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
 
 ' sr 
 
 N 
 
 cr 
 
 O 
 
 I 
 
 </> 
 
 O 
 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