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

[sign. l vij, back, col. 2]

¶ The second' parte of the thyrd book conteyneth x chapytres, & speketh of the treason made by ganellon, and' of the deth of the pyeres of Fraunce.

¶ How the treason was comprysed' by Ganellon, and of the deth of crysten men, & how ganellon is repreuyd by thauctour: capitulo primo

In this tyme were in Cezarye two kynges sarasyns moche myghty, that one was named̛ marfurrius, and̛ that other bellegandus, his brother, whyche were sente by thadmyral of babylonne in to spayne, the whyche were vnder kynge Charles, & made to hym synge of loue and̛ of subgectyon, and went by hys commaundement holyly and vnder the sℏadowe of decepcyon. Themperour, seyng that they were not crysten, and for to gete seygnourye ouer them, he sente for ganellon, in whome he had̛ fyaunce, that they sℏold̛ doo baptyse them, or ellys that they shold̛ sende to hym trybute in sygne of fydelyte of their contre. Ganellon, the traytre, went thyder and̛ dyd̛ to them the message, and̛ after that he had with them many deceyuable wordes, they sente hym ageyn to charles wyth xxx hors laden with gold & syluer, wyth clothes of sylke, [sign. l viij] and̛ other rychesses, & iiij hondred hors laden with swetewyn, for to gyue to the men of Warre for to drynke; & also they sente, aboue thys, to them a thousand̛ fayr wymmen sarasyns, in grete poynte and̛ yonge of age: And al thys in sygne of loue and of obeyssaunce. and after they gaf to ganellon xx hors charged̛ wyth gold̛ and syluer, sylkes, and other precyosytees, that by hys moyen he shold̛ brynge in to theyr hondes the companye of charles yf he myght doo it.

Thenne ganellon was surprysed ["surprysed:" overcome, taken. Fr. surpris.] wyth thys fals auaryce, whych consumeth alle the swetenes of charyte that is in persones, for to haue gold̛ or syluer & other rychesses, & made a pacte and̛ couenaunte wyth the sarasyns for to betraye hys lord̛, hys neyghbours, & crysten brethern, & sware that he wold not faylle them of thenterpryse; but I merueylle moche of ganellon, which made thys treason, wythoute to haue [orig. hane.] cause coloured̛ ne Juste.

¶ O wycked̛ Ganellon, thou were comen of noblesse, & thou hast doon a werke vylaynnous: thou were ryche & a grete lord̛, and for money thou hast betrayed̛ thy mayster. Emonge alle other thou were chosen for to goo to y^e sarasyns for grete trust: emonge al the other, and for the fydelyte that was thought in [sign. l viij, col. 2] the, thou hast consented̛ to trayson, and̛ allone hast commysed̛ Infydelyte. Fro whens cometh thyn Inyquyte, but of a fals wylle plunged̛ in thabysme of auaryce? Thy naturel souerayn lord̛, Roulland̛, Olyuer, & the other, what haue they doon to the? yf thou haue a wycked hate ayenst one persone, wherfore consentest thou to destroye thynnocentes? was there noo persone that thou louedest whan to al crysten men thou hast ben traytre? was there ony reason in the, whan thou hast ben capytayn ayenst the fayth? what auayleth the prowesse that thou hast made in tyme passed, whan thyn ende sheweth that thou hast doo wyckednes? O fals auaryce, and̛ ardeur of concupiscence! he is not the fyrst that by the is comen to myscheyf. by the Adam was to god̛ dysobeysaunt, and̛ the noble cyte of Troye the graunde put to vttre ruyne and destructyon. Thus in thys manere ganellon brought gold̛ and̛ syluer, wyn, wymmen, and other rychesses, as tofore he had enterprysed̛. Whan charles sawe al this, he thought that al way doon in good̛ entent and̛ equyte and̛ wythout barat. The grete

lordes & knyghtes toke the wyn for them, and charles took onely the gold and syluer, & the moyen people took the hethen wymmen. Themperour [sign. l viij, back] gaf consente to the wordes of ganellon, For he spake moche wysely, and̛ wrought in suche wyse that charles and̛ alle hys hoost passed̛ the porte of Cezarye; for ganellon dyd hym to vnderstonde that the kynges aforesayd wold become crysten and̛ be baptysed̛, and̛ swere fydelyte to the emperour; And̛ anone sent his peple tofore, and̛ he came after in the ryere warde, & had̛ sente Roulland̛ & Olyuer & the moost specyal of hys subgettes wyth a thousand̛ fyghtyng̛ men, and̛ were in Rouncyuale. Thenne the kynges Marfuryus & Bellegandus, after the counceyl of ganellon, wyth fyfty thousand̛ sarasyns were hydde in a wode, abydyng & awaytyng the frenssh men, & there they abode ij dayes and̛ two nyghtys, & deuyded̛ theyr men in two partyes. In the first they put xx M sarasynz, and̛ in that other they put xxx thousand̛ sarasyns. ¶ In the vaunte garde of charles were xx thousand̛ crysten men, whyche anone were assaylled̛ wyth xx thousand̛ sarasyns, and̛ maad warre in suche wyse that they were constrayned to withdrawe them; For fro the mornyng vnto the houre of tyerce they seaced not to fyght and smyte on them, wherfore the crysten men were moche wery, and̛ had̛ nede to reste theym. Neuertheles, they [sign. l viij, back, col. 2] dronken wel of the good swete wyn of the sarasyns moche largely, And̛ after many of them that were dronke went & laye by the wymmen sarasynoys, & also wyth other that they had̛ brought oute of fraunce, wherfore the wylle of god was that they shold̛ al be dede, to thende that their martyrdom & passyon myght be the cause of theyr saucyon & purgyng of their synne. For anone after the thyrty thousand sarasyns cam that were in the second batayl vpon the frenssh men soo Impetuovsly

that they were al dede and̛ slayn, Except Roulland̛, bauldouyn, & Thyerry. The other were slayn and̛ dede with speres: somme slayn, somme rosted̛, and̛ other quartred̛, and submysed̛ to many tormentes. And whan thys dyscomfyture was doon, Ganellon was with charles, and also tharchebysshop Turpyn, whych knewe nothyng of this werke so sorouful, sauf onely the traytre, whyche supposed̛ that they alle had̛ be destroyed̛ and̛ put to deth. ¶ Of the languysshe that was comynge to Charles, he wyste not, how sone it was comyng̛.

¶ Of the deth of kyng Marfurius, and' how Roulland' was hurt wyth foure speres mortally after that al his peple were slayn: capitulo: ij

[sign. m j.]

The bataylle, as I haue sayd tofore, was moche sharpe. whan Rolland̛, whyche was moche wery, retorned̛ he recountred̛ in hys waye a sarasyn moche fyers & blacke as boylled̛ pytche, and̛ anone he took hym at thentre of a wode & bonde hym to a tree straytely, wythoute doyng̛ to hym ony more harme, and̛ after took and rode vpon an hylle for to see the hoost of the sarasyns, And̛ the crysten men that were fledde: & saw grete quantyte of paynyms. Wherfore anone he sowned̛ and̛ blewe his horne of yuorye moche lowde. And̛ wyth that noyse cam to hym an hundred crysten men wel arayed̛ and̛ habylled̛ wythoute moo. And̛ whan they were come to hym he retorned̛ to the sarasyn that was bounde to the tree, And̛ Roulland̛ helde hys swerd ouer hym, sayeng that he shold̛ deye, yf he shewed̛ to hym not clerely the kyng Marfuryus, & yf he so wold̛ do he shold not deye. The sarasyn was contente, and sware, that he shold gladly do it for to saue his lyf; & soo he brought hym wyth hym vnto

the place where they sawe the paynyms, and̛ shewed̛ to Rolland Whyche was the kyng, whyche rode vpon a rede hors, & other certeyn tokenes. And̛ in thys poynt Roulland̛, reconfermed in hys strengthe, trustyng̛ [sign. m j, col. 2] veryly in the myght of god and in the name of Ihesus, as a lyon entred̛ in to the bataylle, & emonge them he encountred a sarasyn whyche was gretter than ony of the other, & gaf to hym so grete a stroke wyth durandal vpon the hede that he clefte hym & hys hors in two partes, that the one parte went on one syde & that other on the other syde. wherfore the sarasyns were soo troubled̛ and̛ abasshed̛ of the myght and̛ puyssaunce of Rolland̛, that they alle fledde tofore hym, & thenne abode the kynge Marfuryus wyth a fewe folke. Thenne rolland sawe thys kyng̛, And wythoute fere came to hym and̛ put hym to deth Incontynent. And̛ alle the hondred̛ crysten men that were wyth Roulland̛ in thys recountre were dolorously slayn & put to deth, Except onely baulduyn and̛ Thyerry, whyche for fere fledde in to the wode. But after that Rolland̛ had̛ slayn kyng̛ Marfuryus he was sore oppressyd̛, & in suche wyse deteyned that wyth foure grete speres he was smyton and wounded mortally, & beten with stoones, and̛ hurte wyth dartes and̛ other shotte mortally. And not withstondyng these greuous hurte & woundes, yet, maulgre al the sarasyns, he sprange out of the bataylle, and̛ saued̛ hym self the best wyse he myght. [sign. m j, back] Bellegandus, broder of Marfuryus, doubtyng that helpe & ayde shold̛ come to the crysten people, retorned̛ in to another contreye [orig. coutreye.] , wyth hys peple moche hastely. And themperour Charles had̛ thenne passed̛ the montayne of Roncyuale, and knewe nothyng of these thynges afore sayd̛, ne what had̛ be doon.

¶ How Rolland deyed' holyly, after many martyres & orysons made to god ful deuoutely, & of the complaynte maad' for hys swerde durandal: capitulo iij

Rolland̛ the valyaunt, and champyon of the crysten fayth, was moche sorouful of the crysten men, by cause they had̛ noo socours; he was moche wery, gretely abasshed, & moche affebled̛ in hys persone, for he had lost moche of his blode by his foure mortal woundes, of whyche the leste of them was suffysaunt for hym to haue deyed, and̛ he had̛ grete payne to gete hym oute fro the sarasyns for to haue a lytel commemoracion of god̛ tofore or the soule shold̛ departe fro his body. so moche he enforced̛ hym, that he came to the fote of a montayne, nygh to the porte of Cezarye, and̛ brought hym self nygh to a rocke ryght by Roncyuale, vnder a tree in a fayr medowe. whan he sat down [sign. m j, back, col. 2] on the grounde he behelde his swerde, the best that euer was, named̛ durandal, whyche is as moche to say as gyuyng an hard stroke, whyche was ryght fayr & rychely made: the handle was of fyn beryle, shynyng̛ meruallously; on hye it had̛ a fayre crosse of gold, in the which was wryton the name of Ihesus. It was so good̛ & fyn, that sonner shold̛ the arme faylle than the swerde. he took it out of y^e shethe & sawe it shyne moche bryght, and by cause it shold̛ chaunge his maister he had moche sorowe in his hert, and wepyng, he sayd in thys maner pytously: ¶ "O swerd of valure, the fayrest that euer was, thou were neuer but fayr, Ne neuer fonde I the but good̛: thou art long̛ by mesure; Thou hast be so moche honoured̛, that alwaye thou barest with the the name of the blessyd̛ Ihesus, sauyour of the world̛, whyche hath endowed̛ the wyth the power of god̛. who may comprehende thy valure? Alas!

who shal haue the after me? who someuer hath the shal neuer be vaynquysshed, alwaye he shal haue good̛ fortune. Alas! what shal I more ouer say for the, good̛ swerde? many sarasyns haue ben destroyed by the; thynfydels and̛ myscreauntes haue ben slayn by the; the name of god̛ is exalted̛ by the; by the is made the path of [sign. m ij] sauement. O, how many tymes haue I by the auenged̛ thyniurye made to god̛! O, how many men haue I smyton and̛ cutte a-sondre by the myddle! O, my swerde, whyche hast ben my comfort and̛ my Joye, whych neuer hurtest persone that myght escape fro deth! O, my swerde, yf ony persone of noo value shold̛ haue the & I knewe it, I shold̛ deye for sorowe." After that Rolland̛ had wepte ynough, he had fere that somme paynym myght fynde it after his deth, wherfore he concluded [orig. cencluded.] in hym self to breke it, and̛ toke it & smote it vpon a rocke wyth alle hys myght iij tymes wythoute hurtyng̛ ony thynge the swerde, and clefte the rocke to therthe, and coude in no wyse breke the swerde. Whan he sawe the facyon and coude do nomore therto, he took his horne, whyche was of yuorye moche rychely made, and sowned & blewe it moche strongely, to the ende that yf there were ony crysten men hydde in the wodes or in the waye of theyr retournyng̛, that they shold̛ come to hym tofore they wente ony ferther, and̛ to fore he rendred̛ hys sowle. Thenne, seyng̛ that none came, he sowned̛ it ageyn by soo grete force and̛ vertu, and̛ so Impetuously, that the horne roof a sondre in the myddle, and̛ the vaynes of hys necke braken a sondre, and̛ the [sign. m ij, col. 2] synewes of his body stratcheden. And̛ that noys or voys by the grace of god̛ came to the eeres of Charles, whyche was eyght myle fro hym. The Emperour, heeryng the horne, he knewe wel that Rolland̛ had̛ blowen it, and wold haue retorned̛ ageyn, but Ganellon, the traytre,

whyche knewe wel alle the fayt, dystourned̛ ["dystourned̛:" turned him away, dissuaded him. Fr.le destourba.] hym, in sayeng̛ that Rolland̛ had̛ blowen his horne for somme wylde beest that he chaced̛ for his playsyr; For ofte tymes he wold blowe hys horne for lytel thynge, and that he shold̛ not doubte of nothyng̛. ¶ And thus he dyd̛ the kynge to vnderstonde that he byleued̛ hym, and̛ made none other semblaunte. Neuertheles, Rolland, leyng̛ in thys sorowe, he peased̛ hys woundes also wel as he myght, and̛ stratched̛ hymself on the grasse to the fresshenes for to forgete hys thurst, whyche was ouer grete.

¶ Here vpon Baulduyn, hys brother, came vnto hym, whyche was moche heuy and̛ sorouful for hys brother Roulland̛, whyche was in that necessyte. And̛ anone Roulland̛ sayd̛ to hym, "my frende and̛ my brother, I haue so grete thurst that I must nedes deye yf I haue not drynke to aswage my thurst.

¶ Baulduyn had̛ grete payne in goyng̛ here and̛ there, and [sign. m ij, back] coude fynde no water, and came to hym ageyn & sayde he coude fynde none; and̛ in grete anguysshe he lepte [orig. lefte; "lepte:" corrected on the authority of the original French, which reads monta.] on Roullandes hors, and̛ rode for to fetche charles, For he knewe wel that rolland̛ was nyghe hys deth. Anone after came to hym Thyerry, duc of Ardayne, whyche wepte vpon Rolland̛ so contynuelly that he myȝt not speke. but with grete payne Rolland confessyd hym and̛ dysposed̛ hym of hys conscyence. neuertheles, that same day Rolland̛ had̛ receyued̛ the body of our lord̛, For the custome was that the subgettes of Charles that day whyche they shold̛ fyght were confessyd̛ & comuned wythoute fayllyng by men of the chyrche, which alway were wyth them. Rolland, whyche knew hys ende by entyer contemplacyon, hys eyen lyfte vp to heuen, & hys hondes Ioyned̛, al stratched̛ in the medowe, began to say thus: "Fayre lord̛ god̛, my maker, my redemour, sone of the gloryous moder of comforte, thou knowest

myn entencyon, thou knowest what I haue doon for the bounte that is in the. by thy grete mercy of wℏyche thou art enuyronned, by the grace whyche in the haboundeth, by the meryte of thy passyon, holy and bytter, with a good and̛ humble hert I requyre the y^t tofore the thys day my faultes, [sign. m ij, back, col. 2] synnes, and̛ ygnoraunces may be pardouned̛ to me, and̛ take noo regarde to the trespaces that I haue doon to the; but beholde that I deye for the, and̛ in the fayth that thou hast ordeyned. remembre that thou hengest on the tree of the crosse for the synnars, and̛ so as thou hast redemed me, I beseche the that I be not loste. Alas! my maker god̛ omnypotent, wyth good wylle I departed̛ oute of my contreye for to defende thy name, and̛ for to mayntene crystendom. ¶ Thou knowest that I haue suffred̛ many anguysshes of hungre, of thurst, of hete, of colde, & many mortal woundes. And day and nyght to the, my god, I yelde me culpable; I mystrust not thy mercy. thou art pyetous; thou art comen for the synnars; thou pardonest marye magdelene and the good theef on the crosse, by cause they retorned vnto the; they were synnars as I am; lyke as they dyd̛ I crye the mercy, & better yf I coude saye it. thou byheldest how Abraham was obeyssaunt to the of hys sone ysaac, wherfor he ferde moche the better; byholde me how I am obedyent to the commaundements of the chyrche: I byleue in the, I loue the aboue all other, I loue my neyghbour. ¶ O good̛ lord̛, I beseche the to pardoune & forgyue alle theym that thys day ben deed̛ in [sign. m iij] my companye, & that they may be saued̛. Also, my maker, I requyre the to take hede of the pacyence of Job, for which he was moche the better, that I deye here for thurst, and̛ am allone. I am wounded mortally, and may not helpe my self, and̛ take in pacyence alle the sorowe that I suffre, and̛ am therwyth content whan it pleaseth the.

as al thys is trewe, pardone me, comforte my spyryte, receyue my soule, and̛ brynge me to reste perdurable." Whan Rolland had̛ prayed thus, he sette hys handes on hys body, holdyng̛ hys flesshe, and̛ after sayd̛ thre tymes, ¶ "Et in carne mea videbo deum saluatorem meum," and̛ after layed his handes on hys eyen, and̛ sayd̛, "Et oculi isti conspecturi sunt, In thys flesshe that I holde I shal see my sauyour, and̛ these eyen shal beholde hym;" and after he sayd̛ that he sawe thynges celestyal, whyche the eyen of mankynde myght not see, ne the eeres here, ne the hert thynke, the glorye whyche god̛ hath maad̛ redy to them that loue hym; and in sayeng̛, "In manus tuas, domine, commendo spiritum meum," he layed̛ hys armes vpon hys body in maner of a crosse, & gaf and̛ rendred̛ hys soule to god̛ the xvj kalendes of Juyl.

[sign. m iij, col. 2]

¶ Of the vysyon of the deth of Roulland', and' of the sorowe of Charles, and' how he complayned' hym pyetously, & other maters: capitulo iiij

"The day that Roulland̛ the marter rendred̛ hys soule vnto god̛, I, Turpyn, archebysshop of Raynes, was in the valeye of Rouncyuale, tofore charles the Emperour, and̛ sayd̛ masse for the soules whyche were passed̛ oute of thys world̛. And̛ as I was in the secrete of the masse I was rauysshed̛, and̛ herde the aungellys of heuen synge and make grete melodye. And̛ I wyst not what it myght be, ne wherfore they soo dyd̛. And̛ as I sawe the aungellys mounte in to heuen on ℏye, I sawe comyng̛ a grete legyon of knyghtes, alle blacke, ageynst me, the whyche bere a praye, wherof they maad̛ grete noyse and desraye. whan they were tofore me in passyng̛, I sayd̛ to them

and̛ demaunded̛ who they [orig. w hothey.] were, & what they bare. One of the deuylles ansuerd̛ & sayd̛, 'we bere the kyng Marfuryus in to helle, for long a-goon he hath wel deserued̛ it. And̛ Roulland̛, your trompette, wyth Mychel thaungel & many other in his companye, is brouȝt in to Joye perdurable to heuen.' And as the masse was fynysshed̛ I [sign. m iij, back] recounted̛ to charles the vysyon whyche I had seen, how thangellys of heuen bare the soule of Roulland̛ in to paradys, & the deuylles bare the soule of a sarasyn in to helle. Thus, as I sayd these wordes, balduyn, whyche rode on Rollandes hors, cam hastely and said to charles how the crysten men were dede & bytrayed, and̛ how Rolland̛ was hurte, and̛ in what estate he had lefte hym. Assone as he had̛ tolde thys, the crye was made thurgh thoost that euery man shold̛ retorne backe, & there was a grete bruyt. But themperour Charles, to whome thys mater touched at the hert more than to ony other, auaunced̛ hym for to goo thyder; and̛ whan he came he fonde Rolland expyred̛, hys hondes in crosse vpon hys vysage al stratched̛. And̛ anone Charles fyl doun vpon hym, and̛ began to wepe moche tenderly, smytyng̛ hym on his vysage, rendyng his clothes, & tormented hys body, & myght not speke a grete whyle. whan he was retorned̛ to hym self by ardeur of dylectyon and excercyte of sorowe, he sayd̛ in thys wyse: 'O comforte of my body, honour of frenssh men, suerd of Iustyce, spere that myght not bowe, hawberck that myght not be broken, helme of helthe, resemblyng̛ to Iudas [orig. Indas.] machabeus in prowesse, samblant to sampson [sign. m iij, back, col. 2] in strengthe, & to Absalon in beaulte! O ryght dere neuew, fayr & wyse, in batayl ryal! O destroyer of the sarasyns, defendour of crysten men, walle of clergye, staffe to wydowes & of poure orphelyns, Releuer of chyrches,

tonge of trouthe, Mouthe wythout lesyng̛, trewe in al Iugement, prynce of bataylle, conduytour of the frendes of god, Augmentour of the crysten fayth, & byloued of euery persone! Alas! why haue I brought the in to a straunge contreye? wherfor am I not dede with [orig. thith.] the? O Roulland̛, wherfor leuest thou me heuy & sorouful? helas! caytyf that I am, what shal I doo? Alas! sorouful, whyther shal I goo? I praye to almyghty god̛ that he conserue the; I requyre thangellis of heuen that they be in thy companye; I requyre the marters, of whom thou art of the nombre, y^t they wyl receuye the in to the Ioye perdurable. alway I shal remembre the wepyng, alway I shal fele thy departyng, as dauyd dyd of natan & of absalon. Alas! Rolland, thou goost in to lyf & Ioye perdurable, & leuest me in thys world sorouful. Thou art in heuen in consolacion, & I am in wepynges & tribulacions. Alle the world is euyl content of thy deth, & thangellys hath brouȝt the in comforte.' In thys manere and otherwyse Charles bewept and̛ [sign. m iiij] sorowed̛ his neuew Roulland̛. And̛ he made hys tentys to be sette vp there, for to lodge there al that nyght, & dyd̛ doo make grete fyres and̛ grete lyghtes for to watche the body of Roulland; & after he dyd̛ do enoynte hys body with myrre & baulme and other thynges aromatiques, for to conserue the body from euyl sauour; and̛ his obsequyes were made, & hys entyerment with grete prayers, offrynges, & almesses in grete contemplacion."

¶ How Olyuer was founden slayn, and' of the deth of the sarasyns, & of the deth of ganellon, whyche was hydous: capitulo v

In the morne erly, charles came where the bataylle had been with his peple, and there they fonde the noble Olyuer stratched̛ oute in maner of a crosse,

whyche was fastned̛ to foure stakes with iiij cordes & sharply bounden, and̛ fro the necke to the nayles or vngles of his feet and̛ handes he was flayn; he was al to-hewen, and shotte & hurte wyth speres, sharp dartes, quarellys, & arowes, & beten wyth staues; he was al to-faisshed̛ and̛ broken. ["to-faisshed̛ and̛ broken:" Fr. il estoit naure, casse, et tout rompu] wherfore the crye of many of the crysten began to renewe for the hydous deth of Olyuer, and̛ of many other. wherfore Charles [sign. m iiij, col. 2] sware by god̛ almyghty that he wold neuer cesse tyl that he had founden the sarasyns, & forthwyth he went wyth his hoost & noblesse. and̛ by cause that the paynyms were moche [orig. mocbe.] ferre fro them, god shewed̛ a fayr myracle; For that same day was prolonged̛ thre dayes longe wythout that the sonne remeued̛ ony thynge. and they fonde the sarasyns by a ryuer named̛ Ebra in Cezarye, whyche rested them, and̛ ete & dranke at theyr ease, wythout doubtyng of ony thyng. and̛ charles & hys people came vpon them so Impetuously that in a litel whyle there were slayn iiij M sarasyns, and̛ the other fledde & saued them self. Thenne themperour, seyng that he myght goo no ferther, retorned to rouncyuale, And̛ began tenquyre vpon the fayt of trayson, and̛ who had̛ doon it, & what man. Thenne he was enformed̛ that Ganellon had made it, and that was the comune oppynyon of them alle. And̛ emonge alle other Thyerry accused̛ and̛ appeled̛ hym of the treason, and that he wold̛ fyght in the quarel. ¶ For Thyerry had̛ knowleche by the sarasyn that rolland had bounden to a tree. The kyng̛ charles ordeyned̛ a knyght for ganellon, named pynable, to fyȝt ayenst thyerry. And whan these ij champyons were in the lystes, [sign. m iiij, back] anone pynalle was slayne by Thyerry; and̛ as wel by thys moyen as by other, it appered̛ clerely that ganellon had bytrayed̛ them. wherfore the emperour Charles, wythoute goyng̛ ony ferther, dyd to take iiij grete horses, & made to sytte

on them iiij stronge men, & bonde ganellon to two horses by his ij handes, and bonde the two feet to the other ij horses, & made hym to be drawen with the one hors toward y^e eest, & that other toward̛ the weste, that other ayenst the southe, and̛ that other toward the north. In this maner eche of the hors drewe forth his quarter of the body of the parte whyche he was bounden vnto.

¶ How after the thynges afore sayd' charles gaf thankynges & preysynges to god & saynt Denys, & of the constytucions that he made in fraunce: capitulo vj

Whan thexecucyon was doon of Ganellon and̛ executed̛, charles & hys people cam in to the place where the frensshe men had̛ be slayn, & bygan to knowe theyr parents, frendes, & lordes, for to bere them in to halowed̛ place. they caryed somme vpon theyr horses; Other salted̛ them wyth salte, for to mayntene them to brynge them in to theyr contreye; Other buryed̛ them in the same place, & [sign. m iiij, back, col. 2] somme bare theym on their sholdres. Somme ennoynted̛ them wyth oylle and̛ myrre, & somme wyth baulme the best wyse they myght. Neuertheles, there were two cymytoyres or chircheyerdes, ryght deuoute & pryncypally halowed̛ emonge the other, whych were sacred̛ and̛ blessyd̛ wyth vij bysshops. That one of the cymytoyres was in erles, and̛ that other in burdegale. & Saynt maxymyen of ays, Saynt Trophyn of arles, poule of nerbonne, Saynt Saturyn of Tholouse, saynt fontyn of poytyers, saynt Marcel of lymoges, and̛ saynt Eutrope of xayntes had̛ sacred̛ and̛ halowed̛ them. In whyche places were buryed̛ the moost party of the frensshe men slayn and̛ destroyed̛ in rouncyuale. Themperour dyd do bere

rolland̛, the gloryous marter, vpon two mules couerd̛ wyth clothes of sylke, honourably vnto bloye, & in the chyrche of saynt Romayn, the whyche he had̛ edefyed̛ and̛ founded̛ wyth chanonnes reguler, he dyd̛ rychely burye hym, and wyth grete magnyfycence; & on hye, ouer his sepulture, he dyd do sette hys swerde, and at hys feet he dyd̛ do sette his horne of yuorye. Not wythstondyng, after, the horne was taken aweye and̛ borne to Saynt Seueryn at bourdeaws. At bourdeaulx were buryed olyuer & gaudeboy, [sign. m v] kyng̛ of Fryse, Ogyer, kynge of denmark; and Crestayn, kyng of bretayne; Garyn, duc of Lorayne, and̛ many other. As for Eaferus, kynge of bourdeaulx; Euglerius, kyng of guyan; lambert, kyng̛ of bourges, and galerus reygnaut, with v M other, charles gaf xij C vnces of siluer of money that tyme courant, & as moche of talents of gold̛, & many robes and̛ mete to poure peple, for sauacyon of their soules. and al the londe seuen myle aboute he gaf to the chyrche of saynt Romayn, and̛ maad̛ it subgette to that relygyon. And̛ al bloye, wyth thappertenauntes and the see ayenst the sayd̛ terrytorye, he gaf semblably to the sayd̛ cℏyrche for charyte & loue of Rolland̛, and̛ ordeyned it so for euer. and on the day of their passyon he ordeyned that in the same place shold euery yere perpetuelly xxx poure men be fedde and̛ clothed̛ competently, and thyrty messys songen for them that there were buryed̛ and entyered̛, and̛ for alle them that were dede in spayne for the crysten fayth. In Arles was buryed̛ the counte of lengres; samson, duc of bourgoyne; Naymes, duc of bauyere; Arnold de bellandus, and̛ Albert bourgoynon, and̛ other fyue knyghtes, wyth ten thousand̛ other moyen peple. Constantyn, prouoste of [sign. m v, col. 2] Rome, was borne to Rome wyth many other Romayns, and̛ for y^e remedye of theyr soules themperour gaf in arles for almesse xij C vnces of syluer

and xij talentes of gold̛, whyche was worth a grete somme of gold̛ & syluer courant in that tyme.

¶ How Charles wente in to Almayne, where he deyed' holyly, And of hys deth shewed to Turpyn, and' of hys buryeng' Imperyally: capitulo vij

After the thynges afore sayd̛, Themperour charles and Turpyn, wyth the other, came and̛ passed̛ by vyenne; & there Turpyn tharchebysshop, a moche holy man, abode, for he was wery and̛ moche febled̛ of the payne that he had̛ had̛ for the fayth in spayne. and̛ Charles wente to parys, & anone after he assemaled̛ al the nobles and the moost grettest lordes of hys contreye, for to establyssh certayn ordynaunces, and for to gyue thankynges to god̛ & to saynt Denys of the vyctorye that he had obteyned in his tyme vpon the sarasyns, paynyms, & myscreauntes. And after that he had̛ thanked god and saynt denys, and to his chyrche fast by parys, lyke as saynt Poule thappostle and saynt Clement the pope had [sign. m v, back] doon in tyme passed̛, he maad̛ constytucyon entyere that al the kynges of Fraunce present & to come shold obeye to the pastour that shold be for y^e tyme of that chyrche, and̛ that neuere kyng̛ shold̛ be crowned wythoute the pastour of that chyrche, ne the bysshop of parys shold̛ not be receyued̛ at Rome wythout hys consent & comandement. And he gaf many rychesses to y^t chirche, & in token that fraunce was gyuen to that chyrche of saynt denys, he ordeyned̛ that euery possessour in al y^e nacyon of fraunce shold̛ gyue & be bounden to gyue to the chyrche of saynt denys, for to edefye & augmente it, iiij pens of money courant yerely & perpetuelly, & al they that shold gyue it wyth a good̛ wylle, yf they were of bonde & serue

condycion, he wold̛ they shold be franke & free of condycyon. And̛ after anone these thynges ordeyned, he went & came tofore the body of saynt denys moche deuoutely, & there he prayed the glorious saynt that he wold̛ praye vnto our lord̛ Ihesu Cryst, that alle they y^twere dede of the crysten fayth in the tyme that he had̛ regned̛ that they myght be saued̛, and̛ that the payne that they had̛ taken myȝt be to them the crowne of martyrdom in the glorye perdurable; & in semblable wyse he prayed̛ for al them that wold̛ [sign. m v, back, col. 2] paye gladly the pens aforesayd̛ to his chyrche. As god̛ wold̛, that nyght folowyng̛ saynt denys appyered̛ to hym, & sayd̛ to ℏym in thys manere: "O kynge, vnderstonde me, knowe thou, that I haue made prayer to god, my maker, & he hath graunted̛ that alle they that haue been ayenst the sarasyns with the haue pardon of al theyr trespaces, & that wyllyngly shal paye the penyes for the edefycacyon of my chyrche & augmentyng̛ the seruyce of god̛, they shal haue amendement of lyf and pardon of theyr synnes." This vysyon on the morne themperour recounted to hys peple, lyke as he had herd, by cause they shold wyth a good wylle pay the penyes that he had ordeyned; & he that gaf it was called the franke of saynt denys, by cause that he was free and̛ quyte of al seruage by the commandement of the kyng. After came the custome that that londe whyche was called Gallia loste hys name, & was called fraunce, as it is named̛ at thys day, & Fraunce is as moche to say as free of al seruage anenst al peple; and̛ therfore the lordes of Fraunce for this cause emonge al crysten men owen to be honoured̛ & praysed̛.

¶ The recapitulacion of alle thys werke, & of his deth at Acon, & of hys sepulture: capitulo viij

[sign. m vj]

The kyng Charles contynued gloriously his lyf in vertuouse operacyons, And whan he felte the declyne of hys lyf he went vnto Acon, where he had̛ tofore doon moche good̛, & enobled̛ a chyrche of our lady the rounde, the whyche he dyd̛ do make, and̛ gaf therto grete tresour of relyques of bodyes of sayntes, of gold & syluer, of clothes of sylke, & other precyosytees meruayllous, and there he deyed̛ in the yere of hys age lxxij. & for the magnyfycence of hys werkes he was called̛ charles the grete; & he had̛ iij sones thenne lyuyng, of whom the fyrst was named̛ Charles, the second̛ Pepyn, & the thyrd Lowys; & also he had iij doughters, that one was named̛ Rotrudys, that other berga, & the thyrd̛ gylla. & whan he knewe that he myght noo longer lyue, hys sone lowys, whome he had̛ ordeyned̛ for specyal loue kyng of guyan, he lefte to hym the mageste Imperyal. For to knowe the holynes & the gloryous ende of Charles, & how he was saued̛ in heuen, and̛ renomed̛ an holyman, The deuoute Turpyn, archebysshop of Raynes, sayth in this manere, "I Turpyn, archbyshop of Raynes, was in vyenne in the chyrche tofore thaulter, & was rauysshed̛ in sayeng̛ the psalm, 'Deus in adiutoryumorig. adintoryum. [sign. m vj, col. 2] meum intende.' I sawe a companye of blacke peple lyke Ethyopyens, whych were in quantyte Innumerable, whyche went toward̛ lorayne; and I sawe one tofore hys felowes, & I demaunded̛ hym whyther al they wente. the whyche, beyng̛ constrayned̛ to ansuere, sayd̛, 'we alle goo to Acon to the dethe of Charles, whyche lyeth a-dyeng̛. And we wyl see yf we may haue hys soule for to bere in to helle to perpetuel dampnacyon.' Thenne I sayd̛

to hym, 'I adiure the by the vertue of the name of our Lord̛ Ihesu cryst that, wythoute fayllyng̛, after that ye haue doon, that thou retorne by me.'" Anone after, or he coude fynysshe hys psalme, the d̛euylles cam retournyng ageyn in the same ordre that they wente. "And̛ thenne I sayd̛ to hym that I had̛ spoken to byfore, 'what haue ye doon there as ye haue been?' that same deuyl ansuerd̛, that 'James of galyce, frende to charles, hath ben moche contrarye to vs, for whan we were redy for to receyue hys soule, and̛ had̛ egally departed̛ his good̛ dedes and his euyl, he brougℏt so many stones & tymbre of chyrches, whyche he had̛ doo make in the name of hym, that his good̛ dedes surmounted̛ moche his euyl dedes, wherfore we myght haue noo thynge ne parte;' & thys sayd, the deuyll [sign. m vj, back] vanysshed̛ awaye," & soo he loste hys vysyon. Thus Charles, in the moneth of feueryere, rendred̛ his soule to god̛ holyly. For after that he retorned fro spayn he dyd but languysshe & appayre in hys body toward̛ hys deth; & in hys ende he ordeyned̛ many almesses, & to say many masses & psaulters. And̛ the vysyon that the gloryous archebysshop Turpyn sawe, is sygnyfycacion that he whyche maynteneth and̛ edefyeth chyrches in thys present world̛, that he maketh preparacyon of hys syege in heuen. His sepulture was moche honourable emonge al the sepultures of the world̛, noble and̛ ryche excellently, and̛ so fayr that it myȝt not be amended̛. and̛ ouer hys tombe was maad̛ an arche of gold̛ & syluer and̛ of precyous stones, comprysed by grete scyence. & thyder came Leo the pope, accompanyed̛ wyth prynces Romayns, archebysshops, bysshops, Abbottes, Dukes, Erles, and̛ many other lordes, and̛ dyd̛ do make a fayre representacyon of the body of Charles, clad̛ rychely and Imperyally with a fayre crowne of gold sette on his hede, & satte vpon

a chayer of gold̛ moche fayre and shynyng̛, and̛ resembled̛ wel a notable Iuge lyuyng. and they sette vpon his knees notably the texte of the four gospelles in fayre letters [sign. m vj, back, col. 2] of gold̛, & wyth the ryȝt hande he helde the lettre, & in the lyfte hande he helde the ceptre Imperial, moche ryche; & by cause the heed̛ shold not enclyne to eyther syde, hit was vnderset wyth a chayne of gold̛ & susteyned̛. And̛ the crowne that was on ℏys heed̛ raught to the arche, whiche was al aboue wel made, & the conduytes of the sepulture were replenysshed with al good odours aromatyques & precyous, and̛ after closed̛ & shette moche subtylly, & honourably kepte, as it was wel worthy for to be doon.

¶ Thexcusacyon of thauctour. ix

This werke, accomplysshed̛ to the playsyr of god̛ tofore wryton, conteyneth thre bookes, by the chapytres deuyded̛, as it appereth openly to the reders, and̛ I haue made them thre, after that I haue comprysed̛ in the separacyon and̛ deuydyng̛ of the matyer. Of whyche the fyrst book speketh of the begynnyng̛ of fraunce, and̛ of the fyrst crysten kyng̛ of fraunce, whyche was named̛ Cloys by the moyen of his wyf clotildys, in descendyng to kyng̛ Pepyn, fader of themperour Charles, In the honour of whome thys book is composed̛ for the moost parte; to the whyche Pepyn the lygnage of [sign. m vij] kyng̛ Cloys took an ende in successyon of the Royalme of Fraunce. And̛ the sayd̛ fyrst book sayth, more ouer, how Charles was nourrysshed̛, of hys corpulence, of hys etyng̛, of hys strengthe, of hys scyence, & other werkes of magnyfycence. The second̛ book speketh of the bataylle that Olyuer dyd̛ ayenst Fyerabras, the meruayllous geaunte, sone of ballant, Admyral of spayne, a puyssaunt kynge; & al the fyrst parte of the second book is attrybuted̛ to noble olyuer,

and̛ in the honour of hym. After ye shal fynde how the peres of fraunce were deteyned̛ in Aygremore and̛ put in surete, & after saued fynably by florypes, the curtoys doughter of the sayd ballant; And̛ the holy relyques recouured̛, and̛ other maters of grete meruaylles. The iij book speketh how, by reuelacyon of saynt Iames, charles went and conquerd spayne & galyce, where as he dyd̛ operacions vertuous, & made constytucyons of sauacyon, wyth many bataylles doon by hym and̛ hys subgettes; and fynably of the trayson of Ganellon, by the whyche the deth of Rolland̛ was pyetous, the deth of Olyuer dolorouse, and of the other peres of crysten knyghtes slayn & dede. And̛ fynably the deth of Charles themperour, as tofore is sayd̛ and wryton. and̛ [sign. m vij, col. 2] after that ony persone wyl here or rede of thys matere, the table made atte begynnyng shal shewe it to hym lyghtly, yf it be hys playsyr to here or rede of y^e werk in thys book composed̛.

¶ Thenuoye of thauctour: ca. x

As I haue sayd̛ at the begynnyng of thys present werke, the escryptures and̛ feates somme haue ben reduced̛ in wrytyng̛ for to be in memorye, to the ende that they that haue doon wel, be to vs ensaumple in ensyewyng̛ and̛ folowyng them, & they that haue doon euyl may be cause to rewle our lyf for to come to the porte of helthe. For the comune vnderstondyng̛ is more contente to reteyne parables and examples for the ymagynacion locall, than to symple auctoryte, the whyche is reteyned̛ by vnderstondyng̛, and̛ also semblably thystoryes spekyng̛ of our lord̛ Ihesu cryst, of hys myracles, & of his vertuous subgettes, euery man ouȝt gladly to here and retenne them. & it is so, that at the requeste of the sayd̛ venerable

man to fore named̛, Maister henry bolonnyer, chanonne of lausanne, I haue been Incyted̛ to translate & reduyse in prose in to Frensshe the mater tofore reduced̛. as moche as toucheth the fyrst & the thyrd [sign. m vij, back] book I haue taken & drawen oute of a book named̛ myrrour hystoryal for the moost parte; & the second̛ book I haue onely reduced it out of an olde romaunce in frensshe. And̛ without other Informacyon than of the same book, I haue reduced̛ it in to prose, substancyally wythout fayllyng, by ordynaunce of chapytres & partyes of the sayd̛ book, after the mater in the same conteyned̛. And̛ yf in al thys book I haue mesprysed or spoken otherwyse than good̛ langage, substancyally ful of good vnderstondyng to al makers & clerkes, I demaunde correxyon and amendement, and̛ of the defaultes pardon. For yf the penne hath wryton euyl, the hert thought it neuer, but entended to say wel; & also my wytte & vnderstondyng, whyche is ryght lytel, can not vttre ne wryte thys matere withoute errour. Neuertheles, who so vnderstondeth wel the lettre shal wel compryse myn entencyon, by which he shal fynde nothyng but moyen for to come to saluacyon. To the whyche may fynably come alle they that wyllyngly rede, or here, or do thys book to be redde.

Amen.

¶ And̛ by cause I, Wylliam Caxton, was desyred & requyred by a good̛ and synguler frend of myn, Maister wylliam daubeny, ["daubeny." See Introduction, p. 7.] [sign. m vij, back, col. 2] one of the tresorers of the Iewellys of the noble & moost crysten kyng̛, our naturel and̛ souerayn lord̛, late of noble memorye, kyng Edward the fourth, on whos soule Ihesu haue mercy, To reduce al these sayd̛ hystoryes in to our Englysshe tongue, I haue put me in deuoyr to translate thys sayd̛ book, as ye heretofore may se al a-longe and playn, prayeng̛ alle them that shal rede, see, or here it, to

pardon me of thys symple & rude translacyon and reducyng̛, bysechyng̛ theym that shal fynde faute to correcte it, & in so doyng they shal deserue thankynges, & I shal praye god̛ for them, who brynge them and me, after this short and transytorye lyf, to euerlastyng̛ blysse. Amen. the whyche werke was fynysshed̛ in the reducyng of hit in to englysshe, the xviij day of Iuyn, the second̛ yere of kyng̛ Rychard̛ the thyrd̛, And̛ the yere of our lord̛ MCCCC lxxxv, And̛ enprynted̛ the fyrst day of decembre, the same of our lord̛, & the fyrst yere of kyng Harry the seuenth.