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

CHAPTER XXI.
ADVENTURES OF BAN AND GUYNEBANS; BOHORS' FIGHT WITH AMAUNT; MEETING OF THE CHILDREN WITH KING ARTHUR.

Whan the kynge Ban and Guynebans his brother were entred in to the foreste, thei ne were but lx in her companye, and fill that thei entred in to a grete high wey, and rode till thei com depe in to the foreste, and than thei fonde a-uenture full merveillouse, ffor thei fonde a medowe that was closed a-boute with wode, and fonde with-ynne the feirest daunses of the worlde of ladies, and of maydenes, and knyghtes, the feireste that euer hadde thei seyn in her lyve; and on the tother side thei sigh a scaffolde, and in that scaffolde sette a knyght that was of a l wynter age, and ther satte also the feirest lady of the worlde. And whan the kynge saugh the lady of so grete bewte, he light on foote, and Guynebans his brother, and alle the other wente fort to se it; and whan she saugh hem com, she roos a-geins hem as she that was curteys and well lerned, and voyded hir wymple, ffor well she wiste thei come for to see; and hir salude the kynge that spake firste, and she salued hym a-gein full debonerly, and than thei satte alle vpon the fresshe herbes and grene, and behelden the feeste and the ioye and the carols that [folio 128a] thei saugh before hem. And Guynebans be-helde the lady with goode chere, and so moche he his herte and his entente, that she satte so nygh his herte that he thought on no-thinge but vpon hir. And than seide the maiden, that goode fortune hadde that lady that soche ioye myght haue euer hir lif with-oute faillinge.

Whan Guynebans vndirstode that how the lady seide, he seide that she sholde it haue, yef the lettynge were not in hire; and she seide that in hire sholde it neuer be letted. "Now I praye yow," quod she, "telle me how." "Certes," quod Guynebans, "yef ye will yeve me youre love, for alle dayes of youre lif, I shall make the carole endure in this manere, that alle men and wymen, that come this wey and se the carole thei shull a-bide

and make ioye, till that a knyght come that neuer in his lyf falsed his love, and with that also he moste be the beste knyght that shall be in his tyme." And she seide that sholde she neuer see, but praide hym to holde that he hadde hight. "Now telle me," quod Guynebans, "hadde ye euer eny lorde?" And she seide, "Nay;" but that she was as clene mayden as whan she com oute of her moder wombe; "and also," quod she, "I am lady of the reame cleped the londe susteyne." Than seide Guynebans that he was redy to parforme the couenauntes; and she graunted as for hir parte as she that was of grete bewte. And the olde knyght seide that he sholde do sette ther a cheyer, that euer more sholde be redy for the knyght in to sitte, that sholde be so trewe in lovynge whan he were come. And the kynge Ban seide, sith it is come here-to that he sholde haue a riche crowne of his, with the whiche the knyght sholde be crowned, for well he hadde it deserued. Than assured to-geder Guynebans and the mayden for to holde couenauntes with goode herte and trewly while hir lif dured. In soche manere, seide she, that yef Guynebans deyed firste be-fore hir, that the carole sholde not lette till that he com, that neuer hadde be false in his lovynge. Than caste Guynebans his enchauntements, and stablisshed the caroles like as ye haue herde, that neuer sholde cesse no tyme, till that he com, saf the right hour of dyner and of soper, and the resonable houres to slepe and reste. And whan the carole was sette and stablisshed, than seide the mayden, that he sholde make yet a-nother pley that neuer myght faile, and that all the worlde ther-of myght speke after his deth. Than Guynebans hym-self made with his owne handes a Chekier of golde and Ivory half parted, ffor he was right sotill of soche crafte, as he wolde hym entirmete, and the pownes, and all the other meyne were golde and yvory fresshly entailled.

Whan Guynebans hadde made redy the Cheker and the chesse, that oon myght well ther-with pleyen alle that wolden, he made soche a coniurison by his art, [folio 128b] that alle tho that

were sette for to pleyen, ther ne sholde be noon, but that the chesse sholde hym maten, wheder he wolde or noon, in that oon of the corners of the cheker; ne neuer sholde the same cheker be mated, till the beste knyght of the worlde dide it mate, and also he moste be of soche grace, that neuer he falsed his love, and ther-to hym be-hoveth to be kynges sones and quenes. Thus as ye haue herde hath Guynebans stablisshed the carole and the Chekere, and after made he many a feire pley, and taught the mayden, wher-with she wrought many tymes, after that he was deed; and after made he the castell Tornoyier, and the karoles that Meranges fonde after at the Citee of Nameles, where as noon arraunt knyght sholde not cesse to karole, till that a certein knyght com thider. In soche manere were bothe karoles wrought, and whan Guynebans hadde made this thinges, departed the kynge Ban with all his companye, and than Guynebans hym conveyed on his wey, and soone after departed, and comaunded the kynge to god, and returned a-gein to his lady, and ther was after all his lif. And the kynge rode till he com to Bredigan, where the kynge Arthur was, and a-noon as Merlin saugh hym come. he lough right lowde, and the kynge Arthur asked whi he dide so laugh. And than he toke the kynge Arthur, and the kynge Ban by the handes, and drough hem a-part, and Merlin asked of the kynge Ban, and coniured hym by the feith that he ought vn-to hym, whi it was that he lough. And Merlin seide it was for Guynebans. And than he tolde to Arthur of alle the pleyes and caroles that Gynebans hadde made for his love, and than lough Arthur, and seide to the kynge Ban that this mariage wolde he haue stole hadde no Merlin I-be. And thus thei laughed and iaped, and the kynge Ban asked of Merlin, yef he knewe what the knyght was, that sholde make the Carole to cesse, and Merlin seide that he was not yet nother gete ne born, and ther-fore ne enquereth no more ther-after, for ye shull wite more at leiser. Thus thei soiourned at Bredigan at ese and ioye, and a-boode for the kynge Bohors.

Whan the kynge Bohors hadde soiourned at the castell of Charroye viij days, the barouns of the contrey made

him grete ioye, and on the ix^th day brought hym on his weye ffragein the Castelein more than half a myle, and than departed that oon from the tother; and as soone as the kynge Bohors was departed fro the Castell, the kynge amaunt hadde witinge by asspie, that tolde hym how he yede to Bredigan, where the kynge his brother and the kynge Arthur dide hym a-bide. Than the kynge Amaunt made his peple lepe to horse, and were of hem vij^C that were lefte of the bateile, and rode forth till thei come to the foreste perilouse at the entre towarde the Castell of Charroye, ther as the kynge Bohors sholde come; and on that other side logged hym in tentes and pavilouns with-ynne the foreste, that he were not parceyved till thei saugh the kynge Bohors come; and on that other side the kynge Bohors com ridynge till he com ther as the kynge Amaunt was a-bidinge, that made his peple hem to arme. [folio 129a] Whan the kynge Bohors saugh the pavilouns, he asked what peple thei were; and oon seide that it was kynge Amaunt, that was com thider hym for the espie; and whan he vndirstode that, than he drough hym a litill a-side by a river and comaunded hys men hem to arme hastely. Thus were bothe partes armed all nyght, and on the morowe as soone as thei saugh the day appere, bothe parties lepte to horse and rode eche a-gein other, and whan thei saugh that thei sholde mete, the kynge Bohors sente to the kynge Amaunt for to come speke with hym sool by hym-self, and he com with goode will, ffor he was a goode knyght and a trewe; and as soone as thei were mette, than seide the kynge Amaunt, "Sir, this is soth that ye haue sente for me to speke with yow, and I am comen for to shewe how ye do me grete wronge of a castell of myn that ye haue me be-rafte, and ther-fore I pray yow that my castell be to me a-gein delyuered, be couenaunt that I shall be youre frende for euer more er eny more debate ther-fore be made." "Sir," quod the kynge Bohors, "as touchinge the Castell, I toke noon from yow, but he toke it to whom the fee be-longed, and that was Vterpendragon, of whos soule god haue pite, whos man ye owe for to be and yelde hym servise. But ye were so full of pride that ye deygned not to do hym seruise ne homage, and ther-fore he toke it fro yow, for ye

wolde not be his man, and yaf it to me for to kepe, for many day I haue hym serued. And yet shall I make to yow a feire plee: com with me to Bredigan where the kynge Arthur me abideth, and do hym homage, as the barouns seyen that ye owe for to do, and I shall yelde yow the castell all quyte." "Will ye noon othirwise do?" quod the kynge Amaunt. "Sir," seide the kynge Bohors, "no; for of yow I holde right nought, but be-come trewe liege man to the kynge Arthur, and I shall yelde yow the castell that I haue in my baillye." "That will I not do," quod the kynge Amaunt, "ffor neuer will I ben his man." "And seth ye will not leve my counseile, that I can no more sey." Than seide Amaunt, "Ye haue brought hider with yow a fewe peple, and also I haue here a fewe of myne, and yef we fight to-geder it may not be with-oute grete harme on bothe sides, but ther-fore lete vs do in other manere. Ye be here for the right of kynge Arthur that ye holde for lorde; now lete vs than fight to-geder body for body, by this couenaunt: that yef ye me conquere the Castell to be youre quyte, and I to go with yow to Bredigan and do homage to the kynge Arthur for all my londe, I and alle my barouns; and yef it be so that I yow conquere, yelde me the Castell and go yowre-self quyte, for other thinge of yow will I not aske, and thus may ye eschewe alle periles and stintyn alle strives." "And yef oon of vs dye," quod the kynge Bohors, "what shall come ther-of thanne?" Quod Amaunt, "Yef ye me sle, my men shull go with yow, and do homage to the kynge Arthur; and yef so be that ye be slain, the Castell to be myn, and alle youre men to be quyte, and go what wey thei will, and yef thei will be-come my men, I [folio 129b] will right gladly hem receyve."

Than thei assured to holde these covenauntes, and made alle hir men to be sworn to holde the same with-oute faile. Than wente the two lordes in to a faire launde, and thei were well armed at alle poyntes, and eche of hem helde a grete spere with hedes of sharpe grounde stiell, and bothe were thei moche knyghtes and stronge and of high prowesse, but the kynge Bohors was somwhat the larger man of bones. And as soone as

thei com in to the launde, Vlfin com to hym, a Bretell, and Kay, and Gefflet, and Antor, and alle xl knyghtes of her companye, and seide, "Sir, what purpose ye to do? will ye fight with this kynge body for body? Doth not so, but go we on hem alle to-geder, for thei shull not a-gein vs endure, for haue ye no doute, though thei be moo than we, thei shull be disconfited. Neuer mote the kynge Arthur vs holde but we hem conquere, and make hem alle come to youre mercy or thei shull alle be deed; and on the tother side, yef we suffre yow to fight in this manere, we shull be blamed of youre brother, and of the kynge Arthur." "Holde youre pees," quod the kynge Bohors, "for sithe he hath me atised to bataile I will it neuer leve, for than sholde I neuer haue honoure, and therfore speke no more ther-of, I praye yow, for my love." And whan thei saugh it wolde noon othirwise be thei it suffred.

On the tother side bith come to kynge Amaunt, Gingabresell and his lorde Brandelis, and seiden, "Sir, what is this that ye will do? so wise a man as ye be, ought not soche thinge to vndir-take to put hym-self in a-uenture of deth for covetise of londe, ne other auoir." Quod Amaunt, "God helpe me neuer yef I do euer other-wise, for owther I will all gete or all lese." "Now I shall telle yow, than," quod Geromelans, "what ye shull do: take the bateile a-gein the beste knyghtes of theym yonder, and we shull fight with hem, and so may we be of yow more sure." "Neuer noon other," quod the kynge Amaunt, "shull fight saf he and I, for so haue I hym ensured and he me." "Now wite ye well, than," quod Geromelans, "yef yow mys-happe, as god diffende, we will make hym noon homage, ne the kynge Arthur, ne no man that of yow eny londe doth holde." Whan the kynge Bohors vndirstode the contencion of the kynge and his nevewes, he cleped Vlfin and Geret de lamball, and seide, "Go to the kynge Amaunte, and sey I sente hym to wite that I wolde he make no pleet, ne noyse to no man of his companye, of that he hath me graunted, ffor yef it falle that I haue of hym the better, I will that alle his men go quyte where so thei will." And thei wente and tolde to Amaunt as the kynge Bohors hadde

hem comaunded; and whan Amaunt herde this he comended hym moche. Than he com in to the myddill of the launde, where the kynge Bohors a-bode redy, and a-noon as the kynge Amaunt was comen, thei with-drough a-side of bothe parties, and thei moved [folio 130a] a-noon as thei that thought longe it taried er the bataile were be-gonne. Thei leide theire speres be-fore theire brestes, and smote theire horse with the spores, and mette vpon the sheldes and with helmes, and hurteled so to-geder, that eche of hem was so a-stoned, that hem semed that the fire fill oute of her iyen. And it fill that the kynge Amaunt fell of his horse to grounde so astonyed, that he wiste not whether it was nyght or day; and so he lay longe while at the erthe. And the kynge Bohors was also so sore astonyed of that harde encountre, that he lay longe while vpon the arson of his sadill; but well he kepte hym from fallinge, for he was of grette prowesse, and a-roos lightly and drough oute his swerde, that was of grete bounte, where-with his sone Lyonell afterwarde yaf many a grete stroke, as ye shull heren her-after rehersed whan tyme cometh.

As soone as the kynge Bohors hadde oute his swerde he smote faste a-boute hym, and wende to fynde the kynge Amaunt. Than he be-helde and saugh he lay at the erthe vp-right, and he helde the swerde in his honde all naked, and griped his shelde, and come to hym that yet lay on the grene, and putte the poynte of his swerde on his shelde and be-gan to pouke hym, and cleped, "Rise vp, kynge Amaunt, for to longe haste thow slepte and the day passeth, and I haue moche for to ride, and ther-fore thow doste no curteysie to tary me so longe." After a longe while the kynge Amaunt com oute of swowne, and hadde herde the kynge Bohors clepe, and vndirstode what he seide, and preised hym moche in his herte for that he hadde so longe a-biden hym with-oute smytinge, and that he was more curteyse and deboner than he wolde haue ben to hym yef he hadde ben in his power. Than he lepte vpon his feet lyghtly and drough oute his suerde oute of scauberke that was full fyn, and was a-shamed for that he hadde founde hym at erthe ligginge; he couered hym with his shelde, and com to the kynge Bohors and caste at hym a stroke, and he

caste his shelde ther a-gein, and he smote so harde that he slitte it to the bokell; and the kynge Bohors yaf hym a-gein soche a stroke thourgh the helme that he slytte it in two partyes, that it fill down a-boute his sholderes that it toke a-wey his sight from his hede. Whan he felte hym-self so blynded he lepte bakke and cutte a-sonder the laces of his helme and caste it a-wey, and than couered hym with his shelde, for sore he douted his heede, whereon was no more but the coyfe of mayle. Whan the kynge Bohors saugh the kynge Amaunt that so hadde loste his helme, he cleped to hym and seide, "Kynge Amaunt, come make pees with the kynge Arthur, and do hym his homage, for grete damage it were yef thow sholdest here thus dye, ffor thow seiste how it is the be-fallen, and yet thou art of feire age, and me hevyeth sore the to sle." "But thow," quod the kynge Amaunt, "yelde the and putte the in my mercy. Trowest thou me so soone to haue conquered, for myn helme that I have caste of, [folio 130b] that dide me but noye. Now deffende the, for I the diffye," and with that the kynge Amaunt ran on hym right wroth, and wende to smyte hym on the heede, but the kynge Bohors, that moche cowde of skirmerie, resceyved the stroke on his shelde, and he smote so harde that a gret quarter fill on the launde. Than launched oute the kynge Bohors a grete stroke, and made semblaunt to smyte ther as he wolde not, and Amaunt caste ther agein his shelde, and the kynge Bohors with-drough his stroke a-nother wey, and smote the kynge Amaunt on the heede, that he cleft hym down to the sholderes, and he fill deed to the erthe vp-right. Whan the kynge Bohors saugh the kynge Amaunt dye, he was right sory, and seide he hadde leuer haue take hym, quyk, and that he sholde haue made his pees with the kynge Arthur. And whan Guygebresill, and Brandelis, and Guyromelans saugh the kynge Amaunt was deed, thei turned with CC knyghtes, and seide that neuer sholde thei love the kynge Arthur, ne no man that to hym belonged; and CCC be lefte, and seide thei wolde go with the kynge Bohors to the kynge Arthur and do theire homage, ffor a better lorde than he myght thei noon haue.

Whan the kynge Amaunt was deed the kynge Bohors cleped hys companye, and seide that gladly wolde he ther make an hospital where-ynne a man myght euer after serue oure lorde god for the soule of hym as longe as the wolde dured, and that oure lordes body myght be sacred ther-ynne, and his seruyse seide and don, for the victorye that god hadde hym yoven. Ther was a clerke that many a day hadde hym serued, and he com be-fore the kynge and asked of hym this yefte, and seyde he wolde gladly a-bide there yef hym liked; and the kynge hym graunted, and yaf hym rentes, and lefte with hym of his auoir grete plente for to make the hospitall, and ther lefte the clerke in this manere, that was after a goode man and a holy of lif. And whan the kynge Bohors hadde made entiere the kynge Amaunt, and by-sette the rentes to the clerke, he rode forth till that thei com to Bredigan, where that he fonde the kynge Arthur, and the kynge Ban, his brother, and Merlin, that to hym made right grete ioye. As soone as the kynge Bohors was a-light, he seide to the kynge Arthur, "Sir," quod he, "here be a party of the knyghtes of the kynge Amaunt, that beth come to yow in my condite, and sey that thei will do homage and holde theire londes of yow, and thei be worthi men and riche and high Barouns, as I am do to vndirstonde, of the beste of that londe. Now, take theire homages, and hem resceyveth as ye owe to do." And the kynge Arthur seide "thei be welcome, and wite thei right well, that neuer will I do to hem but well while that thei will me love, ffor thei love me and I will love hem, and yef thei me hate I shall hem haten." And these com forth and dide hym homage a-bouten CCC; and whan thei hadde don theire homage the kynge Arthur asked hem tidinges of the kynge Amaunt, and what man he was in his contrey; and thei gonne to wepe sore, and seiden how he was deed.

[folio 131a] "How," qoud Arthur, "sey ye trouthe that he is deed?" and thei seide, "Ye, with-oute faile;" and than thei tolde all the trouthe how the kynge Amaunt departed oute of his londe for to go to the Castell of Charroye, and how thei wente be-fore in to the wey, ther the kynge Bohors sholde come for to fight with hym, and how thei foughten body for body, and how

the kynge Amaunt was deed, and tolde hym all theire traueyle, that nothinge lefte thei vn-tolde that thei cowde on thenke. Whan the kynge Arthur and the kynge Ban herden of the prowesse that the kynge Bohors hadde don thei were gladde, and preised hym moche and comenden; and alle men seiden a-noon as thei it wisten, that neuer hadde thei herde of two so noble men as were the two bretheren, and seide well that yef thei two ne hadde not ben, the kynge Arthur hadde all loste. Thus thei soiourned at Bredigan thre dayes full, and than sente the kynge to enquere for workemen and labourers with mattokkes and shoveles till he hadde well v^C. Than thei wente to the tresour, as Merlin hem taught, in the foreste, and lete digge in the erthe and fonde the tresour that neuer er was seyn, and toke it oute of the erthe, and charged Cartes and Chariettes in tonnes, that thei hadde brought thider grete plente; and whan thei hadde all the tresour charged, thei made it to be condited to logres, where as Arthurs nevewes dide a-bide. And Merlin made hem digge depe vndir an Oke till thei fonde a vessell of lether, and ther-in xij the beste swerdes and the feirest that eny man nede to seche. These ledde the kynge Arthur to logres with his tresour, till that thei were come to Court, that thei sholde on be emploide. And as soone as the children herde speke that the kynge Arthur hir oncle was comynge, thei lepte on theire horse and rode agein hym alle to-geder, that noon ne lefte but wente alle gladde and myrie that neuer peple myght make more ioye. And whan thei com nygh, Merlin toke the kynge Arthur a-part and the two kynges, and made hem a-light vnder a feire tre, for to a-bide the children that com, and comaunded her hoste to ride all wey forth till that thei come to logres, and take theire logginges, and ese hem all by leiser. And whan thei herde the comaundement of the kynge thei passed forth with-oute more a-bidinge, and mette with the cheldren, that com with grete Chyuachie. And whan thei mette the routes, thei asked where was the kynge Arthur; and thei hem shewde the tre ther he was a-light; and the childeren hem dressed that wey that moche hem dide haste. And Gawein wente be-fore, that thei helde for maister and lorde, and

thei hadde right, for he was the beste taught and the moste curteise that euer was, and in whom was lefte vilonye, and the wisiste that myght be whan he com to Chiualrie.

Whan thei com to the tree ther the kynge was a-light, and these other two kynges with hym, and the knyghtes of the rounde table; and as soone as the children hem saugh thei a-light a-foote from theire horse and wente a-foote ther as these knyghtes were [folio 131b] sette vpon the fresshe herbes in the shadowe of the foreste; and hem a-venteed and keeled, for it hadde be hoote all the day, and the hadde riden all the day armed, for doute of the saisnes that were in the londe, and it was a-boute the ende of maye. Whan the knyghtes of the rounde table saugh the children approche nygh, that eche hadde take other hande in hande godely, and alle were thei well clothed, and richely a-raied and full of grete bewte, and semed well that thei were alle come of gode issue, and it be-com hem well, that thei com so entreprised, and thei helde it a grete debonerte that thei helde to-geder so feire. And whan the knyghtes hem saugh come, thei roos a-geins hem; and whan thei com nygh Gawein hem salued, that was of the chief and the eldeste, and than he seide, "Feire lordinges, we seche the kynge Arthur, wherefore we praye yow that ye will vs shewen where he is, that we may hym knowen." At this worde ansuerde Nascien, and salued hym a-gein debonerly, and seide, "My feire sones, lo, hym yonde, ther tho noble men ben sette, and he is also the yongeste of alle," and shewde hym with his fynger. And whan Gawein hym saugh he paste forth, and seide, "Sir, gramercy," and com that wey ther the kynge was and his felowes; and thei stode vpon foote, as soone as thei saugh the children come.

Whan Gawein saugh his oncle and his felowes, he and alle the children kneled down and salued the kynge and his companye, for hym and his felowes that were with hym I-comen. "Sir," quod Gawein, "I am come to yow, I and my brethern and my cosins, as to my liege lorde, and these other be come also for the goode that thei here speken of yow, and for to seche oure armes of yow, and that it plese yow for to make vs knyghtes,

and shull gladly yow serue, as we owe to do, yef oure seruise may yow plese, and I sey not but that thei haue yow serued, ffor somme ther ben here that, while ye haue ben oute of contrey, haue deffended youre londe as wele as it hadde ben their owne a-gein alle youre enmyes, and have be in helpinge to alle hem that ye lefte it to kepe, and seth thei come, haue thei suffred many a grete trauaile, and I will well that ye it wite, for to a goode man ther sholde be reported honour and bounte whan he hath don, and of a shrewe oweth oon consele, for he hath no herte it to guerdone, ner the iyen power a gode man to be-holde, ne to knowe the haluendell of the bounte that in hym is." Whan the kynge vndirstode the childe that so wisely spake, he toke hym by the hand, and a-noon comaunded hem alle to a-rise; and thei did his comaundement. And than the kynge a-resond hem, and asked of Gawein what thei were. "Sir," seide Gawein, "er ye knowe more by vs wolde we wite youre volunte, and after that demaunde vs that yow plesith, and we shull telle yow gladly that we knowen." Whan the two kynges herde the wordes of the childe, thei helde hym right wise, and seide to the kynge Arthur that he seide [folio 132a] right. And than spake the kynge Arthur, and seide, "Ffeire frendes, I will with-holde yow with right gladde chere, and will make yow knyghtes, bothe yow and youre companye of myn owne, and ye be right welcome, and I will that fro hens-forth that ye be my frendes and my felowes and of my prive counseile and lordes of my court." And whan the childeren herde how the kynge spake, thei kneled and hym thonked; and the kynge toke hem by the hondes, and seide to Gawein, "Ffeire frende, now telle me what ye be, and of youre felowes telle me the verite, ffor longe me thinketh it to wite."

"Sir," quod the childe, "men clepe me by my right name, Gawein, the sone of kynge loot, of leoneys and of Orcanye, and these thre that I holde by the hondes beth my brethern, and the name of that oon is Agrauayn, and the tother is Gaheret, and the thridde Gaheryes; and oure moder hath do vs to vndirstonde that she is youre suster on hir moder side; and thise gentilmen ben oure cosins germain, as oure auntes sones,

and the name of the lesse, that is shorte and fatte, is Galashin, and is sone to kynge Ventre, and this other, that is longe and yonge, is sone to kynge Vrien, and his name is Ewein, and this Gentilman is his brother on his fader side, and is cleped also Ewein, and these tweyne other, that ye se holde to-geder, thei be gentilmen of high lynage, ffor this feire broun is sone to the kynge Belinans, of South walis, and is nygh cosin to Galashin; and these other tweyne be nevewes to the kynge of Strangore and ben nygh sibbe to Galashin; and these other tweyne ben nevewes also to the kynge of Strangore, and the name of that oon is Kay destranx, and the tother Kehedin; and these other tweyne, that ther stonde to-geder, aperteyne to the kynge loot, my fader, and be Erles sones, and oon is cleped Ewein white hande, and the tother Ewein esclins, and the tother Ewein Cyuell, and the tother Ewein de lyonell; and this other gentilman, that is of so grete bewte, that is so moche and semly and well shapen of body and of alle membres, is nevew to the Emperour of Costantynnoble, and his name is Seigramor, and is come with vs be his debonerte and his fraunchise to take armes, and that ye hym make knyght, and he will yow gladly serue with gode will, and will that he and I be felowes in armes while hym liketh to a-bide in this contrey; and these other gentilmen that ye seen aboute vs where-of be so grete plente ben alle frendes and kynnesmen, and haue lefte her londes and hir honours for to come serue yow for the grete love that the haue to yow."

Whan the kynge Arthur hadde herde Gawein thus speke, he leide his arme a-boute his nekke, and seide, "He is right well-come," and hym kiste [These three words are obliterated in the MS.] and made of hem grete ioye, and than his brethern and his cosins, and to segramore he made merveilouse ioye; and whan he hadde welcomed hem alle, than he seide to Gawein, "Gawein, feire nevewe, com hider, and that I yow enffeffe ye will take the Constabilrie of myn housolde and of all [folio 132b] the lordship of my londe after me, and fro hens-forth to be lorde and comaunder of alle hem that ben in my londe, for I will it so

be." And Gawein kneled, and seide, "Sir, gramercy;" and the kynge hym feffed with his right glove, and than he reised hym vpon his feet, and than lept to theire horse, and rode forth to logres. And whan the kynge entred in to the Citee his suster com a-gein hym, the wif of kynge loot of Orcanye, and with hir com Morgne le fee, hir suster, that was so grete a clergesse. And whan the kynge hem knewe he made of hem grete ioye, for longe tyme hadde he not hem sein; and thei kissed as brother and suster. And thus thei come to the maister paleys, that was hanged with clothes of silke, and strowed with fressh herbes softe and swote smellinge, and maden grete ioye thourgh the town all day on ende and all nyght, so that no man may reherse the ioye, and the gladnesse of all the peple. The same nyght the kynge comaunded the children to go wake in the cheiff mynster till on the morrowe be-fore messe, that no lenger he wolde a-bide. And the storie seith this was the quynsyme after Pentecoste; and ther was the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and lxj knyghtes of the rounde table with these children all day, that hem in no wise wolde leven.

Whan it com be-fore the tyme of high messe, Arthur toke Calibourne, his gode swerde, that he drough oute of the ston, and by the counseile of Merlin ther-with he girde Gawein, his nevewe, and than he sette on the spore on the right hele, and the kynge Ban vpon the lifte hele, and after that the kynge Arthur yaf hym the acolee, and bad god make hym a gode knyght, and after he a-dubbed his thre brethern also, and yaf eche of hem a suerde of tho that were founde in the tresour that Merlin taught; and than the tweye sones of kynge Vrien, and than Galashin, and Dodinell, and Kay, and Kehedin, and to eueriche of these he yaf a swerde of the tresour; and than the kynge a-dubbe Seigramor, with soche garmentes as he hadde brought from Costantynnoble, for he was come well a-raide of alle thinges that be-hoveth to a newe knyght; and the kynge girde hym with a gode swerde, that he hadde brought out of Constantynnoble, that his graunsire the kynge Adrian hadde hym yoven; and than he sette on his right spore, and the kynge

Bohors his lifte spore, and than the kynge Arthur yaf hym the acolee; and than he dubbed the iiij cosins, Ewein White honde, and Ewein Esclyn, and Ewein Cyuell, and Ewein de lyonell, and Alain and Acon, and to ech of these v he yaf a swerde of tho that were of the tresour; but the storie seith that Dodynell hadde noon, but he hadde the swerde that was the kynges Amaunt, and the kynge Bohors hym it yaf, for that he was somdell of hys kyn.

Whan these children were thus a-dubbed, than eche of hem a-dubbed soche companye as thei wolde lede of soche as thei hadde brought with hem; and whan thei were alle redy thei wente to high messe, that the archebisshop sange, and whan masse was don thei com [folio 133a] a-gein to the paleise to mete, and ther helde Arthur grete court and grete feste, and it nedith not to speke of the meesse ne the seruise that thei hadde that day, for it were but losse of tyme; and after mete wolde these yonge bachelers haue reised a quyntayn in the medowes, but the kynge hem diffended by the counseile of Merlin, for that the contrey was so trouble and full of werre, and the cristin sore turmented with saisnes that were entred in the londe. Thus lefte the enuysenx of these yonge bachillers and newe knyghtes at this tyme, and soiourned in the town iij dayes. And the kynge departed grete richesse to yonge bachelers that he with-heilde, that of alle parties were come grete plentee, ffor ther com so many of oon and other that thei were lx^Ml what on horsebak and on foote, with-oute hem that he hadde brought out of the reame of Tamelide. And in the mene-while that thei soiourned in the town, Morgne le fee a-queynted hir with Merlin, and was with hym so prive, and so moche she was with hym that she knewe what he was, and many merveilles he hir taught of astronomye and of egramauncye, and she helde it right wele. And on the thridde day spake Merlin to the kynge, and badde hym appareile for to move, ffor Pounces and Antony and ffrolle ben entred now in to the reame of Benoyk, and also the peple of the kynge of Gaule, and also Claudas the kynge de la desert. And Arthur seide he was redy to go whan hym lyked, for he a-bode but his comaundement.

Than seide Merlin, "Comaunde alle youre hoste to be redy armed for to move at mydnyght, and take with yow of this londe xx^Ml, and xx^Ml of the reame of Tamelide, and xx^Ml ye shull leve in this town, ffor this reame may not be lefte with-oute peple, and lete Doo of Cardoell of hem haue the gouernaunce;" and thus ended her counseile. And than the kynge comaunded Gawein as Merlin hadde seide, and a-noon Gawein dide his comaundement, and made hem redy appareilled; and hem departed and disseuered a-sonder, and hem he logged in the medowes of logres alle that sholde with hem go. And whan he hadde do thus he com to the kynge and to Merlin, that he saugh in counseile to-geder, and seide how all was redy. And whan Merlin hym saugh, he bad the kynge aske hym what was the knyght that ledde hym to socour his moder in the medow of glocedon. And he hym turned and seide, "Sir, how knowe ye this, and who hath this to yow I-tolde." "Certes," quod the kynge, "he that tolde me knoweth alle these thinges well I-nough." "So helpe me god, sir," seide Gawein, "I knowe not what he was, for I saugh hym neuer be-fore ne after." "Now," quod Merlin, aske hym yef he knewe hym that brought hym the letter from his cosin Ewein, the sone of kynge Vrien." And whan Gawein saugh and be-helde hym that satte by the kynge, he asked whi he made the kynge hym so demaunde; and than he be-thought hym a-gein wisely, and remembred the wordes that Doo of Cardoell hadde to hym seide. And the kynge asked yef he hym kenned. And he seide, "Nay; but oon dide me for to vndirstonde that it was Merlin, but trewly I knowe hym not; and many other bountees [folio 133b] and seruyses hath he me don, ffor Seigramor, the emperoures nevew, he made me delyuer from pereile of deth, and my moder, and my cosin Ewein, and also oure-self at the castell of Arondell, and he is the man of the worlde that I wolde faynest knowe this day." "Ye shull knowe hym I-nough," quod Merlin, "whan hym liketh." Than be-gan the kynge to laugh right lowde, and seide, "Gawein, feire nevew, sitte down here by me, and I shall telle yow that I knowe." And he sette hym down be the kynge, and ther were no mo but thei thre.

Than seide the kynge to Gawein, "Feire nevew, lo, here the gode man by whom ye wente to the Castell of Arondell, where that ye fought with the saisnes that day that Dodynell the sauage and Kay destranx and his neveu com oute of her contrey; and ther-fore now thonke hym of the servises that he hath yow don, and well ye owe so to do, and to love hym for his gode herte that he hath to yow."

"Sir," seide Gawein, "I can not I-nowgh hym quyte as he is of worthynesse, but thus moche I sey, that I am all his and at his comaundement, and he is so wise that knowe I well that he knoweth all my corage that I haue to hym." And he seide, "Ye," that he knewe well his herte, and that he wolde with hym ben a-queynted and be oon of his privees; but he bad hym that he sholde not telle no creature of nothinge that he seide to hym were he neuer so pryve ne frendly; "and ye shull se me," quod he, "in so many gises that I will not be knowe of no man, ffor moche is the enuye for covetyse in this worlde." And Gawein seide that neuer wolde he speke ther-of to no creature of the erthe." Thus was Merlin aud sir Gawein a-queynted be-fore his Oncle; and whan thei hadde longe spoke to-geder, than seide Merlin, "Feire frende, go take youre leve of youre moder, and than goith to the hoste, and make youre peple go to horse-bak a-noon after mydnyght, and than goith forth youre wey towarde Dover to the portes, and do appareille vesselles and assemble shippes at the ryvage, so that youre vncle, whan he cometh and the two kynges in his companye, that beth worthy men, may entere with-oute lenger lettinge; and, for godes sake, loke ye do hem worship and honour, ffor though thei be the kynge Arthurs men, yet ben thei comen of higher lynage than is he; and loke ye lete no man knowe what wey that ye shull go." And Gawein seide it sholde be don as he hadde devised. Than departed Gawein, and toke leve of his moder, that was right wise and moche hym loved, and comaunded hym to god to diffende hym from euyll. And he departed and com to the hoste, he and his brethern, and sir Ewein, his cosin, that moche hym loved, and Galashin, and Dodinell, and Seigramor, and Ewein a-voutres, and the foure

cosins that alle were cleped Ewein, and Kay destranx, and Kehedin, his nevew, these ne departed gladly a-sonder; these hadde the hoste in gouernaunce, as sir Gawein hem assigned, so that alle were at the comaundement of my lorde sir Gawein. And a-noon after mydnyght Gawein made trusse sommers and other cariage, and made goode wacche a-boute the hoste, [folio 134a] that ther ne ascaped noon aspie; and thei hit kepten that the booke hath rehersed, and than thei rode forth a softe paas till thei come to the port of Dover. And the kynge Arthur a-bode at logres, and Merlin, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and the xlj knyghtes that thei ledde in to Tamelide, and the knyghtes of the rounde table. And sir Gawein made serche all the ryvages, and take shippes and assembled a grete navie. And whan Merlin knewe that all was redy, he sente to the kynge, and made hym move be nyght, and seide er thei moved, that thei sholde a-ryve at the Rochell, and badde hem do make her men rowe hem vp thider, "and whan ye beth a-rived, loke that ye move not till that ye se me a-gein." Quod the kinge, "Shull ye not than come with vs?" "No," quod Merlin, "but ye shull ly ther but oon nyght, whan ye shull se me with yow." With that departed that oon from that other, and Merlin wente in to Northumbirlonde to Blase, his maister, that of hym was right gladde, for hertely he hym loved, and asked hym how he hadde don seth he departed; and he hym tolde alle the thinges as thei were be-fallen, and Blase hem wrote in his booke; and whan Merlin com to that he be-hoved to telle of the damesell that he loved paramours; and Blase was ther-of right hevy, for he douted she wolde hym disseyve and that she sholde lese his grete witte, and he gan hym to chastise; and he hym tolde soche prophesies as were for to come, and of other that sholde falle in other londes, as ye shull here here-after, and alle blase wrote in his boke; but now returne we to speke of the kynge Arthur.