with Merlin? ye know well that he hath
done much for me, and he knoweth many things, and when he is afore you,
I would that ye prayed him heartily of his best advice. All the barons
said they would pray him and desire him. So Merlin was sent for, and
fair desired of all the barons to give them best counsel. I shall say
you, said Merlin, I warn you all, your enemies are passing strong for
you, and they are good men of arms as be alive, and by this time they
have gotten to them four kings more, and a mighty duke; and unless that
our king have more chivalry with him than he may make within the bounds
of his own realm, an he fight with them in battle, he shall be overcome
and slain. What were best to do in this cause? said all the barons. I
shall tell you, said Merlin, mine advice; there are two brethren beyond
the sea, and they be kings both, and marvellous good men of their hands;
and that one hight King Ban of Benwick, and that other hight King Bors
of Gaul, that is France. And on these two kings warreth a mighty man of
men, the King Claudas, and striveth with them for a castle, and great
war is betwixt them. But this Claudas is so mighty of goods whereof he
getteth good knights, that he putteth these two kings most part to the
worse; wherefore this is my counsel, that our king and sovereign lord
send unto the kings Ban and Bors by two trusty knights with letters well
devised, that an they will come and see King Arthur and his court, and
so help him in his wars, that he will be sworn unto them to help them
in their wars against King Claudas. Now, what say ye unto this counsel?
said Merlin. This is well counselled, said the king and all the barons.

Right so in all haste there were ordained to go two knights on the
message unto the two kings. So were there made letters in the pleasant
wise according unto King Arthur's desire. Ulfius and Brastias were made
the messengers, and so rode forth well horsed and well armed and as the
guise was that time, and so passed the sea and rode toward the city of
Benwick. And there besides were eight knights that espied them, and at
a strait passage they met with Ulfius and Brastias, and would have taken
them prisoners; so they prayed them that they might pass, for they were
messengers unto King Ban and Bors sent from King Arthur. Therefore, said
the eight knights, ye shall die or be prisoners, for we be knights of
King Claudas. And therewith two of them dressed their spears, and Ulfius
an