¶Of the answere of Merlyn wherfore the kynge axed why his castel myght not stonde that he had begonne ne proue.
SO whan Merlyn hadde herde all that his moder hadde sayd. He spake to the kynge in this maner. ¶Syre how I was begoten axe ye no more For it be falleth not to you ne to none other to wyte. But telle me the cause wherfore I am to you brought & wher∣fore ye haue sente after me. ¶Truely sayd the kyng / my wyse couseyllers haue done me to vnderstode / yt ye morter of a werke that I haue begonne / behouety to be thempred with your blood / or the foundament shall fayle for euer more. ¶Syr sayd Merlyn. wyll ye slee me for my blood to tempre with your morter. ye sayd the kyng / or elles my castell shall neuer stande as my coūseyllers do me to vnderstonde Tho- answerd Merlyn to the kyng. Syr he sayd he sayd / lete them come before me those wyse coū¦seylles & I woll preu they saye not well ne tru∣ly. And whan ye wyse men were comen. Mer∣lyn axed yf his blod were ye cause to make this werke to stōde & endure. All tho wyse men we∣re abasshed & coude not answere. Merlyn tho sayd to the kynge. Syr I shall tell you ye cause wherfore your werke thus fayleth & may no•• stande. There is vnder the moūtayne there yt ye haue buylded youre toure a grete ponde of water & ī ye botome of ye ponde vnder ye water there ben two dragons / & ye one is whyte & ye o¦ther reede / ye fyght togyd ayēst your werke do ye myne depe eyll your men come to ye pond / & cause your men to take a way ye water all out / & thenne ye shall see ye dragans as I haue you tolde ye togyder fyght ayēst your werke & this is the cause wherfor your foūdament fayleth The kynge anone lete dygge vnder that men came to the ponde / And lette doo a waye the water / and there they founde two dragons as Merlyn had tolde that egerly fought togyder The whyte dragon egerly assayled the reede