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

CHAPTER XXIV.
BATTLE BETWEEN THE TWELVE KINGS AND THE SAISNES BEFORE THE CITY OF CLARENCE.

Here seith the book that as soone as Merlin was departed from Julius sezar, the Emperour of Rome, to whom he hadde tolde his a-vision, he toke his wey in to the grete Breteyne, and com in to Northumbirlande to Blaase his maister, that gladde was whan that he hym saugh, but he was but litill while in comynge, ffor he com theder in half a day and oon nyght ffor he was full of grete art, and than he tolde hym all these thinges that were be-falle in Rome, and after he tolde hym how xij kynges and a Duke were assembled with xl^Ml men for to go fight with the saisnes be-fore the Citee of Clarence, and tolde hym of the grete bateile that hadde be vnder the Castell of Trebes in the reame of Benoyk of the kynge Arthur a-gein the Almaynes, and a-gein the Romayns, and a-gein the frenshe men of Gaule and of la desert, and how alle were discounfited, and how the kynge Ban hadde geten his wif with childe, soche oon that shall surmounte alle the knyghtes that shull be in his tyme; and whan he hadde all tolde, and Blaase hadde all writen in his book, where thourgh we haue yet the knowynge ther-of. But now we moste reste of Merlin and of Blaase till a-nother tyme, and speke of the xij princes that were assembled as ye haue herde be-fore for to fight with the saisnes.

Whan these xij kynges and this Duke weren assembled with as moche peple as thei myght haue, thei toke counseile, and ordeyned her wardes, and than rode forth by nyght that thei were not seyn of no peple. The firste warde ledde Aguysans, the kynge de Cent chiualiers, that was a full noble knyght, vaillaunt and hardy, and right stronge as of his yowthe, and hadde in his companye vij^Ml men of armes. The seconde warde ledde the kynge Tradiliuauns of North-Wales that was a full goode man and a trewe, and with hym vij^Ml men

of armes. The thridde warde ledde the kynge Belynans of South wales, his brother, that was also a noble knyght with vij^Ml men of armes. The fourthe warde ledde the kynge Carados brenbas with v^Ml men. The fithe warde ledde the kynge [folio 155b] Brangore with vij^Ml men, and the vj^e ledde the Duke Escam of Cambenyk with vij^Ml men. The seuenthe warde ledde the kynge Clarion, of Northumbirlonde, with vij^Ml men. The viij warde ledde the kynge ydiers of Cornewaile, that was a feire knyght and an amerouse, and welbeloued a-monge ladyes with vij^Ml men, and the ix^e ledde the kynge Vrien that was a noble knyght, and a sure of his body; but sory he was and wroth for his sones that he hadde loste, and full sore was he greved in the werre so that he hadde not but iij^Ml men of armes that he brought in his companye, but thei were bolde and hardy. The tenthe warde ledde the kynge Aguysans of Scotlonde, that was wonte to be so riche a londe, and so plentevouse of goode men, but he hath loste many in the werre that he hadde but thre^Ml men of armes. The xj^e warde ledde the kynge Loot of Orkanye, and hadde all loste bothe wif, and childeren, and all his feire meyne, wherfore he was so sorowfull that he hadde leuer dye than lyve, ffor so was he greved with the werre that his peple was but small, but tho were orped knyghtes, and the beste of all the hoste for to endure and suffre traueile of armes. The xij^the warde ledde the kynge Ventres of Garlot, that was a full noble knyght and a sure, and he was full wroth in herte for his sone that hadde hym lefte that he loved so hertely, and hadde gretly be greved with saisnes, that he hadde in his companye but two thousande men and thre hundred, what on horsebak and on foote; and whan her peple were disseuered and her wardes devided, the barouns assembled and asked oon of a-nother how thei sholden don, and than thei a-corded to go fight be-fore the town of Clarence, and that thei sholde not ride but by myght and smyte sodeynly in to the hoste on all partes, ffor better is it for vs to dye with worship than to lyve in shame; and with that

departed the counseile of the barouns, and eche wente to his pavelon; and whan thei hadde souped thei comaunded her peple to arme hem and make redy for to ride; and a-noon thei were appareilled thourgh the hoste and rode forth on her wey. And ther was a spie of the kynges Hardogabran that hadde herde all the doynge of the barouns. This aspie paste oute of the hoste previly, and com to the sege that was be-fore Clarence grete and merveilouse, and tolde to the kynge Hardogabran all the aray that he hadde seyn, and how that the cristin com with grete spede; and whan that the saisnes vndirstoden that the cristin were comynge, thei asked how moche peple thei myght be in all, and he seide that thei were not xl^Ml, and than the saisnes ne sette nought ther-by, ne deyned not to arme the fourthe part of hem. But neuertheles the kynge Hardogabran made the hoste to be waicched bothe day and nyght; and also ther were xx kynges that after that thei herde that the cristin were comynge, thei wolde neuer be disgarnysshed of her armes. But now we moste returne to the cristin that com ridinge.

[folio 156a] These xii princes ride so by nyght till that thei com nygh the hoste a litill be-fore day, and the weder was somwhat trouble and wyndy, and be-gan for to reyne; and thei in the hoste were the hevyer of slepe, and thei toke noon hedde that eny peple sholde come on hem at soche tyme, and whan the cristin saugh theire herberowe that noon ne come oute ne made no noyse, a-noon thei right theire armour; and whan thei were redy thei departed theire peple in to thre parties, and in that oon part was the kynge Clarion, and in that other part was the kynge Ventres of Garlot, and Carados, and Brangores, and Tradilyuans, and Belynans his brother; and in the thridde partie was the kynge Aguysas, and the kynge Vrien, and as soone as thei were disseuered thei rode a softe paas, theire hedes enclyned vnder theire helmes, and whan thei com nygh the tentes, thei lete theire horse go as faste as thei myght renne, and kutte a-sonder cordes and ropes of the loiggynges, and threwe down tentes and pavelouns, and slowh and maymed alle that thei a-raught at her comynge, and than a-roos the noyse and the

showte so grete that all the foreste resounded. Ther was grete martire and grete occision of saisnes, er the men of armes that sholde haue waicched the hoste were horsed, and whan thei saugh hem so surprised thei lepe to horse and rode to the kynge Hardogabrans tente, and blewe hornes on euery parte, and assembled to-geder bothe armed and vn-armed, and the xx kynges lepe to horse, and eche hadde x^Ml men at his baner, and ronne agein the cristen, and smote thourgh sheldes and hauberkes, that many ther were slayn on bothe partyes; and the xij princes suffred sore traueile, for thei were full noble knyghtes, and well hem helped Segurades, and Drias the lorde of salerne, and Mares, and Dorilas, and Brandins de la dolerouse garde, and Bruyns saunz pitee. These dide so well that neuer knyghtes myght do better, and on that other part were to-geder the Castelein of Gazell, and the lorde of blakeston, and the lorde of mares, and the lorde of wyndesore, and Aliers, and Gaudius, and the nevew of kynge Vrien, these ought not to be forgeten, for a-gein hem myght noon armour endure were it neuer so harde. These x knyghtes drough to the xij princes as soone as thei saugh hem at the logges where thei stode stifly, and foughten harde and sore, and so many slough the cristin that the horse wente in blode vp to the pastrouns. But the saisnes were so many and so thikke, that be fin force thei drof hem fro the tentes, but thei wente not vileyusly, but as noble men and hardy; ffor whan the worthi men saugh thei were putte bakke thei were a-schamed, and hadde ther-of grete dispite. Than thei assembled and mette hem in the visages. Ther was stronge shour, and sore eche of hem shewde her hardynesse and his grete prowesse, and eche of hem seide that neuer was he worthi to be cleped a knyght that failed at that nede for to helpe so well that it myght be spoke of all his lif after; with this wordes eche [folio 156b] smote his horse with spores and cried his ensigne, and thei smyte in so harde a-monge the Saisnes, that many ther were deed and wounded gapinge vp-right ther as thei passed; but the saisnes com oute of the tentes soche foyson that no man myght counte the nombre, and hardogabran, a saisne, moche and grete oute

of mesure com formest; ffor the storye seith that he was xv foote of lengthe, but he was yonge of xxviij yere of age. This kynge hardogabran satte vpon a grete gray stede with a spere in his hande, grete and shorte, and hadde a staffe hanginge on his lifte side where-with that day he made many a knyght sory and wroth; and whan the cristin saugh this grete deuell comynge, thei douted for to mete hym, the beste and the moste hardyest of all the cristin hoste, and made hym wey; and Carados of the perilouse tour hym mette, for he was the grettest and the strengest of all the cristin hoste, and was xxx yere of age, and as soone as he saugh the grete devell he lete renne to hym for nothinge he hym douted, and thei mette so harde with theire speres vpon the sheldes, and in passinge fourth thei hurteled so harde with her helmes and sheldes that bothe thei fill to the grounde, and theire horse also; and whan bothe partyes saugh these tweyne falle, thei pressed to the rescowse on bothe parties. Ther suffred the cristin grete peyne and traueile er that Carados myght be remounted, and the reyne hem greved sore that thei hadde the nyght and the day, ffor it cessed neuer of reynynge till that mydday was passed, and thei were so wete grete and small, that vn-ethe myght thei eche knowe other but by theire speche.

Full grete was the bataile and the stour mortall for sore eche other dide hate. Ther dide the cristin well preve theire prowesse, for magre hem thei sette Carados on horse, that Bloys of Plaisshie hym brought where-from he hadde smyten down the kynge Graalant, and matan and alibos, two yonge knyghtes, and the lorde of Nohaut, and the Castelein of Molehaut, mayntened the stour so well that thei ought not to be blamed till that Carados was remounted, and than be-gan the stour all newe for many ther were of goode knyghtes on the cristin partye, and on the hethen side grete pride; ffor many ther were of riche men and puyssant, and hadde soche plente of peple that the cristen were not but litill shewed a-monge hem, and therfore hadde thei moche the werse, for thei were at grete myschef; and in this maner thei foughten till mydday

was paste, and than be-gan the day for to clere, and the sonne to shewe out his bemes and dryed theire harneys, and than be-gan the stour to enforce more and more. But the saisnes were so many that of fin force thei droff hem oute of the feelde, and brought hem to the plaisshes, and ther thei stynted longe tyme; ffor the kynge de cent Chiualers with-stode firste and cleped his ensigne many tymes, and seide to the barouns, "What [folio 157a] lordynges, wheder will ye go. Certes full euell holde ye the promyse that we devised hedirwarde; ffor yet be we hooll and sounde, and oure armoure hooll also, and we be thus discounfited that noon of vs dar shewe his valour, wele ought we to be reproved, and well owe we to remembre that whan we be departed oon from a-nother, that yef we be oute of sorowe issed in to moche more dolour be we entred," and whan the barouns vndirstode that the kynge de Cent Chiualiers hem seide, thei returned a-gein fiercely, and eche of hem smote so the firste that he mette, that deed he fill to grounde, and ther be-gan the bataile more crewell than it hadde all the day be-fore. Ther dide the kynge de Cent Chyualiers so well that moche was he preised and be-loved of the high barouns; ffor er he departed his sheilde was all to daisht, that the thridde part ne left not hooll, and his hauberke dismayled and his helme perced, and his armes all be-soiled in blode, and his horse heed and all the fore body was soyled with bloode and brayn, that he myght not be knowe, but by his speche; and also ther a-boode the kynge Vryen and Bawdemagn, his nevew, and the kynge ydiers, and the kynge loot, and the kynge ventres, and Dorilas, these wolde neuer leve the stour as longe as thei myght a-bide in place, and ther thei dide the saisnes grete damage, ffor moo thei slowgh than that thei hadde don all the day be-fore; and whan the saisnes saugh the damage that thei hem dide, thei blewen hornes and trumpes, and made soche noyse a tempest that oon myght it heare two myle longe, and than com Orienx a saisne with foure thousand men of armes all fressh and newe, and frusht in to the medle so harde that they made hem alle to remeve place, and than a-roos the noyse and the

chace all the day on ende till it was nyght that the cristin myght neuer recouer for to holde place, but were all discounfited, and yef the nyght were not so soone come vpon, more hadde thei myshapped, and whan the saisnes hadde loste the day light, thei returned to theire tentes and vn-armed hem, and esed hem, and sette hem to soper, and ete and dranke plente, and after soper thei slepe and toke theire reste as they that well wende to be sure on all partyes, but full angry thei were of the harme that the cristen hadde hem don that day, and gladly ther-of wolde thei ben a-venged, yef thei myght come in place, ffor the storie seith thei loste moo than xx^Ml men, and the cristen loste x^Ml. But now returne we to speke of the xij princes that be full of sorowe and angre for the disconfiture that is vpon hem turned, and seide a-monge hem that so wolde thei it nought leten, but that thei wolden don hem more damage er that thei wolde departed.

Now whan the barouns were so discounfited, and were somwhat fer from the tentes of the saisnes, thei a-light on foote, and a-mended theire armours, and refresshed theire horse; but thei were all be-soiled with bloode and myre, bothe theire armes [folio 157b] and theire horse that no colour myght be knowen; and whan thei were redy, thei lepte to horse and rode a softe paas cloos to-geder so stilliche, that noon ne spake a worde till that thei com to the tentes a-boute mydnyght, and fonde the hoste all a-slepe; ffor tho thei wende to haue ben all saf for the discounfiture that thei hadde don; and whan the cristin com to the tentes thei ronne in with so grete raveyn, for thei were yet xxx^{ti Ml} of horsmen, and thei threwe down tentes and Pavilouns, and slowgh many of the saisnes, that noon ascaped that fill to theire handes; and the saisnes lepte oute of her beddes all slepy, and cried, "Treson, treson," and assembled at Hardogabrans tente, where oon blewe a trumpe, and the saisnes entended to nothinge elles but to renne to that trumpe, and than thei hem armed, and a-raied as faste as thei myght;

and thei light vp torches, and lanternes, and fire brondes grete plente, that the light myght haue be seyn iij myle longe.

The cristin neuer cessed to kille and to sle, and mangeled alle that thei myght take, that the stremes of blode ran as of a welle springe, and thus the slaughter endured all the nyght till it was day; and whan the saisnes saugh the grette losse and martire that thei maden, thei were woode for wrath and ire, and than they com on fresshly as though they sholde haue all confounded in theire comynge, and the cristen hem deffended in the beste maner. But yet the saisnes droff hem oute from the tentes foule and lothly; and than be-gonne the horse of the cristin to feynte sore as they that two dayes hadde not eten, and ther-of were thei sore discounforted; ffor thei saugh that alle were thei in a-venture of deth. Than fill the barons in corage as god wolde, the yonge knyghtes that I haue named be-fore, that thei wolde Iuste with the saisnes for to wynne hem other horse where-on thei myght ride, or elles thei were in grete pereile alle to perissh. Than eche of the barons toke a grete spere, and rode in to the renges a xl of knyghtes of pris, and hit is reson to reherse theire names of the worthi lordes. The firste was the kynge ydiers of Cornewaile, and the kynge Ventres of Garlot, and his nevew that euer kepte hym a-boute hym; the fourthe was kynge loot of Orcanye; the v^e was kynge Clarion of Northumbirlonde; the sixthe was kynge Christofer, and his nevew that hilde the depe Cite of Gaunt, and the lorde of the dolerouse garde, and Bruns saunz pitee, and the lorde of Nohaut, and the lorde of the forest perilouse, and the kynge de Cent Chiualiers, and the kynge Tradylyuaunt of North wales, and Polydomas his nevew, and the kynge Brangore, and the kynge aguysas of Scotlonde, and Gaudin his nevew, and the Duke Escam of Cambenyk, and the lorde of salerne, and the kynge Vrien, and Badmagn his nevew, and the kynge Belynans of South wales, and

Carados de la dolerouse toure, and as many of other knyghtes [folio 158a] that thei were well thre score.

These com in the first fronte with speres in fewtre for to Iuste, for grete myster hadde thei of horse, and eueriche of hem smote oon so harde that he fill deed to the grounde, or wounded, and sesed the horse by the reynes, and wente with hem a-side in to the feilde, and a-light from theire horse, and lepte on hem that thei hadde wonne, and returned a-gein in to bateile, and be-gonne to smyte down men and horse to grounde, for to remounte her company vpon fresshe horses that ther-to hadden grete nede, and all the day noon of hem wolde departe from other; ffull harde and felon was the bateile ther, as these thre score were newe I-horsed, and longe it endured; but the saisnes dide euer encrese more and more, and made the cristen to voyde the place, but that was with grete peyne, ffor the saisnes peyned hem sore to a-venge the harmes that thei hadden don, and the cristin were talentif to a-venge her frendes, that the paynymes hadde slayn; but in the ende were the cristin discounfited and chaced oute of the feilde. But ther endured grete traueile the thre score knyghtes; ffor thei kepte hem-self all-ther hinderest for to diffende the other that feyntly were horsed that myght no faster go than a paas; and these thre score knyghtes wisten well that alle were thei deed or taken yef thei hem for-saken, and so thei mayntened the bateile as longe as thei myght suffre till that her companye was well paste; and than thei wente her wey after, and whan thei were ouer-taken thei with-stode and foughten with the saisnes full harde, and whan eny of these knyghtes fill, thei alle a-boode till he were remounted; but nought for than moche thei losten at the laste, ffor right many of her men were slain and wounded, and taken prisoners. In this manere were the cristin discounfited, and the saisnes hem chaced fer in to the foreste, where-as thei hem leften be-cause of the nyght that com on, and than the saisnes returned to theire loigges with grete plente of prisoners; and alwey after that the saisnes made better waicche than thei hadde don be-fore, and the cristin were in

the foreste for socour, and rode forth till thei com in to a feire launde, and ther thei a-light on foote from theire horse and made grete doell and sorowe for theire losse, and were so discounforted, that thei wiste not what for to do ne whider to go; but in the ende thei a-corded that eche man sholde go to his repeire, and yef the saisnes come hem for to assaile eche man deffende hym-self the beste wise that he may; with that thei lept to horse, and eche comaunded other to god and departed wepinge for pite that oon from that other, and eche wente hoom to his repeire, and stuffed hem with peple, and vitaile the beste that thei myght; and after that the saisnes hadde hem thus discounfited [folio 158b] thei douted hem nothinge, but ronne thourgh her londes, and brente and distroied and token prisoners, and brought in to the hoste many prayes; and neuer after were the kynges so bolde to isse out of her castelles and townes for to fight with the saisnes. But now we moste speke of the kynge Arthur that is in the see towarde the grete Breteyne.