Skip to main content Skip to navigation

RS 190a

Philippe de Novare

C’est la rime que sire Phelippe de Nevaire fist quant il fu naffré devant le chasteau de Deudamors, au siege:


I Nafré sui [je], mais encor ne puis taire de dan Renart et (de) s’autre compaignie,qui pour luy est afamee et honie, 4dedens Maucrois, ou il maint et repaire. Mais se Renart a de son cors paour que ont mesfait li autre vavassour et ly sergent? Por quoi se laissent vendre? 8 Come bricons leur fait aucuns atendre.

II Renart [en] sait plus de traïson faire que Guenelon, dont France fu traïe.A son eus a la tainere farsie. 12Là seüs est pour maistrier la terre et de la pais les chufle chascun jor. Bien est honis qui sert tel traïtor: pour luy servir le fait l’on sa hors pendre, 16 et il les fait là dedens les saus prendre.

This is the rhyme which Sir Philippe de Novare composed when he was wounded outside the castle of Dieudamour, during the siege:


I I am wounded, but still I cannot be silent concerning Sir Renart and the rest of his company, which because of him is starving and dishonoured inside Maupertuis, where he is taking refuge. But if Renart is in fear for his life, what harm have the other vavassors and the sergeants done? Why are they allowing themselves to be sold? Someone is keeping them waiting [for reinforcements] like fools.

II Renart knows more about treachery than Ganelon, who betrayed France. He has stuffed his den full of food: he has instated himself there to rule the land and dupes them every day concerning peace. Anyone who serves such a traitor is much dishonoured: so he can be served he has him hanged (risk his life fighting) here outside, but he has those (the baillis?) flee inside.

Historical context and dating

After the battle of Nicosia during the war for the control of Cyprus (14 July 1229; see the historical introductions to the Verse Letter and the song RS 184a), the five bailiffs fled with their men to castles in the uplands facing the northern coast: Aimery Barlais, Amaury of Bethsan and Hugh of Gibelet withdrew to Dieudamour (St. Hilarion), while Gauvain of Chenichy and his men went to Kantara. The author does not mention William of Rivet, who according to Bustrone withdrew to Buffavento (Mas Latrie 1884, p. 78). After the peace of Kyrenia, Philippe de Novare followed John of Ibelin and took part in the siege of the castle of Dieudamour, which he himself claims to have lasted about a year (see § 53, 9 of the chronicle), and on that occasion he was wounded in the arm (§ 53, 10-12); the Estoire de Eracles states more precisely that the siege lasted ten months (Eracles XXXIII, 11, p. 377). The song, written immediately after Philippe was wounded, is therefore likely to have been composed between the second half of July 1229 and the end of the siege in May-June 1230.