--- title: Of the Treachery of King John — Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of F… · full text with trees · page 2 description: Of the Treachery of King John, «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 said to his knights and barons, "See now how this villain Reynaud has deceived me, and carr --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/7/page/2/) [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/) / Of the Treachery of King John # Of the Treachery of King John · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/7/) **2** When the brethren found that a great treachery had been practised upon them, they prepared to defend themselves, having first confessed their sins to each other, for lack of a priest to whom they might confess.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") Great deeds did they that day, but not without suffering many things.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") First Guichard was taken prisoner by the King's men and bound upon a horse.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") Yet Reynaud delivered him from captivity.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Richard was grievously wounded by Gerard Lord of Valence, and came very near to death, but him also Reynaud, than whom there was never greater fighter in the world, rescued before it was too late.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") And indeed it was in Richard's counsel that the brethren found deliverance.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") For when he opened his eyes, having before been in a swoon, and saw Reynaud, he said to him, "See you that rock yonder that is so high and strong?[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") If we can win thither, we shall be safe from our enemies, at least for one while.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") Nor do I doubt that Mawgis, who knows things that are hidden from other men, knows in what plight we are, and will bring us help presently."[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") And Alard lifted Richard from the earth, and laid him upon his shield, and carried him to the rock, Reynaud and Guichard holding back meanwhile the King's men with such strength and valour as have never been surpassed, for they fought as men who have no hope for their lives, but think only how they may make most havoc among their enemies.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") And now again did Ogier the Dane render them good service.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") Truly they had scarce won their way to the rock but for this, for when they were most hardly pressed he drew back his own company the length of a bowshot. "[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") You can deal with these men without me," said he to the King's barons. "[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") It were better that I should not meddle with them any more, seeing that they are my kinsmen."[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") And so somewhat by favour of Ogier, but chiefly by their own valour, the brethren won their way to the rock.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") Now the rock had four faces.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") Of these Reynaud kept two, so strong was he, and Guichard one and Alard one.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") As for Richard he was so spent with loss of blood that he lay upon the ground and could render no help.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") After a while an evil chance fell upon them, for Guichard was so sorely wounded in the thigh that he could no longer stand upon his feet.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") He cried to Reynaud, "Let us yield ourselves to the King, seeing that neither Richard nor I can help you any more." "[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") This is to speak as a coward," answered Reynaud. "[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") I would not yield myself for all the gold and silver in the world, no nor for Bayard my horse, though I love him better than all other things.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") And, indeed, what were the profit of yielding ourselves?[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") We should of a certainty be hanged by the King, and it were better to perish here than to die in so shameful a fashion."[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") When Guichard heard these words he was greatly troubled in spirit. "[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") You are right, brother," he said. "[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") Cut me now the half of my shirt into strips and I will bind up my wounds as best I may, and so make shift to help you against our enemies."[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") This he did; so these three still held the rock against the King.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") Meanwhile Mawgis knew how his kinsmen had been betrayed, and made haste to succour them.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") He saddled the horse Bayard, and rode with a great company of knights as fast as might be to the place where the brethren were.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") Great was Reynaud's joy to see him; while he was yet a long way off he knew him, not so much for himself as for the horse Bayard on which he rode.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") Swift as a swallow was Bayard, every stride was of thirty feet at the least.[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") When Richard heard it, he said to his brother, "Lift me up in your arms that I may see him."[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") So Reynaud lifted him up, and when he saw Mawgis and Bayard coming up as a storm comes he said, "The sight makes me whole again."[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") Ogier the Dane was glad to see that help had come to his kinsmen. "[109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") See you these men?" he said to the Frenchmen, "we cannot stand against them; let us retreat."[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") But while he was speaking, Mawgis came upon him, so swift was the horse Bayard, and defied him. "[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") Ogier," he said, "you came of true men, but you are yourself untrue," and he spurred Bayard against him, and smote him on the breast with his spear so stoutly that he broke both shield and corslet.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") What would have been the end no man can say, for Ogier on his part was not backward, but now the horse Bayard, knowing that his master was near, carried away Mawgis in his own despite, and came and knelt before Reynaud.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Mawgis lighted down from him, and greeted the brethren most lovingly.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") As for Ogier and the Frenchmen, not being minded to stand against the new-comers, they rode back to the river Dordogne, Reynaud crying out to his kinsman, "Ho! cousin! have you then left being a soldier and become a fisherman for eels or salmon?"[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") When they had crossed over the river the Frenchmen blamed Ogier the Dane, for that he had favoured the brethren, while Ogier, on his part, was greatly troubled, knowing that they spake truly, and yet that the brethren held him in no regard for all that he had done.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") These things so wrought upon him that he mounted his horse and swam back across the river.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") When he had come to the other bank, Reynaud, having ridden down to the river on Bayard to meet him, said, "Cousin, surely we have had enough of fighting; let us be content therewith."[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") But Ogier answered, "You have blamed me for treachery, and my own friends say the same thing.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") I would rather be slain than endure such reproaches."[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") Reynaud said, "So be it."[121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") And the two charged at each other and met with so great a shock that both were thrust from their saddles and fell to the ground.[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") Before they could raise themselves, for both received no small damage, the two horses, Bayard and the other, fell to fighting.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Ogier, knowing that Bayard was the stronger by far of the two, would have smitten him with his sword.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") Reynaud, on the other hand, hindered him.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") And when Mawgis and the brothers, that is to say, Alard and Guichard, for Richard was too sorely wounded, saw this, they made all haste to come.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") When Ogier perceived them, he had no choice but to mount on his horse and flee.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Reynaud cried after him, "Come back if you will and fetch your saddle," for the girths had been broken when the two jousted together, "and I will greet you in such a place that Charlemagne with all his men could not help you."[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") So Ogier passed over the river once again, and Mawgis with the brethren went back to the rock where they had left Richard.[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/7/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/7/) - next →: [Of the Craft of Mawgis](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/8/) - ↑ back to [Stories of Charlemagne and the twelve Peers of France](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg75339/)