Edited by John Conlee - Prose Merlin - The Battle of Bredigan Forest lyrics

[Summary. Merlin a**ures King Ban that a**isting Arthur against the rebelling barons will work to Ban's advantage in Benoyk later, and Merlin predicts that Ban will win control of that realm. Ban agrees to help, summons his forces, and sends them off to rendezvous with Arthur at Bredigan Forest. Meanwhile, the barons swear ven- geance against Arthur and recruit several new allies. A brief digression follows, on Brutus's founding of Britain and on the origin of the placenames Logres, Bloy Bretaigne, and Cornwaile. Then Merlin and the army from Little Britain arrive at Bredigan, joining forces with Arthur. Merlin tells Arthur that he must win the support of the people with gifts, and Merlin amazes Arthur and his friends by telling them that a great treasure lies buried in the ground beneath them. Then Arthur's troops, and those of Ban and Bors, are deployed in companies and prepare for the battle. While this is going on, the Danes invade the barons' lands in the north of Britain. Fols. 47v (line 21)51v (line 10).] The boke seith that while Kynge Arthur and Kynge Ban of Benoyk and Kynge Boors of Gannes ordeyned her batailes in this wise as ye have herde, that nyght the eleven kynges ne toke noon hede to sette no wacche in thayr hoste, but wente to their bedde and slepte as thei that nothynge knewe that her enmyes were so nygh But oon feire fortune thei hadde, that alle the eleven kynges lay in the kynges teynte that was cleped Roy de Cent Chivaliers, and thei ne wende not to have no dred of no man. And as thei thus were slepynge, befill that Kynge Looth was in a ferfull dreme, for hym semed that he saugh so grete a wynde arise that it caste down howses and stepelis of chirches, and after that ther come a thounder so grete and merveilously sharpe that hym thought all the worlde trembled for fere and drede; and after that com a water so sharply that drofdown the howsynge and a grete parte of the peple, and hym semed how hymself was in grete pereile to drowne. And as the Kynge Loth was in this affray, he dede awake and hym blissed and was sore abaisshed of this dreme that he was in; and [he] aroos and apareiled hym and yede to his felowes and hem dide awake and tolde hem his avision. And thei asked hym fro whiche part com the water; and he seide from the foreste com all the rage and the tempeste, as hym semed. And thei seide thei knewe verily that thei sholde hastely have bataile, and that merveillouse. And therwith thei arisen and awoke alle the knyghtes therynne, and comaunded hem to serche all the contré environ that thei were not supprised of no peple. And thei armed hem right wele, and lepte on ther horses and rode serchynge the contrey. And the eleven kynges hem armed and araide in the beste maner that thei cowden. And than Merlin began to haste Arthurs peple, that well knewe the governaunce of the tother party; and thei com so faste on that thei toke noon hede till thei were even fallen on hem that the contrey serched. And whan thei saugh hem armed, thei hadde grete drede and asked Merlin that mette with hem formeste what peple thei were. And Merlin seide it was the Kynge Arthur that was come to chalange his londe agein alle hem that therwith wolde be greved. Whan thei herde these wordes, thei turned bakke and smote the horse with spores; and whan thei come into the hoste thei cryde, "Treson, treson. Now as armes, lordes, gentill knyghtes, for ther was never so grete nede; for lo! here cometh Arthur even at youre teyntes." And thei ronne to here armes, that yet were in her beddys, and hadde no leyser hem to clothe; and that was yet a fair happe for hem that her horses were redy sadellyd. But yet for all that thei myght hem hasten, thise other were upon hem er thei myght be half araied of her harneyse. And therwith hem fill a grete encomberaunce that Merlin sente hem soche a wynde and tempeste that her tentes fill upon their hedes; and amonge hem was soche a truble that unethe myght eny of hem se other ne heren. And that was a thynge that gretly hem distrubled in her armynge, and therynne thei caught grete damage, for Arthurs peple smote in amonge hem and overthrowe and slowgh all that thei myght areche. But the eleven kynges were departed and desevered, and yeden oute into the playn feldes withoute the tentes, and made blowe a trompe high and clere. And that was don for that all theire men sholde drawe towarde hem. And thei dide so, as many as myght aschape fro hem that of hem hadde no pyté, for ther was of hem so many slayn in that grete myschef that of the thirde parte thei were well delyvered; and therto thei saugh hem of so grete puyssaunce that thei turned to flight towarde her baner whereas thei herde the trompe sowne, for the kynges were stynted at the entré of the forest by a river, and ther a**embled alle her peple that thei myght have. And so thei encresed litill and litill, till thei were that fledde, some heere and some there, that ne myght not come to here baner but with harde peyne. And so were thei sory and wroth for theire grete damage and losse, and sore thei compleyned their grete annoye. And 10,000 [were] lefte liggynge in the felde, what dede and wounded, that no power hadde hem to diffende ne for to greve noon other. Whan the Kynge Arthur saugh that all the herbegage was to hym belefte, than he com to Merlin and asked hym how he sholde do. Quod Merlin, "I will telle yow what ye shall do. Ye shall go here before to the pa**age at the forde whereas be gadered 20,000 men, and ye shall fight with hem and make hem entende to yow. And the Kynge Ban and his brother shull go abowte and come on the tothir syde of hem and come on hem fro the foreste. And thei shull so be astoned that in hem shall be but litill defence." Than thei departed the toon fro the tother. And the kynge yede thedir as the barouns were abidynge, that ne wende to have no drede of noon other saf of hym. And of hym thei ne drede but litill, for thei trowed hem wele to diffende agein gretter peple than ther was with hym. And the Kynge Ban torned towarde the forester, and Arthur rode with his company till he com theras the eleven kynges were togeder a**embled. Whan thei come to the pa**age of the forde, ther sholde ye have seyn speres perce thourgh sheldes and many knyghtes liggynge in the water, so that the water was all reade of blode. And Kay heilde so the pas with the baner and payned that his company gate over. And whan the eleven kynges saugh so small a peple, hem thourgh preced and rushed, for thei were but 4,000, and thei were more than 20,000; thei hadde therof grete dispite and shame, and diffended hem apertly. [Summary. A fierce battle ensues in which Ulfin and Bretell and Kay and Gifflet do bold deeds. When the barons begin to get the upperhand, Arthur enters the fray and does many marvels, including unhorsing the King de Cent Chevaliers and rescuing Kay and Gifflet. Fols. 52v (line 6)54r (line 8).] Whan the Kynge Arthur saugh this nede, he turned that wey as wroth as a lyon and leide aboute hym on bothe sides and slow all that he raught with a full stroke, so that thei voyded hys strokes and made hym rome. And Kay and Gifflet pressed to the kynges, that moche hem hadde greved and with hem sore foughten. And on the tother side faught Bretell and Ulfin and Antor with the Duke Escam of Cambenyk and ageyn Tradilyvaunt and agein Clarion of Northumberlonde and agein Carados that was a noble kynght; so thei made hem to blenche thider as Kynge Arthur faught, that dide merveilouse prowesse of werre. Ther thei stynte, that oon agein the tother, for ther was the maister baner. And ne hadde be the Kynge Arthur hymself, alle thei hadden be discounfited, forthese kynges were odde noble knyghtes, and more peple be the toon half than on Arthurs syde; and therfore it myght no longe endure withoute grete damage. Than com upon hem the Kynge Ban and the Kynge Boors from the foreste, where thei wende to have no drede of no man lyvinge. And whan thei were come and thei hem sye, thei yaf ascry that all the foreste and river resounde; and thei saugh well that the losse and the damage moste nede falle upon hem. Thanne the princes and the barouns drowen apart togeder in the medowes and devised among hemself what thinge that thei myght do. [Summary. The barons devise a strategy enabling them to address the separate attacks of Arthur's forces and those of Ban and Bors. The heavy fighting that follows is fairly even until King Ban begins to do impressive deeds. When several of the rebels set upon Ban together, Arthur comes to his aid. Fols. 54r (line 24)55v (line 34).] Than fill it that the Kynge Arthur fonde the Kynge Ban on fote in myddell of the presse, his swerde in his fiste, that hym deffended so vigerously that noon ne durst hym aproche. And he was a moche knyght and a stronge out of mesure. And he lepe upon hem thourgh the presse; and whan he neyghed ner thei made hym wey, for so thei douted his strokes that ther was noon so hardy that durst hem abyde. Therwith com the Kynge Arthur brekynge the presse, gripynge his swerde all besoyled with blode of men and of horse, for he dide many merveilles of armes with his body. And whan he saugh the Kynge Ban at so grete myschef, he wax wode for ire. Than he rode to a knyght that [was] richely horsed, and Arthur lifte up the swerde and smote hym thourgh the helme soche a stroke that he slyt hym to the teth, and he fill to grounde. Than he toke the horse be the reynes and ledde it to Kynge Ban and seide, "Frende, lepe on lightly, for in evell tyme ben oure enmyes entred; anoon shall ye se hem forsake the felde." Whan the Kynge Ban was horsed be the helpe of Kynge Arthur, he was gladde of that hadde hym founden. And than thei two smyten in amonge her emnyes. And whan the tother perceyved the grete damage that the Kynge Arthur and the Kynge Ban hem dide her peple that were so loste and discounfited, and that thel hadde loste all talent of wele doyng and turned the bakkes. And thei hem chased to the wode; but ther were many slayn and defouled. So were thei distreyned betwene the wode and the river. Ther thei stalled and abode, and knewe well yef thei hadde be in the playn thei hadde be in pereyle of deth. Than the Kynge Loot and the Kynge Ventres and the Kynge de C. Chivalers and the Kynge Carados and the Kynge Urien and the Kynge Ydiers and the Kynge Brangore and the Kynge of Northumbirlonde helde hem togeder. Whan Marganors hem seide and badde hem suffre and abide while thei myght, for to socour theire peple: "for yef thei be thus disconfite, oure peple shull be all loste and distroied." Thus chased hem the Kynge Arthur and the Kynge Ban before alle other till thei come to a grete water and a depe, whereas thei that fledde hadde made a brigge of tymber and of plankes. And thei pa**ed over the water after the tother, and so enchased hem the Kynge Arthur and the Kynge Boors that thei come to that brigge that was so made and wolde pa**e over after hem. And than com Merlin and seide, "Kynge Arthur, what wilt thow do? Haste thow overcome thyn enmyes? Go into thi londe and lede with thee thy frendes that thow haste brought with thee, and hem serve and worschipe at theire pleiser, for I moste go into the wode for to my distynee aboute Blase, that right moche is my frende." Anoon he departed from Arthur and entred into the forest and fonde Blase, that longe after hym hadde desired. And than he asked hym where he hadde so longe abiden. And Merlin tolde hym how he hadde be aboute the Kynge Arthur for to counseile hym. And Blase seide he dide but foly to abide so moche abowte hym, saf only for to counseile the crowne royall. Than Merlyn tolde hym alle thynges that were falle to the Kynge Arthur seth he departed fro hym, and how he yede for to fecche socour in the Litill Breteyne. And than he tolde hym how the hethen peple were entred into the londes of the barouns and how thei werred. And Blase wrote alle these thinges that Merlin hym tolde and sette hem in his boke, and therby have we the knowleche therof. But now leveth the tale to speke of Merlyn and of Blase, and speketh of Kynge Arthur and of the twey other kynges that ben in his company. Now seith the boke whan that Kynge Arthur hadde discounfited hys enmyes and the eleven kynges and a duke, by the counseile of Merlin that was gon to Blase his maister in Northumberlonde, than he retumed gladde, and joyfull of that oure Lorde hath yove hym the victorye of hys enmyes. Than he com to the logges wherof the walles layn at the erthe, as Merlin hadde beten hem down. Than thei leged and pight teyntes and pavilouns and hem rested, and lete the hoste be wacched. And Leonces and Pharien hadde the governaunce of the wacche, and Gifflet and Lucas the Botiller. Pharien and Leonces kepte towarde the wode, and Gifflet and Lucas towarde the medowes, and alle the tother lay and rested hem till day. And than thei ete and dranke grete plenté, for thei hadde inough of vitaile. In this manere rested the hoste till in the morowe, till the Kynge Arthur made be leide on an hepe all the wynynge and the richesse that ther was geten. And whan thei hadde herde messe, thei com agein theras the tresour was leide togeder. And the thre kynges it departed aboute to soche as hem semed was for to do, to on lesse and to another more, after that the persones were of astate or degre. And so thei departed to pore knyghtes and squeres that never after were pore, insomoche that thei kepte not to hemself the valew of a peny. And after thei departed stedes and palfreyes and clothes of silk, and yaf all while ther was ought to departe, and sente agein alle knyghtes and squyres and sergeauntes and other meyné, saf forty that sholde go with hem into Carmelide. Thus yede Pharien and Gra**ien and Leonces, lorde of Paerne, and ledde with hem her peple for to kepe her londe and her contrey, that the Kynge Claudas ne dede hem no stade. Whan these barouns were come into theire contrey, thei boughten londes and rentes, wherwith thei leved after in grete honour with the aver that was departed that made hem after riche. And the Kynge Arthur lefte in his contrey the two kynges with hym, as ye have herde. So thei sojourned at Bredigan that was in the marche of Breteyne the Grete and in the marche of Carmelide. And ther thei abode Merlin that sholde come to hem thider. And on the morow whan Arthur sholde departe his peple, and that he hadde made hem grete feste and grete joye at Bredigan and the kynges hadde dyned, they yed up into the loges that were upon the ryver for to se the medowes and the gardynes. And as thei behelden, they saugh come a grete karl thourgh the medowes by the ryver with a bowe in his honde and his arowes under his girdell. And in the brooke were wylde gees that hem dide bathe as theire kynde is to do. The karll drough his bowe, and with a bolte smote oon in the nekke that it brake in sondre. Then he shette anothir bolte and slowgh a malarde. Than he toke hem and henge hem be the nekkes at his girdell, and yede towarde the loges whereas the thre kynges were lenynge and hadde well seen the shotte of the karll. And whan he com nygh the loges, he shette another bolte and whowped to the Kynge Arthur. And whan the karll com nere, the kynge asked yef he wolde selle the briddes. And the cherll seyde, "Ye, with gode will." Quod the kynge, "How wilt thow yeve hem?" And he ansuerde no worde. And the cherll hadde on grete boysteis shone of netes leder and was clothed in cote and hoode of rosset, and he was girde with a thonge of blakke shepes skyn. And he was grete and longe and blakke and rowe rympled. The cherll also seemed to be crewell and fell, and seide to the kynge, "I ne knowe nought of the kynge that loveth tresoure and is regrater and a wyssher, that dar not make a pore man riche that myght hym do gode servyse." Quod the cherll, "I yeve yow these briddes, and yet have I no more than ye se, And ye have not the herte for to yeve the thirde parte of youre gode that in the erthe doth rote er ye have it uptaken, and that is nether youre profite ne worship." Whan these kynges herde the wordes of the karll, thei beheelde the oon the tother; and than thei seiden, "What devell! Who hath tolde this cherll?" Than the Kynge Ban cleped the karll and asked hym what he seide; and the karll ne ansuerde no worde but bad the Kynge Arthur to do take the briddes and than he wolde gon hys weye. "Now by thy faith," quod Kynge Ban, "telle me who hath tolde thee that the Kynge Arthur hath tresour in the erthe." Quod the cherll, "A wylde man tolde me that is cleped Merlin. And also he tolde me that he sholde this day come to yow for to speke with yow." In the tyme that thei spake thus togeder, come Ulfin oute of a chamber and come thider as the kynge spake to Merlin. "Go forth thy wey," quod the kynge; "how may I thee trowe that thow haste spoke with Merlin?" Quod he, "Yef ye will, leve me; and yef ye ne will, leve ne nought. For I ne leve yow nought, and so be we quyte." And whan the cherll hadde seide thus, and after Ulfin a while hadde listened, and than he began to smyle and wiste wele it was Merlin. And whan Merlin saugh Ulfin he seide, "Sir stiwarde, take these briddes and do dight hem for youre kynges soper, that hath not the hardynesse to make a man riche that myght hym well guerdon, and to hym that this day hath spoke with the man that hath hym tolde of the grete richesse unther the erthe." Than began Ulfin to lawgh right harde and seide, "Sir, yef it plese yow, come with me here above, for I wolde speke with yow of many thynges." And he seide he wolde go with gode will. And the kynge beheilde Ulfin and saugh hym laugh hertely, and than he required hym to telle why he dide laugh so sore. And he seide that he sholde wyte another tyme. Than yede the cherll, so araide as he was, and mette with Kay the Stiward and seide, "Holde here, sir seneschall, now may ye plume; and as gladly mote the kynge hem ete as I it hym yeve." With that com Bretell, and hadde wele herde that Merlin hadde seide and also that Ulfin hadde seyde to hym, that better semed a cherll than eny that was in the worlde. And whan he hadde herde hem awhile speke, he perceyved that it was Merlin and began to lawgh undir his mantell right harde. And the kynge herde hym and badde hym telle the cause why that he lowgh. And he tolde he wolde telle hym yef the carll wolde a**ente. And the cherll than began to laugh lowde and seide to Ulfin, "Tell on, for I will that thow do so." Than seide Ulfin to the Kynge, "Sir, ne knowe ye not youre frende Merlin and ne sholde not he come to speke with yow today?" And the kynge seide, "Yesse. Wherefore sey ye?" "Sir," quod Ulfin, "I sey for that ye knowe hym not so wele as I wolde that ye dide. For ye se somme two tymes or thre, and yet ye ne knowe hym not, and therof I merveyle." Whan the kynge undirstode Ulfyn, he was gretly dismayed that he wiste not what for to ansuere. "Certes," quod Ulfin, "ye have seyn hym many tymes, and that I knowe well." Than seide the kynge, "Telle me, what is this cherll?" "Sir," quod Ulfin, "sholde ye ought knowe Merlin yef ye myght hym se?" "Yee, trewly," seide the kynge, "right wele." "Thanne beholde this worthi man, and loke yef ye have ever hym seyn." And the kynge hym behelde and seide that he hadde hym never seyn beforn. "Trewly," quod Ulfin, "he may sey that evell hath he besette his servise on yow. For it is Merlin that so moche hath don for yow and loved so moche and holpen of all that he myght do or sey agein alle tho that upon yow do werre." And whan the Kynge Arthur undirstode this, he blessed hym for merveile. And also the two kynges were sore amerveiled and seide, "How may this be Merlin? Is it thus? Never dide we se yow in soche habite." And he seide that myght well be so. "Sirs," selde Ulfin, "dismaye yow not, for he shall shewe yow the same semblaunce that ye saugh hym in firste." And thei seide that thei wolde that fayn se. "Now," quod Ulfin, "come with me into this chamber, for I wolde speke with yow." And thei com in. And than seide Ulfin, "Sirs, no merveile nought of Merlins dedes, for he shall shewe yow semblaunces inowe. And at alle tymes whan he will, he chaungeth hym by forse of his art whereof he is full. And Gynebans the clerk it witnesseth wele. And wyte ye well that ye shall hym se yet many tymes that ye shull not knowe that it is he. And for that he chaungeth hym so ofte he is dowted of many a man, for ther is many oon in this londe that full gladly wolde se hym deed. Now lete us go in this chamber, and ye shull se hym in the same semblance that ye saugh hym firste whan he aqueynted hym with yow." And whan thei come agein, they fonde Merlin in the halle in the same semblaunce that thei hadde seyn hym in firste. Than thei ronne to hym and embraced hym and made hym grete joye, as thei that hym loved with gode herte. Than thei satte and japed and pleyde with hym alle togeder, and of the shetynge that thei hadde seyn, and of the wordes that he hadde seide to the kynge. And than seide Arthur, "Mer lin, now I knowe that ye love me, whan with so gode chere that ye have yove me these fowles, and that I sholde ete hem for youre love." And Merlin began to laugh. Thus thei abode in joye and solace till the Lenton. And so it fill that by the love of Merlin Arthur aqueynted hym with a mayden, the feyrest that myght be founden. This mayden was cleped Lysanor and was doughter to the Eirll Sevain that was deed; and [she] was heyr of the Castell of Campercorentyn. This maide was come to do homage to the Kynge Arthur, and with here other barouns that dide homage as soone as he hadde conquerid these eleven kynges. For thei douted that he sholde bereve hem of her londes, and also thei thought that thei myght no better lorde have than hym. And some ther were that come with gode will, and some for drede of more losse. And this mayden that was feire com to Bredigan whereas the kynge sojourned, and was at hoste with a riche burgeys. And so be the helpe of Merlin he spake with her previly and lay with her anyght; and that nyght upon her was begeten Hoot, that after was a full noble knyght and was also a felowe of the Rounde Table. This Hoot was of right high prowesse, as ye shull heren hereafter. And at myd-Lenten the kynge toke leve of the damsell, and he and the other two kynges toke their wey into Tamelide, hymself the fowrtithe. But of hem now ne speketh not the tale no more now at this tyme, but returneth to speke of the eleven kynges that were disconfited, and telleth where thei be com and whider thei yeden.