Edited by John Conlee - Prose Merlin - The Deeds of the Young Squires lyrics

Now seith the boke that aboute the entré of May, in the tyme whan these briddes syngith with clier voys and all thynge rejoyseth, and than these wodes and medowes beth florished grene, and these medowes full of newe tendir erbys and entermedled with dyverse colours that swote be of odoures, and these amerouse yonge lusty peple rejoyse because of the lusty seson, it befill that Gawein and Agravayn and Gaheret and Gaheries and Galashyn, and thei that become in here companye, ben risen erly for the heete that dide hem grete anoye on the day, as they that wolde ride in the cole of the mornynge that was feire and stille and a softe weder. And thei were yonge and tender to suffre grete travayle, and thei were wele armed and hadde on hattes of stile as squyres used in tho dayes, and theire swerdes hangynge at the pomell of theire sadeles before; for the contrey was not sure for the Saisnes that rode and ronne thourgh the contrey for vitaile and for to robbe and distrye the londe that was so plenteuouse and riche er the mysbelevynge peple were entred, wherof was grete pité that so goode a londe sholde be distroyed for synne and for myslyvinge, as God hath ofte sithes chastysed diverse remes. The thirde daye that thise childeren rode togeder, lyke as that ye have herde, thei mette the Kynge Leodobron and the Kynge Segagan and the Kynge Mandalet and the Kynge Sernagut of the londe of Yroys, that hadde the contré aboute Logres brent and wasted, and ledde with hem grete plenté of vitaile, so that the hoste for longe tyme was refresshed of brede and wyne and of flessh. For thei hadde so piled and robbed thourgh the contrey and the portes where the shippeswere aryved, and the marchaundise was so grete, that five hundred someres were charged, and twenty-five cartes and seven carres; and the cariage and the multitude of peple was so grete that the duste arose so huge that unnethe oon myght knowe another; and also the fiere and the smoke so grete in the contrey that half a journey aboute men myght knowe what peple ther were. And whan thise childeren approched to this chyvachie, and herde the playntes and the cryes that the mene peple made for the Saisnes that hem so distroyed, that were well ten thousand of horsemen, withoute the putaile that ronne up and down and robbed the peple and brente the vilages as thei pa**ed thourgh the contrey. Whan the childeren saugh this doloure and this sorowe, thei asked of hem that pa**ed by that thei saugh so affraied, where that Kynge Arthur was. And they seyde he was gon into Tamalide at myd-Lenton, and hadde wele garnysshed alle the forteresses of his londe that noon ne myght not gretly forfete. And thei were so doilfull that the sarazins so distroied the londe, as ye have herde. And whan the childeren herde that the kynge was not in the contrey, thei seide thei wolde [deffende] the londe and the contrey for her oncle, and also the pray that the Saisnes ledden, and that thei wolde kepe the londe and it deffende till here oncle were come home. And whan the peple of the contrey herde hem speke thus, thei asked of hem what thei were that so wolde deffende the londe of Kynge Arthur as thei seiden. And thei lete hem beknowen what thei were. And whan the peple knewe what the childeren weren, thei hadde grete joye, for by hem thei trowed that the Kynge Arthur sholde be lorde of all the reame of Logres. And the love of the fadres he sholde have thourgh the childeren that ther were come with thise five cosins and with other that were ryche mennes sones, as castelleins and vavasours of the londe, that after were of grete prowesse in the house of Kynge Arthur, and of soche as were moste preysed. And as soone as the childeren saugh the grete damage, theire hertis begonne to ryse and [they] cried, "As armes, gentill squyers, for now shall it be sene how is goode and hardy and worthy to bere armes, for we be in oure heritages; and therfore we sholde deffende oure right agein these mysbelevynge peple that thus this londe robbed and wasted." Hastely ronne these squyers to armes and lepen to horse and hem renged and distreyned as the knyghtes hem taughten, whereof were twenty-four that were noble men and right gode knyghtes and trewe. And whan the peple of the contré saugh that thei hadde socoure, ther com to hem more than five hundred, what on horse and on fote. And than thei yede togeder as starlynges, and mette first the cariage and the vitaile that the Sasines ledden towarde the hoste, and were moo than three thousand with the cariage. And as the storye seith, it was pa**ed myd-day and was right hote weder, and the duste arose so thikke that scantly a man myght se fro hymself the caste of a stone. And as soone as that the childeren saugh theire enmyes, thei lete theire horse renne; and [thei] overthrew and slowgh alle that thei ateyned that ther ne ascaped oon ne other. That day Gawein slowgh many a Sarazin of the Saxouns, more than eny of his felowes, so that he was all blody, bothe he and his horse. And he heilde an axe in his honde, and he was so crewell and fiers that whom he araught a full stroke, neded hym no salve. And his other bretheren dide also right wele, so that noon of hem ne durste abide of hem a stroke. And Galashyn was all day with Gawein that merveilously dide wele, for ther myght noon endure his strokes that he ne smote of arme or legge or heede or other membre. But above alle othir, it was merveile to se the martire that Gawein made, for agein his strokys ne myght not endure iren ne style ne no mannys body, were he never so myghty ne stronge. And so the childeren smyten up and down aboute hem that of three thousand that ledde the pray towarde the hoste, ne ascaped not thirty. And ten of hem that ascaped returned unto her chivachie that were comynge after with seven thou- sand. But thei were not wele armed, for thei hadde made it to be trussed for the grete hete that hem greved. And whan the ten that fledden com into the hoste, thei cryed that all was deed that were lefte with the cariage. Whan thei herde that all was loste, thei ronne to theire armes, alle they that eny hadden, and hem armed in the beste wise that thei myght. And the thirde part of hem ne myght not come to their armoure, for theire squyers were gon before with the cariage that the childeren hadde wonne, and let it be ledde to Logres, and lete it be condited by men of the same contrey that ther were dwellynge and weren fallen into theire company; and after thei pursude the Saisnes, that fledden into the tyme that thei were fallen in amonge the rerewarde. Ther than was fierce bataile and stronge stoure and harde and crewell that merveille it was to have seyn. Ther Gawein slowe the Kynge Noas of Iselonde, for he smote hym with an axe with bothe hondis that he cleft hym to the briste bon. And Galashyn smote so the Kynge Sarnagut with a swerde trenchaunt that he made his heede fle into the feilde. And Agravayn, that was plonged into the presse, smote on bothe sides hym aboute and began yeve so grete strokes that sore thei hym douted. And Gaheries hadde chased Gynebande the length of a bowe draught from his felowes, for that he hadde smyte down his brother Gaheret with a spere, but he hadde noon other harm; and therfore wende well Gaheries he hadde be slayn, and therfore he pursude upon hym with swerde drawen as fiercely as a wilde boor. Whan Guynebans saugh Gaheries so fiercely come, he turned to flight for he ne durste not abide for the grete merveilouse occision that he hadde seyn hym do. And withoute faile he was of merveilouse prowesse, for as the story rehersith, it failed but litill that he was even like of bounté to Gawein his brother whan he com to his right age and was knyght. And whan Gaheries saugh the Sarazin thus fleynge, he swore be God that he sholde never cesse ne leve hym, for playn newode, till he were avenged of his brotheres deth. And so he hym chased as faste as his horse myght hym bere till he hadde lefte his felowes behynde the space of an arblaste. And so he hym overtoke amonge the meyné of Guynebans that com redy to fight, and gladde were they of the pray that thei hadde so ledde. Whan Gaheries hadde overtake Guynebans, he stroke hym so sore upon the helme that he kutte awey a quarter, that he made hym to stope; and the swerde swarved betwene the shelde and the nekke and kyutte the gyge of the shelde with all the arme, so that he dide it falle into the felde. And whan this kynge saugh hymself so dismembred, he fill in swowne. And than Gaheries was gladde of the vengaunce of his brother and turned his horse hede. But the Saisnes that this stroke hadde sein ne concented not to lete hym pa**e. And than thei hem renged by hundredes and by thowsandes, and closed hym in on alle partyes, and smote upon hym with theire speres at ones, and overthrewe hym and his horse. And whan the tymbir of theire speres were broken, he lepe upon his feet vigerousely, as he that hadde inough of breth and myght that ther nas noon so hardy that durste put to hys honde hym to take; and [they] launched at hym fro fer speres and swerdes and knyves, that thei made hym falle on his knees two tymes or thre. But so myght he not longe endure but that he sholde have be take or deed. Than a squyer that saugh hym chase so the hethyn kynge com cryinge and betynge his hondes togeder and rendinge his heer to Gawein that hadde remounted Gaheret upon another horse, that hadde smeten down the Kynge Sernage fro. Than the squyer cried, "Ha, Gawein! Where aboute arte thow? For thow hast loste thy brother Gaheries but thow hym socoure delyverly. For he chased a Saisne that he hath overtake in this derke valey, and hath hym smetyn down; but the sarasins have besette hym on alle partyes and have hym overthrowen, and slayn his horse, and made hym falle upon his kne I wote not how often. And yef ye hym thus lese, it is grete doel and grete damage." Whan Gawein undirstode hym that made soche doel for his brother, he seide, "Ha! Seinte Marie Virgin and Moder to Jhesu Criste, ne suffre not that I lese my brother, for than myn herte shall never be gladde. And yef I hym thus lese, shall ther never shelde hange aboute my nekke." Than he asked of the squyer whiche wey it was. And he shewde hym the valey be the wodeside. And he cryed to his felowes with high voys, "Now shall it be sein who that shall me sewe." "Feire cosin," quod Galashyn, "whider will ye go in so grete haste shall noon abide from yow; and therfore set forth smartly, for I drede leste we tarye to longe." Than the childeren hem renged and priked as faste as quarelles of arblast; and [Gawein] perced the presse with his gode horse and heilde an axe in bothe handes wherewith he made soche martire and soche slaughter that thei fly from hym on alle partyes. And it lasted the space of a myle aboute of the peple that thei hadde leide to grounde. And thei sought up and down till thei founde Gaheries, that was lyggynge at erthe upright. And thei hadde pulled of his hatte of stiell and his coyf of mayle for to smyte of his heed, but thei thought to have take hym quyk and lede hym to Bernage, the Kynge of Saxon. Than thei fillen upon hym at ones and wolde bynde hys hondes behynde hys bakke. Than com Gawein prikinge, gripynge a spere, and sprange in amonge hem so full of ire and maltelent for that he sawgh his brother so vileinliche araide that ny he yede oute of witte. And than he leide aboute hym so grym strokes and rude that noon durste hym abide but disparbled abrode fro hym as from a wode lyon in rage. Whan that thei that heilde his brother saugh the merveile that he dide, thei ne durste not abide ne holde his brother no lenger but yef thei wolde have receyved the deth, but turned to flight and made hym wey. Whan Gaheries saugh his brother Gawein, he lepte upon his feet and sette on his heed his hatte delyverly, and hente agein his swerde and appareilede hym to diffende. And Agravayn hymbrought an horse and seide, "Brother, now lepe up lightly, for grete foly have ye do to go so fer oute of oure company, for full nygh hadde ye more loste than wonne." Whan Gaheries saugh hymself hooll and sounde and that he was agein ihorsed and delyvered, he was right gladde. Than the bretheren drough hem togeder to relied her peple. And the Saisnes blewe hornes and trumpes and armed hem and a**embled hem thourgh all the contrey, and ordeyned theire batailes. But now cesseth awhile to speke of thise childeren and of the Saisnes, and speke of the men of the contrey that ledde the pray that the childeren hadde conquered, and the cariage, to the cité of Logres. Here seith the storye that full gladde were the peple of the contrey of the wynnynge that the childeren hadde geten; and [they] wente joyfull and mery with the vitaile for thei were but two Scottissh myle fro the town, and therfore thei peyned hem faste to come to the cité saf, for well thei knewe that the Saisnes were to moche peple to fight ageyn the childeren and her feliship. And therfore thei douted that the pray sholde be rescued and take agein be strength, and therfor thei hasted to come tymely to saf garde. And whan thei that kepte the cité saugh come the riche pray, thei asked how it was geten. And thei tolde how Gawein, the Kynges sone Loot, and his bretheren and Galashin, the Kynges sone Ventres, that is cosin to Gawein, be come to helpe the Kynge Arthur and have lefte theire londes and theire contrey; and [they] sey thei will never faile the Kynge Arthur while that thei be lyvinge, "For thei be come with twenty-seven felowes, and mette with thre thousande forayoures that this pray ledden, and foughten with hem till thei have hem alle slayn and discounfited, and sesed us with the pray to brynge to this citee saf. And therfore open the yates and receyve it in, and after we shull returne hem for to socoure, for grete pité it were yef thei were deed or taken in so tendre age, for thei ben of high valoure and grete worthynesse." Whan the cetezeins undirstode these wordes of the childeren that were come in soche manere, anoon after thei opened the gates and receyved hem into thecitee. And after thei seiden that a parte of hem sholde go helpe the childeren. Thanne thei lete blowe an horn in the maister toure, and than ronne to armes thourgh the town. Anoon they were armed with grete spede and issed oute at the maister gate, and than abode the Castelein of Cardoell, that was a noble man and a trewe. And whan he was come, he fonde oute of the town seven thousand; and than he seide, "Sirs, it were no wisdom to leve the town ungarnysshed of peple, for we knowe not what shall falle ne what peple we shall mete." And than thei ansuerde that he seide well, ne thei wolde not go but soche as he wolde have. Than he toke oute five thousand, and two thousande he lefte for to kepe the town that it were not supprised. Than thei rode forth and renged close that wey whereas the childeren foughten full sore, for the Saisnes were no mo than seven thousand in a flote. And as soone as thei hem saugh, thei ne douted nothinge so small a peple that were so ynge. And ther was of hem but twenty-four knyghtes, and five squyers and twenty that were not yet adubbed, and three hundred men what on horsebak and of fotemen of peple of the contrei that were falle to hem; and [they] seide thei wolde rather be deed than thei wolde forsake her companye. But Madelans and Guynehan hadde departed her men in two partyes, and eche was four thousande, for alle the Saisnes were a**embled to hem two. Than com Guynehan first with a grete spere, for he was myghty and stronge and moche oute of mesure and therto right hardy; and [he] ran upon hem so fiercely as he hymself alone all wolde have confounded. And Gawein, that was before his felowes, heilde an ax trenchaunt and com agein hym fiercely. And Guynehan, that com formest, ran agein hym and smote Gawein so harde with his spere that it fley all to peces, for the haubreke was so stronge of dubble maile and the squyer so full of prowesse that he ne meved not for the stroke, but yaf Gynehans soche a stroke with his ax upon the helme that he bente over his horse croupe.And the stroke of the ax glenched and smote the horse bakke asonder that thei fill to grounde bothe upon oon heepe. Whan the Saisnes saugh that stroke, thei shodered aboute hym, for thei wende that the Kynge Guynehan hadde ben deed; and than thei pressed faste to the rescowe. And Gawein smote amonge hem, and thei smote hym with theire speres and slow his horse under hym. And he lept lightly upon his feet and yaf so grete strokes that noon durste hym aproche. Than com the socours on bothe sides and ther began the bataile abowte Gawein, fell and longe lastinge, for the Saisnes coveyted to remounte Gynehans and for to take Gawein, and his felowes so hym defended that it was merveile for to beholden. Whan Gawein saugh that thei desired so hym to take and holde, he griped hys axe and com to a Saisne that hadde made Agravayn to stoupe in his sadill, and moche he hym payned for to smyten of the heed. And whan Gawein saugh this, he wax ny wode for ire. Than he threste thourgh the presse to that Saisne, and for to yeve hym a gret stroke he reysed his ax. And the Saisne saugh he myght not voyde the stroke and caste his shelde ther ageins; and Gawein hym hitte so harde that he slytte the shelde in two partyes; and the stroke descended on the lifte shulder so grete that he slyt hym to the girdill, and than he fill to grounde. Than Gawein sesed the stede and lepte into the sadill, and than he cryed to his felowes, "Now shewe youre hardynesse, that these sarazins not us ascape, and that nother wode ne playn hem shall warante, for ye shall se my strokes and my prowesse double." Than he smote the stede and rode in amonge hem and made of hem soche martire that thei lay upon hepes in the feilde, as hey in a medowe. But for all that, the Saisnes have horsed Guynehans. And whan he was remounted amonge the Saisnes, he hente a stronge spere and a rude and com to Agravayn, that hadde his nevewe slayn before hys iyen. And he hitte Agravayn with his spere so sorethat it preced two folde thurgh his haubreke, and therto he shof theron so harde that Agravayn fill to the erthe, bothe he and his horse on an hepe. Whan Gaheries and Galashin saugh Agravayn falle, thei hadde grete drede that he were slayn. And Galashin come formest and smote Guynehans with his swerde upon the helme that he made hym enclyne on his sadill bowe; and Gaheries smote hym with his swerde upon the arme that it fly into the feilde; and Gaheriet smote hym betwene the nekke and the shulders as he was stopynge, that he made the heed fle into the playn; and Galashin with his fote spurned his body to grounde and laught the steede and ledde it to Agravayn that sore hym deffended on fote. And whan Agravayn hadde the horse, he lepte up as soone as he myght; and than began the meddelynge amonge hem full crewell and fell. But of Gawein knewe thei no tidynges, for he was so depe in amonge the Saisnes that it was no light thynge hym for to fynde. Whan the Saisnes sawgh the Kynge Gynehans deed, thei were so amasid that thei wiste not what to do, but turned to flight upon the bataile of Kynge Madelen that was theire chief lorde, and there recovered thei that fledde. And Gawein, that hadde gon here and there, that nothynge cowde here of his bretheryn and wiste not whether thei were discounfited or noon, he hovid stille till he saugh his felowes comynge, and whan that he knewe it were thei, he was gladde. And thei renged hem aboute Gawein, for of hym thei hadde be in grete feere, and Madalen rode with grete plenté of peple, and were six thousand; and it ne myght not longe endure but that Gawein sholde have ben loste, whereof it hadde ben grete damage and harme to all the londe of Logres, but as the socoure com oute of the citee, and were five thousand men of armes. Whan the childeren saugh the socour that com oute of Logres and the baner that Doo of Cardoell brought, the men of contrey that were with the childeren badde hem be of gode counforte, for "Loo! Heere cometh the citee of Logres yow for to helpe and to socoure." Whan the childeren undirstode that thei of Logres were come hem for to helpe, thei were gladde and joyfull. Than thei refresshed theire horse and girde hem newe agein and lepten up and hem renged, and after rode streyte and close. And the Saisnes com hem ageins full irouse and crewell for the deth of Guynehans. Than thei braste theire speres in theire counterynge upon sheldes and helmes, and began a bataile full fell and merveillouse whiche myght not be withoute grete losse on bothe partyes. Than com in amonge hem the socour that com oute of Logres as faste as theire horse myght renne, and ther sholde ye have herde grete crasinge of speres. And than thei drowgh oute swerdes and begonne ther a stronge bataile and mortall, for ther was shedde so moche blode that it ran like stremes doun the valey. Full grete was the stour and the medlé in the playnes before Logres of the childeren and the socoure that com oute of Logres, and of the Saisnes; and [it] dured all the day till it was nyght. Ther dide Gawein soche merveiles in armes that wondirfully was he beholden of hem of Logres, for he smote down men and horse and slow so many that noon ne durste hym no stroke abide. Than fill it that he mette with the Kynge Madelen that hadde overthrowe Doo of Cardoell, that was the captein of Logres, and heilde hym be the helme at the erthe, and peyned sore hys heede of to smyten. And therwith com Gawein; but ther tho was grete stoure and hidouse, for that oon part bisied for the rescew and the tother hym for to sle or withholde. But the kynge ther myght thei not take, for he hadde so grete plenté of peple. And therwith Gawein smote so grete strokes amonge hem that he made hem alle to dissever. And it fill so that Madalen com in his wey, and he smote hym so with bothe hondes with his axe upon the helme that he slitte hym to the brayn, and he fell ded to the erthe. Whan the Saisnes saugh the Kynge Madalen deed, thei were so mased that they turned to flight, oon here and another there, and toke the wey to Valdesbires ther the sege lay. Than aroos the duste and the powder so grete that unnethe oon myght knowe another, ne noon ne abode his felowe. But there were many overthrowen in that chase, for as soone as Doo was remounted, he hem chased vigerously. But the childeren were ever to foren, that made soche martirdom upon the Saisnes that fyve myle lay the wey full of hem that were wounded and caste to grounde. And thourgh the helpe of God and of hem that come oute of the citee, thei slough of hem so many that of twelve thousand ne ascaped not thre thousande that ne were deed or wounded. And thus were the Saisnes discounfited, and the chase endured till nyght. Than thei turned gladde and joyfull to the citee, whereas thei founde merveilouse richesse that thei hadde rescued fro the Saisnes of that thei hadde robbed and piled thourgh the londe and the contrey, whiche was all ledde into the cité of Logres. Whan the childeren were alle come to Logres, the citee made of hem grete joye whan thei hem knewe. Than thei brought before theym all the riche prise that thei hadde geten and seide unto Gawein that thei heilde for the chief lorde that he sholde it departe at his voluntee. And he ansuerde that he wolde therof medle in no manere before Doo of Cardoel; "For," he seide, "he can it beter departe and yeve than can I, for he knoweth beste the pore and the suffretouse; and therfore do his volunté." Whan the citezins herde Gawein thus speke, thei hym comended and preysed moche and seide he myght not faile to be a worthy man. And thei hym loved hertely above alle thynge and preised the grete gentilnesse that thei in hym founden. Thus restede the childeren and sojournede in the citee of Logres, that the Saisnes ne dide hem no forfete. But now cesseth the story of the childeren at this tyme that ne speketh a gret while, and returneth to Kynge Arthur and Kynge Ban and Kynge Boors and her companye that be gon into the reame of Tamelide for to serve the Kynge Leodogan.