King Karlamagnus went to Eiss, and there he found Gilem, his sister. He led her into his sleeping hall, and slept next to her, so that he felt love for her, and they lay together. Afterwards he went to church, and confessed to Egidius all his sins except this one; Egidius blessed him and went to Mass.

And as he sang low Mass, Gabriel, God's angel, came, and laid a letter on the paten. On it was written that King Karlamagnus had not confessed all his sins: "He has lain with his sister, and she shall give birth to a son who shall be named Rollant. And he shall give her in marriage to Milon of Angler; she shall be delivered seven [another version: twelve] months after they shared a bed; and he shall know that he is both his son and his nephew, and he should see that the boy is well looked after, for he has need of him."

[...] [Karlamagnus] was shriven, and did all that the letter had ordered: he gave his sister to Milon, and made him duke of Brettania. The boy was born seven months later.

Karlamagnus sent Namlun and Gilia for the boy, and they bore him to church in Eiss. Abbot Ligger baptized him and called him Rollant, and took him to some canons to be brought up, and bade Abbot Varin, his godfather, to take good care of him and teach him to read. The abbot took him and got four foster-mothers.

And when he was seven years old, the abbot brought him to Karlamagnus. The king saw that he was tall and handsome, and was very pleased with him. He called Rollant to him and asked, "Do you know me?" said he.

The boy answered, "I know you, lord," says he; "you are my uncle."

When Karlamagnus heard that, he laughed, and said to Provost Dreia and Geirard of Numaia that they should look after him. And Namlun told them to bring the boy to his lodging often, "for I am his tutor."

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