THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
While Charles was being eagerly hunted by the Maganzas, the abbot to whom Charles had come
declared that he had many times had a vision in which a voice cried out: “That boy whom you
employ as your servant is Charlot, son of King Pepin.” So he called him to his side one morning
and asked him who he was and of what descent. He replied: “I am a herdsman’s son. When King
Pepin was killed, my father’s herd was taken from him and he himself was slain, because he loved
King Pepin, and I fled from home.” The abbot did not wish to take him at his word, but believed
that when he said “herdsman of beasts”, he was in fact speaking of men. Charlot stayed in that
abbey for four years, as the abbot’s servant.
Young Charlemagne in Exile
Charlot at Saint-Omer
19
Two years after Pepin’s death, Morand of Riviera, Charles’ foster-father, having long sought after
Charlot and having heard no news, decided to search for him in person. He left his possessions to
his two young sons and entrusted them with the government. Then he stayed in disguise at Paris
with some friends, but could find no further news at all. Dressed like a clergyman, he then went
searching all the churches and minsters of France within three3 miles of Paris. Finding nothing, he
went from there to Rome and many other countries, until almost four years had passed since Pepin’s
death. Now Morand returned once more in disguised to Paris and again inquired with his friends,
and heard nothing to the purpose. He left Paris, armed and on horseback, and made his way toward
Orleans. When he had come five miles from Paris, he found a herdsman watching his sheep who
wore a very tattered jerkin of silk on his shoulders. Morand halted and it seemed to him that he
knew that jerkin. He asked the shepherd, who was about sixteen years old, whence he had that little