🧚 Of the Treachery of King John

King Charles said to his knights and barons, "See now how this villain Reynaud has deceived me, and carried away my crown.1 Devise some means by which I may recover that which I have lost." "2 You must besiege," said the Duke Naymes, "his castle of Montalban."3 So the King gathered together a great army, so great indeed that provisions failed them.4 After Easter he set out from Paris, and in due time came to Reynaud's castle, Montalban.5

The King had made Roland captain of his host.6 When Roland therefore saw the castle, he being even overbold, said to the King, "Let us assault this place without delay."7 But the King answered, "Not so, we will first try them, whether they will yield up the place peaceably."8 He sent therefore a messenger who should say to Reynaud, "The King bids you yield up your castle and also your brother Richard.9 If you refuse he will take it by force, and hang up both you and him."10 Reynaud answered, "I am not one that betrays friends.11 But if the King will assure to us our lives and our castle we will yield ourselves to him."12 To this the King would not consent.13 Therefore he besieged the place meaning to reduce it by famine, for he perceived that it could not be taken by force.14

It fell on a certain day that Roland, seeing that there were many birds by the river, was minded to go hawking.15 So he went with Oliver his comrade (this Oliver was a very noble knight, and a close friend to Roland) and a company of knights, the bravest of the host.16 This was seen by a certain spy, who told it to Reynaud and Mawgis.17 Mawgis said, "Cousin, you will do well to attack the King's host, for they are not thinking of battle."18 So these two issued forth from the castle and four thousand knights with them.19

Turpin the Archbishop[1] was in charge of the King's host.20 When he saw the enemy come forth from the castle, he was not a little troubled.21 First he called to Ogier the Dane that he should arm himself, and afterwards to the other barons and knights that they should make ready for battle.22

[1] The real Turpin was, it would seem, Tilpin, Archbishop of Rheims from 754 to 794.23 We do not know that Tilpin was a warrior, but his predecessor, Milo by name, is said to have been a "warrior clerk," and as such to have been put into the archbishopric by Charles Martel.24

First Reynaud slew a certain knight of the King's army.25 When Turpin the Archbishop saw this he spurred his horse against Reynaud.26 The two met with so great force that the spears of both were broken in pieces; but Reynaud being the quicker to draw his sword dealt the Archbishop so grievous a blow that both he and his horse were well-nigh brought to the ground.27 Then cried Reynaud, "Father, are you that Turpin that boasts himself so much?28 By my faith you were better singing mass in some church than fighting with me."29 The Archbishop was much angered at these words, and made at Reynaud with all his might.30 But neither he nor Ogier the Dane nor any one of the King's men could hold their ground that day against the sons of Aymon.31 And when Mawgis and his knights came forth from the wood where they lay in ambush, and assailed the King's host on the flank, then the Frenchmen fled, not without great loss, especially at the crossing of the river.32 The knights from Montalban pursued them for a mile or so, and Mawgis took the golden dragon that was on Roland's tent (for Roland had not yet come back from hawking) and set it on the great tower of Montalban, so that all men might see it.33 When the King saw it he said, "Now has Roland taken the fortress of these villains."34 But when he knew the truth, he was well-nigh beside himself with rage.35

Meanwhile King John was not a little troubled in mind.36 For he said to himself, "How will these things end?37 These five knights, for all that they are brave warriors, cannot always prevail against the power of the King."38 So he called his barons to a council, and demanded their advice.39 One said one thing, and another another, but the greater part had little love for Reynaud.40 Of these a certain old man that was called Earl Antony was the spokesman.41 He said, "I know this Reynaud, of how haughty a temper he is.42 His father had but a single town, and now he holds himself so high that he disdains to be the King's man.43 And now you have nourished his pride, giving him your sister to wife.44 And the end will be that he will take your kingdom from you, and have it for himself.45 If you would save yourself from such dishonour, deliver him and his brethren to the King."46

When King John saw that this counsel pleased the greater part of his barons, he was much troubled in mind, and wept for grief and shame.47 Nevertheless he called his secretary to him, and said, "Now write to the King and say that, if he will leave wasting my land, I will presently deliver to him the sons of Aymon and Mawgis their cousin.48 If he will send to Vancouleurs, there he will find them, clothed with mantles of scarlet trimmed with fur, and riding upon mules."49 So the secretary wrote according to these words in a letter, and gave the letter to a knight that he might take it to King Charles.50 When the King had read the letter, he was very glad.51 And he delivered to the messenger of the King a letter wherein he had written what it was in his mind to do, namely, to send Ogier the Dane with a company of knights who should take the brethren prisoner.52 Also he sent from his treasury four mantles of scarlet, trimmed with fur.53

When King John had received the letter with the mantles, he commanded a hundred knights to make themselves ready to ride with him to the Castle of Montalban.54 When he was come to the castle his sister came forth to greet him, but when she would have kissed him, as her custom was, he turned his face aside, saying, "Pardon me, my sister, I have an ill tooth that troubles me sore."55 Not long after the brethren came back to the castle, and when they heard that the King was there, they took each his horn and sounded a welcome.56 When the King heard the sound, he thought no little shame of himself, yet did not turn from his purpose.57 When he saw the brethren, he said to them, "I have spoken for you to King Charles, and he has promised that if you will go to the plain of Vancouleurs riding on mules, clad in scarlet mantles which I will presently give you, with flowers in your hands and without arms, he will make peace with you.58 For as soon as you shall cast yourselves at his feet, he will pardon you and give you again your lands."59

There was not a little debate among the brethren on this matter, for Reynaud was minded to go, but the others were unwilling.60 The wife of Reynaud also was set against the journey, telling him of a terrible dream that she had dreamed. "61 I saw," she said, "a thousand wild boars come out of the forest of Ardennes.62 These fell upon you, and rent your body in pieces.63 I saw how Alard was slain by an arrow by Frenchmen, and how Richard was hanged on an apple tree." "64 Hold your peace," said Reynaud. "65 He that puts his trust in dreams has but little faith in God.66 Think you that your brother will betray us?67 Does he not send eight of his chief barons with us for surety."68 To his brethren he said, "If you are fearful then will I go alone."69

So the four went their way to Vancouleurs, not without fears, for Reynaud himself doubted to what the matter might grow.70 Now the plain of Vancouleurs was a solitary place, where four ways met, with forests on every side, in which forests, by command of the King, many hundreds of knights lay in ambush, ready to issue forth and fall upon the brethren.71 Of these knights Ogier the Dane was the chief, and was not a little in doubt how he should bear him, for on the one hand he was near of kin to the brethren, and on the other he was bound in duty to perform the command of the King.72 Sometimes he was inclined one way, and sometimes another.73 First he suffered the brethren to pass unharmed when he might have taken them at a disadvantage in a narrow road; afterwards, when they were in the plain, he himself led his knights against them.74