Tabula

¶How kynge Arthur faught with a gy¦aunt in Spayne that was called Dina¦bus / that slewe Eleyne that was kynge Howels cosyn of lytell Brytayne.

BYnge Arthur had not dwelled in the coūtree but a lytell tyme / that men hym tolde that there was come a grete gyaūt in to Spayne / & had rauys¦shed fayre Eleyne that was cosyn vnto Howell of lytell Brytayne. And hadde brought her vpon an hylle that is called the moūt of saynt Bernarde. And there was no man in that coūtree so bolde ne so hardy that durst fyght with hym / ne come nye the place there that the gyaūt dwelled that was called Dinabus. And moche sorowe he dyde▪ in the countree / ¶ Whan kyng Arthur herde this tydyn¦ges / he called to hym Kay and Bed••were & cōmaunded them to go pryuely & es∣pye where the gyaunt myght be founde And they came to the ry••age there that men sholde go to the moūt / that was al enclosed about with water & yet is / and euer shall be. And they sawe a brennyn∣ge fyre vppon the hylle. And there was also an other hylle nye that / & there was vpon that an other fyre brennynge. Kay and Bedwere came to the next hylle / & founde a wydowe open heeded syttynge besydes a tombe sore wepynge / & grete sorowe made. And oft she sayd Eleyne eleyne. And Kay & Bedwere axed what she was / & wherfore she made so moche sorowe / and who laye in that tombe / ¶ O sayd she what sorowe & mysauen∣ture fayre lordes seke ye here. For yf the Gyaūt may you here fynde he wyll you slee anone. ¶Be stylle good wyf sayd they therof dysmaye you not / but tell vs the south why that thou makest so mo∣che sorowe & wepynge. ¶Syrs sayd she For a damoysell that I nourysshed with my breest that was called Eleyne / that was nece to Howell of Brytayne. And here lyeth the body in this tombe that to me was taken to nourysshe. And so the∣re came a deuyll a Gyaunt & rauysshed her & me also / and ladde vs bothe with hym awaye. And he wolde haue forlay∣ne that mayde that was so yonge & ten∣dre of aege / but she myght it not suffre so grete & so huge as the Gyaunt was. And for certayne yf he come now as he is wont to do / he wyll you both now slee & therfore go ye hens. Thenne bespake these two messengers & sayd to her / wher¦fore go ye not from hens. ¶Certes sayd she whan that Eleyne was deed the Gy¦aunt made me to abyde and haunt his

wyll / & I must nedes it suffre. And god it wote I do it not wich my wyll / for I had leuer to be deed than with hym to deale / so moche payne & sorowe I haue whan he me forlyeth. ¶Whan Kay and Bedwere had herde all y^• this woman them tolde / they torned ayen & came to kynge Arthur & tolde hym all that they had seen and herde. ¶Arthur anone to¦ke them bothe with hym & wente pryue¦ly by nyght that none of his hoste wyst & came on the morowe erly to the Gy∣aunt & faught with hym strongely / and at the last hym slewe. And Arthur bad∣de Bedwere smyte of his heed / & bryn∣ge it to the hoste to shewe it for a won∣der / for it was so grete & huge. ¶Whan they came ayen to the hoste / they tolde wherfore they had ben out / & shewed to them the heed / & euery man was gladde & Ioyefull of the worthy dede that kyn∣ge Arthur had done that was theyr lor∣de. And Howell was full sorowfull for his nece that was so lost. And afterwar∣de whan he had space / he lete make a fayre chappell of our lady ouer Eleyn•• tombe.