"Herkeneþ, þat loueþ hono ur ,

Of kyng Arthour & hys labo ur ."

"He that will more look,

Read on the French book,"

"There was no word y-spoke,

But eche had other by the throte,"

Herkeneþ, þat loueþ hono ur , [Fol. 42 b .]

Of kyng Arthour & hys labo ur ;

And furst how he was bygete, How Arthur was begotten

As þ a t we in bok is do rede. 4

Vther pendragon e was hys fader, by Pendragon on Ygerne.

And ygerne was hys Moder.

Pendragon e ys in walysch e

'Dragones heed' on Englysch e ; Pendragon ( t.i. Dragon's Head) made two painted dragons, 8

He maked ypeynted dragon e s two;

Oon schold byfore him goo

Whan he went to batayle,

Whan he wold hys foes sayle; 12

That other abood at wynchester,

Euermore stylle there.

Bretones ȝaf hym þ a t Name, and thence had his name.

Vther Pendragon e þe same, 16

For þat skyle fer & nere

Euer-more hyt to here.

The Erles wyff of Cornewayle How Uther loved the Earl of Cornwall's wife,

He loued to Muche sanz fayle; 20

Merlyn wyþ hys sotelnesse

Turned vtheris lyknesse,

And maked hym lyche þe Erl anone,

And wyþ hys wyff (:) his wyll e to done 24

In þe cou n tre of Cornewell e :

In þe Castel of Tyntagell e ,

Thus vther, yf y schall e nat lye,

Bygat Arthour in avowtrye. 28 and begat Arthur in adultery.

Whan vther Pendragon e was deed,

Arthour anon was y-crowned; Arthur is crowned,

He was courteys, large, & Gent

to alle puple verrament; 32

Beaute, Myȝt, amyable chere

To alle Men ferre and neere;

Hys port (;) hys ȝyftes gentyll e

Maked hym y-loved wyll e ; 36 is loved of all,

Ech mon was glad of hys p re sence,

And drade to do hym dysplesau n ce;

A stronger Man of hys honde is strong

was neuer founde on any londe, 40

As courteys as any Mayde:— and courteous.

Þus wryteþ of hym þ a t hym a-sayde. [Fol. 42 b . col. 2.]

At Cayrlyon e , wyt h oute fable,

he let make þe Rou n de table: 44 He makes the Round Table,

And why þ a t he maked hyt þus,

Þis was þe resou n y-wyss,—

Þat no man schulde sytt aboue other, that all at it might be equal.

ne haue indignaciou n of hys broþ er ; 48

And alle hadde (.)oo(.) seruyse,

For no pryde scholde aryse

For any degree of syttynge,

Oþer for any seruynge:— 52

Þus he kept þe table Rou n de

Whyle he leuyd on þe grou n de.

After he hadde conquered skotlond After his first conquests

yrland & Gotland, 56

Þan leuyd he at þe best he lives twelve years in peace,

twelf ȝeeris on all e reste

Wyþoute werre (:) tyll e at þe laste

he þouȝt to make (.)a(.) nywe con queste. 60

Into Frau n ce wyþ gode cou n ceyle and then invades France.

he wolde weende (:) & hyt assayle,

Þat Rome þo kept vnder Myght,

Vnder Frollo (:) a worthy knyght 64

Þ a t frau n ce hadde þo to kepe,

To rywle, defende, & to lede.

Arthour and Frollo fouȝt in feld; He beats Frollo back to Paris,

Þere deyde many vnder scheld. 68

Frollo in-to Paryss fly,

W y th strenkthe kept hyt wysely:

Arthour byseged þ a t Syte & town and there besieges him, till

Tyll e þeire vytayl was y-doon. 72

Frollo þat worthy knyght Frollo challenges him to single combat.

Proferyd w y t h Artho ur for to fyght

Vnder þis wyse & condiciou n ,—

"Ho hadde þe Maystrie (:) haue þe crown; 76

And no mo men but þey two."

Þe day Was sett (:) to-geder þey go: They fight:

Fayr hyt was to byholde

In suche two knyȝghteȝ bolde: 80

Þer was no word y-spoke,

But eche hadde other by þe þrote;

Þey smote w y t h trou n chou n & w y t h swerd;

Þat hyt seye were a-ferd; 84 [Fol. 43.]

Frollo fouȝt wyþ hys ax (:) as men dude se; (Frollo with his axe)

He hytt Arthour (:) so sore (:) þ a t he felle on kne.

He ros vp raply (:) and smot hym full e sore;

He dude hym to grent a (.) soueȝ 1 þ er fore. 88

thus they hyw on helmes hye,

And schatered on wyþ scheldes.

Þe puple by-gan to crye

Þat stood on þe feldes; 92

ther ne wyst no man, as y can ler e ,

Who of ham two was þe better e þer e .

Arthour was chafed & wexed wroth e , till Arthur in wrath takes Brownsteel,

He hente brou n steell e | and to Frollo goth e 96

Brou n stell e was heuy & also kene; Caliburn us Arthuri Gladius [with a sketch thereof in the MS.]

Fra m þe schulder(:) to þe syde went bytwene

Off frollo | and þan he fell to þe grou n de

Ryȝt as he moste | deed(.) in lyte stou n de. 100 and strikes Frollo dead.

Frensch e men made doell e & wept full e faste;

Þeir Crowne of frau n ce þere þey loste.

Than wente Arthour in-to paryse Arthur takes Paris.

And toke þe castell e & þe town at hys avyse. 104

Worschuped be god of hys grete grace Glory to God.

Þ a t þus ȝeueþ fortune(:) and worschup to þe Reme;

Thanke ȝe hym all e þ a t beþ on þis place,

And seyeþ a Pater noster w y t h out any Beeme. 108 Say ye a Pater Noster therefore.

Artho ur fram paryse went w y t h hys Rowte,

And co n quered þe Cou n tre on euery syde aboute; Arthur conquers the countries around,

Angeoy 2 , Peytow, Berry, & Gaskoyne,

Nauerne, Burgon e | Loreyn & Toreyne; 112

He dau n ted þe proude | & hawted þe poure;

He dwelt long in Paryss after in honoure;

He was drad and loued in cou n treis abowte;

Heyest & lowest hym Loved & alowte; 116

And vpon an Esto ur tyme sone afterward

He fested hys knyght is & ȝaf ham gret reward; distributes them among his knights,

To hys styward he ȝaf Angers & Au n geye;

To Bedewer hys botyler he ȝaf Norma n dye; 120

He ȝaf to Holdyne flau n drys parde;

To Borel hys Cosyn, Boloyne þe cyte;

And eche man, after þe astat þat he was,

He rewarded hem alle, boþe More & lasse, 124

And ȝaf hem reward, boþe lond and Fee,

And turned to Breteyn, to Carlyo n e ayhe. and returns to Britain.

Artho ur wolde of hono ur [Fol. 43 b , col. 1.]

Hold a fest at Eestour 128 Arthur gives an Easter Feast

Of regalye & worthynesse,

And feede alle hys frendess;

And sende Messanger

To kynges ferre & neer 132

Þat were to hym Omager,

to come to þis Dyner.

And alle at oo certeyn day

They come þyder in gode aray, 136

And kept þeire Ceson e

At þe Castell e Cayrlyon e . at Carlyon, greater than ere before.

Thys fest was Muche Moore

Þan euere Artho ur made a-fore; 140

For þere was Vrweyn þe kynge Ten kings were there,

Of scottes at þat dynynge,

Stater þe kyng of south wales,

Cadwell e þe kyng of north waleȝ, 144

Gwylmar þe kyng of yrland,

Dolmad þe kyng of guthland,

Malgan of yselond also,

Archyl of De n march þ er to, 148

Aloth e þe kyng of Norwey,

Souenas þe kyng of Orkenye,

Of Breteyn þe kyng Hoel,

Cador Erl of Cornewell e , 152 and thirteen earls

Morice þe Erl of Gloucestr e ,

Marran Erl of Wy n chestre,

Gwergou n d Erl of herford,

Booȝ Erl of Oxenford, 156

Of bathe vngent þe Erl also, (including him of Bath),

Cursal of Chestr e þer-to,

Euerad Erl of salesbury, 3

Kynmar Erl of Canterbury, 160

Jonas þe Erl of Dorcestre,

Valence þe Erl of sylchestr e ,

Jugeyn of Leyccer [?] þ er to,

Argal of warwyk also,— 164

Kynges & Erles Echon

Þes wer e ; & many anoþ er goom with many other gentles great,

Gret of astaat, & þe beste,

Þes were at þe Feste. 168

Other also gentyls grete

Were þere at þat Meete,

Sauer appon Donand,

Regeym & Alard, 172

Reyneȝ fitȝ Colys,

Tade us fitȝ Reis,

Delyn fitȝ Dauid,

Kymbelyn le fitȝ Gryffith, 176

Gryffitȝ þe Sone of Nagand,

Þes were þer e also theoband:

Alle þes were þere w y t h oute fable,

W y t h oute ham of þe rou n de table. 180 besides the Round Tablers,

Thre archebusschopes þ er wer e also, Archbishops,

And other busschopes many mo— Bishops,

All e þis mayne were nat al-oone;

W y t h ham com many a Goome. 184

Þis feste dured dayes þre

In reuell e & sole m pnite.

Of by ȝonde þe See also and many from beyond the sea.

Many lordez[?] were þere þo. 188

Now resteþ alle wyþ Me,

And say a Pater & Ave.

The þrydde day folowyng

The n coom nywe tydynge, 192

Þe whyle þey sete at þe Mete

Messagers were In ylete; To the feasters came messengers from the Roman Emperor,

Well e arayd forsoþe þey come,

& send fram cite of Rome 196

Wyþ l ett res of þe Emp er oures

Whas name was Lucies. luci us.

Þes l ett res were opened & vnfold,

And þe tydyng e to alle men told, 200

Whas sentence, yf y ne lye,

Was after þ a t y can aspye:

¶ Luci u s þe grete Emp er our L ite ra Lucii i m p er at oris .

To hys Enemy Arthour:— 204

We woundereþ of þi wodeness

And also of þy Madnesse!

How darst þow any wyse

Aȝenst the Emp er o ur þ u s aryse, 208 saying, that to have invaded France, etc., and made kings, Arthur must be mad in his noll;

And ryde on Remes on eche wey,

And make kyngeȝ to þe obey?

Þu art wood on þe Nolle!

Þu hast scley owre cosyn frolle; 212

Þu schalt be tawȝt at a schort day [Fol. 44, col. 1.]

for to make such e aray.

Oure cosyn Iuli us cesar

So m me tyme conquered þar; 216

To Rome þu owest hys trybut; that he must pay his tribute,

We chargeþ þe to paye vs hyt.

Thy pryde we woll e alaye

Þat makest so gret aray: 220

We co m mandeþ þe on haste

To paye owre trybut faste;

Þu hast scley frolle in frau n ce

Þat hadde vnder vs þer e gou er nau n ce, 224

And wyþholdest oure tribute þ er to:

Þu schalt be tawȝt þu hast mysdo:

We co m mandeþ þe in haste soone

Þat þu come to vs at Rome 228 and come to Rome to be punished for his disobedience.

To vnd er fang our e ordynau n ce

For þy dysobediau n ce;

As þu wold nat leze þy lyf,

Fulfylle þys w y t h oute stryff." 232

When þis l ett re was open & rad;

Þe bretou n s & all e men wer e mad, The Britons purpose to kill the messengers,

And wolde þe messager scle:—

"Nay," seyd Arthour, "per de, 236 but Arthur forbids it,

That were aȝenst alle kynde,

A messager to bete or bynde;

y charge alle men here

for to make ham good chere." 240

And after Mete sanz fayl

Wyþ hys lordes he hadde cou n sayl;

And alle asented þer to,

Artho ur to Rome scholde go; 244 and resolves to invade Rome.

And þey ne wolde in hys t ra uayle

Wyþ strenkþ & good neuer fayle.

Than Artho ur wroot to Rome a l ett re,

Was sentence was so m m-what bytter e , 248

And sayde i n þis manere

As ȝe may hure here:—

"Knoweþ well e ȝe of Romayne, L ite ra Reg is Arthuri.

Y am kyng Artho ur of Bretayne. 252 Arthur's answer to the Emperor Lucius,

Frau n ce, y haue conquered hyt,

Y schall e defende & kepe hyt ȝut, [Fol. 44, col. 2.]

Y come to Rome, as y am tryw,

To take my trybut (.) to me dywe, 256 claiming tribute from him.

But noon þere-for to paye,

By my werk ȝe schall e asay;

For þe Emp er our Constantyne

Þat was þe Soone of Elyne, 260

Þat was a Breton e of þis lond,

Co n quered Rome w y t h hys hond,

And so ȝe oweþ me tribut:

Y charge ȝow þat ȝe pay me hyt. 264

Also Maximian kyng of Bretaigne

Co[ n ]quered al frau n ce & Almayne,

Lombardye Rome & ytalye—

By ȝoure bok is ȝe may a-spye. 268

Y am þeir Eyr & þeyre lynage,

Y aske ȝow my trywage."

Þis l ett re was celyd fast,

Y-take the Messagerez on hast; 272

Arthour ȝaf ham ȝyftez grete,

And chered ham wyþ drynk and Mete.

Þey hasted ham to come hoom; Lucius's messengers return to him.

Byfor þe Emp er o ur þey beþ coom; 276

Saluted hym as resou n ys,

And toke hym þes letterys.

Þey seyde to þe Emp er our

"We have be wyþ kyng Artho ur ; 280

But such anoþ er as he ys oon,

Say neuer no Man.

He ys s er ued on hys howshold

Wyþ kynges, Erles, worthy & bold; 284

Hys worthynesse, sur Emp er our,

Passeþ Much e all e ȝowre;

He seyde he wolde hyder come and give him Arthur's message.

And take trywage of all e Rome, 288

We dowteþ last he wel do soo,

For he ys Myghty ynow þer-too."

Now, erst þan we goo ferþer,

Every man þat ys here 292

Sey a Pater noster

And ave wyþ gode chere; Ame n .

Now stureth hym self Artho ur [Fol. 44 b .]

Þenkyng on hys labo ur , 296

And gaderyþ to hym strenghth aboute, Arthur prepares for his expedition to Rome.

Hys kynges & Erles on a rowte—

A fayr syȝt to Mannes ye

to see suche a cheualrye,— 300

The kyng of Gotland, Has five kings,

Also þe kyng of Irland,

the kyng of ysland | & of Orkenye,

Þis was worthy Maynye; 304

The kyng of Denmark also was þer e ,

Þis was a worthy chere:

Eche of þese vyve at her venyw

Brouȝt zyx þousand at har retenyw; 308

xxx ^ti þowsand, yc h vnderstand, with 30,000 men,

Þes vyf kyng is hadde on honde.

Than hadde he out of Normandye,

Of Angeoy & of Almanye, 312 80,000 Normans and

Boloyne(.) Peytow & flau n dres

Fowre skore þowsand harneys—

Geryn of Chartez .xij. þowsand 12,000 from Chartres,

þat went wyþ Arto ur euer at honde; 316

Hoel of bretayn, þowsandez ten 10,000 Bretons.

Of hardy & well e fyghtyng Men;

Out of Bretaygne hys owne land

He passed fourty þowsand 320 and 40,000 British:

Of Archerys & off Arblastere

Þ a t Cowþ well e þe craft of werre.

¶ In Foot other Many a Man Moo

Able to feyght(:) as well e as þo: 324

Two hunderd þousand in all 200,000.

Went wyþ hym out of lond,

And Many moo sykerly

That y can 4 not nombrye. 328

Artho ur toke þan þe lond

To Moddredes owne hond; Britain is left in Mordred's charge.

He kept al oþer þyng

Saue þo Corowne weryng; 332

But he was [fals] of hys kepynge,

As ȝe schall e hure here folewynge.

Now than ne ys Arto ur y-Come

And hys Ost to Sowthamptone: 336 Arthur ships at Southampton,

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 goþ þe sayl(:) þey sayleþ faste:

Arthour owt of syȝt ys paste.

Þe ferst lond þat he gan Meete,

Forsoþe hyt was Bareflete; 344 and lands at Barfleet.

Ther he gan vp furst aryve.

Now well e Mote Artho ur spede & thryve;

And þat hys saule spede þe better, God speed him!

Lat eche man sey a Pater noster. 348

Now god spede Artour well e !

hym ys comyng a nyw batell e . A new foe appears, a Spanish Giant,

Ther coom a gyant out of spayne,

And rauasched had fayr Elayne; 352

He had brouȝt 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 ȝut ferþ er more to,

He rauasehed heore Moder also. who has slain fair Elayne.

He dude þe damesel for to dye

for he myght not lygge heor bye. 360

Whan þis was told to Artour,

He maked Much dolour,

And send Bedewer for to spye Arthur sends Bedwere first as a spy,

How he myght come hym bye; 364

And he was nat sclowh,

But to þe hulle hym drowh

Þat Closed was wyþ wat er stronge,

Þe hulle a-Mydde gret & longe; 368

He went ouer to þe hulle syde,

And þere a fonde a wo m man e byde

Þat sorwedd & wept Mornynge

For Eleynes deþ & dep ar tynge, 372

And bad Bedewer to fle also

Last he were ded more to;

"For yf þe Gyant fynde þe,

W y t h oute dowte he wyll e þe scle." 376

Bedwer wyþ all e hastynge

Tolde Artho ur all e þis þynge.

Amorwe whan þat hyt was day

Arthour toke þyder hys way, 380 and then (with Bedwere and Key) starts on his adventure.

Bedewer wyþ hym went, & keye,—

Men þat cowþe well e þe weye,— [Fol. 45.]

And broute Artho ur Meyntenau n t,

Euen byfore þe Gyant. 384

Arthour fowȝt wyþ þat wyght;

He had almost ylost hys Myght:

Wyþ Muche peyne, þruȝ goddez grace

He sclowh þe Geant in þat place, 388 He kills the Giant,

And þan he made Bedewere

To smyte of hys heed þere.

To þe Ost he dude hyt brynge,

And þ er on was gret wou n drynge, 392

Hyt was so oryble & so greet, whose horrible head is shown to the host,

More þan any Horse heed.

Than hadde hoel Ioye ynowh

For þat Arthour so hym sclowh; 396

And for a p er petuel Memorie

He Made a chapell e of seynt Marye and St. Mary's Chapel is built in honour of the victory.

In þe hulle vpon þe pleyne,

Wyþ-Inne þat (:) þe t um be 5 of Eleyne; 400 tombe

And þat name wyþoute nay

Hyt bereþ ȝut in-to þis day.

Now ys an ende of þis þynge,

And Artour haþ nyw tydynge,— 404 News of Lucius's approach is brought,

Lucy þe Emp er our wyþ hys host

Comeþ fast in gret bost;

Þey helyþ ouer all e þe lond,

Fowre hundred þowsand 408 with an army of 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

Wyþ all e hys wytt & labour

To destroyen Arthour.

Arthour dude wyselye,

And hadde euer gode aspye 416

Of lucyes gouernynge

And of hys þyder comynge;

But so m me seyde hyt wer e folye Some advise Arthur to turn and flee,

To fyght aȝenst Emp er o ur lucie, 420

For he hadde sepe 6 aȝenst oon,

& cou n ceyled Artho ur to fle & goon.

Wyþ þe Emp er o ur come kynges Many oon,

And all e þeire power hooll e & soom; 424

Stronger men Myȝt no man see,

As full e of drede as þey myght be;

But Arthour was not dysmayd,

He tryst on god, & was wel payd, 428 but he trusts in God,

And prayd þe hye trynyte

Euer hys help forto be;

And all e hys Men wyþ oo voyse

Cryde to god wyþ Oo noyse, 432

"Fader in heuene, þy wyll e be doon; to whom his soldiers pray

Defende þy puple fram þeire foon,

And lat not þe heþon e Men

Destroye þe puple crystien: 436

Haue Mercy on þy se[r]uantis bonde,

And kepe ham fram þe heþon e honde; to keep them from the heathen's hands.

Þe Muchelnesse of Men sainfayle

Ys nat victorie in Batayle; 440

But after þe wyll e þ a t in heuene ys,

So þe victorie falleþ y-wys."

Than seyd Arthour, "hyt ys so: Arthur's "Forward!"

Auau n t Baner, & be Goo." 444

Now frendes all e , for goddes loue,

Rereþ ȝowre hertes to god aboue,

And seyeþ ȝowre prayeris faste,

Þ a t we well e spede furst & laste. 448

The emp er our tryst on hys men,

And þ a t h a þ bygyled hym;

Forsothe hyt most nedez be so,

For þey beþ cursed þat well e hyt do, 452

Such e all e myght comeþ of god; Maledict us q ui con fid e t in ho m i n e .

To tryst on hym, y hold hyt good.

Lucye haþ pyght his pauelou n

And sprad wyþ pryde his gu n fanou n ; 456

His claryou n s blastes full e grete blywe,

Archeris schot(:) Men ouer-thrywe;

Bowes, arwes, & arblastere The battle begins.

Schot sore alle y-vere; 460

Quarels, arwes, þey fly smerte;

Þe fyched Men þruȝ heed & herte;

Axes, sperys, and gysarmes gret,

Clefte Many a prowt Ma n nes heed: 464

Hors & steedes gan to grent,

And deyde wyþ strok is þ a t þey hente;

Many a man þ er e lost hys lyf, [Fol. 45 b .]

Many on was wedyw þ a t was wyff; 468

Þere men were wetschoede Men are wetshod with brains and blood.

All e of Brayn & of blode;

Gret rywth e hyt was to seyn

Þe feltes full e of men y-scleyn; 472

Lucy þe Emp er our also was dede; Lucius is slain,

But ho hym sclowh, y can nat rede;

He, for all e hys grete Renou n ,

Aȝenst Arthour hadde no fusou n , 476 not able to stand against Arthur.

No more þan haue twenty schep

Aȝenst vyve wolfez greet.

To god be euere alle hono ur ez!

The falde was hys & Arthourez. 480

Arthour, as he scholde done, Arthur sends Lucius's body to Rome,

Sende lucyes body to Rome;

Whan þe Romeynes say þis,

Þo þey dradde Artho ur & hys. 484

Also he buryed Bedewere buries Bedwere and others

Hys frend and | hys Botyler,

And so he dude other Echon

In Abbeys of Relygyou n 488 in Abbeys,

Þat were cristien of name;

He dude to alle þe same;

And dude for ham Masse synge

w y t h sole m pne song & offrynge, 492

And bood þere for to rest,

Tyll e þat wynter was past, and stays the winter,

Boþe he (.) hys Men echone

Seruyd god in deuocione, 496

Þankyng god of hys Myȝt thanking God

Þat kepeþ hys seruau n tez ryȝt,

And suffreþ noon for to spylle

Þ a t hym loueþ & tryste wylle: 500

Þus worschup god dude certeyn for His honour to England.

To Englond, þat þo was Bretayn; [Of the difference between More (or Great) Britain and Little Britain.]

Þe More Breteyn Englond ys—

As men may rede on Cronyclys— 504

Byȝend þe See Bretayne þ er ys,

Þat haþ hys name forsoþe of þis,

For þe kyng Maxymyan,—

Þe next after Octauyan,— 508

He conquered all e Armoryk,

And to þe Reme named hyt lyk:

Amorica on latyn me cl[e]ped þ a t lond, Armorica .

Tyl Maxymyan co[ n ]queryd hyt w y t h honde, 512

And called hyt lyte bretayne þan,

So hyȝt þis lond þat he coom fram;

For p er petuell e Mynde of grete Bretayne Little Britain is called after Great Britain.

He called hyt lyte Bretayne, 516

Þat Men schulde kepe in Mynde & wytt

How þis lond conqueryd hytt;

For Walsch e Men beþ Bretou n s of kynde—

Know þat well e fast on Mynde— 520

Englisch e men beþ Saxoynes,

Þat beþ of Engistes Soones;

There-fore þe walsch man Bretou n

Seyþ & clepeþ vs "Sayson" 7 524

And seyþ (.) "taw or (.) peyd Sayson brou n t" 8 How the Welshmen call the English "stinking Saxons."

Whan he ys wroth (;) or ellys drou n ke;

Hauyng Mynde of Engystis Men

Þat w y t h gyle sclow þeyre kyn: 528

At þe place of þe Stonehenge

Ȝut þey þenkeþ for to venge:

And þat hyt neuere be so,

Seyþ a Pater noster more to. 532

Now turne we to oure labo ur Arthur is preparing to cross the mountains to Rome,

And lat vs speke of Arthour:

He cast on herte sone

After þat to go to Rome, 536

And spak of Passage & hys wey

Forth ouer Mou n t Ioye.

And sone after vpon an owr when he hears of Mordred's treachery;

He horde of Mordred the treto ur 540

That hadde all e þis loud on warde—

Euyll e moot such e fare, and harde.

Who may best bygyle a man

But such e as he tryst vpon? 544

Þer ys no man wel nye, y tryste,

Þat can be waar of hadde wyste.—

Mordred þis falss Man

Much e sorw þo bygan; 548

He stuffed alle castelle

Wyþ armyre & vytelle,

And strenghthed hym on eche syde

W y t h Men of cou n treys ferre & wyde: 552

He toke þe qwene, Arthoureȝ wyff, how the traitor had seized the queen, his (Arthur's) wife,

Aȝenst goddes lawe & gode lyff,

And putte heore to soiourne þo

At Euerwyk: god ȝyf hym wo. 556 and put her at York.

Yhork ys Euerwyk:

& so me calleþ hyt.

Artho ur aryved at Whytsond Arthur then comes home,

W y t h gret Myght & strong hond, 560

And Mordred sainz fayl fights Mordred,

Ȝaf hym þo a strong batayl;

Many a man, as y rede,

Þat day was þere dede; 564

Arthoures nevew Waweyn

Þat day was þere y-sclayn, and Gawain is slain.

And oþer knyȝtes Many moo:

Þan Arthour was heuy & woo. 568

Mordred fly toward Londou n ; Mordred flies to London,

He most not come in þe tou n :

Þan fled he to wy n chester

And w y t h hys Mayn e e kep [?] hym þer e ; 572

And Arthour on gret haste

Pursywed after hym faste.

Mordred w y t h oute fayle

Fled in-to Cornewayle. 576 and then to Cornwall.

The qwene wyþoute lesyng

Hurde of þis tydyng,

And how Mordred was flow,

And how to Cornewale he hym drow. 580

Heo of Mercy hadde noon hoope,

Ther-for he dude on a Russet cote, The Queen turns nun at Carlyon.

And to Carlyou n ys preuyly Rou n ne,

And made heore self þo a Nou n ne; 584

Fro þat place neuer heo wende,

But of heore lyf þere made an ende.

Waweynes body, as y reede, Gawain

And other lordes þat weere deede, 588

Arthour sente in-to skotlonde, is buried in Scotland.

And buryed ham þ er e, y vnd er stonde.

Muche folke þ er henne he toke þo,

Of Northu m ber-lond also 592 Northern men and others come to Arthur.

Fram dyverse places to Artho ur come

Hys wyll e to werk & to done:

Thus he sembled a full e gret Ost;

To Cornewayle he draweþ hym fast 596

After þat Mordred þe trayto ur

Þat hadde do hym Much e dyshono ur .

That treto ur hadde gret strength

And fulled þ a t lond on brede & length e , 600

Such e a batell e as þere was redy þo He gives Mordred battle.

Hadde neuer Arthour byfore y-doo:

They fowȝt tyl þer come dou n bloode

As a(.) Ryver or (.)a(.) flood; 604

Þey fowȝt euer sorest sadde; Bellu m arthuri ap u d Camelerton um in Cornubia.

Men nyst ho þe betere hadde;

But at þe last Certeyn

Was Mordred & alle hys y-sclayn; 608 Mordred is slain:

And Artho ur y-bete wyþ wou n de, Arthur wounded,

He Myght not stonde on grou n de;

But on lyter ryȝt anon and carried to Avelon, or Auelona .l. insula pomor um Glastonia .

Was browȝt to Auelon e , 612

Þ a t was a place fayr & Mury;

Now hyt hooteþ Glastyngbury. Glastonbury, where he dies,

Ther Artho ur þat worthy kyng

Maked hys lyues endyng; 616

But for he skaped þ a t batell e y-wys,

Bretou n s & Cornysch sayeþ þus,

"Þat he leuyth ȝut p ar de,

And schall e come & be a kyng aȝe." 620

At Glastyngbury on þe qweer

Þey made Arto ur ez tou m be þere, and is buried A.D. 542.

And wrote wyth latyn vers þus,

Hic iacet Arthurus rex quonda m rex que futur us . 624

Thys was þus forsoþe ydone

Þe yheer after þe Incarnacione, Anno d o m ini qu in gente simo quadragesi m o s e c un do.

Vyf hundred (.) fourty & two.

Now saue vs alle fra woo 628

Ih es u cryst, heuenly kyng,

& grau n t vs alle hys blessyng;

And þat hyt Moote so be,

Seyeþ alle Pater & Aue. 632

Ho þ a t woll e more loke,

Reed on þe frensch boke, Read the French Book for the rest.

And he schall e fynde þere

Þynges þat y leete here. 636

But yf þat god wolle grau n te gr a ce,

y schall e rehercy in þis place

Alle þe kyngez þat after were,

And what names [þ]at þey bere; 640

And ho þ a t woll e þeyre gestes loke,

Reed on þe Frensch e boke. Amen fiat.