University of Virginia Library

Merlin,

BY LOUELICH THE SKINNER.

[Chapter I]

Thanne aftyr hire sche sente vppon a day,
and thus to hire anon gan sche say:
“Certes, ful trowe now j it fynde,
that my soster to me Js vnkynde.”
“that knew j, damysele, tho ful wel,
lyk as j ȝow tolde everydel,
and lasse be ȝow wile sche sette,
For sche fareth Every Day bette and bette.
for sche lyveth as sche liketh Best,
whiche is to ȝow nethir ese ne rest,
and ȝe ben ordeygned for mannes kende,
and therto ben ȝe bothe good and hende.”
thanne seide this damysele anon agayn:
“that joye wolde j hauen fulfayn;
ȝif that j wiste not To ben ded,
J scholde concenten to ȝoure red.”
“J sey ȝow, damysele, with-owten dwere,
and ȝe don as dyde ȝoure soster dere,
ded moste ȝe thanne Nedlynges be,
but and ȝe welen werken aftyr me.”
“leve dame, thanne how Scholde J do
my lust to haue, and they not me Slo?”
thanne this Bawde answerid hire agayn:
“J schal ȝow tellen, Jn certayn:
ȝe scholen ȝow maken as ȝe weren wroth,
and that ȝowre sostres compenye is ȝow loth,
and þerfore graunteth to alle men buxom to be
and to leden ȝoure lyf jn lechere;
thanne hath there powere non justyse
ȝow forto putten to non jewyse,
and thus al ȝoure lust scholen ȝe haue
and from alle peryles to ben Save.
ȝit thanne myhte there comen som good man,
that for ȝoure erytage wolde wedden [ȝow] than.”
Thanne thus behyhte ȝe hire forto don,
and from hire Soster sche stal anon,
and bond hire a comown womman to be,
be cownseil of that womman, Sikerle.
Thanne merlyn gan to wraththen hym Sore,
and ful angerly to the justice spak thore:
“J knowe moche Bettere my fadyr, Jn fay,
thanne thou dost thyn, J dar wel Say,
and thy modyr knoweth bettere, certeinly,
ho that the be-gat, j telle þe feythfully,
Bettere thanne my modyr, j sey ȝow pleyn,
For sche knew neuere my Fadyr, jn certeyn.
and therfore, Sire Justice, J telle to the
that thy modyr more worthy Js, brent to be,
For sche is fals to hire lord so dere,
and so was neuere my modyr jn non manere.”
thanne was this justice wondyr angry tho,
and thus to that child he Spak vnto:
“ȝif of my modir Swich thing thow konne seye,
J schal the holden for trewe, jn feye.”
thanne seide merlyn aȝen to hym there:
“Ful wel knowe j thy modrys manere,
that moche more sche hath decerved to be ded
thanne evere dyde my modyr jn ony sted.
and but ȝif thou fynde that j trewe seye,
hardylich let ellis my modyr deye.”
thanne seide the justyse to hym ageyn:
“ȝif thou konne proven that thou seist pleyn,
Thy modyr from brenneng schalt thou save,
and al thyn owne axeng thou schalt have . . .
but natheles, and it be as thou dost telle,
thanne schal j don brenne bothe ful snelle,
bothe myn owne modyr and ek thyn,
and Bryngen hem bothe to a schort fyn.”
“that schal neuere lyn Jn thy powere
my modyr to deth to putten here,
whiles that thou lyvest here, ony threwe,
For ȝif nede be, mo Skiles j schal the Schewe.”
Thanne Blayse anon, so god me save,
dide ordeynen alle thinges him Nedid to have;
and whanne that al thing redy was,
thanne cam merlyn jnto that plas,
and anon be-gan him telle
of cristes deth, how it befelle,
also of Josepe of armathye,
how of hym it happede, trewelye,
and of Aleyn, and of Perown also,
& of his compenye, how they departid tho.
and thus endyd he of josepe there
& of al his Feleschepe also jn fere,
and gan to tellen hym furthere more
of þe parlement of þe develis thore,
and how thei conseylled hem be-twen
that a child jn the erthe jbore schold ben
that here wyt scholde haue & ek memorye,
the peple to deceyven ful falslye.
“and be my modir thou hast herd telle
how hire deceyveden the fendis so felle,
but be here owne fals folye
They han me lost, As J the seye.”

[Chapter II]

Jn Bretaygne somtyme a kyng there was
That costantyn was clepid jn that plas,
Wheche that A gret Whyle Regnede there,
and was a man of ful gret powere.
and thre sones hadde that same kyng,
whiche that weren but Bachelerys ȝyng.
the eldest Sone costantyn hyghte;
the secund Awrely Ambros was clepyd ryhte,
Owther Pendragon, whethyr ȝe wylen haue;
the thrydde hyhte vter, so god me Save!
this costantyn hadde a man jn his lond
That hyghte Fortager, as j vndirstond;
This Fortager was holden a ful wis man.
and happede costantyn an old man was than,
So that be Nature of kynde he deyde.
thanne the cownseyl amonges hem Seyde,
and axeden ho scholde ben here kyng.
Anon thus becomen they jn emparlyng.
thussone thanne acordid they everychon
the eldest Sone to maken kyng anon,
whiche that hyghte costantyn
(Fulsone of his regne made he his fyn);
for aȝens resown hadde it be
ony oþer kyng to han mad, sekerle.
To this emparlyng acordyd fortager
and also alle the Barowns that weren ther.
so that alle the cownseylle assented, Sykerle,
That this Fortager Styward schold be,
bothe the kyng and the rewm to governen alle,
what maner of aventures so myhte befalle.
And thus this Fortager, jn certeyn,
of al that rem his wil he hadde, ful pleyn,
Sawf only Constans ocupied the crowne,
but more governaunce ne hadde he, nethir vpe ne downe.
So that this Fortager, beloved & dred he was
Ouer al the Rewm, jn every plas;
For bothen wys and witty he was holde,
but ouerprowd wax he mani folde.
For jn that Rewm, jn non degre
myhte non man so moche don as dyde he.
So that hit happede vppon a day
that there aryvede a Navye with gret aray.
Thanne the kyng wente anon to Fortager,
and anon fulfaire hym preyde ther
his Lond to helpen forto defende
with oþer helpe he wolde aftyr sende.
“For we ben alle at ȝowre comandement,
bothen j & al this rewm, verament.”
“Syre,” quod Fortager to the kyng,
“the peple of ȝoure hauen me jn hatyng;
therfore let hem helpen now ȝow here,
For j ne schal entermeten jn non manere,
Nethyr for non man that doth me praye,
Ne for non thing that ony man kan saye.”
Whanne these tweyne goode men vndirstood this,
that Fortager scholde ben kyng, j-wys,
Thanne knewen they that mater ful Wel,
that be hym this thyng was don echedel.
Anon token they cownceyl betwixen hem two
what with theke chyldren myhten they do.
“Sethen that Fortager oure lord hath do slayn,
So wele he these two children, jn certayn.
For anon as that he kyng Js,
Ful mochel sorwen he wyle werkyn, j-wis.
and we loveden here Fadyr ful wel,
For be hym oure goodes we hadden moche del;
and therfore worthy j-blamed weren we
deseysse to sen be hem Jn ony degre.”
thanne thus token they here cownseyl,
that they thennes wolde flen saunȝ fayl,
and that the children scholde with hem go,
lest that Fortager hem wolde don slo.
“So þat therfore, Siker, avised we be
Forto Fleen jnto a straunge contre,
and towardes wales welen we go,
and ek the children with vs bothe two.”
So that they wenten forth here weye,
thike worthy goode men bothe tweye;
So that jn a cyte dweldyn they thanne
that Boorges was clepid of many a manne;
and there longe j-norsched weren they bothe,
with these goode men, j sey ȝow forsothe.
Thus weren these diches sone there mad,
as merlyne it ordeynede, comaunded, and bad.
and this water his cowrs there hadde,
and be this craft jnto othire contres ladde.
thanne cam merlyne to kyng fortagere,
and thus anon tolde hym there
that—“also sone as the dragouns to-gyderes fele,
be-twixen hem schal be-gynnen a sory mele,
For they to-gederis ful sore scholen fyhte,
and the ton the tothyr Schal slen owt ryhte.
and therfore Sende thou thy messengeris anon
To alle thy Barowns now everychon,
to sen this bataylle that schal ben here
of these dragowns that scholen fyhten jn fere;
For the bataylle of hem and that chawnse
Nis not with-owten gret Signyfyawnse.”
thanne sente kyng Fortager forth anon
his messengerys, as faste as they myhten gon,
to warnen bothe Barown, bacheler, & knyht,
and alle othere that gon owther ryden myht.
and whanne they weren assembled echon,
thanne seide kyng Fortager to hem anon,
and tolde hem of manye a wondyr thyng
That scholde be-falle be merlynes talkyng,
And How the two dragowns to-gederes scholen fyhte,
and the ton the tothyr to slen anon Ryhte.
thanne ech to other seide, certeynle,
that this bataylle were ful good to se.
thanne axeden they of the kyng ful sone
which of þe dragowns scholde on lyve gone.
than answered hem the kyng ageyn:
“that tolde he not me ȝit, jn certeyn.”
and whanne that this water owt was past,
thanne bothe tho stones Syen they jn hast,
whiche vppon the dragowns weren there
as that they lyen bothe Jn fere.
thanne axede Fortager of merlyne anon
how thyke stones a-wey myhte ben don.
“ȝis, ȝis,” quod merlyne, “that Schal be do,
and non man to harmen the worth of a slo.
For they scholen meven nevere a del,
Tyl that ech other may Felen Ryht wel;
and thanne to-gederis Scholen they fyhte,
Til the ton moste deyen be Ryhte.”
thanne axede the kyng which of hem tweyne
whiche ded that scholde ben, certeyne.
“Jn here Bataylle there schal be
Ful gret Signyfiaunce, J telle the,
and that ful gladly j wyle the Schewe
aforn thre of thy Barowns on a rowe.”
thanne clepede Fortager to hym anon
thre Barowns that he trostyd most vppon.
Anon seide merlyne to hym thanne:
“Trostist thow wel on these thre menne,
and ben they trewe of thy cownsaille,
what so evere it may avaylle?”
“ȝe, Sekerly, merlyne,” quod Fortager,
“non trewere knowe j neþer fer ne neer.”
“thanne may J,” quod merlyne, “tellen the
of swich thyng as thow tellest me.
J wele that thow knowe here, jn certayn,
that the rede be the white schal ben slayn.
but fyrst gret peyne Schal he have,
er from the rede he may gon save.
and the deth of the rede dragown
Schal notyse ful gret Significaciown,
and the victorye of the dragown so whyt.
For the it is ful hard to knowen Jt,
but tyl that the Bataylle be alle j-do,
of this thing schalt thou knowen no mo.”
whanne this peple thidir comen echon,
Ful hastely hadden they vpe the ston.
thanne Syen they this whyte dragown,
that was wondyr oryble of Facyown.
and whanne this peple this dragown there say,
they weren sore abaschet, alle with-owten nay.
and whanne that thus they hadden J-do,
To the tothyr ston wente they tho.
thanne the rede dragown syen they there,
that more oryble was thanne the toþer were.
thanne was the peple abasched wel more
an hundred Fold thanne they weren to-fore;
For more Feers he was & more hydows,
also more egre, & mochel more Spytows,
thanne the whyte was Jn ony degre,
thus thowghte the peple, ful certeynle.
So that thowghte kyng Fortager
that the rede the white scholde scomfyten ther.
thanne seide merlyne to the kyng:
“Now haue my borwes excused for alle thyng!”
“merlyne,” quod Fortager, “so they be,
Of alle thinges qwyt, ful Sekerle.”
Thanne to-gederis Ronnen these dragowns tweyne
Ful vigerously there, Jn certeyne,
with here teeth and here pawes so scharpe,
that wondyr Jt is of here Fyhtyng to carpe.
Fo[r] Neuere herden ȝe telle jnto this day
Of tweyne bestes swich anothir afray.
and thus veleynesly gonnen they fyhte
al that day, tyl jt was Nyhte,
and vppon the morwen, tyl it was day,
So that al the peple that the bataylle say,
wenden þat the rede þe whyte scholde han slayn,
so spetows was þe bataylle betwixen hem tweyn;
Tyl atte laste the white dragown
caste fyr on þe rede abowtes jn vyrown,
and hym there brende to the ded;
So hadde the white victorye in that sted.
and the thrydde day aftyr next sewenge
Deyde the white dragown, with-owten lesenge.
So that they seyden thanne everychon
that so gret a merveille seyn they Neuere non.
thanne quod merlyne to kyng Fortagere:
“Now begynne thy towr, and maket here
as gret as þou wylt, and also hy,
For it schal neuere fallen, trewly.”
Thanne comanded Fortager anon
that jn haste this werk scholde be don.
So that this towr they maden ful hy,
Ful large, and Ryht strong, sekerly.
thanne of merlyne often axede þe kyng
what of the dragouns was þe signefyeng.
“Sire kyng, it is forto Signefye
thynges þat han ben & scholen ben, trewelye;
and ȝif that thou wylt enswren me here
me not to deseisen Jn non manere,
ne non man with-jnne thy kyngdom
To don me non maner of distroccion,
J schal the tellen the Signefyaunce
a-forn thy cownseyl, with-owten dowtaunce.”
thanne kyng Fortager ensured hym anon,
that Neuere harm to hym scholde be don.
“go thanne faste,” quod merlyne anon,
“and sende aftyr thy cownseyl everychon,
and also aftyr thy clerkis jn fere,
To heren what that j schal seyen here.”
thanne dede fortager his comaundement;
and whanne they weren comen alle present,
thanne seide merlyne amonges hem alle:
“ȝe clerkis ben folys, what so befalle,
to entermeten ȝow of ony thyng,
but ȝif ȝe cowden bryngen it to endyng.
and in as moche as folys that ȝe be,
and fowle han faylled, ful certeinle,
ȝe ben worthy to haven ȝowre gwerdon,
that ȝe han deservyd be ryht reson.
wel wot j ȝe syen that j was bore,
but he that schewede it to ȝow thore,
schewed ȝow there ful openlye
that For me scholden ȝe Nedys deye;
and also gret doel he schewed ȝow there,
For he hadde me lost jn swich manere;
whiche was ȝoure cause, ful certeynle,
to comaunden kyng Fortager me forto sle.
but swych a lord j hope that j have,
thorwgh goddis helpe, me forto save;
and the devel a lyere schal j make,
ȝe scholen neuere deyen for my sake,
ȝif that Sewrawnce ȝe wylen me do
of thyng that j schal speken ȝow vnto.”
Whanne that they Herdyn merlyne so seyn,
thanne ful of Joye weren they, ful pleyn,
So of here deth excused to be,
and seiden to merlyne ful benyngnele:
“what evere thou biddist vs to don,
we scholen it Fulfillen Ryht anon.
For we knowen wel, with-owten lesynge,
that þou art the wysest man levenge.”
“ȝe scholen me ensuren, er that ȝe gon,
of this craft neuere to entermeten non.
and j comande ȝow alle jn fere
To ben confessid with herte clere,
and ȝoure flesch to putten jn discyplyne
to strong subiecciown & to gret pyne,
that ȝowre Sowles ne dampned be;
doth as j cownseille ȝow, certeinle!”
So that they thankyd hym everychon,
and grauntyd his comaundement to don.

[Chapter III]

Whanne that the kyng herde al this,
anon he axede of hym, j-wis,
jn what Semblance he myhte be,
whanne that with his brothir spak he.
“Sire,” quod Merlyne thanne a-geyn,
“Jn lykenesse of an old man, certeyn.”
“Tolde ȝe Owht hym What man ȝe Were?”
“nay, sire,” quod merlyne, “jn non manere;
Nethyr he ne schal not it knowen for me,
tyl ȝowre-Self it hym telle, ful Sikerle.”
Thanne seide to hym Pandragown, the kyng:
“Now, dere Frend, j preye ȝow ouer alle thyng
that ȝe wylen now gon with me,
For of ȝoure cownseyl have j nede, parde.”
“Sire, thanne sone wyle ȝoure meyne wroth be,
ȝif that ȝe Welen owht leven on me.”
“merlyne, ȝe han so mochel to me told
of vter, my brothir, many fold,
that ȝif it now soth be,
For evere schal j now leven on the.”
“thanne vndirstonde ȝe, with-owten varyaunce,
þat J to ȝowre [brothir] schal speken jn the same semblaunce
that J was, whanne j hym tolde, certeyn,
how that haugwys hym wolde han slayn,
and that with-jnne this viij dayes it schal be.”
“thanne preye j ȝow, merlyne, for charite,
that j moot knowen the same Face,
whanne ȝe with hym speken jn ony place.”
“that scholen ȝe, Sire, with good wille.
but of on thyng J Sey ȝow vntille:
that ȝif Evere ony love ȝe wyle haven of me,
So that ȝe kepen Jt Jn prevyte.”
There dwellede merlyne to þe vj day,
tyl they that at the deth weren, [comen], Jn fay,
and tolden the kyng how that it stood,
howhe þis barown was persched jn that flood,
and seiden that merlyne was þe wysest man
that Jn al this world was lyveng than.
For of hym was neuere thyng seid ne don,
but ȝif he jnto Scripture dide it putten anon.
and thus began merlynes prophecye
of the kynges of Engelond, certeynlye,
and of othere many thynges also.
he dide holy Blasye it wryten tho.
thanne axede Blayse of merlyne there:
“wryten they also jn this manere?”
“Nay, certeynly, non of hem alle,
but they wryten that schal befalle,
which thynges they scholen Neuere knowe,
Tyl that they be-fallen vppon a rowe.”
Thanne Retornede merlyne to cowrt ageyn,
and aȝens hym they comen, jn certeyn,
and tolden hym of that Jlke tydyng,
as thowg þere-offen he ne hadde knowen non thing.

[Chapter IV]

Ryht as merlyne devisede jn alle thing,
riht so aftyr hym evene wrowht þe kyng,
and there anon Sente proclamaciown
be messengeris thorwgh-owt his regyown,
his ryals hym to meten, bothe lest and meste,
In cardwel atte pentecost Feste;
thus was the kynges proclamaciown.
And þanne from the kyng departyd merlyne anon,
and wente to ordeyne that behoven Scholde
To that Table bothe for ȝong and olde.
and the woke to-Foren pentecost
Thedyr cam the kyng, as he nedis most,
and axede of merlyne how he hadde j-do.
he seide: “Sire, riht wel ȝit hyderto!”
“hast thow owht ordeyned whiche scholen sitten here?”
“ȝe, sire, to morwen scholen ȝe sen the manere
and that ȝe wenden neuere forto han seye:
Fyfty worthy knyhtes, Sire, jn feye,
of the beste that ben with-jnne thi lond,
certein j do ȝow to vndyrstond.
and þerby myht thou knowen thy worthy men,
that j have chosen be fyve sithes ten.
Also the voide place þere schalt thou se,
that ȝit fulfyld it may not be.”
Thus merlyne at that Ryal Feste
ches there Fyfty knyhtes of the beste,
and preide hem to Sitten al jn Fere
and there to eten with ryht good chere.
Ryht so they deden be on an on,
and glad they weren everychon.
thanne merlyne, that was so ful of craft,
abowtes he wente, and not ne laft,
and clepid the kyng there forto se
how that they Seten Jn here degre,
and schewed him also the voide place
that thike tyme atte the table wase.
but what that place dide signifie,
Niste þe kyng ne non of his compenye.
Longe lay the kyng At this Castel,
but hit avayllede hym nevere a del,
So that he was Jn his gret morneng,
for to that castel he myhte don non thing,
and alther most for love of the dewchesse,
whiche browhte his herte jn gret distresse.
So that vppon a day, as jt fyl thore,
jn his pavylown he wepte ful sore.
and his meyne gonnen it to aspye,
and thens they wenten ful prevylye.
thanne cam vlphyn and that aspyde,
and jn to hym goth at that Tyde.
Anon whanne he him say wepen thore,
hit hym ouerthowhte wondyrly sore,
and he axede the kyng why he wepte tho.
“what nede is to the to askyn me so?
For weten ȝe wel that j schal deye
for ygwernes love, certeynlye,
and that is now my destyne,
For bothen mete and drynk js benomen me,
and al kende reste is bereft me fro,
that good oþer ese ony man Scholde do.”
whanne that vlphyn herde al this:
“of Feble herte ȝe ben, j-wys,
For a wommans love that ȝe scholen deye.
let be, for schame, and nowht so seye!
but wylen ȝe aftyr my cownseylle wende,
anon aftyr merlyne that ȝe sende,
where that evere he mowe be fownde,
that he to ȝow come with-jnne a stownde.
for he kan ȝeven ȝow ful good cownseylle,
that to ȝowre herte it schal wel avaylle.
and grauntyth hym, so god ȝow save,
For his labour what he wyle haue!
For he kan Jt riht ful wel do,
and non man but he, j seye ȝow so.”
thanne quod the kyng: “that wot j wel,
he is ful konneng everydel,
and j wot wel he knoweth al my distresse;
but that he be wroth with this, j gesse,
For the place at the table assayed was
at cardweille, jn that ryal plas;
and so then it is now longes ago
that he to me ne cam not to.
and j trowe it ouerthenketh him thore
that my liges wif j loue so sore.
but Sertes, j ne may non other do,
whethir it torne me to wele oþer wo.
and j wot wel he wil me telle myn entent,
that this was þe cause J fore hym sent.”
“of on thing,” quod vlphin, “J schal ȝow telle:
he is heyl and sownd jn flesch and felle.
and ȝif he ȝow love as ȝe suppose he do,
he wyl non while now ben ȝow fro,
ȝif that he knowe ȝowre distresse
owther ony part of ȝoure hevynesse;
that sone tydynges scholen ȝe here
of hym, and þerfore be of ryht good chere!”
So thanne reden they forth al jn fere,
Tyl that they comen to on revere,
and there they weschen hem alle thre
here owne Semblaunce to haven, sekerle.
So pasten they forth in gret haste,
tyl to here ost they comen atte laste.
and whanne that his meyne gan hym aspye,
abowtes hym they flokkeden hastelye,
and of hem axede he anon
how that the dewk ded was so son.
and they hym tolden, ful certeynlye,
how that cas befyl, ful openlye:
“Jt happede, as sone as ȝe were gon,
Ful preve we kepten vs everychon;
and that parceyved the dewk thussone,
that owt of the ost ȝe were gone,
and dyde armen his men jn haste,
that so on vs they comen welfaste,
and mochel harm deden on owre meyne.
anon to armes thanne gonnen we fle,
and vppon hem we precede welfaste,
tyl to the ȝates we comen atte laste.
So there the dewk fawht sore, certeyn,
tyl that his hors vndyr hym was Slayn,
and there the dewk was beten adown
with ȝowre men abowtes jn virown,
whiche that knewen hym non thyng,
that so cawhte he there his endyng.
and the remenaunt of his meyne fowhten wel sore,
whanne that they syen here lord ded thore.”
Thanne ouerthowhte the kyng ful sore, j-wis,
of the dewkys deth, with-owten mys.

[Chapter V]

Anon thanne clepede the kyng vlphyn
To come spekyn with hym and with merlyn.
thanne seide merlyne jn here precense:
“Sere, ȝe me grawntyd, with-owten offense,
that j scholde haven, to ȝowre powere,
the child which that is ȝow[re] eyre,
whiche ȝe begoten on that dewchesse,
that noble lady, ful of humbelnesse,
whiche non resown that jt is
That ȝe it kepen to ȝowre ews, j-wis.
For ȝe han put þat tyme in escript,
For that the trowthe ȝe scholde Wyt.
and ek also ȝe knowen ryht wel
that by me ȝe engendred it everydel;
So that the Synne Js most myn,
ȝif j it not brynge to othyr fyn.
and ek the modyr aschamed scholde be
hyt Forto Norschen, ful Sekerle;
For wommen ne haven non wyt therto
here owne cownseille to helen so.
therefore wolde J that vlphyn here
me wrot a bylle be ony manere,
bothe the nyht and ek the owr
whanne thou dedest that goode labowr.
For no more schalt thou me Se
Tyl the day of his birthe, ful sekerle,
and that same nyht he schal be bore.
but of on thing j preye the be-fore:
that ȝe leven vlphyn, what so he say,
be it be nyht owther be day.
For nothing ne wele he tellen the,
but that profit & worschepe to þe schal be.
For the Sixe mownthes aftyr this
with the ne schal j speken, j-wys,
and with the to speken at that tym,
but onlich schal j speken with vlphyn.
and what that evere to hym j seye,
loke ȝe it beleven be ony weye!”
Thanne thus the kyng Ygwerne hadde,
and to bedde with hym was ladde—
Tyl that sche barnesched wondir faste.
so that þe kyng hire axede atte laste,
and a nyht, as the kyng be hire lay,
there thus to Ygwerne he gan to say:
“hos is this child, my lady milde,
that ȝe gon with so grete with childe?
For myn ȝe knowen may jt not be,
Sethen j ȝow weddede, ful sikerle;
For jn scripture J-put it Js,
as often as J ȝow knew, j-wys.
And with the dewk with childe not ȝe be,
For hym Syen ȝe not, ful Sikerle,
many day to-forn that he ded was;
with ȝow ne cam he jn non plas.”
and thus the kyng hire chalanged tho,
whiche browht Ygwerne jn mochel wo.
so there anon, ful sore wepyngge,
answerede Igwerne to the kynge:
“non lesyng Schal j maken, Sekerle,
what so evere that ȝe don by me;
and that on me ȝe haven mercye,
For sekerly j ne Schal not lye;
and more over forto ensuren me
that ȝe me Refusen Jn Non degre!”
“seyth on,” thanne quod the kyng,
“and j wyle graunten ȝow ȝoure askyng;
so what so evere that ȝe me telle,
For nothing ȝow Forsaken j Nylle.”
Anon whanne that Ygwerne herde this,
Ful joyful thanne was sche, j-wys.
“Sire, of merveilles J schal ȝow seyn,
and the sothe tellen ȝow ful pleyn!”
Thanne Anon gan sche to telle
how that aventure be hyre gan falle.
sche seide, a man, with-owten variaunce,
to hire cam Jn hire lordis Semblaunce,
And with hym tweyne of his knyhtes
Jn here owne Semblaunce owt-ryhtes—
“jn whiche of alle men lyvenge
my lord thanne trosted ouer alle thynge.
and so jnto my chambre entred he,
that al my meyne it dyde þere se.
And so with me he lay that nyht,
For my lord j wende it hadde ben ryht.
So that Nyht conceyved J was
with this child, swich was my gras;
and that same nyht my lord was slayn,
This wot J wel, Sire kyng, certayn.”
thanne, whanne the kyng herde hire so telle,
anon to hire he seyde ful snelle:
“loke that ȝe kepen this preve
From alle the peple jn cristiente.
and ȝif that ȝe that thing discure,
to ȝow it is schame, J ȝow enswre.
For wel ȝe knowen, ȝoure lordis jt nys,
ne myn nethyr, with-owten mys.
Therfore J preye ȝow, graunt it to me,
anon as hit is j-born of the;
and that ȝe wolde don my comandement,
To deliueren hit to whom þat me list, verament.”
“Sire,” quod thanne this lady so fre,
“what evere ȝow list, ȝe mown do be me,
and of me haven al ȝowre wylle,
what that evere ȝe seyn me vntylle!”
On the morwe tolde the kyng vlphyn anon
of alle these materis, how it dyde gon.

[Chapter VI]

Thanne vppon the even of cristemasse
there sembled the peple more and lasse,
bothe the clergye and the baronage
and manye a man of hygh parage,
to fulfille merlynes comaundement,
that he hem bad with good entent.
For but Symple lif ledden they there,
and fulstedfast weren jn here preyere
To god for swich a governour
the cristene to defende Jn eueri schowr
and cristes lawe to meingteigne,
The lond to governe and to susteigne.
And thus abyden they, tyl masse was don,
gret multitude of peple and manion.
And Some seiden that Folys they were
Swich maner of preieris to makyn there.
“what, wene ȝe,” quod somme, “that god almyht
here kyng to chesen down wolde alyht?
lo, these folis wenen for here preiere
be miracle a kyng to hauen here!”
thus the masse there gan he Synge,
a ful holy man, wel faste preyenge.
and ȝit er that he the masse bigan,
To alle that peple spak he than:
“Here Jn this plase assembled ȝe ben
For thre Skelis, as ȝe schole Sen,
and for ȝoure profyt everywhare,
and which they ben, J schal ȝow declare:
Ferst for the hele of ȝoure sowles alle,
and aftyr for ȝoure worschepe, how so befalle,
The thrydde to knowen oure Lordis myht,
that god to ȝow wile schewen be ryht
of the eleccyown of oure kyng,
thys to sen be ȝoure preyeng,
which schal ben ȝoure gouernowr and lord
and holy chirche to sosteyne in good acord,
which to vs alle it is Sustenaunce
and vs defendith from manye hard chaunce.
Now sethen we ben alle ensemblyd here
a kyng to chesin Jn this manere
of on of ȝow, which so that it be,
but so wise be ȝe not in non degre
to knowen whiche were most profytable
owþer this lond to gouerne most were able,
and for that we ben Jn nown certein,
þerfore to crist let vs preyen, ful pleyn,
that is of alle kyngges the kyng,
so that vs graunte Owre preieng,
Swich A governowr that We Haue
Oure londes to meinteigne and to Save!”
and thus diden the peple, with-owten faille,
lik as this goode man hem dide cownsaille.
thanne to masse wente he forth anon,
also Faste as he myhte gon,
tyl that the masse was atte gospel,
and aftyr they offreden wel and lel,
and owt of the chirche thei gonne to isswe
Jnto a voide place, this was ful trewe.
and be that tyme the day gan dawe,
where-offen the peple was ryht fawe.
Anon the peple of this rowte
Ful besyly Lokeden hem abowte,
and behelden where that a foure-qwartered ston
that there lay toforn hem echon.
but of what maner ston that hit was,
there knew no man Jn that plas.
Somme there seiden hit was marbil gray,
and somme seiden oþerwise, with-owten delay.
and in þe middis of this ston behelden they tho
a merveillous Stythy, with-owten mo,
as thowgh a smythis Styth it were,
half a foote of heythe, with-owten dwere.
and jn þe middis of this Styhthy þer was
a Fayr Swerd pyhte Jn that plas
thorwgh the Stythy Jnto the harde ston,
that they hit Syen there everychon.

[Chapter VII]

Thus Here-Aftyr the Storye Doth telle
what aftyr in kyng Arthewris cort befelle,
that aftyre his coronacioun the ȝer Sewenge
To his cowrt repeyrede bothe knyht & kynge.
To that court cam the kyng of orkanye
with Fyve hundred knyhtes jn his compenye.
Also thedyr kam þe kyng of gore, þat hyht vryens,
with Foure hundred knyhtes Jn his presens.
thanne kam the kyng newtris Garlot,
that kyng Artheuris Sostir weddid, wel j wot,
and with him vij hundred knyhtes of pris.
And aftyr hym to cowrt þere kam j-wis
the kyng that was of ryht Gorre,
that Carados of brebas hyht, Sykerle;
Therto he was knyht of þe table rownde,
and with hym vj hundred knyhtes Sownde.
“Whanne that Pendragon hadde weddyd ygwerne,
To barnesche with chylde sche wax full ȝerne.
And so aftyr, hyt happede as j ȝow Seye:
As jn bedde they lyen bothe tweye,
The King Hyre often gan to Repreve,
and seyde: ‘now, lady, be ȝowre leve,
This chyld js neyther the dewkes ne myn,
how konne ȝe this preven be ony devyn?’
Anon thys lady abassched hyre Sore,
and euere the lengere more and more.
whanne the kyng Sawh hire scomfyture
and hire schamfulnesse, J ȝow enswre,
hym forthowht sore hyre hevynesse,
that he hadde hire put jn swich distresse.
And for so moche morneng by hyre he Say:
‘dame, of on thing j schal ȝow Say:
Sethen hit nys not myn jn maryage,
kyng may he not ben after myn age.
Therefore anon as that born hyt Js,
J ȝow cownseylle with-owten mys,
whom ferst ȝe fynde atte the halle dore,
The child to ben deliuered with-owten more.’
And the goode lady hym grawntyd anon
that al his desyr scholde be don,
For that sche wolde jn non degre
that hire lord with hire wroth scholde be.
and thus, certein, whanne hyt was bore,
To me it was delyvered at the halle dore.”
And whanne the Barowns vndirstoden al this,
that the peple so with hym held, j-wys,
and seyden that hit was be goddis chaunce
that his man he wolde so here avaunce,
thanne bethowhte hem the Baronye
To speken of here kyng more velonye,
that for me Rehersed schal not ben here.
but they seyden that a bastard jn non manere
kyng of that Lond ne scholde neuere be,
nethyr that Rem governe jn non degre.
Therchebysschope answeryd hem ful sone:
“sethen that god this eleccyoun hath done,
he wyl hym leten for non maner of thing,
but hym Susteyne as a trewe kyng,
bothe jn his werris and his fyht,
he wyl hym susteynen as his owne knyht.”
Whanne therchebysschope and the clergye
and the comown peple, Sekerlye,
herden the vntrowthe of the Baronage,
how Fers they weren and how owtrage,
To-gyderys they helden hem everychon,
and toward Arthewrs court gonne they gon.
and alle the Baronage departyd away,
Ful wroth and angry, the Same day,
and seyden: “now every man hym defende
that with Arthewr halt jnto the ende.
For oure kyng schal he neuere be,
we hym defye and his progene,
and al the helpe that he may haue,
be hym we not sette, so god vs save.”
Thanne to ostage wenten they anon
and hem dyde armen there everichon.
And Arthewr jnto þe mayster towr wente
with mochel peple with hym, veramente,
& there hem armeden jn that plase,
ek al the peple that with hym wase.
So whanne that alle assembled they were,
Sevene thowsend harneyssed weren they there;
but of knyhtes hadde he but fewe,
Thre hundred and Fyfty jn that Rewe,
that Sworen his helpe Forto be,
Tyl deth hem departed, ful Sykerle.
“Dere frend merlyne,” thanne quod the kyng,
“lesteneth now to my talkyng.
J haue herd told, ful certeinle,
that with my Fadyr thou were preve.
So wolde j ȝow preyen, with-owten faylle,
That ȝe wolde ben of myn cownsaylle
and cownseyllen me of this thing among,
ȝif that this meyne wylen me ony wrong.
wherfore j wolde ȝow hertelyche preye
my cownseyl to be & the sothe me seye
lyk as to my Fadyr, kyng vterpendragon,
ȝe ȝoven hym cownseyl in many areson.
And wete ȝe wel, Sire, jn ful certeyn,
that j wyl neuere don ȝow ageyn,
ne thyng that schal ȝow mysplese owher,
as ferforth as lasteth Jn my power.
and sethen ȝe holpen me jn myn ȝong age,
Sosteyne me now aȝens this Baronage
and ek my lond here to Susteyne.
For thorwh goddis helpe and ȝow tweyne,
thorwh ȝowre help and my fadyr Antron,
j hope myn enemyes to ouercomen echon.
therefore, God, thorwh thyn grete myht
So Save my peple and me aryht!”
“Syre,” quod merlyn, “drede ȝow non thing
of non of hem, with-owten lesyng.
For assone as ȝe deliuered be
of these baronage, that ȝe scholen se,
whiche that scholen comen ȝow to assaylle,
Thanne aftyrward werk be my cownsaylle,
and alwey aftyr as j schal ȝow lere,
doth be my cownseylle every-where.
the knyhtes that weren of the round table,
That ȝowre fadyr held bothe ferm & stable,
Jn-to Here contre J-passed they be
For the grete vntrowthe and dysloyalte
that they Syen jn this Rem with-jnne,
Eche knyht to his owne contre gan he wynne.
But there is a Rewm here bysyde
of whiche Leodegan Js kyng this tyde;
the Rewm of Tarmelyde j-clepyd hit js,
of wheche Rewm the kyng an old man is, j-wys;
And his wyf ded Js ek therto,
and children hath he lyveng no mo
But a dowhter, that schal ben his eyr,
to whom al his lond schal repeyr
aftyr his deth, the sothe to Say.
but gret werre he hath ȝit be his day
aȝens the kyng Ryown of Jeawnteȝ
and of wildernesse, that fewe men hawnteȝ.
And the cause j schal tellen ȝow why:
For so many merveylles þere ben seyn, trewely,
bothe be day and ek be Nyht,
that men mown feren of that Syht.”
“This kyng Ryowns that j of telle,
a myhty man he js and Felle,
and mochel peple with hym hath he,
that myhty ben & ful of crewelte.
and conqweryd he hath be his myht
twenty corowned kynges jn fyht,
and alle here Berdes kut of hath he
Jn gret dispyt, as ȝe Scholen Se,
and closed they ben, with-owten lette,
and eche day to-forn hym at his mete
a knyht hem halt, as ȝe Scholen here,
as for gret dispyt, with-owten dwere.
And ȝit kyng Ryowns swereth, with-owten faylle,
neuere to leven werre nethir Bataylle,
Tyl that thrytty kynges conqweryd hath he.
and this kyng vppon leodegan werreth, Sykerle.
Now leodegan marcheth vppon the,
and ȝyf that his rem dystroyed be,
thy rewm schalt thow lesen, with-owten faylle,
but ȝif thou werke be myn cow[n]saylle.
and so hadde he his rewm, ful Sykyrle,
nere knyhtes of þe Rownde table hadde j-be.
wherfore, and thou wylt don aftyr me,
with hym a while schalt thou be,
and his dowhter to wyve, with-owten nay,
and al his rem aftyr hys day.
also therto sche is bothe ȝong and fayr,
and of alle his goodis schal ben his ayr,
therto the wysest j-cownted that may be.
and of thin owne rewm nothing drede the,
For the Barowns that aȝens the werre,
So moche scholen they han to done from ferre,
that lytel whille scholen they abyden there,
So mochil here bodyes scholen ben put in fere.
but Sore ocupyed Scholen they be
hemself to defende, ful Sykyrle.
and ȝowre strengthes jn warde scholen ȝe pytte
Jn dyvers hondys to kepen hem qwyte,
ȝowre cytes and ȝowre castelys bothe
with arblasteris and seriawnts, forsothe.
and ek therchebisschope schal therto
acursen hem that ȝow wrong wyl do,
and hym-Self schal don this Sentense,
To alle tho that to ȝow don ony offens,
and to alle the clergye thus schal hyt go
thorwh the rem to ben declared So.
and ȝe scholen sen, in tyme comenge
what schal behappen of al this thinge.
thorwh the helpe that j schal ȝow do,
they scholen ben affrayed, er they go.
and weteth wel, Sire, jn certeyn,
That to ȝow evere J schal ben ful beyn.
and whanne ony nede that ȝe haue,
j schal comen to ȝow, er that ȝe me crave.
And loke, anon whanne j to ȝow crye,
that ȝe opene ȝowre ȝates ful redylye,
and lete hem entre there everychon,
and thanne that amonges hem ȝe ben anon.
thanne So Sore abassched Scholen they be,
so þat somme scholen Sone there fle,
that discomfyt scholen they ben alle;
Swych aventure on hem þere schal falle.”
Thanne departyd they there fulson,
and vppon to þe walles þe bisschope went anon.
and there kyng Arthewr aparayllede his men,
an merlyne a baner to hym made then,
wherby he hadde gret Sygnyfyaunce,
and to his adversaryes ful gret dowtance.
vppon a lawnse that Baner was pyht
with an oryble dragown in here Syht,
that Flawm & Fyr there owt he caste,
where-offen the barouns agrysen ful faste;
and therto he hadde a ful long taylle,
where-offen they merveylled, with-owten faylle.
Thanne kyng Arthewr took this Baner,
and Syre Kay, his Styward, betook hit ther
jn this manere, as j ȝow Say:
that whyles he jn this world lyven may,
his chef Banorer forto be,
Whiles he may lyven jn prosperyte.
Thus arayed weren they with-jnne,
and they with-owten to Fyhten wolden not blynne,
but there they pyhten here pavylouns,
with Baners displayed and gomfanouns.
and whanne therchebysschope beheld al this,
anon to hem he clepede, j-wys,
and bad hem comen here myhtes to preve,
ȝyf the towr they myhte wynnen er eve.
they answeryd aȝen, with-owten faylle:
“Non men but we hyt scholen assaylle.”
Thanne kyng Arthewr so ful of Yre
owt sprang on horsbak as spark of fyre
To-forn alle his othyr meyne,
and with kyng Ydyers sone mette he.
and vp his swerd he lefte on hy
him to han smeten ful grevously.
but of his purpos he fayllede tho,
and kyng Ydiers hors nekke he smot atwo,
that down they fyllen bothe to grownde,
bothe hors and man in that stownde.
thanne retorned kyng Ydiers meyne
hym forto Socowre, as hit myhte be.
thanne strengere fyht was jn that plas,
thanne of alle daye to-forn there was,
and more harm & more occisiown
there was don that tyme jn vyrown.
for kyng Arthewr dyde moche harm jn that pres
bothe of hors and men, and wolde not Ses,
with Trenchefust, his Swerd so good,
that bathed was al in mennes blood;
al his harneys and his armure
with mennes brayn was soyled, j the ensure.
So that Ydiers and his meyne
as discomfyt fledden, Sykirle.
So that ful Longe Lasted this chas
after these vj kynges jn that plas.
and of al the good that they thedyr browhte,
the valew of twey pens awey boren they nowhte,
that alto-gederis j-lost was there,
what thorwh bataylle and thorwh Fyre,
which that merlyne vppon hem wrowhte;
Sauf Gold oþer Sylver Saved was þere nowhte.

[Chapter VIII]

Aftyr that kyng Arthewr thus hadde j-do,
and j-mad thre hundred knyhtes & mo,
and al his strengthes j-stuffed ful wel,
bothen cytees, townes, and castel
(aftyr merlynes cownseil þis wrowhte he,
and ek moche more, ful certeinle),
and whanne he hadde al this j-do,
kyng Artheur on syde merlyne took tho,
and so to cownseylle to-gederis they wente,
and Vlphin with hem they token presente.
“Syre kyng, a thing j moste ȝow telle
(that ȝe and Vlphyn herkenen my spelle!):
There js a good man jn on forest,
that jn wildyrnesse lyveth as a best,
whiche that Js jn northhumberlond,
and an holy man he is, ȝe vndirstond;
and to me he is bothe leef and dere,
For my modyr he savede and me jn fere.”
thanne began he to tellen, verament,
how that his modyr scholde han be brent
For A Blame and For A cryme
that on hire was put be old tyme,
and how Fortager hym dyde seken also,
ek how his modyr veylled a nonne was tho,
and how the towr lasteth Jnto this day,
and stonden hit schal for evere and ay,
ek of the dragowns the Signifyance,
al this hem tolde, with-owten varyaunce.
Jn this castel qwene eleyne was,
kyng bannes wyf jn that plas,
and therto the Fairest Lady was sche
that owher was jn ony contre,
and but of ȝong age, the sothe to say,
but xvj ȝer ȝit be that day,
and but lytel whyle wedded was sche
kyng Boors hire soster wedded, sykerle,
a worthy lady jn alle wyse,
as ony man on erthe cowde devyse.
whanne Vlphyn and Bretel comen to trebes,
aftyr kyng Ban they axeden, with-owten les.
they seyden, he was gon to parlement
to his brothyr, kyng Boors, verament.
and whanne they wysten he was not there,
of qwene eleyne they token here leve in fere.
So armed Ryden they forth anon,
For the contre that they scholde by gon
was perylows forto passen by,
as j ȝow Seye, sires, certeynly,
For mysdoeris jn that contre.
and many mo Scholden there be,
nere drede of þe two kynges so ryhte
that on hem don reddure anon with myhte.
For ȝif ony man that they cowden aspye,
And he were taken with felonye,
anon to jewyse he Scholde be do
and ben distroyed for evere mo.
Whanne these knyhtes from Trebees weren gon,
Vlphyn and Bretel to-gederys alon,
and er fyve myles they hadden past,
vij knyhtes there they Syen jn hast,
that weren of kyng clawdas meyne,
that theke pas they kepten, Sykerle,
and weren repeyred owt of desert tho,
there what to geten that they myhten also.
and whanne the Sevene knyhtes þat þer were
Syen Vlphyn and bretel come rydyng there,
“behold,” quod the vij knyhtes thanne,
“Se on what hors þat comen these menne;
and but we letten hem the weye,
we ben but cowardes, be my feye;
For they ben not of this contre,
Nethyr Here Armes We Knowen not, sekyrle.”
“Sertes,” quod on to anothyr thanne,
“they semen bothe welfareng menne,
bothe on horsbak and ek on foote,
they seme good men, wel j woote.
and ȝif oþer mennes Servantes that they be,
Thanne a good man Serven they, Sykyrle.
therefore hem to dispoylle let vs now hye,
For þer-of hauen we nede gret, ful Sykirlye.
here hors and here harneys bothe
vs nedyth to han, ben they neuere so lothe.”
Thussone on of hem prekyd owt
From alle his Felawes (he was so prowd),
and aȝens these messengeris gan he ryde,
jn a gret haste that ylke tyde,
and seyde: “lordynges, of whens ben ȝe,
whom Seken ȝe jn this contre?
and whethyr that ȝe Serven kyng Ban
owther kyng Bors, his brothyr, telle vs now than.
and ȝyf with kyng clawdas that ȝe be,
thanne scholen ȝe passen whyder so wylen ȝe.
For ellis, certeyn, scholen ȝe ben ded,
and non furthere to passen jn this sted.
For we ben set here, Certeynlye,
this weye to kepen ful streytlye,
that noman schal passen be this contre,
but ȝif þat we wyten what so they be.
and ȝif to kyng clawdas wylen ȝe pase,
thanne forth to passen scholen ȝe han grace,
and ellis ȝowre harneys moste ȝe leven here,
and bothe ȝoure hors to-gyderis jn Fere.
thanne with-owten deth passen scholen ȝe,
oþer payeng of rawnsom, Sykyr ȝe be.
therto presonement scholen ȝe non have,
but hey[l] & al hol to passen here Save,
Sauf ȝoure hors and harneys scholen ȝe forgone.”
thus seide this knyht þat to hem cam alone.
Anon as Vlphin this vndirstood,
For anger he lokede as red as blood.
“Sire knyht,” he seyde, “hye the not to faste,
For al thy malyce is nygh j-paste.
mafey, thou spekest ful velenosly!
what trowest thou þat j sette þer-by?
For nethyr hors ne harneys g[e]tyst þou not here,
For er thou have, thou beyest hem ful dere.
J trowe thow wene hem sone forto gete,
and þat schalt thou not, for j schal the lette.”
Whanne that Bretealx vndyrstood this,
that the knyht to Vlphyn so spak amys,
he seyde: “sire knyht, þou thinkest ful ylle,
but of thy bost j schal the sone felle.”
with his spores bretel his hors smot blyve
aȝens that knyht to ryden wel swythe.
and þat beheld thanne this knyht anon,
and Faste aȝens Bretel he gan to gon,
and abowtes his nekke he heng his Scheld,
there-with to defenden him jn that feld.
and there fulsore to-gederys they mette,
So that on Bretel a gret strok he sette,
and Bretel ful sore smot hym ageyn
that thorwgh the left scholdere he bar hym, pleyn,
Tyl that þe tronchon schewede on þe tothyr syde,
hal[f] schaft and more jn that ilke tyde.
& þere to þe grownde he bar hym ful ryht,
both hors & man þere jn that fyht.
There Swowned this Knyht for Angwysch & peyne,
as this Storye here telleth, Syres, jn certeyne.
than aȝen sire Bretel his spere owt drowgh thore,
al hol and as sownd as hit was to-fore,
and seide to þe knyht thanne jn þat tyde:
“here mown now ȝe wel resten and abyde
this weye to kepen for man othir knave,
and geten swich avauntage as ȝe mown haue.”
Whanne that Vlphyn beheld al this,
Ful wel hyt lyked hym, þe justis, j-wys,
and preysede Bretel for his jorne,
For wel had he qwyt hym, ful Sykerle.
thanne forth they reden but a lytel weye,
that the vj knyhtes behelden, jn feye,
hough that h[er]e lord sore wowndyd was
and jn the Feeld lay jn that plas,
and seide that glad scholden they neuere be,
Tyl here lord venged were, ful certeinle.
thanne of these vj, tweyne gonnen Owt ryde
to ouertaken þe messengeris jn that Tyde,
al so faste as here hors myhte hem bere,
So that they ouertook hem anon there.
and whanne that they weren hem faste bye,
anon these messengeris they gonne ascrye,
and therto hem manacede wondyr sore,
but fullytel there-offen they ȝoven thore.
and whanne they hem Syen aprochen so ny,
ageyns hem they torneden ful worthyly
with here scheldis and speris anon riht there,
that with-jnne schort while jsembled they were.
so that alle iiij there so sore they mette,
and so grete strokis to-gederys they sette,
that on peces to-schateryd here scheldis,
and the gobettes flowen jnto the feldys,
that persched was bothen hauberk & habiriown
of Bothe partyes there jn Vyrown.
thanne aftyr, Bretel with his Lawnce
Smot his aduersarye atte owtrawnce:
thorwgh hawberk, haberiown, & þorwh þe throte
he hym there sone bar, god hyt wote,
that ded of his hors þere fyl he down,
jnto the Feld ouer his arsown.
and Vlphyn his aduersarye smot so tho,
that his spere thorwgh his lyft scholdere gan go,
and down of his hors fyl he jnto the feeld,
where as he lay stylle vndyr his scheld.
Thanne of th[e] iiij knyhtes jsswed owt tweyne,
here felawes to avengen þere, jn certeyne,
and maden there a ful gret scry,
and seiden that they wolden deyen, trewly,
but that here Felawes avenged were,
er that they pasten ony forthere there.
thanne anon the messengeris tweyne
aȝens hem here hors hedis tornede ageyne.
anon Sire Vlphyn dressid hym ful faste
aȝens his adversarye, er he forthere paste;
and Bretel aȝens the tothyr gan ryde,
So that al fowre metten jn that tyde.
Sire Bretel his felawe th[er]e so smot,
that thorugh the Body the spere hit glot.
and Vlphin his felawe there so mette,
and swich a strok on him he sette,
that hors & man to grownde he bar,
So that his nekke asondir barst ryht thar.
thanne spak Bretel to his felawe:
“Syre, of this Jorne ȝe mown Ben Fawe!
and here to manacen whom that ȝe wylle,
and this passe to kepen, and here lyn stylle,
Therto good leve, Syre, scholen ȝe have,
thys weye to kepen from knyht oþer knaue.”
And at this lowgh Vlphyn welfaste;
thanne forth jn here weye to-gederis they paste.
Anon jn here jorne ryden they forth there,
as wery men that forfowhten were.
So jn here weye they reden forth ryht
that to the cyte of Baynoyc they comen þat nyht,
wher that they fownden ful gret plente
of diuers peple there, ful Sykerle.
For bothe kynges there weren jn Fere,
and ful gret cownceyl hadden they there.
these two knyhtes ryden forth here weye,
Tyl that to þe paleys they comen, jn feye.
and of here hors they lyhted adown,
and preyden a good man of the town
here hors to kepen and here harneys bothe,
and jnto the cowrt they wente, forsothe.
There sone axeden they aftyr kyng Ban
and aftyr kyng Bors, his brother, than.
they seiden, jn chambre that they were
Jn gret cownseylle to-gederis jn fere.
thanne þe messengeris they weren ful gladde,
that bothe kynges to-gederis they hadde.
So that the messengeris stylle abyden tho,
Tyl that the kynges here counseyl hadden j-do.
Thanne tolden the messengeris here tydyng,
how that jt was, jnto the endyng,
and of alle the Stryf that was there
of kyng Arthewr & þe Sevene kynges jn fere;
and of the merveillous Fyr also
that merlyne amonges hem wrowhte tho,
and ek of the grete chevalrye
that þe ȝonge kyng Arthewr dyde, Sykyrlye.
aftyr they tolden hem word and ende
how merlyn cownseyllede, for hem wende
that they scholden comen to kyng Arthewr
and not Jt to letten for non langowr;
where-offen Vlphyn preyde jn haste
answere to haven, er that they paste;
For here tyme was schort therto,
and here nede ful gret also.
thanne answeryd the kynges ageyn,
and seiden that—“gret werre we han, certein,
aȝens kyng clawdas jn this contre,
that mochel noysaunce doth to owre meyne.
and ȝyt emporysched he js jn partye,
But ȝyt we dreden vs now, Sekerlye,
that and we owt of this contre were,
lest he wolde don vs mochel dere.”
thanne seiden the messengeris to hem ageyn:
“That kepten we not, Syres, jn certeyn,
But merlyne sente ȝow forto say:
whiles that ȝe walkyn jn his jornay,
ȝe doren not of non damage drede,
For he wyl ȝow both wyssen and rede.”

[Chapter IX]

Now Scheweth Forthere this Storye
that from Arthewr the messengeris gonnen hye,
and stuffeden thanne every garnesown,
every good cyte, and every town,
with arblasteris and seriawntis also;
thus merlynes comandement dyde they tho.
For he knew alle tho that trewe were,
lik as this Storye Reporteth here,
For merlyne knew ful wel that compeyne,
that be hem Treson scholde neuere non be.
and whanne they hadden thus j-don,
thanne to hem cam merlyne anon,
and seide they hadden ryht wel j-do.
thanne tolden they to merlyne vnto
how that be the weye assaylled they were,
and hou of vij knyhtes they deliuered hem there,
ek with the two kynges j-spoken also,
and how here londys they hadde deliuered tho
To tweyne barouns of that contre,
and the tokene of the ryng also tolden hee.
Anon seide merlyne to kyng Arthewr thanne:
“Goth, ordeyne ȝow to meten these worthy menne,
For thin owne men ful Syker they be,
and Born of hygh lynage, ful Sykerle,
and ek here wyves Jn that same wyse
hyghe Born as ony man kan devyse.”
thanne answeryd the kyng to merlyne ageyne:
“As thou me redest, j wyl don, certeyne.”
thanne quod merlyne jn alle haste:
“that the weyes ben clensid ful faste,
and þerto alle the maidenis that þou miht gete
hem to meten dawnsing jn that strete,
& thus with songe & dawnsyng with-owten þe town
hym so to meten in merie processiown,
and thanne ȝoure-self with alle ȝoure chevalrye
ek hem to meten ful worschepfullye.”
“Now, goode merlin,” quod Artheur the kyng,
“whanne mai j be seker of here comeng?”
“a sondai next comeng, er þe owr of Tyerce,
hidyr scholen thei comen bothe heyl & ferce.”
whanne that kyng Arthewr vndirstood al this,
thanne aftir merlines wil he wrowhte, j-wys,
and merline him tawhte what he scholde do,
and hou to the kynge he scholde speken vnto,
that jn non wise jnterupt scholde he not ben
Jn non thing that he Scholde don other sen.
Vppon this him ordeyned Artheur the kyng
aȝens these kynges to gon encowntryng.
thus abyden they stille til vppon the sonday.
thanne myht me sen men there jn good aray:
the kyng Artheur & al his Baronye,
therchebisschope of dover with his clergye,
thus with processioun they hem metten, sykerle.
thanne gret kysseng & joye there men myhten se.
thus toward the cyte passeden they there,
where as dawnsyng many maidenis were
with many karoles & ryht merye song,
at that tyme was these maidenis among.
and thus thorugh the cyte thei gonne to ride
To the grete towr that ilke tyde.
Anon as these kynges to þe paleis weren browht,
grete jewelis and ȝiftis sone weren vpe sowht
and to the kinges presentyd there;
also cowrseris, palfreyes, & with destrere,
ek robes, and armures bothe goode & riche
To these kynges he ȝaf and to oþer j-lyche.
and al this wrowht he be merlines cownsaille,
For aftyr hit dede hym gret availle.
So that gret love he gat him there
Of Riche and powre thanne Every-Where,
and of hem that neuere hym sye
Toforn tyme ne aftyr with here eye.
Ful mochel merveylleden the peple tho
whens that alle tho jewelis comen fro,
and jn so schort time hit was j-don,
bothe to hye and to lowe þere riht anon.
So that eche man jn his degre
kyng Artheuris man swor forto be,
and for nothing hym Neuere to faylle
jn pes, in werre, nethir jn bataille.
Whanne that these kynges jn þe cite were,
daunsyng of ladies Syen thei there,
Torneyeng of Bacheleris ȝonge,
that alday lasted jnto evensonge.
more ouer alle the stretis of the cyte
with clothis of Sylk weren hanged, sikerle.
and bothe fayr wedyr and cler hyt was,
For nethyr rein ne hayl þat day þere nas.
and alle the stretys with lampes hanged were,
and euerich lampe ful of Bawm was there,
whiche that brenden so Swetely,
that al the cyte þere-offen savourede, trewly,
So that the swete odowr smellyd myhte han be
half a myle thanne, ful certeinle.
So that the barouns forth wenten in fere
To the chyf mynstre anon ryht there.
there met weren they with processioun,
with cros, Baneris, and gomfanoun.
Therchebisschope the masse sang, veramente,
and aftyr masse to paleys they wente,
the thre kynges al jn Fere
with alle the baronage þat was there,
where as manye worthy viandes weren dyht
þerwith the kynges to serven, as hit was ryht.
and alle thre kynges to-gederis they sete,
with hem therchebisschope, as hit was mete;
at on table alle J-Served they were
with rial deyntes whiche weren there.
thanne weren there two ȝonge knyhtes
that thyke day the halle serveden outrihtes
with sire kay, sire Vlphin, and sire Bretel;
that day they deden wondirly wel.
the names of thes knyhtes so ȝonge
J schal ȝow declaren Jn Englysch tonge.
the ton hyhte Lucans the Botelers,
the tothir sire Gyrfles, a knyht ful fers.
thus with these knyhtes the halle served was
with gret deyntes thike day jn that plas.
Aftyr noon was vpe set the qwyntyn,
the ȝonge knyhtes þere justed wel and fyn,
and Boordeieden there alle theke day,
and aftyrward to torneyeng, with-owten nay.
So weren they devyded on partyes tweyne,
on eche side vij hundred, jn certeingne,
of whyche of the rem of Baynoic, vtterlye,
thre hundred weren in that compenye.
and whanne these parties assembled were,
alle thre kynges weren they there.
and mochel of the clergye þere was also,
and of astronomers that jn þe rewm was tho.
ȝit vndir hem alle cowden they not telle
on whiche syde the better befelle,
Sauf only merlyne he cowde declare,
whiche side the bettere scholde han thare.
Thus the thre Kynges And therchebysschope tho
at Fenestris and wyndowes lokeden tho,
and hou to-gederys they gonnen torneye,
ek hou that here hors gonnen for to neye,
and hou that the erthe hyt denede also,
So faste to torneyeng gonn they to go.
Thanne thus whiles they torneyed there,
Jnto a renge aperyd thanne there
Sire Gyrfleȝ, the sone of cardwelle,
vppon a stede that was stowt & felle;
jnto that renge he rod ful faste.
& aȝens hym cam on atte laste:
a knyht of Baynoic, that hyht Ladmas,
with sire Gyrfles mette jn that plas;
and assone as they to-gederis mette,
Grete strokes on ech other there sette;
with sperys and scheldes toforn here breest
To-gedires they mettyn at here Treest.
and so sore to-gederis they ronnen there,
that ech vppon other barst his spere,
For worthy knyhtes they weren bothe two,
and eche be hym-self desirede also:
the toon desired worschepe, trewelye,
The toþer richesse and Seygnourye.
So sore they torneyeden togederis thanne,
that hem thowhte the brayn was owt of h[er]e panne,
and ek the eyen owt of here hed,
So sore they torneyed jn that sted.
and ech of hem to erthe oþer there bar,
that jn Swowneng stille they lyen thar.
So that the peple wenden, þat stoden abowte,
that bothe hadden ben ded, with-owten dowte.
For so crwel a fyht Syen they neuere ere
be-twixen two men that knyhtes were.
Thussone to-broken the renges anon;
to rescwen these knyhtes wenten they ful son.
there on partye with anothyr to-gederis gonne mete,
that on eyther partye lay jn the strete.
ek so sore to-gederis metten they there,
that eche man on othyr brak his spere.
whanne that here sperys to-broken were,
anon here swerdis they pulden owt there.
So that there a melle began ful strong,
betwixen tho knyhtes hem among.
ȝyt was there thanne anothyr knyht,
that ful merveillously bar hym in fyht,
that Lucans le boteler was his name,
cosin germayn to Gyrfles, a man of fame.
This Lucans so on gan taken there,
that bothe hors and knyhtes he gan to fere.
For so harde he took on thanne,
that his strok ne dorsten abyden non manne.
he rente the helmes of hedis adown,
here scheldes caste ouer here arsown,
and swiche maistryes werken þere he began,
that of hym merveillede many a man.
and so deden these kynges thre,
and of hym merveilleden jn many degre.
These jostes beheld wel Artheur þe kyng,
kyng Ban and kyng Boors, with-owten lesyng,
and behelden the chevalrye of syre kay,
that he there dyde that ylke day,
and seiden he was a worthy knyht,
vayllaunt & vysable jn every fyht.
and whanne Lwcans the Botelers Sawgh kay so do,
hym forto helpe hym nede not to go.
Thanne took He His Hors With His spores Anon,
and jnto the grettest pres he gan to gon,
and smot Syre Bloys so sore there,
that al on peces to-barst his spere,
and to the grownde him bar down ryht,
and his swerd owt drowgh þere forto fyht.
thanne began þere gret Torneyenge
here felawes to socowr forto brynge.
Thanne cam Sire Gyrfleȝ, armed ful bryht,
as faste prekinge as that he myht,
and Sawgh there Blyobers & his felawes tweye,
that abowten Sire kay weren, trewelye.
and with here swerdes on hym they leyden faste,
that wondyr hit was he myhte hit laste,
For grete nede of socour there hadde he,
For he was but on aȝens hem thre,
and thike thre þe best men were
of Baynoykes meyne þat was there.
thanne mette he there with placydes,
and his helm to-barst jn that pres.
Aftyr Rod he to Blyobers,
that thike tyme was bothe stordy & fers,
and smot evene a-myddes þe scheld,
that he there fyl doun jn the feld,
and drowh owt his swerd anon thanne,
and smot sire placydes so on þe panne,
So that sore astoned þere he was,
and from his hors fyl down jn that plas.
Thanne what tyme Syre kay beheld al this,
vp ful sone he hym dressed, j-wys,
and beheld sire Gyrfleȝ, his socourer,
and thowhte that kyndenesse to qwyten owher.
So from that day evere aftyr-warde
they loveden to-gederis ful strong & harde;
Al the whyle they leveden here,
myht non man departin hit fer ne nere.
Thanne whanne the tables j-drawen were,
jnto a chambre the kynges wenten there,
Therchebisschope and Antron ek also,
whiche chambre on þe rever stood tho.
and with hem these two knyhtes wente,
Sire Vlphyn and sire Bretel, veramente.
thanne thus of manye thinges they spooke,
and atte laste kyng Artheur gan loke,
and aspyde these two knyhtes with-jnne a whyle.
thanne anon kyng artheur be-gan to smyle,
whanne he bethowhte hym vppon the jorne,
as merlyne hadde hym told, ful Sykerle,
whanne that on his message þey wenten, apert,
hou that they thanne spedden jn desert,
& hou from vij knyhtes deliuered they were.
he preyde hem to þe kynges to tellen hit þere.
and thanne the kynges preyden hem also
The sothe hem to telle—“er that ȝe go.”

[Chapter X]

Thanne to bedde these kynges wenten ful sone,
and alle these meyne everichone,
and slepten on the morwe tyl hyt was day,
Tyl that to Servysse they rongen, jn fay;
For abowtes halewen-tyd tho hit was,
whanne tyme they weren jn that plas.
thanne cam merlyne to hem anone,
& þere two wyndowes he openede thussone,
For he wolde som lyhte that there were
hem onestely to arayen with there.
so that they hem dihte, & gonne to gon
to the chef mynstre thanne anon.
there therchebisschope the masse dyde Synge,
and at þat masse merlyne, with-owten lesynge,
Swor on the sacrement jn that place
that kyng Artheur kyng vterpendragones sone was,
and that on Ygwerne begeten was he
the same nyht þe dewk was slayn, Sykerle—
“So that he is the moste ryhtful eyr
That to this lond cowde repeyr.”
the same oth Sire Vlphin swoor,
Ek sire bretel, sire kay, that weren thoor.
Whanne the two kynges herden this,
Of hym they merveylleden mochel, j-wys,
For they wenden, with-owten lesinge,
that no man that was thanne levenge
hadde knowen that he tolde hem there;
so þat sore astoned thanne they were.
“Now, Lordynges,” quod kyng Ban,
“merveille now ȝe not of this man.
For he knoweth al thing that js,
Be hit wel don oþer mys;
be hyt neuere don so prevyle,
he hit can tellen, ful Sykerle.”
thanne answerid they sone ageyn:
“Sethen hit is so as that ȝe seyn,
That ȝe taken hym ȝoure ryng anon,
and that he were forth past & gon.
for ȝe scholen heren merveilleȝ mo,
whanne that he cometh ȝow aȝen vnto.”
“Now, be myn hed,” quod merlyne thanne,
“ȝe han seyd Ryht as a wys manne.
For more of this scholen ȝe han encres,
thanne oni of ȝow kan seyn, with-owten les.”
thanne delyverede him þe kyng his ryng anon,
and þer-with forth merlyne gan to gon,
and be Blaysie, his maister, he took þe weye,
and of alle thinges tolde him, Sekerlye:
that jnto litel Breteignes he scholde go;
of the message eke he told him also;
whiche that Blasye wrot in that throwe;
and elles how scholde we hit knowe?
Thus merlyne from Blase departed anon,
and forth on his message he gan to gon,
and dyde his message al in good tyme,
For he was þere he wolde er the morwen at pryme,
and tolde sire Leownces the kynges wylle,
and the kynges ryng took hym vntylle.
there they beleved hym anon,
and deden al that was forto don,
And senten Anon bothe fer and Ny,
and faire retenu to gaderen, trewly.
So that with-jnne fowrty myles abowte
thedyr they gadered with gret rowte,
so that they weren to-forn the cyte
viij dayes to-forn cristemasse, Sykerle;
thanne good warde putten to þe townes alle
that to the tweyne kynges be riht schold falle.
jn that on hold they putten a lady Bryht,
that worthy lady was and of gret myht:
the cyte of gawnes kepte sche thanne
and with hyre ful many a worthy manne.
Ek Phareens there merlyne preyde also
that al his power he wolde do,
and that he hym grawntyd, ful sekerly,
jnto al his power, ful vtterly.
on the toþer syde, jnto Baynoyc cyte
they putten a man of gret degre,
Sire raier, the Lord of Hawt mure,
a worthy knyht and vaillaunt, j ȝou ensure.
and jn the castel of Trebes
they putten Sire graciens, with-owten les,
the whiche was godsone to kyng Ban.
and jn that castel with him hadde he than
Two sostren of Raynes, the worthiest
knyht þat þere was be est oþer west.
For it was the strengest castel
of alle þat contre be many a del.
and at mowntloyr, þe castel of kyng Boors,
that was don kept with strengthe & foors:
Sire placydes, that was a worthy knyht,
That castel he kepte bothe day & Nyht.
Thanne eche man harneysede hym anon
Jn armes to Bataylle forto gon.
and the vowarde hadde sire kay
with kyng Arthewris baner, jn fay,
and with hym knyhtes bothe stowt & feers:
Sire girfleȝ & sire lucawns the Botelers,
Marvg de la roche & Gwynaus the bloys
with dryaunt of þe forest savage & belyas Amoroys,
ek with hem forth paste Flawndrys the bres;
these viij forth pasten, with-owten ony les,
and with hem foure thousend jn compenye,
the vomwarde to gouernen, ful Sykirle.
The secund warde hadde Sire Bretel,
a worthy werrowr ful strong and lel;
and thre thousend with him he ladde,
alle goode men and neuere on badde.
The thrydde warde there ladde tho
Sire Vlphyn, that jn armes mochel cowde do;
and in his compenye kyng Arthewr was there
with many a brown vndir that Banere,
and with hem fowre thousend jn compenye
of worthy Bodyes, an j schold not lye,
that neuere here lord nolden faillen there,
tyl that to þe deth j-browht they were.
thus eche warde thanne took his way,
and forth they wenten, er hit were day,
and merlyn to-fore, the weye to lede,
Rydyng vppon a stalworthy stede.
Jn this maner dremede Sire loth, the kyng,
and sone after he fyl jn wakyng,
and of his dreme he wondrede, j-wys;
he gan hym blesse, & seide: “what meneth this?”
and to his meyne he wente anon,
and tolde hem of his avisyoun.
thanne axeden they hym anon ryht
jnto what party he Say that Syht.
and he seide, from the Forest syde,
that thens hyt kam, him thowhte þat tyde.
thanne seiden they, with-owten faylle
that with-jnne schort tyme to hauen bataylle.
thanne eche man awok oþer anon,
So that to armes faste gonne they gon,
and awoken alle here compenye,
Forto serchen the contre gonnen they hye.
with this the bataylles togederes were,
the xj kynges and Artheur jn fere.
So that merlyne hastyd forth more meyne,
That to-gederis they metten, full Sykirle,
they that the contre Serchen scholde
and Artheurs meyne, hos wol oþer nolde,
To-gederis they weren, er they jt wyste,
and merlyn to-fore rod for truste.
and whanne kyng lothis meyne say this,
So moche peple þere armed, j-wys,
they axeden of him that rod tofore,
what peple it js, was armed thore.
Merlyne seide: “Arthewris meyne;
this lond to chalange hider comen we
aȝens hem that him don defende
his lond to entren, er than they wende.”
Thanne took he a Royde spere anon,
and jnto that pres he gan faste to gon,
and that Reng he to-barst ful sone,
and þere-jnne entrede amonges hem echone.
and with a knyht he mette schortly there,
that thorwh armes and harneys he gan him bere.
So thorwh the body there he hym smot,
that down he fyl thanne, god hit wot,
and brak his Nekke jn his fallynge tho;
Swich destenye that knyht cam vnto.
thanne kyng Boors drowh owt his swerd,
and amonges that meyne þere so he ferd.
and whanne the peple Say hym faren so,
Ful faste to flyht thanne gonne they go.
thus kyng karados loste his meyne;
For kyng Bors they gonnen alle to fle.
that beheld the kyng of an hundred knyhtes;
to Socouren karados he kam ful Ryhtes
with ij thousend knyhtes jn compenye,
that bolde werriours weren and worthye.
and there fulsone to-gederis they mette,
and many harde strokes to-gederis smette.
For there to speken of king Bors prowesse,
how that he fawht there jn that presse!
Also ek on the tothir kynges syde
they fowhten ful strongly that ylke tyde,
bothe kyng karados and the tothyr kyng,
that of an hundred knyhtes hath gouernyng.
[for] so strong was the Bataylle thanne,
that at mischef there was many a manne.
Thanne kyng Ban of Baynoyk entrede anon,
and with his meyne he entrede ful son,
and there his steward his armes bar
with a crowne of gold and azure thar
with two bendis travers, ȝelw & grene;
As ony flowr oþer herbe there was hit sene.
and of this Sixe knyhtes jn swte hadde he,
bothe hors and man al jn on degre;
Bothe trappures and Testerys, Al that þer Was,
so was arrayed there jn that plas.
and whanne these kynges syen this syht,
wondirly they weren ful sore a-fryht,
and seiden they mosten forsaken here place,
For they knewen there non othir grace.
thanne to hem assembled kyng Loth,
Ful sore wepyng there, wel j wot,
and seide there to his compenye:
“Now wot j wel, ful Sekerlye,
alle is lost that we hauen jdo.”
So bothe partyes thanne metten they tho;
So sere here lawnces they borsten on sondyr,
that al the erthe qwaked hem vndyr;
and out of helmes þe fer owt flew,
that many a man hit Sawh on rew;
and with the strokis þat weren hem betwynne,
alle that forest hit denede with-jnne,
that half a myle men myhten hit here,
ho that jn that feld tho were.
whanne that kyng Ban ful sembled was
aȝens the tothere jn that plas,
there nolde but fewe there thanne abyde.
Anon vppon þe fyve kynges gan he ryde
and ek vppon here hole meyne;
For þere made kyng Ban gret mortalyte.
For anon as they kyng Ban aspyde,
Ful faste they fledden that jlke tyde
For the grete occision
that kyng Ban made abowtes hym jn virown;
and gret martyrdom he made also,
and thus jn eche reng þere gan he go,
bothe on lefte syde and ek on þe ryhte;
he kyd hym there as kyng and knyhte.
So that j-dowted he was ful sore
of alle his enemyes þat weren thore.
Whanne that kyng Ban Recouered was
Be helpe of kyng Arthewr jn that plas,
Gret Joye Bothe to-gederys they made,
and amonges here enemyes they prekeden ful glade.
Anon as they on the tothyr partye
kyng Artheur and king Ban dyden aspye,
anon so discomfyt weren they tho
of the harm þat these two kynges hadden j-do,
that they hadden j-lost clene here talent
to fyhten or ony dede don, verament,
but Towardis the wode they wente ful faste.
And er they myhten hit keueren atte laste,
mochel occisiown was don there
be-twixen the wode and the revere
there here Stale they rested & kepte.
Anon here meyne there to hem lepte,
and jn peryl of deth echon,
For vnnethis to hem askaped ony on.
Whanne kyng Newtris and kyng loth tho
and the kyng of an hundred knyhtes also,
also kyng karados & kyng ydyors,
ek kyng Vryens & kyng Brangors,
that tho was kyng of Northhumberlond,
To on partye they drowen, j vndirstond,
Thanne seyde maganors to hem anon:
“with ȝoure meyne j rede that ȝe hens gon
For al hit is j-torned to scomfyture
and to distroccion, j ȝow ensure.”

[Chapter XI]

[N]ow here putteth this Jlke Storye
[of t]hese xj kynges Jn memorye,
[and o]f the dewk of Askam also,
[tha]t be merlynes cownseylle conqwered weren tho,
[an]d how joyful from Blasye he cam,
[an]d how that kyng Arthewr ordeyned hym than.
[th]anne here Pavylouns pyhten they ful faste
[an]d ek here tentes jn ryht gret haste.
[So] that they casten hem there to abyde
[an]d Forto resten hem that jlke tyde.
[th]anne gouernours of þe ost gonne they ordeynen there:
[S]ire Leownce, Sire gyrflet, & Sire Lwcawns the botelere.
[th]anne Sire Faryens to sire Leownces j-joyned he was
[Towar]dis the wode to kepen jn that plas;
[and Si]re Lwcawns and sire gyrflet
[kepte]n the medewes bothe drye and wet.
[and] the remnaunt to reste gonnen to gon,
ly[k a]s þerto they hadden Nede everychon.
So that they eten & dronken, & maden here play,
and there hem restede, tyl hit was day.
For j-nowh they hadden of the Beste,
bothe riche and powre, to gladen his geste.
Thus they hem restede, tyl hit was day;
And thanne kyng Arthewr comanded, jn fay,
that al the good that geten was
and ek al the rychesse Jnto on plas
that to-gederis scholde ben browht, ful pleyn,
For he wolde departyn hit þere, jn certeyn.
and whanne that they hadden herd here masse,
they wenten there as al þe trosor wasse.
and there on hepis as that hit lay,
These thre kynges, with-owten delay,
departyd this good þere to every man,
as that hem thowhte he hadde nede than:
on man lasse and a-nothyr more,
as hem thowhte they weren worthy thore,
and ek to many pore knyhtes also,
ek to seriauntes that with hem weren tho;
they ȝouen hem of þat good ful largely,
Whyles that Hem Last there ony peny.
and sethen departyd they forth in here compenye
bothe stedys and palfreyes ful justlye,
clothes of gold & of Sylk also,
that nowht to departyn beleft hem tho.
So that every man gwerdonen he was
that with hem was jn that plas.
thanne xl knyhtes chosen they tho
with hem of Tarmelyde forto go,
which meyne Sire Leownce & sire pharyen
jn governaunce hadden & with hem sire Gracien.
Thus this peple of Tarmelyde
jnto here lond they gonne hem gyde,
that kyng clawdas non harm scholde þere do,
whyles the two kynges here lond weren fro.

[Chapter XII]

“ȝe, Sire, wyle ȝe vndirstonden now me:
aȝens kyng Artheur we han now j-be
and non thing encresyd jn his Lond;
this owten ȝe wel forto vndyrstond.
Nethyr, Syre, vppon the tothyr syde
of the Londes of Tarmelyde,
that Somtyme oure socour wolde han be,
but power hauen they non now, Sykerle,
but the kyng ryowns, that js myhty
and therto ryche & of Body worthy,
and this two ȝer dede he non werre.
Nethyr anothyr kyng, that js nerre:
kyng Pales of lystenois he hyht;
also he is a worthy knyht,
but that he kepeth his Brothir, trewelye,
kyng Pelynore, that lyth in maladye,
of whiche he schal neuere recouered be,
Tyl on þyng be don, Sire, ful certeynle:
Tyl that seynt Graal to ende Be Browht;
take this forsothe, ȝif ȝe welen owht.
Also kyng Aleyn, that Syk lyth also,
non rekewr jnto þat tyme may be do,
and tyl that a bettere knyht of Breteyne
Jnto this lond be comen, certeyne.”
(anon axede of hym kyng Brangor
what maner of thyng the Graal was thore.)
“Nether of Norga, of Sornoleys the kyng,
mowen ȝe hauen there non Sucoureng,
For vppon the jeawntes werre halt he,
that moche noysaunce hym don, Sykerle.
For the jeantes wolden held his lond
al of hem, as j now vndirstond,
and he defendyth hym as a man,
as long as that he may & kan.
Nethyr of Perdenyan the kyng
mowen ȝe hauen non helpyng,
nethyr of the kyng Amadonan,
nethir of kyng clamades, j telle ȝou kan;
For they werren vppon kyng galaost,
the wheche is cosyn, wel thou wost,
To the kyng of an hundred knyhtes;
and aȝens hym they kepen here fyhtes.”
Thanne ros vpe kyng loth there anon,
and to that peple he seide echon:
“Lordynges, Sekerly, j ne kan not se
how that these marches kept scholen be,
but that we setten good asspye
vppon kyng Artheuris londis, Sekerlye,
bencheson of the kynges that with hym be,
and For merlyn, that is maister in mani a gre,
that al oure conseil knoweth ful wel
& al that we don here now everydel.
For ȝif we ryden the hethen to aspye,
anon he wyl comen vs to distroye
be othir partyes jnto othyr contre;
vppon vs ryden wilen they, ful sykirle.
Fore for the hethen they wylen not lette
that vppon vs here men wylen they sette.
and therfore ȝif we now departyd be,
we scholen ben distroyed, ful Sykerle.
For ȝif the hethene entren vs here,
thanne of oure socour ben we jn dwere.
Neuertheles ȝit scholen ȝe vndirstonde
that forth to ryde now wyl j fonde,
and redy to gon with ȝou jn fere;
now every man his best avis sey here!”
At that word ros vp anon ryhtes
the kyng that was of an hundred knyhtes,
and seide to tho lordynges everychon:
“of kyng lothes wordes dowte haue ȝe non;
For kyng Artheur & his helpinge
ben owte of londe, with-owten lesynge,
To Socouren leodagan the kyng,
that jn his contre hath gret werryng:
jn his lond of Tarmelyde
he hath werre on ech a syde
of kyng ryown of Yrlond,
as it is don me to vndirstond.
& as sowdeours they ben forth went
Be merlynes cownseyl, verayment.
but alle here strengthis ben kept ful wel,
and of oure deseysse they knowen echedel.
and therfore we mown the Savyelere gon
Forto defenden vs from oure fon;
For of Artheur hath non drede.
therfore j wolde, so god me spede,
that pes purchaced were betwixen vs two,
als so hastely as hit myhte be do,
that be his socour and strengthe of honde
To dryve the hethen owt of this londe.
therfore let vs werkyn jn alle thing
after þe counseil of tradelyvaunt the kyng.
but er that we passen out of this contre,
be cownseil be gouerned it is good to be.
there is a mayde here vs be-syde
that Asses Roche is cleped this tyde,
and jn that Roche dwelleth that may,
that ful good cownseil to vs kan say.
For jn that castel sche dwellith, j-wis,
that maiden, that is so mochel of pris,
hadegabrantis Sostyr, with-owten lye,
that mochel cowde of Negromauncye,
wherby often-tyme socoured they be;
wherfore be my counseyl, certeinle,
with hire to speken is myn entent,
& ellis greved mow we ben, verament.”
Whanne that þe barouns vndirstodyn al this,
that kyng Artheur was forthe, with-owten mys,
thanne merveillede the barouns everichon
For what maner cause he wolde so don.
but thanne vndirstoden they alle
that be Merlynes counseil hit gan falle.
So that they repentyd al jn fere
that evere with merlyn angry they were;
but alto late hit was tho
hem to repente: he was a-go.
So that they acorded alle jn fere
alle the marches to don kepen there.
Thanne sente they forth be eche partye
to kepen the marches, ful sekerlye,
bothe olde & ȝonge that myhte gon
& of straunge Sowdiours manion.
So that forth they wenten & wolden not blynne,
hoping gret richesse forto wynne
and also to geten hem bothe pris & fame
the better to ben beloued of every dame.
but owt of kyng Arthewris lond
non sowdiour wolde comen, j vndirstond;
For good j-nowgh they hadde be-fore,
and for þat cawse they wold not comen thore;
For Artheur avaunsed hem everichon,
er that he owt of his lond gan gon;
and ȝit he behyhte hem better to do,
whanne that aȝen he come hem vnto.
The fyrste cyte that they dyde kepen tho
was toward Cornewaille, with-owten mo,
whiche that thike tyme Nawtes hyghte,
there as the hethene gonnen alyghte.
Thyder gan gon kyng Ydyers
with a meyne bothe prowd & fers,
that beleften of his Bataylle,
as j ȝow seye with-owten faylle.
and whanne kyng ydyers cam to þat cyte,
Ful glad and blithe gonnen they to be.
For every day affrayed they were
of tho hethen that weren comen there,
that everyday there, certeinle,
they wenten abowte that cyte
and distroyed alle jn virowne abowte
the contre there, with-owten dowte.
For of hem Sevene thousend there be
jn this partie aryved, ful sekerle.
so that there dar non man passen therby
with-owten gret strengthe, Sekerly.
Whanne that his modir vndirstood al this thing
of galachim hire sone, that was so ȝyng,
Anon gan sche to wepen ful sore,
as a lady that knew the cause wherfore,
And Seide to Galachym Anon Ryht tho,
as that tyme hire herte fyl vnto,
and ful sore wepinge sche gan to telle
of al the cas, how hit be-felle,
and seide: “myn owne dere sone thanne,
thin em he is, that worthy manne,
and my brother he is, ful Sekerly,
for bothe weren we born of on body,
as j haue herd my modyr say
to-forn this tyme ful many a day,
that for that child made gret mone,
So sone aftir his birthe awey was done,
and deliuered was to on veleyne;
that is now soth þat ȝe heren me seyne.
and how aftyr hit was discouered echdel
be Antron, that hym norsched ful wel,
of whom ek that merlyne the sothe tolde,
and ek that witnessid Vlphyn the bolde.
and how that Vter pendragon the kyng
me maryed to my lord aboven alle thyng.
but j am sory in mani a degre
that the Barouns of this contre
ne welen not resceyven hym as for here kyng,
whiche me sore repentith ouer alle thing.
but behold, the grete god of myht,
considering that he is kyng be ryht,
hym ches be myracle of the ston
& of the swerd aforn hem echon”—
and hym tolde of mani an aventure
that of hym be-fel, j ȝow ensure.
Now aftyr cometh hit Jnto memorye
hou from Sorhant departyd kyng loth, sekerlye,
and wente forth streyht To Garle cyte
with ful thre thousend of his meyne,
that weren holden worthy knyhtes & goode,
whiche with him out of þe bataille ȝoode.
& whanne he was comen to that cyte,
the ceteȝeins maden joye and solempnite;
for the hethen diden hem ful gret anoye,
and al that contre they deden distroye
what with robberye and brennenge;
that contre they wasted jn alle thinge.
Anon as kyng loth knew of this,
For sowdeours he sente, with-owten mys,
Faste abowtes jnto eche contre
to geten as manye as þanne myhte he.
and er a mounthe was fully past,
ten thousend sowdeours he hadde jn hast
with-owten hem of that cyte,
weren foure thousend, certeinle,
To kepen that cyte bothe day & nyht,
whiles þat kyng loth rod owt to fyht.
So that often-tymes he with hem mette,
and to-gederis many strokes they sette.
So that his pore bachelerye
gat often gret goodis, sekerlye.
and al that evere they myhte wynne,
kyng loth hit parded there hem betwynne.
and that causede that gret meyne
To kyng loth repeirede, certeinle,
For bencheson of his gentilnesse & fre,
Sprang so wyde jnto eche contre;
Thre thousend comen to hym anon ryht,
For that he was holden so fre a knyht.
and faire children he hadde be his wyve;
worthiere bodyes weren non on lyve.
this Artheur was a faire ȝong man,
and mochel of norture that tyme he kan.
and that lady he was fayn to plese
& ek to kyng loth to don him ese.
This lady was both fayr & ȝyng
and a good womman ouer alle thing,
whom that Artheur lovede prevyly.
but sche ne rowhte sche wiste not, sikerly,
for stedfast sche was to hire Lord
and him to plese at his owne acord.
So hit behappede, as J ȝow say,
that al the Baronage hadde taken a day
at the Blake cros to meten jn fere
there forto touchen of here matere.
So on the nyht before hit happede tho,
that kyng loth scholde thider go,
he charged prevyly his meyne
that hors & harneis redy scholde be
at midnyht with him forto gon;
thus prevyly he charged hem everichon.
So that his meyne, verament,
Fulfild jn haste his comaundement
vnknowen the lady of alle this thing.
ful prevyly from hire wente he stalkyng,
and jn hire bed lefte hire stylle on slepe,
for of his goynge took sche non kepe.
and Artheur, that wel knew of al this,
that jn that corner þere lay, j-wys,
took good kepe of the kynges goynge,
and ful prevyly to here bed wente he stalkynge,
and there he turnede hym bothe to & fro,
but ȝit this lady on slepe was tho.
So as hit happede this kas gan gon,
this lady awok & hire tornede anon,
and him enbraced al jn hire Slepe,
that of non othir took sche non kepe
but of hire owne lord so dere,
weneng to hire to ben hire fere.
and whanne that Arthewr felte this,
thanne wiste he wel, with-owten mys,
that of hym sche took non kepe
but as a womman that was jn slepe.
So that he embraced hire ageyn,
and so be hire he lay, jn certeyn,
where-offen the lady ful joyful was;
sche wende hire Lord hadde ben jn þat plas.
and that Nyht, in certein to say,
was mordret begeten, with-owten delay,
jn this maner as ȝe now here.
And whanne that Artheur his wil hadde there,
he ne slepte non maner thing,
tyl that lady was fallen jn Slombring;
thanne stalkyd Artheur previliche a-away.
For þer-of ne wyste non, the sothe to say,
tyl on the morwe, as hit gan falle,
that hym-self hit tolde jn the halle,
whanne sche was set at hire denere,
and Artheur as hire kervere knelede there.
So that hit happede tho, this lady gent
of his long knelyng took good entent.
“leve sevs,” sche seide, “ȝong Bacheler,
Ful longe [mow] ȝow thinken that ȝe knelen her.”
And He Answerede Ful Boldlich Ageyn:
“to longe may j not knelen, certeyn,
For j ne may not deserven the grete bownte,
myn owne lady, that ȝe han don for me.”
thanne axede this lady anon ryht:
“what bowntes ben tho, gentyl wyht?”
thanne seide Artheur, certeinle,
that for him discouered scholde hit neuere be,
ne non thyng to hire he wolde discrye,
but ȝif of trowthe sche wolde hym affye
that neuer sche scholde discouere it to non creature,
and also anothir thing sche schold hym Sure:
that harm to his body scholde sche neuere do,
ne be hire to ben purchased nether to ne fro.
And sche hire trowthe ensured hym ful son
as womman of that mater took kepe non.
thanne anon Arthewr gan hire to telle
prevyly betwixen hem how hit be-felle,
and jn what maner that he be hire lay;
al he hire tolde thike same day.
Anon this lady gan wexen red,
that for pure schame sche was ny ded;
but non wyht wiste of here covyne.
for at that tyme wolde sche no more dyne
but let tables ben drawen, verament,
and ful faste to hire chombre sche went.
lo, thus ȝonge Artheur be his soster lay,
that kyng Lothis wif was that day;
but hit behappede neuere aftyr more.
and thus was mordret of hire body bore,
For sche knew wel be tyme & space
that be Arthewr with childe sche was.
Whanne that lady Gaweyn beheld,
that tyme it were to beren armes & scheld,
Sche began to wepen riht sore.
Anon Sire gaweyn axede hire wherfore.
“certes, sone, j haue now gret Skyl,
For ȝe ȝoure tyme ne don but spyl
and ek ȝoure bretherin, jn certeyn,
ȝe don but spillen ȝoure tyme jn veyn,
that worthy knyhtes myhten be
jn kyng Artheurs cowrt, ful certeinle.
For ȝoure vncle he is be ryht,
and jn this world not a bettere knyht.
with him J wolde ȝe weren jn plase
pes betwyxen ȝoure fadir & him to purchase.
for hit is ful gret pyte
that be-twixen hem swich distaunce schold be
and of othir barouns jn the Rewm,
that of here kyng wylen taken non ȝem.
and god knoweth the Ryhtwysnesse,
that hath hem browht in gret distresse;
For mochel more han they lost thanne wonne.
& now this hethen on vs han begonne,
that scholen distroyen vs everychon,
ȝif goddis help ne come not Son.
and of hym helpe geten we non
that scholde vs fende from oure fon,
which is ȝoure oncle kyng Artheur,
that scholde vs helpe jn every stour.
worschepe & los scholde ȝe purchase
and pes to maken jn every plase,
and namly that ȝoure fadir & he
goode frendis that they myhten be.
and non other good ȝe don this tyde
but eche day on huntyng forto ryde
To chasen the hare in eche contre,
and thus ȝoure tyme lesen ȝe;
wherfore ȝe ben alle to blame,
that myhten becomen men of better fame.”
Thanne to his modyr spak ȝonge Gaweyn
wordis that to hire weren ful pleyn:
“telle ȝe this for trewthe to me,
that Arthour be ryht kyng scholde be,
and þat ȝoure brothir he is also,
& ek ȝe seyn oure vncle þerto?”
“ȝe, sones, with-owten drede,
he is ȝoure vncle, so god me spede”—
& sette on & tolde hem al on ende
holyche hou that mater gan wende.
And whanne that gaweyn herde al this,
anon to his modir he seide, j-wys:
“be þe trowthe j owe to God & ȝow,
of on thing j schal maken avow:
that swerd ne armvre to beren jn fyht,
tyl that kyng Artheur haue mad me knyht.
and we to his cowrt scholen gon
him forto helpen aȝens his fon,
ȝyf ȝe welen helpen vs owht þerto;
bothe my bretheren scholen þedir go
of hym forto ben dubbid knyhtes
& after to helpen him jn his fyhtes
Aȝens Hem Alle that Hym Wrong Wylen Don;
we scholen him gon helpen everichon.”
“Now, swete children, as towching me,
neuere distorbeled scholde ȝe be.
For that day wolde j ones abyde,
and blessin j wolde that jlke tyde,
To sen ȝoure Fadir & ȝoure oncle jn fere
as goode frendes as euere they were;
hit were to me as joyful tydyng
as to ben lady of alle worldly thing.”
“Now, leve modyr,” quod Gawayn tho,
“lef ȝe ȝoure weping & doth not so.
For on avow j schal here make:
Aftyr that j my leve take,
J schal neuere sen ȝow eft ageyn,
tyl my Fadir & min vncle, certeyn,
ryht goode frendes that they be,
er that eftsones ȝow, modir, j se.
and min owne bretheren scholen gon with me
aȝens my Fadyr al forto be.”
“Now swete sone,” quod the modir thanne,
“God make ȝow alle Ryht goode menne!”
And as Gawayn thus to his modyr spak,
jnto the chambre there entrede, with-owten lak,
bothe Agrevains and ek Guerrers
and Gaheries, þat weren stronge & fers,
and herden there of here talkyng
& also of here modris gret morneng.
thanne seide Agrevains to Gaweyn anon:
“ȝe ben more to blame thanne we echon,
For ȝe ben eldest of vs alle;
therfore to ȝow hit hadde be-falle
vs to han lad, knyhtes to han be
mad of him, most of dignite.
and him to serve let vs now reke,
of whom worschipe al the world doth speke.
For god forbede but ȝif that we
as worthi jn armes scholden be
as they sein Ambroy oyselet is,
For here he moste kithen his pris.
For the hethene ben entred vs vppon,
& distroyen the contre be on & on,
and jn this contre peple non js
hem owt to dryven, with-owten mys,
but only be helpe of kyng Arthewr.
therfore now let vs gon this owr
and armes of hym forto take
and with him to risen, bothe slepe & wake,
and with him to fyhten aȝens his fon,
For so is vs mochel better to don.
For here non thing ne mown we wynne;
therfore lete vs faste hens twynne,
rathere than here to lesen oure renown
and with the hethen ben taken & leid in presown
and so to lesen bothe oure tyme & age;
this is non of the sevene sage.”
Now forthermore let vs tellen son
how that these iij kynges ben agon
owt Of Sorham, that cyte there,
jnto othir contres, with-owten dwere.
thanne rod owt kyng clarioun, j vndirstonde,
that was kyng of Northhumberlonde,
and rod him to on fair cite,
that berland hyhte, certeinle;
whiche cite he kepte wondir wel
with iij thousend men bothe goode & lel
with-owten hem that jn the town were,
of whiche fyve hundred fond he there.
So that tho marches he kepte ful strong,
and euere with the hethene he fawht among,
and often he wan & often he loste,
as hit behappeth jn every oste.
thus this kyng anoyed hem sore,
for jn that contre vitaille no more
mihten they geten to here refressching;
So hit hadde vpe gadered clarioun the kyng.
So that after kyng Clarioun was gon,
the kyng of c. knyhtes isswede anon
owt of sorham cite, ful Sekerly,
with iij thousend men of armes him by.
to the cyte of malehant gan he ryde,
þere a gentyl lady hym abod that tyde;
this cite marched vppon his lond.
and for the hethene, j vndirstond,
abowtes faste by they lye,
that was þe cause þedir gan he hye.
and the barouns hym preiden echon
vppon the hethen with hem to gon.
this kyng, that was so worthy a man,
fulfilled the barouns wille than.
(this kyng evere kept an c knyhtes,
wherby he hadde his name be ryhtes;
but his name was be his baptesm
Aingnignes clept aftir his borntempe.)
that [tho] marches kepte he wel al abowte,
So that of þe hethen they hadden litel dowte.
Aftyr him past owt Tradelivaunt the kyng
owt of that cyte, with-owten lesyng.
and to northwales he took the way,
to on of his cites, as j ȝow say.
with iij thousend of armed men
jnto his contre rod he then.
and of his comeng they weren ful glad,
for of the hethen gret drede they had,
that dyden ful gret distroccioun
al the contre abowtes jn virown.
thanne sente this kyng anon riht there
aftyr sowdiours every where,
So that vij thousend men he hadde
with hem that he ferst forth ladde
what on hors & what on fote;
this was his somme, wel j wote,
with-outen hem of þe town, pleinly,
þat weren iiij thousend, sekerly,
Wheche Hem Defendyd Jn Every tyde
aȝens a chastel there beside.
that a maiden that carville hyhte,
Socoured the hethen with alle hire myhte;
hadagabrantis soster, certein, was sche,
that thike castel hadde jn baylle.
And be tho marches, j sey ȝow ryhte,
non of the kynges there ne myhte,
for non power that they myhten do,
non noysaunce the hethen don vnto.
for bothe viaunde & vytaylle þe hethen hadde
out of þe castel ech day to hem ladde.
for that castel so strong hit was tho,
that non harm myhte comen hit vnto.
(For this carville cowde more of enchantement
than ony oþer womman, verament,
except morgain, that Sostir was
To kyng Artheur, jn everi plas,
oþer ellis juanne, the love of merlyn,
that of enchantement coude wel & fyn;
For sche knew more of merlynes konnyng
thanne alle þe creatures that weren levyng,
as ȝe scholen heren jn tyme comeng,
whanne ȝe me heren speke of swich a thing.)
what so þorwh helpe of that castel
the hethen ben refresschid wel,
wherfore cast out of londe mow they not be
but be helpe of kyng Arthour, Sykerle,
and be the helpe ek of kyng Ban,
that is holden so worthi a man,
also kyng Bors jn here compenye
(þe sonere out of þis lond scholen they hye),
and be helpe of oþer mo:
kyng Lothis children with hem scholen go,
as here-afte[r] ȝe scholen heren say
jn storye j rad this jlke same day.
The Renown that Sprang Abrod so Wyde
of kyng Artheur jn every syde
and of his largenesse & of his gentrie,
alle the world hit spak Of, trewelye.
so þat jn alle stronge contres, with-owten lesynge,
was non speche but of Artheur the kynge.
For his los tho sprange so wyde,
that jnto costantynnoble hit cam that tyde;
that so ferforth hit cam to ere,
so ȝonge sagremour herde þerof there.
that nas ȝit but fyftene ȝer old,
a fair ȝong Bacheler and a bold.
and whanne that he herde this tydyng,
he ne wolde not letten for non thing,
tyl he were mad knyht of his hond,
the sothe j do ȝow to vndirstond.
and often to his counseil seide he
that a worthy man moste he nedis be—
“whanne that myn ayel, adrians the kyng,
of him knyht was mad, with-owten lesing.”
For that he was þe nexte eyr
that to theke empire scholde repeyr.
so that Sagremour swor, certein,
that knyht scholde he neuere be, pleyn,
tyl that kyng Artheur of Breteygne
hym knyht hadde mad, jn certeygne.
So that they spoken þer-offen so ofte,
that thike noise wax hye on lofte.
So that Adrians gan him to hye
Sagremours to sende forth, Sekerlye,
jn-to breteyne with gold & fe
and what thing that to him belonged on lond & se.
now speke we no more ȝit of this matere,
but here-after more scholen ȝe here.
Ȝyt procedith forth this storye:
whanne kyng brangores was past trewlye,
owt of Sorhant thike cyte,
kyng karados aftir wente, sikerle
with his meyne arayed ful ryht,
foure thousend men redy to fyht.
and to strangore cite he wente ful faste
(alle his men of armes with him paste)
whiche cite he kepte ful wel
as a wys worthy werreour & a lel.
ȝit sente he abowtes wilde where
aftyr mo Sowdyowrs to han hem there,
so that atte laste assembled there was
vij thousend men jn that plas
wel j-armed with swerd and lawnce,
of stedis & coursers þat cowden wel praunce.
ȝit at that tyme non hethen there were,
wherfore eche nyht they lyen owt there
jn feldes and jn weyes bothe
to aspien whanne þe hethen comen, forsothe
and anon as that they myhten aspye
that ony of the hethen drow ther nye,
aȝens hem faste the wolden ryde
and with hem fyhten jn that tyde.
So that often they wonnen gret good,
Whanne that the hethen hem withstood.
Aftyr that these vj Kynges Weren gon
Out of Sorhant cite everychon,
thanne of Scotlond Agwyseax the kyng
out forth he paste, with-owten lesyng,
The richest kyng of that contre;
but as of armes onnethis cowde he.
this kyng out forth rod with v thousend men,
and to þe cyte of corange wente he then,
whiche that jn scotlond tho Stood,
where as manye of the hethene abod.
For there nas but xx scottysch myle
where as the hethen lyen thyke whyle
at the castel of Vaundebers,
where as the sege was strong & fers,
that non man of hem the nombre cowden telle
of the hethen, that weren so felle.
whanne this kyng jnto corange j-entred was,
of the ceteȝeins fond he jn that plas
Fyve thousend redy armed to fyht.
ȝit sente he forth bothe day & nyht
to seken soudeours be every syde;
So that him comen with-jnne a tyde
what on hors & what on foote
x thousend Saudiours, wel j wote,
with-owten alle his owne meyne
and ek the peple of that cyte.
so with the hethen helden they bataille,
& often goodes wonnen, with-owten faille,
and repareilled the walles of here cyte,
þere as it was most wont feble to be.
thus longe durede þe werre tho
be-twene thike partyes bothe to.
Jn this manere the werre dyd laste,
that ech aȝens oþer bekeryd ful faste.
thens torned the hethen from þat contre
jnto kyng Artheures lond, certeinle.
And there diden they gret damage,
for there nas non to letten here owtrage,
but as it kam be aventure,
as gret god wolde, j ȝow ensure,
bothe faire & good of sqwyers ȝonge,
as goode as myhte ben rehersed with tonge,
that kepten ful wel that ylke lond,
tyl kyng Arthewr cam hom, ȝe vndirstond.
and now scholen heren more of this,
how kyng Arthours lond was kept, j-wis.

[Chapter XIII]

Now telleth this tale ȝit furthermore:
whanne that galachim herde tellen thore,
he took a messenger ryht anon,
and to gaweyn he sent him ful son,
that previliche to-gederis scholden they mete
jn a certeyn forest, & not to lete,
and his bretheryn with him to brynge,
and that he make non Taryenge,
but on the morwe next Pask day
there forto meten with-owten delay.
the messenger rod bothe day & nyht,
tyl jnto orkanye jn wales he kam ful ryht,
and dide his arende þere ryht anon
To gaweyn & to his bretherin echon,
and seide that—“Galachim sente ȝow to say
with him to meten swich a certein day
jn the forest of Brokelond
at swich a place, ȝe vndirstond.
For þere sekerly he wyl ȝow abyde,
ȝif he be heyl, what so be-tyde.”
whanne that they herden this Messengere,
gret joye they maden amonges hem there,
and seiden, with-owten Ony lettyng
they wolden ben there be þe day spring.
for som nede þer was, they wisten trewelye,
that they were aftir sent jn so gret hye.
thanne to this messenger they ȝoven a steede
and oþer gret ȝiftes to his meede.
thanne spared the messenger neþer hors ne man,
tyl that to galachim ful sone he cam,
that jn that place abod stylle there
of his cosynes to heren answere.
Whanne that galachym vndirstood al this,
his herte was ful of joye and blys,
and als mochel joye to-gederis they made
as thouh alle the world they hade,
and told hym þat for non othyr thyng
for hym he sente, with-owten lesyng.
Ek he told hym al jn fere
hou it kam be talkyng of his modir dere.
thanne to galachim spak gaweyn þe bolde:
“Ryght evene the same my modir me tolde.”
and whanne that thus they hadden spoken jn fere,
anon they acordyd thanne ryht there
whanne they wolden taken here jorne:
with-jnne xv dayes, ful Sykerle.
thanne wenten they forth ech jn his way
hem forto purveyen alle maner aray,
as behouede to swyche children so goode,
that comen weren of so hygh a blode.
thanne rod forth galachym anon ryht
hym forto ordeyne with al his myht,
tyl ij c. of knyhtes & sqwyers had he
ful wel j-harneised jn alle degre,
of the beste that he cowde chese,
for be his wyl he wolde non lese.
Now, as ȝe me heren boþe reden & say,
jn the begynneng of the mounthe of may,
whanne trees & medwes wexen grene
and faire flowres growen hem be-twene,
ek also Bryddis merly don Synge,
also swete dewes jn the mornenge,
and also hertes lyhtenen be kynde,
ek thanne is merye vnder wode lynde,
thanne thouhte Gaweyn & galachim,
Gaheris & gwerrers, & mo with hym,
and Agrevayn jn here compenye:
faste to ryde gonne they hem hye,
whiles the morwenyng hit was cold;
they thowhten to ryden, þat weren so bold.
for they weren tendre and ȝong of age,
hardy, bold, & ful of corage,
and þerto j-armed wondirly wel
bothe jn erne and ek jn stel,
here swerdis hangyng on here sadelbowe,
and thus they reden al be rowe,
for jn þat contre was gret doute
of the hethene. that ryden aboute
bothe for pray and ek vytaylle;
alle that contre diden they asaille.
whiche contre so ful of good hit was,
whanne they entrede jnto that plas,
that gret deol hit is to here
what distroccioun they maden there.
The thridde day whanne they gonne ryde,
ȝe scholen here what hem gan be-tyde:
they metten kyng leodegron, verament,
Kyng Sonygron, And Kyng Mandelent,
Therto kyng Sernagn jn compeyne,
that hadde distroyed al that contre;
For thens they ladden many gret praye
of wyn, flesch, vytaille, The sothe to saye;
and the portis weren aryved with marchaundise,
the ryalest that ony man cowde devyse,
that v hundred somers weren charged there,
xv chares, & ten .c. charyettes jn Fere.
this cariage so wondir gret hit was,
that the powdir ros wondirly jn that plas,
that onnethes ony other myhte se
For dowst, that was so gret plente,
therto the Fyr & smoke so strong also,
that non man myhte sen where oþer gan go.
whanne these ȝonge children herden the cry
of the powre peple that cam hem by
For the harm that the hethen hadden do,
of whom ther weren ten thousend & mo
with-owten hem that weren on foote,
that both robbed & brende, god hit wote—
Whanne the children this dolour Sye
of that poure peple to-forn here eye,
they axeden where kyng Arthour was.
they ne wiste, they seide, jn non cas—
“but he be jnto the lond of Tarmelyde,
as we suppose this jlke tyde.
but ȝit er that he forth wente,
alle his strengthes he stuffyd, veramente,
that non of these hethen harm may hem do,
and therfore, Sekyr, they ben ful wo,
and therfore they distroye this contre
thus al abowtes, as ȝe mowne Se.”
whanne that the children herden this,
that kyng Artheur was owte of lond, j-wis,
they wolden chalangen both lond & pray
that the hethene hadden forreyed that day,
and kepen that lond jnto his comeng,
that was bothe here vncle & kyng.
whanne that these passantes herde hem so say,
thanne of on thing they gonne hem pray:
to tellen what maner of men they were.
“his kynnes-men we ben many of vs here.”
and whanne the passantes herden this,
Ful mochel joye they maden, j-wys,
For his kynnesmen, they gonne vndirstond,
Scholde sosteine & kepen kyng Artheurs lond.
whanne that the children al this beheld
how thikke the careage kam ouer the feld,
here hertes gonnen to rysen anone,
and as armes they cryden thus sone.
“now let sen here, worthy sqwyers,
whiche of vs schal ben most bold & fers
here to defenden oure herytage,
jn whiche these paynemis don gret owtrage.”
Thussone to armes went every man
and to hors-bak hos cowde sonnest than.
whanne the passantȝ Sien they hadden socour,
they torned aȝen with-owten dolour;
bothe on hors and ek on foote
with these children they wenten foot hote,
and the ferste thing was, that they mette,
chariettis with vitailles, with-owten lette,
that they ladden toward here ost
with thre thousend Paynemis of gret bost.
and hit was passed the mydday,
as this storye here doth say,
ek wondir hot hit was tho ryht
both for sqwyer and ek for knyht.
Anon as þe chyldren here enemyes Sye,
aȝens hem faste gonnen they hye,
Also Faste As they myhten Ryde;
with here enemye they metten that tyde,
and theke tyme slowen doun ryht euerichon,
that thike tyme from hem paste not on.
thike day be gaweyn so manye weren ded,
that body & hors weren al blood red.
For aȝens that ax that he bar on hond,
there myhte non man his dynt with-stond.
eke his other bretheryn dyden wel tho,
For they slowen that day mani a fo.
and galachym with gawayn evere was,
that mani merveilles wrowh jn that plas;
For al that euere stood jn his weye,
he slowh down ryht, as j ȝow seye.
but of þe marterdom þat made gaweyn,
hit is wondir to tellen, jn certeyn;
For aȝens his strok wolde nowht abyde
nethir harneys ne man that ilke tyde.
So fowhten the children that jlke day
with hem þat ladden that Jlke pray,
that there ne sckaped but xx men,
of whiche ȝit there weren ten
that retorned to hem that comen behynde,
of hem socour ȝif they myhten fynde;
of wheche vij thousend fully there were,
but alle wel armed weren they not there,
for hit was trossed hem be-Fore
among the chariettis that wenten thore:
For the gret hete that was thanne,
onharmed ther rod ful mani a manne.
whanne these ten fugytyves comen ageyn
to tho vij thousend, they tolden hem pleyn
how that alle jslayn they were
that here cariage cowndyet there.
Whanne that the hethin vndirstodyn al this,
anon to here armes they wenten, j-wis;
thike that ony armure hadden tho,
dyden as wel as they myhten do.
so that the thridde partye there
of armure destitewd they were,
whiche jn chareettis was trossed be-fore,
þat these ȝong sqwyers hadde wonnen thore;
whiche to Londone they senten, with-owten let,
be theke passauntes that with hem met,
and let coundie hem be anothir way,
lest þat these hethene scholde hem betray.
and sethen they seweden forth the chas,
til that they comen jnto that plas
there as thei to-gederis mette,
bothe hethen & cristen, with-owte lette.
thanne there began ful gret bataylle.
For there slowhe caweyn, with-owten faille,
kyng Noas the Brun of yrlond.
his strokis weren sweche, ȝe vndirstond,
that with his ax he clef him vnto,
that asondir fyl his Body tho.
Galachim so smot tho kyng Sonigran,
that jnto the feld his hed fley than;
for so took galachim there vppon,
that his strok dorste abyden non.
And Gaheries chased kyng Gwyneband
the drawht of an archier, j vndirstand.
for he hadde beten his brothir gwerrers,
þerfore jn herte he was ful fers.
(with a spere gwineband him smot, sikerle,
wherfore gaheries wende ded he hadde be;
but Gwerrers harm cawhte non
that ilke tyme of his fon;
but that wiste not the sothe gaheries.)
So forth he prekede jn that pres
with his swerd j-drawen on hande,
as faste as the hors myhte fleande.
Whanne Gwynebant Gaheryet tho beheld,
that he cam so prekyng jn the feld,
he fledde faste from hym a-way
For drede of deth he hadde sein that day.
(For he was of merveillous prowesse,
and that day nygh dede as gret dystresse
jnto litel partye as dyde Gawayn,
and al the sothe now Scholde j sayn.
thanne swor Gaheriet anon there
be god & be his blessed modir dere
that ȝif euere he myhte armes welde
to ben a knyht and beryn a schelde,
that he scholde neuere jn place abyde
nethir day ne nyht, that he nolde ryde
vppon the hethen, avenged til that he be
of his brotheris deth, ful certeinle.
For he wende gwerres hadde ben dede
Ful Sekerly there jn that Stede.)
and euere he sewed forth ful faste,
tyl he ouergat him at the laste.
So that behindes him weren the hethen men
an arblastes, j wot wel then.
thanne swed hym gwynebantes meyne,
that from that bataylle gonnen they fle.
Now reherseth forth here this Storye,
that the passauntes gonnen faste hem hye,
as men joyful and glad they were
that the cyte they hadde aprochyd so nere,
For but fowre myles they weren thens;
and amonges hem but lytel defens,
wherfore they hyed hem wondir faste,
tyl jnto þe cyte that they weren paste.
for they wisten wel, the hethene wolden asaye
ȝif they myhte geten aȝen that praye.
whanne they of the cyte behelden that Syht,
Sore jn here hertis they weren afryht
of that good & of that richesse
that thike meyne browhte, with-outen distresse.
The ceteȝeins axeden the passauntis sone
ho that al that prowesse hadde done.
they seiden that—“gaweyn, kyng Lothis son,
his bretherin & cosines jn viron,
Gaheriet, gwerres, & Agrevayn,
and galachim here cosyne, jn certayn,
kyng newtres sone, as j ȝow telle,
with the hethene they fyhten ful felle,
and leven Londis, richesse, & alle thyng,
and comen to helpen Artheur oure kyng;
that neuere for joye neþer for wrake
oure kyng Artheur nilen not forsake;
but vij hundred felawes in compenye
aȝens iij thousend this wonnen they, trewlye,
and hem they slowen everychon;
that so with this pray gonne we gon.
and now they fyhten with vij thousend mo,
that this cariage purswede tho.
Openeth the ȝates, this good ȝe take,
and som rescus for hem ȝe make;
For hit were bothe rewthe and pyte
but ȝif that they reskwed now be.”
Whanne the ceteȝeins vndirstodyn this,
anon the ȝates thei opened, j-wys,
and resceyved jn that Tresor,
that the passauntes browhten thor.
and sethen a meyne, with-owten lesyng,
scholde gon the children jn socouryng.
anon to þe maister tour they wente,
and an horn they blewen þere, veramente.
thanne was þere the custum tho
that eche man thanne to armes scholde go.
So that there Weren Redy Anon Ryht
Sevene thousend men j-armed to fyht.
thanne seide the captein of that town
that hit nere non good resown—
“that manye hens scholde go,
what maner of nede we han hem to.
and þerfore me thinketh best hit were
that somme of hem abyde how here.”
so of þat meyne v thousend forth wente,
and the remenant to þe cite weren sente.
Whanne that the hethene behelden this,
of that strok they merveilleden, j-wys,
For they wende here king ded hadde be;
hym to socouren faste gonne they fle.
and gaweyn amonges hem gan to ryde,
and they with him fowhten on ech syde,
and with here gleyves slowen his destrer
betwene his thyes, as he rod ther.
thanne thussone he was on foote
bothe angry & fers & of herte ful hoote,
and on bothe sydes he leyde so vppon,
that of hem dorste neghen hym non.
thanne cam socour hym abowte,
so þat þere was strong fyht, with-owten dowte,
abowtes gawayn jn that stounde,
and euere lay kyng Guinehans atte grounde.
For the hethene jn dowte were
whethir to reren guinehant they scholden gon þere
Owther Abowtes Gawayn forto Abyde;
thus jn dowte they weren that Tyde.
but gawayns felawes Fowhten there sore,
and the melle wax hard evere more & more.
Whanne Gaheriet & galachim this gonne beholde,
jn here hertes they woxen ful colde,
for siker they wenden he hadde be de[d];
him to reskwe they wente jn þat sted.
Galachym was þe ferste tho
þat to guinehant gan forto go,
& vppon the helm so hym smot,
that his bak bowede anon fot hot;
and guerreiers smot him thorgwh the arm
(ȝit ere he wente, hadde he more harm),
and gaheriet betwene þe nekke & þe scholder bon,
that jnto þe feld þe hed flygh anon;
and galachim with his foot that stounde
threw down þe Body to the grownde,
and took his hors & ladde to Agrevayn,
that on foote fawht with strengthe & mayn.
and whanne Agrevayn was vpe j-dyht,
thanne begynne there wondir gret fyht.
but of gaweyn wiste they non thing,
for he was ful harde in bekering
amonges the hethene vndir the lynde;
so fer hit was, he was harde to fynde.
Whanne that the children wisten this,
that they weren of Londone, j-wis,
jn herte they hadden ryht gret joye,
For þe lasse the hethen hem scholde anoye.
they torned here hors al jn fere,
& vppon þe hethen they ryden jn there.
but thanne weren the hethen sory,
For kyng Guinehaut lay ded hem by.
thussone they gonnen medlen sone;
thanne was þer not a litel to done.
here speres schatered jn þe feld,
& many hethen ded vndir his scheld.
And whanne here speris to-broken were,
eche man to his swerd took there.
So ech with-jnne oþer gan to ryde,
So that gret bataylle was þat tyde.
bothe of hors & ek of men
ful strong bloodsched was þere then,
that it ran down be eche vale,
as here reherseth this ylke tale;
þerto þe dost so gret hit was,
onnethis ony oþer knew jn þat plas.
Ful strong was þanne that melle
of the children and [hem] of Londone, as ȝe mown se,
aȝens tho cursed hethen wyhtes,
that so longe endured jn fyhtes.
From morwen jnto evensong belle,
so longe they fowhten, as j ȝow telle.
There dede gaweyn worthy prowesse
amonges the hethene jn that presse,
thanne mette with kyng mandelent;
with him to fyhte hadde he good entent.
For he hadde smyten on of his kyn,
þerfore he thowhte to meten with hym.
Doon of kerdyf was his name;
a man he was of ful good fame.
to þe erthe he hadde him browht,
whiche þat gaweyn ful sone him sowht.
he wolde han smeten of his hed,
but anoþer thowht gawayn jn þat sted.
Atte laste ȝit gaweyn with mandelent mette,
& on strok he on him sette;
thorwh his helm Ran gaweyns dynt,
and at his teth þere hit stynt,
& he fil ded doun to þe grownde;
thanne sory weren þe hethen þat stonde.
Whanne the Hethene Behelden tho
that kyng mandelent was ded so,
Ful sore abassched alle they were,
So þat echon they fledden there,
and to Vandobers they gonne hem hye,
where as the Sege was, Sekerlye.
thanne began the chas ful strong
and ek gret dowst, þat ros hem among,
that non man oþer myhte knowe,
not þe fadyr the Sone jn that rowe.
So that Sore was that Bataylle,
that jn thyke chas weren slayn, sauns faille,
what be gaweyn & his Felawis there
and with helpe of hem of londone jn fere—
xij thousend weren Slayn vpryht,
that onnethe of þat meyne askapen ne myht
not thre thousend of al that rowte;
So they were chased bothe jnne & owte.
thus the hethene weren scomfyt echon,
& homward ful joyful þe children gonne gon
To the cyte of londone ful rapelye;
these children ful faste gonne hem hye.
with presoners and pray faste þedir they ronne,
with the goodis þat tofore tyme þe hethene hadden wonne.

[Chapter XIV]

Now Forthere to this mater Let Vs pace,
ȝif that god wyle graunten vs grace,
hou that Arthewr past owt of his lond
and with hym these kynges, ȝe vndirstond,
bothe kyng Ban and eke kyng Bors,
that weren men of myht and Fors;
how that they riden Jn here jorne,
Tyl to Tartaysse they comen alle thre,
where as lay kyng leodegan, j vndirstond,
that was a worthi man of his hond.
On palmes-sonne eve jn gonnen they ryde
and with hem merlyn that jlke tyde.
there thus merlyne rod hem be-fore
on a fulfair stede to þe paleis thore,
where as was tho kyng leodegan,
that jn ful gret thowht was he than.
For kyng ryowns hadde entred his lond
with xv oþer kynges, j vndirstond,
and hym they hadden chaced so sore
and from place to place dryven hym thore.
So that these kynges logged hem alle
a-Forn Neblaise cite, as gan be-falle,
which cite was riche and plentevous
of goodis & of vitaille delicious.
wherfore that tyme kyng Leodegan
jn herte was a ful hevy man,
For he niste how Forto do,
nether how his lond defenden hem fro
(For jn his Lond hadde he non meyne
that Sege to remeven, certeinle),
ne how owt of his lond he myhte hem chace;
of wheche he axed counseyl jn that place
of knyhtes and of othere mo,
that at thike tyme weren comen hym to.
Jn the mene whyle, whiles here-of they speke,
kyng Arthewr and his compenie gonnen jn Reke,
and cam to-fore kyng leodegan,
that with his barowns cownseil held than.
be tweyne and tweyne they entred tho,
and jnto his halle they entreden so,
and merlyne jn here compenye,
but xlij vndir alle, with-owten lye.
Ful richely vestured & arayed they were,
and alle Berdles bacheleris thanne jn fere
Sof þe two bretheren kynges þat there weren than,
kyng Boors of gawnes and kyng Ban,
whiche that to-forn wenten tho;
and merlyne þe message þere gan do.
but alle the lordis þat with-jnne were,
of this peple hadden merveil there.
and whanne they comen to-fore the kyng,
they hym obeyeden jn worscheping.
Anon the kyng ros hem ageyn,
as this storye reporteth certeyn,
For they semeden ful worthy men
be here aray that they hadden then.
Thus whanne they weren entred echon,
thanne bespak kyng Ban þere anon,
and Salwede kyng leodegan.
anon thussone he ȝald him than,
and seide that alle welcomen they were—
“ȝif that for good ȝe be comen here.”
thanne bespak kyng Ban tho,
and to kyng Leodegan he seide vnto:
“Certein, Sire, with-owten lesyng,
For non maner of evel is oure comeng,
Ne not we comen owt of oure contre
here jn thy lond Forto noyen the,
but as jn manere of socouryng,
For sothe as j ȝow seye, Sire kyng,
and ȝou to don Servise jn swich degre
that to ȝoure plesaunce now myhte be.
and ȝif ȝe wilen not with vs don so,
Owt of ȝoure lond, sire, we scholen go
And to Betaken ȝow god Al-myht,
that algates he spede ȝow jn ȝoure ryht;
and we scholen gon jnto an nothir contre,
theþer as men of oure comenge glad wylen be
and vs resceyven jn Swich a manere
as we to ȝow oure Servise profren here.
but certeinly hit was vs tolde
that alle manere Of Sowdiours ȝe with-holde,
and þerfore was hedyr oure comeng;
Therfore ȝoure wille telle vs, Sire kyng.”
Thussone they entred hem betwene
with manye gret strokis, as hit was sene,
and slowh & maymed al that þer were,
that nowht on his hele hadde there.
there þese xlij maden swich martyrdom,
of men & hors a ful gret Som,
that vnnethes askaped ony away
of thike v hundred, the Sothe to say,
Sauf only fyve, that fledden be-fore,
anon as kyng leodagan they hadden forlore.
And thus Reskwed was Leodagan the kyng,
whiche to hym was ful gret merveyllyng,
To sen Swich martirdom Jn that plase
as of thyke lytel peple j-mad there wase.
and whanne he beheld the dragown þat merlyn bar,
thanne wiste he wel his frendis weren thar.
thanne thankede he god of that dede,
that so his Sowdeours with him dyden spede.
Anon merlyn there to hym wente,
and þere hym sesede anon presente.
Whanne that the ceteȝeins of that cite
behelden that jlke litel meyne,
thanne wisten they wel, the xlij it were,
that jn feleschepe weren jn fere,
and with hem was kyng leodagan,
that these xlij hadde reskwed than.
wherfore gret joye they gonne to make,
and so dede gonnore for here fadris sake,
merveilleng sore what these knyhtes were,
That so Vygoursly fowhten there.
For lyk as thondyr here dyntes ferde,
that jnto the eyr hit myhte ben herde;
For so merveillous was here fyhtyng,
that alle that weren jn here stondyng
they Slowen down ryht as they come,
that to-gederis they lyen on many a throme.
and whanne the xlij jn fere
amonges tho jeawntis weren entred þere,
thanne began the fyht so strong,
that wondir passyng noyse was hem among.
so that gonnore, with-owten nay,
that hydows noyse myhte heren, Jn fay.
there dyde kyng Ban of Baynok,
with correcense, his swerd, ȝaf many a strok.
For whom that evere þere-with he smot,
to grownde they wenten anon foot hot,
that neyther helm, hauberk, ne haberjon
withstondyn his dyntes myhten nouht on.
and thus took he on jn that Bataylle,
þat downryht slowh man & hors, with-owten faille.
so there nas non, myhte with-stonden his dynt,
Tyl of here lyveȝ that they weren stynt.
and jn the same manere ferde kyng bors,
that of alle the enemyes gaf he non fors.
and whanne the hethene behelden this
of þe merveillous strokys they Syen, j-wys,
and how kyng Artheur with kalybrond
merveillous strokis ȝaf with his hond
(aȝens weche swerd, the sothe to say,
myhte there non armure lasten that day,
For evere he vsede to smyten so sore,
that non man his strok abyden myhte thore)—
Thanne, whilles they fowhten Jn this manere,
happede, kyng artheur ȝit neyghede hym nere,
and mette with on that hyhte caunlent,
that hem of þe round table anoyede, verament,
and þerto dide he his power tho.
but Artheur, as hit happede so,
mette with this caunlent, j ȝou ensure,
whiche chef was of passyng mesure:
xiiij fote long he was, j wene,
of swich maner feet as now þere bene.
And whanne kyng Artheur there him mette,
a wondirful strok þere on him he sette:
besides his Scheld he smot hym so,
that thorwh bothe scholdres calibrand gan go.
And anon he fyl a-down, with-owten les,
and his hors forth ran thorwh-out þat pres.
So they that jn the castel were,
behelden how Arthour gan him bere;
Also gonnore, þe dowhter of kyng Leodagan,
merveillede mochel what was that man;
and so dyden þe peple everychon
that hym behelden be on & on.
Whanne merlyne cam to that Bataylle,
he fond Cleodalis, with-owten faylle,
vnhorsed and at the erthe, jn certein,
but on his fet he was rekeuered ageyn,
and the baner kepte, with-owten lesyng,
For that wolde he not leven for non thyng.
and abowtes him stoden his compenye,
that him defendid ful manfullye,
but they weren at gret mischef.
Natheles merlyn gan sone hem relef,
and amonges hem entrede with his baner,
& þe xlij felawes him folwede ther.
thanne jn they flyen as stordyly
as evere dide tempest out of þe sky,
and so worthily they fowhten there,
thyke xlij felawes þat weren jn fere,
that neuere men myghte bettere do
than thyke compenye diden tho.
but evere this kyng leodagan
here feleschepe nolden not forsaken than.
whanne these xlij amonges the jeawntes were,
Swich a noyse amonges hem was þanne there,
as of alle þe world the carponteris
jn wodes hadde hewen stowt & fers.
This was ȝit the angriest stour
that thike day they suffreden be ony our,
and þe most dolorowse and angwisschous,
but evere hem socourede swete jesus.
For there a man myhte beholde
bothe men & hors fulmanifolde
as thikke fallen vnder here scheld
as that motes flen jn the feld.
There myhten ȝe sen hors walken astray,
that non man of hem took kepe, jn fay,
of wheche the Sadelis ful blody were
of þe knyhtes that vppon hem weren slayn there.
and swich a noyse amonges hem was,
For lyk as thondring hit ferde jn that plas.
So that theke xlij persones
merveillously boren hem for þe nones,
that aftyr the deth of hem, j vndirstond,
hit was of hem longe spoken jn that lond,
and, as this storye reporteth now here,
that So manye Bodyes weren slayn there.
Beheueded, qwartered, dislemed Also,
that many day aftyr men myhten go
jnto þe places as the batailles were
be men dede & hors that lyen there
thorwh the conqwest, as J ȝow telle.
hos names here-aftyr J schal ȝou spelle,
For so wyle here this storye,
aforn goode men to rehersen hem, vtterlye.
This is the trowthe, As J ȝow telle,
how that cleodalis the steward hit befelle.
hit behapped that kyng Leodegan
a lady of hygh parage wedded had than,
and therto she was of gret Bewte,
and jnto Tarmelyde browhte hire he
owt of hire faderis owne lond,
as j do ȝow to vndirstond.
& with hire sche browhte a mayden ful gent
of wondir gret bewte, verament,
whiche mayden cleodalis lovede ful derne,
For there-of myhte non man hym werne.
So that he preyde leodagan, verament,
that he myhte wedden þat mayden gent
For alle his goode longe Servise;
he axede no more to his apryse.
the kyng hym graunted with riht good wylle,
For þat he was mochel beholden him tylle.
and whanne j-wedded hire that he hadde,
and from cherche as sche was ladde,
and browht was jnto the kynges paleys,
and down at mete was set on deys,
therto apparaylled ful Ryaly
aboven alle ladyes that seten hire by,
thanne hadde sche moche more bewte
thanne ony oþer lady, Sykerle;
wherthorwh þe kyng on hire his herte caste,
that for non thing aȝen myht he hit wreste.
So that stylle Leodagan the kyng
a gret whylle dwellede jn morneng,
For sche was the fairest creature jn ony londe,
as this Storye doth me to vndirstonde;
and thus at that tyme seyde he no more than.
but as hit happede that kyng leodagan
at an hygh feste of seynt Johne,
Leodagan Cleodalis owt he sente anon
a certeyn chevachye forto do
vppon his enemyes, þat hym noyede tho,
and his faire lady behinde lefte there
the qwene compenye forto bere
(For bothen they loveden as paramour,
the qweene & sche, with-owten langour)—
hit behappede vppon a nyht,
Leodagan be his qwene lay, as wile ryht.
that nyht on hire he be-gat tho
a fair dowhter, with-owten mo,
that jn hire age Gonn[or]e hit hyhte,
whiche that was a wondir fair wyhte.
this qweene sche was of gret bownte
and an holy lyuere, certeinle;
and on costom hadde this qweene:
þat but fewe nyhtes hit scholde bene
that sche ne wolde to mynstre go
hire matynes & servise to heren tho.
that same nyht þat sche conceyved was,
To matynes sche ros a ful gret pas,
and be the stewardis wyf sche cam ful stille,
and fond hire Slepyng, & thowhte non ylle.
thanne forth sche wente, & wook hire nowht,
To serven hire god, as sche hadde thowht,
and lefte this lady there stylle on slepe,
that of non creature took sche kepe.
Forth wente þe qweene alone with hire sawtyere
to þe mynstre, that faste by was there.
Anon this kyng leodagan tho
this lady thowhte to werken wo.
and whanne þat the qweene to mynstre was,
anon vp he ros jn that plas,
and qweynte alle the lyhtes þat weren wyt[h]-jnne,
For er wolde he þat tyme not blynne.
Sethen to the bed he goth ful ryht,
there cleadalis wif lay jnne that nyht.
Whanne the Lady Felte On Jn Hyre Bed,
sche axede ho was there Jn that sted.
“hold thou thi pes,” quod kyng leodagan;
“and þou discure me to ony man,
vppon my swerd thou schalt deye,
j the Swere, dame, be my feye.”
On the tothir partye was gret fyhtyng
of hem of þe round table, with-owten lesyng,
and the xlij sowdiours jn fere
aȝens kyng Sonigranx fowhten there,
that aȝens viij thousend helden bataylle,
and weren at gret mischef, with-owten faylle;
For they myhten not long endure
aȝens swich a meyne, j ȝow ensure.
thanne merlyne clepede kyng ban anone,
and to hym he seide ful sone:
“barouns, bachelers, bothe fre & bolde,
what stonde ȝe stille & so beholde?
here ben but fyve geauntis in this stede
that thus this meyne doth ouer-lede.
weren theke fyve distroyed sone,
thanne were al this bataylle done.”
“what partye ben they,” quod kyng ban tho,
“ȝondir jn bataylle boþe to & fro?”
“certes,” quod merlyn, “j schal ȝow telle:
Vlphines, Gyrfles, & bretel the snelle,
Sire kay, & Sire lucauns also,
with hem they fyhten & suffren wo.
and behold & seweth now aftyr me,
thanne the sothe there scholen we se,
wich of this compenye best doth him bere;
the sothe thanne scholen we preven there”
thussone merlyne faste forth rod,
and these knyhtes non lengere abod,
but forth they entrede jnto þat bataylle,
vj knyhtes aȝens xx jeauntis, saun faylle,
that weren passeng owt of mesure.
kyng Ban to-fore rod, j ȝow ensure,
and þe ferst man he mette that day tho,
was kyng Sonygranx, with-owten mo.
kyng Ban jn honde his swerd held,
that al forsoylled was jn that feld
of mennis blood & mennes brayn,
as j ȝow declare Jn certayn.
þerwith vppon the helm he smot him there,
that thorwh the Sercle hit wente ful clere
and thorwh the vysage evene down ryht,
that vppon the left scholdre hit alyht,
that hit fley jnto the feld
bothe the left arm & ek the Scheld.
Thanne made He gret Noyse, & Fowle He ferde,
that fer jnto the ost hit was herde.
And kyng Bors smot marganaus, for soth,
that thorwh the panne hit wente jnto þe teth.
On the tothyr partye kyng Arthour
Ful wel he bar hym jn that Stowr.
he smot a jeaunt thorwh hauberk & scheld,
that he fyl ded down jn the feld,
and vlphyn anothir geaunt slowhe,
Balaater, a strong thef and a towhe.
And Bretel slowh Gordaunt, & kay dendonart;
these jeawntes Slowen they jn here part.
Lucauns slowh maleeȝ, & Gyrfles manadape;
these jeaw[n]tis slowen they, hit was here hape.
And meraungis slowh Sadut jn that plas,
and gornauns kadrus Slowh dolas.
Anon as the hethene Syen these thus slayn,
To flen ful faste they weren ful fayn.
For they seyden hit wolde not avaylle
aȝens the cristene to holde bataylle.
Avaunt knyhtes of the table rownde
and þe two and fourty Soudiowrs jn þat stownde!
Anon the hethene sore abasched they were,
For of hem we[r]en slayn mochel peple there.
So that faste they gonne forto fle,
that alle the Sowdyours hit myhte se,
tel to kyng Sorpharyns they comen, j-wys,
that bataylle held with cleodalis.
thanne borsten the hethen Jnto that pres,
that non man there ne myhten hem ses,
So harde, that they whiche jn þe place were,
Forsoken here place maugry here.
and neuere they wolden astynte ne abyde,
tyl that to-fore toraysse they comen that tyde.
Anon thanne the peple of the cyte
wondir Sore affrayed weren, Sykyrle,
that the Banere Syen they not than
of here owne worthy kyng leodagan,
wherby thei thowhten thanne anon
that taken or dede they weren echon.
On þe tothir partye they syen not here kyng,
that the Sowdeoures hadden be reskewyng;
wherfore they weren abasched wel sore,
For that here kyng they syen not comen thore.
and whanne they comen to-fore the town,
thanne alle lost thei wende hadde ben jn virown.
For but vj thousend of cristen ther were
and jresch hethen xij thousend, as ȝe mown here.
Nedis the Sowdeoures weren at gret mischef,
So that to the cyte they gonnen relef.
and euere the ceteȝeins, the soþe to say,
of þe Sowdeours weren sore aferd, in fay.
whanne the Sowdeours and here compenye
among the hethen weren entrid, Sekyrlye,
there began a ful gret stowr
Ful of angwysch & of dolowr;
the wheche endured ful longe than,
For there was slayn ryht many a man:
For a thousend there fyllen jn that pres
atte ferste entre, with-owten les,
that neuere recouerede aftyr ageyn,
as j ȝow Seye now jn certeyn.
On the tothir partye, whanne þe knyhtes of the rounde table
and the xlij Sowdeoures, with-owten fable,
hadden discomfyt Sonigrenx the kyng,
and to flyht was put, with-owten lesyng,
they wolden non lengere aftyr hym chase;
For merlyne hem withheld jn that plase,
and drowh hem jnto on partye
of that feld, ful Sekyrlye,
and to hem alle seide ryht anon:
“herkeneth now, Lordynges everichon,
ȝe scholen non ferthere Sewen hem here,
but doth now as j schal ȝow Lere:
Alyhteth of ȝoure hors jn this tyde
Hem to refreschen, there to Abyde;
For ȝowre hors ful wery they be,
al be-swet and be-bled, as ȝe mown se.”
and they deden anon his comandement,
as j ȝow Seye, with ful good entent.
So that there they alyhten alle anon,
and refresched hem thanne everichon,
for therto they hadden ful gret mester,
alle the compenye of hem jn fer.
Anon ther spak kyng leodagan,
and vnto merlyne Seyde he than:
“Sire, wylen ȝe that these goode men here
with ȝoure xlij myhte ben alle jn fere?”
“ȝe certis, Sire,” quod merlyne thanne,
“to vs js welcomen every good manne.
For mochel the bettere scholen we do
al jn on wynge to-gederis forto go.”
Anon thanne clepyd kyng leodagan
hervy the ryvel, his banorer, than,
and preyde hym thanne forto comen ner
jn compenye with these goode men to dwellen her—
“and ȝoure Feleschepe with ȝow also,
For jn on compenye now scholen we go.”
“Ful gladliche, sire,” quod hervy ryvele,
“For Of here compenye vs lyketh ful wel,
ȝif that so here wylle now be.”
“ȝis,” quod kyng leodagan, “certeinle,
For from this day hens forward
but on compenye to ben both styf & hard.”
“depardeux,” quod Sire hervy thenne,
“For good is the Feleschepe of ryht good menne.”
Thanne to-gederis weren they alle
jn on compenye, as gan be-falle.
and merlyne to-fore be-gan to ryde;
thanne alle they hym seweden þat ilke tyde.
And whilles they reden thus jn fere,
as ȝe han me herd rehersen here,
Al the whille the steward cleodalis
with vj thousend jn his compenye, j-wis,
aȝens kyng Sorpharynes fawht he tho,
that with hym hadde xij thousend men & mo.
but enbataylled non thing they were,
but ay fyhtyng they weren here & there,
for they wendyn han mad an ende
of cleodalis meyne, & so thanne they wende,
For at gret mischef, certeyin, they were,
they that with Cloadalis weren there,
For jn poynt to ȝelden they weren echone
and ek here place to forsaken welsone.
thanne they lokede hem beside
and Syen merlynes Baner that tyde,
the dragon that the feer blew so hygh,
as hit hem Semede, jn-to the Skyhe,
that al the eyr semede on fyire there;
Swich wondris they syen that þere were.
And whanne that the ladyes vppon þe cyte walle
behelden merlynes Banere alle,
anon they cryden to Cleodalys,
that vndir the walles fawht, j-wys:
“ha, Cleodalis, of good comfort thou be,
For here cometh socour anon to the!”
Whanne they seyen the grete curtesye
that kyng leodegan dede openlye,
they hym thankede a thouse[n]d Sythe,
and to that messenger seyden as blythe:
“we thanken the kyng of his gret sonde;
let hym depart yt forth Jn his londe!
and anothyr tyme, whanne we hauen nede,
we wylen resceyven that he vs bede.”
thanne cam merlyne Faste anon,
and to the thre kynges gan he gon,
and bad hem Resceyven ouer alle thyng
the presentes that to hem sente þe kyng.
So they hit took, as merlyn hem bad,
and amonges þe peple distrebucioun they mad,
and leften not the valw of on peny
To here owne partis, ful Sekerly.
So that alle men of that contre
Tho Sowdyowrs preyseden ful hertele.
So that the contre repleynsched was abowte
of þe goodis þat they ȝoven, with-owten dowte.
For hem that the Sowdeours neuere Sye,
mochel worschepe hem spoken, certeynlye,
and al for here largenesse & here good dede
thorwh-owt the rem of hem gan sprede.
And al this was be merlynes cownsaille,
as j ȝow Seye with-owten faylle.
Artheur to his ost he ȝaf that day
bothe Richesse, and Robes, and many palfray;
that alle the dayes aftyr of here lyve
moche bettere myhten they bothen thryve.
Thanne whanne al this was J-do,
on the morwe to mete scholden they go.
So that they weschschen & seten a-down,
these worthy thre kynges & amonges hem non.
And alle the knyhtes of þe rownde table
benethen the Sowdiours seten, sauns fable.
but bothe kyng Bors and kyng Ban
betwixen hem bothe setten Artheur than.
For they deden hym ful gret honour,
For he was a man of gret valour.
kyng leodagan took gret kep tho
of the reuerence they gonne hym do,
and vndirstood wel be here Servyse
that here souereyn he was jn alle wyse,
and merveyllede gretly what he scholde be,
For fayn wolde he han wyst, Sykerle.
and to hym-Self he thowhte ryht there
that he hadde weddid his dowhter gonnore.
For he sawh neuere man of swich entaylle,
but of hygh blood he were, saunȝ faille.
“Oþer ellis the goode Lord jn maieste
thys man for socour hath sent to me,
a spiryt to ben jn mannes lyknesse
this rewm to defenden from distresse,
j wot wel, not only for the loue of me,
but for the Sustenaunce of crystyente
and ek holy chirche Forto meynteyne.”
thus to hym-Self kyng Leodagan gan seyne.
At that mete mochel thowhte than
this worthy kyng Leodagan
how that he reskewed was, jn feye,
with xlij felawes jn the valeye,
that hym reskewed of .v. hundred men,
whiche that to preson ward ladden hym then,
and browhten hym a-geyn with gret richesse,
and Slowen alle tho that weren jn that prese.
So that for thowht that he was jnne ther,
nothyng he ete at his dener.
Thanne that aspyde hervy the Revelle,
and þere-offen hadde merveylle euerydelle.
Anon to the table to hym he wente,
and there hym aresoned, veramente.
he seide that neuere sethen he was bore—
“Say j ȝow neuere of swich chere before,
ne neuere abasched So, jn good fay,
as ȝe ben here this jlke day.
For ȝe owhten gret joye to make
only for these goode mennis sake;
and ȝe faren wondirly for the nones,
as thowgh ȝe weren not of these wones.”
Anon kyng leodegan hym bethowhte,
how merveillously this man hadde wrowhte,
and Seyde: “hervy, my dere Frende,
J thenke here of a wondyr ende,
of the beste dede of on worthy man,
that of al the world now tellen j kan.
wherfore j ne may not with-holden me,
but on hym to thenken, certeynle.
and therfore, goode Sire, so blame me nowht,
For this day for me hath he Sore wrowht.”
“Sire, ȝit may j that leven ryht wel,
But At this time ȝe most Leven hit eche del.
and whanne tyme cometh, thenk what ȝe lyst,
For what now ȝe thenken, may not be wyst.
but to hem maketh joye and ek Solas,
For ȝe han gret cause here Jn this plas.
therfore abaschscheth non thing ȝoure chere,
For aȝens hem ȝe mistaken ȝow here.”
“Sauf vostre grace,” quod kyng Leodagan tho,
“jn non wise that wil j now do.
now goth and Sittyth down to ȝoure mete,
and al pensifnesse now schal j lete.”
Thanne Sette hym sire hervy down to mete
amonges his felawes, with-owten lete,
and the kyng to tho Barowns spak ful meryely.
thanne gonnere Leodagans dowhter, trewely,
of wyn Servyd hire fadir jn a cowpe of goold
and kyng Artheur on knees; þat lette sche nold.
kyng Artheur here beheld ryht wel,
and of alle hyre fetures hym lykede eche del.
hym thowhte sche was the fairest lady
of that Lond or of al bretygne, sekerly.
that mayden al dischevele sche wente,
with strawht Sydes, & myddel ful gente.
On hire hed a chapelet of gold was set
Ful of precyous stones, with-owten let.
hyre vysage was bothe Bryht and schene,
entermellyd whyt and with red betwene
Ful naturely, as hit Scholde be,
Neþer more ne lasse be qwantyte;
hire scholderis wel large, hyre armes ful gent,
bothe longe and smale, verament;
with a merveillous faire Schapen Body
and þerto Fayre schapen loynes, Sekerly;
with smale feet wel schapen & gent:
Fairere cowde non man devysen, verament;
hire handis white, fyngres longe and smale:
of hire bewte joye hit is to tellen ony tale.
ȝif that this mayde hadde al this Bewte,
ȝit hadde sche dubble fold moche more bownte,
bothe prowesse, largenesse, & kurtesye,
of gret wyt and valour, Sekerlye.
This mayden, of whiche ȝe vndirstond,
was the fairest thorwh-owt ony Lond.
Now sesen we now of this matere,
and til eftsones non more to speke þerof here,
tyl that thaventuris of seint Graal
holy discuren hit Somme an al.
and speken we forth of this meyne oure fille,
that jn kyng leodagannes court abyden stylle.
ryaly at here Soper weren they dyht,
as hit belongede to men of myht.
And whanne that the tables j-drawen were,
the thre kynges on syde merlyn took there,
and openly he seide there to hem alle:
“wilen ȝe now heren what is jn breteyne befalle?”
“ȝe certes,” quod kyng Artheur tho,
“that wolde j weten, er that J go.”
“wile ȝe weten,” quod merlyn, “with-owten faylle,
aforn Londone hath ben ful gret Bataylle
aȝens the hethene, that there j-entrid Js
and þat lond dispoillid han & robbed, J-wys.
So that with the pray that they hadden take,
Towardis douer here weye gonne they make
jnto the ost to leden that cariage
with ten thousend men of gret parage.
thanne so hit behapped jn that tyde,
that fyve of thy nevews comen þere Ryde,
that from here moderis departyd were
and vnknoweng of ony of here fadris dere.
thanne how these forreyeris that they mette,
j schal ȝow tellen, with-owten ony lette.