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

¶ How the patryarke of Iherusalem sente to Charles for socours after that he was deiecte and' caste oute of the Turkes: capitulo primo.

It is redde that in the tyme that charles was emperour of rome the patryarke of Iherusalem was soo oppressyd̛ of the paynyms by mortall warre that vnnethe he myght saue hym self. And thus whan he knewe nomore what to do He had̛ in remembraunce the noble charles and̛ he beyng̛ enformed̛ of hys holynes, for socour he sente to ℏym the keyes of the holy sepulcre of our lord Ihesu Cryst of Caluarye and of the [col. 2] cyte, And̛ wyth that he sente to hym the standart of the fayth as to the pyler of crystente and̛ defendour of holy chyrche. After thys the patryarke came to constantynoble vnto themperour constantyn and̛ to hys sone Leo & brought wyth ℏym Iohan of naples preste and̛ another whyche named̛ hym self Dauyd archeprest, whome themperour Constantyn sent incontynent to charles, And̛ wyth them tweyne he ordeyned̛ for to goo wyth them two other whycℏe were named̛ ysaac and̛ Samuel, & delyuerd to them a lettre wryton with his owne hande for to bere to charles. And̛ the sayd̛ Constantyn had̛ wryton in one parte of the lettre thus: "On a nyght me semed that I sawe tofore my bedde a

yonge woman moche fayre stondyng̛ ryght vp, whyche touched me softly and̛ sayd̛ to me with swete wordes: 'Constantyn, whan thou knewest thaffayre & doyng of the paynyms whyche holden the holy londe by grete affectyon, thou hast prayed̛ god̛ for to haue helpe. lo! what thou sℏalte doo. Pourchace that thou mayst haue wyth the charles the grete kyng̛ of the gallyens, whych is protectour of holy crystente and̛ defendour of holy chyrche.' And̛ after the same lady sℏewed̛ me a knyght armed̛ in al his body and̛ spores on hys heles, & had̛ [sign. B v, back] ℏys shelde rede, gyrde wyth hys swerde, & had̛ his sleue of purple, & helde a spere moche grete, And̛ the heed̛ of yron wℏyche was on hye caste in to the ayer grete flambes of fyre: & he helde in his honde a bacynet al of golde sℏynyng̛ and̛ he was auncient, wyth a longe berde, ryght fayre of vysage and̛ longe of body: he had̛ eyen sℏynyng as ij sterres, and̛ hys heerys began to wexe whyte, and̛ after was wryton: 'O thou August that neuer refusest the comandements of god, enioye the in Ihesu Cryst, & in thy mynde alwaye yelde to hym thankynges: be enclosed in Iustyce ["be enclosed in Iustyce:" Fr. soies enclos en iustéce.] lyke as thou hast be reclamed̛ in honour. Ihesu Cryste gyue the grace to perseuere [Ed. preseuere.] and̛ kepe alwaye the commandements, of god̛ as thou oughtest to doo fermerly.'" And̛ as it is wryton themperour Constantyn in hys tyme had̛ deiected the paynyms oute of Iherusalem seuen tymes, wherfore whan he myȝt nomore he sente his messagers to kyng̛ Charles Whyche at that tyme was at parys. And̛ whan the messagers had̛ presented the letters and̛ he had̛ seen them he began to wepe moche greuously in contemplacyon of pyte of the holy sepulcre of our lord̛ so holden of the paynyms. After this he sente for tharchebysshop Turpyn and̛ maad̛ hym to preche [col. 2] openlye the pyteous tydynges whyche were thenne presentlye comen,

the whyche wel herde and vnderstood̛ the peple alle generally were enclyned̛ to goo thyder