Bab Bab 90 · How twelve aged ambassadors of Rome came to King Arthur to

. How twelve aged ambassadors of Rome came to King Arthur to

demand truage for Britain.

When King Arthur had after long war rested, and held a royal feast and

Table Round with his allies of kings, princes, and noble knights all of

the Round Table, there came into his hall, he sitting in his throne

royal, twelve ancient men, bearing each of them a branch of olive, in

token that they came as ambassadors and messengers from the Emperor

Lucius, which was called at that time, Dictator or Procuror of the

Public Weal of Rome. Which said messengers, after their entering and

coming into the presence of King Arthur, did to him their obeisance in

making to him reverence, and said to him in this wise: The high and

mighty Emperor Lucius sendeth to the King of Britain greeting,

commanding thee to acknowledge him for thy lord, and to send him the

truage due of this realm unto the Empire, which thy father and other

to-fore thy precessors have paid as is of record, and thou as rebel not

knowing him as thy sovereign, withholdest and retainest contrary to the

statutes and decrees made by the noble and worthy Julius Cesar,

conqueror of this realm, and first Emperor of Rome. And if thou refuse

his demand and commandment know thou for certain that he shall make

strong war against thee, thy realms and lands, and shall chastise thee

and thy subjects, that it shall be ensample perpetual unto all kings

and princes, for to deny their truage unto that noble empire which

domineth upon the universal world. Then when they had showed the effect

of their message, the king commanded them to withdraw them, and said he

should take advice of council and give to them an answer. Then some of

the young knights, hearing this their message, would have run on them

to have slain them, saying that it was a rebuke to all the knights

there being present to suffer them to say so to the king. And anon the

king commanded that none of them, upon pain of death, to missay them

nor do them any harm, and commanded a knight to bring them to their

lodging, and see that they have all that is necessary and requisite for

them, with the best cheer, and that no dainty be spared, for the Romans

be great lords, and though their message please me not nor my court,

yet I must remember mine honour.

After this the king let call all his lords and knights of the Round

Table to counsel upon this matter, and desired them to say their

advice. Then Sir Cador of Cornwall spake first and said, Sir, this

message liketh me well, for we have many days rested us and have been

idle, and now I hope ye shall make sharp war on the Romans, where I

doubt not we shall get honour. I believe well, said Arthur, that this

matter pleaseth thee well, but these answers may not be answered, for

the demand grieveth me sore, for truly I will never pay truage to Rome,

wherefore I pray you to counsel me. I have understood that Belinus and

Brenius, kings of Britain, have had the empire in their hands many

days, and also Constantine the son of Heleine, which is an open

evidence that we owe no tribute to Rome but of right we that be

descended of them have right to claim the title of the empire.