capitulo ij AFter that thys whyche I haue tofore sayd was publysshed The kynge dyd do make an edyct and dyd do crye it thorugh out al the
of his hors whan Olyuer sawe hym self on fote he was moche sorouful came a foure paas nyghe vnto Fyerabras and sayd to hym o kyng of Alexandrye thou hast borne the foule this day ageynst me In the mornyng thou hast so moche preysed thy self that thou hast sayd yf v knyghtes came ageynst the thou woldest abyde and conquere them and thou knowest that the kyng that sleeth an hors ought to haue no parte of therytage Fyerabras ansuerd I knowe wel that thou sayest trouthe but I dyd it not wyth my wylle Neuertheles to th ende that thou be not euyl contente wyth me I shal descende doun of my hors shal gyue to the my hors pomeld And I promyse the thou shalt be well horsed And knowe thou that neuer in my lyf I was so abasshed as whan he sawe the at erthe that he strangled the not for I neuer put man to the erthe and thys hors present but that anone he was by hym slayn dede Olyuer ansuerd I promyse the that I shal neuer take thyn hors but yf he be first by me conquered and Iustly wonne wherupon fyerabras was soo moche noble that for the valyaunce of Olyuer sayd Certeyn for the noblesse that I knowe in the I wyl do that I neuer dyd for maÌ„ and sprange of his hors stode a foote was contente to fyght ayenst hym a foote by cause he had no hors of hys owne and the sayd fyerabras was moche heyer than Olyuer and by one accorde they Iusted afoote that one ayenst that other so meruayllously that it was wonder that bothe tweyne remayned not in the felde a swoune of the trauaylle that they toke Thus contynueÌ„g the bataylle which coude take none ende they spaken many reproches and despytrous wordes that one of theym vnto other The kyng Charles seyng al thys had grete pyte on Olyuer Thenne the Erle Reyner fader of Olyuer whyche was moche sorouful came kneled at the feet of Charles and sayd O noble emperour in thonour of god take remors of my sone whome I see lykly anone to dye Atte leste make prayer to Ihesus our maker that he be in ayde to hym that I may see hym nyghe to me in helthe ¶ Incontynent Charles seyng thys sayd O lord god yf ye suffre that Olyuer be ouercome and that my ryght at thys tyme be loste and defyled I make auowe that al crystyante shal be destroyed I shal not leue in Fraunte chirche ne monasterye ymage ne aulter after kneled doun with bothe his knees to the grouÌ„de prayed in this manere My creatour whyche for our sauacyon was borne of the gloryous vyrgyn marie in bethleem as I wel byleue that of your glorious byrth al the world was enlumyned whiche abode in thys world ful xxxij yere more made atte begynnyng Adam and Eue of whom we ben comen that was in paradys terrestre a place moche delectable And there by you were alle fâ—â—ytes abandoned to them except one onely whyche was of knowyng good euyl as it plesed you to ordeyne of whiche adam ete was dysobey saunt for whom to the reparacion of his misdede for to redeme hym fro eternal captyuyte vs also ye were contente to take the deth in the tree of the crosse after that the traycour Iudas solde you for xxx pens on a friday ye were payned your handes feet mortally nayâ—led crowned with a moche sharpe crowne of thornes and after Longyus smote you in the ryght syde to the hert whiche was blynde after that he had leyed on hys eyen of your precyous blood he sawe moche clerely after ye descended in to helle toke oute your frendes sythe arods fro doth to lyf tofore al your apostles ye ascended in to heuen lefte for your lyeutenauÌ„t saynt Peter thappostle in erthe and ordeynest baptesme for the regeneracyon of vs and to make vs crysten for to haue saluacyon O lord as alle thys is trâ—â—he and that I byleue it stedfirstly so on thys day be thou in ayde and socour vnto Olyuer for to preserue hym that he be not slayn ne vaynauysshed ¶ He thys sayeng other deuoute wordes in hys secrete oratorye Out lord sente to hym an aungel fro heuen whyche sayd to hym ¶ O Charles Emperour of noblesse knowe thou for trouthe that I am sente from god for to say to the that thou doubte no thynge of Olyuer for wythout faylle he shal wynne the bataylle though it be late but he shal vaynquysshe the paynym thys sayd the auÌ„gel departed end charles thanked god deuoutelye for hys gloryous me dytacyon Neuertheles after many bataylles bytwene fyerabras and Olyuer maad and grete menaces by grete furour wyllyng to haue gyuen to Olyuer a grete stroke oute of mesure But Olyuer whyche sawe the stroke comyng deuaunced hym in suche wyse that he gaf two euyl strokes to Fyerabras wherof Fyerabras was passyng angry vpon Olyuer and Olyuer on hym so that bothe were ryÈt actyf neuer to departe tyl that one of them were vaynquysshed and destroyed at that tyme Olyuer was soo coueytous in smytyng that his honde in whiche he helde hys swerde was a slepe and swollen for the payne that he had of smytyng and he desyryng to smyte hys enemye at vtteraunce hys suerde flewe a ferre fro hym out of his hande wherof he was sore moeued and abasshed and it was no meruaylle and moche courageously raÌ„ne for to take vp his swerde And layed hys shelde on hys hede for to preserue it But not wythstoÌ„dyng the paynym smote hym twyes so myghtyly that he brake hys shelde in dyuers places and hys hauberke so that he was sore astonyed for that tyme And doubted soo moche the paynym that he durst not take hys swerde and moche sodeynlye the frensshe men which sawe so Olyuer dysponrueyed of his swerde armed them anone and were in purpoos to renne vpon the sarasyn for to socour olyuer but Charles wold not consente that ony man shold goo sayeng to them that god is almyghty for to saue and mayntene hym in hys good ryght for yf he had not gaynsayed it more thaÌ„ xiiij thousand men were thenne redy for to haue rescowed hym and not wythstondyng al thys the paynym dyd but laughe said to Olyuer In trouthe Olyuer I haue opteyned vpon the a lytel of myn entente but wherfore darst not yâ— take thy swerde I knowe now wel that thou art ynough vaynquysshed sythe that thou art so aferde that thou darst not stoupe for all the tresour of the world and I am wel conteÌ„te for to apoynte wyth the that is that thou renye the fayth that thou holdest the baptesme that thou hast receyued the god in whom thou byleuest and for whome thou hast had al thys payne byleue in Mahoun my god ful of bounte I shal suffre the to lyue more ouer I shal be contente to gyue to the
kepe and conserue the place it shal be a memoyre perpetuell Thus in thys maner appyered thre tymes saynt Iames to the emperour Charles After these vysyons and certyfycacyons of god he called and assembled hys subgettes whome he dyd do put a grete multytude in good poynte after took hys waye drewe toward the contre where the sterres had shewed the waye aforesayd and came fyrst in to spayne and the fyrst cyte that was rebelle to hym was panpy loÌ„ne whyche was ryght stronge of murayl and towres garnysshed wyth sarasyns and he abode tofore it thre monethes or he coude fynde maner to confouÌ„de it Thenne Charles knewe not what to do but to praye god and saynt Iames for whom he went that in the vertu of hys name he myght take that cyte and sayd in thys manere Fayr lord god my maker helpe me that am comen in to thys contreâ— for to enhaunce the crysten fayth for to establysshe and maytene thyn holy name And also thou holy saynt Iames by the reuelacyon of whome I am in thys Iourneye I reqnyre the that I may subdewe thys cytee entre therin for to shewe the mysbyleuyng peple the cause of theyr errour to th ende that this begynnyng may the better determyne the ende of myn entencyon Assone as Charles had fynysshed his oryson the walles of the cyte whyche were of marble merueillously strong ouerthrew to the erth fyl alle in pyeces and after charles and his hoost entred in to the cyte he that wold be baptysed byleue in god wythoute fyctyon was saued and put a parte and who sayd the contrarye was forthwyth put to deth Al the people of that contre whan they knewe of these tydynges meruayllous operacyons of this cyte torned in to Ruyne at the symple postulacyon of charles without contradyctyon came and yelded them to the mercy of kyng charles And thus many were baptysed and chyrches were ordeyned and al the contreye reduced to certeyn trybute vnder the fydelyte of the emperour charles and brought theyr trybutes fro the cytees wyth oute ony other gaynsayeng in sygne of seygnourye ¶ Of the cytees goten in espayne by charles how somme were by hym destroyed AFter that charles had the domynacyon auasi in al espayne he came to the scpulture of Saynt Iames where he dyd hys deuocyon and made deuoutely hys prayers after came to a place in ytâ—ond whych was so ferre that he myght goo no ferther and there fyyed pyght hys spere and that place was called petronium thanked god and saynt Iames that by theyr suffrauÌ„ce he was comen so ferre wythoute ony contradye tyon surely vnto suche place that he myght passe no ferther And in that londe who that wold by leue in god tharchebysshop Turpyn baptysed them who that wold not he was slayn or put in pryson And after Charles wente from one see to that other and theÌ„ne he gate in galyee xiij cytees emonge whome compestelle was thenne the lesâ—e In espayne he had xvj grete townes stronge emonge whome was onsea in which were wont to be x stronge toures a toun named petrosse in whyche was made the fynest syluer that had thenne cours Also another cyte named attentyua where as the body of sayut Torquete rested whyche was dyscyple of saynt Iames and there vpon the sepulture was an olyue tree florysshe bere rype fruyt a certayn day of may euery yere withoute fayllyng Alle the contreye of spayne that tyme was subgette to charles That is to wete the londe of alandaluf the londe of perdoures the londe of castellans the londe of maures The londe of portyngale the londe of sarrasyns the londe of nauarre the londe of Alemans The londe of byscoys the londe of bascles the londe of palargyens and somme of theyr cytees taken by warre subtyl and mortal And somme wythoute warre he coude not wynne the grete towne of Lucerne tyl at the laste he layed syege tofore it by the space of foure monethes and it stode in a grene valeye And after whan he saw that they wold not yelde them that he coude not wynne them he made hys prayer vnto god and to saynt Iames that he myght be vyctorious seen that he had nomore to termyne in that contreye but that cyte onely hys oryson was herde soo that the walles fyl doun to the erthe and was put to destructyon in suche wyse yâ— neuer man dwelled therin after and after it sanke and therin was an abysme or swolowe of water In whyche were founden after fysshes alle blacke Emonge the other cytees that he took there were iiij that dyd hym moche payne or he myght gete them therfore he gaf them the maladyctyon of god and they were cursed in suche wyse that vnto thys day there is in them none habytacion the sayd cytees been named lucerne ventose caperee adame ¶ Of the grete ydole that was in a cyte whyche coude not be smyton doun and of the condycyons and sygnes therof ca iij WHan charles had doon in spayne other places wyth the Inhabytauntes of it at hys wylle Alle thydolles and other symylacres that he fonde he dyd do destroye and put to confusyon But in the londe of Alandaluf in a cyte called Salancadys in arabyque and was the place of a grete god as the sarasyns sayd That ydolle was made of the honde of MachoÌ„mete in the tyme that he lyued was named MahoÌ„met in thonour of hym and by arte magyke and dyabolyke he closed therin a legyon of deuylles for to kepe it and make sygnes for to abuse the peple and thys ydolle was kepte so by deuylles that noo persone lyuyng coude by strengthe destroye it ne put it doun In suche wyse that yf ony crysten man came nyghe for to see it or to coniure it or to destroye Assone as he began to coniure and preche anon he was perysshed destroyed And the sarasyns that came for to preche adoure make sacrefyse or doo obeyssaunce therto were wythout peryl and yf by aduenture a byrde fleyng came rested vpon it Incontynent it was deed The stone vpon whyche thydolle was sette was meruayllously made It was a stone of the see wrought of sarasyns and grauen subtylly of grete and ryche facyon the whyche was enhauÌ„ced vpryght not without grete crafte connyng toward the erth it was meruayllously grete alway vpward it was lasse and that stone was so hye as a crowe myght flee vpon whyche stone was thydolle sette whyche was of fyn yuorye after thassemblaunce of a man stondyng vpryght on his feet had hys face tourned to the south helde in his ryght honde a grete heye the srasyns were certefyed for trouthe that whan a kyng of fraunce shold be borne in strengthe to subdue the contreye of spayne and brynge it in to crysten fayth the ymage shold lete falle the keye whych shold be a
theyr degree alle them that were at debate he peased them accorded Alle them yâ— were dysheryted put oute from theyr lyuelode he restored al to them Alle yâ— peple that myght bere armes he armed them The valyaunt squyers of theyr persones he made knyghtes al them that were in hys Indygnacyon pryued to hys loue bannysshed for the loue of god he was constraynede to pardonne them made pâ—â—s with euery man and thenne he was fournysshed of moo than an C thousand men wel fyghtynge wythoute them that were a fote whyche were Innumerable And for to gyue courage to the prynces of Charles Turpyn sayd in this maner I Turpyn archbysshop of Raynes by the 〈◊〉 of god shal gyue good courage to crysten people and shal 〈◊〉 the Iufydele sarasyns with myn owne handes ¶ wyth Charles was Roulland of Cenonye neuewe of Charles sone of hys syster dame Berthe of Duke Myllon wyth foure thousand fyghtyng men Olyuer duc of genes sone of duc Reyner with iij M fyghtyng men Aristagius kyng of brytayne wyth vij thousand fyghtyng men Not wythstondyng that in brytayne was another kyng Engelius whyche was duke of Guyan whome Augustus Cezar had ordeyned wyth the byturyciens the monyques pictauyns scauctonens and Elogysmes cytres with their prouynces vnder guyan he cam with iijM horsmen good fyghtars Garferus kyng of bordeloys wyth iiijM men Salamon felowe of estok bawde wyn brother of Rolland Naymes duc of bauyere wyth xM fyghtyng men Hoel of Nauntrs Lambert prynce of bourgoyn wyth ijM fyghtars San son duc of bourgoyn with xM Garyn duc of lorayne many other and Charles had of his owne contre moo than fyfty M men The excercyte of Charles the noble emperour and ryght puyssaunt Kyng of Fraunce was so grete and so ample that it helde two Iourneyes longe in brede half o Iourneye more In suche wyse that of the bruyt that was made for the grete multytude of the frensshemen it was herde two myle ferre and more ¶ Of the tryews of Charles of Aygolant and of the deth of hys peple wherfore aygolant was not baptysed capitulo ix THe whyle that charles was a yonge chylde he lerned at Toulete the langage of sarasyns and spake it whan he wold Aygolant thys geaunt and grete Lord coude not absteyne hym and camnygh vnto crystyente and sente to Charles to come to hym vnto Pampylone and tryews was maad bytwene them For Aygolant consyderyd the multytude of hys people and the puyssaunces of their persones For by cours of nature hym semed he shold surmounte the crysten peple but he thought that the god of crysten people was more certayn and trewe than the god of the paynyms but er he wold declyne fro the worshyppyng of hys goddes he had desyre to assaye yet ones the nombre of paynyms ayenst the nombre of crysten men And he was contente to make a pacte and couenaunt wyth charles that he that shold obteyne the vyctorye vpon others peple that his god were hâ—lden and worshypped And that the god of hym that shold lose the bataylle shold be of noo valure renyed and reputed for nought And vpon thys couenaunte were sente twenty crysten knyghtes ayenst xx knyghtes paynyms And anone as they were assembled and medled to gyder the twenty sarasyns were slayn And after were sente fourty ayenst fourty And anone the sarasyns were slayn and vaynaquysshed And after he sent an C ayenst an C but they were not slayne but fledde AygolaÌ„t thouÈt he wold do better and sent ij hondred ayenst ij C and anone the sarasyns were ouercomen slayn ¶ Thys geaunt was euyl contente of the destructyon of hys peple and for to make a grete descomfyte he sente a thousand sarasyns ayenst a M cristen men and wythoute makyng grete rebellyon the sarasyns were anone slayn and put to deth Thenne the kyng Aygolant by experyence fore made afermed the fayth the lawe of crysten peple to be better more sure more certeyn than the lawe of the paynyms and sarasyns and thus he was enclyned to the crysten fayth dysposed hym to receyue baptym on the moene without fayn tyse and here vpon he demanded tryews and surete for to goo come to Charles he graunted it to hym wyth good hert and thus atte houre of tyerce whan charles was at dyner Aygolant had entencyon to see charles and hys maner at mete for to knowe hys astate yf it were vayllerous and soo grete as it was in armes and in bataylles And also he came pryncypally for to be baptysed and he sawe Charles at hys table with grete magnyfycence and after behelde the ordre of hys peple and sawe that somme were in habyte of knyghtes and grete prynces Other in habyte of channons monkes asked so that he was certefyed of euery ordre and the canse of theyr estate and after that he sawe in a parte of yâ— halle syttyng on the grouÌ„de xiij poure persones which dyned ete as other dyd for charles of custom wold not take his repaste tyl he had xiij poure men in the worshyp of our lord and of his xij appostles he toke hede how these poure men satte on the grounde without to wayl in ryght poure habyte dyned al soroufully he demaunded what people they were Charles ansuerd sayd they be goddes peple and messagers of our lord Ihesu cryst whome I susteyne in thonour of hym his xii appostles that he had with hym gyue to them refectyon corporel AygolaÌ„t said certeynlye he serueth euyl hys lord yâ— receyueth his messagers in thys manere I see wel that they that ben aboute the been in good poynt wel arayed wel serued of mete drynke the seruauÌ„tes of thy god lyue rourely euyl clothed ayenst yâ— colde ben withrawen ferre fro thy he dooth grete shame to his lord that receyueth his messagers in this manere more ouer I see now wel that the lawe whyche thou hast sayd to me to be good holy by thy werkes thou shewest them to be fals of no valewe herof aygolant was all moeued troubled in his entendement he beyng put out alle fro hys purpose toke leue of the kyng retourned to hys peple renounced to be baptysed and sente word to charles for to begynne warre ageyn on yâ— morne more stronge than euer he had doon tofore ¶ Of the deth of aygolant and of his peple how moche crysten peple were slayn by concupyscence of syluer of crysten men founden dede by myracle x WHan charles sawe Aygolant come for to baptyse hym he was moche Ioyous but whan he retorned forsoke it be was euyl contente took aduys vpon the pour men whyche he sayd were messagers of god For after the pouerte of them and after that they were named fore to holde them so was none honour to theyr mayster
the emperour remembred wel that the peple of god ought to be receyued honestly honourably holden scrued wherfore the poure men that he fonde in thexcercyte he dyd them to be wel clothed honestly and gaf to them mete largely And took suche custome in hym self that he faylled not but the pour peple were receyued with honour in his companye vpon thys purpose on a day folowyng the sarasyns put them to bataylle and to fyght ayenst the crysten men by grete fyerste and there was soo grete destructyon that day of the sarasyns that the crysten men were empesshed and lette by the blood that ranne so habundantly as it had rayned many dayes water and blood wherfore Aygolant seyng the destractyon of his people as he that doubted nothyng to deye and aduaunced so hym self that he was slayn and put to deth and after the cristen men entred in to the cyte of pampylone and put to deth al the sarasyns that they fonde therin Thenne the kyng of Cybylle the kyng of cordube saued them self wyth somme of their subgettes After thys the crysten men ful of couetyse for to haue gold and syluer of the sarasyns that were deed retorned And whan they were wel charged laden wyth golde syluer and other hauoyr the kyng of Cybylle and the kyng of Cordube took hede therof And wyth al their meyne came couuertly vpon the crysten men and put to deth moo than a thousand ¶ Thus may be knowen that the ardeur of concupyscence was cause of the deth of the soule wythoute vyctorye and to god dysplaysaunte ¶ On the morne tydynges came how so many sarasyns were slayn and specyally of aygolaÌ„t vnto the prynce of Nauarre named Furre wherfore he sent to Charles to haue batayll ordynayre Charles was so noble so puyssaunt so trustyng in god whan he faught for the crysten fayth that he refused hym not and after at the day of bataylle whyche was assygned on bothe partyes Charles put hym self to prayer and prayed god deuoutely that it plesed hym to shewe what crysten men shold deye in that bataylle and on the day folowyng whan euery man was armed for to fyght by the wylle of our lord Charles sawe that same day the sygne of the crosse alle rede vpon the sholdres behynde vpon theyr harnoys whan charles sawe it he thanked our lord had compassyon of theyr deth by cause of the valyauÌ„ce of theyr persones Thenne he sent for all them that bare thensigne made them to goo in to hys oratorye and after shette them fast therin to the ende that they shold not take deth that day and thenne wyth al his other hoost he went ayenst thoost of the prynce furre but it was not longe but furre and hys people were destroyed and put to deth and whan that was doon the emperour came in to hys oratorye vyctoryous vpon hys enemyes and fonde al them that were shette wythin dede expyred thenne knewe he wel that alle they that were marked with the crosse were assygned that day to be receyued in to heuen with glorye crowne of marterdom that it apperteyned not to Charles to prolonge theyr helthe wherfor he is wel symple that wyl put hym in payne to eschewe the passage of whyche he is not maystre ¶ Of feragus the merueyllous geaunt how he bare awaye wyth hym the barons of fraunce wythout daunger how â—olland faught wyth hym capitulo xj AFter that aygosaÌ„t was slayn Furre many kynges sarasyns as tofore is wryton the tydynges cam to the admyral of babyloÌ„ne the which had a geant moche terryble that was of the generacÌ„on of golias he made hym to be accoÌ„panyed with xxM turkes moche strong and sente hym for to fyght ayenst charles themperour For hys puyssaunce was redoubted thurgh the world the sayd feragus cam vnto the cyte of vagyere nygh to saynt Iames bytwene cristendom bethenes sente to Charles that he shold come to fyght ayenst hym This geant was moche meruayllous For he doubted neyther spere ne swerde ne arowe ne other shotâ—e And he had the strengthe of â—l myghty men and stronge Anone as Charles knewe the hidynges of hys comyng he â—â—â—nt to hym and was vpon his 〈◊〉 nygh by vagyere whan thâ—s was knowen this geaunte yssued oute of the towne and demaunded synguler persone ayenst a persone Charles whiche neuer had refused that to persone sente to hym Ogyer the danoys but whan the geant sawe hym allone on the felde without â—â—â—yng of ony semblaunte of warre he came allone to hym took hym wyth one hande put hym vnder hys arme wythoute doyng to hym ony harme and bare hym vnto hys lodgys and dyd do put hym in pryson and made nomore a doo to bere hym than dooth a wulf to bere a lytel lambe The heyght of thys geaunt was of twelue cubytes he had the face a cubyte brode the nose a palme longe the armes theys foure cubytes long The backe of his hand was thre palmes longe After that ogyer was borne thus awaye charles sente raynold daultepyn whan Feragus sawe hym he bare hym awaye as lyghtly as the other Charles was abasshed and sent tweyne other that is to wete constayn of Rome therle hoel This geauÌ„t took that one wyth the ryght honde and that other in the lyft honde and bare them bothe tweyne in to pryson in to hys lodgyng that euery man myght see yet after charles sent other tweyne and semblably they were bothe borne awaye wythoute ony wythstandyng or contradyctyon whan Charles saw the feet of this man he was al abasshed durst nomore sende ony persone For no man myght resyste hym Roulland whyche was prynce of al thexcersyte of Charles was cuyl contente of thys that the geaunt was vyctoryous and came to Charles and presented hym self for to goo fyght wyth hym but charles wold not graunte hym At the last by force he was constrayned to gyue to hym lycence Roulland made hym redy and cam tofore Feragus but anone he was taken and reteyned with hys ryght hande lyke the other and the geant layed hym tofore hym on hys hors whan Rolland sawe that he was taken borne awaye soo vylaynsly he took a gtete courage in hym self and called the name of Ihesus to help to be in hys ayde and torned hym ayenst Feragus and took hym by the chynne and made to ouerthrowe fro hys hors fyl to the grounde and rolland also And after anone they arose and eueryche took hys owne hors Roulland whyche was moche habyle and courageous drewe hys swerde durandal and came ayenst the geaunt and gaf soo grete a stooke on the Paynyms hors that he carf hym a sondre in the myddes and the paynym fyl to the erthe Feragus beyng euyl contente for hys hors that was dede took hys swerde for to smyte Rolland had slayne hym wyth the stroke yf he had attayned hym but assone
glorious saynt that he wold praye vnto our lord Ihesu Cryst that alle they yâ— were dede of the crysten fayth in the tyme that he had regned that they myght be saued and that the payne that they had taken myÈt be to them the crowne of martyrdom in the glorye perdurable in semblable wyse he prayed for al them that wold paye gladly the pens aforesayd to his chyrche As god wold that nyght folowyng saynt denys appyered to hym sayd to hym in thys manere O kyng vnderstonde me knowe thou that I haue made prayer to god my maker he hath graunted that alle they that haue been ayenst the sarasyns with the haue pardon of al theyr trespaces that wyllyngly shal paye the penyes for the edefycacyon of my chyrche augmentyng the seruyce of god they shal haue amendement of lyf and pardon of theyr synnes This vysyon on the morne themperour recounted to hys peple lyke as he had herd by cause they shold wyth a good wylle payâ—the peâ—yes that he had ordeyned he that gaf it was called the franke of saynt denys by canse that he was free and quyte of al seruage by the commandement of the kyng After came the custome that that londe whyche was called Gallia loste hys name was called frauÌ„ce as it is named at thys day Fraunce is as moche to say as free of al seruage anenst al peple and therfore the lordes of Fraunce for this cause emonge al crysten men owen to be honoured praysed The recapitulacion of alle thys werke of his deth at Acon of hys sepulture capitulo viij THe kyng Charles contynued gloriously his lyf in vertuouse operacyons And whan he felte the declyne of hys lyf he went vnto Acon where he had tofore doon moche good enobled a chyrche of our lady the rounde the whyche he dyd do make and gaf therto grete tresour of relyques of bodyes of sayntes of gold syluer of clothes of sylke other precyosytees meruayllous and there he deyed in the yere of hys age lxxij for the magnyfycence of hys werkes he was called charles the grete he had iij sones theÌ„ne lyuyng of whom the fyrst was named Charles the second Pepyn the thyrd â—owys also he had iij doughters that one was named Rotrudys that other berga the thyrd gylla whan he knewe that he myght noo lenger lyue hys sone lowys whome he had ordeyned for specyal loue kyng of guyan he lefte to hym the mageste Imperyal For to knowe the holynes the gloryous ende of Charles how he was saued in heuen and renomed an holyman The deuoute Turpyn archebysshop of Raynes sayth in this manere I Turpyn archebysshop of Raynes was in vyâ—nne in the chyrche tofore th aulter was rauysshed in sayeng the psalm Deus in adintoryum meum intende I sawe a companye of blacke peple lyke Ethyopyens whych were in quantyte Innumerable whyche went toward lorayne and I sawe one tofore hys felowes I demaunded hym whyther al they wente the whyche beyng constrayned to ansuer sayd we alle goo to Acon to the dethe of Charles whyche lyeth a dyeng And we wyl see yf we may haue hys soule for to bere in to 〈◊〉 to perpetuel damynacyon Thenne I sayd to hym I adiure the by the vertue of the name of our Lord Ihesu cryst that wythoute faâ—â—â—lynge after that ye haue doon that thou retorne by me Anone after or he coude fynysshe hys psalme the deuylles cam retournyng ageyn in the same ordre that they wente And thenne I sayd to hym that I had spoken to byfore what haue ye doon there as ye haue been that same deuyl ansuerd that Iames of galyce frende to charles hath ben moche contrarye to vs for whan we were redy for to receyue hys soule and had egally departed his good dedes and his euyl he brought so many stones tymbre of chyrches whyche he had doo made in the name of hym that his good dedes surmounted moche his euyl dedes wherfore we myght haue noo thynge ne parte thys sayd the deuyll banysshed awaye soo he loste hys vysyon Thus Charles in the moneth of feueryere rendred his soule to god holyly Foâ— after that he retorned fro spayn he dyd But laÌ„guysshe appayre in hys body toward hys deth in hys ende he ordeyned many almesses to say many masses psaulters And the vysyon that the gloryous archebysshop Turpyn sawe is sygnyfycacion that he whyche maynteneth and edefyeth chyrches in thys present world that he maketh preparacyon of hys syege in heuen His sepulture was moche honourable emonge al the sepultures of the world noble and ryche excellently and so fayr that it myÈt not be amended and ouer hys tombe was maad an arche of gold syluer and of precyous stones comprysed by grete scyence thyder came Leo the pope accompanyed wyth prynces Romayns archebysshops bysshops Abbottes Dukes Erles and many other lordes and dyd do make a fayre representacyon of the body of Charles clad rychely and Imperyally with a fayre crowne of gold sette on his hede satte vpon a chayer of gold moche fayre and shynyng and resembled wel a notable Iuge lyuyng and they sette vpon his knees notably the texte of the four gospelles in fayre letters of gold wyth the ryÈt hande he helde the lettre in the lyfte hande he helde the ceptre Imperial moche ryche by cause the heed shold not enclyne to eyther syde hit was vnderset wyth a chayne of gold susteyned And the crowne that was on hys beed raught to the arche whiche was al aboue wel made the conduytes of the sepulture were replenysshed with al good odours aromatyques precyous and after closed shette moche subtylly honourably kepte as it was wel worthy for to be doon Thexcusacyon of thauctour ix THis werke accomplysshed to the playsyr of god tofore wryton conteyneth thre bookes by the chapytres deuyded as it appyereth openly to the reders and I haue made them thre after that I haue comprysed in the separacyon and deuydyng of the matyer Of whyche the fyrst book speketh of the begynnyng of fraunce and of the fyrst crysten kyng of fraunce thhyche was named Cloys by the moyen of his wyf clotildys in descendyng to kyng Pepyn fader of themperour Charles In the honour of whome thys book is composed for the moost parte to the whyche Pepyn the lygnage of kyng Cloys took an ende in successyon of the Royalme of Fraunce And the sayd fyrst book sayth more ouer how Charles was nourysshed of hys corpulence of hys etyng of hys strengthe of hys scyence other werkes of magnyfycence The second book speketh of the bataylle that Olyuer dyd ayenst Fyerabras the meruayllous geaunte sone of ballant Admyral of spayne a puyssaunt kynge al the fyrst parte of the second book is attrybued to noble olyuer and in the honour of hym After ye shal fynde how the
peres of fraunce were deteyned in Aygremore and put in surete after saued fynably by florypes the curtoys doughter of the sayd ballant And the holy relyques recouured and other maters of grete meruaylles The in book speketh how by reuelacyon of saynt Iames charles went and conquerd spayne galyce where as he dyd operacions vertuous made constytucyons of sauacyon wyth many bataylles doon by hym and hys subgettes and fynably of the trayson of Ganellon by the whyche the deth of Rolland was pyetous the deth of Olyuer dolorouse and of the other peres of crysten knyghtes slayn dede And fynably the deth of Charles themperour as tofore is sayd and wryton and after that ony persone wyl here or rede of thys matere the table made atte begynnyng shal shewe it to hym lyghtly yf it be hys playsyr to here or rede of that werk in thys book composed Thenuoye of thauctour ca x AS I haue sayd at the begynnyng of thys present werke the escryptures and feates somme haue ben reduced in wrytyng for to be in memorye to the ende that they that haue doon wel be to vs ensaumple in ensyewyng and folowyng them they that haue doon euyl may be cause to rewse our lyf for to come to the porte of helthe For the comune vnderstondyng is more contente to reteyne parables and examples for the ymagynacion locall than to symple auctoryte the whyche is reteyned by vnderstondyng and also semblably thysâ—oryes spekyng of our lord Ihesu cryst of hys myracles of his vertuous subgettes euery man ouÈt gladly to here and retenne them it is so that at the requeste of the sayd venerable man to fere named Maister henry bolonnyer chanonne of lausanne I haue been Incyted to translate reduyse in prose in to Frensshe the maâ—er tofore reduced as moche as toucheth the fyrst the thyrd book I haue taken drawen oute of a book named myrrour hystoryal for the moost parte the second book I haue onely reduced it out of an olde romauÌ„ce in frensshe And without other Informacyon thâ—n of the same book I haue reduced if in to prose substaÌ„cyally wythout fayllyng by ordynauÌ„ce of chapytres partyes of the sayd book after the mater in the same conteyned And yf in al thys book I haue mesprysed or spoken otherwyse than good langage substancyally ful of good vnderstondyng to al makers and clerkes I demaunde correxyon and amendemâ—nt and of the defaultes pardon For yf the penne hath wryton euyl the hert thought it neuer but entended to say wel also my wytte vnderstondyng whâ—che is ryght lytel can not vttre ne wryte thys matere withoute errour Neuertheles who so vnderstondeth wel the lettre shal wel compryse myn entencyon by which he shal fynde nothyng but moyen for to come to saluacâ—on To the whyche may fynably come alle they that wyllyngly rede or here or do thys book to be redde Amen ¶ And by cause I Wylliam Caxton was desyred requyred by a good and synguler frende of myn Maister wylliam daubeney one of the tresorers of the Iewellys of the noble moost crysten kyng our naturel and souerayn lord late of noble memorye kyng Edward the foâ—rth on whos soule Ihesu haue mercy To reduce al these sayd hystoryes in to our englysshe tongue I haue put me in deuoyr to translate thys sayd book as ye here tofore may see al a longe and plâ—yn prayeng alle them that shal rede see or here it to pardon me of thys symple rude translacyon and reducyng bysechyng theym that shal fynde faute to correcte it in so doyng they shal deserue thankynges I shal praye god for them who brynge them and me after this short and transytorye lyf to euerlastyng blysse Amen the whyche werke was fynysshed in the reducyng of hit in to englysshe the xvin day of Iuyn the second yere of kynge Rychard the thyrd And the yere of our lord MCCCClxxxv And enprynted the fyrst day of decembre the same yere of our lord the fyrst yere of kyng Harry the seuenth ¶ Explicit ê‘ william Caxton