_How Sir Gawaine returned to king Arthur with his prisoners, and how
the king won a city, and how he was crowned emperor._
Now thanked be God, said the noble king Arthur. But what manner man is
he that standeth by himself? he seemeth no prisoner. Sir, said Gawaine,
this is a good man of arms; he hath matched me, but he is yielden unto
God and to me for to become Christian: had not he been we should never
have returned, wherefore I pray you that he may be baptized, for their
liveth not a nobler man nor better knight of his hands. Then the king
let him anon be christened, and did do call him his first name Priamus,
and made him a duke and knight of the Table Round. And then anon the
king let do cry assault to the city, and there was rearing of ladders,
breaking of walls, and the ditch filled, that men with little pain
might enter into the city. Then came out a duchess, and Clarisin the
countess, with many ladies and damsels, and kneeling before king Arthur
required him for the love of God to receive the city and not to take it
by assault, for then should many guiltless be slain. Then the king
availed his visor with a meek and noble countenance, and said, Madam,
there shall none of my subjects misdo you nor your maidens, nor to none
that to you belong, but the duke shall abide my judgment. Then anon the
king commanded to leave the assault; and anon the duke’s eldest son
brought out the keys, and kneeling, delivered them to the king, and
besought him of grace: and the king seized the town by assent of his
lords, and took the duke and sent him to Dover, there for to abide
prisoner the term of his life, and assigned certain rents for the dower
of the duchess and for her children. Then he made lords to rule those
lands, and laws, as a lord ought to do in his own country. And after he
took his journey toward Rome, and sent Sir Floris and Sir Floridas
tofore with five hundred men of arms, and they came to the city of
Urbine, and laid there a bushment as them seemed most best for them,
and rode tofore the town, where anon issued out much people and
skirmished with the fore riders. Then brake out the bushment, and won
the bridge, and after the town, and set upon the walls the king’s
banner. Then came the king upon a hill, and saw the city and his banner
on the walls, by the which he knew that the city was won. And anon he
sent and commanded that none of his liege men should misuse no lady,
wife, nor maid: and when he came into the city he passed to the castle,
and comforted them that were in sorrow, and ordained there a captain, a
knight of his own country. And when they of Milan heard that the same
city was won, they sent to king Arthur great sums of money, and
besought him as their lord to have pity on them, promising to be his
subjects for ever, and yield to him homage and fealty for the lands of
Pleasance and Pavia, Petersaint, and the port of Tremble, and to give
him yearly a million of gold all his lifetime. Then he rideth into
Tuscany, and winneth towns and castles, and wasted all in his way that
to him will not obey, and so to Spolute and Viterbe: and from thence he
rode into the vale of Vicecount among the vines. And from thence he
sent to the senators to wit whether they would know him for their lord.
But soon after on a Saturday came unto king Arthur all the senators
that were left on live, and the noblest cardinals that then dwelled in
Rome, and prayed him of peace, and proffered him full large, and
besought him as governor to give licence for six weeks, for to assemble
together all the Romans, and then to crown him emperor with crism, as
it belongeth to so high a state. I assent, said the king, like as ye
have devised, and at Christmas there to be crowned, and to hold my
Round Table with my knights as me liketh. And then the senators made
things ready for his enthronization. And at the day appointed, as the
romance telleth, he came into Rome, and was crowned emperor by the
Pope’s hand with all the royalty that could be made, and sojourned
there a time, and established all his lands from Rome unto France, and
gave lands and realms unto his servants and knights, to every each
after his desert, in such wise that none complained, rich nor poor. And
he gave to Sir Priamus the duchy of Loraine; and he thanked him, and
said that he would serve him the days of his life: and after made dukes
and earls, and made every man rich. Then after this all his knights and
lords and all the great men of estate assembled them afore him, and
said: Blessed be God, your war is finished, and your conquest achieved,
insomuch that we know none so great nor mighty that dare make war
against you: wherefore we beseech you to return homeward and give us
licence to go home to our wives, from whom we have been long, and to
rest us, for your journey is finished with honour and worship. Then
said the king, Ye say truth, and for to tempt God it is no wisdom, and
therefore make you ready and return we into England. Then was there
trussing of harness and baggage, and great carriage. And after licence
given, he returned and commanded that no man in pain of death should
rob nor take victual, nor other thing by the way, but that he should
pay therefore. And thus he came over the sea, and landed at Sandwich,
against whom queen Guenever his wife came and met him: and he was nobly
received of all his commons in every city and burgh, and great gifts
presented to him at his home coming, to welcome him with.
Thus endeth the fyfthe booke of the conqueste that kynge Arthur hadde
ageynste Lucius the Emperoure of Rome, and here foloweth the syxth
book, which is of syr Launcelot du lake.
The Sixth Book.