that he brought with hym he was ryght glad and he came agaynst Reynawd and sayd to him Syr ye haue wel wrought this dai that ye haue taken such a proye Ogier sayd Reynawde I promise you that Rowlande hath let himselfe to be taken with his good wyll Thanked be god of it sayde the duke Names Reynawde said Ogier go your way to Mountawban and the bysshop Turpin the sonne of Oedō and I shal returne agayne we shal tary Charlemayne that cometh after you and wee shal doo so much that ye shall be wel at Mountawbā or they ouer take you Ogier sayde Rowland ye say well and I thanke you of your curtoysie whā thei had thus shortlye spoken together Reynawde Rowlande rode so fast that they came to moūtawban It is not to be asked if Rowland was wel feasted at moūtawban I promise you it is not possible to feast a prince better nor more honourablie thā he was at moūtawban This hanging Ogier was come against king Charlemain and he dyd so muche by his fayre lāguage that he helde the king till that he thought that Reynawde Rowlande might be well at Mountawbā by that time And whā he had doone so he spurred his horse and went to Mountawbā after the other where as he myght well goe without to be vnbraied for it for he was one of the suretyes of Reynawde as yee haue heard And whan Charlemaine saw this he folowed him vnto the gates And whan he was come to the gate of Mountawban he began to crye with an hie voyce By god Reynawde this that ye haue doone shall auayle you litle for ye shall neuer haue peace wyth me as longe as I am man a liue And whan that he had sayd this he returned him from the gate and sayd to Oliuer that was there with hym Oliuer go lightlye to Mountbendell and bring heere all my hoste for I wyll besiege all thys Castell Than sayd Oliuer I shall go there with a good wyll but and it please you ye shall come wyth me for I promise you if ye comnot there your selfe they shall not come hither for me Than shall I goe there my self and thus tooke Charlemayne hys waye towarde Mountbendel where his hoste laye whan his folke sawe him come they wente agaynst hym and began to saye to him syr what haue ye doone with Rowlād lordes sayd Charlemayne Rowlād is gone to Mountawban but I commaund you al that incontinent without delaye that my siege be transported all rounde aboute Moūtawban and ye damp Oliuer shall beare the oriflā and damp Rychard of Normandye shall lede our hoste Whan Charlemayne had comaūded all this there was none that sayde agaynst it but set themself to bring downe the tentes and pauilion and to trusse and lede theyr baggages and caryed all to Mountawban RYcharde of Normandy went with .xii. thousande men to Balācon to keep the passage of the ryuer tyll all the hoste were ouer the ryuer This hanging Charlemayne had put himself afore for to se where he might best pitche his tentes and his pauilion for to keep siege royall afore the Castell of Mountawban And whan al the hoste was come a fore Mountawban the kinge made incontinēt his pauilion to be set vp before the great gate And whan all the hoste was set the nyght watche of the great Towre came to Mawgys and sayde vnto him Syr wyt the Charlemaine is come with his hoste and hath put his pauilion before the mayster gate Is it true sayd Mawgis yea without any faute sayd the watche Now care not for it sayde Mawgis for Charlemayne seeketh his domage and he shall haue it soner than he weeneth Than went Mawgys to Reynawde And shewed him howe Charlemayne was come with all his hoste And whan Reynawde heard this he went vnto Rowland and sayd vnto him Sir ye muste wyt that Charlemane youre vnkle hath layde siege afore vs but I promise you that if it were not for the loue of you I should shew him that he hath not doone wel Reynawde sayd Rowlande I thanke you muche but one thynge I wyll tell you saue your correccion me semeth that I ought to sende to myne vnkle the duke Naymes Ogyer the dane and also the bysshop Turpyn that shall shewe vnto him in this maner Syr Emperour wyt that Reynawde for the loue of you wyll not gyue no Irons to your neuew nor he wyl not put hym in prison But he maketh him as good cheere as he doth to his owne selfe And that more is Reynawde his brethern and Mawgys doo present themselfe for to giue thē and theyr castell vnto your handes so that theyr liues be saued ye speake well and wisely syr Rowland said Reynawde and so I am redy to doo as ye wyll haue it Rowland sayde the duke Naymes I dare not goe to hym ye may wel ynoughe sayd Rowland For ye be not hated of the king duke Naymes sayd Ogyer we shal goe to Charlemayne yf ye wyll doo after me And they accorded that thei two should goe togither to the kyng for to shew to hym as Rowland had deuised And whan that these two princes the duke Naymes and Ogyer came to the pauilion of Charlemayne they saluted him reuerently and the duke Naymes spake to him in thys maner of wyse Syr Emperour your neuew Rowland recommendeth him humblye to your good grace the whych Reynawde kepeth within Mountawban for his prisoner not vnkyndly but he maketh to hym as good there and as great honour he bereth vnto hym as he were his owne brother and his souerayn lorde and all this he dooth for your loue And demaundeth of you peace yf it please you to graunt it to hym by suche maner that he shall gyue you Mountawban and the Egle of golde and he shall let goe Rowlande at his libertie without raunsū And also he shall yeelde hymselfe to you and his brethern in lyke wyse and also Mawgys for to doo your wyl with them saue theyr liues and they shall promyse you yf theyr seruyse pleaseth you that thei shal serue you agaynst all mē with all theyr power and puissaunce so that ye shall haue cause to thanke them for it WHā Charlemayne vnderstood these wordes he shooke al for great angre And began to saye to the duke Naymes and to the other that were come to hym flee out of my pauilion euill folke I meruayle me how haue ye durst cum heere within and I tell you that Reynawde shall haue no peace with me but if I haue Mawgis for to doo my wyll of him whan the barons vnderstode charlemayne that spake thus they came out of hys Pauilion and tooke no leaue at hym but returned incontinent to Mountawban whan they were come there Rowland and Reinawde asked theym howe they had doone with Charlemaine Lordes said the duke Naimes it is no force to be asked after it For Charlemayn wyl not doo it but if men take vnto him Mawgis for to doo his will
syr that I am suretie for Reynawde and so is Ogyer the dane but me semeth that we ought now to be discharged therof sith that ye be here presente within his castell but another thynge I wyll tel you me thinketh that ye ought to take that the erle Reynawde proffereth to you or that any more harme come to you therof and so helpe me God ye shall doo wel And al they of your courte shal be glad of it And whan the barons hearde this that Naymes had sayde to the kinge Charlemaine they spoke all and sayde Syr doo that the duke Naymes hath tolde you for he hath gyuen you good counsell and true And yf so be that ye doo it not ye shall come to late for to repente you of it But WHan Charlemayne vnderstode this that the duke Naimes had sayd to him he was ryght wroth of it For his herte was so harde astonyed with great angre that he tooke no hede of good coūsel and he sware by saynt Denys of Fraunce that he should not doo it for no man but yf he had fyrst Mawgys in hys handes for to doo hys wyll ouer hym And whan Reynawde hearde these wordes he blustered in his face for angre and rose vp from kneelinge his bretherne and all the other barons also And then Reynawde sayde to Rowlande and to all the other Lordes that were there Syr I wyl wel the Charlemaine know my wil my entente the whiche I shall shew afore hym vnto you Wyt it that syth I cā fynde no mercy in him I praye you that ye wyll not blame me frō hence for thou yf I seeke my ryght For I shall seeke it in all the maners that a true knight ought to doo And whā Reynawde had sayd this he turned him towarde the kynge and sayd to hym Syr ye maye goe hens whan it please you for by my soule ye shal haue no harme of me now for ye be my souerayne lorde with good wil we shal be in good peace wyth you THe barons of fraūce that were there wundred sore of the great kindenes of Reynawde Thā sayd the duke Naymes haue ye heard the great humilite of the noble knight Reynawde By soule sayd rowlande Reynawde sayth meruaylously I wolde not haue trowed that he should euer haue fared so fayre with Charlemayne And whan Rychard vnderstoode that that his brother Reinawde had sayde he spake in thys wise brother Reinawde I holde you mad What wyll ye doo ye see that we haue in our handes this vengeable kyng the whiche we may kyll or els suffre hym to lyue yet he is set so sore to pryde that he wyll doo nothing that his good counsell telleth hym but he threteneth vs alwayes more and more and ye wil let him go thus a waye surely brother if he scapeth vs so he shal yet angre vs right sore and I promise you yf he hadde vs as we now haue hym he should make vs all to dye shamefullye not al the golde in the worlde should not saue vs therfro And therfore I tell you that ye doo greate folye to let him go thus away For and ye wyl ye shall now make our peace but me semeth ye seeke none other but your death wherof I pray god yf ye suffre him thus to goe awaye that he maye make you to dye a shamefull death And whā Reynawd heard his brother speke so he was wroth sayd to hī in angre Holde your peace brother for he shall goe his wayes quite will you or no and the peace shal be made whan he wyll and no soner it shal not be for there vnto he shal not be compelled of me and go you hens from me for your great wordes displeaseth me WHan Reynawde had sayde this he dyd call a gentylman of hys to whome he sayd go lightly without any taryenge to the yoman of min horses byd him bringe me my horse Bayarde For I wyll that my souerayne lorde ryde vpon hym vnto his hoste for he rode neuer vpō no better horse And whan Richarde heard this he wēt fro thens al swellinge with angre as a fyersfull lyon bycause he knew that Charlemayne should goe so And wit it that the king Charlemayne hearde and vnderstode well all these wordes but he durste not saye nothyng so sore he feared the fiersnes of the yong Richard This hangyng came there agayne the gentilman that was gone for Bayarde whiche he brought with him than Reynawde tooke his good horse baiarde came to Charlemayne said to hym syr ye maye lyght whan it please you and goe at your lybertye for to comforte your folke whiche I am fure ben full sory for the taking of you And whan Charlemayn saw this he lighted anon vpon Bayarde went out of Mountawban for to goe to his hoste and Reynawde conueyed him to the gate of Mountawban whan the kinge was gone he made the gate to be shet anon And the frenche men that sawe their king come agayn they were right gladde and receyued hym worthely after they asked hym how it wēt with him and yf he had graunted the peace lordes it is wel with me God gramercy but of peace I haue made none nor neuer shall as longe as I am man a lyue for no man that shal speake to me of it but yf I haue the traytour mawgis for to doo with him mi wyll Syr sayd some of his barons how haue ye be delyuerd By my fayth sayd charlemayn Reynawde hath delyuerde me agaynst that the wyll of hys bretherne all quite at my lybertie Syr sayd the barons haue ye not seen Rowlande Olyuer the duke Naimes the bisshop Turpin Ogier the dane nor Escouf the sonne of oedon yea surely sayd Charlemayne but they haue all forsake me for the loue of Reynawde wherof by that god that hynge vpon the crosse yf I can haue them agayne I shall shew thē that they haue not doone well and whan he had sayd thus he lyghted from Bayarde and made him to be brought agayne to Reynawde ANd whan Reynawde sawe bayarde that Charlemayne had sent hym agayne he called rowland and his felawes sayd to thē fayre lordes I know well that ye be not in the grace of the greate kynge Charlemaine for the loue of me but I wyll not that ye haue mawgre for me nor for my brethern and therfore fayre lordes I quyte you all quarelles that I maye lay vpon you and gyue you leue to goe whan it please you And whan the Duke Naymes vnderstode the kindnes of the hert of Reinawde that was so noble he thāked hym hyghly and kyssed and enbrased hym for great loue wolde haue kneeled downe afore hym but Reynawde wolde not suffre hym Than the duke Naymes began to saye let vs thynke to goe after the kyng Charlemayne your vncle sith it please Reynawde to gyue vs leue Naymes sayd Rowlande how can we doo this shall we leue Reynawde the whiche ye se
he shal not haue of me how be it that he is of my lignage and I tell you come no more heere nor no man of Charlemayne For I promyse you I shall stryke of the heades of as many as shal come fro him to me without any fayle WHan Ogyer the Dane saw Reynawde so angry that he answered so proudlye he meruailed sore aad drewe him selfe by Reynawde and said to him Fayre cosin I pray you that ye will shewe to vs Rycharde of Normandy to th ende that we may tell Charlemayne that we haue seene hym Ogyer I haue well vnderstande you sayde Reynawde but ye shall neuer see him afore that I haue hanged hym And yf Charlemayne be angry wyth me for it let him auenge it yf he can for I defie hym and all his powâ—r and goe you hens anon For by my soule if ye abide heere any lenger it shall repent you full sore And whan the barons saw that Reynawde was so feruently wrothe they durst no lenger tary there but tooke leue of him and went out of the Citie and went lightly to the hoste of Charlemayne that awayted after them Whan the kyng saw the Barons come he said vnto them Lordes ye be welcome what tidynges brynge you haue ye not seene Rycharde of Normandye Syr sayde the Duke Naymes Reynawde doth you to wit that as loge as he maye ryde vpon Bayarde yee shall not haue Mawgys for he hath lost him by you And for the vengeaunce to be taken of the same Reynawde seÌ„deth you worde by vs that he shall hange to morow Rycharde of Normandye vpon the great gate of his towne and thus shall he doo of all your meÌ„ that he shall take and yet he sayth more yf he had you as well as he hath Richarde of NormaÌ„die that if ye wolde not graunt him peace yee should leaue wyth hym your head for a pledge Whan Rowland heard the worde that the Duke Naymes had reported vnto hys vncle Charlemayne he sayde Syr be not displeased of that I shal tel you me semeth that ye shall neuer see the duke Richarde and al for your pride Syr we finde in holy scrypture that god curseth the fruite that neuer is ripe thus shall it be by you that neuer wyll rype nor condisceÌ„de to no peace with the foure soÌ„nes of Aymon the best knightes of the worlde that so many tymes haue prayed for it humbly and full piteously Wherfore I swere to you vpon all halowes that yf the duke Rycharde of NormaÌ„dy be hanged ye shall lose honour worshyp all your lyfe dayes Whan the kinge Charlemaine heard his neuew Rowlande speake thus that sayde that Rycharde of Normandy should be hanged he was so myscheuously an angred that he gnewe the nailes of his handes for great wrath ye ought to wit that Charlemayne was so angry at that tyme that yf he had had any maner of staffe in his haÌ„d he wolde haue gladly smitten Rowland but whan he sawe that he might not accomplisshe his wil he called his barons and sayde to them Lordes ye wene to make me a ferde with your wordes I am no childe for to be thê° abasshed and also I swere you by my fayth that if Reynawde were so hardy to doo anye harme vnto Rycharde of Normandy I should haÌ„g hym wyth myne owne handes he all his lygnage that none should be left a lyue RYght sore wrothe was the king Charlemayne whan he hearde tell that Reynawde wolde make Rycharde the duke of NormaÌ„die to be hanged But whan Ogyer hâ—â—â—de Charlemayne swere thus that he should hang all the linage of reinawde he coulde not absteyne hymself but that the teares fel downe fro his eyen and than he said to the bisshop Turpin Sir what thynke you by our kynge that sayth by his great pride that he shall hange vs all for al that he dooth procedeth but of enuye pryde but god sende me death yf I care for hys wrathe for yf Reynawde hath not lied to vs he shall doo be hanged to morowe Richarde of Normandy in such a place where as Charlemayne shall mow see him hange with his eyen This hanging the Duke Naymes saw that the king was angry and he sayd to him Sir wit that we all be sore abasshed that ye threre vs of one parte Reynawde of the other And I meruaile me not of Reynawde for he is so wroth rox bycause that ye haue make him lose Mawgys that no man might be more And I promyse you for greate angre he shal make Rycharde of normandy to be hanged and as to you namely he woulde stryke of your hed yf he had you in the case that he hath Rycharde nowe and yf he hangeth Richarde What may we doo therto that ye threten vs so muche therfore wherefore I counsell all my felawes that are of the lynage of Reynawde that we goe our wayes and that we let you shift of the warre of the foure sonnes of Aimon By god sayd that other peeres of fraunce Naimes speaketh well and he giueth vs good counsell THen whan Charlemayne saw his baroÌ„s so sore moue he wyst not what he should doo but gaue them leaue to withdraw them self vnto the morow that thei should returne to him and he hymself went to his bed but al night he could not fall a slepe but wâ—tied in his bed wtout any rest and wyste not what to doo And whan the day came he a rose from his bedde and sent for all hys barons Whan they were come he sayd to them Lordes what shall we doo of Reynawde that wyl hange the duke Richarde of Normandy afore mine eyen Sir said thaÌ„ the duke Naimes for nought seketh one couÌ„sell that wyll not put it to effect whi aske ye counsell sythe that ye wyll doo nothing but after your owne head but and ye wyll beleue me I swere you on my fayth that al good shal come therof Syr make peace with Reynawde and ye shall haue the Duke Rycharde and also ye shall haue the good loue of all your men for there is none but he is wery of the warre and they haue reason Naymes saide the king I wil not doo it holde your peace therof for that shal be the laste worde that euer I shal say Syr said Rowland by my soule ye doo great wronge yf ye suffre the good duke Richarde to be hanged that so muche loued you and doone great honour it shall be to you great shame and so I swere to you vpon all halowes that yf I see hange Rycharde of normandy I shal part out of your hoste fro your seruyce and I shall goe so ferre that ye shall neuer haue helpe of me Rowland sayd Olyuer ween not that I shall abide after that yee are gone for the kinge doothe great wronge to Reinawde our cosin Ful sore an angred was the kynge to heere these wordes but he helde thaÌ„ his peace and sayde neuer a worde And wyt it that al the
cosyn I am yet dysposed for your loue to beare armes for I coulde not suffre you in daunger And whan the king Symon hearde Mawgis speake so he sayd hym great thanke and went enbraced hym and after sayd by my soule heere is a good Hermite for whan it was need he put wel hand to the swerde Syr sayd Reynawde ye say well trouth and I promyse you men should fynde in the worlde but few suche knightes as he is one After all these thynges sayde euery man tooke his harneys and the kinge all armed went to Mawgys sayd al laughyng My freend Mawgis I pray you that ye wyl beare my standarde this day Syr answerde mawgys yf ye take me it I promyse you I shall haue it in suche a place that ye shall swete or euer ye shall come to me And whan the kynge hearde Mawgys speake so he was ryght glad therof and than he tooke him hys baner And whan Mawgis had it in his hande he sayd to the kynge syr now folow me that wil for this day shall thadmyral be discomfited yf it please God whan Mawgys had sayd so he gaue the spurres to his horse put himself amonge the sarasyns as a lyon Reynawde folowed him nighe recountred a persian whome he smote with his spere so great a stroke that he made hym tumble dead to the ground wherof thother were sore abasshed after he put hande to hys swearde shoued himself into the greatest prece smote on eyther syde of him vpon the persians so meruailouse strokes that they were greatly meruayled with it for al they that he hit he brought theym to thyr ending and whan thadmyrall saw the great efforce of armes the Reinawde made agaynst hys folke he sayd to a neuew of hys that was by hym By mahoune I saw not yesterday that great maÌ„ of armes nother he that beareth now the baner of Simon from whens the deuil are they come that so greatly greueth vs I see wel they be some straunge knightes I am all redy so feard of them that all the bloud in my body trembleth This hangyng the kyng Symon Reynawde made great slaughter of the sarasyns But whaÌ„ the admiral saw that hys folke bare theÌ„selfe so yll he wyst not whether he wolde flee or abyde Than came reynawde brekyng the prece that cried as loude as he could mountawban And whan thadmiral heard that cry he was sore a ferde that he wyst not whether to go but sayd by mahoune I beleue that this deuil helpeth himself with some deuilry for I left him in Iherusalem and now he is heere THan whan thadmyral Barbas knew that he that made so great greef to his folke was Reynawde of mouÌ„tawbaÌ„ he shooke al for feare said to his neuew by machomet my god we haue doone yll to come heere for to make warre agaynst the king Simon syth that he hath this deuill Reynawde of mountawban for his like is there not in all the worlde of knighthoode now wolde I be wel in my ship in the middes of the sea for yf I abyde hym he shall make an ende of me Syr sayde his folke haue no doubt of the greate vilayn for and he come ones in our handes he shal not lyghtly scape vs lordes sayd thadmyral ye wot not what ye say ye know not the greate prowes of Reynawde for we were ten times mo folke than we ben yet should not we endure agaynst hym therfore by the fayth that I owe to mahoune I wil abide heere no lenger And whaÌ„ he had sayd these wordes he turned the brydel as sone as he might fled towarde his galays al his folke after him And whan Reynawde saw that the paynems were discomfited he began to crye after Mawgis after for the truauÌ„tes are discomfited And whan he had sayd so he put hymselfe to the chase the king Simon after him went castyng downe Sarasyns as beastes And wyt that they slew so many of theÌ„ that men should not beleue the numbre but they coulde not take thadmirall for he was the formest BArbas the admyrall of Persie whan he founde hymself saued in his shyp he began to looke a lande and saw the great domage that Reinawde Mawgys made of hys folke for all the shores of the sea were ful of sarasiÌ„s slayne wherof he had great sorow so began he to pull his heres of his berde cursed thoure that euer he was borne Reynawde came to the shores saw that thadmyrall was saued wherof he was full sory wyst not what he should doo more to him but he made to be cast boltes of wylde fyre into the galley of thadmyrall so that he brent the moste part of it and Barbas was fayne to entre into another ship And ye ought to wyt that all the sarasins that bode a land lost theyr liues whan yeâ—ing SimoÌ„ saw that he was to his aboue of his enemies he was ryght glad of it so ranne he and enbraced Reynawde and after sayde to hym Reynawde I know wel that I am kiÌ„g by your prowes for ye had not be the admirall Barbas had distroyed me and had made an ende of me wherfore it is reason that ye be rewarded for it therfore Reynawd I make you lorde of all my goodes of all my lande Than sayde Reynawde syr I thanke you muche of your good wyl for we be not they that haue discomfyted the sarasyns It was god and none other for we be not so puyssaunt I and Mawgys for to doo it without him And whaÌ„ they had thus spoken together a loÌ„g whyle at the sea syde the kyng tooke Reynawde with the one hande and Mawgys with the other hande and went to warde the Citie And whan they were come there the king made the gayne to be brought presented it to Reynawde and to Mawgys wherof Reinawde Mawgis wolde take nothynge but gaue it to the poore knightes incoÌ„tinent Mawgis tooke agayn his hermites werd Than began the feast to be there great for the victorye that god had giuen them The cheere that the kyng made to Reynawde in his paleys is not for to say for it was great and for to make shorte tale Reynawde was honourably feasted the space of foure dayes And than he woulde departe asked leue of the kynge wherof the kyng was ful sory bycause he wolde bide no lenger and whan he sawe that he wolde go he gaue him mani fayre giftes made his ship to be garnisshed with muche good vitayles And whan this was doone Reynawde tooke leue of the kyng Symon of hys barons and the kyng conueyed Reynawde to the shyp And whan he came to the patting the king SimoÌ„ kissed Reynawde sore weepyng and after went agayne to Palerne and Reynawde did doo hale vp saile and tooke sea ceassed neuer tyl he cam to Rome and there they tooke lande and he and Mawgys went and
fayth that I owe to my Lady mother that yf I muste nedes departe from you in suche a maner ye shall abye it full deere yf ye caste vs thus out of your lande for I haue leuer die here by you thaÌ„ to die for huÌ„gre Sith that it may be none otherwise THan whan Reynawde fawe that his father was so hard herted against him and his brethern he wexed red for angre and began to chauâ—ge colour drewe hys swerde halfe out of his shethe And wâ—an Alarde saw hys brother Reynawde chauÌ„ge colour he knewe well that he was wrothe so ranne he called hym sayenge Ha fayre brother for goddes loue angre not your selfe so sore to our father for he is our lorde and therfore whether it is right or wronge he may say to vs as it pleaseth hym and we ought to doo hys commaundement And if he is cruel towarde vs we ought to be humbly pleasaunt towarde hym So keep your selfe for goddes loue that ye set not hande vpon him For it were agaynst the commauÌ„dement of god brother sayd Renawde it lacketh but lytle that I wexe mad al quicke whaÌ„ I see afore me him that should helpe vs defende loue vs as his childreÌ„ gyue vs his good counsell to vs and towarde all men And he dooth all contrary the same He hath made peace wyth Charlemayne for to dystroye and vndoo vs. I saw neuer so cruel a man agaynst his sonnes for he chaseth vs a waye from him full shamfulli as though we were strauÌ„gers or sarasyns I should not can tell the harme great hurte that he hath doone to vs nor the greate pouerti that we haue suffred for hym I wolde neuer haue doone so to him for rather I wolde haue let me ben flayne all quycke But yf I caÌ„ euer go from hens I certifie you that I shall angre him and shal so wast his lande that it shall doo him but lytle profite so that it shall be spoken of perpetually ANd whan Aymon herad Reynawde speake thus his herte wexed softe began to weepe ful sore sayd Ha god how I am sory that I may not enioy the good that god hath gyuen to me largely there should be no man in the worlde so happy as I were yt my children had theyr peace with kinge Charlemayne For I am sure that the kinge Priamus of troy had neuer better mâ—n to his children nor more valyauÌ„r ne pru thaÌ„ I haue Ha euyll hert thou shouldest not take heed to none other agaist thy children but shouldest help them keep theÌ„ against al meÌ„ wherfore I ought wel to hate thee euyll hert thou hast made me hate that I ought to loue as myne owne selfe whan he had thus spoken to hym selfe he sayd to Reynawde Fayre sonne ye are right worthy sage for neuer Hector of Troy was worth you nor in al the world is not founde your matche And therfore I ought well to doo your wyll Whan the duke AymoÌ„ had sayd this worde he spake to his wyfe the duchesse sayd lady I go yonder with out for I wyll not be forsworne agaynst the kynge Charlemayne ye haue wythin golde siluer ynough many horses muche harnes palfrayes sommers Now giue to my chyldren all that they wyl take And whan he sayd thus he tooke hys meÌ„ with him went his waye THan sayd Reynawde we oughte to tanke you muche of that ye haue now sayd and we shall go hence to morow erly with goddes grace to the ende thou ye be not euyll at ease and if it please you we shall abyde for this night for to comforte our mother that hath be so yll at ease for the loue of vs. And I promyt you father we should not haue comeÌ„ yet but it had be for her sake Reynawde fayre sonne sayd the duke ye are full of great witte Wit that whan Berthelot was dead I durst not shewe me afore the king Charlemayne bycause he sayde he had leuer haue loste the halfe of his Realme thretened me for to hange or brenne and distroye all my lande and I dyd so muche by the counsell of my freendes that I made mine apoyntment and that I was out of al blame And ye haue not considered the othes that Charlemayne made me doo against you as agaynst all other that helde with you and I am sore dyspleased of that I fouÌ„d you in thou woodes of Ardeyne as I did But I was forced of mine honour to doo as I dyd for to be in peace with kyng Charlemayne your mother hath not forsworne you and therfore she may giue you of our goodes at your will And whan the duke had sayd these wordes he yssued out of his palays went to the woode AFter whan the free duchesse heard that that the duke Aymon gaue her leue for to doo with hys goodes at her wyll she called her children and sayde to theym Fayre children now be you sure that sythe your father is not within ye shal be well tended vpon and shall haue al the chere that I can doo to you And thaÌ„ she did doo make the baynes redy made them all to bayne honestly wyt that in theyr vayne were manye a swete herbe whan they were well clene the good lady made bring â—yâ—â—en and other clothes for to chauÌ„ge and to eche of them a mantel of fine scarlet furred with hermyns whaÌ„ she had them well aparelled she led them in a chambre where theyr fathers treasour was and shewed it to her children whan Reynawde saw so riche a treasour he began to laughe and said lady mother gramercy of so fayre a gift as here is For it mistreth me well and thaÌ„ he tooke of that treasoure at his wyll And incontynent he sent messangers through al the countrey for to get hym souldyours of the best men of warre wherof many one came gladly to him the which reynawde payed for an whole yere What shall I tell you more Reynawde and his brethern lay that nyght within the Castel of their said father And the next mornynge after or it was day they departed and had with them fyue hundred men well horsed and well arayed And whan Reynawde his brethern had take leue of theyr lady mother the duchesse she sayd to them fayre sonnes I wil that ye drawe towarde Spayne for it is a plentious countrey And as they wolde haue departed than cam Mawgys theyr cosyn that came out of Fraunce where he had ben longe tyme AFter whan Mawgys was lighted from hys horse he raÌ„ to Reinawde his armes spred abrode began to kisse him whan he had so done he kissed his other three brethern than he sayd to them Ha fayre cosyns I am ryght glad to see you thanked be our Lorde that he hath brought me into this coste Cosyn sayd Reynawde where haue you ben so longe that we had neuer tydynges of you Cosyn sayd Mawgys
his swerde and girded about him and then after he weÌ„t to Rowland and tooke from him durandal his good swerde and after he tooke Hauteclere from Oliuer and Cortyn from Ogier And after thys he went to the coffres and tooke there out all the treasour of Charlemayne and went with all this streyght to Mountawban And whan Mawgis had taken all this he tooke an herbe and rubbed Charlemaynes nose and his lippes with it and vnhosed hym and after he shoued him wyth the fynger and sayde to hym awake sir emperoure I promysed you yester night that I should not goe wythout I should take my leue of you farewell I goe now And whan he had sayde this he went out of the pauilion and set him to the way towarde Mountawban And whan Charlemayne vnderstoode that Mawgys had said to him he rose vpon hys feete so wrothe that menne could be no more and called vpon hys twelue peeres that he coulde not awake And whan he sawe that he bethought hymselfe an herbe that he had broughte wyth hym from beyonde the greate sea and tooke it and rubbed withall the nose the mouth and the eien of Rowlande and in like wise to all the other .xii. peeres of FrauÌ„ce and incoÌ„tinent they were awaked and rose vpon their feete sore abashed whaÌ„ they were all awaked they beganne to looke the one vpon the other And the first that began to speke was the duke Naymes that sayde to the king where is mawgies By my soule sayd Charlemayne ye shall delyuer him me agayne for ye haue let hym goe wilfully For yf ye wolde haue suffred me to haue hanged him yesterday I had be otherwyse ryd of hym Rowlande said Olyuer sawe ye him goe hens Naye by saynt Denys said Rowland I saw him wel goe saide Charlemaine Syr said Rowland ye ought thenne to haue tolde vs of it for he shoulde not haue escaped so And in saying this Rowland loketh at his side and he sawe not durandal his swerde wherof he did cast a great sighe And than Charlemayne sayde to him Neuew where is your swerd by my head I know well that the theef Mawgis hath be wytched vs. For none of vs hath his swerde and also he hath my hosen with him Nowe hath he well mocked vs. ANd whan the .xii. peeres of fraunce saw that thei had lost al their good swerds they were right sory for it more than any man canne saye And after Rowland sayde by my faythe Mawgis hath wonne a great gayne whan he bereth away thus our swerdes for they ben more worthe thaÌ„ is all Paris And whan Charlemayne perceyued that his cofers were open he went anon looked in he was sore an angred whaÌ„ he founde not his Crowne nor the best parte of hys treasoure wherof he made great sorow and after sayd Ha false theefe Mawgis full litle I haue goten of thee of thy takynge And who than had seen the sorowe that the .xii. peeres of Fraunce made wolde haue had no luste to lawghe ⧠Nowe shall we tell you a lytell of Mawgys that wente as fast as euer he coulde towarde Mountawban and he came to passe ouer the water of BalaÌ„con at that place where Reinawde was full heauy and full of sorowe by cause he knew no tydinges of Mawgys but whan Mawgys had passed ouer the water bayarde smelled hym and begane to crye and came toward Mawgys wolde Reinawde or no. And whan Mawgys sawe Reinawde he knewe hym well and saide to him lawghinge Knighte what be ye that rideth at this time of night and Reinawd said to him ye know wel I am your cosin Reinawd the sonne of Aimon thâ—n he lighted from bayard and came to Mawgis and kyssed him by greate loue many times and than sayde to hym Fayre cosin thanked be our lord that I see you delyuered from the haÌ„des of Charlemaine By my faythe saide Mawgis ye forgate me well behinde Cosyn saide Reynawd by my soule I coulde not doe therto For I haue be heere syth yester day euyn And I promyse you that I was delibered for to haue succoured you or elles to haue dyed with you My cosin sayde Mawgys I thanke you ligâ—t vpon your horse and lette vs goe to Mountawban Whan Reynawde was vpon his horse againe he sayd to Mawgis My cosâ—n what is that ye haue laden Cosyn sayd Mawis it is the crowne of Charlemayne his swerde Ioyous durandall the swerde of Rowlande and the swerdes of al the .xii. peeres of FrauÌ„ce Cosyn said Reinawde ye haue wroughte well god gramercye but of the swerde of Ogyer me displeaseth Cosyn sayde Mawgis I haue doon it all wilfully to the end that the king should marke therby none euil and that he were not a peched of treason And than he shewed him al the cause and the maner that Charlemayn had holde him Cosin saide Reynawde ye did ryghte well And whan he had sayde thys they went on their waye towarde Mountawban and they mette in their waye Alarde Guicharde and the lytil Richarde that came ridinge makinge greate mone for doubte of Reinawde And whan Reinawde sawe theim come he saide to them whether goe you my fayre brethern Sir saide they we went seekinge after you ye haue founde me said Reinawde and I haue founde our cosin Mawgis And whaÌ„ they vnderstood this tydinges they were righte gladde and thanked oure lorde of it And after Alarde saide to Mawgis Faire cosin where became ye that ye came not with vs again Alard said Mawgys whan Richarde was entred within the pauillion of Charlemain and had take the egle of golde I taried in the pauillion for to slea Charlemaine and it lacked but litill that I slewe him and whan I trowed to haue comen after you I founde a greate rowte of knightes that arested me and so I defended me of all my power And than came Oliuer of Vyenne that ouerthrewe me downe and I yeelded me to him for his prisoner the whiche deliuered me to Charlemayne that wolde haue made me to be hanged shamefullye but lorde I thanke you I haue doon so muche that I am escaped Cosin said Alarde it is well happed to you whan thei had deuised longe ynough they went to Mountawban where they made greate feast whan they were come there it is not to be asked if the good lady clare was wel glad For incootinente she did to be made ready diuerse meates for the diner whan they hadde eaten they went to rest for they were wery and specially Reynawde and Mawgis wold faine haue slept And the nexte daie they went to heare their Masse at the chirche of Mountawban and whan the masse was doone Reinawde called Mawgis his cosin and his bretherne and saide to them Lordes shewe me the bothie that ye gate yesterdaie Sir saide Richarde gladlie sith that it please you And than he tooke the egle that was of golde massi and of precious stones and gaue it to Reinawde And whan Reinawde saw
and after Guicharde and Escoufe the sonne of Oedon and than the lytle Rychard And whan they were all set at the table the meates of the first course were brought to the borde thā the other one after another by good ordenaūce and fayre And to say the trouthe they were well and honourablye serued and of many and dyuerse seruises of royall meates And after that they had well eaten at theyr ease the duke Naymes called Reynawd and sayd to him Good cosin I pray you that ye wyl delyber your selfe for to gyue vs a good answere of that ye haue heard of vs. Lordes sayd Reynawde I shall doo it in so muche that the kyng shall haue a cause to be contēte of me For I shall doo all that he wyll for to haue peace and hys loue withall and that for the loue of the other my lordes that be heere now And than Reynawde made to bryng the swerde of Charlemayne the swerdes of the twelue peeres and also the crowne and the Egle of golde And whan Ogyer sawe this he began to laughe and sayd By my soule Reynawde ye had heere a fayre gayne yf ye had kept it And whan Rycharde saw that his brother wolde delyuer the Egle of golde he began for to say By saynt poule my fayre brother ye shall not doo so Ye shall not delyuer agayne that I haue wonne wel and truly by force of armes brother Richarde sayde Reynawde let me doo I pray you I will not sayd Richard by my soule for Charlemayne hymselfe smote me whyle that I was prysoner within his pauilion full shāefully wyth a staffe Lordes said the duke Naymes let thys a lone And take we that Reynawde giueth to vs in thanke for he hath doone ynough By my fayth sayd the bysshop Turpyn he dooth so And than they tooke the crowne of Charlemayne all theyr swerdes And whan thei had them Ogyer sayd to Reynawde My cosyn I counsell you that ye come with vs and Alarde Guycharde shal abyde heere to keep your castell Syr sayd Reynawde I feare me to sore the kynge wolde make me for to be killed outrageously Come on hardely sayd the duke Naymes for we shall lede you wel surely For syth that ye shal be with vs ye ought not to fear nothyng Lordes sayde than Reynawde I shall doo your commaundemente vnder your assurynge WHan Reynawde was accorded for to go wyth the Duke Naimes and with the bisshop Turpyn wyth Ogyer the dane and Escoufe the sonne of Oedon they lyghted all vpon theyr horses and Reynawde mounted vpon bayarde and armed hym And in like wise dyd Alarde And whan the duchesse Clare saw that Reynawde her Lorde wolde go with the folke of the Emperour Charlemayne she came before them kneeled downe before them and sayd vnto them my lordes I thanke you muche of the fauour that ye did shew to my brother Richarde and to Mawgis now agayne I pray you that ye will haue Reynawde for recōmended mi lorde and my deere husbande the whiche ye lede with you Madame said Ogier haue no doubt that Reynawde shall haue anie harme For wee should not suffre it for nothing for to leese both life gooddes And than they put them to the way for to goe thens and Reinawd tooke ten knyghtes wyth him for to beare hym felawship whan they were come to the riuer of Balancō they sought after the passage and passed ouer And whan they were all ouer Ogier began for to sai Lordes ye wot well all is of euyll courage agaynst Reynawd wherfore I doubt me of him that we haue brought heere wyth vs. I counsell that we knowe fyrst the wyll of charlemayne or euer he see Reynawd Ogier sayd the duke Naymes ye speake well and wisely we shal go speake ye and I to Charlemaine and Reynawde shall abyde heere tyll we come agayne Lordes sayd than Reynawde I shal doo that ye counsel me but I pray you holde me that ye haue promised me that is that ye shall keep my bodye and my lymmes from harme Reynawde sayd the duke Naymes we shall rather dye than that ye should haue any harme And than he and Ogyer tooke the way towarde the hoste of Charlemayne and Reinawde abode with the bysshop Turpyn and wyth the sonne of Oedon Now herken of Pynabell a spye that longed vnto the kynge Charlemayne wyt it that the spye was at the riuer side of Balancon with this felawship whan the wordes afore sayde were spoken whan the spye had well vnderstand all the conclucion he stale hymselfe fro the companye and rode a good pace as he myght in the worlde and came to Charlemayne to whome he sayd in this maner syr I bryng you tidinges wherof ye shal be ryght glad my freende sayd Charlemayne thou art well come I praye you tell me what tidinges ye brynge wyt it syr that I haue left Reynawde and Alarde hys brother at the ryuer side of Balancon with the bisshop Turpyn and Escouf the Sonne of Oedon and the duke Naymes and Ogyer are coming towarde you for to aske leue yf they shall brynge them to you wyth sureti Is it trouth said Charlemaine yea without faut said Pinable By my soule sayd the king I shall rewarde thee for it ryght well but keep well that ye shew not this to no man vpon thy life for I shall put therto a good remedy And than he behelde aboute hym and saw Oliuer and sayde Olyuer incontynent and without any desaye take two hundred knyghtes with horses and wel armed and lede them at the ryuer syde of Balancon where yee shall fynde Reynawde and Alarde see that ye take them bring them hither and if ye doo this aske of me what ye wyll ye shall haue it And than sayd Oliuer syr I shal wel doo your commaundemente And than he tooke wyth him two hūdred knightes as the kinge Charlemayne had ordeyned hī tooke his way towarde the ryuer of Balancon Now god through his pitie saue the good knight Reynawde and Alarde his deere brother for they ben in great peril of theyr lyues This hangyng that Olyuer was gone towarde the ryuer of Balancon the duke Naymes and Ogyer came to the hoste and lighted a fore the pauilion of the kinge and went in And whan they sawe the kyng they made him the reuerence but he sayd no worde to them whā Ogier saw the countenaunce of the king he sayd to hym Syr what sēblaunt is this that ye shewe to vs I meruayle me greatli that ye make vs so euyll cheere seen that we come fro thens where ye haue sende vs that was to Moūtawbā where we haue spoken with Reynawde the sonne of Aymon the whiche is al togither redy for to doo al that your pleasur is and so he hath delyuered vs agayne your crowne and al our swerdes as for your egle ye shal haue it whā ye wyll Ogyer sayd than Charlemain what haue ye doone of Reynawde for I
brother for he is your elder that know ye well THan sayde yonnet father be you sure I shall serue my dere brother as I wolde doo you that are my lord my dere father By my faithe faire sonne saide reinawde if ye do so ye shal be praised for it whersomeuer ye come or goe But yet one thing I forbid you that ye speake not to muche for if ye doo the contrarie the frensshemen shall saie that ye be not like inconditions to your parentage Father saide the childrene we haue suche a trust in oure Lorde god that he shall keep vs from al thing that is contrarye to his will and that we shall so gouerne vs that ye shal gladlie auowe vs for your children all they of the courte of Charlemayne shall loue vs but yf they wil doo wrong whan Reynawd heard his children speake so the was â—ight glad therof and drewe them aside and said to theim My fayre children ye goe now into frauÌ„ce remember well heere after al which I shall tell you now ye must know the there be in the courte of Charlemaine a great lygnage of folke that neuer loued vs but litel the which are of the greate power thei be of mauÌ„t I charge you that ye ne goe nor come with theim for nothing that they can tell you yf thei hurt you by any wise see that ye reueÌ„ge your selfe wysely shewe them that ye be the sonnes of Reinawde of mountawban Father said the chyldren doubt not we shal not suffre that anye outrage be doo to vs if we mai Faire children saide reinawde kneele afore me they kneeled anon afore their father reinawd gaue theÌ„ his blessyng after kissed them weeping manie times gaue them leaue after turned him to his knightes and saide My lordes I commend you to god pray you that ye rend wel my children suffre not that any wrong be don to them to your power for ye knowe wel that we ben hated in fraunce I praie you giue theÌ„ alwaies good couÌ„seil and that thei be alwaies courteous gentil liberal of their goodes for a priÌ„ce couetous was neuer praised whan reinawd had said this he withdrew him sore weeping Thus leueth thistorie to speake of reinawd of his bretherne and returneth to shew of his children that were gone to the courte of Charlemâ—ine ⧠Howe after that the kyng Charlemayne had receyued ful sweetly the sonnes of Reynawde they foughte with the suÌ„nes of Foulques of Moryllon discomfited them in the ysle of oure lady within Parys bycause they had layde treason vpon reynawde theyr father for cause that he had slayne Foulques in the playne of Valcoloures NOwe sheweth the tale that after that Aimonet yonnet were departed fro theyr father they rode so muche by their Iourneys that they came to parys and lodged theym by the palays and whan thei were lodged the two childreÌ„ clothed themselfe honestly all theyr folke than they went with their felawshyp holdyng eche other by the handes to the palays And whan the barons of Charlemaine sawe come the .ii. brethern so rychely arayed and so goodly a felawshyp of knyghtes after them they meruayled greatlye what they myght be so said th one to thother heere be two fayre chyldren by lykelyhod they shoulde be brethreÌ„ and they must be of som hie lignage The barons theÌ„ folowed them whaÌ„ they mouÌ„ted to the palays they entred within the great hall where thei found the king Charlemayne that deuised with some of his barons there was the duke naimes Richard of Normandy Salamon of breteyn Ogyer the dane therle GuaneiloÌ„ also Constans and rohats which .ii hated reynawde of Mountawban ryght sore for they were the sonnes of Foulques of morillon that reinawd had slayn in the plaine of valcoloures whan he and his bretherne defended them so wel at the roch of MouÌ„tbron These two bretherne Constans and rohars had great name in the court but their hertes were full false and the kinge Charlemayne loued theim well for theyr prowes and greate knighthode With Charlemain were also many other greate prynces and barons wherof the booke maketh no mencion For it were to long a thing for to be recounted THan whan the two brethern the sonnes of Reinawde of Mountawban were come in to the hall they saw the kinge amonge his barons so went they vnto hym and kneeled downe afore him and kissed his feete And than Aymonet spake first and said Sir god giue you good life longe and keepe from euill all youre noble companye Sir we are come to you for to haue the ordre of knighthod if it plese your good grace to giue it to vs for of no better hand than is youres We can not haue it wherfore sir we beseche you humbly for god and for the loue of our father that it will please you to receyue vs in your seruise vnto the time ye giue the saide ordre of knightehode who beÌ„ you said the king that speake thus Sir saide Aymonet we are the sonnes of Reynawde of Mountawban And whan the kyng Charlemayn vnderstoode that they were the sonnes of Reynawde he rose vpon hys feet lyghtly and receyued them honourably and after said vnto theym My chyldrene ye be righte welcome and how fareth your father syr sayde the chylderne he doothe well thanked be god and he recommendeth him right huÌ„bly to your good grace beseeching you that ye will haue vs for recommended and we haue lefte hym at Mountawban but he draweth now sore to age Thus goeth the worlde my children said the king euery man must take in it an ende Muche glad was the kynge Charlemayne of the comynge of the two sonnes of Reynawde and ryght gladly he looked vpon theim for the loue of theyr father for the more he behelde theim and the more fayrer he founde thâ—im and better lyked theim and well he loued theim because they were lyke the father And whaÌ„ that he had looked vpon them ynough he said to his barons Lordes if the children wold forsake the father they coulde not for neuer children were more lyke to him than they whan he had sayde so he turned roward the children and sayde to theym Fayre childrene ye shall be made knightes at al tymes whan ye will for the loue of youre father my good freend and I shal giue you more londes than your father hath and for loue of you I shal make an hundred knightes more with you for ye ben of suche a stocke come that ye be worthy for to be honoured prâ—ised and holden dere And than whan the duke Naimes Rowland Oâ—iuer that came there and all the other Peeres of Fraunce sawe that they were the two soÌ„nes of Reinawd of mountawbaÌ„ they were ryght glad of it than euery man kissed theym by great loue and asked them howe Reinawde and his bretherne bâ—d lordes saide Aymonet what are you that be so glad of