[TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:This text contains the character yogh (ȝ and Ȝ). Users whose computerscannot display this character may use the ascii version of this textinstead. ] Arthur A Short Sketch of His Life and History in English Verse of the FirstHalf of the Fifteenth Century 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 Contents PrefaceArthurWordsNotes Preface As one of the chief objects of the Early English Text Society is toprint every Early English Text relating to Arthur, the Committee havedecided that this short sketch of the British hero's life shall form oneof the first issue of the Society's publications. The six hundred andforty-two English lines here printed occur in an incomplete LatinChronicle of the Kings of Britain, bound up with many other valuablepieces in a MS. Belonging to the Marquis of Bath. The old chronicler hasdealt with Uther Pendragon, and Brounsteele (Excalibur), and isnarrating Arthur's deeds, when, as if feeling that Latin prose was nofit vehicle for telling of Arthur, king of men, he breaks out intoEnglish verse, "Herkeneþ, þat loueþ hono_ur_, Of kyng Arthour & hys labo_ur_. " The story he tells is an abstract, with omissions, of the earlierversion of Geoffry of Monmouth, before the love of Guinevere forLancelot was introduced by the French-writing English romancers of theLionheart's time (so far as I know), into the Arthur tales. The fact ofMordred's being Arthur's son, begotten by him on his sister, King Lot'swife, is also omitted; so that the story is just that of a British kingfounding the Round Table, conquering Scotland, Ireland, Gothland, anddivers parts of France, killing a giant from Spain, beating Lucius theEmperor of Rome, and returning home to lose his own life, after thebattle in which the traitor whom he had trusted, and who has seized hisqueen 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 bereferred, or to the translations of parts of it, which we hope to printor reprint, and that most pleasantly jumbled abstract of its parts bySir Thomas Maleor, Knight, which has long been the delight of many areader, --though despised by the stern old Ascham, whose Scholemaster wasto turn it out of the land. --There the glory of the Holy Grail will berevealed to him; there the Knight of God made known; there the only truelovers in the world will tell their loves and kiss their kisses beforehim; and the Fates which of old enforced the penalty of sin will showthat their arm is not shortened, and that though the brave and guiltyking fights well and gathers all the glory of the world around him, yetstill 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 isSouthern, as shown by the verbal plural _th_, the _vyve_ for five, _zyx_for six, _ych_ for I, _har_ (their), _ham_ (them), for _her_, _hem_;_hulle_, _dude_, _ȝut_, for hill, did, yet, the infinitive in _y_(_rekeny_), etc. Of its poetical merits, every reader will judge forhimself; 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 waswritten some ten or twenty years before 1450, so that a few of the wordsare queried in the print. The MS. Contains a few metrical points andstops, which I have here printed between parentheses (). The expansionsof the contractions are printed in italics, but the ordinary doubt whetherthe final lined _n_ or _u_--for they are often undistinguishable--isto be printed n_e_, n_ne_, or u_n_, exists here too. I am indebted to Mr. Sims, of the Manuscript Department of the BritishMuseum, for pointing out the Poem to me, and to the Marquis of Bath forhis kind permission to copy it for printing. _3, Old Square, Lincoln's Inn, _ _London, W. C. , August 30, 1864. _ Arthur [pg 1] From 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 hono_ur_, [Fol. 42_b_] Of kyng Arthour & hys labo_ur_;How Arthur And furst how he was bygete, was begotten As þ_a_t we in bok_is_ do rede. 4by Pendragon Vther pendragon_e_ was hys fader, on Ygerne. And ygerne was hys Moder. Pendragon_e_ ys in walysch_e_Pendragon 'Dragones heed' on Englysch_e_; 8(_t. I. _ Dragon's He maked ypeynted dragon_e_s two;Head) made Oon schold byfore him gootwo painted Whan he went to batayle, dragons, Whan he wold hys foes sayle; 12 That other abood at wynchester, Euermore stylle there. And thence Bretones ȝaf hym þ_a_t Name, had his name. Vther Pendragon_e_ þe same, 16 For þat skyle fer & nere Euer-more hyt to here. How Uther loved The Erles wyff of Cornewaylethe Earl of He loued to Muche sanz fayle; 20Cornwall's wife, [Arthur Has the Round Table Made. ] Merlyn wyþ hys sotelnesse Turned vtheris lyknesse, And maked hym lyche þe Erl anone, And wyþ hys wyff (:) his wyll_e_ to done 24 In þe cou_n_tre of Cornewell_e_: In þe Castel of Tyntagell_e_, and begat Arthur Thus vther, yf y schall_e_ nat lye, in adultery. Bygat Arthour in avowtrye. 28 Whan vther Pendragon_e_ was deed, Arthur is Arthour anon was y-crowned;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 gentyll_e_is loved of all, Maked hym y-loved wyll_e_; 36 Ech mon was glad of hys p_re_sence, And drade to do hym dysplesau_n_ce;is strong A stronger Man of hys honde was neuer founde on any londe, 40and courteous. As courteys as any Mayde:-- Þus wryteþ of hym þ_a_t hym a-sayde. [Fol. 42_b_, At Cayrlyon_e_, wyt_h_oute fable, col. 2. ]He makes the he let make þe Rou_n_de table: 44Round Table, And why þ_a_t he maked hyt þus, Þis was þe resou_n_ y-wyss, --that all at it Þat no man schulde sytt aboue other, might be equal. Ne haue indignaciou_n_ of hys broþ_er_; 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 Rou_n_de Whyle he leuyd on þe grou_n_de. After his first After he hadde conquered skotlondconquests yrland & Gotland, 56 [He Fights Frollo for France. ] he lives twelve _Þan_ leuyd he at þe bestyears in peace, twelf ȝeeris on all_e_ reste Wyþoute werre (:) tyll_e_ at þe laste he þouȝt to make (. )a(. ) nywe _con_queste. 60and then invades Into Frau_n_ce wyþ gode cou_n_ceyleFrance. He wolde weende (:) & hyt assayle, Þat Rome þo kept vnder Myght, Vnder Frollo (:) a worthy knyght 64 Þ_a_t frau_n_ce hadde þo to kepe, To rywle, defende, & to lede. He beats Frollo Arthour and Frollo fouȝt in feld;back to Paris, Þere deyde many vnder scheld. 68 Frollo in-to Paryss fly, W_y_th strenkthe kept hyt wysely:and there Arthour byseged þ_a_t Syte & townbesieges him, Tyll_e_ þeire vytayl was y-doon. 72till Frollo Frollo þat worthy knyghtchallenges him Proferyd w_y_t_h_ Artho_ur_ for to fyghtto single combat. Vnder þis wyse & condiciou_n_, -- "Ho hadde þe Maystrie (:) haue þe crown; 76 And no mo men but þey two. "They fight: Þe day Was sett (:) to-geder þey go: 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 w_y_t_h_ trou_n_chou_n_ & w_y_t_h_ swerd; Þat hyt seye were a-ferd; [Fol. 43. ] 84 Frollo fouȝt wyþ hys ax (:) as men dude se;(Frollo with his He hytt Arthour (:) so sore (:) þ_a_t he felle on kne. Axe) He ros vp raply (:) and smot hym full_e_ sore; He dude hym to grent a (. ) soueȝ[1] þ_er_fore. 88 thus they hyw on helmes hye, [1. ? soneȝ] And schatered on wyþ scheldes. Þe puple by-gan to crye Þat stood on þe feldes; 92 [Arthur Returns Victorious to Britain, ] till Arthur in ther ne wyst no man, as y can ler_e_, wrath takes Who of ham two was þe better_e_ þer_e_. Brownsteel, Arthour was chafed & wexed wroth_e_, _Caliburn_us He hente brou_n_steell_e_ | and to Frollo goth_e_ 96_Arthuri Gladius_ Brou_n_stell_e_ was heuy & also kene;[with a sketch Fra_m_ þe schulder(:) to þe syde went bytwenethereof in the Off frollo | and þan he fell to þe grou_n_deMS. ] and strikes Ryȝt as he moste | deed(. ) in lyte stou_n_de. 100Frollo dead. Frensch_e_ men made doell_e_ & wept full_e_ faste; Þeir Crowne of frau_n_ce þere þey loste. Arthur takes Than wente Arthour in-to paryseParis. And toke þe castell_e_ & þe town at hys avyse. 104 Worschuped be god of hys grete graceGlory to God. Þ_a_t þus ȝeueþ fortune(:) and worschup to þe Reme; Thanke ȝe hym all_e_ þ_a_t beþ on þis place, Say ye a Pater And seyeþ a Pater noster w_y_t_h_out any Beeme. 108Noster therefore. Pater noster. Artho_ur_ fram paryse went w_y_t_h_ hys Rowte, Arthur conquers And co_n_quered þe Cou_n_tre on euery syde aboute;the countries Angeoy[2], Peytow, Berry, & Gaskoyne, around, Nauerne, Burgon_e_ | Loreyn & Toreyne; 112 He dau_n_ted þe proude | & hawted þe poure; He dwelt long in Paryss after in honoure; He was drad and loued in cou_n_treis abowte; Heyest & lowest hym Loved & alowte; 116 And vpon an Esto_ur_ tyme sone afterward He fested hys knyght_is_ & ȝaf ham gret reward;distributes To hys styward he ȝaf Angers & Au_n_geye;them among his To Bedewer hys botyler he ȝaf Norma_n_dye; 120knights, He ȝaf to Holdyne flau_n_drys 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 returns to And ȝaf hem reward, boþe lond and Fee, Britain. And turned to Breteyn, to Carlyo_n_e ayhe. [And then Holds a Great Feast. ] Artho_ur_ wolde of hono_ur_ [Fol. 43_b_, Arthur gives an Hold a fest at Eestour col. 1. ] 128Easter Feast Of regalye & worthynesse, And feede alle hys frendess; And sende Messanger To kynges ferre & neer 132 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 Ceson_e_at Carlyon, At þe Castell_e_ Cayrlyon_e_. Greater than ere Thys fest was Muche Moorebefore. Þan euere Artho_ur_ made a-fore; 140Ten kings were For þere was Vrweyn þe kyngethere, Of scottes at þat dynynge, Stater þe kyng of south wales, Cadwell_e_ þe kyng of north waleȝ, 144 Gwylmar þe kyng of yrland, Dolmad þe kyng of guthland, Malgan of yselond also, Archyl of De_n_march þ_er_to, 148 Aloth_e_ þe kyng of Norwey, Souenas þe kyng of Orkenye, Of Breteyn þe kyng Hoel, and thirteen Cador Erl of Cornewell_e_, 152earls Morice þe Erl of Gloucestr_e_, Marran Erl of Wy_n_chestre, Gwergou_n_d Erl of herford, Booȝ Erl of Oxenford, 156(including him Of bathe vngent þe Erl also, of Bath), Cursal of Chestr_e_ þer-to, Euerad Erl of salesbury[3], Kynmar Erl of Canterbury, 160 Jonas þe Erl of Dorcestre, [Arthur's Guests at Cayrlyone. ] Valence þe Erl of sylchestr_e_, Jugeyn of Leyccer [?] þ_er_to, Argal of warwyk also, -- 164 Kynges & Erles Echonwith many other Þes wer_e_; & many anoþ_er_ goomgentles 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, Tade_us_ fitȝ Reis, Delyn fitȝ Dauid, Kymbelyn le fitȝ Gryffith, 176 Gryffitȝ þe Sone of Nagand, Þes were þer_e_ also theoband:besides the Alle þes were þere w_y_t_h_oute fable, Round Tablers, W_y_t_h_oute ham of þe rou_n_de table. 180Archbishops, Thre archebusschopes þ_er_ wer_e_ also, Bishops, And other busschopes many mo-- All_e_ þis mayne were nat al-oone; W_y_t_h_ ham com many a Goome. 184 Þis feste dured dayes þre In reuell_e_ & sole_m_pnite. And many from Of by ȝonde þe See alsobeyond the sea. Many lordez[?] were þere þo. 188 Now resteþ alle wyþ Me, And say a Pater & Ave. Pater noster. The þrydde day folowyng The_n_ coom nywe tydynge, 192 Þe whyle þey sete at þe MeteTo the feasters Messagers were In ylete;came messengers Well_e_ arayd forsoþe þey come, from the & send fram cite of Rome 196 [Lucius's Message to Arthur. ] Roman Emperor, Wyþ l_ett_res of þe Emp_er_oures_luci_us. Whas name was Lucies. Þes l_ett_res were opened & vnfold, And þe tydyng_e_ to alle men told, 200 Whas sentence, yf y ne lye, Was after þ_a_t y can aspye:L_ite_ra Lucii ¶ Luci_u_s þe grete Emp_er_ouri_m_p_er_at_oris_. To hys Enemy Arthour:-- 204 We woundereþ of þi wodeness And also of þy Madnesse! How darst þow any wysesaying, that to Aȝenst the Emp_er_o_ur_ þ_u_s aryse, 208have invaded And ryde on Remes on eche wey, France, etc. , and And make kyngeȝ to þe obey?made kings, Þu art wood on þe Nolle!Arthur must be Þu hast scley owre cosyn frolle; 212mad in his noll; Þu schalt be tawȝt at a schort day [Fol. 44, for to make such_e_ aray. Col. 1. ] Oure cosyn Iuli_us_ cesar So_m_me tyme conquered þar; 216that he must pay To Rome þu owest hys trybut;his tribute, We chargeþ þe to paye vs hyt. Thy pryde we woll_e_ alaye Þat makest so gret aray: 220 We co_m_mandeþ þe on haste To paye owre trybut faste; Þu hast scley frolle in frau_n_ce Þat hadde vnder vs þer_e_ gou_er_nau_n_ce, 224 And wyþholdest oure tribute þ_er_to: Þu schalt be tawȝt þu hast mysdo: We co_m_mandeþ þe in haste sooneand come to Þat þu come to vs at Rome 228Rome to be To vnd_er_fang our_e_ ordynau_n_cepunished for For þy dysobediau_n_ce;his disobedience. As þu wold nat leze þy lyf, Fulfylle þys w_y_t_h_oute stryff. " 232 [Arthur's Answer to Lucius. ] The Britons When þis l_ett_re was open & rad;purpose to kill Þe bretou_n_s & all_e_ men wer_e_ mad, the messengers, And wolde þe messager scle:--but Arthur "Nay, " seyd Arthour, "per de, 236forbids 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 cou_n_sayl; And alle asented þer to, and resolves to Artho_ur_ to Rome scholde go; 244invade Rome. And þey ne wolde in hys t_ra_uayle Wyþ strenkþ & good neuer fayle. Than Artho_ur_ wroot to Rome a l_ett_re, Was sentence was so_m_m-what bytter_e_, 248 And sayde i_n_ þis manere As ȝe may hure here:-- _L_ite_ra Reg_is_ "Knoweþ well_e_ ȝe of Romayne, Arthuri. _ Y am kyng Artho_ur_ of Bretayne. 252Arthur's answer Frau_n_ce, y haue conquered hyt, to the Emperor Y schall_e_ defende & kepe hyt Ȝut, [Fol. 44, Lucius, Y come to Rome, as y am tryw, col. 2. ]claiming tribute To take my trybut (. ) to me dywe, 256from him. But noon þere-for to paye, By my werk ȝe schall_e_ asay; For þe Emp_er_our Constantyne Þat was þe Soone of Elyne, 260 Þat was a Breton_e_ of þis lond, Co_n_quered Rome w_y_t_h_ hys 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 frau_n_ce & Almayne, Lombardye Rome & ytalye-- [The Messenger's Report of Arthur. ] By ȝoure bok_is_ ȝe may a-spye. 268 Y am þeir Eyr & þeyre lynage, Y aske ȝow my trywage. " Þis l_ett_re was celyd fast, Y-take the Messagerez on hast; 272 Arthour ȝaf ham ȝyftez grete, And chered ham wyþ drynk and Mete. Lucius's Þey hasted ham to come hoom;messengers Byfor þe Emp_er_o_ur_ þey beþ coom; 276return to him. Saluted hym as resou_n_ ys, And toke hym þes letterys. Þey seyde to þe Emp_er_our "We have be wyþ kyng Artho_ur_; 280 But such anoþ_er_ as he ys oon, Say neuer no Man. He ys s_er_ued on hys howshold Wyþ kynges, Erles, worthy & bold; 284 Hys worthynesse, sur Emp_er_our, Passeþ Much_e_ all_e_ ȝowre;and give him He seyde he wolde hyder comeArthur's message. And take trywage of all_e_ Rome, 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 here 292 Sey a Pater noster And ave wyþ gode chere; Ame_n_. Pater noster Ave Maria. Now stureth hym self Artho_ur_ [Fol. 44_b_. ] Þenkyng on hys labo_ur_, 296Arthur prepares And gaderyþ to hym strenghth aboute, for his Hys kynges & Erles on a rowte--expedition A fayr syȝt to Mannes yeto Rome. To see suche a cheualrye, -- 300 [The Number of Arthur's Host. ] Has five kings, The kyng of Gotland, Also þe kyng of Irland, the kyng of ysland | & of Orkenye, Þis was worthy Maynye; 304 The kyng of Denmark also was þer_e_, Þis was a worthy chere: Eche of þese vyve at her venyw Brouȝt zyx þousand at har retenyw; 308with 30, 000men, xxx{ti} þowsand, yc_h_ vnderstand, Þes vyf kyng_is_ hadde on honde. 80, 000 Normans Than hadde he out of Normandye, and Of Angeoy & of Almanye, 312 Boloyne(. ) Peytow & flau_n_dres Fowre skore þowsand harneys--12, 000 from Geryn of Chartez . Xij. þowsandChartres, þat went wyþ Arto_ur_ euer at honde; 31610, 000 Bretons. Hoel of bretayn, þowsandez ten Of hardy & well_e_ fyghtyng Men; Out of Bretaygne hys owne landand 40, 000 He passed fourty þowsand 320British: Of Archerys & off Arblastere Þ_a_t Cowþ well_e_ þe craft of werre. ¶ In Foot other Many a Man Moo Able to feyght(:) as well_e_ as þo: 324in all 200, 000. Two hunderd þousand Went wyþ hym out of lond, And Many moo sykerly That y can[4] not nombrye. [4. ? MS. Y-tan. ] 328 Artho_ur_ toke þan þe londBritain is left To Moddredes owne hond;in Mordred's He kept al oþer þyngcharge. Saue þo Corowne weryng; 332 But he was [fals] of hys kepynge, As ȝe schall_e_ hure here folewynge. Arthur ships Now than_ne_ ys Arto_ur_ y-Comeat Southampton, And hys Ost to Sowthamptone: 336 [The Giant that Ravished Fair Elayne. ] 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, and lands at Forsoþe hyt was Bareflete; 344Barfleet. Ther he gan vp furst aryve. Now well_e_ Mote Artho_ur_ spede & thryve;God speed him! And þat hys saule spede þe better, Lat eche man sey a Pater noster. 348 Pater noster. Now god spede Artour well_e_!A new foe hym ys comyng a nyw batell_e_. Appears, a Ther coom a gyant out of spayne, Spanish Giant, And rauasched had fayr Elayne; 352 He had brouȝt heor_e_ vp on an hulle-- Mornyng hyt ys to hure or telle-- Cosyn heo was to kyng hoell, A damesel fayr and gentell_e_; 356 And ȝut ferþ_er_more to, who has slain He rauasehed heore Moder also. 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, Arthur sends And send Bedewer for to spyeBedwere first How he myght come hym bye; 364as a spy, And he was nat sclowh, But to þe hulle hym drowh Þat Closed was wyþ wat_er_ stronge, Þe hulle a-Mydde gret & longe; 368 He went ouer to þe hulle syde, And þere a fonde a wo_m_man_e_ byde Þat sorwedd & wept Mornynge [Arthur's Fight with the Giant. ] For Eleynes deþ & dep_ar_tynge, 372 And bad Bedewer to fle also Last he were ded more to; "For yf þe Gyant fynde þe, W_y_t_h_oute dowte he wyll_e_ þe scle. " 376 Bedwer wyþ all_e_ hastynge Tolde Artho_ur_ all_e_ þis þynge. Amorwe whan þat hyt was dayand then (with Arthour toke þyder hys way, 380Bedwere and Key) Bedewer wyþ hym went, & keye, --starts on his Men þat cowþe well_e_ þe weye, -- [Fol. 45. ]adventure. And broute Artho_ur_ Meyntenau_n_t, Euen byfore þe Gyant. 384 Arthour fowȝt wyþ þat wyght; He had almost ylost hys Myght: Wyþ Muche peyne, þruȝ goddez graceHe kills the He sclowh þe Geant in þat place, 388Giant, And þan he made Bedewere To smyte of hys heed þere. To þe Ost he dude hyt brynge, And þ_er_on was gret wou_n_drynge, 392whose horrible Hyt was so oryble & so greet, head is shown to More þan any Horse heed. The host, Than hadde hoel Ioye ynowh For þat Arthour so hym sclowh; 396 And for a p_er_petuel Memorieand St. Mary's He Made a chapell_e_ of seynt MaryeChapel is built In þe hulle vpon þe pleyne, in honour of the Wyþ-Inne þat (:) þe t_um_be* of Eleyne; 400victory. And þat name wyþoute nay [* to_m_be] Hyt bereþ ȝut in-to þis day. Now ys an ende of þis þynge, News of Lucius's And Artour haþ nyw tydynge, -- 404approach is Lucy þe Emp_er_our wyþ hys hostbrought, Comeþ fast in gret bost; Þey helyþ ouer all_e_ þe lond, [Arthur's Men-- Pray to God. ] with an army of Fowre hundred þowsand 408400, 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 all_e_ hys wytt & labour To destroyen Arthour. Arthour dude wyselye, And hadde euer gode aspye 416 Of lucyes gouernynge And of hys þyder comynge;Some advise But so_m_me seyde hyt wer_e_ folyeArthur to To fyght aȝenst Emp_er_o_ur_ lucie, 420turn and flee, For he hadde sepe[5] euer_e_ aȝenst oon, & cou_n_ceyled Artho_ur_ to fle & goon. Wyþ þe Emp_er_o_ur_ come kynges Many oon, And all_e_ þeire power hooll_e_ & soom; 424 Stronger men Myȝt no man see, As full_e_ of drede as þey myght be; But Arthour was not dysmayd, but he trusts He tryst on god, & was wel payd, 428in God, And prayd þe hye trynyte Euer hys help forto be; And all_e_ hys Men wyþ oo voyse Cryde to god wyþ Oo noyse, 432to whom his "Fader in heuene, þy wyll_e_ be doon;soldiers pray Defende þy puple fram þeire foon, And lat not þe heþon_e_ Men Destroye þe puple crystien: 436 Haue Mercy on þy se[r]uantis bonde, to keep them And kepe ham fram þe heþon_e_ honde;from the Þe Muchelnesse of Men sainfayleheathen's hands. Ys nat victorie in Batayle; 440 [The Battle Between Arthur and Lucius. ] But after þe wyll_e_ þ_a_t in heuene ys, So þe victorie falleþ y-wys. "Arthur's Than seyd Arthour, "hyt ys so:"Forward!" Auau_n_t Baner, & be Goo. " 444 Now frendes all_e_, for goddes loue, Rereþ ȝowre hertes to god aboue, And seyeþ ȝowre prayeris faste, Þ_a_t we well_e_ spede furst & laste. 448 Pater noster. The emp_er_our tryst on hys men, And þ_a_t h_a_þ bygyled hym; Forsothe hyt most nedez be so, For þey beþ cursed þat well_e_ hyt do, 452_Maledict_us_ Such_e_ all_e_ myght comeþ of god;q_ui_ To tryst on hym, y hold hyt good. _con_fid_e_t in Lucye haþ pyght his pauelou_n_ho_m_i_n_e. _ And sprad wyþ pryde his gu_n_fanou_n_; 456 His claryou_n_s blastes full_e_ grete blywe, Archeris schot(:) Men ouer-thrywe;The battle Bowes, arwes, & arblasterebegins. 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 Ma_n_nes heed: 464 Hors & steedes gan to grent, And deyde wyþ strok_is_ þ_a_t þey hente; Many a man þ_er_e lost hys lyf, [Fol. 45_b_. ] Many on was wedyw þ_a_t was wyff; 468Men are wetshod Þere men were wetschoedewith brains and All_e_ of Brayn & of blode;blood. Gret rywth_e_ hyt was to seyn Þe feltes full_e_ of men y-scleyn; 472Lucius is Lucy þe Emp_er_our also was dede;slain, But ho hym sclowh, y can nat rede; He, for all_e_ hys grete Renou_n_, [Arthur Wins, and Buries the Dead. ] not able to Aȝenst Arthour hadde no fusou_n_, 476stand against No more þan haue twenty schepArthur. Aȝenst vyve wolfez greet. To god be euere alle hono_ur_ez! The falde was hys & Arthourez. 480Arthur sends Arthour, as he scholde done, Lucius's body Sende lucyes body to Rome;to Rome, Whan þe Romeynes say þis, Þo þey dradde Artho_ur_ & hys. 484buries Bedwere Also he buryed Bedewereand others Hys frend and | hys Botyler, And so he dude other Echonin Abbeys, In Abbeys of Relygyou_n_ 488 Þat were cristien of name; He dude to alle þe same; And dude for ham Masse synge w_y_t_h_ sole_m_pne song & offrynge, 492 And bood þere for to rest, and stays the Tyll_e_ þat wynter was past, winter, Boþe he (. ) hys Men echone Seruyd god in deuocione, 496thanking God Þankyng god of hys Myȝt Þat kepeþ hys seruau_n_tez ryȝt, And suffreþ noon for to spyllefor His honour Þ_a_t hym loueþ & tryste wylle: 500to England. Þus worschup god dude certeyn[Of the To Englond, þat þo was Bretayn;difference Þe More Breteyn Englond ys--between More As men may rede on Cronyclys-- 504(or Great) Byȝend þe See Bretayne þ_er_ ys, Britain and Þat haþ hys name forsoþe of þis, Little Britain. ] For þe kyng Maxymyan, -- Þe next after Octauyan, -- 508 He conquered all_e_ Armoryk, And to þe Reme named hyt lyk:_Armorica_. Amorica on latyn me cl[e]ped þ_a_t lond, [Of the Welsh and Stinking Saxons. ] Tyl Maxymyan co[_n_]queryd hyt w_y_t_h_ honde, 512 And called hyt lyte bretayne þan, So hyȝt þis lond þat he coom fram;Little Britain For p_er_petuell_e_ Mynde of grete Bretayneis called after He called hyt lyte Bretayne, 516Great Britain. Þat Men schulde kepe in Mynde & wytt How þis lond conqueryd hytt; For Walsch_e_ Men beþ Bretou_n_s of kynde-- Know þat well_e_ fast on Mynde-- 520 Englisch_e_ men beþ Saxoynes, Þat beþ of Engistes Soones; There-fore þe walsch man Bretou_n_ Seyþ & clepeþ vs "Sayson" 524 [ Þat ys to seye vpon a reess, "Stynking Saxou_n_, be on pees. " ]How the Welshmen And seyþ (. ) "taw or (. ) peyd Sayson brou_n_t"[6]call the English Whan he ys wroth (;) or ellys drou_n_ke;"stinking Hauyng Mynde of Engystis MenSaxons. " Þat w_y_t_h_ gyle 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. Arthur is Now turne we to oure labo_ur_preparing to And lat vs speke of Arthour:cross the He cast on herte sonemountains to After þat to go to Rome, 536Rome, And spak of Passage & hys wey Forth ouer Mou_n_t Ioye. When he hears And sone after vpon an owrof Mordred's He horde of Mordred the treto_ur_ 540treachery; That hadde all_e_ þis loud on warde-- [Of Mordred's Treachery and Arthur's Return. ] Euyll_e_ moot such_e_ fare, and harde. Who may best bygyle a man But such_e_ as he tryst vpon? 544 Þer ys no man wel nye, y tryste, Þat can be waar of hadde wyste. -- Mordred þis falss Man Much_e_ sorw þo bygan; 548 He stuffed alle castelle Wyþ armyre & vytelle, And strenghthed hym on eche syde W_y_t_h_ Men of cou_n_treys ferre & wyde: 552how the traitor He toke þe qwene, Arthoureȝ wyff, had seized the Aȝenst goddes lawe & gode lyff, queen, his And putte heore to soiourne þo(Arthur's) wife, At Euerwyk: god ȝyf hym wo. 556and put her at Yhork ys Euerwyk:York. & so me calleþ hyt. Arthur then comes Artho_ur_ aryved at Whytsondhome, W_y_t_h_ gret Myght & strong hond, 560fights Mordred, And Mordred sainz fayl Ȝaf hym þo a strong batayl; Many a man, as y rede, Þat day was þere dede; 564 Arthoures nevew Waweynand Gawain is Þat day was þere y-sclayn, slain. And oþer knyȝtes Many moo: Þan Arthour was heuy & woo. 568Mordred flies Mordred fly toward Londou_n_;to London, He most not come in þe tou_n_: Þan fled he to wy_n_chester And w_y_t_h_ hys Mayn_e_e kep [?] hym þer_e_; 572 And Arthour on gret haste Pursywed after hym faste. Mordred w_y_t_h_oute fayleand then to Fled in-to Cornewayle. 576Cornwall. The qwene wyþoute lesyng [Arthur's Last Battle with Mordred. ] Hurde of þis tydyng, And how Mordred was flow, And how to Cornewale he hym drow. 580 Heo of Mercy hadde noon hoope, The Queen Ther-for he dude on a Russet cote, turns nun at And to Carlyou_n_ ys preuyly Rou_n_ne, Carlyon. And made heore self þo a Nou_n_ne; 584 Fro þat place neuer heo wende, But of heore lyf þere made an ende. Gawain Waweynes body, as y reede, And other lordes þat weere deede, 588is buried in Arthour sente in-to skotlonde, Scotland. And buryed ham þ_er_e, y vnd_er_stonde. Muche folke þ_er_henne he toke þo, Northern men Of Northu_m_ber-lond also 592and others come Fram dyverse places to Artho_ur_ cometo Arthur. Hys wyll_e_ to werk & to done: Thus he sembled a full_e_ gret Ost; To Cornewayle he draweþ hym fast 596 After þat Mordred þe trayto_ur_ Þat hadde do hym Much_e_ dyshono_ur_. That treto_ur_ hadde gret strength And fulled þ_a_t lond on brede & length_e_, 600He gives Mordred Such_e_ a batell_e_ as þere was redy þobattle. Hadde neuer Arthour byfore y-doo: They fowȝt tyl þer come dou_n_ bloode_Bellu_m_ As a(. ) Ryver or (. )a(. ) flood; 604arthuri ap_u_d Þey fowȝt euer sorest sadde;Camelerton_um_ Men nyst ho þe betere hadde;in Cornubia. _ But at þe last CerteynMordred is slain: Was Mordred & alle hys y-sclayn; 608Arthur wounded, And Artho_ur_ y-bete wyþ wou_n_de, and carried to He Myght not stonde on grou_n_de;Avelon, or But on lyter ryȝt anon_Auelona . L. Was browȝt to Auelon_e_, 612insula pomor_um_ Þ_a_t was a place fayr & Mury;Glastonia. _ [Arthur is Buried At Glastonbury. ] Glastonbury, Now hyt hooteþ Glastyngbury. Where he dies, Ther Artho_ur_ þat worthy kyng Maked hys lyues endyng; 616 But for he skaped þ_a_t batell_e_ y-wys, Bretou_n_s & Cornysch sayeþ þus, "Þat he leuyth ȝut p_ar_de, And schall_e_ come & be a kyng aȝe. " 620 At Glastyngbury on þe qweerand is buried Þey made Arto_ur_ez tou_m_be þere, A. D. 542. And wrote wyth latyn vers þus, Hic iacet Arthurus rex quonda_m_ rex que futur_us_. 624 Thys was þus forsoþe ydone_Anno d_o_m_ini_ Þe yheer after þe Incarnacione, qu_in_gente_simo_ Vyf hundred (. ) fourty & two. _quadragesi_m_o Now saue vs alle fra woo 628s_e_c_un_do. _ Ih_es_u cryst, heuenly kyng, & grau_n_t vs alle hys blessyng; And þat hyt Moote so be, Seyeþ alle Pater & Aue. 632 Pater noster. Aue. Ho þ_a_t woll_e_ more loke, Read the French Reed on þe frensch boke, Book for the And he schall_e_ fynde þererest. Þynges þat y leete here. 636 But yf þat god wolle grau_n_te gr_a_ce, y schall_e_ rehercy in þis place Alle þe kyngez þat after were, And what names [þ]at þey bere; 640 And ho þ_a_t woll_e_ þeyre gestes loke, Reed on þe Frensch_e_ boke. Amen fiat. [ FOOTNOTES 2. ? MS. Perhaps _Angecye_. 3. The _s_ is rubbed: the word may be "onlesbury. " 5. _sepe_, ? for _seue_, seven. It is _p_ not _x_ (six) in the MS. But as Arthur had 200, 000, and Lucius only 400, 124, _sepe_ should mean _two_. 6. Pughe's abridged Dictionary gives _tau_, _v. A. _ be still; _taw_, _s. M. _ and _adj. _ quiet, silence, silent; _paid_, _s. M. _ a cessation, quiet; _bront_, _a. _ nasty, filthy, surly. _Or_, says Dr. Benj. Davies, you must take as equal to the modern Welsh _wr_, man, if it is not English; _peyd_ is cease, pause; _taw_, be silent. ] WORDS 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 of _had-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 theo_d_and; 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.