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

CHAPTER XXIX.
PARLIAMENT OF THE PRINCES AT SALISBURY; THEIR HOMAGE TO ARTHUR; AND DEFEAT OF THE SAXONS.

Here seith the storye that so spedde hem the Princes after the Parliament that was take of the trewys that thei be meved to come towarde the plain of Salesbiry wele appareiled as soche myghty princes ought for to do; the firste prince that com in to the plain of Salesbiry was the Duke Escam of Cambenyk, and brought in his companye vij^Ml men of armes well a-raied of alle maner thinges, and thei hem loigged streite and clos to-geder, and renged in tentes and pavelouns; after that com the kynge Tradilyuans of North-walys with vj^Ml men of armes vpon stedis of pris, for thei hadde a riche contrey and a plentevous of alle godes, and thei loigged hem next the Duke Escam vpon the playn; after hym com the kynge de Cent chiualers with x^Ml men wele a-raied, and loigged next after; and than com the kynge Clarion of Northumbirlonde that was a feire knyght, and a wise and bolde and hardy, and in his companye viij^Ml men, and hem dide condite with a baner as white as snowe ther-in a reade crosse, and soche baners hadde all thei that com thider, and these hem loigged; after hym [folio 205b] com the kynge Belynans of South walis that was brother to kynge Tradilyuaunt, and with hym x^Ml men, and he hadde grete desire to se his sone Dodinell le sauage that he loved so

well, and loigged hym by the kynge Clarion that was so gentill and curteise. After hym com the kynge Carados of Strangore that was a felowe of the rounde table of hem that were firste founded; but after the discorde fill be-twene Arthur and the princes neuer after wolde he be at the rounde table; and he brought with hym x^Ml men, and loigged hym by the kynge Belynans that was a good man; and than he asked yef the kynge Arthur were come, ffor hym thought longe to se his thre nevewes that were with Arthur, and that oon was Aglins des vaus, and the tother kay destranx and the thridde kehedin le petitz; but at that tyme was not the kynge Arthur I-comen, but he taried not longe after; and after the kynge Carados com the kynge Brangores, and brought in his companye x^Ml men, and loigged hym by the kynge Carados, and sore he desired to se hys wifes nevew that was in the court of kynge Arthur, ffor that he herde hym preised and comended of merveilouse bewte and valour, and his name was Segramor of Costantynnoble; after the kynge Brangore com Mynoras the Senescall of the kynge lak of the grete ynde that the kynge lak hadde sente only for the love of god for to haue the pardon that the legat hadde graunted and proclaymed thourgh all cristindom, and brought in his companye vij^Ml men well araied; after hym com the kynge Pelles of lytenoys with vj^Ml men that his stiward brought for the love of oure lorde, and thei were richely armed and horsed, and hem dide condite Pellynaus the stiwarde that was a full proude knyght, and he hym loged next Mynoras; after hym com the Senescall of the kynge Pellynour of the waste londes, and he brought vj^Ml men that the kynge Pellynour sente for the love of Ihesu Criste, and loigged by the peple of kynge Pellynaus; after hym com the Senescall of the kynge Alein of the forayn londes that was brother to the kynge Pellynour, and he brought vj^Ml men, and loigged hym by the peple of kynge Pellynor; after hym com Galehaut, the sone of the feire Geaunt that was lorde of the fer oute ylles, and brought in his company x^Ml men, and he com only for the love of Ihesu crist; after hym com Aguygneron, a merveilouse knyght, and

was Senescall to Clameden the kynge of the yles; and this kynge sente thider vj^Ml men for the love of Ihesu criste, and he loigged next Galehaut; after hym com the kynge Cleolas that after was cleped firste conquered kynge, and in his company vj^Ml men, and he loigged next Aguygueron, the Senescall of Clamedien. But this kynge Cleolas hadde but litill tyme be ther whan hym be-hoved to go thens for grete sekenesse, and lefte his peple to Guyonce his Senescall that was a goode man and a noble knyght; after hym com the Senescall of Sorloys for the love of god only, and with hym vj^Ml men, and his name was Margoundes, and he loigged hym by the Duke Belyas; and than [folio 206a] com the kynge Arthur and hym loigged; and Merlin com to hym, and seide in counseile, "Sir, now be-holde what oure lorde doth for yow, and for to saue youre peple, moche ought ye hym honoure and yelde graces with goode herte whan he thus you socoured and helpeth in soche nede." "Merlin," quod the kynge, "oure lorde foryeteth not his Synner; and he hath shewed me yet hidyr-to that he hath me not for-yeten, and yet I truste to his mercy he will shewe me better than he hath don yet, ffor I haue in hym full by-leve, and all my truste, In so moche that I putt me in his volunte whiche for his grete mercy and pite haue me in his kepinge bothe body and soule."

"The goode by-leve," quod Merlin, "that ye haue in oure lorde Jhesu, hath yow moche a-vailed and yet shall ther-of haue ye no doute, wherfore I rede yow kepe stedfastly in that purpos while ye lyve, ffor while ye be in godes purpos shull ye haue the victorie of your enmyes." "Merlin," quod the kynge, "I be-seche oure lorde suffre me neuer to departe fro his creaunce, but that I may holde it in soche maner that I yelde hym my soule whan it shall departe from the body;" and Merlin seide, "Amen. But now moste ye take goode hede how ye shull yow demene a-gein this baronye that is here assembled for to diffende the cristin feith, and to chace this mysbelevinge peple oute of youre londe." "Merlin," quod the kynge, "I will do euen in all thinge as ye will counseile, for with-oute yow I can nought do, and therefore I

putte me in god and in yow." "Sir," seide Merlin, "I wolde ye dide ioy and honour these lordes that here be assemled to diffende youre reame, and goth to theire tentes eche by hym-self, and thanke hem for the socour that thei haue brought; and in speciall hem that of yow nothinge holden ne be not youre men, but beth come in reverence and worshippe of god; ffor neuer shewde oure lorde so grete honour to no prince, ffor ther is no kynge born that euer assemblede so feire a companye wher-ynne were so many noble men and goode knyghtes. Ne neuer ther shall be so many goode knyghtes to-geder assembled be-fore that the fader shall sle the sone and the sone the fader, and that shall be in this same place, and to hym shall remayne the londe of the grete breteigne with-outen lorde, and with-outen heir." Whan the kynge herde Merlin so speke, that in the same place the fader sholde sle the sone, and the sone sle the fader, and the londe of the grete breteigne a-bide with-outen heir and lordles, he hym prayed and requyred to telle a partye of that more clerly to his vndirstondinge; and Merlin seide it was not to be seide, "but I shall telle yow so moche after this iourney shall come the lyon vn-crowned, and bringe with hym foure lyouns wher-of tweyne shull be crowned, and the thirdde is with-oute crowne; these shull devoure the shrewde ligne of the reame of logres. But aske me no more," quod Merlin, "but goth to the barouns as I haue yow seide." "I shall so with goode chere," seide the kynge.

[folio 206b] A noon the kynge lepe on his horse and ledde with hym the kynge Ban of benoyk, and the kynge Bohors of Gannes, and kay, and Segramor, and Ewein, and Galashin, and Galescoude, and Merlin. These ix com to the lordes to theire tentes, and whan thei knewe the comynge of kynge Arthur, thei com oute of theire tentes to mete hym, and the kynge and his companye a-light on foote, and salewed hem alle eche by hym-self, and thanked hem hertely of that thei were come to helpe hym in that grete nede a-gein the saisnes that thourgh theire vntrouth and felonye hadde distroied his londe, and haue also disire to distroie all cristin peple.

"Sir," seide the lordes, "thei shull neuer haue ther-to power ne force, ffor to helpe holy chirche, and yow to diffende we be come and here assembled, and we will put oure bodyes in auenture of deth for to encrece holy chirche and the cristin feith to mayntene, and be the grace of oure lorde we shull do so moche er we departe oute of youre companye that holy cherche shall haue the victorye, and the saisnes shull haue the shame and the damage, and we will that ye wete that we be not youre men, ne neuer we hilde nought of yow, but we be come propirly for the love of god, and for to diffende holy chirche." "God yow quyte," seide the kynge Arthur, "in whos honour and reuerence ye it don, and bringe yow alle wele to youre repeire as he is al-myghty." "Amen," seide the lordes, "and be it so as ye wolde." Now reste a-while of Arthur and Merlin, and of the straunge lordes that be come hym for to helpe, and I shall telle yow of the xij princes that be alle assembled at the tente of kynge looth.

Whan the xij princes were come in to the plain of Salisbiry, thei wente alle to thanke the straunge princes of that thei were come for to diffende the londe from the hethen peple for the love of oure lorde god, and whan thei hadde this don, thei assembled alle at the tente of kynge looth, and satte down on a cowche that was covered with a cloth of silke, and spake of oo thinge and othir, and while thei were thus sette, entrid Merlin in to the tente, and as soone as thei saugh hym come, thei a-ros alle and wente to mete hym, and seide he was welcome; and he preide god yeve hem good a-uenture and grace to do so that it myght be savacion to theire soules, and honour to theire soules, and honour to theire bodyes; and that by hem myght holy chirche be diffended and caste oute of the power of her enmyes that by force were entred, "and it shall be mayntened, but yef it reste in yowre deffaute." "In vs," seide the Barons, "shall no defaute be founden, for we be come hider it to diffende." "Trewly," seide Merlyn, "the damage is full grete, but it is so be-falle that bothe prevy and straunge be here assembled for othinge and for oquarell, and

well ought ye be reson a grete mater to bringe to ende be so that ye be of oon acorde, and of oon will, ffor other-wise may ye not spede, and good it were that ther were pees be-twene yow and my lorde the kynge Arthur which ought to be youre lorde, and so sholde ye be the more dredde and douted thourgh euery londe."

[folio 207a] At this worde stode vp the kynge looth of Orcanye, and seide, "Lordes, Merlin seith wele, ffor it were grete honour to god and the worlde at this pointe, yef ye wolde acorde yow with hym." With these wordes the kynge Vrien a-roos full wroth, and stode vpon his feet full angry, and seide to the kynge looth, "Ye haue made vs to com hider by trewys till we hadde distroied the saisnes and chaced oute of the contrey, and than yef it were oure honour than myght we do as our hertes vs bar, and ye now wolde vs meve with other materes and tales other weyes, and ther-fore we pray yow and requyre speke no more ther-of; ffor as for me I shall it neuer do. I wrote neuer what these other will do, but yef thei it ought do I shall sey thei be for-sworn a-gein me." "Certes," seide the kynge Ventres, "I will not be for-sworn, for I will not do with-oute youre counseile;" and so seide alle the other, and ther-fore was the kynge looth full wroth, but he moste nede suffre, and so he seide no more at that tyme; and Merlin be-gan to smyle and seide, "Ffeire lordes, be not wroth ne angry, for the wratthe were nothinge good at this tyme."

While thei entended a-boute this talkinge, com the kynge Arthur, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and the straunge princes with hem, and saugh the xij princes that were at the teinte of kynge looth; and as soone as the kynge looth hym saugh, he lepe on his feet and seide, "Lo, here cometh my lorde;" and a-noon the princes hem dressed in honour and reuerence to hym, for that he was a kynge sacred and a-noynted; and the kynge Arthur that was full curteise and wise, and wele knewe what was for to do, hath hem

salewed first er thei were alle risen vp, and seide, "Welcome was al the companye;" and thei ansuerde alle attonys that god yeve hym goode a-uenture and alle his companye, and than he satte down vpon the kynge loothis cowche; and the kynge Arthur made hem alle to sitte down by hym as he that was the curteisest man of the worlde and beste taught; and than he seide, "Feire lordinges, I thanke yow alle hertely that ye be come hider at this tyme as I haue yow required for the profite of holy chirche, and the peple and youre londes to diffende, and warant a-gein the felon saisnes that haue a grete parte brente and distroide, and our peple slain and maymed, and for that ye be come at my request, I thanke yow hertely alle, and goode it were yow to a-raye in soche maner that we were not surprised ne blamed. Ne that the saisnes may not sein a-monge theym that thei haue vs founde foles ne musardes." "Sir," seide the kynge looth, "as of apparailinge be-hoveth Merlyn to devise, ffor he shall comaunde, and we shull do his comaundement; ffor he knoweth better what we shull do than we knowe oure-self;" and the princes seide that ther-to acorde thei well, and so thei putte the rule all to Merlin, and ther-with lefte the speche; and the kynge [folio 207b] Arthur repeired hem to his teinte, and alle the princes hym conveyed bothe prive and straunge, and after eche of hem repeired to his pavelon; and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and Merlin entred in to the chambre of Arthurs Pavelon, and than seide Merlin in counseile, "Ffeire lordes, these peple that be comen here ben wery of traueile, ffor some ther be that be come right ferre, and thei haue nede of reste and ese, and therfore will I that thei reste to-day and to-morowe, and on monday by goode distyne we shall meve alle to go towarde Clarence, for ther is the moste plente of saisnes, ffor thei that were at the sege of Valdisbery be ther alle assembled, and I shall do euery prince to wite by hym-self that thei be appareilled the same day to meve and to go vpon theire enmyes." To this counseile called the thre kynges sir Gawein with hem, and seiden alle be it so in the honour of Ihesu criste and his moder Marie, and than

thei departed from this counseile, and com to the maister pavelon and ther a-bide. Than com Elizer, Gaweins squyer, and kneled down be-fore sir Gawein, and seide, "Sir, I am come oute of lytenoys, and lefte the kynge Pelles my fader for to seche yow, and by the will of oure lorde I fonde yow in soche place that but god hadde sente yow thider I moste haue ben deed; but the grete prowesse of yow rescowed me from the saisnes that me wolde haue putte to deth, and ther-fore I knowe well that the renomee that renneth of yow thourgh the worlde is trewe, and I knowe also verily that of a more worthi man than ye myght I not take my garnementes wher-fore I pray yow and requyre of youre grete fraunchise that ye make me knyght. So that I may prove my firste chiualrye vpon these false mysbelevinge peple that thus desire for to destroye holy chirche, ffor I shall neuer be knyght of all my lif tyme, but I it resceyve of youre hande, and ye it me promysed the firste day that I yow saugh that ye shull me yeve armes at my request, and I yow require be-fore my lorde the kynge youre vncle that is here be-fore this baronye." Whan sir Gawein saugh Elizer his squyer be-fore hym on his kne, he a-reised hym vp be the armes, and seide swetely, "Dere frende, I graunte youre request, ffor ye be full digne to resceyve the ordre of chiualrie, and ther-fore all youre will shall be performed." "Sir," seide the yonge lorde, "gramercy." Than sir Gawein be-helde and saugh Gaheries his brother, and seide, "Feire brother, do ordeyne me armes soche as is a fieraunt for a kynges sone, and to so noble and worthi a man as is this." "What is he than feire nevewe," seide Arthur. "Sir," seide Gawein, "it is the sone of kynge Pelles of lytenoys, and is nevewe to the kynge pellenor and to the kynge Alain, and wite ye well yef he lyve he shall be oon of the beste knyghtes of the worlde." Than he tolde the kynge of the grete occision and the merveile that he hadde sein hym do of the saisnes; and whan the kynge it herde he hadde grete wonder how so yonge a childe myght endure so grete dede of armes, and the two kynges ther-of were gretly astonyed; and the kynge Arthur

comaunded to [folio 208a] Gaheries that he sholde do be brought the richest armes that myght be founde in his cofers, "and the beste swerde after myn owne." "Sir," seide Elizer, "I haue armes and horse and al thinge that is to me mystier." Than he cleped lydonas his squyer and badde hym bringe his armes that his fader hadde hym yoven, and lydonas dide his comaundement as he that was ioyfull and Gladde, and brought hem be-fore the kynge and the other barouns that hem be-hielde for merveile, ffor thei were alle white saf a bende of golde enbelynk, and his hauberke was stronge and well holdinge of double mayle. And ther-to it was so light that a childe of ix yere myght it bere, and arthur preysed it moche, and the other barouns whan thei it saugh; and sir Gawein armed Elizer, and Gaheries dide hym helpe, and dide on his hauberk that was of grete bounte that in all the hoste was not the pareile. Than thei laced his aventaile that was as white as snowe, and whan he was all apareiled, sir Gawein dide on his right spore and girde his swerde on his side, and Gaheries dide on his lefte spore; and whan he was thus araied sir Gawein yaf hym the a-colee, and seide full debonerly as he that was the moste deboner knyght of the worlde. "Holde, feire swete frende, and resceyve the ordre of chiualrie in the name of Ihesu crist oure savioure, that in soche maner lete yow it mayntene that it be to the profite of holy cherche and youre honoure." "Sir," seide Elizer, "so graunte me oure lorde to his pleisier."

Whan sir Gawein hadde a-doubbed Elizer, the sone of kynge pelles of lytenoys, and toke hym a-noon Guehet a Gaheries, and ledde hym in to the kynges chapell for to wake, and thei bar hym companye till on the morowe that thei hadde herde masse, and than thei returned to the court of kynge Arthur that made grete ioye to Elizer; ffor he satte that day at the kynges table be-twene the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors, and after mete their dide reise a quyntayn on the plain, and these yonge bachelers yede hem to prove, and so dide the knyghtes of the rounde table and other, and that day was many feire strokes yoven with speres; and Elizer dide so well that

moche was he comended, and seide neuer hadde thei sein a feirer Iustere with spere; and the knyghtes of the rounde table wolde galdly haue taken a turnement a-gein other straunge knyghtes that were come in the hoste; but the kynge Arthur wolde it not suffre, for he douted that some sholde ben hurt, and therfore was it lefte, and repeired hem to their teintes gladde and myry.

Than com Merlin to the kynge Arthur, and seide, "Sir, ther is no more but euery man hym appareile and make redy, for to morowe erly be-houeth vs to meve, and loke that ye lete noon knowe whiche wey ye shull ride; but folowe me ouerall whider that I shall yow lede, and so shall I sey to alle the princes that thei be redy at the poynte of day for to ride." "Merlin," seide the kynge, "all be it at youre volunte, ffor I putt me all hooll in god and yow;" and than wente Merlin to the pavelons of the princes, and tolde oon after [folio 208b] another in counseile to be redy to ride erly on the morowe, and thei lete trusse teintes and pavilouns and alle her other harneys and cartes, and charietes, and somers, cofers, and malis, and lepe armed vpon theire stedes as hir bodyes to diffende and her enmyes to assaile, saf only of sheldes, and speres, and helmes that thei made theire squyers bere be-fore, and made the baners to be bore all white, and eche hadde a reade crosse in the myddell, and so hadde Merlin comaunded to all the princes at the be-gynnynge of theire comynge; and Merlin rode on a grete grey courser and bar the baner of kynge Arthur be-fore all the hoste, and thus thei departed alle in this maner from the playn of Salisbiry, and wente alle as Merlin dide hem gide the streight wey toward Clarence, that the kinge hardogobrand hadde be-seged and with hym xix kynges that alle his londe hadde environed, and he hadde sente his forriours thurgh the londe a xx myle or xxx that distroied and wasted the contrey; and a partie of the forreyours com by the Cite of Garlot that was the Chief forteresse of the kynge ventre, and were in that companye foure myghty kynges, and with hem grete plente of saisnes that hadde sesed prayes by strengthe,

and hadde do grete harme in the contrey and in esspeciall to hem of the town, ffor thei were come oute to hem to bateile for to rescowe the pray, and ther was grete slaughter of oon and other, but thei of Garlot myght not endure, ffor ther were of the saisnes grete force, so that thei of the town loste the pray and theire horse, and the moste parte of theire chiualrie; and the foure kynges swor that thei wolde neuer departe thens er thei hadde take the town, and the Quene that was with-ynne saugh the sege leide, and hadde grete drede to be taken by force, and toke counseile of hir stiward what were beste for hir to do, and hir stiward yaf hir counseile to go oute by nyght thei tweyne sooll by hem-self, by a posterne that opened a-gein the river, and sholde go to a-nother place of theires that was thens vj myle, that was cleped the rescouse, for that Vortiger was rescowed whan Aungis the saisne was slain and chaced oute of the place.

Euen as the quene and the stiward hadde devised thei diden, ffor thei wente oute a-boute mydnyght, and hadde no mo in her companye but two squyers. But the saisnes that were maliciouse hadde sette espies on euery side of the town, and so was the Quene taken and the stiward slain, whereof was grete harme, and the squyers fledden, and were wounded sore, ffor that oon was smyten thourgh the body with a spere, and the tother on the heed with a swerde, and so thei wente as a-uenture hem brought to the hoste that Merlin ledde, and thei stinte neuer of goinge till thei herde hem a foure myle from Garlot; and whan the squyers saugh the comynge of the hoste and parceyved the white baners with the reade crosses, thei knewe wele that thei were cristin and dressed hem that wey, and made the grettest dolour of the worlde; and whan Merlin, that com all be-fore, herde hem make soche doell, he asked hem what thei eiled, and thei hym tolde all [folio 209a] as was be-fallen, and how the saisnes ledde a-wey the Quene, "and whiche wey wente thei," seide Merlin. "Sir," seide thei, "she is yet in the hoste, but the pray goth by the cauchie;" and Merlin cried, "Sewe me, ffor the Quene shall thei not lede yef god will."

Than he spored his horse and sir Gawein after, and Elizer, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors his brother, and ech had in his hande a stronge spere, and leonce of Paierne condited the peple of Benoyk; and Dionas theym of Gannes, and Gracien hem of Orcanye, and Dorilas condited the peple of kynge Ventre, and the other batailes com alle in ordre, and Merlin rode so till that he com downward of an hill, and than they saugh the pray that passed at the bregge, and ther were well a foure thousande saisnes; and whan Gawein saugh hem come, he seide now may we a-bide to longe. Than he spored the Gringalet, and than seide Elizer, "Sir suffre and a-bide for guerdon of my seruise and for all frendship, and graunte me the firste stroke of the bateile, ffor I entred neuer in to no stour seth I was knyght." "And I it yow graunte," quod sir Gawein, all in laughynge, "for in yow it is right well employde."

With that Elizer hem a-scride, and seide, "Lete be the pray, ffor ye shall it no ferther lede;" and than com Dioglus that was the stiward of the kynge Magloras, and turned the heed of his horse, and he and Elizer mette with speres vpon the sheldes so harde that thei perced vpon the bokeles, and Dioglus brake his spere, and Elizer hym smote so harde that he shof the spere thourgh the breste, and caste hym down deed to the erthe, and his spere ther-with fly in peces. Than he drough his swerde and launced in a-monge the other that sore hem peyned to passe the pray, and smote so Antidolus that was stiward to the kynge Brandon that he slitte hym down to the teth; and Gawein seide to Merlin that he hadde wele be-gonne as of a newe knyght. "Ye," qoud Merlin, "yet shall he do better." With that Merlin cried the signe of kynge Arthur, and than spronge forth Gawein and his companye a-monge the forreyours that many were there slain and wounded; and thei be-hoved to forsake place and fledde toward Garlot where the kynge Magloras was, and the kynge Brandon, and the kynge Pynsonars, and the kynge Pignores that right vigerously assailed the Castell, and thei were full wroth whan thei saugh her men com fleinge, and lefte the assaut and com to theym that

fledde; and whan thei saugh the hoste comynge thei merveiled fro whens so moche peple myght come. Neuertheles thei sette in a-monge hem for thei were moche peple and stronge, and the cristin hem resceyved full fiercely, and made the saisnes for to resorte a-gein a spere lengthe; and whan the foure kynges that were hethen saugh sir Gawein and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and Elizer make of her men so grete slaughter, thei ascride her men, and be-gonne to sle horse, and men, and knyghtes as thei were wode, ffor thei were Geauntes, and the strengest peple of the worlde; and thei made the peple of kynge Ban and kynge Bohors to blush vpon the peple of kynge Ventre, and vpon the bateile of the Duke Escam of Cambenyk, and ther [folio 209b] suffred sir Gawein, and the kynge Ban, and his brother, and Elizer many sharpe strokes, and full sore were thei greved; and whan these two bateiles were come on, ther myght men se merveiles don of armes, and sore were the saisnes greved at that enuay, ffor many there were of hem leide to the grounde. But the kynge Brandon and the kynge Pyncenars dide grete merveiles bothe with theire bodyes and theire meyne that were full bolde and hardy; ffor after theire strokes a-bode but fewe cristin in sadell, and so were thei of the grete Bretigne sore a-basshed, ffor thei made hem alle resorte bakke hadde not be the grete prowesse of sir Gawein, and Elizer, and the kynge Ban and his brother, and the kynge Ventre of Garlot, and the Duke Escam of Cambenyk; and neuertheles Grascien, and Pharien, and Dorilas, and leonce of Paerne dide so wele that thei ought to haue no blame; and Merlin that rode fro oo renge to a-nother ascride hem often "ore auaunt;" and while thei were in this angwyssh the kynge Pignores cleped xl saisnes of the beste and moste hardy, and comaunded hem to take the Quene of Garlot, and lede hir to the sege of Clarence, and presente hir to the kynge hardogobran, and these seide thei sholde do his comaundement, and departed and ride forth the streight wey to Clarence, and ledde with hem the quene that grete doell made for the a-uenture that was hir befallen.

After that the kynge Pignoras smote in to the stour with his swerde in honde, and be-gan to yeve soche strokes that noon armure hym myght endure. So that the moste hardy douted hym to meten, for he smote down horse and men so thikke that the moste hardy made hym wey, till that Gawein that to euery nede was nygh it a-parceyved, and saugh the grete harme that he dide of her peple, and seide to hym-self yef this feende lyve eny while we may moche lese. This worde vndirstode Elizer that kepte hym euer nygh Gawein and smote his horse with spores thider as he saugh Pignoras that hadde all his arme be-soiled with blode and brayne of hem that he hadde slayn; and whan Elizer saugh the harme that he dide, he seide to hym-self, "Certes, it were to vs grete harme yef this deuell lyve longe, what mysauenture hath he be suffred so longe;" and than he drough ner and leide his reyne in his sadilbowe, and threwe his shelde at his bakke and ficched hym in his stiropes, and caught his swerde in bothe handes, and smote the kynge Pignores thourgh the helme that nother coyf ne helme myght hym warant till that the suerdes egge touched hys brayn, and he drough a-gein hys suerde and Pignoras fill down to grounde; and whan Merlyn hym saugh falle, he seide to sir Gawein, "This hath take with vs trewys." "Ye," quod Gawein, "god kepe vs that knyght that is so worthi;" and than thei smyte vpon the saisnes that be sorowfull and wroth for the deth of Pignores, and so dide theire other felowes that sore thei harmed the saisnes. But a-bove alle other dide sir Gawein wele, and Elizer, and the kynge Ban of Benoyk, and the kynge Bohors of Gannes, [folio 210a] and leonce of Paierne, and Grascien of Trebes, and Pharien, for thei were not yet assembled but v bateiles. But tho that were assembled dide wonder wele, for a-gein theire strokes myght endure nother Iren ne stiell; and whan the kynge Pyncenars, that was bolde and hardy, saugh his peple so a-peire, he seide he hadde leuer dye but Pignores were a-venged, and he hilde a swerde in his right hande, and ran in to the presse where he saugh it thikkest, and be-gan to throwe down all that he raught, and slough a knyght of the

reame of Benoyk, that wele hadde don in armes all the day; and tho the kynge Ban was nygh wood for Ire, and spronge that wey with his swerde vp teysed to hym that hadde his knyght slayn, and smote hym with so grete ire that he slitte hym to the teth, and that was a thinge that hym moste discounforte all the day, the deth of his knyght, and than thei closed the saisnes rounde a-boute, and the bateile was grete and horible, ffor the Bretouns were noble knyghtes; and whan Merlin saugh the hostes were assemled on bothe sides, he cleped Gawein, and Elizer, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and tolde hem how xl saisnes ledde the quene of Garlot to the sege of Clarence, "and yef thei lede hir thider it will turne to reprof, and therfore I rede we go after." "Now ride," quod Gawein, "and we shull yow sue." Than Merlin rode forth his weye, and well an hundred knyghtes in his companye; ffor thei douted to meten with moo peple on som part. But shull we speke of the xl saisnes that ledde the Quene of Carlot that was the wif of kynge Ventre.

Whan the xl saisnes were past the bateile two myle, thei entred in to a wode, where-ynne was a feire medowe and a welle springe, and thei turned that wey hem for to a-kele and drinke of the clier water, and a-lighten with the quene be-fore the welle, that made the grettest doel of the worlde, and thei myght not hir conforte for nothinge that thei cowde do; but she cried with lowde steuen, "Haa, kynge Ventres, this day shall departe the love of me and of yow; ffor I trowe yow neuer to se no more;" and than she swowned in theire armes that hir hilde, and whan she was oute of his swownynge she cried and made grete sorowe, and the saisnes were ther-of doelfull and wolde well she hadde be in place that she hadde liked beste, and counforted his moche, but ther-of was no nede; ffor she braied and cried lowde, so that Gawein and his companye it herde clierly, and turned thider her wey, and saugh the knyghtes and the Quene that cried so lowede.

Whan Gawein saugh his aunte, he spored his horse and seide to the saisnes, "Ffeire lordes, lete be the Quene,

and go youre wey quyte, ffor I can yow good thanke for that ye haue of hir pite, and gramercy for that curtesie." Whan Margouns the botiller of kynge Pignores herde sir Gawein thus speke, he asked of his felowes what was her rede, and thei seide thei hadde leuer to dye than leve the Quene. "And to that ar ye come a-noon," quod Gawein. Than he ran to hem with swerde drawen, and smote so the firste that he mette that the heed fill on the grene [folio 210b] be-fore his aunte, and the saisnes sterte vp a-noon, and the myschef was grete, for that thei were on foote, and neuertheles thei slough bothe horse and knyghtes, for thei were of grete prowesse, but ther-of myght not a-vaile, for alle were thei deed, that nought oon ascaped, saf only Margons the botiller that hidde hym in a bussh, and sir Gawein and his companye com a-gein to the Quene, and counforted hir swetly, and she hem asked what thei were. "Madame," he seide, "I am Gawein, youre nevewe, the sone of kynge looth of Orcanye, and this lorde that is here is the kynge Ban of Benoyk, and these other kyghtes ben oure felowes." Whan the lady this vndirstode she was gladde, and thanked hem hertely of the socour, and than thei sette hir on a palfrey that thider was brought, and returned to the hoste where-as was the kynge Arthur and the other princes fightinge; and many of her frendes loste the cristin er the saisnes myght be discounfited. Whan Arthur hadde slain Magloras the kinge that was the sustenement of the saisnes, and the kynge looth hadde smyte of the hande of the kynge Syuarus, than fledde thei alle; and whan sir Gawein and his companye were returned, the hoste enchased the saisnes so nygh euer at the spore; and Brandons returned often, and he ne smote noon a right stroke, but he were ther-with a-noon deed; and whan sir Gawein saugh hym so demene, and saugh the grete slaughter that he made of the peple, he thought wele that he was som high lorde of grete lynage, and wele it shewed by his armes that he were a kynge or a prince, and Gawein preised hym moche in his herte, and fain wolde he hadde be cristin yef it myght haue be, and seide, "Knyght, thow art right bolde and full of grete hardynesse, art

thow Duke or kynge that hast in the soche valour and strength?" "In feith," quod he, "my name is Brandouns, and am kynge of a partye of Saxoyne, and am nevew to the richest kynge of all the world, that is the kynge hardogabrant, that is chief lorde of all Saxonie." "Certes," seide Gawein, "it semeth well, for in the is grete valour and high prowesse, and it is grete harme that thow art no cristin, and fain I wolde that thow so were to respite the fro deth." "Of that," quod the kynge, "that thow spekest haue I merveile, for I haue lever to be deed than to be cristin." To that shalt thow come hastely," quod Gawein, "and that me repenteth sore, ffor moche wolde I love thy companye yef it the liked." "Hit shall neuer me plese," quod Brandouns; and whan Gawein that herde, he ran vpon hym full Irousely, and smote hym so with Calibourne his good swerde that the heed clef a-sondre; and whan the saisnes saugh theire lorde deed, thei were sore dismayed; and after that in hem was litill defence, and the cristin hem wounded on euery side, and hem slough, and all to-hewe; and whan thei hadde do this, thei thanked moche oure lorde of the grete honoure that he hath hem do at this iourney. Than com sir Gawein and the kynge Ban be-fore the kynge Arthur, and be-fore all the baronye, and presented the kynge Ventre with his wif, and tolde herynge hem alle how he hadde hir rescowed, and the kynge hem thanked hertely, and made grete ioye, and alle the barouns were gladde, and than thei drough a litill a-side from the felde where the bataile hadde be, and Arthur made [folio 211a] picche his teintes in the medow be-fore Garlot vpon the river, and so dide alle the other princes, and rested till on the morowe, and the Quene entred in to the castell of Garlot; and on the morowe, as sone as it was day, Arthur sette forth his peple the streight wey towarde Clarence. But now a-while shull we reste of Arthur and his baronye, and speke of Margouns the botiller.

So longe dide Margouns hidde hym in the busshes till that Gawein, and the kynge Ban, and her companye were gon with the Quene; and than he repeired to the welle and

fonde his horse that he hadde tacched to a tre, and than he rode forth faste till he com to the hoste be-fore Clarence, and tolde the kynge hardogobran how alle the forreyers that he hadde sente be-fore the town of Garlot were deed and discounfited; and whan Hardogobran this dide vndirstonde he was sorowfull and pensif. Than sterte vpon his feet the kynge Gondofles, and seide to the kynge Hardogobran, "Sir, yef it like yow I will go se what it is, and lede with me Salebrun and Magaloes, and Sorbare, and Meliadus, and the kynge Brangore, and in oure companye xl^Ml men, ffor I may not trowe that foure so myghty kynges as the kynge Brandon youre cosin, and the kynge Pyncenars, and the kynge Pignores, and the kynge Magloras myght not be brought to disconfiture by no power of the cristin;" and while thei spake these wordes com Syuarus that hadde his hande smyten of, and tolde hem trewe tidinges, and the tokenynge of his arme; whan the kynge Hardogobran saugh the kynge Syuarus so araied, he was wo for sorowe, ffor he hadde hym moche loved; and whan he knewe the deth of the foure kynges than was he wood oute of witte, ffor Magloras and Brandouns were bothe his nevewes; and than he comaunded to the kynge Gondofles to go take vengaunce for his nevewes, and he seide he wolde, and in all haste rode forth his wey, and with hym fifty Ml men, and devided her peple in v bateiles, and in euery bateile x^Ml men; and the first bataile ledde Salubrun, and the Duke lonor the lestregues that other, and the kynge Sorbares, and the kynge Meliadus, and the Eirll ffragelles the thirde, and the kynge Brangoires, and the Castelein Melekins the fourthe, and the kynge Gondofles, and his brother Transmaduc the fifte; these rode fro the sege of Clarence oon after a-nother towarde the Castell of Garlot, and rode so by day and by nyght till thei mette the hoste that Merlin dide gide in a feire grene medow that was a myle and a halfe of lengthe, and ther hadde Merlin devised vij batailes that after hym dide folowe; and the first bateile condited the kynge Ventres, and the kynge Tradilyuaunt, and the Duke Escam with xx^Ml men, and the kynge

Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and the kynge de Cent Chiualers ledde the seconde with xxx^Ml men; and the kynge of Northumbirlonde, and the kynge of South-walis, and Nabulall the thridde with xxx^Ml men; and the fourthe ledde Cleodalis the Senescall of Carmelide, and the kynge Carados, and the kynge looth of Orcanye with xxx^Ml men; and Aguyneron the Senescall of kynge Clamedien, and fflamus the Senescall of Evadain, and the Senescall of kynge Pelles of lytenoys ledden the fifte bataile with xxx^Ml men; and the kynge Brangoires and the [folio 211b] Senescall of kynge lak ledden the vj bateile with xxx^Ml men; and Sir Gawein, and his brethern, and the companye of the rounde table were with the kynge Arthur in the vij^th bateile wher-in were so moche peple that vnethe myght eny man hem nombre. In this maner mette the tweyne hostes of the Cristin, and the paynymes in the medowes from Garlot half a walsh myle; and as soone as the kynge Salubruns hem saugh he lete renne a-geins hem, and so dide Margons the botiller; and the Duke Escam com hem a-geins; but Triamores that was Castelein of Cambenyk rode be-fore, and smote Salubrun so harde a-mydde the shelde that the spere splindred on splyntes, and the hethen kynge hitte hym so sore that the shafte shof thourgh his body and bar hym deed vpright to the erthe; and than was the Duke Escam full angry, and smote Salubrun through the breste more than a spanne lengthe, and than he seide, "Hethen hounde, thy deth thou hast hent, yet haue I not my frende, and that me mysliked."

Ther-with assembled the bateiles on bothe two sides, ther was many a grete growen spere frusshed a-sonder, and many a gome to the grounde glode in a stounde; but as soone as the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and the kynge de Cent Chiualers were come with the seconde bateile, and saugh the seconde bateile of the saisnes meve; than thei ronne to-geder fiercely, and ther myght a man haue sein many a helme hurled on an hepe, and many a shafte and shelde frayen to-geder, and many hauberke rente of double mayle; grete and hidyouse was the bateile, and the slaughter grete on bothe sides. Neuertheles

whan Merlin saugh the saisnes so vertuouse, he ascride the kynge Ban, "Sir, what do ye now, ye myght haue hem putte oute of the place longe seth, ffor ye be moo peple be that oon half than thei be." Whan the kynge Ban and the other princes herde Merlin so crie, thei were half shamefast. Than thei ronne on the saisnes with grete vigour, and made hem resorte a-gein magre them alle, and made hem frusshe on the thridde bateile, that the kynge Meliadus, and ffragilles, and lanor de betinges dide condite, and these sette hem a-geins; ther was harde bateile, and merveilouse and grete occision on bothe sides that piteouse was to be-holden, and grete traueile thei hadden on bothe parties. And than assembled Brancors and Malaquyn the Castelein with the fourthe bateile, and Gelegnyaunt, and the kynge Cleoles, and ther was crewell bateile and fell that in litill while was the felde couered with deed bodyes and wounded peple. In that metinge was Margouns the botiller deed, and he was sore regreted of the saisnes, and with-oute faile the kynge Ban hym slough with a spere; and whan the kynge Sorbares it saugh he hadde hertely sorowe, and he com to the kynge Ban, and wende to smyte hym on the helme, but he kepte the stroke on his shelde, and he smote ther-on so sore that he slitte it to the bocle, and the stroke glood and smote of the horse heed, and the kynge fill to grounde, and his horse be-twene his legges, [folio 212a] and the kynge Sorbares a-bode vpon hym with serde drawen. But Pharien com hym a-geins that full sory was that his lorde was fallen, and smote so harde to the kynge Sorbares vpon the helme that he clef hym to the brayn, and he drough to hym his swerde, and he fill down deed; than he caught the horse be the reyne, and brought it to the kynge Ban; and whan the kynge was vpon horse he smote in to the bateile wroth and angry; and the kynge Bohors, and Dionas, and the kynge Ventres, and the Duke Escam, and alle the other princes dide merveiles of armes, ffor after theire strokes a-bode noon in sadill, and the saisnes were so grete and so myghti that thei dide hem grete damage of her peple, ffor so many thei slough

of the cristin that it was wonder; and so many were deed and wounded of cristin and hethen, that the felde was all couered, so that oon myght not come to a-nother but ouer deed cors.

While this grete occision and this mortall strif dide dure were alle the bateiles assembled on bothe partyes, saf only the bateile of kynge Arthur, and that Merlin ledde a trauerse till thei were come vpon hem be-hynde, and than thei girde in a-monge hem crewelly; and after sir Gawein, and his brethern, and Elizer, and sir Ewein, and Segramor, and the companye of the rounde table were come to the bateile, ther myght men haue sein a-pertly wonder chyualries shewed of armes; and thei slough horse and men, and made sheldes to shiver, and hewen helmes from hedes, and kutte handes and legges a-sonder, and dide so wonderfull dedes that vn-ethe myght eny man be-leve the merveiles ne the grete lardure that thei made of the saisnes; and kay the stiwarde, to whom Merlin hadde yove the grete baner to bere of the kynge Arthur, was euer in the fore frounte as he that was of grete hardynesse, ther be-fore alle other dide well sir Gawein, and so dide the kynge Arthur, ffor he araught no saisne a full stroke, but he were deed; and full wele dede the princes that were come for the honor of god, these dide so well in that iourney, that thei ought wele to haue the pardon; and also full wele dide the knyghtes of the quene Gonnore, ffor after theire strokes a-bode noon standinge, but straught to grounde all that thei myght atteyne; and whan the saisnes were thus for-closed, thei were sore a-baisshed and turned to discounfiture, and with-oute faile thei were waxen so feble that of v kynges, and an erle, and a Duke, and of fifty thousande saisnes ne ascaped not foure Ml that all ne were deed or maymed; and with-oute doute it was right dere I-bought, ffor thei hadde slayn so many of the cristin that it was sore be-wepte as longe as the kynge Arthur lyved, ffor many a gentill lady be lefte wedowe, and many a gentill mayden dysolat, and with-outen counseile.

[folio 212b] Whan the kynge Gondofles, and lanor de betinges saugh the grete slaughter of her peple that the cristin hadde

slain and alle to-hewen, and sye how thei were for-closed in soche maner that thei myght not returne to theire hoste, and than were thei wroth, ffor thei sye wele thei were but deed, but yef thei toke counseile of hem-self. Than thei loked a-boute and be-helde towarde the see where thei saugh the cristin a litill vn-closed, and that wey thei toke the flight thourgh the medowes, streight toward the see that was ther nygh; and whan the kynge Arthur saugh hem goinge, he cried, "Now after hem alle attonys;" and there was many a stroke smyten in the chace, ffor the saisnes were grete and stronge, and bolde and hardy, and full of grete prowesse, and often thei returned vpon hem that hem pursued, and the cristin hem resceyved with good will, and there were many of the saisnes deed and sore wounded, and the chace so endured, turnynge often as thei were in flight, till that thei com to the see, where their fonde thre of theire Galeyes, that Landalus dide guyde, and a-boode ther for vitaile that sholde come from hem that were gon in forrey to the Castell of Garlot; and whan the saisnes saugh the Galeyes thei were full gladde, and ronne in who that myght first in the grettest haste. But thei cowde not hem so hasten but ther was of hem drowned mo than two thousande, and thei that were entred kutte a-sonder the ropes and dressed theire sailes, and ascaped in to the see, and wente ther as the wynde and fortune wolde hem drive, that in euell maner hadde theire ioure araied; and whan the kynge Arthur and his barouns saugh that thei haue hem so loste, thei returned to the playnes of Garlot to theire tentes, and yolde graces to oure lorde of the victorie that thei hadde in this bateile; and for thei were wery for traueile, thei hem resten at theire ese of all that thei myghten as thei that hadde grete myster, ffor wery thei were of the traueile of the strokes yevinge and also resceyuinge in the stour, that hadde be right grete, and than ete and dranke, and than loked the wounded and hurt peple, and hadde hem to the castell of Garlot, and were of hem xxxv knyghtes, and v were wounded of the companye of the rounde table, wherfore the kynge Arthur was full pensif and sory, and that oon was hervy de rivell, and

males le bruns, and the thridde was Clamedos, and the fourthe was Arestobolus, and the v^e landouns of Carmelide; and the kynge Arthur praied the leche to take of hem good hede, and thei badde he sholde not be dismayed, ffor in short terme thei sholde be hool, and sounde with helpe of god; and ther-fore was the kynge gladde and alle the Barouns, and ther thei soiourned that nyght till it was day, that Merlin bad hem trusse tentes and Pavilouns, and that thei sholde come after hym redy armed her enmyes to assaile, and a-non it was don as he comaunded; and than thei ride forth toward Clarence, and whan thei were so nygh, that thei myght se tentes and Pavelouns, Merlin hem shewed to the kynge Arthur, and seide, "Sir, lo yonder theym by whos comaundement the londe is distroied of yow and youre barouns. Now shall it be shewed how ther-of shall be take vengaunce, ffor this day be ye come all for to lese or all for to wynne, this day shull men se who is bolde and hardy, or who is of valour, this day shall be sein who can smyte [folio 213a] with swerde or spere, this day shall be shewed the grete prowesse of the reame of logres, thys day is the grete nede and the myster, ffor this day shall the reame of logres be distroied or honoured, and I do yow to wete alle the barouns that be here assembled that ye praye oure lorde to diffende the reame of logres from shame and myschaunce;" and thei alle seide, "Amen." And than alle thei cried bothe prevy and straunge that thei wolde alle do at his wille and at his pleiser; and he seide that seth thei wolde do after his counseill, thei sholde haue no drede of nothinge, and "ye shull haue this day the victorye;" and thei ansuerde, "We be alle ther-to redy and appareiled." Than seide Merlin, "I will that ye me graunte that in all thinge ye shull do my wille;" and thei seide thei wolde with good will. "Yet," quod Merlyn, "I will that the kynge Arthur me graunte firste of alle;" and than he graunted hym a-noon right, and so dide alle the other; and than seide Merlin, "Ffeire lordes, this day is come the grete distruxion of the grete Breteigne, but yef god put to his hande and his good counseile, ne it may not be distrued in no maner. Ne these

peple shull neuer be disseuered ne departed er ye haue pees with the kynge Arthur, and that heue ye me graunted."

Whan the barouns this vndirstoden ther were some that it liked nothinge, but other-wise myght it not be, and so thei graunted alle to the volunte of Merlin, and dide homage to the kynge Arthur oon after a-nother, and of hym resceived theire londes and theire fees all tho that ought it for to do; and than the ioye was grete thourgh all the hoste; and than thei devised theire bateiles, and wente a-gein the saisnes that weren at the sege be-fore Clarence that it dide assaile from day to day, but it was so stronge that thei myght but litill wynne, ffor it was well garnysshed of good peple and vitaile, ffor alle tho that eny armes myght bere of x myle a-boute were with-ynne the town bothe knyght, and burgeise, and oon and other, wher-of ther was lv.^Ml that many of hem were full bolde and hardy, and defensable, and diffended the town a-gein the saisnes full vigerously, and launched at hem many a quarell, and many a sharpe spere and dart wher-with many a saisne was slain and sore wounded, that neuer after ne dide ride ne go; and grete and hidouse was the assaut the same hour that the cristin com vpon; and Merlin and his companye com with the grete baner in his hande, and whan he com nygh the saisnes he sente his peple in four partyes of the hoste of saisnes, and smyten thourgh the tentes and thourgh the pavelons, and kutte a-sonder ropes and cordes, and threwe down all that stode vpright, and the saisnes that of this comynge toke no rewarde, herde the noyse, and the bruyte, and the lowde cries, and saugh theire pavelouns ouerthrowen on euery side, thei were gretly affraied and lefte the assaute, and turned that wey who that myght sonest, eche hastyer than other; and than ther was soche noyse and shoute whan eche man cried his ensigne that oon myght here it a myle of lengthe; and than be-gan the bateile fierce and merveilouse, and smyte sore with speres and swerdes that oon vpon the tother, and grete was the slaughter on bothe sides. But for oon [folio 213b] that was deed of the cristin was foure deed of the saisnes, neuertheles thei were moo peple, and

of gretter strengthe than were cristin. But the cristin were wonder light and delyuer, and full of high prowesse to furnyssh a bateile, and at the firste brunt was many a cristin leide to grounde, and many a saisne deed, wherfore the kynge hardogobran was full wroth and angry, and he griped in his hande a grete plante of an oke ther-on an heed of steill sharp I-grounde, and com rynnynge with grete randon a-gein the kynge Cleoles that for the love of oure lorde was come to that iourney with vij^Ml men that full well dide in that stoure; and whan Cleoles saugh hym come, he deigned not to fle as he that was of grete hardynesse, but turned the heed of his horse with his spere in fewtre, and mette so with grete raundon and force that the sheldes perced and hauberkes dismayled, but the flessh thei not touched, but thei hurteled so to-geder with theire helmes and sheldes, for the horse com with grete ravyn, and mette breste a-gein breste that bothe fill to grounde, horse and the men, ffor the speres were spent, and thei lefte lyinge on the grounde sore a-stonyed that thei myght not meve, ffor the horse lay vpon hem as thei hadde be deed, and the two kynges were bothe in swowne theym vnder; and grete was the bateile to rescowe the two princes, ffor alle the bateilles of the saisnes ronne that wey, and also dide the cristin. Ther was many a hevy stroke yoven and resceyved, and the saisnes remountede the kynge hardogobran; but first was deed moo than two thousande what oon and other, and on that other side the cristin remounted Cleoles, but thei fonde his lifte arme broken in the falle that he hadde, and ther-fore were his men sory and wrorth, and a-noon lete bere hym to the harneys; and whan thei hadde leyde hym on a cowche, he preide his men for goddes love to go to the bateile, and thei so dide full Irouse, and in talent to avenge theire lorde, and thei slough at that enuaye two kynges of the saisnes wher-of that oon was cleped Brangore, and the tother Margounces. This Margounces was cosin germayn to Aungis the saisne, and than thei be-gonne to do so well in armes that moche were thei preised and comended, and be-holde for grete merveile of the saisnes and of the cristin; and also

on that other side faught the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and the kynge Ventres, and the kynge Vrien; and on a-nother side of the bateile faught the kynge Tradilyuaunt of north walys, and the kynge de Cent Chiualers, and the kynge Clarion of Northumbirlonde, and the Duke Escam of Cambenyk; and on that other side of the hoste faught the kynge Belynans, and the kynge of Strangore, and the kynge of Scotlonde, and the kynge of Cornewaile, and Mynoras the senescall of the kynge lak, and of the kynge Euadain that were brethern to the kynge Clamedien, and Galegnynans the Senescall of Galehaut, the sone of the Geaunt, and the Duke Belyas of loseres, and Margondes, the senescall of Sorloys, that alle were come for the love of oure lorde; [folio 214a] and on that other side Gosenges, the sone of kynge Amant, and Nabunall his Senescall, and Cleodalis the Senescall of kynge leodogan of Carmelide; and on a-nother part of the hoste was the kynge Arthur, and the kynge looth, and sir Gawein, and his brethern, and sir Ewein, and Segramor, and kay the stiwarde that bar the baner, and the bateile was so well be-gonne on euery parte that it was merveile; and Merlin wente from o bateile to a-nother, and satte vpon a courser, and cried lowde, "Now lete se now gentill knyghtes, now is come the day and the houre that youre prowesse shall be shewed;" and whan the kynge and the princes herde Merlin crie, thei constreyned hem-self to shewe the grettest force that thei hadden; and whan thei of the town saugh the bateile so mortall and so dolerouse, and thei saugh the cristin and the saisnes throwen to grounde so thikke, that oon fill on a-nother. And thei saugh the signes of the reade crosse in the white baners, and thei thought wele it was socour that god hadde hem sent, and made the yates to be opened and issed oute of the town alle armed and smote in to the bateile full vigerously, and be-gonne to do full well in armes, and so dide alle the other. But a-monge the saisnes thei fonde grete diffence. But the barouns and the saisnes that herde Merlin crye that the day was come of the grete nede, and than eche of hem shewed his grettest force, and be-gonne to do so well on

euery side that the saisnes were sore atte the werse. But who dide wele or who nought in that iourney, hem alle dide Arthur surmounte, and sir Gawein, and his brethren, and sir Ewein, and Segramor, and Elizer, and the kynge Ban, and the kinge Bohors. These shewed wonderfull merveiles with theire bodyes, ffor a-gein theire strokes hadde no knyght power to a-bide in his sadell, ne no steill hem with-stode; and dide so well be the grete hardynesse of theire bodyes that the saisnes were putte to discounfiture, ffor thei toke no rewarde to sle the pore saisnes, but turned the heedes of theire horse thider as thei saugh the richeste apparence of armes and stedes; and dide so well that of alle the kynges that the kynge Hardogobran hadde brought, ne ascaped but he and v kynges, and of hem oon was the kynge Orienx, and the seconde the kynge Sorbar, and the thridde the kynge Cornycans, and the fourthe was the Admyrall Napin, and the v^th was the kynge Murgalans de trebahan; these v kynges ascaped with the kynge Hardogobran, and hadde well in her companye xxx^Ml saisnes, that alle departed from the bateile mate and discounfited be strengthe of the swyftnesse of horse, and fledde to theire navie, and the cristin hem chaced to the see, and hilde hem so shorte in the entringe to the shippes that ther were of hem slain and drowned the haluendell or more; and thei that were in the shippes ascaped wroth and sorowfull for the losse that thei hadden, and thei hadde but litill while gon whan thei saugh the shippe of kynge Gondofles, and lanor [folio 214b] that were fledde fro the discounfiture, and eche of hem knewe well other, and made full grete sorowe for theire grete losse, and in this maner thei went sailinge thourgh the see. But of hem at this tyme speketh not the storie, but turneth to speke of the kynge Arthur, and of his companye.