[Thystorye and lyf of the noble and crysten prynce Charles the grete kynge of Frauuce [sic]]

AS it is redde in thystory¦es of the troians / After the dystructyon of the noble cyte of Troye / there was a kyng moche noble named fran¦cus the whyche was felowe of Eneas / which whan he departed fro Troye came in to the regy∣on of fraunce / & bega•• to regne in grete prosperyte / & for the fe∣lycyte of his name he dyd cōpose & do edyfye a cyte whiche he na∣med fraunce / & so folowyng all the regyon was called fraūce / & after whā fraūce was enhaūced & reduced to mageste ryal Pri∣amus was the fyrst that regned vpon the frensshe men v yere / The second was marcurius xxxiij yere / The iij phara••••ūdus regned xj yere / The iiij clodyus xiiij yere The v Meroneus x yere / The vj hildericus xxvij yere / & the vij was Clodoneus the fyrst crysten kyng whyche regned vpon the frensshe men after thyncarnacion of our lord CCCC lxxxiiij yere of whome I entende to make a li¦tel mencyon vpon hys ••••••ueyl¦lous conuersacyon /

¶How the kyng clodoneus pay¦nym had to wyf the noble clotil¦dis doughter of the kynge of burgoyne capitulo ij

IN that tyme was kyng of the burgoynons guy¦dengus the whiche had iiij sones al of good aege / that is to wete / Agabondus / the ij godogesylus / the iij Hyspericus & the fourth Godamarus / The fyrst agabondus repleynsshed of al inyquyte put to deth by swerd his broder hispericus / and after henge his wyf & put a stone a∣boute hyr necke & drowned hyr This hyspericus had two fayre doughters / theldest was named throne / whom agabondus her vn¦cle bannysshed fro hys contrey & sent hir forth in habyte dy••••ymy¦led / The yonger of these ij dou••∣ters was named clotildis whom he reteyned for hir beaute wyth hym in his hous / duryng thy•• the kyng clodoneus or Cloys iij frensshe beyng a paynym whyche byleued with his subgett•••• but vpon yd••lles / oftymes f••r hys affayres sent his message••s 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to burgoyne / clotyldys th•••• fayr mayde was ofte seen of ••he mes¦sagers of the kyng 〈…〉〈…〉 by holden affectuously / and for hir grete beaulte & dyscrescyon the sayd messagers ••••tyfyed it to the kyng 〈◊〉〈◊〉 •• and whan thys kyng Cloy•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ynough infor¦med of the grete beaute•••• wys∣dom of this mayde whyche was crysten / he was moche curyous to sende his herawdes vnto aga¦bondus ••ncle of thys doughter for to ha••e hyr to maryage / Du¦ryng those dayes the kyng Clo¦ys had a subtyl man wyth hym named aurelyanus which by co¦maundement of hys lord wente

to the place where as was thy•• mayde / & put hym self in habyte moche poure and dyssymyled / & le••t his good habytes with his felowes in a wode / & wēt moche holyly tofore the moder chyrche of that place the day of a grete feste / & set hym self in the myd¦des of the poure peple for to re∣ceyue almesse lyke as other dy¦den / whan thoffyce was accom∣plysshed this mayde Clotildis like as the was accustomed acte departyng fro the chyrche began to gyue almesse to the poure pe∣ple / & whan she came to Aureli¦anus she gaf to hym in his honde a pyece of golde / & anone he as glad & wel contente kyssed hyr h••nde•• whan this lady was in hy•• chambre she began to thynke on that poure man that had kys¦sed hyr honde / & sent for to seche hym by hyr seruaunt / whan he wyst it / he cam to hir moche Ioy¦ously / and bare in his honde the rynge of kyng cloys / & humbly behaued hym tofore hyr / ¶The mayde began to say to hym / saye to me wherfore dyssymylest thou thy self lyke to the poure people Aurelyanus answerd Madame knowe ye for trouthe that I am a messager of the noble Kyng cloys kyng of Fraunce whiche hath sente me to you / & beyng enformed of your beaute & wys¦dom desyreth you to be hys wyf & for to be quene / & forthwith he presēted to hir the rynge of kyng cloys / the whyche she took & put it in to the tresour of agabondus hir vncle / & sayd to the messager that he shold recomaunde hyr to the kyng / in tellyng to hym that it was not leeful to a paynym to haue to his wyf a crysten wo¦mā / Neuertheles she prayed hym that of al this he shold say noo worde / & that she wold not doe but as the kyng wold / & vpon this poynt auerlianus came and shewed al to the kyng / where∣vpon the kyng cloys the yere fo∣lowyng sent ageyn his messa∣ger anrelian{us} to agabōdus vn∣cle of Clotildis for to haue hyr to his wyf / whan Agabondus knewe then••necyon of kyng clo∣ys / he ansuerd to the messager Say hardyly to the kyng thy lord that he hath lytel to do in de¦syryng to haue my nyece to wyf but the bourgoynons wyse coū∣seyllours redoubtyng the puys∣saunce of kyng Cloys / by good counceyl whan they had wel ser¦ched the tresour of Agabondus their kyng / & foūde the rynge of kyng cloys which clotyldis had layed therin / wherin was grauē & portrayed his ymage wente & concluded to performe the wylle of kyng clois / & vpon this aga¦bondus ful of yre delyuerd Clo¦tildis to aurelianus / he brouʒt hir with his peple with grete Io∣ye to kyng cloys which had grete

playsyr to see thys fayr mayde And forthwyth with al solem∣nyte after the maner royal he espoused hir after the custome of his lawe /

¶How kyng Cloys was ad∣monested by the quene clotildis affectuously that he shold by∣leue in the crysten fayth / and o∣ther maters capitulo iij

THe fyrst nyght after the espousaylles atte houre that the kyng and the quene shold slepe to gyder / Clo¦tyldis enbraced wyth the loue of god by grete knowlege of Ihesus our lord went and said to the kyng / My right dere lord I requyre the / that it please the to graūte to me a lytel demaūde byfore or I entre in to thy bedde wyth the / The kynge sayd de∣maunde•• what thou wylt / For I am wel contente / Clotyldys thenne sayd to hym / Fyrst I de¦maunde / requyre / and admoneste the / that thou wylt byleue in god of heuen Fader almyghty whyche made heuen and erthe / & that hath created the / And in Ihesu Cryst his gloryous sone kyng of alle kynges / which by his passyon hath redemed the / And in the holy ghoost confir∣matour and Illumynatour of al good werkes procedyng fro the fader & fro the sone the fore∣sayd Trynyte in one onely es∣sen / to whome ought to be gy∣uen al honour and all lawde & byleue / Byleue ye in this holy byleue and mageste / and leue the ydolles made wyth mannes honde a folysshe thyng and vayn and thynke for to restore the ho¦ly chyrches whyche thou hast brente / Secondly I requyre the that thou wylt demaunde my parte and porcyon of the goodes of my fader and of my moder / of agabond{us} myn vncle / whom he dyd put to deth falsely and wythoute occasyon / but the ven¦geaunce I leue to god / whan she had said this / the kyng answerd ¶Thou hast demaunded me a poynte & passage which is to me ouer strayt & hard to graunte / that is that I shold forsake my goddes / by whome I gouern me for to adoure one onely god of whome thou hast spoken to me demaūde of me som other thynge & with good hert I shal doo it / Clotildis āsuerd as moche as is possyble to me to requyer I sup∣plye & byseche the that thou wilt adoure the god of heuen maker of al / to whome onely is due al ho¦nour / the kyng made none other ansuer / but sente anone Aure∣lyen his fa••tour to agabondus for to haue the goodes longyng to the quene Clotildis / & whan Aurelyen had doon his messa∣ge / Agabondus replenysshed with grete Ire āsuerd to the mes¦sager / that he shold as soone

haue alle his royame as ony thyng of hym / For which cause Aurelyen said to hym / the kyng cl••ys my maister comaūdeth the by me that thou make an an∣swer vpon my demaunde / or ellys he shalle be euyl contente Thenne the bourgoynons helden a counceyl / and sayd to agabon¦dus their kyng / Sir kyng gyue to your nyece of your goodes as reason wyl / for it is ryght / And we k••owe wel that so ought ye to doe / and to take playsyr to haue good a••yaunces with clo∣is the kyng / and wyth all the frensshe peple / to thende that they ••••nne not on vs / For the people is boystous & furious / and that werke is / wythout mynde of god And vpon this poynte Agabon¦dus constrayned to the counceyl of the bourgoynons hys people sente a grete partye of his tre∣sour to Aurelyen the messager of kyng Cloys / In a litel tyme after the kyng cloys in vysityng his royame / The quene clotyl∣dis was anon grete with chylde and sone after was delyuerd of a sone / whome she dyd do baptyse And contynuelly requyred the kyng that he wold byleue as to¦fore is sayd / but he in no wyse wold here her ne do therafter / And whan the chylde was bap∣tysed / anone it exspyred & dey∣ed / wherof the kyng was euyl contente and sayd to the quene yf thou haddest gyuen hym and dedyed hym to my goddes / he were now olyue / The quene an swerd for this thyng I am noo thyng perturbled in my courage but I rendre & gyue thākynges to god my creatour by cause he hath me so dygne and worthy / that it ha••h plesed hym to take in to his royalme of heuen the fyrst fruyt of my wombe / After the yere folowyng she had ageyn another sone named lodomyrus the whyche whan he was bapty¦sed bycame anone so seke / that it was supposed he shold deye / And whan the kyng sawe it languysshe / he beyng euyl con∣tente said to the quene / and how sayd he / it shal none otherwyse be of this chylde / but as it was of that other his broder by cause ayenst myn entente thou doost thy wylle in baptysyng them / Thenne the quene for the fere of the ••yng prayed to god deuou∣tely for the helthe of hyr chylde And anone he was guarysshed and hool /

¶How the kyng Cloys was vyctoryous of hys enemyes by canse he byleued in Ihesu Cryste Capitulo iiij

KYng Cloys after certeyn tyme begā to make war∣re mortal ayenst the Al¦mayns / And so perseueryng the

alle mayns had vyctorye on the frensshe men in suche wyse that they were ouerthrowen & slayn Thēne whan aurelyen sawe the dystructyon of the kynges peple he began to beholde the kyng hys lord & sayd to hym / Syr kyng ye see tofore your eyen the mortal destructyon of your peple / I re∣quyre you that ye byleue in god almyghty / whych hath made he∣uen & erthe / I mene hym whome my lady the quene adoureth / pre¦cheth and byleueth on / whan the kyng had herde aurelyen thus speken in grete affectyon / he be∣gan to lyfte his eyen vnto heuen and wepte moche largely / and wyth grete pyte thus sayd / O Ihesu cryst sone of the ve••y god almyghty on whom my wyf by leueth / and wyth al hyr hert pre¦cheth / & notyfyeth hym to gyue remedye to them that ben in try∣bulacyons / I byseche the of ayde and socour / that I may be vycto¦ryous of myn enemyes by ex∣peryence / presently I byleueue on the / and in thy name I shalle baptyse me / I haue demaunded my goddes for to helpe me / but they haue doon no thyng for me And I say they be of noo value ne of noo comforte whan they may not helpe them that requyre them / wherfore to the as veray god and lord I requyre the that I may be delyuerd by thy hye puyssaunce fro myn aduer∣s••ryes / he thus sayeng wyth an hyghe voys / The allemayns his enemyes vaynquysshed & mur∣dred began to flee in suche wyse that theyr kyng was deed / wher¦fore / they that abode yelded them to kyng cloys / and by••men his subgettes / and sette al that con¦treye vnder hys obayssaunce & puyssaunce pa••eng yerely try∣bute / Thenne after this vyctory by the puyssaunce of god obtey∣ned / he came in to fraunce / And recounted alle to the quene hys wyf how by Inuocacion dyuyne and by thayde of god almyghty he had obteyned vyctorye /

¶How the kyng was bapty∣sed by saynt Remyge / & in hys baptesme by myracle was brouʒ the holy ampulle by an aungel fro heuen / wherof euer after all the kynges of Fraunce ••••••••••noynted in theyr consecr••cyon atte cyte of Raynes cap••••ulo v

AFter that the 〈…〉〈…〉 herde the kynge whyche was conuerted vnto the crysten fayth for the vyctorye whych he had obteyned she had grete Ioye / And Incontynet sent after saynt Remyge bysshop of raynes a moche holy man / whi∣che came to hyr for to prech to the kyng his saluacyon & he maner•• of the crysten fayth / & whan he was comen / after that

he had wel enformed the kyng began strongely to excyte the pe¦ple of fraunce to byleue in Ihesu Cryst / And the peple gaynsay∣ed it not / For in knowyng the errour of thydolles they began al to byleue in god & say / Syr kyng gloryous it is best that ye forsake thydolles / and adoure the god Inmortal / whome the quene adoureth and preyseth / & so for to do / all we be contente / Incontynent al this was she∣wed to saynt Remyge / wherof he was moche Ioyous / and cam to them dylygently / as a good herdman that taketh grete payne to kepe the sheep fro his aduer∣sarye / and grete playsyr ought he to haue to come thyder / For his comyng and hys prechyng dyd soo grete prouffyte that it made the peple to be regenerate after thordynaunce of holy bap∣tesme / wythoute whych no man may entre in to heuen / wherfore the necessyte of the saluacion of thys kyng enlumyned of grace dysposed to byleue conioyned to good entencyon maad affectu∣ously saynt ••emyge to come / for he thought wel whan the kyng was baptysed and byleued in Ihesu cryst and his commaunde¦ments / that al the peple subgette to hym shold do the same wyse And whan saynt remyge was comen / and had cōmyned with the kyng / touchyng his salua∣cyon / began to ordeyne the place for to baptyse hym honourably and dyd to ••ynte the hystory∣es after somme poyntes of our crysten fayth moche rychely and repayred the places ryght dely∣cyously / ¶And on that other he dyd do ordeyne & founde chir¦ches aute••tykly & compose bap∣tyzatoryes & fun••es co••uenably whan al this was done y^• kyng was al redy to receyue the holy sacramēt of baptesme / to whome the frende of god saynt remyge began to say by faconde manere ¶Syr kyng it is tyme that ye ought wyth pure entencyon to forsake the false goddes to who∣me tofore this tyme ye haue gy∣uen fayth / And thēne the kyng was al redy to receyue the holy sacramēt of taptesme / To whom Saynt Remyge began by fayr manere / Syr kyng it is tyme that ye ought of pure Intencion to forsake the goddes / to whome here afore tyme ye haue byleued on / whyche ben ful of al vanyte and do no thynge but excersi••e of dampnacyon / And ye ought to byleue wyth ryʒt humble hert in one onely god almyghty / the fader the sone & the holy ghoost one onely & pure essence whyche hath created heuen and erthe / to whome one onely ouʒt to gyue fayth and creaunce / and in Ihe¦su cryst his sone whyche for the sauacyon of humayn creature

wold take humanyte couena∣ble for to repayre thynobedyence of our fyrst fader Adam / And that was conceyued in the bely of the virgyn marie by the werk of the holy ghoost / whyche after was sette on the crosse / and took deth dolorously for to redeme vs was buryed and roos fro deth to lyf / and after ascended in to heuen and sytteth vpon the ryght honde of the fader / and fro thens shal come and Iudge the lyuyng and deed /

¶Also ye shal byleue in holy chyrche our catholyque moder & her ordonnayre / and whan saynt Remyge had ynough enformed the kyng and the peple of our fayth and byleue / he baptysed them in the name of the fader & of the sone & of the holy ghoost And whan he came to enoyn∣tyng after the custome of the holy cresme / whyche noo man brought Incontynent / by the ple¦syr of god and demonstraunce myraculous they alle stondy••g sodeynlye came doun descendyng fro heuen a dou••e shynyng whi∣che bare in hyr becke an holy am¦pull / and lefte it in the same place where the holy cresme was wherwyth the kyng cloys was fyrst enoynted in grete deuocy∣on by Saynt Remyge / whyche Ampull is presently at Ray∣nes / of whyche holy cresme that is therin / the kynges of fraūce onely•• been enoynted ones in theyr consecracyon / ¶In that tyme were baptysed the systers of the sayd kyng and thee thou¦sand men of hys excersyte / and so after all the peple of fraunce in grete Ioye and exaltacion of glorye /

¶The second partye of the first book conteyneth fyue chapytres / and speketh of the begynnyng of kyng Pepyn / And Char∣lemayn hys sone

¶How Pepyn by his 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was chosen kyng of F••aunce whan the lygnage of ky••g clo∣ys faylled in successy•••••• j

THe book ••••••••dent ma∣keth m••ncyon of kyng Cloys / the fyrst crysten kynge of the lordes of Fraunce of whome the ••••gnage succeded from heyre to ••yres vnto the foure and twenty kyng whych was the kyng ••••epyn of ano∣ther lygnage / And the kynge whyche was the xxiij after the kyng Cloys and of his ••gnage was named hild••••us / the which

beyng deuoute & contempletyf wythoute cure to excersyse thof∣fyce royal of a kynge / put hym self in relygyon for to lede a solytarye lyf / ¶In that tyme was Pepyn moche valyaunt of hys persone and moche noble pryn••e / And by cause that alle the kynges of fraunce haue suc∣ceded of thys sayd Pepyn / and in especial charlemayn his sone vpon whome this werke is com¦prysed / I wyl here begynne to treate the mater / the whyche I entende superfycially to speke of And lyke as the book whyche is called myrrour hystoryal com¦pryseth / That Pepyn the prynce on a ty••e sente hys messagers to Rome to the Pope zacharye for to haue answer vpon a de∣maunde / That is to wete whe∣ther is he more worthy to be a kyng or to be said a kyng whi∣he fo•• pe••s and parfyght vny∣on taketh on hym grete payne & trauaylle / or ellys he that ret∣cheth of noo thynge and is aban¦donned and gyuen to all slouth and is onely contente to haue the name onely of kyng / whan the pope had herde thys demaūde he remaunded to Pepyn / that he by ryght reason and veray e∣quyte ought to be called a kyng that gouerneth and ruleth hys fayt for the comyn wele & conty¦nueth it / For whyche ansuer & demaunde the Frensshe men by c••unceyl approuued / consydered theyr kyng hyldrycus profes∣sed in a monasterye in lyf soly¦tarye and contemplatyf / And that not wythstondyng ought not to be ony thyng ayenst them that lyuen solytaryly / how wel a kyng ought not to be solyta∣rye / For suche as is the Kyng suche is the Royame / ¶For sa∣lamon sayth yf the kyng be ne∣clygēt / the peple wote not what to doo / And blessyd is the londe that hath a prynce noble / Alle the frensshe men beyng wel en∣formed of the condycions apper¦teynyng to a kynge / after an auctour that sayth thus / ¶The Prynce whan he is ordeyned ought not to haue horses super∣fluous ne make his peple more subgette than they ought to be / and ought not to take but ser∣uauntes propyce and necessarye wythoute superfluyte / and not to nourysshe ouer many houn∣des ne other beestes vnprouffy∣table / but take them in mesure / ¶And he shold eschewe mul∣typlycacyon of menys••rellys / Tabouryns / commyn wymmen lecherous men / ¶And he shold not corrupte hys subgettes by euyl exaumple / He shold not breke hys espousaylles / he shold gladly rede in bookes / & shold haue by hym peple wel letterd / And shold Iuge wythoute fa∣uour / ¶And tofore al thynges

he shold adoure & serue god / he shold not gladly take yeftes & ought not gladly to ch••ūge hys offycers / Alle thys thynge wel seen emonge them for the conser∣uacion of the people emonge the myscreaūtes which were at that tyme wente and chosen for to be kyng of Fraunce the noble Pe¦pyn / and fro that tyme forthon the lygnage of kyng cloys reg∣ned nomore vpon the frensshe men / And he was consecrate by saynt Boneface / And by thauc¦toryte apostolyque / & by Saynt Stephen Pope with his ij sones Charlemayn / & charles the grete was confermed and approuued and ordeyned all the kynges of fraunce in grete ben••dyction to succede fro lygnage to lygnage moost nexte / And the said pope gaf his maledyction to al them that were opposaunts and ayenst these thynges aforesayd /

¶Thenne after this noble kyng Pepyn made grete warre to the englysshe men / And after the guyse Romayn he ordeyned the seruyce in the chyrches of fraūce and many other maters mer∣uayllous / wherof thonour is at∣trybuted by good ryght to hym by vyctorye obteyned / and was buryed in the chyrche of Saynt Denys in Fraunce / And lefte hys heyres hys two sones afore sayd whome he had goten on the noble quene berte doughter of the grete Herclyn Cezar of whome the lignage of romayns of germayns / and of the gre∣kes haue had concurrence / wher¦fore by good ryght in tyme folo∣wyng the kyng Charles was chosen and maad Emperour of Rome / And the sayd Kynge Pepyn regned xviij yere in pros¦peryte dygne of saluacyon / and after that the broder of the sayd Charles had regned in his par∣tye of the royame ij yere he deyed And thenne after alle the go∣uernement hoolly of the royame of fraunce abode to the sayd char¦les / as here after / shalle be more playnly shewed /

¶Of kyng Charles after that he had maad many constytucy∣ons wyth the Pope Adryan / & how he was emperour of Rome capitulo ij

THys noble Charlemayn otherwyse called Char∣les the grete / the whiche for the gretenes of hys body / puyssaunce and opperacions vir¦tuouses by merite is called grete as I haue sayd / whyche after the deth of hys brother he was onely kyng of Fraunce / A ly∣tel whyle after that the Pope

adryan regned & dyd grete dyli¦gence to strengthe & corobere the crysten fayth / in annullyng the heresyes and constytutyng yma¦ges for representacyon of sayn∣tes in chyrches / And to many other labours merytoryes adioy¦ned in the seruyce of god & of holy chyrche / The kyng charles ayenst the mysereauntes taryed not to confounde them / but had vyctorye of them in dyners ma∣ners / & the pope adryan whyche was wel enformed that thys Charles was a stronge pyler of the chyrche and protectour of the fayth sente for hym that he shold come to Rome / And whan he came to pauye there he taryed & sette hys syege and soiourned a lytel tyme / And after wyth a fewe of hys people departed & came to rome / And there he was receyued affectuously / and vy∣syted many places deuoutelye / And after whan he retorned he took pauye / And whan he had all doon his playsyr he retorned to Rome / And wyth the Pope adryan he assembled many bys∣shoppes and abbottes the nom∣bre of an hondred & liij / where they ordeyned many constytucy∣ons vpon the fayt of the vny∣uersal chyrche / And in that sy∣node for the grete holynes of charles / The pope and al thassys¦tentes gaf hym power for to or∣deyne bisshoppes & archbisshops in al his contrees and prouyn∣ces / And al them that so shal be ordeyned he shal conferme / and the rebellys that shall gaynsaye them / he shal curse / and theyr goodes be confysked / This no∣ble charles wyth hys two sones that one named Pepyn / & that other ••••wys / And the xij pyeres of fraunce whyche al had pro∣mysed fydelyte one to that other for to Ieoparde theyr lyf for the crysten fayth / In that tyme ma¦ny mortal warres duryng the lyf of kyng Pepyn & of char∣les / and after that the royame of lombardye was destroyed and delyuerd of the myscreauntes And maad pees not wythoute grete trauayll for to come from fraunce in to lombardye by cause of the daūgerous countre / whan alle thys was termyned to hys playsyr / he reduced alle ytalye vnder the trybute of the royame of Fraunce / In suche wyse that whan ytalye was thus destroyed he went to Rome for to gyue thankynges and laude to god moche deuoutelye for vyctorye that he had and for execusyon doon vpon the enemyes of the fayth / And there with the pope Adryan he maad many consty∣tucyons / whyche by ryʒt equyte ought wel to be obserued / And after he beyng thus in Rome vyctoryous / hys sone Pepyn was ordeyned & consecrate kyng

of the ytalyens / And hys sone lowys was ordeyned and con∣secrate kyng vpon g••yan / thys doon the Romayns whyche of grete ancyaunte were of grete app••ete / after that the emperour was by them put to deth Con∣stantyn his sone wold haue reg∣ned for emperour / whyche was not wel in the fauour of the se∣natours and other Romayns / the whyche beyng in this poynte after that they had taken delybe¦racyon of grete counceyl seeyng the grete valure and noblesse of kyng Charles / whyche was so parfyght in alle noblesse / hardy∣nesse / prudence / & other vertues as I shalle touche herafter alle playne / that by consente of eue ryche he was chosen emperour of Rome wyth grete loange & ex∣altacyon of Ioye Innumerable / And by the honde of Pope Leo he was crowned emperour with alle honoures that myght be com¦prysed / And al wyth one voys gaf to hym laude and honour / And called hym Cezar & Au∣gust by a symylytude of valure in contemplacyon of grete play¦syr that they had maad hym kyng of ytalyens /

¶Of the corpulence of Kynge Charles and of the maner of hys lyuyng capitulo iij

CHarlemayn Kynge of Fraunce after that he was Emperour ••e dyd many meruayllous werkes / and regned emperour thyrtene yere / And had thenne regned vpon the frensshe man xxxiij yere And in the contye of Rome he edyfyed many cytees and resto∣red good townes & many other thynges whyche may not well be recoūted by cause of his mer¦ueyllous werkes / Neuertheles for to knowe what man he was his werkes wytnessen as moche as toucheth thexcercyte of hys persone / Turpyn the holy man archebysshop of Raynes / whych lyued that tyme / and was oft tymes in the companye of kyng Charles sayth that he was a man wel faryng of hys body & grete of persone / and had hys ••yght and regarde fyers & ma∣lycyous / / ¶The lengthe of hys persone conteyned eyght feet after the mesure of his feet which were merueyllously long fatte and massyf was ••e of his sholdres and raynes wythoute hauyng the bely otherwise than wel a poynte / The armes and thyes he had ample and la••ge / he was a subtyl knyght & ryght¦wyse actyf and moche fyers / and of alle hys membres he was of ryght grete strengthe / he had the face deduyte in lengthe / and hys ••••••de was a foot longe /

he had hys nose reysed vpon a roundnes / A fayr regarde and countenaunce had thys man / he had the face of a large fote brode he had the eyen like a lyon spar¦klyng lyke a cole by furyous regard•• / his wynbrowes grete / Assone as he byhelde a man in anger / eche man had of hym fere and drede in openyng his eyen The gyrdle of whyche he was gyrde was viij fote longe wyth oute that / that henge doun fro the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the pendaunt / whan he took hys ••••paast he was contente wyth lytel brede / but as tou∣chyng the pytaūce / he ete at his REpaast a quarter of moton / or ij ••••nnes / or a grete ghoos / or a grete pestel of porke / or a pecok / or a crane / or an hare all hool / he dranke wyn sobrely wyth a ly∣tel water therin / Of hys stren∣gthe is not a lytel thynge to speke of / For he wold smyte a knyght armed wyth one stroke of a swerde and cleue hym from the coppe of the hede doun to the sadel / And yf he had bytwene hys handes iiij hors shoen wyth oute ouermoche prouyng hys myght / he wold ryʒt them oute and breke them in pyeces / And more ouer wyth one hande he wold take a knyght al armed and lyfte hym vp to the heyght of hys breste lyghtly / And he had in hym thre thynges moche honourable / Fyrst in yeftes ye∣uyng he was ryght large lyke vnto Tytus themperour sone of vaspasyanus / which was so pro¦dygal / that it was not possyble to hym to gyue that / whyche he promysed / And whan it was demaunded why he promysed thynge / that he myght not gyue forthwyth / he answerd that a persone ought not departe fro a prynce desolate ne heuy / nor with oute to obteyne somme thynge / Secondly Charles was so sure in Iugement that no man coude reprehende hym / and also he was pyetous & mercyful vnto cristen men after the qualyte of the per¦sone / & the occasyon of the tres∣paas / And thyrdly in his wor¦des he was moche wel aduysed whan he spake / he thought stron¦gely on that he sayd / & whan one spake to hym / he remembred the manere for to compryse then tencyon of the spekar

¶To what thynge kyng Char¦les hys sone and hys doughters were Instructe and taughte to doo capitulo iiij

DAme bertrode moder of Charles ful of grete scy¦ence in grete prosperyte of lyf and in honour wexed olde and fynysshed hyr dayes / and ordeyned bookes for to ex¦cersyse the artes lyberalle / ¶Of

whome fyrst charles took glad∣ly payne for to estudye / And in the tyme of Infancye he maad scyence to be taught to his sones and doughters / and after whan they knewe their byleue he made them to studye in the seuen artes lyberal / And whan the sones were of age for to ryde on hors∣back after the guyse of Fraunce he made them to fere armes and to Iuste for texcersyle the warre whan it shold be nede / & whan they dyd not that / he made them to hunte of maner wylde beestes and dyd them to do other of ba¦tements longyng to chyualrye contynuelly / After this he made his doughters to spynne & sowe and to occupye them in other ho¦nourable werkes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thende that by ydlenes and slouthe & faute of occupacyon they shold not haue occasyon to falle in thouʒt dysordynate for to haue Incly∣nacyon to synne and vyce / and whan he was not occupyed in maters of charge and weyghty he wold employe his tyme in wrytyng somme newe thynge to thende that he wold not be y∣dle acoordyng to the pystle of saynt poule whiche admonesteth vs to do alwaye somme good / by cause y^t out enemye the fonde holde vs not in ydlenes for to folowe his entencyon dampna∣ble / And he dyd do make in his polays in Acon in Almayn a chyrche of our lady comprysed of meruayllous beaute / & moche rychely ordeyned and wrought and in grete honour enhaunced in sygne of a parfyght crysten man / For after that one loueth the lord / and that is gyuen to hym the werkes desirous to me∣ue other to doo to the bard lyke as hym self / and in lyke wyse shold perseuere in the amplyfyca¦cyon of hys contreye / that sythe the deth of hys fader Pepyn be doubled by puyssaūce in the roy∣ame of fraunce /

¶Of the studye of kyng char∣les / of hys lyuyng / of hys cha¦rytable werkes and other ma∣ters capitulo v

AFter that Charles was Instructe in gram yre other scyences ••••••pased & speculatyf alwaye be contynued in them / And by ardour desyre frequented the bookes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vpon the crysten fayth / for to be protectour and defer 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the chyrche / the whyche is vysyted on mornynges and on euenes & in the nyght ofty••es and of good festes be faylled not to doo gretely hys deuoyr in sacrifyses & oblacions / And also gaf lar∣gely almesse for the leue of god and was alway redy to socour the poure people in t••e largest wyse / Fo•• he socoured not onely

the poure folke of his own•• con¦treye with his hauoyr & goodes but in many other places beyōde the see he sente golde and syluer and vytayll after the necessyte of the place as in surrye in egypt in affrique in Iherusalem & other contreyes as he that sayd / gold and syluer is not myn / To eue∣ry man he desyred amytye and pees / Of body he was moche am¦ple & boystous / of stature well apparysaunt / the coppe of hys heed rounde / the heeres in grete reuerence & the vysage Ioyous / he had the boys clere & of grete force / & at his souper he ete not for the moost parte sauf rosted veneson whyche aboue alle other flesshe he loued and vsed at his souper / Alwaye he loued redars for to rede cronycles or other thyn¦ges contemplatyues / as he that wold as wel fede the soule whi∣che is {per}petuel / of spyrituel fode for to mayntene it in vnyon of grace toward god his maker / as of refeccyon of the body for to conserue the lyf / And emonge al other bookes he delyted stron∣gely in the bookes of saint aus∣tyn especyally in that whyche is named de ciuitate dei / & he drāke not ouer ofte / For at souper he dranke not but thre tymes / In somer tyme gladly after myd∣day he wold ete a lytel faiyt & drynke ones / & wold goo reste hym al naked in his bedde two or three houres / In the nyght he brake his slepe foure or v tymes and walked in hys chambre / Thus Charles preseuerd in feli∣cyte ryal and emperyal / & sente oueral thorugh hys empyre hys messagers and grete counceyll¦lours for to vysyte hys prouyn¦ces and good townes for to be enformed of the gouernoure of them for to do to eueriche Iustyce and reson / and made many con¦stytucyons & lawes accordyng to the places / and commaunded them to be obserued and kepte vpon grete payne / Semblably the sayd Charles sente thorugh al the world for to knowe ouer al the gouernement / That is to wete for do knowe the meruayl¦lous faytes that were doon in the world / And also for to lerne the lyf of sayntes / of whom the festes were halowed / and made of them bookes for tabyde in e∣ternal memorye / & euery day he dyd doo put in wrytyng that whyche he dyd / In suche maner that after the wrytyng that he thenne fonde / were founde more than thre hondred festes of sayn¦tes one tyme of the yere / wherfor he excersycyng his spyrituel wer¦kes / he was byloued & dere re∣puted of euery body / In that tyme Aaron the kyng of perce for the magnyfycence of charles sente to hym an Olyphaunt mer¦ueyllously grete for a synguler

yefte and many other thynges precyouses / ¶Thys Charles for hys grete holynesse and no blesse was in suche renommce of honour and of vertures / On a tyme aaron the kyng of Perse sente to hym emonge other yef∣tes the bodyes of saynt Cypryan and of saynt speratus / and the heed of saynt Panthaleon mar¦ters / in to Fraunce /

¶The thyrd parte of the fyrst book conteyneth thre chapytres / and speketh how by reuelacion deuyne Charles defyuerd the ho¦ly londe fro the honde of the pay∣nyms /

¶How the patryorke of Ihe∣rusalem sente to Charles for so∣cours / after that he was deiecte and caste oute of the Turkes capitulo primo

IT is redde / that in the tyme that charles was emperour of rome / the pa¦tryarke of Iherusalem was soo oppressyd of the paynyms by mortall warre that vnnethe he myght saue hym self / And thus whan he knewe nomore what to do / He had in remembraūce the noble charles / and he beyng en formed of hys holynes / for so∣cour he sente to hym the keyes of the holy sepulcre of our lord Ihe¦su Cryst of Caluarye and of the cyte / And wyth that he sente to hym the standart of the fayth as to the pyler of crystente and def¦fendour of holy chyrche / After thys the patryarke came to con∣stantynoble vnto themperour con¦stantyn and to hys sone Leo / & brought wyth hym Iohan of na¦ples preste and another whyche named hym self Dauyd are••••∣pr••est / whome themperour Con¦stantyn sent incontynent to char¦les / And wyth them tweyne ••e ordeyned for to goo wyth them two other whyche were named ysaac and Samuel / & delyuerd to them a lettre wryton with his owne hande for to bere to char••les / And the sayd Constantyn had wryton in one parte of the lettre thus / On a nyght me s••••med that I sawe tofore my be∣dde a yonge womā moche fayre sten¦dyng ryght vp whyche tou••••ed me softly and sayd to me 〈◊〉〈◊〉 swete wordes / Cōstantyn whan thou knewest thaffayre & 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the paynyms whyche ho••de•• the holy londe / by gret•• af••ecty∣on thou hast prayed ••od for to haue helpe / ••o what ••••ou shalhe doo / Pourchace that ••••ou mayst haue wyth the charles the grete kyng of the gallyens whych is protectour of holy crystente and defendour of holy chyr•••••• / And after the same lady shewed me a knyght armed in al his body and spores on hys bele•• / & had

hys shelde rede / gyrde wyth hys swerde / & had his sleue of pur¦ple & helde a spere moche grete / And the heed of yron whyche was on hye / caste in to the ayer grete flambes of fyre / & he helde in his hōde a bacynet al of golde shynyng / and he was auncient wyth a longe herde ryght fayre of vysage and longe of body / he had eyen shynyng as ij sterres / and hys heerys began to wexe whyte / and after was wryton O thou August that neuer re∣fusest the comandements of god enioye the in Ihesu Cryst / & in thy mynde alwaye yelde to hym thankynges be enclosed in Ius∣tyce / lyke as thou hast be recla¦med in honour / Ihesu Cryste gyue the grace to preseuere and kepe alwaye the commandemēts of god as thou oughtest to doo feemely / And as it is wryton themperour Constantyn in hys tyme had deiected the paynyms oute of Iherusalem seuen tymes wherfore whan he myʒt nomore he sente his messagers to kyng Charles / whyche at that tyme was at parys / And whan the messagers had presented the let∣ters and he had seen them / he began to wepe moche greuously in contemplacyon of pyte of the holy sepulcre of our lord so hol¦den of the paynyms / After this he sente for tharchebysshop Tur∣pyn / and maad hym to preche openlye the pyteous tydynges whyche were thenne presentlye comen the whyche wel herde and vnderstood / the peple alle gene∣rally were enclyned to goo thy¦der /

¶How charles with a grete companye wente for to conquere the holy lande and many other maters capitulo ij

AFter that thys whyche I haue tofore sayd was publysshed / The kynge dyd do make an edyct / and dyd do crye it thorugh out al the con¦treye that euery man that myʒt ••ere armes shold be redy for to goo wyth hym ayenst the pay∣nyms / and he that wold not come shold be bounde for a good sōme of money for to hyre soul∣dyours that shold goo / Thys doon was neuer seen tofore in so lytel tyme so moche peple assem¦bled as thenne were founden / And whan they were al depar¦ted in the name of god full of one grete fayth / in grete hope to obteyne vyctorye vnder the con∣duyte of Charlemayn capitayne of the fayth / And whan they had ryden a grete longe waye / they came in to a grete wode of buscage / in whyche they myght not passe vnnethe in two dayes and yet wyth grete payne / and Charles thought to passe it in

one daye / wherfore he & his hoost entred wythin the sayd wood which was ful of dyuers wilde beestes / as Gryffons / beres / ly∣ons / Tygres / and other beestes whā they were thus in that grete wode / and the nyght came on / they were al abasshed & troubled wythout knowyng whych waye they shold holde / And Charles commaūded that they shold loke yf they myght see or knowe ony habytacyon / but they were ferre fro ony and oute of their ryght waye / and by force were dryuen to dyspose them to slepe in that estate / And whan they were al in reste the kyng charles beyng in his dormytorye trustyng of the ayde of our lord in grete de∣uocyon began to say the psaul∣ter / And whan he came to the poynte that he shold say the vers foloyng / Deduc me domine in semita mandatorum tuore quia¦ipām bolui / he sayng thys there came a byrde to his ere in the pre¦sence of eueriche that were about hym whyche sayd wyth an hye voys / kyng thyn oryson is herde Thenne alle they that were pre∣sente were moche troubled / and not wythstondyng al thys / the kyng contynued to say the psaul¦ter vnto Educ me do custodia a∣nimam meam / & all thus whyle he sayd the byrd began more strongely to crye and say / ¶O frensshe man what sayest thou / O frensshe man what sayst thou And after that the kyng and hys companye wente and folo∣wed the byrde whyche conduy∣ted them vnto the ryght wayr whyche they had lost the day to fore / & somme of the pylgryms sayd that after in the same con∣treye were suche byrdes so doyng But whan charles & hys grete puyssaunce were nyghe theyr ene¦myes they were moche troubled of theyr comyng / & the crysten lordes were gretely reioysed of theyr comyng / For wythoute cessyng he rested not tyl that he had trcouerd the contreye of crys¦ten men / and expelled alle the paynyms whyche moche redoun∣ded to hym grete honour & vyc∣torye / And in retournyng he de¦maunded of themperour of Con¦stantynoble lycence to departe: of the other patryarkes & arche¦perestes / And thempe••••ur helde hym an hole day / And for re∣muneracyon the sayd emperour for thonour of kyng ••••arles on the morne tofore th•• yates of the cyte dyd do ordey•••• many bestes of dyuers mane••s & dyuers co¦lours / & grete quantyte of gold and syluer and of precious sto¦nes / to thende that he shold take it for sōme rewarde for the grete good that he had doon in theyr contreye. But assone as charles knewe therof / he took counceyll of hys people what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ought to

doo in takyng of the precyous & ryche yeftes / or to retourne in to fraunce wythout takyng of ony thyng / And there vpon his ba∣rons coūceilled hym that he shold take no thynge for hys laboure For he had doon no thynge but for the loue of god onely / And he beyng wel content of thys ansuer / commaunded that noo persone vpon grete payne shold take noo thyng of the Iewellys aforesayd /

¶Of the relyques that thempe¦rour charles brought fro constan¦tynoble and fro the holy londe and of the myracles that were doo in capitulo iij

WHan themperour of con∣stantynople and the pa∣tryarke of Iherusalem knewe that charles wold take no thynge of the good aforsayd he was admonested that he shold take somwhat of them / & whan he was thus constrayned / he by sought them that for the loue of god / myght be gyuen vnto hym somwhat of the relyques of our lord and of hys holy passyon / whan thys was demaunded / It was commaunded to fast euery man thre dayes for to be the more enclyned to deuocyon / and for to vysyte the holy reliques / and in especyall were ordeyned xij persones by grace / whych shold treate & see the relyques / whan it come to the thyrd day the no∣ble Charles by grete conteycyon confessyd hym to tharchebysshop Turpyn / After that moche ruue rently they beganne to synge the letanye wyth somme psalmes of the psaulter / And there was the pr••late of naples named da¦nyel / whyche in grete reuerence opened the coffre wherin was the precyous crowne of Ihesu Cryst and there sprange oute of the same so grete an odour / that all they that were presente thought to be in paradys / Thēne charles ful of hool and very creaunce of fayth parfyght by contempla¦cyon kneled doun to the grounde and strat••hed hym on therthe & moche strongely prayed our lord that for the glorye of hys name persently wold renewe the my∣racles of hys holy passyon and gloryous rosurrexyon / & assone as he had prayed / in a moment the crowne began to florysshe / & a meruayllous swete odour ys∣sued out of the floures soo ryʒt delycyous that eche man suppo∣sed that hys vestementes & clo∣thyng had comen oute of heuen ¶Thēne after thys daniel took a sharpe knyf kuttyng wel pu∣ryfyed to cutte the said crowne and in cuttyng alwaye more & more the sayd crowne flourys∣shed and the odour smellyd the more habundantly / And of the

floures charles put a parte in a reposytorye / and in a lytel coffre he put the thornes of the crowne and wept so habundantlye that whan he wende to haue gyuen to tharchebysshop Ebroin the flou∣res he wythdrewe hys honde & supposed that the sayd Ebroin had holden them in hys honde / & they were in the ayer houyng by myracle / & abode there by them self the space of a grete houre / And after whan he had gyuen in kepyng the sayd thornes to the sayd Ebroin / he sawe the oof∣fret in thayer whyche was full of floure•• / whyche abode there by them self / whiche sone after were conuerted in to manna / and in that manere they berpat Saynt Denys in fraunce / And it hath be the oppynyon of many / that thys was of the māna that god sente in to deserte to hys people / Thenne were there shewed my∣racles / For al seek people that were there present were heled of al theyr maladyes by the odour of the floures aforesayd / and the peple that entred in to the chirche by grete vyolence of presse of pe¦ple cryed / verytably that day was a day of helthe & resurrecti∣on / for by the sauour of the mel¦lyfluous floures alle the cytee was puryfyed and replenysshed of grace / for thre hondred & one seek man by compte were heled & guarisshed of their maladyes Emonge al other ther was one seek of xxiiij yere & thre mone∣thes / whyche was blynde / deef / & dombe / but at meuyng whan the thorne was drawen fro the crowne / he took hys syght / and whan it was layed in ageyn he recouuered his heeryng / And in florysshyng of it / he was resto∣red to his speche / ¶After thys the sayd danyel took a nayll / of which the percyous body of our lord in his passyon had be per∣ced / and in grete reuerence was put for a relque in alabast••e / & in takyng oute of it / a chylde was heled / whiche of hys lefte syde was drye and Impotent fro his byrthe / & he ranne haste∣lye to the chyrche / and cryed at the houre of none / and said that he beyng in an extasye was he led and guarysshed / and tolde the manere / ¶Also there was gyuen to the kyng Charles a pyece of the holy crosse and the holy sudarye / and therwith the smocke of our lady / & the clothe wherin our lord was wrapped and also the arme of saynt Sy¦meon / and al reuerently in pre¦cyous pyxes & ••••asses he h••nge them aboute hys necke / and in passyng by a castel / there was a chylde newe dede / whom kyng charles touched with the reliques that he bare / & anone the chylde was reysed to lyf / And whan he come to Acon in Almayne

whyche is a moche fayr cytee / where as kyng charles had made his paleys moche fayr & ryche and a ryght deuoute chapel in thonour of our lady / wherin / hym self is buryed / There atte laste were guarysshed & heled blynde men / and seek men of the feures wythoute nombre / & xij demo∣nyaks / viij lazars / of the pale∣scy xv / of mysharen xv / ••roke backed lij / of the fallyng seke∣nes lxv / of the gowte many of them of the same place / & many of other malad••es / And it was ordeyned that in the moneth of Iuyl at Acon in the cyte that al peple myght come & see the for∣sayd relyques which kyng char¦les had brought fro Iherusalem and constantynoble / And more ouer was establysshed that one day of the weke of the fastyng of ymbre dayes and in the mo∣neth of Iuyl shold be made this demostraunce and notyfycacyon And in thys constytucion was Pope Leo / Tharchebysshop Tur¦pyn / Achylleus bysshop of alex andrye / And Theophyle of an¦thyoche & many other bisshoppes & abbottes / whyche werk was moche vertuous & ful of helthe /