Merlin : or, the early history of King Arthur : a prose romance / edited ... by Henry B. Wheatley

CHAPTER XII.
THE RETURN OF THE ELEVEN KINGS TO THEIR CITIES, AND THEIR ENCOUNTER WITH THE SAXONS.

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

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

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

heyres for euermore. Ye knowe well that we heue loste in this chyuachie that we have made vpon the kynge Arthur. Ne of hym ne of his londe gete we no socour; and on this side of the kynge Leodegan of Tamelide, that gladly wolde vs helpe and socour yef he hadde power; but the kynge Rion, that is so myghty and riche, vpon hym werreth, and hath do this two yere. Ne the kynge Pelles of lytenoys, for the kepeth the kynge Pellynor his brother that lyeth seke, of whiche seknesse he shall neuer be heled till he come that shall brynge to ende the auentures of the seint Graal. Ne of the kynge Alain, his brother, that lith in sekenesse, and shall neuer be warisshed till the beste knyght of alle Bretouns come and aske hym why he hath that maladye, and what thinge sholde be hys helpe. And of the kynge of Sorloys ne may we haue no socour, ffor Galehaut, the sone of the Geaunte, of the oute yles, werreth vpon hym, and will that that holde his londe of hym, and he hym diffendeth as he may. Ne of the kynge Berennain ne may we haue [folio 59a] no socour; ne of the kynge Anadonain, ne of the kynge Clamadas, for alle these werreth; and Calchous, that is cosin to the kynge de Cent chiualers, that now for vs hath traueyled—god quyte it hym! And I knowe wele as soone as Galehaut may haue conquered these two remes, that than he will come renne vpon vs, for he desireth nothinge so moche as for to haue the reame that was Vterpendragon. Thus can we no counseile but god of his mercy vs helpe and rede; and while we be now to-geder, lete vs ordeyne what is beste to do, for it is nede. And yef it be so that we discorde, than be we vtterly distroyed, for well ye knowe that we haue loste grete auoir, where-with we myght wele haue mayntened oure werres a-gein the saxoyns. And witeth it wele that this damage haue we be the counseile of Merlin, that wente to fecche the kynge ban of Benoyk and the kynge boors his brother, in the litill Breteyne, that ben the beste knyghtes of the worlde. And he hath do hem to make homage to kynge Arthur; and witeth it wele also that as longe as Merlin is in contrey a-gein vs we shull not a-gein hym endure, ffor noon ne is so wise ne so puyssant that may of hym be-ware, ffor he knoweth alle thynges that be to come, and

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

Than a-ros the kynge Tradilyuaunt, of North Wales, and seide as he that was a full wise man and wele I-lerned, "The beste counseile that I se is that we go stuffe the marches on this partye ther the saxouns comen, and lete make all the chyuachie, that we may assemble of all the chyualrie that we may, and lete kepe the passages, that ther come to hem no more socour ne vitaile than thei haue now; and in the meene while lete vs geder oure kyn and oure frendes and sowderes out of alle londes, and lete vs yeve hem bateile as soone as we may be assembled, for other-wise I can not se how thei may be remeved fro the sege." Whan the lordes vndirstode this that the kynge Tradelyuaunt hadde seide, thei preised hym moche, and seide it was the beste counseile that myght be sette, and ther-to thei a-corded alle to do as he hadde seide. Than thei asked that whiche marches thei sholde garnyssh, and with what peple; and soche was theire counseile that thei sholde go with as moche peple as thei myght brynge of hem that were lefte of the bataile to the Citee of Huydecan for to garnyssh it there. And so thei dide it stuffe. And that was a grete Citee and a stronge. And than with the firste puyssaunce that we may make, lete vs distroye the vitaile fro them thourgh the contreye, and lete vs sette in eche garnyson [folio 59b] as moche peple as we may, and yef we do thus, I sey yow for sothe that we shull thus distroyne them more than and we faught with hem euery day. And whan we se that theu be-for hungred, and that thei be not encresed of more peple than thei be now, than lete vs assemble oure peple and fight with hem, and yef we may hem discounfite, we shall be riche and in reste alwey aftere, and this is the beste counseile that I se in this cas.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

how it is, for I may not trowe that he sholde be of soche herte as it recorded of hym, but yef he were sone unto Vterpendragon, that in hys tyme was oon of the beste knyghtes of the worlde."

Whan the moder vndirstode here sone that so here a-resoned, hir yen be-gonne to water, that the teers wette her chekes and hir chyn, and seide, sighynge and wepinge as she that was hevy and tender for her brother that hir sone remembred, "Ffeire sone," quod she, "knowe this truly that he is youre vncle and my brother and cosin to youre fader on the modirside of Vterpendragon, as I haue herde my moder sey many tymes whan she here complayned prively in her chamber for her sone that the kynge Vterpendragon made it to be delyuered to a cherll as sone as it was born, and how all the matere hath sethe be discouered of Antor, that hym hath norisshed, be-fore the barouns to whom that Merlin tolde the trouthe, and how that Vlfin dide witnesse this thinge for trewe, that so wele was trusted of Vterpendragon, and how he ordeyned the mariage of my moder and the kynge; but the barouns of this londe ne will not knowe hym for her lorde, and oure lorde, that is so mercyfull, hath hym chosen thourgh his high myracle that he hath shewed many sithes." And than she tolde hym of the ston and of the swerde, and alle the auenture as it was be-fallen. And whan Galashene vndirstode his moder, he prayed god that thei sholde neuer wele spede that hym were ageyns, "and," quod he, "god lete me neuer dye till that he hath made me knyght. Ha now god yeve me grace to do so moche that he may me girthe with my swerde, and I shall neuer departe fro hym while I may lyve yef he will me with-holde a-boute hym." With that he departed from his moder and yede into a chamber, and be-gan to stodye howe he myght spede to go to the kynge Arthur. Than he be-thought hym to sende a messenger [folio 61a] to Gaweyn, the sone of kynge loot, his cosin, and sende hym worde that he sholde come to speke with hym at newewerke, in brochelonde, as pryvely as he myght, and that he be there the thirde day after Phasche with-oute eny faile. Than Galashene com oute of the chamber and gat hym a messenger and sente to his cosin Gaweyn.

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

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

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

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

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

Upon a day Gawein com fro huntynge, and clothed comly in a robe that was warme as a robe for the wynter, and ledde in honde a leeshe of grehoundes, and ledde also two brace folowinge hym. And it be-com hym full wele all thynge that he dide: and he also was of the feirest makynge that eny man myght be as of his stature. But the tale ne of hym deviseth no

more here saf only of a tecche that he hadde, that whan he a-roos that he hadde the force and myght of the beste knyght that myght be founde, and whan he com to the houre of pryme he doubled, and at the houre of tierce also; and whan it come to mydday he com a-gein to his firste strength that he hadde at the houre of tierce; and whan it come to the houre of noone he doubled, and alle houres of the nyght, and in the morowe he com a-gein to his firste force; this was the custome of Gawein. Whan Gawein entred the halle, as ye harde, his moder lay in a chamber by a chymney wher-ynne was a grete fiere, and she was right pensif for her brother the kynge Arthur, and for the barouns that were departed fro hym in euyll will, and of the grete mortalite of peple that was come by the foly of the barouns of the londe, and also of the saisnes that were entred in to the londe, wher-fore thei were in a venture to be distroide; and ther was she sore dismayed.

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

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

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

In the tyme that Gawein and his moder spake thus to-geder com in Agravayn and Gaharet and Gaheries, and com be-fore theire moder, that heilde stille her talkynge with Gawein. And than seide Agravain to Gawein, "Ye be more to blame than eny other, for ye be oure eldeste brother, and ye ought to lede vs forth, and that we sholde be knyghtes, and serue hym that all the worlde of speketh that a-boute hym repeire. And we ne do but as musardes, and ne a-wayte nought elles but whan we shall be take as a bridde in a nette, for the saisnes be but a iourne hens, that all the contre robbe and distroye. Ne we ne haue not peple

to chase hem hens but by the prowesse of the kynge Arthur. But lete us take oure armes of hym, and helpe to defende his londe a-gein his enmyes; ffor that is the beste that I can se, for here ne may we nought gete. And, ther-fore, better it were for vs to do some prowesse in his servise, yef we myght be of soche valoure, than here to be take to prison as cowardes, and lese oure time of oure ages." And whan Gawein vndirstode the speche of his brother, he hadde of hym hertely ioye, and moche he hym preysed, and ansuerde that so wolde he do; "and, therfore, in haste lete vs a-pareile vs, for we will meve [folio 63a] hens with-ynne xiiij dayes." And whan the moder saugh that hadde this vndertaken, she was full of ioye, and thanked god hertely. And to hem she seide, "Dismay yow nought of no-thynge, for I shall ordeyne yow horse and harneys." And ther-of were thei gladde and merye. But now here resteth the tale of the moder and of the childeren, and speketh how the kynges departed fro Sorhant, that be yet sorowfull and wroth for theire discounfiture and losse, and also for the saisnes that be entred in to her londes and Contrees.

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

hadde euer-more in his company an hundred men on horsebak armed whan he hadde leeste peple; and ther-fore was he cleped le Roy de Cent chiualers, that is to sey, kynge of an hundred knyghtes; but his right name was cleped Aguysans. And he kepte right wele the marche and the contrey ther-a-boute, that litill wonne the sarazins vpon hym. After that departed the kynge Tradylyuans, of North wales, fro the Cite of Sorhant, and wente in to North walis to his City with iij^Ml men of armes. And his peple were of hym gladde, for thei hadde be in grete drede of the Saxouns, that wente thourgh the londe and dide hem grete harme and damage, ffor the passages were ther to go to the roche of saisnes, where-of thei were sore a-noyed and greved. And he sente thourgh his londe, and somowned alle tho that myght armes bere, and for sowdiours bothe fer and nygh, so that he assembled to-geder what on hors and on fote with the peple that he hadde brought fro the bataile vij^Ml with-oute the men of the Citee, wher in was iiij^Ml of dwellers. And so he hym defended the beste wyse that he myght, and moche he hem greved toward the Castell that Carnyle, the suster of hardogabran, kepte in her baillye. Ne that passage ne myght not these thre [folio 63b] kynges kepe for no power that thei hadden; but that ther com socour be that wey to the saisnes of vitaile and of men be that castell that was stronge, and by the enchauntement of Carnile, that moste cowde of that art, but yef it were Morgain, the suster of kynge Arthur, and Nimiane, that Merlin dide love so moche, that he taught here alle the merveiles of the worlde as this boke shall declare yow here-after. And by that Castell where-of I speke hadde the saisnes all her recouerer and all her socour of the contrey, wherthurgh thei myght neuer be put oute of the londe till that kynge Arthur drof hem oute, and the kynge Ban and the kynge Boors of Gannes, and the sones of kynge lott, as ye shull here telle here-after, and of theire merveilouse prowesse of dedes of armes. After that departed fro Sorhant the kynge Brangore, of South Walis, with iij^Ml men of armes, and wente to Strangore, his chief Citee, for that was nexte to the roche of Saxouns, ant sente after soudiours vp and down, and assembled

vj^Ml men defensable, and moche thei greved the hethen peple with alle theire power. This kynge Brangore hadde a gentill lady to his wif, that was doughter to kynge Adryan, the Emperour of Constantynenoble, that was myghty and riche. And he hadde no mo childeren by his wif but two doughteres, where-of the kynge Brangore hadde oon, and the tother was in Costantynnoble. In that tyme ther was a riche lorde and a myghty, that was kynge of blagne and of hungre; but he deyde with-ynne v yere after he was wedded, and lefte a sone, the feirest creature of man that was formed. And this childe dide wex moche and semly, and right wise and hardy. And at that day that kynge Brangore was departed fro Sorhant, he was so well waxen that he was able to be a knyght; and his right name was Segramore. This Segramore that I of speke dide after-warde many high prowesse in the reame of logres, whereof the tale shall declare yow here-after, and I shall tell yow how it fill.

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

this tyme, and turneth to telle how these other knyges departed fro Sorhant.

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

This Aguysans, the kynge of Scotlonde, that departed out of Sorhant, was the richest kynge of alle the xj kynges, and was also the yongeste; but of armes he cowde not so moche as the other kynges. And he assembled his peple, and were v^Ml, and wente to Corenge in Scotlonde, that tho was a grete Citee and a riche, and moche were greved with the saisnes that repeired ther-a-bowte, for it was but xx scotyssh myle fro the Castell of Vandesbires, ther-as was the sege of saisnes, that repeyred ther-a-boute so grete peple that noon myght hem nombre that ther assembled euery day. And as soone as that the kynge Aguysans was sette in the Citee of Corenges, thei were gladde that were in the Citee of whiche were v^Ml. And he sente alle a-boute for sowdiours on hors and on fote, so that he hadde x^Ml with-oute hem of the Cite. And so he faught many tymes with the saisnes as thei ronne thourgh the Contrey; and so he bothe loste and wan many tymes. And he made to a-mende and fortyfie the wallis of the town ther as, as thei were most feble; and thus he mayntened the werre longe tyme. After that these kynges

were departed, the Duke Escam assembled his peple, and hadde with hym iiij^Ml men of armes; and he iourneyde so till he com to Cambenyk, his stronge Citee, that was grete and riche and full of alle maner godes, and with-ynne the Cite were iij^Ml men defensable, that of the Duke made grete ioye when thei hym saugh, for gretly hadde thei be affraide of the saisnes that thei hadde seyn come towarde a Castell that is cleped Arondell, that was in the marche of Cambenyk, and the roche of Saisnes, that the kynge Arthur hadde well garnysshid er he wente in to [folio 64b] the reame of Tamelide. And as soone as the Duke com to Cambenyk he comaunded and somowned all his power fer and nygh, and assembled wele viij^Ml men with-oute hem that were in the Citee; and thise greved the saisnes at theire power. In this maner the Duke hym contened in this maner richely as ye haue herde. Thus departet the xj barouns fro Sorhant; and the kynge Vrien leffte in his Citee, and sente thourgh euery londe and contrey a-boute, and sowdiours so that he hadde to-geder ix^Ml, with-oute the peple of the Citee, where-of were wele vj^Ml, and the sege was thens but a iourne. And so thei fought to-geder many tymes, and loste and wonne as is the fortune of werre. And thus this stryfe lastid longe tyme, so that the contrey was wasted and made pore so sore that in v yere ther in was nought to gete. And in the contrey they lived by nought elles saf by that oon myght take of a-nother by-twene the cristen men and the saisnes, but yef eny ship by aventure a-rived at eny port in the londe. In this manere were thei sustened that other-wise ne laboured not, but werred that oon a-gein that other right harde. And the saisnes ronne thourgh the londe of kynge Arthur, and þer-Inne dide grete damage, for ther was noon that hem dide lette, till that by a-uenture, as god wolde, he sente feire yonge squires and gentill it to socoure. And I shall telle yow what thei were that so longe kepte the londes of kynge Arthur, till that he com a-geyn oute of the londe of Tamelide; so that the saisnes loste more and the barouns, that were his enmyes, than dide Arthur. And now returneth the tale a-gein to Galashyn, the sone of kynge Ventres.