_How Sir Mordred presumed and took on him to be king of England, and
would have married the queen, his uncle’s wife._
As Sir Mordred was ruler of all England, he did do make letters as
though that they came from beyond the sea, and the letters specified
that king Arthur was slain in battle with Sir Launcelot. Wherefore Sir
Mordred made a Parliament, and called the lords together, and there he
made them to choose him king, and so was he crowned at Canterbury, and
held a feast there fifteen days, and afterward he drew him unto
Winchester, and there he took the queen Guenever, and said plainly,
that he would wed her which was his uncle’s wife, and his father’s
wife. And so he made ready for the feast, and a day prefixed that they
should be wedded; wherefore queen Guenever was passing heavy. But she
durst not discover her heart, but spake fair, and agreed to Sir
Mordred’s will. Then she desired of Sir Mordred for to go to London, to
buy all manner of things that longed unto the wedding. And because of
her fair speech Sir Mordred trusted her well enough, and gave her leave
to go. And so when she came to London, she took the tower of London,
and suddenly, in all haste possible, she stuffed it with all manner of
victual, and well garnished it with men, and so kept it. Then when Sir
Mordred wist and understood how he was beguiled, he was passing wroth
out of measure. And a short tale for to make, he went and laid a mighty
siege about the tower of London, and made many great assaults thereat,
and threw many great engines unto them, and shot great guns. But all
might not prevail Sir Mordred, for queen Guenever would never, for fair
speech nor for foul, would never trust to come in his hands again. And
then came the bishop of Canterbury, the which was a noble clerk and an
holy man, and thus he said to Sir Mordred: Sir, what will ye do, will
ye first displease God, and sithen shame yourself and all knighthood?
Is not king Arthur your uncle, no further but your mother’s brother,
and are ye not his son, therefore how may ye wed your father’s wife?
Sir, said the noble clerk, leave this opinion, or else I shall curse
you with book, and bell, and candle. Do thou thy worst, said Sir
Mordred, wit thou well I shall defy thee. Sir, said the bishop, and wit
you well I shall not fear me to do that me ought to do. Also where ye
noise where my lord Arthur is slain, and that is not so, and therefore
ye will make a foul work in this land. Peace, thou false priest, said
Sir Mordred, for, and thou chafe me any more, I shall make strike off
thy head. So the bishop departed, and did the curse in the most
orgulous wise that might be done. And then Sir Mordred sought the
bishop of Canterbury for to have slain him. Then the bishop fled, and
took part of his goods with him, and went nigh unto Glastonbury, and
there he was as priest hermit in a chapel, and lived in poverty and in
holy prayers: for well he understood that mischievous war was at hand.
Then Sir Mordred sought on queen Guenever by letters and sondes, and by
fair means and foul means, for to have her to come out of the tower of
London, but all this availed not, for she answered him shortly, openly
and privily, that she had lever slay herself than to be married with
him. Then came word to Sir Mordred that king Arthur had raised the
siege from Sir Launcelot, and he was coming homeward with a great host,
to be avenged upon Sir Mordred. Wherefore Sir Mordred made write writs
to all the barony of this land, and much people drew to him. For then
was the common voice among them, that with Arthur was none other life
but war and strife, and with Sir Mordred was great joy and bliss. Thus
was Sir Arthur depraved and evil said of. And many there were that king
Arthur had made up of nought, and given them lands, might not then say
of him a good word.
Lo ye, all Englishmen, see ye not what a mischief here was, for he that
was the most king and knight of the world, and most loved the
fellowship of noble knights, and by him they were all upholden. Now
might not these Englishmen hold us content with him. Lo, thus was the
old custom and usage of this land. And also men say, that we of this
land have not yet lost nor forgotten that custom and usage. Alas, this
is a great default of all Englishmen, for there may no thing please us
no term. And so fared the people at that time; they were better pleased
with Sir Mordred than they were with king Arthur, and much people drew
unto Sir Mordred, and said they would abide with him for better and for
worse. And so Sir Mordred drew with a great host to Dover, for there he
heard say that Sir Arthur would arrive, and so he thought to beat his
own father from his lands. And the most party of all England held with
Sir Mordred, the people were so new fangle.