BKBHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHIHHHHaBIB ^
m\ ] I
III
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
AT LOS ANGELES
THE GIFT OF
MAY TREAT MORRISON
IN MEMORY OF
ALEXANDER F MORRISON
BY THE SAME AUTHOR.
MEDIEVAL LORE : An Epitome of the
Science. Geography, Animal and Plant
Folk-Lore of the Middle Age. With a
Preface by WILLIAM MORRIS. 8vo.
75. 6d.
SECREES OF OLD PHILISOFFRES :
Being the First Edition of Lydgate and
Burgh's version of the Secreta Secretorum.
8vo. 155.
THE STORY OF ALEXANDER. Uni-
form with "Renaud of Montauban."
75. 6d.
HUON OF BORDEAUX: Done into
English by Sir JOHN BOURCHIER, LORD
BERNERS : and now retold by ROBERT
STEELE. Uniform with "Renaud of
Montauban." 75. 6d.
RENAUD OF MONTAUBAN
RENAUD OF MONT AUBAN : FIRST
DONE INTO ENGLISH BY WILLIAM
CAXTON AND NOW ABRIDGED
AND RETRANSLATED BY ROBERT
STEELE
PUBLISHED BY GEORGE ALLEN
RUSKIN HOUSE : CHARING CROSS
ROAD : LONDON : MDCCCXCVII
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t
3
TO
WALTER CRANE
PAINTER AND WRITER
THIS BOOK IS
RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED
433016
DEAR MR. CRANE,
If I put your name at the head of
this little book it is not with the thought
that it is a worthy homage to the work you
have done in the world for so many, young
and old : it is rather to express our thanks
Mr. Mason's and mine since even the
smallest offering may be judged by the will
of the givers rather than its intrinsic value.
Yet I should not have ventured to con-
nect our work with your name if I had not
felt that the subject-matter of our story at
least was worthy of the highest. One
astounding age and race of men gave to
Western Europe the noblest architecture the
world has seen, to learning the Universities,
and to literature the Matter of France, of
ix
Britain, and of Rome the root-stock and
the fair blossoming of romance. The Matter
of Britain, made familiar to us by Malory,
has furnished the masters of our days with
the subject of some of their finest work
Tennyson, Swinburne, and Morris have but
retold in divers manners the stories of that
age. But the Matter of France the story
of Charlemagne and his Peers, the story
of Troy, of Alexander, and the like have
not been so fortunate. From the days of
their first translation into our tongue they
have ceased less and less to interest the
readers of this country, till at last even the
buyers of chap-books have refused them
their support. We have tried to bring them
again to the public of to-day in the "Story
of Alexander " and in " Huon of Bordeaux,"
with only the success that my poor skill
warranted the hopes of, far below the
merits of the stories themselves.
Once more, it may be for the last time,
we come before the public with one of these
tales of the birth of Western feudalism. As
I see it, though perhaps not as I have written
it down, it is worthy of their hearing. If
it has not the long ages behind it that make
the "Story of Alexander" one of the most in-
teresting, as it is one of the oldest of romances:
if we do not hear in it the distant horn of
Oberon sounding now and again through
the woods of Outremer, and catch a glimpse
of the King of Faery, lover of truth and true
men : yet the tale of the Four Sons of
Aymon has for us the attraction of being of
the very life of the people amongst whom it
grew, the most dearly loved and best re-
membered of these half-forgotten tales. As
I have wandered through that fair land of
the north of France, dear to us as the nurs-
ing-home of civic liberties, and as the cradle
of the greatest architecture of the world, the
land between the Seine and the Rhine, one
sees, as one rides through the little villages,
the four brothers pictured on the sign of the
little estaminet: in the town the oldest street
xi
will bear their name, and in the winter night
amidst the howling of the wind one still may
chance to hear the neighing of Bayard and
the clatter of his hoofs as he hurries past the
dwellings of ungrateful man. Other stories
of success and glory have died out and been
forgotten centuries ago this of unmerited
wrong, of brave resistance, of final triumph,
of humility and patience, has lived in the
hearts of the people who have found their
strength and their success in the same re-
sistance of patience and endurance.
A few words as to the form in which I
have presented the story to modern readers
it would be easy to discover the original
form of the tale and to present it thus
to the public of to-day, but certain con-
siderations led me to prefer the later form.
The story of Renaud grew originally in the
north of France, but its immense popularity
imposed upon the tellers of the time the
necessity of connecting him with other parts
of France. Thus nearly every episode in
xii
the story is doubled : over and over again
the situation recurs localised in the south of
France. It would be easy to make guesses
at the position of the map of these various
resting-places of Renaud ; I could take you
to the little bridge from which Bayard was
thrown into the Meuse, or show you the
castle where Maugis wrought his spells, or
dreamed of vengeance against the murderer
of his father ; but these things are not the
function of the story-teller, nor do they even
add value to his work. When all the dif-
ferent forms were drawn together into one
epic it was equally impossible to omit one
or the other locality, and I have thought it
better to retain some of these duplications
of incident for the sake of the beauty of
their treatment in the old romance. Really
and truly, to my mind the hero of the tale
is neither Renaud nor Roland, but Bayard,
the good horse.
One word more and I have done. This
long struggle of patience against power, the
xiii
attitude of Renaud towards his lord, give us
better than any other romance I know, the
ideal view of the relations of a knight to his
overlord, and this picture itself would I think
justify me, if justification were needed, for
intruding on the public again with tales of
old days.
ROBERT STEELE.
XIV
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
THE KING'S MESSENGER r* face jap 32
DUKE BEUVES SLAYS LOHIER THE KING'S SON . . 48
DUKE BEUVES ASKS PARDON OF THE KING ... 64
THE TRAITOR 96
KING YON'S SISTER AT WORK IN HER CHAMBER . . 128
MAUGIS THE MAGICIAN 160
MAUGIS ENCHANTETH THE KING 192
RENAUD HELPS TO BUILD THE CATHEDRAL . . .240
ANGELS HOLDING TORCHES ARE SEEN WITH RENAUD 272
^*^^ ^ m f -^^
^ ofRen-
auO of Hkoritauban
&of bis brethren the
four sons of Hymon
translated from the
ol&frencb by (QtlUam
"***" ^_ **^
re-tol&
THE KING IT is told in the deeds of Charlemagne that upon a
COURT time he held high feast in Paris at the time of
Pentecost, after that he was come again from the
plain's "-of Loiribardy, where he had overthrown the
Sarace^i3. and r slain 'their king. Round him were
many "worthy ''knights ; the twelve peers of France
were there, Germans, Englishmen, Normans, Poic-
tevins, Lombards and more. Amongst the other
dukes and princes, came the good and worthy Duke
Aymon of Dordonne, and with him his four sons,
Renaud, Alard, Guichard, and Richard. Fair and
mighty, witty and valiant, were the four, and of
them Renaud was the tallest man that could any-
where be found.
At this feast the King rose and said to his
barons :
" My vassals and friends, ye all know how I have
conquered and gotten so many great lands by your
help and succour, and how I have slain the infidels
or made them accept the Christian faith. Yet have we
lost right many of our chivalry through the fault of
those of our vassals who would not come to our banner
after we had sent for them, like Gerard of Rous-
sillon, the Duke of Nanteuil, and Duke Beuves of
Aigremont, of whom I now complain to you. Had
it not been for Sir Salomon, who came to our aid
with thirty thousand men, and Lambert of Berri,
and Geoffrey of Bourdelle, and Galeran of Bouillon
who bore our banner, we should have been beaten,
2 and
and that by the fault of these three brethren, and THE KING
above all, of Duke Beuves of Aigremont, since they O? M B P EUVES
never deigned to obey our orders, though they took
oath of service. Now shall I send him word to
come and serve me with all his power, and in case he
refuse I shall send for all my friends and my subjects
and besiege him at Aigremont. If I take it, I will
hang him, and slay his son Maugis ; I will burn his
wife alive, and put his lands to fire and sword."
Then the good Duke Naymes of Bavaria rose
forthwith and spoke in this wise :
" Sire, meseemeth you should not anger yourself
so sore : if you will believe me, you will send to the
Duke of Aigremont a messenger well and honour-
ably accompanied. He should be wise and prudent,
such an one as will shew forth all that you charge
him with ; and when you know the duke's answer,
then can you advise you what you have to do."
" In good faith," said the King, " you counsel me
wisely and right well."
Then he thought within himself whom he might
send bold enough to deliver his message without
fear of death, and asked his barons, but there was
none of them that answered, for many of them were
of kin to the duke, as Duke Aymon of Dordonne,
who was his brother. Then was King Charlemagne
right wroth and angry ; and then swore by Saint
Denis that he would destroy the duke. He called
for his eldest son Lohier, and said :
3 "My
LOHIRR is " My son, needs must you do this message. Take
with you an hundred knights armed and honourably
arrayed : and when you come to Duke Beuves, say
to him that if he come not to serve me on Saint
John's Day next, I will besiege Aigremont, and
destroy his lands ; I will hang him and his son, and
burn his wife alive."
" Sire," said Lohier, " I will do your errand with-
out fear, and tell him all your message."
Then Charlemagne repented sore that he had
charged him with this message, but seeing it had
been said it must be carried out. On the morrow
Lohier and his company made them ready and came
mounted before the King. Then Lohier said to the
King, his father :
" Sire, we are here ready to fulfil your will."
" Dear son," said Charlemagne, " I recommend
you to God, and I beseech Him to keep and guard
you and your fellowship from evil or any harm."
Then departed Lohier and his company, whereof
the King made great lamentation and not without
cause.
Now go the messengers towards Aigremont, sore
threatening Duke Beuves. Full hardly shall it hap
with them, and afterwards many ladies shall abide
widows without husbands, and many gentlewomen
unwedded ; many churches shall be destroyed, and
many lands burned and wasted pity shall it be to
see them. For, as they were riding and threatening
4 the
the duke, a spy hears all that they say, and coining BEUVES
hastily to Aigremont to Duke Beuves in his palace, COUNSEL
tells him how the messengers of Charlemagne
are coming with threats, the King's son at their
head.
Now there were with the Duke great foison of his
folk, by reason of the feast. Then said he :
" Barons, the King sets little by me since he bids
me go to serve him with all my power, and sends
his eldest son to threaten me ; what counsel ye me
thereto, my friends ? "
Then rose a wise and prudent knight, Simon by
name, and said :
" My lord, if you will hear me, I bid you receive
honourably the messengers of Charlemagne, for
well you know that he is your liege lord, and wit
that he who warreth against his lord striveth against
God and right. Have no regard to your kin, nor
to your brothers who would not obey him. Know
that the King is mighty and will destroy you, body
and goods, but that if you obey him."
Then answered the Duke that thus he would not
do, and that Messire Simon gave him evil counsel :
" for," said he, "I have three brothers who will bear
out my war against him, and also my four nephews,
worthy and well taught in feats of war."
"Alas," said the Duchess, "believe your council ;
no man shall praise you for making war against your
rightful lord ; wite well it is against the law of God."
5 Then
LOHIER Then he looked on her in great wrath and bade
MGR her hold her peace. Great was the noise thereon in
MONT the palace of Aigremont, for some counselled the
Duke that he should do as the Duchess had advised,
and others said nay : and at the last the Duke said
to those that bade him not make peace with the
King that he thanked them heartily.
Much long they spake of this matter, till at last
the messengers of the King came to Aigremont.
The castle was set right high upon a rock, well
environed with strong walls, and garnished with fair
towers, so that for its situation and strength it was
impregnable, save only for famine. And Lohier
cried to the lords that were with him :
" See now what a fortress is there ! what walls 1
and the river runs at its foot. There is not, I do
believe, its like in all Christendom."
Then spake a knight called Savary to Lohier, his
lord:
" Sir, it seems to me that the King, your father,
hath done a great folly to attempt to destroy the
Duke of Aigremont, for in good sooth he is right
mighty ; methinks he could raise as many men to
make war as my lord your father, if he came to
be attacked. It were a fair thing if they might be
agreed, but well I wot, if the King had him, all the
gold in Paris would not hinder him from hanging
or slaying. So I beseech you speak mildly to
Duke Beuves, for he is right fierce, and if there
6 were
were a medley between you and him the loss should THEY COME
turn upon us, for we are right few."
Lohier answered that he spoke prudently ; " but
we fear him not," said he, " if he say any thing to
our displeasure he shall be the first to repent it."
Then said Messire Savary to himself softly that
this was not wisely said, " for if it hap you to say
any thing that shall displease him, he will wreak it
on your body, and we shall all be in a way to die."
Thus speaking of one thing and another they
came to the gate of the castle, which was straight-
way shut by the porter. The knights knocked and
the porter answered to them :
" Lords, what be you ? "
" Friend," answered Lohier, " open to us this gate
at once, for we would speak with Duke Beuves from
the King."
" Now abide you a little, and haste you not," said
the porter, " I will go speak to my lord the Duke."
So he went into the hall, knelt down before the
Duke, and told him how down at the gate was a
right great company of men at arms, an hundred
men or more well armed and horsed, and with them
the eldest son of King Charlemagne. " My lord,"
said he, " shall I open the gates to them ? "
" Yea," said the duke, " for I fear them not, were
Charlemagne himself with them."
So the porter ran straightway down again to open
them the gates, and Lohier with his company
7 entered
LOHIER entered and mounted up to the donjon of the castle
EVI^TO where sat Beuves. Then said the duke :
BEUVES Lords, here comes the eldest son of the King ;
if he speak courteously to me he will do well, for
say he any thing to displease me, I shall without
delay take vengeance thereof."
Now there were round him two hundred knights
or more, and it was the month of May when all
creatures human ought well to rejoice them, and men-
folk worthy of heart defend them well and war
against their enemies. So Lohier, right nobly armed,
entered into the hall of the palace of Aigremont,
and saw it well garnished of fair folk, the duke sitting
full proudly among his barons, and the duchess
his wife next by him, and before him his son
Maugis, who had not his like in the art of necro-
mancy or of arms.
Lohier marched at the head of his folk and
saluted the duke in this wise, whereby great evil
fell to him at last :
" The God that created the firmament and made
all things of naught to sustain the people, keep and
save King Charlemagne, Emperor of Almayne and
King of France, and all his noble lineage, and con-
found the Duke of Aigremont ! The King, my
father, sends thee word to come forthwith to Paris
with five hundred knights to serve him where he will
please to employ thee. Also shalt thou do him right
and reason of this that thou were not with him in
8 arms
arms in Lombardy to fight against the enemies of BEUVES
the Christian faith : by this your fault, Baldwin lord W DQ L HIS T
of Melun, Geoffrey of Bourdelle, and many other WILL
great lords there lost their life. If thou come
not, the King shall come on thee with his power,
and take thee and bring thee into France. There
shalt thou be judged as a thief and false traitor to
thy lord to be slain and hanged alive, thy wife
burnt, thy children destroyed or banished. Do this
therefore that I command thee in the King's name,
for thou art his subject."
When Duke Beuves had heard Lohier thus speak,
he changed colour and said to him :
" I shall not go to Charlemagne, or fulfil aught
of his will ; I hold neither castle nor fortress from
him : but I shall come on him with all my power
and destroy the land of France to Paris."
Then said Lohier :
"Vassal, how darest thou answer thus? If the
King knew your threats he would come straightway
on thee and utterly destroy thee. Remember thou
art his liege man. Thou canst not gainsay it : come
then freely and serve thy lord, believe me. If you
do not he will hang you where the winds of the air
with their great blasts shall dry up thy bones."
When the duke heard him speak thus, he said
that he came to an ill end who bore such a message
from Charlemagne, for never should he return.
Then a certain knight, Walter by name, came
9 forth
CALLS TO
ARMS
BEL VES forth and said : "' My lord, keep you from this folly ;
let Lohier say all his will, for you are never the worse
for all his saying. You know how mighty the King
is, for you are his subject, and from him you hold
your castle of Aigremont and all your lands. If
you do him service you shall do wisely, and if you
war against your rightful lord nothing but evil can
come to you therefrom."
When the duke heard him, he gave him thank,
but still angry he said to him :
41 Hold your peace, for I shall hold nothing from
him while I can bear arms and mount my horse.
I will send for my brothers Gerard of Roussillon,
and the Duke of Nanteuil, and Gamier his son, and
we will march on Charlemagne, and if I can meet
him in any place I will do to him what he thought
to do to me. By my faith, all the gold in Paris
should not hinder me from slaying this messenger,
were I cut in pieces for it."
Lohier said to him : " I neither esteem you nor
fear you." Then Duke Beuves waxed red and cried :
" Now, barons, upon him, bring him to me, for he
shall die shamefully."
The barons durst not gainsay their lord, but
drew their swords and ran straightway on
Charlemagne's folk, and Lohier called his banner
and began to defend himself and his folk right
sharply. God knows how many heads and arms
were there cut off that day, for at that hour began a
10 strife
strife by which many ladies and damsels were with- THERE is
out husbands and lovers, many children fatherless, SLAUGH-
and many churches wasted and destroyed that never TER OF
since have been repaired. What shall I say more ?
Wit you well that they fought within the walls of
the palace, and the noise of it spread throughout
the town. Then the burgesses and the craftsmen
came with their axes and swords, about seven
thousand men, but the door of the palace of Aigre-
mont was narrow and the Frenchmen within kept
them well. Alas, what a terrible and unhappy
slaughter was there that day those that had least of
might were forced to do manfully.
When Lohier saw that he and his folk had the
worse, he struck a knight in such a wise that he
laid him dead at the feet of Duke Beuves. Then he
said, bewailing himself:
" Lord God, That suffered death and passion to
redeem mankind, guard me this day from shameful
death and from torment, for well I know that I shall
not see my father, King Charlemagne, any more."
The duke called out : " Lohier, this day shall be
your last."
"It shall not be," said Lohier, and with that he
struck the Duke upon the head, but his helm saved
him and the blow glanced to his heel, so that the
blood ran out. Thereon said Lohier : "I knew that
you would not escape."
Then came Duke Beuves, in a wood rage, and
1 1 heaving
LOHIER heaving up his brank of steel, he smote so hard
FOLK ARE u P on his bright helm that he cloved him to the
SLAIN teeth, and Lohier fell dead before him on the pave-
ment of the hall. So outrageously died Lohier, son
of King Charlemagne, and Duke Beuves struck the
head from his body.
After that the folk of Lohier saw their lord dead,
they made no great defence, for of an hundred that
entered the palace with him, there were but twenty
left. Of these the duke slew forthwith ten, and to
the other ten he said :
" Promise and swear to me on your faith as
knights that ye will bear your lord Lohier to his
father Charlemagne, and say that in an evil hour
did he send him with such a message to me. On
this account I will let you go, and you shall say to
him that I will not pay him a denier, but that in the
summer I will come with thirty thousand men and
destroy him and all his land."
" Sir," answered they, " we shall do what it pleases
you to command us."
Then a bier was made ready, and men put the
body of Lohier within it, and horses drew it from
the castle.
When they were in the fields, the knights began
to weep and said :
" Alas, what shall we now say to the King, when
he shall know your cruel death, Lohier ? We may
well be certain he will make us die."
12 Thus
Thus making their moan for the love of their lord AYMON
Lohier, they rode on their way to Paris. Now leave
we to speak of them, and tell of King Charlemagne. T0 THE
O O KT'MO
Upon a day the King said unto his lords and
barons :
" Lords, I am sorry for my son Lohier, whom I
have sent to Aigremont. I fear me sore there has
been strife with the proud Duke Beuves, and I
doubt me he has slain my son Lohier. By my
crown, if he hath so done I shall go upon him with
an hundred thousand men, and hang him on a
gibbet."
" Sire," quoth Duke Aymon, " if he hath offended,
you will do well to wreak on him great vengeance.
He is your liege man ; he holds his lands of you, and
ought to serve and honour you ; I am right sorry if
he hath done you wrong in any manner. I have
here my four sons, Renaud, Alard, Guichard, and
Richard who are right valiant, and shall be trusty
and true to you."
" Aymon," said the King, " I owe you great
thanks for the offer that you have made me. It is
my will that you bring them hither at once that I
may make them knights : I will give them castles
and lands enough."
Straightway Duke Aymon sent for his sons, and
brought them before the King, and when he saw
them, they pleased him greatly. Renaud was the
first that spake, and he said :
13 " Sire,
CHARLE- " Sire, if it please you to make us knights, we
shall be ever ready to serve you."
MAKES
THEM Then King Charlemagne called for his seneschal
\f M T C"* VI T^i ^^ ^^
and said : ; ' Bring me the arms of the King of
Cyprus whom I slew with my own hands before
Pampeluna, I will give them to Renaud, the most
valiant of all ; and other goodly arms will I give to
his three brethren."
So the seneschal brought the arms and the four
sons of Aymon of Dordonne were armed, and Ogier
the Dane, who was of their kin, did on the spurs of
the new knight Renaud. King Charlemagne girt on
his sword, and dubbed him knight, saying :
" God increase in thee goodness, honour and
worth.''
Then Renaud mounted on Bayard, a horse that
had no like in the world but Bucephalus the horse
of the great King Alexander, for he could run ten
leagues without being weary : this horse was brought
up in the Isle of Brescau, and Maugis had given him
to his cousin. His shield emblazoned hung at his
neck, and he flourished his sword, by seeming a
most valiant knight in the sight of all men. So
they rode out to St. Victor nigh Paris, where the
King had raised a quantain at which the new made
knights should joust, and all did well, but Renaud
took the prize. Then said Charlemagne to him :
" From henceforth, Renaud, you shall come with
me in battle."
14 " Sire,"
" Sire," said Renaud, " God yield it you a thousand THE KING
times. I promise you to serve you truly, and never
shall you find me wanting, save from your default."
The jousting done, the Emperor returned to his
palace in Paris, and reasoned there with his barons :
" I marvel much of Lohier, my eldest son, why
he tarries so long on his message. I fear greatly
some evil hath come to him, for I dreamed this
night in my sleep that the thunder fell on him,
and then that Duke Beuves came and cut off his
head. By my beard, if this be so, he shall never have
peace with me while he lives."
" Sire," said Duke Naymes, " I believe not such
things, nor should you give credence to them."
The King said :
" Yet if it be so, I shall send for Normans,
Flemings, Germans, Bavarians, English, and Lom-
bards, and with them I will destroy him utterly."
As they spoke thus, there came riding a messenger
on a dun horse, sore, sick, and weary, wounded to
the death, who came in before the palace where the
King was at the windows. When the King saw
the messenger, he went quickly down from the
palace hall to the gate, and with him Naymes of
Bavaria, and Ogier the Dane. Then the messenger
he bowed full low, though he was sore wounded, and
might with pain speak, and said to him :
" Sire, great folly you did when you sent my lord
your son to ask tribute and obedience of Duke
15 Beuves,
THE Beuves, the which your son asked shamefully. But
GEIMTELLS the duke, who is fell and cruel, when he heard my
OF THE sa id lord, commanded his meinie of knights to take
>L TER" him, for that he should never return to recount his
message, nor what answer he had found. Then
there was a great and cruel medley so that your dear
son Lohier was slain there, and Duke Beuves slew
him and all your folk save me and nine others, who
are bringing your son in a bier, and I myself am
sore hurt, as you may see."
Then the messenger could speak no more because
of the great grief and pain of his wounds, and fell
down in a swoon. When the King heard this he
fell down on the ground and tore his hair, saying :
" Ha, God that made heaven and earth, Thou hast
brought me into sore trouble ; let me die, for I
desire no more to live."
Then Duke Naymes began to comfort him and
said : " For God's love, Sire, torment not yourself;
have good heart and comfort your folk : " and this
he said for them that he saw weeping for their
kinsmen and friends slain with Lohier. " Bury your
son in honour at St. Germain of the Meadows, and
then march on Duke Beuves with all your power,
and destroy him and his lands at your pleasure."
Then King Charlemagne appeased himself, for he
knew that Duke Naymes' counsel was good, and
bade his barons make them ready to meet the body
of Lohier his son. Straightway they made them-
16 selves
selves ready to do the King's commandment, and LOHIER is
went out. When they were two leagues from Paris
they met the corpse, and when King Charlemagne
saw it he alighted from his horse, and took up the
cloth that was on the bier, and looked on his son
Lohier. Then saw he the head that was smitten off
from the body, and the face that was all hewen, and
cried : "How well may I hate that Duke Beuves
who hath thus murdered my son ! "
Then he kissed his child full often, and said :
" Ha, fair son, you were a tall man and a gentle
knight ; I pray God that He take your soul into
His realm of Paradise."
Great sorrow made the King, but Duke Naymes
comforted him, and Ogier the Dane and Sampson
of Burgundy took him by the arms and led him to
St. Germain of the Meadows. There the body of
Lohier was buried as the sons of kings are wont to
be, and he was put in his grave. Now leave we to
speak of King Charlemagne, and of his grief, and
tell we of Duke Aymon, and of his four sons that
were at Paris.
" My sons," said Aymon, " you know how King
Charlemagne is much wroth, and not without cause,
at my brother your uncle, since he hath slain Lohier
his son. I wot well that the King will fall upon him
with all his power, but we will not go with him. Let
us go to Dordonne, and then if the King makes war
upon my brother, we can help him."
17 B So
AYMON So they mounted their horses and stayed not till
HE they came to Laon, and from thence they rode so
KING i on g that they came to Dordonne. When the lady
saw her lord and her four sons she was right glad
and came out to welcome them, asking if Renaud
and his brothers were made knights. The duke
answered " Yea," and after she asked why they had
left the King's court. Then he rehearsed unto her
word by word how his brother Duke Beuves had
slain Lohier, whereof the good lady Margery was
greatly sorry, for she knew that this should mean the
destruction of Duke Aymon her husband, of herself,
of her sons, and of their land. Moreover, she heard
Renaud, her eldest son, threatening Charlemagne
and she said to him :
" My son Renaud, I pray thee understand me a
little ; love thy sovereign and natural lord and dread
him above all things, and God shall reward thee for
it. My lord Aymon, I marvel much that you
departed from Charlemagne without leave of him
that hath done you so much good and so great
worship, and hath given your sons such noble arms
and made them knights with his own hands more
honour he might not do you or your children."
"Lady," said the duke, "we be thus departed
from Charlemagne because my brother hath slain
his son, as I have before told you."
" Ha/' quoth the lady, " for God's love, my lord,
do not meddle with that, for you shall see that this
18 summer
summer the King will go upon your brother. By THE KING
my counsel serve the King, your rightful lord, and
fail him in no wise, for if you do other you will be
false to your natural lord."
" Lady," quoth the duke, " before God I would
rather have lost my castle and half of my lands than
that my brother should have slain Lohier. Now
the will of God be done therein and none otherwise."
Here we leave speaking of Duke Aymon and of the
duchess, and return to speak of King Charlemagne
that was come again to Paris making great sorrow
for the death of his son.
While Duke Naymes was comforting him in his
sorrow there came a messenger before the King who
shewed how Duke Aymon of Dordonne and his
four sons were gone into their own country.
Wherefore the King was sore angered, and swore
by God and St. Denis that before he died Duke
Aymon and his sons should suffer full sore for it,
and that Duke Beuves nor his family should not
keep them therefrom. Then dinner was set and
Salomon served him the cup that day, but the King
did eat but little for his great melancholy. And
after meat the King said to his barons :
" Lords, Duke Beuves hath done me great
outrage in that he hath slain my son, but if it
please God I shall go to see him this summer and
destroy all his lands, and this will I do the more
because Duke Aymon hath gone from me with his
19 four
BEUVES four sons whom I have made knights, which I now
MAKES HIM .
READY FOR repent.
WAR "Sire," said Duke Naymes, "your son is dead
through great unhap, and in an evil hour was he
put to death : now summon all your folk and take
your way towards Aigremont, and if you may take
Duke Beuves let him pay full dearly for the death
of your son."
" Naymes," said the King, " you are prudent and
wise, surely I will follow your advice."
Then he gave leave to many of his barons, bidding
them each to go into his own country to make
ready, and to come again to him the first day of
summer. So it was done as the King commanded,
and tidings were carried into all lands that Charle-
magne was making a great assembly of men at arms.
When the news of it reached Duke Beuves' court,
he straightway sent for his kinsmen and friends,
and in special for Gerard of Roussillon and the
Duke of NanteuiL When they came together they
were well-nigh fourscore thousand fighting men, as
fair folk as ever were seen, ready to defend the castle.
Then said Duke Beuves to his brother Gerard :
" Be not dismayed, for I hope to hurt the King sore
if he come against us : let us go forth against Troyes.
There we shall fight with him vigorously by the aid
of God."
This was at the beginning of May, and Charle-
magne was at Paris abiding till his men should
20 come
come to go forth against the Duke. He abode not BEUVES
long till Richard of Normandy came with thirty
thousand men, and Earl Guy with a right noble
company. After him came Salomon of Brittany
and a host of Poictevins, Gascons, Normans,
Flemings, and Burgundians, who all lodged in the
meadows of St. Germain. When the King knew that
his folk were all arrived he had thereof great joy, and
straightway set out for Aigremont, putting his fore-
guard in the hands of Ogier the Dane and Richard
of Normandy. After they had ridden several days
there came straight to Ogier the Dane, who was in
the foreguard, a messenger riding in haste, and
asked whose was this goodly host. He answered
they were King Charlemagne's folk. So the mes-
senger said he would speak to him, and Ogier
brought him before the King. As soon as the
messenger saw him he fell at his feet and told him
he was of Troyes, and sent by Aubrey, lord of
Troyes, to beseech succour from him, for that Duke
Beuves of Aigremont and his two brothers were
besieging him, and that if his liege lord came not to
his help he must yield up the town and the fair
castle that Julius Caesar built there.
When Charlemagne understood that Troyes was
besieged by Duke Beuves and his brothers he was
full sorry and swore by St. Denis of France that he
would go there with his army, and if he could take
the Duke of Aigremont, he would make him die a
2 1 shameful
THE KING shameful death. So he called Duke Naymes of
NIGH^TO Bavaria, Godefroy of Frisia, and Duke Galeran, and
TROVES sa id to them :
" Barons, let us ride hastily to Troyes ere it be
taken."
They answered him right gladly that they would
so do, and rode forth a good pace till they came nigh
Troyes. The foreguard had the oriflamme with
thirty thousand men and with them was the mes-
senger as guide. When they were near the town
a messenger came to Gerard of Roussillon saying
that King Charlemagne was at hand to succour
Aubrey with a right great company. Then said
Gerard to his brothers that it were good that they
should go against the King with all their power,
and that each should prove himself a good man.
So they did as they devised and Gerard was the
first in the foreguard, and they rode till each party
could see the other's faces. Then said Ogier the
Dane to Richard of Normandy :
" See how Gerard of Roussillon weeneth to deal
with us ; let us think to defend us well, so that the
worship abide with King Charlemagne and with
us."
Then they let their horses run on one side and
the other, and Gerard smote a German with his
spear so that he fell dead on the ground ; then he
took his banner, and cried aloud :
" Roussillon, Roussillon ! "
22 Straightway
Straightway began a battle, strong, fell, and cruel. THE
And when Ogier the Dane saw his folk slain, he BEFORE
grew mad with rage and smote a knight so that his TROVES
spear ran through him and he fell dead : Gerard
seeing that, smote one of Ogier's knights down be-
fore him. Great was the battle and fierce ; you
should have seen there shields pierced and broken,
habergeons cloven, salades and helms unbuckled and
sore beaten and dinted, men lying on the ground
wounded or dead a great pity to see. Then came
Duke Beuves spurring his horse, and crying out
" Aigremont," struck down Enguerrande of St.
Quentin, and there came to him his brother with
his folk, and all together they rode on the army
of Charlemagne. Now came up the Germans and
Lombards of the King's army. Many worthy
knights of both sides were slain in the fight, and
now shewed Richard of Normandy his great
prowess, overthrowing from his horse a certain
knight at the side of Gerard. Then swore Gerard
to avenge his death, and cried out his war-cry
" Roussillon," but his brother of Nanteuil came to
him and said : " Brother, turn again, for Charle-
magne cometh with his host, and if we abide the
loss shall turn to us."
While they were thus speaking Galeran of Bou-
logne struck his sword through the body of Gerard's
nephew so that he fell down dead. Then had Gerard
like to have lost his wits, and sent for Duke Beuves
23 his
BEUVES is his brother to come and aid him. On the other
STRUCI
DOWN
side the King assembled his folk, and that same day
there fell forty thousand men of one side or the
other. Duke Beuves smote Walter of Pierrette on
his shield and the spear went through him and the
Duke cried out : " Aigremont."
Then jousted Richard of Normandy against him
hurting him sore, crying :
" It was an evil day for you when you slew
Lohier ! You cannot escape."
With that he drew out his sword, and smote the
Duke upon the helm in such wise that if it had not
been for his coif of steel, Beuves would have been
slain that hour, for the stroke fell on the horse and
cut it in two as if it had been nothing. But up
stood Duke Beuves on his feet at once, for he was
very valiant, and holding his sword in his hand, he
smote a knight named Simon, killing him in the
place, the while he called out his cry: "Aigre-
mont."
So there came to him his two brethren and their
folk on one side, and Ogier and Naymes, and Arch-
bishop Turpin and many others of King Charle-
magne's men on the other, for in this battle were
many nobles.
Up rode King Charlemagne crying : " Barons, if
they escape us, we shall never have honour."
Then he bore up his spear to the rest, and smiting
Gerard of Roussillon on the shield, he bore man and
24 horse
horse to the ground ; if his brothers had not helped MANY
him that day had been his last. Then came Ogier
the Dane and smote one of Gerard's knights so that
he clove him to the teeth, and when Gerard saw his
knight thus slain, he called on God and our Lady,
saying :
" I have this day lost a fair and good knight."
The Duke Beuves, for his part, prayed God to
keep him from death, and from falling into the
hands of Charlemagne.
Nigh was the sun under, and it was about
compline time : the fighters on one side and the other
were weary and sore fatigued. The three brethren
withdrew to their tents in great wrath, and specially
Gerard of Roussillon who had that day lost his
cousin and a hundred other of his best knights.
"An evil hour it was," cried he, "when the son of
Charlemagne was slain."
Then came to him Duke Beuves bleeding and
horribly wounded, and when Gerard saw him he
said : " Fair brother, are you wounded to death ? "
" Nay," said he, " I shall soon be whole."
Then Gerard swore that at sunrise he would begin
again the battle even if thirty thousand men should
die.
"Alas, nay," said his brother the Duke of Nan-
teuil, " if you will do my counsel, we shall send
thirty of the wisest knights we have unto King
Charlemagne and shew humbly that he have pity on
25 us
THE us, and that the Duke Beuves shall pay him for the
WILL MAKE death of his son Lohier, as it shall be determined by
PEACE his barons and ours. You know well we are his
liegemen, and when we war against him, we do cruel
falsehood. Moreover, if he lost all the folk that he
hath here with him, before a month passed he would
have twice as many again, so that we can do nothing
against him."
His two brethren answered him that they would
do so, seeing he counselled them thereto, and con-
cluded to send as soon as it should be day. That
night they kept good watch till the morning, and
made ready their messengers, and when they were
ready, Gerard of Roussillon said :
" Lords, say well to King Charlemagne that we
be sore displeased at the death of Lohier, and that
our brother Duke Beuves repenteth of it full sore.
If it please him to have mercy on us we shall go and
serve him where it shall please him to send us with
ten thousand men. Moreover, speak to Naymes of
Bavaria, and pray him to employ himself towards
the King that this accord may be made."
When the messengers had understood what they
should say to King Charlemagne they mounted their
horses, each of them bearing branches of olive in
their hands in token of peace, and ceased not to ride
till they came before the King's tent. Then they
saluted him humbly, and one of them, named
Stephen, spoke in this manner :
26 " That
" That God Who formed our first father and mother THE MES-
and created all things, bless our lord Charlemagne, S |SJ S
and give him good life and long. Wite, Sire, that WISELY
Duke Gerard of Roussillon, Duke Beuves of Aigre-
mont, and the Duke of Nanteuil are come hither to
cry you mercy, and beseech you right humbly that
it may please you to pardon them the death of your
son. And the Duke of Aigremont doth you to wit
that if it be your pleasure to do so, that he and his
brothers will come to serve you with ten thousand
fighting men in all that shall be your pleasure to
employ them. Sire, for God's sake have remem-
brance that God forgave His death to Longinus who
cruelly pierced him to the heart, wherefore may it
please you to pardon them and take them into your
grace."
When King Charlemagne heard the messengers
thus speak he wrinkled his forehead and knitted his
brows and looked full angrily, and for some time
answered them nothing. Soon after he began to
speak in this manner :
" By my faith, the Duke Beuves had well lost his
wits when he so shamefully slew my dear son
Lohier whom I loved so tenderly. Now, is he my
vassal or not ? "
" Sire," answered Stephen, " I am certain that he
will do you right at the direction of your council."
Then said the King :
"Of this we will take counsel;" and withdrew
27 him
THE KING him a little aside and calling to him his lords he
TAKES j i_
COUNSEL said to them :
" Here be the messengers of Duke Beuves and of
his brethren, who send me word that they will come
and serve me where I will with ten thousand fighting
men, if we will pardon them the death of our son
Lohier; they will be our vassals and hold their
lands and lordships of us."
"Sire," answered Duke Naymes, "in this is
nothing but well. I counsel you that you pardon
them, for the three dukes be valiant and of great
renown."
Then by the counsel of Duke Naymes the King
pardoned the three brethren, and called to him the
knights and said to them that he pardoned their
lords on the condition that Duke Beuves of Aigre-
mont should come to serve him at the Feast of St.
John with ten thousand men well arrayed.
"And bid them come now to me to take of them
their oath and faith that they shall henceforth obey
and serve me truly, and hold of me all their
lands."
So the messengers departed and came again to the
dukes, and shewed them how they had sped. Then
said Duke Gerard of Roussillon :
" It is reason that we take off our good gowns, and
go to the King naked, and cry him mercy for our
offences against his high puissance and lordship."
His brethren agreed thereto, and so these noble
28 knights
knights took off their clothes, and all naked, bare- THE
foot, and in poor estate departed from their lodgings
and with them four thousand knights. In this
wise they came before the King, in right great
humility.
When King Charlemagne saw the brethren thus
coming with their barons, he called to him Duke
Naymes and said to him :
" Can ye not tell me what folk you see coming
yonder ? "
"Sire," said Duke Naymes, "it is Duke Beuves
of Aigremont, coming with his folk to require your
mercy."
Then Duke Beuves came before the King, and
cast himself upon his knee, and said in this wise :
"Sire, I cry you mercy, for we be come here by
your commandment. If I have slain your dear son
by my folly, I now yield me and my brethren also as
your men, to serve you with all our power where you
shall set us, and never shall we fail you, but if it
come from you."
When the King saw them come so humbly in
their shirts and barefoot he had great pity of them,
and pardoned them the death of his son Lohier, and
all his ill will, and from one side and the other men
embraced their kinsmen. The three brethren swore
fidelity to Charlemagne, and took leave of him, after
he had charged Duke Beuves to serve him at the
Feast of St. John. Then the King returned to Paris
29 and
GANELON and the brethren returned each to his place, right
P TRJL\SON g^d to nave accorded Duke Beuves with the
King.
A little before the Feast of St. John Charlemagne
held a great court at Paris, and Duke Beuves for-
getting not to go thither as he had promised, departed
from Aigremont with two hundred knights, and took
his way to serve the King. Now as the King was in
his court, there came to him Earl Ganelon, Fulkes of
Morillon, Harare, and Beranger, who told him how
Duke Beuves was coming with two hundred knights,
saying :
" Sire, how may you love or be well served by him
who hath so cruelly slain your son ? If your pleasure
were, we should well avenge you of him, for in good
sooth we should slay him."
" It would be treason," said the King, " for we have
given him peace. Do it at your own will, so that I
have no part in it ; but beware, for the Duke of
Aigremont is right mighty and of great kindred."
" Sire," answered Ganelon, " take no thought of
that, for there is no man in the world great enough to
undertake aught against me and my lineage. I will
set out to-morrow with two thousand fighting men,
and deliver the world of him."
"Truly," said the King, "it were treason."
" Care not for that," said Ganelon, " he slew my
kinsman Lohier by treason, and therefore will I be
avenged if I can."
30 " Do
" Do then as you wish, protesting always that I BEUVES
am not consenting," said the King.
When the morning came Ganelon and his fellows
departed from Paris, and tarried not till they came
into the valley of Soissons, and there they met with
Duke Beuves and his power. When he saw them he
said :
" Here are some of the King's men returning from
the court."
" It is no matter," said one of his knights.
" I wot not what it may be," said Duke Beuves,
" Charlemagne is fond of vengeance, and hath with
him folk which be fell and cruel like Fulke of Moril-
lon. I dreamed last night in my sleep that a griffin
came out of the heavens and pierced my shield and
my arms, so that his claws struck into my liver, and
none of my men escaped from him, and there came
out of my mouth a white dove."
Then one of his knights said that he should not
dismay himself for a dream, and the duke answered :
" I know not what God shall send me, but my
heart dreadeth."
So he commanded that every man should arm
himself, and this they did right gladly.
Earl Ganelon and Fulke rode quickly forward to
meet Duke Beuves and said to him that he had done
ill to slay Lohier, but that before the even he should
be rewarded for it. When the duke heard him, he
marvelled and said :
3i "Ha,
GANELON " Ha, how can one guard himself from traitors?
A DUK S I held King Charlemagne for a true prince and now
BEUVES i see the contrary ; but before I die, I shall sell my
life full dear."
Then they joined fight and Ganelon smote Regnier,
the duke's cousin, before his eyes and cried with a
loud voice :
" Smite on, knights, for he slew my cousin Lohier.
He did not deign to make peace with me, but now I
shall sell it him full dear."
Then Ganelon and his folk ran on Duke Beuves
who defended himself worthily, and smote down
many a knight. After this he began to lament and
wish for his two brethren and his nephews.
" Alas," said he, " dear son Maugis, where are you
now that you are not here to succour me? Ha,
Duke of Nanteuil and Gerard of Roussillon, you will
never see me more ! Why do ye not know the false
enterprise of Charlemagne and of Earl Ganelon, that
shall this day make me to die? Ha, my dear nephews,
I have this day much need of you. My dear nephew
Renaud, if it pleased God that you might know the
grievous pass to which I am this day brought by
treason, well I wot that I should have succour by
thee, for in all the world is not thy peer."
Fierce was the battle and right hard to endure,
but well may ye wite that the Duke of Aigremont
might not endure against so many, for he had with
him only two hundred knights and the others were
32 more
more than two thousand. It was a piteous sight to BEUVES is
SL.ATN BY
behold the heads and feet smitten off the field. GANELON
Then came Ganelon and struck down Thessaume of
Blois, and slew him, and drove back the knights of
the Duke. So he, knowing that without death he
could not escape, went and smote one of Ganelon's
knights and overthrew him, for he could do no other
but defend himself as long as he could. Ha, God,
what a great pity it was to betray him, for many
churches, towns, and castles were set on fire, and
many great nobles brought to their death !
Great was the destruction that Ganelon made
among the folk, for of the two hundred barons only
fifty were left. Duke Beuves said to them :
" You see that we be almost all dead, if we defend
ourselves not. For God's love let each of us be worth
three as long as we are alive."
Then he rushed forward, and smote a knight
named Helias, crying out : " Smite well, barons."
Fair was the medley, and the noise of the blows
on the helms sounded out. At the last a certain
Griffon of Hauteville, struck the Duke's horse on
the breast, and overthrew him. When the Duke
arose and thought to slay him the stroke fell on his
horse ; and the Duke knew that all was over. And
Ganelon came on him and struck him such a stroke
with his spear that he run him through the body and
so he fell dead, and Griffon who was kin to Ganelon,
came to him and passed his sword through his body.
33 c Then
BEUVES Then cried Griffon : " Now hast thou thy reward
5 for the death of Lohier."
HONOUR-
ABLY Then Ganelon the traitor and the lord of Haute-
ville remounted and went after the Duke's folk that
fled, for there were but ten left of two hundred, and
overtook them. These traitors made them swear
that they should bear their master's body to Aigre-
mont as he had caused Lohier to be brought into
Paris, and this they promised to do. They put the
body on a bier and went on their way with it,
making sorrow and lamentation for the death of
their master, and cursing the treason of King
Charlemagne.
So went these sorrowful knights, bearing the
body of Duke Beuves on a bier, and it ceased not
to bleed for four leagues. At the last they came
near Aigremont, and tidings of them came to the
town and to the duchess that her lord had been
thus traitorously slain. Ask not of the sorrow that
the duchess and Maugis her son made; for when
she saw her lord and the wounds that he had in his
body she fell down in a swoon upon him more than
three times. In this wise they bore the body to the
chief church, where the bishop of the town did the
service, and he was laid in his grave. Then said
Maugis : " Pity it is that such a worthy lord should
be slain by treason. Do I but live long enough
Charlemagne and the traitors who have done this
shall abide it full dearly."
34 Thus
Thus comforted he his lady mother, saying to GREAT
, WARS
ner . CAME
" Dear mother, have patience ; my uncles and THEREOF
11 i_ i 11 A f xi_ BUT AT
my cousins will help me well to avenge my fathers LAST PEACE
death." ISMADE
Now leave we to speak of Aigremont, and return
to tell of the traitors Griffon and Ganelon that go
again to Paris, and there recount to Charlemagne
the mortal treason which they had committed and
done, whereof the King was glad, but afterward
he was full wroth and sorry for it. For after the
Duke of Aigremont's death his two brethren,
Gerard of Roussillon and Dron of Nanteuil, warred
sore against him with their nephew Maugis, till
at the last they made peace and accorded together.
At the Feast of Pentecost the Emperor held his
Court in Paris after he had accorded with the
brethren of Duke Beuves, and to this feast came
William of England, Galeran of Boulogne, fifteen
kings, thirty dukes, and forty earls. Also there
came Duke Aymon of Dordonne, with his four
sons, to whom the King said :
" Aymon, I love you and your children well ;
wite ye that I will make Renaud my seneschal,
and the others shall go with me and bear my
falcons."
" Sire," said Duke Aymon, " I thank you much
for the great worship you do me and my sons, and
we shall serve you truly. But you erred sore when
35 you
PEACE WAS you made my brother Duke Beuves to die by
WITH^THE treason. Believe that it grieved me full sore at
FOUR SONS heart, and if we had not feared you we would have
taken vengeance, but since my brother Gerard
forgives you, I forgive it you also."
" Aymon," said the King, "you know better than
what you say, for you know well the offence that he
had done me in slaying my son Lohier. Now set
one against the other and let no more be spoken
thereof."
" No more we shall," said Aymon ; " but God have
mercy on his soul, for he was a worthy knight."
Then came forth Renaud, Alard, Guichard, and
Richard, and said to the King :
" Sire, you have made us knights, but know for
truth we love you not for the death of our uncle
the Duke of Aigremont, which you have not
accorded with us."
When the King heard them he looked grim in
the visage for great wrath, and smote his forehead
for anger ; then he said :
" Boy, begone ; for I swear by St. Simon that
if it were not for the company here I would put
thee in such a prison that thou couldst not see
hand or foot that thou hast."
" Sire," said Renaud, " that were not reason ;
but since you will not hear us we will hold our
peace."
They went to the church to hear the fair mass
36 that
that was sung, and rich was the offering : they came RENAUD
again to the palace, and asked for water to wash BERTHE-
their hands and set them down to dinner, except LOT
King Salomon, who served that day with Duke
Godfrey. But Renaud might not eat because the
King had rebuked him so shamefully.
" How shall I revenge myself on Charlemagne,"
said he, " for the death of my uncle so traitorously
slain?"
His brethren comforted him as they could, and
after dinner, when the barons came out to sport
themselves, Berthelot, nephew of Charlemagne,
called him to play at chess. So long they played
on a golden board with ivory chessmen that at the
last debate arose between them, and Berthelot
called Renaud a foul name, and smote him on the
visage so that his blood fell to the ground.
When Renaud saw himself thus outraged he was
right wroth and took the chessboard and smote
Berthelot on his head so hard that he fell down
dead to the ground before him. Then went a cry
through the hall of the palace that Renaud had
slain Berthelot, and when the King heard it he
cried :
" Barons, keep guard that Renaud does not
escape, for if I can catch him he shall surely die,
since he has slain my nephew."
So the knights ran on him, but his kinsmen
defended him nobly, and there was a great fray
37 that
RENAUD that day in the palace of Paris, and Maugis made
^FRoS* there much slaughter.
PARIS While the fray lasted Renaud and his brothers
and Maugis escaped and came to their horses, and
soon rode out of Paris, fleeing straight to Dordonne,
towards their mother. When Charlemagne knew
that they were gone out of Paris he armed two
thousand knights to pursue them, but the four
brothers and their cousin tarried not till they came
to Samur, and there they baited their horses.
Then Renaud began to say :
" Fair God, That suffered death and passion, keep
this day my brothers and my cousin from death
and falling into the hands of Charlemagne the
cruel."
One knight of the French who were pursuing
them better horsed than his fellows, overtook
Renaud at last, and said :
" Abide, thou untrue knight, and I shall bring
you to the King."
When Renaud heard him he turned and smote
him with his spear, so that he fell dead ; then he
took his horse and gave it to his brother Alard.
After he turned on another knight and killed him
with a blow of his sword, and gave his horse to
his brother Guichard. Then came another knight
and said :
" Wretches, ye shall come to the King, who will
hang you all."
38 "We
"We fear him not," said Renaud ; and with this RENAUD
he gave him such a stroke that he fell to the ground,
and Renaud took his horse by the rein and gave it
to his brother Richard, who had full great need of
it. Now were they new horsed, with Renaud on
Bayard, and Maugis behind him, and when the sun
was gone under and the night began they were come
into the town of Soissons.
At the last they came to Dordonne, and met with
the duchess their mother, who ran to kiss them, and
asked what they had done with their father, and if
they had left the Court in wrath.
" Lady," quoth Renaud, " yea ; for I have slain
Berthelot the nephew of Charlemagne, who called
me foul names and struck my face so that the blood
ran."
When the lady heard him she fell down in a
swoon. Renaud lifted her up, and when she was
come to herself she said :
"Fair son, how durst you do this thing? I
promise you you shall repent of it always. Your
father shall be destroyed for it, and cast out of his
lands, and if ye escape alive it shall be great marvel.
I pray you, my children, flee away, and take all my
treasure with you, for if your father come from the
Court, he will yield you to King Charlemagne."
" Lady," quoth Renaud, " ween you that our
father is so cruel as to deliver us into the hands
of our mortal enemy ? "
39 Renaud
RENAUD Renaud and his brethren and cousin would make
MONT-FORT n l n g tarrying, but took of the treasure as much
as served their turn, and took their leave of their
lady mother, who embraced them, sore weeping,
for she knew not if she should ever see them
again. So departed the new knights with their
cousin Maugis, and entered into the great forest
of Ardennes, in the valley of Faery, and rode
till they came to the river Meuse. There they
chose a place where they made to be built a fair
castle on a very strong rock, and at the foot of it
passed the river. When the castle was built they
called it Montfort : it was the strongest from thence
to Montpellier, for it was closed with great walls,
and environed with ditches sore deep, and well
garnished with all manner of victuals and things
needful in a fortress, so that they feared Charlemagne
in no wise except by treason.
Now was King Charlemagne in Paris exceeding
angry at the four knights, so he made the Duke
Aymon of Dordonne come before him, and swear
that he would never help his sons in any way, and
wherever he should find them he should take them
and bring them to the King; the which Aymon
durst not refuse, but swore that he would do so,
for which he was after sore blamed. After he had
thus sworn he departed from Paris all wroth and
came to Dordonne ; and when the duchess saw him
she began to weep full sore.
40 " Lady,"
" Lady," said the duke, " where be my sons AYMON
-v J J TELLS OF
gone r HIS OATH
" Sir," said she, " I cannot tell ; but why suffered
you Renaud to slay Berthelot ? "
" Renaud is the strongest knight that lives, and
not all the assembly could stop him," said the duke.
" You must know that he had asked right of the
King concerning the death of his uncle, and the
King answered him outrageously, wherefore he slew
Berthelot to avenge himself on Charlemagne, as well
as for the blow he had in his visage. Therefore the
King hath made me swear that if I can take my
sons I shall bring them to Paris, and that they
shall never have succour of me, whereof I am full
sorry."
Now leave we to speak of the Duchess and Duke
Aymon, and tell of Renaud and his brethen ;
since the story of Alexander has none been which
tells of such great deeds as did the four sons of
Aymon, for, when King Charlemagne banished
them from France, and made his barons and their
father swear to give them no aid, they defended
themselves in good wise. It fell on a day that the
King held court in Paris, and a messenger came
and kneeled before him, saying :
" Sire, I bring you tidings. Wite ye that I
have come from the forest of Ardennes, where I
have found the four sons of Aymon in a strong
castle which they have built there ? "
41 When
THE KING When Charlemagne heard this he called his
MAKES barons round him and said :
WAR ON
RENAUD Lords, it needs not to send for you ; I pray and
require you, as my liegemen, help me to be avenged
of the four sons of Aymon."
The barons answered with one voice :
" Sire, we shall do your commandment : give us
leave to go into our own lands and make ready
harness and horses."
So the barons departed and abode not long, but
came back to Paris all arrayed and ready for war ;
and when Charlemagne saw them he received them
gladly. Straightway he departed from Paris, and
went that day to Montlion, where they lay that
night ; and on the morrow he set out again and
gave the foreguard to Regnier of Montpellier, who
hated Renaud greatly.
When they were on the road the King called his
vassals, Regnier, Guyon of Aufort, the Earl Gamier,
Geoffrey, Longon, Ogier the Dane, Richard of
Normandy, and the Duke Naymes, and said unto
them:
" Lords, I pray you use all diligence and watch
well every night, that we may lose no time."
Then said Duke Naymes :
" Sire, we shall do so."
So the trumpets were blown and the host brought
together, and they rode till they came to Molins,
otherwise called Aspes, and when they were come
4 2 here
here they saw the castle of Montfort. At that same RICHARD
hour the three brethren of Renaud were coming ENEMY
from the chase out of the wood of Ardennes, and
Richard the youngest bare a right fair horn, which
Renaud much loved, and with the brethren were
but twenty knights. As they were returning to
Montfort, Richard looked over the river Meuse and
saw the host of King Charlemagne. On this he was
sore troubled, and said to his brother Guichard :
" Fair brother, what folk may they be that I see
yonder? I heard say from a messenger that the
King was coming to besiege us."
Then Guichard looked and saw the foreguard
with Regnier, and Richard struck his horse with his
spurs, and came up to Regnier, and said :
" Fair Sir, whose are these folk? "
" Sir," said Richard, " these are the folk of the
Emperor Charlemagne, who go to besiege a castle
that the four sons of Aymon have built in Ardennes :
God give them evil rest."
" Certes," quoth Richard, " I am a friend of
Renaud's, and I owe you no grace for what you
say, since I am bound to defend them with all my
power."
With this he spurred on him and smote Regnier
through the shield and slew him, and gave his horse
to one of his esquires. Then the French commenced
to cry, " Mountjoy St. Denis ! " and the brethren of
Renaud, " Montfort ! " Then was a fell battle and
43 cruel
RICHARD cruel : shields rent and helms broken, till all the
lk of Regnier were slain or fled. Then came
an esquire to the King to tell him how Richard
had slain Regnier, and how his foreguard was
broken up.
The Emperor grieved sore for the death of
Regnier, and called Ogier the Dane and said to
him :
" Ogier, go to the succour, you and Naymes, for
Richard hath slain my folk, and beareth off the
spoil."
Then Ogier the Dane abode not, but rode out
with Duke Naymes and three hundred knights. Yet
their labour was for nought, for Richard and his
men were already in the castle of Montfort with all
that they had won. When Renaud saw his brothers
return with so much booty he came and kissed
them, and said to Richard :
" Fair brother, where have ye taken so great
spoil?"
"Brother," said Richard, " I shall tell you. Wite
that Charlemagne is come with all his host, so
many that it is a wonder to see. We were coming
out of the wood when we met the foreguard of the
army that Regnier was leading. We fought them,
but God be thanked and our men, we overthrew
them utterly. One part is dead, the other fled, and
we have carried off the spoil."
Then said Renaud :
44 "I praise
" I praise you well that you have overthrown our THE KING
enemies in the first onset. Fair lords, now is the ^o
time come that every one of us must prove him a FORT
good man, and do worthily his duty: let King
Charlemagne know our prowess, so that he hold
us not feeble and weak."
When Renaud had thus spoken to his folk, they
answered him :
" My lord, have no doubt of us ; we shall never
fail you as long as we shall live."
When Renaud knew the good will of his folk he
said :
" Let the gate be shut and the bridge drawn up,
and go we to the windows to see this folk that come
against us."
And when they looked out they saw Ogier the
Dane turn back with his men. So Ogier came to
the King and said :
" Sire, the castle is very strong ; we shall not take
it easily from such folk as keep it."
When Charlemagne heard him, he was very
wroth, and swore that he would never return into
France until Renaud was taken and hanged with
his brother Richard, and Ogier answered that he
would do well, for they had caused great trouble.
" Sire," said Fulkes de Morillon, " we shall
avenge you. Bid your folk invest Montfort."
" Certes," said the King, " you say well ; " and he
made the trumpets to blow and commanded his
45 army
THE KING army to besiege Montfort on every side. Now this
VI CASTLE HE castle was built on a rock at the foot of which ran
the Meuse, on one side it had a great wood full
pleasant, on another a fair plain and great meadows.
When the King's folk were all lodged, he mounted
his horse with a few of his lords to see the strength
of the castle, and when he had well beheld it, he
began to say : " How is this castle closed and set in
a strong place ? Fair lords, think to war well, for
we have somewhat more to do than I weened."
So the King's tent was set up, and in it was a
rich carbuncle which shone like a burning torch, and
a golden apple, and the Emperor went therein and
ordered that no man should mount horse for eight
days, save only for sport, till he sent through all the
kingdom for men to fetch victuals in great abund-
ance. Then said Duke Naymes :
" Sire, you may do better. Send a messenger to
Renaud to bid him deliver up his brother Richard
and you will leave him his land ; if he yield him,
behead him at once ; if Renaud refuse, the war must
be carried on."
Then said the King :
"Where can I find a faithful messenger?"
"Sire," said Duke Naymes, "if it please you,
Ogier and I will do this message."
"It pleases me well," said Charlemagne, "and
right great thanks do I owe you : you never failed
me at a need."
46 So
So Naymes and Ogier made them ready, and took NAYMES
branches of olive in their hands, and went together AN ^LyfI E
without any other company. When Alard saw the MESSAGE
two knights come, he went and asked them who
they were.
"Sir," said Duke Naymes, " we be messengers of
King Charlemagne, sent hither to speak to Renaud,
son of Aymon."
Straightway Alard went to his lord, and Renaud
commanded forthwith that the gate should be opened
to them and the drawbridge let down, for he would
see and speak with them. When Renaud saw them
he saluted them courteously, and after that, he set
them on a bench. Then Duke Naymes said to
him :
" Renaud, the Emperor Charlemagne bids you by
us, send to him your brother Richard to be dealt
with at his pleasure and will, and if you will not do
so, Charlemagne defieth you, and will never leave
you till he hath made you to die an evil death with
great shame."
When Renaud heard these words he waxed all
red with anger and said :
" Naymes, by the faith I owe to God, if it were
not that I love you I would hew you both to pieces.
Well have you deserved it, for you, Naymes, are my
near kinsman, and ought to help me against all men.
Tell Charlemagne that he shall not have Richard my
brother ; let him leave his threatening, and do his
47 worst.
THE worst. Now void from our sight, for to see you
UNMADE thus here grieveth me too sore."
READY When Naymes and Ogier heard Renaud thus,
they made no longer dwelling, but departed straight-
way and coming to Charlemagne, recounted all that
Renaud had said.
When Charlemagne heard this answer he was so
sore an angered that he commanded that the castle
should be assailed at each of the three gates they
knew of: at the first Guy and Fulkes of Morillon,
the Earl of Nevers and Ogier the Dane were set ;
before the second the Duke of Burgundy and the
Earl Albundes were set ; and at the third was Aymon,
father of Renaud, who had come to fight against his
sons. The castle was besieged by much folk, but
Renaud did one thing that turned to his great
honour, for he said :
" Fair lords, I pray you mount not on your horses
till ye hear the trumpet blow, for I see that Charle-
magne's folk be right weary, it were no worship for
us to run on them so. When they are a little eased
of their weariness we shall make our first issue on
them worthily."
Wite ye that in the castle of Montfort was a false
door on the rock by which Renaud and his brethren
went out at all times without danger. So when he
saw that it was time to go upon their enemies he
called to him Samson of Bordeaux, who had come to
his aid with a hundred knights and said :
48 "Sir,
" Sir, it is time that our enemies know what we RENAUD
are ; if we tarry longer Charlemagne may think us
cowards."
When he had said this he came to his brother
Richard and said : " I will never leave you while I
am alive, for I love you as myself, and it is reason
that I do, you are the best knight of our lineage."
Then he embraced him and said to his brothers :
" Make the trumpets blow out to show King
Charlemagne what folk we be ; if God willed that
we could take the Earl of Estampes I should be
right glad, for he is the man that hateth us most.
He will haply not escape us for he is in the fore-
guard."
Then the four brothers and their company armed
themselves and issued out of the false door without
noise or cry, and so fell on the host of Charlemagne
with great wrath and overthrew soldiers, tents, and
pavilions. Who had then seen Renaud mounted
on Bayard and his deeds of arms would have had
great marvel ; and that man he met was born in an
evil hour, for he smote no man that he did not
cleave him down.
When the folk of Charlemagne saw their enemies
they ran to arms and came against Renaud and his
men. The old Aymon heard the cry and mounted
his horse to side against his sons. But Renaud
seeing him, was right sorry for it and said to his
brethren :
49 D " Here
RENAUD " Here is our father ; let us make him room, for I
^^ would not that one of us should set on him."
AYMON Then they turned to another side of the battle, but
their father followed them, and began to set sore
hands on them and their folk. When Renaud saw
that their father laid sore on them, he said all
angered :
" Father, what do you ? you should help and
defend us, and you do worse to us than others do.
It well seems that you love us but little, since you
are displeased that we be such good men at arms
against Charlemagne, and have disinherited us.
We have made this little castle to keep ourselves in,
and you come here to destroy it. This is no father's
work. If you will do us no good, at least do us no
harm. I swear if you come any further against us I
will give you such a stroke with my sword, that you
will have no leisure to repent your folly."
Aymon was in great anger at his heart when he
heard the words of Renaud, but, for fear of Charle-
magne, he could do no otherwise, so he drew back
and suffered his sons to pass harmless.
While Renaud was thus speaking to his father,
came Charlemagne, Aubry, Ogier, Earl Henry, and
Fulkes de Morillon. When Renaud saw them
come, he blew his trumpets to assemble his folk,
and when they were assembled one of Charlemagne's
knights named Thierry rode out against Renaud's
folk. Then Alard, as he neared them, spurred his
50 horse
horse and came against him and thrust a hauberk THE
that he bare clean through his shield and body, so
that he fell down dead. King Charlemagne seeing
this, cried out :
" Lords, take vengeance on these wretches who
so illtreat us."
When Aymon heard Charlemagne speak thus, he
went and smote one of his son's knights so cruelly
with his brank of steel that he smote his head from
off his shoulders.
" Father," cried Renaud, " you do ill when you
slay my men. If I trowed not to hurt my honour, I
would take cruel vengeance on you. Ah, lady
mother, what will be your sorrow when you know
the harm our father doeth this day ? "
When Fulkes of Morillon saw how steadily the
men of Renaud maintained themselves against him,
he cried :
"Sir Emperor, what meaneth this? I believe
you are forgotten ; let these traitors be taken and
hanged forthwith."
When the French heard this they spurred their
horses, and smote on Renaud's men so hard that
they made them retreat. But when Alard saw his
men retire, he was enraged and drew his sword
and drove back the enemy with such force of arms
that the French were all abashed. In that battle
many were the knights slain, and none might stand
before Renaud, for he overthrew all before him ;
51 kinsmen
YON OF ST. kinsmen and parents spared not each other, but
O SIJUN IS slew one another like beasts. Then Yon of St.
Omer rode through the battle with a good horse,
and slew a knight named Guyon, and when Renaud
saw it, he was very wrath. He took his banner and
said to his men : " Do so much that I may have
that good horse, for if he go away I shall have no
joy till he stands beside Bayard."
When Guichard heard this he spurred his horse,
and smote Yon so hard that he drove his glaive
through his breast, and took his horse by the bridle
and led him to Renaud, saying :
" Sir, we have the horse you desired so sore."
"Grammercy, brother," said Renaud, " now have
we two horses which we can trust. Mount on him
at once."
When Guichard heard his brother, he leaped on
the horse, and gave his own to guard to a knight.
So Renaud came again to the battle, and when he
saw his father therein, he had great wrath and said :
" My father, you are greatly to blame for acting
so against us. At Christmas or Easter men ought
to visit their friends, and eat with them when dinner
is ready ; but you come to see us in a hot war, and
cheer us with the point of the sword. It is no
father's love you give us, but a stepfather's rigour."
Then answered Duke Aymon, " Keep yourselves
well, for if Charlemagne takes you, all the world
could not save you from being hanged."
52 " Father/
"Father," said Renaud, "leave that and come GOOD
and help us, we will soon destroy the King." ARE GIVEN
" Go, wretch," cried Aymon, " I am too old to do
treason."
" Father," said Renaud, " I see you love us little,
guard yourself well ; " and when he had said that
he struck one named Guymar and killed him.
When Charlemagne saw his squire dead, he
spurred his horse, and had in his hand a rod of iron
to part the battle in sunder, for he saw that his own
folk had the worst. Then he commanded the
French to withdraw, and as they would have gone
away, there came through the battle Bernard of
Burgundy and smote Simon of Berne dead at the
feet of Renaud.
When the four sons of Aymon saw Simon dead,
they were right sorry and spurred their horses
against the press to avenge his death, and wite it
well that Renaud with his sword that day brought
to death full three hundred knights of the best of
Charlemagne's host. At that time Alard came
through the press against the Earl of Estampes
and drove his lance through his body. When
Renaud saw that stroke, he came to Alard and
kissed him and said : " Fair brother, blessed be the
hour when you were born, for you have avenged us
of the greatest foe we had."
Then the trumpets were blown to call his men
together.
53 When
THE KING When the King saw the great harm that the four
RE FROM IS sons of Aymon had done him, he cried with a loud
THEM voice :
" Lords, draw back, for our enemies be too good
knights for us ; let us return to our tents, for we can
only take this castle by famine, since they are so
courageous."
When the barons heard him, they said :
" Sire, we shall do your will," and as they departed,
Renaud and his brethren came on them, and took
of them prisoners Antoine, Gueremaur the Earl of
Nevers, and Thierry of Ardennes, for no man might
withstand them. So they returned gladly to their
castle, and Renaud was always the hindmost man.
Then came Aymon, their father, once more on them,
and when Renaud saw his father he turned Bayard
and smote his father's horse so hard that he fell
down to the earth. When Aymon saw himself on
the ground, he rose up quickly and took his sword
in his hand to defend himself, but his sons would
have taken him prisoner if Ogier the Dane had not
rescued him. Then said Ogier :
" What think you of your sons ? They are right
brave."
When Aymon was horsed again, he pursued his
sons once more, saying to his folk :
" Let us pursue these wretches, for if they live
they will do us harm."
When Renaud saw his father again, he turned
54 and
and smote amongst the thickest of his father's folk, THE
^j * RATTT P*
and put them to flight, for they might not endure ENDS
his great blows. Then the King saw this and
made the sign of the cross, and spurred his horse
towards Renaud, and cried :
" Renaud, I forbid you to go further."
When Renaud saw him, he did him reverence,
and said to his men :
" Let us go forth, for here comes the King. I
would not that any man of us should lay hands on
him."
Then his folk returned into the castle, right glad
of the fair adventure that had happened to them
that day; and when they were all entered they
drew up the bridge and disarmed them, and set
themselves at table and their prisoners with them,
and after meat Renaud thanked his brother for
slaying the Earl of Estampes.
When Charlemagne saw that Renaud was safe in
the castle, he lighted from his horse, and swore that
he would never depart till he had taken the castle
of the four sons of Aymon, and for thirteen months
his army lay before it. No week passed without a
battle or a skirmish, and when they were not fight-
ing they went hunting. Ofttimes Renaud spoke to
the French to have peace, and said :
" Fair lords, I pray you tell Charlemagne that he
shall never take us by force, for our castle is well
garnished. That which he may have by goodness,
55 he
RENAUD he need not take by force. He may have the castle
^HAVB D and us also. I will put in his hands the castle of
PEACE Montfort, so that my brethren and myself, our goods
and baggage be safe, and this war that hath lasted
so long take an end."
" Renaud," said Ogier the Dane, "you say well.
I promise you I shall show the same to the King,
and if he will believe my counsel, he will do as you
ask."
As Renaud and Ogier thus spoke together,
Fulkes of Morillon came up and cried to Renaud :
" Vassal, you are mad. I have heard your words
well, and truly you shall yield Montfort, and your
heads also."
" Fulkes," said Renaud, " you have full oft re-
proved me. I know full well that the death of
Berthelot is the fault that King Charlemagne hath
against me, but, certes, I could do no other but
defend myself to my power. If it please you, tell
King Charlemagne to take us to mercy, that we
may be friends, and it shall be to your honour."
Then said Fulkes :
" All you say is worth naught to you ; you shall die
and your brothers."
" Fulkes," said Renaud, " you threaten too much
knights that be better than you. I tell you you will
purchase your death."
Then Charlemagne sent for men through all his
land, and when they were come, he said :
56 " Sirs,
"Sirs, I complain to you of the four sons of HERNIER
Aymon, who destroy and waste my land, and their WIL THE AK
castle is too strong to be taken except by famine. CASTLE
Now tell me what I ought to do, for I shall do your
counsel."
The barons answered not to this complaint of the
King, till Duke Naymes said :
" Sire, return into France till the winter is over
and come again next spring. Renaud is not so sore
besieged but that he goeth into the woods at his
will, and he and his brethren are knights not lightly
overcome. This is my counsel, Sire."
Then spake Hernier of the Seine :
" Sire, give me the castle and all that is therein,
and the lordship for five miles about it, and I shall
yield to you Renaud and his brethren prisoners
before a month be past."
" Hernier," said the King, " if you do this that
you say, I grant you the castle, and all that you
have asked with it."
" Sire," said Hernier, " I promise you I shall
succeed."
Hereon he made no more tarrying, but said :
" Sire, command Guyon of Brittany to take with
him a thousand knights, well armed, and go upon
the mountain without noise, and I will put him in
the castle."
When he had said this, he went and armed him-
self, mounted his horse, and rode to the gate of
57 the
HERNIER the castle, where he spoke to them that kept ward,
THE
TRAITOR saying:
" Alas, have mercy on me or else I am but dead,
for Charlemagne pursues me to hang me because I
have said much good of Renaud to him. Also I
have tidings to show to Renaud."
When they that were on the gate heard him thus
speak they let down the bridge, and made him
come in, and did him great honour : the false traitor
rewarded them for it full ill. And while this was
done, Charlemagne sent Guyon and his knights on
the hill till the day were come.
Now is Hernier the traitor in the hall of Mont-
fort, where men make good cheer. When Renaud
heard of him, he said to him :
"Who art thou, fair knight, that art come
hither?"
He said, " Sir, my name is Hernier of the Seine,
and I have angered King Charlemagne for love of
you, and I am come hither because I know not
whither to go."
" Good friend," answered Renaud, " since you call
yourself my friend, you are right welcome. Tell me,
I pray thee, how doth the host of the Emperor ? "
" Sir," said Hernier, " they suffer much, and in
very certain they must go their way in forty days, for
none of the barons will abide here longer. I promise
you if the army went away, you might get much
goods."
58 " Friend,"
" Friend, said Renaud, " if it be as you say, you HERNIER
i r j 11" OPENS THE
have comforted me well. GATE
When supper was ready, Renaud and his brethren
sat down and with them the traitor Hernier, and
supped gladly, for they were weary of bearing their
harness, and they had not ceased to fight that day.
After supper Hernier was well and honestly brought
to bed, for Renaud had so commanded ; but when all
the knights were fast asleep, Hernier, as false Judas,
slept not, but rose and took his harness and armed
himself. When he was well armed at his ease, he
came to the drawbridge and cut the ropes that kept
it up, and let it down ; then he went on the walls,
and found the watchman and slew him, and took the
keys and opened the gate of the castle. Then
Guyon of Brittany seeing the gate open, made no
tarrying, but entered into the castle, and all his folk
with him, and began to kill and slay all that they
found.
After that the yeomen of the stable had supped,
they went to their sleep. Suddenly the horse of
Alard began to make a noise against the others.
When Alard and Richard heard the noise, they rose
up and saw the hall door open, and perceived
through it the armour glittering in the bright
moonlight. They went next to the bed where they
had brought the false Hernier, and finding him not;
they waked Renaud and said :
" Fair brother, we are betrayed, for Hernier hath
59 put
THE BASE put the folk of Charlemagne in the castle, and they
/"TilTDT f?T * ** *
ON HRE are slaying your men."
Then Renaud rose and armed himself quickly, and
said : " Now, my friends, let us bear ourselves
worthily ; we had never so great need."
Now there were with him but thirty knights in
the donjon, for all the rest were in the base court,
which was like a little town well peopled, and there
was Guyon of Brittany and his men.
Renaud, seeing Hernier the traitor with a hundred
knights, cried out :
" Come forth, my brothers ; if God help us not we
are all lost."
Then they came to the gate and fought so that no
man could stand before them, and the base court
began to be sore moved. Then the folk of Charle-
magne, when they saw how those of the donjon
defended themselves, set the base court on fire, and
began to pull down the houses ; soon was the fire
so great that it reached the donjon. Renaud said :
" What shall we do ? If we tarry here we shall be
burnt."
Then he said to his brethren, " Come all after
me," and he went to the false door and issued out
of the castle and his folk with him. But when they
were out they were more abashed than before, for
they knew not whither to go. Hernier the traitor
was aware of them and came out to assail them ;
then said Renaud :
60 " Lords,
"Lords, let us succour our folk, for if they die HERNIER is
111'.. l_ J DRAWN TO
unhelped it were a great shame to us. DEATH
His brethren agreed gladly, and they issued out
and gave great strokes and many, and Renaud smote
such marvellous strokes with his sword Flamberge,
that he cut all he touched. When Renaud saw how
their enemies fled and durst not abide him, he said
to Alard : " It was great cowardice to hide us so."
"Sir," said he, "you say truth."
Then Renaud came to the gate of the castle and
entered therein, and in spite of all his enemies he
shut the gate and drew up the bridge, and when he
had done this he came again to the battle.
Now Hernier the traitor was in the fight at the
donjon of which Renaud had shut the gate, so that
he no longer feared the army of the King. Then
he thrust himself so fiercely into the fight and his
brethren with him, that there remained alive but
Hernier the traitor and twelve others. Soon were
these taken, and Renaud bade them make a gibbet
on his highest tower, and there he made the twelve
men to be hanged, and he made Hernier to be tied
by his hands and feet to four horses, and he was
drawn and quartered as a traitor should be. Then
Renaud made a great fire, and made him to be cast
therein, and when he was burnt he cast his ashes to
the wind.
When King Charlemagne wist that his folk were
thus dead, he was sore angry, and said :
61 " How
ALL THE " How am I evil dealt with by these four brethren?
I did myself great harm when I made them knights ;
as it is said, men often make a rod for their own
backs. Their uncle slew Lohier my son, and Renaud,
Berthelot my nephew. Well may I call myself un-
happy when I cannot avenge myself on four simple
knights ! But I shall never depart from hence till I
be avenged, or till they overcome me."
11 Sire," said Fulkes of Morillon, " you are right.
Yet Renaud fears you not, for he hath hung your
men in your despite."
Then said Duke Naymes, " Sire, had you believed
me, you would not have lost your men, but you
would believe Hernier, and it has happed as you
see."
The Emperor knew that he had spoken truth, and
wist not what to say for shame.
During this time Renaud and his brethren went
up on the walls to look around them, and saw that
the base court, where all their provisions were, was
burning. Then Renaud said to his brothers : "We
have lost our store of victuals, and meseemeth if we
dwell any longer here we do not wisely."
" Brother," said Alard, "you speak well, we will
do as you have said. As long as the life is in our
body we will not leave you."
So when they were agreed, they tarried till it was
night, and then they armed themselves, and Renaud
said : " Lords, how many are we ? "
62 "We
"We are near five hundred/' said Alard. RENAUD
" It is enough," said Renaud, "but wot ye what MONTFORT
we shall do ? Let us keep always together without
fear, and go through to the land of Almayne, and if
Charlemagne's folk attack us, we must defend our-
selves well, and smite hard upon them."
When it was time to set out, Renaud mounted on
Bayard, and the others on their horses ; they opened
the gate and rode out without noise, and when they
were out, Renaud looked sadly on his castle, and
said :
"Adieu, good castle! Pity it is to see you so
destroyed ! God's curse have he that betrayed you.
It is but seven years since you were built."
And when Alard saw Renaud so full of sorrow he
came to him and said :
" Brother, you be to blame to speak so, for no
knight alive can equal you. Comfort yourself, for I
swear that before two years are past you will have a
castle worth four such as this is. Now let us go,
for we have no need to tarry."
" Brother," said Renaud, " I have always found
good counsel in you ; take you and Guichard the
foreguard, and Richard and I will come behind."
"Sir," said Alard, "all shall be done as you
say."
Then they rode at the head with one hundred
knights and they put their waggons in the middle,
and Richard and Renaud rode last with their men.
63 But
THE KING But Charlemagne's watchmen perceived them, and
F RENAUD when the King knew that Renaud was escaping, he
was much wroth, and called to arms. Then the host
began to move, and Alard and Guichard spurred
their horses on them, since they saw they could not
pass, and Renaud sent twenty knights on with the
baggage while he and the rest went to help his
brothers.
What shall I tell you ? Because it was night, and
Charlemagne's folk might not well see how few they
were, Renaud and his men passed in spite of them.
When Charlemagne knew that Renaud had departed,
he rejoiced because of the fair castle of Montfort, but
he followed him with his army, and with him were
Ogier the Dane, Duke Naymes, Fulkes of Morillon,
and many others. When Charlemagne, who was
well-horsed, saw Renaud and his folk, he cried :
" By the aid of God, you shall all die, wretches.
To-day I will hang you all."
" Sire," said Renaud, " if God will, it shall not be
so, for we shall defend ourselves dearly."
Then he rode furiously against King Charle-
magne, but he missed his blow, for Dan Hugh
came between them, and Renaud smote him through
the shield so hard that he pierced his heart. Then
Charlemagne cried :
" Lords, seize them ! If the wretches escape I shall
never be happy."
Renaud returned back to his men and said, " Fear
64 nothing
nothing while I am alive, ride on boldly and in good THE CHASE
IS LEFT
array.
For thirteen leagues they were pursued by Charle-
magne, but they lost none of their fellowship at that
time, and at last they came to the river. The King
called his barons and said, " Lords, let the chase
go ; it were folly from henceforth to follow them,
for our horses can go no further. If Renaud
wrought witchcraft he could no more. Let us lodge
nigh this river."
" Sire," said the barons, " we will obey your com-
mands."
Then they unladed their sumpners, and pitched
their tents, and prepared dinner, for all that day
they had eaten nothing.
When Renaud saw that the chase was finished
and that they had gone far from Charlemagne, he
found a fair and clear fountain, and round it much
grass. Thereon he said : " Here is a fair ground
for us to lodge in and for our horses." Then
they unloaded their sumpners and let them feed
at ease ; but the knights were in evil case, for
they had neither meat nor drink save clear water
alone.
Now Charlemagne might well say that he could
never hurt the four sons of Aymon. The next
morning after he camped at the river, he said to
Duke Naymes : " What think you we ought to
do?" "Sire," said Duke Naymes, "if you will
65 E believe
SONS
AYMON believe me, we shall return to France ; this wood
is too thick and the river too perilous."
As the King and duke were speaking together,
there came many knights before him, and he called
Bridelon, Regnier, and Ogier the Dane, and said :
" Lords, I will that ye return to Paris with me."
They were all glad, and said :
" Sire, it is the best counsel you can do."
Then Charlemagne made to be cried in the camp
that every man should return to his own lands,
and he returned to Paris, and the barons to their
countries.
As Duke Aymon was returning it happed to him
that he came by the spot where his sons were dwell-
ing, and when he saw them he said to his knights :
" Counsel me, I pray you, what I ought to do
against my children. If I assail them and they be
slain or taken I shall never have joy, and if I let
them go I shall be forsworn."
But none of the knights answered him one word.
Then he said : " Since it is so that ye will give me
no counsel, I will fight with them here ; God's will
be done."
" Sir," said Emofroy, " you do not amiss in
assailing your children, for you swore to Charle-
magne to do so. Take care not to be forsworn."
"Good friend, you say well," said Aymon, "I shall
so do that I shall not be blamed." Then he called
two of his knights and said to them, "Go to
66 Renaud
Renaud and his brethren and defy them on my AYMON
behalf" WILL
UClldll. FIGHT
" Sir," said they, "you command a hard thing of THEM
us to do ; but since it pleases you, we will go."
Straightway they went to Renaud, who was abashed
to see the messengers of his father coming, and said
to his brethren : " Lords, arm yourselves, or we shall
be overthrown, for I know the rage of my father
against us."
Then came the two knights before him, and when
Renaud saw them he said :
" Lords, who be ye, and what wind driveth you
hither?"
Then spake one of the knights, and said : " Sir,
we be knights of my lord, your father, that sendeth
to you by us a defiance."
" Lords," said Renaud, " I wot it well, but go
again and tell him he shall not do well to fight his
children."
" Sir," said they, " think to defend yourself well,
for he will assail you without doubt."
When Aymon had heard their answer he made
none other tarrying, but spurred his horse on his
sons, and when Renaud saw him coming he met
him and said :
" Ha, father, what do you ? We have none so
great a foe to us as you I At the least, if you will
not help us, be not our enemy."
" Wretch ! " cried Aymon, " you shall never do
67 good
THE FOUR good since you have begun to preach ! Go to the
RESIST woods, for you are not worth a straw. Defend
yourself, for if you are taken you will suffer great
torments."
"Sir," said Renaud, "you are wrong. I will
defend myself since I must, for if I let myself be
killed I should do great sin."
When Aymon heard that he put lance in rest and
ran on his children as if they had been strangers,
and Renaud cried to his men :
" Lords, smite well, for necessity compels us
thereto."
Then, he put himself in the thickest of the fight,
and struck so boldly that all his father's folk mar-
velled greatly. But Renaud must lose at this time,
for his father had many more folk than he, and of
five hundred men that abode with Renaud after his
castle was taken, there were but fifty persons left
alive after this battle, though Duke Aymon had lost
well half his men. So he turned towards the
mountain, and Aymon chased him as well as he
could, and weened to have taken them. When
Renaud saw they were on the top he said ; " Let us
stay here, this is a good place to defend."
Then was great skirmishing, and many a knight
sore wounded and slain, and Alard's horse was killed
under him. Straightway he jumped on his feet
and began to defend himself with his sword, and
Richard his brother came to his succour, for
68 Aymon
Aymon thought to have taken him. The battle RENAUD
grew more terrible than before, and Alard was near ALARD
taken when Renaud spurred into the greatest press
and overthrew his father Aymon to the earth,
calling out : " Father, now have you fared as well as
brother Alard."
So saying he drew his sword Flamberge, and
began to part the press in such wise that soon was a
clear space around him.
" Fair brother," said he, " leap up behind me/'
When Bayard felt himself laden with two knights
he went so strongly that it seemed to Renaud he
was more spirited than he had been all the day.
Four times he rode through the press with his
brother Alard behind him, and four of Charle-
magne's chiefest knights did he slay, and thus did
he take Alard out of the hands of his enemies in
spite of them.
Now were his brothers weary, though Renaud
was never the weaker for anything he did in arms,
so they drew away, and as he went he turned at
every step he made, and kept his enemies back with
the hard strokes he gave, so that his folk went
before him all at their ease. But when he saw that
his folk were far from their enemies, he spurred
Bayard, and came to them with his brother Alard
with great swiftness. And as he went Emofroy,
who was one of the bravest knights of Charlemagne,
followed after him, riding on a black horse which
69 the
FEW FOLK the King had given him. When he was near Renaud
he said : " Traitor, I shall slay you if you yield not,
that I may bring you to Charlemagne."
Thereon he smote him on his shield, and Renaud
in his wrath smote him dead to the ground, and
took his horse by the bridle, saying to Alard :
" Hold, fair brother, mount this good black horse,
for I give him to you." Much Alard thanked him
for the fair present he made him, and lighted down
from Bayard, and mounted the horse and spurred
against a knight of his father's folk named Arfroy
so hard that he overthrew and killed him. Shortly
to speak the battle began again afresh, sore hard and
fell, so that twenty of the best knights that Aymon
had with him were slain, whereat the duke was sore
angered and cried : " Ha, Lords, avenge the death
of Emofroy, the good knight that the King had
given me."
When Aymon's folk heard this, they ran on Alard
so much that they made him leave the place by force,
and if there had not been there a little river,
Renaud and his brothers would have had much to
do. Yet if he had had only fifty more knights with
him at the passage he would have discomfited his
father and all his folk, but as he had them not he
must forsake the place, and might not save with
him but fourteen knights, out of the five hundred
who came out with him from Montfort. Now hath
Renaud so few folk that he knew not what to do,
70 wherefore
wherefore the tears fell down from his eyes, and in THE KING
likewise the story tells that his father wept also, and WITH
said : " Alas ! my sons, sorry am I, for I am occasion ^Y^
f 1 XT i 11 e .,1 -1 J AYMON
of your loss. Now shall ye go forth exiled, and ye
have naught to live on and I cannot help you ! "
When he had made his moan long enough, he
made all the dead bodies to be buried, and the body
of Emofroy to be borne on a litter to Dordonne,
where he abode but a night. In the morning he
made the litter to be borne on the mules, and went
again to Paris, and came to Charlemagne, and said :
" Sire, as I went now lately to my own country I
found my sons with five hundred knights in the
forest of Ardennes : I would have taken them
prisoners, but I might not, for they have done me
much harm. I slew all their folk save fourteen
persons that escaped with them, but before they
fled they slew your knight Emofroy. They should
have been taken but for a river."
When Charlemagne heard this, he was right sore
an-angered and said to Aymon :
" You excuse yourself falsely, for never raven ate
his young birds. Another may believe this, but
not I."
When Aymon heard the King speak thus he said :
" Sir Emperor, know that what I tell you is truth,
and I shew it that the truth may be known and for
no other cause."
" Aymon," said Charlemagne, " I know well your
71 heart ;
DUKE heart ; if it went at your will, your sons should be
EET^HIS lords of France."
WIFE Sire," said Aymon, " ye be wroth of some other
thing whereof I am not cause ; moreover, if you
have any knight who will make good what it pleases
you to say, I shall prove it on him that he lieth
falsely. But evermore it has been so that you
never loved a true knight but flatterers and liars
only, whereof many evils have come and will come
still."
Then Aymon mounted his horse and returned to
his land without taking any leave of the King, and
came to Dordonne, where he found the Duchess,
who came to meet him and ask him what he had
done.
Then said Duke Aymon, " Full evil have I done,
for I found my four sons in the forest of Ardennes,
and assailed them cruelly, weening to have taken
them, which I could not do. Certainly if it had
not been for the prowess of Renaud I had taken
Alard, but he brought him out of the press and
made him sit behind him on Bayard, nor might
we abide his great strokes. He slew Emofroy, and
took his horse whether we would or no. Then went
I to Paris and shewed Charlemagne all that had
passed."
Then the Duchess cried out :
" You have done evil to so sore damage our
children ! You should defend them against all men,
72 and
and you do the worst you can to them. Are they RENAUD
not your sons ? Should you not be a father to KE wo S or> HI
them ? Blessed be the hour when they were born.
I would that your children and mine had taken you
prisoner, and made you give back to them all that
they had lost by you. I rejoice that Charlemagne
is wroth with you, for no good may come of evil-
doing."
Then said Aymon :
" Lady, you say truth. I promise you that from
henceforth I shall do them no harm."
So it was that time drew on and that after
Renaud and his brothers had been long in the
forest of Ardennes, they began to keep the ways
and distressed all that carried food, for the sons
dared not go into the towns to buy victuals. For
cause of the great sufferance they had through
hunger and cold of the snow their folk began to die,
and at the last no more abode alive but Renaud and
his brethren, and they had but four horses, Bayard
and three others. They had neither oats nor corn
to give them, but roots only, and for this their
horses were so lean that they could hardly stand,
save Bayard alone who was in good plight. Long
did the four sons of Aymon lead this life, till their
harness was rusty, their saddles and bridles all
rotten, so that they made them reins of cord, and
they themselves were become all black, and Renaud
was feared so greatly that no man dared approach.
73 When
THE FOUR When he saw himself so poorly arrayed, he said to
SONS TAKE u i J J
COUNSEL his brethren :
" Lords, I marvel much that we take not some
good counsel what we have to do ; meseemeth we
lack courage, or we should not suffer what we
now endure so long. Our armour and our horses
are of little worth, and we have no money at
all ; I pray you tell me what we ought to do for the
best, for I had rather die as a knight than as a wild
beast for hunger."
When Alard heard Renaud thus speak, he said :
"Brother, I have long since desired to tell you what
you have just said, but I feared ; now will I give
you good counsel. We have suffered here great
poverty, and we may not go into any country, for
you know that all the barons of France, and our
father, and all our kinsmen hate us mortally. We
shall go straight to Dordonne to our mother, for she
shall not fail us, and there shall we sojourn a little.
Then shall we take with us some company and go
serve a great lord, where we shall get some good."
"Brother," said Renaud, "you are right; I pro-
mise you I shall do so."
When the other brothers heard the counsel that
Alard had given, they began to say :
" Brother, we know that you give good counsel
to Renaud, and we are ready to follow it."
So abode the four sons of Aymon till that the
night was come; then they mounted their horses and
74 put
put themselves to the way to Dordonne. When THEY COME
they were nigh the city, they looked on it and DOR DNNE
remembered the great poverty they had suffered so
long. Then Renaud said to his brethren :
" We have done evil that we have not taken surety
of our father, for you know, he is so cruel that if he
can take us he will make us prisoners."
" Brother," said Richard, " you say well, but I do
not think that our father will do as you say. And
if he so did, I had rather die in Dordonne than for
hunger in the forest. Let us ride, for nobody shall
know us, and if we can set our feet in Dordonne we
shall be safe enough, for we be well beloved, and
our mother would never suffer men to do us harm."
"Certes, fair brother," said Renaud, "you have
spoken well and wisely ; let us ride on."
The folk that beheld them as they passed through
the streets marvelled much at them, and said :
" See, what folk be these ? I trow they be not of
our law or belief."
When they were come to the palace, they lighted
down and gave their horses to three varlets whom
they found there, and went up to the hall and found
no man, for Aymon their father was hawking on
the river. The Duchess, their mother, was in her
room, where she was continually in grief because
she could hear no news of her children. They sat
themselves down here and there, and abode a long
while, till at the last the Duchess came out and
75 looked
THE FOUR looked into the hall ; but she did not know her sons,
an d marvelled greatly what folks they were. Alard,
when he saw his mother come, said to Renaud and
his brothers :
"Yonder is our mother. Let us go and tell her
our great penury and our need."
"Brother," said Renaud, "we shall tarry till she
speak to us or not."
When she was come to them and saw them so
black and hideous, she said :
" God save you, lords ! What be you ? Are you
Christian or Pagans, or folk that do penance ? Will
you have alms or clothing? I will give it you
gladly for God's sake and for my children's, who are
in great peril. Alas ! I have not seen them for seven
years."
And when the Duchess had said this, she took so
much pity for her sons that she began to weep sore.
When Renaud saw his mother so sorrowful he
had great pity of her, and would discover himself ;
but the Duchess looked on him, and her blood ran
up to her face and hovered within her body, and
she began to shake and to fall in a swoon, so that
for a great while she might not speak. And when
she was come to herself again she knew him right
well by a scar that he had in his face, and said to
him:
" Renaud, my son, whose peer is not among all
the knights of the world, where is gone your great
76 beauty ?
beauty ? Why do you hide from me, who love you THEY
more than myself?" WITH
And while she said these words she looked round
her and knew her children, and went towards them
with her arms spread abroad, sore weeping. Then
she made them sit down by her, and said :
" How is it that I see you thus poor and dis-
figured? Why is it that you have with you no
knights ? "
" Lady," said Renaud, " we have no knights with
us because our father has killed them, and wished
to kill us also."
She called an esquire and bade him " Go take my
sons' horses into a good stable ; see that they be
well tended."
Then came a yeoman, and said :
" Madame, if it please you to sit at the table, the
meat is ready."
She took her sons with her and led them to
dinner, and as they were eating their father, Aymon,
returned from the chase, where he had slain four
harts and two wild boars, besides divers partridges.
When Aymon saw them he knew them not, and he
said to his Duchess :
" Who are these folk so evil arrayed ? "
The Duchess was sore aghast, and said :
" Sir, these are your children and mine, whom
you have pursued like wild beasts. Long time have
they dwelt in the forest of Ardennes, till they have
77 come
DUKE come to this evil state. Now are they come to me ;
WROTH 8 I P ra Y y u > f r tne love of God, lodge them this
night."
Aymon shook for anger and turned himself
towards his sons, and said :
"Wretches, you are not worth a straw, for you
have neither folk nor money."
" Father," said Renaud, " if your land is in
peace, others are not. You may go eighty leagues,
and find neither rich man nor poor out of their
castles. You have taken from us our good castle
of Montfort, and assailed us in the forest of
Ardennes ; so that of five hundred knights you left
alive but fourteen. Since you owe us no good will,
make our heads to be smitten off ; so shall you be
beloved of Charlemagne and hated of God and of
all men."
Duke Aymon knew the truth of these words, and
said : " Go forth from my palace and beg your bread
where you will."
Renaud said : "You speak evilly ; we have slain
so many that we cannot go into another land. Give
to us of your goods, and we will go far away."
/' I will not," said Aymon.
" Father," said Renaud, " here I see your evil
will. I swear to you that if I must needs depart,
you shall dearly abide it. I had rather die here
by the sword than die for hunger, since it may be
none otherwise."
78 Then
Then he turned red with anger, and drew his RENAUD
sword half out of his sheath. Alard, seeing his HIS
brother thus angry, ran and embraced him quickly, BRE THREN
and said :
" Fair brother, anger not yourself so sore with
our father, for he is our lord, and therefore whether
he is right or wrong he may say to us as it pleaseth
him, and we must do his bidding ; and if he is
cruel, we should be humble and pleasant to him.
Keep yourself from setting hand on him, for that
would be against the law of God."
"Brother," said Renaud, "when I see him that
should help us, defend and love us, do all contrary
to the same, I am like to wax mad. He hath made
peace with Charlemagne to destroy us. I saw never
so cruel a man against his sons ; I cannot tell the
harm he hath done us, nor the poverty we have
suffered through him.
When Aymon heard Renaud thus speak he said:
" Great God, how sorry I am that I may not
enjoy the good that God has given me ! No man
in the world should be so happy as I if my sons
had their peace with King Charlemagne. King
Priam of Troy had never better men to his children
tl.an I. Should I then take heed to others against
my sons, or help them and keep them against all
men ! "
When he had thus spoken to himself, he said to
Renaud : " Fair son, you are worthy and sage as
79 Hector
THE DUKE Hector of Troy, therefore I ought well to do your
will." Then he said to the Duchess :
" Lady, I go without, for I will not be forsworn
to Charlemagne. You have within gold and silver
enough, give to my children all that they ask."
" Father," said Renaud, " we ought to thank you
much for what you have now said, and we shall go
hence early to-morrow with God's grace. I promise
you, we should never have come but to comfort our
mother, that hath been so ill at ease for the love
of us."
" Renaud," said the Duke, "you are full of great
wit, consider the oaths that Charlemagne made me
take against you. I am sore displeased that I found
you in the woods of Ardennes, but I was forced of
mine honour to do as I did, to be in peace with
Charlemagne. Your mother hath not forsworn you,
and therefore she may give you of our goods at her
will." And when he had said thus, he took his men
with him and went his way.
The Duchess was well pleased that Aymon had
given her leave to do with his goods at her will, and
said to her sons :
" Since your father is not within, you shall be
well treated." Then she had the baths made ready
and in them many a sweet herb, and brought them
linen and other clothes for changes, and to each of
them a mantle of fine scarlet furred with ermine.
When they were well apparelled, she led them into
80 the
the room where their father's treasure was, and RENAUD
shewed it them, and Renaud laughed when he saw
how rich it was, and said :
" Lady mother, gramercy of so fair a gift, for we
had much need of it." Then he took of this treasure,
and paid therewith messengers and men-at-arms, to
each a year's pay. That night they lay in their
father's castle, and the next morning they departed
before day, and with them were near five hundred
men well armed. When they took leave of their
fair mother, the Duchess, she said :
" Fair sons, draw towards Spain, for it is a
plenteous country."
As they were setting out their cousin Maugis came
from France, and when he saw the company he ran to
Renaud with his arms spread and kissed him, and his
other three brethren, and said :
" God be thanked that I have come hither in
time to see you."
"Cousin," said Renaud, "where have you been
that we have not seen you this long time ? "
" Cousin," said Maugis, " I come from Paris, and
I have brought with me three horses laden with
Charlemagne's gold, half of which I will bestow on
you." As they went they met their father, and when
Renaud saw him, he did him reverence ; and Aymon
said :
" Fair sons, ye be well garnished. Do so that
in France men may speak of your prowess." So
81 F he
THEY he took leave of them, and returned to the Duchess,
ME INTC
GASCONY
and took her in his arms, saying :
Lady, grieve not so much, for my heart telleth
me that we shall yet see them in great prosperity
and honour, and you shall have joy and gladness of
them in short time."
Now telleth the tale, that after that the four sons
of Aymon and Maugis their cousin had gone out of
Dordonne to the number of seven hundred, all armed
and in order, they passed through Brie, and Gastyne,
and Orleans, and over the river Loire, and laid
waste the country through which they passed till
they came to Poictiers, where they heard that King
Yon of Gascony was attacked by the Saracens.
Maugis thereon said to Renaud :
" Cousin, let us go and fight for this King, and
Charlemagne shall never take us there."
" With a good will," said Renaud.
They took their way to Gascony, and rode so long
that they came to Bordeaux, where they found King
Yon with a great company of knights. When they
were down from their horses Renaud said :
" Go we and lodge us."
" Cousin," said Maugis, " we shall not do so, but
let us speak at once to the King. If he retains us,
in a good hour be it ; and if he do not, we will go
and serve Bourgons the Saracen, who has already
taken Montpellier, Toulouse, Tarascon, and Aries."
"Cousin," said Renaud, "you speak well and
82 wisely,
wisely, we shall do as you have said." Then Renaud THEY HEAR
took with him fifty knights, and clothed himself SARACENS
richly, and went with his brethren and Maugis to
King Yon. As he rode through Bordeaux, all the
people ran together to see him, because he was so
great and so well made, and when they came to the
gate, Renaud lighted down, and went up to the
palace where the King was at council.
When the seneschal saw Renaud how fair a man
he was, and how many folk with him, he came
towards him and said : " My lord, you are right
welcome." Renaud answered : " God give you
good adventure ! Tell me if it please you, where
is the King."
" My lord, he holdeth now his council, for Bour-
gons the Saracen has entered his land, and burnt
towns and castles, abbeys, hospitals, and churches,
and now he is in Toulouse with a great power."
" Certes," said Renaud, "this Bourgons is of
great power, as men say."
While they were speaking together, King Yon
came out of the council chamber, and when Renaud
saw him, he called his brothers and saluted him
humbly, and said to him :
" Sire, my brothers and I are knights from a far
land, we come with our folk to do you service. But
if our service be agreeable to you, you shall promise
on your faith as a King, that you shall be my warrant
and help against all other."
83 " Friend,"
THEYTAKE " Friend," said King Yon, "ye be right welcome.
And as you say you be come to serve me, I thank
you for it with all my heart, but I would first know
what folk ye be, for you might be such that I would
defend you, or again that I shall be your enemy."
" Sire," said Renaud, " since it is your pleasure
to know who we are, I shall tell it you. Know
that I am Renaud, son of Duke Aymon of Dordonne,
and these three knights are my brothers, and this is
my cousin Maugis, one of the best knights in the
world. Charlemagne hath cast us out of France,
and hath disinherited us, and our father hath dis-
avowed us for the love of him, so we go about for a
lord that is good and true. He shall help us to
defend against Charlemagne, and we shall serve
him truly."
When King Yon heard this that Renaud had said,
he was right glad of it, for he knew they were the
best knights in the world, and that if ever he should
finish his wars it should be by their means. Then
he looked up to heaven and thanked our Lord for
their coming, and after said to them :
" Lords, ye are retained, ye are not men who
ought to be refused. I promise you on the faith of
a King that I shall defend you with all my power
against all men. You are disinherited, and I also,
therefore it is good reason that we help each other to
the utmost of our power."
" Sire," said Renaud, " I promise you we shall die
84 in
in your service, or else your land shall be recovered RENAUD
ap-ain " WILL
again. FIGHT
The King called his seneschal, and commanded
that Renaud and his company should be well lodged,
and forthwith it was done.
After Bourgons had taken Toulouse, he said to
his people :
" Lords, you know well that when the iron is well
hot, it worketh the better. Let us ride now to
Bordeaux while the corn is in the ear, that our
horses may have to eat."
Next day Bourgons departed from Toulouse with
twenty thousand armed men, and ceased not to ride
till in nine days he came to Bordeaux, and sent four
hundred Saracens to waste and burn all the country
unto the city of Bordeaux. When the watch upon
the city gate saw them, he cried with a loud voice :
"Arm you, knights, here be the Paynims!" and
the city was sore moved.
Renaud saw that it was time to arm. He said to
his brothers : " Blow the trumpets for our folk to put
them in arms," and when they were ready he
mounted on Bayard, and went to King Yon, to
whom he said :
" Sire, be not abashed, but be sure that God will
help us this day. My heart telleth that this Saracen
shall be discomfited and overcome by His help."
"Friend," said the King, "God be with you, I
shall do as you advise."
85 Renaud
THE Renaud rode out of Bordeaux foremost of all his
folk against the Saracens, and ran fiercely on the
enemy. He smote a Paynim through his shield,
and drew his sword striking through them as if they
had been disarmed.
Shortly to tell, when Renaud's folk came up, the
Paynims might not endure, and must needs flee
towards their camp. Bourgons, seeing his men in
flight, sounded his trumpet and came up with his
army. Renaud, when he saw so great a host coming
out of the wood, marvelled sore, and turned himself
to his brethren, saying :
" Be not dismayed, we shall get great worship this
day."
As Renaud was thus speaking, Bourgons came up
and smote one of Renaud's men so that the spear
went through his body, and Alard spurred his horse
on a Saracen, and felled him stark dead before him,
and shortly to speak, never was there a greater stress
of war. When King Yon saw the great deeds of
the brethren, he blessed himself and said to his folk:
" Go we and succour these true knights, for it is
time long ago." Then he spurred his horse and put
himself amongst the thickest and began to do well.
He did so much that he came beside Renaud, who
said to him : "Be sure and certain that the Saracens
are discomfited."
When Bourgons saw the great harm that Renaud
bare to his folk he said :
86 "We
"We be overcome by the powers of these five RENAUD
i Ui T A. u i r -i .L- Jl_ PURSUES
knights. Let us go back, for it is time ; and when BOURGONS
he had said this, he and his men began to flee.
When Renaud saw that Bourgons was fleeing he
smote Bayard with his spurs, and ran after him to
kill him. Within a short while he was far from his
brothers and his men, so that they wist not where
he was. Then Alard said: "Alas! where is my
brother?" King Yon came up, saying : " It is not
wisdom to chase overmuch our enemies, let us with-
draw, I pray you."
" Sire," said Alard, " we have lost Renaud our
brother, and wot not if he is dead or taken. "
When King Yon heard this, he was full sorry,
and they sought among the dead that lay on the
field ; and when they saw that they could not find
him, they began to make great sorrow.
"Alas!" said Alard, "what shall we do? We
departed from our land poor and exiled, but we
cared not, for we were with the best knight of the
world, and we trowed to have recovered honour and
wealth by his prowess."
When King Yon saw their grief he said :
" Lords, what is this that ye do ? Since he is not
dead that should be enough. If he be taken you
shall have him again, if it cost me all I have in the
world. We have so many of them prisoners, that
Bourgons shall not do him any harm."
" Sire," said Alard, "let us go after him, and wit
87 what
SHARP is what is become of him." " Friend," said the King,
" I will do so gladly." Then they spurred their
horses.
When Renaud had overtaken Bourgons, he cried
upon him : " Flee no further, but turn towards
me, for if you die fleeing you will be shamed."
When Bourgons heard him thus speaking, he
turned at once, and knew well it was the good
knight that had discomfited his folk. He said to
him :
" Good knight, mar not your horse for nought,
for if you lose him, you shall never recover such
another ; " and this he said to abash him, for he dared
not joust with him.
But Renaud was not the man to be made afraid
with words, and said :
" Bourgons, you must needs defend yourself."
Then Bourgons spurred his horse and smote
Renaud so sharply that the spear went in pieces,
and Renaud fell not, but wounded him in the breast
full sore and struck him down to the ground.
Bourgons rose up lightly, and took his sword in
his hand, and held his shield over his head. When
Renaud saw the wound he cried :
" Certes, it shall not be reproached to me that you
fought on foot and I on horseback ; " and with this
he lighted down from Bayard, and drew his sword
against Bourgons, and there began a sharp battle.
When the Paynim's horse felt himself free from his
88 master,
master, he began to run away, but Bayard went BOURGONS
after him and took him by the mane with his teeth
and brought him again to his master on the spot
where the two knights were fighting. Renaud gave
Bourgons a stroke on his shield with Flambard his
sword, and all that the sword reached it cut through,
the mails of his flancards, and his flesh, and Bour-
gons was sore afraid and said :
" Ha, gentle knight, I pray thee for the love of
God, give me truce, and I shall make thee lord of
all I possess."
" Certes, no," said Renaud, " for I have promised
King Yon to help him against all men, and he hath
promised me; but if you will make yourself Christian,
I shall do it gladly."
" Sir," said Bourgons, " I will yield me to you, if
you will save my life and members."
" Bourgons," said Renaud, " if you yield you to
me, you shall have no more harm than I."
" I put myself altogether in your hands," said
Bourgons.
Then Renaud took his sword, and they mounted
on their horses, and took their way to Bordeaux.
As they were returning they met with King Yon,
coming in haste with all his men. When Renaud
saw him he thanked him much, and presented to
him King Bourgons, and said :
" Noble King of Gascony, I beseech you that
Bourgons have no harm, for I have assured him."
89 " Good
KING YON " Good friend," said King Yon, " he shall have all
honour for love of you, and I pray to God that I
may do nothing against your will."
When the three brothers and Maugis saw Renaud,
they were glad, for they weened they had lost him ;
so ran they and kissed him full sweetly, and made
him great feast and honour, for they had been in
great sorrow for love of him.
" Brother," said Alard, " you have brought us
into great sorrow this day, for we thought that you
had been taken, but now the war is done."
Then they returned to Bordeaux, and King Yon
took with him Renaud and his brethren and Maugis
into the palace and found his folk making great
feast. He said to them :
" Lords, do honour to this knight more than to
me, for they have quieted my land and set my
kingdom at peace."
He dealt out the spoil, and gave the most part to
Renaud and his brethren, but Renaud gave all his
to his folk. When the King saw the goodness of
Renaud, he loved him more than before, and said
he would make Renaud lord over all his land.
King Yon had a sister who was a right fair
damsel, and when she heard so much good of
Renaud, she called to her a knight named Walter
and said to him : " Tell me, I pray you, who had
the prize of the battle."
" Madame," said Walter, " know that Renaud is
90 the
the best knight in the world, for he took Bourgons THE
the Saracen by force, and by him the war is brought E *Jo EI
to an end." HUNTING
Then was the maiden right glad in her heart.
When Bourgons saw himself a prisoner he sent
word to King Yon to come and speak with him,
and said to him : " Sire, I am your prisoner with
the most part of my folk. I will give you for our
ransom ten horses laden with gold." The King
answered that if Renaud was willing he would con-
sent, and thereon he took counsel of Renaud and
his brethren, and his barons. They counselled him
to ransom Bourgons on condition that he should
yield Toulouse again, and so it was done. But
Renaud would have none of the ransom.
It happed upon a day that Renaud and his
brethren took four wild beasts in a forest, and as
they came home they found themselves near the
Gironde. As they went Alard looked over the river
and saw a high mountain, and said to Renaud :
" Brother, yonder upon that mountain is a fair
ground and a strong ; I believe there has once been
a castle there. If we might build again there,
Charlemagne should never take us. Ask it of King
Yon, and we will make a strong fortress."
" Cousin," said Maugis, " Alard gives you good
counsel." " I shall follow it," quoth Renaud.
They crossed the Gironde and came again to the
King and presented him with the beasts they had
91 taken
RENAUD taken, and he received them honourably. Next day
after they had heard Mass Renaud drew the King a
little on one side and said to him : " Sire, we have
served you well and truly."
" Certes," said the King, " and I am holden to
reward you for it. If I have in my land cities, towns,
or other thing that you will have, I grant it you."
" Sire," said Renaud, " I thank you much for
your good will. I and my brethren were coming
from the chase, and as we came along by the
Gironde we saw a mountain, and if it please you we
would build thereon a castle."
" I right gladly grant it to you," said the King to
Renaud, who thanked him greatly. The King took
him up and kissed him, and said : " Noble knight,
I promise you I shall make you a rich man if God
spare me life." " Sire," said Renaud, " God yield
it you."
Next day the King made Renaud to come and
took with him twenty knights and passed over the
river till they came to the rock and saw the place
that it was fair and pleasant. Renaud was right
glad, for he said in himself that if he could build
there a castle he would not fear Charlemagne when
it was victualled, for there was a right fair spring of
water at the highest of the mountain. When the
knights that were with the King saw r the place so
fair and pleasant, and withal so strong, they took
him a little aside and said :
92 "Sire,
" Sire what is this you will do ? Do you wish to HE WOULD
have another lord in your land ? If Renaud build CASTLE^
here a castle he shall fear you little, or all the barons
of Gascony together. Consider that these knights
are strangers, and may bear you great harm if they
will. Give him some other reward, if you will
believe me, and let this alone, for over great harm
may come of it."
When King Yon heard these words he was
abashed, for he wist well that they were truth, and
little it lacked that the castle was not built. He
began to think a little, and after he told himself
that he had promised it to Renaud ; so called he him
and said: "My good friend, where will you that the
castle be made?" "Sire, let it be here on this
rock."
" Certes," said the King, " I give it to you ; then
shall you fear neither me nor my folk."
" Sire," said Renaud, " I certify you as a true
knight, that I had rather die an evil death than
think such treason upon you or any other ! Think
you because I am enemy to Charlemagne, my
sovereign lord, that I have done against him some
treason ? Know that when I slew Berthelot his
nephew, I did it in my own defence, for he drew
first blood from me without reason. I swear to you
on my faith that if any man do wrong unto you I
will avenge it after my power; if you have any
suspicion of me, give it me not."
93 "Good
THE " Good friend," said the King, " I know well your
truth, and therefore have I granted it you."
When Renaud heard the courtesy and goodness
of the King he thanked him right much, and sent
through the land for all the master masons and
carpenters and crafty men in such work, so that
there were well two hundred and fifty, besides the
labourers. When all his stuff was ready he made
them build there a strong castle, whereof the great
hall was first made, and after, many chambers, and
then the great tower. When the donjon was well
closed, they enclosed the castle round about with
double walls, high and thick, of hard stone, and
many towers on it, and to this castle were four gates
and no more. Then they made the portcullis, and
secret passages and barbicans, and so the castle was
finished. When King Yon knew this he came to
see it and Renaud came out to meet him, and made
him go up to the great tower of the fortress, so that
he should see the castle at his ease. When the King
beheld the fair work he called to him Renaud and
said:
" Good friend, how shall this castle be named ?
Meseemeth it ought to have a noble name for its
great beauty."
" Sire, it hath no name yet, if it please you, you
shall give it one."
" Certes, the place is fair, I will that it be called
Montauban."
94 Then
Then he granted that those who should dwell in
Montauban should be free of all manner of duties MONTAU-;
for the space of ten years ; and when the people BAN
of the land heard this, the knights, gentlemen,
burgesses, and merchants, and folk of all crafts came
there, so that in all the country was no town so well
peopled, for there dwelt five hundred burgesses, all
rich men, and fifty taverners, and fifteen hundred
craftsmen, besides other folk. When the barons
saw that the King loved Renaud so well, they were
wroth, and said to him :
"Sire, take good heed what you do, Montauban
is right strong ; if it hap by any wise that Renaud
be an-angered upon you, he may lightly bring you
great damage."
" You say truth," said the King, " but Renaud
has so noble a heart that he shall never think upon
treason in no wise."
"Sire," said an old knight, "if you will believe
me I shall tell you how you shall always be lord and
master of Renaud."
"Friend," said the King, "tell me this I pray
you."
" Sire, give him your sister to wife, so shall she
be well married, for Renaud is noble of four
descents."
"Friend," said King Yon, "you give me good
counsel, so shall it be."
The first day of the month of May, Renaud went
95 from
A DREAM from his castle of Montauban to Bordeaux to see
OLD King Yon, and Alard his brother who was there
with him. Then the King came to meet him and
took him by the hand, and went up to the hall of
the palace, and there he called for chess to play at it
with Renaud. As they were playing Godfrey of
Moulins, the old knight who had spoken of the
marriage, came into the hall and said :
" Hear me, lords ; last night I dreamed that
Renaud, son of Duke Aymon, was standing on a
well, and all the people of this land bowed before
him, and the King gave him a sparrowhawk ;
meseemed then that a great boar came out of the
woods, and no man dared face him, but Renaud
fought him and wounded him sore, and so I awoke."
Straightway a great clerk named Bernard arose
and said :
" Fair lords, if ye list to hearken, I shall declare
unto you the signification of this dream. The well
on which Renaud was standing is his castle of
Montauban, the people that bowed them down are
they who have come to dwell there, and the gift
that the King gave him is his sister to wife. The
boar is some great Prince, Christian or Paynim,
that shall come to assail King Yon. This is his
dream, and I, unworthy for to speak, would counsel
that the marriage should be made of Renaud, and
the sister of the King." Then the King said :
" Thou hast spoken well and wisely." When
96 Renaud
Renaud heard this he said : " Sire, gramercy of your RENAUD
fair gift that you give me : if it please you, may I TROTHED
take counsel with my brethren and Maugis."
" Brother," said Alard, "you have spoken ill; if
you will believe me you shall fulfil his will straight-
way, for to me and my brethren it shall be right
pleasing."
" Brother," said Renaud, " I shall so do as you
counsel me " : then he turned him to the King, and
said : " Sire, I am ready to do all that you will." So
the King took him by the hand and affianced his
sister to him.
When the marriage was accorded and made sure
King Yon came to his sister's room and found her
busy on the pennon of a spear that she was making
for Renaud, though she durst not own it. The King
saluted her, and the noble maid rose up and made
him due reverence right mannerly.
" Fair sister," said the King, " I have married you
well and highly." When she heard him she changed
colour and could speak no word for a long time, but at
last she said : " Sire, to whom have you given me ? "
" Unto the best knight of the world, Renaud, son
of Aymon." When she heard this she was right
glad, for she loved Renaud with a great love, and
she said : " Sire, I will do your will ; " so he took
her by the hand, and brought her to the palace, and
said to Renaud before his barons : " Here I give you
my sister to your wife and spouse."
97 G "Sire,"
HE is " Sire," said Renaud, " I thank you for so fair a
MARRIED no t to so poor a knight as I am."
Then the King would make no tarrying, so he took
her by the hand, and brought her right honourably
to the Church, where the Bishop of Bordeaux wedded
them. When they were married Maugis and his
brethren made great joy, and hung Montauban with
rich tapestry. Then they mounted their horses all
covered with sendall, and went towards Bordeaux
to meet with Renaud and his wife on the way.
Eight days lasted the feasts and many great gifts
were given, and at the last King Yon returned to
Bordeaux right glad of the marriage, for he thought
well that Renaud should keep him against all men.
NOW LEAVETH THE STORY TO TELL OF
RENAVD AND HIS BRETHREN AND RE-
TURNETH TO SPEAK OF CHARLEMAGNE,
WHO WENT TO ST. JAMES IN GALICIA
TO DO PENANCE FOR HIS SINS.
Now sheweth the history that Charlemagne was
at Paris, and there came to him a devotion to go in
pilgrimage to Saint James. He set out from Paris,
and took in his company Ogier the Dane, and Duke
Naymes of Bavaria, and many other lords. At the
last they came to Saint James and when they were
arrived there the King went straight to the church,
and offered ten marks of fine gold before the altar.
When he had done his devotions, he set out on the
way through Bordeaux, and as he was going, he
98 saw
saw the castle of Montauban beyond the Gironde. CHARLE-
Then he said : S^MO
" Lords, yonder is a fair castle, strong and well TAUBAN
set. I see well that King Yon hath made it of late
for it is new ; surely he thinketh to make war upon
us." Then he asked a man of the land what was
that castle ; and he said :
" Sire, the name of it is Montauban, and Renaud
the son of Aymon hath built it."
When Charlemagne heard this he was wroth, and
for a while he could not speak, but at the last he
said ;
" Lords, I shall tell you a wonder, I have found
my enemies, the four sons of Aymon, in this land.
Now up, Ogier, and you, Duke Naymes ; ride forth-
with to King Yon and bid him yield me up my
enemies, the four sons of Aymon, and find me
knights to bring them into my land that I may hang
them. If he will not do it, defy you him on my
behalf, and tell him that within these three months
I shall be in his land of Gascony with all my host,
and I will destroy his land and his castles, and
punish him without mercy."
Straightway they went on their way to King Yon
and found him at the last at Montauban, and when
Ogier saw him he knew him well and saluted him,
and told him all the message that they brought.
" Ogier," said the King, " certes, I have here the
four sons of Aymon, who are worthy knights. They
99 have
OGIER have helpen me in my need, and without them I
THREATS should have been disinherited. For the good they
have done me I have given my sister to wife to
Renaud, and therefore I should be cruel and traitor
if I should now deliver them into the hands of their
mortal enemy. I had liefer be disinherited and die
an ill death than suffer that they have any harm.
King Charlemagne would then hold me for a fool.
Therefore, Ogier, tell the Emperor on my behalf,
that I shall forsake all my land before I will deliver
them, and this is my answer."
When the King had thus said, Renaud spake after:
" Ogier, I marvel greatly why King Charlemagne
will not leave us in peace : he cast us out of France
poor and disinherited ; he took our castle of
Montfort, so that we wist not where we should go,
and now he will cast us out of Gascony. Yet am I
ready to do his will in reason and right, and I tell
you well, if he refuse this in his pride, we are not
such as be taken so lightly. We have a castle
named Montauban, strong and impregnable."
"Renaud," said Ogier, "you speak unwisely;
ween you to abash us by words ? You know well
that Charlemagne made you a knight, and you slew
his nephew Berthelot. Think not ever to have peace
with him. You ween you are in safety because King
Yon hath built you a castle ; full sore shall he repent
it, for in two months we shall be in the midst of his
land to destroy it."
100 " Ogier,"
" Ogier," said Renaud, " I swear to you on my THE KING
faith that when King Charlemagne shall be in Gas- l
cony he shall wish himself back again in France.
Sore abashed shall ye be when -yloii: see th$; sharp
war that we shall make against h]m;. he who speaks
now high shall then be full loWA :,J J J *-. :*!, ": : .-'.
" Do as you will," said Ogier ; " I have told you
all my message, and I go again to King Charle-
magne."
When the King heard the message, he shook all
for rage, and said : " It shall be seen how King Yon
and Renaud shall defend Gascony against me."
Then he went forth and rode so long that he came
to Paris. The day after he called all his barons to
him, and when they were come the King held his
council and said to them :
" Lords, I have sent for you to tell you the great
shame that King Yon of Gascony doth to me, for he
protects the four sons of Aymon in my despite.
You know what wrong they have done me in slaying
my nephew Berthelot. I did banish them out of
France, and they made them the castle of Montfort
in my lands, and I chased them out of it. Now are
they with King Yon, and he has given his sister to
Renaud, and will defend them against me/ 7
None of the barons answered him a word, for
they were weary of the war they had made so long
against Renaud ; and when Charlemagne saw that
nobody answered him, he called to him Duke
101 Naymes,
ROLAND Naymes, Ogier the Dane, and Guidelon the Earl,
and said to them : " Lords, what counsel do you
give me in this matter ? "
" Sire," said .Duke Naymes, " if you will believe
me, sufjej ypur'hqst .to rest for five years, because
the folk 'are weary of the war. When they shall be
fresh, you make war at your will, and every man
shall march with a good heart."
When the Emperor heard this he was sore angry,
and as he was about to speak against Duke Naymes
there came a youth of great beauty, and with him
thirty squires well armed. This youngling came
into the palace, and when he came before the Em-
peror he made his obeisance to him full courteously.
"Friend," said the King, "you are welcome.
What wind brought you hither, and who are you ? "
" Sire, I am called Roland of Brittany, and I am
the son of your sister and Duke Milon."
When Charlemagne heard him, he was right glad
and took him by the hand and embraced him many
times and said : " Welcome are you indeed. To-
morrow in the morning shall you be made a knight,
and you shall assay yourself on Renaud the son of
Aymon."
" Sire," said Roland, " I shall do your command-
ment. I promise you Renaud shall not be spared
of me, for he slew my cousin Berthelot, and I shall
avenge his death."
In the morning the King dubbed him a knight
1 02 with
with much joy and honour ; and as they were at the COLOGNE
feast there came a messenger that said to the Em- DANGER
peror : " Sire, your men of Cologne recommend them
humbly to your grace, and do you to wit that the
Paynims have burnt and destroyed all the country.
Wherefore they beseech you right humbly to come
and succour them."
When the Emperor heard this he bowed his head
for a little, and Roland, seeing him muse, said :
" Sire, wherefore be you so dismayed ? Give me
some of your men, and I will raise the siege of
Cologne."
Then said the King : " Fair nephew, blessed be
the hour that you were born ; you shall be my rest
and my comfort : I will that you go there." So he
gave him fifteen thousand men at arms, well arrayed,
and said to him : "I have given you my men ; keep
them well, and get for them worship." " Sire," said
Roland, " fear nothing, for at my return you shall
know what we have done." And he went on his way
with the folk.
So long they rode that they came to Cologne by
night, and laid an ambush against their enemies.
Then they came on a host of them carrying away
Christian men and women and their goods ; and
when the Frenchmen saw them they said : " Our
Lord hath sent us hither, let us ride on them, for they
shall be utterly overthrown."
They spurred their horses and rode on the Pay-
103 nims
THE PAY- nims with great strength, so that in a little while
DEFEATED they discomfited them and recovered all the
prisoners and beasts. Then the host of the Pay-
nims came out on them, and the Frenchmen went
again to their ambush.
When Roland saw that it was time to set upon
the Paynims he issued out of his ambush with his
folk, and smote them so that he cast good part of
them to earth. With pain might a man pass for
the dead that lay so thick there. Roland spurred
his horse and smote a Paynim that was King of the
the host with so great might that he overthrew him
to earth, and slew him not, but bowed himself and
took him for his prisoner, and set him again on his
horse and brought him with him. But his folk,
when they saw him taken, put themselves to flight
full shamefully. Then Roland cried out :
" Lords, go after them ; let not one escape, for ye
shall have them, seeing I hold in my hand their
King."
" They shall be taken or slain," said they.
Then said the Paynim King that Roland had
taken : "I pray you kill them not ; they be all
enough discomfited since you have taken me. Give
them truce and take me to King Charlemagne, and
if he pardon me I shall hold from henceforth all my
land of him."
"By my head," said Roland, "you speak cour-
teously." And Duke Naymes approved ; so they
104 made
made a truce with the Paynims, and led Escorfant, NAYMES
their King, to Charlemagne. ROLANT>
King Charlemagne was right glad when he knew
that his nephew had returned to Paris after discom-
fiting the Paynims and taking prisoner their King.
Straightway he mounted his horse and went out to
meet him. When Roland saw him, he lighted down
and saluted the King right courteously, and said :
" Sire, here I deliver you King Escorfant that we
have taken. He has told us that he will make him-
self a Christian man, and that he and his lineage
will hold their lands of you if you will pardon him."
" Nephew," said Charlemagne, " there is no trust
in him, and therefore I will keep me from him/'
He commanded that Escorfant should be brought
to prison and have his will of meat and drink. After
this Charlemagne called to him Duke Naymes, and
said : " What think you of my nephew Roland what
did he when the battle was assembled ? "
" Sire," said Duke Naymes, " of Roland needeth
not to speak. Such a knight has not been seen, for
he alone hath overcome the Paynims ; and if he had
a horse that might bear him when he is armed, he
should never have enemy but he should subdue
him." Then Charlemagne was right glad thereof.
" But tell me," said he, "where might men find such
a good horse as you speak of ? "
" Sire," said the Duke, " make it to be cried on
Montmartre with a trumpet that you will see all the
105 horses
CHARLE- horses of your host run, and he that shall run best
WILI. G HAVE shall have a crown of gold and five hundred marks
A RACE O f fi ne silver and a hundred rolls of silk. Thus
you may know the best horse in your kingdom ; and
when you have seen him, buy him and give him to
Roland. After that, give leave to your barons to
St. John the Baptist's day next."
"Duke Naymes," said Charlemagne, "you give
me good counsel, and I shall do as you have said."
Then he made the lists for the horses to run in,
and set the crown, the silver and the silk at the end
of it.
A yeoman who was going to Gascony passed by
Montauban and told Renaud all the things that men
would do at Paris, how Roland was come to court,
and how he had discomfited Escorfant, and how the
King would have the best horse to give him to Roland,
and how the race was set for St. John's day next.
Then Renaud began to laugh and said to his cousin
Maugis : " Charlemagne shall see the best turn in
the world, and I shall have the crown, for I will go
there on Bayard to see how he shall prove himself."
" Sir," said Maugis, " do not go there ; but if you
will go suffer that I bear you company, so shall you
be more sure." "Gladly," said Renaud, " since you
will have it so."
When it was time to set out Renaud said to his
brothers : " Let us choose our horses and go on our
way." And when they were all apparelled, he came
1 06 to
to his wife and said to her: ''Lady, I pray you RENAUD
keep well my castle, and I shall soon come again." BAYARD
" Sir," said she, " command your knights to go WILL G0
not out, and I promise you if King Yon my brother
came himself, he should not come in. Now go,
God be with you."
So Renaud took leave of her and set out. When
they were come to Orleans and had passed the Loire
men asked them whence they were, and Maugis,
who spoke for them all, answered : " Lords, we are
of Berne, and we go to Paris for the prize that the
King hath set."
Thus by fair words they came to Melun, and there
they lodged outside the town. When St. John's
eve was come Renaud called Maugis and said :
" What shall we do ? To-morrow is the course
of the horses, so it is convenable that we go lie to-
night at Paris." " Cousin,'* said Maugis, " you say
well ; now let me do a little an it please you."
Then took Maugis a certain herb and stamped it
upon a stone with the pommel of his sword, and
tempered it with water and rubbed Bayard there-
with, so that he became all white in such wise that
they that had seen him before knew him not. After
he anointed Renaud with an ointment that he bare
with him, so that straightway he became of the age
of twenty years.
When Maugis had thus dealt with Renaud and
his horse he said to his cousins : " Lords, tell me
107 how
A WATCH how think you, have I not well transfigured him ?
^ a y tne y not go and come without being known ?
Bayard shall lose the prize for age, he is waxen so
white."
The brothers began to laugh, and greatly did they
wonder how Maugis had disfigured them. Then
Renaud mounted on Bayard and Maugis on Morell
and took leave of their folk, and Alard said to
Maugis at their parting : " Take good heed of my
brother Renaud, for if it were not for the trust I have
in thee, I should not suffer him to go to Paris for
all the gold of Spain."
NOW LEAVE WE A LITTLE TO SPEAK
OF THEM AND RETURN TO KING
CHARLEMAGNE, WHO WAS IN PARIS.
Charlemagne, seeing that his barons were all come,
called Duke Naymes, Ogier the Dane, and Fulkes
de Morillon, and said to them :
" Lords, take with you a hundred knights well
armed, and go out on the Orleans road, that no man
may pass you but you know who it is. I doubt me
sore that Renaud will come, for you know how pre-
sumptuous he is, and if it came in his head, he would
straightway do it."
"Sire," said the barons, "we shall do your com-
mandment, and if Renaud be so foolish, he shall
not 'escape us."
They rode out on the way to Orleans, and stopped
in the midst of the road, four miles out of Paris ; and
i 08 there
there they were for a long while and nobody passed THEY PASS
by. When Duke Naymes saw this, he said to T
Ogier:
" By my faith, Charlemagne maketh us look
like fools to tarry here for nought." " Sir," said
Ogier, " you say truth ; for me, I will tarry no
longer."
When they would have come back, Duke Naymes
saw in the distance Renaud and Maugis coming.
Then Fulkes cried out : " By my faith, here comes
Renaud ; now he cannot escape." " You say truth,"
said Duke Naymes, " the horse is much like Bayard,
if he were of another colour."
Then Fulkes set hand to sword, and came right
near to Renaud and beheld him ; then was he all
abashed when he saw that it was not Renaud, and
drew back while the two passed on their way.
When Duke Naymes saw them coming, he called
Maugis and said : " What are ye, and whither do
ye go?"
" Sire," said he, " I come from Peronne, and my
name is Josuate."
" Friend," said Duke Naymes, " can you tell me
anything of Renaud, the son of Duke Aymon ? "
" Yes," said Maugis, " he has ridden two days with
us and is not two miles behind us."
Then said Naymes : " Who is he that is with you ?
He holdeth him so still, I believe he hath some evil
thoughts."
109 " Sir,"
THEY " Sir," said Maugis, " he is my son, and can speak
no French."
Then Duke Naymes said to Renaud : " Tell me,
vassal, can you give me news of Renaud ? "
And he answered him : " Imi scay point Franches,
en prenant par cheval a Paris couronne Ri, non draps
horniz gagner mi."
Then Duke Naymes began to laugh and said :
" Who taught thee to speak? Thou art more of
a fool than a bishop;" and let him go in peace.
At last Renaud and Maugis came to Paris, and as
they entered the gate they met a man who recognised
Renaud and cried out till a crowd came. Then he
was yet more bold than before, and took Bayard by
the bridle, but the good horse lifted his foot and
kicked him in the breast and his heart burst. Then
all the folk drew away and let them pass on to the
old market. Now all the inns were full, so they
went to a cordwainer to lodge, an ill man was he,
for by him were the cousins near taken. When
they had lighted down, and their horses were cared
for, Maugis took a thread of silk, and waxed it well,
and bound it round Bayard's pastern. The cord-
wainer beheld this and said :
" Why have you bound the horse so ? He will
not be able to run. What knight is he that owneth
him?"
" Sir," said Maugis, " I have bound up his foot
because he is lame, and it is my son who rides him."
no As
As Maugis was thus speaking with his host, he THEY ARE
j -D J FOUND
named Renaud unawares. OUT
" Ah," said the host, " you have said enough ;
surely he is the Renaud who slew Berthelot, the
King's nephew : I shall tell it to the King before I
sleep."
Then Renaud rose up with his hand on his sword,
and said : " Host, you mistake, I never saw Renaud,
I know not who he is."
"Hold your peace," said the host, " I know you
well ; " and so saying he turned to go out of his
house, but Renaud smote him a great stroke of his
sword and slew him.
When Maugis saw this he was right sorry for it
and said: "What have you done, have you lost
your wit ? We are lost if God does not help us."
Saying this he ran to the stable and saddled
Bayard, and made Renaud mount him and ride
away. All this while the wife and children of the
cordwainer were crying out, but none could tell
what had become of Renaud and Maugis, for they
were in the press ; so Bayard went halting till they
came to the gate of St. Martin, and there they abode
all the night.
When it was day they went with the barons to
church, and after Mass they followed the King into
the meadows of the line, Bayard still halting along.
When the King was come into the place he bade
men set the crown at the end of the lists, and with
in it
THE RACE it the five hundred marks of silver and the rolls of
silk, and it was done. When all was ready the
knights mounted their horses, each hoping to gain
the prize, and the King commanded Naymes and
Ogier, Guidelon of Burgundy and Richard of Nor-
mandy to take a hundred knights well armed, and
keep the course so that there should be no strife or
noise. Then the knights at the starting-post began
to jape at Renaud mounted on halting Bayard, and
said to each other : " This fellow shall win the prize
and the crown of gold for certain ; " and one of
them said to Renaud : " You have done well, sweet
knight, to bring your horse here, you will surely win
the prize on him."
Renaud heard full well their great words and his
heart swelled in him, but he feared to lose the prize
if he began the strife, so he held his peace. When
the King heard what the knights were saying to
Renaud, he was wroth for it, and said: "I command
you, under pain of disgrace, that ye say no ill word
to any knight."
When Naymes and Ogier saw that it was time to
run they sounded the trumpet and the race
started. Forthwith Maugis ran up and unbound
Bayard's foot, but before he was free, the others were
far ahead. Then Renaud said to Bayard : " Bayard,
we are far behind ; if you do not come in front we
shall be blamed."
When Bayard heard him he opened his nostrils,
112 stretched
RACE
stretched out his neck, and ran so quickly that the BAYARD
earth seemed to melt under him, and in a little WINS T
while he had passed all the other horses. And when
they that guarded the course saw it, they said to one
another in surprise : " See how quickly that white
horse runs ; but late he halted sore, and now he is
the best of all here." The Emperor called to him
Richard of Normandy, and said : " Saw you ever
so many good horses together as there are now ? "
Richard answered him : " No, sire, but the white
passeth them all. How like he is to Bayard, if he
had but his colour, and he who rides him is light and
active."
Thus wite it, that Bayard over-ran all the other
horses, and when Renaud was at the end of the
course he took the crown and put it on his arm ; as
to the silver and the silk, he left them there. And
when he had taken the crown he returned again to
Charlemagne fair and softly, and when the King saw
him, he laughed and said : " Friend, abide a little,
I pray you ; if you want my crown, you shall have
it, and as much gold as you wish for your horse, so
that never in your life shall you be poor."
" By my faith," said Renaud, " your words shall
not avail you. My name is Renaud, and I bear
away your crown : seek another horse for Roland,
for you shall not have Bayard or your crown either."
Then he set spurs to Bayard, and rode off like a
tempest. When Charlemagne heard these words he
113 H was
THEY was so angry that he could not for a great while
RENAUD s P ea k a word, but at last he cried out :
" Now after him, lords, after him ! It is my
enemy, Renaud the son of Aymon ! "
When the knights heard this, they spurred their
horses after Renaud, but their going availed them
naught. Thus Renaud came to the Seine, and
crossed it swimming, and when he came to the other
side, he lighted down on foot. Then Charlemagne,
who was amongst his pursuers, called Renaud and
said to him : " Ha, true man's son, give me back
my crown ! I will give you its value and a truce
for two years, so that you and your brethren may
go to Arden, and see your mother who sore desires
to see you."
"You shall never have your crown again," said
Renaud, " I shall sell it and pay my knights there-
with, and the carbuncle shall be set high on my
castle, that all who pass by to St. James in pilgrim-
age may see it."
When he had said this he rode away, leaving the
high road for a little path that he knew of afore-
time.
Meanwhile, Maugis mounted on his horse Morell,
issued out of Paris as soon as he might, and put
himself to look for Renaud, and when he had found
him he cried out : " Cousin, ride fast, for it is not
good for us to tarry here."
Then they took their way towards Melun, and
114 when
RETURN
HOME
when they drew near it Alard, seeing them come in THE
great haste, said : " Lords, we may get ready to set
out ; light we all on horseback, and if they have
need of help we will succour them."
As they came out of their ambush Renaud and
Maugis arrived and said : " Lords, haste you all, for
long tarrying might do us harm. I bring with me
the King's crown, which Bayard has helped me to
winf"
Incontinent they put themselves in the way to
Montauban, where they were well received by all the
folk in the castle, and Renaud told them how he
had gained the crown, and when they of Montauban
heard his words they were right glad.
Now sheweth the story that when Renaud had
won the crown of Charlemagne, the King abode all
wroth in Paris, and called his barons and said to
them : " Lords, I pray you, counsel me how I may
avenge me of Renaud, for you know how he has
angered me. I must have my crown again, before
he breaks it and puts the carbuncle on his castle."
" Sire," said Roland, " if you will avenge you of
Renaud, let us go upon him and destroy his land,
and if we may take King Yon of Gascony, let us do
such justice on him as you please."
" Nephew," said the King, " you are right ; I shall
never have joy till I am avenged."
"Sire," said Duke Naymes, "calm yourself; if
you will, I will give you such counsel that Renaud
115 and
THE KI NG and his brothers shall be brought to destruction :
assemble all your barons at the coming Candlemas,
* r , * . j i 1
and let every one of them bring with him provisions
for seven years. We will abide before Montauban
till we have taken it, and after you shall do as you
will."
Then the King made his letters as Duke
Naymes had said, and sent them through all his
empire, ordering every man accustomed to bear arms
to come to him at the feast of Candlemas next
following, well garnished with victuals for the space
of seven years, to lay siege to Montauban. When
the barons knew the King's will, every man made
him ready as well as he could, and came to Paris to
King Charlemagne and Roland his nephew ; and so
many came that they could not all find lodging in
Paris.
When the King saw that his barons were come he
said : " Lords, ye all know right well how I have
overcome and subdued four Kings, the which are
obedient unto me save the King of Gascony : he
hath saved in his land my enemies the four sons of
Aymon. Wherefore I pray and command you that ye
come with me into Gascony to help me that I may
be avenged of the great harm they have done me."
Then said the Earl of Nanteuil for all the other
lords :
" Sire, we may not go there at this time. You
know well that we be but late come from Almayn,
116 whereof
whereof we be yet all weary. There are in this HIS LORDS
fellowship many barons that have not been in
their lands, nor seen their wives nor children.
Moreover the wounds that I received in Almayn
are not yet whole. You shall do as a good King
and a wise one, who loves his folk, if you wait until
Whitsuntide next coming, and give leave to all your
barons to go to their lands and rest them for a
while. When the time shall be come, they will be
fresh and ready to do your will with all diligence."
The King was very wroth at this answer and
said : " If I should be disinherited, I will go into
Gascony, and I shall take with me all the young
men of my host, if ye are too weak and faint."
" Sire," said Duke Naymes, " you say well ; the
young men will be right glad to assay themselves."
" They shall destroy King Yon," said Charle-
magne ; " and when I have taken Renaud and his
kin, I shall give all the land to the young knights
for their heritage."
There was in the company a spy that belonged to
Renaud, and when he had heard all that was to be
said, he put himself in the way and came to Mont-
auban, where he found Renaud and Maugis and
the brothers. When Renaud saw him he asked :
"What news from the court of King Charle-
magne ? "
" My lord," said the spy, " wite it well that King
Charlemagne is greatly wroth against King Yon, and
117 against
NEWS
RENAUD against you, your brothers, and Maugis. He hath
THE sent for all his subjects, but none would come with
him into Gascony. Then he swore that he would
bring with him all the young knights, to whom he
would give the land, and cast down the great tower
of Montauban."
" Ha/' said Renaud to his folk, " be not dis-
couraged. I shall see how Roland and Oliver bear
themselves against us." Then he went into the great
hall and found Maugis.
" Lords," quoth he, " I bring you tidings. Charle-
magne cometh to besiege us, and brings with him
all the power of France. Let us think to receive
him well."
" Brother," said Alard, " have no doubt of it,
they shall be well received. As long as we live and
see you riding on Bayard, we shall not fail you nor
fear Charlemagne and his power."
It so fell that Charlemagne was advised, and
thought on the counsel that the Earl of Nanteuil
had given him, and he said to his folk that they
should come to him at Easter when he held his
Council General. When it was time to come again,
every man made himself ready as well as he could ;
Richard of Normandy led with him many noble
knights, then came Salomon of Brittany and with
him a great company, Diziers of Spain was at the
head of ten thousand men, Godfrey of Avignon
brought with him all his power and great foison of
118 victuals,
victuals, Bertrand of Almayn brought with him ROLAND
knights from Ireland and from Africa, and three
thousand archers which would for no fear of death
flee from battle, and Archbishop Turpin came with
his company, and the King was right glad of his
coming, for he trusted much to his fidelity and
prowess.
When the host was assembled at Paris, there was
so sore a dearth there that it was great pity, for the
bushel of wheat was sold for ten shillings and five
pence, and if the army had tarried there longer all
the small people should have been dead of hunger.
Seeing this, Charlemagne began to make his musters
and found that he had with him thirty thousand
young knights, without counting the older ones.
He called to him Roland, and said :
" Fair nephew, I recommend to you my army,
and pray you conduct it in good order."
" Sire," said Roland, " I shall do my duty after
my power."
Then they raised the Oriflamme, and departed
out of Paris and came to Blois, and Charlemagne
caused it to be cried that all the victuallers of
the town should bring food to the army, and if
what they brought was worth one penny, they should
have two for it. Then they passed the Gironde,
and came to Montauban and lodged them there
before the place.
When the battle was ordained around the castle,
1 19 Roland
THE KING Roland said to King Charlemagne, " Meseemeth we
EACE S sh 011 ^ gi ye assau lt to Montauban." The King
answered :
11 1 do not wish my folk to take any hurt : first will
I know whether the castle will be yielded up or no."
Straightway he sent a knight, unarmed, and riding
on a mule, to the castle, and when they at the gate
saw that it was a messenger they opened to him and
he entered. As he was come in he met the seneschal
going his rounds with one hundred men, and he
saluted him and asked who he was, and what was
the host without.
" Sir," said the knight, " it is the host of Charle-
magne, and I am one of his knights, come to speak
with Renaud on behalf of King Charlemagne."
Then the seneschal took him by the hand and led
him to Renaud, and when the knight saw him, he
saluted him humbly and said :
" The Emperor Charlemagne sendeth to you word
by me, that if you will yield you to his mercy, and
give to him your brother Richard to do his will of
him, he shall have mercy on you : and if you will
not do so, he shall assault your castle, and if he
may take you, you shall die a cruel death."
Then Renaud began to laugh at his words, and
said : " Friend, go tell the King that I am not the
man to do any treason ; if I should do it, he would
be the first to blame me. But if it please him, my
brethren, Maugis, and I are at his commandment,
i 20 and
and we shall yield up to him the castle at his will NAVMES
if he will save our lives. And if Charlemagne
refuse this, we shall not set much by him, but shall
defend ourselves."
The messenger returned to Charlemagne, and
shewed unto him all that Renaud had said, word
by word, and the King thought a good while, for he
knew that Renaud spoke well. Then he sent for
Duke Naymes and Ogier the Dane, and said to them :
" Lords, Renaud sendeth me word that he will do
nothing after my will, and for this cause let the
castle be forthwith assailed."
" Sire," said Duke Naymes, " meseemeth Renaud
offereth you fair, and if you will believe me, you
shall take him to mercy. You know well he and
his brethren are men that can do you good service,
and if Renaud were in peace with you, you should
be better beloved and more dreaded therefore. But
since your will cannot accord with this, I counsel
you not to assail the castle, for Renaud hath with him
a great company, and if ye assault the castle they
shall issue out at the secret posterns and do your
men great harm ; therefore you should besiege them
so closely that no man may come out or enter in."
Charlemagne knew well that Duke Naymes spoke
wisely, and said to him :
" I will that it be done as you have advised."
Then he made a cry through all the host that every
man should lodge himself close to the castle, and
121 commanded
ROLAND commanded that his tent should be pitched as near
AND
OLIVER tne ate as cou ld be done, and so within a little
SPEAK while there were more than ten thousand tents round
STHER the castle of Montauban.
When the host was all lodged, Roland departed
from the camp with two thousand young knights,
and went to the other side of Montauban to a place
called Balan^on, and there he pitched his tent on
the banks of a broad and deep river, and over it he
set the dragon. They were in such ground that
they could see from thence the woods and rivers and
all the country round. Roland, seeing the place so
strong, said to his folk :
" Lords, I marvel not that the four sons of Aymon
make war against my Uncle Charlemagne, since they
have so strong a dwelling-place. I promise you
Montauban shall never be taken of us."
" You are wrong," said Oliver, " we took Losanes,
and threw down the great tower and donjon of
Constantinople, so we may well have Montauban ;
if Renaud and his brothers do not yield, they shall
be in danger of death."
" I promise you," said Roland, " that they shall
do nothing of what you say, but Renaud shall make
us so to fear that tlie boldest will wish himself in
Paris. He is courageous, and his brethren likewise ;
they have in the castle many valiant knights, so I
am of opinion that as long as they have victuals,
they shall never be taken."
122 When
When Roland's tent was set up he beheld a great THE LORDS
SPORTING
number of birds between the two rivers ; so he said
to Archbishop Turpin and the other barons : " See
how well we are lodged ; let us go and fly our
falcons."
" Sir," said Turpin, " most willingly." Then
Roland mounted his horse, and took with him
about thirty of his barons who carried their falcons
and rode for the most part on mules. They were
all unarmed save for their swords, and they took
so many birds that they laded a horse therewith.
Turpin and Ogier the Dane went not with them, but
abode behind to keep the army, where they made
two ancient knights recount and tell how great Troy
was taken and destroyed. Meanwhile, there was a
spy in the host who had been sent there to know
what they wrought, and how they did, and this spy
departed straightway and shewed to Renaud how
Oliver and Roland were gone sporting and with
them thirty lords of the best of the host.
When the spy had accounted these tidings to
Renaud he was right glad of it, and called his
brethren and Maugis to tell them the news. " What
ought we to do ? " said Renaud.
"Cousin," said Maugis, "we must kill them if
we may. Remember you not how a messenger told
you a month ago that Charlemagne said that he
would leave all the old knights in his kingdom and
would bring with him the young knights only, and
i 23 that
RENAUD that he would give all Gascony to them ? By this
bobaunce Roland and Oliver are so proud that they
ill 1 T r
trow no man dare look upon them in anger, li you
will believe me, I will tell you how to make them
wroth and sorry."
Then Renaud sounded his horn, which was never
blown but in case of 'need, and all men ran to
arms, and Renaud mounted on Bayard. When
he saw that his folk \vere well armed, he went
out with them by a privy postern, where they of the
host could not see them, and there were in his com-
pany about four thousand men. A forester led them
through the thick of the wood, and Renaud bade
him lead them straight to Balancon. When Renaud
saw the tents he shewed them to his folk and said :
" Lords, behold what fair gain we have here if we
will take it."
" Sir," said his men, " let us go to it boldly, we
durst well assail hell itself when you are with us."
It fell that Archbishop Turpin, who abode with
the host, heaved up his head and saw the crows
flying about the fortress and making a great noise.
Then he beheld the wood and there he saw his
enemies, wherof he was sore afraid and called Ogier
the Dane, and said :
" Go arm yourself, for here come our enemies !
Roland and Oliver are gone to the chase and have
left their men in this great danger." Then Ogier
went to his tent and armed him, and when the
1 24 Frenchmen
Frenchmen heard the trumpets blow they put them- OGIER AND
selves in order full nobly ; Ogier mounted his horse TURPIN
Broisart, and rinding them armed said to them :
11 Lords, think to defend you well, for we are
assailed."
Renaud was taken aback when he saw the enemy
moving and said to his folk : " Lords, we are dis-
covered, nevertheless let us go forward and attack
them." Then he said to Maugis : " Cousin, abide
here within this wood with a thousand knights, and
if you see that we have need of help, come then and
succour us."
So saying, he put spurs to Bayard, and passed into
Balan^on, and the first he met was Aymer the Earl
of Nicol, whom he struck dead. Then he set his
hand to his sword and began so great a slaughter
that no man could tell it, and cried out: "Where
are Roland and Oliver that say my folk and I are
traitors, I would shew them the truth of the matter."
Hearing this, Archbishop Turpin rode against
him, and they gave each other so great strokes
through their shields that they broke both their
spears in pieces, but neither of them fell. Then
Renaud gave a great stroke with his sword on the
bishop's helm, and said : "By my faith, father, it
were better for you to be in some church singing
mass than to be here."
And when the bishop heard this he was well near
out of his mind, and went upon Renaud, and the
125 army
RENAUD army was moved on one side and the other, and so
F WITH S manv knights were overthrown that it was great
OGIER pity to see.
Ogier the Dane on his horse Broisart smote
Richard the brother of Renaud so great a stroke
that his horse fell down to the earth, and when
Richard saw himself aground he rose up again like
a valiant knight, with his sword in his hand to
defend himself, but Ogier passed on crying out :
" To the banner of St. Denis."
Renaud seeing his brother cast to the ground was
wroth, and spurred Bayard against Ogier the Dane,
and they gave each other great strokes on their
shields, but at last Renaud gave him such a stroke
that neither girth nor armour might help, and Ogier
fell, saddle and all, to the earth. Then Renaud
took Broisart by the mane, and said to Ogier :
" You have done evil to overthrow my brother ;
you know that you are of my lineage, and my near
cousin, yet you do worse to us than others. Never-
theless, take your horse again, and do me a pleasure
another time, if I have need of it."
"Cousin," said Ogier, "you speak as a good knight
should." Then Renaud yielded him again Broisart,
and held his stirrups for him to mount. When he
*was remounted he set hand to his sword and rode
into the thickest of the Gascons and made them to
flee before him.
Maugis, seeing that all the host was thus in con-
126 fusion,
fusion, came out of the wood to Balancon, and put THE
himself and his folk among the press so that none ' R A^E H
durst abide long before him. Then the French CHASED
were so sore and weary that they might fight no
more, and the Gascons chased them a long mile and
after returned to their camp, and took all that they
found there, and Maugis went to the tent of Roland
and carried off the dragon that was on it, and so
they returned to Montauban in great joy. After,
when they had eaten at their ease, Renaud made
bring the booty before him, and shared it among the
folk, and Maugis went up on the great tower of
Montauban, and set the dragon of Roland on it so
that the enemy on both sides of the castle might see
it. Then Charlemagne weened that Roland his
nephew had taken Montauban by force, and was
right glad, but the thing fell otherwise.
Now must we tell of Roland and of Oliver, who
came again from hawking on the river with their
fellows, right glad by seeming that they had taken
so many birds. As they were coming Dom Ram-
bault met them and said : " You have taken many
birds, see that you sell them at a good price, for you
will never get for them what they have cost you. If
you have taken birds, Renaud and his brothers have
taken knights and horses. You owe them thanks,
for there is your dragon on the tower of Montauban,
and all that see it ween that you have taken the
castle."
127 When
ROIAND When Roland heard this he lighted down and sat
GREAT on a s t ne > an( l began to muse sore, for it lacked
GRIEF little that he went out of his mind. After, he called
to him Turpin the Archbishop and Ogier the Dane,
and said to them : " Fair lords, what counsel give
you me upon this deed ? I dare never more come
before my uncle ; I fear me too sore of evil reports.
Give me leave to depart to the Holy Land to see the
sepulchre of our Lord, and war against the Saracens,
for since this mishap is come to me, I will no more
bear arms against Christian men."
" Be not dismayed," said the Bishop, " this is but
the use of war, such a thing befalleth many a one.
I promise you you shall have before three days as
many of Renaud's folk as he hath of yours."
" Sir," said Roland, " I promise you to rest on
your prudence."
Forthwith they went together towards Charle-
magne, and after them more than two hundred
young knights on foot, because they had lost their
horses. When they, were come into the host they
went straight to the tent of Duke Naymes, and there
Roland abode for two days, and durst look no man
in the face for the great sorrow that he had at
his heart. Turpin came to King Charlemagne
and entered into his tent and saluted him, and
the Emperor returned to him his salute and said :
" Dom Bishop, you be welcome."
" Sire," quoth he, "I beseech you pardon me if I
128 tell
tell you anything that displeases you. Wite that THE KING
the four sons of Aymon have discomfited us, and ISWROTH
taken with them all that we had in our tents, both
horses and harness and the dragon of Roland and
many prisoners, and they have slain the most part
of our folk."
When Charlemagne heard this, he was for a while
like a madman, and swore by Saint Denis that he
would be avenged. Then he sent through his host
to every lord and baron bidding them come to his
tent to keep parliament with him.
When they were come, he stood upon his feet and
spoke to them in this manner :
" Lords, I have sent for you to shew you what
has happed to us of new. Now wite that the four
sons of Aymon have discomfited all the knights my
nephew Roland had with him at Balancpn, whereof
I am right wrath and sorry, for I would I had lost
a greater thing and this had not happed, but a thing
that cannot be amended must be suffered and borne
as men may. I require you, my lords and friends,
counsel me how I may have this castle of Mont-
auban."
When the King had thus spoken there was none
so hardy that they durst say a word save Duke
Naymes.
"Sire," quoth he, "you ask counsel to besiege
Montauban. But no man that hath reason in his
head will give you this counsel because of the great
1 29 i lords
THE KING lords which be of the alliance of Renaud. If you
will have good counsel and believe me, Sire, send
word to King Yon that he keep not your enemies
within his land, but that he yield them into your
hand to do with them at your pleasure. If he will
not do so, you shall destroy his land, and no mercy
shall you have upon him."
" Now give you me good counsel," said the
King ; "what you have spoken shall be done forth-
with."
Charlemagne made come before him a herald of
his, and said to him :
" Now go to Toulouse and tell King Yon on my
behalf that I have come into Gascony with the
twelve Peers of France and a hundred thousand
fighting men. If he yields me not up my enemies
the four sons of Aymon, I shall waste all his land,
and take from him his crown and he shall be called
the King Overthrown."
"Sire," quoth the herald, "your commandment
shall be done without varying one word."
And thus he departed and took his way to
Toulouse, where he found King Yon of Gascony
in his palace with a right fair company. Thereon
he saluted him on the Emperor's behalf, and said
the thing wherefor he was sent. When King Yon
heard his words, he bowed his head to the earth,
and said not a word for a long while ; then he said
to the herald : " Good friend, you must tarry here
130 a seven-
a seven-night, and then I shall tell you my will, KING YON
and what I purpose to do."
Then went King Yon into his chamber and
his eight earls with him, and he commanded
that the doors should be well shut. When they
were all set down, King Yon took the word and
said :
" Lords, I require you, on the faith you owe me,
give me good counsel to my honour by reason :
Charlemagne has entered into my lands with a
hundred thousand men and sendeth word to me to
yield him up the four sons of Aymon, and if not he
will not leave one city nor town, but he shall cast
all to the earth and take the crown from my head.
My father held nothing from him, and no more
shall I. It is better to die in great worship than to
live in great shame."
When King Yon had thus spoken, there rose up
a knight named Godfrey, his nephew, and said to
him : " Sire, I marvel that you ask counsel to betray
such knights as the four sons of Aymon. Renaud
is your man, and you have given him your sister in
marriage, and you know what good he hath done
your land and you. You have promised and sworn
to keep and defend him against all men. If you
think to fail him, you must let him and his brethren
go into some other land to seek their adventure, and
haply they shall serve some lord who will do them
more good than you do. Also I pray you, my dear
131 lord
THEY BID lord and uncle, that you will do nothing that turneth
to blame or reproach to your friends."
Then spake the old Earl of Anjou, and said:
"Sire, you bid us give you counsel, if you will
follow it we will give it you/* " Say on boldly/'
said the King, " I will do as you counsel me."
" Sire," said the Earl, " I have heard say that
Renaud and his brethren were very young when
Duke Beuves of Aigremont was slain at Paris with
the will of Charlemagne : and when they were grown
the King would have amended it with them but they
would take no amends, and bore their hate long
time. Then Renaud slew Berthelot, the nephew of
the King, with a chessboard. Sire, I will not hide
anything from your knowledge : you know well that
Charlemagne is so mighty a king that he never
undertook war but he overcame in it : Wherefore I
counsel you to yield Renaud and his brethren and
Maugis. whereby you shall be delivered from great
danger."
Then said Earl Mobandes : " Sire, if you will
do this, you and we shall be traitors ! You have
given him your sister to wife, and when he came
into this land he brought in his fellowship four
thousand men at arms, and said to you before he
took off his spurs that he was at war with Charle-
magne. Natheless, you received him with good
heart, and he has conquered for you many battles
and delivered you from your enemies. I tell you,
132 Sire,
Sire, you will not be worthy to call yourself King OTHEBS
if you give up such knights as the four sons of OPPOSE "
Aymon for fear of death. You have lost neither
castle nor town for them, and if ye do so you shall
be taken for a traitor and put in the number of
Judas."
After spoke Antony the Old and said: "Sire,
believe not this counsel ; I know better the intent
of Renaud than any man that is here. You must
understand, Sire, that Renaud was son to a man
that had but one town, and was so proud that he
deigned not to serve or obey his lord the King of
France, but slew Berthelot with great outrage,
wherefor Charlemagne chased him out of the realm
of France. He has come into Gascony, and because
he hath your sister to wife he is so proud that none
may dure before him ; if he may in any wise, he will
take your life and have the realm for his own.
Wherefor I counsel you to yield him and his brothers
to King Charlemagne and appease his wrath."
Then spoke Duke Guymart of Bayonne, and said :
" Sire, Antony lieth falsely, and giveth you evil
counsel, for Renaud is son to Duke Aymon of
Dordonne, and Charlemagne made their uncle, Duke
Beuves of Aigremont, to be slain by great wrong :
moreover Renaud slew Berthelot, it is true, but it
was his body defending. I say that a King is not
worthy to bear a crown who will do treason for the
threats of another."
133 Then
STILL Then spake Humart, an old knight, and said :
" Dom Guy mart, I believe you have lost your wit
to counsel King Yon to bear out Renaud against
Charlemagne and to make all the land of Gascony
to be destroyed." And Guymart said : ''Thou liest
falsely, and if we were in another place than here I
should shew you that you were an old dotard and a
fool."
Then said Earl Hector : " Sire, you asked counsel
of such as cannot counsel themselves. We know
that Renaud is a knight good enough. But by his
great pride he has made war with Charlemagne and
come into Gascony, and you have given him your
sister in marriage. Therein you did great folly, and
more when you made him the castle of Montauban
upon the strongest ground that is in your realm.
Now has come King Charlemagne and has besieged
him, and I counsel you to deliver yourself of Renaud
as soon as you may, for it is better to lose four
knights than your kingdom. Take from him your
sister and give her to another who has no such
enemy as Charlemagne. And this you may well do
without blame if you follow my counsel."
When King Yon saw that the most part of his
council agreed that he should yield Renaud to King
Charlemagne, he began to weep and say in himself :
" Ha, Renaud ! I am sore charged for you, now shall
my love depart from you ! You shall but lose your
body, and I shall lose the love of God and of His
134 saints.
saints. I shall never find mercy in him to betray KING YON
such a knight as you be." Then aloud, " Lords, I B T^ Y
see well that I must yield up the four sons of RENAUD
Aymon, since the most part of you accordeth thereto,
but I wote well that I shall be therefore taken all
my life as a Judas :" and then they left the chamber
and he sat down. And a wonder happened, for the
chamber that was all white became black as any
coal. When the King came out of the chamber he
sat him down on a bench and began to weep sore
for the pity he had on these valiant knights. Then
he called to him his clerk and said :
" Come forth, Sir Peter, and write a letter from me
to King Charlemagne, as I shall tell you. It is that
I send him salutation with good love, and if he will
leave my land in peace, I promise him that before
ten days be past I shall deliver unto him the four
sons of Aymon, and he shall find them in the plain
of Vaucouleurs, clothed with scarlet furred with
ermine, riding upon mules and bearing in their hands
flowers and roses; and eight earls of my realm shall
ride with them, and if they escape it shall be that
they blame me not for it."
Then Sir Peter the clerk entered into his room
and took pen and ink and wrote the letter word for
word as the King had devised it. When it was
written and sealed, Yon called his seneschal and
said : "Now make you ready on horseback and go to
the siege of Montauban, and there recommend me
135 to
KING YON to King Charlemagne and give him this letter. Tell
hi m tf ^ e W *H ^ Ul ^ mv l anc * * w *^ ^0 th* 5 an< ^ not
otherwise."
" Sire," said the seneschal, " I shall gladly do
your commandment." Then he rode out of Toulouse
and took the herald of Charlemagne with him, and
came to Montauban, where he found the Emperor
in his pavilion. The seneschal lighted down, and
saluted King Charlemagne from King Yon of
Gascony, and presented him the letter on his
behalf.
" Right mighty Emperor," said he, " King Yon
sendeth you word by me, that if you will quit his
land he will fulfil the tenour of this letter, and other-
wise he will not."
When Charlemagne heard this, he took the letter
from him, and said to the great lords there :
" Fair lords, be not displeased ; go out of this
pavilion, for I would talk with this messenger
privily."
And they all went out with a good will.
Then Charlemagne opened the letter and read it all
along, and when he found therein what he most
desired in the world, that the treason was ordained,
he might be no gladder than he was, and he said :
" Your lord, King Yon, speaketh full courteously,
and if he doth what he saith, he shall be my good
friend, and I shall do to him great worship and
defend him against all men."
136 " Sire,"
" Sire," said the seneschal, " of this that you say THE KING
you shall give me surety, if it please you."
" I swear it you," said the King, " in the name of
St. Mary and St. Denis of France."
" Sire, you have said enough. I ask for no other
surety/' said the seneschal.
After this Charlemagne called his chamberlain,
and said :
" Make a letter to King Yon of Gascony on my
behalf as I shall devise it unto you. Write that I
send him salutation of good love, and that if he will
do for me as he saith I shall increase his realm with
fourteen good castles, and I send him four mantles
of scarlet furred with ermine to clothe withal the
traitors when they go to the plain of Vaucouleurs,
and there shall they be hanged, if God will."
Then the chamberlain wrote the letter, and when
he had made it the Emperor sealed it and called the
messenger before him, and said :
"Take these letters to King Yon from me, and
recommend me to him." Then he gave him ten
marks of gold and a ring that he took from his
finger.
When the seneschal was gone, Charlemagne sent
for Fulkes of Morillon and Ogier the Dane, and
said to them : " Lords, I have sent for you to
tell you my secret, but I will that none should
know it but we three only, until that it be accom-
plished."
137 " Sire,"
WRITES TO
HIM
FULKES "Sire," said Ogier, " if you think that we should
H?AMBUSH discover your secret, tell it us not."
" Certes," said the Emperor, " ye be well worthy
to know all. Go ye then into the plain of Vaucou-
leurs with three hundred knights well armed ; there
shall ye find the four sons of Aymon. Bring them
to me, dead or alive."
" Sire," said Ogier, " we have never seen them but
armed. How may we know them ? "
" Right well may ye know them, for each of them
will bear a scarlet mantle furred with ermine, and
carry a rose in their hand,"
" Sire," said Ogier, "that is a good token and we
will do your bidding forthwith."
Thereon they made no tarrying but rode forth
to the plain of Vaucouleurs, and set themselves in
ambush in a little wood thereby. Would that
Renaud and his brothers but knew of this treason
for then should they have come thither not on mules
but on good war horses, armed at all points ! When
Fulkes and Ogier were in ambush, Fulkes said to his
men : " Fair lords, now am I come to the point that
I may avenge myself on Renaud whom I hate, for
that he slew my uncle. King Yon has betrayed
them, and they shall come hither anon, all unarmed
save their swords. I pray you smite well upon them,
then shall I know who loveth me. Let none of them
escape."
Now tells the tale of King Yon at Toulouse, how
138 he
he received the letter of Charlemagne, and called his GENDARD
secretary Gendard to him and said : " Look what this
letter saith."
Straightway the clerk broke the seal, and when he
had read the treason he began to weep sore tenderly.
Then said the king : " Hide nothing from me, but
tell me all that the letter containeth."
Then he shewed how Charlemagne sent him word
if he would do as he told him, he would increase his
power by fourteen good castles, " moreover he sendeth
you four mantles of scarlet furred with ermine to
give to the four sons of Aymon, for Charlemagne
would do hurt to no man but to them ; and he doth
you to wit that his folk are in ambush, abiding the
four sons whom ye shall deliver."
When King Yon had heard this letter he took
with him a hundred men well-armed, and rode to
Montauban, where his sister came to him and took
him by the hand and would have kissed him as she
was wont to do. The king, full of evil, turned his
face away, saying he had the toothache, and bade
that men should make him a bed ready for he had
need of rest. When he was laid down, he said :
"What have I wrought against these generous
knights ? They shall be surely hanged to-morrow if
God help them not. Truly I am another Judas. I
have lost the love of God and also mine honour.
But I must needs do it, since I have promised it so."
As King Yon was thus thinking, Renaud and his
139 brethren
RENAUD brethren returned from hunting, bearing with them
?NGYON f ur g reat w ^d boars, and as they came in they
heard the noise of the horses, and weened that some
stranger knights had come to take service with him.
His esquire told him that King Yon had come,
and Renaud sent for his horn, and said to his
brothers :
"Take each of you your horn, and blow a wel-
come to King Yon."
So they blew till the castle rung again. Then
King Yon arose and said :
" Alas ! how evilly have I wrought against these
knights."
When the sons were come into the hall, King Yon
said : " Marvel not that I have not embraced you ;
for I am laden with great pain." Then said Renaud :
" I and my brothers shall serve you to our power."
" Grammercy," said the King, and called on his
steward to bring him the scarlet mantles. Then he
made them put them on, and prayed them to wear
them for his love ; and when he saw them he was
nigh weeping.
After supper was over King Yon took Renaud by
the hand and said to him :
" Fair brother and friend, I have that to tell you
which you know not. Wit ye that I have been at
Monbadel, and spoken with Charlemagne, who ac-
cused me of treason because I keep you in my realm,
whereon I laid my gage before the company, and no
140 one
one durst speak against me. After this we spoke THE
many words together, and at last King Charlemagne MISDOUBT
was willing for my love to make peace with you in HIM
this manner. To-morrow early ye shall go to the
plain of Vaucouleurs, all unarmed save your swords,
mounted on mules, and wearing the mantles I have
given you, bearing in your hands a rose. I shall
send with you eight earls of my lineage, and there
shall you find Charlemagne and Naymes of Bavaria,
Ogier the Dane and all the twelve peers of France.
Then shall ye do him reverence and cast yourselves
at his feet, and he shall restore you, and give you
back your lands."
" Sire," said Renaud, " I have great doubt of
Charlemagne, for he hates us."
" Fear nothing," said King Yon, " he has made
oath before all his lords."
" Then," said Renaud, " we shall follow your
counsel."
" What say you ? " said Alard. " You know well
that Charlemagne hath sworn our death. I am
surprised that you should yield yourself un-
armed into his hands. For me, never shall I go
unarmed."
"God forbid," said Renaud, "that I should mis-
trust my lord, King Yon."
Then he turned him to the King, and said :
" We shall be there to-morrow early in the morn-
ing, whatsoever haps. God hath holpen us well,
141 that
RENAUD-S that we have peace with King Charlemagne who
hath made us such mortal war."
mt i it r tr* t r i
Then he took leave of King Yon and went unto
his wife's chamber with his brothers.
When she saw him she took him between her
arms for great love and kissed him.
" Lady," said Renaud, "I ought well to love you,
for your brother, King Yon, hath travailed sore to
make peace for me with Charlemagne, which all the
twelve peers of France could not do."
Then said the lady : " I thank God with all my
heart ; but tell me where this peace is to be made,
and how?"
"To-morrow we ride to the plain of Vaucouleurs,
and there the peace shall be made ; but I and my
brothers must go there unarmed on our mules, with
each a rose in hand, in sign of peace. There shall
we find Naymes and the twelve peers to receive our
oaths."
When the lady heard these words she said to him:
" Sir, if you will believe me, you will not go there ;
the plains of Vaucouleurs are right dangerous, sur-
rounded by four great woods. Take you a day to
speak with Charlemagne in the meadows of Mont-
auban, and go mounted on Bayard and your
brethren with you. Moreover, take two thousand
knights and deliver them to Maugis your cousin, to
keep them in ambush if you have need of them, for
I misdoubt me sore of treason. I dreamed this
142 night
night that I was at the windows of the palace, and RENAUD
saw come out of the wood full a thousand wild WILLGO
boars who slew you and tore your body to pieces,
while the tower of Montauban fell to the earth.
Moreover, I saw Alard your brother slain by a
traitor shot, and your brother Richard hung on an
apple tree. Then he cried out, ' Help, brother
Renaud ! ' and as you rode thither on Bayard, he fell
down beneath you."
" Lady," said Renaud, " hold your peace, for he
who believeth overmuch in dreams, doth against
the will of God."
Then said his three brothers : " If we must go
there, let us not go as men of counsel, but as brave
and worthy knights, having each of us his arms on
him, and let Renaud be mounted on Bayard, who at
need could carry us all four."
" Say what you will," said Renaud. " I shall go
there whatso happeth."
Then went he out of his chamber and came to
King Yon, and said to him : " I marvel that my
brethren will not go with me because they may have
no horses with them. May we not have leave to
take our horses with us ? "
" No," said the king, " for Charlemagne feareth
you too sore, and also I have given hostages that
you would bear no manner of arms, and that ye
shall ride upon mules. If ye go there otherwise
arrayed, he shall think that I wish to betray him,
i 43 and
THEY SET and he shall ruin all my land. I have laboured
sore to bring you at peace. Go if you will, and if
not leave it."
So Renaud went out from King Yon and came
again to his own chamber, where he found his wife
and his brothers. They asked him if he would ride
on Bayard, and he answered them that he could not
have leave so to do. " But my brethren," said he,
" fear you not. King Yon is a true man, he shall
conduct us by eight of the greatest earls of his
realm. I have never seen any evil in him."
" Sir," said his brothers, " we will go gladly with
you, since you will have it so."
On the morrow when Renaud saw the day he rose
and said to his brothers : " Arise and let us make
ready to set out, for Charlemagne shall haply be
angry if he be sooner at the plains of Vaucouleurs
than we."
So they made them ready and went to the Church
of St. Nicholas, and offered many rich gifts at the
offering, and after the mass was sung they mounted
their mules and rode away with the eight earls who
all knew the treason. The four sons of Aymon wore
their mantles of scarlet furred with ermine, and
bunches of roses in their hands, and their swords
girded. God help them, for they are now in the way
never to come back to Montauban. When King
Yon saw them go he fell down in a swoon for grief,
and then began to make great sorrow for that he had
144 betrayed
betrayed the best knights in the world and the most THE
worthy. Theh his folk came round him and com-
forted him saying that Renaud would perceive the
trap, but King Yon feared for his vengeance and the
wrath of Maugis his cousin.
Now telleth the tale of the four sons of Aymon,
who went to their death by the means of the traitor
King Yon. Yet by his treason he destroyed the
name and kingdom of Gascony, for never since him
has there been a king of that land. As the brothers
rode on Alard began to sing full sweetly, and Gui-
chard and Richard did likewise. Pity it was to see such
worthy knights go singing to their death. Renaud
rode behind them with his head bowed down, and as
he heard them singing he lifted his hands to heaven
and prayed : " Great God, Who cast out Daniel in the
lion's den, and saved Jonah from the fish's belly,
preserve me and my brothers from death and impri-
sonment : meseemeth we go in great peril." And
when he had finished his prayer his eyes waxed wet
for pity that he had of his brothers, lest they should
come to harm. Alard, seeing that his brother had
his eyes full of tears, said to him :
" What ails you, brother, you weep not without
some great occasion ? This is the day that we make
peace with Charlemagne. Sing with us, for it is a
great pleasure to hear you sing ! "
So they rode forth at their mules' pace singing and
talking, till they came to the plain of Vaucouleurs.
145 K Now
THEY PASS Now the fashion of this plain is such that in it is
AMBUSH a roc k right steep and high, and it is environed by
four forests, the least of which is a day's journey
through, and four great rivers run through it. There
is neither castle nor town for twenty miles from it,
and therefore the treason was there devised. In the
plain four roads crossed, to France, to Spain, to
Galicia, and to Gascony, and on each of these roads
was an ambush of five hundred men well armed
to take Renaud and his brethren. Ogier the
Dane was the first to see them, and he said to
his folk :
" Fair lords, ye know that Renaud is my cousin,
I pray you that ye will do no harm to him or his
brethren."
Then they answered him with good will, and
Renaud passed thus by their ambush without hurt
into the open plain. When they were come there
and found nobody, they were sore abashed, and
Alard said to his brother Richard : " I doubt me we
are betrayed by Renaud."
" I promise you my heart quaketh," said Richard;
and when he had thus spoken, he said to Renaud :
" Brother, why do we tarry here since we have found
nobody with whom we may speak ? If there were
but twenty armed knights they should lead us where
they would. You would not believe us at Montau-
ban ; I fear we shall repent it. If my cousin Maugis
were with us, and we had your horse Bayard, we
146 should
should not fear Charlemagne. Let us go, for I THEY SEE
believe that King Yon hath betrayed us."
As they were turning to go, Renaud saw nigh a
thousand knights coming towards them, and Fulkes
de Morillon at their head, his shield before his
breast, and his spear low in the rest. Renaud knew
him well by his shield, and said : " What shall
become of us ? We must die this day."
Then Alard asked him of the matter, and Renaud
said : " See you not Fulkes de Morillon coming
to slay us ? "
Then Alard waxed wroth, and said: "Ha! fair
brethren, now is the day come that we shall all die
through mortal treason, for Renaud hath betrayed
us. Certes, I should never have thought that any
treason should have entered into so noble a man.
Ha, Renaud ! son of Aymon, you have betrayed us !
Draw out your swords, brothers, the traitor must
perish with us."
Then they drew their swords, and rushed on
Renaud ; but he laughed at them for love, and made
no defence. Then Richard cried : " Alas, what had
I thought to do ? I would not hurt my brother for
all the good in the world."
Alard and Guichard said to Renaud : " We be all
brethren, of one father and of one mother ; tell us
whence comes this treason ? "
" Brother," said Renaud, " I have more pity of you
than of myself, for I brought you here against your
147 will ;
THEY COME will ; if I had believed you, this would not have
" E * happed. But I hope that God will give us the grace
_ ., t - } t T T
to return. Let us recommend ourselves to Him,
and think to defend us well."
" Brother," said Richard, "will you help us? "
" Yea," said Renaud, " doubt not thereof." Then
he turned to the earls and said : " Fair lords, King
Yon hath sent you with us for our surety, therefore I
pray you help us."
"Renaud," said the Earl Ansom, "we have nought
to do here ; let us flee."
"Traitor!" cried Renaud. " I shall smite off your
head." And with his brothers he set hands to sword
and smote off the head of the earl. When he was
slain the other seven fled, and Renaud could not
pursue them, for his mule fell down under him. So
he set foot to earth, and cried out :
" Ha, Bayard ! my good horse, why am I not
mounted on thee and well armed ! I should be
avenged before I die."
Guichard said : " Brother, let us light from our
mules, and shrive ourselves to one another, and then
go upon that high rock to defend ourselves."
"You are right," said Renaud. " Let us do a thing
that shall bring us great worship ; since we cannot
escape, let us kill them that come first upon us."
Then they embraced each other, took off their
mantles and wrapped them round their arms, and
sword in hand came to their enemies.
148 When
When Fulkes de Morillon saw the four sons of THEY WILL
Aymon coming to him so boldly, though unarmed NOTYIELD
and on mules, he cried out :
" Renaud, you are come to your death, I promise
you. King Yon hath betrayed you. Now shall be
avenged the death of Berthelet whom ye slew. Will
you defend you or yield you ? If you will defend
you, I shall slay you forthwith."
Renaud said to him : " Fulkes, trow you that I
shall yield me to Charlemagne or to you, quick?
If I can reach you, I shall first smite off your head.
Do as a knight ought to do ; let us go, and we
shall be all four ready to become liegemen of
Charlemagne, and I shall give you my castle of
Montauban, and if Charlemagne maketh war on you
for love of us, we will serve you with four hundred
knights. At least, if you do not wish to be a traitor
in all men's eyes, choose you twenty of your best
knights well armed and on good horses, and we four
shall meet them unarmed and on mules. We will
fight with them, and pardon them our death ; but
if we overcome them, then shall you let us go
free."
"Your prating shall not serve you," said Fulkes.
" I had liefer found you thus than a thousand marks
of gold. Now is your cousin, Maugis the wise, far
from you and all your folk, so that you have no
succour, for all my men have promised to Charle-
magne that they will slay you."
149 "By
FULKES " By my faith," said Renaud, " we shall defend
S THEM N ourse l ves to ^e utmost of our power."
Then said Alard to Renaud : " Brother, what
order shall we keep in fighting ? "
Renaud answered : " Two and two, you and Gui-
chard behind, Richard and I in front, and let us
smite well hard, I pray you, sith that by no other
wise may we escape."
" Fair brother," said Alard toGuichard, " we were
well deceived when we trowed that Renaud had
betrayed us."
" By my faith," said Guichard to Alard, " I fear
not sith that our brother Renaud shall be our help,
for as long as he is alive, we shall defend ourselves,
and when he is dead I would not live might I choose."
Shortly to tell, the four sons of Aymon set their
faces against three hundred knights and were not
afraid though they were but four.
When Fulkes saw Renaud come he bore down his
spear and smote him so great a blow that his spear
entered into his thigh, and overthrew him to the
earth. Alard saw it and cried out : " We have lost
Renaud ; now may we not escape. We shall be dead
or taken. Let us yield us prisoners."
Renaud heard this and said : " Fie on you, what
do you say ? I have no harm on me, thanked be
God, and shall sell me dear yet before I die." Then
he rose up quickly, took the spear with both hands,
and pulled it out of his thigh with great grief ; and
150 turning
turning to Fulkes de Morillon, sword in hand, said : RENAUD
" If you will do like a man, light down on foot as I
am, and see what I can do."
When Fulkes heard these words he turned and
thought to strike him on his head, but Renaud drew
back a little, and then ran on Fulkes and struck him
on the helm so that neither iron nor steel might save
him, and as he saw him fall he said :
" Ha, traitor, may thy soul perish with thy body ! "
Straightway he mounted Fulkes' horse, took his
lance and said : " Brothers, be sure that while I live
ye shall come to no hurt. The Frenchmen shall
have a good neighbour in me." Then he turned on
the enemy with great wrath and slew in short space
four earls, three dukes, and eleven knights, crying
out " Montauban ! " When he had shown this noble
prowess, he looked round for his brothers, but he
saw none of them. " Alas ! " said he, " where are my
brethren gone? We shall never come together again."
Then he perceived Alard, who had won a horse with
shield and spear, for he had slain a knight ; he was
sore hurt and his brother was with him. When
they were come together again, they began to make
so great a destruction that none might abide them,
and the Frenchmen drew back, saying :
" This passeth all wonder : they be not knights
but devils. Let us attack them both behind and
before, for if they resist longer, they shall do us great
hurt."
151 Forthwith
GUICHARD Forthwith they ran on the four sons so hard that
is TAKEN they p ar ted them, but Renaud rode through the press,
and with Alard and Richard saved himself on the
rock Montbron ; but Guichard was taken prisoner,
for his mule was killed under him, and he was sore
wounded. They bound him hand and foot and laid
him across a little horse, sore wounded as he was,
and led him off, beating him, and telling him that
he should be hung by Charlemagne. When Renaud
saw this he called his brother Alard to him, and
said : " What shall we do ? They are taking away our
brother. We shall never have praise if we let him be
borne away."
" We be no more than two, and they are in great
number," said Alard.
" Great God," said Renaud, "if the king harm my
brother, men shall point at us and say, ' See, yonder
is the son of Aymon, who let his brother be hanged
and durst not succour him.' '
" Brother," said Alard, " go before, and I will
follow you."
When Renaud heard that he cast his shield behind
him, and abandoned care of his body like a lion,
caring not how the game should go, so that the
Frenchmen must needs make him way to pass, and
many made him way for the love of Ogier. At last
he came to his brother and cried :
" Let go the knight, ye be not worthy to touch
him ; " and when those around saw Renaud they
152 fled
fled for fear, and left Guichard free. Then said RICHARD
Renaud, " Go and unbind Guichard and mount him W QUNDED
on horseback ; give him a spear and follow me."
" Brother," said Alard, " I shall go, but if we part
once we shall never come together again ; let us
keep together and help one another."
They came together to Guichard, unbound him,
and set him on horseback, shield at neck and spear
in hand.
Meanwhile, Richard was right sore wounded, and
was so weary that he might scarce defend himself
more on the rock, for he had slain five earls and
fourteen knights. Then came Gerard, cousin of
Fulkes de Morillon, who had sworn to avenge his
death. He spurred his horse and smote Richard so
fiercely that he brought him to the earth and laid
bare his bowels. Then he cried out :
" Now are there no longer four sons of Aymon. I
have slain Richard the bold fighter. If God give me
health I shall bring the others to Montfaucon to be
hanged."
Then Richard rose up to his feet, and holding him-
self with one hand he struck Gdrard with his sword
and smote him down dead at his feet.
" Now bear your boast," said he, " that you have
slain one of the four sons of Aymon." Then he fell
down from weakness and said : " Oh Renaud, my
brother, this day shall part our company. Ha,
Castle of Montauban, I commend you to God's
153 keeping !
THE keeping ! Ha, King Yon, you have betrayed us
BR ?H?D RS anc * s ld us to King Charlemagne ! " After he fell
RICHARD a-weeping: "O Father, King of Glory, succour this
day my brethren, for of me they may have neither
help nor succour, for I am near to death."
Now tell we of the other brothers, who fought
bravely against their enemies; but their deeds would
have availed them little but for a narrow pass in the
rocks, where men might not come to them but from
the front. When they were there, Renaud said to
Alard :
" What is become of our brother Richard ? I left
him here by this fir tree, when we had so much ado.
I will wite tidings of him if I may."
"Brother," said Alard, "if you will believe me,
abide here. If he is dead we may not help him ; we
too shall be dead before even."
"Ah!" said Renaud, " shall we fail our brother
Richard ? I shall learn some tidings of him if I go
alone."
" Brother," said Alard, " if we depart from one
another, we shall never come together again."
" Dead or quick, I shall find him wheresoever he
be," said Renaud, and spurred his horse around the
rock.
When those who had chased Richard saw Renaud
and his two brothers they took to flight, and Renaud
went a little, and found his brother lying on the
ground well nigh dead, holding his bowels with his
154 hands,.
hands, and about him were the folk he had slain. THEY BEAR
Then had he great pity in his heart, and he came to
his brother and kissed him, sore weeping.
" Ha, fair brother! " said he, "it is great pity of you,
for certes never man was worth you. Alas, this
day! In the morning, when we departed out of Mont-
auban, we were four brethren, all good knights, and
now we be but three, sore wounded and good for
nothing. I pray God I may avenge your death on
them ere I die. I shall set thereto my good will."
As Renaud was thus making his moan, he heard
Alard and Guichard calling to him for help, for they
were in sore strait ; and when Richard heard Alard
he opened his eyes and said :
" Brother, what do you here ? See yonder that
rock. If we might do so much as to climb up there,
I believe we should be safe from our enemies, for it
cannot be but that by this Maugis knoweth our
case."
" Would God we were there, brother, "said Renaud.
" Think you that you shall recover health ?"
"Yea," said Richard, " if you escape, and else
not."
When Renaud heard this he was right glad, and
called Alard, saying :
" Brother, take Richard upon your shield, and
lead him to yonder rock. Guichard and I will make
way for you."
Then Alard lighted down, and took up Richard
155 and
DEFEND
THEM
THEY and laid him on his shield, and followed Renaud
and Guichard through the press. They did so much
that at the last they came to the rock, and wite it
well, Renaud did such feats of arms that all his
enemies marvelled, for he set nought by his life, but
fought as a man desperate, and slew at that time
nigh thirty knights.
When they were come on the rock, Alard set down
his brother on the earth, and began to defend him-
self.
While they thus defended themselves with great
woe, Ogier the Dane came up with his company,
and Morgon of Frisia, who was with him, cried out
to Renaud : "Vassal, we have sworn your death; this
day shall ye die ! Great fools were ye to believe
King Yon ; he has sold you to Charlemagne."
When Alard saw so many fresh soldiers come he
was sore afraid, and said to Guichard :
" Certes, if we were five hundred men, not one of
us should escape."
" Surely," said Guichard, "it is no pity of us nor of
Richard, but the great pity is for Renaud, who is the
best knight in the world."
Thus they spoke together, and came to Renaud
and kissed him, and said : " Renaud, give us a gift,
if it please you, for the love of our Lord God."
"Lords," said Renaud, "what ask you of me?
This day must I needs see you die before mine
eyes."
156 "Brother,"
" Brother," said Alard, " men say it is better to RENAUD
have one harm than two. If you die here, none shall
avenge you ; if we die, you shall avenge us. We
pray you, dear brother, go your ways and return to
Montauban, for you are well horsed. When you be
there, mount upon Bayard, and bring with you our
cousin Maugis to succour us."
" Brother/' said Renaud, "I could not shame my-
self more than to leave you in such sore peril.
Either we shall all escape or all die together. Now
God that suffered death and passion save us ! "
As they were thus speaking, Earl Guimart came
up, and cried:
" Knights, ye be taken, and must die \vith shame
on this rock. Tell me, will you yield you, or defend
you?"
" Certes," said Renaud, "now speak ye naught, I
shall never yield me as long as I live. I had liefer
die like a knight than hang like a thief."
"Lords, let us assault them," said Guimart, "they
may not long keep them against us."
Then said Ogier : " You may well assault them,
but I shall in no wise help you. Ye may take them
well without me," and he withdrew himself and his
men a bowshot away, and began to make as great
sorrow as though the world was finished before his
eyes.
" Ha ! fair cousins, I, unhappy man, that am of
your kin, suffer you to die before mine eyes, and
157 cannot
OF ALARD cannot help you, for I have promised it to Charle-
RIC?RD magne."
There were before the rock four earls who made
assault on them, two on one side, and two on the
other, and Renaud kept one side, and Alard and
Guichard the other, and Alard was sore wounded
and bled till he was faint and fell down to the earth.
Then he said : " Ha, brother Renaud, let us yield
us, for neither Richard nor I can help you."
" Brother/' said Renaud, " what say you ? If I had
trowed to escape for any gold, I should have yielded
me this morning. Ye wot well that all the gold in
the world shall not save us from shameful death if
we be taken. Ha, Alard, succour me for the love of
Heaven. We are not Normans nor Bretons, but are
all of one blood."
" You say truth," said Alard, " but you would not
believe how feeble I am."
When Richard that lay above thus wounded, as I
have told you, heard this dispute, he raised his head
and said : " Brother, cut off some of my shirt and
bind me round my wound so that my bowels may
not fall, and I shall set me to my defence with all my
heart."
Then said Renaud : " Now art thou worth a true
man."
When Alard heard this he was ashamed, and took
again strength beyond his power, and cried out to
Ogier with a loud voice : " Cousin, what do you for
158 your
your lineage ? It shall be great shame to you if you OGIER
SUCCOUr US not." THEM
When Ogier heard this, he would have given great REST-TIME
store of wealth to deliver them, so he sat spurs to
Broisart his horse, and came to the rock, and said to
them that assaulted it: "Withdraw yourselves a
little, till I have spoken with them to know if they
will give themselves up. It is better that we have
them quick than dead."
" Sir," said the Frenchmen, " we shall do your
commandment, but we leave them with you in the
name of the king."
Then he came more nigh the rock, and called to
him his cousins, the four sons of Aymon, and said:
" Fair cousins, rest you a little, and if ye be hurt
bind up your wounds and make good garnishing
of stones, and so defend you nobly with all your
might, for you shall never have pardon of Charle-
magne. When Maugis hears of this he shall come
and succour you, and thus shall ye escape, and other-
wise not."
"Cousin," said Alard, "you should defend us
yourself."
Then said Ogier : " I may not do so, for King
Charlemagne hath made me swear, and of this that
I do he shall give me no thanks."
So Renaud bound up his brethren's wounds as
well as he might, and when he had lapped them all
Alard wrapped up his wound, and they rested them-
159 selves
OGIER selves for a while, till Renaud rose and went to the
SAVE THE roc k to g a t ner g rea t stones to defend themselves
withal.
Now the Frenchmen began to murmur at Ogier,
for that he made too long tarrying, and they cried :
" Ogier, tell us if they will yield them or no, or if
they will defend them."
" Yea," said Ogier, " as long as they have life in
their bodies."
"Then," said the Frenchmen, "we go to the assault
again."
" I promise you," said Ogier, " I shall help them
with all my power."
When Guimart heard this, he said : " We com-
mand you in the King's name of France, that you
come to the battle with us against the four sons of
Aymon, as you have sworn."
"Lords," said Ogier, "for God's mercy let us
withdraw ourselves and let them go in peace. You
know they be my cousins german, and I shall give
each of you large goods."
" Ogier," said they, " we shall not do so, but we
shall bring them prisoners to Charlemagne, and we
shall tell him what you have done, whereof he shall
owe you little thank."
Ogier answered in great wrath : "If there be any
of you so bold as to lay hand on the four sons of
Aymon, I shall smite off his head, come what may."
The Frenchmen said that they would not leave,
i 60 and
and that when they had taken them, they would see GENDARD
who should take them away. And they began to
assault the rock again.
Then Renaud, seeing them come, said : " Ha,
Maugis! where are you now, that you know not this
mishap. I was a fool and over hasty, that I spoke
not with you before I parted. Ha, Bayard ! if I
were on your back, I should never be on the rock
for fear of Frenchmen."
Then the assault began, and if it had not been for
the prowess of Renaud they should have been taken
that time by force ; and when the assault was over
Renaud was so weary that he had like to have fallen
to the earth. And Ogier his cousin betook himself
to weeping for that he could not help them, and at
the last he thought of a way, for he sent three hun-
dred knights away to intercept Maugis, if he should
come along the high road to Montauban.
Now sheweth the history that when Gendard, who
was secretary to King Yon, saw Renaud and his
brethren go to their deaths, he was right sorry for it,
for two principal causes ; the one that the King his
master had wrought such treason, the other for the
great pity to slay such worthy knights as the four
sons of Aymon were. So he began to weep bitterly,
and at the last Maugis came upon him and found
him, as he went to the kitchen to order meat for
King Yon.
Then said Gendard : " It is ill with you, Maugis,
161 L for
MAUGIS for if God put no remedy in you, you have lost
R enau d and his brethren, for King Yon hath betrayed
them shamefully," and thereon he shewed him all
the treason.
When Maugis heard this he said : " For certain
my heart telleth me that Renaud and his brethren
are dead."
"Truly," said Gendard,"they are gone all unarmed
and cannot defend themselves, and there is a great
host in ambush for them. They must be dead or
taken."
When Maugis heard this he took up a knife, and
would have struck it into his breast, but Gendard
took him by the hand and said :
" Have mercy on yourself. Light on horseback,
and take with you all the men-at-arms you may,
and Bayard, and go to the valley of Vaucouleurs ;
and when you come there you shall see if they be
alive, and succour them right well."
Then Maugis, without any word of this to King
Yon or his sister, the wife of Renaud, commanded
all those who bore arms to be ready at once ; and
when they came to him Maugis shewed them all the
treason that was done, and they were sore grieved
and desperate.
Then Maugis mounted on Bayard, though no
man had done it before, and wite ye well, he was
one of the fairest knights in the world and well like
a valiant man. So they went out of Montauban, five
162 thousand
thousand men well armed, and seven hundred good THE SONS
SEE
archers that would never go back for any fear of MAUGIS
death, and set themselves to the way, not by the
road but through the woods, with great diligence.
Now tell we of Renaud and his brethren on the
rock of Montbron, full of woe and pain. As Renaud
was resting himself he turned his sight towards the
wood, and saw Maugis come with his folk, shield at
neck, sword in hand, and mounted on Bayard, who
was bounding along like a stag ; and when Renaud
saw it his body shivered all suddenly for great joy,
and he forgot all the sorrow of the day, and said to
his brothers :
" Be merry and fear not, here cometh Maugis to
succour us with a great number of our folk. Now
he sheweth well that he is our kinsman and friend."
" Brother," said Alard, " is it true that we shall
have help anon ? "
"Yea," said Renaud.
" Now complain I not," said Alard.
When Richard, that lay thus embowelled, heard
the words, himseemed that he dreamed, so he forced
himself that he sat upright, and said :
" Renaud, meseemeth that I have heard Maugis
named, or else it is come to me by a vision."
" By my faith," said Renaud, " we have succour
of Maugis."
" Shew me him," said Richard, "for God's sake."
Then Renaud held him up in his arms and he saw
1 63 Maugis
THE SONS Maugis riding to them like a tempest ; and when
HEART R^h^d saw him he fainted with joy, but when he
was come to himself he said :
"Now am I whole, and feel neither ill nor
sore."
" Brother Renaud," said Alard, "what shall we
do? If the Frenchmen perceive the coming of
Maugis, they shall flee, and I would not that they
should so do till we be first avenged on them. Let
us go down from the rock and begin the battle ; so
shall Maugis come upon them, and they shall not
escape us."
Then Renaud, Alard, and Guichard went down ;
and the Frenchmen, seeing them, said :
" Here come the sons of Aymon to yield them
prisoners; let us not kill them, but bring them alive
to the Emperor."
Then cried they : " Renaud, if you yield you with
good will, we shall all pray Charlemagne that he
have mercy on you."
When Ogier heard this, he weened it had been
truth, and spurred Broisart to the rock, crying out :
" What do ye, that ye leave your rock which hath
been the saving of your lives ? "
" Ogier," said Renaud, "we be not such fools as
you ween ; fly while you may."
While they thus spake, Ogier saw Maugis coming,
mounted on Bayard and leading a great army, and
his heart jumped in him for joy.
164 " Fair
" Fair lords," said he, " certes, if we were twenty GUIMART
thousand, we might not fight this host." IS SLAIN
Then came up Maugis and his host, and when he
saw Ogier he came to him and said :
" I hold you a fool to come here to work treason.
It longeth not to you, you be of our lineage. I defy
you to the death."
Then he struck Bayard with his spurs and ran
on Ogier and wounded him sore in the breast.
Ogier would have turned on him, but Bayard had
smelled his master and could not be held from him.
So Maugis lighted down and kissed his cousins
full dearly.
Then Renaud armed him and lighted upon
Bayard, calling to his brothers, "Arm you quickly,"
and ran upon Ogier so furiously that he bore him
from the saddle. Then Renaud caught hold of
Broisart, and made Ogier to mount again, saying :
" Now have you the reward of the good that you
have done us. Keep you well, for I defy you hence-
forth."
While this was done, Maugis rode upon Guimart,
and smote his spear through shield and body, call-
ing out, " Montauban Clermont ! " Then he took
sword in hand and fell furiously on the Frenchmen,
so that they put themselves to flight, Ogier with
them, and fled across the river Dordonne.
When Ogier was come over, he lighted down
from Broisart, and Renaud called to him in scorn :
165 " Ogier
OGIER AND " Ogier, I trow ye be a fisher, do you catch eels or
RENAUD sa i mon p Come again to this side, or I shall pass
over to you. You have falsed your faith to Charle-
magne, for you leave here Fulkes de Morillon and
Guimart, and four hundred of your Frenchmen."
Then the Frenchmen said to Ogier : " Well find
you now the reward of your goodness ; if you would
have done your devoir, the four sons of Aymon had
been taken."
The Frenchmen, when they had said this, left him
there on the river bank, and with him there were
but ten men, and seeing himself thus left alone he
said : " I am well worthy to be served thus ; oft
happeth evil for a good turn." Then said he to
Renaud : " O madman, you blame me wrongfully
and without cause. You and your brethren should
have been hanged by now if I had not preserved
you. If I feared no other than you, I should come
to you right soon."
Renaud said to him : " Ogier, you speak well at
your ease, but you do nought of these things."
Then Ogier spurred Broisart into the river, and
when he was come to level ground he made him
ready to fight, all wet as he was. Then Renaud had
pity and said :
" Cousin, I have no will to fight, for now I know
how well you have this day served me."
" Renaud," said Ogier, " mock me not. You have
called me traitor before many knights, and if I return
1 66 thus,
thus, men might say to Charlemagne that I had COURTAIN
THE
betrayed him falsely. My spear is yet whole ; it SWORD OF
were great shame if I break it not on one of you." OGIER
Then Renaud grew wroth, and said: " Ogier, I
defy you to the death. Guard you well."
They ran one upon the other so strongly that they
brake their spears and fell down to the earth over
the crupper of their horses, but they rose up quickly
and set hands to their swords. Bayard and Broisart,
when they saw their masters at the ground, ran on
one another and straightway began to bite and cast
their feet at each other. Ogier, when he saw that
would save his horse, for he knew Bayard was the
stronger; but Renaud cried : "What do ye, Ogier?
you have enough to do with me without striking my
horse;" and with that he struck him so great a blow
on the helm that he felled him to the ground, but
the stroke slid aside and cut nigh a hundred mails
of his flancard, and wounded him sore on the hip.
Then Ogier rose up in great wrath, and said to his
sword Courtain : " Ha ! good sword, much have I
loved thee ! Avenge me now on this man, or I shall
never have trust in thee. When I was at Gastburg
in Almayn with Charlemagne, Roland and Oliver
tried their swords at the block, and when I smote
afterward to assay you I cut off half a foot, and then
I broke you. But because you were so good I
amended you again, and thence art thou called
Courtain."
167 Then
OGIER AND Then Ogier struck Renaud on his helm and made
RENAUD k^ ree ^ anc j sa jd . j have yielded you your own
again, now are we quit. Will you begin afresh ? "
Renaud yea said him, and they began another
medley, but then there came Alard, Maugis, Guic-
hard, and their folk, and when Ogier saw them he
passed the river and dismounted there, for he had
no saddle. When Renaud saw this, he called him,
and said :
" Ogier, come fetch your saddle, for it shall be a
great shame to you if you ride thus. Thank God
that you be thus departed from me without further
harm, for I had well nigh slain you."
" Renaud," said Ogier, " it longeth not to a good
knight to threaten one so, for you were well nigh
taken."
Then Renaud would have passed the river again,
but Maugis and Alard letted him, and Alard said :
" Fair brother, what is this that you will do ? Who
that doth you good loseth well his time. You know
well that but for Ogier we should have been dead
this day, and the succour of Maugis had helped us
but little. Let Ogier be in peace, for there is not a
better knight in the world than he."
Then he cried to Ogier : " Fair cousin, depart in
peace, well have you holpen us." Then he said that
they should return to the rock to wite how their
brother Richard did, and Ogier went away with his
folk and came to the tent of the King.
1 68 When
When Roland and Oliver saw Ogier come thus OGIER
wounded, they trowed that Renaud and his brother
were taken ; then they called Duke Naymes,
Solomon, Richard of Normandy, and the Earl of
Guidelon, and they said to one another: "What
shall we do ? If Charlemagne maketh our cousins,
the four sons of Aymon, to be hanged, we be dis-
honoured for ever."
When Charlemagne saw Ogier, he said : "Where
be the four sons of Aymon ? Have you taken them
or slain them ? "
" Sire," said Ogier, " wite it that they be no chil-
dren, but the best knights of the world. We found
them in the plain of Vaucouleurs, clothed in scarlet
furred with ermine, riding on mules, with roses in
their hands. King Yon had well kept his promise
to you. Yet they seized both horses and spears, and
when Renaud had gotten a horse he slew Fulkes de
Morillon, and at last they found a strong rock, and
defended themselves there a long while. Yet should
they have been taken and slain if it had not been for
Maugis, who came with five thousand knights and
slew the Earl Guimart."
" So they be escaped," said the King.
"Yea, verily," said Ogier.
Then was Charlemagne full wroth, and said :
" How am I shamed for four wretches ! Certes,
this wearies me sore."
Then said Ogier : " Renaud gave me so terrible a
169 stroke
OGIER stroke that the corner of my helm fell down to earth,
ROLAND an d f tne knights we took with us, scarce three
hundred are come again."
When Roland heard this he was much wroth, and
said : " Ogier, I saw never so strong a coward as you
be. There is no knight who would not have done
better. How have you eyes to dare behold any
man? You have spared them, for they be your
cousins and friends. The King shall be blamed, if
he maketh you not to be hewn in pieces."
Ogier answered and said: "Roland, you lie falsely,
for I am not such as you tell. I nor none of my kin
did never amiss to Charlemagne, and here is my
pledge to defend me body to body. Of a better kin
am I come than you be, Roland. Gerard of Rous-
sillon is my uncle who brought me up, Dron of
Nanteuil and Beuves of Aigremont are my uncles,
and Geoffrey of Denmark was my father. Turpin the
Archbishop and Richard of Normandy are my kin,
and thus are the four sons of Aymon of my lineage.
Now, good Sir Roland, tell me your lineage, and
my sword shall shew you if I be true or no."
Roland would have smitten Ogier with his sword,
but Ogier set hands to Courtain, and said :
" Beware, I shall make the head to fly from your
body, if you come any nearer."
Charlemagne was wroth when he saw these barons
moved so sore, and Duke Naymes and Earl Aymery
said to Roland :
170 "What
"What will you do? Ogier is not such as you OGIER AND
make him ; in his lineage was never man born to ROLAND
work treason. He is the best knight of all France.
We marvel how Charlemagne suffereth you to take
such pride on you ; and if he suffereth it, we will not
do so for anything."
Then said the King: "Fair nephew, let this alone,
for it longeth not for you to say so. If Ogier hath
done amiss in anything he shall abide it full dearly."
" Sire," said Ogier, " there is no man in France
so hardy that shall say I have done treason against
you, but that I shall fight against him and shew him
that he lied falsely."
Then Ogier told how he had come to the rock
Montbron, and how he had neither fought for his
cousins nor against them, and said that henceforth
he would help the sons of Aymon in whatso place
they should need it.
" Moreover," said he, "if Roland saw Renaud
mounted on Bayard, he should not take him for a
coward, nor would he dare to meet him."
"Certes," said Roland, "you have much praised
him. Would to God that I might meet him once,
mounted on Bayard and armed from head to foot,
to know if he is as valiant as you say."
Now leave we to tell of Charlemagne and of his
twelve peers, and return to speak of Renaud, ill at
ease for love of his brother, wounded to death on the
rock Montbron.
1 7 1 Now
MAUGIS Now sheweth the history that after Renaud and
his brethren had destroyed the Frenchmen, they
returned to the rock of Montbron where they had
left their brother Richard. Seeing him so wounded
they said :
"Alas ! we have lost our brother Richard, the most
valiant of us all."
And as they stood round him in grief, Maugis
came up mounted on Brocart; and when he saw the
great wound that Richard had he was wroth and full
of pity, and said :
" Fair cousin, if you will promise me before all
your barons to come with me to the tents of Charle-
magne, and to aid me to avenge the death of my
father, I shall deliver Richard to you, whole and
sound without any sore."
Renaud kissed him and said : " Come, deliver me
my brother Richard whole again, and if there be
more you would have of me, command it."
Then Maugis took a bottle of white wine, and
washed the wound right well, and took away all the
blood that was thereabout. Then took his bowels
and put them again inside his body, and with a
needle and thread sewed up the wound without doing
him hurt. This done, he took a salve and anointed
all the wound, and it was as whole as though he had
never been hurt. And he gave him a drink, and
when Richard had drunk of it he rose to his feet
and said :
172 "Where
" Where are Ogier and his folk ? Are they AND HIS
escaped from us?"
" Brother," said Renaud, " we have discomfited
them, thanks be to God and to Maugis that came
to succour us, for else we had been all dead."
Then said Alard : " Fair cousin, heal me I pray
you, for I have a great wound in the thigh."
"And I also," said Renaud.
"And I also," said Guichard.
Maugis said to them : " Fair cousins, be not dis-
mayed ; I shall help you all anon."
He took white wine and washed their wounds,
and anointed them sweetly, and anon they were
whole. Then they mounted on horseback, and went
their way to return to Montauban.
As they went on their way, a spy departed and
came to Montauban in haste, and said to King
Yon:
" Sir, I bring you tidings. Wite that Renaud and
his brethren be escaped from the plain of Vaucou-
leurs, where you sent them, and have discomfited
Ogier the Dane and all the folk of Charlemagne, and
slain Fulkes de Morillon and the Earl of Guimart,
and a great number of knights."
King Yon was sore abashed at these tidings, and
said :
" Here be evil tidings ! How may this be ? Did
they find the ambush of King Charlemagne ? "
"Yea, certainly," said the spy, "and should have
i 73 been
KING YON been cursedly handled if Maugis their cousin had
FI sANc TO not succoure d them, and discomfited Ogier."
TUARY " Alas ! wretch that I am, what shall I do ? " said
King Yon. "If I wait for Renaud, I am dead, and
none will defend me against him. Judas was never
greater traitor than I am. Let us go hence forth-
with, and if we can gain the Forest of the Serpent,
we may escape at our ease to the Abbey of S. Laza-
rus, where I will take such habit as the monks there
have, and thus shall we be saved ; for when Renaud
finds us shorn as monks he shall do us no harm."
Now there was at that time a spy called Pignaut
with them, who was well nigh seven feet high, and
went as fast as any horse could trot. When he
heard what King Yon purposed, he went out of
Montauban and passed through the Forest of the
Serpent, so that in short time he met with Renaud
and his party, who were bringing with them much
prisoners. Anon as they passed him he ran to
Montbandel, and came to Roland and said to
him :
" Sire, I bring you good tidings."
" What good tidings, friend ? " said Roland.
" Sire, wite it that King Yon fleeth away all un-
armed, he and his folk, through the Wood of the
Serpent to the Abbey of S. Lazarus, and there will
he take the habit and become a monk."
" By my faith," said Roland, " I shall go and
meet them with four thousand knights, and avenge
1 74 Renaud
Renaud and his brethren on them, and hang them ROLAND
""LARS T."
NEWS
as traitors, for I never loved traitors, and never shall, HEARS THE
please God."
" Sire, there is more. I saw the four sons of
Aymon at the ford of Balancon, bringing with them
many prisoners."
"Friend," said Roland," you have deserved a great
reward for your good news."
Then he called to him Oliver, and said : " Let us
light on our horses at once, and bring with us
Guidelon and Richard of Normand. And you, Ogier,
come with us and see the prowess of Renaud. We
shall have with us but four thousand, and they have
as many ; so shall we fight without advantage."
" Certes," said Ogier, " I shall go with you to see
you take him, and when you have him I promise to
lend you a rope."
Thus they set out and came to the ford of Balan-
$on and passed to the abbey.
When the abbot saw them he came out to them
with his convent, singing the Te Deum, and when
they had sung the abbot said :
" Sire, you be right welcome. Will you anything
that we can do ? "
" Lord Abbot, we thank you," said Roland, " wite
you that we seek here the falsest traitor in the world,
that men call King Yon. I will hang him like a
thief."
Then answered the abbot : "You shall not, sir, an
1 75 please
ROLAND please you, for he has taken our habit, and we shall
KINGSTON defend him against all men."
When Roland heard the abbot say this, he took
him by the hood, and Oliver the prior, and threw
them so roughly against a pillar of marble stone that
their heads were well nigh broken.
Then said Roland : " Now, Master Monk, deliver
me that brother of Judas, King Yon, for I have
sworn that he shall never do treason more."
The abbot, hearing this, fled away as fast as he
could with all his monks, and Roland set hand to
his good sword Durandel, and entered into the
cloister, where he found King Yon on his knees
before an image of Our Lady.
"Arise, sir monk," said Roland, "come with me
before Charlemagne and he shall make you to be
hanged. Where are the four sons of Aymon that you
should have delivered? You shall be paid for the
treason you have done, and I shall avenge Renaud
and his brethren."
Then he made him to be set backwards on a horse,
and bound and blindfolded him, and put his monk's
hood on his head. Then King Yon called one of his
men that he heard nigh him, and said :
" Friend, go to Montauban, and bid Renaud that
he come and succour me, for he is my man, and
that he take no heed to my evil deed, but to his own
worthiness."
" Sire," said the knight, " I wot well that Renaud
176 will
will not set one foot forth to save you, because of RENAUD
the great treason you have done him."
" He shall," said King Yon, " I know so much of
his nobility."
So the knight went from him with a good will.
Here leave we to speak of Roland and Oliver, and
return again to shew of the four sons of Aymon.
The history sheweth that when Renaud and his
brothers were made whole of their wounds they re-
turned to Montauban. And when they were come
Dame Clare came out to meet them, and with her
her two children, Aymonet and Yonet, their faces all
disfigured with weeping. When she saw her hus-
band she trembled for joy, and the two children ran
to embrace their father and their uncles. But Renaud
spurned them away, and as she would have taken
him in her arms and kissed him, he would not suffer
her, and said :
"Get you out of my sight, for you shall never have
my love again. Get you to your brother; it hath not
holden in him that we be not dead, if God and our
cousin Maugis had not succoured us."
" Sire, for God's mercy," said Clare, " I swear to
you, by all the hallows, that I am nothing guilty, for
I told you that you should not believe the King my
brother. I love the least part of your body much
better than King Yon or all the land of Gascony."
And she fell down in a swoon before him.
Then Richard took her up, and said : "Madam,
1 77 M discomfort
RKNAUD discomfort not yourself so sore. Let Renaud say his
CLARE w *^ y ou s hall still be our sister. My brothers, let
us pray our brother Renaud to pardon our sister, for
she is not guilty in this matter. If we had listened
to her, we should not have gone one foot out of this
place. Now ought we to think of the green and
russet mantles of ermine, and the good horses and
palfreys that our lady gave us, more often than did
Renaud. Let us reward her for it, for at need the
friend is shewn."
So they went to Renaud and said : "Fair brother,
for God's love be not so angry. You know that your
lady hath no part in the treason that her brother
hath done to us. If you would have believed her,
we should not have gone thither, wherefore we pray
you to pardon her."
Then said Renaud : " My brethren, for love of you
I grant the same."
Forthwith they went to the lady, and brought her
to her husband, and he took her by the chin and
kissed her with great love.
Then began joy and right great feast at Montau-
ban, and they washed them and went to their meat.
As they sat at table, there came in the messenger of
King Yon, and said to Renaud :
" Sire, King Yon sendeth you word by me that
you come to succour him, for otherwise he cannot
escape death, since Roland and Oliver lead him to
be hanged at Montfaucon. Do this, sire, if it please
178 you,
you, for God, and forgive him as God pardons sin- RENAUD
ners. He knoweth .well that he hath deserved AN 5 * ING
death."
" God's curse have he," said Alard, "who stirs a
foot to save him."
Renaud said never a word when he heard the mes-
senger, but looked on his brethren and began to
weep, beholding them. Then said he :
" Lords, hear what I shall say to you." Then he
recounted to them how he was driven out of his
lands by Charlemagne, and how they wandered with-
out a home till they came into this land. " Then,"
said he, "I spoke to King Yon and shewed him
how I had war with Charlemagne, and he shewed
me great love, and gave me his sister to wife, and
built Montauban for me. Moreover, my children
are his nephews, and I found him never in fault ;
but Charlemagne is so great and so mighty a king,
that for fear of him King Yon hath betrayed us,
whereof he is not to be blamed overmuch, seeing
that against Charlemagne nothing hath power, and
he hath done it by evil counsel that his barons gave
him. I pray you all make you ready, for I will go
and succour him. It were great reproach to my
children that their uncle should be hanged as a thief."
Then Alard and Guichard said that they would not
succour a traitor. But Richard said :
" Ye shall, an it please you, for Renaud is our
lord, and we must obey him."
1 79 Then
RENAUD Then all the Gascons began to cry out : " Blessed
'MONT? ^ e ^ e ^ our ^ at ever R enau d was born. No man on
AUBAN earth is worthy as he is. Sire, we shall make you
the lord of Gascony, but suffer not the King to be led
away, for it were great shame to the realm of Gas-
cony that men had hanged their king."
Renaud took his horn and blew it three times till
he made all Montauban to sound with it, and when
all men were armed and come before him, he
mounted on Bayard and went out with six thousand
mounted men, and well nigh a thousand on foot.
And when they were out of Montauban he said to
them i;
" Lords, remember you that your lord is in great
danger and peril of death. I pray you all do this
day that that shall turn to our worship. You know
that Roland hateth me to the death. I pray you
attend upon me this day, and ye shall see me do as
a good knight."
Alard said to him : " Be sure and certain that as
long as life is in our bodies we shall not fail you."
And with this word they put them to the way.
Alard and Guichard rode in the fore front till they
perceived the folk of Roland ; then they made their
men to tarry and sent to Renaud. When he saw
them he put his folk in array and devised his battle
honestly.
Now Roland, when he saw such a great array,
called to him Turpin and Guidelon, and said :
1 80 "Lords.
" Lords, I see many folk before us ; perchance it ROLAND
is Renaud and his brethren."
" Sir," said the bishop, " yea, they be they verily.
They make them to be well known wherever they
go ; nor can we escape but fight them."
When Ogier saw them he was well content, and
said to Roland :
" Now have you what you have so long desired.
Now shall I see how you shall take them and lead
them prisoners to Charlemagne. So shall Bayard
be your own, and the war be finished."
" Ogier," said Roland, " these be reproaches ; but
you shall see before even who shall be master of us
two."
So Roland set all his folk in ordinance of battle
the best that he might.
Renaud, seeing this, called his brethren and said:
" Lords, here come the Frenchmen ; yonder are
Roland and Duke Naymes and Ogier. Abide here
for the rear guard ; if we have need, come and
help us."
"Sir," said Maugis, "we tarry too long from the
assault."
"I go first of all to overthrow the pride of Roland ;
let every man do his part with all his power." And
when his brethren heard that Renaud would prove
himself upon Roland they began to say :
" Ha, brother, will ye that we be all dead at
once? You are wrong, for he cannot be hurt with
181 iron.
THE iron. Let Roland alone, and assay yourself on
FRENCH others "
PRAISE v^ 11 *" 1 o.
RENAUD " I know well that Roland is hardy and brave,
and that his match is not in the world for knight-
hood, but I am in the right and he is in the wrong.
If he will have peace he shall have it, and if he will
have war he shall find me ready. I pray you speak
no more of it, but see that you bear yourselves well
against our enemies, for they are noble knights."
Roland, seeing Renaud come in such good order,
said to Oliver : " What think you of that folk ? "
" Certes," said Oliver, " Renaud knoweth more of
war than any other, and meseemeth he hath more
folk than we have, wherefore he may well win over
us."
"You say truth," said Roland, "but you know
well that the Gascons are cowards of nature."
"That is true," said Turpin, " but they have with
them as good a leader as is in the world."
Roland, hearing this, waxed almost mad, because
men praised Renaud so much, and spurred his horse
against Renaud, and Renaud bade his men halt till
he had spoken with Roland, and came out to meet
him. So he lighted down a foot, and pitched his
spear in the earth, and ungirt Flambard his sword,
and came before Roland and said :
" Roland, I cry you mercy. You know well I am
your kinsman. If you wish, I and mine will be your
men, and I will give you Bayard and the Castle of
182 Montauban,
Montauban, if you will make my peace with Charle- RENAUD
magne. Moreover, I shall forsake France and go * N A D
i /r i 11 i ROLAND
over sea with Maugis and my brethren to make war PARLEY
on the Saracens."
Roland had great pity when he heard Renaud
speak in this manner, and said : " I dare not speak
of it, but if so be that you will deliver up Maugis."
" I shall never do that," said Renaud, " for Maugis
is no man to be given away for peace."
Then he rose up and armed himself and mounted
on Bayard and went again to Roland, and said :
" Wite that I shall never more cry you mercy, for
you be so proud that you will do nothing for me.
Now have you with you a great company, and also I
have of my side men enough, and if they assemble
together it cannot be but that great harm should
come to both. If you will, we shall fight, and if you
overcome me you shall bring me to Charlemagne,
and if I can conquer you, you shall come with me
to Montauban."
" Will you do this that you have said ? "
" Yea, without fault," said Renaud.
" Then," said Roland, " I wish before to take leave
of Oliver, my fellow, for I have promised him a part
in all my battles."
So Roland came to his folk and Oliver, and Ogier
the Dane said : " What think you of Renaud, have
you spoken to him ? "
" Certes," said Roland, " he is a good knight ; he
183 hath
THE FIGHT hath required me to do battle with him body to
BEGINS body^ anc j that our folk be still of the one side and
the other."
Oliver said to Roland: "You shall do this if
it be your pleasure, for either you or I must fight
him."
Then Bishop Turpin and the earls that stood by,
said : " Roland, what is this that you will do? He
is of your lineage and ours ; leave that offer and
make your folk to assemble with his, it is better than
to see one or other of you perish."
" I will do as you wish," said Roland, and he bade
his folk put them in ordinance, and began to cry :
" Mountjoy St. Denis ! "
So they came to the setting on of spears, and then
was many a knight brought to ground, and many
horses that ran masterless through the field. Renaud
put himself among the thickest of the Frenchmen,
and smote so hard that he overthrew man and horse
to the ground, and after broke his spear. So he put
hand to sword, and cried : " Montauban ! " and he
broke thus the first line of the Frenchmen.
Richard, his brother, saw this, and came on shout-
ing : " Ardenne ! " and made as great slaughter that
it was wonder to see, and Renaud stayed to look on
him.
Then Richard said to him: "Where be your
great strokes that you were wont to give ? Smite
on them, for they be almost overcome." So Renaud
184 began
began to smite, and smote harder than he did RENAUD
before MEETS
^: , _ ROLAND
The Frenchmen, seeing that the discomfiture was
on their side, cried to Roland to come and help
them, and he came into the medley and cried :
" Renaud, where are you? I am all ready to do
the battle you ask of me."
Then Renaud put Flambard in his sheath and took
a short thick spear, and came against Roland,
saying :
" Where are you, and why have you tarried so
long ? " And they spurred their horses one against
the other.
When Solomon of Brittany saw this, he came to
Duke Naymes, and Turpin, and Oliver, and said :
" Lords, may ye suffer that one of the best knights
in the world be slain before your eyes ? "
" Certes," said Naymes, "that shall be great
sorrow for us."
Then they prayed Oliver that he would go to
Roland and bid him not fight with the sword
against Renaud, but take a lance and break it on
him.
" Lords," said Ogier, " let this alone, you know
not Renaud as I do ; let them . shift boldly, for
Roland shall be as fain to leave the battle as
Renaud."
"Ogier," said they, "you speak for envy. If you
should fight with Roland, you should say otherwise.
185 Let
ROLAND is Let this battle be deferred, if it may be in any
UNHORSED w j se "
Oliver came to Roland and told him all that the
barons had said.
" God confound them," said Roland ; " they take
away this day the desire of my uncle Charlemagne."
Then he turned to Renaud, and said : " Sire, you
have this day essayed my sword and not my spear."
" Roland," said Renaud, " if you leave your sword^
I shall owe you no thank ; I fear you not, let us
make an end of our battle."
Roland would not do so, but did as his barons
had sent him word, and ran upon Renaud with his
spear, and they struck each other so sore that their
spears flew to pieces, and their horses staggered,
and Roland and Melantes, his horse, fell to the
ground, and Renaud passed by them shouting
" Montauban ! "
When Roland was thus overthrown he was ill-
content ; he rose up straightway and took his sword
in his hand to kill Melantes, saying : " Evil steed,
why should not I kill thee, since thou hast fallen
under the stroke of a Gascon ? Never shall I trust
thee more."
" You do your horse great wrong," said Renaud,
" for it is long since he hath eaten, and therefore
he cannot work, but Bayard hath eaten well this
night." So saying, he lighted down on foot. When
Bayard saw his master afoot he ran on Melantes,
i 86 and
and smote him such great strokes with his feet that THEY ARE
he had almost broken his thigh. Roland ran to PARTED
Bayard to defend his horse, but Renaud came before
him, and ran in and gave him such a stroke on the
helm that he broke it, and the blow slid off on the
shield and cut it. Then Roland drew back and set
hand to Durandel, his sword, and smote Renaud on
the shield, and clove it by the midst through and
through, and thus they were quit. And as they
would have begun again the battle, Maugis came
and said to Renaud :
"Cousin, mount upon Bayard, for it were great
pity if one of you were dead."
Ogier and Oliver made Roland to mount again,
and wite it well, Ogier was glad because Roland
had been cast down by Renaud. Then Roland
began to cry : " Where are you, Renaud ? Let us
perform our battle, for men know not yet which is
the better of us two."
Then said Renaud : " You have the courage of a
brave knight, but men will not suffer us to fight
here; let us cross the river, and go to the Wood of
the Serpent, and there may we fight without let."
So they spurred their horses away, but Oliver took
head of them, and would not suffer Roland to go by
any means. As Renaud was near the river he looked
and saw King Yon environed with well four score
knights, and when Renaud saw it he set hands to his
sword, and cried : " Let go the King Yon, evil folk
187 that
RENAUD that ye be." Then he entered among them, and
SE FREE N smote down a knight dead to the earth. The others
put themselves to flight, and said :
" Let us flee, for the soul of him that wilfully
suffereth himself to be slain, shall never come to the
mercy of God." So they fled to the thickest of the
forest and left King Yon.
Renaud came straight to him, unbound him, and
unstopped his eyes, and said : " Ha, evil King, how
had you the heart to betray my brethren and me ?
Did we ever anything to your displeasure? We
might have been all hanged ere this. It is well
reason that I smite off your head."
When King Yon saw that Renaud had delivered
him, he kneeled down before him, and said: "Certes,
noble knight, I pray you, you yourself cut off my
head, and let it done by no other. All this made
me do the Earl of Anjou and Earl Anthony. Now
slay me, for such an evil man ought not to live
longer."
"Now light up on horse," said Renaud; " you
shall be paid as you have deserved."
Now leave I here to tell of Renaud and King Yon,
and return to speak of Roland and of Oliver.
After that Renaud was gone to the Wood of the
Serpent, Roland, Ogier, and Oliver, fought against
the sons of Aymon and Maugis, and the battle was
sharp and fell, so that great scathe was made of both
parts, but at the end the loss fell on Roland and his
1 88 folk.
folk. As he was in the way, Ogier met him and RICHARD
said: ISTAKEN
" How came your shield to be thus broken,
Roland ? Your horse is wounded too, and you have
fallen. I trow you have met the son of Aymon.
Have you brought him with you? Where is he?"
Roland drew his sword and ran on Ogier, but
Oliver and Earl Guidelon came between them, and
he turned off, and rode some way till he heard a
voice behind him :
"Turn again, Roland. I am Richard. Let us have
a course, for I would see thy shield." Then they
spurred their horses, and Richard was overthrown
with his horse in a heap on the ground, but he rose
up quickly, and mounted on horseback, sword in
hand, to defend himself.
Now when Roland saw it was one of the four sons
of Aymon, he cried out " Mountjoy St. Denis! If
he 'scape us now, tell it to Charlemagne."
Then the French set upon him all at once, and
killed his horse under him, and though he slew two
knights yet was he borne to earth. Roland came to
him and said : " Now yield you, Richard, or you
must die."
" Sir," said he, " I yield me to you, for there is no
better knight," and he gave up his sword, and when
he was put on a mule they led him away.
A certain yeoman saw all this mishap, and came
to Renaud with the evil tidings. Then Renaud
i 89 asked
THEY asked if they that had taken his brother were far
E LV away, and the yeoman said they were. Then came
TO MONT- , . r ' . " t r i -r i i -11- i
AUBAN his brothers thinking to find Richard with him, and
when they heard the tidings, Alard said that Renaud
was much to blame, for that he had brought them to
rescue King Yon. Then he said to his brother
Guichard : " Let us go and kill this traitor, lest he
work us more harm yet."
But Renaud forbade it and said that he would go
to Charlemagne and deliver his brother, or die. His
brethren were holding him back, when Maugis came
to them, and when he knew of them the reason of
their sorrow, he bade them return with him to
Montauban, and promised that he would go himself
and deliver Richard. So, making their moan as they
went, they came to Montauban, and entered the base
court of the castle, and as they came to the donjon,
the lady Clare met them with her two sons, Aymonet
and Yonet, each of them with a staff in their hand.
When the sons of Renaud saw King Yon, they
came to him and said :
" Ha, bad King, why did you betray our father
and our uncles ? If you were not a prisoner, we should
slay you." And when Alard saw them so brave, he
took them up in his arms, and embraced them, and
wept.
Then said the lady : " Fair brother, tell me the
occasion of your sorrow."
"Lady," said Alard, "we have lost our brother
190 Richard
Richard, for Roland is leading him prisoner to MAUGIS
Charlemagne." W MAGI<? IS
Now tells the tale of Maugis, that when he
lighted from his horse he went into his chamber, and
did off his armour and his clothes, and took from
his chest a certain herb and ate it, and forthwith his
body swelled out greatly. Then took he another
herb and rubbed him with it till he became black as
a coal, and his eyes reeled in his head, as one near
death ; and he put on him a great mantle and a hood,
and on his feet great boots ; and so with a pilgrim's
staff in his hand he passed out of Montauban, and
came by his art magic to the tent of Charlemagne
before that Roland had arrived. When he saw the
King come out of his pavilion, he drew near him,
and said :
" May God keep you, King Charlemagne, from
death and treason."
" Vassal," cried the King, " I trust no such a beg-
gar as you be, for my enemy Maugis hath ofttimes
thus deceived me."
Then Maugis replied : " Sire, if Maugis be evil,
all other poor folk be not so. I come from Jeru-
salem, where I have worshipped at the Holy Grave,
and now must I pass to Saint James in Galicia, if
God will. It was but yesterday that I passed over
Gironde with ten men, my servants, and as I passed
below Montauban, I met with brigands who slew
my men and took from me all that I had, and so let
191 rne
MAUGIS me go glad of my life. After, I asked of the country
u* folk what men they were, and they told me they were
HIS / A 1 i / 1 1 i
KING the four sons of Aymon and a strong thief called
Maugis, and they were constrained to do as they
did for the poverty they lived in at Montauban.
Sire, ye be the best king of the world ; I pray you,
avenge me on the four sons of Aymon and on
Maugis."
When Charlemagne heard these words he asked
him his name, and Maugis said his name was Guidon
of Brittany, a rich man in his country.
" Pilgrim," said Charlemagne, " I cannot have
revenge on them for myself. I promise you if I take
them they shall die."
" Sire," said Maugis, " I leave me in the hands of
God, since you will not right me."
The barons who stood by said to the King that
this pilgrim seemed good and true, and that he
should be aided, wherefore the King gave him thirty
pounds of money, and they brought him meat, and
he ate and drank of the best. Then Maugis thanked
him fairly, and said he would give him half the good
works of this pilgrimage.
Now while they spake together, Roland and his
men were bringing Richard into the camp, and Duke
Naymes seeing him on the road to Charlemagne's
tent, said :
1 'Why do you give up Richard to the King? Set
him free, and say it was another."
192 A certain
A certain yeoman standing thereby heard this, THE KING
DOES
and straightway came to the King's tent and said : WRONQ T0
" Sire, we have been beaten at the ford of Balancpn RICHARD
by Renaud, but Roland hath brought with him pri-
soner one of the four sons of Aymon."
Charlemagne could not hide his joy, and came
out of his tent to meet them.
"It is well seen that you have been in the fight,
for Richard would not have been taken else. Ha,
traitor ! you shall be hanged ; but first shall you
suffer evils and torments."
" Sire," said Richard, " you hold me prisoner, but
while Renaud can mount on Bayard, or Maugis be
alive, I shall not be hung."
Then Charlemagne, full angry, took a staff in his
hand and smote Richard on the head, so that the
blood ran down. Whereon Richard ran on him,
and took him by the waist and threw him on the
ground. Ogier and Solomon ran up and held
Richard fast so that he did the King no harm, and
said to Charlemagne that he did wrong to strike his
prisoner.
While this struggle was going on, Maugis stood
by leaning on his staff, so that Richard on turning
saw him, and knew him well. Then was he glad at
heart and said to the King :
" Sire, where shall I be hanged ? "
"At the gibbet of Montfaucon," said the King.
When Maugis heard this, he made no longer
193 N tarrying,
_MAUGIS tarrying, but went out of the tent, and returned to
WORDOF Montauban to Renaud and his brothers, who made
THE DOOM great sorrow when they saw him return alone. When
he was come in, he told them how Richard was not
hanged yet, because the King had sworn to hang
him on Montfaucon ; then he went to his chamber
and took an herb which restored him to his natural
size, so that he could arm himself and set out with
his cousins to the rescue.
The sons of Aymon and Maugis rode towards
Montfaucon till they were come within a bowshot of
it, and there they put them in ambush in a wood
that lay oh either side of the gallows.
Bethink you now that for three days they had not
slept, and marvel not that in short space sleep fell
on them and they forgat their brother. May God
have pity on him, or he must die;
Charlemagne called to him Duke Naymes and
Richard of Normandy, and said to them: "Lords
what counsel give you me? I fear lest Renaud come
and succour his brother."
As he spoke, he looked before him and saw
Bdranger of Valois and said: "You hold wide
lands of me, I will acquit you of your service if you
will see that Richard is hanged."
" Sire," said he, " it were great shame to me if I
did it, and also you ought not to counsel me to do it."
When he saw that Bdranger would not, the King
called Earl Guidelon and said : " You hold Bavaria
194 of
of me, and should serve me with two thousand men ; CHARLES
if you will hang Richard I will give you Macon." nT^ PEERS
" I will not do it," said he, " nor shall he have
harm if I may help him."
" Go out of my sight," said the King, and called
on Ogier, " it is shewed me that you wrought treason
on the plain of Vancouleurs ; now shall it be seen
if they said truth. If you will go and hang Richard
I will give you the city of Laon, and hold you quit
of all service."
" Sire," said he, " you wot Richard is my cousin,
and I shall defy any man who shall hang him."
Then said the King to Archbishop Turpin : "I
will make you Pope if you will hang Richard."
11 Sire," said he, " you know well that I am a
priest, and Richard is my cousin. Would vou that
I should do him treason ? "
Then Charlemagne called Solomon of Brittany
and promised him Anjou, but he answered that he
would not do it. Then he turned to Roland and
said : " Nephew, I will give you Cologne if you will
hang him."
" Sire, if I did this I should be a traitor, for I
promised that he should have no harm of his
body. If you make him to die, no man shall believe
my faith."
When Charlemagne saw that he might not bring
about his will, he was so wroth that he knew not
what to do, and he rose on his feet and said : "Lords,
195 y e
CHARLES ye know well that I am the son of King Pepin and
Queen Bertha, and I fled into Spain to Alafua on
Xs i i T 1 1 1 r
the sea : and there I did many marvels of arms,
and was made a knight, and did conquer Galienne,
my love, who forsook fifteen kings bearing crowns
for my sake. And she came with me into this
pleasant France, and then was I crowned king. But
the same day I was crowned the twelve peers of
France purposed to have made me die at the Christ-
mas following, and our Lord sent an angel to warn
me to hide myself, nor wist I where I should hide
me, till I found a strong thief Bazyn who brought
me into a pit. And by his aid I took my enemies
and punished them afterward at my will, and so I
shall do by you, if there be any that will do contrary
to me." Then said he to Hector: " I shall give you the
earldoms of Clermont and Montferrant if you will
go hang Richard."
"When I am lord of that land my father holdeth
in his hand, sire, I shall fulfil your commandment.
Is it in earnest that you speak ? "
" Yea," said Charlemagne.
" By my head, sire," said he, "you would not be
with me to see Richard hang for half your kingdom."
When he heard himself thus reproved, Charle-
magne took a staff and cast it at Hector so it broke
on the post, and when the twelve peers saw that
they went out of the pavilion. Then said the king:
" Where be my twelve peers gone ? "
196 "Sire,"
" Sire," said Duke Naymes, " they have not gone CHARLES
without a cause ; it becomes you not to smite your CO u S * s s EL
lords."
The King called to him Richard of Normandy and
said : " You know well that you are one of those
that I love best in this world, but you must do one
thing for me ; go, hang Richard, the son of Aymon,
at Montfaucon."
" Sire, with a good will," said he, " so that you
come with me with a thousand of your knights."
Then he called Duke Naymes and said : " What
counsel give you ? "
" Sire, you know that Renaud, his brethren, and
Maugis are of the best knights in France, and as
every man knoweth well, this war hath lasted right
long, for it began sixteen years ago. If it please
you deliver Richard to his brethren, and they will
be your men, and no prince in Christendom may
war against you."
" Naymes," said the King, "they have all wrought
against me ; Richard must be hanged."
" You shall not do it," said Naymes, "he is of
our family."
Then came Ogier the Dane, and said : " Leave
him alone, the more you pray him, the worse
he will do. This day shall be seen who loves
Richard."
So they went out and assembled their folk in
arms, well-nigh twelve thousand men, and Ogier
197 cried
RICHARD cried out, " Now shall we see who will be so bold as
BIDS THEM to hang Richard."
YIELD HIM _ t-1 t
UP Then came they into the tent where lie lay bound
hand and foot, and Richard thanked them fairly
for all their travail for him, and prayed that they
should not quarrel with their lord for his sake.
When Ogier heard this he thought that Richard
had fallen mad, but Richard called him and said :
" Cousin, I have seen Maugis right now, and I wot
he hath not forgotten me. He who leads me to
the gibbet shall lose his head, and many with him."
Then the twelve peers came to Charlemagne and
said : " Sire, we be all your sworn men. All that
we have said and done was to save our cousin,
but seeing your will is that he be hanged, we will
speak no more against it."
" Now speak you wisely," said the King, " and
I pardon you all."
Charlemagne called to him Ripus of Riplemonde,
and said : "If you will do so much as to hang
Richard, I will make you my chamberlain for life."
" Sire," said he, " I will do it gladly, for Renaud
slew my uncle at Balan^on. But make me sure that
when I come again from hanging Richard that none
of your twelve peers shall do me an evil turn after-
ward."
The King called on his peers and made them to
swear this, and when he had taken their oath Ripus
went to his tent and armed him, and returned to
198 the
the king, who bade him take with him a thousand RIPUS
knights. Then Richard was handed over to him, R^^
bound, and with a rope round his neck like a thief, TO DEATH
and so he passed before the tent of Charlemagne.
As they rode on their way the Frenchmen made
great sorrow for Richard, but when Ripus saw the
gallows set up, he said to him, " See, yonder is your
lodging where this day shall be avenged the death
of my uncle Fulkes of Morillon."
When Richard saw him so near the place and no
rescue, he thought to keep Ripus with words and
said : " If you will deliver me, I will give you two
hundred marks of fine gold and make you a great
lord."
Ripus made him answer that he would not set
him free for ten of the best cities in France. Then
Richard asked for a priest to come and shrive him,
and when he was come he showed him many more
sins than he had committed, to the intent that he
should have time to be succoured. But when he
saw that his help came not, his confessor gave him
absolution and went from him all weeping, and
Ripus came to him and put the halter round his
neck, and Richard made him ready to die. At the
last he turned to Ripus and asked for time to say
one last prayer, and those that stood by said he
should have it, so Richard prayed with good heart
and devoutly to God who had wrought great
marvels aforetime, to save him if it were His will.
199 Then
BAYARD Then he began to weep, and said : " Ripus, do with
me what you will."
Now tells the tale of Bayard, the good horse who
understood the word that was spoken as well as a
man. When he heard the noise that the folk made
about the gallows and saw that his master slept fast,
he came to Renaud and smote with his foot on his
shield till he waked him. Then Renaud sprang to
his feet and looked toward Montfaucon and saw his
brother there on the ladder, and made no more
tarrying, but lighted on Bayard and set off. And
Alard, Guichard, and Maugis awoke for the noise
and came after Renaud to give him succour. Then
Ripus looked round as he would have strangled
Richard, and saw Renaud and Maugis and their
men, and was sore abashed.
" Richard," said he, " you are delivered out of my
hands. Here come Renaud and Maugis to succour
you. Have mercy on me, for I only brought you
here to make peace between Charlemagne and the
twelve peers of France : I knew right well you should
be delivered."
" Why do you mock me in this fashion ? " said
Richard.
"I mock you not," said Ripus, "you may see
them a bowshot from here; go down from the ladder
and have mercy on me."
Richard turned his head aside and saw Renaud
coming at a great pace, and said : " Ripus, I shall
200 never
never claim Renaud for my brother, if he hang RIPUSIS
you not to the same gibbet you made ready for HANGED IN
RICHARD'S
me." As he spoke, Renaud came up and Maugis STEAD
with' him who would have slain Ripus, but Renaud
said :
"Cousin, touch him not, I would not for much
that another than I should avenge on him my dear
brother Richard."
Then he drew out Flamberge and felled him dead
to the earth, and after he alighted down and took
Richard in his arms, and unbound him, and kissed
his mouth saying : " Brother, are you not ill at ease ? "
" Nay," said he, " but let me be armed, I pray you,
in the armour of Ripus."
So it was done, and the halter that was on Richard
was put on Ripus and he was hanged there with
fifteen of his company whom Charlemagne loved
best, to keep watch there instead of Richard. When
all this was accomplished Renaud would return to
Montauban for rest and food, but Richard showed
him the great love he had found among the peers,
and asked leave to show himself to Ogier and his
kinsmen. So Renaud gave him his horn, and put
in ambush four hundred knights while the host
should draw near in case of need ; and Richard
came near the host of Charlemagne bearing the
banner and arms of Ripus. When Ogier saw him
come, he said to himself, " Alas, we have lost
Richard," and with that he spurred his good horse
20 1 on
RICHARD on Richard, and the Frenchmen followed him to stay
COMES u:^ h anr l
BACK AS niS n *nU.
RIPUS Ogier cried out : " Ripus, you are but dead, for
you have slain my cousin. Charlemagne shall not
save you."
But Richard cried out : " Ha, cousin, I am
Richard, do you not know me ? We have hung
Ripus and I have come to show me to my friends.
Look me in the face."
Then Ogier went to him and kissed him and said :
" Where is Ripus ? "
" He is Archbishop of Montfaucon and is giving
the benediction with his feet, for my brother hath
hanged him."
Then said Ogier : " See to yourself, cousin, here
cometh Charlemagne," and he went back to the
king.
Charlemagne said to him : " Why went you to
Ripus before me ? "
" Sire," said Ogier, " if it were not for your love I
should have slain him."
Then said the King, " I shall defend him against
all men," and spurring his horse to Richard, he
said : " Come near, my special friend, Ripus, and
take no fear of any man ; I will defend you."
When Richard heard this, he answered : " I am
not the traitor Ripus, but Richard the son of
Aymon. You smote me to-day on the head with a
staff and did me great wrong, wherefore my brother
202 has
has hanged Ripus and fifteen of his fellows with CHARLES
him. Beware of me, for I defy you." J wm?
The King, hearing him thus speak, spurred his RENAUD
horse on Richard, and they gave each other such
strokes on the shields that their lances flew into
pieces, and with the shock Richard was unhorsed.
He rose and struck Charlemagne on his helm so
great a stroke that he stunned him a little, and
the blow glanced and struck through his horse's
neck and killed him, so that the King fell to the
ground.
Charlemagne cried out, " Montjoie St. Denis,"
and Richard blew his horn, and there began a right
sore medley between the Frenchmen and the sons
of Aymon.
Now Renaud saw that the sun was gone down,
and was in doubt for his brethren lest they be slain
or taken ; and as he was calling them, Charlemagne
came as fast as his horse could gallop against him,
though he knew him not, and they smote each other
so that their spears flew in pieces and they fell to
the ground. Then they rose up, and Charlemagne
said : " If I be beaten by one knight I ought not to
be King or bear crown."
When Renaud heard him he knew that it was the
King, and drew on one side, saying, " Alas, how am
I diffamed ! I have fought with the King. It is
well fifteen years since I have spoken with him, but
I shall now if I die for it." Then he went to Charle-
203 magne
RENAUD magne and knelt before him, saying, " Sire, give me
RRi:s POP i i!11 T 1 . _1 -i_1_ - "
BEGS FOR t ruce till I have spoken with you. 1
PEACE
"With a good will," said the King, "but I wot
not who you be, though you joust well."
11 Sire, I am Renaud, son of Aymon. I cry you
mercy, and beseech you to have mercy on me and
my brethren. You know well that I am your vassal,
and that you have chased me from your land and
mine fifteen years ago, and because of that many
noble knights are dead. I speak not for fear of
death, nor desire of riches, but for desire of your
love only. Suffer us to have peace with you and
we shall be your men, and I will give you Mont-
auban and my good horse Bayard, which I love
best in the world after my brethren and my cousin.
And if this cannot satisfy your mind, pardon my
brethren, and I shall forswear France for evermore
and go to the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem barefoot,
and Maugis and I will never return, but make war
against God's enemies."
"Renaud, you speak for naught. You shall
have no peace with me but if you do that I shall
tell you."
" Sire," said Renaud, " what shall that be ? "
" You shall give me Maugis to do my pleasure
with him, for I hate him more than anything in the
world."
" And, sire, if I deliver him to you, what will you
do with him ? "
204 " I
" I shall make him to be drawn by four horses in HE WILL
Paris, and then I will take the limbs one from
another, and burn them, and cast the ashes in the
wind."
" Sire, will you not take towns and castles and
gold for the ransom of Maugis ? "
" Nay," said Charlemagne.
" Sire, we shall never be in accord, for if you had
all my brethren in your prison, I would not give up
Maugis to save them."
" Beware," said the King, " you shall have no
peace from me. Defend yourself."
Then Charlemagne smote him with his sword
Joyeuse on the helm, and the stroke slid on the
shield and cut a great part thereof, so that Renaud
was sore angry, and caught the King with both
his arms by the back and waist, and laid him
on the neck of his horse, Bayard, thinking to
have taken him to Montauban. The King began
to cry out : " Ha, Roland, where are you : Oliver,
and Duke Naymes, and Turpin : if ye suffer
me to be thus taken it shall be great shame to
you."
Then came knights on all parts to the succour of
Charlemagne or the help of Renaud, and many
shields were cloven and cuirasses pierced. Roland,
when he "came into the fight, ran upon Renaud, and
gave him so great a stroke that he was nigh stunned
and said, " Vassal, you have done evil to carry off
205 the
THEY the King in this wise. You shall leave him and pay
full dear before you escape.
AUBAN Then Renaud drew Flambard and ran upon
Roland, letting the King slip to the ground, and
there was a great battle between them, but the press
was so great that Roland must put him to flight,
would he or no. When Renaud saw that the King
and Roland were escaped, he said to his brethren :
" We have wrought ill, for if ye had been by me we
should have brought Charlemagne with us to Mon-
tauban."
" Sir," said they, "we are right sorry, but we had
so much to do in another place that it is well we
escaped with our lives. Let us sound our horn by
reason of the night, and pass to Montauban."
When this was done the King sounded a retreat,
and when he came to his host he said : " It goeth
not well with us, for Renaud hath put us from the
field."
" Sire," said Roland, " you did great folly when
you jousted with Renaud, for if he had slain or
taken you the war would have been at an end."
As Renaud and his host were mounting the hill
of Montfaucon he called to him his chief knights and
said : " Take your way toward Montauban, and my
brethren, Maugis, and I shall come behind for fear
of surprise. So they abode behind till their folk
were passed the ford except the last company, and
then he said : " I will go assail King Charlemagne
206 in
in his tent, whatsoever hap, and show his folk what MAUGIS
I can do." is TAKEN
So they came at last to the host, and when Renaud
saw the pavilion of Charlemagne he said to his
brethren, " I pray you, govern you wisely."
Then Richard spurred his horse and rode to the
pavilion and cut the cords so that it fell to the
ground and with it the great golden eagle of massive
work, and Richard called to Maugis, " Cousin, help
me to bring away this gain."
So they took the eagle of gold and put it in safety
and returned to the fight.
But Maugis went again to the tent and found
there the King and said to him : " You have troubled
us long, Sir Emperor, but you shall pay full dearly
your coming into Gascony. I shall avenge the
death of my father so that you will no more make
war on us." With this he bear up his spear to have
thrust it through the breast of Charlemagne, but he
escaped the stroke and the spear entered into his
bed, well nigh two feet.
Then Charlemagne cried out for help, and when
Maugis looked round he saw neither Renaud nor
his brethren near him, for he had over-long tarried
in the tent of Charlemagne, so he set spurs to his
horse to follow them. And as he came to the ford
he met a great company of Frenchmen, who set upon
him forthwith. Shortly to tell he was overthrown
by Oliver of Vienne, and yielded him on condition
207 that
THE KING that Oliver should save his life if possible, and
GRIEVED Oliver took an oath of him that he would not
escape. When he had taken his oath, he made
Maugis to be unarmed, and wrapped up his wound,
and laid him on a bed, where he slept soundly.
While Maugis was thus taken, Renaud and his
brethren departed home with their booty, thinking
that he was safe in Montauban.
Charlemagne was so sore distressed that he began
to call together his peers, and when they were
assembled he said : " Lords, you are all my vassals,
and for fifty years no man hath wronged you and
you have no neighbour that dare assail you. Now
because I am old, I am, meseems, but half a King,
and when ye fail me I am no King. You have left
me for love of Renaud, and he hath taken me and
chased me out of the field. Since it is thus with
me, I seek not to live longer or to be your King ;
take my crown and give it to Renaud and make him
King in my place."
When the twelve peers heard this they were sore
abashed, and no man durst say a word, till Duke
Naymes said : " Sir Emperor, God forbid you
should do as you say. I wite well that we have
supported Renaud, but you ought to consider that
it was for no malice, but for good intention. We
weened to have made peace in this war that has so
long endured, but we see that you will not pardon
the four sons of Aymon. Take again your crown
208 and
and be not wroth with us ; we shall promise to serve OLIVER
you faithfully and to take Montauban before a
month be past."
Then said the King, " I tell you for certain
that I will not be your King until you yield me
Renaud or Maugis, who hath mocked at me so
often."
He was turning away with these words when
Oliver came in and asked wherefore the King was
so sore angry, and when Duke Naymes told him, he
said : " Sire, pardon us then, and I shall deliver to
you Maugis this even."
" Oliver," said Charlemagne, " I am not a child
that men mock with."
" Sire, if you will promise me that you will take
again your crown and keep us as you have done
aforetime, I will bring him now before you."
Then Oliver and Roland went to the tent, and
other knights with him, and found Maugis asleep.
And Oliver said : " Maugis, you must come to
Charlemagne."
"Oliver," said Maugis, "you have broken faith,
but I know that the King will be more courteous
than you have been."
When he was in the pavilion, Oliver said to
Charlemagne: "Sire, you have promised that if I
brought Maugis you would take again your crown,
and keep us as in manner aforetime."
" Certes, it is truth."
209 o " Now
THE KING " Now hold you, Sire, here Maugis, whom I have
is GLAD con q U ered by force of arms."
Then was Charlemagne right glad, and said to
Maugis, "Now shalt thou be rewarded for thy pride,
for many times hast thou angered me sore."
" Sire," said Maugis, "you will do with me what
it pleases you, since I am in your hands, but I
counsel you to let me go and make peace with
Renaud. You shall get nothing by my death, for
I have cousins who will avenge me. When you
have slain me you can do no more, and you shall
grieve sore for me before twenty-four hours be
past."
"Wretch," said Charlemagne, "speak not so
boldly, for thou shalt die an ill death before another
night be past"
Now leave we Charlemagne and tell of the great
grief of Renaud when he was come to Montauban
and found not Maugis. Straightway he made search
among the host if any man had seen him, but no one
had heard news of him. At the last Renaud said :
" Leave your sorrow, I pray you, for I will put me
again in the way and go to the wood of the Serpent
to ask tidings from the Abbot of St. Lazare. Fare-
well, till I come again."
Then Renaud armed him and issued out of
Montauban and came to the ford, and when he was
come thither he found a certain lad that came to
water horses. The lad asked him who he was, and
2ip he
he said that he was one of Ripus's men escaped, THE KING
and asked what did the King. ^t
" Sir," said he, " the King is right merry, and HANGED
hath forgotten Ripus, for men have brought him
Maugis, whom he so hated."
"And is he dead?"
" Sir, he is yet alive."
Then the lad went his way, and Renaud abode in
thought, for if he assailed the King he might slay
Maugis at once for fear of his escape, so he cast
about for some place of rest till Maugis should be
brought out to die.
The history tells that when Charlemagne saw that
Maugis was in his hands, he called to him his peers
and said : " Lords, make a great gallows to be raised,
that Maugis maybe hanged thereon before supper."
Duke Naymes said : " Sire, if you will believe me,
you will not make him to be hanged by night, for
Renaud and his brethren will mock you, and say
that you were afraid of them. Wait till daybreak
be here and then hang him, and if Renaud come to
succour him, they shall hang together."
" Naymes," said the King, " you mock me, he
will surely escape."
" Sire," said Maugis, " I shall give you surety
that I do not go."
" Who would be so hardy as to be thy surety,"
said the King.
Then Maugis looked about him and saw the
2 1 1 twelve
THE twelve peers and said : " Sir Oliver, you promised
T, you would help me towards Charlemagne, now I
ARE-' .* - .*-* __
.. - . . - ^ .- __
SURETIES require you to be my surety, and you Duke Naymes,
A NIGHT an ^ Roland, and Ogier, and Bishop Turpin, and
Richard of Normandy, for the love of the good
knight Renaud, I pray you be my sureties."
" Maugis," said Duke Naymes, " will you promise
to us on your faith that you shall not go without
our leave ? "
" Yea," said Maugis.
Then came the peers of France and said to Charle-
magne : " Sire, we will be surety for Maugis on our
lives and lands, and will deliver him to you again
to-morrow morning."
" My lords," said the King, " I remit him to you,
but if you yield him not up, you shall never return
into sweet France again."
" Lords," said Maugis, " since you have done me
one good turn, do me another : I pray you get me
some meat for I am an hungered."
" Now hear this man," said the King, "he hath
so little term to live and he will eat. Let him sit
near me, for so we shall be sure of him."
Then were they set at table, and the King durst
neither eat nor drink, but Maugis ate right well.
When Oliver saw that, he began to laugh and said
to Roland : " Have you seen how the King durst
not eat supper lest Maugis should work witchcraft
upon him ? "
212 After
After supper Charlemagne called his seneschal and MAUGIS
said : " Bring me thirty torches to burn all night;"
and turning to Roland he said : " Fair nephew, and
ye thq twelve peers of France, I pray you to watch
with me this night to keep Maugis, and play at
tables, and chess, and other games, that you may
be well wakeful. Moreover, set a guard outside
of knights that, if he escape us, they may take
him."
When he had said this he sat him on his bed,
and bade Maugis sit beside him, and then the twelve
peers.
"Sire," said Maugis, "where shall I sleep?"
"You shall have evil rest here," said Charlemagne,
" you shall not sleep again as long as you live, for
you will be hanged at the springing of the day."
" Sire," said Maugis, " you do me wrong. Where-
fore did I give you hostages but only to have my
ease as long as I live ? Suffer me to sleep, or release
my hostages."
" All this shall not avail thee, false thief," said
Charlemagne, " thy sureties are discharged."
Then the King made bring great irons, and fettered
him with him, and put a long chain round a pillar,
and gave him a great collar of iron round his neck
whereof he kept the key himself. And when he was
thus fastened he said : " Maugis, you will not escape
me now."
" Sire," said Maugis, " you mock at me, but I tell
213 you
THE you before the twelve peers that I shall be in Mon-
tauban before it is light."
\VROUGHT
BY MAUGIS Then Charlemagne would have stricken off his
head, but Roland prevented him because Maugis
was a prisoner and bound.
After they had played long time they began to have
great lust to sleep, and when Maugis saw it he said
his charm, and they fell into a strong sleep so that
Charlemagne fell backward upon his bed, and all the
peers lay with him. Then he said another charm of
such virtue that the fetters and collar and chain of
iron fell on the ground asunder, and Maugis saw
Charlemagne lying with his head awry, and put a
pillow under it, and ungirded him, and took Joyeuse,
his sword, and then he went to Roland, and took
Durandal, and after Hautclere from Oliver, and
Courtain from Ogier, and then he took the coffer of
treasure and the crown. When he had done this,
he took an herb and rubbed the emperor's lips and
unhosed him. Then he nudged him with his finger
and said : " I promised you I would not go without
taking leave," and he went out of the pavilion and
through the camp to Montauban.
When the King heard Maugis he rose in great
wrath, and called on his peers, but he could not wake
them ; so he bethought him of an herb he had
brought from over-sea, and rubbed it on the faces of
Roland and his twelve peers, and they awoke and
stood up abashed. Then Duke Naymes said :
214 "Where
" Where is Maugis ? " THE
" By my faith," said the King, " you shall render P
him to me, for you have let him go wilfully." TO SHAME
" Roland," said Oliver, " saw you him go?"
" Nay," said Roland.
" I saw him well go," said the King.
" Sire," said Roland, " you ought then to have
told us of it ; " and in saying this he looked at his
side and saw not Durandal, his sword, and cast a
great sigh.
Then said the King : " Nephew, where is your
sword ? Maugis has enchanted us, no one has his
sword left. Full little have I got of thy taking,
thou false thief, Maugis."
As Maugis came to the ford where Renaud was
lying, heavy and full of sorrow because he could
have no tidings, Bayard smelled him, and came to
him whether Renaud would or no. When Maugis
saw Renaud, he knew him and said : " Knight, who
be you that ride at this time of night ? "
And Renaud made answer : " You know well that
I am your cousin, Renaud. Thanked be God that
you are delivered from Charlemagne."
" You forgot me behind you," said Maugis.
" Cousin, it was not my fault. I should have
succoured you or died with you."
Then Maugis thanked him, and Renaud asked him
what he carried, and he told him. So they came to
Montauban, and the brothers asked him where he
215 was
A TRUCE was when they lost him ; so he told them all that
is OFFERED b e f e i hi m anc [ they had great feast, and the next day
they went to hear mass in the church of Montauban.
And after mass they took the booty, and Renaud
made the eagle to be borne on the high tower of
Montauban, and when the sun shined on it it cast a
light for five miles around, and Charlemagne and
his army saw it.
Charlemagne, when he knew that he could not
recover his crown by force of arms, called to him
Naymes and Turpin, Hector and Ogier, who were
of the kindred of Renaud, and sent them to Mon-
tauban to bid Renaud return what had been taken,
and he would give them truce for two years. So
they came to Montauban, and Renaud made them a
great feast, and granted their demand. Then Ogier
would have Renaud to come with them to reconcile
him to Charlemagne, and they all pledged them that
he should have no harm or they would lose both life
and lands. But when they were come to the ford
of Balan^on, Ogier began to say :
" Lords, you know how the King is of evil heart
against Renaud. Let us know first his will or ever
he see Renaud."
"You say well," said Naymes. "I will go with
you to him, and Renaud shall stay here with Arch-
bishop Turpin and Hector."
There was a certain spy at the ford of Balanc/m,
named Pinabel, who heard all this, and stole away
216 from
from the company and came to Charlemagne : THE KING
" Sire," said he, " I bring you tidings. Renaud and O^VER^O
Alard his brother are at the riverside of Balaton SEIZE
with Bishop Turpin and Hector, while Duke RENAUD
Nayrrtes and Ogier are come to ask leave if they
may bring them with surety."
Then the King sent for Oliver and said : " Go,
without delay, and take two hundred knights well-
armed to the ford of Balan^on, where ye shall find
Renaud and Alard, and bring them to me."
While Oliver was on his way, Duke Naymes and
Ogier came to Charlemagne, but he answered them
not a word. Then Ogier said : "Sire, we have
obeyed your orders, why make you so evil cheer?"
" Ogier," said the King, "where is Renaud ? For
you have brought him with you."
" Sire," said he, "it is true, we have brought him
with us to take surety for the truce you have given
him."
" By St. Denis," said the King, " if I can have
him once in my hand he shall die."
" Sire," said Ogier, " say not so, for if you do
what you have said, Duke Naymes, Turpin, Hector
and I will yield you evil for evil, and save Renaud
with all our power. If you do us this dishonour
we shall forsake the homage and the faith we owe
you."
When Oliver was come to the ford he saw Renaud
and came on him so that he could not mount on
2 1 7 Bayard.
RENAUD Bayard. Then Renaud turned to Turpin and
W\GER R OF Hector and said : " Vassals, you have betrayed me
BATTLE falsely."
" Sir," said the Archbishop, " I swear to you on
my faith that we know nothing of this : I promise
you we shall live and die with you."
Then they told it to Oliver and to Roland who
had followed him, how they had brought Renaud
on their faith, and they all took Renaud with them
and came to the tent of Charlemagne.
Now Oliver would have presented him to the King,
but Ogier came forward and told how he had been
sent to Renaud to offer a truce on condition that the
booty should be restored, and how Renaud had
restored the eagle, the crown, the treasure, and the
swords, and how they had brought him with them
in surety. " If you will do as a true emperor, send
him again to Montauban with what he hath given
us, and after do your worst on him."
Charlemagne told him that he spoke in vain and
threatened to burn Renaud, but Ogier said that he
would defend his word even against the King.
Then said Renaud : " Sire, you have called me
traitor. Wite it that neither I nor any man of my
lineage is such. If any man saith it, I will fight in
the quarrel, body to body."
" By my faith," said Charlemagne, " I will prove
it on your body."
" Now you speak as a king, sire," said he ; " here
218 is
is my gage, and here are my hostages," and he turned ROLAND
to his four kinsmen. Then said Renaud : " Who is
. ,
it that shall make the battle ?
" Myself shall it be," said Charlemagne.
" Sire, an it please you, I shall fight for you my-
self," said Roland.
" Sire," said Renaud, " choose whom you please."
Then a day and hour was set, and Renaud and
his hostages returned to Montauban.
NOW SHEWETH THE TALE, THAT
when Roland saw the day he rose from his bed and
went to hear mass, and after he armed himself and
came to Charlemagne. Then the King said : " Fair
nephew, God have you in His keeping from death
and prison, for you know that Renaud is in the right
and we do him wrong. I would not for the half of
my realm that harm should come to you."
" Sire," said Roland, " it is too late to repent now;
since you knew you were wrong, you should not have
accepted the battle ; now the thing is come so far
forth I cannot leave it. May God guard me in mercy."
Now tells the tale of this fight, that it was right
sore and cruel between them, for they left not one
piece of their harness whole, insomuch that the
barons who looked on had great pity of the one and
the other, and Duke Naymes cried out : " Ha,
Charlemagne, cursed be your cruelty, for by your
hate you put to death two of the best knights of the
world."
219 Renaud,
A WONDER Renaud, seeing that neither of them could over-
WROUGHT come tne other, said to Roland that they should
alight from their horses and fight on foot, so that
the good steeds should not be harmed, and when this
was done they ran on each other like lions. But
when they could not win at this game, Renaud took
Roland by the body in manner of wrestling a great
while, but the one could cast down the other by no
way. Then at the last they let each other go to
take breath, for they were right weary so that they
might hardly stand, and their arms and helmets
were all cut and broken, and the ground all stamped
as if men had threshed corn thereon.
Then Charlemagne had great fear for Roland, and
knelt down and prayed, " Glorious Lord, that made
heaven, earth, and sea ; and delivered Margaret from
the belly of the dragon, and Jonah from the fish,
deliver my nephew Roland from this battle mortal,
and send me a token whereby I may depart these
knights from one another to their honour."
Also the sons of Aymon prayed for their brother
since he was so sore weary. And when the prayers
were made, God for the prayer of Charlemagne sent
a miracle, for so great a cloud arose that they might
not see each other.
Then Roland called to Renaud : " Where are you ?
Is it night, for I cannot see you/'
11 Nor I," said Renaud.
" I pray you," said Roland, " take me with you to
220 Montauban,
Montauban, and wite that I ask you, because I know RENAUD
well that you be in the right, and I am in the ROLAND 1
wrong." AWAY
Roland, when he had said this, recovered his sight,
and saw his horse and mounted thereon, and Renaud
mounted on Bayard.
The King seeing this was sore abashed, and
cried : " See, lords, Renaud leadeth Roland with
him ; " and the barons spurred their horses and
followed them to the gate of Montauban.
There Charlemagne cried out : " Renaud, this
that you have done shall avail you little, you shall
never have peace with me while I am alive."
And when he had said this, he returned to his
army, and bade them forthwith to encamp before the
castle of Montauban, so that the King's tent was
before the great gate, and the whole army encamped
around it.
When the host was set, the watch on the gate
came to Maugis and told him how Charlemagne
had set his tent before the great gate.
" Be content," said Maugis, " Charlemagne
seeketh his own hurt, he shall have it sooner than
he weeneth."
So Maugis told it to Renaud, and Renaud bade
him keep good watch in the night, lest evil should
come.
After all were asleep Maugis went to the stable
and saddled Bayard, and came out through the great
221 gate
MAUGIS gate to the tent of Charlemagne. There he so
T, A ^?1 wrought with his magic that he brought all that
CHARL.E- O o -rt i t i *
MAGNE were in the host to sleep. Then he went to the bed
of the King, took him in his arms, set him on
Bayard, and brought him into Montauban, and laid
him in his bed. After he lit a torch and set in his
chamber, and went to Renaud.
11 Cousin, what would you give to him who should
deliver the King into your hand ? "
" By my faith, I have nothing that I would not
give," said Renaud.
" Will you promise to do him no harm of body,
and I will deliver him to you."
" I promise you that upon my faith," said Renaud.
Then Maugis led him into his chamber and
showed him Charlemagne, and said that he should
guard him well. Then Maugis came to the stable
where he had left Bayard, and took some straw and
rubbed his back and his head. Then he kissed him
all weeping and took leave of him, and put on him
a cloak and wallet, and came to the porter, and so
passed out of Montauban.
The history tells that Maugis went so long that he
came to the river of Dordonne, and passed over it in
a boat, and when he was over he entered into a forest
and walked till even. At the last he came to a little
hill, and on it was a hermitage with a fair spring
before the door. There Maugis entered and prayed
our Lord to pardon his sins, and made a vow to
222 dwell
dwell in that place, and to eat none other but such MAUGIS
wild herbs as grew in the wood. Then he prayed HJ^JJf 8
God that Renaud might have peace with Charle- WORLD
magne, and when he had done his prayer he let go
his horse and set him down to do penance for his
evil deeds he had done.
IN THIS PART TELLS THE TALE THAT
Renaud called his brethren to him, and said : " Tell
me, my brethren, what we shall do with Charle-
magne, whom we have in our hands ? "
" I cannot tell," said Richard, " but if you will
believe me, you will hang him forthwith, and when
he is dead no man shall make us afraid."
When Renaud heard this he said naught, and
Richard said that he would hang him if Renaud
would deliver him up.
Renaud said : " My brethren, ye know well that
he is our sovereign lord, and that our kinsmen are
here to make peace for us. If we slay him, right or
wrong, all the world should run on us, and we should
never be without war."
Alard said : " You have spoken wisely, but if we
cannot have peace with him, let us keep him
prisoner."
" Lords," said Richard, " we have a good head in
Renaud our brother, let him shift with the King as
he will ; " and thereto they all accorded.
The four brethren left the chamber of the King
and came into Roland, and when he saw them he
223 marvelled,
RENAUD marvelled, but sent for his fellows as Renaud had
TEI His OF to ld him, and when they were all come, he said :
CAPTIVE " Lords, ye be all my friends, gramercy to you,
wherefore I will hide nothing from you. I have
here a prisoner by whom I shall have peace and my
inheritance again."
" Renaud," said Roland, " I pray you tell us who
it is."
" It is Charlemagne the Emperor."
" Have you taken him by force of arms ? "
" Nay, verily, I wot not how my cousin Maugis
did it, but he hath brought the King out of his
pavilion, and brought him into his chamber here
fast asleep."
" I marvel much," said Duke Naymes, "for you
know well that the king is kept day and night."
"Lords," said Ogier, "God hath done this by
friendship for Renaud, for this war hath lasted too
long, and many good knights have lost their life
in it."
When they had thus spoken, Renaud brought
them into the chamber where Charlemagne lay so
fast asleep that they could not wake him.
Then said Roland: "Where is Maugis? Let
him come and wake him and all we will fall at his
feet and cry him mercy, and I pray you be not the
prouder in words that you hold him prisoner."
" By my faith, I should rather die than say to my
sovereign lord a foul word. I shall put me, my
224 brethren,
brethren, and my goods to his will, and pray him to MAUGIS
grant us peace with him. And I will go fetch
Maugis to you."
Renaud went out to seek Maugis and could not
find him, and when the porter wist that he sought
Maugis, he said : " Sir, you seek him for naught,
for he went his ways out right now, clothed poorly,
and came not again."
When Renaud heard this he knew that Maugis
had gone his way because he would no longer abide
the wrath of Charlemagne, and he began to weep
full sore, and his brothers with him when they
heard it, but Richard gnashed his teeth and said :
" We be now all lost, since we have lost Maugis ; "
and drew his sword to have slain Charlemagne.
But Renaud hindered him, and Ogier and Naymes
said : " Richard, Richard, refrain, for it were not
well done to kill a man that sleepeth. Before we
depart hence we shall set all at peace."
And as all the lords turned to weep for the loss
of Maugis, he added : " Ye do not well to make so
great sorrow for we cannot get any good by it. Let
us begin to speak of your peace, that must be made
with Charlemagne, that an end may be had to this
war."
As they were speaking of this matter, suddenly
Charlemagne began to move, and arose on his feet
and looked about him, and when he saw he was at
Montauban in the subjection of Renaud he was so
225 P sore
THEY ALL sore angered, that all they that were there thought
CRY MERCY ^^ ma( j When his wits were come to him again
he knew that Maugis had done this thing, and he
swore that he would make no peace till he were out
of Montauban, and they had brought Maugis to
him.
Richard waxed angry when he heard this, and
said : " Were it not that I have promised to do you
no harm at this time, I should strike off the head
from your body."
But Renaud restrained his brethren and said :
41 My brethren if it please you, you shall come with
me to cry mercy to our sovereign lord Charle-
magne."
Then Renaud and his brethren, Roland, Oliver,
Ogier, Duke Naymes, Turpin, and Hector fell on
their knees before the Emperor, and Renaud said :
" Noble Emperor, have mercy on us, for my brethren
and I yield us unto you to do your pleasure and
will of us, our lives being saved ; and there is
nothing that we will not do for love of you. And
if it please you not to pardon me at least pardon
my brethren, and give them again their lands, and
I shall give you Montauban and Bayard ; and so I
shall go into the Holy Land with Maugis and serve
the Temple."
" If all the world speak to me," said the King,
4t I should never consent to peace till I have Maugis
in my hands."
226 - Alas,"
Alas," said Renaud, " I had rather let myself NO PEACE
'VITHOUT
MAUGIS
be hanged than consent to the death of Maugis. wn
He hath not deserved that we should betray him,
but rather to be lord over us."
" Think not, Renaud, though I am a prisoner, I
shall do anything against my will."
" Sire, my intent is to humble myself before you ;
I had liefer that we suffer wrong of you, than you
of us. Tell me, sire, how I shall deliver you
Maugis, who is our life, hope, and succour; our
sword and spear ; our guide and defence in all
places. If you had all my brethren in prison and
would make them to be hanged, I would not give
him up to buy back my brethren. Also, I swear to
you on my faith that he is gone I wot not where."
Then Duke Naymes said : " Sire, methinks you
ought to take the fair offer which Renaud has made,
before other harm comes to you. and all they of
your court shall be glad of it." And in the same
way spoke the others.
Charlemagne answered and swore by St. Denis
of France, that he should make no peace, but if he
had first Maugis in his hands.
When Renaud heard him he rose to his feet in
anger and said : "Sire, I would that Charlemagne
should know my will, which I show before him to
you. Since I can find no mercy in him, I pray you
blame me not if from henceforth I seek my right in
all n.?nners that a true knight may. Sire, you may
227 go
THE KING go hence when it pleaseth you, you shall have no
F-RE? harm of me as now, for you are my lord, and when
God pleases we shall be at peace with you."
The barons of France that were there wondered
sore at the great kindness of Renaud, but his brother
Richard was wroth and said that it was great folly
to let their enemy go scatheless.
Then Renaud called a gentleman of his and said :
"Go and fetch hither Bayard, for I will that my sove-
reign ride upon him to his host," and when he was
come again, Renaud said to Charlemagne : " Sire,
you may go at liberty to comfort your folk," and
Renaud conveyed him to the gate of Montauban,and
when he was gone he made it to be shut again.
The French were right glad to see their King
again, and asked him how it went with him, and if
he had granted peace.
" Lords, it is well with me, but I have made no
peace, nor ever shall."
" Sire, how have you been delivered ? "
" By my faith, Renaud delivered me against the
will of his brethren."
"Sire, did you not see Roland and Oliver, Naymes
and Ogier ? "
" Yea, surely, but they have all forsaken me for
love of Renaud, I shall show them that they have
not well done." This said, he lighted down from
Bayard, and sent him again to Renaud.
So Renaud came to his kinsmen and said :
228 " Lords,
" Lords, I know well ye be not in the grace of THE KING
Charlemagne for love of me, therefore I quit you
c || 1 i T i i*
ol all quarrels that I may lay on you, and give you
leave to go when it please you."
Then they thanked him greatly, and said that they
would have him in their remembrance to make
accord with the King ; and after they came to the
camp and fell down before Charlemagne, saying :
"Sire, we be come in your presence to cry you
mercy, and to take us into your good grace. Since
you will not have peace, we have forsaken Renaud
and his brethren, and they shall have no succour
of us."
" Lords," said the King, " I pardon you, but I
pray you let us assault Montauban by night and day
till it be taken, and all within it put to death. I am
sure that they want victuals within, and worse for
them, they have lost the traitor Maugis, who was
their hope and comfort."
When he had said this, Duke Naymes said :
" Sire, you say that they of Montauban have no
meat, and that the taking of this castle is a thing
that may be done lightly. I promise you if you
tarry here till their victuals be done, you shall stay
here longer than you ween of. Take heed of the
courtesy that Renaud hath done you, and how he
saved your life, and of his great meekness, and the
trust he had in you when he loaned you his good
horse Bayard. Think, too, how we waste and destroy
229 the
THE the country and the fields, and dispend great good
fi^^i which for your honour were better to be employed
13 \\ t,LL. if** 1 1 / / A
DEFENDED on the Saracens than on the four sons of Aymon.
Then King Charlemagne became pale as a white
cloth for the great wrath he had at his heart, and
said : " Duke Naymes, by my faith, if there be any
man so bold as to speak more of peace with the sons
of Aymon, I shall never love him. I shall take
them whatsoever it cost me, ere I depart from this
siege."
Then Ogier said to the King: "Cursed be the
hour that Renaud suffered not Richard to strike off
thy head. You had not so threatened him now."
And when Charlemagne heard it he bowed his
head, and said after : " Lords, make you ready, for
I will now give assault to Montauban."
When they were ready they came in good order,
and brought ladders and other instruments and
engines to break down the walls, and when the King
saw them so well apparelled he ordered the assault.
Renaud saw the movement and sounded his horn
three times, and forthwith all they of the castle armed
themselves and came on the walls to defend the
castle. The Frenchmen came near, and entered into
the ditch and dressed up their ladders to the wall,
but they within defended so strongly with casting
of stones, that many of the Frenchmen were slain.
Great pity it was to see the Duchess and the young
children bearing stones for their uncles to throw.
220 And
And when Charlemagne saw that the ladders were AT LAST
overthrown he knew that he should not take Mont-
auban by force, and made the trumpet to be blown
to call his folk back, and when they heard it they
were glad, for they were shrewdly handled.
Charlemagne swore by St. Denis of France that
he would not depart till they were famished, and he
set before every gate of the castle two hundred
knights, that nobody might pass in or out ; and
when Renaud saw that he fell on his knees and
prayed that they might have peace, but Richard
rebuked him for that he had let Charlemagne go
free.
SO LONG ABODE THE EMPEROR AT
the siege of Montauban, that they who were in it
had great need of victuals, and he that had any meat
hid it straightway, for men could get none for gold or
silver, and the dearth was so great that one brother
hid his meat from another, and the father from his
child, and the child from its mother. The poor folk
died for hunger in the streets, and Renaud had need
to make a great charnel-house and carry them there.
Moreover, Charlemagne, by the report of his folk
knew the great scarcity of victuals there, and was
right glad and said to his lords : " Now cannot they
escape. Renaud shall be hanged and Richard
drawn by horses. God be thanked that I have
brought the town so low. Let no man be so hardy
as to move my will to the contrary."
231 When
THE KING When the kindred of Renaud heard this they
*?5S were sore grieved, and with great pain Ogier kept
CASTING- p . o r e>
ENGINES his eyes from weeping, lest Charlemagne should
perceive his sorrowful heart.
The story tells that all this while Aymon held the
party of the King against his sons ; but when he
heard how the Emperor threatened them he was
wroth, for whatsoever war he made against them,
he loved them dearly, as a father should love his
child. He could not keep himself for his great
sorrow, and said : " Sir Emperor, I beseech you
that you will bring my sons to right, for though I
have forsaken them, yet are they my children." But
the King would not hear him.
Then when he saw the barons that spake to one
another, he said : " Lords, it is now long time since
we first besieged this castle, and we have lost many
of our folk. I command you to make great engines
to bring down the towers. You, Roland, shall
make seven and Oliver six, Naymes and Turpin
and Ogier four, and you, Duke Aymon, three."
" How should I do this," said Aymon, " for they
are my children, not knaves but the best knights of
the world ; if I saw them die I should lose my wits
for anger."
Then Charlemagne said : "If any man gainsay
me I will strike off his head."
" Sire," said Duke Naymes, " be not angry, for
what you have commanded shall be done."
232 So
So engines were made to cast great multitudes EVEN THE
of stones, and for fear of them the folk went and
hid under the ground ; and so they of Montauban
endured this mischief also. So great was the dearth
and mortality that men wist not where to put the
dead, for the charnel-house was full, and the young
men went with a staff, or fell grovelling on the
ground for feebleness.
When their food was well nigh done Renaud had
great sorrow because he might put no remedy
thereto, and he began to call for Maugis to help
him, and when the Lady Clare saw it she said :
" Fair lord, we have yet more than a hundred horses;
I pray you let one of them be killed, and you, myself,
and our poor children eat of it, for it is more than
three days since we have eaten a meal." And when
she had said this she fell in a swoon for hunger. Then
when she came to herself, she cried : " Alas, my
children, who should ever have weened that you
should die of hunger ? "
Renaud made a horse to be slain and dressed
for meat to his folk, but it lasted not long before
them, and soon all the horses in Montauban were
eaten, save Bayard and the horses of the three
brothers. When there was nothing more, Renaud
came to his brethren and said : " What shall we
do ? We have only our four horses. Let us kill
one of them and eat."
"By my head," said Richard, "it shall not be
233 mine ;
THE mine ; kill your own, for it was your pride and folly
OF T S HE m releasing Charlemagne that has brought us to
THREE this pass. If you had believed me, this mishap
would not have befallen us."
Then Aymon, the son of Renaud, said : " Hold
your peace, my uncle, for men ought to let pass the
thing that cannot be amended. Do as my father
commandeth you, and all shall be well."
Great pity had Richard of this nephew when he
heard him speak thus wisely, and he kissed him
and said to Renaud : " Command my horse to be
slain when it please you, and give some comfort to
this folk and my lady and your children. For my
little nephew hath well deserved to eat of it for his
good counsel."
" Brother," said Alard, " kill which you please,
except Bayard ; I had rather die myself than Bayard
be slain."
"You say well," said Guichart.
So the horses of the three brethren were killed and
eaten, and there was no more to eat in Montauban.
Then said Guichart : " My brethren, we must
yield ourselves or else die here for hunger."
" Will you yield you to the most cruel king of
the world, for him to make us to be hanged shame-
fully? If any pity could be found in him, I would
yield me gladly, but let us rather eat Bayard, my
horse, and my children, and our own bodies, before
we yield us."
234 Then
Then they cast their minds to slay Bayard, but RENAUD
when they came to the stable Renaud looked on
him, and he loved him so greatly that he bade them
slay him first before they laid hand on Bayard.
The duchess and her children cried out that they
would die for force of hunger, and at the last, Renaud
said to them to take courage till night and he would
fetch them meat.
When night was come he mounted on Bayard
and went secretly out of Montauban and came to
his father's pavilion, which he knew well, for he had
marked it that day. It happed so that he found
Duke Aymon alone before his tent, seeking to have
some tidings of the castle of Montauban.
When Renaud saw his father, he said : " Who
art thou, that goest so late all alone ? "
Aymon knew his son as soon as he heard him
speak, and was glad, but he said : "And who art
thou thyself?"
Then Renaud knew him and said : " Father, for
God's sake have pity on us, for we die of hunger; all
my horses are dead. We have only Bayard, who
has saved our lives so often. If you will not have
pity on me, save my young children."
" Ah, fair son," said Aymon, " I cannot help
you, for I have forsworn you, go your way ;
my heart is right sorry that I may not give you
succour."
" Sir, you speak ill," said Renaud. " If you help
235 us
AYMON us not, my wife, my brothers, and my children will
GI -OOD IM die f nun g er ere three days be past."
When Aymon heard this he had great pity and
said : " Son, the king doth you great wrong, light
down from your horse and take what it pleases you
from my tent, but I will give you nothing, to save
my oath."
" Gramercy, dear father," said Renaud, and then
he entered into the pavilion and loaded Bayard with
bread and with flesh, both salt and fresh, and
Bayard bore more than ten horses should have done.
Then when he was laded, Renaud took leave of his
father and returned to Montauban, and when they
saw him bring so much victual they swooned for
joy, and Renaud weened they had died of hunger.
But they rose up and did eat, and after went to
sleep, except Renaud, who would keep watch him-
self.
When the next night was come Aymon, who
could not forget his children, made his steward to
come before him, and said : " You know how I have
forsworn my children, whereof I am in great sorrow,
for they are yonder in poverty and misease. We
have three engines that Charlemagne hath bid me
make to hurt them, now must we help them. See
that you put in the engines bread and flesh in great
plenty, instead of stones, and let this be cast into
the castle. I repent me sore of the harm I have
done them."
236 " Sir,"
" Sir," said the steward, " you say well, for all the AYMON
world blames you for what you have done." FOOD S INTO
So he filled the engines with victuals, and com- MONT-
manded the master to throw them into Montauban. AUBAN
Many of the host blamed Aymon sore that he made
his engines to be cast against his children, but
Renaud went hither and thither within the castle,
and found the victuals his father had cast in, and
was right glad and happy. He made the victuals
to be gathered up and put in a sure place, and found
that they had enough for three months with good
governance.
Ye must understand that Charlemagne had some
knowledge of how Duke Aymon had given victuals
to his children, so he called him and said :
" Aymon, who maketh thee so bold as to give food
to my mortal enemies? I know thy wiles, thou
mayest not excuse thyself."
" Sire," said Duke Aymon, " I will not deny it,
for I tell you truly, I will not fail my children as
long as I can help them. They be no thieves, or
traitors, or murderers, but the most valiant knights
of the world, and the truest. You have too long
wrought this folly."
Then Duke Naymes came forth and said : " Sire,
send home Aymon, you have kept him here too
long ; you ought not to blame him that he will not
see his children destroyed."
The King said : " Since you have judged it you
237 shall
THEY FEED shall not be gainsaid. Go forth out of my host,
BLOOE> H OF Duke Aymon, you have wrought me more damage
BAYARD than profit."
" With a good will," said Aymon, and he called
his horse and parted, saying to the twelve peers of
France : " Lords, I pray you have a care for my
children, for they be come of your blood."
Then Aymon went to his own land, and Charle-
magne bade them break the engines, and thus
Renaud abode in good peace.
After a good space of time their victuals began
again to be eaten up, so that they scarce could stand
on their feet for hunger, and Alard said to Renaud :
" Slay Bayard, for I and my brethren may live no
longer without food."
Renaud came to Bayard to slay him, but the horse
made such great joy to see him that he could not,
and he bethought him long and advised him how
Bayard should not die.
Then he called for a basin and made Bayard be
let blood, and then he stopped the vein, and gave the
blood to Alard to be dressed, and when it was cooked
they had thereof great sustenance. But on the fifth
day Bayard was so feeble that when they would have
let blood, none came, and when the Duchess saw
that she said : " Sir, since he gives no more blood,
let him be slain, and your children eat of him."
But Renaud would not, and they sat them down
to wait for death, the which was nigh enough.
238 There
There was an old man among them who said to THEY
Renaud : " Sir, I see that Montauban may no ^ E
longer be defended, but in you is not the fault. MONT-
Come with me and I shall show you a way by AUBAN
which we may escape without danger. Now know
that there was once before a castle here, and the
lord that builded it first made a way under the earth
that bringeth folk into the Wood of the Serpent, and
when I was a child I went through it. Dig here
and you shall find it and we may escape without
danger."
Then Renaud came to the place, and they digged
in the earth and found the way that the old man
said, and Renaud, his wife and children, his brethren
and the remnant of his folk, put themselves in the
way, and Renaud made great plenty of torches to be
fired that they might see the better.
When they had gone a long while in the cavern
Renaud stopped and said : " My brethren, we have
done ill, for we have left King Yon in prison.
Certes, I had liefer die than leave him to perish
like a famished wolf."
Then he returned to the castle, though his
brothers would have him stay, and brought King
Yon out of prison with him. Certes, he had little
welcome from the lady or the sons of Aymon.
So long they went that they came to the mouth
of the cave and found them in the Wood of the
Serpent at dayspring, and when Renaud had
239 looked
THEY COME looked about him he said: Meseemeth we be
NTO TH
WOOD
* nigh the hermitage of my good friend Bernard."
Sir," said Alard, "you say truth; but what
shall we do?"
" Let us go there and abide till night be come,
and then take our way to Dordonne. Moreover it
cannot be, but he shall have some meat for my wife
and children."
They put themselves to the way, and went but
little till they found the hermitage ; but as they
went through the wood they parted from one another,
and like wild beasts ate grass as if it had been fruit.
Then Renaud was sad and cried out : " Lords, ye
do ill to separate thus, gather you together and
come to the hermitage. If we find Bernard he will
make us good cheer."
Renaud knocked at the gate, and when Bernard
heard it he came out and received Renaud and his
folk right gladly and embraced him. Then said he :
" Fair lord, you be right welcome, whence come
you and how is it with you ? "
" My friend Bernard," said Renaud, " I have left
mine heritage by force of hunger and go to Dor-
donne. I pray you if you have any meat that you
will give it to my wife and children, for they are so
sore famished that they die for hunger."
Bernard had great pity for the distress wherein
he saw Renaud and his folk, and on the other part
he was right glad they had escaped from Charle-
240 magne.
magne. He came to the duchess and said: " Madame, THEY
you are right welcome, you are in a good place to D QRDO
take your rest at ease." Then he went into his
chamber and brought out bread and wine and all
such a's God had sent him and laid it before Renaud
and said : " Lord, take such victual as I may give
you, in despite of Charlemagne."
All that day Renaud sojourned with Bernard and
he served and comforted them with all his power,
and gave the oats of his ass to Bayard. When
night was come, he found the means for them to
have three horses, whereof the duchess had one and
the children the other twain, and thus Renaud and
his folk passed through the wood till they came to
Dordonne. And when they of the city knew that
their lord was come, that they had desired so long,
they were glad and came out to meet him in fair
company and made great feast through all the town.
And the barons of the country came to pay homage
to him as their lord and master.
THE HISTORY TELLS THAT IT HAPPED
on a day that Charlemagne rode nigh the castle to
wite how they bore themselves in Montauban, and
when he saw no one, he sent for his barons and
said : " Lords, it is now eight days that we have
seen nobody on the walls of Montauban, I believe
that they are all dead."
" Sire," said Duke Naymes, "it were good to send
men there to see the truth."
241 Q They
THE KING They lighted on horseback, and came to the gate
,I HE in semblance to attack the castle, and when they saw
FINDS
EMPTY that none came to defend, Charlemagne weened
that they were dead of hunger and made fetch a
ladder and mount the walls. Straightway Roland
mounted up, and after him Ogier, Oliver, and Duke
Naymes. When they were upon the wall they saw
no man, so they came down and went to the gate to
open it for Charlemagne. The King was sore angry
when he found no man within, and said that all this
was done by Maugis ; he walked up and down, and
at last he found the way there as they went out,
and when he saw it he called Ogier the Dane to
him and said : " See here the work of Maugis."
Then said Duke Naymes : " This cave was made
more than a hundred years ago. It is Saracens'
work."
Then Charlemagne smiled with angry heart and
said: "Seek where this hole will lead men to; I
shall not be easy till I know it."
When Roland heard this he put himself in the
cave with a company bearing lighted torches, and
they went so long that they came to the end of the
cave and found them in the Wood of the Serpent,
and when he looked about he could not know where
he was. "Lords," said he, "meseemeth it were
folly to seek after Renaud, for he knoweth well the
country, and we not at all."
" Let us return to your uncle," said they.
242 Charlemagne
Charlemagne asked them when they came out if THE KING
they had found any issue. F TO ooT
" Yea, without fail ; Renaud and his folk have DONNE
escaped you, and they have Bayard with them. We
have seen his track."
Wlien he knew this for certain, Charlemagne sent
messengers far and wide for tidings of Renaud, and
his army came into Montauban and lodged there
six days.
There came a messenger to Charlemagne and
said : " Sire, I have seen the four sons of Aymon in
great joy, keeping open court in the city of Dor-
donne ; Renaud gives great gifts to his men, I know
not where he has found so great a treasure ; and he
hath made a great assembly to defend him against
you, if you in any wise assail him."
The King was much angry when he heard this,
and swore by St. Denis that he would never lie in a
bed till he had taken Dordonne, and when he had
so sworn, he commanded his barons to truss their
baggage, and pass to Dordonne to assail it. Straight-
way they took their route and arrived at Montorgueil
which was so near Dordonne that men might see
from it the steeples of the town. There they lodged
and kept good ward for fear of the sons of Aymon,
and when the day was come they put them on the
march.
When Renaud saw this he said to his brethren
that he would not let himself be besieged again as
243 at
RENAUD at Montauban, but that this time he would attack
$^f??B^ T Charlemagne, and if he could take him he would
1U ME&l O t f i iii
HIM not spare him again. Incontinent he sounded his
horn and arrayed his folk in arms before the town,
and said to his brethren : " My brethren, this day
must we die or bring the war to an end. Let each
of us prove him a good knight, and come nigh me
in the battle that we may be the first to smite our
enemies."
Then he chose a hundred of his best knights and
bade them to be with him in the first line, and
greatly they thanked him for the honour. This
done he spurred Bayard and came fair upon the
folk of Charlemagne.
Now when the King saw this great army he
wondered greatly and said : " Where have they
found so great a folk ? They seem no less than
before. But I swear I will do justice on him and
his brethren ere long."
Then he put him on horseback to fight with
Renaud, but Duke Naymes restrained him and
counselled him once more to make peace, but Charle-
magne rode forth in great wrath.
THE TALE TELLS THAT ONCE MORE
Renaud would have made submission to Charle-
magne, so he made a vow before his brethren that
he would ask it once more, and if Charlemagne
refused, he should never ask it again. So he came
and said : " Sire, for God's mercy suffer that we have
244 peace
peace and accord with you that this long war may RENAUD
finish, and your wrath be put away from us, and
I1_111_ J 1 it -11 i E.ACH.
snail be ready to do all you will, and give you ONCE
Bayard, my horse, that I love."
Then said the King : " Go, false glutton, the
world shall not keep me from slaying thee."
Then said Renaud : " False King of France, I
defy you ! " and with his lance he smote a knight
whom the King sent against him, and returned to
his own folk.
When Richard saw his brother come again, he said:
" Brother, what tidings; shall we have peace or war?"
" Brother," said he, " let us do the best we can,
for peace we shall not have."
Then said Richard : " God bless you for the
tidings you bring. We shall this day do great
deeds against Charlemagne."
Long were it to tell the history of this battle, for
the four sons of Aymon did great deeds, and no
man could stand before Renaud. On the other side
Duke Naymes bore the Oriflamme of France, and
the twelve peers fought round Charlemagne for they
feared lest he should come upon Renaud in the fight.
But at the last Renaud saw that his folk were too
few for the host, and he said to his knight who bore
his banner : " Friend, go to Dordonne as quietly as
thou art able, I and my brethren will watch the
rearguard."
When Charlemagne saw that Renaud and his
245 company
RICHARD company were on the road to Dordonne, he cried
MANDY out " Now after them, lords, for they be discom-
TAKEN fited ! " but this cry of his lost many a knight his
life, for Renaud and his brethren slew well nigh a
hundred that followed them. And as they were at
the gate, Richard of Normandy would joust with
Richard, Renaud's brother, and he was overthrown
and taken prisoner and brought into the city in
despite of the folk of Charlemagne.
Then they shut the gates and disarmed them and
rested, for they had well need of it. And when
Charlemagne saw that the four sons of Aymon
were safe and that they had taken prisoner one of
the twelve peers of France, he feared sore lest
Renaud should make him to die, and since he might
do no other, he commanded that the city should be
straitly besieged and swore that he would never
leave it till the four sons of Aymon were shamefully
hanged.
" Sire," said Roland, " you know that I am he that
hath most hurted the sons of Aymon, nor have I
ever spoken to you of peace with them, but now am
I constrained to move you thereto. For fifteen
years you have warred against them and have had
always the worse of the war, and not without cause.
I promise you if you had warred so long on the
Saracens, you should have been lord of the most
part of them, and won you great honour. What is
worse, Richard of Normandy, one of the best
246 knights
knights you had, is taken, and if Renaud should GREAT
slay him, it shall be great dishonour to you and set
all France in a flame, for Richard has great friends ;
and I tell you, if I were in the case that Renaud
is in, I .would slay him, since I might have no peace
with you. Wherefore, sire, if you will believe me,
for your own honour you shall send word to Renaud
to deliver you again Richard of Normandy all armed
on his horse and you will make peace with him. I
promise you, sire, he will do it right gladly and
aught else withal you command him."
Then said Charlemagne : " Have you aught else
to say ? "
" Nay, sire."
" I swear to you on my faith that the four sons of
Aymon shall never have peace with me ; I fear
nothing for Richard, for Renaud would rather put
out his own eyes than do him any ill."
When as Renaud and his folk were out of their
harness he ordained good watch on the walls, then
he sent for the Duke of Normandy, and said :
" Richard, you know well Charlemagne doth me
great wrong ; I tell you for certain that if you do
not make peace for us I shall smite your body in
four."
" Sir," said the Duke, " I am in your danger, you
have taken me in war, and if you do to me other-
wise than you ought, you shall have great dishonour.
As long as I live I shall not fail Charlemagne."
247 Then
MAUGIS Then Renaud ordered that Richard should be
guarded within his chamber, and well served of that
appertaining to his estate.
While Charlemagne was thus before Dordonne,
assaulting it and casting great stones against thewall,
King Yon fell sick of a great sickness, and shrove
him of his sins, beseeching God to have mercy on
him. Then he died, and Renaud made him to be
buried worshipfully, but there was no man wept for
him, because of the great treason he had done.
HERE LEAVES THE HISTORY TO
SPEAK OF THIS MATTER AND TELLS
OF MAUGIS.
It fell on a day that Maugis had watched long in
his hermitage and fell asleep. He dreamed that he
was at Montauban, and saw Renaud and his brethren
making their complaint to him of Charlemagne, who
would take from them their good horse Bayard, but
Renaud had him fast by the bridle, and would not
let him go. Then Maugis arose and swore that he
would go and see whether the brethren had need of
him, and then pass to the Holy Land. So he shut
the door of his hermitage and put him to the wood,
and about the hour of noon he found two men making
great sorrow. Maugis said : " God be with you."
" God is not with us, but rather the devil," said
they. "There are in this wood strong thieves who
have robbed us of the cloth we had to sell, and slain
our fellow because he spake angrily to them."
248 Maugis
Maugis had pity on them and said : " Come with MAUGIS
me, and I will pray these thieves for God's sake to
give you back your good, and if they will not I shall
fight with them."
When the merchants heard him thus speak they
looked at him to see if they might know him. One
of them said: " There are seven of them armed,
and you are alone and so weak that you cannot hold
up your stick."
" Let this fool alone, he does not know what
he says," said the other ; "go thy way, brother, and
leave us in peace, or I shall give thee such a stroke
that thou shalt feel it."
Maugis said : " Brother, thou dost not well to
speak to me so, I cannot do thee good by force."
Then he went his way and overtook the thieves,
and said : " Lords, God save you ; I pray you tell
me why ye took away the goods of these merchants.
You knew well it is not yours, I pray you let them
have their own again."
When the thieves heard this from Maugis they
were angry, and the master of the thieves said : " Go
thy way, or I shall give thee such a stroke with my
foot as shall burst thy heart open."
When Maugis saw that this thief feared neither
God nor man, he was right an-angered, and smote
the master thief so strongly with his palmer's staff
that he cast him dead to the ground. Then all the
other thieves ran on Maugis to slay him, but he dealt
249 so
MAUGIS so well with his staff that he slew five of them, and
-S^SS the other twain began to flee into the wood, and
1 \J 1JUK- t Q^ 11*
DONNE Maugis to cry : ' False thieves, turn again, and
give up your spoil."
When the merchants heard this cry they came to
Maugis, and found the thieves that had robbed
them dead. They said to one another : " Here is a
good pilgrim ! I ween it is my lord, St. Martin."
Then they kneeled before him and begged his
pardon, and he bade them stand up and take their
goods again, but he prayed them to tell him where
Charlemagne was.
" Sir," said they, " Charlemagne has taken Mont-
auban, but not the four sons of Aymon, for they
went out by a cave in the earth and came to
Dordonne. There the King has laid a siege against
them, and will not make peace."
Then Maugis bade them adieu, and put him in
the road for Dordonne, and so much he went that
he came into the host of Charlemagne, and went
straight towards the city leaning on his staff.
When the soldiers saw him they said: "This
pilgrim will not go far. He cannot stand on his
feet."
" By my oath," said another, " it might well be
Maugis to deceive us."
" Not so," said another, " Maugis is not alive."
While they thus devised together, Maugis came
to the wicket of the gate and found means to enter
250 within
within and pass to the palace to ask alms. There RENAUD
KNOWS
MAUGIS
he found Renaud and the duchess, his wife, their KNOWS
children, and his cousins, and many noble knights
at th^ir meat. He leaned against a pillar of the
hall and began to look on his cousins, that he loved
so much above all things in the world. The
seneschal weened he was a poor hermit and bade
them serve him for the love of God, so they gave
him bread and wine and flesh. But he asked them
to give him only black bread and water in a treen
dish, for he dared eat none other meat. When
Renaud saw this poor man so lean and pale before
him he had great pity of him, and sent him a dish
from his own table, and Maugis set it before him,
howbeit he would eat none of it.
Then Renaud said to himself: "Who is this? If
he were not so lean I would say it was my cousin
Maugis," and he left his meat to look upon him.
When all men were gone to their ward and there
was nobody within the hall for whom he would
restrain him, he said : " Good hermit, I pray you
for God's sake, tell me if you be Maugis or no ? "
Then Maugis could hide him no longer and said:
" I am Maugis, without doubt, and I am glad that
I see you and your brethren in good plight."
So Renaud went and kissed him a hundred times
and said : " Cousin, put off this poor cape I see on
you."
Then said Maugis : " Cousin, be not displeased ;
251 I have
MAUGIS I have made a vow to God that I will eat only
TA LEAVE IS bread and wild herbs, and drink none other than
water, and wear none other clothes than such as
these be, to bring my soul to bliss by serving God."
Renaud asked him for news of where he came
from and what he had done, and when Maugis had
told him, he called his brothers and his wife and
told them, " Maugis is here."
When they heard that their hearts stood still for
joy and they ran to him and kissed him and the
duchess wept sore and Aymonet and Yonet made
great joy. And when Renaud would have clothed
him, Maugis would take neither linen nor shoes,
but only a hood and cloak, a bag and a pilgrim's
staff well shod with iron, and when he had these he
would go to the Holy Sepulchre to serve God there.
" Moreover when I have so done, I shall come
again to see you, and after I shall go again to my
hermitage and live there as a beast, on roots and
wild herbs, as I did before I came here."
When the morrow was come Maugis took his
staff and went to hear mass, and after he took his
leave of every one and went out. Renaud and his
brethren conveyed him to the wicket-gate and kissed
him, and also the Duchess Clare and her children.
He was not far gone when he was environed by the
folk of Charlemagne, and one said to the other:
" Here is the hermit of yesterday, better clothed
than he was. It is surely Maugis."
252 " Let
" Let be," said the others ; " this must be a hundred THE PEERS
years old, it cannot be but that he is a good man.
It were sin to do him harm."
Maugis passed through them and said nothing.
Now was Charlemagne sore an-angered, because he
could not have Richard of Normandy, and he called
his barons to him and complained to them.
" Uncle," said Roland, " I marvel greatly at what
you say, we have showed you counsel, you would
not hear it. I promise you you shall never see
Richard till you make peace with Renaud. Consider
well the great courtesy he showed you, when he had
you at his will in Montauban and let you go free,
and you showed him no mercy therefore. But since
he cannot make peace with you, he will not waste
courtesy but do us as much harm as he can, and he
has prisoner our best knight."
" Nephew, he is not harmed ; Renaud keeps him
in great honour."
" Sire," said Duke Naymes, " if Renaud hath not
slain him he is the kindest man in the world, but I
believe rather that he is dead than otherwise, for
we can have no news of him."
The King began to sigh, and Turpin and Ogier
came and said : " Sire, Duke Naymes says truth,
Renaud has great cause to be angry with you."
Then Charlemagne said : " Go, lords, to Dor-
donne, and tell Renaud on my behalf, that if he will
send me Richard of Normandy, and give Maugis
253 into
RENAUD into my hands he shall have peace with me all the
is WROTH days of his life."
" Sire," said Duke Naymes, " you send us in vain
for Maugis has left him these years past, and if
Renaud would deliver him he could not."
" Go," said the King, " you will at least hear what
he shall say to you and know how Richard doth."
So they went to Dordonne, though they feared
Renaud greatly, bearing each of them a branch of
an olive tree in his hand in token of peace, and
when they came to the gate it was opened for them,
and they came into the town to the palace.
When Renaud knew that they were come, he sat
on his couch with his feet crossed and swore that
he would not ask Charlemagne for anything, for
through him he had lost Montauban and his cousin
Maugis. When Duke Naymes came to him and
had given his message, Renaud made answer:
" Lords, ye be right welcome, as the knights of the
world whom I ought to love best. I marvel me
greatly of Charlemagne ; would God I had him here
as I have Richard of Normandy ; he should leave
his head for a pledge of peace, and I should be
avenged of him. Wherefore go tell your King that
I have not Maugis, and that if I had he should not
have him. Because I have lost my cousin for him,
I shall make to-morrow Richard to be hanged on
the chief gate of the city, in despite of him. More-
over, let no man of Charlemagne come here again,
254 for
for I shall strike off the heads of such as come from THE KING
him to me." DOES NOT
mri ^i 1 t T^, BELIEVE
When the barons saw that Renaud was so angry, THE
they durst no longer tarry there, but took their leave THREAT
and returned to the King, who said : " Lords, ye be
welcome. What tidings bring you? Have you
seen Richard?"
" Sire," said Duke Naymes, " Renaud doth you
to wit that you shall not have Maugis, and for
vengeance that he hath lost him by you he shall
hang to-morrow Richard of Normandy upon the
great gate of the town, and all of your men that he
may take. Yet more he saith, that if he had you in
his hands, if you would not grant him peace you
should leave your head."
Then said Roland : " Sire, we find in Holy Scrip-
ture that God cursed the tree that never bore fruit,
and thus shall it be with you if you will not con-
descend to peace with the four sons of Aymon who
have prayed you so humbly. I swear to you, if
Richard is hung, you shall lose honour and worship
all your life days."
Charlemagne said to his barons : " Lords, you
ween to make me afraid with your words. I swear
to you, if Richard comes to harm, I will hang up
Renaud and every man of his lineage."
Then were Ogier and Turpin in great wrath, and
Duke Naymes said : " Sire, wite well that we be
sore abashed that you threaten us as well as Renaud.
255 I marvel
RENAUD I marvel me not that he is wroth ; and if he hangeth
Richard, what may we do thereto? Wherefore I
counsel all my fellows of the lineage of Renaud
that we go our ways and let you carry on the war
alone."
The other peers said that he gave good counsel,
and Charlemagne bade them withdraw and return
again next day.
In the morning, after he had heard mass, Renaud
called his brethren and said : " It goes full ill with
us that we cannot have peace with Charlemagne,
but, since it is so, I shall anger him full sore, for I
shall hang the Duke Richard of Normandy before
his eyes."
His brethren agreed with him, and, shortly to
tell, the gibbet was set up where Charlemagne could
see it plainly. Wite it that Roland was the first
man to see it, and he cried out : " Sire, now see how
they will hang Duke Richard. He hath well served
you, and now he is full ill rewarded for it. It is a
shrewd example to them that serve you."
" Alas ! " said Oliver, " the gallows is righted up."
" Peace," said Charlemagne, " they do all this but
to prove us ; they dare do him no harm of his
body."
But Oliver, who was watching the town, said :
" Ha, Roland, I see the ladder is set up all ready to
the gibbet."
Renaud called ten of his folk and said to them :
256 " Go
"Go and bring Duke Richard, for he is to be RICHARD
hanged." I
When they came into the chamber of the Duke,
they found him playing at chess with Yonnet, the
son of Renaud, and they said : " Sir Duke, come
forth, for Renaud hath commanded that you shall
be hanged."
Duke Richard looked at them over his shoulder,
but said naught, and bade Yon play, for it was time
to go to dinner. When the sergeants saw that
Richard took no heed of them, they would have
taken him by the arms and said : " Rise up, Duke
Richard, for you will be hanged in despite of
Charlemagne."
Then Richard struck one of them with a queen
he had in his hand, and a second with a rook, and a
third with his fist, so that they fell dead, and the
others fled out of the room in fear. When they had
gone, Richard sat him down and said : " Play well,
child, or you shall be mated. I trow these ribalds
were drunken."
When Yonnet heard him speak thus, he said
nothing, but played, yet he could not save the mate.
Then Richard said to the yeoman there : " Cast
these carles out of the window," and he did his
command straightway.
Now Alard was without, waiting for Richard to
be brought out, and he saw the bodies cast out of
the window, and came to his brother and told him.
257 R Then
RICHARD is Then Renaud came to the tower where Richard
BR ou? HT was > an< ^ sa *^ * ki m * " Lord, why have you slain
my men ? "
"Cousin," said Richard, "hear me, if it please
you. Ten ribalds came right now and laid hands
on me, saying you had commanded them, which
thing I will not believe, so I made them to flee out
in great haste, and some of them I slew. I would
not have acted thus if I had held you as you hold
me, and if I have done amiss, now take ye amends
on me."
"You may say what you will, Richard," said
Renaud, " but if I have not peace this day with
Charlemagne, you shall be hanged."
Then he made him to be taken and bound, and
brought to the place where the gallows were righted,
and said : " Richard, choose one of these two things,
either make me have peace with Charlemagne, or
help me against him. If you will not you shall be
hanged, and if you will take my part against Charle-
magne I will set you free forthwith."
" Renaud, you speak like a child, think you I shall
leave Charlemagne my sovereign lord for fear of
death. But give me a messenger, and I will send
him to Charlemagne and his barons, to wite if he be
disposed to let me die here shamefully."
Then Renaud said to one of his folk : " Go, and do
what Richard of Normandy shall tell you."
" My friend, you will go to Charlemagne and tell
258 him
him on my behalf that I pray him as my sovereign RICHARD
lord, if ever he loved me, to pardon Renaud, and
IT'111 1 r r t
that 1 will take on me to make satisfaction for him
if he hath in anything misdone, as the twelve peers
of France may judge. And if he will not do so, let
him look hither and see me hang shamefully. And
say to Roland and all my fellows, that if ever they
loved me they shall show to Charlemagne how great
a shame it shall be to him to let me die shamefully."
The messenger went straightway to the army of
the King, and found him in his tent, and said to
him all that Duke Richard commanded, then he
turned him about to Roland and the peers, and said :
11 Lords, Duke Richard prayeth you, and Roland
above all, that if ever you loved him, you will pray
Charlemagne to make peace, or he is dead without
mercy."
Then Roland said to the King : " Sire, suffer not
that you be blamed. You know well that Duke
Richard hath ever served you at your need, make
peace with Renaud, for it were great shame to let
him die."
Then Duke Naymes and Ogier said : " If you will
not make peace to recover our fellow Duke Richard
of Normandy, in short time you shall see your land
destroyed before you."
Then Charlemagne swore in great wrath that
Renaud should never have peace till he gave up
Maugis.
259 "Take
THE KING " Take no fear for Richard," said he, " Renaud
SE Evi S L AN wou ld sooner blind himself than hurt him."
ANSWER Then the peers cried out, and Oliver said : " Why
dare not Renaud touch Richard ? I know so much of
him that if he had you there he durst well hang
yourself or all of us."
" Sir Oliver," said the messenger, "I swear to you
that Renaud ceased not all this day to pray Richard
that he would forsake Charlemagne, whereof Duke
Richard would do nothing."
And when he had said this, he said to the King :
"Sire, give me leave to go, if it please you, and tell
me what I shall say to Richard of Normandy from
you."
" Friend," said the King, " tell him to fear naught
for Renaud shall not dare to do him harm."
Then the messenger, who was a wise knight, said :
" Sir Emperor, ye be overproud ; Renaud setteth
little by you, and Alard waiteth well for my coming
again, for he would rather than a hundred thousand
pounds hang Richard."
When the twelve peers saw the messenger go with
an ill answer they were full sorry and much angry.
Then Roland came to the King, and said : " Sire,
I now go out of your service without your leave.
Ogier, what will you do ? Will you come with
me and leave him here, for he is beside himself?"
Ogier said to Roland : " You say truth ; I shall go
gladly with you where you will, since he suffers such
260 a valiant
a valiant man as Duke Richard to die, he would do THE
the same for us, for he hath neither love nor pity in
. J
Then Oliver stood up and said : " Lords, I will
go with you, I have dwelled here too long."
"And I also," said Duke Naymes and Hector.
Bishop Turpin seeing this, sighed and said :
"It is evil to serve you, Charlemagne, for good
service you yield evil reward. If I dwell any longer
with you may God punish me for it."
Charlemagne said : " Lords, fear nothing, Richard
shall have no hurt."
"Sire," said Duke Naymes, " you do great wrong
to say so, but a fool never believes till he feels.
Ween you to make us fools with your words ? We
can see the gallows set up for our friend. A mischief
take me if I dwell with you any longer."
When he had said this he went out, and all the
peers with him, and ordered his tents to be pulled
down straightway, and the host of Charlemagne
were sore afraid when they saw that the twelve peers
had left the army with their forty thousand men.
When the messenger was returned to Dordonne,
Renaud asked him what the King had said.
"Sir," said he, "you have missed having peace.
Charlemagne sends you word by me that you do no
harm to Duke Richard ; " then turning to Richard,
" Sir Duke, now may you know how much Charle-
magne loveth you, for ye gat neither help nor
261 succour
LEAVE
CHARLES
THE KING succour of him, and for love of you Roland and the
GIVES WAY t we i ve peers been an-angered with him and have
pulled down their tents to leave him, and none abide
save Earl Ganelon and his lineage, for their tents
are not touched."
When Renaud heard this he changed his intention
and could not keep him from weeping. He em-
braced his cousin and said : " I pray you pardon me
the great shame I have done you."
" Renaud," said Richard, " I blame you not, the
great pride and cruelty of Charlemagne is cause of
all this."
Then he was unbound and Renaud said : " Let
us lean upon this wall and see what Charlemagne
will do."
Charlemagne the Emperor, seeing all his barons
leave him was sore angry, but in a little while his
wrath went from him and he called a knight and
said : " Now light on horseback and ride after
Roland and the other barons, and tell them to come
and speak with me, for I will pardon Renaud if they
come again to me."
" Sire," said the knight, " God be thanked that
hath brought you to this mind." Then he rode
hastily after the twelve peers of France.
Renaud, who was with Duke Richard at the gate
of Dordonne, saw this and said : " Cousin, I see a
knight come out of the tent of Charlemagne; I ween
we shall have this day peace."
262 " Sir,"
" Sir," said Richard, " you shall have good peace ; THE PEERS
I ought dearly to love my fellows who have saved COME BACK
me from death."
The knight rode till he overtook Roland, and told
him to return, for the King would pardon Renaud
for their love.
Then they returned again and Renaud, who was
watching them, -said : "Cousin, I believe that the
peace is made."
When Charlemagne saw his barons come to him
again, he said : " Lords, ye are of great pride to
make me become peaceable against my will. I hate
Renaud so much for his pride that I may not see
him. I will that he go to the Holy Land, poorly
clothed, on foot, and that he give me his horse
Bayard. Then I shall render to his brothers their
lands and heritages, and else not. Thus look well
which of you shall do this message."
" Sire," said Duke Naymes, "I shall go to Renaud
with a good will ; " and he set out for Dordonne.
When Renaud saw him come he came out to
meet him, and said : " Sir, now have I that I have
desired so long. Naymes, shall I have peace ? "
" Yea, under a condition. You must go poorly
clothed and begging your bread for God's sake to
the Holy Land, and leave Bayard with Charlemagne,
and this done you shall have peace, and your
brethren shall have their heritages."
Then said Renaud : " Naymes, you are right
263 welcome,
RENAUD welcome, I promise you I am ready to do the
AND C GivEs commandment of the King. I will set out to-
UP BAYARD morrow."
He took Bayard from the stable and gave him to
Duke Naymes, and took his banner from him and
set it on the high tower in token of peace, and
when Charlemagne saw it he showed it to Roland
who said : " How meek is Renaud and good of
nature to make peace in this way."
" Roland," said Ogier, " Renaud is a lamb full of
meekness, and in him are all the good conditions a
knight ought to have."
Then came Duke Naymes leading Bayard, and
said : " Sire, Renaud is ready to do all you have
commanded him, and he shall depart to-morrow if
you will."
" And where is Duke Richard ? "
" Sire, he is well in Dordonne and abideth to
convey Renaud on his road."
Renaud made great cheer with his brethren, and
said : "Be not sorry that I go, I have made this
peace more for you than for myself; I pray you
hold well together till I return."
When he had said this he went to his chamber
and put off his good raiment, and clad him in a poor
mantle and great shoes, and took a great staff well
ironed, and came to the hall to the duchess his
wife. But she fell down in a swoon when she saw
him so arrayed, and he ran to take her up and said :
264 " Lady,
WIFE
" Lady, take it not so sore at heart, for I shall soon RENAUD
come again if God will, and my brethren shall abide '*^
with you and serve you as their lady. I am so glad OF HIS
of the peace that inasmuch I am already returned.
Madam, my dear wife, I pray God keep you from
all evils."
And with this he kissed her full sweetly and went
on his way.
The Duchess when she saw he was gone, said :
" Oh, good husband Renaud, whose like is not in the
world, God be with you, for I shall never see you
again."
And when she had said these words she went
into the chamber and took off all her noble raiment
and cast it into a fire, and took on her a poor smock,
saying that she should never wear other clothes till
she saw her lord again.
Richard and his brothers, and his folk went on
the way with Renaud, till he thought they had gone
far enough, then he turned toward them and said :
" Lords, I pray you return home again, for as long
as you are not there, I am not at my ease. Comfort
the Duchess, my brethren, and keep watch over my
children."
Then said Alard : " Dear brother, come again
shortly, for your departure is so heavy that I trow
I shall die for sorrow."
Then they embraced him, and Duke Richard
said : " I promise and swear to you that I shall
265 defend
RICHARD is defend your brethren and your children against all
RESTORED men . ^ ou ^ no f or them, they shall want nothing."
WHEN RENAUD WAS DEPARTED,
Richard and his brothers dressed them nobly and
came to the tent of Charlemagne ; and when he saw
them he was right glad, and sent barons to meet them.
And when they were before the King they kneeled
humbly at his feet and said : " Sire, Renaud our
brother recommendeth him humbly to your good
grace and sendeth to you Richard of Normandy,
whom you see here. He prays him to recommend
us to you, for he has gone over-sea to accomplish
your commandment."
"Friends," said Charlemagne, "ye be right
welcome. Since we be friends I shall bring you to
such honour as pertaineth to knights such as ye are,
and if Renaud comes safe again from his voyage I
shall hold him as dear as my own nephew Roland,
for he is of great worthiness."
When the King had thus spoken with the brothers
of Renaud, he kissed Duke Richard and said : "I
pray you tell me what prison Renaud gave you, and
what food."
" Sire, I had better prison and was more at mine
ease than ever knight was, for I was served of the
same as Renaud and sometimes better."
Charlemagne, when this was done, commanded that
every man should depart for his own country. And
he took his road to the city of Liege. When he
266 was
was on the bridge over the river of Meuse, he made THE KING
Bayard to be brought before him, and said: "Ah, ^J^R S D
Bayard, thou hast often angered me, but now am I FOULLY
come' to the point to avenge me." And when he
had so said, he made a great millstone to be
fastened to the neck of Bayard and cast him from
the bridge into the river, so that he sank to the
bottom of it. And the King rejoiced and said :
" Now have I my desire, for you are dead without
remedy."
When the Frenchmen saw the great cruelty of
Charlemagne, and how he avenged him on a poor
beast, they were ill-content. Bishop Turpin said to
Ogier: "What think you of Charlemagne? He
hath well showed at this time his great felony."
" Sir," said Ogier, " it is true. It was great folly
to slay such a beast."
Oliver said to Roland : " Charlemagne waxeth
foolish." And there was none of the twelve peers
but that wept for Bayard.
Ye ought to know that when Bayard might not
come up for the great stone at his neck, he smote so
hard on the millstone that it brake in two, and
Bayard came again to the water's edge and passed
over at the other side. Then he made a marvellous
high cry, and shook himself, and ran as swiftly as a
tempest into the Forest of Ardennes ; and wite it
for truth that the folk of that country say that he is
still alive in the Forest of Ardennes, but when he
267 seeth
RENAUD seeth man or woman he flees away that no man may
^* E , come near him.
NOW TELLS THE STORY THAT WHEN
Renaud was departed from Dordonne, he went so
far that he came to Constantinople, and there he
lodged with a holy woman, who served him as well
as she could, and told him of another pilgrim she
had who lay there ill. Then Renaud would see him,
and he knew him for his cousin Maugis ; so he began
to speak to him, and said : " Friend, how is it with
you?"
When Maugis heard his voice, he leapt out of bed
as if he had never been ill, and embraced him, and
asked him how he came there in such poor clothes.
Then Renaud told him all as ye have heard, and
the treaty he had with Charlemagne.
Then Maugis was right glad, and said : " Cousin,
I am now made whole by the tidings you have
brought me. We shall go together, and shall not
die of hunger, for I have well learnt how to beg
bread."
Long were it to tell of their journey, but at the
last they came near to the city of Jerusalem, and
were right glad of it. They were astonied to see a
great army about the city, and asked an old man of
the country who they were, and he told them that
the Admiral of Persia had taken the city by surprise
and held the King prisoner in the name of Mahound.
A party of the Persians came by to attack the
268 host,
host, and as they went they rode over a lodge that RENAUD
Renaud and Maugis were making ; so Renaud took SE J| R F u REE
up a beam of his house and fell on them and slew SALEM
many of them, so that the Christians who were
fighting with them remarked how he fought, and
wondered who they were. The leader of the
Christians saw these two pilgrims, and demanded
of them who they were ; and when at the last they
told him, he begged Renaud to take the rule of
them and lead the attack. So Renaud agreed, and
he and Maugis armed them to fight for the rescue
of the Holy Sepulchre. Shortly to tell, they did so
well that they entered the town with their friends
next day, and to save his life the Persian Admiral
gave up the city, and went to Jaffa with his army to
return to his own land.
When Renaud and Maugis had worshipped before
the Holy Sepulchre, King Thomas whom they had
rescued, and his barons, made them great cheer for
many days, and gave them great gifts, but Maugis
would take nothing, nor change his dress. Then he
led them in great honour to the port of Jaffa and
gave them a great ship, and put them on board of it,
and took leave of them honourably. Wite it, that
by fortune of the wind they were eight months with-
out coming to land, but at the last they came on
shore at a town named Palermo.
The King of that land was at the windows of his
palace, and said to his lords : " I see a ship setting
269 her
RENAUD her goods on land, there must be some great man in
M ADM?RAL it for the horses that they are taking out. Let us
AGAIN go and see."
When he was come down to the port he knew
Renaud, and was right glad, and they embraced
each other. Then said the King : " You are right
welcome, for the Admiral of Persia is come into my
land and wasteth it, and but yesterday he drove me
out of the field."
" Sire," said Renaud, " I shall help you with all
my power, and if the Admiral come to-morrow doubt
not that I shall do my best."
When the battle was come Renaud and Maugis
put themselves in the front, and did great damage
to the Saracens, so that the Admiral saw them and
would come out to do battle with them. As he
came near he heard their cry, " Montauban ! " and
knew them to be the same as had defeated him at
Jerusalem.
Then all trembling with fear he said to his
nephew : " We were wrong to come here to make
war on King Simon ; I left these knights at
Jerusalem and now they are here. I would I were
in my ship in the middle of the sea."
Then he ordered his men to retire, and he turned
bridle and fled to his ship, and Renaud and the folk
that were with him followed after them and slew
many of them.
After these things the King returned to the city
270 and
and shared out the spoil, and feasted Renaud honour- RENAUD
ably for the space of four days.
Then Renaud would depart, and asked leave of
the King, and took ship and never ceased till he
came to Rome. Here he took land and went and
confessed him to the Pope, and then returned to
their ship and took their way to France, and at the
last came to Dordonne, and when his brethren heard
it they came out to meet him in great joy.
Renaud looked on Alard and saw his visage
pale, and said : " Brother, how are my wife and
children, for I do not see them ? "
" Have no doubt for them," said Alard, "they are
well at Montauban, and we have repaired again the
town, and fortified the castle with victual."
Then came Maugis, and said : " Sire, learn what
Alard dare not say : my lady, your wife, is deceased
out of this world. Ever since you departed she
ceased not to weep, and so long she sorrowed that
she died at last."
When Renaud heard this he swooned to the earth
for sorrow, and after, he said : " Ha, Charlemagne,
well may I hate you, for by you I have lost my
wife."
Then he came to the church and saw the tomb of
his wife, and wept, saying : "What a pilgrim I am !
There is none in the world so unhappy as I. I
have lost all my joy and comfort since I have lost
the fairest lady in the world, and the best ! "
271 As
HIS SONS As he was saying these words his children came
GROWN an d kneeled before him, and he embraced them and
said : " My fair children, see that ye be good men,
for I fear me that ye shall lose me soon."
Then he began to make more sorrow than before,
and the town was in mourning for ten days.
After this it fell that Renaud must needs pass to
Montauban, and Maugis went with him, and all on
foot to do honour to Maugis. And they of Mont-
auban made great joy of the coming of their lord, so
needs must Renaud put force on him to hide his
grief. When he was in his castle he looked down
from the window and saw it was as well peopled as
ever, and was right glad of it.
The next day Maugis took leave of Renaud and
his brethren, and departed for his hermitage. There
he lived alone on roots and herbs for seven years,
and died in the eighth about Easter. About this
time too died the old Duke Aymon, and Renaud
parted his goods among his brethren, and they
married richly and nobly. He lived at Montauban
with his sons, and taught them all knightly manners,
and when they were grown he sent them to Charle-
magne to be made knights.
When they were come to Paris the King received
them kindly, but the two sons of Fulkes de Morillon
sought to quarrel with them, and the lineage of
Ganelon backed them up. At the last it was so
commanded that they should fight in the parvis of
272 Notre
Notre Dame, and the two sons of Renaud bare them RENAUD
right nobly, and slew their enemies. LEAVES
And when Renaud saw how his children were WORLD
worthily grown up he called them to him, and said :
" I wish that Yonnet should have Dordonne, and
Aymonet Montauban. I fear me I have offended
God greatly, and meseemeth that the time is come
to amend myself."
Then his brethren wept, for they feared what he
should do, but he went to his chamber and remained
there all night. When the morning was come he
rose and put a coat of russet on him, and a staff in
his hand, and came to the gate of the town and bade
open it.
Then said the porter : "Sir, whither do you go
at this hour? I will wake your brothers, for you
are in great danger of thieves."
" Friend," said Renaud, " wake them not : my
trust is in God. Tell my brethren when thou seest
them to-morrow that I greet them well, let them
think always to do well, and love each other as they
ought to do, for they shall never see me more.
Through me has many a man died, and I feel my
soul sore grieved."
Then he took the ring off his finger and gave it to
the porter, who thanked him and said: "Ah, lord,
you put all your country in great sorrow for your
departure."
Then he stood at the gate and watched him till he
273 s might
RENAUD might see him no longer. When it was full day he
COLOGNE went to fi 11 ^ tne brothers of Renaud, and told them
what he had been commanded, and they all grieved
sore for the love of Renaud, praying our Lord to be
with him, and to comfort his brethren.
WHEN RENAUD DEPARTED FROM
Montauban he took his way through the woods, and
found naught to eat but wild apples and medlars,
and when night was come he laid him down under
a tree and slept till it was day. So he went on
through the woods for eight days, till he came to a
house of religion where the monks would have given
him meat, but he took nothing but bread and water.
The next day he departed, and at the last he came
to Cologne on the Rhine, where he found the Church
of St. Peter, a building where there were many
masons. And when he saw this he went in and
kneeled by the high altar, and prayed to our Lord
with great devotion.
When he had made his prayer he looked upon
the place and the workmen that wrought there, and
said to himself that it was better to serve the masons
on this work than to walk still in the forest among
the wild beasts.
Then he went to the master mason and said :
" Master, I am a stranger and have no goods of this
world whereby I may live : if it please you I shall
serve the masons of such things as them needeth for
their work."
274 " Friend,"
rUK
THE
MASONS
" Friend," said the master, "you seem not to be RENAUD
issued out of a poor house, you are more like a king
t T 1 i i
than a mason. 1 dare not put you to work, notwith-
standing you be so poorly arrayed."
" Master, care not therefor, for I shall serve you
truly after my power."
" My friend, since it pleaseth you, it pleaseth
me right well. Go help these four that you see
there, that may not bear the stone, for they be but
knaves."
" Master," said Renaud, " be not angry with the
poor folk ; I will go and fetch it at once."
Then Renaud cast his mantle from him and came
to the four men that held the stone, and said :
" Lords, an it please you, go fetch another stone,
and I shall bear this."
" Friend," said they, " you say well, if you can do
as well we will let you."
Then Renaud took up the stone and charged it on
his neck, and bare it unto the wall where it should
be set.
The other labourers were abashed, and said :
" We shall earn but little as long as this man is
with us."
But the master mason was glad, and when Renaud
had brought the stone where as it should be set,
the master said to him : " Friend, put not the stone
down yet."
So Renaud held the stone in his arms till the
275 master
RENAUD master made the place ready, and then he laid it
ONE E down. Afterwards the master commanded him to
PENNY fetch mortar, and Renaud came down and laded of
the mortar more than ten men could carry, and bare
it to the master mason, and said : " Master, I shall
serve you well of everything. Work as fast as you
can, I shall bring you more stones and mortar myself
than can occupy you."
Then he went down again and brought up a great
heap of stones, and said : " Fair masters, think to
work well, for when these stones are laid and the
mortar used, I shall bring you more."
When it came at even that the labourers should
leave work: and receive their money, the master mason
set him down to pay the labourers, which took five
pence a day. Then the master called Renaud, and
said : " Come hither, my friend, take here what it
please you, for you have served better than any
of the other."
Then Renaud came forward and sore against his
will took a penny.
When the master saw that he said : "You shall
have twenty more, or else my conscience should be
charged with your labour, and if you will work, you
shall have as much every day, for there was never
so good a labourer."
" Master, "said Renaud, "if you will that I work any
more, give me a penny to buy bread to sustain myself,
for this I do for the love of God and none other."
276 Then
Then Renaud took leave of the master mason, THE
and went to the town and bought bread and so had OTHERS
, . . , Oj , .. - CONSPIRE
no more to his supper but bread and a little water TO SLAY
and went and laid him on a little straw. When the HIM
day was come he rose and went to his work and
found no one there, so he went to the church to
pray. While he was within the masons came, and
when they were on the walls they asked if the strong
man were come. So Renaud came out and fetched
up stones and mortar for them all that day, and
thus he lived for many days, serving the masons as
it is said for the love of God.
He did so truly his duty that the other labourers
had great envy of him, for they saw that they were
all set aside for the great service that he did the
masons, so they said to one another: "We be
defamed by this great knave that doth so much
labour ; we shall never get anything as long as he
is here, for he serveth all the masons with all they
have need of, and we be left alone."
Then said one : "If you will believe me, we shall
slay him."
" How say ye that," said another, "it is impossible;
he is so strong that if we set upon him he will kill
us."
" Friend," said he, " see you yonder vault by the
great house ? Wite it that that great knave sleepeth
there every night when we go home. Let us go
there this night when he is asleep, and take each of
277 us
RENAUD us a pickaxe or a hammer, and dash the brains out
is SLAIN hjg hea^ and when we have slain him we shall put
him into a great sack and cast him into the river,
and thus there shall be no more heard of him."
Then they agreed to what this traitor said, and
they did as they purposed sooner than they weened
to have done.
At noon, when the masons left work and went to
their dinner, Renaud went and rested himself under
the vault, and when the traitors saw that, there
came to him the first that had spoken the treason
and smote him with a great mason's hammer deep
into the brain.
When Renaud felt the stroke that had been given
him, he set his arms in form of a cross upon his
breast and said : " Lord Jesus Christ have mercy
on my soul, and pardon them that have brought
me to this death." And when he had said these
words, his soul departed.
Then these traitors put him in a great sack and
laded the cart with his body and carried him to
the Rhine wherein they cast him. When they had
done so they laded the cart with stones, and brought
them to the church as they were wont to do.
As they were by the way they met the master
mason that said : " Gallants, you begin to mend,
you have done much work since dinner."
" Master," said they, "do not praise us, but go
to your purse and give us some drinking money."
278 Then
Then they began to say: "Where is that great A FAIR
lurden gone that he will not help us, we hold him
i i /
gone to seek his wife.
When the master heard that he was not there, he
said : " I believe that ye have chased him away ; if
I wite that ye have done so, ye were better at
Jerusalem."
" Master/' said they, " you may say what you
will, but we did never say word to displease him."
Now when the noble Renaud was cast into the
Rhine, Our Lord showed for him a fair miracle.
For all the fish of the river gathered them about
the corpse, and bore him above the river so that he
appeared to every man's sight, and when night was
come, there was so great light about the corpse that
all they that saw it weened the river was afire.
WHEN ALL THE FOLK OF THE CITY
saw this fair miracle they ran thither, and the Arch-
bishop of St. Peter went with his college in a pro-
cession, singing with great devotion, and tarried on
the bank of the Rhine.
" Lords," said the Archbishop, " I shall tell you
my advice. This is the body of some saint that
Our Lord will have honour done to that is come
here from somewhere. God wills not that it be
lost in the water, see ye not how the fishes hold
it up."
Then the bishop commanded that men should
go in boats and see what it was, and straightway
279 they
THE CART they knew him for the great man that was one of
T 5* the labourers for the masons at the Church of St.
Peter.
Then the master mason went to his labourers
and said : " False traitors ! ye have slain the good
man ; confess the truth and deny it not."
And they confessed it and begged to be punished,
but the Archbishop bade them do penance all their
lives and sin no more.
Then was the body brought to hand, and put on
a cart to bear it to the church, and the Archbishop
sang the mass with great devotion, and after he
commanded four lords who were there to take up
the body and bear it, but they could not move it,
and they marvelled and said : "We be not worthy
to move this holy corpse, for we are sinners and
unshriven."
While they thus spake, the body rose up and was
borne to the cart, which moved by the power of
God, no man aiding, and went straight out of the
city and passed before the tomb they had made
ready for it. Then said the Bishop : " We may well
see that this is a holy corpse by this great miracle
that God doth show before us all. Let us go after
and do him honour, for it were not well to let him
go thus alone."
So all the clergy and all the common people, little
and great, that might go, followed the holy body,
and in the city of Cologne abode neither man nor
280 woman.
woman. At the last the cart came to a little town AND STAYS
called Croine, and there it abode still, and God
showed many miracles by him, so that folk came
from France and Germany to it, and their offerings
built a royal church and great. Now the Archbishop
of Cologne and his clergy came to the corpse and
uncovered its face that everybody should see him if
haply any man or woman might name him.
NOW ON A DAY THE BRETHREN OF
Renaud were on a mountain, sorry because they
could get no tidings of their brother Renaud, and
there came a pilgrim that saluted the barons.
"Pilgrim," said Alard, "if you know any news,
tell it us, I pray thee."
Then the pilgrim told them that he came from
Croine, and of the miracles done there by a certain
man who was a giant, and who had wrought at the
Church for the love of God, and had been traitorously
slain there ; moreover, he told them of the manner
of his work, and of his death, and of the miracles
shown.
Then the brothers began to weep, for they knew
within themselves that it was Renaud, and they
made them ready, and came to Croine after many
days. So they lighted before the church and found
there a great press of folk, but at the last they
might come in and see the holy corpse on a bier
uncovered. Then went they as nigh him as they
could for to look him in the face, and they knew
281 T him
HIS him to be their brother, and they fell all down in a
Fi R j?o THE* swoon to tne earth.
'BODY When the Archbishop saw that, he said : " Sirs, I
believe we shall soon know that we have desired so
long, for I ween that these lords know well this
holy corpse."
Then said Alard: "Alas ! what shall we do ? Poor
are we of honour and weal since we have lost the
brother by whom we were so sore dreaded. Alas !
who hath laid hands on you ? for he could not have
known your goodness. We ought well to be sorry,
since we have lost our hope, our trust, our comfort.
Aii, brother Renaud, why had you ever the heart to
abandon us as you did, seeing that you loved us so
much ? "
When the brethren had wept a long time they
came and kissed the corpse on the mouth, one
after the other, and he should have had a hard
heart who had not wept with the three sons of
Aymon.
Then the Archbishop came to them and said :
" Lords, be not displeased for what I shall say to
you. Ye do not well to make so great sorrow, but
rather you should make great joy and be glad for
your brother, who is a saint in heaven and hath
suffered martyrdom in its service ; and you see now
before your eyes the great miracles that he doth.
Now tell us, I pray thee, what ye be, and how is
this holy body named, and what his name was when
282 he
he lived in this world, to the extent that it may be RENAUD
written above his tomb."
Then said Alard : " Lord, since it pleases you to
know, wite you that this corpse was called Renaud
of Montauban, and we three that be here are his
brethren. Well I wot that ye have heard of the
four sons of Aymon, with whom Charlemagne
warred so long."
When the people heard that they were the four
sons of Aymon, and that the holy corpse was the
good Renaud of Montauban, they began all to weep
for pity and for joy, because they saw the noblest
and worthiest knight of the world dead in the
service of the Lord doing penance. Then the
brothers laid Renaud in his tomb that was right
rich, where the holy corpse resteth to this day, and
every year is kept for him great solemnity and
feast.
HERE AT THIS TIME ENDS THE HIS-
TORY OF RENAUD OF MONTAUBAN,
TRANSLATED BY WILLIAM CAXTON
AND NOW NEWLY TRANSLATED AND
ABRIDGED BY ME, ROBERT STEELE,
AND PRINTED BY BALLANTYNE, HAN-
SON & CO. FOR GEORGE ALLEN. LON-
DON. MDCCCXCVII.
Los Angeles
This book is DUE on the last date stamped below.
HFDIIHBB
b-"*
3 1970
2980
Form L9 15m-10,'48(B1039)444
ANGEL
iiiiliiiiii on 1 1 D
L 005 838 306 8
