to hym answered his two bretherne that they wolde doo it syn that he counselled thē so and cōcluded together that they should sende thyther as soone as it were day They made that nyght good watche vnto the morning and than they made redi their messangers for to sende to the kyng Charlemayne And whan they were redy Gerarde of Roussyllon sayd to them Lordes say wel to kynge Charlemayne that we be sore dyspleased of the death of hys sonne Lohier and that our brother the duke Benes repenteth him selfe of it full sore that yf it please hym to haue mercy of vs that we shal go serue hym where it shal please him to sende vs wyth .x. thousand fyghtynge men And also ye shall saye to Naymes of Bauyere that we pray hym that he wyll enploy hymselfe towarde the kyng Charlemayne that this accorde may be had AFter that the messāgers had well all alonge vnderstand what they should saye to the Kynge Charlemaine from the three brethern dukes They lyghted on horsbacke eche of them berynge braunches of Olyue tree in their handes in token of peace And ceased not to ryde tyll that they were come afore the tente of the kinge charlemayne Than spake one of them whiche was named steuen that salued the king in this maner Syr I praye our lorde that of his grace giue you good lyfe long And wyt syr that the duke Gerarde of Roussyllon and the Duke Benes of Aygremount and Dron of Nantuell ben come hither the whiche cry you mercye and beseche you ryght humbly that it please you to pardon them the death of your sonne Lohier Of the whiche they are wrothe sory And the duke of Aygremount let you wyte by vs that yf it be your pleasure to doo so that he and hys bretherne shal be your lyege men shall come to serue you with .x. thou sand fyghting men in all that shal be your pleasur to enploy them syr for goddes sake haue remembraūce that god forgaue his death to Longes the cruelly sticked him to the hart wherfore syr please it you to pardon thē take them to your good grace And of this right hūbly they beseche you WHan the kynge Charlemayne had thus heard speake the messangers of the three brethern He frō peled his forehead knitted his browes and looked full angrely and at that houre he answered to them nothynge and than soone after he begā to speake in this maner Bi my faith syr Steuen sayde he well had the duke Benes lost his wittes whan he so shamfully slew my deere sonne Lohier whiche I loued so tenderly Now is he my man wyll he or not Syr sayd Steuē I am certayne that he shall doo to you all reason to the direction of your good counsell Than sayd the kinge of this we shal counseyll vs and withdrewe hym a lytle a side and called to him duke Naymes Ogyer the Dane syr Salamon Huon of Mauns Walleran of Bollon Odet of Langres and Leon of Fryse sayd to them Lordes heere ben the messangers of the duke Benes and of his bretherne that sende me worde that they wyll come for to serue me where my wyl shal be wyth .x. thousand good fyghting mē yf we wyll pardon theym the death of my sonne Lohyer And they shall be our vassayle and true liege men of vs they shall holde theyr landes and theyr lordeships Syr answered the duke Naimes in this is nothing but well So counsell I you that ye pardon them For they be muche valyaunte and of great renome Wherfore pardon them yf it please you THan by the Counsell of the Duke Naymys of Bauyere the kynge dyd pardon the three bretherne called to him the .iii. knightes and said to them how he pardoned the three dukes the death of his sonne Lohier by suche a condicion that the duke Benes of Aygremoūt should come for to serue hym at the feast of Saynt Iohn next comynge wyth .x. thousand fyghtyng men wel arayed and ye shall tel to them that they surely come nowe to me for to take of theym theyr othe and fayth that they shall fro hens forthe obey and serue truly And that of me they shall holde all theyr landes Then departed the knyghtes from afore the kyng Charlemayne and came agayne vnto the Dukes and shewed vnto them how they had sped of their message with the king Charlemayn wherof the three brethern thanked much humbly our lorde God Then sayd the duke Rycharde of Roussyllō it is reason that we take of our good gownes and go to the kynge Charlemayne naked and crye hym mercy of this that we haue thus offended agaynst his hygh puyssaunce lorde shyp and the other two brethern answered that well they ought to doo so So tooke the noble knyghtes their clothes of and al naked bare foote and in poore estate departed from theyr lodges and well foure thousande knightes wyth them all bare fote and in their shertes and in such estate as were theyr maysters In thys wyse they came tofore the king Charlemayne And wyt wel that in right great humilitie were set the three bretherne for to haue peace and accorde wyth the kyng Charlemain that was wroth to them specyally to the Duke of Aygremount as more playnlye ye shall heare here after WHan the kynge Charlemayn sawe thus come the three bretherne wyth theyr barons knyghtes he called to hym the duke Naymes many other barons and sayd to thē can ye not tell me what folke ye see yonder comyng Syr sayd the dukes Naymes it is the Duke Benes of Aygremount with his folke that come for to requyre you of mercie This hanging the Duke Benes of Aygremount came afore the king and cast hymselfe vpon hys knee sayd vnto hym in this wise Syr for god I crye God mercy we ben heere comen by your commaundement if I haue slayne your deere Sonne by my foly I now as your man yelde me my bretherne also Gerarde of Roussyllon and Dron of Nantuell and wyl be your lyege men and serue you with all our puyssaunce where your plesure shal be to set vnto and neuer dayes of our lyues we shall fayle you but yf it belonge in you Than whan the kynge sawe theym thus come humblie towarde hys presence in theyr shertes barefoote and had hearde this that the Duke of Aygremount had sayd to hym he had of them ryght great pitie pardoned them the death of his Sonne Lohier and all his euyll wyll Than should ye haue sene from one part from the other kysse and colle eche other their kynnesmen and som wept for Ioye and the other for pitie WHan were peased the barōs with the king Charlemayne by the counsel of the good duke Raymos than sware promised the three brethern good fydelitie to the kynge Charlemayne and that they should serue him at all tymes that he should cal for thē So tooke they a glad leue from the
brother Richarde at an apple tree and then the saide Richarde cried with an hyghe voice Fayre brother Reynawd come and helpe me and Incontinente ye went there vpon youre horse bayarde but he fell downe by the waye vnder you wherfore ye mightht not come time ynough wherof ye were ful sory therfore good syr I counseyle you that ye go not there LAdye sayde Reynawde holde your peace for who that beleueth ouer muche in dreames he dooth ayenst the commaundemente of God Than said Alarde by the faythe that I owe to god I shal neuer sette foote there nor I nother saide Rycharde Alas saide than Guycharde yf we must goe there lette vs not departe thitherwarde as men of counceylle but let vs go there lyke as prue and worthy knightes hauing eche of vs his armes vpon him wel horsebacke not vpon mules on that our brother Reinawde he well mounted vpon baiarde which shal may beare vs al foure at a need by god sayde Reynawd ye shal say what ye wil but I shal go there as I haue saide what so euer happeth and than he went out of his chambre came to king yon and said to him By god I merueill me muche of my brethren that wil not go with me because they haue no horses with them and yf it please you ye shall giue vs leaue to take eche of vs a horse ye shal keep stil your eyght earles with you and we shal go there as ye haue commaūded vs I wil not doo it said the kyng you for the kyng Charlemaine douteth you to sore and youre bretherne and your horses also I haue giuen hostages suretes that ye shal beare no maner of harneys with you but onely your swerdes as I haue tolde you afore and that ye shal ride vpon mules not vpon horses And yf ye go there otherwise arayed Charlemayne shal thinke that I wyll betraye hym and so shall he destroye al my lande that shall be the paymente that I shal haue for you I haue trauailled my selfe full sore for to bring you and youre bretherne at one with Charlemaine therfore go there yf ye will and if ye wil not leaue it Than said Reinawd sir syth that it is so we shal go there And than he wente from kyng yon in to his chambre again and founde his wife that noble lady Alard and Richarde that asked him how he had doone if they should haue his good horse bayarde with theym By God said Reinawde I can not haue leaue to doo so but my bretherne doubte you not for the kynge yon is a true prince and if he shoulde betray vs he should be sore blamed for it for he shal make vs to be conduyted by eyght of the moste great erles of his realme god confounde me yf I sawe euer ony euil doone by him Sir said hys bretherne we shal goe gladly with you sith that ye wyl haue vs needes to doo so Whan they were thus accorded herto thei wente to bed slept vnto the daye appeared and whan Reynawde sawe the daye he rose vp and saide to his bretherne Arise sits and make vs redy for to goe there as we should goe For yf Charlemayne be sooner to the plaines of valcolours than we he shal hapely be angry for it Syr sayde hys bretherne we shall soone be redy whan they were all redy they wēt to the churche of saint Nycolas for to heare masse whan it came to the offryng Reynawde his bretherne offred many ryche gyftes And after the masse was done they asked after theyr mules incōtinent they mounted vpon in their felowship were eyght earles the whiche knewe all the maner of treason whan they were all mounted they tooke on theyr way but the foure sōnes of Aymon were good to knowe by the other for they had on greate mantelles of scarlet turred with ermynes bare in their handes roses in tokē of peace also their swerdes for they wold not gyrde theim Now god be with them for if he keep them not they bene in waye of perdycyon neuer to come againe to Moūtawban whan the king yon sawe them thus go he fell downe in a swount more then foure times for the great sorowe that he had at his hearte for how be it that he had betrayed them so yet had he great pitie of them but this that he had doone euyl counseyl had made him doo it And than he be gan to make the greatest sorow in the worlde said ha good lorde what haue I doone dyd euer man so great treason as I haue doone nay verely for I haue betrayed the best knyghts of the world and the moste worthye and true THan sayde his folke Syr ye doo not wel to make suche a sorowe for Reynawde is very wise he shal it perceiue ryght soone Ha god sayd the king yon were it as ye saye for I shoulde be more gladde than yf I had wonne tenne of the best cyties of Fraunce for Reynawde is my freend and my brother Ha Mawgys how shal ye be sory whā ye shal know this matter Reynawde did great foly whan he tooke not your aduyse in this thynge for yf he had knowen of it ye should not haue suffred him to go there Lordes sayd the kyng yon I poore wretche whether shall I become yf the foure sonnes of Aymon di◠for Mawgis shal slea me without mercy and also it is well reason for who that betrayeth a nother and princypally his freend carnall ought not to lyue nor haue euer any worship but his folke tooke hym vp incontinente and began to recomforte him by many greate reasons that they layed afore him NOw begynneth the piteous hystory of the foure sonnes of Aimon that wente to theyr deathe by the meanes of the traytour kyng yon And bycause of the treason that he cōmited ayenst the foure sonnes of Aymon he loste the realme of gascoygne the name the dygnyte therof for neuer sith that tyme was no kyng crowned in Gascoygne Now shall I tell you of Reynawde and of his brethren than tode Reynawde and his brethren towarde the plaine of Valcolours and as they toode thitherwardi Alarde began to syng ryghte sweetly and Ioyfull a newe songe and Guycharde and Rychard dyd in lykewise but I tell you that no instrument of musike sowned neuer so melodyouslye as the three brethren dyd syngyng to gither alas what pyty was it of so noble and so worthy knightes that went singing and makyng Ioy to their death they were as the swanne that syngeth that yere that she shall die Reynawd went behynde them sore thynkyng hys head bowed down towarde the earth and beheide hys brethern that rode forth makyng great Ioye and he sayd o god what knyghtes be my brethrene that there been none suche in all the world nother so gracyous And whan he had saide this he sette his hands together and heued them vp towarde
worlde saue vs not fro hangynge or some other shamefull death and therfore I wyll not yeeld me by no maner of wyse A man that wylbe valyaunte ought to defende hymselfe for to be whole Ha Richarde succour vs for the loue of Iesus for wee haue well mistre we ben nother NormaÌ„s nor Bretons but we ben all of one father and of one mother Now ought we well to helpe eche other with all our power for our worship for other wyse men should say that we ben bastardes and of an yll father ye saye trouthe sayde Guicharde But ye wolde not beleue how feble I am for I am wounded to the death Certes sayde Reynawde I am sory for it but I shall defende you as longe as life is in my bodi who had seen than the noble knight Reinawd take vp the great stones and cast theÌ„ vpon hys enemyes ye wolde not haue sayd that he had not be wouÌ„ded nor trauayled of nothing Whan Richarde that lay a ground thus wouÌ„ded as I haue tolde you aboue saw and heard the great noyse that they that sawted the roche made he tooke vp his head and sayd to Reynawde Brother I shall helpe you But cut me some of my sherte I shal binde my syde and wounde so that my bowelles may not yssue out of my beli and than I shal set me to mi defence and shall helpe you with al my hert Than sayd Reynawde nowe art thou well worthe a true man And whan Guycharde vnderstoode hym he was a shamed and tooke agayne strength in him beyonde hys power and came to the defence and sayde with a high voice Ogier fayre cosin what doo you to your lynage Certes it shal be a great shame to you yf ye succour vs not for the faute that ye doo to vs shall be layde vnto you in euery place where ye goe to let vs dye thus we that ben your kynnesmen the best of all the worlde saue Reynawde ye shall doo like a true man and as for vs other it maketh nother lesse nother more Whan Ogier vnderstode these wordes he was sory for it that no man might more and wolde haue gyue a great thing for to haue deliuered them And said that he wolde doo wyth all his herte all that he might doo for them And thaÌ„ Ogyer spurred Brayforde with his spurres and came to the roche with a staffe in his hande and sayde to theÌ„ that sawted the roche wythdraw your selfe a litle tyll I haue spoken wyth them a litle for to wyt whether they wyll giue them selfe vp or no. For it is better that we haue theÌ„ quicke than dead Sir sayd the Frenche men we shal doo your commauÌ„dement But wee leaue them wyth you to keep in the name of the kynge Charlemayne Ha god sayd Ogier I neuer thought treasoÌ„ nor I shal not begyn yet And than he came more nighe the roche than he had be and called to hym the foure Sonnes of Aymon and sayd to theym Fayre cosyn rest you and take agayne your brethe and yf ye be hurt wrappe vp your woundes make good garnisshinge of stones so defende youre selfe nobly of al your power for if the king Charlemayne may haue you ye shall neuer haue pardonne but he shal make you to be hanged strangled and therfore ye muste needes kepe your selfe well For I promise you yf Mawgis know of it he shall come to soccoure you thus shall ye scape other wyse not Cosen sayd Alarde ye shall haue of it a good rewarde yf euer we may scape ye saye true sayde Reynawde For yf I mai scape bi god that suffred death passyon for vs vpon the Crosse all the golde of the world shal not saue him but I shall slea hym wyth myne own handes for I hate hym much more than I doo a straunger For he that should helpe and defende me agaynst all men it is he that doth me harme Cosyn sayd Ogyer I maye not doo therto so helpe god my soule For the kyng Charlemayne made me swere afore all hys barons that I should not helpe you in no maner of wyse And of this that I doo I am sure the the kynge Charlemayne shall conne me no thanke Brother sayd Alarde Ogyer telleth you trouth And also it was well trouth that Ogyer was repreued therof for treason for charlemaine called him traitour afore al his barons Than Reynawde bouÌ„â—e the wouÌ„des of his bretherne as wel as he could But the wounde of rycharde was so greefully to see that it was pitie to beholde for all the entrayles appered oute of hys bodye And whan he had lapped theym al Alarde wrapped the wounde that Reynawde had in the thyghe and whan they had rested themself a litle Reynawde stoode vp and went vpon the roche for to gather stones to defende them self And garnysshed ther with theyr defence where his bretherne should stande Whan the FrenchemeÌ„ sawe the Ogyer the Dane made there to longe a soiournynge they began all to call and crye Ogyer ye make there to longe a Sermon tell vs yf they wyll yelde them or no or yf they shall defende themselfe Naye sayde Ogyer as longe as they haue lyfe in theyr bodyes By my soule sayde the Frenche men than go we sawte them efte agayne Than sayde Ogier I promise you I shal helpe them with all my power Whan the Erle Guymarde hearde Ogyer speake so he wente to hym sayd We commauÌ„de you in the kinges name of Fraunce that ye come to the batayle wyth vs agaynst the foure sonnes of Aymon as ye haue promised and sworne for doubt of you many a lord is here in your company that wyll not fyght Lordes sayd Ogyer for god mercy ye know wel al redy they ben my cosyns germanye I pray you let vs withdrawe our selfe a backe and let them be in peace and I shall gyue eche of you large goodes Ogier said the frenche men we shall not doo so but we shall brynge them prysoners to the kynge Charlemayne that shal doo with them hys pleasure and also we shall tell him what ye haue doone Wherof he shall conne you lytle thanke all his life And after whan Ogier vnderstode these wordes he was sore an angred sayde by great wrathe By the fayth that I owe to al my freendes if there be ani of you so hardy that take Reynawde or any of this brethern for to delyuer them to king Charlemayne I shall smyte of his head what some euer come after it Ogier sayd the Erle GuÌ„ymarde we shal not leue therfore for to take them ryght shortly And whan we haue them we shal see who shal take them from vs for we shall well can shewe this to the king Charlemain And than they began to sawt the roche agayne Wit it that Reynawde hys brethern defended themfelf full nobly But whan Reynawde sawe this great multytude of folke that came for to sawte them he began to saye Ha Mawgis
of Charlemyane for he is to cruel nor he shall neuer haue mercye of vs. And whan Reinawde sawe that they wold eat bayarde hys good horse he tooke for it such a heresy sorow that he almost fell in a swoune to the earth but he tooke togither his strengthes and stoode vpryghte and began to saye Faire bretherne what wyll ye doo will ye eate bayarde my noble horse that so ofte hath kept vs from death and from perill mortall and I pray you that afore ye slea him that ye slea me for I maye not see him die and whan ye haue slaine me slea him hardelye And if ye will not doo so I forbed you in as muche as ye loue me that ye touch not baiard for he that shal hurt him shal hurt me And whan the duchesse hearde Reinawd speake thus she wist not what to doo than she said to him in greate wrathe Ha gentill duke debonayre and what shall now doo your poore chyldren wyll you that they die for hunger for faute of youre horse For it is three daies passed that thei eat any meate shortely shal theyr lyues come at an ende and mine also for my hert cleaueth in my body for fine force of hungre and so shall ye see me die presently but if I haue succours Whan the children heard the mother speake thus they saide to Reinawde Good father for goddes loue deliuer youre horse for he shal die as wel for hungre and it is better that he dye fyrste than we afore him And whan Alard Guycharde and Rycharde hearde their nenewes speake thus Richard spake and said to his brother Ha gētill duke for god suffre not that your children nor my lady youre wife dye for hungre and we also And whan Reinawd heard his brotoer Richard speake so to him his hearte tendred with al right sore fel to wep said my fayre bretherne sith that it please you that bayard shal die I praye you goe and slea him And whan they were al accorded that baiard shoulde be slaine and eatē they went streight to the stable where thei found baiard that casted to them a greate syghe And whan Reynawde sawe that he saide he shoulde rather flea himselfe than that baiard should die that many tymes hath saued him fro deathe And whan the children had hearde this they returned agayne to their mother weeping al dead for hūgre THan whan Reinawde sawe that his children were gone he went to bayarde and gaue him a litill hey for he had none other thing to giue him And than he came to his bretherne and found Alard holdinge Aimon his neuewe that wepte and Rychard held you and Guichard the duches that in his armes was swoned and said to theim Alas for God mercy I praye you take in you courage till night and I promise you that I shal doo so much that we shal haue meate and god wil. Brother said Alarde we must suffre it wolde we or not So longe abode the knightes that the night came and whan it was come Reinawd said to his bretherne My brethern I wil go speake to our father for to see what he shall say to me and if he shal let vs dye for hungre Brother said Richard I wyl goe with you if it please you and ye shal be the more fure that I be in your cōpani My brother said the good knight Reinawd ye shall not so for I wyll goe there alone and if I bringe you not meate I shall than delyuer you bayarde And whan Reynawde had said this he made himselfe to be wel armed and lyghted vpon bayarde and wel secretly went oute of Moūtawban and came to his fathers pauillion the which he knew wel For he had aspyed it from aboue the great towre while it was daye And it happed so that he found his father Aimō oute of his pauillion all alone waytynge yf he might by anye waie vnderstand some tydynges priuelye of the castel And whan Reynawde saw his father he said to him What arte thou that goe nowe at this tyme of the nighte all alone And whan Aymon heard him speake he knew him anon and was right glad but he made of it no semblaunt and said to him but what art thou thy selfe that goest at this houre so hie mounted Whan Reinawde hearde his father speake he knewe him wel and saide to him Syr for god haue mercy vpon vs for we die all for hungre and al our horses ben al ready dead eaten so we haue no more but bayarde that shall not die as longe as I lyue for rather I should let me be slaine for to me to my bretherne he hathe often saued our lyues Alas father yf ye wyl not haue mercy on vs haue mercy of my yonge chyldren HA faire sonne saide Aimon I can not helpe you for nothing but goe your waye agayne for I haue you forsworne ye wot it well and therfore I wolde not doo ayenst min othe for all the good in the worlde and my hearte is ryghte sorye that I may not helpe nor gyue you succour Syr sayde Reinawd ye speake yll saufe your reuerence For I promyse you if ye gyue vs no succoures that my wife my children my bretherne and my selfe shal die for rage of hungre or euerthree daies ben passed For it is all ready more then three dayes that none of vs eat any meat and so I wot not what I shall doo Alas ye be our father so ought you to comfort vs. For I wot well if the kinge haue vs he shall make vs all to be hanged and dye shamefully Whyche were not your worshippe wherfore my father ye ought not to faylle vs yf the lawe of nature is rightwyse My father for god haue pitie mercy vpon vs and holde not your courage ayenst your poore children for it were great crueltie and also ye know well that Charlemaine dooth to vs great wronge for to persecute vs as he dooth whan Aymon hearde Reynawd speake thus he had greate pity of him and was so sory that almoste he fell downe in a swoun to the erth and after he began to behold his childe Reynawd sore wepinge he sayde to him Faire sōne ye haue said trouthe that the kinge doothe you greate wrong therfore a lyghte fro youre horse and entre within my pauylliō and take what it please you for nothynge shall be saide naye to you but I shall not gyue you nothing for to saue mine oth And whan Reinawd heard his father speake so he descēded a foot kneled before him said an hundred gramercyes deare father and than he entred within the pauillion of his father and laded bayarde with bread with flesh both fair and freshe and wyt it that bayarde dyd bere more then x. other horses should haue doone And whan Reynawde had wel laded bayarde with vitailes he tooke leaue of his father went a gayne to Mountawban it is not to be asked what welcome Reynawde
you slayne my men Cosin sayd he nowe hear me if it please you It is trouth that .x. ribaudes cam here right now layde hande vpon me they sayde that ye had thus commauÌ„ded them whyche thinge I coulde not beleue For ye had sayd so it should haue be spoken outrageouslye so made I them to flee out of this chambre in great haste and slew of them I wote not how many bycause I might not absteine me if it semeth you that I haue doone amis so take ye ameÌ„des vpon me But I will wel that ye wit that I wolde not haue doone to you suche a shame as yee haue doone to me â–ª if I had had you as ye haue me Reynawde if I haue doone amis in any maner I am redy to make ameÌ„des for it but ye know it is no reasoÌ„ that no Carle shall Iudge suche a man as I am for that longeth to a king to a duke or to an erle the custome is suche ye wot it well if the earles haue harme be it that haue medled them with it none ought to blame me therfore By god Richarde sayde then Reynawde ye shal say what ye wil but trust me yf I haue not this day peace with Charlemayne I shall make you to be haÌ„ged in such a place where that Charlemain may se you And whaÌ„ reinawde had said this he made Richarde to be take made his handes to be bounde fast and after sayd to him I tel you on my fayth that yf I haue not this day my peace with Charlemayne that for no prechynge that ye can make nor for no man of the worlde I shall not leue but I shal make you dye a shamfull death By my soule Reynawde sayd Richarde I fere me not that ye shall doo that ye sayd for ye dare not doo it as loÌ„g as Charlemayne is a liue Whan Reynawd hearde al the duke speake thus he was so wroth that he loked all blacke in the face for angre and than he sayde to Rycharde by that god that made me ye shal soone knowe what I dare doo whether I am a cowarde or hardy than he made him to be brought where as the galoes were righted than he sayde to him Richarde I wyll that of two thynges ye chose one yf ye lust that is that ye make me haue peace with charlemaine or els that ye helpe me against him but if ye doo this wyt that I shal make you be haÌ„ged straÌ„gled I shall not leue you for all this that ye be of my lignage yf ye wil take my part agaynst the king Charlemain ye shal be deliuered forthwt. By god Reynawde sayd than Richard nowe haue I heard you speke like a childe ween ye that I shal doo the ye say for fere of death certes nay for charlemain is my souerayne lorde and of him I holde mine heritage and thoughe he dooth wrong to leue me heere I ought not to fayle him therfore But ye wil doo wel leue me a messager the whiche I shal sende to Charlemain to his baroÌ„s for to wit if he be disposed for to let me dye heere shamefully By my faith Richard sayd reinawde ye speake now wisely thaÌ„ he called one of his folke sayde to him Go doo that Richard of NormaÌ„dy shal tell you my freende sayd Richarde to the messager ye shall goe to charlemayn tel him on my behalf that I prai him as to my souerain lord that yf euer he loued me that he will pardon Reynawde I shal take vpon me to make amendes for hym yf he hath in any thing misdone agaiÌ„st him as the â–ª xii peeres of FrauÌ„ce shâ—l Iudge him if he wil not doo for that he wil looke hitherwarde he shal see me hange shamefully Of that other parte ye shall say to Rowland to all my felawes that yf euer they loued me that they wil shew to Charlemayne that it shall be a great shame to him yf he suffreth that I hye thus shamefullye syr sayde the messager doubt not I shall doo your message well After these thinges thus sayd the messager went out of the towne to the hoste of Charlemayne the whiche he founde full of thought And whan he saw him he made him reuerence after sayd to hym Syr wit it that Richarde of Normandye recoÌ„mendeth hym humbly to you and prayeth you as hertlye as he can as to his soueraine lorde that if euer ye loued him that ye wyll shew it nowe for he mystreth wel of it For if reynawde haue not peace this day tourne your sight vpon yonder gate after that I am come home agayne ye shall see him hange shamefully whan the messager had sayd this to the kynge he looked about him and saw the .xii. peeres sayd to theym fyrst to RowlaÌ„d after to the other Lordes the duke Rycharde prayeth you Rowland all ye in generall that yf ye euer loued him that ye wyll pray Charlemaine that he wil make peace with Reynawde or otherwise he is dead without mercy And whaÌ„ Rowland heard this he spake fyrst to the kynge sayd Syr for God I pray you suffre not that ye be blamed ye know well that how the duke Richarde is one of the bâ—st knightes of the worlde he hath best serued you at your need For God syr make peace with Reinawde for to recouer suche a knight as is the duke Rychard of Normandye for greate shame it were to you for to let him thus die And whan the duke Naymes and the bysshop Turpyn Ogier Escouf the sonne of Oedon and Oliuer of vien heard Rowland speake so they begaÌ„ to say to the king By god sit if ye will not make peace with Reynuwde for to recouer our felaw the Duke Rycharde ye shall lose muche by it For within short time ye shall see your lande destroyed afore you WHan Charlemayne saw that his peeres were thus moued for loue of Richarde of Normandy that they accorded all for to make peace he wende to haue gone oute of hys minde and sware by greate wrathe as a man mad that Reynawde shoulde neuer haue peace with hym but if he had mawgis to doo his wil with hym And whan he had sayd so he turned him towarde the .xii. peeres of Fraunce sayd to them My freende take no fere for Rycharde of Normandy For Reynawde should sooner let to be drawen one of his eyes out than he should doo him any harme or shame Syr sayd the Bysshop Turpin ye are beside your self For ye see all redy that Richarde is Iudged to death Bisshop said charlemayne ye speke well folisshli knowe ye not wel that Richard of Normandye is of the linage of Reynawd I promyse you he dare not doo hym harme by no maner By god syr said oliuer ye haue wel paied vs by your sayinge Why dare not Reynawde hange the duke Richarde for I know so
haue sene that dai so moch braynes in the feelde so manye feete and heades smyten of that it was a pytious thyng to behold After cam yet agayne Guenes that smote Ioyusselyne of Bloy so that he casted hī dead to the erth and he made soone to goe backe the Duke Benes folke of Aygremounte Than was sore a basshed the duke of Aygremoūt the whyche knewe well that wythoute death he myght not escape So went he and smote one of Guenes folke so great a stroke that he ouerthrew him dead For none other wyse he coulde doo but defende hym selfe as well as he could for to length his lyfe wythall Ha god what a greate dommage it was to haue thus shamfully betrayed hym For after many chyrches many townes and Castelles were therfore set in a fyre and so many great nobles full pyteouslye brought to death So much sped the traytour Guenes agaynst the good duke of Aygremount that the folke of the duke were weke almost gō For of two hūdred that he had brought he had no moe with hym but fourty Barons sayd the duke Benes of aygremount ye se that we ben almoste all dead yf we defende vs not wyth great herte and worthynes And for goddes loue let euery of vs be worthe three as longe as we shall now be alyue For ye se that here pyteously we must departe breake felowshyp Than wente the duke agayne smote a knight named syr Helye so that he made hym to fall dead to the erth And than cryed with an hyghe voyce Smyte well barons The valey was fayre and soūded of the noyse that was made there at that hour one named Gryffon of Hautefell wente smote the dukes horse into the breste wyth hys spere so that he ouerthrew him vnder the horse and the duke anon arose vpon his feete tooke his swerde wenyng to smite the sayd Gryffon but the stroke fell vpon the horse so that he cutte him a sonder as it had ben nothynge WHan the duke of Aygremoūt saw himselfe thus on foote he knew wel that it was doone of him but well he sware that hys death he should sell ryght dere but sodaynly came there vpon him the erle Guenes that sat vpon a good courser the which smote the duke Benes of Aygremounte with his speare suche a stroke that he shoued hym through through his body thus fell downe dead the duke Benes of Aygremoūt and than the duke Griffon the father of the sayd Guenes came to the Duke Benes of Aygremoūt that lay dead vpon the sande shoued his swerde in to his foundement Than sayd the duke Gryffon no whast thou thy rewarde for mi lorde Lohiers death that thou let slew shamefullye with in thy palays Now is the good and worthy duke Benes of Aygremount deceassed god of his soule haue mercy the treatour Genellon the Lord of Hautefell that lighted vpon a good horse wente after the duke of Aigremountes folke that fled whiche were but .x. a lyue of two hundred and yet these .x. were soone ouertaken and than the traytours made theym to swere and promyt that the bodye of the late duke theyr mayster they shold beare to Aygremount lyke the he had doo bryng the body of Lohier to paris in a byere and the sayd knightes promysed them for to doo so So toke they the corps from the other bodyes dead wherof was there greate number put hym in a byere And than went on theyr way with all whan they were gon a lytle fercher God knoweth what sorowe and lamentacion that they made for the death of theyr mayster sayinge Ha god good duke that so worthy was how now we are sory for the certaynly full euyll hath doone kyng Charlemayne that vnder this saufcōduyte hath made thee to be slayne in treason These sorowful knightes went thus makynge theyr mone bearyng the body of the Duke Benes theyr mayster vpon a byere that two horses bare whiche corps neuer staunched of bledyng by the spare of .viii. myles how many dayes Iourney that these knightes were with the bodye of theyr mayster by the way I cannot tel you But they went so longe that they came nygh Agygremount and approched so moche that the tydynges came to the towne to the duchesse that her lorde had be thus traytoruslye slayne So ought not be asked of the greate sororow that the duchesse her sonne Mawgis made They yssued after out of the towne with them of the church went agaynst the corps Nor also ought not to be asked yf there were made that day great wepynges lamentacions For whan the duchesse saw her lorde the woūdes that he had in his body more than three times she fell downe in a swone vpon him And in this wyse they bare the corps to the chief churche the bisshop of the towne dyd the seruyse And thā he was put in his graue was right reuerently buryed Thā sayd his sonne mawgis Good lorde what a domage is this of such a worthy lorde to haue be thus slayn cruelly by treason but if I liue lōg Charlemayne and the traytours that thus haue doone shal abye for it ful deerely His lady mother he recomforted and said to her My deere mother haue a litle patience For myne vnkles Gerarde of Roussyllon Drō of nantuel and my cosyns Reynawde Alarde Guicharde and Rycharde shall helpe me wel for to auenge the death of my lorde my father Nowe shal we leue heare to speake of them of Aygremount that ben in great lamētacion weepinges for the death of their lorde and shal returne to tel of the traytours Griffon of Guenes his sonne that with theyr folke were gone agayne to Parys ¶ How Gryffon of Haultefell and Guenellon after that they had slayn the Duke Benes of Aygremounte they retourned to Parys recounted to the kynge Charlemayne the mortall treason that they had commysed and doone Wherof the kyng Charlemayne was glad But afterwarde he was ful wrothe sory for it For after the Duke of Aygremoūtes death his two bretherne Gerard of Roussyllon and Dron of Nantuel warred sore agaynst hym with their neuew Mawgys than they made peace and accorded together but the kynge Charlemayne apoynted not wyth the foure sonnes of Aymon nor to Mawgys theyr cosyn ¶ Item sheweth also the same chapter how Reynawde slewe the neuew of kyng Charlemayne wyth a chesse borde as they were playng together at the chesses Wherof the warre began The whyche was sore and mortall as ye shal now heare here after and lasted so longe that it dyd great dommage to the Realme of Fraūce Campitulum .ii. Fo. xiii YE shal mow heare and vnderstand from hensforthon a terryble and a piteous songe yf ye thereafter lyst to herken Thys was at the feaste of Penthecoste after the holy thursdaye that the king Charlemayne helde a great court at Parys after that he hadde accorded with the bretherne
to be hanged and slayne as more playnly ye shall vnderstand here after yf that ye lyste to harken HErnier of Saueyn made none other taryenge but he sayd to kyng Charlemayne in this maner Syr cōmaunde ye Guyon of Bourgone that he doo put in array a thousand knightes well armed and that to morrow afore the day he goe vpon the moūtayne fayre and softly with out noyse I shall put hym within the castell shortly Whan he had sayd this he went to hys tente made hīselfe to be armed And whan he was armed he lyghted a horsbacke and rode to the gate of the castell sayd to them that kepte warde Alas for god fayre lordes haue mercye of me if it please you let me in or els I am but dead for the Emperour Charlemayne maketh to folow and seke me all aboute for to make me dye bycause I haue said to him much good of Reynawde also I tell you wel that I shall shew to Reynawde a thing wherof he shall he ryght glad yf hys pleasure is to heare me WHan they that were aboue vpon the gate heard hī speak thus they without lōg taryeng let goe downe the draw bridge and made him come in dysaimed him did to him great honour But the false traytour rewarded thē full yll for it after that This hangyng Charlemayne commaunded Guion to make him redy a thousand knightes with him and sent them vpon the hylle without makyng of anye bruyte tyll that the day were come And wyt that Guyon had wyth hym of the best Knyghtes of Charlemayne NOw is Harnyer the traytour within the castell of Mountaynforde vnto whome men made good cheere And whan Reynawde wyste that a knight of Charlemayn was come He sayde that he wolde speake with hym And so he was brought afore hym And whan he sawe him he sayd to hī What be you fayre knighte that are come hither And he answered syr my name is Hernier of Saueyne I haue angred kinge Charlemayne for the loue of you and for this cause I am com hither praying that ye haue me for recommaūded for I wot not whether to goe nowe Good freend sayd Renawde syth that ye say that ye be oure freend ye be ryght welcome to me For of suche goodes that God hath sent me ye shall not fayle Now tell me I pray you how doth the hoste of the Emperour Haue they anye great plentie fo vytayles Syr sayd Hernyer they ben scarse wyth them But I tell for very certayne that they shall goe theyr wayts within these fourty dayes for none of the barōs wyll no lenger abyde there Wherefore the kyng Charlemayne is sore an angred with them And I promit you yf the hoste wente awaye ye might hurte theym ryght verye sore and gette verye muche good yf ye wyll sette then vpon the tayle of them Freende sayde Reynawde to hym ye haue comforted me ryght well yf it is so as ye say For yf the king Charlemayne be once ouerthrowen he shall not come a nother tyme vpon vs wyth so good a wyll as he dooth nowe And then Reynawde had hym wyth hym to hys brethern that made vnto hym good cheere And whan the supper was redy Reynawde and his bretherne set thē downe vnto theyr meat and supped gladly And in theyr companye was the traytour Hernier vnto whom they made good cheere After supper all the knyghtes wente to slepe For they were wery of bearīg of theyr Harneys and they had not ceased to fyght all that day And wit that Hernier was well and honestly brought to bed For Reynawde had so commaunded And whan all the knyghtes were fast a slepe Hernier as the false Iudas slepte not But he rose and tooke hys harneys and armed hym selfe And whan he was well armed at his ease he came to the drawe bridge and cut the cordes that kept it vp and let the draw brydge go downe and than he went vpon the walles where he found him that made the watche and slew him And whā he had doone this he came to the gate and opened it For he had taken the keyes from hym that he had slayne whyche had them in his kepyng THan whan Guyon of Bourgoyne saw the gate open he made no tarying but came and entred into the castell and al hys folke with hym And began to kylle and flea all thē that they found ¶ Now shall ye heare of the fayre aduenture how that Reynawde his brethern were saued from this mortall slawghter Wyt that whan the yemen of the stable had supped thei were drōke and went to theyr bed whan they were a slepe the horse of Alarde that was sōwhat proude began to make noyse agaynst the other And Alarde and Richarde heard the noyse of the horses they rose vp and saw the doore of the halle open and perceyued out of it the harneys that glystered agaynst the moone that shone full bryght Than went they to the bedde where they had brought the false Hernyer whyche they foūd not there Whereof they were ryght sore abasshed And than was Reynawde awaked and asked who was there that maketh thys noyse Let our knyghtes take theyr rest that haue so sore trauayled all the day it is euyl doone for to go thus stampyng at this houre thā cryed Alarde to Reinawde and sayd Fayre brother we ben betrayed for Hernyer that false knyght hath put the folke of Charlemayne within thys castell the whiche kyll and slea your folke and put them to a greate matter whan Reynawde vndestode this he made no taryīg but he arose and armed hymself quickly and cried vnto his brethern and to his men Now my freendes let vs beare our selfe worthy we had neuer so great need any wyt that Reynawde had with hym but .xxx. Knyghtes within the dongeon of that fortresse for al the other were within the base courte whiche was as it had ben a lytle towne well peopled where as Guyon of Bourgoyne his folke slew them This hanging Reynawde his brethern had armed themselfe right wel hopynge for to defende theymselfe well THan came Hernyer the traytour steryng about throughe the maystres strete with him well an hundred knightes Thā sayd Reinawde to hys brethern fayre Lordes come forth for yf god helpe vs not we are all lost than Reynawde and his brethern came to the gate defended so well the none durst passe but he was slayne what shall I tell you more the base courte began to be sore moued and the erye was so great for al them of the dongeon defended themselfe valyantlye Whan the folke of the Emperour Charlemayne sawe that they that were wtin the dongeon defended themselfe so well they set the base court in a fire and began to brenne and pul down the houses and al that they founde And the fyre was soone so great that it tooke the dongeon of the castell Whan Reynawde saw that he was so taken wyth fyre he was
and knew him ryght well by a wounde that he had in his face whiche was doone to hym of a fall whan he was in his tender age ThaÌ„ she said to hiÌ„ as glad as ani mother may be Reynnawde my sonne whose peere is not among al the knightes of the worlde Howe see I you so sore appayred and chaunged Where is gon your great beaultie why my sonne doo ye hide you towarde me that loued you more than my selfe And while that she said these wordes she looked aboute her and knew her children anon she went towarde them wyth her armes spred abrode for to coile and kisse theym sore weepynge for great pitie that they were so sore apayred of theyr beaultie and so long she kissed one and than another that at last she fell downe in a swoune And Reynawde tooke her vp in his armes wher she abode a good while and Reynawde his brethern ceassed not from weeping for great pitie that they had of theyr mother ANd whan the duchesse was come agayne to herselfe she tooke her children made them sitte downe by her and sayd to them how is it that I see you thus poore dysfygured why is it that ye haue with you no knightes nor none other coÌ„pany where haue ye ben that haue endured so great pouertie and so great disease whan the duchesse spake thus to her chyldren she dyd weepe styll sore tenderly and foundred all in teres holdynge her sonne Reynawd betwene her armes and kissed hym sweetly Lady sayd Reynawde we haue with vs but three knightes that keep our horses yoÌ„der without For our father hath slayne all our knightes all our folke And also he should haue slayne vs yf it had not be our lorde that kept vs therfro through his pitie mercy Sore hard parentage dyd he shewe to vs our naturall father Whan the Duchesse vnderstoode these wordes she was ryght sory for it And called to her one of her seruauntes and saide to hym Goe and make my sonnes horses to be had into a good stable and that they ben well tended And brynge hither that three knightes that keep the horses without for I wyl see them Madame sayde her squyer it shal be doone incontinent And then he went to the three knyghtes and sayd to them that the duchesse wolde see them Whyche incontinent dyd as the ladye had commaunded and came to the Palays where as Reynawde taryed for them Lordes said the duchesse to them ye be right welcome Madame sayd the knightes God gyue you good life longe and Ioye of your children For they ben the best and the moste worthye knyghtes of all the worlde Thys hangyng came there a yeman that sayd to the duchesse Madame yf it please you to sit at the table the meat is redy ThaÌ„ the lady tooke Reynawde and the other with her lede them to dinner and made them syt downe all afore her and theyr three knyghtes at the left side of her There made good chere the foure sonnes of Aimon and ete at theyr case at theyr owne wyll For it was longe syth that they had ony good mele where they myghte take theyr naturall food at theyr ease And as they were at the table Thenne came theyr father Aimon from hawkynge and huntynge whiche had taken foure hartes and two wylde bores and dyuerse pertryches and Fesauntes Whan Aymon sawe them he knewe them not and he sayd vnto the duchesse Lady what are these folke that ben thus couÌ„trefer whan the duchesse vnderstode her husbande she was sore a gaste and began for to weepe and sayde Syr these ben your chyldren and myne that ye haue trauaylled so moche and sore hunted as wylde beastes The which haue dwelled loÌ„ge tyme in the foreste of Ardeyne where as they haue ben sore tourned as ye now maye see Now are they come vnto me by cause I am ryghte glad whan I see theym For to you they ben not come For they knowe well that ye loue them not But I praye you for god that for the loue of me ye wyll lodge them this night For they shall departe to morow erlye I wot not yf euere I shall see them Wherefore of this I beseeche you right humbly Than whan Aymon vnderstode these wordes he shooke al for anger and tourned hym selfe toward his sonnes and made to them euill there and said to them GlotoÌ„s goddes curse haue you For ye ben not worthe a strawe For ye haue nother folke nor money nor no prisoner that might pay to you a great hauoyre Father sayd Reynawde by the fayth that I owe to you if your lande is in peace the other ben not so For ye might goe sixe score miles that ye should not finde nother riche man nor poore but that they keepe them selues within fortresses and in Castelles But ye doo great wronge for to doo vs the worst that ye can ye tooke fyrst from vs our good Castell of Mountaynforde And after that ye had assayled vs in the wood of ardeyne and slew all our folke so that of fyue huÌ„dred knyghtes that I had ye left a lyue with me but enleuyn whereof .viii. ben dead and these .iii. that ye see heere ar abyde a liue now beholde well father and thynke how ye bare your selfe towarde vs. But syth it is thus that ye ought to vs no good wyll and that ye may not see vs Make vs the heades to be smyten of and so shall you be beloued of Charlemayne and hated of god and of all men ANd whan the olde Aymon vnderstode Reynawde thê° speke he knewe well he sayde trouth and began to fyght sore at his herte and then he sayd to hys chyldren Myschaunt your lidernes slouth hath ouercome you Ye were neuer my childerne For yf ye were such as meÌ„ wene ye should not haue suffred the great pouertie that ye haue endured so longe But ye should haue gone win vpoÌ„ your enemies for to maintein your self honestly make good warre to Charlemayne through all hys lande But ye are become myschaunt therfore I tell you that ye get nothyng of me Now theÌ„ voyde out soone of my Palayce and goe begge where ye wil at a nother place Syr sayd Reynawde ye say that an euyll and an vnkynde father ought to saye For I tell you for very certayne that we haue slayne so manye theues and brygauntes that I can not numbre them wherof I fele my selfe in great synne But for god we requyre you that ye wyll helpe vs to recouer our laÌ„des of Charlemayn and yf ye wyll not doo so gyue to vs of your godes and we shall goe ferre from you I wyll not sayd Aymon Father sayd Reynawde here I se well your euyll wyll I and my brethern haue doone so muche that we ben comen into your place that we should fare the better for it but I see wel ye wyll cast vs therfro with great afraye And I swere to you by the
had receyued the lettres of the kinge Charlemayne he called to hym his secretary Godras and said to him Looke what this lettre sayeth And the clerke brake in continent the seale and beheld the tenoure of the lettre and founde howe Reynawde and hys brethern should be betrayed and liuered to the death whan the clerke had redde the lettre he began to weep sore tenderlye and if it had not be for doubt of the king he wolde gladly haue vttered it and whan kinge yon saw his secretarye weep he saide thus to him keep wel vpon your lyfe that ye hide nothinge fro me but tell me all that the lettre conteineth and what the kynge Charlemayne wryteth to me By my fayth said Godras It is a sore thing for to reherce Nowe lightely sayde the kyng yon tell me what the kyng Charlemayne sendeth me syr sayde Godras I shall tell it you gladlye And than he beganne to shewe to kyng yon howe Charlemayne sente him worde that yf he wolde doo as he had wryten vnto him he shoulde encreace his power of fourtene good castelles more than he had For the suretie wherof he swereth it vnto you vpon our lorde god and saint denys of Fraunce his patrone And he sendeth you foure mantelles of scarlete furred with ermines that ye shall geue to the foure sonnes of Aymon for to were theym thus they shall be knowen For Charlemaine will not that none take any harme but only the foure sonnes of Aimon And he dooth you wyt that his folke are with in a bushement within a woode by the plaine of Valcolours that is to wyt Foulques of Moryllon and Ogier the dane with three hundreth men wel horsed and well armed that abiden there foure sonnes of Aimon the which ye should deliuer in to their handes Whan the kinge yon vnderstoode the tenoure of the lettre he made haste for to fulfil his promise And incontinent he lyghted on horsebacke and tooke in his company a hundred men wel arraied and tooke his waye towarde Mountawban And as soone as he might he came entred with in at the gate fletcher And whan he was within he made his folke to lodge them in the borow And he went vp to the palays as he was wont to doo whā he cam there Thē whan his sister the wife of Reinawd wist of the coming of the king yon her brother she came ayenst him and tooke him by the hand wolde haue kissed him as she was accustomed to doo whan he came there but the king full of euell treason turned hys face a syde and sayde he had the tooth ache and wolde not speake with her but litill But he sayde that men should make him a bedde ready For he wolde rest him selfe a lytell And whan he was layde he began sore to thinke and saide to him selfe Ha good lord what haue I wrought ayenst the best knyghtes of the world that I haue betrayed so falsly Now shall they be hanged to morow withoute faute I pray god to haue mercy and pitie vpon them Now maye I well saye that I shall be lykened to Iudas from hence forthe and I shal haue loste the loue of god and of hys mother and also myne honour But I must needes doo it sith I haue promysed it so and the wyll of my barons is such for thus they haue coūcelled and haue made me do it Wherof I am ful sore displeased AL thus as the king yon thoughte in the greate treason that was thus machyned vpon the foure sonnes of Aymon there came in Reinawde from hunting al his bretherne with him and had taken four wild bores sore great and whan Reinawde was within Mountawban he hearde the noyse of the horses and wende that it had been straunge knightes that were come vnto him to take wagis And than he asked of a yemā what folke were these straūgeres that were come in withou leue Syr said the yeman they ben the folke of king yon that is come within for to speake with you of some maters But me semeth by his folke that he is not well at ease of his persone THan said the good Reinawd Ha God why hath my lorde traueylled himselfe so muche for to come hither For I wold with a good will haue gone to him And after whan he had that saide he called to him a seruaunte of his and sayde to him goe fet me my horne Boudiere For I wyll make feast and Ioye for the coming of my souerain lorde and incontinent it was brought to him and Reynawde tooke it and sayde to his bretherne Nowe take eche of you his owne and let vs make feast for the loue of king yon Than they tooke eche of them his horne and began to sowne all foure at ones right high and made so greate noyse that the castel sowned of it For they made so great Ioye for the loue of kinge yon that it was merueyll Whan the kynge yon heard the trumpettes that thus sowned so sore that the chābre where as he laye shooke of it he arose vp from the bed and cam to the wyndowe and said to him selfe Ha what euyll haue I wrought ayenst these knightes Alas howe make ye Ioye ayenst so greate a combraunce the which I haue purchased to you I haue betrayed you right falsely as a wycked and vntrewe kynge that I am For a man that betrayed hys freend oughte neuer to haue honoure nother in this world nor in the other but oughte to be lost bothe body and soule For he hath forsaken god and hathe gyuen himselfe to the deuyll And whan he had saied that he returned agayne vpon his bed sore vexed at the hearte and euell at ease more than any man might be Than Reynawde and his bretherne came vp to the palace where thei foūd the king yon and whan he sawe theym come he rose ayenst them and tooke them by the hande and saide to Reinawd Be not merueylled that I haue not enbraced nor kyssed you for I am sore laden with great euyll And it is wel fourtene daies gone that I could nother eate nor drinke anye thyng◠that dyd me good Than saide Reynawd sir ye be in a good place where ye shall be tended vpon ryghte well with goddes grace And I and my bretherne shall serue you to oure powere gramercy saide the kinge yon Than called he his stuarde and sayd to him Go and bring me the mantelles of scarlet furred wyth ermynes that I haue doone make for my dere freendes Incontinente the stuarde dyd the commaundemente of kynge yon And as sone that he was come agayne the king made the foure brethern to put the foure mantelles vpon them and praied theim to were them for his loue Sir saide Alarde this is a gladde presente and we shal were theim for the loue of you with very good will Alas if they hadde knowen how the thing was brought aboute they shoulde not haue borne them but they should haue doone al
confessour Syr I wot not what I should more say giue me absolucion he gaue him penaunce accordinge to the terme of hys lyfe and the confessour went from him all weeping And whan rypus sawe that richard was confessed he came to him and put the halter aboute hys necke and made him mouÌ„t vpon the ladder dyd shyt the cheyne wherat he should hange And whan rycharde sawe that his bretherne came not for to saue him he wende none other but that he shoulde haue died and delybered hymselfe for to suffre death at the houre and than he said to ripus My freend I pray thee for God that thou suffre me a while till I haue saide an oryson that I dyd lerne in my youth to the ende that god haue mercye on my soule I wyl not sayd ripus thou shall haue no lenger respyte Syr sayde his men yes ye shall if it please you For if he may doo so muche that his soule be saued he shall praye for you in the other worlde and for vs also And thaÌ„ rypus gaue respit to richard wherof he did like a foole And than Richard turned him self toward the cast and began to saye his praier with a good heart and deuoutly For he trowed to haue death withoute remyssion and he sayd in this maner GLorious Ihesus by thy blessed name that made heauen and erthe and al the elementes that been and went in this worlde as a poore man And saued Ionas from the bellye of the fyshe And in Bethleem reisedest Lazaron And deliuered Daniell from the pyt of the Lyon The synnes of the theefe ye dyd pardonne on the Crosse where the felons Iewes had crucyfyed you Also to Mary Magdalene her synne ye forgaue in the house of Symon For she weshe there youre feete wyth her greate deuocyon Iudas the false traytoure murmured through enuy wherof ye did shew to him that he did great foly and Iudas kyssed you by greate treason and deliuered you to the Iewes wherof he was rewarded after his deseruynge Good Lorde ye created and made our father Adam of the slyme of th earth and Illumyned him with the grace of the holye ghoste and after ye did abandon to hym the fruites of paradise but he brake your commaundemente wherby mankynde went to dapnacion and we all were dampned withoute remyssyon but after ye redemed vs by the meryte of youre blessed passyon ye dyd suffre greate euylles and greate affliccions for vs poore synners wythoute anie deuocyon Whan Longys dyd shoue the spere in to youre dygne side the water ran out of it and also the bloude septe into his eyen wherof he recouered his syghte â—nd ye pardonned him hys synnes whan he called vpon you for mercie And also to Noe ye let make by your carpenters an arke for to saue himselfe and of euery beast a couple In Iosaphat good lord ye brought your Appostles where ye dyd make a fayre myracle for with .ii. fyshes and fyue loues of barly ye fed fyue thousande men all their fylle O good lorde as I doo beleue this that I haue sayde stedfastly keep this day my bodi fro death that is so nigh that I be not hanged nor put in prison but delyuer me from the handes of my enmyes that I be not vyrupered nor brought to shame by Rypus of ryplemond that holdeth me in his gynnes Ha Reynawde my ryghte deare brother that ye be not heere now with my bretherne and with my cosyn Mawgys ye haue now forgoten me and let me heere die wherfore I recommende me to god of heuen And than Richarde began to weepe full tenderlye and sayde to Rypus Rypus doo with me what ye wyll NOwe shall we speake of bayarde the good horse of Reynawd of his brethern and Mawgis It is trouthe that Bayarde the horse of Reinawd the sonne of Aymon that came of the fery and thus he vnderstoode the worde whan it was spoken as well as it had be a manne whan Bayarde vnderstoode the noyse that the folke made about the galous and faw that his master slept fast he cam to Reinawde and smot hym so harde with his feete in the myddes of hys sheelde that he made hym awake So lept Reynawd vpon his feet al afraied and behelde what it was and looked toward Mountfawcon and saw his brother vpon the ladder so made he none other tarying but lighted vpon bayarde that ranne as the wynde for at euery time he lepte .xxx. foote in a playne grounde And Alarde Guycharde and Mawgis awoke for loue of bayard that made greate noyse And whan they were all awaked Mawgis began to crye as hyghe as he coulde vpon his horse the deuyll speed the euyll beast that thou hast let me slepe so longe and than he lyghted quickly vpon his backe for ther was no better horse in all the worlde after bayarde WHan Rypus of riplemoÌ„de that wolde haue strangled Richard saw come his bretherne and Mawgys he was so sore abashed with it that he wist not what he shoulde doo he sayde than to Richarde richarde ye be delyuered oute of my handes for here comen Reynawd and Mawgys and all theyr puyssaunce that come for to succoure you and yf it please you ye shall haue mercye on me For this that I dyd for to haue brought you heere it was but for to haue a waye the debate that Charlemaine had with the .xii. peeres of Fraunce and I knewe well that ye should be rescued without any faut by youre bretherne and of Mawgys Ripus saide richarde mocke not with me for heere is to harde a mocke for me and ye wynne not muche by for to gabbe me of this facion By my soule saide ripus I mocke you not it is in good ernest that I saye ye maye see them heere not a bow shot a ferre nor I seeke not to doo you any harme but goe downe fro the ladder and haue mercy on me I beseche you for goddes loue RYcharde was meruelouslye abashed whan he hearde ripus speke and he turned his heade a syde and sawe reynawd that came a good pase and whan he sawe hym he sayde rypus I shall neuer clayme my brother reynawde for my brother yf he hange you not by the necke to the same gybet where as ye thought to haue hanged me ryghte nowe This hangynge that richard spake to ripus reynawde was aryued and hearde this that Richard had sayd to Rypus And Reynawde beganne than to crye with highe voice so helpe me God Ripus ye be deade for ye be a cursed man and for youre cursednes I shall hange you my owne selfe at this gybet so shall you be possessoure of my brother Richardes place for al the power that Charlemayne shal make shall not saue you therfro This hanging came there Mawgis sore chaufed said to Ripus Ha Ripus thou traitour euil man ye haue alwaies be readye to doo some euil againste vs but sith that I haue founde you heere I shall not seeke you no
not me nay wtout fawt sayd Ogier For ye bere the armes the baner of Rypus I haue done so syr said Riâ—hard bycause that I should not be knowen By my soule sayde Ogyer I wil see your face naked For otherwyse I wyll not beleue the that ye saye Syr sayde Richarde and ye shal see me anon And than he vnbuckled his helme shewed hys vysage And whan Ogyer sawe him he was right glad and wente and kissed the mouth of Richarde ful sweetly and tooke him in hys armes many tymes and sayd to Richarde all laughynge Cosyn what haue ye doone of Ripus by mi fayth sayd Rycharde he is nowe Archebisshop of the feeldes giuyng the benediccion wyth his foote For my brother Reynawde hath haÌ„ged hym with his owne handes wolde not suffre yâ— none other should set hande vpon hym but only hymselfe by my soule sayd Ogier he hath doone right well And than he sayde to Rycharde fayre Cosin see to your selfe for heere cometh Charlemayne and god be with you thus returned ogier And whan Charlemayne saw Ogier he sayd to hym why went ye towarde Ripus afore me Syr said Ogier if ye were not so nyghe me I should smite of his hed But I dare not doo it for loue of you goe yee to hiÌ„ for I make you sure he shal haue none harme by me Then sayd Charlemayne I shal defende him against al men And than he spurred the horse with the spurres came to Richard weenyng to him that it had ben Ripus and sayd to him come nere my specyall freende Ripus and take no feare of nothynge For I shall keepe you agaynst all men WhaÌ„ Rycharde heard Charlemayne speake thus he sayde to hym I wyll that ye knowe now that I am not the false traytoure Ripus but I am Richarde the soÌ„ne of Aymon and I am the brother of Reynawde the beste knight of all the worlde and of Alarde and of Guycharde and cosyn to the valyaunte Mawgis that ye loue so muche ye smote me to day in the mornyng with a staffe in the head whereof ye mysdyd greatly and therfore my brother Reynawde hath hanged your ryght welbeloued rypus there as he wold haue lodged me and .xv. of his felawes with hym for to beare hym felawshyp now beware of me for I defye you Whan Charlemayne vnderstode these wordes he was so sore an angred of it that none can be more and spurred his horse and ran vpon Rycharde Richarde agaynst him and gaue the one to the other so great strokes in theyr sheldes that they brake bothe theyr speres al iÌ„ peeres And with the same they recountred eche other with their bodyes so mightly that the strongest of bothe habandon ned the stiropes but it happed wel to Charlemayne that he abode within tharsons of the sadle but Richarde fell downe to the erth And whan Rycharde saw himself a ground he was wrothe for it rose vp quicklye and set hande vnto his swerde and went and smote Charlemayne vpon hys helme so great a stroke that he maâ—e him all astonyed withal but the swerd slyded vpon the helme that was good and fiue downe vnto the horse necke so harde that he cut it a sundre and wyth this stroke he felled the horse sterke dead and by all thus was Charlemayne brought to the grounde And whan Charlemayne saw hym selfe a grouÌ„de he was sore an angred for it and lept vpon his feete ryght quyckely and tooke hys swerde in hys hande and smote Richarde vpoÌ„ his helme so harde that he made him reele withal and than begaÌ„ betwene Charlemayne and Rycharde a sore sharpe medlyng And whan they had fought a great whyle together charlemayne began to crye Mountioye saynt Denys And whan Rycharde hearde this he drew him a syde and tooke hys horne and souned it right hye so that his brethern heard it wel and so did Mawgys And than incoÌ„tyneÌ„t they spurred theyr horses and came towarde Rycharde for to succour hym And than sayd Mawgys I doubt me that Rycharde is taken but we shall dye al wyth hym or els we shall haue hym agayne GReate dylygence made Reynawde for to succour Richard And whan he was come where he was he cryed sodaynly Mountawban and Alarde pauereyment Guycharde BalaÌ„con Richarde ardeyn and Mawgis went ranne vpon a knight that was called magon other wyse Sampson Lorde of Pierrefrit and rought hym suche a stroke that he felled hym dead to the grounde Reynawd smote vpon another knight by suche a wyse thar he shoued his swerde throughe and throughe his bodye Guycharde smote another with hys swerde so fyersly that he cleued his head in two peces Alarde smote the fourth knyght vpon his helme so great a stroke that he caste hym dead to fore hys feete after he ranne vpon another knyght rychely arayed and gaue eche other suche strokes that they bothe fell downe from theyr horses to the erth than came there Reynawde that dyd so muche that the sayde knyght was taken prysoner whych was called Hughe of Almayne brought hym to mouÌ„tawban what shal I tel you more the batayle began to be fell so cruel that it was great pitie for to se for the one spared not the other but slew eche other as thicke as beastes And whaÌ„ Reynawde saw al redy that the Sunne was gone vnder that the night came fast on he was in a doubt for his brethern sayd good lorde through thy mercy and redempcion keep me my brethern from death and from prison for the night that is at hand maketh me to be aferde And as he spake these wordes came there king Charlemayne as fast as his horse myght walop agaynst Reynawde and Reynawde against him bicause he knew him not smote eche other so harde in theyr sheeldes that they made theyr speres to flee in peces and recouÌ„tred together bothe with theyr bodyes sheeldes so meruaylously that they ouerthrew eche other to the ground and than they rose quicklye bothe at ones set hande to theyr swerdes than Charlemayne began to crye Mountioye Saynte Denys and after sayd if I be outraged by one knight only I ought not for to be a kiÌ„g nor to bere crowne WhaÌ„ Reynawde vnderstode Charlemayne speake he knew him well withdrewe hiÌ„self a side sayd Alas how am I dyffamed it is charlemayn to whom I haue lousted I haue misprised to sore for to haue set hande vpon hym Ha good lorde it is wel .xvi. yeres a gone that I spake not ones with hym but I shal now speke to hiÌ„ if I shoulde dye for it for by reason ryght I ought to lese the fyrst wherfore I will make to hym a mendes presently and let him doo with me what he wyll and whan he had sayd this he went to Charlemayne and kneeled before him and sayd to him Sir for God I crye you mercy gyue me trewes tyll that I haue spoken wyth you With
a good wyll sayd Charlemayne but I wote not who ye be how be it that ye haue iusted with me I thanke you huÌ„bly sayd Reynawd of that it pleaseth you to saye so by me Syr wyt that I am Reynawde the sonne of Aymon and I crye you mercy And for that pytie that oure lorde had vpon the crosse of hys mother whan he recommended her to saynte Iohn his disciple I beseche you that ye wyll haue pitie vpon me and vpon my bretherne ye knowe that I am your man and ye haue disherited me of my landes and haue chased me out of Fraunce It is a goe .xvi. yeres and by cause of thys are dead so many noble knyghtes and valyaunt men and other in so great nuÌ„bre that it can not be sayd For God ye see well what losse that cometh of the warre for a lorde that hath no piti in hym hath a hert as hard as a stone And therfore syr I beseche you for god that ye haue merci on me and of my brethern that ben such knyghtes as ye know I speke not these wordes for feare of death ne for couetyse of richesse For god gramerri we haue goodes ynough but I speake it for to haue your loue onely Syr suffre that we haue peace with you and we shall become your men for euermore and we shall swere to you fayth and legeaunce and also I shal gyue you MouÌ„talban and my good horse bayarde which is the thing that I loue best in this worlde after my brethern and Mawgis For there is not in all the worlde suche another horse And yf thys caÌ„not satisfy your mind I shal doo yet more pleseth it to you for to pardon my bretherne and I shall for swere FrauÌ„ce for euermore that I shall neuer be seen there And I shal goe to the holy sepulcre in Ierusalem bare foote for the remembraunce of you and I nor Mawgys shal neuer come agayne into FrauÌ„ce but we shall warre styll on goddes enemyes as ben turckes and Sarasyns THan whaÌ„ Charlemayn hear de Reynawde speake thus he answered hym and sayde Reynawde ye speake for nought ye dyd an ouer great foly whan ye tooke that hardines vpon for to speake with me in my palays as ye dyd and yet yee dyd worse whan ye slew my nenew berthelot that I loued so muche now ye speake of peace ye crie me merci I promyse you for certayne that ye shall haue no peace with me but yf ye doo that I shal tell you Syr said Reinawde what shall that be tel me I pray you I shall shewe it to you wyth a good wil sayd Charlemayne and if ye doo it ye and your brethern shall accorde wyth me and I shall gyue you agayne your heritage and yet I shal gyue you ynough of myne owne It is that ye gyue me Mawgis in my handes for to doo my pleasure with hym For I hate him more than ony thyng in the worlde Syr sayd Reynawde yf I should deliuer hym to you what wolde ye doo to hiÌ„ Reynawde sayd Charlemayne I ê“myse you I should make hym to be drawen shamefully at foure horses tayles through Parys after that I should take from the body of hym the lymmes one after another and than I should make hym to be brent and his asshes to be cast at the winde And whan he shall be arayed as I tell you let hym than doo his incaÌ„tacions his magyke as he wyll I pardon hym all that he can doo to me after yâ— Than sayd Reynawde to the Kynge Syr wolde ye doo it in deed as ye say yea said Charlemayne in good fayth Emperour sayd Reinawde wolde you not take townes ne castelles golde nor syluer for the raunsom of Maugis certes nay sayd Charlemayne Syr sayd Reynawde than shall we neuer be accorded to gither For I tell you for certeyn that yf ye had all my bretherne in your pryson and that ye were delibered for to make them to be hanged yet should I not gyue you mawgys for to haue them delyuered oute of your handes Holde your peace than sayd Charlemayne and beware of me for otherwyse get ye no peace wyth mee Syr sayd Reynawde I am sory for it for we be no men that ought to be caste from your sexuyse and sith that ye defye me I shal defend me and our lorde shall me doo that grace yf it please hym that I shall not betake of you And whan Charlemaine heard this he was sore angry and ranne vpon Reynawde and whan Reynawde sawe hym come vpon hym he sayd to hiÌ„ Syr for god mercy suffre not that I sette hande vpon you For if I should let my selfe for to be slayne by you I wexe well a myschauÌ„t Vassayl sayd Charlemayne these wordes auaileth you not for ye muste needes defende yourself And thaÌ„ Charlemayne smote hym with Ioyuse his swerde vpoÌ„ his helme and the stroke slided downe vpon the sheelde of Reinawde so that he kytted quyte and clene a great parte therof WhaÌ„ Reinawde felt so greate a stroke that kynge Charlemayne had gyueÌ„ hym he was sore an angred for it He vaunced hym selfe foorth and caught the kyng with bothe his armes by the backe by the waste in maner of wrastelynge For he wolde not smyte hym with his swerde flaÌ„berge and tooke layd him vpon the necke of his horse baiard for to haue brought hym with hym to Mountawban without any other harme And whan Charlemayne sawe that he was haÌ„deled of this fation he began to crye as lowde as he myghte Mountioye saynt Denys and than he sayd ha fayre nenew Rowlande where be you Oliuer of vyenne and ye duke Naymes and bysshop Turpyn shall ye suffre that I be thus taken and brought as a prysoners and if ye doo so it shal be a great shame to you al Reynawde began thaÌ„ to crye Mountawban as hyghe as he coulde whan he heard Charlemayne speake so And after he sayd ha my brethern and ye cosyn Mawgis come hyther and let vs goe for I haue gyuen the kyng suche a checke that if we canne now brynge him with vs wee shall haue peace in FrauÌ„ce froÌ„ hens forth on Than the noble peres of FrauÌ„ce as Rowland Oliuer the other cam to the succours of Charlemayne and of that other parte came there for to helpe Reynawde his bretherne and Mawgis wel foure huÌ„dred knightes well armed And whan the valyaunt knightes were assembled together of bothe partyes ye should than haue seen a merueylous batayle For they slewe eche other as beastes and there were so many speres broken and so manye sheeldes clouen and hewed into peeces and so manâ— helmes vnbuckled and so manye a quiras broken and perced and so many horses that drewe after theyr guttes a longe in the feeldes and so manye a man slayne that it was pytie for to see And whan Rowland was come to the meddle he wente vpon Reynawde and gaue him so great a stroke vpon his helme
swearde wolde haue slayne the Emperour Charlemayne but Reynawde drew him a syde And the duke Naymes and Ogyer sayde than vnto hym Rycharde Richarde refrayne your courage For it were not wel doone for to kyll a man that slepeth And also afore that we shal departe hence we shall set all at one and God wyll ¶ Shortelye for to speake Olyuer and the Duke Naymes spake so fayre vnto Rycharde that they made him promise them that he should doo no harme to the Kynge Charlemayne Neuerthelesse Rycharde left not to make great sorow for his cosyn Mawgys that he had lost For al them that saw him make so great mone had pitie for to se him It was no meruayle if Richarde made sorowe for Mawgis For I promise you he had greate need of hym not longe after And so had all his brethern as ye shall heare heere after ALl thus as the foure sonnes of Aymon made theyr moue for the loue of theyr cosin Mawgis The duke Nymes began to speake sayde in this wise By god lordes ye doo not wel for to make so great sorowe I pray you leue this heuynes And let vs begyn to speake of your peace that muste be made with the Emperour Charlemayn that an ende maye be hadde of thys warre that hath endured so longe By god sayd Rowlande ye be passynge slow therupon And also we muste fyrste haue his mercy or euer we moue any thing of the peace For ye wot wel that I left him bycause that peace should be made Syr sayd the duke Naymes ye speake wysely and well but howe shal we speake wyth hym wythout Mawgys were heere we cannot awake hym And but yf god remedyeth it we shal neuer speke wyth him But al thus as the barons spake in thys wyse The charme that Mawgys had set vpon Charlemayne was come at an ende and the strength of it was passed And sodenly Charlemaine began to moue hys body and arose anon vpon his feete and right sore abasshed looked al aboute him And whan he saw that he was at moūtawban in the subieccion of Reynawd the sonne of Aymon he was sore an angred and made suche sorowe for it so that al they that were there trowed that he had ben mad and from hymselfe And whā his wittes were come agayne he knew wel that Mawgys had doone it vnto hym sware that as longe as he were manne on liue he should make no peace tyl that he were out of Mountawban and that men had brought Mawgys to hym And whā Rycharde vnderstode this that Charlemayne sayd he began to saye in this wyse Howe the deuill dare ye thus speake syr ye see well that ye be our prysoner And yet ye thretē vs. I make to god mine a vowe and to Saynte Peter were not that I haue promysed that I shal not doo to you no harme at this tyme I should strike the head from the bodye of you Holde your pease sayd Reynawde let the kynge Charlemayne saye his wyll ye are ouer besy in your wordes And let vs all pray hym that he wyll pardon vs. For the warre hath lasted to longe cursed be he that began it For great euyles and harmes the whiche are happed therby REynawde was wyse and wel taught for to stylle thus hys brethern to whome he said My lordes my brethern yf it please you ye shal come with me for to cry mercy vnto our souerayne lorde the Emperour Charlemayne Reynawde said Alarde we shall doo all that ye wyl By mi faith said the duke Naimes My lordes ye doo ryght wisely and I promyse you that all good shall come to you therof Than Reynawd and all hys brethren and Rowland and Oliuer and Ogyer the Dane the duke Naymes the bisshop Turpin and Escoufe the sonne of Oedō began all for to fall on theyr knees before the emperour And Reinawde spake fyrste and sayd in this maner of wise Noble Emperour haue mercy of vs for I and my brethern wee yeeld vs to you to doo your pleasure of vs your will be so that our lyues ben saued there is nothinge but that we will doo it for the loue of you if it please you to graunt vs peace with you And for that piti pardon that God gaue vnto Mary Magdelene whan she wasshed hys feete in the house of Simeon good syr haue pity of vs. And yf it please you not for to pardon me at the least pardon my brethern And take them agayne theyr landes and I shal gyue you Mountawbā and Bayarde my good horse And so shall I goe into the holy lāde I Mawgis where we shal serue to the Temple of our Lorde And whan the kinge Charlemain heard Reynawde speake thus he blastred all for angre and sayd by that good lorde that made me yf all the worlde speake to me therof yet should I neuer cosēt me to no peace but I haue Mawgys in my handes for to doo my wyll vpon hym Alas sayd than Reynawde now haue I hearde that worde bytynge wherof I am al desperate For I should rather let my selfe be hanged thā that I should cōsente to the death of Mawgys my good cosyn For he hath not deserued towarde vs that we should betraye hym but rather he were worthy by reason for to be lorde aboue vs. Reynawde sayd thā Charlemaine thīke not thoughe I am your prysoner that ye shall make me doo anye thynge agaynst my wyll syr sayd Reynawd wyte it that myne entente is for to meke my self toward you for I haue leuer that we suffre wronge of you than ye of vs now tell me syr how I shall delyuer you Mawgys that is our life hope sucours our comfort sheeld our spere and also our swerde our brede our wyne and our flesshe also our refute our mayster our guyde and our defence in all places wherby syr I tell you that yf ye had all my brethern in your pryson and that ye should make them to be hanged and that Mawgys were with in my power and with me yet wold I not yeelde hym vnto you for to quyte wythall my brethern And also I swere you vpon my fayth that I wot not where that he is gone god wot it Ha sayd the Emperour charlemayne goddes curse haue he for I am sure he is heere within you he is not sayd Reynawde I take it vpon my baptysme And than Reynawde turned himself toward Rowlande and all the other barons and sayd to them Lordes I beseche you for God that it wyll please you for to pray our souerayne lorde the kinge that he wyll haue mercye of me and of my bretherne to the ende the peace maye be had in Fraunce yf it please hym And than Naymes that was kneelinge vpon his knees and that heard that Reynawde had sayd and wyste well that he spake but well sayde to the Emperour in this wise Syr I pray you that ye wyll not be dyspleased of that I shall tell you ye know
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
had of his brethern of his wife and of his men wyt it that whan they saw him bring so much vitailes they swouned al for ioye to the earth and whan Reinawd saw this he wende they had ben dead for hungre So began he to make great sorow and not without a cause and while that Reinawde sorowed and made great mone his brethern began to come again to theymselfe his wife and also hys two children And whan Reinawd saw them al vpon their feet he was glad and presented to them meat for them and for hys folke and they thaÌ„ made great Ioy and eate their fill at theyr ease And whan they had eaten well they went to slepe excepte Reynawde that wolde keep watche hym self And on the morne whan the day was come they rose went to heare masse and after the masse was doon they fell to their meate againe and eat al that was left ouer euyn of that Reinawde had broughte and whan the next night was come Aimon that coulde not forget his children made his stuarde to come before him and sayde to him ye know how I haue forsworn my children wherof I am sori that euer I did so But it is said that ar the need the frend is knowen I let you wit that my children been yonder within in great pouertye and misease and howe be it that I haue forsworn theÌ„ I oughte nor maye not faile them we haue three engyines that Charlemain hath made me doo make for to hurt my children wherof we haue domaged them as muche as we might nowe must we helpe them after their domage And I shall tell you see that ye put within the engynes bread and flesh both salt freshe in great plenty in stead of stones and let this be cast in to the castell for yf I shoulde die my selfe for hungre I shall not fayle theym as longe as I haue wherof to helpe them and also I repent me full sore of the harm that I haue doon to them for al the world ought to blame me therof with good ryghte and we been in the wronge Syr saide the stuarde ye saye well For ye haue doone so muche ayenste them that al the worlde blameth you therof but incontinente I shall doo your commaundement And than the stuard went and made the three engins to be filled with vittailles and after he bad the gouerner to cast theÌ„ in to Mountawban And ye muste wyt that many of the hoste blamed Aymon sore that he made hys engynes to be caste ayenst hys chyldren for they wende it had be stones and whan the nighte was passed that Reinawd was vp he went heere and there within the castel found foison of vittailes that his father had cast wherof he was right glad and sayde Good lorde blessed be you now see I wel that they that haue their trust in you can not fare amis than he called his brethern his wife his childreÌ„ said My bretherne ye see howe our father hath pity of vs. And then he made the vittailles to be gathered vp and put in a sure place and so thei eate therof at their ease for they had well great need therof for they were so sore an hungred that it was greate pitie And wyt it that Aymon made easte so muche vytayll within MouÌ„tawban that they of within had ynoughe for thre monethes with good gouernaunce NOw must we vnderstond that Charlemain had some knowlege howe the olde duke Aimon had giuen vittailes to his childreÌ„ wherof he was sore an angred made Aimon to come incontinente afore him sayd to hym Aymon who maketh thee so bolde to giue any mâ—at to min enemies mortal I know wel al thy wyles thou mayst not excuse thiself but by the faythe that I owe to God I shall auenge me so well or nyght that if I may ye shal leese your heade for it Sir said the duke Aimon I wil not denie it for I tell you truely if ye should make me dye or be brente in a fyre I will not fayle my chyldren as longe as I maye helpe them For my children be no theues traytours nor no murderers but they been the most valiaunt knightes of the world the truest ween not you to slea my children in suche maner ye haue to longe wrought your foly yf it wolde suffise you whan Charlemayne heard Aymon speake thus he was angrye with it for great wrath he loked as fire Almost he smote Aimon whaÌ„ the duke Naimes saw this he auauÌ„ced him forth said Sir sende home Aimon for ye haue kepte hym heere to loÌ„g ye ought well to vnderstande that Aymon wil not see his children to be dystroyed and therfore ye ought not to blame him nor smite him after that Charlemayne hearde the duke Naimes speake he sayd to him Naimes syth that ye haue iudged it ye shall not be gaynsayd than he turned him towarde the duke Aymon sayde to hym Now goe forth out of myn hoste for ye haue doon me more domage than profyte sir said the duke Aimon I shal gladly doo your coÌ„maundemente And anon he went lighted on horsebacke and after said to the peeres of fraunce Lordes I pray you al that ye wil haue my children for recommeÌ„ded for they beÌ„ com of your bloude let the king see well to for yf he make my children to dye by such great vengeaunce as he hath sayd if I shoulde become a sarasyn dwel in Affryque al the dayes of my lyfe I shal stryke of his head for none other gage I wyll not take And whan Aimon had said thus he went out of thost into fraunce to his countrye wel heuy bicause that he left his children in so great pouerty Charlemayne that sawe Aymon goe thus quite and that he hadde garnyshed Mountawban of vitaylles he was full angrye for it So studyed he vpon this a longe whyle And whan he had studyed longe ynoughe he was so sory that none myght be more sorier and returned hym selfe towarde hys Barons and sayde Lordes I commaund you that ye breake al our engynes For by theym I haue myssed to haue the castell of Mountawban And incontinente the Barons made breake the engines as the king had commaunded And by all thus Reinawd abode a long while in good peace but their vittailles began sore to mynyshe And whan Reinawde sawe that he was sory and began to complayne in himselfe saide good lorde what shal I doo I knowe that at longe rennynge we shall not mow holde and so shall Charlemain haue no mercye of vs but he shall make vs die Alas Mawgis where be you For if ye were with vs we shoulde doubte nothinge nor I shoulde not suffre this great distres that I haue All thus as Reinawde complained hymselfe than came Alard that was so feble that with payne he mighte stande vpon his feete and sayde to Reynawd Reinawde for the loue of god
me And thus departed Mawgys from the marchauntes went hys way so muche that he ouertooke the theeues and sayd to them Lordes God saue you I pray you tell me whye ye take a way the goods from these marchauntes ye know well that it is not yours wherfore I pray you let theÌ„ haue agayne theyr goodes and their marchauÌ„dise god shall conne you thanke Whan the theeues heard mawgis speake to them thus they were angry for it And behelde vpon mawgis from ouer the shoulder as he had be a Sarasyn Thenne spake the Mayster of the Theeues and sayde thê° to Mawgys Go away horeson or els I shall gyue thee suche a stroke with my foote that I shall brest the hert within thy bely And whan Mawgis heard this and knew that the theues feared nother god nor hys mother he was ryght an angred heued vp his palmers stafe smote the mayster theefe with al vpon his head so stronglye that he caste hym downe dead to the grouÌ„de And whaÌ„ the other theues saw their mayster dead they ranne all to Mawgys to haue killed hym but Mawgys areched them so with his stâ—ffe that he slew fiue of them within a litle while and than the other tweyne began to flee away through the wood And whan Mawgys saw that they forsooke the place he folowed them not but cryed vpon them Ha false theeues turne agayn for to deliuer your thefte where ye tooke it And whan the Marchauntes hearde Mawgys crye thus they came incontinent towarde hym and they found that the theues that had robbed theym were dead And than they sayd the one to the other heere is a good Pylgrym I ween it is my lorde saynt Martin ANd whan the marchauntes saw this that Mawgys had doone they were right glad of it So came they towarde Mawgys and kneeled before hym and cryed mercy of that they had said to him Lordes sayd Mawgys yf ye gaue me greate wordes so dyd the theeues muche more For they called me rybaude truant and horeson but they haue bought it rigâ—t deere as ye may see I am right sory that two of them are scaped from me Stande vp thaÌ„ take with you your goodes agayn and god be with you but I pray you tell me or ye go yf ye wot not where is Charlemayne Syr sayd the marchauntes we wot wel that Charlemaine hath taken MouÌ„tawban but we promyse you he hath not yet taken none of the foure sonnes of Aymon for they were gone out with their folke through a caue vnder the erth that they found vnder the walles of the Castel vnto the Citie of Ardeyn where as they ben now And Charlemayne hath layde there his syege afore them will not make no peace with Reynawde nor wyth his brethern Certes sayd Mawgys I am sory for theÌ„ for they ben good knightes and true Whan Mawgis vnder stoode that Charlemayne had besyeged Reynawde within Ardeyn he coÌ„mended the marchauntes to God tooke his way towarde Ardeyn and so muche he went that he came into the hoste of Charlemayne and went streyght towarde the Citie made semblaunt to be sore feble for he weÌ„t lenynge vpon his staffe And whan the folke of the kynge Charlemayne sawe Mawgys goe thus they looked sore vpoÌ„ him and sayd th one to the other that pilgrim is lyke for to goe ferre he cannot stande vpon his feete By my othe sayd another it might well be Mawgis that is so dysguysed for to dysceyue vs. It is not so said the other Mawgis is not aliue And while that thei deuised thus together Mawgys came neere to the wicket of the gate and founde the meanes that he gat in anon And whan he was within Ardeyn he weÌ„t vnto the Palays Where he founde Reynawde and the duchesse his wife and bothe theyr children Aymonet and Yonnet and their vncles his cosins with a great meyny of noble knightes that were all at theyr meate Whan Mawgis had looked a while vpon them he lened agaynst a piller that was in the middes of the halle afore Reynawde Than began he to looke agayne vpon his fayre cosyns that he loued so muche aboue all thinge of the worlde And whan the Marshall of the halle saw Mawgys wening to him that it had be a poore heremite he commaunded that he should be serued of his dinner for Goddes sake And whan Mawgis sawe the meat that was brought him he said my lordes I beseche you for the loue of God that it wil please you for to bringe me some browne bread and water in a trene disshe and thus I shal be serued as vnto me apperteyneth For I dare not take none other meat And whan the stewarde of Reynawde saw that he made him anon to be brought al that he wolde haue Than tooke Mawgys the browne bread and made soppes in water eate of it with a good appetite And whan that Reynawde sawe thys poore man afore him that liued so poorely and was so lene and so pale he had of him great pitie So tooke he a dishe that was before him that was full of venyson and sent it to hym bi a squier of his that presented it to hym sayinge thus holde good man the duke sendeth you this god yelde him sayd Mawgys and than he tooke and set the dysshe afore hym but he eat nothing of it And whan Reynawde sawe that he was greatlye meruailed said to hiÌ„ self god who is that good man that liueth so hard a life if he were not so leue I should say that it were my good cosin mawgys but a nother thing sheweth me that it is not he For he wolde not hyde hymselfe from me in no wyse REynawde behelde stil Mawgys so muche that he left his mete for to looke vpoÌ„ him And whaÌ„ the tables were taken vp that euery man had eaten at his ease they went to their warde for to defende the towne as they were wonte for to doo in theyr harneys And whaÌ„ Reynawde sawe that euerye man was gone and that there was no body with in the halle for whome he wolde leue for to say hys will he went to mawgys and sayd to hym good heremite I pray you for the reuerence of that God that ye serue that ye tell me yf ye be Mawgys or no for ye are well lyke him WhaÌ„ Mawgys heard Reinawd speake thus to hym he could hide himselfe no lenger and sayd al on hye Cosyn I am Mawgys wythout doubt I am com to see you and I am glad that I see you and also al your brethern in good plight And whan Reynawde vnderstoode that it was his cosin that he loued moste of all the men in the worlde that had kept him diuese times from perill and daunger he had not ben so glad yf men had gyuen him the half of al the worlde So wente he and kissed him more than a hundred tymes and after he said to him in this maner Fayre cosyn I pray
they left Charlemayne bycause he wolde not make peace And howe he sent worde to them that they should come to hym agayne And he should make peace with Reynawde IN this party sheweth that the kyng Charlemayne was at the syege of Ardeyn sore an angred that he myght not know howe Rychard of Normandy dyd So sent he for all hys Barons for to come to hym And whan they were come in his pauillion he sayd to them thus Lordes I see wel that it goeth now yll with me bycause I see that Reynawde hath not sent me agayne Richarde of Normandy and he might well haue delyuerd hym free quite and haue sende hym vnto me for all the harmes that he hath doone to me Vncle sayde Rowlande I merueyll greatly of that ye saye ye shew wel to vs that ye be wythout counsell By the fayth that I owe to you ye shal neuer see Richarde of Normandye but yf ye pardon Reynawde his brethern diuerse times he hath meked himselfe vnto you and hath be alwayes redy to fulfyll your plesure ye wyll not take hym to your grace be not than merueyled if Reinawde shewe nowe some dispite agaynst you For and ye consider wel the great curtesie that he hath doone vnto you namely whan he had you at his will within mountawban that he delyuered you and suffred you goe quite and free fro him at your liberti ye should doo for him otherwyse than ye doo but syth that Reynawde seeth that he may not finde no mercy in you he wyll not leese his curtesye but he shall doo the worste that he can as ye maye well perceyue experience of it euery day for he dōmageth vs dayly and keepeth his prisoner the best knyght that yee had that is Richarde the duke of normandy the whych I weene be dead by thys time Neuew sayd the kinge Charlemayne I promyse you that Reynawde hath not put hī to death but he kepeth hym wel at his ease with great honoure syr said than the duke Naymes Syth that the wordes ben come to this I must tel you my mynde Syr yf Reynawde beareth you dommage ye cānot blame hym for it For he hath prayed you so many times humbly that ye wold haue mercy on him and ye wolde neuer heare hym but ye haue alwayes shewed your selfe the moste proude kynge of the worlde agaynst hym the moste angry and ye wyll beleue no counsell and so I tell you if Reinawd hath not made to dye Richard of Normandy he is the kyndest mā of the worlde But I beleue better that he is dead than otherwyse for no man heere can tell whether he be dead or a liue WHan the kyng Charlemayne heard the Duke Naymes speke thus he knew wel that he tolde hym trouth So began he to syghe sore and to these wordes came forthe the Bysshop Turpin Ogyer the dane that sayd in this maner Sir wyt it verely that Naymes telleth you trouth For Reynawde hath a good cause to be angrye wyth you And whan Charlemayne heard his barōs speke thus he was all abasshed of it And called the duke Naimes the bisshop Turpyn Ogier the Dane Escouf the sonne of Oedon sayde to them Lordes I pray you goe to Ardeine tel Reynawde in my behalf that he wil sende me Richarde of Normandy And whan he hath doone so that he thā deliuer Mawgys into my handes for to doo my wyll of hym And then he shall haue peace wyth me al the dayes of my lyfe Deere syr sayde the duke Naymes ye sende vs for nought For I wot wel the Mawgis is gone from Reynawde it is three yeres passed and more And yf that Reynawde wolde delyuer him he may not For he knoweth not him selfe where he is Naymes sayd the king Charlemayne yee shall at leste heare what Reynawde shal say vnto you and ye shall also know how Richarde of Normādi dooth Syr sayd the duke Naymes syth that it pleaseth you that I shall goe I am well contente but I pray our Lorde that we maye returne agayne whole and sounde of our persones without to be dyshonoured whan the barons saw that kinge Charlemayne wolde that they should goe to Ardeyne for to doo his messager they durste not saye there agaynst And so they wēt thether anon and eche of them bare in his hande a braunche of an oliue tree in tooken of peace And whan they came vnto the gate they founde it open for them For Reynawde had seen thē come from ferre Wherfore he commaunded that the wicket should be open And whan the barons saw the litle gate open they went into the towne and cam to the Palays And whan Reynawde wyst that they were come within the palays he wēt and layde hymselfe downe vpon a bedde wyth hys legges crossed and sware God and his blessed mother that he should not praye the kinge Charlemayne of nothing For he had doon him to great harme for throughe the kynge Charlemayn he had loste his good cosyn Mawgis and Moūtawban that he loued so muche This hanginge came there the messagers of the king Charlemaine afore Reynawde Whan the Duke Naymes that was the formest saw Reynawde he saluted him honourably And after he sayd to hym Syr Reynawde the kinge sendeth you worde by vs that ye sende hym agayne Richarde the duke of Normandy And more ouer he sendeth you worde that yf ye wyll delyuer him Mawgys ye shal haue peace with him al the dayes of his lyfe And he shall deliuer you agayne all your landes And he shal keep bothe your childrē in his court with him and he shall make them knightes with his owne handes My Lordes sayde Reynawde ye be ryght welcome to me as the knightes of the worlde that I ought to loue best But I meruayle me greatly of Charlemaine that sendeth me these wordes for eueri man knoweth wel that I haue not Mawgys But by him I haue lost hym And wolde to god that I had heere Charlemayn as wel as I haue Rycharde of Normādye And yf he wolde not graunt me peace with him I promise you he should leaue his head for a pledge So should I be than auenged of all the great harmes dommages that he hath doone to me syth that I haue be made knight of him lordes I wēd that Charlemayne had be more curtoys then he is For if I had wyll that he wolde haue ben so fell vpon me and my brethern I should well auenged it vpon him But it is to late to repente me that I did not so wherfore that ye voyde out of my Palays and goe tell your king that I haue not Mawgys but I haue loste hym for him and also yf I had him he should not haue him And bicause I haue thus loste my good cosyn Mawgys for hym I shal make to morow Richarde the duke of Normandy to be hanged vpon the chefe gate of this Citie in the dispite of him for no lenger respite
to the ende that no medlyng falle not vpō vs let vs abide tyll tyme come y◠we may auenge vs therof THis hanging Aimonet saw that he had smiten Constās a dead woūde so was he ryght glad of it by god brother ye haue doone yll that ye haue slayne this false traytour for I wolde haue slayne hym wyth myne owne handes but syth ye haue brought it so ferre make an ende of hym at ones and I shall goe slea Rohars Brother sayde Aymonet ye speake wel now go slea the one and I the other for thus ought men to doo wyth traytours Thā ran the two brethern vpon theyr enemies that laye on the groūd that is to wyt vpon Constans to whom he sayd al on hye bycause all they that looked vpō should heare it Tell me Constans false traytoure why dyd ye call my father of treason Withstandynge that men know wel that he is one of the truest knightes of the worlde And that he slew your father in his bodye defendynge Where as your father had purchased for to haue slayne hym by treasō Now tell me your falshode and confesse your treason afore the kyng or els I shal now cut your throte Aymonet sayd Constans for god haue merci on me For I yeelde me to you and than he tooke him his swerde And whā Aymonet had the swerde of the said constās he tooke him vp brought him afore the kynge Charlemayne to whome he said Syr holde this traitour doo with him as reason requireth and whan Charlemayne sawe this he was glad of it and said to Aymonet freende ye haue doone well your deuoyr I can no more aske of you And wit it that whan the other is vaynquisshed I shall make theym bothe to be hanged Syr sayd Aymonet doo your wyl wyth them And whan he had sayde so he went agayn to his brother Yōnet for to helpe him holdynge his swearde in his hande all bloudy with the bloud of Constans and sayd to Rohars by God false traytour ye shal dye heere anon and wolde haue smyten hym but Yonnet that sawe that sayd to his brother Fayre brother slea him not nor touche hī but goe your way and test your self for I wyll conquere him by my selfe as ye haue doone yours brother sayde Aymonet ye say yll for it was ordeyned that we should eche helpe other and whan Yonnet saw that his brother wolde needes helpe agaynst his wyll he sayde to hym Fayre brother I make mine avowe to god if ye touche Rohars I shal neuer loue you brother sayde Aymonet ye saye not well but I shal forbere me sith it please you so but I promise you if I see you in daunger I shall help you if ye should slea me brother sayd yonnet I wyl wel than Aymonet wtdrew him a litle abacke and than ranne yonnet vpon Rohars that rose vp agayne for to defende hymselfe than gaue yonnet to hym so great a stroke vpon the shoulder that the arme with the shoulder bone fell clene of to the grounde and his swerde withal whan yonnet had giuen that stroke he put his swerde agayn into the sheeth sayd to Rohars the false traytour that must now confesse with thine owne mouth that Reynawde my father is no traytour but he is one of the truest knightes of the worlde and yf thou wylt not doo so thou shalt die incōtinent And whan he had sayd so he tooke Rohars by the helme and pulled him to hym warde so harde that he drew it fro his head and begā for to smite him with the pomell of hys swerde vpon the bare head And whā Rohars saw that he was so shrewdlye handled he began for to crye sayd good lorde haue mercy vpō mi soule for I know well that it is doone wyth my body And whā Constans heard his brother say so he began to weepe for he coulde none other doo And whā yonnet sawe that Rohars wolde not forsake that he had sayd nor wolde not cry him mercy he smote him with hys owne swerde so hard that he tooke awaye the one legge from the body of him And than he put his foote vpon him and said Now anon false traytour confesse your falshode or els ye ben now dead to the whiche thynge Rohars answered not And whan yonnet saw that he smote hym the head of Whan Aymonet sawe that hys brother yonnet had slayne Rohars he was ryght glad of it and went to hym and sayde Brother ye haue doone valiaūtly lorde gramercy that ye haue slayne so this traytour the two brethern tooke eche other by the hande and went to charlemayne to whome Aymonet sayd in thys wyse Syr like it you that wee haue doone for we be redi for to doo muche more for you yf ye cōmaūde vs. Fayre sonnes said Charlemayn ye need not for to doo more For ye haue doone ynoughe for Constans is ouercomen Rohars dead Now go rest your self and see that ye haue good leches for your woundes And I promyse you that I shal doo with the traytours as it aperteineth and than Charlemayne commaunded that Constans should be hanged and the body of his brother by him whan the king had giuen this commaundement Constans was anon taken and the body of his brother were drawen at horses tayles before all theyr lygnage and than were hanged as they had well deserued whā they were hāged Charlemayne said Lordes wyt that I wolde not for a great thyng that it went otherwise wyt it that whan Guanellon sawe hange the sonnes of Foulques that were his neuewes he was sore an angred for it that he almost had lost hys witte Than called he Hardres Berenger Malger that wyll more falshode than Lucifer Henry of Lion Pygnabell Geffray men that neuer dyd good and sayde to theym Lordes ye see howe Charlemayne hath doone to vs great dyshonour for he hath doone hange our kinsmē shamefully but we shall see yet the day that this shame shal be auenged he sayd trouth the traytour For he be trayed afterwarde the .xii. Peeres of Fraunce and made them all die at the batayle of Rounceuales AFter these thīges aboue said Reinawde of Mountawbā saw that his childrē had vainequisshed the children of Foulques he was right glad of it thanked much our lorde god therof than he and his brethern went to them and asked howe they dyd father sayde the children we doo ryght well lorde gramercy Than Alarde Guicharde behelde theyr woundes wherof they were glad This hāging came there charlemayne and the children came hym agaynst kneeled afore hī thā charmayne asked them children how is it with you be ye sore wounded Syr sayd the children it is well with vs thanked be our lorde you we shal soone be whole Than the kyng sēt for al the leches sayd to them that they should looke the woundes of Aymonet of Yonnet the whyche thyng they did wtout any taryeng after they sayd to the
stroke that the traytour had gyuen hym he set his armes in maner of a crosse vpon his brest and sayd in this maner O good lorde Iesu Chryst haue mercye on my soule and wyll pardon them that hath brought me to my death and whan he had sayd these wordes the soule departed out of the bodye And whan the traytour had thus slayne Reynawde they put hym in to a great sacke that they had ordeyned therfore and than they laded the cart wherin they brought the stones with the body of hym and so caryed hym into the ryuer of Ryne wherin they cast him whā they had doone so they laded the carte with stones brought them to the church worke as they were wont to doo as they were by the way they met the mayster mason that sayd to thē By my fayth galantes I con you now thāke for ye mende your selfe For ye haue doone great diligence syth dyner that ye haue laden so many stones and that ye ben so ferre wyth them to the worke warde Mayster sayd the traytours mocke not wyth vs so but go to your purse and giue vs some drynkyng money SOre meruayled was the mayster of that he saw his labourers more dilygent than they were accustumed Than the labourers began to say to the mayster of the worke by maner of a mocke where is that great lurden that he helpeth not now I holde hym gone without leue by cause he might not labour no lēger for we heard say that he should neuer ceasse tyll he had founde hys wyfe agayne And whan the mayster mason heard that he was sory and said to them agayne By my fayth I beleue that ye haue chased hym away but I promyse you yf I can wyt that ye haue doone so it were better for you that ye were at Iherusalē Mayster sayd the labourers ye may well say to vs what ye wyll but we dyd neuer say ought to him that shoulde displease hym And whan the noble Reynawde was thus caste into the ryuer of Ryne by the labourers of the churche of saynt Peter ye must wyt that he went not to the botome of the water but went harde aboue the water a longe the streme And at that our Lorde shewed for hym a fayre myracle For all the fysshe of the ryuer gathered them aboute the corps and by the strength of the fisshes it was taried and went no ferther with the streme by the wyll of our lorde And the great fysshes put theymself vnder hym and bare hym vpon the water so that he apered to euery mans syght And there the fisshes bare him so vp vnto night And whan the night was come apered aboute the corps a great quantytie of torches by the vertue of our lorde aungelles that songe there so melodyously that they that heard it wolde neuer haue gone fro it And to saye trouth there was so greate lyght aboute the corps that all they that sawe it wende that all the water of the Ryne had be a fyre And whan the folke of the citie saw so great a miracle they ran all thyther bothe men and women and children And also the archebisshop of saynt Peter we◠thyther with al his college in a fayre processyon syngyng by great deuocion and taryed vpon the Ryne for they durste not goe no ferther and they saw the fisshes that bare vp the Corps aboue the water And whan they that were there saw that they were abasshed meruayled greatlye what it might be and began to saye the one to the other God what mai he be for whome our lorde sheweth so fayre a myracle Lordes sayd the archbysshop I shall tell you as myne auyse giueth me Wyt it that it is the bodye of some saynt that our Lorde wyll haue worshypped that is come heere from som where whiche God wyl not that he be lost nor drowned in the water See ye not how the fisshes holde hym aboue the water by the vertue of our lorde Than the bisshop commaunded that men should go see what it was and anon folke went there with botes they founde that it was the great man that was one of the labourers with the masons in the churche of saynt Peter And whā the mayster of the worke sawe this he was greatly abasshed and went to them that had slayne hym sayd to them in thys maner of wyse Ye horesons false traytours ye haue slayne the good man say ye the trouth for if ye deny it I shal proue it vpon you And whan the labourers heard the maister mason speke thus they begā to crye and sayd By God mayster we haue doone it without doubt for enuy that we had at hym And therfore let vs be drowned hāged or drawen or what iustice ye wyll For we haue well deserued for to be punysshed And whan the archebysshop hearde the traytours speake so he began for to weepe ful tenderly and al his colege also And the archebisshop was counselled that he should let go the murderers at theyr auenture for to do penaunce for theyr sinnes the whiche thynge the archebysshop dyd wyth a good wyll Than was the body of Reynawde brought to lande and was put vpon a carte for to beare hym to the church wher as he was had worshypfully wyth fayre procession And whan the corps was in the church the archebysshop made him redy for to syng the masse by great deuocion And whan that the seruice was doone the archebysshop wolde haue gone a processyon with the corps aboute the churche commaunded foure lordes that were there that they should bere the corps And than the barons wolde haue doone hys commaundement but whan they came therto they coulde not moue the corps by no strength that they could put therto Sore meruayled were the barons whan they saw that and sayd vnto eche other Now may we well knowe that we be not worthy for to touche this holy corps For we be wicked synners wherfore let vs go for to shriue vs put our selfe in good estate And while that they spake thus together the corps rose vp of hym selfe and was borne no man knoweth howe out of the churche into the carte whiche anon moued and went his wayes streyght out of the citie wherof they were al greatly meruayled and whan the carte was out of Coleyne he went a pace all the hye waye And whan the people saw that they begā all to wepe bycause the corps wolde not abyde Than sayd the archebysshop vnto them Syrs now may ye well see that this is a holy corps by the great myracles that our Lorde sheweth by him now and al this day afore vs all Wherfore let vs goe after him for to worship him For it were not very well doone for to let hym go thus alone My lorde sayd the people ye say wel than al the clergie and al the comyn people litle and great that myght go folowed the corps And ye ought to wit that in all the citie