The history of the Holy Grail, Englisht, ab. 1450 A.D., by Herry Lonelich, skynner, from the French prose (ab. 1180-1200 A. D.) of Sires Robiers de Borron. Re-edited from the unique paper ms. in Corpus Christi college, Cambridge, by Fredk. J. Furnivall ...

CHAPTER XII.

The invasion by Tholomes and the Egyptians of Evalach's land; Evalach's summons to his vassals (p. 103); Josephes's counsel to him,—Josephes tells him his history, that he was a cobbler's son at Meaux, in France (p. 104), was sent to Rome as part of the hostage demanded by Augustus (p. 105), then on to Erl Felis of Svlie, whose son he slew (p. 106), and fled to Tholomes King of Babyloyne, for whom he conquered all the land of Sarras (p. 106-7), that therefore he must be humble, and remember God, as he will be three days and three nights in Tholomes's power (p. 107-8, 110); Evalach asks for the means of victory (p. 108-9); Josephes tacks a cross of red cloth on to his shield (p. 109), and tells him to look on it in his need, and pray to God, and he shall be saved (p. 110). Evalach marches to Tarabel and Valachim (p. 111). The Castle Valachim described (p. 112). Evalach's army enter a forest, and send out a spy (p. 113); they attack Tholomes, but lose men, and flee to Castle Comes (p. 114). Tholomes pursues (p. 114); while Evalach's men plunder his tents (p. 115). A spy next day tells Tholomes that Evalach is in Comes with a very few men (p. 116), and so Tholomes marches after him with half his force, leaving the other half with Vabus his steward to watch Castle Valachim (p. 117).

And In the mene while Of this talking [A messenger comes to king Evalach] Cometh A messenger tho to the king, And knelid to-forn him vppon kis kne: "Sire kyng, newe tydinges I bringe to þ^e [ 4] [with news] That ben bothe Evel and perlous, Of Tholomes king so dispetous; [that Tholomes has invaded his land,] Into thi lond now Entred he Is, And with him gret strengthe with-owten Mis; [ 8] And Oriable thi Cite they han take, And Abowtes In-virown thei don wrake, That so the Contre distroied is be him [and wasted it up to Castle Vala∣chim,] Into the Castel Of valachim. [ 12] For On hors-bak with him don Ride Twenty thousend be his side, [with 20,000 horse] And On foote Also there ben Fourti thowsend Men harneysed Clen; [MS Reg. xiv E 3 reads 'a xxx. mille homes a pie.' [MS Add. 'xxx.^M chiualers, et a .lx.^M hommes a pie': 90,000 in all.]] [ 16] [and 40,000 foot,] And ȝif that Castel he mown haue, Nothing Of thi lond wil he save; Ne thens wil he non fote gon Til they ben ȝolden Euerichon; [ 20] [Fo]r that Is now the stre gest hold [In] thi lond be Manye a fold. And ȝit his Avow Made he there [and has sworn that] (That Alle his Meyne gan it to here) [ 24] That Owt Of that Contre wold he not pas Tyl he were Crowned king In sarras,"— [he'll be crowned King in Sarras.] Whiche that was the Chef Cite Of king Eualach his lond, I telle the.— [ 28] And whanne the king herde him thus sein, [Evalach is cast down in heart,] Sore he him Abaschte In Certein; And ȝit the more Abascht was he pleinli For the wordis that Iosephes spak Openli, [ 32] 'That thre dayes & thre Nyht In his Enemyes daunger to be Owtriht,

And that to the prikke Of deth he schold be browht;' And this Euere was In Eualache thowht; [ 36] But for þat he was A man Of so gret prowesse, He made non semblaunt Of non distresse, [but makes no sign of distress.] But Aȝens herte he made good Chere, [S]eenge Alle tho that there were, [ 40] [A]nd swor Anon be his Creaunce, [He swears he'll turn Tholomes] 'That what so him Euere happede be chaunce, [leaf 197] , [col. 2] Ȝif At that sege he myhte him fynde, [out,] He wold don him Remeve be som kynde.' [ 44] Anon his sonde he dide to sende [and then sends to all his vassals] Ouer Al tho, Into Euerich ende, To Alle tho that Of him took Ony fe, 'Anon with him that thei scholden be, [ 48] And On the Morwe to ben Gadering [to meet him at Castle Tarabel.] Atte Castel Of Tarabe [MS Reg. 'tarabiel'; Add. 'carabel' (leaf 12, col. 3 at foot).] withowten Taryenge,' That twenty Miles from sarras Is, And fro valachim Sixtene, More ne Mis, [ 52] Where As Tholomes Atte Sege was. Thus Abowten sent Eualach Into Everi plas; Thus Abowtes be his sel he sente, 'That Eche man scholde don his Ente[nte], [ 56] That weren weldy Armes to bere, [every man able to bear arms,] Aȝens here Enemyes to fensen hem there. And ho that Aȝens his Comandementis were, What so he be that it doth there, [ 60] His lordschepe from him wil he take, [under pain of losing his land.] And but Ryht A povre Man him Make.' And On the Morwe the king gan to remeve, [As Evalach is going to march, Josephes tells him] And Iosephes to him Cam to taken his leve; [ 64] "Sire kyng, hennes thou gynnest to Go, But thow ne wost what forto do; [he doesn't know what the end will be.] For thou ne Art seker to Comen Agein, But there forto dyen In Certein. [ 68]

But thus My God sente Onto the [God bids him] Be me his Servaunt, As thou myht se, 'That thow scholdest Remembren the wel [remember whence he sprang;] Of whom thow Come Everydel, [ 72] And of what Maner kynde & of lynage Thow Art I-Come to this high parage. But thou supposist that noman it knowe; But I Can the tellen Al be Rowe. [ 76] Be the grace Of my God Almyht I schal the telle, I the A-plyht; For Conceil may þere non heled be From him that Sit In Maieste. [ 80] Thow were born In fravnce lond, [he was born in France,] As the holi gost me doth vndirstond, In A Old Cite Of fraunce, As I wene, That Miaux is Called there bedene; [ 84] [at Meaux, a poor shoemaker's son.] And there thow were A pore Mannes sone, That to Maken schon was thanne his wone; And this Owghtest thow to knowen ful wel, For thow it hast Sein this Everydel. [ 88] For whanne Augustus Cesar Emperour was [For when Au∣gustus was emperor,] Of Rome xxxij ȝer; In that plas He wende king Of Alle kinges haue ben; And so it him thowhte that it was sen; [ 92] But Crist of Marie was born [and Christ was born,] In his tyme, that I Rehersed beforn, That tho king Of Alle kynges was Thorwgh the world In Every plas. [ 96] And whanne here-Offen herde Augustus Cesar [he feared he should lose his empire.] Be hise Clerkis that weren bothe wis & war, Thanne he gan to wexen Gretly In dowte Lest Of his Empire to putten him Owte, [ 100] And that Al the Contre Of Rome Abowte, To that lord scholden worschepen & dowte. Thanne Niste he Not what forto don, But Abowtes Al Rome he sente Anon; [ 104]

Thorwgh Owt Al that Contre [lf. 197, bk] , [col. 1] Anon his Messengeres sente he, 'That Euery man & womman Also [So he ordered all folk to pay him a penny as tribute.] To him A peny scholde ȝelden tho, [ 108] As In Manere Of A knowelechinge, As In weye Of Soiettis to here kynge. And, bencheson ['be encheson,' by occasion, because.] that Fraunce was thanne [But of France he required] Of Anothir Maner kende Of Manne, [ 112] To hem he sente In this Manere As, Sire, I the schal now tellen here: An hundred knyhtes be trews Aftir he sente, [100 knights, and 100 knights' daughters, vir∣gins,] And Aftir An hundred knyhtes dowghtren presente, That Maidenis scholde ben Everichon,— [ 117] And thus his Messages Gonne forth to gon,— And An hundred knave children Al In fere, [and 100 boys not over five years old.] Not passeng the Age thanne of fyve ȝere, [ 120] But Rathere lasse thanne Ony More; That time this was his Comaundement thore. And whanne these tydinges weren Comen Into fraunce, [Then in every French city] Mochel they Merveilled thanne Of this Chaunce; [ 124] And thanne Chosen they In Euery Cite Be lot, As that time here hap myhte be. [lots were cast;] So thanne it happed, As I telle now the, That Owt Of Miaux that Cite, [ 128] [and out of Meaux were chosen two maidens, the Earl of Sivayn's daughters,] That tweyne Maydenes Chosen weren for sothe, And that An Erlis dowghtren weren thei bothe Hos Name was Erl Of Siuayn, That lord of Miaux was, & Of the Contre Certain. [ 132] And whanne the lot on hem þus gan falle, Thanne mosten thei forth nedis with Alle; And vppon the, ['thee' is often written 'the.' See l. 114, 140, 149, 157, &c.] tho, fyl the tother lot, [and you, Evalach,] Where þou myhtest ben Excused not, [ 136] For thow were At the Age Of fyve ȝer, And Also these Maidenis bothe briht & Cler;

That so wit these Maydenes forth were þou led, [and all three of you were sent to Rome.] As to-fore I haue here now to the Seid. [ 140] And whanne that to Rome ȝe weren I-Come, The peple Abowtes ȝow Cam On A throme, And ȝow gonnen faste to beholde: [You were very beautiful.] Ȝe hadden tho Of Bewte so Manifolde. [ 144] And whanne thow were comen to twenty [MS Reg., '.xx.'; MS Add. '.xii.'] ȝere, [At 20, both maidens died.] Thanne bothe Maidenes deyden Ryht there; For the ton ne lyved After the tothir But thre Monthes, It was non Othir. [ 148] Thanne Aftyr, the took Tiberius Sesar, [Then Tiberius] That Aftir Augustus was emperour thar, And the hadde tho Ryht In gret Cherte, And to An Erl the sente for thi bewte— [ 152] [sent you to Earl Felis of Syria,] Erl Felys he hyghte Of Svlie,— To him were thow lad In hie: And whanne that thow to him were browht, Ful mochel thow were Euere In his thowht, [ 156] [who held you dear.] For the ful dere to him he held; And After ful Evele didest thou him ȝeld. For it befil that vppon A day [But you slew his eldest son in a quarrel,] His Eldest sone & thou wenten to play, [ 160] That so In Anger ȝe fillen tho bothe, That there thow slowe his sone forsothe. And whanne thou haddes thus him slo, Thanne to Tholomes [MS Reg. 'tholome cerastre'; MS Add. 'tholomes ce lastre.'] gonne thou go, [ 164] [and then went to Tholomes of Babilon,] That Of babiloyne thilke time king was, And werre he held Aȝens Olifernus; [lf 197, bk] , [col. 2] For Olifernus king was riht tho with-outen d[owte] There As now thow Art Of Al the Contre Abowte. [ 168] And Anon As thow to him were gon, There A knyht he made the Anon; [who knighted you,] And so moche love thanne he Caste to the, That Amonge Al his Ost he ȝaf the powste; [ 172]

And Aboven Alle Othere he ȝaf the powere, Ouer Alle his Ost to Gouernen there, [set you over all his host, and, as you beat his foes,] For that thow were Of so gret prowesse Of Manhod, & ful Of hardinesse, [ 176] So that On his Enemys Avenged he was, And hem distroiede In that plas. And thanne to the ȝaf he that lond, [put his land wholly in your cars.] And there holich put it Into thin hond. [ 180] Now myhtest [thou] knowen & vndyrstonde, [You see that I know who you are.] That I knowe whennes & of what londe That thou were bothen bigeten & born,— Lik As I haue the Rehersed beforn,— [ 184] And from so gret povert to hy dignete; Remembre the wel what I telle the; And therfore the sente to sein be me The grete God of Al Cristiente, [ 188] [And God has therefore sent me to remind] That Of thi self thow schost han Minde; And thowgh þat vnder, þou hast men of gret kynde, And Moche peple In bataille þ^e Abowte, In herte scholdest thou not be prowte; [ 192] [you not to be proud in heart,] For thi lyges, they [[thine. Fr. ele n'est mie tole lige; ne tu n'en les ke garde.]] nothing ben, But As A wardein hem to besen; And therfore haue thou this In Mende, For but As On Man thow Art Of kende, [ 196] And As son [[MS Assonc]] deyen thow schal [for you shall die as soon as the poorest;] As the porest Man doth Ouer-al; Therfore scholdest thow be powre & Mek, And vppon thi Creatour beleven Ek, [ 200] That Into this world þ^e made forth go, For with-Owten him thow myht not do; And ȝif thou like not him for thi kyng to holde, [and if you will not take God as your King, out of your throne you go.] Owt Of thi regne þou gost Ryht Mani-folde: [ 204] For wel may he be Clepid A kyng, That Endeles lasteth euere his Reyneng; This is Crist Goddis sone Of hevene, That Into þ^e Maide Alyhte be thaungelis stevene. [ 208]

For Alle Mennes hertes he doth knowe, And Alle here thowghtes vppon A rowe; & þat the schal putten Into thin Enemyes hond, [He shall put you into your foes' hands, and then deliver you,] And Aftir the deliueren, thou vndirstond; [ 212] For that ther nys non lord neþer God but he To whom Ony honour longeth to be. Wherfore, as Only On god & Almyhty, Thow Owest him to worschepyn al Only; [ 216] For bothe this torment & this Noysance He the now sendeth, for his Creaunce Thow hast Refused, & Ek his lore [because you refused to believe his doctrine shown to you in a vision,] That he in Avicion hath schewed before." [ 220] Thanne seide king Eualach Anon Agein, "Maister Iosephes, I preie þ^e. telle me plein What that Avisioun was forto Mene, That thou it woldest declaren me Clene." [ 224] "Certes," quod Iosephes, "nay how so befalle, [which I'll explain when you've broken your idols, and believe in God.'] Tyl thow haue broken thy Mawmettis alle, And that in theke high lord to hauen ful Creaunce That the May deliueren from Alle Noysaunce. [ 228] And Alle lyveng thing enstablisched Is, Wheche that þ^e heyest king is of blys." "[B]e my Creance," quod Eualach tho, [leaf 198] , [col. 1] [Evalach: 'You said that if I'd believe on you, you'd give me victory, and save my soul.'] "This Bataylle myn herte goth sore vnto; [ 232] And bothe ȝoure fadyr & Ek ȝe Of Riht good Conceyl behygten me; Ȝyf that I wolde On ȝow beleve, Ȝe seiden Ryht wel that I scholde preve [ 236] Be wheche victorie of myne Enemys to have, And Aftir my deth my sowle to save." "Certein, Sire," quod Iosephes tho, "That Conceil I the ȝaf, & ȝit Mo, [ 240] ["So God will.] Ȝif thow wilt On him beleven stedfastly, And him worschepen As Almyhty. And ȝif thow wilt not don As I the teche, [And if you don't believe,] Be war lest god wele taken wrsche; [ 244]

And but thow him worschepe As me þou seest, [you'll be de∣stroyed, body and soul."] In body & sowle distroyed thou beest Of him that Of Alle thinges Is domes man; The helpen & socoure ful wel he Can." [ 248] "Now Certein," quod this Eualach þ^e king, ['If you'll make me beat my foes, and God'll save my life,] "And ȝe wolden ȝeven me swich conseilling That Of Myn Enemyes victorie to haue, And therto my lif that he wolde save,— [ 252] On him Onliche I wolde beleve, [MS beleleve.] [I'll certainly believe on him.'] And Al my Creaunce I wele Repreve." Thanne spak Anon Iosephes to the kyng: [Josephes tells Evalach to bring his shield,] "Now herkeneth, Sire, to my talkyng. [ 256] Do bringe now thi scheld to-fore me, And Anothir Maner thing schalt thow se." And whanne this scheld to-fore Iosephes was, Anon he Comanded In that plas [ 260] A lytel pece thanne Of cloth so red [and a bit of red cloth.] To-fore him be browht Into that sted. And the kyng Anon with þat biddinge A pece Of Red Silk he dyde him bringe, [ 264] And kutte there-offe two peces Anon In the sihte of hem Echon,— Eche pece A Fote of lengthe was,— Wher-offen A Crois he made In that plas, [ 268] [Of this, Josephes makes a cross, tacks it on Evalach's shield,] And takked it vppon the kynges scheld, Wherwith he Rod thanne Into þ^e feld. And whanne thus he hadde don, To kyng Eualach thanne spak he Anon: [ 272] "Syxt thow now this signe that I haue Mad?" "Ȝe forsothe," thanne kyng Eualach Said. "Certes," quod Iosephes, [MS Iosep̄.] "I telle it the, [and tells him,] What Manere Of Man so Evere he be, [ 276] And he wele stedfastli belevene On this, Were he neuere in so moche sorwe Oþer distres,

That he ne schal Anon deliuered be Of Alle Manere deseisse And Aduersite. [ 280] And therfore, honoure thou this, I Charge the, In worsche[pe] Of him that deyde On tre; And whanne that thou Art In gret Nede, [when he is in great need to pray to Christ,] Loke Of helpe & socour that thow him bede, [ 284] And that thow sey In this Manere As I the Schal now Rehersen here, 'O thow god that deydest vppon the Crois, Of me, Synnere, here thow my vois; [ 288] And On the signe Of this thow suffredest ded [begging Him, by the sign of the cross, to grant him victory, and time to believe;] Vppon the tre In thin Manhed, So graunt me Of victorie the grace, And to thi beleve therto hauen space, [ 292] And that thy man that I Moot be Er that this world departe from Me.' [leaf 198] , [col. 2] And ȝif thow this fulliche wilt beleve, Thanne A trewe man schalt þou me preve; [ 296] For thanne In bataille schalt thow not dye, [and then he shall win.] But bothe to geten Worschepe & victorie. And now that thus I haue the told, To gon to bataille thow myht be bold, [ 300] For from deth thi waraunt this schal be, [The Cross shall keep him from death,] And from Alle presonementis, I telle it the. Ȝit not-withstonding, not forthan That Tholomes, this Crwel Man, [ 304] [though Tholomes shall imprison him three days and three nights.] In distresse schal he putten the Thre dayes and thre Niht Sekerle, For so be me sente the to seye That Myhtful god & verraye. [ 308] And wete thow wel, ȝif thow beleve On this, Thow Schalt neuere thanne don Amys; For to the schal it ben Redempcioun, And to the devel sorwe & distruccioun." [ 312] Thanne seide he to Iosephes Agein [Evalach promises] These wordes tho In Certein,

"Iosephes, that thou woldest now preyen for me [Josephes to turn] To kyng of Cristene In Eche degre, [ 316] Me to helpe, and Euere me to save; And trewly his Creaunce wil I have, Ȝif it be As now thow behotest Me, Trewe Cristen Man thanne wil I be, [ 320] [Christian if be wins.] Of thyn hond to Resceyven In this plas Ȝif Euere I Come Aȝen Into Sarras." And thanne An Old Serjaunt he gan to Calle, And there him Comaunded Amonges hem Alle, [ 324] [He orders the Christians to be held in honour.] 'The Cristene to kepen with ful gret honour, With-Owten Ony Angwysch Other labour; And that Iosephes haue his Comaundement, Of Alle Manere thinges wit good Entent. [ 328] Thanne took the kyng his leve Ryht there Of Iosephes & Of his Compenie In fere, With Ryht A gret Compenye Of knyhtes And Mochel Other peple tho Anon Ryhtes, [ 332] And Evene to the Cite Of Tarabel [Evalach marches to Tarabel,] They token the Ryht weie Eueridel, And there Abod he fully vj dayes, [and stays there six days] As the Storie Of this book vs sayes. [ 336] And be the tyme the Sixe dayes were gon, [& quant uint au sietisme ior. MS Reg.] So moche peple Of his Owne hadde he sein non, What Of So manie knyhtes & barown [without his barons coming,] Hadde he not Sein At Anof In his town; [ 340] But be the tyme that heyghte dayes were gon, [Au witisme iour mut li rois de tarabiel, moult matin, a toutes ses os. MS Reg. leaf 20, col. 3.] [but they come by the 8th day, and then all ride towards Castle Valachim, which Tholomes is be∣sieging.] Mochel peple to him Cam Anon. Thanne Owt Of Tarabel thei gonne Ride To-ward valachin At that same Tyde, [ 344] Where that Tholomes beseged the Castel That kyng Eualach tho lovede ful wel, For him Self there-Offen Fowndur [[Valachin = Evalach-in. See p. 113, note, l. 11]] he was, And there it let Setten In that plas. [ 348]

For it was On of the Strengest pyl [This castle is very strong,] That Euere Man Sawgh in Ony Exyl; For it Myhte neuere I-wonnë be But Only thorwgh Enfamyne, I telle it the. [ 352] Where-vppon A ȝate on þat Castel was thore, [with a gate a stone's throw high,] From the plein Erthe A stones Cast & More; And vndir wheche ȝate Ran there Ryht A wondir dyspetous Ryvere; [ 356] [over a river] And that Rever, As brod it was As the schot Of An Arwe In eche A plas, [an arrow-flight broad.] So that ȝate Asailled ne Myhte not ben Of hem with-Owte, As men Myht sen, [ 360] But It were Only be An Navye, [lf 198, bk] , [col. 1] Thane Coude that neuere hem stroye For schot, And Cast Owt of that Castel, It was devised so wondirly wel. [ 364] And no Mo ȝat[es] weren there-vppon Where that [Ma]n Mihte Owht owt gon, But A litel g[ate] In A Corner [Only one other little gate is there.] That there-vppon was devised ther. [ 368] And Of plein Erthe to-forn þat gate was, For two Chariettes to Meten On In þat plas, The whiche but xxx pas was Of lengthe; For it was A pyl Of ful riht gret strengthe. [ 372] [It was a pile of great strength.] But Alle the strengthis Of this to discryve, It were to long, be my lyve; [MS Reg. xiv E 3, says—" Et li chastiaus en haut estoit auirounes de moult riches murs tous quareles de marbre vert et vermel & bis & blanc. Et se li mur seoient bien et haut, encor estoit la tours plus haut assise a quatre doubles. & si seoit sour vne roche [leaf 20, back] tele que onques si bien seans, ne si desfensaule, ne fu veue. Desour chele roche seoit la tours marbrine † si tres durement haute, ke on en veoit blanchoier les murs de baudas, & ondoier l'iaue del vil, qui est en egypte; [MS Add.—si estoit si haut com en pooit ueoir l'eue del nil, qui si estoit bele et rice, et cele aigue que ie vous di, couroit mult parfout en egypte.] De tel forche estoit li chastiaus, & de tel biaute. ne ia si grant chaut ne fesist en nul este, ke chil du chastel n'eussent iaue douche & froide d'une fontaine, si couroit li ruissiaus en .i. plain moult biel qui estoit entre les murs del chastiel, & la tour; si chaoit en chel plain par .i. tuel de coiure qui cheoit en vne cuue de marbre, en quoi chil du chastiel prendoient iaue a lor besoignes. Chil plains en quoi l'iaue chaoit par le tuel, si estoit li abuu∣roirs as cheuaus du chastel, si estoit tous paues de marbre, & clos enuiron bien le haut de deus coutes & demi, & desour tout l'autre pauement. Ensi estoit li chastiaus aaisies, & si richement fermes com vous aues oi, tant qu'il ne doutoit nul home viuant par forche d'assaut. Et pour chou l'auoit ferme li rois eualach que il n'auoit onques si forte pieche de terre veue. Et pour chou li auoit il mis non eualachin; ke il voloit ke tout chil ki iamais le noumeroient, i ramenteussent le non de lui en ramembranche de che qu'il i auoit fait."]

Therfore to passen Over In schort Matere Of declareng Of this Castel I wile now here: [ 376] And In this place king Eualach this Castel made For the strengest plot In þ^e world þat he hadde. Now whanne kyng Eualacħ thus Redy was, [Evalach marches his men into a forest, and bids them arm.] Forth Took he his lorne In that plas, [ 380] And Entrede Into A ful fair Forest; Thus he Comandede bothe lest & Mest, And Comanded Alle his Men there Anon riht Hem Redy to Armen forto fyht, [ 384] For he hadde Sent forth A spye In that Morwening thanne ful Erlye, To Aspien Tholomes & his Ost There that they lien with so gret bost. [ 388] And whanne the Spie Cam Agein, [Finding from a spy that Tho∣lomes's host is at dinner,] He tolde kyng Eualach thanne In certein 'That In the Ost It was dyneng tyme, Fore it was ny noon, And passed þ^e pryme.' [ 392] Thanne weren this Meyne Al Redy Anon, [Evalach ad∣vances, and] And Owt Of that Forest gonne they gon, And Entrede thanne In-to A gret valey. Thanne whanne vppon the hil Comen they, [ 396] They Syen Alle the Ost Of Tholome, [comes in sight of Tholomes's army and of Castle Valachim.] How that they leyen In Al Manere degre; And Also Al the Castel Of valachin Where that his Meyne weren with-In. [ 400]

But whanne this Ost Gan hem Aspye, "Tresown! tresown!" thei gonne to Crye; [Tholomes's men cry 'Treason!' and arm.] And Anon to Armes they ronne ful faste, For Of here lyves they weren Agaste; [ 404] But fewe of hem there ne ben That they weren Redy Armed Clen, For Evere they hadden A supposenge That kyng Eualach wolde for Ony thinge [ 408] That Sege Remeven ȝif he myhte; And that he it wolde don he susposid ful rihte. Thanne kyng Eualach his men In that tyde [Evalach's knights attack them,] To-ward this Ost Faste gonne they Ride,— [ 412] More vigeryousely neuere Reden Men Into non place thanne they diden then,— And Tholomes men that On foote were, [but get their horses slain by Tholomes's men.] Eualach his men here hors Slowen there; [ 416] So thanne, bothe parties On foote thei be; There grete Manslawghtre Men Miht se, [There is great slaughter;] How that Eualache men Tholomes men slowe, For ther was Sorwe & grynteng of teth Inowe, [ 420] So that Of bothe partyes ded there been Bet than Fiftene thowsend, [The Royal MS says '.xv. milliers,' but the Additional only '.v. M.'] As men miht seen; [15,000 men are killed.] And there manye Of his men lost Eualach: And whanne this he sawgh, he torned his bak; [ 424] [Evalach and his men flee to] Thanne he & his Meyne that On lyve were, Toward A Castel fledden tho there, Wheche Name Of that Castel was, IClepid was 'Comes' [MS Reg. 'laoines.'] In Every plas,— [ 428] [lf 198, bk] , [col. 2] [Castle Comes,] And thedir ful faste gonnen they hye, He & his Meine ful Sekerlye; That from theke bataille no more it Nas But As twey Miles In that plas, [ 432] [two miles off. Tholomes pur∣sues them,] So that Tholomes Chased him so faste That it wax nyht thanne Attë laste;

Wherthorwgh Manye Of hise Men Loste this Tholome In the Chas then; [ 436] [and loses many of his men] For tho that fledden knewen ful wel The next weye to Comes Castel, Wherthorwgh Eualach his men goten socour sone, And Tholome In that Chas lost Manione; [ 440] [in the chase.] So that Tholomes, bencheson Of the Nyht, From that Chas departid Anon Ryht, And to his loggeng homward he wente. And whanne that he Cam þere present, [ 444] [Moreover, on returning, he finds that all his harness has been carried off by Evalach's men from Castle Valachim,] There Al his harneis beleft þer was, It was Clene I-spoilled Owt of that plas Be the while Of Eualach men That [MS Thhat.] In the Castel of valachin weren then, [ 448] That, whiles the bataille & þ^e Chas dyde laste, Eualach his men the harneys browht In faste; For they that In þ^e Castel were, With Tholomes men so fowhten þere, [ 452] And put hem Alle to discomfiture That þere the harneys kepte þat Owre. And whanne this Tholomes Resorted Aȝen, And Alle his harneys dispoilled Clen, [ 456] His tentis and his pavylons to-broke, [and his tents and pavilions smasht.] And whanne this Tholome þer-onne gan loke, Ful mochel deseisse he took In herte For theke dispit, It was so smerte; [ 460] And thanne A gret Oth swor he there Anon, [Tholomes swears he'll never leave the castle till he's starved it out.] 'That he scholde neuere from þat Castel gon, Thowgh he scholde lesen half his Meyne, Tyl that they wyth-ynne Enfamyned be.' [ 464] And there Abod he Al that Nyht In sweche loggeng As he geten Myht. And whanne the spring Of day was Comen, [Next dawn] To him there Cam A spie Anon [ 468]

That him tolde tho newe tydinge, Al Of kyng Eualache beenge, "Syre Tholome," seide this Spie tho, [a spy tells Tholo∣mes that] "So good tydinges Cam neuere man vnto [ 472] As now Sire Tholomes Is Comenge to the, But ȝif it thorwgh sinne distroied be." "Now sey me, Bewfys," quod Tholome, "What maner Of tydinges mown tho be." [ 476] "Sire Tholome," Seyde the spie Anon, "Kyng Eualach Is Into A castel gon [li rois eualach est entre en 'lacoine,' MS Reg. MS Add. 'lycone.'] [Evalach is in Comes with but few men, and can be easily taken.] But with A fewe Of his Meyne, There schalt thow him hauen, Sire, sekerle, [ 480] And thanne, Ended thi bataille it is; That I seye, it is trewe with-owten Mis." "Sey me," quod Tholomes, "thou belamy, How knowest thou this so Certeinly?" [ 484] "For On him Only I hadde A spie [The spy saw Evalach enter the castle.] That sawh him entren þ^e Castel sekerlye; For At the ȝates so longe Abod he there, Er he myht Entren In Oni Manere, [ 488] The space Of Ryht A long Mile, So Abod þerowte A gret while." Quod Tholomes "In peine of thi lif lesinge Loke thou bringe me non fals tydinge; [End of MS on the sheets misplaced.] [ 492] And yf thou do, with-Owten More [leaf 1] , [col. 1] [Delay, [The letters are quite invisible.] ] deth schalt thow Suffren therfore." "[Sir]e, ȝif it be not so As I haue the told, [D]es-membre thow me, Sire, Manifold." [ 496] Anon Tholomes his knyhtes gan calle, [Tholomes resolves] And told hem what Aventure gan be-falle, And how that Eualach In A Castel was But with A litel Meine In that plas; [ 500]

Wherfore to besegen that Castel he wolde be-gynne [to besiege Evalach with half his force, while the other half stays at Valachim,] With half his Meyne, neþer more ne Mynne; And the tother halvendel schold leven stille At valachin, for the drede Of More ille, [ 504] That was him left to kepen there A litel bettere thanne they diden Ere. That so this Ordenaunce thus he Made, Where-Offen his Meyne weren ful glade. [ 508] Thanne his styward to Clepen gan he fonde, [under the com∣mand of his steward Vabus.] That hyghte vabus As I vndirstonde, And Comaunded him there Anon Ryht, 'As that he was A gentyl knyht, [ 512] The Remenaunt Of his Men to kepen stille, Lest that Ellis to hem Miht Comen som ille;' "So schalt thow kepen there with the Of knyhtes and Seriauntes half my Mene." [ 516] Thanne his Steward vabus Anon [So Vabus re∣mains with half the army,] His Comaundement was Redy to don, And kept there Stille half his Meyne, As wel Footmen As Othere there to be; [ 520] And Tholomes the Remnaunt with him ladde [and Tholomes with the other half marches all night for Comes.] Into that place As the Spie him badde; And So Rod he forth Al the Nyhte, For he wolde have ben Aforn day-lyhte [ 524] At the Castel that hyht Comes, [lacoine. MS Reg.] There he Supposid kyng Eualach was.