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LAYAMON'S BRUT







At Totnes Constantin the fair and all his host came ashore; thither
came the bold man--well was he brave!--and with him two thousand
knights such as no king possessed. Forth they gan march into London,
and sent after knights over all the kingdom, and every brave man, that
speedily he should come anon.

The Britons heard that, where they dwelt in the pits; in earth and in
stocks they hid them like badgers, in wood and in wilderness, in heath
and in fen, so that well nigh no man might find any Briton, except
they were in castle, or in burgh inclosed fast. When they heard of
this word, that Constantin was in the land, then came out of the
mountains many thousand men; they leapt out of the wood as if it were
deer. Many hundred thousand marched toward London, by street and by
weald all it forth pressed; and the brave women put on them men's
clothes, and they forth journeyed toward the army.

When the Earl Constantin saw all this folk come to him, then he was so
blithe as he was never before in life. Forth they took their way two
nights and a day, so that they came full truly to Melga and Wanis.
Together they rushed with stern strength, fought fiercely--the fated
fell! Ere the day were gone, slain was Wanis and Melgan, and Peohtes
enow, and Scots without number, Danes and Norwegians, Galloways and
Irish. The while that the day was light lasted ever this slaughter.

When it came to the eventime, then called the Earl Constantin, and
bade that guides should ride to the waters, and active men toward the
sea, for to guard them. A man should have seen the game, how the women
forth marched over woods and over fields, over hills and over dales.
Wheresoever they found any man escaped, that was with Melga the
heathen king, the women loud laughed, and tore him all in pieces, and
prayed for the soul, that never should good be to it. Thus the British
women killed many thousands, and thus they freed this kingdom of Wanis
and of Melga.

And Constantin the brave marched to Silchester, and held there his
husting of all his British thanes, all the Britons came to the
meeting, and took Constantin the noble, and made him king of Britain--
much was then the mirth that was among men. And afterwards they gave
him a wife, one wondrous fair, born of the highest, of Britain the
best of all. By this noble wife Constantin had in this land three
little sons. The first son had well nigh his father's name; Constantin
hight 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 named
Aurelius, his surname hight Ambrosius. Then was last of all born a
child that was well disposed, he was named Uther, his virtues were
strong; he was the youngest brother, but he lived longer than the
others.

Guencelm the archbishop, who toward God was full good, took charge of
the two children, for love of the king. But alas! that their father
might 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 king
dead--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 his
thanes by no other wise but as it were his brother. Then became he so
potent, to all his companions unlike; then thought he to betray
Constantin the powerful. He came before the king, and fell on his
knees, and thus lied the traitor before his lord: "Lord king, come
forthright, and speak with Cadal thy knight, and I will thee tell of
strange speeches, such as thou never ere on earth heardest."

Then arose the king Constantin, and went forth out with him. But alas!
that Constantin's knights knew it not! They proceeded so long forward
that they came in an orchard. Then said the traitor there: "Lord, be
we here." The traitor sat down, as if he would hold secret discourse,
and he approached to the king, as a man doth in whispering. He grasped
a knife very long, and the king therewith he pierced into the heart;
and he himself escaped--there the king dead lay, and the traitor fled
away.

The tidings came to court, how the king had fared; then was mickle
sorrow spread to the folk. Then were the Britons busy in thought, they
knew not through anything what they might have for king, for the
king's two sons, little they were both. Ambrosie could scarcely ride
on horse, and Uther, his brother, yet still sucked his mother; and
Constance the eldest was monk in Winchester; monk's clothes he had on,
as one of his companions. Then came to London all this landfolk, to
their husting, and to advise them of a king, what wise they might do,
and how they might take on, and which one of these children they might
have for king. Then chose this people Aurelie Ambrosie, to have for
king over them.

That heard Vortiger, a crafty man and most wary; among the earls he
stood, and firmly withstood it, and he thus said--sooth though it were
not: "I will advise you counsel with the best; abide a fortnight, and
come we eft right here, and I will say to you sooth words, so that
with your eyes ye shall see, and your while well bestow; this same
time we shall abide, and to our land the while ride, and hold amity
and hold peace, freely in land."

All the folk did as Vortiger deemed; and he himself went as if he
would go to his land, and turned right the way that into Winchester
lay. Vortiger had Welshland the half-part in his hand; forty knights
good he had in his retinue. He proceeded to Winchester, where he found
Constance, and spake with the abbot who governed the monastery where
Constance was monk, the king's son of Britain. He went into the
monastery with mild speech; he said that he would speak with
Constance. The abbot granted it to him, and he led him to the
speech-house. Thus spake Vortiger with the monk then there:
"Constance, hearken my counsel, for now is thy father dead. There is
Ambrosie thy brother, and Uther the other. Now have the elders, the
noblest in land, chosen Aurelie--his surname is Ambrosie--if they may
through all things they will make him king; and Uther, thy brother,
yet sucketh his mother. But I have opposed them, and think to withsay,
for I have been steward of all Britain's land, and earl I am potent,
unlike to my companions, and I have Welshland half part in my hand;
more I have alone than the others all clean. I am come to thee, for
dearest of men thou art to me; if thou wilt swear to me oaths, I will
take off thee these clothes, if thou wilt increase my land, and thy
counsel place in my hand, and make me thy steward over all Britain's
land, and through my counsel do all thy deeds, and if thou wilt pledge
me in hand, that I shall rule it all, I will through all things make
thee Britain's king." This monk sate well still, the speech went to
him at his will. Then answered the monk with much delight: "Well worth
thee, Vortiger, that thou art come here; if evermore cometh the day
that I may be king, all my counsel and all my land I will place in
thine hand, and all that thou wilt do, my men shall accept it. And
oaths I will swear to thee, that I will not deceive thee." Thus said
the monk; he mourned greatly how else it were, that he were monk; for
to him were black clothes wondrously odious. Vortiger was crafty and
wary--that he made known everywhere--he took a cape of a knight of
his, and on the monk he put it, and led him out of the place; he took
a swain anon, and the black clothes put on him, and held secret
discourse with the swain, as if it were the monk.

Monks passed upward, monks passed downward; they saw by the way the
swain with monk's clothes; the hood hanged down as if he hid his
crown; they all weened that it were their brother, who there sate so
sorry in the speech-house, in the daylight, among all the knights.
They came to their abbot, and greeted him in God's name: "Lord,
benedicite, we are come before thee, for strange it seemeth to us what
Vortiger thinketh in our speech-house, where he holdeth discourse,
throughout this day no monk may come therein, except Constance alone,
and the knights all clean. Sore we dread, that they him miscounsel."
Then answered the abbot; "Nay, but they counsel him good; they bid him
hold his hood (holy order), for now is his father dead." Vortiger
there abode the while Constance away rode. Vortiger up arose, from the
monastery departed, and all his knight out went forth-right.

The monks there ran thither anon, they weened to find Constance; when
they saw the clothes lie by the walls, then each to other lamented
their brother. The abbot leapt on horse, and after Vortiger rode, and
soon gan overtake the Earl Vortiger. Thus said the abbot to Vortiger
where he rode: "Say me, thou mad knight, why dost thou so great wrong?
Thou takest from us our brother,--leave him, and take the other. Take
Ambrosie the child, and make of him a king, and anger thou not Saint
Benedict, nor do thou to him any wrong!"

Vortiger heard this--he was crafty and very wary;--soon he came back,
and the abbot he took, and swore by his hand, that he would him hang,
unless he him pledged, that he would forthright unhood Constance the
king's son of this land, and for such need he should be king of this
country. The abbot durst no other, there he unhooded his brother, and
the child gave the abbot in hand twenty ploughlands, and afterwards
they proceeded forth into London. Vortiger the high forbade his
attendants, that they to no man should tell what they had in design.
Vortiger lay in London, until the same set day came, that the knights
of this land should come to husting.

At the day they came, many and numerous; they counselled, they
communed, the stern warriors, that they would have Ambrosie, and raise
for king; for Uther was too little--the yet he might suck--and
Constance was monk, who was eldest of them, and they would not for
anything make a monk king. Vortiger heard this, who was crafty and
most wary, and leapt on foot as if it were a lion. None of the Britons
there knew what Vortiger had done. He had in a chamber Constance the
dear, well bathed and clothed, and afterwards hid with twelve knights.
Then thus spake Vortiger--he was of craft wary: "Listen, lordings, the
while that I speak of kings. I was in Winchester, where I well sped, I
spake with the abbot, who is a holy man and good, and said him the
need that is come to this nation by Constantin's death--therefore he
is uneasy--and of Constance the child, that he had holden. And I bade
him for love of God, to take off the child's hood, and for such need
he should be king in the country. And the abbot took his counsel, and
did all that I bade him; and here I have his monks, who are good and
chief, who shall witness bear before you all. Lo! where here is the
same child, make we hereof a king, and here I hold the crown that
thereto behoveth, and whoso will this withsay, he shall it buy dear!"

Vortiger was most strong, the highest man of Britain, was there never
any so bold that his words durst deprecate. In the same town was the
archbishop dead, and there was no bishop that forth on his way did not
pass, nor monk nor any abbot, that he on his way did not ride, for
they durst not for fear of God do there the wrong, to take the monk
child, and make him Britain's king. Vortiger saw this--of all evil he
was well ware, up he gan to stand, the crown he took in hand, and he
set it upon Constance--that was to him in thought. Was there never any
man that might there do Christendom, that might do blessing upon the
king, but Vortiger alone did it clean for all! The beginning was
unfair, and also was the end, he deserted God's hood (holy order),
therefore he had sorrow! Thus was Constance king of this land, and
Vortiger was his steward.

Constance set all his kingdom in Vortiger's hand, and he did all in
the land, as he himself would. Then saw Vortiger--of much evil he was
ware--that Constance the king knew nothing of land (government?), for
he had not learnt ever any learning, except what a monk should perform
in his monastery. Vortiger saw that--the Worse was full nigh him!--oft
he bethought him what he might do, how he might with leasing please
the king. Now thou mayest hear, how this traitor gan him fare. The
best men of Britain were all dead, now were the king's brothers both
full little, and Guencehn the archbishop therebefore was dead, and
this land's king himself of the law knew nothing. Vortiger saw this,
and he came to the king, with mild speech his lord he gan greet: "Hail
be thou, Constance, Britain's lord! I am come thus nigh thee for much
need, for to say to thee tidings that are come to land, of very great
danger. Now thee behoveth might, now weapons behove thee to defend thy
country. Here are chapmen arrived from other lands, as it is the
custom; they have brought to me toll for their goods, and they have
told me and plighted troth, that the King of Norway will newly fare
hither, and the Danish king these Danes will seek, and the King of
Russia, sternest of all knights, and the King of Gothland with host
most strong, and the King of Frise--therefore it alarmeth me. The
tidings are evil that are come to land; herefore I am most adread, for
I know no good counsel, unless we may with might send after knights,
that are good and strong, and that are well able in land, and fill thy
castles with keen men, and so thou mightest defend thy kingdom against
foreigners, and maintain thy worship with high strength. For there is
no kingdom, so broad nor so long, that will not soon be taken if there
are too few warriors."

Then answered the king--of land he knew nothing--"Vortiger, thou art
steward over all Britain's land, and thou shalt it rule after thy
will. Send after knights that are good in fight; and take all in thine
hand, my castles and my land, and do all thy will, and I will be
still, except the single thing, that I will be called king."

Then laughed Vortiger--he was of evil most ware--was he never so
blithe ere in his life! Vortiger took leave, and forth he gan pass,
and so he proceeded through all Britain's land, all the castles and
all the land he set in his own hand, and the fealty he took ever where
he came. And so he took his messengers, and sent to Scotland, and
ordered the Peohtes, the knights best of all, three hundred to come to
him, and he would well do to them. And the knights came to him
thereafter well soon; thus spake the traitorous man: "Knights, ye are
welcome. I have in my hand all this regal land, with me ye shall go,
and I will you love, and I will you bring before our king; ye shall
have silver and gold, the best horses of this land, clothes, and fair
wives; your will I will perform Ye shall be to me dear, for the
Britons are hateful to me, loud and still I will do your will, if ye
will in land hold me for lord." Then forth-right answered the knights
"We will do all thy will," and they gan proceed to Constance the king.
To the king came Vortiger--of evil he was well ware--and said him of--
had done--"And here I have the Peohtes, who shall be household
knights; and I have most well stored all thy castles, and these
foreign knights shall before us fight." The king commended all as
Vortiger purposed, but alas! that the king knew nothing of his
thoughts, nor of his treachery, that he did soon thereafter! These
knights were in court highly honoured, full two years with the king
they dwelt there, and Vortiger the steward was lord of them all. Ever
he said that the Britons were not of use, but he said that the Peohtes
were good knights. Ever were the Britons deprived of goods, and the
Peohtes wielded all that they would. They had drink, they had meat,
they had eke much bliss. Vortiger granted them all that they would,
and was to them as dear as their own life; so that they all spake,
where they ate their meat, that Vortiger were worthy to govern this
realm throughout all things, better than three such kings! Vortiger
gave these men very much treasure.

Then befell it on a day, that Vortiger lay at his inn; he took his two
knights and sent after the Peohtes, bade them come here, for they all
should eat there. Forth-right the knights came to him, to his inn, he
tried them with words as they sate at the board, he caused draughts to
be brought them of many kinds of drinks, they drank, they revelled,
the day there forth passed. When they were so drunk that their shanks
weakened, then spake Vortiger what he had previously thought: "Hearken
now to me, knights, I will say to you forth-right of my mickle sorrow
that I for you have mourned. The king delivered me this land for to be
his steward. Ye are to me liefest of all men alive, but I have not
wealth to give my knights, for this king possesses all this land, and
he is young and also strong, and all I must yield to him that I take
of his land, and if I destroy his goods, I shall suffer the law, and
mine own wealth I have spent, because I would please you. And now I
must depart hence far to some king, serve him with peace, and gain
wealth with him; I may not for much shame have here this abode, but
forth I must go to foreign lands And if the day shall ever come that I
may acquire wealth, and I may so well thrive, that ye come in the land
where I am, I will well reward you with much worship. And have now all
good day, for to-night I will go away, it is a great doubt whether ye
see me evermore"--These knights knew not what the traitor thought
Vortiger was treacherous, for here he betrayed his lord, and the
knights held it for sooth, what the traitor said Vortiger ordered his
swains to saddle his steeds, and named twelve men to lead with
himself, to horse they went as if they would depart from the land.

The Peohtes saw that--the drunken knights--how Vortiger would depart,
herefore they had much care, they went to counsel, they went to
communing, all they lamented their life exceedingly, because Vortiger
was so dear to them And thus said the Peohtes, the drunken knights:
"What may we now in counsel? who shall us now advise? who shall us
feed, who shall us clothe, who shall be our lord at court? Now
Vortiger is gone, we all must depart,--we will not for anything have a
monk for king! But we will do well, forth-right go we to him, secretly
and still, and do all our will, into his chamber, and drink of his
beer When we have drunk, loudly revel we, and some shall go to the
door, and with swords stand therebefore, and some forth-right take the
king and his knights, and smite off the heads of them, and we
ourselves have the court, and cause soon our lord Vortiger to be
overtaken, and afterwards through all things raise him to be
king;--then may we live as to us is befest of all."

The knights proceeded to the king forth-right; they all went
throughout the hall into the king's chamber, where he sate by the fire
There was none that spake a word except Gille Callaet; thus he spake
with the king whom he there thought to betray: "Listen to me now,
monarch, I will nothing lie to thee We have been in court highly
honoured through thy steward, who hath governed all this land, he hath
us well fed, he hath us well clothed And in sooth I may say to thee,
with him we ate now to day, but sore it us grieveth, we had nought to
drink, and now we are in thy chamber give us drink of thy beer" Then
gave the king answer "That shall be your least care, for ye shall have
to drink the while that you think good" Men brought them drink, and
they gan to revel, thus said Gille Callaet--at the door he was full
active "Where be ye, knights? Bestir you forth right!" And they seized
the king, and smote off his head, and all his knights they slew
forth-right And took a messenger, and sent toward London, that he
should ride quickly after Vortiger, that he should come speedily, and
take the kingdom, for that he should know through all things, slain
was Constance the king. Vortiger heard that, who was traitor full
secret; thus he ordered the messenger back forth-right anon, and bade
them "well to keep all our worship that never one depart out of the
place, but all abide me, until that I arrive, and so I will divide
this land among us all."

Forth went the messenger, and Vortiger took anon and sent over London,
and ordered them quickly and full soon, that they all should come to
husting. When the burgh-men were come, who were most bold, then spake
Vortiger, who was traitor full secret,--much he gan to weep, and
sorrowfully to sigh, but it was in his head, and not in his heart.
Then asked him the burgh-men, who were most bold. "Lord Vortiger, what
is that thou mournest? Thou art no woman so sore to weep." Then
answered Vortiger, who was traitor full secret: "I will tell you
piteous speeches, of much calamity that is come to the land. I have
been in this realm your king's steward, and spoken with him, and loved
him as my life. But he would not at the end any counsel approve, he
loved the Peohtes, the foreign knights, and he would not do good to
us, nor anywhere fair receive, but to them he was gracious, ever in
their lives I might not of the king have remuneration (or wages), I
spent my wealth, the while that it lasted, and afterwards I took leave
to go to my land, and when I had my tribute, come again to court. When
the Peohtes saw that the king had no knights, nor ever any kind of man
that would aught for them do, they took their course into the king's
chamber I say you through all things, they have slain the king, and
think to destroy this kingdom and us all, and will forth-right make
them king of a Peoht. But I was his steward, avenge I will my lord,
and every brave man help me to do that. On I will with my gear, and
forth-right I will go."

Thirty hundred knights marched out of London; they rode and they ran,
forth with Vortiger, until they approached where the Peohtes dwelt.
And he took one of his knights, and sent to the Peohtes, and said to
them that he came, if they would him receive. The Peohtes were blithe
for their murder (that they had committed), and they took their good
gear--there was neither shield nor spear Vortiger weaponed all his
knights forth right, and the Peohtes there came, and brought the head
of the king. When Vortiger saw this head, then fell he full nigh to
the ground, as if he had grief most of all men, with his countenance
he gan he, but his heart was full blithe. Then said Vortiger, who was
traitor full secret: "Every brave man lay on them with sword, and
avenge well in the land the sorrow of our lord!" None they captured,
but all they them slew; and proceeded to the inn, into Winchester, and
slew their swains, and their chamber-servants, their cooks, and their
boys, all they deprived of life-day. Thus faired the tidings of
Constance the king.

And the worldly-wise men took charge of the other children; for they
had care of Vortiger they took Ambrosie and Uther, and led them over
sea, into the Less Britain, and delivered them fairly to Biduz the
king. And he them fairly received, for he was their kin and their
friend, and with much joy the children he brought up; and so well many
years with him they were there.

Vortiger in this land was raised to be king; all the strong burghs
stood in his hand; five-and-twenty years he was king here. He was mad,
he was wild, he was cruel, he was bold; of all things he had his will,
except the Peohtes were never still, but ever they advanced over the
north end, and afflicted this kingdom with prodigious harm, and
avenged their kin enow, whom Vortiger slew here.

In the meantime came tidings into this land, that Aurelie was knight,
who was named Ambrosie, and also was Uther, good knight and most wary,
and would come to this land, and lead an army most strong. This was
many times a saying oft repeated; oft came these tidings to Vortiger
the king; therefore it oft shamed him, and his heart angered, for men
said it everywhere:--"Now will come Ambrosie and Uther, and will
avenge soon Constance, the king of this land; there is no other
course, avenge they will their brother, and slay Vortiger, and burn
him to dust; thus they will set all this land in their own hand!" So
spake each day all that passed by the way.

Vortiger bethought him what he might do, and thought to send
messengers into other lands, after foreign knights, who might him
defend; and thought to be wary against Ambrosie and Uther.

In the meantime came tidings to Vortiger the king, that over sea were
come men exceeding strange; in the Thames to land they were come;
three ships good came with the flood, therein three hundred knights,
kings as it were, without (besides) the shipmen who were there within.
These were the fairest men that ever here came, but they were
heathens--that was the more harm! Vortiger sent to them, and asked how
they were disposed (their business); if they sought peace, and recked
of his friendship? They answered wisely, as well they knew, and said
that they would speak with the king, and lovingly him serve, and hold
him for lord; and so they gan wend forth to the king. Then was
Vortiger the king in Canterbury, where he with his court nobly
diverted themselves; there these knights came before the sovereign. As
soon as they met him, they greeted him fair, and said that they would
serve him in this land, if he would them with right retain. Then
answered Vortiger--of each evil he was ware--"In all my life that I
have lived, by day nor by night saw I never ere such knights; for your
arrival I am blithe, and with me ye shall remain, and your will I will
perform, by my quick life! But first I would of you learn, through
your sooth worship, what knights ye be, and whence ye are come, and
whether ye will be true, old and eke new?"

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