As Arthur was about to assault the wall, then came there riding
Patrick, the rich man, who was a Scottish thane, fair in his land; and
thus began to call to the king anon: "Hail be thou, Arthur the king,
noblest of Britons! I will tell thee new tiding, of the kaiser
Childric, the furious and the powerful, the strong and the bold. He is
in Scotland arrived in a haven, and the homes consumeth, and wieldeth
all our land in his own hand. He hath a host brave, all the strength
of Rome; he saith with his boast, when men pour to him the wine, that
thou darest not in any spot his attacks abide, neither in field, nor
in wood, nor in ever any place. And if thou him abidest, he will thee
bind; destroy thy people, and possess thy land."

Oft was Arthur woe, but never worse than then; and he drew him
backward, beside the burgh; called to counsel knights at need, barons
and earls, and the holy bishops; and bade that they should him
counsel, how he might in the realm with his army his honour maintain,
and fight with Childric, the strong and the powerful, who hither would
come, to help Colgrim. Then answered the Britons, that were there
beside: "Go we right to London, and let him come after; and if he
cometh riding, sorrow he shall abide; he himself and his host shall
die!" Arthur approved all that his people counselled; forth he gan
march until he came to London.

Colgrim was in York, and there he abode Childric. Childric gan proceed
over the North end, and took in his hand a great deal of land. All
Scotland he gave to a thane of his, and all Northumberland he set in
the hand of his brother; Galloway and Orkney he gave to an earl of
his; himself he took the land from Humber into London. He thought
never more of Arthur to have mercy, unless he would become his man,
Arthur, Uther's son.

Arthur was in London, with all the Britons; he summoned his forces
over all this land, that every man, that good would grant to him,
quickly and full soon to London should come. Then was England filled
with harm; here was weeping and here was lament, and sorrow
immoderate; mickle hunger and strife at every man's gate! Arthur sent
over sea two good knights, to Howel his relation, who was to him
dearest of men, who possessed Britanny, knight with the best; and bade
him full soon, that he hither should come, sail to land, to help the
people; for Childric had in hand much of this land, and Colgrim and
Baldulf were come to him, and thought to drive Ar