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

CHAPTER V.
MARRIAGE OF THE KING WITH YGERNE; BIRTH OF ARTHUR; AND DEATH OF THE KING.

Thus was the Duke of Tintagel deed, and the castell loste. The kynge spake to his barons, and seide that sore hym for thought the myschaunce of the Duke. And the kynge toke a-visement of his counseile how he myght this thinge a-mende. And his barons ne blamede hym nought, though he did not hate the duke dedly, and that he were hevy for the mysauenture. "Truly," seide the kynge, "to my power I wolde fain make the

a-mendes." Than spake Vlfyn, and seide, "Sir, seth this a-venture is thus be-fallen, it moste be a-mended in the beste wise it may." Than Vlfyn toke a-part the barons, and seide, "How seme ye that this myght be amended a-geyn the lady and a-geyn the Dukes frendes, wherof the kynge asketh yow counseile. And ye moste counseile hym the beste to youre power as youre lorde." And thei seiden, "We wolde gladly rede hym the beste, and therfore we pray yow to yeve vs counseile for oure moste wurschip how we myght beste be demened in this matere, that the kynge forsake not oure counseile; for we knowe wele that ye are well in his grace." And Vlfyn seide, "Yef I be wele in his grace, trow ye that I sholde counseile a thynge be-hynde hym that I sholde not sey be-fore hym; than holde ye me for a tray-tour yef I sholde be soche. And yef the pees and the a-mendement to the lady lay in me, I wolde rede hym soche thinges that ye ne durste not thynken." And they seide, "We trowe yow wele, and wele we knowe that ye be wise and trewe, and of gode counseile; and therfore we pray yow to connseile vs what were beste to requere the kynge ynne, after that we have sein and knowe verily." And Vlfin seide, "I shall sey yow myn avise, and yef ye can better, sey it ye. I rede the kynge sende after alle the Dukes frendes, and that [folio 26b] the kynge go to Tintagel, and make alle the ladies frendes to come also be-fore hym. And whan they beth come be-fore hym, that he profer for the pees and a-mendes for the Dukes deth, that yef they it refusen, that thei be holde for foles, and he for a wise man and a trewe. In this wise, he that wele haue pees, it moste be made." And thei that were wise seide, "We holde vs to youre counseile, ne neuer for vs shall he haue other." Than they come be-fore the kynge, and seiden the counseile that thei hadde founden; but thei ne seide not that Vlfyn hadde it hem yoven, for so he hem hadde praide and required. And þus as he hadde hem enformed they seide be-fore the kynge. And the kynge seide to this, "I a-corde me well, and will that it be so as ye haue devised." And than the kynge sente to alle the Dukes kenrede, and alle by letteres, that thei sholde come to hym to Cardoel, and yaf gode trewys,

and that he sholde a-mende alle the fautes wherof thei cowde hem complayne. Thus seide the kynge be-fore alle his barons, and so departed fro the castell. And Merlin com to the kynge, and seide, "Wite ye who hath yove this counseile that ye haue comaunded." And the kynge seide, "Nay, but that the nobill men and wise me dide reden." And Merlyn seide, "Amonge hem alle thei cowde nought haue dought this rede, but Vlfyn that is wise and a trewe knyght hath ordeyned all this pees, and the beste ordenaunce that eny can thynke. And wite it wele that no man knoweth it, saue he and ye and I that he hath it seide." And than seide the kynge to Merlyn, "And how rede ye of this thinge?" Quod Merlin, "I knowe no better counseile, ne more trewe; and so shalt thow a-complisshe thy desere of thyn herte that thow art moste desiraunt. And now I muste go, but first I shall speke with the be-fore Vlfyn. And whan I am go, thow maiste aske Vlfin how he hath dought in makynge of this pees." And the kynge seide so wolde he don.

Than was Vlfin cleped; and whan he was come be-fore them two, Merlyn seide to the kynge, "Ye haue yove me be your power the heyer that ye haue be-geten, and therfore it is no reson that ye kepe hym to youre vse. And ye haue also the hour and the tyme I-writen that was in engendred. And ye knowe also that it was do be me, and so sholde myn be the synne; but I dede it helpe, for I trowe the moder ther-of sholde be sore a-schamed yef she her-silf dide it norish; and a woman hath no witte ageins that she may not hiden, and a-gein the worlde. And therfore I will that Vlfyn make a letter of recorde that I shall hym haue, and the houre and the nyght that he was in engendred. And ye shull no more se me be-fore that day that he shalbe born, the nexte nyght after. And I pray yow, as my lorde, that ye truste well to Vlfyn, of that he shall sey vnto yow, for he loveth yow full trewly, ne he shall not rede yow no-thynge but for youre profite and grete wurship. And I shall no more speke with yow these vj monethes, but I shall speke to Vlfyn, and therfore do be hys counseile, yef thow wilt holde trouth, and haue my love fro hens-forth."

In this maner kepte Vlfyn the recorde of the engenderinge of the childe. And Merlin toke the kynge in counseile, and seide, "Sir, thow shalt haue Ygerne in mariage; but be wel ware that she ne knowe not that thow leyn by her, and that is a thinge that moste shall make hir [folio 27a] in thy mercy, ffor yef thow aske hir be whom that she is grete, she can not telle the who is the fader, and so shall she haue of the grete shame; and also that is a thinge that may beste helpe me to haue the childe." And than Merlin toke leve of the kynge, and the kynge rode forth his iourneyes till he come to a Cardoel. And Merlin wente to Blase, and tolde hym alle these thinges, and many other, and alle he wrote in his boke. And whan the kynge was come to Cardoel, he sente after the men of hys counseile, and asked what was theire rede in this thinge. And thei seide, "We rede that ye make pees with the duchesse, and with the frendes of the Duke; and thei may well lete hir knowe that she may not hir diffende agein yow, and that ye will do hem grete wurship to have pees with hem; and also comaunde to go to Tintagel, to speke with the duchesse, and with the Dukes frendes, and loke yef thei will haue this pees; and yef youre counseilers a-corden, ye shull do as thei desire." Thus wente the barons to Tintagel; and the kynge a-bode at Cardoel, and toke Vlfin in counseile, and asked asked hym what he redde in this mater. And he seide his rede was to haue pees. And the kynge seide, "Vlfin, thow haste this pees ordeyned in thyn herte, and I wote well what." And Vlfin seide, "Yef I haue it purposed, and ye it knowen, than wite ye whether it plese yow or no?" And the kynge seide, "It plesith me wele, and wolde fain it were don as thow haste it devised in thy herte." And Vlfyn seide, "Ne entermete not yow to profer, ne to sone to graunten, for I shall it wele bringe to gode ende." And the kynge prayed ther-to hertely. Thus haue thei endid theire counseile. And the kynges massagers come to Tintagel, and fonde the duchesse and the frendes of the duke. And ther thei shewde their massage, and how that the duke was deed thourgh hys owne outerage, and seide also how the kynge was therfore right sory, and gladly wolde make

a-mendement to the lady, and to alle his frendes. And thei saugh wele that thei myght not deffende hem agein the kynges wratth, and therfore thei counseiled the lady and the frendes of the Duke to haue pees with the kynge. And the lady seide, and hir frendes, thei wolde take counseile. And so they wente togeder; and the ladyes frendes counseiled the frendes of the duke to haue pees with the kynge, and that he was slayn also by his owne outrage. "And also, ye knowe wele, we may not vs defende agein the kynge; but lete vs here thise worthi men what pees that the kynge will make with vs. And in soche maner it may be that it ought not to be refused, for of two euelles it is gode to take the lesse; and this is oure counseile." And the duchesse seide, "I will not refuse the rede of yow that beth the frendes of my gode lorde; ne I ne knowen not whom I sholde so wele love and truste." And thus thei com oute from this counseile."

And than spake oon of the worthiest and moste wise that was on the ladies side to the kynges messagers, and seide these wordes, "Sirs, my ladyes counseile and she wolde gladly witen what a-mendes the kynge wolde do of hir lorde that is deed?" And the messagers seyden a-noon, "Lordinges, we knowe not the will of the kynge, but thus moche he hath seide, that he will a-mende it be the a-vise and counseile of his barons." And than seide they, "He shall it a-menden wele, yef god will." Than toke they day till the quynsyne that the lady and hir frendes [folio 27b] sholde come be-fore the kynge, for to haue right, and to here what the kynge wolde sey, and yef the kynges profer myght not agre the lady, and also hir frendes, thei hadde saf condite to returne to Tintagel. Thus was take the day of a-mendement. And messagers com to the kynge, and seide as thei hadde founden, and the counseile that the lady hadde. And the kynge seide thei sholde haue conduyte with gode will, yef thei aske reson. In this manere soiourned the kynge all that woke at Cardoel, and spake be-twene hym and Vlfyn of many thinges. And at the quynsyne, be counseile of his barons, he sente to the duchesse conduyte. And whan she was come, the kynge made

aske of the lady and hir counseile, what a-mendes she required for the deth of hir lorde. The ladyes counseile ansuerde and seide, "Sir, my lady is not comen to aske a-mendes, but for to here what shall be don to hir for the deth of hir lorde." And thei that the kynge hadde made aske this demande, come to the kynge, and seide as thei hadden herde. And than the kynge prased gretly theire wise ansuere; and than the kynge asked his barons and his counseile, "What is youre rede in this mater?" And thei seide, "That many no man knowe, saf youre-self, what pees ye will make with hem, ne what ye will hem offre." And the kynge seide, "I shall sone haue tolde yow the thought of myn herte; ye be alle my men and of my counseile, and therfore I put it all vpon yow, and kepe ye myn honoure as ye owe to do. And what ye ordeyne I shall it not denye." And they seide, "More may we not asken; but this is yet a grete thinge that we dar it not vndirtake; but we be right sure that ye shull vs come no magre." And Vlfin seide, "It semeth that ye holde the kynge a fole, whan ye leve no thinge that he seith vnto yow." And thei seide, "Yesse, we trow hym wele; but we beseche the kynge that he comaunde yow to ben oon of vs, and to helpe vs to counseile by yowre advyse in the beste wyse that ye can."

Whan the kynge herde hem desire Vlfyn to be of here counseile, he made semblaunce as he hadde be gladde, and seide to Vlfyn, "I have norshid the, and made the a riche man, and I knowe wele thow art wise; go forth and counseile hem the beste that thow canste or mayste." And he ansuerde, "So shall I do, seth ye me comaunden; but this I will that ye knowe, that ther is no kynge ne prince that may be to moche be-loved of his peple, ne he may not to moche obbeye hym-self for to haue theire hertes." Thus wente Vlfin to counseile a-monge the barons and the worthy men. And whan thei were come to-geder they asked the best rede in this cas. And Vlfin seide, "Ye haue wele herde how the kynge hath put hym vpon yow; now lete vs go to

the lady and hir frendes, and wete yef they will holde the same." And thei ansuerde that he had wele seide and wisely. And so they yede to the lady and hir frendes, to knowe theire will. And whan thei were come be-fore hir, of her wordes this was the somme. Thei seiden how the kynge hadde a-greed hym-self all to theire ordenaunce; "and thei we come for to knowe, yef she and hir frendes wolde assente to the ende and a-mendes that they wolde ordeyne in the same wise as did the kynge." And her frendes seide of this thei wolde take counseile. And she toke hir counseile to-geder what was beste to do ther-inne. And thei seide the kynge myght no more profer than to put hym-self in the ordenaunce of his barons. To this thei acorded, bothe the kynge and the lady and her frendes, and the parentes of the Duke, and maden gode suertee, bothe on that oon [folio 28a] part and the tother. And than the barons wente to-geder, and asked oon of a-nother what was beste rede in this mater. And whan euery man hadde seide his advise, thei asked Vlfin what was his rede in that cas. And Vlfyn seide, "I shall sey myn avise, and that I say I will sey in all places. Ye knowe well," quod Vlfyn, "that the Duke was deed by the kynge and by his force, and that he hadde not forfet for to dye. And, wite ye wele, the lady is lefte charged with childe; and ye knowe well the kynge hath hir londe wasted and distroyed. And ye knowe wele also that she is oon of the beste ladies of the worlde, and oon of the wisest; and ye knowe also that the parentes of the Duke haue grete losse by thys deth, and therfore it is right that the kynge restore hem agein her londes, after that thei ben; and that he haue here hertes and hir love. And on the tother part, ye knowe that the kinge is withoute wif; and I sey as be myn avise, the kynge ne may a-mende this damage, but yef he take hir to his wif; and this me semeth he ought wele to do for hir and for oure love, and for them of the reeme that of this a-mendes shull heren. And whan he hath all thus do, and graunded that, than he first of all mary the Dukes eldest doughter to kynge loth of Orcanye, whiche is here

presente, and to his other frendens, that he do so, that they holde hym here gode lorde and trewe kynge."

"Now haue ye herde," quod Vlfin, "my counseile; now may ye sey what ye semeth yef this be not to yow a-greable." And thei ansuerde alle with oon assent, and seide, "Thow hast seide the beste counseile of the worlde, and the hiest that euer man durste thynke. And yef ye dur sey so to the kynge as ye haue seide here, and that we may se he therto a-corde, and we shull yow helpe ther-to right gladly." And Vlfin ansuerde, "Ye ne sey not i-nough, but yef ye will ther-to a-corde playnly, I shall reherse the wordes to the kynges presence. And lo, here the kynge of Orcanye, on whom I sey grete parti of the pees, and therfore lete vs here hys avise." And the kynge loth seide, "For ought that ye haue seide touchinge me, I will not that the pees be lefte." And whan thise othir herde this, thei a-corden to this counseile alle, and com to the kynges teinte. And the lady was sente fore, and alle that weren of hir counseile. And whan thei were alle assembled, thei sat alle, saf Vlfin; he was stondinge, and rehersed the a-corde of the pees as it was be-fore spoken. And than he seide to the barons, "Be ye not alle thus a-corded?" And they seiden alle, "Yesse." Than he turned to the kynge, and seide, "Sir, how sey ye to this thinge; will ye ther-to agreen to the acorde and ordenaunce of these worthy lordes?" And the kynge seide, "Ye, yef the duchesse and her frendes be contente, and that the kynge loth will for me take the Dukes doughter." And than ansuerde the kynge loth, "Sir, ther is nothinge that ye me requyre for youre love or youre profite but I will it gladly performe." Than spake Vlfyn to hym that hadde the wordes for the duchesse, a-lowde, that alle it myght heren, and seide, "Assente ye to this pees and acorde?" And ansuerde full wisely and pitously, be-holdinge his lady and her counseile, of whom the tounges of hir hertes were at hir yen, so that thei gonne wepe for ioye and pite; and he also that ansuerde to Vlfyn dide wepe, and seide that so high and wurschipful a-mendes [folio 28b] dide neuer a lorde to his man. And than the lady and hir counseile toke theire avisement, and thei

seiden, "Ther is no man in the worlde but he ought her-to assenten; wherfore we rede in-as-moche as we se that the kynge is so gracious a man and so trewe, that after alle these wordes we submytte vs holy to his ordenaunce." And thus was the pees graunted on that oon side and the tother. And so Vterpendragon toke Ygerne to his wif, and maried her doughter to kynge loth of Orcanye. The weddynge of the kynge and Ygerne was the xxti day after that he hadde by hir leyn in hir chamber. And of her doughter that was maried to kynge loth com Gawein, Agrauuayn, Gaheret, and gaheries, and mordred. And the kynge uentres of Garlot hadde a-nother of hir doughters, that was geten on baste, whos name was Morgeins. And be the counseile of alle hir frendes the kynge sette hir to skole in an house of religion, and she lerned so moche of an arte that is cleped astronomye, wher-in she wrought many tymes; and by that crafte was she cleped morgne-le-fee. The other doughters alle the kynge dide marye, and moche he dide for the Dukes kyn and frendes.

Thus was the kynge wedded to Ygerne, and kepe her till her gretnesse apered. And as the kynge on a nyght lay with her, he asked with whom she was so grete, and þat she myght not be so grete with hym, seth the tyme thei were wedded, ffor he hadde neuer tyme with her leyn but that the tyme was wreten; ne she ne myght be grete by the Duke, for longe tyme be-fore his deth she hadde not hym seyn. Thus the kynge oposed Ygerne, and she hadde grete drede, and seide wepinge, "Sir, of this that ye sey I may make to yow no lesynge, ne of other thinges shall I not lyen; ffor oure lordes love, haue mercy on me, and I shall telle yow a merveile that is very soth, yef ye will me assure, yef it plese yow, that ye shull not me forsaken." Quod the kynge, "Seith on hardely, for I will not departe fro yow in no wise for nothinge that ye sey." And than was the quene glad, and seide, "Sir, I shall telle yow a wonder thinge." And she tolde hym how a man hadde leyn with hir in semblaunce of the Duke, and brought with hym two men in semblaunce of two that the Duke loved beste of all the worlde. And thus com he to my chambir, seinge alle my peple, and lay with me. And

I wende verily it hadde be my lorde; and he be-gate the childe that I am now with so grete. And I knowe wele it was that same nyght that my lorde were slain, for he lay with me whan tydinges com of my lordes deth. And than made he me to vndirstonde that he was my lorde, and that his peple ne wisten not that he was come to me. And so he departed, when he hadde herde these tidinges, and seide to me, 'Feire wif, loke than noon this knowe, as moche as ye may kepe this secret, for so sholde ye be shamed yef it were knowen,'" "And I will that ye it knowe that this childe that shalbe born of yow, nys nother youre ne myn by reson; wherfore I pray yow that whan it is born, ye yevith ther as I shall comaunde to be yoven, that neuer we here ther-of speke." And she ansuerde, "Sir, of me and all that to me aperteneth, may ye do youre volunte." Than com the kynge [folio 29a] to Vlfyn, and tolde these wordes of hym and the quene.

When Vlfyn vndirstode, he ansuerde the kynge, "Now may ye knowe that my lady is both gode and trewe, and also wise, that so grete a thinge durste yow counsell. And ye haue also wele spedde the entente of Merlin, that in other maner ne myght haue the childe that she is with grete." Thus they endured to the vj monethes ende, that Merlyn hadde sette to speke with Vlfyn previly, and hym asked tydinges of that he wolde; and when thei hadde spoke to-gedir, he sente after the kynge be Vlfyn. And whan they were alle thre assembled, the kynge tolde Merlin how he hadde do with the quene, and how he hadde made the pees for to haue the childe. And Merlin seide, "Vlfyn is som-what a-quytte of the synne that he hadde in the love makinge, but I am not yet a-quyt of that; I helped to disseyve the lady ne of the childe that she hath with-inne hir, of whom she wote not who is the fader." And the kynge seide, "Ye be so gode and so wise that ye can yow wele in this a-quyten." And Merlin seide, "Ther-to moste ye helpe." And the kynge seide he wolde hym helpe in all the maner that he can, and the childe wolde he make hym to haue. And Merlin

seide, "Ther is in this contre a gode man, that is oon of the trewest of all thi reame; and he hath a wif that is gode woman and a wise, and the trewest of this londe and beste tacched of alle gode condiciouns; and she is now leide down in hir bedde of a childe male, and hir lorde is not moste riche man; ther-fore I wolde that ye sende for hym, and yeve so of youre goode, that he and the gode lady his wif swere on a boke to kepe a childe that shalbe brought vnto them, and that she yeve it soke of hir owne mylke, and hir owne childe to be put to a-nothir woman to be norisshed, and that they norisshe and kepe that childe that shalbe brought vnto hem." And the kynge seide, "Euen as thow haste seide, so shall I do." And Merlin toke his leve, and wente to Blase. And Vterpendragon sente after this noble knight; and whan he was come, the kynge made hym gret chere; and merveiled why the kynge made hym soche grete feeste. And the kynge seide, "Dere frende, I most discure to yow a merveile that is me be-fallen, and ye be my lege man, and therfore I pray yow for the feith that ye owen vnto me, that ye me helpe, after that I haue seide yow my counseile, and that ye kepe it secrete to youre power." And he ansuerde, "Syr, ther is nothinge that ye sey to me, or commaunde me to do, but that I shall do it with all my power; and yef it be a thynge that I may not do, I shall it wele counseile." And the kynge seide, "Ther is be-falle to me a wondir thynge in my slepe: of a man that come be-fore me, and seide ye be the worthiest man of all my reame, and moste trewe to me; and also he seide that ye hadde engendered on youre wif a childe that is born; and he badde me that I sholde pray yow to put youre owne childe to sowken a-nother woman, for my love, and youre wif to yeve the childe sowken of her owne mylke that [folio 29b] shall be brought vn-to hir, and it kepe and norisshen."

Whan the gode man herde this ansuere, "Sir, this is a grete thynge that ye me requyre: that I sholde my childe disseuer from his nature, and make hym to be norisshed of a-nothir woman; and, sir, I pray yow, when shall this childe be born, and to me be brought?" And the kynge seyde, "So god

me helpe, I wote neuer." And than seide the knyght, "Sir, ther is nothinge in this worlde that ye me comaunde but I shall it don." Than the kynge yaf hym so grete yeftes that he was all astoned ther-of, and com home to his wif, and tolde her as the kynge hadde seide. And whan she it herde, she thought it a straunge thinge, and seide, "Sir, how may I that do, for to leve my sone for another mannes?" And the gode man seide, "Ther is nothinge but that we moste it do for hym that it oure sourein lorde; and he hath yoven vs so moche, and promysed, that we moste nede don hys plesir and his volunte, and I will verily that ye it graunten." And she ansuerde, "I am yowre and the childe youre, therfore do with me and with hym youre will; and I it graunten wele, for I ought in no wise to do agein your volunte." Than he bad hir ordeyne a-nother woman to norissh hir sone, for he dide but a-waite after the hour that the tother sholde be brought; and thus disseuerid the gode man his sone fro his wif. And the kynge sawgh that the quene was redy to ly down. And the day be-fore com Merlin to court secretly, and seide to Vlfyn, "I am wele plesed with the kynge, for he hath wele do as I seide to hym. Now go, bid hym go to the quene, and bid hym telle her that shall haue chylde to-morow at nyght, after mydnyght, and comaunde her that she do the childe to be delyuered to the firste man that shall mete at issue of the halle." And whan Vlfyn herde that, he seide, "Shull ye not speke with the kynge?" And Merlin seide, "No." Than com Vlfyn to the kynge, and seide as Merlin hadde comaunded. Whan the kynge herde that, he made grete ioye, and seide, "Shall I not speke with Merlyn er he go?" And Vlfin seide, "Nay; but do as he hath sente yow worde." Than yede the kynge to the quene, and seide, "I shall telle yow a thynge that ye shall fynde trewe, and doth as I shall comaunde yow." And she seide, "Sir, I will do as ye comaunde." And the kynge seide, "To-morow, after mydnyght, with the grace of god, ye shull be deliuered of the childe in youre

wombe; And I pray yow and require that as soone as it is born that ye take it to oon of youre moste secrete woman, and bid hir deliuer it to the firste man þat she fyndeth at the issue of the halle; and that ye sey to hem that be at the birthe of the childe that they speke neuer worde ther-of, ne discure that ye hadde childe, for moche peple shull sey than that it were neuer myn, ne me semeth not it sholde be." And the lady ansuerde, "Sir, that I haue tolde yow is trewe;" and seide, "I knowe not who it be-gat; and I shall do that ye comaunde as she that hath grete shame of hir mysauenture. But of this haue I grete merveile: that ye knowe so wele my delyueraunce; and I pray yow that ye do as I yow say;" and seide, "So shall I do so god be myn helpe." Thus departed the counseile of the kynge and the quene. And she a-bode as longe as god wolde. And the morowe after evesonge toke hir grete disese of trauelinge, vnto the hour that the kynge hadde hir seide, and a-noon after mydnyght she was delyuerid. And than a-noon she cleped a woman that she moste trusted, and seide, "Take this childe, and bere it to the halle dore, and yef ye fynde ther a man that it aske, deliuere it to hym, and take gode hede what man he be." This [folio 30a] woman dide as the quene comaunded; toke the childe, and folded it in the beste clothes that she hadde, and bar it to the halle dore; and whan she come ther, she fonde a man that semed right olde and rympled. And she seyde, "What a-bidest thow after?" And he seide, "For that that thow bringeste." And she seide, "What man art thow; to whom shall I telle my lady that I haue yoven her childe?" Quod he, "Ther-of hast thow nought to done, but do as thow art comaunded;" and toke hym the childe. And a-noon as he it hadde, she wiste not where he was be-comen, and com ayen to the lady, and seide she hadde yove the childe to right an olde man; but I wote not what he is elles, for as sone as I hadde it hym delyuered he was vanysshid in soche maner that I knewe not where he be-cam." The quene dide wepe, as she that hadde grete doel, and he that hadde this childe

yede as faste as he myght to Antor, and fonde hym erly, as he was goinge to masse. And he hadde take the semblaunce of a moche olde man, and called to hym, and seide, "Antor! I wolde speke with the." "And I with yow," quod he gladly. The olde man seide, "I haue brought the a childe, and I pray the that thow do it norisshe as richely as thow wolde do thyn owne. And, wite thow wele, yef thow do thus, grete gode shall come to the and thyn heyres; and yef a man tolde it the, thow woldest it not be-leve." And Antor ansuerde, "This is the childe that the kynge me praide to norisshe of my wif, and to put a-wey myn for hym." And he seide, "It is the same saunzfaile; and the kynge and all worthi men and worthi wemen oughten the to preyen, and I my-self the preye; and, wite it well, that my prayer is as moche worth as a riche mannes." Antor toke the childe, and saught it was right faire, and asked yef it were cristned, and he saide, "Nay; but now a-noon do it baptise in this chirche." And Antor toke it gladly, and asked of hym "What shall be his name?" And he seide, "My rede is that thow clepe it Arthur, and thow shalt fynde that it shall falle to the grete welthe, er thow haue it kept longe while. And thow ne thy wif shall not wite whethir thow shalt love better of thi childe or hit."

Antor seide, "Who shall I sey hath take me this childe, and what man ye be?" And he seide, "Ye shall not knowe at this tyme no more of me." And thus thei departed, and Antor made the childe to be baptised, and cleped hym Arthur, and bar hym to his wif, and seide, "Lo, here the childe that I haue yow so moche I-praide fore." And she seide, "It is welcome." And she toke it, and asked yef it were baptised. And he seide, "Ye, and his name is Arthur." Than the lady yaf it sowke, and it norisshed, and put her sone to a-nothir woman. And Vterpendragon hilde after the londe longe tyme; and so he fill in a grete sekenesse of the gowte in handes and feet. And thanne a-ros the Danes in many places of the londe a-gein hym, and dide grete outrage; so that he sente for his barons, and asked theire counseile. And the barons redden to be avenged vpon hem, yef he

myght. Than seide Vterpendragon, "I pray yow assemble yow a power as worthi men owe for theire lorde." And thei seide thei wolde so with gode will. And so they yede, and met with their enmyes, and saugh that thei hadde drawe to hem grete part of the londe. And the kynges men were with-outen a lorde assembled, and were discounfited; and so loste the kynge grete part of his men. Whan the kynge herde tydinges that his men were discounfited, he was full wroth. Than come the remenaunte from the bataile. [folio 30b] And whan the tother party hadde discounfited this bataile, thei encresed moche of peple, and wexed right stronge. And Merlin, that alle these thinges knewe, com to Vterpendragon, that for his maladie was right feble. And whan he wiste that Merlyn was come, he was gladde, and thought in his herte that now he sholde haue counfort. Whan Merlin come be-fore Vterpendragon, he made hym right feire chere. And Merlin seide, "Ye be right seke, and gretly ye be afraide." And Vterpendragon seide, "I haue right, for my men, and that ye knowe wele, and that I wende to haue no drede of, haue distroyde my reame, and slayn my men in bataile." And Merlin seide, "Now maist thow se that peple ne a-vaile not in bataile with-oute a gode lorde." And the kynge seide, "For godes love, Merlin, counseile me what I shall do." And Merlin seide, "I will telle the a thynge in previte, that I will tho byleve: make somowne all thyn oste an thy peple; and whan thei be alle come, do the to be bore in a lytier, and so go fight with thyn enmyes; and, wite it verily, thow shalt hem venquise. And whan thow hast hem venquysed, thow shalt knowe well what a londe is worth that is with-outen a kynge. And whan thow hast thus don, departe for god, and for thy soule all thy tresour, for thow maiste not longe ther-after lyven. And I will wele that thow knowe that thei that haue this grete auers, and diden er it be departed, that the merite of the godes be not theires; but it is theirs that will not suffre hem to do nought for theire owne soules, and tho be develes. And, wite wele, it were better to the richeman that he hadde neuer nought I-hadde, but he departe in his lif tyme. The richesse and the honoures

of the worlde doth but annoye to the soule; but yef it be spent and departed as it oweth to be, and thow that knowest thow moste make an ende, thow oweste to departe hem in soche maner that thow lese not the lif perdurable, ne the ioye of the tother worlde; for this is but vanyte, and that shall I shewe in oon worde; noon hath here so grete ioye erthly to whom it ne faileth, and that oon beyeth in the othir worlde may neuer faile ne a-peire; and what oon suffred in this worlde, oure lorde doth it to prove hym for the tother. Therfore, yef thow be wise of that god hath the yoven in this mortall lif, that thow ther-with purchase the lif euerlastynge. And thow that haste had so grete goodes in this worlde, what hast thow do for oure lorde that alle these graces hath the yoven? I haue the moche loved, and I love the, and knewe wele that noon may so wele love as thi-self; and as I haue the seide, thow maist not longe lyve after this victorye. And alle the gode dedis a man doth by his lyve is litill a-vaile but yef he haue gode ende; and yef thow haddest do alle the gode dedes of the worlde, and thyn ende were euell, thow were in a venture all for to lese; and yef thow hadde don all the wikkednesse of the worlde, and thow haddest gode ende, thow sholdest haue pardon. And I do the to wite thow shalt nought haue with the oute of this worlde, but thy gode dedes. Now do that thow hast to do; and thow knowest wele that thy wif Ygerne is deed, and that thow maist no mo haue; and thy [folio 31a] londe be left after the with-outen heire; and therefore enforce the to do well, for thyn owen soule. Ffare-well now, for I haue no more with the to do; but bid Vlfyn to yeve credence to me whan myster is, and than he helpe me to bere trewe witnesse whan nede is, and recorde the trowthe." And Vterpendragon seide, "This is a ferly thinge that thow hast seide, I sholde venquyse myn enmyes in a litere; how may I that yelde to oure lorde?" And Merlin seide. "By thi gode ende. And now I go; I pray the, after the bataile, haue mynde of that I haue the seide." And Vterpendragon asked tidinges of the childe that he bar a-wey. And Merlin seide, "Of that ne recche the nothinge for to enquere; but this I will that thow wite, that the childe

is feire and well growen, and well taught and norisshed." And the kynge asked, "Shall I se yow euer eny more after this?" And Merlyn seyde, "Ye, ones, and neuer no more."

Thus departed the kynge and Merlin. And the kynge somowned his oste, and seide he wolde go with hem on his enmyes. Than he was ledde in a letere; and the sarazins com and fought with hym. And the kynges men, be the counseile of her lorde, discounfited their enmyes, and slowen grete plente; that hadde the kynge the victorye of the bataile, and venquysed his enmyes. And so the londe was set in pees; and than he be-thought hym of that Merlin hadde hym seide, and repeired to london, and sente for his grete tresour, and yaf his godes to gode men and gode women, and to mysese peple of his reame, and dide many faire almesse dedes; and the remenaunt he dide departe be the advise of his mynistres to holy cherche. Thus departed the kynge his tresoure, that nought be lefte to hym-self wher-of he cowde remembre, that he ne yaf all for the love of god by the counseile of Merlyn.

Full meke was the kynge a-gein god and the peple, and a-gein the mynistres of holy cherche, that alle thei hadde grete pite. Thus was he kepte longe tyme seke; and his peple were assembled at london, that grete doute hadde of his deth. And thei knewe wele that dye he moste, for he wax so feble that he myght not speke in thre dayes. Than com Merlin in to the town, that all this wiste wele. And whan he was come, the worthi men maden hym to come be-fore them, and seiden, "Merlyn, now is the kynge deed that ye loved so wele." And Merlin seide, "Ye sey not wele; noon shall dye that maketh so gode ende as he doth; ne he is not yet deed." And thei seide, "That he is, for this thre dayes he spake no speche, ne neuer shall speke worde." And Merlin seide, "Yef god will he shall speke; now, come, and ye shall heir hym speke." And they seide that than he dide grete merveile. Than thei rede ther as the kynge lay, and opened alle the wyndowes; and than thei seide, "Sir, lo here Merlin." And the kynge turned toward hym to his power, and made semblaunce that he knewe hym. And Merlyn seide to

the barons, prelates that ther weren, "Now heir the laste worde that the kynge shall speke." And than thei drough nere, and seide, "Trowest thow to make hym speke?" And Merlin seide, "Ye shull se."

Than Merlyn turned hym on the tother side of the pailet, and rowned in the kynges ere, and seide, "Thow haste made a faire ende, yef thi conscyence be soche as the semblaunce; and I telle the thi sone Arthur shall be kynge nexte of thy reame after the, be the vertu of [folio 31b] Ihesu criste, and shall a-complisshe the rounde table that thow haste be-gonne." Whan the kynge herde that, he drough towarde hym, and seide, "For godes love, pray hym to pray oure lorde Ihesu criste for me." And Merlin seide to hem that ther were, "Now haue ye herde the last worde that the kynge hath spoke to me; and ye wende that he shulde neuer haue spoken," And than wente Merlin, and alle the other that hadden grete merveile of Merlin that he hadde made hym to speken, ne ther was noon that wiste what the kynge hadde seide, saf Merlin. Thus ended the kynge, and the princes, and the barons, and bisshopes and archebisshopes dide hym the grettest honoure and the feirest servise that thei myght. Thus lefte the londe with-outen heyre. The morowe after the kynge was biried assembled the barons and the prelates of the cherche, and toke counseile how the reame sholde be gouerned, and neuer myght the counseile a-corde to noon. Than seide thei, be comen assent, thei wolde counseile with Merlyn, that hadde grete wisedom, and seide thei herde hym neuer but geve trewe counseile, and gode to euery man. Thus thei acorded, and sente to seche after Merlyn.