[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. 4
by 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 goo
two 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 Cornewayle
the Earl of He loued to Muche sanz fayle; 20
Cornwall'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, 40
and 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: 44
Round 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 skotlond
conquests yrland & Gotland, 56
[He Fights Frollo for France.]
he lives twelve _Þan_ leuyd he at þe best
years in peace, twelf ȝeeris on all_e_ reste
Wyþoute werre (:) tyll_e_ at þe laste
he þouȝt to make (.)a(.) nywe _con_queste. 60
and then invades Into Frau_n_ce wyþ gode cou_n_ceyle
France. 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 & town
besieges him, Tyll_e_ þeire vytayl was y-doon. 72
till Frollo Frollo þat worthy knyght
challenges him Proferyd w_y_t_h_ Artho_ur_ for to fyght
to 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 bytwene
thereof in the Off frollo | and þan he fell to þe grou_n_de
MS.] and strikes Ryȝt as he moste | deed(.) in lyte stou_n_de. 100
Frollo 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 paryse
Paris. And toke þe castell_e_ & þe town at hys avyse. 104
Worschuped be god of hys grete grace
Glory 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. 108
Noster 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; 120
knights, 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, 124
and 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.] 128
Easter 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 Moore
before. Þan euere Artho_ur_ made a-fore; 140
Ten kings were For þere was Vrweyn þe kynge
there, 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_, 152
earls 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 Echon
with many other Þes wer_e_; & many anoþ_er_ goom
gentles 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. 180
Archbishops, 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 also
beyond 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 Mete
To 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_our
i_m_p_er_at_oris_. To hys Enemy Arthour:-- 204
We woundereþ of þi wodeness
And also of þy Madnesse!
How darst þow any wyse
saying, that to Aȝenst the Emp_er_o_ur_ þ_u_s aryse, 208
have 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; 212
mad 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; 216
that 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 soone
and come to Þat þu come to vs at Rome 228
Rome to be To vnd_er_fang our_e_ ordynau_n_ce
punished 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, 236
forbids 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; 244
invade 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. 252
Arthur'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, 256
from 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; 276
return 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 come
Arthur'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_.