E-text prepared by Ted Garvin, Keith M. Eckrich, and the Project Gutenberg
Online Distriubted Proofreading Team
At Totnes Constantin the fair and all his host came ashore; thithercame the bold man—well was he brave!—and with him two thousandknights such as no king possessed. Forth they gan march into London,and sent after knights over all the kingdom, and every brave man, thatspeedily he should come anon.
The Britons heard that, where they dwelt in the pits; in earth and instocks they hid them like badgers, in wood and in wilderness, in heathand in fen, so that well nigh no man might find any Briton, exceptthey were in castle, or in burgh inclosed fast. When they heard ofthis word, that Constantin was in the land, then came out of themountains many thousand men; they leapt out of the wood as if it weredeer. Many hundred thousand marched toward London, by street and byweald all it forth pressed; and the brave women put on them men'sclothes, and they forth journeyed toward the army.
When the Earl Constantin saw all this folk come to him, then he was soblithe as he was never before in life. Forth they took their way twonights and a day, so that they came full truly to Melga and Wanis.Together they rushed with stern strength, fought fiercely—the fatedfell! Ere the day were gone, slain was Wanis and Melgan, and Peohtesenow, and Scots without number, Danes and Norwegians, Galloways andIrish. The while that the day was light lasted ever this slaughter.
When it came to the eventime, then called the Earl Constantin, andbade that guides should ride to the waters, and active men toward thesea, for to guard them. A man should have seen the game, how the womenforth marched over woods and over fields, over hills and over dales.Wheresoever they found any man escaped, that was with Melga theheathen king, the women loud laughed, and tore him all in pieces, andprayed for the soul, that never should good be to it. Thus the Britishwomen killed many thousands, and thus they freed this kingdom of Wanisand of Melga.
And Constantin the brave marched to Silchester, and held there hishusting of all his British thanes, all the Britons came to themeeting, and took Constantin the noble, and made him king of Britain—much was then the mirth that was among men. And afterwards they gavehim a wife, one wondrous fair, born of the highest, of Britain thebest of all. By this noble wife Constantin had in this land threelittle sons. The first son had well nigh his father's name; Constantinhight the king, Constance hight the child. When this child was waxed,that it could ride, then his father caused him to be made a monk,through counsel of wicked men, and the child was a monk in Winchester.After him was born another, who was the middle brother, he was namedAurelius, his surname hight Ambrosius. Then was last of all born achild that was well disposed, he was named Uther, his virtues werestrong; he was the youngest brother, but he lived longer than theothers.
Guencelm the archbishop, who toward God was full good, took charge ofthe two children, for love of the king. But alas! that their fathermight live no longer!—for he had good laws the while that he lived;but he was king here but twelve years, and then was the kingdead-hearken now through what chance. He had in his house a Peoht,fair knight and most brave; he fared with the king, and with all histhanes by no other wise but as it were his brother. Then became he sopotent, to all his companions unlike; then thought he to betrayConstantin the powerful. He came before the king, and fell on hisknees, and thus lied the traitor before his lor