The story of England

¶ De Moddreto traditore.

He was passed þe mountes pleyn, But Moddred dide hym turne ageyn. A day as he to þe mete went, . Out of þis lond lettres [These 'lettres,' and the 'trompes' of the next line are from Langtoft, i. 216.] were sent, Line 14,028

Line 14,028 & right as his trumpes blewe, A messager þat he wel knewe, Þe lettres in his hand he leyde, . & til his owen mouþ he [till him with mouth.] [Petyt folio 81a:2] seyde, Line 14,032 ' Þat Moddred, his sister sone, ' Had y-don hym gret tresone; ' He had taken of þe lond homage, ' & leyd in casteles gret [don in kastellis gode.] hostage; Line 14,036 ' ȝit wil he nought be þer-by, ' But waiteþ þe [bot waite him with.] more vileny: " Þy wif til hys hore haþ [gon.] drawe, " Ageynes cristen mannes lawe; Line 14,040 " & Cheldryk, kyng of Germye, [Gernimie. (Saissone, Wace, ii. 221, l. 13,461.) Wace has this Cheldrik bit after Arthur's reaching Whitsand, l. 14,072, here.)] " Ys comen, & brought gret partie; " By-ȝonde Humber, vntil Scotland, " Cheldrik haþ þat in his hand; Line 14,044 " & al þat langes vntil Kent, " Vntil Cheldrik gyue þey [ȝeldes.] rent; " To holde wyþ Moddred wyþ [at.] his might, " Trouþe to-gydere haue þey plight. Line 14,048 " Seuen hundred schipe lyn [schippes ligge.] by þe stronde, " ffour score þousand þer come [er comen.] to londe " Of men of armes, wyþoute pytaille, " Ageyn þou comest, to gyue þe [ȝow comes to gyf.] bataille." ¶ When he had þus til Arthur teld, Line 14,053 How Moddred no feyþ ne trouþe hym held, & synfullyke had reysed stryf, His lond hym refte, for-leyn his wyf, Line 14,056 He made his plainte to sire Oel, & preide hym to kepe ilkadel

Burgoyne & ffraunce boþe wel; [Lambeth folio 60a:1] Til hym he tryste as to þe stel: Line 14,060 " Toward Bretaigne y wil me spede, " Þe outlandeys wiþ me lede, " On Moddred wil y bataille bede, " & take vengaunce of [on.] his misdede. Line 14,064 " Lytel y preyse al my conquest " Þat y haue wonne in þys est, [est or weste.] " ȝyf y now leue Bretayigne, my fe, " Bretayne myn heritage þat fel to be. Line 14,068 " I schal me hye a-geyn to come; " On alle manere y wil to Rome." He iorneyed þen fro land to land Til he come to Whitsand. Line 14,072 He pleyned hym sore of Moddred, Þat fro his conquest had don hym [conquest him.] [Petyt folio 81b:1] fled. ¶ Arthul [Arthur.] had purueid hym a flet, At Whitsand were þey in water set; Line 14,076 Moddred herde wel þat tydyng, ' By Whitsand cam Arthur þe kyng.' Modred gadered his hostes to-gydere, Of hyse & oþer þat come þydere; Line 14,080 Arthur he hoped he durste [hoped wele to.] abide, Wyþ-sette þe hauenes on ilka syde. Þe lond wolde nought Moddred lese, Ne repente, ne to þe pes chese; Line 14,084 He wyste hym self so coupable, To aske þe pes hit was but fable.