_How Merlin counselled king Arthur to send for king Ban and king Bors,
and of their counsel taken for the war._
So after the feast and tourney king Arthur drew him unto London, and so
by the counsel of Merlin the king let call his barons to council. For
Merlin had told the king that the six kings that made war upon him
would in all haste be awroke on him and on his lands. Wherefore the
king asked counsel at them all. They could no counsel give, but said
they were big enough. Ye say well, said Arthur; I thank you for your
good courage; but will ye all that love me speak with Merlin: ye know
well that he hath done much for me, and he knoweth many things, and
when he is afore you I would that ye prayed him heartily of his best
advice. All the barons said they would pray him and desire him. So
Merlin was sent for, and fair desired of all the barons to give them
best counsel. I shall say you, said Merlin, I warn you all, your
enemies are passing strong for you, and they are good men of arms as be
on live, and by this time they have gotten to them four kings more, and
a mighty duke; and unless that our king have more chivalry with him
than he may make within the bounds of his own realm, and he fight with
them in battle he shall be overcome and slain. What were best to do in
this cause? said all the barons. I shall tell you, said Merlin, mine
advice: There are two brethren beyond the sea, and they be kings both,
and marvellous good men of their hands; and that one hight king Ban of
Benwick, and that other hight king Bors of Gaul, that is France. And on
these two kings warreth a mighty man of men, the king Claudas, and
striveth with them for a castle; and great war is betwixt them: but
this Claudas is so mighty of goods, whereof he getteth good knights,
that he putteth these two kings the most part to the worse. Wherefore
this is my counsel, that our king and sovereign lord send unto the
kings Ban and Bors by two trusty knights with letters well devised,
that if they will come and see king Arthur and his court, and so help
him in his wars, that he will be sworn unto them to help them in their
wars against king Claudas. Now what say ye unto this counsel? said
Merlin. This is well counselled, said the king and all the barons.
Right so in all haste there were ordained to go two knights on the
message unto the two kings. So were there made letters in the pleasant
wise according unto king Arthur’s desire. Ulfius and Brastias were made
the messengers, and rode forth well horsed and well armed, and as the
guise was that time, and so passed the sea and rode toward the city of
Benwick. And there besides were eight knights who espied them, and at a
straight passage they met with Ulfius and Brastias, and would have
taken them prisoners. So they prayed them that they might pass, for
they were messengers unto king Ban and Bors sent from king Arthur.
Therefore, said the eight knights, ye shall die, or be prisoners, for
we be knights of king Claudas. And therewith two of them dressed their
spears, and Ulfius and Brastias dressed their spears, and ran together
with great might, and Claudas’s knights brake their spears, and theirs
to-held, and bare the two knights out of their saddles to the earth,
and so left them lying, and rode their ways. And the other six knights
rode afore to a passage to meet with them again, and so Ulfius and
Brastias smote other two down, and so passed on their ways. And at the
fourth passage there met two for two, and both were laid to the earth:
so there was none of the eight knights but he was sore hurt or bruised.
And when they came to Benwick it fortuned there were both kings Ban and
Bors. And when it was told the kings that there were come messengers,
there were sent to them two knights of worship, the one hight Lionses,
lord of the country of Payarne, and Sir Phariance a worshipful knight.
Anon they asked from whence they came, and they said from king Arthur
king of England: so they took them in their arms, and made great joy
each of other. But anon as the two kings wist they were messengers of
Arthur’s, there was made no tarrying, but forthwith they spake with the
knights and welcomed them in the faithfullest wise, and said they were
most welcome unto them before all the kings living. And therewith they
kissed the letters and delivered them; and when Ban and Bors understood
the letters, then were they more welcome than they were before. And
after the haste of the letters they gave them this answer, that they
would fulfil the desire of king Arthur’s writing, and let Ulfius and
Brastias tarry there as long as they would, they should have such cheer
as might be made them in those marches. Then Ulfius and Brastias told
the king of the adventure at their passages of the eight knights. Ha,
ha, said Ban and Bors, they were my good friends. I would I had wist of
them, they should not have escaped so. So Ulfius and Brastias had good
cheer and great gifts as much as they might bear away, and had their
answer by mouth and by writing, that those two kings would come unto
Arthur in all the haste that they might.
So the two knights rode on afore, and passed the sea, and came to their
lord and told him how they had sped, whereof king Arthur was passing
glad. At what time suppose ye the two kings will be here? Sir, said
they, afore Allhallowmas. Then the king let purvey for a great feast,
and let cry a great justs. And by Allhallowmas the two kings were come
over the sea with three hundred knights well arrayed both for the peace
and for the war. And king Arthur met with them ten mile out of London,
and there was great joy as could be thought or made. And on
Allhallowmas at the great feast sat in the hall the three kings, and
Sir Kay the seneschal served in the hall, and Sir Lucas the butler,
that was duke Corneus’s son, and Sir Griflet that was the son of
Cardol, these three knights had the rule of all the service that served
the kings. And anon as they had washed and risen, all knights that
would just made them ready. By then they were ready on horseback there
were seven hundred knights. And Arthur, Ban, and Bors, with the
archbishop of Canterbury, and Sir Ector, Kay’s father, they were in a
place covered with cloth of gold, like an hall, with ladies and
gentlewomen, for to behold who did best, and thereon to give judgment.