And if you can obtain this for me from the
duke or the
king (it matters not which to me), I shall release you from your ransom and be much obliged to you in fact. If you do not bring me the safeconduct, you will return within a month to be detained in this fortress. You should also know that I do not propose to stay in any town for more than a night."
The knight replied that he would do his utmost. He left
Aiguillon, released on his word. He rode to
Paris to the
duke of Normandy who welcomed him warmly and asked him how he had done. The knight told him the whole story, how
Sir Gauthier de Mauny was prepared to relinquish his ransom if he had a safeconduct to enable him to pass through the kingdom of
France peaceably and reach
Calais. The
duke granted him this and had drawn up everything he had asked for, which he took under the seal of the duke and made to return. He travelled until he reached
Aiguillon and recounted to
Sir Gauthier everything he had achieved, for which he was joyful and released the knight immediately from his ransom, and made preparations to go to
Calais with the support of the letter he now had.
SHF 1-291 syncSoon after,
Sir Gauthier left
Aiguillon with only twenty horse, as the letter dictated, and set out on the road across the
Auvergne. He did not slink around but made himself known everywhere he went, and whenever he was stopped, he would show his letter and be released at once.
He rode until he reached
Orléans where he was arrested and could not obtain his release despite the letter he showed. He was taken to
Paris and imprisoned, as one who was detested by the
French on account of his great deeds of prowess.
When the
duke of Normandy heard of this, he was extremely angry and went immediately to the
king his father, asking him to arrange for the knight to be released for love of him, or else he would be dishonoured. People would say that he had betrayed him, for he had given assurances in letters sealed with his seal, and he explained the reason why.
The
king did not wish to take any action, in spite of any plea that the duke knew how to make, saying he would have him put to death for he considered him to be his great enemy. The
duke responded that if he were to do that he would never arm against the
king of England, and neither would any of those whom he could persuade down the same path. Strong words passed between them and the
duke left in anger, saying that he would never again set foot in the
king's court while
Sir Gauthier remained in prison.
The situation remained the same for a long time.
Sir Gauthier was sought out by a knight of
Hainault named
Sir Mansart d'Esne, who made a great effort to come before the
king and the
duke of Normandy. Eventually the
king of France was advised to release
Sir Gauthier from prison, and had all his costs paid. The
king wished to meet him, and dined with him at the
Hôtel de Nesle in Paris, and the
king gave him gifts and presents worth a thousand florins.
pb 143 v