Lyf of the noble and Crysten prynce, Charles the Grete / translated from the French by William Caxton and printed by him 1485 ; edited from the unique copy in the British Museum by Sidney J.H. Herrtage

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Editors :	Caxton, William, ca. 1422-1491., Herrtage, Sidney J. H. (Sidney John Hervon)
Title:	Lyf of the noble and Crysten prynce, Charles the Grete / translated from the French by William Caxton and printed by him 1485 ; edited from the unique copy in the British Museum by Sidney J.H. Herrtage
Rights/Permissions:	The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes. These materials are in the public domain. If you have questions about the collection, please contact mec-info@umich.edu. If you have concerns about the inclusion of an item in this collection, please contact libraryit-info@umich.edu. Rights Statement: No Copyright
Transcribed from:	Lyf of the noble and Crysten prynce, Charles the Grete Caxton, William, ca. 1422-1491., ed. Herrtage, Sidney J. H. (Sidney John Hervon), ed. London, New York, Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1880-1881
URL:	https://name.umdl.umich.edu/CharlesG

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INTRODUCTION.

CAXTON'S INTRODUCTION.

¶ Here begynnen the chapytres & tytles of this book folowyng̛ nombred for to fynde the more lyghtly the mater therin comprised̛.

Book I

Part i

Of the kynges of fraunce paynyms vnto kyng' cloys the first cristen kyng: capitulo primo

¶ How the kyng clodoneus paynym had' to wyf the noble doughter of the kynge of burgoyne: capitulo ij

¶ How kyng' Cloys was admonested' by the quene clotildis affectuously that he shold' byleue in the crysten fayth, and' other maters: capitulo iij

¶ How the kyng' Cloys was vyctoryous of hys enemyes by cause he byleued' in Ihesu Cryste: Capitulo iiij

¶ How the kyng' was baptysed' by saynt Remyge, & in hys baptesme by myracle was brouȝt the holy ampulle by an aungel fro heuen wherof euer after all the kynges of Fraunce been enoynted' in theyr conse-cracyon atte cyte of Raynes: capitulo v.

¶ The second' partye of the first book conteyneth fyue chapytres, and' speketh of the begynnyng' of kyng' Pepyn And' Charlemayn hys sone.

¶ How Pepyn by his prudence was chosen kyng' of Fraunce when the lygnage of kyng cloys faylled' in successyon: ca. j

¶ Of kyng Charles after that he had' maad' many constytucyons wyth the Pope Adryan, & how he was emperour of Rome: capitulo ij

¶ Of the corpulence of kynge Charles, and' of the maner of hys lyung': capitulo iij

¶ To what thynge kyng Charles hys sone and hys doughters were Instructe and' taughte to doo: capitulo iiij

¶ Of thestudye of kyng charles, of hys lyuyng', of hys charytable werkes, and' other maters: capitulo v.

¶ The thyrd' parte of the fyrst book conteyneth thre chapytres, and' speketh how by reuelacion deuyne Charles delyuerd' the holy londe fro the honde of the paynyms.

¶ How the patryarke of Iherusalem sente to Charles for socours after that he was deiecte and' caste oute of the Turkes: capitulo primo.

¶ How Charles with a grete companye wente for to conquere the holy lande, and many other maters: capitulo ij

¶ Of the relyques that themperour charles brought fro constantynoble and' fro the holy londe, and' of the myracles that were doon: capitulo iij

¶ Here begynneth the ij book of thys present werke, whyche conteyneth thre partyes by chapytres folowyng' declared'.

¶ The fyrst partye of the second book conteyneth xvj chapytres and' speketh of the batayll doon by Olyuer & Fyerabras a meruayllous geaunte.

¶ How in a place which was called' mormyonde charles abode folowyng' the warre ayenst the paynems, after a lytel prologue.
¶ The fyrst chapytre.

¶ Of Fyerabras how he came to excyte thexcersyte of Charles: capitulo

¶ How Richard' of Normandye sayd' to Charles what maner man Fyerabras was: ca. iij

¶ Of the answer of Roulland to the Emperour sodeynlye and' what it was: capitulo iiij

¶ How the kyng charles and' Roulland' been repreued' by the auctour and' somwhat excused' vpon the debate aforesayd': ca. v

¶ How Olyuer was dysposed to fyght agenst Fyerabras, notwythstondyng that he was hurt, after many wordes: capitulo vj

¶ How Olyuer was requyred' by his fader reyner that he shold not fyght wyth the geaunt, but for al that he went forth: ca. vij

¶ How Olyuer spake to Fyerabras, whyche sette noo thynge by hym, with other disputacions: capitulo viij

¶ How after many dysputacyons Olyuer ayded' arme Fyerabras, and' of the ix meruayllous swerdes, And' how olyuer named' his name: ca. ix

¶ How Olyuer and' fyerabras began to fyȝt, & of the prayer of Charles for Olyuer, & of other maters: capitulo x

¶ How Olyuer made his prayer to god' whan he felte hym hurte: capitulo xj

¶ How after a grete bataylle Olyuer conquerd' the bawme & dranke therof at hys ease, and how he fyl to therthe whan hys hors was slayn: capitulo xij

¶ How Fyerabras and' Olyuer foughten togyder afote merveyllously, and' of the prayer that Charles maad' for Olyuer: capitulo

¶ How at thys bataylle Fyerabras was vanquysshed' by Olyuer after that he had' recouerd' one of the swerdes of fyerabras: capitulo

¶ How fyerabras beyng vaynquysshed' byleued' in god', and' how he was borne by Olyuer, And' how Olyuer was assaylled' of the sarasyns and tormented': capitulo xv

¶ How Olyuer was taken & blynfeld' pyteously, & myght not be socoured' by the Frensshe men: ca. xvj

The second' partye of the second' book conteyneth xvij chapytres & speketh of the tormente of the barons of fraunce, & how they that were taken spaken to ballant thadmyral of spayne.

¶ How Fyerabras was founden by Charles, and after was baptysed' and' heled' of his wonde: ca. primo

¶ How Olyuer & his felowes were presented' to ballant thadmyral and' cruelly passyoned in pryson: capitulo ij

¶ Of the pryson wherin that the Frensshe men were lodged', And how they were vysyted by the fayre Florypes doughter of the admyral, and' of the beaulte of hyr: ca. iij

¶ How the frensshe men were put oute of pryson and were vysyted' by the noble mayde Floripes and' of the beaulte of hyr chaumbre: capitulo iiij

¶ How kyng' charles sente to Ballant thadmyral, seuen peres of Fraunce whyche wold' not haue goon: capitulo v

¶ How the admyral sente xv kynges sarasyns to Charles for to haue ageyn fyerabras, which were recountred' by the peres of fraunce, and' slayn: capitulo vj

¶ Of the meruayllous bridge of Mantryble; of the trybute there payed' for to passe ouer, and' how wyth fayr wordes the frenssh men passed ouer the said brydge: capitulo vij

¶ How the barons came and' spake to the Admyrall, and' how they dyd' theyr message: capitulo viij

¶ How by the moyen of florypes al the frensshe men were saued', and' lodged' togydre, and' the relyques shewed', and other thynges: capitulo ix

¶ How Lucafer neuewe of the admyral vyolently entred' in to the chambre, & after was slayn of duc Naymes in blowyng of the cool: capitulo x

¶ How, by the counceyl of floripes, the frensshe men dyslodged' thadmyral fro his paleys wyth grete bataylle, and' how by enchauntement a gyrdle was taken awaye fro the douȝter: ca. xj

¶ How the barons were assyeged' in the toure wyth Florypes and hyr maydens, which suffred grete hungre, and' how the goddesby them were confounded': capitulo xij

¶ How the peres of Fraunce went out of the toure, and dyd a grete bataylle, In which they recouerd' twenty sommyers charged' of vytaylle: capitulo xiij

¶ How guy of bourgoyn was taken of the sarasyns, beten vylaynously, and' demaunded' of thadmyral, and the complayntes that Florypes made for hym, & other maters: capitulo xiiij

¶ How the paynyms had' purposed' to haue hanged' Guye of bourgoyne, seeyng' the crysten men, whyche socoured' hym myȝtely: capitulo xv

¶ How the peres of Fraunce aforesayd' were pourueyed' of vytaylles, and' after assyeged' and' foughten by the paynyms: ca. xvj

¶ How the toure was broken and' brente by enchauntement, & the barons in grete peryl of deth, and' restored' by assaulte maad' on the Paynyms: capitulo xvij

¶ Here begynneth the thyrd' partye of the second' book which conteyneth xvj chapytres, And' speketh how the barons of fraunce were socoured & the paynyms confused'.

¶ Of the moeuyng of the peres of fraunce for to goo shewe theyr affayres vnto kyng' Charles; And' how Rychard of Normandye was ordeyned' for to goo: capitulo primo

¶ How after that rychard was departed, kyng claryon, a ryght myghty kyng', ranne after hym, the whyche was slayn by the sayd' Rychard valyauntly, & of other thynges: capitulo ij

¶ How Rychards hors cam & passed' thurgh thexcersyte of the admyral, & was seen & knowen of the peres of Fraunce, in soo moche that they thought that duc Rychard' had' been deed'; & how the brydge of Mantryble was kepte: capitulo iij

¶ How rychard of normandye passed the ryuer of flagot by myracle, by the moyen of a whyt hert which cam tofore hym: iiij

¶ How charles was in purpoos to retorne, wythout goyng ony ferther, by the counceyl of ganellon traytour, and his felowes; & other maters: capitulo v

¶ How after the complaynte of Charles, Rychard come vnto hym, whyche tolde to hym thaffayres of the peres of Fraunce: capitulo vj

¶ How by the moyen & counceyl of Rychard of Normandye, wyth iij other barons, the strong brydge of mantryble was wonne, not wythoute grete payne; And what maner man galafre was: capitulo vij

¶ How by force and' strengthe of bataylle Charles entred' in to mantryble, after that Galafre was slayn, not wythstondyng' that alory the traytre was contrarye to hym; and' many other maters: capitulo viij

¶ How Amyotte, a geantesse, wyth a sythe greued' gretely the crysten men, and' how hyr two sones were baptysed of the Emperour Charles: capitulo ix

¶ How the peres of Fraunce were assaylled' more strongely than euer they were, And' the toure quasi put to therthe, and' recomforted' by the holy relyques, by them adoured, and other maters: capitulo x

¶ How the peres of Fraunce had' tydynges of thoost of charles, and' the admyral also; and' how Ganellon bare hym merueyllously, which allone was sente to the admyral, and' what he dyd': capitulo x

¶ How Charles emperour ordeyned' ten bataylles, and how they dyd' & were recountred' of the puyssaunce of the admyral, where as themperour dyd' meruaylles, and' of other maters: capitulo xij

¶ How in thys bataylle folowyng', Sortybrant was slayne by Reyner, fader of Olyuer, and after how thadmyral dyd' meruaylles and' grete ennoye to the frensshe men: capitulo xiij

¶ How the peres of Fraunce whyche were in the toure came oute whan they sawe the hoost, & how thadmyral was taken & holden prysonner: capitulo xiiij

¶ How ballant, thadmyrall, for ony admonycyon that was shewed' to hym, wold not be baptysed, and how after, guy of bourgoyn espoused florypes, & was crowned kyng, and she quene of that contreye: capitulo xv

¶ How Florypes delyuerd the reliques to themperour, and how they were proued' by myracle, & of the retournyng' of Charles, and of the ende of thys book.

¶ Here begynneth the iij book, whyche conteyneth two partyes, by the chapytres folowyng declared'.

¶ The fyrst partye of the thyrd book conteyneth xiiij chapytres, and speketh of the warres made in spayne, and' of two meruayllous geauntes.

¶ How Saynt Iames appyered' to Charles, and how, by the moyen and' the conduyte of the sterres, he went in to galyce, & what cytees he subdued: ca. j

¶ Of the cytees goten in espayne by charles, & how somme were by hym destroyed'.

¶ Of the grete ydole that was in a cyte, whyche coude not be smyton doun, and of the condycyons and' sygnes therof: ca. iij

¶ Of the chyrche of saynt Iames in galyce, and' of dyuers other whyche Kyng' Charles founded: capitulo iiij

¶ How, after that Aygolant the geaunt had taken spayne & put to deth the crysten people, Charles recouerd' it, and' other maters: capitulo v

¶ How Aygolant sent to charles that he shold' come to hym trustely for to make Iust warre, and' how Charles in habyte dyssymyled' spake to hym, and' of other maters: capitulo vj

¶ How Charles, accompanyed with moche peple, retorned' in to the place aforesayd & toke the cyte of agenne, & other maters: vij

¶ Of the vertuous operacions that charles made whan he was retorned' in to fraunce, & what barons he had' in hys companye, & of theyr puyssaunce: ca. viij

¶ Of the tryews of Charles & of Aygolant, and of the deth of hys peple, & wherfore aygolant was not baptysed': capitulo ix

¶ Of the deth of aygolant and of his peple, & how moche crysten peple were slayn by concupyscence of syluer, & of crysten men founden dede by myracle: x

¶ Of feragus the merueyllous geaunt, how he bare alwaye wyth hym the barons of fraunce wyth out daunger, & how Roulland' faught wyth hym: capitulo xj.

¶ How on the morne rolland' and' Feragus foughten & dysputeden the fayth, and by what moyen Feragus was slayn by Roulland': capitulo xij

¶ How Charles went to Cordube, where the kyng of the same place and' the kyng' of Cybylle abode, for their destructyon: ca. xiij

¶ How the chyrche of Saynt Iames was halowed by tharchebysshop Turpyn, & the chyrches of spayne subgettes therto, and' of other pryncypal chyrches: capitulo xiiij

¶ The second' parte of the thyrd book conteyneth x chapytres, & speketh of the treason made by ganellon, and' of the deth of the pyeres of Fraunce.

¶ How the treason was comprysed' by Ganellon, and of the deth of crysten men, & how ganellon is repreuyd by thauctour: capitulo primo

¶ Of the deth of kyng Marfurius, and' how Roulland' was hurt wyth foure speres mortally after that al his peple were slayn: capitulo: ij

¶ How Rolland deyed' holyly, after many martyres & orysons made to god ful deuoutely, & of the complaynte maad' for hys swerde durandal: capitulo iij

¶ Of the vysyon of the deth of Roulland', and' of the sorowe of Charles, and' how he complayned' hym pyetously, & other maters: capitulo iiij

¶ How Olyuer was founden slayn, and' of the deth of the sarasyns, & of the deth of ganellon, whyche was hydous: capitulo v

¶ How after the thynges afore sayd' charles gaf thankynges & preysynges to god & saynt Denys, & of the constytucions that he made in fraunce: capitulo vj

¶ How Charles wente in to Almayne, where he deyed' holyly, And of hys deth shewed to Turpyn, and' of hys buryeng' Imperyally: capitulo vij

¶ The recapitulacion of alle thys werke, & of his deth at Acon, & of hys sepulture: capitulo viij

¶ Thexcusacyon of thauctour. ix

¶ Thenuoye of thauctour: ca. x

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