_Yet more of the said battle, and how it was ended by Merlin._
When Sir Arthur and King Ban and Bors beheld them and all their
knights, they praised them much for their noble cheer of chivalry, for
the hardiest fighters that ever they heard or saw. With that there
dressed them a forty noble knights, and said unto the three kings they
would break their battle: these were their names: Lionses, Phariance,
Ulfius, Brastias, Ector, Kay, Lucas the butler, Griflet la Fise de
Dieu, Mariet de la Roche, Guynas de Bloy, Briant de la Forest Savage,
Bellaus, Morians of the Castle of Maidens, Flannedrius of the Castle of
Ladies, Annecians that was king Bors’s godson, a noble knight, Ladinas
de la Rouse, Emerause, Caulas, and Graciens le Castlein, one Bloise de
la Case, and Sir Colgrevaunce de Gorre. All these knights rode on afore
with spears on their thighs, and spurred their horses mightily as the
horses might run. And the eleven kings with part of their knights
rushed with their horses as fast as they might with their spears, and
there they did on both parties marvellous deeds of arms. So came into
the thick of the press Arthur, Ban, and Bors, and slew down right on
both hands, that their horses went in blood up to the fetlocks. But
ever the eleven kings and their host were ever in the visage of Arthur.
Wherefore Ban and Bors had great marvel, considering the great
slaughter that there was, but at the last they were driven aback over a
little river. With that came Merlin on a great black horse, and said
unto Arthur: Thou hast never done: hast thou not done enough? of
three-score thousand this day hast thou left on live but fifteen
thousand, and it is time to say Ho! For God is wroth with thee that
thou wilt never have done, for yonder eleven kings at this time will
not be overthrown, but and thou tarry on them any longer thy fortune
will turn and they shall increase. And therefore withdraw you unto your
lodging, and rest you as soon as ye may, and reward your good knights
with gold and with silver, for they have well deserved it; there may no
riches be too dear for them, for of so few men as ye have there were
never men did more of prowess than they have done to day, for ye have
matched this day with the best fighters of the world. That is truth,
said king Ban and Bors. Also said Merlin, withdraw you where ye list,
for this three year I dare undertake they shall not dare you; and by
then ye shall hear new tidings. And then Merlin said unto Arthur: These
eleven kings have more on hand than they are ware of, for the Saracens
are landed in their countries, more than forty thousand that burn and
slay, and have laid siege at the castle Wandesborow, and made great
destruction; therefore dread you not this three year. Also Sir, all the
goods that be gotten at this battle let it be searched: and when ye
have it in your hands let it be given freely unto these two kings, Ban
and Bors, that they may reward their knights withal; and that shall
cause strangers to be of better will to do you service at need. Also ye
be able to reward your own knights of your own goods whensoever it
liketh you. It is well said, quoth Arthur, and as thou hast devised so
shall it be done. When it was delivered to Ban and Bors, they gave the
goods as freely to their knights as it was given them.
Then Merlin took his leave of Arthur and of the two kings, for to go
and see his master Bleise that dwelt in Northumberland, and so he
departed and came to his master, that was passing glad of his coming.
And there he told how Arthur and the two kings had sped at the great
battle, and how it was ended, and told the names of every king and
knight of worship that was there. And so Bleise wrote the battle, word
by word, as Merlin told him, how it began, and by whom, and in likewise
how it was ended, and who had the worse. All the battles that were done
in Arthur’s days Merlin did his master Bleise do write. Also, he did do
write all the battles that every worthy knight did of Arthur’s court.
After this Merlin departed from his master and came to king Arthur,
that was in the castle of Bedegraine, that was one of the castles that
stood in the forest of Sherwood. And Merlin was so disguised that king
Arthur knew him not, for he was all befurred in black sheepskins, and a
great pair of boots, and a bow and arrows, in a russet gown, and
brought wild geese in his hand, and it was on the morn after Candlemas
Day, but king Arthur knew him not. Sir, said Merlin unto the king, will
ye give me a gift? Wherefore said king Arthur should I give thee a
gift, churl? Sir, said Merlin, ye were better to give me a gift that is
not in your hand, than to lose great riches; for here, in the same
place where the great battle was, is great treasure hid in the earth.
Who told thee so, churl? said Arthur. Merlin told me so, said he. Then
Ulfius and Brastias knew him well enough, and smiled. Sir, said these
two knights, it is Merlin that so speaketh unto you. Then king Arthur
was greatly abashed, and had marvel of Merlin, and so had king Ban and
king Bors, and so they had great disport at him.
So, in the mean while, there came a damsel which was an earl’s
daughter, and his name was Sanam, and her name was Lionors, a passing
fair damsel, and so she came thither for to do homage, as other lords
did after the great battle. And king Arthur set his love greatly upon
her, and so did she upon him, and she bare a child and his name was
Borre, that was after a good knight, and of the Table Round. Then there
came word that the king Rience of North Wales made great war upon king
Leodegrance of Cameliard, for the which thing Arthur was wroth, for he
loved him well and hated king Rience, for he was always against him. So
by ordinance of the three kings that was sent home to Benwick, all they
would depart for dread of king Claudas; Phariance, and Antemes, and
Gratian, and Lionses of Payarne, with the leaders of those that should
keep the kings’ lands.