composed, so that prosperity was among the folk, then ordered he the
old knights, that he had long retained, that they should come to the
king, and receive their reward; for they many years had been his
companions. To some he gave land, some silver and gold; to some he
gave castles, some he gave clothes; bade them go in joy, and amend
their sins; forbade them to bear weapon, because age upon them went,
and bade them love God greatly in this life, that he at the end, full
surely, might give them his paradise, that they might enjoy bliss with
the angels. All the old knights proceeded to their land, and the young
remained with their dear king. All the nine years Arthur dwelt there;
nine years he held France freely in hand, and afterwards no longer the
land he governed.
But the while that the kingdom stood in Arthur's hand, marvellous
things came to the folk; many proud man Arthur made mild, and many a
high man he held at his feet! It was on an Easter, that men had
fasted, that Arthur on Easter-day had his noble men together; all the
highest persons that belonged to France, and of all the lands that lay
thither in; there he gave his knights all their rights; to each one he
gave possessions, as he had earned. Thus quoth him Arthur, noblest of
kings: "Kay, look thee hitherward; thou art mine highest steward; here
I give thee Anjou, for thy good deeds, and all the rights that thither
in are set. Kneel to me, Beduer; thou art my highest cup-bearer here;
the while that I am alive, love thee I will. Here I give thee
Neustrie, nearest to my realm." Then hight Neustrie the land that now
hight Normandy. The same two earls were Arthur's dear men, at counsel
and at communing, in every place. The yet said him Arthur, noblest of
kings: "Wend thee hither, Howeldin; thou art my man and my kin; have
thou Boulogne, and possess it in prosperity. Come near, Borel; thou
art knight wise and wary; here I deliver thee the Mans, with honour,
and possess thou it in prosperity, for thy good deeds." Thus Arthur
the king dealt his lordly lands, after their actions; for he thought
them to be worthy. Then were blithe speeches in Arthur's halls; there
was harping and song, there were blisses among!
When Easter was gone, and April went from town, and the grass was
rife, and the water was calm, and men gan to say that May was in town,
Arthur took his fair folk, and proceeded to the sea, and caused his
ships to be assembled, well with the best; and sailed to this land,
and came up at London; up he came at London, to the bliss of the
people. All it was blithe that saw him with eyes; soon they gan to
sing of Arthur the king, and of the great worship that he had won
There kissed father the son, and said to him welcome; daughter the
mother, brother the other; sister kissed sister; the softer it was to
them in heart. In many hundred places folk stood by the way, asking of
things of many kind; and the knights told them of their conquests, and
made their boast of mickle booty. Might no man say, were he man ever
so skilled, of half the blisses that were with the Britons! Each fared
at his need over this kingdom, from burgh to burgh, with great bliss;
and thus it a time stood in the same wise—bliss was in Britain with
the bold king.
When Easter was gone, and summer come to land, then took Arthur his
counsel, with his noble men, that he would in Kaerleon bear on him his
crown, and on Whitsunday his folk there assemble. In those days men
gan deem, that no burgh so fair was in any land, nor so widely known
as Kaerleon by Usk, unless it were the rich burgh that is named Rome.
The yet many a man was with the king in land, that pronounced the
burgh of Kaerleon richer than Rome, and that Usk were the best of all
waters. Meadows there were broad, beside the burgh; there was fish,
there was fowl, and fairness enow; there was wood and wild deer,
wondrous many; there was all the mirth that any man might think of.
But never since Arthur thither came, the burgh afterwards thrived, nor
ever may, between this and dooms-day. Some books say certainly that
the burgh was bewitched, and that is well seen, sooth that it be. In
the burgh were two minsters exceeding noble; one minster was of Saint
Aaron; therein was mickle relique; the other of the martyr Saint
Julian, who is high with the Lord; therein were nuns good, many a high
born woman.
The bishop's stool was at Saint Aaron; therein was many a good man;
canons there were, who known were wide; there was many a good clerk,
who well could (were well skilled) in learning. Much they used the
craft to look in the sky; to look in the stars, nigh and far;--the
craft is named Astronomy. Well often they said of many things to the
king; they made known to him what should happen to him in the land.
Such was the burgh of Kaerleon; there was much wealth; there was much
bliss with the busy king.
The king took his messengers, and sent over his land; bade come earls;
bade come barons; bade come kings, and eke chieftains; bade come
bishops, bade come knights; bade all the free men that ever were in
the land; by their life he bade them be at Kaerleon on Whitsunday.
Knights gan to ride exceeding wide, rode toward Kaerleon from lands of
many kind. At the Whitsunday there came the King Angel, King of
Scotland, with his fair folk; many was the fair man that followed the
king. Of Moray King Urien, and his fair son Ywam; Stater, King of
South Wales, and Cadwal, the King of North Wales; Cador, Earl of
Cornwall, whom the king loved; Morvith of Gloucester; Maurm of
Winchester; Gurguint, Earl of Hereford, and Beof, Earl of Oxford;
Cursal the bold, from Bath there came riding; Urgent of Chester;
Jonathas of Dorchester; Arnalf of Salisbury, and Kinmare of
Canterbury; Bahen of Silchester; Wigen of Leicester; Argal, Earl of
Warwick, with folk exceeding strange (or numerous); Dunwale, son of
Apnes, and Kegem, son of Elauth; Kineus, that was Coit's son, and
Cradoc, Catel's son, Ædlem, Cledauk's son; Grimarc, Kinmark's son;
Run, Margoit, and Netan; Clofard, Kincar, and Aican; Kenn, Neton, and
Peredur; Madoc, Trahern, and Elidur. These were Arthur's noble earls,
and the highest thanes brave of all this land, without (besides) the
nobles of Arthur's board, that no man might ken, nor all the folk
name. Then were archbishops three in this country; in London, and in
York; and in Kaerleon, Saint Dubrich--he was a man exceeding holy,
through all things excellent! At London lay the archbishop's stool,
that to Canterbury was subsequently removed, after that Englishmen had
won to them this land.
To tell the folk of Kaerleon, no man might it do! There was Gillomar
the king, of Irish men the darling; Malverus, King of Iceland;
Doldanet, King of Gutland; Kinkalin of Frisland; and Æscil, King of
Denmark. There was Loth the keen, who was king by the North; and
Gonwais, King of Orkney, of outlaws the darling. Thither came the
fierce man, the Earl of Boulogne, who was named Laeyer, and his people
with him; of Flanders the Earl Howeldin; of Chartres the Earl Geryn.
This man brought with him all the French men; twelve earls most noble,
who ruled over France. Guitard, Earl of Poitiers; Kay, Earl of Angers;
Bedver, Earl of Normandy — the land then hight Neustne;—-of the Mans
came the Earl Borel; of Britanny the Earl Howel. Howel the earl was
free man, and fair were his weeds. And all the French folk were
clothed fair, all well weaponed, and horses they had fat. There were
besides fifteen bishops. Was there no knight nor any swain, nor good
man that were thane, from the ports of Spain to the towns of Alemaine,
that thither would not have come, if he were (had been) invited; all
for Arthur's dread, of noble race. When all this folk was come; each
king with his people, there men might behold, who were there beside,
many a strange man, who was come to the burgh, and many kind of
tidings (novelties) with Arthur the king There was many a marvellous
cloth (garment); there was many a wrath knight; there were lodgings
nobly prepared; there were the inns, built with strength; there were
on the fields many thousand tents; there came lard and wheat, and oats
without measure; may no man say it in his tale, of the wine and of the
ale; there came hay, there came grass; there came all that was good!
When all this folk was assembled by the good king, when the Whitsunday
came, as the Lord it sent, then came all the bishops before their
king, and the archbishops three, before Arthur; and took the crown,
that was to him by right, and set upon his head with great bliss; so
they gan him lead, all with God's counsel. Saint Dubrich went before--
he was to Christ chosen;--the Archbishop of London walked on his right
hand, and by his left side the same of York. Fifteen bishops went
before, of many lands chosen; they were all clothed with garments most
rich, that were all embroidered with burning gold. There walked four
kings before the kaiser; they bare in their hands four swords of gold.
Thus hight the one, who was a most doughty man, that was Cador the
king, Arthur's darling; the second of Scotland, he bare sword in hand;
and the King of North Wales and the King of South Wales.
And thus they gan lead the king to church; the bishops gan sing before
the monarch, trumpets there blew; bells there rung; knights gan ride,
women forth glide. In certainty it is said, and sooth it is found,
that no man ever ere saw here with earthly men half so great pomp, in
ever any assembly, as was with Arthur, of noble race.
Into church came Arthur the rich man; Dubrich the archbishop—-the Lord
was to him full good; of Rome he was legate, and prelate of the
people—-he sang the holy mass before the monarch. Came with the queen
women fair; all wives of the rich men that dwelt in the land, and
daughters of the noble men the queen had sought (or selected), all as
the queen had ordered, on pain of their paying full penalty. In the
church, in the south half, sate Arthur the king himself; by the north
side Wenhaver the queen. There came before her four chosen queens;
each bare in the left hand a jewel of red gold, and three snow-white
doves sate on their shoulders; who were the four queens, wives of the
kings who bare in their hands the four swords of gold before Arthur,
noblest of kings. There was many a maid-child with the noble queen;
there was many a rich garment on the fair folk; there was mickle envy
from land of many kind; for each weened to be better than other. Many
knights anon came to the church; some for gain; some for the king;
some to behold the women that were noble. Songs there were merry, that
lasted very long; I ween if it had lasted seven years, the yet they
would more, that were thereat. When the mass was sung, from church
they thronged; the king with his folk went to his meat, with his
mickle folk—-joy was among the people. The queen on the other side
sought her lodging; she had of women wondrous many.
When the king was set, with his men to his meat, to the king came the
bishop Saint Dubrich, who was so good, and took from his head his rich
crown; on account of the mickle gold the king would not it bear; and
placed a less crown on the king's head; and afterwards he gan do to
the queen also (likewise). In Troy this was the custom in their
elders' days, of whom Brutus came, who were excellent men; all the men
at their meat sate asunder by themselves, that to them seemed well
done; and also the women their station had.
When the king was set with all his people to his meat, earls and
barons, at the king's board, then came stepping the steward, who was
named Kay, highest knight in land under the king, of all the
assemblage of Arthur's folk. Kay had before him many a noble man
chosen; there were a thousand bold knights wondrous well told, that
served the king and his chiefs; each knight had a cloth on, and
adorned with gold, and all their fingers covered with gold rings.
These bare the things sent from the kitchen to the king. On the other
side was Beduer, the king's high cup-bearer, with him were earls' sons
of noble race born, and the noble knights' sons, who were thither
come; and seven kings' sons, that with him moved. Beduer went
foremost, with golden bowl; after him a thousand pressed towards the
folk, with drink of all the kinds that men could think of. And the
queen at her end, women most fair attended; a thousand walked before
her, rich and well choice, to serve the queen, and them that were with
her.
Was he never born, of any man chosen, clerk nor layman, in ever any
land, that could tell it in speech of any kind, of half the wealth
that was in Kaerleon, of silver and of gold, and good weeds; of high
born men that dwelt among the folk; of horses, and of hawks, of hounds
for deer, and of rich weeds, that were among the people. And of all
the folk that dwelt there in land, the folk of this land was accounted
the fairest of people, and also the women, comely in hue, and most
nobly clothed, and best of all educated. For they all had in
declaration, by their quick lives, that they would have their clothes
of one hue. Some had white, some had red; some had eke good green; and
variegated cloth of each kind was to them wondrous odious; and each
ill-usage they accounted unworthy.
Then had English land the best fame of all; and this country-folk eke
was dearest to the king. The high born women that dwelt in this land
had all declared in their sooth words, that none would take lord
(husband) in this land, never any knight, were he nought (never) so
well formed, unless he were thrice tried in combat, and his courage
made known, and himself approved; then might he boldly ask him a
bride. For that usage the knights were brave, the women excellent, and
the better behaved; then were in Britain blisses enow.
When the king had eaten, and all his people, then proceeded out of the
burgh the thanes most bold; all the kings, and their chieftains; all
the bishops, and all the clerks; all the earls, and all the barons;
all the thanes, and all the swains, fairly clad, spread over the
fields. Some they gan to ride; some they gan to race, some they gan to
leap, some they gan to shoot, some they wrestled, and contest made;
some they in the field played under shield; some they drove balls wide
over the fields. Games of many a kind there they gan to play; and
whoso might win honour of his game, men lead him with song before the
sovereign, and the king for his game gave him gifts good. All the
queens, that there were come, and all the ladies, leaned over the
walls, to behold the people, and the folk play. This lasted three
days, such games and such plays.
Then on the fourth day, the king gan to speak, and gave his good
knights all their rights; he gave silver, he gave gold; he gave
horses, he gave land; castles eke and clothes; his men he
pleased—-there was many a bold Briton before Arthur. But now came to
the king new tidings! Arthur the bold king sate at a board; before him
sate kings, and many chieftains; bishops and clerks, and knights most
brave.
There came into the hall marvellous tales!—-there came twelve thanes
bold, clad with pall; noble warriors, noble men with weapon; each had
on hand a great ring of gold, and with a band of gold each had his
head encircled. Ever two and two walked together; each with his hand
held his companion; and glided over the floor, before Arthur, so long
that they came before Arthur, the sovereign. They greeted Arthur anon
with their noble words: "Hail be thou, Arthur king, darling of
Britons; and hail be thy people, and all thy lordly folk! We are
twelve knights come here forthright, rich and noble; we are from Rome.
Hither we are come from our emperor, who is named Luces, who ruleth
Rome-people. He commanded us to proceed hither, to Arthur the king,
and bade thee to be greeted with his grim words, and saith that he is
astonished, wondrously much, where thou tookest the mood in this
middle-earth, that thou darest of Rome oppose any doom (will), or
heave up thine eyes against our ancestors; and who dared it thee to
counsel, that thou art so doughty become, that thou darest threaten
the lord of dooms, Luces, the emperor, highest of men alive! Thou
boldest all thy kingdom in thine own hand, and wilt not serve the
emperor of the land; of the same land that Julius had in hand, who in
former days won it with fight; and thou it hast retained in thy power;
and with thy bold knights deprivest us of our rights. But say us,
Arthur, soon, and send word to Rome; we shall thine errand bear to
Luces our emperor, if thou wilt acknowledge that he is king over thee,
and if thou wilt his man become, and acknowledge him for lord, and do
right to the emperor on account of Frolle the king, whom thou slewest
with wrong at Paris, and now holdest all his land with un-right in thy
hand. If thou within these twelve weeks turn to the right, and if thou
wilt of Rome any doom suffer, then mightest thou live, among thy
people. And if thou wilt not do so, thou shalt receive worse, for the
emperor will come here, as king shall to his own, king most keen; and
take thee with strength, lead thee bound before Rome-folk;--then must
thou suffer what thou erst despisedest!"
At these words the Britons leapt from the board; there was Arthur's
court exceedingly enraged; and swore mickle oath, upon our mighty
Lord, that they all were (should be) dead, who this errand bare; with
horses drawn in pieces, death they should suffer. There leapt towards
them the Britons exceeding wrath; tore them by the hair, and laid them
to the ground. There were (would have been) the Romanish men pitifully
treated, if Arthur had not leapt to them, as if it were a lion; and
said these words--wisest of all Britons!--"Leave ye, leave quickly
these knights alive! They shall not in my court suffer any harm; they
are hither ridden out of Rome, as their lord commanded them, who is
named Luces. Each man must go where his lord biddeth him go; no man
ought to sentence a messenger to death, unless he were so evilly
behaved, that he were traitor of his lord. But sit ye down still,
knights in hall; and I will me counsel of such need, what word they
shall bear to Luces the emperor."
Then sate all down, the folk on their benches, and the clamour ceased
before the monarch. Then stood him up Arthur, noblest of kings, and he
called to him seven sons of kings, earls and barons, and those that
were boldest, and all the wisest men that dwelt in the folk, and went
into a house that was fast inclosed, of old stone work--strong men it
wrought--therein they gan to commune, his wise councillors, what
answer he would give to Luces the emperor. When all the nobles were
come to bench then was it all still that dwelt in the hall; there was
great awe with the mighty king; durst there no man speak, least the
king would it punish.
Then stood there up Cador, the earl most rich here, and said these
words before the rich king: "I thank my Lord, who formed the daylight,
to abide (have abode) this day, that is arrived to the folk, and this
tiding that is come to our king; so that we need no more lie here
inert! For idleness is evil in each land; for idleness maketh man lose
his manhood; idleness maketh knight lose his rights; idleness causeth
many wicked crafts; idleness destroyeth many thousand men; through
idle deeds little men well-speed. For long we have lain still; our
honour is the less! But now I thank the Lord, who formed the daylight,
that the Romanish folk are so fierce, and make their threat to come to
our burghs, our king to bind, and to Rome him bring. But if it is
sooth that men say, as people it tell, that the Romanish people are so
fierce, and are so bold, and so mischievous, that they will now come
into our land, we shall prepare for them rueful tales; their
fierceness shall turn to themselves to sorrow. For never loved I long
peace in my land; for through peace we are bound, and well nigh all in
swoon."
That heard Walwain, who was Arthur's relative, and angered him much
with Cador, who said these words; and thus answered Walwain the good:
"Cador, thou art a powerful man; thy counsels are not good; for good
is peace and good is amity, whoso freely therewith holdeth, and God
himself it made, through his divinity; for peace maketh a good man
work good works, for all men are the better, and the land is the
merrier."
Then heard Arthur the dispute of these knights; and thus spake the
mighty man with his fierce folk: "Sit ye down quickly, my knights all,
and each by his life listen my words!" All it was still that dwelt in
the hall. Then spake the bold king to his noble folk: "My earls, my
barons, my bold thanes, my doughty men, my dear friends; through you I
have conquered under the sun, so that I am man most powerful, and
fierce against my enemies; gold I have and treasure; of men I am
ruler. I won it not alone, but we did, all clean. To many a fight I
have led you, and ever ye were well skilled, so that many kingdoms
stand in my hand. Ye are good knights, brave men and active; that I
have proved in well many lands" The yet spake him Arthur, noblest of
kings: "But now ye have heard, my noble thanes, what the Romanish men
counsel them between, and what words they send us here, into our land,
with writ and with words, and with great wrath. Now we must bethink
how we may with right defend our country and our great honour, against
this powerful folk, against this Rome-people, and send them answer
with our good words; with much wisdom send our writ to Rome, and learn
at the emperor, for what thing he us hateth; for what thing he greets
us with threat and with scorn Exceeding sorely it incenseth me, and
immoderately it shameth, that he reproaches us our loss that we before
have lost. They say that Julius Caesar won it (Britain) with combat in
fight. With strength and with fight men do many wrongs; for Caesar
sought Britain with bold strength. The Britons might not against him
defend their land, but with strength they went in hand, and delivered
him all their land; and thereafter soon all became his men. Some of
our kin they had slain, and some with horses drawn to pieces; some
they led bound out of this land; and thus this land won with wrong and
with sin, and now asketh by right tribute of this land! All so we may
do, if we it do will, through right of Belin king, and of Brenne, his
brother, the Duke of Burgundy. These were our ancestors, of whom we
are come; these belay Rome, and the realm all conquered, and before
Rome the strong their hostages up hung, and afterwards they took all
the land, and set it in their own hand, and thou ought we with right
to besiege Rome. Now will I let remain Belin and Brenne, and speak of
the caiser, Constantine the strong, he was Helen's son, all of Britons
come (descended), he won Rome, and possessed the realm. Let (leave) we
now of Constantine, who won Rome all to him, and speak of Maximian,
who was a man most strong, he was King of Britain, he conquered
France. Maximian the strong he took Rome in hand, and Alemaine
(Germany) he won eke, with wondrous great strength, and all from Rome
into Normandy. And all these were my ancestors, my noble progenitors;
and possessed all the lands that unto Rome lay; and through such
authority I ought to obtain Rome. They yearn of me in hand tribute of
my land; all so will I of Rome, if I have counsel. I desire in my
thoughts to possess all Rome; and he desireth in Britain to bind me
most fast, and slay my Britons, with his evil attacks. But if my Lord
grant it, who formed day and night, he shall sorely pay for his bold
threat, and his Rome-people shall therefore perish; and I will be
bold, wherein he now ruleth! Dwell ye now all still, I will say my
will, no man shall do it otherwise, but it shall stand thereon. He
desireth all, and I desire all that we both possess; have it now and
ever who may it easier win, for now we shall prove to whom God will
grant it!"
Thus spake the bold king, that had Britain under his rule, that was
Arthur the king, Britain's darling! His warriors sate, and to his
words listened; some they sate still, a great while; some they made
much communing between them; some it seemed to them good; some it
disturbed their mood.