last they concluded that Merlin should go with a token of King Ban—a ring—to his and King Bors’ men, and that Gracian and Placidas should go and keep their castles and their countries, as King Ban of Benwick and King Bors of Gaul had ordained it to be. So they crossed the sea and came to Benwick, and when the people saw King Ban’s ring and Gracian and Placidas, they were glad and asked how their king fared and made great joy to hear that he was well.
According to their sovereign lord’s desire, the men of war made themselves ready in all possible haste, so that there were fifteen thousand on horseback and foot, and they had plenty of supplies with them, thanks to Merlin’s provisioning. Gracian and Placidas remained at home to supply and garnish the castles, out of fear of King Claudas.
Right so Merlin crossed the sea well-provided, both by water and by land. When he reached the sea he sent the footmen home again, and took with him no more than ten thousand men on horseback, the most part of which were men at arms. So they boarded ships and crossed the sea to England and landed at Dover. Through his cleverness Merlin led the host northward by the most secret way that could be thought, into the forest of Bedgrayne, and in a valley there they camped secretly.
Then Merlin rode to Arthur and to the two kings and told them how things had gone, whereof they had great marvel that any man on earth might be able to go and come again so quickly. So Merlin told them how ten thousand were in the forest of Bedgrayne well armed at all points.
Then there was no more to say, but all the host which Arthur had before provided mounted on horseback. With twenty thousand he passed through the land night and day. But Merlin had made an ordinance previously that no man of war should ride north or go into the land on this side of the waters of the Trent unless he had a token from King Arthur; because of this, the king’s enemies dared not ride out to spy as they had before.
CI.12
So within a little while the three kings came to the forest of Bedgrayne and found there a passing fair fellowship well beseen, for which they had great joy, and they were well-provided with food.
This was the cause of the northern host: they were reared because of the despite and rebuke the six kings had at Caerleon, and those six kings by their means got five other kings to join their cause, and thus they began to gather their people. Now they swore that for weal or woe they should not stop until they had destroyed Arthur, and they made an oath. The first to take the oath was the Duke of Canbenet; he swore he would bring with him five thousand men of arms, ready on horseback. Then King Brandegoris of Strangore swore that he would bring with him five thousand men of arms on horseback. Then King Clarivaunce of Northumberland swore that he would bring three thousand men of arms with him. Then the King with the Hundred Knights, who was a passing good young man, swore that he would bring four thousand good men of arms on horseback. Then King Lot, a passing good knight and father unto Sir Gawain, swore that he would bring five thousand good men of arms on horseback. Also King Uriens of the land of Gorre, who was Sir Uwain’s father, swore that he would bring six thousand men of arms on horseback. King Idres of Cornwall also swore that he would bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. So too did king Cradilmans swear to bring five thousand men on horseback. Also there swore King Anguishaunce of Ireland to bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. Also King Nentres swore to bring five thousand men on horseback. Also King Carados swore to bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. Their whole host was of clean men of arms, and on horseback they had fully fifty thousand, and on foot ten thousand good men’s bodies.
Then they were soon ready and mounted on horseback, and sent forth the foreriders, for these eleven kings in their way laid siege to the castle of Bedgrayne. So they departed and drew toward Arthur, and left a few to abide at the siege, for the castle of Bedgrayne was a hold of King Arthur, and they who were therein were all King Arthur’s.
So by Merlin’s advice foreriders were sent to survey the country; they met with the foreriders of the north and made them tell from which host they had come. Then they told King Arthur, and by the counsel of King Ban and King Bors they caused to be burnt and destroyed all the country ahead of where they should ride.
CI.13
Then the King of the Hundred Knights had at that time a wondrous dream two nights before the battle. A great wind blew and blew down their castles and their towns, and after that came a flood and bore it all away. All of those who heard of that dream said it was an omen of a great battle.
Then by the counsel of Merlin, when they knew which way the eleven kings would ride and where they would lodge that night, at midnight they set upon them when they were in their pavilions; but the scout-watch by their host cried: “Lords! To arms! For here be our enemies near at hand!”
Then King Arthur and King Ban and King Bors with their good and trusty knights set upon them so fiercely that he made them overthrow their pavilions onto their heads. But the eleven kings by manly prowess of arms took a fair champion, and there was slain by the next day ten thousand good men. So they had before them a difficult passage, where there were fifty thousand hardy men. Then it drew toward day.
CI.14
“Now you should follow my advice,” said Merlin unto the three kings, and said, “I would have it that King Ban and King Bors with their fellowship of ten thousand men were put in the woods near here in an ambush, and kept there secretly, and that they be put there before the light of day comes, and that they should not stir until you and your knights have fought long with the enemy. And when it is daylight, dress yourself to battle right before them and the passage so that they may see your whole host; for then they will be more hardy when they see you are about twenty thousand in number, and they will be gladder to allow you and your host to come over the passage.”
All the three kings and all the barons said that Merlin had devised a clever plan, and so it was done.
So in the morning when each army saw the other, those from the North were well comforted. Then Ulphius and Brastias were delivered three thousand men of arms, and they set on them fiercely in the passage; they slew so on the right hand and on the left that it was a wonder to tell.
But when the eleven kings saw that there were so few in their fellowship who did such deeds of arms, they were ashamed and set on them again fiercely. Although Sir Ulphius’ horse was slain, he did marvelously on foot. But then Duke Estanse of Canbenet and King Clarivaunce of Northumberland continually and grievously set upon Ulphius. When Sir Brastias saw how his fellow fared in all this, he smote the duke with a spear so that both horse and man fell down. King Clarivaunce saw that, and turned to Sir Brastias, and either smote other so that both horse and man fell to the earth. So they lay there a long while, stunned, and their horses’ knees had been broken down to the hard bone.
Then came Sir Kay the Seneschal accompanied by six fellows, and he did passing well. At this the eleven kings attacked, and Grifflet was brought down to the earth, horse and man, as was Lucan the Butler, King Brandegoris, King Idres, and King Anguishaunce.
Then the melée waxed passing hard for both sides. When Sir Kay saw Sir Grifflet on foot, he rode up to King Nentres and smote him down, and took the king’s horse to Sir Grifflet and horsed him again. Also, with that same spear Sir Kay smote down King Lot and hurt him seriously. The King with the Hundred Knights saw that and ran to Sir Kay and smote him down and took his horse, which he gave to King Lot, whereof the king said “Many thanks.”
When Sir Grifflet saw Sir Kay and Sir Lucan the Butler on foot, he took a large sharp spear and rode straight at Pyonel, a good man of arms, and smote him down both horse and man; then he took Pyonel’s horse and gave it to Sir Kay.
When King Lot saw King Nentres on foot, he ran at Meliot de la Roche and smote him down, both horse and man, and gave his horse to King Nentres and thus horsed him again. Also the King with the Hundred Knights saw King Idres on foot, and he ran at Gwyniarte de Bloy and smote him down, both horse and man, then gave King Idres his horse and thus horsed him again. Then King Lot smote down Clarinaus de la Forest Savage and gave his horse to Duke Estanse.
So when they were horsed again, all the eleven kings drew together and said they would be revenged for the damage they had suffered that day.
Meanwhile,