“Gesta comitum Barcinonensium…”, primitive redaction, ms. A, BNF, Latin 5132, p.1 (Rough translation)
1. I Antiquorum nobis relatione compertum est quod miles quidam fuerit nomine Guifredus de uilla que
According to ancient reports there was once a knight by the name of Guifredus who lived in a castle named
2. uocatur Arrianum, que et sita est in territorio Confluente iuxta amnem Thetim, haut procul a monasterio
Arrià (Ria), located in the territory of Conflente near the river Tet, not far from the monastery of Sant
3. Sancti Michaelis Coxanensis. Hic igitur miles, diutiis, armis et consilio opinatissimus, comitatum
Miquel de Cuixà. The knight, well respected for his wealth, weapons, and wisdom received the county
4. Barchinonensem a rege Francorum sua adeptus est probitate. Quodam autem tempore, cum ad uisendos
of Barcelona from the king of the Franks because of his abilities. At a certain time, when he was told to meet
5. legatos regis cum filio suo nomine Guifredo, qui cognominatus est Pilosus, Narbonam occuriset, in
representatives of the king with his son Guifred, known as “hairy”, it occurred in Narbonne on
6. hoc igitur ilico comprehensus, cum ad regem in Franciam duceretur, commota iterum in uia seditione
the way in a hurry to meet the king’s representatives, that during an uprising of some soldiers he was
7. militari per barbam a quodam Franco tractus, educto gladio eum qui hoc fecerat interemit. Ob uolens se
pulled by a Frank by his beard (insulted?), for which he killed him with his sword. He was arrested and
8. de sua captione ulcisci, ab his qui eum deducebant haut procul a Podio Sancte Marie interfectus esse
on the way to the king to protest his arrest, his captors murdered him near Puig Sanctae Maria, according to the
9. narratur. Pridictus autem filius eius Guifredus, qui cum eo ducebatur, regi Francorum oblatus est, et quid
story. But the above son Guifred, who accompied him, was then presented to the king of the Franks
10. de patre eius in uia accidisset eidem relatum est. Contristatus itaque rex factum vituperauit, et quia hoc
with a report of what had happened to his father. With sadness, the king condemned the deed, and
11. ita factum fuerat, honorem Guifredi regi Francorum in perditionem posse in posterum uenire nuntiauit.
noted that, in view of the facts, he might forfeit his rightful heritage.
12. II Susceptum tamen [rex] puerum cuidam comiti, ut fertur, de Flandres ad nutriendum commendare
Nevertheless, the king decided to send the boy to a count, it seems, to be raised by him in Flanders. When
13. studiosissime curauit; cuius comitis filiam factus adolescens gravidauit, nullo tamen conscio preter
he grew older, he got the daughter of the count pregnant, which no one knew except her mother, who
14. matrem puelle, que hoc sagaciter agnouit, agnitumque pudore magis quam facinoris assensu celauit.
recognized her condition and kept it a secret more out of embarrassment than acceptance of the deed.
15. Hesitans igitur mater cuinam posset uiro filiam suam tradere, timens etiam ne si hoc ad aliquorum
After much hesitation, not knowing if a man would ever want her daughter, and fearing that someone might
17. notitiam perueniret, puella in obprobrium omnium incideret, hoc tandem consilium adinuenit: predictum
find out and the girl lose her reputation, she finally found a good solution: She forced the above boy to make
18. etenim puerum ad iusiurandum coegit, ut si aliquando uolente Deo honore paterno, comitatu scilicet
and oath that he would seek, with the help of God, his paternal heritage and become ruler of the county
19. Barchinonensi, reindueretur, predictam puellam in matrimonium sibi copularet. Que facto, sordidis eum
of Barcelona, and promise that he would return and marry the girl. When this was agreed, she dressed him
20. uestibus induit, et sub habitu peregrini cum quadam uetula ad matrem suam, que adhuc uiua in uiduitate
in dirty old clothes and sent him looking like a foreigner, with a certain old woman, to meet his mother who
21. permanebat, in Barchinonense territorium delegauit. Quem mater cognoscens, quod in quibusdam insolitis
remained living as a widow in the region of Barcelona. When his mother recognized him, because he was
22. in corpore hominis partibus pilosus erat, unde et Pilosi nomen accepit, convocatis magnatibus
hairy on an unusual part of his body, which is why he was known as “the Hairy”, she had a conference
23. acproceribus totius patrie sue, qui patrem eius noverat et ei fideles exiterant, filium suum eis occulte
with the important nobles in her country, who knew his father and were loyal, and she introduced her son
24. ostendit. Recogitantes igitur omnes illi magnates et optimates quanta fraude et obprobrio pater eius
secretly. The nobles considered the fraudulent and shameful way in which his father was killed, which deprived
25. occisus fuerit et iste exheredatus, pro domino eum susceperunt et ei fidem tanquam domino suo se
him of his rightful heritage, and recognized him as their lord and promised to follow his leadership.
26. seruaturos iurauerunt. Constituto igitur die, conuenerunt omnes simul cum puero in locum ubi.
They met on a specific day and place with the boy, because they had learned where Solomon, a Gaul, and at
27. Salomonem, natione Gallicum, comitem tunc Barchinonensem, debere interesse didicerant; ibique
that time the Count of Barcelona, would make his appearance: and as they had mutually decided , the
28. communi consilio predictus puer, manibus propiis, prefatum comitem euaginato gladio coram omnibus
the above named boy killed, with his own hands, the above named count in front of their eyes and thus took
29. interemit, eiusque comitatum a Narbona usque in Hispaniam solus, dum uixit, obtinuit. Missis deinde
control of the entire county from Narbonne to Hispania, as his sole possession as long as he lived. He then sent
30. legatis in Galliam, filiam supradicti comitis de Flandres, sicut promiserat, in matrimonium accepit,
legates to Gaul regarding the daughter of the above count of Flanders and, as promised, met and married her
31. occurens illi congruo loco et die. Consilio igitur et ope amicorum puelle actum est ut gratiam et amicitiam
at an agreed time and place. The advice and support of the girl’s friends brought him the grace and friendship
32. regis haberet: et accipiens per manum eius honorem suum, in ipsius curia diutius remansit...
of the king: he received from him personally much honor and remained long in his council…