Arthour and Merlin, nach der Auchinleck-hs. Nebst zwei beilagen / hrsg. von Eugen Kölbing.

II. DIE JÜNGERE VERSION.

L.

He, þat made wiþ his hond [f. 13a] Wynd and water, wode and lond, [2) Both winde P. and w. w.] wode water H; water P.] Ȝeue heom alle good endyng, [3) them PH u. so stets.] Þat wolon listne þis talkyng! [4) wol. l.] lystynyth H. þis] to my HP; danach ein buchst. ausradirt, L.] And y schal telle ȝow byfore, [ 5] [5) telle ȝow b.] you informe P.] How Merlyn was geten and bore, And of his wisdoms al so [7) wisdome P.] And oþre happes mony mo, [8) And] of add. H.] Sum whyle byfeol in Engelonde, [9) Sum wh.] Which then P. That sume tyme felle H.] Ȝe, þat wol þis vndurstonde. [ 10] [10) He P. þis] here & H.] In Engelond þer was a kyng, [11) þer was] was sume tyme H.] A noble mon in al thyng, In weorre he was war and wyȝht. [13) was] bothe add. H.] Kyng Constaunce, for soþe, he hyȝt; [14) Kyng] om. P. Co∣stantyne H; Constantine P.] A douȝhty mon he was of dede [ 15] [15) was he H.] And ryȝt wys he was of rede. [16) ryȝt—was] allso a wyse man H.] Kyng he was of gret honour [17) f. om. H.] And holden prynce and con∣querour; [18) emperour P.] For kyng Angys of Denemark [19) For] om. H. An∣guish P; Anquysh H.] And many a Sarsyn stout and stark [20) Sarazen P; Sarazyn H.] [ 20] Weorred on him, wiþ owte faile, [21) outen PH.]

And he ouercom heom in batayle And drof heom owt of his lond þat tyde, [23) the londe H; feild P.] [23) gestellt in P.] Þat þey neo durste him nouȝt abyde. [24) neo] om. P. þat þ. n.] Ther was none H. nouȝt] om. H.] [24) vor] Þanne hadde þeo kyng sones þreo, [ 25] Þeo faireste childre þat myȝht beo; Þeo eldest sone, þat schold beo kyng, [27) some (!) P.] Was cleped Moyne, wiþ oute lesyng, [28) called P. Was c. M.] Moyen he hight H. oute] om. P.]

Þis oþre weore of gret renoun, [29) The H. oþreo, e verklext, L; othe (!) P. weore] tweyne H.] Boþe Vter and Pendragon: [ 30] [30) *Hyght H.] Þus men heore names alle calliþ, [31) men] dyd add. H. alle c.] calle H.] [31) f. om. P.] Þeo Bruyt witnessiþ heom alle. [32) As ther brutes H. heom] om. H.] On þat tyme, we fyndiþ in boke, [33) *In P; om. H. fyndiþ] i ausradirt, L.] A gret seknesse þeo kyng toke, [34) kyng] he add. H.] Þat out of þis world he most wende, [ 35] [35) wende] go H.] And after his barouns he dude sende. [36) dude s.] sent tho H.] And whan þey weore comen euerilkon, [37) whan] þat add. H. echeone H.] Þe kyng seide to heom anon: [38) them H.; then (!) P.]

"Lordynges," he saide, "lasse and more, [39) Lords P. lasse a. m.] to then (!) anon P.] Out of þis world y schal fare: [ 40] [40) y sch. f.] must I gon P. I must die, myn hart is sore P.] For godis loue and par charite [41) par] om. P. and p. ch.] in trenite P.] And for þe loue, ȝe owen to me, [42) that faviowr (!) H. owen] have H.]

Whan y am ded and lokyn in clay, [43) locked P; leyde H.] Helpiþ my childre þat ȝe may [44) þat] all that H; in *what P.] And takiþ Moyne, myn eldest sone, [ 45] And makiþ him kyng and ȝeueþ him corowne; [46) him] yowr add. H. & g. h.] with H.] Holdiþ him ȝoure lord for euer mo!" [47) And hold H. him] for add. P. ȝoure] your P; oure (!) L. for e. m.] said hee P.] Alle þay graunted, hit scholde beo so. [48) And all H. soe bee P.] Þan hadde þe kyng a styward feyr, [49) a] danach stwy, ausgest., L. feyr] om. H.] Þat was cleped sir Fortager; [ 50] [50) called P. Vortiger P.]

His treowthe to þe kyng he plyȝt, To helpe his chyldre at his myȝt, [52) at] with all P.] [50)—52) That was falce and froward P.] Bote sone þat traitour was for∣swore, [53) Fwll H. the P.] He brak his treowþe and was forlore. [54) He] *& P; om. H. & w. f.] he had made beforne P.]

So þat þe kyng of þis world went [ 55] [55) So þat] For P; And whan H. kyng] out add. PH. þe H. world] was add. H.] And faire was buryed, verray∣ment, [56) And f.] He H. bur.] than add. H.] At Wynchestre, wiþ oute lesyng, Was mad his burying. [58) There was PH.] Eorles and barouns sone anon Tok heom to gedre euerychon, [ 60] [60) Gadiry H. heom] all add. H. echeone H.] Wiþ outyn any more dwellyng [f. 13b] [61) out PH.] Heo maden Moyne lord and kyng. [62) They P u. so stets. *To *make H. M.] *theyr add. H.] Bote þe styward, sir Fortager, Was ful wroþ, as ȝe may here, [64) wyckyd H. shall H.] And was þer aȝeyn wiþ al his myȝt, [ 65] [65) was] stoode P. agaynst H.] Boþe by dayȝes and by nyȝht, [66) day PH. and] also add. H; eke add. P.] For he þouȝt him seolue wiþ treson [67) wiþ] by H. Mit diesem verse schliesst H.]

Beo lord and kyng wiþ croun. [68) *To be P.] So sone as Moyne was chose kyng, [69) As P.] Into Denemark þe word gon spryng. [ 70] [70) can P.]

Kyng Aungys hit herde sayn, [71) hit h. s.] hard it then P.] Þer of he was boþe glad and fayn; [72) *& th. P. he] om. P.] Messangeris þat ilke tyde [73) Soone add. P. mess.] *in add. P.] Wente ouer al his lond wyde [74) Wente] *He *sent P. the P.] After mony Sarsyn stout & stark [ 75] [75) Sarazens P.] Of Saxoyne and of Denemark, [76) & of Saxons P.] An hundred þousand and ȝet moo On horse and on fote al so [78) horse] backe add. P.] Come þydir wiþ oute ensoyne, [79) f. om. P.] For to weorre on kyng Moyne. [ 80] Þeo kyng wolde no lengur byde, [81) Þeo k. w.] Then wold they P. abyde. P.] Bote dyȝt him to schip þat tyde [82) them P.] And brouȝt in to Engelond afyn [83) af.] I saine P.] Mony a douȝty Sarsyne. Bote Engelond was clepid þan [ 85] [85) called them (!) P.] Mukyl Breotayne of vche man. [86) euery P.] Þanne þe word wyde sprong, How þe Denys kyng wiþ wrong [88) Danish P.]

Gan worche Engelond muche woo; [89) Gan w.] Wrought in P. mickle P.]

Kyng Moyne herde, þat hit was soo, [ 90] He went him to sir Fortager [91) him to] vnto P.] And preyȝed him wiþ mouþ and cher [92) mouþ and] lowlye P.] And bysouȝte him wiþ gret vygour, [93) wiþ gr. v.] of his honor P.] He scholde beo his gouernour, [94) He sch.] For to P.] Aȝeyn his fomen for to fyȝt; [ 95] [95) Against P. for] om P.] And he onswerede anon ryȝt [96) And] om. P. onsw.] him add. P.] And brayd him self seek as traytour strong [97) fained P. self] mit dunklerer tinte ü. d. z. nach∣getr., L. seek] sicke P; om. L.] And saide, wiþ ryȝt and nouȝt wiþ wrong, Neo wold he neuere come in batayle, [99) He wold P.] For his streynthe bygan to fayle; [ 100] [100) When P.] And al he dude for nyþe and onde: [101) For all this he said afore∣hand P.] He þouȝte to beo kyng of þis londe. [102) For he P. that P.] Þeo kyng him wolde no more pray, [103) him w.] he wold him P.] Bote tok his leue and went a way. [104) a] *his P.] Messangeris he sent þat tyde [ 105]

Ouer al his lond on ylk a syde [106) To P. the lands P. ylka] euery P.] To eorl, baroun and to knyȝt, [107) For *erles, *barons & *knights P.] To helpe him for to fyȝt; [108) To] *come *& add. P. for to f.] *in his *fights P.]

And whan þay weore al ycome And heore armes hadde ynome, [ 110] [110) hadde y.] done vpon P.] Þey prikyden forþ, wiþ oute faile, To ȝeue þe Denys kyng batayle. Þer was clowen mony a scheld And mony a knyȝt feld in þe feld. [114) a] om. P. fallen P. þe] om. P.]

Al þat þey metten at þat stounde, [ 115] [f. 2a] [115) at þ. st.] *in strond P.] Mon and hors þey slowe to grounde; [116) *Horsse *& *man *fell to the P.] So Englysch men, for soþ to say, [117) So] Soone the P. for] the P.] Weore discomfyȝt and fledde away; To Wynchestre þay fledde þo, Syngand allas and weylawo. [ 120] [120) With much sorrow, care & woe P.] Bote þe Denys kyng by fore [121) Danish P.] Mukil of his folk hadde ylore; [122) *Much P. folk] he add. P. *for∣lore P.] Al so swyþe he sent his sonde [123) Al so s.] & then forthe P.] Hom aȝeyn to his owne londe, [124) Some (!) into P.]

To al, þat myȝhte wepne beore, [ 125] [125) weapons P.] Schold come to Englond, him to weore. [126) to—weore] & helpe him in this warre P.]

Of weorre wolde he neuer blynne, Cytees and castels he gan wynne, [128) he gan] for *to P.]

In Engelond he dude mukil wo, [129) dude m. w.] warrd full sore P.] Half a ȝer and sumdel moo. [ 130] [130) *more P.] Alle þe barouns of Engelond [131) of] in P.] Tokyn heom to gedre on honde, [132) on h.] *in that stond P.] What heom weore best to done, [133) heom—best] was best for them P.] To avenge heom of heore fone. [134) For to P.] And whan þay weore come alle, y ȝow telle, [ 135] [135) And] om. P. y ȝ. t.] arright P.] Eorles, barouns, þat weore feolle, [136) Eorles] *& add. P. þat w. f.] lords & knights P.] Heo seiden, þat Moyne, heore kyng, [137) The P. þat] om. P. heore] their young P.] Was nouȝt bote a broþelyng, [138) nouȝt] om. P. brotherlinge P.] And seyden: "Ȝef Fortager kyng ware, He schulde ous brynge out of care!" [ 140] [140) *wold bring them P.] And seide anon, olde and ȝyng, [141) They P. anon] *both add. P.] Þey wolde, Fortager weore kyng. [142) Þey w.] That P. weore] shold be their P.] And whan þay haddyn spoke of þis, [143) of] all P.] Twolue barons þey sente ywis To sir Fortager þeo bolde, [ 145] To wite, why þat he neo wolde [146) why þ.] whether P. nay P.]

Aȝeyn heore fomen for to fonde, [147) Against P. for] om. P. stand P.] To dryue heom out of Engelonde. And þo þeo barounes alle yfere [149) *when P. in fere P.] Waren come to sir Fortager, [ 150] Wel hendeliche he heom grette [151) Wel] & add. P. *they *him greete P.] And on þe deys by him sette [152) deys] dske (!) P. him] they add. P.] And bad heom wiþ wordes ille, [153) still P.] To sayȝe, what weore heore wille; [154) For to P. was P.] And þey onswerde faire aȝeyn [ 155] And baden, þat he scholde heom seyn, W[hy] he wolde nouȝt wiþ heom gon [For to a]venge heom apon heore foon. [158) apon] of P.] [And s]eide: "Syþe Constaunce was ded, [We ha]n had a sory red, [ 160] [We ha]n had mony sory happes [161) f. om. P.] [And of] hys men wel harde clappes!" [And bade,] he scholde take on honde, [163) bade] that add. P. in P.] [To warr]e heom out of Enge∣londe.

Þen ans]werde sir Fortager [ 165] [As a man of] gret power: ["I was neu]er ȝet ȝoure kyng [167) yett neuer P.]

[Why pray]e ȝe me of such helpynge? [168) help.] *a *thinge P.] No neuer ȝet her by fore [f. 2b] [157)—169) Ein stück vom rande des blattes ist abgerissen und da∣durch diese zeilen verletzt; das fehlende ist in eckigen klammern, soweit möglich, nach P ergänzt.] [169) Nor yett neuer P.] To ȝow no was y nouȝt yswore, [ 170] [170) To—nouȝt] Nor to you was neuer P.] For to helpe ȝow at ȝoure neode; And þer fore, so god me spede,

Wendiþ hom to ȝoure kyng [173) vnto P.] And preyeþ him in al thyng, Þat he ȝow helpe aȝeyn ȝoure foon, [ 175] [175) To helpe you against P.] For of me neo gete ȝe noon!" [176) of—ȝe] *helpe of me gett you P.] Þanne onswerde a bold baroun: "Oure kyng nys bote a kouioun, [178) *is P. k.] younge one P.] For, whan he siþ a sweord ydrawe, Anon he wenyþ to beon yslawe; [ 180] [180) Anon] om. P.] He ne doþ vs non oþir good, [181) ne] om. P. noe P.] Bote fleoþ awey, as he weore wod: Hadestow beon among vs alle, [183) amongst P.] Þat chaunce neo hadde neuer byfalle, [184) neo] om. P.] Þat we lore þis asauȝt; [ 185] [185) f. om. P.] For soþe, in him was al þeo defauȝt: Þus seyn alle oure peris." "Y tro wel," seide sire Fortagers, [188) sire] om. P.] "Certes, hit was gret deol, [189) Certaine P.] To make ȝoure kyng of a fool; [ 190] [190) ȝoure] *a P. of] such add. P.] Hadde ȝe mad a mon ȝoure kyng,

He hadde ȝow saued in al thyng; [192) *saved *you P.] Bote, certaynly, sikir ȝow beo, [193) cert.] sithen P.] Help neo haue ȝe non of me, [194) neo h. ȝ.] gett you P.] Bote if ȝoure kyng weore ded, aplyȝt, [ 195] [195) if] so P; om. L.] I wolde ȝow helpe wiþ al my myȝt." [196) *helpe *you P.] Þanne saide þeo barouns ilkon: [197) eche one P.] "Woltow, þat we oure kyng slone?" [198) Will yee P.] "Nay," he seide, "wiþ outyn stryf, Whiles ȝowre kyng is olyue, [ 200] [200) While P. ȝowre] younge add. P.] Help no gete ȝe non, ywis!" [201) no] om. P.] Þeo barons toke leue wiþ þis; To Wynchestre þey went alle, Þere þeo kyng was in his halle, [204) his] om. P.] And, als he sat at þe mete, [ 205] [205) þe] om. P.] Þey rowned to him wiþ gret hete, [206) run P. wiþ] in P.] And, als he sat at þe bord, Or euer he spak any word, Þey rowned alle to him anon [209) run P.] And smyten of his hed wel sone. [ 210] [210) full P.] And whan þe kyng þus was slawe, [211) *was *thus P.] Eorles, barons, hyȝhe and lawe Tokyn heom alle to rede, Kyng þey mosten haue nede, [214) That *a k. P.] Engelond for to weore [ 215] [215) All E. P.] Aȝeyns heore foon, þat wolde heom dere. [216) Against them that will or darre P.]

Þanne hade þe kyng breþere two, [217) þe k.] kyng. om. (!) L; Moyne P.] Ȝonge childre þay weore boo, [218) boo] alsoe P.] Þay weore so ȝonge wiþ ynne elde, [219) f. om. P.] Þat þey myȝte non armes welde; [ 220] Þat on was Vter, and Pendragon. [221) The P. hight P. and] the other P.] Þan saide þe barons euerilkon, [222) euerye one P.] Þat þey neo scholde neuer spede, [223) neo] om. P.] Bote ȝef a douȝhty mon of dede Weore chose to beon emperere, [ 225] [225) em∣pere (!) L. *their *king in fere P.] And sworen, þat sir Fortagere [226) sweren P.] Was a douȝhty mon of dede, Stout and stark apon a stede, [228) stark] stale∣worth (le zweimal geschr.) P. of (!) P.] And sweore þer to gedre vchon, [f. 3a] [229) A L; *The P. *then P.] Þat oþir kyng no wold þey non. [ 230] [230) now. þ.] they wold *haue P.] Þo nas þer neyþir knyȝt no sweyn, [231) Then *was P. nor P.] Þat durste speke þer aȝeyn, [232) þer] them P.] Bote graunted alle, olde and ȝonge, [233) alle] it *both P.] To make Fortager heore kynge. [234) make] sir add. P.] A mury tyme is in Auerel, [ 235] [235) f. om. P.] Þat muche schewiþ monnes wil. So in þat tyme, as ȝe may here, [237) the P. tyme] of Aprill add. P.] Twolfue barouns come to For∣tagere [238) Tw.] abgeschnitten, P.]

And seiden, þat Engelondes ryȝt Was lorn þourȝ heore kyng, aplyȝt, [ 240] And he was ded, wiþ oute lesyng, And his two breþere weore to ȝyng, [242) brothers P.] To holde þe kyndom in honde; "Þer fore, þeo comyn of þis londe, [244) comm∣ons P. the P.] Haþ þe chosen wiþ honour, [ 245] [245) Haue you P.] For to beon heore emperour." Blyþe and glad was Fortager, Anon was kyng, wiþ oute dawnger. [248) & anon P.]

At þe feste of his corounement, [249) the turna∣ment P.] Two barons, þat weore gent, [ 250] [250) *The P. Danach At whych parlement þey hadyn tyȝt, ausgestr., L.] Þat al þe treson vndurstode And hadde reuþthe of heore blode, [252) They P. heore] the right P.] Þat þey scholde beo do to ded, [253) Þey] children add. P.] Þer fore þey tok anoþir red And tokyn Vter and Pendragon [ 255] And passed ouer þeo see anon. [256) seas P.]

Of heore passage wiste no mo, Bote þe hende barons two.

And whan þeo feste was yholde, [259) was] all add. P.] Fortager, þat traitur bolde, [ 260] [260) *the P.] Let make a compacement [261) a. c.] accompackement P.] Of eorles and of barouns gent, [262) of] om. P. bar.] that were add. P.] At wych parlement þey hadyn tyȝt, [263) hight P.] For to a slayn þeo childre ryȝt. [264) a] haue P.] Fortager comaunded anon, [ 265] To fechche Vter and Pendragon. [266) For to P.] Swyþe anon men heom souȝt, [267) Swyþe—heom] Fast about all they P.] Bote þey neo myȝhte fynde heom nouȝt. [268) neo m.] cold P.] Whan Fortager þis vndurstod, Þanne at furst he wax al wod [ 270] [270) at f. om. P. waxed almost P.] And þouȝte, ȝef þey come to lyue, [271) f. om. P.] To vyl deþ þey schold him dryue.

Bote noþeles sire Fortager [273) neuer the lesse P.] Dude comaunde fer and ner, [274) com.] giue comandment P.] Boþe to baroun and to knyȝt, [ 275] [275) Boþe] om. P. to] *duke *erle add. P. to] om. P.] [To make h]eom redy for to fyȝt.

[And soone they] dyȝhte heom, ywis [With armes] and wiþ hors of prys. [278) horsses P.]

[And when they] weore al redy dyȝt, [279) al] om. P.] [Forsooth, it] was a semely syȝt, [ 280] [280) is P.] [With helme] on hed and bryȝt baner [All went forth] wiþ sir Fortager. [282) sir] om. P.] [The king of] Denemark wiþ pryde [Brought his] ost by his syde; [Either host ca]n oþir assaylle, [ 285] [There might y]ou seo stark bataile, [276-86) Die anfänge dieser zeilen sind abgerissen und hier in eckigen klammern aus P ergänzt.] [286) stark] *a strong P.] Sweordes drawen and arwes schoten, [f. 3b] [287) f. om. P.] Mony a quarel þoruȝh þeo þrote.

Þeo Englysch folk, for soþe to say, [289) folkes P. for] om. P.] Fouȝhten so wel þat ilke day, [ 290] [290) They f. P. ilke] om. P.]

Þat kyng Aungys in þat tyde Was apon þeo worse syde And fleyȝh awey, as he weore wood, [293) *fledd P.] Into a castel strong and good, [294) strong] faire P.] And mukil of his host al so, [ 295] [295) manye P.]

Faste awey þay gon to go; [296) þay—go] can they goe P.] And Fortager wiþ his rowte Bysette þe castel al abowte;

And whan þay hadde longe by leyn, [299) b. l.] laine P.] Kyng Aungys sent heom for to seyn, [ 300] [300) Kyng A.] Vortiger (!) P. sent] to add. P.] Ȝef he in pes passe most, [301) in] om. (!) P.] He wolde take al his ost And wende to his owne contray, [303) into P. owne] om. P.] And neuer after þat day Wolde he passe þeo see stronde [ 305] Neo come to weorre in Enge∣londe; And whan þis couenaunt was al don, Þat þey neo wolde in Engelond come, [308) wold not into P.] Fortager tok his counsail And let heom passe hol and hayl. [ 310] [310) hol a. h.] cer∣taine (!) P. & soe they went to the sea & passed to their owne countrye add. P.] Fortager þo tok his host [311) then P.] And went þennes wiþ gret bost [312) wiþ] a add. P.] And heold feste many day [313) And] He P. many] *a add. P.] Wiþ mukil solas and wiþ play. [314) much salace (!) P.] And whan þe feste was yholde, [ 315] [315) was] all add. P.]

Þat twolf barouns, þat ich of tolde, [316) *The P. ich] *erst add. P.] Þat hadde slawe Moyne þe kyng, Byþouȝhten heom of a wondur thyng, [318) They b. P. wonderous P.] Þat þey wolde wende to Fortager And aske him mede and heore lower, [ 320] [320) h. l.] liverr P.]

And seiden: "Fortager, now þow art abowe, [321) þow art] you bee P.] Þenk, what we dude for þy loue: [322) Þenk—dude] Now yeelde vs meede P.] We slowe oure ryȝte kyng of kynde; [323) of] by P.] Now beo sene, ȝef þow beo hende: [324) beo s.] will wee *see P.] For we brouȝte þe in þy power, [ 325] [325) in þy p.] to thine aboue P.] Ȝeld vs oure mede and oure lower!" [326) Thinke, what wee did for your loue P.] Kyng Fortager onswerde ageyn Wiþ egre mod and gan to seyn: [328) and gan to] he can P.] "By þe lower, þat god made, [329) law P.] Ȝe schal haue as ȝe bade, [ 330] For ȝe arn traytours stronge [331) trayt.] starke & add. P.] And han slayn ȝoure kyng wiþ wronge, And ȝef y may, so mot y theo, [333) f. om. P.] Ȝe neo schal nouȝt so serue me!

For ȝe han wrouȝt aȝeyn þeo lawe, [ 335] [335) For] & P. against P.] Ȝe schul beon hongyd and todrawe!" [336) & therfore yee shall both hang & draw P.] He dude take horses sket [337) fleete P.] And trayed heom to heore feet, [338) traysed (!) L; tyed P.] & then drew them on a pauement [P p. 150] & sithen hanged them, vera∣ment. [ 340] Then many an erle & barron hynde, That were of the barrons kinde, To Vortiger they ran anon, As his most deadlye fone; Hard on him can they fight, [ 345] For to slay him they thought right. [346) the P.] Vortiger with might & maine, He with his host went them againe; A strong battell there was dight & many a head ther of smitt, [ 350] Soe that Vortiger that day Was glad for to scape away. Anon the barrons send their sonde Wyde ouer all England To all their freinds, sibb & couthe, [ 355] East, west, north & southe, & told them that sooth tyde, How Vortiger with great des∣pighte, With great treason & with wrong Their kinred had drawen & honge. [ 360]

Wrath then was many a man, & al together swarren then, That they wold not assunder breake, Till they were on him wreake. Euerye man on other besought, [ 365] A great host on him they brought

& foughten with sir Vortiger 9 monthes of this yeere, That many a lady fayre & free Lost her lord & her meanye. [ 370] Then the warr endured long, & the barrons waxed strong, That Vortiger had not power, Against them longer to endure.

Messengers anon hee tooke [ 375] And made them sworne vpon a booke, That they shold his arrand gone, & letters he tooke to them anon & sent them ouer the seas iwis To Denmarke vnto king Anguis, [ 380] & that hee shold come att neede With all the power, that he might lead, Against his foemen for to fight,

That wold depriue him of his right.

Then was king Anguis blythe [ 385] & messengers hee sent swithe To duke, erle, barron & knight & to all, that weapon beare might. Then to shipp they went blithe And ouer the sea can they driue. [ 390] [p. 151]

& when they came to Vortiger, He welcomed them with merry cheere

& seazed there into his hands Halfe the realme of England, That he had or haue might, [ 395] For to helpe him in his right. When this couenant was made fast, All they dighten them in hast, Into battelle for to wend With the barrons, that were hende. [ 400] Besids Salsbury a lyte, There the battell can they smite. [402) the P.]

. . . . . . . . . . . [403) in P übersprungen.] Many a bold champion,

& many a 1000 in that stonde [ 405] Were slaine & brought to ground.

Many a ladye & damsell Can weepe that day with teares fell. Then had Vortiger 10 Against one of the barrons men; [ 410]

Discomffitted they were that day, With great sorrow they fled away; & Vortiger, that wold not spare, But hunted them, as hound doth hare, Them, that he did ouertake, [ 415] Noe other peace did he make, But did them all todraw & hange, But sithen all that was wrong; Many a barron hynde & free Fled out of his owne countrye [ 420]

& dwelled out many a yeere, For loue of sir Vortiger. Then Vortiger ceazed into his hands

The lands & rents of all the barrons, & both wiffe, chyld & swaine [ 425] He droue out of the lannd, certaine.

King Anguis had, verament, A daughter, that was faire & gent, That was heathen Sarazen; & Vortiger for loue fine [ 430] Vndertooke her for his wiffe & liued in cursing all his liffe, For he did make the christen men To marry the heathen women,

Soe that nighe all England [ 435] Was fallen into the devills hand. [339)—436) ist in L verloren; hier ergänzt nach P.]

Þus þey lyuede mony a ȝer, [L f. 14a] [437) *& thus P.] So on a day sire Fortager Byþouȝhte him of þeo childre two, [439) of] on P. ch.] danach þo, ausgestr. und ver∣klext.] Þat owt of londe weore flemed þo, [ 440] [440) of] the add. P. fledden]

And al so he byþouȝte him þan Of mony anoþir douȝhty man, Þat he hadde flemed out of þeo land, [443) land] so P; verl. in L.] And in his heorte gan vndur∣stond, Þat hit was a sory hap, [ 445] And douted him of after-clap. [446) P. of] an add. P.]

Anon he sente messangeris Ouer al his lond for carpenters [448) his] the P. carp.] so P; rs verl. in L.] And for gode masons al so, Þeo beste, þat weoren in londe þo. [ 450] [450) Þo] thoe P; verl. in L.] Mony þousand þer cam anon. [451) Mony] *a add. P.] Þat wel couþe worche lym and stone; [452) wel] om. P. & stone P; bis auf an verl. in L.] And whan þey weore comen all, [453) all] so P; bis auf a verl. in L.] Þe kyng anon to heom gon call [454) call] so P; cal erh. in L.]

And seide: "Lordynges, y am byþouȝt, [ 455] [455) b.] ouȝt verl. in L; *haue *thought P.] A castel y wol haue ywrouȝt [456) A *strong castle to be wrought P.] Of strong tymber, lym and ston, [457) str.] bigge P.] Þat such anoþir beo nowher non, For my men, þat arn olyue, [459) f. om. P.] Þat y can out of londe dryue; [ 460] Ȝef y euere haue nede, [461) euer I P. haue] any add. P.] My lif þer yn y may lede: [462) yn] that add. P.] Þat castel ȝe schal make mury [463) The P. surlye P.] Vp on þe pleyn of Salesbury: Goþ and doþ als y ow bad, [ 465] Þat hit beo trusty and wel ymad, And ȝe schule haue to ȝoure huyre Al so mukil as ȝe wol desyre." [468) As much P. shall P.] Þeo werkmen wente forþ þo, Fyftene þousand and wel mo, [ 470] [470) wel] yett P.] Heowen tymber, coruen ston [471) caruing P.] And leiden a fondement anon; [472) fond.] foundation there P.] Somme leyde and somme bere, [473) bore P.] Somme þat werk gonne arere. [474) & some can the worke arreare P.]

Þat seolue day, wiþ owte doute, [ 475] [475) ilke P. wiþ o. d.] round about P.] Breost-hyȝh hit was abowte; [476) Itt was br. P. ab.] without doubt P.]

When hit was come to þe nyȝt, [477) *When] so P; om. L. was c.] came P. wright (!) P.] To heore bed heo wente aryȝt And come aȝeyn apon þe morwe And fonde þyng of mukil sorwe; [ 480] [480) fonde] a add. P. *much P.] Al heore fondement heo founde [481) Al—heo] For all the fondation the P.] Lyggand abrod apon þeo grounde, And al totorn lym and ston: [483) tot.] both add. P.] Gret wondur þey hadden vchon. Beter red neo couþe þey non, [ 485] [485) neo] *then P.] Bote to bygynne a neowe anon, [486) to byg. a] *began it P. an.] againe P.] And speddyn al so wel, for soþe to say, [487) al so] as P. for] *the P.] Als þey dude þeo furste day, Fro morwe til hit was nyȝt, [489) f. om. P.] And al so swyþe as þey myȝt. [ 490] And whan þe euenyng was come, To reste wente alle and somme. [492) The went to *bedd all soone P.] On morwe þey cam aȝeyn anon [493) aȝeyn] om. P. Von hier ab bis v.] [& found it] cast boþe lym and ston [f. 14b] [494) boþe] downe P.] [& was spr]ad boþe here and þer, [ 495] [495) þer] thee (!) P.] [& thus they] ferdyn half a ȝer. [496) faren P.]

[When the king heard] of þis, [Great wonder h]e hadde, ywis, [& oft asked both] ȝonge and olde, . . . . . . it myȝte beo holde [ 500] [500) nicht ergänzbar durch P: & of the wonder wold be told.] [& why the work]e myȝhte noȝht stonde. [There was none] in al þat londe. [502) in al] . . . l L; within P. the P.] [Highe nor lowe], lewed no clerk, [503) lewed] . . wed L; learned P. nor P.] [That cold tell hi]m of þat werk. [504) the P.]

[King Vortiger sate], in his halle [ 505] [Amongst his barrons &] knyȝhtes alle [506) his] so P; ich las noch e vor sonde in L.]

[& sware, he wold] neuer spare, [Vntill he wist, why] hit ware; [& anon he sent his]e sonde [Ouer al England]e [ 510] [After clerkes old] and ȝyng, [511) younges (.!) P.] [That cold tell hi]m of wondur thyng. [512) of w.] wonderous things D.]

[The messengers] forþ went [513) mess.] so P; ich las ion vor forþ in L.]

[And did the k]ynges comaun∣dement, [Many a wise cler]k þey sowȝt, [ 515] [Before the ki]ng alle weore brouȝt; [516) king] they add. P.] [King Vortiger] aposed heom alle, [517) opposed them P.] [Why his worke] was so doun falle; [518) was so] *did P.] [But there was no] mon, þat couþe him telle. [519) no m.] *none P.] [Then he sw]are, he wolde hem quelle, [ 520] [520) hem] *them P; him(!) L.] [But if they wo]lde seyȝe in hast, [Why this wo]rk was so doun cast. [522) so] om. P.] [10 mast]res he lette take anon, [523) lette t.] tooke P.] [The wisest] of heom euerychon, [Into a chambre þey weore do, [ 525] [That no] mon myȝhte come heom to,

[Þat] heo hadde socour of no thyng, [527) f. om. P.] [Bot]e vnneþes mete and dryng. [S]o on a day, verrament, [529) on a] one (!) P.] [529) sind in L. nur die zweiten hälften resp. schlüsse der verse erhalten; die ergänzungen sind nach P gegeben.] Þay lokid in to þeo firmament, [ 530] And vndur þeo weolkyn þey sawe a sky, [531) þey s.] their shewed P.]

Þat schewed heom witerly, Þat fyue wynter þer by fore [533) Þat] in add. P. winters P.] A knaue child þer was ybore, Byȝeten wiþ owtyn ony monnes mon; [ 535] [535) Begotten without any man P.] And ȝef þey hadde þat child anon [536) anon] then P.] And slowe him hastely þan, [537) sley P.] Er he speke to any man, [538) spoke P.] And smeored þeo werk wiþ his blod, [539) smeere P.] Þenne schulde hit worthe stark and god. [ 540] [540) hit w. st.] that worke be sure P.] Þus þeo sky schewed heom þere And passed awey wiþ owte more. Þan weore þeo clerkes glad and blyþe And come to Fortager al swyþe [544) al sw.] sithe (!) P.]

And tolde him, wiþ owte les, [ 545] A knawe child bore þer was [546) Of a P. bore þ. w.] that was gotten iwis P.] All wiþ owten monnes streone, [547) All] durch einen riss im pergamente zerstört in L. Without seede of any man P.] And þey seiden al by dene [548) And] sehr zweifelhaft in L; Thus P. al b. d.] euerye * one P.] & seyd: "Do seke þat child, [549) & s.] om. P. seke] schwer lesbar in L; send & feitch P.]

Wheþer he beo in towne or feld, [ 550] [550) Wheþer] heþe fast unlesbar in L.] And doþ him sle hastely [f. 15a] And tak þeo blod of his body And smeore þy werk abowte þer wiþ, [553) the P. ab. þ. w.] rond about P.] And hit schal stonde euer in gryþ!" [554) euer in g.] without doubt P.] Bliþe and glad was Fortagers, [ 555] [555) Glad & blithe P.] He lette clepe twolf messangeres [556) He l. c.] *& called *to *him P.] And lette departen heom, so mote y theo, [557) heom so m.] mit dunklerer tinte auf rasur geschr. in L.] [557) f.: & parted them in veritye, That neuer a one might other see P.] Þat non neo scholde wiþ oþir beo. He sente heom forþ vp on his sonde On foure half of Engelonde [ 560] [560) Vnto P. parts P.] And comaunded, þat þey neo stynt nouȝt, [561) neo] om. P.] Til he weore to fore him brouȝt. [562) he] so P; þey (!) L. to f.] befor P.] Anon þeo messangeres forþ went And duden þeo kynges comaun∣dement; And sir Fortager þeo bolde [ 565] Comaunded þeo clerkes to beo holde, [566) Caused P.] Til þeo messangeres comen aȝeyn, [567) came P.] To wite, what þey wolde seyn, And swar by Jhesu, heouene kyng, Ȝef þey lowen any lesyng, [ 570] [570) lowen] made P.]

No raunson scholde for heom gon, Þat þey neo scholde dyȝe euerychon. [572) But P. neo] om. P.] Now lete we þis maistres beon [573) f. om. P.] And of þis clerkes al by dene,

And telle of þis messangeres, [ 575] [575) Now let vs tell P.] Þat wenten fro sire Fortageres, [576) from P.] For to seke þeo child so ȝyng, And ȝe schal here a wondur thyng: [578) wonderous P.] Ȝef ȝe wolon a stounde dwelle, [579) & if P.] Of þat child y wol ȝow telle, [ 580] [580) shall P.] On what manere þe messangeres [581) messenger P.] Brouȝte him to sire Fortageres, [582) Vortiger P.] And what he hyȝhte, wiþ owte les, And of what kynde þat he was, [584) Þat] om. P. is P.] Þat ȝe schule vndurstonde and wite. [ 585] [585) may P.] Þoruȝ what skile he was byȝete. [586) gett P.]

Dauid þeo profete and Moyses Witnesseþ and seiþ, how hit wes: Þo god hadde mad þoruȝ his myȝt [589) That P.] Heouene ful of aungelis bryȝt, [ 590]

Þeo fairhod, þat þey hadde þan, [591) fairh.] ioy P.] Nis no tonge, þat telle kan, [592) *For∣sooth P. þat] om. P.] Til Lucifer hit forgult wiþ pryde, [593) hit f. w.] with guilt of P.] Alle, þat heold wiþ him þat tyde; [594) *& all P.] Such veniaunce god on heom gon take, [ 595] Þat þey arn now feondes blake And, as y fynde in holy wryt, [597) as] om. P.] Þey felle fro heouene to helle put [598) from P.] Sixe daiȝes and seoue nyȝt, [599) nights P.] As þikke as hayl in þondur lyȝt. [ 600] [600) lights P.]

And when þay weore ut of heouene, [601) when] mit späterer hand ü. d. z. nachgetr.] [601) f. om. P.] Oure lord seide wiþ mylde steuene And heouene lowked aȝeyn ful stille, [603) f.: & when it was our ladyes will, Heauen closed againe full still P.] Als hit was his owne wille.

Feole of þe feondes, þat y tolde er, [ 605] [605) Feole of] om. P. tolde] of add. P.] Felleon out of heouene wiþ Lucifer. Þo, þat wonen in þe eyr an hyȝh, [607) Those P. bidden on P. haight P.] Felle þey beon, stronge and slyȝh [608) sleight P.] And of þeo eyr takeþ heore lyȝt [f. 15b] [609) And] om. P. þeo] they P. eyr] *the add. P. their P.] And han heore streynthe and heore myȝt, [ 610] [610) heore] great P. heore] om. P.] After mon to make heom body, [611) him L.; a P.] Fair of colour and rody, Dessenden doun among mon kynne, [613) Discen∣ding P. mankind P.] To tyse men to dedly synne. Alle þey wiste wel by fore, [ 615]

Þat Jhesus was of Marie bore; [616) was of] wold on P. Marie] be add. P.] Þer to þeo feondes hadden onde [617) *enuye P.] And seide, þat þey wolde fonde, [618) þat—fonde] to the earth the wolden hye P.] To neyȝhe in eorþe a maide mylde [619) on P.] And byȝete on hire a childe, [ 620] Such a child, þey seide þo, Þat schal worþe þeo world ful wo And acombre al so feole, Als Jhesus had brouȝt in to weole. [621)—624) om. P.]

Þus þey wende þeo world afyled, [ 625] [625) world] *to *haue add. P. af.] a unvollst. in P.]

Bote atte laste þey weore by∣gyled. Y schal telle ȝow, how hit was: [627) *you *tell P.] Now may ȝe here a wondur cas. [628) yee may P. wonderous P.] In þat tyme, y vndurstonde, A riche man was in Engelonde [ 630] And hadde a good womman to wyue, [631) to] *his add. P.] And lyued to gedre in clene lyue. [632) in] a P.] A sone þey hadde and douȝhtre þreo, [633) daughters P.] Þeo fairest childre, þat myȝhte beo. Anon þeo feond, þat y of tolde, [ 635] [635) þeo] a P.] Þat wonede in þe eyr so bolde, [636) woonen(!) P.] In to þeo eorþe he lyȝhte þan [637) In—lyȝhte] He light on the earth P.] [637) f. umgestellt in LP.] And tempted so þat gode womman, [638) tempted so] for to tempt P.] Þat in hire body he hadde gret myȝt, [639) & P. he] om. P.] And brouȝhte hire in chest and fyȝt, [ 640] [640) in ch.] into striffe P. fyȝt] ȝ auf rasur geschr. in L.] And made hire ofte wiþ egre mood [641) ofte] after P.] Corse hire children, as heo weore wod. [642) *To cursse P. child P. shee was P.] So apon a day an euen late [643) So] om. P. att P.] Þoruȝ þeo feond wiþ gret hate [644) gret] danach debate, durch∣gestr. L.] Wiþ hire sone heo gan to grame, [ 645]

Corsed him harde by his name, [646) & curst P. harde] fast P.] And to þeo deouel heo him bitauȝht [647) bihight P.] Wiþ al þeo power, þat heo auȝht. [648) þeo] her P. þat h. a.] & her might P.] Þanne was þeo feond glad and bliþe And þouȝte to do heom schame swyþe, [ 650] [650) *him P.] And þo hit was come to þeo nyȝt, [651) Þo] *when P. þeo] om. P.] In to hire hous he com ful ryȝt [652) The feende *went to her house right P.] And strangled heore sone, þere he lay; [653) where P.] Þeo wif ros vp, when hit was day, And fond hire sone ded at morwe [ 655] And went and hong hire seolf for sorwe; [656) hong] strangled P.] And whan hire lord herde þis, Anon swiþe for sorwe ywis Sodeynly he deȝed þo Wiþ outen schryft and hosol al so. [ 660] [660) out P. and] or P.] Þeo folk of þat contre þat tyde, [661) þat] the P.] Þat wonede þer nyȝh by syde, [662) neere P.] Come þidre, heom to seo, [663) þidre h.] together then P.] And hadden reuthe and gret pyte, [f. 16a] Þat mony a mon þat day [ 665] [665) & P.] Weop and seide weylaway [666) Weeped P.] For þat godemon and his wif, Þat hadden lyued so good lif. [668) good] a add. P.] An heremyte wonede þer by syde [669) her.] that add. P.]

And com for to seo þat tyde; [ 670] [670) And] om. P. for] om. P. seo] *them there add. P.] Blasy, for soþe, his name was, And ofte he seide: allas, allas, [672) ofte] te später nachgetr. in L.: *for *them add. P. allas] om. P.] Þat hit was byfalle soo, In his heorte him was ful woo [674) he P.] And seide, hit was, verrament, [ 675] Þoruȝ þeo feondes comburment. [676) incomberment P.] Þeo douȝhtres he fond þer on lyue, [677) aliue P.] Þat godman þo can heom schryue, [678) Þat g. þo] The hermitt hee P.] Of al þat þey couþe þenke or mene, [679) Of] om. L.] [679) f. om. P.] And seothen asoyled heom ful clene; [ 680] And whan þey hadden doon and seid, [681) he had P.] Fair penaunce on heom he leyd.

And whan he had tauȝt heom soo, [683) *had] so P; om. L. tauȝt h.] done P.] Hom aȝeyn he wente þoo, [684) he w. þoo] can he goe P.] And þanne þeo maydenes al yfere [ 685] [685) And] om. P. in fere P.] Seruedyn god wiþ bliþe chere.

In al Engelond þo was vsage, [687) Þo] *then P. was] the add. P.] Ȝef any womman dude outrage,

Bote ȝef hit weore in spousyng, [689) sp.] her spousage P.] Or anymon old or ȝyng [ 690] [690) If P.] Myȝhte hit wite of þat contre, Al quuyk heo scholde doluen bee, [692) shold P; schol∣den (!) L.] Bote heo weore lyȝt womman told [693) heo] if it P. were] *a add. P. called P.] To alle, þat hire aske wold. [694) alle] men add. P. þat] to add. (!) L. h. a.] aske her P.] So þeo feond, þat hadde myȝt, [ 695] Þat wonede in þe eyr lyȝt,

Into þeo eorþe he lyȝte doun þan And wente him til an old womman [698) him t.] vn*to P.] And hyȝhte hire boþe gold and fee, To wende to þeo sustreon þreo, [ 700] Þeo eldest maiden to enchaunte, Som ȝong monnes body for to haunte, [702) for] om. P. enfante P.] And, ȝef heo myȝhte brynge hit þer to, [703) ȝef] om. P. *her P.] He hette hire gold for euere mo. [704) more (!) P.]

Þat olde quene was ful glad [ 705]

And dude, als þeo deouel hire bad, And wente hire to þeo sustreon þreo; [707) wente] weste, ausgestr. und wente übergeschr. L. hire] om. P.] So sone as heo myȝhte heom seo, [708) So] As P; danach s, verklext, L.]

To þeo eldeste suster heo seide: [709) suster] soone add. P.] "Allas, my swete, dure maide: [ 710] [710) deere sweete P.] Þow hast faire feet and honde, Gentil body for to fonde, [712) A gentle P. sounde (?) P.] Whyt swyre and long arm: [713) sw.] hayre P.] Ywis, hit is muche harm, Þat þy body neo myȝte asay, [ 715] [715) might not P.] Wiþ som ȝong mon for to play, Þat þe myȝte fynde in euery cas [717) þe] yee P. place P.] Gamen and murthe and gret solas!" [718) and] om. P.] "Certes," seide þe maide þan, [719) Certaine P. maiden P.] "Ȝef þat y tok now anyman, [ 720] [720) tok now] take P.] Bote ȝef hit weore in spousyng, [f. 16b] And anymon old or ȝyng Myȝhte hit wite of þis contre, [722) And an.] Any man either P.] Al qwyk y scholde dolue beo." [723) Myȝhte—of] & itt were knowen in P.] "Nay, certes," seide þat olde quene, [ 725] [725) cer∣taine P. the P.] "Þow may hit do wiþ owte dene [726) Yee P.] Ȝer and oþir in boure, in bedde, [727) Ȝer a. o.] Both P.] [727) boure] & add. P.] Þeo whiles nomon þar þe wedde. [728) Þeo wh.] Although P. doe you P.]

And þer fore neo dred þe nouȝt, [729) neo] om. P.] Ne þar hit neuere be forþer brouȝt; [ 730] [730) Ne þ. h.] For it needs P. be] so P; om. A. forth P.] And ȝef þow wolt do by my red, Þow neo dudest neuer better dede!" [732) neo] om. P. neuer] a add. P.] So þoruȝ þeo qwenes enchaun∣tement And þeo feondes comburment [734) in∣cumberment P.] Þeo eldest suster, soþ to say, [ 735] [735) suster] the add. P.] Lette a ȝong mon wiþ hire play, And whan hire liked best þe game, Hit turnde hire to muche schame, [737) hire] shee P.] For heo was taken and forþ ydrawe, [739) ydr.] y, danach brouȝt, unterpunktet und ausgestr., drawe, L.] And of hire game heo was knowe, [ 740] And for þat werk doluen heo was; [741) for] mit d. t. ü. d. z. nachgetr. in L. heo] om. P.] Mony mon seide for hire allas. [742) Mony] aadd. P.] Þeo feond, ȝet anoþir while Þat oþir suster he con bygyle [744) The P.] And made hire loue a fair ȝong man, [ 745] [745) hire] mit d. t. ü. d. z. nachgetr., L., to add. P.] And was his lemman after þan, [746) And] after add. P. after] om. P.] Al hire wille to him heo let; [747) f. om. P.] Hit was parceyued ful sket, Heo was taken forþ, ywis, [749) forth wise (?) P.] And brouȝt by fore þeo justis, [ 750] [750) þeo] hye add. P.] Hire juggement to vndurfonge, [751) vnderstand P.] As hit was lawe of londe. [752) was] the add. P. of] the add. P.] Þeo justice hire aposede þo, [753) opposed her P.] Wher fore heo hadde do so; Heo onswerede, as hire was tauȝt, [ 755] [755) hire] shee P.] And seide, heo neo forsok hit nouȝt, [756) neo] om. P.] Heo swor, heo was a lyȝt womman [757) & said, shee P.] To alle, þat wolde hire body han, [758) hire b. h.] come to her common.] And þer skapeode heo away, [759) þer] soe shee P. heo] them P.]

So þat hire folewed al þat day [ 760] Of harlotes a gret haras, [761) haras] race P.] To fyle hire body for þat cas. Ȝet þeo feond, in þat while Þe þridde suster he can bygyle. [764) he] om. P.] Þenne was þe ȝongest suster so wo, [ 765] [765) youngest P; ȝonge L.] Þat nyȝh hire heorte brastin two, [766) burst P.] For hire modur hong hire seolue [767) hong] had hangd P.] And hire sustur men qwyk dolue, [768) hire] one add. P. quicke was delfe P.] And for hire fadir dyȝed amys [769) for] that add. P.] And hire broþir was strangled, ywis, [ 770] [770) was] so P; om. L.] Hire oþir sustur an hore strong, Þat wiþ harlotes made hire mong. [772) wiþ—mong] harlotts was euer among P.] Al most for sorwe and þouȝt [773) and] for add. P.] Yn wanhope heo was nyȝh brouȝt. [774) nyȝh] om. P.] To þeo hermyte heo wente þan, [ 775] Þat hyȝhte Blasy, þat gode man, [776) To that P.] And tolde him al þeo soþe by fore, [f. 17a] How al hire kynrade was forlore. [778) kindred were P.] Þeo hermyte hadde wondur gret, On godes halue he hire het: [ 780] [780) het] besett P.] "Y bydde þe, haue god in mynde [781) in] thy add. P.] And let beo þeo lore of þe feonde!" He bad hire forsake in alle wise [783) & P. alle] any P.] Pruyde, hate and couetyse, Nyþe and onde and envye [ 785] [785) N. a. o.] Alsoe sloth P.] And monnes flechs in lecherye, Alle such werkes he bad hire fleo [787) he b. h.] for to P.] And godes seruaunt for to beo, [788) And] bade her add. P. for to] om. P.] Bad hire, heo schulde nyme kepe, [789) & bade P. heo sch. n.] to take good P.] Þat heo neo leyde hire nouȝt to slepe, [ 790] [790) heo neo] shee P. nouȝt] not downe P.] And nameliche nouȝt on nyȝt, [791) n. on] not in the P.] Bote heo hadde candel lyȝt [792) Vnlesse P. hadde] a add. P.]

And wyndowes and dores in þat stounde Waren sperd by rof and grounde, [794) Waren] To be P. spurred to P.] And make þer aȝeyn wiþ good voys [ 795] [795) noyce (?) P.] Þeo signe of þe holy croys: [796) crosse P.] Bid him, þat he warant beo [797) f. om. P.] Aȝeyn þeo feond and his pouste!" And whan he hadde tauȝt hire so, Hom aȝeyn heo can go [ 800] [800) can shee P.] And seruede god wiþ heorte glad; Heo dude, as þe hermyte hire bad, [802) & P.] And ȝet þeo feond wiþ enuye [803) wiþ] thorrow P.] Bygyled hire wiþ tricherye And brouȝte hire in wel dreory chere: [ 805] [805) in wel] into a P.] Y schal ȝow telle, in what manere.

Apon a day, verrament, [807) Vpon P.] Wiþ neyȝhebours to þe ale heo went; [808) þe] om. P.] Longe heo sat and dude mys, [809) amisse P.] Þat heo was dronkyn, ywis; [ 810] [810) drunken shee was P.] Hire oþir sustur, þat y of tolde, Þat was an hore stowt and bolde, Com hire þider þat ilke day [813) hire] om. P. same P.] Wiþ mony an harlot, and made deray [814) an—deray] harlotts for to play P.] And mysseide hire, as heo weore wod, [ 815] [815) hire] sister add. P. shee was P.] And calde hire oþir þan good, And heo was dronkyn, soþ to seyn, [817) f. om. P.] And mysseide hire aȝeyn. So longe heo chidde, wiþ oute les, [819) wiþ o. l.] in a resse P.] Þeo hore start vp in a res [ 820] [820) in a r.] without lesse P.] And wiþ hire fust in outrage [821) & went to her sister in a rage P.] Smot hire in þe visage, [822) & smote P. on P.] Drouȝh hire her and rente hire cloþ [823) f. om. P.]

And beot hire boþe eouele and wroþ; Hom to hire chaumbre heo fledde þo [ 825] [825) Then home P. heo fl. þo] shee can goe P.] And stak þeo dore by tweone heom þo [826) stak] made to P. dores P. them tow P.] And cryȝed out, and neyȝhe∣bours come, And þe hore anon þey nome [828) anon] soone P.] And dryuen hire away anon, And þeo harlotes euerychon. [ 830] Whan þay weore dryuen alle away. [831) weore] e corr. aus h, L. alle] om. P.] Þeo mayden in þe chaumbur lay [832) maid P; that add. P.] Al mad and couþe no good, [f. 17b] [833) and—good] as shee were woode P.] Wepte al day, as heo weore wood; [834) al day] & fared P. wood] with ill moode P.] And whan hit was come to þe nyȝt, [ 835] [835) þe] om. P.] Apon hire bed heo feol doun ryȝt; [836) hire] the P.] Al yschod and yclad [837) yschod] d auf rasur geschr. in L.; both shodd P.] Heo fel on slepe and was al mad [838) all was P.] And forȝat hire hows vnblessed, As þe hermyte hire hadde wissed. [ 840] [840) had her P.] Þanne was þeo feond glad and bliþe And þouȝte to don hire schame swyþe; Ouer al wel in he myȝt, [843) in] om. P.] For þer was mad no crois þat nyȝt; [844) noe crosse made P.] And to þe maiden anon he went [ 845] [845) mayd P.] And þouȝte al cristendam to haue schent: A streone of a child he putte in hire þo [847) traine, corr. in braine, P.] And passed awey þer he com fro. [848) where P. com] cann (!) P.] And whan þat womman was awaked, Heo fond hirebody ly al naked, [ 850] [850) & P. ly al] lying P.]

And heo gropede wiþ hire honde, [851) grope P. hands (!) P.] And in a stude þer heo fonde, [852) in a st.] some seed P.] Wher by heo wende witerly, Þat som mon hadde leyȝen hire by. Þanne heo ros vp in hast [ 855] And fond hire dore sperred fast, And whan heo fond, þat hit was so, [857) And] om. P.] In hire heorte heo was ful wo And þouȝte, hit was sum wikkyd þynge, Þat wolde hire to schame brynge. [ 860] [860) br.] bright (!) P.] Al þat nyȝt heo made gret sorwe, [861) the P.] And to þe hermyte heo wente on morwe [862) on] att P.] And tolde him al þat cas; [863) the P.] Þeo hermyte seide: "Alas, alas!" Þat heo hadde brokyn hire penaunce, [ 865] And seide, his was þe feondes combraunce. "A, gode fadir," heo seide þo, [867) said shee P.] "What, ȝef hit byfalle so, [868) be fallen P.] Þat a child beo on me geten [869) gotten B.] And anymon hit may witen, [ 870] [870) may it P.] Þenne schal y beo doluen anon Al qwyk, boþe body and bon!" [872) bon] bome (!) P.] "Certes," seide þe gode man, [873) Certaine P.] "My leoue douȝter, after þan, [874) deere P.] And y may þe soþe yseo, [ 875] [875) f. om. P.] Þat a child is geten on þe, Y schal hit helpe wiþ al my myȝt, [877) hit] you P.] Til y þer of may haue a syȝt, [878) y—may] of itt I P. a] om. P.] Go now hom, douȝter myn, [879) now] om. P. douȝ.] now add. P.] And haue Cristes blessyng and myn, [ 880] [880) gods P.] For he may, ȝef his wille beo, [881) ȝef] and P.] Out of þy sorwe brynge þe!" Hom heo wente wiþ dreory mod And serued god wiþ herte good, And euery day after þan [ 885]

Hire wombe wel gret bycam, [886) will greater began (!) P.] So heo neo myȝhte hit nouȝt hyde; [887) So] that add. P. neo] om. P.] Hit was parceyued in þat tyde, [888) But itt P.] Heo was taken forþ, ywis, And brouȝt by fore þe justice. [ 890] [890) by f.] afore P. þe] hye add. P.] Þeo justice hire apposede þo, [f. 18a] [891) opposed her P.] Why heo hadde ydo so, And, for heo wrouȝte aȝeyn þe lawe, [893) against, a corr. aus b, P.] He jugged hire to beon yslawe; [894) her] for add. P.] And heo onswerde and seide: "Nay, [ 895] Y ne wrouȝte neuer aȝeyn þelay!" [896) ne] om. P. against P.] And swor: "By him, þat dyȝed on treo, Nas neuer mon, þat neyȝhed me Wiþ flesch lust neo lecherye [899) fleshly P. neo] or P.] Neo kuste my body wiþ vilenye!" [ 900] [900) my] ü. d. z. nachgetr., L. body] so P; mon (!) L.] Þe justice onswerde anon: "Dame, þou lyest, by seynt Jon; Þy wordes buþ false and wilde, When men may seo, þou art wiþ childe: In þis world nas neuer child born, [ 905] [905) was P.] Bote monnes flesch weore by forn, [906) seede there was P.] Saue Jhesu Crist þoruȝ his myȝt Was born of a maide bryȝt: [908) mayden P.] How myȝhtow hit forsake þan, [909) myȝt. h. f.] may thou for shame P.] Þat þow neo haddest part of man, [ 910] [910) Say P. neo h.] had neuer P. of] any add. P.] Whan my seolf þeo soþe may seo, [911) Whan] I add. P. þeo] they P.] Þat a child is geten on þe?" [912) of P.] "Certes, sire," heo saide þan, [913) Certaine P.] "Y go wiþ childe wiþ owte man; [914) owte] any add. P.] By him," heo seide, "þat made þis day, [ 915] Neuere mon by me lay, [916) N. m.] There was neuer that P.]

Bote, as y slepte on a nyȝt, [917) on a] one P.] By me lay a selcouþ wyȝt, Bote y ne wist, what hit was: [919) ne w.] wist neuer P.] Þer fore y do me in þy grace." [ 920] Þeo justice seide, wiþ oute faile, [921) outen P.] He ne herde neuer of such merueille: [922) He—such] I neuer hard of such a P.] "To day neo schal þeo wommon beo dolue, [923) neo] nay (!) P.] Til y haue jugged wyues twolue, [924) asked P.] Ȝef any child may beo mad [ 925] Wiþ owte getyng of monhed, And ȝef þey say, hit may beo so, [927) soe bee P.] Al qwyt and freo þan schal∣tow go; [928) and—go] shalt thou goe & free P.] And ȝef þey say, þat hit neo may, [929) neo m.] may nay P.] Al qwyk men deluen þe to day." [ 930] [930) men] shall add. P.] On twolf wyues heo dude hire anon, And þey onswerede euerychon, Þat neuer child was born of mayde, [933) maiden P.] Bote Jhesu Crist, alle þey saiden. [934) they all P.] Blasy þe hermyte vp sterte þan [ 935] And þe justice onswere bygan: [936) And—onsw.] To answer the iustice he P.] "Sire justice," he seide þo, "Here me of a word or two! [938) of] in P.] Þat þis wommon haþ told vche del, Certes, al y leue hit wel, [ 940] [940) al y l.] I beleeue P.] And ȝe ne leuen hire ryȝt noȝt: [941) ne l.] beleeven P.] By god, þat al þis world haþ wrouȝt, [942) þat] & (!) P. haþ] om. P.] Y haue hire schryuen and tawȝt þeo lawe, To me was heo hit neuer aknowe, [944) was] wold P. hit add. L. aknow P; of knowe L.] Þat anymon wiþ word or dede [ 945] [945) wiþ—dede] for any meede P.]

Nyȝhed hire body wiþ fleschly dede; Þer fore hit is aȝeyn þeo lawe, [947) against P.] Þat heo scholde beo dolue þis dawe: [948) doluen shold be P.] Siþen heo had serued to beo spilt, [f. 18b] [949) Giff P. haue P. to beo] for to (!) P.] Þeo child in hire wombe haþ no gilt; [ 950] [950) not P.] Þer fore, sire, do by my red, Þow neo schalt nouȝt do hire to ded, [952) Þow—hire] & put her not this time P.] Bote do hire in warde by fore, Til þe child beo ybore, And þanne," he seide, "god hit wot, [ 955] Two ȝer kepe hit heo mot, And let hire kepe hire child hire seolue; [957) f. om. P.] By þan myȝhtow here telle, And par auenture," he seide, "þan, Þeo child may beo a wel god man!" [ 960] [960) beo a wel] proue a P.] Þan onswerde þe justice: [961) said P.] "Hermyte, þy wordes arn wel wise; [962) wel] full P.] Þer fore by þe don y wil: [963) þe d.] thy doome P.] To day neo schal hire noman spille!" [964) To—noman] Noe man to day shall her P.] Þe justice comaunded anon, [ 965] To lede hire to a tour of ston, Þat no wyȝt schulde wiþ hire go, [967) & that P.] Bote a medwif, and nomo; Þe tour was strong and swiþe hyȝh, [969) swiþe] om. P.] Nomon myȝte come hire nyȝh. [ 970] [970) That n. P.] A wyndow þer was mad þo And a corde tyȝed þer to, To drawe þer wiþ al thyng, [973) þer w.] therein P.] Fuyr and water, mete and dryng.

And whan þe time of hire was come, [ 975] [975) of h.] om. P.] Heo hadde born a selcouþ sone: [976) hadde b.] bare P.] Ryȝt fair forme hit hadde þan, [977) faire shape he P.] Al þe schap, þat feol to man; [978) forme P. to] for a P.] Blak he was, wiþ owte les, And rouȝh as a swyn he wes. [ 980] Þeo medwif, anon ryȝt [981) Then they P.] Heo was agrisen of þat syȝt, [982) Heo] om. P. afeard P.] And for he was rowȝh of hyde, [983) was] soe add. P.] Al so swiþe heo þouȝte þat tyde, [984) Full well shee wist P.] Þat he nas neuer geten of man, [ 985] [985) was P. of] by my (!) P.] And ful fayn heo wolde þan, In helle he hadde beon hire fro, [987) helle] that add. P.] Þat neuer mon hadde seyȝe him mo. Þe hermyte, þat hyȝht Blasy, Wiste ful wel, sikerly, [ 990] Þat tyme, þeo child schold be bore, [991) The P.] And to þe tour he com amorwe [992) tower P. att morne P.] And cleped vpward to heom þare, [993) called P. them yare P.] Asked heom, how þey hadde fare. [994) *& a. P. hadde] did P.] Þe medwif seide, wiþ owte les, [ 995] A knawe child bore þer wes. [996) there borne P.]

"Tak him me," he seide þan, "And y schal make him cristen∣man: [998) him] *a add. P.] Wheþir he dyȝe or lif abyde, Þeo fairer grace him may by∣tide!" [ 1000] [1000) he P.] Ful glad was þo þe medwif [1001) þo] om. P.] And tok þeo child al so blyue, [1002) caught P. al so] om. P.] And by a corde heo let him doun, And Blasy ȝaf him his benesoun And bar him hom wiþ drery mod [ 1005] [f. 19a] [1005) dreri] merry P.] And baptized him in þe holy flod And cleped him to his cristen∣dam [1007) called P.] Merlyn in godes name, [1008) & named him M. P.]

Þat þoruȝ þe name, y ȝow telle, [1009) Þat] om. P. þe] that P.] Alle þeo feondes, þat weoren in helle, [ 1010] [1010) *ffeends P; feodes (!) L.] Weore agramed þer of ful sore, [1011) agreeved P. þer of] & that P.] Þer þoruȝ was heore pouste lore. [1012) Þer] danach þouȝ, ausgestr. L. þoruȝ] fore P. their power bore (!) P.]

And whan he hadde cristened him so, Hom aȝeyn he bar him þo And in þe corde he can him leyn; [ 1015] Þe medwif drouȝ him vp aȝeyn, And he bad hire, wiþ owte blame, Clepe him Merlyn by his name. [1018) Call P.] Þe medwif anon ryȝt [1019) medw.] bare him add. P.] Bar him to a fuyr bryȝt, [ 1020] [1020) Bar—fuyr] To the fyer that was P.] And as heo warmed him by þe fuyr, Heo byhuld his lodly chere: [1022) his] this P.] "Alas," heo seide, "artow Merlyn? [1023) said shee P.] Wheþen art þow and of what kyn? Who was þy fadir by nyȝt or day, [ 1025] Þat nomon wite neo may? [1026) iwitt P. neo] itt P.] Hit is gret reuþe, þou foule thyng, [1027) þou f. þ.] by heauens king P.] Þat for þy loue, by heouene kyng, [1028) by h. k.] thou foule thinge P.] Þy modur schal beo slayn wiþ wo: Allas, þat stounde schal falle so! [ 1030] [1030) Alas the time it shalbe soe P.] Y wolde, þow ware feor in þe see, Wiþ þat þy modur myȝht scape freo!" [1032) Wiþ] om. P.] Whan he herde hire speke so, [1033) he] Merlyn P.] He brayd vp his eyȝne two [1034) bradde open P.] And lodly on hire gon loke, [ 1035] [1035) gon] can hee P.] And his hed on hire he schok And gan to crye wiþ loud deone: "Þou lyȝest," he seide, "olde quene! [1038) olde] thou foule P.]

My modur schal nomon qwelle, [1039) mod.] he sayd add. P.] For no þyng, þat men may telle, [ 1040] [1040) *can P.] Whyl þat y may speke or gon, [1041) Whilest I P.] Mawgre heom euerychon: [1042) Mauger them that wold her slone P.] Y schal saue hire lif for þis, Þat þow schalt seo and here ywis!" [1044) you shall P.] And whan þeo medwif herde þat, [ 1045] Almost heo fel doun, þer heo sat; [1046) Alm.] om. P. þar h. s.] almost flatt P.] Heo gan to quake, as heo ware wod, And hadde leouere þan any good, [1048) leouere] rather P.] Þat heo hadde beon feor away, So hadde his modur, þer heo lay; [ 1050] [1050) where P.] So sore þey weore of him agast, Þey blessedyn heom in hast [1052) heom in h.] them & that *full *fast P.] And coniured him in godes name, [1053) con.] cryed on P.] He ne scholde do heom no worldes schame, [1054) He ne] *That he P. worldes] om. P.] And faste on him þey gan to crye, [ 1055] [1055) to] om. P.] In godes nome and seynte Marie, He scholde heom telle, what he weore And what mesanter brouȝte him þore. [1058) misad∣uenture P.] He gan him leyȝe and halde him stille [1059) He did lye & held P.] And let heom cryȝe al heore wille; [ 1060] [f. 19b] [1060) their *fill P.]

And þouȝh þey hadden slayn him þo, [1061) þouȝh] if P. hadden] shold haue P.] A word neo wolde he speke mo. [1062) He wold not speake a word moe P.] And þus þey þreo lyuede þare [1063) þus] om. P. the P.] Wiþ muche sorwe and wiþ care, And þer after half a ȝer, [ 1065] [1065) þer] for (!) P.] As heo heold him by þe fuyr, Reouþfully heo gan to grete [1067) Rufullye P.] And seide to him: "My sone swete, For þy loue, wiþ oute wene, [1069) outen P.] Al qwyk schal y dolue beon." [ 1070] [1070) dolue shall I P.] He onswerde and seide: "Nay. [1072) gables (!) P.] Dame, þow gabbest, by þis day: [1073) is neithe (!) P. nor P.] Þer nys no mon no justice, [1074) yee P. noe P.] Þat schal þe deme in none wyse, [1075) Then whilest P. may] either add. P.] Þeo whiles y may go or speke, [ 1075] Yn eorþe þy body for to wreke." Þanne was his modur bliþe womman, [1077) mod.] *a add. P.] And euery day after þan He gladed hire wiþ his tale [1079) f.: He made her gladd & bold, & maruelous tales to her he told P.] And tolde hire merueyles feole; [ 1080] And whan he couþe speke and gon, [1081) And] om. P.]

Þe justice was redy anon And eode him forþ anon þan, [1083) And e. h.] & bade bring P.] He let brynge tofore him þat wommon, [1084) Hetof.] Befor P. þat] ilke add. P.] For to resceyue hire juggement; [ 1085] And whan heo cam in present, Þeo justice forȝat hit nouȝt, And egrely he saide his þouȝt [1088) But P.] And swor anon by heouene quene, Al qwyk heo schulde doluen beone. [ 1090] [1090) shold P; schuldyn L.] Heo neo onswerde good no harm, [1091) f. om. P.] Bote heold þe child stille in hire arm. Þeo child onswerde wiþ wordes bolde, [1093) *Then the P.] He ne was bote two ȝer olde, He seide to þe justice wiþ egre mod: [ 1095] "Sire justice, þou konst litel god, [1096) konst] but add. P.] To do my modur to þeo ded, And neo wost by hire no qued, [1098) & wotts not, by what reade P.] Saue a chaunce, þat hire byfeol, [1099) hire b.] to her fell P.] And þer fore þou dost nouȝt wel, [ 1100] [1100) And] om. P. nouȝt] to her add. P.] For euery man may wite by þan, [1101) may w. b.] will wott * well P.] Þat aȝeyn chaunce may beo nomon: [1102) against P.]

Þoruȝ chaunce and þoruȝ grace [1103) f. om. P.] Into þis world brouȝt y was; And whan y was þoruȝ chaunce byȝete, [ 1105] [1105) whan y w.] om. P. byȝ.] I was begott P.] Euery man may wel wite, [1106) Therfore ev. P. wott P.] [1106) ought P.] Þat my modur oweþ nouȝt For my loue to deþe beo brouȝt." Gret wondur þo hadden boþe olde and ȝynge [1109) þo] om. P.] Of þe childes onswerynge, [ 1110] And þe justice was ful wroþ, [1111) Then P.] And al alowd he swor his oþ, [1112) al] om. P. on loud P. he] om. P. his] an P.] Al qwyk heo scholde dolue beo. "Nay," seide Merlyn, "so mote y theon, Þow schalt hit neuer brynge þer to, [ 1115] [1115) hit] her P.] For al þat euer þow canst do, [f. 20a] [1116) al] *ought P.] Hit schal nouȝt gon as þow wolt, For heo neo hadde þer to gult, [1118) neo—to] hath done *no P.] And þat y schal preoue þoruȝ skyl, [1119) þat] om. P. preoue] itt add. P.] Mawgrey heom, þat wolen hire spyl: [ 1120] [1120) Maug.] of add. P. wold P.] My fadir, þat byȝat me, Ys a feond of gret poustee [1122) potencye P.] And wonyþ in þe eyr aboue þe lyȝt [1123) wonyþ] is P.] And tempteþ men boþe day and nyȝt, And þer fore to my modur he wende [ 1125]

And wende al cristendam to haue schende; He gat me on hire, wiþ owte lesyng, [1127) & P.] Þat heo neo wiste þer of no thyng; [1128) *& P. neo—of] therof wist P.] And for heo no wiste, whenne hit was, [1129) wist not P.] Y preoue, þat heo is gultles, [ 1130] For alle þe feondes wende, wiþ me [1131) wiþ] by P.] To haue schent al cristiaunte And hadde of me a wicked fode, Bote god haþ me now turned to gode; [1134) turned me P.] And now y am a godes sonde, [ 1135] [1135) For P. of god sende P.] For to helpe al Engelonde, And þoruȝ my fadir," he seide þan, [1137) þor. my f.] forsoothe P.] "Alle thyng y ȝow telle kan, [1138) Pardie tell you I can P.] Þat euere was and now ys, [1139) All that P.] Y kan yow telle wel ywis; [ 1140]

And þow neo wost, justice, þan, [1141) And—wost] Thou dost not wott P.] Who was þeo fadir, þat þe wan; [1142) þeo] thy P.] And þer fore y preoue, modur þyn [1143) preoue] *that add. P.] Raþer to beo doluen þen myn!"

Herkeneþ now al þe stryue, [ 1145] How Merlyn saued his modur lyf!

Þo was þe justice in heorte wo [1147) Then P.] And to Merlyn he saide þo: "þow lyȝest, þow blake couioun! [1149) lyȝ.] *he *sayd add. P. bl. c.] glutton P.] My fadir was a good baroun [ 1150] And my modur a leuedy freo: Ȝet o lyue þow may hire seo."

"Sire," he seide, "hold þy mowþ, [1153) f. om. P.] Or y schal make hit wide couþ: Do a mon after hire to gon, [ 1155] [1155) f.: Sir, said Merlyne then, anon Said (!) after her full soone P.] And al so swiþe my seolf al on Y schal hire don anon beo knowe, [1157) And I P. hire d. a.] *make her to P.] Elles anhong me and todrawe!" [1158) Or else hange me on(!) to drawen P.] Þe justice after his modur sent, And whan heo was comen in present, [ 1160] [1160) in] om. P.] Þeo justice byfore heom alle To Merlyn þo gan he calle; [1162) þo] om. P.] He seide to him: "Belamy, [1163) belanye(!) P.] Beo now so bold and hardy, To preoue þy tale, ȝef þou can, [ 1165] Þat þow seydest of þis womman!" Merlyn onswerde to þe justice: [1167) onsw.] *said P.] "Sire, þy dedes buþ nouȝt wyse: [1168) *wordes P.] Ȝef y telle þis folk by fore, How þat þow ware gete and bore, [ 1170] [1170) þat] om. P. was P.]

Þanne schal hit sprynge wide and brode, [1171) shold P.] Þen hastow lore þy manhod; [1172) & thou shold lose P.] Þanne schal þy modur dolue beo, [f. 20b] And þat weore for þe loue of þe!" [1174) þat] all P.] Þeo justice þan vndurstod, [ 1175] Þat Merlyn kouþe muche good; [1176) mikle P.] Into a chaumbre he ladde him þo, [1177) Then to P. he—þo] can they goo P.] He and Merlyn, wiþ owte mo; [1178) wiþ o. m.] & noe moe P.] "Merlyn," he seide, "now preiȝe y þe: [1179) now p. y] I pray P.] What was þe man, þat byȝat me?" [ 1180] [1180) that P.] "Sire," he seide, "by seynt Symoun, Hit was þe person of þis toun; [1182) þis] the P.] He byȝat þe, by seynt Jame, [1183) thee gott P. Jane (!) P.] Apon þis wommon, þat is þy dame!" [1184) Vpon P.] Þe leuedy seide: "Þow foule thyng, [ 1185] Þow hast lowen a stark lesyng: [1186) low.] made P.] His fadir was a noble baroun And holden a mon of gret renoun, [1188) a man holden P.] And þow art a mysbyȝete wreche: Y pray to god, þeo deovel þe feche; [ 1190] [1190) to] thee(!) P. þeo] om. P. devill P.; deol(!) L.] Yn wilde fuyr þow schuldust beo brent, [1191) shalt P.] For wiþ wronge þow hast me schent!" [1192) me] my(!) P.] "Dame," seide Merlyn, "hold þe stille, For hit weore boþe ryȝt and skille, [1194) and] om. P.] For y wot, wiþ owte wene, [ 1195] [1195) outen P.] Þow owes qwyk to dolue beone; [1196) owes—dolue] deserue doluen to P.]

For, siþen þou weore to þis world brouȝt, [1197) sithe P. was P.] Al þe werk, þat þou hast wrouȝt, Y con þe telle ilke a word, [1199) þe] om. P. ilke] it euerye P.] Better þan þow, by oure lord, [ 1200] How þy sone was byȝeten; Dame, ȝef þow hast forgeten, [1202) haue P.] Y can telle þe al þe cas, [1203) þe] you P.] How and where and whenne hit was, [1204) *when P.; whence, c verklext, L.]

Þat þou schalt beo aschamed sore: [ 1205] [1205) Þat] & P.] Þe weore betre speke namore!" Þe leuedy was sore amayed, [1207) dismayd P.] And Merlyn forþ his tale said: "Dame," he saide, "verrament, Þat tyme þy lord to Cardoyl went, [ 1210] [1210) Carlile P.] Hit was by nyȝt and nouȝt by day, Þe person in þy bed lay, At þy chaumbre dore þy lord gon knocke, And þou dudust on þy smok And weore sore aferd þat tyde [ 1215] [1215) was P. afrayd P.] And vndudest a wyndow wyde, And þer þe person þow out lette, And he ran awey ful sket: [1218) þow] þorw, corr. aus þow, L.] [1218) sket] tyte P.]

"Dame," he seide, "þat ilke nyȝt Was byȝete þy sone, þe knyȝt. [ 1220] Dame," he seide, "lyȝe ich ouȝt?" And heo stod stille and seide nouȝt. [1222) And] om. P.] Þanne was þe justice wroþ and wo, And to his modur he seide þo: "Dame," he seide, "how goþ þis?" [ 1225] [1225) he] shee (!) P.] "Sone," heo seide, "al soþ ywis: Þauȝ þow me honge by a corde, [1227) For if thou hang me with P.] He neo lyȝeþ of me no maner worde!" [1228) ne—maner] belyeth me *neuer *a P.] Þeo justice for schame wax al red [f. 21a] [1229) wax al] waxes P.] And on his modur schok his hed [ 1230] And bad hur in haste wende hom [1231) hur] so P; om. L.] In muche mawgre, as heo com. [1232) With P. shame P.] "Blyue," seid Merlyn, "send after a spye, For to þe person heo wol hire hyȝe And al þe soþe heo wol him seyn, [ 1235] How y haue heom bywryȝen: [1236) How] that add. P. them betraine P.] And whan þeo person haþ herd þis, Anon for schame and sorwe, ywis, To a brugge he wol fleo, Þat neuer mon after schal him seo; [ 1240] [1240) & after noe man P.] Into þe water starte he wol, His lif and sowle for to spyl, [1242) His] om. P.] And bot hit beo soþ, þat y say, [1243) beo] om.(!) P.]

Baldely do me honge to day!" [1244) do me h.] hang me P.] Þeo justice, wiþ owte faile, [ 1245] [1245) outen P.] Dude after Merlyns counsaile; He sent after a spye bold, He fond ryȝt as Merlyn told. [1248) & P. ryȝt] itt P.] Þanne þe justice sat and louȝh, [1249) f. om. P.] Him þouȝt, þat Merlyn was wys ynouȝh, [ 1250] And þer fore, for Merlyns sake, [1251) And þ.] & the justice P.] Him and his modur he lette take And let heom boþe go qwyt and freo [1253) boþe] om. P.] By fore þeo folk of þat contre. And whan Merlyn was seoue ȝer old, [ 1255] He was of dede swiþe bold: [1256) of d. sw.] both stout & P.] His modur he dude a nonne make A blak abyte he dude hire take, [1258) & P. let P.] And fro þat tyme, verrament, Heo serued god wiþ good entent. [ 1260] Now lete we at his modur beon [1261) f.: Now let vs of his mother fayle & turne vs to another tale P.] And to owre tale we turne aȝeyn, And speke we of þo messangeres, [1263) the P.] Þat wenten fro sire Fortageres, [1264) from P. Vortiger P.] For to seche Merlyn þe bolde, [ 1265] To haue his blod, as y ow tolde. So þreo of heom com by cas [1267) chance P.] In a place, þer Merlyn was, [1268) Into the P. where P.] On playȝyng as he can gon Wip oþre childre mony mo; [ 1270] And als þey pleyȝed in þat stede, [1271) stede] t corr. aus? L.] On of his felawes him myssede [1272) myssede] mysande oder myfande L.; misdeed P.] And gon cryȝe on Merlyn þo: [1273) gon] to add. P.] "Þow blake schrewe, þow go ows fro: [1274) blake] cursed P. srow(!) P.] Þow art a foul þyng, geten amys, [ 1275] Nomon wot, who þy fadir is, [1276) what P.]

Bote sum deouel þe byȝat, y wene, [1277) f. om. P.] To don ows boþe treyȝe and teone!" Þeo messangers come faste by And herdyn wel þe childre cry; [ 1280] [1280) child P.] Sone anon þey weore byþouȝt, Þat was þeo child, þat þey souȝt, [1282) Þat] it add. P. þat þ.] they after P.] And vchon owt his sweord drouȝh, [1283) his sword out P.] And Merlyn schok his hed and louȝh: "Now eouel thryft haue þow, couioun, [ 1285] [f. 21b] [1285) f. om. P.] Þat þow spak so hyȝh þy rown: Here comen þe kynges messan∣geres, Þat han me souȝt fer and neor, [1288) souȝt] both add. P.] For to haue myn heorte blod; Ryȝt now þey þenkyn in heore mod, [ 1290] [1290) Ryȝt] om. P. þen.] thinke itt P.] For to sle me þis day, Bote, by my trowthe, ȝef þat y may, Or þey departe awey fro me, [1293) Or] that add. P. part P. from P.] Wel gode freondes schal we beo!" Merlyn anon to heom ran, [ 1295] He grette heom faire, as he wel kan, [1296) greetes P.] And seide: "Welcom beo ȝe, messangeres: [1297) & welcomed the messenger P.] Ȝe comen fro sir Fortageres; [1298) & sayes: yee P. from P. Vortiger P.] Me to sle is al ȝoure þouȝt, Þer of schule ȝe spede nouȝt, [ 1300] For to beore ȝoure kyng my blod; [1301) & for P.] Þat neuer schal do him good, For þey, þat tolde him þat tydyng, Þey lowen on me a strong lesyng, [1304) Lyed of P.] Þat seide, my blod, wiþ owte wrong, [ 1305] [1305) & P.]

Schuld make his castel styf and strong: Þauȝh al þe werk þer on was set, [1307) f. om. P.] Neo schulde hit stande neuer þe bet." Þeo messangeres had dyn wondur ilkon [1309) ilkon] then P.] And seiden to Merlyn þanne anon: [ 1310] [1310) þanne] om. P. anon] o auf rasur geschr., in L.] "Hou konstow telle such priuete? [1311) such], vs this P.] Tel vs þe soþe, we praieþ þe, [1312) we pr.] I pray P.] Þat we may haue verray toke∣nyng, [1313) verray] om. P. tokeinge P.] To avowe owr tale by fore þe kyng!" [1314) þe] our P.] Merlyn ladde heom a good pas, [ 1315] Til he cam, þer his modur was; [1316) where P.] Heo tolde heom al þe soþe byfore, How Merlyn was geten and bore, And of his wisdam and of his red, How he saued hire fro ded. [ 1320] [1320) & how P. from P.] Þeo messangeres, as y ȝow telle, Al þat nyȝt þey conne þer dwelle; [1322) þat] om. P. þey c. þ.] there did P.] Amorwe, sone as hit was day, [1323) Att morrow P. as] when P.] Þey token leue to wende away, And also Merlyn þat tide [ 1325] [1325) And] om. P. þat] ilke add. P.] Rod on a palfray heom by syde, And wentyn forþ al yfere [1327) in fere P.] Toward þe kyng, sir Fortagere. [1328) Tow.—sir] Towards king P.] As þey þoruȝ þe contre nam, [1329) came P.] In a chepyng toun þey cam, [ 1330] [1330) chep.] om. P. þey c.] their inne they tane P.] So þat Merlyn, as y þe telle, [1331) þe] you P.] Com, þer schon ware to selle. [1332) þer] as add. P.] A gret lawynȝg vp he nam; [1333) laughter P. tooke P.] Þeo messangeres þo to him cam, [1334) þo to] fast on P. cam] can lokee P.] Sone askeden him þo, [ 1335] [1335) & full s. P.]

Wher fore þat he lowȝ so. [1336) laughed P.] Þan seide Merlyn: "Seo ȝe nouȝt [1337) ar. in] om. P.] Þat ȝong mon, þat haþ schon bouȝt [1338) The P. haþ sch.] the shoone hath P.] And strong leþer, to do heom clowte, [1339) f. om. P.] And gres, to smeore heom al [ 1340] abowte: [f. 22a] He wenyþ to lyue, heom to weore, [1341) wendes P.] Bote, by my sowle, y dar wel sweore, [1342) sowle] hood P.] His wreched lif he schal forlete, [1343) forgoe P.] Er he come to his owne gate." [1344) Or that he is one gate come to.] Þeo messangeres, at þat tide [ 1345] After þat man gon þey ryde [1346) man] so P; om. L. can P.] And fond him ded as any ston, Er he hadde a forlong gon. [1348) Or that he P.] In þat town þey dwelled al nyȝt; On morwe, whan hit was day lyȝt, [ 1350] Þey dyȝt heore hors and made heom ȝare, [1351) horsses P.] In heore weye for to fare, [1352) On theire journey P.] And, as þey wente in heore jornay [1353) on P.] Þoruȝ a town of þat contray, [1354) of] in P.] He com by a chirche ȝard; [ 1355] He mette a cors þyderward [1356) course(!) P.] Wiþ preostes, clerkes, syngynge by fore; [1357) pr.] & add. P.] Þeo cors was on a bere bore; [1358) corpes were (!) P.] Mony mon þer wiþ can gon. [1359) Mony] a add. P.] Merlyn byheold heom euer ilkon, [ 1360] A gret lauȝhyng vp he nam, [1361) laughter he vptooke P.] Þeo messangeres to him cam; [1362) to h. c.] on him can looke P.] Þeo messangeres to him rod, Askeden him wiþ heorte good, Why he louȝh so schrylle. [ 1365] Merlyn seide: "By godes wille, Ȝef heo wiste, why hit weore, [1363-67) & asked him with hart free, Why he laughed soe hartilye P.] Heo wolde þer fore lauhȝ wel more;

Among þis folk," he seide þan, [1369) He said: Amongst these folkes then P.] "Y seo anold sely man, [ 1370] [1370) silly P.] Þat doþ sore weope: [1371) sore] & fast add. P.] Him war betre skippe and lepe; [1372) He ought P. bet.] to add. P.] Anoþir y seo her go and synge: [1373) An.—her] & others here P.] He auȝhte betre his hondes wrynge; [1374) That P. their P. hon.] to add. P.] Y schal telle ȝow, for why, [ 1375] [1375) telle—why] you tell certainlye P.] Þat ȝe schal haue god rybawdy: [1376) ȝe—ryb.] you may know the cause whye P.] Þat cors, þat ded is and cold, [1377) is] so P; om. (!) L.] Hit was a child of ten ȝer old; [1378) Hit] om. P.] Þat ilke preost," he seide þo, "Þat goþ by fore and syngeþ so, [ 1380] He was þe fadir, þeo child byȝat; [1381) fadir] that add. P.] And ȝef he weore byþouȝt of þat, He scholde his hondes wrynge sore [1383) wold P.] And for þat synne sorewe more, [1384) synne] child L.] And now he syngeþ with ioye and blis, [ 1385] [1385) And] om. P. syn.] danach ein buchst. ausrad, L. with] so P; om. L.] As hit neuer hadde beon his. [1386] As the chyld had neuer P.] And ȝe seon þe sely housbonde [1387) ȝe s.] to see P.] For sorwe and care wrynge his hondes, He no auhȝt heom nouȝt to wrynge, [1389) f. om. P.] For ioye he auȝht skyppe and synge; [ 1390] Þer fore he is a muche fool, [1391) mickle P.] Þat for his foman makiþ deol, [1392) foomen P.] For he is ded, þe prestes fode, [1393) f. om. P.] Þat neuer no scholde do him gode." Þeo messangeres euerilkon, [ 1395] To þe childes modur heo ȝeoden anon, [f. 22b] [1396) heo ȝ.] went P.] And Merlyn in a litel þrowe Made hire al to beon yknowe, [1398) hire al] the mother P.]

Wher fore heo neo couþe nouȝt say nay, [1399) neo] om. P.] Bote euer heo preyȝed him nouȝt to say. [ 1400] [1400) heo] om. P. them P.] Þenne weore þe messangeres bliþe And in heore weyȝe ryde swiþe; [1402) in—ryde] on their iourney ridden P.] And as heo ryden in heore way, [1403) And] om. P. on P.] Hit feol apon þe þridde day, [1404) was P.] Whan hit was abowte hyȝh pryme, [ 1405] [1405) hyȝh] the P.] Þan lowȝ Merlyn þe þridde tyme. Þan axed þey alle yfere, [1407) in fere P.] Why he made þo lauȝhwynge chere. [1408) þo] such P.] Merlyn seide þo: "Ywis, [1409) Merl s. þo] Then said M. P.] Þauhȝ y lawȝe, no wondur is, [ 1410] [1410) There of P.] For siþþe þe time, þat ȝe ware bore, Such wondur herde ȝe neuer ore; [1412) beforne P.] Y schal ȝow telle, wiþ owte oþ, Þat ȝe schule fynde treowe and soþ; Herkneþ alle, wiþ owte wouȝh, [ 1415] [1415) f. om. P.] Y schal ȝow telle, why y louȝh! Þis ilke day, by my treowþe, In þe kynges court is mukil reouþe [1418) court] house P.] Of þe kynges chaumburleyn, For þe quene, soþ to sayn, [ 1420] Haþ lowen on hire a lesyng strong, [1421) He haþ (!) L. lyed P. him P.] Men wolen do hire to deþ wiþ wrong; [1422) Men—deþ] Therfore shee shall be dead P.] His chaumburleyn is a womman [1423) For his P.] And goþ in cloþyng as a man, [1424) in] the add. P.] And for heo is fair & bryȝt of heowe, [ 1425] Þeo false quene, þat is vntreowe,

Bysouȝte hire, to beon hire lemman derne, [1427) beon] om. (!) P.] And heo onswerde and can hire werne; Nede heo moste þat game forsake, [1429) Nede] & sayd P.] For heo no hadde takil forþ to take, [ 1430] [1430) For noe comfort shee wold her make P.] For to make hire no counfort, [1431) f. om. P.] For hire takil was to schort. Þer fore þe quene was a fool; For, hadde heo wist of hire tol, [1434) witt P.] And how schort hit was wrouȝt, [ 1435] Heo neo hadde of hire loue souȝt. [1436) Shee wold of loue asked her nought P.] Þe quene, for soþe, was amayed, [1437) for s.] forth∣with P. affrayd P.] Þouȝte wel, heo scholde beo wryed, [1438) & wend P. heo—wr.] to have beene bewrayd P.] And wende wel to haue beo schent; [1439) wende—haue] & thought that shee shold P.] Anon by fore þe kyng heo went [ 1440] [1440) & P. kyng] anon add. P.] And seide, þat his chaumbur∣leyn [1441) his] so P; hire A.] Wiþ streynþe hire wolde haue forleyn. [1442) Wiþ] danach streny, ausgestr., P. wold haue her P.] Þe kyng, for soþe, is wondur∣wroþ, [1443) for—wondur] therof was wonderous P.] And anon he swor his oþ, [1444) anon—his] swore many a great P.] Þat heo scholde beo drawe and honge, [ 1445] [1445) shee P. beo—honge] both hang & draw P.] Bote, certes, hit is al wiþ wronge; [1446) & that were against the law P.] Þer fore on of ȝow wend hom blywe [1447) on—wend] wend you P.] Al so swiþe as ȝe may dryue, [1448) As fast P.] And sey to Fortager þe kyng: "Þe quene haþ lowen a strong lesyng [ 1450] [1450) lowen] made P.]

Apon hire chaumburleyn for hate, [f. 23a] [1451) Vpon his P. chaumburleyn, y corr. aus l, L.] Þer fore bid we, þat heo beo take, [1452) we] wē (!) L; om. P.] And serche al abowte hire þan, [1453) al ab. h.] the chamberlaine P,] And ȝe schal fynde hire a womman, [1454) he P. hire] shee is P.] And sey, y sent him so bode, [ 1455] [1455) f. om. P.] He schal hit fynde soþ, for gode!" A knyȝt þer was stowt and fer, [1457) was] both add. P. fer] stearne P.] Gan to prike on his destrer, [1458) & pricked forth the truth to learne P.] Þat he no made no targyng, [1459) & P. no] om. P.] Til he cam by fore þe kyng. [ 1460] Whan he com in to þe halle, Doun on kneos he gon to falle [1462) on] his add. P. he g. to] can he P.] And seide, as y fynde in boke: [1463) f. om. P.] "My lord þe kyng, god þe loke! Mony a contre we han went [ 1465] [1465) & said thorrow many P. we han] he P.] On þy message, þer þou ows sent, [1466) þer] as P.] To seke a child of selcouþ mounde, [1467) mounde] land P.] And such on we han yfounde, [1468) such] a add. P. haue wee P.] Þat nis bote fyf wynter old; [1469) is P.] Þow no herdest neuer of non so bold; [ 1470] [1470) Þow no h.] You heard P. of] om. P.] He is cleped child Merlyng, [1471) Merline P.] He kan telle al maner thyng, [1472) man.] of add. P.] Of al, þat was and now is, He kan ȝow telle wel, ywis, [1474) tell you P.] And he kan telle ȝou ful wel, [ 1475] [1475) And] om. P.] What destourbeþ ȝoure castel, [1476) dest.] thing troubles P.] Why hit may not stonde on pleyn, And al so of þy chaumburleyn, [1478) your P.] þat þow hast mynt to drawe and honge, [1479) yee haue P.] He seiþ, for soþe, hit is wiþ wronge, [ 1480] [1480) wiþ] for P.]

For to sle a womman, Þat goþ in cloþyng as a man; Þer fore do, as we þe sayn: [1483) & th. P. we þe s.] I you fayne (!) P.] Let do take þy chaumburleyn [1484) & P. the P.] And of hire bondes hire vnbynde: [ 1485] [1485) bondes] yee add. P.] A womman fair þow schalt hire fynde; [1486) yee shall P.] And bote hit beo so, wiþ ryȝt lawe Do me honge and siþþe to∣drawe!" [1488) me] to add. P. siþþe to-] om. P.] Fortager awondred was, And alle, þat herden of þat cas; [ 1490] He comaunded hise men alle, His chaumburleyn brynge in halle, [1492) chamb.] to add. P. all (!) P.] Anon hire serchede in þat stounde, [1493) hire] the P. serch.] r ü. d. z. nachgetr., L. in] her P.] And a womman heo was founde. Wroþ was þanne Fortager [ 1495] [1495) was þ.] then was sir P.] And asked of þat messanger, Who him tolde, heo was womman. [1497) told him he P. was] a add. P.] "For gode, sire," he seide þan, [1498) gode] sooth P.] "Merlyn was, þat þis gan say, [1499) Merl.] it add. P. can P.] Ryȝt as we came by þe way, [ 1500] [1500) Ryȝt] om. P. rydden P.] For he kan telle, and gabbe nouȝt, [1501) gabbe] lye P.] Al þe þyng, þat euer was wrouȝt: [1502) þe þ.] things P. were P.] Al þat euer þow konst him frayne, [1503) & all P. you can P. saine P.] He wol telle þe soþ, certayne!" [1504) þe] you P.] Fortager was glad and bliþe [ 1505] And seide to þe messanger swiþe: "Y schal þe ȝeue lond and plowȝ [f. 23b] [1507) þe] yee P. ȝeue] both add. P.] And make þe riche man ynowȝh; [1508) þe r. m.] yee a man right good P.] Þer fore y comaunde now ryȝt, [1509) now] anon P.] Duyk, baroun, eorl and knyȝt [ 1510] [1510) erle, barron P.]

Dyȝhte heore hors and make heom ȝare, [1511) To d. P. horsses P.] Forþ wiþ Fortager to fare!" [1512) fare] so P; haue L.] He no wolde no lenger byde, [1513) Then wold he P. longer abyde P.] Bote leop to hors and gan to ryde, [1514) leapt P. gan to] forth gan P.] To speke wiþ Merlyn þe ȝonge; [ 1515] So glad he was of his comyng, [1516) For P.] Þat, whan hit was come to þe nyȝt, [1517) But P. þe] om. P.] Wiþ Merlyn he mette ryȝt; So sone as he him can mete, [1519) As P. can him P.] Wiþ faire wordes he can him grete; [ 1520] Of mony thynges heo spaken þan, [1521) he spoke P.] Sum þer of telle y can. [1522) þer of] of them P.] Wiþ muche ioye, verrament, [1523) ioye] & add. P.] To þe kynges court þey went, Warn mad wel at ese þat nyȝt. [ 1525] [1525) Warn m. w.] & were P. ese] all add. P.] On morwe, whan hit was day lyȝt, [1526) *& on the P. day] om. P.] To þat steode þey went bydene, Þer þey scholde þeo castel seone. [1528) *Where the castle shold haue beene P.] "Sone," he seide to Merlyn þan, "Tel me, child, ȝef þow can, [ 1530] Why my castel in þis stounde Ys euery nyȝt falle to grounde, And why hit may stande nouȝt, Of so strong thyng as hit is wrouȝt!" [1534) things P. rought(!) P.] Þanne seide Merlyn to þe kyng: [ 1535]

"Sire, þow schalt here a wond∣ur-thyng: [1536) Yee shall P. wonderous P.] Here in þis ground arered in deop A water þer is strong and steop; [1538) *Is a water R.] Vndur þe water arn stones two, Muchele and brode and longe al so, [ 1540] [1540) *Much & strong & broad alsoe P.] By neoþe þeo stones vndur þe molde Two dragons lyggen yfolde; [1542) yf.] *there fould P.] Þat on is whyt so mylkes rem, [1543) The P. as milke P.] Þat oþir is red so fuyres glem, [1544) The P. is] om. P. so f.] as any P.] Wel grisly þey arn of syȝt boþe [ 1545] [1545) Wel] om. P.] And fareþ to gedre, as þey weore wroþe; [1546) þey w. wr.] the wrothe P.] And euery day, when hit is nyȝt, Þey bygynnen a stark fyȝt, [1548) strong P.] Þat þoruȝ þeo streynthe of heore blast Þy werk con þey doun cast; [ 1550] [1550) The P. the can P.] And ȝef þat dragons weore away, [1551) the P.] Þan myȝhte þy werkmen vche day [1552) þy] they (!) P. werkm.] worke add. P. *euerye P.] Make þy werk ryȝt at þy wille, [1553) & make P. ryȝt—wille] both stronge and still P.] To stonde boþe strong and stille: [1554) *& to P. boþe—stille] att thy owne will P.] Do now loke, and þow schalt seo, [ 1555] Þat hit beo soþ, y telle þe!" [1556) *is P. soþ] *that add. P.]

Fortager comaunded anon To his werkmen euerychon, [1558) All P.] Fiftene þousand and ȝet mo, He bad heom alle loke, ȝef hit ware so, [ 1560] [1560) alle] om. P. ȝef] whether P.] Anon þey doluen in þe grounde, [f. 24a] And a water þer þey fonde, Among heom alle, soþ to telle, [1563) alle] the add. P.] Þey maden two deope welles; [1564) two d. w.] a full deepe well P.] Al þe water þey brouȝt out þo; [ 1565] [1565) & P. so ydo] done soe P.] And whan þey hadden so ydo, By neoþen at þeo watres grounde [1567) By—watres] Beneath the watter in the P.] Two grete stones þey founde; [1568) stones] there add. P.] Mony men redy þer weoren, [1569) redy þ.] there they P.] Þeo two stones vp to reren; [ 1570] And whan þat þey weoren vp yrent, [1571) þat] om. P. hent P.] Two dragons þer weoren ybent Wiþ longe tailes feole fold, [1573) Foule they were for to behold P.] And fond ryȝt as Merlyn told: [1574) fond] itt add. P.] Þat on dragon was red so fuyr, [ 1575] [1575) The P.] Wiþ bryȝes of eyȝne as basyn cler; [1576) br. of] bright P. bason P.]

His tayl was gret and noþyng smal,

His body was vnruyde wiþ al. His schaft may nomon telle, [1579) shape P.] He loked as a feond of helle. [ 1580] [1580) as] like P.] Þe whyte dragoun lay him by, Steorne of lok and grysly,

His mouþ and þrote ȝonede wide, Þeo fuyr barst owt on ilk a side; [1584) ilk a] *euery P.]

His tayl was ragged as a feond, [ 1585] [1585) as] *like P.] And apon his tayles ende Þer was schaped a grysly hed, To fyȝte wiþ þe dragoun red; [1588) that P.] For Merlyn seide, for soþe aplyȝt, [1589) I plight P.] So grysly weore þey boþe of syȝt, [ 1590] [1590) they were P. of] in P.] Whan þey scholde vp aryse, [1591) That when P. vprise P.] Mony a mon þer schal agryse. [1592) þer] they P.] Anon þey rysen of heore den, [1593) ryssden, d ü. d. z. geschr. P; *out add. P.] Þer weore ferd mony men; [1594) Then was P. many a man P.] Al þat folk, þer was þat tide, [ 1595] [1595) Of all the P.] Þer dorste non lengor abide. [1596) Þer om. P. non l.] not one of them P.]

Some fellen for ferd in swowȝ, [1597) slowȝ L.] [1597) f. om. P.] And Merlyn clapte his hond and lowȝ. Þe rede dragoun and þeo white, Harde to gedre gon þay smyte [ 1600] Wiþ mouth, powe and wiþ tayl, [1601) *Both with P. powe] om. P.] By tweone heom was ful hard batayl, [1602) ful] *aP.] Þat þeo eorþe donede þo [1603) don.] quaked P.] And lodly weder wax þer þo. [1604) weder] d corr. aus? L. þer þo] *alsoe P.] So strong fuyr þey casten anon, [ 1605] Þat þe pleynes þer of schon, And sparklede abowte bryȝt, [1607) f. om. P.] As doþ þe fuyr from þondur lyȝt. So þey fouȝhte, for soþe to say, Al þe longe somores day; [ 1610] Þey no stynten neuere of fyȝh∣tyng, Til þe euesong con rynge. [1612) Þe] men to P. con] did P.] So in þat tyme, as y ȝow telle, [1613) as] so P; al L.] Þe rede dragoun, þat was so felle, Drof þeo white feor adoun [ 1615] [1615) feor a.] from a downe P.] In to þe pleynes a gret vyroun, [f. 24b] [1616) verome P.] Til þey come to a valeye, [1617) into P. *& there P.] Þere þey rested heom boþe tweye, Wel þe montaunce of a whyle, [1619) f. om. P.]

Þat a mon myȝte gon a myle, [ 1620] And þer þe whyte couered his flyȝt [1621) recouered P.] And wax egre for to fyȝt, [1622) waxed P.] And egrely, wiþ owte fayle, Þeo rede dragoun he gon assaille And drof þeo rede ryȝt aȝeyn, [ 1625] [1625) f. om. P.] Til he cam in to þe pleyn, And þer þeo whyte anon ryȝt, [1627) whte(!) P. r.] with all his might P.] Hente þe rede wiþ al his myȝt, [1628) anon wiþ—myȝt] anon right P.] And to þeo grounde he him cast And wiþ þe fuyr of his blast [ 1630] Al to gedre brente þe rede, [1631) gedre] he add. P.] Þat neuere of him was founden schrede, [1632) of h.] after P.] Bote dost vp on þe ground lay; And þe white went away, Þat neuer siþen after þan [ 1635] [1635) &P. after] that time P.] Neo herde mon, wher he by cam. [1636) Heard noe P.] Þenne seide Merlyn þe ȝynge Among heom alle by fore þe kynge, And seide to him wiþ wordes bolde: "Now is hit soþ, þat y ȝow tolde, [ 1640] Hit is soþ, þow may hit seo, [1641) Þow] *yee P.] Þer fore for loue y prayȝe þe, [1642) for l.] *sir king P.] Do now þe clerkes by fore me brynge, [1643) now] yee P. by f.] afore P.] Þat lowen on me þat lesynge, [1644) laid P.] And y schal aske heom by forn, [ 1645] [1645) y sch. a.] he asked P. heom] the king add. P.]

Why þey wolde, my blod war lorn. [1646) my] his P.] Þey onswerde wiþ wordes mylde [1647) & the P.] Dredfully to þat childe [1648) to þat] before the P.] And seiden, þey sawe witerly, By neoþen þeo weolkene þey sawe a sky, [ 1650] [1650) Beneath P. þey s.] om. P. weolk.] danach asyȝt, ausgestr., P.] Þat schewed heom al his byȝate, [1651) & P. him P. begott P.] How he was in eorþe ylaten, [1652) on P. lote P.] And þoruȝ his blod þe kynges castel Scholde stonde strong and wel; [1654) stonde] both add. P.] "So wende we, verrament: [ 1655] [1655) f. om. P.] Do now wiþ ows ȝoure talent!" Þanne onswerde Merlyn þo: [1657) onsw.] said P.] "He was a schrewe, þat sche∣wed so! [1658) schewed] told you P.] Þat sky," he seide, "þat sche∣wed ȝow þat, He was þeo fader, þat me byȝat, [ 1660] And for y serue him nouȝt at wille, He wolde do my blod to spille; [1662) Therfore he P. do] om. P. to] om. P.] And for he haþ so bygyled ȝow, [1663) for] that add. P. beguiled you soe P.] Sire Fortager, now preyȝ y ȝow, [1664) now—ȝow] I pray you thoe P.] Þat ȝe graunten heom to lyue, [ 1665] [1665) grant P. to] their P.] And al my wraþþe y heom forgyue." [1666) And] om. P.] Þe kyng heom graunted al so blyue, [1667) heom—bl.] his ask∣ing granted *swithe P.] Þo weore þe clerkes glad and blyþe; [1668) Then P.]

Forþ heo wenten to heore yn, [1669) to h. yn] both more & mynne P.] And wiþ heom wente child Merlyn. [ 1670] [1670) child] om. P.] Merlyn was wiþ Fortager [f. 25a] To his counsail al þat ȝer; Þoruȝ his wisdam and his coun∣sail [1673) and his] & P.] Þeo castel was strong, wiþ owte fayle. [1674) strong—f.] built strong & well P.] And whan þe castel was al wrouȝt, [ 1675] Eorles and barouns þe kyng bysouȝt, Þat heo scholde wite at Mer∣lyn þo, Why þat þeo dragouns fouȝ∣ten so; [1678) Þat] om. P.] Hit was sum tokenyng, þey seiden alle, Of sum auenture, þat scholde byfalle. [ 1680] [1680) That P. þat] om. P.] Merlyn was brouȝt by fore þe kyng, He him asked, wiþ owte lesyng, [1682) & he P.] What þat tokenyng myȝte beone, [1683) beone] meane P.] Þeo fyȝtyng of þeo dragouns kene. Merlyn stod and made daunger, [ 1685] Þenne byspak him Fortager [1686) him] *sir P.] And seide: "Merlyn, bote þow me telle, Anon y schal þe quelle!" [1688) þe q.] cause thee to be quell P.] Þanne onswerde Merlyn, aplyȝt, Wiþ gret wrathþe anon ryȝt [ 1690] And seide: "Sire, wiþ owte wene, [1691) Sire] om. P.]

Þat day schaltow neuer seone, [1692) shall P. neuer] *be add. P.] Þauȝh þow take þy sweord in honde, [1693) If P.] Me to sle or brynge in bonde: Ȝet may þow faile of al þy fare, [ 1695] As doþ þe grehound of þe hare! [1696) As the hound doth P.] Y warne þe wel, sire Fortager, [1697) you P.] Y no ȝeue no thyng of þy daunger; Bote ȝef þow wolt me fynde borwe, [1699) me f.] find me a P.] Þat þow schalt do me no sorwe, [ 1700] Þan wol y telle þe al by dene, [1701) you P. by] danach d, ver∣klext, L.] Þe fyȝhtyng of þeo dragouns kene; And bote þow so wolt, by oure lord, Y no wol þe telle neuer a word!" Alle þe barouns and þe kyng [ 1705] Hadden wondur of his onswer∣yng; Two barouns þe kyng him fond, Þeo beste, þat weoren in þe lond, And þer to sworen on a bok, Þat men schulde him non harme loke. [ 1710] [1710) men] danach s, verklext, L.] Þan he tolde al by dene Þe fyȝhtyng of þeo dragouns kene, [1703-12) om. (!) P.] Þanne seide Merlyn to þe kyng: "Sire, vndurstond my sayȝyng: [1714) vndurst.] well add. P.] Þe red dragoun, so foul of syȝt, [ 1715] Bytokenyþ þy seolue and þy myȝt, [1716) and] all add. P.] And þoruȝ þy false procuryng [1717) For P.] Moyne was slayn, þe ȝonge kyng.

Þow sawe, þe rede þe whyte drof [f. 25b] [1719) see P. rede] dragon add. P.] Feor doun in to þe groff: [ 1720] Þat bytokenyþ þeo ayres, þow dudest fleme [1721) ayres] that add. P.] Wiþ wronge owt of heore ryȝt rewme, [1722) heore r.] the P.] And al þe folk, þat wiþ heom heold, [1723) Soe P.] Boþe in towne and in feld. Þeo whyte dragoun doþ signefyȝe [ 1725] [1725) doth signiefie P; signefyȝeþ A.] Þe ryȝhte heires han gret envye, Þat þow holdust al heore lond Wiþ wronge in þyn owne hond; [1728) Against them with much wronge P.] And al so þe whyte, þow say, [1729) And] om. P. þow s.] can you well say P.] Kouorede his flyght in þe valay [ 1730] [1730) flyght] flym L. Recovered his flyght into P.] And drof þe rede dragoun agayn, Til he com in to þe playn, [1732) in] om. P.] And to grounde he him kast [1733) to] the add. P.] And wiþ þe fuyr of his blast Al to powder brente þe rede, [ 1735] [1735) pow.] he add. P.] Þat neuere of him was founde schrede: [1736) founde] a add. P.] Þat bytokenyþ þeo heires by ȝonden, [1737) by ȝ.] soe younge P.] Þat arn waxen and socour founden [1738) Þat a.] Are now P.] And arn redy, wiþ mony a knyȝt Aȝeyns þe to holde fyȝt; [ 1740] [1740) Against P.] In to þis castel þey schule þe dryue Wiþ þy childre and wiþ þy wyue, [1742) child P. wiþ] om. P.] And alle, þat buþ wiþ þe þenne, [1743) þat] om. P. beene P.] In to þe ground men schal ȝow brenne; [1744) men] om. P. ȝow] the P.] And þe kyng, sire Aungys, [ 1745]

Schal beo slayn and holde no pris; His kynrade and þyn al so [1747) kingdome P.] Schal don Engelond mukil wo. Þe hed apon þe whytes tayl, [1749) vpon P. whytes] white dragons P.] Þat bytokenyþ, wiþ owte fayle, [ 1750] Þe heires, þat buþ treowe and gode, Schal distryen al þy blode. Sire Fortager, þis is þe tokenyng Of þe dragouns fyȝhtyng: As y þe seyȝe, wiþ owten oþ, [ 1755] þow schalt hit fynde siker and soþ!" [1756) troth P.] Stille him stod sire Fortager And bot his lippe wiþ dreory cher And seide to Merlyn: "Wiþ owte faile, Þow most me telle sum coun∣saile, [ 1760] [1760) You P. tell me P.] Wiþ owte chest, wiþ owte stryf, [1761) chest w. o.] any more P.] How y may best saue my lif." [1762) leade P.] Þan Merlyn gan stande stille [1763) f. om. P.] And onswerede him wiþ wordes grylle And seide: "Sire, wiþ owte wene, [ 1765] [1765) And] Then Merlyne P. Sire] om. P.] Þus hit moste nedes beone, [1766) must itt P.] And þer fore, so god ȝeue me rest, [1767) god ȝ. me] haue I P.] Y no can no red, bote do þy best!" [1768) I can P.] Fortager seide: "Bote þow me telle, [f. 26a] [1769) þow] om. P.] Anon y schal do þe quelle!" [ 1770] He start vp and wolde haue him rawȝt, [1771) him haue wrought P.] Bote, where he was, he no wiste nouȝt; [1772) no] om. P.] So sone he was awayȝe þan, [1773) awayȝe] sehr verlöscht in L.] Þat in þe halle wiste no man,

Hyȝh no lowȝh, sweyn ny grom, [ 1775] [1775) nor P. nor P.] Þat wiste, wher Merlyn bycom. [1776) Merl.] was add. P.] Þo wente Merlyn hastely [1777) Then P.] To þe hermyte, þat hyȝhte Blasy, And tolde him, wiþ owte lesyng, How he hadde serued þe kyng, [ 1780] And tolde him, wiþ owte wrong, Þe fyȝhtyng of þe dragouns strong, Of þe rede and of þe whyte; He dude a gret bok sone wryte [1784) A great booke he did endite P.] And tolde, þat þeo rede dragoun [ 1785] Bytokenyþ gret destruccioun [1786) much P.] Þoruȝ Fortageres kynde, ywis, [1787) kinred P.] And þe heþene kyng Aungys;

In Engelond schulde beo after∣ward Strong bataile and happes hard. [ 1790] [1790) battailes P.]

Al þat Merlyn tolde and seide, In scripture hit was leyde, [1792) scr.] good writting P.] Of alle þe auentures, y vndur∣stonde, Þat euer schal beo in Enge∣londe; [1794) shold fall P.] Bote for hit is so derk þyng, [ 1795] [1795) derk] a add. P.] Þat Merlyn made in his seyȝyng, Fewe men, wiþ owte wene, [1797) Þat add. (!) LP. weene P; wone A.]

Konne vndurstonde, what hit may mene; [1798) may] om. P.]

Bote, ȝef ȝe wolen a stounde dwelle, [1799) Ȝef] on P.] Of oþir thyng y wol ȝow telle, [ 1800] [1800) things P.]

Of þe hende childre two, Vter and Pendragon al so. Y tolde yow, y vndurstonde, [1803) yow y] as I you P.] How þey weore flemed owt of londe; [1804) of] the add. P.]

Now wol y telle ȝow for certayn, [ 1805] [1805) for] in P.] In what maner þey com agayn Wiþ gret streynthe and power, And how þey drof sire Fortager [1808) he draue P.] Forþ in to his castel strong For his vnryȝt and his wrong, [ 1810] [1810) and] for add. P.] And how þey brente him, flesch and bon, And how þey can kyng Aun∣gys slon; Y wol ȝow telle, in what manere: Listenyþ now, and ȝe may here! [1814) you shall P.]

A mury tyme hit is in May, [ 1815] [1815) The merryest P.] Whan spryngyþ þe somores day [1816) Then P.]

And damyseles caroles lediþ, [1817) f. om. P.] On grene wode fowles grediþ. So in þat tyme, as ȝe may here, Two barouns com to Fortagere [ 1820] [1820) The P.] And seiden: "My lord þe kyng, We haue ȝow brouȝt an hard tydyng [1822) Ȝow br. an] brought you P.] Of Pendragon, þat is þy fo, And of Vter, his broþir, al so: Þey arn come in to þis lond [ 1825] Wiþ mony a knyȝt douȝhty of hond; [f. 26b]

Þey no wolen stynte nouȝt, [1827) And they will P.] Til þat þow beo to grounde brouȝt; [1828) Þat] om. P.]

Þey arn at Wynchestre al most, Þer fore send abowte in hast [ 1830] To alle þy freondes, y þe rede, For þow no haddest neuer so much nede!" [1832) no] om. P. so much] so P: er L.] Vp him starte Fortageres And clepede to him messangeres, [1834) called P.] To Wynchestre he heom sent [ 1835] And bad heom, þoruȝ his com∣aundement,

Aȝeyn Vter and Pendragoun [1837) Against P.] Þey schulde schutte þe ȝates anon, As þey wolde his loue wynne, Þey schold nouȝt lete heom come þer ynne, [ 1840] [1840) þer] om. P.] And he wolde come, wiþ owte ȝelp, [1841) wiþ o. ȝ.] anon right P.] Wiþ mony a mon heom to helpe. [1842) To helpe them with all his might P.] Oþir messangeres he sent, ywis, [1843) sent] danach anon, ausgestr., L. ywis] anon P.] To þe heþene kyng Aungys [1844) þe h.] om. P. A.] soone add. P.] And bad him come to helpe at nede [ 1845] Wiþ al þe folk, he myȝhte owt lede, [1846) folk] that add. P. owt] om. P.] For to fyȝhte aȝeyn his fon, [1847) against P.] Þat weore come him to slon. Whan þe kyng Aungys was come, [1849) þe] om. P. kyng] ü. d. z. nachgetr. in L.] And heore armes haddyn ynome, [ 1850] [1850) The way to Winchester they nume P.] Þey prykedyn faste anon [1851) f. om. P.] Toward Wynchester euerychon; Her þey haluendel com þare, [1853) & or they were halfe way there P.] Vter and Pendragon ware þare; [1854) ware þ.] comen weare P.] Þey ware come Wynchestre so nyȝh, [ 1855] [1855) þey w. c.] To P. W.] towne add. P.] And heore baner heo reryd an hyȝh, [1856) heore—reryd] reard their bannors P.] Armes heo schewed ryche ykore, [1857) the P. yk.] there P.] Þat hadde beon heore fadres by fore. Þeo burgoys, þat þe baner kneow, [1859) Then the burgesse P. they banners P.] Þanne at furst gon heom rewe [ 1860] [1860) þanne at] Att the P. gon] he can P.] Þe deþ of Constaunce þe kyng, [1861) Constantine P.] And þat Moyne was slawe so ȝyng, [1862) þat] of P. M.] that add. P.] And seide, Fortager was traytour in lym and lyth [1863) was] a add. P. in—lyth] om. P.] And al, þat euer heold him wiþ, [1864) euer—wiþ] wold him succor P.] And seiden, þey wolde lete in to þe toun [ 1865] Boþe Vter and Pendragon And sese þer in to heore honde, [1867) hands P.] For þey weore heyres of þat londe. [1868) weore] right add. P. the P.] Þey setten open þe ȝates wyde And letten Pendragon yn ryde, [ 1870] And Vter, his broþir, al so,

And alle, þat come wiþ heom þo; [1872) them 2 P.] Þey ȝoldyn heom boþe toun and tour [1873) & yeelden to them P.] And duden heom ful gret honour, Þat euermore Wynchestre after þan [ 1875] [1875) euer after P. after] om. P.] Gret þank and freodam of heom wan. [1876) of h.] om. P.] And whan Fortager, þat felle, [1877) When that P. the P.] Þe soþe tidyng herde telle, [1878) tydings B.] Þat Vter and Pendragon Ware leten in to Wynchestre toun, [ 1880] For wrathþe he was nyȝh owt of wit [1881) f. om. P.] And seide, hit scholde heom sowre sitte; He comaunded his men fast, [L f. 27a] [1883) Then he P.] To pryke to Wynchestre in hast. [1884) goe P.] And whan Pendragon had vndurnomen, [ 1885] [1885) had vnd.] vndernome P.] Þat Fortager was þider ycomen, [1886) was] did P. come P.] He comaunded anon þan [1887) f. om. P.] To horse and armes ilke a man. Þey casten open þe ȝates wide, [1889) He cast P.] And alle þey gonne owt ryde [ 1890] [1890) can P.] And dyȝhten heom, wiþ owte faile, To ȝeue sir Fortager bataile. Bote þe Englysche barouns al yfere, [1893) in fere P.] Þat war come wiþ Fortagere, Whan þay conne þat folk seon, [ 1895] [1895) þat] they P.] Þat som whyle hadde heore kynne beon, [1896) kynne] mit dunklerer tinte ü. d. z. nachgetr., L. That were some time of their kine P.] Wiþ Fortager was mony a knyȝt, Þat kneow þe baner anon ryȝt; [1898) banners P.] Wel a þowsand and mo, þer weore, [1899) þows. and mo] 100 P.] Þat hadde serued heore fadir byfore, [ 1900] [1900) byf.] deere P.] Seiden, Fortager was fals in felde [1901) & s. P.] And al, þat euer wiþ him heold. [1902) wiþ] mit dunklerer tinte ü. d. z. nachgetr. in L.] To Fortager þey ran anon [1903) anon] soone P.] And woldyn haue slayn him anon; [1904) woldyn] thought for to P.] Þey haddyn mynt a slayn him þere, [ 1905] [1905) a] to haue P.] Bote al to litel was heore powere; For aȝeyn on of heom [1907) against P.] Fortager hadde twenty men, Þat weore comen al to gedre,

Wiþ kyng Aungys þider. [ 1910] [1910) Aun.] come add. L.] Kyng Fortager and kyng Aungys [1911) kyng] om. P.] For wrathþe weore neor wode, ywis; He comaunded al his rowte, To bysette heom al abowte, And swar, þer schulde askape non, [ 1915] [1915) scape P.] Þat þey ne scholde beo slayn vchon. [1916) But P. ne] om. P. sch.] all add. P. vchon] om. P.] Schaftes þey brak and launces drowen, [1917) Lance P. laun. dr.] shafts the drew P.] Monye of þe barouns þey slowen, Bote þey weore so stronge and wyȝt [1919) so] om. P.] And fouȝhten aȝeyn wiþ al heore myȝt, [ 1920] For noþyng wolde þey ȝelde heom þan, [1921) heom þ.] then P.] Bote slowen mony an heþen man; Faste on heom þey gon to hewe, [1923) him P. to] om. P.] Bote, allas, þey weore to fewe, For þoruȝ þat contek and þat stryf [ 1925] [1925) f. om. P.] Half an hundred laften heore lif. Bote a baroun was so strong, [1927) Yett P.] Þat askaped owt of þat þrong; [1928) ask.] he scaped B. the P.] He priked his stede wiþ gret raundoun, Til he com to Pendragon; [ 1930] He saide: "þow art kynde eyr of londe, [1931) kynde] om. P. of] this add. P.] To my tale þow vndurstonde: [1932) þow] doe P.] For þe loue of þy broþir and þe [1933) For] o ausradirt und nochmals übergeschr., L.] Hider y come, to helpe þe; Þer fore arn we now yschent, [ 1935] [1935) & therfor P. now are wee P.] For we wiþ wille to þe went; [1936) we wiþ] our good P. meant P.] Kyng Fortager and kyng Aungys Wiþ mony a Sarsyn of gret pris [f. 27b] Schal ows hewe doun to grounde, [1939) hew vs P. to] the add. P.] Bote ȝe helpe ows in þis stounde; [ 1940] [1940) vs helpe P.] And for þat we arn schent for þe, [1941) f. om. P.] Go help ows now, par charite!" Hit was no ned, to bydde heom ryde, [1943) reed P. him(!) P.] Þeo folk sprad owt on vche a side, [1944) spurred P. vche a] euerye P.] And whan þey weore to gedre met, [ 1945] Þer weore strokes wel byset;

Þer fauȝt Vter and Pendragouns, [1947) Pendragon P.] As þey weore wode lyouns, And Vter þo nouȝt forȝat, [1949) f. om. P.] Þat he no ȝaf Sarsynes mony a flat; [ 1950] Mony Sarsynes hed anon [1951) Mony] a add. P.] He strok of by þe nekke-bon. [1952) The P.] Gret folk on boþe syde [1953) Many P. on b. s.] that ilke tyde P.] Þer was slawe at þat tide. [1954) Were slaine on both syds P.] Kyng Fortager, wiþ owte faile, [ 1955] Was ouercome in þat bataile, And, mawgre him and alle his, Þat weoren wiþ kyng Aungys, Þey weore dryuen so nyȝh, In to a castel þat þey fleyh, [ 1960] [1960) That into P. þat þey] they can P.] Þat was boþe god and mury, [1961) & that P. god] strong P.] Apon þe pleyn of Salesbury. [1962) Vpon P.] Pendragon and his broþir Vter Prikeden after sir Fortager, And whan þey to þat castel come, [ 1965] [1965) þat] the P.] Wilde fuyr anon þey nome [1966) anon þ.] soone them P.] And casten hit ouer þe wal wiþ gynne; [1967) ouer—wiþ] in with a P.] And al so swiþe hit was wiþ ynne, [1968) al so s.] sas soone as P.] Hit gan to brenne owt of wit, Þat noman myȝhte staunchen hit; [ 1970] And Fortager wiþ child and wyf And al, þat was þer ynne on lyue, [1972) That were theere in their liffe P.] Best and mon, wiþ lym and lyth [1973) lymes P.] Hit brente doun, wiþ owte gryth. [1974) Were brenned all forthwith P.] Fortager regnede here [ 1975] Al fully seouen ȝere. [1976) Al f. Fullye the space of P.] Now preyȝe we Jesu, heouene kyng, [1977) J. h.] all the heauens P.] And his modur, þat swete þyng, He blesse ows alle wiþ his hond And sende ows pes in Engelond! [ 1980] [1980) Explicit Merlyn add. L. Damit schliesst L.] Now when Vortiger was brent, [P p. 171] Vther & Pendragon went, For to beseege king Anguis In his castle soe strong of price, Wither he was fled for dread & doubt; [ 1985] & Pendragon with all his rout

Besett him soe on euery side, That noe man might scape that tyde. But king Anguis within that castel [1989) castle P.] Was bestowed soe wonderous well, [ 1990] & soe stronglye itt was wrought, That noe man might deere itt nought. & when they had beseeged him longe [1993) him] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] About the castle, that was soe stronge, [1994) the] they P.] & when noe man might him deere, [ 1995] 5 barrons comen there, That had beene with Vortiger, & told Pendragon & Vther, How Merlyne was begotten & borne, & how he came the king beforne, [ 2000] & what words he him tolde Of the dragons vnder the mould, & how the king wold haue him slaine, & noe man wott, where he become, & said: "Sir, verament, [ 2005] & Merline were here present, Throughe his councell you shall anon Kinge Anguis ouercome!" Pendragon was woundred thoe, [2009) wounded (!) P.] & soe was his brother Vther alsoe, [ 2010] & sent anon the knights 5, For to seeke Merlyn beliue, & bade them, if they found the child, To pray him with words milde, To come & speake with Pendragon [ 2015] & Vther in his pauillyon, Them to wishe & them to reade, [2017) Them] Him P.] &, if hee might, helpe them att neede, For to winne that strong hold, & he shold haue, what he wold. [ 2020] The messengers forth went, To seeke Merlyn, with good entent, & fare & wyde they him sought, But of him they heard right nought. Soe on a day the messengers, [ 2025] As they were sett att their dinners In a taverne in the west countrye, [2027) taberne ? P.] With meate & drinke great plentye, An old churle, hee came in With a white beard vpon his chine, [ 2030] & a staffe in his hand he had & shoone on feete full well made, And begunn to craue more, [p. 172]

& said, he was anhungred sore, & praid them on the bench aboue, [ 2035] To giue him something for gods loue. & they then sayd, with out leasinge, [2037) they] the P.] That he shold haue of them nothinge, & sayd: "If that the churle be old, He is a stronge man & a bolde [ 2040] & might goe worke for his meate, If he itt wold with truth gett!" & called to him euereche one & bade him trusse & away gone, & sware by the ruth, that god them gaue [ 2045] He shold drinke with his owne staffe. Then Merlyn answered yorne: "Fellow," hee sayd, "I am noe churle, I am an old man of this worlde [2049) this] danach world, ausgestr. P.] & many wonders seene & hearde, [ 2050] & yee be wretches & younge of blood, &, forsooth, can litle good; & if yee knew, as yee nay can, Yee shold scorne noe old man: Yee shold be in the kings neede, [ 2055] For old men can yee wishe and reede, [2056) yee] thee P.] Where yee shold find Merlyn the chylde; Therfore the king was full wilde, To send madmen out off rage, For to goe on such a message; [ 2060] For Merlyn is of such manner, If he stood before you here [2062) lere P.; Percy hat here am rande beigeschrieben.] & spake to you right att this dore, You shold know him neuer the more; For 3^se this day you haue him mett, [ 2065] & yett yee know him neuer the bett; & therfore wend home, by my reed, For him to find you shall not speed, & bydd that prince take barrons 5 & bydde come & speake to Merlyn belyue, [ 2070] & say, that he shall them abyde Right here by this forrests side!" & when he had said to them this, Anon he was away, iwisse, & there wist of them none, [ 2075] [2075) none of them P.] Where this old man was become. The messengers wondred all, Where the churle was befall, & all about they him sought, But of him they heard nought; [ 2080]

For in story it is told, The churle, that was soe stout & bold, That spake soe to the messengers, As they sate att their dinners, [2084) they] the P.] Forsooth, itt was Merline the younge, [ 2085] That made to them this scorninge. The messenger went soone anon & told Vther & Pendragon, & how the churle to them had tolde & sware to them with words bold, [ 2090] & told them, how Merlyne the chylde Was byding in the forrest wylde & bade them take barrons 5, To come and speake with him belyue, & sayd, Merlyn wold them abyde [ 2095] Att such a place by the forrest syde. [2096) a] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Pendragon had wonder thoe, & Vther, his brother, alsoe; Pendragon bade his brother gent, To the seege to take good tent, [ 2100] That king Anguis scaped not away, Neither by night nor yett by day, Till they were of him wreake, For he wold goe with Merlyn speake. Then Pendragon with barrons 5 [ 2105] Went forth alsoe belyue; And when Pendragon was forth went, [p. 173] [2107) when] om.(!) ms.] Merlyn anon, verament, Wist full well, that he was gone, & to Vther he came anon; [ 2110] As itt were a stout garson, [2111) garrison(!) P.] He came to Vthers pauillyon & said: "Vther, listen to mee, For of thy harme I will warne thee, For I know well, with outen fayle, [ 2115] All king Anguis counsaile, [2116) Angrius P.] For he will come this ilke night With many a man full well dight & into the forrest slippe anon, For to waite thee for to sloen; [ 2120] But her of haue thou noe dowbt, But warne thy host all about, That they be armed swithe & weele, Both in iron & eke in steele, & gather together all thy host [ 2125] & hold yee still with outen bost, Till that hee bee amonge ye comen, [2127) amonge] ü. d. z. nachgetr. conen P.] For he shalbe the first groome,

That shall vpon thy pauillion ren; & looke, that thou be ready then, [ 2130] & heard on him looke thow hewe & spare not that old shrewe, For thou shalt slay him with thy hand & winne the price from all this land!" [2134) wime(!) P.] & when he had told him all this case, [ 2135] He vanished away from that place. Great wonder had Vther thoe, That he was escaped soe, & thought, itt was gods sonde, That warned him that stonde, [ 2140] That had soe warned him of his fone & was soe lightlye from him gone. & when itt drew vnto the night, King Anguis anon right Did arme his men wrath & prest, [ 2145] 3000 men of the best, & said, how a spye had tolde, That Pendragon, the prince bold, Forth into the country is gone & left his brother Vther att home; [ 2150] Therfore, he sayd, he will out breake, & on Vther he wold him wreake, [2152) other (!)] & sware an othe by Mahound, He wold kill him in his pauillyon. & soone they were ready dight; [ 2155] Then king Anguis, anon right Forthe of the castle he can ryde With 3000 by his syde, & forthe he went without bost, Vntill he came to Vthers host. [ 2160] & when he was comen right, Where Vthers pauillyon was pight, King Anguis, a fell felon, He hyed him to the pauillyon [2164) him] danach the, ausgestr. P.] & thought to slay Vther therin; [ 2165] But he was beguiled thorrow Merlyine, [2166) beguiled] guiled corr. aus?] For Merlyne had that ilke morrow Warned Vther of all the sorrow, How king Anguis was bethought; Therfore in his pauillyon was he nought, [ 2170] But had taken the feild with out With many a hardye man & stout. & Vther was a hardy man; Vpon king Anguis hee ran & smote him att the first blow, [ 2175]

That he cane him ouerthrowe; & Vther, with his sword soe smart He smote him thorrow the hart & hent him by the head anon & stroke itt from the necke-bone. [ 2180] And when the Sarazens this can see, [p. 174] Fast away can they flee To the castle euereche one & left their lord all alone; But, or they might scape againe, [ 2185] [2185) they] the P.] 500 were all slayne Of the stoutest, that were there, That came with their king ifere. Now let we him be for a season, [2189) we him] vs P.] & let us turne to Pendragon, [ 2190] That was gone to the forrest wilde, To speake with Merlyn the chylde. The first time he asked for Merlyn, He see a heardsman keeping swine, With an old hatt vpon his head, [ 2195] & in gray russett was he cladd, And a good staffe in his hand, & a white whelpe him followande; Stalworth he seemed & well made. The prince anon to him roade [ 2200] & well fayre he can him fraine, Giff he heard ought of Merlyn, & whether hee cold tell him any tythinge, [2203) tythands (!) P.] Where was his most wininge. "Yea, sir," he sayd, "by seint Marye, [ 2205] Right now was Merlyn here with mee; & thou had comen eare, indeed, Thou might haue found him in that stead; & if thou Merlyn ken can, [2209) can M. ken P.] He is not yett far gone; [ 2210] & therfore ryde forth in this way, As fast as euer thou may, & on thy right hand rathe Thou shalt find a verry faire path, That thorrow the faire forrest lyeth, [ 2215] & in that way thou ryde swithe, &, seekerlye, with outen weene, Soone thou may Merlyn seene." Then was the prince glad & blythe & sped him forth swithe; [ 2220] & as he hard, soe he itt found, A well faire path on his right hand. [2222) his] danach h, ausgestr.]

They turned their horsses euereche one, [2223) The P.] & in that path they rydden anon, [2224) the P.] & with Merlyn they metten then, [ 2225] &, as itt were a stout chapmon, [2226) chapm.] champyon(!) P.] He bare a great packe on his backe; [2227) He] & P.] & to him the prince full faire spake & asked him, if hee see Merlyn: "Yea," said he, "by seint Martin, [ 2230] A little heere before your sight; He is not farr, I you plyght; To you I say, by seint John, He is not yett far gone, & therfore ryde forth beliue, [ 2235] As fast as your horsses may driue, & yee shall find him in a wyle, By then yee haue rydden a myle; With Merlyn yee shall meete then, Or yee shall speake with some other man, [ 2240] That shall you tell full right, Where you shall haue of Merlyn a sight!" & when he had thus sayd, They pricked forth in a brayd; [2244) The P.] & by they had rydden a stonde, [ 2245] [2245) had] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] As he him said, with out wronge, He mett with Merlyn on the playne, As he were a doughtye swaine, All cloathed in robes soe gay, As it had beene a monke gray, [ 2250] [2250) monkes P.] & bare a gauelocke in his hand; His speeche was of another land. He, when the prince had him mett, Faire & hendlye he did him greete. Then the prince was all heauye [ 2255] & asked him of his curtesie, If he mett by the way [p. 175] With chyld Merlyn that day. "Yea, sir," hee said," by seint Michaelle, Merlyn I know verry well, [ 2260] For right now, sikerlye, Merlyin was here fast by, & had yee rydden a litle bett, With Merlyn yee might haue mett; But, sir, I say with out othee, [ 2265] He is a quante boy, for soothe; Soe well I know Merlyns thought: With out my helpe you find him nought; & if of him yee will haue speech,

Then must you doe, as I to you teache: [ 2270] Att the next towne here beside, There you must Merlyn abyde & in the towne take your ine; &, certainly, then child Merlyn Shall come to you this ilke night, [ 2275] & there yee shall of him haue sight, & then yee may both lowed & still Speake with Merlyn all that you will!" Then was the prince blythe & glad & pricked forth, as he were madd, [ 2280] & tooke his inne in the towne, As shold a lord of great renowne. Now may you heare in this time, How Merlyn came the 5^th time, & how he the prince mett, [ 2285] & on what manner he him grett & became to him as councellour: Hearken to me, & you shall heare! When itt was with in the night, Merlyn came to the king full right, [ 2290] Right in the guise of a swayne, As he was in the forrest seene, & sayd, as I find in the booke: "Sir prince, god send you good lucke! Loe, I am heere, that thou hast sought: [ 2295] Tell me, what is thy thought, & what thou wilt to me saine, For I wold heare thee wonderous faine!" Then vpstart Pendragon & into his armes he him nume; [ 2300] To bide with him he did him craue, & what hee wold aske, he shold haue. & Merlyn sayd, verament, He wold be att his commandement; Ouer all, where soe he were, [ 2305] He wold be att his bydding yare. Then was the prince gladd & blyth & thanked Merlyn many a sythe; Then sayd Merlyn: "Sir, will you heare? I come from thy brother deere; [ 2310] For through my councell hee hath this night Slaine king Anguis, I you plight." [2312) you] am rande mit verweisungszeichen nachgetr.] Then was the prince blythe & gladd & great solace & myrth made; & all, that were there, were full faine, [ 2315] & on the morrow rod home againe

& found king Anguis slaine, His head sett vp, his body drawne. Pendragon asked Vther, iwis, Who had slaine king Anguis, [ 2320] & he answered and can saine, That he was warned by a swayne. [2322) was] om. P; von Percy am ende der zeile nachgetr.] When he had told all, how he did, He thanked god in that steade. Then bespake Pendragon [ 2325] & sayd to Vther anon: "Hee, that thee holpe att need thine, [p. 176] Forsooth, itt was child Merlyn, That standeth now here by thee." Vther him thanked with hart free [ 2330] & prayd him then, in all thing That he wold be att his bidding. Then they wenten to the castle, with out lesse, [2333) they] the P.] Wherein many a Sarazen was, That noe man might to them winne [ 2335] By noe manner of gynne; & therfore the oste still lay, Till after vpon the 3^d day Word came from the Sarazen, Where they lay in castle fine, [ 2340] [2340) the P.] That they wold yeeld vp the castel, [2341) castle P.] If they might passe well To their land with outen dere; Vpon a booke they wold sweare, [2344) the P.] That they shold neuer againe come. [ 2345] But Merlyn sent them word soone, That they shold passe eache one By leaue of sir Pendragon. [2348) sir] his(!) P.] & when they had all sworne & some, That they wold neuer in this land come, [ 2350] They passed anon to the sea strond & went into their owne land. Then to Pendragon the crowne they name, & king of Englande he became, & in England he raigned king [ 2355] But 3 yeere, with out leasing, & after he was slaine rathe With Sarazens, & that was scathe; I shall you tell, in whatt manner: Listen a while & you shall heare! [ 2360] [2360) & listen] & ausgestr.] That time in the land of Denmarke

2 Sarazens where stout & starke, & were of king Anguis kinde, Of his next blood, that was soe hynde; The one was come of the brother, [ 2365] & of the sister came the other. Strong men they were & fell, [2367) they] thew (!) P.] & theire names I can you tell: The one was called sir Gamor, & the other sir Malador. [ 2370] [2370) Maladors P.] Gamor came of the brother beforne, The other was of the sister borne; Great lords were they of land: Sir Malador held in his hand 2 duchyes, & Gamor 3; [ 2375] Stowter men might none bee. When they heard, how king Anguis In England was slaine, iwis, Altogether can they speake, Theire vnckles death they wold wreake; [ 2380] & soe great an oste together they brought, That the number I can tell nought; [2382) the] they P. I] they P.] But vnto shipp they gone anon, & the sea to flowe began, [2384) seat (!) P.] The winde soe well began to blow, [ 2385] [2385) blow] b corr. aus f. P.] That they landed att Bristowe. Then Merlyn knew itt well anon & told itt Vther & Pendragon, How there was comen from Denmarke A stronge oste, stout & starke, [ 2390] With many Sarazens of price, For to auenge king Anguis. "In England," sayd Merlyn then, "Such an oste was neue seene; I say to you, with outen layne, [ 2395] The one of you shalbe slayne; & whether of you soe ere it is, Shall haue to meede heauens blisse. But for noe meede he wold not saine, Whether of them shold be slaine; [ 2400] But neuer the lesse yee shall heare, Merlyn loued well Vther, The least heere, that was on his crowne, Then all the body of Pendragon. Hee bade them dight them anon, [p. 177] [ 2405] Against their foemen for to gone, & sayd, Pendragon, with out fayle, Vppon the land shold them assayle:

& Vther, alsoo I bidd thee, Thou shalt wend by the sea [ 2410] & looke, that theere scapen none, Till they be slaine euerye eche one! Pendragon was a doughtye knight [2413) doughtye] am rande mit verweisungszeichen nachgetr.] & fell & egar for to fight; He neuer for stroakes wold forbeare [ 2415] Against noe man, with sheeld or speare, Nor better did non, with outen fayle, [2417) non] om. P.] & that was seene in that battaile: He tooke his oaste with might & mayne & went the Sarazens fast againe; [ 2420] & when they were together mett, There were strokes sadlye sett; Many a heathen Sarazen He cloue downe to the chin, Many a man was sticked tho, [ 2425] & many a good steed was slayne alsoe. The booke saith, with outen lye, There was done such chiualrye, Of the folke, that Pendragon fell, Noe man can the number tell. [ 2430] & Vther to the sea went, & Merlyn told him, verament, That he shold not that day be slaine. Then was Vther wonderous fayne & in his hart soe wonderous lyght, [ 2435] That hee was feirce & fell in fight, & egerlye, with out fayle, The Sarazens he can assayle & fast against them can stryde, That many a Sarazen lost their liffe. [ 2440] Pendragon & his folke, in hast The Sarazens fast to ground they cast, [2442) they] the P.] That there were none, against them stoode, But fledd away, as they were wood. But Vther in that ilke tyde [ 2445] Kept them in on the other syde; With strong battayle & strokes hard He droue them all againe backward; & when that they noe further might, On Pendragon can they light, [ 2450] [2450) the P.] A 100 Sarazens on a rowte Att once layd him all about. Who soe had seene Pendragon then, He might haue seene a doughtye man,

For all, that he might euer reach, [ 2455] Trulye, they need noe other leech. [2456) they] the P.] The Sarazens stout & grim Slew his steed vnder him; & when hee had lost his steed, Great ruthe itt is in bookes to reede [ 2460] How that he on foote stood, Till that he lost his harts bloode. A 100 Sarazens att a brayd All att once att him layd & broken him body & arme [ 2465] & slew him there, & that was harme. & when that Vther vnderstoode, [2467) Vither (!) P.] His brother was slaine, he waxt neere woode & bade his men fast fight, & he bestirrde him like a knight; [ 2470] Of all the Sarazens, that were left aliue, There scaped noe more but 5; Of the christian men were but slane 3031, certane; & in that ilke country thoe [ 2475] A mile might noe man goe, Neither by dale nor by downe, But he shold tread on a dead man. And when itt was against the night, [p. 178] Vther had discomfited them in fight; [ 2480] He went home into his inne & asket councell of Merlyne. Pendragon was out sought & to the church full fayre brought; He was grauen & layd full merrye [ 2485] In the towne of Glasenburye, & thus ended that doughtye knight: God grant his soule to blisse soe bright, & all, that done soe for the right, I pray Jesu for his might, [ 2490] He grant them heauens blisse aboue! Amen, Amen, for his mothers loue!

D.

. . . . . . . . . . . After his fader deyng: [f. 1a]

Soþe to say, wiþ outen blame, Moyne was þat childes name. Þe oþer children were of gret renoun, [ 5] Þat on hyȝte Vter, þat oþer Pendragon: Þus me gan here names calle, Þe Brut hit wytnessed soþe wiþ alle. In þat tyme, as we fendeþ in book, A gret syknesse þat kyng took, [ 10] Þat of þis world he sculde wende,

And after his barons he gan sende. And whanne þey weren come echon, Kyng Constantyn seide anon:

"Lordyngys, lestneþ," he sayde, [ 15] "lasse & mare, For out of þis world now y schal fare; [16) of] ü. d. z. nachgetragen.] Þarfore y pray ȝow, for loue of me Þat trewe ȝe be, pur charite, And þat no treson be ȝow among For his loue, þat suffrede deþ [ 20] on þe croys wiþ wrong: Wan y am ded & loke in clay, [f. 1b] [22) my] y corrigirt aus i.] Helpeþ my childryn what ȝe may; Makeþ Moyne, myn eldest sone, Of Englond to bere þe croune, [24) croune] e mit dunklerer tinte corr. aus?] And, þat to hym trewe ye be, [ 25] I ȝow pray pur charyte." Þanne alle þe barons, boþe old & ȝong, [27) alle ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Grauntede to þat sayd here kyng.

Þanne sayd þe kyng, as ȝe may here, [29) kyng] g corr. aus d.] To his steward, syre Fortygere; [ 30] Strong he was & ful wys, But he was also ful of coueytys; The kyng he haþ yserued ful long, For he was bothe styf & strong; On hym was al his tryst at nede, [ 35] Þe kyng hym ȝaf both lond & lede, [36) both] th corr. aus?] And ofte tymys he gan hym pray, [37) hym] ü. d. z. nachgetr.]

To helpen his children wat he may. He answerede & swore, þat he wold ywys, But he was false & coueytys, [ 40] For, whanne þe kyng hadde his lyfe ylore, [f. 2a] Sone þat fals traytor was for∣swore And wiþ falshede brak his trewþe & dude gret falsnesse & wrong, & þat was rewþe. Out of þis worlde þe kyng is went [ 45] [45) kyngis, darüber kyng ys mit hellerer tinte.] And was burred, verement,

At Wynchestre in þe toun, Þat of al Englond bar þe croun. [48) englong (!) ms.] Þanne þe barounage sone anon Took hem to consayle euerychon, [ 50] [50) hym, corr. in hem.] Wiþ outyn eny more tarying To make Moyne here kyng. [52) make] auf rasur geschr.] But þat fals Fortiger Þerfore was wroyþ in his manere, [54) was worþ, ü. d. z. nachgetragen, worþ ausgestr. und wroyþ am rands nachgetragen.] And wiþ his myȝt was þar agayn, [ 55]

But for fere he dorst noȝt sayn, For euere he þouȝte þoruȝ tresoun

Of Englond to bere þe croun. [58) englong (!) ms.] So þat Moyne was crouned kyng, In to Denmark hit dude spryng. [ 60]

Þey of Denmark in þat day [f. 2b] Bileueden nouȝt yn Cristes lay. [62) yn] on, o corr. in y. Cristes] es corr. aus on.] Kyng Aungis þat herde sayn And of þat tidyng was ful fayn; His messangeris he sente in þat tide [ 65] Ouer al Denmark in to euery syde To many a Saracyn boþe stouȝt & stark [67) Sar.] das zweite a ü. d. z. nachgetr. boþ] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Of Sisoyne & of Denmark, Syxty þousand & ȝut mo On hors wiþ kyng Amygys comen tho, [ 70] And of foot-men a wel gret rowte, Englond to makyn in dowte. Þe kyng Amygys nold no lengere abide, But in to schepe he wente in þat tyde, [74) in] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] And to Englond þey gan fare, [ 75] To worchen hem moche care. Englond was yclepyd þo Lityl Bretayne, þe Bruyt seyþ so. Þat word in Englond wyde sprong, Þat þe kyng of Denmark al [ 80] wiþ wrong Was come in to Englond [f. 3a] At þe rye vppon þe see strond.

The kyng herde, þat hit was so,

And in his herte hym was ful wo; Þanne wente Moyne þe kynge to Fortiger [ 85] And gret hym wiþ mornyng chere And bad hym mekelich, wiþ outen bost, Þat he wold leden his ost Aȝens his fomen forto fyȝt; And Fortiger seyde, þat he ne myȝt; [ 90] He made hym seek, þat trey∣tour strong, [91) treyt.] y ü. d. z. nachgetr.]

He nold neuere come in batayle, His strengthe, he sayd, dude hym fayle; And al he dude for angur & for onde, [ 95] Þat he ne most be kyng of Englond. Kyng Moyne nold hym no more pray, But from Fortiger wente his way. His massyngere anon in þat tyde [f. 3b] He sente in to Englond ful wide [ 100] To erlys, barons & knyȝtys, To come & helpen hym in fyȝttys;

And wanne þey were alle ycome And ech man hadde hys harnes ynome, [104) yn.] auf rasur geschr.] Þey wenten fourþ, wiþ outyn fayle, [ 105] To ȝeuen here fomen strong batayle. Þare was ycloue many a scheld And many knyȝt lay ded on þe feld; Many a douȝti man in þat tyde Lay þar ded wiþ woundes wyde. [ 110] Þanne was þe Denmarkes ost so strong, Þat þey fouȝtyn wiþ axes & wiþ sperys long; Al þat þey hytten in þat stounde, Hors & man, hit fyl to grounde; The englysch folk in þat day [ 115] Weren dysconfyȝtyd & flouȝen away; To Wynchestre þey fledden þo, [f. 4a] Gredyng alas & weylawo.

Amygys, kyng of Denmark þer by fore [119) Am.] die initiale ist weg∣gelassen und später klein nach∣getragen. by] mit jüngerer hand und blasserer tinte ü. d. z. nach∣getr.] Hadde moch folk þer forlore, [ 120] And also swythe he sente hys sonde In to Denmark, his oune londe, [122) londe] l corr. aus h.] Vppon forfeture of lyf & leme To Wenchestre þat þey schulden keme. Al þat myȝtte armes bere, [ 125] Schulden come wiþ schyld & spere;

For of his werre he nold noȝt blynne, For he þouȝte Englond to wynne. Townes he brende & citees als And beet a doun many castels [ 130] And wrouȝtte Englond moche care Eyȝte mounthys and wel mare. Þanne al þe barons of Englond Token hem alle to gederys in hond, Wat best hem were to don, [ 135] To awreken hem on here fon. [f. 4b] Þey comen to gederis, as y ȝow telle, Erlis & barons, þat weren ylle, Þey seyden, ywys, þat "Moyne, oure kyng, Is nouȝt wourþ a ferþyng!" [ 140] Þey seyden: "Yf Fortiger oure kyng ware, He wold vs brengen out of care!" Þanne þouȝtte anon bothe old & ȝyng, Fortiger to maken kyng. Wanne þey hadden spoken of þys, [ 145] Twelue barons þar wente ywys To syre Fortiger þe bold, For to weten, why he nold

Aȝens his fomen fyȝtte Wiþ al þe strenth þat he myȝt. [ 150] And whanne þe barons al yfere [151) whanne] h ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Were ycome to Fortigere, Henliche þey hym grette, [f. 5a] [153) Heulyche (!) ms.] And he hem took & bi hym hem sette And askede hem wiþ wourdes ille, [ 155] Why þey come & by what skylle. Þey answerden hym agayn And sayden: "Syre, we schul ȝow sayn: Whi nelt þu, syre, wiþ vs gon, For to awreken vs vppon oure fon? [ 160] We may," þei seiden, "haue no pes, For þe kyng of Denmark, wiþ outyn les, He werreþ vppon vs boþe day & nyȝt, [163) boþe] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Þarfore we prayen þe, syre, help vs to fyȝt, [164) þe] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] And take þat to þyn honde, [ 165] To sauen al Englond,

Aȝens þe kyng of Denmark þat þu fare, [167) kyng] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Þat werkeþ Englond moche care." Þanne answerd syre Fortiger As a lord of gret powere: [f. 5b] [ 170] "I was neuere makyd ȝowre kyng:

Whi praye ȝe me þanne of swych a þyng? Ne neuere," he sayd, "her by forn To non of ȝow y was ysworn, For to helpe ȝow at nede, [ 175] An þarfore, so Cryst me spede, Of me schal ȝe helpe non, [177) schil (!) ms.] Ich ȝow swere by seynt John! [178) ȝow] mit hellerer tinte ü. d. z. nachgetr.] But wendyþ now hoom to Moyne, ȝowre kyng, [179) now] w mit h. t. ü. z. nachgetr.] And biddyþ hym in al þyng, [ 180] Þat he ȝow awreke of ȝoure foon, For of me ghete ȝe helpe non!" Þanne answerde a bold baron: "Syre, oure kyng ys but a couion, For, whanne he seeþ a swerd ydrawe, [ 185] [185) whanne] h ü. d. z. geschr.] He weneþ anon to be slawe; He doþ vs non oþer goud, But flykyr awey, as he were woud: [188) flyky (!) ms.] Haddest þu ben among vs alle, [f. 6a] Swych a cas hadde vs nouȝt byfalle; [ 190] Alle, þat weren at þat sauȝt, Seyden, þat in oure kyng was þat defauȝt, And so seyden al oure per." [193) per] dar∣über ein querstrich, ausradirt.] "I trowe hit wol," quaþ Fortiger, "For, certis, it was a nyce þyng, [ 195] Of a fool to make a kyng; Hadde ȝe makyd a man ȝowre hefd, [197) hefd] auf rasur geschr.]

He schulde haue saued ȝow fro .dred; But, certaynly, seker ȝe be, Helpe schul ȝe haue non of me, [ 200] But yf ȝowre kyng were ded, aplyȝt, Þanne wolde ich helpen ȝow wiþ al my myȝt." [202) wolden (!) ms.] Þanne seyd þe barons euerychon: "Sire, wolt þu, þat we oure kyng schul sloon?" "Nay," he sayd, "wiþ outyn stryue, [ 205] But, certis, whiles þat he ys a lyfe, Myn help ghete ȝe neuer mo!" [207) help] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] The barons token here leue þo; [f. 6b] To Wenchestre þey wenten alle And founden þe kyng in his halle, [ 210] [210) þe kyng] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] And, as he sat ryȝt at his mete, Þey ronnen on hym wiþ gret hete, And, or þey spekyn eny wourd, Ryȝt as þe kyng sat at his bord, They gurdyn of his hede anon [ 215] And wenten hem out euerychon. And, whan þe kyng was þus aslawe, [217) whan] h ü. d. z. geschr.] Erlis, barons, both heyȝe & lawe, Anon þey tokyn hem to rede, For a kyng þey most haue nede, [ 220] Englond for to were, Þat noman schulde hem dere.

Þan hadde þe kyng bretheren two, Þat ȝonghe childryn weren tho; Þey weren so ȝong, wiþ outen elde, [ 225] [225) elde] e corr. aus o.] Þat þey myȝt non armes aweld, [f. 7a] Noþer Vter ne Pendragon. Þanne seyd þe barons euerychon, Þat þey schuld neuere spede, But yf a douȝti man of dede [ 230] Were chosyn, to ben here kyng; "Þat ys soþe," seyden þey alle, "wiþ oute lesyng, Fortiger is douȝtyest man of honde, Of eny man, þat ys in Englond!" [234) ys] ü. d. z. geschr.] Þan swore þey to gederys [ 235] euerychon, Þat oþer kyng wold þey haue non. Þar was noþer knyȝt ne swayn, Þat durst speke þar agayn, But grauntedyn alle, both old & ȝyng, [239) old] om. (!) ms.] Þat Fortiger schulde be here kyng. [ 240]

And þanne anon, as ȝe may here, Twelf barons wente to syre Fortigere

And seyden, þat al Englondys ryȝt [f. 7b] Was lost for here kyngys fyȝt, And he was ded, wiþ oute lesyng, [ 245] And his bretheryn were to ȝyng, Þat kyndom to holde; "And þer fore þe barons wold Habbe loked þrouȝ alle þyng, Þat þu, Fortiger, schalt be [ 250] oure kyng." Þanne swyth glad was Fortigere For tidyngis, þat he hurde þare, Þat he kyng schulde be Of Englond, þat is so fre; And þus he fenge þe croune [ 255] By assent of þe barons comune; And at þe fest of his crounement Þe twelf barons, þat were ful gent, Gonnen to vnderstonde son Of Vter & of Pendragon, [ 260] Þat þey schulden be ded; And þarfore þey token here reed And token þe childryn, as we reed, [f. 8a] And ouer þe see þey gonne hem lede, [264) hym (!) ms.] For to sauen þe children lyf, [ 265] Þat Englond schulde be in stryf. Ful wel wyst þe barons, hyt schulde so be, And þarfore þey brouȝtyn þe chyldren ouer þe se; So queyntliche þey token on, [269) queyntl.] t ü. d. z. geschr.] Þat noman wyste, whedur þey [ 270] were gon.

And whanne þe fest was yholde, Anon syre Fortiger þe bold Let make a comoun parlement Of erlys & of barons ful gent; In þat parlement he heet anon [ 275] To quellen Vter & Pendragon, And comaundede þe barons anon þer, To seche Pendragon & Vter; And þanne þe chyldren ful ȝerne þey souȝt [279) þey] auf rasur geschr.] And myȝt hem fynde nouȝt. [ 280] And whanne Fortyger Þat vnderstood, [f. 8b] For angur & wreþe he was nyȝ wood And þouȝte, yf þey weren a lyue, Þat þey wolden hym out dryue Of þe kyngdom of Englond [ 285] And holden hyt in here oune hond; And þarfore hym was swythe woo, Þat þe chyldryn were ascaped soo, But neuerles sire Fortiger Comaundede bothe feer & nere [ 290] [290) feer] r später nachgetr.] To duykes, erlys, baron & knyȝt, To maken hem redy for to fyȝt, Aȝens þe kyng of Denmark for to fare,

Þat wrouȝte in Englond so moche care. Anon þey dyȝtyn hem, ywys, [ 295] For to asayle þe Denmarkys, Some on palfray & some on stede, And many a man on foot ȝede. And whanne þey weren al redy dyȝt, [f. 9a] Hit was ryȝt a wel fayr syȝt, [ 300] Wiþ helm, basnet and baner, Þat wenten wiþ syre Fortygere. King Amygys of Denmark wiþ moche pride Com wiþ his ost al by hys syde; Þar eyther other gonne asayle, [ 305] And þar bygan a gret batayle Wiþ swerdys ydrawe & arwes yschote, And many a quarel þoruȝ þe þrote; [308) a] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Schaftes tobroke & helmes bryȝt, Islawe þar was many a knyȝt. [ 310] [310) Islawe] sla auf rasur geschr.] But þe englysch ost, soþ to say, Fauȝt so wel þat same day, Þat many a bold Saracyne In þat batayle hadde hys fyne. Kyng Amygys of Denmark in [ 315] þat tyde Sawȝ his men in þe worse syde And fledde a wey, as he were wood, In to a castel, þat was strong & good,

And Fortiger wiþ al his þouȝte [f. 9b] [319) forgiger (!) ms.] Bysegede þat castel al abouȝte, [ 320] Þar þe kyng of Denmark was inne, But he ne myȝt hym nouȝt wynne, He hym bysegede mounthys ten, But al was wast, he come nouȝt in. And whanne he hadde so long [ 325] byforn hym leyn, Kyng Amygys of Denmark hym sente to seyn, [326) hyn (!) ms.] If he in pes passe moste, He wolde take al his oste [328) wolden (!) ms.] And wendyn hom to hys contray, And neuer more after þat day [ 330] He nold passe þat stronde, [331) stronde] r ü. d. z. nachgetr.] To maken werre in Englonde; & þat he swor & hys men ylome, Þat þey nolden neuere in Eng∣land come; Þanne kyng Fortiger dede by consayle [ 335] And leet hym passe hom, san fayle. And kyng Fortiger tok his ost And wente hom wiþ moche bost And held fest many a day [f. 10a] Wiþ gret delyȝt & noblay. [ 340] And whanne þat fest was yhold,

The twelf barons, þat y of ferst told, Þat hadde yslawe Moyne þe kyng, [343) yslawe] sl auf rasur geschr.] Byþouȝten hem on a wonder þyng, And þat þey wolden wenden to kyng Fortiger [ 345] And asken of hym here lowere. To Fortyger anon þey wente And hym gretten wiþ goud entente And seyden: "Syre kyng, now þu art aboue, Þenk, what we han don for þy loue, [ 350] [350) þy] þ corr. aus l.] How we slowen oure kyng of kende; Now lat vs see, yf þu art hende: For we han brouȝt þe at þy powere, Ȝeld vs, syre kyng, now oure lowere!" Kyng Fortiger answerde aȝen [ 355] [P p. 150] And wiþ egremod gan to seyn: "By hym, þat þis wordl haþ mad, Ȝe schul haue ryȝt as ȝe bad; [f. 10b] For ȝe beþ treytouris stronghe, Ȝe slowe Moyne, ȝoure kynge, [ 360] al wiþ wronghe, And ȝyf y may, so mot y þe, So schul ȝe neuere me!

But, for ȝe dedyn aȝens þe lawe, Ȝe schul be hongyd and todrawe!" Anon he let taken hors ful gret [ 365] And tyde traye to þe barons feet [366) traye] c corr. aus?] And leet hem todrawe on þe pauement And after anhonghe hem, verrement. Many erlys & barons hende Weren of þo barons kende; [ 370] Vppon kyng Fortiger þei renne anon, [371) þenne ms.] Ryȝt as to here dedlych foon, And hard on hym þei gonne to fyȝt, To sleyn hym, yf þey myȝt. But Fortiger wiþ myȝt & mayn [ 375] Wiþ his ost fauȝt hem agayn, And many a man deyde þar, aplyȝt, [f. 11a] Bothe barons, squieris & also knyȝt, [378) knyȝt] knȝt (!) ms.] And Fortigere þat same day Vnnethe a lyue skapede a way. [ 380] Erlys & barons þanne senten here sondes Ouer al in to dyuers londes To alle þe frendes, þat þey couthe, Boþe eyst & west, norþe & southe, [384) eyst] e ü. d. z. nachgetr.] And tolde hem alle al so tyde, [ 385] How kyng Fortiger wiþ gret dispide Hadde wiþ treson & al wiþ wronghe Here frendes todrawe & anhonghe:

"And so," þei seyden, "he wold vs eke, Þarfore on hym we wol ben [ 390] awreke!" Euerych man þanne þus oþer bysouȝt, [391) man] danach þan, aus∣gestr. und unterpunktet. þanne] auf rasur geschr.] And a gret ost ouer þanne þe brouȝt, Many an erl & many a knyȝt, [393) a] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Þat egre weren of mood & strong on fyȝt. þey fouȝten harde aȝens Fortyger [ 395] [f. 11b] Many mounthys of the ȝer, So that many a lady bothe hende & fre Loste hure lord & hure maigne. Þus þat werre laste ful longe By twyxen þe kyng & þe barons styfe & strong; [ 400] Fortiger þat sawȝ ful ryȝt, Þat he ne myȝte duren þat fyȝt, For þe barons folk gan wexen ay And þe kynges weren distroyd eche day. The kyng messageres anon took [ 405] And made hem swerye vppon a book, Þat þey schulden in his arende gon, And þanne letteris he took hem anon And sente hem ouer þe see, ywys, To þe kyng of Denmark, sire Amygis, [ 410] And bad hym helpe hym at nede Wiþ al hys ost, þat he myȝte out lede, Aȝens his fomen for to fyȝte, [f. 12a]

And þat he come wiþ gret myȝte. Fourþ þanne wente þe messageris þer [ 415] And dedyn þe hestys of syre Fortigere, And þar of þe kyng of Den∣mark was blythe And messagerys he sente swythe To douk, erl, baron & knyȝt And to alle, þat wepen bere myȝt. [ 420] And in to schepe þei wenten blyþe, And ouer þe see þey comen swythe. [419)—422) mit verweisungs∣zeichen am rande der seite nach∣getr.] The schepis aryueden on þe stronde At Southe-Hamptone in Eng∣londe And comyn to Wynchestre wel a fyn [ 425] Wiþ many a stouȝt Saracyn. And þar he fond kyng Fortiger, And he hem welcomede wiþ fayr cher; Of here comnaunt he was byknawe, And he made kyng Amygis hys felawe [ 430] [430) kyng] auf rasur ge∣schr.] And hym sesede on þe hond Wiþ aluendel Englond, Of þat he hadde & haue myȝt, Wiþ þat he hulpe hym to fyȝt. And whanne here comnaunt was [ 435] made fast, [f. 12b] Þey raydyn hem þanne to in hast, [436) hem] danach to, ausgestr. hast] fast ms.] In to þat batayle for to wende Aȝens þe barons, þat weren ful hende. By syden Saresbury a lite Here batayle to gederys þey gonne smyte, [ 440]

And þar was sone layd adown Many a fayr gamfanoun, Schaftes tobroke & schyldys torent And many a spere þoruȝ sydes went, [444) Amany (!) ms.] And mayne a þousand in a stounde [ 445] Lay doun ded to þe grounde. Þar men myȝt see anon Many a dowȝty man slon, [448) dowȝty] ȝ ü. d. z. geschr. man] to add. ms.] And þe hefd from þe body lay, A delful syȝt was þat day. [ 450]

Þar hadde kyng Fortiger euer more ten [451) Fortige (!) ms.] Aȝens on of þe barons men, Wharfore þe barons ne myȝt [f. 13a] Holden no lengore aȝens hem fyȝt, So þat þe barons on þat day [ 455] Al wiþ sorwe fledden a way; And Fortiger nold nouȝt spare, But on hem leyd & woundyd hem sare, [458) hem] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] And al, þat he myȝte ouertake, [459 on take (!) ms.] Non oþer pes ne most þey make, [ 460] But leet hem todrawe & an∣honghe, But, certayn, hit was al wiþ wronghe; And many a baron hende & fre Fledde out of his contre, And also many of Englonde [ 465] Fledden in to diuers londe And wonede þar many a ȝer For drede of syre Fortiger; And whanne þey weren flow out of lond,

Fortyger seysyde on his honde [ 470] [470) seysyde] sy ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Londes, rentes, wode & feld, [f. 13b] And drof a way bothe wyf & chyld; Þat by consayle of kyng Amygis He ȝaf hit to Saracyns of gret prys. The kyng of Denmark, verre∣ment, [ 475] Hadde a dowter fayr & gent, And ȝhe was an hethen womman, And Fortiger hure to louy bigan, So þat he wold han hure to wyf, And þe kynges acorded weren ful blyue. [ 480] [480) fu(!) ms.] Fortiger was a criston man And ȝhe a hethen womman, And so here blood was medlyd yfere, [483) blood] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Of Crist no more kepte þey here, So þat almost al Englond [ 485] Was turned in to hethene hond, What þoruȝ þe kende of þe kynges blood And þoruȝ þe blood of þe heþene mood; For Merlyn seide in his book, [f. 14a] Þat many a þousand other took, [ 490] As fader wiþ þe dowter And sone wiþ þe modyr, And helden no betere Cristes lawes, Þan houndes doþ wiþ here felawes; In wey ne street sparede þei nouȝt, [ 495] No more þan houndes, þat buþ to gederis brouȝt,

And so þei leueden many a ȝer, Tyl on a day syre Fortigere Byþouȝt hym of the chyldren two, Þat out of lond ascapeden so, [ 500] [500) asc.] a ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Pendragon and Vter, Þat out of Englond yfleed were; And also he byþouȝte hym þan Of many an oþer douȝty man, Þat he hadde flemed out of Englond, [ 505] In his herte de bygan hit to vnderstond, So þat hit was a sory happe, [f. 14b] And he was agast of after∣clappe; He þouȝte, yf Þey euere comen aȝen, Þat al Englond wold be ful fayn, [ 510] Hym to schynde & to slon: [511) slon] o corr. aus e?] He þouȝt, hyt schulde an oþer gon. He sente anon hys messageris Ouer al Englond for carpenterys And after many a mason also, [ 515] For þe beest, þat in Englond were þo, And manye a þousand þar com anon, Þat cowden legge boþe lym & ston; And whanne þei weren comen alle, [519) whanne] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Anon þe kyng leet hem calle [ 520] And seyde: "Lordynges hende & fre,

Herkneþ alle now to me, In myn herte ych haue a þouȝt: A strong castel y wele haue wrouȝt Of strong tymber & lym & [ 525] ston, [f. 15a] Þat swych an oþer be nawher non, [526) nawher] h corr. aus?] For myn fomen, þat buþ alyue, Þat ych of lond gan out dryue, Þat, yf nede euer come to me, Þat þar ynne saf ych may be: [ 530] [530) ynne ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Þat castel schal stond ful mury Vppon þe playn of Saresbury: Doþ now swythe as y ȝow bad, Þat my castel were ymad, And ȝe haue schul youre hure [ 535] Ryȝt as ȝe wollyþ desyre." Þe werkmen wenten forþ þo, Fyf þousand & wel many mo, For to hewe & for to bere ston, And some, for to leggen þe fundament anon; [ 540] Some drowe & some bere, Þey weren ful slyȝ, þat þere were; So þat werk was reryd an hyȝ [f. 15b] Of þo men, þat were so slye. The furst day, wiþ oute douȝte, [ 545] Gurdyl-stede heyȝ hit was abowte;

And whanne hit was come to nyȝt, To here bed þey wenten a ryȝt And come aȝen on þe morowe And founde þyng of moche sorowe, [ 550] And al here werk þar þey founde Al tosprad vppon þe grounde, And al totorn lym & ston: Gret woundere þey hadden echon. Other reede þanne cowde no man, [ 555] [555) gowde (!) ms.] But a newe werk þey byganne And spedden also ryȝt þat oþer day, [557) ryȝt] as add. ms.] Ryȝt as þe ferst, þe soþ to say.

And whanne þe day was al agon, To bedden þey wenten euer∣ychon, [ 560] And come aȝen vppon þe morn [f. 16a] And founden here werk al totorn And lay tosprad here & þere; [563) lay ü. d. z. nachgetr.] An so hit ferde half a ȝere;

Al þat euere þey wrouȝtyn a day, [ 565] A morowe tosprad hit lay. And whanne þe kyng hurde þis, Gret wounder he hadde, ywys, And askede bothe of ȝong & olde, Why hys werk stonde nolde; [ 570]

But þar nas noþer lewed ne clerk, Þat wyste, why nolde stonde þat werk. Kyng Fortigere sat in his halle And seide amongys his barons alle: "Suþthe ych was man yborn here, [ 575] Of swyche a cas ne hurdy neuere ere, As of my werk now ys yfounde, Þat euerych nyȝt ys yfeld to grounde." And he swor, he nold no lengore spare, Til he wyst, why hit ware. [ 580] [f. 16b] Messageres anon he sent [581) Mess.] danach he sent, unterpunktet.] Ouer al Englond, verrement, To wyse clerkes old & ȝong, [583) Am rande ist mit kleinerer schrift Amen beige∣fügt.] Þat cowden telle of wondryng, For to come to hym anon, [ 585] As þey nolde to dethe gon.

And whanne þey weren bi fore hym brouȝt, Al þat weren so wyde ysouȝt, Kyng Fortiger askede of hem alle, Why hys werk dude so doun falle; [ 590] But þar was non, þat cowde telle. Þe kyng swor hys oþ, he wold hem quelle, But yf þey wolden tellen in hast, Why his werk was so doun cast. Ten maistres he leet take anon, [ 595] [595) toke (!) ms.] The best clerkys of hem echon, And in his preson he dude hem þo, Þat no man myȝt come hem to; [f. 17a] [598) hem] mit blasserer tinte ü. d. z. nach∣getr.] And þe kyng swor hys oþ by seynt John, Þat þey schulden neuere þens gon, [ 600] Tyl þat þey weren biknowe, Why his werk was doun þrowe. Astronymyanes alle þei weren, Þe wysestemen, þatleueden þere; [604) þat] in lond add. ms. þere] om. ms.] In þat preson þey weren adyȝt, [ 605] Neyne dayes & neyne nyȝt, Þat no socur þey hadde of no þyng, But vnnethe mete & dryng. So vppon a day, verrement, Þey lokedyn on þe fyrmament, [ 610] And vnder þe walkene þey sayn a sky,

Þat schewede hem ful wytterly, Þat vyf ȝer þar by forn In Englond was a child yborn And bygetyn wiþ out mannes mone; [ 615] And if þey myȝt þat chyld haue one [616) if] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] And sleyn hit hastly þan, [f. 17b] Er hit speke wiþ eny man, And tempre þe morter wiþ his blood, [619) þe] mit blasserer tinte ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Þe castel schuld be strong & good. [ 620] Þus þat sky schewede hem þo And wente aȝen þer he com fro. [622) þer] ausgestr. und he übergeschr. he] þey ms.] Þanne weren tho clerkys blyth And gradden to kyng F. ful swyth [624) F.] om. (!) ms.] And prayden, to leten hem out in hast: [ 625] "We knowyþ," þey seiden, "why þy werk ys doun cast!" The kyng leet þe dore vndo And comaundede þe maystyrs to comen hym to. [628) maystyrs] yr aus ry corr. oder umgekehrt.] Þey seiden: "Syre kyng, wiþ outen les, A child in Englond yborn is [ 630] And byghete wiþ outen mannes mone." The clerkys seiden þus echone: "Syre, secheþ after þat same chyld [f. 18a] [633) schycheþ (!) ms. In f. 17b steht die schrift vielfach auf rasur.]

Boþe in town & in feld, [f. 18a] And quelliþ hit hastyly [ 635] And takyþ þe blood of his body And leet wasch þar wiþ ȝoure werk, And hit schal be goud & eke sterk." Blyþe & glad þanne was For∣tiger And clepede to hym hys massager [ 640] And leet hem departy in þre & þre, So þat non schuld wiþ oþer be, And sente fourþ so his sonde [643) so] s verklext.] In to foure halues of Englonde And bad, þei schuld stynte nouȝt, [ 645] Er þey þat child hadden ybrouȝt. The messagerys, foruþ þey wente, To don þe kynges comaun∣demente; And ȝut syre Fortiger þe bold [649) for∣giger (!) ms.] Leet do þe clerkys in to hold, [ 650] Tyl þe massageres comen aȝen [f. 18b] as tyde, To weten, yf hit were soþ, þat þey han seyde; And if hit be eny lesyng, He swhor bi Jesu heuene kyng,

Þat no raunsom schuld for hem gon, [ 655] Þey schuld be anhang & todrawe echon. Now lete we be þuse clerkys stylle And speke we of þe kynges massageres so snelle! [658) of] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Lestneþ, lordyngis, wiþ goud entent, And ȝe schul here, þe massa∣geres buþ went, [ 660] To sechen after Merlyn, þat ys so ȝyng, Lestneþ & ȝe schul here a wonder þyng: If ȝe wolleþ a while dwelle, Of chyld Merlyn y wyl ȝow telle, Al how þe massageres [ 665] Brouȝtyn hym to syre Fortigeris, And of what kende þat he was, [f. 19a] I welle ȝow tellen al þat cas; And also ȝe schullyþ ful wel ywete, For what cause & how he was byghete, [ 670] And also, what þat child heet, I schal ȝow telle also skeet: Alle, þat holdeþ now stille hure steuene, Cryst graunte hem þe blisse of heuene! Dauyd þe prophete & Moyses [ 675] Þys wytnessyþ, and soþ hyt ys: [676) hys(!) ms.] Whanne Cryst hadde made þourȝ hys myȝt [677) þourȝ] þouȝt(!) ms.] Heuene ful of angelis bryȝt,

The nomber, þat þare was þanne, Noman for soþ telle can; [ 680] Þanne Lucifer agulte in þat tyde And alle, þat helden wiþ hym in pride; Crist on hym vengeaunce gan take, [f. 19b] So þat alle þey bycomen deueles blake And fylle adoun in to helle pyȝt; [ 685] Þus holy wryȝt wetnessyþ hyt.

The tenþe ordre & no mo Oute of heuene fyllen þo, And whanne ynowe were out of heuene, Oure lord þanne wiþ mylde steuene [ 690] Heuene schette anon ful wel, As hit was hys swete wyl. And of þe fendes in þat tyde, Þat fillen fro heuene for here pryde, As þe book doþ vs telle, [ 695] Many þar fillen adoun to helle, And some þare leften ellys whare, Man to brynghe in moche care, And some in þe eorthe haue here wonying, [699) haue] & ausgestr. und haue übergeschr.] And some in þe eyr, wiþ oute lesyng, [ 700] And some in water & some in londe [f. 20a] [701) some in l.] some in ü. d. z. geschr.]

And some amonges vs gonne wiþstonde. Crist seyde to hem þo, Þat so þey schulle byleuyn hedyr to, & so þey beþ, as y ȝow say, [ 705] [705) &] corr. aus?] And schulleþ be in to domes day. Þanne made Crist after hys wylle Man-kende, þat place to ful∣fylle; Ferst he made Adam, ywys, And brouȝte hym into paradys, [ 710] And Eue god made also, For to lybbe in joye for euermo. Alle ȝe herde tellen her by forn, How Adam & Eue were forlorn: No more of Adam now y nelle, [ 715] But of child Merlyn y wyl ȝow telle. [716) ȝow] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Manye of þe fendes, hit telleþ here, Þat fillen from heuene wiþ Lu∣cifer, And þey, þat dwelliþ on þe eyr an hyȝ, [f. 20b] Wel queynte þei buþ & al so slyȝ, [ 720] And of þe eorthe þei mowen take lyȝt, And þey han bothe strengthe & myȝt, After man to schapen here body, Fayr & gentel & also rody, And to lyȝten adoun amonges man kynnne [ 725] And to tempten hem, to don synne. Ful wel þei wysten here by forn,

Þat Jesus was of Mary born And sethen deide vppon þe rood And vs bouȝt wiþ his blood. [ 730] Þarto þe fendes hadde envye & onde; Þan seide a fend, þat he wold fonde, To lyggen by a mayden mylde And on hure bygheten a chyld, Swych a child, he seide þo, [ 735] Þat al cristondom schal vndo; Al þat Crist brouȝt, vs hys to werch, [f. 21a] [737) hys] über vs mit blasserer tinte geschr.] He schal hit vndo & al so holy church. "As Crist was born of a mayde, Al man kende to sauen," þe feend seyde, [ 740] "And was conseyued by the holy gost, For mannes soule ne schuld be lost, And in eorth was yborn, For man kende schuld nouȝt be forlorn, So schal my chyld be born, wiþ outen les, [ 745] Of a womman, þat ich wele ches, And of me yghete schal be, Þat al þis wordl schal make vnfre; Al, þat Crist makede in heuene to dwelle, My sone schal turnen hem to helle." [ 750] Þus þe feend þouȝt to han schent vs alle,

And vppon hym sylf hit gon to falle, For ich wele ȝow tellen, how hit was: Ȝe schul heren of a delful cas. [754) a] ü. d. z. geschr.] Some tyme, as ich vnderstond, [ 755] [f. 21b] A rych man was in Englond And hade a woman to his wyue, Þe fayryst, þat men wyst a lyue. A sone þey hadden & douȝtren þre, Þe fayryst children, þat myȝten be. [ 760] And þat feend, þatich ȝow of told, Þat woneþ in þe eyr & ys so bold, [762) eyr] erthe, ausgestr. und eyr überge∣schr.] In to eorthe he alyȝt þanne And temptede þys goud wom∣manne, For of hure he hadde gret myȝt: [ 765] He brouȝt hure in cheste & in fyȝt, He mad hure wiþ egre mood To cursen here children, as ȝhe were wood, [768) cursen] r ü. d. z. geschr.] So þat vppon an euenyng Þrouȝt þe feendes entysyng [ 770] Wiþ hure sone ȝhe bygan to grame,

And ȝhe cursede hym by his name, And to þe feend ȝhe hym by∣tauȝt [f. 22a] As moche as ȝe of hym auȝt. Þanne was þat feend ful blyth [ 775] And þouȝt hym to schynden swyth, And whanne hit come to þe nyȝt, To þat hows he wente ful ryȝt And stranglede þat chyld, þar hit lay; The moder aros, whanne hit was day, [ 780] And founde hure sone ded a morwe, And ȝhe anheng here sylf for sorowe; And whanne þe goud man herde al þys, Anon for sorowe & care, ywys, Sodeynleche he deyde þo [ 785] Wiþ outen hosel & schryfte al so.

Moche folk come, þat hedows syȝt to see, And hadden þer of gret pytee, Many a man þat same day Wrong & weept & seide wel a way. [ 790]

An heremyte wonede þar by syde, [f. 22b] [791) her.] þar add. (!) ms.]

He com, to seen hem in þat same tyde; Blasye, ywys, his name was, Ofte for hem he seide, allas: For hit was myshapped so, [ 795] In his herte hym was ful wo; He seyde þanne, verrement, Hit was þe feendes combrement. Þre douȝtren he fond a lyue, Þat goud man hem gan schryue [ 800] Of al þat þey cowden mene, And he asoyled hem ful clene And penaunce on hem layede And seide to hem: "My leue mayde, [804) hem] e aus y corr.] Lokeþ euere wiþ al ȝoure myȝt in dede, [ 805] Þat ȝe seruen wel god almyȝty & hym drede." And whanne þe heremyte hadde tauȝt hem so, Hom to his hermytage he wente þo, And anon þe douȝtren al yfere [f. 23a] [809) al yf.] auf rasur geschr.] Gonnon to seruen god wiþ myld [ 810] chere And oure lady Marye, ywys, Nyȝt & day þey dedyn þys. Þan was þar in Englond an vsage, [813) vsage] ge auf rasur geschr.] Yf eny womman dude outrage, [814) Of (!) ms.]

But if hyt were in clene wedlak, [ 815] Anon ryȝtis me wolden hure tak, And þoruȝ þe dom men schulden hit se, Al quyk ȝhe schulde bydoluen be, [818) schulden (!) ms.] But ȝhe were a comon womman ytold [819) where (!) ms.] To alle men, þat hure axen wold. [ 820] So þe feend, þat was ful of myȝt, Þat was in þe eyr aboue ylyȝt, Was abouȝten ful long wyle, Þat eldeste mayden to beghyle, And for nauȝt, þat he myȝt do þan, [ 825] He ne myȝt bygylen þys goud wouman; For ȝhe was schreue of dede & þouȝt [f. 23b] Þe feend myȝt do to hure ryȝt nouȝt. Þanne wente þe feend in liknesse of man To an old wyked womman [ 830] And byhyȝt hure gold & fee, To wenden to þes sustren þre And þe eldest to bytraye, Þat som man hure haue maye: "And if þu myȝte brenghen [ 835] hure þer to, Þu schalt han catel ynow for euermo!" Þus þe feend to hure gan say, And þanne þe feend wente a way. Þat old quene was ful glad,

To don, as þe feend hure bad, [ 840] And wente to þe sostren þre; And whanne ȝhe myȝt hem ysee, [842) myȝt ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Þat wicche made gret lamentaci on & care, For þe þre sostren fare And to þe eldest . . . . . . . [ 844a] [844a) Diese vier worte sind als custos erhalten.]

And þouȝt anon þanne, [f. 24a] [ 845] Þat hit was neuere byghete of man; In helle, ȝhe wolde, hit hadde ybe, [847) schap] a stark radirt.] Whar no man hyt myȝt se. The heremyte, þat hyȝt Blasye, wiþ outen lyȝe, Wyste wel and sekerlyȝe, [ 850] Whyche tyme hit schulde be bore, And to þat tour he com þarfore And clepede to hem vp þare And askede hem of here fare, [854) ask.] of add. (!) ms.] And ȝhe answerde wiþ wourdes mylde, [ 855] Þat þar was born a knaue childe: "Wel fayr schap hit haþ, a plyȝt, But fowl hit is in eche mannes syȝt, For al his skynne ys ful of heer; Suche a chyld seyȝe we neuere [ 860] [860) we] y, ausgestr. und mit hellerer tinte we übergeschr.] eer."

"Dame," he seyde, "þat þu me take, A crystynman yche wele hit make: [862) crystyman (!) ms.] Whather he deyeþ or lyf abydyþ, [f. 24b] The fayrere grace hym bytydeþ!" Ful glad was þat mydwyf þanne, [ 865] Ȝhe took þe chyld to þat holy manne

An he bar hit hom anon And cristniede hit in þe vant ston And nempnede his name in þat plas Merlyn þrouȝ godes gras, [ 870] And anon as he was fulled so, Al his heer from hym gan go, Þat he hadde aȝens reson, Wente a way þrouȝ hys cristen∣dom, And al þe blaknesse of his hyde [ 875] Went a way in þat tyde, [876) Went] danach de, ausgestr.] And he was as fayr of hewe, As eny child, þat þey euere knewe, And þus þrouȝ his cristendom, as y ȝow telle, Alle þe feendes, þat beþ in helle, [ 880]

My moder schal no man quelle, [f. 25a] [881) hy (!) ms.] For nouȝt, þat alle men connen telle, Þe whiles þat y may speke & gon, Mawgre here teeþ echon: Hure lyf ych wele sauen for al þys, [ 885] And þat þou shalt see ywys!" [886) am rande nachgetragen.] And whanne þe mydwyf hurde þat, Ȝhe felle a swowe, þar ȝhe sat, And gan to grede, as ȝhe were wood; [889) were] w auf rasur geschr.] Ȝhe hadde leuer þan eny good, [ 890] Þat he hadde be a deuel way þo, [891) deuel] danach ein buchst. ausradirt.] And so wold his moder al so; So sore of hym þey weren agast, Þey bygonne to blesse þo ful fast And hym þey coniurde in Crystis name, [ 895] Þat he schuld do to hem no schame, And fast on hym þey bygonne to crye, By þe vertu of Cryst & of seynt Marye, To tellen hem, what þat he were [f. 25b] And what myschaunce he dude [ 900] þere; And he gan lawȝhe & hold hym stille And leet hem gredyn al here fille;

Wourd to hem wolde he speke non, Tyl þat half ȝer were agon. His moder þere after kepte hym [ 905] þere Wiþ rewful hert & sory chere, And after þat half a ȝer, As ȝhe hym held by þe feer, Rewfullych ȝhe bygan to wepe And seyde: "Allas, my sone swete, [ 910] For þy loue now, ych wot wel my selue, Al quyk on þe eorthe men schul me bydelue." Þe chyld answerd & seyde: "Nay, Þu schalt nowt be dede for me, by thys day: Þer ys no steward, baylyf ne justyze, [ 915] Þat þe schal dampne in eny wyse; No man schal þy body quyk breke, [f. 26a] [917) byreke (!) ms.] Whyles þat y may go or ellys speke." Þanne was ȝhe a glad wouman, And euerych day after þan [ 920] He gladede hure wiþ som tale And told hure aventures many & fale; [922) a ven∣tures (!) ms.] And whanne þe tyme was, þat he cowde gon, [923) whanne] ü. d. z. nachgetr.]

The justyze was redy anon And comaundede his men bi name, [ 925] To fechyn fourþ Merlyns dame, To vnderfong hure juggement; And whanne ȝhe was ycome yn present, [928) was] ü. d. z. nachgetr.]

The justyze swor by heuene quene, Þat ȝhe schuld ydolue bene. [ 930] Ȝhe answerd nother ȝe ne nay, But stood stylle wiþ hure sone al way. Þan was þe chyld but two ȝer old, and he answerde wiþ wourdes bold And seyde anon wiþ egre mood: [ 935] [f. 26b] "Syre justyze, þu canst no good, To dampne my moder to be ded, And þu knowyst by hure no qued, [938) qued] quyd, darüber mit dunklerer tinte e nachgetr.] Saue a chaunce, þat hure byfelle, And þarfore, syre, þu dost nouȝt welle, [ 940] For wel ych woot on my þouȝt, Aȝens þat chaunce ne myȝt ȝhe nouȝt:

For þoruȝ chaunce & þoruȝ gras In þys world beghetyn ych was; And whanne ych was þoruȝ chaunce byghete, [ 945] Ech man may hit wel ywete, Þat my moder ne auȝte nouȝt For my loue to ded be brouȝt." Gret wonder hadde þan bothe old & ȝyng Of Merlyns wyse answeryng, [ 950] And þe justyze was ful wroþ, [f. 27a] And deplych he swor his oþ, Þat anon ȝhe schulde ydolue be. "Nay," seyde Merlyn, "so mot y þe, [954) moty(!) ms.] Þu schalt neuere brynghen hit þar to, [ 955] For nouȝt, þat þu myȝt do, Hit schal nouȝt go as þu wylt, [957) schal] danach ein buchst. ausradirt.] For ȝhe haþ þar on no gylt, And þat y preue by þys skele, And after reson do þu, yf þu wele: [ 960] My fader," he seyde, "þat bygat me, Is a feend of gret powste And woneþ in þe eyr aboue þe lyȝt [963) Al cristyndom to haue yschent, ausgestr. und v.] [963) f. mit der ver∣weisung a) b) am rande nachgetr.] And tempteþ men bothe day & nyȝt; To my moder he ys ywent, [ 965]

Al cristyndom to haue yschent, And he bygat me on hure, wiþ out lesyng, And she wyst þar of ryȝt no þyng; And for ȝhe wyst nouȝt, whanne hit wes, [f. 27b] Ich preue, þat ȝhe ys gylteles, [ 970] For alle þe feendes wenden, þoruȝ me Haue dystroyd al cristente, And þouȝten, þat y schuld haue be of lether mood, But Crist hit haþ al turned to good; And now ych am sent þrouȝ [ 975] Cristes sonde, To helpen al Englond, [976) Englond] g corr. aus l.] And þrouȝ my fader," he seyde þanne, "Alle þyngys telle ich can, Þat ys go & come schel, Ich ȝow can telle eueryche del, [ 980] And ful wel y wot, ywys, Ho þat myn owne fader is, And so wost nauȝt þu, & þat ys schame: [f. 28a] Whi woldest þu þanne dampne my dame? And wel iche preue, þat moder þyn [ 985] Is worthyer to be bydoluen quek, þan myn!" Now herkeneþ al to þys stryf, How Merlyn sauede his moder lyf! Gret wonder hadde many a man,

How þys chyld to answery bygan. [ 990] The justyze sat & was ful wo And to þat chyld he spak þo: "Þu lyxt," he seyde, "þu feendes sone! My fader was a noble baroune And my moder a lady fre: [ 995] Ȝut a lyue, ych hope, ȝhe be; And, as y trowe by oure lady, [997) as] s auf rasur geschr.] Ȝhe dude neuere no lechery!" "Syre," quaþ Merlin, "hold þy mouþ, Or hit schal be ryȝt wyde couþ: [ 1000] [f. 28b] Anon leet a man after hure gon, And ych my selue ryȝt anon Schal maken hure selue soþ byknawe, [1003) selue] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] And ellys lat hanghe me & to∣drawe!" [1004) todr.] t corr. aus?] The justyze anon after his moder sent, [ 1005] And ȝhe come anon in present.

"Þu," seyde þe justyze, "þu bel∣amy, Art þu now so bold & so hardy, To avowe þe wordes, speke, yf þu can, Þat þu seydest by thys womman? [ 1010] Merlyn seyde þan: "Syrejustyze, Þyne wourdes beþ nouȝt wyse: If y schal telle þys folk by forn, How þu were byghete & born,

Þanne schal hit sprynghe ful brode, [ 1015] And þan moche þe lasse ys þyn manhode;

Bett þan þu þy selue by oure lord, [f. 29a] Dame, if þu hast forȝete, [1017) Beet(!) ms.] How þy sone, þat here staunt, was byghete, I can tellen þe al þat cas, [ 1020] How & wer & whanne hit was, And yf þu wost forsake hit þanne, I schalle tellen þe al þat y canne, So þat þu schalt aschamed be sore: Dame, þu were betere to speke [ 1025] no more!" The laydy þanne hym mys sayde, And Merlyn his tale þan foruþ layde: "Dame," he sayde, "verrement, Thy lord to Cardos was ywent And come by nyȝt, soþ to say, [ 1030] And þe person of ȝowre toun by the lay, [1031) toun] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] At þy chambre dore þy lord gan knocke, [1032) At] And (!) ms.] And þu stertust vp in þy smocke, And þu were agast in þat tyde; [f. 29b] Þu openedest a wyndowe, þat ys wyde, [ 1035] And ȝoure person þare þou out leet, And he ran hom vppon hys feet:

"Dame," he seyde, "þe person þat same nyȝt Hadde bygheten þy sone, þat here ys knyȝt. Dame," quaþ Merlyn, "lye yche auȝt?" [ 1040] And ȝhe stood stylle & spak ryȝt nauȝt. Þanne was þe justyze ful wo, And to his moder he seyde þo: "Dame," quaþ he, "how goþ þys?" "Sone," ȝhe seyde, "soþ hit ys: [ 1045] [1045) ȝhe] ȝh auf rasur geschr.] Þouȝt þu me hanghe by a corde, Merlyn lyeþ neuere a worde!" The justyze for schame þanne wax al red And on his moder he schok his hed [1048) al r.] ared ms.] And bad hur ver .... [ 1049a] [1049a) als custos erhalten.]

Wiþ feyr speche & myld; [f. 30a] [ 1050] Of many þynges þey spekyn þan, Of mo þan ich now telle can. [1052) þan] corr. aus þat. now] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Alle wiþ joye, verrement, Aȝen to his castel þe kyng ys went, Ful wel at eȝse þey weren þat nyȝt. [ 1055] [1055) eȝse] ȝ ü. d. z. geschr.] [1055) gestellt.] And a morowe, wanne hit was day lyȝt, [1056) vor] To a place þey ȝeden bydene, Whare þey myȝtten þat castel sene. The kyng sente so Merlyn þanne: [1059) kyng] ü. d. z. nach∣getr.] "Tel me now, syre, yf þu canne, [ 1060] [1060) now] ü. d. z. geschr.] Why my castel in þys place, þat ys so fast, Euereych nyȝt adoun ys cast, And whi hit may stonde nouȝt, Of so strong þyng as hit is wrouȝt!" [1064) as] þat, darüber as geschr.] Þanne seyde Merlyn to þe kyng: [ 1065]

"Syre, wiþ outen eny lesyng, Her in þe grounde, a ȝerdes dep, [f. 30b] Is a water strong & step, And vnder þe water buþ stones twey, Moche & long, for soþ to sey; [ 1070] And vnder þe stones ryȝt at þe mold Twey dragons þar lyggen yfold; Þat on ys wyȝt as melkes reme, And þat other ys reed as feyr ys leme, Grysly of syȝt þey buþ bothe, [ 1075] And þey to gederes buþ swythe wrothe; And euermo, whan hit ys nyȝt, Þey byghynneþ harde to fyȝt, And þrouȝt þe strenthe of here blast Al þy werk ys ouer cast; [ 1080] And yf þe dragons weren a way, Þan myȝt þy werkmen euerych day Maken þy werk al to þy wylle, [1083) þy] þe, von jüngerer hd. corr. in þy.] And hit wolde stond bothe strong & stylle: [f. 31a] Lat men loke, & þu schalt seo, [ 1085] Þat hit ys soþ, þat ych telle þeo!"

Fortiger comaundede anon Alle his werkmen euerychon, Vif þousand & wel mo, He bad hem loke, yf hit [ 1090] were so. And anon þey doluen in þe grounde, And a fayr water þar þey founde, And anon amonges hem alle, wiþ outen les, Þey made twey depe welles, And al þat water þey brouȝten oute þo; [ 1095] And whanne þey hadde ydo so, By nethen þe welles grounde Twey gret stones þar þey founde; Many a man þan redy were, Þo two stones for to arere, [ 1100] And whanne þe stones weren vp went, [f. 31b] Twey gret dragons þar þey founden ybent, Wiþ long tayles fele fold, And founden hit ryȝt as Merlyn haþ told: Þat on was red as eny feyr, [ 1105] Wiþ eyȝen brod as a basyn cleer; Powes he hadde gret & longhe, And feyr out of his mouþ spronghe. His body was gret & nothyng smal,

His tayle was wounder-row [ 1110] wiþ al. His strengthe ne myȝt noman telle, And he lokede ryȝt as a feend of helle. The whyte dragon lay by hym þo, [1113) lay] danach by, ausgestr.] Wiþ longhe powes & scharpe al so And wiþ gret tuskes, þat croked [ 1115] bere, And he made noyse & a fowle bere, And wiþ his mouþ he ȝenede wyde, [f. 32a] The feyr barst out in euereych syde; [1118) feyr] ü. d. z. nachgetr.] Al glewyng was his wombe, His tonghe brend ryȝt as a bronde; [ 1120] His tayl was raggud lych a feend, And vppon þe tayles end Þare was a gresly hed, For to fyȝtten wiþ þe reed; For Merlyn seyde, soþ ryȝt, [ 1125] So gresly þey weren of syȝt, For whanne þey gonne for to aryse, Manye a man schulde agryse. Þe dragons resen vp out of here den, And aferd were þo manye men; [ 1130] And þe folk, þat was þar by syde, No lengore dorsten þare abyde.

An hondred flowen at on hep, So þat eche vp othere bygonne to lep, And some for dred fellyn a [ 1135] sowe; [f. 32b] Merlyn smot his gloue & lowe. Þe reed dragon & þe white, To gederys þey gonne for to smyte [1138) gonne] g corr. aus?] Bothe wiþ mouþ & wiþ tayle, By twexen hem was a strong batayle, [ 1140] And al þe eorthe bygan to denyen þo [1141) deuyen ms.] And gastlych wedyr wax also. So gret feyr þey casten vp anon, Þat al þe playn þer of schon, And þat sparclede abouȝten so bryȝt, [ 1145] Ryȝt as hit were þonder lyȝt. And so þey fouȝten, as ych ȝow say, Al þe long somerys day, Þat þey ne stenten of fyȝtyng, [f. 33a] Til euesong bygan to ryng. [ 1150] So þat tyme, as y ȝow telle, The rede dragon was so felle And drof þe white fer adoun, Out of þe playn a gret vyroun, Tyl he com to a valeye, [ 1155] And þare þey gonne to resten beye; Þey ne resteden but a whyle,

Þe montaunce of a myle, Þo þe white kudde his myȝt And wax fel & fresch to fyȝt, [ 1160] And egerlich, wiþ outen fayle, The rede dragon he bygan to asayle And drof þe rede aȝeyn, Tyl he com vppon þe playn, And þare þe white anon ryȝt [f. 33b] [ 1165] [1165) anon] darüber mit hellerer tinte wiþ geschr.] Hente þe rede wit strenthe of myȝt, And sone to grounde he hym caste, [1167) sone] white, ausgestr. und sone mit hellerer tinte übergeschr.] For alle þe power of his fnaste [1168) For] von jüngerer hd. hinzugef.] To dust brende þe dragon, þat was reed, So þat neuere of hym was founde no schred, [ 1170] But dust on þe grounde lay; And þanne þe white fley away, Þat neuere ȝit wyst man, Whare þe white bycom after þan.

Þan seyde Merlyn þe bold: [ 1175] "Syre kyng, þat tale, þat ich ȝow told, Hit is soþ, as ȝe may se, Þar fore y praye, syre, for loue of me, Lat þy clerkys by for me brynghe, Þat lowen on me a gret lesynghe [ 1180]

Þat þu graunte hem me to leue, [f. 34a] And alle my wraþ iche hem forȝeue." The kyng hit grauntede al so swythe, Þanne were þe clerkes swythe blythe;

Þe kyng wente þan to his yn, [ 1185] And wiþ hym wente chyld Merlyn. Merlyn was wiþ Fortyger Chef of his consayle al þat ȝer, And þrouȝ his wysdom & his rad The castel of Salisbury was ymad. [ 1190] And whanne þe castel was ywrouȝt, Erlis, barons hym bysouȝt, Þat he schuld weten of Merlyn þo, Why þe dragons fouȝten so, For hit was som tokenyng, þey seyde alle, [ 1195] [f. 34b] [1195) was] om.(!) ms. seyde] danach þan, ausgestr.] Of wondres, þat schuld byfalle. Merlyn was brouȝt by forn þe kyng, And he hym askede of þat þyng, What tokenyng hit myȝte bene, Þat þe dragons fyȝt was so kene. [ 1200] Merlyn stod & made danger, And þanne byspak syre Fortiger And seyde: "Merlyn, but þu me telle, Anon y schal don þe quelle!" And Merlyn seyde þan, aplyȝt, [ 1205] Wiþ gret wrethe anon ryȝt He seyde: "Syre kyng, wiþ outen oþ,

Þat wourd schal neuere be soþ: Þouȝ þu take þy swerd an honde, Me to sle or to brynghe on londe Ȝit myȝt þu . . . . . . [ 1210a] [1210a) als custos erhalten.]

Of þe rede & of þe white, [f. 35a] Anon þe heremyte a book dede wryte; Merlyn tolde, þat þe rede dragon Bytokenede gret dystruxion Þoruȝ Fortiger is kende, ywys, [ 1215] And þoruȝ þe Denmarkes kyng Amygys: Þorwȝ here kende, wiþ outen wene, Englond schal be brouȝt in moche tene, Strong bataile & happes hard, Þat schul comen her afterward; [ 1220] Some schul fallen ryȝt sone, & han byfallen al so, [1221) fallen] danach eine ab∣kürzung für sir, ausgestr.] And ȝut ys not Merlyns pro∣phecie al ydo, For Merlyn tolde hit & sayde, And in þe Bruyt he hit layde, Of alle þe auntres, ich vnder∣stonde, [ 1225] Þat euere schul byfalle in Eng∣londe; So derk hit ys & so wonderful þyng, Þat Merlyn seyde in his techyng, Wel fewe clerkys, wiþ outen wene, [f. 35b]

Vnderstondyþ, what hit wold mene, [ 1230] [1230) Vnd.] nouȝt add. (!) ms.] And, for hit is so derk ywrouȝt, Of þat book ne telle ich ryȝt nouȝt; But, if ȝe wollyþ a while dwelle, Of other auntres ich wolle ȝow telle. Now herkeneþ boþe old & ȝong, [ 1235] And ȝe schul heren a mery talkyng Of þe heende children to, Vter & Pendragon al so. Here by forn hit is ywrete, ich vnderstonde, How þey were flemyd out of Englonde; [ 1240] In to Garscoyne þey weren fled And wiþ here frendes þare yfed; And whanne þey weren woxe of age, Þey þouȝten to chalange here herytage, And þarfore y wole ȝow sayn, [ 1245] How þey comen in to Englond agayn Wiþ feyr strengthe & gret power, [f. 36a] And how þey dreuen syre For∣tiger In to his castel, þat was so strong, For his treson & for his wrong; [ 1250] And how þey hym brende wiþ flesch & bon, And how þey bygonne kyng Aungis to slon; Iche wele ȝow telle, in what manere: Lesteneþ now, & ȝe schul here!

A mery tyme is in May, [ 1255] Þanne bygynnyþ þe someres day, Þanne spryngyþ boþe corn & gras, & leues wexyþ grene, Moche merthe & solas in euerych town schal bene. [1258) grene] ne ist weggeschnitten.]

In þat tyme, as ȝe may here, The barons come to syre For∣tiger [ 1260] And seyden: "My lord, syre kyng, Whe brengheþ to þe an hard tydyng Of Pendragon, þat is þy fo, [f. 36b] And of his brother Vter also, Þat buþ come in to Englond [ 1265] Wiþ many a douȝty knyȝt of hond; So moche folk comeþ, soþ to say, Þat noman hem nombre may, Wiþ helme on hefd & bronye bryȝt, And comeþ hedurward, wiþ þe to fyȝt. [ 1270] Þey sweryþ, þat þei nellyþ stynte nouȝt, Tyl þu be to deþe brouȝt; For nouȝt þey wyllyþ abyde, Nyȝt & day þey wyllyþ ryde, And buþ at Wynchestre al mast; [ 1275] Þar fore sende aboute in gret hast To al þy frendes fer & ner, Þe to helpen wiþ al here power.