Gaydon

[Ernst]

The chanson de geste Gaydon is dated to c. 1230. Gerhard has previously shared some contemporary literature which has shown that there was often supplemental armor over or under the mail, even at this early date. Since I posted this to an ongoing discussion regarding aketons on My Armoury, I decided to cross post some of the passages here, as well. In Gaydon, the gambison is not used supplementally, while the auqueton seems to be used beneath mail. The cuiries are freuently mentioned, though the cuirie with lots of iron reinforcement sounds very much like a pair of plates, generally not believed to appear before c.1250-1260.

Source: https://archive.org/details/gaydonchansondeg00gues
This is not an exhaustive set of passages mentioning the aketon. Other terms useful for searching:
maille, mailles
hauberc, auberc, haubert, broingne
coiffe
ventaille
chauces
gambison
auqetoun
hiaume, elme
cuirie

All translation errors are my own. ( And I welcome correction.) I've added line numbers.

3098 Ferraus s'arma sus en palais plennier:
3099 Les chauces lace sus espérons d'ormier;
3100 Auqueton et d'un drap de soie chier;
3101 Deseure vest .1. bon hauberc doublier,
3102 Fort, et tenant, et merveilles legier.

Feraud armed himself in a plenary palace
The chausses laced with spurs of pure gold added;
Aketon and a cover of costly silk;
and over he put on 1 good double hauberk,
Strong, and holding fast, and marvelously made.



5882 Sor .1. tapis ont armé Savari.
5883 Les chauces chauce, onques meillors ne vi,
5884 Espérons ot qui sont à or burni,
5885 .I. auqueton ot de Roie vesti,
5886 Puis vest l'auberc, qui fu fais à Châmbli.
5887 Cuirie ot bonne qui fu de cuir boilli,
5888 Cote à armer d'un dyaspre gaydi.
5889 Le hiaume lace, qui très bien li séi,

On a Savoy(?) carpet he armed.
The close-fitting chausses, better are not seen,
Spurs that are of polished gold,
Dressed in 1 aketon had of the King,
And then put on the hauberk, which was from Chambly.
A Cuirie that is good which was of cuir bouilli,
A coat of arms with cheerful, scattered decor.
The helm laced, which was very well his own,


6397 L'arma dus Naynmes et Renaus ausiment.
6398 Chauces li chaucent blanches com .1. argent;
6399 Espérons d'or ot ouvrez richement;
6400 Sor l'auqueton vest l'auberc jazerant,
6401 Fort et legier, maillié menuement.
6402 Cuirie ot bonne, ferrée largement.
6403 Cote à armer d'un cendel de Mêlant :
6404 Plus est vermeille que rose qui resplent ,
6405 A .III. lyons batus d'or, richement.

Likewise Naynmes and Renaud are armed.
Close-fitting white chausses with 1 silver;
Spurs of gold, openly enriched;
Over the aketon, put on a hauberk-jazerant,
Strong and light, woven tightly.
And a good cuirie, widely covered with iron.
A coat of arms of sendal of Mêlant (Milan?)
More vermilion than a resplendent rose
With 3 lions of beaten gold, richly made.



6482 Les chauces chauce blanches com flors de pré ;
6483 Les espérons li a chauciez Hardrez.
6484 Lors saut en pies , si a ses bras levez
6485 Sor l'auqueton qui d'or fu ponturez;
6486 Vesti l'auberc qui fors fu et serrez.
6487 Cuirie ot bonne , d'un cuir qui fu tennez ;
6488 Cote ot moult bonne, plus bêle ne verrez,
6489 D'un drap tout ynde qui fu à or frezez ,
6490 A .1. lyon vermeil enclavinné.

The tight-fitting chausses, white like flowers in the field;
The spurs put on Hardrez shoes.
Then jumps with his foot, and his arms are raised(?)
Above the aketon which of gold was sewn;
put on the hauberk which was strong and closely woven.
The cuirie is good, of leather which is tanned;
The coat is very good; more beautiful was never seen
Of a cloth from India which is fretted(?) with gold,
With 1 lion with vermilion claws

[John Vernier]

Very interesting text, and good work. I think in 5883, 6398, and 6482 you have the verb chausser, "he pulled on his chausses," etc., rather than an adjective.

[Ernst]

Thanks, John. You're probably right, as I was grasping for a meaning. It's an interesting alliteration to be sure.