--- title: The Slaying of Lothair — Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of F… · full text with trees description: The Slaying of Lothair, «Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of France» by Alfred John Church: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: King Charles held a great court in his capital city of Paris at the Feast of Pentecost. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/3/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/) / The Slaying of Lothair # The Slaying of Lothair The Slaying of Lothair of «Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of France» by Alfred John Church: the whole text, 108 sentences and 1964 words. 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King Charles held a great court in his capital city of Paris at the Feast of Pentecost.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") Thither came the Twelve Peers of France, and many other men of note, besides strangers from Germany, England, and other realms.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") One of the chief of the Frenchmen was Aymon, Duke of Ardennes, who brought with him his four sons, to wit, Reynaud, Alard, Guichard, and Richard.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") All these four were marvellously fair, witty, and valiant; but the fairest, wittiest, and most valiant was Reynaud, the eldest born.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") There was not in the world a man of so great strength and stature.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") It is of him and his brothers that this tale is told.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") King Charles stood up, and said, "Brethren and friends, you know that by your help I have conquered many lands, and brought many pagans to confess the Christian faith.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") You know also that this has not been done without grievous loss on our part, and verily had not been done at all but for succour that we looked not for.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") But the succour that we looked for, that we had not, and notably from Duke Benes of Aygremont.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") This, then, is my purpose.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") I will send to Duke Benes, bidding him attend me this summer.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") And if he will not come, then I will besiege him in his town of Aygremont.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") And when he shall come into my hands, I will hang him, and slay his son Mawgis, and cause that discourteous woman, his wife, to be burnt with fire."[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Duke Naymes said, "Be not so hot, my lord King.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") Send a message to the Duke by some prudent man, and when you shall have received his answer, then take counsel what you shall do."[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") "That is good counsel," said the King.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") But when he called for a messenger, no man answered, for many were of the Duke's kindred.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he called his eldest son Lothair, and said to him, "Go to this Duke, and bid him come to me with his men-at-arms by mid-summer next, or else I will besiege his city of Aygremont."[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") The next day Lothair departed, having a hundred knights with him, armed for battle.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") As they went they uttered many threatenings against the Duke, if he should not submit himself to the King.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") It so chanced that a spy heard them talk in this fashion, and, making all haste, came to the Duke and told him. "[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") There come messengers," he said, "from King Charles, threatening terrible things, and the King's own son is with them."[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the Duke asked his lords what he should do.[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") One of them, Sir Simon by name, a good man and a wise, said to him, "Receive the King's messengers honourably.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") It is not well for a man, how great soever he be, to fight against his sovereign lord.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Many of your kinsmen have so dared, yet do not you."[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Said the Duke, "I am not fallen so low that I should follow such counsel.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Have I not three brothers, princes all of them, that will help me against the King, and four nephews also, sons of Aymon, that are stout and valiant men?"[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") So he would not listen to Sir Simon; no, nor yet to his wife the Duchess, though she was urgent with him to speak peaceably to the King's messengers.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") By this time Lothair and his knights were come to the town of Aygremont.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") The Prince said, "See what a fortress is there\![31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") How strong are the walls\![32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") See, too, the river running at their base.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") There is no stronger place in Christendom.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") It cannot be taken by force, but haply by famishing it may be taken."[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") One of his knights said to him, "My lord, you say true.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") This is a mighty prince, and he has a strong castle.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") It would be well if you could make him to be of good accord with your father." "[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") You speak well," answered Lothair, "nevertheless if the Duke shall say anything that shall displease us, he shall be sorry therefor."[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") But the knight said softly to himself, "This is foolishness, and we shall pay for it with our lives."[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") So Lothair and his men came to the castle, and knocked at the gate. "[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Who are you?" said the porter. "[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") We be friends," answered Lothair, "and we bring a message from the King." "[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") Wait awhile," said the porter, "till I tell the Duke."[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") So the porter went to the Duke and said, "There are come hither a hundred knights, with the King's eldest son at their head.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") Shall I open the gate?" "[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") Open it," said the Duke, "we can hold our own, yea though the King himself should come with all his men."[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") So the porter hasted to open the gate.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") But the Duke said to his lords, "Here comes the King's eldest son; if he speak wisely to us, wisely will we answer him; but if not, he shall not go free."[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Lothair and his knights were brought into the hall, where the Duke sat among his lords, having the Duchess his wife by him and before him his son Mawgis.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") Now Mawgis was a great wizard.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") Lothair said, "God keep King Charles and confound Duke Benes\![52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") My father says, 'Come to Paris with five hundred knights, and make good your want of service in the parts of Lombardy, where, for lack of your help, many valiant men came by their death.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") But if you fail in this thing, you shall surely be hanged, your wife burned with fire, and all your house destroyed.'"[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") Then might any one have seen the Duke change colour for anger.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") When he could speak, he said, "I will not go to the King.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") I hold of him neither land nor fortress; or rather I will go and waste his land till I come to Paris itself."[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") "Dare you so speak?" cried Prince Lothair, in a loud voice. "[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") You know well that you are the King's man.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") I counsel you to do his bidding.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") Else you shall be hanged till the winds of heaven dry your bones."[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") When the Duke heard this he stood up on his feet in a great rage, crying to Lothair that it was an evil day for him on which he came to the town of Aygremont.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") Not a word of counsel would he take, when some of his knights would put him in mind of the King's might, and of how he was in truth the King's man, holding of him this very town of Aygremont. "[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") Hold your peace!" he cried. "[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") Never will I consent to hold aught of this man so long as I can mount a horse or hold a spear."[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") And he called upon his lords to lay hold on Lothair, and they durst not disobey him, but ran upon Lothair and the rest of King Charles's men.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Then began as sore a battle as was ever fought in this world.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") For not only did the Duke's men that were within the palace assail the Frenchmen, but the inhabitants of the town, both merchants and craftsmen, hearing the uproar, beset the gates.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") These gates, indeed, the Frenchmen kept with great courage; but they were few in number, and the day went sorely against them.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") In the end, after that Prince Lothair had been slain by the Duke himself, there remained but ten of the hundred knights alive.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") These the Duke spared, on this condition, that they should carry his message to the King, and the message was this: "I will do no homage for my land, nor pay one penny of tribute.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") Rather I will come with forty thousand men, and waste your land, and burn your fair city of Paris."[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") After this he delivered to them the body of Lothair, laying it in a cart drawn by two horses.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") And when the ten knights were quit of the town, and were come into the fields, they began to weep and lament, not for Lothair only, but also for themselves, for they feared the King.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") So they went on their way to Paris.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") Meanwhile King Charles at Paris was not a little troubled. "[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") I fear me much," he said to his lords, "lest some evil have befallen my son, for this Duke Benes is a savage man and a cruel."[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") Then answered the Duke Aymon, "If the Duke shall do you any wrong, I will help you with all my heart.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") Here also are my four sons who will go with me." "[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") That is well spoken," said the King. "[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") Bring your sons hither."[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") So the Duke brought them, and the King, when he saw them, loved them all, but Reynaud, who was the eldest, more than the other three.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") He said to his steward, "Bring hither the arms of King Certes, whom I slew at Pampeluna, and put them on him."[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") And Ogier the Dane bound on his spurs, and the King himself girded him with his sword.[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") This done, he dubbed him knight, saying, "God increase thee in goodness, honour, and worthiness!"[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") Reynaud, it should be known, had a very noble horse, Bayard by name, that had been given him by his cousin Mawgis.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") Never was there such a horse in the world, save only Bucephalus, that was the horse of Alexander of Macedon.[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") When he was mounted on him he seemed such a knight as could scarce be matched in France or any other land.[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") When they jousted in the lists, for the King held a tournament at St. Victor that was near to Paris, not one did so well as Reynaud.[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") The tournament being ended, the King returned to his palace in Paris.[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") The next morning he said to his lords, Ogier the Dane, and the Duke Naymes and Turpin the Archbishop, "I am in fear for my son Lothair; he tarries long on this journey.[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") I dreamed also last night that the Duke Benes had slain him."[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") The Duke Naymes said, "Put no trust in dreams, for they are naught."[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") The King answered, "Nevertheless, if the Duke have done this thing, he shall die."[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") While they were yet speaking, there came a messenger upon a horse, faint and weary and sorely wounded, and the King saw him pass the window where he stood.[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the King ran lightly down to the gate, his lords following him.[96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") When the messenger saw the King he saluted him in a low voice, and told him all that had befallen.[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") And when he had ended his words, he fell to the ground in a swoon for grief and the pain of his wounds.[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") Great was the King's sorrow.[99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") He wrung his hands and tore his beard and his hair.[100](100/ "tree and pragmatics") His lords sought to comfort him, and Duke Naymes said, "Now bury your son with great honour at St. Germaine's, and when you have done this, gather together your army, and march against this Duke Benes."[101](101/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the King and his lords rode forth from Paris, and when they had gone the space of two miles, they met the cart wherein was the body of Prince Lothair.[102](102/ "tree and pragmatics") And when the King saw the cart, he lighted down from his horse, and lifted the cloth that was upon the dead man.[103](103/ "tree and pragmatics") And when he saw how the head was severed from the body and the face sore disfigured with wounds he cried aloud.[104](104/ "tree and pragmatics") And he said, "Oh, Lothair, my son, you were a fair and gentle knight.[105](105/ "tree and pragmatics") May God of His mercy receive you into Paradise!"[106](106/ "tree and pragmatics") Then his lords bore him up on one side and the other, and brought him to St. Germaine's.[107](107/ "tree and pragmatics") There they buried Prince Lothair with all honour.[108](108/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [Alfred J. Church.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/2/) - next →: [How the Duke Benes Came By His End](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/4/) - ↑ back to [Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of France](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/)