THE HISTORY OF CHARLES THE GREAT
AND ORLANDO.
CHAPTER I.
Archbishop
Turpin’s Epistle to Leopander.
TURPIN, by the
grace of God, Archbishop of Rheims, the faithful companion of the Emperor
Charles the Great in Spain, to Leopander, Dean of Aix-la-Chapelle, greeting.
Forasmuch as you requested me to write to you from Vienne
(my wounds being now cicatrized) in what manner the Emperor Charles delivered
Spain and Gallicia from the yoke of the Saracens, you shall attain the
knowledge of many memorable events, and likewise of his praiseworthy trophies
over the Spanish Saracens, whereof I myself was eyewitness, traversing France
and Spain in his company for the space of forty years; and I hesitate the less
to trust these matters to your friendship, as I write a true history of his
warfare. For indeed all your researches could never have enabled you fully to
discover those great events in the Chronicles of St. Denis, as you sent me word:
neither could you for certain know whether the author had given a true relation
of those matters, either by reason of his prolixity, or that he was not himself
present when they happened. Nevertheless this book will agree with his history.
Health and happiness.
CHAPTER II.
How
Charles the Great delivered Spain and Gallicia from the Saracens.
THE most glorious
Christian Apostle St. James, when the other Apostles and Disciples of our Lord
were dispersed abroad throughout the whole world, is believed to have first
preached the gospel in Gallicia. After his martyrdom, his servants, rescuing
his body from King Herod, brought it by sea to Gallicia, where they likewise
preached the gospel. But soon after, the Gallicians, relapsing into great sins,
returned to their former idolatry, and persisted in it till the time of Charles
the Great, Emperor of the Romans. French, Germans, and other nations. Charles
therefore, after prodigious toils in Saxony, France, Germany, Lorraine,
Burgundy, Italy, Brittany, and other countries; after taking innumerable cities
from sea to sea, which he won by his invincible arm from the Saracens, through
divine favour; and after subjugating them with great fatigue of mind and body
to the Christian yoke, resolved to rest from his wars in peace.
But observing the
starry way in the heavens, beginning at the Friezeland sea, and passing over
the German territory and Italy, between Gaul and Aquitaine, and from thence in
a straight line over Gascony, Bearne, and Navarre, and through Spain to Gallicia,
wherein till his time lay undiscovered the body of St. James; when night after
night he was wont to contemplate it, meditating upon what it might signify, a
certain beautiful resplendent vision appeared to him in his sleep, and,
calling him son, inquired what he was attempting to discover. At which Charles
replied, “Who art thou, Lord?” “I am,” answered the vision, “St. James the
Apostle, Christ’s disciple, the son of Zebedee, and brother of John the
Evangelist, whom the Lord was pleased to think worthy, in his ineffable
goodness, to elect on the sea of Galilee to preach the gospel to his people,
but whom Herod the King slew. My body now lies concealed in Gallicia, long so
grievously oppressed by the Saracens, from whose yoke I am astonished that you,
who have conquered so many lands and cities, have not yet delivered it.
Wherefore I come to warn you, as God has given you power above every other
earthly prince, to prepare my way, and rescue my dominions from the Moabites,
that so you may receive a brighter crown of glory for your reward. The starry
way in the heavens signifies that you, with a great army, will enter Gallicia
to fight the Pagans, and, recovering it from them, will visit my church and
shrine; and that all the people from the borders of the sea, treading in your
steps, will ask pardon of God for their sins, and return in safety, celebrating
his praise; that you likewise will acknowledge the wonders he hath done for you
in prolonging your life to its present span. Proceed then as soon as you are
ready; I am your friend and helper; your name shall become famous to all
eternity, and a crown of glory shall be your reward in heaven.”
Thus did the
blessed Apostle appear thrice to the Emperor, who, confiding in his word,
assembled a great army, and entered Spain to fight the infidels.
CHAPTER III.
Of
the Walls of Pampeluna, that fell of themselves.
THE first city
Charles besieged was Pampeluna; he invested it three months, but was not able
to take it, through the invincible strength of the walls. He then made this
prayer to God: “O Lord Jesus Christ, for whose faith I am come hither to fight
the Pagans; for thy glory’s sake deliver this city into my hands; and O blessed
St. James, if thou didst indeed appear to me, help me to take it.” And now God
and St. James, hearkening to his petition, the walls utterly fell to the ground
of themselves; but Charles spared the lives of the Saracens that consented to
be baptized; the rest he put to the edge of the sword. The report of this
miracle induced all their countrymen to surrender their cities, and consent to
pay tribute to the Emperor. Thus was the whole land soon subdued.
The Saracens were amazed to see the French well clothed,
accomplished in their manners and persons, and strictly faithful to their
treaties; they gave them therefore a peaceful and honourable reception,
dismissing all thoughts of war. The Emperor, after frequently visiting the
shrine of St. James, came to Ferrol, and, fixing his lance in the sea, returned
thanks to God and the Apostle for having brought him to this place, though he
could then proceed no further.
The Pagan nations,
after the first preaching of St. James and his disciples, were converted by
Archbishop Turpin, and by the grace of God baptized; but those who refused to embrace
the faith were either slain or made slaves by the Christians. Turpin then
traversed all Spain from sea to sea.
CHAPTER IV.
Of
the idol Mahomet.
THE Emperor utterly
destroyed the idols and images in Spain, except the idol in Andalusia, called
Salamcadis. Cadis properly signifies the place of an island, but in Arabic it
means God. The Saracens had a tradition that the idol Mahomet, which they
worshipped, was made by himself in his lifetime; and that by the help of a
legion of devils it was by magic art endued with such irresistible strength,
that it could not be broken. 1f any Christian approached it he was exposed to
great danger; but when the Saracens came to appease Mahomet, and make their
supplications to him, they returned in safety. The birds that chanced to light
upon it were immediately struck dead.
There is, moreover, on the margin of the sea an ancient
stone excellently sculptured after the Saracenic fashion; broad and square at
the bottom, but tapering upward to the height that a crow generally flies,
having on the top an image of gold, admirably cast in the shape of a man,
standing erect, with a certain great key in his hand, which the Saracens say
was to fall to the ground immediately after the birth of a King of Gaul, who
would overrun all Spain with a Christian army, and totally subdue it. Wherefore
it was enjoined them, whenever that happened, to fly the country, and bury
their jewels in the earth,
CHAPTER V.
Of
the Churches the King built.
CHARLES remained
three years in these parts, and with the gold given him by the kings and
princes greatly enlarged the church of the blessed St. James, appointing an
Abbot and Canons of the order of St. Isidore, martyr and confessor, to attend
it: he enriched it likewise with bells, books, robes, and other gifts. With the
residue of the immense quantity of gold and silver, he built many churches on
his return from Spain; namely, of the blessed Virgin in Aix-la-Chapelle, of St.
James in Thoulouse, and another in Gascony, between the city commonly called
Aix, after the model of St. John’s at Cordova, in the Jacobine road; the church
likewise of St. James at Paris, between the river Seine and Montmartre, besides
founding innumerable abbeys in all parts of the world.
CHAPTER VI.
Of
the King’s Return to France, and of Argolander, King of the Africans.
AFTER the King’s
return from Spain, a certain Pagan King, called Argolander, recovered the whole
country with his army, driving the Emperor’s soldiers from the towns and
garrisons, which led him to march back his troops, under their General, Milo de
Angleris.
CHAPTER VII.
Of
the false Executor.
BUT the judgment inflicted on a false executor deserves to
be recorded, as a warning to those who unjustly pervert the alms of the
deceased. When the King’s army lay at Bayonne, a certain soldier, called
Romaricus, was taken grievously ill, and, being at the point of death, received
the eucharist and absolution from a priest, bequeathing his horse to a certain
kinsman, in trust, to dispose of for the benefit of the priest and the poor.
But when he was dead his kinsman sold it for a hundred pence, and spent the
money in debauchery. But how soon does punishment follow guilt Thirty days had
scarcely elapsed when the apparition of the deceased appeared to him in his
sleep, uttering these words: “How is it you have so unjustly misapplied the
alms entrusted to you for the redemption of my soul? Do you not know they
would have procured the pardon of my sins from God? I have been punished for
your neglect thirty days in fire; to-morrow you shall be plunged in the same
place of torment, but I shall be received into Paradise,” The apparition then
vanished, and his kinsman awoke in extreme terror.
On the morrow, as
he was relating the story to his companions, and the whole army was conversing
about it, on a sudden a strange uncommon clamour, like the roaring of lions,
wolves, and calves, was heard in the air, and immediately a troop of demons
seized him in their talons, and bore him away alive. What further? Horse and
foot sought him four days together in the adjacent mountains and valleys to no
purpose; but the twelfth day after, as the army was marching through a desert
part of Navarre, his body was found lifeless, and dashed to pieces, on the
summit of some rocks, a league above the sea, about four days’ journey from the
city. There the demons left the body, bearing the soul away to hell. Let this
be a warning, then, to all that follow his example to their eternal perdition.
CHAPTER VIII.
Of
the War of the Holy Facundus, where the Spears grew.
CHARLES and Milo,
his General, now marched after Argolander into Spain, and found him in the
fields of the river, where a castle stands in the meadows, in the best part of
the whole plain, where afterwards a church was built in honour of the blessed
martyrs Facundus and Primitivus; where likewise their bodies rest, an abbey was
founded, and a city built. When the King’s army advanced, Argolander wished to
decide the contest by set combat between twenties, forties, hundreds,
thousands, or even by two champions only. Charles willingly consented, and
marched a hundred of his soldiers against a hundred Saracens, when all of them
were slain. Argolander then sent two hundred, who shared the same fate. Two
thousand were then led against two thousand, part of whom were slain, and the
rest fled. But on the third day Argolander cast lots, and, knowing that evil
fortune threatened the Emperor, sent him word he would draw out his whole army
on the open plain, on the morrow, which challenge was accepted.
Then did this
miracle happen. Certain of the Christians, who carefully had been furbishing
their arms against the day of battle, fixed their spears in the evening erect
in the ground before the castle in the meadow, near the river, and found them
early in the morning covered with bark and branches. Those, therefore, that
were about to receive the palm of martyrdom were greatly astonished at this
event, ascribing it to divine power. Then cutting off their spears close to the
ground, the roots that remained shot out afresh, and became lofty trees, which
may be still seen flourishing there, chiefly ash. All this denoted joy to the
soul, but loss to the body; for now the battle commenced, and forty thousand
Christians were slain, together with Milo, their General, the father of
Orlando. ‘The King’s horse was likewise slain under him; but Charles resolutely
continued the fight on foot, and with two thousand Christians gallantly hewed
his way through the Saracens, cleaving many of them asunder from the shoulders
to the waist.
The following day
both Christians and Saracens remained quietly in their camps, but the day after
four Marquisses brought four thousand fresh troops from Italy to the King’s
assistance; whereupon Argolander retreated with his army to Leon, and Charles
led back his forces to France.
And here it is proper to observe we should strive for
Christ’s blessing; for as the soldiers prepared their arms against the day of
battle, so we in like manner should prepare ours, namely, our virtues to resist
our passions. For he that would oppose faith to infidelity, brotherly love to
hatred, charity to avarice, humility to pride, chastity to lust, prayer to
temptation, perseverance to instability, peace to strife, obedience to a carnal
disposition, must fortify his soul with grace, and prepare his spear to
flourish against the day of judgment. Triumphant indeed will he be in heaven
who conquers on earth! As the King’s soldiers died for their faith, so should
we die to sin, and live in holiness in this world, that we may receive the palm
of glory in the next, which shall be the reward of those who fight manfully
against their three grand adversaries, the World, the Flesh, and the Devil.
CHAPTER IX.
Of
King Argolander’s Army.
ARGOLANDER now
assembled together innumerable nations of Saracens, Moors, Moabites, Parthians,
Africans, and Persians: Texephin, King of Arabia; Urabell, King of Alexandria;
Avitus, King of Bugia; Ospin, King of Algarve; Facin, King of Barbary; Ailis,
King of Malclos; Manuo, King of Mecca; Ibrahim, King of Seville; and Almanzor,
King of Cordova. Then, marching to the city of Agen, he took it, and sent word
to Charles he would give him sixty horse-load of gold, silver, and jewels, if
he would acknowledge his right to the sceptre. But Charles returned this
answer, “that he would acknowledge him no otherwise than by slaying him
whenever it should be his chance to meet him in battle.”
The Emperor had by this time approached within four miles of
Agen, when, secretly dismissing his army, he proceeded with only sixty
soldiers to the mountain near the city. There he left them, and changing his
dress, came with his shield reversed, after the custom of messengers in time of
war, accompanied by one soldier only to the city; and when the people inquired
his business, he informed them he had brought a message from King Charles to
Argolander, whereupon he was admitted into his presence, and addressed him in
these words: “My King bids me say, you may expect to see him, provided you will
come out with only sixty of your people to meet him.’ Now Argolander little
thought it was Charles himself to whom he was speaking, who all the while took
especial note of his person, and of the weakest parts of the walls of the city,
as well as of the auxiliary kings that were then within it. Argolander then
armed himself, and Charles rejoined his sixty soldiers, and soon after the two
thousand that at first accompanied him. But Argolander came out with seven
thousand men, thinking to slay the Emperor, but was himself compelled to fly.
The King then
recruited his army, and besieged the city for six months. On the seventh his
battering rams, wooden castles, and other engines, were ready to storm it; but
Argolander and the rest of the Kings made their escape in the night through the
common sewers, and, passing up the Garonne, got clear off. Charles entered the
city in triumph the next day, and slew ten thousand of the remaining Saracens.
CHAPTER X.
Of
the City of Xaintonge, where the Spears grew.
ARGOLANDER now came to Xaintonge, at that time under the
dominion of the Saracens; but Charles pursuing him, summoned him to restore the
city, which Argolander refused, resolving first to fight, and that it should
be the conqueror’s reward. But on the eve of battle, when the battering rams were
ready to attack the castle in the meadows, called Taleburg, and that part of
the city near the river Carenton, certain of the Christians fixed their spears
in the ground before the castle, and on the morrow found them covered with bark
and branches. Those therefore that were to receive the crown of martyrdom
perished in the fight, after slaying a multitude of the Saracens, namely, about
four thousand men. The King’s horse was likewise slain under him, but valiantly
placing himself at the head of his infantry, he slew so many of his enemies
that they were forced back into the city, which Charles invested on every side
but the river, through which Argolander made his escape, with the loss of the
Kings of Algarve and Bugia, and about four thousand of his army.
CHAPTER XI.
Of
Argolander’s Flight, and of the King’s Warriors.
ARGOLANDER fled
beyond the passes of the Pyrenees, and came to Pampeluna, where he sent Charles
word he would stay for him. Charles then returned to France, and with the
utmost diligence summoned his troops from all parts to his assistance,
proclaiming free pardon to all banished persons, on condition they would join
him against the Pagans. What further? He liberated all the prisoners; made the
poor rich; clothed the naked; reconciled the disaffected; bestowed honours on
the disinherited; preferred the most experienced to the best commands; making
friends of enemies, and associating both the civilized and the barbarian in the
war of Spain, uniting them through the favour of God in the bond of love. Then
did I, Turpin, absolve them from their sins, and give them my benediction.
These are the names
of the warriors that attended the King: — Turpin, Archbishop of Rheims, who by
the precepts of Christ, and for his faith’s sake, brought the people to fight
valiantly, fighting likewise himself hand to hand with the Saracens. Orlando,
General of the whole army, Count of Mans and Lord of Guienne, the King’s
nephew, son of Milo de Angleris and Bertha the King’s sister. His soldiers were
four thousand. Another Orlando likewise, of whom we are silent. Oliver, a
General also, and a valiant soldier, renowned for strength and skill in war,
led three thousand troops. Aristagnus, King of Brittany, seven thousand.
Another King of Brittany, of whom little mention is made. Angelerus, Duke of
Aquitaine, brought four thousand valiant bowmen. At this time likewise there
was in the city of Poictiers another Duke of Aquitaine, but Angelerus was the
son of Gascon, Duke of the city of Aquitaine, lying between Limorge, Bourges,
and Poictiers, which city Augustus Cæsar founded; and the rest of the cities,
as well as Xaintonge and Angoulême, with their provinces, were subject to it;
the whole country was also called Aquitaine. But after the death of its lord,
who perished with all his people in the fatal battle of Ronceval, it was never
fresh colonized, and fell utterly to ruin.
Gayfere, King of
Bordeaux, led three thousand warriors. Galerus, Galinus Solomon, Estolfo’s
friend and companion; Baldwin, Orlando’s brother, Galdebode, King of
Friezeland, led seven thousand heroes; Ocellus, Count of Nantes, two thousand,
who achieved many memorable actions, celebrated in songs to this day. Lambert,
Count of Berry, led two thousand men. Rinaldo of the White Thorn, Vulterinus Garinus,
Duke of Lorraine, four thousand. Hago, Albert of Burgundy, Berard de Miblis,
Gumard Esturinite, Theodoric, Juonius, Beringaire, Hato, and Ganalon, who
afterwards proved the traitor, attended the King into Spain. The army of the
King’s own territory was forty thousand horse and foot innumerable.
These were all famous heroes and warriors, mighty in battle,
illustrious in worldly honour, zealous soldiers of Christ, that spread his name
far and near, wherever they came. For even as our Lord and his twelve Apostles
subdued the world by their doctrine, so did Charles, King of the French and
Emperor of the Romans, recover Spain to the glory of God. And now the troops,
assembling in Bordeaux, overspread the country for the space of two days’
journey, and the noise they made was heard at twelve miles distance. Arnold of
Berlanda first traversed the pass of the Pyrenees, and came to Pampeluna. Then
came Astolfo, followed by Aristagnus; Angelerus, Galdebode, Ogier the King, and
Constantine, with their several divisions. Charles and his troops brought up
the rear, covering the whole land from the river of Rume to the mountains, that
lie three leagues beyond them on the Compostella road. They now halted for
eight days. In the interval Charles sent Argolander word, if he would restore
the city he had built, he would return home, or otherwise wage cruel war
against him: but Argolander, finding he could not keep possession of the city,
resolved to march out, rather than tamely perish in it. Charles then granted
him a truce to draw out his army and prepare for battle; expressing moreover
his willingness to see him face to face, as Argolander wished.
CHAPTER XII.
Of
the Truce, and of the Discourse between the King and Argolander.
A TRUCE thus being
granted, Argolander drew out his people from the city, and attended by sixty
guards came into the King’s presence, who was at this time encamped about a
mile from Pampeluna. The two armies occupied a spacious plain six miles square,
separated by the main road to Compostella. When Charles perceived Argolander,
he addressed him in these words:
“You are, then, he
that have fraudulently taken possession of my territories in Spain and
Gascony, which I conquered by the favour of God, and reduced to the faith of
Christ. You have perverted the princes from my allegiance, and slain the
Christians with the edge of the sword. Availing yourself of my return to Gaul,
you have destroyed my towns and castles, and laid waste the territory with fire
and sword. At present, therefore, you have the advantage of me.”
Now when Argolander
heard the King speak in the Arabic tongue, he was greatly pleased and
astonished, for Charles had learnt it in his youth in the city of Thoulouse,
where he had spent some time. Argolander then answered in these terms: “I
wonder you should reason thus, for the territory did not belong to you; neither
was it your father’s, grandfather’s, or great-grandfather’s. Why then did you
take possession of it?” “Because,” replied Charles, “our Lord Jesus Christ, the
creator of heaven and earth, elected us in preference to others, and gave us
dominion over all the earth: therefore I endeavoured to convert the Saracens to
the Christian faith.” — “It would be unworthy of us to submit to you,” rejoined
Argolander, “when our own faith is best. We have Mahomet, a prophet of God,
whose precepts we obey. Therefore we have a powerful God, who through his
prophet has declared his will, and by him we live and reign.” “O Argolander,”
said the King, “how widely do you err! You follow the vain precepts of a man;
we believe and worship Father, Son, and Holy Ghost: you worship mortal man.
After death our souls are received into Paradise, and enjoy everlasting life,
but yours descend to the abyss of hell. Wherefore our faith is evidently best. Accept
then baptism, or fight and perish.”
“Far be it from
me,” said Argolander, “to accept baptism, and deny Mahomet and my God! But I
will fight you on these terms: if your faith is best, you shall gain the
victory, otherwise heaven shall give it to me; and let shame be the portion of
the conquered, but eternal glory reward the conqueror. Furthermore, if my
people are subdued, and I survive the contest, I will receive baptism.”
These terms being
mutually agreed, twenty Christians were sent against twenty Saracens, and the
battle commenced. What further? Nearly all the Saracens fell. Forty were then
sent against forty, and they were defeated also. A hundred then fought
together; but the Saracens turned their backs from the face of the Christians,
and were all slain. Are not these Christians then types for us? Does it not
argue that we likewise should fight manfully against our sins; should face our
spiritual enemies, and never ignobly yield to them, since they will infallibly
lead us into perdition? He only, says the Apostle, shall receive the crown that
fights the good fight, and overcomes.
Two hundred Saracens were then sent out, and were all slain;
lastly a thousand, who shared the same fate. A truce being then granted,
Argolander promised to be baptized on the morrow with all his people, and,
calling his Kings and Captains together, told them his intention, to which they
likewise assented, few only refusing to follow his example.
CHAPTER XIII.
Of
the King’s Banquet, and of the Poor, at whom Argotander took so
great
Offence that he refused to be Baptized.
ON the third day
Argolander attended the King, as he promised, and found him at dinner. Many
tables were spread at which the guests were sitting; some in military uniform;
some in black; some in Priests’ habits; which Argolander perceiving, inquired
what they were?” Those you see in robes of one colour,” replied the King, “are
priests and bishops of our holy religion, who expound the gospel to us, absolve
us from our offences, and bestow heavenly benediction. Those in black are monks
and abbots; all of them holy men, who implore incessantly the divine favour in
our behalf.” But in the meantime Argolander espying thirty poor men in mean
habiliments, without either table or table-cloth, sitting and eating their
scanty meals upon the ground, he inquired what they were?” “These,” replied the
King, “are people of God, the messengers of our Lord Jesus, whom in his and his
Apostles names we feed daily.” Argolander then made this reply: “The guests at
your table are happy; they have plenty of the best food set before them; but
those you call the messengers of God, whom you feed in his name, are ill fed,
and worse clothed, as if they were of no estimation. Certainly he must serve
God but indifferently who treats his messengers in this manner, and thus do you
prove your religion false.” Argolander then refused to be baptized, and,
returning to his army, prepared for battle on the morrow.
Charles, seeing the
mischief his neglect of these poor men had occasioned, ordered them to be
decently clothed and better fed. Here then we may note the Christian incurs
great blame who neglects the poor. If Charles, from inattention to their
comfort, thereby lost the opportunity of converting the Saracens, what will be
the lot of those who treat them still worse? They will hear this sentence
pronounced — “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire; for I was an
hungered, and ye gave me no meat; naked, and ye clothed me not.”
We must consider
likewise that our faith in Christ is of little value without good works. As the
body, says the Apostle, without the soul is dead, so is faith dead if it
produce not good fruit. And as the Pagan King refused baptism because he found
something wrong after it, so our Lord, I fear, will refuse our baptism at the
day of judgment if superfluity of faults be found in us.
CHAPTER XIV.
Of
the Battle of Pampeluna, and Argolander’s Death.
BOTH armies now prepared for battle in the morning, contending
for their different faiths. The King mustered one hundred and thirty thousand
men, but Argolander only one hundred thousand. The Christians formed themselves
into four squadrons; the Saracens into five; whose first corps being speedily
discomfited, they all joined in one phalanx, with Argolander in the midst. The
Christians then surrounded them on all sides. First Arnaldo de Berlanda and
his troops; then Astolfo; next Aristagnus, Galdebode, Ogier, and Constantine;
lastly the King himself, and his innumerable warriors. Arnaldo was the first
that broke in upon the enemy, overthrowing them right and left till he reached
Argolander himself in the centre, and slew him with his own hand. Then ensued a
great shout, and the Christians, rushing in upon the Saracens, slew them on all
sides, making so great a slaughter that none escaped but the Kings of Seville
and Cordova, and a few of their troops. So great, indeed, was the effusion of
blood, that the Christians waded in it to their very knees. They slew likewise
all the Saracens left in the city. Charles fought for the faith, and therefore
triumphed over Argolander. Note then, O Christian, that whatsoever thou
undertakest thou likewise shalt accomplish if thou hast faith, for all things
are possible to them that believe. Greatly rejoiced at this victory, the King
marched forward, and came to the bridge of Arge in the Compostella road.
CHAPTER XV.
Of
the Christians that returned unlawfully to Spoil the Dead.
CERTAIN of the
Christians however, coveting the spoils of the dead, returned that same night
to the field of battle, and loaded themselves with heaps of gold and silver.
But as they were returning to the camp, Almanzor, King of Cordova, who had fled
for refuge to the mountains with the Saracens that made their escape, came
pouring down, and slew them all to the number of a thousand men. These, then,
are types of such as strive against sin, but afterwards relapse; who, when they
have overcome, continue not stedfast, but seek unlawful pleasures, suffering
themselves to be mastered in turn by their grand adversary. So likewise the
religious, that forsake their vocations to re-engage in worldly concerns and
profits, lose the reward of eternal life, and entail upon themselves
everlasting perdition.
CHAPTER XVI.
Of
the War of Furra.
THE day after the King was informed that a certain King of
Navarre, called Furra, designed to fight him at Mount Garzim. Charles therefore
prepared for battle; but desiring to know who should perish in it, he entreated
the Lord to show him; whereupon in the morning a red cross appeared on their
shoulders behind. In order therefore to preserve them, he confined them in his
Oratory. Then joining battle, Furra and three thousand of his troops were
slain. These were all Saracens of Navarre. The King now returned to his
Oratory, but found them all dead that he had left in it, to the number of one
hundred and fifty men.
“O holy band of
Christian warriors, though the sword slew you not, yet did you not lose the
palm of victory, or the prize of martyrdom!” Charles then made himself master
of the mountain and castle of Garzim, and subdued the whole country of Navarre.
CHAPTER XVII.
Of
the War with Ferracute, and of Orlando’ s admirable Dispute with him.
CHARLES now
received news that a certain Giant, of the name of Ferracute, of the race of
Goliath, was come to Nager, sent thither by Admiraldus, with twenty thousand
Turks of Babylon, to fight him. This Giant neither feared spear nor dart, and
was stronger than forty men. Charles therefore marched to Nager, and Ferracute,
hearing of his arrival, sallied out front the city to challenge any warrior to
single combat.
Charles then sent
Ogier the Dacian, whom the Giant no sooner perceived, than, leisurely
approaching, he caught him up under his right arm, as easily as he would a
lamb, and bore him off in sight of all his friends to the city; for the Giant’s
stature was twelve cubits; his face a cubit long; his nose a palm; his arms and
thighs four cubits; and his fingers three palms in length.
Rinaldo of the
White Thorn was next sent against him, but he seized him in like manner, and
imprisoned him with Ogier. The King then sent Constantine and Ocellus, but,
seizing one under each arm, he bore them off likewise. He then sent twenty
warriors by pairs against him, but they shared the same fate. Charles dared not
then venture to send more warriors: but Orlando with the King’s permission
approached the Giant, who seized him instantly by the right arm, and seated him
upon his steed before him.
But as he was
bearing him to the city; Orlando, recovering his strength, and trusting in the
Almighty, seized the Giant by the beard, and tumbled him from his horse, so
that both came to the ground together. Orlando, then, thinking to slay the
Giant, drew his sword, and struck at him, but the blow fell upon his steed, and
pierced him through. The Giant being thus on foot, drew his enormous sword,
which Orlando perceiving, who had remounted his own charger, struck him on the
sword arm, and, though he did not wound him, struck the sword out of his hand;
which greatly enraging Ferracute, he aimed a blow at Orlando with his fist,
but, missing him, hit his horse on the forehead, and laid him dead on the spot.
And now the fight lasted till noon with fists and stones. The Giant then
demanded a truce till next day, agreeing to meet Orlando without horse or
spear. Each warrior then retired to his post.
Next morning they
accordingly met once more. The Giant brought a sword, but Orlando a long staff
to ward off the Giant’s blows, who wearied himself to no purpose. ‘They now
began to batter each other with stones, that lay scattered about the field,
till at last the Giant begged a second truce, which being granted, he presently
fell fast asleep upon the ground. Orlando, taking a stone for a pillow, quietly
laid himself down also. For such was the law of honour between the Christians
and Saracens at that time, that no one on any pretence dared to take advantage
of his adversary before the truce was expired, as in that case his own party
would have slain him.
When
Ferracute
awoke, he found Orlando awake also, who thereupon rose, and seated
himself by
the Giant’s side, inquiring how it came to pass he was so
very strong?”
Because,” replied the Giant, “I am only vulnerable
in the navel.” Ferracute
spoke in the Spanish language, which Orlando understanding tolerably
well, a
conversation now followed between them, which Ferracute recommenced by
inquiring his name, which Orlando told him. “And what race
are you of?” said
the Giant. “Of the race of the Franks.” —
“What law do you follow?” “The law of
Christ, so far as his grace permits me.” —
“Who is this Christ in whom you
profess to believe?” “The Son of God, born of a
Virgin, who took upon him our
nature, was crucified for us, rose again from the dead, and ascended
into
heaven, where he sitteth on the right hand of his Father.”
“We
believe,” said
Ferracute, “that the Creator of heaven and earth is one God,
and that, as he
was not made himself, so cannot another God spring from him. There is
therefore
only one God, not three, as I understand you Christians
profess.” “You say
well,” said Orlando; “there is but one God, but
your faith is imperfect; for as
the Father is God, so likewise is the Son, and so is the Holy Ghost.
Three
persons, but one God.” — “Nay,”
said Ferracute: “if each of these three persons
be God, there must be three Gods.”
“By no means,”
replied Orlando; “he is both three and one. The three persons are co-eternal
and co-equal. There is indeed distinction of person, but unity of essence, and
equality of majesty. Abraham saw three, but worshipped one. Let us recur to
natural things. When the harp sounds, there is the art, the strings, and the
hand, yet but one harp. In the almond there is the shell, the coat, and the
kernel. In the sun, the body, the beams, and the heat. In the wheel, the
centre, the spokes, and the nave. In you, likewise, there is the body, the
members, and the soul. In like manner may Trinity in Unity be ascribed to God.”
“I now comprehend,”
replied Ferracute, “how God may be three in one, but I know not how he begot
the Son.”
“Do
you,” answered
Orlando, “believe that God made Adam?” —
“I do.” “Adam himself was not, then,
born of any, and yet he begot sons. So God the Father is born of none,
yet of
his own ineffable grace begot the Son from all eternity.”
— “Your arguments,”
said the Giant, “please me exceedingly, but still I am at a
loss to know how he
that was God became man.” “The Creator of heaven
and earth, who made all things
out of nothing, could certainly,” said Orlando,
“engender his Son of a pure
Virgin, by divine afflation.” — “There
lies the difficulty,” returned
Ferracute, “how without human aid, as you affirm, he could
spring from the
womb.” “Surely,” said Orlando,
“God, who formed Adam from no seed, could form
his Son in like manner; and as from God the Father he was without
Mother, so
from his Mother did he spring without an earthly Father.”
— “It makes me
blush,” said the Giant, “to think that a virgin
should conceive without a man.”
“He,” answered Orlando, “that causes the
worm in the bean, and many species of
birds, beasts, and serpents, to engender without the help of
the male, could
procure God and Man of a pure Virgin without the help of Man. For as
his power
enabled him to produce the first man from the ground, so could he
produce the
second from a virgin.” — “I grant
it,” replied the Giant; “he might be born of
a virgin; but if he was the Son of God, how could he die, for God never
dies?”
“That indeed is true,” said Orlando; “as
God, he could not die; but when he
took our nature upon him, and was made man, he became subject to death,
for
every man dies. As we believe his nativity, so may we likewise believe
his
passion and resurrection.”
“And what is it we
are to believe of his resurrection?” inquired Ferracute. “That he died, and
rose again the third day.” — The Giant, hearing this, was greatly astonished,
and exclaimed to Orlando, “Why do you talk so idly? It is impossible that a
man, after he is once dead, can return to life again.” “Not only did the Son of
God rise from the dead,” replied Orlando, “but all the men that have died since
the creation of the world shall rise again, and appear before his tribunal,
where they shall be rewarded everyone according to his deeds, whether they be
good or evil. That God, who makes the tree spring from the soil, and the grain
of wheat to of in the ground, that it may revive with fresh increase, can at
the last day clothe the souls of men with their own bodies, and restore them to
life. ‘fake the mystic example of the lion, which on the third day revives his
dead cubs with his breath by licking them. What wonder, then, that God should
after three days revive his Son? Nor ought it to seem strange that, as the Son
of God rose from the dead, many others of the dead should rise even before his
own resurrection. If Elijah and Elisha by the power of God could perform this
miracle, how much more easily could the Father restore the Son, whom it was
indeed impossible that Death could retain in his fetters. Death fled at his
sight, as he shall fly likewise at the sound of his voice, when the whole
phalanx of the dead shall rise again.” — “Enough,” said Ferracute, “I clearly
perceive all this; but how could he ascend into heaven?” “He that descended,”
answered Orlando, “could easily ascend. He that rose of himself could enter the
skies in triumph. Does not the wheel of the mill descend low, and return to its
height again? Does not the bird in the air ascend and descend? Can you not
yourself come down from a mountain, and return thither? Did not the sun
yesterday rise in the east and set in the west, and yet rise again in the east
to-day? To that place from whence the Son of God descended, did he likewise
ascend.”
“Well,” said
Ferracute, “to end our arguments, I will fight you on these terms: If the faith
you profess be the true faith, you shall conquer; otherwise the victory shall
be mine; and let the issue be eternal honour to the conqueror, but dishonor to
the vanquished.” “Be it so!” said Orlando: whereupon they immediately fell to
blows. But the very first which the Giant aimed at him would have certainly
been fatal, if Orlando had not nimbly leaped aside, and caught it on his staff,
which was however cut in twain. The Giant, seeing his advantage, then rushed in
upon him, and both came to the ground together. Orlando then, finding it
impossible to escape, instantly implored the divine assistance, and, feeling
himself re-invigorated, sprung upon his feet, when, seizing the Giant’s sword,
he thrust it into his navel, and made his escape. Ferracute, finding himself
mortally wounded, called aloud upon Mahomet; which the Saracens hearing,
sallied from the city, and bore him off in their arms. Orlando returned safe to
the camp; the Christians then boldly attacked the city, and carried it by
storm. The Giant and his people were slain, his castle taken, and all the
Christian warriors liberated.
CHAPTER XVIII.
The
War of the Masks.
SOON after the Emperor heard that Ibrahim, King of Seville,
and Almanzor, who escaped from the battle of Pampeluna, had gathered together
at Cordova a body of troops front seven1 of the neighbouring cities
of Seville. Thither then did the King pursue his march with six thousand men,
and found the Saracens, ten thousand strong, about three miles from the city.
The King formed his army into three divisions. The first composed of his best
troops, all cavalry; the two last, foot. The Saracens formed theirs in a
similar manner. But when the King in person advanced against the first
squadrons of Pagans, he found them all disguised in bearded masks, with horns upon
their heads, like demons, making so strange a din with their hands upon their
drums and other instruments, that the horses were terrified, and galloped back
in spite of all their riders could do to prevent them. Whereupon the foot
retreated likewise to an adjacent mountain, where, uniting in one squadron,
they stopped for the Saracens, who would then advance no further, but gave our
people time to pitch their tents, and encamp that night.
Charles then called
a council of his captains, and agreed to tie bandages over their horses’ eyes,
and to stuff their ears, in order to disconcert this stratagem on the morrow.
Admirable experiment! For now we fought the enemy from morning till night, and
slew a great number, though it was by no means a general slaughter; for the
Saracens, again joining in martial array, brought forward a castle, drawn by
eight oxen, with a certain red banner waving upon it, which so long as they saw
present, it was their rule never to fly. The King, knowing this, armed himself
with a strong breast-plate, a mighty spear, and invincible sword, and, aided by
divine assistance, hewed his way through his enemies, overturning them to right
and left, till he reached the car, when, cutting the flag-pole with his sword,
the Saracens instantly fled in all directions. Prodigious shouts were made by
both armies. We then slew eight thousand Moors, together with Ibrahim, King of
Seville. Almanzor made good his retreat into the city, but submitted to Charles
the day after, consenting to be baptized, and to do homage for his dominions.
The King now
divided the conquered countries of Spain amongst his soldiers. Navarre and
Bearn he gave to the inhabitants of Brittany; Castile to the Franks; Nadres and
Saragossa to the Apulians; Arragon to the Ponthieuse; Andalusia, on the
sea-coast, to the Germans; and Portugal to the Dacians and Flemings. But the
French would not settle in the mountain parts of Gallicia. Thus there seemed to
be no more foes in Spain to hurt the Emperor.
1 The names of four of these cities
were — Ubeda, Abela, Baeza, and Granada.
CHAPTER XIX.
Of
the Council the Emperor summoned; and of his ‘journey to Compostella.
CHARLES then sent
away the greatest part of his troops, and came to Gallicia, where he behaved
very liberally to the Christians he found there, but either put to death or
banished those that had revolted to the Moorish faith. He then appointed
bishops and prelates in every city, and, assembling a council of the chief
dignitaries in Compostella, decreed that the church of St. James should be
henceforth considered as the Metropolitan, instead of Iria, as it was no city,
subjecting Iria likewise to Compostella. In the same council I, Turpin,
Archbishop of Rheims, together with forty other Bishops and Prelates,
dedicated, by the King’s command, the church and altar of St. James, with extraordinary
splendour and magnificence. All Spain and Gallicia were made subject to this
holy place: it was moreover endowed with four pieces of money from every house
throughout the kingdom, and at the same time totally freed from the royal
jurisdiction; being from that hour styled the Apostolic See, as the body of the
holy Apostle laid entombed within it. Here likewise the general councils of
Spain are held; the Bishops ordained, and the Kings crowned by the hand of the
Metropolitan Bishop, to the Apostle’s honour. Here too, when any crying sin is
committed, or innovations made in the faith and precepts of our Lord, through
the meritoriousness of this venerable edifice the grievance is discovered, and
atonement made. As the Eastern Apostolic See was established by St. John, the
brother of St. James, at Ephesus, so was the Western established by St. James.
And those Sees are undoubtedly the true Sees. Ephesus on the
right hand of Christ’s earthly kingdom, and Compostella on the left, both
which fell to the share of the sons of Zebedee, according to their request.
There are, then, three Sees which are deservedly held pre-eminent, even as our
Lord gave the pre-eminence to the three Apostles, Peter, James, and John, who
first established them. And certainly these three places should be deemed more
sacred than others, where they preached, and their bodies lie enshrined. Rome
claims the superiority from Peter, Prince of the Apostles. Compostella holds the
second place from St. James, the elder brother of St. John, and first inheritor
of the crown of martyrdom. He dignified it with his preaching, consecrated it
with his sepulchre, and ceases not to exalt it by miracles and dispensations of
mercy. The third See justly is Ephesus; for there St. John wrote his gospel,
“In the beginning was the Word,” assembling there likewise the bishops of the
neighbouring cities, whom he calls Angels in the Apocalypse. He established
that church by his doctrines and miracles, and there his body was entombed. If,
therefore, any difficulty should occur that cannot elsewhere be resolved, let
it brought before these Sees, and it shall, by divine grace, be decided. As
Gallicia was freed in these early ages from the Saracen yoke, by the favour of
God and St. James, and by the King’s valour, so may it continue firm in the
orthodox faith till the consummation of ages!
CHAPTER XX.
Of
the Emperor’s Person and Courage.
THE Emperor was of
a ruddy complexion, with brown hair; of a well-made handsome form, but a stern
visage. His height was about eight of his own feet, which were very long. He
was of a strong robust make; his legs and thighs very stout, and his sinews
firm. His face was thirteen inches long; his beard a palm; his nose half a
palm; his forehead a .foot over. His lion-like eyes flashed fire like
carbuncles; his eyebrows were half a palm over. When he was angry, it was a
terror to look upon him. He required eight spans for his girdle, besides what
hung loose. He ate sparingly of bread; but a whole quarter of lamb, two fowls,
a goose, or a large portion of pork; a peacock, crane, or a whole hare. He
drank moderately of wine and water. He was so strong, that he could at a single
blow cleave asunder an armed soldier on horseback from the head to the waist,
and the horse likewise. He easily vaulted over four horses harnessed together;
and could raise an armed man from the ground to his head, as he stood erect
upon his hand.
He was liberal,
just in his decrees, and fluent of speech. Four days in the year, especially
during his residence in Spain, he held a solemn assembly at court, adorning
himself with his royal crown and sceptre; namely, on Christmas-day, at Easter,
Whitsuntide, and on the festival of St. James. A naked sword, after the
imperial fashion, was then borne before him. A hundred and twenty orthodox
soldiers watched nightly round his couch, in three courses of forty each. A
drawn sword was laid at his right hand, and a lighted candle at his left.
Although many would delight to read his great actions, they would be too
tedious to relate.
How he invested Galifer, Admiral of Coleto, where he was
banished, with the military order, and, in return for his kindness, slew
Bramantes, his enemy, the proud Saracen King; how many kingdoms and countries
he conquered; Abbeys he founded; bodies of the saints and relics he enshrined
in gold; how he was made Emperor of Rome, and visited the holy supulchre,
bringing back with him the wood of the Holy Cross, wherewith he endowed the
shrine of St. James; of all this I shall say no more: the hand and the pen
would sooner fail than the history. But what befel his army at his return to
France, we now briefly proceed to tell.
CHAPTER XXI.
Of
the Treachery of Ganalon; the Battle of Ronceval, and the
Sufferings
of the Christian Warriors.
WHEN this famous
Emperor had thus recovered Spain to the glory of our Lord and St. James, after
a season he returned to Pampeluna, and encamped there, with his army. At that
time there were in Saragossa two Saracen Kings, Marsir, and Beligard, his
brother, sent by the Soldan of Babylon from Persia to Spain. Charles had bowed
them to his dominion, and they served him always, but only with feigned
fidelity. For the King having sent Ganalon to require them to be baptized, and
to pay tribute, they sent him thirty horse-load of gold, silver, and jewels;
forty load of wine likewise for his soldiers, and a thousand beautiful Saracen
women. But at the same time they covenanted with Ganalon to betray the King’s
army intO their hands for twenty horse-load of gold and silver; which wicked
compact being accordingly made, Ganalon returned to the King with intelligence
that Marsir would embrace the Christian faith, and was preparing to follow him
into France to receive baptism there, and would then hold all Spain under oath
of fealty to him. The old soldiers would accept the wine only, but the young
men were highly gratified with the present of the women.
Charles, confiding
in Ganalon, now began his march through the pass of the mountains, in his
return to France; giving the command of the rear to his nephew, Orlando, Count
of Mans and Lord of Guienne, and to Oliver, Count of Auvergne, ordering them to
keep the station of Ronceval with thirty thousand men, whilst he passed it with
the rest of the army. But many, who had on the night preceding intoxicated
themselves with wine, and been guilty of fornication with the Saracen women,
and other women that followed the camp from France, incurred the penalty of
death. What more shall we say? When Charles had safely passed the narrow strait
that leads into Gascony, between the mountains, with twenty thousand of his
warriors, Turpin, the Archbishop, and Ganalon, and while the rear kept guard,
early in the morning Marsir and Beligard, rushing down from the hills, where,
by Ganalon’s advice, they had lain two days in ambush, formed their troops into
two great divisions, and with the first of twenty thousand men attacked our
army, which making a bold resistance, fought from morning to the third hour,
and utterly destroyed the enemy. But a fresh body of thirty thousand Saracens
now poured furiously down upon the Christians, already faint and exhausted
with fighting so long, and smote them from high to low, so that scarcely one
escaped. Some were transpierced with lances; some killed with clubs; others
beheaded, burnt, flayed alive, or suspended on trees: only Orlando, Baldwin,
and Theodoric, were left; the two last gained the woods, and finally escaped.
After this terrible slaughter the Saracens retreated a league from the field of
battle.
And here it may be asked, why God permitted those to perish
who in no wise had defiled themselves with women? It was, indeed, to prevent
them from committing fresh sins at their return home, and to give them a crown
of glory in reward for their toils. But neither is it to be doubted but those
who were guilty of this fault amply atoned for it by their death. In that awful
hour they confessed his name, bewailing their sins, and the all-merciful God
forgot not their past labours for the sake of Christ, for whose faith they lost
their lives. The company of women is evidently baneful to the warrior: those
earthly Princes Darius and Mark Antony were attended by their women, and
perished; for lust at once enervates the soul and the body.
Those who fell into
intoxication and lasciviousness typify the priests that war against vice, but
suffer themselves to be overcome by wine and sensual appetites till they are
slain by their enemy the devil, and punished with eternal death.
CHAPTER XXII.
Of
the Death of Marsir, and the Flight of Beligard.
As Orlando was
returning after the battle was over to view the Saracen army, he met a certain
black Saracen, who had fled from the field, and concealed himself in the woods,
whom he seized and bound to a tree with four bands. Then, ascending a lofty
hill, he surveyed the Moorish army, and, seeing likewise many Christians
retreating by the Ronceval road, he blew his horn, and was joined by about a
hundred of them, with whom he returned to the Saracen, and promised to give him
his life if he would show him Marsir; which having performed, he set him at
liberty. Animating his little band, Orlando was soon amidst the thickest of the
enemy, and, finding one of huger stature than the rest, he hewed him and his
horse in twain, so that the halves fell different ways. Marsir and his
companions then fled in all directions, but Orlando, trusting in the divine
aid, rushed forward, and, overcoming all opposition, slew Marsir on the spot.
By this time every one of the Christians was slain, and Orlando himself sorely
wounded in five places by lances, and grievously battered likewise with stones.
Beligard, seeing Marsir had fallen, retired from the field with the rest of the
Saracens; whilst Theodoric and Baldwin, and some few other Christians, made
their way through the pass, towards which Orlando, wandering, came likewise to
the foot of it, and, alighting from his steed, stretched himself on the
ground, beneath a tree, near a block of marble, that stood upright in the
meadows of Ronceval.
Here drawing his
sword, Durenda, which signifies a hard blow, a sword of exquisite workmanship,
fine temper, and resplendent brightness, which he would sooner have lost his
arm than parted with, as he held it in his hand, regarding it earnestly,
addressed it in these words: “O sword of unparalleled brightness, excellent
dimensions, admirable temper, and hilt of the whitest ivory, decorated with a
splendid cross of gold, topped by a berylline apple, engraved with the sacred
name of God, endued with keenness and every other virtue, who now shall wield
thee in battle? who shall call thee master? He that possessed thee was never
conquered, never daunted at the foe; phantoms never appalled him. Aided by
Omnipotence, with thee did he destroy the Saracen, exalt the faith of Christ,
and acquire consummate glory. Oft hast thou vindicated the blood of Jesus,
against Pagans, Jews, and heretics; oft hewed off the hand and foot of the
robber, fulfilling divine justice. O happy sword, keenest of the keen; never
was one like thee! He that made thee, made not thy fellow! Not one escaped with
life from thy stroke! If the slothful timid soldier should now possess thee, or
the base Saracen, my grief would be unspeakable! Thus, then, do I prevent thy
falling into their hands.” — He then struck the block of marble thrice, which
cleft it in the midst, and broke the sword in twain.
CHAPTER XXIII.
Of
the Sound of Orlando’s Horn; of his Confession, and Death.
HE now blew a loud blast with his horn, to summon any
Christian concealed in the adjacent woods to his assistance, or to recall his
friends beyond the pass. This horn was endued with such power, that all other
horns were split by its sound; and it is said that Orlando at that time blew it
with such vehemence, that he burst the veins and nerves of his neck. The sound
reached the King’s ears, who lay encamped in the valley still called by his
name, about eight miles from Ronceval, towards Gascony, being carried so far by
supernatural power. Charles would have flown to his succour, but was prevented
by Ganalon, who, conscious of Orlando’s sufferings, insinuated it was usual
with him to sound his horn on light occasions. “He is, perhaps,” said he,
“pursuing some wild beast, and the sound echoes through the woods; it will be
fruitless, therefore, to seek him.” O wicked traitor, deceitful as Judas! What
dost thou merit?
Orlando now grew
very thirsty, and cried for water to Baldwin, who just then approached him; but
unable to find any, and seeing him so near his end, he blessed him, and, again
mounting his steed, galloped off for assistance to the army. Immediately after
Theodoric came up, and, bitterly grieving to see him in this condition, bade
him strengthen his soul by confessing his faith. Orlando had that morning
received the blessed Eucharist, and confessed his sins before he went to
battle, this being the custom with all the warriors at that time, for which
purpose bishops and monks attended the army to give them absolution. The martyr
of Christ then cast up his eyes to heaven, and cried, “O Lord Jesus, for whose
sake I came into these barbarous regions; through thy aid only have I conquered
innumerable Pagans, enduring blows and wounds, reproach, derision, and
fatigue, heat and cold, hunger and thirst. To thee do I commit my soul in this
trying hour. Thou, who didst suffer on the cross for those who deserved not thy
favour, deliver my soul, I beseech thee, from eternal death! I confess myself a
most grievous sinner, but thou mercifully dost forgive our sins; thou pitiest
every one, and hatest nothing which thou hast made, covering the sins of the
penitent in whatsoever day they turn unto thee with true contrition. O thou,
who didst spare thy enemies, and the woman taken in adultery; who didst pardon
Mary Magdalen, and look with compassion on the weeping Peter; who didst
likewise open the gate of Paradise to the thief that confessed thee upon the
cross; have mercy upon me, and receive my soul into thy everlasting rest!
“Thou art he who
preventest our bodies from perishing in the grave, changing them to greater
glory; thou, O Lord, art he, who hast said, ‘thou rather wouldst the sinner
should live than die.’ I believe in thee with my whole heart, and confess thee
with my lips; therefore I beseech thee to receive me into the enjoyment of a
better life when this is ended. Let my sense and intellects be in the same
measure improved as the shadow differs from the substance.” And now, grasping
the flesh and skin near his heart (as Theodoric afterwards related), he
continued his speech with bitter groanings. “O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
and of the blessed Virgin, with my inmost soul do I confess that thou, my
Redeemer, dost live, and that at the day of judgment I shall rise, and in my
flesh behold thee, my God and my Saviour!” And thrice, thus grasping his
breast, did he repeat those words; and, laying his hand upon his eyes in like
manner, he said, “And these eyes shall behold thee!” Uncovering them, he again
looked up to heaven, and, signing himself with the sign of the cross, he
uttered, “All earthly things are vain and unprofitable; I am now taught of
Christ, that eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the
heart of man to conceive, the good things that God hath prepared for them that
love him.” Then, stretching his hands to heaven, he uttered this prayer for
them that perished in the battle: —
“Let thy bowels of
compassion, O Lord, be open to thy faithful servants, who have this day
perished by the hand of the barbarians. Hither did they come to vindicate thy
faith; for thy sake are they fallen. Do thou, O Lord, mercifully blot out their
offences, accounting them worthy to be delivered from the pains of hell. Send
thy archangels to rescue their souls from darkness, and bear them to the
regions of light, where thy blessed martyrs eternally live and reign with thee,
who dost live and reign with God the Father and the Holy Spirit, to all ages.
Amen!”— Immediately after this confession and prayer, his soul winged its
flight from his body, and was borne by angels to Paradise, where he reigns in
transcendent glory, united by his meritocious deeds to the blessed choir of
martyrs.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Of
Orlando’s Rank and Virtue.
No longer it
becomes the heart to mourn
A hero of immortal joys possessed;
Of noble rank, and
noble parents born,
For nobler deeds in heaven with glory
blest.
To none inferior,
thine was native worth;
Thy feet still tending to the temple’s bounds;
A glorious model to the wondering
earth,
A faithful balsam to thy country’s wounds.
The Clergy’s
refuge, and the Widow’s friend,
Bounteous to guests, and liberal to the
poor;
To heaven thy
parting steps may safely bend,
Whose works have opened wide salvation’s
door.
Thy tongue the
fount of heavenly eloquence,
That still would slake the thirst, and
never pall,
Endowed with
graceful wit, and manly sense,
Proclaimed thee common father, friend of
all.
Blest Chief,
farewell! but not the marbled urn
That holds thy ashes can thy soul contain:
Our wondering eyes
to heaven above we turn,
Where thou for ever dost triumphant reign. |
CHAPTER XXV.
Archbishop
Turpin’s Vision, and the King’s Lamentation for Orlando.
WHAT more shall we
say? Whilst the soul of the blessed Orlando was leaving his body, I, Turpin,
standing near the King in the valley of Charles, at the moment I was
celebrating the mass of the dead, namely, on the 16th day of June, fell into a
trance, and, hearing the angelic choir sing aloud, I wondered what it might be.
Now, when they had ascended on high, behold, there came after them a phalanx of
terrible ones, like warriors returning from the spoil, bearing their prey.
Presently I inquired of one of them what it meant, and was answered, “We are
bearing the soul of Marsir to hell, but yonder is Michael bearing the
Horn-winder to heaven.” When mass was over, I told the King what I had seen;
and whilst I was yet speaking, behold Baldwin rode up on Orlando’s horse, and
related what had befallen him, and where he had left the hero in the agonies of
death, beside a stone in the meadows at the foot of the mountain; whereupon the
whole army immediately marched back to Ronceval.
The King himself first discovered the hero, lying in the
form of a cross, and began to lament over him with bitter sighs and sobs,
wringing his hands, and tearing his hair and beard. “O right arm,” cried he,
“of thy Sovereign’s body; honour of the French; sword of justice, inflexible
spear, inviolable breast-plate, shield of safety; a Judas Maccabeus in probity,
a Samson in strength; in death like Saul and Jonathan; brave, experienced
soldier, great and noble defender of the Christians, scourge of the Saracens; a
wall to the clergy, the widow’s and orphan’s friend, just and faithful in
judgment! — Renowned Count of the French, valiant captain of our armies, why
did I leave thee here to perish? How can I behold thee dead, and not die
myself? Why hast thou left me sorrowful and alone? A poor miserable King! But
thou art exalted to the kingdom of heaven, and dost enjoy the company of angels
and martyrs. Without cease I shall lament over thee, as David did over Saul and
Jonathan, and his son Absalom.
Thy soul is fled to
happier scenes above, And left us mourning to lament thee here; Blest in thy
God and Saviour’s fav’ring love, Who wipes from every eye the trickling tear.
Six lustres
and eight years thou dwelledst below,
But snatched from earth to heaven, thou
reign’st on high,
Where feasts
divine immortal spirits know,
And joys transcendent fill the starry sky. |
Thus did Charles
mourn for Orlando to the very last day of his life. On the spot where he died
he encamped; and caused the body to be embalmed with balsam, myrrh, and aloes.
The whole camp watched it that night, honouring his corse with hymns and
songs, and innumerable torches and fires kindled on the adjacent mountains.
CHAPTER XXVI.
How
the Sun stood still for three Days;
the
Slaughter of four-thousand Saracens; and the Death of Ganalon.
EARLY on the next
day they carne to the field of battle in Ronceval, and found the bodies of
their friends, many of them still alive, but mortally wounded. Oliver was lying
on his face, pinioned to the ground in the form of a cross, and flayed from the
neck to his finger-ends; pierced also with darts and javelins, and bruised with
clubs. The mourning was now dismal; every one wept for his friend, till the
groves and valleys resounded with wailing. Charles solemnly vowed to pursue the
Pagans till he found them; and, marching in pursuit with his whole army, the sun
stood still for three days, till he overtook them on the banks of the Ebro,
near Saragossa, feasting and rejoicing for their success. Attacking them
valiantly, he then slew four thousand, and dispersed the rest. What further? We
now returned to Ronceval, bearing with us the sick and wounded to the spot
where Orlando fell. The Emperor then made strict inquiries after the treachery
of Ganalon, which began to be universally rumoured about. Trial was ordained by
single combat, Pinabel for Ganalon, and Theodoric for the Accuser; when, the
latter gaining the victory, the treason was proved. Ganalon was now sentenced
to be torn to pieces by four wild horses, which was accordingly his end.
CHAPTER XXVII.
The
Embalming of the Dead.
THEY now embalmed the dead bodies of their friends; some
with myrrh and balsam, some with salt, taking out the bowels, and filling the
bodies with aromatic drugs, or with salt only. Some were buried on the spot;
others conveyed to France; but many that became putrid and offensive were buried
on the road. Wooden carriages were made for the dead, but the sick and wounded
were borne away on litters upon their shoulders.
CHAPTER
XXVIII.
Of the consecrated Cemeteries of Arles and Bordeaux.
Two chief burying grounds were now consecrated at Arles and
Bordeaux by seven Bishops: Maximin of Aix, Trophimus of Arles, Paul of
Narbonne, Saturnine of Thoulouse, Frontorne of Perigord, Martial of Limoges,
and Eutropius of Xaintonge; where the major part of the warriors were interred
that fell in the battles of Ronceval and Mount Garzim.
CHAPTER XXIX.
Of
the Burial of Orlando and his Companions at Blaye and other Places.
CHARLES deferred
the burial of Orlando till he came to Blaye. His body was laid upon gold
tapestry on two mules, covered with a pall, and at length honorably interred in
the Church of St. Roman, which he had formerly built, and endowed with regular
canons. His helmet was plated upon his head, and his ivory horn at his feet.
But the body was afterwards translated to St. Severin in Bordeaux, the chief
city of these provinces, where it was joyfully welcomed, as it had liberally
tasted his munificence.
At Blaye likewise was buried Oliver, and Galdebode, King of
Friezeland; Ogier, King of Dacia; Aristagnus, King of Brittany; Garin, Duke of
Lorraine; and many other warriors. Happy town, graced with the sepulchres of so
many heroes! At Bordeaux, in the cemetery of St. Severin, were buried Gayfere,
King of Bordeaux; Angelerus, Duke of Aquitaine; Lambert, Prince of Bourges;
Galerius Galin; Rinaldo of the White Thorn; Walter of the Olive Trees;
Vulterinus, and five thousand of their soldiers. Ocellus, Count of Nantes, and
most of the inhabitants of Brittany, were buried in that city. Charles gave
twelve thousand pieces of silver and talents of gold for the repose of their
souls, and fed the poor for many miles round the city of Blaye; endowing the
church likewise with rich vestments and silver ornaments, for the love he bore
Orlando; freeing the Canons from all service but prayers for him and his companions.
He moreover clothed and entertained thirty poor men on the anniversary of their
martyrdom, establishing Minstrels, Masses, and other solemnities, which the
Canons were not to neglect on that day, as they hoped to merit a crown of
glory, which they promised to perform.
CHAPTER XXX.
Of
those Buried at Arles.
AFTER this the King
and his army proceeded by the way of Gascony and Thoulouse, and came to Arles,
where we found the army of Burgundy, which had left us in the hostile valley,
bringing their dead by the way of Morbihan and Thoulouse, to bury them in the
plain of Arles. Here we performed the rites of Estolfo, Count of Champagne; of
Solomon; Sampson, Duke of Burgundy; Arnold of Berlanda; Alberic of Burgundy;
Gumard, Esturinite, Hato, Juonius, Berard, Berengaire, and Naaman, Duke of
Bourbon, and of ten thousand of their soldiers. Constantine, Governor of Rome,
and other Romans, were conveyed thither by sea, and buried in Apulia. The King
gave twelve thousand pieces of silver, and as many talents of gold, for the
repose of their souls, and to the poor of Arles.
CHAPTER XXXI.
Of
the Council held al St. Denis.
WE then came to
Vienne, where I remained to be healed of the scars and wounds I received in
Spain. The King, much fatigued, at length arrived at Paris; and, assembling a
council of his chief princes and bishops at St. Denis, returned thanks to God
for his victory over the Pagans, and gave all France as a manor to that church,
in the same way as St. Paul and St. Clement had formerly endowed the bishopric
of Rome, The French Bishops were likewise to be ordained there, and not made
subject to the See of Rome. Then, standing by the tomb of St. Denis, he entreated
the Lord for all who had died in his cause.
The very next night
St. Denis appeared to the King in his sleep, assuring him that full pardon of
sin was granted to all that followed him, and had fought and perished in the
wars with the Saracens; that they likewise should recover of their wounds who
had bestowed money on the church; which being made known by the King, very
liberal offerings were made by the people, who thus acquired the name of
Franks; and the whole land, formerly called Gaul, was now changed to France, as
being freed from all servitude, and having dominion over other nations. The
King then went to Aix-la-Chapelle, in the county of Liege, to bathe and drink
the waters, where he liberally endowed St. Mary’s Church with gold and silver,
ordering it to be painted with ancient and modern histories, and his palace to
be decorated with the representation of his wars in Spain; with emblems of the
seven liberal arts and other excellent embellishments.
CHAPTER XXXII.
Of
the King’s Death.
SOON after, the King’s approaching death was revealed to me;
for, behold, as I was praying in the church of Vienne, I fell into a trance, as
I was singing psalms, and saw innumerable companies of soldiers pass before me
by the Lorraine road. A certain one, black as an Ethiop, followed them, of whom
I inquired whither he was going, and received for answer that he was awaiting
the death of Charles to take possession of his soul. “I conjure you, then,”
said I, “by the name of the Lord Jesus, to return when you have completed your
errand.” When I had rested some time, and begun to explain the psalms, behold they
returned back, and, speaking to the same person I before addressed, I inquired
whom he had been seeking, and was answered, “the Gallician;” but the stones and
timber of the churches he founded balanced so greatly in his favour, that his
good works outweighed his bad, and his soul was snatched from us, and at this
the demon vanished. Thus I understood Charles died that day, and was carried
into the bosom of God and St. James. But as I had requested him, before we
parted at Vienne, to send me notice of his decease in case it preceded mine,
being then grievously sick, and remembering his promise, he encharged a certain
learned soldier to bring me word the moment he died. What more need I add? The
messenger arrived on the fifteenth day after it happened. He had, indeed, been
grievously afflicted with illness from the hour he left Spain, and suffered
still more in mind than in body for the friends he lost on the unfortunate 16th
of June. On the same day that I saw the vision, namely, on the 5th of February,
in the year of our Lord 814, he departed this life, and was sumptuously buried
in the round church of St. Mary, which he had himself built; and this sign I
was credibly informed happened yearly for three years together before his
death, — “The Sun and Moon became dark, and his name, Charles the Prince,
inscribed on the church, was totally obliterated of itself; and the portico
likewise, between the church and the palace, fell to the very foundation.” The
wooden bridge also which he built six years before over the Rhine at Mentz was
destroyed by fire, self-kindled. And the same day, as a traveller was on his
journey, he saw a great flame, like the flame of a funeral pile, pass from
right to left before him; which terrifying him greatly, he fell from his horse,
but was presently relieved by his friends.
We therefore believe that he now enjoys the
crown of the blessed martyrs, whose labours he imitated, whose pattern and
example he followed. Whereby we may understand, that whoever builds a church to
God’s glory, provides for himself a residence in his kingdom. For this cause
was Charles snatched from the hands of demons, and borne by good angels to
heavenly habitations. |