Of Arthour & of Merlin

Ihesus Crist Heuen-king {f.201rb}

& leue ous wele to spede

leue: first e superscript.

Mani .................. {f.201va}

4000 A.....................

Was cleped Vter Pendragoun.

Pendragoun: MS reads Pendradoun.

Ac þe eldest sone Costentine

Erasure between þe and eldest.

& holdeþ him for ȝour lord euer mo.’ {f.201vb}

To gouerny hem wiþ al his miȝt –

gouerny: MS reads goruerny

& made Costaunce her king

MS: biforþ struck through; her superscript.

Þat Angys bi water brouȝt; {f.202ra}

To Winchester þai flowen þo

Winchester: MS reads Wincherster.

1650 ȝif Fortiger her prince ware {f.202rb}

& þai him seyd tidinges ille:

þai superscript.

He no can conseil to no gode {f.202va}

Þat we forlorn at þis asaut

Second r of forlorn is superscript.

Anon þai ȝauen hem dintes hard,

hem corrected from him.

Nouȝt fele nar þeroȝen {f.202vb}

¶ ‘Now gramerci’ quaþ Fortiger

Now: MS reads Mow.

Þo Fortiger it vnderstode {f.203ra}

Þus our folk hadden þe priis {f.203rb}

Þus þai wenten to þe strond

strond: r is superscript.

3550 Fortiger & his ost

3850 Mani kniȝt & baroun hende {f.203va}

Þurth tresoun þat he hadde yspeken,

he: MS reads þai.

& he schuld haue half his fe;

his: s is superscript.

Oȝaines his men & help him were {f.203vb}

& bi conseyl of Angys {f.204ra}

Þat ȝif me comeþ ani nede {f.204rb}

¶ Foundement & werk þai founde

Foundement: MS reads Foundernement.

Ligge vp so doun op þe grounde

so is superscript.

Ac wite no miȝt lewed no clerk {f.204va}

Bot ich ȝou sigge verrament

verrament: first e is superscript.

6050 ȝiue þai him our finde miȝt {f.204vb}

Her liif were at þe ending.

MS: line copied at the foot of column, its position marked with a-b.

Y nil ȝou telle her priuete {f.205ra}

6750 Bi þat day was a riche man

Lo what wo & diol & dere {f.205rb}

Þat þider com þis to visite,

visite: MS reads viseite.

¶ Þis eld wiif – þat iuel sche þe – {f.205va}

For ribaudye gret haras {f.205vb}

& hir broþer yslawe also

& added before rubricated h; broþer inserted superscript.

7900 & hir soster quic doluen þo

quic is superscript.

8200 Þat hir to gile wold he fond

to is superscript.

Þurth hir soster ich ȝou telle

hir: MS reads his.

8250 & to hir soster sche gan sigge {f.206ra}

‘Ich leue wele’ quaþ he ‘saun faile. {f.206rb}

Þi tale soþe no miȝt be {f.206va}

Þei sche haue serued to be spilt

spilt: i is superscript.

Tvo ȝer & an half þan sche mot {f.206vb}

Þat child spac wiþ gret den {f.207ra}

1045 Þe iustise biheld þat childe, {f.207rb}

‘Now ich jse sir iustise {f.207va}

& forsoþe þat ich niȝt {f.207vb}

Merlin him teld ende & ord {f.208ra}

1195 On a day as ich ȝou telle

For to han min hert-blod, {f.208rb}

Why his werk mai nouȝt stond

mai: MS reads mani.

1265 Al þre þai spoken þo {f.208va}

His wreche liif he schal forlate {f.208vb}

& bad hir be hir leman {f.209ra}

Þat þurth fors hir chaumberlain

fors: MS reads forþ.

Bot ȝe him wiman finde {f.209rb}

& al he teld þer þe king

MS: lines 1413-6 positioned at the foot of the column, their position marked by .+.

Fortiger spac to Merlin {f.209va}

Þat ware boþe long & brode,

ware: MS reads water.

1485 Þo þe stones weren ywent {f.209vb}

1495 He hadde a bodi as a whal;

Erasure after as.

Ich vnderstond so long a while {f.210ra}

‘We seiȝen’ he seyd ‘heraboue {f.210rb}

Ac þei þou haddest nome an hond {f.210va}

Þe rede riȝt to þe plain

rede: MS reads white.

& into þi castel driue; {f.210vb}

Þat sone þer fel þerafterward

þer: er underdotted; superscript t above.

1705 For it is alle þester þing {f.211ra}

Foules miri in wode gredeþ,

gredeþ: r is superscript.

Amirayls & doukes heiȝe {f.211rb}

Fortiger þat comend was {f.211va}

For Fortiger & eke Angys {f.211vb}

He hadde of some sone þe heued

þe heued: MS reads y weued.

1865 Ac þei Fortiger were gode kniȝt

Fortiger: ger added by another hand.

Into a castel of lime & ston {f.212ra}

Wiþ his folk went anon

folk: written twice, the second crossed through.

1925 Herof awondred Vter Pendragon {f.212rb}

Þat Angys no miȝt oway {f.212va}

Al his folk so was schilt {f.212vb}

& þo þe oþ was ymade

Erasure after þe.

& loued better his litel to {f.213ra}

Þerfore no fors no makeþ

fors: MS reads forþ.

As he hem bad þai deden so, {f.213rb}

2145 Of our wer slawe þan anon {f.213va}

King Ban hadde to his demeyne {f.213vb}

2190 Þe cite of Benoit of lasse Breteyne

Second of is superscript.

Ac it to ende hade he no miȝt

hade: MS reads haue.

& euerich wiþ him schuld bring {f.214ra}

On his knewe he him sett {f.214rb}

Say y nil nouȝt it take at o word

nouȝt: MS reads nouit.

Þat sche schold ben his lef, {f.214va}

2365 Þe douke, þe leuedi & his kniȝt. {f.214vb}

Armed went anonriȝt

catchword: þe douke tintagel.

Þe douke Tintagel to nime {f.215ra}

After frendes & souders sleiȝe,

The letter r in both frendes and souders is superscript.

2435 In a castel, a roche of ston –

a roche: MS reads of roche.

& al þat miȝt armes bere

armes: r is superscript.

For Godes loue þat bad him gode, {f.215rb}

Do me to haue swete Ygerne.’

me: at the end of line in darker ink; point of insertion marked.

Ar it day were Merlin hete {f.215va}

Þer was biȝeten hem bitven {f.215vb}

2585 & seþþen he wesche hem boþe to {f.216ra}

& seyd he hadde do þe dede {f.216rb}

In þis lond nis swiche blode

Macrae-Gibson (1973, 1979) places lines 2651-2 after 2454.

Þou hast biȝeten a noble stren

Macrae-Gibson (1973, 1979) amends to: Þat haþ biȝeten a noble quen.

Þe milke he ȝiue to þi childe

he: originally sche, sc underdotted.

Do wiþ me what þi wille is; {f.216va}

& lete souke Artouret. {f.216vb}

Þi sone after worþ king

worþ: r is superscript.

After his enterement {f.217ra}

2805 & þo þe seruise don was {f.217rb}

Þis Kay it was þat nas nouȝt late {f.217va}

2855 Þat he it hadde in nortoure

it written superscript.

& seyd ‘haue þis swerd, sir Kay, {f.217vb}

Seþþen þou were born verrament {f.218ra}

Amorwe þai went to turnament {f.218rb}

3025 Wharof Vlfin wittnes bar {f.218va}

& seyd certes þat he was þar

certes: r is superscript.

3030 Sir Arthour wiþ hert lel

Arthour: r is superscript.

Þar þai biheten þat non nold

biheten: i is altered from e.

Foules make miri song.

Foules: MS reads Fouleþ.

He held þe lond of Lyoneis {f.218vb}

Þo þe seruise ydon was {f.219ra}

Þe barouns seyd to Merlin

barouns: s is superscript.

No schal neuer no hores stren {f.219rb}

¶ Merlin made enchauntement {f.219va}

Into þe pauilouns, wild fer

pauilouns: MS seems to read pauilonis.

3245 A stef launce he bar an hond; {f.219vb}

Þai & her feren four {f.220ra}

& þo he was opon his stede {f.220rb}

Þis fest last fourteniȝt {f.220va}

ȝe mot hem sigge verrament {f.220vb}

3465 Opon a stede stef & strong, {f.221ra}

‘Ihesus Crist heuen-king {f.221rb}

& bad þe & þi broþer gent

þi: MS reads his.

Þat in lond eueri strete

in: MS reads ir.

In þe sterres he was þe best deuine {f.221va}

Placides & eke Driens, {f.221vb}

Þere ȝe mot help him were {f.222ra}

We no haue no folk of our lond.’

haue: MS has hane with suspension mark over an.

Mani pauilouns & telt

telt: corrected from teld.

3685 Fourti þousand þat were teld {f.222rb}

¶ King Brangores þat held Strangore {f.222va}

Swiþe hardi & stronge in fiȝtes.

stronge: r is superscript.

Wiþ sex þousende kniȝtes, beld

beld: MS perhaps corrected from bold.

He brouȝt wiþ him þousandes fiue, {f.222vb}

3785 Þe ferþ niȝt after her soiour

Ac Merlin cast enchauntment

catchword: þat her pauilouns.

Þat her pauilouns on and alle {f.223ra}

Ten þousende kniȝtes bi þe morwe

bi: i is superscript.

Strong kniȝt & doinde wel,

MS: kniȝt misplaced, follows doinde.

King Lot, king Nanters & king Vrien {f.223rb}

3905 Arthour wiþ his miȝti hand {f.223va}

Wiþ tvelf þousand of strong men

þousand: s is superscript.

Also swiþe þan Ban þe king {f.223vb}

Went hem forþ hardiliche;

Went: MS reads When.

Also þai maden þis sailing

sailing: MS reads wailing.

King of þe hundred kniȝtes & king Vrien {f.224ra}

4035 He seyd ‘sir listneþ alle, {f.224rb}

E[r] þan com þe Trinite {f.224va}

4115 Þe douke Do wiþouten fable

Do: MS reads þo.

Wiþ her ost þe lond to loke, {f.224vb}

Bretel & Vlfin him vnderstode {f.225ra}

Norham was þat time y wene {f.225rb}

A kniȝt of gret vertu,

A: MS reads &.

4255 Ich of hem seyd, allas {f.225va}

Of þe greal be don saun faile,

faile: MS reads saile.

Y haue seyd wherfore it is {f.225vb}

No may ous com no solas

ous: MS reads hem.

Of him no haueþ non drede {f.226ra}

Þat yslawe no were nouȝt

MS repeats no were.

& to his strong cite Nante

his: MS reads þis.

Þer he was at þe bataile {f.226rb}

& of þe Sarrains hem reme

hem: MS reads him.

Wiþ þre þousand of his kniȝtes {f.226va}

Wiþouten Arthours soster abast –

soster: MS reads sone.

4475 Ac þe king of Hungri & of Blaske {f.226vb}

& hadde him sent fro Costentinenoble

fro: MS reads to.

Wiþ him he hadde þre þousand kniȝt

þousand: MS reads souand.

On hem schoten bi wayes & paþes {f.227ra}

4535 Now ȝe schul vnderstond

4555 Of Ygerne þat ich er of spake

A fair ȝong man Galathin {f.227rb}

Þat ȝif he hadde liif of manne {f.227va}

Wiþ gret wrong ȝe blamen me

wrong: r is superscript.

Þerafter sone bi Godes sond {f.227vb}

4675 Mirie is þentre of May:

Þe foules make miri play,

miri: spelling uncertain, with extra minim.

4680 In þe grene mede floures springeþ.

floures: MS reads foules.

4695 Hir sone Galathin {f.228ra}

& blisced him wiþ hir hond,

hir: MS reads his.

Þai were Londen swiþe neiȝe,

neiȝe: MS nere.

Þe folk schirsten so heiȝe & loude {f.228rb}

Bitven auensong & niȝt {f.228va}

He & his hors fram heued to taile

fram: r is superscript.

¶ Þe ȝongest broþer Gaheriet, {f.228vb}

4840 Non no miȝt kiþe his main

his: s is superscript.

Alle þe cartes & somers {f.229ra}

4880 Noblicher so fele wiþstond.

fele: MS reads fewe.

4915 He kidde ner as miche main {f.229rb}

Of mani he smot þe nek ato

nek: originally neck, c underdotted.

Þer þai þrewen on him anon {f.229va}

Anoþer hiȝt Medalan {f.229vb}

His armes he tok vp anon {f.230ra}

5075 Listneþ now gret & smale

Þat Sarraȝins seuen þousinde {f.230rb}

5135 & no hadde bot four score kniȝtes {f.230va}

Ac þai him þrewe wiþ swerd & spere {f.230vb}

& Wawain smot on þe scheld

smot: MS reads somt.

& þat ȝe schul ȝete today proue.’

catchword: he slouȝ to grounde al.

& slouȝ to grounde al doun riȝt {f.231ra}

For he him tok aboue þe scheld

MS: aboue tok.

Al fiue togider þai ȝede {f.231rb}

What he com to þe brest – {f.231va}

Noiþer deri bi day no niȝt,

Noiþer: i is superscript.

Arthour went fro Brekingho

fro: MS reads to.

5355 & her feren þritti & niȝe, {f.231vb}

niȝe: MS reads fiue.

Was þer no more compainie

Bot in alle fourti & to

Alle chosen, so mot y go,

Bi clerk Merlines conseyl,

5360 Þe wiȝtest þat he wist saun fail.

Forþ þai wenten al in paise

What þai com to Carohaise

A riche cite of al þing

Þer was Leodegan þe king

5365 Þat was king of al þat lond

& hadde Carmelide in his hond

& made swiþe gret pite

For he was bilayn in þat cite

Of king Rion & kinges fiftene

5370 Þat al born corounes schene

Þat hadden him & al his man

Ouercomen bifor þan.

No he no hadde men þat miȝt

Him to awreke, y ȝou pliȝt,

5375 & conseild him þat ich stounde

At kniȝtes of þe table rounde

& at barouns of þe lond

Hou þai miȝt hem were fro schond.

Amid þe strete in þat cite

5380 Þe king þer stode wiþ his meine

On a Palmesonnes-aue

Sum conseil of hem to haue.

¶ Riȝt þo entred king Arthour

& Ban & Bohort & sir Antour

5385 & her feren wiþouten doute

Al þai comen in on route,

Alle it were ȝong man

Bot it were þe king Ban

& Bohort & Vlfin þe bel

5390 & sir Antour & Sir Bretel;

Þis were noble kniȝtes fiue

& alle of midel liue.

Þe oþer al were bachelers

Sittand on heiȝe destrers.

5395 ¶ Merlin seyd ‘þe king is ȝounde

Liȝteþ al to þe grounde

ȝe schullen wende on on ring

ȝour hors schul þe gromes bring,

& þou sir Ban þe king {f.232ra}

5400 To Leodegan so ȝeue greteing

& sey þe wordes him to

Þat we bispeke at Brekenho.’

Hou þai went & on swiche maner

Now ȝe may al yhere,

5405 Of swiche bodis noble & wiȝt

Tofor men me þink it riȝt

Her names to tellen ȝou in sawe

Hou þai wenten al on rawe:

First wenten þre wiþ gret honour

5410 Ban & Bohort & king Arthour.

King Arthour ȝede bitven, apliȝt,

& king Ban him ledde bi þe hond riȝt,

Bohort him ladde nobleliche

Bi þe left hond sikerliche;

5415 Alle þe oþer com after þo

Ioinand bi hond to & to.

Þe ferþ so was Antour,

Kayes fader of gret valour,

On his hond ȝede sir Vlfin

5420 At euerich nede gode & fin.

Þe sext kniȝt so was Bretel,

Of gret noblay strong & lel,

On his hond ȝede þe steward Kay,

Þe seuend kniȝt of gret noblay.

5425 Þe viii Lucan þe boteler,

A gode kniȝt of gret power,

Erl Does sone þat loked Lounde

Þe ix was ich vnderstonde.

Grifles so was tiþe

5430 Wiȝt he was & noble swiþe

Marec so ȝede on his hond

On of þe best of al þat lond.

Þe xii Drians of þe forest sauage

A strong kniȝt of heiȝe parage,

5435 Belias þe lord of Maiden Castel

On his hond ȝede fair & wel.

Þe xiiii so was Flaundrin,

A noble kniȝt of gentil lin,

On his hond ȝede Laninas

5440 An hardi kniȝt, þe fiftend was.

Þe xvi was Amores þe broun,

A stalworþ kniȝt vnder hauberioun,

Aucales þe rede ȝede him bi, {f.232rb}

Þe xvii kniȝt, strong & hardi.

5445 Þe xviii was Bliobel,

A kniȝt doand swiþe wel,

Þe xix was Bleoberiis,

Of gret los & michel priis.

Canode þe xx was,

5450 He no fleiȝe neuer for no cas,

Aladanc þe crispe was xx & on,

Non better bodi no miȝt gon.

Þe xxii was Jslacides,

Wiȝt & strong in eueri pres,

5455 Lampades was xx & þre,

A noble kniȝt gent & fre.

Þe xxiiii kniȝt was

A noble kniȝt yhote Ieroas,

Cristofer of þe roche norþ

5460 Þe xxv was forsoþ.

Þe xxvi was Aigilin,

A wiȝt kniȝt of gentil lin,

Þe xxvii was Calogreuand

A gentil kniȝt of noble hand.

5465 Þe xxviij was Augusale,

Of no man no held he tale,

Wiȝt Agrauel was xx & niȝe

Ful of wiȝtschip & curteisie.

Þe xxx was Cleades þe fondling,

5470 Man seiȝe neuer better ȝongling,

Þe gode kniȝt Gimires of Lambale

Þe on & þritti was bi tale.

Þe xxxii was Kehedin,

Fair & wiȝt & gentil fin,

5475 Þe þre & þritti was Meraugis,

A gode kniȝt of noble priis.

Þe xxxiiii was Gornain,

An hardi kniȝt of michel main,

Þe xxxv was Craddoc,

5480 An hardi kniȝt in ich floc.

Þe xxxvi was Claries,

He was ful wiȝt in eueri pres,

Þe xxxvii was Blehartis,

Bold of dede of speche wiis.

5485 Þe xxxviii was Amadan orgulous,

A kniȝt of dede vertuous,

Þe xxxix Osoman, cert {f.232va}

His surname was ‘hardi of hert.’

Þe xl was Galescounde,

5490 Þer nas no kniȝt of more mounde,

Þe xli was Bleherris

King Bohortes godsone, ywis.

Þe xlij Merlin was þar,

Bifor Arthour þe ȝerd bar -

5495 Þis alle ȝede hand in hand

As y ȝou seyd bifornhand.

¶ Leodegan & al his ginge

Gret wonder had of her cominge,

Kniȝtes, swaines, leuedis beld

5500 Maden crud hem to biheld,

Wonder þai hadden euerichon

For non no knewe her non.

¶ Oȝain hem ȝede king Leodegan

& him gret þe king Ban,

5505 Leodegan seid ‘ȝou blisse þe rode

ȝif ȝe beþ ycomen for gode.’

Quaþ king [Ban] ‘so Crist me spede

Com we nouȝt hider for þi qued

No for þi schame ac for þi gode

5510 So ous help þe gode rode.

We beþ souders of fer lond,

Men doþ ous to vnderstond

Þat þou to socour haddest nede

Þerfore we com fram our þede

5515 Þat is fer hennes saun faile

Þe to help in þi bataile

& to serue on swiche maner

So þou schalt now yher.

We aske þe on Godes name

5520 Noiþer to þine harm no þi schame

Ac þat þou graunt ous now a þing

& þerof no make werning:

Þou no schalt aske name our,

No wo we beþ, no non of our,

5525 No apose ous of our being

What we þe wil make scheweing,

& ȝif þe likeþ so our seruise

Telle it ous now in al wise

& bot þou like we seruen þe

5530 We wille ȝern fram þe te

To sum oþer & serue swiþe {f.232vb}

Þat of our come wil be bliþe.’

Leue toke Leodegan

To asky conseil of his man,

5535 Alle his barouns him seyd, ywis,

It sembled men of gret priis;

Her semblaunt hem bar witnisse,

He schuld of hem nim sikernisse

& afong her seruise

5540 & nouȝt hem lete o non wise.

Oȝain com king Leodegan

& þus seyd to Arthour & to Ban

‘Bewe seygnours, me þenkeþ schame

Þat ȝe me heleþ ȝour name

5545 For ich vnderstond wele þat ȝe

Ben of more power þan ich be

Ac ȝe semble so wiȝt & fre

Þat ȝe beþ welcome to me

& ȝour seruise ȝeld y schal

5550 ȝif he me saueþ þat welt al;

Ac arst ȝe schul me make siker

Wiþ me held in eueri biker

& ȝour names telle ȝe me

When ȝe seþ þat time be.’

5555 His treuþe þerto þe king Ban,

& þerto ȝaf Leodegan.

Þerwhiles þe clerk Merlin

Hem hadde ypuruaid a riche in

& ledde hem þider al faire.

5560 Her ost was ycleped Blaire,

Leonele hete his wiif,

A fair buriays & ioliif,

Boþe þai wenten oȝain Arthour

& him welcomed wiþ gret honour.

5565 Arthour & his feren wiȝt

Soiournde þer seuen niȝt,

In her in & wiþ þe king

Þai maden oft solausing.

¶ Þe king þo sent his messangers

5570 Oueralle to her souders

& sent oueralle in his lond

Euerich gentil man his sond

Þat þai comen to him alle

To Carohaise into his halle

5575 Atte last bi Holy Þorsday {f.233ra}

To help him in his medlay;

& who so nold to him come

As traitour he schuld ben ynome

So ich in boke writen finde

5580 & him hing bi þe winde.

For so long trewes bitven Rion

Weren & þe king Leodegan -

Ac listneþ now swiche traisoun

Hem come ar þe Assensioun.

5585 In Estre on þe Tewisday

Þe euen of seint Philip in May

Four kinges gret geaun[ts]

5587-8: line-ends smudged and partly illegible.

Þat were vnder þe king [Ri]ounȝ

Went hem out in iren & stiel

5590 Wiþ sexti þousand armed wel;

Þe first king hiȝt Roulyons,

Þe oþer hete king Clarions,

Þe þridde king hete Sonegrens,

Sonegrens: r is superscript.

Þe ferþ hete king Sorhens,

5595 Þise went fram þe gret ost

To Carohaise wiþ gret bost

& robbeden al þe cuntray

Boþe in doun & in valaye,

Man & wiman al þat þai founde

5600 Þai slowen doun into þe grounde,

Þe cuntre wiþ wild fer

Oueral þai set on fer;

Ten hundred cartes on on route

Biforn hem brout saun doute

5605 Charged wiþ mete & wiþ drink

Þat ani man miȝt of þink

& vc kniȝtes þe pray toke

For to condue hem & loke.

To Carohaise þe kinges wente

5610 & at þe gates wolden entre

Ac þe gateward þe gates schetten,

Ac þeroȝain anon þai stetten,

Boþe wiþ launce & wiþ sword

Þai dusched & hewen on þe bord,

5615 & wenten to þe plaines oȝan

To quellen wiif child & man -

Men miȝt hem here schriche

So fer þat it was ferliche.

Þo in þe cite seiȝe þis harmes {f.233rb}

5620 Manliche þai grad ‘As armes!’

Þai went & armed hem euerichon

& to þe gates comen anon,

Opon gode stede hem rest

For to abide þe kinges hest,

5625 & þe kniȝtes of þe table rounde

Of al þe warld of mest mounde

Wiche hadde made Vter Pendragon,

Ac king Arthour no knewe her non.

Tvo hundred & to score & ten

5630 Verrament þer weren of hem;

Herui de Riuel & Malot þe broun

de: MS reads þe.

Were maisters of þe gomfainoun

So ich in þe brut finde;

Her gomfainoun was of cendel ynde

5635 Of gold þer were on þre coroune,

Þo it bar Malot þe broune.

Of þe cite four þousand were þar,

Her maister gomfainoun so bar

Þe kinges steward Cleodalis,

5640 A kniȝt he was of gret priis,

His pensel hadde riche colour

Alle he was couched wiþ aȝur

aȝur: MS reads ?ascur. Macrae-Gibson (1973, 1979) proposes long s corrected to that form of r which follows an o.

Of gold þer were four bore-heuedes ybete.

bore-heuedes: erasure after bo, with re he in darker ink and uedes awkwardly superscript in same ink.

Þese houed al in þe strete.

5645 Þo com king Arthour, Bohort & Ban

Wiþ her feren eueri man

So y in boke telle can,

Non nere armed hem oȝan,

A queintise þai hadden riche

5650 Þat non nas hem yliche;

On stedes þai lopen euerichon

In þe world nar better non.

Merlin rode biforn ichil avowe

& bad hem alle swiþe him suwe,

5655 So þai deden wiþouten faintise

On hors in fair queintise.

Merlin bar her gomfanoun,

Opon þe top stode a dragoun

Swiþe griseliche, a litel croume,

5660 Fast him biheld al þo in þe toune

For þe mouþe he had grininge

& þe tong out flattinge

Þat out kest spa[r]kes of fer {f.233va}

Into þe skies þat flowen cler.

5665 Þis dragoun hadde a long taile

Þat was wiþþerhoked saun faile.

Merlin com to þe gate

& bad þe porter him out late,

Þe porter seyd he schuld rest

5670 What he hadde of his lord hest

‘Certes’ quaþ Merlin ‘y þe telle

No lenger resten here y nille.’

He toke þe gate bi þe legge

& slong hem vp at his rigge,

5675 Þo he was out & his feren eke

Fast oȝain þe gate he leke

Wiþ lockes haspes & mani pin

Wiþ mani bar & mani gin,

Þus fast loken he hem fand

5680 & as fast after him lete hem stand -

Alle þat seiȝen þis saun faile

Of him hadde gret meruaile,

Boþe þo of þe cite

& eke his feren bi mi leute.

5685 ¶ Þo bad Merlin his compainie

Her stedes priken & swiþe hiȝe,

Wiþ þe baner dast Merlins

Among to þousand Sarraȝins

Þat ledden a wel gret pray

5690 Toward king Rion y say,

Ich of hem so dede bere

Þurth a Sarrain wiþ his spere,

Afterward her swerdes drowe

& Þe Sarraȝins to grounde slowe;

5695 Sum þai cleued to þe brest,

Sum þai binomen fot & fest,

Of mani þai hadde helme & heued

Sone fro þe bodi weued.

Þe to & fourti weren ȝep -

5700 Þai leten þer hors gode chep

Boþe wiþ sadel & wiþ bridel

For nouȝt to haue & oway ride -

Þe to þousand todriuen & slawe

Þai hadden in a litel þrawe

5705 So man wold in a mile-way

Ouergon his jurnay,

& þat priis ladde at aise

aise: i is superscript.

Toward þe cite of Caroaise.

Ac so þai comen bi þe way

5710 Eft þai metten michel pray,

A þousand cartes almast

Comand wel swiþe on hast,

Swiche þre kinges wiþ xvi þousinde

Comen & condid, hem bihinde,

5715 & Merlin seyd wiþ griseli chere

‘Now suweþ me gode fere.’

Forþ he flang & þai after anon

So swiþe so þe stedes miȝt gon;

Þo þai com þe kinges neiȝe

5720 Merlin hef his heued on heiȝe

& kest on hem enchauntement

Þat he hem alle almest blent

Þat non oþer sen no miȝt

A grete while, y ȝou pliȝt,

5725 & our fourti smiten hem on

& slowen of hem mani on

& mani c of painems hewe

Ar ani þer oþer knewe.

¶ Þo of þe cite seiȝen þis,

5730 Þai seyden it were men of priis.

Þo were vp vndon þe gate,

Cleodalis rode out þerate,

Þe steward wiþ fiue þousinde

Opon þe painems gun to winde;

5735 Þer was din, þer was cri,

Mani schaft broken sikerly,

For in þe coming of Cleodalis

Þe paiens miȝt sen, ywis,

Þer was swiche contek & wonder

5740 Þat it dined so þe þonder.

Þis ich heþen kinges þre

Ato parted her meine

Seuen þousand to ben þer riȝt

Oȝain þe fiue þousand to fiȝt,

5745 & setten þer þousandes eiȝte

Oȝain king Leodegan to fiȝt

Þat hem toward [com] in þat stounde

Wiþ þridde half hundred of þe table rounde.

Ac bi hemself þe rounde table wes -

5750 Þe king Leodegan naþeles

Wiþ him brouȝt þousandes to – {f.234ra}

& to þe bataile flongen þo.

Þe viij þousand hem com oȝain,

Þer was meting of men o main

5755 Wiþ spere & wiþ scharp sword,

Þer les mani man his lord,

Þer was sched so michel blod

Þat it ran as a flod.

Leodegan wiþ his fewe

5760 Noble main he gan to shewe;

He slouȝ þre oȝaines anne

& craked mani hern-panne.

Þe kniȝtes of þe table rounde

Mani þer slouȝ in litel stounde

5765 & bilimeden & feld of hors

Mani heþen orped cors,

Ac þei her swerdes wele þer bite

& to ded mani smite,

It was swiþe litel sene

5770 For oȝaines on þer wer tene,

Ac so sarre was þe þrang

Þat non miȝt com hem omang.

Þe Sarraȝins hadde gret despite

Þat so hem schent swiche popel lite,

5775 He swore bi Mahoun & Dagon

Hem no schuld ascape non

& drouȝ hem wel fer aroume -

Þat Crist hem ȝeue confusioun -

& baren doun in þat stounde

5780 ȝete fourti of þe table rounde

& were abouten hem to dere

Ac her feren hem gun were

Line 5782: copied at the foot of the column.

Þat he no hadde power non

Non of hem for to slon.

5785 Þat time was Leodegan

Feld adoun & his man

ȝete an hundred oþer mo;

Leodegan þai nomen þo

& beten him sore & ȝeuen him wounde

5790 & to an hors fast him bounde

& token fif hundred kniȝtes

To lade him forþ anonriȝtes,

& so þai deden sikerliche

Defuiland vilanliche

5795 Toward þe riche king Rion {f.234rb}

& wenden her bataile were ydon.

& þo þe king Leodegan

Him seiȝe fer fram al his man

& him aboute socour non

5800 & him loþeliche lade to king Rion

‘Allas,’ he seyd ‘þat y was bore,

Mi liif & priis so is forlore

& Gvenoure mi dohter gent

Of vile paiems worþ yschent

5805 & alle min noble kniȝtes

Worþ yslawe adoun riȝtes

& þe leuedis of mi lond

Alle ynomen in payems hond.’

For riȝt gret sorwe & care

5810 Aswon he fel as he ded ware;

To gret mile fram þe bataile

Þo he was, wiþouten faile.

¶ His douhter stode on þe cite wal

& biheld þis misauentour al,

5815 Hir hondes sche sett on hir here

& hir fair tresses al totere;

Sche hir totar to hir smok

& on þe wal hir heued gan knok

& swoned oft & seyd allas

5820 Þat hir socour lorn was;

So deden al þo of þe cite

Maden endeles pite.

Þe kniȝtes of þe table rounde

Kedden þai were men of mounde,

5825 Bitven hem þai wolden speke,

Leodegan þai wolden awreke

Oþer steruen þai wolden alle

& renged hem oȝain þe walle

For þai no seiȝen no socour

5830 & schewed þo her vigour -

Þridde half hundred oȝain .m. seuen

Me þenkeþ certes þat was vneuen.

Ac þer þai fouȝten vnder þe toun

& mani Sarraȝin leyd adoun;

5835 Hem þai tohewen & hors also,

Þay þoled michel pine & wo.

Þe citisains þat yseiȝe

& sore wepen wiþ her eiȝe.

Now lete we hem fiȝtand here {f.234va}

5840 & speke we of Arthour & his fere.

Now seyt our tale saun faile

Þat orible is þe bataile,

Of gret crie & swiþe strong,

Almest þennes fiue forlong,

5845 Þat Arthour held wiþ fourti & to

& Cleodalis wiþ four þousand & mo,

Oȝaines hem Sornegreons & king Sapharen

Þat seuen þousand hadd wiþ hem;

So fele paiems þer lay slawe

5850 Þat fele hepes þer lay on rawe

Of armed men of fatt stede

Þat her liif þer les to mede.

¶ Þo seyd Merlin to his ferrede

‘Now me suweþ alle ich rede.’

5855 Forþ riden þe fourti & to

So swiþe so þe hors miȝt go,

Þer bileued Cleodalis

Wele fiȝtand & al his;

Þo Merlin hadde riden a while

5860 Þe mountaunce of to mile

He seyd to king Arthour & Ban

‘Lo ȝond men ledeþ Leodegan

Ybounden toward king Rion

On hard dede for to slon;

5865 After hem now dasseþ swiþe

& oftakeþ hem biliue,

ȝif ȝou ascapeþ of hem ten

Schal I ȝou neuer held men.’

Þai stirten forþ & ouertoke hes

5870 & dassed hem amid þe pres.

Þe first slouȝ Merlin verrament

To ȝeuen þe oþer gode talent,

Arthour smot on hem saun faile

So on þe singel doþe þe haile

5875 So we finden on þe bok;

Al he slouȝ þat he oftok,

So dede Ban þe gode kniȝt

He clef mani on doun riȝt,

So dede king Bohors

5880 He slouȝ þer mani heþen cors,

So deden al þo gentil feren

Her swerdes þai dede in blod steren,

Alle þai laiden doun riȝt {f.234vb}

& made þer swiche a sleiȝt

5885 Þat man seiȝe neuer in so litel stounde

So fewe bring so fele to grounde,

For þer no schaped fram hem oliue

Of fiue hundred vnneþe fiue.

Þer men miȝtten haue frely

5890 Four c steden for gramerci

gramerci: r is superscript. c: altered from e.

Þat ȝede drawend her bridel brod

To þe fitlokes in þe blod.

Þus Arthour & his felawered

Deliuerd Leodegan fram þe dede,

5895 Michel wonder had Leodegan

Þat swiche a litel poine of man

So fele in so litel þrawe

So manliche had yslawe,

Bi þe dragon þat kest fer

5900 He wist it were þe newe souders,

Þat he was deliuerd fram his fon

He þonked Ihesu Crist anon.

¶ Þo liȝt þe clerk Merlin

& sir Bretel & sir Vlfin

5905 & þe king Leodegan vnbounde

& sett him on a stede of mounde

& armed him fineliche wel

& dede on his heued an helm of stiel,

About his nek a scheld strong

5910 & toke him a launce long

& sett him vp as a king

Þat er lay as a breþeling,

He joined his honden ioe vus di

& ȝalt hem þank & gramerci.

5915 On his stede þo lepe Merlin,

So dede Bretel & sir Vlfin,

¶ Þo seyd Merlin ‘mine kniȝtes fre,

Prikeþ ȝour stedes & folweþ me.’

So þai deden wiþouten abod,

5920 So aruwe of bowe ich forþ glod.

¶ Ac þo Gvenoure opon þe walle

Þis to & fourti seiȝe com alle

Bi þe dragon þat cast fer

Þat fleiȝe into þe skies cler

5925 Sche wist it were þe fourti & to,

Hir fader sche seiȝe com also

On hors y-armed & wele atired {f.235ra}

& fram his fon þurth hem deliuerd -

No ask no man of þe gret blisse

5930 Þat sche made þan, ywis,

& al þe men þat it seiȝen

For ioie þai wepe wiþ her eiȝen.

Þis þre & fourti com on hast

Wiþ norþþen winde so doþ tempast,

5935 Þe kniȝtes of þe table rounde

Þai founden alle felled to grounde

Þat stoden afot & wered hem

Oȝain on euer xx & ten,

Bot xx of hem openliche

5940 On hors fouȝten nobliche

& ouercarked weren þo

Her liif þat was neiȝe ago.

Þis xliii of gret mounde

So dassed on þe heþen hounde

5945 Þat ich of hem who so mett

Hastiliche þe heued of grett

& slowen hem doun into þe grounde

Mani geaunt in litel stounde,

Euerich dede swiþe wel

5950 Wiþ scharpe swerd of gode stiel,

Mani þai smiten þurth saun faile

Fram þe top to þe taile,

Of sum þe side, God it wot,

Wiþ scheld & arme eueri grot,

5955 Of sum þe midel euen ato,

Of sum þei & legge also;

Auberk, aketoun & scheld

Was mani tobroken in þat feld

& mani paiem wiþ deþes wounde

5960 & mani stede coruen to grounde.

Þe king himself þer Leodegan

Wele him wrake of his foman,

Oȝain þe þre & fourti of our

Non armour no miȝt dour,

miȝt: i is superscript.

5965 No hors of priis, no heþen kniȝt

Þat he nas dede anonriȝt.

Þer was an heþen king hiȝt Canlang

Fiftene fet he was lang.

He & anoþer þat strengest were

5970 Of alle þe paiems þat were þere.

Þis dede his miȝt saun fable {f.235rb}

To stroie þe kniȝtes of þe rounde table.

¶ King Arthour mett Canlang,

Togider þai made fiȝting strang

5975 & so strong was Canlang verrament

Þat king Arthour miȝt fest no dent

To him haue bot bihinde,

Bot ones he him hitt, kerueinde

Vnder þe scheld, þe scholder on

5980 Þurthout armes & flesche & bon,

Vnto þe nouel he him carf,

Þe misbileueand paiem starf,

A boþe half his hors he hing

Þat ernne forþ crudand in þat þring.

crudand: MS reads arudand.

5985 Þe paiems seiȝe Canlang so hit

Agrisen of þat dint out of wit;

Gvenour þat dint of Arthour seye

& þonked Ihesu Crist on heiȝe

& ‘ȝeue þat he mi lord were

5990 Þat ȝong þat fiȝteþ so þere.’

Anon seyden al her men

‘So were it me dame, amen.

For we no seiȝe neuer of his power,

Noiþer eld man no bacheler.’

5995 ¶ King Ban þo mett Clarion

Þat oþer strongest of euerichon,

He was gret xiiii fet long

& swiþe gret & swiþe strong,

He hadde mani of our yslawe;

6000 King Ban him mett wiþouten awe

So we finden in þe boke

& ouer þe ere he him toke,

Þe cheke he carf, þe schulder also,

To þe girdel þe dint gan go.

6005 His ribbes & scholder fel adoun,

Men miȝt se þe liuer abandoun.

King Bohort of gent power

Met Sarmedon þe gomfanoun-bere,

On þe schulder he him hit

6010 Þat arm & scholder of he kit;

His scheld & his gomfanoun

& himself þer fel adoun.

King Leodegan þo gan crie

‘For loue of þe quen Marie

6015 Bistireþ ȝou min gentil kniȝtes {f.235va}

& leggeþ doun þis paiems riȝtes.’

Þe kniȝtes of þe table rounde

Alle lopen on hors o mounde

& hewen on þe Sarraȝin

6020 Wiþ gode wille & hert fin.

¶ Þe paiems seiȝe ded Canlang

& Clarion þat was so strang

& þe baneour Sormedon,

Þo þai nist what to don

6025 Ac so swiþe so þai miȝt

Oway flowen anonriȝt.

To þousand com out of þe cite

& feld hem doun wiþouten pite

Wiþ kniȝtes of þe table rounde

6030 Þai hewen hem doun vnto þe grounde.

¶ King Arthour & king Ban

King Bohort & king Leodegan

& þe fourti liȝt & wiþstode

& gerten her stedes gode

6035 Þurth conseil of Merlin, ywis,

& went & holpen Cleodalis

Þe king[es] steward Leodegan

Þat fauȝt oȝain seuen m man

Wiþ four þousand & namore

6040 So ȝe herden herebifore.

Þis fourti & to & on

Opon þis seuen þousand smiten anon

& hewen on wiþ gret powers

On schides so doþ þis carpenters -

6045 It was nede for Cleodalis

Stode on fot, & mani of his

Aboute him stode sarreliche

Fram deþ to were sikerliche.

¶ Þer king Arthour & Bohort & Ban

6050 & þe king Leodegan

Paiems wiþouten tale slouwe,

A þousand stedes her bridels drowe,

Þis þre & fourti fouȝten so

Forȝeten miȝt it be neuer mo;

6055 For þe blod of kniȝtes dede

& of destre[r]s & of stede

Ran hem after al day so ȝerne

So water out of wel-streme,

Þurth þe pouwer & miȝt of þos {f.235vb}

6060 Cleodalis þat kniȝt of los

Was ybrouȝt on hors, ywis,

& kniȝtes oþer fele of pris.

¶ Þe kinges of þo heþen man

Heten Sornegrex & Saphiran,

6065 Aiþer of hem was xiiii fot lang

& swiþe hardi & swiþe strang

& hadden swiþe gret despite

Þat hem schent pople so lite.

A schille horn þai gun blawe,

6070 Togider þai gader her felawe.

¶ Kay & Vlfin, þe buteler,

& Grifles þat was of gret power,

Ich of hem tok a launce long

& dassed þe Sarraȝins among;

6075 Kay king Sornigrex hitt

& kest him to grounde in þat flit

& rode on him wiþ his hors

& defoiled his cursed cors

& had him slawe wiþouten letting

6080 Ac mani com to þis rideing,

Wiþ his launce dan Lucan

Þe hert þurth smot of Abadan,

Ac on hors in þis toiling

Was brouȝt Sornigrex þe king.

6085 Þo aros gret batail & strif

For of þe Sarraȝins ȝete m fif

Were ouercomen vnder þe wal,

Þider were flowen alle,

Þerfore so fel þer were

6090 Þat litel was sene her sleiȝster þer.

¶ King Sornigrex þat was yfeld,

His bodi tobrussed, tobroken his scheld,

For schame he was out of wit.

Our folk he þouȝt for to hit

6095 & gred to alle þo Sarains

Þat for loue of Apolins

Þai schuld of al his fon

Him awreke sone anon,

Of Saraȝins gret þreng

6100 About our Cristen made reng

& hem biclepten in þat place

& leyden on wiþ swerd & mace

& wiþ axes & wiþ gisharm {f.236ra}

Our folk þai deden michel harm;

6105 Ac in þis ich self stounde

Kniȝtes of þe table rounde

Þat folweden þe paiems fleinde

Al on hors com flinginde

& seiȝe þe pensel of fourti & to

6110 Þat day þat hadde hem holpen so,

Into bataile to hem þai drowen,

Alle þat þai met þai doun slowen

Boþe wiþ launce & swerd briȝt,

Þo þai metten þai slouȝ doun riȝt

6115 & þurth miȝt þai keuerden so

Þat þai com to fourti & to

& þo so gret sleiȝt made

Þat y no may it fulrade.

¶ At þe oþer half Cleodalis

6120 Fauȝt wiþ Sarraȝins of priis

Þat wiþ gret iniquite

Brouȝt hem oȝain to þe cite;

Þe strong king Saphiran

It was þat fauȝt him oȝan

6125 Wiþ neiȝen þousand verrament

& dede him gret encumbrement.

Ac þo ich to þousinde

Þat folwed þe oþer fleinde

To help þer com Cleodalis

6130 & on þe paiems smot, ywis,

In her coming & smiten to grounde

A þousand paiems in þat stounde

& þurth þe help of our driȝt

help: MS reads lelp.

Cleodalis halp wele to fiȝt

6135 & helden gode contre oȝan

Saphiran & al his man.

Þo nar þo wiþ king Arthour

Bot to & fourti of valour

& of þe rounde table kniȝtes

6140 To hundred & fifti wiȝte

No more þer ner so y finde

& fouȝten oȝain viij þousinde,

Sornegrex hete her king.

An hardi paiem þurth al þing.

6145 Þer hadde ben miche mischef

No had Merlin seyd a conseil bihef

‘Bieu seygnours y nil nouȝt hele {f.236rb}

Of þis paiems beþ so fele

Þat we no may oȝain hem doure,

6150 Bot to mi conseil nimeþ coure.

Her ben among þis Sarraȝins

Ten geauntes wel strong afins,

& þai were of dawe ydon

Þe bataile were passed sone.’

6155 Þai asked him wiche þai were

& he hem tauȝt anonriȝt þere.

¶ King Ban þat was gode & strong

Tok his swerd in his hond,

His stede he smot & forþ glod,

6160 Oȝain king Sornegrex he rode,

His helme he smot bi þe side,

Þurth helme & palet it gan glide,

Fram þe cheke þe neb he bar

Þe scheld fram þe schulder þar

6165 & þe left arme & þe hond;

arme: r is superscript.

Ich vnderstond he dede him schond.

Þe Sarraȝins kest a gret cri

& fleiȝe oway wiþ gret hy.

¶ Bohort met Marganan

6170 & smot þat vnsely man

On þe helme, ichot forsoþ,

Þat he him cleued to þe toþ.

¶ King Arthour so dieu me saut

Met wiþ [an] amiral was hoten Sinalaut,

6175 On þe helme he him hitt

& a quarter þerof kitt,

On þe schulder slod þe dent

& kitt it of verrament

& þerwiþ ribbes four,

6180 Þe painem starf wiþ misantour.

¶ Sir Vlfin slouȝ þo Sabalant

¶ & Bretel þe douk Cordant,

¶ Þe steward Kay slouȝ dan Deriard

¶ & Lucan þe boteler slouȝ Malard

6185 ¶ & Grifles so slouȝ Menadap

¶ & Meragys slouȝ þe douke Sadap

¶ & Gornenis slouȝ þe douke Maupas

¶ & Craddok slouȝ Darrilas.

Þese were þe geauntes ten

6190 & princes of þe heþen men,

Þo þe paiems hem ded seiȝe {f.236va}

A cri þai gun areren heiȝe

& seyd it were deuelen þat þai wiþ fouȝten,

Sikerliche so hem þouȝten,

6195 Þai flowen oway wiþouten abode.

Our folk swiþe after hem rode

& to grounde slouȝ doun riȝt

Al þat þai oftake miȝt,

Þre þousend þai slowen of þe eiȝtte.

6200 Þe oþer ascaped anonriȝt

oþer: r is superscript.

To þe riche king Saphiran.

Þo were þai xiiii þousand of man

& smiten on Cleodalis

Þat had bot four þousand, ywis,

6205 & þe to þat comen out of þe cite.

Þer men seiȝe wel gret pite,

Hou þe painems & king Saphiran

Defoiled our Cristen men,

A þousand & mo þai slowen,

6210 Þe remanant of hors drowen;

Oft Cleodalis was wo

Ac neuer wers þan him was þo.

Ydriuen he was vnder þe toun

& loked after þe dragoun

6215 Þat Merlin bar, ac he no miȝt

Nowhar of him han a siȝt,

No þe kniȝtes of þe rounde table

Miȝt he nowhar se, saun fable;

He wende þat dede þai hadden ben.

6220 Þer miȝt men gret pite sen

Now he flowe, now he wiþstode,

For drede he was neiȝe wode.

Þe citaisins þan seiȝe þis

& reweliche cri maden, ywis.

6225 Ac þurth Merlin so ich finde

Arthour was bileued bihinde

& þe oþer wiþouten fable,

Þe kniȝtes of þe rounde table,

& adden alle adoun aliȝt,

6230 Her stedes girt þe sadels riȝt

þe: MS reads he.

& soft & sarre saun faile

Com to þis reweful bataile;

Com: MS reads Tom.

Þo on þe walles of þe toun

Seiȝe comand þe dragoun,

6235 Þo seyd þe fair leuedis {f.236vb}

To þe steward Cleodalis

‘Cleodalis þou gentil kniȝt

Bistir þe & hardiliche fiȝt

For ȝonder doun in þe valaie

6240 ȝou comeþ socour of gret noblay.

We seþ þe dragoun þat casteþ fer

& after þe newe souders

& Le[o]degan wiþ hem saun fable

& þe kniȝtes of þe rounde table,

6245 Alle þai comen ȝerne, apliȝt;

Now kiþe þou art a noble kniȝt.’

Cleodalis in alle his liue

Nas neuer ȝete so bliþe

Þo he & his kniȝten

6250 So wele fouȝten so þai miȝten.

¶ Arthour & Ban & king Bohort

Þer hem com to gret comfort

Wiþ her folk of gret mounde,

Þre hundred þai bar to grounde,

6255 Ac a left half & a riȝt

King Arthour slouȝ doun riȝt

Wiþ Esclabor his swerd so gode,

Þat day he schad so michel blode;

Also dede þe king Ban

6260 Þer slouȝ mani heþen man,

Bohort his broþer & eke he

Spard noiþer þral no fre

Of stiel no yren armes nan

No miȝt doure hem oȝan,

6265 No may y noiþer telle no rede

Hou wele þai deden, her ferrede.

Ac þe leuedis on þe tour

ȝerne biheld king Arthour

& hadde wonder of his ȝingþe

6270 Þat þer kidde swiche stre(r)ngþe.

Þe heþen king Saphiran

Despite hadde of so fewe men

So miche folk þat slowen þo,

Mani geaunce þai cleued ato.

6275 He cleped to him Sortibran

& Senebant & Engredan

Molore & eke Frelent

& Clariel, a geaunt gent,

Landon & ek Moras {f.237ra}

6280 & Randel þat noble was,

To hem alou(n)de he gan to speke

Wiþ launce his anoie to wreke.

¶ Forþ dassed þe king Saphiran,

Þat vnsely hoge man,

hoge: h is superscript.

6285 Hervi Riuel & his hors gent

He frust doun at o dent

Þat hors & man astuned lay,

ȝete forþ he dassed par ma fay

& þrewe sir Antor of his hors

6290 Þat al þat day him was þe wors,

ȝete forþer he gan ride

& smot Grifles bi þe side

& kest him to þe grounde,

His launce brac in his wounde.

6295 & Sortibran wiþ justing cler

Feld Luca[n]s þe buteler,

Clariel feld Meraugys

& sore hirt him, ywis,

Engredan feld Gor[n]ains & Craddoc

6300 & sore agreued our floc,

Senebant þrewe doun Bleoberis

& his hors vnder him, ywis,

Þus þe geauntes our kniȝtes þrewe;

Our men gun it sore rewe

6305 Non of hem had dedeli wounde

Ac sone stirt vp in þat stounde

& wiþ scharpe swerdes of stiel

Wered hem manliche wel.

Our folk abuten hem gan þrest

6310 & socourd hem wiþ þe best.

¶ & ȝete in þis strong rideing

Com Saphiran þe heþen king

& in his hond a launce strong

Þat was boþe gret & long,

6315 Leodegan on þe scheld he hitt

& wiþ strengþe it þurth slit.

His hond he bar heiȝe ferly,

Þe launce glod þe king forby

Þat ran þurth þe hors bihinde,

6320 King & hors adoun gan winde;

‘Allas,’ þai seyd on þe tounes wal

‘Now we han ylorn al.’

Þai wende þe king yslawe ware {f.237rb}

& maden diol & sorweful fare.

6325 Gvenour made gret diol, ywis

& so dede al þo leuedis

Þat þat ich dint ysawe;

Þai wende þe king were yslawe.

So he hadde forsoþ yben

6330 No hadde oþer stirt bitven

& him halp in þat rideing.

Þo spac Arthour þe king

‘Certes’ he seyd ‘þis nis no game,

Þe paiems doþ ous swiche schame.’

6335 & swore he wold sterue anon

Oþer him awreke of his fon

& namlich on Saphiran,

‘Nay, lete me’ quaþ king Ban

‘For þou art to ȝong & ek to lite

6340 Oȝain swiche a deuel to smite.’

Þo seyd Merlin to Arthour

A word of gret deshonour

‘Wat abidestow coward king?

Þe paiem ȝif anon meteing.’

6345 For schame Arthour was neiȝe wode,

In wratþe brent al his blod,

His hors he smiteþ & he forþ glod,

Oȝain king Saphiran he rode.

Saphiran seiȝe war he cam,

6350 A strong launce in hond he nam,

Toforn him his scheld he grope,

Stef he streiȝt his stirope.

His stede he smot of gret valour

& rode oȝain king Arthour -

6355 A deuel rod oȝain a child.

King Ban for drede was nei wilde

& rode after king Arthour

To helpen him par auentour.

Saphiran wiþ king Arthour mett,

6360 Wiþ miȝt gret on him stett,

His scharp launce gan to glide

Þurth Arthour scheld & his side,

Þe speres schaft al torof;

Arthour nam no ȝeme þerof

6365 Ac in sadel sat vpriȝt

To mete Saphiran, apliȝt.

His launce he bar þurthout his scheld {f.237va}

& þurth þe hauberk felefeld,

Þurth þe wombe & þurth þe chine

6370 Þe spere ȝede euen bi line.

Quaþ Arthour ‘þou heþen cokin,

Wende to þi deuel Apolin.’

Þe paiem fel ded to grounde,

His soule lauȝt helle-hounde.

6375 G[v]eneoure sat on þe cite walle

& þe oþer leuedis alle,

Of Arthour seiȝe justing þis,

On him þai laiden al þe priis.

Anon after þe king Ban

6380 Met þe geaunt Sortibran

& on þe scholder so him hit

Þe side fram þe bodi kitt,

Þo com Malore & Frelent

& nomen Ban þat king so gent

6385 Bi þe helme wiþ her hond,

To smite of his heued þai gun fond;

Þis yseiȝe þe king Arthour

& smot his stede to þat socour,

Malore in þe heued he hitt

6390 Þe heued fram þe bodi he kitt.

¶ Þo þouȝt þe paiem Frelent

Awreke his cosyn of þat dent

To Arthour wiþ main he smot,

His scheld he clef God it wot

6395 & of his hauberk a gore

& of his aketoun a fot & more

Ac he no tok nouȝt his flesche.

Herof Arthour anoid wes,

A dint he smot anon to him

6400 & cleue his helme & eke bacin

& al þe heued to þe brest,

Þe paien fel wiþ iuel rest.

Þe paiens schirt & made dol

For þai no hadde þo bot Randol,

6405 A geaunt þat bar þe gomfanoun

þe: MS reads he.

Alle þe oþer were leyd adoun,

Þe paiens of deþ hadden doute

& alle wenten Randol aboute

Ac Ban no leued for no doute

6410 Þat he no dassed hem þurthout

& Randoil on þe schulder he smot {f.237vb}

Wiþ his swerd þat wele bot

Þurthout hauberk & aketoun

To þe midel al adoun,

6415 Þe pensel fel & eke Randoil.

Þe paiens þerof hadden diol

& gun rere a wel foule crie

So dorren don & flesche-fleiȝen

& for sorwe & drede & eiȝe

6420 Þai flowen euerich his weiȝe.

King Arthour wiþouten abade

& alle þe oþer of whom y tofore sade

After þis paiens fling

& mani of hem to deþ sting

6425 Wiþ scharp swerd of gode egge

Þe liif þai dede mani on legge;

Of xiiij þousand, boten fiue

No aschaped to king Rion oliue

Wiþ michel sorwe & michel care,

6430 & þat al forwounded ware.

King Rion al þai teld

Hou her feren weren aqueld,

Wel wroþ was king Rion þo

& made diol & michel wo

6435 & swiftliche he sent his sond

Oueral into Irlond

& into Danmark also.

Þe messangers forþ gun go

Þat bere letters & tidinges

6440 To on & xx strong kinges

To hundred m þat schulden bring

& l m of heþen genge

& for to ȝer her spending -

& so þai dede wiþouten lesing.

6445 After þis bataile & scumfite

Our men boþe gret & lite

Togider gaderd hem comonliche

& comen hom nobleliche

& biforn hem driuen al þe pray

6450 Of xx c cartes y say

& com to Carohaise þat riche toun

Wiþ ioie & wiþ processioun;

King Leodegan þo hete

His men nimen þat pray skete

6455 Þat in þe tventi .c cartes was, {f.238ra}

Taken it Arthour more & las.

So deden þe kinges kniȝtes,

Arthour nome it anonriȝtes

& parted it wel curtaisliche

6460 Bi Merlins conseil sikerliche

& so miche ȝaf his ost Blaise

Þat riche hem made & wele at aise.

Ac Arthour no Ban no forþ his host

No lenge wiþ Blasie soiourne most

6465 Ac to court þai were yfeched raþe

raþe: MS reads rare.

& ydon in riche baþe;

Gveneour wesche þe king Arthour

& Ban & Bohort wiþ honour.

Gvenore anoþer damisel

6470 & oþer maiden fair & fel

Weschen alle her gentil feren.

Here ȝe schul now yheren

Hou þe oþer Gvenour was biȝete

Y wil þat ȝe it alle wite.

6475 ¶ Þo Leodegan spoused his quene

A burmaiden he hadde fair & schene,

On fair maner & gentil wise

Þat serued þe leuedi of heiȝe prise,

Þe kinges steward Cleodalis

6480 Seiȝe þis maiden of gret prise

& spac so fair to þe king

Þat he wedded þat swete þing.

After a ȝer oþer to, ywis,

Þat gentil kniȝt Cleodalis

6485 Went þer him hete þe king

& left his wiif in þe quenes ȝeming

& ich ȝou sigge par ma fay

In þe quenes chaumber sche lay.

Ich niȝt it was þe quenes maner

6490 To chirche gon & matins here,

Also þe quen herd matines

Þe king aros bi wrongful lines

& what bi loue & what bi striif

He forlay þe stewardes wiif

6495 & biȝat a maide of gret mounde

Þat was Gvenour þe secounde.

& fram þat time al afterward

He binam þe wif his steward

& hadde hir fer in on trist, {f.238rb}

6500 Whiderward þe steward nist.

Naþeles Cleodalis,

Þat gentil kniȝt of michel priis,

Noiþer in seruise no in bataile

No feined oȝain þe king saun faile;

6505 Þis Gvenour was þe oþer so liche

So pani is oþer sikerliche.

Þese weschen þis gentil man

& leyd tables after þan.

Leodegan nam ȝeme wich onour

wich: MS reads wiþ.

6510 Alle þe oþer born king Arthour;

King Arthour sat wiþouten fable

Midelest at þe heiȝe table,

King Ban at his riȝt half sat

Ac þe oþer half king Bohort at

6515 Afterward her compeinie

Was yset þritti & neie

& next hem wiþouten fable

Sat þe kniȝtes of þe rounde table,

After þat ysett were þere

6520 Al þo oþer after þai were.

In halle þai hadden riche seruise,

Whereto schuld y þat deuise?

Ac Gveneour wiþouten les

Serued Arthour of þe first mes;

6525 Leodegan þat wele y say

Biheld his douhter & Arthour noblay,

So michel on hem he þouȝt

Þat of mete no drink he no rouȝt.

A noble kniȝt Herui de Riuel

6530 Vndernam his semblaunt wel

& seyd ‘sir, þi þouȝt lete be

& make þine ostes gamen-gle,

Eten & drink men schal on benche

& after mete in chaumber þenche.’

6535 Þe king þis tale vnderstode

& made his gestes semblaunt gode.

Ac on Gveneour biheld Arthour

& was al nomen in hir amour

Ac he tempred so his blod

6540 Þat non oþer it vnderstode;

Gvenoure on knewes oft gan stoupe

To serue king Arthour wiþ þe coupe

& he seyd to hir saun faile {f.238va}

‘Crist lete me ȝeld þe þi trauaile.’

6545 & sche seyd to him ‘sir gramerci,

It nis nouȝt to ȝeld sir ie vus dy,

Ac swiche a þou[s]and so y be

Sir no miȝt it ȝeld þe

Þe help & þe trauail & þe honour

6550 Þat ȝe han don to mi lord & ȝour socour;

Yherd be Ih[es]us Cristes sond

Þat ȝou sent into þis lond.’

Gveneour was euer tofor Arthour

& serued him wiþ gret honour

6555 & bifor eueri gentil man was

Maidens to serue wiþ gret solas.

Þer were trumpes & fiþelers

& stiuours & tabourers,

Þai eten & dro[n]ken & made hem glade

6560 & þo þai were al glad made

Þe cloþes weren vp ydrawe

& þai weschen so it was lawe.

After mete asked king Ban

To þe king Leodegan

6565 Whi Gvenour his douhter precious

To sum gentil man nere yspouse

nere: MS reads were.

Seþþen he no hadde non airs.

‘Certes sir,’ quaþ Leodegan vairs

‘ȝif were ner so mot y liue

6570 Sche were mani day yȝeue,

Wist ich owhar ani bacheler

Vigrous & of miȝt cler,

& he were of gode linage,

Þei he nadde non hirritage,

6575 Mi douhter ich wald him ȝiue

& al mi þing wiþ to liue.’

For king Arthour þat he seyd.

Merlin þo toforn hem pleyd

& cleped vp king Arthour & Ban

6580 & her feren fram Leodegan

So þat Leodegan miȝt of noþing

More wite of her being;

Þer seyd Merlin anonriȝt

To king Arthour al þe sleiȝt

6585 Þat Wawain & his feren of mounde

Hadde ydon biside Lounde

& al þat þerwhiles schuld falle {f.238vb}

He teld þer biforn hem alle,

Wherþurth bliþe in þat toun

6590 Þai bileft til þe Assensioun.

Lete we now here king Arthour

& his feren wiþ gret honour

& hereþ of þe chaunces ille

Þerwhiles in Jnglond bifelle.

6595 Listneþ now fele & fewe,

In May þe sonne felleþ dewe,

Þe day is miri & draweþ along,

Þe lark arereþ her song,

To mede goþ þis damisele

6600 & fair floures gadreþ fele.

¶ King Arthour is leued at Carohaise

& alle his frendes wele at aise,

& euerich cite þat was his owe,

Castels, tours heiȝe & lowe,

6605 He dede warnise wiþ store þan

Þat he no douted non haþen man.

Ac swiþe gre[t] confussiouns

Bifel þerwhiles to our barouns

Þat were ywent ato wel wide

6610 Euerich to loke his owen side.

¶ In þis time a messanger cam

To þe king sir Cradelman

& seyd so ich writen finde

‘Of paiens xx þousinde

6615 Comeþ a boþe half Arundel

Yarmed swiþe wel.’

Swiftliche þe king Cradelman

Nam x þousand armed man,

Haluendel tok Pollidamas

6620 His nevou þat gode kniȝt was,

Þe oþer del himseluen he tok

So we finden on þe boke,

Þai riden forþ anonriȝt

Til þai com to hem, apliȝt,

6625 & founden hem on a grene plas,

Ich of hem slepeand was;

Al abouten þai biclept hes

& smiten on wiþouten les,

Wiþ hors fete þai riden hem on

6630 & þurth stongen mani on;

catchword: þurth swerd & ax.

Þurth swerd & ax spere & kniif {f.239ra}

Þer les mani a man þe liif.

Non hadde miȝt hem to were

Noiþer wiþ swerd no wiþ spere

6635 Ac alle þat euer miȝt flen

Swiþe gun oway ten

To a castel wiche held Cramile

Þennes ouer þre mile

Heiȝe & strong a roche opon -

6640 Hir broþer hiȝt Bordogabron,

Þer was in wiþ hir þo

XX þousand paiems & mo.

XV þousand king Cradelman

Slouȝ of þat heþen man,

6645 Þe fiue þousand flowen oway,

Our folk hem suwed, par ma fay.

¶ Þe paiens þat wiþ Cramile were

Her feren þai seiȝe misfare,

‘As armes!’ gred alle þat þer was

6650 Boþe þe more & þe lasse.

xiiij þousand lopen on stede

Armed alle in riche wede

& smiten on king Cradelman,

Þer was miche sleiȝt of man.

6655 Þerwhiles þe gentil men of Arundel

Wenten out & deden wel -

Gold & siluer & purpel pelles

Mete & drink & mani þing elles

Þat þe paiens þer hadden late,

6660 Þai went to Arundel & schet þe gate

& stowen vp heiȝe on þe walle

To sen what miȝt to our bifalle.

Bi þat þai com on þe wal [o]n heiȝe

Cradelman was scomfite n[eiȝ]e,

6665 Doun þai lepen of þe walle

& ‘As armes!’ þai gredden alle.

On gode hors þai lepen of priis -

Fiue hundred þer were, ywis -

To socour & comen anon

6670 & halp wele Cradelman

Þat hadde lorn of ten þousinde

Þe þre þousand so y finde -

Þe paiens of þousindes fourten

Þe four hadden lorn so y wen.

6675 Ac þer swiche bataile aros {f.239rb}

A boþe half þat hem agros

Ac our had hadde þer more wo,

No hadde a chaunce ben þat bifel þo,

For þe king of þe hundred kniȝtes

6680 Com hem vp þo forþ riȝtes

Þat hadde yherd bifore teld

Hou paiens þe cuntre hadde aqueld

& come priueliche paiens to aspie

To binimen hem her robrie.

6685 X þousand he hadde gode kniȝten;

Þe haluendel he dede diȝten

To Morganor his steward,

In armes stalworþ & hard.

Þis dasched on þe Sarraȝins

6690 Wiþ gode wille & hert fins,

Eueriche wiþ his strong spere

Þurth a Sarraȝin gan it bere.

V forlong he dede hem recoile

& vnder hors fete defoile.

6695 Ich on oþer fast hewe,

Ac þe Sarraȝins þo it sewe

Hou þat men her folk hit

& hou fele fel in litel fit,

Þai arered a cri of more wonder

6700 Þan tempest, vfer, or þonder.

Alle þat euer fle miȝt

Oway flowen anonriȝt

Ac our kniȝtes & our barouns

Hem tauȝt so her lessouns

6705 Þat of fourten þousand fram deþ

No ascaped bot þre vnneþ,

Of hem ran as michel blod

So in riuer when it is flod.

Þer lay of paiens mani tasse

6710 Wide & side, more & lasse;

Mani fair stede dede þer lay

& mani wiþ blodi sadel ȝede astray,

For seþþen first, in on þrawe

Fiftene þousand þer were yslawe,

6715 & er weren also ich finde

Afor yslawe þritten þousinde.

Þus fele þai slouȝ of haþen

Þat schuld hem no more waite scaþen.

It þouȝt hem a fair praie {f.239va}

6720 Ac þo at arst agan her joie

For euerich oþer knewe sone

& þonked God, midydone,

Of þe help & þe socour

Þat eueriche dede oþer wiþ vigour,

6725 & anon wiþouten onde

Went into Arundel ich vnderstond

& dede biri þat ich day

Þe Cristen in chirche hay.

Of þe paiens þat were in lond

6730 Gret conseil þai held ich vnderstond.

¶ Þo seyd þe king Angvigenes,

Þe king of þe hundred kniȝtes wes,

‘Ich rede we sende our sond

To alle our peres of þis lond

6735 Þat we ous geder togider alle

& on þe paiens at ones falle

& fonden bi fine miȝt

To slen hem alle doun riȝt.’

‘Certes’ quaþ Cradelman

6740 ‘Me þink þat nere nouȝt wele don

For oȝain on of our men

Beþ mo þan þritti & ten,

ȝete is better for ich cas

Þat eueriche baroun loke his pas

6745 & aspie hem bi tropie

& so fond hem to astroie,

No schal ich no non of mine

Ben bihinde for deþ no pine.’

Þo þai hadden seyd þis word

6750 Ich bitauȝt oþer our Lord,

Anon hom ich of hem went cert,

Of þat pray ich hadde his part

Whereþurth þai miȝten, after long,

Þe better hem ȝeme fram wer & wrong -

6755 Lete we now þes bileuen here

& speke we now of her fere.

Þer comen vp fer bi norþ

Ten riche soudans of gret worþ:

¶ Þe first king hete Oriens,

6760 ¶ Þe oþer hete Pongerrens,

¶ Þe þridde hete Manginoires,

¶ Þe ferþ het Gondeffles,

¶ Þe fift soudan het Sorbars, {f.239vb}

¶ & þe sext het Pincenars,

6765 ¶ Þe seuend soudan het Fraidons,

¶ & þe heiȝte Salbrons,

¶ Þe neiȝd het Maliaduc,

[¶ ]Þe tenþ Vargon an heþen douc;

Þes comen vp so ich finde

6770 Wiþ fiften c þousinde

& wiþ þe stouer of to ȝare

Þerwiþ þai miȝt wele fare.

Ac þo þai comen vp on lond

Þai senten her folk ich vnderstond

6775 Bi seuen þousand & bi heiȝte

Vplondis men to sle doun riȝt,

Bi niȝen þousand & bi ten

Þai senten about to slen our men.

In þis sorweful time & lange

6780 Into þe cite of Coruanges

Messangers com to Angvisaunt þe king

& teld him reweful tiding

‘Sir,’ he seyd ‘bitven þis cite & Lanernv

Fiftene þousand be comen nov

6785 Sarrains þat wiþ fire wilde

Brennen man wiif & childe,

Bot þou hem socoureþ anon

Þai be forlorn euerichon.’

¶ Þe king was sori & noþing bliþe

6790 ‘As armes!’ he grad swiþe.

XV þousand al armed, ywis,

Þer lop(o)en on gode hors of priis,

To on hille & gun hem heiȝe

Þis mesauentour for to aspie;

6795 Þo seiȝe þai al þe cuntray

Stonden brenand on rede leiȝe,

Man & woman vrn so dere

Oueral for dout of þe fer.

Mani man for drede lete his wiif,

6800 Þe wiif hir child, þe child his liif.

Quaþ king Angvisaunt ‘woleway,

Þat ich euer bot þis day

& þat ich euer schuld sen

Þus miche rewþe on erþe ben.’

6805 His men þer he schift ato,

Half he tok himself & mo,

& haluendel he toke Gaudin {f.240ra}

Þat was a kniȝt hardi & fin,

Þat seþþen wiþ his miȝti hand

6810 Wan þat maiden of þe douke Branland;

Þese smiten þe hors of priis

& deden hem gon gode scour, ywis;

Þurth mani bodi haþen

Her launces þai dede baþen,

6815 After þat her swerdes þai drowen

& sexti þousand to grounde slowen

Als who seyt, al for nouȝt,

For þai wer abrod ydreyȝt.

wer: r is superscript.

Ac sone þerafter nouȝt forþan

6820 Fourti þousand after hem cam,

Ac our þurth Godes miȝt

Wele hem stode oȝain to fiȝt

& cleued mani heþen hounde

Fram þe top to þe grounde

top: MS reads toþ.

6825 & deden al forþ manliche

For leuer hem were be ded sikerliche

In manschippe & in treweþe

Þan euer more liue in rewþe,

& so nobliche her dint bisett

6830 Þat neuer men no deden bet.

Allas, allas! Gret pite

Sone fel on þis gent meine,

Lenger douren þai no miȝt

For opon hem com anonriȝt

6835 Þe forseyd soudans ten

Wiþ alle þe cuntre wreiȝen of men

& biclept al about

Our litel Cristen rout

& slouȝ of our compainie

6840 Verament þousandes niȝe.

Þo was þer of xv þousand

Yleued bot sex bihinde

& þe oþer flowen also ȝerne

ȝerne: r is superscript.

So her stedes miȝt erne,

6845 Ac þer no hadde non scaped oway

Nadde chaunce comen fram Crist on heiȝe -

Vriens þe king of Schorham

Þe Sarraȝins bihinde cam

& his nevou Baldemagu,

6850 A strong kniȝt of gret vertu,

Wham Vriens ȝaf half his lond {f.240rb}

Out of Owains his sones hond;

Þese wiþ hem xij þousinde brouȝt

Þat of dede litel rouȝt.

6855 Men hem teld of michel sorwe

Þerfore þai went out bi þe morwe

& þouȝt to don sum alegaunce

Pouer men of her greuaunce,

& comen hem sodanliche

6860 Opon alle þe paiens sikerliche.

Þese weren alle gode kniȝt

& flongen opon þe paiens anonriȝt

Wiþ strong launce, God it wot,

Euerich a paiem þurth smot

6865 & sum wiþ o launce-schaft

What þurth miȝt & Godes craft

Four oþer fiue slowe.

Þerafter ich his swerd drowe,

& ich ȝou telle for soþe & siker

6870 Þer bigan a stern biker

For þe Sarraȝins turned oȝen

On king Vrien & his men;

Þer was mani heued of weued

& mani to þe midel cleued

6875 & mani of his hors ylust,

Forsoþe þer ros so michel dust

Þat of þe sonne schineand briȝt

No man miȝt haue no siȝt,

Here & þer crie & honteye

6880 Men miȝt hem heren þre mile-way.

King Anguisaunt & meine his

Was yflowen a fer weys,

Socour com þat he vnderstode

& turned oȝain wiþ hardi mode,

6885 On þe Sarraȝins & smite

Wiþ swerdes þat wele bite

& a þousand on a rawe

rawe: a is superscript.

Þai haden sone brouȝt o dawe;

Þat was bataile of mende

6890 Bitven deuelen & kniȝtes hende.

Þe Sarraȝins ost & pray

Last fele mile-way.

¶ Vriens at þat o nende fauȝt

& his kniȝtes þat spared nauȝt,

6895 Angvisant fauȝt at þe oþer ende, {f.240va}

Non no miȝt com oþer hende

No bi fele wayes sen

So fele deuelen hem were bitven.

Our folk wiȝtliche hem gan were

6900 Wiþ ex & swerd & scharpe spere,

ȝete hadde þai lorn gret lore & sleiȝst

ȝif on hem no hadde comen þe niȝt

Þat þai ne seiȝe miche no lite

Ani to oþer ariȝt to smite;

6905 Ich wot forsoþe of þe heþen men

Were yslawe swiche ten

Þan were of our Cristiens.

Ac swiþe anon þo wiþþerwins

Her pauilouns þo telten riȝt

6910 For to bileue al þat niȝt.

¶ King Aguisaunt went hom

To Coranges riȝt anon -

Niȝen þousinde hem were yslawe.

Þo þe citeseines it sawe

6915 Þer was mani leuedi

Þat sore biwepe her ami

& mani gentil damisele

Hir fader biwepe wiþ teres fele;

Þe soster biwepe her broþer

6920 & euerich frende biwepe oþer.

¶ Þis time went king Vrien

To þe cite wiþ alle his men,

Also he com bi þe way

He fond cartes & michel praye

6925 & loges & pauilouns

Telt on a grene, swiþe roum;

Þo asked king Vrien

Wiþ whom þai weren & wos men,

Þai seyd wiþ king Brangore,

6930 & Wandlesbiri þai lay fore.

MS: & lay þore; emendation follows Macrae-Gibson (1973, 1979).

Of Sessoine þis heiȝe king was,

& hadde made al þis purchas

Opon our men, ywis,

For þe sibred of douke Angis;

6935 King Vriens wiþouten abode

& al his folk on hem rode,

On her heueden & feld adoun

Boþe loges & pauiloun.

To mete þai weren alle yset, {f.240vb}

6940 Forsoþe hem was litel þe bet

For on hem were stet þe hors

& defoiled her foule cors,

Tables, cloþes, bred & wine,

Plater, disse, cop & maseline

6945 Was vnder hors fete totoiled

& mani riche þing defoiled.

Vnarmed were þe paiens alle,

Our folk hem gun to talle,

Wiþ swerd & ax spere & kniif

6950 Þai binome þe paiens her liif

& so hem tohewe anonriȝt

Þat þai nadde power oȝein to fiȝt

Bot were al yslawe in litel stounde

Euerichon vnto þe grounde;

6955 Bot fourti paiens vnneþe

Þat hem ascaped fram þe deþe,

deþe: MS reads dere.

Wiche þat niȝt vnderfenge

Oriens þat riche king,

& miche biment þat he no miȝt

6960 Awreken hem þat ich niȝt

Ac amorwe he wold fond

Brennen & spillen al þis lond -

Amonges men it were ille

ȝif eueriche vnwrest hadde his wille.

6965 ¶ King Vriens & his kniȝtes, siker,

After þis ich noble biker

Token al þis riche praie,

Pelles purper, gold & monaye,

V hundred somers wiþouten lesing

6970 Þer were charged wiþ riche þing

& sex hundred cartes so y biþenke

Ful of flesche & mete & drinke,

Alle þai ladden wiþ hem þis

Into þe cite wiþ ioie & blis

6975 Þe heiȝe boþe & þe lawe

Þe bet ferd gret þrawe.

Lete we now be þis soiourne

& speke we of Oriens, wroþ & morne

For þis ich viij þousinde

6980 Þat were yslawe him bihinde.

Amorwe aros king Oriens

& hete castels & touns bren

& touns bren : MS reads: bren touns.

& alle þe houses þat þai founde {f.241ra}

Þai schulden bren into þe grounde;

6985 Man & hounde, wiif & child

Þai schuld bren wiþ fer wilde,

& so þai deden wiþouten pite

& spredden abrod in þe cuntre

& setten on rede laite

6990 Al þat euer þai miȝten awaite.

Saigremor a child noble

Was comen fram Costentinenoble

In þis time þat ȝe heren

Wiþ seuen hundred gentil feren

6995 Of king Arthour kniȝtes to ben

ȝif þai miȝt so yþen;

Þes metten children & wiues

& men, to sauen her liues

Vrn & stirten þer & her

7000 For houndes so doþ þe wilde der.

Segremor hem asked whi

Þai vrn & made swiche cri,

Þai seyd for drede of þe haþen

Þat hem brent & dede scaþen,

7005 Þai asked where was þe king Arthour

& þai him swore bi seyn Sauour

To Carmalide he was ygan

To help king Leodegan.

¶ ‘Certes’ quaþ Sagremoret

7010 ‘Oþer we schul sterue in þis flet

Oþer doun leggen of þis haþen

Þat in þis lond doþ swiche scaþen.’

Þer þai hem armed swiþe wel

Boþe in iren & in stiel

7015 & v hundred of vplond

Com to hem ich vnderstond,

& dasched on þe paiens wiþ hert gode

Þat were sprad þo abrode

Þat v hundred in litel stounde

7020 Þai laiden doun wiþ deþes wounde,

Ac sone afterward hem bihinde

Come ȝete fourti þousinde

Þat were wiþ Oriens þe king

& afterward wiþouten lesing

7025 Sexti þousand & mo

Come wiþ king Oriens also -

Þus fele þer comen & no las, {f.241rb}

Wiþouten þe cuntre þat ful was.

Ac in þis time an eld man

7030 As messanger to Wawayn cam

Into þe cite of Lounde

& him gret in þat stounde

& seyd ‘wele yfounden, child Wawayn,

Crist saue þi miȝt & þi mayn

7035 & alle þi compaynie fre

Þat ich here about þe se.

Sagremor, a ȝong man noble,

Is ycomen fram Costantinenoble

& seuen hundred ȝong man gent

7040 To sechen king Arthour verrament

Of him to afong swerd of stiel

& to seruen him swiþe wel;

In Souþesex þai ben ariue

In strong periil of her liue,

7045 Þis letters þai senten þe,

Her nede þou schalt yse.’

Wawain þis letters redde anon

& seyd to his feren ichon

‘As armes, feren! Nede it is,

7050 Y nold for þis cite, ywis,

Þer þat Segremor were ded,

Bot we him holpen & deden red.’

To þeld cherl he ȝaue a stede

Þat hem brouȝt þat message at nede

7055 & he hem tauȝt þan way

Toward Segremor þat ich day.

Þai no hadde no desturbing

No of paiens no meteing,

Þis ich eld messanger

7060 Hem ledde boþe swiþe & ner

Þat al bitimes saun faile

Þai miȝten com to þat bataile.

¶ Wawain hadde wiþ him so y wene

Of orped boies þousandes fiftene

7065 & as he rode bi þe way

Euer he gadred mo y say.

¶ Comand þese lete we

& speke of Segremore so fre.

Fourti þousand smiten him on

7070 & he oȝaines hem anon,

Xij hundred oȝain fourti þousinde {f.241va}

Ferd so smoke oȝain þe winde.

Naþeles y telle it ȝou

Seigremor & his hadde swiche vertu

7075 Þat, on of his ȝif þe oþer afeld,

Þeroȝaines tventi he queld.

¶ Ac þis was teld Oriens bihinde

Þat was cominde wiþ sexti þousinde

& he for þe lore & for þe anoie

7080 Þat he hadde þat oþer day

Hete men schuld abouten hem gon

& hem nimen euerichon;

Abrode þai ȝeden wiþouten doute

& þe children comen about.

7085 Þe cuntre was ich way

Of armed paiens ful þai say;

ful: MS reads fel.

Segremor no his fer

No miȝt flen in non maner

& hadden ment hem to ȝeld

7090 Ac fer fram hem þo hye biheld

Fele baners þai seiȝen com

And after hem gret trom.

Þo seyd child Sagremoret

‘ȝif wel gunne, do we now bet,

7095 For yherd be our Saueour,

Y se ȝond com gret socour.’

Þan þai werd hem wiþ swerd naked

Þat so fer so þai miȝten take

Non neiȝe hem com no miȝt

7100 Þat þai no slowen doun riȝt.

In þis time com Wawain

& his feren wiþ gret main,

Euerich of hem gan to bere

Þurth a Sarraȝin wiþ his spere,

7105 Afterward swerdes þai drowe

& sexten þousinde to grounde slowe;

Mani mouþe þe gres bot

& griseliche ȝened, God it wot,

Paiens floted in her blod -

7110 Euer is Cristes miȝt gode.

Wawain to Sagremor com þan

& king Oriens werd him fram

Wawain ȝaue Oriens swiche a flat

Boþe on helme & ysen hat

7115 Þat he to grounde plat þere {f.241vb}

Also he stef & stan-ded were.

His folk abouten him pres made,

Euerich gan to crie & grade

For her lord, & vp him toke

7120 So we finden on þe boke,

To Wawain þer com a kniȝt

& bad him wende anonriȝt

Toward Camalot wiþ his felawe,

& so he dede in þat þrawe

7125 & al his feren God it wot

Went toward Camalot

Þerwhiles þe paiens aboute were

Her soudan for to arere.

Ac þerafter a litel while

7130 Wele þe mountaunce of a mile

Oriens his limes drouȝ

& gan arise of his swouȝ

& seie þe diol sorweful & grim

Þat his folk made for him,

7135 Vp he lepe wiþ chaufed blod

So him no were nouȝt bot god

& asked anon, ywis,

Newe armes & newe hors of priis

& newe swerd & newe launce

7140 To nimen of his fon veniaunce.

Þat he asked was him founde

& he went forþ in þat stounde,

Sexti þousand paiens & mo

Her steden after smiten þo;

7145 Wawain seiȝe her coming coue

& dede þe best wiþ hem houe,

Wele an tventi oþer mo

& al þe oþer toforn hem go

To Camalot þat cite

7150 To keueren wiþ his meine,

& he bihinde to ben bi cas

To susten þe paiems ras.

Þe paiens ouertoken our men

& fast leyd opon hem þen

7155 Ac Galathin & eke Wawain

& Gveheres & Agreuain,

Gaheriet & Sagremore,

& þe oþer y teld bifore

Bihinde þat bileued were, {f.242ra}

7160 Euer were here & tere

& wiþ swerd & scheld & spere

Her folk, toforn, wele gun were.

Þo com Oriens to Wawain rideinde

Wiþ a spere gode scoure bihinde

7165 & wende Wawain hit þurthout

Ac he failed wiþouten dout

For he smot him forbi,

& Wawain for gret heiȝe

Hitt him wiþ his swerd aplat

7170 Amidward þe ysen hat

Þat he tombled in þat stounde

Stif aswon to þe grounde.

Segremore smot Orian Russel

On his schulder bi þe haterel

7175 Þat schulder & arm & ribbes alle

He doun kitt wiþ liuer & ȝalle;

Galathin smot Placidan

Amidward al his man

Þat þe heued fleiȝe fram þe bouke,

7180 Þe soule nam þe helle-pouke;

Agreuain toke a launce long

& rode oȝain a geant strong,

Guinat þat hete God it wot,

& þurth þe hert he him smot;

7185 Gveheres turned his pas

Oȝain a geaunt þat hete Tauras

& bare him þurth wombe & rigge,

His liif he dede him þere legge;

Gaheriet mett þe douke Faunel

7190 Wiþ a launce, þe soket of stiel,

& smot him þurth rigge & brest-bon,

Þe geaunt fel ded anon.

ȝete þai smiten forþ on hast

& þre oþer of hors cast

7195 & wiþ her meine eueri grot

Smiten into Camalot,

Bot Wawain & Galathin

& Sagremore of gentil lin

Þat riden wiþ her hors

7200 Amid Oriens cors

Him for to sle wiþouten doute,

Ac mani þousinde com him aboute

Þat Oriens binomen hem, {f.242rb}

Ac Oriens slouȝ bi fiue & ten,

7205 Bi fine miȝt þai breken hem fro

& into Camalahot wenten þo.

Ac Wawaines breþer forsoþe to sain

In Camalahot misten Wawain

& þe þre deden hem oȝan

7210 Wiþ hem went non oþer man,

non oþer: MS reads anoþer.

Out at þe gate þis þre stetten

& on his stede þat cherl metten

To Wawain þat þe letters brouȝt

& swiþe fair þai him bisouȝt

7215 He schuld hem tel fer or neiȝe

ȝif he owar Wawain seiȝe,

He seyd anon to hem oȝan

‘Certes ȝe be nice men.

Whiderward were ȝe ycrope?

7220 In ȝou is ful litel hope

Þat ȝour broþer lete among his fon

& ȝe to herberwe gun gon,

For ȝou he may now ligge yslawe

No telle y ȝou nouȝt worþ an hawe.’

7225 Þese were aschamed & anoid

Of þat þe cherl hem hadde seyd;

For stoutelich he haþ hem chidde

Þe hors þai smiten þe spurs mide

& sone þerafter her broþer metten

broþer: MS reads feren.

7230 Wiþ his to feren, & hem gretten

& asked hou it wiþ hem was,

& þai seyd ‘wele, þurth Godes gras.’

Towarde þe toun anon þai stetten

& þe cherles stede metten,

7235 Þe arsouns blodi, bibled þe hors,

Ac hye no seiȝe nouȝt þe cherls cors.

‘Allas!’ quaþ Wawain ‘Allas, allas!

Verrament þis stede it was

Þat ich ȝaue þat eld man

7240 Wiþ letters to Londen þat to me cam.’

‘ȝa, who rect?’ his breþer quaþe

‘Heiȝe we to toun raþe.’

For he hadde arst seyd hem schame

Þai lowen þerof & hadde gode game.

7245 Wawain souȝt him here & þer

Ac he no fond him nowhere,

It nas no wonder sikerliche {f.242va}

Merlin him turned flesche & liche

& was bicomen a garsoun

7250 In hond berand a tronsoun

& ȝede hem alle þo among;

Þo Wawain hadde souȝt him long

To Camalahot þai wenten on hast

& schetten after þe gates fast,

7255 Drowen brigge & eueri pin,

In pais & held hem þerin.

Ac þo Wawain seiȝe Sagremor

Þer was ioie bi Godes or,

Fair clepeing & welcominge

7260 & to Ihesu Crist þonkeinge,

Þat ich oþer hadde ydon

& destroied her fon;

Þer þai soiournd mani day

Wiþouten ani kin anoy

7265 & seiȝen paiens, seriaunce of helle,

Þat no tong no miȝt telle

Al day passen hem forbi

Wiþ howe & noise & grete cri -

Lete we hem here soio(i)uringe

7270 & speke of þe oþer kinge.

Now telleþ þis romaunce cert

Oriens was sore yhert

Tofore Camalahot in þe pleyn

& wounded of child Wawain,

7275 For his hurtinge & his damage

He was neiȝe wode & eke rage.

He wald him wreke anonriȝt

Ac it was almost þo niȝt,

Ac, to eke þat, fele of our

7280 Were wiþinne walle & bour

& oueralle stert him fro

Þat he no miȝt comen hem to.

Als-so fer also he miȝt

His folk & he went þat niȝt

7285 & her pauilouns telt

& made hem at aise wiþ fresche & selt;

Amorwe king Oriens aros,

Wele mani men þerof agros,

Bi ten þousand & bi fiftene

7290 He sent about to do men tene.

He hete bern into þe grounde {f.242vb}

Man & hous al þat he founde,

& so he dede þre jurneie

Oueral bi ich way,

7295 Man & hous þai brent & bredden

& her godes oway ledden;

Wiþouten no[m]bre cartes fele

Þai ledden oway wiþ alle wele

& setten þe cuntre a fer wilde

7300 Wiþ man & wiif & wiþ childe,

Ac mani ascaped sikerlik

Into þe lond of Canbernic

& comen to þe douke Estas,

Douke of Arundel þat was,

7305 Biforn him & fel on croice

& grad on him wiþ pitous voice

& seyd ‘sir, for Godes gras,

Þine help, þine ore in þis cas.

Sarraȝins wiþ griseli chere

7310 Þis cuntre haþ sett afere

In vplond & in toun

Euerich hous han brent adoun,

Of child & man & eke of wiif,

Alle þat þai mai nimen þai reue þe liif;

7315 Sir, help ous at þis nede

Oþer we ben euerichon dede.’

‘Now lord’ quaþ þe douke Estas

‘Help ous for þine holy gras.’

For þe pite þat he seiȝe

7320 Sore he wepe wiþ his eiȝe.

Wiþ him was þe lord of Paerne,

He gred ‘As armes!’ swiþe ȝerne.

Ten þousand wiþ him he toke,

Þe oþer left þe cite to loke,

7325 Forþ he went swiþe anon

What he com to king Clarion

Þat woned fram him bot litel swiþe -

Þe king of his cominge was bliþe -

& seyd him so ich tofore teld

7330 Hou þe paiens his folk aqueld.

‘What rede’ quaþ king Clarion

‘Waldestow ȝeuen ous to don?

ȝif þai pas ous bitven

We are lorn so mot y þen.

are: a is superscript.

7335 Man & best in þis cuntray {f.243ra}

Were destroid & alle away.’

¶ ‘Certes’ quaþ þe douke Estas

‘We schul laten in þis pas

Of our men a parti

7340 & nim wiþ ous fair compainie

& wenden ous wel swiþe on hast

To Brekenham to þe forest,

In þe wode & hide ous

& þurth þe grace of swete Ihesus

7345 (&) So we schul wele aspie

Þe paiens doinde robberie

& smiten on hem & sle hem doun

& þe pray bring into our toun.’

Quaþ king Clarion ‘God merci!

7350 What conseil seistow gode ami?

Hou schuld we oȝain hem fiȝt?

Y dar þe mi treuþe now pliȝt

Þei our folk tohewen waren

To smale morsels so beþ taren

7355 To ich of hem vnneþe men miȝt

A morsel of ous to hem diȝt.’

‘A sir,’ quaþ þe douke Estas

‘Wiþ ous schal be Godes gras,

His grace is better in to afie

7360 Þan armour oþer compeinie,

& þai be spred wide here & tere

& we ben al togider here,

Ich hope þurth Ihesu Crist

We schul hem driue so sonne doþ mist.’

7365 ‘Certes’ quaþ Clarion þe king

‘Þeroȝain am y noþing,

Ac alle hem to asaily

Forþ to wende icham redi

ȝif ȝe so reden, þis pouer men.’

7370 ‘ȝis,’ quaþ þai euerichon

‘Sir par seynt charite

Rewe on ous & haue pite

We han leuer sterue ariȝt

Wiþ manschip & in fiȝt

7375 Þan sen kin & wiif & child

& ous forbren in fer wilde.’

Þe king for pite wepe, apliȝt,

& seyd ‘Certes ȝe han riȝt.’

Þo schosen þai so Dieu me saut {f.243rb}

7380 A noble kniȝt lord of Nohaut,

& þe lord of þe toun sori,

Brandris a kniȝt hardi,

& Brehus saun pite also,

A feller kniȝt miȝt non go,

7385 Þese bileft þer riȝtes

Wiþ a þousand orped kniȝtes

Þe cuntre to loke & þe paþe,

Fram Sarrain þat wald hem scaþe;

Þe lord of Paerne so ich finde

7390 Þer toke seuen þousinde,

Into þe forest of Rokingham

Rokingham: ha superscript.

Wiþ hem alle forþ he nam;

Þe douke Eustas & Clarion þe king

Bi anoþer way went wiþouten lesing

7395 & helden hem a litel bi hest

Vnder þe selue forest.

In May is miri time swiþe,

Foules in wode hem make bliþe,

In euerich lond arist song -

7400 Ihesus Crist be ous among.

In þe forest of Rokingham

Hidden hem our Cristen man.

Þer was a launde of noblay

Where come togider seuen way,

7405 Þai hem hidden a litel þerbi

For to aspien sikerli

Þe route of þe Sarraȝins & þe pray

7407-8: order reversed.

Þat miȝten comen of selcouþe cuntray

For to skecken on hem on hest

7410 When þai seiȝe time best.

Also þai were þere soiourninge

Abouten vndren com gret cartinge

Bi ich of þis seuen way

Ful of ich maner pray

7415 Of venisoun & flesche & brede,

Of broun ale & win white & red,

Of baudekines & purpel pelle,

Of gold & siluer & cendel -

Sum þai brouȝt fram her lond

7420 & robbed sum in Jnglond.

Þis carting lest mile-ways

Forsoþe hou fele no can y say,

Fif þousand ȝede þe cartes to loke {f.243va}

So we finden on þe boke,

7425 To hem dassed þe lord of Paerne

Wiþ seuen þousand also ȝerne

& þe carters euerichon

Of liif-days þai brouȝten anon

& her lokers anonriȝtes,

7430 Fif þousand heþen kniȝtes,

Þai metten wiþ swerd & kniif

Þat non ascaped wiþ þe liif.

& nomen swiftlich al þat pray

& ladde it þennes to mile-way

7435 Into þe toun of Arundel

& þer it token to ȝeme wel

& went hem oȝain anon

To þe king Clarion.

Riȝt also þai comen ware

7440 Fiftene þousande þer comen fare

Sarraȝins y-armed wel

On gode hors in yren & stiel,

Our kniȝtes were so y finde

Gode kniȝtes tventi þousinde,

7445 Þai smiten þe hors & lete þe rain

& metten þe paiens wiþ gret main.

King Clarion mett king Guifas -

Sexten fet o lengþe he was -

He hit him wiþ þe speres ord

7450 Þurth & þurth scheldes bord,

Þurthout hauberk & aketoun,

& bar him of his hors adoun;

His schaft tobrast, þe geaunt fel,

tobrast: r is superscript.

His nek-bon he brac þertil.

7455 Þe douke Estas of Arundel

Mett a king sir Mirabel,

Þe paien on him brac his schaft

& hitt him on þe side laft,

Þe douke him hit in þe brest

7460 & wiþ his dint hard þrest

An ellen long þurth þe bouke -

Þe soule went to þe pouke.

Þe gode kniȝtes þat wiþ hem ware

Þe oþer to þe grounde bare

7465 Wiþ dint of spere & of swerde-egge

Þe paiens þai made to deþ legge,

Bitven vndren & none so y finde {f.243vb}

Of hem þai slowen ten þousinde

Þer lay mani paien þurth-þrest

7470 Heued ofsmiten & fot & fist,

Bi þe blod of hors & man

A mile men miȝt haue ygan.

Of hem fiue þousand þat wald scape

Toward king Oriens gan rape,

MS: wold gan; wold crossed through.

7475 Our Cristen hem suwed at þe rigge

& spared nouȝt on to legge

legge: MS reads ligge.

What king Oriens þai saye

Wiþ folk wreien al þe cuntraye.

Oȝain þai wiþdrouȝ hem þo

7480 & conseil toke what to do,

Doun of her destrers þai liȝten,

Her stedes to rest her armes riȝten

& afterward made a renge

Of hem alle þe launde alenge

7485 For þai nold for no gode

Þat paiens binomen hem þat wode.

Þo asked Oriens an hast

His folk wereof þai weren agast.

‘Sir,’ þai seyd ‘heretofore

7490 Beþ tventi þousand oþer more

Cristen men þat ȝour kniȝtes

Han yslawe doun riȝtes

& sodanliche þai com ous on

Er we seiȝe of hem on

7495 & no hadde we þe better be

Hem of scaped nadde we.’

‘A Mahoun’ seyd Oriens þo

‘Þou nart no god worþ a slo

worþ: r is superscript.

Þerfore þi folk þou dost no gode

7500 So for Cristen doþ her lord.

¶ Com forþ’ he seyd ‘wiþouten letting

King Eliedus min owhen derling

Nim wiþ þe fourti þousinde

& sle bifore þat þou miȝt finde.’

7505 ‘It schal be don’ he seyd ‘bi dan Dagon.’

Euerich lepe his stede opon

& fond our men alle at a tasse

Þat þe paiens no miȝt passe.

Þer ich oþer sone mett

7510 & wiþ scharp launce grett.

Þer tumbled mani paien haþen, {f.244ra}

& mani Cristen – þat was scaþe.

Ac þo þat ware ded of our

To heuen brouȝt soule pure

7515 & þe slawen Sarraȝine

Went into helle-pine.

Þe Cristen fond þe heþen dere

So þe lioun doþ þe bere,

Euerich on oþer leyd [þer]wiþ

7520 So on þe yren doþ þe smiþ,

Þer ouerþrewe in litel stounde

Mani orped kniȝt to grounde:

Sum ycleued to þe brest,

Sum ofsmiten arm & fest,

7525 Sum hors smiten & sum astray;

Þis fiȝt last fram þe midday

What it were euen almast,

Þo com Oriens driueand on hast

Wiþ an hundred þousand & mo

7530 & þouȝt our men alle slo,

Ac on hem þo com þe niȝt,

Our to wode deden hem þo riȝt,

Þurth Godes help & his pite

& so ascaped to her cite.

7535 ¶ Bitven king Clarion & douke Estas

Þer was parted alle þe purchas

Þat þai hadde ywonne þat day,

Long hem was þe bett. par fay.

Of Cristen were slawe y finde

7540 Þe mountaunce of four þousinde

Ac þere were slawe of þe heþen men

Wele mo þan þousendes ten;

Wroþ was Oriens þe king

Of þis sleiȝt & þis scapeing,

7545 Þai telt her pauiloun þer þat niȝt,

Amorwe were souȝt anonriȝt

In wode & doun & in fen

After our Cristen men

Ac þai no founde þerof non

7550 For nouȝt þat euer couþe þai don.

Oriens þo was so wroþ

His owen liif was him loþ,

For wretþe he cleped an amirail

Napin þat hete saun fail,

7555 Wiþ fiften þousand wreyen kniȝtes {f.244rb}

& bad him þe cuntre sle doun riȝtes

& toke him ribaudes þre þousinde

Þe cuntre to brenne bifore & hinde,

Waines & cartes & somers also

7560 Fif hundred he dede after go

Charged wiþ al(l)e & win red

Wiþ fische & flesche & corn & bred,

Wiþ cloþes & wiþ armerie,

Sum þai hadde of robberie

7565 & sum brouȝt fram her cuntray;

ȝete dede Oriens more y say,

Wiþ ten þousinde Rapas a king

He dede loke þat carting,

He sett king Eliteus at her hele

7570 Wiþ xv þousand in on eschele,

Himself Oriens com bihinde

Wiþ Sarraȝins xx þousinde.

Þis ribaus þus þousandes þre

Ofersett þe cuntre

7575 & brent & slouȝ man & wiif

O child no leten þai oliif,

Þe cri & sorwe y say

Men herd fele mile-way;

Þe douke Estas yseiȝe al þis.

7580 Wo was him oliue, ywis,

He [tok] kniȝtes þousandes to

& out of his cite dassed him þo;

Among þe ribaus anon he dast

& sum þe heued of he laist,

7585 Þis þre þousand he slouȝ anon -

Bot fourti þat hem fro were agon -

Þurth þe miȝt & help of Crist

Ar Napin ouȝt þerof wist

Into her cite þay wenten oȝan

7590 Wiþouten letting of ani man.

To Napin com a ribaud þo

& seyd ‘sir, where bileuestow so?

Þou no dost nouȝt as þe wise

For þurth þi targinge & þi faintise

7595 Alle our feren yslawe beþ

& we vnneþe ascaped deþ.’

‘Held þi pes’ quaþ þe douke Napin

‘Or þou art ded bi Apolin.

A worde speke y þe more here, {f.244va}

7600 Þou art dede & al þine fere.’

For al þat is vnder Crist

He nold Oriens it hadde wist.

Forþ þai passeþ þis lond acost

To Clarence wiþ alle her ost,

7605 King Bardogaban of gret mounde

Wiþ tventi kinges þer he founde

Þat bilay þat cite

& slouȝ þe cuntre wiþouten pite,

cuntre: r is superscript.

Oriens was welcome swiþe

7610 For wonderliche þai weren bliþe

Of þe eiȝtte & stouers

Þat þai brouȝt, þo pauteners.

Þere þai bileft wiþ þat king,

Lete we hem now at þis segeing

7615 & schewe werres & wo

In þis lond þat weren þo -

Who so wille ȝiue lest

Mai now here noble gest.

Mirie it is in somers tide,

7620 Foules sing in forest wide,

Swaines gin on iustinge ride,

Maidens tiffen hem in pride.

Los sprong of Wawaines dede

Of his breþer & of his ferrede.

7625 Vriens þat was of Schorham king

Of whom y made bifore scheweing

Hadde spoused Hermesent

Blasine suster & Belisent;

Þai hadde a ȝong man hem bitven,

7630 Michel Ywain a noble stren,

He was ycleped michel Ywain

For he hadde a broþer-kniȝt, certein,

Bast Ywain he was yhote

For he was biȝeten o bast God it wot;

7635 Vriens bi anoþer quen

ȝete had biȝeten a gentil stren

Þat was hoten Morganor,

A gode kniȝt bi Godes or,

He had made him in al air

7640 To þe lond þat of him com veir,

him: MS reads hem.

Þe lond þat com of Hermesente

Was Ywains þurth riȝt decente.

To Hermisent com child Ywain {f.244vb}

& seyd ‘dame of child Wawain

7645 Þat is mi nevou spekeþ al þis lond;

Allas, ma dame, it is me schond

Þat y no com in non werre

Wher y come to conquerre.’

Wher: MS reads When.

Þo seyd Hermesent him to proue

7650 ‘Whider wostow Ywain for mi loue?’

‘Dame, to seche min em Arthour

Of him to afong þe anour

Of wiȝtschippe & cheualrie

& leren manschippe & curteisie.’

7655 ‘What?’ sche seyd ‘for wiche biȝete

Wostow oþer seruise & þi faders lete?’

‘Dame’ he seyd ‘þine owen land

Mi fader haþ laten me on hand,

His owen lond he ȝaue anoþer,

7660 Morganor mine halue-broþer,

& þei he schuld me al bireue

ȝete ichil, bi ȝour leue,

Wende & serue mi nem Arthour;

It schal falle to our honour.’

7665 ‘Sone’ sche seyd ‘icham wele paid

Of þat þou hast to me seyd.

Þi nem is Arthour, verrament;

Serue him wiþ hert gent

& fond for to make acord

7670 Bitven Arthour & þi lord.’

Þer sche him puruaid anonriȝtes

To felawes an hundred kniȝtes

& þre hundred ȝong men

Þat wiþ him kniȝtes schuld ben,

7675 & fond hem armour & stede

armour: first r is superscript.

Boþe soure & gode at nede;

In þe name of heuen-king

Sche him ȝaf hir blisseing

& lete him forþ wende in þe name of Crist

7680 Þat his fader þerof nist.

Ywain bastard wiþ him went

& four hundred of feren gent.

feren: MS reads feþen.

Now com þai fram Schorham

Al bi þe forest of Bedingham

7685 Toward Arundel in Cornwaile

Ac þider þai no miȝt saun faile,

Bot þai wolden passen þurthoute {f.245ra}

iiii xx .m. Sarraȝins wiþ rowe snoute

Þo com þer forþ, wiþ miȝti hond

7690 Wiþ king Soriendos to stroi(þ)e þis lond,

He de[de] ribaudes ten þousinde

Bren þat þai miȝtten finde,

So he dede michel rewþe.

Þis was on Yders lond in trewþe,

7695 Ac to Gawaynet ful of priis

Sone men telden al þis;

Þo he & his gentil feren

Al þis reuþe deden heren

He toke wiþ him þritti þousinde

7700 Gode felawes so y finde

Þat wenten alle wiþ Wawain

For his largesse & his main,

Out of Londen þe way þai nome

Al what þai to Cardoil come;

7705 Fro Cardoil þai wenten souþe-west

To Bedingham al þurth þe forest

Where welcominge þai hadde onest

Wiþ gret ioie & gret fest.

¶ Þis fiȝtinge vnder Cornwaile

7710 Was fer ȝete saun faile.

Yder in whos lond it was

& bifel to kepe þat pas

Of his men herd þe pleinte,

Sum forbrent & sum fordreinte,

7715 For diol he topped of his hare

& himself tobete & tare

& acurssed oft þe time grim

Þat Arthour was wroþ wiþ him.

¶ King Yder was sikerli

7720 A noble kniȝt & an hardi

Þat wiþ him ledde xiiij m kniȝt

Boþe hardi & eke wiȝt

‘As armes!’ he gradde wiþ tonge

& on gode stedes þai flonge.

7725 King Soriandes þat soudan was

To a king þat hiȝt Bilas

He hadde taken fiften þousinde

Bifore þat went so y finde

& passed along ouer a brigge,

7730 Þo þai ouer com ich ȝou sigge

Þai rested hem a litel wiȝt {f.245rb}

& þo forþ went anonriȝt;

King Soriandes after cam

Wiþ fourti þousand haþen man.

7735 To Morgalant his steward

He bitoke þe afterward

& xxv m Sarraȝins

Þat schuld him help wiþ miȝt fines -

Ten mile-ways lest þis route

7740 Icham siker wiþouten doute

& bitven euerich floc naþeles

To mile oþer þre þer wes.

Þis ich folk þat was bihinde

Wiþ fiue & tventi þousinde

7745 King Yder & his ouertoke

Opon a cauci bi a broke;

Þai seiȝe him come & wiþstette,

Wiþ scharpe spere ich oþer gret,

Our Cristen þurthout hem þrust

7750 & out of þe sadel mani lust,

Amirail & heþen kniȝt,

Mani þrewe doun deueling riȝt

& gnowen boþe gras & ston

Þo þat deþ her hert chon,

7755 Sum lay wiþouten arme & þi

& sum cleued into þe fi.

Our men þer in litel stounde

Ten þousand slouȝ to grounde;

Þis seiȝe þe steward Morgalant,

7760 Hardi & strong & gret geant,

XV kniȝtes he slouȝ of our

Al arawe & to & four,

& þo he mett wiþ Yder king

Ac þat was bataile of þincheing

7765 For ich smot oþers scheld ato

Helmes tokoruen & brini also.

Þis herd Soriandes þe soudan,

Of fourti þousand þe tventi he nam

& sodanliche on our smot

7770 & alle hem slouȝ ner God it wot,

Ac king Yder fram þe deþe

Scaped wiþ a fewe vnneþe

Wiþ wepeing & wiþ gret wailing,

Ac he no hadde ascaped bi Heuen-king

7775 ȝif anoþer cuntek no hadde ybe {f.245va}

Þat þe soudan dede ferst yse

Wharfore he no durst him suwe for doute

Ac went oȝain wiþ al his route.

Now þe childer y spac of bifore,

7780 Ywain þe hende & Ywain bastard ybore

& Ates an orped kniȝt

Wiþ four hundred ȝong men wiȝt,

hundred: MS reads þousand.

Weren passed þe forest

Toward Arundel souþe-west

7785 & wenden ben alle soure & siker,

& þo metten wiþ a sori biker

Wiþ Soriendes formward

Þat Bilas ladde, a kniȝt hard.

XV þousand oȝain four hunder -

7790 Þis was a meteing of wonder.

Four mile out of Arundel

Allas, þis ich meting fel

Also þis bachelers hadden a bregge

Ypassed forsoþe y sigge.

7795 Þe children fle nouȝt no miȝt

¶ For þe brigge, y ȝou pliȝt,

Her scheldes þai gropen & scharp spere,

Ich a Sarraȝin gan doun bere;

Swerdes þai drouȝ & ȝeuen dintes

7800 & paid paiens deþ-rentes.

Þis ȝong men of whom y say

Tocoruen in þre mile-ways

Fiue þousinde Sarrains to grounde

& ȝete were hemself hole & sounde.

7805 At þe hindeward king Yder

Fauȝt al at ones, & þis children her.

Soriandes þat wele yherd

& lete Yder & oȝain ferd

For to taken quiclike

7810 Þe children ded oþer quic.

¶ Ac riȝt now a litel knape

To Bedingram com wiþ rape

& toke a letter to Wawain

On his nevou half, hende Ywain -

7815 Ac Ywain wist nouȝt þerof.

Wawain hem toke þe knaue of,

Þe letters he red anon

& grad ‘As armes euerichon!

Armeþ ȝou al wiþ main {f.245vb}

7820 For mi nevou hende Ywain

Haueþ nede & bot we heiȝe

He is ded & his compeinie.

Ded me were leuer bi Ihesus

Þan he starf for faut of ous.’

7825 Agreuein & Gaher[i]et,

Gveheres & Sagremoret

Armed hem wiþ hardi cher

& ich lepe on his destrer,

Swerd þai tok & launce & scheld

7830 & forþ priked on þe feld.

Þai toke wiþ hem xx þousinde -

Þe oþer þai leten hem bihinde -

A-sex þai schift her compainie.

¶ Agreuein schuld þe first gie

7835 Þat was of noble þre þousinde;

¶ Gveheres also y finde

Þre þousand bodis gied also,

Non better no miȝten go;

¶ Þe þridde ferd ledde Gaheriet

7840 & þe ferþ Sagremoret;

¶ Þe fift ladde Galathin

& eueriche þre þousand wiþ him;

Wawain ladde þe sext bihinde

& hadde wiþ him eiȝte þousinde.

7845 Þe knaue tauȝt her way sikerliche,

Þa[i] riden wel sarreliche,

Þair gilt pensel wiþ þe winde

Mirie ratled of cendel ynde,

Þe steden so noble & so wiȝt

7850 Lopen & neiȝed wiþ þe kniȝt.

Þese beþ also fast cominge,

Þe children þerwhiles were fiȝting

Oȝain ten þousand, for first fiue

Þa[i] had wiȝtliche brouȝt o liue,

7855 Þai defended hem so wel

Wiþ scharp swerd of gode stiel

Þat þe four hundred hadde driuen oȝan

Þo ten þousand of heþen man.

King Soriandes herd al þis

7860 & sexten þousand he sant of priis

Biforn him hem to nim

& after com þat wiþþerwin

Wiþ xx þousind almast {f.246ra}

For to taken hem on hast.

7865 Þis forseyd xvi þousinde

Our folk comen bihinde

& passed þe brigge Drian

& smiten on our ȝong man

& mani þerof þrewe to grounde

7870 & ȝauen hem bitter & hard wounde.

Þe ten þousand at þe oþer half also

Deden hem swiþe miche wo.

At on half & at oþer so y finde

Were sex & tventi þousinde

7875 & wiþ a fewe children fouȝt,

Ac Ihesu Crist on hem þouȝt

For he ȝaue hem strengþe & miȝt

Oȝain þo deuelen for to fiȝt;

When ani were falle adoun

7880 Þe oþer hem lift to arsoun,

Euerich oþer wiþ scheld biclept

& fro oþer dentes kept

& mani of þo heþen houndes

Þai koruen doun into þe grounde -

7885 Ac al þai were so forfouȝten,

Of her liif þat þai no rouȝten

& ȝelden hem þai hadden ment.

‘Nay,’ quaþ Ywayns ‘verrament,

Whiles our ani liueþ in feld

7890 Our þonkes, nil we ous ȝeld,

Ac do we now bi mi red,

Prike we at onnes into þe mede

& ȝif we may owhar abreke

Fle we hem wiþ gret reke.’

7895 Al at ones her main þai kedde

& large roume about hem redde,

Into þe mede þai smiten wiþ rape

ȝif þai miȝt ouer þe water scape.

Þe water was swiþe depe,

7900 Þe brink heiȝe, þe strem stepe,

Þai loked ouer into þe londes

& seye come king Soriandes,

Fele mile-wais wiþouten doute

Lest þe tail of his route.

7905 Ates þe wiȝt þo seyd ‘Allas

We mot ous ȝeld in þis cas

For we no mow nowhar oway {f.246rb}

So ful of deuelen is þis cuntray.’

Al þai were in gret desmay;

7910 Þo loked Ywain & saye

Fram Bedingham on her side

Baners & pople com ride,

To his felawes he seyd on hast

‘Beþ now bliþe & nouȝt agast,

7915 Y se ȝond com gret socour

For þai han þe signe of our Saueour,

Wherþurth’ he seyd ‘ich vnderstonde

It is socour of þis lond.’

‘Yherd be Crist!’ quaþ lasse Ywain

7920 ‘Her is conseil certain

ȝif we here leueþ in a þrome

We worþ nomen ar þai come

Ac þei we han pople lite

Þurthout hem we mot smite

7925 & slen al þat mowe we,

Þurthout hem & swiþe fle,

Fleand, euer wereand ous,

Fleand: MS reads Fle &.

Til help ous haue sent Ihesus.’

Bi [his] rede þai deden ȝerne,

7930 Her stedes þai gun terne,

On þe sexten m þai com flinge

So hail doþ on þe singel,

In þat coming God it wot

Þai slouȝ þre hundred fot-hot

7935 & wiþ gode hert & main fin

Þai þurth perced þo Sarraȝin.

Ac Bilas wiþ his ten þousinde

Hem oftoke anon bihinde

& metten hem in a mede

7940 Wiþ an hundred of her ferrede

& ȝauen hem wel bitter wounde

For þai hem wold haue nomen & bounde,

& is superscript.

Ac þai vp stirt & wered hem siker,

Wiþ swerd þai maden dedeli biker.

7945 Agreuein wiþ þis bikering

Wiþ þre þousand com on hem flinge

Þat wiþ spere þo ten þousinde

Beren oȝain, so y finde,

Þe schote of an alblast;

7950 Þer was mani þurthout dast,

Heued of koruen, smiten of arm, {f.246va}

Bodi cleued into þe barm;

On boþe halue was swiche a cri

Men miȝt it here into þe sky.

7955 Þis seiȝen þe sexten þousinde

& comen swiþe on our winde

& wiþ miȝt oȝain hem bar

To þe stede þer þai wer ar.

Þer was mani wombe þurth schoue

7960 & mani heued cleued aboue.

Þat ich time Agreuein

In sleiȝt kid so michel main

Þat his feren wondred euerichon

& token ensaumple wele to don,

7965 For he seyd þei he dede schuld ben

Of þe stede he nold flen

Ac wiþ swerd he wald delite

On þe paiens to don it bite.

¶ Ywain þan & alle his floc

7970 On steden sat so stef so stok

& dasched hem amid þe pres

So lyoun doþ on dere in gres

& cleued boþe man & hors

Of þe foule heþen cors;

7975 Ich of hem so wiȝtliche fauȝt

Þat tong no may it telle nauȝt,

Ac Sarraȝins were bi mi panne

Euer fourti oȝaines anne

Wherfore our litel folk kene

7980 No miȝt amonges hem ben ysen.

Þis was in time of May

Riȝt aboute midmorwe-day.

¶ Þo com Gueheres Wawaines broþer

Wiþ þre þousand folk oþer

folk: MS reads flok.

7985 & smiten on þis heþen hounde

Þat euerich of hem fel to grounde

& þe oþer rekeuerd oȝain wiþ main

Whider first hem brouȝt Agreuein.

Þer was fiȝting, þer was toile

7990 & vnder hors kniȝtes defoile;

Þo þonked Ywain þe wiȝt

Of þat socour God almiȝt

& desired to wite who it were

Þat him dede swiche socour þere.

7995 Þo seyd Ates ‘sir Ywain {f.246vb}

Smite þi stede wiþ miȝt & main

& of þi greuaunce þe awreke

Þat oþer it sen & þerof speke;

Bi her pruesse þou schalt hem knawe

8000 & bi þine be her felawe.

Y þe rede now lay on fast

Our fomen for to agast.’

Þer Ywain & eke his broþer,

Ates & mani gentil oþer

8005 Tokoruen þis Sarraȝins

Wiþ gret miȝt & wille fins;

Y wene þat Ywain & his broþer

Þer slouȝ an hundred & anoþer

So þat Gveheres & Agreuein

8010 Hadde gret wonder of her main.

As Ates com rideinde hem bitven

He asked him who it miȝt ben,

him: MS reads hem.

‘Certes’ quaþ Ates ‘of ȝour ken,

Þe kinges sones Vrien,

8015 Ywain þe hende & Ywain bastard

Þat þus com hiderward

To ben kniȝtes of ȝour em Arthour

& seruen him wiþ gret honour;

Al þat han white on riȝte armes

8020 & red on left half on her armes

on her inserted superscript.

Beþ erls & barouns sones

Þat ben wiþ him hider come

Þat metten here þis deuelen felle

Þat ben ysprongen out of helle

8025 Þat hadde hem slain wiþ deshonour

No hadde ben ȝour socour.’

‘Yherd be Crist’ þe children quaþe

‘Þat we to hem com þus raþe.’

To hem þai smiten þe stedes swiþe

8030 & welcomed hem wiþ chere bliþe;

Þo her ich oþer knewe

Ich ouer oþer armes þrewe,

Gret ioie wiþouten les

Þai made amidward þat pres

8035 & made couenaunt in al þat fiȝt

Togider þai wald riden, apliȝt.

As þai þus togider spake

Fresche paiens on hem com rake,

catchword: xv þousinde þat hadde.

XV þousinde þat hadden born oȝan {f.247ra}

8040 Par fors into Bedingham,

Wiþ þre þousand ne hadde bet

On hem smiten Gaheriet

Wawaines broþer sikerliche

Oȝain hem held sarreliche.

8045 Þer was broken mani spere

Wiþ deþes dint & liues lere

& mani paien to deþ ysmite

Wiþ swerdes of stiel þat wele bite.

Margalaunt þe steward & king Pinogres

8050 To þe brigge were comen wiþ gret pres

Of Sarraȝins xx þousinde

& wele mo also y finde.

Al þai seiȝen þis ich biker,

At þat half þe brigge hem þouȝt siker

8055 On þat ich fair roume

To aloge her pauiloun

To kepe wele her charrois

Her astore & her harnois

& to help at tide & time

8060 At þe oþer half her cursed lin;

Þe brigge þat was hem bitven

Þai þouȝt schuld her socour ben.

¶ Soriondes her heiȝe king

Com sone after wiþouten lesing

8065 Wiþ so mani þousand Sarraȝins

Þat no man þerof couþe þe fins

& loged on þat riuer

Fram Morgalant nouȝt wel fer

Of bataile to sen þe fin;

8070 Of Cristen & of Sarraȝin

Þer at þe oþer half þe brigge

Wiþ scharppe swerd gun on legge

Wiþ fauchouns axes & battes,

Ich ȝaue oþer sori flappes;

8075 Of Sarraȝin þer fouȝten ten & ten

Oȝain on of our men

Wherþurth þe feld oȝain þai bare

Mani of our children þare.

In þis toil wiþ þre þousand skete

8080 Sagremor hem com mete

Mest what euerich wiþ his spere

A paien gan to grounde bere,

& in þis ich coming {f.247rb}

Þer were slawe four heþen king

8085 In þe feld of our bachelers,

Were brouȝt on her destre[r]s;

Þe paiens were to fel & kene,

Þe sleiȝt of hem nas nouȝt sen

& eke þer ourne stremes of blod

8090 Also it were a wel gret flod.

Now wiþouten more dueling

Galathin com swiþe flinge

Wiþ þre þousand wiȝtling

& smot oȝain þat heþen king,

8095 Ich of hem wiþ stef launce

A Sarraȝin smot wiþouten balaunce

& wiþ her feren brouȝten oȝain

Al her fomen to þe brigge Drein,

fomen: MS reads feren.

In þe water hem driuen so y finde

8100 Of þe heþen & slouȝ seuen þousinde,

Ac al our childer toforn & þo

Hadde hem contened so

Þat of m x & sextene

No hadde þai leued bot þrittene

8105 & of our so y finde

Nas nouȝt slain a þousinde.

Now hadde al þo þeues heþen

Ben tofrust doun riȝt to maþen

ȝif Morgalent & Pinogres

8110 Nadden brouȝt ouer her pres,

Nadden: MS reads Hadden.

XX þousand oȝain our;

Of our wer þousandes ten & four

& certes nouȝt an hundred mo

& þai were þre & þritti þousand & mo.

8115 Þer was batail of mende

Hou our wiȝtlinges so hende

On þe heþen wiþ swordes losten

& mani tocleued & tofrusten.

Ac Morgalant & his ferrede

8120 Were strong & fers to þe dede

& hadde don our harm wel gret

ȝif Wawain no hadde don þe bet

Þat wiþ eiȝte þousand & swerdes egge

Brouȝt hem to þentre of þe brigge

8125 & mani þousand ouerþrewe saun fail

Into þe water top & tail

Þat þai adreint wiþouten les. {f.247va}

Wawain smot into þat pres -

It was sumdel after none,

8130 Wawain strengþe duble gan -

His ax in his hond he lift,

Durarls heued of he smit;

King Malgar on þe heued he gert

Þat þe dent stode at þe hert;

8135 Segor on þe heued he smot,

Þe ax into þe sadel bot;

King Malan also he hit

& wiþ his ax þe heued of slit.

A-left he smot & a-riȝt,

8140 Non his dent asit miȝt;

Stel & yren his ax þurth carf

Wherþurth mani heþen starf.

He met þat geaunt Pinogres

Amidward al his pres

8145 Þat cleued Wawaines scheld

Þat it fleiȝe in þe feld.

Wawain him ȝaue a dent of howe

& cleued him to þe sadelbowe -

Y no miȝt it nouȝt fulrede

8150 Þe pruaunce of Wawaines dede.

After him hende Ywain

Best y wene kidde his main

For king Sesox he cleue ato

& Baldas an amiral also,

8155 Minardes heued of he smot

& Bilaces also God it wot

& Morgalant þe steward

Dedliche wounde he ȝaf him hard,

& mo kniȝtes þan y can telle

8160 Wawain & he sent to helle,

For y neuen now saun faile

Bot kinges, doukes & amiraile -

ȝete no wist nouȝt Wawain

Þat it was his felawe Ywain;

8165 He hadde wonder of his pruesse

Þat so leyd doun hard & nesse.

After hem Galathin

Kidde in dede miȝt afin:

Wiþ swerd he hit Farasan,

8170 A geaunt & an hoge man,

Þat ere & cheke & scholder also {f.247vb}

Wiþ his swerd he carf atvo;

King Creon he cleued þurth

& king Bess doun in a furth;

8175 Darian & king Fulgin,

Boþe he cleue to þe chin.

No child no miȝt do þer bet

Þan dede also Gaheriet:

Of þe king Briollo

8180 Þe midel he smot ato;

Pinnas & ek Donadord

He biheueded wiþ his sword;

Pamadas he cleued doun riȝt.

¶ Sagremor þer schewed his miȝt

8185 For he biheueded Linodas

Of fourtene fet þat was;

Fauel he cleued to þe brest

& Guindard he made heuedles prest.

¶ Gueheres dede also wel:

8190 Of Guos he carf þe hatrel;

Goweir he cleued to þe ribbe

Þat he no miȝt no lenger libbe.

Agreuein dede also:

Þre kinges he slouȝ & mani mo.

8195 ¶ Ates & lesse Ywain & her route

To grounde laiden wiþouten doute

Whom so þai hitten wiþ ful dent,

Keuerd he neuer verrament;

Ac verrament oȝain Wawain

8200 No man no miȝt kiþe main

For he carf man & stiel & ire

So flesche-hewer doþ flesches lire.

Niȝt com hem on, þai miȝt nouȝt sen,

Ich to his kiþ gan to ten;

8205 Þo Gawainet knewe Ywain

Þer was ioie & blis certain,

He & al her compeinie

To Bedingham went on heiȝe

& þer token aise & rest

8210 Wiþ gamen & gle & solas mest.

Soriandes seiȝe of his ferred

Of four score m þe fourti ded,

His hert was sore, his cher murne,

Lenger nold he þer soiourne;

8215 He trussed his armes anonriȝt {f.248ra}

& went oway al bi niȝt

To her heiȝe ost, to Wandlesbiri,

Þer þai made hem joie & miri

For store & tresor þat þai brouȝt.

8220 Wawain amorn hem souȝt

& fond he was ascaped oway,

Þat him oþouȝt par ma fay;

Þat hie þer founden þai ladde hem wiþ

& left þer stille in pais & griþ

8225 Mani day at Bedinham -

Now listneþ what after bicam.

Now seiþ þis romaunce hou Wawain

Of þis letters asked Ywain,

Ywain seyd he wist of non

8230 Whereþurth þai wonderd euerichon.

Þo herd þai telle of Sarraȝins

Deden wo & michel pins

Þe ȝong men of Arundel,

Wawain þerof hadde diol;

8235 Ten þousand þe best he toke -

Þe oþer he tok þe toun to loke -

& went hem Arundel toward.

In þis time fel chaunce hard

For Kay, Destran & Kehedin,

8240 Tvo gentil swaines of wiȝt lin

Erles sones of Strangore,

Of þe marche come hem bifore

Wiþ seuen & tventi sweines of gentil stren,

Comen alle kniȝtes for to ben

8245 & to serue king Arthour

ȝif þai miȝt wiþ gret honour.

Þese no hadde nouȝt are ysaye

Hou Arundel was bilay

Of king Harans & ek Daril,

8250 Bramagnes sones þe etenild,

Wiþ so mani heþen þousinde

Þat þe noumbre y no can finde.

Þese squiers on hem come,

& þe paiens also sone

8255 So(ne) þai hem seiȝe on hem þai last,

Þe squiers were armed & on hem dast

& in þe first of þat seylinge

Þai slowen michel heþen genge;

Ac heþen mani þousand þo {f.248rb}

8260 On our flongen & dede hem wo

& biclept hem al about

For to nim þat litel rout.

ȝong men of Arundel

Seiȝen it out of þe castel,

8265 Wiȝt ȝonglinges þre hundred ich vnderstonde;

Þe first was Ywain wiþ þe white hond,

Þe oþer Ywain of Lyonel,

Þe þridde Ywain Desclauis le bel

& Ywain of Strangore of heiȝe parage,

8270 Þe v was Dedinet þe saueage;

Alle þai were wiȝt & hende

& neiȝe of Wawaines kende.

Þese wiþ þre hundred com þere

& on þe paiens smiten wiþ gode chere,

8275 Ich dede his launce go

Þurthout a paien oþer to

& redden hem wiþ miȝt fin

Til what þai come to Kehedin;

Togider þai cleued in þat werre

8280 So wiþ oþer doþ þe burre

& leyden þer Sarraȝins doun riȝt

Boþe a left half & a riȝt.

Þe paiens an horn gun blowe

& hem come socour in litel þrawe

8285 XX þousand þat smite on our

& bar hem doun bi þre & four

& hadde hem slawe & do miche wo

No hadde Wawain vp comen þo

Wiþ x þousand þat doun stett

8290 Alle þat þai wiþ launce mett

& after her swerdes drowe

& xv þousand heþen slowe

& holpen so þo oþer squiers

Þat þai were brouȝt on destrers.

8295 Þe oþer paiens wiþdrouȝ hem þo

Sarraȝins to feche hem mo,

Þerwhiles Wawain knewe þis Ywains

Alle four & þe oþer swaines;

Þer was ioie bi Godes ore,

8300 Y wene þer miȝt be no more

Þan was þer of þat socouringe.

Þerwhiles com an eld kniȝt flinge

& seyd to Wawain conseil {f.248va}

ȝif he & his feren wald ben hayl

8305 Þai schuld swiþe to Arundel te

& þan he schuld more yse,

Bi his conseil þai deden anon

& went into Arundel ichon,

Alle þe gates þai schetten fast

8310 & lete falle portcolice on hast.

On walles þai steiȝen heiȝe

walles: s is superscript.

& seiȝen of heþen ful þe cuntreie.

¶ King Harans wiþ sexti þousinde

& Daril wiþ fourti him bihinde,

8315 XII hundred cartes after come

Wiþ gode & store þat was binome

In þe cuntre men & wiues

Al sori in her liues,

After hem come xx þousinde

8320 Of fel robours so y finde

Þat so hadde robed & brent þe cuntre

Þat þeraboute four jurne

No schuld man finde man no childe

Bot wildernesse & desert wilde.

8325 Wawain & his felawes

Þer soiour(u)nd seuen dawes -

Þer lete we hem soiurne

& speke we of chaunces hard & murne.

King Harans & his harnoys

8330 Went toward þe lond of Leoneis

& brent into þe grounde

Al þat þai biforn hem founde,

Man & child þai brent þo

& dede hem al michel wo;

8335 Sum ascaped wiþ gret paine

Into þe cite of Dorkeine

& reweliche gun [grade] o king Lot

For þis lere God it wot.

Lot tok xx þousand kniȝtes

8340 & went him out anonriȝtes.

A ferd of xxx þousinde

He smot on also y finde,

V þousinde in his cominge

He slouȝ wiþ speres meteinge;

8345 Egreliche her swerdes drowe

& ix þousinde þerto slouwe

Wiþ so noble swerdes dent {f.248vb}

Þat hem astint verament

& hadde hem alle sone yslawe

8350 ȝif Harans – þat þe deuel todrawe -

Wiþ lx þousand [nadde] þo

Com on our to michel wo,

Þat our biclept & wiþ fouȝt

& slowen our gentil men & duȝst,

duȝst: ȝ is written superscript.

8355 Þat Lot vnneþe wiþ þre þousinde

Scaped at euen so y finde

Into þe cite of Dorkeine

Sore ywounded wiþ michel peine.

Þe king Lot seiȝe þis lere

8360 Himselue he gan here tere

& bad þe time mesauenture

Þat he cunteked wiþ king Arthour;

& his kniȝtes þat leued were

& leuedis & children maden care

8365 For her faders lordes & frende

Were so slawe wiþ helle-fende.

Harans biseged & dede his peine

Þe cite to winne of Dorkeine.

Lot þouȝt to saue Belisent

8370 Arthours suster his quen gent

& Wawains moder saun fail,

His kniȝtes he asked conseil;

Conseil he tok & went bi niȝt

Toward Glocedoine ful riȝt,

8375 His strong castel, to don in his wiif

For chaunce þat miȝt be oþer striif

Wiþ Modred his sone beld

Þat nas ȝete bot to ȝer eld;

V hundred kniȝtes on gode stede

8380 Wiþ him he tok for al nede

& went toward his castel swiþe -

He was þerof seþþen vnbliþe.

¶ In þis time child Wawain

Wiþ mani feren & eke Ywain

8385 On Arundels wal þai gun lene,

A kniȝt com arnand wiþ gret rene

Yarmed in armes alle

Þat to Wawain þus gan calle

‘Wawain,’ he seyd ‘Crist þe se

8390 & alle þine feren fre.

Durst ȝe gon wiþ me siker {f.249ra}

Y wold ȝou schewe a selcouþe biker

Whar ȝe schul win wining

ȝe nold it ȝeue for noþing.’

8395 ‘Þan schaltow’ quaþ Wawain ‘swere

Þou no schalt ous wiþ tresoun dere.’

‘Bleþeliche’ he seyd & swore anon

He no schuld hem qued no traisoun don.

¶ Wawain him armed swiþe

8400 & tok wiþ him x þousand biliue.

Þis kniȝt seiȝe hem com & dassed forþ

& hye him after swiþe, norþ,

So þai wenten þai metten a kniȝt

Arnand wiþ al his miȝt.

8405 Wawain nam to þis kniȝt hede

Þat he ladde wiþ him Modrede,

He rode him to & asked him whi

He ladde his broþer so suiftli.

‘Wawain’ he seyd ‘par ma fay

8410 Al þis niȝt & al þis day

Þi lord haþ fouȝt oȝain king Taurus,

Þre þousand oȝain fiue hundred of ous,

Þi lord is wounded, his men be dede,

Modred þi broþer y tok for drede

8415 & wiþ him þus oway drawe

Þat he no ware of hem yslawe.’

‘Allas!’ quaþ Wawain ‘Allas, allas

Þat ich euer born was!

Who schuld euer of me ȝelp?

8420 Now sterue mi frende wiþouten help.

Frende’ quaþ Wawain ‘þou here abide,

In on busse þou þe hide

What þou se al þe fulle

Wiche socour don we schulle.’

8425 Wawain wiþ his folk forþ drof

Hastiliche vnder a grof,

Þo he herd a reuly cri,

A wiman euer cri ‘merci!’

He dasched forþ biforn hem alle

8430 & seiȝe a leuedi þries doun falle

Fram Taurus stede to þe grounde,

Þat heþen king, þat vnwrast hounde,

Þat feloun rage in his wodenesse,

Pliȝt hir vp bi þe tresse

8435 & sche gred ‘seint Marie, {f.249rb}

Help me leuedi, Cristes drurie.’

& he went vp anon his fest

& buffeyt hir vnder þe lest

So oft so sche crid ‘Marie!’

8440 Sche was buffeit of him þrie,

Sche fel doun of his hors rigge

& he gan anon his hondes legge

On hir tresse & forþ hir drouȝ.

Þe leuedi vpriȝt stode aswouȝ,

8445 He laid on wiþ schourge & bad hir go

& sche no miȝt a fot for wo

No for hir cloþes long,

Bi hir tresse he gan hir hong;

Sche wiþbraid & fel vpriȝt,

8450 Taurus aliȝt anonriȝt

& knett hir to his hors tail

Bi her tresse saun fayl

So he drouȝ hir him bihinde,

Euer ‘Mari help!’ criinde.

8455 What for sorwe & eke for paine

Sche les winde & ek alaine,

Hir eiȝen turned, hir voice wiþsat,

At point of dede was hir stat.

¶ Þo seyd Wawain to þat kniȝt

8460 Þat hadde him brouȝt þider ful riȝt

‘Knawestow ouȝt þat leuedi

Þat þoleþ al þat vilanie?’

‘Wawain,’ he seyd ‘verrament,

Hir name is hote Belisent

8465 Þou ouȝtest amende hir stat

For þou souke of hir tat.’

¶ Wawain was oft wele & wo

Ac neuer wers þan him was þo,

Neiȝe aswon he sat vpriȝt,

8470 Þo nist he war bicome þat kniȝt;

He miȝt long loke after him

He was oway – it was Merlin.

Wawain wiþ spors his stede smot

& he forþ stirt God it wot,

8475 He grad aloude to king Taurus

‘Abide þou þef malicious.

Biche-sone þou drawest amis,

Þou schalt abigge it, ywis.’

An heþen swain sone doun stett, {f.249va}

8480 Þe leuedis tresse sone vnknett.

King Taurus was xiiii fet long,

An vnrede geaunt & a strong,

He seiȝe to him com Wawain,

He toke a launce wiþ gret main

8485 & smot þe stede þat he bistrode;

Aiþer to oþer wiþ wretþe rode,

Taurus hit Wawain arst

Þat his launce al tobrast.

Wawain him hit wiþ main & schof,

8490 Þe launce þurth þe scheld drof,

Þurthout hauberk & hert-polk,

& ded him cast among his folk;

Wawains breþer on & oþer

Smiten euerich liþ fram oþer

8495 & v hundred heþen ichon

No leten ascape neuer on.

Wawain oȝain went so seyt þe bok

& his moder in his armes tok

& wiped hir mouþe eiȝen & viis,

8500 For hir he wepe ful sore, ywis;

He kist hir mouþe & hir eiȝen,

& his breþer þat yseiȝen

& com to him & gret diol made.

No miȝt hem noþing glade,

8505 & for loue of hem alle her fere

Made wepeing & reuly chere;

In al þis diol-makeing

Belisent wiþouten lesing

Acouerd & vndede her eyin;

8510 Þo her sones it yseyn

Þai made joie swiþe gret,

Hir eiȝen þo sche vndede bet

& þonked Ihesu our Saueour

Of hir sones gentil socour.

8515 Þo teld sche Wawain & his feren

So þat þai it miȝt yheren

Hou Lot wiþ þre hundred kniȝt

Dede oȝain þre þousand fiȝt

& of þe þre þousand he lete oliue

8520 Certes bot hundredes fiue

‘Ac of mi lordes meine

Certes no scaped oliue nouȝt þre;

Þo mi lord most chese {f.249vb}

Me forgon oþer his liif forlese,

8525 Alon he fauȝt a mile-way

Wiþ þo v hundred y say

What he hadde woundes ten & fiue.

Vnneþe he ascaped wiþ þe liue

Makand so reuli bere

Makand: originally Make and; e erased.

8530 Þat it was pite for to here.

Þe heþen me tok & totoiled,

Tobeten, todrawe & defoiled -

Now haue ich mi lord ylore

& Modred mi sone þat wo me is fore’

8535 Aswon þo sche ouerþrewe.

Wawain sone hir ablewe

& seyd ‘dame, Modred þi sone

Y schal þe don anon come.’

& him ofsent, þo sche him say

8540 Sche akeuered par ma fay

& was yleyd in liter

Almast liche an hors-bere

& to Londen toke þe way

Wiþ alle Taurus korray -

8545 Sex hundred cartes bi Godes ore

Al charged wiþ mete & store.

Þo þai to Londen weren ycome

Hendeliche þai were welcome.

Do deliuerd þe heiȝe palays

8550 To sir Wawain þe curteys,

Þerin he dede his leuedi

& swore bi þe quen Marie

Schuld he neuer sen his lord

What Arthour & he were acord.

8555 Þo he teld al sir Do

Of chaunce þat hem was comen to,

Hou he dede Sagremor socour

Þurth an eld vauasour

‘& seþþen Ywain mi cosyn

8560 Þurth leters writen in Latin

Þurth a page also riȝt,

& mi moder þurth a kniȝt,

& y no couþe non of þo þre

Neuer seþþen after yse.’

8565 ‘O Wawain’ quaþ Do anon

‘Al þre it was on:

Merlin þe gode felawe. {f.250ra}

ȝete sum day þou schalt him knawe’ -

Hereof þai hadde wonder & game.

8570 Lete we þis rest in Godes name

& telle forþ in gode pays

Hou Merlin doþ his maister Blays

In boke writen saun faile

Of Jnglond þis meruaile

8575 & profecies & oþer þing

Þat sum beþ passed & sum coming.

¶ Þo went he fram his maister Blais

To Arthour to Carohaise

& teld him & his conseil

8580 Of Jnglond al þe meruail,

Hou Wawain dede & his ferrede

& eueriche king in his þede,

King Arthour & his ferrade

Of þis tidinge were wel glade.

8585 Now seiþ our romaunce here

Leodegan sent his messanger

To Arthour, Ban & ek Bohort

Þai schuld com to his court

Wiþ him won & soiourne,

8590 & seyd he was sori & murne

Þat he no wist of her beinge

For he vnderstode soþ þing

Þat þai were of power more

Þan he & heiȝer ybore;

8595 Þat þai hadde wele yked

Fram deþ when þai him hadde red.

He sent hem to come bi kniȝtes fiue

So þe ȝemers of his liue

For al he wald don him saun fail

8600 In her rede & her conseyl.

Wiþouten bileueing ani more

Þai went to him, Merlin bifore;

Þo þai comen into þe halle

Þe king vp stode & his men alle

8605 & welcomed hem wiþ bliþeful chere,

Þo spac Merlin so ȝe may here

‘King wostow wite our being?’

‘ȝa’ quaþ Leodegan ‘opon al þing.’

‘To þis’ he seyd & schewed Arthour

8610 ‘We sechen a wiif of gret valour.’

‘A seynt Marie’ quaþ Leodegan {f.250rb}

‘& haue ich a douhter, a fair wiman,

Fairer not y non veir,

Wise & hende & of mi lond air,

8615 & ich ȝou sigge vterliche

Þei in þis warld war non oþer swiche,

Þei he no hadde doun no lowe

On him y told hir wele bitowe,

So ful y knawe him of worþschipe

8620 Of nortour & of hendeschippe.’

He fet his douhter himselue alon -

In þis world nas fairer non -

& proferd hir to king Arthour

& to ben his air wiþ gret honour,

8625 & Arthour hir nome saun fail

For Merlin him ȝaf swiche conseil.

¶ ‘Now’ quaþ Merlin to Leodegan

‘Wostow now wite to what man

Þou hast yȝouen douhter þin?’

8630 ‘ȝa, þat were wil & joie min.’

Þer he was of Arthour biknawe

& of his feren al bi rawe

& seyd he was her lord bi hirritage;

Þai most al don him vmage.

8635 Leodegan was þo wel bliþe

& to Arthour dede omage swiþe

& þe kniȝtes of þe rounde table,

& al þat oþer folk saun fable,

Þer treuþed Arthour Gwenore his quen,

8640 Þe fairest leuedi þat miȝt ben.

¶ King Leodegan lete maken a fest

Of alle þat come swiþe onest,

Ich þat was of Cristen lay

Fond þer fest of gret noblay,

8645 Þe fest last seuen niȝt

Of al deinte, y sigge apliȝt,

& lenger it hadde ylast

Bot her terme was comen almast

Þat þai most smite batail

8650 Oȝain þe Sarraȝins saun fail,

Wide & side, ner & fer,

Baroun, kniȝt & ek souder,

Sum bi fe, sum for wining,

Were comen to Leodegan þe king,

8655 Were comen to his fiȝt {f.250va}

& soiournd a fewe niȝt.

Mirie is June þat scheweþ flour,

Þe meden ben of swete odour,

Lilye & rose of fair colour,

8660 Þe riuer cler wiþouten sour,

Boþe kniȝtes & vauasour

Þis damisels loue par amour.

On Mononday in þe Pentecost

Leodegan & alle his ost

8665 Armed hem in aketouns,

Hauberkes, plates & hauberiouns

Boþe wiþ bacin & eke palet

& helme on her heued yset,

Stones precious & ȝimmes

8670 Gold & siluer þer were inne;

Þai hadde aboue riche queintise

Of beten gold, of mani asise.

After þat her armes bar -

Mani was diuers to oþer þar -

8675 Mani riche sadel on hast

Was on riche destrer cast.

¶ Þat ich day, par amour,

Guenore armed king Arthour,

At ich armour þe gest seit þisse

8680 Arthour þe maden gan kisse;

¶ Merlin bad Arthour þe king

Þenche on þat ich kisseing

When he com into bataile.

‘ȝis,’ he seyd ‘Merlin saun faile.’

8685 Þo bad king Leodegan

Merlin ordeine al his man,

‘Bleþeliche’ he seyd & ches Arthour

& Ban [&] Bohort of gret vigour

& her feren wiþouten fable

8690 & kniȝtes of þe rounde table

& oþer kniȝtes so y finde,

In alle he nam seuen þousinde

& made þe first compainie,

Himself he wald hem gye.

8695 ¶ Leodegans nevou Gogenar,

A noble kniȝt & wise & war,

Merlin toke anoþer ferrede

Of seuen þousand for to lede;

¶ þe þridde ledde Elinadas, {f.250vb}

8700 A ȝong kniȝt þat fin stalworþ was,

He was þe wise leuedis nevou

Of þe forest saunȝ retour;

¶ Þe ferþe led a baroun hiȝt Blias

Þat was lord of Bliodas;

8705 ¶ Þe fift ledde Andalas,

A kniȝt of meruailus los he was;

¶ Þe vj ledde Beliche þe blounde,

A kniȝt he was of gret mounde;

¶ Þe vij ledde Yder of Norþlond,

8710 Fel & hardi & strong in hond;

¶ Þe viij ledde Landon ful of vertu,

He was Cleoda[l]is nevou;

¶ Þe ix ledde Gremporemole,

Hardi kniȝt & wiȝt & fre,

8715 No kniȝt better on stede sat

Ac he hadde a nose as a cat;

Ich of þese ladde seuen þousinde.

¶ Leodegan so com bihinde

Wiþ ten þousinde of þe best.

8720 Þo bad hem al Merlin lest

‘King’ he said ‘nouȝt þe amay

For king Rion schal wische þis day

He hadde ȝeue þe tounes fiue,

He war in his lond wiþ his liue.

8725 Fele hundred Sarraȝins

He haþ wiþ him of biches lins,

We schul hem sle & noþing doute

For it is al a curssed route.

We han almast so y finde

8730 Four score þousinde

& Cristes grace þat schal ous helpe

To kerue doun riȝt þe hepen welpes;

Þenke on ȝour childer & wiues

& ek on ȝour owen liues

8735 & of ȝour londes, wiþ vnriȝt

Þai þenke to winne wiþ strengþe & miȝt,

ȝou to slen & to exile.

Leggeþ on þe traitours vile,

Spareþ nouȝt ac sle doun riȝt,

8740 ȝou schal help God almiȝt.

Þai han filled þe michel forest

& walled hem bi norþ & west

Þat þerforþ no man no may {f.251ra}

Comen hem to par ma fay,

8745 & a souþe half walled certes

Wiþ mani þousand waines & cartes,

Ac on þat est half, ich wot,

We schul comen opon hem God it wot

& finde hem slepeand & sle doun riȝt,

8750 For þai were al dronken toniȝt.’

Þer he ches kniȝtes ten

& sent biforn her men

For to take & slen & binde

Þe spies þat þai miȝten finde;

8755 Þat so deden, & hem bifore

Nomen herlotes ten score

& so hem bistirden þat no tiding

Spie no brouȝt to þat heþen king.

¶ Merlin come bifore wiþouten þe toun

8760 & vnspand his dragoun

vnspand: MS reads ?vnspaid.

Fer þat kest of þe mouþe vair

So it liȝted in þe air.

Arthour alder next him cam

& Ban & Bohort þat gentil man

8765 & al þat oþer ferred

Ordeind so ich ere sede;

Of armes þat was gret schining,

Þe stedes maden gret naying.

Þai wenten forþ also stilly

8770 So þai miȝten wiþouten cri.

Þo Merlin com neiȝe king Rion

Enchauntement he kest him on

Þat mani of her pauiloun

Opon her heuedes fel adoun,

8775 Merlin & his feren was y say

Biforn al þe oþer to mile-way.

In a Tiwesday in þe daweing

He kest þis enchaunteing.

Bitven a riuer & a grof

8780 He com hem on, þat þai nouȝt schrof,

& Merlin loude gan to cri

‘Help ous now þe quen Marie.’

Our folk on þe heþen lusten

& vnder hors fet hem frusten

8785 & tohewen hem to deþ, & on gerten.

Þe heþen þeues vp sterten,

Four .c. þousand & mani mo {f.251rb}

To king Rion ascaped þo

& armed hem swiftlich vnder his tent,

8790 To slen al our was her entent

Ac our slouȝ þousandes mani

Ar of hem were armed ani.

Ac þo þai hadde keuered armes

Wiþ launces, maces & gisarmes

8795 Bi þousandes mani a man

Þe heþen smiten our oȝan

& gun on of þe grest bataile

Þat euer was smiten saun faile.

Passed was þe dayspringing,

8800 Þe hote sonne was schininge

Þo bigan kniȝtes rideing,

Trumpes blowen, tabours dassing,

blowen: MS reads beten.

Þer was fleinge & wiþstonding,

Tireing, togging & ouerþroweinge;

8805 Of Sarraȝins in litel stounde

Mani þousand was frust to grounde.

Þat seiȝe Rion, þat vile hounde,

He cleped Salinas þat kniȝt of mounde,

Whiche Salinas was his nevou,

8810 A stalworþ man & ful of vertu,

He tok him an hundred þousand kniȝtes

& hete him wende anonriȝtes

His folk for to socour

& awreke his deshonour.

8815 Þis Salinas & his wiþ gret vigour

Com oȝain king Arthour

Wiþ his to & fourti of mounde

& wiþ kniȝtes of þe table rounde

& wiþ oþer, in al y finde

8820 Þe mountaunce of seuen þousinde.

Þo seyd Merlin to king Arthour

‘Þenke now of þi newe amour,

For loue of þi last kissing

Among þis heþen houndes fling.’

8825 At þat word king Arthour

Smot his stede of gret valour

& hit a Sarraȝin þurth þe scheld

& his hauberk felefeld

Þat þurth þe hert þat ysen cheld

8830 Pased & kest him in þe feld.

King Ban biseiȝe riȝt so anoþer {f.251va}

& king Bohort þe þridde his broþer,

Neiȝe ichon of her felawe

In þe entring brouȝt a paien of dawe;

8835 Þer was mani stede yfeld,

Mani kniȝt slawen vnder scheld,

Ich kniȝt hewe on his per

On schide so doþ þe carpenter,

Þer dede so our kniȝtes of los

8840 Þat mani paien þerof agros.

Arthour was þat day biheld

Hou manliche þat he paiens aqueld;

He hem tokarf, he hem tohewe,

Mani wiþ ded his dintes knewe.

8845 ¶ King Ionap, a paien kene -

Lengþe he hadde o fet fiftene -

He seiȝe hou Arthour ded hem damage,

He tok a launce in gret rage

& biforn him grop his scheld,

8850 Arthour he þouȝt his harm to ȝeld.

¶ Arthour seiȝe wher he cam,

A stef launce in hond he nam -

He no sembled no more him oȝan

Þan doþ a child oȝain a man.

8855 Aiþer gan his stede dresse

Oȝain oþer in þat presse,

Ionapes schaft bigan to glide

Riȝt bi king Arthour left side,

Þurthout armes & þurthout schert,

8860 & in þe side, nouȝt sore, him hert.

¶ & Arthour smot him wiþ his launce

Þurthout his scheld wiþouten balaunce

& þurthout hauberk & aketoun

& þurthout þe scholder fer aroum.

þe is written superscript.

8865 Ionap was so proude & sterne

No ȝaf he þerof nouȝt a ferne,

Wiþ þe brestes so þai metten

Þat to þe grounde boþe þai stetten.

Of Cristen [&] heþen þer was toiling

8870 For to help þis to king;

Þer was mani swerd ydrawe,

Mani kniȝt hirt & mani slawe,

What wiþ wristling, wat wiþ togging

What wiþ smiteing & wiþ skirminge,

8875 On boþe half so þai wrouȝten, {f.251vb}

Her kinges on hors þai brouȝten.

Þo Arthour & his fourti & to,

& his kniȝtes of þe rounde table also,

So korwen & hewen wiþ main hond

8880 Þat non armour miȝt hem astond,

& so slowen, þat Salinas

Fleiȝe & al þat wiþ him was.

Among þe wele doinde of our men

Was on wele fiȝtand hete Nacien,

8885 Perciuales cosyn þe fri

On his moder half, þat fair leuedi.

In þis warld of more noblay

Nas non bi Vter Pendragones day,

No forþ bi þe kinges day Arthour

8890 Nas þer non of more vigour.

Haningnes his moder was -

Iosepes suster a kniȝt of gras -

Whom Ebron hadde spouse,

A kniȝt of dede vertuous

8895 Þat on hir ȝat kniȝtes seuentene,

Hardi & strong wiȝt & kene,

In whom seþþen in mani fiȝt

Al Jnglond so was aliȝt.

Þis was Colidoines cosyn þe rike,

8900 Naciens sone of Betike,

Whiche Celidoine seiȝe first saun fail

Of þe holi graal þe meruail.

ȝete þis Nacien þe curteis

Was sibbe king Pelles of Listoneis

8905 & al his breþer God it wot

& seþþen hadde Launcelot

In his ward almest a ȝer

So þe romaunce seyt elleswher.

Þis Naciens of whom y write

8910 Seþþen bicom ermite

& lete kniȝtschippe & al þing

& bicome prest messe to sing.

Virgine of his bodi he was,

Whom seþþen þe holi Godes gras

8915 Rauist into þe þridde heuen

Where he herd angels steuen

& seiȝe fader & sone & holi gost

In on substaunce, in on acost.

Þis ȝaf seþþen þe riche conseil {f.252ra}

8920 To þe king Arthour saun fail

Þo he was in gret periil

To lese his londes & ben exil

Oȝaines þe king Galahos,

Þe geauntes sone of gret los,

8925 Þat ȝaf king Arthour bataileinge

Wiþ þe power of þritti king.

Þis Naciens and Adragenis þe broun

Þe heþen kniȝtes leyden adoun,

Tohewe hem & togert;

8930 Y ȝou sigge forsoþe cert

Þe gret strengþe of king Arthour

Þes to folweden in alle þe stour

So fer þat he no miȝt se no knowe

Neuer on of her felawe.

8935 Bifor þes þre Merlin went

& bar þe dragoun þat fer out sent.

Þes þre deden michel wo,

Hors & man þai coruen ato;

Boþe a left half & a riȝt

8940 Þai felden kniȝtes & slouȝ doun riȝt

& forced hem wiþ mani dent hard

What þai come to king Riones standard

Þat four castels [vp] olifaunce

Bar toforn king Riouns.

8945 Her feren þo misten hem

& smiten after bi xij & ten

Wiþ newe grounden fauchoun & sword,

Mani heued þai smiten ford.

Þai schouen wiþ schulder & smiten wiþ arm

8950 & deden þe paiens dedliche harm

Ac þai no miȝt keuer to king Arthour

Wiþ sleiȝt no wiþ vigour,

Bot Ban & Bohort so seiþ þe bok

Laiden doun al þat þai tok.

8955 Sum into þe sadel þai smiten,

Her swerdes þai dede ful wele biten

& so fouȝten & slowen par ma fay

Þat þai redden & maden way

Maugre þo paiens þurth fin vigour

8960 What þai com to king Arthour,

& þo þai were togider fiue

Þai binomen mani on her liue,

An hundred haþen in litel fitt {f.252rb}

Þe fiue þurth koruen & heued of slit.

8965 In ich half was gret fiȝting,

Gret sleiȝt, gret criing,

Socouring & wiþstonding,

Of kniȝtes, barouns, erls & kinge

Lay mani heuedles on þe grounde,

8970 On þe gras wiþ dedli wounde

Sum lay wiþouten fet & armes

Ato ygirt into þe þarmes.

¶ Among þis toil seiȝe king Rion

Our fiue so his men slon.

8975 He was seuenten fet long

& in þis warld no man so strong,

In his riȝt hond & in his left

A mace he gan vp lift

Þat no man no schuld bere

8980 No vnneþe fram þe grounde stere.

In þis time king Fansaron so mot y liue

Hadde on iuel dent yȝeue,

Bohort him gan after prike

Curagus to ben awreke,

8985 Fram his feren he folwed him almast

Þe cast of an alblast

& hit him þan a dint wel iuel

Þat he fel on his hors adiuel.

hors is superscript.

He wold his nek smiten eft

8990 & þe dint a litel gleft,

Þe stedes nek he smot atvo,

King Fansaron fel to grounde þo.

Bohort him hadde slawe anon

Ac opon hem com king Rion

8995 Wiþ þe power of xviii kinge

On king Bohort loude gredinge,

Þe mace arered in his hond

& ‘Fiȝ a putain wiþstonde.

Þou schalt abigge þat þou þer come.

9000 Lo, here in mine hond þi dome.’

Bohort of þe gretnesse hadde meruail

& of him was adred saun fail,

Leuer he hadde þer ben yhent

Þan fleand ynomen oþer yschent,

9005 He set on him þe crouche verray

& him vnder his scheld wray.

Rion on þat scheld so smot {f.252va}

Þat it tobrast God it wot,

& king Bohort so smot oȝan

9010 O þe helme, þat hoge man,

Þat he sat astoned vpriȝt

& nist wheþer it was dai or niȝt.

Þe hors he dast him forbi

& com vp a chaunce sikerly

9015 Where king Aroans a geaunt fel

Hadde felled Herui de Riuel

& held him so bi þe code

Þat mouþe & nose him ran ablod;

& hadde þer of his heued ysmite

9020 Nadde Adragenis to him stite

Wiþ swerd oȝain fourti & mo.

King Bohort com rideinde þo

& ȝaue Aroans wiþ þe swerd a flat

Þat he þrewe of his hors aplat;

9025 Herui seiȝe legge þe kinges cors,

Anon he lepe vp to his hors

& smiten hem amid þe pres

So grehound doþ out of les

& so hewen & laiden on

9030 Þat non miȝt better don.

Now is king Leodegan wiþ his folk hard

Leodegan: MS reads rion.

Smiten on kinge Riones standard

& doþ gret power ich ȝou telle

Riones baner for to felle,

9035 Ac Rion com & his mace left

& slouȝ a riȝt half & a left,

half: MS reads hals.

Rion smot to king Bohors

& wende todaschen al his cors

& he failed of him & hit his stede;

9040 Þe dent was gret & vnrede,

Þe hors chine he dassed ato.

Bohort lepe afot þo

& wiþ his swerd, y ȝou pliȝt,

Wered him anonriȝt,

9045 Ac Rion was him about

To nimen & slen wiþ michel rout

& dede him tviis knely arawe

& almast hadde him yslawe.

Herui Riuel þis iknewe,

9050 King Bohortes harm him gan rewe,

Þe stede he smot þat it queiȝte, {f.252vb}

Of a geaunt a launce he pliȝt,

To king Rion he gan ride

MS: line copied twice by the scribe with the second crossed through. Omitted line commences with & and with r of rion in minuscule rather than majuscule.

& smot him þurthout þe side.

9055 King Rion wiþsat þat dent

& smot to Herui verrament

So þat a qua[r]ter of his scheld

þat is superscript.

He bar oway into þe feld.

& eft wald so a deuel wiȝt,

9060 Ac Herui þat was vigrous & liȝt,

On þe scheld him hit a dint hard

& cleued it to þe midward,

& Rion smot & gan faile

& Heruies hors slouȝ saun faile.

9065 Þo stode Herui bi Bohort,

Boþe in periil of mort

Oȝaines fele score, ypliȝt,

& þai hem wered as noble kniȝt.

Þis seiȝe Adregein þe broun

9070 ‘Now helpe’ he seyd ‘seyn Symoun.’

He rode to Rion & so him smot

Þat he plat God it wot

Aswon on his hors swere -

Miȝt he noiþer se no here.

9075 Þe heued he hadde him þer binome

Nadde þe proude king ycome,

Rion nevou Solinas -

þat honged worþ bi þeues las -

Bihinde Adrageins com wiþ a spere

9080 & to þe grounde gan him bere

& bitven þe schulders him hirt.

Adragein anon vp stirt

On fot & halp his compainoun

So it were a wode lyoun;

9085 & so hem wered wiþ steles egge

Þat non no durst on hem hond legge,

Ac þai hem þrewe wiþ spere & kniif

& oþer armes to reuen her liif

& wounded hem sore swiþe

9090 Þurthout þe armes mani siþe.

So þai were ouerriden in a þrawe

Þat neiȝe þai hadde ben yslawe

ȝif Nacien no had ysein þis

Þat þider smot his stede of pris,

9095 Þo þat in his way he met {f.253ra}

Doun riȝt of hors he hem stett.

Rion he smot on þe side riȝt

& bar him of his hors vpriȝt

& rod him on & ouer þries;

9100 His hors was slain bitven his þies.

Gode & wiȝt kniȝtes of our

Þo stode on fet four,

So þai gun fiȝt & lasse

Þat þai made grete tasse

9105 Abouten hem þer þai stode

& depe woden in þe blod

& made swiche defense & sleiȝt

Þat y no may telle it ariȝt.

Ac Rion, þat wiþþerwinne,

9110 Dede gret power hem to nime

& hadde hem nomen wiþouten let

No hadde Merlin riden þe bet

To king Arthour & to king Ban

& seyd ‘What do ȝe man?

9115 King Bohort & Nacien

Beþ ȝond biloke wiþ mani men

& Herui & Agreuein;

ȝond þai ben on þe plein,

Bot ȝe hem soner socour

9120 Þai ben ded al four.’

‘Allas, allas!’ quaþ king Ban

‘Lade me þider riȝt onan

For be mi broþer þer mislad

Worþ y neuer þerafter glad.’

9125 Merlin smot forþ, þai after dasse

On aiþer half so grehounde of lasse

& her feren after hem come

Þat mani paien ȝaf her dome

& sent hem wiþ scharp sword

sent: MS reads ?soȝut.

9130 To þe deuel her lord.

& þo þai comen & seiȝen hes

Þai dasched forþ amid þe pres,

Euerich hit a paien þo

Þat þai arisen neuer mo;

9135 Kniȝtes wiȝt þai hem kedden

& roume to þe four þai redden.

Geauntes strong þer weren to,

Þe four þat deden michel wo,

Minap hete þat on veires, {f.253rb}

9140 Þat oþer was hoten Malgleires.

King Ban ȝaf to king Minape

On þe helme swiche a clappe

Þat he him cleued to þe toþ;

King Arthour smot after forsoþ

9145 So Malgleires hit on þe scheld

Þat his heued fleiȝe in þe feld.

Þes four seiȝen her socour

& lepen ouer wiþ gret vigour

Gret hepes of hors & men

9150 Þat slain lay hem bitven;

Hors wel gode chepe þai founde

& anon in þe sadel wounde

& conteined hem so wiȝtliche cert

So þai nere nouȝt yhert.

9155 Þo at arst bigan þe bataile

Þat last al day wiþouten faile.

Ich on oþer so leyd veir

Þat it dined into þe air,

Also þicke þe aruwe schoten

9160 In sonnebem so doþ þe moten;

Gauelokes also þicke flowe

So gnattes ichil avowe.

Þer was so michel dust riseing

Þat sen þer nas sonne schineing.

9165 Þe trumpeing & þe tabouringe

Dede togider þe kniȝtes flinge,

Þe kniȝtes broken her speren

On þre, þai smiten & toteren;

Kniȝtes & stedes þer laien aboute,

9170 Þe heuedes ofsmiten, þe guttes out,

Heueden, fet & armes þer

Lay strewed eueriwher

Vnder stede fet so þicke

In crowes nest so doþe þe sticke.

9175 Sum storuen & sum gras gnowe,

Þe gode steden her guttes drowe

Wiþ blodi sadels in þat pres.

Of swiche bataile nas no ses

To þe niȝt fram arnemorwe;

9180 It was a bataile of gret sorwe,

Þer was swiche cark & swiche defoil

Þat al Leodeganes folk made recoil

To Denebleise vnder þe wal, {f.253va}

Bot Arthour & his folk al

9185 Þat helden hem in þe bataile

Of armes þat dede wonder meruaile.

¶ So Leodegan saun fail

Houed vnder þe cites wal,

Sadones seyd an hardi man

9190 To his em Leodegan

‘Listneþ me now, mi lord þe king,

& ȝe oþer lordinge,

What do we here, whi & warfore?

ȝif we fle þis lond is lore

9195 & wif & child & al our blisse,

Al is forlorn mid, ywis;

Better is to sterue worþschipliche

Þan long to liuen schandfulliche.

ȝif we be desirite

9200 Our cowardschippe we may it wite.

O þing ouȝt ous comfort wel,

Our newe lord ȝong naturel

Þat so wiȝtliche fiȝteþ for ous;

Helpe we him for Crist Ihesus.

9205 ȝif he were hunist at þis asaut

asaut: macron above u and in the next line ms has defaunt.

He miȝt wite it our defaut

& bot we him help at þis nede

We beþ forswore so Crist me rede,

& ȝete sle þat folk Sarraȝine

9210 Is our soule medicine.’

Riȝt so king Leodegan

Gan to crien hem opan.

Þo seyd Goionar þe hende

‘He naþ non heued þat nil it defende.

9215 Lete be, sir, þi precheing

& oȝain þo houndes fling.’

Alle þai were at on asent

& forþ dassed verrament.

X m paiens of þos þai metten

9220 Þurthout hem bar, to grounde he stetten.

Þo bigan bataile newe,

Ich on oþer wiþ swerd hewe,

Wiþ mace & ex & fauchoun

Mani kniȝt laide oþer adoun.

9225 ¶ Þerwhiles Merlin so y finde

Dede his out wende to take þe winde

Gert her steden & ek resten, {f.253vb}

What þe Sarraȝins oȝain þresten

Our Cristen par fors oȝan;

9230 Þo mounted Arthour, Bohort & Ban

Wiþ alle her wiȝt compainie,

Oȝain to bataile þai gun heiȝe,

Merlin tofore so seyt þe boke

Wiþ baner feld al þat he tok.

9235 ¶ Arthour smot þe king Clarel

Bitven þe schulder & þe hatrel

hatrel: MS reads harrel.

Þat schulder & side & flaunke also

Wiþ his swerd he smot ato;

He was wroþ ȝe schul here wite

9240 For Merlin hadde him atwite

He hadde iuel ȝolden þe kisseinge

Þat Gvenour him ȝaf at his arminge,

Þerfore he tohewe þat route

Tofore biside & al about;

9245 Al wondred þat him seiȝe an

& seyd he worþ a noble man.

¶ Þo knewe he þurth mani on

Wher þat rod þe king Rion

Þurth corouns & berdes þat were his armes,

9250 He made him way wiþ strengþe of armes,

His stede him bar to him anon,

Arthour smot to king Rion,

A quarter of his helme out hitt

& his scheld ato ykitt

9255 & alle his armes verrament

To þe purpoint, of o serpent,

Next his schert þat sat þo,

Elles he hadde him coruen ato.

Rion fel doun wiþ þat dent

9260 So he dede were verrament.

Mani geauntes gret & long

About Rion þer were & strong

Þat on Arthour at ones last

& wiþ her hors to grounde him dast,

9265 Ac Arthour lepe vp afot anon

& werd him oȝain euerichon.

Merlin wist of þis dede

& hete al Arthours felawered

Wenden swiþe to þis rideing,

9270 Tofore dassed Ban þe king,

Al þat in his way stode {f.254ra}

He biheueded hem & lete hem blode

So þat þurth his miȝt gode

Þider he com þer Arthour stode.

9275 ‘Arthour’ he seyd ‘þi kinde it nis

To stond o fot, forsoþe ywis.’

An geaunt he tok anon

& cleued him to þe brest-bon

& brouȝt on hors Arthour, ywis,

9280 Par fors among his enemis;

fors: MS reads forþ.

Þat so þo dede verrament

Þat non no miȝt stond his dent.

¶ Þo Arthour was vp so y finde

Comen his felawes vi þousinde

9285 & ich of hem on þer hitt,

Oþer heued of smot or bodi þurth kitt.

or: is written superscript.

Þer was defoiled king Rion

Vnder stedes fet mani on

& drawe & totore vilainliche

9290 Ac he him defended orpedliche;

Wiþ gret pine naþelas

Vp to hors couered he was

& smot wiþ mace al about

& mani slouȝ of our rout.

9295 Ac an fewe of our best

In al þat pres togider þrest,

Arthour & Ban & Bohort his amis

Naciens & Agraueins & Heruis

Lucans, Griflet, Vlfin & Kay

9300 & her feren so fouȝten þat day

Þat in þe cuntre ran heþen blod

So in þe riuer doþ þe flod,

& so fouȝten wiþ dintes hard

Þat felled was king Rion standard

9305 & þe four olyfaunce yslawe,

Baners & castels adoun yþrawe.

Þo fleiȝe Riones folk here & ter,

Non durst leue nowher

Ac king Rion þan was so wo

9310 Þat nist what he miȝt do,

Wiþ his swerd scharp & briȝt

XX Cristen he slouȝ doun riȝt,

Ac his men þat were him midde

Wiþ strengþe oway wiþ him ride,

9315 Ac fram his men he dassed sone {f.254rb}

Bi a wode oway alone

Makeand ful sikerly

Swiþe michel diol & cri.

Swiche noyse ros in þe bataile

9320 Þat þei it hadde þondred saun faile

No schuld men it yhere.

Þe paiens made so rewely bere,

& our gred ‘sle! Lay on!

Kepe þere! Kepe here! Lete passe non.’

9325 Þus þai slouȝ in litel stounde

Mani þousand to þe grounde

& euer þai ben tohewe & smite

So schepe þat were wiþ wolues ybite.

¶ Leodegan & Cleodalis his steward

9330 Folwed alon Goionard

Riones nevou þat hadde wiþ him

Fele Sarraȝins wroþ & grim;

Ban & Bohort vertuous

Þai todriuen four kinges orgulous

9335 Þat hete Gloiant & Minados

Calufer & Sinargos;

Þe oþer & þo of þe table rounde

Bi v, bi vi of gret mounde

Were departed her & tar

9340 To folwe þe paiens eueraywhar:

Naciens, Adrageins & ek Herui

VI heþen kinges driuen hardi

Þat hete Mautaile & Fernicans,

Bantrines & Kehamans,

9345 Forcoars & Troimadac,

For to ȝeuen hem her mat;

Alone certes king Arthour

Drof king Rion wiþ gret vigour.

Arthour otok him wiþ drawe sward

9350 & seyd ‘aȝeld þe now traitour coward.’

Arthour on þe helme him smot,

Þe dent sanke þurth, God it wot,

Þurth þe pelet to þe panne,

Ac dedli dent no hadde he nanne;

9355 Rion oȝain smot a dent

Ac Arthour him couered verrament,

Of his scheld he carf a corner

corner: first r is superscript.

& of his helme a quarter.

Þe dint swarf & flei forbi, {f.254va}

9360 Þerfore was non sori.

Arthour smot oȝainward

Vnder Riones scheld a dint hard

& smot Rion þurth armes alle,

Þurth þe side neiȝe to þe ȝalle.

9365 King Rion so feld him hert

& gan fle ful swiþe cert,

Arthour wald after sue

Ac sex king gun on him hewe

MS: hue crossed through before hewe.

Wiche y nemde tofore ȝou to

9370 Þat Herui drof & his feren also,

Þai grad ‘Abide traitour!’ on heiȝe

Wroþerhale þou Rion seiȝe.’

Wroþerhale: MS reads Wroþerhole.

Þo lete Arthour Rion scape.

Kehenans com wiþ gret rape

9375 & ȝaf king Arthour swiche a las

Þat Arthour al astoned was.

Arthour smot þat geant oȝan

A dint þat fro main cam,

He smot his schulder, wiþ arm & scheld,

9380 Þat it fleiȝe in þe feld.

Kehenans dede his stede forþ steppe

& king Arthour wald bicleppe

About his swere wiþ his riȝt arm

Þat þe oþer miȝt don him harm

9385 Ac bitven his hond & elbowe

Arthour him ȝaue a dint of howe

Wiþ his swerd, þat his hond

Amidward þe feld wond;

Þe stede him bar here & tere

9390 Criand so wode he were

Ac sone þerafter ded doun he þrewe,

His soule to þe deuel blewe.

Þe oþer dasched on Arthour al fiue

For to reuen him his liue

9395 Ac Arthour king Ferican smot

To þe hert God it wot,

Forcoars bi þe side he hitt

Þat ribbes & þi he of slit.

Þo com Naciens, Herui & Adragein

9400 Rideand to Arthour wiþ gret main,

Wiþ his to feren king Mautaile

Fram Arthour gan swiþe fle.

Arthour wiþ his feren þo liȝt {f.254vb}

Her hors girten & sadles riȝt.

9405 Now seiþ here þis romans

Of king Bohort & king Bans,

So driuen king Minados

Wiþ his þre feren of proude los

Þai metten wiþ ten heþen kniȝtes

9410 Strong geauntes fel & wiȝt,

Alle þritten þai smiten þo

On our Cristen kinges to

& perced boþe scheld & armes

& dede hem wel gret harmes.

9415 ¶ Ac Ban hit king Calufer

& cleued his heued into þe swere,

After he tok so Sinargos

His heued fram þe bodi was los.

¶ Bohort hit king Glorion

9420 His riȝt schulder anouenon

Þat al þe schulder & ek þe scheld

Wiþ þe ribbes fleiȝe in þe feld.

Sornigrens & Pinnogras,

Gaidon & king Margaras

9425 Wiþ vij heþen sikerliche

Ban asailed wodeliche,

Ac Ban so noble kniȝt & hende

Wiȝtliche gan him defende,

Pinogras he feld of hors

9430 & foiled al his cursed cors;

Sornigrens he smot wiþ main

Þurthout helme into þe brain.

King Bohort seiȝe his broþer fiȝt

Alon oȝain ten kniȝt,

9435 Þe stede wiþ þe spors he dust,

To þe grounde a paien he frust.

Anoþer þurth helme & bacin

Þurthout he clef him to þe chin;

Þo þre paiens wiþ wiȝt bones

9440 On þe helme him smiten at ones

Þat he nei hadde wiþouten balaunce

Ylorn hors & contenaunce

Ac he akeuered wiþ hert liȝt

& smiten hem on wiþ main wiȝt.

9445 Ac in þat ich toilinge

Fram Arthour com Rion þe king

catchword: fleand his sw.

Fleand, his sw[erd ydrawe],

{lines 9448-9622 are missing}

& Kay & Griflet & Lucan {f.255ra}

& Meraugis & Craddoc & Gernan

9450 & Belchin þe broun & Bleoberiis {9625}

& Galescounde & Lectargis,

Kalogreuant & Kehedins

Folweden & slowen þe Sarraȝins

Her & ter so seyt þe boke,

9455 & a compeinie oftoke, {9630}

To hundred paiens ful of grame;

For her ler & for her schame

& for king Rion was oway

Her hert was ful of ten & tray.

9460 Ich on oþer þer gan smite {9635}

Wiþ swerdes egge þat sore gan bite.

Þai weren arwe & our hardy

& hem todriuen sikerly,

& wenten oȝain to Danbleys

9465 & wiþouten þe gates iuel at ayse {9640}

Bileueden þer for her king

For to han of him tiding.

Þai no hadde of Merlin no conseiling

For he was went wiþouten lesing

9470 After king Galat of miȝti hond {9645}

Lord-ouer of herdene lond,

Wiþ ten þousand þat was aschape,

Sarraȝins wiþ gret rape,

For to make enchauntement

9475 Hem tofore verrament; {9650}

He made alle a valaye

Also it were a brod leye

Þat Galaþ no non of his

Þat niȝt no miȝt oway, ywis -

9480 Herafter sone in þis write {9655}

Whi he it dede ȝe schul it wite.

Now telleþ þis romaunce þat king Arthour

Com driueand gode scour

& bar Marandois in his hond,

9485 Worþ al þe swerdes of Jnglond, {9660}

Þat he hadde of Rion wonne,

He bad þe king þat made sonne

For his swete moder loue

He most þat niȝt his swerd proue;

9490 Auentours to seke his stede he smot, {9665}

King Ban rode after God it wot,

Bohort also & Nacien, {f.255rb}

Herui de Riuel & Adragein,

& com dasseand al bi cas

9495 Whar Goionar & Salinas {9670}

Wiþ a kniȝt of þe table rounde

To lix bataile founde.

Þese four smot on hem certes

So þe lyoun doþ on þe hertes,

9500 Arthour tauȝt on a lessoun of howe {9675}

& cleued him to þe sadelbowe,

Anoþer he biheueded, þe þridde he hit

þridde: r is superscript.

Vnto þe girdel he him slit,

Þe ferþ he tok on þe chine

9505 & carf him ato bi line. {9680}

Ten forsoþe in litel þrawe

Þer he brouȝt o liue-dawe

Wiþ his swerd Marandoise

Þat carf dounriȝt wiþouten noise.

9510 King Ban smot about also {9685}

& cleued a geant atvo,

Anoþer he schare of al þe side,

Þe þridde he dede of þe heued glide

& biheueded þre oþer þerto

9515 & þe seuend he smot ato; {9690}

& Bohort boþe þi & arm

Schare of [on] & dede him harm,

Anoþer he cleued to þe toþ

Þe þridde he biheueded forsoþ,

9520 Þe ferþ & fift also {9695}

To helle-grounde he de[de] hem go.

Þe gode kniȝt Adragein

Þurth hem smot on wiþ gret main,

on is written superscript.

Anoþer he cleued to þe brest

9525 & of þe þridde þe heued he daste, {9700}

Þus he binam þer fiue

Al arowe day o liue.

Nacien dede ful wel

Wiþ scharp swerd of broun stiel,

9530 On he cleued doun riȝt {9705}

& anoþer þerto, apliȝt,

Þe þridde to þe brest he cleued

& of þe ferþe þe heued of weued

& þre also þerto he slouȝ.

9535 Herui also it made touȝ, {9710}

To þe chine he on slitt {f.255va}

& of to þe heued of kitt.

¶ Goiomar & Balinas

& þe þridde þat wiþ hem was

9540 Seiȝen her noble socour {9715}

& leyden on wiþ gret vigour,

Ich of hem þo orpedeliche

Four slouȝ sikerliche,

Þo þan leued þer bot niȝe

9545 Of al þat iche companie {9720}

& þo flowen anonriȝt

Also swiþe so þai miȝt

Gredeand it ner non men

Ac deuelen þat þai fouȝten oȝen.

9550 Our hem suwed as men kene {9725}

Til þai herden michel dene

Boþe on helmes & ysen hatten

Þe dintes of swordes flatten,

Þo seyd Ban ‘we moten heye,

9555 Al niȝt & wiþ swerd drie.’

drie: MS reads duie.

{9730}

Quaþ king Arthour ‘þat haue y leue

leue: MS reads loued.

Al what ichaue mi swerd proued.’

Quaþ Ban ‘ȝe no haue it nouȝt deleid

Þat ȝe no haue it wele aseyd.’

9560 ‘Nay sir,’ quaþ Arthour ‘þat folk was lite

was: s is superscript.

{9735}

Þat y no miȝt to wille smite

&, to ek þat, ȝe slouȝ so fele

Þat half no miȝt y me bistere.’

Þo seyden our oþer hem bitvene,

9565 Most he libben & ythen, {9740}

Bitvene Breteine & Costentinenoble

No worþ anoþer kniȝt so noble.

Now seyt þe boke þat sir Antore

Wiþ his feren y nemd bifore

9570 At Danebleise Arthour þai no founde, {9745}

Oȝain þai went in þat stounde

Wiþ drawen swerd to sechen him,

An hundred geauntes wroþ & grim

Wiþ fauchouns & wiþ swerdes stett –

MS: this line copied at the foot of the column.

9575 Ich oþer sone mett. {9750}

Antore was feld among þat floc

& Gornain & Gales þe calu & Craddoc

& Blioberis & Beichardis,

Þat hem defended afot, ywis,

9580 & bi help of her feren seuen {f.255vb} {9755}

Oȝain an hundred – þat was vneuen.

¶ Arthour com rideinde in þis cas,

For sir Antour desmaied was

He smot amidward þe pres

9585 So grehounde doþ out of les, {9760}

A geaunt sone he tok, anne,

Þurthout helme & heued-panne

& þurth þe side & þe hert,

MS: 9763-4 in reverse order with the correct order marked by the scribe

Of anoþer þe heued he girt,

9590 ȝete he tok þe þridde {9765}

& cleued him to þe midde,

In þe swere he toke þe ferþ

Þat þe heued fleiȝe to þe erþe,

Fiue & sex, seuen & eiȝte

9595 O rawe he biseiȝe so riȝt. {9770}

Þo gan king Arthour Marundois

His swerd to king Ban praise

& seyd it carf so wel men miȝt delite

Þat witeþ þe geaunce of þis smite;

9600 Hem fiue afot on hors he lift. {9775}

King Ban aside glift,

On a paien wiþ main he girt,

Þurthout þe heued into þe hert,

Anoþer he schar þe side of,

9605 Þe þridde þe heued he al todrof; {9780}

Þus her & tar he leyd adoun

So it were a wode lyoun.

¶ Bohort als a geaunt laiste

& þe heued al todaiste,

9610 Anoþer to þe chine he karf, {9785}

Þe þridde he hit þat he starf,

Al abouten he leyd on

& slouȝ to grounde mani on.

¶ Adragein wiþ wille fre

9615 Arawe biheueded geauntes þre {9790}

& oþer mo feld to grounde

Þat neuer more ner sounde.

¶ Þe gode kniȝt also Herui

Slouȝ so fele it was ferly,

9620 Nacien so seyt þe boke {9795}

Of a geaunt þat heued he tok,

Anoþer to þe chine he luȝste,

Þe schulder of þe þridde he duȝste.

Þus þai laiden her & tar {f.256ra}

9625 & her heuedes fram þe bodi schar, {9800}

Þe xii feren þat hye þer founde

Non no hadde dedli wounde

Ac þo þai seiȝen þis fair socour

Þai laiden on wiþ gret vigour,

9630 Ich of hem þre oþer to {9805}

Of þe paiens biheueded þo.

Þer was noble main ysene,

Of an hundred wiþouten wene

No leued paiens bot fourtene -

9635 Þe oþer lay dede opon þe grene - {9810}

& þe xiiii flowen swiþe

So her stedes miȝten driue;

Our sueden wiþ wille fin,

& metten þe clerk Merlin

9640 Þat hem wiþstode & dede hem liȝt, {9815}

Her stedes girten her sadles riȝt,

So þai dede & blisse made

Ich of oþers helpe was glade.

Whiles hye hem graiþeþ, resteþ & riȝteþ

9645 Listneþ hou Leodegan fiȝteþ. {9820}

Hou Leodegan now vnder an oke

Fiȝteþ so seiþ þis boke

Wiþ his steward Cleodalis,

Gentil kniȝt & trewe, ywis,

9650 Oȝain seuen & tventi fouȝten hye to; {9825}

Certes þat was michel wo.

On fot was Cleodalis,

So ich ȝou seyd er þis,

Leodegan on his hors was.

9655 Cleodalis fauȝt on þe gras, {9830}

Wiþ michel sorwe & gret pine

Þai werd hem oȝain þo Sarraȝine.

Colocaulnus, an hoge man,

Smot so to Leodegan

9660 Þat he aplat fel of his stede, {9835}

Boþe mouþe & nose gan blede;

For feblenis of oþer wounde

Streiȝt he lay on þe grounde.

Þe Sarraȝins to him come

9665 & þo him wold han ynome {9840}

Ac Cleodalis herof nam kepe,

He bistride his lord & wepe,

Abouten he leyd wiþ his sword {f.256rb}

& defended his lord;

9670 So he smot to his wiþþerwine {9845}

Þat non miȝt his lord winne.

Þai him þrewe wiþ kniues & stones

& ȝauen him woundes for þe nones.

Vp stirt Leodegan þe king

9675 Þo passed was his swoninge. {9850}

His steward miȝt stond vnneþe

For he him forfauȝt al to deþe.

He seiȝe his steward so ful of treuþe,

His hert was ful of sorwe & reuþe,

9680 He biþouȝt him, wiþ wrong {9855}

His wiif he hadde helden long

Oȝaines riȝt, þurth iniquite;

A word he seyd of gret pite

‘Hay,’ he seyd ‘Cleodalis,

9685 Trewe kniȝt wiþouten feintis {9860}

Þurth mi sinne & mi desray

Icham comen to mi last day;

Haue on me pite gentil man

& rewe on me, Leodegan.

9690 Ich was þi lord, now am y knaue, {9865}

On me pite & merci haue,

Forȝiue me now þe trespas

Þat y þe haue don, allas!

Y pray þe þat neuer mi misdede

9695 Mi soule into helle lede.’ {9870}

A-knowe he sat & seyd ‘Merci!

Mine owen swerd take, bel ami,

Mine heued smite of for mi misdede;

Crist me wil þe better rede.’

9700 Cleodalis wepe for pite, {9875}

He seiȝe his lord humilite,

He lift him vp in his arm

& forȝaf him al þat harm

Þat he him hadde don & schame

9705 & bad him fiȝt on Godes name; {9880}

So þai deden & fouȝten boþe,

Þe paiens þerof weren wroþe.

Þo com rideand a geaunt, ywis,

& smot to grounde Cleodalis,

9710 Þer he lay streiȝt along {9885}

Leodegan to him sprong

& him wered al about {f.256va}

Fram al þat ich curssed route,

So long he fauȝt he was weri

9715 & fel adoun wel dreri; {9890}

Cleodalis þo vp made a stert

As he nere nouȝt yhert

& wiþ main fair & hende

His lord king he gan defende.

9720 Þus þai ferd oft, when fel þat on {9895}

Þe oþer vp stert þo anon

& him defended wiþ alle his miȝt;

Þus þai fouȝten til midniȝt

Þo were þai wounded so strong

9725 Þat þai no miȝt doure long. {9900}

To Cleodalis þo seyd Leodegan

‘Help now þeself, gentil man,

For to lese & winne al þis lond

Y no may lenger stond’ -

9730 Often þai made dounfalleing {9905}

& when þai miȝt vpriseing -

& halp Cleodalis him to were & fiȝt

Also wele so he miȝt.

¶ In þis time hadde Merlin

9735 To Arthour & Ban teld her pine, {9910}

& þo hadde Leodegan ben ynome

ȝif Arthour no had ycome

Wiþ his sextene þat on hem plat

& euerich a paien to deþ flat.

9740 Merlin rode out in a stounde {9915}

& þider brouȝt xij of þe table rounde

Þat dede wiþ strengþe her swerd baþen

In bodi & blod of þe haþen,

King Arthour & Bohort & Ban

9745 Keuered on hors Leodegan {9920}

& Nacien þat kniȝt of pris

On hors keuered Cleodalis,

Þat also wele yfouȝten cert

So þai ner þat day yhert.

9750 Merlin he[m] tauȝt to four geauntes saun fail {9925}

Þat sustend þat bataile,

Naciens rod, Ancalnus to,

Þe side he schar his bodi fro,

Arthour cleued king Maulas

9755 & Ban ato girt king Ridras, {9930}

Bohort biheue[de]d king Dorilan {f.256vb}

& ich of þe oþer slouȝ a paien þan.

Þe oþer paiens flowe swiþe

& our went oȝain biliue

9760 Into þe cite of Carohaise, {9935}

Wiþ her feren hem made at aise;

Þai maden gret blis & fest

& after ȝeden hem to rest.