Here beginneth a little treatise of the birth & {pro}phecye of Marlyn  
 woodcut 
Marlyn.  
Pedra.  
Vther.    

christ on cross his blood that ble  
And life for life he laid to w  
As it was his will  
grant thē grace of mirths 〈…〉  
joy and bliss in all their 〈…〉  
That me herkeneth till  
I shall you tell solace and game  
friends fellows sythe all in same  
And hearken of grete nobly  
sound and sauffe than mote ye be  
And all that herkeneth unto me  
What I shall you say  
I shall you tell here afore  
How merlin was gotten and 〈…〉  
And of his deeds also  
And of other meruaylles many mo  
Some time in Englonde was a king  
A noble man in all thing  
I war he was ware and wys  
constantine the king hyghtywys  
Sones he had full fair three  
The fairest that in land might be  
The eldest sone that was his heir right  
Moyn he height  
The medlest sone height Pendragon  
He was a man of grete renon  
The youngest sone height Vter right  
A likewise man and strong in fight  
constantine the king ywys  
In every place he bait the prys  
In his time was reynynge in englonde  
A grete sickness I vnderstonde  
In that sickness the king fell tho  
That out of this world he must needs go  
After erles and barons he let call  
when they were come before him all  
Than said the king to them all  
Lordynge lief and hende  
Out of this world I must wende  
I pray you sirs for the love of me  
And for goddes love and saint charity  
when I am dede and laid in day  
help my children all that ye may  
And Moyn mine eldest sone  
Make him king and give him crown  
The king called as ye may here  
His stuarde that height Vortygere  
strong he was wise and daungerous  
And false and fekle and full covetous  
The king he had served long  
For he was likewise and strong  
when Moyn was chosen king  
In to denmark the word 'gan spring  
And when angys word had  
Therof he was right glad  
He sent after messengers in that tide  
over all his land on each side  
For many a stout man and strong  
Of genus and of danes land  
An hundred thousand and many mo  
On horse and on foot also  
Came to him there letted none  
For to war on the young king Moyn  
king angys wolde not abide  
unto ship he went in that tide  
And brought in to Englonde syn  
Many a doughty saracen  
As Englonde was called that day  
The more britain without nay  
word anon about 'gan spring  
How the denysshe king angys  
'gan wyrche much amiss  
money the king herde that it was so  
He went to sir Vortyger tho  
With full grete mourning cheer  
He prayed him with good vygure  
That he wolde be his governor  
against his foemen for to fight  
And he said that he ne might  
He made him seek as traitor strong  
And neither for right ne for wrong  
Wolde he come in battle  
For his strength him 'gan fail  
For his purpose that he had on hand  
Was to be king of this land  
The king wolde no more him pray  
But took his leave and went his way  
His messengers he sent that tide  
over all his land on every side  
To duke / earl / Baron / and knight  
To come to him in that fight  
And when they were all ycome  
And euerche had his arms nome  
They pricked forth without fail  
And gave the denysshe king battle  
There was broken many a crown  
And slain was many a bold barowne  
Many a doughty man that tide  
Was slain with wounds wide  
And the denysshe king was so strong  
With spears and with knyues long  
All that they might in that stound  
Were slain and laid to ground  
So the english folk that day  
Were discomfited and fled away  
king Moyn in that tide  
took his horse and fast 'gan ride  
king angys there before  
saw his folk many lore  
Sone he sent his sonde  
Home again in to his land  
For all that might weepen bear  
should come to englonde for to were  
Of war wolde he not blynne  
For towers and castles he dyde win  
And wrought them all much wrong  
All the erles and barons in Englonde  
They took them all together anon  
For to wreak them of their fone  
when they were come as I you tell  
Erles and barons that were full fell  
And said ywys that Moyn their king  
Was not but a bretherlynge  
And swore yf Vortyger their king ware  
He wolde a wreak them of their care  
And thought anon both old yinge  
To make sir Vortyger their king  
And when they had spoken of this  
twelve barons there went ywys  
To Vortyger the bold  
For to wreak them yf he wolde  
again their foemen to fonde  
To drive them out of the land  
when the barons all in fear  
Were come to sir Vortygere  
Hendly they him grette  
He took them up and bad them set  
And bad them with words still  
To say what was their will  
And they answered again  
And bad him that he should say  
Why that he wolde not gone  
To help and wreak them of their fone  
And said the king was nigh slawe  
And almost brought of life daw  
And said they might never haue peas  
For the denysshe folk without leas  
That warred on him both day & night  
And prayed him that he might  
That he should take on hand  
To help of that wrong  
against their foemen to fare  
For to bring them out of care  
Tho answered sir Vortyger  
As a lord of grete power  
Why bid ye me such a thing  
I was never your king  
Ne never yet here before  
Was I to you sworn  
To help you at your need  
And therfore so god me speed  
Go home to your king  
And pray him vpon all thing  
That he you help of your fone  
For help of me gete ye none  
Tho a bold baron answerde  
sir our king is but a coward  
For when he seeth swords draw  
He weeneth anon for to be slawe  
He doth us no more good  
But fleeth away as he were wood  
hadst thou be among us all  
Than had us not that shane befall  
All that we lost in that saute  
In him was all the default  
And all the loss of our banner  
I trow well said Vortyger  
Certes he said it was grete dole  
To make a king so grete a fool  
Had ye made a man your king  
He wolde you help in all thing  
As certainly sykerye be  
help gete ye none of me  
But and your king were dede I plight  
I wolde you help with all my might  
Tho said the barons everichone  
sir will ye that we him ston  
Vortyger said without strife  
But ye byreue his life  
mine help gete ye none ywys  
The barons took their leave with this  
To wenchester they went all  
And found king Moyn in his hall  
As he sat at his meet  
They ran on him with heart grete  
As he sat at the board  
Or they spake ony word  
They smote of his hede anon  
And passed forth everichone  
when they had their king I sloo  
Erles and barons hye and low  
Also right they took them to rede  
A king they must haue need  
All Englonde for to war  
Aayenst their foemen the wolde them dare  
Than had the king drethern two  
young children they were tho  
They were so young within yield  
That they might none arms weld  
neither Vther ne Pendragon  
Then said a bold baron  
That they should never speed  
But yf a doughty man of dede  
Were chosen to be king  
They swore that Vortyger in all thing  
Was the best man of his land  
That was that time in Englonde  
They swore together everichone  
That other king wolde they none  
Tho was there neither knight ne swain  
That wolde say a word again  
But granted all both old and yinge  
That Vortyger should be their king   

merry time it is in april  
That seemeth well by many skill  
In fields and medes flowers springeth  
In green wood fowls singeth  
That maketh a man Iolyfe  
Than liketh both man and wife  
So in that time as ye may here  
twelve barons came to Vortygere  
They said that Englonde right  
was lost through their king I plight  
And he was dede without losing  
And his two bredren were to yingo  
This kingdom to hold in hand  
Therfore the counsel of this land  
Hath chosen you with grete vygure  
For to be their governor  
Blythe and glad was Vortyger  
He was made king without danger  
At the feest of his coronament  
Erles there was both fair and gente  
All this treason they understood  
And had reuth on the chyldrens blood  
That they should be do to dede  
Therfore they took a better rede  
And took Vter and pendragon  
And passed the see anon  
So quantly they passed than  
In all this land there was no man  
That wist wbyther the children by come  
So rejoicingly away they nome  
when the feest was hold  
anon Vortyger the bold  
let make a comune parliament  
Of Erles and of barons gent  
At which parliament he had thought  
To haue slain the children with vnryght  
And commanded that his men were bone  
To fetch Vter and Pendragon  
And also soon after them he sent  
But they might finde them nought  
when Vortyger that understood  
For anger he waxed nigh wode  
And thought yf they two live  
To shameful death they wolde him drive  
And in his heart he was full wo  
For they were scaped so  
But nevertheless sir Vortygere  
let command far and nere  
To duke / earl baron and knight  
To make them redy for to fight  
against their foemen for to fight  
That made thē sorrow both day & night  
They dyde dress them ywys  
In arms and on horse of prys  
Some on palfrey / and some on stede  
And some strong on foot yede  
when they were all redy dight  
To se them it was a seemly sight  
There was many a stout man & wight  
with helm on hede and banner bright  
With helm on hede and bright banner  
That said that to Vortyger  
I rede we parte our host in three  
In the best maner that may be  
The king of denmark with grete pride  
Brought his host by every side  
Vortyger without fail  
gave them there strong battle  
swords were drawn & arrows shot  
And many a quarrel through the throtte  
shafts were broken & helms brown  
And slain was many a bold barowne  
But english folk the soth to say  
Had the maystry that day  
There was slain and sent to hell pine  
Many a doughty sarasyne  
king angys meu that tide  
Were on the war side  
And ran away as they were wood  
In to a castle strong and good  
That was made strong and well  
That it is called tyntagell  
And his host fled also  
In to a castle they escaped tho  
Vortyger with all his rout  
Beset king angys all about  
But the castle that angys in  
There might it no man win  
when he had him belayne  
king angys sent him to say  
yf he in pease pass most  
He wolde take all his host  
And wende home to his country  
And never more after that day  
Wolde he pass the se stronde  
For to war on Englonde  
when they had sworn all and some  
That they should in englonde never come  
king Vortyger by his counsel  
let them pass hole and all  
Tho went the king to the se  
And saylled forth to his country  
Tho Vortyger took all his host  
And went home with grete boast  
And held feest many a day  
With grete delight and much play  
when the feest was all hold  
The .xii. barons that I of told  
They that slew Moyn their king  
Bethought them on a wonder thing  
That they wolde wende Vortyger to  
To ask grace and he so do  
king Vortyger answered again  
With eyger mode and 'gan to say  
By the lawe that god made  
ye shall haue that ye bade  
ye be traitors wicked and strong  
And haue slain your king with wrong  
And yf I may so mote I the  
So shall ye not serve me  
For ye haue wrought against the lawe  
ye shall be hanged and draw  
He took horses well skete  
And dyde them tay by the feet  
He bad them draw on the pavement  
And after not long verament  
Many an earl and baron then  
That were of the barons kin  
On Vortyger they ran anon  
And so they were his deadly fone  
And hard with him they 'gan to fight  
him to slay they dyde their might  
As Vortyger with main and might  
He and all his host again  
Many an arrow there was shot  
That turned men to little note  
Many a man lost his heart blood  
And many the ball in the hood  
That Vortyger without lay  
Vnneth scaped with life away  
Erles and barons of englonde  
sent fast about there sonde  
To all their friends frenthe and couthe  
Est and west north and south  
And told them all the sooth as tyte  
That Vortyger with grete despite  
Had with treason and with wrong  
their kindred to draw and hung  
well wroth was tho many a man  
And to guider they swore than  
That they wolde never be glad  
till they him avenged had  
every man other bysought  
To give him stroke yf they might  
Many a earl and many a knight  
That eager was and fell in fight  
That warreth against Vortyger  
Many a month of the year  
Many a lady gente and fre  
Lost her lord and her main  
The war began to last long  
For the barons were so strong  
That Vortyger took good cure  
That he ne might against them dure  
For their folk waxed ay  
And his folk lessed every day  
Messengers anon he took  
And made them swear on a book  
That they should on his errandes gone  
And bewrey him to none  
And sent him over the se ywys  
In to denmark to king angys  
And bad him come and help at need  
with all his folk that he might lead  
again his foemen that wolde him slay  
And he should haue half his fee  
Than was the king blythe  
And sent messengers also swith  
To duke earl baron and knight  
All tho that weepen might bear  
In to ship they 'gan drive  
And over these they came bylyue  
And came in to this land with him  
Many a saracen stout and grym  
when they came to Vortyger  
He welcomed them with glad cheer  
And seized there in to his hand  
half the realm of englonde  
And that he had or haue might  
And he wolde help him to fight  
when their covenants were made fast  
They dyde them dight in hast  
In to battle for to went  
For the barons were come them hende  
beside salysbury a light  
There they dyde together fight  
There was soon laid a down  
Many a gentle company own  
spears were broken and sheldes torn  
And men were through the sides born  
Many a thousand in that stound  
Were felled and laid to the ground  
Many a man with wounds lay  
A doleful sight it was that day  
Many a lady and damosel  
wept that day with tears fell  
Than Vortyger had ten  
against one of the barons men  
wherefore they had no might  
again them to hold fight  
All they were dyscomfyte that day  
And with sorrow they flown away  
yet Vortyger wolde not spare  
But hounted them as men doth the hare  
None other pease wolde he make  
But all that he might take  
He dyde them draw and hang  
And certain it was all wrange  
Many a baron hende and fre  
went out of his own country  
Some over these went  
And dwelled there verament  
And many for dread and doubt  
In to other lands went about  
In grete sorrow and much wo  
twelve year and many mo  
For dread of sir Vortyger  
They dwelled there many a year  
when they were gone out of this land  
Vortyger seized in his hand  
lands rents and tenants bold  
wife and child he 'gan with hold  
And thought the counsel of king angys  
He gave it to the sarasyns of prys  
king angys verament  
had a daughter fair and gente  
That was a heathen saracen  
And Vortyger for love of him  
took her anon to his wife  
And was accorded all his life  
soon he wedded her there  
And menged their blood both in fear  
So that the cure of Englonde  
Was lost in the fiends hand  
He held no better goddes lawe  
Than doth an hound and his fellow  
Thus they lived many a year   

SO on a time sir Vortyger  
Bythought him on the children two  
That out of englonde were fled 〈…〉  
Also he by thought him than  
Of many another doughty man  
That he made to go out of the land  
And I haue done them much wrong  
That it a sorry hap  
And bythought him of after clap  
And thought yf ever they come again  
That Englonde wolde of them be fain  
And with wreak on him renne  
He said he wolde beware of them  
He sent anon for messengers  
over all his land for carpenters  
And for good masons also  
The best that were in land tho  
Many an hundred there came anon  
That could work in lime and ston  
when they were come in to the hall  
The king said to them all  
Herkeneth lordynges unto me  
As ye be both hende and fre  
In my heart I haue be thought  
A fair castle to haue wrought  
That it be made of strong work  
For to grind likewise and stark  
Of strong timber lime and ston  
That a stronger in all the world be none  
For my fone that ben on live  
That I dyde out of this land drive  
Yf that I haue ever need  
My life therein that I may lead  
That castle ye shall make merry  
Vpon the plain of salysbury  
And there ye shall it found  
much large and wide on ground  
And do it as I you tell  
That it be made trusty and well  
And ye shall haue for your higher  
As much as ye will desire  
For the joy that god is in  
fill the cup and let us begin   

ALl the werkemen went tho  
five thousand and well mo  
The hew wood and caured ston  
And laid the fundament anon  
Some rebated and some dyde bear  
And some began the work to rear  
The werkemen were light and sly  
The work began to rise sone on hye  
The first day without doubt  
The work arose knee hye about  
when it was come to the night  
To their rest they went right  
And came again on the morrow  
And found thing of much sorrow  
All the fundament in that stound  
Lay spread a broad on the ground  
And all to torn lime and ston  
Grete wonder they thought anon  
No better rede could they than  
But a new work they began  
And sped well for sooth to say  
As they dyde the first day  
when the day was gone  
To rest they went everichone  
And came again on the morrow  
And their work done to much sorrow  
And all spread here and there  
And so it fared half a year  
All that they wrought on the day  
On the morrow abroad it lay  
when the king hard tell of this  
Grete wonder he had ywys  
And dyde aspye of young and elde  
What it might be that his work field  
And why his work might not grind  
But there was none in all the land  
Hye ne low lewd ne clerk  
That could tell what felled his work  
As king Vortyger sat in his hall  
And many a man him withall  
sith the time that they were born  
such a wonder saw they never before  
As they of that work found  
That every night was felled to ground  
The king swore he wolde not spare  
till he wist how it ware  
His messengers he sent hastily  
over all his land for to espy  
For wise clerkes old and young  
That could tell of such a thing  
They should come to him rather  
As they wolde their life haue  
Full soon the dyde the kings sonde  
And went about in all the land  
Many wise clerkes the sought  
And all they were before him brought  
king Vortyger spposed them all  
There was none could him tell  
wherefore his work was over cast  
They could not tell him in hast  
masters he let take anon  
The wisest of them everichone  
In a chamber he let them do  
That no man should come them to  
The king swore parmafay  
That they should not scape away  
till they wolde whereby know  
wherefore his work was overthrow  
In to a chamber they were dight  
nine dayes and nine night  
They had no comfort of no thing  
save onely of meet and of drink  
So on the day vrramente  
They looked on the fyrmamente  
On the walkyn they saw a sky  
That shewed them truly  
That five winter there before  
A child in englonde there was bore  
And begotten without mannes mon●  
Yf men might haue such one  
And sle him lightly than  
Or he speak with ony man  
And anoint the work with his blood  
Than it shall be strong and good  
Thus the sky told thyem tho  
And turned again there it came fro  
Tho were the clerkes glad & blythe  
And went to the king also swith  
And said without leas  
That a chaylde in Englonde was  
Bygoten without mannes stream  
The clerkes said all bydene  
let seek after that child  
Whether he be in town or field  
Sle him than hastily  
And take the blood of his body  
And anoint the work therewith  
And it shall grind in peas and gryth  
Blythe and glad was Vortyger  
And sent twelve messengers  
And dyde them parte in three and three  
That none should with other be  
And sent full soon his sonde  
In four quarters of englonde  
And bad they should stint nought  
till the child were to him brought  
The messengers forth went  
And dyde his commandment  
Tho sir Vortyger the bold  
let the clerkes be taken in hold  
till the messengers come again  
For to wyte what they wolde say  
And yf they made ony losing  
He swore by Ihesu heaven king  
There should no raunson for them gone  
But they should be hanged everichone   

now late these clerks been  
And his menssengers all by dene  
That went to seek the child so young  
And ye shall here a wonder thing  
Yf ye will a stound dwell  
Of that child I will you tell  
And how the three messengers  
Brought them to sir Vortygeres  
And of what kin he was  
And what he height without lees  
And ye shall all wyte  
For what cause he was by gete  
Dauyd the prophet and Moyses  
Wytnessen and saith in their verse  
when god had made thorough his might  
heaven full of angels brynght  
The joy that he made for man  
There is no tongue that tell can  
till lucifer lost it thorough his pride  
And all that held with him that tide  
such wreak god on him dyde take  
That they became fiends black  
As it is found in holy write  
They fell in hell pity  
both dayes and eke night  
They fill out of heaven light  
Also thick by saint johan  
As motes in the sone beam  
when they were fall out of heaven  
God said ho with mild steven  
And heaven he let dwell still  
As it was his own will  
fall of the fiends that tide  
That fellen out of heaven for pride  
As wise clerkes can tell  
They felle not all in to hell  
For Moyses saith that holy man  
In that stede they were than  
when god almighty heaven king  
said who without losing  
Some dyde stint in water & some in land  
And some in the earth dyde withstand  
For when god had said who  
They seized ever more  
Than made god after his will  
heaven setes again to fill  
when he had made adam I wys  
And brought him to paradise  
eve he made of his rybbe tho  
And gave them well without wo  
Ye haue hard here before  
Why adam and eve were forlore  
thorough the fiends that made them to sin  
They were lore and all their kin  
God that is and ever shall been  
light in to Mary maiden clene  
And in her body took flesh and blood  
And bought us dere vpon the road  
blessed be he every song  
And Mary his moder of whom he sprung  
through him mankind his free  
He bought them out of the fiends postee  
Many of tho fiends that I of told  
That fell in to hell with Lycyfer bold  
They that dwell in eyre  
They be both so queynt and sly  
On the earth they took their light  
And of the wind strength and might  
To make their body after man  
fair and rody and geutell than  
And light on earth among mankind  
To tempt them to deadly sin  
Well ye wist here before  
That Ihesu was of maiden bore  
And that he dyed vpon the road  
And bought us all with his blood  
Therof the fiends hadden might & hand  
And said that a fiend should fonde  
To lie on earth by a maid mild  
And bring on her such a child  
That should they said tho  
All the world wyrche wo  
And a cumber also it befyll  
As Ihesu brought to his will  
Thus they thought this world to haue filed  
But at the last they were bygyled  
For I shall tell you how it was  
ye may here a wonder case   

GOod men ye shall vnderstonde  
A rich man there was in Englonde  
And had a woman to his wife  
In grete joy they led their life  
A sone the had and daughters three  
That fair was vpon to se  
anon the fiend that I of told  
That dwelled in the earth so bold  
In to the earth he a light than  
And tempted so that woman  
That in her body he had might  
And brought her in to grete mischief  
And made her oft with eyger mode  
Curse her children as she were wode  
So vpon a night late  
thorough the fiend with grete hate  
With her sone child she began  
And cursed him that had by name  
Tho she bad him the fiend bytake  
With all the power that she might make  
Tho was the fiend glad and blythe  
And thought to do her shane as swith  
when it came to the night  
In to the house the fiend went right  
And strangled the child there it lay  
His moder arose when it was day  
And found her sone dede on the morrow  
She went & hanged herself for sorrow  
when the good man wist of this  
when the good man wist of this  
Also sywthe for shane ywys  
suddenly he dyed tho  
Without housyll and shryfte also  
The folk as sone of this country  
Came thither them to se  
when they se them fare so  
They said alas and wele and wo  
For the good man and his wife  
For they lived so clene a life  
An hermit that dwelled them bysyde  
Came thither to se them that tide  
Blasy the hermytes name was  
Full oft he said alas alas  
That it was be fallen so  
In his heart he was full wo  
And said it was verament  
thorough the fiends combrement  
The three daughters he found alive  
That good man dyde them shrive  
Of all that they could mean  
And then he ossoyled them clene  
fair penance on them he laid  
And for them to god he prayed  
And bad them withall their might  
serve god both day and night  
when he had taught them so  
Home again he yede tho  
anon the daughters all in fear  
served god with glad cheer  
And our lady saint Mary also  
night and day they served tho  
over all the land was the usage  
Yf a woman dyde ony outrage  
But yf it were in wedlake  
anon right men should them take  
And thorough right doom without ween  
And quick they should doluen been  
But yf she were a light woman told  
To all them that ever axe wolde  
Tho the fiend that was full of might  
That dwelled above in the light  
In to the earth he came as man  
And went to an old woman  
And byhyght her gold and fe  
To go to the systeryn three  
The eldest daughter for to be chant  
Some young man for to haunt  
And yf she might bring her thereto  
He behyght her gold for ever mo  
This old queen was full glad  
And dyde as the shrew her bad  
And went to her systeryn three  
As sone as she might them se  
And made much sorrow and care  
For the systeryn that is fair  
To the eldest daughter she said  
Alas / alas my fair maid  
Thou hast both fair feet and hand  
And a gentle body by goddes sonde  
With strong might and long arm  
Iwys it were much harm  
But thy body should assay  
With some young man for to play  
That game is both good and sweet  
fair maiden I you behete  
Nay certes said the maiden than  
Yf I now took ony man  
But yf it were in wedding  
And ony wist it old or yinge  
Ony man of this country  
All quick I shall doluen be  
Nay certes said the old queen  
Thou may it done without dene  
rejoicingly in thy bed  
till some man come the to wed  
And therfore daughter doubt the nought  
For it shall never be further brought  
And yf thou do after my rede  
Thou didst never a better dede  
What thorough the queen enchaunsement  
And thorough the fiends entesement  
The eldest daughter that I of say  
let a man with her play  
And when she liked best that game  
It turned her to sorrow and shane  
anon she was forth I draw  
And of that dede she was by know  
And for that work dolue she was  
Many one for her said alas  
yet the fiend in a wyle  
The other sister dyde beguile  
And made her love a young man  
whereof all her sorrow began  
Mannes love she thought sweet anon  
And it was perceived also soon  
Than she was taken and brought in hand  
To her judgment for to grind  
Her opposed the justice tho  
Why she had take on so  
For she had wrought against the lawe  
Her Iustement she must haue  
She answered as she was taught  
And swore that she forsook it nought  
And said that she was a light woman  
And commune for every man  
So she escaped with her life away  
After her dyde sewe all that day  
Of harlots o grete raas  
To foul her body for that case  
Than was the youngest daughter wo  
That nigh her heart braste a two  
For the fiends slew her brother ywys  
And her father dyed amiss  
And her moder hanged herself  
And her sister was by delfe  
And her other sister an hore is  
And accompanied with harlots ywys  
almost for sorrow and for thought  
In wanhope she was brought  
To the hermit she went anon  
That height Blasy an holy man  
And told him all the sooth before  
How that her kindred was forlore  
The hermit had wonder grete  
On goddes name he her bete  
That she should haue god in mind  
And leave the way of the fiend  
And bad her forsake in all wise  
pride hate and couatyse  
And also sloth and envy  
And specially lechery  
And gluttony he bad her fle  
And goddes servant for to be  
He bad her take keep  
That she should not go to sle  
neither by day ne by night  
But that she blessed her a right  
And windows and doors in that tide  
Be barred fast on every side  
And mark thereon with mild woys  
The sign of the holy cross  
And that shall thy warraunte be  
before the father in trinity  
And when he had taught her so  
Home again she went tho  
And served god with heart glad  
And dyde as the hermit her bad  
Than the fiend with grete envy  
Bygyled her with treachery  
And brought her in shane & sorrow I fear  
And I shall you tell in what manner   

IT befell that she verament  
With her neighbours to the ale went  
So long she drank and dyde amiss  
That she was right drunk ywys  
The bore her sister that I of told  
She was stout and swith bold  
And chyded her sister as she were wood  
And called her otherwise than good  
And she was drunk the sooth to say  
And myssayed her fast again  
So long they stryued without lees  
till she start up in rees  
And dyde to her grete outrage  
And bet her in the visage  
She rent her clothes and tare her here  
right as she wolde were  
In to her chamber the escaped tho  
And bar the door between them two  
And cried out and neighbours came  
And as soon the strompet nome  
And drew her away anon  
among the harlots everichone  
when she was so drawn away  
The maiden in her chamberlay  
And was medde and could no good  
But wept all day as she were wood  
And when it was come to night  
Vpon her bed she fell down right  
As she was drunk and glad  
Fell a sleep and waxed mad  
And forget her door vnblyssed ywys  
Wyte ye well she dyde a mys  
Than was the fiend glad and blythe  
And came to her also swith  
Come over all well he might  
To the maiden anon he went  
And wende crystendome to haue shende  
And by her body he lay than  
As it had be a nother man  
With child he made her tho  
And went again there he came fro  
when the maiden was awaked  
She groped & found her flesh all naked  
And as she groped with her hand  
In ivy place anon she fonde  
whereby she wist truly  
That some man had lain hereby  
anon she start up in hast  
And found her door barred fast  
when she found that it was so  
In her heart she was full wo  
And thought it was some wicked thing  
That in sorrow wolde her bring  
She rent her clothes & her here drowe  
She wept and made sorrow enough  
All that night she made grete sorrow  
And went to the hermit on the morrow  
For to tell him how it was  
The hermit said alas alas  
And said it was the fiends encombraunce  
For she had broken her penance  
Good sir she said tho  
What yf it be fallen so  
And a child shall be gete on me  
How should I excused be  
Than shall I be take anon  
And be doluen flesh and bone  
Ye certes said the good man  
live daughter said he than  
And yf I the sooth may se  
That a child be by gotten on thee  
I shall the help withall my might  
till therof I haue a sight  
Now go home daughter mine  
And haue christ in heart thine  
For he may yf his will be  
Out of thy pain bring the  
Home she went with sorry cheer  
And served god with heart good  
And every day after than  
Her womb fast grete began  
when she might it no longer hide  
It was perceived in that tide  
She was take and brought I wys  
before the kings hye justice  
Her judgment to vnderfonde  
As it was the lawe of the land  
The hermit herde than  
That they had take that woman  
And brought her to judgment  
right anon theder they went  
And thought than for all their strife  
That he wolde save her life  
before the justice men dyde her lead  
And b● opposed her of that dede  
And said damosel by my truth  
On thee I haue full grete reuth  
For thou hast thyself shende  
And wrought against the lawe of land  
For thou hast a man take  
That mayst thou not forsake  
Thou hast wrought a wicked dede  
For thou hast served to be dede  
She answered and said nay  
I wrought never against the lay  
By him that dyed vpon the tre  
There lay never man by me  
Not fleshly with felony  
But the fiend had to me grete envy  
The justice answered anon  
damosel thou liest by saint Ihone  
Thy words ben both false and wild  
Men may se thou ghost with child  
In this world was never child bore  
Without gendrynge of man before  
save onely Ihesu that is full of might  
He was born of a maiden bright  
How mayst thou forsake it than  
That thou haddes never parte of man  
when the sooth myself may se  
That a child is bygoten on thee  
ye certes sir she said than  
I go with child without man  
By him that shope this same day  
never yet man by me lay  
Bus as I slept vpon a night  
By me lay a fulsome wight  
But I ne wote what it was  
I must me hold to goddes grace  
The justice without fail  
Herde never such a marvel  
This day there shall no man the delve  
till the haue judged wives twelve  
yf ony child may gete been  
Without help of mannes stream  
And yf they say it may be so  
Thou shalt pass quycte and go  
For yf they say nay  
Thou shalt be dolue this ylke day  
And on twelve wives they dyde her anon  
And they answered everichone  
No child was born of a maid  
But Ihesu alone they said  
Without mannes mone for sooth  
thereto they swore all their oath  
Blasy the hermit start up than  
And to the justice he spake than  
sir justice he said than  
speak with me a word or two  
She hath told me her life euerydele  
And certes I may believe her well  
And ye will her nought  
But by him that all this world hath wrought  
I haue her teched to the lawe  
To me she was never by know  
That ony man with word or dede  
Touched her body with evil rede  
But yet it is found so to day  
That she hath wrought against the lay  
though she hath served to be spylte  
The child in her womb hath no guilt  
And therfore sir by my rede  
Thou shalt not do her yet to dede  
Do her in ward and keep before  
till the time the child be bore  
And than he said god wote  
Another half year she mote  
Keke her child herself  
And afterward ye may her delve  
peradventure he said than  
The child may be a full good man  
Than answered the hye justice  
hermit he said thy words be wise  
After the do now I will  
To day there shall no man her spill  
He commanded his men everichone  
For to lead her in to a tower of ston  
And that no man should with her go  
But a midwife and no mo  
Into a tower men dyde her lead  
Alone without fellows rede  
save onely an old midwife  
That might save the chyldes life  
The tour was so strong and hye  
That no man might come them nigh  
In the window there was made tho  
An hook and a cord teyed thereto  
For to draw up therwith all thing  
fire and water meet and drink  
And when the time of her was come  
She had born a seldom sene sone  
right fair shape he had than  
And all the shape that fell to man  
But black he was without lees  
And rough he was as ony swine  
The midwife anon right  
Was aggreued of that sight  
For he was rough of hide  
And also sone he thought tide  
That he was never bygete of man  
And full fain she wolde than  
In hell that he had he her fro  
That never man hast sene him more  
The good man that height Blasy  
wist full well truelly  
What time the child should be born  
And to the tower he came on the morn  
And called up the wards three  
And asked the midwife of her cheer  
And she answered without lees  
A knaves chide born there was  
fair shape he had and right  
But full unseemly he was of sight  
For all his hide was rughe of here  
such a child saw he never ere  
Now take it me he said than  
I shall make it a christian man  
And whether it die live or abide  
The better chance shall him betide  
Full glad was the midwife  
And took the child also by●ue  
And by a cord let him down  
And blasy gave him his blyssynge  
And bare him home with mild mode  
And baptized him in the ffode  
And called him to his christian name  
Marlyn to height in goddes name  
thorough that name I you tell  
All the fiends that were in hell  
Were agreued full sore therfore  
For their spouse was forlore  
And he was christened so  
Home again he brought him tho  
And on the cord he 'gan him lead  
And the midwife drew him up again  
He bad her without blame  
Call him Marlyn by his name  
when she had done as I you say  
The hermit went home on his way  
The midwife on the morrow right  
Bare him to a fire bright  
And warmed him by the fire tho  
But of him in her heart she was full wo  
And as she warmed him by the fire  
She byhelde him of his foul cheer  
both on foot and eke on hand  
On the back and on the womb  
And on sides and hede for thy  
And all about truly  
Than she said arte thou merlin  
whence arte thou come and of what kin  
Who was thy father by night or by day  
That no man were ne may  
It was grete reuth by heaven king  
That for thy love thou foul thing  
Thy moder shall be slawe with wo  
Alas the stound that it shall be so  
For so god me help and saint johan  
A fouler wight saw I never none  
Certes she said thou arte a foul wight  
Wolde Ihesu full of might  
And his moder with mild steven  
And all the fellowship of heaven  
That thou were in the se  
sith that thy moder might go fre  
And also quick such cheer  
As ony woman far or nere  
And when he herde her speed so  
He breyed us his eyen tho  
And wrothely began to look  
And his hede on her he shoke  
With eyen grym as I you say  
about hye none of the day  
He began to cry with grete dene  
And said thou liest thou old queen  
For nought that thou can tell  
neither by day ne by day  
For ought that ony man can say  
neither by north ne by south  
neither for man friend ne couthe  
while that I may speak and gone  
Maugre them everichone  
I shall save her life ywys  
That thou shalt here and se ywys  
when the midwife herde that  
almost she fell down there she sate  
And 'gan to quake as she were wood  
And had lever than ony good  
That she had be far away  
And so had his moder there she lay  
So sore they were of him aghast  
That they began to bliss them fast  
And conjured him in goddes name  
That he should do them no worldly shane  
And fast on him they 'gan to cry  
The name of god and of Marye  
He should tell them what he were  
And what adventure brought him there  
With full much wo and care  
And afterward half a year  
As she held him by the fire  
To him she spake with mornnynge cheer  
And ruefully she 'gan to weep  
And said alas my sone sweet  
For thy love without ween  
All quick I shall doluen been  
And answered and said nay  
Dame ye lie by this day  
There is no man ne no justice  
Shall deme you to the death in no wise  
In earth thy body for to reke  
The whiles that I may go or speak  
Tho waxed his moder a glad waman  
every day after than  
She gladded her heart with his tale  
And learned tho meruely fare  
when they could speak and gone  
The justice said to him anon  
And dyde commauunde his men than  
To bring tofore him that woman  
For to receive her judgment  
And she was come in present  
The justice forgot it nought  
That egrely he said his thought  
He said anon by heaven queen  
All quick she should doluen been  
And she answered neither good ne harm  
But held child Marlyn in her arm  
That was but two year old  
He answered words bold  
And said to him with eyger mode  
sir justice he said thou canst no good  
For to deme my moder to death  
That thou ne wist by her queth  
save a chance that her befell  
And therfore thou didst not well  
For every man may wete by than  
again shane may no man  
For thorough shane and thorough grace  
In to this land brought I was  
And I was thorough chance bygete  
every man may well wete  
That my moder ought nought  
For my love to death be brought  
Grete wonder had both old and young  
Of that young chyldes answering  
And tho the Iuge waxed well wroth  
And by god he swore his oath  
That quick she should doluen be  
Than said merlin so mote I the  
Thou shalt never bring her thereto  
For ought that ever thou canst do  
For it shall not go as thou wilt  
For she hath therof no guilt  
And that I shall preue with good will  
Maugre all tho that will her spill  
My father that bygate me  
Is a fiend of grete pooste  
And dwelleth in the eyre above the light  
And tempteth folk both day and night  
Therfore to my moder he went  
And thought all crystendome to haue shent  
And by gate me without losing  
That she wist therof no thing  
And she knew not what it was  
forsooth I will preue her guiltless  
That all the fiends wende thorough me  
For to haue destroyed crystente  
They wende of me to haue a wicked food  
But god hath turned me to good  
And now I am at goddes sonde  
For to help all this land  
For thorough my father he said than  
I things tell I can  
That never was and now is  
I can tell it now ywys  
And all things that shall come  
I can tell all and some  
Therfore wyte thou well ywys  
She was my moder and now is  
But thou ne wist by saint johan  
Who was thy father than  
Therfore I will prove moder thine  
Is better worthy to be doluen than mine   

NOw hearken all to this strife  
How Marlyn saved his moders life  
Grete wonder had many a man  
How the child to speak began  
Tho the justice was full wo  
And to Marlyn he spake tho  
He said thou liest thou foul congon  
My father was a bold baron  
And my moder a lady fre  
She is on live thou mayst her se  
For I ween by our lady  
That she dyde never such a velony  
sir said Marlyn hold thy mouth  
Or I shall make it wide I couthe  
let some man after her gone  
And I myself shall anon  
Make her to by know  
sir justice before the  
The justice before them all  
let after his moder call  
And said to Marlyn thou belaymye  
Be so bold or so hardy  
To speak the word that thou began  
That thou least by that woman  
Marlyn answered and said justice  
Iwys thy words be not wise  
For yf I tell the folkes all before  
How thou were bygote and bore  
Than should it spring abroad  
Than hast thou lost thy maydenhode  
And thy moder shall doluen be  
And all is for the love of the  
Than the justice vnderstonde  
That Marlyn could much good  
And brought him in to a chamber than  
themself .iiii. and none other than  
Than said the justice to Marlyn  
now Marlyn child for crystes pine  
Tell me the sooth I pray the  
What man it was that bygate me  
sir he said by saint simon  
It was the person of the twone  
He bygate the by saint Iame  
Vpon this lady this your dame  
The lady said thou foul thing  
Iwys thou liest a strong losing  
His father was a bold baron  
And a man of grete renown  
And thou arte a mysbygote wretch  
I pray to god the devil the fetch  
For it were right and lands lawe  
That thou were hung and draw  
Or in a wild fire for to be brent  
For with wrong thou hast me shent  
Dame he said hold the still  
For it were right and skill  
That thou wouldest quick doluen been  
I wote right well without ween  
And yf thou wilt it forsake  
A taint anon I shall the take  
Sythe thou were in this world brought  
All the work that thou hast wrought  
I can tell the every word  
Better than thou by our lord  
Dame he said yf thou hast forget  
How thy sone was bygete  
I shall tell the all the case  
How that he bygoten was  
Yf thou wilt forsake it than  
I will tell all that I can  
That thou shall be a shamed sore  
Thou were better speak no more  
The lady was sore dismayed  
And Marlyn forth his tale said  
Dame he said verament  
when thy lord was to the cardinal sent  
And home he came by night and not by day  
The person in thy bed lay  
To thy chamber door thy lord 'gan go  
Thou stertest up and was full wo  
when he dyde at the door knock  
Thou stertest up in thy smock  
Thou were afeard in that tide  
And didst open a window wide  
The person thou away let  
And to a door thou 'gan leap  
Dame said Marlyn that same night  
He bygote thy sone that is knight  
Dame said he lie I nought  
Nay by him that me dere bought  
Than was the justice wroth and wo  
And to his moder he said tho  
Moder he said how goeth this  
Sone she said all a mys  
though thou wouldest hang me with a cord  
The chide lieth every word  
The justice for shane waxed all rede  
And on his moder he shoke his hede  
And bad her soon wende home  
unknown that she there come  
Tho said Marlyn in preuyte  
justice hearken now to me  
Thy moder shall now go home  
send after her a groom  
That rejoicingly can her espy  
For to the person she will hye  
And forsooth she will him say  
How that I dyde her bywray  
when the person heareth of this  
anon for sorrow and shane ywys  
To a bridge will he fle  
And look that no man him se  
And in to the water skyppe he will  
And so he will himself spill  
And but it be as I the say  
Do me hang this same day  
The justice without fail  
Dyde by Marlyns counsel  
And send after a spy bold  
And found all as Marlyn told  
Than the justice sate and low  
him thought the child wise I now  
And there fore Marlyns sake  
him and his moder he let take  
And all quite let them go fre  
before the folk of that country  
And said he wolde never after than  
Iuge to death no woman  
Now let we be all this strife  
Thus saved Marlyn his moders life  
For saint Thomas of caunterbury  
give us drink and make us merry  
Tho Marlyn was five year old  
Of deeds he was sone bold  
His moder he dyde anon make  
A grey habit for to take  
And ever after verament  
She served god omnypotent   

NOw late we his moder be  
And to our tale turn we  
And tell we of the messengeres  
That went fro sir Vortygeres  
For to seek Marlyn the bold  
For to haue his blood as I of told  
So there befell such a case  
That they came there as Marlyn was  
On playnge there he dyde go  
And with him went children mo  
And as he played in that stede  
One of the children he mysdede  
They chydde and cried on him tho  
Thou foul shrew go fro us go  
For thou arte a foul thing bygote amiss  
There wote no man who thy father is  
But some fiend bygote thee I ween  
For to do us sorrow and tene  
The messengers road fast by  
And herde the children on marlyn cry  
And anon eachone they thought  
It was the child that they sought  
And took them to rede anon  
That they wolde him slone  
each of them their swords out drowe  
And marlyn beheld them and low  
children he said ye wolde haue me fro you  
Haue good day I go now  
Here come the kings messengeres  
That hath me sought far and neres  
For to haue my heart blood  
right now they thought in their mode  
For to sle me this same day  
But by my truth yf I may  
Or that they parte fro me  
right good friends shall we be  
Marlyn anon to them ran  
And great them as he well can  
And said welcome messengers  
That come fro sir Vortygers  
Lo I am here that ye haue sought  
Me to sle is your thought  
For to bear the king my blood  
That never should do him good  
For he that told him that tydynge  
On me lieth a foul losing  
He said my blood with grete wrong  
should make his work likewise and strong  
Though his work therwith were wet  
It should stand eneuer the bet  
The messengers had eachone  
And spake to marlyn anon  
How canst thou know such preuyte  
Tell us sooth we pray the  
Yes said marlyn I wote well  
The kings council euerydele  
And what is your purpose for to do  
And other adventures many mo  
Therfore should ye me not slow  
But to court I will with you go  
I will save you fro the dede  
hardly vpon my hede  
And before the king yplyght  
I shall tell the sooth a right  
Why that his castle will not grind  
And afterward I shall fonde  
To make the clerkes false eachone  
That hath deemed me to be slone  
Tho said the messengers rather  
To sle the it were grete scathe  
For thy words be good and hende  
To court with us thou shalt wende  
Tell us what is thy name  
And what woman is thy dame  
That we may haue very tokening  
To answer at home before our king  
Marlyn lead them forth a grete place  
till he came there his moder was  
And he them told his moder before  
All how he was bygote and bore  
And thorough his wisdom and his rede  
He saved her fro the dede  
The messengers that I of tell  
That same night he made them to dwell  
On the morrow when it was day  
They took they leave and went their way  
And set Marlyn in that tide  
Vpon an horse by their side  
And went forth all I fear  
toward king Vortygere  
They came to a town as I you say  
right vpon a market day  
So that Marlyn as I you say  
saw a man shone bye  
A grete lawghter up he nome  
The messengeres to him come  
And full fair asked him tho  
Why he loughe fast so  
He answered and said se ye nought  
Yonder a man that shone hath bought  
And strong leader them to clout  
And grees to grese them all about  
He weeneth to live and them to tere  
But by my trouth I dare well swear  
His wretched life shall be lore  
Or he hath gone a mile or more  
The messengers that same tide  
After a man they 'gan ride  
And or they had a forlonge gone  
They found him dede as ony ston  
In that town they bided all night  
On the morrow when it was light  
They dressed their horse & made them yare  
And on their way they 'gan to fare  
And as they road in their journey  
thorough a town of that country  
They came by a church yard  
And met a corps that should be buried  
Many a man therwith 'gan gone  
Marlyn beheld them everichone  
And his bridle he withdrowe  
And a grete laughter he low  
The messengers road him to  
And asked him why he loughe so  
So loud and so wonder shyll  
Than said Marlyn by goddes will  
yf ye wist what it were  
Ye wolde laugh also smere  
among these folk he said than  
I se yonder a sorry man  
That for sorrow doth weep  
That for Ioy ought to kyp and leap  
Another I se among them sing  
That ought for to sorrow his hands to wring  
I shall tell you why  
That ye shall haue good rybaudrye  
The corps is dede he said and cold  
which was a knaves child of .x. year old  
The same priest he said tho  
That goeth before and singeth so  
He it was that him bygat  
sorry he may be for that  
He ought to wring his hands sore  
And for his sins care the more  
And he singeth and maketh bliss  
As it had never be his  
And se the sorry husband  
He weheth and wryngeth his hand  
He ought not his hands to wring  
He ought to skyppe and sing  
For he is more than a fool  
That for his enemy maketh dole  
For he was the same food  
That should never haue done him good  
All the messengers road anon  
To the chyldes moder anon  
And Marlyn within a little throw  
Made her all for to by know  
Where thorough she could not say nay  
And prayed them her not to bywray  
Tho were the messengers blythe  
And on their way they road swith  
And as the road on their way  
It byfell on the thyrde day  
when it was at hye prime  
Marlyn lought the thyrde time  
The messengers asked him there  
Why he made so laughing cheer  
Marlyn answered them ywys  
Though I laugh no wonder it is  
sith the time that ye werebore  
Herde ye never such a me fruayle byore  
I shall tell you without oath  
That ye shall finde truly sooth  
Now hearken both young and old  
What was the marvel that marlyn told  
Than said Marlyn listen now  
I shall tell you why I low  
This day he said by my treuthe  
In the kings court is grete reuthe  
Of the kings chamberlayne  
All thorough the queen the sooth to say  
She hath made a losing strong  
Men do her to death with wrong  
The chamberlayne is a woman  
And goeth in clothes as a man  
And for she is fair & bright of hew  
The false queen that is vntrewe  
She thought well that she was a man  
And thought anon she began  
To haue her to herlemman derne  
The chamberlayne 'gan her warn  
needs she must that game forsake  
For she might her to leman take  
Ne she might make her no comfort  
For her takyll was so short  
And there the queen was a foul  
For had she wist of her toll  
How short it was wrought  
She wolde haue desired her nought  
when the queen her 'gan yerne  
The chamberlayne her 'gan werne  
The queen 'gan her dysmay  
And thought she wolde her bywray  
And knew well she wolde her shende  
And to her lord she 'gan wende  
And complained to the king  
And made on her a grete losing  
And said that his chamberlayne  
With strength wolde her haue forlayne  
And swore she wolde never glad be  
till he were hanged on a tre  
That were to death brought  
The king fast she bysought  
Than was the king wonder wroth  
And eygrely he swore his oath  
That she wolde be draw and hung  
But certes it were all with wrong  
To sle a woman for a man  
though she had mannes chothes on  
Therfore I pray you for the love of me  
For goddes love and saint charity  
Go to the king blyue  
Also fast as ye may drive  
And say unto the king  
The queen hath made a strong losing  
Vpon his chamberlayne with wrake  
Therfore bed him that he do her take  
And look all about than  
He shall her finde for a woman  
A knight there was stout and fre  
He wart vpon a good destre  
That he made no letting  
till he came before the king  
And when he came in to the hall  
down on knees he 'gan fall  
And said to king Vortyger  
God the save and thy power  
Many a country we haue went  
On thy message as thou us sent  
To seek a child selcouth monde  
Thanked be god we haue him found  
That child is five winter old  
But ye saw never none so bold  
wise he is by crystes pine  
And he height child merlyne  
He can tell all thing  
That ever was without losing  
And all thynhe that now is  
He can tell now Iwys  
Also he can tell right well  
What destroyeth your castle  
That it may not stand on the plain  
And also of thy chamberlayne  
That thou hast thought to draw & hung  
For certes it were all with wrong  
To sle a woman for a man  
though she haue mannes clothes on  
Therfore he send the say  
Take anon thy chamberlayne  
And of her bonds her unbind  
And a woman thou shalt her finde  
But yf it be so with all lawe  
Do her to hang and to draw  
king Vortyger a wondered was  
And all that herde of that case  
He dyde command before them all  
To bring his chamberlayne in to the hall  
She was searched in that stound  
For a woman they her found  
Full wroth was king Vortyger  
And asked of that messenger  
who told him that she was a woman  
forsooth he said than  
child merlin 'gan us say  
As we road by the way  
For he can tell and lie nought.  
Of all that ever was wrought.  
Tho spake vortyger the blood  
If that it be so as thou hast told  
I shall give the land and thorough  
And make you all rich enough  
He dyde command anon right  
Duke / earl / baron / and knight  
To dress them and make them yare  
with him against merlin for to fare  
The king wolde no longer abide  
But wart vpon his horse that tide  
And pryked forth out of the town  
And with him many a bold barowne  
To speak with merlin the young  
So glad he was of his coming  
when it was against the night  
The king with merlin met right  
And when the king merlin met  
Hendly he him grette  
And the king welcomed the child  
with fair words and with mild  
Home to court together they went  
with full grete joy verament  
And were well at ease that night  
On the morrow when it was day light  
To the place they went bydene  
That merlin should the castle sene  
The king said to merlin than  
Tell my child yf thou can  
Why my castle in a stound  
Is every night fall to the gronde  
And why it might stand nought  
That of strong work is wrought  
Tho merlin answered the king  
sir thou shalt se a wonder thing  
Here in the gronde two yerdes deep  
There is a water huge and grete  
An under the water be stones two  
much and fair and broad also  
under the stones and under the mould  
There lie two dragnos fold  
That one is white as milk reme  
That other is rede as fierce leme  
foul they be of sight both  
And they together alway wroth  
And every time when it is night  
Herde they 'gan together fight  
And thorough strength of their blast  
All the work is over cast  
And yf the dragons were away  
Thy work might stand night & day  
And make thy work all at thy will  
For to stand both stark and still  
Do now look thou shalt se  
right as I tell the  
sir Vortyger commanded anon  
That his werkemen everichone  
five thousand and .l. mo  
He bad them look yf it were so  
Bynethe water in the ground  
Two grete stones there they found  
Many a man was redy there  
The grete stones up to rear  
when the stones were up drawn  
Two dragons there they sawen  
With their long tail double fold  
They found all as Marlyn told  
That one was rede as fire  
With two eyen as a basin clear  
paws he had grete and long  
fire of out of his mouth sprung  
His tail was grete and no thing small  
And his body boystous withall  
His blast might no man tell  
He fared like the fiend of hell  
The strong dragon that lay by him  
Of him was a foul sight and grym  
With grete paws and sharp hokes  
With grete tusks and sharp crokes  
With throat and mouth much wide  
The blast of his mouth in that tide  
All glowynge was his oude  
His tongue brent as a fire brand  
His tail was ragged as a fiend  
And vpon his tails end  
Was shape a grysely hede  
For to fight with the rede  
Marlyn said sooth I plight  
They be both grysly of sight  
when they dyde both arise  
Many men they made a gryse  
The dradon rose out of her den  
Therof dread many men  
All that were there in that tide  
Ne longer durst they there abide  
when the dragons came to heap  
each man dyde on other leap  
And some for dread fell on sowughe  
And Marlyn stood still and lowghe  
The rede dragon and the white  
Herde together 'gan they smite  
With mouth and paws and with tail  
between them was strong battle  
That all the earth 'gan dynte tho  
A lothely weather waxed tho  
A strong fire they kyst anon  
That all the place therof shone  
And spercles about also bright  
As ony fire of thunder light  
And so they fought the sooth to say  
All the long somers day  
That they ne stint of fygtynge  
till evensong bell began to ring  
And in that time as I you tell  
The rede dragon waxed so fell  
That he drove the white dragon  
Out of the place a grete feron  
till they came in to a valaye  
And there they rystyd both two  
The mountenaunce of so long while  
That a man might go a mile  
There the white conqueryd his might  
And vexed all strong for to fight  
And eagerly wythouten fail  
The rede dragon he 'gan assail  
And drove the rede dragon again  
till they came vpon the plain  
And the white anon right  
Caught the rede with strength and might  
And to the ground he him cast  
And with the fire of his blast  
And all to powder he brent the rede  
That never was fonde of him a glede  
But dust on the ground lay  
when he had so do he flew a way  
That never sith herde man  
Where the white dragon went than  
Tho said merlin the young  
To them all before the king  
And said to them words bold  
now sir the tale that I you told  
It is sooth as thou mayst se  
Therfore sir I pray the  
The clerkes do before me bring  
That made on me such a losing  
I shall them ask the before  
Why they wolde me haue forlore  
Than answered Vortyger  
And granted him without danger  
anon he commanded his men  
To bring forth the clerkes then  
when they came before Marlyn  
He opposed them of new latin  
whereby they knew and understood  
That Marlyn could much good  
Marlyn asked them in hast  
Why they dyde lie on him so fast  
That thorough the virtue of his blood  
The kings work strong and good  
The clerkes answered the child  
With fair words and with mild  
And said to him sekerly  
under the welken we saw a sky  
That shewed us all thy hegete  
How thou were mirth late  
And thorough thy blood the kings castle  
should grind fair and well  
And so we wende verament  
Do with us now thy talent  
How said Marlyn tho  
He was a shrew that taught you so  
The sky that shewed you that  
Was my father that me bygat  
For I served him never at will  
Therfore he wolde my blood spill  
For he hath beguiled you  
king Vortyger I pray the now  
grant them life for to live  
And all mine anger I them forgive  
The king them granted also swith  
Tho were the clerkes glad and blythe  
The king went to his ynne  
And with him went child merlin  
merlin was with vortyger  
To his council all that year /  
thorough his council and his rede  
His castle was strong made in dede  
when his castle was ywrought  
Erles and barons him bysought  
That he should wyte of Marlyn tho  
Why the dragons fought so  
It was some tokening they said all  
Of some things that should fall  
Marlyn was brought before the king  
And he asked him without losing  
what the tokening might been  
The fyghtynges of the dragons twene  
Marlyn stood and made daungere  
And tho spake sir Vortygere  
And said Marlyn but thou me tell  
anon right I shall the quell  
Than answered Marlyn I plight  
With grete anger anon right  
And said sir without oath  
That word shall never be sooth  
Though thou take thy sword in hand  
Me to slow or drive out of land  
Thou shalt fail of thy fare  
Though that thou it swear  
For I warn the well Vortyger  
I give right nought of thy danger  
But thou wilt finde me a borrow  
That thou shalt never do me sorrow  
I shall tell the and not lie  
What the dragons syngnyfye  
But thou wilt so by our lord  
I will the tell never one word  
All the lords and the king  
Had grete wonder of that warning  
Two barons the king fonde  
Good erles of the land  
soon they swore vpon a book  
That they should no harm him look  
yf he wolde tell without ween  
What that tokening might been  
Tho spake Marlyn to the king  
hearken now to my talking  
The rede dragon that was so foul of sight  
Betokeneth thyself and thy might  
And also thorough thy false procurynge  
Moyne was slain the young king  
The rede dragon made the white fle  
far down in the valee  
Bytokeneth the eyres that thou madest fle  
With wrong out of their country  
All the folk that with them held  
both in town and in field  
And dyde them much sorrow  
both on even and on morrow  
The white dragon signify  
That the right eyres haue envy  
To thee that holdest all their land  
With wrong in to thy hand  
The white dragon as I you say  
recovered his strength in the valay  
And drove the rede again  
till he came in to the plain  
And to the ground he him cast  
And brent him there with his blast  
That bytokeneth the eyres so young  
which haue scour fonde  
And redy with many a knight  
again the to hold fight  
And come in to Englonde  
For to drive the to shane and shonde  
Into a castle they will the drive  
both thy children and thy wyue  
And all that ever be with the then  
In to the ground they will them brenne  
The reeds tail that was so long  
Betokeneth war strong  
which shall come after then  
Of thine own wives kin  
And the heathen king angys  
He shall be slain and lese the covetise  
His kindred and thine also  
Shall do Englonde much wo  
The hede of the whytes tail  
Bekoneth without fail  
That eyres both true and good  
Shall destroy all the blood  
And certes sir that is the tokening  
Of the dragons strong fighting  
That I the tell without oath  
Thou shalt finde it syker sooth  
still stood sir Vortyger  
And boat his lip with sorry cheer  
And said to Marlyn anon  
Thou must me tell by saint johan  
How I may best save my life  
And my children and my wife  
Marlyn stood tho full still  
And answered him with words ill  
And said sir without ween  
Thus it must needs been  
king Vortyger 'gan wax wroth  
And by god he swore his oath  
But he wolde tell him some rede  
anon he wolde do him to dede  
And start up & wolde him haue caught  
But of him was found right nought  
So lightly he was a way  
That in all the court that day  
Hye ne low sawayne ne groom  
wist where Marlyn was bycome  
when he was escaped so  
king Vortyger was full wo  
And in his heart he had care  
And so had all that with him ware  
And sought him over all bydene  
But they might him not sene  
Marlyn went hastily  
To the hermit Blasy  
And told him without losing  
How he had served the king  
And told him without wrong  
The fighting of the dragons strong  
Of the rede and of the white  
A grete book he dyde write  
And said that the rede dragon  
Betokeneth grete dystruccyon  
thorough Vortygers kin ywys  
And thorough the heathen king angys  
And thorough their king without ween  
In Englonde shall it been  
strong war and battle kene  
And many a man shall slain been  
For as Marlyn told and said  
In scripture he it laid  
Of all the adventures I vnderstonde  
That should be fall in Englonde  
But dark it is and wonder thing  
That Marlyn made in his showing  
But few men without ween  
could vnderstonde what it might been  
And for it was so dark wrought  
Of that scripture I tell nought  
But yf ye a stound dwell  
Of other adventures I will you tell  
Of the young children two  
Vther and pendragon also  
I tell you as I vnderstonde  
How they fled out of Englonde  
In to gascoigne they were led  
And with their friends fastered & fed  
when they were waxed of age  
For to win thyn erytage  
Therfore I will you say  
How they came to land again  
With grete strength and grete power  
And how they drove sir Vortyger  
unto his castle thick and strong  
For his treason and for his wrong  
And how they brent him flesh & bone  
And how they dyde king angys slone  
I shall tell you in what manner  
hearken now and ye may here   

merry time it is in may.  
Than springeth the long somers day  
In grenewode fowls singing  
And in medes grass spryngynge  
And in churches clerkes redynge  
And damoyselles caroules ledynge  
In that time as ye may here  
Two barons came Vortygere  
And said to him my lord the king  
We haue brought the hard tydynge  
Of Pendragon that is thy fo  
And of his brother Vther also  
That is come in to this land  
With many doughty man of hand  
With helm on hede and banner bright  
Full strong they be and fresh to fight  
And swear they will stint nought  
till thou be to ground brought  
T●ey will no longer abide  
night and day they do ride  
And an wynchester they be almost  
Therfore send about with grete boast  
To all their friends both far and nere  
For to help thee with their powere  
against thy foemen for to speed  
For thou haddes never more need  
Vo start sir Vortygere  
And called anon his messenger  
And to wynchester he sent in hast  
And commanded the burgess everichone  
That they should all be bowne  
against Vther and Pendragon  
And shut the gates with so queynt gyn  
That that they come not therein  
And I will come permafay  
To help them all that I may  
And messengers he sent ywys  
To the heathen king angys  
And bad him come without dwelling  
With all the folk that he might bring  
For to help him against his fone  
In land that wait him to slone  
anon he sent his sonde  
over all about in Englonde  
To duke / earl / baron / and knight  
To come to him anon right  
To help him in that tide  
In field his foemen to abide  
when king angys thither dyde come  
And his folk all and some  
Duke / earl / baron / and knight  
Armed redy for to fight  
They wart to horse soon anon  
And to wynchester they pricked eachone  
Yet or they might come thore  
Vther / and Pendragon was before  
And were come wynchester nigh  
And soon rered their banner on hye  
With so grete people without the town  
That they overspread both dale & down  
The burgess that in the twone were  
looked out on that banere  
Full fast thereon they 'gan to behold  
And saw a lybberde of rede gold  
That richly was dressed thereon  
That was their faders there before  
That banner anon they knew  
And soon anon they 'gan rue  
The death of good constantine the king  
And of Moyne that was slain so young  
And said that Vortyger with wrong  
Had be their king to long  
He was a cursed lym and lieth  
And all that ever held him with  
The burgess swore together eachone  
Though they should be hanged anon  
They wolde lore in to the town  
both Vther and Pendragon  
And seize in to their hand  
For they were right eyres of the land  
They set open the gates wide  
And Pendragon they let in ride  
And his brother also  
And all that came with him tho  
The burgess were glad and blythe  
And therfore also swith  
They yield to him town and tour  
And dyde him grete honour  
That ever wynchester after than  
Grete freedom him wan  
when that Vortyger the fell  
Of that tidings herde tell  
How Vther and Pendragowne  
Were late in to the town  
For anger waxed wode nigh  
And said that they should aby  
And superadd his host right fast  
To wynchester in all hast  
when Vther wist and Pendragon  
That Vortyger was thither come  
He commanded all his men than  
To horse and arms every man  
And opened the gates wide  
out of the gates they 'gan ride  
when they came out of the town  
up they rered a gonfawcowne  
And dressed them without fail  
To give their enemies battle  
And the Enlysshe folk I fear  
That were with king Vortygere  
when they might that banner se  
That the kings might be  
With Vortyger was many a knight  
That knew that banner anon right  
Well a thousand and mo were  
That served their father before  
And wist well and understood  
That they were of the right blood  
And turned their thought anon  
against Vortyger everichone  
And said thou false traitor  
Thou shalt aby by our saviour  
For thou hast be king with wrong  
Thou shalt be draw and hung  
For grete anger anon right  
With glayues and with swords bright  
They wolde haue slain Vortyger  
But all to little was their power  
For ever against one of tho  
He had an hundred and well mo  
Of wight men and strong  
With glayues and swords long  
That were come all together  
For to fight they came thither  
king Vortyger and king angys  
For wreche were nigh wood ywys  
And commanded all their rout  
To beset the knights all about  
And swore there should escape none  
Of knights that dyde against them gone  
spears they broke and swords they drew  
Many a knight there they slew  
But the knights were full wight  
And went against them for to fight  
Herde they 'gan against them hew  
But alas there were to few  
through that meeting and that strife  
Well half an hundred lost their life  
There came a baron that was gente  
That said they should all be shent  
He pricked his stede a grete randon  
till he came to Vther and Pendragon  
And said right heirs of this land  
To my tale ye vnderstonde  
Many a knight and baron fre  
For love of thy broder and the  
With good will they be to you I went  
And therfore they be foul shent  
king Vortyger and king angys  
With many a saracen of prys  
Haue shent them in a stound  
Horse and man laid to ground  
now be they shent for the love of the  
help them now for charity  
It was no need to bide them ride  
His folk spread on every side  
when they were together met  
stroke there were well set  
There was soon verament  
given many sore dynt  
Many a sarasyns hede anon  
flew fro the neck bone  
A grete number in that tide  
Were slain on every side  
But Vortyger without fail  
Was overcome in that battle  
both he and all his  
And so was king angys  
They were all drive so nigh  
That he and all his host dyde fly  
In to his castle strong and merry  
Vpon the pain of salysbury  
king angys fled as he were wood  
In to a castle strong and good  
That was wrought of lime and ston  
Better in the land was none  
The name of that castle  
Is called Tyntagell  
now let we king angys there  
And tell we forth of Vortyger  
Pendragon and sir Vther  
pricked after Vortyger  
when they to the castle come  
wild fire anon they nome  
And cast it over the wall anon  
And also sone as it was within  
It 'gan to brenne as a fire brand  
That no man might it withstand  
till Vortyger was brent child & wife  
And all that were within on life  
Beest and man with lime and lead  
burned down without rede  
That no thing of them was found  
But dust that lay on the ground  
when Vortyger was so brent  
Vther and pendragon together went  
For to seek king Angys  
There he lay on his castle of prys  
thither he was flown for doubt  
And Pendragon with all his rout  
Bysette him night and day  
That no man may scape away  
But king angys in his castle  
Was stored very well  
So well the castle was wrought  
That no man it win might  
five barons with Vther were  
That had ben with Vortygere  
And told Vther & Pendragon before  
How Marlyn was bygote and bore  
And how he could tell all thing  
That ever was without le sing  
And all thing that shall been  
He can tell without ween  
And vortyger a wonder thing  
Of two dragons that lay fold  
And how he should I brent be  
thorough thy broder and thorough the  
How the king wolde him haue nome  
But he ne wist where he was bycome  
And said sir verament  
And yf he were now present  
thorough his council thou wouldest anon  
king angys overcome and slone  
Pendragon was a wondered tho  
And Vther his brother also  
And sent anon knights five  
For to seek Marlyn blyue  
And yf they finde the child  
Pray him with words mild  
For to speak with pendragon  
And Vther in their pavilion  
Them to wish and to rede  
And them to help in their need  
For to win that strong hold  
And he should haue that he wolde  
now be these messengers went  
To seek Marlyn with good intents  
wide and side they him sought  
But they found him eight  
So on a day the messengeres  
As they sat at their dyneres  
In a town of the west country  
With meet and drink grete plenty  
An old churl there came ynne  
With long heres on his chin  
A staff in his hand he had  
And shone on his feet full bad  
He began to cough and groan thore  
And laid he was an hongred sore  
And bad them on the bench above  
give him some meet for goddes love  
They him answered without losing  
He should neither haue meet ne other thing  
They swore by him that Iudas sold  
He was a stout churl and a bold  
And might travail for his meet  
Yf he with truth wolde it gete  
They called him fayter everichone  
And bad him truss fast and gone  
And swore by the truth that god him gaffe  
He should haue of his own staff  
three stroses well I set  
But he hied him out the bet  
Than answeeed the old man  
fellows he said no churl I am  
I am an old man of this world  
And many wonders I haue herde  
And ye but wretches of young blood  
And know all but little good  
And yf ye could as ye ne can  
Ye wolde scorn none old man  
As ye go in your princes need  
For old men might you rede  
For to finde Marlyn the child  
your prince was both good & wild  
To send men that done out rage  
For to wende on his message  
For Marlyn is of such manner  
Though he stood before you here  
And spake to you as I do  
ye should him know never the mo  
Thryes to day ye haue him met  
And yet ye know him never the bet  
Therfore go home by my rede  
To finde him shall ye not speed  
bid your prince take barons five  
And go seek Marlyn blyue  
And that Marlyn shall them abide  
On hye by the foreste side  
And when he had told this  
He went away anon ywys  
There was none of them tho  
That wist where he was go  
The messengers were wondered all  
And after him they can to call  
And over all they 'gan him seek  
But of him herde they no speech  
For in gest as it is told  
The churl that was there so bold  
That rebuked the messageres  
As they sat at their dyners  
It was child Marlyn the young  
That made of them his scornynge  
The messengers went home anon  
And told Vther and Pendragon  
How a churl had them told  
And them scorned with word bold  
And said how Marlyn the child  
Was up in the foreste wild  
And bad them take barons five  
For to seek merlin blyue  
And said Marlyn wolde abide  
On hye under the foreste side  
Pendragon had wonder tho  
And Vther his brother also  
And will and talent fine  
For to speak with child Marlyn  
He bad Vther his broth gente  
To their siege take their intent  
That king angys scape not away  
neither by night ne by day  
till they were on him a wreak  
And he wolde go with Marlyn to speak  
Pendragon took barons five  
And went forth also blyue  
For to speak with Marlyn the child  
That was in the forest wild  
when pendragon was out I went  
Marlyn anon to Vther went  
To him he went anon  
For to warn him of his fone  
As it were a stout garson  
He came in to his pavilion  
And said Vther listen to me  
Of thy harm I warn thee  
I am christian the sooth to say  
Therfore I warn the to day  
That the byhete king angys  
With many a saracen of price  
Shall come to the this same night  
With many a man well ydyght  
In thy first sleep anon  
He will wait the to slone  
For well wote without fail  
All the kings counceyle  
But of him haue ye no doubt  
Do warn thine host all about  
That they ben armed very wele  
both in iron and in steel  
And gather together all thyn host  
And hold you still without boast  
till he be among you come  
For he will be the foremost of that from  
That on thy pavilion will renne  
And look that thou be redy then  
And hard on him that thou smite  
And look of thy sword will bite  
For thou shalt him sle with thy hand  
And win the price of this land  
when he had told all this case  
No man wist where he was  
Vther had grete wonder the  
For he was escaped so  
And in his heart 'gan vnderstonde  
That it was through goddes sonde  
And had him warned of his fone  
For he was lightly gone  
when it was within the night  
king angys anon right  
Dyde arm his men all pressed  
three thousand of the beste  
And said how a spy him told  
How Pendragon the prince bold  
In to the court was I fare  
And Vther was left there  
Therfore he said with grete heat  
On him he wolde be a wreak  
And swore by his god mahon  
He wolde him sle in his pavilion  
And when he hath Vther slain  
In to his castle he wolde again  
when they were redy dight  
king angys anon right  
Out of his castle he 'gan ride  
And three thousand by his side  
And pricked forth with grete boast  
till he came to Vthers host  
when he came there right  
There Vther his pavilion pight  
king angys was full fellow  
And 'gan hew on his pavilion  
And thought to haue slain him therein  
But he was beguiled through Marlyn  
For marlyn had on the morn  
Warned Vther there byforne  
How king angys had I thought  
Therfore in his pavilion was he nought  
But Vther was redy there out  
With many men strong and stout  
And Vther was a strong man  
To king angys anon he ran  
And gave him such a stroke  
That he flew tail over top  
And took him by the hede anon  
And smote it fro the neck bone  
when the sarasyns that dyde see  
Sone anon they 'gan flee  
In to the castle all bide ne  
And let their lord without been  
But or they might come home again  
five hundred of them were slain  
Of the strongest that there wore  
That came with their king before  
Now let we be of all this reason  
And turn we again to Pendragon  
That was gone to the foreste side  
To speak with Marlyn in that tide  
The first time that he saw marlyn  
He was an herde and kept swine  
With an old hat on his hede  
And in a sack he was I weed  
strong he seemed and well made  
The prince anon to him road  
And well fair he dyde him frayne  
Yf he could ought of marlyn say  
Or tell him ony thing  
Where was his most dwelling  
Ye sir he said by saint Rychere  
right now marlyn was here  
Had ye come or ye dyde  
ye had him found in this stede  
And yf ye could marlyn know  
He is not yet far go  
And therfore ride on thy way  
Also fast as thou may  
And on thy right hand full rather  
Thou shalt finde a little path  
That thorough that foreste lyethe  
In that way ride forth swith  
whereby without ween  
There shalt thou marlyn sene  
Than was the prince glad  
And road forth as he him bad  
As the herde him said he fonde  
A path on his right hand  
They turned them everichone  
In that way they road anon  
when they had riden in that way  
almost a mile of that country  
With Marlyn met they often than  
As it were a stout chapman  
With a ferdell on his back  
And to the prince fair he spake  
The prince him answered there  
And asked him by his chaffere  
yf he met ought with Marlyn  
ye sir he said by saint Martyn  
A little here before thy sight  
I was there he was now right  
And yet he said by saint Ihone  
He is not yet far gone  
Therfore ride forth bylyue  
As fast as ye may drive  
And thou shalt finde him in a while  
Or thou haue riden half a mile  
With Marlyn thou shalt speak than  
Or thou speak with ony man  
Than was the prince glad and blythe  
And pricked forth also swith  
They road a while as they wolde  
right as the chapman them told  
They met Marlyn on a plain  
As he were a doughty swain  
Clothed he was in a rob of rede  
And lapped in a mantell in dede  
And bare a ganelocke in his hand  
And spake as man of strange land  
when he with the prince met  
Hendely he him great  
And the prince full hendelye  
Asked him for his curteysye  
If he met ought that day  
Marlyn by the way  
sir he said by saint Myghell  
Marlyn I know very well  
right now he said sekerly  
Marlyn was here fast by  
hadst thou riden a little bet  
With Marlyn thou mightest haue met  
And sir he said without oath  
He is a quaynt boy for sooth  
To finde him it is strounge  
though ye seek him never so long  
So well I know marlyns thought  
Without my help ye gete him nought  
yf thou of him wilt haue speech  
Thou must do as I the reach  
The next town here by side  
There thou must Marlyn abide  
And certainly child marlyn  
Shall come to your ynne  
And speak with the this night  
There thou shalt haue of him a sight  
Than mightest thou both loud and still  
speak with Marlyn all thy fill  
Then was the prince full glad  
And dyde as the swain him bad  
And took his ynne in the town  
As a lord of grete renown  
Now may ye here in this rhyme  
How Marlyn came the first time  
And how he the prince met  
And how he him grete  
And how Pendragon was king  
And how Marlyn without losing  
Dwelled with him and his main  
And wist all his preuyte  
And how he was his counceylere  
fill the cup and ye shall here  
when it was within the night  
Marlyn came to him full right  
In the guise of a sawyne  
As he met him on the plain  
And said as men finde in book  
To the prince god the look  
Lo am here that thou hast sought  
Tell now me what is thy thought  
up then start Pendragon  
And took him in his arms anon  
And prayed him with him to live  
And what he wolde he should him give  
Marlyn said verament  
I am at your commandment  
Than was the prince glad and blythe  
And thanked him oft sythe  
Than said marlyn by saint richer  
I come now fro thy brother Vter  
And thorough my council & his might  
king angys is slain this night  
then was the prince very glad  
And grete solace together they made  
All that there were were full fain  
On the morrow they went home again  
And found king angys slawe  
His hede up sete his body to draw  
Pendragon asked vter ywys  
Who had slain king angys  
And he answered him again  
How he was warned thorough a swain  
And told him without losing  
How he slew the heathen king  
when he had told how he dyde  
And thanked god in that stede  
then speak Pendragon  
And said to Vther anon  
He that help thee at thy need  
It was Marlyn so god me speed  
That standeth here now by the  
Vther him thanked with heart fre  
And prayed him for all thing  
To make there his dwelling  
For in that castle without less  
Many a sarasyne there was  
That no man might on them win  
Ne peyre them with no gynne  
Therfore the host still lay  
And sythe on the thyrde day  
Two knights came fro the sarasynes  
That were in the castle synes  
And said that they wolde yield the castle  
Yf they might pass well  
In to denmark without dere  
And on a book they wolde swear  
That they wolde never come again  
And Marlyn sent them say  
They should pass everichone  
By Vthers leave and pendragon  
when they had swore all and some  
They should no more in Englonde come  
They went to the see stronde  
And passed them to their land  
Than was Englonde blythe and glad  
And sythe through common radde  
Pendragon the crown name  
And king of Englonde he became  
In Englonde he was king  
But three year without losing  
And sythe he was slain rather  
With vnryght and that was scathe  
I will you tell in what manner  
hearken it now and ye shall here   

IT befell in denmark  
Two sarasyns that were stark  
That were of king angys kindred  
And of his blood they were descended  
The one was come of the brother  
And of the sister came the other  
strong men they were and fell  
Full well I can their names tell  
The one was called sir Gamoure  
And the other Metradoure  
Grete lords they were of land  
Metrador held in his hand  
Two ducheys and Gamor three  
again them durst no man be  
when they herde that king angys  
In Englonde was slain I ywys  
As soon as they dyde together speak  
their enemys death to a wreak  
They gathered them strong might  
Duke / earl / baron / and knight  
So grete an host together they brought  
The nombre can I tell nought  
In to ship they went than  
And to sail they fast began  
So the wind 'gan them blow  
They arrived up at brystowe  
Marlyn wist that well anon  
And told Vther and pendragon  
There was come from denmark  
A strong host and a stark  
With many a sarasyne of prys  
For to haue wreak king angys  
In Englonde he said than  
So grete an host saw never man  
And said one of you without less  
Shall be slain in that press  
And which of you that is  
Shall haue to meed heaven bliss  
But for no thing wolde he sayen  
which of them should be slain  
But in dede as ye may here  
That Marlyn loved more utere  
The masspriest here of his crown  
Than he dyde pendragon  
He bad them make them redy anon  
against their enemies for to gone  
And pendragon without fail  
By the land shall them assayll  
And Vther I bide thee  
That thou go by the se  
And look that there escape none  
But they be slain everichone  
Pendragon was a doughty knight  
eager and fell in every fight  
He dyde never forsake to bear  
against a man shield and spear  
And fight with sword without fail  
And that was sene in that battle  
He took his host with might & main  
And went the sarasyns again  
when they were together met  
stroke there well I set  
Of many a doughty saracen  
He clefte their hedes to the skin  
And many a knight there was in hast  
slain and out of their sadyll cast  
Vther by the see was went  
And him told verament  
child Marlyn in his saw  
That there he should not be slawe  
Than in hast he was full light  
Fell and fresh for to fight  
eagerly without ony fail  
The sarasyns he began to assail  
Vther and his fellow rede  
Doughty men they were of dede  
All that they might bylyue  
Some they reued of their live  
Pendragon and his folk in hast  
The sarasyns down they cast  
There was none that against them stood  
But flow away as they were wode  
Vther in that same tide  
kept them by the water side  
With stroke ill and dyntes hard  
Drofe them all again ward  
Thus they were chased between them two  
That them was never erst so wo  
when they no further might  
On Pendragon they gone to fight  
An hundred sarasyns in a rout  
Be set him all about  
Who had sene Pendragon than  
might haue sene a doughty man  
again the sarasyns to fight  
while that he had his limbs a right  
All that ever might a reach  
They had never other leech  
The sarasyns were strong and grym  
And slew his stede under him  
when he had lost his stede  
Grete marvel it is in books to rede  
How he fought & on foot stood  
till he lost his heart bided  
An hundred sarasyns on a rue  
at ones began on him to hew  
And broke both back and arm  
And slew him and that was harm  
when Vther that understood  
That his broder was slain he was wode  
And bad his folk fast fight  
And he bestyred him as a knight  
Of .xxx. M. that were on live  
There escaped away not five  
Of english men there were slain  
But three hundred that ony man could saynt●  
between hath and brystewe the  
three mile might no man go  
neither in dal● neither in d●●  
But he trade on dede men  
when it was against the night  
Vther dyde dyscomfyte the fight  
With many an earl and baroune  
And with knights of grete renown  
They went home to their In  
On the morrow by the counc●yll of Marlyn  
Pendragon was out sought  
And in the earth fair I brought  
Beryed he was full merry  
In the town of Glastenbery  
Thus ended the doughty king  
God give his soul good ending  
And after that Pendragon was dede  
Vther was crwoned by common rede  
And held Englonde to right  
I pray to god full of might  
grant them heaven bliss above  
Amen for his ◇  
And give them all go nge  
That haue herde this talking   
¶ Here endeth a little treatise of Marlyn which prophefyed of many fortunes or haps here in Englonde.  

Enprynted in London in fleet street at the sign of the son by Wynkyn de word. the year of our lord a. M. CCCCC. and .x.