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Whan he was come be-fore hem, they seide, "Merlyn, we knowe well thow art wise, and haste alwey loved wele the kynges of this reame, and thow knowest wele that this londe is lefte with-outen heir; and a londe with-oute a lorde a-vaileth
litill. Therfore we pray the and requere to helpe vs to these soche a man as myght the reame gouerne, to the profite of the peple and sauacion of holy cherche." And Merlin seide, "I am no soche man that owe to entermete of soche counseile, ne that I sholde chese a man to be a gouernoure; but yef ye acorde to myn a-warde, I shall telle yow, and yef I sey not wele, a-corded not ther-to." And thei seide, "Alle to the welfare and profite of vs alle oure lorde sende grace!" And Merlin seide, "I haue mochc loved this reame and the peple ther-inne, and yef I wolde telle yow whom ye sholde make youre kynge, I ought wele to be beleved, and it were right; but oon faire a-uenture is yow befallen, yef ye will it knowen. The kynge is now deed sithe Martin-masse, and fro hens to yoole is but litill space; and yef ye leve my counseile, I shall yeve yow gode and trewe, bothe ageyn god and the worlde." And thei seiden all at ones, "Sey what thow wilte, and we shall it holden." And he seide, "Ye knowe wele that now cometh the feste that oure lorde was Inne I-bore, and he is lorde of alle lordes; and I will vndirtake, yef ye and alle the peple comynyally pray to oure lorde for his grete pite, for to sende yow a rightfull gouernour, as he, through his grete humylite at this feste, cleped yoole, liste to be born of a virgyn, and kynge of alle kynges; that he at this feste chese yow soche a man to be youre kynge and lorde, that the peple may rule and gouerne to his plesir; and that he shew soche demonstraunce that the peple may se and knowe that it is be his eleccion, and that he that so is chosen be kynge with-oute eny other eleccion; [folio 32a] and, wite ye well, yef ye thus do, ye shull se the eleccion of our lorde Ihesu criste." Than they ansuerde alle with oon assent, and seide, "We acorde with this counseile, and ther is noon erthly man but that he ought ther-to acorde." Than thei praide alle, bisshopis and archebisshopes, to comaunde thourgh alle the cherche, that the peple to praye as ye haue herde. And all the lordes were sworne oon to a-nother to holde the awarde of holy cherche, in that god wolde hem shewen. In this maner be thei acorded to the counseile of Merlin. And Merlyn toke leve of hem, and thei hym praide to be with hem at Cristemasse, to se yef it were
soth or no that he hadde hem taught. And Merlyn seide, "I shall not be ther, for ye shull not se me till the eleccion be made." Thus wente Merlin to blase, and tolde hym alle these thinges. Than alle the worthy men of the reame of logres, thei come vnto logres at the yole. Thus was this thinge don and a-biden to the yole. And Antor, that hadde this childe norisshed till he was a moche man of xv yere of age, he hadde hym trewly norisshed, so that he was faire and moche, and he hadde neuer soken other mylke but of his wif, and his sone he hadde made to be norysshed of a-nother woman, ne Antor wiste not whether he loved better, ne he cleped hym never but his sone, and he wende verily that he hadde ben his fader. At halowmasse Antor made hys sone knyght, and at yoole he come to logres, as did the other knyghtes of the londe, and brought with hym his two sones.
On yoole even was assembled alle the clergie of the reame, and alle the barouns that weren of valoure and wele hadde don as Merlin hadde seide; and whan they were alle come, thei ledde alle symple lif and honeste. Thus thei abode alle the yoole even, and weren at messe at mydnyght, and made mekely theine orisouns to oure lorde, that he of his grace sende hem soche a man that myght profitably meyntene hem and the cristen feith. Thus they a-bode the messe of the day, and so ther were many that seide thei were foles that trowed oure lorde wolde put his entente to chesinge of her kynge. And as thei were in this talkynge, thei rounge to messe of the day, and so thei yede to servise. Whan thei were alle assembled, ther was oon of the holiest men of the londe araied to singe the messe, but er he yede to messe, he spake to the peple and seide, "Ye be assembled for thre thinges for youre profite, and I shall say yow whiche thei be: Ffirst of all, for the sauacion of youre soules and for the wurship of god, and the myracle and high vertu that he thys day shall shewe a-monges vs yef it be his plesire to yeve vs a kynge and chiefteyn that may saue and mayntene holy cherche, that is the sustenaunce of alle trewe cristen peple, we be come to chese oon of vs, we be not so wise
to knowe who is moste profitable of alle this peple; and for that we ne knowe, we owe to praye to the kynge of kynges, that is Ihesu criste oure saucoure, that he shewe vs verry tokenynge to his pleasaunce as he was bore on this day, so euery man praye in the beste wise he can." And thus they did as the gode men hem counseiled; and [folio 32b] he yede forth to messe and he com to the gospell, and that thei hadden offred. Some of the peple yede oute of the cherche where ther was a voyde place; and whan they com oute of the cherche thei sawgh it gan dawe and clere, and saugh be-fore the cherche dore a grete ston foure square, and ne knewe of what ston it was; but some seide it was marble. And a-bove, in the myddill place of this ston, ther stode a styth of Iren that was largely half a fote of height, and thourgh this stithi was a swerde ficchid in to the ston.
When thei sye this that firste weren come oute of the chirche, thei hadde gret merveile, and yede a-gein into the chirche, and tolde the archebisshop. And whan the gode man that sange masse herde this, he toke haly water, and caste vpon the stith. And the archebisshop lowted to the swerde, and sawgh letteres of golde in the stiel; and he redde the letteres, that seiden, "Who taketh this swerde out of this ston sholde be kynge by the eleccion of Ihesu criste." And when he hadde redde this letteres, he seide to the peple what it ment. Than was the ston deliuered to x worthi men to kepe, and to two clerkes. Than thei seiden that oure lorde hadde hem shewed feire myracle; and yeden a-gein in to the mynistre to heir oute the masse, and to yelde oure lorde graces. And thei soungen 'te deum laudamus.' And whan the gode man was come to the awter, he turned to the peple, and seide, "Feire lordes, now may ye se that some of yow be goode men, when thourgh youre prayers and orisouns oure lorde hath shewde this grete myracle; wherfore I praye and reqire yow a-boue alle vertues in this erthe, for highnesse ne erthly richesse that god hath yoven in this worlde, that noon be a-gein this eleccion that god hath vs shewde the demonstraunce, and the surpluys he shall vs shewen at his volunte."
Thanne the godeman sange forth the masse; and whan it was fynisshed, they assembled a-boute the ston, bothe oon and other who that myght take oute this swerde firste. And than thei seiden and a-corded alle that thei sholde assaien it, as the mynistres of holy cherche wolde assigne. To this ther was grete discorde amonge the higheste men and moste puyssaunt; and thei that hadde force seide they wolden asseyen firste; so ther were many wordes that ought not to be rehersed. The archebisshop spake that alle myght here, and seide, "Sirs, ye ne be not so wise, ne so wele a-vised men as I wende. And I will wele þat ye alle wite that oure lorde hath oon i-chosen, but I knowe not whom. And thus moche may I say to yow, that gentilnesse ne richesse shall haue no power a-gein the wille of Ihesu criste, but truste so moche in hym, that yef he that is ther-to chosen were yet vn-bore, it shall neuer be taken oute of the ston till he come that it is ordeyned the honour." Than a-corded alle the noble men and wise, and seide that he hadde seide soth. And the wise men and the high barouns toke their counseile, and a-corded to stonde the ordenaunce of the archebisshop, and com a-gein, and seiden heringe alle the peple. And than made the bisshop grete ioye, and dide wepe for pite, and seide, "This humylite that is in youre hertes is of god; and I will that ye knowe after [folio 33a] myn entente, shall be to the volunte of god and profite of cristen feith, so that I shall haue no blame yef god will." This parlament was be-fore high messe of the assay of the swerde, till that high messe was saide. Than seide the Archebisshop to the peple, and shewed hem the gret myracle that god hadde don for hem at this eleccion, "and whan oure lorde sette Iustice in erthe, he sette it in the styth and in the swerde; and the Iustice ouer the lay peple ought to be the swerde, ffor the swerde at the be-gynynge was take to thre orderes to diffende holy cherche, and mayntene right witnesse. And oure lorde hath now made eleccion be the swerde; and, wite it wele, alle that this haue seen and be-holde to whom he will the Iustice yeve. And lete no man be to hasty for to assaye, for it shall neuer be drawen oute for richesse, ne for pride; ne the
poure peple be not displesed, though the lordes and the high astates assaye be-fore, ffor it is right and reson that the lordes assaien firste; for ther ne is noon of yow but he ought to haue his kynge and his lorde, the beste and moste worthy man that he kowthe knowe be his reson."
Thus thei acorded to the archebisshop with gode herte, and with-outen euyll will, that he sholde chese hem that he wolde to assaye firste. Thus thei graunted alle to holde hym for hir kynge, to whom god wolde shewe his grace. Thanne the arche-bisshop chese oute C.l. of the hiest and moste worthi lordes, and made hem go to the assaie. And whan they hadde alle assayed, than he commaunded alle other to assaye. And than they assayden alle they, oon after a-nother, that assaye wolde; but ther was noon that myght it taken oute. And so it was comaunded to be kept with x noble men; and thei were charge to take goode hede who com to assaien, and yef eny ther were that myght drawen out of the ston. Thus was the swerde assaied alle þe viij dayes, and alle the barouns were at high messe; and the archebisshop hem preched, and shewde as hym semed beste. And than he seide, "I tolde yow wele that all be leysere myght he come that was ferthest fro the assaye of this swerde; now may ye verily knowe that neuer noon, saf he that oure lorde will, ne shall it not oute take." And than thei seiden alle that thei wolde not out of the town, till thei westen to whom god wolde graunte that honoure. In that maner thei a-biden oute the messe, and after thei wente to their hosteles to mete, and after mete, as they were vsed that tyme, yede the barouns and the knyghtes to boorde in a feire pleyn, and the x men that were ordeyned to kepe this swerde, yede also to se this bourdise. And when the knyghtes hadde turneyd a-while, thei toke their sheldes to their squeres, so that the peple of the town yede to arme them. And Antor hadde made his eldeste sone knyght at the halowtide be-fore yoole. And whan the medle was be-gonne, Kay called his brother Arthur, and seide, "Go faste to oure oste, and fecche my swerde." And Arthur was goode and seruisable, and seide, "With gode will;" and than smote the hors with the
spores, and rode forth to his ostell for to fecche his brothers swerde, or ellis some other, yef he [folio 33b] myght eny fynde. And he fonde noon, ffor the hostesse hadde sette it in hir chambir. And so he turned to hem a-gein; and whan he saugh he myght noon fynde, he gan to wepe for grete anger. And as he come be-fore the mynster ther the ston was, he saugh the swerde whiche he hadde neuer assaide, and thought yef he myght it gete to bere it to his brother. And as he com ther-by on horse bakke, he hente the swerde be the hiltes and drough it oute, and couered it with his lappe. And his brother that a-bode after with-oute the towne saugh hym come, and rode a-gein hym, and asked his swerde. And Arthur seide he myght not haue it; "but I haue brought heere a-nother," and drough it oute from vndyr his cote, and toke it to his brother. And a-noon, as Kay saugh this swerde, he knewe it wele that it was the swerde of the ston, and thought he wolde be kynge, and seide he wolde seche his fader till he fonde hym, and than he seide, "Sire, I shall be kynge; lo, here is the swerde of the ston."
Whan the fader it saugh, he hadde merveile how he it gatt. And he seide he toke it oute of the ston. Whan Antor herde that, he leved it not, but seide he dide lye. Than thei yede to the mynster, ther the ston was, and the tother squyre after. Whan Antor sigh the ston, and the swerde not ther-ynne, he seide, "Feire sone, how hadde ye this swerde? Loke ye, do not lye; and thow do lye, I shall it know wele, and neuer shall I the love." And he ansuerde as he that was sore a-shamed, "I shall yow lye no lesynge, for my brother Arthur it me brought whan I badde hym to go fecche myn, but I wote neuer how he it hadde." Whan Antor herde this, he seide, "Sone, yeve it me, for ye haue ther-to no ryght." And Kay it deliuered to his fader; and he loked be-hynde hym, and saugh Arthur, and cleped hym, and seide, "Come hider, faire sone, and take this swerde, and put it ther as ye it toke." And he toke the swerde, and put it in the stith, and it heilde as wele, or better, than it dide be-fore. And Antor comaunded his sone Kay to take it oute; and he assaied, but it wolde not be. Than
Antor cleped hem bothe, and seide to Kay, "I wiste well that thow haddest not take the swerde oute." Thanne he toke Arthur in his armes, and seide, "Feire dere sone, yef I myght purchase that ye be kynge, what gode sholde I haue therfore?" "Ffader," quod he, "I may nother haue that honour, ne noon other goode, but that ye be ther-of lorde, as my lorde and my fader." And he seide, "Sir, youre fader I am as in norture, but certes I dide yow neuer engender, ne I wot neuer who dide yow engender." Whan Arthur saugh that Antor hym denyed to ben hys fader, he wepte tendirly, and hadde grete doel, and seide, "Feire sir, how sholde I haue this dignite, or eny other, whan I haue failed to haue a fader." "A fader muste ye nede haue; but, feire dere sir, yef oure lorde will that ye haue this grace, and I helpe yow it to purchase, telle me what I shall be the better?" And Arthur seide, [folio 34a] "Sir, so as ye will youre-self." Thanne Antor tolde hym what bounte he hadde hym don, and how he hadde hym norisshed, and how he put a-wey his sone Kay, and made hym to be norisshed of a straunge woman; "where-fore ye owe to yeve my sone and me guerdon, ffor ther was neuer man more tenderly norisshed than I haue yow. Wherefore I praye yow, yef god yeve yow this grace, and I may helpe yow ther-to, that ye guerdon me and my sone." And Arthur seide, "I praye yow that ye denye not me to be my fader, for than I sholde not wite wheþer that I sholde go; and yef ye may helpe to purchase this grace, and god will that I haue it, ye can no-thinge sey ne comaunde but I shall it do." And Antor seide, "I shall not aske thi londe; but thus moche I will praye yow, that yef ye be kynge, that ye make my sone Kay youre stywarde in soche maner that for no forfet that he do to yow, ne to man of youre londe, that he lese not hys office; and yef he be fool, or fell, or vilenis, ye owe better to suffre hym than eny other; and therfore I praye yow to graunte hym that I yow demaunde." And Arthur seide he wolde it do with gode will. And than he ledde hym to the auter, and swore that he sholde this trewly performe. And whan he hadde sworne, he com be-fore the mynster; and the turment was ended, and the barouns com to hire evesonge.
Than Antor cleped alle his frendes, and com to the Archebisshop, and seide, "Sir, lo, here is a childe of myn that is no knyght, that prayeth me that I wolde helpe that he myght assay the auenture of the swerde, and that it plese yow to clepe the barouns." And so he did; and thei assembled a-boute the ston. Than Antor bad Arthur take oute the swerde, and delyuere it to the Archebisshop. And Arthur toke the swerde be the hiltes, and with-oute more taryinge yaf it to the Archebisshop. And a-noon he toke Arthur in his armes, and seide "Te deum laudamus," and so brought hym in to the mynster. And the barouns and high men, that this hadde seyn and herde, were angry and sorowfull for this, and seiden it myght not be that soche a symple man of so lowe degre sholde be lorde of hem alle. Therwith was the Archebisshop displesed, and seide, "Sirs, oure lorde knoweth beste what euery man is." And Antor and his frendes abode by Arthur, and alle the comen peple; and alle the barouns were a-geyn them and a-geyn Arthur. And thanne seide the archebisshop wordes of grete hardynesse, "I do yow to wite thaugh alle thei that ben in the worlde wolde be a-gein this eleccion, and oure lorde will that this man be kynge, he shall be it with-outen faile; and I shall shewe yow how, and what affiaunce I haue in oure lorde Ihesu criste. Now, feire brother Arthur, go, put the swerde a-geyn in the same place that ye toke it fro." And Arthur put the swerde a-geyn in the selue place, and it hilde as faste as by-fore. And than seide the Archebisshop, "So feire eleccion was neuer sene; now go ye, riche barouns and lordes, and assay yef ye may take oute the swerde." Than yede alle for to assaye, but noon it myght remeve fro the place that it was Inne. Than seide the archebisshop, "Grete folye do ye that be a-geyn oure lordes wille; for [folio 34b] now ye se well how it is." And thei seide, "Sir, we ne be not a-gein oure lordes wille; but it ys grevouse thinge to vs to haue a garcion to be lorde ouer vs alle." And the archebisshop seide, "He that hath hym chosyn knoweth beste what he is." Thanne the barouns praide the bisshop to lete the swerde be stille in the ston till Candelmesse; and by that tyme men of ferther contrees
myght come to assaye the auenture. And the archebisshop hem graunted. Than come oute of euery contree, and asseyde who that wolde. And whan they hadden assaied, the archebisshop seide, "Arthur, yef it be pleser to oure lorde Ihesu criste that thow be kynge, go forth and brynge that swerde." And Arthur yede to the swerde, and toke it oute as lyghtly as nothinge hadde it holden. Whan the prelates and the comen peple saugh this, thei ganne to wepe for ioye and pite, and seiden, "Sirs, is ther yet eny man that seith a-gein this eleccion?" And the barouns seide, "Syr, we pray yow that the swerde be suffred yet in the ston to Passh, but eny man come by that terme that may take it thens; and ellis we will obbey to this; and yef ye will not suffre so longe tyme, euery man do the beste he may." And the archebisshop seide, "Yef so be he a-bide to Passh, and noon other come that may parforme this a-uenture, wele ye Than obbey yow to this eleccion?" And thei seide alle, "Ye." Thanne the archebisshop seide to Arthur, "Sette the swerde a-gein in the ston, for yef god will, thow shalt not faile of the dignite that he hath the promysed." And Arthur did as he comaunded; and ther was ordeyned to kepe the ston x men and v clerkes; and in this maner thei bode to Pasch. And tharchebisshop that hadde take Arthur in warde, seide, "Wite ye right well ye shall be kynge and lorde of this peple; now loke that ye be a gode man, and fro hens-forth cheseth soche men as shull be of youre counseile, and officers for youre housolde, euen as ye were now kynge, for so ye shall be with the helpe of god." And Arthur seide, "I put me holly in god and in holy cherche, and in youre gode counseile; therefore chese ye as ye seme be moste to the plesaunce of Ihesu criste; and I praye yow clepe to yow my lorde my fader." Than the archebisshop cleped Antor, and shewde hym the ansuere of Arthur. Thanne chose they soche counsellers as thei wolde; and be counseile of the archebisshop and certein of the barouns, Kay was made stiwarde. And of alle other thinges thei a-bode to Pasch, and than thei assembled alle at logres.
Whan thei were alle assembled on the Ester even, the archebisshop drough hem alle to his paleis, and rehersed hem the grete wisdom and the gode condiciouns that he fonde in Arthur. And the barouns seide, "We will not be a-gein godes ordenaunce; but it is vnto vs a mervelouse thynge that so yonge a man, and of so base lyngnage, sholde be lorde and gouernour of vs alle." The archebisshop seide, "Ye do not, as cristen men, thus to be a-gein cristes eleccion." And they seide, "We be not ther agein; but ye haue seyn his condiciouns and we ne haue not don so, and therfore we praye yow to suffre vs to knowe his condiciouns, and the manere of hys gouernaunce that he will ben of here-after." The archebisshop seide, "Will ye thus delaye his coronacion?" And thei seide, "We wolde that his sacringe and coronacion be respite to Penticoste. [folio 35a] Thus we alle pray and requere." And the archebisshop it graunted. Thus departed alle the counseile; and on the morowe, whan hight messe was seide, Arthur yede to the swerde and toke it oute as lightly as he hadde don be-fore. Than thei seiden alle that thei wolde haue hym to their lorde and gouernoure, and thei praide hym to sette ther the swerde a-gein. And Arthur ansuerde to the barouns full debonerly, and seide he wolde do their requeste, or eny thinge that thei wolde of hym desire. Thanne they ledde hym in to the mynster to speke with hym, and to assaye his condiciouns, and seide, "Sir, we se well that god will that ye be oure kynge and lorde ouer vs, wherefore we will do to yow oure homage and of yow holde oure honoures, and we be-seke yow to respite youre sacringe in to Pentecoste, ne therefore shull ye nothynge be inteript, but that ye shull be oure lorde and oure kynge; but to this we praye yow to sey vs what is youre volunte." Quod Arthur, "Of that ye sey ye will do to me youre homages, and holde youre honoures of me, I may it not receyve, ne I ne ought not to do, ffor I may not to yow ne to noon other yeve noon honoures till I haue receyued myn; and ther ye sey ye will that I be lorde of yow and of the reame, that may not be by-fore that I be sacred and receyved the honoure of the empere; but the respite that ye desire I it graunte yow with
gode will, for I will not be sacred, ne nothinge that ther-to aperteneth, ne I may not with-outen godes will and youre volunte." Thanne seide the barouns a-monge hem-self, "Yef this childe live he shall be right wise, and wele he hath vs ansuerde." And than thei seide, "Sir, vs semeth with youre advice that ye be crowned and sacred at Pentecoste, and by that terme we shull obbey to yow at the comaundement of this archebisshop." Thanne thei made be brought Iuellis and alle othir richesse, and yaf it to hym to se whedir he wolde be couetouse and cacchynge; and whan he hadde alle these yeftes resceyved, the booke seith he departed it; to knyghtes the stedes, and coursers, and fresshe robes; and to hem that were Ioly and ennoisies, he yaf the Iuwellis; and to hem that were auerouse, golde and siluer; and to sadde wise men he yaf soche thinge as hym dought sholde hem plese; and with hem he heilde companye, and enquered in the contre what myght hem beste plese.
Thus departed he the yeftes that were yoven hym, for to knowe of what condicion that he wolde be of. And whan thei sawgh hym thus demened, ther was noon but that hym gretly preysed in theire hertes, and seide that he sholde be of high renon, and that thei cowde not in hym espie no poynte of covetise; but as sone as he hadde the grete auers, he be-sette hem in soche manere, that euery man seide that noon cowde haue do better, euerych astate and degre. Thus thei assaide Arthur, and nought cowde fynde in hym but high vertu and grete discrecion. And so thei a-biden to the Witsontide. And than alle the baronage assembled at logres, and ther thei assaide a-gein at the swerde alle that assaie wolde, but neuer was ther founde man that it myght remeve fro the ston. And the archebisshop hadde ordeyned redy the crowne and septre, and all that longed to the sacringe. On witson even, be comen counseile of alle the barouns, the archebisshop made Arthur knyght. [folio 35b] Alle that nyght dide he wake in the chief mynster, till on the morowe day. And whan it was day, alle the baronye come to the mynster. The archebisshop seide, "Sirs, lo here is the man that god hath chosen to be youre kynge, like as ye haue seyn and knowe.
And, lo, here is the crowne and the vestementz rioall, ordeyned by youre avys and alle the comen assent. And yet ther be eny of yow that to this eleccion will not assent, lete hym now sey." And they ansuerde and seide, "We acorde that in godes name he be sacred, and a-noynted with this, that yef ther be eny of vs that he be with displesed of that we haue be a-geyn his coronacion, that he pardon vs alle in to this day." And ther-with thei kneled alle at ones to Arthur, askynge hym mercy. And Arthur, for pite, gan wepe, and seide to hem, "That lorde whiche hath graunted me to haue this honoure, mote yow pardon, and as moche as in me, I make yow quyte." And ther-with thei risen vp, and toke hym by-twene their armes, and ledde hym to the vestymentz rioall. And whan he was aried, the archebisshop was made redy to synge masse, and seide to Arthur, "Now go fecche the swerde, wher-with ye shull kepe Iustice to deffende holy cherche, and mayntene right and the cristin feith to youre power." And so they yede in procession to the ston. Thanne seide the archebisshop to Arthur, "Yef thow wilt swere to god, and to oure lady seint Marye, and to oure modir holy cherche, and to seint Petir, and to alle seyntes, to saue and to holde trouth and pees in the londe, and to thy power kepe trewe Iustice, com forth and take this swerde, whereby god hath made the eleccion vpon the." Whan Arthur herde this, of pite he gan wepe, and so dide many other. And he seide, "As verily as god is lorde ouer alle thynge, so he of his grete mercy graunte me grace and power this to mayn-tene like as ye haue rehersed, and I haue it well vndirstonde." And than he sette hym on his knees, holdinge vp his hondes, and than toke oute the suerde lightly with-oute greuaunce, and so bar it vp right. And thei ledde hym to the auter, and ther he leide the swerde. And than thei hym sacred and a-noynted, and dide that longed to a kynge. And after all the seruise was ended, thei yede oute of the mynstir, and come by the place ther as was the ston; and no man cowde knowe where it was be-come. Thus was Arthur chosen to kynge, and heilde the reame of logres longe in pees.