Lyf of the noble and Crysten prynce, Charles the Grete / translated from the French by William Caxton and printed by him 1485 ; edited from the unique copy in the British Museum by Sidney J.H. Herrtage
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Title
Lyf of the noble and Crysten prynce, Charles the Grete / translated from the French by William Caxton and printed by him 1485 ; edited from the unique copy in the British Museum by Sidney J.H. Herrtage
Editor
Caxton, William, ca. 1422-1491., Herrtage, Sidney J. H. (Sidney John Hervon)
Publication
London: Oxford University Press
1880-1881
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"Lyf of the noble and Crysten prynce, Charles the Grete / translated from the French by William Caxton and printed by him 1485 ; edited from the unique copy in the British Museum by Sidney J.H. Herrtage." In the digital collection Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/CharlesG. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 9, 2025.
Pages
[sign. A iij.]
¶ Here begynnen the chapytres & tytles of this book folowyng̛ nombred for to fynde the more lyghtly the mater therin comprised̛.
¶ Here begynneth the first book whyche conteyneth thre partyes by the chapytres folowyng declared.
¶ The fyrst partye of the fyrst book conteyneth v chapytres & speketh of the begynnyng̛ of fraunce and̛ of kyng̛ Cloys.
Of the kynges of fraunce paynyms vnto kyng̛ cloys the first crysten kyng̛: capitulo primo
How kyng̛ cloys beyng a paynym had̛ to wyf clotildis doughter of the kyng of bourgoyne & meruayllously: capitulo ij
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How the kyng was admonested of the quene clotildis affectuously that he shold byleue in the cristen fayth & other maters: ca. iij
How kyng Clois was vyctorious on his enemyes by-cause he byleued in Ihesu Cryst: ca. iiij
How the kyng was baptysed by saynt remyge, & in his baptesme was brought by myracle the holy ampulle by an aungel fro heuen wyth whyche all kynges of fraunce ben enoynted̛ at Raynes: capitulo. v.
¶ The second̛ partye of the book conteyneth v chapytres & speketh fyrst of kyng̛ pepyn & of Charlemayn hys sone.
How Pepyn by hys prudence [col. 2] was chosen kyng of fraunce whan the lygne of Cloys faylled̛ in sucession: capitulo primo
Of kyng Charles whyche made many constytucyons wyth the pope Adryan and̛ how he was made emperour of Rome: ca. ij
Of the corpulence of kyng cnarles and̛ of the manere of his lyuyng: capitulo iij
To whome the kyng̛ Charles & his chyldren sones & doughters were dedyed̛: capitulo iiij
Of the studye of kyng Charles, & hys lyuyng̛ and̛ charytable werkes, and̛ other maters: ca. v
¶ The thyrd̛ partye of the fyrst book conteyneth iij chapytres, & telleth how by deuyne reuelacyon Charles delyuerd̛ the holy londe from the hondes of the hethen and̛ myscreauntes, and conteyneth thre chapytres.
How the patryarcke of Iherusalem sente to charles that he shold gyue to hym socours after that he was caste oute by the turkes: capitulo primo
How Charles with a grete companye went for to conquere the holy londe & other maters: ca. ij
Of the relyques whyche themperour Charles brought fro constantynoble & fro the holy londe, & of myracles there doon: ca. iij
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¶ Here begynneth the ij book whyche conteyneth thre partyes by chapytres ensyewyng declared.
¶ The first partye of the second [sign. A iij, back] book conteyneth xvj chapytres and̛ speketh of the bataylle bytwene Olyuer and̛ Fyerabras, a meruayllous gyaunt.
¶ How in a place named Mormyonde Charles ensyewed̛ his warre ayenst the paynyms, after a lytel of the prologe: ca. primo
Of fyerabras how he came to exercyte charles: capitulo ij
How Rychard̛ of Normondye sayd to themperour what maner man was Fyerabras: capitulo iij
The answer of Rolland to themperour ouer sodeynly: ca. iiij
How kyng charles & Rolland̛ ben reprysed̛ by thauctour & excused̛ somwhat vpon the debate aforsayd̛: capitulo v
How Olyuer was dysposed̛ to fight ayenst fyerabras notwythstondyng̛ that he was hurt: ca. vj
How Olyuer was requyred by hys fader that he shold not fyȝt with the geaunt, but for al that he went forth: capitulo vij
How Olyuer spake fyrst to fyerabras, whych set no thyng̛ by hym, with other desputacions. viij
How after many dysputacions olyuer ayded fyerabras to arme hym, and of the ix meruayllus swerdes, & how Olyuer named̛ hym self by his propre name: ca. ix
How Olyuer & fyerabras began to fyght, and̛ of the prayer of Charles for Olyuer, and̛ other maters: capitulo x
How Olyuer made hys prayer [col. 2] to god whan he felte hym hurte: Capitulo xj
How after a grete bataylle Olyuer gate the bame & dranke at his ease, & how he dyd whan his hors was slayn: capitulo xij
How fyerabras & olyuer fouȝt togyder on fote meruayllously,
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& the prayer that charles maad̛ for Olyuer: capitulo xiij
How at this bataylle fyerabras was vaynquysshed̛ by Olyuer after that he had recouerd one of the swerdes of Fyerabras. ca. xiiij
How Fyerabras beyng̛ vaynquysshed̛ byleued̛ in god̛, and̛ how he was borne by Olyuer, & how Olyuer was assayled of the sarasyns & tormented: ca. xv
How Olyuer was taken & hys eyen blynfeld̛ pyetously, whicℏ coude not be socoured by the frensshe men: capitulo xvj
¶ The second̛ partye of the ij book conteyneth xvij chapytres, & speketh of the torment of the barons of fraunce & how they that were not taken went for to speke to ballant thadmyral.
¶ How fyerabras was founde by Charles and̛ after baptysed̛ & heled of his woundes: ca. j
How Olyuer and̛ hys felowes were presented to ballant thadmyral and̛ cruelly passyoned̛ by pryson: capitulo ij
Of the pryson where the frensshe men were lodged̛ and̛ how they were vysyted̛ by fayr Florypes, [sign. A iiii.] doughter of thadmyral, & of the beaulte of hyr: capitulo [Ed. tapitulo.] iij
How the frensshe men were had̛ oute of pryson and̛ vysyted by the fayr floripes, & of the beaute of hyr chambre: capitulo iiij
How kyng charles sent to ballant thadmyral vij peres of fraunce, whyche wold̛ not gladly haue goon thyder: capitulo v
How thadmyral sent xv kynges sarasyns to charles to haue ageyn Fyerabras, the whyche were recounted̛ by the peres of fraunce & put to deth: ca. vj
Of the meruayllous brydge of mantryble, of the tribute that must be there payed̛ for the passage, & how with fayr wordes the frensshe men passed̛ ouer. ca. vij
How the barons cam & spake to thadmyral, and̛ what message they made to hym: capitulo viij
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How by the moyen of Floripes al the frensshemen were saued & lodged̛ to-gyder & knowen by her, & resonned & of the reliques shewed̛ to them, & other maters: capitulo ix
How lucafer, neuewe of thadmyral, vyolently entred̛ in to the chambre & after was slayne by duc naymes in blowyng̛ of the cole: capitulo x
How by the counceyl of floripes the frenssh men dyslodged̛ thadmyral fro his paleys strongely by grete bataylle, & how by enchauntement a gyrdel was taken [col. 2] fro his doughter: capitulo xj
How the barons were assyeged̛ in that toure with floripes and her maydens whiche suffred grete hungre, & how the goddes were by them confounded: ca. xij
How the peres of fraunce came oute of the toure, & what grete batayll they made in which they mette & recountred xx sommyers with vytaylle: capitulo xiij
How guy of burgoyne was taken with the sarasyns, beten vylaynously & examyned of ballant thadmyral, & the complayntes that floripes made for hym, & other maters: capitulo xiiij
How the paynems had purposed̛ to haue hanged guy of burgoyn, seyng̛ the crysten men, whyche socoured̛ hym puyssantly. ca. xv
How the peres of fraunce tofore sayd̛ were purueyed̛ of vytayl, & after restored, & after assyeged, & fouȝt with the paynyms xvj
How the toure was brente & a quarter fyl doun by enchauntment, & how the frensshe men were in grete peryl of deth & restored by assault that they made vpon the paynyms: capitulo xvij
Here begynneth the thyrd̛ parte of the second book the which conteyneth xvj chapytres & speketh how the barons of fraunce [Ed. frauuce.] made to them socours, and̛ the paynems confused̛ & destroyed̛.
Of the mocyon of the peres of fraunce for to sende
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and̛ sℏewe [sign. A iiij, bk.] theyr affayres vnto kyng Charles, & how rychard̛ of Normondye was ordeyned̛ for to goo to hym: capitulo primo
How after that Rychard was departed̛ the kyng̛ claryon, the ryght puyssaunt kyng, rode after hym, the whiche was slayn by the sayd̛ rychard̛ valyauntly, & other maters: capitulo ij
How the hors of rychard̛ cam & retorned̛ thrugh thexcersyte of thadmyral & was seen & knowen of the peres of fraunce, in so moche that they supposed̛ he had ben deed̛, & how the brydge of mantryble was kept: ca. iij
How rychard̛ of Normandye passed̛ the ryuer of flagot by myracle by the meane of a whyte herte: capitulo iiij
How Charles was in purpoos for to haue retorned̛ wythoute goyng̛ ony ferther, by the counceyl of the traytre ganellon & other his felowes: ca. v
How after the complaynte of Charles rychard̛ of normandye came to hym, which recounted the grete necessytees of the peres of fraunce & in what fere they were in: capitulo vj
How by the moyen & counceyl of rychard̛ of Normandye with iij other barons the stronge brydge of mantryble was wonne, not wythoute payne, & what manere man was galafre: ca. vij
How by force of mortalyte & of batayll Charles entred into mantryble [col. 2] after that Galafre was deed̛, not-with-stondyng that alorge the traytre was contrarye to hym, & many other maters. ca. viij
How amyot the geantesse wyth an huge grete sythe dyd gretely hyr deuoyr ayenst the cristen men, & how hyr ij sones were baptysed̛, & of ballant thadmyral whan he knewe the tydynges: ca. ix
How the peres of fraunce were assayled̛ more
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strongely than euer they were, and how the toure was quasi smyten doun to the erthe & after recomforted by the holy relyques by them adoured̛, and̛ other maters: capitulo x
How the frenssh men in the toure had̛ tydynges of the hoost of Charles & thadmyral also, and how Ganellon bare hym meruayllously whan he was sent forth allone & what he dyd: ca. xj
How charles themperour ordeyned̛ x bataylles, & how they recountred̛ the bataylles of puyssaunce of Ballant thadmyral, where as themperour dyd̛ meruaylles, & other maters: ca. xij
How in this bataylle folowyng̛ Sortybrant the kyng was slayn by Reyner fader of Olyuer, and how afterward̛ thadmyral dyd meruaylles and grete ennoye to the frensshe men: capitulo xiij
How the peres of fraunce that were in the toure cam oute whan they sawe thoost of Charles, & how thadmyral was taken and holden prysoner: ca. xiiij
How ballant thadmyral for all the admonycion that was made to hym he wold̛ not be baptysed̛ but was slayn, & Floripes hys doughter was baptysed & after wedded̛ to guy of burgoyne, & guy crowned̛ kyng & she quene of that contre: capitulo xv
How Florypes gaf the reliques to themperour, & how they were assayed̛ & proued by myracle, & of the retournyng̛ of charles & the ende of this book: ca. xvj
¶ Here begynneth the iij book whiche conteyneth ij partyes by the chapytres folowyng declared.
¶ The first partye of the iij book conteyneth xiiij chapytres & speketh of the warres in spayne & of two grete geantes.
How saynt Iames appyered̛ to Charles, & how by the moyen & by the conduyte of the sterres he went in to Galice, & what citees he there subdued̛: ca. primo
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... [col. 2]
Of cytees goten in spayne by Charles, & how somme of theym were by hym cursed̛: capitulo ij
Of a grete ydolle whyche was in a cyte that myght not be beten doun, and̛ of the sygnes & condycyons therof: capitulo iij
Of the chyrche of saynt Iames in Galyce, & of other chyrches that he dyd̛ there do founde: ca. iiij
How after that Aygolant the geaunt had taken spayne & destroyed̛ and̛ put to deth the crysten men Charles recouerd̛ it, & other maters: capitulo v
How aygoland̛ sent to Charles that he sℏold feably come to hym with lytel peple to make Iuste warre, & how Charles in habyte dissimyled spake to hym, & other maters: capitulo vj
How charles accompanyed with moche peple retorned to the place forsaid & took the cite of agenne, & other maters: capitulo vij
Of the vertuous operacions that charles dyd whan he was retorned in to fraunce, & what barons he had̛ in his companye, and̛ of theyr puyssaunce: capitulo viij
Of the tryewes of charles & of aygolant & of the deth of his peple, & wherfore aygoland̛ was not baptysed: ca. ix ¶ Of the deth of aygolant & of his peple, & how moche people of the cristen men were dede by concupyscence of money, & the crysten founden dede by myracle: ca. x ¶ Of ferragus the meruayllous geant, how he bare awaye the barons of fraunce with out daunger, & how afterward rolland fouȝt ayenst hym: ca. xj
How on the morne rolland̛ and ferragus foughten to-gyder, and of their desputyng of their fayth, and̛ by what meane Ferragus was slayn by rolland: ca. xij
How Charles went to cordube where as the kyng of that place & of cibylle abode hym, & of their destructyon: ca. xiij
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How the chirche of saint James was halowed & sacred by turpin tharchebisshop, & thother chirches [sign. A v, bk.] of spayne subgettes to the same, & of ye pryncypal chyrches: ca. xiiij
¶ The second̛ partye of the iij book conteyneth x chapytres & speketh of the trayson doon and made by Ganellon & of the deth of the peres of fraunce.
How the trayson was comprysed̛ by Ganellon of the deth of the crysten men, & how ganellon is repreued̛ by thauctour: ca. j
Of the deth of kyng marsuryus, and̛ how Rolland̛ was hurte wyth foure speres mortally after that al his peple were slayn and̛ deed̛: capitulo ij
How Rolland̛ deyed̛ moche holyly after many maters & orysons made, and̛ prayed̛ to god̛ moche deuoutely, and of the complaynte made vpon hys swerde durandal: capitulo iij
Of the vysion of the deth of rolland̛ shewed̛ to tharchebysshop Turpyn, & of the sorowe of charles, & how he complayned hym pyteously, & other maters. iiij
How olyuer was founden slayn, and̛ of the deth of the sarasyns, & of the deth of ganellon whyche was hydous: capitulo v
How after the thynges aforesayd̛ Charles gaf thankynges and̛ preysynges to god̛ and̛ to Saynt Denys: And̛ of the constitucions that he made in fraunce: capitulo vj
How Charles wente into Almayn where as he deyed̛ holyly, [col. 2] and̛ of his deth shewed̛ to tharchebysshop Turpyn, and̛ of his buryeng̛ Imperyally: ca. vij
Of the recapitulacion of al this werke, and̛ of hys deth at acon, & of his sepulture: capitulo viij
Thexcusacyon of thauctour. ca. ix
Thenuoye of thauctour: ca. x
¶ Explicit
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