{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_16845/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_16845","id":"gutenberg_16845","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16845","summary":null,"tags":["Arthurian romances","Category: British Literature","Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Category: Poetry","Early English Text Society","Romances, English"],"text":"Produced by David Starner, Joshua Hutchinson and the Online\nDistributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net\n\n\n\n\n\n[TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:\nThe original text contained the letters \"yogh\" and \"thorn\". They are\nrepresented in this ASCII text as\n  [Th] [th] thorn (note that the text also uses \"th\")\n  [Gh] [gh] yogh\n  [P] pilcrow (parragraph symbol).]\n\n\n\n\nArthur\n\nA Short Sketch of His Life and History in English Verse of the First\nHalf of the Fifteenth Century\n\nCopied and Edited From the Marquis of Bath's MS.\n\nby\n\nFrederick J. Furnivall, M.A., Camb.\n\nEditor of De Borron's and Lonelich's \"History of the Holy Graal,\"\nWalter Map's \"Queste Del Saint Graal,\" Etc. Etc.\n\n\nLondon:\nPublished for the Early English Text Society,\nby Truebner & Co., 60, Paternoster Row.\nMDCCCLXIV\n\n\n\n\nContents\n\n\nPreface\nArthur\nWords\nNotes\n\n\n\n\nPreface\n\n\nAs one of the chief objects of the Early English Text Society is to\nprint every Early English Text relating to Arthur, the Committee have\ndecided that this short sketch of the British hero's life shall form one\nof the first issue of the Society's publications. The six hundred and\nforty-two English lines here printed occur in an incomplete Latin\nChronicle of the Kings of Britain, bound up with many other valuable\npieces in a MS. belonging to the Marquis of Bath. The old chronicler has\ndealt with Uther Pendragon, and Brounsteele (Excalibur), and is\nnarrating Arthur's deeds, when, as if feeling that Latin prose was no\nfit vehicle for telling of Arthur, king of men, he breaks out into\nEnglish verse,\n\n  \"Herkene[th], [th]at loueth hono_ur_,\n   Of kyng Arthour & hys labo_ur_.\"\n\nThe story he tells is an abstract, with omissions, of the earlier\nversion of Geoffry of Monmouth, before the love of Guinevere for\nLancelot was introduced by the French-writing English romancers of the\nLionheart's time (so far as I know), into the Arthur tales. The fact of\nMordred's being Arthur's son, begotten by him on his sister, King Lot's\nwife, is also omitted; so that the story is just that of a British king\nfounding the Round Table, conquering Scotland, Ireland, Gothland, and\ndivers parts of France, killing a giant from Spain, beating Lucius the\nEmperor of Rome, and returning home to lose his own life, after the\nbattle in which the traitor whom he had trusted, and who has seized his\nqueen and his land, was slain.\n\n  \"He that will more look,\n   Read on the French book,\"\n\nsays our verse-writer: and to that the modern reader must still be\nreferred, or to the translations of parts of it, which we hope to print\nor reprint, and that most pleasantly jumbled abstract of its parts by\nSir Thomas Maleor, Knight, which has long been the delight of many a\nreader,--though despised by the stern old Ascham, whose Scholemaster was\nto turn it out of the land.--There the glory of the Holy Grail will be\nrevealed to him; there the Knight of God made known; there the only true\nlovers in the world will tell their loves and kiss their kisses before\nhim; and the Fates which of old enforced the penalty of sin will show\nthat their arm is not shortened, and that though the brave and guilty\nking fights well and gathers all the glory of the world around him, yet\nstill the sword is over his head, and, for the evil that he has done,\nhis life and vain imaginings must pass away in dust and confusion.\n\nOf the language of the Poem there is little to say: its dialect is\nSouthern, as shown by the verbal plural _th_, the _vyve_ for five, _zyx_\nfor six, _ych_ for I, _har_ (their), _ham_ (them), for _her_, _hem_;\n_hulle_, _dude_, _[gh]ut_, for hill, did, yet, the infinitive in _y_\n(_rekeny_), etc. Of its poetical merits, every reader will judge for\nhimself; but that it has power in some parts I hope few will deny.\nArthur's answer to Lucius, and two lines in the duel with Frollo,\n\n  \"There was no word y-spoke,\n   But eche had other by the throte,\"\n\nare to be noted. Parts of the MS. have very much faded since it was\nwritten some ten or twenty years before 1450, so that a few of the words\nare queried in the print. The MS. contains a few metrical points and\nstops, which I have here printed between parentheses (). The expansions\nof the contractions are printed in italics, but the ordinary doubt whether\nthe final lined _n_ or _u_--for they are often undistinguishable--is\nto be printed n_e_, n_ne_, or u_n_, exists here too.\n\nI am indebted to Mr. Sims, of the Manuscript Department of the British\nMuseum, for pointing out the Poem to me, and to the Marquis of Bath for\nhis kind permission to copy it for printing.\n\n                                  _3, Old Square, Lincoln's Inn,_\n                                  _London, W.C., August 30, 1864._\n\n\n\n\n                Arthur                                           [pg 1]\n\n\n                From the Marquis of Bath's MS.\n\n                                 BEF. 1450 A.D.\n\n\n              [The Latin side notes in italics, and the stops\n              of the text in parentheses (), are those of the MS.]\n\n\n                   Herkene[th], [th]at loue[th] hono_ur_, [Fol. 42_b_]\n                   Of kyng Arthour & hys labo_ur_;\nHow Arthur         And furst how he was bygete,\nwas begotten       As [th]_a_t we in bok_is_ do rede.                  4\nby Pendragon       Vther pendragon_e_ was hys fader,\non Ygerne.         And ygerne was hys Moder.\n                   Pendragon_e_ ys in walysch_e_\nPendragon          'Dragones heed' on Englysch_e_;                     8\n(_t.i._  Dragon's  He maked ypeynted dragon_e_s two;\nHead) made         Oon schold byfore him goo\ntwo painted        Whan he went to batayle,\ndragons,           Whan he wold hys foes sayle;                       12\n                   That other abood at wynchester,\n                   Euermore stylle there.\nand thence         Bretones [gh]af hym [th]_a_t Name,\nhad his name.      Vther Pendragon_e_ [th]e same,                     16\n                   For [th]at skyle fer & nere\n                   Euer-more hyt to here.\n\nHow Uther loved    The Erles wyff of Cornewayle\nthe Earl of        He loued to Muche sanz fayle;                      20\nCornwall's wife,\n\n              [Arthur Has the Round Table Made.]\n\n                   Merlyn wy[th] hys sotelnesse\n                   Turned vtheris lyknesse,\n                   And maked hym lyche [th]e Erl anone,\n                   And wy[th] hys wyff (:) his wyll_e_ to done        24\n                   In [th]e cou_n_tre of Cornewell_e_:\n                   In [th]e Castel of Tyntagell_e_,\nand begat Arthur   Thus vther, yf y schall_e_ nat lye,\nin adultery.       Bygat Arthour in avowtrye.                         28\n                   Whan vther Pendragon_e_ was deed,\nArthur is          Arthour anon was y-crowned;\ncrowned,           He was courteys, large, & Gent\n                   to alle puple verrament;                           32\n                   Beaute, My[gh]t, amyable chere\n                   To alle Men ferre and neere;\n                   Hys port (;) hys [gh]yftes gentyll_e_\nis loved of all,   Maked hym y-loved wyll_e_;                         36\n                   Ech mon was glad of hys p_re_sence,\n                   And drade to do hym dysplesau_n_ce;\nis strong          A stronger Man of hys honde\n                   was neuer founde on any londe,                     40\nand courteous.     As courteys as any Mayde:--\n                   [Th]us wryte[th] of hym [th]_a_t\n                       hym a-sayde.                      [Fol. 42_b_,\n                   At Cayrlyon_e_, wyt_h_oute fable,         col. 2.]\nHe makes the       he let make [th]e Rou_n_de table:                  44\nRound Table,       And why [th]_a_t he maked hyt [th]us,\n                   [Th]is was [th]e resou_n_ y-wyss,--\nthat all at it     [Th]at no man schulde sytt aboue other,\nmight be equal.    ne haue indignaciou_n_ of hys bro[th]_er_;         48\n                   And alle hadde (.)oo(.) seruyse,\n                   For no pryde scholde aryse\n                   For any degree of syttynge,\n                   O[th]er for any seruynge:--                        52\n                   [Th]us he kept [th]e table Rou_n_de\n                   Whyle he leuyd on [th]e grou_n_de.\nAfter his first    After he hadde conquered skotlond\nconquests          yrland & Gotland,                                  56\n\n              [He Fights Frollo for France.]\n\nhe lives twelve    _[Th]an_ leuyd he at [th]e best\nyears in peace,    twelf [gh]eeris on all_e_ reste\n                   Wy[th]oute werre (:) tyll_e_ at [th]e laste\n                   he [th]ou[gh]t to make (.)a(.) nywe _con_queste.   60\nand then invades   Into Frau_n_ce wy[th] gode cou_n_ceyle\nFrance.            he wolde weende (:) & hyt assayle,\n                   [Th]at Rome [th]o kept vnder Myght,\n                   Vnder Frollo (:) a worthy knyght                   64\n                   [Th]_a_t frau_n_ce hadde [th]o to kepe,\n                   To rywle, defende, & to lede.\nHe beats Frollo    Arthour and Frollo fou[gh]t in feld;\nback to Paris,     [Th]ere deyde many vnder scheld.                   68\n                   Frollo in-to Paryss fly,\n                   W_y_th strenkthe kept hyt wysely:\nand there          Arthour byseged [th]_a_t Syte & town\nbesieges him,      Tyll_e_ [th]eire vytayl was y-doon.                72\ntill Frollo        Frollo [th]at worthy knyght\nchallenges him     Proferyd w_y_t_h_ Artho_ur_ for to fyght\nto single combat.  Vnder [th]is wyse & condiciou_n_,--\n                   \"Ho hadde [th]e Maystrie (:) haue [th]e crown;     76\n                   And no mo men but [th]ey two.\"\nThey fight:        [Th]e day Was sett (:) to-geder [th]ey go:\n                   Fayr hyt was to byholde\n                   In suche two kny[gh]ghte[gh] bolde:                80\n                   [Th]er was no word y-spoke,\n                   But eche hadde other by [th]e [th]rote;\n                   [Th]ey smote w_y_t_h_ trou_n_chou_n_\n                       & w_y_t_h_ swerd;\n                   [Th]at hyt seye were a-ferd;           [Fol. 43.]  84\n                   Frollo fou[gh]t wy[th] hys ax (:) as men dude se;\n(Frollo with       He hytt Arthour (:) so sore (:)\nhis axe)               [th]_a_t he felle on kne.\n                   He ros vp raply (:) and smot hym full_e_ sore;\n                   He dude hym to grent a (.) soue[gh][1]\n                       [th]_er_fore.                 [1. ? sone[gh]]  88\n                   thus they hyw on helmes hye,\n                   And schatered on wy[th] scheldes.\n                   [Th]e puple by-gan to crye\n                   [Th]at stood on [th]e feldes;                      92\n\n              [Arthur Returns Victorious to Britain,]\n\ntill Arthur in     ther ne wyst no man, as y can ler_e_,\nwrath takes        Who of ham two was [th]e better_e_ [th]er_e_.\nBrownsteel,        Arthour was chafed & wexed wroth_e_,\n_Caliburn_us       He hente brou_n_steell_e_ | and to Frollo goth_e_  96\n_Arthuri Gladius_  Brou_n_stell_e_ was heuy & also kene;\n[with a sketch     Fra_m_ [th]e schulder(:) to [th]e syde\nthereof in the         went bytwene\nMS.] and strikes   Off frollo | and [th]an he fell to\nFrollo                 [th]e grou_n_de\n                   Ry[gh]t as he moste | deed(.) in lyte stou_n_de.  100\n                   Frensch_e_ men made doell_e_ & wept full_e_ faste;\n                   [Th]eir Crowne of frau_n_ce [th]ere [th]ey loste.\nArthur takes       Than wente Arthour in-to paryse\nParis.             And toke [th]e castell_e_ & [th]e town\n                       at hys avyse.                                 104\n                   Worschuped be god of hys grete grace\nGlory to God.      [Th]_a_t [th]us [gh]eue[th] fortune(:) and\n                       worschup to [th]e Reme;\n                   Thanke [gh]e hym all_e_ [th]_a_t be[th]\n                       on [th]is place,\nSay ye a Pater     And seye[th] a Pater noster w_y_t_h_out\nNoster therefore.      any Beeme.                                    108\n\n                 Pater noster.\n\n                   Artho_ur_ fram paryse went w_y_t_h_ hys Rowte,\nArthur conquers    And co_n_quered [th]e Cou_n_tre on euery\nthe countries          syde aboute;\naround,            Angeoy[2] , Peytow, Berry, & Gaskoyne,\n                   Nauerne, Burgon_e_ | Loreyn & Toreyne;            112\n                   He dau_n_ted [th]e proude | & hawted [th]e poure;\n                   He dwelt long in Paryss after in honoure;\n                   He was drad and loued in cou_n_treis abowte;\n                   Heyest & lowest hym Loved & alowte;               116\n                   And vpon an Esto_ur_ tyme sone afterward\n                   He fested hys knyght_is_ & [gh]af ham gret reward;\ndistributes        To hys styward he [gh]af Angers & Au_n_geye;\nthem among his     To Bedewer hys botyler he [gh]af Norma_n_dye;     120\nknights,           He [gh]af to Holdyne flau_n_drys parde;\n                   To Borel hys Cosyn, Boloyne [th]e cyte;\n                   And eche man, after [th]e astat [th]at he was,\n                   He rewarded hem alle, bo[th]e More & lasse,       124\nand returns to     And [gh]af hem reward, bo[th]e lond and Fee,\nBritain.           And turned to Breteyn, to Carlyo_n_e ayhe.\n\n              [And then Holds a Great Feast.]\n\n                   Artho_ur_ wolde of hono_ur_         [Fol. 43_b_,\nArthur gives an    Hold a fest at Eestour                  col. 1.]  128\nEaster Feast       Of regalye & worthynesse,\n                   And feede alle hys frendess;\n                   And sende Messanger\n                   To kynges ferre & neer                            132\n                   [Th]at were to hym Omager,\n                   to come to [th]is Dyner.\n                   And alle at oo certeyn day\n                   They come [th]yder in gode aray,                  136\n                   And kept [th]eire Ceson_e_\nat Carlyon,        At [th]e Castell_e_ Cayrlyon_e_.\ngreater than ere   Thys fest was Muche Moore\nbefore.            [Th]an euere Artho_ur_ made a-fore;               140\nTen kings were     For [th]ere was Vrweyn [th]e kynge\nthere,             Of scottes at [th]at dynynge,\n                   Stater [th]e kyng of south wales,\n                   Cadwell_e_ [th]e kyng of north wale[gh],          144\n                   Gwylmar [th]e kyng of yrland,\n                   Dolmad [th]e kyng of guthland,\n                   Malgan of yselond also,\n                   Archyl of De_n_march [th]_er_to,                  148\n                   Aloth_e_ [th]e kyng of Norwey,\n                   Souenas [th]e kyng of Orkenye,\n                   Of Breteyn [th]e kyng Hoel,\nand thirteen       Cador Erl of Cornewell_e_,                        152\nearls              Morice [th]e Erl of Gloucestr_e_,\n                   Marran Erl of Wy_n_chestre,\n                   Gwergou_n_d Erl of herford,\n                   Boo[gh] Erl of Oxenford,                          156\n(including him     Of bathe vngent [th]e Erl also,\nof Bath),          Cursal of Chestr_e_ [th]er-to,\n                   Euerad Erl of salesbury[3],\n                   Kynmar Erl of Canterbury,                         160\n                   Jonas [th]e Erl of Dorcestre,\n\n              [Arthur's Guests at Cayrlyone.]\n\n                   Valence [th]e Erl of sylchestr_e_,\n                   Jugeyn of Leyccer [?] [th]_er_to,\n                   Argal of warwyk also,--                           164\n                   Kynges & Erles Echon\nwith many other    [Th]es wer_e_; & many ano[th]_er_ goom\ngentles great,     Gret of astaat, & [th]e beste,\n                   [Th]es were at [th]e Feste.                       168\n                   Other also gentyls grete\n                   Were [th]ere at [th]at Meete,\n                   Sauer appon Donand,\n                   Regeym & Alard,                                   172\n                   Reyne[gh] fit[gh] Colys,\n                   Tade_us_ fit[gh] Reis,\n                   Delyn fit[gh] Dauid,\n                   Kymbelyn le fit[gh] Gryffith,                     176\n                   Gryffit[gh] [th]e Sone of Nagand,\n                   [Th]es were [th]er_e_ also theoband:\nbesides the        Alle [th]es were [th]ere w_y_t_h_oute fable,\nRound Tablers,     W_y_t_h_oute ham of [th]e rou_n_de table.         180\nArchbishops,       Thre archebusschopes [th]_er_ wer_e_ also,\nBishops,           And other busschopes many mo--\n                   All_e_ [th]is mayne were nat al-oone;\n                   W_y_t_h_ ham com many a Goome.                    184\n                   [Th]is feste dured dayes [th]re\n                   In reuell_e_ & sole_m_pnite.\nand many from      Of by [gh]onde [th]e See also\nbeyond the sea.    Many lordez[?] were [th]ere [th]o.                188\n                   Now reste[th] alle wy[th] Me,\n                   And say a Pater & Ave.\n\n                 Pater noster.\n\n                   The [th]rydde day folowyng\n                   The_n_ coom nywe tydynge,                         192\n                   [Th]e whyle [th]ey sete at [th]e Mete\nTo the feasters    Messagers were In ylete;\ncame messengers    Well_e_ arayd forso[th]e [th]ey come,\nfrom the           & send fram cite of Rome                          196\n\n              [Lucius's Message to Arthur.]\n\nRoman Emperor,     Wy[th] l_ett_res of [th]e Emp_er_oures\n_luci_us.          Whas name was Lucies.\n                   [Th]es l_ett_res were opened & vnfold,\n                   And [th]e tydyng_e_ to alle men told,             200\n                   Whas sentence, yf y ne lye,\n                   Was after [th]_a_t y can aspye:\nL_ite_ra Lucii     [P] Luci_u_s [th]e grete Emp_er_our\ni_m_p_er_at_oris_. To hys Enemy Arthour:--                           204\n                   We woundere[th] of [th]i wodeness\n                   And also of [th]y Madnesse!\n                   How darst [th]ow any wyse\nsaying, that to    A[gh]enst the Emp_er_o_ur_ [th]_u_s aryse,        208\nhave invaded       And ryde on Remes on eche wey,\nFrance, etc., and  And make kynge[gh] to [th]e obey?\nmade kings,        [Th]u art wood on [th]e Nolle!\nArthur must be     [Th]u hast scley owre cosyn frolle;               212\nmad in his noll;   [Th]u schalt be taw[gh]t at a schort day  [Fol. 44,\n                   for to make such_e_ aray.                  col. 1.]\n                   Oure cosyn Iuli_us_ cesar\n                   So_m_me tyme conquered [th]ar;                    216\nthat he must pay   To Rome [th]u owest hys trybut;\nhis tribute,       We charge[th] [th]e to paye vs hyt.\n                   Thy pryde we woll_e_ alaye\n                   [Th]at makest so gret aray:                       220\n                   We co_m_mande[th] [th]e on haste\n                   To paye owre trybut faste;\n                   [Th]u hast scley frolle in frau_n_ce\n                   [Th]at hadde vnder vs [th]er_e_ gou_er_nau_n_ce,  224\n                   And wy[th]holdest oure tribute [th]_er_to:\n                   [Th]u schalt be taw[gh]t [th]u hast mysdo:\n                   We co_m_mande[th] [th]e in haste soone\nand come to        [Th]at [th]u come to vs at Rome                   228\nRome to be         To vnd_er_fang our_e_ ordynau_n_ce\npunished for       For [th]y dysobediau_n_ce;\nhis disobedience.  As [th]u wold nat leze [th]y lyf,\n                   Fulfylle [th]ys w_y_t_h_oute stryff.\"             232\n\n              [Arthur's Answer to Lucius.]\n\nThe Britons        When [th]is l_ett_re was open & rad;\npurpose to kill    [Th]e bretou_n_s & all_e_ men wer_e_ mad,\nthe messengers,    And wolde [th]e messager scle:--\nbut Arthur         \"Nay,\" seyd Arthour, \"per de,                     236\nforbids it,        That were a[gh]enst alle kynde,\n                   A messager to bete or bynde;\n                   y charge alle men here\n                   for to make ham good chere.\"                      240\n                   And after Mete sanz fayl\n                   Wy[th] hys lordes he hadde cou_n_sayl;\n                   And alle asented [th]er to,\nand resolves to    Artho_ur_ to Rome scholde go;                     244\ninvade Rome.       And [th]ey ne wolde in hys t_ra_uayle\n                   Wy[th] strenk[th] & good neuer fayle.\n                   Than Artho_ur_ wroot to Rome a l_ett_re,\n                   Was sentence was so_m_m-what bytter_e_,           248\n                   And sayde i_n_ [th]is manere\n                   As [gh]e may hure here:--\n\n_L_ite_ra Reg_is_  \"Knowe[th] well_e_ [gh]e of Romayne,\nArthuri._          Y am kyng Artho_ur_ of Bretayne.                  252\nArthur's answer    Frau_n_ce, y haue conquered hyt,\nto the Emperor     Y schall_e_ defende & kepe hyt [Gh]ut,  [Fol. 44,\nLucius,            Y come to Rome, as y am tryw,            col. 2.]\nclaiming tribute   To take my trybut (.) to me dywe,                 256\nfrom him.          But noon [th]ere-for to paye,\n                   By my werk [gh]e schall_e_ asay;\n                   For [th]e Emp_er_our Constantyne\n                   [Th]at was [th]e Soone of Elyne,                  260\n                   [Th]at was a Breton_e_ of [th]is lond,\n                   Co_n_quered Rome w_y_t_h_ hys hond,\n                   And so [gh]e owe[th] me tribut:\n                   Y charge [gh]ow [th]at [gh]e pay me hyt.          264\n                   Also Maximian kyng of Bretaigne\n                   Co[_n_]quered al frau_n_ce & Almayne,\n                   Lombardye Rome & ytalye--\n\n              [The Messenger's Report of Arthur.]\n\n                   By [gh]oure bok_is_ [gh]e may a-spye.             268\n                   Y am [th]eir Eyr & [th]eyre lynage,\n                   Y aske [gh]ow my trywage.\"\n\n                   [Th]is l_ett_re was celyd fast,\n                   Y-take the Messagerez on hast;                    272\n                   Arthour [gh]af ham [gh]yftez grete,\n                   And chered ham wy[th] drynk and Mete.\nLucius's           [Th]ey hasted ham to come hoom;\nmessengers         Byfor [th]e Emp_er_o_ur_ [th]ey be[th] coom;      276\nreturn to him.     Saluted hym as resou_n_ ys,\n                   And toke hym [th]es letterys.\n                   [Th]ey seyde to [th]e Emp_er_our\n                   \"We have be wy[th] kyng Artho_ur_;                280\n                   But such ano[th]_er_ as he ys oon,\n                   Say neuer no Man.\n                   He ys s_er_ued on hys howshold\n                   Wy[th] kynges, Erles, worthy & bold;              284\n                   Hys worthynesse, sur Emp_er_our,\n                   Passe[th] Much_e_ all_e_ [gh]owre;\nand give him       He seyde he wolde hyder come\nArthur's message.  And take trywage of all_e_ Rome,                  288\n                   We dowte[th] last he wel do soo,\n                   For he ys Myghty ynow [th]er-too.\"\n                   Now, erst [th]an we goo fer[th]er,\n                   Every man [th]at ys here                          292\n                   Sey a Pater noster\n                   And ave wy[th] gode chere; Ame_n_.\n\n                       Pater noster\n\n                       Ave Maria.\n\n                   Now stureth hym self Artho_ur_      [Fol. 44_b_.]\n                   [Th]enkyng on hys labo_ur_,                       296\nArthur prepares    And gadery[th] to hym strenghth aboute,\nfor his            Hys kynges & Erles on a rowte--\nexpedition         A fayr sy[gh]t to Mannes ye\nto Rome.           to see suche a cheualrye,--                       300\n\n              [The Number of Arthur's Host.]\n\nHas five kings,    The kyng of Gotland,\n                   Also [th]e kyng of Irland,\n                   the kyng of ysland | & of Orkenye,\n                   [Th]is was worthy Maynye;                         304\n                   The kyng of Denmark also was [th]er_e_,\n                   [Th]is was a worthy chere:\n                   Eche of [th]ese vyve at her venyw\n                   Brou[gh]t zyx [th]ousand at har retenyw;          308\nwith 30,000men,    xxx{ti} [th]owsand, yc_h_ vnderstand,\n                   [Th]es vyf kyng_is_ hadde on honde.\n80,000 Normans     Than hadde he out of Normandye,\nand                Of Angeoy & of Almanye,                           312\n                   Boloyne(.) Peytow & flau_n_dres\n                   Fowre skore [th]owsand harneys--\n12,000 from        Geryn of Chartez .xij. [th]owsand\nChartres,          [th]at went wy[th] Arto_ur_ euer at honde;        316\n10,000 Bretons.    Hoel of bretayn, [th]owsandez ten\n                   Of hardy & well_e_ fyghtyng Men;\n                   Out of Bretaygne hys owne land\nand 40,000         He passed fourty [th]owsand                       320\nBritish:           Of Archerys & off Arblastere\n                   [Th]_a_t Cow[th] well_e_ [th]e craft of werre.\n                   [P] In Foot other Many a Man Moo\n                   Able to feyght(:) as well_e_ as [th]o:            324\nin all 200,000.    Two hunderd [th]ousand\n                   Went wy[th] hym out of lond,\n                   And Many moo sykerly\n                   That y can[4] not nombrye.     [4. ? MS. y-tan.]  328\n                   Artho_ur_ toke [th]an [th]e lond\nBritain is left    To Moddredes owne hond;\nin Mordred's       He kept al o[th]er [th]yng\ncharge.            Saue [th]o Corowne weryng;                        332\n                   But he was [fals] of hys kepynge,\n                   As [gh]e schall_e_ hure here folewynge.\nArthur ships       Now than_ne_ ys Arto_ur_ y-Come\nat Southampton,    And hys Ost to Sowthamptone:                      336\n\n              [The Giant that Ravished Fair Elayne.]\n\n                   Ther was Many a Man of Myghte\n                   Strong & bold also to fyghte.\n                   Eche man hath take his schuppynge,\n                   And ys at hys loghynge.                           340\n                   Vp go[th] [th]e sayl(:) [th]ey sayle[th] faste:\n                   Arthour owt of sy[gh]t ys paste.\n                   [Th]e ferst lond [th]at he gan Meete,\nand lands at       Forso[th]e hyt was Bareflete;                     344\nBarfleet.          Ther he gan vp furst aryve.\n                   Now well_e_ Mote Artho_ur_ spede & thryve;\nGod speed him!     And [th]at hys saule spede [th]e better,\n                   Lat eche man sey a Pater noster.                  348\n\n                 Pater noster.\n\n                   Now god spede Artour well_e_!\nA new foe          hym ys comyng a nyw batell_e_.\nappears, a         Ther coom a gyant out of spayne,\nSpanish Giant,     And rauasched had fayr Elayne;                    352\n                   He had brou[gh]t heor_e_ vp on an hulle--\n                   Mornyng hyt ys to hure or telle--\n                   Cosyn heo was to kyng hoell,\n                   A damesel fayr and gentell_e_;                    356\n                   And [gh]ut fer[th]_er_more to,\nwho has slain      He rauasehed heore Moder also.\nfair Elayne.       He dude [th]e damesel for to dye\n                   for he myght not lygge heor bye.                  360\n                   Whan [th]is was told to Artour,\n                   He maked Much dolour,\nArthur sends       And send Bedewer for to spye\nBedwere first      How he myght come hym bye;                        364\nas a spy,          And he was nat sclowh,\n                   But to [th]e hulle hym drowh\n                   [Th]at Closed was wy[th] wat_er_ stronge,\n                   [Th]e hulle a-Mydde gret & longe;                 368\n                   He went ouer to [th]e hulle syde,\n                   And [th]ere a fonde a wo_m_man_e_ byde\n                   [Th]at sorwedd & wept Mornynge\n\n              [Arthur's Fight with the Giant.]\n\n                   For Eleynes de[th] & dep_ar_tynge,                372\n                   And bad Bedewer to fle also\n                   Last he were ded more to;\n                   \"For yf [th]e Gyant fynde [th]e,\n                   W_y_t_h_oute dowte he wyll_e_ [th]e scle.\"        376\n                   Bedwer wy[th] all_e_ hastynge\n                   Tolde Artho_ur_ all_e_ [th]is [th]ynge.\n                   Amorwe whan [th]at hyt was day\nand then (with     Arthour toke [th]yder hys way,                    380\nBedwere and Key)   Bedewer wy[th] hym went, & keye,--\nstarts on his      Men [th]at cow[th]e well_e_ [th]e weye,-- [Fol. 45.]\nadventure.         And broute Artho_ur_ Meyntenau_n_t,\n                   Euen byfore [th]e Gyant.                          384\n                   Arthour fow[gh]t wy[th] [th]at wyght;\n                   He had almost ylost hys Myght:\n                   Wy[th] Muche peyne, [th]ru[gh] goddez grace\nHe kills the       He sclowh [th]e Geant in [th]at place,            388\nGiant,             And [th]an he made Bedewere\n                   To smyte of hys heed [th]ere.\n                   To [th]e Ost he dude hyt brynge,\n                   And [th]_er_on was gret wou_n_drynge,             392\nwhose horrible     Hyt was so oryble & so greet,\nhead is shown to   More [th]an any Horse heed.\nthe host,          Than hadde hoel Ioye ynowh\n                   For [th]at Arthour so hym sclowh;                 396\n                   And for a p_er_petuel Memorie\nand St. Mary's     He Made a chapell_e_ of seynt Marye\nChapel is built    In [th]e hulle vpon [th]e pleyne,\nin honour of the   Wy[th]-Inne [th]at (:) [th]e t_um_be* of Eleyne;  400\nvictory.           And [th]at name wy[th]oute nay         [* to_m_be]\n                   Hyt bere[th] [gh]ut in-to [th]is day.\n                   Now ys an ende of [th]is [th]ynge,\nNews of Lucius's   And Artour ha[th] nyw tydynge,--                  404\napproach is        Lucy [th]e Emp_er_our wy[th] hys host\nbrought,           Come[th] fast in gret bost;\n                   [Th]ey hely[th] ouer all_e_ [th]e lond,\n\n              [Arthur's Men-- Pray to God.]\n\nwith an army of    Fowre hundred [th]owsand                          408\n400,124 men.       An hunderd and foure & twenty,\n                   Thus herawdes dude ham rekeny;\n                   Thus he hadde gadered to hym\n                   Of cristien and of Sarasyn,                       412\n                   Wy[th] all_e_ hys wytt & labour\n                   To destroyen Arthour.\n                   Arthour dude wyselye,\n                   And hadde euer gode aspye                         416\n                   Of lucyes gouernynge\n                   And of hys [th]yder comynge;\nSome advise        But so_m_me seyde hyt wer_e_ folye\nArthur to          To fyght a[gh]enst Emp_er_o_ur_ lucie,            420\nturn and flee,     For he hadde sepe[5] euer_e_ a[gh]enst oon,\n                   & cou_n_ceyled Artho_ur_ to fle & goon.\n                   Wy[th] [th]e Emp_er_o_ur_ come kynges Many oon,\n                   And all_e_ [th]eire power hooll_e_ & soom;        424\n                   Stronger men My[gh]t no man see,\n                   As full_e_ of drede as [th]ey myght be;\n                   But Arthour was not dysmayd,\nbut he trusts      He tryst on god, & was wel payd,                  428\nin God,            And prayd [th]e hye trynyte\n                   Euer hys help forto be;\n                   And all_e_ hys Men wy[th] oo voyse\n                   Cryde to god wy[th] Oo noyse,                     432\nto whom his        \"Fader in heuene, [th]y wyll_e_ be doon;\nsoldiers pray      Defende [th]y puple fram [th]eire foon,\n                   And lat not [th]e he[th]on_e_ Men\n                   Destroye [th]e puple crystien:                    436\n                   Haue Mercy on [th]y se[r]uantis bonde,\nto keep them       And kepe ham fram [th]e he[th]on_e_ honde;\nfrom the           [Th]e Muchelnesse of Men sainfayle\nheathen's hands.   Ys nat victorie in Batayle;                       440\n\n              [The Battle Between Arthur and Lucius.]\n\n                   But after [th]e wyll_e_ [th]_a_t in heuene ys,\n                   So [th]e victorie falle[th] y-wys.\"\nArthur's           Than seyd Arthour, \"hyt ys so:\n\"Forward!\"         Auau_n_t Baner, & be Goo.\"                        444\n                   Now frendes all_e_, for goddes loue,\n                   Rere[th] [gh]owre hertes to god aboue,\n                   And seye[th] [gh]owre prayeris faste,\n                   [Th]_a_t we well_e_ spede furst & laste.          448\n\n                 Pater noster.\n\n                   The emp_er_our tryst on hys men,\n                   And [th]_a_t h_a_[th] bygyled hym;\n                   Forsothe hyt most nedez be so,\n                   For [th]ey be[th] cursed [th]at well_e_ hyt do,   452\n_Maledict_us_      Such_e_ all_e_ myght come[th] of god;\nq_ui_              To tryst on hym, y hold hyt good.\n_con_fid_e_t in    Lucye ha[th] pyght his pauelou_n_\nho_m_i_n_e._       And sprad wy[th] pryde his gu_n_fanou_n_;         456\n                   His claryou_n_s blastes full_e_ grete blywe,\n                   Archeris schot(:) Men ouer-thrywe;\nThe battle         Bowes, arwes, & arblastere\nbegins.            Schot sore alle y-vere;                           460\n                   Quarels, arwes, [th]ey fly smerte;\n                   [Th]e fyched Men [th]ru[gh] heed & herte;\n                   Axes, sperys, and gysarmes gret,\n                   Clefte Many a prowt Ma_n_nes heed:                464\n                   Hors & steedes gan to grent,\n                   And deyde wy[th] strok_is_ [th]_a_t [th]ey hente;\n                   Many a man [th]_er_e lost hys lyf,  [Fol. 45_b_.]\n                   Many on was wedyw [th]_a_t was wyff;              468\nMen are wetshod    [Th]ere men were wetschoede\nwith brains and    All_e_ of Brayn & of blode;\nblood.             Gret rywth_e_ hyt was to seyn\n                   [Th]e feltes full_e_ of men y-scleyn;             472\nLucius is          Lucy [th]e Emp_er_our also was dede;\nslain,             But ho hym sclowh, y can nat rede;\n                   He, for all_e_ hys grete Renou_n_,\n\n              [Arthur Wins, and Buries the Dead.]\n\nnot able to        A[gh]enst Arthour hadde no fusou_n_,              476\nstand against      No more [th]an haue twenty schep\nArthur.            A[gh]enst vyve wolfez greet.\n                   To god be euere alle hono_ur_ez!\n                   The falde was hys & Arthourez.                    480\nArthur sends       Arthour, as he scholde done,\nLucius's body      Sende lucyes body to Rome;\nto Rome,           Whan [th]e Romeynes say [th]is,\n                   [Th]o [th]ey dradde Artho_ur_ & hys.              484\nburies Bedwere     Also he buryed Bedewere\nand others         Hys frend and | hys Botyler,\n                   And so he dude other Echon\nin Abbeys,         In Abbeys of Relygyou_n_                          488\n                   [Th]at were cristien of name;\n                   He dude to alle [th]e same;\n                   And dude for ham Masse synge\n                   w_y_t_h_ sole_m_pne song & offrynge,              492\n                   And bood [th]ere for to rest,\nand stays the      Tyll_e_ [th]at wynter was past,\nwinter,            Bo[th]e he (.) hys Men echone\n                   Seruyd god in deuocione,                          496\nthanking God       [Th]ankyng god of hys My[gh]t\n                   [Th]at kepe[th] hys seruau_n_tez ry[gh]t,\n                   And suffre[th] noon for to spylle\nfor His honour     [Th]_a_t hym loue[th] & tryste wylle:             500\nto England.        [Th]us worschup god dude certeyn\n[Of the            To Englond, [th]at [th]o was Bretayn;\ndifference         [Th]e More Breteyn Englond ys--\nbetween More       As men may rede on Cronyclys--                    504\n(or Great)         By[gh]end [th]e See Bretayne [th]_er_ ys,\nBritain and        [Th]at ha[th] hys name forso[th]e of [th]is,\nLittle Britain.]   For [th]e kyng Maxymyan,--\n                   [Th]e next after Octauyan,--                      508\n                   He conquered all_e_ Armoryk,\n                   And to [th]e Reme named hyt lyk:\n_Armorica_.        Amorica on latyn me cl[e]ped [th]_a_t lond,\n\n              [Of the Welsh and Stinking Saxons.]\n\n                   Tyl Maxymyan co[_n_]queryd hyt w_y_t_h_ honde,    512\n                   And called hyt lyte bretayne [th]an,\n                   So hy[gh]t [th]is lond [th]at he coom fram;\nLittle Britain     For p_er_petuell_e_ Mynde of grete Bretayne\nis called after    He called hyt lyte Bretayne,                      516\nGreat Britain.     [Th]at Men schulde kepe in Mynde & wytt\n                   How [th]is lond conqueryd hytt;\n                   For Walsch_e_ Men be[th] Bretou_n_s of kynde--\n                   Know [th]at well_e_ fast on Mynde--               520\n                   Englisch_e_ men be[th] Saxoynes,\n                   [Th]at be[th] of Engistes Soones;\n                   There-fore [th]e walsch man Bretou_n_\n                   Sey[th] & clepe[th] vs \"Sayson\" *                 524\n                         [* [Th]at ys to seye vpon a reess,\n                         \"Stynking Saxou_n_, be on pees.\" ]\nHow the Welshmen   And sey[th] (.) \"taw or (.) peyd Sayson\ncall the English       brou_n_t\"[8]\n\"stinking          Whan he ys wroth (;) or ellys drou_n_ke;\nSaxons.\"           Hauyng Mynde of Engystis Men\n                   [Th]at w_y_t_h_ gyle sclow [th]eyre kyn:          528\n                   At [th]e place of [th]e Stonehenge\n                   [Gh]ut [th]ey [th]enke[th] for to venge:\n                   And [th]at hyt neuere be so,\n                   Sey[th] a Pater noster more to.                   532\n\n                 Pater noster.\n\nArthur is          Now turne we to oure labo_ur_\npreparing to       And lat vs speke of Arthour:\ncross the          He cast on herte sone\nmountains to       After [th]at to go to Rome,                       536\nRome,              And spak of Passage & hys wey\n                   Forth ouer Mou_n_t Ioye.\nwhen he hears      And sone after vpon an owr\nof Mordred's       He horde of Mordred the treto_ur_                 540\ntreachery;         That hadde all_e_ [th]is loud on warde--\n\n              [Of Mordred's Treachery and Arthur's Return.]\n\n                   Euyll_e_ moot such_e_ fare, and harde.\n                   Who may best bygyle a man\n                   But such_e_ as he tryst vpon?                     544\n                   [Th]er ys no man wel nye, y tryste,\n                   [Th]at can be waar of hadde wyste.--\n                   Mordred [th]is falss Man\n                   Much_e_ sorw [th]o bygan;                         548\n                   He stuffed alle castelle\n                   Wy[th] armyre & vytelle,\n                   And strenghthed hym on eche syde\n                   W_y_t_h_ Men of cou_n_treys ferre & wyde:         552\nhow the traitor    He toke [th]e qwene, Arthoure[gh] wyff,\nhad seized the     A[gh]enst goddes lawe & gode lyff,\nqueen, his         And putte heore to soiourne [th]o\n(Arthur's) wife,   At Euerwyk: god [gh]yf hym wo.                    556\nand put her at     Yhork ys Euerwyk:\nYork.              & so me calle[th] hyt.\nArthur then comes  Artho_ur_ aryved at Whytsond\nhome,              W_y_t_h_ gret Myght & strong hond,                560\nfights Mordred,    And Mordred sainz fayl\n                   [Gh]af hym [th]o a strong batayl;\n                   Many a man, as y rede,\n                   [Th]at day was [th]ere dede;                      564\n                   Arthoures nevew Waweyn\nand Gawain is      [Th]at day was [th]ere y-sclayn,\nslain.             And o[th]er kny[gh]tes Many moo:\n                   [Th]an Arthour was heuy & woo.                    568\nMordred flies      Mordred fly toward Londou_n_;\nto London,         He most not come in [th]e tou_n_:\n                   [Th]an fled he to wy_n_chester\n                   And w_y_t_h_ hys Mayn_e_e kep [?] hym [th]er_e_;  572\n                   And Arthour on gret haste\n                   Pursywed after hym faste.\n                   Mordred w_y_t_h_oute fayle\nand then to        Fled in-to Cornewayle.                            576\nCornwall.          The qwene wy[th]oute lesyng\n\n              [Arthur's Last Battle with Mordred.]\n\n                   Hurde of [th]is tydyng,\n                   And how Mordred was flow,\n                   And how to Cornewale he hym drow.                 580\n                   Heo of Mercy hadde noon hoope,\nThe Queen          Ther-for he dude on a Russet cote,\nturns nun at       And to Carlyou_n_ ys preuyly Rou_n_ne,\nCarlyon.           And made heore self [th]o a Nou_n_ne;             584\n                   Fro [th]at place neuer heo wende,\n                   But of heore lyf [th]ere made an ende.\nGawain             Waweynes body, as y reede,\n                   And other lordes [th]at weere deede,              588\nis buried in       Arthour sente in-to skotlonde,\nScotland.          And buryed ham [th]_er_e, y vnd_er_stonde.\n                   Muche folke [th]_er_henne he toke [th]o,\nNorthern men       Of Northu_m_ber-lond also                         592\nand others come    Fram dyverse places to Artho_ur_ come\nto Arthur.         Hys wyll_e_ to werk & to done:\n                   Thus he sembled a full_e_ gret Ost;\n                   To Cornewayle he drawe[th] hym fast               596\n                   After [th]at Mordred [th]e trayto_ur_\n                   [Th]at hadde do hym Much_e_ dyshono_ur_.\n                   That treto_ur_ hadde gret strength\n                   And fulled [th]_a_t lond on brede & length_e_,    600\nHe gives Mordred   Such_e_ a batell_e_ as [th]ere was redy [th]o\nbattle.            Hadde neuer Arthour byfore y-doo:\n                   They fow[gh]t tyl [th]er come dou_n_ bloode\n_Bellu_m_          As a(.) Ryver or (.)a(.) flood;                   604\narthuri ap_u_d     [Th]ey fow[gh]t euer sorest sadde;\nCamelerton_um_     Men nyst ho [th]e betere hadde;\nin Cornubia._      But at [th]e last Certeyn\nMordred is slain:  Was Mordred & alle hys y-sclayn;                  608\nArthur wounded,    And Artho_ur_ y-bete wy[th] wou_n_de,\nand carried to     He Myght not stonde on grou_n_de;\nAvelon, or         But on lyter ry[gh]t anon\n_Auelona .l.       Was brow[gh]t to Auelon_e_,                       612\ninsula pomor_um_   [Th]_a_t was a place fayr & Mury;\nGlastonia._\n\n              [Arthur is Buried At Glastonbury.]\n\nGlastonbury,       Now hyt hoote[th] Glastyngbury.\nwhere he  dies,    Ther Artho_ur_ [th]at worthy kyng\n                   Maked hys lyues endyng;                           616\n                   But for he skaped [th]_a_t batell_e_ y-wys,\n                   Bretou_n_s & Cornysch saye[th] [th]us,\n                   \"[Th]at he leuyth [gh]ut p_ar_de,\n                   And schall_e_ come & be a kyng a[gh]e.\"           620\n                   At Glastyngbury on [th]e qweer\nand is buried      [Th]ey made Arto_ur_ez tou_m_be [th]ere,\nA.D. 542.          And wrote wyth latyn vers [th]us,\n                   Hic iacet Arthurus rex quonda_m_\n                         rex que futur_us_.                          624\n                   Thys was [th]us forso[th]e ydone\n_Anno d_o_m_ini_   [Th]e yheer after [th]e Incarnacione,\nqu_in_gente_simo_  Vyf hundred (.) fourty & two.\n_quadragesi_m_o    Now saue vs alle fra woo                          628\ns_e_c_un_do._      Ih_es_u cryst, heuenly kyng,\n                   & grau_n_t vs alle hys blessyng;\n                   And [th]at hyt Moote so be,\n                   Seye[th] alle Pater & Aue.                        632\n\n                Pater noster. Aue.\n\n                   Ho [th]_a_t woll_e_ more loke,\nRead the French    Reed on [th]e frensch boke,\nBook for the       And he schall_e_ fynde [th]ere\nrest.              [Th]ynges [th]at y leete here.                    636\n                   But yf [th]at god wolle grau_n_te gr_a_ce,\n                   y schall_e_ rehercy in [th]is place\n                   Alle [th]e kyngez [th]at after were,\n                   And what names [[th]]at [th]ey bere;              640\n                   And ho [th]_a_t woll_e_ [th]eyre gestes loke,\n                   Reed on [th]e Frensch_e_ boke. Amen fiat.\n\n\n[ FOOTNOTES\n\n  2. ? MS. perhaps _Angecye_.\n\n  3. The _s_ is rubbed: the word may be \"onlesbury.\"\n\n  5. _sepe_, ? for _seue_, seven. It is _p_ not _x_ (six) in the MS.\n     But as Arthur had 200,000, and Lucius only 400,124, _sepe_ should\n     mean _two_.\n\n  8. Pughe's abridged Dictionary gives _tau_, _v.a._ be still; _taw_,\n     _s.m._ and _adj._ quiet, silence, silent; _paid_, _s.m._ a cessation,\n     quiet; _bront_, _a._ nasty, filthy, surly. _Or_, says Dr. Benj.\n     Davies, you must take as equal to the modern Welsh _wr_, man, if it\n     is not English; _peyd_ is cease, pause; _taw_, be silent. ]\n\n\n\n\nWORDS\n\n\na, he, l. 370.\naspye, _sb._ espial, l. 416.\nayhe, again, l. 126.\n\nbeeme, _sb._ ? noise, display, from A.S. _b[e']me_, a trumpet, l. 108.\n\nfalde, l. 480, felt, l. 472; field.\nfusoun, gain, victory, l. 476. L. _fusio_, outpouring, plenty.\nfyched, pierced, l. 462.\n\ngoom, man, l. 166.\ngysarme, l. 463. _Hallebarde, pique, hache_. Roquefort.\n\nhadde wyste, l. 546, had I known (how it would have turned out). See\n  Nares, and the Poem \"Beware of had-I-wyst,\" that he quotes. \"Beware of\n  _had-I-wyst_, whose fine bringes care and smart.\"\nhawted, exalted, l. 113.\nhe, she, l. 582.\nhelyth, cover, l. 407.\n\nlast, lest, l. 289.\nloghynge, lodging, l. 344.\nlynage, descendant, l. 269.\n\nmuchelnesse, _sb._ muchness, number and power, l. 439.\nmynde, remembrance, l. 527.\n\noo, one, l. 49.\n\nsayle, assail, attack, l. 12.\nscley, slain, l. 212.\nskyle, _sb._ reason, l. 17.\nsoue[gh] (?), sough, moan, l. 88.\n\nthat, ye who, l. 1; those who, l. 42, 84.\ntheoband (l. 178), is, I expect, miswritten for theo_d_and; A.S.\n  _[th]eodan_, to join; _ge-[th]eod-an_, to join, associate.\ntherhenne, thence, l. 591.\ntoke, gave, l. 329.\n\nvenge, have revenge, take vengeance, l. 530.\nverrament, truly, l. 32.\n\nwas, whose, l. 248.\nwood, wild, mad, l. 211.\n\nydoon, done, spent, l. 72.\nylete, let, l. 194.\nytake, taken to, given to, l. 272.\ny-vere, together, l. 460.\nywyss, certainly, l. 46.","title":"Arthur: A Short Sketch of His Life and History in English Verse of the First Half of the Fifteenth Century","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":5699}