บทที่ บทที่ 13 · How eleven kings gathered a great host against King

. How eleven kings gathered a great host against King

Arthur.

And so within a little space the three kings came unto the castle of

Bedegraine, and found there a passing fair fellowship, and well beseen,

whereof they had great joy, and victual they wanted none. This was the

cause of the northern host: that they were reared for the despite and

rebuke the six kings had at Carlion. And those six kings by their

means, gat unto them five other kings; and thus they began to gather

their people.

And now they sware that for weal nor woe, they should not leave other,

till they had destroyed Arthur. And then they made an oath. The first

that began the oath was the Duke of Cambenet, that he would bring with

him five thousand men of arms, the which were ready on horseback. Then

sware King Brandegoris of Stranggore that he would bring five thousand

men of arms on horseback. Then sware King Clariance of Northumberland

he would bring three thousand men of arms. Then sware the King of the

Hundred Knights, that was a passing good man and a young, that he would

bring four thousand men of arms on horseback. Then there swore King

Lot, a passing good knight, and Sir Gawain’s father, that he would

bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. Also there swore King

Urience, that was Sir Uwain’s father, of the land of Gore, and he would

bring six thousand men of arms on horseback. Also there swore King

Idres of Cornwall, that he would bring five thousand men of arms on

horseback. Also there swore King Cradelmas to bring five thousand men

on horseback. Also there swore King Agwisance of Ireland to bring five

thousand men of arms on horseback. Also there swore King Nentres to

bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. Also there swore King

Carados to bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. So their whole

host was of clean men of arms on horseback fifty thousand, and a-foot

ten thousand of good men’s bodies. Then were they soon ready, and

mounted upon horse and sent forth their fore-riders, for these eleven

kings in their ways laid a siege unto the castle of Bedegraine; and so

they departed and drew toward Arthur, and left few to abide at the

siege, for the castle of Bedegraine was holden of King Arthur, and the

men that were therein were Arthur’s.