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

¶ Of the answer of Roulland to the Emperour sodeynlye and' what it was: capitulo iiij

Whan themperour Charles had spoken thus curtoysly vnto his neuewe Rolland̛, Folyly & wythoute reason Rolland̛ answerd̛ hym thus: "Fayr vncle, speke neuer to me therof, For I had̛ leuer that ye were confused̛ and̛ dysmembred̛ than I shold take armes [col. 2] or hors for to Iuste lyke as ye say. For on the last day that we were so nyghe taken of the paynyms, that is to say of moo than fyfty thousand̛, we yonge knyghtes bare the burthen and suffred̛ many mortal strokes, of whych olyuer my felowe is quasi hurt vnto the deth. ["quasi hurt, &c.:" hurt almost to the death.] For yf ye had̛ not be socoured̛ of vs the hole destructyon had̛ been of vs and thende: & whan we repayred and were in our lodgys for to take reste at euen, whan ye were wel dronken ye maad̛ auaunte openlye that the olde and̛ auncyent knyghtes whyche ye had̛ brouȝt wyth you for to ayde vs had̛ moche better borne them in the fayt of armes and had more stronge bataylle than the yonge knyghtes. ¶ And euery man knoweth wel how I was that euenyng̛ assembled̛ and̛ wery of trauaylle that I took in that day. And̛ by my faders soule that was euyll sayd̛ of you. ¶ And̛ now it sℏal be knowen how the olde & auncyent knyghtes sℏal

bere them, for by god whyche ought to haue al in his subjectyon there is noo yonge man in my companye that euer sℏal be in my fauour and̛ loue yf he take vpon hym to Iuste ageynst the Paynym." Also sone as Roulland̛ had̛ spoken that worde Themperour hys vncle hauyng moche Indignacion therat [sign. C ij] smote hym thwarte the vysage wyth hys ryght gauntelet [Ed. ganntetet.] that hys nose breste a blood̛ habundauntly of the stroke. Thenne Roulland̛ in a grete furye sette honde on hys swerde whan he sawe hys blood̛, and̛ had̛ smeton hys vncle yf he had̛ not be lette by them that were presente. And̛ whan Charles sawe thentencyon of Roulland̛ he was meruayllously abasshed̛ & sayd̛: "O god̛ of heuen, who wold haue thought that I sℏold̛ haue had̛ vylonye of Rolland̛ my neuew whyche been knytte to-gyder in one fayth ayenst our aduersaryes? And̛ he cometh rennyng̛ agenst me wyth affectyon mortal—He that is moost nexte of my blood̛ and lignage that here is present, And̛ that more sonner sℏold̛ socoure me than ony other! ¶ Now I beseche God̛ that on the crosse suffred̛ passyon that this day he be punysshed as he is worthy." And̛ this said in a grete furour he comaunded̛ the frensshe men & sayd̛ to them anone: "take ye hym, for I sℏall neuer ete tyl he be delyuerd̛ to deth." Whan the frensshe men vnderstood̛ the commaundement of Charles for to haue accomplyssℏed̛ it that one loked̛ vpon that other for to see who wold̛ sette fyrst honde vpon hym. And whan Roulland̛ sawe the fayt he withdrewe hym a litel a-parte [col. 2] wyth hys swerde in hys honde, cryeng̛ with an hyghe voys and sayeng̛ to theym: "yf ye be wyse holde you stylle, For I make a-vowe to god̛ that yf ony of you moeue to come to me I sℏal make of hys heed̛ two partes." wherfore there was not one that durst ne that was soo hardy to meue ageynst hym in malyce but were ryght sory & euyll contente of theyr debate. and there

vpon the noble Ogier came swetelye to Roulland̛ and̛ sayd̛ to hym: "Syr Roulland̛, me semeth ye doo not wel for to angre thus your vncle the emperour, whom by reason ye ought aboue alle other to loue and̛ defende & also supporte." Roulland̛ answerd̛, whyche thenne was refrayned̛ of hys Ire: "Syr Ogyer, I promyse you for a lytel fayt I was determyned̛ to a grete oultrage wythoute aduys and̛ enclyned, wherof now I am sory and me repenteth."