Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter III
ButKingArthurwasawareofhim,andsentsixhundredhorsemenandthreethousandfoottomeetandfallonhiminstead.Thisthereforetheydid,encounteringthematmidnight,andutterlydefeatedthem,tilltheyfledawayforlife.ButBaldulph,fullofgrief,resolvedtosharehisbrother’speril;whereforeheshavedhisheadandbeard,anddisguisedhimselfasajester,andsopassedthroughKingArthur’scamp,singingandplayingonaharp,tillbydegreeshedrewneartothecitywalls,wherepresentlyhemadehimselfknown,andwasdrawnupbyropesintothetown.
Anon,whileArthurcloselywatchedthecity,camenewsthatfullsixhundredshipshadlandedcountlessswarmsofSaxons,underCheldric,ontheeasterncoast.Atthatheraisedthesiege,andmarchedstraighttoLondon,andthereincreasedhisarmy,andtookcounselwithhisbaronshowtodrivetheSaxonsfromthelandforevermore.
Thenwithhisnephew,Hoel,KingoftheArmoricanBritons,whocamewithagreatforcetohelphim,KingArthur,withamightymultitudeofbarons,knights,andfightingmen,wentswiftlyuptoLincoln,whichtheSaxonslaybesieging.Andtherehefoughtapassingfiercebattle,andmadegrievousslaughter,killingabovesixthousandmen,tillthemainbodyofthemturnedandfled.ButhepursuedthemhotlyintothewoodofCelidon,where,shelteringthemselvesamongthetreesfromhisarrows,theymadeastand,andforalongseasonbravelydefendedthemselves.