His goddes he gan chide.Laban chides his godsHe waxe both blake, pale and wan,and nearly grows madHe was nyȝe woode þat same tyde.with vexation. ButTho Lukafer comfortede him welle312Lukafer told him that,And saide “sir, be not dismayed,having espied thatFor I have aspied everydele,Savaris would, theHowe thai shalle alle be betrayede.following day, comeSauariz wole to morowe witħ us fighte,316out again to fightHis baner knowe I ful welle;with them, he wouldI shal have an othere, Iyoupright letter u with hookplighte,have a banner madeLike to this every dele.exactly like his, whichWhan he is moste besy in bataile,320when Savaris was muchThan wole I with banere displaiedeengaged in the battle,Ride in to Rome without faile,he would unfold andThus shal thai al be betrayede.”enter Rome.TheSowdaupright letter n with macronwas glad of this tidinge,324Hopinge it shulde be so;And even as it was in purposynge,And so itRight so was it aftir I-do.turned out; the RomansWenynge it hade be Sauarye,328mistaking him forRelevinge fro the hethenstouletter r with right hook, upright,Savaris, returning fromWenynge doth ofte harme withoute lye,his sally, he enteredHe entred to the maisterToure.the main tower,The firste warde thus thay wonne332[leaf 9]By this fals contrevede engyne.Thus was moche sorowebygoupright letter n with macron,Thai slougħ all, that were ther-Inne.and slew all therein.Whaupright letter n with macronSauariz saugħ thisdiscomfituletter r with right hook, upright336Savaris becoming awareOf the Romaynes in that tyme,of the artifice of theAnd howe hardethaupright letter n with macronwas hereaventuletter r with right hook, upright,enemy,Of sorowe þat myghte he rymeOf x thousandemeupright letter n with macronlefte no moo340and seeing out ofBut sextymeupright letter n with macronand twelfe,10,000 Romans no moreAnd whan he sawe this myschief tho,than seventy-two left,He turned homewarde agayn him selue.turned back, but foundBythaupright letter n with macronhe founde the gate shite344the gate shut,
‹p011›THE POPE DESPATCHES MESSENGERS TO CHARLEMAGNE.
With Sarisyns, that hade it wone;And Estragot with him he metteWith bores hede, blake and donne.For as a bore an hede hadde348And a grete mace stronge as stele.He smote Sauaryz as he were madde,and was slain byThat dede to grounde he felle.Estragot, a black giantThis Astrogot of Ethiop,352of Ethiopia.He was a kinge of grete strengtħ;Ther was none suche in EuropeSo stronge and so longe in lengtħ.I trowe, he were a develes sone,356Of Belsabubbis lyne,For ever he was thereto I-wone,To doCristeupright letter n with macronmen grete pyne.Whan tidinggis came to the [P]ope,360After the death ofThat Duke Sauaryz was dedeslayupright letter n with macron,Savaris, the PopeThaupright letter n with macronto woo turned alle his hope;He dide callethaupright letter n with macronto counsailesummoned his councilAlle the Senatouris of Rome,364again.What þinge þat myght hem most availe,And what were beste to done.Tho by-spake a worthy man of counsaile,An Erille of the Senatouris:368An earl of the“The best counsaile, þat I cansenatours suggestedthe necessity ofSending vnto Charles the kinge101dispatching messengersCertifiynge him by your myssangeristo Charlemagne,The myschief þat ye are Inne,372imploring him to comeThat he come with his Dosyperysto their deliverance.To reskue Cristiante fro this heþen.”[leaf 10]All thai assentede anone therto;They all assented.The lettres were made in haste.376Three messengers,Thre messageres weordeyupright letter n with macron102therto,with lettersThat went forthe at the laste.written in haste,
‹p012›THE SARACENS THROW DOWN A BASTILE OF ROME.
At a posterne thai wente outeleft the city by aPryvely aboute mydnygħt,380postern at midnight,And passed through alle the route.and passed the enemy’sOf hem was war no wigħt.camp without beingBVt let we nowe the messangerisgooupright letter n with macron,noticed by any wight.And speke we ofLabaupright letter n with macron,384Howe he dide saile the Citeanooupright letter n with macron,LabanAnd commaundid, þat every mancommanded everyShulde withe Pikeys or witħ billeman to throw pikes andThe Wallis over throwe,388bills over the walls,That he myght the Romaynes kille,to kill the Romans.Playnly on a rowe,By water he ordeynede the shippesgooupright letter n with macron,He ordered the shipsThe bootis bownden to the maste,392to go up the water,That thai myght fight with hemanooupright letter n with macron,with their boats boundHonde of honde, þat was here caste.to the mast, that theyTo the Toure a bastile stode,might fight in closeAn engyne was I-throwe—396combat.That was to the Cite ful goode—Near the tower thereAnd brakedowupright letter n with macrontowres both hie and lowe.stood a bastile whichTho sorowede alle the Citesynsformed a principalAnd were ful hevythaupright letter n with macron.400protection to the city.Tho wox prowde the Sarasyns,It was laid low byAnd than bispake sire labanstones hurled from anAnd saide “yolde youe here to me,engine.Ye may not longe endure,404Laban, growing proud,Or ellis shall ye alslayupright letter n with macronbe,summoned the Romans toBy mahounde I you ensure.”surrender.A Romayne drife a darte him toInstead of an answer, aAnd smote him on the breste plate,408Roman hurled a dart atNe hadde his hawberke lasted tho,his breast-plate, butMahounde had come to late.his hauberk shieldedTho was theSowdoupright letter n with macronmoreþaupright letter n with macronwod,him.He cried to Ferumbras,412The soudan, more than“For Mahoundes loue, þat is so good,mad, charged FerumbrasDestroye vp bothe man and place.to destroy them all,
‹p013›ESTRAGOT IS CRUSHED BY A PORTCULLIS.
Spare no thinge that is alyve,Hows, Toure ner Walle,416[leaf 11]Beest, ner man, Childe nere Wife,Brenne, slo and distroye alle.”Tho Ferumbras ordeynede anoneTo bende the Engynes to thetowupright letter n with macron420And betedowupright letter n with macronbotħ Toure andstooupright letter n with macron.He cleped fortħ Fortibraunce andMavoupright letter n with macronand enjoinedAnd saide “be youre Engynes goode?Fortibrance and MavonShewe forth here nowe your crafte424to direct theirFor Mahoundis love, þat gevith man foode,engines against theThat ther be no Toure lafte.”walls.Tho the greteglotoupright letter n with macronEstagote103The great gluttonWith his myghty mace sware428Estragot, with hisOn the Gatis of Rome he smoteheavy mace,And brake hem alle on thre thare.smote on the gatesIn he entrid at the Gateand brake them inThe Porte-Colis on him thai lete falle.432pieces.He wende, he hade come to late,But as he wasIt smote him through herte, lyuer and galle.entering one of theHe lai cryande at the groundegates, they let theLike a develle of Helle;436portcullis fall,Through the Cite wente the sowne,which crushed him toSo lowde than gan he yelle.the ground,Gladde were al the Romaynes,where he lay cryingThat he was take in the trappe,440like a devil.And sorye were al the SarsynsThe Romans were glad,Of þat myschevos happe.but the SaracensSory was theSoudoupright letter n with macronthaupright letter n with macrongrieved.And Ferumbras andLukafeletter r with right hook, upright.444They withdrew toThai drowe hem tille her tentesthaupright letter n with macron,their tents, leavingThai left him ligginge there.behind the corpse ofMahounde toke his soule to himEstragot, whose soulAnd broght it to his blis.448went up to Mahound.He loued him wel and al his kyn,
‹p014›THE POPE ATTEMPTS A SALLY.
Of þat myghte he not mys.Anone the [P]ope didesomoupright letter n with macronalle;The Pope called allThe peple of the Cite came,452his people to St.To Seinte Petris he dide hem calle,Peter’s,And thidere came every man.He saide on hie “my Children dere,and proposed to themYe wote wel, howe it is;456Ayenst the Sarisyns, þat nowe be here,We mowe not longe endure I-wis.Thay brekene oure walles, oure Toures alle[leaf 12]With caste of his Engyne.460Therefore here amongeyoupright letter u with hookalleYe shalle here counsaile myne.Thai bene withdrawe to here Oost,104And on-armede thay ben alle.464Therfore, me thenketh, is besteto attempt a sallyTo-morowe erly on hem to falle.with 20,000 men, toWe have xxxtithousande men;attack the enemyTwenty thousande shal go witħ me,468before day-breakAnd in this Cite leve tenwithin their camp,To governe the comynalte.”and to leave 10,000The Senatouris assentede sonefor the guard of theAnd saide, betermyghte no man seyne.472city. The senatorsOn the morowe this was it done105;assented.God bringe hem wele home agayne.In the morningThe Pope did display thanthe Pope displayedThe hie baner of Rome,476the banner of Rome,And he assoiled everymaupright letter n with macronThrougħ gracious god in Dome.He praide of helpe andsocouletter r with right hook, uprightand after a prayerSeinte Petir and Poule also480for the preservationAnd oure lady, þat swete floure,of the city,To saue the Cite of Rome from woo.they marched out.Forth thairideupright letter n with macrontowarde the Oost.But Ferumbras, goingFerumbras romede a-boute;484his rounds,
‹p015›FERUMBRAS DRAWS UP THE SARACEN TROOPS.
He saw the Romaynescomeupright letter n with macronby the Cost,106discovered theirThereof he hade grete dowte.coming,He blewe an horne, of bras it was;sounded the alarm,The Sarsynsbe-goupright letter n with macronto wake.488“Arise vp” he saide in aras,107“We bene elles alle I-take,And Armes anone, every wight,To horse with spere and shelde!492Ye may se here aferefuupright letters ll with middle tildesighteOf oure enemyes in the felde.Astopars,108goo ye biforne vs,and drew up hisFor ye be men of myghte;496troops.Ethiopes, Assayneȝ and Askalous,Go nexte afore my sighte.My Fadir and I with Babyloynes,Ho109shal kepe the rerewarde.500KingLukafeletter r with right hook, uprightwith Baldeseynes,To venge alle, shalle have the Fowarde.”[leaf 13]The Romaynes aspied, þat thai were wareOf here comyngethaupright letter n with macron,504And therfore hade thay moche care.Natheles on hemthaigoupright letter n with macron—Seinte Petir be here socoure!—And laiden on side, bake andboupright letter n with macron.508There bigan a sturdy shoureThere began a hardSire110Ferumbras of Alisaundreooupright letter n with macron,111struggle.That bolde man was in dede,Vppon a steede Cassaundre gaye,512He roode in riche Weede.Sire Bryer of Poyle a Romayne to frayeFerumbras slew SirHe bare through witħ a spere,Bryer of ApuliaDede to the grounde ther helaupright letter n with macron516Might he no more hem dere!
‹p016›A GREAT MANY ARE SLAIN ON EITHER SIDE.
That sawe Huberte, a worthy man,Howe Briere wasI-slayupright letter n with macron,Ferumbras to qwitethaupright letter n with macron520To him he rode fuleveupright letter n with macron.With a spere vppone his sheldeþaupright letter n with macronStifly ganne he strike;The shelde he brake I-myddis the feelde;524His Hawberke wolde not breke.Many goode strokes were delte.Ferumbras was a-greved tho,He smote with mayne and mygħte528and the worthy Hubert.The nekke asonder, the ventayle also,That dede he sate vprighte.There was bataile harde and stronge;Many a steede wente ther a-straye,532And leyen at the grounde I-stonge,That resyn never aftyr that day,IX thousand of the payens pride9000 pagans wereThat day wereslayupright letter n with macron,536killed,And viij thousande of the Romaynes side,and 8000 Romans.That in the feelde dede layne.Lukafere, þat paynym proude,Lukafer destroyedSlough Romaynes eyȝtene,540eighteen Romans,Ofwerletter r with right hook, uprightmoche sorowe he coude,he also slew Gyndard,His strokes were over alle sene.a senator of Rome,Gyndarde, a Senatoure of Rome,who had slain tenHad slayne Sarsenysteupright letter n with macron,544[leaf 14] Saracens.Tille he met with the cursed gome,Lukifere slough him than.Tho come the Pope with grete aray,Then came the PopeHis baner to-fore him wente.548with a great guardFerumbras thangaupright letter n with macronto assaye,and his banner beforeIf he myght that praye entente,him.Supposynge in this though[t]e,Ferumbras, supposingTher was the souerayne;552him to be theHe spared him therfore rigħt nogħt,sovereign,
‹p017›FERUMBRAS ENCOUNTERS THE POPE.
But bare himdowupright letter n with macronther in þeplayupright letter n with macron.burst open the thickAnooupright letter n with macronhe sterte on him all anecrowd and threw himHis Ventayle for to onlace,556down to the ground.And saugh hiscrowupright letter n with macronnewe shafe,But seeing hisA-shamed thanne he was.tonsure, he was“Fye, preest, god gyfe the sorowe!ashamed.What doist thou armede in the feelde,560“Fie, priest,”That sholdest saie thi matyns on morwe,he said, “whatWhat doistthoupright letter u with hookwitħ spere and shelde?doest thou in theI hoped,thoupright letter u with hookhadistebeupright letter n with macronan Emperoure,battle-field?Or a Cheftayne of this Ooste here,564Or some worthy conqueroure.Go home and kepe thyQweletter r with right hook, upright!Shame it were to me certayneIt would be a shameTo sle the in this bataile,568for me to slay thee.Therfore turne the homeagayupright letter n with macron!”Go home and think ofThe Pope was gladdeþer-of certayne,112thy choir-service!”He wente home to Rome that nyghtThe Pope retired withWitħ Five thousande and no more,5725000 men,XV thousande lefte in the feelde aplight,15,000 being killed.Full grete sorowe was therfore.NOwe telle we of themessangeletter r with right hook, upright,That wente to Charlemayne,576Charlemagne, havingCertyfyinge him by lettres dere,learned from theHowe the Romaynes were slayne,messenger the greatAnd howe the Contrey brente wasdisaster which hadVnto the Gate of Rome,580befallen the Romans,And howe the people song ‘alas,’Tille socoure from him come.“Who” quod Charles, that worthy kinge,said, he would not“TheSowdoupright letter n with macronand Ferumbras?584desist until he hadI nyl lette for no thinge,[leaf 15] chased theTill I him oute of Cristendome chace.soudan and FerumbrasTherefore Gy ofBurgoyupright letter n with macron,out of Christendom.Mynne owen nevewe so trewe,588
‹p018›THE SARACENS AGAIN ATTACK THE CITY.
Take a thausande pounde of Frankis fyne,He gave 1000 poundsTo wage wytħ the pepul newe.of francs to hisTake this with the nowe at this tyme,nephew Guy ofAnd more I wole sende the,592Burgundy,Loke that thou spare no hors ne shelde,and sent him off withBut þat he dede be;orders to advanceAnd faste hye the thyderwarde,against the soudan byFor I drede thay haue grete nede,596forced marches.And I shalle come aftirwardeHimself would followAs faste, as I may me spede.”as soon as possible.SPeke we of SirLabaupright letter n with macronAnd let Charles and Gy be,600Howe he ordeyned for hemthaupright letter n with macronTo Distroye Rome Citee.“SirLukafeletter r with right hook, upright,thou madiste thi boostLaban remindedToconqueletter r with right hook, uprightthe Romaynes604Lukafer of hisAnd to bringe me the Oostevaunting promise toOf the xij peris and Charlemayne.bring him CharlemagneVppoupright letter n with macronacondicioupright letter n with macronI graunte theand his douzepeers,My doghter, dere Dame Floripas.608in return for hisWherefore, I aske nowe of thedaughter Floripas.To holde covenaunte in this cas.”“That I saide” quod Lucafere,Lukafer said, he“To Mahounde I make a vowe612would do all he hadTo done al þat I hight thetheletter r with right hook, upright,promised.Ye and more than113for Florip love.”He ordeyned assaute anone in hasteWith 10,000 men heWith x thousande men and moo;616attacked the city onAnd Ferumbras at that oþerside fasteone side, the otherAssailed hem with grete woo.being assaulted byThe saute endured al þat dayeFerumbras. The combatFrom morowe, tille it was nyght,620continues as long asTo throwe and shete by euery waye,daylight lasts. AtWhile that hem endured the light.night they retired toTho wente thai home tothailetter r with right hook, uprighttentys,their tents.
‹p019›THEY ENTER ROME BY TREASON.