sent fore-riders to skim the country,
and they met with the fore-riders of the north, and made them to tell
which way the host came, and then they told it to Arthur, and by King
Ban and Bors' council they let burn and destroy all the country afore
them, there they should ride.
The King with the Hundred Knights met a wonder dream two nights afore
the battle, that there blew a great wind, and blew down their castles
and their towns, and after that came a water and bare it all away. All
that heard of the sweven said it was a token of great battle. Then by
counsel of Merlin, when they wist which way the eleven kings would ride
and lodge that night, at midnight they set upon them, as they were in
their pavilions. But the scout-watch by their host cried, Lords! at
arms! for here be your enemies at your hand!
CHAPTER XIV. How the eleven kings with their host fought against Arthur
and his host, and many great feats of the war.
THEN King Arthur and King Ban and King Bors, with their good and trusty
knights, set on them so fiercely that they made them overthrow their
pavilions on their heads, but the eleven kings, by manly prowess of
arms, took a fair champaign, but there was slain that morrowtide ten
thousand good men's bodies. And so they had afore them a strong passage,
yet were they fifty thousand of hardy men. Then it drew toward day. Now
shall ye do by mine advice, said Merlin unto the three kings: I would
that King Ban and King Bors, with their fellowship of ten thousand men,
were put in a wood here beside, in an ambushment, and keep them privy,
and that they be laid or the light of the day come, and that they stir
not till ye and your knights have fought with them long. And when it is
daylight, dress your battle even afore them and the passage, that they
may see all your host, for then will they be the more hardy, when they
see you but about twenty thousand men, and cause them to be the gladder
to suffer you and your host to come over the passage. All the three
kings and the whole barons said that Merlin said passingly well, and it
was done anon as Merlin had devised. So on the morn, when either host
saw other, the host of the north was well comforted. Then to Ulfius and
Brastias were delivered three thousand men of arms, and they set on them
fiercely in the passage, and slew on the right hand and on the left hand
that it was wonder to tell.
When that the eleven kings saw that there was so few a fellowship did
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