🧚 Of What Befell At Montalban

There was great trouble and wondering when the brethren knew that Mawgis was not in Montalban.1 So they called the porter and asked him what he knew.2 The porter said, "Sir Mawgis went out on Bayard; in a little while he came back, having a man of great stature on the horse's neck before him, and went into the castle.3 Then he came forth again, poorly clad and on another horse.4 More than this I know not."5

When Richard heard this he gnashed his teeth for anger, saying, "All this comes of the hatred that the King bears to us and to our kindred.6 Fain would I slay him," and he made as if he would draw his sword from the scabbard.7 But the others held him back, and they reasoned with him till he had promised to do no hurt to the King.8

When they told what had happened to Roland and the other Barons they were not a little astonished, and Ogier the Dane said, "All this trouble comes through the King's rage against the brethren, for indeed it is beyond all measure.9 But now I trust there will be peace.10 In very truth there has been war too long, and many good knights have been slain."11

And now the charm that Mawgis had laid upon the King came to an end, and he woke out of his sleep.12 And when he knew that he was in the castle of Montalban, being aware that this was of Mawgis's doing, he was yet more angry than before, saying that there should be no peace till Mawgis should be delivered to him.13

When Richard heard him speak in this fashion he said, "Do you threaten us, Sire, in this fashion, being a prisoner and in our power?"14 But Reynaud said, "Be silent, my brother; let the King say what he will; 'tis for us to pray that he make peace with us."15 Then the brethren and all the knights and Barons that were there, whether of one party or of the other, fell upon their knees before the King, and begged that he would make peace, but the King hardened his heart, saying, "There shall be no peace till Mawgis be delivered to my will."16

Reynaud said, "My lord King, if you had my three brothers in your power, and were about to hang them, even then would I not deliver Mawgis to you.17 But besides this I know not where he is." "18 I do believe that he is in this very place," said the King. "19 I swear by my baptism," cried Reynaud, "that this is not so, and I know not whither he is gone."20

Then again all the Barons made intercession with the King that he would grant peace to the brethren, and to Mawgis.21 But the King did not abate in his wrath by one jot. "22 I will have Mawgis, that I may work my will upon him."23

When Reynaud heard these words he rose up from his knees, for before he had been kneeling to the King, and said, speaking to Roland and to the other lords that were of the King's part, "Seeing that the King has hardened his heart, and will have no mercy on me and my kinsmen, I do call you to witness that I will henceforth seek my right by all means that a true knight may lawfully use."24 Then he turned him to the King and said, "You may go in peace when you will, I will do you no hurt, for you are my sovereign lord."25

When the King's Barons heard these words they were not a little astonished, not thinking that any man could deal so generously with his enemy.26 As for Richard, he was greatly displeased, and said, "Now have you let the enemy go; I fear me much that we shall all pay for this ill courtesy that you have shown to him with our lives."27 But Reynaud answered, "Be silent, brother; know that I will not compel the King to do that which is against his will.28 And now depart from my sight, for your high words please me not."29

Then Reynaud called to him a gentleman of his household, and said, "Go now without any tarrying to the yeoman that has charge of my horses and bid him bring me Bayard.30 I will that my sovereign lord should ride back upon him to his camp; better horse he could not have."31 So the yeoman brought Bayard, and the King mounted upon him and rode him to his camp, where the Frenchmen very gladly received him.32

The King bade a squire take Bayard back to Montalban, whom, when Reynaud saw, he said to Roland and the other Barons, "My good lords, I know that the King is displeased with you for your love of me.33 Now therefore depart and make your peace with him.34 As for me, if I have aught against you, I forgive it with all my heart."35

When the Duke Naymes heard these words, he would have kneeled to Reynaud, but this good knight would not suffer it.36 Then said the Duke, "Surely it cannot but be that the King's heart will be softened when he shall hear how nobly Reynaud has borne himself in this matter." "37 You say well," said the other Barons.38

Then there were brought from the stables Roland's horse and the horses of the others.39 When they were now mounted there came forth from the palace the Lady Clare, and said to them, "My lords, I do entreat you to make peace, if by any means it may be done, between the King and my husband, for indeed he bears a large heart, as you very well know."40 And the Duke Naymes answered, "Lady, we will do it if it may be."41 So he and his fellows took their leave of Reynaud and the Lady Clare with much sorrow, and rode to the King's camp.42

The Barons made intercession to the King that he would accord peace to Reynaud, but he would not hear, but rather was more inflamed with anger than before against him and his kinsmen.43 First, he bade his men make an assault upon the castle.44 This they did with great zeal, bringing engines wherewith to cast stones and darts against it, and setting ladders against the walls by which they climbed up to the highest parts.45 But all these things availed nothing, but rather turned to the damage of the King's men, of whom many were wounded and slain.46

When the King perceived that he could not prevail in this way he bade his men cease from assaulting the castle, saying, "If I cannot take the hold of these villains by force I will take it by hunger."47 He set therefore at every gate two hundred knights, who suffered no man to go out or enter in.48

After a while there came to be a great famine in Montalban, so that a man could not buy food for silver or gold, and not a few perished with hunger.49

When knowledge of these things came to the King's ears he rejoiced greatly, saying to his Barons, "This time, methinks, Reynaud shall not escape me.50 By St. Denis, I will hang him, and drag the false Richard at a horse's tail, and deal with Alard and Guichard in the same way."51

But Roland and Ogier and the Duke Naymes were very sorry, and made supplication to the King, but he hardened his heart against them.52

In the castle the famine was so sore that Reynaud and his people could scarcely keep life in them.53 Then the Lady Clare said to her husband, "We have more than a hundred horses in the stables, let us, therefore, cause one of them to be slain, that you and I and the children may have a morsel of meat, for indeed we have not had aught for these three days past."54 And when she had so spoken she fell down in a swoon at her husband's feet.55

Then Reynaud went to the stables, and choosing one of the horses, commanded that it should be killed and dressed for food, and this was done, but it was a little thing among so many.56 And so they did till all the horses were eaten, save four, that is to say Bayard, and one horse of each of the brethren.57

At the last it came to this, that there was nothing left to eat but these four horses only.58 But Richard said, "My horse you shall not have, no, not though we die all of us.59 Verily we had not been brought to this pass but for our folly when we had the King in our hands and suffered him to go free."60 When the boy Aymon, that was son to Reynaud, heard this, he said, "What profits it, uncle, to speak of that which is past and gone?61 Besides this I do not doubt that the kindness which my father showed to the King will turn some day to his profit."62