o 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 o