A Little Treatise of Merlin

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Here begynneth a lytel treatyse of the byrth and prophecye of Marlyn

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CRyste on crosse his blode that ble[dde] copytext defective in lines 1, 2, 4 and 5

And lyfe for lyfe he layd to w[edde]

As it was his wyll

Graunt them grace of myrthes r[yfe]

Ioye and blysse in all theyr l[yfe]

That me herkeneth tyll

I shall you tell solace and game

Frendes felawes sythe all in same

And herken of grete nobly

Sounde and sauffe than mote ye be

And all that herkeneth vnto me

What I shall you say

I shall you tell here-afore

How Merlyn was goten and bore

And of his dedes also

And of other meruaylles many mo

Some-tyme in Englonde was a kynge

A noble man in all-thynge

I warre he was ware and wys

Constantyne the kynge hyght ywys Constantyne] Constanstyne 1510

Sones he had full fayre thre

The fayrest that in londe myght be

The eldest sone that was his heyr ryght

Moyn he hyght

The medlest sone hyght Pendragon

He was a man of grete renon

The yongest sone hyght Vter ryght

A styffe man and stronge in fyght

Constantyne the kynge ywys

In euery place he bare the prys

In his tyme was reynynge in englonde

A grete syknesse I vnderstonde

In that syknes the kynge fell tho

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That out of this worlde he must nedes go

After erles and barons he lete call

Whan they were come before hym all

Than sayd the kynge to them all

Lordynge lefe and hende

Out of this worlde I must wende

I praye you syrs for the loue of me

And for goddes loue and saynt charyte

Whan I am dede and layde in clay

Helpe my chyldren all that ye may

And Moyn myn eldest sone

Make hym kynge and gyue hym crowne

The kynge called as ye may here

His stuarde that hyght Vortygere

Stronge he was wyse and daungerous

And false and fekle and full couetous

The kynge he had serued longe

For he was styffe and stronge

Whan Moyn was chosen kynge

In-to denmarke the worde gan sprynge

And whan angys worde had

Therof he was ryght glad

He sente after messagers in that tyde

Ouer all his londe on eche syde

For many a stoute man and stronge

Of genu[e]s and of danes londe genues] genus 1510genues: =Genoese?; danes: =Danes' or Danish?(see MED)

An hondred thousande and many mo

On hors and on fote also

Came to hym there letted none

For to warre on the yonge kynge Moyn

Kynge angys wolde not abyde

Vnto shyp he wente in that tyde

And brought in-to Englonde syn

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M[a][n]y a doughty sarasyn

As Englonde was called that day

The more_brytayne withouten nay

Worde anone aboute gan sprynge

How the denysshe kynge angys

Gan wyrche moche amys

Mony the kynge herde that it was so

He wente to syr Vortyger tho

With full grete mournynge chere

He prayed hym with good vygure

That he wolde be his gouernoure

Ayenst his fomen for to fyght

And he sayd that he ne myght

He made hym seke as traytour stronge

And neyther for ryght ne for wronge

Wolde he come in batayll

For his strength hym gan fayll

For his pourpose that he had on honde

Was to be kynge of this londe

The kynge wolde no more hym pray

But toke his leue and wente his way

His messengers he sente that tyde

Ouer all his londe on euery syde

To duke / Erle / Baron / and knyght

To come to hym in that fyght

And whan they were all ycome

And euerche had his armes nome

They prycked forth without fayle

And gaue the denysshe kynge batayll

There was broken many a crowne

And slayne was many a bolde barowne

Many a doughty man that tyde

Was slayne with woundes wyde

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100

And the denysshe kynge was so stronge

With speres and with knyues longe

All that they myght in that stounde

Were slayne and layed to grounde

So the englysshe folke that day

105

Were dyscomfyted and fledde away

Kynge Moyn in that tyde

Toke his horse and faste gan ryde

Kynge angys there-before

Sawe his folke many lore

110

Sone he sente his sonde

Home ayen in-to his londe

For all that myght wepen bere

Sholde come to englonde for to were

Of warre wolde he not blynne

115

For toures and castelles he dyde wynne

And wrought them all moche wronge

All the erles and barons in Englonde

They toke them all-togyder anone

For to wreke them of theyr fone

120

Whan they were come as I you tell

Erles and barons that were full fell

And sayd ywys that Moyn theyr kynge

Was not but a bretherlynge

And swore yf Vortyger theyr kynge ware

125

He wolde a_wreke them of theyr care

And thought anone bothe olde [and] yinge and] 1510 omits, and L

To make syr Vortyger theyr kynge

And whan they had spoke of this

Twelue barons there wente ywys

130

To Vortyger the bolde

For to wreke them yf he wolde

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Agayne theyr fomen to fonde

To dryue them out of the londe

Whan the barons all in fere

135

Were come to syr Vortygere

Hendly they hym grette

He toke them vp and bad them sette

And bad them with wordes styll

To saye what was theyr wyll

140

And they answered agayne

And bad hym that he sholde sayne

Why that he wolde not gone

To helpe and wreke them of theyr fone

And sayd the kynge was nye slawe

145

And almoste brought of lyfe dawe

And sayd they myght neuer haue peas

For the denysshe folke without leas

That warred on hym bothe day and nyght

And prayed hym that he myght

150

That he sholde take on honde

To helpe of that wronge

Ayenst theyr fomen to fare

For to brynge them out of care

Tho answered syr Vortyger

155

As a lorde of grete power

Why bydde ye me suche a thynge

I was neuer your kynge

Ne neuer yet here-beforne

Was I to you sworne

160

To helpe you at your nede

And therfore so god me spede

Go home to your kynge

And pray hym vpon all-thynge

That he you helpe of your fone

165

For helpe of me gete ye none

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Tho a bolde baron answerde

Syr our kynge is but a cowarde

For whan he seeth swerdes drawe

He weneth anone for to be slawe

170

He dooth vs no more good

But fleeth away as he were wood

Haddest thou be amonge vs all

Than had vs not that shame befall

All that we lost in that saute

175

In hym was all the defaute

And all the losse of our baner

I trowe well sayd Vortyger

Certes he sayd it was grete dole

To make a kynge so grete a fole

180

Had ye made a man your kynge

He wolde you helpe in all-thynge

As certaynly syker ye be

Helpe gete ye none of me

But and your kynge were dede I_plyght

185

I wolde you helpe with all my myght

Tho sayd the barons euerychone

Syr wyll ye that we hym slone

Vortyger sayd without stryfe

But ye byreue his lyfe

190

Myn helpe gete ye none ywys

The barons toke theyr leue with this

To wenchester they wente all

And founde kynge Moyn in his hall

As he satte at his mete

195

They ranne on hym with herte grete

As he satte at the borde

Or they spake ony worde

They smote of his hede anone

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And passed forth euerychone

200

Whan they had theyr kynge I_sloo

Erles and barons hye and lowe

Also ryght they toke them to rede

A kynge they must haue nede

All Englonde for to warre

205

Ayenst theyr fomen that wolde them darre Ayenst] Aayenst 1510

Than had the kynge [b]rethern two brethern] drethern 1510

Yonge chyldren they were tho

They were so yonge within yelde

That they myght none armes welde

210

Neyther Vther ne Pendragon

Then sayd a bolde baron

That they sholde neuer spede

But yf a doughty man of dede

Were chosen to be kynge

215

They swore that Vortyger in all-thynge

Was the best man of his londe

That was that tyme in Englonde

They swore togyder euerychone

That other kynge wolde they none

220

Tho was there neyther knyght ne swayne

That wolde saye a worde agayne

But graunted all bothe olde and yinge

That Vortyger sholde be theyr kynge

MEry tyme it is in apryll

225

That semeth well by many skyll

In feldes and medes floures spryngeth

In grene wood foules syngeth

That maketh a man Iolyfe

Than lyketh bothe man and wyfe

230

So in that tyme as ye may here

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Twelue barons came to Vortygere

They sayd that Englonde ryght

Was loste thrughe theyr kynge I_plyght

And he was dede without lesynge

235

And his two bredren were to yinge

This kyngdome to holde in honde

Therfore the counseyll of this londe

Hath chosen you with grete vygure

For to be theyr gouernoure

240

Blythe and gladde was Vortyger

He was made kynge without daunger

At the feest of his coronament

Erles there was bothe fayre and gente

All this treason they vnderstode

245

And had reuth on the chyldrens blode

That they sholde be do to dede

Therfore they toke a better rede

And toke Vter and pendragon

And passed the see anone

250

So quantly they passed than

In all this londe ther was no man

That wyst whyther the chyldren by_come

So pryuely away they nome

Whan the feest was holde

255

Anone Vortyger the bolde

Lete make a comune parlyament

Of Erles and of barons gent

At whiche parlyament he had thought

To haue slayne the chyldren with vnryght

260

And commaunded that his men were bone

To fetche Vter and Pendragon

And also soone after them he sente

But they myght fynde them nought

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Whan Vortyger that vnderstode

265

For anger he wexed nye wode

And thought yf they two lyue

To shameful deth they wolde hym dryue

And in his herte he was full wo

For they were scaped so

270

But neuertheles syr Vortygere

Lete commaunde ferre and nere

To duke / erle baron and knyght

To make them redy for to fyght

Ayenst theyr fomen for to fyght

275

That made them sorowe bothe day and nyght

They dyde dresse them ywys

In armes and on hors of prys

Some on palfray / and some on stede

And some stronge on fote yede

280

Whan they were all-redy dyght

To se them it was a semely syght

There was many a stoute man and wyght

With helme on hede and baner bryght

With helme on hede and bryght baner

285

That sayd that to Vortyger defective?

I rede we parte our hoost in thre

In the best maner that may be

The kynge of denmarke with grete pryde

Brought his hoost by euery syde

290

Vortyger withouten fayll

Gaue them there stronge batayll

Swerdes were drawen and arowes shotte

And many a quarell thrughe the throtte

Shaftes were broken and helmes browne

295

And slayne was many a bolde barowne

But englysshe folke the soth to say

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Had the maystry that day

There was slayne and sent to hell-pyne

Many a doughty sarasyne

300

Kynge angys me[n] that tyde

Were on the warre syde

And ranne away as they were wood

In-to a castell stronge and good

That was made stronge and well

305

That it is called tyntagell

And his hoost fledde also

In-to a castell they escaped tho

Vortyger with all his route

Beset kynge angys all aboute

310

But the castell that angys in in: was in?

There myght it no man wynne

Whan he had hym belayne

Kynge angys sent hym to sayne

Yf he in pease passe moost

315

He wolde take all his hoost

And wende home to his countre

And neuer-more after that day

Wolde he passe the se-stronde

For to warre on Englonde

320

Whan they had sworne all and some

That they sholde in englonde neuer come

Kynge Vortyger by his counseyll

Lete them passe hole and all

Tho wente the kynge to the se

325

And saylled forth to his countre

Tho Vortyger toke all his hoost

And went home with grete boost

And helde feest many a day

With grete delyte and moche play

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330

Whan the feest was all holde

The .xii. barons that I of tolde

They that slewe Moyn theyr kynge

Bethought them on a wonder thynge

That they wolde wende Vortyger to

335

To aske grace and he so do

Kynge Vortyger answered agayne

With eyger mode and gan to sayne

By the lawe that god made

Ye shall haue that ye bade

340

Ye be traytours wycked and stronge

And haue slayne your kynge with wronge

And yf I may so mote I the

So shall ye not serue me

For ye haue wrought ayenst the lawe

345

Ye shall be hanged and drawe

He toke horses well skete

And dyde them tay by the fete

He had them drawe on the pauement

And after not longe verament

350

Many an erle and baron then

That were of the barons kyn

On Vortyger they ranne anone

And so they were his dedely fone

And harde with hym they gan to fyght

355

Hym to slee they dyde theyr myght

As Vortyger with mayne and myght

He and all his hoost agayne

Many an arowe there was shotte

That tourned men to lytell note

360

Many a man loste his herte-blode

And many the ball in the hode

That Vortyger withouten lay

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Vnneth scaped with lyfe awaye

Erles and barons of englonde

365

Sente faste aboute there sonde

To all theyr frendes frenthe and couthe frenthe not in MED, OED; P has sibb-probably fremde-see MED, fremed; or a ghost-word, incorporating elements of 'frendes' and 'couthe' by eyeskip?

Est and west northe and southe

And tolde them all the sothe as tyte

That Vortyger with grete despyte

370

Had with treason and with wronge

Theyr kynred to drawe and honge

Well wrothe was tho many a man

And to_gyder they swore than

That they wolde neuer be glad

375

Tyll they hym auenged had

Euery man other bysought

To gyue hym strokes yf they mought

Many a erle and many a knyght

That eygre was and fell in fyght

380

That warreth ayenst Vortyger

Many a moneth of the yere

Many a lady gente and fre

Lost her lorde and her meyne

The warre began to laste longe

385

For the barons were so stronge

That Vortyger toke good cure

That he ne myght ayenst them dure

For theyr folke wexed ay

And his folke lessed euery day

390

Messengers anone he toke

And made them swere on a boke

That they sholde on his errandes gone

And bewrey hym to none

And sente hym ouer the se ywys

395

In-to denmarke to kynge angys

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And bad hym come and helpe at nede

With all his folke that he myght lede

Agayne his fomen that wolde hym slee

And he sholde haue halfe his fee

400

Than was the kynge blythe

And sent messagers also swythe

To duke erle baron and knyght

All tho that wepen myght bere

In-to shyp they gan dryue

405

And ouer the se they came bylyue

And came in-to this londe with hym

Many a sarasyn stoute and grym

Whan they came to Vortyger

He welcomed them with glad chere

410

And seased there in-to his honde

Halfe the realme of englonde

And that he had or haue myght

And he wolde helpe hym to fyght

Whan theyr couenauntes were made faste

415

They dyde them dyght in haste

In-to batayle for to wente

For the barons were come them hende

Besyde salysbury a_lyght

There they dyde togyder fyght

420

There was soone layde a_downe

Many a gentell companyowne

Speres were broken and sheldes torne

And men were thrughe the sydes borne

Many a thousande in that stounde

425

Were felled and layde to the grounde

Many a man with woundes lay

A dolfull syght it was that day

Many a lady and damoysell

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Wepte that day with teres fell

430

Than Vortyger had ten

Ayenst one of the barons men

Wherfore they had no myght

Agayne them to holde fyght

All they were dyscomfyte that day

435

And with sorowe they flowen a_way

Yet Vortyger wolde not spare

But hounted them as men dooth the hare

None other pease wolde he make

But all that he myght take

440

He dyde them drawe and hange

And certayne it was all wrange

Many a baron hende and fre

Wente out of his owne countre

Some ouer the se wente

445

And dwelled there veramente

And many for drede and doute

In-to other londes wente aboute

In grete sorowe and moche wo

Twelue yere and many mo

450

For drede of syr Vortyger

They dwelled there many a yere

Whan they were gone out of this londe gone] flowen 1499

Vortyger seased in his honde

Londes rentes and tenauntes bolde

455

Wyfe and chylde he gan with_holde

And [through] the counsayle of kynge angys through] thought 1510

He gaue it to the sarasyns of prys

Kynge angys veramente

Hadde a doughter fayre and gente

460

That was a hethen sarasyn

And Vortyger for loue of hym

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Toke her anone to his wyfe

And was accorded all his lyfe

Soone he wedded her there

465

And menged theyr blode bothe in fere

So that the cure of Englonde

Was loste in the fendes honde

He helde no better goddes lawe

Than dooth an hounde and his felawe

470

Thus they lyued many a yere

SO on a tyme syr Vortyger

Bythought him on the chyldren two

That out of englonde were fled tho

Also he by_thought hym than

475

Of many another doughty man

That he made to go out of the lande

And I haue done them moche wronge

That it a sory happe

And bythought hym of after-clappe

480

And thought yf euer they come agayne

That Englonde wolde of them be fayne

And with wreke on hym renne

He sayd he wolde beware of them

He sente anone for messengers

485

Ouer all his londe for carpenters

And for good masons also

The best that were in londe tho

Many an hondred ther came anone

That coude werke in lyme and stone

490

Whan they were come in-to the hall

The kynge sayd to them all sayd to them all] bygan to them calle 1499, hem gan fair to calle A, anon to heom gon calle L

Herkeneth lordynges vnto me

As ye be bothe hende and fre

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In my herte I haue be_thought

495

A fayre castell to haue wrought

That it be made of stronge werke

For to stonde styffe and sterke

Of stronge tymber lyme and stone

That a stronger in all the worlde be none

500

For my fone that ben on lyue

That I dyde out of this londe dryue

Yf that I haue euer nede

My lyfe therin that I may lede

That castell ye shall make mery

505

Vpon the playne of salysbury

And there ye shall it founde

Moche large and wyde on grounde

And do it as I you tell And do it as I you tell] Do it nowe I you bade 1499, Goþ and doþ als y ow bad L

That it be made trusty and well That it be made trusty and well] That it be trusty and well-made 1499, þat it beo trusty and wel-ymad L

510

And ye shall haue for your hyer

As moche as ye wyll desyre

For the Ioye that god is in

Fyll the cuppe and lete vs begyn

ALl the werkemen wente tho

515

Fyue thousande and well mo

The hewe wood and ca[ru]ed stone carued] caured 1510, coruen L, AThe=They; hewe is strong form of pret. OED)

And layde the foundement anone

Some rebated and some dyde bere

And some began the werke to rere

520

The werkemen were lyght and slye

The werke began to ryse sone on hye

The fyrst day withouten doute

The werke arose kne-hye aboute

Whan it was come to the nyght

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525

To theyr rest they wente ryght

And came agayne on the morowe

And founde thynge of moche sorowe

All the foundement in that stounde

Lay spred a_brode on the grounde

530

And all to_torne lyme and stone

Grete wonder they thought anone

No better rede coude they than

But a newe werke they began

And sped well for-sothe to say

535

As they dyde the fyrst day

Whan the day was gone

To rest they wente euerychone

And came agayne on the morowe

And [founde] theyr werke done to moche sorowe founde] 1510 omits

540

And all spredde here and there

And so it fared halfe a yere

All that they wrought on the day

On the morowe abrode it lay

Whan the kynge harde tell of this

545

Grete wonder he had ywys

And dyde aspye of yonge and elde

What it myght be that his werke felde

And why his werke myght not stonde

But there was none in all the londe

550

Hye ne lowe lewde ne clerke

That coude tell what felled his werke

As kynge Vortyger sat in his hall

And many a man hym withall

Syth the tyme that they were borne

555

Suche a wonder sawe they neuer beforne

As they of that werke founde

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That euery nyght was felled to grounde

The kynge sware he wolde not spare

Tyll he wyste how it ware

560

His messengers he sente hastely

Ouer all his londe for to espye

For wyse clerkes olde and yonge

That coude tell of suche a thynge

They sholde come to hym rathe

565

As they wolde theyr lyfe haue

Full soone the dyde the kynges sonde the=they?

And wente aboute in all the l[o]nde londe] ldnde 1510

Many wyse clerkes the sought the=they

And all they were before hym brought

570

Kynge Vortyger [a]pposed them all apposed] spposed 1510, aposed L, A

There was none coude hym tell

Wherfore his werke was ouer_caste

They coude not tell hym in haste

Maysters he lete take anone

575

The wysest of them euerychone

In a chambre he lete them do

That no man sholde come them to

The kynge sware parmafay

That they sholde not scape away

580

Tyll they wolde wherby knowe

Wherfore his werke was ouerthrowe

In-to a chambre they were dyght

Nyne dayes and nyne nyght

The hadde no comforte of no-thynge

585

Saue onely of mete and of drynke

So on the daye v[e]ramente veramente] vrramente 1510

They loked on the fyrmamente

On the walkyn they sawe a skye

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That shewed theym truly

590

That fyue wynter there-before

A chylde in englonde there was bore

And begoten without mannes mone

Yf men myght haue suche one

And sle hym lyghtly than

595

Or he speke with ony man

And anoynte the werke with his blode

Than it shall be stronge and good

Thus the skye tolde thyem tho

And torned agayne there it came fro

600

Tho were the clerkes gladde and blythe

And wente to the kynge also swythe

And sayd withouten leas

That a chylde in E[n]glonde was chylde] chaylde 1510

Bygoten without mannes stre[n]e strene] streme 1510, streone Lsee OED strain, sb. 1 and esp. MED stren, 2 (a)

605

The clerkes sayd all bydene

Lete seke after that chylde

Whether he be in towne or felde

Sle hym than hastely

And take the blode of his body

610

And anoynte the werke therwyth

And it shall stonde in peas and gryth

Blythe and glad was Vortyger

And sent twelue messengers

And dyde them parte in thre and thre

615

That none sholde with other be

And sente full soone his sonde

In foure quarters of englonde

And bad they sholde stynte nought

Tyll the chylde were to hym brought

620

The messengers forth wente

sig: B3

And dyde his commaundemente

Tho syr Vortyger the bolde

Lete the clerkes be taken in holde

Tyll the messengers come agayne

625

For to wyte what they wolde sayne

And yf they made ony lesynge

He swore by Ihesu heuen kynge

There sholde no raunson for them gone

But they sholde be hanged euerychone

630

NOwe late these clarkes bene

And his messengers all by_dene messengers] menssengers 1510

That wente to seke the chylde so yonge

And ye shall here a wonder thynge

Yf ye wyll a stounde dwell

635

Of that chylde I wyll you tell

And how the thre messengeres

Brought them to syr Vortygeres

And of what kynne he was

And what he hyght without lees

640

And ye shall all wyte

For what cause he was by_gete

Dauyd the prophete and Moyses

Wytnessen and sayth in theyr verse

Whan god had made thorowe his myght

645

Heuen full of aungelles bryght bryght] brynght 1510

The Ioye that he made for man

There is no tongue that tell can

Tyll Lucyfer lost it thorowe his pryde

And all that helde with hym that tyde

650

Suche wreke god on hym dyde take

That they became fendes blacke

sig: [B3v]

As it is founde in holy wryte

They fell in hell pyte

Bothe dayes and eke nyght

655

They fyll out of heuen lyght

Also thycke by saynt Iohan

As motes in the sone-beme

Whan they were falle out of heuen

God sayd hoo with mylde steuen

660

And heuen he lete dwell styll

As it was his owne wyll

Falle of the fendes that tyde

That fellen out of heuen for pryde

As wyse clerkes can telle

665

They felle not all in-to helle

For Moyses sayth that holy man

In that stede they were than

Whan god almyghty heuen kynge

Sayd who without lesynge

670

Some dyde stynte in water and some in londe

And some in the erthe dyde withstonde

For whan god had sayd who

They seased euer-more

Than made god after his wyll

675

Heuen setes agayn to fyll

Whan he had made adam I_wys

And brought hym to paradyse

Eue he made of his rybbe tho

And gaue them welle withouten wo

680

Ye haue harde here-byfore

Why adam and Eue were forlore

Thorowe the fendes that made them to synne

They were lore and all theyr kynne

sig: B4

God that is and euer shall bene

685

Lyght in-to Mary mayden clene

And in her body toke flesshe and blode

And bought vs dere vpon the rode

Blyssed be he euery songe

And Mary his moder of whome he spronge

690

Thrughe hym mankynde [is] free is] his 1510

He bought them out of the fendes postee

Many of tho fendes that I of tolde

That fell in-to hell with Lycyfer bolde

They that dwell in eyre

695

They be bothe so queynt and sly

On the erthe they toke theyr lyght

And of the wynde strength and myght

To make theyr body after man

Fayre and rody and ge[n]tell than

700

And lyght on erthe amonge mankynde

To tempte them to dedely synne

Well ye wyst here-bef[o]re before] befere 1510

That Ihesu was of mayden bore

And that he dyed vpon the rode

705

And bought vs all with his blode

Therof the fendes hadden myght and honde

And sayd that a fende sholde fonde

To lye on erthe by a mayde mylde

And brynge on her suche a chylde

710

That sholde they sayd tho

All the worlde wyrche wo

And a_comber also it befyll

As Ihesu brought to his wyll

Thus they thought this worlde to haue fyled

715

But at the laste they were bygyled

sig: [B4v]

For I shall tell you how it was

Ye may here a wonder case

GOod men ye shall vnderstonde

A ryche man there was in Englonde

720

And had a woman to his wyfe

In grete Ioye they ledde theyr lyfe

A sone the had and doughters thre

That fayre was vpon to se

Anone the fende that I of tolde

725

That dwelled in the erthe so bolde

In-to the erthe he a_lyght than

And tempted so that woman

That in her body he had myght

And brought her in-to grete myschefe

730

And made her oft with eyger mode

Curse her chyldren as she were wode

So vpon a nyght late

Thorowe the fende with grete hate

With her sone-chylde she began

735

And cursed hym that had by name

Tho she bad hym the fende bytake

With all the power that she myght make

Tho was the fende glad and blythe

And thought to do her shame as swythe

740

Whan it came to the nyght

In-to the house the fende wente ryght

And strangled the chylde there it laye

His moder arose whan it was daye

And founde her sone dede on the morowe

745

She wente and hanged her-selfe for sorowe

Whan the good-man wyst of this this line repeated at top of C1

sig: C1

Also s[wy]the for shame ywys swythe] sywthe 1510

Sodeynly he dyed tho

Without housyll and shryfte also

750

The folke as sone of this countre

Came thyder them to se

Whan they se them fare so

They sayd alas and wele and wo

For the good-man and his wyfe

755

For they lyued so clene a lyfe

An hermyte that dwelled them bysyde

Came thyder to se them that tyde

Blasy the hermytes name was

Full ofte he sayd alas alas

760

That it was be_fallen so

In his herte he was full wo

And sayd it was verament

Thorowe the fendes combrement

The thre doughters he founde alyue

765

That good man dyde them shryue

Of all that they coude mene

And then he ossoyled them clene

Fayre penaunce on them he layde

And for them to god he prayde

770

And bad them with all theyr myght

Serue god bothe daye and nyght

Whan he had taught them so

Home agayne he yede tho

Anone the doughters all in fere

775

Serued god with glad chere

And our lady saynt Mary also

Nyght and day they serued tho

sig: [C1v]

Ouer all the londe was the vsage

Yf a woman dyde ony outrage

780

But yf it were in wedlake

Anone ryght men sholde them take

And thorowe ryght dome withouten wene

And quycke they sholde doluen bene

But yf she were a lyght woman tolde

785

To all them that euer axe wolde

Tho the fende that was full of myght

That dwelled aboue in the lyght

In-to the erthe he came as man

And wente to an olde woman

790

And byhyght her golde and fe

To go to the systeryn thre

The eldest doughter for to be_chaunt

Some yonge man for to haunt

And yf she myght brynge her therto

795

He behyght her golde for euer-mo

This olde q[u]ene was full glad

And dyde as the shrewe her bad

And wente to her systeryn thre

As sone as she myght them se

800

And made moche sorowe and care

For the systeryn that is fayre

To the eldest doughter she sayd

Alas / alas my fayre mayde

Thou hast bothe fayre fete and honde

805

And a gentell body by goddes sonde

With stronge myght and longe arme

Iwys it were moche harme

But thy body sholde assaye

With some yonge man for to playe

sig: C2

810

That game is bothe good and swete

Fayre mayden I you behete

Nay certes sayd the mayden than

Yf I nowe toke ony man

But yf it were in weddynge

815

And ony wyst it olde or yinge

Ony man of this countre

All quycke I shall doluen be

Nay certes sayd the olde quene

Thou may it done without dene

820

Pryuely in thy bedde

Tyll some man come the to wedde

And therfore doughter doute the nought

For it shall neuer be further brought

And yf thou do after my rede

825

Thou dydest neuer a better dede

What thorowe the quene enchaunsement

And thorowe the fendes entesement

The eldest doughter that I of say

Lete a man with her playe

830

And whan she lyked best that game

It torned her to sorowe and shame

Anone she was forth I_drawe

And of that dede she was by_knowe

And for that werke dolue she was

835

Many one for her sayd alas

Yet the fende in a whyle

The other syster dyde begyle

And made her loue a yonge man loue a yonge] longe after a 1499, loue a fair Ȝong L

Wherof all her sorowe began

840

Mannes loue she thought swete anone

And it was perceyued also soone

sig: [C2v]

Than she was taken and brought in honde

To her Iugement for to stonde

Her apposed the Iustyce tho

845

Why she had take on so

For she had wrought ayenst the lawe

Her Iu[g]ement she must haue Iugement] Iustement 1510

She answered as she was tought

And swore that she forsoke it nought

850

And sayd that she was a lyght woman

And comune for euery man

So she escaped with her lyfe away

After her dyde sewe all that day

Of harlottes o grete raas

855

To foule her body for that caas

Than was the yongest doughter wo

That nye her herte braste a_two

For the fendes slewe her brother ywys

And her fader dyed amys

860

And her moder hanged her-selfe

And her syster was by_delfe

And her other syster an hore is

And accompanyed with harlottes ywys

Almoost for sorowe and for thought

865

In wanhope she was brought

To the hermyte she wente anone

That hyght Blasy an holy man

And tolde hym all the sothe before

How that her kynred was forlore

870

The hermyte had wonder grete

On goddes name he her bete

That she sholde haue god in mynde

And leue the waye of the fende

sig: C3

And badde her forsake in all wyse

875

Pryde hate and couatyse

And also slouth and enuy

And specyally lechery

And glotony he bad her fle

And goddes seruaunt for to be

880

He bad her take kepe

That she sholde not go to sle[pe] That she sholde not go to slepe] That she sholde not go to sle 1510, That she shulde not leye her doune to slepe 1499, þat sche hir laid doun to slape A, þat heo neo leyde hire nouȜt to slepe L

Neyther by daye ne by nyght

But that she blyssed her a_ryght

And wyndowes and dores in that tyde

885

Be barred fast on euery syde

And marke theron with mylde woys woys? L has voys

The sygne of the holy-crosse

And that shall thy warraunte be

Byfore the fader in trynyte

890

And whan he had taught her so

Home agayne she wente tho

And serued god with herte gladde

And dyde as the hermyte her badde

Than the fende with grete enuy

895

Bygyled her with trechery

And brought her in shame and sorowe I_fere

And I shall you tell in what manere

IT befell that she veramente

With her neyghboures to the ale wente

900

So longe she dranke and dyde amysse

That she was ryght dronke ywys

The hore her syster that I of tolde

She was stoute and swythe bolde

And chyded her syster as she were wood

905

And called her otherwyse than good

sig: [C3v]

And she was dronke the sothe to sayne

And myssayed her fast agayne

So longe they stryued without lees

Tyll she sterte vp in rees

910

And dyde to her grete outrage

And bette her in the vysage

She rente her clothes and tare her here

Ryght as she wo[o]de were woode] wolde 1510

In-to her chamber [s]he escaped tho she] the 1510

915

And barre the dore bytwene them two

And cryed out and neyghbours came

And as soone the strompet nome

And drewe her awaye anone

Amonge the harlottes euerychone

920

Whan she was so drawen away

The mayden in her chamber lay

And was medde and coude no good

But wepte all day as she were wood

And whan it was come to nyght

925

Vpon her bedde she fell downe-ryght

As she was dronke and gladde

Fell a_slepe and wexed madde

And forgete her dore vnblyssed ywys

Wyte ye well she dyde a_mys

930

Than was the fende glad and blythe

And came to her also swythe

Come ouer-all well he myght

To the mayden anone he wente

And wende crystendome to haue shende

935

And by her body he lay than

As it had be a nother man

With chylde he made her tho

sig: C4

And wente agayne there he came fro

Whan the mayden was awaked

940

She groped and found her flesshe all naked

And as she groped with her honde

In preuy place anone she fonde

Wherby she wyst truely

That some man had lyen herby

945

Anone she sterte vp in haste

And founde her dore barred faste

Whan she founde that it was so

In her herte she was full wo

And thought it was some wycked thynge

950

That in sorowe wolde her brynge

She rente her clothes and her here drowe

She wepte and made sorowe ynowe

All that nyght she made grete sorowe

And wente to the hermyte on the morowe

955

For to tell hym how it was

The hermyte sayd alas alas

And sayd it was the fendes encombraunce

For she had broken her penaunce

Good syr she sayd tho

960

What yf it be fallen so

And a chylde shall be gete on me

How sholde I excused be

Than shall I be take anone

And be doluen flesshe and bone

965

Ye certes sayd the good man

Lyue doughter sayd he than

And yf I the sothe may se

That a chylde be by_goten on the

I shall the helpe with all my myght

sig: [C4v]

970

Tyll therof I haue a syght

Now go home doughter myne

And haue cryste in herte thyne

For he may yf his wyll be

Out of thy payne brynge the

975

Home she wente with sory chere

And serued god with herte good

And euery day after than

Her wombe faste grete began

Whan she myght it no lenger hyde

980

It was perceyued in that tyde

She was take and brought Iwys

Byfore the kynges hye Iustyce

Her Iugement to vnderfonde

As it was the lawe of the londe

985

The hermyte herde than

That they had take that woman

And brought her to Iugement

Ryght anone theder they went

And thought than for all theyr stryfe

990

That he wolde saue her lyfe

Byfore the Iustyce men dyde her lede

And he apposed her of that dede

And sayd damoysell by my treuth

On the I haue full grete reuth

995

For thou haste thy-selfe shende

And wrought agaynst the lawe of londe

For thou hast a man take

That mayst thou not forsake

Thou haste wrought a wycked dede

1000

For thou haste serued to be dede

She answered and sayd nay

sig: [C5]

I wrought neuer ayenst the lay

By hym that dyed vpon the tre

There lay neuer man by me

1005

Not flesshely with felonye

But the fende had to me grete enuye

The Iustyce answered anone

Damoysell thou lyest by saynt Ihone

Thy wordes ben bothe false and wylde

1010

Men may se thou goost with chylde

In this worlde was neuer chylde bore

Without gendrynge of man byfore

Saue onely Ihesu that is full of myght

He was borne of a mayden bryght

1015

How mayst thou forsake it than

That thou haddes neuer parte of man

Whan the sothe my-selfe may se

That a chylde is bygoten on the

Ye certes syr she sayd than

1020

I go with chylde without man

By hym that shope this same day

Neuer yet man by me lay

Bu[t] as I slepte vpon a nyght But] Bus 1510

By me lay a fulsom wyght

1025

But I ne wote what it was

I must me holde to goddes grace

The Iustyce withouten fayle

Herde neuer suche a meruayle

This day there shall no man the delue

1030

Tyll the haue Iuged wyues twelue

Yf ony chylde may gete bene

Without helpe of mannes stre[n]e strene] streme 1510

And yf they saye it may be so

sig: [C5v]

Thou shalte passe quyete and go

1035

For yf they say nay

Thou shalte be dolue this ylke day

And on twelue wyues they dyde her anone

And they answered euerychone

No chylde was borne of a mayde

1040

But Ihesu alone they sayd

Without mannes mone for-sothe

Therto they swore all theyr othe

Blasy the hermyte sterte vp than

And to the Iustyce he spake than

1045

Syr Iustyce he sayd than

Speke with me a worde or two

She hath tolde me her lyfe euerydele

And certes I may beleue her well

And ye wyll her nought

1050

But by hym that all this worlde hath wrought

I haue her teched to the lawe teched to the lawe- see OED teach, 3; cf. L, A (pp. 70-71)

To me she was neuer by_knowe

That ony man with worde or dede

Touched her body with euyll rede

1055

But yet it is founde for to_day

That she hath wrought ayenst the lay

Thoughe she hath serued to be spylte

The chylde in her wombe hath no gylte

And therfore syr by my rede

1060

Thou shalte not do her yet to dede

Do her in warde and kepe byfore

Tyll the tyme the chylde be bore

And than he sayd god wote

Another halfe-yere she mote

1065

Ke[p]e her chylde her-selfe Kepe] keke 1510, kepe L

sig: [C6]

And afterwarde ye may her delue

Perauenture he sayd than

The chylde may be a full good man

Than answered the hye Iustyce

1070

Hermyte he sayd thy wordes be wyse

After the do nowe I wyll

To_day there shall no man her spyll

He commaunded his men euerychone

For to lede her in-to a towre of stone

1075

And that no man sholde with her go

But a mydwyfe and no mo

Into a towre men dyde her lede

Alone without felawes rede

Saue onely an olde mydwyfe

1080

That myght saue the chyldes lyfe

The toure was so stronge and hye

That no man myght come them nye

In the wyndowe there was made tho

An hoke and a corde teyed therto

1085

For to drawe vp therwith all-thynge

Fyre and water mete and drynke

And whan the tyme of her was come

She had borne a seldome-sene sone seldome sene: selcouþ(e) L, A

Ryght fayre shape he had than

1090

And all the shape that fell to man

But blacke he was withouten lees

And roughe he was as ony swyne

The mydwyfe anone ryght

Was a_greued of that syght

1095

For he was roughe of hyde

And also sone [s]he thought [that] tyde she thought that tyde] he thought tyde 1510, heo þouȜte þat tyde L

That he was neuer bygete of man

sig: [C6v]

And full fayne she wolde than

In hell that he had [b]e her fro he had be] he had he 1510, he hadde beon L

1100

That neuer man hast sene hym more

The good man that hyght Blasy

Wyst full well truelly

What tyme the chylde sholde be borne

And to the towre he came on the morne

1105

And called vp the wardes thre

And asked the mydwyfe of her chere

And she answered withouten lees

A knaues chy[l]de borne there was chylde] chyde 1510

Fayre shape he had and ryght

1110

But full vnsemely he was of syght

For all his hyde was rughe of here

Suche a chylde sawe he ne[u]er ere

Now take it me he sayd than

I shall make it a crysten man

1115

And wheder it dye lyue or abyde

The better chaunce shall hym betyde

Full glad was the mydwyfe

And toke the chylde also bylue

And by a corde lete hym downe

1120

And blasy gaue hym his blyssynge

And bare hym home with mylde mode

And baptysed hym in the f[l]ode flode] ffode 1510

And called hym to his crysten name

Marlyn to hyght in goddes name

1125

Thorowe that name I you tell

All the fendes that were in hell

Were agreued full sore therfore

For theyr [pouste] was forlore pouste] spouse 1510, pouste L

And he was crystened so

sig: [C7]

1130

Home agayne he brought hym tho

And on the corde he gan hym lede

And the mydwyfe drewe hym vp agayne

He bad her withouten blame

Call hym Marlyn by his name

1135

Whan she had done as I you say

The hermyte wente home on his way

The mydwyfe on the morowe ryght

Bare hym to a fyre bryght

And warmed hym by the fyre tho

1140

But of hym in her herte she was full wo

And as she warmed hym by the fyre

She byhelde hym of his foule chere

Bothe on fote and eke on honde

On the backe and on the wombe

1145

And on sydes and hede for_thy

And all aboute truely

Than she sayd arte thou Merlyn

Whens arte thou come and of what kynne

Who was thy fader by nyght or by daye

1150

That no man were ne may were] wite L

It was grete reuth by heuen kynge

That for thy loue thou foule thynge

Thy moder shall be slawe with wo

Alas the stounde that it shall be so

1155

For so god me helpe and saynt Iohan

A fouler wyght sawe I neuer none

Certes she sayd thou arte a foule wyght

Wolde Ihes[u] full of myght

And his moder with mylde steuen

1160

And all the felawshyp of heuen

That thou were in the se

sig: [C7v]

Syth that thy moder myght go fre

And also quycke suche chere

As ony woman fer or nere

1165

And whan he herde her spe[k]e so speke] spede 1510, speke L

He breyed v[p] his eyen tho vp] vs 1510, vp L

And wrothely began to loke

And his hede on her he shoke

With eyen grym as I you say

1170

Aboute hye none of the day

He bygan to crye with grete dene

And sayd thou lyest thou olde quene

For nought that thou can tell

Neyther by [nyght] ne by daye nyght] daye 1510

1175

For ought that ony man can saye

Neyther by northe ne by southe

Neyther for man frende ne couthe

Whyle that I may speke and gone

Maugre them euerychone

1180

I shall saue her lyfe ywys

That thou shalte here and se ywys

Whan the mydwyfe herde that

Almoost she fell downe there she sate

And gan to quake as she were wood

1185

And had leuer than ony good

That she had be fer awaye

And so had his moder there she laye

So sore they were of hym agast

That they began to blysse them fast

1190

And coniured hym in goddes name

That he sholde do them no worldly shame

And fast on hym they gan to crye

The name of god and of Marye

sig: [C8]

He sholde tell them what he were

1195

And what aduenture brought hym there

With full moche wo and care

And afterwarde halfe a yere

As she helde hym by the fyre

To hym she spake with mo[ur]nynge chere mournynge] mornnynge 1510

1200

And rufully she gan to wepe

And sayd alas my sone swete

For thy loue withouten wene

All quycke I shall doluen bene

And answered and sayd nay

1205

Dame ye lye by this day

There is no man ne no Iustyce

Shall deme you to the dethe in no wyse

In erthe thy body for to reke

The whyles that I may go or speke

1210

Tho wexed his moder a gladde waman

Euery day after than

She gladded her herte with his tale

And lerned tho meruely fare And tolde hire merueyles feole, L

Whan they coude speke and gone

1215

The Iustyce sayd to hym anone

And dyde commaunde his men than commaunde] commauunde 1510

To brynge tofore hym that woman

For to receyue her Iugement

And she was come in present

1220

The Iustyce forgate it nought

That egrely he sayd his thought

He sayd anone by heuen quene

All quycke she sholde doluen bene

And she answered nother good ne harme

1225

But helde chylde Marlyn in her arme

sig: [C8v]

That was but two yere olde

He answered wordes bolde

And sayd to hym with eyger mode

Syr Iustyce he sayd thou canst no good

1230

For to deme my moder to deth

That thou ne wyst by her queth

Saue a chaunce that her befell

And therfore thou dydest not well

For euery man may wete by than

1235

Agayne shame may no man

For thorowe shame and thorowe grace

In-to this londe brought I was

And I was thorowe chaunce bygete

Euery man may well wete

1240

That my moder ought nought

For my loue to deth be brought

Grete wonder had bothe olde and yonge

Of that yonge chyldes answerynge

And tho the Iuge wexed well wrothe

1245

And by god he swore his othe

That quycke she sholde doluen be

Than sayd Merlyn so mote I the

Thou shalte neuer brynge her therto

For ought that euer thou canst do

1250

For it shall not go as thou wylte

For she hath therof no gylte

And that I shall preue with good wyll

Maugre all-tho that wyll her spyll

My fader that bygate me

1255

Is a fende of grete pooste

And dwelleth in the eyre aboue the lyght

And tempteth folke bothe day and nyght

sig: D1

Therfore to my moder he wente

And thought all crystendome to haue shente

1260

And by_gate me without lesynge

That she wyst therof no-thynge

And she knewe not what it was

Forsothe I wyll preue her gyltles

That all the fendes wende thorowe me

1265

For to haue destroyed crystente

They wende of me to haue a wycked fode

But god hath torned me to good

And nowe I am at goddes sonde

For to helpe all this londe

1270

For thorowe my fader he sayd than

[All] thynges tell I can All] I 1510, Alle L

That euer was and nowe is euer] neuer 1510, euere L

I can tell it nowe ywys

And all thynges that shall come

1275

I can tell all and some

Therfore wyte thou well ywys

She was my moder and nowe is

But thou ne wyst by saynt Iohan

Who was thy fader than

1280

Therfore I wyll proue moder thyne

Is better worthy to be doluen than myne

NOw herken all to this stryfe

How Marlyn saued his moders lyfe

Grete wonder had many a man

1285

How the chylde to speke began

Tho the Iustyce was full wo

And to Marlyn he spake tho

He sayd thou lyest thou foule congon

My fader was a bolde baron

sig: [D1v]

1290

And my moder a lady fre

She is on lyue thou mayst her se

For I wene by our lady

That she dyde neuer suche a velony

Syr sayd Marlyn holde thy mouthe

1295

Or I shall make it wyde I_couthe

Lete some man after her gone

And I my-selfe shall anone

Make her to by_knowe

Syr Iustyce byfore the

1300

The Iustyce byfore them all

Lete after his moder call

And sayd to Marlyn thou belaymye

Be so bolde or so hardye

To speke the worde that thou began

1305

That thou saydest by that woman

Marlyn answered and sayd Iustyce

Iwys thy wordes be not wyse

For yf I tell the folkes all byfore

How thou were bygote and bore

1310

Than sholde it sprynge abrode

Than hast thou lost thy maydenhode

And thy moder shall doluen be

And all is for the loue of the

Than the Iustyce vnderstonde

1315

That Marlyn coude moche good

And brought hym in-to a chambre than

Them-selfe .iiii. and none other than

Than sayd the Iustyce to Marlyn

Nowe Marlyn chylde for crystes pyne

1320

Tell me the sothe I pray the

What man it was that bygate me

sig: D2

Syr he sayd by saynt Symon

It was the persone of the t[ow]ne towne] twone 1510

He bygate the by saynt Iame

1325

Vpon this lady this your dame

The lady sayd thou foule thynge

Iwys thou lyest a stronge lesynge

His fader was a bolde baron

And a man of grete renowne

1330

And thou arte a mysbygote wretche

I praye to god the deuyll the fetche

For it were ryght and londes lawe

That thou were honge and drawe

Or in a wylde-fyre for to be brente

1335

For with wronge thou hast me shente

Dame he sayd holde the styll

For it were ryght and skyll

That thou sholdest quycke doluen bene

I wote ryght well withouten wene

1340

And yf thou wylte it forsake

A_taynt anone I shall the take

Sythe thou were in this worlde brought

All the werke that thou hast wrought

I can tell the euery worde

1345

Better than thou by our lorde

Dame he sayd yf thou hast forgete

How thy sone was bygete

I shall tell the all the case

How that he bygoten was

1350

Yf thou wylte forsake it than

I wyll tell all that I can

That thou shall be a_shamed sore

Thou were better speke no more

sig: [D2v]

The lady was sore dysmayed

1355

And Marlyn forthe his tale sayed

Dame he sayd verament

Whan thy lorde was to the cardynall sent

And home he came by nyght and not by day

The persone in thy bed lay

1360

To thy chambre dore thy lorde gan go

Thou stertest vp and was full wo

Whan he dyde at the dore knocke

Thou stertest vp in thy smocke

Thou were aferde in that tyde

1365

And dydest open a wyndowe wyde

The person thou awaye lete

And to a dore thou gan lepe

Dame sayd Marlyn that same nyght

He bygote thy sone that is knyght

1370

Dame sayd he lye I nought

Nay by hym that me dere bought

That was the Iustyce wrothe and wo

And to his moder he sayd tho

Moder he sayd how gooth this

1375

Sone she sayd all a_mys

Thoughe thou woldest hange me with a corde

The chy[l]de lyeth euery worde chylde] chyde 1510

The Iustyce for shame wexed all rede

And on his moder he shoke his hede

1380

And bad her soone wende home

Vnknowen that she there come

Tho sayd Marlyn in preuyte

Iustyce herken nowe to me

Thy moder shall nowe go home

1385

Sende after her a grome

sig: D3

That pryuely can her espye

For to the persone she wyll hye

And forsothe she wyll hym say

How that I dyde her bywray

1390

Whan the persone hereth of this

Anone for sorowe and shame ywys

To a brydge wyll he fle

And loke that no man hym se

And in-to the water skyppe he wyll

1395

And so he wyll hym-selfe spyll

And but it be as I the saye

Do me hange this same daye

The Iustyce without fayle

Dyde by Marlyns counseyle

1400

And sende after a spye bolde

And founde all as Marlyn tolde

Than the Iustyce sate and lowe

Hym thought the chylde wyse Inowe

And there fore Marlyns sake

1405

Hym and his moder he lete take

And all quyte lete them go fre

Byfore the folke of that countre

And sayd he wolde neuer after than

Iuge to dethe no woman

1410

Now let we be all this stryfe

Thus saued Marlyn his moders lyfe

For saynt Thomas of caunterbury

Gyue vs drynke and make vs mery

Tho Marlyn was fyue yere olde

1415

Of dedes he was sone bolde

His moder he dyde anone make

A grey habyte for to take

sig: [D3v]

And euer after verament

She serued god omnypotent

1420

NOw late we his moder be

And to our tale tourne we

And tell we of the messengeres

That went fro syr Vortygeres

For to seke Marlyn the bolde

1425

For to haue his blode as I of tolde

So there befell suche a caas

That they came there as Marlyn was

On playnge there he dyde go

And with hym went chyldren mo

1430

And as he played in that stede

One of the chyldren he mysdede

They chydde and cryed on hym tho

Thou foule shrewe go fro vs go

For thou arte a foule thynge bygote amysse

1435

There wote no man who thy fader is

But some fende bygote the I wene

For to do vs sorowe and tene

The messagers rode faste by

And herde the chyldren on marlyn crye

1440

And anone echone they thought

It was the chylde that they sought

And toke them to rede anone

That they wolde hym slone

Eche of them theyr swerdes out drowe

1445

And marlyn behelde them and lowe

Chyldren he sayd ye wolde haue me fro you

Haue good-day I go nowe

Here come the kynges messengeres

That hath me sought fer and neres

sig: D4

1450

For to haue my herte-blode

Ryght nowe they thought in theyr mode

For to sle me this same daye

But by my truthe yf I may

Or that they parte fro me

1455

Ryght good frendes shall we be

Marlyn anone to them ran

And gret them as he well can

And sayd welcome messengers

That come fro syr Vortygers

1460

Lo I am here that ye haue sought

Me to sle is your thought

For to bere the kynge my blode

That neuer sholde do hym good

For he that tolde hym that tydynge

1465

On me lyeth a foule lesynge

He sayd my blode with grete wronge

Sholde make his werke styffe and stronge

Though his werke therwith were wet

It sholde stande neuer the bet

1470

The messagers hadde [wonder] echone wonder] 1510 omits, wondur L

And spake to marlyn anone

How canst thou knowe suche preuyte

Tell vs sothe we praye the

Yes sayd marlyn I wote well

1475

The kynges councell euerydele

And what is your pourpose for to do

And other aduentures many mo

Therfore sholde ye me not slo

But to courte I wyll with you go

1480

I wyll saue you fro the dede

Hardely vpon my hede

And before the kynge yplyght

sig: [D4v]

I shall tell the sothe a_ryght

Why that his castell wyll not stonde

1485

And afterwarde I shall fonde

To make the clerkes false echone

That hath demed me to be slone

Tho sayd the messagers rathe

To sle the it were grete scathe

1490

For thy wordes be good and hende

To courte with vs thou shalte wende

Tell vs what is thy name

And what woman is thy dame

That we may haue veray tokenynge

1495

To answere at home byfore our kynge

Marlyn led them forth a grete pace

Tyll he came there his moder was

And he them tolde his moder byfore

All how he was bygote and bore

1500

And thorowe his wysdome and his rede

He saued her fro the dede

The messengers that I of tell

That same nyght he made them to dwell

On the morowe whan it was day

1505

They toke they[r] leue and wente theyr waye theyr] they 1510

And set Marlyn in that tyde

Vpon an horse by theyr syde

And wente forth all I_fere

Towarde kynge Vortygere

1510

They came to a towne as I you say

Ryght vpon a market-day

So that Marlyn as I you say

Sawe a man shone bye

A grete lawghter vp he nome

sig: E1

1515

The messengeres to hym come

And full fayre asked hym tho

Why he loughe faste so

He answered and sayd se ye nought

Yonder a man that shone hath bought

1520

And stronge leder them to cloute

And grees to grese them all aboute

He weneth to lyue and them to [w]ere were] tere 1510, A, weore L

But by my trouth I dare well swere

His wretched lyfe shall be lore

1525

Or he hath gone a myle or more

The messengers that same tyde

After a man they gan ryde

And or they had a forlonge gone

They founde hym dede as ony stone

1530

In that towne they bode all nyght

On the morowe whan it was lyght

They dressed theyr hors and made them yare

And on theyr waye they gan to fare

And as they rode in theyr Iourney

1535

Thorowe a towne of that countrey

They came by a chirche-yerde

And mette a corps that sholde be buryed

Many a man therwith gan gone

Marlyn behelde them euerychone

1540

And his brydell he withdrowe

And a grete laughter he lowe

The messengers rode hym to

And asked hym why he loughe so

So loude and so wonder shyll

1545

Than sayd Marlyn by goddes wyll

Yf ye wyst what it were

sig: [E1v]

Ye wolde laughe also smere

Amonge these folke he sayd than

I se yonder a sory man

1550

That for sorowe dooth wepe

That for Ioy ought to [s]kyp and lepe skyp] kyp 1510, skippe L

Another I se amonge them synge

That ought for to sorowe his handes to wrynge

I shall tell you why

1555

That ye shall haue good rybaudrye

The corps is dede he sayd and colde

Whiche was a knaues chylde of .x. yere olde

The same preest he sayd tho

That gooth byfore and syngeth so

1560

He it was that hym bygat

Sory he may be for that

He ought to wrynge his handes sore

And for his synnes care the more

And he syngeth and maketh blysse

1565

As it hadde neuer be his

And se the sory husbonde

He we[p]eth and wryngeth his honde wepeth] weheth 1510

He ought not his handes to wrynge

He ought to skyppe and synge

1570

For he is more than a fole

That for his enemye maketh dole

For he was the same fode

That sholde neuer haue done hym good

All the messengers rode anone

1575

To the chyldes moder anone

And Marlyn within a lytell throwe

Made her all for to by_knowe

Where-thorowe she coude not say nay

sig: E2

And prayed them her not to bywray

1580

Tho were the messengers blythe

And on theyr waye they rode swythe

And as the rode on theyr waye the=they?

It byfell on the thyrde daye

Whan it was at hye pryme

1585

Marlyn lought the thyrde tyme

The messengers asked hym there

Why he made so laughynge chere

Marlyn answered them ywys

Though I laughe no wonder it is

1590

Syth the tyme that ye were bore

Herde ye neuer suche a me[ruayle byf]ore meruayle byfore] me fruayle byore 1510

I shall tell you without othe

That ye shall fynde truely sothe

Now herken bothe yonge and olde

1595

What was the meruayle that marlyn tolde

Than sayd Marlyn lysten nowe

I shall tell you why I lowe

This day he sayd by my treuthe

In the kynges courte is grete reuthe

1600

Of the kynges chamberlayne

All thorowe the quene the sothe to sayne

She hath made a lesynge stronge

Men do her to dethe with wronge

The chamberlayne is a woman

1605

And gooth in clothes as a man

And for she is fayre and bryght of hewe

The false quene that is vntrewe

She thought well that she was a man

And thought anone she began

1610

To haue her to her lemman derne

sig: [E2v]

The chamberlayne gan her warne

Nedes she must that game forsake

For she myght her to lemman take myght: myght not?

Ne she myght make her no comforte

1615

For her takyll was so shorte

And there the quene was a foule

For had she wyste of her tole

How shorte it was wrought

She wolde haue desyred her nought

1620

Whan the quene her gan yerne

The chamberlayne her gan werne

The quene gan her dysmay

And thought she wolde her bywray

And knewe well she wolde her shende

1625

And to her lorde she gan wende

And complayned to the kynge

And made on her a grete lesynge

And sayd that his chamberlayne

With strengthe wolde her haue forlayne

1630

And swore she wolde neuer glad be

Tyll he were hanged on a tre

That were to dethe brought

The kynge faste she bysought

Than was the kynge wonder wrothe

1635

And eygrely he swore his othe

That she wolde be drawe and honge

But certes it were all with wronge

To sle a woman for a man

Thoughe she had mannes c[l]othes on clothes] chothes 1510

1640

Therfore I pray you for the loue of me

For goddes loue and saynt charyte

Go to the kynge blyue

sig: E3

Also fast as ye may dryue

Amd saye vnto the kynge

1645

The quene hath made a stronge lesynge

Vpon his chamberlayne with wrake

Therfore bed hym that he do her take

And loke all aboute than

He shall her fynde for a woman

1650

A knyght there was stoute and fre

He lepte vpon a good destre

That he made no lettynge

Tyll he came byfore the kynge

And whan he came in-to the hall

1655

Downe on knees he gan fall

And sayd to kynge Vortyger

God the saue and thy power

Many a countre we haue wente

On thy message as thou vs sente

1660

To seke a chylde [of] selcouth monde of] 1510 omits, of L

Thanked be god we haue hym founde

That chylde is fyue wynter olde

But ye sawe neuer none so bolde

Wyse he is by crystes pyne

1665

And he hyght chylde merlyne

He can tell all-thynge

That euer was without lesynge

And all-thyn[g]e that nowe is thynge] thynhe 1510

He can tell nowe Iwys

1670

Also he can tell ryght well

What destroyeth your castell

That it may not stande on the playne

And also of thy chamberlayne

That thou hast thought to drawe and honge

sig: [E3v]

1675

For certes it were all with wronge

To sle a woman for a man

Thoughe she haue mannes clothes on

Therfore he sende the sayne

Take anone thy chamberlayne

1680

And of her bondes her vnbynde

And a woman thou shalte her fynde

But yf it be so with all lawe

Do her to hange and to drawe

Kynge Vortyger a_wondred was

1685

And all that herde of that cas

He dyde commaunde byfore them all

To brynge his chamberlayne in-to the hall

She was serched in that stounde

For a woman they her founde

1690

Full wrothe was kynge Vortyger

And asked of that messager

Who tolde hym that she was a woman

Forsothe he sayd than

Chylde Merlyn gan vs say

1695

As we rode by the way

For he can tell and lye nought.

Of all that euer was wrought.

Tho spake vortyger the b[ol]de bolde] blode 1510

If that it be so as thou hast tolde

1700

I shall gyue the londe and ploughe

And make you all ryche Inoughe

He dyde commaunde anone ryght

Duke / erle / baron / and knyght

To dresse them and make them yare

1705

Wyth hym ayenst Merlyn for to fare

The kynge wolde no lenger abyde

sig: E4

But lepte vpon his horse that tyde

And pryked forth out of the towne

And wyth hym many a bolde barowne

1710

To speke wyth Merlyn the yonge

So glade he was of his comynge

Whan it was ayenst the nyght

The kynge with Merlyn mette ryght

And whan the kynge Merlyn mette

1715

Hendly he hym grette

And the kynge welcomed the chylde

Wyth fayre wordes and wyth mylde

Home to courte togyder they went

Wyth full grete Ioye verament

1720

And were well at ease that nyght

On the morowe whan it was day-lyg[ht] day-lyght] day-lygth 1510

To the place they went bydene

That Merlyn sholde the castell sene

The kynge sayd to Merlyn than

1725

Tell m[e] chylde yf thou can me] my 1510, me L

Why my castell in a stounde

Is euery nyght fall to the gronde

And why it myght stande nought

That of stronge werke is wrought

1730

Tho merlyn answered the kynge

Syr thou shalte se a wonder thynge

Here in the gronde two yerdes depe

There is a water huge and grete

An vnder the water be stones two

1735

Moche and fayre and brode also

Vnder the stones and vnder the molde

There lye two drag[on]s folde dragons] dragnos 1510

That one is whyte as mylke-reme reme: =skin on milk

sig: [E4v]

That other is rede as fyers leme

1740

Foule they be of syght bothe

And they togyder alwaye wrothe

And euery tyme whan it is nyght

Herde they gan togyder fyght

And thorowe strength of theyr blaste

1745

All the werke is ouer_caste

And yf the dragons were awaye

Thy werke myght stande nyght and daye

And make thy werke all at thy wyll

For to stande bothe sterke and styll

1750

Do nowe loke thou shalte se

Ryght as I tell the

syr Vortyger commaunded anone

That his werkemen euerychone

Fyue thousande and .l. mo

1755

He bad them loke yf it were so

Bynethe water in the grounde

Two grete stones there they founde

Many a man was redy there

The grete stones vp to rere

1760

Whan the stones were vp_drawen

Two dragons there they sawen

With theyr longe tayle double-folde

They founde all as Marlyn tolde

That one was rede as fyere

1765

With two eyen as a basyn clere

Pawes he had grete and longe

Fyre out of his mouthe spronge

His tayle was grete and no-thynge small

And his body boystous withall

1770

His blaste myght no man tell

sig: [E5]

He fared lyke the fende of hell

The stronge dragon that lay by hym

Of hym was a foule syght and grym

With grete pawes and sharpe hokes

1775

With grete tuskes and sharpe crokes

With throte and mouthe moche wyde

The blaste of his mouthe in that tyde

All glowynge was his onde

His tongue brente as a fyre-bronde

1780

His tayle was ragged as a fende

And vpon his tayles ende

Was shape a grysely hede

For to fyght with the rede

Marlyn sayd sothe I_plyght

1785

They be bothe grysly of syght

Whan they dyde bothe aryse

Many men they made a_gryse

The dra[g]on rose out of her denne dragon] dradon 1510

Therof dred many men

1790

All that were there in that tyde

Ne lenger durste they there abyde

Whan the dragons came to hepe

Eche man dyde on other lepe

And some for drede fell on sowughe

1795

And Marlyn stode styll and lowghe

The rede dragon and the whyte

Herde togyder gan they smyte

With mouthe and pawes and with tayle

Bytwene them was stronge batayle

1800

That all the erthe gan dynte tho

A lothely weder wexed tho

A stronge fyre they kyst anone

sig: [E5v]

That all the place therof shone

And spercles about also bryght

1805

As ony fyre of thonder lyght

And so they fought the sothe to say

All the longe somers day

That they ne stynt of fyg[h]tynge fyghtynge] fygtynge 1510

Tyll euensonge bell bygan to rynge

1810

And in that tyme as I you tell

The rede dragon wexed so fell

That he droue the whyte dragon

Out of the place a grete feron

Tyll they came in-to a valaye

1815

And there they rystyd bothe two

The mountenaunce of so longe whyle

That a man myght goo a myle

There the whyte conqueryd his myght

And vexed all stronge for to fyght

1820

And egerly wythouten fayle

The rede dragon he gan assayle

And droue the rede dragon agayne

Tyll they came vpon the playne

And the whyte anone ryght

1825

Caught the rede wyth strength and myght

And to the gro[u]nde he hym cast

And wyth the fyre of his blast

And all to pouder he brente the rede

That neuer was fonde of hym a glede

1830

But dust on the grounde laye

Whan he had so do he flewe a_waye

That neuer syth herde man

Where the whyte dragon went than

Tho sayd Merlyn the yonge

sig: [E6]

1835

To them all byfore the kynge

And sayd to them wordes bolde

Nowe syr the tale that I you tolde

It is sothe as thou mayst se

Therfore syr I pray the

1840

The clerkes do byfore me brynge

That made on me suche a lesynge

I shall them aske the byfore

Why they wolde me haue forlore

Than answered Vortyger

1845

And graunted hym without daunger

Anone he commaunded his men

To brynge forth the clerkes then

Whan they came byfore Marlyn

He apposed them of newe latyn

1850

Wherby they knewe and vnderstode

That Marlyn coude moche good

Marlyn asked them in haste

Why they dyde lye on hym so faste

That thorowe the vertue of his blode

1855

The kynges werke [be] stronge and gode be] 1510 omits

The clerkes answered the chylde

With fayre wordes and with mylde

And sayd to hym sekerly

Vnder the welken we sawe a skye

1860

That shewed vs all thy [b]egete begete] hegete 1510, byȜate L, biȜate A

How thou were [in yerthe] late in yerthe] myrthe 1510, in eorþe L, on erþe A

And thorowe thy blode the kynges castell

Sholde stonde fayre and well

And so we wende verament

1865

Do with vs nowe thy talent

How sayd Marlyn tho

sig: [E6v]

He was a shrewe that taught you so

The skye that shewed you that

Was my fader that me bygat

1870

For I serued hym neuer at wyll

Therfore he wolde my blode spyll

For he hath begyled you

Kynge Vortyger I pray the nowe

Graunte them lyfe for to lyue

1875

And all myn anger I them forgyue

The kynge them graunted also swythe

Tho were the clerkes glad and blythe

The kynge went to his ynne

And wyth hym went chylde merlyn

1880

Merlyn was wyth vortyger

To his counceyll all that yere

Thorowe his counceyll and his rede

His castell was stronge made in-dede

Whan his castell was ywrought

1885

Erles and barons hym bysought

That he sholde wyte of Marlyn tho

Why the dragons fought so

It was some tokenynge they sayd all

Of some thynges that sholde fall

1890

Marlyn was brought byfore the kynge

And he asked hym without lesynge

What the tokenynge myght bene

The fyghtynges of the dragons twene

Marlyn stode and made daungere

1895

And tho spake syr Vortygere

And sayd Marlyn but thou me tell

Anone ryght I shall the quell

Than answered Marlyn I_plyght

sig: [E7]

With grete anger anone ryght

1900

And sayd syr without othe

That worde shall neuer be sothe

Though thou take thy swerde in honde

Me to slo or dryue out of londe

Thou shalte fayle of thy fare

1905

Though that thou it swere

For I warne the well Vortyger

I gyue ryght nought of thy daunger

But thou wylte fynde me a borowe

That thou shalte neuer do me sorowe

1910

I shall tell the and not lye

What the dragons syngnyfye

But thou wylte so by our lorde

I wyll the tell neuer one worde

All the lordes and the kynge

1915

Had grete wonder of that warnynge

Two barons the kynge fonde

Good erles of the londe

Soone they swore vpon a boke

That they sholde no harme hym loke

1920

Yf he wolde tell withouten wene

What that tokenynge myght bene

Tho spake Marlyn to the kynge

Herken now to my talkynge

The rede dragon that was so foule of syght

1925

Betokeneth thy-selfe and thy myght

And also thorowe thy false procurynge

Moyne was slayne the yonge kynge

The rede dragon made the whyte fle

Ferre downe in the valee

1930

Bytokeneth the eyres that thou madest fle

sig: [E7v]

With wronge out of theyr countre

All the folke that with them helde

Bothe in towne and in felde

And dyde them moche sorowe

1935

Bothe on euen and on morowe

The whyte dragon sygnyfye

That the ryght eyres haue enuye

To the that holdest all theyr londe

With wronge in-to thy honde

1940

The whyte dragon as I you say

Recouered his strength in the valay

And droue the rede agayne

Tyll he came in-to the playne

And to the grounde he hym cast

1945

And brente hym there with his blast

That bytokeneth the eyres so yonge

Whiche haue s[o]coure fonde socoure] scoure 1510, socour L, A

And redy with many a knyght

Agayne the to holde fyght

1950

And come in-to Englonde

For to dryue the to shame and shonde

Into a castell they wyll the dryue

Bothe thy chyldren and thy wyue

And all that euer be with the thenne

1955

In-to the grounde they wyll them brenne

The redes tayle that was so longe

Betokeneth warre stronge

Whiche shall come after thenne

Of thyne owne wyues kynne

1960

And the hethen kynge angys

He shall be slayne and lese the pryse

His kynred and thyne also

sig: [E8]

Shall do Englonde moche wo

The hede of the whytes tayle

1965

Be[toke]neth withouten fayle Betokeneth] Bekoneth 1510

That eyres bothe true and good

Shall destroye all th[y] blood thy] the 1510, þy L

And certes syr that is the tokenynge

Of the dragons stronge fyghtynge

1970

That I the tell withouten othe

Thou shalte fynde it syker sothe

Styll stode syr Vortyger

And bote his lyppe with sory chere

And sayd to Marlyn anone

1975

Thou must me tell by saynt Iohan

How I may best saue my lyfe

And my chyldren and my wyfe

Marlyn stode tho full styll

And answered hym with wordes yll

1980

And sayd syr withouten wene

Thus it must nedes bene

Kynge Vortyger gan wexe wrothe

And by god he swore his othe

But he wolde tell hym some rede

1985

Anone he wolde do hym to dede

And sterte vp and wolde hym haue caught

But of hym was founde ryght nought

So lyghtely he was a_waye

That in all the courte that daye

1990

Hye ne lowe swayne ne grome swayne] sawayne 1510

Wyst where Marlyn was bycome

Whan he was escaped so

Kynge Vortyger was full wo

And in his herte he had care

sig: [E8v]

1995

And so had all that with hym ware

And sought hy ouer-all bydene

But they myght hym not sene

Marlyn wente hastely

To the hermyte Blasy

2000

And tolde hym without lesynge

How he had serued the kynge

And tolde hym without wronge

The fyghtynge of the dragons stronge

Of the rede and of the whyte

2005

A grete boke he dyde wryte

And sayd that the rede dragon

Betokeneth grete dystruccyon

Thorowe Vortygers kyn ywys

And thorowe the hethen kynge angys

2010

And thorowe theyr kynge withouten wene

In Englonde shall it bene

Stronge warre and batayll kene

And many a man shall slayne bene

For as Marlyn tolde and sayd

2015

In scrypture he it layde

Of all the aduentures I vnderstonde

That sholde be_fall in Englonde

But derke it is and wonder thynge

That Marlyn made in his shewynge

2020

But fewe men without wene

Coude vnderstonde what it myght bene

And for it was so derke wrought

Of that scrypture I tell nought

But yf ye a stounde dwell

2025

Of other aduentures I wyll you tell

Of the yonge chyldren two

sig: F1

Vther and pendragon also

I tell you as I vnderstonde

How they fledde out of Englonde

2030

In-to Gascoyne they were ledde

And with theyr frendes fastered and fedde

Whan they were wexed of age

For to wynne th[eyr] erytage theyr] thyn 1510

Therfore I wyll you sayne

2035

How they came to londe agayne

With grete strength and grete power

And how they droue syr Vortyger

Vnto his castell thycke and stronge

For his treason and for his wronge

2040

And how they brente hym flesshe and bone

And how they dyde kynge angys slone

I shall tell you in what manere

Herken nowe and ye may here

MEry tyme it is in may.

2045

Than spryngeth the longe somers day

In grenewode foules syngynge

And in medes grasse spryngynge

And in chirches clerkes redynge

And damoyselles caroules ledynge

2050

In that tyme as ye may here

Two barons came [to] Vortygere to] 1510 omits, to L, A

And sayd to hym my lorde the kynge

We haue brought the harde tydynge

Of Pendragon that is thy fo

2055

And of his brother Vther also

That is come in-to this londe

With many doughty man of honde

With helme on hede and baner bryght

sig: [F1v]

Full stronge they be and fresshe to fyght

2060

And swere they wyll stynte nought

Tyll thou be to grounde brought

They wyll no lenger abyde

Nyght and day they do ryde

And a[t] wynchester they be almoost at] an 1510, at L, A

2065

Therfore sende aboute with grete boost

To all th[y] frendes bothe ferre and nere thy] theyr 1510, / y L

For to helpe the with theyr powere

Ayenst thy fomen for to spede

For thou haddes neuer more nede

2070

V[p] sterte syr Vortygere Vp] Vo 1510, Vp L, A

And called anone his messenger

And to wynchester he sente in haste

And commaunded the burgeyse euerychone

That they sholde all be bowne

2075

Ayenst Vther and Pendragon

And shyt the gates with so queynt gyn

That they come not therin That] That that 1510

And I wyll come permafay

To helpe them all that I may

2080

And messengers he sente ywys

To the hethen kynge angys

And bad hym come without dwellynge

With all the folke that he myght brynge

For to helpe hym ayenst his fone

2085

In londe that wayte hym to slone

Anone he sente his sonde

Ouer-all aboute in Englonde

To duke / Erle / baron / and knyght

To come to hym anone ryght

2090

To helpe hym in that tyde

sig: F2

In felde his fomen to abyde

Whan kynge angys thyder dyde come

And his folke all and some

Duke / Erle / baron / and knyght

2095

Armed redy for to fyght

They lepte to horse soone anone

And to wynchester they prycked echone

Yet or they myght come thore

Vther / and Pendragon was byfore

2100

And were come wynchester nye

And soone rered theyr baner on hye

With so grete people without the towne

That they ouerspred bothe dale and downe

The burgeyse that in the t[ow]ne were towne] twone 1510

2105

Loked out on that banere

Full fast theron they gan to beholde

And sawe a lybberde of rede golde

That rychely was dressed theron

That was theyr faders there-byfore

2110

That baner anone they knewe

And soone anone they gan rewe

The deth of good constantyne the kynge

And of Moyne that was slayne so yonge

And sayd that Vortyger with wronge

2115

Had be theyr kynge to longe

He was a_cursed lym and lyth

And all that euer helde hym with

The burgeyse sware togyder echone

Though they sholde be hanged anone

2120

They wolde lete in-to the towne

Bothe Vther and Pendragon

And sease in-to theyr honde

sig: [F2v]

For they were ryght eyres of the londe

They set open the gates wyde

2125

And Pendragon they lete in ryde

And his brother also

And all that came with hym tho

The burgeyse were glad and blythe

And therfore also swythe

2130

They yelde to hym towne and toure

And dyde hym grete honoure

That euer wynchester after than

Grete fredome hym wan

Whan that Vortyger the fell

2135

Of that tydynges herde tell

How Vther and Pendragowne

Were late in-to the towne

For anger wexed wode nye

And sayd that they sholde abye

2140

And ladde his hooste ryght faste

To wynchester in all haste

Whan Vther wyst and Pendragon

That Vortyger was thyder come

He commaunded all his men than

2145

To horse and armes euery man

And opened the gates wyde

Oute of the gates they gan ryde

Whan they came out of the towne

Vp they rered a gonfawcowne

2150

And dressed them withouten fayll

To gyue theyr enemyes batayll

And the Englysshe folke I_fere

That were with kynge Vortygere

Whan they myght that baner se

sig: F3

2155

That the kynges myght be

With Vortyger was many a knyght

That knewe that baner anone ryght

Well a thousande and mo were

That serued theyr fader byfore

2160

And wyst well and vnderstode

That they were of the ryght blode

And torned theyr thought anone

Ayenst Vortyger euerychone

And sayd thou false traytoure

2165

Thou shalte abye by our sauyoure

For thou hast be kynge with wronge

Thou shalte be drawe and honge

For grete anger anone ryght

With glayues and with swerdes bryght

2170

They wolde haue slayne Vortyger

But all to lytell was theyr power

For euer ayenst one of tho

He had an hondred and well mo

Of wyght men and stronge

2175

With glayues and swerdes longe

That were come all-togyder

For to fyght they came thyder

Kynge Vortyger and kynge angys

For wreche were nye wood ywys

2180

And commaunded all theyr route

To besette the knyghtes all aboute

And swore there sholde escape none

Of knyghtes that dyde ayenst them gone

Speres they brake and swerdes they drewe

2185

Many a knyght there they slewe

But the knyghtes were full wyght

sig: [F3v]

And wente ayenst them for to fyght

Herde they gan ayenst them hewe

But alas there were to fewe

2190

Thrughe that metynge and that stryfe

Well halfe an hondred loste theyr lyfe

There came a baron that was gente

That sayd they sholde all be shente

He prycked his stede a grete randon

2195

Tyll he came to Vther and Pendragon

And sayd ryght heyres of this londe

To my tale ye vnderstonde

Many a knyght and baron fre

For loue of thy broder and the

2200

With good wyll they be to you I_wente

And therfore they be foule shente

Kynge Vortyger and kynge angys

With many a sarasyn of prys

Haue shente them in a stounde

2205

Horse and man layde to grounde

Nowe be they shent for the loue of the

Helpe them nowe for charyte

It was no nede to byde them ryde

His folke spred on euery syde

2210

Whan they were togyder met

Strokes there were well set

There was soone verament

Gyuen many [a] sore dynt a] 1510 omits, a L, A

Many a sarasyns hede anone

2215

Flewe fro the necke-bone

A grete nomber in that tyde

Were slayne on euery syde

But Vortyger without fayle

sig: F4

Was ouercome in that batayle

2220

Bothe he and all his

And so was kynge angys

They were all dryue so nye

That he and all his hoost dyde flye

In-to his castell stronge and mery

2225

Vpon the p[l]ayne of salysbury playne] payne 1510

Kynge angys fledde as he were wood

In-to a castell stronge and good

That was wrought of lyme and stone

Better in the londe was none

2230

The name of that castell

Is called Tyntagell

Nowe lete we kynge angys there

And tell we forth of Vortyger

Pendragon and syr Vther

2235

Prycked after Vortyger

Whan they to the castell come

Wylde-fyre anone they nome

And cast it ouer the wall anone

And also sone as it was within

2240

It gan to brenne as a fyre-bronde

That no man myght it withstonde

Tyll Vortyger was brent chylde and wyfe

And all that were within on lyfe

Beest and man with lyme and lede

2245

Brenned downe withouten rede

That no-thynge of them was founde

But dust that lay on the grounde

Whan Vortyger was so brente

Vther and pendragon togyder wente

2250

For to seche kynge Angys

sig: [F4v]

There he lay on his castell of prys

Thyder he was flowen for doute

And Pendragon with all his route

Bysette hym nyght and day

2255

That no man may scape away

But kynge angys in his castell

Was stored veray well

So well the castell was wrought

That no man it wynne mought

2260

Fyue barons with Vther were

That had ben with Vortygere

And tolde Vther and Pendragon before

How Marlyn was bygote and bore

And how he coude tell all-thynge

2265

That euer was without lesynge

And all-thynge that shall bene

He can tell without wene

And vortyger a wonder thynge

Of two dragons that lay folde

2270

And how he sholde I_brent be

Thorowe thy broder and thorowe the

How the kynge wolde hym haue nome

But he ne wyst where he was bycome

And sayd syr veramente

2275

And yf he were now presente

Thorowe his counceyll thou sholdest anone

Kynge angys ouercome and slone

Pendragon was a_wondred tho

And Vther his brother also

2280

And sente anone knyghtes fyue

For to seche Marlyn blyue

And yf they fynde the chylde

sig: G1

Pray hym with wordes mylde

For to speke with pendragon

2285

And Vther in theyr pauylyon

Them to wysshe and to rede

And them to helpe in theyr nede

For to wynne that stronge-holde

And he sholde haue that he wolde

2290

Nowe be these messagers wente

To seche Marlyn with good entente

Wyde and syde they hym soughte

But they founde hym noughte

So on a day the messengeres

2295

As they satte at theyr dyneres

In a towne of the west countre

With mete and drynke grete plente

An olde chorle there came ynne

With longe heres on his chynne

2300

A staffe in his honde he had

And shone on his fete full bad

He began to coughe and grone thore

Ans sayd he was an_hongred sore

And bad them on the benche aboue

2305

Gyue hym some mete for goddes loue

They hym answered without lesynge

He sholde neyther haue mete ne other thynge

They swore by hym that Iudas solde

He was a stoute chorle and a bolde

2310

And myght trauayle for his mete

Yf he with trouthe wolde it gete

They called hym fayter euerychone

And bad hym trusse faste and gone

And swore by the trouthe that god hym gaffe

sig: [G1v]

2315

He sholde haue of his owne staffe

Thre stro[k]es well I_set strokes] stroses 1510, strokes A

But he hyed hym oute the bet

Than answe[r]ed the olde man answered] answeeed 1510

Felowes he sayd no chorle I am

2320

I am an olde man of this worlde

And many wonders I haue herde

And ye but wretches of yonge blood

And knowe all but lytell good

And yf ye coude as ye ne can

2325

Ye wolde scorne none olde man

As ye go in your prynces nede

For olde men myght you rede

For to fynde Marlyn the chylde

Your prynce was bothe good and wylde

2330

To sende men that done oute_rage

For to wende on his message

For Marlyn is of suche manere

Though he stode before you here

And spake to you as I do

2335

Ye sholde hym knowe neuer the mo

Thryes to_daye ye haue hym met

And yet ye knowe hym neuer the bet

Therfore go home by my rede

To fynde hym shall ye not spede

2340

Bydde your prynce take barons fyue

And go seche Marlyn blyue

And that Marlyn shall them abyde

On hye by the forest-syde

And whan he had tolde this

2345

He wente away anone ywys

Ther was none of them tho

sig: G2

That wyst where he was go

The messagers were wondred all

And after hym they [g]an to call gan] can 1510

2350

And ouer-all they gan hym seche

But of hym herde they no speche

For in gest as it is tolde

The chorle that was there so bolde

That rebuked the messageres

2355

As they satte at theyr dyners

It was chylde Marlyn the yonge

That made of them his scornynge

The messagers wente home anone

And tolde Vther and Pendragon

2360

How a chorle had them tolde

And them scorned with worde bolde

And sayd how Marlyn the chylde

Was vp in the forest wylde

And bad them take barons fyue

2365

For to seke merlyn blyue

And sayd Marlyn wolde abyde

On hye vnder the forest-syde

Pendragon had wonder tho

And Vther his brother also

2370

And wyll and talent fyne

For to speke with chylde Marlyn

He badde Vther his brothe[r] gente brother] brothe 1510

To theyr syege take theyr entente

That kynge angys scape not away

2375

Neyther by nyght ne by day

Tyll they were on hym a_wreke

And he wolde go with Marlyn to speke

Pendragon toke barons fyue

sig: [G2v]

And wente forth also blyue

2380

For to speke with Marlyn the chylde

That was in the foreste wylde

Whan pendragon was out I_wente

Marlyn anone to Vther wente

To hym he wente anone

2385

For to warne hym of his fone

As it were a stoute garson

He came in-to his pauylyon

And sayd Vther lysten to me

Of thy harme I warne the

2390

I am crysten the sothe to saye

Therfore I warne the to_daye

That the byhete kynge angys

With many a sarasyn of pryce

Shall come to the this same nyght

2395

With many a man well ydyght

In thy fyrst slepe anone

He wyll wayte the to slone

For well [he] wote without fayle he] 1510 omits

All the kynges counceyle

2400

But of hym haue ye no doute

Do warne thyne hoost all aboute

That they ben armed very wele

Bothe in yron and in stele

And gader togyder all thyn hoost

2405

And holde you styll without boost

Tyll he be amonge you come

For he wyll be the formest of that frome of that frome: =verse tag "atte frome"?; see OED frume

That on thy pauylyon wyll renne

And loke that thou be redy then

2410

And harde on hym that thou smyte

sig: G3

And loke of thy swerde wyll byte

For thou shalte hym sle with thy honde

And wynne the pryce of this londe

Whan he had tolde all this case

2415

No man wyst where he was

Vther had grete wonder tho

For he was escaped so

And in his herte gan vnderstonde

That it was thrughe goddes sonde

2420

And had hym warned of his fone

For he was lyghtely gone

Whan it was within the nyght

Kynge angys anone ryght

Dyde arme his men all preste

2425

Thre thousande of the beste

And sayd how a spye hym tolde

How Pendragon the prynce bolde

In-to the courte was I_fare

And Vther was lefte there

2430

Therfore he sayd with grete hete

On hym he wolde be a_wreke

And swore by his god mahon

He wolde hym sle in his pauylyon

And whan he hath Vther slayne

2435

In-to his castell he wolde agayne

Whan they were redy dyght

Kynge angys anone ryght

Out of his castell he gan ryde

And thre thousande by his syde

2440

And prycked forth with grete boost

Tyll he came to Vthers hoost

Whan he came there ryght

sig: [G3v]

There Vther his pauylyon pyght

Kynge angys was full felon

2445

And gan hewe on his pauylyon

And thought to haue slayne hym therin

But he was begyled through Marlyn

For marlyn had on the morne

Warned Vther there-byforne

2450

How kynge angys had I_thought

Therfore in his pauylyon was he nought

But Vther was redy there-oute

With many men stronge and stoute

And Vther was a stronge man

2455

To kynge angys anone he ranne

And gaue hym suche a stroke

That he flewe tayle ouer toppe

And toke hym by the hede anone

And smote it fro the necke-bone

2460

Whan the sarasyns that dyde see

Sone anone they gan flee

In-to the castell all bydene

And lete theyr lorde without bene

But or they myght come home agayne

2465

Fyue hondred of them were slayne

Of the strongest that there wore

That came with theyr kynge byfore

Now lete we be of all this reason

And tourne we agayne to Pendragon

2470

That was gone to the forest-syde

To speke with Marlyn in that tyde

The fyrst tyme that he sawe marlyn

He was an herde and kepte swyne

With an olde hatte on his hede

sig: G4

2475

And in a sacke he was I_wede

Stronge he semed and well made

The prynce anone to hym rode

And well fayre he dyde hym frayne

Yf he coude ought of marlyn sayne

2480

Or tell hym ony-thynge

Where was his moost dwellynge

Ye syr he sayd by saynt Rychere

Ryght now marlyn was here

Had ye come or ye dyde

2485

Ye had hym founde in this stede

And yf ye coude marlyn knowe

He is not yet ferre goo

And therfore ryde on thy way

Also fast as thou may

2490

And on thy ryght honde full rathe

Thou shalte fynde a lytell pathe

That thorowe that forest lyethe

In that way ryde forthe swythe

Wherby without wene

2495

There shalte thou marlyn sene

Than was the prynce gladde

And rode forth as he hym badde

As the herde hym sayd he fonde

A pathe on his ryght honde

2500

They torned theym euerychone

In that waye they rode anone

Whan they had ryden in that way

Almoost a myle of that countrey

With Marlyn mette they often than

2505

As it were a stoute chapman

With a ferdell on his backe

sig: [G4v]

And to the prynce fayre he spake

The prynce hym answered there

And asked hym by his chaffere

2510

Yf he mette ought with Marlyn

Ye syr he sayd by saynt Martyn

A lytell here before thy syght

I was there he was nowe ryght

And yet he sayd by saynt Ihone

2515

He is not yet ferre gone

Therfore ryde forth bylyue

As faste as ye may dryue

And thou shalte fynde hym in a whyle

Or thou haue ryden halfe a myle

2520

With Marlyn thou shalte speke than

Or thou speke with ony man

Than was the prynce glad and blythe

And prycked forth also swythe

They rode a whyle as they wolde

2525

Ryght as the chapman them tolde

They met Marlyn on a playne

As he were a doughty swayne

Clothed he was in a robe of rede

And lapped in a mantell in-dede

2530

And bare a ga[u]elocke in his honde

And spake as a man of straunge londe

Whan he with the prynce met

Hendely he hym gret

And the prynce full hendelye

2535

Asked hym for his curteysye

If he met ought that daye

Marlyn by the waye

Syr he sayd by saynt Myghell

sig: [G5]

Marlyn I knowe very well

2540

Ryght nowe he sayd sekerly

Marlyn was here faste by

Haddest thou ryden a lytell bet

With Marlyn thou myghtest haue met

And syr he sayd without othe

2545

He is a quaynt boye for-sothe

To fynde hym it is strounge

Thoughe ye seke hym neuer so longe

So well I knowe marlyns thought

Without my helpe ye gete hym nought

2550

Yf thou of hym wylte haue speche

Thou must do as I the reche

The nexte towne here-by_syde

There thou must Marlyn abyde

And certaynly chylde marlyn

2555

Shall come to your ynne

And speke with the this nyght

There thou shalte haue of hym a syght

Than myghtest thou bothe loude and styll

Speke with Marlyn all thy fyll

2560

Then was the prynce full gladde

And dyde as the swayne hym badde

And toke his ynne in the towne

As a lord of grete renowne

Now may ye here in this tyme

2565

How Marlyn came the fyrste tyme fyrste] 5th P

And how he the prynce mette

And how he hym grete

And how Pendragon was kynge

And how Marlyn without lesynge

2570

Dwelled with hym and his meyne

sig: [G5v]

And wyst all his preuyte

And how he was his counceylere

Fyll the cuppe and ye shall here

Whan it was within the nyght

2575

Marlyn came to hym full ryght

In the gyse of a s[wa]yne swayne] sawyne 1510

As he mette hym on the playne

And sayd as men fynde in boke

To the prynce god the loke

2580

Lo [I] am here that thou hast sought I] 1510 omits, I P

Tell now me what is thy thought

Vp thenne sterte Pendragon

And toke hym in his armes anone

And prayed hym with hym to lyue

2585

And what he wolde he sholde hym gyue

Marlyn sayd veramente

I am at your commaundemente

Than was the prynce glad and blythe

And thanked hym ofte-sythe

2590

Than sayd marlyn by saynt Rycher

I come now fro thy brother Vter

And thorugh my counceyll and his myght

Kynge angys is slayne this nyght

Thenne was the prynce very glade

2595

And grete solace togyder they made

All that there were were full fayne

On the morowe they wente home agayne

And founde kynge angys slawe

His hede vp_sete his body to_drawe

2600

Pendragon asked vter ywys

Who hadde slayne kynge angys

And he answered hym agayne

sig: [G6]

How he was warned thorugh a swayne

And tolde hym without lesynge

2605

How he slewe the hethen kynge

Whan he had tolde how he dyde

And thanked god in that stede

Thenne speke Pendragon

And sayd to Vther anone

2610

He that helpe the at thy nede

It was Marlyn so god me spede

That stondeth here now by the

Vther hym thanked with herte fre

And prayed hym for all-thynge

2615

To make there his dwellynge

For in that castell without lesse

Many a sarasyne there was

That no man myght on them wynne

Ne peyre them with no gynne

2620

Therfore the hoost styll laye

And sythe on the thyrde daye

Two knyghtes came fro the sarasynes

That were in the Castell synes

And sayd that they wolde yelde the castell

2625

Yf they myght passe well

In-to Denmarke without dere

And on a boke they wolde swere

That they wolde neuer come agayne

And Marlyn sente them sayne

2630

They sholde passe euerychone

By Vthers leue and pendragon

Whan they had swore all and some

They sholde no more in Englonde come

sig: [G6v]

They wente to the see-stronde

2635

And passed them to theyr londe

Than was Englonde blythe and glad

And sythe thrughe comyn radde

Pendragon the crowne name

And kynge of Englonde he became

2640

In Englonde he was kynge

But thre yere without lesynge

And sythe he was slayne rathe

With vnryght and that was scathe

I wyll you tell in what manere

2645

Herken it now and ye shall here

IT befell in Denmarke

Two sarasyns that were sterke

That were of kynge angys kynrede

And of his blood they were descended

2650

The one was come of the brother

And of the syster came the other

Stronge men they were and fell

Full well I can theyr names tell

The one was called syr Gamoure

2655

Amd the other Metradoure

Grete lordes they were of londe

Metrador helde in his honde

Two ducheys and Gamor thre

Agayne them durst no man be

2660

Whan they herde that kynge angys

In Englonde was slayne ywys ywys] I ywys 1510

As soone as they dyde togyder speke

Theyr enemys deth to a_wreke

They gadred them stronge myght

2665

Duke / Erle / baron / and knyght

sig: [G7]

So grete an hoost togyder they brought

The nombre can I tell nought

In-to shyppe they wente than

And to sayle they fast began

2670

So the wynde gan them blowe

They aryued vp at brystowe

Marlyn wyst that well anone

And tolde Vther and pendragon

There was come frome denmarke

2675

A stronge hoost and a sterke

With many a sarasyne of prys

For to haue wreke kynge angys

In Englonde he sayd than

So grete an hoost sawe neuer man

2680

And sayd one of you without lesse

Shall be slayne in that presse

And whiche of you that is

Shall haue to mede heuen blysse

But for no-thynge wolde he sayen

2685

Whiche of them sholde be slayne

But in-dede as ye may here

That Marlyn loued more Vtere

The leest here of his crowne

Than he dyde pendragon

2690

He hadde them make them redy anone

Agaynst theyr enemyes for to gone

And pendragon without fayll

By the londe shall them assayll

And Vther I byde the

2695

That thou go by the se

And loke that there escape none

But they be slayne euerychone

sig: [G7v]

Pendragon was a doughty knyght

Eger and fell in euery fyght

2700

He dyde neuer forsake to bere

Agaynst a man shylde and spere

And fyght with swerde without fayle

And that was sene in that batayle

He toke his hoost with myght and mayne

2705

And wente the sarasyns agayne

Whan they were togyder mette

Strokes there well I_sette

Of many a doughty sarasyn

He clefte theyr hedes to the skyn

2710

And many a knyght there was in haste

Slayne and out of theyr sadyll cast

Vther by the see was wente

And hym tolde veramente

Chylde Marlyn in his sawe

2715

That there he sholde not be slawe

Than in hast he was full lyghte

Fell and fresshe for to fyghte

Egerly without ony fayle

The sarasyns he began to assayle

2720

Vther and his felowe rede

Doughty men they were of dede

All that they myght bylyue

Some they reued of theyr lyue

Pendragon and his folke in haste

2725

The sarasyns downe they caste

There was none that ayenst them stode

But flowe awaye as they were wode

Vther in that same tyde

Kepte them by the water-syde

sig: [G8]

2730

With strokes yll and dyntes harde

Drofe them all ayenwarde

Thus they were chased bytwene them two

That them was neuer erste so wo

Whan they no ferther myghte

2735

On Pendragon they gone to fyght

An hondred sarasyns in a route

Be_sette hym all aboute

Who had sene Pendragon than

Myghte haue sene a do[u]ghty man

2740

Agayne the sarasyns to fyghte

Whyle that he had his lymmes a_ryghte

All that euer [he] myght a_reche he] 1510 omitsP: For all that he might euer reach, 2342

They had neuer other leche

The sarasyns were stronge and grym

2745

And slewe his stede vnder hym

Whan he had loste his stede

Grete meruayle it is in bokes to rede

How he faught and on fote stode

Tyll he loste his herte-b[l]ode blode] bode 1510, bloode P

2750

And hondred sarasyns on a rewe

Atte-ones began on hym to hewe

And brake bothe backe and arme

And slewe hym and that was harme

Whan Vther that vnderstode

2755

That his broder was slayne he was wode

And badde his folke faste fyght

And he bestyred hym as a knyght

Of .xxx.M. that were on lyue

There escaped away not fyue

2760

Of Englysshe-men there were slayne

But thre hondred that ony man coude sayne

sig: [G8v]

Bytwene bath and brystowe tho

Thre myle myght no man go

Neyther in dale neyther in den

2765

But he trade on dede men

Whan it was agaynst the nyght

Vther dyde dyscomfyte the fyght

With many an Erle and baroune

And with knyghtes of grete renoune

2770

They wente home to theyr In

On the morowe by the counceyll of Marlyn

Pendragon was out sought

And in the erthe fayre I_brought

Beryed he was full mery

2775

In the towne of Glastenbery

Thus ended the doughty kynge

God gyue his soule good endynge

And after that Pendragon was dede

Vther was crowned by comyn rede

2780

And helde Englonde to ryght

I praye to god full of myght

Graunte them heuen blysse aboue

Amen for his moders loue

And gyue them all good endynge

2785

That haue herde this talkynge

¶Here endeth a lytell treatyse of Marlyn whiche prophe[s]yedprophesyed] prophefyed 1510 of many fortunes or happes here in Englonde. Enprynted in London in flete_strete at the sygne of the sonne by Wynkyn_de_Worde. the yere of oure lorde a .M.CCCCC. and .x.