Arthour and Merlin

 

Oxford, Bodleian, MS Douce 236

 

Folio 1r

 

After his fader deyng

Sože to say with outen blame

moyne was žat childes name

že ožer chyldren were of gret renoun

žat on hygte vter žat ožer pendragon

žus me gan here names calle

že brut hit wytnessed sože with alle

In žat tyme as we fendež in book

A gret syknesse žat kyng took

žat of žis world he sculde wende

And after his barons he gan sende

And whanne žey weren come echon

kinge constantyn seide a non

lordyngys lestnež he sayde lasse & mare

ffor out of žis world now y schal fare

žarfore y pray 3ow for loue of me

žat trewe 3e be pur charte

And žat no treson be 3ow a mong

ffor his loue žat suffrede dež on že croys with wronge

........................................................................................................………………..Folio1v

wan y am ded & loke in clay

helpež my childryn what 3e may

Makež moyne myn eldest sone

Of englond to bere že croune

And žat to hym trewe 3e be

I 3ow pray purcharyte

žanne alle že barons bože old and 3onge

Grauntede to žat sayd here kyng

žanne sayd že kinge as 3e may here

To his steward syre fortygere

Stronge he was & ful wys

But he was also ful of coueytys

The kinge he haž y serued ful longe

ffor he was bothe styf & strong

On hym was al his tryst at nede

že kynge hym 3af bothe lond & lede

And ofte tymys he gan hym pray

To helpen his children wat he may

he answerede & swor žat he wold y wys

but he was false & coueytys

..........................................................................................................................Folio 2 r

ffor whanne že kynge hadde his lyfe y lore

Sone žat fals traytor was for swore

And with falshede brak his trewže

& dude gret falsnesse & wronge & žat was rewže                    

Out of žis wordl že kyngiskyng ys went

And was burred verement

At wynchestre in že tone

žat of al englonge bar že crone

žanne že baronnage sone a non

Took hem to consayle euerchone

With outyn eny more tarynge

To make moyne her kynge

but žat fals fortiger

žerfore was wyž in his mane

And with his my3t was žar a gayn

but for fere he dorst no3t sayn

ffor euere he žou3te žoru3 tresoun

Of englonge to bere že crone

So žat moyne was crouned kynge

In to denmark hit dude sprynge

...........................................................................................................................Folio 2v

žey of denmark in žat day

bi leueden nou3t on crists lay

kyng amigis žat herde sayn

And of žat tidyng was ful fayn

his messagers he sente in žat tide

Ouer al denmark in to euery syde

To many a saracyn beže stou3te & stark                    

Of sisoyne & of denmark

Syxty žousand  & 3ut mo

On hors with kyng amygys comen tho

And of foot men a wel gret rowte

Englond to makyn in dowte

The kyng amygys nolde no lengore abide

but in to schepe he wente in žat tyde

And to engelond žey gan fare

To worchen hem moche care

Englond was y clepyd žo

lityl bretayne že bruyt seyž so

žat word in englond wyde sprong

žat že kyng of denmark al with wrong

........................................................................................................…................Folio 3r

Was come in to englond

At že kye uppon že see strond                                 

The kyng herde žat hit was so

And in his herte hym was ful wo

žanne wente moyne že kynge to fortiger

And gret hym with mornynge chere

And bad hym mekelicħ with outen bost

žat he wold leden his ost

A 3ens his fomen forto fy3t

And fortiger seyde žat he ne my3t

he made hym seek žat treytour strong                       

And sayde in ry3t nother in wrong

he nold neuere come in batayle

his strengthe he sayd dude hym fayle

And al he dude for anger  & for onde

žat he ne most be kyng of englond

kynge moyne nold hym no more pray

but from fortiger wente his way

...........................................................................................................................Folio 3v

his massyngere a non in žat tyde

he sente in to englond ful wide

To erlys barons & kny3tys

To come & helpen hym in fy3ttys

And wanne žey were alle y come

And eche man hadde hys harmes y nome

žey wenten fourž with outyn fayle

To 3euen here fomen stronge batayle

žare was y cloue many a scheld

And many kny3t lay ded on že feld

many a dou3ti man in žat  tyde

lay žar ded with woundes wyde

žanne was že denmark ost so stronge

žat žey fou3tyn with axes & with sperys longe

Al žat žey hytten in žat stounde

hors & man hit fyl to grounde

The englysche folk in žat day

weren dysconfy3tyd & flou3en a way

....................................................................................................................…….Folio 4r

To wynchestre žey fledden žo

Gredyng alas & weylawo                                                

      a            mygys kynge of denmark že by fore

                    hadde moche folk že for lore

And also swythe he sente hys sonde

In to denmark his oune londe                                     

vppon forfeture of lyf & leme

To wenchestre žat žey schulden keme

Al žat my3tte armes bere

Schulden come with schyld & spere

ffor of his werre he nold no3t blynne

ffor he žou3te englond to wynne

Towres he brende & citees als

And beet a doun many castels

And wrou3tte englond moche care

Ey3te monnthys and wel mare

žanne al že barons of englond

Token hem alle to gederys in hond

Wat best hem were to don

..............................................................................................................................Fol 4v

To a wreken hem on here fon

žey comen to geders as y 3ow telle

Erlis & barouns žat weren ylle

žey seyden y wys žat moyne oure kynge

Is nou3t wourž a feržynge

žey seyden yf fortiger oure kyng ware

he wold vs brengen out of care

žanne žou3tte a non bothe old & 3ynge

ffortiger to maken kynge

wanne žey hadden spoken of žys

Twelue barons žar wente y wys

To syre fortiger že bold

ffor to weten why he nold

A 3ens his fomen fy3tte

With al že strentħ žat he my3t

And whanne že barons al y fere

Were y come to fortigere

...........................................................................................................................Folio 5r

heulyche žey hym grette

And he hem took & bi hym hem sette

And askede hem with wordes ille

Why žey come & by what skylle

They answerden hym a gayn

And seyden syre we schul 3ow sayn

Whi nelt žu syre with vs gon

ffor to a wreken vs vppon oure fon

We may žei seiden haue no pes

ffor že kyng of denmark with outyn les

he werrež vppon us bože day & ny3t

žarfore we prayen že syre help vs to fy3t

And take žat to žyn honde

To sauen al englond

A3ens the kyng of denmark žat žu fare

žat werkež englond moche care

žanne answerd syr že fortiger

...........................................................................................................................Folio 5v

As a lord of gret powere

I was neuere makyd 3owre kyng

Whi praye 3e me žanne of swyche a žyng

Ne neuere he sayd her by forn                                                

To non of 3ow y was y sworn

ffor to helpe 3ow at nede

An žarfore  so cryst me spede

Of me schil 3e helpe non

Ich 3ow swere by seynt john

but wendyž no hoom to moyne 3owre kynge

And biddyž hym in al žinge

žat he 3ow a wreke of 3oure foon

ffor of me ghete 3e helpe non

žanne answerde a bold baron

Syre oure kyng ys but a conion

ffor whanne he seež a swerd y drawe

he wenež a non to be slawe

he dož vs non ožer goud

but flyky awey as he were woud

...........................................................................................................................Folio 6r

haddest žu ben a mong vs alle

swyche a cas hadde vs nou3t by falle

Alle žat weren at žat sau3t

Seyden žat in oure kynge was žat defau3t

And so seyden al oure per

I trowe hit wol quaž fortiger

ffor certis it was a nyce žyng                       

Of a fool to make a kynge

hadde 3e makyd a man 3owre hefd

he schulde haue saued 3ow from dred

but certaynly seker 3e be

helpe schul 3e haue non of me

but yf 3owre kynge were ded a ply3t

žanne wolden iche helpen 3ow with al my mygt

žanne seyd že barons euereychon

Sire wold žu žat we oure king schul sloon

Nay he sayd with outyn stryne

but certis whiles žat he ys alyfe

Myn help ghete 3e nere mo

...........................................................................................................................Folio 6v

The barons token here leue žo

To wenchestre žey wenten alle

And founden že kyng in his halle

And as he sat ry3t at his mete

žey ronnen on hym with gret hete

And or žey speken eny wourd

Ry3t as že kyng sat ate his bord

They gurdyn of his hede a non

And wented hem out euereychone

And whan že kyng was žus a slawe

Erlis barons bothe hey3e & lawe

A non žey tokyn hem to rede

ffor a kyng žey most haue nede

Englond for to were

žat noman schulde hendere

žan hadde že kyng bretheren two

žat 3onghe childryn weren tho

žey weren so 3ong with outen elde

........................…............................................................................................. Folio 7r

žat žey my3t non armes weld

Nožer  vter ne pendragon

žanne seyd že barons euereychon

žat žey sculd neuere spede

but yf a dou3ti man of dede

were chosyn to ben here kynge

žat ys sože seyden žey alle wt oute lesynge

ffortiger is dou3tyest man of honde

Of eny man žat ys in englond

žan swore žey to gederys euereychon

žat ožer kyng wold žey haue non

žar was nožer kny3t ne swayn

žat durst speke žar a gayn

but grauntedyn alle bothe & 3ynge

žat fortiger schulde be here kynge

And žanne anon as 3e may here

Twelf barons wente to sir fortagere

......................................................................................................…................. Folio 7v

And seyden žat al englondys ry3t

was lost for here kyngys fy3t

And he was ded with oute lesynge

And his bretheryn were to 3ynge

žat kyndom to holde

And žer fore že barons wold

habbe loked žrou3 alle žynge

žat žu fortiger schalt be oure kynge

žanne swythe glad was fortigere

ffor tidyngis žat he hurde žare

žat he kynge schulde be

Of englond žat  is so fre

And žus he fenge že croune

by assent of the barons comune

And at že fest of his crounement

že twelf barons žar were ful gent

commen to vnderstonde son                                  

Of vter and of pendragon

žat žey schulden be ded

And žarfore žey token here reed                                     catchword ‘and token’

......................................................................................................................... Folio 8r                  

And token že chyldryn as we reed

And ouer že see žey gonne hym lede

ffor to sauen že children lyf

žat englond schulde be in stryf

fful wel wyst že barons hyt schulde so be

And žarfore žey brou3tyn že chyldren ouer že se

So queyntliche žey token on

žat noma wyste whedur žey were gon

And whanne že fest was y holde

A non syre fortager že bold

Let make a comoun parlement

Of erlys & of barons ful gent

In žat parlement he heet a non

To quellen vter & pendragon

And comaundede že barons a non žer

To seche pendragon and vter

And žanne že chyldren ful 3erue žey sou3t

And my3t hem fynde nou3t

...........................................................................................................................Folio 8v

And whanne fortyger žat vnderstood

ffor angur & wreže he was ny3 wood

And žou3te yf žey weren a lyue

žat žey wolden hym out dryue

Of že kyngdom of englond

And holden hyt in here oune hond                           

And žarfore hym was swythe woo

žat  že chyldryn were a scaped soo

but neuerles sire fortiger

Comaundede bothe feer & ner

To duyks erlys baron & kny3t

To maken hem redy for to fy3t

A 3ens že kynge of denmark for to fare

žat wrou3te in englond so moche care

A non žey dy3tyn hem y wys

ffor to a sayle že denmarkys

Some on palfray & some on stede

And many a man on foot 3ede.

.......................................................................................................................... Folio 9r

And whanne žey weren al redy dy3t

hit was ry3t a wel fayr sy3t

With helm . basnet . and baner

žat wenten with syre fortygere

Kyng amygys of denmark with moche pride

     Com with his ost al by hys syde

žan eyther other gonne a sayle

And žar by gan a gret batayle

With swerdys y drawe & arwes y schote

And many a quarel žoru3 že žrote

Schafts to broke & helmes bry3t

I slawe žar was many a kny3t

But že englysche ost sož to say

ffau3t so wel žat same day

žat many a bold saracyne

In žat batayle hadde hys fyne

kyng amygys of denmark in žat tyde

Saw3 his men in že worse syde

And fledde a wey as he were wood

In to a castel žat was strong & good

.........................................................................................................…...............Folio 9v

And forgiger with al his žou3te

by segede žat castel al a bou3te

žar že kyng of denmark was rune

but he ne my3t hym nou3t wynne

he hym by segede monnthys ten

but al was wast he come nou3t in

And whanne he hadde so long by forn hym leyn

kyng amygys of denmark hyn sente to seyn

If he in pes passe moste

he wolden take al his oste

And wendyn hom to hys contray

And neuer more after žat day he nold passe žat stronde

To maken werre in englonde

And žat he swor & hys men y lome

žat žey nolden neuere in englond come

žanne kyng fortiger dede by consayle

And leet hym passe hom saufayle

And kyng fortiger tok his ost

And wente hom with moche bost

.........................................................................................................................Folio 10r

And held fest many a day

with gret dely3t & noblay

And whanne žat fest was yhold

The twelf barons žat y of ferst told

žat hadde y slawe moyne že kyng

by žou3ten hem on a wonder žyng

And žat žey wolden wenden to kyng fortiger

And asken of hym here lowere

To fortyger a non žey wente

And hym gretten with goud entente

And seyden syre kyng now žu art a boue

ženk what we han don for žy loue

how we slowen oure kyng of kende

Now lat vs see yf žu art hende

ffor we han brou3t že at žy powere

3eld us syre kyng now oure lowere

kyng fortiger answerde a 3en

And with egremood gan to seyn

by hym žat žis wordl haž mad

.........................................................................................................................Folio 10v

3e schul haue ry3t as 3e bad

ffor 3e bež treytors stronghe

že slowe moyne 3oure kyng al with wronghe

And 3yf y may so moty že

So schul 3e neuere me

but for 3e dedyn a 3ens že lawe

3e schul be hongyd and to drawe

A non he let taken hors ful gret

And tyde trays to že barons feet                                    

And leet hem to drawe on že pauement

And after an honghe hem verrement

Many erlys & barons hende

Weren of žo barons kende

vppon kyng fortiger žei renne a non

Ry3t as to here dedlych foon

And hard on hym žei gonne to fy3t

To sleyn hym yf žey my3t

but fortiger with my3t & mayn

With his ost fau3t hem a gayn

.....................................................................................................................…Folio 11r

And many a man deyde žar a ply3t

bothe barons squieris & also kn3t

And fortigere žat same day

vn nethe a lyue skapede a way

Erlys & barons žanne senten here sondes

Ouer al in to dyuers londes

To alle že frendes žat žey couthe

bože yst & west norže & southe

And tolde hem alle al so tyde

how kyng fortiger with gret dispide

hadde with treson & al with wronghe

here frendes to drawe & an honghe

And so žei seyden he wold vs eke

žarfore on hym we wol ben wreke

Euerych man žan žanne žus ožer by sou3t

And a gret ost ouer žanne žei brou3t

Many an erl & many a kny3t

žat egre weren of mood  strong on fy3t  

.........................................................................................................................Folio 11v

žey fou3ten harde a 3ens fortyger

many monnthys of the 3er

So that many a lady bothe hende & fre

loste hure lord & hure maigne

žus žat werre laste ful longe

by twyxen že kyng & že barons styfe & strong

ffortiger žat saw3ful ry3t

žat he ne my3te duren žat fy3t

ffor že barons folk gan wexen ay

And že kyngs weren distroyd eche day

The kyng messagers a non took

And made hem swerye vppon a book

žat žey schulden in his arende gon

and žanne letteris he took hem anon

And sente hem oupan že see y wys

To že kyng of denmark sire amygis

And bad hym helpe hym at nede

with al hys ost žat he my3te out lede

.........................................................................................................................Folio 12r

A 3ens his fomen for to fy3te

And žat he come with gret my3te

ffourž žanne wente že messageris žer

And dedyn že hestys of sir fortigere

And žar of že kyng of denmark was blythe

And messagerys he sente swythe

The schepis a ryueden on že stronde

A southe hamptone in englonde

And comyn to wynchertre wel a fyn

With many a stou3t saracyn

And žar he fond kyng fortiger

And he hem welcomede with fayr cher

Of here couinant he was by knawe

And he made kyng amygis hys felawe

And hym sesede on že hond

With al uendel englond                                         

Of žat he hadde & haue my3t

With žat he hulpe hym to fy3t

Written at the side of the page: To denk erl baron & kny3t/ And to al žat wepen bere my3t/ And into schepe žey wente blyže/ And ouer že see žey cōme swythe

.........................................................................................................................Folio 13r

And whanne here couinaunt was made fast

žey raydyn hem to žanne to in hast

In to žat batayle for to wende

A3ens že barons žat weren ful hende

By syde saresbury a lite

Here batayle to gaderys žey gonne smyte

And žar was sone layd a down

many a fayr gamfanoun

Schafts to broke & schyldys to rent

Amanye a spere žoru3 sydes went

And manye a žousand in a stounde

lay doun ded to že grounde

žar men my3t see a non

many a dow3ty man a slon

And že hefd from že body lay

A dolful sy3t was žat day

žar hadde kyng fortige euer more ten

A 3ens on of že barons men

........................................................................................................................ Folio 13v

Wharfore že barons ne my3t

holden no lengore a 3ens hem fy3t

So žat že barons on žat day

Al with sorwe fledden a way

And fortiger nold nou3t spare

but on hē layd & woundyd hem sare

And al žat he my3t on take

Non ožer pes ne most žey make

but leet hē to drawe & an honghe

but certayn hit was al with wronghe

And many a baron hende & fre

ffledde out of his contre

And also many of englonde

ffledden in to diuers londe

And wonede žar many a 3er

ffor drede of syre fortiger

And whanne žey weren flow out of lond

ffortiger seysyde on his honde

.....................................................................................................................…Folio 13v

londes rentes wode & feld