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

CHAPTER XXVIII
ADVENTURES OF SEGRAMOR, GALASHIN, AND DODINELL; MERLIN'S VISITS TO BLASE AND TO THE PRINCES; ARTHUR'S PREPARATIONS FOR THE WAR.

Now seith the storie that myri lif ledde the kynge Arthur and his wif after that the kynge looth and his sones were departed, and the kynge looth sente to the kynge Arthur that the trewis were graunted, and therfore was arthur gladde and iocunde, and the quenes knyghtes, and so were the knyghtes of the rounde table, and so were also the two kynges that were brethern; and on the morowe that the tidinges were come to court Segramor a-ros erly, and Galasshin and Dodinell le sauage, and armed hem right wele of alle parties, and yede to disporte in the foreste that was grete and depe, for on the nyght be-fore hadde thei caste for to a-rise erly hem to pley and disporte; and whan thei were come thider hit hem liked well, for thei herde the songe of the fowles and briddes that myrily were entuned, and thei seiden that thei wolde go serche the forest and the contrey for to wite yef thei myght finde eny a-uenture where-by thei myght be preised and comended; and also on that other side were there dissevered thre knyghtes of the rounde table from the Courte, and hadde taken straunge armes for thei wolde not be knowen, and thei desired sore for to mete with the quenes knyghtes for to prove hem-self a-geins hem; and that oon of the knyghtes was Agrauandain the brother of Belynans, the beste knyght destramors that after werred the kynge Arthur.

The seconde was Mynoras, and the thirde was Monevall that was a noble knyght and richely armed of alle pointes, and whan thei were in the playn felde thei ronne with theire horses oon a-gein a-nother with-oute smytinge of eny stroke, and than seide Mynoras to his felowes, lete vs go for to pley vs and disporte in this foreste to assay yef we fynde eny aventure, and his felowes therto graunted a-noon with goode chere, and ride forth towarde the Castell de lespine, for that it was the more auenturouse than eny other wey, and thus these thre felowes ride in companye till thei founde thre weyes that made hem departe, so that eche rode sooll by hym-self as auenture dide falle. But now we moste cesse of hem awhile, and returne to speke of Merlin.

Here seith the boke that whan Merlin was departed from the kynge Arthur from a thiside of Toraise in Carmelide, that he wente in to Northumbirlonde to Blaise his maister, that gladde was of his comynge, ffor he loved moche his companye; and whan Merlin a-while hadde be ther he tolde hym how the kynge Arthur was spoused to his wif, and how she sholde haue be by-traied, and how Vlfin and Bretell [folio 200b] hadde hir rescewed, and how the false Gonnore was banysshed, and how Bertelais slough the knyght, and of the turnement that the knyghtes made be-fore Toraise, and how the kynge Arthur hadde sente Gawein his nevew to logres for to somowne his court, and how the kynge loth wolde haue refte a-wey his wif; and how that Gawein com and hym socoured, and toke his owen fader, and how the avowis were made at the Court, and how the quenes knyghtes turneyed a-gein the knyghtes of the rounde table, and the merveles that sir Gawein ther dide, and how the kynge Ban yaf counseile to the kynge Arthur that his knyghtes sholde neuer haue turnement oon a-gein a-nother, and the counseile that kynge looth yaf for to sende messages to the princes, and all that be-fill hym and his sones on the wey, and how the princes were assembled at Arestuell, and how the trewys were take for to go vpon the saisnes; and Blaase wrote all this in his boke, and by that haue we the knowinge ther-of, and

than Blase asked yef thei myght haue peple I-nowe for to fight a-gein the saisnes; and Merlin seide, "Nay be-fore that the peple were come oute of litill Breteigne, and thei of the reame of Carmelide, and thei of lamball that was longinge to the kynge Amaunte that Gosenges hilde, and as soone as I go fro hens I will go fecche the peple of kynge Ban and of kynge Bohors in the two reames, and make hem to come hider, and I do yow to wite," quod Merlin, "that ther shull come peple hider of many londes for the sauacion of theire soules, and for to diffende the cristin feith, and I do yow to wite it is grete nede that oure lorde helpe at this tyme, ffor neuer be-fore was ther sein so moche peple as shall be now at this assemble. Ne neuer for no power shull thei be put oute of this londe be-fore that the princes ben acorded with the kynge Arthur;" and Blase seide that he a-parceyved well that he loved a lady where-of the prophesie sholde falle and hadde be seide, and Blase hym preide full hertely and seide,

"Merlin, dere frende, I praye yow for the love of god that ye will telle me who shall be-gete the lyon to the two messages, and whan this shall be do." And Merlin seide that the terme drough faste on that it sholde be do; and blase seide that it was grete damage; and yef I knewe the tyme and place I wolde fain do my peyne it for to cesse; and Merlin seide, "Write soche lettres as I shall yow devise, and than shall ye knowe whan ye may hem helpe, and he hem wrote that seide in this wise, "Cest li comenchemens et li contes des auentures de pais pur coy li merveilleux lyons fu enseres et que fitz du roy et de royne le destraindra et couenra qu' il soit chastes et le myldres cheualiers del monde," and these lettres that Blase wrote Merlin sette by alle the weyes where the auentures were, and ne myght neuer be taken a-wey, but by theym that sholde hem acheve, and ther-fore were the knyghtes the better willed for to labour. Ne neuer other-wise was distroied the grete lyon; and than seide blase, "How is it that I may it noon other weyes helpe;" and Merlin seide, "Noo." "And shall I lyve so longe," quod Blase, "that I may it knowe."

"Haa! dere frende," seide Merlin, "ne dowte it not, and many [folio 201a] other merveiles shull ye se after these." Than made Merlin Blase to write soche letteres as he dide hym devise, and bar hem ther as he wolde, and sette hem by the passages in high weyes, and than comaunded hym to god, and than he wente in to litill Breteigne; and whan he toke his leve of Blase it was a-boute the houre of pryme, and a-boute the houre of noone he com in to litill Breteigne, and fonde leonce the lorde of Paerne, and Pharien that grete chere hym made and ledde hym with hem full debonerly and were with hym gladde and myry thre dayes hooll; and on the forthe day thei asked Merlin why he was come in to that contrey, "ffor we knowe well that for nought be ye not come," and he hem tolde that thei moste passe the see with as moche peple as thei myght haue oute of that contrey. "Sir," seide leonce, "in to what place shall we go?" and Merlin seide "to the Roche flodomer, and fro thens in to the playn of Salisbery where ye shull fynde peple of many dyuerse langages that alle shull be come thider for the same cause that ye shull come fore, and ye shull loigge ther by youre-self with alle youre peple, and remeve yow not till ye se me a-gein, and loke ye make youre baner all white and ther-ynne a rede crosse and no more, and so shull haue alle the other princes that shull come thider, and noon of hem knoweth no worde of other ne wherefore it is don, and ther-ynne is grete significacion;" and leonce and Pharien seide this sholde be don. "Now," quod Merlin, "loke that ye take with yow alle the beste peple that ye may haue, ffor I do yow to wite that there shall be grete multitude of peple a-geins hem." "And who shall kepe this londe," seide leonce. "Haue no doute of the kepinge," quod Merlin, "ffor ther shall noon a-bide to kepe it, but lambuges and the nevew of Pharien, and Banyns the sone of Gracien of Trebes, and Galiers the lorde of the haut moor; and ye shull lede the hostes of youre two reames, and Grascien shall lede the hoste of Orcanye, and the stiwarde Antyaume shall be with yow, and Pharien and Dionys shull lede theym of Gaule, and loke that ye neuer leve for noon avoir, but with-holde

all the peple that ye may haue of sowdiours yow for to serve." And leonce seide that this sholde be do as he hadde devised.

Than Merlin be-taught hem to god, and praied hem to go hastely, for it myght not be taried, "and I ne may no lenger with yow a-bide." "Sir," quod leonce, "god haue yow in kepinge, for I dare not pray yow to a-bide, for ye knowe better what is for to do than I." Than departed Merlin, and com to Nimiane his love, whiche of hym was gladde and ioyfull as soone as she hym saugh, and the love of hym encresed so moche that loth he was to departe, but taught hir grete part of his connynge; and than he wente in to the reame of lamball, that was the kynges Amaunte that the kynge Bohors hadde slayn, and bad Gosengos that he ne sholde leve in no maner but that he sholde be on the playn of Salisbery at halowmesse with all his peple, and he seide he wolde be ther with-oute faile. Than wente Merlin in to the reame of Carmelide, and dide his message ther on kynge Arthurs be-halue, and thei seide thei wolde go thider with good chere, and meved a-noon thiderward with xx^Ml of bolde men and hardy; and Grascien and [folio 201b] Pharien and Dyonis spedde hem so wele that in litill terme thei assembled xl^Ml men in the medowes be-fore Gannes; and whan it was tyme for to meve, these felowes toke theire wey and spedde so theire iourneyes be londe and be water till thei com in to the playns of Salisbiry, and ther thei fonde the xij princes that were there with as moche peple as thei myght assemble to-geder, and ech kepte his hoste by hym-self, and Nabulall that hadde be stiward with the kynge Amaunt somowned his peple and assembled hem to-geder, and preied the sone of the kinge Amaunt for to come with hym; and he dide his counseile, ffor he was a feire yonge squyer, bolde and hardy, and hadde loved the quene Gonnore, and fayn wolde haue hadde hir to his wif, yef he hadde be knyght, but the werre be-twene the two fadres it letted; ffor the queene hadde hym desired more than eny other man while she was a maiden, and yet ech of hem desired other to se, and sente often messages that oon to the tother and tokenes.

Whan this yonge lorde com to Nabulall that kepte the reame to the be-hofte of kynge Arthur, he tolde hym how the kynge wolde fight with the saisnes, "and sente me in comaundement," quod Nabuall, "that I sholde bringe alle hem that myght armes bere bothe moche and litill, and therefore I wolde knowe youre will yef ye will come thider." And he seide, "Ye, trewly;" and than was Nabulall gladde, and seide thei wolde go to-geder to se alle the worthi men of the worlde; and than Nabulall assembled all the peple that he myght till he hadde xx^Ml, and spedde hym so till that he com in to the playn of Salesbiry; and Merlin com to Bandemagn as soone as he was departed fro Nabulall and badde hym sende to the hoste the grettest people that he myght; and the kynge Bandemagn assembled his peple that he hadde xx^Ml, and Merlin bad hym a-bide and sende with his hoste Patrides his stiwarde for to lede his peple, and thei shull finde at the Court Guyomar and Sadoyne, and Guyret de lamball that shull go with hym, and helpe to lede thy peple ther as thei shull go; and ther-with Merlin departed from the kynge and com to logres the same day that the vj knyghtes were gon hem to disporte in to the foreste auenturouse, where-of ye haue herde speke a-fore how thei wente for to seche her auenturous.

Whan Merlin com to court, he fonde the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and the kynge Arthur, and the quene that lened oute at the wyndowes of the paleys, and loked on the medowes, and the thre knyghtes that were go in to the foreste, that were of the companye of the rounde table of whom the names were rehersed to yow be-fore; and the lordes wiste no worde till that Merlin com in euen vpon hem, and a-noon as thei were of hym war thei ronne ageins hym and made hym the grettest ioye that thei cowde; and whan thei hadde spoke to-geder of many thinges, than com Merlin to Arthur, and [folio 202a] bad hym sende for all his power in all haste with-oute taryinge, and dide hym well to wite how the kynge looth hadde right wele spedde, and tolde hym also how the straunge peple com oute of dyuerse contrees, bothe on horse and

on fote, in to the playns of Salisbery, and he asked hym what peple ther com, and he tolde hym how the kynge looth rode with all his power, "and ye hadde full noble counseile for to take the trewys, and what peple trowe ye shall come on youre partye, ye shull haue the power of kynge Ban of Benoyk, and of kynge Bohors of Gannes, and thei be well xl^Ml;" and whan the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors vndirstode this, thei sterte vpon hire feet and asked by whom that was; and Merlin hem ansuerde a-noon, and seide he hadde do the message hym-self, "and thei trowed me well god yelde it hem," and the two brethern ansuerde that ther-of he hadde right well spedde, and that of nothinge myght he haue made hem so gladde; and than Merlin seide to kynge Arthur,

"Sire," quod he, "wite ye who cometh hider also, ther cometh Nabulall de Camadayse of the reame of kynge Amaunt, that the kynge Bohors that is here slough in bataile, and with hym cometh a yonge lorde that is yet no knyght, and hider cometh all the power of Carmelide that Cleodalis the stiward doth lede; but the kynge leodogan ne cometh not, and all this chiualrie haue I yow somowned, and therfore I owe to haue guerdon." And the kynge seide, "Merlin, I can not sey what I sholde yow ofre, but I will that ye be lorde of me and of all my londe, for by yow is all that I haue." "Sir," quod he, "whan I com thus sodeinly vpon yow right now, what dide ye be-holde so ententifly down the medowes." Quod the kynge, "We loked on thre knyghtes that we saugh entre in to the foreste." "Wote ye euer," quod Merlin, "who thei be." "No," seide the kynge." "Wite it verily," quod Merlin, "that it be thre knyghtes of the rounde table that be full noble and hardy. But foles thei ben and folily haue thei don, for thei be envyouse; and I telle yow trewly that neuer in theire lif hadde thei so grete nede of socour and helpe as thei shull haue er thei come a-gein, and all is thourgh her owne folye." "Merlin," seide the kyng, "telle me who thei be I praye yow." "Sir," quod he, "that oon is Agrauadain des vals de gailore, and the seconde is Mynoras ly engres, and the

thridde is Monevall; and I lete yow wite that thei ne hadde ride but litill wey er thei shull meete with thre of the queenes knyghtes that shull fight with hem, and therfore yef ye do wisely sendeth after hem, ffor but yef thei be departed ther shull some be deed, and that were grete damage and pite." "Haa? lorde god," quod the kynge, "who shall go hem for to disseuer a-sonder." "Sir," seide the quene, "sir Ewein and kay the stiward, and Gifflet." "Sir," quod Merlin, "the quene seith well, sende hem forth a-noon hastely;" and a-noon the kynge hem cleped and comaunded hem to armen, and thei dide so a-noon right, and whan [folio 202b] thei were redy araide thei com to the kynge, and asked whider thei sholde go, and Merlin bad thei sholde go in to the foreste the streight wey to the crosse, "and ther shull ye finde vj knyghtes fightinge, and loke that ye hem departe;" and whan thei this vndirstode thei wente out of the paleis and toke theire horse delyuerly, and rode a grete walop in haste as thei were comaunded, but er thei were come there were strokes yoven. But now we shull returne to speke of the vj knyghtes how thei haue spedde.

As the storie seith the thre knyghtes of the quenes haue so riden thourgh the foreste that thei haue founde a feire launde, and thei a-light and rested hem on the grene herbes, and Galashin seide to his felowes, "Wolde our lorde god that sir Gawein and his brethern were now here, and we wolde go se the saisnes yef ye wolde assent;" and than seide Dodinell the sauage that it were a shrewe to go, for in this foreste is noon rescettes, and oure horse sholde dyen for the faute and for hungir; and while thei spake of these thinges, com the thre felowes of the rounde table disgised of theire armes, for fayn wolde thei haue be pursued of some of the quenes knyghtes; and Segramor asked of his felowes yef thei knewe hem ought, and thei seide, "Nay," and euer thei come faste on. Than seide Agrauadain to his felowes, "I se yonder soche thre felowes that me wolde for-thinke that thei sholde lede a-wey with hem theire horse hom a-gein." "How so," quod Mynoras, "be not we thre as well as thei;" and while thei spake thus,

the thre knyghtes laced theire helmes that thei hadde don from theire hedes for to take the air; and thei lepte on theire horse, and wolde haue gon theire wey as they thought noon euell, seth that noon hem nought asked; and whan these other thre saugh hem goinge, thei hem a-scried with lowde voice, "Iuste yow be-houeth or elles ye shull vs leve youre horse, and so may ye passe quyte;" and whan Segramor that vndirstode, he turned the heed of his horse and seide, "What be ye than robbours that lyve be soche mysteir, wite it verily whan ye com home to youre hostell to nyght, ye shull have but litill to ete of the wynnynge that ye shull bringe from vs, for we yow diffie." Than thei smyte the horse with the spores that the blode stremed oute on bothe sides, and sette the sheldes be-fore theire brestes and the speres a-gein the assels of theire sadelis; and whan Segramor and his felowes saugh hem come in this maner thei dide the same, and com hem for to mete, and fill so that Segramore and Agrauadain mette with speres a-gein the sheldes so rudely, that thei perced thourgh-oute, and the hauberkes brosten agein the lifte side, and Agrauadain felte the sharpe spere so depe that the blode folowed after; and Agrauadain brake his spere on Segramours hauberke at the same cours, and Segramor that hadde herte I-nough and force shof so harde that he threwe hym to grounde and his horse bothe. But Agrauadain that was wight and delyuer, and full of grete hardynesse, lepte on his feet full lightly and drough his swerde, and appareiled hym self [folio 203a] to diffende, and whan Segramor hadde parformed his cours he drough a litill a-side and sette foot to grounde, and tacched his horse to his spere, and Agravadayns horse ran faste to the wode, and Segramor drough his suerde and dressed his shelde, and com towarde Agravadain a grete spede, and he com for to mete hym vigerously, and smyte grete strokes vpon the helmes, and over all ther thei myght atteyne, and so endured the medle of hem longe while; and Segramor seide, "Sir knyght, thow art deed, but thow yelde;" and Agrauadain ansuerde "that to that pointe was he nothinge yet comen;" and Segramor seide he sholde come ther-to soner than

he wende, and that other ansuerde that right litill he hym douted, and seide he cowde well manace; and Segramor seide that verily it was the maner of a fooll, and ther-fore is seide a proverbe, that foles love neuer a thinge till he take the a-coole, and so is it yow be-fallen. Than thei ronne to-geder and fought longe, but Agravadain hadde the werse of the bataile.

On that othir side mette Galasshin and Mynoras, and fill that Mynoras brake his spere vpon Galashyns shelde, and Galashin hym smote with soche vigour vpon the penon of the shelde that he shof the spere thourgh his thigh, and thourgh the horse flanke that thei fill to grounde vpon an heep, and his horse slode also with all foure feet that he also fill to the erthe, but soone was he vpon his feet, and so was Mynoras, and drough theire suerdes, and be-gonne the medle be-twene hem two full grete and fell with all theire power.

And also ran to-geder Dodinell le sauage, and Monevall, and mette with speres wher-of the hedes were sharpe I-grounden that the sheldes were perced and stinte at the hauberkes that were harde, and the speres bothe fly on peces; and in the passinge forth Dodinel hurteled so harde with his shelde and his body that Monevall fill to grounde, but a-noon he a-roos a-gein, for he was hardy and delyuer; and whan Dodinell hadde parformed his cours he returned with swerde drawen, and fonde hym redy hym to diffende. Than he drough a litill a-side and a-light, and com with his suerde in honde gripinge his shelde, and be-gonne to medle and to scirmyssh strongely. Thus faught these vj knyghtes longe from prime to mydday, and the quenes knyghtes be-gonne to gete grounde vpon hem of the rounde table, and somwhat ledde hem at hir volunte; and whan thei saugh hem glenche thei hem ascride, and seide, "Yelde yow;" and thei seide thei hadde lever be deed; and whan thei saugh it wolde noon other be thei ronne vpon hem fiercely, and Segramor saugh that his felowe wolde not yelde, and he lepte to hym lightly, and hitte so Agravadain

on the helme that he slitte it on two partyes, and the coyf of maile that he wounded sore hym in the heed that he fill to grounde all a-stonyed; but he lay not longe, for he douted sore a-nother stroke, and covered hym vndir his shelde the beste that he myght, and Dodinell caste a stroke of skirmerye to monevall, and smote hym so harde vpon the arme that he hilde with his shelde, that the shelde fill [folio 203b] to grounde that ner he hadde hym shente; and Galashin smote so Mynoras on the helme that he bente down to the erthe, and fallen hadde he; but as he kepte hym on his handes, and than Galashin hente hym by the helme and raced it of his heed so felliche that nose and browes bledde, and yaf hym soche a buffet with his swerde that he fill flatte to grounde, and than he lepte to and a-valed the coyf of maile from his heed and seide he wolde smyte it from the sholdres, but he wolde hym yelde outerly; and he seide he wolde it not do in no wise, and Galashin seide than sholde he dye with-oute raunsom.

And while thei demened hem in this maner, com kay the stiwarde, and sir Ewein, and Gifflet the sone of Doo of Cardoell that the kynge hadde sent, but to longe hadde thei taried; ffor Segramor hadde so araied Agrauadain, that he was all couered in blode, and dide but glenche here and there fro oo place to a-nother, and Segramor hym chaced for to take hym a full stroke, and Dodinell hadde his felowe so be-seyn that he hadde nother shelde ne helme on his hede, and dide but glenche for to eschewe the deth, and Galashin helde his felowe at the grounde, and with that oon hande hilde hym by the ventaile, and his swerde in the tother hande redy to smyten of his heed, and in short tyme alle thre sholde haue loste theire lyves; but as sir Ewein, and kay, and Gifflet com walopinge as faste as thei myght, and cried with lowde voice, "I-nough it is, for we se well how it is, and we shull hem plegge of what ye will hem aske;" and Segramor turned toward hem and knewe hem wele, and ansuerde to sir Ewein, "Sir, gladly for more wolde I do for yow than this a-mounteth;" and in the same wise seide Galashin and Dodinell, and lefte hem with that, and these com

to hem and blamed hem for that thei hadde be-gonne soche folye; and Segramor ansuerde hastely, and seide, "How so, my lorde, sir Ewein haue we vs so mys-taken whan of these thre vassals we haue rescewed oure horse, that thei wolde vs haue be-refte. Nay than hadde we be more shame-worthi yef thei hadde hem taken be force, ffor than sholde we neuer haue hadde honour in no place that we hadde comen, and full euell sholde he diffende his felowe that dar not diffende his owne thinge." "Ha," quod Ewein, "thei dide it for noon euell ne for no felonye that thei wolde yow haue don, but pleide with yow;" and Galashin be-gan to laugh vndir his helme, ffor he aparceived be that sir Ewein seide that thei were of the companye of the rounde table, and Dodinell seide that "blissed be soche pley, and hem that it be-gynne, for so shull we well lerne."

"Lete be these wordes," quod sir Ewein, "and take youre horse, and lete vs repeire hom to the Court, ffor ther is noon so myghty ne puyssaunt that ne shall haue I-nough bataile with-ynne these vj monethes;" with that these thre knyghtes be lepte on theire horse, but the tother thre be trist and dolent. Than Segramor asked of sir Ewein what [folio 204a] thei thre weren. "What," quod sir Ewein, "ne knowe ye hem nought." "So moche ought thei haue the more damage;" "wite it verily," quod Ewein, "that these with whom ye haue foughten it is Agravadain des vaus de gailore and felowe of the rounde table;" and Segramore seide he knewe hym not, "but seth it is so be-fallen I may no more do." "And Galashin hath foughten with mynoras." "What," quod Galashin, "Mynoras be that ye, so helpe me god ye haue yow to moche mystake a-gein vs whan that ye knewe vs well, and com vpon vs with-oute oure knowinge of yow." Than Dodinell drough hym to monevall, and asked hym what he was; "ffor," quod he, "I will here it of youre mouthe." And he seide in bas voice, "I am monevall." "Ye be-gan the foly," quod Dodinell, "and seth ye folye haue sought, folie haue ye founden, and therfore may ye seye verily that ther nys noon so moche a fole but he may finde his felowe." "Now lete be all this," seide kay, "for thus

shull the knyghtes of the rounde table go to a-venge the deth of the wrenne;" and than be-gonne thei all to laughe saue the thre that were hurte sore, ffor thei hadde no talent to laugh; ffor thei were shamefast and mate for that was hem be-fallen; and forth thei riden to-geder alle ix till thei com to the court at logres, and the thre wente to their hosteles hem to vn-arme, ffor thei hadde nede of reste, and the tothere vj wente to court and fond the thre kynges, and the quene, and Merlin that yet were at the wyndowes of the paleys, and spake with Merlin, for longe hadde thei hym not seyn; and the vj knyghtes wente in to a chamber hem to vn-arme; and whan thei were vn-armed sir Ewein com to the kynge, and as soone as the Quene hym saugh, she seide, "Sir, telle vs of youre tidinges." "Madame," quod Ewein, "men may telle I-nowe." Than he be-gan to telle how he hadde founde the vj knyghtes fightinge, and the kynge asked whiche hadde the werse; and he tolde hem all euen as it was, and the scorn that kay hem yaf, and Dodinell and Segramor ther-at lowen faste I-nough, but sone thei lefte the wordes, for thei saugh the kynge pensif and dolent; and Merlin stode forth and seide, "Wite ye why is this discorde be-twene the knyghtes of the rounde table, and the quenes knyghtes; wetith it well," quod Merlin, "that it is but enuye that the ton hath a-gein the tother, and therfor thei will preve to-geder theire prowesses;" and thei asked whiche were the beste knyghtes owther the rounde table or the Quenes knyghtes, and the kynge seide that thei were all the Quenes, ffor the rounde table wente all by hir; and than the kynge Ban seide "that the beste myght soone be chosen, for it is my lorde, sir Gawein," and thei seide all how it was trewe; and the kynge seide that he sholde hem companye with the rounde table as soone as thei were come a-gein; and Merlin seide that sholde not be by-fore that the saisnes were chaced oute, and than thei lefte the tales and wente to mete, and after mete a-noon the kynge sent his messages thourgh the londe [folio 204b] to alle hem that were his men that eny armes myght bere that thei sholde come to hym araied, for to diffende the londe and mete with hym

vpon the playn of Salisbery, and that there-of thei sholde make no delay.

Thus sente the kynge his messages thourgh all the londe, and a-noon as thei were fro hym departed, the kynge Arthur toke the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and Merlin, and seide, "Lete vs go se oure felowes that be seke;" and thei wente a-noon, and with hem many a knyght; and whan thei wiste it was the kynge thei wolde haue risen to haue gon a-geins hym; but the kynge hem so surprised that he wolde not suffre hem to a-rise, and blamed hem for the folye that thei hadde don; and thei seide thei myght hem not with-holde, and thei wiste not how it com, and than the kynge delyuered hem leches to couer theire woundes; and they bad the kynge be not dismayed, for with-ynne viij dayes thei sholde be hooll and sounde, so that thei myght bere armes and ride at hir own will; and than the kynge comaunded hem to god, and seide to hem at his departinge that as soone as thei were hooll thei sholde come after hym to playns of Salisbery, "ffor I go now," quod the kynge, "and ther shall be moche peple and grete assemble." With that the kynge departed, and com in to the halle, and fonde knyghtes I-nowe that wolde haue sette a turnement as many for as many a-gein the Quenes knyghtes, for that sir Gawein was not there, and for to a-venge theire felowes that were wounded; and the quene hem diffended, and seide that thei spake a-boute nought, ffor neuer shull ye haue turnement oon agein another, and ther-fore I pray yow for the feith that ye owe to my lorde and me, that neuer ye ther-of speke till that I comaunde;" and they seiden that neuer more wolde thei speke ther-of seth that she dide it comaunde, and at euensonge tyme the kynge comaunded that alle men sholde hem appareile on horse bakke, and on foote alle that myght armes bere, ffor on the morowe erly wolde he ride toward the plain of Salisbery, where-as the comounte of the peple sholde assemble; and as soone as the kynge hadde comaunded, thei made hem redy in the beste wise thei myght for to go on that grete nede: knyght, and squyer, and burgeise; and than a-roos soche brut and soche

noyse thourgh the town that men myght haue herde it half a myle, and on the morowe com the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors, and the kynge Arthur, and the quene, and alle that euer ther were assembled rode forth v dayes hool er thei com to the plain of Salesbiry, ffor thei made but smale iourneyes; and whan thei were come, thei loigge a-monge theire owne peple, and kay the stiward hadde brought the grete baner wherof the champe was white as snowe, and the dragon was a-boue the crosse, ffor thus comaunded Merlin; and whan the kinge was loged he ledde his companye in grete myrthe and ioye, and a-bode ther the Princes, and the peple com on alle parties out of many a contre.

[folio 205a] Renomee that thourgh the worlde renneth wente so thourgh the contrey, that the saisnes it wisten by theire esspies, that thei hadde thourgh the contrey, that brought tidinges to the sege at Clarence, that the peple of the londe and the contrey assembleden on the playns of Salesbiry, but thei knewe not whiche wey thei sholde ride; and the kynge hardogabran sente for his xix kynges, and thei com to hym a-noon, and than he tolde to hem his aspies hadde hym brought tidinges how the cristin made assemble in the plain of Salisbiry, and ther-fore he asked her counseile; and thei seide it were best to wacche well her hoste bothe be day and be nyght that thei were not surprised in slepinge, ffor by day light hadde thei no drede of all the peple of the londe, ffor thei hadde so grete multitude of peple that thei thought noon myght a-gein hem endure. But for all the seide thei "we rede that alle oure peple holde, and we holde vs to-geder, and that noon go no more on forrey fro hens-forth with-oute xxx^Ml men at armes, or mo, so that yef thei be mette that thei be not founde oute of aray, and ye knowe well that in all this londe that is so longe and brode is not the fourthe part of peple that we haue," and in the fin thei acorded to this counseile that thei sholde alle holde hem to-geder and make gode wacche; and than repaired the xix kynges to theire tentes, and so departed in soche maner and appareiled hem full well, and comaunded alle hem that

were vnther theire Iustice, that eche man sholde euer be redy and make goode wacche; and thei lete this be knowen at the sege of Valdesbiry, and made hem alle to leve the sege, and com alle to the sege be-fore Clarence, and so ther was so grete assemble and so huge that the sege aboute the Cite dured v myle of lengthe, and the herberowes lasted fer. But now lete vs leve the saisnes, and tell how the princes com to the playn of Salesbiry oon after another eche by hym-self.