Otuel a kniõt
f. 268ra
[miniature]
Erkneþ boþe õinge & olde·
þat willen heren of batail
les bolde · And õe wolle a
while duelle· Of bolde ba
tailles ich wole õou telle·
þat was sumtime bitwene
Cristine men and saraõins kene·
¶ Þere was sumtime a king in france·
A douõty man wiþ spere and launce·
And made saraõins ful tame·
King charles was his name·
And was born in seint denys·
Nouõt bote a litel fram parys·
And was a wol treu kniõt·
And meintenede cristendom ariõt·
In his time a king þer was·
An heþene þat vncristned was·
Þat was king of lumbardie·
And was yhoten king garsie·
Marsile was his al so·
And manie oþer londes mo·
A swiþe gret lord he was·
In his time non suych þer nas·
On ihesu crist ne leuede he nouõt·
Þat him hadde so dere a bouõt·
He leuede al in maumettrie·
And for sok god & seinte marie·
In alle londes þere he wente·
He slouõ al þat euere he hente·
Þat wolde on ihesu crist bileue·
And tok þe lond to his byheue·
Niõt and day it was his þout·
To bringe cristendom to nout·
¶ In heþenesse þer was no king·
Þat ne hel of him sum þing·
f. 268rb
Or dude him omage or feute·
Suich a miõty king was he·
Alle þei scholden to him bouwe·
He was lord of londes ynowe·
And õit he þouõte wit maistrie·
Habben al cristendom to gye·
Al cristendom more & lasse·
He þouõte to make heþennesse·
¶ Whan he hauen a parlement·
Þere com to his comaundement·
To helpen hym wit alle þinges·
Fiftene heþene kinges·
And alle þei were togidere sworn·
Þat cristendom scholde be lorn·
And maden alle here ordenaunce·
To werren uppon þe king of france·
For þei herden alle tidinges·
Þat he was chef of cristene gynges·
And þe king wiste it wel·
Nou schulle õe here hou it bifel·
¶ Hit was on childermasse day·
Soþ to segge wiþ outen nay·
Þat king charles of sein denys·
Wente him to ward parys·
Hise duzze peres wit him he nam·
And muche poeple to him kam·
And token alle here consail þare·
Þat þei wolden wiþ alle fare·
Into Marsile riden and gon·
And werren þere wiþ godes foon·
And hadden set a certein day·
To wenden þider wiþ outen delay·
Bote ar þei þiderward forden·
Suiche tydinges þei herden·
Of a sazasin douõti and good·
Þat amoeuede al here blod·
¶ Þere com a saraõin ful of rage·
Fram king garsie in message·
Into paris þe wei he nam·
And to þe kinges paleis he kam·
Otuwel his name was·
Of noman a fered he nas·
Into þe paleis þo he cam·
f. 268va
Into þe paleis þo he cam·
A skwier be þe hod he nam·
And seide ich am comen her·
Kyng garsies messager·
To speke wiþ charles king of þis lond·
And wiþ a kniõt þat heet Roulond·
And anoþer hatte oliuer·
Kniõtes holden wiþouten peer·
Þose þre ich biseche ye·
Þat þou telle me whiche þei be·
¶ Þe skwier þouõte wel by siõt·
Þat otuwel was a douõti kniõt·
And for he was in message come·
Bi þe hond he haueþ him nome·
And ladde him in to þe halle·
Among þe grete lordes alle·
And þere þei stoden oppon her feet·
He schewede him where þe king seet·
And tauõtehim hou he scholde knowe·
Þere þei seten oppon a rowe·
Roulond and olyuer·
And ye gode kniõt ogger·
¶ Anon as otuwel hadde a siõt·
Of charles þat was king & kniõt·
For eye of noman he ne leet·
Bote wente to him þere he seet·
Hit was þe boldeste saraõin·
Þat euere þorte drinke win·
And þat was sene wiþ oute lesing·
Þo he spak wiþ charles þe king·
He seide to him amydde his halle·
Sire king foule mote þe falle·
Þou art aboute for to greue·
Mahoun þat we onne byleue·
Þere fore haue þou maugre
So þe greteþ garsie bi me·
Þat me haueþ in message sent·
To seggen his comaundement·
And þou Roulond þat art his kniõt·
Nou ich knowe þe be siõt·
May ich mete þe in þe feeld·
Wiþ þi spere and wiþ þi scheld·
Ich wole wyte so mote ich þe·
Riõt bytwene me and te·
f. 268vb
[8 lost lines, which include a paragraph sign at the beginning of the seventh line, due to cut miniature]
Þat þou makest offe þis bost·
Tel me nou õef þou wost·
Quaþ otuwel so mote ich þe·
I nelle nouõt hele for eie of þe·
It was oppon a weddenesdai·
In aueril be fore þe may·
King garsie þe weie nam·
To þe Cite of rome he cam·
Twenti þousende was þe sawe·
Þat were þare of saraõin lawe·
Corsouse m harde fel·
And bot þere freinche flechs fol wel·
¶ Escuõt of leggers a freinshe kniõt·
He sterte op a non riõt·
And kypte a non in his hond·
A gret muche fir brond·
And to otuwel a strok hadde ment·
And Roulond by nam him þe dent·
¶ Þanne seide charles þe king·
Ich for bede oppon alle þing·
Þat noman be so wood·
For to don hym oþer þan good·
A kinges messager for he is·
He ne schal habbe non harm iwis·
¶ Sire king quaþ otuwel be mi blod·
And ani of hem be so wod·
To drawe to me swerd or knif·
Certes be schal lesen his lyf·
¶ Þe kinges kniõtes hadden tene·
Of otuwel wordes kene·
Wiþ þat word anon riõt·
Op starte a freinsche kniõt·
Bi hinden otuwel he cam·
And be þe hod otuwel nam·
And braid wiþ so gret miõt·
And braid adon þat heþene kniõt·
f. 269ra
And anon out wiþ a knif·
And wolde haue reued him his lyf·
And þat saraõin otuwel
Was i armed swiþe wel·
Þat he ne dede him nouõt bote good·
Ne drouõ of his bodi no blood·
¶ He starte op and was wroþ·
To ligge longe him was loþ·
And Corsouze his brond he drouõ·
And þe kinges kniõt he slouõ·
And amang hem alle he stood·
And lokede as he were wood·
Þe kinges kniõtes were a gramed·
And summe of hem were a sschamed·
Þat otuwel in þe halle·
Slouõ a kniõt among hem alle·
And bi gunnen op to stonden·
And þouõte to leggen on him honden·
¶ Otuwel þer of was war·
And in his herte it him bar·
Þat þei nere aboute no good·
And seide to hem þere he stod·
Bi þe louerd fire mahoun·
Kniõtes i rede õe sitten adoun·
For õef ani of õou so hardi be·
Þat any strok munteþ to me·
Mahoun mi god ich here for sake·
Õef he sschal euere ordres take·
Of ani oþer bisschops hond
Bot of Corsouze mi gode brond·
¶ Þei be helden otuwel alle
Kniõtes and skwieres in þe halle·
Þer nas non þat þere stood·
Þat ne wende otuel were wod·
And euere he held his swerd ydrawe·
And õaf nouõt of hem alle an hawe·
¶ King charles stood vpriõt·
And comaundede a non riõt·
Þat noman sscholde be so wod·
To do þe messager nouõt bote good·
¶ Kniõtes and sweines in þe halle·
Were wol glad þer of alle·
Þat þe king so bad·
For mani of hem was sore adrad·
f. 269rb
And þei wiþ drowen hem echone·
And euere stod otuwel alone·
And bi held hem as þei õete·
Õef ani him wolde strok dede·
¶ Þanne seide charles þe king·
Bi god þat made alle þing·
Sarasin nere þou messager·
Wroþer hele come þou her·
I rede þou õeld op þi brond·
And taket out of þin hond·
¶ Quaþ otuwel þat saraõin·
Bi mahoun þat is louerd myn·
I nelle take it out of min hond·
To noman of al þi lond·
Þat is þer inne geten & bore·
Þat wind þou hauest ilore·
¶ Sarasin quaþ roulond·
Tak me þi swerd in myn hond·
And iche wole saue þe bi mi blod·
Sschal noman do þe nouõt bote good·
And whan þou art redi to fare·
Forsoþe þi swerd sschal be õare·
¶ Quaþ otuwel þe saraõin·
Bi mahoun þat is louerd min·
Þauõ ich hadde skwieres twelue·
Ich wole bere myn swerd mi selue·
Holte o roum ich wolde rede·
And þanne dostou a god dede·
¶ Saraõin quaþ charles þe king·
Let ben al þi þretning·
Tel me nou alle and some·
In what message artou come·
Otuwel þat noble kniõt·
Answerede a non riõt·
Hider me sente king garsie·
Spaine is his an · lumbardie·
And manye londes name couþe·
Þat ine mai nouõt nemne wiþ mouþe·
Bi me he sente þe to segge·
Þou sscholdest cristendom a legge·
And maken þine men in eche toun·
For to leuen on sire mahoun·
And þou and alle þine barons bolde·
Of him õe sschulle õoure londes holde·
f. 269va
Þanne miõtou amenden õif þou wilt·
Þat þou hauest mahoun agult·
And certes bote it so bifalle·
Garsie wele õiue þine londes alle·
To olecent of esclauenye·
Þe kinges sone of Ermenie·
Þat haueþ his ·o· douõter to wif·
Þat he loueþ as his lif·
Þous sschal al þi murþe a doun·
Bote þou leue on sire mahoun·
¶ Þe duzze pieres answerede þo·
Certes while we moun ride & go·
Fraunce sschal he neuere õiue·
To noman while we moun liue·
Sire king his wille nou þou wost·
Let asemblen al þin ost·
And let vs oppon garsie wenden·
Alle hise londes for to sschenden·
Of wordes þat he haueþ ispeke·
For soþe we reden þou be a wreke·
¶ Certes sire king quaþ otuwel·
Þine freinsche kniõtes kune õelpe wel·
And whan þei beþ to werre ibrouõt·
Þanne be þei riõt nouõt·
¶ Þauõ þou bringe wiþ sscheld & spere·
Al þat euere may wepene bere·
To werren vpon ing garsie·
Certes alle þei sscholden deie·
And þou art king and old kniõt·
And hauest iloren al þi miõt·
And in þi õinkþe tak god hede·
Þou nere neuere douõti of dede·
¶ Þo was þe king a gramed·
And alle hise duzze peres a sschamed·
Þat otuwet þat heþene kniõt·
Tolde of hem alle so liõt·
¶ Roulond bi þe king stood·
And ameuede al his blod·
And seide in wraþþe a non riõt·
To otuwel þat heþene kniõt·
To werren on garsie õef we fare·
In bataille and i mete þe þare·
And imay mete þe ariõt·
Bi ihesu þat is ful of miõt·
f. 269vb
Þou ne sschalt neuere after þat day
Despice freinchs man õef ich may·
¶ Ouõ quaþ otuwel and louõ·
Wherto makestou it so touõ·
To þrete me in anoþer lond·
Nam ich here at þin hond·
Õef þou hauest wille to fiõte·
Whan euere þou wolt let þe diõte·
And þou sschalt finde me redi diõt·
In þe feld to bide fiõt·
¶ Bi god quaþ roulond ich wolde be õare·
Whan ich wiste to finde þe þare·
And euele mote he þriue & þe·
Þat ferst failleþ of me and te·
¶ Õe leue õa quaþ otuwel þo·
Wheþer so failleþ of us two·
Ich wole finde mahoun to borwe·
Ich wile be redi erliche to morwe·
¶ Quaþ roulond þar he stod on grounde·
Selpe me gode feere ifounde·
Riõt before þe kinges Eien·
Þat alle þe kinges kniõtes seien·
Eiþer oþer his trewþe pliõte·
Vppon morwen for to fiõte·
¶ King charles stod al stille·
And biheld his gode wille·
And seide it is harm iwis·
Þat þou nost what follaut is·
Õef þou woldes follant take·
And þine false godes for sake· Iche wolle make þe
And tou wille bleue wiþ me· so mote ihc þe·
A riche man in mi lond·
Þat ich wille sikere þe on hond·
¶ Otuwel þat hardi kniõt·
Answerede a non riõt·
Cristes cors vppon his heued·
Þat me radde such a red·
To forsake mi god mahun·
I nelle nouõt leue þi false sarmon·
¶ Þauõ otuwel speke outrage·
For he was comen on message·
King charles þat was heende and god·
Nolde soffre him habbe nouõt bote god·
Bote seide to him a non riõt·
Be þou skwier be þou kniõt·
f. 270ra
Tel me õef þi conseil is nome·
Of what linage þou art come·
¶ Otuwel answerede þis·
A kinges sone ich am iwis·
Soþ to segge & nouõt to lye·
Ich am þe kinges cosin garsie·
Fernagu myn eem was·
Þat neuere ouer comen nas·
Sr roulond þi cosin him slouõ·
Þere fore ich desire so moche·
To fiõte wiþ roulond sikerliche·
Ich wille to morewen in þe day·
Awreken his deþ õef ich may·
Nou he haueþ iseid his sawe·
Þat he ne mai him nouõt wiþ drawe·
Þat we schule boþe fiõten ifeere·
Nou ich wille þat þou it here·
Min Emes deþ ich a wreke·
Or myn herte sschal to breke·
¶ King charle gan to meuen his blod·
Bot naþeles he was hende & good·
And nolde for hise wordes heõe·
Don otuel no vileinie·
Bote comaundede a non a swein·
Gon fechen him his chaumberlein·
A õing kniõt ant nouõt old·
Þat was wel norssched and bold·
And seide to him sire Reiner·
Tak here þis messeger·
And to his in saueliche him lede·
Þat for no word ne for no dede·
Þat he haueþ don and seid·
Þat non hond he on him leid·
And loke þat he be wel idiõt·
And onoured als a kniõt·
¶ Þe chamberlein a non dede·
Als þe king him hadde ibede·
And ladde him hom to his in·
And whan he was icomen in·
He tok his leue þe chamberlein·
And wente to þe king aõein·
Littel slep þe king þat niõt·
For ferd of roulant þat gode kniõt·
f. 270rb
Of þe bataille he hadde inome·
Leste he were ouer come·
For þe king hadde sein fol wel·
Þe kuntenaunse of otuel·
Þe king wiste wel a fin·
Hit was a bold saraõin·
For he sauõhit wel bysiõt·
Þo he sauõ him slen his kniõt·
¶ On morwe þo þe dai sprong·
And þe larke bi gan hire song·
King charles wente to cherche·
Godes werkes for to werche·
Roulond his cosin wiþ him õede·
Of godes help þat hadde nede·
Þei wenten a non to here masse.
For here sinnen sscholde be þe lasse·
¶ Þo þe masse was iseid·
And þe uestement doun ileid·
Þe king and roulond ifere·
Wente forþ as õe moun here·
Riõt to þe paleis õate·
And founde houinge þer ate·
Otuel armed and idiõt·
Al redi to bide fiõt·
Þo seide þat saraõin·
Sire king where is þi cosin·
Roulond þat his truþe pliõte·
Þat he wolde wiþ me fiõte·
He was þo fol heie of mod·
Is he non ilete blod·
¶ Roulond stod al and herde·
Hou otuel toward him ferde·
Answerede a non riõt·
By ihesu þat is fol of miõt·
Þin heued sschal fele vnder þin hood·
Þat i nam nouõt laten blood·
¶ Welcome be þou quaþ otuwel þo·
And turnde his stede and made him go·
And to þe place þo rod he·
Þere þe bataille sscholde be·
Al aboute þe water ran·
Þer nas noþer man ne wimman·
Þat miõte in riden no gon·
At no stede bote at on·
f. 270va
And þere otuwel in rood·
No lengere he ne abood·
¶ Roulond þat douõti kniõt·
Was fol hasteliche idiõt·
And his stede he bi strod·
And no lengere he ne abood·
Er þe dai idon it were·
Þer þei sschollen fiõten ifere·
¶ Anon als roulond be heeld·
Otuwel houede in þe feel·
Roulond was so egre to fiõte·
Þat for al þe world be he miõte·
Abide to riden in at þe õate·
Þere otuwel rod in ate·
He þoute þe nekste weie to ride·
And no lengere he nolde a bide·
He smot his stede wiþ speres briõte·
And wiþ help of godes miõte·
Ouer þe water þe stede swam·
And to londe saf he cam·
¶ Anon riõt als roulond·
Hadde ikauõt þe druye lond·
Gret enuþe was hom be twene·
Þei riden togidere wiþ speres kene·
Þat were steue and nouõt longe·
And þe kniõtes were boþe stronge·
And smyten eiþer in oþeres sscheld·
Þat boþe hors fellen in þe feld
And risen aõein op fram þe grounde·
And boþe kniõtes were hole & sounde·
¶ Þo þe stedes were risen boþe·
Þe kniõtes woxen boþe fol wroþe·
And drowen swerdes ate laste·
And eiþer huõ on oþer faste·
Roulond to otuwel smot·
A strok þat fol sore bot·
He wolde haue smiten otuwel·
And he blenkte swiþe wel·
And roulond smot þe stede broun·
And clef þe heued al adoun·
And þe stede fel to grounde·
Bote otuwel was hol & sounde·
¶ Roulond was hende & good of wille·
And houede oppon his stede stille·
f. 270vb
To smiten made he semblant non·
Er otuwel was risen and gon·
¶ Roulond quaþ otuwel what sas þe·
Art tou blynd miõtou nouõt se·
Wil ich oppon mi stede sat·
It hadde be more honour to þe·
Forsoþe to habbe ismite me·
¶ Ouõ quaþ roulond blame me nouõt·
Bisengeme ihc habbe isouõt·
Otuwel ich habbe yment·
Þat þou sscholdest haue ifeled þat dent·
Ich hadde wel leuere so mote ich þe·
Otuwel habbe õouen it þe·
¶ Otuwel was wroþ his stede was slawe·
And wiþ his swerd he bar idrawe·
He smot to roulond wiþ good wille·
Þat ouede oppon his stede stille·
Þat he hadde roulond ment·
And he failede of his dent·
And smot roulondes gode stede·
Þat neuere eft on erþe hene õede·
¶ Otuwel þoute on errore deede·
Þo he hadde slawe his stede·
Hou roulond houede stille as ston·
Til he was risen and gon·
And he stod al stille·
And leet Roulond risen at wille·
And seide roulond so mote ich þe·
Þat strok ich mente to þe·
And nou it is on þi stede istunt·
Let nou stonde dunt for dunt·
¶ Þo þei sien non oþer bote·
Þei wenten togidere al onfote·
And strokes õeden bi twene ham so kene·
Þat þe fer sprong out bi twene·
¶ King charles wiþ hise kniõtes bolde·
Was come þe bataille to bi holde·
And bi souõte god fol of miõt·
He sscholde saue roulond his kniõt·
¶ Boþe kniõtes were gode & stronge·
And fouõten togidere swiþe longe·
Roulond was a hende kniõt·
And feled þat otuwel smot ariõt·
f. 271ra
And þat miõt was in his arm·
And þoute to sauen him fram harm·
And seide otuwel let þi fiõt·
And leue on ihesu ful of miõt·
And ich wele ben at acent·
Þat þou sschalt wedde belecent·
Þe kinges douõter mi nese þat is·
I rede otuwel þat þou do þis·
¶ Quaþ otuwel to roulond·
Whil my swerd is in min hond·
Al þi preching is for nouõt·
Hit ne cam neuere in my þout·
Me ne stant nouõt of þe swich awe·
Þat þou sschalt make me reneie mi lawe·
For to wedde belecent·
So nis nou3t mi wille iwent·
¶ Þo þei ne miõte nouõt acente·
Aõein to bataille þei wente·
And fouõten harde togidere beie·
Neueron of oþer ne stod eie·
¶ Roulond bigan to meuen his blood·
Þat otuwel so longe stood·
And for tene vp wiþ þe brond·
Þat he bar in his hond·
And in þe heued he þoute to redde·
Otuwel bote nouõt hene spedde·
Otuwel starte o side·
And lette þe swerd bi him glide·
And roulond wiþ þe swerdes ende·
Reiõte otuwel oppon þe lende·
Als he wolde þe dent fle·
Otuwel fel on kne·
¶ Otuwel a sschamed was:
Þat he knelede oppon þe gras·
And for anger his herte gan sswelle·
And þouõte roulond for to quelle·
In þe heued he hadde him ment·
Bote roulond bleinte for þe dent·
As swete ihesu crist wolde·
Þat roulond þere deie ne sscholde·
Bi side þe heued þe dent wente·
And þe hauberk he to rente·
Fram þe hepebon an heiõ·
Þat alle þe pece out fleiõ·
f. 271rb
¶ King charles sauõ þere he stood·
And was fol dreri in his mood·
And was swiþe sore afriõt·
To lese roulond his gode kniõt·
For otuwel smot so heterliche·
Þe king wende sikerliche·
Þat roulond sscholde been ylore·
And was a sori man þere fore·
¶ As þe king stod indoute·
He spak to his folk aboute·
And seide to alle þat þere were·
Lordinges doþ as ich won lere·
Sitte echeman oppon his kne·
And biddeþ to god in trinite·
For his grace and for hise miõtes·
Sende seiõtnesse bi twene þo kniõtes·
And õiue otuwel wille to day·
For to reneien his lay·
¶ Euerichone þei token here red·
And deden as þe king ham bed·
To ihesu crist þei beden here bone·
And swete ihesu herde ham sone·
A whit coluere þer cam fle·
Þat al þe peple miõten se·
On otuweles heued he liõte·
Þoru þe uertu of godes miõte·
And otuwel þat douõti kniõt·
Wiþ drouõ him anoon riõt·
Fram roulond and stod al stille·
To fiõte more he ne hadde wille·
And seide Roulond þou smitest fol sore·
Wiþ drau þin hond and smiõt na more·
Õef þou wolt holden þat þou me bet·
Þat isschal wedde þat maiden swet·
Þe kinges douõter belesent·
For soþe þin is mi wille went·
Õef isschal wedden þat faire may·
Ich wille bileuen oppon þi lay·
And alle myne godes forsake·
And to õoure god ich wille take·
¶ Roulond likede þat word fol wel·
And answerede otuwel·
I þonke it ihesu ful of miõt·
Þorou wham þat grace is in þe liõt·
f. 271va
¶ Otuwel caste of his hond·
Corsouse his gode brond·
And roulond his also·
And to gidere þei gune go·
Eyþer for õaf oþer his loþ·
Nas non of hem wiþ oþer worþ·
Bote clippe and kusse eyþer oþer·
As eiþer hedde been oþeres broþer·
¶ King charles rood þider anon·
And kniõtes wiþ him many on·
Anon as he þider cam·
Bi þe hon roulond he nam·
And seide roulond for godes Erþe·
Hou is þe and þis man iwurþe·
So harde strokes as õe habben õiue·
Hit is wunder þat õe liue·
¶ Sire quaþ roulond we beþ al sounde·
Noþer of vs ne haueþ wounde·
Otuwel haueþ his conseil nome·
Þat he wile cristene by come·
And ich habbe granted bi õoure acent·
Þat he sschal wedde belecent·
¶ Certes quaþ charles þo·
Nou þou wolt þat it be so·
I grante wel þat it so be·
For whi þat he wille dwelle wiþ me·
Þanne hadde ich þe and oliuer·
Otuwel and gode ogger·
In al þe world in lenkþe & brede·
Þer nis king þat nolde me drede·
¶ Þe king took otuwel anon·
And to his paleis made him gon·
And makeden murþe and meloudie·
Of alle maner of menestrausie·
For þe miracle þat was wrouõt·
Þat otuwel hadde iturnd his þouõt·
¶ On moruen þo þe day was briõt·
Þei ladden to churche þat noble kniõt·
Bisschop turpin was bisschop þo·
He follede him þat day and nam mo·
¶ Þo otuwel hadde follauõt nome·
And to þe kingges pees was come·
Þe king beed him his douõter a non·
And feire londes mani on·
f. 271vb
¶ Otuwel to þe king saide·
Sire keep me wel þat maide·
For soþe ich nele hire neuere wedde·
No neuere wiþ hire go to bedde·
Er þi werre to þe ende be brouõt·
And sum what of þi wille wrouõt·
Whan king garsie is slawe or take·
Þanne is time mariage to make·
¶ Quaþ king charles to otuwel·
Nou ise þou louest me wel·
And õef ileue so more i þe·
Þou ne sschalt nouõt lese þi loue on me·
¶ Þo leet þe king asemblen a non·
Alle hise duzze peres echon·
Lordinges he seide what is õoure red·
King garsie seiþ i sschal be ded·
And as õe habbeþ iherd segge·
He þenkeþ cristendam to legge·
Wheþer wole we wenden oppon him anon·
.b. Þe duzze peres acentenden þer to·
To bide til winter were ido·
And alle winter þe king of fraunce·
Lette maken his purueianse·
And alle winter at hom he bod·
And in somer to werre he rod·
Ordinges boþe õinge and olde·
Herneþ as we formest tolde·
Hou þe werre was fol hyõe·
Bitwene king charles & king garsie·
Anon as winter was ygon·
Þe king asemblede his host a non·
And mochel peple cam to his hond·
Out of mani diuerse lond·
Aueril was comen an winter gon·
And charles tok þe weie a non·
And drouõ him to ward lumbardie·
To werren oppon king garsie·
Þere was set wiþouten faille·
Certein day of bataille·
¶ Anoon as charles was icome·
Niõ honde þar þe bataille was nome·
In a mede a non riõt·
Þe kinges pauilons were ipiõt·
.a. Oþer abide til winter be gon·
f. 272ra
Vnder an hul bisides a riuere·
And bifel as õe moun here·
Fol nyõ þe water þe king lay·
Of bataille for to abide his day·
And vppon þat oþer side·
He miõte seen hise enemis ride·
And þere nas brugge ne forde non·
Þat man miõte ouer riden ne gon·
¶ King charles þat gode kniõt·
Tok carpenters a non riõt·
And lette make a brugge a non·
Þat men miõten ouer gon·
¶ Þo þe brugge was al õare·
Þat men miõten ouer fare·
Hit bitidde vppon a day·
Wil charles in his bed lay·
Þat roulond an oliuer·
And þe gode kniõt oger·
Ouer þe brugge þei wenten ifeere·
Auntres for to sen and here·
And þo þei ouer passed were·
Suche auntres þei finden þere·
For al þe good vnder sonne·
Þei nolde habben þe gamen bi gonne·
¶ Of garsies ost foure heþene kinges·
Wenten for te here tidinges·
For alle cas þat miõte bitide·
Wel iarmed bataille to bide·
Here foure names õe moun wite·
As we finden in romaunse write·
¶ Turabeles hatte þe to king·
A stout saraõin wiþ outen lesing·
¶ Þat oþer balsamun het·
A werseman õede non on fet·
¶ Astaward was þe þriddes name·
He louede werre and hatede game·
¶ Þe ferþe king hiõte clarel
Þat neuere õite ne dede wel·
As þei riden alle yfere·
Þat on seide as õe moun here·
Mahoun leeue ous õit abide·
Into fraunce þat we moun ride·
And ich miõte roulond mete·
Al wiþ wraþþe ich wolde him grete·
f. 272rb
Þat traitour he slouõ mi broþer·
Ne gete ich neue eft such a noþer·
¶ Roulond herde and oliuer·
And þe gode kniõt ogger·
Hou þei speken hare wordes hiõe·
And þratten roulond to die·
And roulond was sonyõ·
Þat alle foure kinges he syõ·
¶ Felawes quaþ roulond a non·
Iich am war of oure fon·
Þei beþ foure And we bote þre·
Daþeit habbe þat hem fle·
Nou we habben founden game·
Gawe to hem a godesname·
¶ Anon as clarel ham syõ·
He seide oure enemys beþ nyõ·
Ich se bi here cuntenaunse·
Þei beþ cristenemen of fraunce·
Charles ost liþ here bi side·
In pauilons bataille to bide·
And þese beþ of hise men i wis·
Þerfore mi reed istis·
Þat we hasteliche to ham ride·
And loke wheþer þei wole abide·
¶ Wiþ þat word þe kinges a non·
Touchede here stedes & made hem gon·
And toward þe cristene kniõtes þei riden·
And þei douõtiliche a biden·
¶ Astaward wiþ roulond mette·
Nouõt he ne spak ne him ne grette·
Bot smot him wiþ his spere anon·
Þorou þe sscheld he made hit gon·
And roulondes spere ywis·
Was wel betere þan was his·
To astawardes herte hit õede·
And caste him doun of his stede·
Aris quaþ roulond and tak þe bet·
At þis time þou art ilet·
¶ Curabeles no lengere ne a bood·
To god ogger a non he rod·
Ogger was a strong kniõt·
And rod to him wiþ gret miõt·
And bar adon hors and pak·
And þe saraõins nekke tobrak·
f. 272va
¶ Balsamum and oliuer·
Eyþer neiõede oþer ner·
Þo balsamum bigan to ride·
Oliuer nolde no lengere to abide·
He pingde his stede wiþ speres kene·
And smot a strok þat was sene·
He ne ne miõte þo no betre do·
Bote gurde þe nekkebon otwo·
¶ Þus roulond and oliuer·
And þe gode kniõt ogger·
Slouwen þe heþene kinges þre·
And õit nolde nouõt clarel fle·
To þe duk roulond he rood·
And roulond his strok abod·
For wraþþe hise felaus were islein·
He rood to roulond wiþ gret mayn·
And bar a spere greet and long·
And þe saraõin was strong·
And in þe sadel sat faste·
And roulond to grounde to kaste·
Wiþ þe fal þe steede a noon·
To barst þat o sschanke bon·
Roulond vppon his feet stood·
And ne hadde nouõt bote good·
¶ Ogger sauõ folwel þo·
Þat roulondes hors was ago·
Ogger þat was douõti of dede·
Smot doun clarel of his stede·
Oliuer tok þe stede a non·
And to roulond he gan gon·
Roulond haue þis quaþ oliuer·
Þis þe sente good ogger·
And clarel he haueþ to grounde iþrowe·
For he brouõte þe so lowe·
¶ Roulond þat hadde his stede ilore·
Þonkede hem boþe þer fore·
And was þe gladdeste man vnder sonne·
Þat at he hadde an hors i wonne·
¶ Clarel vppon his feet stood·
And fauõt as he were wood·
On none maner he nolde fle·
Bot fauõt aõein hem alle þre·
¶ Þe þre kniõtes were fol stronge·
Hene miõte nouõt dure aõein ham longe·
f. 272vb
And seide to hem alle þre·
Lordinges let me o liue be·
To õou it were lutel honour·
To sleine þat nabbe no socour·
To fiõte more he for sook·
And roulond his swerd tok·
Roulond was hende & nouõt forsok·
And of clarel his swerd he tok·
¶ King clarel quaþ ogger·
Worþ vp bi hinden me her·
Þo was king clarel glad·
For to do þat ogger bad·
And was staleworþe and liõt·
And lep vt a non riõt·
Þo wenden þei forþ wiþouten targing·
And þoute presente charles þe king·
Wiþ clarel þat þei hadden inome·
And hopeden to ben welcome·
And of here were þei were let·
And swiþe harde þei were met·
Þei sien of garsies men a feerd·
Boþe wiþ spere and wiþ swerd·
Bitwen hem and þe pauiloun·
Þere þei sscholden wenden adoun·
Þei ne miõte skapen in neuere a side·
Þoru out hem þei mosten ride·
¶ Felawes quaþ ogger þo·
To roulond and oliuer bo·
Ich wene er we hom come·
Clarel ous worþ bynome·
Lordinges what is nou õoure red·
Wole we smiten of his hed·
¶ Quaþ roulond so mote ich þe·
At þat red nel ich nouõt be·
No ich noþer quat oliuer·
Bi þe louerd sein Richer·
On liue irede we leten him go·
And ne do we him nammore wo·
Such cas may fallen in him neede·
He mai quiten vs oure mede·
¶ Bi god quaþ ogger þat is soþ·
And where he do or he ne doþ·
Hit were sschame to ous iwis·
To sslen a man þat õolden him is·
f. 273ra
I rede we leten him gon his wey·
For we moten tenden to a noþer pley·
¶ Alle þre þei were at on·
And leten clarel on liue gon·
Clarel nolde no lengere abide·
He ne askede non hors onne to ride·
Bote on fote dede him go·
And leuede hem þare in muchel wo·
¶ Nou lordinges quaþ ogger·
To Roulond and to oliuer·
Ich wole triste to my sswerd·
And fonde forto passe þis ferd·
Ich hope þoru help of godes miõt·
To se mi lord charles þis niõt·
Õef ani saraõin wiþ eie·
Comeþ to lette me of mi weie·
Selp me god and þis day·
He sschal abugge õef ich may·
¶ Nou quaþ roulond þat douõti kniõt·
And ich wille helpe þe bi mi miõt·
I nele to day bi sein martin·
Õilde me to no saraõin·
¶ Quaþ oliuer so mote ich þe·
In mani peril ich habbe ibe·
And õef ich faulle at þis nede·
God ne lete me neuere eft spede·
I nele õef god halt me sound·
To day õelde me to non hound·
¶ Þei markeden hem alle þre·
To him þat þolede deþ on tre·
And no lengere þei ne abiden·
Anon in to þe ferde þei riden·
¶ A saraõin wiþ roulond mette·
And of his weie roulond lette·
He cam out of al þe here·
And bar to roulond a gret spere·
A bold kniõt þat hatte byoun·
An roulond bar him adoun·
¶ Oliuer þat was his broþer·
He mette wiþ a noþer·
A douõti kniõt an heþene man·
A stronge þef þat heet bassan·
Oliuer was horsed wel·
And bar a spere kene & fel·
f. 273rb
And smot him riõt vnder þe sscheld·
Þat þere he lay amidde þe feld·
¶ And þe gode kniõt ogger·
Mette wiþ on þat heet moter·
And wolde him habbe doun ibore·
And ogger was wroþ þat fore·
And smot þe saraõin so sore·
Þat hene spak neuere more·
¶ Oliuer ogger and Roulond·
Among þe saraõins stureden here hond·
Þoru help of god þat is aboue·
Þat ham hadde þat grace iõoue·
Þorou þe ferd as þei Riden·
Alle þat here strokes a biden·
Þei were maimed foreuere more·
Þe douõti kniõtes þei smiten so sore·
Þat wiþ inne a litel stounde·
Þei felden manion to grounde·
¶ Þo cam a soudan stout and firs·
On of garsies duzze peers·
Þat hatte karmel of tabarie·
Oppon þe sarasins he gan crie·
Recreiede kniõtes whi nele õe fiõte·
Traitours þeues where õoure miõte·
It is sschame bi god mahon·
Þat oure folk goon þus adoun·
¶ Wiþ þis word carmel a non·
Pingde his stede and made him gon·
And rood to ogger in þat hete·
And þoute he sscholde his lif for lete·
And was strong and ful of tene·
And smot sore and þat was sene·
He smot ogger in þe sscheld·
Þat ogger lay amidde þe feld·
Sore he fel oppon þe grounde·
And hadde a fol luþer wonde·
¶ Þe duk roulond þat seyõ·
For wraþþe he was wod welnyõ·
And for wraþþe smot him so sore·
Þat he ne spak neuere eft more·
¶ Þo cam anwe of nubie·
On of kinges kniõtes garsie·
And felde oliuer to grounde·
Bote he ne õaf him neuere a wounde·
f. 273va
¶ Roulond was wel wroþ wiþ alle·
Þo he sauõ oliuer falle·
And anawe of nubie he smot·
Þat neuere eft crouste he ne bot·
¶ Oliuer ros op fram þe grounde·
Al hol wiþ outen wonde·
And anon his stede he nam·
And to roulond sone he cam·
¶ Þo was roulond fol fawe·
Þat oliuer nas nouõt isslauwe·
Þo þei were togidere imet·
Þo were þei harde biset·
Among sarasins þat were kene·
And þei smiten sore fortene·
¶ Whil roulond fauõt and oliuer·
Heuere stod þe gode ogger·
And hadde lorn his gode stede·
And his wounde gan faste blede·
And õit he fauõt þere he stod·
And leide on as he were wod·
¶ Whil ogger þat douõti kniõt·
Aõenes saraõins stod in fiõt·
Oppon a stede Clarel com driue·
Þat ogger halp to sauen o liue·
Þorou cunseil of roulond & oliuer·
And a non he knuõ ogger·
Ogger he seide hit is my red·
Õilte come ore þou art ded·
Þou holpe to saue mi lif aday·
Ich wole þin õef i may·
¶ Ogger sauõ wel wiþ his Eye·
Þat he was in point to deye·
And to clarel he gan gon·
And tok him his swerd a non·
¶ Clarel nas no weddedman·
Clarel hadde a fair lemman·
Þat was hoten aufanye·
And was born in Ermenie·
¶ Clarel anon riõtes·
Clepede to him two kniõtes·
And seide to hem anon·
To mi lemman õe schulle gon·
And segge þat ich sente hire þis kniõt·
And þat his wounde be heled ariõt·
f. 273vb
And god hede to him nome·
To sauen him til mi to come·
¶ Þe kniõtes deden al he hem bad·
To his lemman he was lad·
Þat was hoten aufanye·
Þat was kinges douõter garsie·
And õo was glad of þat present·
To do clareles comaundement·
Roulond and oliuer fouõten·
Þat of here liues nouõt ne rouõten·
Þei hadden fouõten ouer myõte·
Þei ne miõte no lengere dure to fiõte·
An anon turnden here steeden·
And flowen for þei ne myõten nouõt speden·
¶ To otuwel it was told·
Þat roulond þat was bolde
Oliuer and ogger bo·
Were ouer þe water go·
¶ Otuwel a non riõtes·
Leet armen him and alle hise kniõtes·
Þo he was armed and wel idiõt·
He wente to þe king a non riõt·
And seide sire i dwelle to longe·
Roulond oliuer an ogger þe stronge·
Oue þe water alle þre·
Beþ went for en vie of me·
To loke wher þei miõten spede·
To don any douõti deede·
Among þe saraõins bolde·
And i sscholde be couward hoolde·
Þerfore i nele no lengere a bide·
To sechen hem ich wole ride·
Þauõ þei habben en vie to me·
Ich wille for þe loue of þe·
Fonden whoþer i miõte comen·
Te helpen hem ar þei weren inomen·
And õif hem any harm bytit·
Let ham witen hare oune wit·
¶ Quaþ þe king par charite·
Otuwel ich biseche þe·
For godes loue hiõe þe bliue·
And fonde to sauen hem o liue·
Er þei he slawe or nome·
And þe sschal sone socour come·
f. 274ra
¶ Otuwel no lengere ne abood·
Anon his stede he bi strood·
And alle hise kniõtes bi his side·
And toward þe ferd he gan to ride·
¶ A non as otuwel was goon·
Þe king leet diõte his host a non·
After otuwel to wende·
As a god king and hende·
¶ As otuwel bigan to ride·
He lokede abouten in eche side·
And he sauõ ate laste·
Where Roulond fleyõ and oliuer faste·
Otuwel touchede his stedes side·
An aõein hem he gan ride·
And seide turneþ aõein a non·
And helpeþ to wreke õou on õoure fon·
Þei sschulle abugge so mote ich þe·
Þat makeþ õou so faste fle·
¶ Þo þei herden otuwel speken·
Þat þei sscholden ben a wreken·
Þo were þei ferchs to fiõte·
And tournden aõein and were fol liõte·
¶ Lordinges quaþ otuel þo·
Whuder is god ogger go·
And þei answereden sikinge sore·
Forsoþe we ne sien him nouõt õore·
We ne witen where he is bycome·
Wheþer he is islawe oþer nome·
¶ Allas allas quaþ otuwel·
Þis tiding likeþ me nout wel·
Sire charles my lord þe king·
Wole be sori for þis tiding·
For godes loue hie we bliue·
And loke we whoþer ogger be aliue·
tuwel and oliuer·
And Roulond þat douõti bacheler·
Wiþ a feir compaignye·
Þei bigunnen for to hie·
Toward king garsies host·
For to abaten of hare bost·
¶ Þere was a saraõin strong·
Þat bar a brod swerd & a long·
And was hoten encumbrer·
And bigan to neiõen hem ner·
f. 274rb
Oppon a muche blak stede·
And otuwel took of him hede·
And of his armes hadde a siõt·
And knuõ him a non riõt·
And no lengere he ne abod·
Otuwel to him rood·
And bar him doun hors and man·
Þus otuwel gamen bi gan·
¶ Estuõt of legers a noble kniõt·
Þat wiþ otuwel cam to fiõt·
Bar a spere of tre fol fin·
And smot a bold saraõin·
In to þe bodi þoru þe sscheld·
And þere he lay det in þe feld·
Oliuer ho slouõ a noþer·
And þe ferþe roulond his broþer·
¶ Þo þe freinche kniõtes seien·
Þe sarasins fallen wiþ hare eien·
Þei holden þo no lengere abide·
Þei smiten to in Eche side·
And felden saraõins faste·
And þei slowen a te laste·
¶ King clarel made hem torne aõein·
Oppon cristenemen to lein·
And he leide on faste·
And þe þef ate laste·
Slou dromer of alemaine·
Þat reu fol sore þe king charlemaine·
¶ Erpater king of ynde was·
He cam wiþ a mase of bras·
And otuwel on þe helm he reiõte·
So harde þat al þe heued to queiõte·
¶ Quaþ otuwel somote y þe·
Ich ne þoute nauõt boruwe þat strok of þe·
Bi min heued vnder myn hat·
I nele nouõt longe ouwe þe þat·
Otuwel wiþ a fauchoun·
Cleef him al þe heued a doun·
And he fil vnder his horse feet·
Quaþ otuwel þat ich þe bi heet·
¶ Þo otuwel was fol of mood·
And fauõt as he were wood·
Al þe kinges ost a non·
Foleuweden otuwel Echon·
f. 274va
Roulond and oliuer
And maden a foul larder·
Þe kniõtes leiden on so faste·
Þe saraõins flouwen a te laste·
¶ Þo ne iõede it toward eue·
Þo moste þe ost bileue·
And dwellen þere al þat niõt·
Til on morwe þe dai was briõt·
Þo þe ost was wiþ drawe·
To resten hem as is þe lawe·
King clarel kam in fourme of pees·
Wiþ tweie felawes mo ne lees·
Toward charles ost þe king·
For to wyten atiding·
And otuwel a õein him wente·
To wite who him þidere sente·
¶ Þanne seide king clarel·
To þe douõti otuwel·
Kniõt he seide so mote þou þe·
Tel me what þi name be·
Þou art so douõti man of dede·
And mani a kniõt hauest maked blede·
Ich wolde fol fain bi myn Eye·
Bringe þi name to þe king garsie·
¶ Bi god felawe quaþ otuwel·
Er þis þou kneuwe my name fol wel·
So god sschilde me fram sschame·
Otuel is my cristine name·
Mahun ich habbe for sake·
And to ihesu ich habbe me take·
¶ Allas quaþ clarel whi destou so·
So wrecheliche hauestou do·
Õit i rere þou turne þi mood·
And leef on mahoun ore þou art wod·
And ich wole pese õef þou wilt·
Þat þou hauest garsie agult·
¶ Fiõ quaþ otuel þo·
On mahoun and on garsie bo·
Bi him þat maude adam and eue·
Y nele neuere oppon õou leue·
Bi ihesu þat is fol of miõt·
And ich may mete him ariõt·
Þere sschal no saraõin skape o liue·
Þat ich may hente so mote ich þriue·
f. 274vb
¶ Otuwel quaþ clarel þo·
Were we sumware bitwene vs two·
Bi mahoun þat ich onne bileue·
Oppon þi bodi ich wolde preue·
Þat mahoun may mo miracles make·
Þan he þat þou art to itake·
He nis nouõt half be mi croun·
So miõty as is sire mahoun·
¶ Quaþ otuwel bi godes miõte·
Clarel mi truþe ich þe pliõte·
Whan euere þou wolt hit schal be·
Euele mote he þriue þat fle·
¶ Quaþ clarel a non riõt·
Bi mahoun þat is fol of miõt·
Woltou sikere me on hond·
Þat noman of king charles lond·
Schal do me no vileynie·
By þe deþ þat isschal deye·
Mi conseil is a non inome·
To morue erliche ich wille come·
¶ Quaþ otuwel ne doute þe nouõt·
Bi god þat al þe world haueþ wrouõt·
And þe deþ þat i schal deie·
Þou ne sschalt hente no vileinie·
Of noman of king charles lond·
Bote riõt of myn oune hond·
Bi him þat made leef & bouõ·
Þer offe þe sschal þinken ynouõ·
Quaþ clarel þo do þi best·
To morwe þou sschalt finde me prest·
¶ Þus þe were þere boþe at on·
Er þei wolden otwinne gon·
Eyþer oþer his treweþe pliõte·
Oppon Morwen for to fiõte·
¶ On moruwen þo þeday sprong·
Clarel þe king þouõte long·
To þe pauiloun til he cam·
To holde þe day þat he nam·
Oppon a stede wel idiõt·
He cam fol redi to bide fiõt·
¶ King charles wiþ hise kniõtes bolde·
Comen out clarel to bi holde·
Hou he com al redi diõt·
Boldeliche to bide fiõt·
f. 275ra
¶ Clarel was bold on his lond·
For otuwel sikerede him on hond·
Þat no man of flechs and blood·
Ne sscholde doon him nouõt bote good·
Bot hem selue tweien fiõte·
And habbe þe maistrie who so miõte·
Þo was clarel fol trist·
For to segge what him lust·
¶ King charles was an old man·
And clarel hede þer offe nam·
And seide charles þou art old·
Who made þe nou so bold·
To werren oppon king garsie·
Þat is cheef of al painie·
Al paynime he haued in wold·
Þou dotest for þou art so hold·
¶ King charles waryþede anonriõt·
Þat clarel tolde of him so liõt·
And hadde iment þo fol wel·
To habben ifouõten wiþ clarel·
And had fetten his armure briõt·
And wolde armen him a non riõt·
And seide in wraþþe by godes miõte·
Ich mi self wole wiþ him fiõte·
¶ Roulond bi þe king stood·
And bigan to meuen his mood·
And sede to þe king a non·
Þou hauest sire king mani on·
Gode douõti kniõtes of deede·
To fiõte þi self þoune hauest no nede·
¶ God sschilde sire quaþ oliuer·
Hit sscholde springe fer or ner·
To putte þin oune bodi to fiõt·
And hauest so mani a douõti kniõt·
¶ King charles swor his oþ·
And bigan to wexe wroþ·
And seide for ouõt þat man may speke·
Miself ich wile ben on him wreke·
¶ A sire quaþ otuwel þo·
For godes loue sei nouõt so·
Ich and he beþ truþe pliõte·
Þat we sschole to gidere fiõte·
And ich wole telle þe wiþ oute faille·
Where fore we habbe taken bataille·
f. 275rb
¶ He wolde habbe maked me õusterday·
To habbe reneied my lay·
And seide þat ich was ilore·
And god nas nouõt of marie bore·
And seide algate he wolde preue·
Þat ich am in misbeleue·
Þere fore he profreþ him to fiõt·
To wite wheþer is more of miõt·
Ihesu þat is louerd min·
Or mahoun and apolyn·
Þous we habbeþ þe bataille inome·
And boþe we beþ iswore to come·
¶ Quaþ þe king charles þo·
Otuwel whan it is so·
Tak þe bataille a godes name·
And ihesu schilde þe fram sschame·
Otuwel þat noble kniõt·
Lette armen him a non riõt·
And his gode stede bistrod·
And no lengere he ne a bood·
Bote to þe stede he rood fol riõt·
Þere clarel houede to bide fiõt·
¶ Anon as otuwel was icome·
Here conseil was a non inome·
No lengere þei ne abiden·
Anonriõt togidere þei riden·
Noon oþer nas ham bitwene·
Bote gode stronge speres & kene·
Nas neuer noþer of oþer agast·
And eiþer sat in his sadel fast·
Þat boþe stedes õeden to grounde·
And þe kniõtes weren al sounde·
And boþe stedes wenten forþ·
Þat on souþ þat oþer norþ·
Þe kniõte on fote to gidere õede·
An drowen hare swertes gode at nede·
Ne sparede þei nouõt þe swerdes egge·
Eyþer on oþer bi gan to legge·
¶ Þei were boþe swiþe stronge·
And fouõten to gidere swiþe longe·
King clarel was wel neõ wood·
Þat otuwel so longe stood·
In gret wraþþe otuwel he smot·
And his swerd felliche bot·
f. 275va
And þau þe swerd neuere so good
Þe gode helm it wiþ stood·
Bote otuwel astoneied was·
Þere he stood vp on þe gras·
¶ Quaþ otuwel so mote ich go·
HE ne louede me nouõt þat smot me so·
Ich warne þe wel so mote ich þe·
Þou sschalt habbe as good of me·
¶ Otuwel for wraþþe a non·
Areiõte him on þe cheke bon·
Al þe fel of þat was þare·
And made his teþ al bare·
¶ Þo otuwel sauõ is cheke bon·
He õaf clarel a skorn a non·
And seide clarel so mote þou þe·
Whi scheuwestou þi teþ to me·
I nam no toþ drawere·
Þou ne sest me no cheine bere·
¶ Clarel felede him wounded sore·
And was maimed for euere more·
An smot to otuwel wiþ al his miõt·
And otuwel þat douõti kniõt·
Wiþ his swerd kepte þe dent·
Þat clarel him hadde iment·
And õit þe dent glood adoun·
And smot otuwel oppon þe croun·
¶ Quaþ otuwel bi godes ore·
Saraõin þou smitest fol sore·
Suþen þi berd was ischaue·
Þou art woxen a strong knaue·
¶ Otuwel smot clarel þo·
O strok and nammo·
Þat neuer eft word he ne spak·
And so otuwel his tene wrak·
¶ Þo was charles glad ynouõ·
Þat otuwel king clarel slouõ·
And õaf otuwel þat douõti kniõt·
A god Erldam þat selue niõt·
Al þat in þe ost was·
Aaden murþe and solas·
Þat otuwel hadde so bigunne·
And hadde so þe maistri wonne·
Al þat niõt oueral þe ost·
Þei maden alþer ioye most·
f. 275vb
¶ Þer cam a messager & browõte tiding·
To garsie þat riche king·
Þat otuwel his cosin in lawe·
Hadde king clarel i slawe·
¶ Þo garsie it vnder õat·
He was swiþe sori for þat·
And for wraþþe þere he stood·
Corsede hise godes as he were wood·
And seide allas and walawo·
Nou is gode clarel go·
Certes myn herte it wile to breke·
Bote ich mowe clarel a wreke·
¶ Þo lette garsie asemlen a non·
Alle hise saraõins echon·
And þouõte þoru out alle þing·
To ben awreken on charles king·
And on his cosin otuwel·
And on him self þe wreche fel·
¶ King charles herde be aspye·
Þat garsie þratte him to die·
And he a semblede hise kniõtes echon·
And sede to hem alle a non·
Lordinges garsie þinkeþ to ride·
For soþe i nele nolengere abide·
Þe king armede him a non·
And alle hise kniõtes echon·
Þe king gurde him self wiþ his swerd·
And wente him self wiþ his ferd·
¶ Þe king cam stilleliche wiþ his ost·
And garsie cam wiþ gret bost·
Þo þe ostes neiõeden nieõ·
Þat eiþer ost oþer sieõ·
Out of garsies ost cam ride·
A turkein þat was ful of pride·
¶ Roulond was good and hende·
And aõenes him gan wende·
Þe tourkein no lengere nabod·
To roulond a non he rood·
And gurde roulond wiþ aspere·
Þat wel couþe a strok bere·
And as douõti as he was·
His o stirop he las·
¶ Roulond was a schamed þarfore·
Þat he hadde þis stirop lore·
f. 276ra
And wiþ dorendal þat was good·
He smot þe tourkein oppon þe hood·
And he sey doun of his stede·
So rowlond quitte him his mede·
Quaþ roulond þat ich þe biheet·
Þou nult namore stonden on þi feet·
Min o stirop þou madest me tine·
Nou hauestou lose boþe þine·
¶ Þer cam a noþer stout saraõin·
Þat was armed wel a fin·
Þat hiõte myafle of bagounde·
And wiþ a litel stounde·
He made his stede swiþe to goon·
And smot oliuer a noon·
Þorou out al his armure briõt·
He woundede sore þat gode kniõt·
¶ Roulond sauõ be countenaunse·
His broþer was hurt wiþ le launce·
His wardecors a non he fond·
And tok a spere out of his hond·
And made his hors make a sturt·
To him þat hadde his broþer hurt·
And touchede him wiþ þe speres ord·
Þat neuere eft he ne spak word·
And tok myafles stede a non·
And sette oliuer þer on·
¶ Þere was a noble saraõin·
A king þat heet galatyn·
And cam wiþ a compainie·
And bigan faste to hie·
¶ Otuwel was war of þat·
Oppon his stede þere he sat·
Hou king galatin cam wiþ wille·
Cristenemen for to spille·
Wiþ þe spores þe steede he nam·
To galatyn þe king he kam·
Þorou þe bodi he him bar·
And bad he scholde eft be war·
Of such a strok whan it kam·
Non oþer hede of him hene nam·
Bote rood forþ oppon his stede·
And leet þe saraõin ligge & blede·
¶ Þo smiten þo ostes to gidere a non·
And fouõten faste and good won·
f. 276rb
And todaschsten many ascheld·
Mani a bodi lay in þe feld·
¶ Þo cam ouer þe donne ride·
An heþene king fol of prude·
And browõte wiþ him al ferche þo·
A þousende saraõins and mo·
And fouõten faste a good stounde·
And felden cristene men to grounde·
¶ A douõti bacheler cam ride·
Oppon king charles side·
A õong kniõt þat sprong furst berd·
Of no man he nas aferd·
Fiue hundred men wiþ him he brouõte·
Þat of hare lif litel þei rouõte·
Nas nou twenti winter old·
And echon was douõti man & bold·
He hadde ichosen hem fol wide·
Bolde men bataille to bide·
Þei fouõten faste wiþ inne a stounde·
And brouõten saraõins to grounde·
Þei were bolde and fouõten faste·
Þe saraõins flouwen ate laste·
Roulond & oliuer hulpen wel·
And þe douõty otuwel·
¶ Coursabex þe king cam þo·
And mette fleinde a þousend and mo·
Traitours quaþ coursabex þe king·
Certes þis is a foul þing·
Þat õe schule fle for ferd·
Traitours tourneþ aõein þe berd·
Tourneþ aõein alle wiþ me·
And we wole make þe freinche fle·
Þous coursabex him self allone·
Made tourne hem aõein echone·
¶ Þe õinge kniõt þat was so bold·
Riõt nou þat ich offe habbe told·
Wiþ coursabex wel sone be mette·
And wiþ his swerd a non he sette·
Such a strok oppon his croun·
Þat of his stede he fel a doun·
Þe õinge kniõt to him cam·
And coursabex o liue nam·
And sente him charles þe king·
Þo was he glad of þat tiding·
f. 276va
Þo þe tourkeins seien alle·
Þat coursabex was falle·
And cristene men smite fore·
Þei flouwen and nolde fiõte na more·
And þe gode õinge kniõt·
Suwede and leidon doun riõt·
Þere ne halp nouõ sire mahoun·
Þe tourkeins õeden faste a doun·
¶ Þo kam poidras of barbarin·
And wiþ him mani a saraõin·
Poidras oppon þe õunge kniõt·
Leidon wiþ al his miõt·
And here men togidere huwen·
And heþene hornes faste blewen·
Poidras and þe õinge kniõt·
Bitwene hem was strong fiõt·
Poidras hadde þe more mayn·
And hadde wel neiõ þe kniõt slain·
¶ Otuwel þat douõti kniõt·
Was war of þat a non riõt·
Otuwel no lengere na bood·
To poidras a noon he rood·
And smot poidras of barbbarin·
Þat þere he lay as astiked swin·
¶ Otuwel rood in to þe feerd·
And leide on faste mid his swerd·
Roulond and oliuer·
Neõeden otuwel ner·
And þe berdles kniõt·
And slowen saraõins adoun riõt·
¶ King garsie herde wiþ inne a stounde·
Hou hise men õeden to grounde·
King garsie hadde a conseiler·
And a non he took him neer·
And seide to him sire arperaunt·
Aõenes otuwel myn herte stant·
Þat þous haueþ reneied his lay·
And sleþ mine men niõt and day·
Sire arperant what is þi reed·
Þat þe þef traitour nere ded·
Certes fraunce hadde be wonnen·
Ne hadde his tresoun be bigunnen·
¶ King garsie quaþ arperaunt·
Bi mahoun þat õonder stant·
f. 276vb
Al þe while þat roulond·
Mai bere durendal in his hond·
And oliuer rit by his side·
For no þing þat may bende·
Þou ne schalt neuere otuwel winne·
For nouõt þat euere þou kans biginne·
Þo was garsie wel nyõ wood·
For wraþþe on molde þere he stood·
¶ Þere was an affrikan gent·
Þat hatte baldolf of aquilent·
King garsie seide to him anoon·
Certes baldoff þou must goon·
And take wiþ þe kniõt an swein·
And tourne þe cristenemen a õein·
And ich mi self wole after come·
And helpe þat otuwel were nome·
¶ Quaþ baldolf bi sire mahun·
Louerd we wole don what we moun·
And com þou after and tak hede·
Wuche maner þat we spede·
And õef þou sest þat nede be·
Com and help us erwe fle·
For whan an ost to fliõt is went·
Bote socour come it is schent·
¶ Baldolf took his compainie·
And to þe bataille he gan heye·
And wiþ inne a litel stounde·
Hard bataille þei habben ifounde·
¶ Otuwel douõti of dede·
Where þei comen he took hede·
And no lengere he ne bood·
Bote hasteliche to ham he rood·
Roulond and oliuer·
Neiõeden otuwel ner·
And þe gode õinge kniõt·
Þat was so douõti man in siõt·
Þo þei foute weren ifere·
Þo miõte men seen and here·
Harde strokes dele and diõte·
And wiþ saraõins boldeliche fiõte·
¶ Þer cam out of garsies ost·
A man þat made muche bost·
A king þat hatte karnifees·
And muchel onour þere heles·
f. 277ra
¶ Þer kam a kniõt of agineis·
A bold man and a courteis·
And wiþ carnifees he mette·
And wende Carnifees to lette·
King karnifees him haueþ istunt·
And slouõ him ate forme dunt·
Þo karnifees hadde þous do·
He wende to seruen ham alle so·
¶ Otuwel no lengere na bood·
To karnifees a non he rood·
Karnifees knuõ otuwel·
By hise armes swiþe wel·
And seide to þe gode gome·
For sworne þef artou come·
Bi mahoun quaþ karnifees·
Þou schalt hoppen heuedles·
¶ Otuwel wiþ oute targing·
Answerede karnifees þe king·
Bi sein geme ich ne habbe nouõt munt·
Þa þou schalt õiue me þat dunt·
Þei nolden no lengere abide·
Anon togidere þei gunde ride·
Karnifees smot otuwel·
Biside þe heued þe strok fel·
A corner of otuweles scheld·
He gurde out amidde þe feld·
¶ Quaþ otuwel good it wite·
Þat strok was wel ismite·
Nou þou schalt bi seint martyn·
Preuen a strok of myn·
Otuwel karnifees smot·
Wiþ Corsouse þat wel boot·
Þat karnifees souõte þe ground·
Ros he neuere eft hol ne sound·
¶ Þo þe saraõins wisten alle·
Þat karnifees was ifalle·
And þat he nolde na more arise·
Þo bigan ham alle to agrise·
For in al garsies feerd·
Nas such a man to handle a swerd·
Þo tournde þei to fliõt·
Þe saraõins a non riõt·
f. 277rb
¶ Þous þe gode otuwel·
And roulond þat was good and snel·
Þoru þe help of godes miõt·
Maden þe saraõins tourne to fliõt·
Þorou swete ihesu cristes grace·
And þei suweden faste þe chasse·
Þe saraõins were so a dredde·
In to þe water manye fledde·
Summe smumme & summe sunke·
And coold water ynouõ þei drunke·
Il Roulond and oliuer þe gode·
In mananie harde stoures stode·
Godde ogger inprisoun lay·
Boþe bi niõt and eke be day·
Herkneþ what hede good to him nam·
And hou he out of prisoun kam·
¶ Seuene heþene kniõtes bolde·
Ogger was bitaken to holde·
And þe foure ogger slouõ·
And õit he skapede wel inouõ·
¶ Þere was a noble skuier·
Þat wiþ queintize halp ogger·
Swiþe priueliche and stille·
He brouõte ogger to his wille·
His swerd and his armure briõt·
And ogger armede him a non riõt·
Þe he hadde on his gode wede·
Þe squier brouõte him a good stede·
Ogger no lengere ne abood·
Þe goodde stede he bistrood·
Þe squier was armed and wel idiõt·
And hadde a good hors and a liõt·
And also stille as a ston·
Þe squier lep to horse a non·
And to þe porteres windou he kam·
And in his hond his mase he nam·
And oppon þe windou he schof·
Þat þe windou alto drof·
¶ Hit was abouten mid niõt·
And þe porter was a friõt·
And askede a non who was þare·
And who makede al þat fare·
f. 277va
¶ Porter quaþ þe squier þo·
Vndo þe gate and let us go·
We here tellen bi sire mahoun·
Þat cristenemen goon alle a doun·
And ich and mi felawes iwis·
We wole witen hou it is·
And õef we ani good winne·
For soþe þou schalt parten þer inne·
And he dude op þe õate wide·
And lette ham boþe out ride·
And streek aõein þe õate fast·
And þere þei sien ogger last·
¶ Ogger rood al þat niõt·
Til on þe morewen þe day was briõt·
Þat neuere his feet comen on grounde·
Er he hadde his felawes founde·
¶ Þo roulond and oliuer·
Weren war of gode ogger·
Þei were fol glad of þat siõt·
And þonkeden ihesu fol of miõt·
¶ Þo roulond and oliuer·
Adden imet wiþ gode·
Þei were also fous to fiõt·
As euere was a foul to fliõt·
And wenten in to þe bataile a non·
And fouõten faste and good won·
And made þe saraõins a gaste·
And otuwel nas nouõt þe laste·
¶ Þo alle foure weren ifere·
Þar nere none strokes dere·
Þo douõti kniõtes smiten so sore·
As þauõ þei ne hadden nouõt fouõten õore·
Þat wiþ inne a litel stounde·
Saraõins õeden alle to grounde·
¶ King garsie took god hede·
Hou his folk to grounde õede·
And no lengere he ne abood·
To ward his pauilons he rood·
¶ And otuwel a noon by held·
Þere he rod in þe feld·
And warende fore a non þo·
Roulond and oliuer bo·
And ogger þat douõty kniõt·
Þat king garsie was tornd to fliõt·
f. 277vb
Þo roulond and oliuer·
And þe gode kniõt ogger·
Sien where king garsie rood·
Þer nas non þat lengere abood·
Hasteliche þe wey þei nomen·
And to king garsie þei comen·
¶ King garsie was a fered to deye·
And bi gan mersi to crie·
And seide for soþe þat he wolde·
Of king charles his lond holde·
And ben at eche parlement·
Redi at his comaundement·
¶ King garsie seide þis·
For his loue þat õoure good is·
Takeþ me on liue and sle me nouõt·
Leet mi lif be for bouõt·
And let me as a prisoun goon·
Bifore king charles a noon·
And don him omage wiþ myn hon·
To holden of him al mi lond·
¶ Þanne seide otuwel·
Þat was douõti kniõt and snel·
To roulond and to oliuer·
And to þe gode kniõt ogger·
Nou he haueþ þis õift iõiue·
I rede þat we laten him liue·
Bifore þe king he schal be brouõt·
For gode we nulle slen him nouõt·
An þei acenteden þerto·
And seiden it wile be wel ido·
And wiþ outen any targing·
Þei ladden him bi fore þe king·
¶ Þanne seide otuwel þat gode kniõt·
To king charles a non riõt·
Sire he seide her is garsie·
Þat sumtime þratte þe to die·
He wile non õif þi wille be·
Do þe omage and feaute
And ben at þi comaundement·
And at eche parlement·
Al redi at þin hond·
And holden of þe al his lond·
And for his lond rente õiue·
Wiþ þe noue he mote liue·