Merlin or The Early History of King Arthur A Prose Romance (1906 edition), ed. by Henry B. Wheatley
Author: Unknown
Date: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Corpus of Middle English Prose and VerseTitle:Merlin : or the early History of King Arthur : a prose romance Editor:Henry B. Wheatley

Distributor:Early English Text Society Publisher: Kegan, Paul, Trench, Trübner, & Co.

City:London

Series:Early English Text Society (Series). Original series : 10, 112

Note: Call no.: 820.6 E13 no.10, 112 1969

Derived from: The unique MS. in The University Library, Cambridge View Source Description and Table of Contents |View Full Header of the Electronic Edition

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The Romance of Merlin.

CHAPTER I.

CONSULTATION OF DEVILS, AND BIRTH OF MERLIN.

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Fvll wrothe and angry was the Deuell, whan that oure lorde hadde ben in helle, and had take oute Adam and Eve, and other at his plesier; and whan the fendes sien that, they hadden right grete feer and gret merveile; thei assembleden to-gedir, and seiden, “What is he this thus vs supprisith and distroyeth, in so moche that our strengthes ne nought ellis that we haue may nought withholde hym, nor again hym stonde in no diffence; but that he doth all that hym lyketh, we ne trowe not that eny man myght be bore of woman, but that he sholde ben oures, and he that thus vs distroyeth, how is he born in whom we did [unclear ]

knowe non erthely delyte.” Than ansuerde anothir fende and seide, “He this hath distroyed that which we wende sholde haue be mooste oure a-vaile. Remembre ye not how the prophetes seiden, how that god shulde come in to erthe for to saue the synners of Adam and Eve, and we yeden bysily a-boute theym that so seiden, and dide them moste turment of eny othir pepill, and it semed by their feire [unclear ] semblant, that it greved hem but litill or nought, but they comforted hem that weren synners, and seide that oon sholde come, which sholde delyuer hem out of tharldome and disese.

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So longe haue thei spoken of hym, that now is he comen, and hath taken from vs tham, that non othir ne myght us bereve; ye knoweth well that he maketh hem to ben waisshen in a water in the name of the fader, sone, and holy goste, and after that have we no powre vpon them, but yef they do turne a-gain [unclear ]

to vs by their euell werkis. In this wise hath he putt down oure power, and yet more-ouer ffor hath his mynystres lefte in erthe that dayly hem saueth from vs, thow they haue don neuer so many of oure werkes, yef they will repent and forsake their myslyvinge, and do as they teche hem that ben for the grete loue he hadde to man and gret tendirnesse, whan for to saue man he wolde come down in to erthe to be born of a woman, and we yede and assaied [unclear ] hym in alle the maners that we cowden, and when we hadde assaied hym, and we dyd that synne [unclear ] nought fynde in hym, yet wolde he dye for to saue man, fful moche lovede he man when he wolde [unclear ] suffer so grete peyne for to haue hym a-gein, and to take hym from oure power. Thanne moche oughte we for to laboure with grete besynesse to gete agayn that he hath us be-raffte in soche wyse, that they may not repente ne speke with hem that myght gete hem pardon, and turne hem agayn ffrom our power.” In this maner the fendes helden a gret conseill, and seide that tho that hadde greued hem moste that were they that tolde tydinges of his comyng in to erthe, and they haue don vs gret damage and hynderyng, and the more they tolde of his comyng, the more we dide hem anger and disese, and as vs semeth he hasted hym the rather [correction; sic = raher] to come for to delyuer them from our daunger. But [unclear ] how myght we haue a man of oure kynde that myght speke and haue oure connynge and maystrie [unclear ] worke, and haue the knowleche as we haue of thinges that be don and seide, and of thynges that be past, and that he myght be in erthe conuersant with these other, for witeth it wele that soche on myght moche helpe us to be-gile his pepill, like as the prophetes begiled us, and tolden that we trowe neuer myght haue ben. In the same

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wise sholde sithe oon telle alle thynges that were don and saide folio 1b
bothe of that is passed and of thynges that is to come, and be that sholde he be bileved of moche peple. Than thei ansuerde alle and seiden, that wele hadde he sped that soche a man myght gete, for he sholde be beleved of all thinges that he seide. Than ansuerde anothir fende and seide, “I have power for to sowe seede in woman, and make her conceyve, and I have oon that doth all that euer I wille; and thus vndirtoke he this enterprise to gete a man that sholde do their werkes after their alle entente. Ffull grete foles were thei whan they wende that oure lorde sholde haue no knowynge of their ordenaunce, and enquire thus they departed from this conseille and were assented to this conclusion, and this feende that toke this enterprise ne taried not, but in al the haste that he myght, he come ther, as this woman was that wrought all his wille; and when he com their he fonde here at his likynge, whiche yaf to hym all her part of that she hadde, and here lord was right a ryiche man.

This riche man hadde grete plente of bestes and of othir richesse, and also he had thre doughters and a sone by this woman in whom the deuell hadde so grete power. This feende ne forgat not as he that not elles desired but hir to disceyve and to shame; and he axed of hir, “How myght I,” quod he, “gete thy lord on my part;” and she ansuerde that in no maner wise lesse than he were wratthed; “and,” quod she, “thow maist sone make hym wrothe, for he is right hasty.” Than wente this deuell to this gode mannes bestes, and kylled of hem grete plente; and when the heirdes sye their bestes so deyen in the feldes, thei merveyled gretly, and tolde their maister the mervelle of the moreyn, that was fallen a-monge the bestes. Whan the gode man herde this he gan to wratthe, and merveyled gretly what was cause of the moreyn; and axed of the heirdes. Quod he, “Know ye ought what thise bestes eiled thus for to dye?” And they ansuerde “Nay;” and so it passed forth all that tyme, and anon as the feende sye that the gode man was wroth for so litill, he dought that yef he dide hym Page 4
gretter damage, that he note.1 wolde be moche wrother, and so myght he haue hym the more atte his wille, and so he yede to x gode horse whiche that the gode man hadde, and slowe hem alle in a nyght. And when the gode man sye his gode go to so gret myschef, he gan to be angry, and seide a worde of grete ire, for he yaf to the deuell all the remenant that was lefte.

And whan the deuell knewe that he [added in MS ] hadde youed hym soche a yefte, he was right glad, and hasted hym to do hym more damage, for he spared nothynge that he myght devoure; and than was the gode man sorowfull and angry, and fled company of peple for hevynesse, that he was moche soell by hym self; and than wiste the deuell wele that he shulde haue his will fro thens-forth. Thanne come this feende to a feire sone that he hadde, and hym straungeled in his bedde slepynge, so that on the morowe he was founden dede. Than this gode man ferde as a man out of reson for hevinesse and sorowe that he hadde loste so his sone, and fill in dispeire; and when the feende sye this he was glad, for than he hadde all his desier withoute recouerer.

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Than wente he to the woman that hadde made hym all to wynne, and made her go up on a grete huch and tye a corde a-boute a perche, and knyt it a-boute her nekke, and made her distende fro the huch, so that she henge her-self and was strangelid to deth, and when the gode man saugh that he hadde loste bothe his sone and his wif in soche manere, he made gret doell, so that he dyed for gret sorowe and hevynesse, and thus doth the deuell to them that he may ouercome, and soche as he fyndeth at his wille; and when he hadde thus don he was right glad, and devised how he myght best disceyve the thre doughtres of this riche man whiche were lefte, and he vndirstode wele that he myght nat disceyve them in no manere, but yef it were with som mans werke, where-in thei sholde haue delyte.

And he hadde a yonge man in the town, whiche was moche disposed after his entent, and redy to inclyne to his werkes; and so he stered this man, that he come to the oon of these sustres, and thourgh Page 5
the deueles entysement, that he lay by hire. And than was the feende wele pleseth, and than wolde he neuer cesse till he hadde made it openly knowen, for to make hir vtterly shamed and stroied; ffor that tyme it was the lawe yef a woman myght be founde in fornication that she sholde, by Iustice of the lawe, be put to deth, but yef that she wolde abandone hir body to alle men as a comen woman.

The man fledde a-wey, and the woman was taken and ledde be-fore the Iuges, whereof they hadde grete pite for loue of hir fader, whiche was right a worthy man, to whom weren falle many myshappes with-in shorte tyme, for he was oon of the wurshipfullest men of all the contre. Not-withstandynge they moste do hir the lawe, and so they acorded that she shulde be dolven in the erthe by nyght by cause of her frendes. In the contre was ther a gode holy man, that herde speke of this merveyle, and he com for to speke with the tow sustres that were lefte, and he comeforted hem gretely, and axed of hem this aventure was befallen of their fadir and modir, and of hir suster, and hire brother; and they ansuerde that thei wiste not, safe only “that god hateth vs, and suffreth vs to have this turmente.” Quod the gode man, “Ye sey amysse, for god hateth no creature, but is euell pleseth, whan that synners haten hym by thaire werkes; and, therfore, wyte ye well that this is the encombraunce of the deuell, and wyte ye ought, what dede your suster hadde don, that ye haue hir loste in this wise.” And they seide, “Nay.” Than this holy man counselled hem to be wele ware, and kepe hem fro euell dedes, for synne draweth bothe man and woman to myshevouse ende. And so he taught and enformed hem here creaunce and feith. The elther suster vndirstode hym wele, and gretly was plesed with his doctryne, and the holy man lerned her to love god and drede god; and she peyned hir gretly to do as he hir taughte, and to contynue in gode lyvinge. And he seide to hir, “Yef ye truste that I sey vnto yow, grete gode and comfort ye shall fynde therfro [unclear ] , and ye shull be my doughter in god, and in what nede that euer ye haue I will not

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fayle, but I will be redy to helpe yow, and counseile yow with helpe of our lord god; and dismaye yow not in no maner, but trust verely in god, and often repeireth to me, for I duell not fer
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hens.” Thus this holy man counselled these sustres, and set hem in gode wey; the eldeste yaf gode credance to this holy man, and loved wele his blissed techynge, and his gode tales that he tolde hem euery day. When the deuell sye this, he was euell plesed therwith, and hadde grete fere to lese his labour aboute them, and he dought that he myght not wynne hem by felschip of man, withoute counseille of some woman; and he hadde oon in the town that ofte hadde don his wille. This woman the deuell brought to these sustres, and she toke the yonger in counseill and frayned her of many dyuerse thynges, and of the maner of hir lyuynge. Quod she, “How doth youre suster? loueth she yow wele as she ought to do?” Quod the mayden, “My suster is so hevy and pensif of oure myshappes that right seilden she maketh eny mery chere to me, ne to noon other, and that maketh an holy man that ofte speketh with hire, that she doth nothynge but as he will.” “Ha!” quod she, “euell spende ye youre tyme of that feire body that ye haue, that never shull haue ioye while ye be in her company.” “Now, feire love,” quod she, “yef ye knewe what ioye other women haue ye sholde preyse litill alle othir thynges; ffor we haue soche ioye when we be in company of men that we loven, that yef we hadde but a mossell brede, we haue more ioye and delyte than ye haue with alle the delicatys of the worlde. Fye! what ioye hath a woman withoute man? Ffeire love, this I sey for yow that knowen not what it is to be in mannes company, and I will telle you why: youre suster is elder than ye, and so she wolde alwey holde yow as her sogect, so that she myght have all, and so shold ye loose youre tyme, and the ioye of youre feyre body.” And answerde, “How shulde I be so hardy to do as ye telle me, ffor my suster therfore was putte to deth.” Quod this othir, “Youre suster dede like a fooll, and hadde but sympell counseill, but yef ye will do after me, ye shall haue all the delyte of youre body withoute eny lettynge.” “I wote now,” quod she, “ne I dar no more Page 7
speke with you at this tyme, for my suster; but go youre wey, and anothir tyme, we shall speke more at leyser.” And when the Deuell herde this he was glad, and wiste wele he sholde haue alle his will. And when this woman was goon, the mayden be-thought her often-tymes of that she hadde seyde [correction; sic =
seyde seyde] vnto hire; and when the deuell sye that she spak ofte sythes so to hir-self a-lone, he put in hir mynde all that he myght, so that on a nyght she beheilde hir fayre body, and seyde to hir-self, “Truly,” quod she, “the gode woman that spake with me seyde full trewe.”

Tho it happed on a day after that, she sente after this woman, and she com.

“Truly,” quod she, “ye seyde me soth that my suster set but lytill prise of me.”

And she ansuerde that, “I wist it wele, and yef will she haue lesse, so she haue hir owne delyte, and we be made for noon other cause, but for to haue counfort and ioye of mannes felishep.” And the mayde sede, “I wolde gladly, yef I sholde not be deed therfore.” And the olde woman seyde to hir, “Yef ye do as folily, as your syster dede, ye sholde be deed therfore, but I shall telle yow how ye shull do.” Quod the mayden, “Telle on, and I will do after techynge.” Quod this othir, “Ye shall abandon yow to alle men, and sey ye will no longer a-byde with youre suster, and thus shall ye haue all youre luste of youre body, ne neuer shul ye here Iustice that will speke therof to let yow; folio 3a
and thus shall ye be oute of all daunger, and euery worthy man will be glad to haue you for youre grete herytage.” And the mayden graunted to do in this manere, and thus she departed from hire suster, and abandoned hire body to alle men, be the conseill of this olde woman, whereof the devell was right gladde that he hadde brought this a-bouten.

And when the elder mayden sye that hir suster was thus gon, she yede anoon to the holy man that hadde taught hir the right creaunce, full hevy and pensif, makynge grete doell and sorow; and when this godeman sye her so pensif he hadde grete pitee,

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and seyde to hir, “Blesse the and comaunde the to god, for I se the gretly affraied.” And she ansuerde, “I have grete cause, for I haue loste my suster, that is be-come a comyn woman.” And when the gode man herde this he was gretly astonyd, and seide, “The feende is full besy a-bowte yow, which will not cesse till he have disseyved the; but god be thyn helpe!” “A sir,” quod she, “how may I kepe me from his disceytis? for ther is no thynge that I have so grete feire of, as that he sholde have ouer me eny power.” Quod the holy man, “Yef thow wilte do after my counsell, he shall never disceyve the.” “Certeyn,” quod she, “I will gladly do your counsell.” “Than,” quod he, “belevest thow not in the fadir, sone, and holy goste, and that these thre persones be oon god in trynite, and that god com down in to erthe, and be-com man for the redempcion of mannes sowle, of hem that in hym stadfastly beleve, and kepe his comaundemente.” And she seide, “Right as ye sey, I beleve; and so, veryly, I pray to god be my socoure and helpe.” “Now than,” quod he, “I pray the, and comaunde that thow kepe the fro fallynge in to grete ire or wrath, for in that the feende repaireth moste, bothe in man and woman, namly, when they be in grete ire and comberaunce; that thow haste yelde the in the graces of oure lorde and alle seyntis; and at alle tymes thow goist to bedde, or arysist, blisse the in the name of the fader, sone, and holy goste, and make upon the in the name of the crosse, on the which he suffred his passion to bye vs fro the peynes of helle. And yef thow do thus, thow shalt have no drede of the feendes power. And where that thow slepest on nyght, loke that thow have lyght, ffor the deuell hatyth all clerenesse and lyght, and gladly will not com there.”

Thus taught the holy man the mayden, which hadde grete drede of the deueles engynes; and so she returned hom a-geyn to her house, full stabill in the feith, and full humble to god, and to the pore peple which comen vnto hir, and seiden, “Trewly, it is no wonder though ye be gretely affraied of the turment, that is falle of youre fader, and of youre moder, and youre broder and sustres, that thus be myscheved; but now taketh gode counsell, Page 9
and be of gode comfort, for ye ar right ryche, and have grete herytage; wherfore euery worthy man will be glad to have yow.” And she ansuerde a-geyn, and seide, “Oure lorde kepe me in his servyse, as he knoweth it is grete nede.” Thus endured she wele two yere, that the feende myght neuer be-gyle her, ne neuer myght make her do euell werke; and he sye wele, that he ne cowde nat make her lese that the holy man hadde hir lerned, lesse than she were made wroth. Than made he hir suster come on a saterday, at even, to do hir more turment and anger, to loke yef he might gete hir in that manere. And when hir suster com, it was fer withynne nyght; and she brought with her a grete hepe of harlotys. And when she sye her suster so come she was angry, and seide vnto here, “Ffeire suster,” quod she, “as longe as ye caste yow to lede soche lyf, ye ought not to folio 3b
come in this place, for ye make me haue grete blame, wherof I have lityll nede.”

And she ansuerde a-geyn, as a woman that the feende was withynne, and seyde that she wolde yet do worse, and seide that she was more euell than she, and bar hir on-honde that she loved the holy man paramours, and yef it were knowen the trouth that she worthy to be distroid. And when her suster herde this, she griped hir be the shulders, and put hir owt at the dore; and the tother, to a-uenge hir, made the harlotys that come with hir to kach her suster, and bete her right euell; so with grete peyne she aschaped fro them, and fledde in to her chamber, and shet her dore, and barred hit ffrom her, and the harlottis that were come with her. And she a-bode in her chamber alone, and leyde her down on her bedde all clothed, and wepte tendirly for sorowe; and when the deuell sye that she was angry, and sole by her-self, and that it was derke, he was gladde.

And she remembred the myschef of hir fader and moder, and brother and susters, and sore wepte when she hadde thought on all parteis; and so ther was grete sorowe and grete ire at hir herte. And when the feende sye that she hadde foryete that the holy man hadde taught her, he thought that she stode owte of goddes grace, and of her maister; “and now might I well put oure man in hir.”

And this feende, that hadde power to make

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woman conceyve, was all redy, and lay by hir, while she was slepynge; and when she hadde concayved, she awaked, and in her wakyng, she thought on the holy man, and therwith she blissed here, and seide, “Seynt Mary, what is me befalle, ffor I am disceyved sith I leyde me here. Now, gracyouse lady, pray vnto thi dere [unclear ] sone that he haue [unclear ] mercy upon me, and diffende my body fro turment of the enmy.” And than she aros, and sought aboute [unclear ] after hym that sholde haue don that dede, for she wende to haue founde hym thar-ynne, and she [unclear ] ran to the dore, and fonde it shet in the same maner as she had barred it her self, and than she sought ouer all in her chamber [unclear ] , but nought cowde she fynde. Than she demed that it was the enmy that so hadde her begiled, and than she made full grete sorowe, and cryde moche vpon oure lorde, prayinge hym, that he wolde not suffer her to be shamed here in this worlde [unclear ] . And anoon as it was day, the feende led a-way this othir suster, for she hadde fully espleyted his purpos. And when they were alle passed, she com owte of hir chamber sorowfull and pensif, and called after her seruaunt and a-noon sente after two women; and when they were come, anoon she wente to hir confessour. And the gode man sye her comynge, he seide, “Thowe hest som grete nede, for I se the gretly affraied.” And she answerde, “I ought wele to be affrayed, for it betyde to me that neuer fill to eny [unclear ] woman saf oonly to me; and therfore I come to seche youre counseill, for I haue herde yow saye, that ther was neuere creature that dede so grete offence that yef he were confessed and repentant, and that he wolde resceyve penance for his trespasse, that he sholde haue [unclear ] anoon foryevenesse. Sir, I have synned, and wete ye wele I am disceyved be the deuell.” Than [unclear ] she tolde how hire suster [unclear ] com to hir howse, and all, gynnynge and ende as ye haue herde, and how she fill on slepe on her [unclear ] bedde, and hir dore shette and barred, and how hir grete sorowe made hir [unclear ] foryete to blisse hir; and, quod she, “When I a-woke I fonde me diffoulde, and my maidenhede loste. Sir, I sought thourgh my

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chamber, and fonde my dor shet, ne I cowde fynde no lyvinge creature, that eny suche thynge myght haue don to me; for in this [unclear ]

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wyse I have synned, wherfore I crye god mercy, and yow, and that I may have soche penance, that I lese not the lif everlastynge.” The holy man lestned well to all hir confession, but he yaf no grete credence to that she seide, for he herde neuer be-fore of no soche thynge; and therfore he seyde unto hir, quod he, “Thow art fulle of the deuell; how sholde I absoyle the, or enioyne the penance for thynges which I wene thou lyest veryly, for never was ther woman that loste her maidenhede, but she wiste by whom and how, or, at the leste, that she myght fele the man that dide the dede; and thow woldiste make me bileve this merveyle, that thow seyest in this wyse is the befalle.” And she ansuerde, “So, verily, god be my socoure in my moste nede as I have seide trouth.” The holy man seide, “Yef it be so as thow haste seyde unto me, it shall verily be knowe both to the, and to me withynne shorte tyme. Thow hast broken the obedyence that I comaunded the, therfore I charge the in penaunce that alle the saterdayes while thou lyvest, that thow ete no mete but ones on the day. And as touchynge the lecherye that thow hast tolde, wher-of I can not leve the, thow oughtest to have penaunce all thy lyf-time, yef thow wil take soche as I shall the enioyne.” And she answerde, “Ye can not charge me with noon but I will gladly performe [correction; sic = perfome] it.” Than seyde the holy man, “Thou comest to have counseill of holy cherche, and to the mercy of oure lorde Jhesu Criste, that bought vs with his precyouse blode, and with his bitter deth; and haste very repentaunce of herte, like as thow seyest with thy mouth, and forsakeste all lechery and synne, saf oonly that fill in thi slepynge, fro the whiche no crature may kepe hym clene.” And she graunted hym, with that he wolde be hir plegge be-fore god that she sholde be saued, and that she were not dampned for that synne.

She toke hir penaunce soche as he enioyned her with gode will, sore wepynge, as she that was very repentante; and this gode man assoiled hir, and yaf hir his blissynge, and sette hir

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ageyn in the loue of god in his beste manere, and brought her to the haly water, and made her to drynke in the name of the fader, sone, and holy goste, and caste of the same water vpon her, and badde hir to thynke wele on that he hadde charged her with. “And alle tymes when thow haste eny nede, come to me ageyn.”

And than he be-taught hir to god; and so he put in her penaunce, alle her gode dedes and almesse and prayers that she sholde do. And so returned this damsell in to her howse, and ledde full holy lyf. And when the deuell sye that he hadde loste her in soche manere, that he wiste not what she dede, ne what she seyde, he was wroth and angry. Thus longe she abode that the seed myght no lenger ben hid whiche she hadde in hir body, so that her wombe gan to waxen grete, that the peple aperceyved wele that she was with chylde, and they that were hyr frendes, and axeden hir, be whom it was; and she ansuerde, so god be hir helpe, she wiste not be whom it was. Quod they, “How may this be; have ye than hadde so many men, that ye knowe not who is the fader?” And she ansuerde, “Gode lete me haue delyueraunce yef euer man, my witynge, hadde to do with me in soche maner.” And they that this herden blessed them for merveyle, and seyde that it myght neuer be so, neythir of hir, ne of noon other, “but that ye hope to excuse hym so, that hath don the dede; but truly great pite it is of you, for as soone as the Iuges knowe ther-of, ye
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moste be deed.” When she herde this she was sore abaisshed, and seyde, “So veryly god make my soule safe, as I sawe hym neuer that hath don me this, ne never I hym knewe.” And the womene that her herde speke, helde her for a foole and vntrewe, and clatered it aboute, and seyden certeynly that hir lewte was foule spente, seth it was loste in soche manere.” And when she herde this she remembred on hir confessour, and com to hym, and tolde as the wymen hadden seide. The gode man sye that she was grete with quyk childe, and merveiled gretly, and axed hir yef she hadde wele holden hir penaunce. “Sir,” quod she, “ye, withoute fayle.” Quod he, “Be-fill yowe neuer this merveyle saf ones?”

“Certes, sir,” quod she, “neuer be-fore ne after.”

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And when the gode man herde this he merveyled strongeleche, and sette the oure and the nyght in writynge, like as she hadde tolde hym, and seide, “Be ye right syker, when this chelde shalbe borne, I shall well knowe yef ye have made eny gabbynge, and I have very trust in god, that yef it be as ye have seide, ye shall not be deed therfore; but ye may wele haue grete feer, for as soone as the Iuges knowe ther-of, they well make yow to be take for couetyse of youre londes and herytage, and do Iustice vpon yow; but when ye be taken, sende me worde, and I shall come to helpe yow, and comforte in all that I may, and wite well that god shall helpe yow, yef ye be soche as ye sey.” And than he seide, “Goth hom to youre howse, and have no drede; and, loke ye, be of gode counfort and good lyvynge, for that ledith mane and woman to gode endynge.” And so she departed and come to hir owne house, and ledde holyly hir lif, til the Iuges made hir to be taken, and brought hir be-fore them. And anon note.2 as she was arested, she lete sende after the gode ermyte, that hadde alwey ben her counfort, and he cam in all the haste that he myght; and when he was comene he fonde that the Iuges hedde brought hir by-fore them. The Iustyces clepid hym to hem, and tolde hym the ansuere that she hadde seide hem, she hadde never knowynge of mannes company; “and trowe ye,” quod thei, “that eny woman myht haue childe withoute mannes company.” The gode man ansuerid and seide, I shell not sey all that I thynke, but thus moche I sey vnto yow: yef ye will do my counsell, ye shall not put hir to Iugement while she is with childe, till that she be deliuerd, for the childe hath no deth deserved.” The Iuges seiden, “We shall do as ye counsele.” Quod the holy ermyte, “Yef ye do by my counsele ye shall put hir in a stronge tour in gode warde, wher she shall haue no power ouer hir-self; and with hir ye shall put two women ffor to helpe hir at hir delyueraunce when tyme is, in soche maner that thei may not com oute no more.

And thus shell she be lefte tell she haue chelde, and lete hir aftar be kepte Page 14
tyll she be stronge to goo by her-self. And then yef ye se none other thyng be her then ye se now, than do the Iustice as ye seme right. Thus shall ye do now be my rede; and yef [correction; sic = and yef and yef] ye do othirwise I may no more.” And even as the gode man deuised, they dede. And so she was shet in a stronge tour, and with her two women, the wiseste that they knewe of soche mystere, and made hem a wyndowe to hale vpe, that hem owht to have.

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When this was don the gode man spake to hem be-nethe on the grounde withoute, and seyde to the damesell, “When thow haste childe,” quod he, “make it to be baptiseth as soone as thow mayste; and when thow shalte be brought oute ageyn to Iugement lete me have wetynge.” In this wyse abode they stille in the tour a grete while, til that she was delyuered of a sone, as god wolde. And when he was born it hadde the engyne and the witt of a feende, after the kynde of hym that be-gate hym. But the deuell wrought so folily, that oure lorde toke it to his owne vse, be the very repentance of the modir, that hir put in the mercy and ordenaunce of god and holicherche, and hilde wele the doctryne of his mynystres; and, therfore oure lorde wolde not lese that shulde be his. And ther the deuell was disseyued of his purpos, that he hadde ordeyned that childe to haue his arte and witte to knowe alle thynges don, and seide, bothe that were paste and that were to come. And oure lorde, that alle thynges knoweth, sye the repentaunce of the moder, and that it was not her will that was so be-fellen, he wolde have hym on his parte; neuertheles, he yaf hym fre choys to do what he wolde, for yef he wolde he myght yelde god his parte, en to the feende his also.

This was this childe born, of whom the wemen were sore afeerde, for they sye hym more roughe than other childeren that they had seyne, and so they shewed to the moder, and when she it sough, she fayned her, and sayd, “This childe maketh me to haue grete feer.” Quod the wemen, “So doth it to vs.” Quoth the moder, “Lete it be let don owte at the wyndowe that it may be baptysed,” and they dyd soo.

“What shalbe his

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name?” “I will,” quod she, “that it haue name after my fader.” Then they let it down by a corde owte at the wyndowe of the tour, and cherged hem that weren be-nethe, that it shulde be baptysed, and named after the gode man that was fader of the modre, and so it was [correction; sic = and so it was and so it was] cristened Merlyn, and was delyuered to the [correction; sic = the the]

women vpe to the wyndowe to the moder, and ther was none othir women that durste norishe it but the modre, for it was so grysly to syght, and therfore was the moder suffred to norishe it tell it was x monthes of age, and [correction; sic =
and and] than it semed ij yere age or more; and whan it was xij monthes of age, the women seide to the modre, “Dame, we will no lengar be here in this case from oure frendes; we will gone owte, for we have be here longe tyme.” Then quod she, “As sone as ye departe from hens shall I be brought to Iugement.” Quod they, “We may no more be hereynne, and therefor we ne may no more do therto.” Then she wepte and cryde hem mercy, praynge hem to abyde a while, and they graunted hir; and as they lened lokynge oute at the wyndowe ther as she satte sore wepynge, toke the child in her armes, sayinge, “Feyre sone, for youre sake shall I suffir the deth, and I haue it not deserued, for ther is noon, saf oonly God, that [correction; sic = that that] knowith the trowthe, and I may not be byleved, wherfore I most with grete wronge be put to deth.” And as she made this lamentacion, the chede gan to beholde hir, and seyde, folio 5b

“Moder,” quod he, “be not dismayed, for ye shull neuer be Iuged to deth for my cause.” And when the moder herde this ansuere she aferid, that as she sodenly made a sprynge, the childe fill oute of hire arme and cryde. The wemen that were at the wyndowe wenden that she hadde ben a-boute to kylle the childe, and sodeynly axed hir, “Whi made the childe this shrike? wilt thow sleue it?” And she ansuerde, “I thought it neuer, but it was for a merveyle that it seide vnto me.” Quod she, “It seyde I sholde neuer be deed for hym.” Than, quod thei, “We shull heire hym sey othir thynges.” Than they toke Page 16
the childe and cherishid it, prayinge to speke to hem; but for ought thei cowde do thei myght gete of hym no mo wordes, till on a tyme the modir seyde to the wemen, quod she, “Manace me, and sey I shalbe brente,” for fayne wolde she that the wemen herde it speke The wemen seyde to the moder, “Truly it is grete damage and pite that youre fayre body shalbe brent for so foule a creature; better it were that he hadde neuer be borne.” “Certes,” quod he, “falsly lyen, and that hath my moder made yow to sey.” And when they herde this they were sore abaisshed, and seiden, “Certes, this is no childe, but it is a deuell, who myght this have knowen that he hath seide.” Than they axed hym many demaundes, but he wolde speke no more, saf he seide, “Let me be, and beth in pes, for ye ben more synfull than is my moder.” And when they hadde herde this they hadden grete merveyle, and seide, “This may not be kepte counseill, ne it ought not not to be, and therfore we will telle it to the peple be-nethe withoute forth.” Tho wente they to the wyndowe and clepeden to the peple, and tolde them this merveyle of the childe, In so moche that these tydinges com to the Iuges, and thei hadde ther-of grete merveile, and seide it was tyme to do Iustice vpon the moder. Thei sente to the baile that withynne xl dayes she sholde be brought be-fore them to have her Iugement. When the moder of Merlin knewe that hir daye was come she hadde grete feer, and sent worde to the gode hermyte, hir confessour.

Thus she abode viij dayes or more, till the tyme com that she sholde be brent.

Whan she remembred hir on hir deth she made grete lamentacion for grete drede.

The childe wente a-boute in the tour and sye his moder wepynge, and he lowgh and was mery. The wemen that this beheilde seide, “Thow thynkest full lityll on thi moders grete sorowe, that this weke for the shall be brente.” To this worde ansuerde the childe, “Feire moder, be not afeirde, for while I leue shall noon be so hardy to putt yow to deth, saf oonly god that is Almyghty.” When the wemen herde this they seiden, “This childe shall ben a wise man and a wonderfull.” And when the day com that was sette, the wemen were taken oute of the tour, and she bar

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hir sone in hir armes. The Iuges were come, and toke the two women in counseill, and axed yef it were trewe that the childe hadde seyde soche wordes; and they seiden like as they hadden herde. And the Iuges seiden he moste be connynge of moche thynge, yef he shulde saue his moder; and the gode hermyte was come to conforte the moder; and oone of Iuges seide to hir, “Dame, make yow redy, for ye moste suffir this martire of deth.” And she ansuerde prayinge she myght speke with hir confessour; and they yaf hir lycence. And they entred in to a chamber and lefte hir childe withoute, and the peple aresoned it with many questyons, but he yaf noon ansuere.

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The moder spake with hir confessour, pitofly wepynge; and when she hadde seyde all that she wolde the gode man axed yef hir childe spake, and she seide, “Ye.”

“Certes,” quod the gode man, “therof shall come merveiles.” Than thei come oute be-fore the Iuges; the damsell was in hir smok, with a mantill a-bouten hir, and fonde hir son withoute the chamber, and toke hym in her armes, and stode still.

And the Iuges examyned hyr who was the fader of the childe; and she ansuerde, “I knowe well I go to my deth, and so god have mercy and pyte on my soule, as I never knewe the fader, ne neuer hym saugh, ne neuer erthely man hadde I of knowleche, wherthourgh I sholde have childe.” The Iuges seide, “We may neuere bileve that this be trewe that thow seiste.” Than the Iuges drough hem apart, and cleped these other wemen, and seide, “Dames, be-fill it euer to yow, or to eny othir woman that ye herde of speke, that myght have childe with-owte carnall knowynge of man.” And those seyde, “Withoute manes feliship myght no woman have chylde.” Than the Iuge turned to this damesell, and tolde how those wemen hadde seide, “and, therfore, it is grete reson that we do Iustice vpon yow.” Then Merlyn sprong oute of his mothers arm [correction; sic = pnd] angrye, and saide to [correction; sic = to to] the Iuge, “It is no right that she be deed, for she hath it not deserued; and yf other shulde be don Iustice vpon all tho that don avouterye be-syde ther housbands, many there were werthy to be Page 18
brent. And as touchynge this that is putte on my moder, she is nothynge gilty; reinde of that gode man yef ye charge hym to say the trouthe.” Then the Iuges examyned the gode hermyte yef it were so, and he seide, “Ye,” as by his wetynge, and he told hem how she was begiled in her slepe, and that she neuer sedd hym that dide the deed, “ne I never hym sygh, wherfore al that aperteyneth to god I take vpon me for hir; nevertheles, I herde never of no soche merveyle, safe only of this.” Than seide the child, “Ye have the houre and the tyme writen that I was ynne conceyved, and ther-by may you knowe yef my mother sey troath.” The gode man ansuerde, “Thow seist soth, ne I wot not how thow myght knowe this.”

Than were the women cleped which tolde the hour of the childes berthe, and so was the gode mannes writyng fonde trewe; and the Iuge seide, “For al that she sholde not go quyte.”

Thane wrathed the childe, and saide, “I know better my fader than thov doste thyne, and thy moder wiste beter whom is thy fader, than my moder knoheth mynne.” Thane wrathed the Iuge, and seide, “Yef thow censt ought say of my moder, sey on.” Quoth the child, “I cowde sey so moche be thy moder, that she hath beter deserved the deth then hath my moder, therfore yef that thove me; leet my moder be in pese that natht knoweth of that thow puttest on hir in thy Inngendure.” Tho gan the Iuge to be right wrath, and seyd, “Yef thow canste do so, then haste reserwed thy moder fro brennynge; but, wyt thow well, yef thow canste not prewe this vpon hir, I shall brenne bothe the and thy moder to-gedere.” “That shall neuer be while I lyfe,” quoth Merlyn, “that thow shall have no powre overene my moder.” This was Merlynes pletere for his moder.

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Tho was respite take to the ve day, and the Iuge lete sende after his moder; and of many folke was the childe aresonde of diuirse thynge, and of his moder also; but in alle the v. dayes myght ne creature gete of no worde. And when the Iuges moder was come, Merlyn and his moder were brought owte of prison, and ledde be-fore peple. Tho seide the Iuge to

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Merlyn, “Lo, here is my moder on whom thow most sey that that thow hast promysed.” Tho ansuerde, “Thow art not so wyse as thow weneste; go, brynge thy moder in to a prevy chamber, and take with yow of youre frendes that ye beste truste. And I shall the counseill of my moder, that is, god almyghty and hir confessour.” Tho was the Iuge so abaisshed that vnethe cowde he ansuere eny worde; but he understode that the chylde spake wisely. And Merlyn axed alle the peple, “Yef I delyuer my moder fro this Iuge, shall eny other do her duresse?”

And they seiden all, “Nay.” When they weren in the chamber the Iuge axed of Merlyn, “Now sey of my moder that thow owest to sey, wherby thy moder may be quyte.” The chylde ansuerde, “I shall neuer sey thynge of thy moder wherefore my moder ought to be quyte, for she hath no thynge aguylte, ne I will in no maner diffende my moder a-geyn right; but I will saue goddis right and hirs; and yef thow do wisely lete my moder be in pees, and reste withoute more, and [correction; sic = ] I shall lete youres.” “So shalte thow nought escape,” quod the Iuge. Quod [correction; sic = Qnod] Merlyn, “Thow haste quyte clayned my moder, yef I may hir deffende in this maner.” Quod the Iuge, “It is soth.” “Than accusest my moder,” quod merlyn, “because I am of hir born, and she knoweth not who that me be-gat on hir; but yef I wolde she shulde better be-knowe who be-gat me than thow knowest who is thy fader, and thy moder can better telle the whos sone thow art than my moder can telle me whos sone I am.” “Moder,” quod the Iuge, “how is this; am I not the sone of youre hosebonde.” “O feyre sone,” quod she, “whos sone shuldest thow be but my lordes, whiche is now deed.” “Dame,”

quod Merlyn, “thow muste sey trouthe, for elles thy sone holdeth not my moder ne me yet quite.” Quod the Iuge, “I will neuer entermete ther-in.” Quod Merlyn, “Thow shalt yet fynde that thi fader is yet lyvinge by witnesse of thy moder.”

The chylde beheild the moder of the Iuge, and seyde, “Dame, thow moste sey truthe. Who is his fader, for it is not he that he weneth.” The lady was al abaisshed, and axed hym “who than?” “Thow woste well,” quod Merlyn, “that he is the

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sone to person be this tokene, that a-noon as he hadde leye by the, thow toldest hym thow were with childe, and he seyde a-geyn that thow sholdest neuer be with childe by hym, and that seyde he for feer, leste thow shuldest have leyen by eny other man; and, therefore, lest he not, but he putte in writynge alle the tymes that he lay by the. And that tyme thyn hosbonde and thow were at debate; and with-in shorte tyme thow toldest the person that thow were euel ther-on, for thow wast with childe with hym. Is not this trewe? but yef thou knowliche the soth I will other sey werse.” The Iuge axed of his moder “Is this trewe?” And she seide, “Feire sone, levest thou this deuell.” Than seide folio 7a

Merlyn, “When thow knewe verily that thow were with childe, thow purchacest a-corde betwene the and thi husbonde, by mene of the person hymself, for to hyde youre counseill; and this lif leddest longe after, and yet thow doest. And that same nyght, when thow sholde come hiderwarde, layes thow by hym, and he brought the on wey hiderwarde a grete part, and seide, ‘Thynke to do and to sey as my sone will.’”

When the Iuges moder herde this that he so spake, and wiste wele he seyde soth in all thinges, she was sore distraught, and sye wele she moste be-knowe the trouthe; and hir sone beheilde hir and seide, “Feire moder, who-euer by my fader, I am youre sone, and as youre sone I will do; sey me trouthe of that he this hath seyde.” “Now, feire sone,” quod she, “I cry yow mercy, for that he hath seide it is trewe.” Quod the Iuge, “This childe soth seide when he seyde that he knewe beter his fader than I dede myn, and therefore it is no reson I do Iustise on his moder; but for godes sake and for my worship,” quo he to Merlyn, “telle me who is thy fader.” And he ansuerde, “I shall rather telle the for thy love than for thy force. I will that thow wyte verily that I am the sone of the enmy that begiled my moder with engyn, and their repair is in the air. And wite well that I have their witte and connynge and mynde. And by this I knowe thi moders werkes, for I knowe alle thynges that be don or seyde and tho be passed.

And oure lorde that wolde I sholde be saued, Page 21
and be on his part a-geyn my nature, for the love of my moder, that bothe with body and herte dide trewe penaunce that this gode man charged hir with, by vertu of the auctorite that he hath of the chirche, so that I knowe thynges that be for to come a grete partye, and that may ye knowe be that I shall sey yow.” Than he toke the Iuge a-part, and said, “Thi moder will a-noon go telle hym that the by-gat all that I have seide, and when he hereth this he will fle for feer of the, and the deuell, whom he hath euer servid, shall lede hym to a water ther to drowne hymself; and so mayste thow prove that I knowe thynges that be to come.”

“Yef this be so,” quod the Iuge, “neuer shall I mystrowe the.”

Thus departed this counsell and come be-fore the peple, and the Iuge seide well he hadde delyuered his moder fro brennynge be gode reson. And be it well knowe to yow alle that neuer was seyen so wyse a man. And they ansuerde, “Blessed be oure lorde that she is quyt fro the deth.” Thus delyuerid Merlyn his moder, and a-bode with the Iuge, and the Iuge sente iij men with his moder to witte yef it were trewe that the childe hadde seyde; and a-noon as the Iuges moder was com hom she tolde the person the merveyle that she hadde herde. And when herde that, he was so astonyed that he kowde ansuere no worde, supposynge that a-noon as the Iuge were come he wolde sle hym, and so he spedde hym oute of the town till he com to a ryver, and seyde to hymself that better it were ther to drowne hymself than the Iuge sholde hym shamfully do hym to deth be-fore the peple.

Thus ledde hym the devell that he hadde serued, that he hadde lepte in to the ryver and drowned hymself. And that saw they that were sent with the lady. And when they were returned they tolde the Iuge, and hadde grete merveyle, and seyde vnto Merlyn this thynge, and Merlyn lowgh. “I pray the,” quod he, “tellith to Blase my moders confessour.” The Iuge tolde the gode man the merveyle that was befalle of the person. Than wente Merlyn and his moder, folio 7b
and Blase and the Iuge where as they liked. This Blase was a nobill clerk and subtile, and herde Merlyn speke sotilly as of his age, as he that Page 22
was but two yere olde and an half, and he merveylede gretely whereof his grete wytte myght come, and he assaide Merlyn in many maners; and Merlyn seyde, “The more thow assayest me the more shalt thow fynde; but do and beleve that I shall sey, and I shall lyghtly teche the to haue the love of Ihesu Cryste and the lyf euerlastynge.” Blase ansuerde, “I have herde the sey, and I leve well that thow art the sone of the Deuell; wherefore I doute the sore, lest thow me disceyve and be-gyle.” “Hit is a custome,” quod Merlyn, “that alle shrewed hertys gon in alle their afferes, as well the euell as the gode, euen as thow hast herde me sey that I was conceyved of the deuell, so haste thow herde me sey that god hath yove me mynde to knowe thynges that be to come; and wyte thow well that it is godes will that I sholde knowe it, for he wolde that the deuell shold lese his part in me; but I have not loste the knowynge of here engynes, but I holde of hem that I ought to conne; but they ne shole therby take profyte, for they haue fro henes-forth loste ther trauayle, for they putt me in so digne a vessell, the whiche ne ought not to be theirs; but yef they hadden putt me in an euell woman I sholde haue hadde no power to have knowen what god had I be; therfore leve that I sey vnto the. And I shall telle the soche thynges that thow woldest trowe no creature myght sey vnto the; and therfore make a boke, and alle tho thate this boke shul se, sholde the rather kepe hem from synne.” Blase ansuerde and seide, “The boke I will gladly make; but I coniure the in the name of the fader, sone, and holy goste that thow have no power me to be-gyle, ne to make me do soche thynge that god sholde with be displesed.” “Alle these thynges,” quod Merlyn, “ne mowe the hynder in body, ne in sowle, for never shall I make the do thynge that shalbe ageyn the volente of oure lord Ihesu Cryste.” “Than sey what thow wilt, and fro hens-forth I will do it gladly.” Quod he, “Gete ynke and parchemyn, and all that longeth to writynge, and than I will telle the.”

Blase sought all that hym mystered to write with, and when he was all redy, Merlyn be-gan to telle the lovynge of Ihesu Page 23

Criste, and of Iosep Abaramathie, like as they hadden ben of the slayn; and of Pieron, and of othir felowes like as they weren departed, and the fynyshment of Ioseph and of alle other. And after he tolde hym that whan alle thise thynges were don, how the deuelles toke theire counseile of that they hadde loste their power that they were wonte to haue over man and [correction; sic = ] woman, and how the prophetes hadden hyndred here purpos, and how they were acorded to purchase a man, that sholde have their witte and mynde to disceyve the peple.

And thow hast herde be my moder, and also be other, the trauayle that they hadden to begete me; but through theire foly, they alle loste their trauayle.”

CHAPTER II.

KING VORTIGER AND HIS TOWER.

Thus devised Merlyn this boke, and made Blase to write it, which hadde ther-of so grete merveile that he wolde not telle it to no persone, and alwey hym thought that
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his tales weren gode, and therfore he herkened hem gladly. In the menetyme that they entended a-boute this mater, come Merlyn to Blase, and seyde, “Thow moste have grete traueyle a-boute the makynge, and so shall I have moche more.” And Blase axed, “How?” Merlyn seyde, “I shall be sente after to seche oute of the weste, and they that shall come to seche me, have graunted their lorde that they shull me sle, but whan thei come and here me speke they shull have no will me to sle. And I shall go with hem; and thow shalt go in to that partyes, where they be that have the holy vessell. And euer hereafter shall thy boke gladly be herde, and he that will knowe the lyf of kynges whiche were in the grete Bretayne be-fore that cristendom come, beholde the story of Bretons. That is a boke that maister Martyn traunslated oute of latyn, but heire rested this matere. And turneth to the storye of Loth, a crysten kynge in Bretayne, Page 24
whos name was Constance. This Constance regned a grete tyme, and hadde thre sones, the first hight Moyne, and the other Pendragon, and the thirde Vter. This Constans hadde a man in his realme that hight Vortiger; this Vortiger was a worldly wise man, and Constance was a man of grete age, and ended his lif. Tho the pepill axed who sholde be her kynge and here lorde; they acorded to make Moyne kynge, that was eldest, for it was not right that noon other sholde be by-fore hym. Heir-to accorded Vortiger hymself, and the barons chosen Vortiger to be stwarde. And the hethen peple that werreden on the kynge Moyne often sithes foughten withe the crystene. And Vortiger dide with all the realme his wille, that the kynge that was yonge ne hadde but the krowne. So hadde Vortiger the hertys of the peple, and he knewe well that thei heilde hym worthy and wise, and lyfte hym to grete pride, for he sye ther was noon in the londe that myght do so moche as he. The hethen assembled a grete oste vpon hem, and the kynge com to Vortiger, and seide, “Gode frende, helpe to diffende the lande, for I and alle the peple be at thy comaundement.” And Vortiger seyde, “Sir, ther is moche peple in youre londe that me haten, therfore lete them helpe yow, for I will not entermete me ther-of.

When the kynge and thise other sye that ther was noon helpe in hym, ne socour, they returned, and arayed hem, and made hem redy to fyght, but they were disconfited of the hethen peple; and than they returned, and complayned here grete losse, and seyden yef Vortiger hadde be ther, they hadde not so myshapped.

So be-gan the peple to hate the kynge. Thus it indured longe tyme, tyll that the kynge was holden a cowarde; and alle the barons seiden thei wolde no longer suffer hym to be kynge. Than come they to Vortiger, and seide, “Sir, we ben kyngeles, for he that we have is nought worth; for goddes sake take it upon yow, and mayntene vs, for ther is noon in this londe that may so well as ye.” And he ansuerde, “I may not, ne I ought not to do while the kynge leveth.” “Truly,”

quod
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they, “better it were for vs that he were ded that a-lyve.” “Yef he were ded,”

quod Vortiger, “than yef ye and other wolde assent, Page 25

I wolde be youre kynge.” When thei herde these words, supposed wele what he ment. Thei toke leve of hym, and yede in to their contreyes, and tolde their frendes the ansuere of Vortiger, and thei seide, “It were beste for vs to sle hym, and than may Vortiger knowe that he is kynge thourgh oure helpe, be that we have slayn the kynge; and so shall he euer after do oure wille, and be oure frende. And so xij made hem redy, and wente in to the halle ther the kynge was, and ran on hym with swerdes and knyves, and slowe hym. And thei fonde but ffewe that a-geyn hem seide to make resistence. Tho they com to Vortiger, and seiden, “Now shalt thow be kynge, for we have slayn kynge Moyne.” When Vortiger wiste he was ded, he made semblaunt as he hadde be right wroth, and seide, “Full euell have ye sped that thus have slayn youre kynge. I rede you to fle out of the londe for drede of the kynges peple, and me forthynketh that ye be hider i-come.” And thei anoon departed thens, and thus was kynge Moyn slayn. After, the peple of the Contre assembleden, and speken of Vortiger; and so thei acorded to haue Vortiger kynge. At this counseill were two noble men that kepten the two childeren which were bretheren [correction; sic = betheren] to kynge Moyn, that was Pendragon and Vter.

When these tow gode men wisten that Vortiger sholde be kynge, thei denied wele that thourgh hym was kynge Moyn slayne, thei toke consell betwene hem bothe, and seide, “Sithe that Vortiger hath do sle oure kynge, lete vs now kepe the two children, for we loued moche the fader, that to vs did many benefetes, and be hym haue we yet all that we haue. Gretly were we to blame yef we loste that we haue so longe kepte. Than the two gode men acorded that they wolde fle in to a straunge contre towarde Gawle, and lede with hem the two children that they hadde so longe tyme kepte. But at this tyme I will not sey where thei be come till tyme of the tale come ther-to; but thus moche I sey yow, that in a Citee that is called Ben-oyc, note.3 that now is cleped Page 26

Bourges, were thei longe tyme norished. And so may ye vnderstande be this tale that he ought doth for a gode man, lesith not his traueyle.

When Vortiger was chosen to be kynge, and he was sacred, and lorde of londe, thei that hadde slayn the kynge Moyne come be-fore hym. And when he hem saugh, he made semblaunt as he hadde neuer seye them be-fore. And thei reproved hym of vnkyndenesse, and seyde thourgh them he was chosen to be kynge, for his love hadde thei slayn kynge Moyn. When Vortiger herde hem seye thei hadde slayn their lorde, he comaunded to take them; and seide, “Ye have Iuged youreself that knowliche that ye have youre lorde slayn. In the self manere sholde ye do to me yef ye myght; but I shall make yow well to be kepte.” And when thei vndirstode this, they were sore abasshed, and seiden, “Sir, we trowed to deserue of yow thanke.” Than Vortiger made hem to be bounde to horse tailes, and made hem to be rente and drawen a-sonder, alle xij, while eny hym wolde holde with other. Thise that thus were distrowed were come of grete lynage; they come to Vortiger, and seide, “Thow hast don
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vs grete shame, that haste putte oure frendes to so vileyns deth; we will never gladly do the servise.” When Vortiger herde their manasynge, he was wroth and angry, and seide yef they spake eny more ther-of he sholde do the same with hem.

And they hadde grete dispite of that worde, and ansuerde as thei that litlll him douted. “Thow manesest vs as thow wilte, but while we have eny londe, or kyn, or frendes, shalt thow neuer be withoute werre; for thow art not oure lorde be right, ne the londe is not thyn, but that thow haste a-geyn all reson; and wite ţou wele that thow shalt dye the same deth that thow hast made hem.” And thus they departed withoute more at that tyme. In this manere be-gan the euelwill betwene the kynge and the barons, so that thei assembled grete pepill vpon the kynge, and did hym grete harme, and token often prisoners, and many other prayes upon hym. In this maner hadde Vortiger werre longe tyme, and often tyme faught so with them that he drof hem oute of hys londe.

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And when he hadde dryuen hem oeut, he be-come so crewell to his peple that thei myght no lenger hym suffer, but a-roos a-geyn hym, and refte hym grete part of his londe, and stuffed their forteresses. When Vortiger sye that, he was ferde to lese his londe. Than he sente Messages to the Danes that were hethen peple, and seide he wolde have pees with hem. When thei wiste that Vortiger disered the pees, they were gladde. Than com Angier to Vortiger, and serued hym trewly till he hadde made ende of his werre. Than Angiers spake so with Vortiger, that he toke oone of Angiers doughters to his wyf. Wherthourgh the peple seyde he loste grete parte of beleve for his wif that was not crysten. After all this Vortiger knewe wele that he hadde not the hertys of the peple; and also the sones of Constance were fledde in to straunge londes, and that thei wolde repeire as sone as thei myght; and knewe well also yef they come a-geyn it sholde be to hym grete damage; and therfore he thought to make a Castell so stronge and so large, that he sholde not drede no werre. Tho lete he sende after alle the masons and werkemen of his londe, and comaunded hem to make a tour, the strengest that myght be devised in eny maner, and than did to brynge ston and morter, and be-gan the werke. And when thei hadde wrought a iiij fadome of height, than it ouerthrewe, and the mountayne that the werke was sette on gan to tremble, that thei semed it wolde synke. And he seide for that wolde he not yet cesse, but make it vp a-geyn. Thus thei wrought dyuerse tymes, and euer it fill and trymbled. When Vortiger sye his werke myght not holde, he seide he sholde neuer have ioye till he myght knowe what was the cause that it fill. Than he sente after alle the wisest men of his londe. And when thei were come he tolde hem the merveyle of his toure, and axed theyre counseile. And thei seide ther myght noon knowe the cause why, but it were notable clerkes; “ffor thei can knowe many thinges be force of clergie that we ne can no skyle on.” Than seide Vortiger, “Me thinke ye sey soth.” He lete sende after alle the wise clerkes of his londe, and tolde hem how his toure fill, wher-of they gretly merveiled. Than he toke oon of the

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wisest of hem, and axed hym yef he trowed they cowde telle why his werke myght not stonde. note.4 “Do me to wete that ye can telle the cause why?” And when thei herden this, they seide, “Sir,
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we witeth not; but ther be somme that myght wele knowe by astronomye.” “Than,”

quod he, ” enquereth a-monge you who will take the labour to serche oute the cause why, and lete me wite.” Than enquered oon of another yef ther were eny that cowde of that art. So ther were two that seide thei cowde i-nough as hem semed. Thise tweyne chosen to hem of hir othir felischep, that thei were vij in nombre. And they were brought be-fore the kynge, and he axed, “Shull ye tell me thencheson that my werke may not stonde, yef it may well be knowen by eny man?”

Quod they, “We shall knewe it.” And the kynge seyde he wolde yeve them what they wolde desire. Thus departed the counsell of the clerkes; and the vij a-biden stille, that gretely payned hem to knowe how that toure myght holde. Gretly stodied euery clerke be hymself, but for all their labour thei cowde not fynde but oon thynge, and that thynge ne heilde of nought as to the toure; till that the kynge comaunded hem to sey that they hadde take in charge. “Sir,” quod thei, “that ye vs axen is a grete thynge. We moste yet haue viij dayes of respyte.”

Quod the kynge, “I will well that ye have so longe terme; and be well ware that than ye sey me the trowthe.” Than wente the clerkes to counsell, and seide oon to anothir, “What seme ye of this thynge that the kynge vs demaundeth.” Quod oon of hem, “Will ye do well? lete eche man by hymself telle me what hym semeth in this mater.” Ther-to they accorded; than thei drowgh a-syde eche be hymself; but thei seiden of the tour they ne knewe nought, saf they sye a grete merveyle, for thei saugh a childe of vij yere age, that was born withouten fader erthly; and thus seide eche of hem. Than seide this other, “Cometh ageyn tomorowe alle togeder.”

On the morowe, when thei were alle come be-fore hym, he seide, “Ye have alle seide to me oon thynge. Ye seyen alle

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that ye come nought se touchynge the tour, but ye syen a childe of vij yere age, born withoute erthely fader. Ye seiden to me no more, and ther is noon that ne seeth, that by that same childe we shull alle be distroyed; and this have ye alle fro me conseled. Now,” quod he, “yef ye will leve me, ye shal warant youre owen lyves, and I will telle how we shull acorde alle to oon tale, and seyn alle that this tour may not holde, but yef in the foundacion be put the blode of this childe, and than the tour shall stonde. And thus lete eayche of vs sey by hymself, so that the kynge ne aparceyve not; but let vs diffende the kynge, that he se hym not quyk, but thei that shull go to seche hym brynge his blode.

Thus may we kepe vs from him be whom we se that we shull alle dye.” Thus ended their counseill; and come be-fore the kynge, and seide that thei wolde not sey openly, but eche by hymself in counsell, “and so shull ye wite who seide beste reson, and that the oon sholde not knowe the counsell of his felowe.” And so the kynge examyned eche by hymself. When the kynge and his folio 10a
counseill herde this merveile, thei seiden it myght welbe yef they myght fynde a childe born that hadde no fader, “ye have eche of yow tolde me oon tale.” “Sir,”

quod thei, “yef it be not thus, doth with vs youre volente.” Than seide the kynge that he wolde have hem well kepte till he knew the trouthe. And thei seide, “Sir, ne speketh nought with the childe, but comaunde as soone as he is founden that he be slayn, and that the bloode be brought to yow.” The kynge made hem alle be shett in a stronge house, and made delyuere that hem neded; and cleped certeyn gentilmen, and made hem to be sworne to do truly his massage, and comaunded hem to seche after a childe of the age of vij yere, whiche was born with-owte fader erthely. Of these gentilmen were xij; and also the kynge dide hem to swere that whiche of hem sonneste myght fynde this childe, a-noon withoute tariynge he sholde it sle, and brynge the blode of the chylde vn-to the kynge, and that thei sholde not returne withinne two yere, lesse than thei myght fynde the seide childe. Thus the kynge lete seche this childe. The messagers departeden two and two togeder, and passed thourgh Page 30
many londes and contres in to a tyme that iiij of hem sodeynly metten togeder.

Thus thei reden in oon company, alle iiij, till on a day that thei passeden thourgh a feelde be-side a town where-in were grete plente of children, that ther-in were pleyinge. And Merlyn, that knewe well that these iiij com to inquere after hym, drough hym towarde oon of the richest of the company, for that he wiste hym moste fell and hasty. He hente his staf, and yaf this childe a grete buffet. And a-noon this othir be-gan to crye and wape, and to myssey Merlyn, and reproved hym with a lowde voyce, and cleped hym “mys-begeten wreache and faderles.” When these messagers herden this, thei com toward the childe that was wepynge, and axed hym whiche was he that hadde smyten hym. And he hem ansuerde, “It is the sone of a woman whiche never knewe who hym be-gat, ne never man cowde telle of his fader. And when Merlyn herde this, he com a-geyn them laughinge, and seide, “I am he that ye seche, and he that ye be sworn ye sholden sle, and brynge my blode to kynge Vortiger.” And thei herden hym thus sey, thei were sore a-merveyled, and axeden hym, “Who hath tolde the this?” Quod he, “I wiste it er ye were sworn.” Quod thei, “Than moste thow come with vs.” “Nay,”

quod he, “I doute that ye will me sle.” And yet he knewe well that thei hadde ther-to no talant, but he seide that for to prove hem better. Quod Merlyn, “Yef ye will graunte me that ye shull not do me disese, I will go with yow, and also telle why the tour may not stonde.” And when thei herde that, thei were more abaissed than be-fore. “Truly,” quod thei, “this childe is merveilouse, and grete pite it were hym to sle.” And eche of hem seyde that hem were better to be forsworn than to sle this childe. Than said Merlyn, “Ye shull come herberewe ther as is my moder, for I may not go with yow withoute takynge leve of here, and also of a gode man which is in the same place.” Thei seide, “We will go where that thow wilte.”

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Thus brought merlyn the messagers of the kynge to his moder place, and when Merlyn come in to the house he comaunded that thei sholde have gode chere. When thei were

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alyght, he brought hem be-fore blase, and seide, “Se hem here that I tolde sholde come to seche me to sle,” and seide to them, “I pray yow that ye sey the trouthe be-fore this gode man, why that ye beth sente, and wite ye well yef ye gabbe enythynge, I know it wele i-nough.” And thei ansuerde, “We will no lesynge make.” Quod merlin to Blase, “Maister, vnderstonde well what thei sey.” Quod the massanger, “We be with kynge Vortiger, whiche hath begonne to make a stronge toure; and when the werke of this tour is iij or iiij fadom of height, it may not holde, but synketh in an hour all that is wrought in iij monthis. Wherefore the kynge is angry and wroth, and he dide sende after clerkes to knowe the cause that his werke may not holde.” “Ye,” quod Merlin, “but noon of the clerkes ne cowde se the cause that letted the werke to holde; but thei sien how I was born, and how that I myght hem distroie, and so thei dide acorde that I sholde be slayn, and seide that the kynges werke sholde stonde, yef he myght have the blode of the childe born withoute fader. And when Vortiger herde this, he heilde this a grete merveile, and trowed that that the clerkes seiden trewe. And the clerkes charged the kynge that in no manere he sholde not se me a-lyve; but as sone as I were founde, that I sholde withoute respite be slain, and my blode to be brought to be putte with the morter in the foundement of the tour, and by that thei seiden it sholde holde. Vortiger, by their techynge, toke xij messagers, and made alle xij to swere that thei sholde me sle, and bringe with hem my blode; and of these xij be heer iiij whiche, when ye were met, passeden thourgh the feild where childern were bourdinge, and I, that knewe ye come me for to seche, smote oon of my felowes, for I wiste well he wolde sey of me the werste that he knewe in his anger, and therfore I it dide, that this gode man shulde fynde me trewe of that I hadde seide.” “Now, maister,” quod merlin to blase, “axe hem yef it be so as I sey.” “Truly,” seide blase, “it were grete pite hym to sle, for yef he lyve he shalbe right wise.” “Certes,” seide euereche of the messagers, “I hadde leuer be disherited Page 32
than he hadde resceyved deth thourgh me, and he hym-slef seth that he knoweth all thynge, wote yef ther-to we have talent or noon.”

Than thei cleped in a-geyn merlyn, that was gon oute at dore; and Blase seide to hym how thei badde hym axe yef he wiste that thei hadden talent hym to sle. And merlyn lowgh, and seide, “I wote well now thei be nothynge in will ther-to.”

Quod thei, “Wilt thow go with vs;” and merlin seide, “Ye, with gode will, yef ye will promyse me truly to brynge me be-fore the kynge, and that ye ne suffer noon other to do me harme ne disese, er I have with hym spoken.” And thei hym graunted. Than seide Blase, “I se well that thow wilt now leve me: what wilt thow that I shall do of this werke that I haue begonne?” “That shall I telle the,” quod merlin; “thow woste well that oure lorde hath yove me so moche witte and memorye, that he that wende to be siker of me, hath failed of his purpos, and I moste go in to that contre
folio 11a
ffro whiche these be come to fecche me. And ther shall I be the beste beleved man that euer was, sef [correction; sic = ef] all only god that is Almyghty; and thow shalt come thider, to make an ende of the werke. But thow ne shalt not come with me, but by thy self, and axe after a londe that is cleped Northumbirlonde.

And that contre is full of grete foreste, and full wylde to them of the selue contre. Ther thow shalt a-bide, and I shall come to the, and telle the all the mater that longeth to thi werke. And moche is thy trauayle, and thow shalt have gode leyser, and as longe as the worlde dureth shall thi boke gladly ben herde.

And wite thow well that my grete traueill shall not be by-fore this kynges courte. This kynge, to whom all my grete traueill shall be, and the traueile of grete Breteyne, his name shalbe Arthur. Thow shalt go thider, as I have told the, and I shall often come to the, and brynge soche tidinges as thow shalt put in this boke. And wite it well, peple shulbe glad euer to heiren it; for shul but fewe thinges be don but in no place, but ther in shalbe a partye. And thi boke shalbe cleped while the worlde endureth, the boke of the seynt Graal.” Thus spake merlyn with his maister, and taught

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hym how he sholde do. He yeleped hym maister, for that he was maister to his moder. When the gode man herde merlin thus speke, he was glad, and seide, “What thow wilte comaunde me I am redy to do it.”

Thus Merlyn made hym redy to go, and seide to the messengers, I will go take leve of my moder. Tho he brought hem ther as was his moder, and seide, “Feire moder, heire ben come men of fer contrees, for to seche me, and I will go by youre leve; ffor me houeth to yelde the to Ihesu Criste, of that he hath yove me power, and that I may not do; but I go thider as thei shullen lede me. And Blase, youre maister, also shall go, and moste we bothe departe fro yow at this tyme.” “Ffeire sone,” quod she, “to god I comaunde yow, for I knowe not yef it were wisdome to witholde yow, or noon; but yef it were youre plesier, I wolde that Blase sholde a-bide.” “Dame,” quod he, “it may in no wise ben.”

Thus toke Merlyn leve of his moder and wente with the massengers, and on the tother side Blase departed, and yede in to Northumberlond [correction; sic =

Nothumberlond], ther Merlin had hym comaunded, and the massagiers rode forth till thei come thourgh a town in whiche was a market, and when thei were passed thourgh thei ouertoke a carl, that hadde bought a payre of stronge shone, and also stronge lether to clowte hem with. And when merlyn sye the carle he be-gan to laughe. The messagiers axed hym wherfore he lough. “I laugh,” quod he, “at this cherl that hath bought hym so stronge shoone, and also clowte lether, and I telle yow certeynly that he shalbe dead before he come fully to his howse.”

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And when thei herde thes, thei heilde it a grete merveile, and seide thei wolde wyte yef that were trewe. Than two of them sewed hym, and other two abode with Merlyn. They hadde not folowed the cherl half a myle, that thei fonde hym deed, in myddell of the wey, and his shone a-boute his nekke. Than thei returned, and ouertoke hir felowes, and tolde hem the merveyle that thei hadde seien.

“Fforsothe,” quod thei, “grete foles were the clerkes that so wise a man wolde have slayn.” “In feith,” qou the oon, “I sholde suffer grete Page 34
myschef er he had eny harm.” And so thei seiden alle iiij, that Merlyn ne herde it not. And when thei were come to merlyn, he thanked hem of that thei hadde seide, and that wolde hym so moche gode. And thei were gretly abasshed, and seiden, “We may nought sey, ne do, but this childe knowe it.” Thus thei riden forth her iourneis, till thei come withinne Vortigers power. And as thei passed thourgh a town, they saugh a deed childe on a beere, born to chirche, to be beried. And after the corse was made grete doel and wepynge. And when Merlyn saugh the wepynge, and sye the preste and the clerkes wente synginge be-fore, he gan to laugh, and seide to his felowes, “I se a merveile.” And thei axed, “What?” Quod merlyn, “Ye se that gode man that maketh this grete sorowe.” And thei seide, “Ye.” “And se ye not the preeste that singeth all be-fore.” Quod thei, “We se hym well.” “Forsothe,” quod Merlin, “he ought to make the sorowe that the tother gode man maketh, for wethet it well that the childe is the prestes sone; and the other man wepeth, and hath more cause to laugh.” Quod thei, “How may we knowe that it be so?” “Goth to the moder, and axe whi she doth wepe; and she will sey for her sone, that is deed. And ye shall sey, it is not hir sone, but the Prestes sone, that so hye singeth; and than shall ye heere what she will sey.”

The massagers wente to the woman, and toke her in counseill, and seide as Merlyn hadde hem taught. And when the woman herde hem so sey, she was abaisshed, and seide, “Seres, for godes love, mercy! I se wele I may not to yow lye, thowgh I wolde, for that ye sey is trewe; but I beseche yow telle it not my housbonde, for than he wolde me sle.” And when thei hadde herde this merveile, they turned, and ouertoke her felishep, and seiden as thei herde. And than thei reden forth till they come a iourney fro thens ther Vortiger was. Than seide two of the messagers to Merlin, “We shall go be-fore to the kynge, and telle hym ţat we have founden; now yeve us counseile how thow wilte we shall sey, for I trowe he will blame us that we have not the slayn.” “Sirs,” quod Merlyn, “sey as Page 35

I shall telle yow, and ye shalbe well excused. Ye shull go to Vortiger, and sey that ye have me founden, and sey I shall telle hym truly the cause whi his tour may not stonde; with this condicion: that the Clerkes haue the same Iuyse that thei hadde ordeyned for me. And also sey him, I can telle hym why the clerkes wolde haue me deed. And when ye have seide thus, doth hardely that he yow comaundeth.” With that the messagers departed, and come to Vortiger. And when he sye them, he was gladde, and axed a-noon how they hadde spedde.

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“Sir,” seide thei, “in the beste wise that [correction; sic = that that] we may.” Than they cleped the kynge in counseile, and tolde how thei hadde founde Merlyn; and also they seide, yef he hymself ne wolde, they sholde hym neuer have founden. “Of whiche Merlyn,” seide the kynge, “speke ye? sholde ye not haue sought the fadirles childe, and have brought me the blode of hym.” “Sir,” thei seide, “that same is Merlyn, that we of speke to yow. And wetith it wele that he is the wisest man, and the beste devynour that is, saf only god. And, sir,”

seide thei, “right as ye made vs to swere to do youre comaundement, all that was don and seide he cowde wele telle vs, at oure firste metynge, and he tolde vs also that the clerkes ne knewe not the cause why that youre tour may not stonde; but he shall telle yow apertly. And many other grete merveiles hath he vs shewed be the wey; and hath vs sente for to wite yef ye will with hym speke. And yef ye will we shull sle hym, for two of oure felowes beth there as he is.” “Yef ye,”

quod the kynge, “will take vpon youre lyves that he shall telle me whi my toure fallith, I will not ţat he be deed.” “We will vndertake it,” quod thei. “Than, go fecche hym,” quod the kynge.

The messagers yede their wey, and the kynge rode after hem. When Merlin saugh the messagers, he seide to them, “Ye have plegged me vpon youre lyves that I shall have no drede of deth,” and thei ansuerde, “Thou seiste trewe, for hadde lever a be in grete auenture than thow sholdest dye, and that oon Page 36
moste vs nedes do.” “I shall waraunte yow,” quod merlin, “of that ye have vndertake.” Thus thei rode forth till thei mette with the kynge, and a-noon merlin hym salued, and seide, “Sir kynge, lete me speke with yow in counseile.”

Than the kynge drough a-part, and called hem that he hadde brought with hym.

“Sir,” quod merlyn, “thow haste do seche me for thi toure that may not stonde, and comaundeste me to sle be counseile of thy Clerkes, ţat seide the toure sholde holde by vertu of my blode. Thei have not seide the trouth; but yef thow wilte graunte me to do to hem the same that thei wolde do to me, I will telle the cause whi it falleth, and also I shall teche the how thow shalt make it to stonde and endure.” And Vortiger ansuerde, “Yef thow do as thou seiest I will do with hem as thow wilte.” “Than,” quod Merlin, “go we thider as this toure is in makynge, and make the Clerkes be brought theder, and I shall axe hem whi the toure doth falle, and so mayste thow hiere ther ansuere.” Than thei wente to the place ther [correction; sic = ther ther] the toure sholde be made, and the clerkes were sente fore, and come be-fore the kynge.

And whan thei were come, Merlyn made oon to axe of hem whi that that toure fill, and thei ansuerde, “We knowe no cause whi it fill, but we can telle what shall make it for to holde.” And then seide the kynge, “Ye tolde me a merveillouse thynge, that I sholde do seche a childe born withouten fader, and I wote not how he myght be founden.” Than spake Merlyn and seide to the clerkes, “Sirs, ye holde the kynge a fole, that thus make hym seche a man that is born withouten fader, and ye no do it nothynge for his profite; but ye dide it for this, that ye fonde in youre sorte that ye shulde be deed thourgh hym, and for folio 12b
drede ther-of haue ye do the kynge to vnderstonde that I sholde be slayn, and my blode be putte in the foundement of the toure, and that sholde make it to laste and holde; thus ye thought to sle hym, be the whiche ye sholde be brought to the deth as be youre sorte.” When thei herde the child telle hem Page 37
that thei supposid no creature hadde knowen, thei weren abasshed, and wiste wele that thei sholde dye. Than Merlin seide to the kynge, “Now may ye knowe whi these clerkes wolde have me slayn: nought for to holde youre toure, but for theire sorte seyde thei sholde dye for me. Now axe hem yef this be true, for thei sholde not be so hardy be-fore me to make yow no lesynge.” “Seith he trewe?” quod the kynge. “Sir,” said the clerkes, “ye, truly; but we merveile wherby he myght this knowe. Wherfore we be-seke yow to graunte vs to live, that we may see that he shewe the trowth whi the toure fallith, and yef he can telle the remedye.” “Certes,” quod Merlyn, “have ye no drede to dye be-fore ye se the cause that the toure doth falle, and that the werke may not laste?” “Sir kynge,”

quod Merlin, “vnderstonde, and I shall telle the. Vnder this erthe is a grete water, and vnder that water be two dragons that see no sight; so is that oon reade and that other white, and a-bove them is two grete flat stones, and when thei fele that the werke peyseth hevy upon them, they turne hem, and the water maketh so grete bruyt that all that is made a-boven it moste nede falle. Now lete loke yef this be trewe or no; and yef it be founde that this be cause that the werke stondeth not, lete my plegges be quyte, and the clerkes in blame, that of all this ne knewe nothinge.” “Certes,” quod Vortiger, “yef this be as thow seist, than art thow the wisest man of the worlde. Now telle me how this erthe may be hadde a-wey.” And Merlin seide, “In cartes and on mennes nekkes.” A-noon the kynge made come laboreres, and Merlin comaunded that the clerkes sholde be wele kepte, and so wrought the laboreres, that thei hadde a-wey the erthe, and fonde the water, and dede it to laden oute, and lete the kynge wite how thei hadden don. The kynge come thider gladly, and brought with hym merlin. When he com thider, he beheilde the water that was grete, and cleped two of his counsellers, and seide, “This childe is right wise that knewe this to ben heere, and yet seith that ther ben two dragons vnder, and I will knowe the soth, what-so-euer it coste.” Than the kynge cleped Merlyn, and seide, “How shall we haue this water a-wey?” Quod

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Merlyn, “Lete make goteres in to the diches.” Than were the diches made, and the water to renne oute. And Merlyn come to Vortiger, and seide, “As soone as these dragons felen togeder thei will fighten strongely, and that oon shall sle that other; therfore send after alle the gode men of thi londe to se the bataile, for it hath grete singnification.” Than sente Vortiger after alle the worthy men of his londe, Clergie and other; and when thei were alle comen, Vortiger tolde hem the merveiles that Merlin hadde shewde, and of the two dragons how thei shulde fight. Than seide oon to another, “It is gode to be seen;” and they axed the kynge yef he knewe whiche sholde haue the better; and the kynge seide he hadde not yet tolde. Whan the water was all voided thei saugh the two stones folio 13a
that were vpon the two dragons. The kynge axed how thei myght be hadde a-wey, and Merlyn seide, “Full wele, for they will neuer meve till eche of hem fele other, and than shull thei fight till that oon muste dye.” The kynge axed, “Whiche shall have the victorie?” “In the fightynge,” quod Merlyn, “is grete signifiance, whiche I may not telle, but gladly I will tele the be-fore three worthi men.” Than Vortiger cleped thre men that he moste truste inne, and Merlyn axed, “Be these thre men wele of thi counseile?” and he ansuewerde, “Ye.” “Than may I telle be-fore them that thou demandest. I do the to wete,” quod he, “that the white shall sle the reade; but first shall he have grete peyne, and in that he shall sle hym is grete tokenynge to hym that can it vnderstonde; but I will sey no more till the bataile is at an ende.” Than yede the peple to oon of the stones, and leften it up, and founde the white dragon. When the peple saugh hym so grete and hidouse thei hadde grete drede. Than wente thei to the tother ston, and drough it a-wey, and than thei were more aferde than be-fore, for it was moche greter and semed more feirce. And as Vortiger semed he moste ouercome that other. And Merlin seide to the kynge, “Now lete my plegges be quyte.” “So be thei,” seide the kynge. Tho spronge vp the two dragons and foughten togeder with teeth and feet, and neuer herde ye of so stronge bataile betwene two bestes, ne so

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crewell fight. And so thei foughten to mydday, and the peple semed that the reade sholde ouercome the white, till that the white threwe so moche fiere and flame that he brente vp the reade, and so was he deed. Than the white leide hym down to reste for werynesse, and ne lived after but thre dayes. And thei that this syen seyde that neuer so grete merveile hadde be seyn be-forn. And Merlin seide to the kynge, “Now mayste thow make thi toure as grete and large as thow wilte, for it shall no more falle.” Than comaunded Vortiger the werkemen to make vp the toure the strongest that myght be devised; and often axed Vortiger of Merlyn the significance of the two dragons. And he seid, “It was the tokenynge of thinges that were don and also of thinges that were to come, and yef thow wilte ensure me that thow shalt do me noon harme heere in audience of this peple, ne suffer noon other to do me harme in thy reame, I will telle the significacion.” And Vortiger made hym soche suerte as he wolde. Quod Merlin, “Bringe hethir thy counsell, and the clerkes that sorted of this toure.” The kynge dide as he comaunded. When thei were come Merlyn spake to the clerkes, and seide, “Ye were foles in youre art, that wolde not a-quite yow as trewe men, and therfore ye be worthi to haue as ye haue deserved. And ye sawgh wele how I was bore. And he that shewed yow that, made yow semblance that ye sholde be deed for me, and that dide he for sorowe that he hadde loste me, and therfore he wolde that ye hadde me putte to deth; but I haue soche a goode lorde, that he shall me deffende yef it be his plesier, and I shall make hym a lyer, for ye shull neuer for me be deed, yef ye will me graunte to do that I shall yow sey.” And when they herde hym sey that thei sholbe respited fro deth thei were gladde, and seiden, “What that thow comaundest we shall do it, for we se well that thow arte the wisest man that liveth.” Quod Merlin, “Ye shull swere neuer to entermete of that arte,
folio 13b
and I will that ye be confessed and take youre penaunce so that youre soules be not dampned.” And thei hym thankeden, and seide thei sholde do his comaundement.

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Thus delyuered Merlin the Clerkes, whiche made hym to be sought for to be putte to deth. Vortiger com to hym, and seide, “Telle me the significaunce of the two dragons.” “The reade dragon,” quod Merlin, “betokeneth the, and the white dragon signifieth the sones of Constance.” When Vortiger herde this, he was a-shamed. And merlin seide, “Yef thow wilte, I will sey more; with that thow conne me no magre.” Vortiger seide, “Here ne is no man, but of my prive counsell; and therfore I will thow telle me alle the trouthe.” “I tolde the,”

quod Merlin, “that the reade signifieth the, and I shall telle the how the children of Constance were yonge and tender, after the deth of their fader; and yef thow were soche as thow oughteste to have ben, thow sholdeste have kepte hem, and yeven hem counseile a-geins alle erthly men. And well thow knowest that thow haste theire heritage wrongfully; for when thow knewest the peple loved the, thow drowest the a-bakke, for to helpe them in their nedes. And when eny of the londe complayneth to the for the kynges Innocence, and seiden thei wolden thow sholde take vpon the to be kynge, to defende the reame fro their enmyes, thow ansueredest couertly, and seidest thow myghtest not while kynge Moyne was livinge. And thei that thow seidest this to, vndirstoden wele that thow woldest haue hym deed; and and therfore thei slowen their kynge. But thei leften two brethern, the whiche fledde in to straunge londe, for drede of the. And so were thow made kynge; and yet thow holdest their heritage with wronge. And when thei had kylde the kynge Moyne, thei come be-fore the; thow madest hem to be distrowied, to shewe semblaunce as thow hadde for-thought the kynges deth.”

Vortiger vndirstode wele that Merlyn hym tolde, and wiste wele that he tolde hym the trouth; and seide, “I se well that thow art oon of the wisest men of the worlde. Wherfore, I pray the to yeve me counseill in this cas, and also telle me on what deth I shall dye.” Quod he, “Yef I telle the that I wilnot sey the betokenyng of the two dragons. I do the to wite that the reade Dragon signifieth the, in that he was so grete and hidouse, betokeneth the, and thy grete power.

And the white

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dragon betokeneth the two childeren that be fledde for drede of the. And that thei foughten so longe togeder, betokeneth that thow haste so longe kepte their herytage with wronge. And that the white dragon brente the redde dragon, betokeneth that the two brethern shull brenne the with theire power. And therfore I ne trowe not that this toure shalbe thy warante, but that thow shalt dye by hem.” When Vortiger vndirstode this, he gan to wrathe, and axed hym, “Where ben these children?” Quod Merlyn, “Thei be in the see, with grete strengthe of peple; and come into heir londe, to take vengaunce on the; ffor thei seyn thow dedist their brother to be slain. And wite it wele that thei shall a-ryve withinne thre Monthes withoute eny faile.”

CHAPTER III.

THE DEFEAT OF VORTIGER BY PENDRAGON AND UTER; THEIR SEARCH AFTER MERLIN; THE

BATTLE OF SALISBURY AND DEATH OF PENDRAGON; AND THE FOUNDATION OF THE TABLE AT

CARDOELL, IN WALES.

Full sorowfull was Vortiger of these tidinges, and axed of Merlin yef it myght be eny other maner. And he seide, “Nay.” And when Vortiger knewe that the children come with so grete power, he somowned his peple a-geyn the tierme that Merlyn hadde seide. Vortiger com to Wynchester folio 14a
with all his oste, but no man ne wiste the cause whi, saf thei that weren of his counseile. And as soone as Merlin hadde seid the kynge, alle the tokenynges of the two dragons, he toke leve, and wente to Blase, and tolde hym alle thynges like as were beffalle; and he wrote it in his boke. And ther was Merlyn longe tyme, till that the sones of Constance lete seche hym in many contrees. Vortiger a-bode to the day that Merlin hadde rehersed; the same day saugh thei of Wynchester the shippes comynge by the see; where-in weren the two sones of Constance. And than Vortiger comaunded his peple to armes, and to deffende the Page 42
portes. And when thei of the portes saugh the baners roiall of kynge Constance, thei hadde grete merveile, till that the vessell that the two brethern were inne come in to the havene. And thei that kepte the porte axed to whom longed that vessell; and they ansuerde it was the vessell of Pendragon and Vter, whiche were come in to their owne londe, to take vengaunce on Vortiger, that as a fals traytour longe tyme hade them disherited. When the peple of the contre saugh their lorde haddde brought so grete power, thei seide they wolde no longer hoilde with Vortiger. And when he saugh the moste parte of his peple him failled, he hadde grete drede, and seide to them that he trusted that thei sholde stuffe the Castell; and thei dide so. The shippes weren a-rived, and the knyghtes isseden owte, and alle the other peple. And the peple of the contre wente a-geyn hem; and them resceved as they sholde do her lorde. Vortiger and his mayne weren in the Castell, and the two brethern assailled hym vigorously, till that Pendragon caste in fier, and brente vp Vortiger, and alle that were in the castell with hym. And thus toke they vengaunce on their enmy. Aurelius Ambrose made Pendragon kynge, whiche was a Iuste man and a trewe. And the Danoys, that Vortiger hadde brought in to the londe, werred sore vpon the cristen peple. And pendragon beseged Aungier in the castell of the Vysee. And ther thei token counsell how thei myght beste take the Castell. At this counseill were v barons, that hadde herde the significance of the two dragons, that Merlin hadde expowned to Vortiger. And so thei cleped Pendragon and his counseill a-part, and tolde hem the merveile that thei hadde herde of Merlyn.

And, “wite ye well,” seide thei, “that he is the beste devynour that is, saf god oonly.” And Pendragon axed where he myght be founden. And thei seide, “We knowe not in what contree.” Quod Pendragon, “Yef he be in this londe, he shall welbe founden.” Than sente Pendragon thourgh his londe, to seche Merlyn. And Merlin, that knewe all this, tolde it to Blase, and departed fro hym, and com in to a town where as the messagers were that soughten after hym. He come to hem like a begger, with boustouse shone on his feet, and Page 43
in a cote al to rente, and hadde a grym berde and steirne loke. He come in to the house that they were inne, and seide, “Ye do symply youre mayster erende, as he yow comaunded for to seche Merlin.” And thei ansuerde, “What deuell who hath tolde this cherl, wher-of entermeteth he?” Quod the cherl, “Yef I wolde, I sholde fynde hym
folio 14b
moche sonner than ye.” Than they turned towarde hym, and axed hym yef he hadde euer hym sien. “Ye,” quod he, “I have sein hym, and I knowe his repaire; but he tolde me that ye labour a-boute nought ffor to seche hym, for though he mette with yow, he wil not go with yow. But go to youre prynce, and telle hym that he shall neuer wynne the Castell till Aungier be slain. And wete ye wel that of the v that tolde the kynge tidinges of Merlin, ye shall fynde but two livinge. And telle youre lorde, yef he will fynde Merlin, lete hym seche hym in the forestes of this contree.”

The messagers vndirstod wele that Merlyn hem tolde, and that oon beheilde that other, and a-noon he was oute of ther sight; and than they seide to hem-self, “We have spoken with the devell. What shull we do of that he hath vs seide?”

“Forsothe,” quod that oon of hem, “we shull go telle oure lorde like as he hath vs seide.” And than thei riden forth till they come in to the oste ther as the kynge was; and a-noon as the kynge hem sygh, he axed, “Have ye founde hym that ye wente for to seche?” “Sir,” they seide, “we shall telle yow like as we have founden.” Than thei tolde the kynge of all that the cherl hadde seide vn-to hem all as it was. And when the kynge herde this he merveiled, and so dide thei that hadden first enformed the kynge of Merlyn, for that the messagers spoken of so grym and hidouse man, for supposid that Merlin myght not take noon other shapte but his owne; netherdeles, thei knewe wele ther cowde no man have seide thise wordes but it hadde a be Merlin, and axed of the messagers in what place it was that thei founde this cherl. “Truly,” seide thei, “he come in to oure loigginge in Northumberlonde while we satte at oure mete.” Than seiden thei that it was Merlyn withouten faile, and that he wolde the kynge hymself sholde come seche hym. Quod the

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kynge, “I shall leve the reame to my brother Vter, and I will go my self to speke with hym.” And they come in Northumberlonde, they enquered tidinges of Merlin, but thei founde noon that ought of hym cowde sey. And as the kynge rode thourgh the foreste it fill that a man of his fonde grete plente of bestes, and a man that hem kepte whiche was of a counterfete shapte and of a grym chere, and they axed hym of whens he was, and he ansuerde, “Of Northumberlonde, a seruaunt of a worthi man; but yesterday,” quod he, “I saugh a man that tolde me that the kynge Pendragon come for to seche Merlin in this contre.” Quod that other, “It is soth that the kynge doth hym seken. Canst thow ought telle where he is?” And the cherl ansuerde and seide, “Yef I saugh the kynge, I wolde sey to hym that I wolde not telle the.” “Than com with me,” quod he, “and I will shewe the kynge.”

Than seide the cherl, “I sholde kepe my bestes; but yef he come heder I will telle hym gode tydinges of that he goth sechinge.” Than he departed and come to the kynge, and seide as he herde the cherl say; and the kynge badde “Bringe me ther.” Than he ledde the kynge to the same place, and seide to the cherl, “Lo, her is the kynge; now sey to hym what thow wilt.” Quod he to the kynge, “Thow goist sechinge Merlyn, but thow shalt not fynde hym till he will hymself.

Therfore go to a gode town and take thy logginge, and he shall sone come to the when he wote thow doiste a-bide hym.” “How may I knowe that?” seide the kynge.

Than the kynge
folio 15a

[correction; sic = than the kynge]rode to the nexte town that he fonde in the forest, and thider come to hym a comely man wele araied, and seide to the kynge, “Sir, Merlin sente me hider to the, and sente the worde that it was he, that thow mette withinne the wode kepynge bestes. Be this token that he seide he will come to the when thow haste of hym myster, but now thow haste of hym no nede, and by me he sente the gode tidinges. Wite thow wele that Aungier is ded, for thy brother Vter hath hath hym slayn.” And tho the kynge hadde grete merveile, and seide, “May this be true that thow Page 45
seist.” “He seide to me no more,” quod he; “but and thow mystruste hym thou art a foole.”

Than the kynge made two messagers to ryde in all haste, to wite yef it were true. And thei rode forth till thei metten the messagers of Vter, that come to telle the kynge of Aungers deth. And when thei weren mette, thei returned a-geyn to the kynge, and tolde how Vter hadde slain Aungier. And the kynge comaunded hem to kepe counseile, for he merveyled gretly how merlin myght have witinge ther-of, and thought in his herte that he wolde axe hym how Aungier was deed.

And as the kynge come fro chirche on a day, ther mette hym a comly man, well araied, and clenly, that seide to hym, “Sir kynge, what a-bideste thow in this town?” Quod the kynge, “I a-bide after Merlin, that sholde come heder to speke with me.” “Sir,” quod he, “though ye mete hym, ye can not knowe hym; but clepe to yow soche men as ought for to knowe hym, and axe them yef I may be Merlin.”

And they come be-fore hym, and he hem frayned what was here abidinge. Quod they, “We a-byde the gode devynour.” “Sirs,” seide the kynge, “yef ye myght se Merlin, cowde ye hym knowen?” “Sire,” seide thei, “it myght not be but that we sholde hym kenne wele, yef we myght him se.” “Sirs,” quod he that was be-fore the kynge, “may eny man knowe another when he knowith not hymself.” And thei seiden, “We may not wele knowe all his werkinge, but yef we myghten sen his semblaunce, we sholden knowe hym wele.” And than ansuerde the man, and seide, “Ther is no man that can at alle tymes knowe his semblaunce.” And than he toke the kynge in counseile, and seide, “Sir, I will be with yow, and with youre brother. And I do yow to wete that I am he that ye have sought. Now, go ye oute, and clepe hem that sey thei knowen Merlin; and as sone as they come, thei shull sey ye haue me founden.” Than was the kynge right gladde, and in all haste cleped hem that cowden knowe Merlin. And Merlin toke the semblaunce that thei hadde sein hym be-fore. And a-noon thei seiden, “Lo, here is Merlin.” Quod the kynge, “Be well a-vised that ye knowe it is he.” And thei seide, “We Page 46
knowe verely it is he.” Than seide the kynge, “I wolde fayn knowe yef euer I spake with yow be-fore, sith I come in to this contre.” “Sir,” quod Merlyn, “I am the man that ye fonde kepinge the bestes, and also I am the man that tolde yow that Aungier was deed.” Than seyde the kynge, “Sirs, ye knewe Merlin full euell.” And thei seide, “Sir, we sye hym
folio 15b
neuer do thus be-forn.” And than the kynge axed of Merlyn, “How knewe ye the deth of Aungiers.” Quod Merlyn, “A-noon as ye were departed fro youre oste, to come hider, Aungiers wolde haue morderid thi brother in his teinte. And I wente to thi brother, and warned hym of Aungiers purpos, and of his strengthe, and how he wolde come be nyght hymself to his teynte, formeste of his company. And thi brother dide not mystruste me, but made good waicche all that nyght, sole be hymself, till that Aungiers com with a knyf in his honde, to sle thi brother.

And Vter lete hym entre in to his teynte, and serched a-boute; but he fonde not Vter ther-in, wherfore he was sory. And at the comynge owte, thi broţer faught with hym, and slowe hym his owne handes.” Than the kynge axed hym in what semblaunce he hadde spoken with his brother. “Sir,” quod he, “I was like a sadde olde man.” Quod the kynge, “Tolde ye hym what ye were?” And Merlyn seide, “Nay; ne he ne shall not wite till ye telle hym youre self.” Than seide the kynge, “I pray yow right, deere frende, that ye will come with me, for I have grete nede of youre counseile.” “Sir,” quod Merlin, “the sonner I come ther, the wrother shull be youre meyne.” Quod the kynge, “Thow hast seyde so moche, that thow hast saued my brother fro the deth, that I shall neuer the mystruste.” Quod Merlyn, “I shall speke with thi brother in the same forme that I warned hym of his deth, and shalbe withinne this xj dayes.” And the kynge seide, “And it plese yow, lete me wite when ye shull speke with hym.” “Ye shull wite it well,” quod Merlin, “but, loke ye, discure it not to noon creature, as ye will haue my love.”

Thus was Pendragon and Merlin first aqueynted. And Merlin toke his leve, and wente to Blase, his maister, and tolde hym alle thinges. And he wrote hem in his boke. Pendragon

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taried not till he come to his brother Vter. Wher-of Vter was ioyfull, and toke the kynge in counseile, and tolde hym of the deth of Aungiers, in the same wise as Merlin hadde tolde. Quod the kynge, “I pray yow telle me what man that was that warned yow of Aungiers.” “Be the feith that I owe to yow,” quod Vter, “I can not sei what he is, but wele he semed a wise man, and therfore I yaf to his counseile credence.” “Brother,” quod Pendragon, “kowde ye ought knowe hym, and ye myght se hym agein?” “Sir,” seide Vter, “ye, right wele.” And Pendragon seide, “I do yow to wete he will speke with yow withinne these xj dayes; but I pray yow that ye be euer in my presence, that I may se alle tho that come to speke with yow, that I may wite whether I may knowe hym sonner than ye.” And Vter ther-to graunted. And Merlin tolde all this to Blase: how the two brethern hadde spoke togeder, and how thei were acorded of hym, and how Pendragon wolde assaie hym in all the maner that he myght. Than Blase axed what he dought to do.

And Merlyn seide, “Thei be yonge men and Iolye, and have grete nede of counseile, and I knowe a faire lady that Vter paramours. And I will go, and bringe hym a letter, as it were from her, for I knowe alle the prevy wordes that have ben betwene
folio 16a
hem two. The xje day come Merlin to courte, like a boy that hadde ben a messager from Vters love, and seyde, “My lady sente me to yow, and sendeth yow gretinge, and sente yow this letter.” And Vter toke it with grete ioye, for he wende his lady hadde sent hym that letter, and seide he sholde yeve credence to the bringer ther-of, and of all that he sholde sey. And Merlin tolde hym many tidinges, soche as he wiste wele that he wolde gladly listen. Thus a-bode Merlin with hym, till it was ny even; and grete merveile hadde Pendragon that Merlin com not as he hadde made promyse, till that merlin drow hym a-syde, and toke the same semblaunce that he spake with Vter the firste tyme that he warned hym of his deth. And a-noon, as Vter hym saugh, he knewe hym wele, and praide hym that he wolde tarie a-while, till he hadde spoke with the kynge, his brother. And Vter tolde Pendragon how the gode man was come that Page 48
warned hym of the treson of Aungiers. And than come the bothe togeder to that man. And whan the kynge sye hym, he made grete ioye, and seide he was welcome.

And than the kynge seide, “Will ye that I telle my brother who ye ben, and what youre name is?” And Merlin ansuerde, “I will wele that he knowe what I am.” Than seide the kynge, “Feire brother, ye knowe not who this worthi man is. I will that ye wete he is the wisest man that leveth, and moste may vs profite and helpe. And I do yow to wite that ther come noon other boy in message be-fore yow this day, saf this worthy man. And he hymself toke yow the letter fro youre souereine lady.” When Vter herde this, he was astoned sore, and seyde to hymself, “How myght I this knowe, or be-leve, for it were the most merveile of the worlde.” Quod he, “Wite it wele ye may it als truly be-leve as eny thinge that ye beste knowe.” “In feith,” quod Vter, “I may not leve it, but I myght it otherwise prove.” Than the kynge prayde Merlyn that he wolde shewe some maner demonstraunce.” “Than,” quod Merlyn, “go ye a litell oute, and shall shewe the same boy that brought the letter.” And thei yede oute of the chamber, and Merlin toke a-gein the semblaunce of a boy, and come to Vter, and seide, “Sir, I will go; is ther eny thinge that ye will comaunde me?” And than seide the kynge, “Brother, be thow right sure that this is the same man that warned you of Aungys treson; and I lete yow wite that he hath power to knowe alle thinges that beth do or spoken, and of thinges that be to come grete partie. Wherfore I wolde hertely pray hym to be with vs of oure counseile; and by hym shall we be rulid of alle oure gouernaunce, for, trnly, brother, we have grete nede therto, and it were his plesier.” Than bothe the brethern be-sought hym full lowly to a-bide with hem, and thei to be gouerned by hym as he wolde. And than Merlyn seide, “I lete yow wite that I knowe alle thinges, that me leste to wite.” Quod Vter, “Haue to me seide so moche, that neuer shall I mystrowe the fro hens all my live. And for youre grete wisdome, and it like yow, I wolde ye were lorde and gouernour of my brother and me.” And Merlin ansuerde, “I will be with yow many tymes,

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and I will also that ye tweyn prively in counseile knowe my condicions and my behavynge; but I moste be ofte tymes in the forestes, the chief of grete Bretaigne. And knoweth wele, in what place that euer I be, in the moste remembraunce that I shall haue, shall be vpon yow, and on yowre nedes, more than eny others. And in what maner nede that ye
folio 16b

[correction; sic = that ye]have in eny encombraunce, I will euer redily come to yow, and helpe yow, and counseile. And therfore recched neuer when I go or come; and at alle tymes, when I come, make grete gladnesse of me be-fore youre peple, in youre howsolde.” In this maner was Merlin witholden with Pendragon and his brother Vter. And he toke his leve of hem, and seide he wolde shewe hym in the same semblaunce that the peple of the contre were wonte to knowe hym inne. And when he come a-monge them, thei that knewe hym made grete ioye, and runne to telle the kynge that Merlin was comen. And a-noon the kynge wente a-geins hym; and grete was the ioye that the kynge mad of Merlin. And when he was ther-inne, thei that hadde knowinge of hym toke the kynge in counseile, and seide, “Sir, lo, heir is Merlin, whiche is the wysest man that is in all the worlde, saf god al only. Therfore, pray hym to teche you how ye shull do in getynge of this castell, and how that this werre shall ende.” The kynge seyde he wolde gladly of hym enquere, as thei desired. And so at that thei sesid, for the kynge wolde hym wurship and honoure in all that he myght. And on the thirde day the kynge made alle his counseile a-semble, and than the kynge demaunded Merlin of that his barons hadden desired to knowe, and seide, “Dere frende, I have herde moche spek of yow, that ye be oon the wisest man that is in the worlde. Wherfore, I pray and requere yow in this wise, that I shall euer be at youre wille, that ye will lete wite how I myght haue this castell.” And Merlin ansuerde, and seide, “I do yow to wite as sone as the sarazins have loste Aungys, thei desire nought ellis but forsake the londe. And tomorow sende to hem to wite what thei will do; and thei will desire the londe that thei were wonte to Page 50
holde of youre fader; but ye ne shull not agre ther-to, but when ye knewe their ansuere, ye shall offer them to condite oute of the londe, and shippes to their passage.” Than sente the kynge, Vlfyn and thre other knyghtes, and Merlin yaf hem the message.

These messagers wente towarde the castell, and when the sarazins sye hem comynge thei yede hem a-geins, and freyned yef thei were come in message fro the kynge; and Vlfyn seide, “Ye.” Quod Vlfin, “The kynge sente yow trewis for thre wokes.”

And thei ansuerde, “We will take counseile.” Than thei yede togeder a-parte, and seiden, “We beth gretly hyndred be the deth of Aungys, and we haue heere no vitaile to abide after socour of oure frendes, and heere is profered vs trewis to passe, and withoute vitaile we may not longe endure; but lete vs sende to hym to suffer vs to haue the castell and the londe that longeth ther-to for to be holden of hym and of his heyres, and that we have xxxti knyghtes on horse to yeve hym to trewage, a C stedes, a C palfrayes, and a hundred faucons.” And to this thei acorded alle, and come to the messagers and tole as thei were acorded, and thei returned and tolde the kynge their ansuere, and the kynge axed Merlyn his advise, and Merlin seide, “This shall ye not do, for therof sholde come grete harmes; but I shall telle yow how ye shall do. Sende to hem a-noon with oute tariynge that thei yelde yow the castell, and thei shall do it gladly, folio 17a
ffor thei have no vitaile; and profer hem to go saf with their lyves, and I do yow to wite they had neuer gretter gladnesse.” And as Merlin devised, the kynge dide, and sente his message with this requeste. When thei of the Castell herde thei myght go saf with thier lyves, thei hadde grete ioye, and that was cried thourgh the londe. And the kynge lete condite hem to the portes, and deliuered hem the navie in to passe. Thus were alle put oute of the londe, be counseile of Merlyn, and so was Merlyn all gouernoure of the kynge and his counseile longe tyme; till on a day that he spake with the kynge of a great matire, wherof oon of the barons hadde grete envye, and come to the kynge, and seide, “Sir, it is a grete merveile that ye have so grete bileve to this man, for wite it verily, Page 51
all that he can cometh by the devell. And yef it plese yow, I shall a-say hym, so that ye shall se it aptly.” Quod the kynge, “I will well that ye assay hym in soche maner that he ne be not wroth.” “Sir,” quod he, “I shall not do nothinge that sholde cause hym to be angry.” And the kynge hym graunted. This baron was right wise, and full of euell vyces. And on a day he come to court, and made Merlin grete chere, and called hym be-fore the kynge in counseile, and wele xxti knyghtes. And than he seide to kinge, “Sir, here is Merlin, which is ţe wisest man of the worlde, and he tolde Vortiger of his deth, and how ye sholde do hym be brent. I pray yow for that ye knowe wele that I have grete sekenesse, that he will telle yow what deth I shall deye, yef he knowe it.”

Than ansuerde Merlin, that wele knewe his fell herte, and seide, “Sire, ye have me praide to telle of youre deth, and I shall sey the soth; ffor that day thow shalt dye, thow shalt falle of an horse, and breke thy nekke.” And seide he to the kynge, “Sir, ye have herde how he hath seide; and god defende me therfro.”

Than he wente hom to his contre as soone as he myght, and after com to courte a-gein to the kynge, and made hym right seke; and sente to the kynge in counseill, that he sholde come se hym, and that he sholde bringe with hym Merlin in soche wise that Merlin sholde not knowe the cause why. And the kynge assented. And the kynge come to Merlin, and seide, “There is a seke man, lete vs go se how it is with hym.” And Merlin seide, “Sir, a kynge ought not to go so prevely, but to haue [correction; sic = haue haue] his meyne a-boute hym.” And the kynge cleped soche as he wolde, and wente to the seke man. And when thei come ther, he seide to the kynge, “Sir, I pray yow that ye will axe youre devynour yef I shall dye on this sekeness.” And Merlin seide, “He shall not dye on this maladye.” Tho enforced he to speke, and seide, “Sir, on what deth than shall I dye?” And Merlin ansuerde, and seide, “Thow shalt be hanged, and so shalt thow dye hanginge.” And than made Merlin semblaunce Page 52
as he hadde be wroth. And when he wiste that Merlin was gon, he seide to the kynge, “Sir, now wite ye verily that he is but a fole, that hath tolde these two dethes, whiche may not be acordinge; and yet I shall assay hym the thirde tyme.

I will tomorowe go to an Abbey, and feyne me stronge sike, and I shall sende to yow that a monke of his is so sike that he is in doute of his lif, and pray yow to brynge with yow Merlin.” And the kynge it graunted. And than wente this baron to an abbey, and dide all in like wyse
folio 17b
as he hadde devised to the kynge. And than he sente for the kynge, and he come, and brought Merlyn; and so thei come ridynge to the abbey, and herde messe.

After masse, come the Abbot, be-sechynge the kynge to come se a Monke whiche was sore seke, and that it plesed hym to bringe with hym the wise man Merlin. And the kynge axed of Merlin yef he wolde go thider with hym. And Merlyn seide, “Ye; but first I will speke with yow and with Vter.” And than he toke hem a-part, and seide,

“Sirs, the more that I am with yow aqueynted, the more foles I fynde yow. Wene ye that I knowe not what deth this fole shall on dye; and ye shull haue now more merveile than of all that I haue seide be-forn.” And the kynge ansuerde, “May this be true that he shall dye in soche wise?” “Yef it be not so,” quod Merlin, “leve me neuer of nothynge that I shall sey; and thus moche I sey to Vter: that I shall se his deth, er he departe his companye.” Than thei wente thider, as the abbot hem ledde; and the abbot seide to the kynge, “Sir, plese it yow to axe of youre devynour, yef this seke shall euer be hoill of this sekenesse.” And Merlin made semblaunt as he hadde ben wroth, and seide, “He myght wele a-rise, for hym eyleth noon evell. And lete hym knowe verily that day he shall on dye he shall breke his nekke, and be hanged, and also be drowned. And therfore lete hym no more feyne, for I knowe wele his corage, and that his false herte thynketh.” And he a-ros vp sittynge, and seide to the kynge, “Sir, now may ye wele knowe his folye; how myght this be, that the day I shall on dye, I sholde breke my nekke, and be hanged, and also to be drowned;

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ffor I knowe wele that may not be, nother of me, ne of noon other. Now loke yef ye be a wise man to yeve so grete credence to soche a man.” And thus thei departed, and all aboute it was knowen how Merlin hadde thus seide of this mannes deth. After it fill on a day, that this man that thus sholde dye, rode with moche peple, and come to a river, wher ouer was a bregge of of tymber. And his palfrey stombled on his knees, and he ouerthrew, and brakke hys neke, and he rolled don of the bregge in to the water, that a sharp planke of the brigge caught thourgh his garment, so that his legges and his reynes hengen above the water. And many of them that were in his company were there as Merlin tolde of his deth. The cry was grete that thei made to drawe hym oute of the water; and than thei seide, “A grete fole he is that will not leve that Merlyn seith.” Thei diden with the body as was right; and merlyn, that all this knewe wele, seide to the kynge and Vter how it was be-tid of this man. And the kynge axed when this myght be, and he seide, “Yesterday; and they that were with hym that tyme sholde come withinne these vj dayes to bringe the tidynges. And therfore I will go, for I will not be here when thei come, for thei will demaunde me of many questions, wherof I will not ansuere, ne I ne will speke but litill be-fore the peple, but so derkly that they shul not vndirstonde what I sey.” Thus seide Merlyn to the kynge and to Vter; wherfore the kynge thought he hadde be wroth, and was therfore full sory and hevy. And so wente Merlyn to his maister Blase, and tolde hym of alle thynges, and many other that were befalle.

folio 18a

On the vje day come thei to the kynge that hadde sein the deth of this baron; and when they were come they tolde the kynge the merveile. And than seide the kynge, and alle that herden ther-of, that ther was no-where so wise a man as Merlyn, and seiden fro thens-forth all that they myght hier hym speke or sey they wolde lete it be wreten. And so be-gan the boke of prophesies of Merlin, that spake of the kynges that sholde be in Engelonde, and of alle other thinges that he spake of, and he knewe that alle his wordes sholde be wreten. He tolde to Blase, and Blase axed Merlin yef thei

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sholde make soche another boke as he dide. And he seide, “Nay; for they shull write not elles but soche thinges as no man shall vndirstonde till it be fallen and passed.” And than come Merlyn a-geyn to courte, and thei hym tolde the tydinges as he hadde not knowe ther-of.

Than be-gan Merlin to speke so mystily, wher-of the boke of prophesyes is made.

And after come Merlin to the kynge and to Vter his brother, and seide to hem pitously, “I love moche yow and youre wurship; haue ye no mynde of the sarazins that ye drive oute of the londe after the deth of Aungis?” And thei seide, “Yesse, full wele; but why sey ye?” Quod Merlin, “I sey for this: that they sey thei shull neuer fenisshe till thei have a-vengid the deth of Aungis. And thei have assembled a grete power, and wele to conquere this londe be force.” When the kinge and his brother herde this, thei merveiled gretly, and axed of Merlin, “Haue thei so grete power to holde party a-geyn oures?” And he ansuerde a-geyn, “Euery man that ye haue defensable, they have tweyne; therfore, but ye be wisly ruled, ye shull be distroied, and lese youre reame.” Quod the kynge, “We wilbe ruled be youre counseile.” And than he axed, “When trowe ye that they shull come?” And Merlin seide, “The xj day of Iuyne; and noon ne shall this knowe, saf ye two; and I deffende yow to speke ther-of, but do as I shall yow counseile.

Sende after alle youre peple, and make hem the grettest ioye and feste that ye may, and comaunde hem to be the laste day of Iuyn, on the playn of Salisburye.”

Than seide the kynge, “Shall we suffer hem to aryve withoute deffence?” And Merlyn seide, “Ye; yef ye will do my counseile, and suffer hem to come as fer as ye may fro theire a-rivage; and so shall ye kepe hem two dayes, and thei shull haue grete dissese for lakke of water. And the thirde day ye shull with hem fighten; and yef ye do thus, ye shull haue the victorye.” Than seide the two brethern, “I pray yow telle vs yef eny of us shall dye in that bataile.” And Merlin ansuerde, “Ther is nothynge that hath begynnynge, but it moste have endynge, ne no man ought to be dismayed of deth, to resceyve it as he oweth to do; and

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therfore I will that ye bringe the hiest reliques that ye haue, and ye shull bothe swere to do as I shall sey yow, for yowre profite and youre worship, and than shall I boldely telle yow how ye shulbe gouerned.” And thei swore as Merlin dide devise. And when thei were sworn, Merlin seide vnto hem, “Ye haue sworne that in this bataile ye shull be gode men and true, a-gein god and youreself.

Ne noon may be trewe to hymself but he first be trewe to god; and, loke ye, be trewly confessed, for that ye shull fight a-geyn yowre enmyes; and folio 18b
after haue no doute to ouercome theym, for thei have no bileve in the trinite.

And wite ye wele that seth cristendom come first in to this Ile, was neuer so grete bataile, ne neuer shall in youre tyme. And also knoweth wele that the oon of yow two moste nede passe in this bataile; therfore eche man ordeyne for his moste worship that he can, a-geins that he cometh be-fore his lorde. And that oon of yow most go to hym; and therfore goth in soche wise that ye may haue his love when ye come to his presence.”

Thus ended the counseile of Merlyn. And the two brethern [correction; sic =
bethern]vnderstode what he hadde seyde, and sente after alle the estates of theire londe. And when thei weren alle come, thei yaf hem grete yeftes. And the kynge hem praide to make hem garnysshed of their armes, and of horse; and also the laste woke of Iuyn to be redy, in the entre of the playnes of Salisbury, vpon the river of Tamyse, to diffende the reame. And thus it lefte till the day that was somowned. And the two brethern a-geyn their burghes and townes made gode ordenaunce, as Merlin dide hem counseile. And at Pentecoste thei heilde courte vpon the rivere, and there were many riche yestes. Ther thei were so longe, till thei herden that the Danoyse weren a-rived. Than the kynge sente to prelates of the chirche, that euery man of the oste sholde be confessed, and euery man to foryeven other, and be in charite and clene lyf. Than seide Pendragon to merlin that tydinges were come; the Sarazins weren a-rived. And Merlin seide it was trewe. Than the kynge axed what was his counseile to do. And Merlin seide, “Ye shall tomorowe sende thedir that oon half of youre peple; and when they be

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come from their a-rivage, than go betwene hem and the aryvage; and youre peple shulde holde hem so shorte, that there ne shal be noon of hem, but thei wolde fayn be ther as thei come fro. And thus shull ye do two dayes, and the thirde day, whan ye se a dragon all reade fleynge vp in the ayre, than boldly fight with hem, for ye shall haue the vyctorye.”

At this counseile were no mo but Pendragon and Vter. And when thei hadde herde this thei were gladde. And than seide Merlin, “I will go; and be ye right sure of this that I haue yow seide, and thenke to be gode men and gode knyghtes.”

Thus thei departed, and Vter made redy his felishep to go betwene hem and the ryver. And Merlyn come to hym, and seide, “Thenke to do wele, and haue no drede, for thow shalt not dye in this bataile.” When Vter herde ţis he was gladde in herte. Than Merlin wente to his maister Blase in Northumbirlonde, and tolde [correction; sic = tolde tolde] hym many thinges that he wrote in his boke. Vter and his peple rode till thei come betwene the Danes and theire shippes, and kepte hem two dayes, that thei myght neuer ryde. The thirde day the kynge come so nygh that thet oon myght se that other. Whan the sarazins saugh the two hostes, thei were gretly dismayed, and sye wele that thei myght not repaire to their shippes withoute grete bataile. Than shewde the signe in the ayre that Merlin hadde seide, and than the Danes hadden grete drede. And the kynge seide to his peple, “Now vpon hem in all that we may.” And whan Vter saugh the kynges bataile, and the Danes assembled,
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he sette vpon hem as vigorously or more. In that bataile was grete mortalite on bothe parties, but the hethen peple hadde moche the werse. And ther Pendragon dide merveloise knyghthode a-monge his enmyes, and so dide Vter; but I may not telle alle they well dedis. But Pendragon was ther deed, and many another gode baron, wher-of was grete pite and losse to the cristen partye. And as the boke witnessith, Vter venquysshed the bataille, and ther ne ascaped noon of the sarazins but that thei weren deed or taken. And thus ended the Page 57
bataile of Salisbury, wher-as Pendragon was deed. And so all the londe left hoill to Vter his brother. He made geder alle the cristen that weren deed, and made hem to be beried in a place bi them-self, and areised his brothers tombe moche hier than eny of the tother, and lete write vpon eche beryinge place his name that lay vnder; but on his brother wolde he nought write, for he seide who that them beheilde myght wele vndirstonde that he was chief lorde. Than Vter went to logres, and alle the prelates of the cherche, and ther was he sacred and crowned. And thus was Vter kynge of the londe after the deth of his brother Pendragon. And the quynsynne after that Merlyn come to courte, and grete was the ioye the kynge made to hym. And than seide Merlyn to Vter, “I will that thow haue surnonn of thi brother name; and for love of the dragon that appered in the ayre, make a dragon of goolde of the same semblaunce.” And the kynge dide do make this dragon in all the haste he myght, like to the dragon that sewde in the ayre. Than he lete sette it on a shafte in stede of a baner, and lete it be born be-fore hym in euery bataile at alle tymes when he sholde fight. And thus was euer after he cleped Vterpendragon. And Merlyn a-bode with hym longe tyme after, till on a day that Merlyn hym axed, “Ne shall thow do no more to the place in the playn of Salesbury, wher-as thy brother is buried?” And the kynge ansuerde, “What wilt thow that I do, for I will do euen as thow wilte devise?” Quod Merlin, “I will that thow ordeyne ther soche a ţinge as shall endure to the worldes [correction; sic = worles] ende.” And the kynge seide, “Telle me in what wise, and I will do it with gode will.” Than quod Merlin, “Sende after the grete stones that ben in Irlonde, and make hem to be brought in thy shippes, and I shall go to shewe them which I will haue that thei shull brynge.” Than Vterpendragon sente vesselles grete plente, and Merlin hem shewde the stones that were grete and longe, and seide, “Lo, these ben the stones whiche ye ben come fore.” And when they hem saugh, they it helde for a grete merveile, and seide it was a thynge unpossible to charge, they were of soche gretnesse and wight; and in their vessellis they seiden sholde they not come, yef god Page 58
wolde. And so thei returned to the kynge, and tolde the merveile, and the kynge than seide, “Suffer till Merlyn come.”

And when Merlyn was come, the kynge hym tolde like as his men hadden seide, and Merlin seide, “Sith it is so that they may not hem hider bringe, I shall a-quyte me of my promyse.” And than Merlin made by crafte of his arte to bringe the stones that weren in Irlonde to the playn of Salesbury. And the kynge and moche peple wente to se the merveile;
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and when thei saugh the grete stones, thei seden that all the worlde ne myght not hem remeve. And Merlin badde they sholde be dressed vpright, for thei sholde seme feyrer so than liggynge. And the kynge seide that myght no man do, saf only god. Than seide Merlyn, “Let me worthen therwith, and I shall a-quyte me of the couenaunt [correction; sic = comenaunt] that I made.” And so all the labour lefte to Merlyn; and he dressed as thei be yet ouer the beryinge place of Pendragon, and ben yet cleped the stonehenges. And than come Merlin to Vterpendragon, and hym serued longe tyme and moche hym loved. And so on a tyme he toke the kynge in counseile, and seide, “Sir, I moste discure to yow the hiest counseile that ye herde euer, and that thinge that I shall of speke shall be right straunge; and I requyre yow that ye it not discure to no man lyvynge.”

And the kynge graunted his requeste. Than seide Merlin, “I will that ye wite that the knowinge that I haue cometh be the enmy by nature; and oure lorde that is almyghty a-bove alle thynge hath a-bove, that yove me witte and memorye to knowe grete partye of thynges that be to come, and by this souereyn vertu the enmye hath me lorn that with the plesaunce of god they shull neuer haue power over me at her volunte. And sir, now ye knowe fro whens I haue this power. And I will telle yow a thinge that god will that thow shalt do. And whan ye knowe what it is, loke ye, performe it to his plesier. Sir, ye ought well to knowe that god come in to erthe to saue man-kynde, and also, as ye well knowe, he made a soper, and seide to hys apposteles, `Oon of yow shall me be-trayen.’ Sir, Page 59
many provertees and grete suffraites suffred oure lorde her in erthe for oure sake, and many shames that the Iues hym diden; and after that he suffred bitter deth for vs upon the crosse; and a knyght axed his body when he was deed vpon the seide crosse, and it was graunted hym of Pilate in lower of his servyse.”

“Sir, it fill after that, this knyght whiche hadde taken oure lorde down of the crosse, that he was in a waste contree full of diserte, and moche of his lynage.

And, sir, vpon hem fill a grete famyne and hunger, and thei complayned to the knyght that was thier maister. And he prayde oure lorde to shewe his mercy to hem, and to shewe some demonstraunce, that they myght be conforted of their grete disese. And oure lorde hym comaunded to make a table, in the name of that table at the whiche he was sette in the house of Symond leprouse, and bad hym take the vessell whiche that he hadde, and sette it vpon the table, and couer the table with white cloth, and also the vessell, all saue the parte toward hym.

Sir, this vessell was brought to this seide knyght, by oure lorde Jhesu criste, whyle he was in prixon xl wynter, hym for to comforte. And, sir, by this holy vessell were departed the company of gode and euell. And also at this table was euer a voyde place, that betokeneth the place of Iudas, ther as he satte at the soper, whiche he lefte whan herde that oure lorde seide that worde for hym, whan he seyde that he that ete with hym sholde hym be-trayen. Thus lefte Iudas the place voyde till that oure lorde set ther another, that hight Matheu. This Matheu was sette in that place to fille vp the nombre of xij apostles.

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Sir, this place that was voyde at the table of Ioseph betokeneth the place that Matheu fulfilde; and, sir, thus be these two tables convenable. And thus hath oure lorde filled the werke of man. And, sir, the peple that were ther-at cleped this vessell that thei hadden in so grete grace, the Graal; and yef ye do my counseile, ye shall stablisshe the thirde table in the name of the trinite. And I be-hote yow, yef ye do this, ther-by shall come to yow grete honour and grete profite of youre soule; and also it shalbe a thynge that moste shall be spoken of thourgh the worlde.” Thus seide Merlyn to Vterpendragon, Page 60
wher-of he was well plesed, and seide to Merlin, “I will that oure lordes wille be performed in all that is in me, in all thinge that be to his wille; and all I putte in youre ordenaunce.” And than was Merlyn gladde, and seide, “Sir, loke where ye plese beste that it be sette.” “Certes,” quod the kynge, “where as thow wilte, and ther as thow trowest it be moste oure lordes wille.” And Merlyn seide, “It shall be at Cardoll, in Walys, and make ther thy feest at Pentecoste.

And array the to make gode chere, and to yeve grete yeftes; and I shall go be-fore, and make the table, and whan thow arte come, I shall setten them that owen ther-at to sitten.”

CHAPTER IV.

THE FEASTS AT CARDOELL; UTER-PENDRAGON’S LOVE FOR YGERNE, AND HIS WAR WITH HER

HUSBAND, THE DUKE OF TINTAGEL.

All as Merlyn devised dide the kynge, and warned thourgh all his reame to be at Cardoell, in Walys, at the Pentecoste. And thus he lete crye thourgh all his reame, and Merlyn dide ordeyne all that longed to the table. The weke afore witsontyde come the kynge to Cardoell, and when he was come he axed Merlin how he hadde spedde, and he seide, “Wele.” Quod the kynge, “What men shull ye chese to sitte at this table?” And Merlyn seide, “Ye shull se to-morou that ye wende neuer to seen, that I shall chese fyfty of the beste knyghtes of this londe. And whan thei be ones sette, thei will haue no grete desire to returne in to their contrees. And thus ye may knowe whiche were gode men and worthy, whan ye se the signifiaunce of the voyde place.” Thus Merlyn, on the witsonday, chese fifty knyghtes, and comaunded hem to be sette at that table to mete; and thei so diden with gode chere. And Merlyn that full of stronge arte, was yede hem aboute, and cleped the kynge as they weren sette, and shewed hym the voyde place. And many othir it syen, but they ne knewe not the tokenynge, ne why it was voyde.

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When Merlyn hadde don all thus, he badde the kynge that he sholde go sitte; and thus they diden alle viij dayes. And the kynge yaf grete yeftes to lordes, and to ladyes, and to dameseles. And when they departed, the kynge come to the fyfty knyghtes, and axed how hem lyked. And thei seyde, “Sir, we haue no talent to remeve fro hens, and ther-of we haue merveile what it maketh, for we be entred as brethern [correction; sic = bethern]; and therfore we will neuer departe till deth vs departe.” When the kynge herde hem thus sey, he hadde grete merveile, and comaunded hem to be serued, and kepte as his owne body. And thus departed the grete prese. And than the kynge come to Merlyn, and seide, “Truly thow seidest me soth that oure lorde wolde that this table sholde be stablisshed; but I wolde praye the to telle me
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yef thow knowe who shall fulfille the place that is voyde.” And Merlyn ansuerde, “Wite thow right wele that it shall not be in thy tyme; ne he that shall a-complesshen, it is not yet begeten. But it shall be in the kynges tyme that shall come next after the; ne he that shall hym engendere shall not knowe that he shall hym engendere; and he that shall a-complysshe that sete must also complysshe the voyde place at the table that Ioseph made. And I pray yow therfore, that euer hens-forth that ye hoilde alle youre grete festes in this town.” “Certes,” quod the kynge, “I will gladly.” And than seide Merlyn, “Sir, I moste go, and of longe tyme ye shull not se me a-geyn.” And the kynge hym axed whider he sholde go; quod he, “Shall ye not be here at alle tymes when I holde my grete courte?” And Merlyn seyde, “No.”

Than departed the kynge, and Merlyn yede to Blase, and tolde hym the stablisshement of this table, and many other thynges. And thus a-bode Merlyn thre yere that he come not to courte. They that loved not Merlyn, but by semblaunce, come to the kynge on a day as he was at Cardoell, and axeden hym of this voide place, and why there was not sette some worthy man, that the table myght be full. And the kynge seide, “Merlin tolde me a grete merveile, that seide noon myght it a-complisshe in my tyme, ne yet ne ys he born, that shall Page 62
engendre hym that shall it complesshen.” And thei lough ther-at, as they that weren full of envye, and seide, “Sir, trowe ye that ther shalbe better peple after youre tyme than beth now, and that ther ne be now, as gode men in youre londe as thei shull be.” “Truly,” seide the kynge, “I wote neuer.” And thei seide, “Ye do not wele but ye assaye.” “Certes,” quod the kynge, “I will it not assaie, for I doute that Merlin wolde be wroth.” And than they ansuerde, “Yef ye wele yeve vs leve, we will assaye it, and for to preve the grete lesynge.” And the kynge seide, “Ne were the drede I haue of the wrath of Merlyn, ther is nothynge that I desire so moche to assayen.” And they seide, “Yef Merlyn be livynge, and he knowe that we will it assayen, he will come withoute faile, er eny man shall it assayen; but suffre that we may it assaien at Pentecoste.” And the kynge hem graunted, wherfore they weren gladde. Thus it lefte till at witsontyde, that the kynge hadde do warne alle his barons to be at his feste at Cardoell. And Merlyn, that all thys wiste wele, tolde vn-to Blase the euell thoughtes that they hadden, that hadde take this enprise, and seide he wolde not go till he knewe who sholde assaye to preve that place, for he hadde leuer haue it preve by a shrewe than a gode man. Thus suffred Merlyn to the quynsyne of Pentecoste.

Vterpendragon the kynge come to Cardoel, and brought with hym grete plente of peple. And thei that were come for to assaie the place made it to be seide that Merlyn was deed, and that he was founden in a wildernesse madde, and cherles hym kylde. And so moche peple spake ther-of, that the kynge hymself it leved; and more for that, he was so longe a-wey, than for eny thinge elles, and, namely, he wende in no wyse he wolde not have suffred that eny man sholde haue assaide the voyde place yef he were lyvynge.

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Thus was the kynge on witson-even at Cardoel, and axed of hem that sholde it assaie, whiche of hem sholde it do. And he that all this hadde ordeyned, seide, “Sir, I will that ye wete ther shall noon assaie it but I.” Than he com to the table where as the fifty knyghtes weren sette, and seide, “I am come to sitte Page 63
with yow, and for to holde yow company.” And they ansuerde no worde, but full mekely behelde what he wolde do. And the kynge and grete partye of the barons weren ther assembled. This sette hym down in the voyde place, and a-noon as he was sette, he sanke down as it hadde be leed, so that noon wiste where he was be-come. Than the kynge comaunded alle the other gode men to aryse, and they so diden. And than a-noon be-gan so grete a noyse and sorowfull crye, that all the court was trowbled; and the kynge hymself was gretely abaisshed. Thus they a-biden to the quynsyne after Pentecoste, that Merlin come to courte. And whan the kynge wiste of hys comynge, he was right ioyfull, and wente hym a-geins to mete with hym. And a-noon, whan Merlyn saugh the kynge, he seide he had euell spedde, to suffre eny man to sytte in that place. “Trewly,” seide the kynge, “I was disceyved thourgh here wordes.” “In feith,” seide Merlyn, “it falleth often to hem that wolden begile, that thei begiled hem-self; and that maist thow wele proven be this.” After the kynge axed, “Yef he wiste where he was be-comen that set hym in the sege?” And Merlin ansuerde, “Therof no force is for to enquere, ne nought it sholde a-vayle for to wite, but thenke on them that in ţe other places sitten, and to mayntene that thow haste begonne; and alle thy festes and alle thy courtes, come holde hem heir in this town, for to wurship this table, for thow knowest by the assay that thow haste seyen that it is of grete dignite.

And now I go; now, loke thow do as thow haste seyde.” And thus departed the kynge; and Merlin comaunded the kynge to beilde feire howsynge, where he sholde euer after holde his courte and his hye festes. Than the kynge lete it be knowen thourgh his reame that all high festes, as Pasch and Pentecoste, and yole and halowmesse, sholde be holden at Cardoel; and a-geyn the feste of yole, he somowned alle his barons, in soche maner that euerich of hem shulde brynge with hem their wyves and doughtres, and her neces or susteres. And the knyghtes so diden alle. I may not telle yow of alle tho that ther weren, sef of hem that the tale reherses, oon after another. Ther was the Duke of Tintagel, and Ygrine his wif;

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and hir the kynge loved gretly, but ther-of he made no semblaunce, saf that often he beheilde her more than another; in-so-moche that hir-self it perceyved, and knewe that the kynge behelde her often. And whan she it perceyved, she eschewed to come in his presence, for she was right a gode lady, and full of grete bewte, and right trewe a-geins hir lorde. And the kynge for her love, and for he sigh she hadde taken hede of his lokynges, he sente Iuwelles to euery lady that was at the feste. And to Ygerne he sente as he trowed sholde beste hir plese, and she knewe and sigh wele that he hadde sente to alle other ladies, and therfore she durste not refuse hirs, but receyved hem, and thought wele in her herte, that the kynge ne hadde not yeven to other ladyes, but for she sholde not refusen hirs.

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Thus hilde the kynge that feeste, that yet is withouten wif, and was so supprised with the love of Ygerne, that he wiste not how to do, and thus departed the court; but firste the kynge praide alle the barons to be at Cardoel at Pasch, and so he prayed alle the ladies, and thei graunted to be ther. Whan the Duke of Tintagel departed fro courte, the kynge hym conveyed and gretly hym honoured at theyr departynge; and whan he hadde hym a while conveied, he toke leve, and yede thourgh the courte in his othir necessitees till that the tyme of Pasch, and than gan to assemble alle the barons and all the ladyes at Cardoel, and grete was the ioye that the kynge made, till it come to the mete tyme that the kynge made the Duke of Tintagel to be set be-fore hymself, and also his wif Ygerne, so that Ygerne ne myght not eschewe but to resceve his yeftes, so that she it aparceyved verily that the kynge hir loved, wherof she was right hevy, but ne she mot it suffer. Thus was this feeste holden in grete ioye, and the kynge hem prayde to come at alle tymes whan he hem comaunded, and thei seiden so thei wolden as to theire souereyn lorde. And thus departed the courte; and so endured the kynge in grete mysese for love of Ygerne, and at laste he complayned hymself to tweyne that he moche trusted of grete angwysshe that he suffred for the love of Ygerne, and they seiden, “What will ye that we shull do?” Quod the Page 65
kynge, “I wolde haue youre counseile, how I myght have her company.” And they seide, “Yef ye go in to the courte ther as she is, the peple shull it aperceyve, and so myght ye be in blame.” And he seyde, “What counseile yeve ye me thanne?” “The beste counseile,” seide thei, “that we se ther-inne is that ye somowne a grete courte to be at Cardoel, and that ye make hem all to wite that it shall holde to the quynsine, and that eche come araide to a-bide xv dayes, and eueriche man to brynge with hym his wyf. And thus may ye have longe the company of Ygerne, and haue grete counfort of youre love.” And the kynge was plesed wele with her counseile, and sente to alle the barons to be at Pentecoste at Cardoel, and euery baron to brynge with hym his wif. And as the kynge hem comaunded thei diden, and at that feeste the kynge bar crowne, and yaf grete yeftes to alle astates as hym semed beste sittynge.

Gretly was the kynge at that feeste, and ioyfull and mery. And he spake to oon of his counseile to whom he hadde moste truste of eny other, and his name was Vlfyn. And the kynge hym tolde of the grete peyne that he was Inne for the love of Ygerne, that so hym constrayned that he myght nother ete ne slepe, ne go, ne ride, and that he wende verily to dye whan he was oute of her sight, and that he myght not longe lyve but he hadde oţer counseile of her love. And Vlfyn seide, “Sir, it is a wonder thynge that for the delyte of a woman ye wene to dye. And I am but a pore man, and yef I loved a woman so strongly as ye, I sholde not wene therfore to dyen. Who herde euer speke of eny woman, yef she were wele requereth, but ye sholde haue of her youre volente; with that to yeve her gret yeftis note.5
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and Juwels, and to hem that ben a-bouten hir. I ne herde neuer speke of woman that cowde hir diffende a-geyn this; and thow that arte a kynge dismayest the so of feynt herte!” And the kynge seide, “Vlfyn, thow seyst right wele, and thow knowest wele what longeth to soche mystere; I pray the helpe me in alle maners that thow can or may, and take of my cofres Page 66
what thow wilte, to yeve to alle that ben hir a-bouten, and speke so to hir as thow knowest is for my spede.” Quod Vlfyn, “Be of gode counfort, for I shall do all my power.” And thus vndirtoke Vlfin to helpe the kynge. And so all the xv dayes hilde the kynge grete feste, and euery day hadde the Duke in his company, and yaf hym a grete Iuwell, and also to his compers. And Vlfyn spake with Ygerne, and tolde hir many thinges that he myght, as he trowed beste her plese; and many tymes he brought her a preciouse Iuwell; but Ygerne wolde noon of hem [unclear ] , till on a tyme that Ygerne hilde Vlfyn in counseile, and seide, “Vlfin, wherefore is it that ye wolde me yeve alle these Iuwelles and these riche yeftes?” And Vlfin seide, “Madame, for youre grete wisdome, and youre grete beaute and faire contenaunce, I may noght yeve yow, for all erthely gode is yours, and alle the londe of logres, and alle the mennes bodyes at youre plesier to do youre volente.” And she ansuerde, “How?” “How?” quod he, “for ye haue the herte of hym to whom alle moste obbeye.” Quod she, “Whos herte is that ye of speken?” And Vlfyn seide, “Of the kynge.” And she lifte vp hir hande, and hir fayned, and seide, “A mercy god! sholde eny knyge be traytour, so as he maketh semblaunce to myn husbonde of love, and so shamefully wolde me diffoule!

Vlfin, now be right well ware that thow neuer speke to me more of these wordes, ffor, wite thow wele, I shall telle my lorde, and yef he it knowe thow moste dye.” And Vlfyn ansuerde, “That were to me grete wurship, yef I sholde dye for my lorde; ne neuer lady that refused a kynge in soche wyse as do ye, that loveth yow more than eny other thynge. And I trowe ye do but iape; but for goddes love haveth pite of the kynge that is youre lorde, and also vpon youre self, for yef ye haue no mercy of this thynge, witeth wele that ther-of may come grete harme, ne ye ne youre lorde may not yow diffende a-geyn the kynges wille.” And Ygerne ansuerde, wepynge, “I shall therfore me right wele diffende, for I will neuer come in place wheras he may me seen.”

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And so departed Ygerne; and Vlfin come to the kynge, and tolde hym like as she hadde seide. And the kynge seyde so sholde a gode lady ansuere, for ther was neuer gode lady that lightly wolde be ouercome; and therfore he ne cessed not of prayinge. And on the xie iour of Pentecoste, the kynge satte at mete, and with hym te Duke of Tintagel. And the kynge hadde a riche cowpe of goolde; and Vlfyn kneled be-fore the kynge, and seide, “Sir, sende this cuppe to Ygerne, and praye the Duke to bidde hir to take it, and drynke for youre love.” And the kynge cleped the Duke, and badde hym sende that cuppe to Ygerne, his wif, and sende hir worde to drynke for his love. And the Duke ansuerde as he that thought noon euell, and seyde, “Sir, gramercy.” The Duke cleped a knyght of his owne that he loved well, “Bertel, take this cuppe, and bere to thy lady, and sey her that she drynke for the kynges love.” And Bretel cam in to the folio 22b
chamber where Ygerne sat at mete amonge othir ladyes, and kneled be-fore hir, and seide, “Madam, the kynge sente yow this cuppe, and my lorde comaundeth that ye sholde it take, and also to drynke for the kynges sake.”

Whan the lady vndirstode these wordes, she wax all reade for shame, but she durste not refuse the comaundement of hir lorde, but toke the cuppe, and dranke, and wolde have sente it a-geyn be the same knyght. And he seide, “My lorde sente yow worde ye sholde it kepe, for so the kynge hym prayde.” When she sye that, she sigh wele that nedes she muste kepe the cuppe. And Bretell come a-gein, and thanked the kynge on Ygernes be-halfe, that ther-of hadde seide no worde. And glad was the kynge that she hadde resceyved his yefte. And Vlfin wente in to the chamber, to se what semblaunce she made, and he fonde hir pensif and angry. And whan she saugh Vlfin, she cleped hym to hir, for the bourdes weren vp, and seide, “Vlfyn, thourgh grete treson thy lorde hath here sente me a cuppe, but therby shall he gete litill wurschip er tomorow day, for I will telle my lorde of the treson that ye betwene yow two haue purposed.” And Vlfyn ansuerde, “Be-war ther-of, that it yow

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neuer passe.” And she seide, “Mysauenture have that it kepeth eny counseile.”

With that departed Vlfyn from hir. And be than the kynge hadde waisshe, and was right mery and gladde, and toke the Duke be the hande, and seide, gowe, se these ladyes. Than they yede to the chamber wher as Ygerne hadde eten; and she knewe wele that he come for noon othir cause but for hir. And so she suffred all the day till the nyght, and than she wente hom to hir loigynge. And when the Duke come he fonde hir wepynge and makynge grete sorow; wherfore he was right hevy, and toke hir in his armes, as he that moche hir loved, and axed whi she made soche sorowe. “Trewly,” quod she, “ther nothynge that I will kepe from yow counseile, for ther is nothynge that I love so moche as yow. The kynge that is my lorde and yowres seith that he loueth me, and alle these courtes that ye se hym holde, and alle these ladyes that he sendith fore, it is nought elles but for me, and that ye sholde brynge me with yow. And these othir tymes I parceyved it wele I-nough, and I me kepte bothe fro hym and from his yeftes. And so hiderto I haue me wele deffended, that I haue nought taken of his. And now haue ye made me to take a cuppe, and sente me that I sholde drynke for his love. And therfore I wolde I were deed, for I may neuer haue reste for hym, and Vlfyn hys counseiller. And now I haue tolde yow all as it is; I knowe wele that ther-of muste come more anger, wherfore I beseke yow, as I ought to do my lorde, that ye brynge me to Tintagel, for I will no lenger a-bide in this town.” Whan the Duke, that moche loved his wif, herde this, he was als wroth as eny man myght be. Than he sente after his men thourgh the town, and when they were come, he seide to hem prevely, “Make yow redy for to ride in all haste, so that no man of the town it wyte,
folio 23a
and axed not the cause why till I telle yow.” And thus the Duke and his knyghtes lepe to horse, and rode home to his contre, and ledde with hym his wyf.

On the morowe, whan the kynge wiste the Duke was thus i-gon, he was hevy and sorowfull for that he hadde ledde a-wey Ygerne, and sente after his counseile, and shewde hem the

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shame and the dispite the Duke hadde hym don. And they seide they merveyled ther gretly, and that hadde don grete folye. Thus seide they that wiste not why he was gon. And the kynge seide, “As ye haue sen alle, I haue do to hym more wurship than to eny othir.” And they seiden, “It was soth; wherfore we gretly merveyle why he hath don so grete outerage.” And the kynge seide, “Yef it be youre rede I will sende after hym that he come a-geyn and a-mende this forfet, and that in the same wise as he is gon that he come a-gein, for that me semeth is right.” And the counseile ther-to assented. On this massage was sente two worthy men fro the kynge, and rode till they come to Tintagell, and ther they fonde the Duke, and tolde hym their message as they weren charged. Whan the Duke herde that in the same forme he moste come a-geyn, he vndirstode wele he sholde bringe with hym Ygerne, and than he seide to the messagers, “I ne will not come at his courte, for he hath so don to me and to myne that I owe hym neyther to truste ne to love.” And thus departed the messagers withouten other ansuere.

And than the Duke sente after alle the worthy men of his counseile, and seide hem the cause why he was come fro Cardoel, and the vntrouthe and the shame that the kynge hadde hym purposed. And they ther-of merveileden gretly, and seide that sholde neuer be-tyden with goddes grace, and wele oughten he to haue shame that this shame hath purposed to his liege man. Thanne seide the Duke, “I pray yow, and requyre be the feith that ye me owen, that ye helpe me to diffende my londe yef he me assawte with werre.” And thei ansuerde that so wolde they do to put alle ther lyves and gods in Iepardye. Thus the Duke counseiled with his men.

And the messagers come to Cardoel and fonde the kynge and his barons, and tolde as the Duke hadde yeve hem ansuere; and they seiden alle, thei merveiled of the Duke, that was wonte to be so wise a man, and so had him ruled. The kynge praide his barons, and hem requyred as his liege men, that thei wolde hym helpe to redresse that forfet, and a-venge the shame that he hadde hym don; and they seiden that they myght not that refusen; but thei seiden Page 70
yef it were hys plesier to sende, knowynge that he hym diffied, xl dayes be-fore er he hym assailed. And the kynge seide that wolde he do; but the kynge hem praide that at the ende of xl dayes they be redy assembled ther he hem assigned arayed for to osteye. The kynge sente his messagers for to diffie the Duke of Tintagel; and when the Duke herde that he hym diffied at the ende of xl dayes, he seide he sholde hym diffende yef he myght. And than he sente to his peple, and shewde hem the diffiaunce of the kynge, prayinge hem to helpe hym in that grete mister. And they seide thei sholde hym helpe with all their power. And than the Duke counseiled with his peple,
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and seide, “I have but two castelles that a-gein the kynge may holde; but tho tweyne wolde he holde as longe as he hadde lyf.” And he devised to leve his wif at Tintagel, and with hir x knyghtes, for he knewe that castell hadde no doute of no man, and hymself wente to another castell that was of lesse strengthe, and it stuffed in the beste wise that he myght, and seide that he myght not his other londes agein hym diffende. The messagers that hadde the Duke diffied come to the kynge, and seide how the Duke wolde hym diffende. Thanne the kynge sente to somowne his barons and his peple, and made hem alle to assemble in the Dukes londe in a grete medowe vpon a rivere. Whan the barons were assembled, the kynge to hem rehersed the grete dispyte of brekynge of his courte, and the barons seiden it was reson that the forfet were redressed. Thus the kynge lefte in the Dukes londes, and toke his castelles and his townes, and distroyed all the contre, and than the kynge herde sey that Ygerne was at Tintagel, and the Duke in another castell, and than the kynge axed of his counseile whiche castell he sholde firste assaile; and the barons yaf hym counseile firste to assaile the Duke, and therto the kynge graunted. And so thei rode to the castell that the Duke was ynne; and than the kynge seide to Vlfin, “What may I do whan I ne may not se Ygerne?” And Vlfyn seide, “The thinges that a man may not haue, he muste nede suffer; and therfore ye must put to grete besynesse to take the Duke, for after that ye shall well to purpos bringe the remenaunt.”

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Many assaute made the kynge at the Castell, but he cowde it in no wise gete, wherfore he was full of sorowe, and right Irouse. And on the tother side he was sore distreined with the love of Ygerne, that on a tyme, as he was in his pavilyon, he gan to wepe. Whanne his peple saugh hym wepe, they weren hevy, and hem with-drowen, and leften hym a-lone. And whan Vlfin it wiste ther-of, he come anoon, and axed the kynge why he wepte. And the kynge seide, “Thow knowest wele wherfore, for thow woste wele that I dye full of loue of Ygerne, for I have loste bothe mete and drynke, and all reste that a man ought to have.” And whan Vlfyn this vndirstode, he seide, “Ye be of ful febill herte whan ye thynke to dye for oon sole woman; but I shall sey yow gode counseile.” “What is that?”

seide the kynge. “That ye wolde sende to seche Merlin, that he myght come to yow, and it myght noon otherwise be, but that he sholde yeve yow some gode counseile that sholde yow profite. And ye shull hym yeve what he will desire.”

And than seide the kynge, “Ther is no thynge that is possible to a man but that he can it do; but I wote wele Merlin of my distresse knoweth, and so I am in drede that he be wroth for the voide place of the table, that I suffred to be assaide. And longe tyme it is passed sethe he was in place, where-as I myght hym se. And also I trowe he is not well plesed that I love the wif of my liege man; but trewly I may not do ther-to, ne I ne may not therfro me deffende. But I have well in mynde that he badde I sholde not sende hym for to seche.” And Vlfin ansuerde, “I am in certeyn of oon thynge, that he farith well and is in hele.

Yef he love yow as he was wonte to do, he knoweth what distresse that ye beth ynne, and it shal
folio 24a
not be longe er ye here of hym tydynges.”

Thus Vlfyn counforted the kynge, and counseiled hym to sende for his meyne to hym, and that sholde cause hym to foryete a grete partie of his sorowe. And the kynge seyde so he wolde do; but his love myght he, ne his sorow in no maner wise forgete. Thus the kynge peyned to conforte hymself and his peple, and made the castell to be assailed; but take

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it they myght not in no wise. And on a day, as Vlfin rode thourgh the oste, he mette with a man that he nothinge kenned. And he seide, “Vlfin, I wolde fain speke [correction; sic = spke] with the.” And thanne they yede oute of the hoste, the man on his fete, and Vlfyn on horsebak. And Vlfin light down on foote to speke [correction; sic = spke]with this man, and hym axed what he was. And he seide, “I am an olde man, as thow maist se, and som tyme in my yowthe I was holden wise; and now of moche thinge that I sey men sein that I dote; but I sey to yow in counseile that I was at Tintagel not longe sithe, and ther I was aqueynted with a gode man, that tolde me that youre kynge loueth the Dukes wif, and that is the cause that the kynge distroyeth his contre, for he brought his wif fro Cardoel. And yef ye and the kynge will wele quyte my nede, I shall make yow aqueynte with a gode man that shall make yow speke mith Ygerne, and that shall wele counseile the kynge of his desir.” When Vlfyn herde this man so say, he merveled who that hym sholde haue tolde, and prayde him that he wolde teche hym to that man that cowde counseile the kynge of his desires. And the olde man seide, “I will first here what rewarde the kinge will yeve.” Quod Vlfin, “Where shall I yow fynde when I haue spoke with the kynge?” The olde man seide, “Ye shull finde me or my message betwene this and the hoste.” And so he hym comaunded to god, and bad hym come on the morowe, and hym wolde telle soche tydinges as sholde hym plese. And Vlfin com to the kynge as hastely as he myght, and tolde how the olde man hadde seide. And whan the kynge hadde herde these wordes, he lowgh and made feire semblaunce, and seide to Vlfin, “Knowest thow ought the man that thow spake with?” And he ansuerde, “It is a man right olde and feble.” And the kynge seide, “Whan shull ye mete este togeder?” And Vlfyn seide, “In the morowe, for he badde me wite of yow what he shulde haue to rewarde.” And the kynge seide, “Lede me thider as thow shalt mete with hym.” And Vlfin seide, “With gode will; and yef thow speke with hym withoute me, profer hym what he will desire of myn.” Thus thei leften till on the Page 73
morowe; but that nyght was the kynge merier than he hadde ben eny tyme be-fore.

The morowe after masse the kynge and Vlfyn rode forth as Vlfin wolde hym guyde; and as thei issued oute of the hoste thei sye a crepell that semed blinde; and as thei passed forth by hym, he cried with an high voyce, “Sir kynge, so god a-complesshe thyn hertys desire of that thow desirest moste to haue, so yeve me som thynge that I may conne the thanke fore.”

folio 24b

And the kynge beheilde Vlfyn, and seide lawghinge, and seide, “Vlfyn, “Do that I shall comaunde the for my grete profite, and for my love, and for to compleisshe my grete desire.” And Vlfyn seide, “Ther is nothinge that I desire so moche, as for to do that myght a-complisshe youre desire.” And the kynge seide, “Hast thow nought herde what the Crepell axed, that I sholde remembre the thinge that I beste loved in this worlde, and that I am moste desiraunte. Go and sette the a-down by hym, and sey ţat I haue sente the to hym, and ther is nothinge in this worlde that I haue in possession, but that I wolde come to yeve it hym, yef I durste come to se hym.” And Vlfin, withoute eny grucchynge, yede and yaf hymself to the Crepill, and sette hym down by hym. And whan the crepill felte Vlfyn, he axed what he was, and what he was come for to seche. And he ansuerde, “The kynge hath sente me to yow, and that I sholde euer be youres.”

And whan the crepill that herde, he lowgh, and seide to Vlfyn, “The kynge is sone perceyvinge, and me knoweth better than do ye. I will that thow wite that the olde man that thow spake with yesterday sente me to the; but I will not telle the what he seyde. Go to the kynge, and sey he wolde do a grete thynge for to haue his desire, and that I sende hym worde that sone he is parceyvinge, and he shall spede the better.” And Vlfin seide, “I dar nought aske what ye ben.”

“Aske the kynge,” quod the crepill, “and he shall telle the wele i-nough.” And Vlfyn lepe on horse, and priked after the kynge. And whan the kynge saugh hym come, he drough a-side, and seide, “Vlfyn, is it that thow art come after me; ne have I not yove the to the Crepill?” Quod Vlfin, “He seith that ye be sone aperceyvaunte of hym, and

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that ye sholde telle me what he is, for he wolde not telle me, but seide ye sholde telle wele i-nough.” Than seide the kynge, “Wost thow what olde man that was that spake with the yesterday? that same is this that thow haste seyn a crepill.” And Vlfyn seide, “May this be true, that oon [correction; sic = oo]

man may hymself thus disfigure? And what is he than that thus hym disfigureth?”

And the kynge ansuerde, “Knowe it verily it is Merlin, that thus hym kepeth fro yow. And whan he will, he will make yow wele to knowe that it is thus.” Thus they passed forth thourgh the feilde; and Merlin come in his right semblaunce in to the kynges teynte, and asked where was the kynge. And a messanger come to the kynge, and seide Merlin was come; and than was the kynge so gladde that he myght not ansuere, but in all haste returned, and cleped Vlfyn, and seide, “Now shalt thow knowe yef it be so as I haue seide, for Merlyn is comen, and I knowe wele that he doth not seke me for nought.” And than seide Vlfyn, “Now shall it be sene yef euer ye were ought wroth, and yef ye can other do well or sey to his plesire of alle thinges; for ther is no man that may yow helpe so wele to haue the love of Ygerne.” And the kynge seide, “Thow seiste soth, and ther is no thynge that he doth comaunde me but I shall it gladly performe.”

Thus thei rode till thei come to the teynte where as thei fonde Merlin, and the kynge hym made grete ioye and mery chere, and ran hym a-gein with armes spred a-brode, and hym halsed and seide he was the man in all the worlde that was moste to hym welcome;
folio 25a
and than he seide, “Wherto sholde I me complayne vn-to yow, for as ye it knowe as my-self, and ther was neuer man that I longed so sore after, and I pray yow and requyre telle me of that ye knowe my herte desireth so.” And Merlin seide, “Of that ye me asken I shall not speke withoute Vlfyn.” Than made the kynge to clepe after Vlfin, and droughen hem a-side in counseile. Than seide the kynge to Merlin, “I haue tolde Vlfin of that ye comaunded, and that ye were the olde man that he sigh yesterday, and also the crepill this day.” And Vlfyn beheilde hym strongely, and seide, “May

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this be trewe that the kynge seith?” And Merlin seide, “Ye, it is trewe withouten faile; and as sone as I saugh he sente the to me I wiste well he hadde me perceyved.” And than Vlfyn seide to the kynge, “Sir, now sholde ye speke of youre gref, and not wepe whan ye ben soill.” And the kynge seide, “I wote not what to sey ne preyen: he knoweth well my corage, and I may not make hym no lesynge, but he it knowe as wele as [correction; sic = a] I; but I pray hym hertely to helpe me to haue the love of Ygerne, and he ne shall devise nothinge that is to me possible but that I shall it gladly don.” And Merlin seide, “Yef ye will graunte me that I shall aske, I shall purchace yow hir love, and make yow to ly in here chamber and in hir bedde, bothe naked.” And Vlfyn that herde, he lough and seide, “Now shall I se what a mannes herte is worth.”

And the kynge seide to Merlin, “Ye can not aske me nothinge that be founden in this worlde, but I sholde it yow yeven.” And Merlin ansuerde, “How may I here-of be sure, but yef ye be sworn, and also lete Vlfyn swere, that I shall haue that I aske on the morn that ye haue leye with Ygerne, and don with hir youre beste?”

And the kynge seide, “That wolde he do with gode will.” And Merlin asked Vlfyn yef he wolde swere, and Vlfyn seide, “That me for-thinketh, for I was neuer yet sworn in no tyme.”

When Merlin herde that worde, he lough and seide, “Whan youre othes be made, I shall telle yow how it shall be.” Than the kynge made be brought the hiest seintewaries that he hadde, and the beste relikes, and ther-on they dide swere as Merlin dide hem devyse, and thei seiden thei sholde it feithfully holde withouten fraude or mal engyn. After the kynge swore Vlfyn, and thus hath Merlin taken their othes. And than seide the kynge, “Merlin, now I requere yow sone to helpe myn hertes desire, as the man of all the worlde that moste ther-after longeth to haue it complisshed.” And than seide Merlyn, “Ye muste be wisely demened, for she is a trewe lady and full wise, and trewe to god and to hir lorde; but now shall ye se what power I haue hir to be-gile, for I shall make yow semblaunce of the Duke so wele, that ther is no man that yow doth sen but he

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shall wene it be the Duke. And two knyghtes that ben moste privy with hym, that noon ne knoweth so moche of his counseile, not Ygerne her-silf; and that oon hight Bretell, and that other Iordan; and I shall haue the semblaunce of Bretel, and Vlfin shall be like Iordan, and so shall I make hem to open the gates of the castell, and we shull alle thre ly withInne; but full erly on the morow we moste gon oute, for er we departe thens we shall here straunge tidinges, and therfore a-ray youre oste and your barons, and comaunde hem to make gode wacche to diffende hem-self, and that noon of hem ne go towarde folio 25b
the castell till that ye be come a-geyn, and be well ware that ye telle no creature wheder that ye shall go.” And Vterpendragon dide as Merlin hadde devised, and a-noon com agein, and seide that he was redy, and Merlin seide how he was also redy, “there is not ellis but to spede vs forward,” and so thei wenten forth alle thre till thei com ner at Tintagell, and than seide Merlyn to the kynge, “A-byde ye here, and I and Vlfyn shall go this wey.” And than eche drough a-side by hymself; and whan thei were disseuered, and Merlin hadde don his art, he toke an herbe, and brought it to the kynge, and seide, “Frote youre visage with this herbe, and youre handes.” And the kynge toke the herbe, and rubbid his handes, and his visage, and his feet; and anoon, as he hadde thus I-don, he hadde aperteliche the semblaunce of the Duke. And than seide, Merlyn, “Haue ye eny mynde that euer ye saugh Iordan?” And the kynge seide, “Ye, I knowe hym wele.” And Merlyn com to Vlfyn, and transfigured hym to the semblaunce of Iurdan, and than sente hym to the kynge. And whan the kynge saugh Vlfyn, he hym blissed, and seide, “Mercy god! how may eny man make oon man so like another?”

And than he seide to Vlfyn, “How semeth the be me?” And Vlfyn seide, “I knowe yow nought but for the Duke.” And the kynge seide, he was verily like vn-to Iurdan. And as thei stoden, so thei beheilde Merlyn, and thei semed verily it was Bretel. And thus thei speken togeder, and taried till it was nyght, and in the evenynge thei come to the Castell gate. And Merlyn, that wele resembled to bretel, cleped the porter, and the peple com to the Page 77
gate, and saugh apertly the Duke, as hem semed; and thei seide, “Open: lo, here the duke.” And thei dought it was Bretel and Iurdan, and whan thei weren entred, Bretel diffended, “that no man in the place sholde not wite that the Duke was comen.” I-nowe ther were that yede to telle the Duchesse. And Merlyn toke the kynge in counseile, and seide that he sholde contene hymself myrily. And a-noon alle thre thei come be-fore the chambir where Ygerne that yet was in her bedde; and in all haste that thei myght, thei mad their lorde redy. And so he yede to bedde to Ygerne; and that nyght he gat vpon hir the gode kynge that after was cleped Arthur. The lady made grete ioye of the kynge, for she wende verily it hadde ben the Duke hir lorde, that she loved moche with a trewe herte. Thus thei lay togeder, till on the morowe, in the dawenynge, the tidinges com in to the town that the Duke was dede, and also his stewarde I-take. And than thei com full previly in; and when these other tweyn that tho were a-risen, herde these tidynges, thei ran ther as their lorde lay, and seide, “A-ryse vp, and go to youre castell, for ther be soche tydinges come hider, that oure peple wene that ye be deed.” And he lepe vp, and seide, “It is no merveyle though they wene so; ffor I yede oute of the castell that no man knewe ther-of no worde.” A-noon he toke leve of Ygerne, and hir kiste, seynge hem alle at her departynge. And thus they departed oute of the castell in all the haste they myght, that neuer oon ne knewe but it [correction; sic = is] was the Duke. And whan they weren oute, thei weren right gladde. And Merlyn seide to the kynge, “Sir, haue ye kept wele the couenaunte[correction] coment [sic] now, loke thow kepe as wele myne.” And the kynge seide, “Ye sey trewe, for ye haue don me the beste servise that euer man dide to another; and
folio 26a
therfore youre couenauntes shall I well holde.” And Merlyn seide, “I hem aske now, and will that they be holden.” And the kynge seide, “I am redy hem to performe.” And than seide Merlyn, “I will that thow knowe that thow haste engendred an heyre male on Ygerne, and that hast thow me yoven; and Page 78
therfore I shall write the houre and the day in the whiche it is begeten, and so shalt thow knowe yef I sey soth.” Quod the kynge, “As thow hast seide, I haue sworn, and I yeve it the with gode will.”

Thus they rode till they come to a rivere, and ther Merlyn did hem waisshen, and than hadde thei semblaunce as that thei hadden be-fore. And than the kynge rode forth as faste as he myght; and as sone as he was come his barons and his peple gedered a-boute hym. And he hem asked how the Duke was deed. And thei hym tolden, “The day when ye were departed the oste was stille and koye; and therby the duke vndirstode that ye were not in the oste, and dide his peple to arme, and come vpon vs, and dide vs grete damage er we myghten ben armed. The cry a-rose and the noyse, and oure meynee hem arayde, and set on hem, and drof hem a-geyn, even be-fore the yate. And ther the duke a-bode, and dide many maistries in armes. And ther was his horse slayn and the Duke ouerthrowe, and ther was he deed amonge oure peple on foote, that hym nought knewen. And we driven the remenaunt in at the yates, that sympilly hem deffended whan they hadde loste their lorde.” And the kynge seide he was right sory for the deth of the Duke.

CHAPTER V.

MARRIAGE OF THE KING WITH YGERNE; BIRTH OF ARTHUR; AND DEATH OF THE KING.

Thus was the Duke of Tintagel deed, and the castell loste. The kynge spake to his barons, and seide that sore hym for thought the myschaunce of the Duke. And the kynge toke avisement of his counseile how he myght this thinge a-mende. And his barons ne blamede hym nought, though he did not hate the duke dedly, and that he were hevy for the mysauenture. “Truly,” seide the kynge, “to my power I wolde fain make the

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amendes.” Than spake Vlfyn, and seide, “Sir, seth this aventure is thus befallen, it moste be amended in the beste wise it may.” Than Vlfyn toke a-part the barons, and seide, “How seme ye that this myght be amended a-geyn the lady and a-geyn the Dukes frendes, wherof the kynge asketh yow counseile. And ye moste counseile hym the beste to youre power as youre lorde.” And thei seiden, “We wolde gladly rede hym the beste, and therfore we pray yow to yeve vs counseile for oure moste wurschip how we myght beste be demened in this matere, that the kynge forsake not oure counseile; for we knowe wele that ye are well in his grace.” And Vlfyn seide, “Yef I be wele in his grace, trow ye that I sholde counseile a thynge be-hynde hym that I sholde not sey be-fore hym; than holde ye me for a traytour yef I sholde be soche. And yef the pees and the amendement to the lady lay in me, I wolde rede hym soche thinges that ye ne durste not thynken.” And they seide, “We trowe yow wele, and wele we knowe that ye be wise and trewe, and of gode counseile; and therfore we pray yow to connseile vs what were beste to requere the kynge ynne, after that we have sein and knowe verily.”

And Vlfin seide, “I shall sey yow myn avise, and yef ye can better, sey it ye. I rede the kynge sende after alle the Dukes frendes, and that folio 26b
the kynge go to Tintagel, and make alle the ladies frendes to come also be-fore hym. And whan they beth come be-fore hym, that he profer for the pees and amendes for the Dukes deth, that yef they it refusen, that thei be holde for foles, and he for a wise man and a trewe. In this wise, he that wele haue pees, it moste be made.” And thei that were wise seide, “We holde vs to youre counseile, ne neuer for vs shall he haue other.” Than they come be-fore the kynge, and seiden the counseile that thei hadde founden; but thei ne seide not that Vlfyn hadde it hem yoven, for so he hem hadde praide and required. And ţus as he hadde hem enformed they seide be-fore the kynge. And the kynge seide to this, “I a-corde me well, and will that it be so as ye haue devised.” And than the kynge sente to alle the Dukes kenrede, and alle by letteres, that thei sholde come to hym to Cardoel, and yaf gode trewys [correction; sic = trwys], Page 80
and that he sholde a-mende alle the fautes wherof thei cowde hem complayne. Thus seide the kynge be-fore alle his barons, and so departed fro the castell. And Merlin com to the kynge, and seide, “Wite ye who hath yove this counseile that ye haue comaunded.” And the kynge seide, “Nay, but that the nobill men and wise me dide reden.” And Merlyn seide, “Amonge hem alle thei cowde nought haue dought this rede, but Vlfyn that is wise and a trewe knyght hath ordeyned all this pees, and the beste ordenaunce that eny can thynke. And wite it wele that no man knoweth it, saue he and ye and I that he hath it seide.” And than seide the kynge to Merlyn, “And how rede ye of this thinge?” Quod Merlin, “I knowe no better counseile, ne more trewe; and so shalt thow a-complisshe thy desere of thyn herte that thow art moste desiraunt. And now I muste go, but first I shall speke with the be-fore Vlfyn. And whan I am go, thow maiste aske Vlfin how he hath dought in makynge of this pees.” And the kynge seide so wolde he don.

Than was Vlfin cleped; and whan he was come be-fore them two, Merlyn seide to the kynge, “Ye haue yove me be your power the heyer that ye haue begeten, and therfore it is no reson that ye kepe hym to youre vse. And ye haue also the hour and the tyme I-writen that was in engendred. And ye knowe also that it was do be me, and so sholde myn be the synne; but I dede it helpe, for I trowe the moder ther-of sholde be sore a-schamed yef she her-silf dide it norish; and a woman hath no witte ageins that she may not hiden, and a-gein the worlde. And therfore I will that Vlfyn make a letter of recorde that I shall hym haue, and the houre and the nyght that he was in engendred. And ye shull no more se me be-fore that day that he shalbe born, the nexte nyght after. And I pray yow, as my lorde, that ye truste well to Vlfyn, of that he shall sey vnto yow, for he loveth yow full trewly, ne he shall not rede yow nothynge but for youre profite and grete wurship. And I shall no more speke with yow these vj monethes, but I shall speke to Vlfyn, and therfore do be hys counseile, yef thow wilt holde trouth, and haue my love fro hens-forth.”

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In this maner kepte Vlfyn the recorde of the engenderinge of the childe. And Merlin toke the kynge in counseile, and seide, “Sir, thow shalt haue Ygerne in mariage; but be wel ware that she ne knowe not that thow leyn by her, and that is a thinge that moste shall make hir
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in thy mercy, ffor yef thow aske hir be whom that she is grete, she can not telle the who is the fader, and so shall she haue of the grete shame; and also that is a thinge that may beste helpe me to haue the childe.” And than Merlin toke leve of the kynge, and the kynge rode forth his iourneyes till he come to a Cardoel. And Merlin wente to Blase, and tolde hym alle these thinges, and many other, and alle he wrote in his boke. And whan the kynge was come to Cardoel, he sente after the men of hys counseile, and asked what was theire rede in this thinge. And thei seide, “We rede that ye make pees with the duchesse, and with the frendes of the Duke; and thei may well lete hir knowe that she may not hir diffende agein yow, and that ye will do hem grete wurship to have pees with hem; and also comaunde to go to Tintagel, to speke with the duchesse, and with the Dukes frendes, and loke yef thei will haue this pees; and yef youre counseilers a-corden, ye shull do as thei desire.” Thus wente the barons to Tintagel; and the kynge a-bode at Cardoel, and toke Vlfin in counseile, and asked asked hym what he redde in this mater. And he seide his rede was to haue pees. And the kynge seide, “Vlfin, thow haste this pees ordeyned in thyn herte, and I wote well what.” And Vlfin seide, “Yef I haue it purposed, and ye it knowen, than wite ye whether it plese yow or no?” And the kynge seide, “It plesith me wele, and wolde fain it were don as thow haste it devised in thy herte.” And Vlfyn seide, “Ne entermete not yow to profer, ne to sone to graunten, for I shall it wele bringe to gode ende.” And the kynge prayed ther-to hertely. Thus haue thei endid theire counseile. And the kynges massagers come to Tintagel, and fonde the duchesse and the frendes of the duke. And ther thei shewde their massage, and how that the duke was deed thourgh hys owne outerage, and seide also how the kynge was therfore right sory, and gladly wolde make Page 82
amendement to the lady, and to alle his frendes. And thei saugh wele that thei myght not deffende hem agein the kynges wratth, and therfore thei counseiled the lady and the frendes of the Duke to haue pees with the kynge. And the lady seide, and hir frendes, thei wolde take counseile. And so they wente togeder; and the ladyes frendes counseiled the frendes of the duke to haue pees with the kynge, and that he was slayn also by his owne outrage. “And also, ye knowe wele, we may not vs defende agein the kynge; but lete vs here thise worthi men what pees that the kynge will make with vs. And in soche maner it may be that it ought not to be refused, for of two euelles it is gode to take the lesse; and this is oure counseile.” And the duchesse seide, “I will not refuse the rede of yow that beth the frendes of my gode lorde; ne I ne knowen not whom I sholde so wele love and truste.” And thus thei com oute from this counseile.”

And than spake oon of the worthiest and moste wise that was on the ladies side to the kynges messagers, and seide these wordes, “Sirs, my ladyes counseile and she wolde gladly witen what amendes the kynge wolde do of hir lorde that is deed?” And the messagers seyden a-noon, “Lordinges, we knowe not the will of the kynge, but thus moche he hath seide, that he will a-mende it be the a-vise and counseile of his barons.” And than seide they, “He shall it a-menden wele, yef god will.” Than toke they day till the quynsyne that the lady and hir frendes folio 27b
sholde come be-fore the kynge, for to haue right, and to here what the kynge wolde sey, and yef the kynges profer myght not agre the lady, and also hir frendes, thei hadde saf condite to returne to Tintagel. Thus was take the day of amendement. And messagers com to the kynge, and seide as thei hadde founden, and the counseile that the lady hadde. And the kynge seide thei sholde haue conduyte with gode will, yef thei aske reson. In this manere soiourned the kynge all that woke at Cardoel, and spake betwene hym and Vlfyn of many thinges. And at the quynsyne, be counseile of his barons, he sente to the duchesse conduyte.

And whan she was come, the kynge made

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aske of the lady [correction; sic = of the lady of the lady] and hir counseile, what amendes she required for the deth of hir lorde. The ladyes counseile ansuerde and seide, “Sir, my lady is not comen to aske amendes, but for to here what shall be don to hir for the deth of hir lorde.” And thei that the kynge hadde made aske this demande, come to the kynge, and seide as thei hadden herde.

And than the kynge prased gretly theire wise ansuere; and than the kynge asked his barons and his counseile, “What is youre rede in this mater?” And thei seide, “That many no man knowe, saf youreself, what pees ye will make with hem, ne what ye will hem offre.” And the kynge seide, “I shall sone haue tolde yow the thought of myn herte; ye be alle my men and of my counseile, and therfore I put it all vpon yow, and kepe ye myn honoure as ye owe to do. And what ye ordeyne I shall it not denye.” And they seide, “More may we not asken; but this is yet a grete thinge that we dar it not vndirtake; but we be right sure that ye shull vs come no magre.” And Vlfin seide, “It semeth that ye holde the kynge a fole, whan ye leve no thinge that he seith vnto yow.” And thei seide, “Yesse, we trow hym wele; but we beseche the kynge that he comaunde yow to ben oon of vs, and to helpe vs to counseile by yowre advyse in the beste wyse that ye can.”

Whan the kynge herde hem desire Vlfyn to be of here counseile, he made semblaunce as he hadde be gladde, and seide to Vlfyn, “I have norshid the, and made the a riche man, and I knowe wele thow art wise; go forth and counseile hem the beste that thow canste or mayste.” And he ansuerde, “So shall I do, seth ye me comaunden; but this I will that ye knowe, that ther is no kynge ne prince that may be to moche beloved of his peple, ne he may not to moche obbeye hymself for to haue theire hertes.” Thus wente Vlfin to counseile a-monge the barons and the worthy men. And whan thei were come togeder they asked the best rede in this cas. And Vlfin seide, “Ye haue wele herde how the kynge hath put hym vpon yow; now lete vs go to

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the lady and hir frendes, and wete yef they will holde the same.” And thei ansuerde that he had wele seide and wisely. And so they yede to the lady and hir frendes, to knowe theire will. And whan thei were come be-fore hir, of her wordes this was the somme. Thei seiden how the kynge hadde a-greed hymself all to theire ordenaunce; “and thei we come for to knowe, yef she and hir frendes wolde assente to the ende and amendes that they wolde ordeyne in the same wise as did the kynge.” And her frendes seide of this thei wolde take counseile. And she toke hir counseile togeder what was beste to do ther-inne. And thei seide the kynge myght no more profer than to put hymself in the ordenaunce of his barons. To this thei acorded, bothe the kynge and the lady and her frendes, and the parentes [correction; sic = parentee] of the Duke, and maden gode suertee, bothe on that oon
folio 28a
part and the tother. And than the barons wente togeder, and asked oon of another what was beste rede in this mater. And whan euery man hadde seide his advise, thei asked Vlfin what was his rede in that cas. And Vlfyn seide, “I shall sey myn avise, and that I say I will sey in all places. Ye knowe well,”

quod Vlfyn, “that the Duke was deed by the kynge and by his force, and that he hadde not forfet for to dye. And, wite ye wele, the lady is lefte charged with childe; and ye knowe well the kynge hath hir londe wasted and distroyed. And ye knowe wele also that she is oon of the beste ladies of the worlde, and oon of the wisest; and ye knowe also that the parentes of the Duke haue grete losse by thys deth, and therfore it is right that the kynge restore hem agein her londes, after that thei ben; and that he haue here hertes and hir love. And on the tother part, ye knowe that the kinge is withoute wif; and I sey as be myn avise, the kynge ne may a-mende this damage, but yef he take hir to his wif; and this me semeth he ought wele to do for hir and for oure love, and for them of the reeme that of this amendes shull heren. And whan he hath all thus do, and graunded that, than he first of all mary the Dukes eldest doughter to kynge loth of Orcanye, whiche is here

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presente, and to his other frendens, that he do so, that they holde hym here gode lorde and trewe kynge.”

“Now haue ye herde,” quod Vlfin, “my counseile; now may ye sey what ye semeth yef this be not to yow a-greable.” And thei ansuerde alle with oon assent, and seide, “Thow hast seide the beste counseile of the worlde, and the hiest that euer man durste thynke. And yef ye dur sey so to the kynge as ye haue seide here, and that we may se he therto a-corde, and we shull yow helpe ther-to right gladly.” And Vlfin ansuerde, “Ye ne sey not i-nough, but yef ye will ther-to a-corde playnly, I shall reherse the wordes to the kynges presence. And lo, here the kynge of Orcanye, on whom I sey grete parti of the pees, and therfore lete vs here hys avise.” And the kynge loth seide, “For ought that ye haue seide touchinge me, I will not that the pees be lefte.” And whan thise othir herde this, thei a-corden to this counseile alle, and com to the kynges teinte. And the lady was sente fore, and alle that weren of hir counseile. And whan thei were alle assembled, thei sat alle, saf Vlfin; he was stondinge, and rehersed the a-corde of the pees as it was be-fore spoken. And than he seide to the barons, “Be ye not alle thus acorded?” And they seiden alle, “Yesse.” Than he turned to the kynge, and seide, “Sir, how sey ye to this thinge; will ye ther-to agreen to the acorde and ordenaunce of these worthy lordes?” And the kynge seide, “Ye, yef the duchesse and her frendes be contente, and that the kynge loth will for me take the Dukes doughter.” And than ansuerde the kynge loth, “Sir, ther is nothinge that ye me requyre for youre love or youre profite but I will it gladly performe.” Than spake Vlfyn to hym that hadde the wordes for the duchesse, a-lowde, that alle it myght heren, and seide, “Assente ye to this pees and acorde?” And ansuerde full wisely and pitously, be-holdinge his lady and her counseile, of whom the tounges of hir hertes were at hir yen, so that thei gonne wepe for ioye and pite; and he also that ansuerde to Vlfyn dide wepe, and seide that so high and wurschipful amendes
folio 28b
dide neuer a lorde to his man. And than the lady and hir counseile toke theire avisement, and thei

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seiden, “Ther is no man in the worlde but he ought her-to assenten; wherfore we rede in-as-moche as we se that the kynge is so gracious a man and so trewe, that after alle these wordes we submytte vs holy to his ordenaunce.” And thus was the pees graunted on that oon [correction; sic = o] side and the tother. And so Vterpendragon toke Ygerne to his wif, and maried her doughter to kynge loth of Orcanye. The weddynge of the kynge and Ygerne was the xxti day after that he hadde by hir leyn in hir chamber. And of her doughter that was maried to kynge loth com Gawein, Agrauuayn, Gaheret, and gaheries, and mordred. And the kynge uentres of Garlot hadde another of hir doughters, that was geten on baste, whos name was Morgeins. And be the counseile of alle hir frendes the kynge sette hir to skole in an house of religion, and she lerned so moche of an arte that is cleped astronomye, wher-in she wrought many tymes; and by that crafte was she cleped morgne-le-fee. The other doughters alle the kynge dide marye, and moche he dide for the Dukes kyn and frendes.

Thus was the kynge wedded to Ygerne, and kepe her till her gretnesse apered. And as the kynge on a nyght lay with her, he asked with whom she was so grete, and ţat she myght not be so grete with hym, seth the tyme thei were wedded, ffor he hadde neuer tyme with her leyn but that the tyme was wreten; ne she ne myght be grete by the Duke, for longe tyme be-fore his deth she hadde not hym seyn. Thus the kynge oposed Ygerne, and she hadde grete drede, and seide wepinge, “Sir, of this that ye sey I may make to yow no lesynge, ne of other thinges shall I not lyen; ffor oure lordes love, haue mercy on me, and I shall telle yow a merveile that is very soth, yef ye will me assure, yef it plese yow, that ye shull not me forsaken.” Quod the kynge, “Seith on hardely, for I will not departe fro yow in no wise for nothinge that ye sey.” And than was the quene glad, and seide, “Sir, I shall telle yow a wonder thinge.” And she tolde hym how a man hadde leyn with hir in semblaunce of the Duke, and brought with hym two men in semblaunce of two that the Duke loved beste of all the worlde. And thus com he to my chambir, seinge alle my peple, and lay with me. And

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I wende verily it hadde be my lorde; and he be-gate the childe that I am now with so grete. And I knowe wele it was that same nyght that my lorde were slain, for he lay with me whan tydinges com of my lordes deth. And than made he me to vndirstonde that he was my lorde, and that his peple ne wisten not that he was come to me. And so he departed, when he hadde herde these tidinges, and seide to me, ‘Feire wif, loke than noon this knowe, as moche as ye may kepe this secret, for so sholde ye be shamed yef it were knowen,’” “And I will that ye it knowe that this childe that shalbe born of yow, nys nother youre ne myn by reson; wherfore I pray yow that whan it is born, ye yevith ther as I shall comaunde to be yoven, that neuer we here ther-of speke.” And she ansuerde, “Sir, of me and all that to me aperteneth, may ye do youre volunte.” Than com the kynge folio 29a
to [correction; sic = to to] Vlfyn, and tolde these wordes of hym and the quene.

When Vlfyn vndirstode, he ansuerde the kynge, “Now may ye knowe that my lady is both gode and [correction; sic = a] trewe, and also wise, that so grete a thinge durste yow counsell. And ye haue also wele spedde the entente of Merlin, that in other maner ne myght haue the childe that she is with grete.” Thus they endured to the vj monethes ende, that Merlyn hadde sette to speke with Vlfyn previly, and hym asked tydinges of that he wolde; and when thei hadde spoke to-gedir, he sente after the kynge be Vlfyn. And whan they were alle thre assembled, the kynge tolde Merlin how he hadde do with the quene, and how he hadde made the pees for to haue the childe. And Merlin seide, “Vlfyn is somwhat a-quytte of the synne that he hadde in the love makinge, but I am not yet a-quyt of that; I helped to disseyve the lady ne of the childe that she hath withinne hir, of whom she wote not who is the fader.” And the kynge seide, “Ye be so gode and so wise that ye can yow wele in this a-quyten.” And Merlin seide, “Ther-to moste ye helpe.” And the kynge seide he wolde hym helpe in all the maner that he can, and the childe wolde he make hym to haue. And Merlin Page 88
seide, “Ther is in this contre a gode man, that is oon of the trewest of all thi reame; and he hath a wif that is gode woman and a wise, and the trewest of this londe and beste tacched of alle gode condiciouns; and she is now leide down in hir bedde of a childe male, and hir lorde is not moste riche man; therfore I wolde that ye sende for hym, and yeve so of youre goode, that he and the gode lady his wif swere on a boke to kepe a childe that shalbe brought vnto them, and that she yeve it soke of hir owne mylke, and hir owne childe to be put to anothir woman to be norisshed, and that they norisshe and kepe that childe that shalbe brought vnto hem.” And the kynge seide, “Euen as thow haste seide, so shall I do.” And Merlin toke his leve, and wente to Blase. And Vterpendragon sente after this noble knight; and whan he was come, the kynge made hym gret chere; and merveiled why the kynge made hym soche grete feeste. And the kynge seide, “Dere frende, I most discure to yow a merveile that is me befallen, and ye be my lege man, and therfore I pray yow for the feith that ye owen vnto me, that ye me helpe, after that I haue seide yow my counseile, and that ye kepe it secrete to youre power.” And he ansuerde, “Syr, ther is nothinge that ye [correction; sic = y] sey to me, or commaunde me to do, but that I shall do it with all my power; and yef it be a thynge that I may not do, I shall it wele counseile.” And the kynge seide, “Ther is befalle to me a wondir thynge in my slepe: of a man that come be-fore me, and seide ye be the worthiest man of all my reame, and moste trewe to me; and also he seide that ye hadde engendered on youre wif a childe that is born; and he badde me that I sholde pray yow to put youre owne childe to sowken another woman, for my love, and youre wif to yeve the childe sowken of her owne mylke that
folio 29b
shall be brought vn-to hir, and it kepe and norisshen.”

Whan the gode man herde this ansuere, “Sir, this is a grete thynge that ye me requyre: that I sholde my childe disseuer from his nature, and make hym to be norisshed of anothir woman; and, sir, I pray yow, when shall this childe be born, and to me be brought?” And the kynge seyde, “So god Page 89
me helpe, I wote neuer.” And than seide the knyght, “Sir, ther [correction; sic = ther ther] is nothinge in this worlde that ye me comaunde but I shall it don.”

Than the kynge yaf hym so grete yeftes that he was all astoned ther-of, and com home to his wif, and tolde her as the kynge hadde seide. And whan she it herde, she thought it a straunge thinge, and seide, “Sir, how may I that do, for to leve my sone for another mannes?” And the gode man seide, “Ther is nothinge but that we moste it do for hym that it oure sourein lorde; and he hath yoven vs so moche, and promysed, that we moste nede don hys plesir and his volunte, and I will verily that ye it graunten.” And she ansuerde, “I am yowre and the childe youre, therfore do with me and with hym youre will; and I it graunten wele, for I ought in no wise to do agein your volunte.” Than he bad hir ordeyne another woman to norissh hir sone, for he dide but a-waite after the hour that the tother sholde be brought; and thus disseuerid the gode man his sone fro his wif.

And the kynge sawgh that the quene was redy to ly down. And the day be-fore com Merlin to court secretly, and seide to Vlfyn, “I am wele plesed with the kynge, for he hath wele do as I seide to hym. Now go, bid hym go to the quene, and bid hym telle her that shall haue chylde tomorow at nyght, after mydnyght, and comaunde her that she do the childe to be delyuered to the firste man that shall mete at issue of the halle.” And whan Vlfyn herde that, he seide, “Shull ye not speke with the kynge?” And Merlin seide, “No.” Than com Vlfyn to the kynge, and seide as Merlin hadde comaunded. Whan the kynge herde that, he made grete ioye, and seide, “Shall I not speke with Merlyn er he go?” And Vlfin seide, “Nay; but do as he hath sente yow worde.” Than yede the kynge to the quene, and seide, “I shall telle yow a thynge that ye shall fynde trewe, and doth as I shall comaunde yow.” And she seide, “Sir, I will do as ye comaunde.” And the kynge seide, “Tomorow, after mydnyght, with the grace of god, ye shull be deliuered of the childe in youre

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wombe; And I pray yow and require that as soone as it is born that ye take it to oon of youre moste secrete woman, and bid hir deliuer it to the firste man ţat she fyndeth at the issue of the halle; and that ye sey to hem that be at the birthe of the childe that they speke neuer worde ther-of, ne discure that ye hadde childe, for moche peple shull sey than that it were neuer myn, ne me semeth not it sholde be.” And the lady ansuerde, “Sir, that I haue tolde yow is trewe;” and seide, “I knowe not who it be-gat; and I shall do that ye comaunde as she that hath grete shame of hir mysauenture. But of this haue I grete merveile: that ye knowe so wele my delyueraunce; and I pray yow that ye do as I yow say;” and seide, “So shall I do so god be myn helpe.” Thus departed the counseile of the kynge and the quene. And she a-bode as longe as god wolde. And the morowe after evesonge toke hir grete disese of trauelinge, vnto the hour that the kynge hadde hir seide, and a-noon after mydnyght she was delyuerid. And than a-noon she cleped a woman that she moste trusted, and seide, “Take this childe, and bere it to the halle dore, and yef ye fynde ther a man that it aske, deliuere it to hym, and take gode hede what man he be.” This folio 30a
woman dide as the quene comaunded; toke the childe, and folded it in the beste clothes that she hadde, and bar it to the halle dore; and whan she come ther, she fonde a man that semed right olde and rympled. And she seyde, “What a-bidest thow after?” And he seide, “For that that thow bringeste.” And she seide, “What man art thow; to whom shall I telle my lady that I haue yoven her childe?” Quod he, “Ther-of hast thow nought to done, but do as thow art comaunded;” and toke hym the childe. And a-noon as he it hadde, she wiste not where he was be-comen, and com ayen to the lady, and seide she hadde yove the childe to right an olde man; but I wote not what he is elles, for as sone as [correction; sic = sone as sone as] I hadde it hym delyuered he was vanysshid in soche maner that I knewe not where he be-cam.” The quene dide wepe, as she that hadde grete doel, and he that hadde this childe

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yede as faste as he myght to Antor, and fonde hym erly, as he was goinge to masse. And he hadde take the semblaunce of a moche olde man, and called to hym, and seide, “Antor! I wolde speke with the.” “And I with yow,” quod he gladly.

The olde man seide, “I haue brought the a childe, and I pray the that thow do it norisshe as richely as thow wolde do thyn owne. And, wite thow wele, yef thow do thus, grete gode shall come to the and thyn heyres; and yef a man tolde it the, thow woldest it not be-leve.” And Antor ansuerde, “This is the childe that the kynge me praide to norisshe of my wif, and to put a-wey myn for hym.” And he seide, “It is the same saunzfaile; and the kynge and all worthi men and worthi wemen oughten the to preyen, and I my-self the preye; and, wite it well, that my prayer is as moche worth as a riche mannes.” Antor toke the childe, and saught it was right faire, and asked yef it were cristned, and he saide, “Nay; but now a-noon do it baptise in this chirche.” And Antor toke it gladly, and asked of hym “What shall be his name?” And he seide, “My rede is that thow clepe it Arthur, and thow shalt fynde that it shall falle to the grete welthe, er thow haue it kept longe while. And thow ne thy wif shall not wite whethir thow shalt love better of thi childe or hit.”

Antor seide, “Who shall I sey hath take me this childe, and what man ye be?” And he seide, “Ye shall not knowe at this tyme no more of me.” And thus thei departed, and Antor made the childe to be baptised, and cleped hym Arthur, and bar hym to his wif, and seide, “Lo, here the childe that I haue yow so moche I-praide fore.” And she seide, “It is welcome.” And she toke it, and asked yef it were baptised. And he seide, “Ye, and his name is Arthur.” Than the lady yaf it sowke, and it norisshed, and put her sone to anothir woman. And Vterpendragon hilde after the londe longe tyme; and so he fill in a grete sekenesse of the gowte in handes and feet. And thanne a-ros the Danes in many places of the londe a-gein hym, and dide grete outrage; so that he sente for his barons, and asked theire counseile. And the barons redden to be avenged vpon hem, yef he

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myght. Than seide Vterpendragon, “I pray yow assemble yow a power as worthi men owe for theire lorde.” And thei seide thei wolde so with gode will. And so they yede, and met with their enmyes, and saugh that thei hadde drawe to hem grete part of the londe. And the kynges men were withouten a lorde assembled, and were discounfited; and so loste the kynge grete part of his men. Whan the kynge herde tydinges that his men were discounfited, he was full wroth. Than come the remenaunte from the bataile.

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And whan the tother party hadde discounfited this bataile, thei encresed moche of peple, and wexed right stronge. And Merlin, that alle these thinges knewe, com to Vterpendragon, that for his maladie was right feble. And whan he wiste that Merlyn was come, he was gladde, and thought in his herte that now he sholde haue counfort. Whan Merlin come be-fore Vterpendragon, he made hym right feire chere. And Merlin seide, “Ye be right seke, and gretly ye be afraide.” And Vterpendragon seide, “I haue right, for my men, and that ye knowe wele, and that I wende to haue no drede of, haue distroyde my reame, and slayn my men in bataile.” And Merlin seide, “Now maist thow se that peple ne a-vaile not in bataile withoute a gode lorde.” And the kynge seide, “For godes love, Merlin, counseile me what I shall do.” And Merlin seide, “I will telle the a thynge in previte, that I will tho byleve: make somowne all thyn oste an thy peple; and whan thei be alle come, do the to be bore in a lytier, and so go fight with thyn enmyes; and, wite it verily, thow shalt hem venquise. And whan thow hast hem venquysed, thow shalt knowe well what a londe is worth that is withouten a kynge. And whan thow hast thus don, departe for god, and for thy soule all thy tresour, for thow maiste not longe ther-after lyven. And I will wele that thow knowe that thei that haue this grete auers, and diden er it be departed, that the merite of the godes be not theires; but it is theirs that will not suffre hem to do nought for theire owne soules, and tho be develes. And, wite wele, it were better to the richeman that he hadde neuer nought I-hadde, but he departe in his lif tyme. The richesse and the honoures Page 93
of the worlde doth but annoye to the soule; but yef it be spent and departed as it oweth to be, and thow that knowest thow moste make an ende, thow oweste to departe hem in soche maner that thow lese not the lif perdurable, ne the ioye of the tother worlde; for this is but vanyte, and that shall I shewe in oon [correction; sic = oo]worde; noon hath here so grete ioye erthly to whom it ne faileth, and that oon beyeth in the othir worlde may neuer faile ne a-peire; and what oon suffred in this worlde, oure lorde doth it to prove hym for the tother.

Therfore, yef thow be wise of that god hath the yoven in this mortall lif, that thow therwith purchase the lif euerlastynge. And thow that haste had so grete goodes in this worlde, what hast thow do for oure lorde that alle these graces hath the yoven? I haue the moche loved, and I love the, and knewe wele that noon may so wele love as thi-self; and as I haue the seide, thow maist not longe lyve after this victorye. And alle the gode dedis a man doth by his lyve is litill a-vaile but yef he haue gode ende; and yef thow haddest do alle the gode dedes of the worlde, and thyn ende were euell, thow were in a venture all for to lese; and yef thow hadde don all the wikkednesse of the worlde, and thow haddest gode ende, thow sholdest haue pardon. And I do the to wite thow shalt nought haue with the oute of this worlde, but thy gode dedes. Now do that thow hast to do; and thow knowest wele that thy wif Ygerne is deed, and that thow maist no mo haue; and thy
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londe be left after the withouten heire; and therefore enforce the to do well, for thyn owen soule. Ffare-well now, for I haue no more with the to do; but bid Vlfyn to yeve credence to me whan myster is, and than he helpe me to bere trewe witnesse whan nede is, and recorde the trowthe.” And Vterpendragon seide, “This is a ferly thinge that thow hast seide, I sholde venquyse myn enmyes in a litere; how may I that yelde to oure lorde?” And Merlin seide. “By thi gode ende. And now I go; I pray the, after the bataile, haue mynde of that I haue the seide.” And Vterpendragon asked tidinges of the childe that he bar a-wey. And Merlin seide, “Of that ne recche the nothinge for to enquere; but this I will that thow wite, that the childe

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is feire and well growen, and well taught and norisshed.” And the kynge asked, “Shall I se yow euer eny more after this?” And Merlyn seyde, “Ye, ones, and neuer no more.”

Thus departed the kynge and Merlin. And the kynge somowned his oste, and seide he wolde go with hem on his enmyes. Than he was ledde in a letere; and the sarazins com and fought with hym. And the kynges men, be the counseile of her lorde, discounfited their enmyes, and slowen grete plente; that hadde the kynge the victorye of the bataile, and venquysed his enmyes. And so the londe was set in pees; and than he be-thought hym of that Merlin hadde hym seide, and repeired to london, and sente for his grete tresour, and yaf his godes to gode men and gode women, and to mysese peple of his reame, and dide many faire almesse dedes; and the remenaunt he dide departe be the advise of his mynistres to holy cherche. Thus departed the kynge his tresoure, that nought be lefte to hymself wher-of he cowde remembre, that he ne yaf all for the love of god by the counseile of Merlyn.

Full meke was the kynge a-gein god and the peple, and a-gein the mynistres of holy cherche, that alle thei hadde grete pite. Thus was he kepte longe tyme seke; and his peple were assembled at london, that grete doute hadde of his deth. And thei knewe wele that dye he moste, for he wax so feble that he myght not speke in thre dayes. Than com Merlin in to the town, that all this wiste wele. And whan he was come, the worthi men maden hym to come be-fore them, and seiden, “Merlyn, now is the kynge deed that ye loved so wele.” And Merlin seide, “Ye sey not wele; noon shall dye that maketh so gode ende as he doth; ne he is not yet deed.” And thei seide, “That he is, for this thre dayes he spake no speche, ne neuer shall speke worde.” And Merlin seide, “Yef god will he shall speke; now, come, and ye shall heir hym speke.” And they seide that than he dide grete merveile. Than thei rede ther as the kynge lay, and opened alle the wyndowes; and than thei seide, “Sir, lo here Merlin.” And the kynge turned toward hym to his power, and made semblaunce that he knewe hym. And Merlyn seide to

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the barons, prelates that ther weren, “Now heir the laste worde that the kynge shall speke.” And than thei drough nere, and seide, “Trowest thow to make hym speke?” And Merlin seide, “Ye shull se.”

Than Merlyn turned hym on the tother side of the pailet, and rowned in the kynges ere, and seide, “Thow haste made a faire ende, yef thi conscyence be soche as the semblaunce; and I telle the thi sone Arthur shall be kynge nexte of thy reame after the, be the vertu of
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Ihesu criste, and shall a-complisshe the rounde table that thow haste begonne.”

Whan the kynge herde that, he drough towarde hym, and seide, “For godes love, pray hym to pray oure lorde Ihesu criste for me.” And Merlin seide to hem that ther were, “Now haue ye herde the last worde that the kynge hath spoke to me; and ye wende that he shulde neuer haue spoken,” And than wente Merlin, and alle the other that hadden grete merveile of Merlin that he hadde made hym to speken, ne ther was noon that wiste what the kynge hadde seide, saf Merlin. Thus ended the kynge, and the princes, and the barons, and bisshopes and archebisshopes dide hym the grettest honoure and the feirest servise that thei myght. Thus lefte the londe withouten heyre. The morowe after the kynge was biried assembled the barons and the prelates of the cherche, and toke counseile how the reame sholde be gouerned, and neuer myght the counseile a-corde to noon. Than seide thei, be comen assent, thei wolde counseile with Merlyn, that hadde grete wisedom, and seide thei herde hym neuer but geve trewe counseile, and gode to euery man. Thus thei acorded, and sente to seche after Merlyn.

CHAPTER VI.

ARTHUR MADE KING.

Whan he was come be-fore hem, they seide, “Merlyn, we knowe well thow art wise, and haste alwey loved wele the kynges of this reame, and thow knowest wele that this londe is lefte withouten heir; and a londe withoute a lorde a-vaileth Page 96
litill. Therfore we pray the and requere to helpe vs to these soche a man as myght the reame gouerne, to the profite of the peple and sauacion of holy cherche.” And Merlin seide, “I am no soche man that owe to entermete of soche counseile, ne that I sholde chese a man to be a gouernoure; but yef ye acorde to myn a-warde, I shall telle yow, and yef I sey not wele, acorded not ther-to.”

And thei seide, “Alle to the welfare and profite of vs alle oure lorde sende grace!” And Merlin seide, “I haue mochc loved this reame and the peple ther-inne, and yef I wolde telle yow whom ye sholde make youre kynge, I ought wele to be beleved, and it were right; but oon faire auenture is yow befallen, yef ye will it knowen. The kynge is now deed sithe Martin-masse, and fro hens to yoole is but litill space; and yef ye leve my counseile, I shall yeve yow gode and trewe, bothe ageyn god and the worlde.” And thei seiden all at ones, “Sey what thow wilte, and we shall it holden.” And he seide, “Ye knowe wele that now cometh the feste that oure lorde was Inne I-bore, and he is lorde of alle lordes; and I will vndirtake, yef ye and alle the peple comynyally pray to oure lorde for his grete pite, for to sende yow a rightfull gouernour, as he, through [correction; sic = thgh] his grete humylite at this feste, cleped yoole, liste to be born of a virgyn, and kynge of alle kynges; that he at this feste chese yow soche a man to be youre kynge and lorde, that the peple may rule and gouerne to his plesir; and that he shew soche demonstraunce that the peple may se and knowe that it is be his eleccion, and that he that so is chosen be kynge withoute eny other eleccion;
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and, wite ye well, yef ye thus do, ye shull se the eleccion of our lorde Ihesu criste.” Than they ansuerde alle with oon assent, and seide, “We acorde with this counseile, and ther is noon erthly man but that he ought ther-to acorde.”

Than thei praide alle, bisshopis and archebisshopes, to comaunde thourgh alle the cherche, that the peple to praye as ye haue herde. And all the lordes were sworne oon to another to holde the awarde of holy cherche, in that god wolde hem shewen. In this maner be thei acorded to the counseile of Merlin. And Merlyn toke leve of hem, and thei hym praide to be with hem at Cristemasse, to se yef it were

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soth or no that he hadde hem taught. And Merlyn seide, “I shall not be ther, for ye shull not se me till the eleccion be made.” Thus wente Merlin to blase, and tolde hym alle these thinges. Than alle the worthy men of the reame of logres, thei come vnto logres at the yole. Thus was this thinge don and a-biden to the yole. And Antor, that hadde this childe norisshed till he was a moche man of xv yere of age, he hadde hym trewly norisshed, so that he was faire and moche, and he hadde neuer soken other mylke but of his wif, and his sone he hadde made to be norysshed of another woman, ne Antor wiste not whether he loved better, ne he cleped hym never but his sone, and he wende verily that he hadde ben his fader. At halowmasse Antor made hys sone knyght, and at yoole he come to logres, as did the other knyghtes of the londe, and brought with hym his two sones.

On yoole even was assembled alle the clergie of the reame, and alle the barouns that weren of valoure and wele hadde don as Merlin hadde seide; and whan they were alle come, thei ledde alle symple lif and honeste. Thus thei abode alle the yoole even, and weren at messe at mydnyght, and made mekely theine orisouns to oure lorde, that he of his grace sende hem soche a man that myght profitably meyntene hem and the cristen feith. Thus they a-bode the messe of the day, and so ther were many that seide thei were foles that trowed oure lorde wolde put his entente to chesinge of her kynge. And as thei were in this talkynge, thei rounge to messe of the day, and so thei yede to servise [correction; sic =
servse]. Whan thei were alle assembled, ther was oon of the holiest men of the londe araied to singe the messe, but er he yede to messe, he spake to the peple and seide, “Ye be assembled for thre thinges for youre profite, and I shall say yow whiche thei be: Ffirst of all, for the sauacion of youre soules and for the wurship of god, and the myracle and high vertu that he thys day shall shewe amonges vs yef it be his plesire to yeve vs a kynge and chiefteyn that may saue and mayntene holy cherche, that is the sustenaunce of alle trewe cristen peple, we be come to chese oon of vs, we be not so wise Page 98
to knowe who is moste profitable of alle this peple; and for that we ne knowe, we owe to praye to the kynge of kynges, that is Ihesu criste oure saucoure, that he shewe vs verry tokenynge to his pleasaunce as he was bore on this day, so euery man praye in the beste wise he can.” And thus they did as the gode men hem counseiled; and
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he yede forth to messe and he com to the gospell, and that thei hadden offred.

Some of the peple yede oute of the cherche where ther was a voyde place; and whan they com oute of the cherche thei sawgh it gan dawe and clere, and saugh be-fore the cherche dore a grete ston foure square, and ne knewe of what ston it was; but some seide it was marble. And a-bove, in the myddill place of this ston, ther stode a styth of Iren that was largely half a fote of height, and thourgh this stithi was a swerde ficchid in to the ston.

When thei sye this that firste weren come oute of the chirche, thei hadde gret merveile, and yede a-gein into the chirche, and tolde the archebisshop. And whan the gode man that sange masse herde this, he toke haly water, and caste vpon the stith. And the archebisshop lowted to the swerde, and sawgh letteres of golde in the stiel; and he redde the letteres, that seiden, “Who taketh this swerde out of this ston sholde be kynge by the eleccion of Ihesu criste.” And when he hadde redde this letteres, he seide to the peple what it ment. Than was the ston deliuered to x worthi men to kepe, and to two clerkes. Than thei seiden that oure lorde hadde hem shewed feire myracle; and yeden a-gein in to the mynistre to heir oute the masse, and to yelde oure lorde graces. And thei soungen ‘te deum laudamus.’ And whan the gode man was come to the awter, he turned to the peple, and seide, “Feire lordes, now may ye se that some of yow be goode men, when thourgh youre prayers and orisouns oure lorde hath shewde this grete myracle; wherfore I praye and reqire yow a-boue alle vertues in this erthe, for highnesse ne erthly richesse that god hath yoven in this worlde, that noon be a-gein this eleccion that god hath vs shewde the demonstraunce, and the surpluys he shall vs shewen at his volunte.”

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Thanne the godeman sange forth the masse; and whan it was fynisshed, they assembled a-boute the ston, bothe oon and other who that myght take oute this swerde firste. And than thei seiden and acorded alle that thei sholde assaien it, as the mynistres of holy cherche wolde assigne. To this ther was grete discorde amonge the higheste men and moste puyssaunt; and thei that hadde force seide they wolden asseyen firste; so ther were many wordes that ought not to be rehersed. The archebisshop spake that alle myght here, and seide, “Sirs, ye ne be not so wise, ne so wele a-vised men as I wende. And I will wele ţat ye alle wite that oure lorde hath oon i-chosen, but I knowe not whom. And thus moche may I say to yow, that gentilnesse ne richesse shall haue no power a-gein the wille of Ihesu criste, but truste so moche in hym, that yef he that is ther-to chosen were yet vn-bore, it shall neuer be taken oute of the ston till he come that it is ordeyned the honour.” Than acorded alle the noble men and wise, and seide that he hadde seide soth. And the wise men and the high barouns toke their counseile, and acorded to stonde the ordenaunce of the archebisshop, and com a-gein, and seiden heringe alle the peple. And than made the bisshop grete ioye, and dide wepe for pite, and seide, “This humylite that is in youre hertes is of god; and I will that ye knowe after
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myn entente, shall be to the volunte of god and profite of cristen feith, so that I shall haue no blame yef god will.” This parlament was be-fore high messe of the assay of the swerde, till that high messe was saide. Than seide the Archebisshop to the peple, and shewed hem the gret myracle that god hadde don for hem at this eleccion, “and whan oure lorde sette Iustice in erthe, he sette it in the styth and in the swerde; and the Iustice ouer the lay peple ought to be the swerde, ffor the swerde at the be-gynynge was take to thre orderes to diffende holy cherche, and mayntene right witnesse. And oure lorde hath now made eleccion be the swerde; and, wite it wele, alle that this haue seen and beholde to whom he will the Iustice yeve. And lete no man be to hasty for to assaye, for it shall neuer be drawen oute for richesse, ne for pride; ne the Page 100
poure peple be not displesed, though the lordes and the high astates assaye be-fore, ffor it is right and reson that the lordes assaien firste; for ther ne is noon of yow but he ought to haue his kynge and his lorde, the beste and moste worthy man that he kowthe knowe be his reson.”

Thus thei acorded to the archebisshop with gode herte, and withouten euyll will, that he sholde chese hem that he wolde to assaye firste. Thus thei graunted alle to holde hym for hir kynge, to whom god wolde shewe his grace.

Thanne the archebisshop chese oute C.l. of the hiest and moste worthi lordes, and made hem go to the assaie. And whan they hadde alle assayed, than he commaunded alle other to assaye. And than they assayden alle they, oon after another, that assaye wolde; but ther was noon that myght it taken oute. And so it was comaunded to be kept with x noble men; and thei were charge to take goode hede who com to assaien, and yef eny ther were that myght drawen out of the ston. Thus was the swerde assaied alle ţe viij dayes, and alle the barouns were at high messe; and the archebisshop hem preched, and shewde as hym semed beste.

And than he seide, “I tolde yow wele that all be leysere myght he come that was ferthest fro the assaye of this swerde; now may ye verily knowe that neuer noon, saf he that oure lorde will, ne shall it not oute take.” And than thei seiden alle that thei wolde not out of the town, till thei westen to whom god wolde graunte that honoure. In that maner thei a-biden oute the messe, and after thei wente to their hosteles to mete, and after mete, as they were vsed that tyme, yede the barouns and the knyghtes to boorde in a feire pleyn, and the x men that were ordeyned to kepe this swerde, yede also to se this bourdise. And when the knyghtes hadde turneyd a-while, thei toke their sheldes to their squeres, so that the peple of the town yede to arme them. And Antor hadde made his eldeste sone knyght at the halowtide be-fore yoole. And whan the medle was begonne, Kay called his brother Arthur, and seide, “Go faste to oure oste, and fecche my swerde.” And Arthur was goode and seruisable, and seide, “With gode will;” and than smote the hors with the

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spores, and rode forth to his ostell for to fecche his brothers swerde, or ellis some other, yef he
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myght eny fynde. And he fonde noon, ffor the hostesse hadde sette it in hir chambir. And so he turned to hem a-gein; and whan he saugh he myght noon fynde, he gan to wepe for grete anger. And as he come be-fore the mynster ther the ston was, he saugh the swerde whiche he hadde neuer assaide, and thought yef he myght it gete to bere it to his brother. And as he com ther-by on horse bakke, he hente the swerde be the hiltes and drough it oute, and couered it with his lappe. And his brother that a-bode after withoute the towne saugh hym come, and rode a-gein hym, and asked his swerde. And Arthur seide he myght not haue it; “but I haue brought heere another,” and drough it oute from vndyr his cote, and toke it to his brother. And a-noon, as Kay saugh this swerde, he knewe it wele that it was the swerde of the ston, and thought he wolde be kynge, and seide he wolde seche his fader till he fonde hym, and than he seide, “Sire, I shall be kynge; lo, here is the swerde of the ston.”

Whan the fader it saugh, he hadde merveile how he it gatt. And he seide he toke it oute of the ston. Whan Antor herde that, he leved it not, but seide he dide lye. Than thei yede to the mynster, ther the ston was, and the tother squyre after. Whan Antor sigh the ston, and the swerde not therynne, he seide, “Feire sone, how hadde ye this swerde? Loke ye, do not lye; and thow do lye, I shall it know wele, and neuer shall I the love.” And he ansuerde as he that was sore a-shamed, “I shall yow lye no lesynge, for my brother Arthur it me brought whan I badde hym to go fecche myn, but I wote neuer how he it hadde.” Whan Antor herde this, he seide, “Sone, yeve it me, for ye haue ther-to no ryght.” And Kay it deliuered to his fader; and he loked be-hynde hym, and saugh Arthur, and cleped hym, and seide, “Come hider, faire sone, and take this swerde, and put it ther as ye it toke.” And he toke the swerde, and put it in the stith, and it heilde as wele, or better, than it dide be-fore. And Antor comaunded his sone Kay to take it oute; and he assaied, but it wolde not be. Than Page 102

Antor cleped hem bothe, and seide to Kay, “I wiste well that thow haddest not take the swerde oute.” Thanne he toke Arthur in his armes, and seide, “Feire dere sone, yef I myght purchase that ye be kynge, what gode sholde I haue therfore?” “Ffader,” quod he, “I may nother haue that honour, ne noon other goode, but that ye be ther-of lorde, as my lorde and my fader.” And he seide, “Sir, youre fader I am as in norture, but certes I dide yow neuer engender, ne I wot neuer who dide yow engender.” Whan Arthur saugh that Antor hym denyed to ben hys fader, he wepte tendirly, and hadde grete doel, and seide, “Feire sir, how sholde I haue this dignite, or eny other, whan I haue failed to haue a fader.”

“A fader muste ye nede haue; but, feire dere sir, yef oure lorde will that ye haue this grace, and I helpe yow it to purchase, telle me what I shall be the better?” And Arthur seide,
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“Sir, so as ye will youreself.” Thanne Antor tolde hym what bounte he hadde hym don, and how he hadde hym norisshed, and how he put a-wey his sone Kay, and made hym to be norisshed of a straunge woman; “wherefore ye owe to yeve my sone and me guerdon, ffor ther was neuer man more tenderly norisshed than I haue yow.

Wherefore I praye yow, yef god yeve yow this grace, and I may helpe yow ther-to, that ye guerdon me and my sone.” And Arthur seide, “I praye yow that ye denye not me to be my fader, for than I sholde not wite wheţer that I sholde go; and yef ye may helpe to purchase this grace, and god will that I haue it, ye can nothinge sey ne comaunde but I shall it do.” And Antor seide, “I shall not aske thi londe; but thus moche I will praye yow, that yef ye be kynge, that ye make my sone Kay youre stywarde in soche maner that for no forfet that he do to yow, ne to man of youre londe, that he lese not hys office; and yef he be fool, or fell, or vilenis, ye owe better to suffre hym than eny other; and therfore I praye yow to graunte hym that I yow demaunde.” And Arthur seide he wolde it do with gode will. And than he ledde hym to the auter, and swore that he sholde this trewly performe. And whan he hadde sworne, he com be-fore the mynster; and the turment was ended, and the barouns com to hire evesonge.

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Than Antor cleped alle his frendes, and com to the Archebisshop, and seide, “Sir, lo, here is a childe of myn that is no knyght, that prayeth me that I wolde helpe that he myght assay the auenture of the swerde, and that it plese yow to clepe the barouns.” And so he did; and thei assembled a-boute the ston.

Than Antor bad Arthur take oute the swerde, and delyuere it to the Archebisshop.

And Arthur toke the swerde be the hiltes, and withoute more taryinge yaf it to the Archebisshop. And a-noon he toke Arthur in his armes, and seide “Te deum laudamus,” and so brought hym in to the mynster. And the barouns and high men, that this hadde seyn and herde, were angry and sorowfull for this, and seiden it myght not be that soche a symple man of so lowe degre sholde be lorde of hem alle. Therwith was the Archebisshop displesed, and seide, “Sirs, oure lorde knoweth beste what euery man is.” And Antor and his frendes abode by Arthur, and alle the comen peple; and alle the barouns were a-geyn them and a-geyn Arthur.

And thanne seide the archebisshop wordes of grete hardynesse, “I do yow to wite thaugh alle thei that ben in the worlde wolde be a-gein this eleccion, and oure lorde will that this man be kynge, he shall be it withouten faile; and I shall shewe yow how, and what affiaunce I haue in oure lorde Ihesu criste. Now, feire brother Arthur, go, put the swerde a-geyn in the same place that ye toke it fro.” And Arthur put the swerde a-geyn in the selue place, and it hilde as faste as by-fore. And than seide the Archebisshop, “So feire eleccion was neuer sene; now go ye, riche barouns and lordes, and assay yef ye may take oute the swerde.”

Than yede alle for to assaye, but noon it myght remeve fro the place that it was Inne. Than seide the archebisshop, “Grete folye do ye that be a-geyn oure lordes wille; for
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now ye se well how it is.” And thei seide, “Sir, we ne be not a-gein oure lordes [correction; sic = lodes] wille; but it ys grevouse thinge to vs to haue a garcion to be lorde ouer vs alle.” And the archebisshop seide, “He that hath hym chosyn knoweth beste what he is.” Thanne the barouns praide the bisshop to lete the swerde be stille in the ston till Candelmesse; and by that tyme men of ferther contrees

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myght come to assaye the auenture. And the archebisshop hem graunted. Than come oute of euery contree, and asseyde who that wolde. And whan they hadden assaied, the archebisshop seide, “Arthur, yef it be pleser to oure lorde Ihesu criste that thow be kynge, go forth and brynge that swerde.” And Arthur yede to the swerde, and toke it oute as lyghtly as nothinge hadde it holden. Whan the prelates and the comen peple saugh this, thei ganne to wepe for ioye and pite, and seiden, “Sirs, is ther yet eny man that seith a-gein this eleccion?” And the barouns seide, “Syr, we pray yow that the swerde be [correction; sic = swerde be swerde] suffred yet in the ston to Passh, but eny man come by that terme that may take it thens; and ellis we will obbey to this; and yef ye will not suffre so longe tyme, euery man do the beste he may.” And the archebisshop seide, “Yef so be he a-bide to Passh, and noon other come that may parforme this auenture, wele ye Than obbey yow to this eleccion?” And thei seide alle, “Ye.” Thanne the archebisshop seide to Arthur, “Sette the swerde a-gein in the ston, for yef god will, thow shalt not faile of the dignite that he hath the promysed.” And Arthur did as he comaunded; and ther was ordeyned to kepe the ston x men and v clerkes; and in this maner thei bode to Pasch. And tharchebisshop that hadde take Arthur in warde, seide, “Wite ye right well ye shall be kynge and lorde of this peple; now loke that ye be a gode man, and fro hens-forth cheseth soche men as shull be of youre counseile, and officers for youre housolde, euen as ye were now kynge, for so ye shall be with the helpe of god.” And Arthur seide, “I put me holly in god and in holy cherche, and in youre gode counseile; therefore chese ye as ye seme be moste to the plesaunce of Ihesu criste; and I praye yow clepe to yow my lorde my fader.” Than the archebisshop cleped Antor, and shewde hym the ansuere of Arthur. Thanne chose they soche counsellers as thei wolde; and be counseile of the archebisshop and certein of the barouns, Kay was made stiwarde. And of alle other thinges thei a-bode to Pasch, and than thei assembled alle at logres.

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Whan thei were alle assembled on the Ester even, the archebisshop drough hem alle to his paleis, and rehersed hem the grete wisdom and the gode condiciouns that he fonde in Arthur. And the barouns seide, “We will not be a-gein godes ordenaunce; but it is vnto vs a mervelouse thynge that so yonge a man, and of so base lyngnage, sholde be lorde and gouernour of vs alle.” The archebisshop seide, “Ye do not, as cristen men, thus to be a-gein cristes eleccion.” And they seide, “We be not ther agein; but ye haue seyn his condiciouns and we ne haue not don so, and therfore we praye yow to suffre vs to knowe his condiciouns, and the manere of hys gouernaunce that he will ben of hereafter.” The archebisshop seide, “Will ye thus delaye his coronacion?” And thei seide, “We wolde that his sacringe and coronacion be respite to Penticoste.

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Thus we alle pray and requere.” And the archebisshop it graunted. Thus departed alle the counseile; and on the morowe, whan hight messe was seide, Arthur yede to the swerde and toke it oute as lightly as he hadde don be-fore. Than thei seiden alle that thei wolde haue hym to their lorde and gouernoure, and thei praide hym to sette ther the swerde a-gein. And Arthur ansuerde to the barouns full debonerly, and seide he wolde do their requeste, or eny thinge that thei wolde of hym desire. Thanne they ledde hym in to the mynster to speke with hym, and to assaye his condiciouns, and seide, “Sir, we se well that god will that ye be oure kynge and lorde ouer vs, wherefore we will do to yow oure homage and of yow holde oure honoures, and we be-seke yow to respite youre sacringe in to Pentecoste, ne therefore shull ye nothynge be inteript, but that ye shull be oure lorde and oure kynge; but to this we praye yow to sey vs what is youre volunte.” Quod Arthur, “Of that ye sey ye will do to me youre homages, and holde youre honoures of me, I may it not receyve, ne I ne ought not to do, ffor I may not to yow ne to noon other yeve noon honoures till I haue receyued myn; and ther ye sey ye will that I be lorde of yow and of the reame, that may not be by-fore that I be sacred and receyved the honoure of the empere; but the respite that ye desire I it graunte yow with

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gode will, for I will not be sacred, ne nothinge that ther-to aperteneth, ne I may not withouten godes will and youre volunte.” Thanne seide the barouns a-monge hem-self, “Yef this childe live he shall be right wise, and wele he hath vs ansuerde.” And than thei seide, “Sir, vs semeth with youre advice that ye be crowned and sacred at Pentecoste, and by that terme we shull obbey to yow at the comaundement of this archebisshop.” Thanne thei made be brought Iuellis and alle othir richesse, and yaf it to hym to se whedir he wolde be couetouse and cacchynge; and whan he hadde alle these yeftes resceyved, the booke seith he departed it; to knyghtes the stedes, and coursers, and fresshe robes; and to hem that were [correction; sic = we] Ioly and ennoisies, he yaf the Iuwellis; and to hem that were auerouse, golde and siluer; and to sadde wise men he yaf soche thinge as hym dought sholde hem plese; and with hem he heilde companye, and enquered in the contre what myght hem beste plese.

Thus departed he the yeftes that were yoven hym, for to knowe of what condicion that he wolde be of. And whan thei sawgh hym thus demened, ther was noon but that hym gretly preysed in theire hertes, and seide that he sholde be of high renon, and that thei cowde not in hym espie no poynte of covetise; but as sone as he hadde the grete auers, he be-sette hem in soche manere, that euery man seide that noon cowde haue do better, euerych astate and degre. Thus thei assaide Arthur, and nought cowde fynde in hym but high vertu and grete discrecion. And so thei a-biden to the Witsontide. And than alle the baronage assembled at logres, and ther thei assaide a-gein at the swerde alle that assaie wolde, but neuer was ther founde man that it myght remeve fro the ston. And the archebisshop hadde ordeyned redy the crowne and septre, and all that longed to the sacringe. On witson even, be comen counseile of alle the barouns, the archebisshop made Arthur knyght.

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Alle that nyght dide he wake in the chief mynster, till on the morowe day. And whan it was day, alle the baronye come to the mynster. The archebisshop seide, “Sirs, lo here is the man that god hath chosen to be youre kynge, like as ye haue seyn and knowe.

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And, lo, here is the crowne and the vestementz rioall, ordeyned by youre avys and alle the comen assent. And yet ther be eny of yow that to this eleccion will not assent, lete hym now sey.” And they ansuerde and seide, “We acorde that in godes name he be sacred, and a-noynted with this, that yef ther be eny of vs that he be with displesed of that we haue be a-geyn his coronacion, that he pardon vs alle in to this day.” And therwith thei kneled alle at ones to Arthur, askynge hym mercy. And Arthur, for pite, gan wepe, and seide to hem [correction; sic = to hem to hem], “That lorde whiche hath graunted me to haue this honoure, mote yow pardon, and as moche as in me, I make yow quyte.” And therwith thei risen vp, and toke hym by-twene their armes, and ledde hym to the vestymentz rioall. And whan he was aried, the archebisshop was made redy to synge masse, and seide to Arthur, “Now go fecche the swerde, wherwith ye shull kepe Iustice to deffende holy cherche, and mayntene right and the cristin feith to youre power.” And so they yede in procession to the ston. Thanne seide the archebisshop to Arthur, “Yef thow wilt swere to god, and to oure lady seint Marye, and to oure modir holy cherche, and to seint Petir, and to alle seyntes, to saue and to holde trouth and pees in the londe, and to thy power kepe trewe Iustice, com forth and take this swerde, whereby god hath made the eleccion vpon the.” Whan Arthur herde this, of pite he gan wepe, and so dide many other. And he seide, “As verily as god is lorde ouer alle thynge, so he of his grete mercy graunte me grace and power this to mayntene like as ye haue rehersed, and I haue it well vndirstonde.” And than he sette hym on his knees, holdinge vp his hondes, and than toke oute the suerde lightly withoute greuaunce, and so bar it vp right. And thei ledde hym to the auter, and ther he leide the swerde. And than thei hym sacred and a-noynted, and dide that longed to a kynge. And after all the seruise was ended, thei yede oute of the mynstir, and come by the place ther as was the ston; and no man cowde knowe where it was be-come. Thus was Arthur chosen to kynge, and heilde the reame of logres longe in pees.

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CHAPTER VII.

REVOLT OF THE BARONS; AND DEFEAT OF THE SEVEN KINGS BY ARTHUR.

A noon after the myddill of August, after that Arthur was crowned, he helde court roiall, grete and mervelouse; and theder come kynge loth of Orcanye, that helde the londe of loonois and a parte of Orkanye, and with hym v C knyghtes; and thider come the kynge vrien of gorre, that was a yonge knyght, and moche preised in armes, and with hym iiij C knyghtes; and theder also come kynge Ventres of Garlot, that hadde wedded oon of Arthurs susters, and with hym com vij C knyghtes; and after com Carados brenbras, that was kynge of the londe of Strangore, and was oon of the knyghtes of the rounde table, and with hym vj C
knyghtes welle horsed; after that come kynge Aguysas of Scotlonde, that was a freisshe yonge knyght, and with hym v C knyghtes; after hym come kynge Ydiers, with iiij C knyghtes. Whan thei were alle assembled, Arthur dide hem grete honoure, and to hem
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made grete ioye and grete feste; and for thei were so high astates and men of grete puyssaunce, he made hem riche presentes, and yaf hem grete yeftes and riche, as he that therof hadde hym wele perveied. Whanne these barons saugh the grete yeftes and the riche presentz that the kynge hadde hem yoven, thei heilde therof grete disdeyn, and seide a-monge hem-self, That grete foles were they, whan of soche oon as he was of so base lynage, sholde be kynge of so worthi a reame as is the reame of logres, and seide that thei wolde it no lenger suffre.

And thanne thei refused the yeftes that the kynge hadde hem offred, and yoven, and dide hem wele to wite that thei heilde hym not for ther kynge ne lorde, but that he sholde in all haste voide oute of the londe and the contree, so that he were no more seyn ther-in; and yef he wolde not voide the londe, and thei myght hym take, they lete hym well to wite that ther was no more but he sholde be deed. Whan the kynge Arthur vndirstode their manaces, he yede oute by a wyndowe of karlion, for he douted moche of

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treson. And thus thei soiourned xv dayes in the town, that they dide noon other forfet on nother side. And than Merlyn entred in to the town, and shewde hymself openly to the peple, as he that of alle peple wolde be seyn. And than be-gan in the town a gret tumulte and a merveilouse, and eueriche man seide, “Lo, here is Merlin.” Whan the barouns vndirstode that Merlin was come, they sente after hym; and Merlin come be-fore hem mery and gladde. And whan thei saugh hym comynge, thei yede a-gein hym, and made of hym grete ioye. Than thei ledde hym in to a paleise vpon the river withoute the town, in a faire medowe, and brought hym vp to a wyndowe a-lofte, where they myght se faire water, and a grete that yede aboute the wallis of karlion.

When the barouns were come thider, they aresoned Merlin, and asked what hym semed of the newe kynge that the archebisshop hadde crowne withoute her lycence, and withoute assent of the mene people of the londe? “Trewly,” quod Merlyn, “thei haue don wele, and, knowe it verily, thei myght no better haue don.” Than seide the barouns, “Merlin, how is this that ye sey; ne beth ther many in this reame of higher astate, and worthier men and wise, that were better worthi to resceyve that dignyte, than a boy that no man wote whens he is comen?”

Quod Merlin, “Ye sey as ye liketh; but, knowe this verily, that he is of more gentill linage, and higher born that eny of yow; and I do yow to wete that he is nother sone to Antor, ne brother vnto Kay, that he hath made his stiwarde, saf only of norture.” The barouns seide, “Merlin, how is this that ye sey so? now go ye more oute of reson than ye were wonte to do.” Quod Merlin, “I shall telle yow what ye shull do: ye shull sende to the kynge Arthur, that he come in gode trewis, and Vlfin, the counseiller of Vterpendragon, and Antor, that hath be with Arthur euer vnto this tyme; and than shall ye here the trouthe as it is.”

“Merlin,” quod the barouns, “we will do after thi counseile, and we graunte well that he come and go suerly and saf, for so moche that thow doste vs prayen. But who shall

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go on this message?” Than thei seide, “Bretel shall go yef Merlin assente.” “And I graunte well,” quod Merlin, “for he shall well do that is nede.” Than the barouns called Bretell and charged hym with the massage, and than seide Merlin that Arthur sholde bringe with hym in his company the archebisshop. Than Bretell com to the maister forteresse where as the kynge was, and seide, “Sir, the barouns haue sente for yow and the archebisshop, and the bisshop of logres, by gode trewys,” and he seide he wolde with gode will go speke with hem. Than Bretell yede to Vlfyn, and seide that Merlin and alle the barouns hadde sente for hym that he sholde come withoute lenger abidinge. When Vlfin herde that Merlin was come, and that he sente for hym to seche, he was glad and ioyfull, for than he knewe well that the trouthe of the kynge sholde be knowen.

Than yede thei bothe in to the paleis where as the barouns a-biden, and Vlfin made gret ioye when he saugh Merlin, and than thei spake togeder of many thinges; and on the tother parte come the kynge Arthur and the archebisshop, and Antor that many day hadde hym tendirly norysshed, and come to the paleis ther as the barons were abidinge after hem; but first hadde Arthur the kynge put on hym an habergon vndir his robes er he yede oute of the tour. And whan he was come be-fore the barouns, thei fonde moche peple that a-bode to hire what Merlin wolde sey in audience. Whan the barouns saugh Arthur comynge, thei dressed alle hem a-geyn hym for that he was a kynge a-noynted and sacred, and for love of the archebisshop, that was a gode man and holy of lyvinge. And than thei were alle sette saf, the archebisshop that a-bode stondynge on his feet and seide, “Sirs, for the reuerence of god, haueth pite of cristen feith that it be not apeired thourgh yow, for it were grete damage and grete shame yef be yow it sholde be distresed, and considereth that eche of yow is but oon sole man, and as soone shall the hiest and the richest be deed as the porest creature of this Citee.”

“Sir,” seide the barouns, “a-bide a-while till we haue herde Merlin speke, for hereafter ye may vs preche at leyser, for Merlin hath seide to vs a thinge that we haue more merveile of than we

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hadde euer be-fore.” Than the archebisshop sat down, and Merlin a-rose vpon his feet and seide, “Sirs, I haue begonne for to telle yow whos sone was the kynge Arthur, and I do yow to wite alle that beth here that he was the sone of Vterpendragon, that hym engendred on Ygerne the same nyght that her lorde was slayn vpon the brigge, when he issed oute for to assayle the kynge Vterpendragon. And on the morowe, whan the kynge was come a-gein to hys oste, I asked hym that hadde gete on the duchesse that nyght in rewarde of alle seruises that I hadde hym don, and he me graunted, that as soone as it were born, that he wolde make that it sholde be delyuered to me, and of this he dide me make letteres, and ther-on hanginge his seal, whiche that Vlfin hath yet in his kepynge in his bailly, and Vlfin hymself was at the couenaunt makynge. After whan the kynge hadde wedded the quene Ygerne, she wax grete with the childe that the kynge hadde gete on her, er he hadde here wedded, and so it fill many tymes that the kynge hir blamed and remembred diuerse tymes, and seide that the childe that
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she was with grete, was not his, wherefore the quene was shamefaste, and discouerid to hym the very trouthe, how the childe was begeten the same nyght that the Duke was slain, as ye hau herde; and whan the kynge saugh and knewe that she hadde discouerd to hym the trouthe as it was, he dide repente that he hadde made hir in hevynesse ther-of, for he loved hir moche more for her grete trouthe, and seide, `Dame, seth it is so, that the childe is not myn in maryage, it were not right that it sholde enherite this reame, ne be kynge after me, and therfore I comaunde yow, as derely as ye me love, that as soone as ye be delyuered that ye make the childe be deliuered to the firste man that ye mete at the halle dore.’ And the quene dede as he her comaunded, for she wolde in no manere do nothynge that were to hym eny displesaunce, and so was the childe deliuered to me the same nyght that it was born.”

“Whan I hadde this childe, I yede to the gode knyght that is here, Antor, and hym I delyuered ţe childe, and praide hym that it sholde be norisshed vp with his wyfes

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owne mylke; and so he dide, and put his owne sone, whiche was not fully of half yere age, to be norisshed vp with another woman. And thus is Kay brother to Arthur, as by hys moder brestes that he dide of sowke, whiche was wif to Antor; for Vterpendragon hadde hym ther-of tenderly praide be-fore, that he sholde do to the childe as I sholde hym comaunde; and so he hath don, god quyte it hym!

and dide hym to be baptised, and cleped his name Arthur; and yet so is his name.

And therefore, lordynges,” seide Merlin, “I se well that god doth not foryete his seruaunte, thow he haue be a synner, yef so be that he will be repentaunte, and hym serue with gode werkes. And therfore, of the gode fader and the gode moder oure lorde will yelde rewarde to the gode seede that of hem issued; for he sente the ston and the swerde, like as ye haue seyn, to make assay to alle the peple, who sholde be kynge. And therfore, knowe it well alle, that it is very trouthe that I haue yow tolde; and therfore also enquereth of Antor, that hath hym norisshed.” And than the barouns asked yef it were so. And Vlfyn and Antor seide it was trouthe, withoute faile. “And ther-to,” quod Vlfin, “se here the letteres and the seall of Vterpendragon ther-on hanginge, that he lete make to Merlyn of the couenauntes.” And than the archebisshop toke the letter, and redde it, herynge alle the peple euery worde, as Merlyn hadde rehersed to the barouns.

And whan the peple of the londe herde this merveile, tho many begonne to wepe, and curse alle tho that were a-geyn the kynge Arthur.

Whan the barouns saugh that, and that the mene peple and the clergie hilde with Arthur, thei seide thei wolde neuer haue no bastarde to theire kynge, and many other repreves and vilonyes thei seide that I will not reherse. And the archebisshop seide he sholde be kynge and haue the reame of logres, who-so-ever ther-to wolde contrarye, seth that it was godes will, for he wolde hym helpe, and mayntene his londe, and to strengthe hym in his werre with all his powere.

And whan the archebisshop and the mene peple saugh the vntrouth of the barouns, thei heilde all togeder with oon acorde with kynge Arthur.

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And the barouns fro thens departed in grete wratthe, and badde hym to be well ware,
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and lete hym wite that thei heilde hym not for no kynge; and fro hens-forth thei hym deffien and his helpes. Than thei yede to theire loggynges, and armed hem, and made to arme alle theire peple. And the kynge Arthur yede a-gein into the maister toure, and dide arme alle his meyne and his frendes. And whan thei were alle assembled togeder, thei were well vijMl on his partye, what of clerkes and of mene peple, but of knyghtes he hadde but fewe, and of tho that ther were it were but pore knyghtes; and to hem he yaf hors and harneise, and money to their exspencis; and were of hem iiij C and l. by counte, that seide thei wolde hym helpe, to live and dye with hym.

Whan the kynge and his peple were armed, and redy dight, they com to the baill of the toure well arrayde hem to diffende. And the barouns, as ye haue herde, were at here loiginges, to array their peple; and lepen to horsbak, and assembled in the town euerych at his baner, and were well viijMlknyghtes, withouten seriantz and arblastis, and fotemen grete plente. And whan thei were alle assembled, the barouns asked yef thei sholde go assaile the paleise ther the kynge was? And somme ther-to dide acorde, and somme seide that thei wolde ley siege environ the baile, and shet hem withynne, that thei sholde neuer be so hardy to ysse out of the toure. And as thei spake thus, com Merlin to hem, and seide, “Sirs, what is that ye purpose to do? Y do yow to wite ye will gete youreself the werse, and shull lese ther-on more than ye shull wynne, ffor god will shewe soche wreche, that ye shull be full rebuked and foule shamed, the moste queynte of yow alle; ffor ye beth a-gein hym with wronge of the eleccion that the archebisshop hath made, like as ye haue seyn.” “Now hath the enchauntor well spoken!” seide the barouns, and begonne for to Iape oon to another. And whan Merlin saugh thei made Iapes of his wordes, he returned a-noon a-gein to kynge Arthur, and bad hym he sholde nothinge be dismaied, for he sholde not drede hem alle; ffor he wolde hym helpe so that the moste hardy of hem in the oste, er it were nyght, sholde wiesshe to be at home in his owne Page 114
contree. Than Arthur the archebisshop [deleted in MS ] toke Merlyn, and ledde hym a-parte, and the archebisshop and Antor and Kay and Vlfyn and Bretell, these vij were prevely in counseile. And than seide Arthur to Merlin, “Dere frende Merlin, I haue herde say that ye loved well my fader, Vterpendragon, as longe as he was lyuinge, and therfore I praye yow, for the love of god and for norture, that ye will me counseile in this matere, as ye knowe well these barouns do me grete wronge; and I wolde fayn and it plesed yow to be with me as ye were with my fader, and knowe it for trouthe, that I shall neuer do thinge that ought yow to displese to my power, and ye haue me holpen in my yowthe and in my tendirnesse, and therfore I praye yow helpe to mayntene and to strengthe me to kepe my
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londe, ffor by yow and by my fader, the archebisshop, and Antor, that hath me norisshed, am I come to this that I am atte, and therfore at the reuerense of god haue pite of me and of the mene peple that alle shull be distroied but god sette remedye.”

“Now dismaye yow nothinge, sir,” seide Merlin, “for ye shull not haue no fere of hem; but as soone as ye be deliuerid of these barouns that beth here now come for to assaile yow, do that I shall yow rede and counseile. This is the trouthe, that the knyghtes of the rounde table, that was stablisshed and founded in the tyme of Vterpendragon, youre fader, on whos soule god haue mercy, thei be gon to soiourne to their owne contrees, for the grete vntrouthe that thei syen in this reame. This is in the reame of kynge Leodegan, of Tamalide, that is an olde man and his wif is deed, and of alle his childeren is lefte but oon doughter, to whom the reame shall falle after his deth; and the kynge leodegan hath grete werre a-gein the kynge Ryon, that is kynge of the londe of Geauntes and of the londe of pastures, whar-in dar noon inhabite for diuerse auentures and merveiles that ther fallith bothe day and nyght.

“This kynge Rion, of whom I speke, is right myghty of londe and of peple, and full of high prowesse, and is right a

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crewell man, and he hath conquered by force xxti kynges crowned, fro whom he hath taken alle their berdes by force and in dispite, and sette hem in a mantell, whiche he maketh euery day a knyght to hold a-fore hym atte mete, atte alle tymes whan he holdeth courte rioall, and he hath sworn that he shall neuer finysshe till he haue conquereth xxxti kynges. This kynge werreth vpon leodegan, and in his londe doth grete damage. This leodegan marcheth to thy reame, and yef he lese his londe thow shalt lese thyn after; and vndirstonde well that he sholde haue loste his londe longe er this tyme ne were the knyghtes of the rounde table that mayntened his werre, for he is now in grete age, and therfore I rede that thow go and serue hym a-while, the kynge leodegan, and he shall yeve the his doughter to be thy wif, to whom the reame longeth after his deth, and she is right feire and yonge, and the wisest lady of the worlde of so yonge age; and of thy londe haue thow no doute, for eche of these barouns that now werreth vpon the, thei shull haue so moche to do, that litill shull thei forfete in thy londe, but passinge thourgh the playn contrees; but er thow go, do garnysshe thy forteresses of euery Citee, and euery castell, with vitayle, and men, and stuffe of other artrye; and the archebisshop shall a-curse alle tho that in thy londe eny thinge forfete a-gein the or in thy contree; and the archebisshop hymself shall shewe the cursynge in sight of alle the barouns that now ben here, and comaunde alle the clergie to do the same in heringe of hem alle, and soone after ye shall se soche thinges, by the helpe of god, that the proudest of hem shall be affraide. And wite ye well that I will be redy with yow in euery grete nede; and whan I crye to yow, `Now vpon hem,’ set forth boldely and smyte in a-monge hem, and wite it verily that thei shull be so abaisshed that litill thei shall folio 38b
yow disese, but alle thei shull be fayn to fle as discounfite.”

“Sire,” seide the kynge, “gramercy!” and than thei departed. And the archebisshop wente vpon the walles on high, and the kynge Arthur dide his peple make hem redy and lepe on horse, and in that maner-wise thei a-bide longe tyme.

And Merlin made to kynge Arthur a baner wher-in was grete Page 116
significacion, for ther-in was a dragon, which he made sette on a spere, and be semblaunce he caste oute of his mouth fire and flame, and he hadde a grete taile and a longe. This dragon no man cowde wite where Merlin it hadde, and it was merveilouse light and mevable; and whan it was set on a launce thei beheilde it for grete merveile. Than toke the kynge the dragon, and yaf it to Kay, his stiwarde, in soche forwarde that he be chef banerer of the reame of logres euer while his lif doth dure. Thus arraied thys mayne the kynge Arthur, and a-bode in soche maner on horsbak be-fore the yate be-fore the paleis, and the barouns made picche her teynte and pavelouns thourgh the medowes that were large and faire.

And whan the archebisshop that saugh, he asked what thei were come to seche so armed; and thei seide that thei were come to take the maister toure, which thei wolde no man sholde be Inne but by hem.

Than the archebisshop yaf the scentence full dolerouse, and cursed of god and with all his power alle tho that in the londe dide eny forfet, or were a-gein the kynge Arthur. And the barons seide that for eny cursinge thei wolde not cesse till thei hadde dryve the kynge oute of the londe; and yef thei myght hym take, thei lete hym knowe that he sholde not escape withoute the deth. And whanne Merlin vndirstode their bobaunce, he caste his enchauntement, so that alle their logges and pavilouns were alle on fire a-flame. And thei ther-of were so abaisshed that hem dought longe er thei myght gete out in to the medowes fro the fyre; but er thei myght come ther, thei caught grete harme, and foule were thei skorched with the fier. Merlin ran to the kynge, and seide, “Sir, now hastely vpon them!” And thei spronge oute at the yate, as moche as theire horse myght renne, the speres on their asseles, theire sheldes be-fore her bristes.

And thei were so abaisshed and affraide that the moste hardy of hem wolde fain haue be thens; ffor thei wende not that ther hadde be so moche peple withInne; for thei withoute were sodenly many of hem born down with speres, and moche peple slain; ffor thei were so astoned with the hete of the fier that theire deffence was but symple. There was grete

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slaughter of men and horse. Ther dide Arthur merveillouse dedes of armes, that gretly he was beholden, bothe on that oon part and on the tother; he ouerthrewe knyghtes, bothe horse and man, with stroke of spere and of swerde. And ther-to hadde the princes and barouns grete enuye, and assembled hem togeder, and seide that it were grete shame yef he so escaped. And thei were noble knyghtes and hardy, and full of high prowesse, and many of hem carnell frendes. Than seyde kynge Ventres of garlot that he wolde hem delyuere in short tyme, for yef Arthur oonly were deed, the werre of the remenaunt were soone fynysshed. “Goth on,”

seide the othir prynces, “and
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yef ye haue myster we shall yow socoure.” Therwith departed the kynge Ventres and his company, that was a moche man of body, and a gode knyght and yonge, of prime barbe; and he was mervelouse stronge, and he helde a shorte grete growen spere, sharp grounden, and rode agein Arthur.

Whan Arthur saugh hym come, he dressed a-gein hym his horse hede, and griped a grete aisshen spere, the heede sharp trenchaunt of stiell; than smote the horse with the spores, that it ran so faste and so briaunt, that alle hadden merveile that it behelden. And he afficched hym so in the sturopes that the horse bakke bente, and smote togeder so hetely vpon the sheldes that thei preced thourgh.

The kynge Ventres brake his spere vpon kynge Arthur, and Arthur smot hym a-gein so sore that he bar hym ouer the horse croupe, and his legges vpright, that the erthe rebounded, but he hadde noon other hurte. And whan the kynge loth of Orkanye saugh the kynge Ventres ouerthrowen, he was wroth and sorowfull, for thei were bothe cosin germains, and also thei hadde wedded two sustres. Than smote he the horse with spores a-gein Arthur, that yet hadde he his spere hoill.

And whan he saugh the comynge of kynge loth, he come a-gein with grete hardinesse, as he that of hym hadde no dowte; and mette togeder on the sheldis, so that the horse ne myght not passe ferther till the tymbres were broken; and on the passinge forth thei hurtelid togeder so fiercely, with sheldes and with her beyes and her helmes, that the kynge loth was so astonyed that Page 118
he fley ouer his horse crowpe. Than a-roos grete noyse and cry on the oon part and the tother. Ther be-gan a grete stoure and merveillouse. The knyghtes that were with kynge Ventres peyned hem sore to socoure their lorde, and so dide the knyghtes of kynge loth; and Arthurs knyghtes peyned hem sore to helpe Arthur, and to take and holde these other two kynges. And so be-gan the medle on bothe parteis crewell and fellenouse. But with grete peyne were these two kynges rescowed and horsed a-gein. Whan Arthur was releved, he drowgh his swerde oute of skabrek, whiche was so cler and bright shynynge as thei semed that it be helden that it glistred as it hadde be the brightnesse of xxti tapres brennynge.

And it was the same swerde that he toke oute of the ston; and the letteres that were write on the swerde seide that the right name was cleped Escaliboure, whiche is a name in ebrewe, that is to sey in englissh, kyttynge, Iren, tymber, and steill; and the letteres seide trewe, as ye shall heeren hereafter. whan the kynge Arthur hadde drawen oute his swerde, he smote in to the prese, ther as he saugh thikkeste, and smote a knyght on the sholder, so that he made it discendir from the body; the stroke was grete and the swerde trenchaunt, so that he slyt a-sonder the sadell and the chyne of the horse, that bothe the knyght and the horse fill on an hepe. And than he smote a-boute hym grete strokes bothe on the lefte syde and on the right side, and made so grete occision a-boute hym that all that it syen helde it grete merveile, folio 39b
and ne durste not a-bide his strokes, but made wey and voided place for drede of his swerde and of his fell strokes.

Whan the vij kynges saugh the damage and the grete losse that they hadde thourgh hym, thei were wroth and right sorowfull, and seyde eche to other, “Now let vs alle sette on hym attones, and bere hym down to the erthe, for elles may we nothynge conquere;” and to this thei acorded. Than thei henten speres grete and rude, and ronnen a-gein hym with as grete ranndon as their horse myght hem bere, and smyten hym on the shelde and on the haubrek, but is so stronge and sure that no mayle ne perced; but thei bar to hym so harde that Arthur Page 119
was throwe to the erthe, bothe he and his horse on oon hepe. And whan Kay and Antor and Vlfin and Bretell, and other of Arthurs frendes syen this, Antor hasted hym to kynge Carados, and met hym so hedylyche with a grete spere, that bothe the tymbir and stelen heede shewed thourgh his shuldre, and threwe bothe hym and his horse to the erthe, and lay longe in swowne. And Vlfyn and kynge Ventres of Garlot mette so sore togeder, that ether bar other to the grounde, and the horse vpon hem. And the kyge ydiers and bretell brake their spers that oon vpon the tother, withoute more harme doynge. And alle the tother barouns a-bode vpon the kynge Arthur, that yet lay at the erthe all stonyed, and thei smote on his helme grete storkes and pesaunt, so that thei made hym moche more astonyd. And whan Kay saugh that the kynge was at so grete myschef, he griped his swerde, and come ther the kynge was ouerthrowen, and smote the kynge loth vpon the helme that he made hym stoupe on the arson of his sadell, and leyde on hym so grete strokes that loth all astonyed, fill to the grounde. Than come thei to the rescowe, bothe on the oon and on the tother. Ther was grete bataile, and stronge stour, and grete slaughter, bothe of men and horse; and so peyned thei that were with kynge Arthur, that thei haue hym remounted on his horse; but firste hadde thei grete payne and traveile and grete losse, ffor the meene peple of the town were come oute with all wepen that thei myght haue deffensable. And the cry and the noyse rose thourgh all the contre, so that alle the commons hasted thider all that myghten, and seiden that thei wolden alle be deed on the same grounde, er that kynge Arthur hadde eny greef, as longe as thei myghten hym deffende. Than they smyten in a-monge the preesse of the vij kynges, that many thei dide sle and wounde, and so put hem to flight, whether they wolde or noon.

And so thei yede discounfited [correction; sic = discounfite], but thei seiden thei sholde neuer haue gladnesse till they were venged, and that they wolde not take of Arthur but his heed.

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The kynge Arthur, that was full wrothe, and Kay hem chased fercely be-fore alle other. And so fill it that Arthur ouertoke kynge ydiers, and wende to smyte hym on the helme,

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but the horse bar hym to faste, so that the stroke descended on the horse and slyt hym euen a-sondre be-hynde the sadill, and ydiers and his horse blusshet to the erthe; wherefore his men were gretely affraied leste he hadde be slain, and returned hym to rescowe, ther be-gan the stour grete and merveillouse, for that oon part peyned to withholde and to take kynge ydiers, and on the to-ther syde thei peyned hym to rescowe, and so was ther do more damage and harme than hadde be all the day be-fore, ffor ther was neyther horse ne man that myght endure agein the swerde of Arthur, that was cleped Calibourne, that was all blody of brain and blode so that his armes were so steyned that nought was seid but all reade. Neuertheless, so peyned ydiers men that they haue hym remounted on horsebak, and so ben thei departed discounfited, and the chase lasted longe tyme, and so the vij kynges losten I-nough, for of all the harneys that thei hade brought thider, thei hadde not with hem the valew of ijd, that all ne was brente with the fier that Merlin made discende amonge theire tentes and pauelouns, saf only the vessels of golde and siluer and the money.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE MISSION OF ULFYN AND BRETELL TO KING BAN AND KING BORS.

When kynge Arthur hadde discounfited the vij kynges, by the helpe of god and of Merlin, like as ye haue herde, he returned to Cardoell, in Walis, whan he hadde be at Karlion, and sente after sowderes ouer all, and yaf hem wagis, and horse, and harneyse, and robes, and so he be-come in grete love a-monge the pore knyghtes of the contree, so that thei assured hym and sworn that thei wolde hym neuer fayle while their lives endured. After this that Arthur hadde so don that hadde gete the hertes of moche peple. Than he stuffed his castelles, and townes, and Citees, and after heilde courte at logres, his chief Citee, that now is cleped london. This was on oure lady day in septembre, at Page 121
this courte that the kynge heilde, he lete make many newe knyghtes with his owne honde, whiche alle dide hym homage and fewtee; and than he yaf hem londes and riche yeftes, so that thei myght hem well mayntene and gouerne. And so the kynge gate hym grete love, so that fro thens-forth thei dide hym neuer faile for no drede of deth. And so hadde he of his peple grete socoure and helpe, as ye shull here her-after.

After this that the kynge hadde made CCC knyghtes, as the story reherseth, and that he hadde stuffed alle his castelles with soche men as that Merlyn hadde yoven hym counseile, than Merlin toke hym in counseile, and seide—but at the counseile was Vlfyn, that right moche hym loved. And Merlyn seide, “Sir, I knowe a thinge that I will shewe to yow, and telle yow my customes; this is the trouthe:—
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Ther is a man in Northumbirlonde, whiche is an hermyte, in the moste wilde place of all the foreste, and he is gretly my frende, and moche I hym love, for he deffended my moder oon tyme fro the deth; and I will telle yow how.” Than be-gan he to reherse his moder lif, and how she was ledde to be brente for a blame that was put vpon hir; and how Vortiger dide hym seche for his tour; and his moder was a nonne in an abbey where as he her lefte; and how the tour dide holde that Vortiger lete make; and the significacion of the two dragouns, how that oon dide sle the tother; and how after the deth of Vortiger how he was aqueynted with Pendragon and Vter, and of the grete bataile where as Pendragon was slayn; and after how he was with his broder Vterpendragon, and how he made hym to ly with the duchesse Ygerne in the castell of Tintagell; and how he made the kynge in semblaunce of the duke hir husbonde, whan Arthur was begeten; and how that Vlfyn devised the mariage of Vterpendragon and the quene youre moder, whiche hadde v doughteres by the Duke, hir husbonde, and two by hir firste husbonde; wherof the kynge loth hath oon doughter to his wyf, and the kynge Ventres of Garlot another, and the kynge Vrien the thirthe, and Briadas the forthe, whiche is deed, and he was fader to Agnysas of Scotlonde; and the fyfthe is yet at logres in gret bretein, at scole,

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whiche lerneth wele, and is right wise and connynge in grete clergie. And wite well that the kynge loth hath v sones by his wif, of whiche thow didest engendre that oon at logres whan thow were a squyer. And alle thei be feire yonge squyres, and the eldest hight Gawein. And wite thow well that he shall be the trewest knyght of all the worlde a-gein his lorde; also he shall be oon of the beste knyghtes of the worlde, and moste shall the love while his lif doth endure, and shall the helpe agein all the worlde and agein his owne fader; and ne doute not thourgh hym shalt thow haue a-gein all thy londe, and also alle thy men that for drede of hym shull be full meke and fain to obbeye to the; where thourgh thow shalt ouercome thyn enmyes, and also be the helpe of his brothern, whiche shull be so noble knyghtes. And the kynge Ventres of Garlot, that is so gode a knyght, hath another sone by his wif that is thy suster also; and he is a fayre yonge squyre, and is I-cleped Galeshyn. And kynge Vrien hath another that hight Ewein le gaunte, that shall the helpe; and he hath alle bountees bothe of herte and body. These shull the love and serve euer to the deth; and wite thow well that thei shull neuer be dubbed of no man till thow a-dubbe hem and yeve hem armes. Thise shull make the aqueynted with many a gentilman that ben of high lynage, that for love of hem and of her company shull the serue as longe as thei shall lyve. And on that other side, in litill Breteyne, ben two kynges, which ought to be thy men; and they haue wedded two sustres to their wyfes, and owen to holden their londes of the; and thei be men of high lynage, and be bretheren germain. These two bretheren shull haue sones whiche shull be merveilouse
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gode knyghtes, that in no londe shall be founde noon better. That oon of these two kynges is cleped the kynge Ban of Benoyk, and the tother is cleped the kynge Bors of Gannes. But thei haue an euell neighbour that marched nygh to theire remes, and he is a kynge, and werreth vpon hem, and shall yet hereafter do hem grete peyne and traueyle for enuye; and for that he may not hem now Iustice and ouerlede, and for that thei be so worthy knyghtes and so trewe. I will thow sende to hem, that thei

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come to thy courte, and that thow woldes hem se, and with hem be aqueynted, and sey that gretely thow desirest her aqueyntance, and that thei be here at halowmesse, for than shalt thow holde thy courte at logres, and sende to alle the noble men of thi londe that will to the obbeyen. And somme shull come for gode, and some for euell; but thise two kynges shull come by theire debonertee, for thei be full worthy men and right trewe. And therfore, loke thow, aqueynte the with hem, and offre hem thy servyse, and thei shull conne the grete thanke, and thei shull do to the homage full gladly; and when thi courte shall departe, telle to hem thi counseile, and sey how thow wilte go in to Carmalide, to serve the kynge leodogan; and therfore lede hem with the, for thei be full noble knyghtes, and full of merveilouse high prowesse; and thow shall haue to hem grete mystere at thy repeyre a-geyn in to this londe, for thyn enmyes wolde deffende the fro the londe; but ther-to shall thei not endure ne haue power for the helpe of these two kynges that shull be in thy company. And I will well that thow wite my condiciouns be, that I gladly repeire in to forestes and wildernesse, by the nature of hym that me be-gat, for he loveth not to haue the company that is of godes be-halue; But I ne go not for his sake, but for the love of Blase, the holy hermyte. And knowe it verily that in every nede that thow haste, I shall redily be with the, to helpe the and counseile; but ofte tymes shalt thow se me in other semblaunce than thow doste now, for I will not that alle peple knowe me whan I speke with hem, or whan I speke with the; but I will that thow swere that thow shall not me discouer to no man of thynge that I sey to the, ffor yef thow me discure thow shalt haue therby more damage than thow woldest trowe.” And the kynge Arthur swhore to hym with gode will, like as he dide devyse, as he that was full ioyfull to haue his a-queytaunce and companye, and seide that neuer wolde he sey, ne do nothynge that sholde to hym displese by his power. And than Merlin hym assured of his londe, and seide he wolde helpe hym so well that he wolde deserue of hym grete thanke.

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Thus Arthur sente Vlfin and Bretell for kynge ban and kynge bors, hys brother, and sente hem worde that as dere as [correction; sic = a]thei hym loved, to come to hym to logres in grete Breteyne, at the feste of halowmasse; ffor these two knyghtes were well aqueynted with these two kynges that thei wente to seche, for moche thei togeder loveden, and well were aqueynted in the tyme of Vterpendragon. And thei passed ouer the see, folio 41b
and come in to litill Breteyne, and com thourgh the londe that was all wasted; and they fonde many townes brente and distroied. And so they come to a Citee that was cleped Beynoyk, that now is cleped Burges in barre, and be-longinge to kynge Claudas de la deserte.

This kynge Claudas of whom I speke claymeth a Castell that the kynge Ban hath closeth in his londe. And Claudas seide that the londe was his, and the kynge Ban seide, “Nay.” And so be-gan the werre betwene hem, grete and merveilouse, and longe endured the mortall hate betwene hem, as longe as thir life dured.

And so Claudas ran thourgh the lodes of kynge ban er he hadde hym warned, and so he dide hym grete damage of prisoners that he toke in the Contree, and in townes that he fonde vn-walled, whiche he brente and distroied, and made grete slaughter of his peple, as he that was withoute pitee, of that he myght haue the hier honde. But to the Castell that kynge ban hadde do closed, myght he nothinge do, for it was right stronge. This castell hadde kynge ban well stuffeth with men of werre, and in the maister forteresse hadde he sette at [correction; sic = a] Castelein, a right noble man and a trewe, that was cleped Grascien, and made his compere a godsone of hys, that he hadden houe fro the fontstone, and was cleped after the kynge ban Bawdewyn, whiche was after full renomede, and full of grete prowesse in the reame of logres, and in many other contrees, where as he dide many grete dedes of armes, of whiche is yet made no mencion, till that my mater com ther-to. But speketh of kynge ban, that was sorowfull and wroth for the damage that kynge Claudas hadde hym don withoute diffyinge. And than he assembled his power, and yede hym a-geyns in all the haste that he myght, at a passage that he sholde come by.

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When thise two hostes sholde mete ther was right grete bataile, and stronge stour, and grete slaughter on both partyes, for the kynge ban slough so many with his owne honde that the hepes lay in the feilde as it hadde be dede swyne or shepe. And so bar hym the kynge ban and his peple that the kynge claudas was putt to flight, and loste all his harneyse and his praye, and the prisoners that they hadde taken were rescowed. And on that othir syde, on that side that marched to gawnes, the kynge bors and his men entred and brente and distroide the londes of the kynge Claudas euen to the yates of his chief Citee that cleped la deserte, and toke alle the prisoners that he myght. And so he distroied all as he wente thourgh the contre, that withynne lx myle ye sholde not fynde an house in to herberowe but it were in roches or in seleres vnder erthe, but other habitacion sholde ye noon fynde. And so was Claudas made pore and maat. And by that distruxion Claudas heilde hym
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so coy that he druste not werre no more in theire londes longe tyme after; and after that he greved the two brethern more than thei dide hym, as ye shull here her-after. And so the messagers of Arthur fonde the contree distroied like as ye haue herde; and thei merveiled gretly how this myght be. And thei rode forth till thei come to Trebes, the castell that the kynge ban hadde do closed, whiche was right stronge, and stode on a high grounde.

In this castell was the quene Elein, the wyf of kynge ban of Benoyk, which was a gode lady and of holy livynge. And ther-to she was of wonder grete bewte, so that noon was founden feirer in no contre; and ther-to was she yonge, of the age of xvj yere, and hadde be but litill while be-fore be maried to the kynge Ban.

And the kynge Boors hadde wedded the to-ther suster, that was a gode lady and gentell, and was the yongest of the two quenes. And whan Vlfin and Bertell come to Trebes, thei axed after the kynge Ban; and the peple seide he was at parlament with his brother kynge Boors of Benoyk. And whan thei vndirstode this, thei toke leve of the quene Elein and departed fro thens all armed, for the contre that thei sholde passe thourgh was not sure, for men of werre that ran thourgh the

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londe. And more thei wolde haue don, but for drede of the two brethern that were kynges. And thei kepten streite Iustice, ffor alle tho that myght be take with eny forfet or robbery, thei were a-noon putte to Iustyse and distroide withoute respite. Whan these two messagers departed fro Trebes a five mile, thei saugh vij knyghtes of Claudas, men that repayreden thourgh the Contree to assaye yef thei myght ought wynne vpon the kynge bors or on the kynge Ban; but the contre was so voyde that they fonde nought to take, ffor the peple were fledde to stronge Citees and to stronge Castelles with all that thei hadden. Whan the two massagers saugh the vij knyghtes, than seide oon to another of he vij, “See yonder two knyghtes, beholde whiche horse thei ride; grete foles were we yef we sholde lete hem thus passe!” Than seide oon, “It semeth well that thei be not of this contree, for thei bere not the armes of this londe ne as knyghtes of this reame.” “Trewly,” quod oon of hem, “what-so-euer thei be, they seme to be worthy men, bothe by their armes and by theyr horses; and yef thei be in seruise, it sheweth well that they serue a gode lorde.” “What forse,” quod another, “what-euer thei be, lete vs go take from hem theire horse and theire harneys, for ther-to haue we grete nede.” Anoon oon of hem smote the horse with the spores, and ran cryinge after these messagers, and seide, “Sirs! ne passe no ferther, for yef ye do ye be but deed, yef ye be longynge to the kynge Ban or to the kynge Boors; but and yef ye be with the kynge Claudas, than haue ye no drede; for we kepe the weyes and the passages of this marche, that noon ne a-scape that is a-gein Claudas. And therfore we aske of yow the trewage, after the custom that we vse; for wite it well yow be-houeth to leve with vs youre horse and youre armes, and ye ascape, so ye may conne vs grete thanke; but for that vs semeth that ye
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worthy men, we lete yow passe a-lyve withoute inprisonment, with this raunsom, to lese youre horse and youre harneyse.” Whan Vlfyn vndirstode his manasynge, he seide, “Sir knyght, ne haste not to sore, for yet thow may come all be tyme. I knowe nought what thow arte, but thow arte a bolde speker, and also a grete avauntour;

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and ille happe haue he that vylenis knyght that asketh eny tribute of eny trauellynge knyghtes; and thow arte nothynge curteyse. And wite thow well that thow shalt nother haue [correction; sic = haue haue] oure horse ne oure harneyse so lyghtly as thow wenest, but er thow hem gete, thei shull be right dere solde.” And when Bretel vndirstode how Vlfin spake to the knyght, he seide, “Sir knyght [correction; sic = kynght], in euyll tyme hast thou asked vs tribute.”

Than smote he the horse with the spores ageyn hym, and that other knyght com hym a-gein, gripynge his spere in the fewtre. And thei smeten togeder vpon the sheldes so sore that they perced thourgh, and the spere heede of the knyght stynte on Breteles haubrek. And Bretell smote hym a-gein, that with so grete ravayn that the spere ran thourgh his left sholder that the heed shewede a span be-hynde. And he bar on hym so sore that he threwe the knyght to grounde, and his horse vpon hym. And he swowned for the grete anguyssh that he felte. And Bretell drowgh oute a-gein his spere that yet was hool. And than seide he to the knyght in scorne, “Sir knyght, now maist thow loigge here be leyser, and kepe these weyes, that noon ne ascape withoute paiynge of trewage.” And than he rode a walop after Vlfyn, gripynge his spere. And Vlfin saugh wele the Iustynge of hym and of the knyght, and ther-of he was gladde, and moche he preysed Bretell.

And whan thei were come togeder, thei rode fourth a softe paas. Whan the vj knyghtes saugh theire lorde ouerthrowen and wounded, thei were sorowfull, and seide that neuer sholde thei be gladde er thei were avenged. Than two of hem renged hem, and priked after the messagers as faste as the horse myght hem bere.

And whan thei approched, thei ascryde hem, and manaced hem crewelly. And whan the messagers saugh hem two a-gein two, they returned her hedes, and bowed vnder theire sheldes as thei that were gode knyghtes and sure. And they mette togeder alle foure, with alle theire myght of horse and man, and smyte togeder with sperres in the sheldes, so that thei fley on peces. And Bretell bar his spere so high that he

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smote his felow a-bove the shilde, that the haubrek rente, so that he sente the hede and the shafte thourgh his throte, and so he fill to grounde vpright. And Vlfyn hitte so his felowe thourgh shelde and haubreke, that the spere hede wente thourgh the lyfte sholder, that he fill to the erthe ouer his horse crowpe.

After this made them redy two of the tother foure for to ouertake them that hadde theire felowes slayn. They ascryde the two messagers, and seide that thei sholde dye for thei wolde a-venge theire felowes at hir power. And whan they saugh hem come, thei turned the hedes of theire horse, and that oon requyred folio 43a
the tother to do well. And than thei mette togeder in a valey, and Vlfyn lete renne to hym that com a-gein hym, and Bretell a-gein the tother. The two knyghtes brake theire speres vpon the two massagers; and Bretell smote so his felowe that he slyt ther shilde and the haubrek to rente, that the spere yede thourgh the body, and bar hym to grounde all blody and deed. And Vlfyn smote his felowe so sore that he fill to the erthe, and his horse on his body, and in the fallynge he brake his nekke. Than seide Bretell to hem, “Sirs, now may ye manace vs, and ther-to I yeve yow leve to kepe the weyes and the passages.” At these wordes lowgh Vlfin for merthe. Than yede these two massagers forth theire wey, and trauaylde forth all the day wery, and for the traueile of the bataile that thei hadde agein the knyghtes, so that by euen thei come to Benoyk, where thei fonde grete plente of peple; ffor the kynge ban hadde sente for the kynge Boors his brother, and hys barouns with hym, that moste were of his counseile. The two messagers rode thourgh the town, till thei come to the maister paleise, and ther thei a-lighten, and toke theire horse and their armes to a squyre to kepe, that thei hadde brought with hem withoute mo meyne. Than yede thei vp in to the paleise, and asked after kynge Ban and his brother the kynge Boors. And it was tolde hem how they were in a chamber in counseile soole by [correction; sic = by by] hem-self. And than were the messagers gladde that thei hadde hem founden so Page 129
togeder. And thei a-bode till that the two kynges hadde made ende of her counseile. And as they a-bode so, com to hem a knyght that highte Leones, and brought with hym a knyght that he moche loved, and his name was Pharien. Thise tweyne come to the messagers, and hem asked what thei were, and thei ansuerde that thei sholde sone knowe, yef it plesed hem to a-byde so longe till thei hadde seide theire message to the two kynges. And when these other herde hem so sey, thei a-vised hem better, and knewe hem wele. And than thei toke hem in armes, and made hem grete ioye, as thei that longe tyme had togeder loved from theire childehode. And than thei asked yef thei hadde grete haste; and thei ansuerde, “Ye, right grete.” Than thei toke them be the hande, and ledde hem in to the chamber where the two kynges weren, and whan the two kynges hem saugh, thei yede hem a-geins, for thei knewe well, that soone after sholde they here tydynges, and Leonces aresonde hem, and seide to the two brethern, and seide, “Lo, here two messagers of the grete Breteyne that beth come to speke with yow.”

And the kynges seide they were welcome; and than thei made of hem grete ioye, as thei that moche hem loved, and than thei seeten down, and than the kynge ban asked what nede hadde brought hem in to that contre, for withouten cause ye be not come hider; and after he axed of tydinges of the londe that thei come fro, and yef the barons hadde yet a kynge after her in-tente, for well knewe thei of the stryfe and of the eleccion, and how the swerde and the ston that apered on the feeste of yoole be-fore the mynster.

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Than the messagers tolde hem trouthe all as [correction; sic = as as] it hadde be by-twene the kynge Arthur and the vij kynges,and the grete damage that Merlin dide hem with the fire, and how grete merveiles of armes the yonge kynge dide; and after thei seide their message, how Arthur hadde sente hem to seche, be the counseile of Merlin, and whan they hadde seide all their message fro the be-gynynge to the ende, Vlfin praide hem to take here counseile, and to yeve hem ansuere hastely, for the terme was

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but shorte, and theire nede grete. And the two brethern that were kynges seide that they were greved gretly with a werre, that they hadde agein the kynge Claudas, “and therfore we drede when [deleted in MS ] whan we be oute of the Contree, that they falle not vpon vs, for so myght we haue grete damage.” “Sir,”

seide the messagers, “that ne wolde we not, but Merlin sente yow worde, that ye sholde haue no drede as longe as ye be in this viage.”

Whan the two kynges vndirstode that, that thei hadde seide, they merveiled moche of Merlin that thus knewe of the thynges that shull befalle; and than they graunted to the Messagers the thei sholde meve the thirde day, and thei hem thanked with gode herte. Than thei made hem to vn-arme hem, for the kynge ban wolde not haue at noon other osteill, but in his house; and whan thei vn-harneysed, theire armour was gretly beholde, and they seiden alle that the messagers hadde but litill be by the fire ne stonde be the chymney. Than the two kynges come to hem and asked hem where theire sheldes hadde be so arrayed, and chargede hem be the feith that they ought theire lorde, that thei sey the trouthe. Than they tolde how they were assailed by vij knyghtes, and all as it was befalle, as ye haue herde be-fore, “and,” quod they, “thanked be god we haue do so that we beth now here.” And whan the two kynges herde that they were so delyuered fro the vij knyghtes, they praysed hem gretly, neuertheles they knewe wele that they were worthy knyghtes, and gode men and trewe. Than made the kynge Ban the messagers to be sette, and serued with riche seruyse and deynte metes, as he that wele cowde it do, and Leonces and Pharien moche peyned hem to serue and make chere, for longe hadde thei be aqueynted togeder in the grete Breteyne in the tyme of Vterpendragon. A-noon kynge Ban and his brother arayed hem to move the thirde day, and Comaunded theire londes in the kepynge of Leonces, and Pharien, that was theire cosyn germayn, and a gode man and right a trewe; and Pharien in his companye, and the stywarde of Benoyk, and they of the reame

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of Gannes, whiche were full worthy men; and the two kynges comaunded hem, yef they hadde nede, that they sholde sende to hem for socour, and lete hem wete how it was with hem. And the kynge ban toke gode tokenes that they sholde sende to the barouns of the londe, yef nede were, and the tokene was a rygne of hys fynger, that who-so brought hem that rynge they sholde yeve credence to the message that it brought. And than thei departed, and sped so here Iourneys that thei com to the see,
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and entred in to the shippes, and passed ouer withoute eny lettynge. But now cesseth the tale of hem, and returneth to speke of kynge Arthur, that is lefte at Logres.

CHAPTER IX.

THE VISIT OF KING BAN AND KING BORS TO ARTHUR; AND THE TOURNAMENT AT LOGRES.

Now, seith the storye, that whan the messagers were departed from Arthur,and that he hadd stuffed his Citees and euery castell with soche peple as that Merlin hadde hym counseiled, for he knewe well whiche were gode and trewe, and he wiste also whiche were withoute treson. And whan all this was don, Merlin come to hym and seide, “Sir, be gladde and mery, for Vlfin and Bretell haue well do theire message.” And than Merlin tolde what aventre hem fill by the wey, and how they were assailed of vij knyghtes, and how thei hem delyuerd, and how they haue spoke with the two kynges, and how thei be now entred in to the see, and how thei haue lefte here londes in kepynge of the two knyghtes, and also of the tokene of the rynge. “Now, beith well a-vised that ye resceyve hem so wurshipfully as soche high men and grete of astate and high renon, and they ought to be youre men, and they beth I-born of the highest lynage of the worlde, and moche higher than ye be youre self, and so be theire wyves also.” And the kynge seide to Merlin, “I pray yow telle me how I shall do and how I shall Page 132
me contene, and I shall do as ye me comaunde.” Thanne Merlin taught hym how he sholde do: “hange the stretes ther thei sholde come with riche clothes, and make alle the dameselles to synge carolles and to go ageins hem synginge oute of the town, and ye youre self shall ride agein hem.” “And whan shull they come?” seide the kynge. Quod Merlin, “They shall be here on sonday er pryme.” And the kynge seide he wolde do as he [correction; sic = ] hadde devised, and Merlin taught hym all how he sholde hym gouerne. Thanne Arthur made his ordenaunce to resceyve the two kynges, and a-bode in soche wise to the sonday. And the kynge and hys barouns were on horse bak, and the archebisshop yede a-gein hem with grete procession; and ther as they dide mete, grete was the ioye and the wurship that eche of hem did to other, and so they entred in to the town alle togeder, and ther [correction; sic = ther ther] thei were met with caroles and daunces, and with all maner of ioye. And whan they were come to the paleise, the kynge Arthur yaf grete yeftes to the meyne of the two kynges, after the astate and degre that they of were: ffor he yaf horse and palfreyes, and robe and armures full feire and riche; and all this he dide by the counseile of Merlyn. And so was Arthur gretly preysed and moche beloued a-monge grete and riche and pore, and in especiall of hem that neuer hadde hym seyn, but for the reporte that was of hym.

Gretly they merveled where he myght haue alle the richesse that he ther yaf, so that withInne litill tyme, all that repeyred a-bowte hym hadde so grete love to hym, that thei sworn thei wolde hym neuer faile.

Than these lordes entred in to the Citee of Logres, be-gan the caroles and the daunces of the ladies and damsels, and the turnementes of yonge bachelers, that all the day dured till the nyght, and the town was thourgh hanged with clothes of silke,
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and it was feire wedir and clere, for it hadde not yet nothir reyned ne snowed ne frosen, but was as stille as a-boute aust; and the stretes were strowed with small grasse, and incense and myrre in fires in the stretes thikke, and in the wyndowes

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many lightes, and so swote sauoured thourgh the Cytee that fer men shulde fele the odour. Thus come the lordes togeder in to the maister mynster, and where as the procession hem a-bode and receyued hem fro fer with humble reuerence: that day songe the archebisshop masse, and whan it was ended they yede vp in to the grete paleyse, where as the mete was arraide with all the coriouse ordenaunce that myght be don, and the thre kynges were sette togeder at oon table, and the archebisshop, and Antor that hadde norischid Arthur; and kay serued at tables as was reson; and two yonge knyghtes of grete prowesse, and were sones to two [correction; sic = tw] casteleins, that oon was cleped Lucas, the boteler, and that other Gifflet, the sone of doo of Cardoell, which hadde be maister forester to Vterpendragon, and thei serued with the stiwarde, and with Vlfin and Bretell, that wele cowde hem enforme so that thei were well serued and richely.

After mete was the quyntayne reysed, and ther at bourded the yonge bachelers, and after they begonne a turnemente, and departed hem in two partyes, and were well on eyther syde vij C and CCC of the reme of Benoyk, that kepte hem togeder in oon partye, and whan the turnemente was assembled redy to smyte togeder, the kynge ban and the kynge Boors, and her brother that was a mervilouse clerke of Astronomye, noon in that tyme so expert saf Merlin. These were lenynge out at wyndowes, and Arthur and the archebisshop with hem, and Antor, that thei wolde not leve behelden the turnement on bothe partees, and saugh the signes, and the stedes to neye and crye and to praunce vnder knyghtes and bacheleres, that the hilles and the medowes resouned all a-bowte.

And whan thei were so nygh assembled, than departed oute of the renge a knyght that was cleped Gifflet, the sone of do of Cardoell, that satte vpon a grey stede that merveilously was swyfte, and on that other part com a-gein hym a knyght of benoyk, that was cleped ladynas, and he was of grete renon, and he sette a-gein Gifflet as faste as the stedes myght renne, theire shelde a-boute their nekkes, gripynge the speres, and thei smote togeder in the sheldes so grete strokes that bothe brake theire

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speres, for bothe were they gode knyghtes and couetouse to gete worship; and they mette so togeder with helmes and sheldes so fiersly, that they semede the yen fill from theire hedes, so eche bar other to the erthe, and theire horse a-bouen hem, and bothe lay longe in sowowne that thei semed deed, and euery man seide that they saugh neuer so crewell in-countre betwene two knyghtes. With that they renged hem on that oon part, and on that other for the rescewe of the two knyghtes. At the metynge of this turnement was sein many Iustinges, that gladly were beholden, and some ther were that threw other to the erthe, and some that brake theire shaftes withoute fallynge to grounde. Whan the speres were broken, thei drough oute swerdes, and be-gan the turney grete and huge; and ther was oon knyght that dide many mastryes folio 45a
of armes with his body, of whom was moche spoken and preysed thourgh the Contree, and was cleped Lucas, the boteler, and was cosin germain to Gifflet, that had the grete encourtir. This Lucas smote down knyghtes and horse, and be-gan soche dedis of armes, that noon myght his strokes endure. He arached helmes fro hedes and sheldes fro nekkes, and be-gan to do so well, that it was merveile him to beholde, and the thre kynges preysed him moche, and so dide many other. Grete was the turnement in the medowes by Logres, vpon the ryver of Temse, and longe it endured, that noon ne wiste who sholde haue the better, for on bothe sides were many worthi men, and longe it was er the two were releved that hadden the grete encountre. And whan thei were horsed, thei smeten in to the turnemente, and tho gan Gifflet to do soche dedes of armes, that he and Lucas, the botiller, that thei gate place vpon hem of Benoyk, and put hem fer bakke in the playn feilde; and than com hem to helpe the CCC knyghtes of Benoyk that yet ne hadde no stroke smyten, and on that othir syde come also CCC all fressh, and so eche ran to other. There was grete stour and merveillouse and harde strokes smyten, and whan the speres were broken thei leyde honde to swerdes, and be-gan the chaple so stronge and dured longe tyme. Ther men myght se many feire cheualries don on bothe parties, for ther were many yonge bachelers that

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dide right wele; but, a-bove alle other, Gifflet, the sone of Do of Cardoell, and Lucas, the botiller, these tweyn were preised of prowesse a-boue alle other.

Whan the turnemente hadde longe indured and they were somdell wery for traueyle, than lept kay, the stywarde, oute of his enbusshement, that yet hadde no stroke smyten, he and other v felowes that were well horsed, and theire shildes a-boute her nekkes, theire launces in their hondes, and whan thei aproched the renges, thei smote in a-monge hem as faucouns amonge starlinges, and bar the firste that thei mette to grounde; and whan theire speres were broke thei drough oute swerdes, and begonne to do soche maistryes and dedes of armes, that kay hadde the prys and the wurship of the turnemente on that oon part, and on that other part Gifflet and Lucas, the boteller; and the beste after hem, was Marke de la roche, and Guynas le Bleys, and drias de la foreste sauge, and Belyas, the amerouse, of maydens castell, and Blyos de la casse, and Madyens le crespes, and Flaundryns le blanke, and Grassien, the castelein, and Placidas le gays: these dide so well whan thei come to the turnement, that noon myght agein hem endure; but after that the felowes of the reame of benoyk dide so wele, that they made all the turnement resorte bak to theire firste place, for the felisship of the table of Logres were gon oute for to chaunge helmes, that weren to hewen and rente; and whan thei saugh theire party turned to disconfiture, thei hem hasted and henten speres, and come in to the turnemente as faste the horse myght hem bere, and smote in a-monge the grettest presse, and kay cam before alle his felowes as he that was desirouse to shewe his knyghthode, and griped a grete growen spere, and he was a merveillouse gode knyght, yef he ne hadde not be so full of wordes, for his euell speche made hym to be hatid of a-monge his felowes, and
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also of straungers that herden of hym speke, that after refuseden to go in his felisshep to seche auentures in the reame of Logres, that after endured longe tyme, as this boke shall reherse here-afterwarde. This tecche hadde kay take in his norice that he dide of sowke, ffor he hadde it nothynge of norture of his modere, ffor his moder was right a gode lady and wise and trewe; Page 136
but of what kay seide, his felowes that knewe his costomes ne rought neuer, but he was full of myrthe and Iapes in his speche, for seide it for noon euyll will of no man, and ther at lough thei gladly that knewe his maners, and on that othir syde he was oon of the beste felowes and myriest that myght be founde.

Whan he was come to the turnement, as ye haue herde, he mette with Lydonas, that wele hadde do all the day, and moche he and his felowes peyned to dryve hem of Logres oute of the feilde, and so thei were nygh at disconfiture. And whan kay saugh this he was sory and wroth. Than he smote in to the presse, and mette lydonas in the shelde so sore that he perced thourghoute, and the spere poynte stynte oute at the haubrek, and he shof so harde, that he caste hym to the grounde vpright; and with the same course he smote Grascien, of Trebes, that he ouerthrewe hym and his horse. Than he leyde honde to his swerde, and cride Clarence, the signe of kynge Arthur; and they beheilde hym, and saugh the socour that he brought, for they wende they hadde all loste. Than they returned, and begonne to do so well that they hadde not do so well all the day be-fore.

This Iustynge that Kay hadde don saugh well the kynge Arthur, and the kynge ban and the kynge Boors, his brother, and they preysed moche kay, and seide he was wight and deliuere, and thei beheilde hym gladly. And whan Lucas, the botyller, saugh kay hadde don so well, he smote the horse the spores in to the grettest presse, and smote Blios so harde that he fill to the grounde, and the spere fly on peses. Than he pulde oute hys swerde and spronge in a-monge hem, and be-gan to yeve grete strokes and to do so well, that moche he was preysed, and so be-gan the turnement newe to enforse for the rescewe of theire felowes. Than com Gifflet freschely armed, his spere in fewtre, as faste as his horse myght hym bere, and saugh Blioberes and two of hys felowes that leyde on kay, the stiwarde, with here swerdes, and heilde hym so shorte that he hadde grete nede of helpe, for thei were thre and he was but alone, and also they were thre the beste of all the turnement, and Placidas hadde hitte kay on the helme, that he lened on his sadill bowe; and whan

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Gifflet sye this he for-thought it sore, and he smote blioberis so harde, that he fill to the erthe, bothe he and his horse, and the spere fly on peces, and leide honde to his swerde, and smote Placidas on the helme that he bowed ouer the arson of his sadell, and after leyde on hym so grete strokes, that he was so astooned that he fill to the erthe vpright, and kay hym dressed, folio 46a
that grete nede hadde of that socoure, and after beheilde and knew that it was Gyfflet that so hadde hym delyuered, and thought to quyte hym that bountee yef he myght; and so he dide withynne shorte tyme, as ye shall heren heir-after, and for that thei felishiped first togeder, and woued well togeder longe tyme after of grete love alle the dayes of her lyf. Whan Gifflet hadde delyuered [correction; sic = delyued] kay, as ye haue herde, he loked a-boute hym and saugh Ieroas, that moche hadde greved in that stour; than he griped his swerde and ran vpon hym for ire, and yaf soche a stroke that the fire fley oute, and therwith he kytte a pece of his helme, and but the swerde hadde swarved, he hadde ben deed for euermore. The stroke descended vpon the lifte sholder, that he fill to the erthe all blody. Than arose the noyse and the crye, for well wende thei that this syen that he hadde be deed withoute recouer. Than come his felowes to the rescowe, and on that other parte com the felowes of kay, the stywarde. Than be-gan the medle grete and hidouse, that many were wounded and ouerthrowen er that other was rescowed and sette on horse; and the fyve felowes that were be-fore rehersed, whan thei saugh the medle so begonne, thei smot so v of the first that thei metten that thei blushit to the erthe; than thei smyten in amonge hem, and be-gan to do so well, that all hadde merveile how they myght it suffre or endure. Ther be-gan a-gayn the turnement on bothe partyes, and well thei dide in armes on that oon part and that other, Till it drough towarde evenesonge, that the thre kynges descended from the paleise and com in to the place where as was the turnement, and saugh that thei heilde hem euen like, that noon ne wiste wele whiche hadde the better. Than com the thre kynges, and hem departed and seide it was tyme to cesse, for it was to late eny more to turney, and so were they departed, and eche yede to his ostell to Page 138
resten, for ther-to hadde thei nede and gret myster, for many were they hurte; and the kynges yede to here euesonge, and than thei yede to soper, and after begonne the carolles and to speke of the turnemente, and asked oon of another, how hem semed of whom that hadde don beste. And thei seide that the kynge ban hadde xv knyghtes that hadde don alther beste more than eny other, and on that other part were viij that hadde don merveiles in armes, and gretly hadde they traueylled and peyned, and moche were thei to a-lowe. Thus heilde they here tales longe, and alwey they yaf the loos and the pris to kay, the stiward, and to Lucas, the boteller, and to Gifflet, the sone of do. These were the thre that beste hadde don, and ofte tymes Iusted, and in euery nede were redy.

Whan the tables were vp, arisen the thre kynges and the Archebisshop and Antor, and Guynebaus, that was brother to the two kynges. Than thei yede into a chamber that was be-syde the halle, towarde the gardyn of the river of temse, folio 46b
and with hem yede tweyne that ne ought not to be for-yeten, that was Vlfin and Bretell, and so thei pleide and spake togeder of many thinges. Than beheilde Vlfin and Bretell, and than he gan to laugh, for he be-thought hym on the wordes that Merlin hadde hym tolde, whan they were gon on his message, how thei were assailed in the deserte of vij knyghtes, and how they dide hem deliuere. Than the kynge cleped hem bothe, and comaunded hem, be the feith that thei hym oughten, that thei sholde hym telle all the trouthe, how thei hadde spedde in their message. Whan thei herde the kynge thus speke, that oon loked on the tother and begonne to smyle, and Bretell ansuerde the kynge, that thought well he it knewe thourgh Merlin, and seide, “Sir, wherto sholde we telle you oure spede in oure Iourney, for as wele ye do it knowe as we oure self, thourgh hym that hath it tolde, and therfore it were but speche loste.” Than seide the kynge Ban, “Who is that, that hath hym this tolde?” “Certein, sir, the wisest man of the worlde.” “And where is he?” quod Ban, “and what is name?” “Sir,” quod Bretell, “it is Merlin, and he resteth in my chamber hereynne, and by his counseile

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hath my lorde sente after yow.” “Sir,” quod kynge Ban, “lete hym come hider, for we haue moche disired hym for to see, for the merveiles that we haue herde of hym spoken.” And Arthur seide that so wolde he do with gode will. And than he sente Vlfin for hym, and therwith a-noon entred Merlin in to the chamber agein Vlfin, and seide, “Returne,” and so thei wente be-fore the kynge, and and asked wherefore he hadde sente hym to seche. And the kynge ban blissed hym for the merveile that he hadde, how he myght knowe these thingis, and Merlin seide, “Ther-of no forse, for hereafter ye shull wite I-nough.”

Than he be-gan to telle a party of his lif, and than com forth Guynebaude, the clerke, and opposed hym of dyuerse thynges, for he was a profunde clerke. And Merlyn hym ansuerde to alle the questiouns that he asked the very trouthe as it was, and so indured longe the disputacion betwene hem tweyne; and at laste Merlin seide that all for nought he traueylede, “for,” quod he, “the more thow sechest the more shalt thow fynde.” And than seide Merlin to hem that were a-boute hym, that he hadde neuer founde no clerke that euer hadde spoke to hym of so high clergie, ne not blase, that was so holy a man, ne cowde not so moche enquere. Wher-to sholde I make yow longe tale. But longe they spake togeder, so that the toon was well aqueynted with that other, and well thei loved togeder.

And whan the disputaciouns were don, Merlin com to the two kynges that were his brethern, and seide, “Lordynges, ye be worthi men and of high renoun, and also ye beth right feithfull and trewe; and lo! here the kynge Arthur, that ought to be youre lorde, and of hym sholde ye holde youre londes and do hym homage; and he ought to helpe yow and to socoure agein alle men, yef ye haue nede.” And thei seide, “Merlin, now telle vs how he was chosen to be kynge, and wherfore, and yef Antor knowe whether he be the sone of Vterpendragon.” And Merlin seide, “Ye, withoute faile.” Than he tolde hem
folio 47a
alle the thinges like as was befalle, so that the archebisshop and Vlfin it recorded.

“Merlin,” quod the kynge ban, “we will that thow make vs sure of oon thinge that we shall aske, for so moche

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we knowe in yow, that ye will not to vs sey no lesynge for all the londe that longeth to the crowne.” “A ha,” quod Merlin, “ye desire to haue me sworn that it be trewe that I sey.” And thei begonne to laugh, and seide that ther uas noon so wise as was he in no reame. And Merlin seide, “I graunte youre requeste and youre desire,” and so thei toke respite till on the morn. Thus ended theire parlament, and departed and yede to bedde, and the thre kynges and the archebisshop lay in oon chamber, for they wolde not departe on sondre. And moche Guynebaude aqueynted hym with Merlin, that taught hym many grete maistres and many feire pleyes; and Guynebaude well hem vndirstode, as he that was wise and a grete clerke, so that he wrought somme of the craftes ofte in the bloy Breteyne, that longe tyme after endured, and as it shall hereafter reherse.

CHAPTER X.

THE BATTLE BETWEEN ARTHUR AND THE REBEL KINGS AT BREDIGAN.

Whan these thre kynges weren a-bedde and at her ese that nyght, the storye seith that they lay till on the morn, that thei ronge to messe right erly, for it was a litill a-fore halowmesse. Than com Merlin and a-woke hem, and opened the two windowes towarde the gardyn, for he wolde that hei hadde lyght therynne, and they hem clothed and a-rayed and yede to the mynster, and the archebisshop sange the messe; and than Merlin dide swere be-fore the kynges that Arthur was the sone of Vterpendragon, and that he was begeten on the quene Ygerne that nyght that the Duke was slayn, and that he was the moste rightfull heire that the londe myght holde. After that swore Vlfin that so god hym helpe and alle seyntes, that it was trewe all as Merlin hadde rehersed. Whan the two kynges hadde take the oth of these two, a-noon thei dide to kynge Arthur their homage full debonerly as was right, and the kynge he receyved with gode herte and sympilliche with wepynge, and than thei kiste with Page 141
gode herte for grete love, and than was the ioye more than before; and than thei yede vp in to the halle to mete, and thei were served as high men ought to be, and after mete Arthur and Merlin wente togeder to counseile, and the two kynges that were brethern, and Vlfin and Bretell and kay the stywarde. Thanne seide Merlyn, “Feire lordynges, ye be alle worthy men and trewe, and I knowe yow alle as wele or better than ye do youreself; and lo! here youre lorde the kynge Arthur, ţat is right a worthi man, and a gode knyght shall he be of his honde; and ye knowe well that grete wronge that is do to hym by his barouns of his londe, that will not resceyve hym for theire lorde, ne do to hym homage as thei ought to do of right, but besy hem to greve hym with all her power, and therfore I pray yow do as I shall yow counsell, and knowe it well that it shall be the beste counseile that I may yow yeve.”

folio 47b

And they seide thei wolde do like as he wolde devise, and he thanked debonerly.

And than he seide, “Lordinges, se here the kynge that hath no wif, and I knowe a mayden that is kynges doughtere and quenes, and of right high lynage, and also she is right feire, and of grete valoure, that no lady ne may haue more, and that is the doughter of kynge Leodegan, of Carmelide, that is now an olde man and hath no mo children but this doughter, whos name is Gonnore, to whom the londe moste falle after his discesse; and he hath grete werre a-gein the kynge Rion, that is of the lynage of Geauntes, and he is right riche and right puyssant, and yef it happe that he conquere the reame of Carmelide, that marcheth to the reame of Logres, that is Arthures, wite it well that Arthur ne shall not longe kepe his londe in pees, and alle the dayes of his lif he shall have werre on alle partees; and ne were the knyghtes of the rounde table, that deffende the reame of kynge Leodegan a-gein the Geauntes, thei sholde haue all his londe wasted and distroied, and therfore I counseile yow that ye take with yow certain of youre peple, and go with Arthur, and a-bide with the kynge Leodegan a yere or two, till that ye be with hym well aqueynted, and ye shull but litill while be ther, but he shall love yow better than theym that with him now ther; and knowe it wele that he

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shall profer Arthur his doughter to be his wif, and ther-by shall he haue his reame all quyte. Ne neuer after that the Geauntes knowe, that he hath her wedded shull they not be so hardy to a-byde in the contre, ne nygh it by a Iourney.”

Than ansuerde kynge Ban to Merlyn and seide, “Dere frende, yef we go in to straunge londe, and leve our londes in this manere as thei be, how shall ther-of falle, for we haue an euell and fell nyghbour that vpon vs werre, and brenneth oure townes and castelles? Ne this londe also is nothynge sure, ffor the barouns that sholde be the kynges frendes and his liege men, thei do vpon hym werren, therfore it is grete pereyle to leve his owne reame for to deffende another mannes.” “Ha, sir,” quod Merlin, “ye sey I-nough after youre in-tencion; but it is grete nede a man to go bak to recouer the better his leep, for wite it well, for a peny that ye less on this side, ye shall wynne tweyn on that side; ffor on this party shall ye neyther lese Castell ne Citee, and on that other side ther shall ye wynne an hool reame, tha euer after shall deffende this reame.” “I wote neuer,” quod kynge Ban, “what I shall sey, for ye beth more wyser than we alle, and a-gein me I will do that ye counseile, seth it is so as ye haue seide ther is no more, but lete vs gon, and therfore devise ye whan we shull meve, and ther-to lete eche of vs make hym redy.” “All be-folio 48a
tyme,” seide Merlin, “for ye ne shall not meve before lenton, for er that tyme moste ye do a grete bataile in this contree agein the barouns, that assemble and gedere as moche peple as they may haue, and therfore we shull assemble as many as we may gete in the pryviest wise that we can, and lete hem be loigged in a launde that is in the forest of Bredigan, and ne doute not ther-of but that ye shall do hem more damage than they shall do to yow.” “Merlin,” seide the kynge Ban, “yef I and my brother sende for socour in to oure contree, may they come betyme?” “Ye, trewly,” quod Merlin. “Than shall I sende thider?” quod Ban.

“Certes,” quod Merlin, “I shall go and do that is ther-to nede, and sonner shall I be ther than eny messager that ye can sende; but thei be-houe to haste, for the bataile shall be at Candilmesse, in the medowes of Bredigan, and therfore Page 143
youre peple moste ryde nyght and day for to haste hem; and knowe it verily that I shall be at Gannes be tomorowe at euen.” And whan they herde that they merveiled gretly, and than thei hym clipt and made grete ioye. Than Merlyn cleped Arthur, and seide, “Sir, I go now on this message, for it is no tyme lenger to tarye. Now, sende and assemble knyghtes, and seriauntes, and arblasters, as many as ye [correction; sic = y] may gete, and ordeyne that they be sente grete plente of vitaile in to the launde that I haue nempned, that ye may departe a-monge the peple, for it shall be grete nede, and make eche man to take vitaile for xv dayes. After that they be loigged, as mele and salteflyssh withoute more; and the gouernours to departe hem shall be Lucas, the boteller, and Gifflet, and Vlfin, and Bretell; and ye, sir,” quod he to the kynge Ban, “yeve me youre rynge, that I may it take to Leonces de paerne, youre cosin, be the token that he telle me that I shall sey to yow.”

Whan the two brethern herde how Merlin spake they hadde grete merveile, and [correction; sic = and and] were a-bassht, for thei wende that no creature lyvinge hadde knowen of that he seide; for he knewe alle thinges at oon [correction; sic = o] worde as of soche thynges as hym liste to knowe, were thei neuer so prevy. And thei seide, “Seth it is so, we shall delyuer yow the rynge, and wite ye well that we love yow, and truste more than all the worlde.” “Be my feith,” quod Merlyn, “ye sey as wise men at this worde, and thus moche shull ye wynne ther-by, that ye shall se oon day how moche that I do yow love.” With that the kynge toke hym the rynge, and Merlyn it toke and comaunded hem to god, and yede thider as I haue yow tolde, and com be Blase, and tolde hym alle these thynges, that nought he lefte vn-seide; and also tolde hym how he yede on message in to litill Bretein. And he wrote in this boke that Merlin hym tolde, and by his writynge haue we yet the knowinge ther-of. With that departed Merlin fro blase, that lenger ne wolde not tarie, but dide his message well and feire, ffor on the morowe by pryme he come to Citee of Gannes, Page 144
and tolde to Leonces that the two bretheren hym sente, and shewed hym the rynge that was the prevy token betwene hym and the folio 48b
kynge, and Leonces a-noon yaf credence to all that Merlin seide. Than a-noon he sente oute and purchased, and gedered so moche peple, that thei were well xMl, alle on horse bakke, armed, be-fore the Citee of Benoyk, viij dayes be-fore yoole. Than they sette kepers in the two Citees that were the two bretheren, soche as thei wiste was myster, and oon of the kepers was Lambeges, that was right a trewe knyght, and a gode man of his body, and hym thei sette in the forteresse of Gannes, and Pharien, his vncle, praide hym to do well, and he seide so he wolde to his power. And in the forteresse of benoyk sette they Rahier de haut mur, that was right a gode knyght and yonge at pryme barbe; and in the forteresse of Trebes thei lefte Bawdewyn, the sone of Grassien, that was the godsone of kynge Ban. And therynne were the two susters lefte that were quenes, for that was the beste Castell, and the strengest [correction; sic = n]

of bothe reames. At Mouloir, a stronge castell of kynge Boors, thei lefte Placidas, that was a gode knyght and a trewe. Whan thei hadde thus garnysshed all the Contree, thei toke their wey be nyght, for the moone shone clere. And Merlin condited the hoste oute fro euyll passages, and so thei traueyled till thei come to the see and entred in to shippes. On the tother side Arthur a-raied hym in the beste wise that he myght, as Merlyn hadde hym taught, for he sente and somowned, in the previest wise he cowde, to alle tho that he knewe were his frendes, and so com grete plente of peple, more than he wende; and some come thider with gode will for the grete yeftes that he yaf, and some for to haue of hym aqueyntance for the grete bounte that thei hadde herde of hym speke. And whan thei were assembled, thei were well xMl on horsbak armed, for fotemen wolde thei noon lede. And on the tother side come all the cariage of the londe, that brought vitaile as Merlin hadde hem comaunded. And the kynge made the hoste to be ledde, in the stillest wise that he myght, in to the launde of bredigan, for it was oon of the wildeste places of that oon knewe, ffor whan thei were ther loigged, thei were, as who seith, loste. And the kynge dide oon thynge that Merlin

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hilde grete wisdome, ffor as soone as the cariage and vitaile was ledde in to that place where thei were loigged, he sette in euery wey gode kepers thourgh the londe, that noon ne sholde passe that ne were take and brought be-fore hym, for that he wolde noon espye sholde entre in to his londe, for to discure to his enmys, and made defende oute thourgh his londe, that who ne heilde of the kynge Arthur ne ride not thourgh his londe be-fore that Candelmasse were passed, and yef eny ther were that passed, he dide hem to wite that he sholde other lese his lif or membre yef he myght be taken, ffor so hadde the kynge comaunded; and thei heilde hem so in pees that thei com not ther, and ther-of merveiled the mene peple what it myght mene. And thus was the chyuachie so privily kept, that noon wiste where thei be come, saf only thei of the kynges counseile. But now stenteth the tale of hem, and returneth to speke of the vij kynges that were discounfited at Clarion, and all her companye, as ye haue herde.

Now, seith the story, that sorowfull and full of hevynesse were the vij kynges, whan thei were discounfited ther as thei loste all here harneyse of hirs and of folio 49a
her mayne. Than thei swore and assured togeder that neuer shulde thei be gladde till thei were avenged of kynge Arthur and vpon his enchauntour, by whom thei hadde all that losse, yef thei in eny wise myght hym gete. In this wise yede the vij kynges, mat and sorowfull for thire discounfiture wherefore thei sholde be the werse all hir lyf tyme, and somme of hem were caried in horse lyters that myght not suffre to ryde, and so thei traueyled smale iournes, till thei come in to theire londes, and soiourned till thei were hool of her woundes. And at the monthes ende thei toke a parlement in a contre that is betwene the reame of Gorre and Scotlonde, and the parlement was this: that eche of hem sholde sende after all his kyn and frendes, and so go vpon the kynge Arthur and be-reve hym his londe, and so exile hym fro all the contree; and so thei sette day to assemble at Bredigan, in the medowes. Thus thei departed, and sente for helpe bothe fer and nygh; and com hem to helpe the Duke Escam, of Cambenyk, with vMl men of armes,

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and also come the kynge Tramelmens, of Northwales, with vjMlmen, and the kynge Clarion with iijMl men, and the kynge [correction; sic = ] with the hundred knyghtes, that was a noble knyght and an hardy, come with iijMl men, and also com the kynge Loth, of Orcanye, and Leonoys, with vijMl men, and the kynge Carados, of Strangore, com with vijMl men, and also the kynge Ventres, of Garlot, com with vijMl men, and the kynge Vrien, of Gorre, com with vijMlMen, and also come the kynge Ydiers, of Cornewaile, with vjMlmen; and so thei rode forth smale iournes, as thei that wende well to distroye the contree. Than thei sente their espyes thourghoute the londe, for to knowe the rule of kynge Arthur; but the kepers that were sette in the contrey a-noon token hem alle, and sente hem to kynge Arthur, and were sette in prison that thei cowde heir tydynges. And these kynges spedde forth her iourney till thei mette, and were logged vnder the Castell of bredigan, and were mery and gladde, for thei wende well that they hadde all wonne. Thei sente theire forrears through the contrey, but litill thei fonde to take, ffor all was ledde in to Castelles and stronge townes, and this was do be the counseile of kynge ban and the kynge Broos, his brother, that were full wise knyghtes. And whan thei saugh that all was gon, and that the peple of the contrei hadde this don, thei sette all on fier and on flame, and distroied the londe all that thei myght, and made vitaile be brought to the oste of her owne londes; and when thei were alle togeder thei were acompted lxMl. But now cesseth the tale to speke of hem, and speketh of Merlin, and of the socour that he bringeth oute of the litill Breteyne, as ye haue herde be-fore.

Now, seith the boke, that so Merlin, and Leonces, and Pharien, and Antoynes, the stiwarde of Benoyk, com to the rochell, and entred in to the shippes, and so thei sailed till thei com to the bloy bretaigne, and it is reson that the boke do yow to vndirstonde whi it is so cleped. This is the trouthe: after that the distruxion of troye, it
folio 49b
fill so that two barouns departed and fledde the contrey, and oute of the londe, for doute of the Grekes. Of these two barouns that fledde the londe come grete plente of peple; and the name of that oon was Brutus, whiche dide a-ryve in Page 147
this contrey, and dide do make a Citee, that in his lyve was cleped the newe troye, for that he was come oute of troye, and the londe was cleped in worship of his name Bretaigne, for that his name was Brutus; and longe tyme after the dethe of this Brutus com anothir kynge in to this londe, that hight Logryns.

This Logryn amended gretly the Citee, and made towres and stronge walles enbateiled, and whan he hadde thus amended [correction; sic = ameded] it he chaunged the name and cleped it Logres, in breteigne, for that his name was Logryn, and this name dured in to the deth of kynge Arthur; but after his deth, and the deth of his barouns, that thourgh Mordred and Agrauayn eche slow other on the playn of Salisberi, as the boke shall reherse her-after, the deth of launcelot, that was the sone of kynge Ban, of benoyk. And so it fill after that ther was a grete pestelence and slaughter of barouns and of the mene peple, and for that the losse was so grete, the mene peple cleped it the bloy bretaigne, ffor that her hertes and her thoughtes were so bloy and so blake for theire frendes, that thei hade so loste for myschaunce of synne.

Now haue ye herde the cause why this londe was cleped the bloy bretaigne. The tother baron that fledde oute of troye was cleped Corneus. This Corneus was of the lynage of Geauntes, and in that contree that marched to bretaigne, and he was right a mervilouse knyght, and was moche and stronge, and made townes and Castelles, and men cleped the contrey Cornewaile in bretaigne, ne neuer after yet this name ne lefte. And of hym come the Geauntes, as seith the frenshe book, that moche harme haue don to the bretouns, wherof this book shall reherse yow hereafter, and also of the merveiles that be-fill in their tyme. But now returneth the tale to Merlin, that cometh in the see, and with hym bryngeth the socour and helpe to kynge Arthur oute of the litill breteigne.

Now seith the boke that whan Merlin and his companye were arived in the grete breteigne, Merlin comaunded that all the harneise and armoure sholde be trussed in males and cloth sakkes, and in other cariage, ffor he wolde not that they sholde not loigge ne tarye on the wey, but that thei sholde Page 148
trauaile day and nyght till thei come in to the place where Merlin wolde hem loigge with the meyne of kynge Arthur. And thei dide his comaundement. And so thei spedde her iourneyes that the fifte day thei come in to the forest of bredigan, where thei fonde the hoste of kynge Arthur. And bothe hostes made togeder ioye, as soone as eyder of hem myght sen other. Than thei loigged in tentes and pavilouns, and restede hem so viij dayes hool, and than was the vitaile departed as Merlin hadde devised. And than come Merlin to folio 50a
the wardeyns of the hoste, and seide, “I go to fecche the thre kynges, for thei shull do beste at this nede than eny other.” And thei seide to Merlin in game, “Loke ye be-war of the [correction; sic = of the of the] tother parti, for we here sey that thei do manace yow sore.” “I knowe that well,” quod Merlin, “but thei shall neuer haue ouer me no power; and I do yow to wete that thei haue reson to hate me, for thei haue no werse enmy, ne noon that may do hem so grete damage as I shall do, as longe as thei be enmyes to the kynge Arthur. But I haue it not yet begonne; but be well ware that noon isse oute of this hoste, ffor than the harme myght neuer be restored, ffor alle Arthurs enmyes ben loigged here faste by, vndir the castell of bredigan. And thei be acompted xlMl wele horsed men. And of oure party we be but xxvMl, and therefore we moste be wisely gouerned, or elles we sholde alle lese.”

“Sir,” quod Vlfin, “another ought rather to go on this massage than ye.” “Nay,”

quod Merlin, “I can better lede hem in safte than eny other, so that thei shall not be seyn ne knowe of no man.” “Now goth, a godes name,” seide the barouns, “and as hastely as ye may come to vs a-geyn.” And Merlin departed a-noon fro hem so sodenly, that thei knewe not where he was be-come. And than thei blissid hem for the grete merveyle that thei hadde ther-of. And than thei departed, and yede a-boute in the hoste and sette soche gouernaunce that noon was so hardy to meve ne to sette a fote oute of the hoste, ne of her loiggynge. And thus thei a-bode iiij dayes that thei ne herde

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no tydinges of the thre kynges ne of Merlin. And, as the boke seith, the same nyght that Merlin departed fro the hoste, he come to logres be-fore euesonge, where as he fonde the thre kynges full pensif and hevy, for the contrey that was so wastid and distroyed. Than come Merlin so sodenly a-monge hem that thei wiste not fro whens he com. And a-noon thei hym clipt and made grete ioye, and after thei asked hym how he hadde spedde seth that he fro hem departed; and he seide right wele, and badde hem make redy to go in to the oste, ffor ther-after the barouns dide a-bide.

“How, sir,” quod kynge ban, “is oure socour than I-come.” “Ye,” quod Merlin, “thei be loigged by Arthurs oste in the myddel of the launde, in the foreste of bredigan; and thei be xvMl horsemen, and also of Arthurs xMl. But on that other party is moche peple, for ther be x kynges crowned and a Duke, and thei haue in theire companye lMl horsemen.” “Now god helpe vs,” quod Arthur, “for this a grete peple.” “Ye,” quod Merlin, “yet is ther more with this myschef than all this, ffor thei be gode knyghtes and of high prowesse; but be the feith that I owe to kynge Arthur, that is my lorde, I hope, with the helpe of god to do so moche thourgh the
folio 50b
witte that he hath me sente, that in euyll tyme come thei ther, for thei shall haue so moche to done that thei shall not a-gein yow endure. But ther shall be a bateile, and that shall be grete, and moche slaughter ther shall be of men and horse; but on owre partye shull not be deed above xxiiij, but on their syde shall be deed the thowsandes, and that shall ye se. And therfore a-noon aray yow, for after soper we will ride. And also do lede with yow vitaile for iiij dayes, for it is not to a-bide lenger.” And whan that thei vndirstode that Merlin hadde seide, a-noon thei made redy and araide hem of alle thynges that was nedefull, and than yede to soper at gode leyser. And than the kynge asked Merlin yef thei sholde hem arme. And he seide, “Nay,” for it sholde do hem to moche gref, ne thei sholde haue no drede of no man lyvinge be that wey as he wolde hem lede.

Whan thei hadde souped thei cloded hem warme as thei myght, for the froste was grete, and the mone shone

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clere; and they passed on her iourney. And ne were no mo than xxvMl what oon and other. Whan thei were alle on horse bakke, Merlin rode be-fore, and the thre kynges and Antor, that satte vpon a grete stede, whiche the kynge made hym on to ryde, to be with hem in company; but he wolde haue abiden with gode chere yef the kynge wolde. In this maner thei rode all nyght; and Merlin was Guyde till thei com in a grete foreste, where thei a-lighte till here mete was made redy.

Than thei ete and dronke of soche as thei hadde brought with hem, for thei hadde I-nough. And whan thei hadden ete, Merlin yede [correction; sic = ]to the thre kynges in counseile, and seide, “Sir,” quod he to kynge Arthur, “wote ye what I shall sey: ye be a yonge man, and haue a grete reame to maynteyne, and the barouns ne deyne not to yow obbeye; and also the mene peple ne knowe yow but litill ne were the great yeftes that ye have yoven. And, therfore, I say yef euer ye haue be large of yeftes here be-fore, loke now that ye be larger hens-forth, ffor ye may not so wele gete the hertes of youre peple as for to be fre and gentill in yevinge; and ye shull haue I-nough whereof, and I will telle yow how.”

“I do yow to wite that in this grounde, ther we be now, is the grettest tresour that may be founde in eny place; but ye shall not take it till ye be repeired fro the bateile, for ye shall haue I-nough of other thinges to departe. And, loke ye, take gode hede of this plotte of grounde that ye now sitte on, whan that ye be agein repeired.” Than he shewde hem a welle, and made ther a signe.

And the kynges were gretly a-merveiled of that he hadde seide. And whan thei hadde longe spoke togeder thei lepe to horse, and rode day and nyght till thei come in to the hoste, in the foreste of bredigan. And ther thei pight the kynges teynte, by the feirest welle and the moste clere that thei hadde seen. And it yaf so gret foyson of water that the brooke ran down the launde, that was right feire and delectable [correction; sic = delctable]. And the weder was right colde, for, as the boke seith, it was in the moneth of Janever, viij dayes before
folio 51a

Candelmesse. And whan thei were loiged thei rested, and right her armours, and soiourned so two dayes hool. Than com Merlin Page 151
to hem, and seide that “Now fro hens-forth may we go vpon youre enmyes, and therfore devise now who shall haue the vaunt garde, ffor ye shull go in soche manere that thei shall not knowe till ye be vpon hem, and that shall be two oures be-fore day erly; ffor and thei aperceyve yow thei be so moche peple that ye may not agein hem endure. And haue ye no drede, for ye shall haue the victorye.” Than thei hem armed, and a-raide in the beste manere, and devised her batailes, and deliuered to kay the kynges banere, for to bere, that condited the firste bateile. And with him was Gifflet and Lucas the boteller, and marke de la roche, and Aguyuas li blois, and drias de la forest sauage, and belias the amerouse, and flaundrins le bret. These viij knyghtes were in the firste sheltron, and were iiijMl horsemen; the secunde ledde Bretell, that was of grete bounte and a trewe knyght, and a sure of his honde, and he hadde iijMl wele horsed. The thirde he delyuered to Vlfin, that moche knewe of werre, and was a full noble knyght. In this warde [correction; sic = warde warde] was kynge Arthur, and iiijMl of gode men that neuer wolde faile their lorde for no drede of deth, and eueriche of these wardes drough by hym self a-sonder like as was devised. And so rode forth a softe pas kepynge clos, as Merlin dide hem guyde, whiche rode before vpon a grete courser. After that the kynge Ban devised and ordeyned his peple and his brothers, and delyuered the firste warde to Pharien for to lede, and also to bere the ensigne of kynge Boors, as he that was a noble knyght and wele a-vised, and with hym was Moret de la veye, and ladunas, and Pales de trebes, and grassiens li bloys, and blioberis and meliadus the blake, and in her company iijMl horsmen. The seconde warde of kynge ban ledde leonce of Paerne, that was a noble knyght and an hardy, and in his company iiijMl wele arayed. The thirde warde lede the kynge Boors of Gannes, that full wele cowde hem guyde, and were in his company iiijMl men wele horsed. The forthe bataile ledde the kynge Ban of Benoyk, whiche was the beste kyght of alle other that was in the hoste. And he

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delyuered his signe to Aliaume his stiwarde for to bere, that was a gode knyght, and in his company iiijMl of gode men, that for no fer of deth wolde not faile their lorde. And whan they were all a-raide and discevered a-sonder, thei rode forth be the mone light that was full bright shynynge. Now cesseth the tale to speke of hem at this tyme, and returne to telle of the Danes, and of the kynges that marcheden to the londe a-boute, that become to werre vpon the kynge Arthur.

Now, seith the boke, that whan the kynge Brangore and the kynge Margans, and the kynge hardogabran, that was nevewe to the kynge Amynadus, that was kynge of the Danes, that was oncle to Aungier, the danoys that Arthurs fader dide slee like as ye haue herde here fore whan thei herde sey how these vij barouns dide werre vpon kynge Arthur. Than thei dide somown her peple fer and nygh, till folio 51b
thei were xxxti Ml of men on horse bakke withoute fotemen wherof was grete plente, and so thei entred in to the londe, and toke many prayes and brent townes and vilages and distroyed all the contrees as thei passeden, and slow peple grete plete, and sette a sege be-fore a castell that was called Vandelers, in cornewaile, and ther thei were longe tyme, that neuer ne myght be put oute, for all the power that the xj kynges hadden, till that the kynge Arthur chased hem oute after that his barouns were acorded with hym. But now of hem no more speketh the boke at this tyme till the mater it asketh, but repaireth to kynge Arthur and to Merlin, and to kynge Ban, of Benoyk, and kynge boors, of Gannes, and telleth how thei were in-batailed a-gein the xj kynges that were be-fore the castell of bredigan.

The boke seith that while kynge Arthur and kynge Ban, of benoyk, and kynge Boors, of Gannes, ordeyned her batailes in this wise, as ye haue herde; that nyght the xj kynges ne toke noon hede to sette no wacche in thayr hoste, but wente to their bedde, and slepte as thei that nothynge knewe that her enmyes were so nygh, but oon feire fortune for thei hadde, that alle the xj kynges lay in the kynges teynte, that was cleped Roy de Cent Chiualiers, and thei ne wende not to haue no drede of

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no man; and as thei thus were slepynge be-fill that kynge looth was in a ferfull dreme, ffor hym semed that he saugh so grete a wynde a-rise that it caste down howses and stepelis of chirches, and after that ther come a thounder so grete and merveilously sharpe, that hym thought all the worlde trembled for fere and drede, and after that com a water so sharply, that drof down the howsynge and a grete parte of the peple, and hym semed how hym self was in grete pereile to drowne; and as the kynge loth was in this affray, he dede a-wake, and hym blissed and was sore abaisshed of this dreme that he was in, and a-roos and apareiled hym, and yede to his felowes, and hem dide a-wake and tolde hem his a vision. And thei asked hym fro whiche part com the water, and he seide from the foreste com all the rage and the tempeste as hym semed. And thei seide thei knewe verily that thei sholde hastely haue bataile, and that merveillouse. And therwith thei a-risen, and a-woke alle the knyghtes therynne, and comaunded hem to serche all the contre environ, that thei were not supprised of no peple.

And thei armed hem right wele, and lepte on ther horses, and rode serchynge the contrey. And the xj kynges hem armed and a-raide in the beste maner that thei cowden. And than Merlin be-gan to haste Arthurs peple, that well knewe the gouernaunce of the tother party, and thei com so faste on, that thei toke noon hede till thei were euen fallen on hem that the contrey serched. And whan thei saugh hem armed, thei hadde grete drede, and asked Merlin, that mette with hem formeste, what peple thei were, and Merlin seide folio 52a
it was the kynge Arthur that was come to chalange his londe a-gein alle hem that therwith wolde be greved. Whan thei herde these wordes thei turned bakke, and smote the horse with spores, and whan thei come in to the hoste, thei cryde “Treson, treson. Now as armes lordes, gentill knyghtes, for ther was neuer so grete nede, for lo! here cometh Arthur euen at youre teyntes.” And thei ronne to here armes, that yet were in her beddys, and hadde no leyser hem to clothe, and that was yet a faire happe for hem that her horses were redy sadellyd; but yet for all that thei myght hem hasten, thise other were vpon hem er thei myght Page 154
be half a-raied of her harneyse. And therwith hem fill a grete encomberaunce, that Merlin sente hem soche a wynde and tempeste, that her tentes fill vpon their hedes, and a-monge hem was soche a truble that vn-ethe myght eny of hem se other ne heren. And that was a thynge that gretly hem distrubled in her armynge, and therynne thei caught grete damage, ffor Arthurs peple smote in a-monge hem, and ouerthrewe and slowgh all that thei myght a-reche. But the xj kynges were departed and deseuered, and yeden oute in to the playn feldes withoute the tentes, and made blowe a trompe high and clere. And that was don for that all theire men sholde drawe towarde hem. And thei dide so as many as myght aschape fro hem that of hem hadde no pyte, ffor ther was of hem so many slayn in that grete myschef, that of the thirde parte thei were well delyuered, and ther-to thei saugh hem of so grete puyssaunce, that thei turned to flight towarde her baner where as thei herde the trompe sowne, ffor the kynges were stynted at the entre of the forest by a river, and ther assembled alle her peple that thei myght haue. And so thei encresed litill and litill, till thei were xxti Ml that fledde, some heere and some there, that ne myght come to here baner but with harde peyne. And so were thei sory and wroth for theire grete damage and losse, and sore thei compleyned their grete annoye. And xMl lefte liggynge in the felde what dede and wounded, that no power hadde hem to diffende ne for to greve noon other.

Whan the kynge Arthur saugh that all the herbegage was to hym be-lefte, than he com to Merlin, and asked hym how he sholde do. Quod Merlin, “I will telle yow what ye shall do. Ye shall go here be-fore to the passage at the forde, where as be gadered xxti Ml men, and ye shall fight with hem and make hem entende to yow.

And the kynge ban and his brother shull go a-bowte, and come on the tothir syde of hem, and com on hem fro the foreste. And thei shull so be astoneed that in hem shall be but litill defence.” Than thei departed the toon fro the tother.

And the kynge yede thedir as the barouns were a-bidynge that ne wende to haue no drede of noon other, saf of hym; and of hym thei ne drede but litill, for thei trowed

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hem wele to diffende agein gretter peple than ther was with hym. And the kynge Ban torned towarde the foreste, and Arthur rode with his company till he com ther as the xj kynges were togeder assembled. Whan thei come to the passage folio 52b
of the forde ther sholde ye haue seyn speres perce thourgh sheldes, and many knyghtes liggynge in the water, so that the water was all reade of blode. And kay heilde so the pas with the baner, and payned that his company gate ouer. And whan the xj kynges saugh so small a peple, hem thourgh preced and rused, for thei were but iiijMl, and thei were more than xxti Ml, thei hadde ther-of grete despite and shame, and diffended hem apperly. And kay and his feliship kepte hem so clos that noon ne myght hem persch, but longe thei myght it not suffre; but than com Vlfyn hem to socour, that gretly hem conforted, and passed the water delyuerly. And whan thei were ouer thei smyten in a-monge hem so vigorously that oon myght here the crassinge of speres half a myle longe. Grete and crewell was the bateile at this assemble, and the noyse grete and huge vpon the helmes and sheldes. And many a noble man lay ther deed and wounded, wher-of was grete damage. But longe thei myght not this endure; but than com Bretell, and hem sustened, and moche he hem comforted. And as soone as bretell was passed the water he saugh hys company at grete myschef, for he saugh Vlfin drowen down of his horse in the presse, that heilde his swerde in his honde and strongly hym deffended, that noon was so hardy his strokes to a-bide. And whan bretell that perceyved he was sorowfull and pensif, for he hym loved full hertely. He let his horse renne, and smote him so sore that he first mett that he threwe hym and his horse to the erthe. And whan Clarion saugh that he hadde grete sorow at his herte, and seide that he wolde his felowe a-venge yef he in eny wyse cowde. And whan bretell saugh kynge Clorion come, he sette his horse hym a-geyn, and mette so sore togeder that the sheldes perced, for bothe the knyghtes were stronge and of grete pris and grete maltalente, so that her speres splyndered in peces, and that their passage hurtlid so togeder with their bodyes and sheldes Page 156
and helmes, that her yen sparkeled that thei semed thei were fallen from their heedes so were thei astoned. And the horses bar hem so harde that the skyn of the horse knees and legges were all to rente, that the blode ran to the erthe.

Longe tyme lay the barouns at erthe withoute remevynge, so astonyed that thei ne wiste whethir it was nyght or day; so thei that it behelden wende eche hadde slayn other. Thider preced bothe partyes to the rescowe, and ther was grete losse on bothe parties. Than com kay the stiward to the rescowe, and on the tother side come thre kynges. Ther sholde ye haue sein fres encountre, for on Arthurs side was viij, and on the tothir side were xj; and thei smeten togeder fiersly. Ther was Gifflet vn-horsed, and lucas the botiller, and the kynge brangore, and the kinge Ydiers, and the kynge Vrien, and the kynge aguysas. Ther be-gan the medle grete and merveillouse, and longe it endured, for thei remounted Gifflet be fyn force a-monge his enmyes, and that made kay the stiwarde, for he sette Gifflet on the kynge Ventres horse; and also he smote folio 53a
down the kynge loot with a tronchown of a spere that he was sore hurte. And with that stroke com the kynge cleped the roy de Cent chyualers, and hadde in his compayne lx knyghtes of the beste chosen oute. And whan he saugh kay the stiwarde hadde smyte down the kynge loot, hit hym for thought sore, and seide, “But I hym a-venge I am litill to preyse!” He spored his horse that wey and hitte kay so sore that he bar hym vpright to the erthe, and ledde his horse to kynge loot, and seide, “Sir, haue heer and thenke to a-venge youre annoye, for moche haue we loste this day.” And the kynge loot lepte vp lightly. And whan Gifflet saugh kay fallen, and also lucas the botiller, he was sorowfull and hevy, and hadde recouered a stronge spere, and spored the horse, and smote a knyght of the kynge de Cent chyualers that he bar hym to grounde vpright, and than hente the horse be the reynes, and presented it to kay; and he lepte vp lightly as he that hadde grete mystere. And the kynge de cent chiualers and kynge loot haue so medled that by fyn strengthe thei haue horsed the kynge Ventres of Garlot vpon the horse of moret de Page 157
la roche, and the kynge ydiers vpon the horse of Guyuas le bloy, and the Duke Escam of Cambanyk vpon the horse of drias de la forest sauage. And whan these lordes were horsed, thei seide thei wolde be avenged vpon the losse that thei hadde received, or elles thei wolde be deed.

Than these viij barouns yaf a newe a-saute, but ther was grete losse of men and horse, whan that Arthur com that gretly hem comforted and hem sustenyd, for as soone as he was passed the forde, he smote the horse with spores, and fonde Vlfyn on fote, and his swerde in his hande, and bretell, that with grete peyne lepte on horse, wherfore Arthur was sore greved. He heilde a grete square spere and smote in to the presse where he saugh thikkest, and mette with Tradilyuaunt, the kynge of wales, that com a-gein hym all fressh, and he hym hitte so harde, that he smote hym thourgh the shelde, that he yaf hym a wounde in the lifte syde, and hym threwe to the erthe so rudely, that he hym all to brosed, and Arthur hente the horse by the gilte reynes and yaf it to Vlfyn, and bad hym lepe vp delyuerly vpon that stede and thenke to a-venge the shame and the vilony that ye haue hadde. And so he dide lightly, and seide, “Sir, gramercy.” And a-noon as Vlfyn was vp he smote in to the presse, and leide on so harde that he brake the presse, he and kynge and her helpes that newe were come oute of her enbusshement. And thei on the tother side were wroth for the grete damage that thei hadde, and yet were thei more peple be the haluendell than hadde Arthur.

Than be-gan the medle right stour, and grete and mortall, wherefore many a fre moder wepte salt teeres. Ther dide kynge Arthur many merveiles in armes, that by his dedis he was knowe in shorte tyme of many oon that neuer hadde hym sein, and they yaf hym place alle the moste hardy of hem, for they ne durste not of hym a-byde a stroke.

Whan the kynge, that was called le roy de Cent Chiualers, saugh the kynge Tradelyuanunt
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reuerse to the erthe he was right wroth, for he hym loved with grete love, and he was merveilously wele horsed, and he rode fiercely to kynge Arthur, and smote hym so sore vpon the helme that he was astonyed.

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And whan the kynge felte the stroke, hym for thought it sore, and so dide kay that was in his company. The kynge cam formest grypynge his swerd for to smyte hym thourgh the helme. And whan he saugh the stroke come, he coured hym with his shelde, and the kynge hym smote so harde, that the haluendell fley in to the felde; and the stroke glenched vpon the horse hede, and smote it of be the eres.

And so thei fill to grounde, the horse and his maister. And kay beheilde and saugh an horse go a-stray, and he caught it and yaf it to Antor. And he lepte vp lightly, and after caught a spere, and smote margnam, the stiwarde of the kynge cleped roy de Cent chiualers, so harde thourgh the shelde and the lifte shulder, that the spere hede shewed thourgh, and he fill to the grounde vpright, and therwith brake the spere. And he leyde honde on the horse, and ledde it to Bretell be the reyne, that ther-of hadde grete nede. And he lepte up delyuerly, and than he beheilde a-boute in the presse, and saugh lucas the botiller lye a-monge the horse feet full doelfully. And Gifflet a-bode by hym, and deffended hym right vigerousely, and moche hym preysed and comended, for ther was a-geyn hym xiiij, and he but sool by hymself; and yet myght thei not gete on hym no grounde for powert hat thei hadden. And whan bretell saugh this he com thider, and smote the first that he mette so harde thourgh the helme that he slyt hym to the teth, and after he smote the seconde on the arme, that he made it fle in to the felde with all the shelde; and than the thirthe so harde vpon the lifte shulder that he it deseuered from the body. Whan Gifflet saugh he hadde socour, he smote oon so harde on the temple that he slyt it to the nekke; and he fill down deed. And Gifflet toke the horse, and ledde it to lucas the [correction; sic = h] boteller. And he lept vp angry and wroth, as he that wolde fayne a-venge his shame. And than he hente a spere grete and sharpe grounde, and saugh Aguysans, the kynge of Scotlonde, and rode a-gein hym full egerly, and smote hym with all his myght thourgh the coler of his haubrek so sore that he fill to the erthe. And whan Mares saugh hym so delyuered he lepte vpon the horse delyuerly, and rode in to the bataile, that

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not dide but enforce more and more, and fonde belias and flaundryns, that were arested vpon diras, and on dionas tweyne of her felowes, and peyned hem for to remounte hem on her horse; but so grete was the presse that thei hadde no leyser hem to beholde. And so thei foughten so strongely that it was merveile to beholde. And thei smyten in monge hem, and begonne to do so wele, that the two felowes were agein sette on horse. And on the tother side faugh the kynge Arthur and his meyne so longe and the noyse and the cry aros of the two kynges that thei hadde vn-horsed. And so thei ronne to the rescowe on bothe sides, that oon for to socour, and the
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tother to helpe the kynge Arthur. Ther was the medle grete. Ther eche wounde and kylde other; but with grete payne were the two kynges rescued and sette on horse. But first was ther grete occision, for the kynge Arthur kepte hem so shorte that thei myght not hem socour for power that thei hadden; and ne hadde be on auenture that fill thei sholde neuer haue be rafte from Arthur, for he ran the rescow of kay and Gifflet, that kynge Ventres, and kynge brangores, and kynge Vrien, and the kynge Abigans, hadde ouerthrowen from theire horse, and hem defouled vnder the horse feet full lothly, and hadde no mo hem to deffende but lucas the botiller, that these all so moche greved. Whan the kynge Arthur saugh this nede, he turned that wey as wroth as a lyon, and leide a-boute hym on bothe sides, and slow all that he raught with a full stroke, so that thei voyded hys strokes and hym rome. And kay and Gifflet pressed to the kynges, that moche hem hadde greved, and with hem sore foughten. And on the tother side faught bretell and Vlfyn and Antor with the duke Escam of Cambenyk, and a-geyn Tradilyuaunt, and a-gein clarion, of Northumberlonde, and agein Carados, that was a noble knyght; so thei made hem to blenche thider, as kynge Arthur faught, that dide merveilouse prowesse of werre. Ther thei stynte that oon agein the tother, for ther was the maister baner, and ne hadde be the kynge Arthur hymself. Alle thei hadden be discounfited, for these kynges were odde noble knyghtes, and more peple be the toon half than on Arthurs syde; and, therfore, Page 160
it myght not longe endure withoute grete damage. Than com vpon hem the kynge Ban and the kynge Boors from the foreste, where thei wende to haue no drede of no man lyvinge. And whan thei were come an thei hem sye, thei yaf ascry that all the foreste and the river resounde; and thei saugh well that the losse and the damage moste nede falle vpon hem. Thanne the princes and the barouns drowen a-part togeder in the medowes, and devised a-monge hem self what thinge that thei myght do. Than seide the kynge loot, “I wote neuer how ye be a-vised to do, but as for me I shall vpon iij or iiij of hem ben a-vengid of myn annoye, sith that all shall be loste. And whan the kynge cleped Roy de Cent chiualers vndirstode how kynge loot hadde seide, he preisede hym moche, and seide that in the same maner wolde he do; and so dide kynge Carados, and the Duke Escam seide the same, and the kynge Clarion of Northumbirlonde seide also in the selue maner. “Now than,” quod kynge loot, “I shall telle yow what we shull do. Lete vij of us go a-gein hem that come fressh oute of her enbusshment from the foreste, and fight with hem while we may endure; and the tother v abide here in this bataile. And we shall go a-gein hem with xijMl men, and viijMl shull a-bide in this stour; and we shull holde this bataile nygh this wode, vpon the river, vn-to the nyght, in soche manere that they may not vs enclose; and than may we beste departe, for yef we now do fle, we shull lese more than to a-bide stille.”

To this counseile that kynge loot hadde yove acorded wele all the prynces; and drough hem a-parte, and disseuerede her
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peple. And the kynge loot, and the kynge de Cent Chiualers, and the Duke escam of Cambenyk. And the kynge Aguysans of Scotlonde toke xijMl in her companye, and made vj wardes, and in euerich of hem ijMlmen. And so thei rode forth the softe pas straite and clos till they come to the straite betwene the wode and the river, as the kynge loot hadde hem taught; and that was the beste counseile that any man myght hem yeve. Thus thei were redy hem to deffende; and the tother v lefte in the bataile that full vigorously hem deffended a-gein the kynge Arthur.

Of these v that a-bide

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stille was the kynge Brangore, that oon, and the kynge Vrien, and the kynge Ventres, and the kynge Clarion, of Northumbirlond, and Tradilyuaunt, the kynge of North wales, and hadde in her company vijMl men, and heilde her enbuschement in a litill grove, and ther thei hem diffended right sore, as thei that were full noble knyghtes and of grete renoun; and grete doel and pite was it for the euyll will betwene hem and the kynge Arthur. And here was sore bataile, and endured till it was even toward nyght. And on the tother side come the kynge Ban and the kynge boors, and leonce and Pharien, that ledde the firste bataile, and come clos a softe pas, and full longe hem thought er thei were mette togeder.

And on the tother parte com a-gein hem the kynge ydiers. And when thei aproched nygh thei lete renne and smyte togeder so harde that ye myght here the strokes half a myle of length. Ther was a merveillouse stoure and harde bataile, and grete occision of men and of horse, but thei myght not suffre longe, ne endure the peple of kynge ydiers, but were driven bak vpon the warde of kynge Aguysans of Scotlonde, that gretly hem counforted and sustened. Here be-gan the bataile merveilouse and harde. And the peple of Pharien were sore ouerleide; but as leonces of Paerne com hem to socoure, and a-sailed hem so fiercely, that noon ne abode in the place, but drof hem bak vpon the warde of the Duke escam of Cambenyk. Whan the Duke saugh hem come, he cride his ensigne, and lete renne to theym that he sye comynge, and smote in amonge hem fiercely. Than recouered thei that fledden, and returned a-gein to hem that hadde hem enchased. And ther thei stalleden and foughten the ton vpon the tother till thei were bothe wery for travaile. And so longe endured the fight betwene hem that her strokes ne peysed but light. Than com on the kynge Boors with the grete baner, wher-of the feilde was ynde, bende of golde. And whan the kynge ydiers saugh hym comynge, he seide, “Ha! now god vs deffende fro deth this day and fro mayme, ffor now I se well that we be alle in pereile of deth, for I se yonder comynge the baner of the man that most is dredde of his enmyes thourgh the worlde. And ther-to he is so Page 162
gode a knyght that alle other be but as hares as in comparison to hym, saf only his brother, to whom no comperison may be made.”

Whan the kynge that was cleped Roy de Cent chiualers vndirstode the wordes of kynge
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Ydiers, he asked what he was. And he ansuerde, “It is the kynge Boors of Gannes; and I ne wote how, ne whan, he com in to this contre; but, lo, hym yonder, for I knowe well his baner.” Than seide the kynge of [correction; sic = ] the [correction; sic = th] Cent cheualers, “How com he in to this londe?” “So helpe me god,” quod kynge loot, “I wote neuer; but now it shall be knowe who is knyght.” Than seide the kynge Carados, “I wote not what eche of yow will do; but as for me, I will go hym a-geyns, and yef I haue nede of socour and helpe, so do ye youre dever.” And thei seide so thei wolde, and be-taught hym to god that from euell hym sholde diffende. Than departed Carados from these other, and rode clos a softe pase a-gein the kynge Boors. And whan thei approched togeder nygh a bowe draught, thei lete bothe her horse renne the ton a-gein the tother as faste as horse myght hem bere, and brake their speris in her metynge. And many ther were that were throwen to grownde, and many wounded to the deth, and many ther were that passeden thourgh and come withoute stroke of spere, and after drough theire swerdes and begonne stronge bataile, and harde and merveilouse.

Than com the kynge Boors to a knyght that was his godsone, and his name was Blaaris, and comaunded hym to bere his baner. And he was a merveilouse gode knyght, and durste not refuse it. And the kynge Boors seide he wolde assay how the bretouns cowde bere armes. Than he hente a grete spere, and rode in a-monge hem that alle the renges fremysshed, and smote a knyght so sore that ther was noon armoure myght hym warante, but that he sente the heede and the shafte thourgh the body and threw hym to grounde so rudely that in the fall he brake his nekke, and the spere fley on peces; and than he pulled oute his swerde, and be-gan to do so merveilouse of armes that alle thoo it syen were sore abasshed, and made hym wey and fly from his strokes as soone as thei saugh hym come towarde hem. And ther hadde the kynge Carados loste to Page 163
moche; but as the kynge de Cent chiualers hym socoured anoon with ijMl men, whiche was a worthi knyght and desirouse in armes. And as soone as thei were mette thei heilde hem peryngall; but the prowesse of kynge boors was passynge alle other, for he dide merveiles. And on the tother side dide well the kynge Carados, and the kynge de Cent Chiualers; these suffred many myscheves. And thus thei endured longe tyme.

Than com the kynge Ban of Benoyk, that thought it was longe tyme till he were mette with his enmyes. The kynge com in to the stour with hys baner in his honde, and it delyuered to his stiwarde. Crownes of goolde and asure bendes entrauerse lysted as grene as a mede, and the stremers down to the handes of Antony his stiwarde, and also he spredde ouer the eres of his horse and the nekke. And whan the barouns saugh the baner of kynge Ban, thei wyste well that withynne short tyme thei moste voyde the feilde, or elles dye yef [correction; sic = yef yef] thei longe a-bide. And a-noon as thei were assembled folio 55b
thei on the tother part ne heilde no place. Than the kynge loot com and assembled his company, wepinge with his yen, for he saugh wele that all was loste on his party. Thanne sholde ye haue seye brekynge of speres on bothe sides vpon sheldes, and the erthe to tremble vnder the stedes, and the wode to resounde of the grete strokes that ther was yove togeder, that men myght haue herde it half a myle longe. And whan the kynge Ban was come the tother party ne a-bode not longe, but were dryven bakke that thei were made to resorte to the fyve kynges and vpon her peple. Here was full grete dolour and grete mortalite of men and of horses, for as soone as the kynge Ban com in to the medlee he be-gan to do so grete martirdom of peple, and so grete occision, that on alle partyes thei fledde from his swerde. And he serched the renges thourgh, and his swerde in his honde, and leide on bothe sydes that ther nas noon so thikke presse but he it disseuered full moche; and gretly was the kynge Ban and his company I-douted. Than com the kynge loot and the kynge de Page 164

Cent chiualers and margamour, alle thre; and the bateilles were entermedled that oon with the tother. And whan thei saugh the kynge Ban, that dide hem so moche damage, loot was right wroth, and so were the tother kynges. Than he smote the horse with the spores that wey, his swerde in his honde; and he was a noble knyght and an hardy, and smote the kynge Ban vpon the shelde a grete stroke, that a cantell fleygh in to the feilde. And whan Ban saugh this it a-noyed hym sore; and than he lifte vp the bronde, and ficched hym in the styropes so harde that the Iren bente, and wende to smyte the kynge de Cent Chiualers vpon the helme, and he that douted, and the stroke blenched, and smote the steede with the spores, and the stroke descended be-hynde, and smote a-sonder the trappure of mayle, and thourgh the horse to the erthe; and so thei frussht bothe on an hepe, the horse and his maister. And whan the kynge was fallen he lepe vp delyuerly on fote, his swerde in his honde, and his shelde coverynge hys side.

When the kynge Brangore saugh the kynge de Cent chiualers falle, he ran vpon the kynge Ban, and smote hym so grete a stroke thourgh the shelde that he slit a-wey a grete quarter. And the kynge ban hym yaf so grete a stroke thourgh the helme that he slyt the sercle and the koyf of Iren to the heed, and yef the swerde hadde not glenched he hadde be deed. And he fill to grounde astonyd. Whan the two kynges were releved thei begonne the medle a-gein the kynge Ban; but he hym deffended so wele that thei hadde more damage than he; ne ther nas noon of the two kynges but thei hadde loste a grete part of her blode, for the woundes that thei hadde resceyved. And it a-bode not longe er ther come grete damage and losse to the thre kynges, whan the batailes were medled togeder, and he made hem departe wheder thei wolde or noon. Than fill it that the kynge Arthur fonde the kynge ban on fote, in myddell of the presse, his swerde in his fiste, that hym deffended
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so vigerously that noon ne durst hym aproche. And he was a moche knyght, and a stronge oute of mesure. And he lepe vpon hem thourgh the presse; and whan he neyghed ner thei made hym wey, for so thei douted his strokes Page 165
that ther was noon so hardy that durst hem a-byde. Therwith com the kynge Arthur, brekynge the presse, gripynge his swerde, all be-soyled with blode of men and of horse, for he dide many merveiles of armes with his body. And whan he saugh the kynge Ban at so grete myschef, he wax wode for Ire. Than he rode to a knyght that richely horsed; and Arthur lifte vp the swerde, and smote hym thourgh the helme soche a stroke that he slyt hym to the teth, and he fill to grounde. Than he toke the horse be the reynes, and ledde it to kynge ban, and seide, “Frende, lepe on lightly, for in euell tyme ben oure enmyes entred; anoon shall ye se hem forsake the felde.”

Whan the kynge ban was horsed be the helpe of kynge Arthur, he was gladde of that hadde hym founden. And than thei two smyten in a-monge her enmyes. And whan the tother perceyved the grete damage that the kynge arthur and the kynge ban hem dide her peple, that were so loste and discounfited, and that thei hadde loste all talent of wele doynge, and turned the bakkes. And thei hem chased to the wode; but ther were many slayn and defouled. So were thei distreyned betwene the wode and the river. Ther thei stalled and a-bode, and knewe well yef thei hadde be in the playn thei hadde be in pereyle of deth. Than the kynge loot, and the kynge ventres, and the kynge de C. chiualers, and the kynge Carados, and the kynge vrien and the kynge ydiers, and the kynge brangore, and the kynge of Northumbirlonde, helde hem togeder; whan marganors hem seide, and badde hem suffre and a-bide, while thei myght for to socour theire peple; for yef thei be thus disconfite, oure peple shull be all loste and distroied.

Thus chased hem the kynge Arthur and the kynge ban be-fore alle other, till thei come to a grete water and a depe, where as thei that fledde hadde made a brigge of tymber and of plankes. And thei passed over the water after the tother, and so enchased hem the kynge Arthur and the kynge Boors, that thei come to that brigge that was so made, and wolde passe ouer after hem. And than com Merlin and seide, “Kynge Arthur, what wilt thow do? haste thow ouercome thyn enmyes?

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Go in to thi londe, and lede with the thy frendes that thow haste brought with the, and hem serue and worschipe at theire pleiser, ffor I moste go in to the wode for to my distynes aboute blase, that right moche is my frende.” Anoon he departed from Arthur, and entred in to the forest, and fonde blase, that longe after hym hadde desired. And than he asked hym where he hadde so longe a-biden.

And Merlin tolde hym how he hadde be a-boute the kynge Arthur for to counseile hym. And blase seide he dide but foly to a-bide so moche a-bowte hym, saf only for to counseile the crowne royall. Than Merlyn tolde hym alle thynges that were falle to the kynge Arthur seth he departed
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fro hym, and how he yede for to fecche socour in the litill breteyne. And than he tolde hym how the hethen peple were entred in to the londes of the barouns, and how thei werred. And blase wrote alle these thinges that Merlin hym tolde, and sette hem in his boke; and ther-by haue we the knowleche ther-of. But now leueth the tale to speke of Merlyn and of blase, and speketh of kynge Arthur and of the twey other kynges that ben in his company.

CHAPTER XI.

THE DOINGS OF KING ARTHUR AFTER THE BATTLE, AND HIS DEPARTURE FOR TAMELIDE.

Now seith the boke whan that kynge Arthur hadde discounfited hys enmyes, and the xj kynges and a Duke, by the counseile of Merlin, that was gon to blase his maister in Northumberlonde. Than he returned gladde and ioyfull of that oure lorde hath yove hym the victorye of his enmyes. Than he com to ţe logges wherof the walles layn at the erthe as Merlin hadde beten hem down. Than thei leged and pight teyntes and pavilouns, and hem rested, and lete the hoste be wacched. And leonce and Pharien hadde the gouernaunce of the wacche, and Gifflet and lucas the botiller. Pharien and leonces kepte towarde the wode, and Gifflet and lucas towarde the medowes, and alle the tother

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lay and rested hem till day, and than thei ete and dranke grete plente, for thei hadde I-nough of vitaile. In this manere rested the hoste till in the morowe, till the kynge Arthur made be leide on an hepe all the wynynge and the richesse that ther was geten. And whan thei hadde herde messe thei com a-gein ther as the tresour was leide togeder. And the thre kynges it departed a-boute to soche as hem semed was for to do, to on lesse and to another more, after that the persones were of astate or degre. And so thei departed to pore knyghtes and squeres that neuer after were pore, in so moche that thei kepte not to hem-self the valew of a peny. And after thei departed stedes and [correction; sic = a]

palfreyes and clothes of silke, and yaf all while ther was ought to departe, and sente a-gein alle knyghtes and squyres and sergeauntes and other meyne, saf xl that sholde go with hem in to Carmelide. Thus yede Pharien and grassien and leonces, lorde of Paerne, and ledde with hem her peple for to kepe her londe and her contrey, that the kynge Claudas ne dede hem no stade.

Whan these barouns were come in-to theire contrey thei boughten londes and rentes wherwith thei leved after in grete honour with the auer that was departed that made hem after riche. And the kynge [correction; sic = ky] Arthur lefte in his contrey the two kynges with hym, as ye haue herde. So thei soiourned at bredigan that was in the marche of breteyne the grete, and in the marche of Carmelide; and ther thei a-bode Merlin that sholde come to hem thider.

And on the morow, whan Arthur sholde departe his peple, and that he hadde made hem grete feste and grete ioye at bredigan, and the kynges hadde dyned, they yed vp in to the loges
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that were vpon the ryver for to se the medowes and the gardynes. And as thei behelden, they saugh come a grete karl thourgh the medowes by the ryver with a bowe in his honde, and his arowes vnder his girdell. And in the brooke were wylde gees, that hem dide bathe as theire kynde is to do. The karll drough his bowe, and with a bolte smote oon in the nekke, that it brake in sondre. Than he shette anothir bolte, and slowgh a malarde. Than he toke hem, and henge hem be the nekkes at his girdell, and yede towarde the loges where as the Page 168
thre kynges were lenynge, and hadde well seen the shotte of the karll. And whan he come nygh the loges he shette another bolte, and whowped to the kynge Arthur. And whan the karll com nere, the kynge asked yef he wolde selle the briddes. And the cherll seyde, “Ye, with gode will.” Quod the kynge, “How wilt thow yeve hem?” And he ansuerde no worde. And the cherll hadde on grete boysteis shone of netes leder, and was clothed in cote and hoode of rosset, and he was girde with a thonge of blakke shepes skyn; and he was grete and longe, and blakke and rowe rympled. The cherll also semed to be crewell and fell, and seide to the kynge, “I ne knowe nought of the kynge that loueth tresoure, and is regrater and a wyssher, that dar not make a pore man riche that myght hym do gode seruyse.” Quod the cherll, “I yeve [correction; sic = yeve yeve] yow these briddes, and yet haue I no more than ye se; and ye haue not the herte for to yeve the thirde parte of youre gode that in the erthe doth rote er ye haue it vp-taken, and that is nether youre profite ne worship.” Whan these kynges herde the wordes of the karll thei be-heelde the oon the tother, and than thei seiden, “What deuell who hath tolde this cherll?” Than the kynge ban cleped the karll, and asked hym what he seide; and the karll ne ansuerde no worde, but bad the kynge Arthur to do take the briddes, and than he wolde gon hys weye. “Now, by thy faith,” quod kynge ban, “telle me who hath tolde the that the kynge Arthur hath tresour in the erthe.” Quod the cherll, “A wylde man tolde me, that is cleped Merlin, and also he tolde me that he sholde this day come to yow for to speke with yow.” In the tyme that thei spake thus togeder, come Vlfin oute of a chamber, and come thider as the kynge spake to Merlin, “Go forth thy wey,” quod the kynge, “how may I the trowe that thow haste spoke with Merlin?” Quod he, “Yef ye will leve me, and yef ye ne will, leve me nought; for I ne leve yow nought, and so be we quyte.” And whan the cherll hadde seide thus, and after Vlfin a while hadde listened, and than he be-gan to smyle, and wiste wele it was Merlin.

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And whan Merlin saugh Vlfin, he seide, “Sir stiwarde, take these briddes, and do dight hem for youre kynges soper, that hath not the hardynesse to make a man riche that myght hym well guerdon, and to hym that this day hath spoke with the man that hath hym tolde of the grete richesse vnther ţe erthe.”

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Than be-gan Vlfin to lawgh right harde, and seide, “Sir, yef it plese yow come with me here a-bove, for I wolde speke with yow of many thynges.” And he seide he wolde go with gode will. And the kynge beheilde Vlfin, and saugh hym laugh hertely, and than he required hym to telle why he dide laugh so sore. And he seide that he sholde wyte another tyme. Than yede the cherll so araide as he was, and mette with kay the stiward, and seide, “Holde here, sir seneschall, now may ye plume, and as gladly mote the kynge hem ete as I it hym yeve.” “Sir,”

quod Vlfin, “and this is not the firste tyme.” With that com bretell, and hadde wele herde that Merlin hadde seide, and also that Vlfin hadde seyde to hym, that better semed a cherll than eny that was in the worlde. And whan he hadde herde hem a-while speke, he perceyved that it was Merlin, and be-gan to lawgh vndir his mantell right harde. And the kynge herde hym, and badde hym telle the cause why that he lowgh. And he tolde he wolde telle hym yef the carll wolde assente.

And the cherll than be-gan to laugh lowde, and seide to Vlfyn, “Tell on, for I will that thow do so.” Than seide Vlfin to the kynge, “Sir, ne knowe ye not youre frende Merlin, and ne sholde not he come to speke with yow to day.” And the kynge seide, “Yesse; wherefore say ye?” “Sir,” quod Vlfin, “I sey for that ye knowe hym not so wele as I wolde that ye dide; ffor ye se somme two tymes or thre, and yet ye ne knowe hem not, and ther-of I merveyle.” Whan the kynge vndirstode Vlfyn he was gretly dismayed, that he wiste not what for to ansuere.

“Certes,” quod Vlfin, “ye haue seyn hym many tymes, and that I knowe well.” Than seide the kynge, “Telle me what is this cherll.” “Sir,” quod Vlfin, “sholde ye ought knowe Merlin yef ye myght hym se?” “Yee, trewly,” seide the kynge, “right wele.” “Thanne beholde this worthi man, and loke yef ye haue euer Page 170
hym seyn.” And the [correction; sic = the the] kynge hym behelde, and seide that he hadde hym neuer seyn be-forn. “Trewly,” quod Vlfin, “he may sey that euell hath he be-sette his servise on yow: for it is Merlin, that so moche hath don for yow, and loved so moche and holpen of all that he myght do or sey agein alle tho that vpon yow do werre.” And whan the kynge Arthur vndirstode this he blissed hym for merveile. And also the two kynges were sore a-merveiled, and seide, “How may this be, merlin; is it thus? neuer dide we se yow in soche habite.” And he seide that myght well be so. “Sirs,” seide Vlfin, “dismaye yow not, for he shall shewe yow the same semblaunce that ye saugh hym in firste.”

And thei seide that thei wolde that fayn se. “Now,” quod Vlfin, com with me in to this chamber, for I wolde speke with yow.” And thei com in. And than seide Vlfin, “Sirs, ne merveile nought of Merlins dedes, for he shall shewe yow semblaunces I-nowe; and at alle tymes whan he will he chaungeth hym by forse of his art, whereof he is full.

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And Gynebans, the clerk, it witnesseth wele; and wyte ye well that ye shall hym se yet many tymes, that ye shull not knowe that it is he; and for that he chaungeth hym so ofte he is dowted of many a man, for ther is many oon in this londe that full gladly wolde se hym deed. Now lete vs go in this chamber, and ye shull se hym in the same semblance that ye saugh hym firste, whan he aqueynted hym with yow.” And whan thei come a-gein they fonde Merlin in the halle in the same semblaunce that thei hadde seyn hym in firste. Than thei ronne to hym, and enbraced hym, and made hym grete ioye as thei that hym loved with gode herte.

Than thei satte and Iaped, and pleyde with hym alle togeder; and of the shetynge that thei hadde seyn, and of the wordes that he hadde seide to the kynge. And than seide Arthur, “Merlin, now I knowe that ye love me, whan with so gode chere that ye have yove me these fowles, and that I sholde ete hem for youre love.” And Merlin be-gan to laugh. Thus thei a-bode in ioye and solace till the lenton. And so it fill

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thay by the love of Merlin Arthur aqueynted hym with a mayden, the feyrest that myght be founden. This mayden was cleped Lysanor, and was doughter to the Eirll Sevain that was deed, and was heyr of the castell of Campercorentyn. This maide was come to do homage to the kynge Arthur, and with here other barouns that dide homage as soone as he hadde conquerid these xj kynges, ffor thei douted that he sholde be-reve hem of her londes, and also thei thought that thei myght no better lorde haue than hym; and some ther were that come with gode will, and some for drede of more losse. And this mayden that was feire com to Bredigan, where-as the kynge soiourned, and was at hoste with a riche burgeys. And so be the helpe of Merlin he spake with her previly, and lay with her a nyght, and that nyght upon her was begeten hoot, that after was a full noble knyght, and was also a felowe of the rounde table. This hoot was of right high prowesse, as ye shull heren hereafter. And at mydlenten the kynge toke leve of the damsell, and he and the other two kynges toke their wey in to Tamelide, hymself the fowrtithe. But of hem now ne speketh not the tale no more now at this tyme, but returneth to speke of the xj kynges that were disconfited, and telleth wher thei be com and whider thei yeden.

CHAPTER XII.

THE RETURN OF THE ELEVEN KINGS TO THEIR CITIES, AND THEIR ENCOUNTER WITH THE

SAXONS.

Now seith the story that full of sorowe and hevynesse were the barouns of theire disconfiture and losse, and riden forth playnynge and regretinge theire grete damage; ne thei ne ete ne dronke of all that nyght, and no more ne hadde thei don of all the day be-fore, for the bataile hadde endured all the day; and it was full colde weder and grete froste, and therfore thei were at more disese for hunger and for grete colde. Than thei com to a Citee that was cleped Sorhant, and was a town of the kynge Vriens. And a nevew of he kynges resceyved them with grete

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ioye, and his name was cleped Bandemagu. Ther thei rested and esed hem folio 58b
in the town as thei that ther-to hadde grete nede, ffor many of hem were hurt and wounded that a-bode stille till thei were heled. But thei were not ther thre dayes, whan the messagers of Cornewaile and of Orcanye com to hem and tolde hem the losse and the distruxion of the Sarazins that dide thourgh ther londes, and were at a sege before the castell Vandeberes, and hadde filde the londe full of here peple, and seide how thei sholde neuer be remeved ne driven oute of the londe. And whan the lordes herde [correction; sic = ] these tidynges ther ne was noon of hem but their fleishe trymbled for this auenture that was hem befallen, for well thei knewe that thei were distroyed; and than thei wepte full tenderly.

Upon a day the kynge Brangore, that was a wise man, sente his messages to alle the kynges, and praied hem to come speke with hym. And thei come in to Vriens grete halle; and whan thei hadde herde what the kynge hadde seide, thei drough hem alle a-part togeder, as thei that her iyen were all reade and for swelen for wepynge, so that vn-nethe myght thei se oon another. And whan thei were alle togeder thei were alle stille and mewet as though thei hadde be dombe. And whan the kynge Clarion of Northumberlonde saugh thei seide no worde he aros vpon his feet, and seide to the kynge Brangore, “Sir, I am come hider to here what ye will sey, for yester even ye sente for vs, and I am now come; now may ye sey youre pleiseir, and I will go my wey, for I have now no nede to pley ne Iape; and after may ye speke to these barouns of youre nede. And I sey it for this, that I heere no worde in hem spoken.” And the kynge Brangore seide, “I shall telle yow the cause why I sente for yow, lordinges.” Quod he, “we have herde the trouthe that the sasnes of the kyn of Aungier, of Saxoyne, be entred in to oure londes and in to oure heritages, and haue grete part of oure londe distroied and brente, and haue beseged the Castell of Vandesberes, in the marche of Cornewaile; and therfore ye moste sette hasty counseile how we shull spede that thei were driven oute of the londe, or elles be we deed and disherited, we and oure

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heyres for euermore. Ye knowe well that we heue loste in this chyuachie that we have made vpon the kynge Arthur. Ne of hym ne of his londe gete we no socour; and on this side of the kynge Leodegan of Tamelide, that gladly wolde vs helpe and socour yef he hadde power; but the kynge Rion, that is so myghty and riche, vpon hym werreth, and hath do this two yere. Ne the kynge Pelles of lytenoys, for the kepeth the kynge Pellynor his brother that lyeth seke, of whiche seknesse [correction; sic = senesse] he shall neuer be heled till he come that shall brynge to ende the auentures of the seint Graal. Ne of the kynge Alain, his brother, that lith in sekenesse, and shall neuer be warisshed till the beste knyght of alle Bretouns come and aske hym why he hath that maladye, and what thinge sholde be hys helpe. And of the kynge of Sorloys ne may we haue no socour, ffor Galehaut, the sone of the Geaunte, of the oute yles, werreth vpon hym, and will that that holde his londe of hym, and he hym diffendeth as he may.

Ne of the kynge Berennain ne may we haue
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no socour; ne of the kynge Anadonain, ne of the kynge Clamadas, for alle these werreth; and Calchous, that is cosin to the kynge de Cent chiualers, that now for vs hath traueyled—god quyte it hym! And I knowe wele as soone as Galehaut may haue conquered these two remes, that than he will come renne vpon vs, for he desireth nothinge so moche as for to haue the reame that was Vterpendragon. Thus can we no counseile but god of his mercy vs helpe and rede; and while we be now togeder, lete vs ordeyne what is beste to do, for it is nede. And yef it be so that we discorde, than be we vtterly distroyed, for well ye knowe that we haue loste grete auoir, wherewith we myght wele haue mayntened oure werres a-gein the saxoyns. And witeth it wele that this damage haue we be the counseile of Merlin, that wente to fecche the kynge ban of Benoyk and the kynge boors his brother, in the litill Breteyne, that ben the beste knyghtes of the worlde. And he hath do hem to make homage to kynge Arthur; and witeth it wele also that as longe as Merlin is in contrey a-gein vs we shull not a-gein hym endure, ffor noon ne is so wise ne so puyssant that may of hym be-ware, ffor he knoweth alle thynges that be to come, and

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also that is do and seide; and therfore I sey wepinge, ne makynge of sorowe, ne may vs not a-vaile; but wemen shull wepe. And lete vs take hede to saue the peple and the londe fro these vntrewe and misbelevynge sarazins that thus sodenly be entred vpon vs. Therfore, for the reuerence of oure lorde, lete vs haue pite of the people and the londe and on oure self.” And therwith he satte down and was longe tyme er eny baroun seide eny mo wordes.

Than a-ros the kynge Tradilyuaunt, of North Wales, and seide as he that was a full wise man and wele I-lerned, “The beste counseile that I se is that we go stuffe the marches on this partye ther the saxouns comen, and lete make all the chyuachie, that we may assemble of all the chyualrie that we may, and lete kepe the passages, that ther come to hem no more socour ne vitaile than thei haue now; and in the meene while lete vs geder oure kyn and oure frendes and sowderes out of alle londes, and lete vs yeve hem bateile as soone as we may be assembled, for otherwise I can not se how thei may be remeved fro the sege.”

Whan the lordes vndirstode this that the kynge Tradelyuaunt hadde seide, thei preised hym moche, and seide it was the beste counseile that myght be sette, and ther-to thei acorded alle to do as he hadde seide. Than thei asked that whiche marches thei sholde garnyssh, and with what peple; and soche was theire counseile that thei sholde go with as moche peple as thei myght brynge of hem that were lefte of the bataile to the Citee of Huydecan for to garnyssh it there. And so thei dide it stuffe. And that was a grete Citee and a stronge. And than with the firste puyssaunce that we may make, lete vs distroye the vitaile fro them thourgh the contreye, and lete vs sette in eche garnyson folio 59b
as moche peple as we may, and yef we do thus, I sey yow for sothe that we shull thus distroyne them more than and we faught with hem euery day. And whan we se that theu be-for hungred, and that thei be not encresed of more peple than thei be now, than lete vs assemble oure peple and fight with hem, and yef we may hem discounfite, we shall be riche and in reste alwey aftere, and this is the beste counseile that I se in this cas.

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Now lete eche man sey that hym likes, for I haue seide myn advise.”

Than a-ros the kynge loot and seide, “Certes, sirs, I can not se how we may vs so garnysh, and the marches where as thei go and come, but that we shull haue grete damage of the kynge Arthur, be the helpe of the two kynges and of Merlin, that knoweth all oure ordenaunce, and he ne loveth vs nothinge, ffor as soone as thei knowe that the Saxons be entred, thei shull come for to distroye vs fro Tintagell, where thei haue sette theire wardes; and on the tother syde toward brialen, that is vij myle fro Tyntagell, thei will assaile vs ofte sithes; and also at the Castell del la Roche, ther thei haue made her garnyson that may vs moche greve, ffor thei haue it stuffid with vitaile and peple that thei haue no drede of vs, ne of the saxons that be risen a-gein vs by the discorde that is betwene vs, and therefore I sey, yef thei renne vpon on two partyes we shull haue grete disese, for yef the Saxons haue the hier honde of vs, we shull firste be distroyed; and as for me, I ne sey not but that I am redy to pursue what that euer ye will ordeyne and do, and therfore sey better yef ye can.”

With this a-rose the kynge de Cent chiualers and seide, “Feire lordes, of that the kynge loot seith that he douteth the kynge Arthur, and the kynge ban, and the kynge boors, of Gannes, and his helpers, of this we nede not to drede, ffor a messager me tolde this othir day that kynge Arthur, and kynge ban, and kynge Boors his brother, ben gon oute of this contrei and go to socour the kynge leodegan, of Tamelide, that hath werre a-gein the kynge Rion, of Irelonde, and thei go in manner of sowdiours, and all this hath Merlin I-made; but he hath well stuffed alle his forteresses, for he knoweth well of this that is vs befallen, wherefore he goth the more hardely, for he knoweth well he dare haue no drede of vs. and of his londe haue ye no fere of no damage; and yef he ne were not gon, I wolde wele counseile that the peas were made betwene hym and vs in somme maner wise, that he myght vs helpe to drive oute this hethene peple out of this londe that neuer shall a-wey be enchased but god sette to his counseile,

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and the beste that I can se is that the marches be garnysshed as the kynge Tradilyuaunt hath seide; and whan the marches ben garnysshed, than moste we take counseile of oon stronge Castell that thei haue in this contrey, that is cleped the roche of saxons, wherof a feire mayden is lady that is suster to Hardogebrant that moche knoweth of egremauncye, be whom thei folio 60a
haue grete socour and helpe but yef we take hasty counseile.”

Whan the lordes vndirstod that kynge Arthur was gon and lefte his londe, than thei hadde grete thought wherefore it myght be; but no wise cowde thei devise the cause, but that thei wiste wele that Merlin it made, and yef the myght thei wolde repente with gode will of the stryfe that thei hadde a-gein Merlin, but to late thei were to repente. And in the ende thei acorded to garnysshe the marches of Galnoye and of Gorre, and of galuonye towarde Cornewaile and Orcanye. And than thay sente after grete and smale, alle tho that myght bere armes, and sowdioures of straunge londes that wolde take wages, and tho that coveyted lose and pris; and so litill and litill thei encresed. But oute of the londe that longed to kynge Arthur ne com not oon sole man, for thei hadde no couetise of theire auers, for theire lorde hadde hem yoven I-nough.

The first Citee that these kynges stuffed was Nauntes in breteyne, that was towarde Cornewaile, for it was a passage ther the Saxons repeired moste. And thedir yede the kynge Ydiers with iijMl men of armes of hem that ascaped fro the bataile. And whan the kynge Ydiers was come, thei of the Citee were gladde, for thei were in grete affray, and withoute counseile of the saisnes, that all day rode thourgh the londe, and so moche be purchased of kynges and Dukes as he that was enterpendant, that he hadde vijMl at his baner of Sowdiours. And thei kepte wele the contre ther-a-boute, and ofte tyme fought thei with the saisnes, and ofte sithes thei wonne. And so com the renoun in to the hoste, that thei durste not ride that wey withoute grete foyson of peple. And so on that part the kynge Ydiers kepte hem so streyte that thei myght haue no socoure of no vitaile.

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The tother Citee that thei yede to stuffe was cleped Wydesans, and thedir yede the kynge Ventres of Garlot, and ledde with hym knyghtes that were lefte of the hoste. And whan thei com to Wydesande in Cornewaile the lordes made hym grete ffeste, for gretly were thei discounforted of the grete hoste of saisnes that thei hadden seyn passe be-fore the Citee, and ledde a-wey alle theire prayes, and alle theire townes a-boute brente and exiled. And as soone as kynge Ventres was come, he stuffed it wele with vitaile and with peple, and sesed the beste tour and the beste fortresse. Than sente he for sowdiours thourgh the londe, and in other contreyes, so that he hadde a vijMl what on horse-bakke and on fote men with hem of the contrey, whereof were vMl defensable. And so wele he kepte his marches that the saisnes hadde but litill socour, and ofte sithes he faught with hem where the saisnes loste more than wonne; ffor the kynge Ventres was a noble knyght and hardy and enterpendaunt. He hadde a sone be his wyf, folio 60b
a yonge bacheler of xvj yere of age, that was of merveilouse grete bewte; and the wif of kynge Ventres was suster to kynge Arthur on his moder side, Ygerne, that was wif to Vterpendragon, and wif also to Hoel, Duke of Tintagell, that be-gat basyne, the wif of kynge Ventres. And vpon this basyne be-gate he his sone, that was so gode a knyght and hardy, as ye shall here her-after, and how he was oon of the C.C.l. knyghtes of the rounde table, and oon of the moste preysed, and his right name was Galashyn, the Duke of Clarence, that the kynge Arthur hym yaf after he hadde wedded his wif Gonnore. This Galashene of whom I speke, whan that herde tidinges how the kynge Ventres his fader hadde foughten with kynge Arthur, his oncle, and he herde the grete prowesse and the grete debonertee that was in hym, he com to hys moder basyne, and seide. “Feire moder, ne were not ye doughter to Duke Hoel of Tintagell and to the quene Ygerne, that after was wif to Vterpendragon, that be-gat, as I herde sey, thys kynge that is cleped be his right name, Arthur, that is so noble and worthi a knyght that xj princes hath disconfited with so small a peple as he hadde as I haue herde sey?

I pray yow telle me the trowthe yef ye can, Page 178
how it is, for I may not trowe that he sholde be of soche herte as it recorded of hym, but yef he were sone unto Vterpendragon, that in hys tyme was oon of the beste knyghtes of the worlde.”

Whan the moder vndirstode here sone that so here aresoned, hir yen begonne to water, that the teers wette her chekes and hir chyn, and seide, sighynge and wepinge as she that was hevy and tender for her brother that hir sone remembred, “Ffeire sone,” quod she, “knowe this truly that he is youre vncle and my brother and cosin to youre fader on the modirside of Vterpendragon, as I haue herde my moder sey many tymes whan she here complayned prively in her chamber for her sone that the kynge Vterpendragon made it to be delyuered to a cherll as sone as it was born, and how all the matere hath sethe be discouered of Antor, that hym hath norisshed, be-fore the barouns to whom that Merlin tolde the trouthe, and how that Vlfin dide witnesse this thinge for trewe, that so wele was trusted of Vterpendragon, and how he ordeyned the mariage of my moder and the kynge; but the barouns of this londe ne will not knowe hym for her lorde, and oure lorde, that is so mercyfull, hath hym chosen thourgh his high myracle that he hath shewed many sithes.” And than she tolde hym of the ston and of the swerde, and alle the auenture as it was befallen. And whan Galashene vndirstode his moder, he prayed god that thei sholde neuer wele spede that hym were ageyns, “and,”

quod he, “god lete me neuer dye till that he hath made me knyght. Ha now god yeve me grace to do so moche that he may me girthe with my swerde, and I shall neuer departe fro hym while I may lyve yef he will me withholde a-boute hym.”

With that he departed from his moder and yede into a chamber, and be-gan to stodye howe he myght spede to go to the kynge Arthur. Than he be-thought hym to sende a messenger
folio 61a
to Gaweyn, the sone of kynge loot, his cosin, and sende hym worde that he sholde come to speke with hym at newewerke, in brochelonde, as pryvely as he myght, and that he be there the thirde day after Phasche withoute eny faile. Than Galashene com oute of the chamber and gat hym a messenger and sente to his cosin Gaweyn.

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But now rested the tale of the message of Galashene and speke of the kynges, how thei departed fro Shorhant, and wheder thei wente, and telleth of the auentres that to hem be-fillen.

Now, seith the boke, that after that kynge ventres, of Garlot, was departed fro the Citee of Sorhant, and the other barouns also, as ye haue herde, That than the kynge loot wente to the Citee of Gale with iijMl knyghtes and fightynge men of hem that were lefte in the bataile where thei hadde be discounfited. And whan he com thider the Cetizenis made of hym grete ioye, ffor gretly thei were affraied of the saisnes that eche day rode and renne thourgh the contrey, and toke prayes and putte fire in townes and [correction; sic = a] vilages all a-bowte as thei wente, and dide grete damage. And whan the kynge was come thider he sente and somowned all the peple that he myght, bothe fer and nygh, of sowdiers, and withInne a monethe he hadde assembled mo than viijMl on horse and on fote, alle defensable, withoute hem of the Citee, whereof were iiijMl for to kepe the Citee. And he kepte right wele the Citee and the contre environ that noon that entred ne myght but litill it mysdo; and ofte tymes he faught with the saisnes whan that he herde telle that thei come to forrey, and ther wan the pore bacheleres that ther-to hadde grete myster; and ther the kynge loot ne toke neuer thinge fro hem that thei dide wynne, but frely yaf hem all, and ther thourgh encresed his grete loos that the peple hym yaf. And therfore com to hym moo than iijMl men for the grete bounte that thei herde of hym speke, whiche ne wolde neuere haue hym seyn but for the high renoun that was of hym spoken, and that he was manly and wise and full of largesse, and ther-of shewed wele his sones after hym, but oon yet more than another, after the gode lynage that thei were come of, and I shall telle yow how.

This is trouthe that the wife of kynge lotte was suster to kynge Arthur by his moder side, in the same manere as was the wif of kynge ventres. And of the wif of kynge loot com Gawein, and Agrauayn, and Gaheret, and Gaheries; these iiij were sones to kynge loot. And of hir also com Mordred, that was the yonghest, that the kynge Arthur be-gat. And I will

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telle yow in what manere, for so moche is the storye, the more clere that I make yow to vndirstonde in what wise he was begeten of the kynge; for moche peple it preyse the lesse that knowe not the trouthe. Hit be-fill in the tyme that the barouns of the reame of logres were assembled at Cardoell in walys, for to chese a kynge after the deth of Vterpendragon. And the kynge loot brought thider his wif, and so dide many another baroun. Hit fill so that the kynge loot was loigged in a faire halle, he and his meyne; folio 61b
and in the same loigynge was Antor and his sone Kay and Arthur, in the pryvieste wise that he myght. And whan the kynge knewe that he was a knyght, he made hym sitte at his table, and Kay, that was a yonge knyght. And the kynge lotte hadde do made a cowche in a chamber, where he and his wif lay. And Antor lay in myddell of the same chamber, and kay and Arthur hadde made her bedde atte the chamber dore of kynge loot, in a corner, like as a squyre sholde ly. Arthur was a feire yonge squyer; and he toke grete hede of the lady and of hem that were a-bouten hire. And he saugh that she was feire and full of grete bewte, and in his herte he covetted her gretly and loved; but the lady ne knewe it not, ne toke ther-of noon heede, for she was of grete bounte and right trewe to hir lorde. Hit fill that the barouns hadde take a counseile for to speke togeder at the blak crosse. And whi it was cleped the blake crosse ye shall here her-after, and the names of the knyghtes of the rounde table, but yet the tyme is not come to speke ther-of more. At this crosse the barouns toke a day for to assemble erly on a morowe; and so it fill that on the nyght before that the kynge loot sholde go to this counseile, and he comaunded that previly his horse were sadeled a-boute mydnyght and his armes were alle redy. And thei dide all his comaundement so secretly that noon it perceyved, ne not the lady her-self. Thus a-roos the kynge a-boute mydnyght, that his it ne wyste ne a-percyved it nought.

And he wente to the parlement to the blake crosse, and the lady lefte a-lone in the chamber in her bedde. And Arthur, that alle this toke gode kepe, sawgh well how the kynge was gon. And he a-roos as stilliche as he myght, and yede to bedde Page 181
to the lady, and lay turnynge and wendynge, that noon other thynge durste do leste the lady sholde hym aperceyve. And hit fill so that the lady a-woke and turned hir toward hym, and toke hym in her armes as a woman slepynge, that wende verely it hadde ben her lorde. And that nyght was be-gete Mordred, as ye haue herde. And whan he hadde don his delite with the quene, a-noon after she fill on slepe. And Aurthur a-roos sleyly that he was not aperceyved, till on the morowe, that he hymself it tolde at the dyner, whan he serued her at table knelynge. And so it happed that the lady seide, “Sir squyre, arise vp, for longe I-nough haue ye [correction; sic = y] be knelynge.” And he ansuerde softly, and seide that he ne myght neuer deserue the bountees that she hadde hym don. And she hym asked what bounte it was that she hadde hym don. And he ansuerde he wolde not in no wise telle it here but yef she hym ensured that she sholde hym not discouer to no pesone, ne purchase hym no blame, ne harme. And she seide that it sholde not hir greve, and ensured hym with gode will, as she that of this thynge ne toke noon kepe. And than he tolde hir how he hadde leyn by her that
folio 62a
nyght; and than hadde the lady grete shame, and wax all rody, but noon ne knewe the cause. And than the lady lefte her mere vntterly. And thus lay Arthur by his suster, the wif of kynge loot, but neuer after it fill her no more. And so the lady vndirstode that she was grete by hym; and the childe that she hadde at that tyme was of hym withoute faile. And whan the childe was born, and also the tidynges spredde a-brode that he was the sone of Vterpendragon, she loved hym so moche in her herte, that no man myght it telle. But she durste make no semblant, for the kynge loot hir lorde; and she was sory for the werre that was betwene hym and the barons of the reame.

Upon a day Gawein com fro huntynge, and clothed comly in a robe that was warme as a robe for the wynter, and ledde in honde a leeshe of grehoundes, and ledde also two brace folowinge hym. And it be-com hym full wele all thynge that he dide: and he also was of the feirest makynge that eny man myght be as of his stature. But the tale ne of hym deviseth no Page 182
more here saf only of a tecche that he hadde, that whan he a-roos that he hadde the force and myght of the beste knyght that myght be founde, and whan he com to the houre of pryme he doubled, and at the houre of tierce also; and whan it come to mydday he com a-gein to his firste strength that he hadde at the houre of tierce; and whan it come to the houre of noone he doubled, and alle houres of the nyght, and in the morowe he com a-gein to his firste force; this was the custome of Gawein. Whan Gawein entred the halle, as ye harde, his moder lay in a chamber by a chymney wher-ynne was a grete fiere, and she was right pensif for her brother the kynge Arthur, and for the barouns that were departed fro hym in euyll will, and of the grete mortalite of peple that was come by the foly of the barouns of the londe, and also of the saisnes that were entred in to the londe, wherfore thei were in a venture to be distroide; and ther was she sore dismayed.

And whan the lady saugh Gawein, that was so feire a yonge squyer and noche of his age, and thought it tyme for hym to a knyght, and than she be-gan to wepe and that hevied moche Gawein, and asked wherefore that she dide wepe, and she ansuerde and seide, “Feire sone, that I haue grete cause, for I se yow and youre bretheren that spende youre tyme in foly, that fro hens-forth ye oughten to be knyghtes and bere armes, and ye sholde be at the court of kynge Arthur, for he is youre oncle, and is the beste knyght of the worlde as it is seide, and ye sholde hym serue, and purchase the pees betwene hym and youre fader, for it is grete damage of the euell will betwene hem and the other barouns of the londe that sholde hym love and serue, but for their pride thei dyne not hym to knowe for her lorde, and wele it sheweth that it displeseth our lorde, for more haue thei loste than wonne in here stryf; and on the tother side folio 62b
the saisnes be entred in to the londe that vs will distoye but yef god vs helpe, and ne we ne shull no helpe haue of hym that sholde hem alle enchace oute of this londe that is the kynge Arthur, and therfore ar ye moche to blame and youre bretheren [correction; sic = betheren], for now sholde ye bere armes and seche the acorde of youre oncle and of youre

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fader by what wey thei myght be made frendes, and yo do nought elles euery day but hunte after the hare thourght the feldes, and so lese ye youre tyme, and therfore me semethe ye ought ot haue blame.”

Whan Gawein vndirstode his moder, he seide, “Moder, sey ye for trouthe that this Arthur that now is kynge that he be youre brother and myn oncle?” “Feire sone,”

seide she, “ne doute yow nought, for youre oncle is he trewly.” And than she tolde hym, fro the be-gynynge to the ende, all how it was. And whan Gawein hadde all vndirstonde, he seide full debonerly, “Feire moder, ne be not therfore so pensif, for, be the feith that I owe on to yow, I shall neuer be girde with swerde ne bere helme on myn hede till that the kynge Arthur make me knyght, yef in me be so moche valoure that he will me a-dubbe, and we will go to courte for to fecche oure armes and helpe to mayntene his lordship a-gein alle tho that hym will greve or anoye.” “Feire sone,” than seide the lady, “for me shull ye neuer be letted, ffor grete gladnesse sholde it be to me yef oure lorde wolde graunte that ye might do so moche that youre fader and youre oncle were gode frendes, for than sholde I haue gladnesse at myn herte, and I ought wele aboue alle other.” “Dame,” quod Gawein, “cesseth now at this tyme, for wete it well, by I ones oute of my fader house, I will neuer returne ne entre therynne a-gayn till that my fader and myn oncle be acorded, though that I sholde do right moche a-gein my fader will.” “Feire sone,” seide the moder, moder, “god graunte yow grace this to performe.”

In the tyme that Gawein and his moder spake thus togeder com in Agravayn and Gaharet and Gaheries, and com be-fore theire moder, that heilde stille her talkynge with Gawein. And than seide Agravain to Gawein, “Ye be more to blame than eny other, for ye be oure eldeste brother, and ye ought to lede vs forth, and that we sholde be knyghtes, and serue hym that all the worlde of speketh that a-boute hym repeire. And we ne do but as musardes, and ne a-wayte nought elles but whan we shall be take as a bridde in a nette, for the saisnes be but a iourne hens, that all the contre robbe and distroye. Ne we ne haue not peple Page 184
to chase hem hens but by the prowesse of the kynge Arthur. But lete us take oure armes of hym, and helpe to defende his londe a-gein his enmyes; ffor that is the beste that I can se, for here ne may we nought gete. And, therfore, better it were for vs to do some prowesse in his servise, yef we myght be of soche valoure, than here to be take to prison as cowardes, and lese oure time of oure ages.” And whan Gawein vndirstode the speche of his brother, he hadde of hym hertely ioye, and moche he hym preysed, and ansuerde that so wolde he do; “and, therfore, in haste lete vs apareile vs, for we will meve folio 63a
hens withynne xiiij dayes.” And whan the moder saugh that hadde this vndertaken, she was full of ioye, and thanked god hertely. And to hem she seide, “Dismay yow nought of nothynge, for I shall ordeyne yow horse and harneys.” And ther-of were thei gladde and merye. But now here resteth the tale of the moder and of the childeren, and speketh how the kynges departed fro Sorhant, that be yet sorowfull and wroth for theire discounfiture and losse, and also for the saisnes that be entred in to her londes and Contrees.

Now seith the story that whan these thre kynges were departed fro their felowes fro Shorhant, that thei a-bode till sowderes com to hem grete plente. And than departed Clarion, the kinge of Northumberlonde, and rode to his Citee I-cleped bellande, that is grete and so feire, and garnysshed it wele with threMl men of armes, withoute hem of the Citee self, that were wele vMl or mo. And he kepte wele the marches a-boute hym, and many tymes faught with the saisnes like as ye haue herde tolde. And some tyme he wan, and many tymes he loste, as is the fortune of werre. And right moche he greved the saisnes, for he distrued the prayes and the vitaile, so that the foreyours myght nought fynde in the contrey for to take. After that departed the kynge de Cent chyualiers fro the Citee of Sorhant with iijMl men of armes, and wente to the Citee of malonant, where he hadde a gentill lady. This Cite marched to his londe, but for it was nerre the passages where as the Saxons dide passe, that was the cause that he com thider, for he was full of high prowesse, and also right a wise man and a noble knyght, and

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hadde euermore in his company an hundred men on horsebak armed whan he hadde leeste peple; and therfore was he cleped le Roy de Cent chiualers, that is to sey, kynge of an hundred knyghtes; but his right name was cleped Aguysans. And he kepte right wele the marche and the contrey ther-a-boute, that litill wonne the sarazins vpon hym. After that departed the kynge Tradylyuans, of North wales, fro the Cite of Sorhant, and wente in to North walis to his City with iijMl men of armes. And his peple were of hym gladde, for thei hadde be in grete drede of the Saxouns, that wente thourgh the londe and dide hem grete harme and damage, ffor the passages were ther to go to the roche of saisnes, whereof thei were sore a-noyed and greved. And he sente thourgh his londe, and somowned alle tho that myght armes bere, and for sowdiours bothe fer and nygh, so that he assembled togeder what on hors and on fote with the peple that he hadde brought fro the bataile vijMl withoute the men of the Citee, wher in was iiijMl of dwellers. And so he hym defended the beste wyse that he myght, and moche he hem greved toward the Castell that Carnyle, the suster of hardogabran, kepte in her baillye. Ne that passage ne myght not these thre folio 63b
kynges kepe for no power that thei hadden; but that ther com socour be that wey to the saisnes of vitaile and of men be that castell that was stronge, and by the enchauntement of Carnile, that moste cowde of that art, but yef it were Morgain, the suster of kynge Arthur, and Nimiane, that Merlin dide love so moche, that he taught here alle the merveiles of the worlde as this boke shall declare yow hereafter. And by that Castell whereof I speke hadde the saisnes all her recouerer and all her socour of the contrey, wherthurgh thei myght neuer be put oute of the londe till that kynge Arthur drof hem oute, and the kynge Ban and the kynge Boors of Gannes, and the sones of kynge lott, as ye shull here telle hereafter, and of theire merveilouse prowesse of dedes of armes. After that departed fro Sorhant the kynge Brangore, of South Walis, with iijMl men of armes, and wente to Strangore, his chief Citee, for that was nexte to the roche of Saxouns, ant sente after soudiours vp and down, and assembled Page 186
vjMl men defensable, and moche thei greved the hethen peple with alle theire power. This kynge Brangore hadde a gentill lady to his wif, that was doughter to kynge Adryan, the Emperour of Constantynenoble, that was myghty and riche. And he hadde no mo childeren by his wif but two doughteres, whereof the kynge Brangore hadde oon, and the tother was in Costantynnoble. In that tyme ther was a riche lorde and a myghty, that was kynge of blagne and of hungre; but he deyde withynne v yere after he was wedded, and lefte a sone, the feirest creature of man that was formed. And this childe dide wex moche and semly, and right wise and hardy. And at that day that kynge Brangore was departed fro Sorhant, he was so well waxen that he was able to be a knyght; and his right name was Segramore.

This Segramore that I of speke dide afterwarde many high prowesse in the reame of logres, whereof the tale shall declare yow hereafter, and I shall tell yow how it fill.

Renomee that thurgh alle the worlde renneth yede so thourgh euery londe, so that euery contrey spake of the kynge Arthur and of his grete largesse. And so his renoun spredde thourgh euery contre, so that in Costantynnoble it was in euery mannes mouthe; So that Segramore herde ther-of speke, and was but xv yere of age, and was oon of the feirest men of the worlde, and of large stature, and beste shapen of alle membres, and ther-to hardy and wise. And whan he herde tidynges of the kynge Arthur he desired gretly to se the day and the houre that he myght be made knyght of hys honde, and seide often to hem that were of his counseile that who so myght take ordere of chiualrye moste in eny wise be a gode knyght. And whan his graunt-sire, the kynge Adrian, that tho was livynge, counseiled hym to take the ordere of knyghthode, for he was the next heire male to the Empere after his deth. And he hym ansuerde that he wolde neuer be knyght till that Arthur, the kynge of grete breteyne, hadde made folio 64a
hym a knyght with his owne hondes. And so here-of spake thei day be day till that the kynge Adrian appareiled Segramore, and sente hym to the grete breteyne richely arayed. But now cesseth of hym to speke more at Page 187
this tyme, and turneth to telle how these other knyges departed fro Sorhant.

Now seith the storye that as soone as kynge Brangore was departed fro Sorhant, that the kynge Carados made hym redy to ryde; and with hym he hadde iijMl men armed, and yede to Eastrangore, his chief Citee, and hit garnysshit vigorously, as he that was full of prowesse and grete hardynesse, and sente after knyghtes and sergeantes, alle that he myght haue he hadde assembled, vijMl speres and gode men of werre. And in tho partyes the saisnes ne soiourned but litill, for often were the foughten bothe even and morowe as thei saugh tyme. And often Carados and his company lay in the forestes, that were large and depe; and whan he herde telle that the saisnes com in forrey thourgh the contrey, he lepe hem a-geyns and faught with hem, so that ofte tymes he gat vpon hem and mayntened so the werre longe tyme, as the tale will reherse hereafter whan the mater cometh ther-to. And after that these vj kynges were departed fro Sorhant, departed than Aguysans, the kynge of Scotlonde.

This Aguysans, the kynge of Scotlonde, that departed out of Sorhant, was the richest kynge of alle the xj kynges, and was also the yongeste; but of armes he cowde not so moche as the other kynges. And he assembled his peple, and were vMl, and wente to Corenge in Scotlonde, that tho was a grete Citee and a riche, and moche were greved with the saisnes that repeired ther-a-bowte, for it was but xx scotyssh myle fro the Castell of Vandesbires, ther-as was the sege of saisnes, that repeyred ther-a-boute so grete peple that noon myght hem nombre that ther assembled euery day. And as soone as that the kynge Aguysans was sette in the Citee of Corenges, thei were gladde that were in the Citee of whiche were vMl. And he sente alle a-boute for sowdiours on hors and on fote, so that he hadde xMlwith-oute hem of the Cite. And so he faught many tymes with the saisnes as thei ronne thourgh the Contrey; and so he bothe loste and wan many tymes. And he made to a-mende and fortyfie the wallis of the town ther as, as thei were most feble; and thus he mayntened the werre longe tyme. After that these kynges Page 188
were departed, the Duke Escam assembled his peple, and hadde with hym iiijMl men of armes; and he iourneyde so till he com to Cambenyk, his stronge Citee, that was grete and riche and full of alle maner godes, and withynne the Cite were iijMl men defensable, that of the Duke made grete ioye when thei hym saugh, for gretly hadde thei be affraide of the saisnes that thei hadde seyn come towarde a Castell that is cleped Arondell, that was in the marche of Cambenyk, and the roche of Saisnes, that the kynge Arthur hadde well garnysshid er he wente in to folio 64b
the reame of Tamelide. And as soone as the Duke com to Cambenyk he comaunded and somowned all his power fer and nygh, and assembled wele viijMl men withoute hem that were in the Citee; and thise greved the saisnes at theire power. In this maner the Duke hym contened in this maner richely as ye haue herde. Thus departet the xj barouns fro Sorhant; and the kynge Vrien leffte in his Citee, and sente thourgh euery londe and contrey a-boute, and sowdiours so that he hadde togeder ixMl, withoute the peple of the Citee, whereof were wele vjMl, and the sege was thens but a iourne. And so thei fought togeder many tymes, and loste and wonne as is the fortune of werre. And thus this stryfe lastid longe tyme, so that the contrey was wasted and made pore so sore that in v yere ther in was nought to gete. And in the contrey they lived by nought elles saf by that oon myght take of another by-twene the cristen men and the saisnes, but yef eny ship by aventure a-rived at eny port in the londe. In this manere were thei sustened that otherwise ne laboured not, but werred that oon a-gein that other right harde. And the saisnes ronne thourgh the londe of kynge Arthur, and ţer-Inne dide grete damage, for ther was noon that hem dide lette, till that by auenture, as god wolde, he sente feire yonge squires and gentill it to socoure.

And I shall telle yow what thei were that so longe kepte the londes of kynge Arthur, till that he com a-geyn oute of the londe of Tamelide; so that the saisnes loste more and the barouns, that were his enmyes, than dide Arthur. And now returneth the tale a-gein to Galashyn, the sone of kynge Ventres.

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CHAPTER XIII.

THE ADVENTURES OF GAWEIN, AGRAVAYN, GAHARET, GAHERIES, AND GALESHYN; AND THEIR

BATTLE WITH THE SAXONS.

Now, seith the boke, that as soone as Galeshene hadde lerned of the tydinges of kynge Arthur, and knewe that he was his oncle, he toke a messenger, and sente to Gawein his cosyn, and prayde hym to speke with hym at newerk in privy wise, and to brynge with hym his bretheren, and that he faile not to be ther the thirde day after Pasche. The messenger iourneyed forth till he com in to walis, in the marche af Orcanye, and spake with Gawein and his bretheren, and seide how Galeshene grete hym wele, and sente hym worde and praide hym as dere as he hym loved, to mete with hym at newerk, in brochelonde, the thirde day after Pasch, for ther he wolde be withoute faile yef he were in hele of his body. And whan thei herde this message they made grete ioye, and seide ther wolde thei be withoute faile, for thei wiste wele he ne sente not for hem withoute grete cause. And thei yaf the messager a gode stede, and sente hym a-gein glad and mery. And he spedde hym till he come to Galeshene, and tolde hym his ansuere that he hadde of his cosyns.

Whan the messengere com be-fore Galeshene, his lorde, he seide how his cosyns grete hym wele, and that thei wolde be at newerke, in brochelonde, the thirde day after Pasch withoute faile. Than Galeshene dide hym appareile, and wente the
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nexte day after pasch to newerke, in brochelonde. And whan he com thider, Gawein ne hys bretheren were not yet I-come. And ther he a-bode till they were come.

Whan Gawein and his bretheren were come, Galashin made to hem grete feste. And than seide Gawein to Galashin, “Feire cosin, ye sente for to seche me this othir day by youre message that I and my bretheren sholde come speke with yow; and trewly ne were that I wolde take my leve of yow, I wolde elles by this time haue be elles where, that I haue moche for to do, and so moche I desire Page 190
to be there a-bove alle other thynge.” “Sire,” seide Galeshin, “whider sholde ye haue gon, for withoute me ne sholde ye not go, but that I therof sholde haue wytinge; and therfore telle me what wey ye purposeth yow to go, and after I shall telle yow my corage, and why I have sente for to speke with yow and my cosins youre bretheren.” Than seide Gawein, “Trewly, cosin, I will go se the grete prowesse and largesse of the free and deboniere and [correction; sic = and and] the moste worthi knyght of the worlde, of whom I haue herde reporte the moste wurship and honoure.” “A god mercy!” quod Galeshyn, “who is that? god graunte that it be he that causeth me to come speke with yow.” “Forsothe,” seide Gawein, “his name ne ought not to be [correction; sic = ] hidde, but to be publisshed a-fore eny worthy man, for it is the kynge Arthur; but with grete wronge and a-gein right do the barouns of this londe a-gein hym werre, and in especiall thei that ought hym to love and holde moste dere; and wite ye well, so god me helpe,” seide Gawein, “that I shall neuer be with swerde girte till that he me girde.” Whan Galashyn hadde herde that Gawein hadde seide, he was neuer er so gladde, and ran to Gawein with armes spredde, and made to hym soche ioye and feste as all the worlde hadde ben his, and seide that for noon thynge ellis hadde he sente to hym fore, and tolde hym worde for worde all his corage, and the wordes of his moder that she hadde seide; and ther a-gein Gawein hym tolde the wordes of hys moder. Whan the childeren hadde spoke togeder, thei acorded to meve withinne xv dayes. Than thei departed, and made redy theire horse and theire armes, as was convenient to so high men sones; and, to sey brefly, Galashyn purchesed in his company CC of the beste knyghtes that he cowde chese, and than departed withoute witynge of his fader, and rode be the moste vncouthe weyes that thei myght till he com to newerke, in brochelonde, and ther a-bode the comynge of Gawein and his bretheren, that brought in her company vC
men of knyghtes and squyres that alle were knyghtes sones; but ther ne were lx knyghtes, and amonge hem

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that com with Galashin but xx knyghtes. And whan thei were all assembled thei made togeder grete ioye. And than thei toke counseile togeder how it was to do; and thei acorded to go to logres in bretein, the chief [correction; sic =
chif] Citee of kynge Arthur; and ther sholde thei here speke of the kynge her oncle, and also of the sarazins that repaired ther-a-boute.

Now, seith the boke, that a-boute the entre of may, in the tyme whan these briddes syngith with clier voys and all thynge reioyseth, and than these wodes and medowes beth florished grene, and these medowes full of newe tendir erbys and entermedled with
folio 65b
dyuerse colours that swote be of odoures, and these amerouse yonge lusty peple reioyse because of the lusty seson, it be-fill that Gawein and Agrauayn and Gaharet and Gaheries and Galashyn, and thei that be-come in here companye, ben risen erly, for the heete that dide hem grete anoye on the day, as they that wolde ride [correction; sic = ride ride] in the cole of the mornynge that was feire and stille and a softe weder, and thei were yonge and tender to suffre grete trauayle, and thei were wele armed, and hadde on hattes of stile as squyres vsed in tho dayes, and theire swerdes hangynge at the pomell of theire sadeles be-fore, for the contrey was not sure for the saisnes that rode and ronne thourgh the contrey for vitaile and for to robbe and distrye the londe that was so plentenouse and riche er the mysbelevynge peple were entred, wherof was grete pite that so goode a londe sholde be distroyed for synne and for myslyvinge, as god hath ofte sithes chastysed diuerse remes.

The thirde daye that thise childeren rode togeder lyke as that ye haue herde, thei mette the kynge leodobron and the kynge Segagan and the kynge Mandalet and the kynge Sernagut, of the londe of yroys, that hadde the contre a-boute logres brent and wasted, and ledde with hem grete plente of vitaile, so that the hoste for longe tyme was refresshed of brede and wyne and of flesh, for thei hadde so piled and robbed thourgh the contrey and the portes where the shippes were a-ryved, and the

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marchaundise was so grete, that vC someres were charged, and xxv cartes and vij carres, and the cariage and the multitude of peple was so grete, that the duste a-rose so huge, that vn-nethe oon myght knowe another; and also the fiere and the smoke so grete in the contrey that half a iourney a-boute men myght knowe what peple ther were. And whan thise childeren approched to this chyuachie, and herde the playntes and the cryes that the mene peple made for the saisnes that hem so distroyed, that were well xMl of horsemen, withoute the putaile that ronne vp and down and robbed the peple and brente the vilages as they passed thourgh the Contrey.

Whan the childeren saugh this doloure and this sorowe, thei asked of hem that passed by that thei saugh so affraied where that kynge Arthur was, and they seyde he was gon in to Tamalide at mydlenton, and hadde wele garnysshed alle the forteresses of his londe that noon ne myght not gretly forfete, and thei were so doilfull that the sarazins so distroied the londe as ye haue herde. And whan the childeren herde that the kynge was not in the contrey, thei seide thei wolde the londe and the contrey for her oncle, and also the pray that the saisnes ledden, and that thei wolde kepe the londe and it deffende till here oncle were come home. And whan the peple of the contrey herde hem speke thus, thei asked of hem what thei were that so wolde deffende the londe folio 66a
of kynge Arthur, as thei seiden; and thei lete hem be knowen what thei were. And whan the peple knewe what the childeren weren thei hadde grete ioye, for by hem thei trowed that the kynge Arthur sholde be lorde of all the reame of logres, and the love of the fadres he sholde haue thourgh the childeren that ther were come, with thise v cosins, and with other that were ryche mennes sones, as Castelleins and vauasours of the londe, that after were of grete prowesse in the house of kynge Arthur, and of soche as were moste preysed. And as soone as the childeren saugh the grete damage, theire hertis begonne to ryse, and cried, “As armes, gentill squyres, for now shall it be sene how is goode and hardy and worthy to bere armes, for we be in oure heritages, and therfore we sholde deffende

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oure right a-gein these mysbelevynge peple, that thus this londe robbed and wasted.”

Hastely ronne these squyers to armes, and lepen to horse, and hem renged and distreyned, as the knyghtes hem taughten, whereof were xxiiij that were noble men and right gode knyghtes and trewe. And whan the peple of the contre saugh that thei hadde socoure, ther com to hem more than vC what on horse and on fote.

And than thei yede togeder as starlynges, and mette firste the cariage and the vitaile that the saisnes ledden towarde the hoste, and were moo than iijMl with the cariage. And, as the storye seith, it was passed mydday and was right hote weder. And the duste a-rose so thikke that scantly a man myght se fro hymself the caste of a stone. And as soone at that the childeren saugh theire enmyes, thei lete theire horse renne, and overthrewe and slowgh alle that thei ateyned, that ther ne ascaped oon ne other. That day Gawein slowgh many a sarazin of the saxouns more than eny of his felowes, so that he was all blody, bothe he and his horse. And he heiled an axe in his honde, and he was so crewell and fiers that whom he araught a full stroke neded hym no salue. And his other bretheren dide also right wele, so that noon of hem ne durste a-bide of hem a stroke. And Galashyn was all day with Gawein, that merveilously dide wele, for ther myght noon endure his strokes that he ne smote of arme, or legge, or heede, or other membre; but, a-bove alle othir, it was merveile to se the martire that Gawein made, for a-gein his strokys ne myght not endure Iren ne style, ne no mannys body, were he neuer so myghty ne stronge. And so the childeren smyten vp and down a-boute hem that of iijMl that ledde the pray towarde the hoste, ne ascaped not xxxti. And x of hem that ascaped returned vn-to her chiuachie, that were comynge after with vijMl, but thei were not wele armed, for thei hadde made it to be trussed for the grete hete that hem greved. And whan the x that fledden com in to the hoste thei [correction; sic = the] cryed that all was deed that were lefte with the cariage. Whan thei herde that all was loste, thei ronne to theire armes alle they that eny hadden,
folio 66b
and hem armed in the beste wise that thei myght. And the thirde Page 194
part of hem ne myght not come to theire armoure, for theire squyers were gon be-fore with the cariage that the childeren hadde wonne, and let it be ledde to logres, and lete it be condited by men of the same contrey, that the were dwellynge and weren fallen in to theire company; and after thei pursude the saisnes that fledden in to the tyme that thei were fallen in amonge the rerewarde. Ther than was fierce bataile and stronge stoure, and harde and crewell, that merveile it was to haue seyn. Ther Gawein slowe the kynge noas, of Iselonde, for he smote hym with an axe with bothe hondis, that he cleft hym to the briste bon. And Galashyn smote so the kynge Sarnagut with a swerde trenchaunt that he made his heede fle in to the feilde. And Agrauayn, that was plonged in to the presse, smote on bothe sides hym a-boute, and began yeve so grete strokes that sore thei hym douted. And Gaheries hadde chased Gynebande the length of a bowe draught from his felowes, for that he hadde smyte down his [correction; sic = his his] brother Gaheret with a spere, but he hadde noon other harm; and, therfore, wende well Gaheries he hadde be slayn; and, therfore, he pursude vpon hym with swerde drawen, as fiercely as a wilde boor.

Whan Guynebans saugh Gaheries so fiercely come, he turned to flight, for he ne durste not a-bide for the grete merveilouse occision that he hadde seyn hym do; and, withoute faile, he was of merveilouse prowesse, for, as the story reherseth, it failed but litill that he was even like of bounte to Gawein his brother, whan he com to his right age and was knyght. And whan Gaheries saugh the sarazin thus fleynge, he swore be god that he sholde neuer cesse ne leve hym, for playn ne wode, till he were avenged of his brother deth. And so he hym chased as faste as his horse myght hym bere till he hadde lefte his felowes be-hynde the space of an arblaste. And so he hym overtoke a-monge the meyne of Guynebans, that com redy to fight, and gladde were they of the pray that thei hadde so ledde.

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Whan Gaheries hadde overtake Guynebans, he stroke hym so sore vpon the helme that he kutte a-wey a quarter that he made hym to stope, and the swerde swarued betwene the shelde and the nekke, and kyutte the gyge of the shelde with all the arme so that he dide it falle in to the felde. And whan this kynge saugh hymself so dismembred he fill in swowne; and than Gaheries was gladde of the vengaunce of his brother, and turned his horse hede. But the saisnes that this stroke hadde sein ne contented not to lete hym passe; and than thei hem renged by hundredes and by thowsandes, and closed hym in on alle partyes, and smote vpon hym with theire speres at ones, and ouerthrewe hym and his horse. And whan the tymbir of theire speres were broken, he lepe vp-on his fete vigerousely, as he that hadde I-nough of breth; and myght that ther was noon so hardy that durste put to hys honde hym to take, and launched at hym fro fer speres and swerdes
folio 67a
and knyves, that thei made hym falle on his knees two tymes or thre; but so myght he not longe endure but that he sholde haue be take or deed. Than a squyer that saugh hym chase so the hethyn kynge, com cryinge and betynge his hondes togeder, and rendinge his heer to Gawein, that hadde remounted Gaheret vpon another horse, that hadde smeten down the kynge Sernage fro. Than the squyer cried, “Ha, Gawein! where-a-boute arte thow? for thow hast loste thy brother Gaheries but thow hym socoure delyuerly; for he chased a saisne that he hath ouertake in this derke valey, and hath hym smetyn down; but the sarasins haue be-sette hym on all partyes, and haue hym ouerthrowen, and slayn his horse, and made hym falle vpon his kne I wote not how often; and yef ye hym thus lese it is grete doel and grete damage.” Whan Gawein vndirstode hym that made soche doel for his brother, he seide, “Ha! seint Marie Virgin and moder of Jeshu criste, ne suffre not that I lese my brother, for than myn herte shall neuer be gladde; and yef I hym thus lese, shall ther neuer shelde hange a-boute my nekke.” Than he asked of the squyer whiche wey it was. And he shewed hym the valey be the wode side. And he cryed to his felowes with high voys, “Now shall it be sein who that shall me serve.”

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“Feire cosyn,” quod Galashyn, “whider will ye go in so grete haste, shall noon a-bide from yow, and therfore set forth smartly, for I drede lest we tarye to longe?” Than the childeren hem renged and priked as faste as quarelles of arblast, and perced the presse with his gode horse and heilde an axe in bothe handes wherewith he made soche martire and soche slaughter, that thei fly from hym on alle partyes; and it lasted the space of a myle a-boute of the peple that thei hadde leide to grounde, and thei sought vp and down till thei founde Gaheries, that was lyggynge at erthe vpright, and thei hadde pulled of his hatte of stiell and his coyf of mayle for to smyte of his heed, but thei thought to haue take hym quyk, and lede hym to Bernage, the kynge of Saxon. Than thei fillen vpon hym at ones, and wolde bynde his hondes be-hynde hys bakke. Than com Gawein prikinge gripynge a spere, and sprange in a-monge hem so full of ire and maltelent for that he sawgh his brother so vileinliche a-raide, that ny he yede out of witte, and than he leide a-boute hym so grym strokes and rude that noon durste hym a-bide, but disparbled a-brode fro hym as from a wode lyon in rage.

Whan that thei that heilde his brother saugh the merveile that he dide, thei ne durste not a-bide ne holde his brother no lenger, but yef thei wolde haue receyved the deth, but turned to flight and made hym wey. Whan Gaheries saugh his brother Gawein, he lepte vpon his feet, and sette on his heed his hatte delyuerly, and hente a-gein his swerde, and appareilede hym to diffende. And Agrauayn hym brought an horse, and seide, “Brother, now lepe vp lightly, for grete foly haue ye do to go so fer oute of oure company, for full nygh hadde ye more loste than wonne.” Whan Gaheries saugh hymself hooll and sounde, and that he was a-gein I-horsed and delyuered, he was right gladde. Than the bretheren drough hem togeder to relied her peple; and the saisnes blewe hornes and trumpes, and armed hem and assembled hem thourgh all the contrey, and ordeyned theire batailes. But now cesseth
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a-while to speke of thise childeren and of the saisnes, and speke of the men of the contrey that ledde the pray that the childeren hadde conquered, and the cariage to the Cite of logres.

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Here seith the storye that full gladde were the peple of the contrey of the wynnynge that the childeren hadde geten, and wente ioyfull and mery with the vitaile, for thei were but two scottissh myle fro the town, and therfore thei peyned hem faste to come to the Cite saf, for well thei knewe that the saisnes were to moche peple to fight a-geyn the childeren and her feliship; and therfore thei douted that the pray sholde be rescued, and take a-gein be strength; and therfor thei hasted to come tymely to saf garde. And whan thei that kepte the Cite saugh come the riche pray, thei asked how it was geten. And thei tolde how Gawein, the kynges sone loot, and his bretheren, and Galashin, the kynges sone ventre, that is cosin to Gawein, be come to helpe the kynge Arthur, and haue lefte theire londes and theire contrey, and sey thei will neuer faile the kynge Arthur while that thei [correction; sic = the] be lyvinge, for thei be come with xxvij felowes, and mette with thre thousande forrayoures that this pray ledden, and foughten with hem till thei haue hem alle slayn and discounfited, and sesed vs with the pray to brynge to this Citee saf; and, therfore, open the yates and receyve it in; and after we shull returne hem for to socoure, for grete pite it were yef thei were deed or taken in so tendre age, for thei ben of high valoure and grete worthynesse.

Whan the Cetezeins vndirstode these wordes of the childeren that were come in soche manere, a-noon thei opened the gates and receyved hem in to the Citee; and after thei seiden that a parte of hem sholde go helpe the childeren. Thanne thei lete blowe an horn in the maister toure, and than ronne to armes thourgh the town. A-noon they were armed with grete spede, and Issed oute at the maister gate. And than a-bode the Castelein of Cardoell, that was a noble man and a trewe. And whan he was come, he fonde oute of the town vijMl, and than he seide “Sirs, it were no wisdom to leve the town vn-garnysshed of peple, for we knowe not what shall falle ne what peple we shall mete.” And than ţei ansuerde that he seide well, ne thei wolde not go but soche as he wolde haue. Than he toke oute vMl, and two thousande he lefte for to kepe the town, that it were not surprised.

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Than thei rode forth and renged close that wey where as the childeren foughten full sore, ffor the saisnes were mo than vijMl in a flote. And as soone as thei hem saugh, thei ne douted nothinge so small a peple that were so ynge. And ther was of hem but xxiiij knyghtes, and vC squyers, and xxti that were not yet a-dubbed, and CCC men what on horsebak, and of fotemen of peple of the contrei that were falle to hem, and seide thei wolde rather be deed than thei wolde forsake her companye. But Madelans and Guynehan hadde departed her men in two partyes, and eche was iiijMl, for alle the saisnes folio 68a
were assembled to hem two. Than come Guynehan first with a grete spere, for he was myghty and stronge, and moche oute of mesure, and ther-to right hardy; and ran vpon hem so fiercely as he hymself alone all wolde haue confounded. And Gawein, that was be-fore his felowes, and heilde an ax trenchaunt, and com a-gein hym fiercely. And Guynehan, that com formest, ran a-gein hym, and smote Gawein so harde with his spere that it fley all to peces, for the haubreke was so stronge of dubble maile, and the squyer so full of prowesse, that he ne meved not for the stroke, but yaf Gynehans soche a stroke with his ax vpon the helme that he bente ouer his horse croupe; and the stroke of the ax glenched, and smote the horse bakke a-sonder, that thei fill to the grounde bothe vpon oon heepe. Whan the saisnes saugh that stroke, thei shodered a-boute hym, for thei wende that the kynge Guynehan hadde ben deed; and than thei pressed faste to the rescowe. And Gawein smote amonge hem, and thei smote hym with theire speres and slow his horse vnder hym. And he lepte lightly vpon his feet, and yaf so grete strokes that noon durste hym aproche. Than com the socours on bothe sides, and ther be-gan the bataile a-bowte Gawein fell and longe lastinge, for the saisnes coueyted to remounte Gynehans and for to take Gawein; and his felowes so hym defended that it was merveile for to beholden.

Whan Gawein saugh that thei desired so hym to take and holde, he griped hys axe and com to a saisne that hadde made Agrauayn to stoupe in his sadill, and moche he hym payned for to smyten of the heed. And whan Gawein saugh Page 199
this he wax ny wode for ire. Than he threste thourgh the presse to that saisne, and for to yeve hym a gret stroke he reysed his ax; and the saisne saugh he myght not voyde the stroke, and caste his shelde ther a-geins. And Gawein hym hitte so harde that he slytte the shelde in two partyes. And the stroke descended on the lifte shulder so grete that he slyt hym to the girdill, and than he fill to grounde. Than Gawein sesed the stede and lepte in to the sadill, and than he cryed to his felowes, “Now shewe youre hardynesse, that these Sarazins not vs ascape, and that nother wode ne playn hem shall warante, for ye shall se my strokes and my prowesse double.” Than he smote the stede, and rode in a-monge hem, and made of hem soche martire that thei lay vpon hepes in the feilde, as hey in a medowe; but for all that the saisnes haue horsed Guynehans.

And whan he was remounted a-monge the saisnes, he hente a stronge spere and a rude, and com to Agrauayn, that hadde his nevewe slayn be-fore hys iyen. And he hitte Agrauayn with his spere so sore that it preced two folde thurgh his haubreke, and therto he shof ther-on so harde that Agravayn fill to the erthe bothe he and his horse on an hepe.

Whan Gaheries and Galashin saugh Agrauayn falle, thei hadde grete drede that he were slayn; and Galashin come formest and smote Guynehans with his swerde foliio 68b
vpon the helme, that he made hym enclyne on his sadill bowe; and Gaheries smote hym with his swerde vpon the arme, that it fly in to the feilde; and Gaheriet smote hym betwene the nekke and the shulders as he was stopynge, that he made the heed fle in to the playn, and Galashin with his fote spurned his body to grounde, and laught the steede, and ledde it to Agravayn that sore hym deffended on fote. And whan Agravayn hadde the horse, he lepte vp as soone as he myght, and than be-gan the meddelynge amonge hem full crewell and fell; but of Gawein knewe thei no tidynges, for he was so depe in a-monge the saisnes that it was no light thynge hym for to fynde. Whan the saisnes sawgh the kynge Gynehans deed, thei were so a-masid that thei wiste not what to do, but turned to flight vpon the

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bataile of kynge Madelen that was theire chief lorde, and there recouered thei that fledde; and Gawein, that hadde gon here and there, that nothynge cowde here of his bretheryn, and wiste not whether thei were discounfited or noon, he hovid stille till he saugh his felowes comynge, and whan that he knewe it were thei, he was gladde; and thei renged hem aboute Gawein, for of hym thei hadde be in grete feere. And Madalen rode with grete plente of peple, and were vjMl, and it ne myght not longe endure but the Gawein sholde haue ben loste, wher-of it hadde ben grete damage and harme to all the londe of logres, but as the socoure com oute of the Citee, and were vMl men of armes. Whan the childeren saugh the socour that com oute of logres, and the baner that doo of Cardoell brought, The men of contrey that were with the childeren badde hem be of gode counforte, for “loo! heere cometh the Citee of logres yow for to helpe and to socoure.” Whan the childeren vndirstode that thei of logres were come hem for to helpe thei were gladde and ioyfull. Than thei refresshed theire horse, and girde hem newe agein, and lepten vp, and hem renged, and after rode streyte and close, and the saisness com hem ageins full Irouse and crewell for the deth of Guynehans. Than thei braste theire speres in theire counterynge vpon sheldes and helmes, and be-gan a bataile full fell and merveillouse, whiche myght not be withoute grete losse on bothe partyes. Than com in a-monge hem the socour that com out of logres as faste as theire horse myght renne, and ther sholde ye haue herde grete crasinge of speres, and than thei drowgh oute swerdes, and begonne ther a stronge bataile and mortall, ffor ther was shedde so moche blode that it ran like stremes doun the valey.

Full grete was the stour and the medle in the playnes be-fore logres of the childeren and the socoure that com oute of logres, and of the saisnes, and dured all the day till it was nyght. Ther dide Gawein soche merveiles in armes that wondirfully was he beholden of hem of logres, for he smote down men and horse, and slow so many, that noon ne durste hym no stroke a-bide. Than fill it that he mette with the kynge Madelen, that hadde ouerthrowe Doo of Cardoell, that was the captein of logres, and

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heilde hym be the helme at the erthe, and peyned sore hys heede of to smyten; and therwith com Gawein,
folio 69a
but ther tho was grete stoure and hidouse, for that oon part bisied for the rescew, and the tother hym for to sle or withholde; but the kynge ther myght thei not take, for he hadde so grete plente of peple; and therwith Gawein smote so grete strokes a-monge hem that he made hem alle to disseuer, and it fill so that Madalen com in his wey, and he smote hym so with bothe hondes with his axe vpon the helme that he slitte hym to the brayn, and he fell ded to the erthe.

Whan the saisnes saugh the kynge Madalen deed, thei were so mased that they turned to flight, oon here and another there, and toke the wey to Valdesbires ther the sege lay. Than a-roos the duste and the powder so grete that vn-nethe oon myght knowe another, ne noon ne a-bode his felowe; but there were many ouerthrown in that chase, for as soone as Doo was remounted he hem chased vigerously, but the childeren were euer to foren, that made soche martirdom vpon the saisnes, that fyve myle lay the wey full of hem that were wounded and caste to grounde, and thourgh the helpe of god and of hem that come oute of the Citee, thei slough of hem so many that of xijMl ne ascaped not iijMl that ne were deed or wounded, and thus were the saisnes discounfited, and the chase endured till nyght. Than thei turned gladde and ioyfull to the Citee, where as thei founde merveilouse richesse that thei hadde rescued fro the saisnes of that thei hadde robbed and piled thourgh the londe and the contrey, whiche was all ledde in to the Cite of logres.

Whan the childeren were alle come to logres, the Citee made of hem grete ioye whan thei hem knewe. Than thei brought be-fore theym all the riche prise that thei hadde geten, and seide vnto Gewein, that thei heilde for the chief lorde, that he sholde it departe at his voluntee; and he ansuerde that he wolde ther-of medle in no manere before Doo of Cardoel, “for,” he seide, “he can it beter departe and yeve than can I, ffor he knoweth beste the pore and the suffretouse, and therfore do his volunte.”

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Whan the Citezins herde Gawein thus speke, thei hym comended and preysed moche, and seide he myght not faile to be a worthy man; and thei hym loved hertely a-bove alle thynge, and preised the grete gentilnesse that thei hym founden.

Thus restede the childeren and soiournede in the Citee of logres, that the saisnes ne dide hem no forfete. But now cesseth the story of the childeren at this tyme that ne speketh a gret while, aud returneth to kynge Arthur and kynge ban and kynge boors, and her companye, that be gon in to the reame of Tamelide for to serue the kynge leodogan.

CHAPTER XIV.

EXPEDITION OF ARTHUR, BAN, AND BOORS TO SUCCOUR LEODOGAN AT TAMELIDE.

Right here, seith the frensch booke, that whan the kynge Arthur was departed fro Bredigan, he and the kynge Ban, of benoyk, and the kynge boors of Gannes, his brother, that thei rode so her iournes till thei com to Tarsaide, and after to Tamelide, where as the kynge leodogan soiourned vpon the Pasche euen; and whan thei entred into the Citee, Merlin rode with hym vpon a grete stede as he that wolde not hym leven in no manere.

folio 69b

Than thei com to the paleise, and fonde the kynge leodogan gretly affraied, ffor the kynge Ryon was entred his londe vpon hym with xv kynges crowned, and hadde hym discounfited and dryven oute of the feilde; and thei were loigged at a seige be-fore a Citee cleped Nablaise, that was a grete town and a riche, and plentevouse of alle goodes. Of this thynge was the kynge leodogan gretly abaisshed and dismayed, ffor his enmyes hadde brought vpon hym soche a grete puyssaunce of peple, and he ne kowde no counseile how he myght his londe deffende agein the kynge Ryon, ffor he hadde not peple in his reame sufficient to a-reyse hem fro the sege, ne to chase hem oute of his reame, and so ther-of he counseilled with his knyghtes that were with hym be-lefte, and asked of hem counseile and her advys.

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In the while that kynge leodogan toke thus his counseile of his knyghtes, entred in the kynge Arthur and his companye in to the Paleise, and com be-fore the kynge leodogan, holdynge eche othir be the honde, two and two togeder; and the storye seith that with arthur were xl, and hymself and Merlin made xlij, and thei weren alle right wele clothed and richely arrayed, and alle yonge bacheleres at pryme barbe, excepte the two kynges that yede be-fore, that somdell were in age, and thei were feire knyghtes and semely, and thei were beholden of grete and smale of alle that were ther-Inne, ffor thei were of freissh aray and riche atire; and whan thei com be-fore the kynge leodogan, a-noon he a-roos and yede hem a-geins, for hym semed thei weren high men and of grete astate. Than spake the kynge ban first, and salued the kynge leodogan as soone as he myght, and the kynge seide thei were welcome yef thei come for goode. “Certes, sir,” seide he, “for noon euell ne be we not entred in to youre reame, but we be come to serue yow, with this condicion, that ye desire not to knowe oure names in to the tyme that we lete yow wyte of oure voluntee, and but it plese yow in this maner, we commaunde yow to god, that he yow deffende from all euell and disese, ffor we shulde fynde I-nowe that vs will resceyve in soche forme as we yow demaunde, but we haue herde sey that ye withholde alle the sowdioures that yow will come. Now sey vs youre pleysier.”

Than ansuerde the kynge leodogan that he wolde a-vise hym by his counseile, and besekynge hem therwith not to be displesed, and thei ansuerde agein to be at his leiser. Than cleped the kynge leodogan the knyghtes of the rounde table, and asked how hem semed of that the knyghtes hym demaunded, and what was her counseile; and thei ansuerde that to withholde hem myght he haue no damage, ffor thei semede to be of grete wordynesse, “and resceyve hem in goddes name, and pray hem as soone as thei may to sey what thei be, and to make hem to be knowen.” Than departed the
folio 70a
kynge fro the counseile, and com in to the halle where the barouns hym a-biden, and than he seide to hem, “Feire lordynges, me merveileth gretly of that ye haue Page 204
me requered, that ye will not that noon knowe what ye be, ne what be youre names, and of soche thynge herde I neuer speke, but by youre semblaunte ye seme alle worthi men, and therfore I will in no wise with-sey that ye requere, and be ye right welcome, and I yow withholde as my lordes and felowes in soche forme that ye shull me ensure to helpe me feithfully and trewly while that ye be in my companye; but thus moche I will yow hertely prayen, that as soone as ye godely mayen, ye will lete me wite what ye be; and I shall telle yow wherfore, for ye may be soche that I sholde haue shame that I haue yow not serued as ye ought for to be, for par-a-uenture ye be of higher astate than am I.” And thei ansuerde that he ne sholde to hem do nothynge but thei wolde it gladly take in gre; and the kynge Ban hym graunted for to telle her names as soone as tyme requered, and than thei made theire suerte to the kynge leodogan hym trewely for to serue.

Than thei departed from the kynge, and wente in to the town for to take the beste loiggynge that thei myght knowe; and Merlin hem ledde to the house of a vauasour, that was right a gode man and a yonge bacheler, and the herberowe was right godely and esy, and the wif was right a noble woman and a feire, and goode to god and to the worlde. The lorde of the house was a worthy man and of gode livynge, and his name was blaires and his wif leonell; and whan thei com be-fore the place, blaires lepe oute hem a-geins, and seide thei were welcome, and thei hym thankeden. A-noon thei lighten and yede vp in to the halle that was right feire and welle seyn, and the yomen dight her horses well at ese. Thus thei soiourned in the town viij dayes full, and nothinge dide but ete and dranke and made hem mery, and wente to the courte euen and morowe whan thei wolden; and the kynge leodogan hem serued and wurshiped in all that he myght, and yet he will more whan he knoweth what thei be, he will not holde his trauayle nothinge loste; and more-ouer the kynge leodogan somowned his peple thourghoute his reame, alle tho that armes myght bere, that at the ascencion thei sholde be at Toraise redy armed hem-self to deffende in bataile a-gein theire enmyes; Page 205
and alle tho that ne wolde not come, he lete hem well wite that thei sholde haue as streyte Iustice as longed to theuis and traytoures; and also the kynge leodogan sente after hys frendes and sowdiours ouer all where he myght hem gete for golde or siluer, and ther com so grete plente of oon and other, that thei were assembled on the ascencion euen in the medowes vndir Toraise, and loigged in teyntes and pavilouns, xlMl, what on horse bakke and on fote, withoute hem that were in the town, whereof ther were vjMl; but the story seith that in tho dayes fyve hundred
folio 70b
was cleped a thousande. In the tyme that kynge leodogan hadde somowned so his peple, it be-fill on a tewisday, at euen, in the entreynge of May, That the kynge Ryolent and the kynge Phariouns, of Irelonde, and the kynge Senygres, and the kynge Serans, were departed fro the hoste with xvMl men of armes, and ran thourgh the contrey for vitaile, whereof thei hadde grete nede; and it be-fill that thei com wastynge the contrey toward Torayse, where the kynge leodogan of Tamelide soiourned, and a-bode his peple that he hadde sente after. Than herde the kynge the noyse of hem that gadered togeder the pray, and robbed the londe and the contrey a-boute Torayse, and thei of the town hem perceyved, and than thei closed the yates, and the knyghtes that were withynne at soiourne ronne to theire armes and lepe to theire horse, and assembled hem togeder withynne the yates. Than were alle the knyghtes of the rounde table armed, and the gouernaunce of hem hadde hervy the Rivell and males ly bruns, and thei were two hundred and fifty that alle were noble gode knyghtes and trewe, and were so worthi in armes, that vndir sonne men myght fynde noon better: these were alle in a wynge by hem-self, for thei wolde not be medled a-monge noon other; and on the tother side side the knyghtes and the peple of the Citee arayed hem, and thei were iiijMl, and of these hadde the stiward the gouernaunce hem to lede, that was cleped Cleodalis. This cleodalis was wonte to bere the chief baner of the kynge, but euer after that the knyghtes of the rounde table were come, hervy the Rivell it bar; but he bar a smal ganfanon of two smale losenges of goules, and the feelde of golde and crownes of ynde; and the grete baner that Page 206
hervy bar was of iiij losenges full of crownes of golde. Whan thei were well armed, thei renged hem be-fore the portes, and a-bode the comaundement of the kynge; and whan the kynge was armed, he lepe on a grete stede of greet bounte, and rode to the baner that hervy bar, and ther he hoved still till thei saugh come the sarazins, and were mo than vijMl on horsebak.

And on the tother side was arthur well armed, and alle his his companye, and thei were alle richely horsed. And Merlin bar that day the baner, and he comaunded hem alle, that as dere as thei heilden her owen bodies, that thei sholde sue that baner all that day in what place that it yede; and thei seide alle that thei so wolden. Than thei set forth her wey thourgh the town, so fresch and richely armed that no peple might be better, and thei were xlj, withoute Merlin that bar the baner, soche oon that for a grete merveile was beholden of oon and other that day, for he bar a dragon that was not right grete, and the taile was a fadome and an half of lengthe tortue, and he hadde a wide throte that the tounge semed braulinge euer, and it semed sparkles of fier that sprongen vp in to the heire out of his throte. With that com Geauntes, and the Sarazins, and smote theire speres vpon the yates of the town, and after folio 71a
turned down the medowes, for thei fonde no man that yaf hem ansuere, and gadered togeder alle the prayes of bestes that were in the medowes. And Merlin eschuwed alle that were in the stretes of the town, and rode thourgh hem euen to the yates with his meyne, and seide than to the porter, “Lete oute, for it is tyme;”

and the porter seide thei sholde not oute of the yates till the kynge hadde comaunded. “What,” seide Merlin, “makeste thow daunger of that I haue as grete power as thow.” Than Merlin caught the flayle of the yate and plukked it to hym and yede oute as lightly as it hadde not haue ben lokked, and than departed oute magre [correction; sic = mage] how it grucchid. Whan these xlij felowes weren oute of the town, than the gate was as close as it hadde neuer be opened at that tyme, and of that merveile blissid the kynge ban and the kynge boors his brother, and alle the tother. And Merlin priked faste his horse till he ouertoke a grete company of sarazins that were two Page 207
thousande or mo, that ledde grete plente of beestes, and Merlin frusht a-monge hem with his banere, and his companye with hym, and leyde on sore strokes, and in her metynge ouerthrew alle that thei countred, and in lesse than an hour thei hadde hem so slayn and chased, that thei toke the pray and ledde it to the gates of the town; but thei hadde gon but a-while when thei saugh iiij kynges com with xv thousande men of armes, that ledde so grete cariage of robbery that thei hadde piled thourgh the contrey, and were towarde the see. Whan Merlin hem saugh, he seide to his felowes, “Suweth me,” and thei so diden; and it fill so that a-noon, as Merlin hadde caste a charme, there rose soche a wynde and storme so grete, that the powder and the duste a-rose with the wynde, and smote in the visages of the Geauntes and sarazins, that oon myght not right wele knowe another.

And a-noon as the xlij felowes were in a-monge hem, thei slowe and ouerthrewe so many that it was wonder to thinke; and than comaunded the kynge leodogan to open the yates. Than Issed oute first the stiwarde Cleodales formeste (with iiijMlmen of armes), and fonde the yate close where as thei yssed oute, that foughten agein xvMl men so harde that it was merveile. Than com Cleodalis with his banere, and smote in a-monge the presse right hidously; ther sholde ye haue herde grete brekinge of speres, and grete noyse of swerdes vpon helmes and vpon sheldes, that the sownde was herde in to the Citee clerly; ther was grete defoulinge of men and horse; but there the xlij felowes shewed merveiles with her bodies.

Whan these iiij kynges saugh that these were a-monge hem medelinge, thei departed her peple in tweyne, and lefte viijMl fighting stille; and vijMl rode a-gein the banere of kynge leodogan that thei saugh come oute of the town, and the ton rode a-gein the tother full fercely; and whan thei neighed nygh, thei lowed ther speres, and
folio 71b
yaf togeder so grete strokes vpon sheldes, that thei perced haubrekes, and dismailed, and many ther were throwen to grounde sore bledynge with stroke of speres, and many ther were that passed thourgh withoute fallinge. Whan the speres were broken, thei leide honde to swerdes, and begonne the bataile grete Page 208
and merveilouse; but ther sholde ye haue seyn the knyghtes of the rounde table do wondres, and thei were but CC and fifty, and thei that were fightinge with hem were vijMl, and so were the knyghtes of the rounde table at gret myschief, for thei behoved to disparble, whethir thei wolde or noon, and voyde the place; but thei heilde hem togeder so close and streite, that noon myght hem perce ne entyr in amonge hem. Whan the kynge Riolent and the kynge placiens saugh that so litill a peple withstode so grete a power as thei were, thei hadde ther-of grete merveile and grete dispyte; than thei cried theire ensigne, and swore that neuer oon of hem sholde ascape. Than thei yaf hem a grete shoure and a felonouse, for at that shofte thei ouerthrewe mo than xl, and moche thei hem peyned hem to diffoule and to maymen, but her felowes were vpon hem arrestynge, and hem deffended from theire enmyes with her swerdes with all theire myght; and than it fill that the kynge leodogan was throwen fro his horse full lothly, and thei token hym with strengthe and ledde hym toward prison, with moo than vC, in to the hoste of kynge Rion of Irlonde, and thei hym ledde full fiercely, for thei wende wele that alle here werre hadde be fynysshed. And so thei ledde the kynge leodogan in alle the haste that thei myght, and whan the kynge leodogan saugh hym so mysfallen, and that his enmyes hadde hym taken, he sowowned often tymes and made grete sorowe; and thei that hym ledden spedden hem so faste that thei were fro the town two myle. Full grete was the noyse of the vijMl and the CC l.

knyghtes of the rounde table that were full hevy and wroth for the kynge that thei hadde loste, and than seide a-monge hem and assured togeder seth it was com ther-to, and that thei saugh all sholde be loste, than thei wolde avenge her shame and deth as longe as they myght lyven. Than thei sette her bakkes eche to other, and hem deffended merveilously, and made [correction; sic = ] soche slaughter of men and horse a-boute hem withoute remevynge oute of place, and so moche peyne and traueile thei suffred, that thei that were at the wyndowes of the palise that saugh the merveile wepte for pite; and Gonnore, the doughter of kynge leodogan, whan she saugh her fader ledde a-monge his enmyes, she made so gret

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sorowe that nygh she slowe hir-self for doell. But now lete vs cesse to speke of hem till tyme cometh a-gein, and speke of the kynge Arthur and his felowes, how that thei haue spedde in the bataile a-gein the viij thousande with the stiwarde Cleodalis of Tamelide.

folio 72a

Now, seith the storie, that stronge and crewell was the stour ther as the bateile was, where as the xlij felowes and the iiijMl that were with Cleodalis, the stiwarde, that foughten a-gein viijMl Sarazins; and many ther were slayn that lay grennynge on the grounde. And whan thei hadde longe tyme fought togeder, Merlin rode a grete walop oute of the bataile, and cried to his felowes that thei sholde sue hym, and thei so dide in grete haste, and rode as faste as the horse myght hem bere, till that thei were passed all theire peple, and than thei encresed her pas gretter, and rode towarde the siege the right wey ther as the Geauntes and the sarazins were, till that thei come in a valey that was right depe, and ther thei ouertoke the v C sarasins that ledde the kynge leodogan; and as soone as Merlin hym saugh, he cried, “Now lordinges, vpon hem, for ye be by-trayed and deed yef eny of of hem ascape.” Than thei drive in a-monge hem as tempest of thunder, and kilde and slough all that thei raught a right stroke in her comynge, and ther ne was noon of the xlj but he slowe or maymed whom that he mette. Ther sholde ye haue seyn soche martirdom, and soche slaughter of men and of horse, that noon ne myght ascape, so were thei supprised and astonyed, saf oonly fyve that ascaped, fleinge thei rought neuer what wey.

Thus haue thei rescowed the kynge leodogan; and whan the kynge saugh the grete martire and the occision that so fewe peple hadde don a-gein so many, he merveyled gretly what thei myght be; than he beheilde and knewe it was the dragon that Merlyn bar. Than knewe he wele that it were the sowdiours that he hadde with-holden, and than he thanked god of the socoure that he hadde hym sente. Than com Merlin to hym, and than he rested; whan saugh the kynge leodogan bounden he alight, and so dide Bretell, and hym vn-bounden, and right his armoure, and sethen made hym to lepe on a steede that was stronge and swyfht; and the

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kynge hem thonkeden hertely of the servise thei hadde hym don. Than cried Merlin, “Gentill knyghtes, what tarye ye heere so long? suweth me!” Than he rode a grete raundon towarde the town, where the knyghtes of the rounde table were at gret myschief, that of CC l. ne were but xxti on horsebak, but deffended hem on fote as wilde bores; and Merlin bar the baner be-fore, and rode as faste as he myght, and his felowes also, that theire horses swetten; and the dragon that Merlin bar caste oute gret flames of fiere, that it sparkeled vp in the ayre, that thei vpon the walles of the town saugh the clernesse of the light half a myle longe. Whan thei of Citee saugh the kynge that was her lorde, and saugh it were the xlij felowes, and with hem the kynge leodogan that thei hadde rescued, thei hadde grete ioye; and whan Gonnore this saugh, she spronge for ioye, and merveiled what the knyghtes were that com in that company; and thei com as faste as thunder so harde a-monge her enmyes, and in her comynge ech folio 72b
threwe oone to grounde; and as soone as the xlij felowes were smyten in a-monge hem, ther be-gan a grete bataile, and soche slaughter of men and horse, that the maiden that was lenynge oute at the wyndowes of the paleise herde the grete strokes. Ther yaf the kynge ban, of Benoyk, many strokes with corchense, his gode swerde, ffor whom he a-rafte a full stroke, ther waranted hym neither shelde, ne haubreke, ne noon armure, that he kutte all thourghoute at oon stroke, and many sithes he smote bothe horse and man to grounde at a stroke, and so dide hys brother, the kynge Boors, of gannes. And the sarazins hem beheilde for grete merveile that thei saugh hem do; and the kynge Arthur dide soche merveiles with Calibourne, his gode swerde, ffor ther a-gein myght noon armure endure, were it neuer so stronge, ffor what he araught was at his endynge for euer.

Grete was the bataile be-fore the town of Toraise ther as the CC l. knyghtes of the rounde table and the xlij felowes foughten [correction; sic = ] agein the sarazins; but thei haue so foughten that of vijMl beth lefte but vMl, wherfore thei beth sory and wroth for the kynge Canlent that thei haue loste; and than fill it so that the kynge ban mette with kynge Clarion, that was the moste man of the

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hoste of alle the Geauntes; and the storye seith that the kynge ban was a moche knyght of body, and a stronge, and coragous and hardy. The kynge heilde corchense, his gode suerde, and smote the kynge Clarion so sore vpon the helme that he slit it dowon to the eere, the stroke fill vpon the lifte shulder, that he slitte hym to the girdell; and the kynge Boors so smote Sarmedon, the ganfanoner, that he kutte of the arme with all the sheilde, and the baner fill to the erthe. This stroke saugh the kynge leodogan, and seide, “Now be there no knyghtes but these that so well conne helpe at nede.” And whan the Geauntes saugh theire lorde deed, and her baner fallen, thei turned to flight, oon here another there; and than com oute of the town knyghtes and sergeauntes two thousande, and begonne the chase vpon hem that turned to flight; but Merlin turned not that wey as thei fledde, but wente to the bataile ther as Cleodalis faught fercely with iiijMl men a-gein viijMl. Whan Merlin com to the bataile, he fonde Cleodalis was on fote fightinge, and heilde yet the baner vp right, and his men a-boute hym renged, that well hym deffended as worthy men; but thei were at grete myscheif, and in poynte to haue hadde grete losse in short tyme, whan Merlin com drivinge amonge hem with his dragon and his xlj felowes, of whiche ye haue herde that in her comynge ferde as tempeste, and ther-to thei were alle so well horsed that no men myght be better, and the kynge leodogan was euer with hem that in no wise wolde hem leten; and whan these xlij felowes were in a-monge the Geauntes ther was soche marteleise and soche noise as so many Carpenteres in a wode. Ther was stronge stour and fell and dolerouse, for ther sholde ye haue sein knyghtes and sergeauntes
folio 73a
falle as thikke as it hadde be reyn: ther sholde ye se stedes and horse renne maisterles, their reynes trailynge vndir fote, wher-of the sadeles were all blody of knyghtes that therynne hadde be slayn: ther sholde ye haue herde soche bruyt and soche noyse and cry that it was merveile and grete doell to here. Ther dide the xlij felowes so well that it was spoken of longe tyme after her deth in that contrey; and the storye seith thei mangled and slow so many, that by the traces oon myght haue sued half a day

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euery wey of the deed bodies and horse that thei hadde wounded, as thei that nought ne cessed ne rested; and therfore me semeth reson to reherse the names of tho worthi men.

The first was kynge Ban of benoyk, and the seconde was kynge Boors of Gannes, and the thirde was kynge Arthur, and the forthe was Antor, the ve was Vlfin, the vje Bretell, the vije was kay, the viij lucas the botiller, the ixe was Gifflet, the xe maret de la roche, the xj drias de la forest sauage, the xij belias de amerous of maydons castell, the xiije flaundryns le bret, the xiiij ladynas de benoyk, the xv amoret le brun, the xvj Anticolas le rous, the xvij blois del casset, the xviij blioberis, the xix Canade, the xx Meliadus le bloys, the xxj Aladan the crespes, the xxij Placidas ly gays, the xxiij leonpadys of the playn, the xxiiij Ierohas lenches, the xxv Christofer de la roche byse, the xxvj Ayglin de vans, the xxvij Calogreuaunt, the xxviij Aguysale de desirouse, the xxix Agresianx, the nevew of the wise lady of the foreste withoute returne, the xxx Chalis the orphenyn, the xxxj Grires de lambal, the xxxij kehedin de belly, the xxxiij Meranges de porlenges, the xxxiiij Gosnayns cadrus, the xxxv Clarias of Gaule, the xxxvj the lays hardy, the xxxvij Anmadius the proude, the xxxvij Osenayn cors hardy, xxxix Galescowde, xl Gales, the xlj bleoris the sone of kynge Boors, the xlij was Merlin, and the xliij was the kynge leodogan that in no wise wolde hem leve. These xliij worthi knyghtes wente to the rescew of Cleodalis, the stiwarde of Tamelide, that was a noble knyght, and right trewe, and full of grete hardynesse, and well it shewde that for noon vnkyndenesse that the kynge leodogan hadde don a-gein hym he wolde hym not forsake, ne leve hym in his myscheif in no nede that he was in, but therynne he dide moche more than many other wolde haue don, and I shall sey yow the cause why. This was the troweth, that the kynge leodogan hadde a wif, a lady of grete bewte and of high lynage, and whan he hadde brought here in to Tamelide out of her fader londe, after that he hadde her wedded, this lady brought with hire a mayden that was of grete bewte. This maiden loved the stiward so moche that on a day he asked hir of the kynge

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leodogan for to haue her to his wif, that many a day hadde hym serued, and the kynge hym graunted for his gode servise; and whan thei were maried and she satte at the table a-monge other ladyes, and she was richely arayed, the kynge liked moche hir bewte, and soche a fantasie fill
folio 73b
in his herte that he cowde not it remeve, and he hym covered in the beste maner that he cowde, and she was withoute faile oon of the feirest of the worlde; till it fill on a feste of seint Iohn that the kynge sente Cleodalis vpon a iourney a-gein the saisnes that vpon hym werred that tyme, and the lady that was lefte with the quene for companye, that moche her lovid with grete love, hit fill on a nyght that the kynge leodogan lay by the quene, and that nyght vpon hir he begat a doughter, that was cleped Gonnore whan she was baptised, the whiche after was of merveilouse bewte and the wif of kynge Arthur; and this lady that was wif to kynge lodogan was a goode lady and holy of livinge, and hadde an vsage to a-rise on nyghtes and go to chirche to sey matyns and to heere all seruyse to messe. That nyght that the quene hadde conceyved Gonnore her doughter, she yede to matyns, and com by the stiwardes wif, and fonde her slepynge and wolde not her a-wake, but wente and lefte her lyinge a-slepe, and wente forth a-lone to the cherche, that was faste by, with hir sawter in her hande; and the kynge, that longe had desired to speke with that lady, a-rose as soone as the quene was gon, and dide oute the taperes that were brennynge, and than wente to ly by the stiwardes wif, and whan the lady felte oon lyinge by her, she asked what he was, all affraied; and than he ansuerde how it was he, and bad hir be stille, and seide yef she made eny noyse she sholde be deed. The lady her deffended I-nowgh as with speche, but she durste not crye ne make no noyse; but litill availed her defense, for the kynge by hir lay, and on hir he gat a doughter the same nyght that he had geten Gonnore on his wife. And whan the quene was delyuered ther was founde vpon the childes reynes a litill crosse like a crowne for a kynge; and as soone as the quene was delyuered, the stiwardes wif be-gan to traueyle, and hadde a doughter of feire bewte, and was so like the quenes doughter,

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that oon cowde not knowe oon from another but by the crosse vpon her reynes, and eche of hem hight Gonnere in bapteme, and were norrisshed and brought vp togeder till that the quene was deed; and the kynge yet was not keled of the love of the stiwardes wif, and he her toke and shet her in a Castell, for he wolde not the stiwarde sholde speke with hir. In soche maner he heilde her more than v yere, till that the stiwardes frendes spake vn-to hym, and he seide he wolde not faile the kynge while he hadde werre, and yet the same tyme that kynge Arthur com for to serue, he hir heilde in the selue maner, and yet for all this the stiwarde neuer feyned to serue. But now lete vs retourne to speke of the stiwarde ther he is fightynge on fote amonge the Gyauntes, for all be tyme we shull speke of the twey Gonnores whan the mater fallith ther-to.

Now, seith the storye, that grete was the bataile, and mortall, ther as the stiward
folio 74a

Cleodalis was on fote a-monge the Geauntes and the saisnes, and as soone as the xlij fellowes were entred a-monge hem, thei disparbelid the renges harde; ther myght ye se oon fall deed after anothir as thikke as haile, and many a stede renne thourgh the feilde at the rescewe of the stiwarde, for ther was many a grete stroke yoven that made many a gentill lady to wepe for her bretheren and for her childeren, but magre hirs thei were driven bakke. Whan Sonygrenx and Sorfrains saugh the damage and the grete occision that so litill a peple dide, thei toke it in grete dispite. Than thei blewe theire trumpes and theire tymberes to assemble theire peple, and Sonygrenx restreyned his peple a-boute hym, and as he hadde hem assembled a-boute hym, kay the stiwarde, and lucas the boteller, and Gifflet, hem renged, and smyten in a-monge hem, and eche of hem griped a stronge spere, and kay smote sonygrenx so that he fill from his horse that he lay a starke while withoute sterynge of hande or foote, and lucas and Gefflet smote down othir towe deed. Whan the saisnes saugh Sonygrenx at erthe, thei shoff to the rescewe, and the xlij felowes sterten a-boute hym with swerdes drawen, and the saisnes pressed to releve the kynge Sonygrenx, but the xlij felowes hem deffended so that thei

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myght hym not nyegh, and so was he foule troden vndir horse feete er he myght be remounted, ffor the grete presse of saisnes were ther assembled. And Merlin that bar the baner come to socoure the thre felowes that I haue named, that right soone elles myght haue hadde damage. Here assembled agein all the turnement, and Cleodalis was horsed vpon a grey steede, and he yet heilde the kynges baner stille. Than he cryde his ensigne fierscely and rode in to the presse, he and his men, as faste as the horse myght renne; and ther was than merveilouse stour and harde, for than ther sholde ye see many a knyght ly ded vnder the horse feet; but the saisnes were so many that they myght not be perced lightly thourgh, but stode stiffly a-gein the crysten. Than fill it so that the vijMl that were discounfited be-fore Torayse fill to the peple of Sonygrenx and Sorfrain, and ther a-bode all tho that fledden so thikke that thei putte the cristen bakke more than the draught of an arblast; but the xlij felowes ne remeved neuer a foote londe fro the place, and ther Sonygrenx was vn-horsed, but with grete peyne was Sonygrenx remounted, that foule and dispitously was diffouled vnder horse feet, and than was the stour renewed, for sore he hym peyned to a-venge the same that he hadde resceyved, and ran vpon the cristen, he and his men, and smote hem sore with swerdes and speres, and enclosed hem rounde a-boute. Than Merlin smote in to the presse vigerously with the baner in his honde, and the knyghtes of the rounde table, that were remounted and newe araide, com to that medle a softe pase streite and clos, and whan thei saugh be-fore hem the signe of the dragon that Merlin bar, thei dressed that wey, for wele hadde thei ther-by be
folio 74b
socoured ther thei were in grete aventure of deth.

Whan the knyghtes of the rounde table approched the bataile thei sprongen in a-monge hem so felly, that thei bare down all that thei mette in her comynge, and whan the speres were broken thei drough oute theire swerdes and begonne the stour all newe fresshly and full fiercely; and on the tother side faught Cleodalis and his men full strongely, but for power that thei hadde thei myght holde no grounde, ffor the kynge fforfrain

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ledde hem felonously towarde the town, and fro the town com hem to helpe two thousande of hem that hadde chased theym that fledde; and whan thei saugh the baner of stiwarde, and the gret peple that hem suwed, they turned that wey, and sette so fiercely vpon hem, that moo than a thousande thei leid to the erthe in her comynge; and tho a-bode the peple of Cloedalis, and kepte her grounde, and begonne a-gein the stour so grete, that half a myle of men myght heere the noyse; and so thei heilde grete while the ton agein the tother, and that was a-gein the kynge Sofarin that hadde moo than viijMl, a-gein Cleodalis that hadde ner vjMl, and than thei heilde hem well peringall.

And on the tother side faught the knyghtes of the rounde table right sore, and the xlij felowes, a-gein Sonygrenx and his men that were vjMl, and so thei were at grete myscheif, for thei were but CCC saf viij, and the sarazins were moo than iiijMl; and than Merlin cleped the kynge Ban, and seide to alle the tother, “Sirs, wher-after a-byde ye that ye ne put hem to disconfiture?” and thei ansuerde, “How?” “Sirs, I shall telle yow,” quod Merlin; “ther be but v Geauntes in the place that all this sustene, and yef ye may delyuer of hem thre, the place a-noon shalbe voyde.” “Wher be thei, sir?” seide the kynge Ban. “Trewly,”

quod Merlin, “Vlfin and Bretell and Gifflet and kay and lucas the boteller be with hem medelinge, and therfore folowe after me, for a-noon shull we se who shall do beste of this companye.” Than smote Merlin the horse with the spores that swyftly hym bar, and smote in to the medle that was right grete of fyve knyghtes a-gein x Geauntes grete and stronge out of mesure; and the kynge Ban, that was an huge knyght and an hardy and a stronge, com formest of alle, and fill hym wele that he mette first with the kynge Sonygrenx, and the kynge Ban gript his swerde, that was all be-soyled with blode and brayn, and hitte Sonygrenx on the helme of stele, and in the swarvinge, the stroke, that was grete, descended betwene the shelde, and kutte a-sonder the gyge with all honde that it fly in to the feilde; and whan Sonygrenx saugh hym so araide, a-noon he turned to flight, and caste a grete brayt and an orible, and wente makinge Page 217
grete sorowe. And the kynge Arthur hitte Margalyuaunt thourgh the helme euen down to the teth; and the kynge Boors smote so Seleuaunt that he slitte a quarter of his helme, the swerde glenched vpon the lifte shulder and smote it clene a-sonder, and he
folio 75a
fill to grounde; and Vlfin smote so balan that he fill to grounde all blody, and Bretell smote also down Cordaunt, and kay dandevart, and lucas smote Malet, and Gifflet mynadap, and merangis slow Saduc, and Gosenaym slow doulas; and as soone as the saisnes saugh these down, thei were so dismayed, that of a grete space thei meved not, and seide to hem-self that grete foly it were to fight with hem lenger but yef he wolde be slayn, ffor thei seide “these be no peple like other men, but it [correction; sic = but it but it] be fendes of helle, for a-gein her strokes may noon armoure endure.”

Whan the knyghtes of the rounde table and the xlij felowes saugh the saisnes that thei were so abaisshed, thei hem slowen and mangeled, and yaf hem a fressh a-sawte as faste as the horse myght hem bere, till that thei were smeten in to the medle that kynge Sorfarins faught a-gein Cleodalis the stiwarde, and thise rode in a-monge them so fiercely, that thei made hem alle to remeve oute of the place; ne neuer thei stynte till they come be-fore the yates of Toraise. Thus were thei of the town gretly affraide whan thei saugh not the baner of kynge leodogan, and therfore thei supposed he was other taken or deed, and also thei ne saugh not the dragon that the Sowdiours bar, and that hem fered gretly, ffor now thei wende wele that all hadde be loste, for thei saugh hir enmyes be-fore the town, and grete drede thei hadde lest that thei hadde hem discounfited; but thei myght not, for thei were at grete myschef, for thei were but vijMl and the saisnes were viijMl, and on the tother side thei were so affraide for the knyghtes of the rounde table, and for the xlij felowes of whom thei herde no tydinges; and these fledde till thei come be-fore the yate; ther thei stynte be-fore the brigge and hem renge, and these other come vpon hem that right straytly

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hem required, here was than a merveilouse stour and [correction; sic = and and]

mortall, and longe it endured; and wite ye well that a thousande ther were ouerthrowe that neuer hadde power to a-ryse.

But as soone as the sowdiours were come, and the knyghtes of the rounde table, the peple of Sonygrenx were discounfited; but thei wolde not hem enchase, for Merlin hem with-heilde, and drough hem a-parte in to the feilde, and seide, “Feire lordinges, now lete hem gon, and besye ye not hem to enchase, ffor ther-to shall come tyme hereafter; but drawe yow a litill a-bakke, and a-light down on fote, and drawe togeder yowre peple, and refresshe yowre horse, and lete hem reste, and than girdeth hem newe a-gein;” and thei dide his counseile.

And whan the knyghtes of the rounde table saugh hem a-bide, than seide hervy de ryuell that he wolde go be-fore theym. Than thei a-light, and araide hem right wele, and hem refresshed as thei that ther-to hadde grete nede. And the kynge leodogan com to Merlin, and seide, “Sir, will ye not that these worthy men come in youre companye?” “Certes,” seide Merlin, “sir, we will right wele, and ţei be right welcome,
folio 75b
for we be the better that thei be with vs in felisship.” “Sir,” seide the kynge, “gramercy.” Than yede the kynge leodogan to hervy de rivell, that bar the baner, and seide, “Feire frende, come ye and youre felowes with me, and ye shull be in feliship of these worthi men, and so moche shull ye be the more worthy.” “Sir,”

seide hervy, “with right gode will yef it hem plese.” “Certes,” seide the kynge, “it hem lyketh wele that ye be fro hens-forth felowes and in companye togeder.”

“In goddes name,” quod hervy, “for the feliship of so worthi men is not to be refused.” Than thei lepe to horse, and gedered togeder on a soppe; and than Merlin toke firste the wey; and thei alle hym folowen wheder that euer he rode.

And as thei rode in this wise as ye haue herde, Cleodalis, the stiwarde, faught with vjMl men a-gein Soffarin, that hadde in his companye moo than xMl; but thei were not well sette in rule, but schoved heir and there where as Page 219
thei semed beste to sette here strokes. And so the peple of Cleodalis were moche greved, for thei were at grete myschief, and hadde so moche suffred that nere thei were turned to the flight; but whan thei saugh come the dragon that Merlin bar, that caste oute of his throte so grete raundon of fiere in to the aire, that was full of duste and powder, so that it semed all reade. And whan the ladies vpon the walles this saugh, thei cryed alle with oon voys, “Now, sir Cleodalis, haue mynde to do well, and beholde towarde the valey, and se the socour that cometh.”

Whan Cleodalis vndirstode that the ladies seiden, he beheilde and saugh that he hadde so moche desired. And whan the knyghtes that were with Cleodalis saugh this socour, it nedeth not to aske yef thei be gladde and ioyfull. Than Cleodalis dide renne to the saisnes, bothe he and his peple, for to lete hem vndirstonde that thei hadde counfort; and begonne freshly vpon hem as it hadde be at the comencement. And these other com ridinge a softe pase till thei com as nygh as the caste of a ston. And than thei ffrusshed in so rudely that thei threwe CCC at the firste shoffe in theire comynge; and many ther were that neuer roos after. And than thei plonged in a-monge hem so depe, and neuer thei stynted till thei come to the baner of Cleodalis.

And whan thei were there alle assembled, than cryed Merlin, “Lordinges! worthy knyghtes! now let see youre cheualrye, for now be ye come to the assay.” whan the kynge Arthur vndirstode the wordis of Merlin, he seide to kynge Boors and to kynge Ban, laughinge, that neuer hadde ther be so fyn an olde man. And Merlin therwith cried, “Lete be your Iapes, for all this woke more ye shull haue leiser to laugh and to pley.” And whan thei herde hym sey so, thei rode in a-monge theire enmyes wroth and matelentif; ther was tho a merveilouse stour and creuwell, and encresed more and more than it hadde do all the day be-fore. Ther dide the kynge Arthur wonderes, for as the boke folio 76a
seith, so he labored by the entycement of Merlin, that all peple hym beheilde for the merveile. And Gonnore, the doughtere of kynge leodegan, and the ladyes and the maydenes, heilde vp here hondes a-gein heuene, and praied god to deffende

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hym fro deth and pereile, and wepten for pitee of the traueyle that thei suffred; and ther-to thei merveillede that so yonge a man myght that endure, and namely the kynge Arthur more than eny other, for he smote with Calibourne his gode swerde on euery side; for he smote of handes, and armes, and heedes, and thyes; and he smote down knyghtes, and horse, and men; he made sheeldes shiver fro nekkes, and helmes from hedes, that the serkeles fly a-sonder, and hadde euer goode wardeyns a-boute hym, that gretly hym helped in eche nede; for full noble men were the two kynges that ben in his companye, ffor a-geyns hem myght noon armoure endure, ne presse, were it neuer so grete, but that thei it brake with trenchaunt swerdes; and so dide wele thoo prise knyghtes in her companye, and also the knyghtes of the rounde table, that ne ought not to be for-yeten.

Ffull harde and stronge bataile was be-fore the yates of Toraise, and many feire chivalryes shewed on the oo parte and on the tother, and dured all the day, and was so nygh the walles of the town that a man myght haue caste a ston a-monge hem vpon here helmes.

Whan sorfarin saugh how he hadde so moche loste of his peple, he swore by his creaunce that he wolde neuer departe thens till he hadde done hem as grete damage. Than he called Sortebran, and Clarion, and Gaidon, and Senebant, and malore, and ffreelant, alle these were his kynnesmen, and bolde knyghtes and hardy, and than he seide to hem, “Now be it sene who is a knyght.” Than soche ix knyghtes that were grete and huge, ran in a-monge the cristen as faste as the horse myght hem bere, and Sorfarin smote hervy the rivell so rudely that he fill of his horse to grounde, and after he smote Antor that he fill to the erthe, bothe he and his horse on an hepe, and after he smote Gifflet thourgh the side that he fill to the erthe wounded all blody, and eche of his felowes bar oon to the grounde, but ther nas noon that was wounded to deth; and of these that fellen was lucas the botiller, that oon, and Meranges another, and Gosnayns Cardus, and Grires de lamball, and Gosnayn de strangot, and the ixe was Bretell, and alle these fill by stroke of spere for defaute of horse. Than a-rose a grete showte, and the duste so

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thikke that vnethe myght oon see another, for the saisnes rested alle vpon hem, that gretly hem peyned hem for to slee; but thei were delyuer and hardy and lepten vp on foote, and theire swerdes naked in theire hondes, and deffended hem right harde, but thei were so many and so thikke, and ther-to sought vpon hem so straitely; but litill it hem availed
folio 76b
whan Merlin com to socoure, and the baner in his honde; and Sorfarin, that moche hym peyned hem to do damage, smote so the kynge leodogan thourgh the shelde, and he bar his spere so lowe that he hurte hym in the flanke, and to grounde yede bothe the kynge and his horse, the toon vpon the tother. And when thei in the town saugh the kynge falle, thei hadde grete drede lest he were slain, and therwith thei pressed fercely to the rescue. Whan the kynge Arthur saugh the Geaunt so Iuste that iiij so noble men hadde ouerthrowen, he swore that he wolde hym assayen. Than he rode oute of the renge, and caught a grete spere with an hede trenchaunt, and rode a grete walop, and the kynge Ban com hym a-gein and seide, “Sir, what will ye do, ne Iusteth not a-gein this grete Geaunte, for he is to stronge for yow that be so yonge and so tender to take soche and entirprise, but lete me goo that am more growen and of more strengthe than be ye.” Qoud Arthur, “Than God helpe neuer yef I sende eny othir than my-self, for the more that he is to doute, the rather I will hym assaien, ffor I shall not elles knowe my self but I assay hym at this tyme.”

And whan Merlin saugh that he dide a-bide, he cried lowde, “What, coward, wherfore a-bideste thow? whi doste thow not that thow haste vndirtaken, for it is sene that thow arte a-ferde.” Whan Arthur vndirstode how Merlin cleped hym cowarde, he was sore a-shamed of that he hadde seide, and smote the horse with the spores in to the renges. And the kynge Ban seide to Merlin that he hadde don euell whan so yonge a man as is the kynge Arthur sholde be sente to Iuste a-gein so gret a deuell. “No force,” qoud Merlin, “he shall do right wele; but take a spere, and folowe after, ye and youre brother and Vlfin.” And thei dide as he badde, and rode after Arthur as faste as the horse myght hem bere. And whan the kynge

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Sorfarin saugh Arthur come, he com hym a-geins full fercely; and whan thei in the renges saugh hym come so a-gein Arthur, that was so yonge and litell to hym, thei stynte alle, and hadde grete drede for hym. And thei ronne with all the might that the horse myght yelde, and smote togeder with speres so grete strokes vpon the sheldes that thei made hem breke and perce; and the stiell of the speres stynte at the haubrekes, that were stronge and sore-holdynge.

Sorfarins brake his spere but a litill; he wounded the kynge Arthur in the lifte flanke; and Arthur smote hym a-gein so sore that he perced the shelde and the haubreke that the shafte shewed thourgh the chyne be-hynde an arme lengthe; and he shof so rudely that he bar hym from his horse to the erthe vpright; and he passed forth withoute more styntynge, and the spere fly on peces that no lenger myght sustene.

This Iustinge saugh Gonnore, the doughter of kynge leodogan, that was at the windowes in the paleise that ioyned to the walles of the town, and she preised moche the yonge knyght, and asked of hem that were a-boute her what he was; but thei ne cowde not sey,
folio 77a
saf that he was oon of the sowdiours that her fader hadde with-holden. “Trewly,”

seide the mayden, “what-so-ever he be, hym semeth that he is come of high lynage; ffor no man of lowe berthe durste not vndirtake no soche dedes, but yef it com of high herte; and he and these worthi men ther haue this day don many faire dedes of armes.” Longe tyme heilde this mayden her tale of the sowdiours.

And the kynge ban and the kynge Boors were in the renges, and ech of hem a grete spere. Than thei smote theire horse with the spores, and the kynge Ban smote Sortebran, and the kynge Boors smote Clariel, and Vlfin smote Iaisdon; and ech of these thre bar his felow to the erthe deed fro theire horse; and with the same cours oon smot moras, and another hitte laidon, and the thirde Senebant so sore, that deed thei moste nede be er thei myght oute of the feilde. And the kynge Arthur drough oute his swerde, and smote so malore vpon the helme that was restinge vpon the kynge Ban, ffer he and frelent were besy to smyte of his heed, Page 223
ffor that oon heilde hym by the helme, and the tother smote hym betwene the shulderes with a grete axe. And whan Arthur saugh this he hasted thider with his swerde in his honde, and smote so harde malore that the heed fill in to ţe felde.

Whan ffreelent saugh his felowe deed, that was his cosin, he toke the axe with bothe handes, and reised it for to smyte the kynge Arthur vpon the helme. And he kepte the stoke vpon his shelde, but the stroke com so harde that it fill fro hym in to the feilde; and the stroke descended vpon his lefte sholder so sore that he bente on his horse nekke. And Geaunt reised his axe to recouer another stroke, but Arthur was ther-of ware, and smote the horse with the spores and passed forth, and than returned with his swerde, and smote so ffreelent with soche myght that he slyt hym to the teth. And than a-roos the showte and the noyse of the saisnes, that sore were affraide of that encounter, and saugh that thei hadde no more socoure but of Randoul, that bar here baner. And the kynge Ban smote so Randoul that the arme fill fro the body, and the baner anoon fill to the erthe. Than a-roos a showte and so grete noyse that alle thei tho turned to flight, and the chase be-gan that longe endured, for from euensonge it lasted vn-to nyght; and ther was grete occision, for of the ixMl ne lefte but iiijMl, that fledde to siege to kynge Rion, and tolde hym the losse and damage that thei hadde resceyved, and the grete mortalite that vpon hem was turned. And whan the kynge it herde, he swor his oth that neuer he wolde departe oute of the londe till that he hadde take the kynge leodogan and put hym in prison.

Than he sente in to the londe of Denmarke that alle high barouns sholde come to hym, and brynge with hem plente of vitaile for two hundred thowsande men for two yere, for he seide now he wolde encrese his werre more vigerously than ever he hadde don
folio 77b
be-fore. And thei com and assembled euery day that in shorte tyme were ther with hym assembled CC l.Ml; and at this assemble were xxti kynges crowned; and the kynge Rion hymself was the twentithe kynge. And with hem com huge carriage of vitaile oute of alle parties, wherwith the hoste was Page 224
stuffed, that thei rode not on forroy for no vitaile, ffor grete plente thei hadden of the londes of the xxti kynges that weren in the hoste; and ofte tymes thei assailed the Citee, that was right stronge, that nothynge ne dowted, saf only for famyn. And thei sente to kynge leodogan for socour, that he sholde come hem to helpe, for sore were thei greved. But now resteth the tale of kynge Rion, and of his seige that was grete, and of hem that were in the Citee of Daneblaise, and returne for to speke of kynge Arthur and of his companye.

Now seith the booke that gladde and ioyfull were thei of the town of Toraise for the discounfiture of the saisnes, that were chased of so small a peple, for thei were at the bygynnynge but vjMl and iij hundred, and the saisnes were more than xvMl, and were discounfited be the counseile of Merlin, that moche hem helped, and by the knyghtes of the rounde table, and also of the xlij sowdioures. And, as the booke seith, whan thei hadde chased the saisnes vnto nyght, that than thei returned to Toraise gladde and mery, and fonde the kynge in the town, that his men hadde remounted, and sette on horse. And whan he knewe that the sowdiours com, he wente hem ageins, and made of hem the grettest ioye that eny man myght, and founde Antor and Gifflet, and kay, and lucas the botiller, and alle the other felowes hool and sounde, of whom thei hadden had grete drede that thei hadden be deed or elles taken. And there was founde grete wynnynge; and the kynge made it to be take and presented to the sowdiours that he hadde with-holden. And he seide he myght it no better employe, for thei hadde it alle wonne; “and my-self,” seide the kynge leodogan, “haue thei rescued fro deth and fro prison.”

And whan thei saugh the grete worschip that the kynge hem dide, thei thanked hym hertely, and seide that thei wolde it not, for in tyme comynge thei resceve his yeftes and take of hym other fee. And the kynge seide, seth thei wolde it not resceyve that thei sholde it departe, and yeve ther as thei wolden. Than com Merlin to the thre kynges, and [correction; sic = and and] bad hem take Page 225
it; and thei it token, and yaf it ther as Merlin hem assigned, that thei ne lefte not to hem-self the valewe of a peny. And thei that it hadden, thanked and preised moche the sowdiours, alle tho that hem knewen, and also thei knewe hem nothynge; and that so moche were thei beloved in the contrey for her largesse be the counseile of Merlin, that nought was spoken of in the contrey but of the sowdiours. And the kynge Arthur yaf so moche to his Ooste and to his wif of horse, and palfreyes, and robes,
folio 78a
that alle thier lyves after were thei riche.

Whan the kynge Arthur hadde departed the richesse that was wonne of the saisnes, thei entred in to the town; and the kynge leodogan wolde not suffre hem in no wise to a-light but at his paleise with hym, ne neuer after wolde he lete hem be oute of his companye, and with the knyghtes of the rounde table. And whan thei were vnarmed, the kynge made his doughter to aray hem in riche robes, and made her take warme water in basyns of siluer, and bare to the thre kynges and hem serue; but Arthur wolde not take her seruyse till that the kynge leodogan and Merlin commaunded hym and made hym to take it. And the maiden her-silf wosh his visage and his nekke and dried it full softely with a towaile, and than after to the tother twey kynges. And the tother Gonnore, that was of the stiwardes wif, and the other maydenes, serued the othere knyghtes. And whan the kynges doughter hadde serued the thre kynges, than she serued hir fader; and whan thei were waisch the maiden put on ech of hem a mantell a-boute her nekkes. And the kynge Arthur was right feire; and the maiden hym beheilde moche, and he her; and she seide softely to her-self that well were that maiden that so feire a knyght wolde requere hir of love, and, namely, so gode a knyght as is this; and well ought she to be shamed euer after that hym denyed.

A-noon were the tables set, and whan the mete was redy thei satte alle the knyghtes therynne; but the knyghtes of the rounde table seten with the sowdiours at table be hem-self; and the kynge Ban and the kynge Boors sette the kynge Arthur betwene hem two, and dide hym grete honour as affiered to so Page 226
high a man; and ther-of toke the kynge leodogan goode hede, that by hem satte side by syde at the heede of the table, and thought well in his corage that by the honour and the reuerence that thei to hym bar that he was lorde ouer alle, and merveiled sore what he myght be, and grete desire he hadde for to knowe the trowthe what he was, and thought in his herte that “and it were pelesynge to god that he hadde my doughter spoused, for trewly I can not thynke that so high prowesse myght be shewed in soche a childe, but yef he were come of right high lynage, other elles I trowe that it be som spirituell man that god hath me sente for to deffende this reame, nought for me but for Cristynte and holy cherche to mayntene;” and ther-to he seide ne yede he not oute of this town withoute leve of the porter.

At this soper the kynge leodogan sat stille in a grete stodye, and lasted longe, and it fill in his mynde how that he hym rescued in the depe valay with the xlj felowes a-gein v C knyghtes, that ledde hym to prison, and remembrede alle the folio 78b
prowesses that he hadde sein hym do, and so sadly he sat in that thought that alle thei were troubled, and lefte theire mete. Of this was war hervy de ryvel, and was therfore sory in his herte, and a-roos and yede to hym full wroth to the heede of the table, and seide, “Sir, I saugh neuer yow so mystake youreself, ne neuer I saugh yow so abaisshed, ffor ye ought well to make ioye to these worthi men; and ye thenke as that ye were in a dreme, and I merveile moche of youre grete wisdome where it is be-come.” Than the kynge yaf a grete sigh, and loked on hervy, and seide “Hervy, frende, I thought vpon the most worthi man of the worlde, fro the whiche I myght not me with-drawe; and yef thow knewe what my dought were thow woldest not me blame.” And he seide, “Sir, it may well be so, but now at this tyme cesseth till efte-sones, for this is no place now ther-to, but maketh ioye to these barouns and disporte yow, for ye haue at this tyme to moche yow mystaken saue youre honoure.” “Gramercy, feire frende,”

seide the kynge, “I knowe well that I haue mysdon.” Then hervy yede, and satt down by his felowes; and the kynge tho spake to the barouns merily. And the maiden

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that was the doughter of kynge leodogan serued Arthur vpon her kne of wyne with hir fader cuppe. And Arthur hir beheilde full debonerly, and plesed hym wele that he saugh hir so nygh, ffor she was the feirest lady that was in all Breteigne in that tyme; and the mayden was fayre, and hadde on hir heede a riche chapelet of preciouse stones, and her visage fressh and wele colowred, so entermedled white and reade so naturally that it neded nother more ne lesse, and her shulderes streyghte and euen, and merveylously well shapen of body, for she was sklender a-boute the flankes and the haunche lowe and comly well sittynge, and of alle fetures the feirest shapen that myght be founde in eny londe; and yef she hadde grete bewte ther-to she hadde as moche bounte of valour, of curtesie, and nurture.

Whan Arthur saugh this mayden that hadde so grete bewte, he beheilde her with a gladde chere, and saugh her pappes smale and rounde as two smale appelis that were harde; and her flessh whitter than snowe, and was not to fatte ne to sklender; and he coveyted her gretly in his herte, that he waxe all pensif, and lefte his mete, and turned his chere another wey, for he wolde not the two kynges ne noon other hym aperceyved. Than the mayden profered hym the cuppe, and seide, “Sir, drynke, and displese [correction; sic = dispelse] yow not, though I clepe yow not be youre name, and be ye not abaisshed at youre sopere, for at armes ye do not faile at no nede, and well it shewed this day, where ye were beholden of vMl, that nothynge yow dide knowe but by sight.” And he turned and seide, “Feire lady, with goode will, and gramercy of youre seruyse; and god graunte me power that I may yow this guerdon yelde.” “Sir,” seide she, “ye haue quyte
folio 79a
it double more than I may deserue, ffor ye haue rescued my lorde my fader, ye and youre companye, that was a-monge so many of his enmyes that ledde hym to prison.” And he satte stille withoute ansuere. “And,” quod the lady, “was ther moche more, for here be-fore the yates at the brigge foote ye shewed well sembelant that it yow greued, and that ye were sory for his a-noye ther as he was vn-horsed a-monge his enmyes, and his horse Page 228
vndir hym slayn, for ye slow hym that hym dide ouerthrowe, and ye youreself were in auenture of deth hym to rescuen, and so wele ye dide that thei were fayn to leve the feelde.”

Thus spake the doughter of kynge leodogan to Arthur, but he spake no worde a-gein, but toke the cuppe and dranke with goode will, and after commaunded the mayden to a-rise, for to longe hadde she kneled, but the kynge her fader ne wolde not. Thus were thei serued right highly of alle thynges that man myght devise. And whan the clothes sholde be taken vp the kynge ban seide to kynge leodogan that satte next by hys side, “Sir,” seide the kynge Ban, “I haue grete merveile of yow that be so wise and worthy a man that haue not maried youre doughter to som high prynce that myght yow helpe in youre werres, ffor she is now wele woxen and ther-to right wise; and as me semeth ye haue no mo heyres to whom youre londe shall descende after youre deth, and therfore ye sholde here be-fore haue her sette to some noble prynce.” “Certes, sir,” seide leodogan, “I haue be letted by the werre that me sore hath greved and longe dured, ffor it is vij yere passed that the kynge Rion of Denmarke and of Irelonde ne cessed neuer vpon me to werre; ne neuer seth com ther no man in this londe to whom I ought hir to yeve; but, so helpe me god, yef I myght fynde a yonge bacheler that were a worthi man of armes that myght wele endure peyne and trauayle to meyntene my werre, To hym wolde I yeve my doughter yef he wolde her take, and alle my londe after my desesse, that neuer shall I spare for high lynage ne grete richesse of lordeschip; and that it plesed oure lorde Ieshu that it myght ben he that I thynke now in my mynde, and trewly than sholde she be maried withynne these thre dayes vnto a feire yonge bacheler that is full of high prowesse, and trewly I suppose in my corage that he be of hiher astate than am I.” And Merlin beheilde the kynge Boors and be-gan to smyle, and made hym a signe that it was seide for the kynge Arthur, and withoute faile for hym was it seide.

Than begonne thei to speke of many thynges, and turned her tales other weyes, for more wolde thei not speke ther-of at that tyme. That perceyvede well the kynge leodogan that

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thei heilde no cure to mayntene that tale, and therwith he yaf a sore sigh, for fayn he wolde that oon hadde hym more ther-of aresoned; and so he heilde his pees and herkened yef he myght eny thynge aperceyve in eny manere what thei were and of what londe, and saugh the ioye and the honoure that the worthi men folio 79b
made to Arthur, and that was a thynge that brought hym more mys-ese, and so moche the worthy men of the rounde table more than the xl felowes that were of her companye, that alle that it saugh hadde ther-of merveile, and weren abasshed; but a-bove alle hym coveyted the kynges doughter, and right hertely she hym loved, and mused here-on so moche that she was sore troubeled, and fayn wolde she haue hym to be her lorde, and make a-bove alle tho that euer she hadde seyn be-fore; and the storyes seyn that she was the wisest lady of all the bloy breteyne, and the feirest and the beste beloved that euer was in the londe or in the contrey, saf only Helayn that was withouten pere, that was the doughter of kynge Pelles of lytenoys, of the Castell of Corbenyk, that was nece to the kynge Pesceor, and of the seke kynges wounded, wher-of the name of the ton was cleped [correction; sic = clped] alain de lille in lytenoys. This kynge alain was seke of the woundes of the spere vengeresse, wher-of he was cleped mehaignyes, for he was wounded thourgh bothe thyghes with that spere; and his right name was kynge Alain, and the kynge Pellynor was his brother germayn, and this maiden of whom I speke was theire nece and doughter to kynge Pelles, brother to these two kynges that I haue yow named.

This mayden was the feirest lady that euer was in eny londe; this same maiden hadde in kepynge the blissed seint Graal vn-to the tyme that Galaad was vpon here begeten; but at this tyme cesseth the storye of hir, but it shall hereafter be declared how that she was discesed of the seint Graal and wherfore, and how the aventures of the seynt Graal were brought to fin; and speketh of the companye that be at the table at soper at Toraise in the paleise of kynge leodogan.

Full richely were these lordes serued at soper of wyne and vitaile; and whan the tables were vp Merlin toke the

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thre kynges a-part, and seide, “Will ye that I tell yow what is befallen in breytene la bloy?” “Certes,” seide Arthur, “right moche I desire to wite, yef it yow plese.” Than seide Merlin, “I do yow to wite that thei haue had stronge bataile be-fore logres in the playn a-gein the saisness, that all the contrey hadde robbed, and all the maryne and the portes toward Dover; and whan thei come thourgh the feldes, thei ledde huge cariage towarde the hoste of the saisnes; and thei were moo than xMlhorse-men; and as thei rode in soche maner thei mette fyve childeren that be youre neuewes;” and than he tolde hym how the childeren were comen and fro whens, and how they were departed fro theire moderes withoute witynge of theire fader, and how that thei mette the forryours, as ye haue herde be-fore, and how the bataile was grete ther, as the saisnes were discounfited, and of the grete richesse that ther was wonne, and the gret ioye folio 80a
that the Citee of hem made after the bataile, and how the childeren wolde neuer be knyghtes till that he made hem knyghtes with his owne honde; “and drede yow not,” quod Merlin, “of youre londe, for thei shull it well deffende in to the tyme of youre comynge. Now thinke for to do wele, and be mery and gladde, for youre helpe encresith euery day, for ther is comynge in to youre londe the nevew of the Emperour Costantynnoble, with CCC squyres, that be all sones to grete princes and high lordes for to do yow seruise, and for that ye shull hem make knyghtes.” “Merlin,” seide the kynge, “what be the childeren that be at logres, and what be their names?” “Sir,” quod Merlin, “that oon is cleped Gawein, and the tother Agravayn, and the thirde Gaheret, and the forth Gaheries, and these foure ben bretheren, and be youre suster sones, the wif of kynge loot; and the tother is cleped Galashin, the sone of kynge ventre of Garlot, and also of thi suster; and the nevew of the Emperour is cleped Segamoure, the whiche shall be a knyght of merveilouse prowesse; and for hym ther cometh many other that shulle alle be youre frendes and do yow servise in euery nede.” And while Merlin tolde these tidynges com the xl knyghtes of her companye and stoden a-boute hym, and whan thei herde the tale of Merlin thei

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made grete ioye and thanked god; and than departed the knyghtes of ther ynne, and yede to theire ostelles, and yede to bedde, and rested hem till on the morowe, and soiourned in the town right longe, that nothynge elles thei diden but ete and drinke, and encreced her peple that assembled euery day; but now cesseth the tale to speke of the kynge leodogan and of the sowdiours that be in ioye for the tidynges that Merlin hadde hem tolde, and returneth for to speke of the kynge Tradylyuant of North Walys.

CHAPTER XV.

EXPLOITS OF THE REBEL KINGS AGAINST THE SAXONS.

Whan the kynge Tradilyuant was come in to North Walys to his chief Citee, and hadde somowned togeder his peple, that he hadde xMl, and he kepte his londe and his contrey the beste wise that he myght; and on an euen com a spie, that com fro the roche of the saisnes, and seide ther com xMl saisnes with grete cariage of vitaile, that were entred his londe and wente the streight wey to the grete Oste. And whan the kynge that vndirstode, he asked how fer thei myght be; and he seide thei myght be wele betwene the roche and Arundell. Than comaunded the kynge his peple to arme hem hastely, and lepe to horse at the first Cok crowinge, and issed oute of the town alle armed; and whan thei were oute in the feilde thei were well xMl, and rode forth cloos, and renged a softe paas till thei com in to the hoste of the saisnes; and than departed her peple in tweyne, of which Polydamas condited the ton, that was nevew to the kynge, and was a yonge knyght of grete hardynesse. And as sone as thei were departed the firste parte yede towarde Arundell, that the kynge Arthur lete garnyssh er he departed folio 80b
oute of the contrey, whan Polydomas was departed from his vncle he and his peple, and were nygh the tentes, thei rode in as faste as the horse myght renne.

That tyme the saisnes made euell waich, for thei were nothinge war till these were euein a-monge hem; ther

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were many mangled and slayn of the saisnes, for thei fonde hem vnarmed and slepinge, for thei were wery of traveyle, and therfore was a-monge hem grete occision, for on twey partes were thei abaisshed, and thei hadde no leiser to take their armour, but turned to flight on horse and on foote towarde the roche and in the forestes that were nygh; and these other hem slowgh and martered all that thei myght reche, so that thei hadde slayn er thei myght come to the Castell of the roche more than xvMl. And whan the knyghtes of Carnyle saugh the grete disconfiture as thei were a-risinge, and saugh theire peple fle on euery side, and the grete slaughter that these made, thei cried “as armes.” Than thei armed hem that were in the Castell with all theire myght, and com oute in all haste; and thei were moche peple and riche lordes of grete puyssance, and ther-to were thei well horsed; and whan thei were alle come oute thei were xiiijMl. Than thei lete theire horse renne, and smyten togeder right harde the ton a-gein the tother; and ther be-gan a stronge bataile and harde; and many ther were leide to grounde of horse and men. And while thei foughten thus togeder thei of Arundell com oute that were longinge to kynge Arthur, and were well v C, and thei sesed the vitaile wher-of thei founde in the hoste grete foyson; and ther thei wonne grete richesse, and repeyrede agein to the castell, and shetten the yates, and lokede how the bataile sholde ende, and alwey was the kynge Tradelyuant and his nevewe Polydomas sore be-sette on alle parties, and foughten sore a-gein the saisnes; and the kinge was at grete myschef, ffor ther com oute of the Castell the roche xiiijMl wele armed, and ronne vpon hem vigerously, for thei were full anguysshouse for the grete losse that thei hadden; and thie drof the kynge bakke more than the space of a bowe draught, ne neuer after myght thei holde grounde till thei com vnder Arundell, ther as where they moste a-bide by fin force, or elles playnly dye. Ther thei hem deffended harde and sore, but ther was grete slaughter of men and horse vpon bothe partyes, but at that enuaye loste the kynge Tradylyuant moche of his peple, for of xMl he loste vijMl, and the saisnes losten iijMl of the beste that were in the Castell

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of the roche. And the kynge Tradilyuant faught sore; he and his peple were ar grete myschef, and it a-bode not longe er thei were alle disconfited; whan hem con to socour the kynge de Cent Chyualers, that hadde herde tydinges that the saisnes com robbinge the contrey.

As soone as the kynge de Cent Chiualiers com half a myle fro the bataile, he mette the peple that fledde from the kynge Tradilyuaunt, for nygh was he returned to disconfiture.

folio 81a

Whan the kynge de Cent Chiualliers mette with hem that fledde fro the bataile, he askede whens thei come; and thei abode and tolde hym the auenture that was fallen, and how he was dosconfited; and whan the kynge vnderstode that Tradilyuaunt was at so grete myschef, he cried, “Gentill knyghtes! now suewith me,” and seide, “Seynt Marie, blissed lady, graunte me that I may hym fynde withoute mayme.”

Than the kynge rode formest hymself a grete walop, for sore hym longed to wite how the kynge Tradilyuaunt hym contened; but he hadde be disconfited longe er than, or deed, or taken, hadde not be that thei of the castell of Arundell, that were Arthurs men, that hadde so grete pite vpon hem that were cristen, that thei com oute more than iiijC vpon a sop, and begonne to helpe hem vigerously, and slowe many of the saisnes in her comynge; and thei recounforted moche the kynge Tradilyuant, for moche thei hym sustened. And ther was the crie and the noyse right grete; but whan the kynge de Cent chiuallires com be-gan the noyse to a-rise so grete that noon myght heren other, for he and his men leide down the saisnes with so grete randon, and smote hem so harde in her comyge, that thei leide iijMl to grounde that neuer roos after hool ne sounde. Ther was a stour anguysshouse and mortall bataile, and so grete slaughter of men and of horse, that the horse feet were couered with blode and brayn, ffor so moche hadde they foughten con a-gein another, that of xvMl of the saisnes ne was not lefte ixMl.

And the kynge de Cent chiualers was noble knyght and a sure, and maganors his stiwarde. Than thei ronne vpon the saisnes so fiercely that the shoute and the noyse a-roos so grete and huge that the

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saisnes were alle abaisshed, that thei for-gat all her defence; and whan thei saugh hem that were newe comen all fressh of here in-busshement, and saugh thei myght haue no socoure ne helpe on no partee, ffor thei were fer fro valdesbiry, where the siege was, and at the Castell of the roche thei wiste well nere not past CC defensable, for alle were issed oute for the cry; and saugh also well that nede moste hem dye but yef thei ascaped be flight.

Whan the kynge de Cent chiualers, and Tradilyuaunt, and marganors, and Polydomas saugh the saisnes so abaisshed, thei settte vpon hem fresshly; and whan the saisnes saugh hem come thei durste not a-bide, but turned to flight to the castell of the roche; but er thei com thider thei were hasted to nygh, that of ixMl ne ascaped not iijMl, that alle were slayn and mangeled. But whan thei of the castell of Arundell saugh the saisnes discounfited, and saugh hem chased, thei with-heilde hem be the counseile of a yonge knyght was cleped Ewein with the white handes, and returned thider as the bataile hadde be, and toke horse, and somers, and golde, and siluer, and vitaile as moche as hem liked, folio 81b
and of armour of the beste that thei founden, and stuffed hem so wele of alle thinges that neuer after hadde thei no suffraite ne nede of nothinge durynge the tyme of her beynge there; and whan thei were entred thei shette the yates and reyses vp the brigge, and after yede vpon the walles an high for to se how thei diden that made the chase, for the two kynges chased the saisnes till thei come to the castell of the roche full sore affraide, and smyten in ther as thei knewe the entre, but er thei were alle ynne ther were many slayn and for hewen; and whan thei were withynne the two kynges saugh thei were ascaped thei drough hem a-bakke, ffor moche thei douted the shotte of quarelles and of arowes; and whan thei were come fro the castell half a myle and the two kynges mette togeder, thei made grete ioye, and dide of theire helmes, and kysten togeder, and eche acoled other in armes for grete love, whan thei hadde longe tyme made her ioye in fere. Than seide the kynge Tradilyuant to the kynge de Cent chiualers, “Sir, I haue grete merveile how ye com this day hider, and therfore I Page 235
haue grete cause to thanke oure lorde god, for yef ye hadde taried eny lenger I myght not have ascaped, but that I sholde haue be taken or deed, and also alle my men that were me be lefte.” “Sir,” quod Aguysanx the kynge de Cent chiualers, “Oure lorde that is so gracious, ne foryeteth neuer his seruaunt in what he be, but paraventure it hym plesith that we shull suffre this martire for to enhaunce his lawes, and therfore hath he sent thise saisnes in to this londe, that euery day ne do but encrese more and more; and also we se well that for no peple that we haue in this contrey thei will not be chased oute; and therfore while that we may lyve lete vs avenge oure dethes, ffor that semeth me the beste; what-so-euer falle lete vs do so I sey, and wite it well that so shull we sonnest come to an ende than eny other way.” “Why,” quod Tradilyuaunt, “how is youre advys?” “That shall I well telle yow,” quod Aguysanx, “we shull [correction; sic = shull shull] sende to alle oure fellowes, that ech of hem come with alle his hool power as privyly as thei may to the castell of wyndesore in brochelonde, and we also to assemble alle oure peple and ride vpon the saisnes, and yeve hem bataile in the name of god, that he graunte vs the victorie, ffor better is a gode ende and to dye with honour, than longe to endure and after all lese, and than dye with dishonour.” “A god mercy, sir!” quod Tradilyuaunt, “what is it that ye sey?

we knowe wele that thei be so grete plente of peple that for oon that we haue in oure remes thei haue euer xx a-gein oon of oures, and therfore in that manere ne may we not spede. Not-with-stondinge, I sey not, but as for me I will do as ye and alle the other will ordeyne; I am all redy it to pursue.” “Certes,” seide Aguysanx the kynge de Cent chiualers, “I will sende to hem my message on my be-halue, like as I haue yow siede, and that thei do me to wite what is is here willes, whether thei will do thus or noon.”

folio 82a

“In goddes name,” seide Tradilyuant, “for as for my part I will do as ye and alle other will assente, ffor I am but oon sool man as be ye, and ye ne shull nothinge do but I therto will acorde,” With that Page 236
thei rode forth to Arundell ther the firste bataile hadde be, and ther thei fonde grete richesse of all that neded to mannes body; and ech man toke at his wille of that hym liked, and made noon other departynge. Thus was comen all the richesse and the vitaile; and in this maner departed the two kynges, that no more ne dide not at this tyme. And the kynge Tradilyuaunt rode in to North wales with vjMl men that were hym be lefte of the bataile; and the kynge Aguysanx rode to malohaut with [correction; sic = wit] vijMl men, and after toke his messagers, and sente to the lordes as he hadde seide to the kynge Tradilyuant.

Whan the kynge Aguysans was come to his Citee of Corenges in Scotlonde, he assembled his peple on horsebak and on foote, that he hadde xvMl. And it fill on a monday in the morowe that the saisnes were more than xvMl, and rode betwene Corenges and lanneriur, and brandons a-gains the pray that Oriels, and meniadus, and Sorbaries, and margoires, and brandons, and Poigeres, and pyncenars, and Salubrius, and magloras, and Gondoffles the grete, diden condite towarde the hoste be-fore Valdesbiry; and as thei come, thei [correction; sic = the] brent and distroyde all the londe, and brent bourghs, and townes, and castelles, and sette all on fier and flame, as thei that all the londe wolde haue brought to nought; and ther-to thei made so grete martire of peple thourgh the contrey, that ye myght haue hadde grete pite were youre herte neuer so harde, for ladies and maidenes that thei slowen and her childeren in her armes; and ther as the mene peple were fledde in to caves for socour, thei putt in fier, and brent hem therynne; and the tidinges ran so thourgh the contrey that the kynge aguysanx it herde; and than he comaunded alle his barouns to armen hem; and thei dide his comaundement, and lepe to horse, and rode two myle er day; and than thei rode forth a softe pas till it was passed pryme. Than thei loked towarde lanneriur, and saugh the eyr trouble, and thikke of duste, and flames of fier that thei hadde sette in the contrey, and herde the noyse and the cry that the peple made of her losse and damage, and for her frendes ţat thei saugh martired be-fore her yen; and thei therfore were full anguysshouse, Page 237
and rode forth a grete spede, and were well xiiijMl; and hem condited the kynge Anguysans in the formest fronte with vijMl, that were yonge bachelers and hardy.

This Gaudius was cosin germain to Aguysans on his fadir side; and he dide after many feire chiualries be-fore the castell, for the damesell of brulent, that he wolde haue hadde be force to his wif, and [correction; sic = and and] was be-fore the riche town that was so moche preised er that Gaudius it conquered by his prowesse, as the storie shall telle hereafter, for it is yet no tyme ther-to, but returne to the kynge aguysans of Scotlonde, that rode togeder, he and Gaudius, till
folio 82b
thei fill a-monge the forriours and a-monge the cariage; and a-noon thei smote togeder fercely, that ther was many oon ouerthrowen bothe horse and man; and thei dide the saisnes grete losse of her peple at the begynnynge, for thei were oute of aray and spredde a-brode in the contrey, oon here, another ther; and the kynge aguysans and Gaudius and her peple slowe of hem moo than vijMl. And whan the kynge of the saisnes com in to the bataile where-as thei were fightynge, than was Gaudius and his companye at grete myschef, for the saisnes were moo than xlMl, what oon and other and of the cristen were but xiiijMl.

Neuertheless, thei deffended hem right longe, but euer the saisnes encresed, that it was wonder to beholde, for fro the bataile was but x myle fro the hoste; and the x kynges that I yow nempned com on the tother side wele horsed and armed with so grete plente of peple that all the contrey was couered on euery side, and thei drof the cristin a-wey whether thei wolde or noon. Ffull grete losse hadde ther the kynge Aguisans, and grete damage of his knyghtes and of his men, ffor er none was passed the saisnes mette hem so sharply that of xiiijMl that he brought in his companye ne myght he not assemble vjMl that alle ne were dede or taken, and ne hadde be oon aventure that fill, ther hadde neuer of hem ascaped oon a-wey; but the kynge Vrien was comen oute in the morowe for the hete, he and his nevew Bandemagn, that was a noble knyght and an hardy and sure,

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and lefte Ewein his sone in the Citee, that was a feire chielde and of high prowesse, that hadde begeten on Arthurs suster, that was so goode a lady a-gein god and also to the worlde. With Ewein also was Meliagans, that at that tyme was a young childe, and was the sone of Bandemagn by his firste wif. These two childeren kepte the Citee right wele, but knyghtes were thei noon, for thei were to yonge of age; and with hem also was Ewein avoutres, that was the kynges sone Vrien be the stiwardes wif, that was of grete bewte; and therfore the kynge lefte his owne [correction; sic = owe] wif more than fyve yere, and kepte her in his house maugre his stiwarde till that he hadde this childe. Whan that the childe was born ther rose so grete a scentence of cursinge that he most nedes leve her wheţer that he wolde or noon; but the childe he kepte and norisshed till it was feire well woxen and that he myght ride after to court; and the kynge that loved hym moche in his herte yaf hym of his londe grete plente, that he myght wele mayntene goode meyne a-boute hym. This Ewein, that was geten in advoutry, was gentill and curteyse and full of hardynesse, and for the grete love that the kynge hadde to hym, he brought hym forth in the companye of his son Ewein the grete; and for that he was geten in avouterye was he cleped Ewein the avouteres, and the tother, that was his right heir be his wif, was cleped Ewein the more; and this Ewein was a passinge feire childe and bolde and hardy; but after that he hadde herde speke of kynge Arthur he wolde not suffre that noon made hym knyght;
folio 83a
ne his fader, ne noon other, but seide ofte to his counseile and that was to Ewein his brother that he loved moche, and was yonger than he; and he tolde hym that he wolde neuer be knyght till that the kynge Arthur, his Oncle, yaf hym the ordere, and girde the swerde be hys syde; and the tother Ewein seide that right so wolde he do. Thus lefte thei for to kepe the town, and the kyng Vrien and Bandemagn hem spedde so till that thei com to the bataile euen as the kynge aguysanx was discounfited, and was merveillously sorowfull. Ne noon myght telle the maltalent that he hadde, and that after he shewde well semblant, for as soone as it come to the chase he smote a-monge the saisnes Page 239
so fiercely as a wode lyon; and he was wele horsed as to soche a man belongeth, and hadde in his companye xMl men that were wele horsed. Than were the saisnes ascride a-lowde and harde I-smyten. Ther fill many in swowne that neuer after a-roos; ffull sharp and crewell was this stour, for the meyne that com with kynge Vrien were full profitable and hardy, and foughten all the day longe, and suffred grete travaile. And the kynge Aguysans wente in to his Cite disconfited, ffor the chace lefte of hym for to fight with the kynge vrien and his peple; and ther was grete slaughter of men and of horse bothe, for neuer so small a peple made so grete occision. But longe the kinge vrien and his men ne myght not endure, ffor a-gein hem were so grete foyson of peple that hem nothinge ne spared, but dide hem the greef that thei myght with all theire power; but the nyght com that made hem departe. And the kynge vrien wente to Sorhan, he and his peple, alle for brosed and full wery of trauayle and of strokes that thei hadde yeuen and resceyved; but the saisnes lefte in the place ther the bataile hadde I be, and laye that nyght stille armed; but to the kynge vrien com a feire aventure that ought not to be for-yeten in the tale, for he fonde a rowte of saisnes in a launde a-boute mydnyght, that ledde grete richesse towarde the hoste of vitaile, and also of other harneyse, as robes and money and bestes, and were well iijMl that these richese dide condite; and thei were sette to theire soper with grete foyson of vitaile, and wende to haue hadde no drede of no man, ffor thei knewe well the disconfiture of hem and the kynge Aguysanx, and therfore were thei deseuered fro the grete companye for the hastier spede, and for to come the soner to the siege that was be-fore the town of valdesbery.

Whan the kynge vrien and Bandemagn, his nevew, saugh the saines in this manere, and the teintes and pavelons that thei hadde pight, and the gret light that was withynne the pavilouns, thei made a-noon to aske what peple it were; and thei that were withynne the pavylouns a-noon ansuerde, and seide thei were with the kynge Brangore of Saxon. Whan the kynge vrien and Bandemagn, his nevew, herde that thei were saisnes

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that thei hadde founden, thei cried “as armes;” and her peple seide, folio 83b

“Now as armes, for now it shall be preved who is goode and who is cowarde.” And thei sette vpon hem, and founde hem vnarmed, and therfore was in hem but pore deffense; and the [correction; sic = the the] cristen begonne to ouerthrowe pavylouns vpon her heedes, and on her mete. Ther sholde ye haue sein grete trouble of tables downcaste and the vitaile I-spredde wide, and cuppes and pecys of siluer and bordclothes and towayles vnder the horse feet, but ther was grete occision of saisnes that the cristin peple hem dide, that hem hated of mortuall hate; and as the storie seith, that the cristin were yet viijMl, and of the saisnes ne were but iijMl, and alle vnarmed, as thei that were sette at soper, and wende not to haue hadde no drede. And the nyght was feire and clere, and a softe weder in the myddill of Aprill. And the saisnes were so hewen and martired in shorte tyme that of the iijMl ascaped not xl, and that ne were slain with speres, and swerdes, and axes; and thei that ascaped ronne in to wodes and in to grete forestes, and made so grete sorowe that no man cowde telle. And whan the saisnes were thus disconfited and fledde, the kynge vrien and his peple gedered vp that was lefte ther of the saines that was grete richesse, and wente the right wey to Sorhant withoute eny other distrubier, and were gladde and mery after the aventure that was hem befallen.

After that the kynge vrien and Bandemagn were departed fro the bataile, as ye haue herde, ther com tydinges how that Gawein, and Agrauain, and Gaheret, and Gaheries, and Galashin were departed from theire faders so yonge childeren for to be made knyghtes withoute takynge leve, and were goynge to logres for to take her armes of the kynge Arthur; but thei haue hym not founden, for he was gon in to the reame of Tamelide; and the childeren were lefte at logres, and kepte right wele the marches, and seiden thei wolde neuer remeve thens till theire oncle were come home, and also how thei hadden gete the richest prise that euer was sein in her comynge. And so these tydinges Page 241
ronne thourgh the londe that Ewein herde speke ther-of, that was Arthur suster sone; and than he seide to his moder in prive counseile, “Ffeire moder, my cosins beth gon to the court of kynge Arthur hym for to serue, and for to take theire armes of hym; and we ne mowe not be in no gretter myschef than we beth now ynne, and therfore I wolde haue youre counceile how that I sholde do, ffor in no manere will I do no thinge that sholde yow displese; and ye knowe wele that my fader hath yoven his londe that be com on his syde to Bandemagn, his nevew, after his discesse, in the tyme of Vterpendragon, and he may no more thynge fro me be-reve what wratth that euer I haue of hym, for the londe that cometh of youre be-halue ne may I not lese, but yef it be youre will; and though I lese all I will go with my cosins to serue myn oncle; and therfore a-ray me so that I go with worship, for
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how-so-euer that it be I will go, for I haue lever ther to dye than here for to lyve as in prison, and therfore sey me lightly what is youre pleiser.”

Whan the lady herde Ewein her sone so speke, she be-gan to wepe for ioye and for pitee, ffor well she knewe that the herte com fro the high lynage on hir syde, and seide, “Ffeire some Ewein, wher haue ye take that talent and that herte for to leve me and to serue another?” And he ansuerde, “Ha, dame! for goddes love, mercy! I reporte me to all the worlde, and my herte also telleth me, that he is youre brother and myn oncle, and also my cosins beth go in to his londe, and therfore were I a grete cowarde to a-bide here, where as I may no profite do ne availe, and yef I helpe not hym for to mayntene his londe as my cosins do; and therfore, thaugh ye yeve me no leve I will go; and now ordeyne so for me that I may go in soche that it be youre worship and myn.” “Ffeire sone,” seide the lady, “a-bide a-while, and I shall a-paraile yow so prively that youre fader shall it not wite, for and he it wiste, all youre iourney were loste; and gete yow soche felship as ye will haue, and I shall purveye for horse and armes, and robes and money I-nowgh to spende.” “Madame,” seide Ewein, “gramercy;” and than he com to his brother Ewein avoutres, and discouered to hym his Page 242
corage; and whan he hadde all seide, the tother ansuerde and seide that he sholde neuer go in to no strange londe withoute hym yef god wolde, and that he was redy to move what tyme that euer he wolde. Quod Ewein, “I will that we departe withynne these viij dayes.” And with that the bretheren departed, and made hem redy; and Ewein the avoutres so purchased as he that was manly and wise, that he hadde in his companye an hundred felowes, and Ewein the more hadde CC; and his moder hym ordeyned robes, and money, and horse, and armure grete plente. And on an euenynge after soper thei departed a-boute mydde-nyght, at the firste cok crowinge, by leve of the lady; and hem condited ffragien, a yonge gentilman, that knewe alle the estres of the forestes and the weyes; but now of hem resteth the tale, and returned to speke of kynge ventres of Garlot.

Whan the kynge Ventres of Garlot vndirstode that he hadde loste his sone Galashin, he was right hevy and wroth, and in especiall toward his wif Basyne, so that he spake not to hir all a moneth nother goode ne badde. Than fill it on a thursday at even in the moneth of Aprille, in the tyme that these erbes and trees be-gynne to florissh, and the briddes singen with ther voys for the swetnesse of the newe mery seson, that a messanger com and tolde hym the grete distruxion where-as the kynge Aguysanx hadde I-be, and how the saisnes hadde hym disconfited, and how that he hadde be deed or take, ne hadde be the kynge vrien that com hym
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for to socour, wherfore the chase sessed of the kynge Aguysanx; and after com another messager, that tolde hym of the grete distruxion of the saisnes that the kynge Tradyliuant and the kynge de cent chiualers hadde don betwene Randoul and the roche, where-as thei hadde riche enprise. And whan the kynge ventres herde these tydinges he was right hevy for the distresse of the kynge Aguysanx, and on the tother side he was right gladde of the kynge Tradilyuaunt and of the kynge de Cent chiualers, than he be-thought in hys herte that [correction; sic =
that that] he wolde go serche the marches betwene Northwalis Page 243
and Sorloys, where-as the passage was right grete; but he hadde not longe be in this stodye whan in his owne contrey he herde so grete noyse and clamor of peple that fledde on euery side.

A noon the kynge lete aske what the peple eiled. And thei seide that alle the saisnes of the worlde were entred in to his londe, and brente, and distroied, and slowgh alle that thei myght atteyne. And ther-to ther was of hem so grete multitude that it was merveile, and were loigged vpon the river of sourne be-fore the castell of brolende in the medowes; and ther thei a-bide the grete carriage of vitaile, and of hem is captein the kynge Magondes, that was cosin to Aungis; and the kynge ffansobres, and the kynge Groales, and the kynge Pyngnores, and the kynge fforreyours cometh be-fore more than with xxMI, that be spredde thourgh all youre londe, and brenne and distoie and sle the peple; and yef ye will not this be-leve, ye may it bothe heere and see. And whan the kynge ventres saugh his londe thus turne to distruxion, he knewe wele that he myght not a-bide longe without grete damage.

A noon the kynge cryed with high voys, “Gentill knyghtes, now as armes, for now shall be shewed youre worthynesses, ffor he nys no knyght that will not deffende his londe and his contrey a-gein his mortall enmyes.” Than ronne thei to armes knyghtes and [correction; sic = a] squyres grete foyson bothe oon and other thourgh the town; and when thei were redy thei were xijMl. And the kynge ventres toke of hem vjMl, and yaf hem to Doriax for to lede, and moche hym requered for to well and to be gode knyght, and so in trouthe he was a noble knyght, and right nygh cosin to the kynge. And he rode that wey as he saugh the mene peple come fleynge, and spedde hym so that he com ther as thei made the martire and the Occision of the peple, and were in the formest frounte vMl; but thei were not alle in array, for thei were spredde a-brode in the contrey down by the river, that brent and robbed. And whan dorilas saugh with his iye that thei dide so grete damage that were soche mysbelevynge peple, he rode vpon hem full Irously. And whan he com nygh bothe he and his men lete reine as faste as the horse myght hem bere, and

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smote hem so with sharp speres and trenchaunt, that many of the saisnes folio 85a
therwith were throwe to grounde, and many slayn, ffor thei were so supprised that thei were not ware till thei were ynne a-myd monge hem that thei slowgh of hem more than two partes er the kynge ventres was come; and the remenaunt turned to flight in to the hoste of briolors, where as the iiij kynges were loged. And dorilas hem enchased and slough and martired, and dide hem gret turment; and whan he hadde hem pursude to the tentes and the pauylouns, and it was noone passed of the day, and whan the saisnes saugh hem so fle, thei ronne to armes, but for all theire haste thei myght not be so soone armed er ther were vCtentes and pavilouns ouerthrowen vpon theire hedes, and moo than a thousande me slayn.

Than thei begonne to blowe hornes and trompes nexte to the teinte of kynge Margondre, and ther assembled and gadered so grete plente of peple that thei were more than xxxMl. And than rode the iiij kynges; and it fill that thei mette first with the kynge Galagnes with iiijMl men or moo, and mette with dorilas, that moche hym peyned to greve the saisnes, and hadde right wele do all the day; and heilde stronge spere that he hadde take from a saisne. And as sonne as dorilas and Maglans saugh ech other, thei lette renne and mette togeder so sore vpon the sheldes that thei perced, and the haubrekes were stronge that no maile ne brake, but the speres splyndered on peces; and thei passed thourgh and hurteled togeder so harde with the horse myght that bothe fill to grounde, and their horse vpon theire bodies.

Whan dorilas and Maglans thus hadde eche other ouerthrowen, bothe partess pressed to the rescu; and ther were many hurte, and sharpe medle ther was a stronge bataile and grete man slaughter on bothe sithes; and with grete labour were bothe dorilas and Maglaans horsed; but grete losse of peple fill vpon the saisnes side, ffor thei were many of hem vnarmed, but yet hadde thei had gretter lose ne hadde the kynge ffalsadres come with vijMl men, that faught with the cristin right harde. But the kynge ventres was a goode knyght and a sure a-bove alle

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that were in the feilde, ffor he dide merveilouse prowesse in armes, and gretly he hym peyned, for he saugh the grete nede. And so, thourgh the helpe of god and his knyghthode, the vijMlwere discounfited and putt to flight; but as the kynge Pyngnores com with vijMl saisnes, that hem recounforted and moche sustened, for thei smyten in a-monge the kynge Ventres meyne and made hem to remeve more than a bowe draught from the tentes and the pavilouns betwene the wode and the rivere. And whan the kynge ventres saugh his men go in soche manere, he cried his ensigne, and seyde, “Gentill knyghtes, whether ar ye a-wey? returne and selle your deth while that ye may lyuen, for neuer shull ye comen to better pointe, and therfore haue in mynde what ye be, ffor better is it for yow for to deffend youre-folio 85b
self manly than to be slayn shamefully in flight, for as me semeth whiche wey that we turne ther nys but deth.” And whan thei herde her lorde thus speke thei returnede and fill to-gedir on a companye streite and close, that noon myght entre hem withynne but a-noon he were slain. And thus thei hem kepte withoute remevynge, and suffred and endured till these other vpon hem hadde broke theire speres and till thei hadde a-gein recovered her breth; and so a-bode theire strokes that the to-ther were somwhat wery and thei hem-self therwith re-freisshed; and whan thei saugh the saisnes well chased and short wynded, thei lete renne at hem and begonne to do soche maistries that the saisnes were alle abaisshed of the merveile that thei saugh hem do. And on the tother side dorilas faught so a-gein the peple of Maglaans that he droff hem a-wey discounfited, and made hem to rebounde vpon the warde of ffalsabres and vpon the warde of Pyngnoras, that right sore faught agein the kynge ventres and his peple, so that the ton smote thourgh the tothers companye. Ther was a stour merveilouse and stronge bataile, and dured so longe till it was euensonge tyme.

Than meved the kynged Margondes with grete plente of saisnes, for thei were more than xvMl, and he hadde grete dispite that so small a peple sholde endure so longe agein so many as thei weren, for he saugh wele that thei were not so manye by the haluendell as the saisnes. Than Margondres Page 246
cried to his men and comaunded hem that thei sholde sette so sore vpon the cristen that ther sholde leve noon in the feilde a-live. And whan the kynge ventres saugh comynge a-gein hym so many saisnes, he gedered his men a-boute hym close, and drough hym litill and litill towarde the foreste. And the saisnes hem hasted faste as thei wende haue all taken and confounded, and vpon them they brake theire speres; and the kynge ventres and his meyne hadde gete the wode at her bakkes at a streite weye that was right depe, and the forest high on bothe sithes of the wey, and so thikke that nothinge might entre but it were wilde bestes. And the kynge ventres and Dorilas haue hem so spedde that thei haue their men enbusshed in that streite passage, and pight theire speres in the erthe, and the sharpe hede of steil vpwarde, and were [correction; sic = were were] well a-raied hem to deffende. And the saisnes com vpon hem in grete haste full wroth and angry for the grete damage that thei hadde don, and assailed hem right sore; and these hem deffended right vigerously till that it was derke nyght that vnethe myght oon se another; and more hadde the saisnes loste than wonne.

Whan the kynge Ventres saugh the saisnes gon, than he and his men rode forth all the nyght till thei come to wyndesore, and well it semed by their armes that thei hadde not soiourned, ffor theire sheildes were hewen and to daissht, and theire
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haubrekes rente in many places, and hem-self all be-soiled with bloode, and her brondes of stiell croked and bente for the strokes that thei hadde smyten, that for a merveile thei were beholden thourgh the town, and ech seide to other that these peple hadde not leyen at soiourne, and preide to god for hem bothe ladyes and maidenes in the chirches vpon theire knees and elbowes, that god sholde hem spede and defende fro deth. And thise yede to theire loginges, and hem vnarmed, and wente to bedde, and rested hem, for longe hadde they waked. And whan thei hadde slepte the mete was redy, and thei that myght ete yede to dyner. But now cesseth to speke of hem a-while, and retourne to the kynge Brangore.

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Now seith the storye that whan the kynge Brangore was come to Eastrangore, his stronge place, that he dide it stuffe with knyghtes and vitaile, that he hadde of oon and other xvMl men; and longe he kepte wele the marches a-boute hym that litill harme the saisnes dide. Till on a tyme the saisnes were entred in to the marche of Strangore and of south walis, whereof kynge Belynans was lorde, that was brother to the kynge Tradilyuaunt, that have herde spoken of be-fore. And this Belynans was a riche kynge, and hadde a riche contrey that was feire and esy; and his wif was a feire yonge lady of grete bewte, and her was Esclence, and she was doughter to kynge Natan de lille perdue, and hadde a childe be his nece that was of grete bewte, and was xiiij yere of age, that was cleped by his right name, Dodynell the sauage. And the cause whi he was cleped Dodynell was for euer was in the feeldes and forestes for to hunte at the herte and other deer and wylde swyn, and for he haunted it so moche therfore, thei cleped hym Dodynell the sauage. And the kynge ventres was brother to his moder Esclence, and Galaishin was cosyn to Dodynell on his moder syde. This Dodynell was after in the kynge house Arthur, and was a knyght of grete prowesse, and oon of the rounde table, and oon of the most preised; but at this tyme we shall not speke no more of hym, but speke of the kynge Brangore and of the saisnes that be entred in to hys londe, and was wroth and sory for his frendes that he hadde loste betwene Arondell and the roche of saisnes that heilde theire wey from wynsore be the castell of the streyte wey; and thei were grete plente of peple; and as thei passed thourgh the contrey thei brente, and robbed, and wasted, and dide grete harme to the lordes of the weyes and to the lorde of the streite marche, and to the castellein of Wyndesore, and to the kynge Belynant of sought walis, and to the kynge Brangore more than eny other. And whan he wiste it he gedered all his peple, and armed hem, and lepte to horse for to a-venge hem of the shame and of the harme that thei hem diden. And the saisnes com so many and so thikke that all the contrey was of hem covered the length of a walshe myle, that brent and slowe

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euer as thei come. And on the tother syde the kynge Belynant com folio 86b
ridynge with grete plente of peple till he com to the saisnes that thus distroied the contrey and made soche martire of the mene peple that men myght se the smolder of the fire x myle longe, so trouble ther-of was the aire.

Whan the kynge Brangore saugh the distruxion and the grete martire, he toke ther-of grete pitee, and gan to wepe watir with his iyen, and than he requerid his men to haue in mynde to do well, and to defende holy cherche and the cristin feith; and the saisnes com faste ridinge with baner sprad, and were moo than fifty thousande, and hem condited Barahans, and Cornyax, and lydarus, and hardrans, and kyngnenans. These v kynges were riche and myghti, and eche of hem hadde in company xMl, and alle were thei kyn to Aungis, that Vterpendragon slough; and whan the kynge Brangore sye the grete nombre of saisnes, he merveiled fro whens alle myght come. And than he gan to prey his men, and require to thynke vpon her worship and to do well her devers, and a-bode hem at a passage at a brigge ther thei moste come ouer that lay ouer the river of arson, that was brode and dep?? and as soone as thei were mette, thei lete theire horse renne, and smyten harde togeder the toon vpon the tother. Ther was gret noise and crakkynge of speres, and many oon throwe to grounde bothe horse and man, and that dured longe till that thei come to the brigge, that may fill in to the water, and many a tronchon of speres and sheldes that the sharpe streme bar down the ryver, and it was not fully the houre of pryme.

The booke seith that the river ran down be-fore Strangore that the kynge Carados helde in his baile, and he was lenynge oute at the wyndowes of the paleise a-bove, and beheilde the medowes and the river, and the gardins that were grene florisshed, and saugh the water that was clier and sharp rennynge brought down sheldes and speres fletynge grete foyson; and he loked that wey that he saugh it come fro, and saugh the aire all troble of the fire and duste, and vpon the watir fletynge the harneys of knyghtes and of horse that were deed and drowned, and dought a-noon how the kynge Brangore faught with the Page 249
saisnes. Than he lepe hastely vpon his feet, and cried to his men, “Now as armes, gentill knyghtes, ffor he that is not hardy at this nede is not worthi to be a knyght,” and ther was a yonge squyre that was noble and hardy that brought the kynge his armes. This squyer was cleped Kay destranx, this squyer hadde ofte Carados somoned to be a knyght, and he seide that ther-to hadde he no talent, and that he seide for he purposed to serue the kynge Arthur, and to take of hym the ordre of knyght. Whan the kynge was armede, he asked yef alle the other knyghtis were redy, and thei seide how alle were an horse bakke a-bidynge withoute the yates. And than the kynge asked his horse, and ther-on lepte and rode oute of the town a grete spede, and come to the bataile a-boute mydday. And whan
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thei come nygh thei herde the noise and the strokes at the passage of the brigge, ffor the kynge Brangore withstode hem with xvMl men, and the saisnes were so many and so thikke that of fin force thei made hym to remeve fro the brigge in to the playn feelde; but than sholde soone the kynge Brangore haue hadde grete losse, but as the kynge Carados com in fresshe with xMl men and leide in a-monge hem fercely; and ther be-gan the stoure to encrese right harde, and grete mortalite of the saisnes, for thei were not alle right wele armed, and so thei foughten all the day, fro that it was passed noone till evensonge, and than disparbled the cristin, for thei were so sore over-leide with grete multitude of saisnes; and than a-roos the shoute and the noise so grete, that iiij myle of a man myght haue herde the sounde. But longe myght not the men of kynge Brangore ne of kynge Carados endure, but as the kynge Belynans com with viijMl men of armes wele horsed, that ronne in a-monge hem fiercely, that made hem remove and departe. Whan the kynge Belynans com to the bataile, as was grete nede to the kynge Brangore and to the kynge Carados, ffor thei were so distrussed that thei were euen at flight; but whan Belynans com he smote so fiercely vpon hem that these other cristin myght well recouer be goode leyser, for with the kynge Belynans were many goode men and noble knyghtes, ffor ther was the lorde of Wyndesore and the lorde of the streite marche, Page 250
and the Castelein of Glocedon and the Castelein of Galeince, and of the more, and of Rostok, and ther was Carados of the dolerouse toure, and ther was drias le gais of the forest perilouse, and eche of these hadde in his companye CC
knyghtes of the beste of the londe, and thei slough and made soche martire of the saisnes that the river of arson be-com all reade of the blode and of the brayn that was ther sheed of men and of horse, and hadde not the nyght come on so soone ther hadde neuer aschaped a-wey saisne, and thei were moo than fifti thousande, and of the cristen ne were but xxxiijMl; but the nyght com that made hem departe, and eche partye drought fer from other, till on the morowe that thei wolde be-gynne a-gein to fight, but the counseile of the kynge of Saxoyne, the saisnes traueiled all nyght towarde the roche, but moche thei loste of her harneys, for thei hasted hem so faste oute of the contrey, that thei hadde not with hem the half of her thinges, and thus lefte it till on the morowe that it was day, and than com the kynge Carados, and the kynge Belynans, and the kynge Brangore, whan thei were redy armed, and alle the barouns of theire companye were come to deffende the cristin feith, ffor ther were many full noble men and trewe that hadden grete drede that for the faute of her prowesse that holy cherche and cristin feith were disavaunced; and thei renged and set their batailes in ordenaunce, and rode that wey as thei trowed to mete their enmyes, but whan thei founde that thei were goon, thei were sorye and wroth that thei were so ascaped, ffor well thei wiste that thei were gon to the folio 87b

Castell of Vandesbyry, and whan thei saught it myght be noon other thei returned, and eche lorde made to other grete ioye and feeste, and departed togeder the richesse that was lefte be-hynde of the saisnes in soche maner that eche toke that hym liked, so that the moste pore of hem was riche I-nowgh.

And at theire departinge a-sonder, eche promysed other theire seruyse yef nede were, and eche of hem sholde lete other wite whan thei hadde eny mystere. And the kynge Carados repeired hom to his stronge place; and the kynge Brangore rode to Estrangore, that was a goode town and a riche and full of Page 251
goode Burgeises, and dwelled ther in pees and in ioye longe tyme; and than com tidinges that the sones of kynge loot hadde lefte theire fader, and were go to logres to serue the kynge Arthur, and the sone of kynge Ventres and the sones of kynge Vrien. And whan Dodynell herde these tithinges, he seide to hymself that he wolde do the same wise, and tolde to his prevy counseile that he wolde go to court; and than he ordeyned to be redy in the pryveest maner that he myght, and sente to seche kay destranx with the kynge Carados his oncle, and sent hym worde to speke with hym at Thorne Castell, and that he faile not in no wise to come and bringe with hym his nevew kehedin. The Messager toke leve, and rode till he come to strangore, and fonde kay, and seide to hym in counseile as Dodynell hadde hym comaunded, and that he sholde com to speke with hym at the Castell of the thorn, araiede redy to ride on his iourne. And he ansuerde that he sholde be ther redy withynne the thirde day. Than the messenger toke leve of kay destranx, and com to Dodynell the sauage, and tolde hym the ansuere of kay destranx. And whan Dodinell herde what the messenger hadde seide, he vndirstode a-noon what that kay ment, and made hym redy, and warned his felowes as many as he myght haue, that thei were well xxiiij alle yonge bachelers of xiiij or xv yere of age, and com to the Castell of Thorn, he and his companye richely be seyn of golde and siluer and robes, and ther a-bode till kay com and his nevew kehedin li bens. And thei brought in her companye xl yonge gentilmen that alle were bolde and hardy. Whan the childeren were mette thei made togeder grete ioye the ton to the tother as thei that longe tyme ne hadde not mette. And than seide Dodinell, “Feire frende kay, I sente to yow for to come speke with me, and I thanke yow that ye be now I-come, and I shall telle yow the cause. I haue herd tydinges that Gawein and Agrauain, and Gaheret, and Gaheries, and Galashin, and Ewein ben gon to the courte of kynge Arthur for to take theire armes, and therfore I will go in the same manere; and I love yow so moche that I will nought do withoute youre leve, and that ye haue ther-of wytinge; and therfore sey youre advise yef
folio 88a
ye will come also,

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for to my fader I will not returne in no manere, ffor I haue made redy all my purpos and am vpon my weye.” “Sir,” quod kay, “and therfore am I come to yow, ffor I supposed in partye what ye ment, and I haue me so purveied that me nedeth for nothinge returne, ffor I haue in my companye iiij yonge gentilmen that be right hardy, and heire is also my nevew kehedin; and therfore lete us meve whan ye like.” “Ye say well,” seide Dodinell, “for we shull meve tomorowe be-tyme.”

Thus a-bode the childeren all that nyght in grete ioye, and erly on the morowe thei toke theire wey be the moste prive and disvsed weyes that thei wiste, and wente to logres in this manere. But of hem cesseth the tale and returneth to the kynge Clarion of Northumbirlonde.

Now seith the booke that the kynge Clarion of Northumbirlonde hadde gadered alle the peple that he myght, and he stuffed well his Citee with vitaile and with men of armes, and after he sente thurgh all his londe to hem that hadde oxen or sheep or lambe, or eny other bestes, that thei sholde hem lede in to the depe of the forestes, that were wilde and sauage. And thei dide as he hem comaunded, and sente with hem hierdes for to kepe the bestes. And whan thei hadde alle thus do, alle the that myght bere armes or wepen defensable drowgh to the kynge in Northumbirlonde, and thei were counted xiiijMl, and gretly peyned the kynge to kepe well the contrey, and lay many nyghtes in the forestes to wayte vpon the passages, and a-noon as he myght take eny asspye he lete hym take and put in prison.

Upon a day the saisnes were assembled at the tente of kynge Brangu of Saxoyne, and at the teynte of Maglaas the riche kynge of Iselonde, that was cosyn germain to the kynge of Denmark and brother to amadas, the riche kynge of Ostrich and of a pertie of Denmarke [correction; sic = marke] note.6 and of Iselonde was he lorde. And ther thei complayned gretly of the losse and the damage [correction; sic = amage] note.7 that the cristin hadde doon hem at the Castell de la roche, and the harme that thei dide euery day; and on the tother side thei playned Page 253
gretly for defaute of vitaile that was scant in the hoste. Than sterte vp a yonge knyght vpon his feet, that was bolde and hardy as of his age, and spake so high that he myght wele be herde, and seide, “Ha! Brangue, feire oncle, yef ye will suffre me to go on forrey in to a londe that I knowe, I shall bringe yow vitaile plente, for the contre is full of all goode; and I shall take with me soche of youre peple as I shall chese, yef nunadus my fader will suffre that I goo, and maglaans myn oncle, for withoute theire leve I will not go in no manere.” “Ffeire nevewe,” seide the kynge Brangue, “I here yow sey nothinge but well of this that ye desire to vndirtake; but telle me now be-folio 88b
fore in to what londe desire ye for to go.” “That shall I wele telle yow,” seide Orienx, “I desire to go in to Northumbirlonde, and to the yates of the Citee of Cambenek, and witeth it wele that it is the plentevousest contrey of this londe, and yef we shull fynde eny vitaile in this londe ther shull we haue plente.”

“And I grante yow, feire nevewe,” seid Brangue, “and therfor cheseth with yow soche as yow pleseth.” “Sir,” seide he, “gramercy.” Than Orienx chese oute of peple as many as hym liked, that were wele xlMl withouten the petaile that after hem folowed, that desired the wynnynge, and com right be-fore Norham, and robbed and brent and distroied the londe; but of hem I shall stinte, and telle of the parliament that kynge Brangue heilde.

Whan that Orienx was departed fro the hoste, the kynge cleped Sorioundes, his nevew, and seide, “Feire cosin, how is it that ye will not go no wey. Take of my men as many as ye will, and go in to the londe of kynge ydiers, of Cornewaile, and brynge with yow thens what yow liketh, and yef any man yow withstonde, take with yow soche peple that ye take of hem vengeaunce.” And whan he herde his oncle thus speke he lepe on his feet gladde and mery, for he was of grete prowesse, and seide, “Sire, gramercy.” Than he chese at his volunte in the hoste xlMl, and whan thei were redy thei to theire wey towarde cornewaile, and robbed the londe as thei wente, and distroied-the contrey and brente. But of hem ne speketh the boke no more yet a while, but speketh of the parliament in the hoste of saisnes.

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Now whan Sorioundes, that was the nevew of maglaans, was departed oute of the hoste as ye haue herde, that Mynadus, the kynge, called hurtant, his nevew, and side, “Hurtant, nevew, ye moste go in to leonoys, and in to Orcanye, in to the londes of kynge loot, and take with yow of my men at youre wille, and loke that ye do so, that I maye conne yow thonke.” And he lepte vpon foote and seide, “Sir, gramercy,” and toke soche company as hym liste; and whan thei were redy thei were lxMl, and rode till thei come in to the londes of kynge loot, and begonne to waste and distroie all that thei myght. But here leventh to speke more of hem and returneth agein to Br note.8 angue [correction; sic = Br e], and Maglaans, and mynadus and other.

Whan Orienx, and Sorioundes, and hurtant were thus departed fro the hoste as ye haue herde, the hethen kynges helde a gret parliament how thei sholde take the town of vandesbiry that was so stronge, ffor the booke seith that it stode vpon a plain grounde, ne ther was nother hill ne mounteyne ny it of two myle, and it was well diked, large, and well watered, and depe, and the marysse grete and brode of a bowe shot, and betwene the town and the diche stode the walles, and the towres of ston en-batailed rigth thikke, and in to the town were but two entrees, and at eche entre two porte colyses and stronge yates covered with Iren nailed, that shet with the two leves well and strongly barred. Wher-to sholde I longe devise yow the strenghe
folio 89a
of the town, ffor ther-to it sat so esely vpon the river that com rennynge vpon the oon side of the town betwene the drie londe and the maras, and envirouned the contrey on alle parties, that the town myght not be made drie but on that oon part, and on that syde were two paire diches so depe and brode, and the maras so brode and depe as an arblast myght shete, and on that side was the grete seege of saisnes, that it lasted more than iiij myle, and thei wente be-holdynge on whiche side thei myght it beste take and in what manere, and ther-of thei toke amonge hem grete counseile how thei sholde do, ffor thei saugh that it myght not

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be wonne but by famyn. Ther was a knynge that was hight Margoundres, that dressed hym vpon his feet and seide to the kynge Brangue, “Sir, sir, me semeth than that ye most be so longe in this londe that the town be take be famyn, and in the tyme that we ly be-fore this town ther may be taken another town other be famyn or be other engyne, for as soone shall we take tweyne as oon.”

“Trewly,” quod Maglaans, “ye sey trouth, and therfore who that will assent to my counseile let vs sende the thirde part of oure peple be-fore the town of Clarence, and alle tho that come oute of oure contrey shull go with hem to the seege, ffor in this reame is not the fowrthe part of the peple to oure that myght vs remeve from that place.”

“Sir,” quod Brangue, “who shall go with yow? a-corde ye who shall go.” “That shall I well telle yow,” quod Mynadus the kynge. “Ther shall go thider the kynge hardogobrans, and the kynge Synagons, and the kynge Sorbares, and the kynge Margoundres, and the kynge Maglaans, and the kynge Mycenes, and the kynge Pyngres, and the kynge Saphirus, and the kynge Thoas, and the kynge Semptipres, and the kynge Plantamore, and the kynge Sonygrex, and the kynge Mathucus, and eche of these haue at his baner xxMl men, and holde the seege be-fore the town that noon entre ne isse oute.” And this was the ende of her counseile, and to this thei be alle acorded; and than thei a-raide hem meny and rode to the town of Clarence, and distroied all the contrey a-boute as thei wente, and whan thei were come be-fore Clarence thei pight teintes and pavilouns alle a-boute the town, and a-bode there right longe. But resteth the processe of hem till efte soone, and speketh of kynge Clarion, of Northumbirlonde.

Whan the kynge Clarion saugh hem distroie his londe and his contrey he was right wroth, and he toke aspie and sente hym to wite yef thei were grete plente of peple, and whan hadde hem alle sein he returned gretly affraied, and seide to the kynge that thei were moo than fifty thousande. Whan the kynge herde these tidinges he toke a damesell and sente to the Duke Escam, of Cambanyk, and sente hym worde to mete with hym at

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the streite of the roche magot, vpon the river of Sauarne, folio 89b
with as moche peple as he myght assemble, ffor the saisnes be entred in to the londe that alle distroieth. Whan the Duke herde these tidinges he somowned his people, all that the myght haue, so that the hadde xijMl or moo, and rode forth till that he com to the roche vpon the river of Sauarne, and whan he com there he fonde Clarion, the kynge of Northumbirlonde, with thre thousande men of armes; and whan thei were mette thei made grete ioye, and soone ther-after thei saugh fire and flame lepe thourgh the contrey, and the duste and the powder a-roos so grete that all the aire ther-of semed trouble. Whan the kynge Clarion and the Duke Escam saugh this grete distruxion, it was no nede to aske yef thei were wroth and angry. Than thei rode that wey as thei saugh the fire a-rise, and mette peple that fledde criynge and makinge grete sorow for her losse, and ther-of hadde thei grete pite, and rode forth till thei mette with hem that thei hadde sought, but than thei made no lenger abidinge but mette togeder fiercely, and ther was grete slaughter bothe of men and of horse, and the saisnes loste moche of her men at [correction; sic = a]the firste metynge, ffor thei were spredde a-brode vpon and down the contrey and gadered the prayed towarde the hoste, and were of the forreyours xvMl, and to hem the Duke Escam and the kynge Clarion yaf grete bataile, and fought from prime to mydday, and the frenshe booke seith thei slough xMl of the saisnes of the pytaile; but whan grete chiualrie com thei were gretly affraied, ffor thei were so grete nombre.

And whan the kynge Clarion and the Duke saugh the saisnes come so grete foyson it was no nede to aske yef thei were affraied, and yet hadde thei in her company noble knyghtes grete plente, ffor with Clarion was ladris de la dolerouse garde with a C of gode knyghtes, and ther was Sensadoyns the Castelien of Nohant with a thousande men of armes, and Bruns saunz pitee that heilde the Castell of the depe slade in Northumbirlonde; and with the Duke Escam was Serebruns, the lorde of Salerne, with viijMl men wele horsed, and with hym also was marke, the lorde Roestok, that brought a feire companye of two thousande men of armes, and ther was also

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the lorde of Taumdes with viijMl men noble and hardy, and ther was also the lorde of the white tour, that was a noble knyght and an hardy, with vij hundred knyghtes vpon startelinge stedes, and ther was Canagus, the nevew of kynge Arthur, wele armed and richely, with thre hundred felowes, and ther was also Agrauadins, lorde of the stronge Castell, with foure hundred knyghtes wele horsed, and whan thei alle assembled thei were aymed what oon what other xxxvMl, and thei heilde hem alle cloos togeder vpon the river of Sauarne, and the saisnes com rennynge vpon hem with so grete foyson that folio 90a
litill while sholde thei haue dured ne hadde be the straytenesse of the grounde ther thei were, ffor the saisnes were of grete pride, and grete lordes, and the beste knightis of all the hoste, and ther-to of hem were so grete foyson, that litill thei sette be the cristin, and hem assailed full harde. Ther was anguyshous medley and harde stour, and on the tother side thei defended so well that on hem thei gat no grounde, and thei launched at hem speres and dartes sharp grounde, and eche of hem hurte and wounded other dispiteously. And thus thei endured thre dayes, that neuer thei dide of haubrek ne helme from their hedes till the nyght that thei ete soche vitaile as thei hadde, but it was full small. But now turneth the tale a litill fro hem and returneth to Merlin and to the kynge Arthur, that be in Toraise, in Tamelyde, in ese, and right moche honoured of the kynge leodogan.

CHAPTER XVI.

MERLIN’S JOURNEY TO LOGRES AND VISIT TO GAWEIN. ENCOUNTER BETWEEN THE CHILDREN

AND ORIENX.

Full grete was the ioye that thei ledde in the town of Toraise for the victorie and the wynnynge that thei hadde vpon theire enmyes, and thei a-bode theire peple thet assembled euery day on euery part, and the kynge Arthur ther was full richely serueved and honoured of the kynge leodegan and of his doughter, that moche her peyned, be the commaundement of hir fader, and Page 258
vpon a day as the kynge Arthur was moche worshiped and in grete ese. Than Merlin com and toke the thre kynges apart and seide, “Sirs, I moste go in the reame of logres, for ther is now grete nede of counseyle and of helpe, nought for that the londe hath eny perile, but that it shall well be deffended from euell doers, and I do yow to wite that the princes and the barouns beth moche greved with the saisnes that to many haue in her londes, and thei haue beseged two Citees thourgh her pride, wherof that oon is vandesberes and the tother is Clarence, and ther be assembled the peple of moo than xl dyuerse regiouns, and yet thei encrece euery day more and more; and more than he hem tolde how that the saisnes were departed, and how that oon [correction; sic = oo] part yede vpon the kynge of Cornewaile, and the tother upon the kynge loot, and the thirde vpon the kynge Clarion and the Duke Escam, and after that the tolde hem alle the tidinges, and alle the batailes, and all the trouble that hadde I-be, and all the discounfitures betwene the saisnes and cristin kynges, and the grete parliament that the saisnes heilden for to a-sege the two townes, and how Ewein the grete and Ewein the avoutres were departed fro kynge vrien her fader, and how Dodinell the sauage, and kay destranx, and keheden lebens com on the tother side towards logres to a-bide ther with Gawein, and seide how thei wolde neuer be cleped knyghtis vn-to the tyme that the kynge Arthur hem girde with her swerdes, and I do yow to wete that thei may not endure but thei haue other counseile folio 90b
than her owne, ffor the saisnes be so spredde a-boute thourgh the londe that thei shull be take but thei haue better counseile but hem-self, and that is the cause that I will go, and loke that ye be mery and well at ese, and resteth yow that ye go nothir hider ne thider till that ye se me, and I shall not longe tarye.”

“Ha, feire frende,” seide the kynge Ban, “ne a-bide not longe, for than sholde we alle be deed and distroied, yef ye vs now forsake we myght sey that ye hadde vs alle be-traied.” “How is that, feire lordes? haue ye doute that I sholde not come a-gein? now be-war that neuer ye it thinke, for than haue ye loste my love.” “Sir,” seide the knyge Ban, “I thenke it Page 259
for noon evell that I haue of yow, but for to haue your companye that I so moche love.” “Now lete it be,” quod Merlin, “for ye shull me haue here a-gein with yow er than ye haue bataile in this reame, and therfore I yow comaunde to god, for I may here no lenger tarien;” and with that he departed so sodeynly thens that thei knewe not where he was be-come. And that he com the same nyght to Blase his maister in Northumbirlonde, that grete ioye hym made whan he hym saugh as he that loved moche his companye. And Merlin tolde hym alle these aventures that were befallen in the reme of Tamelide seth that he departed; and after that he tolde hym alle thinges that were fallen to the kynges of the reame of grete Bretaigne, that nought he lefte vn-tolde; and he wrote in hys booke worde for worde like as he hym tolde; and by hym haue we the knowinge ther-of in to this tyme. And whan he hadde alle these thinges writen, thanne he tolde hym for what nede he hadde lefte the thre kynges in the reame of Tamelide. And the same nyght that Merlin spake thus with Blase was Orienx and his meyne logged vpon the river of humbir, enteringe in the londe; but now resteth the processe of Merlin and of Blase a-while, and of the saisnes, and speketh of Seigramor, that is departed fro Costantynnoble with CCC felowes for to be made knyghtes of kynge Arthurs honde.

Now seith the booke of Blase that so hath Seigramor hym spedde seth that he departed fro the riche Citee of Costantynnoble, that he com to the port of hucent that thei a-rived at the port of Dover; and whan thei were alle come to the londe thei were right gladde, and trussed theire harneys, and lepe on theire horse, and toke theire wey toward Kamelot, and iourneyed so as thei that knewe not the weyes, ne fonde not of whom to asked after the kynge Arthur, and fonde also the contrey brent and wasted as the saisnes hadde passeth thourgh; and the childeren ne wiste no worde till sodeinly thei blusshed vpon a grete parte of saisnes that Orienx hadde desseuered on a companye, and were xxMl, and went robbinge a-boute Norhant, that noon hem ne letted of the pray that theire peple hadde gadered. Whan these childeren aproched folio 91a
the saisnes withynne a myle, thei mette

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with peple of the contrey that fledde to the wode for drede, for in the londe was grete sorow and desese in tho dayes. Whan the childeren hem mette thei asked what hem eiled, and thei hem tolde that thei fledde for the saisnes that all the contre distroied. And than Seigramor asked, “Where is the kynge Arthur?” And thei ansuerde that he was gon to the reame of Tamelide. “And who is than in this londe?” quod Seigramor. Than seide the men of the contrey that the sone of kinge loot of Orcanye, that were nevewes of kynge Arthur, were come for to serue for to take theire armes of kynge Arthur. “And where ben thei?” quod Seigramor. “At Camelot,” seide thei, “but for goddes love, feire gentill knyghtes, ne go not ferther, for than shull ye alle be slain and distroied.” “Now,” quod Seigramor, “telle vs what wey stondeth Camelot.” “Trewly,” seiden thei, “ye be right well in the wey, yef it ne were for these false sarazins that here be comynge, and, therfore, fleeth, or ye be alle deed.” “How fer is it hens to Camelot?” quod Seigramor. “Sir, it is vj mile vnto a plain that dureth wele two myle fro thens.” Whan Seigramor vndirstode that he hadde but viij myle, he cried to his felowes, and seide, “Gentill squyers, now as armes, for now shall be sein who is noble and worthi; and loke that thise mysbelevinge [correction; sic =
mybelevinge] saisnes that thus distroieth the cristin feith ne bere nought a-wey of youres be force but it be dere solde, ffor yef we may passe hem thourgh and gete betwene hem and Camelot, we shull than come thider be strengthe of oure horse yef we haue grete mystere.” Than a-light the squyers and hem armed. Ther sholde ye haue sein hem do on fressh newe hauberkes bright shynynge as fin silueir; and thei hadden hattes of fin steill a-bove theire coiffes of Iren vpon theire heedes; and than thei lefte theire palfreyes and lepe vpon stedes covered in maile that thei hadde ther so good and so feire that no man neded to seche better in no londe. And than thei hem renged clos on a sop as starlinges, and rode forth toward the saisnes, that saugh hem comynge; but now a litill resteth of hem and speketh of Merlyn, that was in Northumberlonde with Blase.

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Whan Merlin hadde tolde to Blase alle the merveiles of the londe as thei were fallen seth he departed from hym. In the morowe erly he com be-fore the town of Camelot. And he com in the semblaunce of an olde man, and hadde on a russet cote torne and all thredebare; and he was moche and longe and courbed, and brode sholderes and leene for age, and the heer of his heede entermedled white and broun, and longe berde, and bar a grete staff on his nekke, and drof gret foyson of beestes be-fore hym. And whan he com be-fore the town he be-gan to make grete sorow, and cried high and cleer that thei withynne vpon the walles myght wele it here how he yede, seyinge,
folio 91b

“Ha, lorde god, how grete pite is it that so feire children shull thus be slayn and alle to hewen with wronge and grete synne. A! ha! kynge Arthur, goode sir, whiche ffrendes thow shalt lese this day that moche the sholden helpe yef thei myght lyve thi londe to mayntene. Ha, Seigramor, gentill squyer, fre and deboneir, that thow shalt thus suffre angwissh of deth, now oure lorde god yow socoure and helpe that ye be not slain, and yef that ye be ded, he haue the sowle of yow that it be neuer turmentid in the peynes of helle, as he is very god and man full of mercy and grace, and also to saue and helpe yowre felowes in the manere that thus dispitousely shull be martired for defaute of socoure.”

These wordes that the carl seide, vndirstode well Gawein and his bretheren that were vpon the walles of the town, and were alle redy armed, and beheilde the fier and the smoke of the saisnes as thei brente the contrey a-boute, ffor he was come to Camelot for to kepe the town as soone as thei wiste the saisnes were entred the contrey, and were gon vpon the walles to see yef the saisnes come for to assaile the town. And Gawein hadde wele herde and vndirstonde the wordes that the karll hadde seide. Than Gawein hym cleped with an high voyse, and siede, “Man! man! com hedir, and speke with me, and tell vs what thow eylest, and whi thow makest this sorow, and telle vs who is that that thow goist thus regratynge and be-monynge.” And the carll leide to the deef ere and smote his staff on the grounde as he hadde ben oute of his mynde, for grete sorow that he hadde at his herte; and than he

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lenyd hym vpon his staff and be-gan to make grete sorowe; and whan he hadde thus hym longe waymented, he drof a-gein his bestes as though he wolde haue fledde to the forest; and than he seide a-gein with an high voyce, “A! haa! chiualrie of logres, where art thow be-come, ffor withynne these viij dayes men seide ther was come in to this contrey all the socoure of the worlde, and I herde sey that the nevewes of kynge Arthur sholde defende this contrey; certeys euell it sheweth whan he suffreth to be slain the merveile of the worlde.” Whan that Gawein vndirstode these wordes he was right angwisshouse for to knowe whi the carll hadde this seide, and whi he so waymented and cleped hym a-gein with a lowde voyce thre or foure tymes, and seide, “Howe, karll, howe? speke to me and telle me what thow eilest.” And euer he turned the heed in trauers, and made semblant as he hadde hym not herde; and Gawein hym cleped efte soones, and than he lefte vp his heed that was lothly and rivelid, and loked on high to hym with oon eye open and another clos, and grennynge with his teth as a man that loked a-gein the sonne, and ansuerde, “What wilt thow?” Quod Gawein, “Come a litill nerre and speke with me.” And he drought ner till he com vndir the walles of the town vpon the diche, and seide, “Now maist thow sey what thow wilt, folio 92a
but sey hastely, for my bestes gon.” “I will,” quod Gawein, “that thow telle whi that thow wepest, and what he is that thow hast thus regreted, and whi thow hast so blamed the Chyualrie of this contrey.” “Yef thow wilt graunte me that thow shalt do thi power to delyuer hym I will telle the.” “I the graunte,” quod Gawein, “as I am trewe squyer, that I shall ther-to do all my myght that I haue in the worlde.” And whan the karll herde that Gawein was so desirouse for to wite whi he was come thider, he seide to Gawein, “Feire sir, what be ye?” “My name,” quod he, “is Gawein, the nevew of kynge Arthur. Treuly I haue grete pitee of a companye of yonge Gentilmen that beth high mennes sones that beth fightinge at the ende of this launde a-yen the saisnes that neuer so fewe men contened so longe a-gein so moche peple, ffor thei but thre hundred that fighten agein thre thousande; and

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what be thei,” quod Gawein, “and what go thei for to seche?” Quod the karll, “Thei sey that the lorde of hem is cleped Seigramor, the nevew of the Emperour of Costantinnoble, that is come in to this contrey for to take his armes of the kynge Arthur. Now haue I seide all that I knowe; but I knowe it well that ye will not hym socoure, and so I haue loste my laboure, ffor I knewe well that ye haue not the herte ne the hardynesse for to go thider. Netherdeles, yef ye go thider and ye may hym socoure, ye may yow a-vaunte that ye haue wonne a feire emprise and a riche.”

Whan Gawein vndirstode the wordes of the karll that so hym cleped cowarde, he was a-shamed, and cried, “Now to horse, gentill knyghtes and gentill felowes [correction; sic = felowles], and sue me for I go.” And as sone as he hadde seide that worde he lepe to horse and alle his felowes after, and rode oute of the town in all haste; and whan thei were alle oute thei were iiijMl what oon what other. And Gawein com all be-fore, and come to the karll and seide, “Lepe vpon this horse, and lede vs ther these childeren fighten.” Ant the karll dide his comaundement, that for noon other thinge was come theder, and rode formest ther as thei were fightynge; and whan thei neyhed nygh thei founde the childeren fightinge merveilously, and hadde slain of the saisnes moo than vijC, but ther were so many of hem that thei myght not longe endure; and ther dide Seigramor the grettest prowesse that eny man saught euer, ffor he heilde an axe with bothe hondes, and was be-fore his felowes vpon a stede that was swyfte and right stronge, ffor whan thei gan hym assaile he smote in a-monge hem so harde and so depe that he was loste as it hadde be in a see from the sight of his felowes; and the saisnes hym enclosed on alle sides, and Seigramor, that heilde the ax that was sharp I-grounde, thought to perce thourgh to his felowes, he smote so grete strokes on bothe sides that he slowgh all that he raught a full stroke, and thei fledde on euery side from hym that knewen his strokes, and noon was so hardy that durst hym a-byde, but

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launched to hym sharpe grounde speres and gleyves and other wepnes; but thus myght
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thei not longe endure that thei ne sholde haue be deed or elles taken, but as Gawein com with his companye, ffor Orienx payned hym moche hem for to take that was a noble knyght and a sure; and he sette vpon the childeren and kepte hem in so short and streite that noon myght passe, and foughten so felly that the childeren were waxen feble for lakke of breth, and yef it ne hadde be for Seigramor only ther hadde noon of hem ascaped. But his defence was so grete all a-boute hym that merveile it was how he myght it endure; but in the ende availed litill the well doynge of hym or eny other ne hadde Gawein come soone with his companye of yonge bachelers. And as Gawein com to the stronge stour the childeren were in gret mischief; and than he and his felowes spronge vpon hem so sharply that at the first shofte thei threw of hem to grounde mo than two thousande. And of that was Orienx sorowfull, ffor neuer hadde he sein so fewe peple so well hem contene; and he heilde a stronge spere and the heed sharp I-grounde, and rode in the renge formest, and seide he wolde be avenged on hem that hadde hym wratthed. And Gawein hadde so smyten a-boute hym on euery side that he fonde the childeren full wery for travaile, and saugh Seigramor, that was a-fore in the fronte, and hielde an axe in bothe handes wherwith he smote grete strokes out of mesure. And he was moche and semly, and ther-to the beste shapen chielde to have sought thourgh eny reame, and whom that he araught was hitte so harde that it warant neither Iren ne stiell ne noon armour that he ne smot thourgh owther arme or sholder or thigh or other member, and shewde merveiles all a-boute. And whan Gawein saugh all this he asked of the olde man that was by hym what he was. And he seide it was Seigramor, the nevew of the Emperour of Costantinnoble; but helpe hym delyuerly, for it is grete myster.

Than Gawein renged his companye, and lete renne at hem so fiercely that in her comynge thei threwe to grounde of the saisnes grete plente, deed and wounded thourgh with sharpe wepenes. Grete was the bataile a-gein Orienx of the chylderen,

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but at grete myschief thei were, for on Gaweins side were but iiijMl and thre hundred that Seigramor hadde brought, and of the saisnes were xxMl, withoute hem that ronne thourgh the contrey that brente and robbed, of whiche were xlMl.

Whan that Orienx saugh that so small a peple withstode hym so felly, he hadde ther-of grete dispite, and cried to his men, and swor that in euell tyme sholde eny ascape he caught, and com drivinge agein Agrauain, that oon of his nevewes hadde slain be-fore his iyen.

And whan Orienx saugh that, he spored his steede and smote Agrauain vpon the shelde, that he perced through the plites of his haubreke vndir the side, that the spere hede shewed on the tother side, and he shof ther-on so sore that he bar hym from his horse to the grounde. Whan Gawein saugh his brother falle he hadde grete drede leste that he hadde be deed, and he heilde a trenchant axe and come to the saisne that hadde him vn-horsed, folio 93a
and wende to smyte hym vpon the helme, but whan Orienx saugh the stroke come he it douted, and couered hym with his shielde, and Gawein hym smote that the axe bente and slit the sheilde in two, the stroke was grete, and Orienx spored his horse forth, the stroke descended vpon the helme and kut the cercle and a quarter of the helme, and the mayle of the haubreke be-hynde, and the horse chyne a-sonder, that he blusht to the grounde, and Gaheries smote so Solunant thourgh the heed with an axe that ded he drof to the erthe, and Gaheret smote Vabibre thourgh the helme that he slit hym to the teth, and Galashin smote Pinados that the heed fley in to the feilde.

Whan the saisnes saugh Orienx lye at the grounde thei hadde grete drede that he hadde be deed, and shof alle to the rescewe ther a-boute hym environ, and bar hym oute of the presse in to the feilde, but he was stonyed of the stroke that he myght not stonde on his feet ne meve no membre that he hadde, and ther-to he made so lotly chere and so hidouse semblant, that alle wende he hadde ben deed, and made a-monge hem grete doell and wepynge that all the bataile lefte, and the childeren haue Agravain taken [correction; sic = tken] vp ther he was fallen and set hym on horse, and the

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karll that hadde brought thider Gawein hadde chaunged his forme to another, and hadde take the semblance of a knyght armed, and than com to Gawein and to his other bretheren and seide, “Feire lordes, yef ye do be my counseile, lete vs take the wey now right towarde Camelot while these saisnes entende to make this sorowe.” Whan Gawein vndirstode these wordes, he wiste wele his counseile was wise and withoute trecherie, and com a-noon to Seigramore and seide he was right welcome and his companye, and he a-gein hym salude as deboner and curteys, and than he seid, “Ha! seigramor, feire frende, it is tyme now that we go and lede with vs the peple that is vs be lefte, for I-nough haue we wonne seth that saf and sounde we repeyre.” Than Seigramor asked what he was that so spake vn-to hym, and he seide, “My name is Gawein, the nevew of kynge Arthur, and the sone of kynge loot of Orcanye, and kepe the londes of myn oncle, I and my bretheren, till he be come from Tamelide, and we be come hider for not elles but yow for to helpe and to socoure, ffor in the morowe it was tolde how ye were assailed of the saisnes right sore.”

Than com forth the knyght that hadde spoke to Gawein, and cried, “A! Gawein, feire sir, what a-bide ye that ye come not forthe youre wey; se not ye that all the worle of peple cometh vpon vs, wherefore we may not ascape yef ye a-bide?”

Whan Gawein herde hym so haste to garison, he beheilde and saugh come so grete plente of saisnes, and so grete foison, that alle the feilde was couered, and thei were alle armed, and com rydinge
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fiercely, and made soche noyse and soche murmur, that a myle of lengthe it myght haue ben herde, and whan that Gawein saugh the saisnes come in soche maner, he seide to Seigramor, “Sir, and hit ples yow gowe hens.” And he hym ansuerde and seide, “With goode will.” And thei than rode forth toward Camelot clos togeder and streite, that ye myght haue caste a glove ouer her hedes covered vndir steill; and the saisnes yet entended to Orienx makynge grete doell and sorowe, but withynne a while a-roos the saisne fro disturdison, and saugh hem a-boute hym made grete sorowe and hevynesse. Than he asked Page 267
a newe helme and sheilde and spere, for he was of grete herte and a goode knyght and hardy as of his age, and he swore yef he myght with hym that yaf hym that acooley whereof he hadde so leyen in swowne at erthe, he sholde it hym wele a-quyte, and than he lepe to horse that was stronge and swyfte rennynge, and rode that wey as he wende to haue hem founden, but thei were go thens a myle.

Whan Orienx saugh hem gon in this maner, he cried his ensigne and seide, “Now after hem,” and than he swore that noon of hem sholde ascape. Than pressed forth the saisnes hastely alle that myght, that oon ne a-bode not another, and the shoute and the noyse a-roos so grete that wonder it was to here, and the duste and the powder a-roos so thikke that the clier air was trouble, and thei com drivinge on so faste that thei nyghed nygh to atteyne the cristin; and than the knyght that hadde yeve Gawein this counseile saugh hem come so faste, he hasted sore Gawein and alle the tother for to go faste, and spake vnto hem that thei rode a gretter paas; but er thei com to the town of Camelot thei were sore hasted. But the noble Gawein and Agravain and Gaheret and Gaheries and Galaishin and Seigramor were the laste, and sente in theire felowes and her peple, and her harneys be-fore, as the heirde driveth his bestes to pasture, and ther while thei suffred the saisnes to breke theire speres, and whan thei saugh eny of her felowes ouer charged, thei hem delyuered at her power as thei that were of high prowesse, and thei dide so well, that ther nas saisne so hardy that durste that wey go, wher as [correction; sic = as as] thei were ne of hem a-bide a stroke.

Than com Orienx with the grete baner, and hadde a grete spere, whereof the heed is sharp and trenchaunt, and saugh hym that hadde hym smyte to grounde, and knewe hym full well, and swoor by his god that he wolde be avenged; than he spored his horse fiercely, and the chielde saugh hym come, but he made semblaunt as ther-of he rought litill, and whan he com even at the metynge Gawein lefte the wey and lete hym passe forth, that his horse cowde not restreyne, and Gawein, that was wight and delyuer, returned Page 268
his horse vpon hym, and smote hym vpon the heed with bothe hondes, but it was with the flat, for the haste that he hadde hym to smyte, so that he wiste not how he it heilde, and the stroke was so grete and hevy that the fier sparkled vp in the aire and astoned hym so sore that he fill flat to the erthe, and Seigramor smote
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Driant the rede thurgh the sholder so harde that it disseuered fro the body, and Galaishin smote so Placidas that his heed he hym be-rafte, and Agrauain and Gaheret and Gaheries hadde eche of hem caught a short spere, the Iren sharp and trenchaunt, and that oon smote Gynebant, and the tother Taurus, and the thridde smote ffannell, that eche bar his to the erthe from theyre horse all blody, and with the same cours thei smote thre other; and Gawein and Galaishin and Seigramor rested vpon Orienx, for thei wolde hym haue take yef thei myght, but the saisnes ne wolde it not suffre, but assembled so thikke a-boute tho thre felowes that thei hadde many grete strokes taken and yeven, and thei thre were noble and worthi, and slough of hem so many that her armes and her brestes were all blody, and also their horse heer, and so thei hem stered that noon was so hardy to a-byde of hem eny stroke.

Whan the thre felowes saugh thei moste nede fosake Orienx, and saugh a worlde of peple that vpon hem com drivinge, thei ronne vpon Orienx and hym diffouled with theire horse feet till he was all to-brosed; and whan he was all to brosed and hym diffouled at her lust saf thei haue hym not slain, than thei rode after her felowes that be that tyme myght be nygh Camelot, for neuer seth thei remeved were thei not enchased, but wente forth delyuerly; and whan the thre felowes saugh her men were withynne the town thei were gladde and mery, and than thei rode a softe paas. And the saisnes a-bode a-boute her lorde that was caste down and so diffouled vnder horse feet, whereof he was so sorowfull whan he a-roos from disturdison that thei be so ascaped, that nygh he was wode for wratthe and Ire, and swor yef he myght hem gete in his bailly that he sholde do hem be flain all quyk and drawen a-sondre with horse. “Sir,” seide his men, “a full fell pawtener is he that twies this day thus hath yow Page 269
smyten to grounde.” “Ye,” qoud Orienx, “but yef I may haue bailly ouer his body, he shall so be deffouled that ther ne shall nothinge in the worlde hym warantise.” And thei hadde so riden that thei com before Camelot, where as thei a-bode stille, and asked oon of another where the other thre were be-come; but ther was noon that ought cowde sey.

Whan Agravain, and Gaheret, and Gaheries vndirstode how that Gawein her brother and her cosin and the nevew of the Emperoure were loste, thei turned bakke and seide thei wolde not reste till thei hadde hem founden, and comaunded her felowes not to remeve till thei saugh hem com a-gein; and than alle thre rode a-gein a walop as thei hadde come; but thei hadde but litill while riden whan thei mette the karll that satte vpon the steede that Gawein hadde hym yoven, the same that hadde brought tidinges of Seigramor; and whan he mette these thre bretheren he asked whider thei wente; and thei seide thei sought Gawein her brother, and her cosin Galaishin, and the nevew of the Emperour, for thei wiste not where thei were be-comen. “Ffull euell,” seide he, “haue ye yow demened, and well sheweth the
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worthi and noble where thei ben, and loo where thei come, but whom it displese thei owe to come yow no thonke of her lyves, ffor ye lefte hem foule as cowardes, and well it sheweth ther as thei a-bode for to socour these other that now ben saf at garison; and thei haue doon many feire chiualries and yoven many grete strokes, that thei ought to be comended and preised of all the worlde that ther-of heren speke, and to holde yow for soche as ye be; and wele haue ye it shewed ther as ye lefte youre felowes at soche nede, and thei ne lefte yow neuer for deth ne for lif, and euery Gentillman that ther-of hereth speke ought yow to blame be right and reson, and haue yow euer suspect in euery nede; and, wite it well, it shall turne yow to repress.” With that the cherll departed, that lenger with hem ne wolde talke. And thei passeden forth all shamefest and mate, and sory of the wordes the karll hadde spoken; but thei nadde but litill wey riden whan thei mette the thre felowes, that were so araied that it semed by her armes that thei were come from felon place; and whan thei mette Page 270
togeder thei made grete ioye. Than Gawein asked tidinges of her other felowes where thei were; and thei seide that thei hem lefte be-fore the yates of Camelot, where thei a-bide. Than thei rode forth togeder gladde and mery for her newe feliship that be-come hem to helpe, and of that thei haue hem thus rescewed, and he and his companye hooll and sounde. But er thei hade a wihile riden togeder, thei mette the cherles horse sore affraied, that com fleynge, and saugh the arson of the sadell all blody. And when these felowes that he hadde reprovid saugh the horse, that oon beheilde the tother and begonne to laugh. Of that toke hede Gawein and Galashin, and asked whi thei lowghen; and thei stynte for to telle; and thei hem coniured another tyme right harde for to telle the trouthe. And Gaheries tolde hym alle the wordes that the cherll hadde hem seide. And whan that thei it herde thei merveiled what it myght be; and than com Gawein to the horse that fledde, and toke hym by the bridell, and saugh that all the arson was blody, and well that the karll hadde be slayn.

Than he asked of Agravain and of the tother yef thei mette eny of the saisnes seth thei departed fro Camelot, and thei seide how thei mette neyther man ne woman seth thei departed from their men, saf the cherll that satte vpon that horse. Quod Gawein, “I trowe he be slayn or wounded sore, or parauenture he is fallen where so it be to grounde, and therfore lete vs hym seche till we may hym fynde, and yef he be a-lyue lete vs bere hym to Camelot, ffor it were synne to suffre hym to dye for defaute here in the feilde.” And than thei sought vp and down in the feilde and amonge the busshes, but yet thei myght haue sought hym in to this tyme, for he was come in to her hoste in the semblaunce of a knave on foote, with a tronchon of a spere in his honde, and whan Gawein saugh he myght not be founde thei repeired to kamelot, and fonde her felowes hem a-bydynge folio 95a
at the brigge foot, that thei were of hem ioyfully whan thei saugh hem hooll and sounde, and than thei entred in to the town and drough vp the brigge and shette the yates, and than wente vpon the walles for to loke yef the saisnes com toward ţe town it for to assaile, but thei ther-to hadde no talent, ffor thei desired not

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ther so longe to soiourne till thei hadde it taken, for it was right stronge, and the childeren hem vnarmed and wente to theire loggyngis, and hem esed of all thinge that to mannys body belongeth, and grete ioye and feste thei made of Seigramor whan thei hym knewen; and whan he hadde hem tolde wherfore he was come fro Costantinnoble to kynge Arthur to take of hym his armes, and than was he moche worshiped and moche preised of oon and other, and seiden that he was of grete herte and hardy, for thei hadde hym sein in bataile, and he was of merveilouse bounte, and moche reuerence and [correction; sic = a] worship dide hym the noble gentilmen ther-Inne, and disported and pleide, and beheilde Seigramor, that was moche and semly, and well furnysshed of membres, and thus thei lyven in disporte and ioye thre dayes, that nothinge thei ne herde on noo part, but that the saisnes wente in to the Northumberlonde, and in to the londe of the Duke Escam, of Cambenyk, that ther foughten sore bataile at the strayte of the roche magot, a-gein the peple of Orienx, vpon the river of Sauarne.

CHAPTER XVII.

DOINGS OF THE SAXONS IN THE LANDS OF KING CLARION AND DUKE ESCAM.

Now, seith the booke, that sore were thei greved the peple of the kynge Clarion, and also of the Duke Escam, whan Orienx com to the medle, for gretly he hym peyned hem to do damage at his power, and he was yet right wroth for the diffoulinge that Gawein hadde hym don, and therfore wolde he gladly haue take vengaunce yef he myght, vpon hem that he hadde ther founden, and comaunded his men to do well, and swor his oth that ther sholde noon of hem ascape, and than be-gan the assaute so grete and merveilouse, that of arowes and quarelles ther were many wounded and hurte. Ne never myght the saisnes, for no power that thei hadde, make hem remeve from that grounde; and whan that the saisnes saugh that thei myght not make hem be

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force for to leve the place, thei drough them vp and logged hem by the river of Sauarne, and seide thei wolde kepe that passage, and ther while thei robbed the contrey all a-boute hem, “for yef we myght gete hem in honde,” seid Orienx, “thei myght not a-gein vs so endure.”

As soone as the saisnes were logged thei spredde a-brode in the contrey to forry, and euer brente and distroied as thei wente, and token prayes of bestes and of vitaile of all that thei myght gete, and I-now thei hadde, for the contrey was riche and in ese, and the peple of the contrey hadde tho at the firste begonne to drive theire bestes out of the weye and her other auer, and many were supprised er thei myght ought hide from theire handes, and the saisnes com vpon hem sodeinly that of hem hadde no pytee, but slowgh alle that thei myght atteyne, and toke the bestes and theire other goodes and sette fier all a-boute, and the fier and
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the flame a-roos so huge that the air be come reade all a iourney, that the kynge Clarion and the Duke Escam saugh the fier clerly in the streite ther as thei were. And whan the Duke Escam saugh the distruxion that thei made thourgh the contrey, he com to Clarion and seide, “Sir, as me semeth we haue heer no wynnynge heer for to a-bide, for the saisnes distroyeth all the londe a-boute vs, and therfore I rede we go to hem ther as thei be and fight with hem, and do hem the harm that we may, for me semeth that is the beste.” “Ye,” quod Claryon, “but and we lese this contry a-noon thei will distroie all the londe all hool.”

“I shall telle yow,” quod the Duke, “what we shull do: we shull leve a part of oure peple at this passage if for to kepe, and ye and I shull go a-gein hem toward the foreste of Brekehen, and enbussh vs there till that we se that the pray is past, and than shall we go betwene hem and the pray and fight with hem, and the lorde of palerne, that well knoweth the streytes of the foreste, shall lede the pray fo saftee, and than com a-gein to helpe vs at the bataile, and we shull do hem all the harme that we may.” “A god mercy,” seide Clarion, “it is merveile that ye sey, that sey we shull go to hem for to fight, and thei be many moo than be we, ffor whan we begonne we hadde not the Page 273
peple that thei haue now.” “See not ye,” quod the Duke, “how thei be spredde a-brode in the contrey all theire grettest power, and heere be-fore vs is two thousande at these paviliouns vpon the river, and thei be nothinge elles lefte but for to kepe this paas where-as thei knowe we be, and thei that ben a-boute in the contreye, holde thei be right sure, ffor their holde that thei ben right sure, for thei haue no doute where thei gon.” “I sey not,” quod Clarion, “for that to me ateyneth, but for these noble men that ben heere with me that I wolde not folyly myslede, ne in to no place that I sholde therfore bere blame, whan we parted be fole enprise.” Whan the gode men vndirstode the wordes of kynge Clarion they preised hym moche, ffor thei knewe well that he seide it but for pite of the peple, that he wolde gladly saue yef he myght, and than thei seide, “Haa! gentill kynge Clarion, neuer ne dowte yow of nothinge, but lete vs go and a-venge oure shame, oure harme, that we see a-fore oure iyen, and as well ought we to be shamed and to be angwisshouse and wroth yef it be falle as well as ye, ffor ye ne haue no more than we, saf only the Crowne.”

Whan the kynge Clarion vndirstode how his men seide, he wepte tenderly with hys iyen vndir his helme, that the teeres wette his Iowes and the chyn, and was so full of angwissh that vn-ethe myght he speke a worde with his mouth, and his men that aparceived, and seide, “Gentill kynge, ne wepe nought, but go we in the name of god and fight with hem, ffor better it is to dye with honoure than dye olde and pore and disherited;” “but firste ordeyne folio 96a
whom ye will leve heere,” and thei seide he seide well, and ther thei chese the lorde of Norhant, and the lorde of dolerouse garde and bruyn saunz pitee, and hadde in her companye a thousande men well horsed, and kepte the paas right streyte; and thei departed at mydnyght, and rode thoo towarde the foreste of Brekehan, and hem gyded the lorde of Salerne, that well knewe the passages of the londe and the forestes; and whan thei come to the foreste of Breighan, than thei enbusshed hem a-gein ja carfowgh of vj weyes, by a feire launde that was grene and full of flowres, and it was a feire morownynge and softe wedir Page 274
and still, and these briddes songen thourgh the holtes full grene leves, for the fressh seison of the moneth of may, that was newe entrid, and the nyghtingale and these other briddes songen so lowde that the wode and the river resovned.

This launde that I of speke was so feire and plesaunt to beholde for the swote sauours, that thei hadde no will to meve thens and for the swete songe of the fowles, and yef thei ne hadde not had to do other weyes thei wolde not haue remeved, and ther thei hem enbusshed, the kynge Clarion and the Duke Escam of Cambenyk, be-fore the day, ffor well knewe that the saisnes sholde come that wey, and so thei a-bide till it was passed tierce, and than thei saugh come oute of the foreste of Breighan, oxen and keen, and swyn and sheep, and horse and palfreyes trussed with salt flessh, and with corn and brede redy bake, and plente of cheese and of all viteill soche foyson that more than a myle lasted the route.

Whan that the kynge Clarion and the Duke Escam saugh that alle these bestes were passed and the cariage, thei sente oute hem that sholde hem sewen after that were vMl men wele horsed, and whan the lorde of Salerne saugh that the beestes were enclosed, he issed oute with five hundred knyghtes to hem that these beestes dide condite, and slough hem alle, that neuer foot ascaped, and than gadered alle the beestes and the cariage, and hem condited to Cambenyk, that was thens two myle, and whan he hadde alle sette in saftee he returned a-gein. And whan the saisnes saugh that the cariages was from hem enclosed, thei were sory and wroth, and com drivinge vpon hem so fiercely and mete vpon the sheldes, that the speres fly in peces, and thei begonne a stronge stoure and an harde, ffor there in shorte tyme was grete occisioun, and longe it endured, from tierce in to noone, and than sparbled the saisnes and turned bakke towarde her chyuachie.

Ther the cristin slough many, ffor of the saisnes that were xvMlne lefte but xMl, and of the cristen were well xxijMl, and thei pursude so the chase that many of hem were loste, ffor er thei were war thei were vpon the grete hoste of the kynge Orienx that lefte at the paas of the roche magot, that hadde ben oute erly and com with wonder gret richesse that thei hadde robbed thourgh Page 275
the contrey, and were moo than xlvMl togeder, for thei desired to haue repeired to the grete hoste be-fore the Citee of Clarence that tho was newe beseged.

folio 96b

Whan the kynge and the Duke saugh the saisnes come soche foyson, thei were sore afrayed, and withdrough her reynes and returned bakke a softe paas streite and cloos towarde the foreste that thei com fro; and whan the saisnes hadde fledde so that thei were come to the grete hoste so afraied. Whan the kynge Orienx saugh hem come fleynge, he asked whi that thei fledde so faste; and thei hym tolde of the grete harme that the cristin hadde hem don; and whan he herde that thei were so nygh, he comaunded that thei sholde be harde enchased; and a-noon thei dide his comaundement, and ther was many an horse abredeed er thei myght come to the foreste, for er thei come fullich ther thei were hasted right nygh, for in a while thei hadde hem ouertaken; and whan thei hadde hem a-tyened thei smote to hem with speres, and brake many vpon theire bodyes, and euer the cristin drough to the foreste so streite and cloos that the saisnes myht hem not breke ne perce; and whan thei were euen nygh the foreste thei returned her bridelis a-gein her enmyes, and thei com vpon hem fiercely and with a grete nombre; and the cristin hem receyved at spere poynte and with sharpe grounde glevis, and of hem many thei made to stomble that neuer roos after, ffor ther was mortall and felon bataile and greet occision on bothe parties, and yet hadde the cristin loste more ne hadde be the foreste of Breighan, and that was be-hynde at her bakke; and ther the saisnes loste so many of her companye that thei myght not a-vaunten hem that hadde mette with no cowardes, ffor of xlMl thei loste xMl. And thei were at greet myschief, for the saisnes were so many that thei moste flat in to the foreste wolde thei or noon, ffor as soone as the kynge Orienx was come, he kepte hem so shorte that many were deed and taken; and than nyght and the forest hem departed. And whan Orienx saugh hem ascaped that all this grete harme hadde hem don, he was full wroth and angry, but for all that he drough hym a-wey from the foreste; and the cristen rode all nyght that neuer wolde hem

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vn-arme till it was day. And the kynge Clarion wente that nyght to [correction; sic = ] Cambenyk with vijMl and v C men that were hym be-lefte of the bataile; and whan thei sholde departe, the Duke Escam graunted to sende hym his part of the pray that thei hadde wonne as soone as the saisnes were passed. And thus thei departed a-sounder, and kepte right well bothe two Citees, that no more harme ne hadde at that tyme. And erly on the morowe the saisnes were renged and a-raide, and than thei blewe hornes and trumpes, and serched the contrey to wite where the cristin were be-come and whiche wey, and than returned a-gein to Orienx, and seide thei were gon; and than was he sory and wroth, and made sownde his tymbres and tabours, and toke the wey toward Cambenyk, and sente be-fore Napin, an admyrall, with xvMl men, and hadde sente be-fore them thre thousande harlotis, for to sette fier on the contrey a-boute, and for to waste the londe; and after the forewarde com the cariage and the prayes that folio 97a
was grete, and hem condited Adax with xMl men, and after in the rerewarde com Orienx with xxMl, and rode till thei com to Cambenyk, and than gonne thei to waste and distroie the contrey ther that were vilages; and these harlottis, that were forreyours, brente all a-boute. And whan the Duke Escam saw the distruxion he was full of sorowe, and comaunded his men a-noon to arme hem; and thei dide his comaundement, and lept to horse lightly, two thousande, and com amonge the harlotis that were forreyours, that so brente and distroied, and ouertoke hem in valey; and whan thei saugh hem come thei turned to flight, but thei were so supprisid, for theire horse hadde rested and were fresch; and thei slough and maymed alle that thei myght ouer-gate, so that er the vangarde com of thre thousande there ascaped not xl; and whan these xl com to the vaungarde, thei cried, “Fitz dei putein, what a-byde, ye treitours! se ye not how we be alle slain and deed, and ye myght alle oure enmyes haue slain and distroied, and saued youre frendes, yef ye hadde a little hasted; and shamed be the kynge Orienx but he hange yow heigher than other treitours vntrewe, ffor ye hym shame and suffre his men to be diffoiled.” “Pees, harlottis,” quod Napin, “shoche sholde ben youre payment; where be thei

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that thus haue yow don?” And than seide the ribaudes that thei were gon alle the glotouns to Cambenyk withoute doynge more. And the saisnes than passed forth and no more harme ther dide, and rode forth till thei com to the riche Citee of Clarence, that hardogabran hadde beseged hymself the twentithe kynge; and whan Orienx com in to the hoste, hardogabran made of hym grete ioye for the grete refreshynge that he brought of vitaile, for he brought I-nough, and therfore was he moche preised. And on that othir side, as soone as the Duke Escam saugh the saisnes were passed, he sente the half of the prise that thei hadde wonne to the kynge Clarion, of that thei had wonned vpon the launde vpon the saisnes that were so cruwell at the entre of the foreste of Bregnehan, for so was the name of the foreste, and the name of the rivere was Savarne. But now retureneth the tale a-gein for to speke of Ewein, the sone of kynge Vrien, and Ewein avoutres, that be departed fro Sorhan.

CHAPTER XVIII.

ADVENTURES OF GAWEIN AND HIS FELLOWS AT ARONDELL IN CORNWALL.

Now whan the two brethren were departed fro Sorhan, thei rode thourgh wodes and thourgh playnes till that thei come to Arondell in Cornewaile toward Bredigan; and whan thei come ther thei herde telle how Soriondes was logged in the medowes of Bredigan and rested ther his peple, ffor he com wery for traueile; and whan the childeren vndirstode that thei moste passe thourgh the hoste saisnes, and that was noon esy thinge to do, thei drough hem a-gein a litill bakke. And the saisnes ronne thourgh the contrei and a-boute Bredigan ner to Cardoell, and ther-of herde Gawein and his bretheren and companye that the saisnes were thus logged a-boute Bredigan and distroied the contrey aboute. Than sente folio 97b

Gawein aboute to euery garnyson thourgh the reame of logres, and assembled xxxMl what oon what other, ffor moche was he and his companye beloved for theire grete prowesse and her gret largesse; and than thei rode and iourneyed so longe till

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thei com to Cardoell, and ther they restede two dayes, and the thirde day thei departed and rode forth by theire iourneyes till thei com to Bredigan where-as thei were well come; and the saisnes were spredde a-brode thourgh the londe of kynge Ydiers, and hadde it all brente and robbed, and com all the river betwene the wode and the medowe vnder the Castell of Arundell, and thei were moo than lxMI of horsemen and xMI ribaudes, that sette fier all a-boute the contrei.

Whan the kynge Ydiers saugh this grete damage that thei dide, he was so full of sorowe that neer he wente oute of his witte, and lepte to horse with alle the peple that he hadde, and were nygh xvMl wele armed, and be-gan to pursue the hoste, so that thei atteyned hem at a passage at a cauchie, and ther thei fought togeder right harde, ffor the kynge Ydiers was a full noble knyght and a sure, and he dide ther merveilous of armes, and he hadde many goode knyghtes in his companye, that hym right wele dide helpe, and thei foughten all the day at the rerewarde of the hoste, and were xxMl, and the tother that were be-fore rode all the day till thei were half a myle from the castell of randoll, and thei were wele xlMl, and in the vaungarde were xMl that ledde the pray, for thei hadde herde the tidinges of the castell of Bredigan that ther-to were come gret peple sodeinly, and therfore thei were in drede to be supprised.

Whan thei of the castell herde why the saisnes were passed in to the londe of kynge Ydiers, of Cornewaile, thei ne trowed noon other but that thei wolde repeire be that wey, ne thei trowed not that eny hadde be lefte betwene the castell of randoll and Bredigan. And whan the two sones of kynge Vrien herde sey that the saisnes were passed, thei wende to haue no dowte, and armed hem wele and lepte on horse, and rode oute of the castell of randoll, and were foure hundred wele armed at devise, and rode till thei come to a brigge thre myle from the castell of Bredigan, and whan thei were passed ouer, a-noon com ageins hem Bilas, with xiiijMl men of armes, that hadde the vaungarde of kynge Soriondes, that made kepe the passage that noon sholde come oute of Bredigan, that hem myght don damage

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to the bakke of the hoste while thei forreyed. And whan the childeren saugh this thei were sore affraied, and thei gat the brigge, and ther thei hem deffended strongly. And on the tother side the kynge Ydiers faught at the ende of the cauchie so merveilously, that neuer of so fewe peple was don do stronge bataile, and ther thei shewed soche prowesse, that the xxMl torned to disconfiture, and ther ne hadde noon ascaped ne hadde Soriondes turned bakke with his grete hoste, and ne hadde be that aventure
folio 98a
that he so turned vpon kynge Ydiers, the childeren of kynge Vrien that were gon be-fore ne hadde neuer ascaped. But resteth to speke of hem at this tyme, and telleth of that cherll that hadde chaunged his semblaunce in to the gyse of a squyer at Camelot, whan that Seigramoor was rescued.

Whan this squyer wiste that Gawein and his companye were gon to Bredigan, he was ther-of gladde and wele plesed, and also he knewe wele of the two Bretheren that were at the castell of Randoll, and saugh wele how thei were in grete auenture of deth or to be taken, thanne he toke vpon hym the semblaunce of a curroure trottinge on foote, and bar a letter seled in a coffin, that was peynted with the armes of kynge Vrien, that he made to be writen of Blase his maister, so as ye shull heren after; and whan it was I-wreten he departed from Blaase and com to Bredigan, and he was tukked and on his heede a felt, and bar a longe staff on his bakke, and he was sklender and lene and hadde on lowe voyded shoon and blak hosyn, and his clothinge was blakke fustyan with bendes on the sleues, and girde with a girdell harnesshed, and he was longe and broun and a blakke berde, and his heed bare withoute coyfe, his hatte at his sholderes hanginge be-hynde by the laces; and he com to the maister paleys and yede vpon the greces, and whan he was a-bove he asked after Gawein the sone of kynge loot, and a-noon oon hym shewde where he stode, and he com be-fore hym and set hym on hys knee; and Gawein hym dressed vp as he that was wele lerned and right wise; and he hym salude, “From Ewein the more and from Ewein the avoutres, the twey sones of the kynge Vryen his cosyns, and to yow hath sente these letters.”

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As soone as Gawein herde speke of tho childeren, he lepe on his feet, and toke the letter and brake the seall and hit radde all to the ende as he that well hadde lerned his yowthe, and fonde writen how the letter seide,“I Ewein, the sone of kynge Vrien, greteth well my cosin Gawein and myn other cosyns and frendes, and I lete yow wete that I am departed fro Sorhan withoute leve of my fader, bothe I and Ewein avoutres my brother; and we be-come oute of the castell of Randoll to the brigge of Sorionde, where we haue founde xMl saisnes that vs holde medle vpon the brigge, and we ne be but foure hundred; and on that other side the kynge Ydiers, that ne hath but xiiijMlmen in his companye a-gein xlMl saisnes on the chauchie vnder Randoll, and as soone as the kynge Ydiers is departed thei will come vpon vs and take alle but god vs helpe and ye vs socoure; and yef we be take or slain, the harme is owres and the shame youres, and alle dayes of youre lif it shall be to yow reprof, and yef ye for cowardise leve vs to be socoured while ye haue power, and therfore remembre vs folio 98b
of pitee and of youre grete fraunchise.”

Whan Gawein hadde redde the letter he cried,“Now as armes this tyme more hastely than eny other, and neuer be he preised that now is not hardy.” And whan the squyers herde Gawein thei ronne to armes gladde and mery, ffull moche thei desired to come in place where thei myght hem conquere loos and pris to encrese theire honours; and as soon as thei were armed thei lepte to horse and rode oute of Bredigan, and the yoman that hadde brought the letter was theire gyde; and thei were xxMl men noble and hardy; and so thei rode a grete spede, but firste thei departed her peple and devised her wardes in to vj. The firste warde Gawein yaf vn-to Agravain his brother with thre thousande men of armes wel a-raied, and thei rode a goode paas be-fore. The seconde warde ledde Gaheret with iijMl men of armes that were vaillant and hardy. The thridde warde hadde Gaheries, that were it cowde lede, and were also iijMl, and rode forth after the tother. The fourthe bataile Gawein yaf to Seigramor, the nevew of the Emperour of Constantinenoble, that right wele cowde hem helpe at nede, and were Page 281
also iijMl; and thei rode forth after the tother cloos streite, and eche hadde a baner wher-to thei sholde relye whan thei were medled with the saisnes. The fifte bataile hadde Galashin hys cosin for to lede, and moche Gawein hym preide well for to do and wisely to rule for his men, and hadde with him also iijMl; and whan he hadde hem departed and disseuered thei rode theire wey a softe paas after Seigramor. The vjte bataile, where-in was moste peple, ledde Gawein hymself, and bar a baner of sendall of ynde beende ther in a lyon of siluer, and thei kepte hem cloos a-boute hym and were vMl and moo; and whan he saught that alle the tother were sette on her wey that oon after that other, than he sette on a softe paas hool togeder. Ther sholde ye haue sein the baners and fresh armes glyteringe in the wynde and fresh hauberkes bright shynynge above so many startelynge stedis that made the fier fle from the Caliouns that alle that it beheilde made her hertes to reioyse. But now cesseth to speke of hem how that thei ride to the brigge of dove, and returneth for the speke of the kynge ydiers that fighteth with the saisnes.

So sore faught the kynge ydiers a-gein xxMl saisnes that he put hem alle to flight. Ther was grete discounfiture and grete trouble of men and horse that fellen deed to-hewen; and whan Soriondes saugh hem fle he asked why that thei fledde, and thei hym tolde how that the kynge Ydiers hadde don hem grete damage to the taile of the hoste that alle the xxMl hadde dicounfited; and than returned Soriondes sory and wroth, and were with hym moo than xxMl, and rode till thei fonde the kynge Ydiers at the heed of the cauchie that yet was fightinge a-gein the meyne of Maglaant, an amyrall saisne cruewell and felon, that grete harme dide to the cristin and was so douted that noon durste folio 99a
hym approche ne come vpon the cauchie, but launched to hym speres and gysarmes grounden; and than com Soriondes with all his peple that was so grete, and sette ouer the caunchie so rudely as horse myght renne. Ther was thoo stif stour and mortall bataile, ffor at to grete a myschief were the men of the kynge Ydiers, and moche thei loste at that encountre, but right dere thei it solden; but what availed her well doinge, discounfited

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thei were and driven oute of the place, and it nedeth not to aske yef that the kynge Ydiers were sory and wroth, ffor ther he cursed the houre and the day that he was on I-crowned and that he was at debate with kynge Arthur,“ffor by the synne.” quod he, “that he haue don a-gein hym falleth to vs all these myschaunces, but it is so ferforth that it is to late vs to repente.”

Thus repeired the kynge ydiers, but moche was his losse; and Soriondes repeired with all his pray that was so grete to the caunchie, and passed ouer delyuerly, and rode be-nethe the castell Randoll streight to the brigge of Doue, and put in the vaungarde xvMl men, and rode forth till that the fowarde saugh the bataile at the brigge foot of the childeren that faught a-gein xMl that kepte the passage; and whan thei saugh this thei spedde hem faste to ride, for hem thought longe er thei were taken, and whan the childeren saugh hem so come thei were sore dismayed; and than Ewein loked towarde Bredigan and saugh where that Agravian com gripinge his baner, and he saugh wele that thei were grete peple, and than he badde his felowes to be of goode chier, for he saugh come cristin knyghtes; and than seide his felowes,“sir, how may ye hem se, and how shull we do? for lo! here bith saisnes that cometh be-fore and be-hynde, and ne forwarde ne bakwarde may we not fle, but that we moste perish, and on this side yef we take the feilde we myght haue grete damage.” “I shall telle yow,” quod Ewein avoutres, “what we shull do; holde we vs togeder cloos and make semblaunte as we wolde with Ioyne, and than will we go down this ryver at the spore, ffor yef that we a-bide hem that beth here comynge thei shull vs haue taken alle er thei ben heder I-come.”

To this that Ewein avoutres hath seide thei acorded well, and than thei closed hem rounde togeder and hem distrayned, but erst were the saisnes come hem right nygh withynne the shote of an arblaste, and whan thei saugh the cristin come thei sporered theire horse ouer the brigge at a brunt, and thei smyte thourgh the xMl and ouerthrewe mo than CC at the firste springe, and whan the saisnes wende hem to close they

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glenched down the river with spede of the spore that wey as thei saugh the cristin comynge. Whan the fowarde of the kynge Soryoundes saugh hem that fledden, thei priked after hem more than xvMl, and pressed so thikke vpon the brigge and so streite that many of hem fell in the water, and the xMl that the passage kepten enchased the childeren till thei hem atteyned in a medowe betwene two rivers, and ther sholde haue ben folio 99b
hastely so grete losse-that neuer it myght haue ben restoreth, wher-of hadde be grete damage and grete doell to all the reame of logres; and than com Agrauain that well sein the chase be-gynne vpon the childeren as soone as thei com down the brigge, and a-noon as Agravian com nygh the saisnes he lete his horse renne and his felowes also and smote on hem so harde that all the foreste and the ryver resounded, and whan the speres were broken, thei drough theire swerdes and begonne the medle crewell and felon, ne neuer herde ye so fewe men that more delyuerly hem contened, ffor so moche thei dide to theym that made the foure hundre forsake place. Agrauain and his companye drof hem bakke all a bowe draught, and that was grete socoure for the childeren, for Ewein le graunde and Ewein Avoutres were bothe smyte down of theire horses and fought on foote full sore, and also a hundre of theire felowes vn-horsed and wounded and hurt right sore, and therefore the cristin hadde grete hevynesse, and hem drof bakke that thei myght not stynte on the grounde, and it was no merveile, for thei were but thre thousande and the saisnes were xMl, and also xvMl that com hem to helpe that passed the brigge in grete haste, and as soone as thei were ouer thei sprad a-brode down the river and abode that oon the tother, and the xMl foughten full vigerously that were full gladde of theire peple that thei saugh repeire from Cornewayle, and the day be-gan to chauffe, and the sonne was risen right high as a-boute the houre of pryme, and the duste be-gan to rise right thikke that a myle thens myght oon knowe where was the trouble.

Whan Agrauain saugh that his peple myght not kepe her grounde, he swor that he wolde not thens departe though he sholde be deed tho in the place. Than he smote

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the horse with the spores and daysshed in a-monge hem and caught his swerde in bothe hondes and cried a Clarence with lowde voys, and be-gan to do soche maistries that his companye hadde merveile of his grete prowesse, ffor thei trowed not in hym so grete vertu as thei ther saugh, and the saisnes gretly hym douted for the merveiles that thei saugh hym don, but for all that hadde he litill profite; but as Gaheret com hym for to socoure with thre thousande men of armes, and in his comynge he made all the renges to fremyssh, for eche oon that com with hym bar oon to the grounde at theire metynge, and disparbled the saisnes towarde the brige; and whan Ewein the more and Ewein avoutres saugh the saisnes drawe bak, thei seide thei hadde founde strength of peple, and onn asked of another. “Lorde god, who may be these cristen, for fayn wolde we knowe?”

Ther was a yonge squyer that hyight Aces de Bemonde; he com to hem and seide, “Sirs, be ye come in to this contrey to beholde here these turmentys and the feire strokes of knyghtis, for yef ye wolde knowe what thei be, ye most avaunce yow forth and do so that thei enquere who ye ben, for by theire prowesse is knowen the worthy where-so-euer thei ben, and ye ne do but muse as fooles and lese youre
folio 100a
tyme, and therfore lete vs helpe hem to discounfite these false saisnes, ffor what folke that these ben cristin or other thei be worthi men, but moche me merveileth whens come alle these saisnes, and soone it shall be shewed who shall do beste, ffor I yow a-vye to turney with oure enmyes that haue don vs so grete damage, and to oure frendes and to oure auncestres, and yef we dye, at this nede more honourably ne may we suffre the deth that for the love of Jeshu criste, and for his lawe to strengthe and encresen.” Whan the childeren herde Acon de bemonde thus speke, thei hadde grete shame and seiden that neuer wolde thei be holde for cowarde, and acon spronge forth and seide, “Now be it seyn who doth beste.” Than thei hem renged alle togeder, and than thei sprongen in a-monge [correction; sic = a-monge a-monge] the saisnes and begonne to smyte and throwe down on euery side,

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and diden so well that the worde and the renon com to Agrauain and to Gaheret that the childeren foughten be-nethe fer from hem. Whan thei harde tho tidinges, thei wiste well it were the sones of kynge Vrien, and drowgh down that wey and made soche martire of the saisnes that thei made tho xMl to rebounde vpon the fowarde of kynge Sorioundes, that were mo than xvMl, and Agrauain and Gaheret haue so spedde that thei be come to the childeren that sharply foughten, ffor Ewein le graunt and Ewein avoutres and Acon traueiled so merveillously that onn for that other that gladde was Gaheret hem to beholden, and so was his companye, that a-gein diden so well that noon was founden cowarde ne ydell; and than com Agrauain to Acon and asked what were these childeren, and he ansuerde that thei were the sones of kynge vrien, “that be come to take theire armes and to serve the [correction; sic = the the] kynge Arthur, her vncle, with alle thise meyne that ye here sen.” “Whiche be thei?” seide Agrauain. “Sir,” seide Acon; “lo! hem ther in the armes half parted white and reade, but what be ye that this enquere?” “Certes,” seide Agrauain, “we be nevewes to the kynge Arthur and sones to kynge loot of Orkanye and of leoneys, and my name is cleped Agrauain and this other Gaheret my brother, and oure lorde be worshipped and preised that we be now mette hool and sounde in his londe.” Than thei com to the childeren and made to hem grete ioye, and thei asked what thei were; but litill while hadde thei be there whan thei saugh come the vowarde of Saisnes with xvMl men, and thei that fledded with hem in companye that yet were vMl, and drof the cristin a-bakke full fiercely. Whan Agrauain and Gueheret saugh hem come and the myschef so grete, thei seide to the childeren and to her companye, “Cosin, holde yow a-boute vs in oure feliship;” and thei ansuerde that thei wolde not hem lete for deth ne for lif; and than thei thronge togeder and begonne the bataile newe full stifly, but so longe myght thei not endure, for to many were the saisnes, that thei yaf bakke the space of a bowe draught wheder thei wolde or noon, ne neuer

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thei
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sholde haue stynte till thei hadde come to Bredigan ne hadde be Gaheries that com with thre thousande men, but thei ne wente not foule, for Agrauain and Gueheret and Ewein li grans and Ewein avoutres and Acon and Alechin, these yaf grete strokes euer a-monge often that oon for the tother, and were hyndermeste in the route, and socoured her men wher thei saugh hem encombred. Than com Gaheries with this warde of iijMlgoode men, and sette on hem full of Ire and malencolyus, and threwe down and slowgh and kepte at stall a longe while, but in the fyn he mote yeve grounde a litill, ffor than the saisnes begonne to recover londe vpon hem. But now a litill turneth the tale fro hem, and speketh of the kynge Sorioundes.

While thei fought thus at the brigge ende, all the cariage and the pray that kynge Sorioundes brought com to the brigge, and thei that hadde ther-of the kepynge seide thei sholde no ferther passe till thei saugh to what fyn the bateile sholde drawe, ffor on this side that we be on nowe haue we no drede, and yef ther come vpon us gret forse of peple we may vs here deffende better and more suerly, and more may we greve hem than thei vs, ffor we shull be at the brigge heed and kepe hem so of, that nought shull thei haue of oures. Than toke thei grounde and hem logged; and the maistres that condited the pray was Maglans and Pyngnores, and with hem xxMl or mo; and than thei pight tentes and pavylouns, and Sorioundes rode till he come to the brigge, and than he asked whi thei were so soone herberowed, and thei seide thei were more sure on that side than on that othir side of the ryver, ffor we knowe not what peple that ther ben there. “Now,” quod Sorioundes, “loke that ye be well a-raied to helpe oure peple yef it be nede;” and thei seide that so thei wolde, but returneth now we agein to Gaheries and to his companye that fighted betwene the river of Dione and Bredigan.

Now seith the boke that the ixMl and foure hundred cristin so foughten a-gein the saisnes that were well xxMl or moo, that moche loste that oon parte and that other, and the saisnes more than the cristin, but longe ne myght endure the Page 287
cristin for yet the childeren were tendre and grene, so that thei moste nede remeve a-bronde in to the feilde, and in short tyme thei sholde haue hadde grete losse; but as Segramor com prikinge with thre thousand men armed, and hym thought right longe er that he were assembled, and he smote vpon hem so fiercely that all the chase he made to cesse by fin force. Than was the stoure begonne harde and full crewell, ffull grete crakke and noyse ther was of brekynge of speres and stif strokes of swerdes vpon helmes and vpon hauberkes, and many horse and man leide on the grounde, and full well dide ther Seigramor and his companye that many an hethen made his ende; but all that well dede of Seigramor myght thei neuer stynte the saisness, ffor his men were putt bakke that his well doynge myght not but litill be sene; and than folio 101a
com Galaishin, with thre thousande men, and mette with hem so harde, that be-fore theire speres ne lefte noon vpright stondinge. Than thei cried a Clarance with a lowde voyse, that is the worde and the signe of kynge Arthur, and the saisnes were sore greved and com a-gein hem and mette hem tho dispiteously that thei made hem alle to disparble a-gein a-bakke. Than a-roos the shoute and the noise vpon hem so grete that the saisnes were driven bakke hastely withoute eny a-reste euen to the brigge of Dione. Than ther was grete occision of the saisnes, that of the xxMl ther was slayn vijMl er thei come to the brigge, and yef theire socoure hadde not be so nygh ther hadde neuer ascaped noon of hem a-wey, but Maglans and Pyngnores com for to socour theym with xxMl saisnes as faste as thei myght passe the brigge, and many thei throwe to grounde in her comynge. Ther be-gan angwissous myschef and grete losse, for the saisnes were xxxMl and mo, and the cristin ne were but xiiijMl what oon what other, and therfore thei were putte bakke the space of a mark shote. Ther suffred moche Galashin and Seigramor and Gaheries and Geheret and Agrauain and Ewein li grans and Ewein avoutres and Aces of campercorentin and brian of Arondell. These diden merveillouse prowesse a-bove alle other that were in the hoste. These ix suffred so moche, and so moche thei dide in armes, that alle hadde ben discounfited

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ne hadde be theire worthi dedes, but in the fin thei moste nede turne.

Full grete was the stour and harde medle betwene Dione and Bredigan ther as these xiiijMl cristin be a-gein xxxMlsaisnes, and the myschef was grete for thei hadde ther grete losse; and than com Gawein hem for to socour with vMl men of armes, and than be-gan ther a grete stour and harde, ffor as soone as Gawein was come he be-gan to do so well that the saisnes rused and lefte place, ffor he slough man and horse whom that he raught with his axe that he heilde with bothe hondes, and whom he therwith atteyned, hym myght warante neither Iren nor steill ne other armoure, ffor he alone sustened all the bateile, that alle the saisnes fledde from his axe on euery side, and he hem pursude so fiercely a-noon as noone was come that his strengthe be-gan to double, tho was it no wisdome to a-bide hym eny stroke, for he was so crewell for wrath and Ire, and he kepte hem so short that on fin force he made hem to resorte to the entre of the brigge of dione, where thei were so thikke and so entacched ech amonge other, that mo than a thousand fill in to the river.

Whan Sorioundes saugh the damage that these hym dide and the grete martire, he was so full of sorowe that ny he yede wode for wrath, and fain wolde he haue come ouer the brigge, yef he hadde myght for to haue foughten with hem to socour his men, but thei were so thikke vpon the brigge and down the river that noon myght come ouer; and thaugh the brigge hadde ben all clene empty it hadde not be no light thinge for to haue passed, ffor Gawein and Galashin and Seigramor and Agrauain and Gaheries and Gueheret
folio 101b
and Ewein li grans and Ewein avoutres were a-geins hem at the entre of the brigge that fiercely hem deffended the entre that noon was so hardy that durste presse ouer, ffor thei slough so many and made soche martire that ther was hilles of dede men and horse hem beforn, that the toon myght not come to that other but launchant; and this assaut dured all the day till nyght that thei withdrough; and on that other side Gawein and his companye withdrough hem and wente a-gein to Bredigan, gladde and mery for Page 289
the childeren that thei hadde so socoured at nede; and that nyght was ther grete ioye and grete feste, and thei ete and dranke with grete myrthe and solas, and after gon to bedde to reste, for thei were full wery of trauayle, and thei rested till it was day, that thei wolde go a-gein to fight with the saisnes, a-gein whom thei wolde deffende the londe and the contrey for euer more. But as thei were departed at euen from the brigge ther thei foughten, Sorioundes sente to seche the grettest lordes of his hoste for to take counseile what he sholde do, and as soone as he saugh his barouns assembled he hem asked how he sholde don, for he hadde founde the cristin full felon and crewell, and he was sore astoned for the grete damage that thei hadde hym don of his peple; and than a-roos vp Maglans vpon his feet, a grete Geaunt fell and crewell, but he was right wise, and he spake right high that he myght well ben herde.

“Kynge Sorioundes, yef thow will do my connseile, set forth thy Cariage now right and lete hem go be-fore oure chyuachie and neuer stinte till thei come to oure hoste, and Pynogras shall hem condite with xMl men be-fore in the firste fronte, and we shall come in the taile after with as moche peple as we can gete and assemble, and yef the cristen vs pursue thei may be well receyved, and that the cariage be not letted to iourney forth euer on her way, for that is the beste as me semeth.” And than cried alle that saisnes that the kynge Sorioundes sholde a-corde ther-to, as maglans hadde seide; and he comaunded to trusse and charge the harnoys and sette forth the vaungarde be-fore firste ouer the brigge with xMl saisnes or moo, and whan all the harneys was paste, than passed he ouer hymself with xxxMl saisnes and rode after a softe paas all the nyght and all the nexte day withoute eny more distrubinge till thei come to Valdesbery ther as the sege was leide, and ther thei were soone welcomed, ffor moche were thei desired for the vitaile that thei brought, and thei brought I-nough wherwith the hoste was refresshed well in ese; but of hem ne speketh no more at this tyme, but turneth to the childeren that ben in the Castell at Bredigan.

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Full gladde and ioyfull were these bretheren for the comynge of these childeren, the sones of kinge Vrien, and made hem great ioye and feste that nyght till thei were brought to bedde for to reste; and on the morowe erly Gawein sente a spie for to se
folio 102a
what the saisnes diden that thei hadde lefte at the brigge of dione, and whan he com there he fonde that thei were departed and gon in the nyght, and than he returned and tolde to Agrauain how thei were alle gon, and he therfore was sory that thei were so ascaped, but seth it myght be noon other thei a-bode stille in the town, and soiourned to a-bide here tidinges of the kynge Arthur or of other aventures.

Hit fill on a day be-fore dyner that the childeren dide walke be the ryver, and Gawein com to Ewein and seide, “Feire cosin, how knewe ye that we were here assembled, and be whos conseile sente ye me the lettere that ye sente me this other evenynge?” “What lettere was that?.” quod Ewein, “ffor trewly I sente yow neuer noon in my lyve, ne I knewe of yow no tidinges, till god of his grace sente yow to vs whan we were in soche poynt, ffor elles hadde we be alle slain or taken and distroied.” “How,” quod Gawein, “feire cosin Ewein, sey ye in trowthe that ye sente me neuer letter that I sholde come yow to socoure.” “Sir,”

qoud Ewein, “I sey yow soth ther-of withoute faile.”

Whan that the bretheren [correction; sic = betheren] herde that Ewein sente hem neuer letter ne message, thei merveiled moche fro whens he myght come that hem hadde brought. Than thei lete crie and enquere yef the man that hadde brought the lettere were yet in the town; but thei cowde not here of hym no tydinge, and thei desired sore to wite where he was be-come; thus thei a-bode in the town viij dayes full, till that tidinges come to hem from Arondell that tolde hem how the peple and the Gentilmen of the garnyson were sore greved with the saisnes that euery day hem assailden, and how thei dide but loke after the howr that thei sholde alle be take. Whan Gawein herde of the grete nede that thei hadde in the castell, he for-thought it sore. Than he called his felowes and seide it were goode to go thider to the Castell of

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Arondell for to rescewe theym, for thei haue grete mystere, and sholde we heire tidinges soneste of my fader the kynge loot, and thei seide thei wolde do hys volunte. Than thei a-raide hem redy and toke her wey towarde Arondell, and were xMl withoute moo of the beste horsed, ffor thei wolde not disgarnyssh the londe of peple, and so thei ride on euenynges and on morownynges, and by the moste vncowth weyes that thei knewe, till thei com half a myle from Arondell, and than thei herde grete bruyt and grete noyse, ffor Arans the sone of Brangue was entred in to the londe of leonoys, and hadde wasted moche of the londe all a-boute as he hadde gon and assayled the Castell of Arondell often tymes and hadde brente the borowgh; and it be-fill that ther com that wey a route of yonge squyres, and com oute of the londe of Strangore, and thei were a-bowte xxvj, and thei noon hede ne were not war of the kynge Arans that hadde all day assailed the Castell of Arondell, but it was so well defended that no-folio 102b
thinge thei wonne, saf only thei hadde brent the bourgh withoute, and than the saisnes hem with-droughen to resten, and as thei turned, thei mette the xxvj squyres that kay destranx and kehedyn dide lede.

As soone as the saisnes saugh these squyres come, thei sette on hem a showte and ronne vpon hem, ffor well thei knewe thei were cristen, and thei hem defended in the beste maner that so small a peple myght. Whan thei of the castell saugh the bataile so begonne in the mydowes by the ryver, thei wiste well it were cristin and hem beheilde a grete while, but thei weren so fewe that thei were not seen a-monge hem, and thei foughten right harde and sore, but no while mygh thei endure, for the saisnes were so many. Than thei of the castell issed out iiijC
that were wight and hardy and put hem-self in auenture for to socoure hem that were cristen, and thei smote in a-monge hem with so grete raundon that thei ben persed thourgh to the place ther these squyres were that litill while elles sholde haue endured but that thei moste haue ben deed or taken; and whan thei were mette togeder and a litill knowen than be-gan the medle newe to enforce and harde bataile, ffor ther was many

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stroke yoven and receyved that wratthed sore the saisnes and well it shewed for thei sowned theire hornes and tymbres and trumpes, and that was token that thei wolde haue socoure; and than the saisnes assembled on alle partees, that thei spredde all the river of arson, and the meyne of the Castell de la roche were come oute, and wente towarde the Citee of Clarance with grete cariage that was hem sente oute of Saxoyne, and thei dide it condyte that it hadde brought thens, and thei were many and alle well armed, ffor as the booke seith thei were come therwith oute of Saxoyne mo than lxMl withoute the peple that was with kynge Arans that were spradde a-brode thourgh the contrey for to forrey, and thei hadde wasted and distroied that more than two iourneyes ye sholde not haue founde nother [correction; sic = nther] house ne town that a man myght herberowe in, hym ne his horse, ne fynde so moche vitaile for oon mannes repast. But now let vs repeire to the squyres vnder Arondell.

At full grete distresse were thise xxvi squyres that hem deffended a-gein xxMl saisnes; but thei of the castell of Arondell moche hem conforted and sustened, for in that company were many worthy men that were grete lordes sones, ffor ther was Ewein with the white honde, and Ewein de lionell, and Ewein Estranis, and Grosenain de strangot, these were lefte for to a-bide the kynge Arthur for thei wolde no knyghtes be made but of his honde, and alle were thei heigh menes sones, as kynges and Dukes, and also thei were nygh cosins to kynge loot of Orcanye and to kynge Brangore, and were alle come oute of her contrey in pryve wise, ffor ther was noon of hem that com with moo in his companye than xx, and thei a-bode ther as sowdiours for wynnynge, for litill hadde thei brought oute of theire contrey, and thei haue so don that I-nough thei hadde folio 103a
geten of the saisnes.

Whan these squyres com to the bataile the cry and the noyse encresed gretly; and whan these four hundred of the castell come to these sex score, Ewein white honde, that was more enquesitif, asked of whens thei were. And kay destranx seide thei were squyers and sowdiours that wente to seche theire armes of the kynge Arthur, and how thei were nygh cosins to Page 293
the two kynges of Strangore; and whan thei of the castell herde that thei were squyers, thei asked yef thei wolde a-bide with hem, and thei wolde hem neuer faile, and that thei wolde a-bide alle togeder till that the kynge [correction; sic = kynke] Arthur were come, and than sholde thei gon in fere to take theire armes, for in the same wise were thei come and for the same cause; and thei ansuerde that so hem liked wele.

And while thei spake thus togeder approched the cariage of the roche, and weren in the firste fronte xxMl of hem that sholde it conditen, and xxMl in the taile after; and as thei com nygh Arondell thei saugh the xMl saisnes that foughten with thise squyres vnder Arondell; and whan thei wiste it was the vowarde of kynge Arans thei slakede her brideles and environed the squyres all a-boute; and thei hem peyned sore to repeire in a-gein to the castell, but the saisnes were so many and so thikke that thei myght not hem breke ne pershe; and so longe myght it not be, but thei moste needes haue ben taken and the castell also, but than com Gawein and his companye with xMl men of armes; and as soone as saugh the bataile medled, thei lete theire horse renne and com so harde that be-fore hem nothinge myght withstonde for her sharp trenchaunt speres. Ther was stronge stour begonne and many haubreke to-torne of double maile, and of deed and wounded peple was all the feilde couered. Ther loste the saisnes many, wherfore thei were sory and angry, of the comynge of Gawein hadde thei of the castell grete myster, ffor thei were at gret myschief, and in the comynge of Gawein and his felowes thei were so vigerouse vpon the saisnes that thei resorted vpon the cariage that sewed after; and whan Gawein saugh the squyres of Arondell he asked what thei were; and Ewein white hande seide thei were with kynge Arthur and were come oute of the Castell for to rescue these squyres, and shewde hym theym that the saisnes hadde assailed; “and what be ye that thus me demaunde and that thus come to this grete nede;” and than he hym named and seide he was come hem to helpe and

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alle his companye; and whan he hadde herde this he was so gladde that noon myght be more, and thanked god of the socoure that was comen, and than thei cried “Clarence!” the worde of kynge Arthur, and smote in a-monge the saisnes and made soche martire that all the feilde was strowed full of deed men and horse. Ther dide Gawein wonderes with his hondes, and Gaheries and Agrauain and Galaishin and Seigramor and Gueheret and Ewein li grans and Ewein avoutres folio 103b
the two sones of kynge Vrien, and Ales and Aces. These shewde there merveillouse prowesse; and on that other side also dide well and wonder merveillous; Dodynell the Sauage, and Ewein white honde, and Ewein lyonell, and Ewein Estrains, and Gosenayne de strangot, and Kay destranx and Kehedin the litill, these xvij were in the fore-fronte and made soche martire and soche slaughtere that noon durste nygh hem ne abide a stroke, and alle theire other felowes dide also right well that alle the saisnes were fain to forsake the feilde, and be fin force to rebounde vpon the xxMl that com after the cariage. And than com an olde man all vnarmed on a grete horse to Gawein, that wolde haue pursued the saisnes, and he seide, “Gawein, Gawein, and thou do after my rede returne agein and bringe with the alle thi felowes in to Arondell, ffor, lo, here come saisnes a grete nombre, and we may not hem endure.”

Whan Gawein vndirstode the wordes of this wise man he hym beheilde and saugh that he was right olde and so croked that he merveiled that he myght holde hym on horse-bakke, and saugh he hadde a grete beerde and a longe that couered all his breste and was all white, and a chapelet of coton vpon his hede, and clothed in a robe of blakke, and for age heilde hym by the sadill bowe, and loked vpon Gawein and seide, “Gawein, do as a wise man and leve me well, for alle thi felowes be not of thi strengthe ne force, and as well owest thow to love her savetee and her lyves as thin owne, and thow sholdest synne dedly yef thei were loste thourgh thi foly, for heer-after may thei come to grete goode, and of theym shall Arthur haue grete myster thin oncle as soone as he is repeired oute of the reame of Tamelide.”

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Whan this olde man hadde seide these wordes, he turned the streight wey towarde leoneys in Orcanye as moche as his horse myght renne; and Gawein stynted and cleped his felowes a-bowte hym, for the wise mannes counseile wolde he beleve.

Than thei returned alle a softe paas towarde Arondell, and lefte the chase, and entred in to the Castell and yede vpon the walles, and beheilde the saisnes that hem renged and assembled, and rode towarde Arondell after the kynge Arans, that all the londe of kynge loot hadde wasted; and thei were so moche peple that nothinge myght hem withstonde, and the kynge loot faught with theym many tymes and loste moche of his peple, and sore was he greved in the ende; so that he behoved to bringe his wif to the Castell of Glocedon for strengthe. Whan the kynge saugh how the saisnes wasted his londe and distroied, and hadde slain so moche of his peple that he myght not but kepe hym in stronge place, and than he was full of sorowe and of hevynesse, and cursed the hour and the day that he was at werre with kynge Arthur, “for by hym haue I loste alle my childeren,” and on that other side his Citee was alle wasted, and he ne loked but after the hour to be take withynne, ffor the
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walles were broke down in many places, and saugh also how the kynge Arans was loged all a-boute hym, and he hadde no peple in his companye that myght eny while hym withstonde yef the kynge Arans wolde eny while soiourne, but he desired it not gretly but a-boode after his men that the contrey wasted and distroied all environ.

Whan the kynge loot saugh hymself in soche auenture, he toke counseile what was beste to do, and his counseile in the ende was this, that at the firste cokke crowinge he sholde lepe to his horse, he and his wif, and his litill sone that was but two yere of age, and lede hem to Glocedon, and sholde haue with hym v hundre men well armed, and that other part sholde a-bide stille that yet were vjMl of noble man and hardy, and thei hym promyseden that thei sholde kepe well the Citee while there life myght endure. At mydnyght the kynge and his companye toke theire horse and his litill sone mordered that the kynge Arthur hadde begeten in soche manere as ye haue herde devised, and a Page 296
squyer hym bar in a litill cradell, hym before, vpon his horse nekke, and rode oute by a fause posterne of the Citee toward the gardins and entred in to a lane, and rode all nyght and all daye till noone that neuere hadde distrubinge; but than [correction; sic = tha] was the kynge loot sore aflayed, ffor they mette Teucus with thre thousand saisnes that repaired from Arondell that condited the pray to the kynge Arans, and as soon as thei knewe the kynge loot, thei ronne vpon hym with grete hete, and ther a while was stronge stour and full nobly dide the kynge loot and the vC that were in his companye; but of well doynge was litill myster, for soone were thei discounfited and chased oute of the feilde, and his wif also I-take. Than the squyer fledde towarde Arondell as faste as the horse myght hym bere. But now cesseth a litill of kynge loot and returne to Gawein.

Full gladde and mery were Gawein and his felowes at Arondell that nyght that whan thei were knowen togeder of the squyers that thei hadde rescuwed; and as thei were in this ioye and in this feeste, com a knyght right well armed vpon a grete steede all for swette, and his shilde all to-daisht and hewen with strokes that he hadde receyued of swerdes a-bove and be-nethe, and his couerynge cote alle to-rente, and his hauberke torn and broken in many places, and he com be-fore Arondell a grete walop gripynge his launce, and whan he com be-fore the castell yate he stynte, and saugh the squyres a-bove on the walles that grete ioye made oon to another, and a-noon he gan to crie, yef therynne were eny squyer that were so hardy that durste hym snewen thider as he wolde go, be soche a condicion that he sholde haue no drede of no man but of his owne corse. Whan Gawein it vnderstode, he asked what wey he wolde go. Quod the knygth, “What art thow that spekest to me?” “My name,” quod he, “is Gawein the sone of folio 104b
kynge loot.” “Than shall I telle yow,” quod he, “fort the aventure aperteneth to yow more than to eny other, and certes seide the knyght in to the entre of this foreste is the prowesse that I of speke. But ye haue not the prowesse ne the hardynesse that ye dar me sue, and yet is it oon of the moste honourable auenture in this worlde, and that ye sholde Page 297
moste be preised yef ye myght it a-cheve, but ye haue nother the herte ne the hardyness that ye durste thider come, and wite it well but ye will come, I will go sooll be my-self.”

Whan Gawein vnderstode hym that so cleped hym cowarde he was shamefaste, and seide that though he sholde dye he wolde holde hym companye, and he be-gan for to go that full well knewe his corage, and Gawein cleped hym a-gein and cried, “Sir knyght, lo! me here all redy to go with yow. But that ye shull me ensure that for noon euell ye make me it for to do, and that ye shull me helpe at youre power a-gein alle tho that will me mys-do.” Whan he herde these wordes he a-bode and be-gan to smyle as it were in scorne, and seide as for that sholde he not lette, but that he wolde make hym the assuraunce, and Gawein asked his armes and armed hym wightly a-noon, and he a-boode that gretly hym hasted. And the felowes of Gawein com to hym and seide, “Sir, what thinke ye to do? Ne goth not withouten vs, for we wote neuer whether it be for goode or for euell.” And Gawein seide that he wolde well that thei wente with hym yef the knyght wolde assente. “And we shull hym aske,” seide Galashin. Than ran Seigramor to the knyght and asked, “Sir knyght, and it plese yow ther ben somme hereynne that fayn wolde go with yow in companye, and theire feliship shall yow nought empeire, and therfore thei yow preyen by me that ye will hem graunte to holde with yow companye.” And the knyght hem ansuerde and seide he wolde it well, and well it hym plesed that alle wente that go wolde, ffor the auenture is soche that noon shall faile to fynde his auenture that ther cometh; and than Seigramor was gladde, and a-noon thei armed hem therynne with grete spede till thei were vijMl that mo thei wolde not lede, but tho were of the beste, and of theym that were beste horsed, and whan thei com oute of the castell, Gawein toke the assuraunce of the knyght that for noon euell he com not hym for to seche.

Than thei wente ridinge all the day and all the nyght till it com to the dawenynge, and than thei herde at the ende of a launde a grete crye and a grete noyse of peple, and as hem

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semed ther were many, and than thei mette a squyer that fledde vpon a grete horse that a bar chielde be-fore hym in a cradell, and when Gawein hym mette, he asked hym with whom he was and whi he fledde so faste; and he hem beheilde and saugh that thei were cristin, and seide, “I am with the kynge loot that the saisnes hau discounfited at the end of this launde towarde that wode, ffor he was goynge toward Glocedon and ledde with hym his wif, and now thei haue hir taken and chased hym oute of the feilde, and I am thus fleynge as ye seen with this childe that is hers, ffor neuer shall I it lete till I haue sette it in soche
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place that it shall not haue drede of the saisnes that in to this contrey ben entred, and for the love of god ne go ye no ferther feire lordes, for ye shull fynde ther so grete plente of saisnes that ye ne shull may hem endure.”

“Certeis,” seide Gawein, “but I shall telle the what thow shalt do; thow shalt go reste the here in this wode till thow se what shall falle of this bataile, and after, yef I may ascape, I will the bringe ther as thow ne childe shull haue no drede of noon euell that no man shall yow do,” and praide hym so that he hym graunted.

With that thei departed that oon from that other, and the knyght wente forth that moche dide Gawein for to haste, and badde hym sue faste withoute lettinge, and therwith he rode faste be-fore; and whan Gawein saugh he wente he spored his horse after and so dide his felowes also, and rode faste till thei were paste the foreste, and saugh the chase that euen tho was begonne after the kynge loot, that fledde to Glocedon with the peple that was hym be-lefte of the bataile; and on that other side Gawein beheilde in the myddill of the medowe, and saugh a lady of grete bowte ne hadde be the doell and the sorowe that she made and the myschief that she was ynne, and she was all discheuelle in her heer, and Taurus hir heilde be the tresses and drough hir after his horse, and hir robe that she was in clad was so grete that for combraunce she myght not a-rise, and she braied and cride with an high voyse, “Seint Marie, blissed lady and moder of god! helpe me and socour.” And whan she cried and cleped oure lady seint marie, Taurus smote hir with his honde armed Page 299
right sore that she fill down to the erthe euen as she hadde be deed, and whan he hadde sette hire vpon his horse she fill a-gein down to the erthe as a woman that was hurte, and cried and braide right lowde, and seide that she wolde fayne be deed; and he a-gein sette hir vpon horse, and she fill down a-gein to grounde, and seide as longe as she myght lyve sholde he neuer lede thens for no power that he hadde; and whan he saugh that he myght not hir maistrie, he hente hir be the tresses and drough hir towarde the horse trailinge, and somte hir so that she was all couered in blode what from mouthe and nose; and so he hath hir trayned and drawen, that the lady myght no lenger crye ne brayen, she was so hoorse and so brethles that on hire feet myght she not stonde ne sustene.

And whan the knyght saugh the lady so euell be sein he seide to Gawein, “Now, Gawein, knowest thow not that lady yonder, and yef euer ye hir loved dayes of youre lyf thinke hir to rescowen and to a-vengen.” And as soone as Gawein saugh he knewe hire well; than he was so full of angwissh that ner he yede oute of his witte, ne he wende neuer to haue sein the hour to haue come ther-to. Than he smote the horse with sopores all that he myght, and hielde a grete shorte spere, the heed right sharp and trenchaunt; and mydday was somdell passed and the sonne right high, and Gawein cried to Taurus, “Leff the lady, traitour fitz aputain!

in euell tyme hast thow her so delerous mette, for neuer in thi liff folio 105b
didest thow foly that thow shalt bye so dere.” And whan Taurus saugh hym come that so gretly to hym cried and manaced, he lete the lady falle and righted his armes and toke a grete spere and a rude and lete renne his horse a-gein hym; and Gawein and he smote togeder as harde as theire armes myght dure, and Taurus brake his spere, and Gawein smote hym so rudely thourgh shelde and hauberke that the spere heede shewde thourgh his chyne an arme lengthe, and he blussht so harde to grounde that his nekke brake a-sonder; and Gaheret and Gahereis and Agrauain a-light down, and oon smote of his heed and another thriste hym thourgh with his swerde, and the thirde smote of bothe his armes, for it was not Page 300

I-nough to hem that Gawein hadde don, but made of hym smale peces; and these other smote in a-monge the saisnes and made of hem soche martirdom and soche occision that thei slough mo than xMl er thei leften; and Gawein slough so many that he was all wete in blode and brayn that his armes dropped down as he hadde be wete in a flode. And whan that the saisnes saugh the grete occision that vpon turned, thei fledden alle that myght thourgh wode and thourgh playn; and Gawein repeired thider as he saugh hys moder ly, and a-light on foote, and toke hir in his armes and fonde hir euen as deed; and he wepte sore that the teeris ronne down from his iyen as thikke as water hadde be throwen in his visage, and cried and wrange his handes and made soche doell and sorowe that alle his felowes were therwith a-noyed and hadden ther-of grete pite that ther nas noon but wepte water with his iyen; and whan the bretheren of Gawein com thider ther be-gan the doell and sorowe so grete that noon erthly man myght devise noon gretter.

Whan the lady vndirstode the brayes and the cries that the bretheren made a-boute hir, she opened hir iyen and saugh hir sone Gawein, that hir heilde in his armes, and knewe hym wele a-noon, and lifte vp hir handes ioynynge towarde heuene, and thanked oure lorde of that socoure that he hadde hir sente. Than she spake as she myght and seide, “Feire sone Gawein, be stille and wepe no more, for I haue not the harme that I sholde dye fore, but hurte I am right sore;” and than she asked hym where his bretheren were, and a-noon thei com before hir makynge grete doell, and whan she hem saugh she thanked oure lorde, and in a while aftere a-noon she seide, “Haa las! my sone mordred haue I loste, and my lorde youre fader that this day hath suffred grete peyne me for to rescewen and socour, ffor whan he hadde alle loste his men I saugh hym fight longe a-gein vC
men and a-bode while oon myght haue gon half a myle of grounde vpon his feet, and therfore I haue grete drede that he be wounded to the deth, ffor I saugh hem launche at hym knyves and gavelokkes and dartes soche foison as it hadde reyned from heuene; ne neuer wolde he voide the place ne me forsake till I hym Page 301
coniured for that he loved beste in the worlde that he wolde gon his wey, and than
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he dide so sorowfull that no man myght more.” “Dame,” quod Gawein, “of Mordred my brother I can telle yow tidinges, ffor the squyer that it bar hath hym kept wisely and vs a-bydeth in this foreste, but of the kynge my fader I can not sey.”

Whan the lady it vndirstode that it hevied her herte and swowned in Gaweins armes, and he her kiste and wepte right sore, and whan she com a-gein from swownynge she yaf a sore sigh, and with that the coloure com a-gein in to her visage, and than she asked Gawein watir to waisshe hir face, that was all soilede with blode, and oon it brought in an hatte of stiele, and than she wossh hir visage as softely as she myght; and than thei ordeyned hir a litier vpon two palfrayes, and leide therynne fresch gras and erbes plente and clothes, and than leide her therynne softely, and than gadered the prayers that thei hadde wonne of the saisnes and wente forth to Arondell a goode spede, and thei hadde but litill while riden whan the squyer com be-fore hem with the childe; and than was Gawein gladde, and rode forth with the childe till thei com to Arondell, where-as thei soiourned viij dayes full till the lady was hool, and than thei departed from thens and wente to logres, the chief Citee of the kynge Arthur, alle the company togeder; but two hundre squyers thei lefte at Arondell to kepe the Castell, and ledde with hem the lady and hir litill sone. And the foure bretheren swore that neuer sholde the kynge loot her fader haue a-gein theire moder till that he hadde acorded with kynge Arthur theire vncle. Of this thinge that thei dide was the lady gladde; and so thei spedde theire iourneyes till thei com to lorges, where thei were receyved with grete honoure and reverence.

And Doo of Cardoell made to hem grete ioye and feeste, and so dide alle the Citee; but whan thei parceyved the lady thei made moche more ioye, and hir dide as grete worship as myght be don to eny lady of the worlde; and euery man was gladde of the aventure that god hadde hem sente. And than made Gawein to enquere and serche yef eny man knewe the knyght that hadde hem ledde to socour his moder, but noon

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cowde telle of hym no tidinge. And so the tidinges ronne vp and down that doo of Cardoell it wiste, that was a noble knyght and a sure and a wise, and thought well in his herte who this knyght myght be; and than he com to Gawein and seide, “Sir, knewe ye neuer that man that brought yow firste tydinges of Seigramor and also of Ewein youre cosin?” “I neuer hym knewe ne saugh be-fore,” quod Gawein.

“Nor hym,” quod Doo, “that taught yow where was youre moder, ne knewe ye no hym?” “No, truly,” quod Gawein. Than thought doo a-noon what he was and gan to smylen; and Gawein merveiled moche why he dide aske, and than he hym coniured be the feith that he ought to the kynge Arthur his lorde, and praied hym dierly also to telle hym whi he asked hym that demaunde and wherfore he lowgh. And than he seide, “Gawein, Gawein, so moche ye haue me coniured that I shall telle yow folio 106b
whi; but be well ware that ye lete no man knowe of nothinge that I sey vn-to yow.” And Gawein seide, “Nay, for hym were lever to haue his tonge drawen oute.”

“Knowe it verily,” quod Doo, “that he that alle these tidinges hath brought it is Merlin, that is the beste devynour that is in all the worlde or euer was.”

“How sir,” quod Gawein, “speke ye of that Merlin that was so well beloved of Vterpendragon, that was begeten of the devell vpon a woman?” “Of that same,”

seide Doo, “speke I withoute faile.” “A god mercy,” seide Gawein, “how myght this be or bifalle that I haue seyn hym in so many maner formes, for I haue seyn hym in thre semblaunces.” “Wite it well,” quod Doo, “how that euer ye haue hym seyn it is he verily, ffor he is so full of stronge art that he hym chaungeth in to as many semblaunces as he will.” Than Gawein hym blissed for the merveile that he ther-of hadde, and seide that he wolde with hym be a-queynteth yef it hym plesed, ffor I wote well now that he vs loveth, whan that he entermeteth hym of oure deedes. “Knowe it well,” quod Doo, “yef it plese hym ye shall it wite, ffor we may nothinge do ne sey but he it wite.” Thus a-bode the squyres at logres gladde and myrry of that oure lorde hadde hem assembled togeder, and thei kepte the contrey aboute that the saisnes euer more loste than wonne. But Page 303
now leveth the tale of hem and speketh of the knyght that ledde Gawein for to socour his moder.

CHAPTER XIX.

MERLIN’S MEETING WITH LEONCE. HIS ADVENTURES WITH NIMIAME.

Now seith the storye, that whan Gawein and his felowes were medled with the meyne of Taurus, and this knyght saugh that Gawein hadde his moder rescowed he departed a-wey so sodeynly that no man wiste where that he be com, and wente in to Northumbirlonde to Blaase his maister and tolde hym alle these aventures that hadde be don in the reame of logres; and Blase of hym was ioyfull and gladde, and wrote these thinges that he hym tolde, and by hys booke haue we yet the knowynge of the seide auentures. And whan he hadde be ther as longe as hym liked, he seide he wolde go in to the reame of Benoyk, ffor soone elles myght the kynge Ban and the kynge Boors haue grete damage while thei ben with Arthur in Tamelide, and that were dedly synne, for thei ben full noble men and trewe, ffor the kynge Claudas de la desert hath don homage to the kynge of Gaule, and he hath promysed hym to helpe and to maynteyne, and on that other side this Claudas hath so purchased that he hath be at Rome, and he and the kynge of Gaule haue take theire londes to the Emperoure be soche covenaunt that the Emperour Iulius shall sende hym socour and wolde sese the two remes of Benoyk and Gannes; and thei assemble and somowne on alle partees, and now be meved the romaynes with an huge peple, and theire lorde and gouernoure is Pounce, Antony, tweyne of the counseillours of Rome, that be two grete lordes and mighty, and also on that other part cometh for love of hem, ffrolle a Duke of Almayne that is right a grete lorde of londe and of richesse and of ffrendes, and is cosin germain to Antony and to Pounce, and ech of these bringeth xxMl at his baner, and thise of the reame of Benoyk ne knowen it nought and so sholde thei alle be distroide er thei token hede or were ther-of war.

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folio 107a

Whan Blase this vndirstode he be-gan to wepe, and seide to Merlin, “Ffor the love of god haue pitee of cristin peple that thei be not distroied;” and he seide while that he myght lyve he wolde hem helpe with all his counseile. “And yet,” quod Merlin, “it is the londe that I ought moste for to hate, ffor in that londe is the wolf that the lupart shall bynde with cercles that shall nother be of Iren ne steile ne tree ne golde ne siluer ne lede ne nothinge of the erthe ne of the water ne herbe, and shall be so streite bounde that he shall not meve.”

“A god mercy,” quod Blase, “Merlin, what is that ye sey? is not the leopart more of strength than is the wolf, and more he is to doute?” “Yesse, truly,” quod Merlin. “How may the wolf than haue power ouer the leopart?” quod Blase. “Ye shull no more knowe,” quod Merlin; “but ţus moche I will telle yow, that this prophesie shall falle vpon me, and I wote well I may me not kepe therfro.” And Blase hym sayned for the merveile, and than he be-gan to aske, and seide, “Merlin, now telle me this, yef ye go now in to Benoyk, what shall falle of this londe that the saisnes thus go distroyinge?” “Of this ne care yow nought,” quod Merlin, “ffor Arthur shall neuer Iustise his barouns till that thei be well scowred, and knowe it well thei shall be driven oute in short tyme, and on that othir side ne were for the merveillouse leopart that shall come oute of the reame of Benoyk that shall be so grete and so fiers that alle other beestes shall surmounte bothe of this contrey and of the bloy bretaigne, and of hym shall come the grete lyon to whom alle beestes shull enclyne and for whos look the heuene shall open. I wolde not go ne come ther as longe as I myght me holde thens, but I shull synne dedly yef I sholde do a-gein the ordenaunce of god wherefore he hath me yove soche witte and discrescion as I haue, ffor to helpe a-complissh the auentures of the seynt Graall, that shall be a-complisshed and made an ende in the tyme of kynge Arthur, but enquere now no ferther for thow shalt it in tyme comynge what this may be, and youreself shull it se at youre yie er ye be deed.”

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Whan Blase herde Merlin thus couertly speke [correction; sic = sepke] he thought longe on these wordes; but euer he putte hem in writinge as he hadde hem seide; and than departed Merlin and wente in to the reame of Benoyk, and come to leonces the lorde of Paerne and drowgh hym a-parte and aqueynted hym with hym, so that he hym knewe, for other tymes he hadde hym seyn in the companye of the thre kynges; and leonces made of hym grete ioye, and he was a full worthi man and cosin to the kynge Ban and to the kynge Boors his brother, and Merlin spake to hym in the same semblaunce that he hadde seyn hym be-fore in the companye of the thre kynges, but that was do so previly that noon wiste ther-of no worde, and leonces yaf credence to all that he seide; and after that thei well aqueynted, leonces hym aresonde as a wise man and well vndirstondinge, and seide, “Merlin, I merveile moche of oon thinge that I wolde of yow asken, but I wolde not therwith yow displese.” “I wote well,” quod Merlin, “what ye thenke, and it nothinge doth me displese, but sey on hardely what yow liketh.” “Sey youre selfe,” seide leonces, “seth that ye it knowen.” “With good cheer,” seide Merlin, “for the love of yow; ye wolde aske me,” quod Merlin, “whi I haue left folio 107b
the thre kynges and I am come hider.” “Trewly,” quod leonces, “ye sey trouthe, and that wolde I gladly wite, yef it were youre plesier.” “A,” seide Merlin, “ye shall knowe all in tyme, for I may not here longe a-byde.”

“LEonces,” quod Merlin, “it is the trouthe, and the prophesie it seith that the serpent shall chace the leopart out of the forest, sauage and auncyent, that be-fore that hath be so grete and so fierce and so merveillouse, that beestes a-boute hym to hym enclyned and bowed theire heedes to the erthe; and it is trouthe that ye haue a felon neyghbour that is cleped Claudas de la desert, and this Claudas hath don homage to the kynge of Gaule, to holde of hym his londe by this condicion: that he helpe hym to mayntene his werre, and ben bothe togeder and holde bothe theire londes of the Emperoure of Rome; and Claudas his owne Page 306
body hath ben there, and so moche hath he sought and don, that Pounces and Antonyes, tweyne counseillers of Rome, come with grete power to distroie this contrey; and hider also cometh ffrolles, a Duke of Almayne, that is a riche lorde and right puyssant, and a goode knyght at armes, and is cosin germain bothe to Pounce and to Antonye, and he will peyne hym sore this contrey to waste and distroye and it to take; but it shall not be as thei wene, and therfore I am come in to this contre, for I will that ye sende to youre kyn and frendes fer and nygh, and assemble alle that ye may of peple, and garnyssh youre Citees and Castelles, and geder alle vitaile and corne and beestes and put it in soche place ther thei haue no power for to come, and ordeyne that ye be so araide that whan thei renne thourgh the londe thei fynde nought to take, ffor they shull renne vpon yow right sore, and assaile Castelles and townes, and therfore deffende yow myghtyly, but be-war, as dere as ye haue youre owne corse and youre honoure and also the honour of two kynges, that ye go not oute to bataile agein hem, ffor ye sholde haue to grete losse; and trust it trewly, ye shull haue socour, and that shall be stronge and goode and feire, on the wednysday be-fore the feeste of seint John, that the bataile shall be by-fore Trebes betwene leire and arsune by-fore day, where-as the Romayns and thei of Gaule and of Almayne shull be loged; and ye shull drawe oute youre parties as strongly as ye may, and than hide yow in the nexte foreste alle armed, and that this be so secretly don that noon of youre companye it aparceyve, be he neuer so well youre frende and with yow prevy, saf only to Pharien and to Grassien, to thise tweyne sey it in counseile, ffor thei be full worthi men and right trewe, and do the weyes and the passages to be kepte so well that when ye ride yef eny asspie come that he be taken, that he ne repeyre not to hem to discure nought of youre coveyne, ffor soone so myght ye haue damage.” And he seide that he wolde do this so well that Merlin sholde hym preyse at departinge. “I wote not,” quod Merlin, “what
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I sholde sey to yow more, for I go my wey, for moche I haue to do in other places.” “And to what contrei shall ye go?” quod leonces. “Whan I departe from hens,” quod

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Merlyn, “I go to Toraise in Tamelide where as ben the thre kynges, and hem shall I teche how the Geauntes and the sarazins shull be enchased oute of the londe; and the bateile shall be the thursday after pentecoste so grete and so merveillouse that neuer was noon so grete in the reame of Tamelide.” “Sir,” quod leoces, “greete well myn oncles and my cosin the kynge Arthur.” “So shall I do,”

quod Merlin. “Now haue in mynde to do well, and to god I yow comaunde.” Than eche departed from other, and as soone as Merlin was departed fro leonces he wente to se a maiden of grete bewte, and was right yonge, and was in a maner that was right feire and delitable and right riche, in a valee vnder a mounteyne rounde side be side to the forest of Briok, that was full delitable and feire, for to hunte at hertes and at hyndes, and bukke and doo and wilde swyn. This mayden of whom I speke was the doughter of a vauasor of right high lynage, and his name was cleped Dionas, and many tymes diane com to speke with hym, that was the goddesse, and was with hym many dayes, for he was hir godsone; and whan she departed she yaf hym a yefte that plesed hym wele. “Dionas,” quod diane, “I graunte the, and so doth the god of the see and of the sterres shull ordeyne, that the firste childe that thow shalt haue female shall be so moche coveyted of the wisest man that euer was erthly or shall be after my deth, whiche in the tyme of kynge Vortiger of the bloy mountayne shall be-gynne for to regne, that he shall hir teche the moste parte of his witte and connynge by force of nygremauncye in soche manere, that he shall be so desirouse after the tyme that he hath hir seyn that he shall haue no power to do nothinge a-gein hir volunte, and alle thinges that she enquereth he shall hir teche.” Thus yaf diane to Dionas hir yefte, and whan Dionas was grete he was right a feire knyght and a goode, of high prowesse of body, and he was moche and longe, and longe tyme serued a Duke of Burgoyne, that to hym yaf his nyece to ben his wif, that was right a feire maiden and a wise.

This Dionas loved moche the deduyt of the wode and the river while that he was yonge, and the Duke of Burgoyne hadde a parte in the foreste of brioke, so that was his the haluendell

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all quyte, and that other half was the kynge Ban. Whan the Duke hadde maried his nyece he yaf to Dionas his part of this foreste and londe that he hadde a-boute grete plente, and whan Dionas wente it for to se it plesed hym wele, and he lete make a maner to repeire to, that was right feire and riche by the vyuier, and whan it [correction; sic = whan it whan it] was made he com thider to be ther for the deduyt of the wode and the river that was nygh, and ther a-boode Dionas longe tyme, and repeired ofte to the court of kynge Ban, hym serued with ix knyghtes, and in his seruise he yede at many a grete nede a-gein the kynge Claudas, to whom he dide many a grete damage, till that the kynge Ban and the kynge Boors
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hadden hym in grete love, ffor thei knewe hym so noble a knyght and so trewe, and the kynge Ban to hym graunted his parte of this foreste in heritage to hym and to his heyres, and londe and rentys grete foyson; and the kynge Boors yaf hym also a town and men and londe, for the grete trouthe that he saugh in hym, and he was so graciouse, that alle tho that a-boute hym repeyred loved hym a-bove all thinge. Thus dwelled Dionas in that londe longe tyme, till that he gat vpon his wif a doughter of excellent bewte, and hir name was cleped Nimiane, and it is a name of ebrewe, that seith in frensch, ment neu ferai, that is to sey in english, I shall not lye, and this turned vpon Merlin, as ye shall here her-after. This mayden wax till she was xij yere of age whan Merlin com to speke with leonces of Paerne, and Merlin spedde hym so that he com to the foreste of Brioke, and than he toke a semblaunce of a feire yonge squyre, and drowgh hym down to a welle, whereof the springes were feire and the water clere, and the grauell so feire that it semed of fyn siluer. To this fountayn ofte tyme com nimiane for to disporte, and the same day that Merlin com thider was she come; and whan Merlin hir saugh he behilde hir moche, and a-vised hir well er he spake eny worde, and thought that a moche fole were he, yef he slepte so in his synne to lese his witte and his connynge for to haue the deduyt of a mayden, and hymself shamed, and god to lese and

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displese. And whan he hadde longe thought, he hir salued, and she ansuerde wisely and seide, “That lorde that alle thoughtes knoweth sende hym soche volunte and soche corage that hym be to profite, and hym not greve ne noon other, and the same welthe and the same honour hym sende as he wolde to other.”

And when Merlin herde the maide thus speke, he sett hym down vpon the brinke of the welle and asked hir what she was; and she seide she was of this contrey, the daughter of a vauasour, a grete Gentilman, that was at a manoir therynne, “and what be ye, feire swete frende?” quod she. “Dameselle,” quod Merlin, “I am a squyer traueillinge that go for to seche my maister, that was wonte me for to teche, and moche he is for to preise.” “And what maister is that?” seide the maiden. “Certes,” quod he, “he taught me so moche, that I cowde here reyse a Castell, and I cowde make withoute peple grete plente that it sholde assaile, and withynne also peple that it sholde defende, and yet I sholde do mo maistries, ffor I cowde go vpon this water and not wete my feet, and also I cowde make a river where as neuer hadde be water.”

“Certes,” seide the maiden, “these be queynte craftes, and fayn wolde I that I cowde do soche disportes.” “Certes,” seide the squyer, “yet can I mo delitable pleyes, for to reioise euery high astate more than these ben, ffor noon can devise nothinge but that I shall it do, and make it to endure as longe as I will.” “Certes,” seide the maiden, “yef it were to yow no gref, I wolde se somme pleyes by couenaunt that I sholde euer be youre love.” “Certes,” seide Merlin, “ye seme to me so plesaunt and deboneir, that for youre love I shall shewe yow a party of my pleyes, by couenaunt that youre love shall be myn, for other thinge will I not aske.” And she hym graunted that noon euell ne thought, and Merlin turned hym a-part and made a cerne with a yerde in myddell of the folio 109a
launde, and than returned to the maiden, and satte a-gein down by the fountayn, and a-noon the mayden beheilde and saugh come oute of the foreste of briogne ladyes and knyghtes and maydons and squyres, eche holdinge other by the hondes, and com singinge and made the grettest ioye Page 310
that euer was seyn in eny londe, and be-fore the maiden com Iogelours and tymbres and tabours, and com be-fore the cerne that Merlin hadde made, and whan thei were withynne, thei begonne the caroles and the daunces so grete and so merveilouse, that oon myght not sey the fourthe parte of the ioye that ther was made, and for that the launde was so grete, Merlin lete rere a vergier, where-ynne was all maner of fruyt and alle maner of flowres, that yaf so grete swetnesse of flavour, that merveile it were for to telle; and the maiden that all this hadde seyn was abaisshed of the merveile that she saugh, and was so at ese that sche ne a-tended to nothinge but to beholde and entende what songe thei seiden, saf that thei seiden in refreite of hir songe, “Vraiement comencent amours en ioye, et fynissent en dolours.” In this maner dured the ioye and feste from mydday to euenesonge, that oon myght here the noyse from fer, ffor it was right high and clere, and plesaunt to heren, and it semed to be of moche peple, and oute of the Castell com Dionas and man and wif grete plente, and beheilde and saugh the feire orcharde and the daunces and the caroles so feire and so grete, that neuer hadde thei seyn soche in theire lives; and thei merveilled gretly of the orcharde that thei saugh ther so feire ther noon was be-fore, and on that other side thei merveiled whens alle these ladyes and the knyghtes were come so wele apareiled of robes and Iuewelles. And whan the caroles hadde longe dured, the ladyes and the maydenys satte down vpon the grene herbes and fressh floures, and the squyres set vp a quyntayne in myddes of the medowes, and wente to bourde a partye of the yonge knyghtes, and on that other parte bourded the yonge squyres with sheldes oon a-gein another that neuer ne lefte till euesonge tyme. And than com Merlin to the mayden and toke hir be the hande and seide, “Damesell, how seme ye?” “Ffeire swete frende,” seide the mayden, “ye haue don so moche that I am all yours.” “Damesell,” quod he, “now holde my couenaunt [correction; sic = comenaunt].” “Certes,” seide the mayden, “so shall I with goode chere.” “Also,” quod Merlin, “be ye eny clerk, and Page 311

I shall teche yow so many merveilles that neuer woman cowde so many.”

Quod the maiden, “How knowe ye that I am a clerke?” “Damesell,” qoud Merlin, “I knowe it well, ffor my maister hath me so well taught that I knowe alle thinges that oon doth.” “Certes,” seide the mayden, “that is the moste connynge that euer I herde, and moste myster were ther-of in many places, and that I wolde faynest lerne; and of thinges that be to come knowe ye ought?” “Certes,” quod he, “swete love, yee, a grete part.” “God mercy!” quod the mayden, “what go ye than sechynge.” “Truly,” qoud Merlin, “of that ye moste yet a-bide yef it be youre plesier.” And while the Mayden and Merlin helde this Parlement, assembled a-gein the maidenes and the ladyes, and wente daunsinge and [correction; sic =
and and] bourdinge toward the foreste fro whens thei were come firste; and whan thei were nygh thei entred in so sodaynly, that oon ne wiste where thei were be-come; but the orcharde a-bode
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stille ther longe tyme, ffor the maiden that swetly ther-of hym praide, and was cleped ther by name the repeire of ioye and of feeste. And whan Merlin and the maiden hadde be longe togeder, Merlin seyde at the laste, “Ffeire maiden, I go, for I haue moche to do in other place than here.”

“How,” qoud the maiden, “feire frende, shull ye not teche me firste some of youre pleyes?” “Damesell,” quod Merlin, “ne haste yow not sore, ffor ye shull know I-nowe all in tyme, ffor I moste haue ther-to grete leyser and grete soiour, and on that other side I haue yet no suerte of youre love.” “Sir,” qoud she, “what suerte wolde ye aske? devise ye, and I shall it make.” “I will,” quod Merlin, “that ye me ensure that youre love shall be myn, and ye also for to do my plesier of what I will.” And the maiden her be-thought a litill, and than she seide, “Sir,” quod she, “with goode will by soche forwarde, that after that ye haue me taught all the thinges that I shall yow aske, and that I can hem werke.”

And Merlin seide that so it plesed hym well. Than he a-sured the maiden to holde couenaunt like as she

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hadde devised, and he toke hire surete. Than he taught hir ther a pley that she wrought after many tymes, ffor he taught hir to do come a grete river ouer all ther as her liked, and to a-bide as longe as she wolde; and of other games I-nowe, whereof she wrote the wordes in perchemyn soche as he hir devised, and she it cowde full well bringe it to ende. And whan he hadde a-biden ther till euesonge tyme, he comaunded hir to god and she hym, but er he departed the maiden hym asked whan he sholde come a-gein; and he seide on seint Iohnes even; and thus departed that oon fro that other. And Merlin went to Tamelide, where the kynges made hym grete ioye whan that thei hym saugh. But now a-while we moste cesse here, and speke of the message that the kynge de Cent chiualiers sent to speke with the Princes by the counseile of the kynge cleped Tradilyuaunt, of North wales.

CHAPTER XX

MEETING OF THE PRINCES AT LEICESTER; RETURN OF MERLIN TO THE COURT OF LEODOGAN; BETROTHAL OF ARTHUR AND GONNORE; AND GREAT BATTLE WITH KING RION AND THE GIANTS

So well spedde the messagers of the kynge de Cent chiualiers and haue tolde theire message that thei were with charged to the princes, and this was theire ansuere, “That thei seide thei wolde speke togeder at whitsontyde at leycestre.” And thei drough togeder as secretly as thei myght, and ther thei counseilled what thei sholde do, and lete wite that to that other. And when thei were mette at leycestre thei made ech of other grete ioye at her metinge, and after mete thei tolde of the trouble and the damages that the saisnes hem hadde don, and thei fonde that the kynge Aguysans hadde moste I-loste than alle the other; and ther hym playned moche the kynge loot of his childeren and of his wif that he hadde loste, and seide that he hadde leuer be deed than lyve in that langour.

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Than spake the kynge de Cent Chiualiers, by whos counseile thei were ther assembled, and seide, “Feire lordes, were it not better that we wente alle to dye with goode herte in the servise of oure lorde, and a-venge our deth and the deth of oure frendes and of
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oure kyn, than to dye as cowardes shrewdely oon withoute another, and to be in soche dolour as we ben euery day, ffor yef the saisnes holde vs thus short thei shull distroie oure vitaile and the Iustice that vs gynneth. Ne in to this londe ariveth noon, for all the saisnes haue wasted and distroied, and we may neuer nought recouer, but vpon hem as thei bringeth oute of theire contreyes, but er we may eny thinge of hem conquere we by it right dere, ffor many we lese of oure kyn and oure frendes, and thus we lese euery day of oure strength and of oure peple, and oure enmyes encrece euery day, and thus thei shull vs distroye and chace oute of the londe, but we ne forfete hem but litill; but lete vs alle at ones go fight with hem and to hem do the werste that we may, and selle oure lyves so dere that it be spoken of euer after oure dethes.” Whan the lordes herden Aguysant thus speke, thei comended hym gretly, and preised hym of that he hadde seide, ffor thei saugh wele that he seide it not but of right high prowesse that in hym was. And whan thei hadden spoken betwene hem thei acorded to that hadde seide; and than thei toke day to assemble with all the peple that thei myght viij dayes be-fore the Magdaleyn, in the medowes by suret, a Castell of the Dukes of Cambenyk, that was right plentevouse and riche. Than departed thei oon from another, and wente in to theire londes, and assembled as moche peple as thei myght of frendes and cosins, somme for preyer and some be force, and labored till thei come in to the medowes of lauerep, and ther thei pight tentes and pavilouns betwene tweyne armes of a river that was right grete, that com oute of the see and ran also in to the see, and the booke it clepeth the river Sevarne, by a forest that is called Bregnehan, that is right plentevouse and riche, and ther thei a-bide that oon the tother, and a-raied theire peple, and scowred hauberkes and furbisshed swerdes and helmes, and to sette sharp stiell vpon theire launces. But of hem now resteth a-while the tale, and Page 314
speketh of Merlyn, that is departed fro Nimiame, from the foreste of Briogne.

Whan Merlin was departed from this maiden, that he hadde yoven to his love, that the same nyght he com to Toraise in Tamelide, where as the kynges were of hym right gladde and ioyfull, and sore hem longed hym for to seen, ffor the kynge leodogan hadde so spedde that his men were come, and a-bide the hour that the hoste sholde assemble for to go a-reise the kynge Rion be-fore the Citee of nablaise, where he lay at sege. Than the thre kynges toke Merlin in counseile, and seide, “Merlin, what shall we do, the hoste shall meve hastely?” “I shall telle yow,” seide Merlin, “what ye shull do. Go and sey to the kynge leodogan that he do ordeyne his peple to bataile, and devise his wardes, and sette yow on wey the morowe after Pentecoste, that oon after that other, and doth wisely that all day x knyghtes wele horsed go be-fore the hoste, that shull serche the contrey and the londe as thei gon, and take alle the asspies whereof ther ben many entred in to the londe to enquere of the rule of vs; folio 110b
and a-noon lete hem be slayn or sette in prison that thei may nothinge discure, and ride euer be nyght and by the moste vncowth weyes that ye may, and I my-self shall yow condite in the firste fronte, ffor ye and youre companye and the knyghtes of the rounde table shull be in oon warde togeder withoute eny other peple, and that shall be the firste bataile.”

Whan thei hadde longe thus spoken, the kynge Arthur asked tidinges of his londe how thei hadde seth don. And he tolde hem alle the auuentures that hadde ben in the reme of logres seth he departed from hym, and how alle the childeren were assembled; and after he tolde how that the sones of kynge loot hadde rescowed theire moder from the saisnes, and tolde how the bretheren hadde seide how the kynge loot theire fader sholde neuer haue a-gein his wif in companye, ne their frende he shall not be, till he haue made a-corde with yow. And the kynge Arthur was ther-of right gladde, and be-gan to laughe for ioye, and thanke hym of that seruyse. Aftre that he turned to the kynge Ban and towarde the kynge Boors. “And ye, feire lordes,”

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quod Merlin, “how shull ye do? ffor ye haue a werke towarde, and that right grete, where-as ye shall haue grete peyne and traueyle, an I shall telle yow what.” And that he tolde how Claudas de la desert hadde wrought, and how ffrolles and Pounces and Antoneyes com with a grete hoste for to take her londe and it to distroie; “and I haue seth,” quod he, “ben there and spoke with leonce of Paerne, youre cosin, that sendeth yow gretinge by me, and I haue tolde hym the ordenaunce of hem that come to distroye the londes.

Whan thei herde Merlin thus speke thei were so hevy and so pensef that thei wiste not what to sey ne do. Whan the kynge Arthur saugh hem so enterprised, he be-gan for to wepe with this yien, and seide to Merlin, “Ha, feire swete frende, haue pyte of hem and of her londes and sette soche counseile as ye knowe is myster, ffor I wote wele yef ye hem faile thei haue all loste; ne I shall neuer than haue ioye in my lif tyme.” “Certes,” quod Merlin, “thei shull not drede to be distroied while I am in her companye, and I do yow to wete that to yow and to hem encreseth moche werke and besynesse euery day, ffor the grete dragon, as seith the prophesie shall com to chase the lyon crowned oute of the bloy breteigne, with the helpe that he shall haue of xxix serpentes that shull be merveillouse grete and stronge, that shall be so grete and fierce, and moche he shall hym peyne, and a partie he shall haue of the grete serpentes crowne, to whom alle the beestes of the bloy bretaigne and of Tamelide shull enclyne a partie for his fiercenesse and his grete prowesse, but yet is not born the leopart by whiche the lyon shall be sustened that the grete dragon shall no power haue hym to enchase from his conuersacion.”

Whan the thre kynges herde Merlin thus speke, thei were sore abaisshed, for neuer herde thei hym so derkely speke, and asked and enquered of hym what it mente; and he seide that thei sholde no more wite at that tyme; “but thus moche I sey to the kynge Arthur, that the grete of this mater longeth vn-to hym.” And therwith thei cessed of this matere; and than the kynge Ban hym folio 111a
asked what was his counseile, and how he sholde his londe socoure. And Merlin seide that yet shulde thei wite no worde, “but as soone,” quod Merlin, “as ye Page 316
haue holpen to chase these sarazins out of this contrey, hit behoveth vs to move with as moche peple as we may haue in this reame, and we shull go by logres, the stronge Cite of kynge Arthurs, and by the Castell of Bredigan, and take the tresour that is grete in the foreste denoyable, where ther be xij of the beste swerdes that eny man knoweth in eny londe; and with hem shall the kynge Arthur dubbe his nevewes, that for hym haue lefte fader and moder and kyn and frendes, and hem [correction; sic = we] shall we lede with vs in to the reame of Benoyk, ffor thei that com thiderwarde ben grete nombre; and whan the bataile is fynysshed, in the soiour that we shull make in the londe, shall the gret leopart be engendred, that shall be so prowde and fierce, by whom the dragon of the fer oute ylles shall drawe hym a-bakke from the lyon crowned of the bloy bretaigne, that noon harm he ne shall hym don, and yet he shall well ther-to haue power, but in the fyn he shall hym Iustice so that he shall make hym come on his knee as in maner to crie mercy be-fore the crowned lyon.” “Sir,” quod the kynge Ban, “as for that we be come hider, knowe ye of that what shall befalle?” “Of that haue ye no doute,” quod Merlin, “that er we departe all this contrey shall be in the handes of the kynge Arthur.” “Sir,” quod the kynge Ban, “of these derke wordes that ye haue remembered that we vndirstonde nought, shull ye ought to vs tellen.” “Nay,” quod Merlin, “but thus moche I sey to the kynge Arthur, that all this shall falle in his tyme.” With that ther entred in a massager, and asked where were the sowdiours, and oo hym taught in to a chamber wher thei were yet in counseile, and he wente thider, and he was right wise and eloquent, and a moche knyhgt and a feire, and cosin germain to the kynge leodogan, and his name was Guyomar, and was of xxv yere of age; and this Guyomar caused afterwarde the reame of logres to be in grete trouble, by whom the knyghtes of the rounde table hadde after soche peyne and labour for the damage that the quene Gonnore hym dide, for the love of Morgain, the suster of kynge Arthur, that so moche hym Page 317
loved that the quene a-reisede so grete blame, as the tale shall reherse hereafter whan the tyme cometh to speke of that matier.

Whan Guyomar com in to the chamber the kynges departed from counseile, and com be-fore theym, and hem salued from the kynge leodogan, “and sent yow to seyn that ye sholde come speke with hym;” and thei ansuerde thei wolde with goode will. Than thei asked their horse and wente to Court; but thei were not so sone a-light at the halle, but the kynge leodogan com hem a-geins, and toke hem be the handes, and ledde hem in to a chamber for to counseile togeder. Than spake the kynge leodogan as he that was right a wise man and well lerned, and ther were no moo but the fyve only, and than he seide, “Feire lordes, I holde yow full noble and worthi men and trewe, and knoweth it well that I love yow right hertely more than ye wene, and that I ought of right for to do, for ye haue saued my lif and my
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londe and myn honoure, and I ne wote not what ye be, and that me sore for-thinketh, ffor ther is nothinge that I wolde so gladly knowe; but I shall wite whan yow lyketh, for otherwise I will not of yow desire, and I wolde yow asken what we shull do, for ye knowe well how that the kynge Rion is entred in to my londe, and hath beseged oon of my beste Citees with the power of xx crowned kynges, and eche of hem hath at his baner xxMl men; and on that other side my peple is here assembled, but thei ben so fewe that thei may not compare with hem, and therfore I aske yow counseile how we may beste be gouerned, ffor I putte me all hooll in youre ordenaunce.”

Than spake Merlin to the kynge, and seide, “Sir, dismay yow nothinge, ffor be the feith that I owe vn-to yow er that the kynge Rion from yow ascape he wolde haue ben in hys contre all naked by the Condicion that it hadde coste hym the beste Citee that he hath. Ne ye be not at soch myschef but that ye haue lxMl men at armes and moo; but I shall telle yow what ye shull do: sendeth x of youre beste men for to serche the contrey that ther be neither asspie ne ribaude, but a-noon he be taken and brought be-fore yow and put in prison, so that youre enmyes may nothinge knowe of youre ordenaunce, and than devise Page 318
youre wardes and youre bateilles, and loke that ye make x withoute mo, and in eche of hem ye shall putte xMl men, and than meveth on monday two houres be-fore day, and goth all esely oon after another withoute sore traveile, and that we be ther on wednysday at even; and I do yow to wite that on thursday, a litill be-fore day, we shall hem fynde all slepinge, ffor in to the hoste is come grete plente of flessh and of wyne and of corne and other vitaile grete foyson, and the drinke and ete ech day and trouble so theire braynes that thei sette litill wacche in theire hoste, but towarde the playnes thei haue hem-self closed with cartes and chariettes, that litill or nought oon may hem mysdo on that side; and therfore we moste werke wisely, ffor I knowe a place where-as thei take litill hede, and that wey ye shull hem alle fynde a-slepe, and therfore, yef god will, we shull somwhat haue hem at oure wille, and we shull so chastice hem at this enuay that thei shull haue litill corage eny more in this londe to werrye.”

Whan the kynge leodogan herde Merlin thus speke, he merveiled what he myght be; and he beheilde hym ententely that he loked on noon other, and after that he beheilde his felowes, that were stille and koy, that seiden not o worde but beheilde hym that spake; and whan he hadden hem beholden a longe while he yaf a grete sighe and that was right sore, and thought well in his corage that thei were right high men and gretter of astate than he cowde thinke, and a-boute his herte com so grete errour that it wete all his visage with teeres of his yien, that com from the herte that vn-ethe myght he sowne oute o worde, and he fill down at her feet as half deed, and cride hem mercy so as he myght, that for the love of God thei sholde of hym haue pitee and of his londe, “ffor I wote well,”

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quod he, “and also myn herte telleth me, that I shall all lese yef god and ye be not my warant.” Whan that the kynge Arthur saugh hym at erthe be-fore hym knelinge, he hadde ther-of grete pite, and so hadde the other kynges, and caught hym in her armes and reised hym vp and assured hym of all that thei myght; and than they wente to sitte down alle v togeder as goode felowes and trewe; and than be-gan Merlin his reson, and seide to the kynge leodogan, Page 319

“Sir sire, ye wolde fayn wite what we ben and of what peple and of what lynage.”

And he seide ther was nothinge that he desired so moche to knowe. “I shall telle yow,” quod Merlin, “firste for what we be come to seche. Lo, here a yonge lorde that is a goode knyght as ye knowe well I-nough, and, wite ye well in trouthe, what-so-euer he be, he is a man of higher lynage and of londe and frendes than ye be, and yet ye be a kynge crowned; and he hath no wif, and therfore we come through londes to seche auentures till that we may fynde some high prince that his doughter wolde yeve hym in mariage.” “A lorde mercy!” quod the kynge leodogan, “what go ye ferther than sechinge? I haue a doughter that is holden oon of the feirest of the worlde and the wiseste and oon of the beste lerned, and for defaute of goode lynage ne of goode londe ought she not to be refused; and yef it be youre plesier I yeve hir yow to be youre wif; and I haue no mo heires to whom my londe moste falle after my discesse.” And Merlin ansuerde that he hir not sholde refuse neuer, yef god will; and thanked him the foure felowes righ hertely.”

Than the kynge hymself wente to fecche his doughter, and made hir to be appareiled in the richest wise, and ledde hir be the honde in to the chambre where-as the foure ffelowes dide a-bide, and after hem com grete route of knyghtes, whereof therynne were grete plente, and ther also were alle the companye of the rounde table, and the xl that the storye hath rehersed, and many other of high astate, that were come in to the hoste for to socoure the kynge leodogan; and whan the kynge and his doughter entred thourgh the chambre that was feire and grete, the foure felowes com hem a-geyns; and spake the kynge leodogan that he myght wele ben herde, and seide, “Gentill sir, cometh forth, for I can not yet yow namen, and resceive here my doughter to be youre wif, that is so feire and courteise, and ther-to right wise, with all the honour that to hir appendeth after my deth, ffor to a worthier than yow may I not hir yeve, and that knowe well alle these worthi men hereynne.” And Arthur stode forth and seide, “Sir, gramercy.” And the kynge leodogan delyuered hir to hym by the right honde. And that oon graunted

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to that other full debonerly, and the kynge hem blissed with his right honde, and the bisshop of Toraise was sent fore, and than was the ioye grete therynne that neuer be-fore was ther seyn gretter. And than com Merlin and spake to the kynge, heringe alle that were therynne, “Sir, ye wolde gladly knowe what we be folio 112b
and to whom ye haue yoven youre doughter.” And the kynge that it so moche desired, that yet wende it not to haue knowen, seide, “certeynly that gladly wolde he wite yef it were hir plesier.” “Now knoweth wele,” quod Merlin, “and alle tho that it will heren, that ye haue yoven youre doughter to Arthur, the kynge of Bretaigne, the sone of kynge Vterpendragon, and thei owe hym homage bothe ye and alle the barouns of this reame. Now let hem don it alle tho that will hym honour, and after shall we go the gladlyer and the more wightly to turneyen a-gein these sarazins that this londe do werryen, and wolde take and distroien, but it shall be otherwise than thei wene; and also I do yow to vndirstonde that these two noble men ben bretheren and also kynges crowned, and that oon is cleped the kynge Ban of Benoyk, and that other the kynge Boors of Gannes, and be comen of the heighest lynage that eny man knoweth; and alle these other felowes beth the sones of Erles and barouns and Castelleynes.”

Whan the kynge leodogan and the other felowes vndirstode that this was the [correction; sic = the the] kynge Arthur, thei weren so gladde that neuer hadde thei so grete ioye be-forn. And the two kynges com first be-fore hym and dide hym homage, and after the kynge leodogan and alle the other barouns, and thei made the feste of the mariage so riall that neuer in that londe was seyn soche; but ouer alle other was the quene Gonnore gladde of hir newe lorde. And that nyght Merlin lete hymself be knowen of the knyghtes of the rounde table withoute eny moo. And whan the kynge leodogan hym knewe he seide that god in this worlde hadde sente hym goode eure, that to so noble and worthi man hadde hym yove the love and a-queyntanse, “and from hens-forth, gode lorde god, do with me thy wille, seth my londe and my doughter is be sette in Page 321
so noble wise to the worthiest of the worlde.” Thus seide the kynge leodogan, and than after thei yede to bedde for to reste; and on the morowe the kynge sente the knyghtes in to tho parties as Merlin hym taught, where as the peple of kynge Rion sholde assemble, and than devised his wardes of his bataile whereof were x.

In the firste warde, where as the dragon was, was the kynge Arthur and the kynge Ban and the kynge Boors and her xl felowes, and so were the knyghtes of the rounde table, and so many of other that thei were vijMl men right well armed; and the seconde warde ledde Guyomar, the kynges cosin, with vijMl men of armes; the thridde warde ledde Elunadas, a yonge lorde that was nevew to the wise lady of the foreste saunz retour; the fourthe bataile ledde Blios, the lorde of Cloadas, a merveillouse castell, and were with hym vijMl men of armes and horse of prise; the v warde ledde Aridolus, a knyght of grete renoun, and weren also vijMl men; the sixte bataile ledde Belcys li loys, that was I-nough riche and puyssaunt, and hadde with hym also vijMlmen of armes well horsed; the vij bataile ledde ydiers, of the londe of Norwey, to whom the feire aventure fell in the courte of kynge Arthur, of
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the v ringes that he drough oute of the deed knyghtes honde that asked vengaunce, that neuer knyght that was in that court myght haue, as the tale shall yow declare hereafter; and he hadde in hys companye vijMl, and he was a noble knyght and an hardy. The viijth bateile ledde landons, the nevew of the stiward of Tamelide, that was a full noble knyght of his honde, and he ledde vijMl in his companye soche as he hadde brought; the ixth bateile ledde Groinge poire mole, that was a noble knyght of his body, but he hadde no gretter nose than a cat; this chese oute vijMl in whom he trusted; and the xth bataile ledde the kynge leodogan and his stiwarde Cleodalis, that right wele cowde hym helpe, and were in her companye xMl what oon and other, that wolde not fle for lif ne lym. Whan these batailes were disseuered that oon from that other and renged by hem-self, thei devised whan thei shulde meve; and thus thei acorded, that on the morowe after Pentecoste thei shulde move at the firste Page 322
cok crowynge; and than thei rested all day and on the morn, ffor on the witsonday the kynge leodogan helde court roiall for love of the barouns that ther were assembled; and the thre kynges and Merlin satte togeder at the hede of the deyse, and be-fore hem satte the two Gonnores, that were wonder like, saf a litill that oon was heigher and fressher coloured, and that was Arthurs wif, and the better tonge she hadde, ffor she was of all the worlde the feirest speker and the beste, and also she hadde more heer than the tother Gonnore, but of alle other thinges thei resembled so like that vn-ethe myght oon knowe that oon from that other. And after satte the felowes that Arthur hadde brought with the knyghtes of the rounde table for chierte and gret love, ffor so wolde Merlin and Gynebans the clerke. And whan thei hadde eten thei wente to bedde, but litill while thei lay, for thei roos at mydnyght.

Whan the armes of kynge Arthur were brought, Gonnore hym helped for to arme right wele and feire, as she that right wele cowde her ther-of entermete, and hir-self girde hym with his swerde; and whan the kynge was all armed saf his helme she toke the spores and sette hem on bothe knelinge; and Merlin, that all this behilde, be-gan to laughe, and shewde to the two kynges how Gonnore hir entermeted and peyned hym to serue; and hir preised moche the twey kynges. But in the fin she hadde a riche guerdon whan she loste the kynge hir lorde by mysauenture and by Bertelanx, the traitour, as the book shall reherse hereafter; and while Merlin beheilde the maiden that serued hir lorde, he lough and seide to the kynge, as he that cowde all goode and full well cowde Iape in myrthe and game, “Sir sire, never were ye so verily a newe knyght as ye be now, and ther ne faileth but o thinge that ye were alle a newe knyght; and well may ye sey whan ye departe hens that a maiden that is kynges doughter and quenes hath made yow a newe knyght.” “Sir,” seide the kynge, “sey what thinge that is and my lady shall
folio 113b
it do, but yef it be to grete a thinge or that she sholde ther-by haue shame.’

“Certes, sire,” seide the maiden full wisely, as she that full well lerned, “in nothinge that I do to yow may I haue no shame ne Page 323
vilonye, ffor I knowe yow so noble and worthy and also curteyse that ye wolde me not requere nothinge that to vilonye shulde turne for the beste castell that ye haue.” “Lady,” seide Merlin, “ye sey wisely; neuer for nothinge that I haue seide shall ye haue no reprof ne that sholde turne yow to no shame.” “What is it than?” seide the kynge, “I pray yow telle me.” “Sir,” seide Merlin, “hit is the baisyers, yef to the lady it plese.” “Certes,” seide the kynge, “and for that shall I not leve to be a newe made knyght.” “No,” quod the maiden, “as for that shall I yow not lese, but that ye shull be myn and I yowrs; and why sholde ye ther-of me preyen, for also well it pleseth me as it doth to yow.” Whan the kynge herde hir thus sey he be-gan to laugh; than the kynge toke hir in armes, and kissed hir swetly as yonge peple that full well togeder loved. And than were the horse apareiled and brought forth; and Gonnore yaf hir lorde an helme of merveillouse bountee, and he sette it on his heed; and than ech comaunded other to god, and rode forth eche warde after other, the ganfanouns folden and the speres lowe, and rode a softe pas as Merlin hym guyded as he that wele knewe alle the passages; and the x knyghtes that were gon be-fore hadde taken mo than x pantoneres, that alle weren espies of the kynge Rion, and bounde hem and sette hem in prison, and kepte so well the passages that thei herde no tidinges.

And so well spedde hym Merlin that the firste warde dide condite that thei come the wednysday at nyght after the mydnyght in to the hoste of kynge Rion; and the nyght was right clere and stille, but the moone shone a litill trouble. And thei slepte strongeliche in the hoste ffor the tyme that relented, ffor on the day was right grete hete in the hoste, and ther-to thei hadden dronken I-nough. And Merlin sette in betwene the wode and the river, and comaunded that no man presse in to the hoste till that thei herde an horne blowe; and as the wardes passeden ouer oon after another, Merlin a-bode hem alle, and made hem close togeder; and than wente Merlin to the baner, and toke an horne and blewe it so lowde that all the foreste and the river resownnded that a man myght heere the horne well half

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a myle. Than Merlin cried, “Lady seint Marie, praye to oure lorde god, thi blissed sone, that he now be oure helpe.” “Now sette on manly,” quod he, “gentill knyghtes, ffor now shall it be sein who is noble and worthi, ffor I do yow to wete that ye be alle at the deth or at the lif, and noon ne hath no heede but he hit now deffende.” And whan thei herde the horne a-noon thei slaked theire reynes and spored theire horse and smote in to the hoste with grete ravyne; and ther ye sholde haue sein tentes and pavilouns reverse to the grounde, ffor Merlin by crafte made soche a trobellion a-rise that ther lefte folio 114a
nother tente ne pavilon stondinge, but fellen vpon theire heedes that lay withynne; and thei smyten in to the hoste on alle parties, and slowgh and maymed what thei myght a-reche, ffor ther was made of hem grete slaughter er thei were aparceyved in the hoste what peple thei were, till that thei herde the brayes and the dolerouse cries as thei weren slain and mangeled of hem that of hir deth hadde no pitee. Than comaunded the heigh lordes to theire squyres to make theire horse redy thourgh the hoste, and thei so dide, and than thei ronne to armes hastely, and peyned hem harde to be smartly armed and soone; and as soone as thei myght be armed thei assembled at the tente of kynge Rion, and blowen hornes and trumpes right harde. And the cristin hadde so hurled a-monge hem vp and down that mo than thre thousande thei hadde so araied that neuer repeired thens, and chase the remenaunt to kynge Rions tente; ther thei made hir gaderinge, and ther thei stalled, for thei were moche peple and stronge; and than armed hem thei that were not armed, and tho apered the feire day and cleire, and than the wardes drowen vp and appereilled hem in ordre, and eche gadered his peple a-boute hym, and ther thei reised theire baners a-lofte that flekered in the wynde, and the bright soone smote vpon the bright armurs that it glistered so bright that merveile was to beholden.

Whan the kynge Rion saugh the damage that thei hadde hym don he was nygh wode for ire, and satte vpon a grete horse that was wonder stronge and swight, and hadde an ax hanginge at his sadill be-fore, that was grete and hevy of harde Page 325
stiell, and rode so vp and down, devisinge who sholde go be-fore and who sholde go be-hynde; and than he cleped Solynas, a knyght of grete prowese and right hardy, that was his nevew, and seide, “Solinas, thow shalt lede the firste bataile with an hundred thousande men of armes of soche peple as ye will, and thow shalt go and a-venge my shame and youre harmes.” And he seide he wolde well so that he wolde deserue of hym no blame. Than departed he that was wight and hardy and merveillouse stronge; and as soone as Merlin saugh hym come he rode hym a-geins with the dragon, and he hym disfigured in soche manere that no man saugh who it bar saf the thre kynges. Whan Merlin saugh that he com nygh, he seide to the kynge Arthur, “Arthur,” quod he, “now shall it be sene how well ye shull do, and loke that the kisse that youre love yow yaf be to somme solde so dere that euer after ther-of be spoken.” And he ansuerde a-gein and seide that in hym sholde be no feyntise, and no more he ne seide. And than approched that oon bataile to that other right nygh, and than thei leide theire speres in fewtre, and mette togeder with trenchaunt heedes vpon the sheldes that ech hurte other and wounded and bar to the grounde; ther dide the kynge Arthur a pointe that moche was beholden.

Whan Arthur saugh bothe partyes so nygh approche, he smote the horse with the spores a-gein Ionap, a grete Geaunt and merveillous stronge; and he saugh hym so come he douted
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hym but litill, for he semed a-gein hym but a chielde. Thei com faste and rudely, and Arthur was smyte with Ionappes spere in the shelde so rudely that the shafte passed thourgh his lifte flanke an arme lengthe; and Arthur smote hym a-gein so sore that thourgh shelde and sholdre he shof the trenchaunt spere, but the sarazin was so proude and of so grete strength that he made no semblaunt of no greuaunce, but hurteled togeder so rudely with theire bodyes and with the myght of theire horse that eche bar other to erthe and the horse vpon theire bodyes, and ther thei lay a longe while sore astonyed, that the ton cowde telle no tidinges of the tother. Than ronne to the rescowse on bothe two sides; ther was many a grete spere crased and stronge stour of Page 326
swerdes upon helmes and sheldes. Ther loste the Geauntes more than the cristin, but, neuertheles, thei traueyled so on bothe parties that bothe were thei releved and sette on horse, and than be-gan the stoure stronge and merveillouse; ther dide the knyghtes of the rounde table wondres, and the xl felowes, ffor a-gein hem myght endure noon harneys, ne no kynge, ne warde, ne sheltron, were it neuer so clos, and drof hem to the standerd, and were so affraide the meyne of Solinas that thei ne entended but for to fleen; and the cristin hem enchased and driven in a-monge hem so harde that alle the renges dide fremysh, and ther be-gan the chaplee so mortall that neuer was sein more mortalite; grete prowesse ther dide the knyghtes of the rounde table, but of alle other ther dide well a yonge knyght, that ought well to be rehersed in the storye, for he ought not to be for-yeten but to be remembred what he was and what was his name, ffor he was the beste that euer was in the tyme of Vterpendragon and in the tyme of kynge Arthur, as longe as hym liked for to use and to haunte chiualrie.

The storye seith that he was cosin germain vn-to Percevall de galoys vpon his moder side, of whom this booke shall speke hereafter whan the matier cometh ther-to; and also the booke seith that this knyght was nygh to Ioseph Abaramathie, for he was the sone of Enhyngnes, the soster of Ioseph, that was the wif wedded to Ebron, that hadde xij sones, whereof the londe of Bretaigne was after enlumyned, and next cosin to Selydoyne, the sone of Duke Nascien de breting, that the grete merveile of the graal saugh firste, and also apertened to kynge Pelles of lytenoys and his brethren. This knyght hadde after Galaad, the sone of launcelot, many a day in his kepinge, wher-of the boke shall reherse hereafter of alle thinges oon after another as thei fill day be day. This knyght of whom I haue so spoken was cleped Nascien ffor love of the duke Nascien, that was so noble a knyght, and he was after of so gode lyvinge whan he hadde lefte chivalrie that he be-com an hermyte; and oure lorde hym visited and loved so that he was a preste and seide messe, and was also a mayden and chaste as longe as he leved; and this

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same knyght was after ravisshed be the holy goste in to the thridde heuene, where he saugh apertely the fader, sone, and holy goste. This knyght hadde after the storie in his kepinge,
folio 115a
and wrote with his owne hande by comaundement of the grete maister; and that he dide write he anexed to the booke that Blase wrote, the holy hermyte, by the techinge of Merlin. This knyght yaf afterwarde, whan he was hermyte, the noble counseile to kynge Arthur whan he was in pereile to lese his londe, in the tyme of Galehant, the lorde of the fer oute yles, that werred vpon Arthur with the power of xxx kynges that he hadde alle conquered. But now resteth the tale to speke of thise thinges, and returneth to telle how thei dide in the bataile.

Full grete and harde was the bataile, the thursday after pentecoste, of the peple of kynge Rion of Denmarke and of Islonde, a-gein the peple of the reame of Tamelide, and ther the knyghtes of the rounde table shewde merveilouse prowesse in armes, but a-boven alle other well dide this Nascien and Adragayn li bruns: these tweyne dide merveillouse prowesses: these tweyne brake the sheltrouns with strokes of swerdes, and with hem also the kynge Arthur. These thre hilde companye togeder that thei haue loste all theire felowes, and what wey that euer thei yede euer hem gyded the baner of the dragon, and sore peyned alle the tother felowes for to folowe the baner, but the sarazins were so many and so thikke that thei myght hem not persh ne breke, but nede moste thei ruse, and leve place wheder thei wolde or noon; and these thre be lefte a-monge hem that sore laboured er thei myght come to the standerd where the baner waved of the kynge Rion in the wynde that was grete and born vp with iiij Olyfauntes; and on that other side the kynge Ban and the kynge Boors saugh how thei haue loste the kynge Arthur, and that the Geauntes have hym for-closed, thei lete renne theire horse and lefte theire felowes, and gerden in to the presse, with swerdes drawen, and slowen and casten down all that thei myght atteigne, ne neuer cessed hem to percen and thriste thourgh till thei com to Merlin, that hilde the baner be-fore the kynge Arthur. And whan the v felowes weren togeder and hir banerer that hem

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gided, than be-gan the medle so cruwell, that oon for that other, that merveile it was to beholde. Than fill it that the kynge Rion com that wey, his ax in his honde, and he was the moste man and the grettest of corsure of the worlde, and happed that he mette firste in his wey the kynge Boors, that chased the kynge Saron with swerde drawen, that a merveillous stroke he hadde hym yoven with a spere thurgh the shelde, that ner he hadde hym felled to grounde, but as he kepte hym by the arson of his sadell, and withoute faile hadde not the spere broken he hadde falle to grounde; and as soone as the spere was spente the kynge Boors redressed hym in his sadell and ficched hym so in his steropes so harde that the Iren bente, and he hilde his swerde naked, and clipte his shelde to his breste, and ran to the Geaunte, and whan the Geaunte saugh hym come he fledde, for he durste hym not a-bide; and the kynge Boors hym pursude that loth was hym to leve, and of that dide he grete folye, ffor he hadde paste his felowes the space of a bowe draught, and thei ne myght not hym ouertake; and than happed hym mette the
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kynge Rion, that com ridinge wonder faste, with all the force of xvij kynges crowned, and alle were thei hardy knyghtes and sure in armes, and the kynge Rion rode be-fore the caste of a ston, and helde in his hande a grete malle of brasse, and he was grete and stronge, and sat vpon a stronge horse and a grete, and mette the kynge Boors, that chased the kynge Saron, and hilde hym so straite that he smote hym vpon the helme that he made hym stoupe on the arson of the sadell, and as he sholde haue recouerd another stroke to smyte of the hede, the horse that he satte on caught the bridell with the teth, and bar hym ferther than he wolde, the kynge, that smote with so grete myght, myght [correction; sic = ] not with-drawe his stroke, but hitte ther as he wolde not haue smyten, ffor he smote of the horse hede of the kynge Saron faste by the eeres, that bothe the horse and the hover fill to the erthe, and than Boors rode ouer hym, and fayn wolde haue light yef he hadde leyser. But the kynge Rion that com fer be-fore cried, and seide, “Sir knyght, so fer haste thow gon that late it is to repente, for he is longinge to me, and therfore I com hym for to chalenge, and Page 329
thow shalt wite yef betwene hym and me were eny love.” Than he spored his horse harde that the blode sterte oute on bothe two sides, and he ran so swyfte that the felde that was full of smale caliouns that the fire sparkeled thikke, and the kynge Boors behilde and saugh come the grete Geaunte so nygh that he myght not glenche a-side on no parte, and saugh come so grete foyson of peple after hym that all the felde was couered, and saugh well yef he a-bode he were in grete auenture of deth, and than he seide a-gein, “A mercy lorde god, for yef I go thus shall I neuer haue honour, ffor euer it shall be to me reprof and holde cowardise, and yet hadde I leuer to dye with worship than lyve with shame; now god do with me his plesier,” quod he, “for I will a-bide.” Than he made vpon hym the signe of the very crosse, and hilde his swerde in his honde that was of grete bounte, and bode hym that com prikinge thourgh the playn. Whan the kynge Rion com to the kynge Boors he threw down his launce, and yaf hym soche a stroke with the brasen betell so vn-mesurable, that ner he hadde hym encombred, but he kepte the stroke vpon his shelde, and Rion smote so rudely that it fill in peces, and Boors enterpassaunt hit hym on the helme with his swerde so fiercely that he bente on his horse croupe. Whan the sarazin saugh that he hadde of hym failed, he returned a-gein with his betill of brasse, and the kynge Boors that saugh come so grete foison of peple and the kynge Rion that hilde hym so shorte, he thought it foly to a-bide lenger. Than he priked bakke in to the presse, and saugh how the kynge Aroans helde hervy the rivell by the nasell of the helme vpon fote, and hadde hym so beten, he and his men, that the blode ran oute of mouthe and nose, and thei hadde his hede smeten of ne hadde be Adragain li bruns, that full sore hym deffended a-gein mo than an hundred, but in short tyme he moste haue be
folio 116a
slayn, whereof hadde be grete damage, ne hadde be the kynge Boors, that com and saugh hervy at that myschef, and was therfore full sory; and than he priked his horse toward Aroans and smote hym vpon the helme that he fill flatte to grounde all astonyed. And whan hervy saugh hym so delyuered, he hente the horse and lepte vp lightly, and ran in to

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the presse that dide sore encrese and enforse, ffor all the x wardes of the kynge leodogan were flusshed to the standerd that the kynge Rion dide condite, that hadde chaced the kynge Boors till he com in to the bataile ther he hadde felled the kynge Aroant, and as soone as he hym saugh he ran vpon hym with his betill in his honde and wende to smyte hym vpon the helme, and whan he saugh the stroke come and that he hade no shelde, he spored forth his horse, and Ryon smote so rudely that the stroke fill betwene the horse croupe and the sadell that brake the horse chyne, and bar bothe to the erthe, that oon vpon that other bothe vpon an hepe. Than the kynge boors lepte on foote, for he was a knyght hardy and sure, and the presse was so thikke a-boute hym, that vn-ethe myght he hym turne, ffor so grete plente of peple sued the kynge Rion, that no man myght hem nombre, that smote vpon hem so sore that the cristin rused more than a bowe shote. Ther was Boors full sore greved, for the kynge Rion peyned hym sore to smyte of his hede; and whan hervy de rivell saugh the goode man at so grete myschef, for he hadde sein hym thries vpon his knees fallen and a-rise vpon his palmes, he rode that wey hym for to socoure, and caught a grete stronge spere oute of a sarazins handes, and smote the kynge Rion thourgh the shelde and hauberke and the lifte sholdre, but it perced not the flessh. Ne for no stroke that he yaf the kynge not meved more ne lesse, but lifte vp the betill wherewith he hadde many a cristin slain, and wende smyte hervy vpon the helme, but he hym covered with his shelde, and the stroke com so harde that a quarter fill to the erthe, and whan he wolde it recover as he that was of right grete forse, and hervy was full of grete vigour, and hilde his swerde drawen, and wende to smyte hym vpon the helme, and the kynge caste his shelde ther a-geins, and hervy hym smote so sore that he slitte it to the bokle, and the kynge lefte vp agein the betill and wolde haue smyte hym vpon the helme, and hervy plukked his reyne a-bakke, for sore he douted the stroke of the grete Geaunte, and he failed of hym, and smote the horse be the paytrell and braste the nekke a-sonder, that to grounde fill the horse and his maister, and whan Adragain saugh his felow fallen, it was no nede to aske Page 331
yef he were dolent. Than he drough that wey with his swerde in his fiste, and smote so the kynge Rion, that he made hym bende on his horse nekke, and but as he enbrased his horse nekke he hadde fallen to the erthe all vpright, and yef Adragain hadde I-hadde leyser, taken hadde be the vengeaunce withoute more taryinge. Whan the sarazins and the Geauntes saugh the folio 116b
kynge Rion in soche pereill, thei were right wrorth. Ther was a proude kynge that was cosin to the kynge Rion, that hight Solinas, that heilde a spere with an heede of steill: whan he saugh the kynge Rion so euell I-ledde, it a-noyed hym sore, and than he spored his stede and smot Adragayn so rudely betwene the two sholderes that he bar hym to the erthe vpright, but a-noon he lept on foote. And when the thre knyghtes saugh hem-self so at myschef, thei drough hem togeder and foughten so harde that noon to profer hys honde hem to take; and thei launched at hem dartes and gauellokes, and hurt and wounded hem in many places, but thei were of so high herte that nought thei sette of all that was ther don, but slough and caste down all that thei myght atteyne. But the kynge Rion hem kepe so short that taken hadde thei ben, but as Nascien com with a shorte spere in his honde all blody.

Whan Nascien saugh the kynge Boors at soche myssese, and his two felowes that he so loved, and saugh the kynge Rion that sore hym peyned hem to damage, he smote his horse with spores so harde that wey that down goth all that he mette in hys comynge with the breste of his horse, and braundisshed his gleyve, and smote the kynge Rion so harde at discouert vpon the lifte side that he bar hym to the erthe so astonyed that he wiste not whether it were day of nyght; and Nascien passed ouer his body on horsebak tweys or thryse, and than his men ronne to the rescowse, and ther was so grete prese of speres and swerdes that Nasciens horse was slain vnder hym betwene his legges; and ther were these iiij knyghtes at grete myssese and soone myght haue be so grete damage that neuer myght haue be restored; but Merlin, that alle these auentures knewe, com to kynge Arthur, and seide, “Clepe the kynge Ban and the knyghtes of the rounde table and suweth me, ffor it is now grete nede, ffor

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the kynge Boors and thre knyghtes of the rounde table fightes, and alle iiij ben at grete myschief, ffor the kynge Rion hem kepeth so shorte that I loke but after the houre that thei sholde be slain.”

Whan the kynge Ban vndirstode Merlin, all his body trembled, and a-noon asked and seide, “Ha! sir, telle me whiche wey it is, ffor yef he dye shall I neuer haue ioye in my lyve.” “Sue me than,” quod Merlin, “for it is no tyme for to a-byde.” Than caste Merlin a-noon his enchauntement full merveillous, for he made a-rise a tempest and a wynde so stronge that all the duste drof a-monge the saisnes so thikke that vn-nethe oon myght knowe another; and than a-roos the shoute so grete and the noyse that noon myght here other. Than turned Merlin the dragon in his honde so grete and so merveillouse that neuer was seyn noon soche be-fore, and caste fier and flame in to the aire so grete and so merveillouse and so grete foison that all the aire waxed all reade of the flawme, and ther fill a thousande of soche sparkeles of fire vpon theire helmes of the Sarazins and Geauntes, that was a thinge that moche hem affraied.

folio 117a

While that Merlin entended to breke the presse, com the men of kynge Rion so grete plente that noon cowde hem nombre ne seye, and on that other side come the wardes of kynge leodogan and that oon smote a-gein that other alle togeder.

Ther was a stour merveillouse and felon, ffor the cristin were at grete myschef, ne it myght not longe haue endured ne hadde ben the grete knowinge and witte of Merlin, in whom was all the recouer, ffor for oon of the men kynge leodogan hadde kynge Rion foure, but the cristin ben more noble and better I-armed and feirer in ordenaunce ech at his baner. Ffull grete was the bataile and the stour mortall be-fore the Citee of da Nablaise, for sore that oo parte peyned to damage that other. Ther the knyghtes of the rounde table so laboured and peyned hem to sue the baner where as Merlin it bar, for ther were so gret foyson of peple that vn-ethe were thei seyn a-monge theire enmyes. Ther dide merveilles the kynge Ban, for he hadde grete drede of his brother, and whiche wey that Merlin wente euer was Arthur with hym and his xl Page 333
felowes and CC l knyghtes of the rounde table; a-gein these myght no force of peple withstonde, and so haue thei medled and styghtled till they haue founde the kynge Boors vpon foote, and his felowes so araied that theire helmes were slitte and quartered that it henge a-boute theire yeen so that it hem blynded, and theire hauberkes were so rente and torne in many places, but thei hadde yet no wounde that letted hem to bere armes, and thei helde theire swerdes in bothe handes and merveillously hem deffenden, ffor so many hadde thei slayn of men and of horse that the mounteins of bodyes were a-boute hem so grete that noon myght come to hem but launchinge; and the kynge Ryon hym peyned hem for to take and holde, ffor well he thought that thei were high men and riche for the grete diffence that he saugh in hem and for the high hertes that thei hadden, and than he yaf hem a-gein a newe a-saute where thei alle hadde be loste hadde not the socour haue come.

Whan the kynge Ban saugh his brother in soche turment, ffro whens he sholde neuer haue come oute hooll ne sounde yef thei ne hadde not comen ne the knyghtes that with hym weren, than he lete renne his horse that wey, and smote the kynge Minap so thourgh the heede that he slitte hym to the briste bon, and the kynge Arthur smote so a sarazin that he made the heede falle be-fore the kynge Rion, and the other felowes smote in so sore a-monge hem that ech bar his felowe deed to the erthe or elles wounded. And whan the kynge Boors saugh the socour come, he ioyned his feet and lept vpon the deed bodyes of men and horse that he hadde slain, and ech of hem caught an horse and lept vp lightly, and chaunged theire helmes a-noon in grete haste, and after gate hem sheldes, and than rode in to the medle with swerdes drawen. Ther be-gan the stour newe full hidouse and fell, ffor thei braste and threst thourgh the batailes folio 117b
on alle parties and smyten down and slough all a-bowte, and thus the bataile endured all the day vnto lowe euesonge. Than rused the cristin towarde the Cite of Danablaise, and the cry a-ros so grete and the noyse and the shoute that all the cite ronne to the walles and saugh that the cristin hadde moche the werse.

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Whan Sadoynes the Castelein saugh the kynge leodogan, his oncle, at soche myschef, and that thei were discounfited and driven from the place, ne hadde ben the kynge Arthur and his companye, that were well CCC; these sustened so the bataile that euer thei recouered in to what place thei in wente; and whan Sadoyne saugh the myschef of his oncle and of his companye, he cried, “Gentill knyghtes, now as armes, for now is the nede, ffor this day we most recouer worship or all lese, and diffende oure lyves and oure heritages a-gein the enmyes of Ieshu criste, and who that dieth in diffence of the cristin feith he shall be saued from the peyne of helle; ne neuer hadde we so moche nede to recouer our honour as we haue now right; and se ther the kynge Arthur, that is oure lorde terrien, be the baner of the dragon, that is the beste knyght of the worlde, that us for to socoure put hymself in auenture of deth, and whan he his body thus a-bandoneth for us well ought we oures for to abandone for hym, and therfore ought we haue grete pite of hym and of many other worthi men that ben in his companye, for moche thei suffre and endure, and therfore ought we to haue grete drede whan thei ben thus rused and we that ben hereynne so many shull helpe hem of nought, ffor yet be we hereynne of xMl and moo, and se theym that passe not foure hundre contene hem so vigerously that thei holde place but haue all day suffred and endured the medle and the martileys. Now, gentill knyghtes, vpon hem, and lete vs yeve hem a shofte, and wete ye well, yef thei be well mette at this encountre we put hem alle to the flight, ffor better it were for vs to dye with honoure, seth that vs behoveth for to dye, than for to be shamed and disherited for cowardise of herte; and on that other side we ought moche to diffende oure right heritage and the cristin feith that is but newe stablisshed and begonne.” And whan the kynge leodogan saugh hem isse oute of the Citee, he cried to his men, “Now vpon hem, gentill knyghtes, lo, here the socoure that Sadoyne bringeth; ffor love of god, gentill knyghtes, thenke to kepe youre honours, and remembre what ye ben.” “Sir,” quod Guyomar, “wher-to somowne ye vs so faste? we ben eche man redy his heede to diffende, ffor we ben so fer forth that alle we

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shull dye or we shull haue the victorie, ffor ech of vs ought to be worth a kynge to diffende his owne heede; but lete vs sette on hem alle at ones so harde that thei be ther-of abaisshed.” Than thei assembled alle togeder clos and streite, and rode forth as softe paas toward the standerd, ther-as the kynge Ban, and the
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kynge Boors, and the kynge Arthur, and the knyghtes of the rounde table dide merveilles. Whan the kynge leodogan approched the standerd he and his men smot in so fiercely that thei made hem tremble, and than be-gan a newe stour, stronge and mortall, and ther loste the sarazins many of here peple; and so moche vertu was in leodogan and his men that thei made hem remove and forsake place; and with that com Sadoynes, hurlinge in so harde a-monge hem that he drof hem euen ther the hoste hadde ben logged, and ther thei stode stifly and merveillously hem deffended; and Merlin drough hym vp from the bataile, and made the knyghtes of the rounde table come a-boute hym, and made hem refressh and girde hir horse and a-brethe hem, and to renewe theire helmes and sheldes that hadde myster, and assembled togeder alle hem that hadde ben in her warde, and thei were well refresshed and avented and were well vijMl, and eche man hadde take a stronge spere; and whan thei hadde thus rested a-while thei saugh her meyne come full harde dryuinge, ffor the sarazins recouered a-noon as the knyghtes of the rounde table lefte the standard; and than Merlin criede, “Gentill knyghtes, now vpon hem, and shewe youre knyghthode, ffor yef ye do well at this encountre a-noon thei shull go theire wey.” And than he seide to the kynge Arthur that euell he thought vpon that his wif hadde hym yoven, and that porely he hadde don in the firste stoure. And whan Arthur that herde he wax rody for shame and seide no worde, and ficched sore in his stiropes. And the kynge Ban be-gan to laugh vndir his helme, and shewde hym to the kynge Boors his brother, and alle the knyghtes of the rounde table; and thei preised hym moche, ffor thei saugh hym of fierce contenaunce, and seide yef he lyve longe ther was neuer seyn soche a kynge; and thei preide god hym diffende from pereile.

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Whan Merlin approched the bataile he cried, “Now vpon hem,” and he drof in to the bataile with the dragon, that he bar to the erthe alle that thei encountred, that thei lefte nought standinge, so fierce was theire comynge; and Arthur, that helde a stronge short spere, smote so the kynge Clarell that he perced shelde and hauberke, that he fill to grounde and hadde ne myster of no leche. Than he ches to the kynge Rion by his coueringe cote that was full of berdes crowned, and whan Arthur hadde perceyved the kynge Rion, he plukked [correction; sic =
pukked] to hym his short spere, and preced thurgh the presse with his goode horse so that noon hym withstode, but he caste to grounde xiiij, bothe horse and man, er he myght come to the kynge Rion, and than he smote hym so fiercely with this short spere thourgh shelde and hauberke, and hadde not ben the doublet that he hadde of a serpentes skyn, deed hadde he ben withoute recouer; but the skyn was so harde that he myght not perce ne breke, neuertheles he shof so harde that he fill to grounde with his legges lifte vpright.

folio 118b

Whan the Geauntes and the sarazins saugh theire lorde fallen, thei fremysshed, for grete drede thei hadde leste he were slayn, and alle thei ronne vpon Arthur and smote hym with speres on all parties that thei bar hym to the erthe, his horse and hym on a hepe togeder. And whan Merlin saugh the kynge falle, he made hem renne to the rescu alle the vijMl, and than was ther soore medle and sharp shour, ffor that oon part peyned for to rescu, and that other part for to take or to confounde for venguance of the kynge Rion. But ther dide Ban gret merveilles, ffor he remounted Arthur a-monge his enmyes with fin force, and made so grete lardre of the Geauntes, that noon durste of hymn a-bide a stroke; and also diden well the vijMl, by the force of the knyghtes of the rounde table, that fewe ther were but that he bar his felowe to the grounde, that thei made hem remove from the place magre hem alle. Ther was the kynge Rion foule diffouled er he myght a-gein be remounted. But whan he saugh that it turned to disconfuture, and that thei moste gon wolde thei or noon, he seide he hadde lever dye but his shame were avenged, and than he lepte on foote and caught his betill in

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bothe hondes and smote in to the presse, and be-gan to smyte soche strokes on bothe sides, so rude and oute of mesure, that he confounded all that he araught, that thei fledde from hym on alle partes for the merveilles that thei saugh hym do. And on that other side the kynge Ban and the kynge Arthur, and the kynge Boors, and Nascien, and Agragayns, and Vlfin, and hervy, and Antor, and kay the stiwarde, and lucas, and Gifflet, and the othere felowes, foughten so till thei come to the standerd of the kynge Rion that the Olyfauntes bar. Ther was dolerouse fight, and the mortalito so grete, that ther ran stremes of blode as a rennynge river thourgh the felde. Ther was throwe down the Olyfauntes and the standerd of the kynge Rion, and than a-roos the shoute and the noyse vpon the Geuantes, that thei turned to flight toward the foreste. And whan the Geuantes saugh that thei turned to disconfiture, and that the damage was theirs, thei ledde to kynge Rion his horse, and ledde hym a-wey wolde he or noon, for grete drede thei hadde of hym, and he was so sorowfull, that nere he wente wode for Ire. And er he departed, he dide grete damage to kynge leodogan, ffor of his men he slough mo than xx er he departed oute of the felde; but whan he saugh thei fledde bothe oon and other that he myght no lenger a-bide, he wente his wey so wroth through the wode withoute companye.

Whan the kynge leodogan saugh the kynge Rion and the Geauntes fledden, he hem chaced, and Sadoynes, and Cleodales, and Guyomar, that many thei lefte ligginge at erthe; and on that othir side the knyghtes of the rounde table made soche lardure thourgh the felde as it hadde ben shepe strangeled with wolves, ffor the plaisshes greved hem sore that thei myght not passe delyuerly, ffor thei were so entassed with swerdes so thikke,
folio 119a
that oon a-monge that other, and so affraide, that in hem was litill diffence, and thei slough so many, that all the feldes were covered with deed and wounded bodyes, and the chace dured vn-to derke nyght.

Whan the kynge Rion departed fro the bateile so sory and wroth, as ye haue herde, and he was not aperceyved of no man that hym knewe, saf only of kynge Arthur; and whan

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Arthur saugh hym departe so, he seide to hymself, that rather wolde he be deed, than he sholde so ascape, and than he smote the horse with the spores and lefte his felowes, so that noon wiste whiche wey he wente. And on that othir side the kynge Ban pursude the kynge Glorienx, and Mynados, and Colufer: these thre kynges he chaced sooll by hymself, thourgh the wode, and the tother felowes were parted, her xx and here x, here xv, in som place more than in another, and so endured the chase of hem, that in no wise wolde hem suffre to ascape till it was cler day, and be that tyme were so many slayn and diffouled, that of CCMlthat were at the begynnynge ne ascaped not xxMl. But now lete vs speke of the kynge Arthur that pursueth after the kynge Rion.

So longe Arthur enchased the kynge Rion, that he hym atteyned in a depe valey betwene a litill wode and a medowe at a passage of a litill brooke that com rennynge of two welle sprynges of a mountayne, and the sonne was so lowe, that for the mounteynes and the wode hit was all derke, and ther ouertoke Arthur the kynge Rion, and than he cried, “Turne the, coward Geaunte, or thow shalt dye fleynge, ffor thow seist well ther is no moo here but thow and I.” And whan the Geaunte vndirstode the kynge that so hym maneced, he helde ther-of grete dispite, ffor he saugh that he semed a-geyn hym but a childe. Than he returned toward hym with his betell in his honde, and put his targe hym be-forn that was of the bon of an Olyfaunte, and the kynge Arthur helde a shorte spere with a longe trenchaunt heede of sharp grounde steill, and ronne togeder wroth and maletalentif that oon a-gein that other, and that oon desiraunt of pris and honour, and that other covetouse to a-venge hys shame and his harme. The kynge Arthur com faste, for he was meved from fer, and Rion hym a-bode with his betill in his honde, and Arthur hym smote so sore with this spere thourgh the shelde, though it were neuer so harde, that the stiell passed through two plites of the hauberke on the lifte side, that the blode lepe oute grete foyson that all the shafte was couered in blode; but for no myght that he cowde shove, myght he not make hym to remeve his sadill, and the spere splyndered in peces. And whan the Page 339

Geaunte felte hym-selfe wounded, he gnasshed his teth and rolled his iyen, that were grete swollen for ire and mantelent that he hadde, and he lifte vp his betill of brasse as he that was merveilouse folio 119b
grete and stronge a-bove alle tho that eny man knewe in tho dayes, and as the boke seith, he was xiiij foote of lengthe, and half a palme betwene his browes, and was grete and lene and full of veynes and of senewes, and was also so grym a figure that he was dredefull for to beholde.

Whan Arthur saugh the Geaunte lifte vp his malle he douted the stroke, and ran to hym so rudely with the body of his horse that he bar to the erthe bothe Rion and his horse; but soone was he vpon his foote, but first was Arthur garnysshed of his armes er the Geaunt were reised, for Arthur was also fallen to grounde with the frayinge that thei hurteled togeder. And Arthur was wight and lifly, and yet hadde he not but xx yere of age, and the kynge Rion hadde moo than xlij largely, and was grete and hevy by the thirde part more than he; and as soone as thei were vp, thei ronne ther togeder, and Arthur griped Calibourne, his goode swerde that he pulde oute of the ston, wherwith that day he hadde yove many a stroke; and as soone as he hadde it drawen oute, hit yaf so grete light as it hadde ben a grete bronde of fire, and couered hym with his shelde, and raught a stroke to the Geaunte er he were couered vpon the heede, and whan he saugh the stroke comynge he caste the shelde ther a-gein, for sore he dredde the stroke of the swerde that he saugh so bright shynynge, ffor he knewe it was of right grete bounte; and the kynge Arthur smote so in the malle that he helde be-fore hym in bothe hondes that he kutte the helue a-sonder faste by the hede, and yet was it bounde with Iren; the stroke was grete and rudely smyten, and discended vpon the corner of his shelde, that he slitte it to the bokill, and with the plukkynge of his swerde a-gein to hym he made the kynge Rion for to stomble, that was sory for his brasen malle that he hadde so loste, and than he leide honde to his swerde, that was oon of the beste of the worlde, ffor, as the booke seith, it was som tyme Hercules that ledde Iason in to the Ile of Colchos, for to fecche the flees of goolde, and with

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that swerde dide hercules sle many a Geaunte in that londe, where Iason ledde Medea that so moche hym loved, but after he hir failled, where as hercules hir dide helpe by his grete debonertee, and the booke seith that Vlcan I-forged that swerde in the tyme of Adrastus, the kynge of Greece, that many a day hadde in his tresour. This same swerde hadde Tideus, the sone of the Duke of Calcedoyne, that day that he dide the message to Ethiocles for Polemyte, and in his comynge homwarde with the same swerde he slowgh fifty at an hill, and after wente this swerde fro hande to hande and from heir to heir, that now hath it the kynge Rion, that com of the lynage of hercules, that was so noble and hardy.

folio 120a

Whan the kynge Rion saugh his malle smyten a-sonder, he drough this swerde that was of so grete bountee, and as soone as it was oute of the skawberke it caste so grete claretee that it semed a flame of fire; and the name of this swerde was Marmyadoise. And whan Arthur saugh the swerde that so flambed he preised it moche in his herte, and drough hym a litill vp hit to beholde, and coueyted it right sore, and thought that in goode houre were he born that it myght conquere.

And whan the kynge Rion saugh hym stonde so stille, he withstode and hym aresoned, as ye shull here. “Sir knyght,” qoud he, “I wote neuer what thow art, but thow haste do grete hardynesse that me durste sue or chace a-lone withoute companye, and for the prowesse that I se in the I shall do the grete curtesie that I dide neuer to no man: yeve me that swerde and thyn armes, and telle me thy name, and after thow shalt go quyte, ffor I haue grete pite fer to sle the for that thow semest so yonge.” Whan Arthur vndirstode the wordes of the kynge Rion he hadde ther-of grete dispite, and ansuerde hym felly, “How wenest to take me so lightly, that I sholde yelde me recreaunt for that thow art so grete and so stronge. But ley down that swerde and tho armes, and putte the in my mercy, to do with the my plesier outerly, for I the assure but the deth.” At these wordes lowgh the Geaunte, and turned the heede in trauerse, and asked hym what he was, and what was his name, and coniured hym by his creaunce to Page 341
sey the trouthe. And Arthur seide he wolde telle hym by couenaunt that he wolde telle hym what he were, and he hym graunted. “Now knowe thow well,” qoud he, “that my name is Arthur, of Bretaigne, the sone of Vterpendragan, that am come to chalenge this reame that is myn all quyte, ffor the kynge leodogan hath yove me hys doughter to my wif, and me haue don homage alle the high barouns of this reame, and also he hymself. Now telle me what thow art, and what is thy name, ffor I haue tolde the the trouthe of myn.” Quod the Geaunte, “Seist thou trouthe that thow art Arthur, the sone of Vterpendragon, that slough Aungis be-fore the roche of saisnes.” “Of the same speke I withoute faile,” qoud Arthur. “I haue made couenaunt,” quod the Geaunte, “that I shall telle the myn name. I do the to wite that I am the kynge Rion, of Iselonde, and of alle the londes vn-to pastures, and yet ferther yef a man myght ferther passe; but oon may neuer passe till that the lawes be broken that Iudas makabeus ther sette, and as olde auncient seyn that thei shall neuer be hadde a-wey till the auentures be-gynne in the reame of logres of the seynt Graall, and it behoveth hym to caste to the portes of the goulfe of Sathanye that it be neuer seyn after, ffor it is so of soche maner, that so it moste be fallen. Now I haue tolde the what I am. But I will neuer ete while I knowe the on lyve, ffor by the it is that I am folio 120b
thus disconfited and chased from the felde, and therfore shall I a-venge my dooll yef I may.” “So helpe me god,” quod Arthur, “than shalt thow longe be fastinge, ffor that shall neuer falle that I shall be deed thourgh the; and lo!

here my swerde that the deffieth to the deth, and yef thow be so hardy, take now the vengaunce of hym that the diffieth to smyte of thyn heede.” And whan the Geaunte herde Arthur thus speke, he was so wroth that nygh he yede oute of his witte, and griped his shelde and com with his swerde in his honde and lifte it high to smyte Arthur on the helme, but he caste the shelde ther a-gein and lepte a-side in the felde, and he smote so harde that a quarter fill to the erthe, and Arthur stepped forth and yaf hym soche a stroke by the lifte yie and made hym a grete wounde, and yef the swerde hadde not swarued, maymed Page 342
hadde he ben for euer. Whan the Geaunte felt hym wounded and saugh the blode raile down by the lifte iye, he was nygh wode oute of witte, and than he ran vpon hym, for he wende to take hym in his armes, but Arthur dide lepe a-side, for a-bide that wolde he not, and therwith raught hym a grete stroke, and euer he hym pursued with swerde in honde, but atteyne hym myght he not. And while thei demened hem in this manere, fill so that Nascien, and Adragains, and hervy de rivell com vpon hem, that chaced vj sarazins full fiercely, and alle vj were [correction; sic = were were] kynges, and that oon hight Cahainus, and that other maltaillees, and the thirde ffernicans, and the forth heroars, and the ve Brauremes, and the sexthe the stronge kynge Mahidrap. These vj kynges com down the rocher sore hem diffendinge, and the swyfte horse com dryuynge like a tempest. And whan the tweyne that foughten herde this noyse and brunt of hem that fledden, and behelde and saugh the vj kynges that the thre knyghtes chaced, the kynge Rion was sore a-dredde, for he knewe tho that ther com, ffor he wiste well thei were noble and hardy, and yef he lenger ther a-bide he knewe well that dye he moste. Than he com to his horse and lept vp lightly, and in the lepinge vp Arthur hym smote so harde that he kutte a-wey a quarter of his helme that the mailes of the hauberke a-pered all white, and astoned hym sore that he bowed on his horse nekke, and yef he myght haue recovered another stroke he hadde fallen of his horse to the erthe; but the horse was of grete force and a-ferde of the stroke, and turned to flight with the kynge down the roche.

Than Arthur lept vpon his horse delyuerly and priked after all that he myght, and than the kynge Rion loked bakke and saugh Arthur that dide hym enchace sore that wolde not hym leve, and hasted hym faste towarde the foreste, and the vj kynges, that the thre knyghtes so chaced, com so faste fleynge that thei ouertoke the kynge Arthur that kepte the Geaunte so shorte, that he hadde caste his shelde to cover his hede, for soore he dredde the goode swerde of Arthur; and while Arthur entended

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folio 121a
to the Geaunte, Kehenyns hym ascride, and seide, “Turne the, in euell tyme haste thow hym pursued, for I will hym chalenge. In sory tyme haste thow lefte thy felowes.” Whan Arthur herde hym so lowde hym a-scrye, he returned with his swerde in his honde, and ther while the kynge Rion fledde in to the foreste. And Arthur com to kehenyns, and he agein hym that nothinge hym ne douted, and smote togeder with swerdes full harde vpon helmes. And kehenyns smote Arthur vpon the helme that he made hym stoupe vpon his horse nekke, and Arthur smote so hym agein, that of his helme he kutte a quarter, the stroke was grete, and descended betwene the shelde and the shuldre and kutte of his lifte arme with all the shelde; and Kehenyns ran vpon hym to enbrace hym in the tother arme, for he was of grete strengthe. Whan Arthur saugh hym come he smote hym with his swerde betwene the honde and the elbowe, that the honde fill of with the swerde; and whan he saugh hymself so maymed, he cried and brayed as a bole, and the horse hym bar what wey he wolde. And whan the tother v saugh that kehenyns was so araide, hem for-thought it sore, and ronne vpon Arthur, and he hym couered with his shelde, as he that daigned not hem for to fle. And thei smote at hym vp and down, where thei wende hym moste a-peire, and thei to-hewe his shelde in many places, but thei hurte of hym no flessh. And he smote so ffernycans, that he slitte hym to the teth, and than he smote to heroars vpon the shelde that he fill to grounde; and than com the thre knyghtes, Nascien, and Adrageins, and hervy; and than the thre kynges turned to flight after the steppes of the horse of kynge Rion where as thei hadde seyn hym go, and these after that so wolde hem leven. But now speke we of the kynge Ban that chaced the kynges.

So longe enchaced the kynge Ban after the thre kynges that he ouertoke hem in a launde of a foreste, where thei stode stifly, for ther thei ouertoke x of her felowes, that ronne vpon the kynge Ban as soone as thei hym saugh, and he smote so the firste that he mette, that he clefte the heede in two peces, and than he smote another that the shulder disseuered from the body, and than thridde that the heede fill in to the felde, and thei hym Page 344
smyten vpon the helme and the shelde, but thei touched of hym no flesshe, ffor the hauberke was of grete strenghthe, and as thei thus foughten com Pignoras, and Sonygrex, and Gaisdon, and magoras, that the kynge Boors hadde enchaced full harde, and hem kepte so straite, that thei hadde no leyser hem to returne; and so haue thei fledde till thei fill vpon hem that the kynge Ban delyuered grete bataile; and than thei turned the heedes of theire horse towarde hym that hem pursuwed, and he smote a-monge hem with so grete force that he bar down Pignoras, bothe hym and his horse, on oon hepe; and than he smote to Sinagrex so harde that he clefe hym to the brayn, and he fill deed. And than behelde the kynge Boors, and saugh his brother that faught folio 121b
a-gein x knyghtes, and he spored his horse so sore that he bar a Sarazin to grounde hym and his horse, and than he smote another with his swerde that he fill deed, and the thre kynges that he hadde chaced ronne vpon hym, and smote hym vpon the helme be-hynde, that he stouped on his horse nekke, but to arise was it no tyme, but he turned his horse hede a-gein hem, with his swerde in his hande, and ther be-gan the two bretheren a sore medle and crewell a-gein the xiij that hem assailleden, but more thei hem damaged than thei dide hem; but longe hadde thei not ben ther, whan the kynge Rion com thider with the swerde drawen, sore hurte and euell affraide, and sore bledynge of two woundes, that oon on the heede and that other on the lifte side in the flanke, and whan he saugh the bataile of xiij knyghtes a-gein tweyne, he dressed hym that wey with his swerde, for fayn wolde he a-venge his anoye, and he smote at hem so fiercely, that he made hem remeve the place fro ther thei stoden, and by his comynge was the kynge Boors born to grounde, and his horse vpon his body; and than he lifte vp his swerde for to smyte the kynge Ban vpon the helme, but he couered hym with his shelde and smote the horse with the spores to eschewe the stroke, and he slytte the shelde as fer as the he raught, and the kynge Ban sente hym a stroke with corsheuse, his good swerde, and he caste his shelde ther a-geins, and the kynge Ban clefte it thourghoute, and the gige also, wherby it henge by his nekke, and it fill in two

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partes to the erthe. And on that othir side, as soone as the Sarazins saugh the kynge Boors fallen, thei ronne vpon hym, and yaf hym grete strokes at the erthe, and hurte hym in dyuerse places; and the horse, that was myghty and stronge, lay vpon his lifte thigh, and hilde hym so straite to the erthe, that a-rise myght he not; and whan the kynge Ban saugh his brother in soche pereile, he praide god hym to saue fro mysauenture, for of hym hadde he grete drede. Than he spored his horse that wey and smote the kynge Magoras, so that the heede fill to grounde, and after he smote another so felly, that the chyne yede a-sonder, and than he a-bode vpon his brother that moche hym peyned to arise. And as thei thus foughten Com fleynge maltaillyet, and balfinne, and the kynge Mahidrap full faste, ffor ther com thre knyghtes that hem chaced with grete spede, wher-of that on was the kynge Arthur, and that other Nascien, and Adragayns li bruns, the brother of Madagot, the goode knyght of the blake yle tournoye, that Gawein, the nevew of kynge Arthur, after toke at Estremors, whan that he kepte in prison his cosin Galashin, that day that he wolde hym haue hanged vpon the walles of the town, in despite of kynge Arthur, be-fore his owne iyen, ffor that he hadde sege be-fore town that he wolde haue take be strength, and for that the kynge hadde slain oon of his nevewes at a poynt, that hadde be by-fore the town, as this boke shall tell yow more clerly hereafter, whan the mater cometh ther-to.

The fourthe felowe that com
folio 122a
after with these thre knyghtes was hervy de rivell, the banerer of the rounde table, and as soone as these thre com ther as the kynge Rion faught hymself, x a-gein a sooll knyght, thei dressed hem to the presse and greved hem all that thei myght. And the kynge Boors hadde so drawen and pulled as he that was of grete strengthe, that he a-roos with grete peyne, and saugh his brother in grete toyle that vigerousely hym diffended, and than he smote maltailliet that he disseuered the shulder from the side and he fill deed to the erthe, and he hente the horse that was of grete bounte and lept in to the sadill, and a-noon rode in to the presse, and smote so sore the kynge Rion vpon the helme, that he slitte it in two partes, and he hym

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paide a-gein so grete a stroke that his shelde clef a-sonder, and ther be-gan a medle betwene hem two full fell and crewell; and the tother foure that were come to socour the kynge Ban smote on hem so rudely that ech bar oon deed to the erthe all blody. Ther was slayin mahidrap, and balfinnes, and Gloriex, and mandones, wherefore the kynge Rion was full wroth, for thei were his nygh kyn.

And whan kynge Rion saugh this myschaunce turne vpon hym so grete, he was so wroth that nygh he was oute of his witte, and he helde his swerde naked and ran vpon Arthur and wende to smythe hym on the heede, but he glenched a-side, for sore he dredde the stroke of the Geaunte, and he smote so harde in the shelde that he slitte it in to the myddell, and whan that he wende to pulle a-gein his swerde the kynge Arthur smote hym on the arme that sore he hym hurte, and he lefte the swerde stykinge in the shelde, that sore felt hym hurte, and was wode for wrath, and Arthur caste down the shelde with the swerde, for it dide hym but gref. And when the Geaunte saugh that he hadde so loste his swerde he was full of grete sorowe, and ran vpon Arthur with his horse and caught hym by the shuldres, and wolde haue hym born with force, and so he sholde haue don yef he hadde leiser, for he was of grete strengthe.

Whan Arthur felte the Geaunte that so hym helde he caste the swerde to the erthe, for he was ferde leste he sholde haue taken it from hym by force, and than clippid his horse in bothe his armes a-boute the nekke; and the Geaunte pulled and drough, but he myght hym not a-race from the sadell. And the kynge Ban behelde and saugh the strife betwene the Geaunte and Arthur, and a-noon spored his horse that wey, for he hadde of hym grete drede; and the Geaunte saugh hym come, he lefte Arthur, for sore he douted the kynge Ban, and ran vpon hym with his handes that were grete and square; and the kynge Ban hym smote with corsheuse, his goode swerde, that he rente his hauberke betwene his sholderes and wounde hym right depe; and whan the kynge Rion felt hym so sore wounded, and saugh his felowes ly at erthe deed bledynge, he hadde grete drede, folio 122b
ffor he hadde nothinge hym to diffende, and turned the horse, that Page 347
was of grete bounte, and wente fleynge as faste as he myght renne. And thei lete hym passe, for it was nyght; and he wente so wroth that for litill he hadde gon oute of witte; and he cursed his feith and his creaunce, and seide he wolde neuer cesse in all his age till that he were avenged, and as soone as he com in to his contre he wolde sende for his grete hoste so that no londe sholde a-gein hym endure till he hadde confounded all Bretaigne and all the peple therynne, and take the kynge Arthur and his helpers, and do hem be flayn all quyk. Thus wente kynge Rion, makynge grete sorowe and weymentacion in to his contrey.

Whan the kynge Ban socoured the kynge Arthur from the kynge Rion, that so wolde a-born hym a-wey, he com to Arthur and asked hym yef he hadde eny harme. And he seide, “Nay.” Than seide Ban, “Where is youre swerde?” And Arthur seide it was at erthe, “ffor I caste it down as soone as the shrewe com rennynge on me to gripe me in his armes; and I haue wonne the richest iewell, and that I love more than the richest Citee that I haue.” “What thinge is that?” seide the kynge Ban.

“That shall ye se a-noon,” quod Arthur. Than he sette foot to grounde, and yede firste to Calibourne and putte it in the skaberke whan he hadde dried it clene, and than com to his shelde, where-ynne stake the swerde of kynge Rion, and he drough it oute and toke the shelde, and com to his horse and lepte vp, and than shewde the swerde to the kynge Ban, and it shone so bright that Arthur hadde ther-of grete ioye, and preide god sende hym som auenture ther he myght it assay and prove yef it were so grete of bounte as it hadde bewtee. And thei were ner the Citee than thei wende, but er thei com ther hem fill soche auenture that ther was noon so wight ne hardy but he hadde I-nough to done. But now resteth a litell of hem, and speke of the kynge leodogan.

Whan the kynge leodogan saugh that the Geauntes were so discounfited, he chaced hem full vigerously till it was derke nyght; and he and his men slough many.

Than fill it that the kynge leodogan and Cleodalis his stiwarde departed from theire peple, for the foreste was derke, that no man that thei Page 348
hadden wiste not where thei were be-come; and whan the kynges men saugh it was so derke nyght they begonne to returne; but the knyghtes of the rounde table wolde not returne, ne the felowes of kynge Arthur, but chace the Geauntes full harde, and many of hem thei slowen; and the storye seith that the kynge leodogan and Cleodalis chaced so faste Ydras and Atalas lamnachour and Caulus and Dorilas, these were fer from her peple in the forest; and whan thei hadde longe fledde, thei ouertoke xijMl of her companye at were sory and wroth for theire losse and damage, and whan these foure saugh the socour, thei cried, “Now at hem,” and whan these behelden and saugh thei were but tweyne that chaced foure kynges,
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thei ronne vpon hem full fiercely, and thei drough hem to two okes that were grete and full of leves, and ther-to thei sette here bakkes. Ther was the kynge leodogan at erthe and hys horse slayn vndir hym; and whan Cleodalis saugh hym on foote he alight and sette the kinge on his horse, and bad hym gon hys wey and he wolde a-bide ther. And whan the kynge saugh the trouthe of his stiwarde, he be-gan to sighen full sore vndir his helme and repente in his herte of that he hadde hym sore forfeted, and thought in his herte that this bounte wolde he hym quyte yef he scape a-lyve, and alwey thei hem deffenden a-gein her enmyes that hem assailed full harde, but the Oke hem socoured sore that was at theire bakke.

But a-while resteth of hem and speketh of Guyomar and Synados, that were cosins germain, that wele hadde don all the day in bataile.

This Guyomar and Synados pursude so the sarazins thourgh the foreste, that thei loste alle her peple, that thei cowde of hem neyther here ne seen, and hadden so chaced xij Geauntes full harde, and the xij hadde longe fledde, till thei mette . of theire felowes that wente sore affraide, and these ne wiste of hem nothinge till thei were euen fallen vpon hem, and than these com so sharply that ech of hem bar oon to grounde; and whan the sarazins saugh thei were but tweyne, thei drough theire swerdes and assailed hem right harde. And thei hem diffended full vigerously, ffor thei were full noble knyghtes and hardy; and a-noon ther com to hem another knyght, that was cleped ydiers, and Page 349
whan he was come he knewe hem a-noon and helped hem vigerously. But of hem also resteth a-while the tale, and telleth of the auenture that fill to Antor, that hadde norisshed Arthur, and to kay the stiwarde, and Gifflet, and lucas the botiller, and to marengis, and Gorgain his felowe, and to Blecys the blake, that was in theire companye, and to Blioberis, and Galescowde, and to lait hardy, and Colegreuaunt, and kehedin le bel: these xij chaced faste the sarazins, and many thei slough, thourgh the foreste.

So longe chaced these xij thourgh the foreste, that was derke for shadowe of the bowes, and also of the nyght, that sodeynly thei fill vpon the kynge Ali patin, that hadde CC sarazins in his companye wele horsed, that were full angry for the damage of the kynge Rion, and for that thei wiste not where thei were be-come; and whan these xij hadde hem so sodeynly ouertaken, thei rode in a-monge hem fercely, and thei returned and begonne a bataile right stronge, ffor these xij were full worthi knyghtes and noble. Ther was stronge fight and harde, that dured till mydnyght was paste er thei departed, and on that other side the knyghtes of the rounde table were departed in thre partees: in that oon part were xij, in another xx, and in that other xxv; and with the kynge Arthur were thre, that ledde hym towarde Toraise, in talmelide, and alle the tother weren folio 123b
returned whan thei hadde hem a-while conveyed. And whan thei come be-fore the Citee of Danablise, and eueriche ne fonde not his companye, thei trowed that thei were alle deed; and whan the two kynges were not founden, the kynge Arthur ne the kynge leodogan, thei made grete sorowe, and wende thei hadde ben alle deed; but yet thei a-boode to heere som tidinges, and logged hem in the medowes, and wolde not entre in to the town, but wacched till it was day. Here leveth now of hem and speketh of Merlin.

Now, whan the Geauntes and the sarazins fledde oute of the feilde discounfited and the chace was begonne, the booke seith that Merlin sewed a companye that were well xMl, till thei fill in to a launde that was depe in the foreste. This companye

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ledde the kynge Galad, that was lorde of the londe cleped Pastures, and as soone as thei were entred in to this launde, Merlin caste an enchauntement, that he made seme ther com rennynge so grete a water in her wey be-fore hem, that was so depe and brode and ther-to blakke, that com down fro the sides of the mounteynes so rudely, that ther was noon so hardy but he ther-of hadde drede; and whan thei wolde haue turned a-gein, thei saugh a-rise soche a storme and a wynde so grete, that thei wiste not whiche wey to turne, and a-boode stille all nyght in this maner wise, that thei wente nother bakke ne forewarde; and why Merlin made this enchauntement hit is right and reson that the trouthe be declared whi was the cause.

This was the trouthe, that in the marche of Tamelide and of Bredigan west-warde towarde the londe of the kynge Rion was a reame full riche, that the kynge Amant helde in his baile. In this reame werred the kynge Vterpendragon in his lif-tyme longe, ffor that the kynge Amaunt wolde not be-come his liege man, and his londe was so stronge that litill he hym douted; but Vterpendragon greved hym sore with his werre, and conquered vpon hym a Castell that was stronge and riche, and was clepede Carroie. This Castell hadde in fee vC knyghtes, that eche yere thre monethes oughten ther to warde, whiche seison of the yere that the lorde wolde hem somowne, and the lordship lasted xx myle on euery side. This Castell yaf Vterpendragon to the kynge Boors of Gannes in his lyve to hym and to his heires all the lordship, and as soone as the kynge Bohors hadde it in his baille, he yaf it to Guynebant, his brother, that was a goode clerke and a wise, and at armes wight and hardy yef nede were, and therfore was the kynge Amaunt angry; and whan he herde that the kynge Rion was entred in to the londe of kynge leodogan, and on that other side in to Bretaigne were entred the Saisnes, the kynge Amaunt be-thought hym that he myght come neuer in better poynt to conquere his Castell that he so longe hadde loste, and sente after peple and assembled folio 124a
vijMl, and rode forth till he com in to the launde ther as was the kynge Galad, and hys peple that were xMl, that a-bode ther for drede of the grete water that Page 351

Merlin made to apere. The friday erly in the witsonwike, that was a feire morownynge and a softe, and yet was not the water ne the enchauntement lefte, the sarazins lepte to horse and rode forth her wey, but thei hadde but litill wey riden, whan thei mette the kynge Amaunt, that rode towarde the Castell of Carroye with all his hoste. Whan the kynge Galad saugh the kynge Amaunt he ran vpon hym, for he wende that it hadde be the peple of kynge leodogan that hadde hem pursued; and thei were well horsed on bothe partyes, and smyten togeder fiercely, and be-gan a grete bataille and fell, for ther were many goode knyghtes and sure, and the bataile betwene hem dured all the day. But more of hem speketh not the booke at this tyme, but returneth to kynge Arthur and kynge leodogan, and his felowes Nascien, and Adragain, and hervy de rivell.

Whan Arthur hadde take vp the swerde that was lefte in his shelde and hadde shewed to his felowes thei were gladde, for moche thei hym preised and comended, and than thei toke theire wey towarde Danablaise. And whan thei wende haue ben in the streight lane, thei wente oute of her weye, for thei fonde on the lifte side an olde wey that was moche and grene, and grete shadowe of grete wode full of leves, as in the moneth of may, and a litill was it derke, for the mone was not vp, that was at fulle thre dayes be-fore; and whan thei hadde gon a-while, thei herkened and herde grete noyse of strokes in the foreste of a bataile, and thei drough that wey as the lane hem ledde, and as thei com nygh, thei vndirstode the voise of theire peple that yet were fightinge with the Geauntes, that thei hadde chaced in the foreste. Than thei drough towarde the noise that thei herde, and lefte her wey and gan ride faste, and the mone was risinge, and as thei com nygh thei saugh a grete bataile of thre knyghtes, that full harde foughten agein . sarazins. And whan thei com so nygh that thei myght hem kenne, Arthur knewe it was Guyomar and ydier, but of Synados wiste noon of hem what he was, saf that thei saugh he was wight and hardy; and hem preised moche the vij felowes, that com nygh to the bataile, and lete renne theire horse so faste, that thei made hem alle to fremysshe, and leide on Page 352
grete strokes on bothe sides, and many thei sloughen and some caste to grounde wounded sore, and Arthur assaied right well his swerde Marmyadoise, that he conquered of the kynge Rion, ffor the storie witnesseth that he his owne body slough of hem x. And whan the thre knyghtes saught that thei hadde so riche socour, thei yaf hem a fressh assaute, and eche of hem thre bar oon to the grounde, and in short tyme thei hurlled hem so, thei and the thre knyghtes folio 124b
that were com hem to socoure, that thei haue alle slain saf v, that turned to flight down the wode, and thei after that were full talentif hem to sle, yef thei myght hem take; but litill while hadde thei chaced these v, whan thei herde medlinge, and harde strokes vpon sheldes, and vpon helmes, that all the wode ther-of resounded. Than spake the kynge Ban to the kynge Bohors, and seide that all nyght be-houeth hem to disporte in bateillinge, and the kynge Arthur seide, “That pleseth me well till that I haue well assaide my goode swerde.”

“How, sir,” quod the kynge Ban, haue ye not yet well it proved and assaied at thys firste enuaie?” “No,” quod Arthur, “for thei were to fewe peple, and on that othir side ye and other so hem so arayed that I myght it not assaye at my volunte.” Than at this wordes loughen alle the knyghtes, ffor well hadde thei seyen his prowesse that he hadde don, and seide that he sholde be a noble knyght yef he myght live to age. And as thei spake thus, thei approched the bataile that was grete and felenouse, and than thei saugh C sarazins that fought a-gein xij knyghtes, whereof foure of hem were on foote, and viij on horse, that right well hem deffended, and thei that were on foote deffended hem right well and stronglich, and than thei knewe well, that thei were of her companye, that com with hem to Tamelide alle xij. And the foure that were on foote, that oon was Antor, and that other Gosnain, and the thridde Gales, and the fourthe Blioberis, and the fifte ly lais ţe hardy, that was smyten down in sight of hem alle, but vigerously thei hem deffended. And whan Arthur saugh Antor on foote hit nedeth not to aske, yef he therfore were angry, for he shewed it well in grete haste, ffor he priked in to the presse with swerde redy drawen, and smote Page 353
so the firste that he mette that he slitte hym to the girdill, and after the secunde that the hede fill to grounde, and than the thirde, and after the fourthe, and be-gan soche assaute a-monge hem that down wente all that he with his swerde raught. And than he preised well the goode swerde that was the kynge Rion, and seide that Calibourne ne availed but litill a-gein this goode swerde, ffor it wrought well at his talent. And also his felowes smote in a-monge hem, that eche of hem slough oon at her comynge in; and whan these saugh thei hadde soche socour, thei begonne newe a-gein the bataile merveilous. Ther was the stronge stour and sore bataile, ffor noble and hardy were the knyghtes that were come to the socour, and by theire prowesses were the fyve knyghtes horsed that were on foote, and than thei yaf hem a sharpe shour that thei were disconfited and chaced oute of the place, and haue hem so araied, that there ne scaped but xiiij that alle ne were slayn and maymed. And whan thei hadde hem a-while enchased, than thei returned a-gein full gladde and ioyfull of the auenture that god hadde hem sente. note.9
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Whan Arthur and his felowes hadde holpen and delyuered the xij knyhtes, as ye haue herde, and thei were returned a-gein, hit fill that thei mette Merlin with the Dragon in his hande that com hem a-geins, and as soone as he saugh hem comynge he gan to whowpe, “A here, Arthur, ride faste and haste yow a litill more and alle youre companye, ffor ye knowe not the grete damage that is towarde, but god helpe, ffor the kynge leodogan and Cleodalis the stiwarde fighten a-gein moo than vijMl Geauntes and sarazins, and thei be now smyten down of theire horse, and shull a-noon be loste but ye hem socour. Now come on faste after me, for I go.” And whan thei herde what Merlin seide thei smote theire horse with spores, and the dragon that Merlin bar yaf oute of his throte soche light that thei myght well se alle here felowes though it hadde be the derkeste nyght in all the yere, and thei rode so faste be-fore and after, that thei come to tweyne Okes wher vndir the two knyghtes foughten full Page 354
sore, as thei that hadde I-nough of herte and of valour and force. But sore were thei oppressed, ffor bothe were thei on foote, and ofte fill thei on knees. When Merlin and the other companye come to the medle that so hadden dured of the two knyghtes, tho was the kynge leodogan fallen to the erthe, ffor he was so wery for trauaile of strokes that he hadde yoven and receyved, that he myght no lengere sustene, for all day hadde the kynge endured traueile of strokes, and ther-to hadde he no myster, ffor he was of grete age.

Whan the Geauntes saugh the kynge leodogan so wery that he myght no lenger sustene on his feet for the traueile that he hadde all the day endured in the bataile, so that he lay at the erthe, and ther was no man that hadde seyn hym in that plite but he wolde haue hadde pite. Whan the kynge was fallen, the Geauntes spored theire horse that wey who that myght sonneste that noon a-bode other, ffor thei wende a-noon hym to take or to sle at hir wille; but Cleodalis strode ouer hym with his swerde in his hande that so well hym diffended that noon was so hardy to sette on hym hande; and thei hym assailed full harde, and launched at hym speres and swerdes, and perced his hauberke in many places, and wounded hym full sore; but for noon hurte ne wounde that thei hym made wolde he not forsake his lorde. And at laste the kynge a-roos, and gan to helpe Cleodalis with all his power, for he hadde ben a noble knyght in his yowthe, and he hadde grete pite of hys stiward Cleodalis, that so abandoned his body for the diffence of hym; and than he seide a pitouse worde, “Ha! Cleodalis,” qoud he, “I crye the mercy of the trespace that I haue don a-gein the, ffor I se well I am come to myn ende;” and therwith he fill on kne to the grounde be-fore hym, and toke his swerde wepinge as he that to hym hadde forfeted, and praied to hym take of hym that was right. And whan he saugh his lorde so meke a-gein hym, and that he putte hym in
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his mercy, he wept tendirly and reised the kynge be the hande and claymed hym quyte of alle trespaces; and while he lifte vp the kynge a grete Geaunte smote Cleodalis with a swerde vpon the helme that he bar hym down to the Page 355
grounde, and than the kynge hym diffended sore and merveillously well from them that wolde hym haue take; and thei hym assailed harde and hurte hym that he gretly apeired, but soone thei made hym to falle down by Cleodalis; and whan Cleodalis saugh hym down he lept vp on foote as lifly as he hadde noon harme ne dissese, and yet was he full dispitously wounded.

Thus diffended the ton the tother whan thei fellen; and whan Cleodalis was so mate that he myght no lenger helpe, than diffended the kynge, and whan the kynge was so feinte that he myght no lenger, he cried and seide to the stiward, “Ha!

Cleodalis, feire frende, diffende youre body, for I may no lenger.” And he lept vp, and bad hym be sure and haue no drede while that he myght lyve. Thus contened these two goode men a-boute mydnyght, and than com Merlin prikinge and his companye; and a-noon Merlin cried to his felowes, “Now let se who is a knyght; here may ye prove youre hardynesse and youre prowesse, and be not dismayed though thei be many, for ye shull haue socour of a partye of youre felowes.” Than thei smyte in a-monge hem with so grete raundon as horse myght renne, and slough and maymed grete plente, but soone were thei at grete myschef, but yet thei smote hem so in her comynge In, that thei be come to the worthi men vnder the Oke, that yet foughten as well as thei myght, but moche was apeired theire strengthe and her breth. Than were thei harde rescowed and sette on horse who it grucched, and than were thei xxv knyghtes full noble men and well helpinge, and many thei kilde and maymed. But whan Isdras and Acalas and Colocallus saugh the grete damage that so small peple hem dide, thei helde ther-of grete dispite, and than thei cried vpon here men, “Now, gentill knyghtes, at hem; haue ye not shame that so fewe peple so longe agein vs endure that yet we be vijMlfightinge men, and thei ne be but oon handefull of peple.

Now lete vs a-venge the damage that thei haue us don to oure frendes.” Whan the sarazins vndirstoden this thei ronne vpon hem and harde thei hem assailed; and than thei hem diffended right wele, and gretly were thei to a-lowe and to preise. Ther dide Arthur merveilles, and the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors and Nascien;

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these foure were paraunt a-bove alle the tother, ffor these dide soche prowesse with her owne bodyes that it was wonder; and the other xxj diden well also the ton for the tother that merveile was it to wite how thei myght so moche suffer or endure. And whan Merlin hadde brought hem in medle, he lefte hem and rode in to the foreste, and mette with other xij knyghtes and brought hem to the bataile;
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and than behelde Nascien and Adragains, and saugh thei were of her felowes of the rounde table. Than be-gan the stour full merveillouse; and Merlin rode a-gein in to the foreste where hym liked, and the xxxvij knyghtes a-bode stille a grete while, that moche prowesse dide of armes; and a litill a-fore day Merlin come a-gein with xx knyghtes in his companye; and thei smote in to the medle a-noon as thei were come, ffor well thei were a-raied of armes and of horse, but well it shewed by theire armes that thei hadde not alwey leyen at reste.

Whan thei come to the bataile her felowes were at grete myschef, and thei ronne amonge hem with swerdes drawen and slough and caste down in her comynge all that thei raught, and thei saugh this that were come firste how thei were of the rounde table. Than com that oon a-gein the tother, ffor thei were full noble and hardy, and Merlin was a-monge hem, that bar the dragon; and than he com to Arthur and to the kynge Ban and to the kynge Bohors, and cleped hem to hym, and thei com. “Will ye wite,” quod Merlin, “how these shull be discounfited?” And thei seide that thei wolde fayn knowe in what manere. Quod Merlin, “Ther ben but foure in this place that hem holde together.” “And whiche ben thei?” quod kynge Ban. “Sue me,” quod Merlin, “and I shall hem yow shewen.” Than Merlin smote in to the presse so harde that he bar down with his horse breste whom that he mette, and bar the dragon in his hande, that yaf so grete light that oon myght well se another; and whan Merlin mette the thre kynges he shewde hem to the kynge Arthur, and seide, “Now may ye assaye the gode swerde that ye haue conquered.” And he beheilde hym that he hadde desired gretly for to seen, and thought wele that it were thei

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that Merlin hadde spoken of; but neuer so soone myght he not come, er Nascien mette with the kynge Colocaullus and smote hym with his swerde vpon the helme that he slitte his heede to the teth, and he fill down deed. “Now let se,” quod Merlin, “what ye will do, for now is ther oon lesse.” And Arthur, that hilde the goode swerde drawen, smote the kynge ysdras, that he made the heede falle to grounde; and the kynge Ban smote Acolas, that the shulder disseuered from the body so depe that the longes apered; and the kynge Bohors smote Dodrilas an Amyrall thourgh the helme to the brayn. And whan the other felowes saugh how these foure hadde don so well, than thei yaf hem a fressh assaut, that there was noon but he made a sarazin falle to grounde, owther deed or wounded. And whan the Geauntes saugh hem deed that were lordes and her gouernours, and the grete damage that these hem diden, thei seide that a grete fole were he that wolde suffre to be slain; and than thei turned to flight thourgh the foreste that noon ne a-bode other. And thei wolde hem haue enchaced, folio 126b
but Merlin seide “Nay, recche not hem nothinge yow to chace, ffor soone shull thei mete with folke that shall do hem I-nough of sorowe and care.” And than thei gan to repeire a softe paas till thei come to the issu of the foreste, and than gan it to shewe day, whan thei com to the tentes ther the cristin were logged, and the wacche hem knewe and com hem a-geins and made of hem grete ioye, ffor well thei wende that alle hadde ben deed; and a-noon was the tidinges knowe thourgh the hoste that com was the kynge Arthur and his companye. And the kynge leodogan made appareile her mete grete plente, for thei hadde fasted longe, but first thei slept and rested; and whan thei weren vp and redy thei ete and dranke grete plente, ffor I-nough thei hadde wher-of, and also thei hadde it well deserued; and whan the clothes and the bordes weren vp, thei dide geder all the grete auoir that thei hadde conquered, and sette it all on an hepe; and Arthur it departed be the counseile of Merlin, that the kynge leodogan wolde not medle ther-in, for nothinge neuer after he hadde yoven his doughter to kynge Arthur, and that he knewe hym and the tweyne noble kynges that with hym weren, he wolde nothinge

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hym entermete but hem to serue and honouren with all his power. And whan Arthur hadde departed all the auoir that nothinge was lefte, he lete enquere thourgh the hoste yef ther were eny yonge bachelere, that wolde ought gete or wynne and go with hym ther as he wolde hem lede, and he wolde hem yeve so moche at theire repaire, that neuer after sholde thei be power. And than ther com so many of oon and other, that it was a wonder, ffor moche thei desired to be in his companye for the grete valour that was in hym euer more; and than thei swore and seiden that thei sholde hym neuer faile. And he with-hilde in to a xxti Ml, and moo he myght haue hadde yef he wolde, but he seide he wolde not lete the reame be vnstuffed of peple, but thei myght hem well deffende yef eny enmyes entred in to the londe; but thus moche he seide, that yef nede were and that he sente for hem, that thei sholde come to hym. And thei ansuerde, and seide thei wolde with goode will, were it neuer in to so straunge londe thei wolde hym serue.

And than departed thei a-sonder, and the kynge Arthur, and the kynge Bohors, and the kynge leodogan, and the companye of the rounde table, rode forth to Toraise and the xxti Mlsowdiours of Tamelide, and whan thei hadden riden a-while, the kynge Bohors toke leve and rode to the Castell Charroye, and ledde with hym the xl felowes, that thei hadde brought in to Tamelide, and as many knyghtes of that reame, that thei were well vC, and so thei spedde her iourneyes that thei com to the Castell of Charroye withoute eny encomber, and ther thei made of the kynge Bohors grete ioye, ffor longe hadde he not be ther be-fore, and ther he a-bode viij dayes full. But now resteth the tale a-while of hym and of his felowes, and of the kynge Arthur and his companye, and returne to speke of the kynge Amaunt, folio 127a
that faught with the kynge Galad.

Full grete was the bataile and the stour mortall, ther as the kynge Amaunt and the kynge Galad weren I-mette, ffor the sarazins were xMl; but many ther were of goode knyghtes and hardy and yonge bachelers with the kynge Amaunt. And the bataile dured so all day, that alle the xMl were disconfited Page 359
ne hadde ben oon auenture, ffor the meyne of ysdras, that were well vMl, that all nyght hadde foughten with the kynge Arthur in the foreste, happed to falle to hem, and that was for hem gret myster, ffor the xMl were so beten and slain, that ther was lefte but vMl. Ther was stronge stour and mortall, for thei were at grete myschef the peple of kynge Amaunt. But yet this helped hem wele, for the sarazins weren wery for trauaile, and that all day be-fore hadde foughten in bataile, and waked all nyght, and therfore thei were the more hevy and at mysese; but so fought thei on that oon part and on that other, that the kynge Galad turned to the flight all disconfited, and ne escaped past vijMl that alle ne were slain and hewen, and of the peple of kynge Amaunt ne lefte not right many. Ther hadde the kynge Amaunt grete losse of peple, and grete doell made thei that were lefte a-lyve for her frendes. That nyght logged Amaunt and his men by a launde side in the wode, and were full mate and pensif for her kyn and frendes, that thei saugh ly in myddes of the launde, and made so grete sorowe, that of all that nyght thei neither ete ne dranke.”

On the morowe were the bodies sought, and leide on a mounteyne, and made grete diches in the erthe, and caste in the corses, and while thei thus were at soiour, ther com tidinges how the kynge Bohors was come to the Castell of Charroye for to se the place, for longe hadde not he ben there, and than the kynge Amaunt enquered how moche peple he hadde brought in his companye, and it was tolde hym, that thei myght well be vjC, and than he seide to his counseile, that he wolde not entre in to the londe, for hym was lefte so small peple, but he wolde aspie to a-bide hym in some place on the wey, ffor thei ben but vC and we ben yet vijC, and yef thei come I hope to spede all otherwise than and thei a-bide. Thus devised the kynge Amaunt his volunte whereof he myght wele have a-biden yef hym hadde liked; but many a man weneth to a-venge his shame that it doth encrece. But now cesseth a litill while of the kynge Amaunt and of kynge Bohors till anothir tyme, and speke of the kynge Arthur and his companye, that gon towarde the town of Toraise.

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Whan the kynge Arthur and his companye com to Toraise, thei were richely resceyved with grete honour; and ther thei soiourned two dayes, and the thridde day com the kynge leodogan to the kynge Arthur, and hym somowned to spousen his doughter Gonnore; and Merlin seide that he moste firste do another grete werke; and the kynge asked what;
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and Merlin seide that he moste firste passe in to the reame of Benoyk, and tolde hym for what nede; but that was in counseile, for he wolde not haue the thinge knowen of no man that sholde go thider. And whan he herde the nede, he praide hym to repeire a-gein as sone as he myght. And Merlin seide he neded not nothinge ther-of hym to prayen, and bad make hem redy, “for tomorowe moste we remove.” Quod Arthur, “Shall we not a-bide the kynge Bohors, that is at the Castell of Charroye?” Quod Merlin, “Ye shull a-byde hym at Bredigan, youre castell.” And Arthur seide that all sholde be at his wille. Than thei hem appareilleden, and on the morowe sette hem on here wey. And so departed the kynge leodogan and the kynge Arthur, and kisten at the departynge; and Gonnore hym praide soone to come a-gein, “ffor neuer,” quod she [correction; sic = ], “shall I be in ese of herte vn-to the tyme that I yow se a-gein.” And the kynge seide that he wolde he were come a-gein oute of the contrey. And the kynge Ban toke a messager, and sente to the Castell of Charroye to the kynge Bohors his brother; and thus departeden oon from another. And the kynge Arthur and Merlin wente be-fore, and the knyghtes of the rounde table, and the xxMl sowdiours that he hadde with-holden in that londe. And the kynge Ban sente to his brother Bohors to come to hym to Bredigan, ffor thei were on the weye, and therfore he sholden hym haste as faste as he myght; and so spedde the messangier that he com to the kinge Bohors, and tolde how his brother was in the weye after the hoste, that be-fore hym wente; and the kynge Bohors so dide also; and hym conueyed Guynebans his brother till he com in to the foreste perilouse, that after was cleped the foreste saunz retour, as the booke shall reherse hastely.

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CHAPTER XXI.

ADVENTURES OF BAN AND GUYNEBANS; BOHORS’ FIGHT WITH AMAUNT; MEETING OF THE

CHILDREN WITH KING ARTHUR.

Whan the kynge Ban and Guynebans his brother were entred in to the foreste, thei ne were but lx in her companye, and fill that thei entred in to a grete high wey, and rode till thei com depe in to the foreste, and than thei fonde auenture full merveillouse, ffor thei fonde a medowe that was closed a-boute with wode, and fonde withynne the feirest daunses of the worlde of ladies, and of maydenes, and knyghtes, the feireste that euer [correction; sic = eueuer]

hadde thei seyn in her lyve; and on the tother side thei sigh a scaffolde, and in that scaffolde sette a knyght that was of a l wynter age, and ther satte also the feirest lady of the worlde. And whan the kynge saugh the lady of so grete bewte, he light on foote, and Guynebans his brother, and alle the other wente fort to se it; and whan she saugh hem com, she roos a-geins hem as she that was curteys and well lerned, and voyded hir wymple, ffor well she wiste thei come for to see; and hir salude the kynge that spake firste, and she salued hym a-gein full debonerly, and than thei satte alle vpon the fresshe herbes and grene, and behelden the feeste and the ioye and the carols that folio 128a
thei saugh before hem. And Guynebans behelde the lady with goode chere, and so moche he his herte and his entente, that she satte so nygh his herte that he thought on nothinge but vpon hir. And than seide the maiden, that goode fortune hadde that lady that soche ioye myght haue euer hir lif withoute faillinge.

Whan Guynebans vndirstode that how the lady seide, he seide that she sholde it haue, yef the lettynge were not in hire; and she seide that in hire [correction; sic = ] sholde it neuer be letted. “Now I praye yow,” quod she, “telle me how.”

“Certes,” quod Guynebans, “yef ye will yeve me youre love, for alle dayes of youre lif, I shall make the carole endure in this manere, that alle men and wymen, that come this wey and se the carole thei shull a-bide Page 362
and make ioye, till that a knyght come that neuer in his lyf falsed his love, and with that also he moste be the beste knyght that shall be in his tyme.” And she seide that sholde she neuer see, but praide hym to holde that he hadde hight. “Now telle me,” quod Guynebans, “hadde ye euer [correction; sic = eueuer]

eny lorde?” And she seide, “Nay;” but that she was as clene mayden as whan she com oute of her moder wombe; “and also,” quod she, “I am lady of the reame cleped the londe susteyne.” Than seide Guynebans that he was redy to parforme the couenauntes [correction; sic = comenauntes]; and she graunted as for hir parte as she that was of grete bewte. And the olde knyght seide that he sholde do sette ther a cheyer, that euer more sholde be redy for the knyght in to sitte, that sholde be so trewe in lovynge whan he were come. And the kynge Ban seide, sith it is come here-to that he sholde haue a riche crowne of his, with the whiche the knyght sholde be crowned, for well he hadde it deserued. Than assured togeder Guynebans and the mayden for to holde couenauntes with goode herte and trewly while hir lif dured. In soche manere, seide she, that yef Guynebans deyed firste be-fore hir, that the carole sholde not lette till that he com, that neuer hadde be false in his lovynge. Than caste Guynebans his enchauntements, and stablisshed the caroles like as ye haue herde, that neuer sholde cesse no tyme, till that he com, saf the right hour of dyner and of soper, and the resonable houres to slepe and reste. And whan the carole was sette and stablisshed, than seide the mayden, that he sholde make yet another pley that neuer myght faile, and that all the worlde ther-of myght speke after his deth. Than Guynebans hymself made with his owne handes a Chekier of golde and Ivory half parted, ffor he was right sotill of soche crafte, as he wolde hym entirmete, and the pownes, and all the other meyne were golde and yvory fresshly entailled.

Whan Guynebans hadde made redy the Cheker and the chesse, that oon myght well therwith pleyen alle that wolden, he made soche a coniurison by his art, folio 128b

that alle tho that

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were sette for to pleyen, ther ne sholde be noon, but that the chesse sholde hym maten, wheder he wolde or noon, in that oon of the corners of the cheker; ne neuer sholde the same cheker be mated, till the beste knyght of the worlde dide it mate, and also he moste be of soche grace, that neuer he falsed his love, and ther-to hym behoveth to be kynges sones and quenes. Thus as ye haue herde hath Guynebans stablisshed the carole and the Chekere, and after made he many a feire pley, and taught the mayden, wherwith she wrought many tymes, after that he was deed; and after made he the castell Tornoyier, and the karoles that Meranges fonde after at the Citee of Nameles, where as noon arraunt knyght sholde not cesse to karole, till that a certein knyght com thider. In soche manere were bothe karoles wrought, and whan Guynebans hadde made this thinges, departed the kynge Ban with all his companye, and than Guynebans hym conveyed on his wey, and soone after departed, and comaunded the kynge to god, and returned a-gein to his lady, and ther was after all his lif. And the kynge rode till he com to Bredigan, where the kynge Arthur was, and a-noon as Merlin saugh hym come. he lough right lowde, and the kynge Arthur asked whi he dide so laugh. And than he toke the kynge Arthur, and the kynge Ban by the handes, and drough hem a-part, and Merlin asked of the kynge Ban, and coniured hym by the feith that he ought vn-to hym, whi it was that he lough. And Merlin seide it was for Guynebans. And than he tolde to Arthur of alle the pleyes and caroles that Gynebans hadde made for his love, and than lough Arthur, and seide to the kynge Ban that this mariage wolde he haue stole hadde no Merlin I-be. And thus thei laughed and iaped, and the kynge Ban asked of Merlin, yef he knewe what the knyght was, that sholde make the Carole to cesse, and Merlin seide that he was not yet nother gete ne born, and therfore ne enquereth no more ther-after, for ye shull wite more at leiser. Thus thei soiourned at Bredigan at ese and ioye, and a-boode for the kynge Bohors.

Whan the kynge Bohors hadde soiourned at the castell of Charroye viij days, the barouns of the contrey made

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him grete ioye, and on the ixth day brought hym on his weye ffragein the Castelein more than half a myle, and than departed that oon from the tother; and as soone as the kynge Bohors was departed fro the Castell, the kynge amaunt hadde witinge by asspie, that tolde hym how he yede to Bredigan, where the kynge his brother and the kynge Arthur dide hym a-bide. Than the kynge Amaunt made his peple lepe to horse, and were of hem vijC that were lefte of the bateile, and rode forth till thei come to the foreste perilouse at the entre towarde the Castell of Charroye, ther as the kynge Bohors sholde come; and on that other side logged hym in tentes and pavilouns withynne the foreste, that he were not parceyved till thei saugh the kynge Bohors come; and on that other side the kynge Bohors com ridynge till he com ther as the kynge Amaunt was abidinge, that made his peple hem to arme.

folio 129a

Whan the kynge Bohors saugh the pavilouns, he asked what peple thei were; and oon seide that it was kynge Amaunt, that was com thider hym for the espie; and whan he vndirstode that, than he drough hym a litill a-side by a river and comaunded hys men hem to arme hastely. Thus were bothe partes armed all nyght, and on the morowe as soone as thei saugh the day appere, bothe parties lepte to horse and rode eche a-gein other, and whan thei saugh that thei sholde mete, the kynge Bohors sente to the kynge Amaunt for to come speke with hym sool by hymself, and he com with goode will, ffor he was a goode knyght and a trewe; and as soone as thei were mette, than seide the kynge Amaunt, “Sir, this is soth that ye haue sente for me to speke with yow, and I am comen for to shewe how ye do me grete wronge of a castell of myn that ye haue me be-rafte, and therfore I pray yow that my castell be to me a-gein delyuered, be couenaunt that I shall be youre frende for euer more er eny more debate therfore be made.” “Sir,” quod the kynge Bohors, “as touchinge the Castell, I toke noon from yow, but he toke it to whom the fee belonged, and that was Vterpendragon, of whos soule god haue pite, whos man ye owe for to be and yelde hym servise. But ye were so full of pride that ye deygned not to do hym seruise ne homage, and therfore he toke it fro yow, for ye

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wolde not be his man, and yaf it to me for to kepe, for many day I haue hym serued. And yet shall I make to yow a feire plee: com with me to Bredigan where the kynge Arthur me abideth, and do hym homage, as the barouns seyen that ye owe for to do, and I shall yelde yow the castell all quyte.” “Will ye noon othirwise do?” quod the kynge Amaunt. “Sir,” seide the kynge Bohors, “no; for of yow I holde right nought, but be-come trewe liege man to the kynge Arthur, and I shall yelde yow the castell that I haue in my baillye.” “That will I not do,” quod the kynge Amaunt, “ffor neuer will I ben his man.” “And seth ye will not leve my counseile, that I can no more sey.” Than seide Amaunt, “Ye haue brought hider with yow a fewe peple, and also I haue here a fewe of myne, and yef we fight togeder it may not be withoute grete harme on bothe sides, but therfore lete vs do in other manere. Ye be here for the right of kynge Arthur that ye holde for lorde; now lete vs than fight togeder body for body, by this couenaunt: that yef ye me conquere the Castell to be youre quyte, and I to go with yow to Bredigan and do homage to the kynge Arthur for all my londe, I and alle my barouns; and yef it be so that I yow conquere, yelde me the Castell and go yowre-self quyte, for other thinge of yow will I not aske, and thus may ye eschewe alle periles and stintyn alle strives.” “And yef oon of vs dye,” quod the kynge Bohors, “what shall come ther-of thanne?” Quod Amaunt, “Yef ye me sle, my men shull go with yow, and do homage to the kynge Arthur; and yef so be that ye be slain, the Castell to be myn, and alle youre men to be quyte, and go what wey thei will, and yef thei will be-come my men, I folio 129b
will right gladly hem receyve.”

Than thei assured to holde these covenauntes, and made alle hir men to be sworn to holde the same withoute faile. Than wente the two lordes in to a faire launde, and thei were well armed at alle poyntes, and eche of hem helde a grete spere with hedes of sharpe grounde stiell, and bothe were thei moche knyghtes and stronge and of high prowesse, but the kynge Bohors was somwhat the larger man of bones. And as soone as

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thei com in to the launde, Vlfin com to hym, a Bretell, and Kay, and Gefflet, and Antor, and alle xl knyghtes of her companye, and seide, “Sir, what purpose ye to do? will ye fight with this kynge body for body? Doth not so, but go we on hem alle togeder, for thei shull not a-gein vs endure, for haue ye no doute, though thei be moo than we, thei shull be disconfited. Neuer mote the kynge Arthur vs holde but we hem conquere [correction; sic = coquere], and make hem alle come to youre mercy or thei shull alle be deed; and on the tother side, yef we suffre yow to fight in this manere, we shull be blamed of youre brother, and of the kynge Arthur.” “Holde youre pees,” quod the kynge Bohors, “for sithe he hath me atised to bataile I will it neuer leve, for than sholde I neuer haue honoure, and therfore speke no more ther-of, I praye yow, for my love.” And whan thei saugh it wolde noon othirwise be thei it suffred.

On the tother side bith come to kynge Amaunt, Gingabresell and his lorde Brandelis, and seiden, “Sir, what is this that ye will do? so wise a man as ye be, ought not soche thinge to vndirtake to put hymself in auenture of deth for covetise of londe, ne other auoir.” Quod Amaunt, “God helpe me neuer yef I do euer otherwise, for owther I will all gete or all lese.” “Now I shall telle yow, than,” quod Geromelans, “what ye shull do: take the bateile a-gein the beste knyghtes of theym yonder, and we shull fight with hem, and so may we be of yow more sure.” “Neuer noon other,” quod the kynge Amaunt, “shull fight saf he and I, for so haue I hym ensured and he me.” “Now wite ye well, than,” quod Geromelans, “yef yow myshappe, as god diffende, we will make hym noon homage, ne the kynge Arthur, ne no man that of yow eny londe doth holde.” Whan the kynge Bohors vndirstode the contencion of the kynge and his nevewes, he cleped Vlfin and Geret de lamball, and seide, “Go to the kynge Amaunte, and sey I sente hym to wite that I wolde he make no pleet, ne noyse to no man of his companye, of that he hath me graunted, ffor yef it falle that I haue of hym the better, I will that alle his men go quyte where so thei will.” And thei wente and tolde to Amaunt as the kynge Bohors hadde

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hem comaunded; and whan Amaunt herde this he comended hym moche. Than he com in to the myddill of the launde, where the kynge Bohors a-bode redy, and a-noon as the kynge Amaunt was comen, thei withdrough a-side of bothe parties, and thei moved
folio 130a
a-noon as thei that thought longe it taried er the bataile were begonne. Thei leide theire speres be-fore theire brestes, and smote theire horse with the spores, and mette vpon the sheldes and with helmes, and hurteled so togeder, that eche of hem was so astoned, that hem semed that the fire fill oute of her iyen. And it fill that the kynge Amaunt fell of his horse to grounde so astonyed, that he wiste not whether it was nyght or day; and so he lay longe while at the erthe. And the kynge Bohors was also so sore astonyed of that harde encountre, that he lay longe while vpon the arson of his sadill; but well he kepte hym from fallinge, for he was of grette prowesse, and a-roos lightly and drough oute his swerde, that was of grete bounte, wherewith his sone Lyonell afterwarde yaf many a grete stroke, as ye shull heren her-after rehersed whan tyme cometh.

As soone as the kynge Bohors hadde oute his swerde he smote faste a-boute hym, and wende to fynde the kynge Amaunt. Than he behelde and saugh he lay at the erthe vpright, and he helde the swerde in his honde all naked, and griped his shelde, and come to hym that yet lay on the grene, and putte the poynte of his swerde on his shelde and be-gan to pouke hym, and cleped, “Rise vp, kynge Amaunt, for to longe haste thow slepte and the day passeth, and I haue moche for to ride, and therfore thow doste no curteysie to tary me so longe.” After a longe while the kynge Amaunt com oute of swowne, and hadde herde the kynge Bohors clepe, and vndirstode what he seide, and preised hym moche in his herte for that he hadde so longe a-biden hym withoute smytinge, and that he was more curteyse and deboner than he wolde haue ben to hym yef he hadde ben in his power. Than he lepte vpon his feet lyghtly and drough oute his suerde oute of scauberke that was full fyn, and was a-shamed for that he hadde founde hym at erthe ligginge; he couered hym with his shelde, and com to the kynge Bohors and caste at hym a stroke, and he

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caste his shelde ther a-gein, and he smote so harde that he slitte it to the bokell; and the kynge Bohors yaf hym a-gein soche a stroke thourgh the helme that he slytte it in two partyes, that it fill down a-boute his sholderes that it toke a-wey his sight from his hede. Whan he felte hymself so blynded he lepte bakke and cutte a-sonder the laces of his helme and caste it a-wey, and than couered hym with his shelde, for sore he douted his heede, whereon was no more but the coyfe of mayle. Whan the kynge Bohors saugh the kynge Amaunt that so hadde loste his helme, he cleped to hym and seide, “Kynge Amaunt, come make pees with the kynge Arthur, and do hym his homage, for grete damage it were yef thow sholdest here thus dye, ffor thow seiste how it is the befallen, and yet thou art of feire age, and me hevyeth sore the to sle.” “But thow,” quod the kynge Amaunt, “yelde the and putte the in my mercy. Trowest thou me so soone to haue conquered, for myn helme that I have caste of, folio 130b
that dide me but noye. Now deffende the, for I the diffye,” and with that the kynge Amaunt ran on hym right wroth, and wende to smyte hym on the heede, but the kynge Bohors, that moche cowde of skirmerie, resceyved the stroke on his shelde, and he smote so harde that a gret quarter fill on the launde. Than launched oute the kynge Bohors a grete stroke, and made semblaunt to smyte ther as he wolde not, and Amaunt caste ther agein his shelde, and the kynge Bohors withdrough his stroke another wey, and smote the kynge Amaunt on the heede, that he cleft hym down to the sholderes, and he fill deed to the erthe vpright.

Whan the kynge Bohors saugh the kynge Amaunt dye, he was right sory, and seide he hadde leuer haue take hym, quyk, and that he sholde haue made his pees with the kynge Arthur. And whan Guygebresill, and Brandelis, and Guyromelans saugh the kynge Amaunt was deed, thei turned with CC knyghtes, and seide that neuer sholde thei love the kynge Arthur, ne no man that to hym belonged; and CCC be lefte, and seide thei wolde go with the kynge Bohors to the kynge Arthur and do theire homage, ffor a better lorde than he myght thei noon haue.

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Whan the kynge Amaunt was deed the kynge Bohors cleped hys companye, and seide that gladly wolde he ther make an hospital where-ynne a man myght euer after serue oure lorde god for the soule of hym as longe as the wolde dured, and that oure lordes body myght be sacred therynne, and his seruyse seide and don, for the victorye that god hadde hym yoven. Ther was a clerke that many a day hadde hym serued, and he com be-fore the kynge and asked of hym this yefte, and seyde he wolde gladly a-bide there yef hym liked; and the kynge hym graunted, and yaf hym rentes, and lefte with hym of his auoir grete plente for to make the hospitall, and ther lefte the clerke in this manere, that was after a goode man and a holy of lif. And whan the kynge Bohors hadde made entiere the kynge Amaunt, and by-sette the rentes to the clerke, he rode forth till that thei com to Bredigan, where that he fonde the kynge Arthur, and the kynge Ban, his brother, and Merlin, that to hym made right grete ioye. As soone as the kynge Bohors was a-light, he seide to the kynge Arthur, “Sir,” quod he, “here be a party of the knyghtes of the kynge Amaunt, that beth come to yow in my condite, and sey that thei will do homage and holde theire londes of yow, and thei be worthi men and riche and high Barouns, as I am do to vndirstonde, of the beste of that londe. Now, take theire homages, and hem resceyveth as ye owe to do.”

And the kynge Arthur seide “thei be welcome, and wite thei right well, that neuer will I do to hem but well while that thei will me love, ffor thei love me and I will love hem, and yef thei me hate I shall hem haten.” And these com forth and dide hym homage a-bouten CCC; and whan thei hadde don theire homage the kynge Arthur asked hem tidinges of the kynge Amaunt, and what man he was in his contrey; and thei gonne to wepe sore, and seiden how he was deed.

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“How,” qoud Arthur, “sey ye trouthe that he is deed?” and thei seide, “Ye, withoute faile;” and than thei tolde all the trouthe how the kynge Amaunt departed oute of his londe for to go to the Castell of Charroye, and how thei wente be-fore in to the wey, ther the kynge Bohors sholde come for to fight with hym, and how thei foughten body for body, and how Page 370
the kynge Amaunt was deed, and tolde hym all theire traueyle, that nothinge lefte thei vn-tolde that thei cowde on thenke. Whan the kynge Arthur and the kynge Ban herden of the prowesse that the kynge Bohors hadde don thei were gladde, and preised hym moche and comenden; and alle men seiden a-noon as thei it wisten, that neuer hadde thei herde of two so noble men as were the two bretheren, and seide well that yef thei two ne hadde not ben, the kynge Arthur hadde all loste. Thus thei soiourned at Bredigan thre dayes full, and than sente the kynge to enquere for workemen and labourers with mattokkes and shoveles till he hadde well vC. Than thei wente to the tresour, as Merlin hem taught, in the foreste, and lete digge in the erthe and fonde the tresour that neuer er was seyn, and toke it oute of the erthe, and charged Cartes and Chariettes in tonnes, that thei hadde brought thider grete plente; and whan thei hadde all the tresour charged, thei made it to be condited to logres, where as Arthurs nevewes dide a-bide. And Merlin made hem digge depe vndir an Oke till thei fonde a vessell of lether, and ther-in xij the beste swerdes and the feirest that eny man nede to seche. These ledde the kynge Arthur to logres with his tresour, till that thei were come to Court, that thei sholde on be emploide. And as soone as the children herde speke that the kynge Arthur hir oncle was comynge, thei lepte on theire horse and rode agein hym alle togeder, that noon ne lefte but wente alle gladde and myrie that neuer peple myght make more ioye. And whan thei com nygh, Merlin toke the kynge Arthur a-part and the two kynges, and made hem a-light vnder a feire tre, for to a-bide the children that com, and comaunded her hoste to ride all wey forth till that thei come to logres, and take theire logginges, and ese hem all by leiser. And whan thei herde the comaundement of the kynge thei passed forth withoute more abidinge, and mette with the cheldren, that com with grete Chyuachie. And whan thei mette the routes, thei asked where was the kynge Arthur; and thei hem shewde the tre ther he was a-light; and the childeren hem dressed that wey that moche hem dide haste. And Gawein wente be-fore, that thei helde for maister and lorde, and Page 371
thei hadde right, for he was the beste taught and the moste curteise that euer was, and in whom was lefte vilonye, and the wisiste that myght be whan he com to Chiualrie.

Whan thei com to the tree ther the kynge was a-light, and these other two kynges with hym, and the knyghtes of the rounde table; and as soone as the children hem saugh thei a-light a-foote from theire horse and wente a-foote ther as these knyghtes were
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sette vpon the fresshe herbes in the shadowe of the foreste; and hem aventeed and keeled, for it hadde be hoote all the day, and the hadde riden all the day armed, for doute of the saisnes that were in the londe, and it was a-boute the ende of maye. Whan the knyghtes of the rounde table saugh the children approche nygh, that eche hadde take other hande in hande godely, and alle were thei well clothed, and richely a-raied and full of grete bewte, and semed well that thei were alle come of gode issue, and it be-com hem well, that thei com so entreprised, and thei helde it a grete debonerte that thei helde togeder so feire. And whan the knyghtes hem saugh come, thei roos a-geins hem; and whan thei com nygh Gawein hem salued, that was of the chief and the eldeste, and than he seide, “Feire lordinges, we seche the kynge Arthur, wherefore we praye yow that ye will vs shewen where he is, that we may hym knowen.” At this worde ansuerde Nascien, and salued hym a-gein debonerly, and seide, “My feire sones, lo, hym yonde, ther tho noble men ben sette, and he is also the yongeste of alle,” and shewde hym with his fynger. And whan Gawein hym saugh he paste forth, and seide, “Sir, gramercy,” and com that wey ther the kynge was and his felowes; and thei stode vpon foote, as soone as thei saugh the children come.

Whan Gawein saugh his oncle and his felowes, he and alle the children kneled down and salued the kynge and his companye, for hym and his felowes that were with hym I-comen. “Sir,” quod Gawein, “I am come to yow, I and my brethern and my cosins, as to my liege lorde, and these other be come also for the goode that thei here speken of yow, and for to seche oure armes of yow, and that it plese yow for to make vs knyghtes,

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and shull gladly yow serue, as we owe to do, yef oure seruise may yow plese, and I sey not but that thei haue yow serued, ffor somme ther ben here that, while ye haue ben oute of contrey, haue deffended youre londe as wele as it hadde ben their owne a-gein alle youre enmyes, and have be in helpinge to alle hem that ye lefte it to kepe, and seth thei come, haue thei suffred many a grete trauaile, and I will well that ye it wite, for to a goode man ther sholde be reported honour and bounte whan he hath don, and of a shrewe oweth oon consele, for he hath no herte it to guerdone, ner the iyen power a gode man to beholde, ne to knowe the haluendell of the bounte that in hym is.” Whan the kynge vndirstode the childe that so wisely spake, he toke hym by the hand, and a-noon comaunded hem alle to a-rise; and thei did his comaundement. And than the kynge aresond hem, and asked of Gawein what thei were. “Sir,” seide Gawein, “er ye knowe more by vs wolde we wite youre volunte, and after that demaunde vs that yow plesith, and we shull telle yow gladly that we knowen.” Whan the two kynges herde the wordes of the childe, thei helde hym right wise, and seide to the kynge Arthur that he seide
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right. And than spake the kynge Arthur, and seide, “Ffeire frendes, I will withholde yow with right gladde chere, and will make yow knyghtes, bothe yow and youre companye of myn owne, and ye be right welcome, and I will that fro hens-forth that ye be my frendes and my felowes and of my prive counseile and lordes of my court.” And whan the childeren herde how the kynge spake, thei kneled and hym thonked; and the kynge toke hem by the hondes, and seide to Gawein, “Ffeire frende, now telle me what ye be, and of youre felowes telle me the verite, ffor longe me thinketh it to wite.”

“Sir,” quod the childe, “men clepe me by my right name, Gawein, the sone of kynge loot, of leoneys and of Orcanye, and these thre that I holde by the hondes beth my brethern, and the name of that oon is Agrauayn, and the tother is Gaheret, and the thridde Gaheryes; and oure moder hath do vs to vndirstonde that she is youre suster on hir moder side; and thise gentilmen ben oure cosins germain, as oure auntes sones,

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and the name of the lesse, that is shorte and fatte, is Galashin, and is sone to kynge Ventre, and this other, that is longe and yonge, is sone to kynge Vrien, and his name is Ewein, and this Gentilman is his brother on his fader side, and is cleped also Ewein, and these tweyne other, that ye se holde togeder, thei be gentilmen of high lynage, ffor this feire broun is sone to the kynge Belinans, of South walis, and is nygh cosin to Galashin; and these other tweyne be nevewes to the kynge of Strangore and ben nygh sibbe to Galashin; and these other tweyne ben nevewes also to the kynge of Strangore, and the name of that oon is Kay destranx, and the tother Kehedin; and these other tweyne, that ther stonde togeder, aperteyne to the kynge loot, my fader, and be Erles sones, and oon is cleped Ewein white hande, and the tother Ewein esclins, and the tother Ewein Cyuell, and the tother Ewein de lyonell; and this other gentilman, that is of so grete bewte, that is so moche and semly and well shapen of body and of alle membres, is nevew to the Emperour of Costantynnoble, and his name is Seigramor, and is come with vs be his debonerte and his fraunchise to take armes, and that ye hym make knyght, and he will yow gladly serue with gode will, and will that he and I be felowes in armes while hym liketh to a-bide in this contrey; and these other gentilmen that ye seen aboute vs whereof be so grete plente ben alle frendes and kynnesmen, and haue lefte her londes and hir honours for to come serue yow for the grete love that the haue to yow.”

Whan the kynge Arthur hadde herde Gawein thus speke, he leide his arme a-boute his nekke, and seide, “He is right well-come,” and hym kiste [correction; sic =

] note.10 and made of hem grete ioye, and than his brethern and his cosins, and to segramore he made merveilouse ioye; and whan he hadde welcomed hem alle, than he seide to Gawein, “Gawein, feire nevewe, com hider, and that I yow enffeffe ye will take the Constabilrie of myn housolde and of all folio 132b
the lordship of my londe after me, and fro hens-forth to be lorde and comaunder of alle hem that ben in my londe, for I will it so Page 374
be.” And Gawein kneled, and seide, “Sir, gramercy;” and the kynge hym feffed with his right glove, and than he reised hym vpon his feet, and than lept to theire horse, and rode forth to logres. And whan the kynge entred in to the Citee his suster com a-gein hym, the wif of kynge loot of Orcanye, and with hir com Morgne le fee, hir suster, that was so grete a clergesse. And whan the kynge hem knewe he made of hem grete ioye, for longe tyme hadde he not hem sein; and thei kissed as brother and suster. And thus thei come to the maister paleys, that was hanged with clothes of silke, and strowed with fressh herbes softe and swote smellinge, and maden grete ioye thourgh the town all day on ende and all nyght, so that no man may reherse the ioye, and the gladnesse of all the peple.

The same nyght the kynge comaunded the children to go wake in the cheiff mynster till on the morrowe be-fore messe, that no lenger he wolde a-bide. And the storie seith this was the quynsyme after Pentecoste; and ther was the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and lxj knyghtes of the rounde table with these children all day, that hem in no wise wolde leven.

Whan it com be-fore the tyme of high messe, Arthur toke Calibourne, his gode swerde, that he drough oute of the ston, and by the counseile of Merlin therwith he girde Gawein, his nevewe, and than he sette on the spore on the right hele, and the kynge Ban vpon the lifte hele, and after that the kynge Arthur yaf hym the acolee, and bad god make hym a gode knyght, and after he a-dubbed his thre brethern also, and yaf eche of hem a suerde of tho that were founde in the tresour that Merlin taught; and than the tweye sones of kynge Vrien, and than Galashin, and Dodinell, and Kay, and Kehedin, and to eueriche of these he yaf a swerde of the tresour; and than the kynge a-dubbe Seigramor, with soche garmentes as he hadde brought from Costantynnoble, for he was come well a-raide of alle thinges that behoveth to a newe knyght; and the kynge girde hym with a gode swerde, that he hadde brought out of Constantynnoble, that his graunsire the kynge Adrian hadde hym yoven; and than he sette on his right spore, and the kynge

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Bohors his lifte spore, and than the kynge Arthur yaf hym the acolee; and than he dubbed the iiij cosins, Ewein White honde, and Ewein Esclyn, and Ewein Cyuell, and Ewein de lyonell, and Alain and Acon, and to ech of these v he yaf a swerde of tho that were of the tresour; but the storie seith that Dodynell hadde noon, but he hadde the swerde that was the kynges Amaunt, and the kynge Bohors hym it yaf, for that he was somdell of hys kyn.

Whan these children were thus a-dubbed, than eche of hem a-dubbed soche companye as thei wolde lede of soche as thei hadde brought with hem; and whan thei were alle redy thei wente to high messe, that the archebisshop sange, and whan masse was don thei com
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a-gein to the paleise to mete, and ther helde Arthur grete court and grete feste, and it nedith not to speke of the meesse ne the seruise that thei hadde that day, for it were but losse of tyme; and after mete wolde these yonge bachelers haue reised a quyntayn in the medowes, but the kynge hem diffended by the counseile of Merlin, for that the contrey was so trouble and full of werre, and the cristin sore turmented with saisnes that were entred in the londe. Thus lefte the enuysenx of these yonge bachillers and newe knyghtes at this tyme, and soiourned in the town iij dayes. And the kynge departed grete richesse to yonge bachelers that he with-heilde, that of alle parties were come grete plentee, ffor ther com so many of oon and other that thei were lxMl what on horsebak and on foote, withoute hem that he hadde brought out of the reame of Tamelide. And in the mene-while that thei soiourned in the town, Morgne le fee aqueynted hir with Merlin, and was with hym so prive, and so moche she was with hym that she knewe what he was, and many merveilles he hir taught of astronomye and of egramauncye, and she helde it right wele. And on the thridde day spake Merlin to the kynge, and badde hym appareile for to move, ffor Pounces and Antony and ffrolle ben entred now in to the reame of Benoyk, and also the peple of the kynge of Gaule, and also Claudas the kynge de la desert. And Arthur seide he was redy to go whan hym lyked, for he a-bode but his comaundement.

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Than seide Merlin, “Comaunde alle youre hoste to be redy armed for to move at mydnyght, and take with yow of this londe xxMl, and xxMl of the reame of Tamelide, and xxMl ye shull leve in this town, ffor this reame may not be lefte withoute peple, and lete Doo of Cardoell of hem haue the gouernaunce;” and thus ended her counseile. And than the kynge comaunded Gawein as Merlin hadde seide, and a-noon Gawein dide his comaundement, and made hem redy appareilled; and hem departed and disseuered a-sonder, and hem he logged in the medowes of logres alle that sholde with hem go. And whan he hadde do thus he com to the kynge and to Merlin, that he saugh in counseile togeder, and seide how all was redy. And whan Merlin hym saugh, he bad the kynge aske hym what was the knyght that ledde hym to socour his moder in the medow of glocedon. And he hym turned and seide, “Sir, how knowe ye this, and who hath this to yow I-tolde.” “Certes,” quod the kynge, “he that tolde me knoweth alle these thinges well I-nough.” “So helpe me god, sir,” seide Gawein, “I knowe not what he was, for I saugh hym neuer be-fore ne after.” “Now,” quod Merlin, aske hym yef he knewe hym that brought hym the letter from his cosin Ewein, the sone of kynge Vrien.” And whan Gawein saugh and behelde hym that satte by the kynge, he asked whi he made the kynge hym so demaunde; and than he be-thought hym a-gein wisely, and remembred the wordes that Doo of Cardoell hadde to hym seide. And the kynge asked yef he hym kenned.

And he seide, “Nay; but oon dide me for to vndirstonde that it was Merlin, but trewly I knowe hym not; and many other bountees folio 133b
and seruyses hath he me don, ffor Seigramor, the emperoures nevew, he made me delyuer from pereile of deth, and my moder, and my cosin Ewein, and also oureself at the castell of Arondell, and he is the man of the worlde that I wolde faynest knowe this day.” “Ye shull knowe hym I-nough,” quod Merlin, “whan hym liketh.” Than be-gan the kynge to laugh right lowde, and seide, “Gawein, feire nevew, sitte down here by me, and I shall telle yow that I knowe.” And he sette hym down be the kynge, and ther were no mo but thei thre.

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Than seide the kynge to Gawein, “Feire nevew, lo, here the gode man by whom ye wente to the Castell of Arondell, where that ye fought with the saisnes that day that Dodynell the sauage and Kay destranx and his neveu com oute of her contrey; and therfore now thonke hym of the servises that he hath yow don, and well ye owe so to do, and to love hym for his gode herte that he hath to yow.”

“Sir,” seide Gawein, “I can not I-nowgh hym quyte as he is of worthynesse, but thus moche I sey, that I am all his and at his comaundement, and he is so wise that knowe I well that he knoweth all my corage that I haue to hym.” And he seide, “Ye,” that he knewe well his herte, and that he wolde with hym ben aqueynted and be oon of his privees; but he bad hym that he sholde not telle no creature of nothinge that he seide to hym were he neuer so pryve ne frendly; “and ye shull se me,” quod he, “in so many gises that I will not be knowe of no man, ffor moche is the enuye for covetyse in this worlde.” And Gawein seide that neuer wolde he speke ther-of to no creature of the erthe.” Thus was Merlin aud sir Gawein aqueynted be-fore his Oncle; and whan thei hadde longe spoke togeder, than seide Merlin, “Feire frende, go take youre leve of youre moder, and than goith to the hoste, and make youre peple go to horsebak a-noon after mydnyght, and than goith forth youre wey towarde Dover to the portes, and do appareille vesselles and assemble shippes at the ryvage, so that youre vncle, whan he cometh and the two kynges in his companye, that beth worthy men, may entere withoute lenger lettinge; and, for godes sake, loke ye do hem worship and honour, ffor though thei be the kynge Arthurs men, yet ben thei comen of higher lynage than is he; and loke ye lete no man knowe what wey that ye shull go.” And Gawein seide it sholde be don as he hadde devised. Than departed Gawein, and toke leve of his moder, that was right wise and [correction; sic =
a]moche hym loved, and comaunded hym to god to diffende hym from euyll. And he departed and com to the hoste, he and his brethern, and sir Ewein, his cosin, that moche hym loved, and Galashin, and Dodinell, and Seigramor, and Ewein avoutres, and the foure

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cosins that alle were cleped Ewein, and Kay destranx, and Kehedin, his nevew, these ne departed gladly a-sonder; these hadde the hoste in gouernaunce, as sir Gawein hem assigned, so that alle were at the comaundement of my lorde sir Gawein. And a-noon after mydnyght Gawein made trusse sommers and other cariage, and made goode wacche a-boute the hoste,
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that ther ne ascaped noon aspie; and thei hit kepten that the booke hath rehersed, and than thei rode forth a softe paas till thei come to the port of Dover. And the kynge Arthur a-bode at logres, and Merlin, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and the xlj knyghtes that thei ledde in to Tamelide, and the knyghtes of the rounde table. And sir Gawein made serche all the ryvages, and take shippes and assembled a grete navie. And whan Merlin knewe that all was redy, he sente to the kynge, and made hym move be nyght, and seide er thei moved, that thei sholde a-ryve at the Rochell, and badde hem do make her men rowe hem vp thider, “and whan ye beth a-rived, loke that ye move not till that ye se me a-gein.” Quod the kinge, “Shull ye not than come with vs?” “No,” quod Merlin, “but ye shull ly ther but oon nyght, whan ye shull se me with yow.” With that departed that oon from that other, and Merlin wente in to Northumbirlonde to Blase, his maister, that of hym was right gladde, for hertely he hym loved, and asked hym how he hadde don seth he departed; and he hym tolde alle the thinges as thei were befallen, and Blase hem wrote in his booke; and whan Merlin com to that he behoved to telle of the damesell that he loved paramours; and Blase was ther-of right hevy, for he douted she wolde hym disseyve and that she sholde lese his grete witte, and he gan hym to chastise; and he hym tolde soche prophesies as were for to come, and of other that sholde falle in other londes, as ye shull here hereafter, and alle blase wrote in his boke; but now returne we to speke of the kynge Arthur.

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CHAPTER XXII.

BATTLE BEFORE THE CASTLE OF TREBES.

Now seith the storye, that the firste day of Iuyn departed the kynge Arthur from Logres, and in that mery seson rode Arthur forth, and the two kynges with hym, till thei come to Dover, and entred in to the shippes withoute more tariynge, and hadde goode wynde and softe, and goode maroners hem for to gide, till thei come to the Rochell withoute eny trouble or annoye, and logged hem in tentes and pavelouns withoute the towon, and abode Merlyn, and he com on the morowe at mydday as he hadde promysed the kynge Arthur, and the thre kynges made to hym grete ioye, and namely Gawein that hym loved so well, and Merlin loved hym for the grete trouthe that he knewe in hym, and ther thei soiourned, and rested and maden goode waicche on the weyes and passages, that noon wente ne com that eny tidinges myght brynge to theire enmyes. But now resteth a while of hem, and returne to speke of Leonce, the lorde Paerne, and Pharyen of Trebes that were so goode men and trewe to theire lorde.

Whan Merlin was departed from Leonce of Paerne, and hadde tolde hym that Pounce and Antony and her companye com with xxMl men of armes, and ffrolle a Duke of Almayne with xxMl, Leonces sente for peple fer and nygh of kyn and frendes and sowdiours, till he hadde xMl of the reame of Benoyk of horsmen withouten fotemen with whiche he stuffed
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his forteresses, and Pharien on that other side com oute of the reame of Gannes with xMl horsmen, withouten the peple on foote whiche he lefte to kepe the Citees and Castelles, and brought viteles on alle parteis in to stronge townes, and closed the prayes from theire enmyes that nought myght thei wynne on forreye, and whan thei hadde

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spedde so all theire ordenaunce, Pharien drough hym to Gannes with all his hoste, and Leonces in to Benoyk with all his hoste, and a-bide so in this manere till tydinges com to hem, that her enmyes were entred into the londe that sette on fire ouer all ther as thei myght eny harme do; but litill thei founde in the contrey to take to, ffor all was turned from theire power into stronke fortresses, and therfore Claudas de la desert was full of sorowe and hevynesse, for well he supposed ther-by that thei hadde some warnynge in some manere of her comynge. But yet therfore ne lefte not the forreyours to renne thourgh the londe, but litill cowde thei fynde, and whan thei hadde ronne vp and dowon thei repeired agein to the grete hoste, and than toke counseile what thei sholde do, and than thei acorded to sette seige be-fore the castell of Trebes, and thider thei rode and loigged hem in the medowes ther-by, but it was fer of, ffor the castell stode on an high hill, and at the foote of the castell was the maras, depe on alle sides, and ther-to was noon entre saf a litill cawchie that was narowe and straite of half a myle of lengthe. In these medowes loigged hem Pounces and Antonyes on that oon side, and on that othir side ffrole the Duke of Almayne, and on that othir side Claudas de la deserte, and on the fourth parte the peple of the kynge of Gaule; that Randolf, the stiwarde of Gaule, dide condite, whiche was a bolde knyght and an hardy, and eche of these hadde xxMl men at his baner. Thus was the castell of Trebes beseged on foure parties, and kepte so cloos that noon myght entre ne come oute, but that he were a-noon taken and well thei wende to take the castell be famyn, ffor of noon assaute hadde thei no drede, for noon myght come ther-to for the maras that was so nygh, and thus thei beseged longe the quene Helayne and hir suster that were withynne, and hadde grete drede leste thei sholde haue be taken some maner treson; and many tymes thei wepten for theire lordes, that so longe hadde ben from hem and thei hadde herde of hem no tidinges. And Grascien hem counforted wele and badde hem be nothinge dismayed, ffor withynne shorte tyme thei sholde have socoure, and seide he dide but a-wayte vpon the hour that theire tweye lordes were comynge.

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In this maner dide Grascien hem counforte, and his son Banyns, to a-voide the hevynesse of the two quenes.

This Banyn was a bolde squyer and hardy, and nygh cosin to Leonce the lorde of Paerne, that was cosin to the two kynges, and whan he knewe that the Castell was beseged, he sente to Antyaume the stiwarde, that he sholde come speke with hym.

And he come a-noon in all haste, and than Leonce badde hym appareile his men, ffor this nyght, quod
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he, behoveth vs to ride, and ye and youre peple shull a-bide me in the foreste of briogne at the welle in the myddell of the launde, and loke ye demene yow so, that noon knowe what wey we shull ride, and sette soche warde a-boute the hoste, that noon departe to telle eny tidinges to oure enmyes, and he seide this sholde be do so that in hym sholde be no defaute. With that departed Antyaume the stiwarde, and dide as Leonce hadde hym comaunded. And Leonce toke his nevew and sente hym to Gannes to Pharien and badde hym come in to the foreste of Briogne, in to the place that was assigned in soche as he knewe was myster; and this spedde hym so that he dide his message well and feire. And whan Pharien that Leonce was meved on his wey, he arraied hym hastely and garnyyshed the town with soche peple as he saugh was nede, and rode forth be the moste vn-cowthe weyes that he knewe, and hadde in his companye well xMl, and also Leonce rode forth, he and Antyaume, till thei com into a grete valey, all closed with wode, in the foreste of Briogne, as Merlin hadde hym assigned. And the hoste was so well kepte that noon issed oute; and ther thei a-bode till that Pharien com with his peple; and ther thei dide a-bide till on the monday be-fore the feste of seynt John, that moste be on the sonday next after. And whan Merlin knewe that thei were redy, and that thei abode but the socour that he hadde hem promysed. Then he it seide to the kynge Arthur, and to kynge Ban, and to his broţ er, and to Gawein, these v were of oon counseile. And than seide Arthur to Merlin, “What shull we do now in this?” Quod Merlin, “I will a-noon right that ye devide youre peple who shall go be-fore, and who shall go after.” Quod the kynge, “Devise it ye, for ye knowe

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beste what is for oure moste spede.” “With gode will,” seide Merlin, “but this may not be taried.”

Than Merlin firste of all called Gawein and seide, “Goode frende, take xMl men of soche as yow like beste, saf only the knyghtes, of the rounde table for hem shull ye not haue, but ye shull haue the xl knyghtes that youre vncle, the kynge, and the kynge Ban brought oute of Tamelide; and ye shull haue also the newe knyghtes and take with yow as many of other that ye be xMl in all; and drawe yow in to a parte of the felde, and take youre baner to Vlfin to bere, whiche is a noble knyght and right trewe, and do this a-noon right.” Whan Gawein herde the comaundement of Merlin he departed, he and his felisship and Vlfin, and stode a-side with xMl on a part by hem-self. And than Merlin called the kynge Ban and seide, “Kynge Ban, com forth gentill kynght, for ye shull lede the secunde bataile, and ther shull be xMl in youre companye, and we shull se how well ye shull do for the socoure of youre londe, and how ye will yow a-venge vpon Claudas for the damage that he doth in youre reame, and doth purchese euery day.” “Sir,” seide the kynge Ban, “so be it as ye will devise, and yef ever I shall haue ioye, it is thourgh god and yow, and by my lorde the kynge Arthur.”

Quod Merlin, “Go, dissever youre peple, and a-raie hem a-noon for to ride a-gein her enmyes.”

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Than the kynge Ban dissevered oute xMlmen on a part of yonge knyghtes and noble men of armes. After that Merlin cleped the kynge Bohors, and seide, “Sir, ye shull lede the thirdde bataile, and in youre companye shull be the foure hundre knyghtes of the londe of the kynge Amaunt, and of hem of Carmelide, so that ye be xMl men well araied, and whan tyme is sette yow on the wey delyuerly, and loke that in yow faile no chyualrie, ffor now shall it be sene how ye will do for to delyver youre enmyes oute of youre londe.” “Sir,” seide the kynge Bohors, “we shull do as will vouchesafe, the beste that we may;” and than the kynge Bohors dissevered his peple, and made hem to be armed and lepe to horse.

Then seide Merlin to the kynge Arthur, “Sir,” quod he, “ye shull lede the fourthe bataile, and in youre companye

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shull be the knyghtes of the rounde table, ffor thise shull not faile yow for no drede of deth.” Than the kynge comaunded Nascien, and Adragain, and Hervy de rivell, to arme and aray hem; and thei so diden in all haste. Than toke Merlin the dragon and cleped kay the stiward, and seide, “Sir, ye shull bere the baner of the kynge Arthur, for it is youre right; and loke that in yow be shewed knyghthode, and wote ye what ye shull do. Ever whan ye come vpon youre enmyes loke that ye ride streight to the grete baner.” And Kay toke the baner and seide, “Sir, with goode will.” Whan these wardes were departed and dissevered, it was wele a-boute mydday, and thei made hem redy and sette hem to mete; and whan thei hadde eten, the lordes yode to counseile, for to aske Merlin what thei sholde do. Quod Merlin, “I shall telle yow this nyght at the firste somme ye shull meve so that tomorow at even ye be at Trebes; and thei ly ther at sege in foure places, ffor euery prince holdith his siege by hymself; and in euery part is xxMl men and euerich of oure wardes shall go smyte on euery hoste, so that thei be assailed on alle foure partes. But thei make gode waicche and stronge, and therfore we moste worke wisely.” “How, Merlin,” quod Arthur, “have thei than moche more peple than we haue?” “Ye, Sir,” quod Merlin, “more be the haluendell; but ye shull haue feire socour of xxMl men that shull come to yow all be tyme, ffor thei loigge but foure myle from the hoste, withynne the foreste of brioke.” “And how shull thei knowe oure comynge?” quod the kynge.

“Sir,” seide Merlin, “I shall go for to fecche hem.” “Who shall than condite oure hoste?” quod the kynge. “Blioberis,” seide Merlin, “shall go be-fore that well knoweth the passages by the wey that I shall hym tecche, and in the dawnynge of the day loke ye sette on alle togeder ther as ye shull here an horne blowe right high and lowde, and ye shall se a grete flame of fier renne a-bove in the heir on high, and ther-of take goode hede; ffor than shall the socour be redy that I shall yow sende.” “Sir,” seide the kynge, “whan shull ye meve thidirward?” “A-noon right,” quod Merlin, “for in this may be no tariynge, and therfore to god I yow comaunde.”

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folio 136a

With that departed Merlin from the kynge Arthur, and a-noon, as he was oute of the hoste, he vanysshed a-wey so sodeynly that thei wiste not were he be com, and er it was passed noone of the day he com into the hoste of Leonces of Paerne, that a-boode nothinge elles but tidinges that he sholde lepe to horse; and than com Merlin be-fore hym ther as he and Pharien were, and Antyaume and Grascien. And than seide Merlin, “Leonces, what a-bidest thow? whi got thow not to horse, thow and thy peple? ffor thow canst not come so soone thider, but thow shalt fynde ther the kynge Arthur with all his hoste.” And whan he vndirstode that, he made hym grete ioye, and seide that he was welcome, and so seide all the companye; and a-noon thei asked tidinges of theire lordes, and he seide that in short tyme thei sholde hem well seen, “ffor thei ride now a grete spede; but devise a-noon youre wardes and I shall lede yow to the hoste.” “Sir,” seide Leonces, “gramercy, ffor now knowe I well that we shull spede well while ye be in oure companye.” With that wente the foure felowes, and departed her peple into foure parties, and the stiwarde toke vMl and dissevered hem on a part, and Grascien other vMl, and Pharien other vMl, and Leonces toke theym that was lefte, that were well vMl and moo, and made hem to be well armed and a-rayed.

But now cesseth a while of Merlin, and of leonces, and speketh of the kynge Arthur and his companye.

Now seith the storye that as soone as the kynge Arthur and Merlin were departed; the same hour Arthur dide meve on his iourney euery warde after other, and Blioberis rode in the warde of sir Gawein all be-fore, as he that beste knewe the passages. Ther myght oon haue seyn many a riche garnement and many a fressh banere of riche colour wave in the wynde, and the seson was myri and softe, and the contre feire and delitable, ffor many feire medowes and forestes ther weren, in whiche these briddes singen with lusty notes and cler, and than reioyse the corages of these yonge lusty bachelers that to conquere loos and pris and honour haue lefte theire londes and her contreyes, and the swete songe of these briddes remembred their armous whiche

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thei were wonte to haue the presence, and some dide sighe full ofte, and so thei ride forth all the nyght till it was cleir day, and whan thei beheilde a-boute hem and saugh, thei knewe not in what parte thei weren; ffor so moche thei entended to theire myry thoughtes that hem plesed that all other thinge was leide a-side. With that thei be come into a feire launde full of floures vpon the river of leire, and this launde was full of floures and swete herbes and grasse that the horse wente therynne vp to the belyes, and ther thei resten all the hoste of Arthur all the day vnto euesonge tyme, and ete and dranke thei that ther-to haue nede, and slepe at her ese for the place was plesaunte [correction; sic = plsaunte] and delitable, and than thei hem armed more and lesse and lepte to horse,
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ffor thei hadde but vij myle for to ride to the hoste ther as was Claudas. Ther sholde ye haue sein many fressh lusty men of armes vpon stronge startelinge stedis, and swyfte rennynge well covered vndir stiell, and many a riche cote of armes of silke embrowded of dyvers colours, and many a grete spere with trenchaunt hedes of sharp grounde steill, and many an helme and many a shelde glistred a-gein the sonne, and rode so cloos oon after another that whan thei were renged that oon myght have caste a glove vpon theire helmes that sholde not have falle to grounde, er thei hadde ride a butte lengthe. And Blioberis rode in the vaungarde with sir Gawein, and the kynge Ban in the secounde warde with xMl men of armes, and rode a softe paas, theire sheldes be-fore theire brestes, with goode talente to assaile theire enmyes and hem-self to diffende, and rode half a myle after the forwarde. Whan the kynge Bohors saugh his brother forth than he dressed hym and his peple after vpon her wey, and hadde many a bolde knyght and hardy, and that was well seene that day in the bataile be-fore the castell of Trebes. And he cowde hem lede and condite and hem helpe and socour in euery nede, whan the kynge Bohors was departed and dissevered. Than Arthur and his peple made hem redy to folowen after, and whan they were on horse ye sholde have sein many a riche garnement and many a bolde knyght that neuer wolde faile the kynge Arthur for no drede of deth. And Kay rode with the baner in his hande Page 386
that Merlin hadde hym delyuered; and thus thei ride streite and cloos after the kynge Bohors the space of half a myle, and thus thei rode all the nyght till a litill be-fore the day that thei were oute of the foreste of brioke, and were come into the playn and com alle after a longe while be the river vnder leyer vnder the wode side, where as thei resten vnder the Olyves till thei sie the signe that Merlin hadde hem tolde of the braundon of fier that sholde renne-vp in the heir; and that thei herde the noyse of the horne that sholde blowe; and thei approched so nygh the hoste that it was but v bowe draught betwene; and thei saugh in the hoste was grete plente of lightes and moche peple, and thei herde the horse neye and the mules crie often, and thei were so nygh that ech hoste herde the noyse of other, and thei that kepte waicche at the siege sente oute men on horsbakke to aspie what peple it were, and thei yeden oute and saugh their armes and returned agein to the hoste, and tolde how thei hadde founde grete plente of men of armes. Whan thei of the hoste herde these tidinges thei ronne to arme hem, and issed out of the loges and renged hem in the playnes euerich at his baner, and eche man, lete other haue witinge that a grete armee was come vpon theym and thei wiste not what peple. And Pounces and Antonye, that moche cowde of werre, issed oute of the hoste all armed in to the foreste of Bryoke, in to the wodes evese ther as thei sholde come, and comaunded her peple hem for to sue, and thei so dide delyuerly as soone as thei were armed. And ffrolle the Duke of Almayne come oute after and made his folio 137a
stablie vpon a litill river that is cleped Aroaise, and Randolf the senescall of the kynge of Gaule come by the gardins, and Claudas the kynge de la desert sette hym towarde the cauchie towarde the maras that com out strongly from the loigges, and from pavelouns and gadered to the baners.

And while thei entended to make hem redy and sette hem-self in aray, in the mene tyme, Merlin com oute of his enbusshement that wele knewe all theire laboure.

Than he toke an horne and blewe it so lowde that all the wode resounded, and than he caste a merveilouse enchauntement ffor he made appere, and high in the heire a grete flame of fire as reade as

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thunder, and ran ouer the loigges of hem in the hoste, and whan that Arthurs peple saugh the flame of feir renne thourgh the heir, and also herde the horne blowe, thei hem blessed and smote the horse with the spores, and it fill so that Gawein smote thourgh the herberough of the Duke ffrolle, and the kynge Ban thourgh the tentes of the kynge Claudas de la desert, and the kynge Bohors thourgh the Pavelouns of Pouncy and Antony, and the kynge Arthur thourgh the loiginge of Randolf the Senescall of Gaule, and than a-roos the noyse and the shoute on bothe parties, ffor ther was throwe down many a tente and many a paveloun, and many a man wounded and slain of hem that weren at the siege in the loigges, ffor thei were not alle garnysshed of her armoure, and these other hem slough and maymed, that the wounded men cried and braied for the peynes of deth that hem distreyned; and than the sonne be-gan to a-rise clier vpon the bright armure that be-gan to glistere a-gein the bright sonne. Whan Claudas and Pounce Antony and ffrolle saugh the damage that these hem diden, hit hem for thought sore, ffor thei trowed well that thei hadde loste xMl of her men what oon and other, and the Duke ffrolle hadde loste moste of eny other, saf Randolf the Senescall that saugh the grete mortalite that these hem diden that were come out of her enbusshement; he was nygh wode for wratth, and than he com bakke toward the tentes that he hadde lefte, for to geder his peple [correction; sic = ple]

a-boute hym, and yef he and the other ne hadde not returned a-gein to the teintes that thei [correction; sic = th] note.11 hadden lefte, by my dom, ther hadde not ascaped the halvendell, note.12 and whan sir Gawein [correction; sic =

] note.13 saugh ffrolle come, he rode a-gein hym right boldely, and he hadde in his companye many bolde [correction; sic = ] note.14 knyghtes that were yonge bachelers, and ffrolle hadde yet in his companye xvMlmen of [correction; sic = ]

note.15 armes, and vMl hadde he loste that lay deed all to-hewen, and whan thei hadden drawen [correction; sic = ] note.16 nygh thei smote togeder Page 388
as faste as theire horse myght renne, and at the metynge of the [correction; sic = me] hostes note.17 was Seigramore formeste, and ffrolle that was right wrorth com hym agein and [correction; sic = ] note.18 he was a moche knyght and of grete force, and Seigramor and he mette with speres right [correction; sic =
sper] in mydde the sheldes so rudely that bothe fill to grounde, and theire horse vpon theire bodyes, but a-noon thei were lepte on foote, ffor thei were bothe stronge and light and delyuer, and thei drough swerdes oute of scauberk and couered theire hedes vnder sheldes and eche ran to other and begonne betwene
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hem two a bataile right grete and crewell, and yaf betwene hem soche strokes that sore were thei hurt, and ther ne was nother of hem but he was in grete pereile of deth er he hadde eny socour, ffor bothe were thei goode knyghtes and theire suerdes were soche that no man nede to seche noon better, and thus thei fought a longe tyme er thei were departed. Whan Gawein saugh Siegramor at erthe he rode to the rescowe, bothe he and Vlfin that bare the baner; and on that other side com the meyne of ffrolle to delyuer theire maister. And thei smote togeder with speres thourgh sheldes and many ther were leide to grounde on bothe sides, ffor the bataile was grete and fell that longe endured; and with grete labour were bothe Segramor and ffrolle sette on horse, and than be-gan a-gein the bataile so grete that it dide but enforce more and more. Ther dide merveillously well the xl knyghtes that with hem were companyed. But after mydday was passed was no mannys doinge like vnto Gawein, ffor he smote a-down man and horse be stroke of spere and suerde; and also dide well sir Ewein the sone of kynge Vrien and Ewein avoutres, and Ewein white hande, and Galashin the sone of kynge Ventre of Garlot; and Gaheries dide so well that euery man hilde hym the beste knyght after sir Gawein, and also dide well Agrauain and Gueheret and Segramor and alle the other felowes.

On that othir side faught the kynge Ban full harde with the kynge Claudas and his peple, and ther was stronge bataile and many were ther throwen down to the grounde vpon either

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side; and happed so that the kynge Ban and Claudas metten in myddell of the renges that were grete and perilouse, and as soone as eche hadde sight of other, thei ronne togeder with swerdes drawen, and Claudas was a noble knyght and a sure and moche and stronge, but he was euer enviouse a-gein alle tho that were a-bove hym, and he smote the kynge Ban so harde vpon the helme that the sparkeles [correction; sic = keles] note.19 of fire fly oute brynnynge bright and astoned hym so sore that he enclyned on his horse [correction; sic = h]

note.20 nekke; but with grete vigour a-roos the kynge Ban and smote at Claudas to hitte hym on the [correction; sic = he] note.21 helme, and he saugh the stroke come and wevyd a-side, and he smote so the horse nekke passinge [correction; sic = assinge] and kutte note.22 a-sonder the chyne, that he fill to grounde; but a-noon he lepe on foote ryght hastely [correction; sic = ], note.23 but yet er he myght a-rise the kynge Ban yaf hym soche two strokes vpon the helme that nere [correction; sic = he re] he note.24 made hym to falle an knees and handes to the erthe, that the blode braste oute of his hede [correction; sic = o ede], note.25 but the kynge Claudas was of grete force and hym kepte so that he fill not but covered [correction; sic = ed] his heede note.26 with his shelde, and com to the kynge Ban and be-gan betwene hem sore [correction; sic = ] stronge bataile that was full crewell and fell and longe endurynge.

Than be-gan the kynge Claudas to blede sore, and soone hadde the werre be fynysshed for euer more, yef thei two myght eny while lenger have ben togeder.

But his
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men hym socoured strongly, whereof he hadde mo than the kynge Ban by the haluendell; and so were the peple of kynge Ban gretly ouercharged, ffor thei were but xMl, and thei with the kynge Claudas were yet xviijMl, and not-with-stondinge thei fought so on bothe parties that the two kynges were remounted, and than be-gan the chaple full dolerouse and crewell and full mortall, but nedes moste the peple of kynge Ban refuse place, and yef he hymself ne were alle hadde ben discounfited and driven oute of the feilde, but he sustened the bataile so that noon myght hym remeve more than it hadde ben a-dongon, and thus

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thei contened longe in this maner till that mydday was passed.

On that othar side faught the kynge Bohors and Pounce and Antonye at the tentes and pavelouns, so that moche peple were loste of hem that were there lefte, ffor ther thei loste the lyves; and whan Pounce and Antonye saugh the damage so grete that so sodeinly was hem befallen he was wonder wroth and sorowfull; and whan he hadde assembled his men by the foreste where as thei dide a-reste, thei repeired toward the tentes where thei made this occision of hem that thei founden, and whan the kynge Bohors saugh hym come he rode a-gein hym full boldely, his shelde aboute his nekke, with a grete growe spere of aissh with a sharp heede of stiell, and whan Pounce saugh hym come he launched in to the felde a-gein hym and smote the horse with the spores a-gein hym in soche haste as he that trowed to haue taried to longe, and mette togeder with all the myght of bothe horse that thei perced the sheldes, and Pounce brake his spere vpon the kynge Bohors, and the kynge smote hym so rudely that he made the shelde and the arme close to his side and sente the spere heede thourgh shelde and side and made hym a grete wounde so that the reade blode railed oute after, and he shof ther-on so harde that he bar hym to the erthe vpright, and ther he lay longe astoned that noon wiste wheder he were deed or [correction; sic = ]a-lyve, note.27 and whan his men saugh hym falle thei hadde grete drede leste he were deed [correction; sic = w] note.28 and ronne to the rescouse bothe gret and small, and the meyne of kynge Bohors come hem agens and [correction; sic =
com]hem resceyved note.29 at the spere poynte and ther was grete turment and mortall occision, for on [correction; sic = ] oon parte were but xMl and on that other side were xxMl, note.30 and Pounce and Antonye was rescewed and [correction; sic = Pou] note.31 sette on horse, and his men founde hym somdell wounded in the left side, but he had no wound that was like unto his [correction; sic = ] note.32 deth, but he was more sorowfull for that he had been [correction; sic = ]

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remeved out of his sadell than he was [correction; sic = ] note.33 for greef of his wounde, ffor neuer be-fore that tyme had he fought with any [correction; sic = ] knyght that myght make hym remeve oute of his sadell, note.34 and therfor he wold right faine be [correction; sic = ] avenged of that shame note.35 yef he myght come in place, and than al sodeynly he droughe [correction; sic = t]

note.36 his swerde and rode in a-monge the turnement that longe tyme endured and at the laste it [correction; sic = ] note.37 fill so that Pounce mette with the kynge Bohors that of hymself shewde mervelouse dedes of armes, and as soone as he hym
folio 138b
saugh he remembred how he hadde hym vn-horsed and wounded, and a-noon he ran vpon hym with his swerde drawen and smote the kynge vpon the helme that he made hym to enclyne on his sadell bowe be-fore, and whan Pounce wolde have recovered another stroke, the kynge spored his horse in to the stour and than returned the horse hede and com with his swerde in his hande; and also Pounce com a-gein hym that moche hym hated, and thei hewen vpon helmes grete strokes that bothe were astonyed. But theire strokes were not alle I-like, ffor Pounce smothe the kynge vpon the helme that he enclyned vpon his horse crowpe, and the kynge redressed hym and yaf hym soche a buffet vpon the lefte temple that the blode braste oute of mouthe and nose, and therwith he hurteled so harde on hym with strengthe of his horse that Pounce fell to grounde and was so astonyed that he knewe not wheder it were nyght or day, and the kynge rode ouer hym on horse bakke all armed so often, that he was all for brosed and swowned for anguyssh, and the kynge hadde grete talent to a-light for to smyte of his heede, but he hadde hym not a-right at his volunte.

Whan the Romaynes saugh Pounce so diffouled vndir horse feet of hym that nothinge hym loved thei dide presse to the rescowe and smyten thourgh the peple of kynge Bohors all pelly melly, and made hem resorte bakke more than a bowe draught for thei were many mo than were with the Kynge.

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Ther was Pounce remounted full egirly; but sore was he diffouled and beten. Than the stour be-gan to renewe, and the peple of kynge Bohors were at grete myschef, for there enmyes were double so many as thei were. But in this manere thei contened till mydday was passed, and on another part the kynge Arthur faught full fiercely agein Randolf the Senescall, and the ffrensshemen, ffor he fonde hem in pavilouns moo than vijMl that alle were to-hewen and slayn; and whan Randolf saugh the grete losse and the damage, he was full sory, and in grete ire com hym a-geins with xiijMl men that weren lefte, and thei were bolde and hardy and desirouse to ben avenged of the deth of her frendes that thei saugh slayn be-fore theire iyen [correction; sic = ]and note.38 Arthurs men com hem a-geins as tho that were desirouse of the werre, and then they hadde [correction; sic =

] note.39 a goode conditour that sette light by theire enmyes, for hem semed that they were in nombre euen [correction; sic = n] note.40 as many for as many, and resceyued hem at the spere poynte and they lefte there of wounded [correction; sic = ] and slayn grete plente, note.41 ffor ther was many a gallant knyght slayn and beheded, the which was gret dole and [correction; sic =
ga nd] sorowe note.42 to her frendes, ffor ther were the knyghts of the round table the which dide grete [correction; sic = ] note.43 wondres, for thei bar down man and horse; that nothinge myght stond ageyn hem. And they [correction; sic = th] with the kynge Arthur note.44 hem helped so well that he scowred the ranks clene whersoever [correction; sic = th] ther as he com, note.45 aud thourgh her grete prowesses were the frensh rowted and dryven owt of [correction; sic = ] the felde, maugre who that it grucched, note.46 that thei neuer stynte till thei [correction; sic = ]retourned [correction; sic = re ed]

note.47 upon the peple of Pounce and Antonye that right sore greved the kynge Bohors.

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folio 139a

And whan these com on ther was so grete toile and romour of noyse that wonder it was to heere, and therwith a-roos so grete a duste, that the cleir sky wax all derk, and Kay hem pursude with the dragon in honde that Merlin hadde take hym to kepe, and hit caste oute of his throte many tymes so grete flames of fiere up in to the heire so horible that alle theire hertes trembled of hem that neuer hadde seyn it be-fore, and seide oon to another that the worlde was nygh at an ende; and, neuertheles, the dragon had grete significacion in hymself, ffor it betokened the kynge Arthur and his power; and the flame of fiere that com oute of the throte betokened the grete martire of peple that sholde be in his tyme, and the taile that was so tortuouse betokened the grete treson of the peple, be whom he was after be-traied that dide a-rise a-gein hym by mordred his sone that he be-gat on his suster, the wif of kynge loot as ye haue herde rehersed be-fore, ffor whan Arthur after passed ouer see to fight with the Emperour of Rome, and to take the reame of Gannes and of Benoyk for the wratthe of launcelot, that hadde hym lefte for a maltalent that was betwene hem two for his wif, the quene Gonnere, that he was so moche with aqueynted as the tale shall declare hereafter; but of alle these maters we shull cesse at this tyme till that the mater falle ther-to hereafter that it shall clerly be expounded.

Now seith the boke that grete was the bataile be-fore the Castell of Trebes of the peple of Randolf, and the meyne of kynge Arthur. But Randolfes men haue forsake place, and were driven vpon the peple of Pounce and Antonye that full short hilde the kynge Bohors and his men that grete nede hadde of socour; and whan Pounce and Antonye sangh come theym that fledden, he com hem a-geins and cried his ensigne, and returned and ran firste upon the men of kynge Bohors; and whan these saugh hem comynge thei relien and closed hem togeder, and lete renne at the meyne of Pounce Antonye; and the kynge Bohors was so ouercharged that he was nygh discounfited and dryven oute of the felde. But as Kay com that moche hem counforted, and tho be-gan a stronge stour and mortall, and many were ther Page 394
deed on bothe sides; and than thei hilde hem somwhat peringall; and also on that other side faught sir Gawein and ffrolle of Almayne that he made hem resorte vpon the kynge Claudas that faught a-gein the kynge Ban of Benoyk, that was at grete myschef; and whan these foure batailes were come togeder that oon sustened longe that other, and grete was the martire and the noise of strokes of suerdes and gleives vpon helmes. But ther dide Gawein wondirfull dedis with his handes, ffor neuer had eny man seyn be-fore oo man a-lone do soche merveiles as he dide that day; and the storie seith that it was passed myd-day, and it fill that Gawein mette with the kynge Claudas that faught with the kynge Ban, he and a hundred with hym, and the kynge Ban hadde folio 139b
no moo with hym but xix, and therfore was he at grete myschef; and whan Gawein com he made alle the renges to tremble and fremyssh; and whan he saugh the kynge Ban in soche distresse he rode in a-monge hem, with his suerde in hande, that was of grete bounte; and it happed that he mette firste with Claudas that sore hym peyned to greve the kynge Ban and his peple, and Sir Gawein lifte vp his swerde for to smyte the king Claudas vpon the helme, and he hym couered with his shelde; and Gawein hym smote so harde that he made it to fle in two parties, and the suerde descended upon the hynder arson of his sadell and slitte the horse a-sonder, that bothe fill to grounde, the horse and his maister; and so he rode forth and no lenger hym a-bode for that he knewe hym not, and mette so with Mysteres, that was a knyght of Claudas, and he smote hym on the shulder that he slitte hym [correction; sic = hy] to the breste; and than he smote Antorilas that the heed fill in to the felde; and after he leide oute grete strokes on euery side, so harde that xx of hem hath he slayn be-fore the feet of kynge Claudas, and so he hym stired that noon durst hym a-bide a stroke.

Whan the kynge Ban saugh the socour that god hadde hym sente, and he saugh the merveile of the yonge knyght; he thonked and worshiped oure lorde, and than he com to hym and seide, “Gawein, swete frende, ye be welcome at this grete nede, ffor, so helpe me god, the kynge Arthur hath well be-sette Page 395
the lordship that he hath yow yoven to lede and gouerne his peple, ffor to a better than to yow myght he not haue yoven in all this worlde to olde ne yonge; and I praye yow that ye wolde graunte me youre companye this day fro hens-forth.” “Sir,” quod Gawein debonerly, “I graunte it yow with gode herte, and I thanke yow of youre requeste. But me be-houeth to seche my brethern and my cosins, for I wote not where thei be by-come and therfore displese yow nothinge, for as soone as I haue hem founde, I shall to yow a-gein repaire.”

“Sir,” seide the kynge Ban, “I will gladly go with yow and peyne me to ben avenged of myn enmy that ye dide vn-horse; and than were the werre at an ende yef he myght be deed or taken.” Than seide Gawein “whiche is he.” “Lo,” quod the kynge Ban, “yende is he in the blake armes flortee of siluer, and hath that shelde departed of vert and gowles, and therynne a rampaunt lion of siluer, and he is now remounted while we haue thus spoken.” “Sir,” seide Gawein, “yet may we well come to poynte this same day yef god will.” “Now lete vs yeve hem oon assaute, ffor lo me here all redy, for I desire nothinge more than to do hym damage,” quod the kynge Ban, “ffor by hym haue I all my harme that I haue, and that we alle be with I-greved.” “What is he?” said Gawein. “Hit is Claudas de la desert,” seide the kynge Ban, “that this day so sore hath me greved.” “How,”

seide Gawein, “is this he that maketh alle these peple here assemble.” “Ye, sir, withoute faile,” quod the kynge Ban; with that thei spored folio 140a
theire horse that wey that thei saugh Claudas; and as soone as he saugh hem comynge, he com a-gein hem boldely, and be-gan the bateile stronge and crewell, and the kynge Ban, and Gawein, and the xx knyghtes a-gein the kynge Claudas, that hadde mo than an hundred; but thei were discounfited and chaced oute of the place thourgh the prowesse of the two noble men; and whan the kynge Claudas saugh the damage turne vpon hym, he rode in to the medle, where he saw thikkest, for sore he douted to mete with hem that manaced hym of nothinge but to smyten of his hede; and whan Gawein and the kynge Ban saugh hym Page 396
go, thei preked after, and he rode here and there thourgh the bateile, and thei after, that for nothinge wolde hym haue lefte, saf for oon auenture that thei founde in the bataile he ne hadd neuer ascaped while that Sir Gawein and the kyne Ban entended to the bataile, and to Claudas that thei enchaced. Gawein saugh Agrauain his brother ly on the grounde, and his horse vpon him; and Gueheret was on foote, with his swerde in honde; and also he saugh Galashin, his cosin, that ffrolle the Duke of Almayne helde be the nasell of his helme, and hadde in his companye moo than two thousande men that dide hym helpe, and longe tyme past thei sholde hym haue slayn ne hadde be Segramor of Costantynnoble, and Gaheries and sir Ewein the sone of kynge Vrien, and Ewein avoutres, and Ewein de lionell, and Ewein white hande, and Ewein Esclains, and Dodinell the sauage, and kay destranx and kehedin the litill, and the xl felowes that were in Carmelide with the kynge Arthur; these sustened all the bataile a-gein the two thousande that thei myght not take the thre knyghtes that weren down on foote, and often thei hem be-raften by fyn force; but now thei ben moche at the werse for thei ben wery and mate for trauaile; and whan Gawein saugh the myschef and the pereile of his brethern and his frendes, he seide to the kynge Ban that he be not displesed, for I se yonder my brother that I moste go for to socour and to helpe, for I owe not hym to faile for no drede of deth; and than he shewde to hym theym that were at grete myschef; and than seide the kynge Ban, “Sir, ride forth, for this may not be taried;” and tho thei rode as faste as the horse myght hem bere that thei made the renges to sparble a-brode, and smyten so tweyne the firste that thei mette, that thei were deed withoute respite; and than thei com ther as Agrauain and Gueheret weren down, and slough hem faste that thei myght a-reche with a full stroke so that noon durste hem a-bide, but made hem place the moste hardy and the moste vigerous, ffor soone were thei knowen for worthy men and gode knyghtes. Whan Agrauain and Gueheret saugh the socour thei lept vp lightly, and eche of hem hente and horse, and Page 397
a shelde aboute her nekke, for I-nowe thei fonde a-boute hem; and whan thei were vp on horsebak thei begonne a stronge stour, but Galashin was not all at his ese, ffor he was yet a-monge the horse feet, and that for thought sore to Gawein; and he hente a stronge spere and rode thider as Galashin folio 140b
was at soche myschef, and smote in to the presse so harde that he caste down vij er he myght come ther as he was, and than he lowed his spere and smote ffrolle so harde thourgh the shelde that the spere hede stynte at the hauberke of maile.

But he shof ther on so harde that he bar hym to the erthe vpright so rudely that sore he was hurt in the fallinge; and than he hente the horse by the reynes, and anoon made Galashin lepe ther-on, that ther-to hadde grete myster and hadde gode corage, and gode will to be avenged of his damage yef he myght come in place; and so he dide withynne short tyme after; ffor as soone as he was vpon horse he smote in to the stour amonge his enmyes, wher he saugh the Duke ffrolle a-gein sette on horse a-monge his knyghtes and his men; and he ouerthrewe hym a-gein a-monge her hande dispitously, and rode ouer hym on horsebak vj or vij tymes er he myght haue eny socour of his men; and at eche tyme that he didde releve, he smote hym with his swerde to grounde that his men wende wele that he hadde be deed.

In this manere dide Galashin ouerthrowe the Duke ffrolle and hym diffouled er than his men myght come to voide hym oute of the place were thei neuer so woth for his anoye or his damage; all that Galashin dide to Duke ffrolle, Gawein shewde to the kynge Ban, and seide, “Sir, se Galashin, my cosin, how vigerously he hym conteneth, and boldly a-gein his enmyes.” “Certes,” seide the kynge, “who, that hath this Galashin in his companye may a-vaunte hymself that he hath oon of the beste knyghtes of the worlde.” At this worde that the kynge Ban spake, saugh thei alle the bateiles remeve; and that oo peple smyte thourgh the tother all pelley melley full desirouse eche other to a-paire and to damage with all her power, ffor the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and Page 398
the kynge Arthur, and the knyghtes of the rounde table haue so do in the bataile that be fin force thei made the peple of Pounce Antonye, and Claudas men to resorte vpon the meyne of the kynge of Gaule and vpon ffrolle of Almayne, and these hem receyved well as noble men and gode knyghtes that weren full bolde and hardy and coraiouse in armes. Ther was grete entassement of men and of horse vpon hepes; and grete and huge was the duste that a-roos, that troubled sore theire sightes, and whan the foure wardes were togeder assembled, as ye haue herde, ther was so grete foison of men and horse that wonder it was to haue seyn; and than thei closed hem togeder straite eche to other. But sore were the peple of Claudas, abaisshed of the perilouse metinges that thei hadde sein; and whan that the kynge Arthur saugh that these were so ascaped and medled a-monge the tother, he pressed after hem full vigerously; and than ther was grete bataile and stronge fight, ffor ther hadde the coward avauntour no nede to sitte by the chymnyes and a-vaunte that thei hadde nother herte ne hardynesse to beholde hem and the prowesses of tho that hadde lefte londe and rentes to seche and conquere pris and worthinesse.

folio 141a

But lete vs speke of the two queenes that ben in the Castell of Trebes.

Full grete prowesse dide Arthur and his companye of the rounde table; and the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors were nothinge at soiour, ne sir Gawein and his felowes, but dide soche occision of peple that alle the felde were couered of deed peple and wounded; and ther was so grete noyse, and so grete cry, that foure myle oon myght here the sound of hornes and trumpes; and whan thei of Trebes herde the cry and the shoute of peple, thei merveiled sore what it myght be, and wente vpon the walles for to se the merveiles; and the tidinges ther-of com to the two queenes that thei also become to the walles of the tower and behelden oute of the wyndowes on high down in to the meedes and saugh the greteste nombre of peple that euer thei hadde seyn; and sye the dragon that Kay bare, that caste thourgh his mouthe so grete flames of Page 399
fire that all the heire that was thikke of duste wax all reade ther as the dragon wente; and whan the ladyes and the peple of the town saugh that baner that neuer thei hadde seyen be-forn; thei hem blesseden for the wonder that thei hadden, and than thei dide enquere, and asked what peple thei were, and to whom that baner belonged, and whan the messager com to the bataile he mette with a knyght of the ream of logres that dide of his helme for to take a-newe, for his was all to rente, and the knyghtes name was Bretell; and the squyer com to hym and hym salude, and Bretell him ansuerde a-gein full debonerly. “Sir,” seide the squyer, “I praye yow entirely that ye will telle me what peple ye be, that fight so with the peple of this hoste, yef it yow not displese for to telle;” “ffeire frende,” seide Bretell, “now maist thow sey to hem ther withynne the Castell that yow haue hider sente. That is the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors of Gannes that haue brought the kynge Arthur of the grete Breteigne for to rescewe their londes and theire contreyes from theire enmyes, that with wronge and synne be entred; but now is come the terme that thei shull be quyte of her merite, yef god kepe the force and the power of kynge Arthur, and lo ther is his baner with the dragon that the stiwarde bereth;” and whan the squyer vnderstode this, he comaunded hym to god, and thanked hym of that he hadde hym seide, and returned glad and myry for the tidinges that he hadde herde, and thought longe till he hadde it tolde the two queenes that were sustres, and rode as faste as the horse myght hym bere, till he com to the castell; but for no askinge that eny man cowde hym demaunde wolde he nothinge telle, saf that he seide who that will ought wite, lete hym come to the paleyse, and thus he passed forth; and whan the ladies saugh hym come, thei com agains hym for the grete plente of peple that thei saugh him folowinge, and whan he com be-fore the ladies, he tolde hem the tidinges so lowde, that alle that hym suwed myght it well vndirstonde, and hem tolde like as Bretell hadde hym
folio 141b
seide; and whan the ladies herde these tidinges, and thei that were withynne the place wiste it was

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the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors that hadden brought the kynge Arthur, theire lorde; thei were full of ioye and yeden vp to the walles for to se the grettest bataile that euer thei hadde seyn be-forn, and thei foughten longe that thei weren wery for traueile bothe oon and [correction; sic = a] other. But thei of the Castell hadde but litill while beholden the bateile, whan thei saugh come oute of the foreste of brioke foure baners that com full softe oon after another the space of a bowe draught, and whan the baners approched ner, thei knewe the baner of Antyaume the senescall of Benoyk; and the seconde, Grascien of Trebes; and the thridde, Pharien; and the fourthe, Leonce of Paerne; and whan thei of the Castell saugh hem thei weren full gladde, and fayn wolde haue issed oute yef thei myght haue hadde licence; ffor therynne were gode knyghtes and worthi men; but it was hem deffended as dere as thei loved theire lyves, and Antyaume approched faste; and the kynge Ban behelde and saugh comynge these batailes, and knewe hem well, and shewde hem to sir Gawein. “Sir,” quod he, “nowe in shorte tyme shull oure enmyes be put bakke, and fayn to take flight for I se ther my baners that brynge vs riche socour, and thei be moche to alowe;” “and where ben thei?” seide Gawein. “Sir,” seide the kynge Ban, “lo hem yonder,” and shewde hym with his swerde, and whan that hem saugh he knewe well ther was gret strength of peple.

Than seide Gawein, “sir, now lete vs with-drawe a litill a-bakke, and seche out oure frendes and felowes, till that we haue hem founden, and assembled; ffor it may not faile but that ther shall be grete diffoulinge of oure enmyes whan we be alle togeder; and lete vs be all be-forn ther as ye suppose, whiche wey thei will turne, and wite ye why I sey it; ffor whan thei com ther as we be enbusshed that than thei may be sore chastised, that whan the Romanys come in to theire contre that thei may say and recorde that thei haue nother mette with ribaudes ne cowardes; and another tyme to be well ware for to entre in to oure londes, and in to the fees of kynge Arthur, of grete Breteyne, and lete hem well wite that in the fin thei

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shull it not reioyse.” “Sir,” seide the kynge, “I will it be at youre volunte,”

and with that thei departed and drowgh a-side oute of the bataile, and the knyghtes of the rounde table alther firste, and the kynge Arthur, and the kynge Bohors, and after the xl knyghtes that were sowdiours in Carmelide; and after the xvj newe knyghtes, and whan thei were assembled, thei were thre hundred knyghtes that weren full noble, and worthi men, ffor thei were the flour of the hoste, and in the while that thei were thus disseuered, so be hem-self Antyaume, the senescall, smote in to the bataile with as grete randon as horse myght renne, and ther was many a spere spent, and many a sore stroke of suerdes.

folio 142a

Ther was the signe cried lowde of the kynge Ban, and of the kynge Bohors of Gannes, and ther was many leide deed to the grounde of men and of horse, whan that Grascien com so harde vpon hem that thei moste nede forsake place and spredde a-brode in the felde, and than be-gan the bataile so fell mortall that many a fre modres childe lay stiked, and slayn that litill hadde it deserued, whereof holy cherche was lessed full sore of xxti thousande peple that ther was slain of oon, and other and all that was for the vntrouthe of the kynge Claudas, that after er he dyed he hadde euell myschef; ffor he starf in grete age disherited as the story witnesseth; that Bohors toke so grete vengaunce after that Launcelot hadde the reame of Logres in hande, after the deth of kynge Ban, and the deth of kynge Arthur; ffor he toke the heed all white hoor in the foreste of Darmauntes, where he mette hym in gise of a palmer; ffor he was departed oute of the reame withoute knowinge of eny man with thre knyves wherwith he wolde haue morthered in treson, Bohors, and Lyonell, his brother, that were so noble and hardy, as the tale shall shewe yow heere-after; and ye shull here how thei were kept and norisshed by Nymyane, the lady de lak that Launcelot brought vp tenderly till he was a knyght. But now of these maters cesseth at this tyme, and repeire to speke of the bateile, how the hostes fighten in the playn felde be-fore the castell of Trebes.

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Full grete was the bataile and the stour mortall, where as these wardes of Benoyk were entred, and medled with theire enmyes a-gein the peple of ffrolle, Duke of Almayne, and agein the peple of Pounce Antonye, that alle were entermedled with the peple of Arthur, that foughten full harde on that oo part and the tother; but whan thei were spradde a-brode in the felde oon cowde not well sey who hadde the better, ffor [correction; sic = ffor ffor] thei on Claudas side were yet xxxvMl of fightinge men, and thei on kynge Arthurs side were xxviijMl, and so thei helde hem somwhat peringall; ffor the thre hundred knyghtes were drawen oute on a part, and amended theire helmes, and refresshed theire bodyes, and as soone as thei were departed the peple of Claudas recouered, and drof hem bakke of the reame of Logres more than thre bowe shote fro the castell, and of fin force made hem forsake place, and the tentes and pavilouns that thei hadden take, and sesed; but in short tyme after the dedes wente all other wise, while that the Romayns, and the Almaynes, and the peple of Gaule, and of la desert peyned hem to discounfite [correction; sic = the] theym of the reame of logres and of litill Bretayne, that moche hadde I-hadde the worse, and all day be-fore hadde the better. Thei merveiled sore where theire prowesse were be-come; but thei were not ther that hadde don the merveiles in armes all the day
folio 142b
be-fore, and therfore were thei gretly discounforted; ffor thei knewe of hem no tidinges, and eche man hym [correction; sic = hy] peyned sore to diffende his body, for well thei wende that thei hadde be deed that were wonte in euery nede hem to recouer, and while thei were in this turment Com Pharien of Gannes, with vMl men of armes, and whan Claudas saugh hem come, he knewe hem wele be the baner that ofte hadde hym greved in many dedes. Than he seuered a part of his peple, and seide to Pounce Antonye and to ffrolle that thei sholde haue mynde to do well, and breke her enmyes; “and I shall go a-geins hem that I se newe comen, and yef I may do so moche that I may putte hem to flight, we shall delyuer vs wele of the surpluys; and I do yow to wite that it is the Page 403
man that moste in this worlde hath me greved that hem doth gyde, and yef it myght so be that he were take or slayn, thei hadde loste oon of her beste membres.” With that departed the kynge Claudas with xMl men of armes, and rode agein Pharien with her sheldes be-fore her brestes, with speres in fewtre and helmes enclyned; and Pharien com ageins hem boldely as he that was vigerouse, and of grete herte, and a wise werreour, and also a trewe knyght and moche of stature; and whan thei approched nygh thei lete renne togeder as faste as horse myght hem beren, and at that metynge were many throwe to the grounde that neuer roos after; but at grete myschef were the peple of pharien; ffor Claudas hadde xMl, and he hadde but vMl; but yet ther was stronge bataile, and sore fightinge; ffor Phariens men were newe comen, and Claudas men were somewhat trauayled, so that thei loste more than dide Pharien, and yef thei hadde not be so many thei hadden alle be slain or discounfited; but in the ende Pharien be-houed to drawe bakke towarde the foreste fro whens he was comen, and whan Claudas saugh hem goinge he wende well all hadde ben venquysed, and kepte hem so short that thei hadde no power to recouer; and that made Pharien so wo that ner he yede oute of witte, and he cried, Gannes ofte, and many tymes the signe of kynge Bohors; but it a-vayled nought, but the preised knyghtes wente gentilmanly, of whom he hadde plente; ffor thei a-bode with Pharien be-hynde hem that fledden, and yaf many grete strokes that oon for the tother, but in the fin were thei euell ledde, till that leonce the lorde of Paerne hem socoured right vigerousely; and Claudas and his men were so anguysshous vpon hem that thei desired for to discounfite, that er thei wiste Leonce smote in a-monge hem so harde that mo than a thousande he threwe to grounde, that fewe of hem a-roos after, for many of hem were deth wounded, and than thei that fledde recouered a-gein vigerously, as thei hadde not smyten no stroke of all the day. Ther was the bataile crewell and mortall on bothe sides, and on that othir side full harde foughten the peple of the reame of longres a-gein the thre princes, and grete slaughter ther Page 404
was on bothe parties; but sore were thei of the reame of logres discounfited, whan thei saugh not hem that sholde hem gouerne, and gyde, and yef ther hadde not ben
folio 143a
many goode and worthy men alle hadde thei be discounfited, and driven oute of the felde; and Merlin that all this knewe wiste that thei were thus entirprised, he com thider as the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and sir Gawein and his felowes were enbusshed, and to hem he seide, “What, sirs, be ye come in to this countre to beholde the turmentis, and the prowesses of the knyghtes of this cuntrey. Now trewly ye be worthy to haue grete blame for youre peple haue moche losse hadde seth ye wente from the bataile, and sore thei ben affraide that thei may not yow seen ne here of no tidinges, and for goddes love loke youre soiour be so dere to hem yolden that thei that ascape from youre handes may sey that thei of the reame of logres be nother knaues ne harlottes, but worthi men and goode knyghtes; and ye, sir,” quod he to kynge Arthur and to kynge Bohors, “is this the werre and the helpe, that ye do to youre frendes that haue putte hem-self in auenture of deth for youre sake in many a nede, as ye well knowe ther as alle other haue yow failed, and ye be come hider to hide yow for cowardise; and wite it well it shall be to yow grete reprof of moche peple, and of yowre love more than eny other, that is, of Gonnore, the doughter of kynge Leodogon of Carmelide, whan she knoweth how ye haue spedde.”

Whan the kynge vndirstode the worde of Merlin, he bowed down the heed for shame; but he spakke no worde er he hadde yoven a grete sigh, and he hadde grete drede lest Merlin were toward hym wroth. After that, Merlin yede to Gawein, and his felowes, and seide, “Sirs, where be now the grete prowesses that ye were wonte to atise oon to another er ye were knyghtes, and than afterwarde ye seiden ye wolde come turney with youre enmyes, and se how thei cowde bere armes; and now ye seyn hem goode knyghtes and sure, and for the drede that ye haue of hem be ye come hider yow to hiden, and ye ne haue nother herte ne hardynesse Page 405
hem to a-bide.” And than he seide to kynge Ban and his brother, “And ye lordynges what be ye come to seche in this contrey that sholde be wise and goode knyghtes and hardy; and well ye haue it proved that men knewe well I-nough longe tyme past, but whi haue ye trowed these cowardes that ben here that haue made yow here to hiden, whan ye sholde delyuer hem that for yow ben in aventure of deth, for to helpe delyuer youre londe of youre enmyes; ffor thei may well sey whan thei come in to her contrey, that thei haue be in sory seruise whan ye haue hem lefte in her moste nede that thei hadde of yowe.” “Trewly, sir,” seide the kynge Ban, “we ne did it but for good.” Quod Merlin, “How-so-euer ye do, euell haue ye wrought, and therfore loke that the damage that thei yow haue don be right, dere I solde that thei that yow ascape haue no cause for to a-vaunten.”

“Certes, sir,” seide Gawein, “as for me, I knowe well I haue don right euell, not for than I shall lete hem well wite that I am not hidde, yef in me be so moche valoure, though I sholde be deed or all to hewen, and er I departe that shall thei knowe bothe the more and the lesse. Ne neuer cowardise that I shall do shall neuer the kynge Arthur, myn oncle, be repreved, folio 143b
yef god will while that I lyve, and therfore my frendes and my felowes and my bretheren, yef ye will be putte oute of blame seweth me; ffor soone shall be shewed that for cowardise I am neyther rested ne hidde.”

Than gan Merlin to laugh, and rode to Kay, the stiwarde, and hente the dragon oute of his hande, and seide he was not worthy to bere it; ffor the baner of a kynge sholde not ben hidde, and namly in bataile, but to be born in the formest fronte; and than Merlin rode, forth and cried with lowde voyse, “Now lete se who shall me sewen, ffor soone shall be shewed who is a knyght.” And whan the kynge Ban saugh hym go, he seide to kynge Bohors, his brother, that Merlin hath be a full noble man, and thus seide many of hem, and withoute faile he was full of merveilouse prowesse and strengthe of body, and grete, and longe of stature; but broun he

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was, and lene, and rough of heer, more than another man; but he was full well furnysshed of body and of membres, and a grete gentilman on his moder be-halue; but of hys fader I sey yow no more, for I-nough ye haue herde; but we finde not that euer he leyde honde on eny man for to do harme; but ofte whan he was in prees of peple, and bar the baner, with the breste of his horse he bar down, bothe men and horse. Whan Merlin hadde take the dragon out of Kayes hande he rode formeste vpon a blakke horse that was stronge and swyfte, and whan he approched nygh the bateile he drof in a-monge hem so harde, that alle thei fremysshed and brunt ther as Pounce Antony faught, that sore hym peyned for to discounfite hem of Logres, and well he wende that alle the beste knyghtes hadde be slain, and therfore were thei full of hevynesse in the castell of Tebres, and ronne to armes moo than xxvii squyers, and issed oute alle on horsbakke, and Banyns hem ledde that was godsone to kynge Ban, and sone to Grascien of Trebes, and he was yet but xxti yere of age, and was of grete hardynesse, and a-noon smyten in to the bataile and dide right well as of squyers for knyghtes were ther noon, and yef that thei hadde not come so soone the other were euen at discounfiture.

Than com Merlin and his companye, that were mo than a thousande, what oon and other, and he bar the dragon in his hande that yaf thourgh his throte so grete braundon of fier that the eir that was blakke of the duste and powder be com all reade; and thei that neuer hadde it sein be-fore seide it shewde well that oure lorde was wroth with hem whan he made soche a signe to a-pere, and than gan the chaunce to chaunge fro hem that hadde the better; ffor as soone as thei were comen, thei dide soche maistries of armes, that alle were abasshed that weren hem a-geins, ffor ther dide the kynge Arthur wondres, for he caste his shelde at his bakke, and hilde his swerde in bothe hondes that was of grete bounte, and slough so many that noon myght a-gein hym endure; and the boke seith folio 144a
that he slough mo than two hundred, whereof was grete harme to cristin that ther were so many deed, and all that

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was for the reprof that Merlin hym yaf, and he hilde the reyne of his bridill in his lefte arme, and lete hym go ther as he wolde, and also the kynge Ban and the Bohors dide merveiles; ffor sore thei hem peyned to be avenged of her enmyes, and were goode knyghtes and hardy, and euer hadde be a-bove alle the knyghtes that hadde I-ben in theire tyme.

Now seith the booke that the kynge Arthur was so depe paste in to the bateile, that they wiste not where he was be-come, and so was the kynge Ban and his brother, and whan the knyghtes of the rounde table it wisten their gan make soche a disray a-monge hem that noon a-bode other, and so dide the xl knyghtes that ye haue herde rehersed, and the xvij yonge knyghtes, and begonne so sharpe medle, eche for other, that noon wiste which wey that thei turned, and ofte eche of hem loste other that day, and many tymes thei metten agein; at that returne dide Segramor wondres a-monge his enmyes, for the storye seith that he was oon of the beste knyghtes of the hoste; and so dide Galashin that often was he shewed, and mustred with the fynger on bothe sides, and so dide Ewein that no man nede sech a beter knyght, and the thre brethern of Gawein that all day helde togeder that for nothinge wolde departe, and wonderly well were thei preised; and on that other side foughten the knyghtes of the rounde table that noon myght haue don better, and Adragain and Nascien and Hervy de revill made the renges to tremble ther as thei wente and com; but ouer alle other dide sir Gawein well that was so depe in a-monge his enmyes that noon cowde sey where he was seth he from hem departed; and thei sought hym sore vp and down on euery side, and Gawein serched so the renges that he mette Randolf the Senescall of Gaule, that a-noon he ran vpon hym, for he was a goode knyght and hardy, and Gawein hym smote in entirpassinge thourgh the helme to the sculle, and the horse bar hym forth and the suerde descended on the horse chyne, and kutte it a-sonder, that bothe fill on oon hepe; and than happed he mette Dodinell the sauage, and Kehedin the litill, in his wey that were smyten down of Page 408
her horse, and Pounce Antony kepte hem right short, and whan Gawein saugh hem at soche myschef he turned that wey, and made soche stightlynge a-monge hem that alle dide resorte bakke wheder thei wolde or noon, and these lept lightly to theire horse, ffor their fonde I-nowe in the place, and than thei helde hem a-boute Gawein as longe as thei myght; but soone thei haue hym loste that thei ne wiste where he was be-come.

Grete was the stour and harde bataile be-fore the castell of Trebes, for the knyghtes of the rounde table dide maistres as thei yede sechinge the kynge Arthur thourgh the bateile, but thei cowde hym not fynde for he was so fer from hem meddelinge with
folio 144b
ffrolle and Pounce Antony, that hadde in her companye vijC knyghtes of the beste of her hoste, and ther the kynge Arthur hadde with hem sharpe medle; but noon ne durste abide his strokes, and yet he was withouten shelde, and he griped his suerde in bothe hondes, and whom that he raught a full stroke was so harde smyten that noon armure was his warante fro deth, and whan Pounce Antony and ffrolle hym sien, a-noon thei ronne vpon hym, and he faught with hem full harde, and many he slough and maymed a-boute hym, and than fill that Gawein com that way with suerde in honde, and thei than fledde on euery side, for his strokes durste not thei abide were thei neuer so hardy, and whan he saugh Arthur, his oncle, that faught with Pounce and ffrolle, and with hem xx knyghtes, and ffrolle hadde hym smyten with a spere betwene the shuldres that he made hym to enclyne on his horse nekke, and yef the spere hadde holden he hadde fallen to grounde; and whan Gawein saugh the stroke that he hadde yoven his vncle he was ny wode for ire, than he putte vp his suerde and spronge in a-monge the Almaynes, and raced a spere from a knyghtes hondes so felly that he fill to grounde, and therwith rode to ffrolle, and whan he saugh hym come he glenched for the stroke and girde in to the thikkest presse, and Gawein hym chaced that lightly wolde not hym leve; but ffrolles knyghtes smote betwene hem two, but Gawein hym smot so rudely thourgh the shelde and the Page 409
hauberke a-gein the lifte shulder that the heed and the shafte shewed on that other side, and he swowned for peyne that he felte, and his men assembled a-boute hym, and grete doell made, for well thei wende he were deed delyuered.

Whan ffrolle was vp of swownynge he made the tronchon to be pulde oute, and to bynde his wounde that sore bledde, and lept on his horse as well as he myght for sore it hym greved, and as soone as Gawein saugh hym falle he returned to his vncle that full harde faught with Pounce Antony, and with the peple of Randolf, that was remounted; and Randolf peyned to a-venge the stroke that he hadde of Gawein. Therwith com Gawein in a-monge hem, and smote a-boute hym on bothe sides, that he hath delyuered his vncle and dide soche maistres that noon durste his strokes a-bide, ne holde place a-gein hem two; than fill that Gawein mette Pounce Antony, and hym soche a stroke on the sholder that the swerde kutte the boon, and in the ffalinge he hurte hym sore, and than he smote Randolf thourgh the helme in to the flesshe that he fill to grounde all blody, that alle men wende he hadde ben deed; and that the batailes ruseden and were driven vpon the bataile of kynge Claudas that faught with leonce of Paerne and Pharien, and whan alle these baners and alle these bateiles were assembled, thei smyte thourgh the bateile of Arthur alle entermedled; and ther than was grete harme on bothe sides, ffor thei that fledden stynted at the bataile of Claudas, and whan Arthur saugh hem thus go he cleped Gawein, and seide, “feire nevew, holde yow a-boute me,
folio 145a
ffor me semeth that thei be goynge, and therfore kepe yow with me.” “Sir,” seide Gawein, “thei haue right to go, for the abidinge here for hem is not goode. But lete vs go faste after and helpe thei were discounfited.” “In all haste than,”

seide the kynge; and while thei helde this talkynge, the Ban and the kynge Bohors com on with swerdes naked in her handes, all blody, and chaced and slough all that thei myght a-reche before hem; and of this happed well to Randolf and to Pounce, that thei were horsed a-gein er the chace was begonne; and Page 410
whan these foure frendes were mette thei made grete ioye, and than be-gan the chace after the other that fledden, and hem fill than auenture that thei mette thre of her folowes of the rounde table that well hadde don all the day, and that oon was Nascien, and that other Adragain, and the thridde hervy de Rivell, and than were thei vij full noble knyghtes and hardy; and it was past noone, and the sonne was high and hoot whan the chace be-gan, and kay fonde the kynges shelde on the grounde liggynge, and he it saugh he hadde grete drede that the kynge were deed, and made a squyer take the shelde, and badde hym folowe after hym, for he wolde loke yef he cowde finde kynge Arthur.

And euer he folowed the chace a-monge other that stynte, neuer till thei come vpon the bateile of Claudas ther thei stynte longe, ffor thei were moche peple, and kay folowed so the chace till he fonde the kynge Arthur and the kynge Ban and his brother, and he was right gladde that he hadde hem so founden, and yede to hange his shelde aboute his nekke; and than com Merlin with the dragon, and cried, “Now on hem, gentill knyghtes, for alle be thei discounfited.” And Gawein hadde hente a spere, and spronge be-fore and smote the kynge Claudas, that he perced the shelde and hauberke, and thourgh the lifte flanke, and shof ther-on so harde that he bar hym to grounde vpright, and rode ouer hym on horsebak, that Claudas swowned for sorowe; and Gawein leide honde to his swerde and smote in to the thikkest of the presse, and passed thourgh the stour as thikke as thei weren entassed, and his felowes spake moche of the prowesse that thei saugh hym do; and Claudas men ronne for to rescowe theire lorde the more and the lesse, and drough hym oute of the presse with grete peyne, and sette hym on horse, and therwith com Agrauain, and Gueheret, and Gaheries, that wonderly well hadde don all the day, and whan thei saugh Claudas men assembled thei smote on hem so harde that thei made hem remeve place. Ther was the kynge Claudas a-gein born to grounde, and wounded in thre places withoute the wounde he hadde of Gawein that

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ner he was the deth, and foule diffouled a-monge the horse feet; but yet his men haue rescowed hym, but firste hadde thei grete losse.

Grete was the bateile in the medowes be-fore Trebes ther as Claudas was vn-horsed, and remounted a-gein, and than fill that her bateiles sparbled a-brode, and that oon smote in a-monge that other, and tho departed Pounce Antony, and ffrolle the Duke of
folio 145b

Almayne, and Randolf of Gaule, and the kynge Claudas so euyll araied, that vn-nethe myght thei ride, and the other were not alle in hele, and whan thei saugh the losse and the damage vpon hem so grete thei were nygh wood for anger, and asked what wey thei sholden goo. “Sirs,” seide Claudas, “I rede we go to the desert, for that is the beste repeire that we haue; and the nexte, and we shull go by the foreste in the shadowe vndir molait, and olde wey that I knowe; but I am so euell a-raied that euell may I endure to ride,” and while thei spake thus com alle the bateiles to-broken that oon vpon the tother. Than be-gan the chace so grete, and the duste to a-rise, that thei knewe not whiche wey to turne; and the kynge Bans men ouerthrewe and slough so many, that all the felde was strowed full of deed bodyes and wounded. And the kynge Bohors men wente be-fore to the passages, that thei knewe as soone as thei saugh this discounfiture, and Arthurs men hem enchaced full harde and strayte and slowgh, and toke whom thei wolden, and ther the chace endured in this maner all the day till nyght; and ther thei hadde prisoners grete plente, and the kynge Claudas, and Pounce Antony, and Randolf, and ffrolle kepte hem-self as well as thei cowde; but litill peple thei ledde, ffor the booke seith that of lxMl that thei were at the bygynnynge ne ascaped not the haluendell, ne thei ledde not xMl, but fledde thourgh the wilde foreste to saue theire lyves.

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CHAPTER XXIII.

THE DREAM OF THE WIFE OF KING BAN; THE DREAM OF JULIUS CESAR, EMPEROR OF ROME.

Thus were the foure princes discounfited, as ye haue herde be the witte of Merlin, and whan thei hadde chaced hem to the nyght, thei returned with grete plente of prisoners, and com be-fore the castell of Trebes, where thei were loigged in tentes and pavilouns of thiers that were discounfited, and made grete ioye and feste all the nyght, for thei fonde the loigginges well stuffed of all that neded to man, that nothinge failed, and whan thei were herberowed that nyght wacched the hoste Pharien and Grascien, that thei were not assailled of somme maner peple, and the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors ledde the kynge Arthur and sir Gawein and the knyghtes of the rounde table, and the xl knyghtes that ye haue herde named, and the newe knyghtes in to the castell of Trebes where he made to hem grete ioye and feste, and were well iijC knyghtes of the contrey; and that nyght were thei well serued of all that behoved. But who that was gladde or noon ther was noon like to the ioye of the two queenes that were sustres, whan thei saugh theire two lordes that thei hadde so longe desired for to seen, and thei were yonge ladyes, and of grete bewte; and gretly thei hem peyned to honour the kynge Arthur, and alle his companye, wher-to sholde I tarie to reherse theire seruise and the ese of softe beddes that thei hadde that nyght, ffor thei were serued richely as worthi men, and after soper thei wente to reste for ther-to hadde thei nede, ffor thei were wery for trauaile that thei hadde that day suffred; and Arthur and Gawein, and Segramor, and Ewein, and Dodinell, and Kay, and Antor lay in a feire chamber by hem-self, and with hem Page 413
folio 146a
was Merlin that from hem that nyght wolde not departe; and the knyghtes of the rounde table, and the newe knyghtes, and the xl felowes layn in other chambers.

And whan the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors hadde hem loigged at ese thei wente to bedde with their wiffes, and lefte grete torches brennynge be-fore hem in chambres. That nyght shewed the two kynges grete love to theire wiffes. That nyght the queene Heleyne conceyved a childe by her lorde the kynge Ban, and whan thei were on slepe the wiff of kynge Ban fill in to a merveilouse drem that longe endured, that sore she was afeerde whan she dide a-wake, ffor she semed that she was on a high mountayn, and saugh a-boute her grete plente of bestes of all maner kendes, that were in a feire pasture of grene grasse; and whan thei hadde longe tyme fedde hem on the herbes, ther roos a-monge hem a grete noyse, that thei ronne that oon vpon the tother to dryve oute of the pasture, and thei turned in to two pastures; and the two partes wente on oon side and hem ledde a grete lyon full huge and merveillouse, and on that other side where as were not so many by the haluendell was a grete crowned lyon maister leder, but he was not so grete as the tother. This lyon crowned hadde in his companye xviij lyonsewes crowned, whereof eche of hem hadde lordshippe and domynacion ouer the tother bestes that were turned to the lyon crowned; and that other lyon that was not crowned hadde with hym xxxti lyonsewes that alle were crowned, whereof eche of hem hadde domynacion of a parte of the bestes that were drawe toward the lyon that was vncrowned, and whan these beestes were thus disseuered and departed, she loked toward the crowned lyon, and saugh iiijC boles that alle were teyed be the nekkes be-fore a grove, and ete at a rakke small grasse and herbes that was newe mowen; and for the lyon vncrowned semed thei hadde better pasture with the crowned lyon than hadde he, he ran upon hym for envye for to bereve hym his pasture, and toke a partie of his bestes that he made thre grete hepes, and thei lepe to fight with the crowned lyon that hadde his bestes departed in to xviij mouncels, and

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in eche mouncell was a lyonsewe that hadde lordshippe ouer hem to gouerne hem and gide, and the iiijC boles that weren full fierce and full prowde and the xviij mouncels were with the crowned lyon, and smote betwene hem the grettest bateile that she euer hadde seyn or herde speke; but in the fyn the bestes with the crowned lyon be-houed to turne bakke, and the crowned lyon was sore a-dredde to lese his pasture; and while these beestes fought thus, as ye haue herde, the lady semed that a grete leopart full fierce and the moste prowde that euer was seyn, com oute of hir right thigh, and wente through a grete valey that was right depe, and whan he was entred in to the valey, the lady semed that a grete blaste toke a-wey her sight that she wiste not where he was be-come; and whan she
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hadde hym loste he turned toward the beestes that yet were fightinge, and saugh that the crowned lyon and his bestes hadde moche the werse, and whan the leopart com oute of a grete foreste that was sauage, he behilde the bataile of the beestes full longe; and whan he saugh the crowned lyon hadde the werse, he yede to helpe hym, and ran vpon the beestes of the lyon vncrowned that faught with hem so fiercely, that he made hem resorte bakke, and as longe as he was a-gein hem myght thei neuer haue the better of the bataile, and whan the lyon that was vncrowned saugh he myght not haue the better while he was a-gein hym, he made departe the bataile and aqueynte hym with the leopart, till he drough hym on his partye, and ledde hym with hym. And the thridde day be-gan a-gein the bateile of the beestes as it hadde be by-forn, and the leopart was with the lyon that was vncrowned; and the beestes fought so togeder, that the crowned lyon turned to discounfiture, and he made signe to the lyon withoute crowne that he sholde go crye mercy, and he so dide, and so was made the pees betwene the two lyouns in soche maner that neuer after were in no wratthe togeder; and than the lady behilde the leopart to wite yef she cowde hym knowe be eny wey, and at the laste hir thought it was the same that com oute of hir thigh that was so woxen and

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amended, and hir thought that alle the beestes of the bloy Breteyne to hym enclyned, and all thei of Gannes and of Benoyk, and whan he hadde alle the lordship of these beestes she knewe not where he was be-comen.

Thus she a-boode all nyght in this avision till it was day, and than she a-woke all affraied of the merveile of hir dreme; and when the kynge Ban saugh hir so affraied he asked hir what her eyled. And she tolde hym hir dreme as she hadde seyn in hir slepe, and whan she hadde all tolde, the kynge seide ther-of sholde come but goode with goddes grace. Than thei a-roos and wente to the firste masse bothe the kynge and his wif as erly as thei myght; but thei wolde not a-wake the kynge Arthur so erly, ne his companye that slepten sanourly for the grete trauaile that thei hadde the day be-fore, and the kynge Ban praied oure lorde with goode herte that he wolde yeve hym the deth soche tyme as he wolde it aske.

And this prayour made he many tymes, till on a nyght in his slepe a voyse seide that his prayour sholde be trewe, and that he sholde haue the deth as soone as he wolde it aske the same day; but ones be-fore sholde he synne dedly in avoutre er he dyed, but ther-of no to be dismayed, for he sholde ther-of well a-corde with oure lorde, and he was right a goode man in his feith and creaunce.

In this dreme that the kynge Ban was, hym thought whan the voyse departed that it caste soche a crye as it hadde ben a thunder the grettest and merveillouse that euer he hadde herde, and he sprange therwith so sore ther as he hilde the queene
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in his armes, that nere he hadde fallen oute of the bedde that was grete and large; and the queene was therwith so affraied that she myght speke no worde in a longe while, and the kynge hymself so that he wiste not where he was. And whan the kynge was come a-gein in to his memorie, he a-roos and wente to cherche and was shriven, and than herde the servyse of oure lorde, and euer after as longe as he lyved was he confessed euery viij dayes, and was hoseled with the blissed sacrement, and so dide the kynge Bohors, his brother, Page 416
that was a full goode man, and of holy lyvinge. Thus was the kynge Arthur in the reame of Benoyk, he and his men a moneth, and ronne euery day in to Claudas londes, and wasted it so that longe tyme after myght he haue no power to a-rise vpon the kynge Ban; but after he a-roos a-geins hym by the force of Pounce Antony, and by the force of the kynge of Gaule, as ye shull heren hereafter, and turmented so these two brethern that he lefte hem noo foote londe, that thei died in pouerte vpon the grounde, and theire yonge wiffes lefte withoute comfort that after were nonnes veilled in the abbey of the royall mynster for drede of Claudas. Ne neuer after myght thei haue socour of the kynge Arthur, for he hadde so moche to done in his contrey that he myght not come at that tyme, and so the heires that thei be-gat were longe tyme after disherited. But in the ende kynge Arthur hem ther-to restored, and drof Claudas oute of the londe, and yaf hem the reame of Gaule, as the booke shall reherse. But now we shall reste to speke these thinges till tyme com ther-to and returne to telle how Merlin departed from the kynge Arthur, and how he certified the kynge Ban and his wif of dyuers dremes that thei hadden mette.

Upon a day com the kynge Ban to Merlin, and seide, “Sir, I am gretly in dispeir of a vision that is befalle to me and to my wif, wherefore I haue grete nede of counseile; and ye be the wisest man that now liveth, and therfore yef it plese yow telle me what it betokeneth.” “Certes, sir,” seid Merlin, “in these two avisions there is grete significacion, and it is no wonder though ye thereof be dredfull.” Than asked the kynge Arthur what a-visiouns ben thei, and Merlin hym tolde euen as the kynge hadde mette in his dreme, that the kynge hymself knewe well he seide trouthe. Whan the kynge Arthur and the kynge Bohors and sir Gawein herde the fierce wordes that Merlin hadde seide, thei merveiled sore what hit myght signyfie, and thoughten I-nough of many thinges, and than seide the kynge Arthur, “ye haue tolde what were the dremes. Now, yef it plese yow, telle vs the betokenynges,

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for it is a thinge that I wolde fayn knowe.” “Sir,” seide Merlin, “of all will I not to yow declare; ne I ought not to do. But I shall telle yow a partye that to yow apendeth,” and than he gan to sey,

“Kynge Ban,” quod Merlin, “hit is trouthe that the lyon that is not crowned betokeneth a prince that is right riche and mighty of londes, and of frendes that shall
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conquere xxix reames by force, and make come in his companye alle these xxix kynges crowned; and that other lyon that she saugh I-crowned that hadde the xviij lyonsewes signyfieth a kinge that is right myghty that shall have xviij kynges vnder hym, that alle shall be his liege men; and the iiijC booles that she saugh betokeneth iiijC knyghtes, that alle shull be assured that oon to the tother eche of hem to helpe, and not faile for no drede of deth, and alle shull thei be the kynges men, and this prince that I spake of firste shall come vpon this kynge for to conquere his londe. But he shall hym diffende as longe as he may, and whan this prince hath the better of this kynge, than shall come a knyght vnknowen that longe hath be loste and helpe this kynge that the prince may not hym chace oute of the felde ne discounfite; and this leopart signyfieth this knyght, ffor like as the leopart fierce and prowde a-bove alle other bestes, so shall he be the beste knyght that shall be in hys tyme, and by that knyght shall the pees be made betwene the prince and the kynge that so sore shull haue foughten. Now,” quod Merlin, “haue ye herde your avision and the tokenynge, and now I moste departe for moche haue I to do in other places,” and whan thei hadde I-herde the merveile of the dreme that Merlin hadde tolde, thei were more abaisshed and more pensef than thei were be-fore; and than Arthur asked yef he wolde declare eny othir wise to theire vndirstondinge, and he seide, “Nay.”

With that departed Merlin oute of the kynge Bans house, where-as the kynge Arthur was with grete companye of knyghtes, and this was on the feeste of seynt John; and Merlin wente to his love that a-boode hym at the welle, for to holde Page 418
the couenaunt that she hadde with hym I-made, and whan she hym saugh she made to hym grete chere, and ledde hym in to the chambres so prively that he was not aperceyved of no man; and she asked and enquered hym of many thinges, and he her taught all her askynge for the grete love that he hadde to hir; and whan she saugh he loved hir so wele, she asked hym how she myght make a frende for to slepe and not to a-wake till that she wolde, and Merlin knewe well all hir thought, and neuertheles he asked her whi she enquered and ye he wiste it wele I-nough. Quod she, “for I wolde make my fader a-slepe alle the tymes that I wolde speke with yow, whos name is Dionas, and my moder, that thei aparceyve neuer of yow ne me, ffor witeth it well thei wolden me sle yef thei parceyved of vs two ought.” These wordes seide the mayden ofte to Merlin, and it fill on a day that thei were in a gardin by the fountayne hem to disporte, and were sette vpon an ympe, and the mayden made hym to slepe in hir lappe, and hilde her so with hym that Merlyn loved hir merveillously wele. Than the maiden required hym so that he taught hir to make oon slepe, and he knewe hir menynge right wele; but neuertheles he it hir taugght, bothe that and many other thinges folio 148a
ffor so wolde oure lorde; and he taught hir iij names that she wrote for to helpe hir-self at alle tymes whan she sholde with hym ly, that were full of grete force, ffor neuer as longe as thei were vpon hir, ne myght neuer man touche her flessly; and fro thens-forth she tysed euer Merlin to come speke with hir, for he ne hadde no power to dele with hir a-gein her will, and therfore it is seide that woman hath an art more than the deuell. Thus Merlin a-bode viij dayes full with the damesell; but we fynde not in no writinge that euer he required eny vilonye of hir ne of noon other; but she it douted sore whan she knewe what he was, and therfore she garnysshed hire so a-gein hym; and in tho viij dayes he taught hir many wonderfull thinges that eny mortall herte cowde thinke of, thinges paste and of thinges that were don and seide, and a partye of that was to come; and she putte hem in writinge, and than Merlin departed from hire and com to

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Benoyk, where the kynge Arthur rested, that gladde were whan thei saugh Merlin.

After that Merlin was repeired fro Benoyk as ye haue herde, Gawein with a grete companye of knyghtes and men of armes rode in to Claudas londes, and brake the bourghes and townes, and sette fire all a-boute, that alle the mene peple fledde the contrey, and these ronne be-fore the yates of de la desert and distroyed alle that thei myght fynde, and Claudas ne noon of hys companye ne durste not meve, and than departed from Claudas, Pounce Antonye, and ffrolle of Almayne, and Randolf the senescall of Gaule sory and wroth for the losse and damage that thei hadden, and swore that neuer sholde thei love the kynge Ban; and as soone as thei myght be avenged thei sholde yelde hym his guerdon as for soche seruise. But some weneth to a-venge hym of his shame, and he doth it encrece.

Thus lefte Claudas pore in the Citee de la desert, ffor he cowde not haue iijMl men on horsbak, but after he recouerd all his londe and was riche, as the storye shall declare hereafter, be the helpe of the kynge of Gaule and of Pounce Antonye, that repeired from Rome with grete power; but it was in euell hour, for he was slayn by the handes of kynge Ban be-fore Trebes. But Claudas hadde so moche peple that he leide sege be-fore the Castell as ye shull here afterward, whan tyme cometh ther-to.

Whan Gawein and his companye hadde wasted the londe and the contrey, and taken alle the richesse, he returned to Benoyk to his vncle; and Merlin was come from his love and boode after Gawein, and whan he was come thei were gladde whan thei hym syen, and for the grete richesse that thei broughten, and ioyfull weren of the victorie that thei hadden; and on the morowen thei toke theire wey towarde Gannes, a Citee plentevouse of all goodes, and ther thei were right well come, for it was right, and the kynge Bohors peyned hym to do hem honour and well to serue, as he that full well cowde
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it do; and ther thei soiourned two dayes, and the thridde day thei rode forth to the Rochell, and ther entred the see. Whan the Page 420
kynge Arthur, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and sir Gawein sholde entre in to the shippes thei toke Merlin in counseile, and Merlin hem comaunded that as soone as thei were a-rived at the porte, in no wise that thei tarye not but two dayes. But hastely go theire wey in to the reame of Carmelide, and lede with hem but thre thousande men of armes, and that thei be chosen of the beste of the hoste. “Ffeire frende,” quod Arthur, “shull ye not come with vs; thenke ye not to be at oure mariage.” “Sir,” seide Merlin, “I haue a thinge for to do that I moste nede performe er I come in to the bloy Breteyne. But ye shull but litill space be in the reame of Carmelide, er I shall be with yow;” with that departed that oon from that other, and Arthur and hys companye wente towarde the see, but ther-of moste we reste a-while, and speke of Merlin and his auenturis.

As soone as Merlin was departed from Arthur, he wente in to the forestes of Rome that were thikke and depe, and in that tyme Julyus Cesar was Emperour; but it was not that Julyus Cesar that the deed knyght slough in his pavilion of Perce.

But it was that Julius that Gawein, the nevew of kynge Arthur, slough in bateile vnder logres at the grete disconfiture that after was betwene hym and the kynge Arthur that hym diffied, and what the cause was that Merlin [correction; sic =
that Merlin that Merlin] wente that wey, it is reson it be declared. This is [correction; sic = it] throuthe that this Julyus cezar hadde a wif that was of grete bewte, and she hadde with hir xij yonge men araied in gise of wymen, with whom she lay at alle tymes that the Emperour was oute of hir companye, ffor she was the most lecherouse woman of all Rome; and for the dredde that theire beerdes sholde growe she lete a-noynte her chynnes with certeyn oynementes made for the nones, and thei were clothed in longe traylinge robes, and theire heer longe waxen, in gise of maydenes and tressed at theire bakkes, that alle that hem saugh wende wele thei were wymen; and longe thei endured with the Empresse vnknowen. In

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this tyme that the Emperesse ledde this lif, it fill that a mayden com to the Emperours court that was the doughter of a prince, and the name of this prince was matan, Duke of Almayne; this mayden com in semblannce of a squyer, and this matan the Duke ffrolle hadde disherited and driven out of his londe, and she com to serue the Emperour, ffor she wiste not where her fader ne moder were be comen, and she was moche and semly, and well shapen and demened hir well in all maners that a man ought, saf only eny vylonye, and neuer was she knowen but for a man by no semblante, and so a-boode with the Emperour, and was of grete prowesse, and peyned tendirly to serue well the Emperour and plesed hym so well that she was lorde and gouernour of hym and his housolde; and the Emperour hir loved so well that he made hir knyght atte a feeste of seint John with other yonge
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squyers, wher-of were mo than CC, and after made hir stiward of all his londe.

Than the newe knyghtes reised a quyntayne in the mede of noiron, and begonne the bourdinge grete and huge, and many ther were that dide right wele, but noon so well as dide Grisandoll, for so she lete hir be cleped; but in bapteme her name was Anable. This bourdinge endured all day on ende till euesonge that thei departed, and Grisandols bar a-wey the pris a-monge alle other, and whan the Emperour saugh Grisandoll of so grete prowesse, he made hym stiward of all his londe and comaunder a-bove alle that ther weren, and Grisandols was well beloved of riche and pore. And vpon a nyght after it fill that the Emperour lay in his chamber with the Emperesse; and whan he was a-slepe he hadde a vision that hym thought he saugh a sowe in his court that was right grete be-fore his paleys, and he hadde neuer seyn noon so grete ne so huge, and she hadde so grete bristelis on her bakke that it trayled on the grounde a fadome large, and hadde vpon hir heed a cercle that semed of fyn golde, and whan the Emperour a-vised hym wele hym thought that he hadde seyn hir other tymes, and that he hadde hir norisshed vp; but he durste not sey of trouthe that she were hys, and while he entended to a-vise hym on this thinge he saugh come oute of his chamber xij lyonsewes, and

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com in to the courte to the sowe, and assailed hir oon after another, whan the Emperour saugh this merveile he asked his Barouns what sholde he do with this sowe by whom these lyonsewes hadde thus leyn, and thei seide she was not worthi to be conuersaunt a-monge peple, ne that no man sholde ete nothinge that of hir come, and Iuged hir to be brente, and also the lyonsewes togeder; and than a-wooke the Emperour sore affraied and pensif of this avision. Ne neuer to man ne to wif wolde he it telle, for he was full of grete wisdom. On the morowe as soone as he myght se the day, he a-roos and yede to the mynster to here messe, and whan he was come a-gein he fonde the barouns assembled, and hadde herde messe at the mynster and the mete was all redy; and whan thei hadde waisshen thei satte to mete, and were well serued. Than fill that the Emperour fill in to a grete stodye, wherfore all the courte was pensif and stille, and ther was noon that durste sey a worde for sore thei dredde for to wrathe the Emperour.

But now we moste turne a litill to Merlin that was come in to the foreste of Romayne to certefie these thinges and these a-visiouns.

While that the Emperour satte at his mete a-monge his Barouns thus pensif, Merlin come in to the entre of Rome and caste an enchauntement merveilouse, ffor he be-com an herte the gretteste and the moste merveilouse that eny man hadde seyn, and hadde oon of his feet be-fore white, and hadde v braunches in the top, the grettest that euer hadde be seyn, and than he ran thourgh Rome so faste as all the worlde hadde hym chaced, and whan the peple saugh hym so renne, and saugh how it was an herte the noyse a-roos, and folio 149b
the cry on alle partyes, and ronne after grete and small with staves and axes, and other wepen, and chaced hym thourgh the town, and he com to the maister gate of the paleys where-as the Emperour satte at his mete, and whan thei that serued herde the noyse of the peple, thei ronne to the wyndowes to herkene what it myght be, and a-noon thei saugh come rennynge the herte and all the peple after; and whan the herte com to the maister paleys he drof in at the yate sodeynly, and than he ran thourgh the

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tables a bandon and tombled mete and drynke all on an hepe, and be-gan ther-in a grete trouble of pottis and disshes; and whan the herte hadde longe turned therynne he com be-fore the Emperour, and kneled and seide, “Julius cezar, Emperour of Rome, wheron thinkest thow, lete be thi stodyinge for it a-vaileth nought, ffor neuer of thyne avision shalt thow not knowe the trouthe be-fore that man that is sauage the certefie, and for nought is it that thow stodyest ther-on eny more.” Than the herte hym dressed and saugh the yate of the paleyse cloos, and he caste his enchauntement that alle the dores and yates of the paleise opened so rudely that thei fly alle in peces, and the herte lept oute and fledde thourgh the town, and the chace be-gan a-gein after hym longe till that he com oute in to the playn feeldes; and than he dide vanysshe that noon sey where he be-com, and than thei returned a-gein, and whan the Emperour wiste the herte was ascaped he was wroth and lete crye thourgh the londe that who that myght brynge the sauage man or the herte sholde haue his feire doughter to wif, and half his reame, yef that he were gentill of birthe, and after his deth haue all; and lepe to horse many a vailaunt knyght and squyer of pris, and serched and sought thourgh many contrees, but all was for nought, ffor neuer cowde thei heere no tidinges of that thei sought, and whan thei myght no more do thei returned a-gein. But euer Grisandols serched thourgh the forestes, oon hour foreward, another bakke that so endured viij dayes full; and on a day as Grisandol was a-light vnder an oke for to praye oure lorde to helpe and to spede for to fynde that he sought, and as he was in his prayours the herte that hadde ben at Rome com be-fore hym and seide, “Auenable, thow chacest folye, ffor thow maist not spede of thy queste in no maner, but I shall telle the what thow shalt do. Purchese flessh newe and salt, and mylke and hony, and hoot breed newe bake, and bringe with the foure felowes, and a boy to turne the spite till it be I-nough rosted, and com in to this foreste by the moste vncouthe weyes that thow canste fynde, and sette a table by the fier, and the breed, and the mylke, and the hony vpon the table,

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and hide the and thi companye a litile thens, and doute the nought that the sauage man will come.”

Than ran the herte a-grete walope thourgh the foreste, and Grisandol lept to horse and thought well on that the herte hadde seide and thought in his corage that it was somme spirituell thinge that by hir right name hadde hir cleped, and thought well that of this
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thinge sholde come some merveile; and Grisandol rode forth to a town nygh the foreste vij myle, and toke ther that was myster, and com in to the foreste ther as he hadde spoke with the herte as soone as he myght, and roode in to the deepe of the foreste, where-as he fonde a grett oke full of leves, and the place semed delitable, and he a-light and sette theire horse fer thens, and made a grete fier, and sette the flesshe to roste, and the smoke and the sauour spredde thourgh the foreste, that oon myght fele the sauour right fer; and than sette the table be the fier, and whan all was redy thei hidde hem in a bussh. And Merlin that all this knewe and that made all this to be don couertly that he were not knowen drough that wey that he were not knowen with a grete staffe in his nekke smytinge grete strokes from oke to oke, and was blakke and rough for rympled and longe berde, and bar-foote, and clothed in a rough pilche; and so he com to the fier, ther as the flessh was rosted, and whan the boy saugh hym come he was so a-ferde that he fledde nygh oute of his witte; and he this com to the fier and be-gan to chacche and frote a-boute the fier, and saugh the mete and than loked all a-boute hym and be-gan to rore lowde as a man wood oute of mynde, and than beheilde, and saugh the cloth spredde and soche mete ther-on as ye haue herde, and after he beheilde towarde the fier, and saugh the flesshe that the knaue hadde rosted that was tho I-nough, and raced it of with his hondes madly, and rente it a-sonder in peces, and wette it in mylke, and after in the hony, and ete as a wood man that nought ther lefte of the flessh; and than he eete of the hoot breed and hony that he was full and swollen grete, and somwhat was it colde, and he lay down by the fier and slepte; and whan Grisandol saugh he was on slepe she and hir felowes

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com as softely as thei myght, and stale a-wey his staffe, and than thei bounde hym with a cheyne of Iren streytely a-boute the flankes, and than delyuered hym to oon of the companye by the tother ende of the cheyne; and whan he was so well bounde he a-wooke and lept vp lightly, and made semblaunt to take his staff as a wilde man, and Grisandolus griped hym in his armes right sore and hilde hym stille, and whan he saugh hym so bounde and taken, he hilde hym as shamefaste and mate; and than the horse were brought forth and he was sette vpon oon of hem, and bounden to the sadell with two bondes, and a man sette be-hynde hym that was bounde to hym and enbraced hym by the myddill, and so thei rode forth her wey, and the sauage man loked on Grisandolus that rode by hym, and be-gan to laugh right harde, and whan Grisandolus saugh hym laughe he approched ner and rode side by side, and aqueynted with hym the beste that he myght, and enquered and asked many thinges, but he ne wolde nought ansuere, and Grisandol asked why he lough, but he wolde not telle. Saf that he seide, “Creature formed of nature chaunged in to other forme fro hens-forth be-gilynge alle thinges venimouse as serpent [correction; sic = sepent], holde thi pees, for nought will I telle the till that I com be-fore the Emperoure.”

folio 150b

With that the sauage man hilde his pees and spake no more, and rode forth togeder, and Grisandolus of this that he hadde seide spake to his companye, and thei seide that he was wiser than he shewed, and that som grete merveile sholde falle in the londe. Thus thei ride spekynge of many thinges till thei passede be-fore an abbey, and saugh be-fore the yate moche pore peple abidinge almesse, and than the sauage man lowgh right lowde; and than Grisandol com toward hym and swetly praide hym to telle wherefore he lough, and he loked proudly on trauerse, and seide, “Ymage repaired and disnatured fro kynde, holde thy pees, ne enquere no mo thinges for nought will I telle the but be-fore the Emperour;” and whan Grisandolus this vndirstde, he lete hym be at that tyme and no more thinge hym asked, and here-of spake thei in many maners. Thus thei ride forth all day till nyght, and on the morowe till the hour of

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prime, and fill that thei passed by-fore a chapell where a preste was toward masse, and fonde a knyght and a squyer heringe the seruyse; and whan Grisandolus saugh this, thei a-light alle the companye, and entred in to here the masse, and whan the knyght that was in the chapell saugh the man bounde with chaynes he hadde merveile what it myght be, and while the knyght beheilde the man that was sauage, the squyer that was in an angle be-hynde the chapel dore come a-gein his lorde, and lifte vp his hande and yaf hym soche a flap that alle thei in the chapell myght it here, and than returned thider as he com fro all shamefaste of that he hadde don, and whan he was come in to his place he ne rofte nothinge, for the shame lasted no lenger; but while he was in returnynge, and whan the sauage man saugh this, he be-gan to laugh right harde, and the knyght that was so smyten was so abaisshed that he wiste not what to sey but suffred; and Grisandolus and the other companye merveiled sore what it myght be. A-noon after the squyer com a-gein to his lorde, and yaf hym soche another stroke as he dide be-fore, and wente a-gein in to his place, and the sauage man hym behilde and be-gan to laughe right harde, and yef the knyght be-fore were abaisshed, he was than moche more, and the squyer that hadde hym smyten returned sorowfull and pensif to the place that he com fro, and hilde hymself foule disceyved of that he hadde don, and whan he was in his place he rought neuer, and Grisandolus, and the companye merveiled right sore, and herden oute the seruise be leyser, and in the mene while that thei thoughten vpon these thinges that thei hadde seyn, the squyer com the thridde tyme and smote his lorde sorer than he hadde don be-fore, and ther-at lowgh the wilde man sore, and be that was the masse at an ende, and than Grisandolus and alle wente oute of the chapell, and the squyer that hadde smyten his lorde com after and asked Grisandolus what man it was that thei hadde so bounde, and thei seide that thei were with Julius cezar, Emperour of Rome, and ledde to hym that sauage man that thei hadde founded in the foreste, for folio 151a
to certefie of a vision that was shewed hym slepinge. “But, sir,”

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seide Grisandolus, “tell me wherefore hath this squyer yow smyten thre tymes, and ye ne spake no worde a-gein, haue ye soche a custome,” and the knyght ansuerde that he sholde it wite in tyme comynge.

Than the knyght cleped his squyer and asked hym be-fore Grisandolus wherefore he hadde hym smyten, and he was shamefaste, and seide he wiste neuer, but so it fill in his corage, and the knyght hym asked yef he hadde now eny talent hym for to smyte, and the squyer seide he hadde leuer be deed, “but that,” quod he, “it fill in my mynde that I myght not kepe me therfro,” and Grisandolus lough of the merveile. Than seide the knyght that he wolde go to court with hem for to here what the sauage man wolde sey, and with that thei rode forth on her wey, and Grisandolus by the sauage mannes side, and whan thei hadde a-while riden, he asked the wilde man wherfore he lough so thre tymes whan the squyer smote his lorde, and he loked on hir a trauerse, and seide, “Ymage repeyred semblaunce of creature wherby men ben slayn and diffouled rasour trenchaunt ffountayne coraunt that neuer is full of no springes holde thy pees, and nothinge of me enquere, but be-fore the Emperour, for nought will I telle the,” and whan that Grisandolus vndirstode the fell wordes that he spake, he was all abaisshed and pensef, and durste not no more enquere, and rode forth till thei come to Rome, and whan thei entred in to the town, and the peple hem parceyved thei wente all a-geins hym for to se the man that was sauage, and the noyse was grete of the peple that folowed, and behilde his facion as longe as thei myght, and so thei conveyed hym to the paleise, and whan the Emperour herde the tidinges he com hem a-geins, and mette with hem comynge vpon the greces, and than com Grisandolus be-fore the Emperour, and seide, “Sir, haue here the man that is sauage that I to yow here yelde, and kepe ye hym fro hens-forth for moche peyne haue I hadde with hym,” and the Emperour seide he wolde hem well guerdon, and the man sholde be well kepte, and than he sente to seche a smyth to bynde hym in chaynes and feteres, and the sauage man badde hym ther-of not to entermete, “ffor wite it Page 428
right well,” quod he, “I will not go withoute youre leve,” and the Emperour hym asked how he ther-of sholde be sure, and he seide he wolde hym asure by his cristyndome. Quod the Emperour, “Art thow than cristin?” and he seide, “Ye withoute faile.” “How were thow than baptized,” seide the Emperour, “whan thow art so wilde.” “That shall I telle yow,” quod he, “This is the trouthe that my moder on a day com from the market of a town, and it was late whan she entred in to the foreste of brocheland, and wente oute her way so fer that the same nyght behoved hir to lye in the foreste, and whan she saugh she was so a-lone be hir-self she was afeerde
folio 151b
and lay down vnder an oke and fill a-slepe, and than com a sauage man oute of the foreste and by hir lay, because she was sool by hir-self. Durste she not hym diffende, ffor a woman a-loone is feerfull, and that nyght was I begeten on my moder, and whan she was repeired hom, she was full pensif longe tyme, till that she knewe verily that she was with childe, and bar me so till I was born in to this worlde and was baptised in a fonte, and dide me norishe till I was grete, and as soone as I cowde lyve withouten hir, I wente in to the grete forestes for by the nature of my fader be-houeth me thider to repeire, and for that he was sauage I am thus wilde. Now haue ye herde what I am.” “So god me helpe,” seide the Emperour, “neuer for me shalt thow be putte in feteres ne in Irenes seth thow wilt me graunte that thow will not go withoute my leve.” Than tolde Grisandolus how he dide laugh be-fore the abbey and in the chapell, for the squyer that hadde smyten his maister, and the dyuerse wordes that he hadde spoken, whan he asked wherefore he dide laugh, and he seide that neuer wolde he nought sey till he com be-fore yow, and now is he here, and therfore aske hym why he hath so often laughed by the wey, and than the Emperour hym asked, and he seide he sholde it knowe all in tyme, but sendeth first for all youre barouns and than shall I telle yow that and other thinges, with that entred the Emperour in to his chamber and the sauage man and his prive counseile, and ther thei rested and disported, and spake of

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many thinges, and on the morowe the Emperour sente to seche his barouns hem that he supposed sonest to fynde, and than thei come a-noon bothe oon and other from alle partyes.

On the fourthe day after the sauage man was comen, where that the lordes were assembled in the maister paleise, and the Emperour brought in [correction; sic =

] this sauage man and made hym to sitte down by hym, and whan the barouns hadde I-nough hym beholden thei asked why he hadde for hem sente, and he tolde hem for a vision that hym be-fill in his slepynge, “ffor I will that it be expowned be-fore yow,” and thei seide that the significacion wolde thei gladly heren.

Than the Emperour comaunded this man to telle the cause why that he was sought, and he ansuerde and seide that he wolde nothinge telle till that the Emperesse and hir xij maydones were comen, and she com a-noon with gladde semblaunce as she that yaf no force of nothinge that myght befalle, whan the Emperesse and hir xij maydones were come a-monge the barouns, the lordes roos a-gein hir and dide hir reuerence, and as soone as the sauage man hir saugh comynge he turned his heed in trauerse and be-gan to laughe as in scorne, and whan he hadde a-while laughed he loked on the Emperour stadfastly, folio 152a
and than on Grisandolus, and than on the Emperesse, and than on hir xij Maydenys that weren with hir, and than he turned toward the barouns, and be-gan to laughe right lowde as it were in dispite, whan the Emperour saugh hym so laughe he preied hym to telle that he hadde in couenaunt, and whi that he lough now and other tymes, with that he stode vp and seide to the Emperour so lowde that all myght it heren. “Sir, yef ye me graunte as trewe Emperour be-fore youre barouns that ben here that I shall not be the werse ne no harme to me therfore shall come, and that ye will yeve me leve as soone as I haue yow certefied of youre avision I shall telle yow the trewe significacion,” and the Emperour hym ansuerde and graunted that noon harme ne annoye to hym sholde be don, ne that he sholde come hym no magre to telle hym that he was so desirouse for to heren, and that he sholde haue leve to go whan hym liste. “But I praye the telle me myn avision

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in audience of alle my barouns what it was, and than shall I the better be-leve the significacion whan thow haste me tolde, of that I neuer spake to no creature,” and he ansuerde as for that sholde hym not greve, and therfore wolde he not lette and than he be-gan the avision.

“Sir,” seide the sauage man to the Emperour, “it fill on a nyght that ye lay by youre wif that is here, and whan ye were a-slepe ye thought ye saugh be-fore yow a sowe that was feire and smothe, and the heer that she hadde on her bakke was so longe that it trailed to grounde more than a fadome, and on hir heed she hadde a cercle of goolde bright shynynge, and yow semed that ye hadde norisshed that sowe in youre house, but ye cowde it not verily knowe, and therwith yow semed that ye hadde hir othir tymes sein, and whan ye hadde longe thought on this thinge ye saugh come oute of youre chamber xij lyonsewes full feire and smothe; and thei com by the halle thourgh the courte to the sowe and lay by hir oon after another, and whan thei hadde do that thei wolde thei wente a-gein in to youre chamber; than com ye to youre barouns and hem asked what sholde be do with this sowe, that ye saugh thus demened, and the barouns and alle the peple seide she was nothinge trewe, and thei Iuged to be brent, bothe the sowe and the xij lyonsewes, and than was the fier made redy grete and merveillouse in this courte, and therynne was the sowe brente and the xij lyonsewes. Now haue ye herde youre sweuene in the same forme as ye it saugh in your slepinge, and yef ye se that I haue eny thinge mystaken, sey it be-fore your barouns.” And the Emperour seide he hadde of nothinge failed.

“Sir Emperour,” seide the barouns, “seth that he hath seide what was youre avision, hit is to be-leve the significacion yef he will it telle, and it is a thinge that
folio 152b
wolde gladly heren.” “Certes,” seide the man, “I shall it declare to yow so openly that ye may it se, and knowe apertly that I yow shall sey. The grete sowe that ye saugh signifieth my lady the Emperesse, youre wif, that is ther; and the longe heer that she hadde on hir bakke betokeneth the longe robes that she is ynne

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I-clothed; and the sercle that ye saugh on her heed shynynge betokeneth the crowne of goolde that ye made her with to be crowned; and yef it be youre plesier I will no more sey at this tyme.” “Certes,” seide the Emperour, “yow behoveth to sey all as it is yef ye will be quyte of youre promyse.” “Certes,”

seide man, “than shall I telle yow. The xij lyonsewes that ye saugh come cute of a chamber, betokeneth the xij maydenes that be ther with the Emperesse; and knowe it for very trouthe that thei be no wymen for it be men, and therefore make hem be dispoiled, and ye shull se the trouthe; and as ofte as ye go oute of the town she maketh hem serue in hir chamber and in hir bedde. Now haue ye herde youre avision and the significacion, and ye may se knowe yef that I haue seide to yow the soth.”

Whan the Emperour vnderstode the vntrouthe that his wif hadde don, he was so abaisshed that he spake no worde a longe while; and than he spake and seide that that wolde he soone knowe, and than he cleped Grisandolus, and seide, “Dispoile mo tho dameseles, for I will that alle the barouns that be hereynne knowe the trouthe;” and a-noon Grisandolus and other lept forth and dispoiled hem be-fore the Emperour and his barouns, and fonde hem formed alle as other men weren; and than the Emperour was so wroth that he wiste not what to do. Than he made his oth that a-noon ther sholde be do Iustice soche as was right to be awarded; and the barouns Iuged seth she hadde don hir lorde soche vntrouthe that she sholde be brente and the harlottes hanged, and some seide that thei sholde be flayn all quyk; but in the ende thei acorded that thei sholde be brente in a fier, and a-noon as the Emperour herde the Iugement of the barouns, he comaunded to make the fier in the place, and a-noon it was don, and thei were bounde hande and foot, and made hem to be caste in to the brynynge fier, and in short tyme thei were alle brent, ffor the fier was grete and huge. Thus toke Emperour vengaunce of his wif, and grete was the renomede that peple of hym spake whan it was knowen.

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Whan the Emperesse was brente, and thei that she hadde made hir maydenes, the barouns returned a-gein to the Emperour, and seide oon to another that the sauage man was right wise and avisee, ffor yet shall he sey some other thinges wher-of shall come some grete merveile vs, and to all the worlde; and the Emperour hymself seide that he hadde seide his avision as it was in trouthe.

Thus wiste the Emperour the lyvinge of his wif, and than the Emperour hym called, and asked yef he wolde sey eny more, and he seide, “Ye folio 153a
yef he asked hym whereof.” “I wolde wite,” quod he, “wherefore thow didist laughe whan thow were in the foreste [correction; sic = freste], and loked on Grisandolus, and also whan thow were ledde be-fore an abbey, and in the chapell whan the squyer smote his lorde, and why thow seidest tho wordes to my stiwarde whan he asked why thow loughe, and after tell me what betokeneth the laughter hereynne whan thow saugh the Emperesse come.” “Sir,” seide the sauage man, “I shall telle yow I-nowgh. I do yow to wite that the firste laughter that I made was for that a woman hadde me taken by her engyn, that no man cowde not do; and wite ye well that Grisandolus is the beste maiden and the trewest withynne youre reame, and therefore was it that I lough; and the laughter that I made be-fore the abbey, was for ther is vnder erthe be-fore the yate the grettest tresour hidde that eny man knoweth, and therfore I lough for that it was vnder feet of hem that a-boode after the almesse, ffor more richesse is in that tresour than alle the monkes beth worth, and all the abbey, and all that ther-to belongeth, and the pore peple that ther-on stoden cowde it not take; and Avenable youre stywarde, that Grisandolus doth her clepen, saugh that I lowgh and asked me wherefore, and the couerte wordes that I to hir spake was for that she was chaunged in to the fourme of man, and hadde take anothir habite than hir owne; and alle the wordes that I spake thei ben trewe, ffor by woman is many a man disceyved, and therefore I cleped hir disceyaunt for by women ben many townes sonken and brent, and many a riche londe wasted and exiled, and moche peple slayn; but I sey it not for noon euell that is in hir, and Page 433
thow thyself maist well perceyve that be women be many worthi men shamed and wratthed that longe haue loued togeder, yef it were not for debate of women; but now rech the not for thy wif, that thou haste distroied, ffor she hath it well deserued, and haue therfore no mystrust to other, for as longe as the worlde endureth it doth but apeire, and all that cometh to hem be the grete synne of luxure that in hem is closeth; ffor woman is of that nature, and of that disire, that whan she hath the moste worthi man of the worlde to hir lorde, she weneth she haue the werste, and wite ye fro whens his cometh of the grete fragelite that is in hem; and the foule corage and the foule thought that thei haue where thei may beste hir volunte acomplish; but therfore be not wroth, for ther ben in the worlde that ben full trewe, and yef thow haue be desceyved of thyn, yet shall thow haue soche oon that is worthy to be Emperesse, and to resceyve that high dignite, and yef thow wilt it be-leve thow shalt wynne ther-on more than thowe shalt lese. But the prophesie seith that the grete dragon shall come fro Rome that wolde distroie the reame of the grete Breteyne and put it in his subieccion; and the fierce lyon crowned maugre the diffence of the turtill that the dragon hath norisshed vndir his wynges, and as soone as the grete dragon shall
folio 153b
meve to go to the grete Breteigne, the lyon crowned shall come hym a-geins, and shull fight so togeder, that a fierce bole that is prowde, whiche the lyon shall bringe with hym shall smyte so the dragon with oon of his hornes that he shall falle down deed, and therby shall be delyuered the grete lyon. But I will not telle the significacion of these wordes, for I owe it nought to do, but all this shall falle in thy tyme, and therfore be well ware of euell counseile, for grete part longeth to the. The tother laughter that I made in the chapell was not for the buffetes that the squyer yaf his lorde, but for the betokenynges that therynne ben. In the same place ther the squyer stode was entred, and yet ther is vndir his feet a merveillouse tresour. The firste buffet that the squyer yaf his lorde signifieth that for avoure the worlde [correction; sic =
wolde]becometh so prowde, that he douteth nother god ne his soule, no Page 434
more than the squyer douted to smyte his maister, but the riche wolde oppresse the pore vnder theire feet; and that make these vntrewe riche peple whan enythinge cometh to hem be myschaunce thei swere and stare and sey maugre haue god for his yeftes, and wite ye what maketh this nothinge but pride of richesse.

The seconde buffet betokeneth the riche vserer that deliteth in his richesse and goth scornynge [correction; sic = sornynge] his pore nyghebours that be nedy whan thei come to hym ought for to borough, and the vserer so leneth hem litill and litill that at laste thei moste selle theire heritage to hym that so longe hath it coveyted. The thridde buffet signifieth these false pletours, men of lawe, that sellen and a-peire theire neyghbours be-hinde here bakke for couetise and envye of that thei se hem thrive, and for thei be not in her daungier, ffor whan these laweers sen that her neighbours don hem not grete reverence and servise, thei thenken and a-spien how thei may hem a-noyen in eny wise, and to make hem lese that thei haue, and therfore men seyn an olde sawe, who hath a goode neighbour hath goode morowe. Now haue ye herde the significaciouns why the buffetes were yoven, but the squyer delited nothinge therynne whan that he smote his maister, but he wiste not fro whens this corage to hym com. But god that is almyghty wolde haue it to be shewed in exsample that men sholde not be prowde for worldly richesse, for to the couetouse theire richesse doth hem but harme that slepen in auerice, and foryete god and don the werkes of the deuell, that ledeth hem to euerlastinge deth, and all is for the grete delite that thei haue in richesse. But now shall I telle yow whi I lough to day whan I saugh the Emperesse comynge and hir lechours, I do yow to wite that it was but for dispite, ffor I saugh that she was youre wif, and hadde oon of the worthiest men of the worlde that eny man knoweth of youre yowthe, and she hadde take these xij harlottes and wende
folio 154a
euer for to haue ledde this foly all hir lif; and therfore hadde I grete dispite for the love of yow and of youre doughter, ffor she is youre doughter withoute doute, and draweth litill after hir moder. Now haue ye herde alle the laughtres and wherefore

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thei were, and therfore may I go yef it be youre plesier.” “Now a-bide a litill,” seide the Emperour, “and telle vs the trouthe of Grisandolus, and also we shull sende to digge after the tresour for I will wite yef it be trewe,” and he ther-to dide assent; than the Emperour comaunded that Grisandolus were sought, and so she was founden oon of the feirest maydenes that neded to enquere in eny londe, and whan the Emperour knewe that Grisandolus, his stiwarde, that longe hadde hym serued was a woman, he blissed hym for the wonder that he ther-of hadde. Than he asked the sauage man counseile what he sholde do of that he hadde promysed to yeve his doughter, and half his reame, ffor loth he was to falsen his promyse of couenaunt. “I shall telle yow,” quod the man, “what ye shull do yef ye will do my counseile, and wite it well, it is the beste that eny man can yeven.” “Sey on, than,” seide Emperour, “ffor what counseile that thow yevest I shall it well be-leve, for I haue founde thy seyinge trewe.” Than seide the sauage man, “Ye shall take Avenable to be yowre wif, and wite ye whos doughter she is. She is doughter to the Duke matan that the Duke ffrolle hath disherited and driven oute [correction; sic = oute oute] of his londe for envye with grete wronge, and he and his wif be fledde, and his sone, that is a feire yonge squyer, in to Province in to a riche town that is called monpellier; and sende to seche hem and yelde hem her heritage that thei haue loste with wronge, and make the mariage of youre doughter and Auenables brother that is so feire, and ye may her no better be setten.” And whan the Barouns vndirstode that the sauage man seide, thei spoke moche a-monge hem, and seiden in the ende that the Emperour myght do no better after theire advis; and than the Emperour asked his name, and what he was, and the hert that so pertly spake vnto hym, and than seide he, “Sir, of that enquere no more, ffor it is a thinge the more ye desire to knowe the lesse shall ye witen.” “Ffor sothe,” seide the Emperour, “now suppose I well what it may be, but shull ye telle us eny more.” “Ye,” quod he, “I tolde yow right now of the lyon crowned and of the lyon Page 436
volage, but now shall I telle yow in other manere, for that ye shull be better remembred whan tyme cometh. Emperour of Rome,” quod he, “this is trewe prophesie that the grete boor of Rome that is signified by the grete dragon, shall go a-gein the lyon crowned of the bloy Breteyne a-gein the counseile of the turtell that hath an heed of golde and longe hath ben his love. But the boor shall be so full of pride that he will nothir be-leve, but shall go with so grete pride with all his generacion in to the parties
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of Gaule to fight with the crowned lyon that shall come a-geins hym with alle his beestes. Ther shall be grete slaughter of beestes on bothe sides. Than shall oon of the fawnes of the lyon crowned sle the grete boor, and therfore I praye the yef thow wilt ought do for me er I departe that thow do nothinge a-gein the volunte of thy wif, after that day that thow haste her wedded, and wite well yef thow do thus thow shalt haue profite, and now I take my leve for here haue I no more to do.” And the Emperour be-taught hym to god seth it myght no better be, and therwith he wente on his wey, and whan he com to the halle dore he wrote letteres on the lyntell of the dore in grewe that seide, “Be it knowe to alle tho that these letteres reden, that the sauage man that spake to the Emperour and expounded his dreme, hit was Merlin of Northumberlande, and the hert brancus with xv braunches that spake to hym in his halle at mete a-monge alle his knyghtes, and was chaced thourgh the Citee of Rome, that spake to Auenable in the foreste whan he tolde hir how she sholde fynde the man sauage; and lete the Emperour well wite that Merlin is maister counseller to kynge Arthur of the grete Breteyne.” And than he departed and spake no mo wordes. Whan this sauage man was departed from the Emperour, he sente in to Province to seche the fader and the moder of Auenable and Patrik hir brother, in the town of monpeller, whider as thei were fledde; and a-noon thei com gladde and ioyfull of the auenture that god hadde hem sente, and whan thei were comen thei hadde grete ioye of theire doughter that thei wende neuer to haue seyn. Than thei a-bide with the Emperour longe tyme, and the Emperour restored hem Page 437
to here herytage that ffrolle hadde hem be-rafte. But as ffrolle myght he it a-gein seide, ffor he was of grete power, and so endured the werre longe tyme.

But in the ende the Emperour made the pees, and than he maried his doughter to Patrik, and hymself toke Auenable to his wif, and grete was the ioye and the feeste that the Barouns maden, for moche was she beloved bothe of riche and pore, and as the Emperour was in ioye and deduyt of his newe spouse, ther com a massage to hym oute of Greece for a discorde that was betwene the barouns of Greese and the Emperour Adrian, that sholde hem Iustise, ffor the Emperour Adrian myght vn-ethe ride for febilnesse of age, and whan the messagers hadde spoke to the Emperour and don all that he sholde, he toke his leve to go, and as he caste vp his yie vpon the halle dore and saugh the letteres that Merlin hadde writen in griewe, and a-noon he redde hem lightly, and than he gan to laughe right harde, and shewed hem to the Emperour, and seide, “Sir, is this trewe that these lettres seyn.” “What sey thei,” quod the Emperour, “wote ye neuer.” Quod the messager, “Thei seyn that he that tolde yow the vntrouthe of youre wif, and youre dreme expowned, and spake to yow in gise of an herte, that it was Merlin of Northumbirlande, the maister counseller of kynge Arthur of Breteyne, by whos counseile ye haue spoused youre wif Auenable.” And whan the Emperour vndirstode folio 155a
these wordes he merveiled sore; and than be-fill a grete merveile, whereof alle that were therynne hadde wonder, and the Emperour hymself; ffor as soone as the Emperour herde what the letteres mente, a-noon the letteres vanysshed so sodeynly that no man wiste how, and ther-of hadde thei grete wonder, and moche it was spoken of thourgh the contrey. But now cesseth the tale of the Emperour of Rome that a-bode in his paleise gladde and myry with his wif Auenable, and ledde goode lif longe tyme, for bothe were thei yonge peple, ffor the Emperour was but xxviij yere of age at that hour, and his wif was xxij, and yef thei ledde myri lif, yet Patrik and ffoldate, the doughter of the Emperour, lyved in more delite. But now returneth the tale a-gein to speke of Merlin.

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CHAPTER XXIV.

BATTLE BETWEEN THE TWELVE KINGS AND THE SAISNES BEFORE THE CITY OF CLARENCE.

Here seith the book that as soone as Merlin was departed from Julius sezar, the Emperour of Rome, to whom he hadde tolde his avision, he toke his wey in to the grete Breteyne, and com in to Northumbirlande to Blaase his maister, that gladde was whan that he hym saugh, but he was but litill while in comynge, ffor he com theder in half a day and oon nyght ffor he was full of grete art, and than he tolde hym all these thinges that were befalle in Rome, and after he tolde hym how xij kynges and a Duke were assembled with xlMl men for to go fight with the saisnes be-fore the Citee of Clarence, and tolde hym of the grete bateile that hadde be vnder the Castell of Trebes in the reame of Benoyk of the kynge Arthur a-gein the Almaynes, and a-gein the Romayns, and a-gein the frenshe men of Gaule and of la desert, and how alle were discounfited, and how the kynge Ban hadde geten his wif with childe, soche oon that shall surmounte alle the knyghtes that shull be in his tyme; and whan he hadde all tolde, and Blaase hadde all writen in his book, where thourgh we haue yet the knowynge ther-of. But now we moste reste of Merlin and of Blaase till another tyme, and speke of the xij princes that were assembled as ye haue herde be-fore for to fight with the saisnes.

Whan these xij kynges and this Duke weren assembled with as moche peple as thei myght haue, thei toke counseile, and ordeyned her wardes, and than rode forth by nyght that thei were not seyn of no peple. The firste warde ledde Aguysans, the kynge de Cent chiualiers, that was a full noble knyght, vaillaunt and hardy, and right stronge as of his yowthe, and hadde in his companye vijMl men of armes.

The seconde warde ledde the kynge Tradiliuauns of North-Wales that was a full goode man and a trewe, and with hym vijMl men Page 439
of armes. The thridde warde ledde [correction; sic = ledde ledde] the kynge Belynans of South wales, his brother, that was also a noble knyght with vijMl men of armes. The fourthe warde ledde the kynge Carados brenbas with vMl men.

The fithe warde ledde the kynge
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Brangore with vijMl men, and the vje ledde the Duke Escam of Cambenyk with vijMl men. The seuenthe warde ledde the kynge Clarion, of Northumbirlonde, with vijMl men. The viij warde ledde the kynge ydiers of Cornewaile, that was a feire knyght and an amerouse, and welbeloued a-monge ladyes with vijMl men, and the ixe ledde the kynge Vrien that was a noble knyght, and a sure of his body; but sory he was and wroth for his sones that he hadde loste, and full sore was he greved in the werre so that he hadde not but iijMl men of armes that he brought in his companye, but thei were bolde and hardy. The tenthe warde ledde the kynge Aguysans of Scotlonde, that was wonte to be so riche a londe, and so plentevouse of goode men, but he hath loste many in the werre that he hadde but threMlmen of armes. The xje warde ledde the kynge Loot of Orkanye, and hadde all loste bothe wif, and childeren, and all his feire meyne, wherfore he was so sorowfull that he hadde leuer dye than lyve, ffor so was he greved with the werre that his peple was but small, but tho were orped knyghtes, and the beste of all the hoste for to endure and suffre traueile of armes. The xijthe warde ledde the kynge Ventres of Garlot, that was a full noble knyght and a sure, and he was full wroth in herte for his sone that hadde hym lefte that he loved so hertely, and hadde gretly be greved with saisnes, that he hadde in his companye but two thousande men and thre hundred, what on horsebak and on foote; and whan her peple were disseuered and her wardes devided, the barouns assembled and asked oon of another how thei sholden don, and than thei acorded to go fight be-fore the town of Clarence, and that thei sholde not ride but by myght and smyte sodeynly in to the hoste on all partes, ffor better is it for vs to dye with worship than to lyve in shame; and with that Page 440
departed the counseile of the barouns, and eche wente to his pavelon; and whan thei hadde souped thei comaunded her peple to arme hem and make redy for to ride; and a-noon thei were appareilled thourgh [correction; sic = though] the hoste and rode forth on her wey. And ther was a spie of the kynges Hardogabran that hadde herde all the doynge of the barouns. This aspie paste oute of the hoste previly, and com to the sege that was be-fore Clarence grete and merveilouse, and tolde to the kynge Hardogabran all the aray that he hadde seyn, and how that the cristin com with grete spede; and whan that the saisnes vndirstoden that the cristin were comynge, thei asked how moche peple thei myght be in all, and he seide that thei were not xlMl, and than the saisnes ne sette nought ther-by, ne deyned not to arme the fourthe part of hem. But neuertheles the kynge Hardogabran made the hoste to be waicched bothe day and nyght; and also ther were xx kynges that after that thei herde that the cristin were comynge, thei wolde neuer be disgarnysshed of her armes. But now we moste returne to the cristin that com ridinge.

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These xii princes ride so by nyght till that thei com nygh the hoste a litill be-fore day, and the weder was somwhat trouble and wyndy, and be-gan for to reyne; and thei in the hoste were the hevyer of slepe, and thei toke noon hedde that eny peple sholde come on hem at soche tyme, and whan the cristin saugh theire herberowe that noon ne come oute ne made no noyse, a-noon thei right theire armour; and whan thei were redy thei departed theire peple in to thre parties, and in that oon part was the kynge Clarion, and in that other part was the kynge Ventres of Garlot, and Carados, and Brangores, and Tradilyuans, and Belynans his brother; and in the thridde partie was the kynge Aguysas, and the kynge Vrien, and as soone as thei were disseuered thei rode a softe paas, theire hedes enclyned vnder theire helmes, and whan thei com nygh the tentes, thei lete theire horse go as faste as thei myght renne, and kutte a-sonder cordes and ropes of the loiggynges, and threwe down tentes and pavelouns, and slowh and maymed alle that thei araught at her comynge, and than a-roos the noyse and the Page 441
showte so grete that all the foreste resounded. Ther was grete martire and grete occision of saisnes, er the men of armes that sholde haue waicched the hoste were horsed, and whan thei saugh hem so surprised thei lepe to horse and rode to the kynge Hardogabrans tente, and blewe hornes on euery parte, and assembled togeder bothe armed and vnarmed, and the xx kynges lepe to horse, and eche hadde xMl men at his baner, and ronne agein the cristen, and smote thourgh sheldes and hauberkes, that many ther were slayn on bothe partyes; and the xij princes suffred sore traueile, for thei were full noble knyghtes, and well hem helped Segurades, and Drias the lorde of salerne, and Mares, and Dorilas, and Brandins de la dolerouse garde, and Bruyns saunz pitee. These dide so well that neuer knyghtes myght do better, and on that other part were togeder the Castelein of Gazell, and the lorde of blakeston, and the lorde of mares, and the lorde of wyndesore, and Aliers, and Gaudius, and the nevew of kynge Vrien, these ought not to be forgeten, for a-gein hem myght noon armour endure were it neuer so harde. These x knyghtes drough to the xij princes as soone as thei saugh hem at the logges where thei stode stifly, and foughten harde and sore, and so many slough the cristin that the horse wente in blode vp to the pastrouns. But the saisnes were so many and so thikke, that be fin force thei drof hem fro the tentes, but thei wente not vileyusly, but as noble men and hardy; ffor whan the worthi men saugh thei were putte bakke thei were a-schamed, and hadde ther-of grete dispite. Than thei assembled and mette hem in the visages. Ther was stronge shour, and sore eche of hem shewde her hardynesse and his grete prowesse, and eche of hem seide that neuer was he worthi to be [correction; sic = ] cleped a knyght that failed at that nede for to helpe so well that it myght be spoke of all his lif after; with this wordes eche folio 156b
smote his horse with spores and cried his ensigne, and thei smyte in so harde a-monge the Saisnes, that many ther were deed and wounded gapinge vpright ther as thei passed; but the saisnes com oute of the tentes soche foyson that no man myght counte the nombre, and hardogabran, a saisne, moche and grete oute Page 442
of mesure com formest; ffor the storye seith that he was xv foote of lengthe, but he was yonge of xxviij yere of age. This kynge hardogabran satte vpon a grete gray stede with a spere in his hande, grete and shorte, and hadde a staffe hanginge on his lifte side wherewith that day he made many a knyght sory and wroth; and whan the cristin saugh this grete deuell comynge, thei douted for to mete hym, the beste and the moste hardyest of all the cristin hoste, and made hym wey; and Carados of the perilouse tour hym mette, for he was the grettest and the strengest of all the cristin hoste, and was xxx yere of age, and as soone as he saugh the grete devell he lete renne to hym for nothinge he hym douted, and thei mette so harde with theire speres vpon the sheldes, and in passinge fourth thei hurteled so harde with her helmes and sheldes that bothe thei fill to the grounde, and theire horse also; and whan bothe partyes saugh these tweyne falle, thei pressed to the rescowse on bothe parties. Ther suffred the cristin grete peyne and traueile er that Carados myght be remounted, and the reyne hem greved sore that thei hadde the nyght and the day, ffor it cessed neuer of reynynge till that mydday was passed, and thei were so wete grete and small, that vn-ethe myght thei eche knowe other but by theire speche.

Full grete was the bataile and the stour mortall for sore eche other dide hate.

Ther dide the cristin well preve theire prowesse, for magre hem thei sette Carados on horse, that Bloys of Plaisshie hym brought where-from he hadde smyten down the kynge Graalant, and matan and alibos, two yonge knyghtes, and the lorde of Nohaut, and the Castelein of Molehaut, mayntened the stour so well that thei ought not to be blamed till that Carados was remounted, and than be-gan the stour all newe for many ther were of goode knyghtes on the cristin partye, and on the hethen side grete pride; ffor many ther were of riche men and puyssant, and hadde soche plente of peple that the cristen were not but litill shewed a-monge hem, and therfore hadde thei moche the werse, for thei were at grete myschef; and in this maner thei foughten till mydday Page 443
was paste, and than be-gan the day for to clere, and the sonne to shewe out his bemes and dryed theire harneys, and than be-gan the stour to enforce more and more. But the saisnes were so many that of fin force thei droff hem oute of the feelde, and brought hem to the plaisshes, and ther thei stynted longe tyme; ffor the kynge de cent Chiualers withstode firste and cleped his ensigne many tymes, and seide to the barouns, “What
folio 157a
lordynges, wheder will ye go. Certes full euell holde ye the promyse that we devised hedirwarde; ffor yet be we hooll and sounde, and oure armoure hooll also, and we be thus discounfited that noon of vs dar shewe his valour, wele ought we to be reproved, and well owe we to remembre that whan we be departed oon from another, that yef we be oute of sorowe issed in to moche more dolour be we entred,” and whan the barouns vndirstode that the kynge de Cent Chiualiers hem seide, thei returned a-gein fiercely, and eche of hem smote so the firste that he mette, that deed he fill to grounde, and ther be-gan the bataile more crewell than it hadde all the day be-fore. Ther dide the kynge de Cent Chyualiers so well that moche was he preised and beloved of the high barouns; ffor er he departed his sheilde was all to daisht, that the thridde part ne left not hooll, and his hauberke dismayled and his helme perced, and his armes all be-soiled in blode, and his horse heed and all the fore body was soyled with bloode and brayn, that he myght not be knowe, but by his speche; and also ther a-boode the kynge Vryen and Bawdemagn, his nevew, and the kynge ydiers, and the kynge loot, and the kynge ventres, and Dorilas, these wolde neuer leve the stour as longe as thei myght a-bide in place, and ther thei dide the saisnes grete damage, ffor moo thei slowgh than that thei hadde don all the day be-fore; and whan the saisnes saugh the damage that thei hem dide, thei [correction; sic =
the] blewen hornes and trumpes, and made soche noyse a tempest that oon myght it heare two myle longe, and than com Orienx a saisne with foure thousand men of armes all fressh and newe, and frusht in to the medle so harde that they made hem alle to remeve place, and than a-roos the noyse and the Page 444
chace all the day on ende till it was nyght that the cristin myght neuer recouer for to holde place, but were all discounfited, and yef the nyght were not so soone come vpon, more hadde thei myshapped, and whan the saisnes hadde loste the day light, thei returned to theire tentes and vnarmed hem, and esed hem, and sette hem to soper, and ete and dranke plente, and after soper thei slepe and toke theire reste as they that well wende to be sure on all partyes, but full angry thei were of the harme that the cristen hadde hem don that day, and gladly ther-of wolde thei ben avenged, yef thei myght come in place, ffor the storie seith thei loste moo than xxMl men, and the cristen loste xMl. But now returne we to speke of the xij princes that be full of sorowe and angre for the disconfiture that is vpon hem turned, and seide a-monge hem that so wolde thei it nought leten, but that thei wolden don hem more damage er that thei wolde departed.

Now whan the barouns were so discounfited, and were somwhat fer from the tentes of the saisnes, thei a-light on foote, and amended theire armours, and refresshed theire horse; but thei were all be-soiled with bloode and myre, bothe theire armes
folio 157b
and theire horse that no colour myght be knowen; and whan thei were redy, thei lepte to horse and rode a softe paas cloos togeder so stilliche, that noon ne spake a worde till that [correction; sic = that that] thei com to the tentes a-boute mydnyght, and fonde the hoste all a-slepe; ffor tho thei wende to haue ben all saf for the discounfiture that thei hadde don; and whan the cristin com to the tentes thei ronne in with so grete raveyn, for thei were yet xxxti Ml of horsmen, and thei threwe down tentes and Pavilouns, and slowgh many of the saisnes, that noon ascaped that fill to theire handes; and the saisnes lepte oute of her beddes all slepy, and cried, “Treson, treson,” and assembled at Hardogabrans tente, where oon blewe a trumpe, and the saisnes entended to nothinge elles but to renne to that trumpe, and than thei hem armed, and a-raied as faste as thei myght;

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and thei light vp torches, and lanternes, and fire brondes grete plente, that the light myght haue be seyn iij myle longe.

The cristin neuer cessed to kille and to sle, and mangeled alle that thei myght take, that the stremes of blode ran as of a welle springe, and thus the slaughter endured all the nyght till it was day; and whan the saisnes saugh the grette losse and martire that thei maden, thei were woode for wrath and ire, and than they com on fresshly as though they [correction; sic = the]sholde haue all confounded in theire comynge, and the cristen hem deffended in the beste maner.

But yet the saisnes droff hem oute from the tentes foule and lothly; and than begonne the horse of the cristin to feynte sore as they that two dayes hadde not eten, and ther-of were thei sore discounforted; ffor thei saugh that alle were thei in aventure of deth. Than fill the barons in corage as god wolde, the yonge knyghtes that I haue named be-fore, that thei wolde Iuste with the saisnes for to wynne hem other horse whereon thei myght ride, or elles thei were in grete pereile alle to perissh. Than eche of the barons toke a grete spere, and rode in to the renges a xl of knyghtes of pris, and hit is reson to reherse theire names of the worthi lordes. The firste was the kynge ydiers of Cornewaile, and the kynge Ventres of Garlot, and his nevew that euer kepte hym a-boute hym; the fourthe was kynge loot of Orcanye; the ve was kynge Clarion of Northumbirlonde; the sixthe was kynge Christofer, and his nevew that hilde the depe Cite of Gaunt, and the lorde of the dolerouse garde, and Bruns saunz pitee, and the lorde of Nohaut, and the lorde of the forest perilouse, and the kynge de [correction; sic = kynge de kynge de] Cent Chiualiers, and the kynge Tradylyuaunt of North wales, and Polydomas his nevew, and the kynge Brangore, and the kynge aguysas of Scotlonde, and Gaudin his nevew, and the Duke Escam of Cambenyk, and the lorde of salerne, and the kynge Vrien, and Badmagn his nevew, and the kynge Belynans of South wales, and

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Carados de la dolerouse toure, and as many of other knyghtes folio 158a
that thei were well thre score.

These com in the first fronte with speres in fewtre for to Iuste, for grete myster hadde thei of horse, and eueriche of hem smote oon so harde that he fill deed to the grounde, or wounded, and sesed the horse by the reynes, and wente with hem a-side in to the feilde, and a-light from theire horse, and lepte on hem that thei hadde wonne, and returned a-gein in to bateile, and begonne to smyte down men and horse to grounde, for to remounte her company vpon fresshe horses that ther-to hadden grete nede, and all the day noon of hem wolde departe from other; ffull harde and felon was the bateile ther, as these thre score were newe I-horsed, and longe it endured; but the saisnes dide euer encrese more and more, and made the cristen to voyde the place, but that was with grete peyne, ffor the saisnes peyned hem sore to a-venge the harmes that thei hadden don, and the cristin were talentif to a-venge her frendes, that the paynymes hadde slayn; but in the ende were the cristin discounfited and chaced oute of the feilde. But ther endured grete traueile the thre score knyghtes; ffor thei kepte hem-self all-ther hinderest for to diffende the other that feyntly were horsed that myght no faster go than a paas; and these thre score knyghtes wisten well that alle were thei deed or taken yef thei hem forsaken, and so thei mayntened the bateile as longe as thei myght suffre till that her companye was well paste; and than thei wente her wey after, and whan thei were ouertaken thei withstode and foughten with the saisnes full harde, and whan eny of these knyghtes fill, thei alle a-boode till he were remounted; but nought for than moche thei losten at the laste, ffor right many of her men were slain and wounded, and taken prisoners. In this manere were the cristin discounfited, and the saisnes hem chaced fer in to the foreste, where-as thei hem leften because of the nyght that com on, and than the saisnes returned to theire loigges with grete plente of prisoners; and alwey after that the saisnes made better waicche than thei hadde don be-fore, and the cristin were in

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the foreste for socour, and rode forth till thei com in to a feire launde, and ther thei a-light on foote from theire horse and made grete doell and sorowe for theire losse, and were so discounforted, that thei wiste not what for to do ne whider to go; but in the ende thei acorded that eche man sholde go to his repeire, and yef the saisnes come hem for to assaile eche man deffende hymself the beste wise that he may; with that thei lept to horse, and eche comaunded other to god and departed wepinge for pite that oon from that other, and eche wente hoom to his repeire, and stuffed hem with peple, and vitaile the beste that thei myght; and after that the saisnes hadde hem thus discounfited folio 158b
thei douted hem nothinge, but ronne thourgh her londes, and brente and distroied and token prisoners, and brought in to the hoste many prayes; and neuer after were the kynges so bolde to isse out of her castelles and townes for to fight with the saisnes. But now we moste speke of the kynge Arthur that is in the see towarde the grete Breteyne.

CHAPTER XXV.

ARTHUR’S MEETING WITH LEODOGAN; MARRIAGE OF ARTHUR AND GONNORE.

Now seith the storie, that whan the kynge Arthur and the barouns were assembled and entred in to the shippes, thei sailed till thei come to the bloy Breteyne; and as soone as thei were arived thei lepe vpon horse and ryde so day and nyght, till thei come to logres the thirde day, and ther were thei richely welcomed, and the moste ioye that myght be made to eny peple; and ther thei dide soiourne thre dayes with grete feeste; and the fourthe day remeved the kynge Arthur and Gawein, and his brethren, and the kynge Ban of Benoyk, and the kynge Bohors of Gannes, with thre thousande men of armes withoute moo, and rode so by her iourneyes that

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thei come in to the reame of Carmelide, a two myle from Toraise, where the kynge leodogan soiourned, and whan he herde tydinges that the kynge Arthur com, he rode a-geins hym, he and his meyne two myle or more, and whan thei were mette ther was made grete ioye, and welcomynge betwene the [correction; sic = the the] two kynges that well loved, and so dide alle the other barouns and lordes; and whan thei com in to the town thei fonde it all hanged with riche clothes, and strowed with fresh herbes, and fonde ladyes and maydenes carolinge and daunsinge, and the moste reuell and disport that myght be made; and on that other side these yonge bachelers of pris brake speres in bourdinge oon a-gein another, and thus thei conveyed hem vn-to the town, where-as Gonnore, the doughter of kynge leodogan com hem for to meten. But who so made ioye she was gladdest of alle other; ffor as soone as she saugh the kynge Arthur she ran to hym with armes spredde a-brode, and seide he was welcome and alle his companye; and she kiste his mouth tendirly, seynge hem alle that wolde, and than eche toke other by the hande and went vp in to the paleise, and whan it was tyme of soper thei ete and dranke grete plente, for I-nough thei haue whereof; and whan thei hadde disported hem a longe while after soper they wente to bedde for to resten hem, for wery they were of traueile; and on the morowe erly a-roos the kynge Arthur, and the kynge Bohors, and the kynge Ban, and Sir Gawein, and Ewein that gladly roos euer erly more that eny other, and wente to the mynster to here messe, and than com a-gein in to the paleise a-bove, and fonde the kynge leodogan that hadde herde messe in his chapell, and than thei asked horse and rode forth tho vj withoute eny moo, and yede to disporte hem, and to se the medowes and the river; and than the kynge leodogan aresoned the kynge Arthur, and asked him whan he sholde spousen his doughter, ffor he seide folio 159a
that it was tyme; and the kynge Arthur ansuerde that whiche hour that hym plesed, ffor he was ther-to redy; “but

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I moste a-bide the beste frende that I haue, ffor withoute hym will I do nothinge in no manere;” and than he asked whiche was that frende, and he tolde hem how it was Merlin, “be whom I haue recouered londe and honour, and all the goode that I haue ellis,” and whan sir Gawein vndirstode the wordes, he seide that he hadde grete reson for to love hym well, “and eche oon of vs oweth to desire his comynge, and wite it well he shall come er ought longe seth that ye hit desire.” “Certes,” seide the kynge Arthur “he tolde me that he sholde be here all in tyme.” “Than ther is no more,” quod Gawein, “but lete vs sette the day of spousaile;” and than toke thei day togeder the vtas after, and com thus spekynge in to the halle, and fonde the clothes leyde, and all thinge redy, and than thei waissh as thei ought to do, and weren serued as noble princes sholden be; and after mete thei wente to disporte, thei that wolde, and thus thei soiourned alle the viij dayes full. But now resteth a litill to speke of hem at this tyme, and returne to the xij princes that were disconfit be-fore the town of Clarence.

After that the kynges were thus discounfited, and were repeired eche of hem hom to his repeire; till that tydinges a-roos thourgh the londe that the kynge Arthur hadde passed the see, and hadde a-dubbed the sones of kynge loot, and the twey sones of kynge Vrien, and Galashin, the sone of kynge Ventre of Garlot, and Dodynell the sauage, the sone of kynge Belynant of South wales, and kay destranx, the nevew of kynge Carados, and Seigramour, the Emperours nevew of Constantynnoble, and his felowes that hadde brought with hym; and how the wif of kynge loot was at logres whider that his owne sones hadde hir brought and taken hir from the saisnes; and how the brethren hadde sworn, that neuer hir fader the kynge loot sholde haue theire moder in companye till that he hadde made homage to the kynge Arthur, and lete hym wele knowe that he hadde no werse enmy than that thei wolden be; and how that kynge Arthur hadde foughten with the kynge Claudas and Pounce Antonye be-fore the castell of Trebes, and Page 450
with ffrolle the Duke of Almayne, and Randolf the Senescall of Gaule, and hadde hem alle discounfited, and chaced oute of the feelde, and restored the two brethern to theire londes; and how he sholde take to wif the doughter of the kynge leodogan of Carmelide, and how he hadde discounfited the kynge Rion be-fore the Cite of Danablaise, and how he was gon in to Carmelide for to spouse his wif. Of these thinges spake the princes prively to hir counseile, and seide that thei dide grete synne euer hym for to wrath, ffor alle these harmes folio 159b
that to hem was fallen was but for the synne that thei hadde don a-geins hym, and thei dide repente sore of the hate that was betwene hem, yef thei myght otherwise haue don; and preiden god hertely that thei myght come in soche poynte that thei were acorded, be so that thei ther-by be not shamed; and so ran the tydinges of the kynge Arthur, that the kynge loot it herde, and wiste how that his wif was at logres, and his litill sone Mordred, and therfore in oon manere he was gladde and in another he was wroth; gladde for that she was delyuered oute of the handes of the saisnes, and angry for that his children hadde sworn that neuer sholde he haue hir in companye of hym, ne haue theire love till that he hadde made homage to kynge Arthur; but he saugh not how he myght with hym be acorded with his honour, but yef god wolde helpe hym of counseile, and than he be-thought hym how Arthur wolde sende his wif to logres Chief Citee, and as soone as he myght knowe of hir comynge he wolde gon hir a-geins with as moche peple as he myght haue and fight with hym, and assay to take Arthurs wif, and for hir myght he haue a-gein his.

Thus thought the kynge loot, but otherwise sholde it go, yef god kepe the force of kynge Arthur and of Sir Gawein, his nevew. Than the kynge loot sente his aspies fer and nygh, for to knowe whan the kynge Arthur sholde come from the reme of Carmelyde, and how moche peple that he hadde in his companye, and he hym appareiled for to ride hym a-geins. But of these thynges cesseth the tale at thys tyme, and speketh of Merlin, that was with Blaase in Northumbirlande, that alle

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these thinges hath hym tolde, and he hath hem alle in his booke wreten; and the storye seith that as soone as the kynge Arthur hadde seide to the kynge leodogan that he a-boode nothinge elles but the comynge of Merlin, a-noon Merlin it wiste, and alle the wordes that were ther seide, and that he wiste the purpos of the xij kynges, and of the kynge loot, and how he hadde sente his aspies, and alle he tolde to Blase, and he wrote euer as he tolde; and Merlin com to Toraise in Carmelide, where-as the Barons hym a-bode, and that was the euen be-fore that the kynge sholde spousen his wif, and as soone as the Barouns hym saugh, thei were of hym right gladde and ioyfull, as thei that moche desired his feliship.

But now we moste a litill turne for to speke of Gonnore the stepdoughter of Cleodalis, the senescall of Carmelide, and of his kynnysmen that right moche hated the kynge leodogan.

Here seith the book that Gonnore, the doughter of the senescallis wif, hadde right riche kynne of goode knyghtes that sore hated the kynge leodogan, for the grete
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shame that he dide to Cleodalis of his wif, that he so longe hadde holden in a-vouterie maugre Cleodalis, and alle his frendes, and longe hadde thei kept prevy the hate that thei durste not ther-of speke; but thei thought well to be wroken whan thei saugh tyme, and it fill the same day that Merlin was come thei were assembled of hem xvj, and spake togeder, but at this parlement was not Cleodalis, ne ther-of knewe no worde; and oon of hem asked in what manere thei myght beste greve or wrathe the kynge leodogan, and theire counseile was this: ffor thei acorded in the ende that thei sholde so speke to the maistresse of Gonnore, that was Arthurs wif, that whan she sholde be brought to bedde to the kynge Arthur, hir lorde, this olde maistresse sholde brynge hir down in to the gardin to disport, and ther while thei sholde sette ther the tother Gonnore, their cosin, in stede of hir that was Arthurs wif; and hir thei sholde sette in soche place that neuer man sholde hereafter more of hir speke, ne no man sholde wite where she were be-come; and a-noon lete vs go and do so moche to the Page 452
maistresse that thus it may be don, and whan we haue brought this a-boute, we shull be lordes bothe of the kinge and quene, and of alle hem that be with the kynge.

Than thei ordeyned that vij of hem sholde do this thefte, and stele hir a-wey be the gardin, where-as thei sholde be hidde, and haue ther shippe redy to putte hir ynne. To this counseile thei were acorded, and thei dide so purchese a-gein the maistresse, that she graunted hir will to performe; and thei departed than gladde and mery as thei that wende well to haue spedde, and ordeyned the shippe and all that was myster; but a-noon as thei hadde this treson spoken Merlin it wiste, and tolde it to Vlfin and to Bretell, and toke hem a-side in counseile a-lone by hem-self, and tolde hem worde for worde all the vntrouthe that thei purposed to don; and whan Vlfin and Bretell herde the treson that these wolde haue don, thei hadde ther-of grete merveile, and than thei preied Merlin to telle how thei sholde spede of this thinge. “With gode will,” seide Merlin. “To morowe, at even, whan ye haue souped, arme yow well vndir youre robes, and goth in to the chamber next the gardin vnder the greces that is ther, ffor thei shull come alle vnarmed saf hir swerdes, and shull come thourgh the gardin streight to the wiket, where-as ther shull bide till that the maistresse bringe hir to disporte. But loke a-noon as thei haue hir sesed that ye be no feynte her to rescowe, ffor than a-noon haue ye her loste for euer yef thei may bring hir to the shippe.” “Sir,” seide these two goode men, “yef god will, we shull not her lese, seth we knowe so moche ther-of.” “And loke also,” qoud Merlin, “that ye speke here-of no worde to no man of nothinge that I haue to folio 160b
yow I-seide, ffor than shall I neuer yow love.” “Certes,” seide these two noble men, “we hadde leuer be disherited and chaced oute of the londe.”

Tho dide departe these thre frendes, and com in to the halle, and fonde that the knyghtes sholde departe and wente to theire loigginge till on the morowe that it was day, and than a-rise the barouns and the knyghtes, and assembled Page 453
faste in the mynster paleise; and the kynge leodogan appareiled his doughter so richely, as that neuer quene ne myght be better araied, and she ther-to was so full of grete bewte that all the worlde was gladde hir to beholden; and whan she was all redy, the kynge Ban toke hir on that oon side, and the kynge Bohors on that other side, and ledde hir to the mynster of seynt Stephene the martir.

Ther was many a baron hir to conveien holdinge be the hondes two and two, and formest that wente was kynge Arthur and kynge leodogan; and the other tweyne was nexte after was Gawein and Seigramour, and than Galashin and Agrauain the prowde, and than Dodinell and Gueheret, and than Ewein le graunt, and Gaheries; and after that Ewein avoutres and kay destranx, and kay the stiward and antor his fader; and after hem com the maiden that the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors ledden, that was of so grete bewte; and she was discheueled, and hadde the feirest heed that eny woman myght haue, and hadde a sercle of goolde on hir heed full of preciouse stones, the feirest and the richest that eny man knewe, and was clothed in a riche robe that trayled to the grounde more than two fadome, that satte so well with hir bewte that all the worlde myght haue ioye her to beholden; and after hir com the stepdoughter of Cleodalis, that hight also Gonnore, whiche was right feire and auenaunt, and hir ledde Gifflet and lucas the boteller; and after com the newe dubbed knyghtes two and two; and after com the knyghtes of the rounde table; and after that com the Barouns of the reame of Carmelide and the knyghtes; and after the burgeys of the contrey, and than the ladyes of the contrey, and maydenes, and so thei com to the mynster.

Whan thei com to the dore, thei fonde ther the goode Archebisshoppe that ther hem a-bode, and sir Amnistan the chapeleyn of kynge leodogan, that was a gode man of lyvinge; and the archebisshop hem blessed, and be-fore alle the peple wedded the kynge Arthur and Gonnore togeder; and the goode archebisshoppe entred in to the chirche, and sange the high masse; and sir Amnistan hym serued, and ther was

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riche offringe of kynges and princes, and whan the servise was ffynisshed the kynge Arthur and the Barouns returned in to the paleys where-as was grete plente of mynstralles, and iogelours, and other; where-to sholde I yow devise the ioye and the deduyt that thei hadden,
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ffor the fourthe part cowde I not telle. Thus endured the ioye and the melodye all the mete while; and after mete, whan the boordes were vppe, than was a-rered a quyntayn, and thyder yede the newe a-dubbed knyghtes for to bourde, with sheldes a-boute theire nekkes, and the xl knyghtes that com in to Carmelide with the kynge Arthur wente with hem, and also com thider the knyghtes of the rounde table; and whan thei were comen thei begonne to do maistries iolily and in myrthe as thei that were worthy men [correction; sic = me] and noble knyghtes.

So that tidinges com to sir Gawein that satte at mete a-monge his fellowes that hadden serued; and whan Gawein vndirstode that his frendes were ouer-sette, he a-roos vp and asked his armes and horse, and his shelde, and a-noon it was brought, and so dide alle his felowes, and Gawein dide on an habergon of double maile vnder his robes for that was euer more his custome euer as longe as he lyved. Nought for that he thought to do eny vilonye ne treson. But for he douted euer that debate sholde a-rise amonge his felowes thourgh the dedes of some musarde, or eny treson whereof ther were I-nowe in the londe; but whan that Gawein and his felowes com in to the medowes where-as was the turnement well begonne. But the newe knyghtes were euell ledde, ffor the knyghtes of the rounde table ledde hem at her volunte, and whan that Gawein saugh that thei were so at the werse he was nothinge gladde. Than he and his companye wenten in that were well foure score [correction; sic = sore] a-counted, and a-noon these yonge knyghtes com to Gawein, and asked yef he wolde be with hem, and he seide ye, bothe now and also other tymes.

Whan the xl sowdiours herde that sir Gawein wolde be with hem at that same turnement, thei were wonder gladde and ioyfull, and the tother were full wroth, and than thei assured that neuer noon sholde faile other for deth ne for Page 455
life, and no more thei diden and that well shewed that day; ffor thei diden so well, that the knyghtes of the rounde table ther-of hadde envye; ffor dere sholde be bought the same turnement, in the turnement that was made at logres, ther-as Gawein was called lorde and maister for the wele doinge that he ther dide, as ye shull heren hereafter whan that he was be-come the queenes knyght; and whan that Gawein hadde take the suerte of his felowes and of the xl knyghtes, of whiche ye haue herde. Thei renged hem, and a-raide hem, and girde a-gein theire horse, and Gawein sette hem in a-ray as he that was a wise knyght, and withoute pride, and the moste curteise that was in the bloy Breteyne, and the beste taught in alle thinges, and euer trewe to god and to his lorde; and whan that Gawein hadde ordeyned his felowes in aray, thei rode two and two togeder eche after other, and tweyne the firste was sir Gawein and sir Ewein le folio 161b
graunt, the sone of kynge Vrien, that Gawein loved beste of alle other, for he was the beste after Gaheries; and the next tweyne were Seigramour and Galashyn, and than Gefflet and lucas the boteller, for to assemble theire sheldes a-boute her nekkes, and her speres streight in theire handes, and the kynge Arthur, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and Merlin, and Bretell, and Vlfin, and Antor were lefte with the kynge leodogan in the paleise, and were comen vp on high for to se and beholde the bourdeyse, and with hem weren ladyes and maydenys grete plente, and saugh that thei were redy araide for to mete.

On that other side were the knyghtes of the rounde table redy araied, and weren an hundred and fifty, and sir Gawein sente hem xl Iusteres, of the whiche Seigramour was the firste; and on that other side com Nascien, and thei lete theire horse renne that oon agein that other; and sir Gawein smote betwene hem two and hem departed, and cleped the knyghtes of the rounde table, and seyde, “Ffeire lordes, ye be right worthi men and goode knyghtes, the beste that eny knoweth. But doth wele, and lete vs be as many for as many oon a-geins another, by soche forwarde that yef we take eny

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of yours, that thei shall be with vs a-geins yow, and yef ye take eny of owres, thei shull helpe yow to oure noysaunce, and be it don in soche manere that as soone as ye take eny man of oures that we shull sette another in his place, and ye also as soone as we take eny man of yowres to do the same,” Thanne a-noon thei graunted to holde [correction; sic = to holde to holde] the couenauntes, and than thei sente after theire armes in the town; and as soone as thei were brought thei hem armed spedily in alle haste, and the tidinges therof com in to the barouns in what maner that sir Gawein hadde take the turnement a-gein the knyghtes of the rounde table; and thei preised hym gretely, bothe oon and other.

But a-bove alle other hym preised the kynge Bohors, and seide ther was neuer seyn soche a knyght of his age, and yef he lyve longe he shall be the beste knyght that euer was, “and that I hadde levest to resemble.” Thus spake the kynge Bohors of sir Gawein, and thei hem armed hastely and soone, and lepe to horse, and hem renged and a-ray, and eche roode a-gein other. The firste that renged hym of the rounde table was Adragein le noir, his shelde a-boute his nekke, the spere in honde, and vpon a blakke stede; and on that other side com hym a-gein Dodinell le sauage, as faste as horse myght renne, and smote vpon the sheldes with sharpe grounde speres so rudely that thei perced the sheldes thourgh the myght of theire armes, and theire horse that swyftly hem bare, that he heedes stynted at the hauberkes; but thei were so stronge folio 162a
that thei faused no mayle that the speres moste nede breke at the passinge thourgh of the horse, for bothe were thei goode knyghtes, and the horse swyfte, and thei hurteled so togeder with sheldes and helmes, that bothe thei ffill to grounde, horse and man; and as soone as thei were bothe ouerthrowen, thei ronne to the rescowe on bothe parties, and mette togeder with speres vpon the sheldes that thei splendered on peces, and some ther were that passed thourgh withoute fallinge, and some lay stille.

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As soone as the speres were spente, thei drough oute theire swerdes, and begonne the medle on foote and on horsebak, and sir Gawein and Nascien mette togeder with speres vpon sheldes with all theire force so rudely, that thei all to perced, and Nasciens spere brake in Gaweins shelde; and Gawein smote hym a-gein so rudely, that he bar hym from his horse and his legges vpright; but a-noon he lepte on foote, for he was full bolde and hardy, and drough his swerde and couered hym with his shelde, and apparailed hym redy for to diffende; and Gawein returned and drough his swerde and com to Nascien, and a-light on foote; and whan Nascien saugh hym come with swerde drawen, he ne douted hym but litill, for he was a full noble knyght, and hardy, and right sure, and smote Gawein vpon the penon of the shelde that he clef it to the bocle, and Gawein paide hym vpon the helme that he fill vpon the palme of his handes, but soone was he risen vp a-gein and smote Gawein so grete a stroke vpon the helme that the sparkeles fly oute flamynge reade; and whan Gawein saugh that it a-noyed hym sore, and than he hitte Nascien vpon the helme that he made it cleve, and that Nascien fill vpon bothe knees, but he was of high herte, and lepte vpon foote, and in the a-risinge Gawein caught hym be the helme, and raced it from his heede so harde, that his nose and his browes were sore hurte, and caste it as fer as he myght in to the presse, and than he cried, “sir knyght yelde the, for thow seest well how it is,” and he ansuerde that he was not yet come ther-to for to yelde hym, for no man that he saugh. Than he couered hym with his shelde, and smote Gawein so harde on the shelde, that a grete pece fill on the grene, and Gawein lepte to hym and smote hym so with the pomell of his swerde on the temple, that he fill to the erthe vpright; and than he lepte to hym and a-bated down the coif of maile of his heede and seide, “Yelde the, or thow art but deed;” and he ansuerde that sle hym he myght wele; but therfore wolde he not yelde hym recreaunt while he myght lyve. “What, sir knyght,” quod Gawein, “sey ye this for trouthe that ye hadde leuer be deed than ye

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sholde yelde yow;” and he seide, “Ye, withoute faile.” “Trewly,” seide Gawein, “and I will not sle yow, for it were
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grete damage, for ye be full noble and worthi, but I shall make yow to be so wele kept that this moneth ye shull not come on horsbak.” “I wote neuer,” quod he, “what ye will do; but I will neuer graunte me for outreyed while that I may lyve.” Whan Gawein herde this, he saugh that he was of right high herte, and he be-thought hym on a fraunchise that many oon wolde haue be full loth to haue do, and a-noon he toke hym vp by the armes and seide, “Sir knyght, haue here my swerde, and I yelde me to yow as he that is outrayed;” and whan Nascien saugh the grete gentilnesse that was in hym, he was right gladde and seide, “Ha, sir, I crye yow mercy, ne sey not so, but holde here my swerde that I yow here yelde, for alle peple se well I-nough how well it is; ffor this guerdon ne may I yow quyte ne deserue, and than thei enbraced in bothe armes, bothe bachelers, and eche to other made grete curtesye, and than returned bothe togeder in to the turnement that tho was well begonne, and Nascien turned vpon Gaweins side.

Whan Gawein and Nascien com to the turnement thei fonde that Dodinell was remounted, and hadde withholde Adragain be fyn force, and the stour was right stronge and merveilouse; and Seigramour hadde smyte down hervy de rivell, and hilde hym by the helme so harde with bothe hondes that his feith behoved hym to yelde; and Gaheries hadde taken Mygoras; and whan Gawein com he be-gan to do so well, that alle thei behoved to forsake place, and Gaweins felowes dide so wele, that the xl knyghtes of the rounde table hadde thei taken be strength, therefore were the tother full sory. Than com in other xl all fressh, and than recouered togeder alle the foure score felowes, and yaf hem a-newe enuaye, and com full sory and wroth for theire felowes that were thus taken, and these other com and receyved hem at spere poyntes full boldly. Ther was stronge stour and grete strokes with swerdes vpon helmes and vpon sheldes, and longe Page 459
it endured that oon cowde not sey whiche party hadde the werse; and so lasted the medle till that mydday was passed, and than issed sir Gawein oute of the turnement to recouer another helme, for his was to rente that it was but litill worth to hym or to eny other; and as soone as he was newe helmed and hadde avented hymself, he saugh how his felowes blenched on alle partes, and than he rode in as faste as his horse myght renne, and smote so the firste that he mette, that he fill from his horse in to the feelde, and a-noon as he was comen his felowes recouered that were in pointe to leve place, and he be-gan to do so well that alle men merveiled that hym beheilde, and fill that he fonde sir Ewein on foote, and kay, and Gefflet, and lucas, and Bliobleris, and Osenain cors hardy, and launall, and Agrauain; vpon these viij was all the turnement stinted; ffor hem to take
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coveyted the knyghtes of the rounde table, and whan Gawein saugh that, he dressed thiderward his horse with a spere in honde, and smote in a-monge hem so that thei fremyssh, and smote so the firste that he mette that he fill vpright, and therwith brake the spere that myght no lenger endure; and after that he overthrewe tweyne with the tronchon so felenoyusly that thei wiste not whethir it was nyght or day; and after that he drough his swerde and be-gan soche maistries in armes that alle thei were abaisshed, ffor he slitte sheldes, and hauberkes, and helmes, so that noon durste a-bide his strokes, but made hym wey the beste of hem alle, and thei disparbeled here and there, and his felowes ther-while be remounted, and haue goode will to ben avenged; and than be-gan sir Ewein to do so well that many were gladde hym [correction; sic = hy]to beholden, and so diden alle the other companye that thei were worthi to haue grete loos. Thus endured the turnement full longe, and wele thei diden in armes the newe knyghtes, and merveilously hym preved ther sir Ewein, the sone of kynge Vrien, and Galasshin, and Dodinell, and the viij felowes a-fore-seide; these hielde hem vigerously be-fore alle the tother, and hem preised moche the foure kynges that weren vpon the walles, and seide thei sholde be noble men yef thei myght live to age:

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but a-bove alle other was sir Gawein comended, ffor thourgh his prowesse thei were putte bakke and chaced to the town, and ther withstode the knyghtes of the rounde table that were wroth and angry, and seiden amonge hem-self that foule were thei demened, and than thei returned a-gein hem that kepte hem wonder shorte; and than be-gan the stour so merveilouse and fierce more that it hadde ben of all the day at the enterynge of the yates of Torayse, betwene the knyghtes of the rounde table and the knyghtes that were newe a-dubbed, and ther be-gan Gawein soche a disray that longe was it spoken of after; and yet hadde he don well all the day, ffor whan that he saugh the knyghtes of the rounde table were stynted be-fore the yate, and diffended so harde the entre he was sore chaffed for anger. Than he putte vp his swerde in the scawberk, but it was not Calibourne, but it was another turneyinge swerde; and than he caught a sparre of Oke with bothe hondes, and caste his shelde to the grounde for to be more light, and com in to the presse ther as he saugh thikkeste, and in his comynge he smote a knyght on the helme that he fill in swownynge, and than he smote another that he fill to grounde, and than he leide on grete strokes on bothe sides that all that he raught voided the sadeles that noon ne ascaped, and he hurte many and maymed; and whan the knyghtes of the rounde table saugh that thei coveited nothinge but hem for to greve, and than thei ronne vpon Gawein and his felowes, and seide that to-day more thei wolde not spare to do theire werste, folio 163b
and that of turneyinge hadde thei no more cure; and thei begonne ther a stour grete and perilouse that grete myschef ther sholde haue ben hastely, yef Merlin ne hadde cleped the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors his brother, and badde hem departe the turnement, for it was high tyme; and whan the barouns vndirstode that Merlin seide, thei asked theire armes and theire horse hastely, and the squyres lepte wightly and brought hem be-fore the paleise, and thei ride a-noon thourgh the renges, and Merlin rode formeste that sore hym hasted; and these foughten full harde, that sore were chauffed with wrath oon a-gein another Page 461

But Gawein dide moche harme with the sparre that was so harde, and thei hem diffended full vigerously, that in no wise wolde not voide the grounde; and whan Gawein saugh that thei mayntened hem so well he smote a-monge hem Irous as a wilde boor, and perced hem thourghoute maugre [correction; sic = mauge] hem alle; and than be-gan to do the werste that he myght hem to harmen at his power.

Than Merlin and the thre kynges com hem to disseuer, and than fill that Gawein mette Meodalis that hadde smyte hym with a spere in the breste, that ner he hadde smyte down bothe hym and his horse on an hepe; and he was full wroth for the buffet that he hadde resceyved, and lifte up the barre to smyte hym on the helme; and he saugh the stroke come and blenched to eschewe the barre, but the stroke fill betwene the sholdres and smote hym down to the erthe; and the kynge Arthur, that wele hadde seyn the stroke, cried pees, that wele was vndirstonde of may oon, and cried a-lowde, “Feire nevew, ley down the barre, for ye haue don right I-nowgh;” and Merlin caught hym be that oon hande, and in that other hande toke the barre, and seide, smylinge, “Sir knyght, thow art take yelde thow to me, for ye haue don I-nough.”

Than Gawein behelde and saugh it was Merlin; than he seide full debonerly, “I am take seth that it yow pleseth, and therwith he lete falle the barre, and than he asked why he dide hym take.” With that worde com the kynge Arthur, and seide, “Gawein, feire nevewe, lefe the turnement, for ye haue don I-nowgh; ffor we se well that it is to be lefte.” And he ansuerde a-gein that so be it seth that he dide comaunde, and than tho v wente forth, and a-noon as Gawein was oute thei departed and wente to theire hosteles for to vn-arme hem. But full sory were the knyghtes of the rounde table, for that thei hadde the werse by the chaunge that thei hadde made; and seiden than whan thei turneyed eny more, thei wolde so be avenged that thei sholde not hem scorne ne Iape, and that thei lete hem well wite the newe knyghtes and her companye. These wordes well vndirstode a yonge knyght that rode after hem, and tolde it to sir Gawein that Arthur Page 462

and
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Merlin hadde brought to the paleise, and sir Ewein with hem, and Galasshin, and Seigramor; and whan this yonge knyght com he tolde as the knyghtes of the rounde table hadde seide, and Gawein vndirstode her manaces, and hir pride, and he hadde ther-of grete dispite; but he made ther-of no semblance, saf that he seide to his companye, that neuer he wolde hem faile in no turnement ne in werre.

These wordes seide Gawein to his felowes, and he hilde it wele, ffor it was well shewed after who was the beste knyght that day that thei toke turnement at logres in the medowes, as shall be reherseth whan tyme cometh; as soone as the turnement was departed, and the kynge and his nevew were in the paleise, the knyghtes of the rounde table wente to vn-arme hem at her ostels, and the mene peple of the town conveied I-nowgh sir Gawein, and seide oon to another, lo here the goode knyght, and thei gadered a-boute hym on alle partes, and conveyed him to the paleise, and in to the halle, and thei asked oon of another what he was; and Merlin hem ansuerde, and seide his name was Gawein, the nevew of kynge Arthur, and the sone of kynge loot of Orcanye; and whan thei herden what he was, thei seiden as gladde peple that he shewed well fro whens he was comen, thus the peple of the town seiden her volunte, and than thei returned; and whan the knyghtes of the rounde table were vnarmed, thei clothed hem and a-raide hem in her beste robes, and com to court; and where thei saugh sir Gawein, thei drough a-boute hym and compleyned to hym of hymself, and seide that he hadde hem euyll be seyn at that firste turnement, and that fro thens-forth he ought wele to be lorde and maister, and felowe of the rounde table; and Gawein hem herde wele, but he ansuerde hem no worde, and fro thens-forth he was a lorde and maister, and a felowe of the rounde table; and it was goode reson, ffor he was a noble knyght, and a trewe and full of alle vertues and goode tecches, and the moste curteise knyght that eny man knewe.

With that were the tables leide, and the knyghtes wash, and ther were thre halles full of knyghtes, and thei

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were well serued, and by leiser of alle thinges, and after soper whan the clothes weren vp thei enuoysed the worthi knyghtes, and eche reported of other honour as was right, and than thei ronge to euesonge in the mynster of seynt Stephene, and thider thei wente to here the seruise, and after was the bedde of Arthur blessed as was right, and than departed the knyghtes, and wente to theire hostelles for to slepe and resten; and Gonnore be-lefte in the Chamber, she and hir maistresse alone, and that day was purchesed the folio 164b
treson wherby she sholde be taken and traied of the parentes of Gonnore, the stepdoughter of Cleodales the stiwarde, ffor thei hadde youen so moche to the olde maistresse of Arthurs wife, that she graunted to do theire volunte, and tolde hir thei wolde a-bide in the gardin vnder the paleise, and thei sholde haue the tother Gonnore in her companye; and all thus thei were acorded and wente in-to the gardin, and hidde hem vnder the trees x of hem; but thei were not armed saf thei hadde eche of hem a suerde, and with hem was the false Gonnore, and ther thei a-bide so longe that the barouns were departed to her hostels, and thei made dispoile the quene to go to hir bedde; and than the old maistresse hir toke and ledde hir in to the gardin for to pisse, and whan the x traitoris that were quatte in the gardin vnder an ympe saugh her come, thei were stille and coy, and drough towarde the wall litill and litill, and Bretell and Vlfin hadde not foryete the wordes that Merlin hadde seide. But were well armed vnder her robes, and weren quat vnder the steyres ther as the queene sholde come down, and hilde hem so stille that thei were not aperceyued of man ne woman, and herkened in this manere long while, and than thei saugh the queene that the maistresse brought by the hande and wente that wey, where-as the traitours hadde sette theire waicch, and whan thei saugh that thei weren oute of the chambre, thei lepe vp and sette hande on hir, and toke to the old maistresse the tother false Gonnore, and a-noon as the queene hem saugh she wiste well she was be-traied, and wolde crye as she that was sore affraied, and thei seide that yef she spake eny worde she sholde a-non

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be slain, and therwith thei drough theire swerdes oute and wente toward the river that ran vnder the gardin, where thei hadde a barge I-teyed where-in thei were come in to the gardin, and the gardin was right high a-bove the river, and noon myght come ther-to but by a lane or by a barge, and the lane was full thikke and comberouse to come vp or down for the rokkes, wherof was grete plente; and yef thei myght haue brought hir in to the barge the queene hadde ben loste withoute recouer.

Whan Vlfin and Bretell saugh that thei hadde so longe a-wayted, thei lepte oute of theire enbusshement and hem ascryed and cleped hem traitours, and seide thei sholde dye; and whan that the traitours saugh thei were but tweyne, and dide hem a-scrye, and preised hem at nought, than v of hem toke the queene, and v a-bode for to fight with the tweyne that com with swerdes drawen; and whan the queene saugh hir ledde in soche manere, she hadde grete drede, and fill to grounde vpon the grene, and thei lifte hir vp and bare hir a-wey maugre hire; and whan she saugh tweyne come
folio 165a
hir to socour, she braied rudely oute of theire handes and down the gardin till she com to an ympe, and clippe it in hir armes full harde and thise com for to take hir a-wey; but they myght not hir remeve, and yet thei pulde and drough, but more dide thei nought; and thei were nygh woode for sorowe and angre, that for a litill thei wolde hir haue slayn, and Vlfin and Bretell be come to these v that hem a-bide with swerdes drawen, and Bretell smote so the firste that he mette that he slytte hym to the teth, and Vlfin smote another that the heede fill to grounde, and the other thre smyte at hem sore, but nought thei myght hem apeire, for thei were well armed; and thei wolde haue fledde, but thei kepte hem so shorte that alle thre there were deed, and thei com to the tother fyve that peyned to lede a-wey the quene by force, but thei myght not haue hir a-wey from the ympe, and thei plukked at hir so sore that nygh thei rente bothe armes from the body, and whan that Vlfin and Bretell saugh the queene in soche turnement, thei ronne thider, and hem ascried, and a-noon thei com hem a-geins, and yaf Page 465
togeder grete strokes with swerdes ther as thei myght atteyne, that thei slowgh tweyne of the v; and thei saugh thei were but thre, and thei turned to flight down the lane towarde the barge; and whan Vlfin and Bretell saugh hem fleen thei sette no force hem to enchace, but com to the olde deuell, the maistresse, and caught hir by the sholderes, and caste hir down the roche, and rolled fro roche to roche till she com to the river, and than thei caste in the bodyes of alle hem that thei hadde slayn, and than thei toke the queene and ledde hir to hir chambre sore affraied, and thei badde hir be nothinge be dismayed. Than thei toke the false Gonnore and ledde hir to theire hostell, for thei wolde that noon aparceyved her covyne.

Thus as ye haue herde were the traitours demened by the counseile of Merlin, and the Queene was socoured by these two worthi men; and as soone as thei were gon, a-noon Merlin it knewe well, and than he badde the kynge sende two maydenes in to the chamber to the queene for to bringe hir to bedde, and the kynge asked wherefore is ther not I-nowgh of the maistresse, and Merlin tolde hym the trouthe all as it was befallen; and whan the kynge it herde he merveiled moche of this thinge, and seide he sholde not be in ese till he hadde spoken with his doughter; and than departed the kynge leodogan and com in to the chamber where-as Gonnore his doughter was, and brought with hym two maydenes to helpe hir to bedde; and whan she saugh hir fader she be-gan tenderly to wepe, and the kynge toke hir by the hande, and spake with hir sooll by hir-self, and he badde hir not to be dismayed, for she sholde no more haue no drede, and she tolde hym all the auenture that was befallen; and than the kynge comaunded the maydenes to make hir redy, and bringe hir to bedde, and thei a-noon dide his comaundement,
folio 165b
and the kynge leodogan wolde neuer departe oute of the chambre till that he saugh the signe of the crowne vpon hire reynes; and than wiste he verily that it was his doughter vpon his wif, and than he couered hir a-gein, a wente oute of the chambre and spake no worde; and the dameseiles merveiled sore whi that he dide

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so, and than com the kynge Arthur and his companye from theire disporte, and whan he com in to the halle, the kynge Leodogan and Merlin com hym a-geins, and badde hym go to his wif to bedde, ffor it was reson and high tyme, and he seide he wolde with good will, and com in to the chambre where the two maidenes weren that hadde brought the queene to bedde, and as soone as he was in his bedde thei departed oute of the chambre, and lefte no moo but hem two, and ther thei ledde myri lif togeder as thei that well loued.

Thus sholde the queene haue be disceyued be these traitours, and thourgh hem afterward hadde she grete annoye that longe tyme endured, as the storye shall declare how that the kynge hir lefte thre yer, that she com neuer in his companye; but was with Galehaut, a riche prince in the reame of Sorloys, for the love of launcelot; and the kynge Arthur hilde in a-voutrye the false Gonnore till that a maladie hir toke, and Bertelak, a traitour, that made he wolde hir not forsake for no man, till that she stanke and rotened a-bove erthe, and the reame was therfore nygh thre yere enderdited, and stode a-cursed that neuer manes body ne womans was byried in noon halowed place, but a-cursed be the centense of holy cherche, and all this trouble suffred oure lorde hem for to haue for his synnes that were right grete, and all this com thourgh a knyght that died after vpon myschevouse deth, as ye shull here declared in the seconde book of this storie, and it is reson to telle what was the cause that it fill.

This was the trouthe that the kynge leodogan was a noble knyght, and kepte well Iustice and right, and he hadde with hym a wise knyght that hadde don hym goode servise; and he was come of high lynage, and hadde be a goode knyght in his tyme, and was cleped Bertelak, and he hated a knyght dedly, for that he hadde slayn his cosin germain for his wif, that he loved, and whan Bertelak wiste that he hadde his cosin slain, and his wif diffouled, he ne deyned not to make no playnt to the kynge leodogan, but com to hym and hym diffied, and a-waited hym after many a day and many

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a nyght; and it fill that same even that arthur hadde wedded his wif that the knyghtes departeden for the court, and wente to theire hostels, and happed that Bertelak mette that knyght and with hym two squyers, and a-noon Bertelak ran vpon hym and hym slowgh; and whan he hadde don he wente to his hostell, and the two squyers that were with the knyght made a grete crie, that folio 166a
the peple ronne oute on alle parties with lanternes, and brondes of fire, and torches brennynge, and fonde the knyght slayn, and thei aske the two squyers that made so grete doell who hadde hym slain; and thei seide that Bertelak the rede hadde it don, and whan the squyers hadde cried and braied for theire lord longe while, thei toke hym vp and bar hym to theire hostell, and dide hym birie as oon sholde do a deed knyght, and dide the seruise at cherche as ther-to belonged; and on the morowe Vlfin and Bretell sente after Cleodalis, the stiward, for to come speke with hem in her hostell, and he com a-noon with goode chere as fre and debonair, and a-noon as he was comen, thei toke hym in counseile, and tolde hym all the auenture as it was befallen how his doughter hadde wrought; and whan he hadde herde the vntrouthe of hire he seide his doughter was she not, ffor yef she hadde be my doughter she hadde not don this for nothinge that is in the erthe; and as thei spake togeder a-monge hem thre.

The kynge leodogan was a-risen erly, ffor sore was he affraied of the merveiles that were befalle that nyght of his doughter, and Merlin was also a-risen, and seide, “Sir, god yeve yow goode morowe;” and whan the kynge hym saugh he made hym feire chere, and bad god hym blisse. Than eche toke other be the hande, and wente spekynge of many thinges till thei com to the hostell of Vlfin and Bretell, and thei entred in so stilliche that thei ther-of wiste no worde till thei were euen comen vpon hem, and a-noon as thei were of hem war, thei yede hem a-geins as thei that nothinge were abaisshed to worship eny worthi man. Than thei entred in to a chambre alle v, and Vlfin brought forth Gonnore, and tolde how she and the traitours hadde wrought, not-with-stondinge thei knewe it Page 468
alle wele, for Merlin hadde it tolde the kynge all as it was. Than spake the kinge leodogan to his stiwarde, and seide, “Sir, Senescall, I love yow well, and fayn I wolde purchace youre worshippe for to encrece, and so I shall do yef I may lyve; ffor full well ye haue me serued and trewly, and therfore wolde I do nothinge that sholde yow turne to shame or reprof, and witte ye wherfore I it sey. Se here youre doughter that wele hath deserued that ther sholde be don on hir Iustice. But ye haue be so trewe to me that I ought it wele to pardon for the love of yow, or a gretter thinge than is this. But for that me behoveth for to take vengaunce in some manere, hit be-houeth yow to bringe hir oute of this reame In soche wise that neuer she be sein of man ne of woman that hir knowe; ffor so I will that it be don;” and the stiwarde ansuerde and seide that his doughter ne was she neuer. But in as moche as it was his wille and his folio 166b
comaundement he wolde hit don, “ffor so god helpe me,” quod he, “I hadde leuer she hadde be biried all quyk than this hadde hir befallen. Ne to me she ne aperteyned nothinge neuer.” “Now,” quod the kynge, “lete be all this matier, and loke that it be don in soche maner that I neuer here more speche of hir hereafter, and that ye take of myne what that is youre plesier.”

Thus was take the counseile of the Barouns, and Cleodalis appareiled hym and his stepdoughter to go withouten lenger respite, and rode forth by theire iourneyes till thei com oute of the reame of Carmelide in to an abbey that stode in a full wilde place, and ther he hir lefte, as seith the storie, till that Bertelak the reade hir fonde, whiche by his art and his engyn by hir lay longe tyme after.

But of hir as now speketh no more the tale saf that Cleodalis lefte hir there, and come a-gein to Toraise in to the grete Court of the kynge leodogan in Carmelide, wher-as was the kynge Arthur.

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CHAPTER XXVI.

BANISHMENT OF BERTELAK; FIGHT AND RECONCILIATION BETWEEN ARTHUR AND LOOT; ARTHUR’S COURT AT LOGRES; VOWS OF THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE AND THE QUEEN’S

KNIGHTS; THE TOURNAMENT.

Whan the kynge leodogan hadde comaunded his stiwarde to bringe his stepdoughter oute of the reame, he and Merlin departed from Vlfin and Bretell, and com in to the halle hande to hande, where thei fonde the Barouns alle redy, and oon hadde ronge to masse, and so thei wente to the mynster, and whan masse was seide thei com a-gein in to the halle, and than com the kyn of the deed knyght that Bertelak hadde slain, ffor to make theire complainte to the kynge; and the kynge leodogan sente for to seche hym at his hostell, and he com a-noon withoute daunger well armed vndir his robes, and brought with hym grete plente of knyghtes, ffor he was full of feire courtesie and a feire speker, and a-noon the kynge hym asked why he hadde the knyght slain in treson, and he seide that of treson he sholde hym wele diffende a-gein alle tho that wolde hym apele, “and I sey no nay but that I slough the knyght, but firste I dide hym deffie, and it was not withoute grete cause, ffor moche peple knowe wele that he slough my cosin germain for his wif that he diffouled, and me semeth that in alle maners that oon may oweth he to greve his mortall enmye after that he hath hym diffied;” and the kynge seide that that was not I-nough. “But yef ye hadde yow complayneth to me, and I wolde not haue it redressed than myght ye haue take vengaunce, but ye ne spake ther-of to me neuer worde.” “Sir,” quod he, “ye sey your volunte. But a-geins yow mysdide I neuer, ne neuer ne shall yef god will.”

Quod the kynge, “I will that right be hadde.” “Sir,” seide Bertelak le Rous, “I se well that I moste be at youre volunte,” and than comaunded the kynge leodogan that Iugement sholde be yoven be the rede of his barouns.

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At this Iugement was the kynge Arthur, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and sir Gawein, and sir Ewein, and Galasshin, and Nascien, and Adragain, and hervy de rivel,
folio 167a
and Guyomar. These x were at the Iugement and spake togeder of oon thinge and other, and thei acorded in the ende that he sholde be disherited, and voyde the londe of the kynge leodogan for euer more; and the kynge Ban that was of feire eloquense tolde the tale as he was charged, and he spake so high that he myght wele be herde, bothe of nygh and fer. “Sirs,” quod he, “these barouns that beth here awarded that Bertelais le Rous shall be disherited of all his londe that he holdeth in youre powere, and shall for-swhere the contre for euer more; ffor that he toke the Iustice vpon hymself of the knyght that he slough, and namly by nyght, ffor the Iustice longed not to hym, and on that other side ye holde court open and myghty that oweth to condite alle saf goynge and saf comynge to alle tho that come at this high feste,” and with that sat down the kynge Ban that no more seide at that tyme; and whan Bertelays saugh he was for-Iuged, and that he ne myght noon othirwise do he returned withoute moo wordes; ffor he durste not the Iugement with-sey, ffor the highest lordes of the worlde, and the moste puyssaunt hadde it don. But yef eny other hadde it don a-noon he wolde the Iugement haue falsed, and thus wente Bertelais le Rous, but many a knyght hadde he hym to conueye to whom he hadde yoven many feire yeftes, ffor he hadde be a noble knyght and a vigerouse, and so he past forth on his iourneyes that he com to the same abbey, wher-as was the false Gonnore, and ther he a-bode and soiourned longe tyme, and was in grete thought as he that cowde moche euell, how that he myght be avenged of the kynge leodogan and the kynge Arthur that hadde hym thus for-juged, and for that fill to Arthur grete trouble and so grete discorde betwene hym and his wif, that he lefte her longe tyme, as ye shull here in the secunde book of this processe yef god will vouchesaf to graunte me so longe space to writen it. But now we moste cesse of this mater, and speke of the

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goode kynge Arthur that is at Toraise, in Carmelide, with the kynge leodogan, and with the grete companye.

Full myry lif ledde the kynge Arthur with his wif viij dayes, and the neynthe day after that he was spoused he cleped his Barouns, and badde hem make hem redy to ride, ffor he was in talent for to repeire in to the reame of logres, and thei seide that thei were all redy for to ride; and than the kynge toke Gawein in counseile, and seide, “Ffeire nevew, take with yow as many of youre companye that ther leve here but v hundred, ffor I will come ride after stilleche and esely, and ye shall go to logres my chief Citee, and ordeyne redy alle thinges that is necessarie, and of vitaile, and of deynteis, as ye may so that nothinge ne faute, and sendith fer and nygh that I will holde court this mydde August the richest that I may.” “Sir,” seide Gawein, “I haue drede lest ye be encombred be the wey of some maner peple.” “Of that haue ye no drede,” quod folio 167b
the kynge, “but go ye in all haste.” Than departed sir Gawein from his vncle and com to his felowes, and bad hem to make hem redy for to ride, and thei wente to theire hostelles, and hem armed; but firste thei toke leve of the kynge leodogan, and of the Barouns of Carmelide, and thus departed Gawein fro the courte, he and his companye; and the kynge Arthur a-bode with v hundre men, whereof two hundre and fifty were knyghtes of the rounde table; and Gawein and his companye com to logres; but Gawein was euer pensif for his vncle that he hadde lefte in Carmelide, that hym sholde eny thinge myshappe vpon the wey, ffor he hadde fer contrey to ride that marched to his enmyes er he com in to his londe in safte, and he hym hasted to do the kynges comaundement, and sent to alle hem that the kynge loved that thei sholde come to his Court at the myddell of August, and eche made hym redy to come to court as strongely as thei myght, and Gawein ordeyned that vitaile [correction; sic = that vitaile that vitaile]

com on alle parties with cartes and Chariettis that he stuffed so well the Citee as longed to soche a feste, as he

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that full well coude hym entermete that nothinge ne failed; ffor as the storye seith he was oon of the beste knyghtes, and wiseste of the worlde, and ther-to the leste mysspeker, and noon a-vauntor, and the beste taught of alle thinges that longeth to worshippe or curtesie; and whan he hadde made all redy he toke his wey toward his vncle, ffor grete drede he hadde of that he sholde be distrobeled on the wey of som peple. But now we shull a-while cesse of hym and his companye, and speke of the kynge Arthur.

The thridde day after that Gawein was departed from the kynge Arthur his vncle, the kynge toke his wey towarde the Castell of Bredigan, he and his wif, and in her companye was the kynge Ban of Benoyk, and the kynge Bohors of Gannes that was his brother, and the beste knyght that eny man neded to seche, and so ther were CCL knyghtes of the rounde table that alle were feed men with the kynge leodogan, and the queene hadde so praied sir Amnistian that was chapelein with the kynge leodogan hir fader, that he com with hir, and was sithen hir chapelein longe tyme; and so ledde Gonnore hir cosin that was feire, and debonaire, and amyable to alle peple, and Sadoyne hir brother that was elther than she, and Castelein of Daneblaise, the noble Citee; and as soone as the kynge Arthur was departed oute of the reame of Carmelide, the kynge loot hadde knowinge by his asspies, and he and his knyghtes rode a-gein hym, and hem enbusshed in the foreste of sapernye, and seide that ther sholde he a-bide the kynge Arthur, and take from hym his wif, yef he myght. But of hym we shull now cesse, and speke of the kynge Arthur that was departed oute of Carmelide, and the storie seith how the kynge leodogan conveyed hem thre dayes hole, and the fourthe day he returned in to his reame, and than com Merlin to the kynge Arthur and toke leve, and seide that he sholde go to
folio 168a
his maister Blaase, for longe hadde he hym not seyn, and the kynge hadde well spedde of that he hadde for to done. Than seide the kynge, “Merlin, feire frende shull ye not be at my court at logres?” “Yesse,” seide Merlin, “I shall be ther er it

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departe,” and therwith eche of hem comaunded other to god, but he was but litill wey thens whan no man wiste where that he was be-comen; and Merlin wente to Blaase the same nyght, and he hym resceyued with grete ioye, whan that he hym saugh, and Merlin tolde hym alle the auentures that were falle seth that he departed, and he tolde hym how the kynge loot was enbusshed in the foreste of sapernye, and tolde hym other thinges I-nowghe that after be-fill in the reame of logres; and Blaase hem wrote as he tolde, and by his booke haue we the knowinge; but now cesseth to speke of Merlin, and Blase, and speke of Arthur.

Whan the kynge Arthur was departed from the kynge leodogan, and Merlin also, as ye haue herde, he rode with v hundre men of armes, and ledde with hym his wif Gonnore the queene, and he rode smale iourneyes till he com in to the foreste of sapernye, where-as the kynge loot was enbusshed with vij hundre men of armes; and the gromes that ledde the somers wiste neuer worde till that thei were fallen euen a-monge hem; and as soone as thei saugh thei were men of armes, thei wiste well thei were not well come. Than thei a-bode and wente no ferther, and sente to the kynge Arthur that thei hadde founde men I-armed; whan the kynge saugh that he was a-spied he a-light on foote, and made his peple come a-boute hym and ordeyned for bataile, and comaunded xl. knyghtes to kepe the queene, and bad hem lede hir to garison yef thei saugh nede. And than thei ride forth her heedes bowed down vndir theire helmes redy hem to diffende, yef thei founde eny peple to stoppe hem the wey, and so thei ride till thei dide falle vpon the wacche, and the kynge Arthur was be-fore in the firste frounte, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and the knyghtes of the rounde table; and the kynge looth spronge oute with vij hundre men of armes, and com hem a-geins theire spers, a-gein the assels of the sadeles, and the sheldes be-fore theire breste as faste as horse myght renne, and hem ascride so high that all the foreste resounded, and these other com vpon hem boldely with sharpe trenchaunte Page 474
speres, and mette togeder vpon sheldes that many of hem perced and slitte, many were throwe to grounde on bothe sides, and many ther were that brake theire speres and passed forth withoute fallinge; and whan the spers were spente thei drowgh oute theire swerdes and begonne the bateile right grete, that neuer of so fewe peple ne saugh no man so fierce bateile, ffor thei were full noble knyghtes vpon bothe parties; and so longe it lasted, that the kynge Arthur and the kynge looth mette togeder with speres in hande, and lett renne that oon a-gein that other so harde
folio 168b
as horse myght renne, and mette so harde togeder with speres vpon sheldes, that the spere poyntes stynte at the hauberkes, and thei ther-on shof with all theire force; and the kynge loot brake his spere, and the kynge Arthur smote hym so harde that he bar hym to grounde ouer his horse croupe; but soone was he lepte vpon foote as he that was of grete prowesse, and drowh his swerde and couered hym with his shelde, and was so doelfull that nygh he yede oute of witte, ffor that he was overthrowe be the myght of knyght alone, ffor he was not a-customed for to falle often; and the kynge Arthur hadde made his returne and com toward the kynge loot gripinge his spere, for he coveited to take hym quyk; and whan the kynge looth saugh hym come he glenched a-side, and Arthur failed of hym and past forth, and in the passinge the kynge loot smote Arthurs horse in the bely thourgh the guttes, and Arthur fill to grounde, and his horse vpon his body, that his thigh was betwene the horse and the grounde, so that he myght not a-rise; and the kynge loot sterte to and caught hym by the helme, and drough and pulled all that he myght, and sore hym peyned for to smyten of his heede, and soone ther sholde haue be so grete damage that neuer myght it haue be restored; but as the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and the knyghtes of the rounde table com fiercely vpon the peple of kynge loot, and be-gan sore bateile and harde, so that ther was noon but that he hadde I-nough to done; and so thei peyned hem on bothe parties that the two kynges be remounted, and begonne the stour grete and merveillouse; but at grete

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myschef were the peple of kynge Arthur, ffor the kynge loot hadde two hundre knyghtes moo than hadde kynge Arthur; with that com sir Gawein with foure score felowes well armed, and kay the stiwarde bar the baner; and Arthur be-hielde and saugh Gawein come and knewe hym well by his armes, and also kay the stiwarde be the baner that he bar in his handes that sore desired the assemble, as he that was hardy and enterpendaunt, and right sure ne hadde ben oon tecche that he hadde, ffor that he was copiouse of langage in his disporte for the iolynesse that was in hym and the myrthe; for he was euer bourdinge and iapinge in game, and was the beste felowe in companye that eny man knewe, and for that euer he wolde of custome borde of the sothe hym hated many a knyght for the shame that thei hadde of his wordes, and therfore he myshapped in many a place, ffor the knyghtes that he hadde scorned in myrthe didde hym after grete annoye; but a trewe knyght was he euer a-gein his lorde, and a-gein the queene, euer in to the ende of his deth. Ne neuer in all his live dide he treson saf oon, and that was of lohoot the sone of kynge Arthur that he slough for enuye in the foreste perilouse, and for that Percevale ly Galoys was accused with grete wronge for the deth of the same hoot, like as an Ermyte hit tolde after that folio 169a
hadde seyn all the dede.

Whan the kynge Arthur saugh Gawein, his nevew come so fiercely, his herte a-roos for grete ioye that he hadde. Than he com to the kynge Ban, and seide, “Sir, se how riche socour to vs cometh, knowe ye not hym that rideth be-fore vpon the blakke stede that gripeth the grete spere vnder the shelde of goolde and azur therynne, a lyon rampaunt;” and the kynge Ban beheilde, and seide, “Who is it?

telle me; ffor I knowe hym not saf that me semeth it sholde be Gawein youre nevew.” “Certes,” quod Arthur, “he it is, and now may I me a-vaunten that in euell tyme come these vs for to assailen, ffor yef thei were yet as many moo thei myght not a-gein vs endure, yef god hym diffende from euell, he and his companye.” “Trewly,” seide the kynge Ban, “thei be not Page 476
wise yef thei hym a-bide till that he be a-monge hem medled;” and while thei spake thus togeder com Gawein all be-fore gripinge his grete spere, and whan he com nygh he knewe well his vncle, and saugh that he hadde grete myster of socoure, and than he spronge in a-monge hem rudely as tempest of thunder, and fill that he mette with his fader the kynge loot that newliche was sette on horse, and heilde a stronge spere, and com a-gein hym as moche as the horse myght renne, and mette togeder vpon the sheldes with all theire forces, and the kynge brake his spere vpon Gaweins shelde, and Gawein smote hym a-gein so harde that he perced shelde and hauberke, and wounded hym somwhat in the lifte side that the blode folowed after, and the kynge fill so harde to grounde that he wiste not wheder it was day or nyght; and Gawein paste forth rudely withoute a-restinge, and whan he was returned a-gein he fonde his fader lyinge on the erthe vpright, and he rode ouer hym on horsebak thre or foure tymes, and broused hym sore and foule that nygh he was therwith slayn; and than Gawein a-light and pight his spere in the grounde, and drough oute Calibourne his goode swerde, that shone bright and clier, and com to the kynge loot that yet lay vpright and plukked hym by the helme, and raced it of his heede so harde, that on his nose and his browes it was well seene, for he was hurte right sore; and than he a-valed the coyf of his hauberke be-nethe his shuldres, and seide that he was but deed, but yef he wolde yelde hym to prison, and he was so anguysshous that litill he hym ansuerde, neuertheles he dide hymself enforce, so that he seide with grete sorowe at his herte, “Ha, sir, gentilman, ne sle me nought, for neuer dide I forfet a-gein the, wherefore that thow sholdest me sleen.”

“Yesse,” quod Gawein, “that haste thow, and alle thi companye that haue assailed myn vncle for to distrouble him his weye.” “How so,” quod kynge loot, “who be ye that calle hym youre vncle.” “What is that to the what I am, me liste nothinge the to telle, but do a-noon that as I the sey, or thow folio 169b
art deed, and alle these other that ben in thi companye shull dye, and shull curse the tyme that euer

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thei were of moder born.” “Telle me,” quod the kynge loot, “who ye ben for the love of that ye love moste in this worlde.” “But what art thow?” quod Gawein, “that this doste me demaunde.” Quod he, “Myn name is looth a caitife kynge of Orcanye, and of leonoys, to whom nothinge doth falle but myschef ne not hath don longe tyme. Now telle me youre name, what ye be.” And whan Gawein vndirstode verily that it was his fader a-noon he nempned his name, and seide his name was Gawein, the nevew of kynge Arthur, and whan the kynge loot herde that a-noon he lepte vp, and wolde haue clypt hym in his armes, and seide, “Feire sone, ye be welcome, and I am the sorowfull caitif youre fader that ye haue thus viliche ouerthrowen,” and Gawein bad hym drawe hym ferther a-rome, ffor his fader sholde he not be ne his goode frende till that he were acorded with the kynge his vncle, and hadde cried hym mercy for his forfet, and than do to hym homage seynge alle his barouns; ffor othirwise loke neuer to truste in me, ffor elles shull ye leve noon other wedde saf youre heed, and than the kynge looth sowowned and fill down to the grounde, and whan he a-woke of swownynge he cride him mercy, and seide, “Feire sone, I will do all that yow may plese, and holde here my swerde, for I yelde it to yow;” and sir Gawein that ther-of hadde grete pite hit toke with gladde chere and myri, and wepte right tendirly water with his iyen vndir his helme, ffor sore he repente in his herte of that he hadde so hurte his fader, but as moche as he myght he kepte hym so that he was not aperceyved.

Than thei com bothe to theire horse, and lept vp and com to theire peple, and hem departed. But fowle were the kynge loothis men ouerleide, ffor the knyghtes of the rounde table and the felowes of sir Gawein hadde hem so euyll be seyn at the firste metynge that moo than xl thei hadde felde to grounde that thei hadde no power to remounte, and sir Gawein com and hem departed, and than wente Gawein to Arthur his vncle; and as soone as the kynge saugh hym come, he com hym ageins, and seide, “Feire nevew, ye be welcome, wherefore be ye come in to this parties, wiste ye eny thinge of this

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a-wayte;” and Gawein seide that he douted hit sore, “ffor I myght neuer be in hertes ese till I hadde yow seyn, and oure lorde god,” quod he, “now he thanked and honoured of this assemble, ffor it is the kynge looth my fader with whom that ye were in medle; and now hit is so befallen that he is come to crye yow mercy, as to his liege lorde erthly for the trespasse that he hath don a-gein yow, and therfore resceyveth his homage like as ye owe for to do, ffor he is here all redy hit to performe and do.” Whan the kynge Arthur that herde he ioyned his handes toward heuene,
folio 170a
and thanked god of the worshippe that he hadde hym shewed; and with that com the kynge Loot and his knyghtes down the medowes alle on foote, and hadde don of theire helmes from theire heedes and valed theire coiffes of mayle vpon theire sholderes and com full symple; and whan Gawein saugh his fader come be-fore, he seide to his vncle, “Sir, lo here my fader cometh to yow for to do homage;” and a-noon the kynge Arthur sette foot to the grounde, and alle the other barouns after; and the kynge Loot com be-fore Arthur and sette hym on his knee, and hielde his swerde be the poynte as he that hadde forfeted, and seide, “Sir, I yelde me here to youre mercy as he that hath often a-gein yow forfeted, and dide yow neuer but grevaunce, and annoye, now do yowre plesire of me and of my londe,” and ther be-com the kynge Loot liege man to the kynge Arthur be-fore alle his barouns, and assured his feith to do hym seruyse whan that he hym comaunded; than Arthur toke hym be the right hande and made hym to a-rise on his feet, and seide, “Sir, stondeth vp, for longe I-nough haue ye kneled, ffor I ought it yow to pardon, for that ye be so worthi a man, and a gretter forfet than this is, ffor thowgh that I haue hated yow neuer so dedly, ye haue here soche children that haue do me soche servise that I may haue no will to do yow noon euell, and therfore I offre here to yow all thinge that is myn at youre volunte, ffor the love of Gawein youre sone, that I love beste of eny knyght that is in the worlde, and ther be here two knyghtes that I owe to love as wele, and bothe ben thei kynges that moche

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haue me socoured in grete nede.” And he stode vp and seide, “Sire, gramercy.”

Thus was made pees betwene kynge Loot and the kynge Arthur, and than thei lepe to theire horse gladde and ioyfull of this aventure, and riden so by here iourneyes till thei com to logres where thei were resceyved with the grettest ioye of the worlde, and euery day the peple dide encrese; ffor the dwellers of the contrey com thider for drede of the saisnes that hem distroyed, and the londe; and ther was so grete prees of peple that many behoved to loigge in the medowes, and whan the kynge Arthur saugh so grete plente of peple, he was gladde and myry, and seide that he wolde holde court open and enforced, and sente by his messangers that alle sholde come to his court roiall; and on the morowe the kynge Loot dide his homage to the kynge Arthur, and made his oth on the chief mynster seinge alle the peple that was right grete and huge, and the kynge Arthur refeffed hym a-gein in his londe that he hadde be-fore, to hym and to hys heires for euer more, and who that dide hym eny wronge he sholde hym supporte to his power, and resceyved hym gladde and iocounde as a noble man, and fro that day forth were thei goode frendes all her lif; folio 170b
and whan the masse was seide thei com a-gein to the paleyse, and yede to mete, and thei were well serued and richely, and after mete wente the knyghtes to se the medowes, and the river, and the tentes, and the pavilouns that were pight withoute the town, ffor ther were many full feire and riche, and in this disporte and solace were thei viij dayes hool, and the peple dide sore encrece, ffor the kynge dide hit comaunde for that he wolde holde court roiall and plentevouse, and bere crowne he and his wif at the mydde of august, and whan it com to the evene that the feeste sholde be-gynne on the morowe, Arthur yaf his yeftes soche as to hym apertened of horse, and palfreyes, and armour, and money, as golde and siluer, for he hadde plente; and the queene yaf hem robes fressh and newe as she that well hadde therfore ordeyned, and moche cowde of honour and all curteysie, that alle peple hadde hir in so grete love that hem thought thei hadde recouered the

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lady of alle ladyes, and yef the knyghtes hadde riche presentes, the ladyes and dameselles hadden also, and maydenes bothe fer and nygh; and so spradde the renoun thourgh every contrey of Arthur, that the princes that weren with hym wroth wisten of the pees that the kynge Loot hadde made with the kynge Arthur, and how he sholde holde his court roiall at the myddill of August, and that alle peple were thider somowned, and some of hem seiden secretly to theire counseile that thei wolde gladly haue spedde in the same manere as the kynge Loot hadde don; and some ther were of hem that thoughten in theire hertis and praied to god that thei sholde neuer dye on no deth er thei were acorded with the kynge Arthur, ffor all this trouble and myschef that is fallen vn-to vs, is com thourgh the synne that we have don agein god and forfet to hym.

Thus seide oon to another; and the kynge Arthur was in his maister Citee in ioye and solace as ye haue I-herde, and whan it com to the day of the myddill August, thider com all the knyghtes to the courte clothed and a-raied in the richest robes that thei hadden, and the Queene was appareiled, she and hir ladyes, and maidenys, and dameseles richely as longeth to soche an high feeste; and whan thei hadde ronge to high masse thei wente alle to the mynster and herde the servise that the archebisshoppe dide singe; and that day bar Arthur crowne, and the queene Gonnore his wife, and the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors were crowned also for the love of hem; and after masse thei com to the halle where the clothes were leyde, and the lordes were sette thourgh the halle as thei owe for to be. That day serued Gawein at the high deyse ther as the foure kynges seten, and kay the stiward, and lucas the boteller, and sir Ewein le graunt the sone of kynge Vrien, and Gifflet, and Ewein folio 171a
avoutres, and Segramor, and Dodinell le sauage, and kay destranx, and kehedins ly bens, and kehedins le petit, and Ayglyns des vaux that was his brother, and Galegantius the walsh, and Blyoberis, and Galescowde, and Colegrenaunt, and launal, and Aglonall, and Ewein Eselains, and Ewein de lionell, and Ewein white hande, and Guyomar, and Synados, and

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Gosenain hardy body, and Agrauain the prowde, and Gueheret, and Gaheries, and Acon de bemonde, and alle these xxi served at the high deyse, and xl other yonge bachelers serued at other tables therynne, and thei were so well served of alle maner thinges that neuer peple were better, and whan alle the meesee were served in, than spake the kynge Arthur so lowde that alle that were in the halle myght it heren, and he seide, “Now lordinges, all ye that ben com here in to my courte me for to gladen and counforte, I yelde yow graces and thonkinge for the honour and the ioye that ye haue me don, and that ye be come for to do; and I do yow to wite that I will stablissh to my courte alle the tymes that I shall bere crowne.

That neuer from hens-forth shall I not sitte to mete in to the tyme that I here some straunge tydinge, or elles some aventure. Be soche forwarde that yef it be myster I shall do it to be redressed by the knyghtes of my court, whiche for prise and honour hider to repeire and ben my frendes, and my felowes, and my peres.” And whan the knyghtes of the rounde table herde this a-vow that the kynge hadde I-made, thei spake togeder and seiden, “Seeth that the kynge hath made a-vow in his courte, hit behoveth that we make oure a-vow,” and thei acorded alle to oon thinge, and therwith thei charged Nascien to reherse it be-fore the kynge.

Than wente alle the knyghtes of the rounde table, and Nascien be-gan to speke be-fore the kynge so high, that thei alle myght here that were in the halle.

“Sir,” seide Nascien, “the knyghtes of the rounde table be come here to god, and in youre audyence, and to alle the barouns that here ben. In-as-moche as ye haue made a-vow thei make here another that shall euer endure while her lif lasteth.

That yef eny maiden haue eny nede or come to youre courte for to seche helpe or socour by so that it may be acheved by the body of oon knight a-gein another, thei will with goode will go in to what contrey she will hem leden hir for to delyuer, and make alle the wronges to be redressed that to hir hath be don;” and whan the kynge this vndirstode, he asked of the knyghtes of Page 482
the rounde table yef thei dide graunte to that as Nascien hadde seide; and thei seiden, “Ye;” and to this thei wolde be sworn hit for to mayntene, and not to spare for lif ne for deth, and than be-gan the ioye gretter than it hadde be byfore; and whan Gawein vndirstode the ioye that thei maden for the a-vowes that were ther I-stablisshed, he seide to his felowes as he that cowde all folio 171b
norture and curtesie. “Sirs,” seide Gawein, “yef eche of yow will a-corde to that I shall seyn, I shall ofre soche a-vow wher-of shall come to yow and to me grete honour alle the dayes of oure life;” and thei ansuerde and seide that thei wolde graunte and assente to all that euer he wolde speke with his mowthe.

“Than,” quod he, “assureth me youre feith to holde me companye;” and a-noon thei hym assured, and were xxiiij be counte.”

Whan that sir Gawein hadde take the feith of his felowes he come be-fore the Queene, and seide, “Madame, I and my felowes be come to yow, and praye yow and requere that ye will withholde vs to be youre knyghtes and youre meyne. That whan thei come in eny strange contrey to seche loss and pris, yef any man hem aske with whom thei be, and of what londe. Than thei may seyn of the reame of logres, and be the knyghtes of Queene Gonnore, the wif of kynge Arthur.” Whan the Queene vndirstode this, she dressed hir vp-stondinge, and seide, “Feire nevew, gramercy to yow and to hem alle; ffor I yow resceyve with gladde chere as lordes and my frendes, and as ye offre yow to me, so I offre me to yow with trewe herte; and I pray god lete me so long lyve that I may yow guerdon of the worshippe and the curtesie that ye promyse me for to do.” “Madame,” seide Gawein, “we be alle youre knyghtes, and ye haue us withholde god it yow quyte.

Now shull we make a-vow; That what man or woman cometh to yow for to seche socour or helpe a-geyn the body of oon knyght, he shall not faile to haue oon of vs to delyuer hym body for body, and go with hem in to what contrey thei will vs bringe; and whiche of vs so it be that take eny soche iourney on hande, and hit happe that he come not a-gein

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withynne a moneth, eche oon of vs shall go for to seche hym sool by hymself, a yere and a day withoute repeire to courte; but yef withynne that terme he can bringe trewe tydinges of his felowe, and whan thei be come to court eueryche shall telle his aventures that hym be-falleth in the tyme what-so-euer thei be, gode or euell, and thei shull be sworn to sey the trouthe of all bothe in the goynge and in the comynge.”

Whan the queene vndirstode the a-vow that Gawein hadde made, she was the gladdest woman in the worlde, and the kynge was glader than eny other that was in the courte, and for the kynge wolde comforte the queene, he seide, “Dame, seth god hath ordeyned yow this honour to haue so feire a companye, some curtesie moste I do for the love of hem, and also for the love of youreself, and wite ye wher-of I putte in youre gouernaunce my tresour in soch maner that ye be lady and partyner of all youre plesier;” and whan the queene this herde, she kneled be-fore the kynge and seide, “Sir, gramercy.” And than the queene called sir Gawein, and seide, “Feire
folio 172a
nevew, I will that foure clerkes be stablisshed hereynne that shull do nothinge elles but write the aventures that falle to yow and youre felowes, so that after youre deth it may be remembred the high prowesse of the worthi men hereynne.” “Madame,” seide Gawein, “I graunte;” and than were ther chosen foure clerkes to write the aventures as thei fill in the courte fro thens-forth; and than seide Gawein that he sholde not here speke of noon aventure, but he sholde go to seche it; and he and his felowes sholde do so moche that thei sholde bringe ther-of trewe tidinges to courte, and so seiden the knyghtes of the rounde table in the same manere; and all-wey fro thens-fourth was sir Gawein and his felowes called the queenes knyghtes. With that were the clothes taken vp, and than be-gan the ioye right grete of oon and other therynne, But ouer alle other that were therynne was I-herde Dagenet of Clarion; ffor he made gret myrthe amonge hem, so that alle thei be-hielde hym for merveile. But a fooll he was of nature, and the moste coward pece of flessh that was in the worlde; Page 484
this Dagenet be-gan to trippe and daunce, and cried so lowde with high voyse, and seide, “tomorow shall I go seche these aventures,” and seide to Gawein, “will ye come? and ye, sir Ewein and Segramor will ye come thider that be so feire and moche, and ye lordinges of the rounde table. Certes, I trowe not that ye haue the herte ne the hardynesse me for to sewen, ther I shall go tomorowe.”

Thus seide Dagenet the coward, and the knyghtes ther-at lowen, and hadde grete game; and withoute faile he hym armed many tymes, and wente in to the forestes, and henge his shelde on an Oke, and smote it so that alle the colours were faded, and the shelde to hakked in many places, and than wolde he seyn that he hadde slayn a knyght or tweyne; and whan he mette eny knyght armed he turned to flight as fer as he myght here hym speke at the leeste; and many tymes fill yef he mette eny knyght erraunt that were pensif that spake no worde he wolde take hym by the bridell, and lede hym forth as he hadde hym taken; of soche maners was Dagenet, and yet he was right a feire knyght and of high lynage, and yet it semed not by his countenaunce that he was soche a fooll.

Grete was the ioye and the feeste the day of myddill of August, at logres, whan these a-vowes were made, and whan thei that hadden serued hadde eten, com kay the stiwarde, and seide, “Sirs, what thenke ye to do; shull we not tourney to be-gynne some myrthe at soche high feeste as this is?” Whan Segramor herde this he lepte vp, and seide that recreaunt and shamed be he that will not turneyn; and Mynoras ansuerde that thei wolde turney a-gein the queenes knyghtes, “and lete vs take so many knyghtes what oon and what other that we be euen like many,”

folio 172b
and sir Gawein asked a-gein how many knyghtes thei wolde turney, and Adragain seide thei wolde haue Vc in her companye, and Gawein seide that he wolde take other Vc in his companye. “Than lete it no lenger be taried,” quod Pynados, “for the day passeth.” Than thei wente to theire hostels and armed hem with grete spede, and yede in to the medowes withoute the town, and ther thei assembled Page 485
what oon what other that thei were xc. Than was the ban cried that eche man sholde go on whiche part that he wolde, and thei disseuered and wente eche to his baner; and than com Gawein to hervy de rivell, and departed theire meyne, so that in eche partye ther was v hundred, and than the heraudes be-gan for to crye, Cy est lonours darmes Ore y parra qui checun le ferra; and whan it com to the assemble, a knyght cam to sir Gawein, and seide, “The kynge yowre vncle sente yow worde that ye sholde come speke with hym at the wyndowe ther-as he yow abideth;” and sir Gawein wente thider and ledde with hym sir Ewein his cosyn, and Segramour, and Gyfflet, and the curroyes were tho redy assembled for to mete.

The first that was renged was Pynodas, a knyght of the rounde table, and on that othir side com a knyght of the queenes that was brother to Gawein, and his name was Agravain the prowde, and he was wondir well horsed, and thei smote togeder with speres vpon the sheldes so harde that thei perced that the steill heedes stynted at the hauberkes, and thei were bothe stronge and hardy, and the hauberkes of towgh mayle that the speres splyndred in peces, and in the passinge forth thei hurteled togeder so harde with sheldes and helmes, and with theire horse, that bothe two fill to grounde, horse and man togeder; and thei pressed to the rescew on bothe partyes and mette togeder with sharpe speres; and sir Gawein hath so riden till he com on the diche brynke a-gein the wyndowe ther-as kynge Arthur dide lene, and the Queene Gonnore, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and ladyes and maydenes, a grete companye for to beholde the bourdeys; and than the kynge seide, “Feire nevew, I praye yow for the feith that ye owe vnto me that ye rule so this turnement that ther a-rise no debate, ne wrath amonge hem, ne maltelente [correction; sic = matelente].” “Sir,” seide he, “as for me shall ther nothinge be mys-don, but I may not kepe hem alle from theire folyes. But yef ye se it turne to folye, ordeyne ye that it be departed, ffor I may not suffre that the companye of the rounde table diffoule, and ouerlede my felowes be-fore me, but that I moste helpe

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hem at my power.” “Sir,” seide the kynge Ban, “sir Gawein seith wisely; ffor it is goode reson that ye take a party of youre peple, and do hem to be armed as many as nedeth that yef myster be, thei to be redy to lepe on horsebak to do youre comaundement.” “In godis name,” seide the kynge, “so shall it be as ye haue seide.” Than the kynge comaunded to arme thre thousande what of Sergauntes and squyers, and hymself was armed, and the thre other kynges that were in his folio 173a
companye; and Gawein was come to the turney, that tho was well begonne vpon the two knyghtes that were throwe to grounde, and so hadde bothe parties spedde that thei haue hem bothe remounted and sette on horse; and than the turnement be-gan sore to enforce, and the knyghtes of the rounde table that were CCL peyned hem sore to discounfite the foure score felowes of sir Gawein that were at grete myschief, and hadde sore the werse, but moche thei suffred as thei that full well eche dide other helpe feithfully. But their well doynge ne gayned hem but litill, ne hadde be the knyghtes of kynge Looth that hem socoured full vigerously. Ther was made many feire Iustinges and many a knyght vn-horsed that fill to the grounde, and the horses fledde thourgh the feeldes. Ther were the knyghtes of the rounde table euell I-ledde, but as vij score knyghtes that com hem for to socoure, and than hadde the knyghtes of the rounde table the better, ffor thei were more peple than the tother, and thei made hem to voyde the place wheder thei wolde or noon; and than a-roos the cry and the shoute vpon hem that fledden.

And whan Gawein vndirstode the shoute and the crye that was vpon his felowes, he behelde and saugh hem at grete myscheif, and that for thought hym right sore, and seide to sir Ewein, “A-voy, cosin, we haue taried to longe.” “Ewein” now quod Segramor, “neuer be he holde for a knyght that faileth to helpe at this nede.” “I preise not at a boton,” quod Gifflet, “the speche, but the dede be shewed. Now lete se who shall do beste;” and Gawein lowgh whan he herde this, and seide, “Sueth me;” with that he smote his Page 487
hors with the spores, and spronge forth as sperhauke after partriches or quayles, and bar to the erthe foure the firste that thei mette. Than these foure be-gan to do soche maistries that the chace stynte, and in a while were thei knowen of hem that neuer hadde hem seyn; and whan the Queenes knyghtes hadde founde sir Gawein thei drough a-boute hym, and so dide the knyghtes of kynge looth that were full notable knyghtes and goode; and Segramor be-gan to do soche merveiles that thei that weren at the wyndowes marked hym with the fynger, and seide, “Lo yonder, Sir Segramor, ffor yef he be feire of body and membres, yet is he better knyght at devise, and well may she that shall hym haue, a-vaunt hir that she hath oon of the beste knyghtes of the courte; and on that other side Gifflet dide right wele, and Galashin that gretly thei were beholden of oon and of other, and to hem com the thre bretheren of Sir Gawein that were full noble and hardy. These dide merveilously wele, and so dide Sir Ewein, that a better knyght than he neded no man to beholde; and whan the knyghtes of the rounde table saugh how the chase was arested, thei be-gan to traueile sore for to drive these other oute of the place, and ther they dide wondres in armes. But who that dide well, or who nought, a-bove alle other folio 173b
dide sir Gawein merveiles, ffor he fonde no presse were it neuer so thikke ne cloos, but he it perced through be fin force, ffor he smote down knyghtes and horse, and raced of helmes from heedes and sheldes from nekkes, ne noon myght in-dure a-gein his strokes, and yef the companye of the rounde table hadde the better, now haue thei the werse; ffor sir Gawein and his felowes haue holde hem so shorte, that thei drof hem discounfited to the water side, and ther thei withstode stifly; and the storye seith that so moche thei suffred that x of the beste of hem were throwen to the erthe, wherof that oon was mynoras, and the secunde Natalis, and the thirde Pynados, and the fourth Bloaris, and the ve Karismanx, and the vje Partreux, and the vije Grandoynes, and the viije ladynell, and the ixe ladymus, and the xe Traelus. These x were take with force, and hem hilde sir Ewein, and Segramor, and

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Agravain, and Gueheret, and Gaheries, and kay the stiward, and sente hem to the Queene on sir Gaweins be-halue, that thei dide holde for her lorde and maister, and thei hadde reson, for he was a worthi man and wele hem helped and socoured in euery nede, and these x knyghtes that were taken com to the queene and yelde hem to hir on sir Gaweins be-halue, and she hem resceyved with grete ioye, and yaf eche of hem a riche Iuwell, and than thei wente and lened oute at the wyndowes of the paleise to se the turnement.

Whan the knyghtes of the rounde table saugh thei hadde loste x of hir felowes, thei were doelfull, for thei hadde neuer be-fore be made to voide the place.

Than com theire grete bateile from the bregge that hem socoured vigerously, that thei putte hem a-gein in to the playn feelde, and the partie that was with Gawein com a-gein hem that were all fressh and newe, and that oo part smote thourgh that other and begonne a grete stour and traueiled so that thei gonne waxen wery, and Gawein and his felowes dide so well that thei drof hem a-gein to the river.

And whan the knyghtes of the rounde table saugh thei turned to discounfiture, thei seiden that to-day more wolde thei do theire werste seth it is so fer forth befallen. Than thei toke speres, grete and rude, and putte hem in fewtre, and that is the grettest crewelte that oon may do, ffor turnement oweth to be withoute felonye, and thei meved to smyte hem as in mortall werre; and as soone as thei hadden speres thei smyten in a-monge the queenes knyghtes that thei sore hated, and at the firste shof thei smote down soche xx that were full worthi men, but soone were thei lept on foote and drough theire swerdes, and these rested vpon hem for to take hem prisoners, and ther be-gan the medle grete and fierce, and so thei myght a-noon haue loste folio 174a
all; but as sir Ewein toke ther-of hede, and shewed it to Gawein and Segramor; and whan thei saugh the felonye that thei hadde begonne on her felowes; than seide sir Ewein, “Lorde, se the feire playe that these yonder haue begonne vpon vs;” and than seide Gawein that thei dide

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nothinge curteisely as worthi men ne that wolde he not suffre. Than he cleped Griret de lamball and Guyomar, and seide, “Go to the knyghtes of the rounde table, and sey that I and my felowes sende hem worde that thei haue mystaken hem at this this tyme a-gein vs, and bidde hem cesse of that folye that thei haue begonne, and for that thei haue don we playne vs gretly, and shull hem a-pele be-fore the kynge, and yef ther be eny of oure felowes on this side that haue agein hem mysdon, we shall make hem amendes at hir volunte;” and whan these herde the comaundement of sir Gawein, thei turned withoute moo wordes, and com to the knyghtes of the rounde table and dide theire message, and thei ansuerde that thei sette no force of all that he seide, ffor thei wolde noon other wise do, and who that therwith wrathed lete hym chese, for yet we will do more than we haue don be-fore, and so may ye sey to Gawein and to his felowes that soone may men se the moste hardy, and who shall beste furnyssh a stour; and whan these herde the bobance and the outrage thei returned and com to sir Gawein that in that tyme hadde his felowes remounted, and thei tolde hym the ansuere that [correction; sic = that that] thei hadden, and whan Gawein it herde, he was right wroth. “What,” quod he, “is that trewe, will thei nothinge do for us? Now I do hem well to witen that seth we be comen to ernest, soone shull we be at the assay whiche is the moste hardy.” Than departed Gawein oute of the turnement, and his thre brethern, and Segramor, and Ewein, and Galasshin, and Dodinell, and kay the stiward, and Gifflet, and lucas the botiller, and than he seide, “Sirs, the knyghtes of the rounde table haue take a-gein vs a fell strif, ffor that thei be greved with oure partye, and therfore thei trowe all to haue wonne for shewinge of theire crewelte and felonye, and therfore I will that eche of vs go fecche his hauberk, and the beste armes that he hath, and arme hym so that nothinge faile, and thei a-noon sente for her beste armours, and drough hem oute of the turnement and hem armed hastely, for longe hem semed er Page 490
thei were returned a-gein in to the turnement that was right grete, ffor the x hundred were assembled togeder in bateile, and whan sir Gawein and his felowes were well araide, thei were well foure score only, and thei lepte to horse and ride a softe paas, and cloos a-gein the other felowes that well mayntened the turnement, and thei sought her felowes vp and down, and ben so sory for theire felowes that thei haue hem not founde, that nygh thei wax wode for angir, ffor thei of the rounde table hem ledde felonously in the werse maner.

folio 174b

Than com Gawein and his felowes so harde that moo than xl thei ouerthrowe in theire comynge, and whan Nascien and Adragein saugh them thei stynten, and seide to theire felowes, “Feire lordes, we haue euell and folily spedde of the atynes that we haue vndirtake a-gein the Queenes knyghtes for envye and for nought.” “I rede,” quod Adragain, “that the turnement cesse er it be werse, ffor the nevewes of the kynge shull do vs damage fro hens-forth, and that may ye wete verily. Ne it may not endure withoute grete losse, and also parauenture some to be slayn, and therfore it were good that it were cessed thus, ffor knowe it verily that ther be soche xx in the fore fronte of her companye that right soone thei shull xl of oure companye make to voyde place, and also thei be of high lynage, and the moste puyssaunt of the reame of grete breteigne,” and the other ansuerde that it was spoken to late, “Now kepe hym that kepe may, for othirwise now may it not be,” and than thei smyte in to the medle, and the foure score felowes com hem a-geins, and eche hurte other with speres foule at theire metynge, and thei drowgh the swerdes and begonne the medle on horsbak and on foote full crewell and fell; and whan the vij score knyghtes of the kynge Looth knewe the foly and the disray that the knyghtes of the rounde table hadde begonne, thei drough a-side and armed hem right wele, and than com a-gein to sir Gawein, and seide, “Sir, now may ye ride suerly a-gein the envyouse, for we shull not this day forsake yow ne youre companye for no distresse, ffor we se well the erneste that is betwene yow and the knyghtes of the rounde Page 491
table. But thei haue to fewe peple to do that thei haue purposed, and we se well that thei be CCL., and ye be but foure score, and therfore is it no merveile yef thei haue the better. But thei may hem a-vaunte that thei haue geten CC enmyes this day that well shull lete hem parceyve whethir thei be foles or wise,” and sir Gawein thanked hem hertely; and than thei renged hem a-bowte hym as he that full well cowde it demenen.

Than sir Gawein cleped an high gentilman that was cleped by his right name Galescowde, and seide, “Go a-noon to my lorde, myn vncle, and sey to hym that he not displese though we vs diffende from them of the rounde table that haue begonne the foly a-gein vs, and tell hym how the caas stant all as it is,” and whan that Galiscowde vndirstode the comaundement of Gawein, he turned and dide his message; and while that Gawein entended a-boute these thinges the queenes knyghtes hadde moche the worse, and the knyghtes of the rounde table rescowed hir felowes, and sette hem on horse and chaced the queenes knyghtes be fin force out of the felde, whan Gawein saugh that he com hem a-geins with alle the knyghtes of his fadres, and smote in a-monge hem so harde that alle the renges gonne fremyssh; and sir Gawein cried, “Vpon hem, gentill folio 175a
knyghtes, for in euell tyme haue thei begonne this folye.”

Whan the queenes knyghtes herde sir Gawein thus speke, and saugh the feire companye of knyghtes that hym sewed, thei returned as thei that were gladde and ioyfull of the socour, for tho knewe thei well that the werse sholde no be hers, and than thei recovered alle togeders theire sheldes before theire brestes; and sir Gawein was in the fore frount with swerde drawen, for he hadde broken his spere, and smote so Dorilas vpon the helme that he smote thourgh, and the coyf of mayle, that he made hym a grete wounde in the heede, and astoned hym so sore that he fill flatte to the grounde, and his felowes cried, “He is ded; he is ded;” and thei ronne vpon hym on alle partyes, and he smote so the firste that he mette thourgh the helme that he yaf hym a grete wounde and fill to Page 492
grounde all blody; and than he smote another right harde, and he saugh the stroke come and plukked his bridill to hym, and the stroke descended on the horse shuldres be-fore and smote the horse a-sonder, so that to grounde fill bothe horse and man, and whan Nascien saugh hymself so fallen, he lepte on foote full delyuerly as he that was a full noble knyght and a sure, and drough his swerde, and couered hym with his shelde, for sore he douted another stroke er he were redy hym to diffende; and whan that Gawein saugh that he was so redy appareiled, he returned with suerde in honde, and a-noon Nascien knewe the swerde, and seide, “A-voy, my lorde, sir Gawein, ye ne be not so wise a man ne so curteise as men of yow doth recorde; ffor ye be thus garnysshed of youre armes as ye were in werre mortall, and ye haue also brought youre goode swerde, and I do yow to wete that it shall be to yow reprof in many other places than here.” Quod Gawein, “I knowe no knyght that me will a-peche of vntrouthe, but I shall me well deffende a-gein hym that dar it sey or a-gein tweyne yef nede bee oon after another. But ye and youre felowes haue don vntrouthe, and haue begonne the folye; ffor we sente yow oure messages, but ye wolde hem not heren ne vndirstonde, but ye dide youre werste.” “Sir,” seide Nascien, “hit is go folyly hiderto, and hit were tyme that it were left yef it yow plesed, ffor soche haue it spoken and begonne that nothinge ther-on haue wonne, ffor I trowe he be wounded to the deth. But I praye yow at the reuerence of god that ye hem now departe, and than do ye well and curteisely er that eny more harme ther-of befalle.”

“I knowe not,” quod Gawein, “what harme ther-of shall falle, but neuer for me shull thei not be departed. Ne neuer shall the companye of the rounde table be-gynne malice a-gein vs; but I with as goode will shall by-gynne the first a-gein hem
folio 175b
with spere areised, and for that I will that ye it hem telle, and haue ye no drede of me at this tyme, and telle hem wele that neither kynge ne queene ther-of entermete, for we be soche companye that shall fynde hem hote I-nough, kepe

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thei hem neuer so wele owther fer or nygh.” “Sir,” seide Nascien, “other tyme than now haue ye do to me honour so moche that I may not yow guerdon, ne ye ther-to haue no myster. But as to this that ye sey we shull haue I-nough medle a-gein yow ne sey it nought, for ye be alle of high lynage, and men of grete puyssaunce, and thei be more alle of baas lynage than ye and youre companye, and therfore thei haue no power a-gein yow whan it com ther-to, that ye will hem greve or anoye,” and with that departed Gawein, and lefte Nascien on foote, and he and his felowes smyten in to the bateile, and brake the presse, and smote down knyghtes, bothe horse and man, and ledde hem so euell that thei drof hem oute of the place all discounfited euen to the river that was right depe, and brode, and many fill in to the water a-gein theire will, ffor ther sholde ye haue sein speres and sheldes flote down the river, and the horse all quyk withoute maister her reynes trailinge with the strem.

Whan Gawein saugh thei were goinge, and that thei myght not recouer that saugh he well, he put vp his goode swerde for doute leste he slough eny man vn-war, and as he put it in to the scauberk, he saugh knyghtes of the rounde table that were enbusshed on the chauchie, and he caught a plante of an appell tre, and caste his shelde to grounde, and toke the barre in bothe handes, and seide he wolde make hem to remeve. Than he smote a-monge hem so fiersely the firste that he mette betwene the sholdres that he rolled to grounde vpright, and after the secunde, and than the thirde, and the fourthe, and he ne smote no man were he neuer so stronge, but he fill to grounde; and whan thei saugh that he ferde with hem so euell thei were full wroth, and ran vpon hym with swerdes drawen for sore thei hym hated, and thei smyte at hym on alle sides ther thei myght a-reche so that thei slough his horse betwene his legges, and he lepte vp on foote full delyuerly, for he was full of prowesse and of hardynesse, and he made a shelde of his staf and drough his swerde Calibourne, and seide, “Euell happe haue thei that holde yow the beste knyghtes of

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the worlde; ffor here, ” quod he, “haue thei it nothinge shewe, whan thei haue myn horse slayn,” and ran vpon hem vigerously, and slitte sheldes, and helmes, and hew on hauberkes, and sholdres, and armes; and kutte of legges, and heedes that it blussht to grounde all that he raught, and in short tyme he hath xx so a-raied that thei
folio 176a
lay at grounde that hem nedeth to haue goode leches yef thei sholde ascape with the lif; with that com to the medle the foure score felowes and ten, and the vij score knyghtes of kynge looth that all day hadde hem sewed, and thei smote in a-monge hem with so grete randon that thei fonde sir Gawein on foote, and his suerde in his honde all blody of horse that he hadde slayn mo than xl. Ther was sir Gawein remounted and sette on horse, and he putte vp his goode swerde and toke the staf with bothe hondes, and ran vpon hem crewelly, and smote he rought not where, and discounfited hem alle in short tyme, and put hem to flight thourgh the yates of the town, and the tother VC that were left vpon the river fought with hem that were of the same partye; and as soone as the knyghtes of kynge looth hadde hem lefte, and the foure score of the queenes knyghtes ther be-gan the stour grete and crewell, and ther were many feire Iustinges that were gladly beholden of ladyes and maydenes that were on the walles of the town, and so endured the turnement longe tyme, ffor thei were goode knyghtes on bothe sides. But at the end myght not the knyghtes endure that were on Gaweins side, for thei were not so many as the tother, and so thei begonne to ruse oon hour vp and another down, till that tidinge come to sir Ewein that was stinte withoute the yates of the town, and xxiiij felowes with hym, and whan he vndirstode that his fellowes hadde the werse, he rode thider hem to socour, and as soone as thei were come thider thei begonne to do so well that in all the day ne hadde thei do better, and so thourgh hir prowesses thei perced hem thourgh thre or foure tymes, and hem discounfited and made hem voide the place, and drof hem in at the yates of the town thourgh the stretes where thei dide hem ouerthrowe, and fowled hem vndir hir horse feet, for noon wolde thei take Page 495
ne withholde thei were so wroth, for the outerage that the knyghtes of the rounde table hadde begonne vpon hem vncurteisly thourgh her pride.

On that other side was Gawein and the knyghtes of Orcanye, that hadde chaced so the knyghtes [correction; sic = knythes] of the rounde table till thei com be-fore the chirche of seint Stephene, and thei withstode and kepte the paas while thei myght. But in short tyme ther sholde haue ben do harme. But as the kynge Arthur com, and the kynge Ban and the Kynge Bohors com thider as sone as Galescowde hadde tolde his message; and the squyers that were thre thousande armed, and the thre kynges turned toward seint Stephene, and a party of the squyers a-boute a thre hundred turned down the high strete where-as thei mette the knyghtes of Orcanye that sewed sir Gawein that full euell ferde with the knyghtes of the rounde table, as ye haue herde; and as soone folio 176b
as thei saugh the squyers thei wende it hadde ben a-wayte that hadde be leide for hem; and a-noon thei begonne to medle and begonne a newe trouble right huge and crewell, but at grete myschef were the felowes of sir Gawein, ffor oo part of hem foughten with the squyers at the straite entre of the strete, where-as many were ouerthrowen and diffouled right euell. Than com tidinges to Gawein that his frendes were in soche pereill; “ffor I wote neuer,” quod he that brought the message, “what peple it ben that hem assaile be-hynde, and don hem grete damage;” and as soone as Gawein herde that his felowes were assaile be-hynde, he lefte the fight with the knyghtes of the rounde table to his felowes, and com thider ther as thise weren. But first he sette goode wardes to kepe the stretes ende, that thei of the rounde table ne turned not a-gein bakke, and than he com to the strete ther these were fightinge; and as soone as he hem saugh, he swor in euell tyme come thei thider, and whan thei saugh hym come thei cried to hym and badde hym cesse, or he was but deed; and whan Gawein herde hem manace hym of deth, he wax right wroth,

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and cleped hem “fitz a-putayn traitours cowardes haue ye leyn in wayte. I do yow to wite er ye me ascape, the moste hardy wolde not haue come hider for this reame.” Than he hilde Calibourne his goode swerde all blody, and these ronne vpon hym with axes, and billes, and swerdes right vigerously; and he spronge in a-monge hem, and smote the firste that he mette that the heed fill on the pament, and than he smote another, and than the thridde and the fourthe, and smote of handes and armes that in a litill while noon durste a-bide his strokes, but turned to flight wroth and angry, and cried, “Fle, fle, lo here a devell that is broken oute of helle chaynes;” and whan Gawein hadde his felowes thus delyuered, he turned a-gein and toke xl. knyghtes at sette hem at the stretes ende that noon ne falle vpon hem, and seide, “Yef eny come and yow ouerlede come fecche me.” Than he wente to the tother ende of the strete ther [correction; sic = ther ther] the knyghtes of Orcanye faught with the knyghtes of the rounde table, and a-noon he spronge in a-monge hem, and cried a-lowde, “Traytours;” for well he wende that thei hadde leide that a-wayte, and whan thei herde hym so seyn thei wiste not what to ansuere, ffor thei wende well that he hadde it seide for that thei be-gan firste the ernest whan thei iusted with speres in fewtre, and sore thei repented yef thei myght, ffor so hadde the shame be doubled, and therefore seith the wise man in reprof of soche. “Many oon weneth his shame to a-venge, and he it encreseth,” and therefore were thei shamefast and mate; and Gawein smote in a-monge hem crewell as a lyon, and smote Adragain des vaux de gailore thourgh the helme that he kutte the quoyf of maile to the bare flessh that he fill to the erthe all astonyed that he wiste not whether it was nyght or day, and than he smote Pindolus on the sholdre that he kutte the gige that the shelde henge by and the haurberke and the flessh right depe that ner he was
folio 177a
maymed, and so fill the shelde on that oon side, and the knyght on that other; and after he smote Idonas on the iowe that he fill to grounde in Page 497
swowne, and whan thei of the rounde table saugh how he dide hem so grete damage, that noon armour myght endure a-gein his strokes, thei turned alle toward the cherche, and Gawein and his felowes hem enchaced, and fill that Gawein overtoke hervy de rivell, and wolde haue smyte hym on the helme, and he couered hym with his shelde, and all thei turned togeder toward the mynster, and hervy seide to Gawein, “Cesse, sir knyght, ye haue done I-nowgh, and therfore ye may well stynte at this tyme, and trewly ye be right moche to blame for the crewelte that is in yow, ffor men were wonte to sey of yow all honour and curtesie, and now may men sey the contrarie, ffor ye ought to helpe and to socoure these a-gein all the worlde that hem wolde greve or annoye, and ye hem sle and diffoule at youre power; and thei haue yow nought offended.” “Hervy,” quod Gawein, “haue thei me not offended whan thei haue begonne the foly and the treson vpon my felowes to whom I moste bere feith, and ther-by wolde thei not cesse, but leide other peple for vs in a-wayte, and the turnement was not taken in that manere.”

“Sir,” seide hervy, “yef thei haue hem mystaken a-gein yow at this tyme, thei shull a-mende it to yow at youre plesir, ffor the love of yow that from hens-forth thei will holde yow for theire frende and felowe.” “To me,” quod Gawein, “shull thei make noon amendes, for I shall hem neuer love, ffor I do hem well to wite where thei haue envye or werre a-gein eny of my felowes thei haue the same a-gein me. Ne neuer shull thei take turnoy ne Aatine, but we foure score shull turneyen a-geins vij score of the beste of hem, and thei will it vndertake, and lete hem well knowe that I shall neuer come in place in this contrey ne in noon other where ther is eny turnement or Aatine, yef eny of hem be there, but I shall greve hem at my power.” “Sir,” seide hervy, “ye sey euell and synfulliche, but soche is now youre talente; but hereafter it shall not be so; ffor it were to grete damage yef so many worthi men sholde turne to euell for this folye, ffor rather thei shull clene forsake the court of youre vncle.”

“I can not sey,” quod Gawein, “what thei will do, but for me shull thei it not Page 498
forsaken, and yef that thei do, thei ne shull not go in to no londe, but thei shall be ouertake, ffor we shull neuer here speke of place ther thei be conversaunt, but we shull go thider.” “Sir,” seide hervy, “a-slake youre mode and pese youre matalent a litill, ffor so god me helpe thei that haue begonne the foly thei haue it dere I-bought, ffor many ther be hurt and wounded full dolerously, ffor ther ben xxx that neuer shull bere shelde, whereof is right grete doell and pyte, ffor thei ben full noble knyghtes and worthi men;” and as thei spake thus com the kynge Arthur that hadde I-herde a partie of her wordes that thei hadde spoken, and seide,
folio 177b

“Gawein, feire nevew, is this the prayer that I praied yow to-day? Certes now it sheweth well that ye love me right litill whan a-gein my diffence, and in dispite of me as me semeth ye sle thus my peple, wite it well that it is a thinge that hevieth me right sore.” “Sir,” seide Gawein, “he that be-gan the foly it is reson that he repent. Ne in dispite of yow haue I nothinge do, and who ther-of will me accuse he is not vnder heuene, but I shall me well a-gein hym diffende; ffor as soone as the foly be-gan to a-rise I sente yow witinge by Galescoude oon of oure felowes, ffor er that tyme hadde thei vs sore diffouled, er that we wolde eny thinge do;” and the kynge looth his fader com to hym and toke hym by the bridill, and seide, “Gawein, sone, cesse of this foly, for ye haue don I-nowgh, and suffre the kynge to sey his wille, for it shall well be amended by leiser the wrath betwene hym and yow, ffor well we haue sein a partye of the deede;” and the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors com to hym, and seide so to hym of o thinge and other that thei hym apesed.

Thus were disseuered the meyne of sir Gawein from the meyne of the rounde table, and the thre kynges hym dide bringe a-wey, and Galescowde com to the gret turnement that was withynne the yates that was grete and merveilouse. But to foule were thei be-seyn betwene segramor and sir Ewein, and her other felowes; but Galescowde made hem be departed, and that was with moche peyne and sore annoye; ffor thei were sore chauffed that oon vpon that other, and than eche wente

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to his hostell and hem vnarmed, and waissh her nekkes and theire visages with warm water, and clothed hem in her fresshest robes, and wente to court alle tho that myghten, and thei that were hurt and wounded a-bode at theire hostelles for to hele theire woundes, and on that other parte wente Gawein and his felowes hem for to vn-arme in oon of the Queenes chambres that was assigned for hem to repeire; and whan thei were vnarmed and waissh, thei clothed hem richely, and yef thei were well serued it nedeth not to aske, ffor ther were ladyes and maydenes hem for to serue grete foyson. Ther was Segramor moche beholden of oon and of other, ffor he was a feire knyght and semly, and so was also Dodinell le sauage; these tweyne were sore preised of all that hem behelden.

As soone as thei were a-raied, thei com in to the halle two and two togeder, holdinge be the handes oon after another, and thus com the foure score and x felowes, and sir Gawein and Ewein albefore in to the halle be-fore the kynge that to hem made gret ioye; and whan he saugh hem come he a-roos on his feet a-gein hem, and toke sir Gawein be the right hande, and the queene toke hym by the tother hande and wente to sitte alle togeder, and the other knyghtes satte thourgh the halle, and pleied and disported oon with another of dyuerse thinges, and were gladde and myry. But a-bove alle other was the quene ioyfull folio 178a
of her knyghtes that hadde the victorye of the turnement. But the knyghtes of the rounde table be nother gladde ne iocunde, but were shamefast and mate for her felowes, that many were hurt and wounded, and so thei spake of many thinges till thei acorded to send hervy de rivell, that was a goode knyght and wise of counseile, and Nascien, for tweyne better myght thei not take to performe the message, and mynados that was a wise knyght and a feire speker; whan these thre knyghtes saugh thei most do the message, thei toke eche other by the hande and com be-fore the kynge; and whan the kynge saugh hem comynge he a-roos a-gein hem as he that beste cowde eny worthi man honouren and worshipen, and seide thei were well-come, and also a-roos sir Gawein. Than spake Page 500

Hervy to the kynge, and seide, “Sir, plese it yow to sitte, ye and youre companye, and we shull telle yow wherfore we beth come.” Than sat down the kynge and his companye, and hervy be-gan his reson, “Sir, the companye of the rounde table have sente vs to speke to sir Gawein, and to my lady the quene, to whom he holdeth a partie, and first of all to yow that be oure souereigne lorde; and thei pray and beseche yef thei haue ought mystaken a-gein my lorde sir Gawein, or a-gein eny of his companye in what maner that it be, thei ben redy it for to amende as ye and my lady will a-warde. Be soche a maner that alle matalent be pardoned on bothe partyes;” and the kynge loked on the quene, and seide that sholde not be refuced; and the quene ansuerde and seide that it plesed hir wele, yef that sir Gawein ther-to acorded, but he kept scilence, and spake no worde.

Whan the kynge saugh he stodied, he seide, “Gawein, feire nevew, what think [correction; sic = thin] ye of this thinge that ye be so wrorth and angry; ffor in this haue ye but honour, whan the beste knyghtes of the worlde obbey hem to yow and offre to a-mende all that is mysdon.” “Worthi men!” quod Gawein. “Ye feire nevew worthy men, and noble ben thei trewly.” “Thei ought well to be so,”

quod Gawein, and with that he hilde his pees; and the kynge that saugh well he was a-gein hem Irous and angry, he loked on the quene, and seide, “Dame, praye ye hym at this tyme;” and the quene seide, “Sir, with gode will.” Than she toke hym be the hande, and seide, “Nevew, be not so wroth, refroide youre maltalente, ffor wrath hath many a worthi man and wise made to be holde for foles, while the rage endureth. Now yeve credence to my wordes, and do that I praye yow at this tyme, and as my lorde doth yow pray also; ffor it is youre honour and youre profite, and ye knowe well that this londe is in sorowe and turment of the saisnes, and ye here be but a small peple, and I shall telle yow what ye shull thinke and do, ye shull love eche other and helpe a-gein alle peple; and yef youre enmyes come a-gein yow to hem ye sholde be fierce, and not to hem that tomorowe shull

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put her bodyes in auenture of deth for my lorde that is here and for me, folio 178b
and for there foly that thei haue do now lightly shull ye not hem failen. But, feire nevew, pardon hem for I pray yow, and so doth the kynge youre vncle, that is right wroth;” and sir Gawein loked on the quene and be-gan to smyle for the wordes that she hadde seide, and seide, “Madame, who that will lerne lete hym come to yow, and blissed be that lorde that so yow hath ordeyned, and that the companye of so goode a lady, and so wise hath vs graunted, and well may the kynge hym a-vaunt that yef ye lyve to age ye shull be the wisest lady of the worlde, and so be ye now as I beleve; and wite ye what ye haue wonne, ye may do with my body and myn herte all youre volunte, say myn honour and myn vncle the kynges.” “Now trewly,” seide she, “that lady were nothinge wise that ther-of yow requered. Ne, I ne shall neuer, yef god will.” Thus a-peesed the quene sir Gawein, and so was the pees grauntid, and than wente Nascien and Hervy de rivell for to fecche theire felowes of the rounde table, and com be-fore the kynge; and the quene dide clepe sir Ewein, and Segramor, and the thre brethern of Gawein, and a party of other, and tolde hem how the pees was made, and how it was required by the companye of the rounde table; and sir Ewein seide it was well don, and better it were to haue the love of hem than the hate.

With that were the knyghtes of the rounde table come be-fore the kynge, and as soone as thei were come thei kneled to sir Gawein, and folded the panes of her mantels; and than spake hervy de rivell, “Sir, we shull a-mende to yow for vs, and for oure felowes alle these thinges withoute more seyinge, wher-of we haue a-gein yow mystaken, wherfore we beseche yow of pardon;” and sir Gawein lept vp on foote and seide he pardoned hem alle forfetes, and reised hem by the armes, and so dide Ewein, and [correction; sic = a] Segramor, and the thre brethren of Gawein, eche of hem reised a knyght, and made alle the reuenaunt to stonde vp and a-coled eche other in armes, and foryaf all wrath and maltalent, and fro thens-forth was sir Gawein

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a lorde and a maister and felowe of the rounde table; and the quene quyte cleymed the x knyghtes that were prisoners that hir knyghtes hadde her sent, and yaf eche of hem newe robes and fressh. This assaied the knyghtes of the rounde table, the quenes knyghtes be soche forward that neuer after noon of hem sholde turney a-gein other; but yef it were oon that wolde assay hymself in eny straunge turnement by stelthe vnknowen whan thei were disgised that thei wolde not be knowe till thei hadde renomee of grete prowesse; and whan the knyghtes of the rounde table hem toke in her companye for the prowesse that in hem was shewed; and the story seith that the companye of the quenes knyghtes was but foure score and x. But after thei encresed as the storie shall declare, till thei were foure hundred er the quest of the sent graal was acheved; wherfore thei suffred after many grete peyne and traveile, for to a-cheve the folio 179a
quest that long endured, and in other questes thei traueyled many dayes, and I shall telle to yow the cause and whi.

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE MISSION OF KING LOOTH AND HIS FOUR SONS TO MAKE TRUCE WITH THE REBEL KINGS; AND THEIR BATTLES WITH THE SAXONS.

This was the trouthe that tidinges spredde thourgh the reame of grete Breteigne of the seint Graal, In the whiche Ioseph ab Aramathie hadde geten the holy blode that dropped oute of the side of oure blissed lorde Ieshu crist whan he henge on the gloriouse crosse, he and Nichodemus, and the holy vessell that com from heuene a-bove in the Citee of Sarras. In the whiche he sacrefied first his blissid body and his flessh by his Bisshoppe Iosephe that he sacred with his owene hande, and the holy spere, the whiche Ieshu the sone of marie his side was with opened, was left in the Cite of Logres that Ioseph thider hadde brought.

But noon cowde wite in what place, ne

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neuer ne shall, neuer be founde but by prophesie ne the merveiles of the seint graal, ne of the spere that thourgh the poynte of Iren dide blede. Till that the beste knyght of the worlde com, and by hym sholde be discouered the merveiles of the seint Graal, and herde and seyn. These tidinges were spredde all a-boute in euery contrey, and so no man cowde neuer wite who sholde it bringe first forth, and whan the companye of the rounde table herde sey that thourgh the beste knyght of the worlde these thinges sholde be brought to fin. Thei entred in to many questes for to knowe whiche was the beste knyght, and serched many a londe and many a contrey, and eche man hym peyned for to be the beste knyght; and whan thei herde speke that ther was eny goode knyght thourgh the contrey, thei entred in to a quest hym to seche a yere and a day withoute soiour in a town more than oon nyght, and whan thei hadde hym founde, thei sholde bringe hym to court; and whan he was well preved of goode recorde that he was of high prowesse thei toke hym in to her companye, and than was his name writen a-monge the other knyghtes that were felowes of the rounde table; and as eche of hem com from his quest at the yeres ende, thei sholde telle the auentures that were hem befallen in theire traueile, and the clerkes that were therfore I-ordeyned it wrote worde for worde, euen as thei tolde. Now haue ye herde why the questes were stablisshed in the reame of the grete Breteigne. But now repeireth the tale to his mater that he hath lefte for to telle this thinge, that I wolde that it were not for-getyn.

Full gladde and iocounde were the companye of the rounde table for that thei were acorded with sir Gawein, and full moche thei hym preised and comended for the grete prowesse that thei saugh hym do at this turnement, and seide a-monge hem in counseile that the beste knyghtes therynne sholde not a-gein hym endure body for body. Thus the knyghtes therynne seide theire volunte. But moche more folio 179b
spake the ladyes and the maydenes in the chambers. Than was water asked, and whan thei hadde waisshen than sat euery

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knyght as hym ought for to do, and the quenes knyghtes were sette by the knyghtes of the rounde table, and the kynge Arthur, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and the kynge looth sat at the high deyse as thei ought for to do, and mo sat ther not but thei foure, and that day serued Gawein and kay the stiward, and lucas the botiller, and Gifflet, and other a-boute a xl., and were so well served that noon cowde better devise, as of mees that thei hadde it nedeth not to reherse, ne of the wynes and drinkes that thei hadde in maners, and after the bordes were vp the knyghtes yede to disporte hem in the medowes vpon the river, ffor it was feire weder and clier. But the foure kynges a-bode and wente in to a chambre by hem-self, and lened out at the wyndowes ther-as thei myght se the medowes and the river ther-as was holsom aire, and a softe colde [correction; sic = cole] wynde brought in the swete sauours of the erbes, that thei were at more ese than thei that were withoute, for it was right hoot, and ther the foure kynges spake togeder of many thinges as it com to theire pleiser.

Whan thei hadde be ther a-while, than seide the kynge Ban to the kynge Arthur, “Sir,” seide the kynge Ban, “yef ye wolde do o thinge after my counseile that I haue thought in my herte me semeth it sholde yow moche a-vaile, and the more sholde ye be dred of straunge peple and of prive, and the more love ye sholde haue of the knyghtes of youre courte.” “Sey on,” seide the kynge, “ffor yef it be soche thinge that I may do withoute shame or dishonour, I will it gladly do.” “Sir,” seide the kynge Ban, “in this shull ye neuer haue shame, yef god will, ne no reprof shall it be vnto yow, loke that neuer while ye will holde youre londe in pees and in reste that ye suffre not youre knyghtes to take no turnement oon a-gein another; ffor soche wrath myght falle by envye for that thei be so goode knyghtes that neuer sholde be love a-monge hem. But at alle tymes when thei will turneyen lete hem go in to the marches of youre londe to high barouns wher-of ther be I-nowe that be riche and puyssaunt;” and the kynge seide that he seide well, and that so

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wolde he do withoute faile; and therwith com the quene that these worde hadde well vndirstonde, and seide how it was well seide and blessed be he of god that hath yove this counsoile.

After that spake the kynge looth and seide, “Sir, hit were nedefull for the cristin peple that we toke soche counseile, that these false saisnes that beth in this reame and haue beseged two Citees togeder be theire pride, how that thei myght be driven oute. But thei be so grete multitude that thei ar not like to be dryven oute, but yef oure lorde helpe, and ye knowe well that ye haue not peple
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I-now withynne youre power for to enchace hem oute, ne holde bateile a-gein hem in felde. But yef that oon myght do so moche to purchace a trewis betwene yow and youre princes that now be with yow at werre, In soche manere that we myght alle go togeder vpon the saisnes, and oche to helpe other that thei were chaced oute of the londe. Me someth this were the moste almesse and profite that myght be do in this contrey, and the trewis myght endure a yere, and than yef ther myght be made pees betwene yow and hem, and yef it may not than eche man do his beste.” “Fforsothe,” seide the kynge, “that wolde I fayn, yef I knewe who to sende, soche a man that the barouns wolde yeve to credence, ffor thei be full fierce and full of pride.” “Sir,” seide the kynge loot, “the saisnes haue hem so greved that I trowe whan thei here speke of the trewis, and that thei shull haue youre helpe hit shall not nede gretly hem to prayen.” “I can not sey,” quod Arthur, “what I sholde ther-of to yow sey, ffor as well knowe ye the neethe of the londe as do I, and I am but a man as oon of yow be, and therfore loke and cheseth soche a man that may beste this message performe.” “Sir,” seide the kynge Ban, “yef I wiste the kynge looth wolde conne me no magre, I wolde sey that he sholde go, ffor he sholde do better the nodes than eny that ye sholde sende, and better he cowde enforme hem of youre volunte, for he is with hem aqueynted and theire welwellinge.” “Ye,” seide the kynge Arthur, “and better he knoweth the passages than eny other that

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I myght thider sende;” and the quene seide “that noon other man sholde so well do the needes as the kynge looth, but yef it be for the saisnes that all day gon robbinge thourgh the contrey. But ther were noon so grete losse of oon knyght in this reame as it were of hym yef hym myshappe, as god diffende.” “Dame,” seide the kynge, “I knowe the princes so full of pride that ther is no knyght that sholde a-monge hem be herde that I myght sende.”

Whan the kynge looth saugh how thei acorded that he sholde go vpon this nede, he knewe well how thei hadde reson. Than he seide he wolde go and haue with hym his foure sones. “Trewly,” seide the kynge Bohors, “yef thei ben with yow than haue ye no drede of no man of moder born.” Whan King Arthur [correction; sic = ]

saugh that thei were to this acorded that the kynge looth sholde lede with hym his foure sones, he yaf a grete sigh, for he douted of sir Gawein, in whom he hadde so tentefly sette his love, so that ther was nothinge in the worlde that he loved so moche, and the quene knewe a partie of his thought, and seide to the kynge, “Sir, graunte the kynge looth to lede with hym his children hardely, for their shull haue no drede, yef god will, ffor the more thei be youre frendes the better, and withe the more tendir herte
folio 180b
shull thei do youre message as is nede, more than sholde another that ther-of sette no charge and lever I hadde that my frende counseiled with myn enmyes than another that were straunge.” “Dame,” seide the kynge Arthur, “I me a-corde, seth the barouns haue it ordeyned;” and than he seide to the kynge looth, and praide hym to appareile hym to go secretly that no man knewe whider he wolde go, with that was Gawein cleped and his brethren that were pleyinge in the halle; and whan thei come to the quene she a-roos and wente hem a-geins, and seide thei were welcome, and thei dide yelde hir a-gein hir salew debonerly. Than Arthur tolde hem all as was devised, how thei moste go on the message, and why thei hadde it a-monge hem purveyed; and than thei ansuerde and seide that it was goode for to be done.

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After that seide the kynge Looth to sir Gawein, “ffeire sone, goth forth and appareile yow and youre brethern that ye faile nought whan we shull go.” “Sir,”

seide Gawein, “what arayment sholde we haue eny more, but oure armours, and oure horse; we shull neither haue somer ne male trussed, netther grete ne small, but goode stedes and swyft, on the whiche we shull ride that may bere vs to garison yef myster be. Ne here behoveth noon abidinge, for yef ye do my counseile we shull meve yet this nyght at the first somme, and ride as grete iourneyes as we may for soche a nede as this is sholde not be put in no delay.”

“Trewly, nevew,” seide Arthur, “ye sey soth. Now, go reste yow a-while and slepe.” Than Gawein turned hym to the quene, and seide, “Madame, I prey that ye thinke on my felowes that leven here with yow, for the knyghtes of the rounde table ne love not hem wele in herte. But haue to hem envye as ye knowe well youre self, and parauenture whan I and my brethern be gon, thei will make som bourde or som turnement a-gein hem, wherefore I praye yow as my goode ladye that ye suffre hem to make no party.” “And I yow graunte,” seide the quene, “that ther ne shall noon be; yef my lorde will leve my counseile ther shall neuer be turnement as longe as the saisnes be in this londe;” and than the kynge seide, “Be the feith that I owe vn-to yow no more ther sholde.”

With that thei departed, and wente to theire chambres for to slepe and to reste; and thei that were in the halle went to theire hostelles, and departeden. But who that departed, Gyomar ne departed neuer but a-bode spekynge with Morgain, the sustur of kynge Arthur, in a wardrope vnder the paleys, where she wrought with silke and golde; ffor she wolde make a coyf for his suster, the wif of kynge looth. This Morgain was a yonge damesell fressh and Iolye. But she was somwhat brown of visage and sangwein colour, and nother to fatte ne to lene, but was full a-pert
folio 181a
auenaunt and comely, streight and right plesaunt, and well syngynge. But she was the moste hotest woman of all Breteigne, and moste luxuriouse, Page 508
and she was a noble clergesse, and of Astronomye cowde she I-nough, for Merlin hadde hir taught; and after he lerned hir I-nough as ye shull heren afterward, and so moche she sette ther-on hir entent, and lerned so moche of egramauncye, that the peple cleped hir afterward Morgain le fee, the suster of kynge Arthur; ffor the merveiles that she dide after in the contrey, and the beste workewoman she was with hir handes, that eny man knewe in eny londe, and ther-to she hadde oon of the ffeirest heed, and the feirest handes vnder hevene, and sholdres well shapen at devise; and she hadde feire eloquense, and tretable, and full debonair she was as longe as she was in hir right witte, and whan she were wroth with eny man, she was euell for to acorde; and that was well shewed afterward, ffor hir that she sholde most haue loved of all the worlde dide she after the moste shame, wherof it was after alle the dayes of hir lif, and that was the quene Gonnore, as that ye shull it heren hereafter and wherfore it was.

Whan Guyomar entred in to the chambre ther as was Morgain the ffee, he hir salued full swetly, and she hym salued a-gein curteisly, and he sette hym down by hir and helped to wynde the threde of golde, and asked hir what she sholde therwith make, and he was a feire knyght and comly, well shapen, and his visage well coloured, and his heer crull and yelowe, and was feire and plesaunt of body and of chere laughinge, and he aresoned hir of many thinges; and she be-hielde hym gladly, and was well plesed with all that he seide and dide; and so longe thei spake togeder that he praied hir of love, and the more that she hym behilde, the better she was with hym plesed, and that she gan love hym so well that she refused nothinge that he wolde hir require; and whan he aperceyued that she wolde suffre gladly his requeste, he be-gan hir to enbrace, and she hym suffred, and he be-gan to kysse hir tendirly that bothe thei begonne to chauffe as nature wolde, and fellen down on a grete bedde, and pleyde the comen pley, as thei that gretly it desired; ffor yef he were desirouse she was yet moche more, so that thei loved hertely

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togeder longe tyme that noon it wiste; but after it knewe the quene Gonnore as ye shull here telle, wherfore thei were departed, and therfore she hated the quene, and dide hir after gret annoye, and of blames that she areised that euer endured while hir lif lasted. But now retourne we to kynge looth and his sones that be go to slepe.

A noon as it was past mydnyght a-roos the kynge Looth and his foure sones, and appareiled hem of hir armours; and thei hadde chosen v of the beste horse folio 181b
that thei cowde fynde in all the court, and hem thei made to be ledde with hem with v gromes on foote, and thei hadde v palfreyes right goode that thei dide ride on hir iourney; and whan thei were all redy thei lept on theire palfreyes, and ride oute at the yat of Bertone and the v gromes wente be-fore and ledde the v horse couered with steill, and wente oute as softly as thei myght, for thei wolde not be aparceyved of no peple; and whan thei hadde riden half a walsh myle, Gawein asked whiche wey thei sholde go; and the kynge looth seide he wiste not, for the contrey was full of werre. “Than shall I telle yow,” quod Gawein, “what we shull do; we shull go to Arestuell in Scotlonde that is now the next londe, and moste full of wode of all this contrey, and it is better to drawe that wey than to eny other place;” and the kynge looth seide, “Feire sone, seth that it pleseth yow I will wele, for youre counseile is goode, and so shull we go be the castell of Sapine and be the playn of Reostok, and by the foreste of lespinoye vnder Carenges, and we shull go by the river of Savarne, and thourgh the playnes of Cambenyk, and fro thens we shull costinge to the Cite of North walis that longeth to the kynge Tradilyuaunt, and fro thens to Arestuell, iiij myle from the Saisnes;” and the children herto dide graunte.

Thus ride thise messagiers, spekynge of o thinge and other, till it was day, and on the morowe thei rode be the moste vncouthe weyes that thei cowde knowe, and lay in the forestes, and in hermytages, and thus thei ride viij dayes that neuer hadde thei disturbier till thei com in to the playns of Page 510

Roestok, and than it be-fill hem a-boute the hour of mydday that thei mette vijMl Saisnes that brought grete prayes and as viiC prisoners, that the feet were bounde vnder the horse belies, and thei dide hem beete full lothly with staves and other wepnes, and hem dide condite Sorbares, and Monaclyns, and Salebruns, and Ysores, and Clarion. This Clarion rode on Gringalet, an horse that was cleped so far the grete bounte that he hadde; ffor as the storye seith for x myle rennynge abated he neuer his corage, ne hym neded no spore ne no skyn of hym therfore ne sholde not swete; and whan the saisnes hem saugh ridinge on her weye, thei knewe well by theire armes and hir conysshaunce that thei were noon of her companye, and thei hoved and a-bode; and whan Gawein saugh that, he hoved stille and bad his fader and his brethren to lepe vpon theire horses, and so thei dide a-noon delyuerly; and the gromes toke the palfreys and lepte vp and rode in to the foreste that wey streight as theire wey turned, and thei com toward the saisnes as the wey hem ledde, for thei deyned not to glenche; and mydday was than passed, and drough towarde noone, and so rode the kynge looth formest, and Gawein after, and his brethern hym be-side, a softe folio 182a
paas; and whan thei hadde so riden that thei be-gan to come nygh, than seide Gawein to his fader that he ne sholde entende to noon other thinge ne coveite but to perce hem thourghout, and to his brethern he seide the same till thei were come on that other side. Than the saisnes hem ascride, and seide, “Ye knyghtes that come ther, yelde yow and telle vs what ye be and what ye go sechinge;” and the kynge looth ansuerde, “We ben fyve messagiers of the kynge Arthur that go on his erunde ther he hath vs sente, and more will we not sey;”

and thei seide, “Cesse and go no ferther; ffor we kepe the weyes in the name of the kynge hardogabran, and Orienx the sone of Brangue of Saxoyne, and in the name of Margrat, to whom we lede this pray and these prisoners, and of yow also shull we make present.” “Ye,” quod the kynge looth, “whan ye may;” and thei seide in to that tyme was but litill space. “But yelde yow, and than do ye wisely er it

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falle yow eny werse;” and thei ansuerde that sholde neuer be. Than thei lete theire horse renne with as grete randon as thei myght go, and these a-gein to hem that nothinge hem ne douted, but smote in a-monge hem, and eche of hem bar oon deed to the erthe, and after smote other v that thei were deed vpright; and at foure cours thei haue hem perced thourgh withoute eny other discombraunce, and than thei ride a walop with theire speres in theire handes all blody; and whan the saisnes saugh hem goinge, than a-roos the shoute and the noyse after hem right grete, and begonne hem to chace that the duste a-roos so thikke that harde it was oon to knowe another; with that com the vj kynges prikinge after, that hadde herde the tidinges and cried vpon her men, “Now upon hem and lete hem yow not ascape;” and thei hem-self priken after, for thei were well horsed, and so thei chaced hem fiercely, and thei wente forth a grete walop till thei be come to a Mille, where ther was a passage at a forde full of cley, and ther moste thei stinte and ride a softe paas; and ther ouertoke hem the v kynges that dred nothinge the euell passage, and of saisnes after hem mo than vC, and ther thei brake theire speres vpon hem in her comynge, and Ysors that com be-fore smote the horse of kynge looth that he fill deed betwene his legges.

Whan the kynge looth saugh his horse slain he lept vp lightly on his feet, and drough his swerde, and drough hym to a banke for the clay that was grete; and thei ronne vpon hym and assailed hym full harde, and he hym diffended so fiercely that thei hadde no power hym to take; and whan Gawein saugh his fader on foote, he was full of sorowe, and smote the horse with the spores that the blode ran oute on bothe sides, and smote Monaclyn thourgh the shelde and thourgh the hauberke that he fill deed to the erthe, and in the fallinge his spere brake. Than he drough his swerde that was cleped Calibourne, and loked on his fader that hym diffended a-gein mo than xl saisnes, and he ran vpon hem with his swerde, and smote soche strokes on bothe
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his sides, that he kutte heedes and legges, and armes, and dide soche merveiles that thei fledde

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from hym and made wey; and Gawein smote a saisne that peyned sore to take his fader, that he slyt hym to the breste bon, and than hente the horse and ledde it to his fader, and the crye and the noyse a-roos for hym that was deed, and ther-while is the kynge looth remounted magre alle his enmyes. Than com the thre brethern of Sir Gawein that hadde made soche slaughter of the saisnes, the alle her armours were be-steyne with blode and brayn; and whan thei were togeder thei begonne a stronge medle, and slough so many that it was gret merveile to se, and the saisnes com on euermore, for thei wende ther hadde be moche peple for the grete slaughter that thei hadde made.

Whan the kynge looth saugh so moche peple come on alle partyes, he cleped his sones, and seide it was tyme to go, ffor it were no wisdome to a-bide lenger for to resceve xl strokes for the yevinge of oon. “But go we hens,” quod he, “and yef thei vs enchace let vs turne vpon hem betymes when we se oure leiseir; with that thei wente theire wey and passed the forde delyuerly, and whan thei were ouer thei ride forth on her wey; and whan the thre kynges saugh hem departe, thei cried vpon her men, “Now after hem, and lete not the traitours ascape.”

Than thei passed the forde, and chaced hem harde, and the kynge Clarion that satte vpon the Gringalet chaced hem formest the lengthe of an arblast, and Sir Gawein was be-hynde alle his felowes his swerde in his hande all blody; and the sarazin that sore peynes hym to ouertake ascried hym, “Wy yelde the or thow art but deed;” and Gawein loked and saugh the horse so swyftly renne that he gate grounde sore after hym, and gretly he hym coveited in hir herte, and seide yef he myght gete soche an horse, he wolde not yeve it for the beste Citee that kynge Arthur hadde, and than he gan to ride a softer paas, and rode walopinge, and Clarion hym enchaced faste after; and whan Gawein saugh he was come so nygh, he turned his shelde and Clarion smote so harde hym vpon the shelde that the spere fly on peces; and Gawein hym hitte vpon the helme that he slytte thourgh Page 513
the coyf of mayle and the flessh to the harde boon, that he was so astoned that he fill in swowne to the grounde out of his sadill, and Gawein caught Gringalet be the bridell, and ledde hym to a grove ther faste by of half a myle, and his fader rode alwey forth be-fore and his thre sones, and entended to nought elles but to go theire wey, and wende thei hadde alle foure be by hym, and the duste and the powder was so thikke that oon myght not se fer from hym, and so thei hadde lefte Gawein be-hynde the space of half a myle; and whan Gawein was come in to the grove, he saugh the v gromes come oute of the foreste that rode on the v palfreyes, and than was he gladde and preised hem moche for that thei hadde peyned hem sore hem for to sewe. Than he a-light of his horse and lepte on the Gringalet, and toke his horse to oon of the gromes for to lede, folio 183a
and comaunded hem to go after his fader and his brethern that were gon be-fore, and bidde hem spede hem faste on hir iourney, and I shall folowe a-noon after, but I will se where these peple will be come. But he a-bode for nought, for thei chaced no ferther, after thei fonde the kynge Clarion lyinge, but stode a-bowte hym, and wende well he hadde ben deed, and made gret doell that sir Gawein myght here the crye ther he was.

Thus a-bode Gawein longe in the busshes to loke yef eny wolde come after, and the kynge looth and his thre sones rode forth till thei come to a litill grove, and as thei sholde entre thei loked bak and saugh [correction; sic = ] not Gawein; and at the firste worde he seid, “Ha! I haue loste all;” and thei hym behelden, and seide, “What eyleth yow, sire;” and he ansuerde, “My sone, youre brother, my sone; ha! certes yef he be deed I shall sle my-self, ffor after hym recche I not to lyve oo day.” “Sir,” seide Agravain, “ne weymente ye not so, ffor yef god will he ne hath noon harme;” and while the kynge loot made this waymentacion com the v gromes that brought the palfreies, and that oon ledde Gaweins horse on his right honde; and whan the kynge hem saugh he knewe hem wele, and whan thei approched nygh Gaheries hem ascried, “Where lefte ye Page 514
my brother?” “Sir,” seide the gromes, “amonge the yonde busshes where he is lepte vpon the beste horse of the worlde, wher-from he hath smyte down a kynge, and thei that weepe and crye, sey that his name is kynge Clarion, and the name of the stede is Gringalet, and he toke vs this horse, and sente yow worde that ye sholde ride forth, for soone shall he yow ouertake, whan he will; whan thei herde he was hool and sounde thei were gladde, and be-hielde toward the busshes, and whan Gawein saugh thei rode no ferther he seide he wolde shewe hem the [correction; sic = the the] gode horse er he paste eny ferther. Than he spronge out of the busshes, and thider as he saugh grettest plente of peple that entended yet to make doell and sorowe, and saugh a saisne that hilde a merveilous short spere, and the shaft was grete and short, and the heed was a foote and a half of lengthe that was clier and trenchaunt. Than he put Calibourne his swerde in the scauberke and launched toward the saisne with grete raundon, and raced it oute of his handes so felly that he pulled hym to grounde, and with the same cours he smote another that he fill stark deed, and plonged in depe a-monge hem, and after returned thourgh hem as tempest of thunder; but er he past oute his shelde felte it well, for it was all to slitte and hewen, but er he departed he hath mo than xiiij so araied that neuer sholde thei ride on horse in hele; and than he wente and a-bode no lenger, and the crye and the shoute a-roos so grete, and the chace that merveile was to se, but for hem myght he ne be ouertake; and whan he hadde lefte hem be-hynde he returned with his swerde in his honde, and smote so the firste that he mette that deed he fill on the grene, and thus taried sir Gawein longe while; and he wente and com in folio 183b
soche maner till thei be come nygh the wode withynne a bowe draught where the kynge and his thre bretheren were.

Whan the kynge Looth saugh the saisnes come soche foyson after his sone Gawein that he desired to se a-bove

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all thinge, he cried, “My sones, what do ye? is not that Gawein youre brother that here cometh that these glotouns chace; lete it be to hem dere solde.” With that the kynge loot laced his helme hastely and smote the horse with spores, and his thre sones also, and com a-gein the saisnes; and the kynge Loot mette with Gawein, and seide, “Feire sone, grete wronge haue ye do that thus leve me and youre brethern, and where haue ye thus longe taried. Coveyte ye alle these saisnes to discounfite, though ye slough at eche stroke x, ye sholde not haue do in a moneth.” “Sir,” seide he, “I haue wonne soche an horse that I wolde not yeve for the castell of Glocedon, and therfore I wolde hym preve, and I haue founde hym soche that me nedeth to seche noon better in no londe, now go we for I shall not leve yow no more to-day fer nothinge that may befalle.” “Blame haue he,” quod Agrauain, “that thus shall go seth we be thus be-fore er we haue slain moo of these saisnes.” “Ye is that soth,” seide Gawein, and thei ne hadde no speres, and thei drough oute theire swerdes, and these com prikinge and wende hem to take and to holde, and brake theire speres vpon theire sheldes and thei smote hem vpon the sheldes and helmes or ther thei myght hem a-reche, and fyghted fiercely that thei slough mo than xl er thei wente.

And whan the kynge Looth saugh it was tyme to go he seide, “Gawein, goode sone, bringe a-wey youre brethern, for ye se well it is nyght, and therfore take we oure iourney, ffor to batailes we shull come I-nowe that we shull haue bothe handes full;” and Gawein com to his brethern, and seide that now is tyme to go, and than thei departed, but first thei toke v speres of the saisnes and put vp theire swerdes; and as thei departed vij saisnes haue theire speres leide in fewtre, and com overtakinge Gueheret, and tweyne smote hym betwene the two sholderes, and the other tweyne on the side, and other two vpon the sleues of the hauberk, and the vijesmote the horse thourgh the body and bar to the erthe, bothe the toon and the other. Than returned the kynge Looth and wende well he hadde be deed, and seide, “Ha-las now be

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disparbled the foure frendes; ha! goode sone Gawein, this harme haue I thourgh yow, ffor yef ye hadde come with vs Gueheret ne hadde I had noon harme;” and while the kynge spake these wordes lepe Gueheret vpon his feet, ffor he was a noble knyght and an hardy, and he enbrace his shelde, and drough oute his swerde and made hym redy to diffende hymself; and the vij saisnes were returned, and ronne vpon hym; and he smote so the firste that he toke that he kutte his thigh a-sonder; and he smote another on the helme, but he myght not well come by hym, and the stroke descended
folio 184a
betwene the body and the sholder, and kutte the gige with all the arme; and Gawein smote so hym that he mette that deed he fill to grounde, and than he caught the horse that was goode and ledde to his brother, and he lept vp lightly and hente his spere, for that wolde he not foryete; and the kynge Looth, and Agrauain, and Gaheries haue felde other thre, and the vije turned to flight; and whan Gaheries saugh hym go, he priked after, and ouertoke hym doun in a valei, smote hym with the spere a-gein the herte so harde that the heed passed thourghoute, and than returned a walop that wey ther his brethern be, and rode forth her wey, and it was nygh nyght; and the saisnes be-taught hem to the deuell all quyk, ffor for them sholde thei no lenger be chaced, and seide yef ther were xMl of soche men in the contrey, the kynge hardogabran and all his puyssaunce myght neuer a-gein hem endure; with that the saisnes returned ther the kynge Clarion lay, and founde his wounde stanched; and whan he saugh hem come a-gein, he asked yef thei hadde the glotouns take, and they seide, “Nay,”

and tolde hym the harme thei hadde don after, and that thei myght not be take by no man of theires; and than was Clarion sorowfull and dolent, and returned toward the sege that was be-fore Clarence; and the kynge loot and his sones saugh it drough to nyght and rode forth theire wey, but who hadde sein theire armours he myght haue seide thei hadde not ben at soiourne, ffor theire sheldes were slitte and theire helmes to hewen, and theire armours all to rente, and theire horse all

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blode and brayn, and it semed that out of stronge stour thei were departed, with that thei be come to the grove ther the gromes hem a-biden, and thei a-light of theire horse, and lepe on the palfreyes, and the gromes ledde theire horse and bare theire speres, and theire sheldes, and theire helmes, and rode thourgh the wode that was grete till it was fer in the nyght, and the mone shone right clier till that thei come to a forester that was a goode man, and hadde foure sones that were feire yonge bachelers, and hadde a wif that was a goode lady.

This foresters place was stronge and well closed with depe diches full of water, aud was environed with grete okes, and ther-to to it was so thikke of busshes and of thornes and breres that noon wolde haue wende that ther hadde be eny habitacion. Thider com the kynge Loot and his foure sones at the firste cok crowinge, and happed that her wey hem ledde to a posterne wher-by men entred in to the place, and made oon of theire gromes to crie and knokke till the gate was opened; and oon of the foresteres sones hem asked what thei were, and thei seide thei were V erraunt knyghtes that wente vpon theire grete nede. “Sirs,” seide the yonge man, “ye be welcome, and ledde hem in to the middill of the Court, and thei a-light of theire horse, and ther were I-nowe that ledde hem to stable, and yaf hem hey and otes, ffor the place was well stuffed; and a squyer folio 184b
hem ledde in to a feire halle be the grounde hem for to vn-arme, and the Vavasour and his wif, and his foure sones that he hadde, and his tweyne doughtres dide a-rise, and light vp torches and other lightes therynne, and sette water to the fier, and waisshed theire visages and theire handes, and after hem dried on feire toweiles and white, and than brought eche of hem a mantell, and the Vauasour made cover the tables, and sette on brede and wyne grete foyson and venyson, and salt flessh grete plente; and the knyghtes sat down and ete and dranke as thei that ther-to haue grete nede, and the Vauasours two doughtres behilde sir Gawein tenderly, and his brethern, and sore thei merveiled what thei myght be; and the fforesters foure sones serued be-fore the Page 518
knyghtes and the maidenes serued of wyn, and the lady satte be-fore sir Gawein, and the hoste be-fore Agravain, and Gueheret, and Gaheries togeder; and the kynge loot satte euen be-side his hoste a litill a-bove, and thei were well serued as a-boute soche hour, for it was full nygh mydnyght, and whan the clothes were vp the forester seide to the kynge looth, “Sir hoste, yef it sholde yow not displese, ne to these worthi men that be here, I wolde gladly knowe what ye were, and what is the cause that ye traueile yef it be not shame to aske.”

“Trewly,” seide the kynge loot, “we shull neuer ther-of haue shame yef god will, but telle vs be-fore to whom longeth this forest and this contrey a-boute.”

“Certes, sir,” seide he, “it is the kynges Clarion of Northumberlonde, and I it kepe vnder hym, and am forester and his liegeman, and these squyers that beth here be my sones, and these maidenes be my doughters.” “Forsothe, sir,” seide the kynge, “I knowe not a better man of his age than is the kynge Clarion, ne he myght no better haue be-sette the baille than vpon yow as me semeth, ffor ye haue a feire meyne a well lerned.” “Sir,” quod he, “yef thei will be goode men, thei haue worthi knyghtes of theire lynage that ben now in the Court of kynge Arthur of the moste preised and beste beloved, and as it is tolde me thei beth newly be-come the quenes knyghtes, and by my lorde sir Gawein, the sone of kynge loot is this company made, and it is seide how the kynge Looth is acorded with the kynge Arthur.” “And who be thei,” seide the kynge Loot, “that aperteyneth to youre sones?” “Trewly, sir,” seide the forester, “this lady that is here is suster to Meranges de Porlesgues, I can not sey yef ye knowe hym, and is cosin germain to Ayglin des vaux and to kehedin le petitz, and to Ewein lionell that [correction; sic = ] is my nevew, for he is my brother sone Grandilus, the Castelein doucrenefar, and I my-self hadde I-nough of londe ne were these saisnes that haue all wasted.” “And what is youre name?” quod the kynge to the forester. “Trewly, sir,” seide the forester, “my name is mynoras, and am lorde of the new castell in Northumbirlond.” Than seide the kynge loot, “Alle these that ye

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haue named knowe I well, and ye sey soth thei be goode knyghtes at devise these that ye haue nempned, and wolde god that
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the kynge Clarion satte by me as nygh as ye do.” “How so?” seide Mynoras, “ar ye aqueynted with hym?” “Ye,” seide he, “I shall neuer cesse of traueile till I haue spoke with hym.” “Sir,” seide mynoras, “so moche desire I the more to knowe what ye be, more now than I dide beforn.” “And I shall telle yow than,” quod the kynge loot; “ye may sey to alle hem that yow aske who was loged with yow, that it was the kynge looth and his foure sones.” “Ha! sir,” quod the forester, “we ar worthi to be deed, for we haue yow no better serued,” and than thei aros from hym. “Sitte ye stille,” quod the kynge, “and meve yow not, for so moche haue ye doon that ye haue wonne oure love for euermore, and youre meyne shull haue profite.” “A sire,” seide Mynoras, “what seche ye in this contrey?” Quod the kynge, “We seche that we myght speke with the Barouns of this contrey that we myght haue a Parliament togeder on the kynge Arthurs be-halve to se how that we myght put oute these saisnes of this londe, and eche of vs to helpe other as brethern.” “And where trowe ye for to assemble hem,” quod Mynoras. “In Arestuell in Scotlonde,” quod the kynge looth, “that is the nexte marche, and ther we shull assemble yef we may.” “Sir,” quod Mynoras, “yef it plese yow I shall wele lete my lorde haue witinge, and so moche shull ye haue the lesse to do, and tell me whan he shall fynde yow ther.” “Trewly,” seide the kynge, “I can yow thanke, and ye sey full well, and therfore now telle hym that he shall fynde me ther on seinte Berthelmewes day, and bidde hym loke that he be ther, for ther shull be alle the other princes.” And Mynoras seide that it sholde be don, and badde hym thinke on the remenaunt, for of that was he quyte, after thei spake of o thinge and other till the beddes were redy, and than thei wente to reste, for thei were wery of traueile, and it was fer in the nyght, and thei slepte till it was day.

But now a litill cesseth of hem, and speketh of kynge Pelles of lytenoys, the brother

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of kynge Pellynor, and of kynge Aleon that were brethern germain.

This kynge hadde a feire sone that yet was no knyght, and he was of xv yere of age, but he was right semely and well barnysshed of body and bones, and ther-to was of grete bewte, and his fader hym asked whan he wolde be knyght, and he ansuerde that he wolde neuer be knyght before that the beste knyght of the worlde that eny man knewe hadde yove hym armes and the a-coole. “In feith, sone,” than seide the kynge, “than may ye longe I-nough a-bide.” “I can not seyn,” seide the squyer, “but firste shall I serue hym thre yere er he make me knyght till that I haue lerned I-nough of armes a-boute hym, and wite ye whi. I will knowe and se of what prowesse he is and soche may he be, that I will teche hym the wey in to this contrey, for to a-cheve the auentures that hastely shull be-gynne, as it is seide, and to youreself hath it be folio 185b
seide often tymes, and I wolde be right sory, yef I myght not se myn Vncle made hooll of his woundes that he hath thourgh his thighes.” “Ffeire sone, seide the kynge, “neuer therfore shall he not spede, though ye teche hym the wey, ffor hym behoveth to be of soche chiualrie, and so auenturouse, that he come by hymself and enquere after the seint Graal that my feire doughter kepeth, that is yet but vij yere of age, and so hit be-houeth on hir to be engendred that childe by the best knyght that eny man knoweth, ffor to a-chieve the auentures ther be-houeth to be thre, wherof tweyne shull be virgins, and the thirde shall be caste.” “Sir,” seide the squyer, “my volunte is soche that I will go to the Court of kynge Arthur, ffor I here sey that ther ben the beste knyghtes of the worlde, and ther is oon that is his nevew that is cleped Gawein, whiche is the beste knyght of the worlde, hym will I go serue, and be his squyer yef hym plese to haue my seruise, and yef he be soche as men recorde, I shall take of hym myn armes, and the a-coole.” “Ffeire sone,” that seide the kynge Pelles, “ther be so many passages betwene this and that. That it is no light thinge to go thider, ffor the saisnes be spradde thourgh

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the contrey that all do distroye and waste, and on that other side ther is so grete discorde betwene Arthur and the barouns of the londe, that I shall neuer be in ese till I se yow a-gein hool and sounde,” “Ffader,” seide squyer, “we be alle in auenture, ne we may not deye but on soche deth as god hath vs ordeyned, and knoweth it well that I shall neuer cesse of labour till I be there, and I will meve to morowe erly.” “Ffeire sone,” seide the kynge, “I se well thow wilt go and that nothinge shall the lette, and me liketh it well for that thow coveytest prowesse and valour, and of gret corage it cometh, and on that other side me heveith, for that I trowe the neuer to seen. Nowe telle me whom thow wilt haue with the.” “Sir,” seide he, “I shall go sooll be my self, and haue with me but oon squyer to bere me companye. But aray me horse and armes soche as ye knowe be to me mystier.” And the kynge seide as for that sholde haue no dowte, for all his thinges were ordeyned redy.

Thus ended the parlement betwene the fader and the sone; and on the morowe his fader hadde appareiled hym horse and armes, and all thinge that was nedefull hym to diffende, and delyuered hym a squyer bolde, hardy, and wise, and well servinge; and this squyer trussed on a somer his armes, and his robes, and money I-nough, and whan he hadde all made redy, the childe lepte vpon an ambeler, and departed fro thens withoute lenger abidinge, and comaunded his fader and his frendes to god, and thei hym also that god sholde diffende hym from euell and all aduersite, and than departed he and
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his squyer, and traueiled many dayes that neuer thei fonde no man ne woman that seide nought to hem but goode; and so thei traueiled be theire iourneyes till on a day as thei com thourgh the playns of Roestok in to a depe valey, and therynne was a feire river that com rennynge from a welle springe oute of a thorn, where-as Pignarus and Monagins two kynges of the saisnes that were restinge with vc men of armes that were come from the roche of saisnes, and wente to Clarence to the grete seige that xxx kynges dide holde, and ledde with hem xl

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somers trussed with vitaile, and thei where sette vnder the hawethorn in the shadowe by the broke, and let theire horse pasture down the medowes while the heete was so grete, for it was a-boute mydday.

In to this valey that was so grete and depe entred this kynges sone and his squyer, and rode forth till thei come to an high hille, and fro thens myght thei well se the saisnes that ete vnder the hawthorne, and whan he hem saugh he was sore affraied, and asked his armes, and a-raied hym a-noon, and henge his swerde at the arson of his sadell, and than lepte on his horse, and comaunded his squyer to go be-fore that was cleped lydonas, and he dide his comaundement, and rode forth the streight wey till thei were euen falle a-monge the saisnes, and whan Pygnoras hem saugh, he made aske what thei were, and he ansuerde that he was of the other contrey, and wente on her iourney ther as thei hadde for to do; and Pignoras hit herde and comaunded his peple to arme and to lepe to horse, and comaunded hem to bringe hym a-gein other be force, or be otherwise, and this yonge squyer that rode forth the streight wey after his squyer hilde a grete spere, but he hadde no shelde, and rode softly. But er he hadde litill wey riden thei that folowe hym ascried hym with high voise, and seide, “Wy! yelde the, and thyn armes, and thyn horse to oure lorde that abideth under the hawthorne;” and he herde hem well and vndirstode, but he ansuerde hem no worde, but rode forth after his squyer and encresed his paas somwhat, and after that he rode a walop; and whan the saisnes saugh that he rode so faste, thei priked after, and manaced hym sore, and whan he saugh hem com he turned his horse hede, and a saisne com be-fore alle the other gripinge a grete spere, and hasted hym so faste in his comynge that he failed to smyte this yonge lorde, and he com so faste a-gein hym as his horse myght ronne and smote the saisne thourgh shelde and hauberke, and bar hym to grounde that he hadde no myster of no leche, and than he pulled oute his spere, and rode forth his wey a grete paas after lydonas his squyer that wente hym be-fore, for he desired not elles but Page 523
from the saisnes to passe; and the saisnes priked after faste, for in no wyse thei wolde lete hym so ascape, and he rode euener at [correction; sic = a]a grete walop, his spere in his honde, that hadde chaunged his colour fro white in to reade,
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ffor it was all blody of hym that he hadde slain, and thus he rode forth prayinge our lorde hym to diffende from deth a from prison, and the saisnes hym chaced with all the myght of theire horse, so that at laste thei hym atteyned, and x smote hym on the sholderes and on the sides, and he returned and smote so the firste that he mette, that the heed and the shafte of his spere shewed thourgh be-hynde, that he fill deed flat to the grounde, and another he smote thourgh the throte, and he fill down of his horse in myddell of the wey; and the saisnes com [correction; sic = ] hym a-gein with theire speres, that thei made hym to bend ouer his horse croupe, but he fill not from his sadell, for theire speres fly in peces; and he a-roos and with his spere smote oon of hem thourgh the body, that he fill deed to grounde a-monge his felowes, that were full wroth and angry, and therwith brake his spere, and a-noon he leide honde to his swerde that henge at the pomell of his sadell, and drough it oute of the scauberke, and the saisnes ronne vpon hym on alie partyes, and he smote so the firste that he kute of his right sholdre, so that all the side opened that the bowels apered oute of the wounde, and he fill down deed, and than he smote another that the heed fill of with all the helme, and than he smote the thridde that he slitte hym to the teth, and the remenaunt smyten hym full harde strokes; and whan he saugh he myght not longe endure a-gein so moche peple, but that he moste be take or elles deed, he lefte hem and smote the horse with the spores, and rode faste after lydonas his squyer; and than a-roos the showte and noyse vpon hym right grete, and whan he hadde overtake his squyer, he rode forth hym, and seide he wolde not leve his harneys as longe as he myght it diffende; he helde his swerde in his honde all naked, and a saisne com with spere in fewtre, and smote hym a-bove the sadell that the hauberke dide folde, and he hadde fallen down ne hadde he holde hym by his horse nekke; and whan he was Page 524
vp redressed he loked on hym that hadde hym smyten, and hitte hym so sore vpon the heed that he slitte hym to the teth, and than thei come rounde a-boute hym on alle parties, and he hym diffended as he that was of grete herte, and be-gan to sle of hem bothe men and horse, and threwe to grounde all that he dide a-reche. But all his diffence availed hym but litill a-gein so many as were a-boute hym, and so it myght not be but that he moste be deed or taken, ffor Pignoras and Monaquyns were come after hym; and than he turned from hem and priked his wey as faste as he myght after his squyer, and Monaquyns and Pignoras that saugh noon of her men returne, thei lept to theire horse a com ridinge the wey as the squyer wente and saugh the deed bodyes that were lyinge in the high wey that the squyer hadde slain, and thei asked who hadde this don; and thei seide that he hadde don all this
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that com ridinge by hymself, and than thei asked whiche wey he was gon; and thei seide, “Yonder down in a valey, where oure peple fighted with hym, but thei may hym not take.” Than seide Pignoras, “Now after hym, and lete hym not thus ascape, for he hath don me grete harme;” and whan thei herde this thei lete renne after the squyer. Now god be his gide for his grete pite, for yef thei may hym take, he may not ascape in no wise withouten deth. But he that in euery nede helpeth hem that in hym byleve, that is oure lorde Ihesu Crist, sente to hym a feire auenture, and therfore is seide a proverbe, that god will haue saued, no man may distroye, and here a litill stinteth the tale of hym, and returneth to the kynge Looth of Orcanye, and to his foure sones that be in his companye.

That nyght that the kynge looth and his foure sones were herberowed with Mynoras, the forester of kynge Clarion, thei slepte all nyght after thei were brought to reste as thei that all the day suffred grete traueyle, and erly on the morowe thei a-rise and toke theire armes that was brought in theire chamber, and thei armed hem smartly and soone, and lepe on theire horse that were brought to the halle dore, and Mynoras and his wife were at the takynge of theire horse; and the kynge

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Looth and sir Gawein comaunded hem to god and thanked hem hertely of the herberow and the goode chere that thei hadde hem shewed, and than thei ride forth oute at the yate, and the forester and his foure sones rode with hem, and conveyed hem the wey; and the foure gromes rode be-fore and ledde the v horse couered vnder stiell, and bar theire helmes, and sheldes, and theire speres that the forester hadde hem yoven with heedes cler and sharpe; and whan Mynoras hadde conveyed hem a-while, the kynge hym returned and bad hym do his massage to the kynge Clarion of Northumbirlonde as he hadde promysed, and Mynoras seide that he wolde do it trewly withoute faile, and a-noon toke his leve and returned to his manoir; and a-noon he made tweyne of his sones for to make hem redy and sette hem on two swifte horse, for doute of the saisnes yef thei mette eny on the wey that thei myght ride from theym yef it were mystier; and whan these tweyne squyers were redy, than seide Mynoras, “Ffeire sones, ye shull go to the kynge Clarion that is oure lorde, and telle hym how the kynge Looth of Orcanye sendith hym to wite that he sholde be with hym at Arestuell in Scotlonde on oure lady day in Septembre;” and thei ansuerde and seide this massage sholde thei do well, and a-noon thei toke forth theire iournei and com to the kynge Clarion, and fonde hym at a manoir of his with a prevy meyne full pensif what he myght best do with the saisnes that so wasted his londe and his contrey; and whan he saugh the two squyers be-fore hym that the kynge Looth hym sente, he was gladde and mery, and for theire goode tidinges he yaf eche of hem a goode horse, ffor he loved the kynge looth right tendirly, and seide he wolde be ther folio 187b
withoute faile, yef god hym diffende from myschief, and a-noon as thei hadde theire ansuere thei returned hem to theire fadres place myry and gladde, and presented the horse that the kynge hadde hem yoven, for love of kynge Looth that he hadde herberowed, and now we shull returne and speke of the kynge looth and his foure sones.

Whan the kynge looth and his foure sones were departed from the forester, thei rode thourgh the foreste that

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was grete and high, and delitable in for to traueile, and it was feire weder and stille, and that nyght hadde ben a grete dewe, and the briddes songen for swetnesse of the myry seson, and thei songe so myrily and so high in theire langage that all the wode ronge; and the kynge hem herkened, and his foure sones that were yonge and lusty, and remembred hem on theire newe loves, and so thei ride a two myle thingkinge on the briddes songe, and Gaheries that was amourouse be-gan for to singe a newe made songe, and he songe right wele and merily, and well entuned; and whan the sonne was vp and he saugh his brethern were somwhat fer be-hynde hym he turned be-side the wey to make his horse stale till thei were come to hym, ffor thei herkened hym gladly; and Gaheries com to Agravain and to Geheret, and seide, “Lete vs singe;” and than thei begonne to singe alle thre, and than seide Gaheries to Agrauain and to Gueheret, “Now telle me by the feith that ye owe to the kynge looth my fader and yours, yef ye hadde the two doughtres of oure hoste that was this nyght, and thei were now here, telle me what wolde ye do.” “So god me helpe,” seide Agrauain, “I sholde haue my wille.”

“So helpe me god,” seide Gaheries, “so wolde not I do but I wolde bringe hem to saftee.” “And ye, Gueheret, what wolde ye do?” Quod Gueheret, “I sholde make hir my love yef I myght therto hir entrete, but be force wolde I nothinge do, for than were the game nought, but yef it plesed hir as well as me.”

While thei seide these wordes ouertoke hem the kynge looth and Gawein that wele hadde herde that thei hadde seide, and thei lough alle togeder, and than thei asked whiche hadde seide beste. “Of that,” quod the kynge, “shall Gawein youre brothere be Iuge.” “And I shall soone haue seide,” quod Gawein. “Gaheries hath seide beste, and Agravain werste, ffor Agravain sholde se that noon dide hem noon harme, but sholde helpe to diffende hem at his power, but me semeth ther were no werse enmy that he; and Geheret hath yet seide better than he, for he seith he wolde nothinge do be force, and that he seith so cometh hym of love and

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curtesie, and Gaheries hath seide as a goode man, for so as he seith wolde I do the same yef it were for me to do;” and than thei lough and Iaped with Agravain, and the kynge hymself more than eny other, and rode to Agravain, and seide, “What Agravain, hate ye the doughter of youre hoste for youre foule delite, a feire rewarde yelde ye for the feire servise and the goode chere that she hath yow don,
folio 188a
ffor trewly she hath it evill be-sette.” “Sir,” seide Agravain, “thei sholde not therfore haue [correction; sic = haue have] no mayme of hande ne foote.” “No,”

quod the kynge; “but thei shull lese all worshippe.” “I can-not sey,” quod Agravain, “of eny man that wolde hem spare, yef he hadde hem a-lone by hymself, ffor after that he lete her passe she sholde hym neuer love.” “But he sholde kepe and saue his honour,” seide the kynge. “Certes,” seide Agravain, “neuer after he hadde lefte hir she wolde but skorne and preyse hym the lesse.” Quod the kynge, “I wolde not sette at a boton what oon seide, so that my worship were saued, so that I hadde no vylonye ne reprof.” “Ya ther is no more of,” quod Agravain, “but we shull vs yelden in to soche place ther we shull se no women.”

“Ha Agravain,” quod the kynge looth, “yef ye yow thus demene as ye sey, wite ye well ye shull myscheve, and that shull ye well se;” and euen as the kynge seide so hym be-fill after that he langwissid longe a-boue the erthe for the vilonye that he dide to a mayden, that rode with hir frende with whom he faught till that he hadde hym discounfited and maymed of oon of his armes, and after wolde haue leyen by his love and fonde hir roynouse of oon of hir thighes, and seide hir soche vilonye that she after hurte his oo thigh and his arme, so that it sholde neuer be made hooll; but yef it were be tweyne of the beste knyghtes of the worlde to whom she sette terme of garison, as the booke shall yow devyse hereafter, how that it was warisshed by Gawein his brother, and by launcelot de lak that was so noble a knyght; but of this matter speketh no more at this tyme, but returneth how

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the kynge looth speketh to his sone Agravain that was prowde and fell, and thus thei rode in the foreste till it was paste pryme.

Than thei entred in to a feire launde that dured a-longe to Roestok a-longe by the wode side; and whan thei hadde a-while I-riden, thei mette lydonas comynge down the hille that was sore affraied for his lorde that faught at grete myschef as ye haue herde be-fore, and he drof the somer be-fore hym with the robes, and ledde his lordes palfrey in his right hande, and wepte and seide, “Lady seinte marie, vs helpe and socoure;” and thus he cried often, and smote that oon hande a-gein the tother; and whan the kynge looth and his foure sones hym aperceyved thei hadde grete pitee, and Agravain hasted hym be-fore, and seide, “Why makest thow this doell and this sorowe;” and the squyer loked vp and seide, wepinge, “Sir, I haue cause I-nough wherefore, I wepe for a yonge lorde, the feireste creature that euer was formed on erthe that the saisnes haue asseilled in this valey be-nethe, and haue hym slayn, but god be his helpe and socoure.” “And whider wente he,” quod Agravain. “Sir,” seide lydonas, “he was goynge to the Court of kynge Arthur for to seche sir Gawein and hym for to serue that hath so grete valour as it is seide, ffor
folio 188b
so moche he hath herde spoken of hym that he will neuer be made knyght but of sir Gawein;” and than he seide at the tother worde, “Ha! las caytef, now I haue hym loste, and neuer I shall se hym more,” and made so moche sorowe that for litill he wolde hymself haue slayn, and Agravain hym asked of what contrey he was. “Sir,” seide lydonas, “of the reame of lystenoys, and is the riche kynges sone Pelles;” and Agravain loked on sir Gawein and seide, “Brother, here ye not what auenture yow abideth;” and he seide, “Yesse, he hadde it welle herde.”

Than thei laced theire helmes, and toke theire sheldes and lepte on theire horse, and Gaheries seide to Agravain, “Now thenke vpon the maydenes that ye this morowe

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haue be so goode a werkere, and loke that ye be as goode a knyght at armes a-gein the saisnes that thei may conne yow gree.” “Gaheries,” quod Agravain, “I pray yow be as curteyse to the saisnes as ye were to the maidenes that ye durste not assaile ne se, and no more shull ye do to the saisnes as I trowe.” “Sir,”

seide Gaheries, “ye be elther than I, and therfore it shall be sene how ye will do better.” “So god spede me,” seide Agravain, “I were but litill to preise, but I dide better than ye, and elles hadde I but little power, ffor I will neuer lette for youre cowardise.” “Sir,” quod Gaheries, “at the leste it is no curteisie a man to a-vaunte of hymself, but whan ye come ther do the beste that ye can;” and whan Agravain herde this, he swore and seide he sholde go in to soche place where he durste hym not sewe, for the iyen in his heed; and Gaheries be-gan to lawgh, and was nothinge wroth, but seide all in game, “Go ye than be-fore, and ye can go in to no place but I shall yow sewe;” and Gawein lowgh of that thei hadde seide, for he wiste well that Gaheries pleide and Iaped, and tolde to Gueheret and his fader the wordes that thei hadde seide; and a-noon the kynge seide, “Ffeire sones, go we after hem that thei do no folye, ffor I wote well Agravain is wroth;” and whan lydonas saugh hem go he asked what thei were, and thei seide thei were of the meyne of kynge Arthur, “and he is here in our companye that ye go sechinge.” “Ha! god mercy,” quod lydonas, “than will I go no ferther till I wite how it shall be.” “No,” quod the kynge looth, “but turne a litill oute of the weye till thow knowe how it shall befalle, and go in to the thikke of this foreste;” and the squyer seide, “So shall I do.” And while thei spake so togeder thei saugh this other squyer come prikynge faste with his swerde in hande all blody and CC saisnes after hym as thei myght ride, and often he turned and smote hym so that he dide a-reche that noon armoure ne waranted hym, and whan he hadde don his power he rode forth his wey; and whan he hadde a while fledde he returned and faught, and thus he demened hym till he mette with hem that com

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ridinge hym [correction; sic = hy] a-geins; and whan he saugh hem v he cried with
folio 189a
lowde voyce, “ffor goddes love cometh and helpe me and haue pite of me, for ye se the grete nede that I haue;” and Agravain seide, “A-bide and haue no drede.”

Than Agravain spored his horse and brandisshed his spere that was sharpe and kene, and smote so the firste that he mette, that shelde ne hauberke myght hym helpe that he sente the spere heed thourgh the breste, and he fill deed to grounde; and Gaheries that com after hym smote another thourgh shelde and hauberke that he fill deed vpright, and than brake the spere, and a-noon he drough oute his swerde, and seide with high voise, “Agravain, brother, where be ye, now lete se what ye do, ffor I peyne me for these ladyes sake for curtesie, and ye peyne yow for theire vilonyes.” Of these wordes lough Gawein and Geheret.

Whan the kynge looth saugh hem laugh and Iape, he seide, “What do ye my children, se ye not youre brethern a-monge youre enmyes.” Whan the squyer vndirstode these foure knyghtes were his sones, and that he monestede hem to do well, he asked what he was, and he hym tolde that his name was kynge looth of Orcanye, “and these knyghtes be my sones, and lo hym ther that thow sechest with the shelde of synopre,” and shewed hym sir Gawein; and whan the squyer that vndirstode that the kynge hadde seide, he hadde grete ioye of the tidinges that he tolde, and hilde vp his handes toward heuene and thanked oure lorde that he hadde hym so I-founden; and than seide he to kynge looth, “How knowe ye whom I seche?” “I wote well,” quod he, “that thow goiste to seche Gawein, and lo hym there;” and with that he smote in a-monge the saisnes and the squyer with hem that thre the firste that thei mette thei drof deed to the erthe, and than thei rode forth and smote other thre down deed to grounde, and therwith brake the speres, and than thei drough oute swerdes and smote on the right side and on the lifte, and the squyer lefte the kynge looth and pursued Gawein in euery place where he wente, and Gawein hadde drawen oute his suerde Calibourne, and be-gan to slee so moche peple that alle

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that saugh hym do soche maistries fledde be-fore hym whan thei saugh hym come, and durste not a-bide his strokes, and he was gon so fer be-fore that he wiste nothinge of his fader, ne his brethern; and Agravain hadde so chaced and Gaheries xx saisnes that thei surbated on Pignoras that com with an hundred saisnes; and whan thei saugh how thei were chaced and were but tweyne, he cried vpon his men and medled hym a-monge hem, and thei smote tweyne so harde that deed thei fill on the grene, and than renged hem x saisnes and smote hem on alle partyes that thei bar Agravain to the erthe, and thei smyte Gaheries so harde that he bente bakwarde in his sadill be-hynde, and whan the speres were broken he smote in to the presse and be-gan to do merveiles, and Agravain was folio 189b
lepte on fote and griped his swerde in hys right hande, and hente his shelde hym be-forn, and thei hym assailed full harde, and he hym well diffended as he that hadde I-nough of herte and force, and Gaheries spored his horse that wey ther he saugh his brother, and rode betwene hym and the saisnes that sore hym assailed, and he hym diffended vigorously, that noon durste hym a-bide for the strokes that thei saugh hym yeve, and in this manere thei fought longe while, ffor the saisnes coveited hem for to take, and thei hem diffended to warante theire lyves; and the kynge Looth and Gueheret fought right harde, and wente thourgh the bataile sechinge her felowes, and so thei fonde Agravain on foote a-monge the saisnes, his swerde in his honde all naked, wherwith he yaf hem many grete strokes, and Gaheries was by hym that dide grete peyne hym to helpe and for to remounte. Than the kynge looth smote in a-monge hem and fought sore a-gein the sarazins thei foure and sloughen many of hem, and sir Gawein hadde so gon that he was come vpon the hill with his swerde all blody in his hande. Than he loked bak and saugh he hadde alle perced thourgh, and the squyer was by hym at the spore and seide, “Sir, I wolde sue yow full gladly yef my servise myght yow plese so that it liked yow for to make me knyght, whiche tyme I wolde yow requere;” and Gawein ansuerde that he was right welcome, Page 532
and with-hilde hym withoute mo wordes, and than he badde hym to kepe hym by him that the saisnes dide hym not hurte ne diffoule, “ffor I moste seche my fader and my brethern that I ne wote neuer where thei beth be-come;” and than seide the squyer, “Lo hem yonder in that grete prees, for I se swerdes lifte a-loufte that bright shyneth, and a-noon Gawein knewe his fader by the helme, and than he seide, “It is my fader, sue me.”

And than he smote his horse with the spores on bothe sides that he spronge oute xviij foote, and drof in fiercely a-monge the saisnes more than he hadde don all the day be-fore he and the squyer that thei throwe down all that be-fore hem stode, and the squyer cowde not so faste spore hys horse that he myght hym ouertake, and fonde the wey strowed full of hem that were ouerthrowen; and than seide the squyer, “Lady seint marie, I am a-ferde to lese hym here a-monge these mysbelevinge peple; ffull trewe seide thei that tolde me ther was not soche another knyght in the worlde, ffor he ne gabbed no worde, for he hath in hym more goode than was seide, and yef the knyght be goode, he hath a horse at his device, and I trowe yef he will do all his power that he sholde discounfite soche xx as be here. Now wolde god that was born of the virgine marie that my fader the kynge hadde hym ones seyn, for I wote wele he wolde holde it a merveile.” Thus devised the squyer what he wolde, and euer sued after Gawein as moche as he myght; and sir Gawein hath so gon that he fonde Agravain so wery for traveile that he lened on his shelde and his swerde in his honde, and myght not helpe hymself but litill, and thei yaf hym ever folio 190a
a-monge grete strokes with speres and swerdes as thei myght come to; and on that other side he saugh that Gueheret was smyte betwene the sholdres with two speres that he was born to the erthe vpright, and also he saugh xi saisnes that hilde his fader be the helme, and smote hym with the pomeles of his swerdes; and Gaheries hadde caste his shelde to the ground and hilde his swerde in bothe handes, and yaf soche strokes that thei myght be herde Page 533
right cleer, ffor he smote of handes, and armes, and hedes, and legges, and slitte hem to the teth, and shewde ther soche prowesse that noon durste hym a-bide, but lefte the kynge Looth magre hem alle; and the kynge loked and saugh it was Gaheries his sone that hadde hym rescowed, he seide, “Ha! feire sone, yef we hadde youre brother Gawein with vs we shull nought lese this day for alle these false peple, and Agravain and Gueheret where be thei.” “Thei be in theire enmyes handes that nygh haue hem slayn.”

With these wordes com Gawein brekinge the presse, and sleinge all that he myght a-reche, as quarell oute of arblast for swyftnesse of his horse, and hilde his swerde in his hande and smote on eche side so hevy strokes oute of mesure that alle yede to grounde that stode in his weye; and the squyer was euer nigh [correction; sic = ] hym that for nothinge wolde hym leven, and yaf many a grete stroke with his swerde, wherfore he was beloved after of alle the brethern; and it befell [correction; sic = ] that mette Gawein Monaquyn that was oon of the goode knyghtes of alle the saisnes, and was arested vpon Gueheret for to take hym to pryson. But Gawein smote hym so harde with Calibourne that he slitte hym from the sholdre to girdell; and whan the squyer saugh that, he blissed hym for the merveile that he hadde, and blessed the arme that soche a stroke yeve; than he caught the horse be the reyne, and ledde to Agravain, and badde hym skippe vp lightly, and he dide so a-noon right as he that ther-to hadde grete nede, and the squyer helde hym the stirop, and Agravain hym thanked hertely, and seide he sholde hym quyte yef he myght.

Whan Pignoras saugh his brother deed he was sory and wroth, and gripid an ax with bothe handes, and com towarde the kynge Looth, and smote hym so sore on the helme that he fill flatte to the erthe, but he hadde no grete harme but that he was sore astonyed, and than he smote Gaheries that he fill to the erthe vpright, and than was Gawein full wo, and smote the Gringalet that wey with Calibourne in his hande, and whan he saugh hym come he covered hym with Page 534
his shelde and with his axe. But Gawein smote the axe helue a-sondre, and the stroke descended on the shelde and the right sholdre and slitte hym to the breste, and the squyer caught the horse and ledde to Gaheries, and he lepte vp delyuerly; and than he toke the horse that his fader was fallen fro, and brought it to hym hastely by the bridell, and hilde the folio 190b
stirop till he was vp, and than he made a new assaute vpon hem that so short hadde hem holden. But the saisnes were so abaisshed of theire two lordes that were ther deed that thei turned to flight, and toke no more hede hem to diffende, and Maundalis theire stiwarde hem ascried, “Ha, cowarde peple, what do ye that a-venge yow not on hem that haue youre two lordes slayn in this maner, and ye se well thei be but vj, and ye be yet thre hundred, and ye may be a-shamed that thei haue so longe endured;” and thei returned to the vj, and sir Gawein com be-fore and mette with hem as he that well knewe their corage, and hilde Calibourne, his goode swerde, and smote so the firste that he mette that he fill deed on the grene, and than the seconde, and the thridde, and than the fourth, and than he smote Maundalis that the heed fill from the sholderes, and the squyer caught the horse and ledde to Geheret; and whan the saisnes saugh theire stiwarde deed, thei turned a-noon to flight, who that myght sonest, so that noon a-bode other, and thei hem enchaced that sore hem hated a-bove all thinge, and slough and smote dowon all that thei myght a-take, and sir Gawein satte vpon the Gringalet that swyftly hym bar, and he made a-monge hem soche martire that it was wonder to wite, and hilde hem so shorte that thei myght hym not ascape vp ne down, ffor thei myght no side turne, but euer he was be-fore, and whan thei saugh thei myght not ascape, thei rode in to the depe of the forest for socour, and fledde oon here, another there, that thei a-bide nother frende ne brother, and cursed the hour and the day thei with hem metten, “ffor thei be no peple as other be, but it be fendes of helle, for ther be but vj, and that fill neuer that so moche peple were discounfited with so small peple as we be now be hem, and therfore may we sey

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that thei were neuer of carnell men conceyved, ffor neuer mortall man myght do that these haue vs don.”

Thus seide the saisnes theire volunte, and were discounfited be the prowesse of sir Gawein, and the remenaunt that ascaped lefte neuer till thei come to the siege be-fore Clarence, and tolde theire grete damage to the kynge Hardogabran what the vj knyghtes hadde hem do, ffor thei haue oure two kynges slain, and oure stiward Maundalis; whan the kynge hardogabran herde this, he was nygh woode for wrath, ffor the tweyne were his cosins germain, and cursed the hour and the day that euer thei entred in to the londe, “ffor,” quod he, “we haue resceyved grete damage.” But now cesseth the tale of the saisnes and speketh of the kynge Looth.

Whan the saisnes were discounfited in the valey of Rorestok, the kynge looth was gladde for the squyer that thei hadde rescowed, and than thei wente to the somers that the saisnes sholde haue ledde to the siege before Clarence, and gadered hem togeder and behelde hem gretly; and than seide Gaheries a worde that was well herde. “Lord god,”

folio 191a
quod he, “why be ther so many pore bachelers in the contrey whan thei myght thus wynne I-nough. Certes thei lese nothinge but for slouthe and cowardise, ffor thei ne sholde not slepe in no bedde, but wayte a-boute on the marches.” “Ffeire sone,” seide the kynge, “so myght thei haue euell suerte, ffor who that soche thinge will vndirtake yef oon tyme hym happe wele, hit falleth hym foure tymes euell;” and than seide Gaheries to his fader, “Sir, aske Agravain my brother yef he haue eny talent now to rage within these maydenes yef he hadde hem here on this playn;” and Agravain loked on hym a trauerse full proudly, and seide to hym in reprof, “Gaheries, it is not longe tyme past that ye hadde no talent to iape whan the saisne smote yow down of youre horse with his axe, and ne hadde be Gawein ye hadde mette with hym in euell tyme.” “Though I fell,” quod Gaheries, “I may no more do ther-to. But I was not at so grete myschef, but I me diffended so as it myght be; and of that ye myght wele haue holde youre pees, Page 536
for I saugh yow to-day at soche pointe, that though the feirest lady of the worlde hadde preide yow of love ye wolde not haue ansuered hir a worde, for a maiden of v yere of age myght haue take from yow youre breche;” and whan Agravain vndirstode this, he was wroth and angry, and for that he cleped hym recreaunt, wax he rody for shame, and loked on hym with maltalent, and yef thei hadden be a-lone he wolde with hym haue foughten; but the kynge turned the wordes in to other maner, for he wolde not haue in no wise distrif betwene hem two, and than he asked what sholde be do with the somers. Sir,” quod Gaheries, “asketh of Agravain;” and than be-gan Agravain sore to wrathe, and seide he sholde it a-beyen, and hilde a tronchon of a spere in his honde, and smote Gaheries on the helme that it fly all to peces, and Gaheries remeved not but suffred; and Agravain recouered and smote twys or thries, so that nought of the tronchon lefte in his handes, and his brother Gueheret ne hys fader cowde hem not so departe, but euer he ran vpon hym as he myght from hem ascape.

Than com Gawein from the chace, and asked what a-ray that was, and the kynge tolde hym all worde for worde; and Gawein com to Agravain and blamed hym sore for that he hadde so I-don; and Agravain swor all that he myght swere that neuer he wolde it hym foryeve, and whan Gawein vndirstode the grete felonye, he seide he sholde abye on his body, but yef he wolde be ruled. “Ffy,” quod Agravain, “in dispite of the deuell this were of the newe that I sholde lette for yow to do ought.” “Now shall it be sene,” quod Gawein, “what thow wilt do.” Than Agravain smote the horse with the spores and ran to Gaheries with swerde drawen, and smote hym on the helme that the fire sparcled oute. Ne Gaheries ne remeved litill ne moche for nothinge that he dide, and whan Gawein saugh this he drough oute Calibourne and swor by his fader sowle that in euell tyme he hadde it begonne,
folio 191b
and whan the fader behilde all this, he seide, “Now vpon hym feire sone, and go sle this harlot, for he is fell and proude;” and Gawein thought well what he wolde do, and com to Agravain,

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and smote hym with the pomell of his swerde vnder the temple that he fill from his horse to the erthe so astoned that he wiste not where he was; and Gaheries seide to Gawein, “Sir, be not wroth for nothinge that he doth to me, for he is fell and proude, and therfore taketh nothinge to herte that he doth to me ne seith.” “Ffle from hens,” quod Gawein, “mysproude lurdeyn, neuer shall I love the whan thou wilt not spare for my lorde my fader ne for noon of vs.” “Sir,”

seide Gaheries, “he is myn elther brother, and it sitteth me to do hym honour and reuerence. Ne for nothinge that I dide, ne seide to him ne dide I but Iape.”

“He is a fole and prowde,” quod Gueheret, “but all that hast thow meved, and therfore have thow euell happe;” and Gaheries hym ansuerde, “Full euell sholde I pleye with a straunger whan I may not pley nother with yow ne with hym, and wyte ye well,” quod he, “this is the firste tyme and the laste that euer I shall pleye or Iape with hym or with yow, and yef it were not for because that we be comen oute togeder, I wolde returne anoon right that no more companye sholde I yow holde;” and Geheret seide a-gein, “Euell happe haue Agravain, but he quyte yow this dere for this a-colee that he hath hadde for yow.” “So god me helpe,”

quod Gawein, “yef owther of yow do eny thinge othirwise than ye owe to do, I shall sette yow in soche place where ye shull not se nother hande ne foote this vij monethes, and therfore I diffende yow as dere as ye haue youre owne bodyes that ye loke ye do hym noon euell.” “Sir,” seide Gueheret, “we shull kepe vs therfro right wele seth ye it comaunde, ffor a-gein youre comaundement ne may we not do, ne we will not. But it hevyeth me whan ye will medle yow agein vs for hym, and that ye haue Agravain thus diffouled for nought.” “Ffor nought is it not,” quod Gawein, “whan a-gein my deffence he ran vpon hym in dispite of me in my fader sight and myn. Ne neuer Gaheries ne wrathed for buffet that he hym yaf.

In dispite of the devell sholde he be so proude, ffor his pride shall greve bothe the and hym.” “So helpe me god,” quod the kynge Looth, “for litill I shall take

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a-wey all the armes that thow haste, and of Agravain also, and leve yow in myddell of the felde like lurdeynes.” “Sir,” seide Gueheret, “ye speke not this of youre owen mouthe but of others; ffor of this that ye sey ye haue no talent for to do ne power yef other ne were.” “Ha boyes,” quod the kynge, “thow art fell, and for-swollen. Verile art thow his brother, for ye bothe be contrariouse, and I comaunde my sone Gawein that yef thow or Agravain do ought to my sone Gaheries that he do vpon yow as grete reddure as vpon harlottes or ribaudes.”

Whan the squyer saugh that Gawein hadde smyte down Agravain, that he bledde bothe at mouthe and nose, he ran to take his horse and brought hym by the bridill, and made
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hym for to lepen vp, and Gawein com to hym and seide, “Harlot fle from hens, for with the haue I nought to do, and loke that I se the neuer more in my companye, and go where thow wilt for with me shalt thow come no more, and go ye alle forth with hym that love hym better than me and with me that love my companye;” with that Gawein rode forth his wey, and Gaheries and Gueheret and the kynge Looth asked what sholde he do with the somers. “Sir,” seide Gawein, “ye shall sende hem to Mynoras the forester, that so well dide vs herberowe; ffor he serued vs well and feire in his place, and therfore well it is on hym be-sette, and better it is that the goodeman hit haue than it here be loste, ffor we it may not condite ne lede, and we may wele come in soche place that we myght all lese.”

“Certes,” seide the kynge, “ye sey full well, but who shall it lede.” “Sir,”

seide Gawein, “the squyer of this gentilman, and oon of youre gromes.” “On godes name,” seide the kynge; and a-noon was the squyer sought till he was founden, and charged with the message and the present that he sholde make, and after to turne after hem the right wey to Roestok; and he seide that all this wolde he well do, and toke a yoman with hym to conveye hym the wey, and wente forth with alle the somers, and ledde x stedes cowpled by the bridelis that oon to the tother, and hilde the streight wey till thei come to the rescette of Mynoras that grete

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ioye made of this present, and served hem so well and so feire that no peple myght be better serued than thei were, and on the morowe thei toke theire wey as soone as thei myght se the day for to go after theire lordes as thei were comaunded.

As soone as the kynge looth hadde sente these somers by lydonas, and by oon of his yomen to mynoras the forester, thei rode forth her wey alle vi toward Roestok, and lefte alle the wordes of reprof that thei hadde spoken, ffor that thei saugh Gawein was therwith greved; and than thei ride togeder, the kynge, and Gawein, and Gaheries, and asked of the yonge squyer of whens he was, and what was his name, and he seide how his name was Elizer, and was the sone of kynge Pelles of listenoys, and nevew to the kynge Alain of the forain londes, and to the kynge pellynor of the sauage fountain that hadde xj sones that alle were of the age of xvij yere, and the eldest was newliche come to the court of kynge Arthur for to take armes, “these be my cosins germain, and I go toward the court of kynge Arthur to my lorde sir Gawein for to serven hym, and I thanke god I haue founde hym nerre, and he hath me withholde in soche manere that he shall make me knyght whiche tyme that I hym requere.” “Even so I graunte yow sir,”

quod sir Gawein, “for ye be [correction; sic = ] right welcome.” Thus thei rode till it was nyght, that thei fonde nether house ne herberowe, and the foreste was high and full of shadowe; but the weder was softe and stille; and than fill it that
folio 192b
after mydnyght thei fonde an hermytage all closed with diches, and with rayles, and thei [correction; sic = the] cleped and called till it was opened to hem, and thei a-light from theire horse, and dide of theire brideles and the sadelis, and yaf hem grasse, for therynne was nothinge elles, and thei ete soche vitaile as the hermyte hem brought, and that was breed and water, and after that thei lay down to slepe vpon the grasse for other quyltes ne pilowes hadde thei noon, and thei were wery for traveile, and were soone a-slepe, alle saf Gawein and Elizer, thei wolde not slepe, but were euer in susspecion of the saisnes that were so many in the londe, and

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soone after mydnyght thei herde a grete complaint of a lady and of a knyght that passed by, and Gawein ther-of hadde grete pite and comaunded to sadill the Gringalet and bridill hym in all haste, and Elizer lept vp a-noon and brought it hym redy dight; and Gawein toke his armes and lept vp delyuerly, and rode faste after hem that ledde the lady, and Elizer lept vpon his horse also that in no maner wolde hym leve as longe as he hadde whereon to ride; and thei [correction; sic = and thei and thei] rode so longe till thei com in to a thikke queche in a depe valey, and than Gawein hoved stille, and herkened and herde dolerouse cries, that seide, “Ha, lorde god, what shall I do, where haue I deserued to suffre this turment and annoye,” and praied oure lorde that he wolde sende hym hastely the deth ffor lever he hadde for to be deed than langour in soche maner, and this [correction; sic = his] was a knyght all naked in his breche that v pantoners dide bete with scorges that the blode ran down by his sides; and on that other side vndirstode sir Gawein a full dolerouse cry of a woman, and well it semed that she hadde grete nede of helpe, and she seide so lowde that Gawein myght it well heren. “Seint marie, blissed lady, socoure this wery caytif. Trewly,” quod she, “sle me ye may well, for I shall neuer to yow concent.”

Whan Gawein vndirstode the voyce, he wiste well she hadde grete nede of helpe, and be-thought hym whiche wey he sholde turne first, for he hadde grete pite of that gentilman that he herde so waymenten, and on that other side he hadde so grete pite of the woman that sholde be diffouled, but she haue the soner helpe, and thought in his herte that better it were to suffre the knyght to endure his peyne than the woman to be diffouled while he were in helpinge of the knyght; and than he smote the horse with spores down the valey where the voice cried euer more and more, “seint Marye, goode lady, helpe me and socour;” and as Gawein behelde he saugh vij pantoners that hilde this lady vnder a tre a-gein the grounde, and oon of hem smote hir grete buffetes Page 541
with his hande I-armed on the visage; and she turned and cried, “Certes, sle me ye may well, but neuer other thinge shall I not do;” and for that she seide so, he trailed hir by the tresses that were so feire, that he griped in his handes, and a-noon as Gawein it saugh, he cried to hym that hir hilde, “Sir knyght, lete be that damesell;” and he behilde be the mone light, and cried to hem folio 193a
that were with hym to go a-gein hym, and so thei dide all vj, and asked hym, “Sir knyght, haue we eny drede of yow;” and Gawein seide he assured hem of nothinge, “ffor I will helpe that damesell the whiche that pantoner trailed so vileyusly, and therfore diffende yow fro me;” and than he spored the Gringalet thourgh hem vj that he mette, and com to hym that yet hilde the woman be the tresses, and smote hym with his spere a-gein the breste that the shafte shewed thourgh the bakke be-hynde, and he fill deed vpright, and the other vj com a-gein hym with speres [correction; sic = spres], and smote hym on the shelde and sholdres, and on the sides, and he bowed on his horse nekke, and the tymbir of the speres fly in peces, and than Gawein dressed hym in his sadell and ficched hym in his stiropes that the Iren folded, and drough his swerde and smote so the firste that he mette, that deed he fill to the erthe, and than he smote another that the sholdre departed from the body; and the thirde that the heed fly in to the feilde, and than he araught so the fourthe that he slitte hym to the teth; and whan the other saugh theire fellowes deed, and how at eche stroke he hadde slayn oon, thei turned to flight and durste not a-bide; and Gawein com to the maiden and sette hir vpon his horse hym be-forn, and the two felowes that fledden be comen to their felowes that were discended vnder an olyvere hem for to resten, and were leide on the grasse for to slepe; and as soone as thei com nygh, thei cried with high voise, “Gentill knyghtes, what do ye here; ffor here is a knyght that hath slayn Sortibran and foure of oure felowes, and resceved the lady; now faste rideth after hym;” and whan thei vnderstode this thei a-rise hastely angry and wroth, and lepe to theire horse, and ride after Gawein as faste as thei may that Page 542
goth to lede the damesell to savete; and now a-while cesse of hem, and speke of the squyer that is cleped Elizer.

A noon as Gawein was turned to helpe he damesell, Elizer that folowed after, rode thider; ther he herde the voice of the knyght, and whan he cam there he saugh vj pantoners holde hym, and hadde so beten hym that he myght not stonde vpright, but was falle to grounde, and hadde no power to speke no worde; and whan Elizer saugh hym in this maner hit hevyed hym sore, and than he ascried hem, and cleped hem, “Fitz a-putein lechours why demene ye so that gentilman so foule what hath he trespased that ye be a-boute to sle hym in that manere.” Whan thei herde hym so speke thei loked on hym, and seiden, “What is it to the, for thy wordes ne shull we nothinge lette;” and than Elizer wax right angry, and seide he sholde no more harme haue withouten hym, and he hilde a grete spere and com toward hem that hilde the knyght, and alle thei lefte hym, and he smote so the firste that he mette of the vj that he drof down deed on the playn, and he drough oute his spere and therwith he slough another, and drough it a-gein to hym, and priked his
folio 193b
horse a-gein, another; and whan thei saugh hym come, thei made hym wey and disparbledde here and there, and he smote oon that he ouertoke so rudely that the spere ran thourgh bothe sides; and whan he loked after the tother he ne wiste thei were be-come, ffor thei were fledde in to thikke of the foreste, and it was but litill past mydnyght that oon myght not se fer; and whan he saugh he hadde hem loste, he com to the knyght and badde hym lepe vp be-hynde hym, and whan he vndirstode this, he hadde foryete all his peyne, and lepte vp be-hynde hym with grete peyne, and than he rode the streight wey thider as he wende to fynde Gawein. But he hadde but litill gon that he fonde hym fightinge with xx knyghtes that sore hem peyned hym for to greve with all theire power, and he hadde sette the damesell in a thikke busshe a-gein the wode side; and whan Elizer hym saugh he comaunded the knyght to a-light down, and he dide so a-noon; and Elizer hente his spere that yet was

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hooll and spored his horse, and smote so the firste that he mette that he a-boode no lenger in the sadell, but fill deed to the erthe, and after he smote another that the spere heed a-pered thourgh his bakke be-hynde, and Gawein hadde so don with calibourne his good swerde that he hath slain of hem vij, and vj that he hadde slain be-fore at the rescew of the lady; and Elizer hath broke his spere, and drough oute his swerde and smote so a knyght that he slitte hym to the teth; and whan Gawein saugh Elizer that so dide hym helpe, he smote the horse with the spores, and blessed the hour that he com in to the contrey, and blessed the body that he was of conceyved, ffor he saugh well he myght not faile to be a noble knyght; with that he com that wey as he saugh hym holde the medle, and smote grete strokes, and slough and slitte all that he ouertoke a full stroke, and so thei two haue don that thei haue hem alle slain, saf thre that fledde in to the foreste for socour, and the nyght was woxen so derke with clowdes that thei wiste not whiche wey that they were fledde.

Than toke Elizer two horse, as he that was wight and hardy at euery nede, and brought hem to the knyght, and to the damesell, and made hem to lepe vp ther-on; but first he made the knyght to be clothed in oon of the deed bodyes robes, for his owen were loste; than thei putte vp theire swerdes, and ride forth togeder toward the hermytage, and than Gawein drough hym to the damesell, and asked hir of whens she was, and she seide she was suster to the lady of Roestok, and the knyght was hir cosin germain. Than seide sir Gawein, “How were ye thus I-taken?”

“Sir,” seide the damesell, “my cosin and I repeired thourgh the forest and com toward Roestok, and hadden sente oure companye be-fore, and we turned in to a lane oute of oure wey, for we toke so grete hede of oure talkinge of many thinges that we turned oute of oure wey,
folio 194a
and com in to a grete wode where these traitours weren a-light for to ete; and thei lepe a-noon ageins vs, and toke vs, for we myght not a-gein hem endure, ffor my cosin was all vnarmed, and neuerthe-lese he smote oon so on Page 544
the heed that he hym slough, and therfore thei dide hym dispoile so vilously, and dide hym so bete that nygh thei hadde hym slain; and whan thei wolde haue for-leyn me by force he me diffended, and neuer me lefte for no feer of deth, but yaf hem grete strokes and merveilouse as he myght hem atteyne with his handes, for he hadde noon other armure; and than v of tho pantoners hym toke and ledde hym forth betinge hym dolerousely, and I praye yow and requere that ye will telle me what ye be, and for what cause ye be come?” and sir Gawein seide he was a knyght of the reame of logres, “and we go on soche a nede that we may not telle;” and as thei rode thus talkynge thei be come to the hermytage, where thei fonde yet her felowes slepinge, and thei a-light and dide of theire brideles of the horse, and yaf hem grene grasse to ete and lay down by hem and slepte till it was day, that the kynge looth a-roos and cleped Gueheret and Gaheries that were by hym, and hadde well slepte well all the nyght, and saugh Gawein a-slepe and Elizer, and the maiden and the knyght that were leide be the horse side, and Elizer hilde the Gringalet be the halter, for he was somwhat raginge amonge the other horses; and whan the brethern saugh the mayden lyinge by hem, thei merveiled fro whens she was come; and the kynge cleped and seide, “Now arise, Gawein, goode sone, ye haue slept I-nough se how it is feire day;”

and the knyght a-woke that was sore hurte, for he slepte nothinge wele, ne the maiden neither, and thei satte vp wakinge; and the kynge asked hem fro whens thei were come; and the knyght ansuerde and seide, “Thei wiste not fro whens these two worthi men hadde hem brought thider, and praied god sholde hem diffende from perile, of the whiche oon of hem is a knyght that hath rescewed this maiden, and the squyer hath rescewed me, god make hym a good man, and sende hym ioye and honour.” “Whiche ben thei,” seide the kynge, and he hym shewed sir Gawein and Elizer; and whan Agravain vndirstode this, hym for-thought that he hadde not be there, and seide that he myght holde hym a cowarde, that he hilde hym no companye to go with hem; and Gaheries Page 545
ansuerde as he that was full noble and worthi, and he loved wele to Iape in honest and myrthe, and seide he durste not yow a-wake, for ye thenke so moche on youre love that ye slepe but litill; and the kynge asked hir how she was taken, and she tolde euery worde how it was hem befallen, so that nothinge was for-yeten; and than thei lepe to theire horse and rode forth theire wey toward Roestok, and rode so fro morowe to euen that no distrouble thei ne hadde till thei com to Roestok, and thei behilde the town that was right feire, and well sette in feire contrey and holsom air, ffor the town was envyroned a-boute with the wode and the river, and the
folio 194b
walles shone a-gein the sonne and the bourgh, and the castell stode right feire; and the kynge and his foure sones preised it moche whan thei it syen; and whan thei com to the yate thei fonde it clos and faste shette, and the knyght that was rescewed called the porter right lowde and the damesell hir-self; and the lady hir-self was a-bove on the walles that knewe hem wele a-noon as she hem saugh, and comaunded the yate to be opened delyuerly, and a-noon the mayden counseiled with hir suster, but thei wiste not whereof, and a-noon as thei hadde spoke togeder she com to the knyghtes and made hem grete chere, and made hem a-light be-fore the paleys, and the castelein hymself com hem a-geins that was the lorde, and made hem to be vnarmed and waish theire mouthes and theire visages with warme water, and after thei were sette and spake of many thinges while the soper was in makinge; and whan it was all redy and the clothes leyde, thei waish and satte to soper, and were well served, and richely of all maner thinge; and after soper the lorde asked his suster fro whens she com, and she hym tolde all hir aventure that was hir befallen, and whan the lorde herde this he be-gan to make soche ioye and gladnesse that ther myght be seyn noon gretter, and the kynge looth asked of whom this castell was holden, and the lorde seide that it was of the fee of kynge Arthur; and than the Casteleyn hym asked what he was, and he seide his name was the kynge looth of Orcanye, and these foure knyghtes be

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my sones. Than the lorde lepte vpon his feet, and made grete ioye, and asked what thei wente sechinge; and he seide that he yede to seche trewys of the princes and the barouns from the kynge Arthur that the saisness myght be driven oute of the londe; and than the Castelein thanked oure lorde. “And what wey shull ye go first?” quod he, “from hens;” and he seide that he wolde be at Arestuell in scotlonde; and than he seide that he wolde he sholde sende a massenger to the kynge de Cent Chiualers, and telle hym in my name that he be on oure lady day in Septembre at Arestuell in Scotlonde, and that he faile not for nothinge, for I shall be ther, and alle the other princes; and the Castelein seide he wolde sende thider on the morowe withoute more taryinge, ffor he trowed well he were at the Cite of Molehaut.

That nyght thc kynge looth and the Castelein spake of many thinges till it was tyme to go to bedde, and sir Gawein wolde not be knowen of no man, for he thought for to serche the auentures in the contrey privele that no man sholde hym knowe in no place ther he com; and whan it was tyme thei yede to slepe all the nyght well at ese till it was day, that thei toke leve of the Castelein of Roestok, and of the lady and the maiden that was rescued, and of the knyght that hem conveyed a-while on the wey, and than returned a-gein; and whan the Castelein saugh thei were gon, he toke a massenger and sente hym to the kynge de Cent chiualers from the kynge looth of Orcanye, and tolde his massage as he was comaunded to sey, and the kynge made grete ioye for love of the kynge looth that he loved with all his herte,
folio 195a
and for the masseger that was a noble knyght he yaf hym a good horse as be-fill for soche a worthi man, and now shull we returne to the kynge looth and his sones.

Whan the kynge looth was departed from the castell of Roestok, he toke the streyght wey toward Cambenyk be-fore the Castell of leuerop, where he was herberowed a nyght, and on the morowe he rode till he com a two myle from Cambenyk, and than he herde so grete shoute and cry that hym Page 547
semed all the contrey was sette on fire and flame; and it was no merveile yef ther were grete noyse and cry, and that the contrey were sore affraid, ffor ther were xMl saisnes that hadde forreyed and gadered prayes, and distroyed all the contrey, and robbed townes, and ledde so grete plente of prisoners that all the contrey was covered, and the Duke Escam was comen oute of the Cite with thre thousande men, and faught with hem longe, but in the ende was he discounfited and driven oute of the felde, and he was so wo therfore that nygh he yede oute of his witte; and the crye and the noyse was so grete that wonder it was to here, ffor eche man complayned of his losse and harme that was right grete and outragiouse.

Whan the kynge looth and his sones approched that peple, thei laced theire helmes and a-light from theire palfreyes, and toke theire horses and theire sheldes and com the streight wey to the place ther the bataile hadde I-be, but now thei were with-drawen towarde the Cite; and the Duke Escam was be-hynde that diffended his peple merveillously, and hadde grete peyne and traueile as he that was in grete doute to lese his Citee; and the kynge looth that was full sory and wroth for that he saugh it so go, and [correction; sic = and and] sped hym so that he passed the bregge, and com hym a-geins and his foure sones theire hedes bowed down vnder theire helmes, and sore affiched in theire stiropes, and com a grete walop as thei that thought longe er thei were medled with the saisnes; and whan the Duke hem saugh he a-bode stille, but he knewe hem not, and seide a worde that well apertened to a man that was in grete nede. “Ha, lorde god, now helpe and socour thy seruaunt in this grete myschef that we be now ynne, and on that other side all that euer thy seruauntes sholde lyven by, these false vntrewe saisnes lede a-wey, and all oure richesse that was lefte in this contrey;” than he behilde the v knyghtes that he saugh come, but he knewe noon of hem, for theyre sheldes were all to-hewen with the strokes that thei hadde resceived, and

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ne hadde not be that, he hadde knowe the kynge looth anoon; and whan he saugh that thei drough nygh, he knewe well that thei were not of that contrey, and neuertheles he com a-gein hem as he that was well taught, and seide, “Feire lordes, ye be welcome what wey purpose ye to go, ffor me semeth ye be traueillinge knyghtes.” “Sir,” seide the kynge looth, “we wolde be at Arestuell in Scotlonde.” “Certes,” seide the Duke, “ye folio 195b
haue right moche to done, ffor fro hens thider is full felon passage, and yef ye will a-while a-bide in this contrey we shull be gladde and myri, and it is the beste that ye may do, ffor it is but fewe dayes past that the saisnes assembled vpon vs.” “Sir,” seide the kynge looth, “how moche is it fro hens to Arestuell?”

“Sir,” seide the Duke, “hit is well thre grete iourneis.” “What be ye, sir,”

seide the kynge looth, that vs preyen for to a-bide?” “Sir, hit shall not from yow be conceiled. I am lorde of Cambenyk and of this contrey as longe as god will vouchesaf. But these vntrewe saisnes come vpon me dayly, and now I was come oute a-gein hem, and thei be crewell and so proude as ye may se all day.”

As the kynge and the Duke hilde theire Parliament the Duke saugh his peple come fleinge and the saisnes after, that hem pursued harde at the spore; and whan the kynge looth saugh hem come in soche manere, he seide to the Duke, “Sir, seth we be falle in to youre companye, and do pray vs to a-bide, we shull helpe yow this day with all oure power.” “Gramercy lordes,” seide the Duke; and than seide Gaheries to sir Gawein, “Go we a-geins hem lo where thei come.”

Than the Dukes men toke hem other helmes for theires were all to-brosed, and [correction; sic = and and] thei hadde them sette on theire hedes, and well knyt and laced, thei turned toward hem that fledde, and whan thei saugh the Duke come that was theire lorde, thei a-bode ffor thei hadde in hym grete truste, for he was a noble knyght and a sure; and whan the saisnes saugh thei dide stinte, thei ronne vpon hem, for thei wende hem alle

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for to a-taken at her wille; and sir Gawein hym derenged first of alle, and smote a saisne thourgh the body that he ouerthrewe down deed; and whan Gaheries saugh his broder medled with the saisnes than he spored his horse and smote so the first that he mette thourgh shelde and haubrek that on that other side shewed the shafte, and therwith brake the spere that no lenger myght endure, and he drough oute his swerde, and folowed after sir Gawein in the trace as he wente, and made soche martire that alle that hym behilde hadde wonder; ffor he ne smote noon but he felled hym or his horse, and Gaheries dide so well that Gawein hym preised and comended, and neuer in no place hadde he seyn hym do so well, and ther-of he merveiled sore, and was gladde that he myght so moche suffre in armes.

On that other side was the kynge looth, and Gueheret in the medle, and eche of hem hadde smyte down a saisne that deed he moste nede be; and whan the speres were broken thei drough swerdes and begonne a bataile, so that of v knyghtes was neuer sein more fierce bateile; and than the Duke sued after, and dide right well hem to rehete, and to contene in that grete nede, and he saugh hem do so moche er he departed fro hem that he wondred that euer mortall man myght so moche suffre of armes. But whan mydday was passed, than dide Gawein alle the merveiles of the worlde, and satte vpon
folio 196a
the Gringalet that was so good and feire; and he that satte a-bove was wonder wight and deliuer, and hilde Calibourne his swerde, whiche [correction; sic =
whe] slitte helmes, and sheldes, and knyghtes, and horse, and all that he ouertoke, and com thourgh the renges as it were a tempest and slough euere as he com, and he was so chaufed whan it was a-boute the houre of noone that nothinge myght agein hym endure, and euery stroke of his swerde semed as it hadde be a dynte of thonder, so com it with grete ravyn and grete force; and whan the saisnes it perceived thei seide, “Lo ther a devell that is come oute of helle;”

and so yede the tidinges that boydas, and Maundalis, and Oriaunces, and Dorilas, these foure hit herden that were maistris of the hoste and conditoures.

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Whan these foure kynges herde the merveile that these v knyghtes dide, thei asked whiche wey thei were, and thei that hadde hem sein taught hem to the brigge ende vpon the river; with that com the foure kynges thider [correction; sic = thide] as Gawein dide merveiles the grettest of the worlde, that euer were don by oon knyght a-lone; and the Duke escam was com in to her companye with as moche peple as he myght haue of his foure Ml men that he hadde at the begynnynge, he ne myght not assemble, but two thousande and vC, so were thei alle discounfited; but as soone as the kynge looth and his sones weren assembled to them, thei returned agein, and thei that hem chaced were mo than xMl, and ydonas a proude saisne that moche harme hadde hem do of her peple, and neuertheles the cristin hem putte oute of the place, and made hem to rusen vpon the foure kynges that com hem to socour; and as soone as thei were medled with the cristen ther was grete stour and right merveilouse; but the myschef was grete, ffor the cristin were not foureMl, and the sarazins were xviijMl, and therfore thei moste remeve whether thei wolde or noon, and were alle discounfited ne hadde be the vj knyghtes, ffor thei wolde voide no grounde, but gate londe vpon hem. Ther dide Gawein soche merveiles that alle thei hadde wonder that eny man myght soche maistries endure, and Gaheries hym sued all the day, so that Gawein hymself hadde merveile that he myght so moche suffre and endure, and therfore he loved hym euer all his lif more than alle his other brethern that were so goode knyghtes that ther were but fewe better in theire tyme.

Grete was the bateile and the stour mortall in the plains of Cambenyk, at the brigge foote of Saverne of the two thousande and vC cristin a-gein viijMl saisnes, but the cristin ne myght but litill space endure, ne hadde be the well doinge of the v knyghtes of the reame of logres, and so dide well the Duke Escam of Cambenyk, ffor he was a noble knyght and a sure of his body, while thei entended to breke the presse, com Dodalis, and Moydas, and Oriaunces, and Brandalis vpon swifte stedis gripinge grete speres, and mette folio 196b
the Duke Escam a-monge

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the renges that full wele hadde don all the day, that he ought well to be wery for traueile, and happed that Boydas and Braundalis mette hym bothe attonys, and smote hym so on the shelde that he reuersed on his horse croupe, and Oriances and Dodalus smote his horse with theire speres thourgh the flankes that he fill deed betwene his legges and bare down to grounde bothe that oon and the tother, and whan the Duke was fallen thei a-bode vpon hym alle foure with swerdes drawen, and soone ther he myght haue ben loste, but as his men com hym for to socoure, and the saisnes com on that other side hym for to encombre, and ther was grete slaughter of peple on bothe parties; and ther was the Duke foule turmented with horse feet, ffor the saisnes were so many that the Dukes men hadde no power hym to remounte. Ne his enemyes no power hym to take, but the saisnes were so many that the cristin myght hem not sustene, but most leve place wheder thei wolde or noon; ffor thei haue take the Duke and ledde hym a-wey, magre hem alle betinge hym foule. Than the kynge loot and his sones com drivinge with swerdes drawen and fonde grete plente of peple hym for to lede. Ther were buffetes I-nowe yoven and resceyved, but ne hadde be the weldoinge of Gawein thei hadde not endured litill ne moche; ffor he was euer in the former fronte, and hilde Calibourne in his right honde and smote on the right side and on the lifte, and slough so many men and horse, that thei that saugh the merveiles turned to flight, and thourgh his prowesse he brake presse magre hem alle, and lefte not till he cam to the Duke Escam that the saisnes ledde. Ther was than fell stour and mortall, ffor ther was Agravain smyten down and Gueheret, and the kynge peyned hym sore hem to remounte, and the presse was so grete and the noyse that it was merveile; and Gawein and Gaheries ne toke ther-of noon heede, but entended to rescue the Duke so that thei haue hym geten be fyn force, and sette hym on horse, and theym that hadde hym taken thei haue driven oute of the place magre hem alle.

And on that other side whan the kynge saugh his two sones vnder the horse feet in auenture to lese theire

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lives, and he hadde no power hem for to socour ne for to remounte; than he cried with lowde voice, “Ffeire sone, what do ye, or where be ye, for here is Agravain at the erthe that hath grete nede, and the damage was mortall that vnethe may be restored yef ye tarye lenger;” and whan Gawein herde the voice he turned his horse a-noon and brake the presse that wey with Calibourne his goode swerde a-gein, whiche noon armure myght endure that he raught a full stroke, and er he hadde paste litill wey he mette Gueheret and Agravain in meddill of the presse on foote that full vigerously hem deffended, and the kynge looth was euer be hem that sore hym peyned hem to helpe and socoure; and whan Gawein saugh the grete nede he caste to erthe the remenaunt that was lefte of his shelde, and caught Calibourne with bothe handes and spronge in to the presse so fiercely folio 197a
that noon durst hym a-bide for the merveiles that thei saugh hym do, and he smote so Mydonas that he mette with first, that he slitte hym down to the sholdres, and with another stroke he smote a-wey the lifte arme of Brandalis with all the shelde; and whan the sarazin felte hymself so diffouled, he fledde cryinge and brayinge as a bole, and Gaheries hadde throwe his shilde to grounde and hilde his swerde in bothe handes and smote so Oriaunce vpon the helme that he kutte a quarter, and the swerde glent betwene the body and the shelde, and kutte the gige that it hanged on that it fley in to the felde, and the stroke descended on the lift thigh so depe that he kutte it thourgh, and he fill down to grounde, and Gaheries toke the horse and ledde to Gueheret his brother, and made hym skippe in to the sadell, and after he smote another saisne that was well horsed that he made the heed fle in to the felde, and caught the horse and ledde to Agravain his brother, and he lepte vp a-noon as he that hadde grete nede; and than thei smote in to the bateile where the kynge was, and sir Gawein that foughten full sharply, and Agravain that was full wroth with Dodalus, yaf hym soche a buffet that the heed fill in to the felde a-noon right.

And whan the saisnes saugh that alle the high lordes were deed, a-noon thei fledden as thei that hadde theire lordes

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loste, ne neuer thei stinte till thei com to the baner of ydonas, and these hem chaced thider withoute eny abidinge, be-fore alle other was sir Gawein and with hym CC of the Dukes men that sore hem peyned hym for to serve, and Elizer euer by and be-fore hym and hilde in hande a cornered axe wherewith he delyuered his lorde whan he saugh nede. In that chace was the Duke throwe down of his horse, for a sarazin smote hym so be-hinde that he fill to grounde and was hurt right sore in the fallinge, that stroke saugh full wele the kynge looth that chaced on bothe sides, he and his sone Gueheret, and it greved hym sore for the Duke, and he spored his horse that wey and griped a grete spere that he hadde take from a saisne, and smote the saisne that hadde smyte down the Duke thourgh the sides, and thourgh liver and longes, and than toke the horse and presented to the Duke, and anoon [correction; sic = noon] he lepte vp and thanked hym hertely of that servise that he hadde hym don, and sir Gawein and Elizer chaced the saisnes and hem sued till thei com to the baner of ydonas.

Ther the saisnes withstode and foughten a-while, and Gawein that hem pursued drof in a-monge hem, and smote so on eyther side that all that he raught wente to groude; and whan ydonas that aperceived he turned that wey, and Gawein hym smote vpon the helme that he slitte hym down right so that men myght se his longes, and a-noon as the sarazin was so smyten he fill to the grounde and the baner; and whan the Duke saugh the baner reverse he knewe well thei were discounfited, and than he cried his signe with high voyce, and relyed his peple a-boute hym and yaf hem assaute delyuerly.

folio 197b

Whan the saisnes saugh theire baner falle, and the cristin come on hem so harde, thei durste no more a-bide, but turned to flight and lefte the place, and all theire harnoys, and eche of hem fledde from other thurgh the playnes mate and discounfited, and ther a-ros soche a duste and soche a shoute and noyse that wonder it was to here, but of hem that theym chaced was sir Gawein the firste upon the Gringalet, for ther was noon horse that myght renne so faste, and he slough of hem

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so many in the chace that he and his horse were steyned with blode as he hadde fallen in a blody river; and whan thei hadde chaced hem to nyght, than returned the kynge, and his sones, and alle the other saf Gawein, that thei wiste not where he was be come ne Elizer his squyer, ffor thei had chaced the saisnes that of fin force thei drof hem in to the river of Saverne, and ther thei drof in so many that the water chaunged colour, and whan thei saugh thei were ouer he returned a-gein a softe paas, and the Duke Escam a-bode at the pray, and ledde it home with his men, and sir Gawein past by and spake no worde; and whan the kynge looth saugh him come he made merveilouse ioye, and asked how he hadde don, and he seide right euell whan eny of hem ascaped and returned as recreaunt whan thei durste not passe the foorde ther thei passed; and the kynge seide that was no light thinge to do a man a-lone for to passe.

This worde that Gawein seide vndirstode the Duke, and seide that he hadde don right wele, ffor he and his companye hadde brought to an ende that he and his peple ne myght not do, and Gawein rode forth and spake no worde, and well semed by his armes that he hadde not be at soiourne that day; and the kynge looth hym asked where he hadde lefte his squyer, and he seide how the saisnes hadde hym all to-hewen, and therfore be hym to purchase another, and the Duke seide he wolde yeve hym another myghty and stronge, and he seide “gramercye.” Than the Duke asked of the kynge looth, and praide hym full hertely to tell hym his name, for that he herde hym clepe Gawein his sone; and he ansuerde that his name was neuer hidde for no man, ne fro hym sholde it not be kept pryve, and than he seide, “Ye ought me well to knowe, for many an euell iourney, and many myry dayes haue we hadde togeder;” and he seide how he was kynge looth of Orcanye, and how these foure were his sones; and whan the Duke this vndirstode, he seide that he was welcome, and “so verily helpe me god,” quod he, “as I knewe yow not, and blissed be that goode lorde that sente yow hider, ffor this day hadde we all be distroyed ne hadde ye ben, and of this ye seide full trewe that Page 555
moche wele and moche woo haue we suffred togeder. Sir, are these foure knyghtes verily youre sones?” and he seide, “Ye trewly.” “So helpe me god,” seide the Duke, “thei be full noble and worthi men, and goode knyghtes, and yet shull be better yef thei live to age.”

folio 198a

Thus thei rode alle vj togeder spekinge till thei com to the Citee of Cambenyk, and wente to the maister paleys and a-light at the greeces, and Elizer was besy to serue sir Gawein and stable Gringalet, and helped him to vn-arme, and also the kynge looth, and while thei were in vn-armynge thei saugh comynge the squyer of Elizer, and the yoman that hadde made the present to Mynoras the forester, and salued the kynge fro Mynoras, and from his wif and alle his children, and seide how thei alle hym thanked of his grete bounte. Than Gaheries behilde Agravain his brother, and be-gan to laugh, and asked lydonas how the doughtres of Mynoras ferden, and he seide how thei hem salued alle. “Trewly,” quod Gaheries, “thei haue reson yef thei knewe the dought of my brother Agravain.” At this worde thei lowen alle bothe Gueheret and Agravain hymself and wax rody, but he spake no worde, for he wiste well that he Iaped, and thus thei laughed and pleyde till the mete was redy, and than were sette and well serued and richely, and hit neded not to aske yef the Duke were besy and gladde hem for to wurship, and that were therynne; and after soper the Duke asked the kynge the names of his sones, and the kynge seide how the eldest was cleped Gawein, and the seconde Agravain, and thridde Gueheret, and the fourth Gaheries. “And this feire yonge gentilman,” quod he, “that is so comely and well faringe, and is so worthy and noble, what is he?” And the kynge seide that he aparteined not to hym, “but he is the sone of a kynge that is of high lynage, and by his debonerte is come for to serue sir Gawein my sone, for of hym he will take his armes.” “So helpe me God,” seide the Duke of high herte, “and gentill cometh hym that corage, and blessed be the body that hym bar for he doth as debonair and gentill, and god sende hym encrece of vertu, for he is full of high Page 556
valoure and worthinesse, and therfore he may not faile to come to high prowesse, yef he lyve eny while;” and than he asked whi he wente so to Arestuell with so fewe in his companye so hastely. “That shall I telle yow,” quod the kynge looth, “ye se and knowe how the saisnes be entred in to this londe, and waste and distroie, and it is more than two yere that thei cessed neuer to robbe and to pile oure londes, and therfore me semeth it were grete profite to sette soche counseile how thei myght be chaced oute, and ye se well that all our force ne a-vaileth not a-gein hem. Ne for vs shull thei neuer be putte a-wey, but yef god and other peple helpe ther-to, ffor we haue foughten with hem thre tymes, and we spede neuer but loste; and ye knowe well that all this londe oweth to be holde of the kynge Arthur, and thei that holde a-gein hym bith a-cursed, and therfore it were good ther-of to be a-soyled, and theire londes to be delyuered from the saisnes, and who that this myght bringe to an ende had he not well spedde.”

“Yesse trewly,” seide the Duke. “Now shall I sey yow,” quod the kynge, “how it shall be. I haue take a parliament with the kynge Clarion of Northumbirlonde, folio 198b
and the kynge de Cent Chiualers at Arestuell, and with the kynge Arthur hymself at the feste of seint Mary day in Septembre, and ye and alle the worthi princes shull be there, and we shull take trewis in soche manere that eche of vs shall assemble his power as grete as he may a-gein the day that shall be named and sette, ffor to fight with the saisnes whan we be alle assembled, and but yef thei be driven oute in this manere thei shull neuer be hadde oute of this londe;” and the Duke ansuerde that this were the grettest almesse that myght be do, “and wolde oure lorde that this were don, and wite ye wele that I haue thought often that the saisnes hadde neuer entred this londe ne were for the synne that is a-monge vs, and be my will we shall a-corde with the kynge Arthur so that we shull neuer haue a-gein hym werre, but do that he vs requereth withoute eny delay, ffor seth he is a-noynted and sacred hit is no light thinge hym to depose that the clergie and the peple of the londe haue chosen; and the Page 557
remes of Beynok, and of Gannes holde with hym, and we se well we may neuer haue the better.” “Yef ye haue thought thus,” quod the kynge looth, “soone shall the pees be made betwene yow and hym, and of my partye I sey not nay but that hit is made. Ne ye may not hens-forwarde, neyther ye ne noon other make no werre a-gein Arthur, but ye haue werre a-gein me.” “How so,” quod the Duke, “be ye with hym acorded?” and he seide, “Ye, withoute faile.”

Than he tolde hym all how the pees hadde be made, and all the traueile as it hadde be, and how his childeren hadde hym lefte, and tolde hym all in ordre, and spake so togeder betwene the kynge and the Duke, that the Duke hym graunted to be at Arestuell at the day that was named, and seide the pees sholde not be letted for hym, and than yede thei to bedde to reste, for thei were wery for traueile of the grete stour that thei hadde ben ynne; and on the morowe erly the kynge looth a-roos for to here masse, and so dide his sones, and the Duke Escam, and wente to the mynster, and whan the masse was seide, the kynge com to the Duke, and seide, “Sir, it were well don that ye toke foure messagiers, and sende to the kynge ydiers of Cornewaile, and another to kynge Vrien, and the thridde to kynge Aguysans, and the fourthe to kynge Ventres of Garlot, and sendeth to theym in oure be-halue that thei be at Arestuell at oure lady day in Septembre, and than sende another to kynge Tradilyuaunt of North Wales, and to the kynge Belynaunt his brother, and to the kynge Carados, and to the kynge Brangore, that thei be at this parliament at Arestuell on seint Mary day in Septembre;” and he seide this sholde gladly be do, and a-noon thei sette forth the messagiers and spedde hem so that thei be come to the princes, and dide right well theire message as thei were comaunded; and the princes com as soone as thei hadde herde the message, but of hem alle now resteth a-while, and speke of the kynge looth and his sones.

As soone as the messagiers were departed from Cambenyk, the kynge looth and his sones rode forth theire wey

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towarde Arestuell, and the Duke hem conveied on the wey, and yaf eche of hem a shelde peynted with soche armes as thei were wonte to bere and helmes fresch folio 199a
and newe, and than the Duke toke his leve and returned hom a-gein, and made hym redy for to come after the kynge looth, and thei hilde her streight-wey toward north wales to a Citee that longed to the kynge Tradilyuaunte, and fonde the kynge in the Citee that gladde was of theire comynge, ffor he loved well the kynge looth and asked hym in to what contrey he was goinge; and the kynge looth tolde hym all as it was; and Tradilyuans seide how a messager hadde tolde hym the same that the Duke Escam hadde hym sent, “and ther shall I be yef god will that I haue so longe lif and hele.” And than was the kynge looth and his sones gladde and iocunde; that nyght was the kynge looth and his children richely served, and as soone as it was day, thei toke theire wey and com to Arestuell in Scotlonde where thei soiourned foure dayes er eny prince were come, and ledde meri lif, and a-bode after the princes till that the kynge Clarion com alther firste the lorde of Northumbirlonde that was oon of the gentillist and deboneir prince of the worlde, and ther-to he was a good knyght, and the kynge looth made of hym grete ioye, and so dide he of hym and of his foure sones, for he hadde hem not seyn be-fore.

On the morowe com the kynge de Cent Chiualers, of whom theire myrthe be-gan gretly to encrece, and than cam the Duke Escam that was a good knyght and a sure, and after com the kynge Tradilyuans of North [correction; sic = Noth]

walis, and the kynge Belynans his brother, and after com the kynge Brangore and the kynge Carados of Strangore, and than the kynge Vrien and the kynge Aguysans of Scotlonde, and the kynge ydiers of Cornewaile, and the kynge Ventres of Garlot, and than com the lorde of the streite marche; and whan thei were alle assembled the kynge looth seide that on the morowe he wolde hem telle wherefore he hadde made hem to assemble, and this was on seint marie even in Septembre, and eche of hem made to other grete ioye and myrthe, and rested Page 559
ther all that nyght; and on the morowe thei assembled togeder all the prevy counseile, and sir Gawein and his thre bretheren, and whan thei weren all sette vpon a cloth of silke that was leide vpon the grene grasse, than a-roos Gawein by the comaundement of his fader the kynge looth, and seide, “Ffeire lordes, we be come hider for to speke with yow in the name of the kynge Arthur with whom we be, and my lorde yow sendeth and prayeth as to hem that he wolde gladly haue to his frendes yef it myght be, that ye sholde yeve hym trewys saf to come and saf to go by feith and suerte betwene this and yole; and ye also to go and come thourgh his power suerly, and he in yours at youre plesier; ffor yef it plese yow that we go alle togeder and fight with the saisnes that be come in to this contrey till that we haue hem oute chaced, and yef god will ordeyne that thei be discounfited than acorde yow togeder yef ye may be, and the pardon is yoven and graunted to alle tho that will go fight with saisnes, that thei shull be clene quyte of alle ther synnes as thei were the day of theire birthe.”

folio 199b

Whan the princes herde the request of sir Gawein of that he dide hem amoneste, thei asked the kynge looth his advise, and he seide it was the grettest bounte that euer was seide or don. “And I do yow to wite I sey it nothinge for that I am his sworn man, but I sey as longe as ye haue ben a-geins hym ye haue myshapped, ffor as I trowe this peple hadde neuer entred in to this londe yef we hadde holden togeder, and knowe it verily that it cometh thourgh oure synnes.” “What!” seide the kynge Vrien, “haue ye don hym homage, ye haue nothinge do as a trewe knyght, and I will telle yow whi, ffor yef it fill so that we yede vpon hym, hit behoveth vs to go a-gein yow.” “That were right,”

seide the kynge looth, “withoute faile, and wite ye well who so hath werre a-gein hym hath werre a-gein me.” “Ffor sothe,” seide the kynge Vrien, “that is vntrewly don, ffor ye be oon of vs, and ye sholde not vs so leven.” “Sir,”

seide the kynge looth, “I dide it magre myn, and a-gein my will, ffor I do yow to wite that day I wende hym moste to greve or a-noyen. I Page 560
dide hym homage, and all this made me Gawein for to do, that ye here se.” Than he tolde hem alle worde for worde how the cas was befallen; and whan the other princes herde this, thei seide he myght noon other do seith it was so he was not moche to blame, and some of hem that were there wolde right gladly that thei hadde happed in the same manere. Thei spake of oo thinge and of other, that thei accorded to holde the trewis, and ther-to thei it assured in sir Gaweins honde hit trewly to holde, and sette hem a day that eche of hem sholde be with all his power on the playn of Salisbery with all his peple as eche of hem myght bringe.

But thei seide well that whan the saisnes were driven oute of the londe that thei dide the kynge to wite that he diffende hym from theym; and sir Gawein hem tolde that whan it were come ther-to that yef thei wolde hym ought mysdon thei sholde fynde that thei sholde haue hym theire armes wery and ouercharged.

Whan the princes vndirstode the wordes of sir Gawein ther were some that lough and some frowned with the heede, and the kynge de Cent Chiualiers that liste not hym to a-vaunte ne noon other to manace, seide he wolde be ther at halowmesse yef god hym sende lif in the playn of Salisbery, and so seide eche of hem for his partye; and the kynge looth seide that he wolde not thens remeve till he hadde assembled all his power, and than thei toke leve eche of other, and departen, and eche of hem wente in to his contrei, and the londe was assoiled by the legat; and thei moustred and assembled all the peple that thei myght gete, and sente for to seche frendes and kynnesmen thourghoute all cristindome and dide proclame all the pardon that was graunted, and he that first myght assemble his peple wente in to the playn of Salisbiry, and loigged in tentes and pavilouns, and ther a-bide eche of hem other, and as the story seith thider com alle that myght eny wepen weilde, and on that othir side of the folio 200a
londe of kynge Clamedin, and of the londe of kynge Guygueron, a riche baron Page 561
of the londe of Sorloys, and thider com the kynge Brangores, and ther was moche peple of the kynge looth of Orcanye, and of the londe of kynge helain, and of the londe of kynge pellynor, and of the londe of kynge Pelles of lystenoys, and of the londe of the Duke Roches. But here resteth the tale of hem and returneth to the kynge Arthur and his wif Gonnore.

CHAPTER XXVIII

ADVENTURES OF SEGRAMOR, GALASHIN, AND DODINELL; MERLIN’S VISITS TO BLASE AND TO

THE PRINCES; ARTHUR’S PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR.

Now seith the storie that myri lif ledde the kynge Arthur and his wif after that the kynge looth and his sones were departed, and the kynge looth sente to the kynge Arthur that the trewis were graunted, and therfore was arthur gladde and iocunde, and the quenes knyghtes, and so were the knyghtes of the rounde table, and so were also the two kynges that were brethern; and on the morowe that the tidinges were come to court Segramor a-ros erly, and Galasshin and Dodinell le sauage, and armed hem right wele of alle parties, and yede to disporte in the foreste that was grete and depe, for on the nyght be-fore hadde thei caste for to a-rise erly hem to pley and disporte; and whan thei were come thider hit hem liked well, for thei herde the songe of the fowles and briddes that myrily were entuned, and thei seiden that thei wolde go serche the forest and the contrey for to wite yef thei myght finde eny auenture whereby thei myght be preised and comended; and also on that other side were there dissevered thre knyghtes of the rounde table from the Courte, and hadde taken straunge armes for thei wolde not be knowen, and thei desired sore for to mete with the quenes knyghtes for to prove hem-self a-geins hem; and that oon of the knyghtes was Agrauandain the brother of Belynans, the beste knyght destramors that after werred the kynge Arthur.

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The seconde was Mynoras, and the thirde was Monevall that was a noble knyght and richely armed of alle pointes, and whan thei were in the playn felde thei ronne with theire horses oon a-gein another withoute smytinge of eny stroke, and than seide Mynoras to his felowes, lete vs go for to pley vs and disporte in this foreste to assay yef we fynde eny aventure, and his felowes therto graunted a-noon with goode chere, and ride forth towarde the Castell de lespine, for that it was the more auenturouse than eny other wey, and thus these thre felowes ride in companye till thei founde thre weyes that made hem departe, so that eche rode sooll by hymself as auenture dide falle. But now we moste cesse of hem awhile, and returne to speke of Merlin.

Here seith the boke that whan Merlin was departed from the kynge Arthur from a thiside of Toraise in Carmelide, that he wente in to Northumbirlonde to Blaise his maister, that gladde was of his comynge, ffor he loved moche his companye; and whan Merlin a-while hadde be ther he tolde hym how the kynge Arthur was spoused to his wif, and how she sholde haue be by-traied, and how Vlfin and Bretell
folio 200b
hadde hir rescewed, and how the false Gonnore was banysshed, and how Bertelais slough the knyght, and of the turnement that the knyghtes made be-fore Toraise, and how the kynge Arthur hadde sente Gawein his nevew to logres for to somowne his court, and how the kynge loth wolde haue refte a-wey his wif; and how that Gawein com and hym socoured, and toke his owen fader, and how the avowis were made at the Court, and how the quenes knyghtes turneyed a-gein the knyghtes of the rounde table, and the merveles that sir Gawein ther dide, and how the kynge Ban yaf counseile to the kynge Arthur that his knyghtes sholde neuer haue turnement oon a-gein another, and the counseile that kynge looth yaf for to sende messages to the princes, and all that be-fill hym and his sones on the wey, and how the princes were assembled at Arestuell, and how the trewys were take for to go vpon the saisnes; and Blaase wrote all this in his boke, and by that haue we the knowinge ther-of, and

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than Blase asked yef thei myght haue peple I-nowe for to fight a-gein the saisnes; and Merlin seide, “Nay be-fore that the peple were come oute of litill Breteigne, and thei of the reame of Carmelide, and thei of lamball that was longinge to the kynge Amaunte that Gosenges hilde, and as soone as I go fro hens I will go fecche the peple of kynge Ban and of kynge Bohors in the two reames, and make hem to come hider, and I do yow to wite,” quod Merlin, “that ther shull come peple hider of many londes for the sauacion of theire soules, and for to diffende the cristin feith, and I do yow to wite it is grete nede that oure lorde helpe at this tyme, ffor neuer be-fore was ther sein so moche peple as shall be now at this assemble. Ne neuer for no power shull thei be put oute of this londe be-fore that the princes ben acorded with the kynge Arthur;” and Blase seide that he aparceyved well that he loved a lady whereof the prophesie sholde falle and hadde be seide, and Blase hym preide full hertely and seide, “Merlin, dere frende, I praye yow for the love of god that ye will telle me who shall be-gete the lyon to the two messages, and whan this shall be do.” And Merlin seide that the terme drough faste on that it sholde be do; and blase seide that it was grete damage; and yef I knewe the tyme and place I wolde fain do my peyne it for to cesse; and Merlin seide, “Write soche lettres as I shall yow devise, and than shall ye knowe whan ye may hem helpe, and he hem wrote that seide in this wise, “Cest li comenchemens et li contes des auentures de pais pur coy li merveilleux lyons fu enseres et que fitz du roy et de royne le destraindra et couenra qu’ il soit chastes et le myldres cheualiers del monde,”

and these lettres that Blase wrote Merlin sette by alle the weyes where the auentures were, and ne myght neuer be taken a-wey, but by theym that sholde hem acheve, and therfore were the knyghtes the better willed for to labour. Ne neuer otherwise was distroied the grete lyon; and than seide blase, “How is it that I may it noon other weyes helpe;” and Merlin seide, “Noo.” “And shall I lyve so longe,” quod Blase, “that I may it knowe.”

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“Haa! dere frende,” seide Merlin, “ne dowte it not, and many folio 201a
other merveiles shull ye se after these.” Than made Merlin Blase to write soche letteres as he dide hym devise, and bar hem ther as he wolde, and sette hem by the passages in high weyes, and than comaunded hym to god, and than he wente in to litill Breteigne; and whan he toke his leve of Blase it was a-boute the houre of pryme, and a-boute the houre of noone he com in to litill Breteigne, and fonde leonce the lorde of Paerne, and Pharien that grete chere hym made and ledde hym with hem full debonerly and were with hym gladde and myry thre dayes hooll; and on the forthe day thei asked Merlin why he was come in to that contrey, “ffor we knowe well that for nought be ye not come,” and he hem tolde that thei moste passe the see with as moche peple as thei myght haue oute of that contrey. “Sir,” seide leonce, “in to what place shall we go?” and Merlin seide “to the Roche flodomer, and fro thens in to the playn of Salisbery where ye shull fynde peple of many dyuerse langages that alle shull be come thider for the same cause that ye shull come fore, and ye shull loigge ther by youreself with alle youre peple, and remeve yow not till ye se me a-gein, and loke ye make youre baner all white and therynne a rede crosse and no more, and so shull haue alle the other princes that shull come thider, and noon of hem knoweth no worde of other ne wherefore it is don, and therynne is grete significacion;” and leonce and Pharien seide this sholde be don. “Now,” quod Merlin, “loke that ye take with yow alle the beste peple that ye may haue, ffor I do yow to wite that there shall be grete multitude of peple a-geins hem.” “And who shall kepe this londe,” seide leonce. “Haue no doute of the kepinge,” quod Merlin, “ffor ther shall noon a-bide to kepe it, but lambuges and the nevew of Pharien, and Banyns the sone of Gracien of Trebes, and Galiers the lorde of the haut moor; and ye shull lede the hostes of youre two reames, and Grascien shall lede the hoste of Orcanye, and the stiwarde Antyaume shall be with yow, and Pharien and Dionys shull lede theym of Gaule, and loke that ye neuer leve for noon avoir, but withholde

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all the peple that ye may haue of sowdiours yow for to serve.” And leonce seide that this sholde be do as he hadde devised.

Than Merlin be-taught hem to god, and praied hem to go hastely, for it myght not be taried, “and I ne may no lenger with yow a-bide.” “Sir,” quod leonce, “god haue yow in kepinge, for I dare not pray yow to a-bide, for ye knowe better what is for to do than I.” Than departed Merlin, and com to Nimiane his love, whiche of hym was gladde and ioyfull as soone as she hym saugh, and the love of hym encresed so moche that loth he was to departe, but taught hir grete part of his connynge; and than he wente in to the reame of lamball, that was the kynges Amaunte that the kynge Bohors hadde slayn, and bad Gosengos that he ne sholde leve in no maner but that he sholde be on the playn of Salisbery at halowmesse with all his peple, and he seide he wolde be ther withoute faile. Than wente Merlin in to the reame of Carmelide, and dide his message ther on kynge Arthurs be-halue, and thei seide thei wolde go thider with good chere, and meved a-noon thiderward with xxMl of bolde men and hardy; and Grascien and folio 201b

Pharien and Dyonis spedde hem so wele that in litill terme thei assembled xlMl men in the medowes be-fore Gannes; and whan it was tyme for to meve, these felowes toke theire wey and spedde so theire iourneyes be londe and be water till thei com in to the playns of Salisbiry, and ther thei fonde the xij princes that were there with as moche peple as thei myght assemble togeder, and ech kepte his hoste by hymself, and Nabulall that hadde be stiward with the kynge Amaunt somowned his peple and assembled hem togeder, and preied the sone of the kinge Amaunt for to come with hym; and he dide his counseile, ffor he was a feire yonge squyer, bolde and hardy, and hadde loved the quene Gonnore, and fayn wolde haue hadde hir to his wif, yef he hadde be knyght, but the werre betwene the two fadres it letted; ffor the queene hadde hym desired more than eny other man while she was a maiden, and yet ech of hem desired other to se, and sente often messages that oon to the tother and [correction; sic = ] tokenes.

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Whan this yonge lorde com to Nabulall that kepte the reame to the be-hofte of kynge Arthur, he tolde hym how the kynge wolde fight with the saisnes, “and sente me in comaundement,” quod Nabuall, “that I sholde bringe alle hem that myght armes bere bothe moche and litill, and therefore I wolde knowe youre will yef ye will come thider.” And he seide, “Ye, trewly;” and than was Nabulall gladde, and seide thei wolde go togeder to se alle the worthi men of the worlde; and than Nabulall assembled all the peple that he myght till he hadde xxMl, and spedde hym so till that he com in to the playn of Salesbiry; and Merlin com to Bandemagn as soone as he was departed fro Nabulall and badde hym sende to the hoste the grettest people that he myght; and the kynge Bandemagn assembled his peple that he hadde xxMl, and Merlin bad hym a-bide and sende with his hoste Patrides his stiwarde for to lede his peple, and thei shull finde at the Court Guyomar and Sadoyne, and Guyret de lamball that shull go with hym, and helpe to lede thy peple ther as thei shull go; and therwith Merlin departed from the kynge and com to logres the same day that the vj knyghtes were gon hem to disporte in to the foreste auenturouse, whereof ye haue herde speke a-fore how thei wente for to seche her auenturous.

Whan Merlin com to court, he fonde the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and the kynge Arthur, and the quene that lened oute at the wyndowes of the paleys, and loked on the medowes, and the thre knyghtes that were go in to the foreste, that were of the companye of the rounde table of whom the names were rehersed to yow be-fore; and the lordes wiste no worde till that Merlin com in euen vpon hem, and a-noon as thei were of hym war thei ronne ageins hym and made hym the grettest ioye that thei cowde; and whan thei hadde spoke togeder of many thinges, than com Merlin to Arthur, and
folio 202a
bad hym sende for all his power in all haste withoute taryinge, and dide hym well to wite how the kynge looth hadde right wele spedde, and tolde hym also how the straunge peple com oute of dyuerse [correction; sic = dyuese] contrees, bothe on horse and

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on fote, in to the playns of Salisbery, and he asked [correction; sic = ] hym what peple ther com, and he tolde hym how the kynge looth rode with all his power, “and ye hadde full noble counseile for to take the trewys, and what peple trowe ye shall come on youre partye, ye shull haue the power of kynge Ban of Benoyk, and of kynge Bohors of Gannes, and thei be well xlMl;” and whan the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors vndirstode this, thei sterte vpon hire feet and asked by whom that was; and Merlin hem ansuerde a-noon, and seide he hadde do the message hymself, “and thei trowed me well god yelde it hem,” and the two brethern ansuerde that ther-of he hadde right well spedde, and that of nothinge myght he haue made hem so gladde; and than Merlin seide to kynge Arthur, “Sire,” quod he, “wite ye who cometh hider also, ther cometh Nabulall de Camadayse of the reame of kynge Amaunt, that the kynge Bohors that is here slough in bataile, and with hym cometh a yonge lorde that is yet no knyght, and hider cometh all the power of Carmelide that Cleodalis the stiward doth lede; but the kynge leodogan ne cometh not, and all this chiualrie haue I yow somowned, and therfore I owe to haue guerdon.” And the kynge seide, “Merlin, I can not sey what I sholde yow ofre, but I will that ye be lorde of me and of all my londe, for by yow is all that I haue.” “Sir,” quod he, “whan I com thus sodeinly vpon yow right now, what dide ye beholde so ententifly down the medowes.” Quod the kynge, “We loked on thre knyghtes that we saugh entre in to the foreste.” “Wote ye euer,” quod Merlin, “who thei be.” “No,” seide the kynge.” “Wite it verily,” quod Merlin, “that it be thre knyghtes of the rounde table that be full noble and hardy. But foles thei ben and folily haue thei don, for thei be envyouse; and I telle yow trewly that neuer in theire lif hadde thei so grete nede of socour and helpe as thei shull haue er thei come a-gein, and all is thourgh her owne folye.” “Merlin,” seide the kyng, “telle me who thei be I praye yow.” “Sir,” quod he, “that oon is Agrauadain des vals de gailore, and the seconde is Mynoras ly engres, and the

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thridde is Monevall; and I lete yow wite that thei ne hadde ride but litill wey er thei shull meete with thre of the queenes knyghtes that shull fight with hem, and therfore yef ye do wisely sendeth after hem, ffor but yef thei be departed ther shull some be deed, and that were grete damage and pite.” “Haa? lorde god,”

quod the kynge, “who shall go hem for to disseuer a-sonder.” “Sir,” seide the quene, “sir Ewein and kay the stiward, and Gifflet.” “Sir,” quod Merlin, “the quene seith well, sende hem forth a-noon hastely;” and a-noon the kynge hem cleped and comaunded hem to armen, and thei dide so a-noon right, and whan folio 202b
thei were redy araide thei com to the kynge, and asked whider thei sholde go, and Merlin bad thei sholde go in to the foreste the streight wey to the crosse, “and ther shull ye finde vj knyghtes fightinge, and loke that ye hem departe;”

and whan thei this vndirstode thei wente out of the paleis and toke theire horse delyuerly, and rode a grete walop in haste as thei were comaunded, but er thei were come there were strokes yoven. But now we shull returne to speke of the vj knyghtes how thei haue spedde.

As the storie seith the thre knyghtes of the quenes haue so riden thourgh the foreste that thei haue founde a feire launde, and thei a-light and rested hem on the grene herbes, and Galashin seide to his felowes, “Wolde our lorde god that sir Gawein and his brethern were now here, and we wolde go se the saisnes yef ye wolde assent;” and than seide Dodinell the sauage that it were a shrewe to go, for in this foreste is noon rescettes, and oure horse sholde dyen for the faute and for hungir; and while thei spake of these thinges, com the thre felowes of the rounde table disgised of theire armes, for fayn wolde thei haue be pursued of some of the quenes knyghtes; and Segramor asked of his felowes yef thei knewe hem ought, and thei seide, “Nay,” and euer thei come faste on. Than seide Agrauadain to his felowes, “I se yonder soche thre felowes that me wolde for-thinke that thei sholde lede a-wey with hem theire horse hom a-gein.” “How so,” quod Mynoras, “be not we thre as well as thei;” and while thei spake thus, Page 569
the thre knyghtes laced theire helmes that thei hadde don from theire hedes for to take the air; and thei lepte on theire horse, and wolde haue gon theire wey as they thought noon euell, seth that noon hem nought asked; and whan these other thre saugh hem goinge, thei hem ascried with lowde voice, “Iuste yow be-houeth or elles ye shull vs leve youre horse, and so may ye passe quyte;” and whan Segramor that vndirstode, he turned the heed of his horse and seide, “What be ye than robbours that lyve be soche mysteir, wite it verily whan ye com home to youre hostell to nyght, ye shull have but litill to ete of the wynnynge that ye shull bringe from vs, for we yow diffie.” Than thei smyte the horse with the spores that the blode stremed oute on bothe sides, and sette the sheldes be-fore theire brestes and the speres a-gein the assels of theire sadelis; and whan Segramor and his felowes saugh hem come in this maner thei dide the same, and com hem for to mete, and fill so that Segramore and Agrauadain mette with speres a-gein the sheldes so rudely, that thei perced thourghoute, and the hauberkes brosten agein the lifte side, and Agrauadain felte the sharpe spere so depe that the blode folowed after; and Agrauadain brake his spere on Segramours hauberke at the same cours, and Segramor that hadde herte I-nough and force shof so harde that he threwe hym to grounde and his horse bothe. But Agrauadain that was wight and delyuer, and full of grete hardynesse, lepte on his feet full lightly and drough his swerde, and appareiled hym self
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to diffende, and whan Segramor hadde parformed his cours he drough a litill a-side and sette foot to grounde, and tacched his horse to his spere, and Agravadayns horse ran faste to the wode, and Segramor drough his suerde and dressed his shelde, and com towarde Agravadain a grete spede, and he com for to mete hym vigerously, and smyte grete strokes vpon the helmes, and over all ther thei myght atteyne, and so endured the medle of hem longe while; and Segramor seide, “Sir knyght, thow art deed, but thow yelde;” and Agrauadain ansuerde “that to that pointe was he nothinge yet comen;” and Segramor seide he sholde come ther-to soner than

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he wende, and that other ansuerde that right litill he hym douted, and seide he cowde well manace; and Segramor seide that verily it was the maner of a fooll, and therfore is seide a proverbe, that foles love neuer a thinge till he take the a-coole, and so is it yow befallen. Than thei ronne togeder and fought longe, but Agravadain hadde the werse of the bataile.

On that othir side mette Galasshin and Mynoras, and fill that Mynoras brake his spere vpon Galashyns shelde, and Galashin hym smote with soche vigour vpon the penon of the shelde that he shof the spere thourgh his thigh, and thourgh the horse flanke that thei fill to grounde vpon an heep, and his horse slode also with all foure feet that he also fill to the erthe, but soone was he vpon his feet, and so was Mynoras, and drough theire suerdes, and [correction; sic = and and] begonne the medle betwene hem two full grete and fell with all theire power.

And also ran togeder Dodinell le sauage, and Monevall, and mette with speres wher-of the hedes were sharpe I-grounden that the sheldes were perced and stinte at the hauberkes that were harde, and the speres bothe fly on peces; and in the passinge forth Dodinel hurteled so harde with his shelde and his body that Monevall fill to grounde, but a-noon he a-roos a-gein, for he was hardy and delyuer; and whan Dodinell hadde parformed his cours he returned with swerde drawen, and fonde hym redy hym to diffende. Than he drough a litill a-side and a-light, and com with his suerde in honde gripinge his shelde, and begonne to medle and to scirmyssh strongely. Thus faught these vj knyghtes longe from prime to mydday, and the quenes knyghtes begonne to gete grounde vpon hem of the rounde table, and somwhat ledde hem at hir volunte; and whan thei saugh hem glenche thei hem ascride, and seide, “Yelde yow;” and thei seide thei hadde lever be deed; and whan thei saugh it wolde noon other be thei ronne vpon hem fiercely, and Segramor saugh that his felowe wolde not yelde, and he lepte to hym lightly, and hitte so Agravadain

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on the helme that he slitte it on two partyes, and the coyf of maile that he wounded sore hym in the heed that he fill to grounde all astonyed; but he lay not longe, for he douted sore another stroke, and covered hym vndir his shelde the beste that he myght, and Dodinell caste a stroke of skirmerye to monevall, and smote hym so harde vpon the arme that he hilde with his shelde, that the shelde fill
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to grounde that ner he hadde hym shente; and Galashin smote so Mynoras on the helme that he bente down to the erthe, and fallen hadde he; but as he kepte hym on his handes, and than Galashin hente hym by the helme and raced it of his heed so felliche that nose and browes bledde, and yaf hym soche a buffet with his swerde that he fill flatte to grounde, and than he lepte to and a-valed the coyf of maile from his heed and seide he wolde smyte it from the sholdres, but he wolde hym yelde outerly; and he seide he wolde it not do in no wise, and Galashin seide than sholde he dye withoute raunsom.

And while thei demened hem in this maner, com kay the stiwarde, and sir Ewein, and Gifflet the sone of Doo of Cardoell that the kynge hadde sent, but to longe hadde thei taried; ffor Segramor hadde so araied Agrauadain, that he was all couered in blode, and dide but glenche here and there fro oo place to another, and Segramor hym chaced for to take hym a full stroke, and Dodinell hadde his felowe so be-seyn that he hadde nother shelde ne helme on his hede, and dide but glenche for to eschewe the deth, and Galashin helde his felowe at the grounde, and with that oon hande hilde hym by the ventaile, and his swerde in the tother hande redy to smyten of his heed, and in short tyme alle thre sholde haue loste theire lyves; but as sir Ewein, and kay, and Gifflet com walopinge as faste as thei myght, and cried with lowde voice, “I-nough it is, for we se well how it is, and we shull hem plegge of what ye will hem aske;” and Segramor turned toward hem and knewe hem wele, and ansuerde to sir Ewein, “Sir, gladly for more wolde I do for yow than this a-mounteth;” and in the same wise seide Galashin and Dodinell, and lefte hem with that, and these com Page 572
to hem and blamed hem for that thei hadde begonne soche folye; and Segramor ansuerde hastely, and seide, “How so, my lorde, sir Ewein haue we vs so mystaken whan of these thre vassals we haue rescewed oure horse, that thei wolde vs haue be-refte. Nay than hadde we be more shame-worthi yef thei hadde hem taken be force, ffor than sholde we neuer haue hadde honour in no place that we hadde comen, and full euell sholde he diffende his felowe that dar not diffende his owne thinge.” “Ha,” quod Ewein, “thei dide it for noon euell ne for no felonye that thei wolde yow haue don, but pleide with yow;” and Galashin be-gan to laugh vndir his helme, ffor he aparceived be that sir Ewein seide that thei were of the companye of the rounde table, and Dodinell seide that “blissed be soche pley, and hem that it be-gynne, for so shull we well lerne.”

“Lete be these wordes,” quod sir Ewein, “and take youre horse, and lete vs repeire hom to the Court, ffor ther is noon so myghty ne puyssaunt that ne shall haue I-nough bataile withynne these vj monethes;” with that these thre knyghtes be lepte on theire horse, but the tother thre be trist and dolent. Than Segramor asked of sir Ewein what
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thei thre weren. “What,” quod sir Ewein, “ne knowe ye hem nought.” “So moche ought thei haue the more damage;” “wite it verily,” quod Ewein, “that these with whom ye haue foughten it is Agravadain des vaus de gailore and felowe of the rounde table;” and Segramore seide he knewe hym not, “but seth it is so befallen I may no more do.” “And Galashin hath foughten with mynoras.” “What,”

quod Galashin, “Mynoras be that ye, so helpe me god ye haue yow to moche mystake a-gein vs whan that ye knewe vs well, and com vpon vs withoute oure knowinge of yow.” Than Dodinell drough hym to monevall, and asked hym what he was; “ffor,”

quod he, “I will here it of youre mouthe.” And he seide in bas voice, “I am monevall.” “Ye be-gan the foly,” quod Dodinell, “and seth ye folye haue sought, folie haue ye founden, and therfore may ye seye verily that ther nys noon so moche a fole but he may finde his felowe.” “Now lete be all this,” seide kay, “for thus

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shull the knyghtes of the rounde table go to a-venge the deth of the wrenne;”

and than begonne thei all to laughe saue the thre that were hurte sore, ffor thei hadde no talent to laugh; ffor thei were shamefast and mate for that was hem befallen; and forth thei riden togeder alle ix till thei com to the court at logres, and the thre wente to their hosteles hem to vn-arme, ffor thei hadde nede of reste, and the tothere vj wente to court and fond the thre kynges, and the quene, and Merlin that yet were at the wyndowes of the paleys, and spake with Merlin, for longe hadde thei hym not seyn; and the vj knyghtes wente in to a chamber hem to vn-arme; and whan thei were vnarmed sir Ewein com to the kynge, and as soone as the Quene hym saugh, she seide, “Sir, telle vs of youre tidinges.” “Madame,” quod Ewein, “men may telle I-nowe.” Than he be-gan to telle how he hadde founde the vj knyghtes fightinge, and the kynge asked whiche hadde the werse; and he tolde hem all euen as it was, and the scorn that kay hem yaf, and Dodinell and Segramor ther-at lowen faste I-nough, but sone thei lefte the wordes, for thei saugh the kynge pensif and dolent; and Merlin stode forth and seide, “Wite ye why is this discorde betwene the knyghtes of the rounde table, and the quenes knyghtes; wetith it well,” quod Merlin, “that it is but enuye that the ton hath a-gein the tother, and therfor thei will preve togeder theire prowesses;” and thei asked whiche were the beste knyghtes owther the rounde table or the Quenes knyghtes, and the kynge seide that thei were all the Quenes, ffor the rounde table wente all by hir; and than the kynge Ban seide “that the beste myght soone be chosen, for it is my lorde, sir Gawein,” and thei seide all how it was trewe; and the kynge seide that he sholde hem companye with the rounde table as soone as thei were come a-gein; and Merlin seide that sholde not be by-fore that the saisnes were chaced oute, and than thei lefte the tales and wente to mete, and after mete a-noon the kynge sent his messages thourgh the londe
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to alle hem that were his men that eny armes myght bere that thei sholde come to hym araied, for to diffende the londe and mete with hym Page 574
vpon the playn of Salisbery, and that thereof thei sholde make no delay.

Thus sente the kynge his messages thourgh all the londe, and a-noon as thei were fro hym departed, the kynge Arthur toke the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and Merlin, and seide, “Lete vs go se oure felowes that be seke;” and thei wente a-noon, and with hem many a knyght; and whan thei wiste it was the kynge thei wolde haue risen to haue gon a-geins hym; but the kynge hem so surprised that he wolde not suffre hem to a-rise, and blamed hem for the folye that thei hadde don; and thei seide thei myght hem not withholde, and thei wiste not how it com, and than the kynge delyuered hem leches to couer theire woundes; and they bad the kynge be not dismayed, for withynne viij dayes thei sholde be hooll and sounde, so that thei myght bere armes and ride at hir own will; and than the kynge comaunded hem to god, and seide to hem at his departinge that as soone as thei were hooll thei sholde come after hym to playns of Salisbery, “ffor I go now,” quod the kynge, “and ther shall be moche peple and grete assemble.” With that the kynge departed, and com in to the halle, and fonde knyghtes I-nowe that wolde haue sette a turnement as many for as many a-gein the Quenes knyghtes, for that sir Gawein was not there, and for to a-venge theire felowes that were wounded; and the quene hem diffended, and seide that thei spake a-boute nought, ffor neuer shull ye haue turnement oon agein another, and therfore I pray yow for the feith that ye owe to my lorde and me, that neuer ye ther-of speke till that I comaunde;” and they seiden that neuer more wolde thei speke ther-of seth that she dide it comaunde, and at euensonge tyme the kynge comaunded that alle men sholde hem appareile on horse bakke, and on foote alle that myght armes bere, ffor on the morowe erly wolde he ride toward the plain of Salisbery, where-as the comounte of the peple sholde assemble; and as soone as the kynge hadde comaunded, thei made hem redy in the beste wise thei myght for [correction; sic = fo] to go on that grete nede: knyght, and squyer, and burgeise; and than a-roos soche brut and soche Page 575
noyse thourgh the town that men myght haue herde it half a myle, and on the morowe com the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors, and the kynge Arthur, and the quene, and alle that euer ther were assembled rode forth v dayes hool er thei com to the plain of Salesbiry, ffor thei made but smale iourneyes; and whan thei were come, thei loigge a-monge theire owne peple, and kay the stiward hadde brought the grete baner wherof the champe was white as snowe, and the dragon was a-boue the crosse, ffor thus comaunded Merlin; and whan the kinge was loged he ledde his companye in grete myrthe and ioye, and a-bode ther the Princes, and the peple com on alle parties out of many a contre.

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Renomee that thourgh the worlde renneth wente so thourgh the contrey, that the saisnes it wisten by theire esspies, that thei hadde thourgh the contrey, that brought tidinges to the sege at Clarence, that the peple of the londe and the contrey assembleden on the playns of Salesbiry, but thei knewe not whiche wey thei sholde ride; and the kynge hardogabran sente for his xix kynges, and thei com to hym a-noon, and than he tolde to hem his aspies hadde hym brought tidinges how the cristin made assemble in the plain of Salisbiry, and therfore he asked her counseile; and thei seide it were best to wacche well her hoste bothe be day and be nyght that thei were not surprised in slepinge, ffor by day light hadde thei no drede of all the peple of the londe, ffor thei hadde so grete multitude of peple that thei thought noon myght a-gein hem endure. But for all the seide thei “we rede that alle oure peple holde, and we holde vs togeder, and that noon go no more on forrey fro hens-forth withoute xxxMl men at armes, or mo, so that yef thei be mette that thei be not founde oute of aray, and ye knowe well that in all this londe that is so longe and brode is not the fourthe part of peple that we haue,” and in the fin thei acorded to this counseile that thei sholde alle holde hem togeder and make gode wacche; and than repaired the xix kynges to theire tentes, and so departed in soche maner and appareiled hem full well, and comaunded alle hem that Page 576
were vnther theire Iustice, that eche man sholde euer be redy and make goode wacche; and thei lete this be knowen at the sege of Valdesbiry, and made hem alle to leve the sege, and com alle to the sege be-fore Clarence, and so ther was so grete assemble and so huge that the sege aboute the Cite dured v myle of lengthe, and the herberowes lasted fer. But now lete vs leve the saisnes, and tell how the princes com to the playn of Salesbiry oon after another eche by hymself.

CHAPTER XXIX.

PARLIAMENT OF THE PRINCES AT SALISBURY; THEIR HOMAGE TO ARTHUR; AND DEFEAT OF

THE SAXONS.

Here seith the storye that so spedde hem the Princes after the Parliament that was take of the trewys that thei be meved to come towarde the plain of Salesbiry wele appareiled as soche myghty princes ought for to do; the firste prince that com in to the plain of Salesbiry was the Duke Escam of Cambenyk, and brought in his companye vijMl men of armes well a-raied of alle maner thinges, and thei hem loigged streite and clos togeder, and renged in tentes and pavelouns; after that com the kynge Tradilyuans of North-walys with vjMl men of armes vpon stedis of pris, for thei hadde a riche contrey and a plentevous of alle godes, and thei loigged hem next the Duke Escam vpon the playn; after hym com the kynge de Cent chiualers with xMl men wele a-raied, and loigged next after; and than com the kynge Clarion of Northumbirlonde that was a feire knyght, and a wise and bolde and hardy, and in his companye viijMl men, and hem dide condite with a baner as white as snowe ther-in a reade crosse, and soche baners hadde all thei that com thider, and these hem loigged; after hym
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com the kynge Belynans of South walis that was brother to kynge Tradilyuaunt, and with hym xMl men, and he hadde grete desire to se his sone Dodinell le sauage that he loved so

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well, and loigged hym by the kynge Clarion that was so gentill and curteise.

After hym com the kynge Carados of Strangore that was a felowe of the rounde table of hem that were firste founded; but after the discorde fill betwene Arthur and the princes neuer after wolde he be at the rounde table; and he brought with hym xMl men, and loigged hym by the kynge Belynans that was a good man; and than he asked yef the kynge Arthur were come, ffor hym thought longe to se his thre nevewes that were with Arthur, and that oon was Aglins des vaus, and the tother kay destranx and the thridde kehedin le petitz; but at that tyme was not the kynge Arthur I-comen, but he taried not longe after; and after the kynge Carados com the kynge Brangores, and brought in his companye xMl men, and loigged hym by the kynge Carados, and sore he desired to se hys wifes nevew that was in the court of kynge Arthur, ffor that he herde hym preised and comended of merveilouse bewte and valour, and his name was Segramor of Costantynnoble; after the kynge Brangore com Mynoras the Senescall of the kynge lak of the grete ynde that the kynge lak hadde sente only for the love of god for to haue the pardon that the legat hadde graunted and proclaymed thourgh all cristindom, and brought in his companye vijMl men well araied; after hym com the kynge Pelles of lytenoys with vjMl men that his stiward brought for the love of oure lorde, and thei were richely armed and horsed, and hem dide condite Pellynaus the stiwarde that was a full proude knyght, and he hym loged next Mynoras; after hym com the Senescall of the kynge Pellynour of the waste londes, and he brought vjMl men that the kynge Pellynour sente for the love of Ihesu Criste, and loigged by the peple of kynge Pellynaus; after hym com the Senescall of the kynge Alein of the forayn londes that was brother to the kynge Pellynour, and he brought vjMl men, and loigged hym by the peple of kynge Pellynor; after hym com Galehaut, the sone of the feire Geaunt that was lorde of the fer oute ylles, and brought in his company xMl men, and he com only for the love of Ihesu crist; after hym com Aguygneron, a merveilouse knyght, and

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was Senescall to Clameden the kynge of the yles; and this kynge sente thider vjMl men for the love of Ihesu criste, and he loigged next Galehaut; after hym com the kynge Cleolas that after was cleped firste conquered kynge, and in his company vjMl men, and he loigged next Aguygueron, the Senescall of Clamedien.

But this kynge Cleolas hadde but litill tyme be ther whan hym behoved to go thens for grete sekenesse, and lefte his peple to Guyonce his Senescall that was a goode man and a noble knyght; after hym com the Senescall of Sorloys for the love of god only, and with hym vjMl men, and his name was Margoundes, and he loigged hym by the Duke Belyas; and than
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com the kynge Arthur and hym loigged; and Merlin com to hym, and seide in counseile, “Sir, now beholde what oure lorde doth for yow, and for to saue youre peple, moche ought ye hym honoure and yelde graces with goode herte whan he thus you socoured and helpeth in soche nede.” “Merlin,” quod the kynge, “oure lorde foryeteth not his Synner; and he hath shewed [correction; sic = ] me yet hidyr-to that he hath me not for-yeten, and yet I truste to his mercy he will shewe me better than he hath don yet, ffor I haue in hym full by-leve, and all my truste, In so moche that I putt me [correction; sic = ] in his volunte whiche for his grete mercy and pite haue me in his kepinge bothe body and soule.”

“The goode by-leve,” quod Merlin, “that ye haue in oure lorde Jhesu, hath yow moche availed and yet shall ther-of haue ye no doute, wherfore I rede yow kepe stedfastly in that purpos while ye lyve, ffor while ye be in godes purpos shull ye haue the victorie of your enmyes.” “Merlin,” quod the kynge, “I beseche oure lorde suffre me neuer to departe fro his creaunce, but that I may holde it in soche maner that I yelde hym my soule whan it shall departe from the body;” and Merlin seide, “Amen. But now moste ye take goode hede how [correction; sic = ]

ye shull yow demene a-gein this baronye that is here assembled for to diffende the cristin feith, and to chace this mysbelevinge peple oute of youre londe.”

“Merlin,” quod the kynge, “I will do euen in all thinge as ye will counseile, for withoute yow I can nought do, and therefore I Page 579
putte me in god and in yow.” “Sir,” seide Merlin, “I wolde ye dide ioy and honour these lordes that here be assemled to diffende youre reame, and goth to theire tentes eche by hymself, and thanke hem for the socour that thei haue brought; and in speciall hem that of yow nothinge holden ne be not youre men, but beth come in reverence and worshippe of god; ffor neuer shewde oure lorde so grete honour to no prince, ffor ther is no kynge born that euer assemblede so feire a companye wher-ynne were so many noble men and goode knyghtes. Ne neuer ther shall be so many goode knyghtes togeder assembled be-fore that the fader shall sle the sone and the sone the fader, and that shall be in this same place, and to hym shall remayne the londe of the grete breteigne withouten lorde, and withouten heir.” Whan the kynge herde Merlin so speke, that in the same place the fader sholde sle the sone, and the sone sle the fader, and the londe of the grete breteigne a-bide withouten heir and lordles, he hym prayed and requyred to telle a partye of that more clerly to his vndirstondinge; and Merlin seide it was not to be seide, “but I shall telle yow so moche after this iourney shall come the lyon vncrowned, and bringe with hym foure lyouns wher-of tweyne shull be crowned, and the thirdde is withoute crowne; these shull devoure the shrewde ligne of the reame of logres. But aske me no more,” quod Merlin, “but goth to the barouns as I haue yow seide.” “I shall so with goode chere,” seide the kynge.

folio 206b

A noon the kynge lepe on his horse and ledde with hym the kynge Ban of benoyk, and the kynge Bohors of Gannes, and kay, and Segramor, and Ewein, and Galashin, and Galescoude, and Merlin. These ix com to the lordes to theire tentes, and whan thei knewe the comynge of kynge Arthur, thei com oute of theire tentes to mete hym, and the kynge and his companye a-light on foote, and salewed hem alle eche by hymself, and thanked hem hertely of that thei were come to helpe hym in that grete nede a-gein the saisnes that thourgh theire vntrouth and felonye hadde distroied his londe, and haue also disire to distroie all cristin peple.

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“Sir,” seide the lordes, “thei shull neuer haue ther-to power ne force, ffor to helpe holy chirche, and yow to diffende we be come and here assembled, and we will put oure bodyes in auenture of deth for to encrece holy chirche and the cristin feith to mayntene, and be the grace of oure lorde we shull do so moche er we departe oute of youre companye that holy cherche shall haue the victorye, and the saisnes shull haue the shame and the damage, and we will that ye wete that we be not youre men, ne neuer we hilde nought of yow, but we be come propirly for the love of god, and for to diffende holy chirche.” “God yow quyte,” seide the kynge Arthur, “in whos honour and reuerence ye it don, and bringe yow alle wele to youre repeire as he is almyghty.” “Amen,” seide the lordes, “and be it so as ye wolde.” Now reste a-while of Arthur and Merlin, and of the straunge lordes that be come hym for to helpe, and I shall telle yow of the xij princes that be alle assembled at the tente of kynge looth.

Whan the xij princes were come in to the plain of Salisbiry, thei wente alle to thanke the straunge princes of that thei were come for to diffende the londe from the hethen peple for the love of oure lorde god, and whan thei hadde this don, thei assembled alle at the tente of kynge looth, and satte down on a cowche that was covered with a cloth of silke, and spake of oo thinge and othir, and while thei were thus sette, entrid Merlin in to the tente, and as soone as thei saugh hym come, thei a-ros alle and wente to mete hym, and seide he was welcome; and he preide god yeve hem good auenture and grace to do so that it myght be savacion to theire soules, and honour to theire soules, and honour to theire bodyes; and that by hem myght holy chirche be diffended and caste oute of the power of her enmyes that by force were entred, “and it shall be mayntened, but yef it reste in yowre deffaute.” “In vs,” seide the Barons, “shall no defaute be founden, for we be come hider it to diffende.” “Trewly,” seide Merlyn, “the damage is full grete, but it is so befalle that bothe prevy and straunge be here assembled for othinge and for oquarell, and Page 581
well ought ye be reson a grete mater to bringe to ende be so that ye be of oon acorde, and of oon will, ffor otherwise may ye not spede, and good it were that ther were pees betwene yow and my lorde the kynge Arthur which ought to be youre lorde, and so sholde ye be the more dredde and douted thourgh euery londe.”

folio 207a

At this worde stode vp the kynge looth of Orcanye, and seide, “Lordes, Merlin seith wele, ffor it were grete honour to god and the worlde at this pointe, yef ye wolde acorde yow with hym.” With these wordes the kynge Vrien a-roos full wroth, and stode vpon his feet full angry, and seide to the kynge looth, “Ye haue made vs to com hider by trewys till we hadde distroied the saisnes and chaced oute of the contrey, and than yef it were oure honour than myght we do as our hertes vs bar, and ye now wolde vs meve with other materes and tales other weyes, and therfore we pray yow and requyre speke no more ther-of; ffor as for me I shall it neuer do. I wrote neuer what these other will do, but yef thei it ought do I shall sey thei be forsworn a-gein me.” “Certes,” seide the kynge Ventres, “I will not be [correction; sic = be be] forsworn, for I will not do withoute youre counseile;” and so seide alle the other, and therfore was the kynge looth full wroth, but he moste nede suffre, and so he seide no more at that tyme; and Merlin be-gan to smyle and seide, “Ffeire lordes, be not wroth ne angry, for the wratthe were nothinge good at this tyme.”

While thei entended a-boute this talkinge, com the kynge Arthur, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and the straunge princes with hem, and saugh the xij princes that were at the teinte of kynge looth; and as soone as the kynge looth hym saugh, he lepe on his feet and seide, “Lo, here cometh my lorde;” and a-noon the princes hem dressed in honour and reuerence to hym, for that he was a kynge sacred and a-noynted; and the kynge Arthur that was full curteise and wise, and wele knewe what was for to do, hath hem

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salewed first er thei were alle risen vp, and seide, “Welcome was al the companye;” and thei ansuerde alle attonys that god yeve hym goode auenture and alle his companye, and than he satte down vpon the kynge loothis cowche; and the kynge Arthur made hem alle to sitte down by hym as he that was the curteisest man of the worlde and beste taught; and than he seide, “Feire lordinges, I thanke yow alle hertely that ye be come hider at this tyme as I haue yow required for the profite of holy chirche, and the peple and youre londes to diffende, and warant a-gein the felon saisnes that haue a grete parte brente and distroide, and our peple slain and maymed, and for that ye be come at my request, I thanke yow hertely alle, and goode it were yow to a-raye in soche maner that we were not surprised ne blamed. Ne that the saisnes may not sein a-monge theym that thei haue vs founde foles ne musardes.” “Sir,” seide the kynge looth, “as of apparailinge behoveth Merlyn to devise, ffor he shall comaunde, and we shull do his comaundement; ffor he knoweth better what we shull do than we knowe oureself;” and the princes seide that ther-to acorde thei well, and so thei putte the rule all to Merlin, and therwith lefte the speche; and the kynge
folio 207b

Arthur repeired hem to his teinte, and alle the princes hym conveyed bothe prive and straunge, and after eche of hem repeired to his pavelon; and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and Merlin entred in to the chambre of Arthurs Pavelon, and than seide Merlin in counseile, “Ffeire lordes, these peple that be comen here ben wery of traueile, ffor some ther be that be come right ferre, and thei haue nede of reste and ese, and therfore will I that thei reste to-day and tomorowe, and on monday by goode distyne we shall meve alle to go towarde Clarence, for ther is the moste plente of saisnes, ffor thei that were at the sege of Valdisbery be ther alle assembled, and I shall do euery prince to wite by hymself that thei be appareilled the same day to meve and to go vpon theire enmyes.” To this counseile called the thre kynges sir Gawein with hem, and seiden alle be it so in the honour of Ihesu criste and his moder Marie, and than Page 583
thei departed from this counseile, and com to the maister pavelon and ther a-bide. Than com Elizer, Gaweins squyer, and kneled down be-fore sir Gawein, and seide, “Sir, I am come oute of lytenoys, and lefte the kynge Pelles my fader for to seche yow, and by the will of oure lorde I fonde yow in soche place that but god hadde sente yow thider I moste haue ben deed; but the grete prowesse of yow rescowed me from the saisnes that me wolde haue putte to deth, and therfore I knowe well that the renomee that renneth of yow thourgh the worlde is trewe, and I knowe also verily that of a more worthi man than ye myght I not take my garnementes wherfore I pray yow and requyre of youre grete fraunchise that ye make me knyght. So that I may prove my firste chiualrye vpon these false mysbelevinge peple that thus desire for to destroye holy chirche, ffor I shall neuer be knyght of all my lif tyme, but I it resceyve of youre hande, and ye it me promysed the firste day that I yow saugh that ye shull me yeve armes at my request, and I yow require be-fore my lorde the kynge youre vncle that is here be-fore this baronye.” Whan sir Gawein saugh Elizer his squyer be-fore hym on his kne, he areised hym vp be the armes, and seide swetely, “Dere frende, I graunte youre request, ffor ye be full digne to resceyve the ordre of chiualrie, and therfore all youre will shall be performed.” “Sir,” seide the yonge lorde, “gramercy.” Than sir Gawein behelde and saugh Gaheries his brother, and seide, “Feire brother, do ordeyne me armes soche as is a fieraunt for a kynges sone, and to so noble and worthi a man as is this.” “What is he than feire nevewe,”

seide Arthur. “Sir,” seide Gawein, “it is the sone of kynge Pelles of lytenoys, and is nevewe to the kynge pellenor and to the kynge Alain, and wite ye well yef he lyve he shall be oon of the beste knyghtes of the worlde.” Than he tolde the kynge of the grete occision and the merveile that he hadde sein hym do of the saisnes; and whan the kynge it herde he hadde grete wonder how so yonge a childe myght endure so grete dede of armes, and the two kynges ther-of were gretly astonyed; and the kynge Arthur

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comaunded to
folio 208a

Gaheries that he sholde do be brought the richest armes that myght be founde in his cofers, “and the beste swerde after myn owne.” “Sir,” seide Elizer, “I haue armes and horse and al thinge that is to me mystier.” Than he cleped lydonas his squyer and badde hym bringe his armes that his fader hadde hym yoven, and lydonas dide his comaundement as he that was ioyfull and Gladde, and brought hem be-fore the kynge and the other barouns that hem be-hielde for merveile, ffor thei were alle white saf a bende of golde enbelynk, and his hauberke was stronge and well holdinge of double mayle. And ther-to it was so light that a childe of ix yere myght it bere, and arthur preysed it moche, and the other barouns whan thei it saugh; and sir Gawein armed Elizer, and Gaheries dide hym helpe, and dide on his hauberk that was of grete bounte that in all the hoste was not the pareile. Than thei laced his aventaile that was as white as snowe, and whan he was all apareiled, sir Gawein dide on his right spore and girde his swerde on his side, and Gaheries dide on his lefte spore; and whan he was thus araied sir Gawein yaf hym the a-colee, and seide full debonerly as he that was the moste deboner knyght of the worlde. “Holde, feire swete frende, and resceyve the ordre of chiualrie in the name of Ihesu crist oure savioure, that in soche maner lete yow it mayntene that it be to the profite of holy cherche and youre honoure.”

“Sir,” seide Elizer, “so graunte me oure lorde to his pleisier.”

Whan sir Gawein hadde a-doubbed Elizer, the sone of kynge pelles of lytenoys, and toke hym a-noon Guehet a Gaheries, and ledde hym in to the kynges chapell for to wake, and thei bar hym companye till on the morowe that thei hadde herde masse, and than thei returned to the court of kynge Arthur that made grete ioye to Elizer; ffor he satte that day at the kynges table betwene the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors, and after mete their dide reise a quyntayn on the plain, and these yonge bachelers yede hem to prove, and so dide the knyghtes of the rounde table and other, and that day was many feire strokes yoven with speres; and Elizer dide so well that

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moche was he comended, and seide neuer hadde thei [correction; sic = the] sein a feirer Iustere with spere; and the knyghtes of the rounde table wolde galdly haue taken a turnement a-gein other straunge knyghtes that were come in the hoste; but the kynge Arthur wolde it not suffre, for he douted that some sholde ben hurt, and therfore was it lefte, and repeired hem to their teintes gladde and myry.

Than com Merlin to the kynge Arthur, and seide, “Sir, ther is no more but euery man hym appareile and make redy, for to morowe erly be-houeth vs to meve, and loke that ye lete noon knowe whiche wey ye shull ride; but folowe me ouerall whider that I shall yow lede, and so shall I sey to alle the princes that thei be redy at the poynte of day for to ride.” “Merlin,” seide the kynge, “all be it at youre volunte, ffor I putt me all hooll in god and yow;” and than wente Merlin to the pavelons of the princes, and tolde oon after folio 208b
another in counseile to be redy to ride erly on the morowe, and thei lete trusse teintes and pavilouns and alle her other harneys and cartes, and charietes, and somers, cofers, and malis, and lepe armed vpon theire stedes as hir bodyes to diffende and her enmyes to assaile, saf only of sheldes, and speres, and helmes that thei made theire squyers bere be-fore, and made the baners to be bore all white, and eche hadde a reade crosse in the myddell, and so hadde Merlin comaunded to all the princes at the begynnynge of theire comynge; and Merlin rode on a grete grey courser and bar the baner of kynge Arthur be-fore all the hoste, and thus thei departed alle in this maner from the playn of Salisbiry, and wente alle as Merlin dide hem gide the streight wey toward Clarence, that the kinge hardogobrand hadde beseged and with hym xix kynges that alle his londe hadde environed, and he hadde sente his forriours thurgh [correction; sic = thugh] the londe a xx myle or xxx that distroied and wasted the contrey; and a partie of the forreyours com by the Cite of Garlot that was the Chief forteresse of the kynge ventre, and were in that companye foure myghty kynges, and with hem grete plente of saisnes that hadde sesed prayes by strengthe, Page 586
and hadde do grete harme in the contrey and in esspeciall to hem of the town, ffor thei were come oute to hem to bateile for to rescowe the pray, and ther was grete slaughter of oon and other, but thei of Garlot myght not endure, ffor ther were of the saisnes grete force, so that thei of the town loste the pray and theire horse, and the moste parte of theire chiualrie; and the foure kynges swor that thei wolde neuer departe thens er thei hadde take the town, and the Quene that was withynne saugh the sege leide, and hadde grete drede to be taken by force, and toke counseile of hir stiward what were beste for hir to do, and hir stiward yaf hir counseile to go oute by nyght thei tweyne sooll by hem-self, by a posterne that opened a-gein the river, and sholde go to another place of theires that was thens vj myle, that was cleped the rescouse, for that Vortiger was rescowed whan Aungis the saisne was slain and chaced oute of the place.

Euen as the quene and the stiward hadde devised thei diden, ffor thei wente oute a-boute mydnyght, and hadde no mo in her companye but two squyers. But the saisnes that were maliciouse hadde sette espies on euery side of the town, and so was the Quene taken and the stiward slain, whereof was grete harme, and the squyers fledden, and were wounded sore, ffor that oon was smyten thourgh the body with a spere, and the tother on the heed with a swerde, and so thei wente as auenture hem brought to the hoste that Merlin ledde, and thei stinte neuer of goinge till thei herde hem a foure myle from Garlot; and whan the squyers saugh the comynge of the hoste and parceyved the white baners with the reade crosses, thei knewe wele that thei were cristin and dressed hem that wey, and made the grettest dolour of the worlde; and whan Merlin, that com all be-fore, herde hem make soche doell, he asked hem what thei eiled, and thei hym tolde all folio 209a
as was befallen, and how the saisnes ledde a-wey the Quene, “and whiche wey wente thei,” seide Merlin. “Sir,” seide thei, “she is yet in the hoste, but the pray goth by the cauchie;” and Merlin cried, “Sewe me, ffor the Quene shall thei not lede yef god will.”

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Than he spored his horse and sir Gawein after, and Elizer, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors his brother, and ech had in his hande a stronge spere, and leonce of Paierne condited the peple of Benoyk; and Dionas theym of Gannes, and Gracien hem of Orcanye, and Dorilas condited the peple of kynge Ventre, and the other batailes com alle in ordre, and Merlin rode so till that he com downward [correction; sic = donward] of an hill, and than they saugh the pray that passed at the bregge, and ther were well a foure thousande saisnes; and whan Gawein saugh hem come, he seide now may we a-bide to longe. Than he spored the Gringalet, and than seide Elizer, “Sir suffre and a-bide for guerdon of my seruise and for all frendship, and graunte me the firste stroke of the bateile, ffor I entred neuer in to no stour seth I was knyght.” “And I it yow graunte,”

quod sir Gawein, all in laughynge, “for in yow it is right well employde.”

With that Elizer hem ascride, and seide, “Lete be the pray, ffor ye shall it no ferther lede;” and than com Dioglus that was the stiward of the kynge Magloras, and turned the heed of his horse, and he and Elizer mette with speres vpon the sheldes so harde that thei perced vpon the bokeles, and Dioglus brake his spere, and Elizer hym smote so harde that he shof the spere thourgh the breste, and caste hym down deed to the erthe, and his spere therwith fly in peces. Than he drough his swerde and launced in a-monge the other that sore hem peyned to passe the pray, and smote so Antidolus that was stiward to the kynge Brandon that he slitte hym down to the teth; and Gawein seide to Merlin that he hadde wele begonne as of a newe knyght. “Ye,” qoud Merlin, “yet shall he do better.” With that Merlin cried the signe of kynge Arthur, and than spronge forth Gawein and his companye a-monge the forreyours that many were there slain and wounded; and thei behoved to forsake place and fledde toward Garlot where the kynge Magloras was, and the kynge Brandon, and the kynge Pynsonars, and the kynge Pignores that right vigerously assailed the Castell, and thei were full wroth whan thei saugh her men com fleinge, and lefte the assaut and com to theym that Page 588
fledde; and whan thei saugh the hoste comynge thei merveiled fro whens so moche peple myght come. Neuertheles thei sette in a-monge hem for thei were moche peple and stronge, and the cristin hem resceyved full fiercely, and made the saisnes for to resorte a-gein a spere lengthe; and whan the foure kynges that were hethen saugh sir Gawein and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and Elizer make of her men so grete slaughter, thei ascride her men, and begonne to sle horse, and men, and knyghtes as thei were wode, ffor thei were Geauntes, and the strengest peple of the worlde; and thei made the peple of kynge Ban and kynge Bohors to blush vpon the peple of kynge Ventre, and vpon the bateile of the Duke Escam of Cambenyk, and ther
folio 209b
suffred sir Gawein, and the kynge Ban, and his brother, and Elizer many sharpe strokes, and full sore were thei greved; and whan these two bateiles were come on, ther myght men se merveiles don of armes, and sore were the saisnes greved at that enuay, ffor many there were of hem leide to the grounde. But the kynge Brandon and the kynge Pyncenars dide grete merveiles bothe with theire bodyes and theire meyne that were full bolde and hardy; ffor after theire strokes a-bode but fewe cristin in sadell, and so were thei of the grete Bretigne sore abasshed, ffor thei made hem alle resorte bakke hadde not be the grete prowesse of sir Gawein, and Elizer, and the kynge Ban and his brother, and the kynge Ventre of Garlot, and the Duke Escam of Cambenyk; and neuertheles Grascien, and Pharien, and Dorilas, and leonce of Paerne dide so wele that thei ought to haue no blame; and Merlin that rode fro oo renge to another ascride hem often “ore auaunt;” and while thei were in this angwyssh the kynge Pignores cleped xl saisnes of the beste and moste hardy, and comaunded hem to take the Quene of Garlot, and lede hir to the sege of Clarence, and presente hir to the kynge hardogobran, and these seide thei sholde do his comaundement, and departed and ride forth the streight wey to Clarence, and ledde with hem the quene that grete doell made for the auenture that was hir befallen.

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After that the kynge Pignoras smote in to the stour with his swerde in honde, and be-gan to yeve soche strokes that noon armure hym myght endure. So that the moste hardy douted hym to meten, for he smote down horse and men so thikke that the moste hardy made hym wey, till that Gawein that to euery nede was nygh it aparceyved, and saugh the grete harme that he dide of her peple, and seide to hymself yef this feende lyve eny while we may moche lese. This worde vndirstode Elizer that kepte hym euer nygh Gawein and smote his horse with spores thider as he saugh Pignoras that hadde all his arme be-soiled with blode and brayne of hem that he hadde slayn; and whan Elizer saugh the harme that he dide, he seide to hymself, “Certes, it were to vs grete harme yef this deuell lyve longe, what mysauenture hath he be suffred so longe;” and than he drough ner and leide his reyne in his sadilbowe, and threwe his shelde at his bakke and ficched hym in his stiropes, and caught his swerde in bothe handes, and smote the kynge Pignores thourgh the helme that nother coyf ne helme myght hym warant till that the suerdes egge touched hys brayn, and he drough a-gein hys suerde and Pignoras fill down to grounde; and whan Merlyn hym saugh falle, he seide to sir Gawein, “This hath take with vs trewys.” “Ye,” quod Gawein, “god kepe vs that knyght that is so worthi;” and than thei smyte vpon the saisnes that be sorowfull and wroth for the deth of Pignores, and so dide theire other felowes that sore thei harmed the saisnes. But a-bove alle other dide sir Gawein wele, and Elizer, and the kynge Ban of Benoyk, and the kynge Bohors of Gannes, folio 210a
and leonce of Paierne, and Grascien of Trebes, and Pharien, for thei were not yet assembled but v bateiles. But tho that were assembled dide wonder wele, for a-gein theire strokes myght endure nother Iren ne stiell; and whan the kynge Pyncenars, that was bolde and hardy, saugh his peple so a-peire, he seide he hadde leuer dye but Pignores were avenged, and he hilde a swerde in his right hande, and ran in to the presse where he saugh it thikkest, and be-gan to throwe down all that he raught, and slough a knyght of the Page 590
reame of Benoyk, that wele hadde don in armes all the day; and tho the kynge Ban was nygh wood for Ire, and spronge that wey with his swerde vp teysed to hym that hadde his knyght slayn, and smote hym with so grete ire that he slitte hym to the teth, and that was a thinge that hym moste discounforte all the day, the deth of his knyght, and than thei closed the saisnes rounde a-boute, and the bateile was grete and horible, ffor the Bretouns were noble knyghtes; and whan Merlin saugh the hostes were assemled on bothe sides, he cleped Gawein, and Elizer, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and tolde hem how xl saisnes ledde the quene of Garlot to the sege of Clarence, “and yef thei lede hir thider it will turne to reprof, and therfore I rede we go after.” “Now ride,” quod Gawein, “and we shull yow sue.” Than Merlin rode forth his weye, and well an hundred knyghtes in his companye; ffor thei douted to meten with moo peple on som part. But shull we speke of the xl saisnes that ledde the Quene of Carlot that was the wif of kynge Ventre.

Whan the xl saisnes were past the bateile two myle, thei entred in to a wode, where-ynne was a feire medowe and a welle springe, and thei turned that wey hem for to a-kele and drinke of the clier water, and a-lighten with the quene be-fore the welle, that made the grettest doel of the worlde, and thei myght not hir conforte for nothinge that thei cowde do; but she cried with lowde steuen, “Haa, kynge Ventres, this day shall departe the love of me and of yow; ffor I trowe yow neuer to se no more;” and than she swowned in theire armes that hir hilde, and whan she was oute of his swownynge she cried and made grete sorowe, and the saisnes were ther-of doelfull and wolde well she hadde be in place that she hadde liked beste, and counforted his moche, but ther-of was no nede; ffor she braied and cried lowde, so that Gawein and his companye it herde clierly, and turned thider her wey, and saugh the knyghtes and the Quene that cried so lowede.

Whan Gawein saugh his aunte, he spored his horse and seide to the saisnes, “Ffeire lordes, lete be the Quene,

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and go youre wey quyte, ffor I can yow good thanke for that ye haue of hir pite, and gramercy for that curtesie.” Whan Margouns the botiller of kynge Pignores herde sir Gawein thus speke, he asked of his felowes what was her rede, and thei seide thei hadde leuer to dye than leve the Quene. “And to that ar ye come a-noon,” quod Gawein. Than he ran to hem with swerde drawen, and smote so the firste that he mette that the heed fill on the grene folio 210b
be-fore his aunte, and the saisnes sterte vp a-noon, and the myschef was grete, for that thei were on foote, and neuertheles thei slough bothe horse and knyghtes, for thei were of grete prowesse, but ther-of myght not a-vaile, for alle were thei deed, that nought oon ascaped, saf only Margons the botiller that hidde hym in a bussh, and sir Gawein and his companye com a-gein to the Quene, and counforted hir swetly, and she hem asked what thei were. “Madame,” he seide, “I am Gawein, youre nevewe, the sone of kynge looth of Orcanye, and this lorde that is here is the kynge Ban of Benoyk, and these other kyghtes ben oure felowes.” Whan the lady this vndirstode she was gladde, and thanked hem hertely of the socour, and than thei sette hir on a palfrey that thider was brought, and returned to the hoste where-as was the kynge Arthur and the other princes fightinge; and many of her frendes loste the cristin er the saisnes myght be discounfited. Whan Arthur hadde slain Magloras the kinge that was the sustenement of the saisnes, and the kynge looth hadde smyte of the hande of the kynge Syuarus, than fledde thei alle; and whan sir Gawein and his companye were returned, the hoste enchased the saisnes so nygh euer at the spore; and Brandons returned often, and he ne smote noon a right stroke, but he were therwith a-noon deed; and whan sir Gawein saugh hym so demene, and saugh the grete slaughter that he made of the peple, he thought wele that he was som high lorde of grete lynage, and wele it shewed by his armes that he were a kynge or a prince, and Gawein preised hym moche in his herte, and fain wolde he hadde be cristin yef it myght haue be, and seide, “Knyght, thow art right bolde and full of grete hardynesse, art

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thow Duke or kynge that hast in the soche valour and strength?” “In feith,” quod he, “my name is Brandouns, and am kynge of a partye of Saxoyne, and am nevew to the richest kynge of all the world, that is the kynge hardogabrant, that is chief lorde of all Saxonie.” “Certes,” seide Gawein, “it semeth well, for in the is grete valour and high prowesse, and it is grete harme that thow art no cristin, and fain I wolde that thow so were to respite the fro deth.” “Of that,”

quod the kynge, “that thow spekest haue I merveile, for I haue lever to be deed than to be cristin.” To that shalt thow come hastely,” quod Gawein, “and that me repenteth sore, ffor moche wolde I love thy companye yef it the liked.” “Hit shall neuer me plese,” quod Brandouns; and whan Gawein that herde, he ran vpon hym full Irousely, and smote hym so with Calibourne his good swerde that the heed clef a-sondre; and whan the saisnes saugh theire lorde deed, thei were sore dismayed; and after that in hem was litill defence, and the cristin hem wounded on euery side, and hem slough, and all to-hewe; and whan thei hadde do this, thei thanked moche oure lorde of the grete honoure that he hath hem do at this iourney. Than com sir Gawein and the kynge Ban be-fore the kynge Arthur, and be-fore all the baronye, and presented the kynge Ventre with his wif, and tolde herynge hem alle how he hadde hir rescowed, and the kynge hem thanked hertely, and made grete ioye, and alle the barouns were gladde, and than thei drough a litill a-side from the felde where the bataile hadde be, and Arthur made folio 211a
picche his teintes in the medow be-fore Garlot vpon the river, and so dide alle the other princes, and rested till on the morowe, and the Quene entred in to the castell of Garlot; and on the morowe, as sone as it was day, Arthur sette forth his peple the streight wey towarde Clarence. But now a-while shull we reste of Arthur and his baronye, and speke of Margouns the botiller.

So longe dide Margouns hidde hym in the busshes till that Gawein, and the kynge Ban, and her companye were gon with the Quene; and than he repeired to the welle and

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fonde his horse that he hadde tacched to a tre, and than he rode forth faste till he com to the hoste be-fore Clarence, and tolde the kynge hardogobran how alle the forreyers that he hadde sente be-fore the town of Garlot were deed and discounfited; and whan Hardogobran this dide vndirstonde he was sorowfull and pensif. Than sterte vpon his feet the kynge Gondofles, and seide to the kynge Hardogobran, “Sir, yef it like yow I will go se what it is, and lede with me Salebrun and Magaloes, and Sorbare, and Meliadus, and the kynge Brangore, and in oure companye xlMl men, ffor I may not trowe that foure so myghty kynges as the kynge Brandon youre cosin, and the kynge Pyncenars, and the kynge Pignores, and the kynge Magloras myght not be brought to disconfiture by no power of the cristin;” and while thei spake these wordes com Syuarus that hadde his hande smyten of, and tolde hem trewe tidinges, and the tokenynge of his arme; whan the kynge Hardogobran saugh the kynge Syuarus so araied, he was wo for sorowe, ffor he hadde hym moche loved; and whan he knewe the deth of the foure kynges than was he wood oute of witte, ffor Magloras and Brandouns were bothe his nevewes; and than he comaunded to the kynge Gondofles to go take vengaunce for his nevewes, and he seide he wolde, and in all haste rode forth his wey, and with hym fifty Ml men, and devided her peple in v bateiles, and in euery bateile xMl men; and the first bataile ledde Salubrun, and the Duke lonor the lestregues that other, and the kynge Sorbares, and the kynge Meliadus, and the Eirll ffragelles the thirde, and the kynge Brangoires, and the Castelein Melekins the fourthe, and the kynge Gondofles, and his brother Transmaduc the fifte; these rode fro the sege of Clarence oon after another towarde the Castell of Garlot, and rode so by day and by nyght till thei mette the hoste that Merlin dide gide in a feire grene medow that was a myle and a halfe of lengthe, and ther hadde Merlin devised vij batailes that after hym dide folowe; and the first bateile condited the kynge Ventres, and the kynge Tradilyuaunt, and the Duke Escam with xxMl men, and the kynge

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Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and the kynge de Cent Chiualers ledde the seconde with xxxMl men; and the kynge of Northumbirlonde, and the kynge of South-walis, and Nabulall the thridde with xxxMl men; and the fourthe ledde Cleodalis the Senescall of Carmelide, and the kynge Carados, and the kynge looth of Orcanye with xxxMl men; and Aguyneron the Senescall of kynge Clamedien, and fflamus the Senescall of Evadain, and the Senescall of kynge Pelles of lytenoys ledden the fifte bataile with xxxMl men; and the kynge Brangoires and the folio 211b

Senescall of kynge lak ledden the vj bateile with xxxMl men; and Sir Gawein, and his brethern, and the companye of the rounde table were with the kynge Arthur in the vijth bateile wher-in were so moche peple that vnethe myght eny man hem nombre. In this maner mette the tweyne hostes of the Cristin, and the paynymes in the medowes from Garlot half a walsh myle; and as soone as the kynge Salubruns hem saugh he lete renne a-geins hem, and so dide Margons the botiller; and the Duke Escam com hem a-geins; but Triamores that was Castelein of Cambenyk rode be-fore, and smote Salubrun so harde a-mydde the shelde that the spere splindred on splyntes, and the hethen kynge hitte hym so sore that the shafte shof thourgh his body and bar hym deed vpright to the erthe; and than was the Duke Escam full angry, and smote Salubrun through the breste more than a spanne lengthe, and than he seide, “Hethen hounde, thy deth thou hast hent, yet haue I not my frende, and that me mysliked.”

Therwith assembled the bateiles on bothe two sides, ther was many a grete growen spere frusshed a-sonder, and many a gome to the grounde glode in a stounde; but as soone as the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and the kynge de Cent Chiualers were come with the seconde bateile, and saugh the seconde bateile of the saisnes meve; than thei ronne togeder fiercely, and ther myght a man haue sein many a helme hurled on an hepe, and many a shafte and shelde frayen togeder, and many hauberke rente of double mayle; grete and hidyouse was the bateile, and the slaughter grete on bothe sides. Neuertheles Page 595
whan Merlin saugh the saisnes so vertuouse, he ascride the kynge Ban, “Sir, what do ye now, ye myght haue hem putte oute of the place longe seth, ffor ye be moo peple be that oon half than thei be.” Whan the kynge Ban and the other princes herde Merlin so crie, thei were half shamefast. Than thei ronne on the saisnes with grete vigour, and made hem resorte a-gein magre them alle, and made hem frusshe on the thridde bateile, that the kynge Meliadus, and ffragilles, and lanor de betinges dide condite, and these sette hem a-geins; ther was harde bateile, and merveilouse and grete occision on bothe sides that piteouse was to beholden, and grete traueile thei hadden on bothe parties. And than assembled Brancors and Malaquyn the Castelein with the fourthe bateile, and Gelegnyaunt, and the kynge Cleoles, and ther was crewell bateile and fell that in litill while was the felde couered with deed bodyes and wounded peple. In that metinge was Margouns the botiller deed, and he was sore regreted of the saisnes, and withoute faile the kynge Ban hym slough with a spere; and whan the kynge Sorbares it saugh he hadde hertely sorowe, and he com to the kynge Ban, and wende to smyte hym on the helme, but he kepte the stroke on his shelde, and he smote ther-on so sore that he slitte it to the bocle, and the stroke glood and smote of the horse heed, and the kynge fill to grounde, and his horse betwene his legges,
folio 212a
and the kynge Sorbares a-bode vpon hym with serde drawen. But Pharien com hym a-geins that full sory was that his lorde was fallen, and smote so harde to the kynge Sorbares vpon the helme that he clef hym to the brayn, and he drough to hym his swerde, and he fill down deed; than he caught the horse be the reyne, and brought it to the kynge Ban; and whan the kynge was vpon horse he smote in to the bateile wroth and angry; and the kynge Bohors, and Dionas, and the kynge Ventres, and the Duke Escam, and alle the other princes dide merveiles of armes, ffor after theire strokes a-bode noon in sadill, and the saisnes were so grete and so myghti that thei dide hem grete damage of her peple, ffor so many thei slough

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of the cristin that it was wonder; and so many were deed and wounded of cristin and hethen, that the felde was all couered, so that oon myght not come to another but ouer deed cors.

While this grete occision and this mortall strif dide dure were alle the bateiles assembled on bothe partyes, saf only the bateile of kynge Arthur, and that Merlin ledde a trauerse till thei were come vpon hem be-hynde, and than thei girde in a-monge hem crewelly; and after sir Gawein, and his brethern, and Elizer, and sir Ewein, and Segramor, and the companye of the rounde table were come to the bateile, ther myght men haue sein apertly wonder chyualries shewed of armes; and thei slough horse and men, and made sheldes to shiver, and hewen helmes from hedes, and kutte handes and legges a-sonder, and dide so wonderfull dedes that vn-ethe myght eny man be-leve the merveiles ne the grete lardure that thei made of the saisnes; and kay the stiwarde, to whom Merlin hadde yove the grete baner to bere of the kynge Arthur, was euer in the fore frounte as he that was of grete hardynesse, ther be-fore alle other dide well sir Gawein, and so dide the kynge Arthur, ffor he araught no saisne a full stroke, but he were deed; and full wele dede the princes that were come for the honor of god, these dide so well in that iourney, that thei ought wele to haue the pardon; and also full wele dide the knyghtes of the quene Gonnore, ffor after theire strokes a-bode noon standinge, but straught to grounde all that thei myght atteyne; and whan the saisnes were thus for-closed, thei were sore abaisshed and turned to discounfiture, and withoute faile thei were waxen so feble that of v kynges, and an erle, and a Duke, and of fifty thousande saisnes ne ascaped not foure Ml that all ne were deed or maymed; and withoute doute it was right dere I-bought, ffor thei hadde slayn so many of the cristin that it was sore be-wepte as longe as the kynge Arthur lyved, ffor many a gentill lady be lefte wedowe, and many a gentill mayden dysolat, and withouten counseile.

folio 212b

Whan the kynge Gondofles, and lanor de betinges saugh the grete slaughter of her peple that the cristin hadde

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slain and alle to-hewen, and sye how thei were for-closed in soche maner that thei myght not returne to theire hoste, and than were thei wroth, ffor thei sye wele thei were but deed, but yef thei toke counseile of hem-self. Than thei loked a-boute and behelde towarde the see where thei saugh the cristin a litill vn-closed, and that wey thei toke the flight thourgh the medowes, streight toward the see that was ther nygh; and whan the kynge Arthur saugh hem goinge, he cried, “Now after hem alle attonys;” and there was many a stroke smyten in the chace, ffor the saisnes were grete and stronge, and bolde and hardy, and full of grete prowesse, and often thei returned vpon hem that hem pursued, and the cristin hem resceyved with good will, and there were many of the saisnes deed and sore wounded, and the chace so endured, turnynge often as thei were in flight, till that thei com to the see, where their fonde thre of theire Galeyes, that Landalus dide guyde, and a-boode ther for vitaile that sholde come from hem that were gon in forrey to the Castell of Garlot; and whan the saisnes saugh the Galeyes thei were full gladde, and ronne in who that myght first in the grettest haste. But thei cowde not hem so hasten but ther was of hem drowned mo than two thousande, and thei that were entred kutte a-sonder the ropes and dressed [correction; sic = ] theire sailes, and ascaped in to the see, and wente ther as the wynde and fortune wolde hem drive, that in euell maner hadde theire ioure araied; and whan the kynge Arthur and his barouns saugh that thei haue hem so loste, thei returned to the playnes of Garlot to theire tentes, and yolde graces to oure lorde of the victorie that thei hadde in this bateile; and for thei were wery for traueile, thei hem resten at theire ese of all that thei myghten as thei that hadde grete myster, ffor wery thei were of the traueile of the strokes yevinge and also resceyuinge [correction; sic = resceyinge] in the stour, that hadde be right grete, and than ete and dranke, and than loked the wounded and hurt peple, and hadde hem to the castell of Garlot, and were of hem xxxv knyghtes, and v were wounded of the companye of the rounde table, wherfore the kynge Arthur was full pensif and sory, and that oon was hervy de rivell, and Page 598
males le bruns, and the thridde was Clamedos, and the fourthe was Arestobolus, and the ve landouns of Carmelide; and the kynge Arthur praied the leche to take of hem good hede, and thei badde he sholde not be dismayed, ffor in short terme thei sholde be hool, and sounde with helpe of god; and therfore was the kynge gladde and alle the Barouns, and ther thei soiourned that nyght till it was day, that Merlin bad hem trusse tentes and Pavilouns, and that thei sholde come after hym redy armed her enmyes to assaile, and a-non it was don as he comaunded; and than thei ride forth toward Clarence, and whan thei were so nygh, that thei myght se tentes and Pavelouns, Merlin hem shewed to the kynge Arthur, and seide, “Sir, lo yonder theym by whos comaundement the londe is distroied of yow and youre barouns. Now shall it be shewed how ther-of shall be take vengaunce, ffor this day be ye come all for to lese or all for to wynne, this day shull men se who is bolde and hardy, or who is of valour, this day shall be sein who can smyte
folio 213a
with swerde or spere, this day shall be shewed the grete prowesse of the reame of logres, thys day is the grete nede and the myster, ffor this day shall the reame of logres be distroied or honoured, and I do yow to wete alle the barouns that be here assembled that ye praye oure lorde to diffende the reame of logres from shame and myschaunce;” and thei alle seide, “Amen.” And than alle thei cried bothe prevy and straunge that thei wolde alle do at his wille and at his pleiser; and he seide that seth thei wolde do after his counseill, thei sholde haue no drede of nothinge, and “ye shull haue this day the victorye;” and thei ansuerde, “We be alle ther-to redy and appareiled.” Than seide Merlin, “I will that ye me graunte that in all thinge ye shull do my wille;” and thei seide thei wolde with good will. “Yet,” quod Merlyn, “I will that the kynge Arthur me graunte firste of alle;” and than he graunted hym a-noon right, and so dide alle the other; and than seide Merlin, “Ffeire lordes, this day is come the grete distruxion of the grete Breteigne, but yef god put to his hande and his good counseile, ne it may not be distrued in no maner. Ne these Page 599
peple shull neuer be disseuered ne departed er ye haue pees with the kynge Arthur, and that heue ye me graunted.”

Whan the barouns this vndirstoden ther were some that it liked nothinge, but otherwise myght it not be, and so thei graunted alle to the volunte of Merlin, and dide homage to the kynge Arthur oon after another, and of hym resceived theire londes and theire fees all tho that ought it for to do; and than the ioye was grete thourgh all the hoste; and than thei devised theire bateiles, and wente a-gein the saisnes that weren at the sege be-fore Clarence that it dide assaile from day to day, but it was so stronge that thei myght but litill wynne, ffor it was well garnysshed of good peple and vitaile, ffor alle tho that eny armes myght bere of x myle a-boute were withynne the town bothe knyght, and burgeise, and oon and other, wher-of ther was lv.Ml that many of hem were full bolde and hardy, and defensable, and diffended the town a-gein the saisnes full vigerously, and launched at hem many a quarell, and many a sharpe spere and dart wherwith many a saisne was slain and sore wounded, that neuer after ne dide ride ne go; and grete and hidouse was the assaut the same hour that the cristin com vpon; and Merlin and his companye com with the grete baner in his hande, and whan he com nygh the saisnes he sente his peple in four partyes of the hoste of saisnes, and smyten thourgh the tentes and thourgh [correction; sic = though]

the pavelons, and kutte a-sonder ropes and cordes, and threwe down all that stode vpright, and the saisnes that of this comynge toke no rewarde, herde the noyse, and the bruyte, and the lowde cries, and saugh theire pavelouns ouerthrowen on euery side, thei were gretly affraied and lefte the assaute, and turned that wey who that myght sonest, eche hastyer than other; and than ther was soche noyse and shoute whan eche man cried his ensigne that oon myght here it a myle of lengthe; and than be-gan the bateile fierce and merveilouse, and smyte sore with speres and swerdes that oon vpon the tother, and grete was the slaughter on bothe sides. But for oon
folio 213b
that was deed of the cristin was foure deed of the saisnes, neuertheles thei were moo peple, and

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of gretter strengthe than were cristin. But the cristin were wonder light and delyuer, and full of high prowesse to furnyssh a bateile, and at the firste brunt was many a cristin leide to grounde, and many a saisne deed, wherfore the kynge hardogobran was full wroth and angry, and he griped in his hande a grete plante of an oke ther-on an heed of steill sharp I-grounde, and com rynnynge with grete randon a-gein the kynge Cleoles that for the love of oure lorde was come to that iourney with vijMl men that full well dide in that stoure; and whan Cleoles saugh hym come, he deigned not to fle as he that was of grete hardynesse, but turned the heed of his horse with his spere in fewtre, and mette so with grete raundon and force that the sheldes perced and hauberkes dismayled, but the flessh thei not touched, but thei hurteled so togeder with theire helmes and sheldes, for the horse com with grete ravyn, and mette breste a-gein breste that bothe fill to grounde, horse and the men, ffor the speres were spent, and thei lefte lyinge on the grounde sore astonyed that thei myght not meve, ffor the horse lay vpon hem as thei hadde be deed, and the two kynges were bothe in swowne theym vnder; and grete was the bateile to rescowe the two princes, ffor alle the bateilles of the saisnes ronne that wey, and also dide the cristin. Ther was many a hevy stroke yoven and resceyved, and the saisnes remountede the kynge hardogobran; but first was deed moo than two thousande what oon and other, and on that other side the cristin remounted Cleoles, but thei fonde his lifte arme broken in the falle that he hadde, and therfore were his men sory and wrorth, and a-noon lete bere hym to the harneys; and whan thei hadde leyde hym on a cowche, he preide his men for goddes love to go to the bateile, and thei so dide full Irouse, and in talent to avenge theire lorde, and thei slough at that enuaye two kynges of the saisnes wher-of that oon was cleped Brangore, and the tother Margounces. This Margounces was cosin germayn to Aungis the saisne, and than thei begonne to do so well in armes that moche were thei preised and comended, and beholde for grete merveile of the saisnes and of the cristin; and also

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on that other side faught the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and the kynge Ventres, and the kynge Vrien; and on another side of the bateile faught the kynge Tradilyuaunt of north walys, and the kynge de Cent Chiualers, and the kynge Clarion of Northumbirlonde, and the Duke Escam of Cambenyk; and on that other side of the hoste faught the kynge Belynans, and the kynge of Strangore, and the kynge of Scotlonde, and the kynge of Cornewaile, and Mynoras the senescall of the kynge lak, and of the kynge Euadain that were brethern to the kynge Clamedien, and Galegnynans the Senescall of Galehaut, the sone of the Geaunt, and the Duke Belyas of loseres, and Margondes, the senescall of Sorloys, that alle were come for the love of oure lorde; folio 214a
and on that other side Gosenges, the sone of kynge Amant, and Nabunall his Senescall, and Cleodalis the Senescall of kynge leodogan of Carmelide; and on another part of the hoste was the kynge Arthur, and the kynge looth, and sir Gawein, and his brethern, and sir Ewein, and Segramor, and kay the stiwarde that bar the baner, and the bateile was so well begonne on euery parte that it was merveile; and Merlin wente from o bateile to another, and satte vpon a courser, and cried lowde, “Now lete se now gentill knyghtes, now is come the day and the houre that youre prowesse shall be shewed;” and whan the kynge and the princes herde Merlin crie, thei constreyned hem-self to shewe the grettest force that thei hadden; and whan thei of the town saugh the bateile so mortall and so dolerouse, and thei saugh the cristin and the saisnes throwen to grounde so thikke, that oon fill on another. And thei saugh the signes of the reade crosse in the white baners, and thei thought wele it was socour that god hadde hem sent, and made the yates to be opened and issed oute of the town alle armed and smote in to the bateile full vigerously, and begonne to do full well in armes, and so dide alle the other. But a-monge the saisnes thei fonde grete diffence.

But the barouns and the saisnes that herde Merlin crye that the day was come of the grete nede, and than eche of hem shewed his grettest force, and begonne to do so well on

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euery side that the saisnes were sore atte the werse. But who dide wele or who nought in that iourney, hem alle dide Arthur surmounte, and sir Gawein, and his brethren, and sir Ewein, and Segramor, and Elizer, and the kynge Ban, and the kinge Bohors. These shewed wonderfull merveiles with theire bodyes, ffor a-gein theire strokes hadde no knyght power to a-bide in his sadell, ne no steill hem withstode; and dide so well be the grete hardynesse of theire bodyes that the saisnes were putte to discounfiture, ffor thei toke no rewarde to sle the pore saisnes, but turned the heedes of theire horse thider as thei saugh the richeste apparence of armes and stedes; and dide so well that of alle the kynges that the kynge Hardogobran hadde brought, ne ascaped but he and v kynges, and of hem oon was the kynge Orienx, and the seconde the kynge Sorbar, and the thridde the kynge Cornycans, and the fourthe was the Admyrall Napin, and the vth was the kynge Murgalans de trebahan; these v kynges ascaped with the kynge Hardogobran, and hadde well in her companye xxxMl saisnes, that alle departed from the bateile mate and discounfited be strengthe of the swyftnesse of horse, and fledde to theire navie, and the cristin hem chaced to the see, and hilde hem so shorte in the entringe to the shippes that ther were of hem slain and drowned the haluendell or more; and thei that were in the shippes ascaped wroth and sorowfull for the losse that thei hadden, and thei hadde but litill while gon whan thei saugh the shippe of kynge Gondofles, and lanor folio 214b
that were fledde fro the discounfiture, and eche of hem knewe well other, and made full grete sorowe for theire grete losse, and in this maner thei went sailinge thourgh the see. But of hem at this tyme speketh not the storie, but turneth to speke of the kynge Arthur, and of his companye.

CHAPTER XXX.

DEPARTURE OF BAN AND BOHORS, AND THEIR VISIT TO AGRAVADAIN.

Whan the kynge Arthur hadde discounfited the saisnes, he and his baronye repeired gladde and ioyfull in to the

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felde ther as the bateile hadde I-be, and thanked our lorde hertily of the honour and victorie that he hadde graunted hem for to haue, and of the grete wynnynge of clothes of silke and golde, and siluer, and riche pavelouns, and goode stedes, and armures; and the kynge Arthur hem departed by comon assent of alle the Barouns after thei were of astate or degre, and with-hilde not to hymself the valew of a ferthinge; and than the princes entred in to the town gladde and ioyfull, and dide entere the deed corps, and hem that were wounded serched theire sores, and hadde good leches, and soiourned ther v dayes; and the tidinges ran thourgh the londe how the saisnes were discounfited, and chaced from the town of Clarence oute of the londe, and distroied and slain; and than alle the saisnes that were thourgh the londe, whiche hadde not be at the bateile, thei returned in to Saxoyne sory and wroth, for theire frendes that thei hadde loste; and whan the kynge Arthur hadde a-biden in the town of Clarence v dayes with grete feste and ioye, than departed the princes fro hym, and eueriche of hem wente in to his owne contrey, and thus thei departed fro hym with grete love, and hilden of hym theire fees and honours; and the straunge princes that for love of oure lorde were come to that iourney returned home in to theire contreyes; and the kynge Arthur, and the kynge Ban of Benoyk, and the kynge Bohors of Gannes, and the kynge looth of Orcanye, and sir Gawein, and his brethren, and theire companye, and theire meyne were resceyued with grete ioye at Cameloth of the Quene Gonnore, and of alle the peple; and than com Merlin to the kynge Arthur, and seide, “Sir, thanke be god ye haue the londe delyuered of the euell peple at this tyme, and therfore ye owe to haue grete ioye and all cristin peple, ffor now be thei sure all the peple of this londe; and therfore now may wele the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors repeire hom in to theire contrey, ffor longe tyme is it past that thei saugh not theire wiffes ne theire meyne, and thei haue a full felon neighbour that gladly wolde hem annoyen, and that is the kynge Claudas de la desert, and therfore shull thei passe the Page 604
see and take kepe to theire londes, and of that thei haue for to do;” and whan the kynge Arthur this vndirstode, he ansuerde full debonerly.

“Feire frende, Merlin,” seide the kynge, “the princes shull do theire volunte, and ye shall yours. But moche more I love to haue youre companye than youre departynge; ffor the companye of so worthy men as thei ben ne ought annoy to no prince. But seth it pleseth yow, and that ye will it be so I moste it nede suffre and do youre volunte.” “Sir,” seide Merlin, “it be-houeth to be so at this tyme, ffor ye haue now no myster of theire abidinge;” and in this maner departed the two kynges and ride towarde the see in grete ioye, and Merlin that moche hem loved hem conveyed; and fill that the firste nyght that thei departed from Cameloth that thei come to a Castell that stode in a maresse, so wele and so feire sittinge, and so cloos that it douted noon assaute, and this Castell was closed rounde with
folio 215a
vij walles thikke and high, and feire enbateiled, and right deffensable; and withynne the bailie were v. toures that were high and streight all rounde, and foure were mene, and the fifthe was gret and high, and well hurdeysed a-boute withynne and withoute, and grete diches, and depe full of water, and the dongeon that stode in the myddill was grete and high, and all a-boute the walles of the Castell was marasse that dured two myle so full of myre and water that noon myght come ther-to, but he were drowned. In to this castell was but oon entree, and that was so streite that two horse myght not ther-on mete, oon be-side another; and a-bove this marasse was a chauchie fro place to place of the breede of a spere lengthe made of chalke and sande stronge and thikke and wele made, and this cauchie was of lengthe a stones caste, and the remenaunt was made of plankes and of tymbir, so that noon ne myght passe ouer yef the plankes hadde be take a-wey, and at the ende of the cauchie was a grete water, but ther-to com no shippes, but it was right feire and plesaunt, and good fisshinge; be-fore the foot of this cauchie was a pyne tre a litill fro the water in a medowe of the space of an acre

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londe or more, where-ynne the grasse was feire and high, and the pyne tre was right feire and full of bowes, so that oon braunche passed not another of height, and vpon a braunche of this pyne was hanged by a cheyne of siluer, an horne of yvorie as white as snowe, ffor that thei sholde it sowne that com for to be herberowed in the castell, or elles who that passed forth by that wolde aske Iustinge. Of these two thinges serued the horne that ther was hanged.

Whan the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and her companye come to the pyne, and saugh the horne that ther did hange, thei seide that for nought was it not sette, and a-noon thei supposed it was for to aske passage of the foorde or elles to aske Iustes. But thei saugh the Castell so fer fro thens that thei trowed not the sounde of the horne myght not thider ben herde, and on that other side thei saugh the Castell so feire and so riche and well??sette, that thei hadde neuer seyn noon soche of the grettenesse, and saugh the cauchie and the entre so stronge, and so streite, that thei were alle merveiled; and the two kynges seide to Merlin, and asked yef he knewe what the castell was cleped that was so feire and well closed; and Merlin seide it was the castell of marasse, and was longinge to a knyght that was of grete puyssaunce, and of grete renon, and ther-to he was bolde and hardy at armes, and his name is Agrauadain ly noire. “Certes,” seide the kynge, “of Agrauadain haue I herde well speke in many a place, and so helpe me god he ought wele to be a noble man that is here so well herberowed; ffor a-bove alle the Castelles that euer I sigh is this the feirest, and gladly wolde I lye ther-in to-nyght.” “To that shull ye well come,”

quod Merlin; “but no straunge knyght [correction; sic = knygh] cometh to this castell er he haue sowned this horne, ne noon dar very ouer the water er he haue blowe this horne, ffor than shall he not passe withoute bateile.” “I will sowne the horne,” seide the kynge Ban, “yef ye
folio 215b
will yeve me leve.” “In feith,” seide Merlyn, “ther-in is no pereile, but other to aske a Iustinge or elles the feriage.” “In feith,” seide the kynge Ban, “and though ther were more pereile I shall it

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sowne, seth that ye graunte me ther-to leve.” “And I will well it so be,” quod Merlin; “ffor yef god will, ther-of shall come noon euell.” A-noon wente the kynge Ban to the horne, and sette it to his mouthe, and blew it so high and so cler as he that I-nough hadde of force and powere and breth, that all the marasse ther-of resowned, and the sowne of the water and the marasse bare the sownde in to the castell, that the lorde of the place it herde, and a-noon he asked his armes, for so was his custome; and the kynge be-gan to blowe a-gein thries togeder lightly, for the Castell was so fer that the kynge wende the noyse myght not haue come thider.

Whan the lorde of the Castell herde hym blowe so harde, and that he was so hasty, he hilde ther-of grete dispite, and for anger lepte on a grete stede in haste with shelde a-boute his nekke, and his spere in honde, and a-noon the yate was open; and he rode oute a grete raundon, and com to the foorde, and whan he saugh the peple on the tother side, he cried and asked what peple thei were; and the kynge Ban ansuerde, “Sir, we be knyghtes, that requere herberowe this nyght yef it plese yow, and feriage for oure horse at this foorde.” “With whom be ye,”

guod Agrauadain. “Sir,” quod Merlin, that was nigh; “we be of this other contrey of the partyes of Gaule.” “And of what parties of Gaule,” quod Agrauadain.

“Sir,” seide Merlin, “thei holde theire londes of god and of kynge Arthur.” “In godis name,” seide Agrauadain, “thei haue a gode lorde, ffor of the kynge Arthur may thei not empeire, for he is a noble kynge, and a good knyght, and he is my lorde, and for his love shull ye haue hostell at youre volunte.” “Gramercy, sir,” seide the kynge; than a-noon right Agrauadain hym turned, and badde the knyghtes hym sewe, and seide thei were alle welcome; and thei wente a-noon after hym oon after another ouer the bregge to the gates of the castell, and entred in after that the lorde of the place was entred, ffor ther was no space to turne on his horse er he were entred and paste the yate; and than the lorde hymself condited hem in to the castell, and a-noon lepen oute squyres Page 607
and yomen to make hem a-light, and the lorde toke the two knyghtes be the hande, for that hym semed thei were princes and lordes of the othere, and ledde hem in to a chambir of the tour hem to vn-arme, and hymself dide helpe for to vn-arme, and ther-while entred in thre maydenes of right grete bewte, wher-of tweyne were neces vn-to agrauadain; and the thridde was his doughter, and thei brought thre mantels furred with ermyn, and the cloth was scarlet, and thei caste hem vpon the two kynges; and the thridde vpon Agrauadain, and the kynge Ban that was a lusty knyght behilde the maydenys, and liked well theire companye, and countenaunce that were right feire and of grete bewte, that it was wonder to beholde, and alle thre were of feire age, ffor the eldest was but xiiij yere, but a-bove alle the other was the lordes doughter the feirest; and Merlin behilde hir with grete anguyssh, and thought in his herte that folio 216a
well were he that with soche a creature myght ly, “and ne were the grete love that I haue,” quod he “to Nimyane, my love, I sholde haue hir this nyght in myn armes, and seth I may not hir haue, I shall lete hir be knowe with the kynge Ban;” and than he made a coniorison softly, and a-noon as he hadde it made the kynge Ban loved the mayden, and she hym also right sore.

Whan these two knyghtes were araide with these two mantels that the maydenys hadde brought, than Agrauadain, the lorde of the castell, sette hym down by hem, and loked on these two kynges, and knewe hem a-noon; and than he made hem gretter chere than he hadde do be-forn, and dide hem more reverence; and whan it was tyme to go to soper, the clothes were spradde vpon the tables thourgh the paleys that was grete and large, and the two kynges that were brethren satte down at the high table, and made agrauadain sitte down by hem and his wif that was a feire yonge lady of xviij yere of age, and the knyghtes were sette at other tables thourgh the halle, and the thre maydenys that were so feire and auenaunt were stondinge be-fore the two kynges, and be-fore Agrauadain; and Merlin that was with hem transformed in to

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the semblaunce of a yonge knyght of xv yere age, and was clothed in a short garnement party read and white, and was girt with a bawdrike of silke of brede of a spanne wele and richely harnysshed with golde and stones, and ther-on hinge a gipser or purpill samyte bete with golde, and hadde a peire of gloues hanginge hym be-hynde, and his heed was yelow and curle, and his iyen grey and grete in his heed, and kerved be-fore the kynge Ban knelinge, and he was moche beholden of oon and other, ffor ther was noon that hym knewe saf the two kynges, ffor tho that were her meyne wende he hadde be with the lorde of the place, and for his grete bewte the maydenys behilde hym often ententifly. But the doughter of Agrauadain hadde sette hir iyen moste vpon the kynge Ban more than on eny othir thinge, for the coniurison that Merlin hadde made, and putte hir to grete affray; and she liked hym so well that it made hir to chaunge colour ofte sithes, and longe her thought er the clothes were taken vp, ffor fain wolde she haue leyn betwene his armes, and she cowde not wite how that volunte to hir com. But so moche she hath ther-on sette her thought, that to noon othir thinge she toke no tent but to thenke of hym.

In this thought and this anguyssh was the mayden by the coniurison of Merlin; and on that other side was the kynge Ban so a-raied that he left pley and laughinge at the table, and cowde not wite how it was to hym come, and he was sory and wroth of that he hadde his love so turned, ffor he hadde to wif a yonge lady of grete bewte, to whom he ne wolden not false his feith; and on that other side he thought how he was herberowed therynne, and the lorde of the place was a noble man and a curteyse, and hadde hym don grete honoure, and hym semed it were vntrouthe and treson, and to grete vilonye sholde it to hym turne yef he required hir of shame or dishoneste. Ne no gretter shame myght he hym do than diffoule his doughter in soche maner; and
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therwith he wax so euell at ese that he wiste not what to do, and alwey he seide in his corage that he wolde neuer hir requyre of no soche Page 609
thinge. But Merlin thought wele in his herte that so sholde it not go, ffor he thought it hadde be grete harme yef thei hadde not come togeder, ffor soche fruyte sholde come betwene hem wher-of all the londe of Breteigne sholde be honoured by the grete prowesse that he sholde haue.

All thus seide Merlin to hymself; and whan the clothes were drawen, and thei hadde waisshe theire handes thei yede to the wyndowes, and behelde the marasse; and on that othir side thei saugh the foreste and the forteresses that were ther a-boute, and the erable londe and the feire fisshinge, and saugh the vynes and the contrey so feire that merveile it was to beholden; and ther thei stode till it was tyme to go to bedde, and entred in to a chambre by the halle where the maydenys hadde made redy two beddes soche as apertend to two soche princes, and thei were brought to bedde with grete ioye and feste; and whan the two kynges were brought to bedde, the lorde of the place wente to bedde with his wif, and the thre maydenys lay in another chamber next by the chamber of Agrauadain, so that noon myght entre but thourgh his chamber; and a-noon as thei were a-bedde, Merlin be-gan an enchauntement, and made hem to slepe alle that were withynne the Castell saf only the kynge Ban and the mayden. These tweyne were so surprised that oon vpon that other, that thei myght nother slepe ne reste, and Merlin, that wolde acheive that he hadde begonne, com in to the chamber ther the mayden lay, and toke hir softly by the hande and seide, “Now, feire lady, a-rise, and come to hym that so moche yow desireth;” and she that so sore was enchaunted myght not with-sey his volunte, but a-noon a-roos vp oute of hir bedde naked saf, she first dide on hir smok, and Merlin her ledde by her fader beddes side, and by the beddes of other knyghtes therynne; but thei were so stronge a-slepe, that thei myght not a-wake. Thus wente Merlin and the mayden till thei com in to the chamber ther the two kynges lay, wher-ynne was light I-nough, and fond the kynge Bohors sore a-slepe, as he that was in the power of Merlin, and thei com streight to the kynge Ban that was at Page 610
moche mysese, and seide, “Sir, lo here the gode and [correction; sic = ] the feire whiche shall bringe forth the feire and the good, of whom the grete renomede shall renne thourgh all Breteigne.”

Whan the kynge saugh the mayden, and he hadde vndirstonde Merlin, a-noon he spradde his armes, and hir resceived gladde and myry, as he that moste do the comaundement of Merlin, and he hadde no power it to withstonde, for the enchauntement wherwith he was so surprised that he myght it not forsake in no maner; ffor yef it were in poste he wolde it not haue do for all the reme of grete Breteigne, for sore he dredde oure lorde; and satte vp and resceyved the mayden in his armes, and she dide of hir smok, and leide hir down by hym, and her toke in his armes and she dide hym, and eche of hem made feire chere and right good semblaunt, as thei hadde be togeder xx yere, for noon of hem was a-shamed ne dismayed of other, and all this hadde Merlin it ordeyned. In this manere
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was the kynge and the damesell till day, and than com Merlin to the kynge Ban, and seide that it were tyme that the damesell yede a-gein, and she dide on hir smok and hir kirtill; and the kynge toke a ringe of his fynger, and side, “Swete love, kepe this ringe for my love;” and the damesell it toke and sette it on hir finger, and so thei departed; and Merlin brought hir a-gein in to hir bedde, and made hir to ly down all naked that hadde conceyved a sone, of whom launcelot after hadde grete ioye and honour for the bounte and Chiualrie that was in hym.

Whan Merlin hadde brought the damesell in hir bedde, he wente to his owne bedde and lay down, and than brake the enchauntement, and alle that were in the castell a-woke, and it was than feire day; and than a-rise knyghtes and squyres, and alle seruauntes, and made redy theire armures, and sadeled theire horse, and trussed coufres and males, and Merlin com to the kynge that was a-slepe, ffor the enchauntement of the love of the damesell was cessed, and he wiste well that he hadde by hir leyen, but he knewe not in what maner ne how he hadde hir in his bedde, saf he supposed it was by Merlin; and Merlin com to hym, and seide it was sone tyme

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to ride; and whan the two kinges were vp, and alle tho that were therynne; than com the lorde and the thre damesselles to the two kynges and salued, and thei hem grete a-gein godely; and whan the kynge Ban saugh the doughter of Agrauadain that al nyght hadde leyn with hym he beheilde hir full ententifly, and she hym full swetly bowinge down with the heed as she that was shamefaste, that she hadde be so prevy with hym, and that she hadde be so-bolde; and but yef the force and the enchauntement hadde not cessed, she ne hadde ther-of be nothinge abaisshed for hym, and ther was neuer hour after but she hym loved more than eny other man, and that shewed well, for neuer after that wolde she neuer haue a-do with no man, but seide to hir-self that a woman that hadde ben so with a kynge ne ought neuer be so famyler with noon other man of lower degre. Ne neuer after wolde she be maried; and the kynge Ban toke hir be the hande, and seide, “Damesell, I moste nede departe at this tyme, but wher-so-euer I be I am youre knyght as trewly as eny man may be, and I praye yow haue in mynde to kepe youre body, ffor ye be conceyved with a sone, and that I do yow verily to wite of whom ye shull haue ioye and honour;” and of this Merlin hadde do hym to vndirstonde that knewe a partye of thinges that were to come; and the damesell ansuerde in baas voyce sore syghinge, and seide, “Sir, yef it so be god to his pleiser sende me more ioye ther-of than I haue of youre departinge, ffor neuer here be-forn was love so soone departed, and seth yow be-hove nede for to go, I shall conforte my-self the beste wise I may with this that I am with conceyved; now god sende me grace that I be a gladde moder, ffor yef I lyve so longe that I may it se, hit shall be to me a myrour and confort in remembraunce of yow;” with that worde the kynge toke hir in his armes, and with sighinge comaunded hir to god; and the damesell returned to hir chamber with the maydenes folio 217b
and the two kynges; and Merlin comaunded the lady to god, and thanked hir for the grete curtesie and chere that thei hadde founden; and after thei toke theire horse and departed oute

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of the Castell, and rode forth the cauchie oon after another, and Agrauadain hem conveyed to the pyne tre, and than returned; and the two kynges rode forth to the see, and founden shippes, and passed ouer; and whan thei were landed thei ride forth till thei come to Benoyk, where thei were resceived with grete ioye; but a-bove alle other were the two sustres, the Quenes gladde and ioyfull, and so the two kynges soiourned viij dayes in Benoyk with theire two wifes, and with hem also Merlin; and the ixthe day he toke leve of the two kynges and the Quenes, and of the other barouns, and repeired to Nimiane, his owne love, that made hym grete chire, and of hym was gladde and ioyfull, ffor moche she hym loved for the grete debonerte that she hadde in hym founden, and he loved nothinge so wele as he dide hir, and wele it shewed, ffor he taught hir that he wolde not teche to noon other, and so he a-bode with hir viij dayes, and than departed and com to Blase, his maister, that so moche desired hym to se; and Merlin hym tolde the assemble on the playn of Salisbery, and how thei rescewed the Quene of Garlot, and the pray, and tolde hym alle thinges that were befallen seth he fro hym departed, and he hem wrote in his boke. But now shull we returne to speke of the kynge Arthur.

CHAPTER XXXI.

ARTHUR’S GREAT FEAST AT CAMELOT; THE BATTLE BEFORE TORAISE, AND DEFEAT OF KING

RION.

Whan the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and Merlin were departed from the kynge Arthur for to go in to theire owne contrey, the kynge a-bode stille at Cameloth, gladde and myri with the Quene Gonnore that moche hym loved, and he hir, and so thei a-bide in ioye and myrthe longe tyme, till it drough nygh the myddill of Auguste; and than seide the kynge to sir Gawein, his nevew, that at the feste of assumpcion he wolde holde court roiall, and that all sholde be sent fore

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that were of hym holdinge londe or feo; ffor he seide he saugh neuer his hool power togeder at no feeste that he hadde holden be-fore; “and therfore,” quod he, “I will that alle be sent fore bothe fer and nygh bothe prive and straunge, and also I will that eche bringe with hym his wif or his love that my court may be the more honoured;” and sir Gawein seide that he hadde well devised, and that of gentell herte meved this purpos, “and therfore I be-seke yow that this be so don that it be to youre honour;” and the kynge seide, “Certes, feire nevew, I desire to do so that I haue ther-of honour, and that all the worlde ther-of may speke.” Than sir Gawein lete write lettres and writtes, and sente hem to the Barouns, and to knyghtes of the londe, and comaunded hem alle as dere as thei hym loved that thei be on the assumpcion even at Cameloth, ffor than wolde he holden court grete and roiall, and euery man to bringe with hym his wif or his love; and the messagers wente to the princes and Barouns, and shewed hem theire lettres, and dide theire message thourgh the contrey; and the princes and the barouns made hem redy in
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the moste roiall wise and com to the court as the kynge hadde comaunded, and euery man brought with hym his wife, and he that hadde no wife brought with hym his love; and than ther com thider so many that merveile it was to beholde the nombre, ffor ther ne myght not the tenthe part in to the Citee of Cameloth, but loigged withoute in the feire medowes in tentes and in Pavelouns; and the kynge hem resceived with grete ioye and grete honoure, and the quene Gonnore, that was the wisest lady of the worlde, resceyved the quenes, and the ladyes, and the maydenes, and damesels with grete honoure eueriche of hem by hem-self as she that hadde more witte and curtesie than eny lady in hir dayes, and yaf to hem riche yeftes of golde and siluer, and clothes of silke eueriche after theire astate; and she demened hir so well that thei seide ther was not soche another lady in all the worlde as was she; and the kynge departed to knyghtes robes and armes, and horse, and dide hem so moche worshippe that day and curtesie, that thei loved hym the better as longe as theire Page 614
life endured; and that shewed well after in many a stour, and in many a nede, as ye shull heren her-after.

Grete was the feeste that the kynge hilde on the euen of the assumpcion to the riche baronye that to hym were come. Whan the kynge and the barouns hadde herde euesonge at the mynster of seint Stephene, the tables were sette in teintes and Pavelons, ffor thei myght not alle in to the town; and on that othir side was the Quene Gonnore, and the ladyes and damesels with soche ioye that merveile it were to reherse, ffor in all the londe of Breteigne, ne in all the power of kynge Arthur, ne lefte mynstrall ne iogeloure ne oon ne other, but alle were come to that feeste; and at that soper were thei served so well as was convenient to so myghty a prince as was the kynge Arthure, and thus endured thei in ioye and myrthe till tyme was to go to reste till on the morowe. And on the morowe a-roos the kynge Arthure, and the riche barouns, and the Quene, and wente to hire masse at the mynster of Seint Stephene, and the servise was honorably seide in the worship and reuerence of that high feste, and grete and riche was the offrande; and the kynge Arthur and alle other kynges and Quenes that day bar crownes in worship of the day, and so ther were lx crownes, what of kynges and quenes; and whan the masse was seide, and the seruise ended the kynge Arthur lepe on his palfrey, and alle the other kynges after hym I-crowned, and so dide the quene Gonnore and alle the other quenes, and eueryche of hem a crowne of golde on theire heedes; and the kinge Arthur satte at the high deyse, and made alle the xij kynges sitte at his table downwarde a renge; and also in honour of the high feste of oure lady, he made the Quene Gonnore sitte by hym crowned, and so dide alle the other xij quenes by-fore theire lordes; and at other tables satte other princes, Dukes, and Erles, and othir knyghtes were sette richely thourgh the medowes in tentes and Pavelouns with grete ioy and melodye that neuer was seyn gretter in no Court.

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And as thei were in this ioye, and in this feste, and kay the stiward that brought the firste mese be-fore the

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kynge, ther com in the feirest forme of man that euer hadde thei seyn be-fore, and he was clothed in samyte, and girte with a bawdrike of silke harnysshed with golde and preciouse stones, that all the paleys flamed of the light, and the heir of his hede was yelowe and crispe with a crowne of golde ther-on as he hadde ben a kynge, and his hosen of fin scarlet, and his shone of white cordewan orfraied, and bokeled with fin golde; and hadde an harpe a-bowte his nekke of siluer richely wrought, and the stringes were-of fin golde wire, and the harpe was sette with preciouse stones; and the man that it bar was so feire of body and of visage that neuer hadde thei sein noon so feire a creature; but this apeired moche his bewte and his visage for that he was blinde, and yet were the iyen in his heed feire and clier; and he hadde a litill cheyne of siluer tacched to his arme, and to that cheyne a litill spayne was bounde as white as snowe, and a litill coler a-boute his nekke of silke harneysed with golde; and this spaynell ledde hym streight be-fore the kynge Arthur, and he harped a lay of Breteigne full swetely that wonder was to here, and the refraite of his laye salewed the kynge Arthur, and the Quene Gonnore, and alle the other after; and kay the stiward that brought the firste cours taried a-while in the settinge down to beholde the harpur ententifly. But now we moste cesse of hem a-while, and speke of the kynge Rion.

In this partie the storie seith that whan the kynge Ryon was discounfited of the kynge Arthur, and of the kynge leodogan of Carmelide, he departed from that stour sory and wroth, as he that all hadde loste in that bateile, and repeired [correction; sic = repired]hom in to his contrey triste and sorowfull, and swor his oth that neuer sholde he haue ioye ne reste till he hadde distroied the kynge leodogan, and chaced hym oute of his londe, and sente writtes and letteres to alle the lordes and knyghtes of his reame in lengthe and in brede, and to alle the reames that he hadde conquered, and that were ix by a count, and assembled so moche peple that it was merveile to se; the first kynge that com at the comaundement of kynge Rion was the kynge Page 616

Palerens, and hadde in his companye xvMl men that were bolde and hardy; after com the kynge Tasurs with xijMl men; and the kynge Brinans brought xiiijMl men wele horsed and a-raied for to helpe theire lorde, and the kynge Argans brought xiMlmen; and the kynge Taurus brought xiMl men whiche hadde grete corage to a-venge the shame of kynge Rion; after that com the kynge Arade de galoire with xvMl men in his companye; and the kynge Solimas brought xxMl men wele horsed; and the kynge Kahadins brought xMl; and the kynge Alipantius of the londe des pastures brought xxMI men; whan thei were come and assembled at the comaundement of the kynge Rion, and he hem saugh alle be-fore hym he made his complaynt and his clamoure heringe hem alle, and seide to hem full sympilly, “Lordinges, ye be alle my liege men, and of me ye holde youre londes and youre fees, and folio 219a
therfore ye owe to bere me feith a-gein alle men; and for I knowe youre hertes fin and trewe, and that ye wolde in nothinge a-gein me not erre, and therfore I yow pray and require that ye me helpe to a-venge my shame, nought only myn but alle youres; ffor he that doth to me shame or vylonye, he doth it not only to me, but to yow alle in generall, and therfore I pray yow and require be the oth that ye haue made to me that ye be withynne this two monethes be-fore Torayse a-gein the kynge leodogan of Carmelide that by his force hath me discounfited and chaced oute of the feilde, and therfore I require yow that ther on be take vengaunce;” and thei ansuerde alle with oo voice, and seide, “Of that it nedeth vs neuer to preyen, for this shall be don at youre plesier.” With that thei departed and wente hom in to theire contrey, and made hem redy, and com at the day that was named with grete force be-fore the castell of Torayse; and the kynge Rion com with all his peple, and beseged town all a-boute, and gadered the prayes in her comynge. But Cleodalis the stiward of Carmelide that was a noble knyght, and a trewe to his lorde chalenged it full fiercely of the forreyours, ffor he com out with xxMl men that he hadde with-holden to kepe the marches, and faught with hem fiercely,

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and rescowed the pray, and brought it in to the Castell and made shette the yates; and the kynge Rion and his peple logged a-boute the castell, and sette vp teintes and Pavelons, and rested the firste nyght, and on the morowe thei assailed the town and the castell; and the kynge leodogan and Cleodales cam oute by a posterne that opened a-gein the river, euen right a-geins the teinte of kynge Solymas that was gon to the assaute of a yate, and the kynge leodogan drofe thourgh the teintes and Pavelouns, and with hym Cleodales, and caste down to the erthe all that vpright dide stonde, and toke golde and siluer, and vesselles of golde and other Iuwelles, and brought in to the town, and in to the Castell by strengthe. Than were thei of the hoste full sory and wroth; and the kynge Rion seide all that sholde nought hem a-vaile, ffor he wolde neuer departe from the castell till he hadde it taken, and the kinge leodogan putte in his mercy; and than thei withdrough hem from the assaute, and so a-bide fyve dayes withouten shotte or other dedes, and while that the kynge Rion lay thus at soiour, hit was tolde how the kynge Arthur hadde discounfited the saisnes, and chaced hem oute of the londe, and that at the assumpcion he sholde holde court roiall in the towon of Cameloth; and whan the kynge Rion herde thus, he seide, “Now lete hym feesten, ffor as soone as I haue the kynge leodogan in my bailly, I shall go vpon hym with so moche peple that he shall it not endure; and neuertheles yef the kynge Arthur come to me to aske mercy er I come vpon hym with myn hoste I will haue of hym pite, and suffre hym to regne, and of me holde his londe.” “Sir,” seide his men, “sende hym a message, and do hym to wite that it were better to hym to be-come youre man than to be distroied and his londe waste.” “So will I do,” quod the kynge Rion;” and than he lete write a letter, and it dide ensele with his seell, and than he cleped to hym a knyght in whom he moche trusted, and made
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hym for to swere that he sholde take this letter to kynge Arthur in his owne hande, and he swor that in the same maner it sholde be do; and than the kynge Rion delyuered

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hym this lettere, and a-noon he departed and rode forth the nexte wey toward Camelot, and with hym but a squyer; and the kynge Rion a-bode stille be-fore Torayse, and comaunded his peple to armen hem, and to assaile the castell, ffor he hadde grete dispite that soche a place with so fewe peple sholde a-geins hym holde day or houre, ffor hym semed he hadde mo knyghtes in his hoste than ther were men, and women, and childeren in the town, “and therefore it is grete shame to ley the sege, ffor we myght haue taken it at oure first comynge by force, and therfore shull we be the lesse preised in other contreis, and turne vs to reprof and cowardise, and thei that we shull werre vpon hereafter shull haue of vs the lesse drede.”

Whan the princes and the Barouns herde the kynge thus speke, thei were somdell a-shamed, for thei dredde leste he sholde holde hem cowardes, and ronne to theire armes in all haste, and begonne to assaile the castell strongly; and thei that were withynne hem deffended manly and casten out stones, and sharpe speres and dartes, and slough of hem I-nowe in the diches; and the kynge leodogan, and Cloedalis, and Guyomar his cosin, and hervy de rivell, and Males le bruns issed out armed vpon horse of prise couered with still, and smote a-monge the peple of kynge Rion that by force hadde take a barbican, and ledde a-wey xv sergauntes that were bolde and hardy, and of that harme hem thought shame; and Cleodalis smot the kynge Margant with a spere that neither shelde ne hauberk myght hym a-vaile, for the spere shaft shewed thourgh his bakke be-hynde, and he blussht down deed to grounde; and whan his men saugh hym falle, thei lefte the prisoners and ronne thider; and whan thei founde hym deed, than be-gan the cry and the noyse, and lefte the assaute, and Cleodalis and his companye rescowed the xv men, and brought hem in to the Castell, and closed the yates, and thei of the hoste also withdrough theire peple, and bar the deed kynge in to the tente of kynge Rion, that was therfore sorowfull and wroth. But now shull we leve hem makynge theire doell, and speke of the message that kynge Rion sente to kynge Arthur to Cameloth.

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Whan this messager was departed from his lorde, he and his squyer rode forth till thei com to Cameloth on the day of the assumpcion, and a-light down of his horse, and com in to the halle as kay hadde sette the firste cours be-fore the kynge Arthur. This knyght saugh these kynges and these quenes that satte at the high deyse alle crowned for the high feeste, and saugh the harpoure crowned with golde, he was all astonyed, and for the dogge that hym ledde thourgh the paleis; and he asked of kay that served whiche was the kynge Arthur, and kay hym shewed a-noon right; and the knyght, that was wise, and well cowde speke, com be-fore the kynge, and seide so lowde that alle myght it vndirstonde, “Kynge Arthur, I grete the nought,
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ffor I am not ther-to comaunded by hym that hath me to the I-sente. But I shall do the to vndirstonde what he doth to the sende; and whan thow hast herde his comaundement do as thow art a-vised, and yef thow do his will thow shalt finde ther-in profite, and yef thow wilt it nought do the by-hoveth to forsake thi londe, and fle in exile;” and whan the kynge this herde he be-gan to smyle, and seide, “Full sobirly a-vise the of thi message, ffor of all that thow art comaunded thou mayst say boldly all thy will withoute eny encombraunce of me or of eny other;” and than he seide,

“Kynge Arthur to the sente me the kynge of alle cristin that is the kynge Rion of the yles, whiche is at sege be-fore Toraise in Carmelide, and with hym ix kynges that alle ben his liege men, and holde of hym theire londes and theire fees in honour, ffor he hath made hem alle enclyne to hym by his prowesse, and of alle the kynges that he hat conquered wher-of ther be ix, he hath flayn of theire beerdes. Now my lorde sendeth the comaundement that thou be-come his man; and that shall be to the grete honoure to be-come liege man to so puyssaunt a kynge as my lorde, ffor he is lorde from the east in to the west of all the londe;” and whan the knyght hadde thus seide he drough oute the letter of kynge Rion, that was seled with x seles roiall, and seide to the kynge Arthur, “Sir, do rede this letter that my lorde hath the sente, and Page 620
than shalt thou heren his wille and his corage;” and therwith he delyuered hym the letter, and the kynge hit toke to the archebisshoppe, that was come thider, to vndirstonde the message, and he it vnfolded and be-gan to rede a-lowde that thei myght it wele vndirstonde that were in the halle.

“I the kynge Rion, that am lorde of all the west, do hem alle to wite that these letteres shull seen, that I am at sege be-fore Toraise in Carmelide, and with me be ix kynges of my meyne, and alle theire peple of theire londes that armes may bere, and of alle the kynges that I conquere I haue theire suerdes be my prowesse, and also I haue made a mantell of reade samyte furred with the beerdes of these kynges, and this mantell is nygh all redy of all that ther-to longeth, saf only tasselles, and for the tassels faile I haue herde tidinges of thy grete renoun that is spredde thourgh [correction; sic = though] the worlde, I will that it be honoured more than eny of the other kinges, and therfore I comaunde the that thow sende me thy beerde with all the skynne, and I shall hit sette on the tassels of my mantell for the love of the, ffor neuer be-fore this mantell be tasselled shall it not hange a-boute my nekke. Ne I will of noon other haue it made but of thy beerde, ffor a-boute the handes and the nekke ought euery prince sette the moste honorable thinges, and for thow art the most puyssaunt kynge as the renoun of the recordeth, I will that thow sende me thy beerde by oon or tweyne of thy frendes, and after come thou to me and be-come my liege man and holde of me thy londes in goode pees; and yef thou wilt nought thus don I comaunde the that thou go exiled and forsake thi londe, ffor as soone as I haue conquered the kynge leodogan I
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shall come vpon the with all myn hoste, and make thy beerde be flayn, and drawe from thy chyn boustously, and that thou shalt knowe verily.”

Whan the archebisshop hadde redde this letter be-fore the kynge Arthur, and be-fore alle the Barouns he delyuered the letter a-gein to the kynge that was full wroth and angry with this comaundement; and the messager seide, “Kynge Arthur, do that my lorde the comaundeth that I may Page 621
returne;” and the kynge seide he myght wele returne whanso-euer he wolde, and telle his lorde that his beerd sholde he neuer haue while he myght it diffende; and the knyght departed and com to his horse and rode forth, he and his squyer, till thei come to Toraise, in Carmelide, where he fonde the kynge Rion that assailede the Castell full fiercely; and thei withynne diffended hem full harde, that thei withoute loste moche of theire peple, and therfore was the kynge Rion full wroth; and whan the knyght was come be-fore the kynge Rion, and tolde his ansuere from the kynge Arthur, he seide he sholde not so soone haue take the kynge leodogan, but a-noon he wolde come vpon hym with so grete power that he sholde not hem sustene ne endure, and now shull we speke of the kynge Arthur, and of his Barouns.

Whan the knyght that hadde brought this message from the kynge Rion was departed, the kynge Arthur lefte stille sittinge at mete in myrthe and in ioye; and the harpoure wente from oon place to another, and harped myrily, so that thei behilde hym for a merveile bothe oon and other, and hem liked more the melodye of this harpour than eny thinge that this other mynstralles diden; and the kynge Arthur hadde grete merveile fro whens this man myght come, and yet he ought hym well to knowe, for many tymes hadde he hym seyn in other maner and in othere semblaunces; and whan thei hadde eten and the clothes were taken up, the harpour com be-fore the kynge, and seide, “Sir, yef it plese yow graunte me reward for my servise.” “Certes, frende,” seide the kynge, “it is reson, and ye shull it haue with goode will, and therfore sey youre will, for ye shull not faile yef it be soche thinge as I may yeve, savinge myn honour and my reame.”

“Sir,” seide the harpour, “ye shull neuer haue ther-in but honour, yef god will.” “Than sey youre volunte,” seide the kynge boldely. Than seide the harpour, “I aske yow, and require to bere youre chief baner in the firste bataile that ye shall go to.” “Ffeire frende,” seide the kynge, “sholde that be worship to me and my reame; oure lorde hath sette yow in his prison; how myght Page 622
ye youreself guyde that may nought se to bere a baner in bateile of a kynge that ought to be refute and counfort to alle the hoste.” “Haa, sir,” quod the harpour, “God that is the very guyde, me shall condite and lede that in many perilouse places me hath ledde, and wite ye well it shall be for youre prowe;”

and whan the barouns it vndirstode thei hadde merveile; than behilde hym the kynge Ban, and remembred hym of Merlin that in the Castell of the marasse hym served in disgise of a yonge knyght of xv yere age, and thought it sholde ben he, and seide a-noon to the kynge, “Sir, graunte hym his request, for he semeth to be
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soche a man that his desire ne ought not to be refused.” “Why,” seide Arthur, “trowe ye it sholde be to oure profite and oure honour that a mynstrall sholde bere oure baner in bateile, whiche may not lede hymself, though I hit with-sey I do nothinge a-gein right, for it is a thinge that I sholde not graunte lightly, but I knewe right well the persone that it sholde bere;” and a-noon as this worde was seide, the harpoure vanysshed a-monge hem that noon wiste where he be com. Than Arthur be-thought hym on Merlin, and was sory and wroth that he ne hadde it hym graunted, and alle that were therynne were abaisshed, for that he was loste so sodeinly; and the kynge Ban of Benoyk that well aparceived it was Merlin seide to the kynge Arthur, “Certes, sir,” quod he, “ye ought hym wele for to knowen.” “Trewly,” seide Arthur, “ye sey full trewe, but for that he hath made a whelpe hym for to lede that hath take a-wey fro me the knowinge.” “Sir,”

seide Gawein, “what is he than?” “Nevew,” quod the kynge, “it is Merlin oure frende.” “Yee,” seide Gawein; “so helpe me god, I trowe yow wele that it be he, ffor often hath he be disgised be-fore youre Baronye, and this hath he don to make yow solas and counfort.” And as thei stode spekinge here-of, in the halle com in a litill childe, that semed of viij yere of age, and he was all naked and brecheles, and bar a staf in his honde and com be-fore the kynge, and seide, “Sir, appareile yow for to go a-gein the kynge Rion in bateile, and delyuer me youre baner for to bere;” and whan

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thei that were in the paleys saugh hym in that aray, thei begonne to laugh harde; and the kynge ansuerde all in laughinge, as he [correction; sic = ] that soposed well it was Merlin, “So helpe me god, ye owe it well to bere, and I it yow graunte.” Gramercy, sir,” seide the childe, “ffor in me it shall be wele employde;” and with that he comaunded hem alle to god, and wente oute of the paleis, and than a-noon he toke his owne semblaunce soche as he was wonte to haue, and seide to hymself that now hym behoveth to somown the kynges hoste, and wente toward the see and passed ouer and com to Gannes, to Pharien, and to leonces of paierne, and badde hem to assemble theire power of all that thei myght bringe oute of the londe and come to Cameloth, and thei seide thei wolde do hys comaundement; and Merlin com to the see, and passed ouer and wente to the londe of kynge Vrien, and by the londe of kynge looth, and seid to the Barouns, and to other princes, that thei be withynne xv dayes afte oure lady day, the Natiuite in September be-fore Cameloth, and thei hym graunted alle; and than he departed from them, and com a-gein to the court er euesonge were all seide vpon the same day of the assumpcion, and the kinge of hym made grete ioye, and asked why he hadde hym so kept oute of sight; and he ansuerde that he ought hym wele to knowen. “Ye certes,” seide the kynge, “yef in me were eny witte.” Thus thei a-bide in feeste and ioye all that day.

On the morowe the kynge made alle his princes to assemble in his paleis, and ther also was Merlin; and the kynge Arthur seide how hem be-houeth to somowne all the power
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that thei myght assemble, for he wolde socour the kynge leodogan that was fader [correction; sic = fade] to the Queene Gonnore; and Merlin seide how thei were alle somowned bothe at Gannes and at Benoyk, and thourgh alle the londes of the other barouns; and the kynge Arthur hym asked whan that was don, and he seide, “Seth yesterday after mete;” and whan the kynge and the other princes this vndirstode that he hadde this don, thei hadde grete wonder, and were ther in ioye and in feste till all here peple was assembled, and than meved the kynge Arthur and

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his baronye, and rode towarde the reame of Carmelide; and the kynge graunted his baner to Merlin as he hadde promysed be-fore, and sped theire iournyes till thei come a litill iourney fro Toraise, where the kynge Rion had be-sege the kynge leodogan; and whan thei were nygh the hoste, Merlin seide to Gawein, and to sir Ewein, and to Segramor, “Loke ye be euer nygh a-boute me;” and thei seide thei wolde don his pleiser. “Now than,” quod Merlin, “sueth after me softely, and alle thei of the hoste till we be in bateile, and ye shull smyte vpon hem of that other partye withoute rennynge of youre bateile, and thinke euer to come nygh after my baner what wey that euer ye se me turne;” and thei ansuerde that so thei wolde with goode will, and so he seide to Arthur and to alle the othere princes, and wente forth till thei com in to the hoste of kynge Rion, and Merlin be-fore hem all so harde as his horse myght renne with the dragon in his hande that caste thourgh his mouthe fire and flame, that alle thei ther-of were abaisshed; and Gawein that folowed hym next mette with the kynge Pharaon that with all his bateile com hym a-geins; and as soone as he saugh hem approche, Sir Gawein hym smote so, that shelde ne hauberk myght hym warante, but bar hym thourgh the body deed to the erthe; and than he seide in game, “He this is sworn to pees, for by hym shall neuer the kynge Arthur lese acre of his londe ne his beerd be flayn from his chyn;” with that assembled bothe hostes that oon a-gein that other, and grete was the noyse, and the fray of the people of kynge Rion, and of the peple of kynge Arthur; and ther dide Gawein, and Ewein, and Segramor, and Gaheries, and the knyghtes of the rounde table merveiles with theire handes; ffor whan bothe hostes were mette, ye myght haue sein many oon leide to grounde of oo party and of other, ffor thei were bold and hardy on bothe sides; and Merlin that bar the dragon drof in to the prees, and sir Gawein and his companye after, and smote hem so harde that thei metten that thei neded no salve, and the speres fly in peces; and that was a thinge that discounforted the kynge Rion and his peple, ffor thei wende verily that fendes Page 625
were fallen a-monge the hoste. But thei were so bolde and so chiualrouse that therfore thei wolde not be discounfited, but hilde bateile grete and merveilouse a-gein the peple of kynge Arthur, and made hem resorte bakke at hir first comynge, and therfore was sir Gawein and his companye full of dolour; and Merlin that rode be-fore hem cried, “What lordinges, what shall this be-mene, be ye now arested? sueth me yef ye will
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youre loos encrese and your pris.” Than these felowes smyten in a-monge hem of Irelonde that well hem resceyued with trenchaunt wepenes. But sir Gawein and his companye dide so well in armes that thei pressed thourgh the peple of kynge Rion, but first was ther many a hevy stroke yoven and resceived, and many a knyght straught deed to the erthe; and the kynge Arthur, and the kynge looth of Orcanye, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors were smyte in to the bateile on another side, where thei dide merveiles a-monge theire enmyes, ffor a-gein theire strokes endured noon armure. But the peple of kynge Rion mette hem so fiercely, that thei smote down the kynge looth and the kynge Bohors from theire horse a-mydde the presse, and so thei myght soone haue hadde grete damage ne hadde ben the grete prowesse that was in hem bothe, for thei lept on foot full vigerousely with theire swerdes drawen, and begonne to smyte down horse and men so crewelly that ther ne was noon that hem saugh, but he hilde it for a merveile; and the kynge Arthur and the kynge Ban pressed that wey hem to remounte, and Merlin com drivinge with the baner in his hande that thourgh his throte caste fire and flame, and smote in to the grettest presse; and whan the peple of kynge Rion saugh the grete merveile of the dragon that so caste fire, thei hadden grete drede and forsoke place, and the two kynges on whom thei dide a-bide, and Merlin com to them and delyvered to euerich of theym a good horse and a swifte, for I-nowe ther were a-stray thourgh the felde, and thei a-noon lept vpon horse, and rode in to the bateile, and begonne to do so well in armes, and so dide alle theire companye. But the force of kynge Rion was so grete that thei of the reame of grete Breteigne Page 626
myght it not endure, but sholde alle haue be discounfited as to my felinge, ne hadde be the prowesse of sir Gawein and his companye, and the knyghtes of the rounde table, for these shewed merveiles wher thei com, ffor thei smyte down men and horse, bothe that alle that hem withstode semed it were feendes.

On another side of the bateile was the kynge Ventres, and the kynge Tradilyuans, and the kynge Vrien, and the kynge de Cent Chiualers that full fiercely faught a-gein the peple of the yles that kept hem short; ffor of the yles was many a vailaunt knyght, and bolde in armes, and hadde smyte down the kynge Tradilyuans of North [correction; sic = Noth] wales, and hilde hym by the helme; and Merlin com to Gawein, and seide, “Now lete se what ye will do, ffor we haue loste the kynge Tradilyuans, but he have [correction; sic = ] hastely socour; sewe me.” Than wente Merlin that wey, and sir Gawein and his felowes folowinge till thei com to the kynge Tradilyuans that was in grete auenture of deth, and than begonne thei so harde bateile that wonder was to beholde, so that thei that hilde the kinge Tradilyuans that were bolde, and hardy, and durable in bateile were all abaisshed; but yet dide thei grete peyne hym to withholde, and thei of the rounde table haue hym rescowed, and sette on horse, and were full wroth and angry, and begonne a-gein the bateile, and the medle that hidiouse was to haue seyn, ffor oon fill deed vpon another, so that ther were grete mountayns of deed cors
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thourgh the feelde ther as the bataile was; ffor sir Gawein hadde so many slain with his swerde, that bothe swerde and arme were all be-soiled with blode and brayn.

Than the kynge leodogan saugh the bateile so crewell and so fell ther as he stode lenynge out at a wyndowe, and saugh the dragon that Merlin bar that caste fier thourgh his mouthe, so that the heyr was all reade; and he knewe it well, for he hadde it sein be-fore tymes, and knew well it was the signe of kynge Arthur; and than he called vpon his knyghtes and cried, “As armes, for my sone the kynge Arthur fighteth with oure enmyes, and is come me for to socour, god quyte hym;” and whan thei this vndirstode, thei ronne alle to armes Page 627
thourgh the castell, and com oute at the yate I-armed xMl, and moo of bolde men, and hardy, and smyten in to the hoste of the kynges of the yles full fiercely, and thei hem resceived, for thei were of grete hardynesse; and Cleodalis the stiward, and hervy de rivell, and her other felowes begonne to do merveiles of armes; and the bateile was so grete and so thikke on alle sides of the hoste of kynge Rion, that it was merveile so many ther were deed of oo parte and of other; and whan the kyng Rion saugh the grete mortalite and slaughtur of his peple, and also of the peple of kynge Arthur, his herte wax tender, and hadde ther-of pitee, and seide to hymself that that mortalite wolde he no lenger suffre, and than he toke a braunche of sicamor in his hande, and wente be-fore the hoste to disseuer the bateiles, and wente forth till he fonde the kynge Arthur, and spake so high that he myght wele ben herde, “Kynge Arthur, wherfore doost thow suffre thi peple to be slayn and distroied, and also myn; do thow now well yef ther be so moche worthinesse in the as the worlde recorded delyuer thy peple fro deth, and I shall deliuer also tho of myn, and we shull make oure peple with-drawe on bothe parties a-rowme, and thow and I shull fight togeder body for body by soche covenaunt, that yef thow may me conquere, I shall returne to my contrey with the peple that is me be left on lyve, and yef I may the conquere thow shalt holde thi londe of me, and be my soget as ben these other kynges that I haue conquered, and I shall haue thy berde with all the skyn to make the tasselles of my mantell.” “In the name of god,” quod the kynge Arthur, “thow sholdest so haue the better part of the pley, whan thow sholdest repeire in to thy contrey all hooll yef I the conquered, and ne sholdest not be-come my man, and thow desirest that I sholde be thy man yef thow myght me conquere. But I will fight with the in this maner as thow hast seide that yef I the conquere, thow shalt be my liege man, and in the same wise I graunte it the yef thow me conquere.” “Sir,” seide the kynge Rion, that was so stronge that he douted no man body for body, and he hadde conquered so ix Page 628
kynges that alle were his liege men, “and I it yow graunte like as ye haue seide.” Than thei sured theire feithes betwene hem two to holde these covenauntes, and made departe the bateiles that were so horible; and the Barouns drough a-side that were wroth and angry with these couenauntes; and sir Gawein that was wrother than eny other come to the kynge, his vncle, and seide, “Sir, yef it plese yow graunte me
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this bateile.” “Now ther-of, require ye no more,” quod the kynge Arthur, “nother ye, ne noon other; ffor noon other than I shall sette ther-to noon hande, ffor I shall do the bateile with the helpe of god, seith he hath me ther-to requireth.”

Than bothe hostes were drawen a-side on that oon part and on that other, and the two kynges were armed full richely all that nedeth to a noble prince, and eche of hem toke a spere stronge and rude; and than rode eche of hem from other more than two but lengthe, and than smote the horse with spores and mette togeder as tempest, ffor well ran bothe horse, and were of grete force, and the two kynges were fierce and hardy, and mette with so grete raundon with speres that were grete and shorte, and the heedes sharp I-grounden vpon the sheldes that thei perced; but the hauberkes were so harde, that thei fauced no mayle, and the horse were of grete force, and the knyghtes of grete prowesse, that the speres splindered in splyntes; and than thei leide hande to theire swerdes that weren of grete bounte, and smyten grete strokes vpon helmes, that thei breke the serkeles of golde and stones which weren of grete vertu, and to hewen the sheldes and hauberkes, and in the flessh so depe that the blood stremed after, and in short tyme eche of hem so a-raied other that ther ne was nother of hem but he hadde nede of a leche; and theire sheldes weren slitte and hewen that ther was not [correction; sic = ] left of theym so moche that thei myght with hem couer; and than thei caste the renenaunt to grounde, and caught the swerdes in bothe hondes, and smyte pesaunt strokes at discouert, so that thei to slitte helmes and to-rente hauberkes, so that the flessh shewed all bare, and ther ne was noon of hem bothe, but he was wery for

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traveile of yevinge of strokes and receivinge; and that was oon thinge that lengest hem hilde, ffor yef thei hadde ben fressh and newe to that thei weren withouten sheldes, and theire hauberkes to-rente, and theire helmes to-quasshed, thei myght not haue endured, neuertheles ther ne was noon of hem bothe but he was sore hurt and wounded.

Whan the kynge Rion that was bolde and hardy a-bove alle thoo of the londe, saugh the kynge Arthur hym contene a-geins hym he hadde ther-of grete merveile, ffor he wende that he sholde not a-gein hym haue endured, and seide to hymself that neuer be forn hadde he seyn so goode a knyght, and than he douted hym sore, and seide, “Kynge Arthur! hit is grete harme of the, ffor thow art the beste knyght that I faught with euer be-forn, and I se well and knowe verily that thy grete herte that thow hast shall make the to dye, ffor it will not suffre the to come to my mercy; and I knowe well that thow haddest leuer dye than be conquered, and that is grete damage, and therfore I wolde pray the and requyre for the grete prowesse that is in the that thou haue pitee on thyself, and yelde the for outraied for to saue thi lif, thourgh the couenauntes that ben betwene vs, so that my mantell were parformed in my live; ffor better I love thi lif than thi deth, and thow art come to thi fin that knowest thow well, and so don alle these barouns
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here a-boute that here ben.” Whan the kynge Arthur vndirstode the wordes of the kynge Rion he hadde grete shame, for so many a vailante prince hadde it vndirstonde; and than he ran vpon hym with his swerde in bothe handes as he that was full wroth and full of maltalente, and wende to smyte hym on the helme, but the kynge Rion blenched that saugh the stroke comynge with so grete ravyne, and neuertheles he araught hym vpon the helme, and kutte of the nasell, and the stroke descended and smote the stedes nekke a-sounder, and the kynge Rion fill to the erthe; and as he wende to haue rise, Arthur smote hym on the lifte shuldre in to the flesshe two large ynche, and the kynge Rion stombeled therwith and fill a-gein to the erthe; and whan the kynge Page 630

Arthur saugh the kynge Rion falle a-gein to grounde, a-noon he a-light to grounde, and ran to hym lightly, and caught hym by the helme, and drough it to hym with so grete force, that the laces brast a-sonder, and he it raced from his heed, and than lifte vp the swerde, and seide he was but deed, but he wolde yelde hym outerly; and he seide that wolde he ne neuer, for he hadde leuer dye than live recreaunt; and whan Arthur saugh that he myght hym not ther-to bringe to holde hym for outraied, he smote of the heed in sight of alle that were in the feelde, and than ronne to the princes on alle parties, and made grete ioye, and sette hym on a horse, and brought hym in to the castell of Toraise, and hym vnarmed, and serched his woundes; and the baronye of kynge Rion com to hym and resceived of hym theire londes, and theire fees, and dide hym homage, and than returned in to theire contrey, and with hem bar the body of kynge Rion; and it biried with grete lamentacion and wepinge; and the kynge Arthur was at Toraise gladde and ioyfull of the victorie that godde hym hadde yoven, and soiourned in the castell till he was warisshed of his woundes that he hadde in the bateile; and whan he was all hool, he departed fro Toraise with grete ioye and feste; and the kynge leodogan conveyed hym on his wey, and after returned; and the kynge Arthur and his companye ride till thei come to Cameloth, where-as the Quene Gonnore and the other quenes were abidinge that of theire comynge made grete ioye; and ther soiourned the princes iiij dayes, and on the fifte day thei departed, any euery man repeired to his owne contrey, and ledde with hem theire wyves thei that eny hadden; and the kynge Arthur com a-gein in to the Citee of logres, and soiourned ther longe tyme with the quene, and with hym was sir Gawein, and the companye of the rounde table, and Merlin that dide hem grete solas and grete companye, and he com to kynge Arthur, and seide that from hens-forth he myght hym wele for-beren, ffor he hadde somdell a-pesed his londe, and sette it in reste, and therfore he wolde go take his disporte where hym liked.

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Whan the kynge this vndirstode he was pensif and sory, for he loved hym entirly, and fain wolde he that he a-bood stille yef it myght be; and whan he saugh he myght hym not withholde, he praied hym dierly that he wolde come to hym a-gein in short
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tyme, and Merlin seide he sholde come a-gein all be tyme er he hadde nede.

“Certes,” seide the kynge, “euery day and euery hour haue I to yow nede and myster, ffor withoute yow I can nought, and therfore I wolde we sholde neuer departe companye;” and Merlin seide, “I shall come another tyme to youre nede, and I shall not faile day ne hour.” And the kynge was stille a longe while, and be-gan to stodie sore; and whan he hadde be longe in this thought, he seide all sighinge, “Ha, Merlin feire swete frende in what nede shull ye me helpe, I pray yow telle me to sette myn herte in more ese.” “Sir,” seide Merlin, “and I shall yow telle, and after I shall go my wey. The lyon that is the sone of the Bere, and was begeten of a leopart, shall renne by the reame of the grete Breteigne, and that is the nede that ye shall haue.” With that Merlin departed, and the kynge be lefte in grete myssese, and sore abaisshed of this thinge; ffor he knewe not to what it myght turne. But ther-of shull we cesse at this tyme, and returne to speke of Merlin.

CHAPTER XXXII.

MERLIN’S INTERPRETATION OF THE DREAM OF FLUALIS, AND HIS VISIT TO NIMIANE; THE

KNIGHTING OF THE DWARF; THE EMBASSY FROM THE EMPEROR OF ROME; ARTHUR’S FIGHT

WITH THE GIANT; THE BATTLE WITH THE ROMANS.

In this partie, seith the storye, as soone as Merlin was departed from the kynge Arthur, as ye haue herde, he departed from the Cite of logres so faste, that in all the worlde was noon so swyfte a horse that myght hym haue sewed, so Page 632
that alle that euer hym saugh wende he hadde ben oute of his witte; and a-noon he drof in to the foreste that was grete and depe, and come to the see, and passed ouer that no tyme wolde a-bide be see ne be londe till he come to the parties of Iherusalen, where ther was a kynge of grete puyssaunce that was named fflualis; he was a goode man of grete renoun as of his lawe, ffor he was a sarazin, and he hadde assembled alle the wise men of his londe, and of other londes as many as he myght gete; and whan thei were come all to the assemble be-fore hym in his paleys, he seide to hem so high that thei myght hym wele here and vndirstonde: “Lordinges,” quod he, “I haue sente for yow, and ye ben come at my comaundement, and therfore I thanke yow, but ye knowe not the cause why, but yef I do yow to vndirstonde, hit be-fill that I slepte this other day in my paleys, and hilde the quene that is here in myn armes as me semed; and as I was in this avision com to me two serpentes, whereof eche of hem hadde two heedes, foule and hidouse, and of eche of hem com a grete flawme of fire wher-of all my contrey was light, and that oon of the serpentz caught me betwene his feet by the flankes, and that other toke the quene betwene myn armes, and bar vs bothe an high vpon the roof of my paleys that is so high; and whan thei hadde brought vs thider, thei rente of oure armes and legges from oure bodyes, and caste hem down oon here another there; and whan thei hadde thus vs dismembred, ther com viij smale serpentes a-noon, and eche of hem toke a membre, and wente vp in to the heir a-bove the temple of Diane, and ther thei rente a-sondre oure membres in to smale pecis, and the two serpentes that hadde rente oure membres from oure bodyes
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lifte vs an high a-bove the paleys, and sette fire on the paleis withynne, and brent vp oure bodyes in to aisshes; and the wynde a-roos, and gadered the powder and bar it ouer all the londe a this half the see, ne ther ne was no goode town, but therynne lefte moche or litill. Soche was the avision that I saugh in my slepe, that me-semed was right perilouse and grevous; and therfore I haue yow hider somowned and assembled, and

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therfore I pray yow and requyre in all seruises and guerdons yef ther be eny of yow that can telle the significacon of these thinges lete me wite, and here be-fore yow alle I graunte trewly to hym that telleth me ther-of the verite, that he shall haue my doughter to his wif, and all my reame after my deth, or yef he be maried he shall be lorde of me and all my londe alle the dayes of my life.”

Whan the wise men herde the promyse and the wordes of the kynge, and thei hadde herde the avision, thei hadde merveile what it myght betokene, and oon seide othinge, and some seide another, eche after that hym semed beste; and Merlin that was in soche semblaunce that noon cowde hym knowe ne sen, spake whan alle other hadden seide so high that alle that were ther withynne myght it here clerly, and seide, “Vndirstonde to me, and I shall telle the thy dreme;” and whan he hadde seide thus, thei loked aboute hem to se hym that hadde this spoken, and so dide all thei that weren in the paleis, but nothinge thei saugh, and yet hem semed it was a-myd monge hem that seide, “Vndirstonde to me kynge fflualis, and here the be-tokenynge of thyn avision. The two serpentes that thow saughest be-fore the in thi slepe that hadde iiij hedes, and of alle foure heedes casten oute fier and flame, thei ben foure cristin kynges that to the marchen, and shull sette all thi contre in fier and flame; and that the serpentes bar the and the quene in to the highest part of thi paleis, signifieth that thei shull haue all thi londe in bailly, euen to the yates of thi chife fortresse. Of that the serpentes raced a-wey the membres of the and thi wif, betokeneth that thow shalt forsake the euell lawe that is roted in thyn herte, and shalt caste it oute from the to come to the be-leve of Ihesu crist. Of that the viij smale serpentes toke the membres of thi body, and of the quene, and bar it a-bove the temple of Diane whider as thi men shull fle for socour; of that thei rente thi membres, and the membres of the quene thi wif, signifieth that thi cheldren that shull be thy membres, and thi flessh shull be slain withynne the temple of Diane; of that the serpentes lefte the on Page 634
high on thi paleis, and the quene also with the sooll be youreself signifieth that thourgh the and hir shall cristin feith be encreced and strengthed; of that the serpentes brente the paleis vndir the signifieth that the shall not be lefte the valew of a peny of thinges that thow hast of this euell lawe; of that thow and the quene were brent in to aisshes signifieth that thow shall be purged clene of all thy synne by the water of baptyme; of that the powder of the fly ouer all the londe a this side the see signifieth that thow shalt haue folio 225a
children in thi good creaunce that shull be bolde knyghtes, and hardy, and shull be worshiped thourgh alle the londes of the worlde. Now hast thow herde thyn avision that thow haste sein in thi slepinge, and shall befalle the like as I haue the tolde.”

With that departed merlin; and the kynge a-boode pensif of the voice that he hadde herde, and nothinge ther-of hadde sein; and Merlin wente a grete spede, that neuer he stinte, till he com to the reame of Benoyk, and yede to Nimiane his love that sore desired hym for to seen, ffor yet cowde not she of his art of that she desired for to knowe, and she made hym the grettest ioye that she myght, and ete and dranke, and lay in oon bedde; but so moche cowde she of his connynge that whan he hadde will to ly with hire she hadde enchaunted and coniured a pelow that she kepte in hir armes, and than fill Merlin a-slepe; and the storie maketh no mencion that euer Merlin hadde flesshly to do with no woman, and yet loved he nothinge in this worlde so wele as woman, and that shewed well, ffor so moche he taught hir oo tyme and other, that at laste he myght holde hymself a fooll, and thus dide he soiourney with his love longe tyme; and euer she enquired of his connynge, and of his maistries, ech thinge by hit-self, and he lete her all knowe, and she it wrote all that he seide as she that was well lerned in clergie, and lerned it lightly all that Merlin hir taught; and whan he hadde soiourned with hir longe tyme, he toke his leve, and seide that he sholde come a-gein at the yeres ende, and so eche of theym comaunded other to god full tendirly; and than com Merlin to Blase his Page 635
maister, that gladde was of his comynge, and sore he longed hym for to se, and he hym also; and Merlin tolde hym alle the auentures that were befalle seth he fro hym departed, and how he hadde be with Nimiane his love, and how he hadde hir taught of his enchauntmentz; and Blase wrote all in his boke. Whan Merlin hadde tolde to Blase his maister alle thinges as were befallen oon after another, he soiourned with hym as longe as hym liked, and than toke his leve of hym and com streight in to the Cite of logres, where-as the kynge Arthur and Gonnore his wif, and resceyved Merlin with grete ioye, and a-noon as he was come. Ther com in a maiden to the halle dore, and a-light down from a mule, and hadde brought be-fore hir on hir sadell a dwerf, the moste contirfet and foulest that eny hadde sein, ffor he was deformed [correction; sic = ], and his browes reade and rowe, and his berde reade and longe, that henge down to his breste, and his heeir was grete and blakke, and foule medled, and his sholdres high and courbe, and a grete bonche on his bakke be-hinde and another be-fore a-gein the breste, and his handes were grete, and his fyngres short, and his legges short, and his chyne longe and sharpe, and the mayden was yonge and of grete bewte, and thei were sore loked on of oon and other; and a-noon as she was a-light she toke hir dwerf in hir armes, and toke hym down of the horse swetly, and brought hym in to the halle be-fore the kynge Arthur that was sette atte mete at the high deyse, and than she salued the kynge right curteisely as she that was connynge and wele taught, and the kynge greete hir a-gein full debonerly, and than seide the mayden,
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“Sir, I am come to yow from fer contrey, for the grete renomede that of yow renneth thourgh the worlde; ffor to aske and require of yow a yefte, ffor as the grete renoun of yow recordeth that no mayden shall faile of no request that she yow demaunded, and for that ye be holde the worthiest kynge of the worlde. I haue trauailed for to come to youre court for to aske of yow a request, and therfore loke ye graunte me nothinge but ye will it me parforme.” “Damesell,”

seide

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the kynge, “aske what yow liketh, for I am redy it to parforme, yef it be soche thinge that I may it do savinge myn honour and my reame.” “Of that,” quod she, “that I will yow require shull ye haue but honour.” “Damesell,” than seide the kynge, “sey your volunte.” “Sir,” seide the maiden, “I am come to pray yow, and require that ye of my love that is here, this gentill yonge lorde that I holde by the honde, make hym knyght, for he is ther-to digne and right worthi; ffor he is bolde and hardly, and come of grete lynage, and longe here-to forn sholde haue ben knyght yef he wolde of the kynge Pelles of lytenoys that is a full noble kynge, and a trewe; but my leife here will not, but hath made his oth that he shall neuer be knyght, but of youre hande, and therfore I pray yow, and require that ye make hym knyght;” and than alle thei that were in the paleis begonne to laugh bothe oon and other; and kay the stiwarde, that was an euell spekere, and scornfull of wordes, seide all smylinge, “Kepe well youre leef, and holde hym nygh yow that he be not take from yow of the quenes maydenes, for soone myght thei do yow that forfet for the grete bewte that is in hym.” “Sir,”

seide the mayden, “the kynge is so good a man, and so rightfull, that he wolde it not suffre, yef god will, that noon sholde do me that wronge.” “Certes, damesell,” seide the kynge, “ther-of be ye sure, and I it yow graunte well.”

“Sir,” seide the mayden, “Gramercy. Now do than that I haue yow required.”

“Damesell,” seide the kynge, “at youre plesier.” With this worde entred in to the court two squyres vpon two rounsies stronge and swyfte amblinge, of which that oon bar a shelde with thre leopartes of golde crowned of azure, and the champ of the shelde was sable, and the gige orfrayed of golde harnysshed, and a swerde hanged at his sadill, and the tother brought a stede in his right hande that was feire shapen, and the bridill and the harneys of silke and golde, and the two squires drof be-fore hem a somer with two cofers, and thei a-light a-noon vnder the pyne tre, and tacched theire horse, and vn-lokked the cofres, and toke oute an hauberk as white as snowe, for it was all of fin siluer and Page 637
doble maile, and hosen of the same werk, and an helme of siluer and golde, and com in to the halle where the kynge and the Barouns were be-fore the maiden; and whan she saugh thei were come, than she seide to the kynge, “Sir, I aske of yow my request, for I a-bide here longe, ffor here is althinge redy that longeth to a knyght, ffor with these armes that ye se here shall my leef be a-dubbed.”

“Ffeire love,” quod the kynge, “I shall do youre plesier and your volunte with goode will, but cometh to youre mete;” and she seide that she wolde neuer ete mete er hir lief were a knyght. Thus was the damesell in the paleis be-for the kynge, and euer hilde hir lief by the right hande; and whan the kynge hadde eten, and the clothes
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weren vp, the damesell drough oute of an awmenere a peire of spores of golde that weere wounden in a cloth of silke, and seide to the kynge, “Sir, delyuer me, for I haue ben here longe.” With that lepte forth kay the stiwarde, and wolde haue sette on his right spore; and the damesell hym sesed by the hande, and seide, “What is that,” quod she, “sir knyght, that ye purpose to do.” Quod kay, “I will sette on his right spore, and also make hym knyght with myn owne hande.” “Of youre hande,” seide the maiden, “shall it neuer befalle, yef god will, for noon ther-to shall sette hande saf only the kynge Arthur, ffor he hath me graunted in couenaunt, and I truste that he will me not faile, yef it be his plesier, ffor so myght he me bringe to the deth and me betraye. Ne noon ne ought to touche so high a persone as is my lief, but he be kynge or worthy prince.” “So helpe me god,” seide the kynge, “ye haue right, and I shall do all youre volunte.” Than the kynge toke his right spore of the damesell, and sette it on the right hele, and the damesell sette on the lifte; and whan the kynge hadde don on his hauberk vpon the dwerf, the kynge girt hym with his swerde, ffor the maiden wolde not suffre noon to touche hym saf only the kynge; and whan he was all appareiled of all that longeth to a knyght, the kynge yaf hym the a-colee, and seide, “God make hym a good knyght;” and than the mayden asked yef he sholde do eny more. “Damesell,” seide the Page 638
kynge, “I haue don that to me aperteneth.” “Sir,” quod she, “than now pray hym that he be my knyght;” and the kynge hym preide; and than wente thei oute of the halle, and com vnder the pyne tre; and the maiden made the dwerf to lepe vpon his stede that was so feire, and she hir-self henge the shelde a-boute his nekke that was of soche coloure as ye haue herde, and than she toke hir mule and than made the two squyres to take theire horse, and sente hem bothe home in to theire contrei, and she and hir knyght yede another wey in to the foreste that was grete and merveilouse; and the kynge Arthur a-bode stille in his paleis, he and Merlin, and sir Gawein, and his companye; and I-nough thei lough of the maiden that so hadde yoven hir love to the duerf. “Certes,” seide the quene, “I haue grete merveile, fro whens this thought myght hir befalle, for so foule a thinge, and so lothly ne saugh I neuer; and the damesell is full of grete bewte, that in foure remes sholde not be founden hir pareile, and I trowe verily that it be som fende or of feire that thus hath hir disceived.” “Madame,” seide Merlin, “she is not disceived, but for the grete lothlynesse that is in hym; ffor neuer in youre lif saugh ye so hardy a pece of flesshe as is this duerf, and he is bothe kynges sone and quenes.” “Sir,” seide the quene, “the damesell semeth well to be of high lynage, for she is right feire, and hir lief right lothly.” “Madame,” quod Merlin, “the grete bounte of hym shall a-bate the grete lothlynesse that ye se in hym, and that shall ye knowe hastely more verily.”

“Ffeire frende, Merlin,” seide the kynge, “what is the damesell; know ye folio 226b
hir eny thinge?” “Sir,” seide Merlin, “I telle yow in trouthe that I saugh hir neuer be-fore, and yet I knowe well what she is, and what is hir name, and that she shall telle yow hir-self withynne short tyme, and so shall she be better beleved than sholde I, and by the duerf hymself shall ye knowe what he is soner than ye wene, and ther-of shull ye haue bothe ioye and sorowe.” “Ye,”

seide the kynge, “therof I praye yow to telle me the verite.” “Sir,” seide Merlin, “it falleth not at this tyme that I sholde it sey, ffor Page 639
ye shull right soone haue other weyes to vndirstonde, ffor Luce the Emperour of Rome hath sent yow his messages, and thei be at the grees of the halle.”

And as Merlin spake to the kynge Arthur, ther com vp xij princes full richely be-seyn, and clothed in riche clothes of silke, and com two and two holdinge eche other be the handes, and eche of theym bar a braunche of Olyve in his hande, and that was a signe that thei were messagiers; and in this maner thei com be-fore the kynge Arthur that satte at the high table in the paleis, and his barouns hym [correction; sic = hym hym] be-forn; and the messagiers com in and made no salutacion to noon that ther was, and than spake oon that was maister of hem alle, and seide, “Kynge Arthur, we be xij princes of Rome that be sente to the from Luce the Emperour.” Than he drough oute a letter that was wrapped in a cloth of silke, and straught it to the kynge, and bad hym do rede the letter, and the kynge toke the letter and delyuered it to the Archebisshoppe that satte hym be-side, and comaunded hym to rede, and the archebisshop be-gan in this maner:

“I Luce, Emperour of Rome, that haue the powste, and the signiourie of the Romayns, sende to myn enmy the kynge Arthur in-as-moche only as he hath agein me deserued; and agein the power of rome, and it merveileth me sore, and I haue ther-of grete disdeyn, that he thourgh his grete pride leste to a-rise a-gein Rome as longe as he knoweth me on lyve, and this formednesse is come to the by fole hardynesse, and of malencolie whan thow durst euer a-rise a-gein Rome that hath the power and signiourie ouer all the worlde as thou thyself hast well seyn and knowen, and yet shalt thou knowe and se apertly that thow hast don as a fooll that Rome durst wrathe, thou hast trespassed a-gein rightwisnesse whan thow hast withholde the seruise and the trewage of Rome, and takest oure rentes and oure londes that thow knowest aperteneth to the power of Rome; wherfore dost thou that, or what right

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hast thou ther-to, wite thow right wele yef thow holde it longe thow shalt be as wery ther-of as the lambe is of the wolf, ffor thow art a-gein vs as fooll hardy as the shepe a-gein the shepherd; ffor Iulius cesar oure auncestre toke it be force, and by his hardynesse toke bateile in the Breteigne, and trwys was hym yolden, and so it was of alle the yles ther a-boute; and thow woldest it vs be-reve thourgh thy folie, and thi grete pride, and the grete outrage that is in the; and I the comaunde as Emperour that thow do right, and withynne the day of the holy Natiuite that thow be by-fore vs for to a-mende that thow hast mysdon; and yef thou wilt not this do, I shall take from the all Breteigne, and all the londe that thou hast in bailly, and I shall passe mongin this first somer with so grete force of peple that thou shalt haue no hardynesse me to a-bide. Ne thou shalt not knowe
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whider to fle, but I shall the sewe, and I shall take the, and bynde and caste the in my prison.”

Whan the archebisshoppe hadde redde this letter in this maner as ye haue herde, in the paleis was grete murmur and noyse of hem that this hadde vndirstonde, and swor and seide thei sholde dishonour the messagiers that these lettres hadde brought, and a-noon thei sholde hem haue don shame I-nough, but as the kynge seide to hem full debonerly, “Ffeire lordes, lete hem be, thei be but massengiers, and be sent by comaundement of theire lorde; and therfore thei owe to sey that thei were with charged, and thei sholde therfore haue no doute of no man.” Than the kynge cleped his princes and his barouns, and entred in to a chambre to counseile; and than spake a knyght that was bolde and hardy, and his name was Cador, and seide that “longe haue we be idill and in slouthe in deduyt a-monge ladyes and damesels in Iolite and wast; but on this day we be a-waked by these Romayns that come to chalenge oure londes an oure contrey; and yef thei do as the lettres speke thei haue grete prowesse and hardynesse that be in so fer contreyes.” “Certes,” seide Gawein, “full good is it to haue pees after the werre, for the londe is the bettere and

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the more sure, and full good is the game and pley a-monge ladies and maydenes, ffor the druweries of ladies and damesels make knyghtes to vndirtake the hardynesse of armes that thei don.” Than the kynge comaunded hem alle to sitte, and thei dide his comaundement, and he himself a-bode stondinge, and seide, “My frendes and my felowes in my prosperite, and in myn honour and traueile that ye haue me mayntened in grete bateiles, and in werres that I haue hadde seth I com to haue londe, and yow haue I ledde in many a grete nede bothe be see and by londe, and ye haue me helped, god quite yow, to conquere the londes that I haue wonne, that by youre helpinges beth alle to me obeysaunt, and ye haue herde the maundement that the Romayns haue sent that I-nough haue vs contraried. But yef oure lorde kepe me and yow thei shull nought haue ours but it be dere bought at the departinge, ye se here the message of the Emperoure, and therfore yeve me counseile in what manere I may hem ansuere moste auenauntly by honour and by reson; ffor oon ought to purveye er the stroke falle ther as is pereile, for he that seeth the arow comynge he ought to blenche that he be not smyten; ye se how the Romayns will a-rise a-gein vs, and therfore we ought vs so to appareile that thei vs not greve ne annoyen. Thei wolde haue trewage of Bretaigne, and of other yles that of me beth holdinge; and sein that Cezar hem conquered by force, and that the Bretouns ne myght hem not diffende a-geins hem but paide hem trewage, and force is no right, but it is pride and oute of reson, and he holdeth not of right that holdeth of force. Thei haue vs reproved by the shames and damages that thei haue vs don, and the traueiles, and the annoyes that thei haue do to oure
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auncestres, in that thei a-vaunte hem how thei haue hem venquysshed, and that thei paide hem trewage, and so moche the more ought we to hate hem and to greve, and the more thei haue to restore, ffor we moste hate hem that haten vs, and for thei hadde trewage of hem thei wolde it haue of vs by heritage and by auncestrie; and by soche reson may we chalenge Rome, ffor Belyns that was kynge of Breteigne, and Brenne his brother,

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conquered Rome and henge xiiij of her ostages in sight of her frendes, and after hem com Constantynus that was kynge of Bretaigne, and was Emperour of Rome; and also maximian was lorde of Bretaigne, and was lorde of Rome, alle these were oure auncestres, and were kynges of Bretouns, and eche of theym was Emperour and lorde of the Romayns, and therby may we knowe that I owe to haue Rome by heritage as I haue Bretaigne. Romayns haue hadde trewage of vs, and my parentes haue hadde trewage of theym. Thei clayme Bretaigne for theiers, and I clayme Rome for myn; and so this is the ende of my counseile that he haue the londe, and the rente that may it gete; ffor in this I se noon other rightwisnesse, but who that all may gete, all shall haue, ffor as for my part I will noon otherwise do but as I haue yow seide.”

Whan the princes and the Barons herde the kynge thus speke, thei ansuerde with oon voice that he hadde well seide, and counseiled to sende for his peple fer and nygh, and assemble all his power, and go a-gein the Emperour of Rome, that thourgh his grete pride hadde sente outrage of crewelte and felonye, “and put the signiourie of Rome in youre powste, and remembre yow of the signiourie and prophesie of Sibile, that seide ther sholde thre Bretouns come oute of Bretaige that Rome sholde conquere be force, and ther hath ben tweyne that Rome hath conquered. The first was Belyn that was kynge of Bretouns, and the seconde was Constantinus, and thow shalt be the thridde that shall it conquere by force, and so shall the prophesie be fulfilled. Now avaunce yow to resceyve the honoure that god hath yow ordeyned.” With these wordes the kynge com oute of the chamber, and the barouns and the knyghtes com in to the paleis, where as the massagiers that were xij princes were a-bydinge, and than spake the kynge, and badde hem returne to theire Emperoure, and telle hym that his ancestres of Bretaige hadde Rome in her bailly, “and therfore in-as-moche as myn auncestres dide it conquere, and were ther-of Emperours, and ther-of hadde trewage, I will hit haue of auncestrie and heritage, ffor that thei haue not done that thei ought do a-gein

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me of right;” and with this ansuere they departed, and the kynge hem yaf riche yeftes and presentes at theire departinge, as he that was the moste curteise prince of the worlde, and full of largesse, and therfore he wolde not that thei sholde speke eny euell of hym ne vilonye; and thei returned in to theire contreye as soone as thei myght, and tolde Luce the Emperour the ansuere of kynge Arthur, and ther-of was the Emperour wroth and angry, and somowned his peple, and assembled his power, and passed the mountaynes of mongin, and com in to Burgoyne nygh a Cite that is cleped Oston, and sesed the londe in lengthe and brede. But
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a-while we shull reste of hym, and speke of the kynge Arthur.

Now seith the storie than whan the xij Massagiers were departed from the kynge Arthur, the kynge and his baronye a-bide stille full wroth and angry, for the maundement of Luce the Emperour; and Merlin seide, “Sir, sende for youre peple hastely, for the Emperour appareileth hym right faste.” “Merlin, frende,” seide the kynge, “I shall mete with hym sonner than he wolde.” “He shall you mete,”

seide Merlin, “to his damage; and a-bide here in ioy, for I go of make the message to the Barouns.” With that he vanysshed, that Arthur ne wiste where he be-come; and Merlin wente first in to Orcanye and dide the message to the kynge looth, that with xv dayes he sholde be at logres with all his power; and he seide he wolde so with good will, and than Merlin departed, wherfor sholde I make yow longe tale, he warned alle the princes and barons that of the kynge arthur were holdinge to be the xv day at logres, saf only the kynge Ban of Benoyk, and the kynge Bohors of Gannes; and after that he returned a-gein, and fonde the kynge Arthur in his chambre, and seide, “Your message is don to alle the Barouns, and thei shull be redy her fro hens xv dayes.” Whan the kynge this vndirstode he was gladde and ioyfull, and soiourned at logres till his baronye was come, and thider come the kynge looth first, and his companye with vjMl men, and the kynge Vrien with iijMl men, and the kynge Carados foure Ml men, and the kynge de Cent Chiualers iiijMl,

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and the kynge ventres foure Ml, and the kynge Tradilyuans iiijMl, and the kynge Belynans iiijMl, and the kynge Clarion iiijMl, and the Duke Escam ijMl, and Gosenges and Nabunall his senescall iiijMl, and the kynge ydier iiijMl, and the kynge Aguysans iiijMl; and whan thei were alle assembled in the medowes be-fore logres, the kynge Arthur was gladde, and thanked hem hertely, and tolde hem the outrage that the Emperour hadde hym sente, and thei hym counseiled to haste that he were avenged of the shame. Than was the navie appereiled and entred in to shippes; and Merlyn was be-fore, and stinte neuer till he com to Gannes, and fonde the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors, and he badde hem thei sholde hem appereile, for the kynge Arthur is entred in to the see for to go vpon the Romayns, and thei seide thei wolde be redy hym to mete; and Merlin returned and com to the port er the kynge Arthur were londed, and whan he hym saugh he asked whens he com; and he seide he hadde ben at Gannes for to somowne bothe two kynges that shull be redy with yow to mete with grete companye of peple; of this thanked hym Arthur, and than thei issed oute of the shippes, and logged a litill from the port vpon the river in tentes, and in pavilouns for to take theire reste of traueile that thei hadde in the see, and slept that nyght; and as the kynge Arthur slepte hym com a vision, that a grete bere was on a grete mountayne, and as hym semed ther com a-gein hym a grete dragon from the Clowdes of the orient, and caste fire and flame thourgh his throte so merveilouse that all the contrey ther-a-boute ther-of was light, and this dragon assailed the bere full fiercely, and the bere hym diffended full wele; folio 228b
but the dragon enbraced the bere as hym semed, and cast hym to the erthe, and hym slough.

Whan the kynge a-woke he merveiled sore of his dreme, and made Merlyn come be-fore hym, and praied hym dierly to tell hym the significacion of his dreme, and than he tolde hym all worde for worde to Merlin as he hadde seyn in slepinge; and than seide Merlin, “Sir, I shall sey you the tokeninge [correction; sic = tokenige] the bere, the bere that ye saugh signifieth a grete

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monstre, a grete Geaunt that is here nygh in a mountaigne that is come oute of the ontrey of spayne in to this londe, and here he abideth, and doth the contrey shame from day to day ne noman dar hym a-bide for the grete force that is in hym; the dragon that ye saugh in youre avision that caste thourgh his throte fire and flame so grete that all the londe ther-of was light signifieth youreself by the fire of youre hardinesse that is clier and feire shyninge by grace, and the dragon that assailed the bere so vigerously signifieth that ye shall assaute the Geaunte, of that the dragon enbrased hym and caste to the erthe signifieth that the Geaunte shall enbrace yow, but in the ende ye shull hym sle, of that be ye nothinge in doute.” With that thei [correction; sic =
the] trussed tentes and pavilons, and ride forth on theire wey, but thei hadde not longe gon whan tidinges com to the kynge Arthur of the Geaunte that distroied the londe and the contrey, so that therynne duelled nother man ne woman, but fledde thourgh the feldes as bestes disolate for drede of the Geaunte, and hadde born by force a mayden of the contrey that was nyece to a lorde of the contrey that was a grete gentilman, and he hadde born hir with hym vp to a mounteigne, where-as he repeired that was all closed with the see, and that monteigne is yet cleped the mounte seint Michel, but at that tyme ther was nother mynster ne chapell, ne ther was no man so hardy ne so myghty that durst fight with the Geaunte; and whan the peple of the contrey dide hym assaile, thei myght not a-gein hym endure neither on londe ne on se, for he slough hem with the roches, and made theire shippes to sinke; and the peple of the contrey fledde thourgh the wodes and forestes, and mounteynes with theire children in theire armes, and so thei lefte theire londes and theire richesses.

Whan Arthur herde how the Geaunte distroied so the londe, he cleped kay the stiward, and Bedyuer, and badde hem make hem redy armed a-boute mydnyght, and thei dide his comaundement, and com togeder thei thre and two squyres only, and no mo, and rode till thei com vpon the mounte, and saugh a grete fire bright shynynge on that o side;

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and on that othir side was another mounte that was not so grete as that, and ther-on was a fire merveilouse grete, and thei wiste not to whiche thei sholde gon; than he cleped Bediuer, and bad hym go loke on whiche mounte the Geaunte was. Than Bediuer wente in to a bote that was full of the flos of the see, and whan he was come to the next monteyn he wente vp hastily on the roche, and herde grete wepinge; and whan he that herde he hadde doute, ffor he wende the Geaunte hadde be there, but he toke vpon hym hardynesse, and drough his swerde, and wente forth and hoped for
folio 229a
to fight with hym as he that for no drede of deth ne wolde be founde no cowarde, and in this thought he clymbed vpon the mountein; and whan he was come vp he saugh the fier that was clier brennynge, and saugh a tombe faste by that was newly made, and be-side that tombe satte an olde woman discheueled, and all to-rente hir heir, and wepte and sighed full sore; and whan she saugh the knyght, she seide, “Haa, gentilman, what art thow, what dolour hath brought the in to this place, ffor with grete dolour thou shalt ende thy life, yef the Geaunte the finde, ffle hens hastely as faste as thow maist, for thou art to vn-happy yef thow a-bide till that this deuell come that hath no pite of nothinge, fle hens as fer as thou maist, yef thou wilt thi lif saue.”

Whan Bediuer saugh the woman so wepe, and so pitously regrated helayn sighinge, and bad hym to fle but yef he wolde dye, and he seide, “Good woman, lete be thy wepinge, and telle me what thou art, and why thou makest so grete sorowe, and why thou art vpon this mounte by this tombe, and telle me all the occasion of thy sorowe, and who lith here in this sepulture.” “I am,” quod she, “a dolerouse caitif that wepe and make waymentacion, for a mayden that was nyece to Hoell of nauntes that I norished and yaf souke with my mylk, and she lith vnder this tombe, and it was me comaunded hir to norish and to kepe. Now is ther a deuell that hir hath taken a-wey and brought hider her and me, and wolde haue leyn by the childe that was [correction; sic = ] yonge and tender. But she myght hym not svffre ne endure, for he was moche and hidiouse, Page 647
and lothly, and so he made the soule departe from the body, and thus he be-rafte my doughter falsly and be treson, and ther I haue hir biried, and for hir wepe bothe day and nyght.” “And wherfore,” quod Bediuer, “gost thou not hens seth thou art left here a-lone, and hast hir loste seth that ther is noon recouer.”

“Sir,” quod she, “I knowe well ther is no recouer, but for that I se ye be a gentilman, and ther-to so curteise I will kepe nothinge from youre knowinge, but I will telle yow the trouthe, whan that my dere doughter was entered, for whos love I wende wele haue loste my witte, and dyed for doel, the Geaunte made me to a-bide stille to haue his foule lecherouse lust vpon me, and he hath me diffouled by his strengthe that I moste suffre his wille whedir I wolde or noon, for I haue no myght a-gein hym, and I take oure lorde god to recorde it was neuer my will, and ner ther with he hadde me slain, ffor with hym haue I suffred grete peyne and gret anguyssh, ffor he is vn-mesurable grete, and he cometh hider to fulfille his lecherie vpon me, and thou art but deed, and maist in no maner ascape, for he cometh a-noon right, for he is ther a-bove in that mountayn where thou seist that fier, and therfore I pray the go hens thy wey, and lef me here to compleyne, and make my mone for my doughter.”

Grete pite hadde Bediuer of the woman, and moche he hir counforted, and seth he com a-gein to the kynge, and tolde that he hadde sein, and seide how the geaunte was vpon the high hill ther he saugh the grete fier and smoke. Than the kynge made
folio 229b
his felowes go with hym vpon the mounteyne, and thei were come vpon the hill; than the kynge comaunded his felowes to abide, and seide that hymself alone wolde go fight with the Geante, “neuertheles,” seide the kynge, “loke that ye waite well vpon me, and yef it be myster cometh me to helpe,” and thei seide thei wolde with good will, and thei a-bide; and the kynge wente toward the Geaunte that satte be-fore the fire, and rosted flessh on a spite, and kut of the side that moste was [correction; sic = ] I-nough, and ete it; and the kynge wente to-ward hym with swerde in honde drawen a softe pas gripinge his Page 648
shelde, for he wende hym to haue supprised. But the Geaunte that was full false and maliciouse behelde, and saugh the kynge come and lept up, ffor the kynge hadde his swerde in his hande, and the Geaunte stert to a grette clobbe that stode by hym that was grete and hidiouse of a plante of an oke that was a grete birthon for a myghty man, and caught it from the fire, and leide it on his nekke, and com fiercely a-gein the kynge as he that was of grete force, and seide to the kynge that a grete fooll was he to come ther, and reised the batte for to smyte the kynge on the heed, but he was wight and delyuer, and lept a-side, so that he of hym failed, and therwith the kynge smote at hym and wende to smyte hym on tho heed; but the Geaunte that was bolde and hardy kept it on his clobbe, or elles hadde he be deed, neuertheles somdel he touched hym with Marmyadoise his good swerde, that he conquered of the kynge Rion, and touched hym betwene the two browes that he wax all blinde, for the blode that ran ouer his yen, and that was a thinge that sore hym greved, for he myght not se where to smyte, and be-gan to scarmyshe and to grope a-boute hym with his staffe as a wood devell and sore abaisshed, and the kynge hasted hym full harde but a-reche hym myght not, ffor the Geaunte caste a-boute hym grete strokes that yef he hadde hym smyten he hadde ben all to-brosed, and thus thei foughten longe, that the oon ne touched not that other, and therfore thei were sore anoyed; and than the Geaunte wente tastinge here and there that he sesed the kynge by the arme; and whan he hadde hym caught, he was gladde and ioyfull, ffor a-noon he wende hym to haue threst to deth, and so he hadde, but that the kynge was wight and delyuer, and wrast out of his gripinge with grele peyne, and than he ran vpon hym with his swerde, and smote hym on the heed and on the lifte sholdre that all the arme fremysshed, and so harde was the hide of the serpent that in the flessh myght it not atame; and the Geaunte myght hym not se, ffor his iyen were all couered with blode, and than he saugh the shadowe of the kynge, and than he ran that wey; but the kynge that wiste he was of Page 649
grete force durste not come in his handes, and so hath he gon vp and down that he stombeled on his clubbe, and it sesed and ran ther as he wende to finde the kynge. But the kynge blenched so that he myght hym not a-reche, and therfore hadde he grete sorow in herte, and than he caste a-wey his clubbe and tasted to chacche the kynge in his armes, and so he wente gropinge and frotinge his iyen till he saugh
folio 230a
the light and the shadowe of the kynge; and than he spronge to hym and caught hym by the flankes with bothe his armes that nygh he hadde with his gripes brosten his chyne, than he be-gan to craspe after his arme, for to take from hym his swerde out of his honde. But the kynge it well perceyved and threwe down the swerde, that in the fallinge he myght here it ringe cler; and than he griped the kynge with that oon hande, and stouped down to take the swerde with that other hande, and in the stoupinge the kynge smote hym with his kne that he fill in swowne, and than he lept to the swerde and hente it vp, and stert to the Geaunte ther he lay, and lifte vp the serpentes skyn, and rof hym thourgh the body with the swerde, and so was the Geaunte slain; and kay the stiwarde, and Bediuer made grete ioye of the kynge, and behelde the Geaunte that so grete was that wonder was to beholden, and thanked oure lorde of the honour and the victorie that he hadde yove the kynge, ffor neuer hadde thei seyn so grete a feende; and the kynge bad Bediuer smyte of the heed that it myght be born in to the hoste to se the grete merveile of the gretnesse of hym, and he dide his comaundement, and than com down of the mounteyne, and lepe on theire horse, and the flode was come a-gein that gretly hem disesed, and with grete peyne thei passed the greves and com a-gein to the hoste; and the Barons were sore abaisshed for the taryinge of the kynge, for that thei wiste not whider he was wente, and thei were meved hym for to seche in diuerse parties, ne hadde ben Merlin that bad hem be nothinge dismayed, for he sholde come hastely.

While the princes and the barouns were in this afray, for the kynge Arthur, he and the stiwarde and Bediuer

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com down in to his teinte, and hadde the heed of the Geaunte trussed at Bediuers sadell by the heir, and thider com alle the Barouns whan he was a-light, and asked fro when she com, for he hadde put hem in grete afray; and he seide he com fro thens ther he hadde foughten with the Geaunte that distroied so the londe and the contrey ther-aboute and how he hadde hym slayn thourgh the grace of oure lorde; and than he shewed hem the heed that Bediuer hadde trussed, and whan the barons it saugh thei blessed hem for the wonder ther-of, and seide that neuer in all theire lif had thei not seyn so grete an heed, and alle that were in the hoste preised god for the kynges victorie, and than thei dide vn-arme the kynge with grete ioye and gladnesse, and rested ther all that day, till on the morowe that thei trussed teintes and Pavilouns and ride forth the streight wey towarde Burgoyne, and spedde hem so in her iourneyes till thei com vpon the river of Aube [correction; sic = ] note.48 and ther thei herde tidinges of Luce the Emperour was com a-gein hem, and than was the kynge Arthur gladde that he hadde founde hym so nygh, and sory for that he hadde so distroyed and wasted the contrey, and loigge his hoste by the river; and the same day com the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors in to the hoste with viMl folio 230b
knyghtes and good men of werre. But Grascien and Pharien ne leonce of paierne were nought there, but dide a-bide to kepe and to diffende the londe a-gein the kynge Claudas de la desert, yef it were myster, and a-noon as the two kynges were come in to the hoste thei dide picche theire teintes be-fore the kynge looth, and he made hem grete cheir and feste, for he loved hem hertely, and ther thei a-bide till the kynge Arthur hadde fortefied a Castell that thei myght repeire to yef thei hadde mysteir; and than sente the kynge his messages to the Emperour Luce by the counseile of his barouns, and sente hym to sey that he was folily come vpon his londe, and but he wolde come to amendement he wolde hym chace oute of Rome; and on the message he sente sir Gawein, and Segramor, and sir Ewein,

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ffor that thei were curteise and well I-taught, and ther-to hadden grete hardynesse and high prowesse; and the kynge seide to sir Gawein, “Ffeire nevew, ye shull go to the Emperour on my message, and bidde hym returne hom a-gein, and leve the londe, for it is myn, and yef he will not so, lete hym come to bateile, and prove whiche of vs hath right, ffor while I Live I shall it diffende a-gein the Romaynes, and conquered it by bateile, and prove it a-gein hym body for body, whiche of vs two shall it haue of right.” Whan the kynge Arthur hadde seide these wordes the messagiers hem turned wele I-armed in stiell with sheldes hanginge at theire nekke, and girde theire goode swerdes, and in theire handes grete speres; and his felowes that were yonge and lusty bachelers counselled sir Gawein to do soche thinge er thei returned agein, that it myght be spoken of euer after, and that men myght sey the werre was well begonne “wherewith the Romaynes haue vs manased;” and thus thei ride till thei com nygh the hoste; and whan thei saugh the messagiers comynge thei lepe oute of theire teintes on all partes to se hem and beholde and for to wite what thei were com to seche and asked what thei were, and fro whens thei com. But thei hilde with hem no ple ne wolde not stinte till thei com to the Emperours [correction; sic = Emperous]

teinte and ther thei a-light and made theire horse to be holde withouten. And than thei come be-fore the Emperoure, and tolde hym theire message that thei brought from the kynge Arthur.

“Sir,” quod Gawein, “the kynge Arthur sente the to vndirstonde that thow voide his londe and his contrey for it is all his quytely and he defendeth the to be so hardy to sette therynne foot, and yef thou wilt ought chalenge be bateile he shall it diffende, ffor Romaynes had it conquered be-fore tyme be bateile and be bateile shall he it conquere. Now lete it be proved by bateile whiche oweth to haue the signiourie and the poweste, and com forth tomorowe yef thow wilt the contre chalenge or elles go bak a-gein for here hast thow nought to do; ffor we haue take the londe, and thow hast it loste, and therfore yef thow be wise do after my counseile.”

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Whan the Emperour herde sir Gawein speke in this maner he ansuerde withoute more abidinge full sory and full wroth, and seide, returne wolde he not, for the londe and the contrey was his, and therfore he wolde holde his wey forth, and he was well plesed with
folio 231a
soche maundementes, and yef he hadde his londe loste he wolde it recouer whan he myght, and that he trowed sholde be hastely. A knyght ther was that satte by the Emperour that Tutillius was cleped, and was the Emperours [correction; sic =

Emperous]suster sone, he ansuerde full felliche, and seide that Bretou ns coude well manece but at the dedes thei were but esy, and therfore ought thei to haue the more reprof. But sir Gawein therwith wrathed and drough his swerde, and lept to hym and smote of his heed, and than he bad his felowes go to theire horse lightly, and a-noon thei dide his comaundement, and Gawein lepte on his horse also withoute other leve-takinge nother of the Emperour ne of the romayns, and than was all the court trouble and full of romur, ffor the Emperour cried, “Take hem and lete hem not ascape.” Than thei cried, “Ore as armes.” Ther sholde ye haue seyn peple arme hem in euery side and lepe to horse, and prike after the messengiers, and thei ride forth a grete randon, and the Romayns com after hem on euery side by the weyes thourgh the feldes here v, here iiij, here vj or vij. Oo knyght ther was that richely was horsed and passed alle his felowes, and cried to the massegers full fiercely, “Parde ye shull a-bide, for I shall delyuer yow to the Emperour.” Whan sir Gawein this herde, he griped his shelde, and turned his horse and hym hitte so harde that he bar hym deed to the erthe; and than he seide, “Now is it werse for the that thyn horse was so swifte, for thou hadest ben better haue be a myle be-hynde, or a-biden stille in the hoste;” and Segramor lete renne to a knyght that com shovinge after hym, and he smote hym thourgh the throte that he fill deed vpright; and than he seide, “Sir knyght, with soche morsels I can yow fede and myn other enmyes. Now be stille ther and a-bide hem that come after, and telle hem that this wey gon the messagiers of the kynge Arthur, that is theire rightfull lorde.”

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After hym com a knyght that was born in Rome, and come of high lynage, and was cleped Marcell, he satte on a stronge horse, and a swyfte, and hadde no spere for grete haste; he ouertoke sir Gawein, and seide he sholde hym yelde to the Emperour, and Gawein loked and saugh hym come costinge his wey, and turned his horse at the passinge forth, and Gawein hym smote so harde in to the brain so depe that the swerde entred to the teth, and Gawein that seide, “Thow haddest to moche haste, thou myght better haue come be-hynde.” Than thei turned alle thre, and smote down thre romayns deed. A knyght ther was that was cosin to Marcell, and satte on a stronge horse that was swyfte, and was sory for his nevew that he saugh ly deed, and be-gan to prike ouerthwert the felde, and sir Ewein it saugh and ran that wey, and smote hym so harde that he hadde no leiser to turne a-gein, for ther he loste his heed, and thre romayns brake theire speres vpon sir Ewein, and he smote of the heed of that oon, and the arme of the seconde, and smote the thirde vpon the helme that he fill from his horse to the erthe, and than he wente forth after his felowes, and the romains hem chaced till thei com to a wode that was nygh the castell that kynge Arthur hadde fortefied. But now we shull stinte a while of the messengers, and speke of the kynge Arthur.

folio 231b

Whan Arthur hadde sente his message to Luce the Emperour he sent after hem vjMl men by the counseile of Merlin for to socour hem, yef it were myster, and thei rode till thei com to the wode, and ther thei a-bide on horsbak till thei saugh hem comynge, and after hem all the feilde couered with knygthes [correction; sic = knythes] and horsemen that chaced the knyghtes that were messagiers, and whan thei saugh this thei spronge oute of the wode hem a-geins, and the romayns resorte a-noon right as thei saugh hem come, and many of hem were wroth that thei hadde chaced hem so fer, ffor the bretons than hem chaced full crewelly, and ther was many of hem taken and many slain. A knyght ther was of grette renoun, whos name was Petrius, ffor in Rome was not his pareill of prowesse and of hardynesse, and herde speke of this a-wayte that the Bretouns hadde made, and a-noon

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he rode thider with vjMl men of armes, and as soone as he was come in to the stour, he made the bretons be fin force entre in to the wode, for thei myght not hym and his peple endure, but turned to flight, and the chace dured to the wode, and ther thei stode at diffence, and Petrius hem assailed full vigerously, but many he loste of his men, ffor the Bretouns slough of hem grete plente, and many ther were deed on bothe sides.

Whan Arthur saugh the messangiers taried so longe, he eleped ydier the sone of Vunde and comaunded hym to go after hem till he hadde hem founden, and he dide his comaundement and rode forth till he fonde bothe hostes that fought togeder, and sir Gawein and his felowes dide merveiles and wele, and ydiers and his companye spronge in vpon the Romayns fiercely, and than com alle the bretouns oute of the wode, and haue recouered the felde; and Petrius that was a noble knyght, and bolde and hardy, relied his peple a-boute hym, and cowde well fle and returne at a vauntage, and well fight with his enmyes, and who that will mete an hardy knyght lete hym go to hym, ffor whom that he smote died hym be-houed, and the bretouns pressed to the bateile as thei that were desirous to Iuste and covetouse to do chiualrie, so that thei rought not how it yede so the werre were begonne; and on that other side was Petrius full dolent, and kepte his felowes clos a-boute hym, and Segramor of Costantinnoble wente thourgh the bateile smytinge down knyghtes and horse, and was war of Petrius that threwe down bretouns, and maymed and slough, and saugh wele by the merveiles that he dide that soone myght the bretouns have grete losse, but yef Petrius were deed or taken quyk, ffor by his prowesse all only a-boode alle the Romayns, and Gawein toke counseile of the beste of his frendes, and seide, “We haue begonne this stour withoute the leve of kynge Arthur, and yef it happen vs wele he will conne vs thanke. And yef it myshappe we shull haue magre, and therfore it be-houeth vs to sle Petrius or take hym quyk and yelde hym to kynge Arthur, ffor otherwyse may we not departe withoute losse, and therfore I pray yow do as I shall do, and foloweth me;” and thei

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seide thei wolde with good will; and whan Segramor this herde he was gladde, folio 232a
ffor he hadde well sein and parceyved whiche was Petrius.

Than Segramor shof that wey as he saugh Petrius, and alle his felowes after that neuer thei stinte till thei come in to the place ther Petrius gouerned his meyne, and Segramor spored his horse so nygh, that he caught hym in his armes that thei bothe fill to the erthe as he that trusted wele vpon his felowes, and he lay at the erthe, and griped him sore in his armes; and Petrius peyned hym sore to a-rise and turned wraste-linge; but all that availed not, ffor Segramor helde hym faste so that he hadde no power to meve; and whan the Romayns saugh hym falle thei pressed hym for to rescowe, and ther was harde stour and rough medle, and Gawein com thourgh the presse makinge wey with the trenchaunt suerde, wherwith he slough down right all that stode in his wey, so that ther was no romayn so hardy ne so myghty but he made hym wey; and ydiers the sone of vut made grete lardure of Romayns; and sir Ewein the sone of kynge Vrien so peyned hym to perce the presse, that eche of hem laboured for other so vigerously that thei haue remounted Segramor by force, and sette hym on horse, and take Petrius that sore was beten, and diffouled, and haue hym drawen oute of the presse be fin force, and delyuered hym to goode wardeynes, and returned a-gein in to the stour, and the Romayns that hadde no gouernour hadde loste theire diffence whan he was gon that hem dide condite; and the bretuons hem slough and caste to grounde so thikke that thei passed ouer grete hilles of deed bodyes to pursue hem that fledde, and thei slough many in the chace, and toke prisoners and hem bounden and presented the kynge Arthur, and the kynge hem thanked hertely; and than thei counseiled hym to sende hem in to the reame of Benoyk, and sette hem ther in prison till the Romayns hadde don his plesier, ffor yef he kept hem in the hoste thei myght hem wele ascape. Than the kynge cleped Borell, and Richer, and Cador, and Bediuer, that were gode knyghtes and hardy, and of grete perage, and comaunded hem to a-rise erly on

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the morowe, and conveye the prisoners till thei were in saf warde; and here shull we reste of the prisoners, and of hem that shull hem conveye, and speke of the Emperour.

Whan the Emperour wiste of the damage that his men hadde resceived, he was full of dolour and wrath, and than com asspies that seide how the prisoners sholde on the morowe be ledde in to the londe of Benoyk; whan the Emperour herde this, he made xMl men lepe to horse, and traueile all nyght for to come be-fore ther the prisoners sholde passe, and hem to rescowe yef it myght be; and than the Emperour cleped Gestoire that was lorde of lybee, and the kynge of Surre that Euander was cleped, and Calidus of Rome, and Maus, and Cathenois. These v cowde skile of bateile, and moche thei knewe of werre, and the Emperour hem comaunded to condite these xMl, and than departed these v princes with alle these xMl men, and rode till thei come in to the wey ther as these prisoners sholde passe, folio 232b
and ther thei a-bode stille in a delitable place that thei fonde nygh the wey.

And on the morowe a-roos the meyne of kynge Arthur as thei were comaunded, and ledde the prisoners, and rode in two parties for doute of peple, and hem condited Bretell, and Richer, and Cador, and the companye ther the prisoners were made hem be ledde with theire handes bounden be-hynde at theire bakke, and theire feet vndir the horse belyes; and thei that wente be-fore blusht vpon the wacche of the Romayns; and the Romains spronge out hem a-geins so harde that the erthe trembled, and the bretouns hem diffended as peple of grete vertu; and whan Bediuer that com be-hynde herde the strokes resounde he made lede the prisoners in to a sure place, and comaunded the squyres hem to kepe, and than smote theire horse with the spores, and wolde not stinte till thei com to here felowes, and hem diffended with grete force and vigour; and the romains shof here and there, and hadde not so grete entente to disconfite the bretouns as for to rescowe the prisoners and hem to seche; and whan the bretouns saugh hem thus demended, thei departed in foure bateiles, and Cador hadde in his companye the peple of Cornewaile,

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and Bediuer the peple of bediers, and Richer hadde a companye of his owne peple, and Bretell hadde hem of Galvoye; whan the kynge Evander saugh his peple turne to disconfiture, and that theire force be-gan to amenuse, he gadered hem a-boute hym clos; and whan thei saugh the bretons recouer, thei ronne vpon hem in ordre, and than begonne a stour right grete; and than hadde the bretons moche the werse, for thei loste grete plente of theire knyghtes, and ydiers le fitz vut was mette so sore with the kynge Euander, that he fill deed to the erthe, and therfore were the bretons sore dismayed, for thei loste moche peple at that shoofte, and alle thei hadde be deed or taken; but as Cleodalis the Senescall of Carmelide com with vMl men that the kynge Arthur hadde sent by the counseile of Merlin; and whan Bedyuer hem perceived, he seide to his companye, “Holde stille now, and fle not, lo here cometh socour;” and than thei cried the signe of kynge Arthur so high, that Cleodalis com with vMl men, and the Romayns entended to take the bretouns, and toke no tent to hem of Carmelide till thei were falle, euen vpon hem, and in theire comynge thei ouerthrewe a hundred of romayns that neuer rise after. And than the romayns were alle abaisshed, ffor thei wende it hadde be the kynge Arthur, and his power; and so thei were dismayed that thei fledde toward theire herberges, for thei coueited noon other garison, and these hem chaced that cowde hem not love, and in that chace was slayn the kynge Euander, and Chachelos, and of other moo than two thousande, and many ther were taken prisoners; and than thei repeired in to the feelde of the bateile, and toke the erle bourell and other deed cors that lay thourgh the felde, and hem biried, and bar a-wey hem that were wounded; and these that the kynge hadden comaunded to kepe and conveie the prisoners thei ledde hem forth, and other that thei hadde taken in the bateile newly, and bounde hem streite, and sent hem thider as thei were comaunded; and Cleodalis and his companye returned to the kynge Arthur, and tolde hym how thei hadde spedde. But here a-while we shull reste of hem, and speke of the Emperour luce.

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folio 233a

Full of sorowe was the Emperour whan he knewe the discounfiture, and the grete losse of his peple, and wepte full tendirly for the kynge Euander, and for other that were deed and taken, and saugh well the myschef, and that dismayed hym sore, and was in doute whedir he sholde fight with the kynge Arthur, or he sholde a-bide his rerewarde that sholde come after; and than he hym be-thought and made his peple lepe to horse and come to logres with all his hoste, and loigge hym in the vales vnder the Citee; and whan the kynge Arthur wiste that, he wiste well that he wolde not fight, though he hadde more peple, and so wolde not he suffre hym soiourne ne sitte nygh hym, and made prevely his peple lepe to horse, and rode on the right side of the Cite betwene the town and the hoste of the Emperour, and lefte the hoste on the left side, and that was to disavaunce the Emperour, and by-reve hym the wey to Oston, and laboured all the nyght till on the morowe, and com in to a valeye that was cleped Toroise, and that was the streight wey fro Oston to logres; and ther the kynge made to arme his companye lest the romayns com vpon hem, and that thei myght lightly put hem bakke; and the cariage, and the mene peple that hadde no myster of bateile, the kynge made hem to a-bide by an hill, and made a mustre of armed peple that yef the romayns hem saugh thei sholde be dismayed for the grete multitude of peple; after that the kynge sette in a wode vjMl kynghtes vijC lxvj, and comaunded hem to the Erle of Gloucester to lede, whiche was bothe Duke and Castelein, and the kynge hem comaunded that thei sholde not meve thens in no maner till thei saugh the nede.

“And yef I haue myster,” seide the kynge, “I shall turne to yow, and yef the Romayns turne to discounfiture, loke ye hem not spare;” and thei hym ansuerde that so thei wolde do with good chere, and than tolde the kynge another companye of knyghtes that were well appareile, and sette hem in a place, and hymself was constable; and ther was his prevy meyne that he hadde norisshed, and made his dragon to be holde in myd wey for a signe; and than departed his peple in viij parties, and putte in each Partye ijMl knyghtes, and the Page 659
half were on foote, and half on horsebak, and tolde to eche partie in what maner thei sholde hem contene, and also he putt to so moche peple, that in eche partie was viijMl and vC, and so hadde the kynge Aguysans the first bateile, and that other ledde the Duke Escam of Cambenyk, and Belcys the Danoys kynge, and the kynge Looth of Orcanye ledde another. And the kynge Tradilyuans of North walis, and sir Gawein was with the kynge Looth as he that was a kynge of grete pris; after these iiij firste bateiles that wente be-fore come iiij other after wele a-raied, of whiche the kynge Vrien ledde the firste, and with hym was sir Ewein his sone, and Ewein avoutres, and the kynge Belynans, and the kynge Ventres, and hadde in her companye the peple of her companye and contrey. The seconde bateile of these foure ledde the kynge de Cent chiualers, and the kynge Clarion of Northumbirlonde, and the kynge Carados, and in theire companye the peple of theire contreyes. The thridde bateile ledde the kynge Bohors, and thei of his contre, and Cleodalis the Senescall of Carmelide, and thei that he brought oute of his contrey; the fourthe of these iiij, and the laste folio 233b
ledde the kynge Ban of Benoyk, and hadde with hym alle the sergeauntes, and arblastiers, and iiijMl men wele horsed; and whan the kynge hadde stablisshed his peple and his bateiles devised, he seide to his barons and to his people, “Lordes, now it shall be sene how wele ye will do; ffor all that euer ye haue don in all youre lif is loste, but ye do well at this tyme a-gein these Romayns;” and the princes hym ansuerde a-noon with oo voice that lever hadde thei to die in the felde, but he hadde the honoure and the victorie; and whan the kynge Arthur herde this he was gladde and ioyfull. But now shull we returne to speke of the Emperour.

Here seith the book, that whan the Emperour was loiged in the vale vnder logres, he and his Baronye that were noble knyghtes and sure, that ther he lay that nyght, and on the morowe he departed from logres, and wende to go to Oston, and than com tidinges how the kynge Arthur hadde leide a-waite a-gein hym, and so he saugh wele that he moste nede fight or

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elles returne, and that wolde he not do in no maner, ffor that sholde be holde cowardise, and yef he fledde his enmyes wolde hym chace on euery side, and do hym anoy and damage, and the two thinges myght not oon do lightly bothe to fle and to fight. Than he made his princes come be-fore hym, wher-of he hadde two hundred of hem that were of his counseile; and than he spake to hem and seide, “Gentill knyghtes, good conquerours, the sones of good auncestrie, that the grete honours and londes conquered, by theire grete prowesse and hardynesse is Rome the heed of the worlde; and yef this Empire falle in youre tyme it were shame to yow, ffor bolde and hardy were youre auncestres, and by reson of gentill fader ought come gentill issue, youre fadres vailaunt and worthi, and eueriche of yow ought to enforce hym to resemble his fader, ffor grete shame oueth he to haue that leseth the heritage of his fader, and that for slouthe lete falle that his fader conquered, not that ye be euell ne apeired. Thei were bolde and profitable, and so I holde yow the same; and the bretons haue be-rafte vs the wey toward Oston, that we may not passe but by bateile; take youre armes and a-dubbe yow, and yef thei vs a-bide loke that thei be well beten, and yef thei fle we shull hem pursue by force, and peyne vs to a-bate theire pride, and distroie theire powestee.”

Than the romayns ordeyned theire bateiles, and theire sheltrons renged, and many a paynym medled a-monge the cristein peple that were come to deserue theire fees and theire londes that thei hilde of Rome, and many of hem on foote, and many on horse, and sette some on the hill, and some in the valey. Than sholde ye haue herde grete sown of hornes and trumpes, and mules and Olyfauntes, and thei ride forth clos holdinge till thei [correction; sic = the] fill on the wacche of kynge Arthur, and than sholde ye haue sey shotte of arowes and quarelles fle so thikke that noon durste discouer his heed, and after that com thei to brekinge of speres vpon the sheldes; and whan the speres were spent thei gripe the axes, and gleves, and swerdes, and smyte sore vpon helmes and hauberkes, ffor ther was stour merveilous and sore fight; ther was no nede of foles ne of folio 234a
cowardes, for

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longe thei foughten togeder and hurteled, that neuer the Romayns ne rused ne the bretons myght nought recouer vpon hem, ne noon wiste whiche hadde the better ne the victorie, till that the warde of kinge Vrien and kynge Ventre, and kynge Belynans frusshed a-monge the Romayns with all theire peple where thei saugh the thikkest presse, and the thre princes smyten in wonderfully, and kay the stiward that was in theire companye dide as a noble knyght; ffor the thre Princes seide, “Mercy god whiche a stiward is this;” and the same thei seide of Bediuer the constable, and ther was many a knyght leide to grounde, and many deed, and many grete strokes yoven and resceived, and kay and Bediuer dide merveiles, for thei trusted in theire prowesse, and hilde hem togeder, and avaunced to fer forth, and mette a bateile that the kynge of mede dide bringe, and his name was Boclus, a paynym of grete prowesse, and thei medled with hem and her peple, and many thei slough; and whan the kynge boclus saugh the two knyghtes that dide hym so grete damage of his peple, he was sory, and hilde a grete short spere, and ran to Bediuer, and smote hym with so grete ire, that the stele heed passed thourgh the bouke; and yef he hadde touched hym a litill lower, deed hadde ben for euer, and neuertheles he bar hym down to the erthe out of his sadill all in swowne; whan kay saugh hym falle, he hadde grete sorowe at his herte, ffor he wende verily he hadde be deed, and com toward hym with as moche people as he myght, and made theym of mede resorten, and com to Bedyuer, and clipte hym in his armes, and wolde haue born hym oute of the presse from the horse feet for the grete love that was hem betwene, and the kynge of Mede hym turned and smote kay with his suerde vpon the helme that he yaf hym a grete wounde on the heed so that he be-houed to lete Bedyuer ly stille, and bothe hadde thei soone haue be slain ne hadde be theire meyne that full stifly hem diffended; and a knyght spronge in to the presse that was cleped Segras, and was nevew to Bediuer; and whan he saugh his vncle so ly at erthe, he wende he hadde be deed, and he assembled his kyn and frendes that were well thre hundred, Page 662
and seide, “Seweth after me, and lete vs a-venge the deth of myn vncle.” Than he lefte the Romayns, and a-spide the kynge of mede, and turned that wey, and cried the signe of kynge Arthur as a wood man oute of witte for angre to a-venge the deth of his vncle, and his felowes sewed after hym with sharp grounden speres wherwith was slain many a paynym; and whan Segars saugh the kynge Boclus that hadde smyte down his vncle, he smote hym on the helme with so grete ire, that he cleft hym to the teth that he fill deed to grounde, and than he light down and caught hym vp, and hym lede on his horse and brought hym ther as his vncle lay, and ther he hewe hym in to smale peces; and than he seide to his peple, “Sle these hethen houndes, that in oure lorde haue no creaunce;” and with that he herde his oncle sighe, and than was he gladde in herte, and toke hym vp softely, and bar hym oute of the presse to the harneys, folio 234b
and than returned to the bateile that was full crewell and fell; and the kynge Ventres mette the kynge Alipatin, and the kynge Ventres was wounded thourgh the body, ffor the Romayns were of so grete powere that the bretouns behoved to rusen of fin force; and whan sir Gawein and hoell of the litill Bretayne saugh hem resorte, thei were wroth and sory. Than thei smote in a-monge hem, and the peple of the litill Bretayne hem slough euer nygh theire lorde, so that no presse myght hem withstonde, and so wele thei dide that thei made them turne theire bakkes to hem and fledde, and ther was many slain and throwe to grounde; and in this wise thei hem demened till thei com to the maister Gawfanon of the Egle of golde, and ther was the Emperour, and the myghtiest men of the worlde, and the grettest gentles of Rome.

Ther sholde ye haue seyn stiffe stour and fell, and crewell bateile, and hermans that was Erle of Tripill was in companye of sir Gawein and hauell, but a knaue hym slough with a gauelok, and the peple of the Emperour smyte so on the bretouns that thei slough of hem two thousande in the self place wher-of was grete damage and pite, for thei were full worthi men and many noble knyghtes, and whan sir Gawein saugh his

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companye thus dye, he spronge in a-monge the Romayns as a wood lyon a-monge wilde bestes, and he was of noble high prowesse, and was not wery to smyte grete strokes vpon eyther side till he com nygh the Emperour; and whan he saugh the Emperour he knewe hym wele, and he hym also, and a-noon that oon lete renne to that other, and smyten togeder with grete myght, but thei dide not falle, for bothe were thei of grete force; and the Emperour was right stronge and hardy, and was gladde that he was mette with Gawein, for he knewe hym by his armes that men hym hadde devised, and the signes, and seide to hymself, yef I may ascape a-lyve, I may ther-of a-vaunte me at Rome. Than he griped his swerde, and couered hym with his shelde, and faught with sir Gawein full fiercly, and sir Gawein hym smote with Calibourne his good suerde, that he slitte his helme, and his heed down to the teth; and whan the romayns saugh the Emperour deed, thei ronne vpon the bretouns and yaf hem a dispitouse shour and crewell, and smyte down in her comynge moo than thre hundred; whan Arthur saugh the romayns recouer, and his peple so demene, he cried with an high voyce, “What lordinges, what do ye holde stille youre grounde, and lete noon of hem ascape, for I am the kynge Arthur, that for no man will forsake the felde; sewe me, and loke ye be not recreaunt, and remembre you of youre noble prowesses that so many remes haue conquered, ffor ther shall noon passe quyk oute of this felde, but I haue the victorie vpon these romayns, ffor this day shall I lyve or dye;” with that he spronge in a-monge the romains, and be-gan to smyte down knyghtes, and horse and men, that whom so he araught be-houed to dye, ffor he smote no stroke with his swerde, but he slough other man or horse, and in his wey he mette hestor the kynge lubye, and he smote hym so that his heed fill to grounde; and than he seide, “Cursed be thow that euer thou hider com to do vs soche damage to my men;” and after he smote Polibetes, the kynge of mede, that he fonde in his wey, that he fill deed to grounde; whan the barouns saugh the kynge Arthur do so wele, thei assailed the romayns, and the romayns hem vigerously, that Page 664

grete
folio 235a
damage dide to the bretons, and yef the Emperour ne hadde be slain, the bretouns ne myght not a-gein hem endured, for that discounforted hem alle; neuertheles thei contened hem so wele, that noon wiste who sholde haue the better. Than the vjMl and vjC lxvj com down of the montaigne to whom the kynge Arthur sholde haue recovered yef he hadde myster, and thei com in to the hoste in soche manere, that the romayns were not war; and thei smyte on hem be-hynde so harde, that thei slitte the bateile in two parties, and so thei wente diffoulinge hem vnder horse feet and slough hem with theire suerdes; and after these were come myght the romayns not endure, but turned to flight, for sore were thei discounforted, for the Emperour that was slain, and the Romains and the sarazins fledde discounfited, and the bretouns hem enchaced, and slough of hem as many as thei hadde talant.

Full gladde was the kynge Arthur of the discounfiture of the Romains, and of the victorie that god hadde hym yoven, and than com in to the feelde ther the bateile hadde be and biryed the deed bodies in chirches and abbeyes of the contrey; and the wounded lete hem be ledde to townes, and serched theire sores, and after made take the body of the Emperour, and sente it to Rome on a beere, and sente worde to the romains that it was the trewage of Bretaigne, that he sent to Rome, and yef thei wolde aske eny more he wolde hem sende soche another in the same wise; and whan he hadde don thus, he toke counseile wheder he sholde holde forth his wey, or turne a-gein in to Gaule, and the princes seide he sholde take counseile of Merlin. Than the kynge called Merlin, and seide, “Dere frende, how pleseth it you that I shall do.” “Sir,” seide Merlin, “ye shull not come at Rome, ne ye shull not yet returne, but holde forth youre wey, ffor ther be peple that haue grete nede of youre helpe.” “How so,” seide the kynge, “is ther werre in this contrey.” “Sir,” seide Merlin, “ye! beyonde the lak de losane, for ther repeireth, a devell an enmy so that ther dar nother a-bide man ne woman, for he distroieth the contrey, and sleth all that he may gete.” “How so,” seide the

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kynge, “may ther no man hym endure, than is he no man as other ben.” “No,” quod Merlin, “it is a catte, full of the devell that is so grete and ougly, that it is an horible sight on to loke.” “Ihesu mercy,” seide the kynge to Merlin, “whens myght soche a beeste come?” “Sir,” seide Merlin, “that can I telle yow.”

CHAPTER XXXIII.

ARTHUR’S FIGHT WITH THE GREAT CAT; THE SEARCH FOR MERLIN, AND HIS IMPRISONMENT; THE TRANSFORMATION OF GAWEIN INTO A DWARF, AND RETURN TO HIS PROPER FORM; THE

BIRTH OF LANCELOT.

“Hit be-fill at the assencion hens a-foure yere, that a fissher of the contrey com to the lak de losane with his nettes and his engynes; and whan he was redy to caste his nette in to the water, he promysed to oure lorde, the firste fissh that he sholde take; and whan he drough vp his nette, he toke a fissh that was worth xxxs.; and whan he saugh the fissh so feire and grete, he seide to hymself softly betwene his teth, “God shall not haue this, but he shall haue the next that I take.” Than he threwe his nett a-gein in to the water, and toke another fissh that was better than the firste; and whan he saugh it was so good and so feire, he seide that yet our lorde god myght wele a-bide of this. But the thridde sholde he haue withoute eny doute; and than he caste his nett in to the water, and drough oute a litill kyton as blakke as eny cool. And whan the folio 235b
fissher it saugh, he seide that he hadde nede ther-of in his house for rattes and mees, and he it norisshed and kept vp in his house till it strangeled hym, and his wif and his children, and after fledde in to a mountayn that is beyonde the lak, that I haue to you of spoken, and hath be there in to this tyme, and distroieth and sleth all that he may se and a-reche; and he is grete and horible that it is merveile hym to se; and we shull go that wey, for it is the right wey toward Rome, and yef god

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will, ye shull sette the peple in reste that be fledde in to straunge londes.”

Whan the barons undirstode these wordes thei gonne to blesse hem for the grete merveile that thei hadden, and seiden that it was vengeaunce of oure lorde, and a tokne that he was wroth, for the synne that the fissher hadde broken his promys, and therfore thei trowed oure lorde were wroth with hym, for that he hadde falsed his couenaunt. Than the kynge comaunded to trusse and to make hym redy to ride; and thei dide his comaundement, and toke theire wey toward the lak de losane, and fonde the contrei wasted and voide of peple, that nother man ne woman durste therynne enhabite. And thei laboured so till that thei com vnder the mounte, wher-as this devell dide a-bide; and loiged hem in a valey a myle fro the mountein; and the kynge Looth toke his armes, and sir Gawein, and Gaheries, and the kynge Ban, and Merlin, for to go with the kynge Arthur, and seide thei wolde go se this feende that so grete damage and harme hadde don in the contrey; and thei clymbe vpon the mountein as Merlin hem ledde, that well knewe the wey, for the grete witte that was in hym. And whan thei were come vp, than seide Merlin to Arthur, “Sir, in that roche ther is the Catte;” and shewed hym a grete cave in a medowe that was right large and depe. “And how shall the Catte come oute?” seide the kynge. “That shull ye se hastely,” quod Merlin, “but loke ye be redy you to diffende, for a-noon he will yow assaile.” “Than drawe yow alle a-bakke,” seide the kynge Arthur, “for I will preve his power;” and thei dide his comaundement, and a-noon as thei were with-drawen, Merlin whistelid lowde; and whan the catte that herde, a-noon he lept out of the cave, for he wende that it had be som wilde beste, and he was hungry and fastinge, and ran woodly a-straye toward the kynge Arthur; and as soone as the kynge saugh hym comynge he bar a-gein hym a short spere, and wende to smyte hym thourgh the body. But the feend caught the steill heed in his teth so harde, that he made it bende, and in the turnynge that the kynge made, the shaft to brake faste by the heed that was in the cattes mowthe; and he be-gan to make a grym noyse Page 667
as he were wood, and the kynge caste down the tronchon of the spere, and drough his suerde, and caste his shelde hym be-fore; and the catte lepte to hym a-noon, and wende to sese hym by the throte, and the kynge lifte the shelde a-gein hym so fiercely, that the catte fill to grounde; but soone he lepte vpon his feet and ran vpon the kynge full fiercely, and the kynge lifte vp the suerde and smote the catte on the heed that he cutte the skyn; but the heed was so harde that he myght not entre; and neuertheles he was so astonyed, that he fill to the erthe vpright, but er the kynge myght his shelde recouer, the catte sesed hym at discouert
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be the sholdres so harde that his clawes griped thourgh his hauberke in to the flesshe, and plukked so harde that he braste moo than iiijC mayles, that the reade blode folowed his clawes, and ther failed but litill that the kynge hadde falle to the erthe; and whan the kynge saugh his blode, he was wonder wroth, than he caste his shelde be-fore his breste, and hilde his swerde in his right hande, and ran to the catte vigerously, that likked his clawes that were weet of blode; and whan he saugh the kynge come toward hym, he lepe hym a-geins, and wende to sese hym as he hadde do be-forn, but the kynge launched his shelde hym be-fore, and the catte smote ther in his two feet be-fore with so grete fiersnesse thourgh the shelde, and breied so harde that the kynge enclyned to the erthe, so that the gige of the shelde fly from his nekke; but he griped the shelde so faste by the enarmynge that the catte myght it not hym be-reve, ne pulle oute his clawes, but henge in the shelde be the two feet be-fore; and whan the kynge saugh this, he griped faste the shelde and smote hym with his swerde vpon bothe legges, that he cutte hem a-sonder by the knees, and the catte fill to grounde; and the kynge caste a-wey his shelde, and ran to hym with swerde drawen; and the catte sterte vpon the hynder-feet, and grenned with his teth, and coveited the throte of the kynge; and the kynge launched at hym and wende to smyte hym on the heed, and therwith the catte strayned hys hynder feet and lept in his visage, and griped hym with her hynder feet, and with hir teth in to the flesshe

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that the blode stremed out in many places of breste and sholdres on high; and whan the kynge felte hym holde so harde, he sette the point of his swerde to the bely for to launche hym thourgh, and whan the catte felte the suerde she lefte hir bitinge, and wolde haue falle to grounde; but the two hynder feet were so depe ficched in the hauberke, that the heed of the catte hanged downwarde, and than the kynge smote a-sonder the two hynder feet, and the body fill to grounde; and as soone as the catte was fallen she be-gan to whowle and to bray so lowde, that it was herde thourgh the hoste; and whan she hadde caste this cry she be-gan to crepe faste down the foreste by the grete strengthe that was in hir, and drough toward the cave where-as she com oute; but the kynge wente betwene hir and the cave, and ran vpon the catte, and the catte launched toward hym, and wende to cacche hym with hir teth; but in the launchinge the kynge smote of hir two legges be-fore, and than Merlin and the other ronne to hym, and asked how it was with hym. “Well,” seide the kynge, “blessed be oure lorde, ffor I haue slain this devell, that grete harme hath don in this contrey, and wite it verily that I hadde neuer so grete doute of my-self as I hadde now a-gein this catte, saf only of the Geaunte that I slough this other day on the mountein, and therfore I thanke oure lorde.” “Sir,” seide the barouns, folio 236b

“ye haue grete cause.” Than thei loked on the feet that were lefte in the shelde, and in the hauberk, and thei seide that neuer soche feet hadde thei sein be-fore, and Gaheries toke the shelde and wente to the host makinge grete ioye; and whan the princes saugh the feet and the clawes that were so longe thei were abaisshed, and ledde the kynge to his tente and vnarmed hym, and loked on the cracchinges, and the bitinge of the catte; and the leches waisshed softly his woundes, and leide ther-to salue and oynementes to clense the venym, and dight hym in soche maner, that he letted nothinge to ride; and that day thei soiourned till on the morowe that thei returned toward Gaule, and the kynge lete bere the shelde with the cattes feet, and the feet that were in the hauberk lete put in a cofer, and comaunded to be well

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kept; and the kinge asked Merlin how this mountein was cleped, and Merlin seide that peple of the contrey cleped it the mountein de lak, ffor the lak that was in the valey. “Certes,” seide the kynge, “I will that this name be taken a-wey, and I will it be cleped the mountain of the catte, ffor the catte hadde ther his repeire, and was ther slain;” and after that the name of that hill neuer chaunged, ne neuer shall while the worlde dureth; and now a-while cesseth the tale and returneth to hem that ledde the Prisoners.

Now seith the storie, that whan the kynge Arthur hadde comaunded the knyghtes to lede the prisoners of the romayns that were repeired from [correction; sic =
fom] the disconfiture of the romayns that the prisoners wende to haue rescowed, that thei toke the prisoners that the squyers kepte out of the stour, and wente toward fraunce, and in euery town that thei com thei toke condite fro oo town to another, and laboured day and nyght till thei com nygh a Castell that longe to Claudas de la desert; and ther com a-gein hem xlv knyghtes of the londe of kynge Claudas, that by theire esspies wiste that the kynge Arthur sente prisoners in to fraunce that were knyghtes of the romains, and yef they myght yelde hem to kynge Claudas he sholde conne hem grete thanke, ffor he loved the romayns and the Emperour. Thei were well horsed and a-raied, and com a-gein hem that ledde the prisoners that were well CC knyghtes and squyres, and of hem of the contrey that bar hem companye; but withoute faile thei ne were but xl knyghtes, and thei on that other side were xlvj, and were nygh the castell where-ynne were I-nowe of squyres and sergeauntes on foote in whom thei trusted moche. Thei enbusshed hem in a grove a litill oute of the wey; and whan thei saugh hem come, thei spronge oute a-gein hem, and hem assailed that nygh thei haue hem supprised; but a-noon as thei saugh hem breke, thei ronne hem a-geins, and mette so harde vpon the sheldes that thei perced and rente hauberkes, and many ther were smyte thourgh the bodies, and slain and wounded on bothe parties; and whan thei that were with the prisoners saugh the knyghtes reuerse, thei Page 670
ronne hem to socour, and for to take the other, and grete was the afray and the medle, and gretly were apeired the peple of kynge Claudas, and yet sholde thei haue hadde more damage; but as the peple of the Castell hem socoured, be strengthe that were well an hundred and fifty of horsemen, and the bateile wax right sharpe and fierce, for the
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bretouns were stronge and hardy, and Claudas peple were stronge and hardy in her owne londe, and diffended hem wele; and than com oute of the castell fifty sergeauntes with bowe and arowes, and begonne to shete at the bretouns, and slough many in her comynge, and therfore were the bretouns sore dismayed, and of fin force were made resorte to the prisoners that the yomen on foote dide kepe; and elles hadde the bretouns all loste ne hadde be oon auenture that hem be-fill, as god wolde, ffor Pharien of Trebes and leonce of Paierne com that wey for to prise the Castell, and hadde in her companye vijC knyghtes wele horsed and richely armed, and com vpon hem fightinge euen as the bretouns were at disconfiture; and whan thei of the castell hem aperceived, and knewe theire armes thei were sore dismayed, and lefte the assaute of the bretouns and fledde toward the castell, and gat in who that myght sonest, that the sone a-boode not the fader, ne the fader the sone, but so faste cowde thei not haste, but that leonce, and Pharien, and her companye slough of hem moo than xxx; and thei [correction; sic = the] ronne in to the castell to garison, and thei vpon the walles lete falle the portcolys vpon hem and slough of hem two horse; and Pharien and leonce repeired toward the bretouns that hadde gadered a-gein alle the prisoners that thei ledde; and Pharien hem asked what thei were, and thei ansuerde, “We be with the kynge Arthur that these prisoners sendeth in to ffraunce;” and whan thei vndirstode this, thei seide thei were welcome. Than thei wente alle togeder to Benoyk, and made the prisoners a-light be-fore the paleis, and after lete sette hem in prison as the kynge Arthur hadde comaunded, and after thei hem vnarmed and duelled ther in ioye and in feste. And now shull we returne and speke of the lorde of the marasse and of his dou hter.

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A-noon withynne xv dayes after the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and Merlin were departed from the castell of the marasse, where thei hadde ley in ioye and feste, a riche man of the contrey com to the castell on a nyght; and the lorde of the castell, that was a worthy knyght and a wise, made hym grete chere, and in reuerence of hym made his doughter to serue of the cuppe as she that was full wise and wele lerned; and the knyght that ther-in was herberowed behelde the damesell that he liked right wele, and requered her of hir fader, and seide he wolde hir haue to his wif yef it hym liked, and the fader hym thonked of the honour that he hym profered, and was ther-of full gladde, for he was the highest lorde of that contrey, and seide he wolde speke ther-of to his doughter, and than yeve hym ansuere; whan thei hadde soped, thei yede to reste, and on the morowe thei a-rise erly, and agrauadain aresoned his doughter of that the knyght hym requered, that was so myghty a lorde, that by hym myght alle his frendes be avaunced and worshiped; and whan the damesell this herde she ansuerde hir fader debonerly, and seide, “Sir, it is not yet tyme for me to be maried, for I am yonge, and therfore I beseche yow speketh not ther-of, but suffre me a-bide yef it plese yow.” “Ffeire doughter,” quod he, “to leve spekinge herof I se no profite; ye ought to haue grete ioye in youre herte, for that so high a lorde deyneth to aske yow in folio 237b
mariage; ffor ye be a woman but of lowe lynage a-gein hym, and therfor I pray yow and comaunde to do my will.” “Sir,” quod she, “ye may well yet suffre a-while, for be the feith that I owe to yow that be my fader, I am not yet in will to be maried.” “How so, feire daughter,” quod he, “will ye than refuse my plesier and my volunte.” “Sir,” quod she, “I knowe well youre will is not for to haue me I-loste.” “I-loste,” seide he, “nay, but I-wonne to grete honour.” “Nay, sir,” quod she, “but I-loste; for I sholde neuer haue ioye at myn herte, yef I were maried to eny other than to hym that I haue my-self promysed and graunted, and yet I knowe well that I shall neuer hym haue, but I shall holde me to hym that he hath me

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lefte, and he is of higher astate and feirer knight than is this.” “Doughter,”

seide he, “of whom speke ye; tell me more clerly youre thought and soche thinge I may of yow heren, that I shall put this thinge in respite.” “Sir,” seide the damesell, “I shall yow telle, seth that ye will it knowe, and I shall of no worde make yow lesynge.” Than she tolde hym all in ordore how it was hir befalle betwene hir and the [correction; sic = th] kynge Ban of Benoyk, and how she was by hym with childe; ” and he tolde me that I sholde haue a sone by whom all my lynage shall be avaunced; wherfore I praye yow be not a-boute to marye me to noon other but to the kynge, ffor be the feith that I owe to god and to yow, I shall neuer haue other but hym.”

Whan the fader vndirstode his doughter, he was pensif and wroth, but chere ne semblaunt durste he noon make, and ansuerde soberly, “Doughter, seth it is thus, I moste it suffre, and therfore disconfort yow nothinge, and I shall go speke with this lorde, and telle hym youre will and nothinge myn;” and than he com to the knyght that was in doynge on his spores, and salued hym curteysly, and seide, “Sir, yef it plese yow to suffre this two yere, I will do youre volunte;”

and that he seide, for he knewe well he wolde it not graunte that respite; whan the knyght this vndirstode, he ansuerde ther-to no worde, but lepe to horse, he and his men, and departed withoute leve takinge, and swor that seth he myght hir not haue with love he wolde hir haue be force, and after hym sholde haue hir who that wolde; and in this maner he departed and com in to his contrey and somowned his men, till he hadde wele viijC knyghtes, and squyres, and yomen, and many other sowdiours, and com with an hoste be-fore the Castell des Maras, and pight his teintes by the pyne tre nygh the cauchie, and swor his oth that neuer sholde he departe thens till he hadde hir to his wif; and whan the lorde des Maras saugh hymself beseged, he was full of hevynesse, not for no drede to be taken by strengthe, ne famyn myght thei not lightly for all the reme myght hym not take, for I-nough he hadde of vitaile, for v yere that neuer hym neded to com oute at the

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yate; and he hadde therynne xlij knyghtes that were bolde and hardy in armes, ffor the lorde des Mares was a noble knyght; and thus thei were be-fore the Castell viij dayes that neuer was caste ne shotte, folio 238a
and the ixthe. day, a-boute the hour of prime, be-fill that a knyght of the hoste that was cleped Maudras com to the horn that ther henge, and sette it to his mouthe, and blewe thries with grete myght, so that the lorde of the castell it herde clerly; and than a-noon he armed hym richely, and lepte vpon a stede with shelde be-fore his breste and a spere in hande, and the yate was hym opened, and he rode oute a grete raundon all the cauchie towarde the hoste, and cried with high voice whiche was he that was so hardy to blowen his horne withoute his leve, and in euell tyme hadde he it begonne, yef in hym were so moche hardynesse with hym to Iuste, and Maudras seide that for noon other cause was it do, “and I shall Iuste be soche couenaunt that he that falleth shall yelde hymself taken prisoner withoute more doynge.” “And I it graunte,” seide Agrauadain, “yef youre lorde will assent that I haue of hym no doute ne encombraunce ne of noon saf only of yow.” “In feith,” quod he, “ye shull haue no doute of noon other seth ye be come so fer.” Than Agrauadain com down of the cauchie, and he a Maudras ronne togeder; and the knyghtes were renged rounde a-boute to beholde the Iustinge, and the two knyghtes mette with so grete raundon, that the sheldes perced, Maudras brake his spere, and Agrauadain shof so sore, that he bar hym to grounde so rudely, that he brake his lifte arme betwene the hande and the elbowe. Than he straught oute his hand and hente the horse by the reyne, and sette hym on the cauchie; and than he seide to Maudras that he sholde hym sewe and holde his couenaunt, and than he rode forth towarde the Castell, and drof Maudras horse hym be-fore, and entred in at the yate where he was resceyved with ioye; and leriador and his knyghtes com to Maudras, and fonde hym on swowne, and thei wende he hadde be deed. And in a while after he yaf a grete sigh, and opened his iyen, and comaunded that oon sholde bringe hym to the

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castell to a-quyte hym of his oth. Than leriador lete make a beere of smale bowes on horsbak, and leide hym therynne, and couered with a riche cloth of silke and henge this litter betwene two horse, and sente hym to the castell.

And Agrauadain hym resceived, and lete put hym in a feire chambre where is arme was well dight with salues and oynementes. And thei that brought hym thider returned a-gein, and fonde leriador sori and wroth, and so were all the other.

On the morowe com another knyght, and blewe the horne; and agrauadain com and Iusted with hym, and smote hym down, and toke his feith to be prisoner, and wente with hym to the castell, and thus Agrauadain wan xj, and therfore was the lorde sory and angry; and the xijthe. day he blewe the horne hymself; and whan Agrauadain was come as he was wonte to do, than seide Leriador that at this Iustinge sholde be fynysshed the werre, and the sege departe; ffor yef Agrauadain hym conquered, he wolde returne a-gein in to his contrey with all his hoste. Ne neuer he ne noon of his sholde touche nothinge of his, “and yef I yow conquere ye shull me yeve youre doughter to be my wif, for I aske yow no more.”

This was graunted on bothe parties. And than wente the two knyghtes togeder, and mette with grete raundon on the sheldes a-bove the bokeles folio 238b
that thei perced and rente the hauberkes, that the spere poyntes passed be the sides, so that the blode spronge oute of bothe parties; than thei hurteled so harde with bodies and sheldes, that eche bar other to grounde, bothe horse and man, that bothe were sore astonyed, and lay longe while at the erthe; but bothe thei lept vpon foot, and drough theire suerdes and smote grete strokes at discouert, and made grete woundes and merveilouse, and bothe waxen feble for the blode that thei bledde; but in the ende leriador behoved to come to mercy, and departed from the sege, and wente hom to his contrie; and Agrauadain returned to his castell, and leide salue to his woundes, and sente the prisoners in to her contreyes; and he a-bode gladde and myrye till his doughter was delyuered of a sone, that after was of grete renoun in the reame of logres, and Page 675
in many other contreyes, and was cleped by his right name Estor; and of hym hadde Agrauadain grete ioye, and made hym be norisshed in his chambre, and delyuered hym thre norices; and the damesell hir-self yaf hym sowke of hir owne mylke, ffor ther was nothinge that she loved so moche, ffor he was so like the kynge Ban as he hadde be portreyed. But now shull we cesse of hym a-while, and of his moder, and of Agrauadain, that helde hym dere, and returne to speke of the kynge fflualis that longe hath be stille.

Now whan that Merlin was departed from the kynge fflualis, to whom he hadde tolde his avision; and the kynge fflualis a-bood sore dismayed of that Merlin hadde seide, and in short tyme after be-fill like as he hadde tolde, for he saugh his children in the temple of diane I-slayn, and the temple caste down and dispoiled, and his londe distroied, and his paleys brente, and hymself taken and his wif; but thei that hym toke ne slough hym not, but shewed hem the poyntes of the cristin feith, and made hem so to vndirstonde fro day to day, that thei were baptised and waisshe fro the filthe of synne of mysbeleve, and was cleped be the same name that he hadde be-fore, and that was fflualis; but the ladies name was chaunged, and cleped hir misiane, and hir name was be-fore cleped Lumble; and after were thei longe togeder till thei hadde foure doughtres, that after hadde foure princes that were cristin, and were full good peple and trewe, and hadde many children; ffor the elthest hadde x sones, that were alle good knyghtes by the kynge fflualis lif, and viij doughteres; and the seconde hadde xij sones and thre doughtres; and the thridde vj sones and xij doughtres; and the fourthe xv sones and a doughter, and were alle maryed, and the sones knyghtes while the kynge was lyvinge, and the quene Misiane, that ther-of hadde grete ioye and gladnesse, and thonked our lorde. Whan the kynge fflualis and the foure princes saugh that thei hadde liiij children that were alle bretheren and cosins germain, thei made grete ioye, and seide that oure lorde hadde hem sent to avaunce the cristin lawe, and seide thei sholde neuer cesse till

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thei hadde made alle paynyms cristin, and obbeye the lawes of god and holy cherche.

Than thei somowned and assembled all her power, and ronne thourgh paynym londes, and toke townes, and slough many a paynym, and conquered the londes of the straunge contreyes, and passed
folio 239a
in to Galys, and in to Spayne, so that nothinge myght a-gein hem endure, till that the kynge fflualis was deed in spayne, and therfore were the foure princes full dolent and the nevewes, and was biried in a Cite that tho was cleped Nadres; and than thei repeired towarde the parties of Ieshuralem, and set the londes in her handes, and after departed by diuerse londes, and hem conquered and toke the honours, that oon hilde Costantynnoble; and that other greece, where he hadde foure regiouns; and the thridde hilde barbarie; and the fourthe Cipre; and some come in to the reame of [correction; sic = of of] logres for to serve the kynge Arthur, for the grete renoome that of hym was thourgh the worlde, and with hem com foure knightes that were bolde and hardy in armes, but litill tyme thei lyved, and that was grete harme to all cristin peple, ffor thei were noble and trewe, and the tweyne were deed in a bateile that launcelot made a-gein the kynge Claudas; and the thridde in a bateile that the kynge Arthur made a-gein Mordred as shall be rehersed hereafter. But now shull we returne to speke of the kynge Arthur.

In this partie, seith the storie, that whan the kynge Arthur and his companye had disconfited the romayns, and the kynge hadde slayn the catte, thei returned and rode till thei com to the castell that the kynge hadde fortefied vpon the river of Aube, and were there viij dayes; and after thei departed and rode forth till thei com to Benoyk, ffor it was tolde hem that there were the prisoners, and Pharien and Cleodalis hem resceyved with grete ioye; and after thei tolden how thei hadde rescowed theire peple, and the Prisoners and all thinge as it was fallen, and how thei of the castell wolde

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haue taken hem be force. “Be my feith,” seide the kynge, “in euell tyme thei it begonne, for dere shall it be bought.” Than the kynge cleped sir Gawein, and bad hym go to the castell that was cleped the marche, and throwe it down to the grounde, so that thei of other contreyes be not so hardy eny more to encombre me ne noon of myn, and sir Gawein made xMl lepe to horse, and rode forth till thei com to the castell a-boute mydnyght, and enbusshed hem in a wode that was v bowe draught ffrom the castell, and ther thei a-bide till on the morowe that thei of the castell sette oute theire beestes, and a-noon as it was oute sir Gawein sent oute xiiij knyghtes that passed the pray, and drough toward the yate, and with hem v arblastres for to shete vp to the barbycans, and to kepe the yate till he were come, and thei dide as Gawein hem comaunded; and it was yet so erly that un-ethe oon myght knowe another, and thei hem dressed toward the yate as soone as the pray was oute; whan sir Gawein sye the praye come nygh he wiste well that the other were be-fore; and he sente beyonde hem that drof the praye xx knyghtes; and whan thei hem saugh thei lefte the praye and wolde haue turned a-gein to the yate, but the knyghtes and the arblastres that sir Gawein had sente diffended hem the entre till that Gawein was comen, and smyten in at the yate moo than vjC. Than was ther grete crie and noyse, and thei that were in the tour lete falle the portcolys, and smote [correction; sic = smote smote]

a-sonder two horse be the croupe and the knyghtes fill withynne, withoute more harme; and than a-ros the noyse and the crye thourgh the contrey, and thei ronne to the barbicans and caste
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stones and caliouns; and the v arblastres shote vpwarde, and the other begonne to hewe the yates a-sonder, and thei that were withoute entred in; and thei that were of the castell dide hem yelde to the volunte of sir Gawein, and he made hem be ledde to Benoyk; and than he lete beete down the walles and the bretesches, and after returned to the kynge Arthur that ther-of was gladde and Page 678
ioyfull; and the kynge made the prisoners to swere that thei sholde neuer be a-gein the kynge Ban, ne the kynge Bohors; and so made he hem swere that were of Rome that thei sholde neuer be a-gein the reame of logres; and whan thei were thus sworn, he sente hem a-gein in to theire contrey, and soiourned all that day, and on the morowe with the kynge Ban with grete ioye and grete feeste. With that com a messagere to the kynge Arthur that brought tidinges that the kynge leodogan of Carmelide was deed, and that was the cause he departed so soone fro the kynge Ban. On the morowe the kynge Arthur departed fro the two kynges that were brethern, and after that tyme he saugh hem neuer more; and that was grete scade that thei sholde die so soone, as the storie shall declare whan tyme cometh.

Whan the kynge Arthur was departed fro the two kynges that were brethern, that so moche honour hadde hym don, he traueiled so by his iourneyes that he com to the see and entred in to shippes, and passed ouer and landed at the port of Dover, and lepe on their horse and ride forth to logres, and ther thei fonde the Quene Gonnore, that hem resceived with grete ioye, and tolde how hir fader was passed oute of this worlde, and he hir counforted in the beste wise he myght; and after the kynge departed his peple and thei yode hom in to theire contreyes, and the kynge Arthur a-boode at logres, and sir Gawein and the knyghtes of the rounde table, and Merlin soiourned ther longe tyme. Than he hadde grete talent for to se Blase his maister, for to telle hym of all that was befallen seth he fro hym departed; and fro thens he wolde go to Nimiane his love, for the terme drough faste on that was sette; and he wente to the kynge and seide that hym behoved to go; and the kynge and the quene prayed hym right entierly soone for to come a-gein, for he dide hem grete solas and counfort of his companye, ffor the kynge hym loved [correction; sic = love] feithfully; for in many a nede he hadde hym socoured and holpen, ffor by hym and by his counseile was he kynge; and he seide to hym right tenderly, “Dere frende Merlin, seth ye will go, I dar yow not withholde a-gein youre wille a volunte; but I shall neuer be in hertes Page 679
ese till that I may se yow, and therefore I pray you for the love of oure lorde haste you soone to come a-gein.” “Sir,” seide Merlin, “this is the laste time, and therfore to god I you comaunde.” Whan the kynge herde how he seide it was the laste tyme that he sholde hym se, he was sore abaisshed; and Merlin departed withoute moo wordes sore wepinge, and trauailed till he come to Blase his maister, that grete chere hym made, and asked how he hadde sped sethen, and he seide wele; and than he tolde him alle thinges as thei were befalle of the kynge Arthur and of the Geaunte that he hadde slayn; and of the bateile of the Romains; and how he hadde slain the cat; and tolde hym also of the litill duerfe how the damesell hadde hym brought to court, and how the kynge hadde made hym knyght. “But thus
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moche,” seide Merlin, “I shall telle yow, he is a grete gentilman, and is no duerf by nature, but thus hath a damesell hym myshapen whan he was xiij yere of age, for that he wolde not graunte hir his love, and he was than the feirest creature of the worlde; and for the sorowe that the damesell hadde a-raied she hym in soche wise that now is the lothliest creature and of moste dispite; and fro hens ix wikes shall cesse the terme that the damesell sette, and shall come in to the age that he ought for to be, for at that day shall he be xxij yere olde.” Whan Merlin hadde all thinges rehersed, and Blase hadde hem alle writen oon after another in ordre, and by his boke haue we the knowinge ther-of; and whan Merlin hadde be ther viij dayes he toke leve of Blase, and seide, “This is the laste tyme that I shall speke with yow eny more, ffor fro hens-forth I shall soiourne with my love, ne neuer shall I haue power hir for to leve ne to come ne go.”

Whan Blase vndirstode Merlin, he was full of sorowe, and seide, “Dere frende, seth it is so that ye may not departe cometh not ther.” “Me be-houeth for to go,” qoud Merlin, “for so haue I made hir couenaunt, and also I am so supprised with hir love, that I may me not with-drawen; and I haue her taught and lerned all the witte and connynge that she can, and yet shall she lerne more, for I may not hir with-sein

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ne it disturue.” Than departed Merlin from Blase, and in litill space com to his love, that grete ioye of hym made and he of hir, and dwelled togeder longe tyme; and euer she enquered of his craftes, and he hir taught and lerned so moche that after he was holden a fooll and yet is, and she hem well vndirstode and put hem in writinge, as she that was well expert in the vij artes. Whan that he hadde hir taught all that she cowde aske, she be-thought hir how she myght hym withholde for euer more; than be-gan she to glose Merlin more than euer she hadde do euer be-forn, and seide, “Sir, yet can I not oon thinge that I wolde fain lerne, and therfore I pray you that ye wolde me enforme;” and Merlin that well knewe her entent, seid, “Madame, what thinge is that?” “Sir,” qoud she, “I wolde fain lerne how I myght oon shet in a tour withouten walles, or withoute eny closure be enchauntement, so that neuer he sholden go oute withouten my licence;” and whan Merlin it herde he bowed down the heed and be-gan to sigh, and she it aparceived, she asked whi he sighed. “Madame,” seide Merlin, “I shall telle yow; I knowe well what ye thinke, and that ye will me withholde, and I am so supprised with love that me be-houeth to do youre plesier;” and than she caste hir armes a-boute his nekke and hym kiste, and seide, “that wele he ought to be hirs seth that she was all his; ye knowe wele that the grete love that I haue to you hath made me forsake alle other for to haue yow in myn armes nyght and day, and ye be my thought and my desire, for withoute yow haue I neither ioye ne welthe. In you haue I sette all my hope, and I a-bide noon other ioye but of yow, and seth that I love you, and also ye love me, is not right than that ye do my volunte and I yours.” “Certes, yesse,” seide Merlin, “now sey than what ye will.” “I will,” qoud she, “ye teche me a place feire and couenable, that I myght enclose by art in
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soche wise that neuer myght be vn-don, and we shull be ther, ye and I in ioye and disporte whan that yow liketh.” “Madame,” seide Merlin, “that shall I well do.” “Sir,” qoud she, “I will not that ye it make, but lerne it to me that Page 681

I may it do, and I shall make it than more at my volunte.” “Well,” seide Merlin, “I will do youre plesire.” Than he be-gan to devise the crafte vnto hir, and she it wrote all that he seide; and whan hadde alle devised, the damesell hadde grete ioye in herte, and he hir loved more and more, and she shewed hym feirer chere than be-forn; and so thei soiourned togeder longe tyme, till it fill on a day that thei wente thourgh the foreste hande in hande, devisinge and disportinge, and this was in the foreste of brochelonde, and fonde a bussh that was feire and high of white hawthorne full of floures, and ther thei satte in the shadowe; and Merlin leide his heed in the damesels lappe, and she be-gan to taste softly till he fill on slepe; and whan she felt that he was on slepe she a-roos softly, and made a cerne with hir wymple all a-boute the bussh and all a-boute Merlin, and be-gan hir enchauntementz soche as Merlin hadde hir taught, and made the cerne ix tymes, and ix tymes hir enchauntementes; and after that she wente and satte down by hym and leide his heed in hir lappe, and hilde hym ther till he dide a-wake; and than he loked a-boute hym, and hym semed he was in the feirest tour of the worlde, and the moste stronge, and fonde hym leide in the feirest place that euer he lay be-forn; and than he seide to the damesell, “Lady, thou hast me disceived, but yef ye will a-bide with me, for noon but ye may vn-do this enchauntementes; and she seide, “Feire swete frende, I shall often tymes go oute, and ye shull haue me in youre armes, and I yow; and fro hens-forth shull ye do alle youre plesier;” and she hym hilde wele couenaunt, ffor fewe hours ther were of the nyght ne of the day but she was with hym. Ne neuer after com Merlin oute of that fortresse that she hadde hym in sette; but she wente in and oute whan she wolde. But now moste we reste a-while of Merlin and his love, and speke of the kynge Arthur.

The same hour that Merlin was departed fro the kynge Arthur, and that he hadde seide how it was the laste tyme that he sholde hym se; the kynge a-boode sore abaisshed and full pensif of that worde, and in soche maner he a-boode Page 682
after Merlin vij wikes and more; but whan he saugh that he com nought he was full pensif and full of hevynesse, aud on a day sir Gawein asked what hym eiled.

“Certes nevew,” seide the kynge, “I thinke on that I trowe I haue loste Merlin, and that he will neuer more come to me, ffor now hath he a-biden lenger than he was wonte, and gretly I am dismayed of the worde that he seide whan he fro me departed, ffor he seide this is the last tyme, therfore I am in doute that he sey soth, ffor he ne made neuer lesinge of nothinge that he seide, ffor so helpe me god I hadde leuer lese the Cite of logres than hym, and therfore fain wolde I wite yef eny myght hym finde fer or nygh, and therfore I pray you as derely as ye me love that ye hym seche till ye knowe the verite.” “Sir,” seide Gawein, “I am all redy to do youre volunte, and a-noon ye shull se me meve fordwarde, and I suere to you be the oth that I made to you whan ye made me folio 241a
knyght, that I shall seche hym a yere and a day, but withynne that space I may knowe trewe tidinges.” In this same wise swor sir Ewein, and Segramor, and Agrauain, and Geheret, and Gaheries, and xxv of her felowes, and that oon was Doo of Cardoell, and Sacren of the streite Marche, and Taulus le rous, and Blioc de Cassell, and Caues de lille, and Amadas de la Crespe, and placidas li gais, and laudalus de la playne, and Aiglins des vaus, and Clealis lorfenyns, and Grires de lamball, and kehedins li bens, and Caros de la broche, and Segurades de la forest perilouse, and Purades de Carmelide, and Carmeduk the blake; alle these swor the same oth with sir Gawein, and departed fro the Cite of logres alle togeder by the volunte of kynge Arthur, and wente alle in the quest for Merlin; and whan thei were oute of the Cite thei departed alle at a crosse that thei fonde at the entre of a foreste where ther mette thre weyes, and ther thei departed in thre parties. But of hem shull we reste a-while, and speke of the damesell that ledde a-wey the duerf knyght.

Whan kynge Arthur hadde a-dubbed the duerf by the preier and request of the damesell, and she hadde hym

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ledde as ye haue herde gladde [correction; sic = gradde] and ioyfull, and returned to hir contrey, and rode so the firste day till it was nygh the nyght; and than thei com oute of the foreste and entred in to a feire launde that was grete and large; and than the damesell loked be-fore hir and saugh comynge a knyght armed vpon a stede, and she shewde hym the duerf; and he ansuerde, “Damesell, dismaye yow nought but ride forth boldly, for ye shull haue no drede of hym.” “Sir, he will me bere a-wey be force, and he cometh hider for noon other cause;” and the duerf ansuerde a-gein, “Damesell, ride forth suerly, and beth not a-ferde;” and the knyght hym ascried with lowde voys, “Welcome be my damesell and my love, ffor now haue I founde that I haue longe sought.” And the duerf that well hym vndirstode, seide debonerly, “Sir, be not to hasty, for ye may desire hir to moche at the begynnynge, ffor yet ye haue hir not in youre bailly, wherfore ye sholde make so grete ioye.” “I owe well to make ioye,” quod the knyght; “for I am of hir sure I-nough, ffor though I haue hir not, yet I shall right soone;” and euer he com on as faste as he myght ride; and whan the duerf saugh hym com so faste, he caste his spere in fewtre, and couered hym with his shelde that nothinge apered saf the shelde only, and smote the horse with the spores on bothe sides faste by the skirtes of his sadell, for his legges were so shorte, and the horse hym bar with so grete raundon that it semed as he hadde flowen, and cried to the knyght that he sholde hym diffende; and he that was full fierce and prowde hadde shame to iuste with so litill a wrecche, and lifte vp his spere, and seide, yef god will, with soche a disfigure worme sholde he neuer Iuste, and hilde his spere vpright, but neuertheles he couered hym with his shelde; and the duerf hym smote so harde, that he perced shelde and hauberk, that the spere passed by the side and hurtled so harde with his shelde, and with the grete myght of his horse, that to grounde goth the knyght horse and man, and in the fallinge his sholdre spronge oute of ioynte, and the Page 684
duerf rode ouer his body and hym all to-brosed, so that the knyght swowned for anguyssh
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that be felte; and whan the duerf that saugh, he cleped the damesell, and prayed hir to take hym down, and she toke hym in hir armes, and helped hym down of his horse, and he drough his swerde and ran to the knyght and vn-laced his helme, and manaced hym to smyten of his deed, but he wolde hym yelde vtterly; and the knyght that was hurt saugh the suerde that he hilde ouer his heed, and hadde drede of deth, and cride “mercy,” and put hym in his wille of all thinge.

“Than,” quod the duerf, “shalt thow go, yelde the to the Prison of kynge Arthur, and sey hym that the litill knyght that he dubbed hath sent the to be his prisoner, and that thou shalt put the only in his mercy;” and the knyght ensured hym his feith to do in this maner. Than he badde hym go to his horse, and he seide he hadde ther-to no power, for his sholdre bon was oute of Ioynte; “but here I moste a-bide,” quod he, “till I fynde oon that me may beren, but ye shull go take youre horse and ride to the ende of this launde in a valey where ye shull finde a place of myn, ffor it is tyme for you to herberowe, and a-bide ye ther stille, and sende some of my men that may bere me thider, and haue ye no doute of nothinge.” And the duerf hym graunted, and com towarde the Damesell that hilde his stede, and she stouped ouer the nekke of hir palfrey, and caught hym by the armes, and drough hym vp with grete peyne till that he myght nyghe his sadell; and than turned toward the knyghtes recete, and a-geins hem com vj squyres that were therynne, and toke hym down, and the damesell and hym vnarmed, and dide hym on a mantell full riche, and the duerf hem seide how hir lorde was hurt, and thei toke a biere and brought hym a-gein to his recete, and hym vnarmed, and sente after leches, and dight hym softly in the beste wise thei cowden; and after thei asked who hadde hym thus araied; and he sede a knyght that he nothinge knewe, ne he durste not sey for shame that the duerf hadde it don; and than he made his hoste the beste chere that he myght, and made hem richely be serued at ese in a feire chambre Page 685
where-ynne were two riche beddes, and ther thei slepte till on the morowe that thei a-rise and made hem redy, and the maiden armed hir duerf, for she hym loved feithfully, and wolde not suffre noon to sette on hym eny hande but hir-self; and whan she hadde hym armed, and apareiled saf only of his helme, she toke hym by the hande and ledde hym in to a chambre ther the lorde of the place lay, and bad hym good morowe; and he hem salued right curteisly, and thei be-taught hym to god, and thanked hym of the honour that he hadde hem don. Than wente thei oute of the chambre, and the mayden laced on his helme, and helped hym on his horse, and delyuered hym his spere and his shelde; and than the squyres brought the mayden hir palfrey, and sette hir ther-on; than thei departed fro thens and toke the wey toward Eastrangore; and the knyght that was hurt thought to a-quyte hym of his feith, and lete make an horse litere full riche, and hadde withynne a feire bedde, and the liter couered with a riche cloth of silke, and the knyght was leide withynne; and the liter leide vpon two palfreyes softe amblinge, and toke the wey streight to Cardoell in walis where the kynge and the quene soiourned with grete companye
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of peple; and the kynge satte at dyner in the halle, and the knyght made hym to be born in to the halle be-fore the kynge, and seide, “Sir kynge, for to a-quyte me my feith and my graunte I am I-come to put me in thi prison, and in thy mercy, as he that is full sore a-shamed of the lothlyest creature of this worlde, that by his armes me hath conquered;” and whan he hadde seide thus, he badde his squyers bere hym thens; and than seide the kynge, “Sir knyght, what is this, thou seidest thou were come to my prison and my mercy.” “Ye sir,” seide the knyght. “Than I requyre,” quod the kynge, “that ye as a prisoner you mayntene, and that ye telle me in whos be-halue ye yelde yow take, and how that ye were conquered.” “Sir,” seide the knyght, “I se well I moste telle my grete shame and myn annoye, and I shall telle it you seth I am come ther-to for to parforme youre will and my feith for to a-quiten. This is the trouthe that I haue loved a damesell

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of grete bewte, and kynges doughter, and yef ye will knowe her name it is the feire beaune the doughter of knyge Clamedien that is riche and puyssaunt, but neuer myght I bringe hir therto nother for prayer, ne for love, ne for chiualrie, that I myght do for hir, she ne wolde neuer graunte me hir love, and I wolde gladly haue hadde hir to my wif, and hir fader wolde it well also, and ther-of was gladde, for I am kynges sone and quenes, but she euer forsoke me for the moste vile and lothsom creature of the worlde, and fill me so that I rode this other day thourgh a launde all alone I-armed, and mette my damesell that repeired from youre contre, and hir dide condite the duerf knyght to whom she is love; and whan I saugh hir come with so small condite I was right gladde, and thanked god that thider hir hadde sente, and I wende to haue hir ledde awey withoute more with-seyinge. But the duerf seide that I come to sone, and that it was folye for me so sore to haste, for it sholde go all othere wise than I wende, ffor I trowed to haue my desire withoute diffence; and therfore I seide my volunte was well a-complisshed, and I rode faste a-gein the damesell hir to haue taken, and haue ledde hir with me to a place of myne that was not fer thens; and whan the duerf knyght saugh me so be-fore he leide his spere in fewtre, and I wolde no Iuste with hym with my spere, for me thought it shame and dispite to Iuste with soche a creature, and therfore I wolde not smyte, and he bar me so rudely to grounde, that in the fall my lifte sholdre yede oute of Ioynte that I swowned for anguyssh; and he vn-laced myn helme and wolde haue smyten of myn heed, but yef I hadde hym assured to yelde me to youre prison, and therfore I do me in youre grace.” “Trewly, frende,” seide the kynge, “in good prison hath he you sette that to me hath you sente, ffor I clayme yow quyte; but ye shall telle me youre name.” “Sir,” quod he, “my name is Tradilyuaunt, and am the kynges godsone of North walis, that for grete cherite yaf me his name;” with that his squyres toke hym vp, and bar hym oute of the paleise, and leyde hym on two palfreyes, and ledde hym a-gein in to his Page 687
contrei; and the kynge Arthur and his barouns spake I-nough of the duerf, and of the damesell, and seide it were grete ioye yef the duerf myght come a-gein in to his bewte; and
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preyse the damesell that in no myschef wolde forsake hir love for no lothlynesse. But now at thys tyme cesseth of hem, and returneth to speke of Segramor that wente in to the quest of Merlin, and with hym ix knyghtes full profitable bolde and hardy.

Whan Segramor was departed fro sir Gawein, he ledde with hym ix of his felowes of the same enquest, and rode till the sonne was go to reste; and than of auenture thei loked at the comynge of the foreste at the issue of a roche, and saugh a celle where-ynne woned an hermyte, and that wey thei turned ther for to be herberowed, and thei knokked at the yate, and the hermyte it opened a-noon and herberowed hem that nyght as wele as he cowde; and on the morowe erly he seide masse; and than thei departed fro thens, and com to the entringe of a foreste, and than seide Segramor to his felowes that thei sholde departe thourgh the foreste, and so thei diden; and so that oon wente here and another there, as auenture hem ledde, and in that quest be-fill many feire auentures wher-of this storie maketh no mencion, but so thei yede vp and down by diuerse contrees that thei performed that enquest that neuer cowde thei lerne no tidinges of that thei were meved for to seche; and at the yeres ende thei com a-gein and tolde theire auentures, and some ther were that tolde more theire shame than theire honoure, but trouthe moste thei sey by theire oth that thei hadden sworn; and in tho dayes gentilmen were so trewe, that thei wolde rather lese theire lif than be forsworn; and now shull we speke of Ewein.

Whan Ewein and his felowes were departed fro Gawein, he rode till he com to the issue of a foreste, and ther thei mette a damesell that rode vpon a mule, and made the moste sorowe of the worlde, and rente hir heer, and cried lowde, “Alas, where shall I be-come whan I haue loste hym that I haue loved so wele, and he me. And for the love of me hath

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he loste the grete bewte that was in hym;” and whan sir Ewein this herde, he hadde ther-of grete pite, and com hir a-geins and asked why she made soche sorowe; and she ansuerde, “Gentill knyght, haue pite of me and of my love, that v knyghtes sle in this valey be-nethe this hill.” “Who is youre love, damesell,”

quod sir Ewein. “Sir,” qoud she, “it is Audain the duerf, the sone of kynge Brangore.” “Now let be youre doell,” seide sir Ewein, “for by the feith that I owe to you he shall noon harme haue, yef I may come be-tyme.” “Sir, gramercy,”

seide the damesell; “but ye moste you hasten.” Than sir Ewein rode that wey as the maiden hym taught as faste as his horse myght renne; and the damesell hym sewed as moche as she myght, for her mule wente werily, and sir Ewein hath so riden that he saugh the duerf that vigerously faught with two knyghtes, and saugh thre ly in myddell of the feilde that hadde no power to a-rise; ffor that oon was smyte with a spere thourgh the sholdre, that al was disseuered fro the body, and that other was smyte with a suerde down to the teth; and the other tweyne were full feble, and hadde grete doute of theire deth, for the duerf sought on hem vigerously; and whan sir Ewein saugh hym thus contene, he shewed to his felowes, and seide
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that it was grete harme of the duerf that was so mysshapen, “for he is bolde and hardy, and of grete herte.” “Certes, sir,” seide oon of his companye, “neuer no man of his stature dide soche prowesse, but for goddes sake departe hem that thei no myscheve, for that were pite, yef hym myshappe.” “Ye sey trouthe,” quod sir Ewein; and than he priked thider. But er he com he hadde leyde oon to grounde, and rode ouer his body thre tymes, that nygh he hadde hym slayn; whan the fifte saugh he was a-lone, he hadde drede of hymself, and be-gan to blenche, and wolde haue fledde, and withoute faile he was wounded in thre places right depe; but the duerf that richely was horsed hilde hym so straite, and so hym hasted, that deed he hadde I-be ne hadde sir Ewein come the soner, and seide, “Feire, sir, ne do no more, but lete hym be for curtesie, for we se well how it is, and I-nough haue ye

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don;” and whan the duerf herde how he hym required so curteisly, he ansuerde as he that was curteise and deboneir. “Sir, pleseth it you that I cesse thus.”

“Ye,” seide Ewein, “and ther-of I thanke you, for we se well how it is.” “And I shall do youre request,” seide the duerf, “for ye seme well to be a worthy man;”

with that com the knyght [correction; sic = knyghtes] that had foughten with the duerf to sir Ewein, and seide, “Sir, gramercy, for ye haue saued me fro deth by youre comynge, and blissed be that lorde that hider you hath brought.” Than he dide yelde his suerde to the duerf, and the duerf hit resceived; and in the same wise dide the tother that were lefte on lyve, and he hem sente in to the prison of kynge Arthur, and sir Ewein and his companye departed fro the duerf and fro the damesell, and spredde a-brode thourgh diuerse contrees, and sought Merlin vp and down, but neuer myght thei here of hym tidinges, and therfore were thei sory and wroth, and repeired to court at the yeres ende, and eche of hem tolde his auenture that was hym befalle in his quest, but the kynge Arthur made all to be writen. But now cesseth of the kynge, and of alle the other companye, and returne to sir Gawein.

Whan that sir Gawein was departed fro his felowes, he rode forth thourgh the foreste, he and v knyghtes of his companye, and ther thei departed, and eche wente his wey, for he wolde ride sooll by hymself, and in this wise thei departed, so that eche of hem toke his wey; and sir Gawein rode so a-lone serchinge grete part of the londe, till it fill on a day that he rode pensif and hevy, for that he myght not finde Merlin; and in this stody he entred in to a foreste, and he hadde riden a-boute two walsh myle ther com a damesell hym a-gein that rode on the feirest palfrey of the worlde, and was all blak, and sadell and the stiropes were all of golde, and the cloth of scarlet trailinge to the erthe, and the bridill of golde, and she was clothed in white samyte, and hir kirchires of silke, and richely atired, and com ridinge be-fore sir Gawein Page 690
as he was in this pensifnesse, that he dide her not salue; and whan he was passed the Damesell she reyned hir bridill, and turned the heed of hir palfrey, and seide, “Gawein, Gawein,
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hit is not trewe the renomee that renneth of the thourgh the reame of logres; ffor it is seide of the that thou art the best knyght of the worlde, and of that thei sey trouthe. Also it is seide that thou art the gentilest and the most curteise knyght, but in that faileth the renoon, for thou art the moste vileyn knyght that euer I mette in my lif, that in this forest so fer fro peple haste me I-met a-lone, and so grete felonye in the is roted, that thow deynest not me ones to salue ne to speke a worde, and knowe thow verily thow shalt it repente of that thow hast don, in so moche that thou shalt wissh thou haddest it not don for all the reame of logres.” And whan sir Gawein vndirstode the damesell, he was sore a-shamed, and turned a-gein hir his bridell of gringalet, and seide all shamefast as ye shull heren. “Damesell,” quod sir Gawein, “so helpe me god [correction; sic = go], I thought vpon a thinge that I go sechinge, and therfore I pray yow that ye foryeve it me that I haue mys-don.” “So helpe me god,” quod the damesell, “rather shalt thou a-bye it full dere, ffor I-nough thou shalt haue of shame and lothlynesse, and therfore remembre another tyme whan thou metest with eny lady or damesell, that thou hir salue for curtesie.

But I sey not that it shall the euer endure, ne of that thou goist sechinge shalt thou finde noon in the reame of logres that the can telle no tidinge, but in the litill breteigne maist thou here som maner tidinges; and I will go now ther as I haue to don, and thou shalt go seche that thou art moved fore; and the firste man that thou metest with mote thou be like till thou se me eft-sones.”

Than departed sir Gawein and the damesell; but he hadde not riden fully half a walissh myle thourgh the foreste that he mette with the duerf knyght; and the damesell that on the euen be-fore were departed fro sir Ewein, and hedde sent the foure knyghtes in Arthurs prison, and it was on trinite sonday a-boute mydday, and than he remembred hym on the damesell that he hadde mette be-fore, and lefte his pensifnesse, and seide to the Page 691
damesell, “God yeve you good day and moche ioye of hir companye;” and the damesell and the duerf hym ansuerde that god yeve hym good auenture; and so thei past a litill a-sonder, sir Gawein on that oon part, and thei on that other; and whan thei were departed a litill thens the duerf knyght be-com a-gein in to his bewte as he hadde be at the first tyme, and was in the age of xxij yere, right wele furnysshed and wonderly well shapen of large stature, and therfore hym behoved to do a-wey his armes, for thei were to hym nothinge meete; and whan the damesell saugh hir love come a-gein in to so grete bewte, she hadde so grete ioye that no tonge myght it telle, and caste hir armes a-boute his nekke, and hym kiste an hundred tymes, and ride forth that oon by that other gladde and ioyfull in grete solas, and thanked oure lorde of the honour that he hadde hem don, and praied oure lorde to sende sir Gawein good auenture, that hadde seide that god yeve hem ioye, and so hadde he don, and thus thei ride forth theire iourney. But now shull we speke of Gawein.

Whan that sir Gawein was passed the duerf knyght, and the damesell wele a two bowe draught, a-noon he felte that the sleeves of his hauberk passed fer of lengthe ouer his hondes, and
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also the lengthe of his hauberk henge down be-nethe his feet, and his legges were waxen so short that thei passed not the skirtes of the sadill; and behilde and saugh how his hosen of stiell resten in the stiropes, and saugh how his shelde henge toward the erthe, and aperceyved wele that he was become a duerf, and seide to hymself that that it was that the damesell hadde hym promysed, and therwith he wax so worth, that for a litill he hadde gon oute of his witte, and rode forth so in that wrathe and in that anguyssh in the foreste, till he fonde a crosse and a ston therby; and thider he rode and a-light vpon the ston and toke his stiropes, and made hem shorter, and his hosen of stiel, and the renges of his swerde, and the gige of his shilde, and the sleves of his hauberk, with thonges of lether vpon his shuldres, and a-raied hym in the beste wise he myght, so wroth and angry, that he hadde

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leuer to be deed than on lyve; and after that he lepte vp and rode forth his wey, and cursed the day and the hour that euer he entred in to that quest, for shamed he was and dishonoured; and so hath he gon in this maner that neuer he lefte castell, ne town, ne burgh, but that he asked tidinges of Merlin of alle the men and women that he mette, and many oon he mette that grete shame and grete reproves hym seiden; and neuertheles he dide many prowesses, ffor though he were a duerf and mysshapen he hadde not loste his strengthe, neithir his hardinesse, and many a knyght he conquered; and whan he hadde serched the reame of logres vp and down, and saugh that he cowde not finde Merlin, he thought to passe the see, and go in to the litill Breteigne; and so he dide, and serched it fer and nygh, but neuer cowde he here no tidinge of Merlin, and so it drough nygh the terme that he hadde promysed to returne; and than he seide to hymself, “Allas, what shall I now do for the terme aproched that I muste returne by the oth that haue sworn to myn oncle to repeire; returne moste I nede, for elles sholde I be forsworn and vntrewe, and that will I not in no maner, ffor the oth was soche that yef I were in my delyuer powste, and in my powste am I nought, for I am disfigured and a thinge of grete dispite, and I haue nought of my-self, and therfore may I wele a-bide of goinge to court. Certes now haue I euell seide, ffor neuer will I be for-sworne for to go ne to come what persone that euer I be, and for that I am not shet in prison I may go at my wille, and I may not a-bide but I be for-sworne, and therfore me be-houeth to go, ffor vntrouthe will I never do; but I pray to god to haue of me mercy and pite, ffor my body is shamefully and lothly arayed.” In these complayntes that sir Gawein ther made, he returned bak for to com to courte, and fill as he rode thourgh the foreste of Brocheliande, and wolde turne for to come to the see, and euer as he rode he made grete moone; and as he made this weymentacion he herde a voice a litill vpon the right side a-bove, and he turned that wey where he hadde herde the voice, and loked vp and down, and nothinge he saugh, but as it hadde ben a Page 693
smoke of myste in the eyre that myght not passe oute; than he herde a voice that seide, “Sir Gawein, disconfort you nothinge, for all shall falle as it be-houeth to falle.”

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Whan sir Gawein herde the voyce that hadde hym cleped by his right name, he ansuerde and seide, “Who is that in the name of god that to me doth speke?” “How is that,” quod the voice, “ne knowe ye me nought, ye were wonte to knowe me right wele, but so goth the worlde, and trewe is the proverbe that the wise man seith that ‘who is a fer from his iye is soone for-yeten,’ and so fareth it be me; ffor while that I haunted the Courte, and serued the kynge Arthur and his barouns, I was wele be-knowen of yow and many other, and for that I haue left court I am vnknowen, and that ought I not to be, yef feith and trouthe regned thourgh the worlde.” Whan sir Gawein herde the voice thus speke, he thought a-noon it was Merlin, and ansuerde a-noon, “Certes, it is trouthe I ought you wele for to knowe, for many tyme haue I herde youre speche and therfore I pray you that ye will a-pere to me so that I may yow se.” “My lorde sir Gawein,” quod Merlin, “me shull ye neuer se, and that hevieth me sore that I may do noon other; and whan ye be departed fro hens, I shall neuer speke with yow no more, ne with noon other saf only with my leef; for neuer man shall haue power hider for to come for nothinge that may befalle. Ne fro hens may I not come oute, ne neuer I shall come oute, ffor in all the worlde is not so stronge a clos as is this where-as I am, and it is nother of Iren, ne stiell, ne tymbir, ne of ston, but it is of the aire withoute eny othir thinge be enchauntement so stronge, that it may neuer be vn-don while the worlde endureth. Ne I may not come oute ne noon may entre, saf she that me here hath enclosed, that bereth me companye whan hir liked, and goth hens whan hir liste.”

“How is that, swete frende,” quod Gawein, “that ye be in this maner with-holden, that noon may you delyuer by no force that may be do? Ne ye may not you shewe to me that be the wisest man of the worlde.” “Nay, but the Page 694
moste fole,” quod Merlin, “for I wiste wele that sholde befalle, and I am soche a fole that I love another better than my-self, and haue hir lerned so moche, where thourgh I am thus be-closed and shette in prison, ne noon may me oute bringe.” “Certes,” seide sir Gawein, “that me hevieth sore, and so will the kynge Arthur, myn vncle, whan he it knoweth as he that maketh you to be sought thourgh alle londes.” “Now he moste it suffre,” quod Merlin, “for he shall me se neuer more ne I hym, for thus is it befalle. Ne neuer shall no man speke with me after you, therfore for nought meveth eny man me for to seche; ffor youreself, a-noon as ye be turned fro hens, ye shull neuer here me speke; and therfore now returne and grete wele the kynge Arthur, and my lady the quene, and alle the barouns, and telle hem how it is with me, and ye shull fynde the kynge at Cardoell in wales; and whan ye come thider ye shull finde alle youre felowes ther that fro you were departed; and discounforte yow not of that is yow befalle, ffor ye shall fynde the damesell that so hath yow mysshapen in the foreste, where-as ye hir mette, but foryete not hir to salue, for it were folye.” “Sir,” seide Gawein, “ne nought I shall, yef god will.” “Now,” quod Merlin, “I be-teche yow to god that kepe the kynge Arthur and the reame of logres, as for the best peple of the worlde.

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Than departed sir Gawein gladde and sorowfull: gladde for that Merlin hadde hym assured to be releveth from his lothlynesse, and sory for that he hadde Merlin thus loste, and rode so forth till he come to the see, and passed ouer hastely I-nough, and than toke his wey to ride to Cardoell in walis, and fill that he mette the damesell that he [correction; sic = ] hadde passed by withoute saluynge in the foreste; and than he remembred of that Merlin hadde hym seide that he sholde not foryete hir to salue whan he hir mette; and he hadde grete feer, and douted lesse she passed er he myght hir salewe, and dide of his helme of his heed for to se hir more clerly, and be-gan to beholde be-fore and be-hynde, and on alle sides, till that he com in the same place where he mette the damesell; and than he loked

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betwene two busshes, for the forest was somdell depe and thikke, and saugh two knyghtes that were armed at alle poyntes, saf of theire sheldes and helmes, that thei hadde don of, and hadde theire horse reyned to theire speres that were pight in the grounde, and hilde a damesell betwene hem two, and made semblaunce hir to enforce, and yet ther-to hadde thei no talent; ffor the damesell made hem it for to do for to assaye the will and the corage of sir Gawein, and she made countenaunce like as thei hadde constreyned hir be force; and whan sir Gawein saugh this, he wax wroth and rode thider gripinge his spere, and seide to the knyghtes that thei were but deed, for that thei dide force the damesell withynne the lordshippe of kynge Arthur; “ffor ye knowe wele,” quod he, “that thei sholde go sure.” And whan the damesell hym saugh, she hym ascried and seide, “Gawein, now shull it be sene yef ther be soche prowesse in you that ye may me delyuer from this shame.” “Damesell,” seide Gawein, “so god be my socoure, as ye shull haue no shame ther as I may you diffende, for owther I shall dye or I shall you delyuer;” and whan the knyghtes this vndirstode thei hadde ther-of grete disdeyne and dispite, and lepte on foote and laced theire helmes, for yet thei douted of hym, and neuertheles the damesell hadde hem assured that of hym sholde thei haue noon harme, and hadde hem so enchaunted by hir art, that no man myght hem anoye, and therfore thei were the more sure at that tyme; and whan theire helmes were laced, thei henge theire sheldes aboute theire nekkes, and seide to sir Gawein, “So helpe me god, false duerf, countirfeted thou art but deed, and neuertheless shame vs semeth to dele with soche a wrecche as thou art;” and whan sir Gawein herde hymself cleped duerf, and so dispised, he hadde grete sorowe in herte, and seide, “As lothly wrecche as I am, in euell tyme I am com to youre be-hof. But lepe vpon youre horse, for vilonye me semeth to requere you on horsebak while ye be on foote.” “Trustest so moche in thyself,” seide the knyghtes, “that thou wilt a bide till we be horsed.” “I truste so moche in god,” quod Gawein, “that whan ye departe fro me ye shull

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neuer forfete to lady ne damesell in the londe of kynge Arthur.” Than thei lepe to theire
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horse, and hente theire speres, and seide to sir Gawein that he was but deed, and drough hem to the wey that was moste playne, and withdrough that oon fro that other, and than thei bothe lete renne a-gein sir Gawein, and he a-gein hem; and thei smote bothe vpon his shelde so harde that theire speres braste a-sonder, but thei hym meved not from his sadill, and he smote so that oon that he bar hym to the erthe vpright, and the spere brake in peces, and he rode ouer hym that was fallen, and vn-horsed, so that he brosed hym sore. Than he drough his suerde and rode toward that other, and wolde smyte hym vpon the helme; and than the damesell cried, “I-nough, sir Gawein, ne do no more.” “Damesell,” seide Gawein, “will ye that it so be;” and she seide, “Ye.” “And I will suffre than for youre sake, that god yeve you than good aventure, and to alle the damesels of the worlde; and wite ye well ne were it for you youre prayer thei sholde be slayn, for thei haue don you to grete shame and anoye, and to me seide vilonye, and countirfet duerf haue me called; and yet ther-of thei seide soth, for I am the moste lothly creature of dispite that is in the worlde, and in this foreste it me be-fill viij monethes passed;” and whan the damesell and the knyghtes hym vndirstode thei begonne to laugh; and than seide the damesell, “What wolde ye yeve hir that of that wolde warisshen.” “Certes,” seide Gawein, “yef it myght be that it were warrished I wolde yeve my-silf firste and formest, and after all that I myght raunsome in all the worlde.” “It shall not nede you yeve so moche,”

seide the damesell, “but ye shull make to me an oth soche as I shall you devise.” “Lady,” seide Gawein, “I will do all youre volunte.” Quod she, “Ye shull to me swere be the oth that ye made to the kynge Arthur, youre vncle, that neuer ye shull faile lady, ne maiden, ne damesell; ne neuer mete lady ne damesell, but ye shull hir salue er she salue you yef ye may.” “Lady,” quod Gawein, “this I graunte, as I am trewe knyght.” “And I take the oth in this maner that yef ye breke youre oth that ye be-come in to the Page 697
same poynte that ye be now.” “Lady,” quod he, “to this I assent; with that the quarell be trewe of hir that of helpe me requereth, ffor vntrouthe will I not do in no maner wise, nother for lif ne for deth.” “Thus I you graunte,” quod the damesell, “ffor I will that ye be soche as ye were be-fore.” A-noon brake the layners that he had bounden vp his hosen of stiell, for his membres that were strecched oute and com a-gein, a-noon in his owne semblaunce; and whan he felte that he was come a-gein in to his power, he kneled be-fore the damesell, and seide that he was hir knyght for eueuer more; and the damesell hym thanked, and raught hym vp be the honde. Than toke the damesell leve of sir Gawein and departed, and hir two knyghtes with hir, and comaunded eche other to god; and sir Gawein a-bood there and lengthed his hauberke, and appareiled his shelde and his armes full richely, and lepte vpon the gringalet with his shelde aboute his nekke, and his spere in hande, and rode forth toward Cardoell so fro day to day, till that he com thider at the terme devised; and the same day that sir Ewein and Segramor, and her felowes were comen, and eche of hem hadde seide his auenture of that was hem befallen in note.49 [this Quest. And when Sir Gawain was come, then was the joy and mirth complete. And Sir Gawain told them all the things that had happened to him in this Quest, and the barons marvelled at it very greatly. And King Arthur was much grieved about Merlin, but could do nothing more in it, and must needs suffer: so they betook themselves to making the greatest mirth they could for Sir Gawain.

Whilst they were thus rejoicing, there entered into the hall Evadeam, who was twenty-two years old, and so beautiful and gentle that no one handsomer could be found in the two kingdoms. And he held his damsel by the hand, and they came before the king, and saluted him right courteously. And the king returned him his salute; and the knight said to him, “Sire, you know me not; and no wonder, for you never saw me but once, and that was in such guise that no one who saw me now and had seen me then, would know me unless he had known me from childhood.”

“Certes, handsome friend,” answered

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King Arthur, “I do not recollect that I ever saw you before, but you are a very handsome knight.” “Sire,” said Evadeam, “do you remember a damsel who brought you a dwarf that you knighted?” “Yes,” said the king, “I may well remember that, for the knight has sent me five captive knights whom he conquered by his prowess.”

“Sire,” said then Evadeam, “I am the dwarf you knighted, and see here is the damsel who prayed you to do it. And without doubt I sent you those captives, and the four last of them Sir Ywain saw, for he found me fighting them in the valley on Trinity eve; and next day by good hap I rode right at noon in the forest of Broceliande, I and my damsel, and we met my lord Gawain, whom I neither hear nor see here [?] And he saluted us, and we him, and he said, “May God give you joy.”

And so God did, for at the very moment that the words slipped from his mouth I recovered the shaped and look that you see; for then was I a dwarf, ugly and hideous. So I believe verily that his words and his prayer availed me so far that God brought me out of the great shame in which I was; and I thank for it our Lord and him.” And then the King asked him who he was, and of what people; and he told him all in order, as you have heard herein before. And when the King, and Sir Gawain, and the others heard this, they were all right glad and right joyous; and the King received him as a companion like those of the Table Round. And the damsel dwelt with the Queen in right great joy and in right great mirth. Now here the story becomes silent about King Arthur and his company, and returns to tell of King Ban of Benoyc [correction; sic = Benoy], and King Bohort, his brother, who was King of Gannes, who are both in their own lands.

Here says the story that when King Arthur had departed from King Ban of Benoyc, and his brother King Bohort of Gannes, that the two brothers dwelt in Benoyc in right great joy and in right great mirth, and with them were their wives, who were right beautiful and gentle. Then it happened, as it pleased our Lord, that King Ban had by his wife a son, who was named at his baptism Gallead, and surnamed Lancelot. This name of Lancelot remained to him all his life, and King Ban and the Queen his wife had right great joy of him, and the Queen loved him so much that she fed him with her own milk. And the wife of King Bohort had a son whom they called Lyonel, who was a right lovely child and well mannered; and in the twelfth month afterwards she had another son whom they called Bohort; and these three children were afterwards of great renown in the kingdom of Logres, and they made themselves known through all lands by their prowess. Soon after Bohort was born—the youngest of the two children of King Bohort—the Page 699

King Bohort fell into a great sickness, and lay long in the city of Gannes, for which King Ban, his brother, was very sorrowful and in great distress; for he could not be with him as his will was, on account of a neighbour of his, who bordered on him, and who was very fell and cruel. This was King Claudas of the Desert, who was so grieved and angry (about his Castle which King Arthur had caused to be levelled), that he was nearly going out his senses; and he did not know on whom to take vengeance, except on King Ban of Benoyc, and on King Bohort, who bordered on him, because they were King Arthur’s men. So he warred on them, and wrought so that he had for helper a prince of Rome, who was named Poince Antony, and who came to him right willingly, because he too hated King Arthur and all his, for the love of Luce, the Emperor of Rome, whom they had slain. And in this contest was killed Hoel of Nantes, who had warred greatly on Claudas. And the Romans wrought so that they had all Gaul under their dominion; and they sent the men of Gaul, and the men of the Desert, and Poince Antony with all his Romans, to attack King Ban of Benoyc. And the King defended himself right vigourously, as one who was of great heart and of great prowess, and he fought often with the enemy in the open field, and often lost and often won; and Leonces of Paerne, and Graciens of Trebes, and Bannins, a godson of King Ban, did marvellous deeds of arms, and destroyed and slew many of the people of King Claudas; and Graciens died there, but Phariens died not. And King Ban became so weakened in men [?] that he could not endure against the Romans, but they attacked him so from day to day that they took his castles and his fortresses, and he could never get help from King Bohort, his brother, who was lying sick in bed, whence he never after rose. And this did him great discomfort, for Poince Antony had brought so many people that they took from him his city of Benoyc [correction; sic = Benoy] and all his land, so that there was left to him neither castle nor city, except only the castle of Trebes, where Queen Helaine was, and Lancelot her son, who lay still in his cradle. And king Ban had there with him as many people as he could get together, but they were few to endure such attacks. Bannins his godson was there, in whom he trusted much, and with reason, for he was a good and loyal knight. And he had a seneschal, whom he had brought up from childhood, to whom he had entrusted all his land after Gracien’s death; and this was he who betrayed him, and by whom he lost the Castle of Trebes, as the Story will tell you hereinafter.

Explicit the shutting up of Merlin.

May God bring us all to a good end!

Notes
note.1 [return to reference] The word “he” is inserted above the line.

note.2 [return to reference] The word is written “a nonō.”

note.3 [return to reference] The MS. scratched here.

note.4 [return to reference] Between the words stonde and Do are two marks, apparently to fill up the space of the line.

note.5 [return to reference] Folio 22 is misplaced, and follows folio 23.

note.6 [return to reference] A small part of the MS. is here burnt out.

note.7 [return to reference] A small part of the MS. is here burnt out.

note.8 [return to reference] A small portion of the MS. is here burnt out.

note.9 [return to reference] At the end of this paragraph in the MS. are the following words—“sente withe swerde redy drawne,” added in a later hand.

note.10 [return to reference] These three words are obliterated in the MS.

note.11 [return to reference] A hole is burnt through a portion of folios 137
and 138. The missing words have been translated from the French MS. in the British Museum (Addit. MS. 10,292) and are here inserted between brackets. The number of the folio in the French MS. is marked at the first reading from each page.

note.12 [return to reference] The French omits all the words from and yef down to halvendell.

note.13 [return to reference] Fr. Fol. 154, note.14 [return to reference] moult de hardis.

note.15 [return to reference] MI hommes.

note.16 [return to reference] sentraprochent.

note.17 [return to reference] assambler des os.

note.18 [return to reference] fol. 154b. li vint al encontre et note.19 [return to reference] estincheles.

note.20 [return to reference] son cheval.

note.21 [return to reference] parmi le.

note.22 [return to reference] col del cheual si le colpe.

note.23 [return to reference] moult iustement.

note.24 [return to reference] que par poi quil.

note.25 [return to reference] parmi la bouce et parmi le nes.

note.26 [return to reference] si iete lescu sor sa teste.

note.27 [return to reference] mort ou uif.

note.28 [return to reference] quil ne fust mors.

note.29 [return to reference] lor uienent al encontre et les rechouient.

note.30 [return to reference] fol. 155. car il furent dune part xxM et dautre part xM.

note.31 [return to reference] si fu poince antoines rescous et.

note.32 [return to reference] el coste senestre, mais il nauoit nu plaie que perilleuse fust a garir.

note.33 [return to reference] fu cheus que.

note.34 [return to reference] car onques mais nauoit widiet le archons pour le cop dun chevalier.

note.35 [return to reference] si vengeroit moult uolentiers sa honte.

note.36 [return to reference] si traist.

note.37 [return to reference] et lors auint.

note.38 [return to reference] iex si.

note.39 [return to reference] et orent. Aüirent, oirent, Orent, is the third pers, pl. perfect of avoir in the Burgundian dialect of the Langue d’Oďl.

Burguy. Gram. i. 247.

note.40 [return to reference] car il uirent quil furent pris.

note.41 [return to reference] si en laissent moult de mors et de naures.

note.42 [return to reference] uassal ochis et decopes dont il fu grant duel.

note.43 [return to reference] Illuec firent merueilles li cheualier de la table reonde.

note.44 [return to reference] et auoec els estoit lirois artus.

note.45 [return to reference] qui faisoit les rens esclairier par tout lo il aloit.

note.46 [return to reference] et fisent tant par lor proece quil les ont rompus et iete de place a fine force ou il uolsissent ou non.

note.47 [return to reference] deuant quil uindrent.

note.48 [return to reference] There is a blank in the MS.; the French MS.

(fol. 206, col. 2) has “la riuiere daube.”

note.49 [return to reference] The MS. is imperfect and breaks off here, the conclusion is a translation from the French original, the MS. of which is in the British Museum Library.

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Table of Contents

- CHAPTER XX

- CHAPTER XXVIII