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

¶ The second' partye of the first book conteyneth fyue chapytres, and' speketh of the begynnyng' of kyng' Pepyn And' Charlemayn hys sone.

¶ How Pepyn by his prudence was chosen kyng' of Fraunce when the lygnage of kyng cloys faylled' in successyon: ca. j

The book precedent maketh mencyon of kyng̛ Cloys the fyrst crysten kynge of the lordes of Fraunce of whome the lygnage succeded̛ from heyre to heyres vnto the foure and̛ twenty kyng, whych was the kyng̛ Pepyn of another lygnage. And̛ the Kynge whyche was the xxiij after the kyng Cloys and of his lignage was named hildricus, the which [sign. B j, back] kyng̛ deuoute & contemplatyf wythoute cure to excersyse thoffyce royal of a kynge put hym self in relygyon for to lede a solytarye lyf. ["put hym self in relygyon:" that is, became a recluse, devoted himself to religion: Fr. se mist en religion.] ¶ In that tyme was Pepyn moche valyaunt of hys persone and̛ moche noble prynce. And̛ by cause that alle the kynges of fraunce haue succeded̛ of thys sayd̛ Pepyn, and in especial charlemayn his sone vpon whome this werke is comprysed̛, I wyl here begynne to treate the mater the whyche I entende superfycially to speke of, And̛ lyke as the book whyche is called myrrour hystoryal compryseth. That Pepyn the prynce on a tyme sente hys messagers to Rome to the Pope Zacharye for to haue answer vpon a demaunde, That is to wete, "whether is he more worthy to be a

kyng or to be said a kyng wℏiche for pees and̛ parfyght vnyon taketh on hym grete payne & trauaylle, or ellys he that retcheth of noo thynge and̛ is abandonned̛ and̛ gyuen to all slouth and̛ is onely contente to haue the name onely of kyng̛?" Whan the pope had̛ herde thys demaunde he remaunded̛ to Pepyn that he by ryght reason and̛ veray equyte ought to be called̛ a kyng that gouerneth and̛ ruleth hys fayt for the comyn wele & contynueth it. For whyche ansuer & demaunde the Frensshe men by counceyl [Ed. ceunceyl.] [col. 2.] approuued̛ consydered theyr kyng̛ hyldrycus professed̛ in a monasterye in lyf solytarye and̛ contemplatyf, (And that not wythstondyng̛ ought not to be ony thyng ayenst them that lyuen solytaryly,) how wel a kyng̛ ought not to be solytarye, For suche as is the Kyng̛ suche is the Royame. ¶ For salamon sayth, yf the kyng̛ be neclygent the peple wote not what to doo, And blessyd is the londe that hath a prynce noble. Alle the frensshe men beyng̛ wel enformed̛ of the condycions apperteynyng̛ to a kynge after an auctour that sayth thus: ¶ "The Prynce whan he is ordeyned̛ ought not to haue horses superfluous ne make his peple more subgette than they ought to be, and̛ ought not to take but seruauntes propyre [Ed. propyce.] and̛ necessarye wythoute superfluyte, and̛ not to nourysshe ouer many houndes ne other beestes vnprouffytable but take them in mesure. ¶ And̛ he sℏold̛ eschewe multyplycacyon of mynstrellys, Tabouryns, commyn wymmen, lecherous men. ¶ And he sℏold not corrupte hys subgettes by euyl exaumple. He sℏold̛ not breke hys espousaylles, he sℏold̛ gladly rede in bookes & sℏold̛ haue by hym peple wel letterd̛, And̛ shold̛ Iuge wythoute fauour. ¶ And tofore al thynges [sign. B ij.] he sℏold̛ adoure & serue god̛: he sℏold̛ not gladly take yeftes, & ought not gladly to chaunge hys offycers."

Alle thys thynge wel seen emonge them for the conseruacion of the people emonge the myscreauntes which were at that tyme, they wente and̛ chosen for to be kyng̛ of Fraunce the noble Pepyn, and̛ fro that tyme forthon the lygnage of kyng cloys regned̛ nomore vpon the frensshe men. And̛ he was consecrate by saynt Boneface, And̛ by thauctoryte apostolyque & by Saynt Stephen Pope with his ij sones Charlemayn & charles [ Ed. repeats and charles.] the grete was confermed̛ and̛ approuued and̛ ordeyned̛ all the kynges of fraunce in grete benedyction to succede fro lygnage to lygnage moost nexte. And̛ the said pope gaf ℏis maledyction to al them that were opposaunts and ayenst these thynges aforesayd̛. ¶ Thenne after this noble kyng Pepyn made grete warre to the englysshe men. And̛ after the guyse Romayn he ordeyned̛ the seruyce in the chyrches of fraunce and̛ many other maters meruayllous wherof thonour is attry-buted̛ by good ryght to hym by vyctorye obteyned̛, and was buryed̛ in the chyrche of Saynt Denys in Fraunce. And̛ lefte hys heyres hys two sones afore sayd̛ whome he had̛ goten on the noble quene berte, doughter [col. 2] of the grete Herclyn Cezar, of whome the lignage of romayns of germayns and̛ of the grekes haue had̛ concurrence. wherfore by good ryght in tyme folowyng̛ the kyng̛ Charles was chosen and̛ maad̛ Emperour of Rome. And̛ the sayd̛ kynge Pepyn regned xviij yere in prosperyte dygne of saluacyon, and after that the broder of the sayd Charles had̛ regned̛ in his partye of the royame ij yere he deyed̛, And̛ thenne after alle the gouernement hoolly of the royame of fraunce abode to the sayd charles as here-after sℏalle be more playnly sℏewed̛.

¶ Of kyng Charles after that he had' maad' many constytucyons wyth the Pope Adryan,

& how he was emperour of Rome: capitulo ij

This noble Charlemayn, otherwyse called̛ Charles the grete, the whiche for the gretenes of hys body, puyssaunce, and̛ opperacions virtuouses by merite is called grete as I haue sayd̛, whyche after the deth of hys brother was [Ed. he was.] onely kyng of Fraunce. A lytel whyle after that the Pope [sign. B ij, back] adryan regned & dyd grete dyligence to strengthe & corobere the crysten fayth in annullyng the heresyes and̛ constytutyng ymages for representacyon of sayntes in chyrches. And̛ to many other labours merytoryes adioyned̛ in the seruyce of god̛ & of holy chyrche The kyng charles ayenst the myscreauntes taryed̛ not to confounde them but had vyctorye of them in dyuers [Ed. dyners.] maners, & the pope adryan, whyche was wel enformed̛ that thys Charles was a stronge pyler of the chyrche and protectour of the fayth, sente for hym that he sℏold come to Rome. And̛ whan he came to pauye there he taryed̛ & sette hys syege and̛ soiourned̛ a lytel tyme, And̛ after wyth a fewe of hys people departed & came to rome. And there he was receyued̛ affectuously and vysyted̛ many places deuoutelye. And̛ after whan he retorned he took pauye, And̛ whan he had̛ all doon his playsyr he retorned to Rome. And̛ wyth the Pope adryan he assembled many bysshoppes and̛ abbottes to the nombre of an hondred̛ & liij where they ordeyned̛ many constytucyons vpon the fayt of the vnyuersal chyrche. And in that synode for the grete holynes of charles The pope and al thassystentes gaf hym power for to ordeyne bisshoppes & archebisshops [col. 2] in al his contrees and prouynces. And̛ al them that so sℏal be ordeyned̛ he shal conferme and the rebellys that sℏall gaynsaye them he sℏal curse and̛ theyr goodes be confysked̛. This

noble charles wyth hys two sones, that one named̛ Pepyn & that other lowys, And the xij pyeres of fraunce, whyche al had̛ promysed fydelyte one to that other for to Ieoparde theyr lyf for the crysten fayth. In that tyme many mortal warres duryng̛ the lyf of kyng̛ Pepyn & of charles and̛ after that the royame of lombardye was destroyed and delyuerd̛ of the myscreauntes, And̛ maad̛ pees not wythoute grete trauayll for to come from fraunce in to lombardye by cause of the daungerous countre. whan alle thys was termyned̛ to hys playsyr he reduced̛ alle ytalye vnder the trybute of the royame of Fraunce. In suche wyse that whan ytalye was thus destroyed he went to Rome for to gyue thankynges and̛ laude to god̛ moche deuoutelye for vyctorye that he had̛ and̛ for execusyon doon vpon the enemyes of the fayth. And̛ there with the pope Adryan he maad̛ many constytucyons whyche by ryȝt equyte ought wel to be obserued̛. And after he beyng̛ thus in Rome vyctoryous hys sone Pepyn was ordeyned & consecrate kyng [sign. B iij.] of the ytalyens, And̛ hys sone lowys was ordeyned̛ and̛ consecrate kyng̛ vpon guyan. thys doon the Romayns whyche of grete ancyaunte were of grete apporte after that the emperour was by them put to deth Constantyn his sone wold haue regned̛ for themperour, whyche was not wel in the fauour of the senatours and̛ other Romayns; the whyche beyng in this poynte, after that they had̛ taken delyberacyon of grete counceyl, seeyng̛ the grete valure and̛ noblesse of kyng̛ Charles, whyche was so parfyght in alle noblesse hardynesse, prudence, & other vertnes as I sℏalle touche herafter alle playne, that by consente of eueryche he was chosen emperour of Rome wyth grete loange & exaltacyon of Ioye Innumerable, And̛ by the honde of Pope Leo he was crowned̛ emperour with alle honoures that myght be comprysed̛. And̛ al wyth one

voys gaf to hym laude and̛ honour, And̛ called̛ hym Cezar & August by a symylytude of valure in contemplacyon of grete playsyr that they had maad̛ hym kyng̛ of ytalyens.

¶ Of the corpulence of kynge Charles, and' of the maner of hys lyung': capitulo iij

[col. 2.]

Charlemayn Kynge of Fraunce after that he was Emperour he dyd̛ many meruayllous werkes and̛ regned̛ emperour thyrtene yere, And̛ had̛ thenne regned̛ vpon the frensshe men xxxiij yere. And̛ in the contrye ["contrye:" Fr. pais.] of Rome he edyfyed̛ many cytees and restored̛ good̛ townes & many other thynges whyche may not well be recounted̛ by cause of his merueyllous werkes. Neuertheles for to knowe what man he was his werkes wytnessen: as moche as toucheth thexcercyte of hys persone Turpyn the holy man archebysshop of Raynes whych lyued̛ that tyme and̛ was oft tymes in the companye of kyng̛ Charles sayth that he was a man wel faryng̛ of hys body & grete of persone and̛ had̛ hys syght and̛ regarde fyers & malycyous. ¶ The lengthe of hys persone conteyned eyght feet after the mesure of his feet, which were merueyllously long; fatte, and̛ massyf was he of his sℏoldres and̛ raynes wythoute hauyng the bely otherwise than wel a poynte. ["wel a poynte:" Fr. bien a pointe. ] The armes and̛ thyes he had̛ ample and̛ large: he was a subtyl knyght & ryght wyse actyf and moche fyers, and of alle hys membres he was of ryght grete strengthe. he had the face deduyte in lengthe and hys berde was a foot longe: [sign. B iij, back.] he had̛ hys nose reysed̛ vpon a roundnes: A fayr regarde and̛ countenaunce had̛ thys man: he had the face of a large fote brode; he had the eyen like a lyon sparklyng̛ lyke a cole by furyous regarde, his wynbrowes grete. Assone as he byhelde a man in angre eche man had̛ of hym fere and̛ drede in openyng̛

his eyen. The gyrdle of whyche he was gyrde was viij fote longe wyth-oute that that henge doun fro the bokle to the pendaunt. whan he took hys repaast he was contente wyth lytel brede, but as touchyng the pytaunce ["as touchyng the pytaunce:" as regards his share at dinner: Fr. quant a la pitance.] he ete at his repaast a quarter of moton, or ij hennes, or a grete ghoos, or a grete pestel of porke, or a pecok, or a crane, or an hare all hool: he dranke wyn sobrely wyth a lytel water therin. Of hys strengthe is not a lytel thynge to speke of, For he wold̛ smyte a knyght armed̛ wyth one stroke of a swerde and cleue hym from the coppe of the hede doun to the sadel. And̛ yf he had̛ bytwene hys handes iiij hors sℏoen [ "iij hors shoen:" the Fr. original adds, venans de la forge.] wyth oute ouermoche prouyng̛ hys myght he wold̛ ryȝt them oute and̛ breke them in pyeces. And̛ more ouer wyth one hande he wold̛ take a knyght al armed̛ and̛ lyfte hym vp to the heyght of hys breste lyghtly. And̛ he had̛ in hym thre thynges moche honourable: Fyrst, in yeftes yeuyng [col. 2] he was ryght large, lyke vnto Tytus themperour sone of Vaspasianus, which was so prodygal that it was not possyble to hym to gyue that whyche he promysed̛. And̛ whan it was demaunded̛ why he promysed̛ thynge that he myght not gyue, forthwyth he answerd̛ that a persone ought not departe fro a prynce desolate ne heuy, nor with-oute to obteyne somme thynge. Secondly, Charles was so sure in Iugement that no man coude reprehende hym, and̛ also he was pyetous & mercyful vnto cristen men after the qualyte of the persone & the occasyon of the trespaas. And̛, thyrdly, in his wordes he was moche wel aduysed̛: whan he spake he thought strongely on that he sayd̛ & whan one spake to hym he remembred the manere for to compryse thentencyon of the spekar.

¶ To what thynge kyng Charles hys sone and hys doughters were Instructe and' taughte to doo: capitulo iiij

Dame bertrode moder of Charles ful of grete seyence in grete prosperyte of lyf and̛ in honour wexed̛ olde and̛ fynysshed̛ hyr dayes, and̛ ordeyned̛ bookes for to excersyse the artes lyberalle. ¶ Of [sign. B iiij] whome fyrst charles took gladly payne for to estudye, And̛ in the tyme of Infancye he maad̛ scyence to be taught to hys sones and doughters, and after whan they knewe their byleue he made them to studye in the seuen artes lyberal. And̛ whan the sones were of age for to ryde on horsback after the guyse of Fraunce he made them to bere armes and to Iuste for texcersyse the warre whan it sℏold̛ be nede, and whan they dyd̛ not that he made them to hunte al maner wylde beestes and̛ dyd̛ them to do other esbatements longyng̛ to chyualry contynuelly. After this he made his doughters to spynne & sowe and̛ to occupye them in other honourable werkes to thende that by ydlenes and slouthe & faute of occupacyon they sℏold̛ not haue occasyon to falle in thouȝt dysordynate for to haue Inclynacyon to synne and̛ vyce. and whan he was not occupyed̛ in maters of charge and̛ weyghty he wold̛ employe his tyme in wrytyng̛ somme newe thynge to thende that he wold̛ not be ydle, accordyng̛ to the pystle of saynt poule, whiche admonesteth vs to do alwaye somme good̛, by cause þat our enemye the fende holde vs not in ydlenes for to folowe his entencyon dampnable. And he dyd do make in his palays in Acon in Almayn a [col. 2] chyrche of our lady comprysed̛ of meruayllous beaute & moche rychely ordeyned̛, and̛ wrought, and̛ in grete honour enhaunced in sygne of a parfyght crysten man. For after that one loueth the

lord̛ and̛ that is gyuen to hym ["to hym:" we should here insert "he doeth," according to the reading of the French original, on fait.] the werkes desirous to meue other to doo to the lord̛ lyke as hym self and̛ in lyke wyse sℏold perseuere in the amplyfycacyon of hys contreye that sythe the deth of hys fader Pepyn he doubled by puyssaunce in the royame of fraunce.

¶ Of thestudye of kyng charles, of hys lyuyng', of hys charytable werkes, and' other maters: capitulo v.

After that Charles was Instructe in gramayre & other scyences morall & speculatyf, alwaye he contynued in them: And̛ by ardaunt desyre frequented̛ ["frequented̛:" constantly studied: Fr. frequentoit.] the bookes composed vpon the crysten fayth for to be protectour and̛ defendour of the chyrche, the whyche he vysyted̛ on mornynges and̛ on euenes & in the nyght oftymes. and̛ at good festes he faylled not to doo gretely hys deuoyr in sacrifyses & oblacions: And also gaf largely almesse for the loue of god, and̛ was alway redy to socour the poure people in the largest wyse. For he socoured not onely [sign. B iiij, back] the poure folke of his owne contreye with his hauoyr & goodes but in many other places beyonde the see he sente golde & syluer and̛ vytayll after the necessyte of the place: as in surrye, in egypt, in affrique, in Iherusalem, & other contreyes: as he that sayd̛: "gold̛ and̛ syluer is not myn." To euery man he desyred̛ amytye and̛ pees. Of body he was moche ample & boystous ["moche ample & boystous:" Fr. moult ample et robuste.] of stature well apparysaunt, the coppe of hys heed̛ rounde, the heeres in grete reuerence, & the vysage Ioyous. he had̛ the voys clere & of grete force, & at his souper he ete not for the moost parte sauf rosted̛ veneson, ["he ete not for the moost parte, &c.:" Fr. ne mengoit pour le plus que de quatre metz, si non de la venoison rostie.] whyche aboue alle other flesshe he loued̛ and̛ vsed at his souper. Alwaye he loued redars for to rede cronycles or other thynges contemplatyues, as he that wold as wel fede the soule whiche is perpetuel of spyrituel fode, for to

mayntene it in vnyon of grace toward̛ god̛ his maker, as of refeccyon of the body for to conserue the lyf, And emonge al other bookes he delyted strongely in the bookes of saint austyn, especyally in that whyche is named de ciuitate dei. & he dranke not ouer ofte, For at souper he dranke not but thre tymes. In somer tyme gladly after mydday he wold̛ ete a lytel fruyt & drynke ones & wold goo reste hym al naked̛ in his bedde two [col. 2] or thre houres. In the nyght he brake his slepe foure or v tymes and̛ walked̛ in hys chambre. Thus Charles perseuerd [Ed. preseuerd.] in felicyte ryal and̛ emperyal, & sente oueral thorugh hys empyre hys messagers and̛ grete counceyllours [Ed. counceylllours.] for to vysyte hys prouynces and̛ good̛ townes, for to be enformed̛ of the gouernours of them for to do to eueriche Iustyce and̛ reson; and̛ made many constytucyons & lawes accordyng̛ to the places, and̛ commaunded̛ them to be obserued̛ and̛ kepte vpon grete payne. Semblably the sayd̛ Charles sente thorugh al the world for to knowe ouer al the gouernement, That is to wete, for to knowe the meruayllous faytes that were doon in the world, And also for to lerne the lyf of sayntes of whom the festes were halowed̛ and made of them bookes for tabyde in eternal memorye. & euery day he dyd̛ doo put in wrytyng̛ that whyche he dyd̛, In suche maner that after the wrytyng̛ that he thenne fonde Were founde more than thre hondred̛ festes of sayntes one tyme of the yere, wherfor he excersycyng his spyrituel werkes he was byloued̛ & dere reputed̛ of euery body. In that tyme Aaron the kyng̛ of perce for the magnyfycence of charles sente to hym an Olyphaunt merueyllously grete for a synguler [sign. B v] yefte and̛ many other thynges precyouses. ¶ Thys Charles for hys grete holynesse and̛ noblesse was in suche renommee of honour and̛ of vertues. On a tyme

aaron the kyng̛ of Perse sente to hym emonge other yeftes the bodyes of saynt Cypryan and̛ of saynt speratus and̛ the heed̛ of saynt Panthaleon marters in to Fraunce.