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Arthur
A Short Sketch of His Life and History in English Verse of the First
Half of the Fifteenth Century
Copied and Edited From the Marquis of Bath's MS.
by
Frederick J. Furnivall, M.A., Camb.
Editor of De Borron's and Lonelich's "History of the Holy Graal,"
Walter Map's "Queste Del Saint Graal," Etc. Etc.
London:
Published for the Early English Text Society,
by Truebner & Co., 60, Paternoster Row.
MDCCCLXIV
Contents
Preface
Arthur
Words
Notes
Preface
As one of the chief objects of the Early English Text Society is to
print every Early English Text relating to Arthur, the Committee have
decided that this short sketch of the British hero's life shall form one
of the first issue of the Society's publications. The six hundred and
forty-two English lines here printed occur in an incomplete Latin
Chronicle of the Kings of Britain, bound up with many other valuable
pieces in a MS. belonging to the Marquis of Bath. The old chronicler has
dealt with Uther Pendragon, and Brounsteele (Excalibur), and is
narrating Arthur's deeds, when, as if feeling that Latin prose was no
fit vehicle for telling of Arthur, king of men, he breaks out into
English verse,
"Herkene[th], [th]at loueth hono_ur_,
Of kyng Arthour & hys labo_ur_."
The story he tells is an abstract, with omissions, of the earlier
version of Geoffry of Monmouth, before the love of Guinevere for
Lancelot was introduced by the French-writing English romancers of the
Lionheart's time (so far as I know), into the Arthur tales. The fact of
Mordred's being Arthur's son, begotten by him on his sister, King Lot's
wife, is also omitted; so that the story is just that of a British king
founding the Round Table, conquering Scotland, Ireland, Gothland, and
divers parts of France, killing a giant from Spain, beating Lucius the
Emperor of Rome, and returning home to lose his own life, after the
battle in which the traitor whom he had trusted, and who has seized his
queen and his land, was slain.
"He that will more look,
Read on the French book,"
says our verse-writer: and to that the modern reader must still be
referred, or to the translations of parts of it, which we hope to print
or reprint, and that most pleasantly jumbled abstract of its parts by
Sir Thomas Maleor, Knight, which has long been the delight of many a
reader,--though despised by the stern old Ascham, whose Scholemaster was
to turn it out of the land.--There the glory of the Holy Grail will be
revealed to him; there the Knight of God made known; there the only true
lovers in the world will tell their loves and kiss their kisses before
him; and the Fates which of old enforced the penalty of sin will show
that their arm is not shortened, and that though the brave and guilty
king fights well and gathers all the glory of the world around him, yet
still the sword is over his head, and, for the evil that he has done,
his life and vain imaginings must pass away in dust and confusion.
Of the language of the Poem there is little to say: its dialect is
Southern, as shown by the verbal plural _th_, the _vyve_ for five, _zyx_
for six, _ych_ for I, _har_ (their), _ham_ (them), for _her_, _hem_;
_hulle_, _dude_, _[gh]ut_, for hill, did, yet, the infinitive in _y_
(_rekeny_), etc. Of its poetical merits, every reader will judge for
himself; but that it has power in some parts I hope few will deny.
Arthur's answer to Lucius, and two lines in the duel with Frollo,
"There was no word y-spoke,
But eche had other by the throte,"
are to be noted. Parts of the MS. have very much faded since it was
written some ten or twenty years before 1450, so that a few of the words
are queried in the print. The MS. contains a few metrical points and
stops, which I have here printed between parentheses (). The expansions
of the contractions are printed in italics, but the ordinary doubt whether
the final lined _n_ or _u_--for they are often undistinguishable--is
to be printed n_e_, n_ne_, or u_n_, exists here too.
I am indebted to Mr. Sims, of the Manuscript Department of the British
Museum, for pointing out the Poem to me, and to the Marquis of Bath for
his kind permission to copy it for printing.
_3, Old Square, Lincoln's Inn,_
_London, W.C., August 30, 1864._
Arthur [pg 1]
From the Marquis of Bath's MS.
BEF. 1450 A.D.
[The Latin side notes in italics, and the stops
of the text in parentheses (), are those of the MS.]
Herkene[th], [th]at loue[th] hono_ur_, [Fol. 42_b_]
Of kyng Arthour & hys labo_ur_;
How Arthur And furst how he was bygete,
was begotten As [th]_a_t we in bok_is_ do rede. 4
by Pendragon Vther pendragon_e_ was hys fader,
on Ygerne. And ygerne was hys Moder.
Pendragon_e_ ys in walysch_e_
Pendragon 'Dragones heed' on Englysch_e_; 8
(_t.i._ Dragon's He maked ypeynted dragon_e_s two;
Head) made Oon schold byfore him goo
two painted Whan he went to batayle,
dragons, Whan he wold hys foes sayle; 12
That other abood at wynchester,
Euermore stylle there.
and thence Bretones [gh]af hym [th]_a_t Name,
had his name. Vther Pendragon_e_ [th]e same, 16
For [th]at skyle fer & nere
Euer-more hyt to here.
How Uther loved The Erles wyff of Cornewayle
the Earl of He loued to Muche sanz fayle; 20
Cornwall's wife,
[Arthur Has the Round Table Made.]
Merlyn wy[th] hys sotelnesse
Turned vtheris lyknesse,
And maked hym lyche [th]e Erl anone,
And wy[th] hys wyff (:) his wyll_e_ to done 24
In [th]e cou_n_tre of Cornewell_e_:
In [th]e Castel of Tyntagell_e_,
and begat Arthur Thus vther, yf y schall_e_ nat lye,
in adultery. Bygat Arthour in avowtrye. 28
Whan vther Pendragon_e_ was deed,
Arthur is Arthour anon was y-crowned;
crowned, He was courteys, large, & Gent
to alle puple verrament; 32
Beaute, My[gh]t, amyable chere
To alle Men ferre and neere;
Hys port (;) hys [gh]yftes gentyll_e_
is loved of all, Maked hym y-loved wyll_e_; 36
Ech mon was glad of hys p_re_sence,
And drade to do hym dysplesau_n_ce;
is strong A stronger Man of hys honde
was neuer founde on any londe, 40
and courteous. As courteys as any Mayde:--
[Th]us wryte[th] of hym [th]_a_t
hym a-sayde. [Fol. 42_b_,
At Cayrlyon_e_, wyt_h_oute fable, col. 2.]
He makes the he let make [th]e Rou_n_de table: 44
Round Table, And why [th]_a_t he maked hyt [th]us,
[Th]is was [th]e resou_n_ y-wyss,--
that all at it [Th]at no man schulde sytt aboue other,
might be equal. ne haue indignaciou_n_ of hys bro[th]_er_; 48
And alle hadde (.)oo(.) seruyse,
For no pryde scholde aryse
For any degree of syttynge,
O[th]er for any seruynge:-- 52
[Th]us he kept [th]e table Rou_n_de
Whyle he leuyd on [th]e grou_n_de.
After his first After he hadde conquered skotlond
conquests yrland & Gotland, 56
[He Fights Frollo for France.]
he lives twelve _[Th]an_ leuyd he at [th]e best
years in peace, twelf [gh]eeris on all_e_ reste
Wy[th]oute werre (:) tyll_e_ at [th]e laste
he [th]ou[gh]t to make (.)a(.) nywe _con_queste. 60
and then invades Into Frau_n_ce wy[th] gode cou_n_ceyle
France. he wolde weende (:) & hyt assayle,
[Th]at Rome [th]o kept vnder Myght,
Vnder Frollo (:) a worthy knyght 64
[Th]_a_t frau_n_ce hadde [th]o to kepe,
To rywle, defende, & to lede.
He beats Frollo Arthour and Frollo fou[gh]t in feld;
back to Paris, [Th]ere deyde many vnder scheld. 68
Frollo in-to Paryss fly,
W_y_th strenkthe kept hyt wysely:
and there Arthour byseged [th]_a_t Syte & town
besieges him, Tyll_e_ [th]eire vytayl was y-doon. 72
till Frollo Frollo [th]at worthy knyght
challenges him Proferyd w_y_t_h_ Artho_ur_ for to fyght
to single combat. Vnder [th]is wyse & condiciou_n_,--
"Ho hadde [th]e Maystrie (:) haue [th]e crown; 76
And no mo men but [th]ey two."
They fight: [Th]e day Was sett (:) to-geder [th]ey go:
Fayr hyt was to byholde
In suche two kny[gh]ghte[gh] bolde: 80
[Th]er was no word y-spoke,
But eche hadde other by [th]e [th]rote;
[Th]ey smote w_y_t_h_ trou_n_chou_n_
& w_y_t_h_ swerd;
[Th]at hyt seye were a-ferd; [Fol. 43.] 84
Frollo fou[gh]t wy[th] hys ax (:) as men dude se;
(Frollo with He hytt Arthour (:) so sore (:)
his axe) [th]_a_t he felle on kne.
He ros vp raply (:) and smot hym full_e_ sore;
He dude hym to grent a (.) soue[gh][1]
[th]_er_fore. [1. ? sone[gh]] 88
thus they hyw on helmes hye,
And schatered on wy[th] scheldes.
[Th]e puple by-gan to crye
[Th]at stood on [th]e feldes; 92
[Arthur Returns Victorious to Britain,]
till Arthur in ther ne wyst no man, as y can ler_e_,
wrath takes Who of ham two was [th]e better_e_ [th]er_e_.
Brownsteel, Arthour was chafed & wexed wroth_e_,
_Caliburn_us He hente brou_n_steell_e_ | and to Frollo goth_e_ 96
_Arthuri Gladius_ Brou_n_stell_e_ was heuy & also kene;
[with a sketch Fra_m_ [th]e schulder(:) to [th]e syde
thereof in the went bytwene
MS.] and strikes Off frollo | and [th]an he fell to
Frollo [th]e grou_n_de
Ry[gh]t as he moste | deed(.) in lyte stou_n_de. 100
Frensch_e_ men made doell_e_ & wept full_e_ faste;
[Th]eir Crowne of frau_n_ce [th]ere [th]ey loste.
Arthur takes Than wente Arthour in-to paryse
Paris. And toke [th]e castell_e_ & [th]e town
at hys avyse. 104
Worschuped be god of hys grete grace
Glory to God. [Th]_a_t [th]us [gh]eue[th] fortune(:) and
worschup to [th]e Reme;
Thanke [gh]e hym all_e_ [th]_a_t be[th]
on [th]is place,
Say ye a Pater And seye[th] a Pater noster w_y_t_h_out
Noster therefore. any Beeme. 108
Pater noster.
Artho_ur_ fram paryse went w_y_t_h_ hys Rowte,
Arthur conquers And co_n_quered [th]e Cou_n_tre on euery
the countries syde aboute;
around, Angeoy[2] , Peytow, Berry, & Gaskoyne,
Nauerne, Burgon_e_ | Loreyn & Toreyne; 112
He dau_n_ted [th]e proude | & hawted [th]e poure;
He dwelt long in Paryss after in honoure;
He was drad and loued in cou_n_treis abowte;
Heyest & lowest hym Loved & alowte; 116
And vpon an Esto_ur_ tyme sone afterward
He fested hys knyght_is_ & [gh]af ham gret reward;
distributes To hys styward he [gh]af Angers & Au_n_geye;
them among his To Bedewer hys botyler he [gh]af Norma_n_dye; 120
knights, He [gh]af to Holdyne flau_n_drys parde;
To Borel hys Cosyn, Boloyne [th]e cyte;
And eche man, after [th]e astat [th]at he was,
He rewarded hem alle, bo[th]e More & lasse, 124
and returns to And [gh]af hem reward, bo[th]e lond and Fee,
Britain. And turned to Breteyn, to Carlyo_n_e ayhe.
[And then Holds a Great Feast.]
Artho_ur_ wolde of hono_ur_ [Fol. 43_b_,
Arthur gives an Hold a fest at Eestour col. 1.] 128
Easter Feast Of regalye & worthynesse,
And feede alle hys frendess;
And sende Messanger
To kynges ferre & neer 132
[Th]at were to hym Omager,
to come to [th]is Dyner.
And alle at oo certeyn day
They come [th]yder in gode aray, 136
And kept [th]eire Ceson_e_
at Carlyon, At [th]e Castell_e_ Cayrlyon_e_.
greater than ere Thys fest was Muche Moore
before. [Th]an euere Artho_ur_ made a-fore; 140
Ten kings were For [th]ere was Vrweyn [th]e kynge
there, Of scottes at [th]at dynynge,
Stater [th]e kyng of south wales,
Cadwell_e_ [th]e kyng of north wale[gh], 144
Gwylmar [th]e kyng of yrland,
Dolmad [th]e kyng of guthland,
Malgan of yselond also,
Archyl of De_n_march [th]_er_to, 148
Aloth_e_ [th]e kyng of Norwey,
Souenas [th]e kyng of Orkenye,
Of Breteyn [th]e kyng Hoel,
and thirteen Cador Erl of Cornewell_e_, 152
earls Morice [th]e Erl of Gloucestr_e_,
Marran Erl of Wy_n_chestre,
Gwergou_n_d Erl of herford,
Boo[gh] Erl of Oxenford, 156
(including him Of bathe vngent [th]e Erl also,
of Bath), Cursal of Chestr_e_ [th]er-to,
Euerad Erl of salesbury[3],
Kynmar Erl of Canterbury, 160
Jonas [th]e Erl of Dorcestre,
[Arthur's Guests at Cayrlyone.]
Valence [th]e Erl of sylchestr_e_,
Jugeyn of Leyccer [?] [th]_er_to,
Argal of warwyk also,-- 164
Kynges & Erles Echon
with many other [Th]es wer_e_; & many ano[th]_er_ goom
gentles great, Gret of astaat, & [th]e beste,
[Th]es were at [th]e Feste. 168
Other also gentyls grete
Were [th]ere at [th]at Meete,
Sauer appon Donand,
Regeym & Alard, 172
Reyne[gh] fit[gh] Colys,
Tade_us_ fit[gh] Reis,
Delyn fit[gh] Dauid,
Kymbelyn le fit[gh] Gryffith, 176
Gryffit[gh] [th]e Sone of Nagand,
[Th]es were [th]er_e_ also theoband:
besides the Alle [th]es were [th]ere w_y_t_h_oute fable,
Round Tablers, W_y_t_h_oute ham of [th]e rou_n_de table. 180
Archbishops, Thre archebusschopes [th]_er_ wer_e_ also,
Bishops, And other busschopes many mo--
All_e_ [th]is mayne were nat al-oone;
W_y_t_h_ ham com many a Goome. 184
[Th]is feste dured dayes [th]re
In reuell_e_ & sole_m_pnite.
and many from Of by [gh]onde [th]e See also
beyond the sea. Many lordez[?] were [th]ere [th]o. 188
Now reste[th] alle wy[th] Me,
And say a Pater & Ave.
Pater noster.
The [th]rydde day folowyng
The_n_ coom nywe tydynge, 192
[Th]e whyle [th]ey sete at [th]e Mete
To the feasters Messagers were In ylete;
came messengers Well_e_ arayd forso[th]e [th]ey come,
from the & send fram cite of Rome 196
[Lucius's Message to Arthur.]
Roman Emperor, Wy[th] l_ett_res of [th]e Emp_er_oures
_luci_us. Whas name was Lucies.
[Th]es l_ett_res were opened & vnfold,
And [th]e tydyng_e_ to alle men told, 200
Whas sentence, yf y ne lye,
Was after [th]_a_t y can aspye:
L_ite_ra Lucii [P] Luci_u_s [th]e grete Emp_er_our
i_m_p_er_at_oris_. To hys Enemy Arthour:-- 204
We woundere[th] of [th]i wodeness
And also of [th]y Madnesse!
How darst [th]ow any wyse
saying, that to A[gh]enst the Emp_er_o_ur_ [th]_u_s aryse, 208
have invaded And ryde on Remes on eche wey,
France, etc., and And make kynge[gh] to [th]e obey?
made kings, [Th]u art wood on [th]e Nolle!
Arthur must be [Th]u hast scley owre cosyn frolle; 212
mad in his noll; [Th]u schalt be taw[gh]t at a schort day [Fol. 44,
for to make such_e_ aray. col. 1.]
Oure cosyn Iuli_us_ cesar
So_m_me tyme conquered [th]ar; 216
that he must pay To Rome [th]u owest hys trybut;
his tribute, We charge[th] [th]e to paye vs hyt.
Thy pryde we woll_e_ alaye
[Th]at makest so gret aray: 220
We co_m_mande[th] [th]e on haste
To paye owre trybut faste;
[Th]u hast scley frolle in frau_n_ce
[Th]at hadde vnder vs [th]er_e_ gou_er_nau_n_ce, 224
And wy[th]holdest oure tribute [th]_er_to:
[Th]u schalt be taw[gh]t [th]u hast mysdo:
We co_m_mande[th] [th]e in haste soone
and come to [Th]at [th]u come to vs at Rome 228
Rome to be To vnd_er_fang our_e_ ordynau_n_ce
punished for For [th]y dysobediau_n_ce;
his disobedience. As [th]u wold nat leze [th]y lyf,
Fulfylle [th]ys w_y_t_h_oute stryff." 232
[Arthur's Answer to Lucius.]
The Britons When [th]is l_ett_re was open & rad;
purpose to kill [Th]e bretou_n_s & all_e_ men wer_e_ mad,
the messengers, And wolde [th]e messager scle:--
but Arthur "Nay," seyd Arthour, "per de, 236
forbids it, That were a[gh]enst alle kynde,
A messager to bete or bynde;
y charge alle men here
for to make ham good chere." 240
And after Mete sanz fayl
Wy[th] hys lordes he hadde cou_n_sayl;
And alle asented [th]er to,
and resolves to Artho_ur_ to Rome scholde go; 244
invade Rome. And [th]ey ne wolde in hys t_ra_uayle
Wy[th] strenk[th] & good neuer fayle.
Than Artho_ur_ wroot to Rome a l_ett_re,
Was sentence was so_m_m-what bytter_e_, 248
And sayde i_n_ [th]is manere
As [gh]e may hure here:--
_L_ite_ra Reg_is_ "Knowe[th] well_e_ [gh]e of Romayne,
Arthuri._ Y am kyng Artho_ur_ of Bretayne. 252
Arthur's answer Frau_n_ce, y haue conquered hyt,
to the Emperor Y schall_e_ defende & kepe hyt [Gh]ut, [Fol. 44,
Lucius, Y come to Rome, as y am tryw, col. 2.]
claiming tribute To take my trybut (.) to me dywe, 256
from him. But noon [th]ere-for to paye,
By my werk [gh]e schall_e_ asay;
For [th]e Emp_er_our Constantyne
[Th]at was [th]e Soone of Elyne, 260
[Th]at was a Breton_e_ of [th]is lond,
Co_n_quered Rome w_y_t_h_ hys hond,
And so [gh]e owe[th] me tribut:
Y charge [gh]ow [th]at [gh]e pay me hyt. 264
Also Maximian kyng of Bretaigne
Co[_n_]quered al frau_n_ce & Almayne,
Lombardye Rome & ytalye--
[The Messenger's Report of Arthur.]
By [gh]oure bok_is_ [gh]e may a-spye. 268
Y am [th]eir Eyr & [th]eyre lynage,
Y aske [gh]ow my trywage."
[Th]is l_ett_re was celyd fast,
Y-take the Messagerez on hast; 272
Arthour [gh]af ham [gh]yftez grete,
And chered ham wy[th] drynk and Mete.
Lucius's [Th]ey hasted ham to come hoom;
messengers Byfor [th]e Emp_er_o_ur_ [th]ey be[th] coom; 276
return to him. Saluted hym as resou_n_ ys,
And toke hym [th]es letterys.
[Th]ey seyde to [th]e Emp_er_our
"We have be wy[th] kyng Artho_ur_; 280
But such ano[th]_er_ as he ys oon,
Say neuer no Man.
He ys s_er_ued on hys howshold
Wy[th] kynges, Erles, worthy & bold; 284
Hys worthynesse, sur Emp_er_our,
Passe[th] Much_e_ all_e_ [gh]owre;
and give him He seyde he wolde hyder come
Arthur's message. And take trywage of all_e_ Rome, 288
We dowte[th] last he wel do soo,
For he ys Myghty ynow [th]er-too."
Now, erst [th]an we goo fer[th]er,
Every man [th]at ys here 292
Sey a Pater noster
And ave wy[th] gode chere; Ame_n_.
Pater noster
Ave Maria.
Now stureth hym self Artho_ur_ [Fol. 44_b_.]
[Th]enkyng on hys labo_ur_, 296
Arthur prepares And gadery[th] to hym strenghth aboute,
for his Hys kynges & Erles on a rowte--
expedition A fayr sy[gh]t to Mannes ye
to Rome. to see suche a cheualrye,-- 300
[The Number of Arthur's Host.]
Has five kings, The kyng of Gotland,
Also [th]e kyng of Irland,
the kyng of ysland | & of Orkenye,
[Th]is was worthy Maynye; 304
The kyng of Denmark also was [th]er_e_,
[Th]is was a worthy chere:
Eche of [th]ese vyve at her venyw
Brou[gh]t zyx [th]ousand at har retenyw; 308
with 30,000men, xxx{ti} [th]owsand, yc_h_ vnderstand,
[Th]es vyf kyng_is_ hadde on honde.
80,000 Normans Than hadde he out of Normandye,
and Of Angeoy & of Almanye, 312
Boloyne(.) Peytow & flau_n_dres
Fowre skore [th]owsand harneys--
12,000 from Geryn of Chartez .xij. [th]owsand
Chartres, [th]at went wy[th] Arto_ur_ euer at honde; 316
10,000 Bretons. Hoel of bretayn, [th]owsandez ten
Of hardy & well_e_ fyghtyng Men;
Out of Bretaygne hys owne land
and 40,000 He passed fourty [th]owsand 320
British: Of Archerys & off Arblastere
[Th]_a_t Cow[th] well_e_ [th]e craft of werre.
[P] In Foot other Many a Man Moo
Able to feyght(:) as well_e_ as [th]o: 324
in all 200,000. Two hunderd [th]ousand
Went wy[th] hym out of lond,
And Many moo sykerly
That y can[4] not nombrye. [4. ? MS. y-tan.] 328
Artho_ur_ toke [th]an [th]e lond
Britain is left To Moddredes owne hond;
in Mordred's He kept al o[th]er [th]yng
charge. Saue [th]o Corowne weryng; 332
But he was [fals] of hys kepynge,
As [gh]e schall_e_ hure here folewynge.
Arthur ships Now than_ne_ ys Arto_ur_ y-Come
at Southampton, And hys Ost to Sowthamptone: 336
[The Giant that Ravished Fair Elayne.]
Ther was Many a Man of Myghte
Strong & bold also to fyghte.
Eche man hath take his schuppynge,
And ys at hys loghynge. 340
Vp go[th] [th]e sayl(:) [th]ey sayle[th] faste:
Arthour owt of sy[gh]t ys paste.
[Th]e ferst lond [th]at he gan Meete,
and lands at Forso[th]e hyt was Bareflete; 344
Barfleet. Ther he gan vp furst aryve.
Now well_e_ Mote Artho_ur_ spede & thryve;
God speed him! And [th]at hys saule spede [th]e better,
Lat eche man sey a Pater noster. 348
Pater noster.
Now god spede Artour well_e_!
A new foe hym ys comyng a nyw batell_e_.
appears, a Ther coom a gyant out of spayne,
Spanish Giant, And rauasched had fayr Elayne; 352
He had brou[gh]t heor_e_ vp on an hulle--
Mornyng hyt ys to hure or telle--
Cosyn heo was to kyng hoell,
A damesel fayr and gentell_e_; 356
And [gh]ut fer[th]_er_more to,
who has slain He rauasehed heore Moder also.
fair Elayne. He dude [th]e damesel for to dye
for he myght not lygge heor bye. 360
Whan [th]is was told to Artour,
He maked Much dolour,
Arthur sends And send Bedewer for to spye
Bedwere first How he myght come hym bye; 364
as a spy, And he was nat sclowh,
But to [th]e hulle hym drowh
[Th]at Closed was wy[th] wat_er_ stronge,
[Th]e hulle a-Mydde gret & longe; 368
He went ouer to [th]e hulle syde,
And [th]ere a fonde a wo_m_man_e_ byde
[Th]at sorwedd & wept Mornynge
[Arthur's Fight with the Giant.]
For Eleynes de[th] & dep_ar_tynge, 372
And bad Bedewer to fle also
Last he were ded more to;
"For yf [th]e Gyant fynde [th]e,
W_y_t_h_oute dowte he wyll_e_ [th]e scle." 376
Bedwer wy[th] all_e_ hastynge
Tolde Artho_ur_ all_e_ [th]is [th]ynge.
Amorwe whan [th]at hyt was day
and then (with Arthour toke [th]yder hys way, 380
Bedwere and Key) Bedewer wy[th] hym went, & keye,--
starts on his Men [th]at cow[th]e well_e_ [th]e weye,-- [Fol. 45.]
adventure. And broute Artho_ur_ Meyntenau_n_t,
Euen byfore [th]e Gyant. 384
Arthour fow[gh]t wy[th] [th]at wyght;
He had almost ylost hys Myght:
Wy[th] Muche peyne, [th]ru[gh] goddez grace
He kills the He sclowh [th]e Geant in [th]at place, 388
Giant, And [th]an he made Bedewere
To smyte of hys heed [th]ere.
To [th]e Ost he dude hyt brynge,
And [th]_er_on was gret wou_n_drynge, 392
whose horrible Hyt was so oryble & so greet,
head is shown to More [th]an any Horse heed.
the host, Than hadde hoel Ioye ynowh
For [th]at Arthour so hym sclowh; 396
And for a p_er_petuel Memorie
and St. Mary's He Made a chapell_e_ of seynt Marye
Chapel is built In [th]e hulle vpon [th]e pleyne,
in honour of the Wy[th]-Inne [th]at (:) [th]e t_um_be* of Eleyne; 400
victory. And [th]at name wy[th]oute nay [* to_m_be]
Hyt bere[th] [gh]ut in-to [th]is day.
Now ys an ende of [th]is [th]ynge,
News of Lucius's And Artour ha[th] nyw tydynge,-- 404
approach is Lucy [th]e Emp_er_our wy[th] hys host
brought, Come[th] fast in gret bost;
[Th]ey hely[th] ouer all_e_ [th]e lond,
[Arthur's Men-- Pray to God.]
with an army of Fowre hundred [th]owsand 408
400,124 men. An hunderd and foure & twenty,
Thus herawdes dude ham rekeny;
Thus he hadde gadered to hym
Of cristien and of Sarasyn, 412
Wy[th] all_e_ hys wytt & labour
To destroyen Arthour.
Arthour dude wyselye,
And hadde euer gode aspye 416
Of lucyes gouernynge
And of hys [th]yder comynge;
Some advise But so_m_me seyde hyt wer_e_ folye
Arthur to To fyght a[gh]enst Emp_er_o_ur_ lucie, 420
turn and flee, For he hadde sepe[5] euer_e_ a[gh]enst oon,
& cou_n_ceyled Artho_ur_ to fle & goon.
Wy[th] [th]e Emp_er_o_ur_ come kynges Many oon,
And all_e_ [th]eire power hooll_e_ & soom; 424
Stronger men My[gh]t no man see,
As full_e_ of drede as [th]ey myght be;
But Arthour was not dysmayd,
but he trusts He tryst on god, & was wel payd, 428
in God, And prayd [th]e hye trynyte
Euer hys help forto be;
And all_e_ hys Men wy[th] oo voyse
Cryde to god wy[th] Oo noyse, 432
to whom his "Fader in heuene, [th]y wyll_e_ be doon;
soldiers pray Defende [th]y puple fram [th]eire foon,
And lat not [th]e he[th]on_e_ Men
Destroye [th]e puple crystien: 436
Haue Mercy on [th]y se[r]uantis bonde,
to keep them And kepe ham fram [th]e he[th]on_e_ honde;
from the [Th]e Muchelnesse of Men sainfayle
heathen's hands. Ys nat victorie in Batayle; 440
[The Battle Between Arthur and Lucius.]
But after [th]e wyll_e_ [th]_a_t in heuene ys,
So [th]e victorie falle[th] y-wys."
Arthur's Than seyd Arthour, "hyt ys so:
"Forward!" Auau_n_t Baner, & be Goo." 444
Now frendes all_e_, for goddes loue,
Rere[th] [gh]owre hertes to god aboue,
And seye[th] [gh]owre prayeris faste,
[Th]_a_t we well_e_ spede furst & laste. 448
Pater noster.
The emp_er_our tryst on hys men,
And [th]_a_t h_a_[th] bygyled hym;
Forsothe hyt most nedez be so,
For [th]ey be[th] cursed [th]at well_e_ hyt do, 452
_Maledict_us_ Such_e_ all_e_ myght come[th] of god;
q_ui_ To tryst on hym, y hold hyt good.
_con_fid_e_t in Lucye ha[th] pyght his pauelou_n_
ho_m_i_n_e._ And sprad wy[th] pryde his gu_n_fanou_n_; 456
His claryou_n_s blastes full_e_ grete blywe,
Archeris schot(:) Men ouer-thrywe;
The battle Bowes, arwes, & arblastere
begins. Schot sore alle y-vere; 460
Quarels, arwes, [th]ey fly smerte;
[Th]e fyched Men [th]ru[gh] heed & herte;
Axes, sperys, and gysarmes gret,
Clefte Many a prowt Ma_n_nes heed: 464
Hors & steedes gan to grent,
And deyde wy[th] strok_is_ [th]_a_t [th]ey hente;
Many a man [th]_er_e lost hys lyf, [Fol. 45_b_.]
Many on was wedyw [th]_a_t was wyff; 468
Men are wetshod [Th]ere men were wetschoede
with brains and All_e_ of Brayn & of blode;
blood. Gret rywth_e_ hyt was to seyn
[Th]e feltes full_e_ of men y-scleyn; 472
Lucius is Lucy [th]e Emp_er_our also was dede;
slain, But ho hym sclowh, y can nat rede;
He, for all_e_ hys grete Renou_n_,
[Arthur Wins, and Buries the Dead.]
not able to A[gh]enst Arthour hadde no fusou_n_, 476
stand against No more [th]an haue twenty schep
Arthur. A[gh]enst vyve wolfez greet.
To god be euere alle hono_ur_ez!
The falde was hys & Arthourez. 480
Arthur sends Arthour, as he scholde done,
Lucius's body Sende lucyes body to Rome;
to Rome, Whan [th]e Romeynes say [th]is,
[Th]o [th]ey dradde Artho_ur_ & hys. 484
buries Bedwere Also he buryed Bedewere
and others Hys frend and | hys Botyler,
And so he dude other Echon
in Abbeys, In Abbeys of Relygyou_n_ 488
[Th]at were cristien of name;
He dude to alle [th]e same;
And dude for ham Masse synge
w_y_t_h_ sole_m_pne song & offrynge, 492
And bood [th]ere for to rest,
and stays the Tyll_e_ [th]at wynter was past,
winter, Bo[th]e he (.) hys Men echone
Seruyd god in deuocione, 496
thanking God [Th]ankyng god of hys My[gh]t
[Th]at kepe[th] hys seruau_n_tez ry[gh]t,
And suffre[th] noon for to spylle
for His honour [Th]_a_t hym loue[th] & tryste wylle: 500
to England. [Th]us worschup god dude certeyn
[Of the To Englond, [th]at [th]o was Bretayn;
difference [Th]e More Breteyn Englond ys--
between More As men may rede on Cronyclys-- 504
(or Great) By[gh]end [th]e See Bretayne [th]_er_ ys,
Britain and [Th]at ha[th] hys name forso[th]e of [th]is,
Little Britain.] For [th]e kyng Maxymyan,--
[Th]e next after Octauyan,-- 508
He conquered all_e_ Armoryk,
And to [th]e Reme named hyt lyk:
_Armorica_. Amorica on latyn me cl[e]ped [th]_a_t lond,
[Of the Welsh and Stinking Saxons.]
Tyl Maxymyan co[_n_]queryd hyt w_y_t_h_ honde, 512
And called hyt lyte bretayne [th]an,
So hy[gh]t [th]is lond [th]at he coom fram;
Little Britain For p_er_petuell_e_ Mynde of grete Bretayne
is called after He called hyt lyte Bretayne, 516
Great Britain. [Th]at Men schulde kepe in Mynde & wytt
How [th]is lond conqueryd hytt;
For Walsch_e_ Men be[th] Bretou_n_s of kynde--
Know [th]at well_e_ fast on Mynde-- 520
Englisch_e_ men be[th] Saxoynes,
[Th]at be[th] of Engistes Soones;
There-fore [th]e walsch man Bretou_n_
Sey[th] & clepe[th] vs "Sayson" * 524
[* [Th]at ys to seye vpon a reess,
"Stynking Saxou_n_, be on pees." ]
How the Welshmen And sey[th] (.) "taw or (.) peyd Sayson
call the English brou_n_t"[8]
"stinking Whan he ys wroth (;) or ellys drou_n_ke;
Saxons." Hauyng Mynde of Engystis Men
[Th]at w_y_t_h_ gyle sclow [th]eyre kyn: 528
At [th]e place of [th]e Stonehenge
[Gh]ut [th]ey [th]enke[th] for to venge:
And [th]at hyt neuere be so,
Sey[th] a Pater noster more to. 532
Pater noster.
Arthur is Now turne we to oure labo_ur_
preparing to And lat vs speke of Arthour:
cross the He cast on herte sone
mountains to After [th]at to go to Rome, 536
Rome, And spak of Passage & hys wey
Forth ouer Mou_n_t Ioye.
when he hears And sone after vpon an owr
of Mordred's He horde of Mordred the treto_ur_ 540
treachery; That hadde all_e_ [th]is loud on warde--
[Of Mordred's Treachery and Arthur's Return.]
Euyll_e_ moot such_e_ fare, and harde.
Who may best bygyle a man
But such_e_ as he tryst vpon? 544
[Th]er ys no man wel nye, y tryste,
[Th]at can be waar of hadde wyste.--
Mordred [th]is falss Man
Much_e_ sorw [th]o bygan; 548
He stuffed alle castelle
Wy[th] armyre & vytelle,
And strenghthed hym on eche syde
W_y_t_h_ Men of cou_n_treys ferre & wyde: 552
how the traitor He toke [th]e qwene, Arthoure[gh] wyff,
had seized the A[gh]enst goddes lawe & gode lyff,
queen, his And putte heore to soiourne [th]o
(Arthur's) wife, At Euerwyk: god [gh]yf hym wo. 556
and put her at Yhork ys Euerwyk:
York. & so me calle[th] hyt.
Arthur then comes Artho_ur_ aryved at Whytsond
home, W_y_t_h_ gret Myght & strong hond, 560
fights Mordred, And Mordred sainz fayl
[Gh]af hym [th]o a strong batayl;
Many a man, as y rede,
[Th]at day was [th]ere dede; 564
Arthoures nevew Waweyn
and Gawain is [Th]at day was [th]ere y-sclayn,
slain. And o[th]er kny[gh]tes Many moo:
[Th]an Arthour was heuy & woo. 568
Mordred flies Mordred fly toward Londou_n_;
to London, He most not come in [th]e tou_n_:
[Th]an fled he to wy_n_chester
And w_y_t_h_ hys Mayn_e_e kep [?] hym [th]er_e_; 572
And Arthour on gret haste
Pursywed after hym faste.
Mordred w_y_t_h_oute fayle
and then to Fled in-to Cornewayle. 576
Cornwall. The qwene wy[th]oute lesyng
[Arthur's Last Battle with Mordred.]
Hurde of [th]is tydyng,
And how Mordred was flow,
And how to Cornewale he hym drow. 580
Heo of Mercy hadde noon hoope,
The Queen Ther-for he dude on a Russet cote,
turns nun at And to Carlyou_n_ ys preuyly Rou_n_ne,
Carlyon. And made heore self [th]o a Nou_n_ne; 584
Fro [th]at place neuer heo wende,
But of heore lyf [th]ere made an ende.
Gawain Waweynes body, as y reede,
And other lordes [th]at weere deede, 588
is buried in Arthour sente in-to skotlonde,
Scotland. And buryed ham [th]_er_e, y vnd_er_stonde.
Muche folke [th]_er_henne he toke [th]o,
Northern men Of Northu_m_ber-lond also 592
and others come Fram dyverse places to Artho_ur_ come
to Arthur. Hys wyll_e_ to werk & to done:
Thus he sembled a full_e_ gret Ost;
To Cornewayle he drawe[th] hym fast 596
After [th]at Mordred [th]e trayto_ur_
[Th]at hadde do hym Much_e_ dyshono_ur_.
That treto_ur_ hadde gret strength
And fulled [th]_a_t lond on brede & length_e_, 600
He gives Mordred Such_e_ a batell_e_ as [th]ere was redy [th]o
battle. Hadde neuer Arthour byfore y-doo:
They fow[gh]t tyl [th]er come dou_n_ bloode
_Bellu_m_ As a(.) Ryver or (.)a(.) flood; 604
arthuri ap_u_d [Th]ey fow[gh]t euer sorest sadde;
Camelerton_um_ Men nyst ho [th]e betere hadde;
in Cornubia._ But at [th]e last Certeyn
Mordred is slain: Was Mordred & alle hys y-sclayn; 608
Arthur wounded, And Artho_ur_ y-bete wy[th] wou_n_de,
and carried to He Myght not stonde on grou_n_de;
Avelon, or But on lyter ry[gh]t anon
_Auelona .l. Was brow[gh]t to Auelon_e_, 612
insula pomor_um_ [Th]_a_t was a place fayr & Mury;
Glastonia._
[Arthur is Buried At Glastonbury.]
Glastonbury, Now hyt hoote[th] Glastyngbury.
where he dies, Ther Artho_ur_ [th]at worthy kyng
Maked hys lyues endyng; 616
But for he skaped [th]_a_t batell_e_ y-wys,
Bretou_n_s & Cornysch saye[th] [th]us,
"[Th]at he leuyth [gh]ut p_ar_de,
And schall_e_ come & be a kyng a[gh]e." 620
At Glastyngbury on [th]e qweer
and is buried [Th]ey made Arto_ur_ez tou_m_be [th]ere,
A.D. 542. And wrote wyth latyn vers [th]us,
Hic iacet Arthurus rex quonda_m_
rex que futur_us_. 624
Thys was [th]us forso[th]e ydone
_Anno d_o_m_ini_ [Th]e yheer after [th]e Incarnacione,
qu_in_gente_simo_ Vyf hundred (.) fourty & two.
_quadragesi_m_o Now saue vs alle fra woo 628
s_e_c_un_do._ Ih_es_u cryst, heuenly kyng,
& grau_n_t vs alle hys blessyng;
And [th]at hyt Moote so be,
Seye[th] alle Pater & Aue. 632
Pater noster. Aue.
Ho [th]_a_t woll_e_ more loke,
Read the French Reed on [th]e frensch boke,
Book for the And he schall_e_ fynde [th]ere
rest. [Th]ynges [th]at y leete here. 636
But yf [th]at god wolle grau_n_te gr_a_ce,
y schall_e_ rehercy in [th]is place
Alle [th]e kyngez [th]at after were,
And what names [[th]]at [th]ey bere; 640
And ho [th]_a_t woll_e_ [th]eyre gestes loke,
Reed on [th]e Frensch_e_ boke. Amen fiat.
[ FOOTNOTES
2. ? MS. perhaps _Angecye_.
3. The _s_ is rubbed: the word may be "onlesbury."
5. _sepe_, ? for _seue_, seven. It is _p_ not _x_ (six) in the MS.
But as Arthur had 200,000, and Lucius only 400,124, _sepe_ should
mean _two_.
8. Pughe's abridged Dictionary gives _tau_, _v.a._ be still; _taw_,
_s.m._ and _adj._ quiet, silence, silent; _paid_, _s.m._ a cessation,
quiet; _bront_, _a._ nasty, filthy, surly. _Or_, says Dr. Benj.
Davies, you must take as equal to the modern Welsh _wr_, man, if it
is not English; _peyd_ is cease, pause; _taw_, be silent. ]
WORDS
a, he, l. 370.
aspye, _sb._ espial, l. 416.
ayhe, again, l. 126.
beeme, _sb._ ? noise, display, from A.S. _b[e']me_, a trumpet, l. 108.
falde, l. 480, felt, l. 472; field.
fusoun, gain, victory, l. 476. L. _fusio_, outpouring, plenty.
fyched, pierced, l. 462.
goom, man, l. 166.
gysarme, l. 463. _Hallebarde, pique, hache_. Roquefort.
hadde wyste, l. 546, had I known (how it would have turned out). See
Nares, and the Poem "Beware of had-I-wyst," that he quotes. "Beware of
_had-I-wyst_, whose fine bringes care and smart."
hawted, exalted, l. 113.
he, she, l. 582.
helyth, cover, l. 407.
last, lest, l. 289.
loghynge, lodging, l. 344.
lynage, descendant, l. 269.
muchelnesse, _sb._ muchness, number and power, l. 439.
mynde, remembrance, l. 527.
oo, one, l. 49.
sayle, assail, attack, l. 12.
scley, slain, l. 212.
skyle, _sb._ reason, l. 17.
soue[gh] (?), sough, moan, l. 88.
that, ye who, l. 1; those who, l. 42, 84.
theoband (l. 178), is, I expect, miswritten for theo_d_and; A.S.
_[th]eodan_, to join; _ge-[th]eod-an_, to join, associate.
therhenne, thence, l. 591.
toke, gave, l. 329.
venge, have revenge, take vengeance, l. 530.
verrament, truly, l. 32.
was, whose, l. 248.
wood, wild, mad, l. 211.
ydoon, done, spent, l. 72.
ylete, let, l. 194.
ytake, taken to, given to, l. 272.
y-vere, together, l. 460.
ywyss, certainly, l. 46.
Uncharted Knowledge
Wisdom From Previous Realities
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