THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

Subrin’s Mission
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© 2009 Max Wickert
The story now returns to King Anglant and the minstrel. That minstrel mentioned earlier was never
seen again. Meanwhile King Anglant made all his barons swear obedience, and said: “Five years
from now I shall send for you, and then it shall be seen who loves my estate.” And so the barons
departed for their countries.
The next day King Anglant called a privy Latin interpreter of his, whose name was Subrin, and said:
“You know I have favored you ever since you were a little boy, and you have been the most faithful
of my servants. It now behooves you to go on a secret mission for me, and take good care that none
but you and I know of it.” Subrin kissed his hands, touched his lips for secrecy, and swore by all the
gods to be faithful to his commands to the death. Anglant said to him: “Go hence in secret to
Rome, and (I command you) take none with you either of mine or of yours. Go inquiring though all
the provinces of Italy, of Germany, of Hungary, of Bohemia, of Burgundy, of France, of England,
and into every Christian domain, and above all through the domain of Charlemagne in France.
Come back as soon as you can, so that, when you have come back, we too may make passage. I will
expect you in seven years. You will so deserve of me thereby that you and your kin will be rich
forever.” He gave him enormous wealth for his expenses and jewels beyond measure.
Subrin left Africa, crossed into Sicily, pretending to be a Christian (for he knew many languages) and
came to Rome. He traveled all through Italy, except for Apulia and Calabria; and then he passed
through Hungary, Germany, Flanders, Brittany, England, Ireland, Gascony, Burgundy, Savoy, and
Provence. He learned of the hostility between Charlemagne and Gerard of the Thicket, and of the
great hatred they between them. Thinking of Gerard’s power, he said to himself: “If there were
peace made between them, my lord would have great trouble in conquering those Christians.”