there they gan to separate. Merlin went right forth south, the land
was well known to him; forth-right he proceeded to the king's host. So
soon as Uther him saw, so he approached towards him; and thus quoth
Uther Pendragon: "Merlin, thou art welcome! Here I set thee in hand
all the counsel of my land, and that thou must me advise, at my great
need." Uther told him all that he would, and how Ygaerne was to him in
the land dearest of women, and Gorlois, her lord, most odious of all
men.--"And unless I have thy counsel, full soon thou wilt see me
dead." Then answered Merlin: "Let Ulfin now come in, and give him in
hand thirty ploughs of land, and give to the hermit what thou him
promisedest, for I will not possess any land, neither silver nor gold,
for I am in counsel most skilful of all men, and if I wished for
possessions, then should I become worse in craft. But all thy will
well shall come to pass, for I know such leech-craft, that shall be to
thee lief, so that all thy appearance shall become as the earl's; thy
speech, thy deeds among thy people; thy horse and thy weeds
(garments), and so shalt thou ride. When Ygaerne shall see thee, in
mood shall it be well to her; she lieth in Tintateol, fast inclosed.
There is no knight so well born, of no land chosen, that might with
strength unfasten the gates of Tintateol, unless they were burst with
hunger and with thirst. But that is the sooth that I will say to thee,
through all things thou shalt be as if thou wert the earl, and I will
be every bit as Britael he is, who is a knight most hardy, he is this
earl's steward, Jurdan is his chamber-knight, he is exceeding well
dight, I will make Ulfin anon such as Jurdan is. Then wilt thou be
lord, and I be Britael, thy steward, and Ulfin be Jurdan, thy
chamber-knight. And we shall go now to-night, and fare thou shalt by
counsel, whither soever I lead thee. Now to-night shall half a hundred
knights with spear and with shield be about thy tents, so that never
any man alive come there near, and if ever any man come there, that
his head be taken from him. For the knights shall say--thy good
men--that thou art let blood, and restest thee in bed."
These things were forth-right thus dight. Forth went the king, it was
nothing known, and forth went with him Ulfin and Merlin, they
proceeded right the way that lay into Tintateol, they came to the
castle-gate, and called familiarly: "Undo this gate-bolt; the earl is
come here, Gorlois the lord, and Britael his steward, and Jordan the
chamber-knight; we have journeyed all night!" The gateward made it
known over all, and knights ran upon the wall, and spake with Gorlois,
and knew him full surely. The knights were most alert, and weighed up
the castle gate, and let him come within--the less was then their
care,--they weened certainly to have much bliss. Then had they with
stratagem Merlin there within, and Uther the king within their
possession, and led there with him his good thane Ulfin. These tidings
came quickly unto the lady, that her lord was come, and with him his
three men. Out came Ygaerne forth to the earl, and said these words
with winsome speech: "Welcome, lord, man to me dearest; and welcome,
Jordan, and Britael is also;--be ye in safety parted from the king?"
Then quoth Uther full truly as if it were Gorlois: "Mickle is the
multitude that is with Uther Pendragon, and I am all by night stolen
from the fight, for after thee I was desirous, woman thou art to me
dearest. Go into the chamber, and cause my bed to be made, and I will
rest me for this night's space, and all day to-morrow, to gladden my
people." Ygaerne went to chamber, and caused a bed to be made for him,
the kingly bed was all overspread with a pall. The king viewed it
well, and went to his bed; and Ygaerne lay down by Uther Pendragon,
Now weened Ygaerne full truly, that it were Gorlois; through never any
kind of thing knew she Uther the king. The king approached her as man
should do to woman, and had him to do with the dearest of women; and
he begat on her a marvellous man, keenest of all kings, that ever came
among men, and he was on earth named Arthur. Ygaerne knew not who lay
in her arms, for ever she weened full surely, that it were the Earl
Gorlois.
There was no greater interval but until it was daylight, there
forth-right the knights understood, that the king was departed out of
the host. Then said the knights, sooth though it were not, that the
king was flown, filled with dread, but it all was leasing that they
said of the king, they held hereof much converse upon Uther Pendragon.
Then said the earls and the highest barons; "Now when Gorlois shall
know it, how it is passed, that our king is departed, and has left his
host, he will forth-right weapon his knights, and out he will to
fight, and fell us to ground, with his furious thanes make mickle
slaughter; then were it better for us, that we were not born. But
cause we the trumpets to be blown, and our army to assemble; and Cador
the brave shall bear the king's standard; heave high the Dragon before
this people, and march to the castle, with our keen folk. And the Earl
Aldolf shall be our chief, and we shall obey him, as if he were the
king; and so we shall with right with Gorlois fight, and if he will
speak with us, and yearn this king's peace, set amity with soothfast
oath, then may we with worship go hence; then our underlings will have
no upbraidings, that we for any timidity hence fled." All the
nation-folk praised this same counsel. Trumpets they blew, and
assembled their host; up they heaved the Dragon, by each standard
unmatched; there was many a bold man, that hung shield on shoulder,
many a keen thane, and proceeded to the castle, where Gorlois was
within, with his keen men. He caused trumpets to be blown, and his
host to assemble; they leapt on steed, knights gan to ride. These
knights were exceeding active, and went out at the gate; together they
came soon, and quickly they attacked, fell the fated men, the ground
they sought; there was much blood shed, harm was among the folk;
amidst the fight full certainly men slew the Earl Gorlois. Then gan
his men to flee, and the others to pursue after, they came to the
castle, and within they thrust. Soon it came within, both the two
hosts; there lasted the fight throughout the daylight; ere the day
were all gone, the castle was won; was there no swain so mean, that he
was not a well good thane.
The tidings came into Tintageol in haste, forth into the castle
wherein Uther was, that the good earl their lord Gorlois was slain
full truly, and all his soldiers, and his castle taken. The king heard
this, where he lay in amorous play, and leapt out of bower, as if it
were a lion. Then quoth the King Uther, of this tiding he was ware:
"Be still, be still, knights in hall! Here I am full truly, your lord
Gorlois; and Jordan, my chamberlain, and Britael, my steward. I and
these two knights leapt out of the fight, and in hither we are
arrived--we were not there slain. But now I will march, and assemble
my host; and I and my knights shall all by night proceed into a town,
and meet Uther Pendragon, and unless he speak of reconciliation, I
will worthily avenge me! And inclose ye this castle most fast, and bid
Ygaerne that she mourn not. Now go I forth-right, have ye all good
night!" Merlin went before, and the thane Ulfin, and afterwards Uther
Pendragon, out of Tintageol's town; ever they proceeded all night,
until it was daylight.
When he came to the spot where his army lay, Merlin had on the king
set his own features through all things, then his knights knew their
sovereign; there was many a bold Briton filled with bliss; then was in
Britain bliss enow; horns there blew, gleemen gan chant, glad was
every knight, all arrayed with pall! Three days was the king dwelling
there; and on the fourth day he went to Tintaieol. He sent to the
castle his best thanes, and greeted Ygaerne, noblest of women, and
sent her token what they spake in bed; and ordered her that she should
yield the castle quickly--there was no other counsel, for her lord was
dead. Yet Ygaerne weened that it were sooth, that the dead earl had
sought his people, and she all believed, that it were false, that the
King Uther had ever come down. Knights went to counsel, knights went
to communing, they resolved that they would not hold the castle any
longer, their bridge they let down and delivered it to Uther
Pendragon. Then stood all this kingdom eft in Uther's own hand.
There Uther the king took Ygaerne for queen; Ygaerne was with child by
Uther the king, all through Merlin's craft, before she was wedded. The
time came that was chosen, then was Arthur born. So soon as he came on
earth, elves took him; they enchanted the child with magic most
strong, they gave him might to be the best of all knights; they gave
him another thing, that he should be a rich king, they gave him the
third, that he should live long; they gave to him the prince virtues
most good, so that he was most generous of all men alive. This the
elves gave him, and thus the child thrived. After Arthur, the blessed
lady was born, she was named Anna, the blessed maiden; and afterwards
she took (married) Loth, who possessed Leoneis (Lothian), she was in
Leoneis lady of the people. Long lived Uther with mickle bliss here,
with good peace, with much quiet, free in his kingdom.
When that he was an old man, then came illness on him; the illness
laid him down, sick was Uther Pendragon, so he was here sick seven
years. Then became the Britons much emboldened, they did oft wickedly,
all for absence of dread. The yet lay Octa, Hengest's son, bound in
the prison of London, who was taken at York, and his comrade Ebissa,
and his other Ossa. Twelve knights guarded them day and night, who
were wearily oppressed with watching, in London. Octa heard say of the
sickness of the king, and spake with the guardsmen, who should keep
him: "Hearken to me now, knights, what I will make known to you. We
lie here in London fast bound, and ye many a long day have watched
over us. Better were it for us to live in Saxland, with much wealth,
than thus miserably here lie asleep. And if ye would in all things
accomplish this, and do my will, I would give you land, much silver
and gold, so that ever ye might richly rule in the land, and live your
life as to you shall be liefest of all. For ye shall never have good
gifts of Uther, your king, for now full soon he will be dead, and his
people all desert, then will ye have neither, the one nor the other.
But bethink you, brave men, and give to us your compassion, and think
what were lief to you, if ye thus lay bound, and might in your land
live in joy." Very oft Octa spake so with these knights. The knights
gan to commune, the knights gan to counsel, and to Octa they said full
still: "We shall do thy will." Oaths they swore, that they would not
deceive. It was on a night that the wind went right; forth went the
knights at the midnight, and led forth Octa, and Ebissa, and Ossa,
along the Thames they proceeded forth into the sea; forth they passed
into Saxland. Their kindred came towards them with great flocks
(forces); they marched over all the land, as to them was liefest, men
gave them gifts and land; men gave them silver and gold Octa bethought
him what he might do; he thought to come hither, and avenge his
father's wounds. They procured a host of innumerable folk, to the sea
they proceeded with great threats, they came to Scotland; soon they
pushed on land, and greeted it with fire; the Saxons were cruel, the
Scots they slew; with fire they down laid thirty hundred towns; the
Scots they slew, many and innumerable.
The tidings came to Uther the king. Uther was exceeding woe, and
wonderfully grieved, and sent in to Loeneis, to his dear friends, and
greeted Loth, his son-in-law, and bade him be in health, and ordered
him to take in his own hand all his royal land; knights and freemen,
and freely hold them, and lead them in a host, as the laws are in the
land. And he ordered his dear knights to be obedient to Loth, with
loving looks, as if he were sovereign. For Loth was very good knight,
and had held many fight, and he was liberal to every man, he delivered
to him the government of all this land. Octa held much war, and Loth
often fought with him, and oft he gained possessions, and oft he them
lost. The Britons had mickle mood, and immoderate pride, and were void
of dread, on account of the king's age; and looked very contemptuously
on Loth the earl, and did very evilly all his commands, and were all
two counsels--their care was the more! This was soon said to the sick
king, that his high men Loth all despised.
Now will I tell thee, in this history, how Uther the king disposed
himself. He said that he would go to his host, and see with his eyes
who would there do well. He caused there to be made a good
horse-litter, and caused an army to be assembled over all his kingdom;
that each man by (on pain of) his life should come to him quickly, by
their lives and by their limbs, to avenge the king's shame.--"And if
there is any man, who will not come hastily, I will speedily destroy
him, either slay either hang." All full soon to the court (or to the
army) they came, durst there none remain, nor the fat nor the lean.
The king forth-right took all his knights, and marched him anon to the
town of Verulam; about Verolam's town came him Uther Pendragon; Octa
was within with all his men. Then was Verulam a most royal town, Saint
Alban was there slain, and deprived of life-day; the burgh was
subsequently destroyed, and much folk there was slain. Uther lay
without, and Octa within. Uther's army advanced to the wall, the
powerful thanes fiercely assaulted it, they might not of the wall one
stone detach, nor with any strength the wall injure.
Well blithe was then Hengest's son Octa, when he saw the Britons
recede from the walls, and go sorrowful again to their tents. Then
said Octa to his comrade Ebissa: "Here is come to Verulam Uther, the
lame man, and will with us here fight in his litter; he weened with
his crutch to thrust us down! But to-morrow when it is day, the people
shall arise, and open our castle-gate, and this realm we shall all
win; shall we never lie here for one lame man! Out we shall ride upon
our good steeds, and advance to Uther, and fell his folk; for all they
are fated (shall die) that hither are ridden; and take the lame man,
and lay in our bonds, and hold the wretch until that he dies; and so
men shall leach his limbs that are sore, and heal his bones with
bitter steel!" Thus spake him Octa with his comrade Ebissa; but all it
happened otherwise than they weened. On the morrow when it dawned,
they unfastened the doors; up arose Octa, Ebissa, and Ossa, and
ordered their knights to prepare them for fight, to undo their broad
gates, and unfasten the burgh. Octa rode him out, and much folk
followed after him; with his bold warriors there he bale found! Uther
saw him this, that Octa approached to them, and thought to fell his
host to the ground.
Then called Uther with quick voice there: "Where be ye, Britons, my
bold thanes? Now is come that day, that the Lord may help us;--that
Octa shall find, in that he threatened me to bind. Think of your
ancestors, how good they were in fight; think of the worship that I
have to you well given; nor let ye ever this heathen enjoy your homes,
or these same raging hounds possess your lands. And I will pray to the
Lord who formed the daylight, and to all the hallows, that sit high in
heaven, that I on this field may be succoured. Now march quickly to
them,--may the Lord aid you, may the all-ruling God protect my
thanes!" Knights gan to ride, spears gan to glide, and broad spears
brake, shivered shields--helms there were severed, men fell! The
Britons were bold, and busy in fight, and the heathen hounds fell to
the ground. There was slain Octa, Ebissa, and Ossa; there seventeen
thousand sunk into hell; and many there escaped toward the north end.
And all the daylight Uther's knights slew and captured all that they
came nigh; when it was even, then was it all won. Then sung the
soldiers with great strength, and said these words in their merry
songs: "Here is Uther Pendragon come to Verulam's town; and he hath so
beaten Octa, and Ebissa, and Ossa, and given them in the land laws
most strong, so that men may tell their kin in story, and thereof make
songs in Saxland!" Then was Uther blithe, and exceeding glad, and
spake with his people, that was dear to him in heart, and these words
said Uther the old: "Saxish men have accounted me for base; my
sickness they twitted me with their scornful words, because I was led
here in a horse-litter; and said that I was dead, and my folk asleep.
And now is much wonder come to this realm, that now this dead king
hath killed these quick; and some he hath them driven forth with the
weather! Now hereafter be done the Lord's will!"
The Saxish men fled exceeding fast, that had aside retreated from the
fight; forth they gan proceed into Scotland, and took to them for king
Colgrim the fair. He was Hengest's relation, and dearest of men to
him; and Octa loved him, the while that he lived. The Saxish men were
greatly discouraged, and proceeded them together into Scotland; and
they made Colgrim the fair for king, and assembled a host, wide over
the land, and said that they would with their wicked craft in
Winchester town kill Uther Pendragon. Alas, that it should so happen!
Now said the Saxish men in their communing together: "Take we six
knights, wise men and active, and skilful spies, and send we to the
court, in almsman's guise, and dwell in the court, with the high king,
and every day pass through all the people; and go to the king's dole,
as if they were infirm, and among the poor people hearken studiously
if man might with craft, by day or by night, in Winchester's town come
to Uther Pendragon, and kill the king with murder;"--then were (would
be) their will wholly accomplished, then were they careless of
Constanine's kin. Now went forth the knights all by daylight, in
almsman's clothes--knights most wicked--to the king's court--there
they harm wrought. They went to the dole, as if they were infirm, and
hearkened studiously of the king's sickness, how men might put the
king to death. Then met they with a knight, from the king he came
forth-right; he was Uther's relation, and dearest of men to him. These
deceivers, where they sate along the street, called to the knight with
familiar words: "Lord, we are wretched men in this world's realm;
whilom we were in land accounted for good men, until Saxish men set us
adown, and bereaved us of all, and our possessions took from us. Now
we sing beads (prayers) for Uther the king; each day in a meal our
meat faileth; cometh never in our dish neither flesh nor any fish, nor
any kind of drink but a draught of water, but water clean--therefore
we are thus lean."
The knight heard this; back he went forth-right, and came to the king,
where he lay in chamber, and said to the king: "Lord, be thou in
health! Here out sit six men, alike in hue, all they are companions,
and clothed with hard hair-cloth. Whilom they were in this world's
realm goodly thanes, and filled with goods; now have Saxish men set
them to ground, so that they are in the world accounted for wretches,
they have not at board but bread alone, nor for their drink but water
draughts. Thus they lead their life in thy people, and bid their
beads, that God will let thee long live." Then quoth Uther the king:
"Let them come in hither, I will them clothe, and I will them feed,
for the love of my Lord, the while that I live." The treacherous men
came into the chamber, the king caused them to be fed, the king caused
them to be clothed, and at night each laid them on his bed. And each
on his part aspied earnestly how they might kill the king with murder,
but they might not through anything kill Uther the king, nor through
any craft might come to him.
Then happened it on a time, the rain it gan to pour; then called there
a leech, where he lay in the chamber, to a chamber-knight, and ordered
him forth-right to run to the well, that was near the hall, and set
there a good swam, to keep it from the rain.--"For the king may not
enjoy no draught in the world but the cold well stream, that is to him
pleasant; that is for his sickness best of all draughts." This speech
forth-right heard these six knights--to harm they were prompt--and
went out by night forth to the well--there they harm wrought. Out they
drew soon fair phials, filled with poison, of all liquids bitterest;
six phials full they poured in the well; then was the well anon with
poison infected. Then were full blithe the traitors in their life, and
forth they went; they durst not there remain. Then came there
forth-right two chamber-knights; they bare in their hands two bowls of
gold. They came to the well, and filled their bowls; back they gan
wend to Uther the king, forth into the chamber, where he lay in
bed.--"Hail be thou, Uther! Now we are come here, and we have brought
thee, what thou ere bade, cold well water; receive it with joy." Up
arose the sick king, and sate on his bed; of the water he drank, and
soon he gan to sweat; his heart gan to weaken, his face began to
blacken, his belly gan to swell, the king gan to burst. There was no
other hap, but there was Uther the king dead; and all they were dead,
who drank of the water.
When the attendants saw the calamity of the king, and of the king's
men, who with poison were destroyed, then went to the well knights
that were active, and destroyed the well with painful labour, with
earth and with stones made a steep hill. Then the people took the dead
king--numerous folk--and forth him carried the stiff-minded men into
Stonehenge, and there buried him, by his dear brother; side by side
there they lie both.
Then came it all together, that was highest in the land, earls and
barons, and book-learned men; they came to London, to a mickle
husting, and the rich thanes betook them all to counsel, that they
would send messengers over sea into Britanny, after the best of all
youth that was in the worlds-realm in those days, named Arthur the
strong, the best of all knights; and say that he should come soon to
his kingdom; for dead was he Uther Pendragon, as Aurelie was ere, and
Uther Pendragon had no other son, that might after his days hold by
law the Britons, maintain with worship, and rule this kingdom. For yet
were in this land the Saxons settled; Colgrim the keen, and many
thousands of his companions, that oft made to our Britons evil
injuries. The Britons full soon took three bishops, and seven riders,
strong in wisdom; forth they gan proceed into Britanny, and they full
soon came to Arthur.--"Hail be thou, Arthur, noblest of knights! Uther
thee greeted, when he should depart, and bade that thou shouldest
thyself in Britain hold right laws, and help thy folk, and defend this
kingdom, as good king should do, defeat thy enemies, and drive them
from land. And he prayed the mild Son of God to be to thee now in aid,
that thou mightest do well, and the land receive from God. For dead is
Uther Pendragon, and thou art Arthur, his son; and dead is the other,
Aurelie his brother." Thus they gan tell, and Arthur sate full still;
one while he was wan, and in hue exceeding pale; one while he was red,
and was moved in heart. When it all brake forth, it was good that he
spake; and thus said he there right, Arthur the noble knight: "Lord
Christ, God's Son, be to us now in aid, that I may in life hold God's
laws!"
Arthur was fifteen years old, when this tiding was told to him, and
all they were well employed, for he was much instructed. Arthur
forth-right called his knights, and bade every man get ready his
weapons, and saddle their horses very speedily, for he would go to
this Britain. To the sea proceeded the good thanes, at Michael's
mount, with a mickle host, the sea set them on the strand, at
Southampton they came ashore. Forth he gan ride, Arthur the powerful,
right to Silchester; there it seemed good to him; there was the host
of Britons boldly assembled. Great was the bliss when Arthur came to
the burgh; then was blast of trumpets, and men most glad; there they
raised to be king Arthur the young.