Chapter Chapter 11 · How Merlin counselled King Arthur to send for King Ban and

. How Merlin counselled King Arthur to send for King Ban and

King Bors, and of their counsel taken for the war.

So after the feast and journey, King Arthur drew him unto London, and

so by the counsel of Merlin, the king let call his barons to council,

for Merlin had told the king that the six kings that made war upon him

would in all haste be awroke on him and on his lands. Wherefore the

king asked counsel at them all. They could no counsel give, but said

they were big enough. Ye say well, said Arthur; I thank you for your

good courage, but will ye all that loveth me speak with Merlin? ye know

well that he hath done much for me, and he knoweth many things, and

when he is afore you, I would that ye prayed him heartily of his best

advice. All the barons said they would pray him and desire him. So

Merlin was sent for, and fair desired of all the barons to give them

best counsel. I shall say you, said Merlin, I warn you all, your

enemies are passing strong for you, and they are good men of arms as be

alive, and by this time they have gotten to them four kings more, and a

mighty duke; and unless that our king have more chivalry with him than

he may make within the bounds of his own realm, an he fight with them

in battle, he shall be overcome and slain. What were best to do in this

cause? said all the barons. I shall tell you, said Merlin, mine advice;

there are two brethren beyond the sea, and they be kings both, and

marvellous good men of their hands; and that one hight King Ban of

Benwick, and that other hight King Bors of Gaul, that is France. And on

these two kings warreth a mighty man of men, the King Claudas, and

striveth with them for a castle, and great war is betwixt them. But

this Claudas is so mighty of goods whereof he getteth good knights,

that he putteth these two kings most part to the worse; wherefore this

is my counsel, that our king and sovereign lord send unto the kings Ban

and Bors by two trusty knights with letters well devised, that an they

will come and see King Arthur and his court, and so help him in his

wars, that he will be sworn unto them to help them in their wars

against King Claudas. Now, what say ye unto this counsel? said Merlin.

This is well counselled, said the king and all the barons.

Right so in all haste there were ordained to go two knights on the

message unto the two kings. So were there made letters in the pleasant

wise according unto King Arthur’s desire. Ulfius and Brastias were made

the messengers, and so rode forth well horsed and well armed and as the

guise was that time, and so passed the sea and rode toward the city of

Benwick. And there besides were eight knights that espied them, and at

a strait passage they met with Ulfius and Brastias, and would have

taken them prisoners; so they prayed them that they might pass, for

they were messengers unto King Ban and Bors sent from King Arthur.

Therefore, said the eight knights, ye shall die or be prisoners, for we

be knights of King Claudas. And therewith two of them dressed their

spears, and Ulfius and Brastias dressed their spears, and ran together

with great raundon. And Claudas’ knights brake their spears, and theirs

to-held and bare the two knights out of their saddles to the earth, and

so left them lying, and rode their ways. And the other six knights rode

afore to a passage to meet with them again, and so Ulfius and Brastias

smote other two down, and so passed on their ways. And at the fourth

passage there met two for two, and both were laid unto the earth; so

there was none of the eight knights but he was sore hurt or bruised.

And when they come to Benwick it fortuned there were both kings, Ban

and Bors.

And when it was told the kings that there were come messengers, there

were sent unto them two knights of worship, the one hight Lionses, lord

of the country of Payarne, and Sir Phariance a worshipful knight. Anon

they asked from whence they came, and they said from King Arthur, king

of England; so they took them in their arms and made great joy each of

other. But anon, as the two kings wist they were messengers of

Arthur’s, there was made no tarrying, but forthwith they spake with the

knights, and welcomed them in the faithfullest wise, and said they were

most welcome unto them before all the kings living; and therewith they

kissed the letters and delivered them. And when Ban and Bors understood

the letters, then they were more welcome than they were before. And

after the haste of the letters they gave them this answer, that they

would fulfil the desire of King Arthur’s writing, and Ulfius and

Brastias, tarry there as long as they would, they should have such

cheer as might be made them in those marches. Then Ulfius and Brastias

told the kings of the adventure at their passages of the eight knights.

Ha! ah! said Ban and Bors, they were my good friends. I would I had

wist of them; they should not have escaped so. So Ulfius and Brastias

had good cheer and great gifts, as much as they might bear away; and

had their answer by mouth and by writing, that those two kings would

come unto Arthur in all the haste that they might. So the two knights

rode on afore, and passed the sea, and came to their lord, and told him

how they had sped, whereof King Arthur was passing glad. At what time

suppose ye the two kings will be here? Sir, said they, afore All

Hallowmass. Then the king let purvey for a great feast, and let cry a

great jousts. And by All Hallowmass the two kings were come over the

sea with three hundred knights well arrayed both for the peace and for

the war. And King Arthur met with them ten mile out of London, and

there was great joy as could be thought or made. And on All Hallowmass

at the great feast, sat in the hall the three kings, and Sir Kay

seneschal served in the hall, and Sir Lucas the butler, that was Duke

Corneus’ son, and Sir Griflet, that was the son of Cardol, these three

knights had the rule of all the service that served the kings. And

anon, as they had washen and risen, all knights that would joust made

them ready; by then they were ready on horseback there were seven

hundred knights. And Arthur, Ban, and Bors, with the Archbishop of

Canterbury, and Sir Ector, Kay’s father, they were in a place covered

with cloth of gold like an hall, with ladies and gentlewomen, for to

behold who did best, and thereon to give judgment.