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

¶ Here begynneth the iij book, whyche conteyneth two partyes, by the chapytres folowyng declared'.

¶ The fyrst partye of the thyrd book conteyneth xiiij chapytres, and speketh of the warres made in spayne, and' of two meruayllous geauntes.

¶ How Saynt Iames appyered' to Charles, and how, by the moyen and' the conduyte of the sterres, he went in to galyce, & what cytees he subdued: ca. j

[sign. k v, col. 2]

Charles, the noble Emperour, after he had̛ taken moche payne for to mayntene the name of god̛ for tenhaunce the crysten fayth, and to brynge al the world̛ in one trewe fayth and̛ byleue, & that he had̛ goten many contrees, he purposed neuer more to

fyght ne to make bataylle, but to reste & lede forth a contemplatyf lyf, in thankyng̛ his maker of þ^e grace that he had̛ gyuen to hym in surmountyng̛ hys enemyes. Neuertheles on a nyght it happed̛ hym that he byhelde the heuen, & sawe a quantyte of sterres in ordre tendyng̛ alle the nyght one waye and̛ one path. And̛ they began at the see of fryselond̛ in passyng̛ bytwene alemayn and̛ ytalye, bytwene Fraunce and̛ guyanne, And̛ passed ryght the sayd̛ sterres by gascoyne, bascle, Nauarre, and̛ espayne, whyche contrees he had by hys puyssaunce and contynuel payne conquerd̛ and̛ maad̛ crysten. And̛ after, the ende of the sayd̛ sterres thus goyng in ordre, cam vnto galyce, where-as the body of the holy appostle was, he nat knowyng̛ the propre place. Euery nyght charles byhelde the waye of the sayd̛ sterres, and̛ thought moche contynuelly what thys mygℏt be, & that it was not wythoute cause. ¶ In one nyght emonge the other that [sign. k v, back] charles thought on thys waye, a man appyered̛ to hym in vysyon, whyche was so fayr, so playsaunte, and̛ so sℏynyng̛, that it was meruaylle; whyche sayd̛ to hym: "what doost thou, my fayre sone?" Charles, beyng̛ al rauysshed̛, ["al rauysshed̛:" Fr. tout rauy.] answerd̛: "who arte thou, fayr syr?" That other answerd: "I am Iames, the appostle of Ihesu Cryst, the sone of Zebedee, and̛ propre broder of saynt Iohan the euangelyst, & am he whom god̛ chaas to preche the crysten fayth and̛ hys doctryne in the londe of galyce and̛ of galylee, by hys holy grace, and̛ he whom herode dyd̛ put to deth by swerde; and̛ my body abydeth emonge the sarasyns, whyche haue entreated̛ it vylaynsly, & lyeth in a place whyche is not knowen. But I merueylle that thou hast not conquerd̛ my londe, Seen and̛ consyderyd̛ that thou hast conquerd so many regyones, townes, & cytees in the world̛. wherfore I do the to wete, that lyke as god̛ hath chosen the, and made the

superyor in worldly puyssaunce aboue al other kynges & worldly prynces, in lyke wyse emong al them that lyuen thou art chosen of god̛, after the conduyte of the sterres, to delyuer my londe fro the hande of the mescreaunt sarasyns and̛ enemyes of crystendom. ¶ And̛ to thende that thou sℏoldest knowe in to what [sign. k v, back, col. 2] place thou sℏoldest goo, thou hast seen on the heuen the sterres by dyuyne magnyfycence. And̛ for to obteyne the more Ioye & gretter glorye in heuen, by haultayn and grete puyssaunce, thou sℏalt surmounte thyn enemyes, & in that same place thou shalt make and̛ doo edefye a chyrche in my name, to the whiche shal come the crysten peple of al regyons, for to gete helthe & pardon of their synnes. After that thou sℏalt haue vysited my sepulture, and̛ haue made the waye sure, and̛ ordeyned crysten men for to kepe and̛ conserue the place, it sℏal be a memoyre perpetuell." Thus in thys maner appyered̛ thre tymes saynt Iames to the emperour Charles. After these vysyons and̛ certyfycacyons of god̛, he called̛ and̛ assembled̛ hys subgettes, whome he dyd do put a grete multytude in good̛ poynte, & after took hys waye & drewe toward the contre where the sterres had̛ shewed the waye aforesayd̛, and came fyrst in to spayne: and̛ the fyrst cyte that was rebelle to hym was panpylonne, whyche was ryght stronge of murayl and̛ towres, & garnysshed̛ wyth sarasyns. and̛ he abode tofore it thre monethes, or he coude fynde maner to confounde it. Thenne Charles knewe not what to do, but to praye god and saynt Iames, for whom he went, [sign. k vj] that in the vertu of hys name he myght take that cyte, and̛ sayd in thys manere: "Fayr lord god̛, my maker, helpe me that am comen in to thys contree for to enhaunce the crysten fayth, for to establysshe and̛ mayntene thyn holy name. And̛ also thou holy saynt Iames, by the reuelacyon of whome I am in thys

Iourneye, I requyre the that I may subdewe thys cytee, & entre therin, for to sℏewe the mysbyleuyng̛ peple the cause of theyr errour, to thende that this begynnyng may the better determyne the ende of myn entencyon."

Assone as Charles had̛ fynyssℏed̛ his oryson, the walles of the cyte, whyche were of marble merueillously strong, ouerthrew to the erthe, ["ouerthrew to the erthe:" Fr. vont tomber par terre] & fyl alle in pyeces; and̛ after, charles and his hoost entred̛ in to the cyte; & he that wold̛ be baptysed̛ & byleue in god̛ wythoute fyctyon, was saued̛ and put a-parte, and who sayd̛ the contrarye, was forthwyth put to deth. Al the people of that contre, whan they knewe of these tydynges & meruayllous operacyons of this cyte, torned̛ in to Ruyne at the symple postulacyon of charles, without contradyctyon came and̛ yelded̛ them to the mercy of kyng̛ charles. And̛ thus many were baptysed̛, and cℏyrches were ordeyned̛, and̛ al the contreye reduced [sign. k vj, col. 2] to certeyn trybute vnder the fydelyte of the emperour charles, and̛ brought theyr trybutes fro the cytees wyth-oute ony other gaynsayeng in sygne of seygnourye.

¶ Of the cytees goten in espayne by charles, & how somme were by hym destroyed'. capitulo ij.

After that charles had̛ the domynacyon quasi in al espayne, he came to the sepulture of Saynt Iames, where he dyd̛ hys deuocyon, and̛ made deuoutely hys prayers; & after came to a place in þ^e lond whych was so ferre, that he myght goo no ferther, and̛ there fyxed̛ & pyght hys spere, and that place was called̛ petronium; & thanked̛ god and saynt Iames, that by theyr suffraunce he was comen so ferre wythoute ony contradyctyon surely vnto suche place that he myght passe no ferther. And̛ in that londe who that wold̛ byleue

in god, tharchebysshop Turpyn baptysed̛ them; & who that wold not, he was slayn, or put in pryson. And after Charles wente from one see to that other, and thenne he gate in galyce xiij cytees, emonge whome compostelle was thenne the leste. In espayne he had̛ xvj grete townes & stronge, emonge whome [sign. k vj, back] was onsea, in which were wont to be x stronge toures, & a toun named̛ petrosse, in whyche was made the fynest syluer that had thenne cours. Also another cyte named̛ attentyua, where as the body of saynt Torquete rested̛, whyche was dyscyple of saynt Iames, and̛ there vpon the sepulture was an olyue tree, whyche dyd florysshe & bere rype fruyt a certayn day of may euery yere withoute fayllyng̛.

Alle the contreye of spayne that tyme was subgette to charles, That is to wete, the londe of alandaluf, the londe of perdoures, the londe of castellans, the londe of maures, The londe of portyngale, the londe of sarasyns, the londe of nauarre, the londe of Alemans, The londe of byscoys, the londe of bascles, the londe of palargyens, and̛ somme of theyr cytees taken by warre, subtyl and̛ mortal, And̛ somme wythoute warre. he coude not wynne the grete towne of Lucerne, tyl at the laste he layed̛ syege tofore it by the space of foure monethes. and̛ it stode in a grene valeye. And after, whan he saw that they wold not yelde them, & that he coude not wynne them, he made hys prayer vnto god̛, and̛ to saynt Iames, that he myght be vyctorious, seen that he had̛ nomore to termyne in that contreye, but that cyte onely. hys oryson was herde, soo that [sign. k vj, back, col. 2] the walles fyl doun to the erthe, and̛ was put to destructyon in suche wyse, þat neuer man dwelled therin after, and̛ after it sanke, and̛ therin was an abysme or swolowe of water, In whyche were founden after, fysshes alle blacke. Emonge the other cytees that he took, there were iiij that dyd̛ hym moche payne, or he myght gete them, &

therfore he gaf them the maladyctyon of god̛, and̛ they were cursed̛, in suche wyse that vnto thys day there is in them none habytacion; & the sayd̛ cytees been named̛ lucerne, ventose, caperce, & adame.

¶ Of the grete ydole that was in a cyte, whyche coude not be smyton doun, and of the condycyons and' sygnes therof: ca. iij

Whan Charles had̛ doon in spayne & other places, wyth the Inhabytauntes of it at hys wylle, Alle thydolles and̛ other symylacres that he fonde, he dyd̛ do destroye and put to confusyon. But in the londe of Alandaluf, in a cyte called̛ Salancadys, in arabyque, was [orig. and was.] the place of a grete god, as the sarasyns sayd̛. That ydolle was made of the honde of Machommete in the tyme that he lyued̛, & was named Mahommet [sign. k vij] in thonour of hym: and̛ by arte magyke and̛ dyabolyke he closed̛ therin a legyon of deuylles, for to kepe it and make sygnes for to abuse the peple. and thys ydolle was kepte so by deuylles, that noo persone lyuyng̛ coude by strengthe destroye it, ne put it doun. In suche wyse that yf ony crysten man came nyghe for to see it, or to coniure it, or to destroye, Assone as he began to coniure and preche, anon he was perysshed̛ & destroyed̛. And̛ the sarasyns that came for to preche, adoure, make sacrefyse, or doo obeyssaunce therto, were wythout peryl; and̛ yf by aduenture, a byrde fleyng came & rested vpon it, Incontynent it was deed̛. The stone vpon whyche thydolle was sette was meruayllously made. It was a stone of the see, wrought of sarasyns, and̛ grauen subtylly of grete and̛ ryche facyon, the whyche was enhaunced vpryght, not without grete crafte & connyng̛. toward̛ the erth it was meruayllously

grete, & alway vpward it was lasse; and̛ that stone was so hye as a crowe myght flee: vpon whyche stone was thydolle sette, whyche was of fyn yuorye, after thassemblaunce of a man stondyng̛ vpryght on his feet, & had̛ hys face torned̛ to the south, & helde in his ryght honde a grete keye, & the sarasyns were certefyed̛ [sign. k vij, col. 2] for trouthe that whan a kyng̛ of fraunce shold̛ be borne, & in strengthe to subdue the contreye of spayne, and̛ brynge it in to crysten fayth, the ymage sℏold̛ lete falle the keye, whych shold be a sygne þat the kyng of fraunce sℏold̛ conquere them. So thenne in the tyme that the noble kyng̛ charles regned̛ in spayne, for to brynge it to the crysten faith, the ydolle lete the keye falle doun to the grounde. And̛ whan the sarasyns sawe that, They hydde theyr tresours, as golde, syluer, and̛ precyous stoones, in therth, by cause the crysten men sℏold̛ no thynge fynde therof, & they al wente in to another regyon, and durst not abyde the comyng of the kyng̛.

¶ Of the chyrche of saynt Iames in galyce, and' of dyuers other whyche Kyng' Charles founded: capitulo iiij

Charles beyng in galyce had̛ Innumerable quantyte of gold̛, of syluer, and̛ of precyous stones, of many kynges, prynces, and̛ other lordes, and̛ of trybutes of cytees that was gyuen to hym as lord̛.

¶ Also he had̛ moche of the tresour that he conquerd̛ of the townes and̛ contreyes of Spayne [sign. k vij, back] aforesayd. Thenne he, seyng the grete habundaunce of good, dyd do compose and̛ make a chirche of Saynt Iames, in the place where-as he had founde the body of hym. and̛ he abode there the space of thre yere wythout departyng̛, and̛ in that same place he ordeyned a bysshop, and

founded there chanonnes reguler, vnder the rule of saynt Ysodore the confessour; & bought & ordeyned for them rentes & trybutes suffycyent, and̛ gaf to them synguler seygnourye. He furnysshed̛ the chyrche wyth belles, vessellys of golde and̛ syluer, adournements of precyous clothes, & al thynges necessarye & apperteynyng̛ in a chyrche pontyfycal. also of bokes, vestymentes, chalyces, & other holy escryptures. And̛ of the resydue of gold and syluer, that he brought oute of spayne, he dyd̛ doo edefye these chyrches folowyng̛. ¶ Fyrst, at Acon, in almayne, where as he is buryed̛, he dyd doo make a chirche of our lady; and̛ though it be lytel, yet is it moche rychely made. The chyrche of Saynt Iames in the toun of vyterbe; also the chyrche of saynt Iames in the cytee of Tholouse: The chyrche of Saynt Iames in gascoyne; also the chirche of saynt Iames in parys, bytwene the sayne & the mounte of martres. & aboue the chyrches aforesayd̛, he founded̛, rented̛, & releued̛ many & dyuers chyrches, monasteryes, & other abbeyes in the world, in many and̛ dyuers places. [ "he founded̛, rented, and releued̛ many and dyuers chyrches:" Fr. il fonda, renta, et releua plusieurs et diuerses eglises.]

¶ How, after that Aygolant the geaunt had taken spayne & put to deth the crysten people, Charles recouerd' it, and' other maters: capitulo v

After that charles was retorned̛ in to Fraunce, a kyng̛ sarasyn of affryque, named̛ aygolant, wyth grete puyssaunce came in to spayne, and remysed it in hys subgectyon. And̛ the crysten which charles had left there, as many as he myght gete, he put to deth, and̛ the other fledde. And̛ in sℏorte tyme the tydynges came vnto kyng̛ Charles, wherof he was moche abasshed & angry, bycause it was sℏewed̛ to hym so pyetously.

wherfore Incontynent he assembled̛ a grete hoost, & wyth a grete multytude of fyghtyng̛ men he went thyder wythout taryeng̛. And he made the conduytour of them al Myllon of angleres, the fader of Rolland̛. [See Dr. Hausknecht's note to the Sowdon, l. 1888.] & they cessed not tyl that they had tydynges where Aygolant the geaunt was, whyche had̛ doon thys feat. whan charles knewe where Aygolant was lodged̛, [sign. k viij] and̛ semblably aygolant knewe where Charles was, Anone the geaunt sente to charles that he wold̛ delyuer bataylle suche as he wold̛. That is to wete that Charles shold̛ sende to hym xx of hys men to fyght ageynst xx of hys sarasyns, or xl ayenst xl, or an C ayenst C, or a thousand ayenst a thousand̛, or two men ayenst two, or one man ayenst one man onely. kyng Charles, seyng̛ thentencyon of aygolant, for thonour of noblesse he wold not refuse hys demaunde, but sent to hym an C knyghtes in grete poynte, and̛ the geaunte sente another hondred̛ ayenst the crysten men, but anone the sarasyns were vanquysshed̛ & put to deth, and̛ after were sente by aygolant two hondred sarasyns ayenst two hondred crysten men, whyche Sarasyns were anone wythoute grete resystence put to deth and̛ slayn. Aygolant was not contente, ne wold̛ not leue herby, ["he wold not leue herby:" would not stop at this. Fr. ne se voulst tenir a cecy.] but sente two thousand sarasyns ayenst ij M crysten men, and̛ whan they were in batayll, many of þ^e sarasyns were slayn, and the other put to flyght for to saue them self. The thyrd̛ day after, Aygolant maad̛ certeyn experyences, ["maad certeyn experyences:" Fr. fist aulcunes experimentacions.] and̛ knewe that yf Charles made warre to hym he sℏold̛ haue grete losse, and sent to Charles to wete yf he wold̛ make playne warre. Charles [sign. k viij, col. 2] was contente, and̛ there vpon they made redy theyr peple, and̛ specyally charles, for hys subgettes had̛ grete affectyon to goo to bataylle without ony fere of deth. And̛ also somme of the crysten men, the day tofore the bataylle, dyd do amende and araye theyr harnoys, and̛ sette

theyr tentes nygh a ryuer named ceye, and̛ pyght there theyr speres, euen in the place where as the bodyes of saynt faconde and saynt premytyf rested, where after was made a chyrche deuoutely founded̛, and̛ also a stronge cyte by the moyen of the sayd̛ Charles, and̛ in the place where the speres were pyght, our lord sℏewed̛ grete myracle. For of them that sℏold̛ deye there and̛ be gloryfyed̛ marters of god̛ & crowned̛ in heuen, theyr speres on þ^e morn were founden al grene, floresshed̛ and̛ leued̛, whyche was a precedent sygne that they whyche sℏold̛ deye sℏold̛ haue the Ioye in heuen. ¶ Eche man took his owne, and̛ cutte of the bowes & leues, wyth whyche the leues were planted̛ and̛ vnderroted̛, wherof in a lytel whyle after grewe a grete wode, whyche stondeth there yet. It was grete meruayle of the Ioye that the horses made, whyche dyd̛ theyr deuoyrs as wel as the men after theyr qualyte, whyche was a grete token. Thenne L valyaunt [sign. k viij, back] crysten men were slayne, And̛ emonge the other was slayne duc Myllon, fader to Roulland̛. Also that same day the hors of charles was slayn vnder hym, & whan he was a fote he maad̛ grete murdre wyth hys swerde Ioyouse, and̛ dyd̛ so moche that the sarasyns, dredyng̛ the euenyng̛, fledde & wythdrewe them in to place of surete. And̛ as it was the wylle of our lord̛, the next day after came to Charles in to his helpe iiij marquyse of ytalye, accompanyed wyth iiij M stronge fyghtyng̛ men & chosen. wherfore Aygolant, assone as he knewe of theyr comyng̛, he fled and̛ wythdrewe hym ouer the see toward hys contree. but they myȝt not for hast bere with them al theyr tresours, wherfor fraunce was enryched̛ meruayllously aboue alle other contrees.

¶ And whan charles sawe his departyng̛ he came wyth al hys rychesse in to fraunce, and thenne, duryng seuen yere, he dyd̛ do ordeyne the seruyce and̛ offyce of

the chyrche by preestes & clerkes, and̛ the festes of sayntes of all the yere; and̛ grete vertu & meruayllous effect was comprysed̛ in thys man. For whan it was not warre for to mynysshe thynfydellys and encreace the crysten fayth, For tenhaunce the name of god̛ he made the offyces and legendes of holy sayntes, & dyd [sign. k viij, back, col. 2] reduce in to mynde and̛ remembraunce the passyons of holy marters in establysshyng̛ theyr feestes, to thende that we sℏold̛ ensyewe them, and̛ to eschewe al euyl. And̛ the magnytude of thys kyng̛ was wel preued̛ by sygnes seen on the heuen. For in the same yere the mone derked̛ thre tymes, and̛ the sonne ones, and̛ companyes of people were seen meruayllous, whyche sℏewed̛ that thys Charles was of grete magnytude, that is to wete bytwene heuen and̛ erthe.

¶ How Aygolant sent to charles that he shold' come to hym trustely for to make Iust warre, and' how Charles in habyte dyssymyled' spake to hym, and' of other maters: capitulo vj

As I haue sayd the kynge, Aygolant the geaunte, fledde in to nys contreye, whan socours cam to Charles of foure marques. he slepte not vpon his purpoos, but maad̛ grete dylygence for to assemble hys people, whyche were sarasyns Innumerable, for he assembled̛ mores, Moabytes, Ethiopiens, Affrycans, and percyens; he brought wyth hym also the kyng of arabye, the kyng̛ of barbarye, the kyng̛ of malroste, the kyng of [sign. l j] maioryke, the kyng of meques, the kyng̛ of cybylle, & the kyng of Cordube, the whych cam with peple wythout nombre, certain, in to gascoyne, in to a stronge cyte named Agenne, and took it. And after sent to Charles that he shold̛ come to hym peasybly &

trustyly, with a fewe peple, promysyng̛ to hym for to gyue to hym ix hors laden with gold, syluer, and̛ precyous stones, yf he wold̛ thus come at hys desyre. this paynym shewed to hym this by cause he wold knowe his persone, for hys strengthe & puyssaunce knewe he wel by experyence, and̛ also to thende whan he knewe ℏym that he myght in the warre flee hym. whan kyng̛ charles knewe this mandement he gadred not grete peple, but he came onely wyth ij M knyghtes of honour and of grete strength. And̛ whan he was foure myle nygh the cyte, where Aygolant and al the kynges tofore named were, he left his people secretly, & came vnto a mountayne nygh the cyte, accompanyed̛ wyth xl knyghtes onely. And fro thys place they saw the cyte, by cause to wete yf the multytude of peple were departed̛, soo tℏat he shold̛ not be deceyued̛. Neuertheles vpon thys montayne he lefte hys people secretly, and took of hys clothes, and cladde hym in the guyse of a messager, and̛ [sign. l j, col. 2] took one knyght onely with hym, whyche bare his spere & swerde and̛ bocler vnder hys mantel, and̛ soo came in to the cyte, and anone he was brought tofore aygolaunt the geaunt. And whan he was tofore hym he sayd̛ in thys manere: "Charles the kyng hath sente vs vnto the, and̛ leteth the wete by vs that he is comen lyke as thou hast comanded̛, accompanyed̛ wyth fourty knyghtes onely, for to do that he ought to doo. Now thenne come to hym wyth xl knyghtes, withoute moo, yf thou wylt accomplysshe and holde that thou hast promysed̛." Aygolant sayd̛ to hem that they shold̛ retorne to charles, and̛ that they shold say to hym that he departe not, but abyde hym there, and̛ he wold̛ come and̛ vysyte hym. After this that charles had̛ knowen the geaunt, and after vysyted̛ the towne, for to knowe the feblest parte for to take and conquer it whan he shold come ageyn, & sawe al the kynges

forsayd̛ & their puyssaunces, he after retorned̛ to his peple whiche he had̛ left vpon the montayne, & after came to hys ij M knyghtes. & anone after aygolant, accompanyed̛ wyth vij M knyȝtes, came after them withoute taryeng̛. But charles took hede [ "took hede:" Fr. sen prist garde = took notice.] whan he cam that there were many moo paynyms than crysten men, and [sign. l j, back] wythout lenger taryeng charles & his peple departed̛, and retourned̛ in to fraunce wythout hauyng other delyberacyon.

¶ How Charles, accompanyed with moche peple, retorned' in to the place aforesayd & toke the cyte of agenne, & other maters: capitulo vij

After that charles was retorned in to fraunce he assembled moche peple, & after came to the cyte of agenne, & assyeged̛ it there by grete facyon, the space of vij monethes. Aygolant was therin & many sarasyns, & the crysten men had made fortressis & castelles of tree tofore this cyte for to greue it. Whan Aygolant & the grete lordes of ℏis companye sawe þat they myght not endure, they maad̛ hooles & caues vnder therth for tescape oute secretly: in that maner they came out of the cyte, & passed ouer a ryuer, which ranne by the cyte, named goronna, and so they saued them self. The next day after, whan there was noo grete resystence made to the crysten men, Charles wyth grete tryumphe & puyssaunce entred̛ in to the cyte, & put to deth x M sarasyns that he there fonde. The other, seyng̛ that, put them to flyght by the ryuer. Aygolant [sign. l j, back, col. 2] was in another stronge toun, & whan charles knewe it he came thyder & assaylled it, & sente to hym to delyuer ouer the cyte. aygolant ansuerd̛ that he wold̛ not so doo, but by a moyen that was, that they shold̛ make a

batayll, & he that shold wynne the bataylle shold be lord̛ of þe toun, & so they assygned the day of the bataylle. and nygh to that place, bytwene the castel thalabourt & a ryuer called carantha, somme of the crysten men planted̛ theyr speres in the grounde, especially they that on the morn shold̛ deye, & obteyne the crowne of glorye as marters of god. and on the morne they fonde their speres al grene & myraculously leued̛, & ful of bowes, wherof the cristen men were moche Ioyous of this myracle, and̛ raught not for to deye for þe crysten fayth in mayntenyng the name of god̛. After that they cutte of theyr speres and̛ wente to bataylle, and̛ put many sarasyns to deth. But in thende were slayn and martred̛, of crysten men moo than iiij M whyche were saued̛ in heuen; & that tyme the hors that Charles rode on was slayn vnder hym, and̛ at that bataylle were slayn by the sayd̛ Charles the kynge of Agabye & the kyng̛ of bugye, merueyllous myghty sarasyns.

[sign. l ij]

¶ Of the vertuous operacions that charles made whan he was retorned' in to fraunce, & what barons he had' in hys companye, & of theyr puyssaunce: ca. viij

The bataylle toforesayd̛ made, Aygolant fledde and̛ came in to panpylone, and̛ sent to kyng̛ charles that he shold̛ abyde hym for to gyue hym bataylle more ample & large. Whan charles knewe hys desyre he retourned̛ in to fraunce for to haue helpe of hys peple, and̛ made an open maundement thorugℏ out al Fraunce that al maner peple that were of euyl condycyon and in bondage, that they that were present, and theyr successours, sℏold̛ be free, & there vpon tabellyons sℏold be delyuerd accordyng̛ to the lawe, [Fr. eulx qui estoient presens et leurs successeurs fussent francs et liberez, les taillables fussent a leurs drois comme quilz fussent condicionez. ] that wold goo with

hym ayenst the myscreauntes. Also alle prysonners that were in fraunce, he delyuerd̛ them al out of pryson, & to al them that shold haue ben delyuerd to deth for felonnye, murdre, or treason, he pardonned them & gaf to them theyr lyf; and̛ to al poure peple that had not wherby to lyue, he gaf to them good̛ largely, & them that were euyll clad̛, he clothed them after theyr degree. alle them that were at debate he peased them & accorded̛; Alle them þat were dysheryted & put oute from theyr lyuelode he restored al to them; Alle þe peple [sign. l ij, col. 2] that myght bere armes he armed them. The valyaunt squyers of theyr persones he made knyghtes, & al them that were in hys Indygnacyon & pryued fro hys loue, & bannysshed̛ for the loue of god̛, he was constraynede to pardonne them, & made pees with euery man. and̛ thenne he was fournysshed of moo than an C thousand̛ men wel fyghtyng̛, wythoute them that were a-fote, whyche were Innumerable. And for to gyue courage to the prynces of Charles, Turpyn sayd̛ in this maner: "I, Turpyn, archebysshop of Raynes by the grace of god̛, shal gyue good̛ courage to crysten people, and̛ shal slee the Infydels, sarasyns, with myn owne handes." ¶ Wyth Charles was Roulland̛ of Cenonye, neuewe of Charles, sone of hys syster, dame Be the, & of Duke Myllon, wyth foure thousand̛ fyghtyng̛ men; Olyuer, due of genes, sone of duc Reyner, with iij M fyghtyng̛ men: Aristagius, kyng̛ of brytayne, wyth vij thousand fyghtyng̛ men; Not wythstondyng that in brytayne was another kyng̛, Eugelius, whyche was duke of Guyan, whome Augustus Cezar had̛ ordeyned̛, wyth the byturyciens, the monyques, pictauyns, scauctonens, and Elogysmes, cytees with their prouynces vnder guyan: & he cam with iij M horsmen [sign. l ij, back] good fyghtars; Garferus, kyng̛ of bordeloys, with iiij M men; Salamon, felow of estok; ["felow:" Fr. compaignon de escoc.]

bawdewyn, brother of Rolland; Naymes, duc of bauyere, wyth x M fyghtyng̛ men; Hoel of Nauntes, & Lambert, prynce of bourgoyn, wyth ij M fyghtars; Sanson, duc of bourgoyn, with x M; Garyn, duc of lorayne, & many other; and Charles had̛ of his owne contre moo than fyfty M men. The excercyte of Charles, the noble emperour, and ryght puyssaunt kyng̛ of Fraunce, was so grete and̛ so ample that it helde two iourneyes longe, & in brede half o iourneye & more; In suche wyse that of the bruyt that was made for the grete multytude of the frensshemen, it was herde two myle ferre and more.

¶ Of the tryews of Charles & of Aygolant, and of the deth of hys peple, & wherfore aygolant was not baptysed': capitulo ix

The whyl that charles was a yonge chylde he lerned̛ at Toulete the langage of sarasyns, and spake it whan he wold̛. Aygolant, thys geaunt and̛ grete Lord̛, coude not absteyne hym, and cam nygh vnto crystyente, and sente to Charles to come to hym vnto Pampylone, and̛ tryews was [sign. l ij, back, col. 2] maad̛ bytwene them. For Aygolant consyderyd̛ the multytude of hys people and̛ the puyssaunces of their persones. For by cours of nature hym semed̛ he shold̛ surmounte the crysten peple, but he thought that the god̛ of crysten people was more certayn and̛ trewe than the god of the paynyms; but er he wold declyne fro the worsℏyppyng of hys goddes, he had̛ desyre to assaye yet ones the nombre of paynyms ayenst the nombre of crysten men. And̛ he was contente to make a pacte and̛ couenaunt wyth charles, that he that shold̛ obteyne the vyctorye vpon others peple, that his god were holden and̛ worsℏypped̛, And that the god̛ of hym that shold̛ lose the bataylle

shold̛ be of noo valure, renyed̛, and̛ reputed̛ for nought. And̛ vpon thys couenaunte were sente twenty crysten knyghtes ayenst xx knyghtes paynyms. And̛ anone as they were assembled̛ and̛ medled̛ to-gyder, the twenty sarasyns were slayn. And̛ after were sente fourty ayenst fourty, And̛ anone the sarasyns were slayn and̛ vaynquysshed̛. And̛ after he sent an C. ayenst an C., but they were not slayne, but fledde. Aygolant thouȝt he wold do better, and̛ sent ij hondred ayenst ij C., and̛ anone the sarasyns were ouercomen & slayn. [sign. l iij] ¶ Thys geaunt was euyl contente of the destructyon of hys peple, and for to make a grete descomfyte, he sente a thousand̛ sarasyns ayenst a M cristen men, and̛ wythoute makyng̛ grete rebellyon, ["wythoute makyng̛ grete rebellyon:" without showing any great fight. Fr. sans faire grandes rebellions.] the sarasyns were anone slayn and̛ put to deth. Thenne the kyng̛ Aygolant, by experyence for-made, afermed the fayth & the lawe of crysten peple to be better, more sure, & more certeyn than the lawe of the paynyms and sarasyns, and thus he was enclyned̛ to the crysten fayth, & dysposed̛ hym to receyue baptym on the morne without fayntyse; and here vpon he demanded̛ tryews and̛ surete for to goo & come to Charles, & he graunted̛ it to hym wyth good̛ hert. and̛ thus atte houre of tyerce, whan charles was at dyner, Aygolant had̛ entencyon to see charles and hys maner at mete, for to knowe hys astate, yf it were vayllerous and̛ soo grete as it was in armes and in bataylles. And also he came pryncypally for to be baptysed̛, and̛ he sawe Charles at hys table with grete magnyfycence, and after behelde the ordre of hys peple and sawe that somme were in habyte of knyghtes and grete prynces, Other in habyte of channons & monkes; & asked so that he was certefyed of euery ordre, and̛ the cause of theyr estate, and after [sign. l iij, col. 2] that he sawe in a parte of y^e halle syttyng on the grounde, xiij poure persones, which dyned & ete as other dyd̛. for

charles of custom wold not take his repaste tyl he had xiij poure men in the worsℏypp of our lord and of his xij appostles, & he toke hede how these poure men satte on the grounde without towayl in ryght poure habyte, & dyned al soroufully, & he demaunded̛ what people they were. Charles ansuerd̛ & sayd̛: "they be goddes peple and̛ messagers of our lord̛ Ihesu cryst, whome I susteyne in thonour of hym & his xij appostles that he had̛ with hym, & gyue to them refectyon corporel." Aygolant said: "certeynlye he serueth euyl hys lord y^t receyueth his messagers in thys manere. I see wel that they that ben aboute the been in good poynt & wel arayed, & wel serued of mete & drynke, & the seruauntes of thy god lyue pourely & euyl clothed ayenst y^e colde, & ben withdrawen ferre fro the. he dooth grete shame to his lord̛ that receyueth his messagers in this manere. & more ouer, I see now wel that the lawe whyche thou hast sayd to me to be good̛ & holy, by thy werkes thou sℏewest them to be fals & of no valewe." & herof aygolant was all moeued & troubled in his entendement, & he beyng put out alle fro hys purpose, toke leue of the [sign. l iij, back] kyng̛ & retourned̛ to hys peple, & renounced̛ to be baptysed̛, and sente word̛ to charles for to begynne warre ageyn on y^e morne more stronge than euer he had̛ doon tofore.

¶ Of the deth of aygolant and of his peple, & how moche crysten peple were slayn by concupyscence of syluer, & of crysten men founden dede by myracle: ca. x

Whan charles sawe Aygolant come for to baptyse hym he was moche Ioyous, but whan he retorned̛ & forsoke it he was euyl contente, & took aduys vpon the pour men whyche he sayd̛ were

messagers of god̛. For after the pouerte of them, and̛ after that they were named, fore to holde them so, was none honour to theyr mayster, & the emperour remembred wel that the peple of god̛ ought to be receyued̛ honestly, & honourably holden & serued. wherfor the poure men that he fonde in thexcercyte he dyd them to be wel clothed & honestly, and gaf to them mete largely, And̛ took suche custome in hym self that he faylled̛ not, but the pour peple were receyued with honour in his companye. vpon thys purpose on a day folowyng̛, the sarasyns put them to bataylle, and̛ to fyght [sign. l iij, back, col. 2] ayenst the crysten men by grete fyerste, and̛ there was soo grete destructyon that day of the sarasyns, that the crysten men were empesshed̛ and lette by the blood that ranne so habundantly, as it had̛ rayned̛ many dayes water and blood. wherefore [orig. wherforr.] Aygolant, seyng the destructyon of his people as he that doubted̛ nothyng to deye, aduaunced [orig. and aduaunced.] so hym self that he was slayn and̛ put to deth, and after the cristen men entred̛ in to the cyte of pampylone, and̛ put to deth al the sarasyns that they fonde therin.

Thenne the kyng of Cybylle & the kyng̛ of cordube saued them self with somme of their subgettes. After thys the crysten men ful of couetyse for to haue gold and̛ syluer of the sarasyns that were deed̛ retorned̛, And whan they were wel charged̛ & laden wyth golde, syluer, and other hauoyr, the kyng̛ of Cybylle and̛ the kyng̛ of Cordube took hede ther of, And̛ wyth al their meyne came couertly vpon the crysten men, and put to deth moo than a thousand̛.

¶ Thus may be knowen that the ardeur of concupyscence was cause of the deth of the soule wythoute vyctorye, and̛ to god̛ dysplaysaunte. ¶ On the morne tydynges came how so many sarasyns were slayn, and̛

specyally of aygolant, vnto the prynce [sign. l iiij] of Nauarre named Furre, wherfore he sent to Charles to haue batayll ordynayre. Charles was so noble, so puyssaunt, & so trustyng̛ in god̛, whan he faught for the crysten fayth that he refused̛ hym not. and after, at the day of bataylle, whyche was assygned̛ on bothe partyes, Charles put hym self to prayer, and̛ prayed̛ god deuoutely that it plesed̛ hym, to shew what crysten men sℏold̛ deye in that bataylle. and on the day folowyng whan euery man was armed̛ for to fyght, by the wylle of our lord Charles sawe that same day the sygne of the crosse alle rede vpon the sℏoldres behynde vpon theyr harnoys. whan charles sawe it he thanked̛ our lord & had̛ compassyon of theyr detℏ, by cause of the valyaunce of theyr persones. Thenne he sent for all them that bare thensigne & made them to goo in to hys oratorye, and after sℏette them fast therin, to the ende that they sℏold not take deth that day; and̛ thenne wyth al his other hoost he went ayenst thoost of the prynce furre, but it was not longe but furre and̛ hys people were destroyed̛ and put to deth. and whan that was doon the emperour came in to hys oratorye vyctoryous vpon hys enemyes, and fonde al them that were sℏette wythin dede & expyred̛, & thenne knewe [sign. l iiij, col. 2] he wel that alle they that were marked with the crosse were assygned that day to be receyued in to heuen with glorye & crowne of marterdom, & that it apperteyned not to Charles to prolonge theyr helthe. wherfore he is wel symple that wyl put hym in payne to eschewe the passage of whyche he is not maystre.

¶ Of feragus the merueyllous geaunt, how he bare alwaye wyth hym the barons of fraunce wyth out daunger, & how Roulland' faught wyth hym: capitulo xj.

After that aygolant was slayn, & Furre, & many kynges sarasyns as tofore is wryton, the tydynges cam to the admyral of babyloune, the which had a geant moche terryble, that was of the generacion of golias, & he made hym to be accompanyed with xx M turkes moche strong, and̛ sente hym for to fyght ayenst charles themperour. For hys puyssaunce was redoubted̛ thurgh the world, & the sayd feragus cam vnto the cyte of vagyere, nygh to saynt Iames, bytwene cristendom & hethenes, & sent to Charles that he shold come to fyght ayenst hym. This geant was moche meruayllous, For he doubted neyther spere ne swerde, ne arowe, ne other shotte. And he had̛ the strengthe of xl [sign. l iiij, back] myghty men and̛ stronge. Anone as Charles knewe the tydynges of hys comyng̛, he went to hym and was vpon his watche nygh by vagyere. Whan thys was knowen this geaunte yssued̛ oute of the towne, and̛ demaunded̛ synguler persone ayenst a persone. ["demaunded̛ synguler persone ayenst a persone:" Fr. demanda a Charles bataille singuliere de personne a personne.] Charles, whiche neuer had̛ refused̛ that to persone, sente to hym Ogyer the danoys. but whan the geant sawe hym allone on the felde, without makyng̛ of ony semblaunte of warre, he came allone to hym, & took hym wyth one hande & put hym vnder hys arme, wythoute doynge to hym ony harme, and̛ bare hym vnto hys lodgys, and̛ dyd̛ do put hym in pryson, and̛ made nomore a-doo to bere hym, than dooth a wulf to bere a lytel lambe. The heyght of thys geaunt was of twelue cubytes: he had̛ the face a cubyte brode, the nose a palme longe, the armes & thyes four cubytes long̛. The backe of his hand was thre palmes longe. After that Ogyer was borne thus awaye, Charles sente raynold̛ daulbepyn. whan Feragus sawe hym, he bare hym a-waye as lyghtly as the other. Charles was abasshed̛ and sent tweyne other, that is to wete, constayn of Rome, & therle hoel. This geaunt took that one wyth [orig. wyght.] the ryght honde and̛ that other

in the lyft honde, and bare them [sign. l iiij, back, col. 2] bothe tweyne in-to pryson in to hys lodgyng̛, that euery man myght see. yet after charles sent other tweyne, and semblably they were bothe borne away wythoute ony wythstandyng or contradyctyon. whan Charles saw the feet of this man, he was al abasshed̛, & durst nomore sende ony persone. For no man myght resyste hym. Roulland̛, whyche was prynce of al thexcersyte of Charles, was euyl contente of thys that the geaunt was vyctoryous, & came to Charles and̛ presented hym self for to goo fyght wyth hym, but charles wold̛ not graunte hym. At the last, by force, he was constrayned̛ to gyue to hym lycence, & Roulland̛ made hym redy, and̛ cam tofore Feragus; but anone he was taken and reteyned wyth hys ryght hande lyke the other, and̛ the geaunt layed hym tofore hym on hys hors. whan Rolland sawe that he was taken & borne awaye soo vylaynsly ["soo vylaynsly:" Fr. si villement.] he took a grete [orig. gtete.] courage in hym self, and̛ called the name of Ihesus to help, & to be in hys ayde, and torned hym ayenst Feragus, and̛ took hym by the chynne, and̛ made to ouerthrowe fro hys hors, & fyl to the grounde, and rolland also. And after anone they arose, and eueryche took hys owne hors. Roulland, whyche was moche habyle and̛ courageous, drewe [sign. l v] hys swerde durandal and̛ came ayenst the geaunt, and̛ gaf soo grete a stroke on the Paynyms hors that he carf hym a-sondre in the myddes, and the paynym fyl to the erthe. Feragus, beyng euyl contente for hys hors that was dede, took hys swerde for to smyte Rolland̛, & had̛ slayne hym wyth the stroke yf he had̛ attayned̛ hym; but assone as he lyfte vp hys arme for to haue smyton Rolland̛, Roulland̛ auaunced̛ hym self and smote the geant vpon the arme, with whiche he helde hys swerde, suche a stroke, that hys swerde fyl to the grounde; wherof Feragus had̛ grete despyte and supposed to haue smyten

hym wyth hys fyste, but he attayned rollandes hors in suche wyse that he slewe hym. Thus were they bothe two on fote, whyche wythoute swerd begynnen to fyght wyth theyr fystes and̛ wyth stones contynuelly, tyl the houre of none: wherfore they bothe were wery, and̛ took tryews to-gyder by one acorde vnto the morne, and̛ that they shold̛ fyght wythout spere and̛ wythoute hors: and̛ here vpon eche of them went vn-to hys lodgys.

¶ How on the morne rolland' and' Feragus foughten & dysputeden the fayth, and by what [sign. l v, col. 2] moyen Feragus was slayn by Roulland': capitulo xij

The next day folowyng̛ erly, Rolland̛ and̛ Feragus came to the felde of the bataylle. The geaunt brought hys swerde moche grete, but it was nothynge worth, for rolland̛ made prouysyon of a grete staffe or clubbe, ryȝt longe wyth whyche he smote the geaunt; but he myght nowher hurte hym. & also he smote hym with grete stones and̛ rounde, & coude in noo wyse hurte ne entre in-to hys flesshe. And in this maner they cessyd not to fyght tyl the houre of mydday. The geaunt was wery, and̛ demaunded̛ tryews of Rolland̛ for to slepe and̛ reste hym a lytel. Rolland was contente, and̛ was so noble and̛ so valyaunt, that whan the geaunt was layed̛ he went and fette a grete stone and̛ layed it vnder hys heed̛, to the ende that he myght the better slepe and reste at hys ease. And̛ after that he had̛ a lytel slepte, & that he was awaked̛, he satte vp. And̛ the noble Rolland̛ came and sat by hym and sayd̛ to hym: "I meruaylle moche of thy feat, How thou art so stronge and̛ so terryble that thou mayst not be hurt ne wounded in thy body by swerd,

ne by staffe, ne by stones, ne in [orig. im.] [sign. l v, back] noo wyse." The geaunt, which spake spaynyssh, sayd̛ to hym: "I may not be slayn, but by the nauell." whan Rolland̛ herde that he made semblaunte that he vnderstood̛ hym not. After Feragus demaunded hym what was hys name, and̛ of what lygnage he was. Rolland̛ sayd̛ to hym: "I am named̛ Rolland̛, and am neuew of charles, the ryght myghty Emperour." & Feragus asked̛ of hym what lawe he helde. Rolland̛ ansuered: "I holde the cristen fayth by the grace of god." Feragus sayd: "what fayth is that, and̛ who hath gyuen it?" to whyche Roulland̛ ansuerd̛: "It is trouthe y^t after god almyȝty had̛ made heuen and̛ erthe, and̛ our fyrst fader adam, which was dysobeyssaunt to hys commaundements; the world was Juged here in erthe wythoute hauyng̛ of beatytude, ne of felycyte: and long tyme after the sone of god, the second̛ persone of the Trynyte, remembred̛ hym of the valure of the soule, the whiche is gyuen to euery persone, and̛ descended̛ fro heuen and̛ took our humanyte and̛ suffred̛ greuous passyon of paynes. And̛ he beyng̛ in thys world̛ hath gyuen enseygnements and̛ stablyssed̛ constytucyons for to saue vs, & pryncypally who byleueth in hym & in hys werkes parfyghtly, and that he be baptysed̛, After thys [sign. l v, back, col. 2] mortel lyf he shal be saued̛ in heuen: and, loo! thys is the fayth that I holde, in the which I wyl deye." And̛ after that Feragus had̛ made to hym many questyons in the fayth, and that Rolland̛ had̛ ansuerd̛ to hym honourably in euery poynte, Feragus said in this manere: "thou art crysten, and̛ wylt mayntene the fayth of whyche thou hast spoken, and̛ I am a paynym, & holde for my god Mahoun. who of vs tweyne that shal be vanquysshed̛ & ouercome, late hys lawe be holde for nougℏt and̛ of noo valewe, and the fayth of hym that is vyctoryous late it be holden for good &

trewe, and that it be entyerly kepte and obserued̛." The valyaunt Rolland̛ was contente ryght wel, & accepted̛ hys langage. thenne eche of them was redy to fyght. Anone Rolland̛ came to hym, and̛ Feragus lyft vp hys arme for to smyte Rolland̛ moche malycyously, and̛ Roulland̛ sawe the stroke come vpon hym, and̛ for to voyde it he launced̛ hys staffe ayenst the swerde, and wyth the stroke the staffe was cutte asondre; and̛ there-wythal the geaunt ranne to Rolland̛ and had̛ hym doun vnder hym. Rolland̛, consyderyng̛ that he mygℏt not flee ne escape, he called̛ in hys hert deuoutely the name of Ihesus, and yelded̛ hym to god̛ & [sign. l vi] to the vyrgyn marye: & he anon reprysed̛ suche strengthe & myȝt that he aroos a lytel, & myghtyly repugned̛ the geaunte, in suche manere that he brought the geaunte vnder hym, and̛ thenne moche quyckly and̛ subtylly he sete hande on hys swerde, and pryched hym in the nauyll therwyth, & anone after aroos, and fledde al that he myȝt to thoost of charles. Anone as feragus felte hym self hurt in that place, he cryed̛ so hye & lowde, that alle they that were in that place were aferd̛ & abasshed̛ of hys crye, & he sayd̛: "O Mahommet, my god̛, to whom I haue gyuen my fayth, come & socour me, for thou seest wel that I dye, and tarye noo lenger." with that hydous voys the sarasyns camen to hym and bare hym awaye in theyr armes the best wyse they coude vnto hys lodgys; and by that tyme rolland̛ was comen alle hool and̛ sauf vnto Charles. And forthwyth the crysten men went Impetuously vpon the Sarasyns that bare Feragus, and̛ entred̛ in to the cyte, and so moche dyd̛ that the geaunt was dede, and̛ after came in to the pryson valyauntly, and̛ took out Ogyer, Regnault, Constantyn, Hoel, and̛ the other prysonners.

¶ How Charles went to Cordube, [sign. l vj, col. 2] where the kyng of the same place and' the kyng' of Cybylle abode, for their destructyon: ca. xiij

After thys aforesayd, the kyng̛ Corbude and the kyng̛ of Cybylle sent to Charles that he shold come to cordube for to fyght. Anone as charles knewe it, he came thyder wyth all hys puyssaunce. And̛ whan they were nygh for tassemble in bataylle, the sarasyns maad̛ a moche subtyl and̛ wylde thynge. For tofore the Sarasyns that were on hersback they had̛ ordeyned men on fote, whyche had̛ vysieres counterfeyted̛ all black & rede, horned, and berded lyke deuylles, for to deceyue the crysten men; and eueryche of these foot men bare in hys honde a lytel belle. And at thentre of the bataylle they began to sowne and̛ make suche a bruyt, that assone as the horses of the crysten men sawe them so counterfayted and sowne their bellys, so Impetuously they began to flee, disrenge & to be aferde, in suche maner that no man might holde theyr horses, but by force they must flee and̛ wythdrawe them. Charles deuysed̛ a remedye, and on the morne he blynfelde the horses and couerd̛ theyr eyen wyth clothes, And̛ stopped̛ theyr eres, to the ende that they shold̛ not see ne [sign. l vi, back] here the sarasyns dysguysed̛ & countrefayted̛. And whan they came to bataylle in this manere they spared̛ not, but slewe doun ryght, & put the sarasyns to deth tyl mydday; but yet they were not al vaynquysshed̛, For they had̛ a carte myghty and̛ grete for to resyste and̛ make grete empesshement to theyr enemyes. And̛ this engyne was drawen wyth viij oxen in the warre, & ther-vpon [orig. thre-vpon.] stode on hye the standard of theyr ensygne. & theyr custome was that on payne of deth noo persone, shold retorne, ne goo

aback for no thyng as long as the standard̛ stode vpryght. herof Charles was enformed̛, wherfore moche puyssauntly he rode thurgh the sarasyns tyl he came to the standard̛, and with Joyouse hys swerde he smote it asondre: and̛ anone as the sarasyns sawe that they fledde, & mony of y^e paynyms were slayn and̛ dede. & on the morne after the towne was delyuerd̛ vnto Charles by the lord of the toun, [orig. tonn.] whyche coude not resyste hym, & charles was content to lete hym haue hys lyf yf he wold be baptysed̛, and̛ also the toun for to holde it of hym and̛ none otherwyse. And̛ thenne charles ordeyned̛ in spayne certayn of hys barons to kepe it, in suche wyse, that none durst assaylle it, ne make to it warre. For he was [sign. l vj, back, col. 2] alwaye vyctoryous of his enemyes by the puyssaunce that he ledde, and̛ also by dyscrecyon of hys persone, and̛ pryncypally by the grace of god, whyche faylled̛ not in him and in hys subgettes.

¶ How the chyrche of Saynt Iames was halowed by tharchebysshop Turpyn, & the chyrches of spayne subgettes therto, and' of other pryncypal chyrches: capitulo xiiij

Charles the noble emperour, after that he had̛ put and̛ sette good̛ estate and̛ good̛ warde in spayne, he went to saynt Iames wyth fewe people. And̛ whan he was there, suche cristen men as he there fond he rewarded them, & dyd to them moche good̛, and̛ he punysshed suche as were apostates, & other maner of peple, suche as he fonde vntryewe and̛ dysobeysaunte to holy chyrche, he lete slee and put to deth, or he sente theym in to fraunce to do penaunce, and bannysshed̛ them. And̛ thenne thorugh al the cytees of spayne he ordeyned̛ bysshops, relygyous, and̛ other

peple of the chyrche, & made many constytucyons, [orig. constytucyous.] synodals, and other ordynaunces vp-on the chyrche, and̛ vpon other peple. And̛ in thonour of saynt [sign. l vij] Iames he made constytucyons, and Instytuled̛ that al the bysshops, prynces, and̛ kynges dwellyng̛ in spayne, shold̛ all be subget to the bysshop of saynt Iames, and̛ al they shold̛ owe to that chyrche fydelyte, wyth al the peple of the londe of galyce. And̛ accordyng̛ to the same the archebisshop Turpyn wryteth in thys manere: "And̛ I, Turpyn, archebysshop of Raynes, was in the same place, where the ordenaunces aforesayd̛ were maad̛. And̛ I, accompanyed̛ wyth ix honourable bysshops & of good̛ lyf, at the requeste and̛ postulacyon of Charles in the moneth of Iuyl, haue halowed̛, dedycated̛, blessyd̛, and consecrated the chyrche of saynt Iames, & the aulter of the same. And̛ after thenne the kynge Charles gaf al the londe of spayne & of galyce to that chyrche, And̛ after ordeyned y^t euery hous of spayn and̛ galyce shold̛ gyue to the cℏyrche of saynt Iames iiij pens of the money corraunt for annuel [orig. amuel.] trybute. And̛ by the moyen therof they shold̛ be franke and free of seruytude. And̛ for the honour of saynt Iames he establysshed̛ that the chyrche of the sayd̛ place shold̛ be sayd apostolyque for thexaltacion of the place. And more ouer, that the bysshopryches and̛ specyal dygnyte of alle spayne & of galyce, [sign. l vij, col. 2] and̛ semblably the coronacions of kynges of al the contre, shold̛ be crowned̛ & sacred̛ by the bysshop of saynt Iames, al in lyke wyse as it hath been tofore doon in Asye in the place of ephesym, for the honour of holy Saynt Iohan theuangelyst, brother of saynt Iames, and sone of Zebedee. & thus Saynt Iohan was lodged̛ in the ryght syde, And Saynt Iames, hys brother, in the lyfte syde. Thenne was accomplisshed the peticyon of their moder and̛ of

hyr two sones, gloryouse frendes of our lord̛ Ihesu Cryst, whan she desyred̛ that hyr two sones shold̛ sytte, one on the ryght syde, and that other on the lyfte, whyche was thenne accomplysshed̛ and termyned̛. & therfore in the world ben thre syeges and̛ chyrches pryncypal, whyche crysten men by ryght owen texalte, deffende and̛ mayntene wyth all theyr myght. ¶ That is to wete, the chyrche of Rome, The chyrche of Ephesym of saynt Iohan the euangelyst, And̛ the chyrche of Saynt Iames in galyce. And yf ony demaunded the cause of these thre places and̛ syeges pryncipal of cristyente, the cause is ynough apparente. These thre places ben honoured̛ pryncypally by cause the synners may haue theyr recours to them for tamende theyr lyues, and̛ put [sign. l vij, back] awaye theyr synnes, & obteyne pardon and̛ forgyuenes. Fyrst these iij appostles, that is to say, Saynt Peter, Saynt Johan, & saynt James, haue preceded̛ all the other in the companye of Jhesu Cryst whan he was in thys world̛, & haue ben called̛ to hys secretes, and̛ that haue moost contynued̛ wyth hym. Thus by good̛ ryght, the places in whyche they haue conversed and contynued̛ theyr lyues, and where theyr bodyes resten, oughten to be honoured̛ and̛ to be habundaunt in grace. ¶ Pryncypally, saynt Peter was the fyrst and̛ moost hye, & preched̛ at Rome, and̛ there was martred̛ & buryed̛; Therfor the chyrche of Rome is enhaunced̛ & exalted̛ aboue al other chyrches. & after saynt Johan, whyche sawe the secretes of god̛ in his souper, & in ephesym he made the gospel 'In principio erat verbum & cetera,' And̛ by his holy prechyng̛ hath conuerted thynfydellys to the holy crysten fayth. And̛ also saynt James, whyche had̛ grete payne in spayne and̛ in galyce, for the honour of god̛ as wel for hys holy lyf, for hys myracles, as for hys marterdom and̛ hys sepulture, by good̛ ryght ought the memorye of them to be thorugh the vnyuersal world̛."

[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.