The Project Gutenberg eBook ofArthur

The Project Gutenberg eBook ofArthurThis ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.Title: ArthurEditor: Frederick James FurnivallRelease date: October 10, 2005 [eBook #16845]Most recently updated: December 12, 2020Language: English, Middle EnglishCredits: Produced by David Starner, Joshua Hutchinson and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ARTHUR ***

This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: ArthurEditor: Frederick James FurnivallRelease date: October 10, 2005 [eBook #16845]Most recently updated: December 12, 2020Language: English, Middle EnglishCredits: Produced by David Starner, Joshua Hutchinson and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

Title: Arthur

Editor: Frederick James Furnivall

Editor: Frederick James Furnivall

Release date: October 10, 2005 [eBook #16845]Most recently updated: December 12, 2020

Language: English, Middle English

Credits: Produced by David Starner, Joshua Hutchinson and the OnlineDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ARTHUR ***

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: This text contains the character yogh (ȝ and Ȝ). Typically, it will display as a ? or a box if your browser's font does not support it. One suggested font that seems to support the characters (and is free for use) is the Caslon Roman font. This is available from the font creator's website (http://bibliofile.mc.duke.edu/gww/fonts/Caslon/Caslon.html).

ArthurA Short Sketch of His Life and History in English Verse of the First Half of the Fifteenth CenturyCopied and Edited From the Marquis of Bath's MS.byFrederick J. Furnivall, M.A., Camb.Editor of De Borron's and Lonelich's "History of the Holy Graal," Walter Map's "Queste Del Saint Graal," Etc. Etc.London:Published for the Early English Text Society,by Trübner & Co., 60, Paternoster Row.MDCCCLXIV

Copied and Edited From the Marquis of Bath's MS.

by

Frederick J. Furnivall, M.A., Camb.

Editor of De Borron's and Lonelich's "History of the Holy Graal," Walter Map's "Queste Del Saint Graal," Etc. Etc.

London:Published for the Early English Text Society,by Trübner & Co., 60, Paternoster Row.MDCCCLXIV

ContentsPrefaceArthurWordsNotes

[pg v]PrefaceAs one of the chief objects of the Early English Text Society is to print every Early English Text relating to Arthur, the Committee have decided that this short sketch of the British hero's life shall form one of the first issue of the Society's publications. The six hundred and forty-two English lines here printed occur in an incomplete Latin Chronicle of the Kings of Britain, bound up with many other valuable pieces in a MS. belonging to the Marquis of Bath. The old chronicler has dealt with Uther Pendragon, and Brounsteele (Excalibur), and is narrating Arthur's deeds, when, as if feeling that Latin prose was no fit vehicle for telling of Arthur, king of men, he breaks out into English verse,"Herkeneþ, þat loueþ honour,Of kyng Arthour & hys labour."The story he tells is an abstract, with omissions, of the earlier version of Geoffry of Monmouth, before the love of Guinevere for Lancelot was introduced by the French-writing English romancers of the Lionheart's time (so far as I know), into the Arthur tales. The fact of Mordred's being Arthur's son, begotten by him on his sister, King Lot's wife, is also omitted; so that the story is just that of a British king founding the Round Table, conquering Scotland, Ireland, Gothland, and divers parts of France, killing a giant from Spain,[pg vi]beating Lucius the Emperor of Rome, and returning home to lose his own life, after the battle in which the traitor whom he had trusted, and who has seized his queen and his land, was slain."He that will more look,Read on the French book,"says our verse-writer: and to that the modern reader must still be referred, or to the translations of parts of it, which we hope to print or reprint, and that most pleasantly jumbled abstract of its parts by Sir Thomas Maleor, Knight, which has long been the delight of many a reader,—though despised by the stern old Ascham, whose Scholemaster was to turn it out of the land.—There the glory of the Holy Grail will be revealed to him; there the Knight of God made known; there the only true lovers in the world will tell their loves and kiss their kisses before him; and the Fates which of old enforced the penalty of sin will show that their arm is not shortened, and that though the brave and guilty king fights well and gathers all the glory of the world around him, yet still the sword is over his head, and, for the evil that he has done, his life and vain imaginings must pass away in dust and confusion.Of the language of the Poem there is little to say: its dialect is Southern, as shown by the verbal pluralth, thevyvefor five,zyxfor six,ychfor I,har(their),ham(them), forher, hem;hulle, dude, ȝut, for hill, did, yet, the infinitive iny (rekeny), etc. Of its poetical merits, every reader will judge for himself; but that it has power in some parts I hope few will deny. Arthur's answer to Lucius, and two lines in the duel with Frollo,"There was no word y-spoke,But eche had other by the throte,"are to be noted. Parts of the MS. have very much faded since it was written some ten or twenty years before 1450, so that a[pg vii]few of the words are queried in the print. The MS. contains a few metrical points and stops, which I have here printed between parentheses (). The expansions of the contractions are printed in italics, but the ordinary doubt whether the final linednoru—for they are often undistinguishable—is to be printed ne, nne, or un, exists here too.I am indebted to Mr. Sims, of the Manuscript Department of the British Museum, for pointing out the Poem to me, and to the Marquis of Bath for his kind permission to copy it for printing.3, Old Square, Lincoln's Inn,London, W.C., August 30, 1864.

As one of the chief objects of the Early English Text Society is to print every Early English Text relating to Arthur, the Committee have decided that this short sketch of the British hero's life shall form one of the first issue of the Society's publications. The six hundred and forty-two English lines here printed occur in an incomplete Latin Chronicle of the Kings of Britain, bound up with many other valuable pieces in a MS. belonging to the Marquis of Bath. The old chronicler has dealt with Uther Pendragon, and Brounsteele (Excalibur), and is narrating Arthur's deeds, when, as if feeling that Latin prose was no fit vehicle for telling of Arthur, king of men, he breaks out into English verse,

"Herkeneþ, þat loueþ honour,Of kyng Arthour & hys labour."

"Herkeneþ, þat loueþ honour,

Of kyng Arthour & hys labour."

The story he tells is an abstract, with omissions, of the earlier version of Geoffry of Monmouth, before the love of Guinevere for Lancelot was introduced by the French-writing English romancers of the Lionheart's time (so far as I know), into the Arthur tales. The fact of Mordred's being Arthur's son, begotten by him on his sister, King Lot's wife, is also omitted; so that the story is just that of a British king founding the Round Table, conquering Scotland, Ireland, Gothland, and divers parts of France, killing a giant from Spain,[pg vi]beating Lucius the Emperor of Rome, and returning home to lose his own life, after the battle in which the traitor whom he had trusted, and who has seized his queen and his land, was slain.

"He that will more look,Read on the French book,"

"He that will more look,

Read on the French book,"

says our verse-writer: and to that the modern reader must still be referred, or to the translations of parts of it, which we hope to print or reprint, and that most pleasantly jumbled abstract of its parts by Sir Thomas Maleor, Knight, which has long been the delight of many a reader,—though despised by the stern old Ascham, whose Scholemaster was to turn it out of the land.—There the glory of the Holy Grail will be revealed to him; there the Knight of God made known; there the only true lovers in the world will tell their loves and kiss their kisses before him; and the Fates which of old enforced the penalty of sin will show that their arm is not shortened, and that though the brave and guilty king fights well and gathers all the glory of the world around him, yet still the sword is over his head, and, for the evil that he has done, his life and vain imaginings must pass away in dust and confusion.

Of the language of the Poem there is little to say: its dialect is Southern, as shown by the verbal pluralth, thevyvefor five,zyxfor six,ychfor I,har(their),ham(them), forher, hem;hulle, dude, ȝut, for hill, did, yet, the infinitive iny (rekeny), etc. Of its poetical merits, every reader will judge for himself; but that it has power in some parts I hope few will deny. Arthur's answer to Lucius, and two lines in the duel with Frollo,

"There was no word y-spoke,But eche had other by the throte,"

"There was no word y-spoke,

But eche had other by the throte,"

are to be noted. Parts of the MS. have very much faded since it was written some ten or twenty years before 1450, so that a[pg vii]few of the words are queried in the print. The MS. contains a few metrical points and stops, which I have here printed between parentheses (). The expansions of the contractions are printed in italics, but the ordinary doubt whether the final linednoru—for they are often undistinguishable—is to be printed ne, nne, or un, exists here too.

I am indebted to Mr. Sims, of the Manuscript Department of the British Museum, for pointing out the Poem to me, and to the Marquis of Bath for his kind permission to copy it for printing.

3, Old Square, Lincoln's Inn,

London, W.C., August 30, 1864.

[pg 1]ArthurFrom the Marquis of Bath's MS.BEF. 1450 A.D.[The Latin side notes in italics, and the stops of the text in parentheses (), are those of the MS.]Herkeneþ, þat loueþ honour,[Fol. 42b.]Of kyng Arthour & hys labour;And furst how he was bygete,How Arthur was begottenAs þat we in bokisdo rede.4Vther pendragonewas hys fader,by Pendragon on Ygerne.And ygerne was hys Moder.Pendragoneys in walysche'Dragones heed' on Englysche;Pendragon (t.i.Dragon's Head) made two painted dragons,8He maked ypeynted dragones two;Oon schold byfore him gooWhan he went to batayle,Whan he wold hys foes sayle;12That other abood at wynchester,Euermore stylle there.Bretones ȝaf hym þat Name,and thence had his name.Vther Pendragoneþe same,16For þat skyle fer & nereEuer-more hyt to here.The Erles wyff of CornewayleHow Uther loved the Earl of Cornwall's wife,He loued to Muche sanz fayle;20[pg 2 - Arthur Has the Round Table Made.]Merlyn wyþ hys sotelnesseTurned vtheris lyknesse,And maked hym lyche þe Erl anone,And wyþ hys wyff (:) his wylleto done24In þe countre of Cornewelle:In þe Castel of Tyntagelle,Thus vther, yf y schallenat lye,Bygat Arthour in avowtrye.28and begat Arthur in adultery.Whan vther Pendragonewas deed,Arthour anon was y-crowned;Arthur is crowned,He was courteys, large, & Gentto alle puple verrament;32Beaute, Myȝt, amyable chereTo alle Men ferre and neere;Hys port (;) hys ȝyftes gentylleMaked hym y-loved wylle;36is loved of all,Ech mon was glad of hys presence,And drade to do hym dysplesaunce;A stronger Man of hys hondeis strongwas neuer founde on any londe,40As courteys as any Mayde:—and courteous.Þus wryteþ of hym þat hym a-sayde.[Fol. 42b. col. 2.]At Cayrlyone, wythoute fable,he let make þe Rounde table:44He makes the Round Table,And why þat he maked hyt þus,Þis was þe resouny-wyss,—Þat no man schulde sytt aboue other,that all at it might be equal.ne haue indignaciounof hys broþer;48And alle hadde (.)oo(.) seruyse,For no pryde scholde aryseFor any degree of syttynge,Oþer for any seruynge:—52Þus he kept þe table RoundeWhyle he leuyd on þe grounde.After he hadde conquered skotlondAfter his first conquestsyrland & Gotland,56[pg 3 - He Fights Frollo for France.]Þanleuyd he at þe besthe lives twelve years in peace,twelf ȝeeris on alleresteWyþoute werre (:) tylleat þe lastehe þouȝt to make (.)a(.) nyweconqueste.60Into Fraunce wyþ gode counceyleand then invades France.he wolde weende (:) & hyt assayle,Þat Rome þo kept vnder Myght,Vnder Frollo (:) a worthy knyght64Þat fraunce hadde þo to kepe,To rywle, defende, & to lede.Arthour and Frollo fouȝt in feld;He beats Frollo back to Paris,Þere deyde many vnder scheld.68Frollo in-to Paryss fly,Wyth strenkthe kept hyt wysely:Arthour byseged þat Syte & townand there besieges him, tillTylleþeire vytayl was y-doon.72Frollo þat worthy knyghtFrollo challenges him to single combat.Proferyd wythArthourfor to fyghtVnder þis wyse & condicioun,—"Ho hadde þe Maystrie (:) haue þe crown;76And no mo men but þey two."Þe day Was sett (:) to-geder þey go:They fight:Fayr hyt was to byholdeIn suche two knyȝghteȝ bolde:80Þer was no word y-spoke,But eche hadde other by þe þrote;Þey smote wythtrounchoun& wythswerd;Þat hyt seye were a-ferd;84[Fol. 43.]Frollo fouȝt wyþ hys ax (:) as men dude se;(Frollo with his axe)He hytt Arthour (:) so sore (:) þat he felle on kne.He ros vp raply (:) and smot hym fullesore;He dude hym to grent a (.) soueȝ1þerfore.88thus they hyw on helmes hye,And schatered on wyþ scheldes.Þe puple by-gan to cryeÞat stood on þe feldes;92[pg 4 - Arthur Returns Victorious to Britain,]ther ne wyst no man, as y can lere,Who of ham two was þe bettereþere.Arthour was chafed & wexed wrothe,till Arthur in wrath takes Brownsteel,He hente brounsteelle| and to Frollo gothe96Brounstellewas heuy & also kene;CaliburnusArthuri Gladius[with a sketch thereof in the MS.]Framþe schulder(:) to þe syde went bytweneOff frollo | and þan he fell to þe groundeRyȝt as he moste | deed(.) in lyte stounde.100and strikes Frollo dead.Frenschemen made doelle& wept fullefaste;Þeir Crowne of fraunce þere þey loste.Than wente Arthour in-to paryseArthur takes Paris.And toke þe castelle& þe town at hys avyse.104Worschuped be god of hys grete graceGlory to God.Þat þus ȝeueþ fortune(:) and worschup to þe Reme;Thanke ȝe hym alleþat beþ on þis place,And seyeþ a Pater noster wythout any Beeme.108Say ye a Pater Noster therefore.Pater noster.Arthourfram paryse went wythhys Rowte,And conquered þe Countre on euery syde aboute;Arthur conquers the countries around,Angeoy2, Peytow, Berry, & Gaskoyne,Nauerne, Burgone| Loreyn & Toreyne;112He daunted þe proude | & hawted þe poure;He dwelt long in Paryss after in honoure;He was drad and loued in countreis abowte;Heyest & lowest hym Loved & alowte;116And vpon an Estourtyme sone afterwardHe fested hys knyghtis& ȝaf ham gret reward;distributes them among his knights,To hys styward he ȝaf Angers & Aungeye;To Bedewer hys botyler he ȝaf Normandye;120He ȝaf to Holdyne flaundrys parde;To Borel hys Cosyn, Boloyne þe cyte;And eche man, after þe astat þat he was,He rewarded hem alle, boþe More & lasse,124And ȝaf hem reward, boþe lond and Fee,And turned to Breteyn, to Carlyone ayhe.and returns to Britain.[pg 5 - And Then Holds a Great Feast.]Arthourwolde of honour[Fol. 43b, col. 1.]Hold a fest at Eestour128Arthur gives an Easter FeastOf regalye & worthynesse,And feede alle hys frendess;And sende MessangerTo kynges ferre & neer132Þat were to hym Omager,to come to þis Dyner.And alle at oo certeyn dayThey come þyder in gode aray,136And kept þeire CesoneAt þe CastelleCayrlyone.at Carlyon, greater than ere before.Thys fest was Muche MooreÞan euere Arthourmade a-fore;140For þere was Vrweyn þe kyngeTen kings were there,Of scottes at þat dynynge,Stater þe kyng of south wales,Cadwelleþe kyng of north waleȝ,144Gwylmar þe kyng of yrland,Dolmad þe kyng of guthland,Malgan of yselond also,Archyl of Denmarch þerto,148Alotheþe kyng of Norwey,Souenas þe kyng of Orkenye,Of Breteyn þe kyng Hoel,Cador Erl of Cornewelle,152and thirteen earlsMorice þe Erl of Gloucestre,Marran Erl of Wynchestre,Gwergound Erl of herford,Booȝ Erl of Oxenford,156Of bathe vngent þe Erl also,(including him of Bath),Cursal of Chestreþer-to,Euerad Erl of salesbury,3Kynmar Erl of Canterbury,160Jonas þe Erl of Dorcestre,[pg 6 - Arthur's Guests at Cayrlyone.]Valence þe Erl of sylchestre,Jugeyn of Leyccer [?] þerto,Argal of warwyk also,—164Kynges & Erles EchonÞes were; & many anoþergoomwith many other gentles great,Gret of astaat, & þe beste,Þes were at þe Feste.168Other also gentyls greteWere þere at þat Meete,Sauer appon Donand,Regeym & Alard,172Reyneȝ fitȝ Colys,Tadeusfitȝ Reis,Delyn fitȝ Dauid,Kymbelyn le fitȝ Gryffith,176Gryffitȝ þe Sone of Nagand,Þes were þerealso theoband:Alle þes were þere wythoute fable,Wythoute ham of þe rounde table.180besides the Round Tablers,Thre archebusschopes þerwerealso,Archbishops,And other busschopes many mo—Bishops,Alleþis mayne were nat al-oone;Wythham com many a Goome.184Þis feste dured dayes þreIn reuelle& solempnite.Of by ȝonde þe See alsoand many from beyond the sea.Many lordez[?] were þere þo.188Now resteþ alle wyþ Me,And say a Pater & Ave.Pater noster.The þrydde day folowyngThencoom nywe tydynge,192Þe whyle þey sete at þe MeteMessagers were In ylete;To the feasters came messengers from the Roman Emperor,Wellearayd forsoþe þey come,& send fram cite of Rome196[pg 7 - Lucius's Message to Arthur.]Wyþ lettres of þe EmperouresWhas name was Lucies.lucius.Þes lettres were opened & vnfold,And þe tydyngeto alle men told,200Whas sentence, yf y ne lye,Was after þat y can aspye:¶ Lucius þe grete EmperourLitera Lucii imperatoris.To hys Enemy Arthour:—204We woundereþ of þi wodenessAnd also of þy Madnesse!How darst þow any wyseAȝenst the Emperourþus aryse,208saying, that to have invaded France, etc., and made kings, Arthur must be mad in his noll;And ryde on Remes on eche wey,And make kyngeȝ to þe obey?Þu art wood on þe Nolle!Þu hast scley owre cosyn frolle;212Þu schalt be tawȝt at a schort day[Fol. 44, col. 1.]for to make suchearay.Oure cosyn IuliuscesarSomme tyme conquered þar;216To Rome þu owest hys trybut;that he must pay his tribute,We chargeþ þe to paye vs hyt.Thy pryde we wollealayeÞat makest so gret aray:220We commandeþ þe on hasteTo paye owre trybut faste;Þu hast scley frolle in fraunceÞat hadde vnder vs þeregouernaunce,224And wyþholdest oure tribute þerto:Þu schalt be tawȝt þu hast mysdo:We commandeþ þe in haste sooneÞat þu come to vs at Rome228and come to Rome to be punished for his disobedience.To vnderfang oureordynaunceFor þy dysobediaunce;As þu wold nat leze þy lyf,Fulfylle þys wythoute stryff."232[pg 8 - Arthur's Answer to Lucius.]When þis lettre was open & rad;Þe bretouns & allemen weremad,The Britons purpose to kill the messengers,And wolde þe messager scle:—"Nay," seyd Arthour, "per de,236but Arthur forbids it,That were aȝenst alle kynde,A messager to bete or bynde;y charge alle men herefor to make ham good chere."240And after Mete sanz faylWyþ hys lordes he hadde counsayl;And alle asented þer to,Arthourto Rome scholde go;244and resolves to invade Rome.And þey ne wolde in hys trauayleWyþ strenkþ & good neuer fayle.Than Arthourwroot to Rome a lettre,Was sentence was somm-what byttere,248And sayde inþis manereAs ȝe may hure here:—"Knoweþ welleȝe of Romayne,Litera RegisArthuri.Y am kyng Arthourof Bretayne.252Arthur's answer to the Emperor Lucius,Fraunce, y haue conquered hyt,Y schalledefende & kepe hyt ȝut,[Fol. 44, col. 2.]Y come to Rome, as y am tryw,To take my trybut (.) to me dywe,256claiming tribute from him.But noon þere-for to paye,By my werk ȝe schalleasay;For þe Emperour ConstantyneÞat was þe Soone of Elyne,260Þat was a Bretoneof þis lond,Conquered Rome wythhys hond,And so ȝe oweþ me tribut:Y charge ȝow þat ȝe pay me hyt.264Also Maximian kyng of BretaigneCo[n]quered al fraunce & Almayne,Lombardye Rome & ytalye—[pg 9 - The Messenger's Report of Arthur.]By ȝoure bokisȝe may a-spye.268Y am þeir Eyr & þeyre lynage,Y aske ȝow my trywage."Þis lettre was celyd fast,Y-take the Messagerez on hast;272Arthour ȝaf ham ȝyftez grete,And chered ham wyþ drynk and Mete.Þey hasted ham to come hoom;Lucius's messengers return to him.Byfor þe Emperourþey beþ coom;276Saluted hym as resounys,And toke hym þes letterys.Þey seyde to þe Emperour"We have be wyþ kyng Arthour;280But such anoþeras he ys oon,Say neuer no Man.He ys serued on hys howsholdWyþ kynges, Erles, worthy & bold;284Hys worthynesse, sur Emperour,Passeþ Muchealleȝowre;He seyde he wolde hyder comeand give him Arthur's message.And take trywage of alleRome,288We dowteþ last he wel do soo,For he ys Myghty ynow þer-too."Now, erst þan we goo ferþer,Every man þat ys here292Sey a Pater nosterAnd ave wyþ gode chere; Amen.Pater nosterAve Maria.Now stureth hym self Arthour[Fol. 44b.]Þenkyng on hys labour,296And gaderyþ to hym strenghth aboute,Arthur prepares for his expedition to Rome.Hys kynges & Erles on a rowte—A fayr syȝt to Mannes yeto see suche a cheualrye,—300[pg 10 - The Number of Arthur's Host.]The kyng of Gotland,Has five kings,Also þe kyng of Irland,the kyng of ysland | & of Orkenye,Þis was worthy Maynye;304The kyng of Denmark also was þere,Þis was a worthy chere:Eche of þese vyve at her venywBrouȝt zyx þousand at har retenyw;308xxxtiþowsand, ychvnderstand,with 30,000 men,Þes vyf kyngishadde on honde.Than hadde he out of Normandye,Of Angeoy & of Almanye,31280,000 Normans andBoloyne(.) Peytow & flaundresFowre skore þowsand harneys—Geryn of Chartez .xij. þowsand12,000 from Chartres,þat went wyþ Artoureuer at honde;316Hoel of bretayn, þowsandez ten10,000 Bretons.Of hardy & wellefyghtyng Men;Out of Bretaygne hys owne landHe passed fourty þowsand320and 40,000 British:Of Archerys & off ArblastereÞat Cowþ welleþe craft of werre.¶ In Foot other Many a Man MooAble to feyght(:) as welleas þo:324Two hunderd þousandin all 200,000.Went wyþ hym out of lond,And Many moo sykerlyThat y can4not nombrye.328Arthourtoke þan þe londTo Moddredes owne hond;Britain is left in Mordred's charge.He kept al oþer þyngSaue þo Corowne weryng;332But he was [fals] of hys kepynge,As ȝe schallehure here folewynge.Now thanneys Artoury-ComeAnd hys Ost to Sowthamptone:336Arthur ships at Southampton,[pg 11 - The Giant that Ravished Fair Elayne.]Ther was Many a Man of MyghteStrong & bold also to fyghte.Eche man hath take his schuppynge,And ys at hys loghynge.340Vp goþ þe sayl(:) þey sayleþ faste:Arthour owt of syȝt ys paste.Þe ferst lond þat he gan Meete,Forsoþe hyt was Bareflete;344and lands at Barfleet.Ther he gan vp furst aryve.Now welleMote Arthourspede & thryve;And þat hys saule spede þe better,God speed him!Lat eche man sey a Pater noster.348Pater noster.Now god spede Artour welle!hym ys comyng a nyw batelle.A new foe appears, a Spanish Giant,Ther coom a gyant out of spayne,And rauasched had fayr Elayne;352He had brouȝt heorevp on an hulle—Mornyng hyt ys to hure or telle—Cosyn heo was to kyng hoell,A damesel fayr and gentelle;356And ȝut ferþermore to,He rauasehed heore Moder also.who has slain fair Elayne.He dude þe damesel for to dyefor he myght not lygge heor bye.360Whan þis was told to Artour,He maked Much dolour,And send Bedewer for to spyeArthur sends Bedwere first as a spy,How he myght come hym bye;364And he was nat sclowh,But to þe hulle hym drowhÞat Closed was wyþ waterstronge,Þe hulle a-Mydde gret & longe;368He went ouer to þe hulle syde,And þere a fonde a wommanebydeÞat sorwedd & wept Mornynge[pg 12 - Arthur's Fight with the Giant.]For Eleynes deþ & departynge,372And bad Bedewer to fle alsoLast he were ded more to;"For yf þe Gyant fynde þe,Wythoute dowte he wylleþe scle."376Bedwer wyþ allehastyngeTolde Arthouralleþis þynge.Amorwe whan þat hyt was dayArthour toke þyder hys way,380and then (with Bedwere and Key) starts on his adventure.Bedewer wyþ hym went, & keye,—Men þat cowþe welleþe weye,—[Fol. 45.]And broute ArthourMeyntenaunt,Euen byfore þe Gyant.384Arthour fowȝt wyþ þat wyght;He had almost ylost hys Myght:Wyþ Muche peyne, þruȝ goddez graceHe sclowh þe Geant in þat place,388He kills the Giant,And þan he made BedewereTo smyte of hys heed þere.To þe Ost he dude hyt brynge,And þeron was gret woundrynge,392Hyt was so oryble & so greet,whose horrible head is shown to the host,More þan any Horse heed.Than hadde hoel Ioye ynowhFor þat Arthour so hym sclowh;396And for a perpetuel MemorieHe Made a chapelleof seynt Maryeand St. Mary's Chapel is built in honour of the victory.In þe hulle vpon þe pleyne,Wyþ-Inne þat (:) þe tumbe5of Eleyne;400tombeAnd þat name wyþoute nayHyt bereþ ȝut in-to þis day.Now ys an ende of þis þynge,And Artour haþ nyw tydynge,—404News of Lucius's approach is brought,Lucy þe Emperour wyþ hys hostComeþ fast in gret bost;Þey helyþ ouer alleþe lond,[pg 13 - Arthur's Men Pray to God.]Fowre hundred þowsand408with an army of 400,124 men.An hunderd and foure & twenty,—Thus herawdes dude ham rekeny;Thus he hadde gadered to hymOf cristien and of Sarasyn,412Wyþ allehys wytt & labourTo destroyen Arthour.Arthour dude wyselye,And hadde euer gode aspye416Of lucyes gouernyngeAnd of hys þyder comynge;But somme seyde hyt werefolyeSome advise Arthur to turn and flee,To fyght aȝenst Emperourlucie,420For he hadde sepe6aȝenst oon,& counceyled Arthourto fle & goon.Wyþ þe Emperourcome kynges Many oon,And alleþeire power hoolle& soom;424Stronger men Myȝt no man see,As fulleof drede as þey myght be;But Arthour was not dysmayd,He tryst on god, & was wel payd,428but he trusts in God,And prayd þe hye trynyteEuer hys help forto be;And allehys Men wyþ oo voyseCryde to god wyþ Oo noyse,432"Fader in heuene, þy wyllebe doon;to whom his soldiers prayDefende þy puple fram þeire foon,And lat not þe heþoneMenDestroye þe puple crystien:436Haue Mercy on þy se[r]uantis bonde,And kepe ham fram þe heþonehonde;to keep them from the heathen's hands.Þe Muchelnesse of Men sainfayleYs nat victorie in Batayle;440[pg 14 - The Battle Between Arthur and Lucius.]But after þe wylleþat in heuene ys,So þe victorie falleþ y-wys."Than seyd Arthour, "hyt ys so:Arthur's "Forward!"Auaunt Baner, & be Goo."444Now frendes alle, for goddes loue,Rereþ ȝowre hertes to god aboue,And seyeþ ȝowre prayeris faste,Þat we wellespede furst & laste.448Pater noster.The emperour tryst on hys men,And þat haþ bygyled hym;Forsothe hyt most nedez be so,For þey beþ cursed þat wellehyt do,452Sucheallemyght comeþ of god;Maledictusqui confidet in homine.To tryst on hym, y hold hyt good.Lucye haþ pyght his pauelounAnd sprad wyþ pryde his gunfanoun;456His claryouns blastes fullegrete blywe,Archeris schot(:) Men ouer-thrywe;Bowes, arwes, & arblastereThe battle begins.Schot sore alle y-vere;460Quarels, arwes, þey fly smerte;Þe fyched Men þruȝ heed & herte;Axes, sperys, and gysarmes gret,Clefte Many a prowt Mannes heed:464Hors & steedes gan to grent,And deyde wyþ strokisþat þey hente;Many a man þere lost hys lyf,[Fol. 45b.]Many on was wedyw þat was wyff;468Þere men were wetschoedeMen are wetshod with brains and blood.Alleof Brayn & of blode;Gret rywthehyt was to seynÞe feltes fulleof men y-scleyn;472Lucy þe Emperour also was dede;Lucius is slain,But ho hym sclowh, y can nat rede;He, for allehys grete Renoun,[pg 15 - Arthur Wins, and Buries the Dead.]Aȝenst Arthour hadde no fusoun,476not able to stand against Arthur.No more þan haue twenty schepAȝenst vyve wolfez greet.To god be euere alle honourez!The falde was hys & Arthourez.480Arthour, as he scholde done,Arthur sends Lucius's body to Rome,Sende lucyes body to Rome;Whan þe Romeynes say þis,Þo þey dradde Arthour& hys.484Also he buryed Bedewereburies Bedwere and othersHys frend and | hys Botyler,And so he dude other EchonIn Abbeys of Relygyoun488in Abbeys,Þat were cristien of name;He dude to alle þe same;And dude for ham Masse syngewythsolempne song & offrynge,492And bood þere for to rest,Tylleþat wynter was past,and stays the winter,Boþe he (.) hys Men echoneSeruyd god in deuocione,496Þankyng god of hys Myȝtthanking GodÞat kepeþ hys seruauntez ryȝt,And suffreþ noon for to spylleÞat hym loueþ & tryste wylle:500Þus worschup god dude certeynfor His honour to England.To Englond, þat þo was Bretayn;[Of the difference between More (or Great) Britain and Little Britain.]Þe More Breteyn Englond ys—As men may rede on Cronyclys—504Byȝend þe See Bretayne þerys,Þat haþ hys name forsoþe of þis,For þe kyng Maxymyan,—Þe next after Octauyan,—508He conquered alleArmoryk,And to þe Reme named hyt lyk:Amorica on latyn me cl[e]ped þat lond,Armorica.[pg 16 - Of the Welsh and Stinking Saxons.]Tyl Maxymyan co[n]queryd hyt wythhonde,512And called hyt lyte bretayne þan,So hyȝt þis lond þat he coom fram;For perpetuelleMynde of grete BretayneLittle Britain is called after Great Britain.He called hyt lyte Bretayne,516Þat Men schulde kepe in Mynde & wyttHow þis lond conqueryd hytt;For WalscheMen beþ Bretouns of kynde—Know þat wellefast on Mynde—520Englischemen beþ Saxoynes,Þat beþ of Engistes Soones;There-fore þe walsch man BretounSeyþ & clepeþ vs "Sayson"7524And seyþ (.) "taw or (.) peyd Sayson brount"8How the Welshmen call the English "stinking Saxons."Whan he ys wroth (;) or ellys drounke;Hauyng Mynde of Engystis MenÞat wythgyle sclow þeyre kyn:528At þe place of þe StonehengeȜut þey þenkeþ for to venge:And þat hyt neuere be so,Seyþ a Pater noster more to.532Pater noster.Now turne we to oure labourArthur is preparing to cross the mountains to Rome,And lat vs speke of Arthour:He cast on herte soneAfter þat to go to Rome,536And spak of Passage & hys weyForth ouer Mount Ioye.And sone after vpon an owrwhen he hears of Mordred's treachery;He horde of Mordred the tretour540That hadde alleþis loud on warde—[pg 17 - Of Mordred's Treachery and Arthur's Return.]Euyllemoot suchefare, and harde.Who may best bygyle a manBut sucheas he tryst vpon?544Þer ys no man wel nye, y tryste,Þat can be waar of hadde wyste.—Mordred þis falss ManMuchesorw þo bygan;548He stuffed alle castelleWyþ armyre & vytelle,And strenghthed hym on eche sydeWythMen of countreys ferre & wyde:552He toke þe qwene, Arthoureȝ wyff,how the traitor had seized the queen, his (Arthur's) wife,Aȝenst goddes lawe & gode lyff,And putte heore to soiourne þoAt Euerwyk: god ȝyf hym wo.556and put her at York.Yhork ys Euerwyk:& so me calleþ hyt.Arthouraryved at WhytsondArthur then comes home,Wythgret Myght & strong hond,560And Mordred sainz faylfights Mordred,Ȝaf hym þo a strong batayl;Many a man, as y rede,Þat day was þere dede;564Arthoures nevew WaweynÞat day was þere y-sclayn,and Gawain is slain.And oþer knyȝtes Many moo:Þan Arthour was heuy & woo.568Mordred fly toward Londoun;Mordred flies to London,He most not come in þe toun:Þan fled he to wynchesterAnd wythhys Maynee kep [?] hym þere;572And Arthour on gret hastePursywed after hym faste.Mordred wythoute fayleFled in-to Cornewayle.576and then to Cornwall.The qwene wyþoute lesyng[pg 18 - Arthur's Last Battle with Mordred.]Hurde of þis tydyng,And how Mordred was flow,And how to Cornewale he hym drow.580Heo of Mercy hadde noon hoope,Ther-for he dude on a Russet cote,The Queen turns nun at Carlyon.And to Carlyounys preuyly Rounne,And made heore self þo a Nounne;584Fro þat place neuer heo wende,But of heore lyf þere made an ende.Waweynes body, as y reede,GawainAnd other lordes þat weere deede,588Arthour sente in-to skotlonde,is buried in Scotland.And buryed ham þere, y vnderstonde.Muche folke þerhenne he toke þo,Of Northumber-lond also592Northern men and others come to Arthur.Fram dyverse places to ArthourcomeHys wylleto werk & to done:Thus he sembled a fullegret Ost;To Cornewayle he draweþ hym fast596After þat Mordred þe traytourÞat hadde do hym Muchedyshonour.That tretourhadde gret strengthAnd fulled þat lond on brede & lengthe,600Suchea batelleas þere was redy þoHe gives Mordred battle.Hadde neuer Arthour byfore y-doo:They fowȝt tyl þer come dounbloodeAs a(.) Ryver or (.)a(.) flood;604Þey fowȝt euer sorest sadde;Bellumarthuri apud Camelertonumin Cornubia.Men nyst ho þe betere hadde;But at þe last CerteynWas Mordred & alle hys y-sclayn;608Mordred is slain:And Arthoury-bete wyþ wounde,Arthur wounded,He Myght not stonde on grounde;But on lyter ryȝt anonand carried to Avelon, orAuelona.l.insula pomorumGlastonia.Was browȝt to Auelone,612Þat was a place fayr & Mury;[pg 19 - Arthur Is Buried at Glastonbury.]Now hyt hooteþ Glastyngbury.Glastonbury, where he dies,Ther Arthourþat worthy kyngMaked hys lyues endyng;616But for he skaped þat batelley-wys,Bretouns & Cornysch sayeþ þus,"Þat he leuyth ȝut parde,And schallecome & be a kyng aȝe."620At Glastyngbury on þe qweerÞey made Artourez toumbe þere,and is buried A.D. 542.And wrote wyth latyn vers þus,Hic iacet Arthurus rex quondamrex que futurus.624Thys was þus forsoþe ydoneÞe yheer after þe Incarnacione,Anno dominiquingentesimoquadragesimo secundo.Vyf hundred (.) fourty & two.Now saue vs alle fra woo628Ihesu cryst, heuenly kyng,& graunt vs alle hys blessyng;And þat hyt Moote so be,Seyeþ alle Pater & Aue.632Pater noster. Aue.Ho þat wollemore loke,Reed on þe frensch boke,Read the French Book for the rest.And he schallefynde þereÞynges þat y leete here.636But yf þat god wolle graunte grace,y schallerehercy in þis placeAlle þe kyngez þat after were,And what names [þ]at þey bere;640And ho þat wolleþeyre gestes loke,Reed on þe Frenscheboke. Amen fiat.

BEF. 1450 A.D.

[The Latin side notes in italics, and the stops of the text in parentheses (), are those of the MS.]

Herkeneþ, þat loueþ honour,[Fol. 42b.]Of kyng Arthour & hys labour;And furst how he was bygete,How Arthur was begottenAs þat we in bokisdo rede.4Vther pendragonewas hys fader,by Pendragon on Ygerne.And ygerne was hys Moder.Pendragoneys in walysche'Dragones heed' on Englysche;Pendragon (t.i.Dragon's Head) made two painted dragons,8He maked ypeynted dragones two;Oon schold byfore him gooWhan he went to batayle,Whan he wold hys foes sayle;12That other abood at wynchester,Euermore stylle there.Bretones ȝaf hym þat Name,and thence had his name.Vther Pendragoneþe same,16For þat skyle fer & nereEuer-more hyt to here.

Herkeneþ, þat loueþ honour,[Fol. 42b.]

Of kyng Arthour & hys labour;

And furst how he was bygete,How Arthur was begotten

As þat we in bokisdo rede.4

Vther pendragonewas hys fader,by Pendragon on Ygerne.

And ygerne was hys Moder.

Pendragoneys in walysche

'Dragones heed' on Englysche;Pendragon (t.i.Dragon's Head) made two painted dragons,8

He maked ypeynted dragones two;

Oon schold byfore him goo

Whan he went to batayle,

Whan he wold hys foes sayle;12

That other abood at wynchester,

Euermore stylle there.

Bretones ȝaf hym þat Name,and thence had his name.

Vther Pendragoneþe same,16

For þat skyle fer & nere

Euer-more hyt to here.

The Erles wyff of CornewayleHow Uther loved the Earl of Cornwall's wife,He loued to Muche sanz fayle;20[pg 2 - Arthur Has the Round Table Made.]Merlyn wyþ hys sotelnesseTurned vtheris lyknesse,And maked hym lyche þe Erl anone,And wyþ hys wyff (:) his wylleto done24In þe countre of Cornewelle:In þe Castel of Tyntagelle,Thus vther, yf y schallenat lye,Bygat Arthour in avowtrye.28and begat Arthur in adultery.Whan vther Pendragonewas deed,Arthour anon was y-crowned;Arthur is crowned,He was courteys, large, & Gentto alle puple verrament;32Beaute, Myȝt, amyable chereTo alle Men ferre and neere;Hys port (;) hys ȝyftes gentylleMaked hym y-loved wylle;36is loved of all,Ech mon was glad of hys presence,And drade to do hym dysplesaunce;A stronger Man of hys hondeis strongwas neuer founde on any londe,40As courteys as any Mayde:—and courteous.Þus wryteþ of hym þat hym a-sayde.[Fol. 42b. col. 2.]At Cayrlyone, wythoute fable,he let make þe Rounde table:44He makes the Round Table,And why þat he maked hyt þus,Þis was þe resouny-wyss,—Þat no man schulde sytt aboue other,that all at it might be equal.ne haue indignaciounof hys broþer;48And alle hadde (.)oo(.) seruyse,For no pryde scholde aryseFor any degree of syttynge,Oþer for any seruynge:—52Þus he kept þe table RoundeWhyle he leuyd on þe grounde.After he hadde conquered skotlondAfter his first conquestsyrland & Gotland,56[pg 3 - He Fights Frollo for France.]Þanleuyd he at þe besthe lives twelve years in peace,twelf ȝeeris on alleresteWyþoute werre (:) tylleat þe lastehe þouȝt to make (.)a(.) nyweconqueste.60Into Fraunce wyþ gode counceyleand then invades France.he wolde weende (:) & hyt assayle,Þat Rome þo kept vnder Myght,Vnder Frollo (:) a worthy knyght64Þat fraunce hadde þo to kepe,To rywle, defende, & to lede.Arthour and Frollo fouȝt in feld;He beats Frollo back to Paris,Þere deyde many vnder scheld.68Frollo in-to Paryss fly,Wyth strenkthe kept hyt wysely:Arthour byseged þat Syte & townand there besieges him, tillTylleþeire vytayl was y-doon.72Frollo þat worthy knyghtFrollo challenges him to single combat.Proferyd wythArthourfor to fyghtVnder þis wyse & condicioun,—"Ho hadde þe Maystrie (:) haue þe crown;76And no mo men but þey two."Þe day Was sett (:) to-geder þey go:They fight:Fayr hyt was to byholdeIn suche two knyȝghteȝ bolde:80Þer was no word y-spoke,But eche hadde other by þe þrote;Þey smote wythtrounchoun& wythswerd;Þat hyt seye were a-ferd;84[Fol. 43.]Frollo fouȝt wyþ hys ax (:) as men dude se;(Frollo with his axe)He hytt Arthour (:) so sore (:) þat he felle on kne.He ros vp raply (:) and smot hym fullesore;He dude hym to grent a (.) soueȝ1þerfore.88thus they hyw on helmes hye,And schatered on wyþ scheldes.Þe puple by-gan to cryeÞat stood on þe feldes;92[pg 4 - Arthur Returns Victorious to Britain,]ther ne wyst no man, as y can lere,Who of ham two was þe bettereþere.Arthour was chafed & wexed wrothe,till Arthur in wrath takes Brownsteel,He hente brounsteelle| and to Frollo gothe96Brounstellewas heuy & also kene;CaliburnusArthuri Gladius[with a sketch thereof in the MS.]Framþe schulder(:) to þe syde went bytweneOff frollo | and þan he fell to þe groundeRyȝt as he moste | deed(.) in lyte stounde.100and strikes Frollo dead.Frenschemen made doelle& wept fullefaste;Þeir Crowne of fraunce þere þey loste.Than wente Arthour in-to paryseArthur takes Paris.And toke þe castelle& þe town at hys avyse.104Worschuped be god of hys grete graceGlory to God.Þat þus ȝeueþ fortune(:) and worschup to þe Reme;Thanke ȝe hym alleþat beþ on þis place,And seyeþ a Pater noster wythout any Beeme.108Say ye a Pater Noster therefore.

The Erles wyff of CornewayleHow Uther loved the Earl of Cornwall's wife,

He loued to Muche sanz fayle;20

Merlyn wyþ hys sotelnesse

Turned vtheris lyknesse,

And maked hym lyche þe Erl anone,

And wyþ hys wyff (:) his wylleto done24

In þe countre of Cornewelle:

In þe Castel of Tyntagelle,

Thus vther, yf y schallenat lye,

Bygat Arthour in avowtrye.28and begat Arthur in adultery.

Whan vther Pendragonewas deed,

Arthour anon was y-crowned;Arthur is crowned,

He was courteys, large, & Gent

to alle puple verrament;32

Beaute, Myȝt, amyable chere

To alle Men ferre and neere;

Hys port (;) hys ȝyftes gentylle

Maked hym y-loved wylle;36is loved of all,

Ech mon was glad of hys presence,

And drade to do hym dysplesaunce;

A stronger Man of hys hondeis strong

was neuer founde on any londe,40

As courteys as any Mayde:—and courteous.

Þus wryteþ of hym þat hym a-sayde.[Fol. 42b. col. 2.]

At Cayrlyone, wythoute fable,

he let make þe Rounde table:44He makes the Round Table,

And why þat he maked hyt þus,

Þis was þe resouny-wyss,—

Þat no man schulde sytt aboue other,that all at it might be equal.

ne haue indignaciounof hys broþer;48

And alle hadde (.)oo(.) seruyse,

For no pryde scholde aryse

For any degree of syttynge,

Oþer for any seruynge:—52

Þus he kept þe table Rounde

Whyle he leuyd on þe grounde.

After he hadde conquered skotlondAfter his first conquests

yrland & Gotland,56

Þanleuyd he at þe besthe lives twelve years in peace,

twelf ȝeeris on allereste

Wyþoute werre (:) tylleat þe laste

he þouȝt to make (.)a(.) nyweconqueste.60

Into Fraunce wyþ gode counceyleand then invades France.

he wolde weende (:) & hyt assayle,

Þat Rome þo kept vnder Myght,

Vnder Frollo (:) a worthy knyght64

Þat fraunce hadde þo to kepe,

To rywle, defende, & to lede.

Arthour and Frollo fouȝt in feld;He beats Frollo back to Paris,

Þere deyde many vnder scheld.68

Frollo in-to Paryss fly,

Wyth strenkthe kept hyt wysely:

Arthour byseged þat Syte & townand there besieges him, till

Tylleþeire vytayl was y-doon.72

Frollo þat worthy knyghtFrollo challenges him to single combat.

Proferyd wythArthourfor to fyght

Vnder þis wyse & condicioun,—

"Ho hadde þe Maystrie (:) haue þe crown;76

And no mo men but þey two."

Þe day Was sett (:) to-geder þey go:They fight:

Fayr hyt was to byholde

In suche two knyȝghteȝ bolde:80

Þer was no word y-spoke,

But eche hadde other by þe þrote;

Þey smote wythtrounchoun& wythswerd;

Þat hyt seye were a-ferd;84[Fol. 43.]

Frollo fouȝt wyþ hys ax (:) as men dude se;(Frollo with his axe)

He hytt Arthour (:) so sore (:) þat he felle on kne.

He ros vp raply (:) and smot hym fullesore;

He dude hym to grent a (.) soueȝ1þerfore.88

thus they hyw on helmes hye,

And schatered on wyþ scheldes.

Þe puple by-gan to crye

Þat stood on þe feldes;92

ther ne wyst no man, as y can lere,

Who of ham two was þe bettereþere.

Arthour was chafed & wexed wrothe,till Arthur in wrath takes Brownsteel,

He hente brounsteelle| and to Frollo gothe96

Brounstellewas heuy & also kene;CaliburnusArthuri Gladius[with a sketch thereof in the MS.]

Framþe schulder(:) to þe syde went bytwene

Off frollo | and þan he fell to þe grounde

Ryȝt as he moste | deed(.) in lyte stounde.100and strikes Frollo dead.

Frenschemen made doelle& wept fullefaste;

Þeir Crowne of fraunce þere þey loste.

Than wente Arthour in-to paryseArthur takes Paris.

And toke þe castelle& þe town at hys avyse.104

Worschuped be god of hys grete graceGlory to God.

Þat þus ȝeueþ fortune(:) and worschup to þe Reme;

Thanke ȝe hym alleþat beþ on þis place,

And seyeþ a Pater noster wythout any Beeme.108Say ye a Pater Noster therefore.

Pater noster.

Arthourfram paryse went wythhys Rowte,And conquered þe Countre on euery syde aboute;Arthur conquers the countries around,Angeoy2, Peytow, Berry, & Gaskoyne,Nauerne, Burgone| Loreyn & Toreyne;112He daunted þe proude | & hawted þe poure;He dwelt long in Paryss after in honoure;He was drad and loued in countreis abowte;Heyest & lowest hym Loved & alowte;116And vpon an Estourtyme sone afterwardHe fested hys knyghtis& ȝaf ham gret reward;distributes them among his knights,To hys styward he ȝaf Angers & Aungeye;To Bedewer hys botyler he ȝaf Normandye;120He ȝaf to Holdyne flaundrys parde;To Borel hys Cosyn, Boloyne þe cyte;And eche man, after þe astat þat he was,He rewarded hem alle, boþe More & lasse,124And ȝaf hem reward, boþe lond and Fee,And turned to Breteyn, to Carlyone ayhe.and returns to Britain.[pg 5 - And Then Holds a Great Feast.]Arthourwolde of honour[Fol. 43b, col. 1.]Hold a fest at Eestour128Arthur gives an Easter FeastOf regalye & worthynesse,And feede alle hys frendess;And sende MessangerTo kynges ferre & neer132Þat were to hym Omager,to come to þis Dyner.And alle at oo certeyn dayThey come þyder in gode aray,136And kept þeire CesoneAt þe CastelleCayrlyone.at Carlyon, greater than ere before.Thys fest was Muche MooreÞan euere Arthourmade a-fore;140For þere was Vrweyn þe kyngeTen kings were there,Of scottes at þat dynynge,Stater þe kyng of south wales,Cadwelleþe kyng of north waleȝ,144Gwylmar þe kyng of yrland,Dolmad þe kyng of guthland,Malgan of yselond also,Archyl of Denmarch þerto,148Alotheþe kyng of Norwey,Souenas þe kyng of Orkenye,Of Breteyn þe kyng Hoel,Cador Erl of Cornewelle,152and thirteen earlsMorice þe Erl of Gloucestre,Marran Erl of Wynchestre,Gwergound Erl of herford,Booȝ Erl of Oxenford,156Of bathe vngent þe Erl also,(including him of Bath),Cursal of Chestreþer-to,Euerad Erl of salesbury,3Kynmar Erl of Canterbury,160Jonas þe Erl of Dorcestre,[pg 6 - Arthur's Guests at Cayrlyone.]Valence þe Erl of sylchestre,Jugeyn of Leyccer [?] þerto,Argal of warwyk also,—164Kynges & Erles EchonÞes were; & many anoþergoomwith many other gentles great,Gret of astaat, & þe beste,Þes were at þe Feste.168Other also gentyls greteWere þere at þat Meete,Sauer appon Donand,Regeym & Alard,172Reyneȝ fitȝ Colys,Tadeusfitȝ Reis,Delyn fitȝ Dauid,Kymbelyn le fitȝ Gryffith,176Gryffitȝ þe Sone of Nagand,Þes were þerealso theoband:Alle þes were þere wythoute fable,Wythoute ham of þe rounde table.180besides the Round Tablers,Thre archebusschopes þerwerealso,Archbishops,And other busschopes many mo—Bishops,Alleþis mayne were nat al-oone;Wythham com many a Goome.184Þis feste dured dayes þreIn reuelle& solempnite.Of by ȝonde þe See alsoand many from beyond the sea.Many lordez[?] were þere þo.188Now resteþ alle wyþ Me,And say a Pater & Ave.

Arthourfram paryse went wythhys Rowte,

And conquered þe Countre on euery syde aboute;Arthur conquers the countries around,

Angeoy2, Peytow, Berry, & Gaskoyne,

Nauerne, Burgone| Loreyn & Toreyne;112

He daunted þe proude | & hawted þe poure;

He dwelt long in Paryss after in honoure;

He was drad and loued in countreis abowte;

Heyest & lowest hym Loved & alowte;116

And vpon an Estourtyme sone afterward

He fested hys knyghtis& ȝaf ham gret reward;distributes them among his knights,

To hys styward he ȝaf Angers & Aungeye;

To Bedewer hys botyler he ȝaf Normandye;120

He ȝaf to Holdyne flaundrys parde;

To Borel hys Cosyn, Boloyne þe cyte;

And eche man, after þe astat þat he was,

He rewarded hem alle, boþe More & lasse,124

And ȝaf hem reward, boþe lond and Fee,

And turned to Breteyn, to Carlyone ayhe.and returns to Britain.

Arthourwolde of honour[Fol. 43b, col. 1.]

Hold a fest at Eestour128Arthur gives an Easter Feast

Of regalye & worthynesse,

And feede alle hys frendess;

And sende Messanger

To kynges ferre & neer132

Þat were to hym Omager,

to come to þis Dyner.

And alle at oo certeyn day

They come þyder in gode aray,136

And kept þeire Cesone

At þe CastelleCayrlyone.at Carlyon, greater than ere before.

Thys fest was Muche Moore

Þan euere Arthourmade a-fore;140

For þere was Vrweyn þe kyngeTen kings were there,

Of scottes at þat dynynge,

Stater þe kyng of south wales,

Cadwelleþe kyng of north waleȝ,144

Gwylmar þe kyng of yrland,

Dolmad þe kyng of guthland,

Malgan of yselond also,

Archyl of Denmarch þerto,148

Alotheþe kyng of Norwey,

Souenas þe kyng of Orkenye,

Of Breteyn þe kyng Hoel,

Cador Erl of Cornewelle,152and thirteen earls

Morice þe Erl of Gloucestre,

Marran Erl of Wynchestre,

Gwergound Erl of herford,

Booȝ Erl of Oxenford,156

Of bathe vngent þe Erl also,(including him of Bath),

Cursal of Chestreþer-to,

Euerad Erl of salesbury,3

Kynmar Erl of Canterbury,160

Jonas þe Erl of Dorcestre,

Valence þe Erl of sylchestre,

Jugeyn of Leyccer [?] þerto,

Argal of warwyk also,—164

Kynges & Erles Echon

Þes were; & many anoþergoomwith many other gentles great,

Gret of astaat, & þe beste,

Þes were at þe Feste.168

Other also gentyls grete

Were þere at þat Meete,

Sauer appon Donand,

Regeym & Alard,172

Reyneȝ fitȝ Colys,

Tadeusfitȝ Reis,

Delyn fitȝ Dauid,

Kymbelyn le fitȝ Gryffith,176

Gryffitȝ þe Sone of Nagand,

Þes were þerealso theoband:

Alle þes were þere wythoute fable,

Wythoute ham of þe rounde table.180besides the Round Tablers,

Thre archebusschopes þerwerealso,Archbishops,

And other busschopes many mo—Bishops,

Alleþis mayne were nat al-oone;

Wythham com many a Goome.184

Þis feste dured dayes þre

In reuelle& solempnite.

Of by ȝonde þe See alsoand many from beyond the sea.

Many lordez[?] were þere þo.188

Now resteþ alle wyþ Me,

And say a Pater & Ave.

Pater noster.

The þrydde day folowyngThencoom nywe tydynge,192Þe whyle þey sete at þe MeteMessagers were In ylete;To the feasters came messengers from the Roman Emperor,Wellearayd forsoþe þey come,& send fram cite of Rome196[pg 7 - Lucius's Message to Arthur.]Wyþ lettres of þe EmperouresWhas name was Lucies.lucius.Þes lettres were opened & vnfold,And þe tydyngeto alle men told,200Whas sentence, yf y ne lye,Was after þat y can aspye:¶ Lucius þe grete EmperourLitera Lucii imperatoris.To hys Enemy Arthour:—204We woundereþ of þi wodenessAnd also of þy Madnesse!How darst þow any wyseAȝenst the Emperourþus aryse,208saying, that to have invaded France, etc., and made kings, Arthur must be mad in his noll;And ryde on Remes on eche wey,And make kyngeȝ to þe obey?Þu art wood on þe Nolle!Þu hast scley owre cosyn frolle;212Þu schalt be tawȝt at a schort day[Fol. 44, col. 1.]for to make suchearay.Oure cosyn IuliuscesarSomme tyme conquered þar;216To Rome þu owest hys trybut;that he must pay his tribute,We chargeþ þe to paye vs hyt.Thy pryde we wollealayeÞat makest so gret aray:220We commandeþ þe on hasteTo paye owre trybut faste;Þu hast scley frolle in fraunceÞat hadde vnder vs þeregouernaunce,224And wyþholdest oure tribute þerto:Þu schalt be tawȝt þu hast mysdo:We commandeþ þe in haste sooneÞat þu come to vs at Rome228and come to Rome to be punished for his disobedience.To vnderfang oureordynaunceFor þy dysobediaunce;As þu wold nat leze þy lyf,Fulfylle þys wythoute stryff."232[pg 8 - Arthur's Answer to Lucius.]When þis lettre was open & rad;Þe bretouns & allemen weremad,The Britons purpose to kill the messengers,And wolde þe messager scle:—"Nay," seyd Arthour, "per de,236but Arthur forbids it,That were aȝenst alle kynde,A messager to bete or bynde;y charge alle men herefor to make ham good chere."240And after Mete sanz faylWyþ hys lordes he hadde counsayl;And alle asented þer to,Arthourto Rome scholde go;244and resolves to invade Rome.And þey ne wolde in hys trauayleWyþ strenkþ & good neuer fayle.Than Arthourwroot to Rome a lettre,Was sentence was somm-what byttere,248And sayde inþis manereAs ȝe may hure here:—

The þrydde day folowyng

Thencoom nywe tydynge,192

Þe whyle þey sete at þe Mete

Messagers were In ylete;To the feasters came messengers from the Roman Emperor,

Wellearayd forsoþe þey come,

& send fram cite of Rome196

Wyþ lettres of þe Emperoures

Whas name was Lucies.lucius.

Þes lettres were opened & vnfold,

And þe tydyngeto alle men told,200

Whas sentence, yf y ne lye,

Was after þat y can aspye:

¶ Lucius þe grete EmperourLitera Lucii imperatoris.

To hys Enemy Arthour:—204

We woundereþ of þi wodeness

And also of þy Madnesse!

How darst þow any wyse

Aȝenst the Emperourþus aryse,208saying, that to have invaded France, etc., and made kings, Arthur must be mad in his noll;

And ryde on Remes on eche wey,

And make kyngeȝ to þe obey?

Þu art wood on þe Nolle!

Þu hast scley owre cosyn frolle;212

Þu schalt be tawȝt at a schort day[Fol. 44, col. 1.]

for to make suchearay.

Oure cosyn Iuliuscesar

Somme tyme conquered þar;216

To Rome þu owest hys trybut;that he must pay his tribute,

We chargeþ þe to paye vs hyt.

Thy pryde we wollealaye

Þat makest so gret aray:220

We commandeþ þe on haste

To paye owre trybut faste;

Þu hast scley frolle in fraunce

Þat hadde vnder vs þeregouernaunce,224

And wyþholdest oure tribute þerto:

Þu schalt be tawȝt þu hast mysdo:

We commandeþ þe in haste soone

Þat þu come to vs at Rome228and come to Rome to be punished for his disobedience.

To vnderfang oureordynaunce

For þy dysobediaunce;

As þu wold nat leze þy lyf,

Fulfylle þys wythoute stryff."232

When þis lettre was open & rad;

Þe bretouns & allemen weremad,The Britons purpose to kill the messengers,

And wolde þe messager scle:—

"Nay," seyd Arthour, "per de,236but Arthur forbids it,

That were aȝenst alle kynde,

A messager to bete or bynde;

y charge alle men here

for to make ham good chere."240

And after Mete sanz fayl

Wyþ hys lordes he hadde counsayl;

And alle asented þer to,

Arthourto Rome scholde go;244and resolves to invade Rome.

And þey ne wolde in hys trauayle

Wyþ strenkþ & good neuer fayle.

Than Arthourwroot to Rome a lettre,

Was sentence was somm-what byttere,248

And sayde inþis manere

As ȝe may hure here:—

"Knoweþ welleȝe of Romayne,Litera RegisArthuri.Y am kyng Arthourof Bretayne.252Arthur's answer to the Emperor Lucius,Fraunce, y haue conquered hyt,Y schalledefende & kepe hyt ȝut,[Fol. 44, col. 2.]Y come to Rome, as y am tryw,To take my trybut (.) to me dywe,256claiming tribute from him.But noon þere-for to paye,By my werk ȝe schalleasay;For þe Emperour ConstantyneÞat was þe Soone of Elyne,260Þat was a Bretoneof þis lond,Conquered Rome wythhys hond,And so ȝe oweþ me tribut:Y charge ȝow þat ȝe pay me hyt.264Also Maximian kyng of BretaigneCo[n]quered al fraunce & Almayne,Lombardye Rome & ytalye—[pg 9 - The Messenger's Report of Arthur.]By ȝoure bokisȝe may a-spye.268Y am þeir Eyr & þeyre lynage,Y aske ȝow my trywage."

"Knoweþ welleȝe of Romayne,Litera RegisArthuri.

Y am kyng Arthourof Bretayne.252Arthur's answer to the Emperor Lucius,

Fraunce, y haue conquered hyt,

Y schalledefende & kepe hyt ȝut,[Fol. 44, col. 2.]

Y come to Rome, as y am tryw,

To take my trybut (.) to me dywe,256claiming tribute from him.

But noon þere-for to paye,

By my werk ȝe schalleasay;

For þe Emperour Constantyne

Þat was þe Soone of Elyne,260

Þat was a Bretoneof þis lond,

Conquered Rome wythhys hond,

And so ȝe oweþ me tribut:

Y charge ȝow þat ȝe pay me hyt.264

Also Maximian kyng of Bretaigne

Co[n]quered al fraunce & Almayne,

Lombardye Rome & ytalye—

By ȝoure bokisȝe may a-spye.268

Y am þeir Eyr & þeyre lynage,

Y aske ȝow my trywage."

Þis lettre was celyd fast,Y-take the Messagerez on hast;272Arthour ȝaf ham ȝyftez grete,And chered ham wyþ drynk and Mete.Þey hasted ham to come hoom;Lucius's messengers return to him.Byfor þe Emperourþey beþ coom;276Saluted hym as resounys,And toke hym þes letterys.Þey seyde to þe Emperour"We have be wyþ kyng Arthour;280But such anoþeras he ys oon,Say neuer no Man.He ys serued on hys howsholdWyþ kynges, Erles, worthy & bold;284Hys worthynesse, sur Emperour,Passeþ Muchealleȝowre;He seyde he wolde hyder comeand give him Arthur's message.And take trywage of alleRome,288We dowteþ last he wel do soo,For he ys Myghty ynow þer-too."Now, erst þan we goo ferþer,Every man þat ys here292Sey a Pater nosterAnd ave wyþ gode chere; Amen.

Þis lettre was celyd fast,

Y-take the Messagerez on hast;272

Arthour ȝaf ham ȝyftez grete,

And chered ham wyþ drynk and Mete.

Þey hasted ham to come hoom;Lucius's messengers return to him.

Byfor þe Emperourþey beþ coom;276

Saluted hym as resounys,

And toke hym þes letterys.

Þey seyde to þe Emperour

"We have be wyþ kyng Arthour;280

But such anoþeras he ys oon,

Say neuer no Man.

He ys serued on hys howshold

Wyþ kynges, Erles, worthy & bold;284

Hys worthynesse, sur Emperour,

Passeþ Muchealleȝowre;

He seyde he wolde hyder comeand give him Arthur's message.

And take trywage of alleRome,288

We dowteþ last he wel do soo,

For he ys Myghty ynow þer-too."

Now, erst þan we goo ferþer,

Every man þat ys here292

Sey a Pater noster

And ave wyþ gode chere; Amen.

Pater noster

Ave Maria.

Now stureth hym self Arthour[Fol. 44b.]Þenkyng on hys labour,296And gaderyþ to hym strenghth aboute,Arthur prepares for his expedition to Rome.Hys kynges & Erles on a rowte—A fayr syȝt to Mannes yeto see suche a cheualrye,—300[pg 10 - The Number of Arthur's Host.]The kyng of Gotland,Has five kings,Also þe kyng of Irland,the kyng of ysland | & of Orkenye,Þis was worthy Maynye;304The kyng of Denmark also was þere,Þis was a worthy chere:Eche of þese vyve at her venywBrouȝt zyx þousand at har retenyw;308xxxtiþowsand, ychvnderstand,with 30,000 men,Þes vyf kyngishadde on honde.Than hadde he out of Normandye,Of Angeoy & of Almanye,31280,000 Normans andBoloyne(.) Peytow & flaundresFowre skore þowsand harneys—Geryn of Chartez .xij. þowsand12,000 from Chartres,þat went wyþ Artoureuer at honde;316Hoel of bretayn, þowsandez ten10,000 Bretons.Of hardy & wellefyghtyng Men;Out of Bretaygne hys owne landHe passed fourty þowsand320and 40,000 British:Of Archerys & off ArblastereÞat Cowþ welleþe craft of werre.¶ In Foot other Many a Man MooAble to feyght(:) as welleas þo:324Two hunderd þousandin all 200,000.Went wyþ hym out of lond,And Many moo sykerlyThat y can4not nombrye.328Arthourtoke þan þe londTo Moddredes owne hond;Britain is left in Mordred's charge.He kept al oþer þyngSaue þo Corowne weryng;332But he was [fals] of hys kepynge,As ȝe schallehure here folewynge.Now thanneys Artoury-ComeAnd hys Ost to Sowthamptone:336Arthur ships at Southampton,[pg 11 - The Giant that Ravished Fair Elayne.]Ther was Many a Man of MyghteStrong & bold also to fyghte.Eche man hath take his schuppynge,And ys at hys loghynge.340Vp goþ þe sayl(:) þey sayleþ faste:Arthour owt of syȝt ys paste.Þe ferst lond þat he gan Meete,Forsoþe hyt was Bareflete;344and lands at Barfleet.Ther he gan vp furst aryve.Now welleMote Arthourspede & thryve;And þat hys saule spede þe better,God speed him!Lat eche man sey a Pater noster.348

Now stureth hym self Arthour[Fol. 44b.]

Þenkyng on hys labour,296

And gaderyþ to hym strenghth aboute,Arthur prepares for his expedition to Rome.

Hys kynges & Erles on a rowte—

A fayr syȝt to Mannes ye

to see suche a cheualrye,—300

The kyng of Gotland,Has five kings,

Also þe kyng of Irland,

the kyng of ysland | & of Orkenye,

Þis was worthy Maynye;304

The kyng of Denmark also was þere,

Þis was a worthy chere:

Eche of þese vyve at her venyw

Brouȝt zyx þousand at har retenyw;308

xxxtiþowsand, ychvnderstand,with 30,000 men,

Þes vyf kyngishadde on honde.

Than hadde he out of Normandye,

Of Angeoy & of Almanye,31280,000 Normans and

Boloyne(.) Peytow & flaundres

Fowre skore þowsand harneys—

Geryn of Chartez .xij. þowsand12,000 from Chartres,

þat went wyþ Artoureuer at honde;316

Hoel of bretayn, þowsandez ten10,000 Bretons.

Of hardy & wellefyghtyng Men;

Out of Bretaygne hys owne land

He passed fourty þowsand320and 40,000 British:

Of Archerys & off Arblastere

Þat Cowþ welleþe craft of werre.

¶ In Foot other Many a Man Moo

Able to feyght(:) as welleas þo:324

Two hunderd þousandin all 200,000.

Went wyþ hym out of lond,

And Many moo sykerly

That y can4not nombrye.328

Arthourtoke þan þe lond

To Moddredes owne hond;Britain is left in Mordred's charge.

He kept al oþer þyng

Saue þo Corowne weryng;332

But he was [fals] of hys kepynge,

As ȝe schallehure here folewynge.

Now thanneys Artoury-Come

And hys Ost to Sowthamptone:336Arthur ships at Southampton,

Ther was Many a Man of Myghte

Strong & bold also to fyghte.

Eche man hath take his schuppynge,

And ys at hys loghynge.340

Vp goþ þe sayl(:) þey sayleþ faste:

Arthour owt of syȝt ys paste.

Þe ferst lond þat he gan Meete,

Forsoþe hyt was Bareflete;344and lands at Barfleet.

Ther he gan vp furst aryve.

Now welleMote Arthourspede & thryve;

And þat hys saule spede þe better,God speed him!

Lat eche man sey a Pater noster.348

Pater noster.

Now god spede Artour welle!hym ys comyng a nyw batelle.A new foe appears, a Spanish Giant,Ther coom a gyant out of spayne,And rauasched had fayr Elayne;352He had brouȝt heorevp on an hulle—Mornyng hyt ys to hure or telle—Cosyn heo was to kyng hoell,A damesel fayr and gentelle;356And ȝut ferþermore to,He rauasehed heore Moder also.who has slain fair Elayne.He dude þe damesel for to dyefor he myght not lygge heor bye.360Whan þis was told to Artour,He maked Much dolour,And send Bedewer for to spyeArthur sends Bedwere first as a spy,How he myght come hym bye;364And he was nat sclowh,But to þe hulle hym drowhÞat Closed was wyþ waterstronge,Þe hulle a-Mydde gret & longe;368He went ouer to þe hulle syde,And þere a fonde a wommanebydeÞat sorwedd & wept Mornynge[pg 12 - Arthur's Fight with the Giant.]For Eleynes deþ & departynge,372And bad Bedewer to fle alsoLast he were ded more to;"For yf þe Gyant fynde þe,Wythoute dowte he wylleþe scle."376Bedwer wyþ allehastyngeTolde Arthouralleþis þynge.Amorwe whan þat hyt was dayArthour toke þyder hys way,380and then (with Bedwere and Key) starts on his adventure.Bedewer wyþ hym went, & keye,—Men þat cowþe welleþe weye,—[Fol. 45.]And broute ArthourMeyntenaunt,Euen byfore þe Gyant.384Arthour fowȝt wyþ þat wyght;He had almost ylost hys Myght:Wyþ Muche peyne, þruȝ goddez graceHe sclowh þe Geant in þat place,388He kills the Giant,And þan he made BedewereTo smyte of hys heed þere.To þe Ost he dude hyt brynge,And þeron was gret woundrynge,392Hyt was so oryble & so greet,whose horrible head is shown to the host,More þan any Horse heed.Than hadde hoel Ioye ynowhFor þat Arthour so hym sclowh;396And for a perpetuel MemorieHe Made a chapelleof seynt Maryeand St. Mary's Chapel is built in honour of the victory.In þe hulle vpon þe pleyne,Wyþ-Inne þat (:) þe tumbe5of Eleyne;400tombeAnd þat name wyþoute nayHyt bereþ ȝut in-to þis day.Now ys an ende of þis þynge,And Artour haþ nyw tydynge,—404News of Lucius's approach is brought,Lucy þe Emperour wyþ hys hostComeþ fast in gret bost;Þey helyþ ouer alleþe lond,[pg 13 - Arthur's Men Pray to God.]Fowre hundred þowsand408with an army of 400,124 men.An hunderd and foure & twenty,—Thus herawdes dude ham rekeny;Thus he hadde gadered to hymOf cristien and of Sarasyn,412Wyþ allehys wytt & labourTo destroyen Arthour.Arthour dude wyselye,And hadde euer gode aspye416Of lucyes gouernyngeAnd of hys þyder comynge;But somme seyde hyt werefolyeSome advise Arthur to turn and flee,To fyght aȝenst Emperourlucie,420For he hadde sepe6aȝenst oon,& counceyled Arthourto fle & goon.Wyþ þe Emperourcome kynges Many oon,And alleþeire power hoolle& soom;424Stronger men Myȝt no man see,As fulleof drede as þey myght be;But Arthour was not dysmayd,He tryst on god, & was wel payd,428but he trusts in God,And prayd þe hye trynyteEuer hys help forto be;And allehys Men wyþ oo voyseCryde to god wyþ Oo noyse,432"Fader in heuene, þy wyllebe doon;to whom his soldiers prayDefende þy puple fram þeire foon,And lat not þe heþoneMenDestroye þe puple crystien:436Haue Mercy on þy se[r]uantis bonde,And kepe ham fram þe heþonehonde;to keep them from the heathen's hands.Þe Muchelnesse of Men sainfayleYs nat victorie in Batayle;440[pg 14 - The Battle Between Arthur and Lucius.]But after þe wylleþat in heuene ys,So þe victorie falleþ y-wys."Than seyd Arthour, "hyt ys so:Arthur's "Forward!"Auaunt Baner, & be Goo."444Now frendes alle, for goddes loue,Rereþ ȝowre hertes to god aboue,And seyeþ ȝowre prayeris faste,Þat we wellespede furst & laste.448

Now god spede Artour welle!

hym ys comyng a nyw batelle.A new foe appears, a Spanish Giant,

Ther coom a gyant out of spayne,

And rauasched had fayr Elayne;352

He had brouȝt heorevp on an hulle—

Mornyng hyt ys to hure or telle—

Cosyn heo was to kyng hoell,

A damesel fayr and gentelle;356

And ȝut ferþermore to,

He rauasehed heore Moder also.who has slain fair Elayne.

He dude þe damesel for to dye

for he myght not lygge heor bye.360

Whan þis was told to Artour,

He maked Much dolour,

And send Bedewer for to spyeArthur sends Bedwere first as a spy,

How he myght come hym bye;364

And he was nat sclowh,

But to þe hulle hym drowh

Þat Closed was wyþ waterstronge,

Þe hulle a-Mydde gret & longe;368

He went ouer to þe hulle syde,

And þere a fonde a wommanebyde

Þat sorwedd & wept Mornynge

For Eleynes deþ & departynge,372

And bad Bedewer to fle also

Last he were ded more to;

"For yf þe Gyant fynde þe,

Wythoute dowte he wylleþe scle."376

Bedwer wyþ allehastynge

Tolde Arthouralleþis þynge.

Amorwe whan þat hyt was day

Arthour toke þyder hys way,380and then (with Bedwere and Key) starts on his adventure.

Bedewer wyþ hym went, & keye,—

Men þat cowþe welleþe weye,—[Fol. 45.]

And broute ArthourMeyntenaunt,

Euen byfore þe Gyant.384

Arthour fowȝt wyþ þat wyght;

He had almost ylost hys Myght:

Wyþ Muche peyne, þruȝ goddez grace

He sclowh þe Geant in þat place,388He kills the Giant,

And þan he made Bedewere

To smyte of hys heed þere.

To þe Ost he dude hyt brynge,

And þeron was gret woundrynge,392

Hyt was so oryble & so greet,whose horrible head is shown to the host,

More þan any Horse heed.

Than hadde hoel Ioye ynowh

For þat Arthour so hym sclowh;396

And for a perpetuel Memorie

He Made a chapelleof seynt Maryeand St. Mary's Chapel is built in honour of the victory.

In þe hulle vpon þe pleyne,

Wyþ-Inne þat (:) þe tumbe5of Eleyne;400tombe

And þat name wyþoute nay

Hyt bereþ ȝut in-to þis day.

Now ys an ende of þis þynge,

And Artour haþ nyw tydynge,—404News of Lucius's approach is brought,

Lucy þe Emperour wyþ hys host

Comeþ fast in gret bost;

Þey helyþ ouer alleþe lond,

Fowre hundred þowsand408with an army of 400,124 men.

An hunderd and foure & twenty,—

Thus herawdes dude ham rekeny;

Thus he hadde gadered to hym

Of cristien and of Sarasyn,412

Wyþ allehys wytt & labour

To destroyen Arthour.

Arthour dude wyselye,

And hadde euer gode aspye416

Of lucyes gouernynge

And of hys þyder comynge;

But somme seyde hyt werefolyeSome advise Arthur to turn and flee,

To fyght aȝenst Emperourlucie,420

For he hadde sepe6aȝenst oon,

& counceyled Arthourto fle & goon.

Wyþ þe Emperourcome kynges Many oon,

And alleþeire power hoolle& soom;424

Stronger men Myȝt no man see,

As fulleof drede as þey myght be;

But Arthour was not dysmayd,

He tryst on god, & was wel payd,428but he trusts in God,

And prayd þe hye trynyte

Euer hys help forto be;

And allehys Men wyþ oo voyse

Cryde to god wyþ Oo noyse,432

"Fader in heuene, þy wyllebe doon;to whom his soldiers pray

Defende þy puple fram þeire foon,

And lat not þe heþoneMen

Destroye þe puple crystien:436

Haue Mercy on þy se[r]uantis bonde,

And kepe ham fram þe heþonehonde;to keep them from the heathen's hands.

Þe Muchelnesse of Men sainfayle

Ys nat victorie in Batayle;440

But after þe wylleþat in heuene ys,

So þe victorie falleþ y-wys."

Than seyd Arthour, "hyt ys so:Arthur's "Forward!"

Auaunt Baner, & be Goo."444

Now frendes alle, for goddes loue,

Rereþ ȝowre hertes to god aboue,

And seyeþ ȝowre prayeris faste,

Þat we wellespede furst & laste.448

Pater noster.

The emperour tryst on hys men,And þat haþ bygyled hym;Forsothe hyt most nedez be so,For þey beþ cursed þat wellehyt do,452Sucheallemyght comeþ of god;Maledictusqui confidet in homine.To tryst on hym, y hold hyt good.Lucye haþ pyght his pauelounAnd sprad wyþ pryde his gunfanoun;456His claryouns blastes fullegrete blywe,Archeris schot(:) Men ouer-thrywe;Bowes, arwes, & arblastereThe battle begins.Schot sore alle y-vere;460Quarels, arwes, þey fly smerte;Þe fyched Men þruȝ heed & herte;Axes, sperys, and gysarmes gret,Clefte Many a prowt Mannes heed:464Hors & steedes gan to grent,And deyde wyþ strokisþat þey hente;Many a man þere lost hys lyf,[Fol. 45b.]Many on was wedyw þat was wyff;468Þere men were wetschoedeMen are wetshod with brains and blood.Alleof Brayn & of blode;Gret rywthehyt was to seynÞe feltes fulleof men y-scleyn;472Lucy þe Emperour also was dede;Lucius is slain,But ho hym sclowh, y can nat rede;He, for allehys grete Renoun,[pg 15 - Arthur Wins, and Buries the Dead.]Aȝenst Arthour hadde no fusoun,476not able to stand against Arthur.No more þan haue twenty schepAȝenst vyve wolfez greet.To god be euere alle honourez!The falde was hys & Arthourez.480Arthour, as he scholde done,Arthur sends Lucius's body to Rome,Sende lucyes body to Rome;Whan þe Romeynes say þis,Þo þey dradde Arthour& hys.484Also he buryed Bedewereburies Bedwere and othersHys frend and | hys Botyler,And so he dude other EchonIn Abbeys of Relygyoun488in Abbeys,Þat were cristien of name;He dude to alle þe same;And dude for ham Masse syngewythsolempne song & offrynge,492And bood þere for to rest,Tylleþat wynter was past,and stays the winter,Boþe he (.) hys Men echoneSeruyd god in deuocione,496Þankyng god of hys Myȝtthanking GodÞat kepeþ hys seruauntez ryȝt,And suffreþ noon for to spylleÞat hym loueþ & tryste wylle:500Þus worschup god dude certeynfor His honour to England.To Englond, þat þo was Bretayn;[Of the difference between More (or Great) Britain and Little Britain.]Þe More Breteyn Englond ys—As men may rede on Cronyclys—504Byȝend þe See Bretayne þerys,Þat haþ hys name forsoþe of þis,For þe kyng Maxymyan,—Þe next after Octauyan,—508He conquered alleArmoryk,And to þe Reme named hyt lyk:Amorica on latyn me cl[e]ped þat lond,Armorica.[pg 16 - Of the Welsh and Stinking Saxons.]Tyl Maxymyan co[n]queryd hyt wythhonde,512And called hyt lyte bretayne þan,So hyȝt þis lond þat he coom fram;For perpetuelleMynde of grete BretayneLittle Britain is called after Great Britain.He called hyt lyte Bretayne,516Þat Men schulde kepe in Mynde & wyttHow þis lond conqueryd hytt;For WalscheMen beþ Bretouns of kynde—Know þat wellefast on Mynde—520Englischemen beþ Saxoynes,Þat beþ of Engistes Soones;There-fore þe walsch man BretounSeyþ & clepeþ vs "Sayson"7524And seyþ (.) "taw or (.) peyd Sayson brount"8How the Welshmen call the English "stinking Saxons."Whan he ys wroth (;) or ellys drounke;Hauyng Mynde of Engystis MenÞat wythgyle sclow þeyre kyn:528At þe place of þe StonehengeȜut þey þenkeþ for to venge:And þat hyt neuere be so,Seyþ a Pater noster more to.532

The emperour tryst on hys men,

And þat haþ bygyled hym;

Forsothe hyt most nedez be so,

For þey beþ cursed þat wellehyt do,452

Sucheallemyght comeþ of god;Maledictusqui confidet in homine.

To tryst on hym, y hold hyt good.

Lucye haþ pyght his paueloun

And sprad wyþ pryde his gunfanoun;456

His claryouns blastes fullegrete blywe,

Archeris schot(:) Men ouer-thrywe;

Bowes, arwes, & arblastereThe battle begins.

Schot sore alle y-vere;460

Quarels, arwes, þey fly smerte;

Þe fyched Men þruȝ heed & herte;

Axes, sperys, and gysarmes gret,

Clefte Many a prowt Mannes heed:464

Hors & steedes gan to grent,

And deyde wyþ strokisþat þey hente;

Many a man þere lost hys lyf,[Fol. 45b.]

Many on was wedyw þat was wyff;468

Þere men were wetschoedeMen are wetshod with brains and blood.

Alleof Brayn & of blode;

Gret rywthehyt was to seyn

Þe feltes fulleof men y-scleyn;472

Lucy þe Emperour also was dede;Lucius is slain,

But ho hym sclowh, y can nat rede;

He, for allehys grete Renoun,

Aȝenst Arthour hadde no fusoun,476not able to stand against Arthur.

No more þan haue twenty schep

Aȝenst vyve wolfez greet.

To god be euere alle honourez!

The falde was hys & Arthourez.480

Arthour, as he scholde done,Arthur sends Lucius's body to Rome,

Sende lucyes body to Rome;

Whan þe Romeynes say þis,

Þo þey dradde Arthour& hys.484

Also he buryed Bedewereburies Bedwere and others

Hys frend and | hys Botyler,

And so he dude other Echon

In Abbeys of Relygyoun488in Abbeys,

Þat were cristien of name;

He dude to alle þe same;

And dude for ham Masse synge

wythsolempne song & offrynge,492

And bood þere for to rest,

Tylleþat wynter was past,and stays the winter,

Boþe he (.) hys Men echone

Seruyd god in deuocione,496

Þankyng god of hys Myȝtthanking God

Þat kepeþ hys seruauntez ryȝt,

And suffreþ noon for to spylle

Þat hym loueþ & tryste wylle:500

Þus worschup god dude certeynfor His honour to England.

To Englond, þat þo was Bretayn;[Of the difference between More (or Great) Britain and Little Britain.]

Þe More Breteyn Englond ys—

As men may rede on Cronyclys—504

Byȝend þe See Bretayne þerys,

Þat haþ hys name forsoþe of þis,

For þe kyng Maxymyan,—

Þe next after Octauyan,—508

He conquered alleArmoryk,

And to þe Reme named hyt lyk:

Amorica on latyn me cl[e]ped þat lond,Armorica.

Tyl Maxymyan co[n]queryd hyt wythhonde,512

And called hyt lyte bretayne þan,

So hyȝt þis lond þat he coom fram;

For perpetuelleMynde of grete BretayneLittle Britain is called after Great Britain.

He called hyt lyte Bretayne,516

Þat Men schulde kepe in Mynde & wytt

How þis lond conqueryd hytt;

For WalscheMen beþ Bretouns of kynde—

Know þat wellefast on Mynde—520

Englischemen beþ Saxoynes,

Þat beþ of Engistes Soones;

There-fore þe walsch man Bretoun

Seyþ & clepeþ vs "Sayson"7524

And seyþ (.) "taw or (.) peyd Sayson brount"8How the Welshmen call the English "stinking Saxons."

Whan he ys wroth (;) or ellys drounke;

Hauyng Mynde of Engystis Men

Þat wythgyle sclow þeyre kyn:528

At þe place of þe Stonehenge

Ȝut þey þenkeþ for to venge:

And þat hyt neuere be so,

Seyþ a Pater noster more to.532

Pater noster.

Now turne we to oure labourArthur is preparing to cross the mountains to Rome,And lat vs speke of Arthour:He cast on herte soneAfter þat to go to Rome,536And spak of Passage & hys weyForth ouer Mount Ioye.And sone after vpon an owrwhen he hears of Mordred's treachery;He horde of Mordred the tretour540That hadde alleþis loud on warde—[pg 17 - Of Mordred's Treachery and Arthur's Return.]Euyllemoot suchefare, and harde.Who may best bygyle a manBut sucheas he tryst vpon?544Þer ys no man wel nye, y tryste,Þat can be waar of hadde wyste.—Mordred þis falss ManMuchesorw þo bygan;548He stuffed alle castelleWyþ armyre & vytelle,And strenghthed hym on eche sydeWythMen of countreys ferre & wyde:552He toke þe qwene, Arthoureȝ wyff,how the traitor had seized the queen, his (Arthur's) wife,Aȝenst goddes lawe & gode lyff,And putte heore to soiourne þoAt Euerwyk: god ȝyf hym wo.556and put her at York.Yhork ys Euerwyk:& so me calleþ hyt.Arthouraryved at WhytsondArthur then comes home,Wythgret Myght & strong hond,560And Mordred sainz faylfights Mordred,Ȝaf hym þo a strong batayl;Many a man, as y rede,Þat day was þere dede;564Arthoures nevew WaweynÞat day was þere y-sclayn,and Gawain is slain.And oþer knyȝtes Many moo:Þan Arthour was heuy & woo.568Mordred fly toward Londoun;Mordred flies to London,He most not come in þe toun:Þan fled he to wynchesterAnd wythhys Maynee kep [?] hym þere;572And Arthour on gret hastePursywed after hym faste.Mordred wythoute fayleFled in-to Cornewayle.576and then to Cornwall.The qwene wyþoute lesyng[pg 18 - Arthur's Last Battle with Mordred.]Hurde of þis tydyng,And how Mordred was flow,And how to Cornewale he hym drow.580Heo of Mercy hadde noon hoope,Ther-for he dude on a Russet cote,The Queen turns nun at Carlyon.And to Carlyounys preuyly Rounne,And made heore self þo a Nounne;584Fro þat place neuer heo wende,But of heore lyf þere made an ende.Waweynes body, as y reede,GawainAnd other lordes þat weere deede,588Arthour sente in-to skotlonde,is buried in Scotland.And buryed ham þere, y vnderstonde.Muche folke þerhenne he toke þo,Of Northumber-lond also592Northern men and others come to Arthur.Fram dyverse places to ArthourcomeHys wylleto werk & to done:Thus he sembled a fullegret Ost;To Cornewayle he draweþ hym fast596After þat Mordred þe traytourÞat hadde do hym Muchedyshonour.That tretourhadde gret strengthAnd fulled þat lond on brede & lengthe,600Suchea batelleas þere was redy þoHe gives Mordred battle.Hadde neuer Arthour byfore y-doo:They fowȝt tyl þer come dounbloodeAs a(.) Ryver or (.)a(.) flood;604Þey fowȝt euer sorest sadde;Bellumarthuri apud Camelertonumin Cornubia.Men nyst ho þe betere hadde;But at þe last CerteynWas Mordred & alle hys y-sclayn;608Mordred is slain:And Arthoury-bete wyþ wounde,Arthur wounded,He Myght not stonde on grounde;But on lyter ryȝt anonand carried to Avelon, orAuelona.l.insula pomorumGlastonia.Was browȝt to Auelone,612Þat was a place fayr & Mury;[pg 19 - Arthur Is Buried at Glastonbury.]Now hyt hooteþ Glastyngbury.Glastonbury, where he dies,Ther Arthourþat worthy kyngMaked hys lyues endyng;616But for he skaped þat batelley-wys,Bretouns & Cornysch sayeþ þus,"Þat he leuyth ȝut parde,And schallecome & be a kyng aȝe."620At Glastyngbury on þe qweerÞey made Artourez toumbe þere,and is buried A.D. 542.And wrote wyth latyn vers þus,Hic iacet Arthurus rex quondamrex que futurus.624Thys was þus forsoþe ydoneÞe yheer after þe Incarnacione,Anno dominiquingentesimoquadragesimo secundo.Vyf hundred (.) fourty & two.Now saue vs alle fra woo628Ihesu cryst, heuenly kyng,& graunt vs alle hys blessyng;And þat hyt Moote so be,Seyeþ alle Pater & Aue.632

Now turne we to oure labourArthur is preparing to cross the mountains to Rome,

And lat vs speke of Arthour:

He cast on herte sone

After þat to go to Rome,536

And spak of Passage & hys wey

Forth ouer Mount Ioye.

And sone after vpon an owrwhen he hears of Mordred's treachery;

He horde of Mordred the tretour540

That hadde alleþis loud on warde—

Euyllemoot suchefare, and harde.

Who may best bygyle a man

But sucheas he tryst vpon?544

Þer ys no man wel nye, y tryste,

Þat can be waar of hadde wyste.—

Mordred þis falss Man

Muchesorw þo bygan;548

He stuffed alle castelle

Wyþ armyre & vytelle,

And strenghthed hym on eche syde

WythMen of countreys ferre & wyde:552

He toke þe qwene, Arthoureȝ wyff,how the traitor had seized the queen, his (Arthur's) wife,

Aȝenst goddes lawe & gode lyff,

And putte heore to soiourne þo

At Euerwyk: god ȝyf hym wo.556and put her at York.

Yhork ys Euerwyk:

& so me calleþ hyt.

Arthouraryved at WhytsondArthur then comes home,

Wythgret Myght & strong hond,560

And Mordred sainz faylfights Mordred,

Ȝaf hym þo a strong batayl;

Many a man, as y rede,

Þat day was þere dede;564

Arthoures nevew Waweyn

Þat day was þere y-sclayn,and Gawain is slain.

And oþer knyȝtes Many moo:

Þan Arthour was heuy & woo.568

Mordred fly toward Londoun;Mordred flies to London,

He most not come in þe toun:

Þan fled he to wynchester

And wythhys Maynee kep [?] hym þere;572

And Arthour on gret haste

Pursywed after hym faste.

Mordred wythoute fayle

Fled in-to Cornewayle.576and then to Cornwall.

The qwene wyþoute lesyng

Hurde of þis tydyng,

And how Mordred was flow,

And how to Cornewale he hym drow.580

Heo of Mercy hadde noon hoope,

Ther-for he dude on a Russet cote,The Queen turns nun at Carlyon.

And to Carlyounys preuyly Rounne,

And made heore self þo a Nounne;584

Fro þat place neuer heo wende,

But of heore lyf þere made an ende.

Waweynes body, as y reede,Gawain

And other lordes þat weere deede,588

Arthour sente in-to skotlonde,is buried in Scotland.

And buryed ham þere, y vnderstonde.

Muche folke þerhenne he toke þo,

Of Northumber-lond also592Northern men and others come to Arthur.

Fram dyverse places to Arthourcome

Hys wylleto werk & to done:

Thus he sembled a fullegret Ost;

To Cornewayle he draweþ hym fast596

After þat Mordred þe traytour

Þat hadde do hym Muchedyshonour.

That tretourhadde gret strength

And fulled þat lond on brede & lengthe,600

Suchea batelleas þere was redy þoHe gives Mordred battle.

Hadde neuer Arthour byfore y-doo:

They fowȝt tyl þer come dounbloode

As a(.) Ryver or (.)a(.) flood;604

Þey fowȝt euer sorest sadde;Bellumarthuri apud Camelertonumin Cornubia.

Men nyst ho þe betere hadde;

But at þe last Certeyn

Was Mordred & alle hys y-sclayn;608Mordred is slain:

And Arthoury-bete wyþ wounde,Arthur wounded,

He Myght not stonde on grounde;

But on lyter ryȝt anonand carried to Avelon, orAuelona.l.insula pomorumGlastonia.

Was browȝt to Auelone,612

Þat was a place fayr & Mury;

Now hyt hooteþ Glastyngbury.Glastonbury, where he dies,

Ther Arthourþat worthy kyng

Maked hys lyues endyng;616

But for he skaped þat batelley-wys,

Bretouns & Cornysch sayeþ þus,

"Þat he leuyth ȝut parde,

And schallecome & be a kyng aȝe."620

At Glastyngbury on þe qweer

Þey made Artourez toumbe þere,and is buried A.D. 542.

And wrote wyth latyn vers þus,

Hic iacet Arthurus rex quondamrex que futurus.624

Thys was þus forsoþe ydone

Þe yheer after þe Incarnacione,Anno dominiquingentesimoquadragesimo secundo.

Vyf hundred (.) fourty & two.

Now saue vs alle fra woo628

Ihesu cryst, heuenly kyng,

& graunt vs alle hys blessyng;

And þat hyt Moote so be,

Seyeþ alle Pater & Aue.632

Pater noster. Aue.

Ho þat wollemore loke,Reed on þe frensch boke,Read the French Book for the rest.And he schallefynde þereÞynges þat y leete here.636But yf þat god wolle graunte grace,y schallerehercy in þis placeAlle þe kyngez þat after were,And what names [þ]at þey bere;640And ho þat wolleþeyre gestes loke,Reed on þe Frenscheboke. Amen fiat.

Ho þat wollemore loke,

Reed on þe frensch boke,Read the French Book for the rest.

And he schallefynde þere

Þynges þat y leete here.636

But yf þat god wolle graunte grace,

y schallerehercy in þis place

Alle þe kyngez þat after were,

And what names [þ]at þey bere;640

And ho þat wolleþeyre gestes loke,

Reed on þe Frenscheboke. Amen fiat.

a, he, l. 370.

aspye,sb.espial, l. 416.

ayhe, again, l. 126.

beeme,sb.? noise, display, from A.S.béme, a trumpet, l. 108.

falde, l. 480, felt, l. 472; field.

fusoun, gain, victory, l. 476. L.fusio, outpouring, plenty.

fyched, pierced, l. 462.

goom, man, l. 166.

gysarme, l. 463.Hallebarde, pique, hache. Roquefort.

hadde wyste, l. 546, had I known (how it would have turned out). See Nares, and the Poem "Beware of had-I-wyst," that he quotes. "Beware ofhad-I-wyst, whose fine bringes care and smart."

hawted, exalted, l. 113.

he, she, l. 582.

helyth, cover, l. 407.

last, lest, l. 289.

loghynge, lodging, l. 344.

lynage, descendant, l. 269.

muchelnesse,sb.muchness, number and power, l. 439.

mynde, remembrance, l. 527.

oo, one, l. 49.

sayle, assail, attack, l. 12.

scley, slain, l. 212.

skyle,sb.reason, l. 17.

soueȝ (?), sough, moan, l. 88.

that, ye who, l. 1; those who, l. 42, 84.

theoband (l. 178), is, I expect, miswritten for theodand; A.S.þeodan, to join;ge-þeod-an, to join, associate.

therhenne, thence, l. 591.

toke, gave, l. 329.

venge, have revenge, take vengeance, l. 530.

verrament, truly, l. 32.

was, whose, l. 248.

wood, wild, mad, l. 211.

ydoon, done, spent, l. 72.

ylete, let, l. 194.

ytake, taken to, given to, l. 272.

y-vere, together, l. 460.

ywyss, certainly, l. 46.

Back to IndexNext