THE ROYAL HOUSE OF FRANCE - outriders poetry project

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© 2009 Max Wickert
Now Duke Namo of Bavaria stood up, who in those days was the warrior most esteemed for sage
council at Charles’ court. He began to speak in the following manner: “I approve and confirm King
Solomon’s words. We must suffer no delay in wreaking vengeance; and we must, for the salvation
of our souls, honor the promise that Roland and all of us made at Vienne. Let us now cease to talk
about the offer that Roland has made of his treasure. At this point it is our duty to render him stout
aid, since he desires to be the first to enter Spain, for the salvation of our souls, and to conquer the
Highway of Saint James, which we are now unable to enter because the Saracens have barred it and
make whoever treads on it pay dearly.
“Let us therefore go to Paris and there assemble our hosts. Let us gather mighty provisions for our
entry into Spain, and do it so secretly that no man shall know what direction we mean to take. We
should also send word to the good Ogier the Dane to proceed to the border and stand watch, at the
first mountain pass into Navarre, lest the Saracens inflict some heavy damage on us. Do you,
Roland, with your two thousand two-hundred and sixty-six soldiers of the Church, go there also. I
shall, for the salvation of my soul and to win Charles the crown of Spain, add ten thousand of my
own knights to your company. If there is any man here who would gainsay my words, let him rise
and speak.”
8: Preparations [summary]
None else rose to speak and the plan for the Spanish war was approved. Galles knelt to beg Roland’s pardon and
Roland, at Oliver’s urging, granted it. Many lords pledged troops and wealth, and even Ganelon offered twenty
thousand knights for the campaign. Charles called for his notaries to record all their pledges. The whole court then
moved to Paris, where preparations continued, though all were pledged to secrecy about their goal. Roland and Oliver,
with their 20,666 fighters traveled to Rome where the Pope approved and blessed their venture. Ogier the Dane, with
six thousand knight, occupied a post near the Navarrese passes but took care to offend no one and to let merchants
traffic freely across the border Nevertheless Marsilius grew wary. He summoned his council to Saragossa to discuss
the matter. None of his barons could guess at Charlemagne’s intention, but his chief advisor, Braus Johaus of Cordes,
reassured him: Charles, he said, might be reading for war elsewhere, but seemed no threat to Spain.