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L'Estoire des Engleis by Geffrei Gaimar
Edited by A. Bell
1960
Oxford, Anglo-Norman Text Society
Genre: Chronicles
AND Bibliography: GAIMAR1
Original work © 1960 The Anglo Norman Text Society, which has granted permission for it to be digitised, browsed and searched on this site. Any other use, including making copies of this electronic version, requires the prior written permission of the copyright holders, who may be contacted via Birkbeck College, University of London, Malet St, London WC1E 7HX, UK
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2. MSS. and their Classification
The Estoire has survived in four MSS.; of these only two seem to have been known to F. Michel when in 1836 he published the post-Conquest section (ll. 5129-6526) of Gaimar in his Chroniques Anglo-Normandes, but the other two were already available to H. Petrie when in 1848 he included the pre-Conquest section (ll. 1-5340) of the Estoire in his Monumenta Historica Britannica. No trace has been found of the MS. which was known to the copyist of the British Museum MS. Addl. 32125, nor of the MS. which is entered in the medieval catalogue of Peterborough Abbey as Historia Anglorum Gallice et rythmice, and may have been a copy of Gaimar's work; neither is it known whether the Phillipps MS. 4156 which, according to Arnold (Le Roman de Brut, S.A.T.F., I xiii), is related to D and L once contained the Estoire.
The extant MSS. are:
D = Durham Cathedral, C.iv.27; early 13th cent.; 167 foll. in gatherings of eight; 2 cols. of 36 lines up to fol. 138v, from fol. 139r onwards 1 col.; initials red and green. The leaves were trimmed when the MS. was rebound in the 18th cent., but the average size is approximately 231 mm × 162 mm.; the average size of the written page is 190 mm. × 130 mm. up to fol. 138v and from there to the end 190 mm. × 112 mm. The pages are ruled horizontally and vertically, and the even lines of text are indented. The first page has at some time served as cover and the writing is in consequence
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a little obscured; the large illuminated initial on the same page is badly preserved, most of the gilt being rubbed off; similar large initials were to have appeared on fol. 94r and fol. 139r, but have not been filled in; many of the two-line high initials at the beginning of sections have been indicated, but not added, and from fol. 139r onwards all have been left untouched by the rubricator. Up to fol. 93v there are many markings (crosses and circles) in the margin, possibly by a reader who may also be responsible for a sketch of a crowned head to represent Brutus on fol. 8v. On fol. 1r is the heading: Hic incipit Brutus; at the foot of fol. 8v is the note: Brutus regnavit ·xxiiii· annos et habuit tres filios; at the top of fol. 42 d is written in red, though much blurred: Ci cummence la prophecie de Merlin; the actual prophecy does not begin until the following leaf.The MS. has been written by four different hands who divide the work as follows:
Hand I: fol. 1r-fol. 59v; gatherings marked I-VI; last half-column on fol. 59v (not last leaf of gathering) blank;
Hand II: fol. 60r-fol. 96v; gatherings marked a-d; a recent hand has added at the top of fol. 60r: Poematis superioris continuatio ut videtur sed ab alio librario descripta;
Hand III: fol. 97r-fol. 138v; the first gathering is marked e, being the conclusion of the previous series of signatures; the remaining gatherings are unsigned; the lower half of the last column was left blank; the last couplet on fol. 96 d is repeated by the new copyist at the head of fol. 97 a; the last line of each column is, with one or two exceptions, not indented. On fol. 105r in the margin above the second column is a drawing of a three-tailed comet; on fol. 136r opposite the third line of the first column has been written by a later hand Willelmi 2di mors; on fol. 136v opposite the third line of the first column the same person has noted Robert fitz Hamun;
Hand IV: fol. 138v-fol. 167v; gatherings unsigned; follows immediately on the previous hand; lower half of final page was left blank, but a later hand added a long note in Latin.
The volume which seems to have been compiled as a whole forms a history of this country from earliest times down to the death of William II, with Henry II's Scottish campaign as an appendix. Its contents are:
1 fol. 1r-fol. 94 a: Wace's Brut; the Prophecies of Merlin are
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inserted between fol. 42r and fol. 48r in the version in decasyllables of one Helias who may also be the author of the lost translation of the Historia regum Britanniae, 170 lines of which were inserted before the Prophecies and are printed in an appendix by Arnold in his edition of the Roman de Brut (S.A.T.F.).2 fol. 94 b-fol. 138v: Gaimar's Estoire des Engleis, concluding with the Description of England and the short epilogue.
3 fol. 139r-fol. 167v: Jordan Fantosme's Chronicle.
The MS. has been at Durham since the early eighteenth century, for it is described in the catalogue of the Cathedral MSS. compiled by Rud in 1727; he regarded the volume as containing one poem in three parts, but gave no indication of its provenance.
L = Lincoln Cathedral, 104, formerly A.4.12 and still earlier H.18; later 13th cent.; 2 cols. of 32 lines up to fol. 157v, from fol. 158r onwards 1 col.; initials red and blue. The MS. is the work of one scribe, and its contents are:
1 fol. 1r-fol. 108r: Wace's Brut; the Prophecies of Merlin are inserted between fol. 48r and fol. 57v by a certain Willame in a version which is found also in British Museum Addl. 45103 and, as a fragment, in British Museum Harley 1605.
2 fol. 108v-fol. 157 c: Gaimar's Estoire des Engleis, concluding with the short epilogue and the Description of England.
3 fol. 158v-fol. 189v: Jordan Fantosme's Chronicle; incomplete; though the catchword survives on the last page to show that it was intended to continue, it is not certain that this was done, as, according to D, only five lines remained; these were supplied on the present fly-leaf by F. Michel in 1837. The MS. has been at Lincoln since the time of Dean Honywood (1660-82) by whom it may have been acquired, as it figures in a list of books belonging to him, but with no indication of its provenance.
R = London, British Museum Royal 13 A xxi; late 13th cent. (foll. 40-150); 2 cols. of 42-48 lines; initials red and blue. The MS. is a composite one of three parts of which the first was originally a gathering of twelve leaves containing Herman of Valenciennes' Bible, but incomplete. The second part begins with the Imago Mundi, here attributed to one Henry, and continues (fol. 40 d-fol. 113 c) with Wace's Brut, but with the substitution of some seven
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thousand lines of another version instead of ll. 53-8728, and concludes (fol. 113 c-fol. 150 d) with Gaimar's Estoire des Engleis. The third part contains theological tracts. The Imago Mundi, if not the whole of the present second part, was at Hagneby Abbey (Li.) in the fifteenth century.H = London, College of Arms, Arundel xiv; later 14th cent.; 2 cols. of 40 lines to fol. 149; initials red and blue. The MS. is a composite one and its contents are:
Part I.
1 fol. 1r-fol. 92v: Wace's Brut.
2 fol. 93r-fol. 124v: Gaimar's Estoire des Engleis, beginning at l. 819.
3 fol. 125v-fol. 132r: Le Lai d'Haveloc.
4 fol. 133r-fol. 147r: an account of the reign of Edward I, being a much revised copy of the third part of Peter de Langtoft's Chronicle and in a fresh hand.
5 fol. 148r-fol. 149r: La lignee des Bretuns, originally compiled during the reign of Edward II, but a later hand added the length of reign and also a complete entry for Richard II.
6 fol. 150r-221r: Chretien de Troyes' Perceval; contrary to what is stated in the introduction to the Rolls Series edition, and in my edition of the Lai d' Haveloc, the later continuations are not present, but there are two considerable additions to the text. Cf. A. Hilka, Perceval, App. II.
Part II. fol. 222r-fol. 229v: Walter de Henley's Hosebonderie in an older hand, but bound into the final gathering of part I.
Part III. fol. 230r-fol. 238r: an allegorical love-poem discussed by Miss C. B. West in her Courtoisie in A.N. Literature (Oxford, 1938), and edited by Ö. Södergård, Rom. 77 (1956), 289-330.
Such being the MSS. available, how are they to be classified? The close agreement in contents and arrangement of D and L suggests that they are more intimately related to each other than to the other two MSS. Now D, being the older, cannot be copied from L, nor, being the earliest extant MS. of the Estoire, can it be copied from either of the other two MSS. But L is not copied from D, as is shown by the presence in it of lines not in the other, e.g. ll. 1307-10, and, occasionally, of a more original reading, e.g. ll. 868, 2273. Hence the number of omissions of lines common to D and L, e.g. ll. 1035-6, and of readings they share against the other
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two MSS., whether correct., e.g. ll. 1031, 2912, or incorrect, e.g. ll. 899-1013, confirms their close relationship and allows us to postulate for them a common ancestor which, following Vising (Étude sur la dialecte anglo-normande, Upsala, 1882) I call Y. But there are in D and L other omissions which they share with H, a MS. not copied from either of them, as shown by the omission in it of ll. 3187-412, the two loose ends occurring consecutively in the middle of a column; they also share with H certain passages, of which ll. 1133-4, 5309-28 are the most important, not found in R. Hence it is permissible to postulate an earlier ancestor which, with Vising, I call β, from which both Y and H derive. Thus we are left with a family of three MSS. (D.L.H) on the one hand and a single MS. (R) on the other; this latter MS. is shown by occasional omissions of lines, e.g. ll. 2089-90, and by a few confusions, e.g. ll. 1248, 1815, not to be an absolutely faithful copy of the original text; and the mistake in the author's name in this MS. at l. 2921 suggests further that it may not be a direct copy of the original text.But was there a common ancestor of the extant MSS. intermediate between the author's original text and β R? Vising postulated such an intermediate MS. and called it α, but based its existence mainly on ll. 1-38, which he referred to as a prologue and claimed were not by Gaimar. In my article The Prologue to Gaimar (M.L.R. XV (1920), 170-5) I showed that the lines in question are not a prologue but a connecting-link with Gaimar's lost Estoire des Bretuns and established their authenticity. In so doing I removed the main support of Vising's assumption, but the other ground for postulating the existence of α still remained: the presence in all the extant MSS. of Wace's Brut immediately preceding the Estoire. It was held that the two texts must have been combined in one volume, that from this volume our four MSS. are derived, and that this volume was to be equated with the α of Vising.
This was, indeed, the position I accepted in my edition of Gaimar's Haveloc episode, but further study now inclines me to scepticism on this point. Firstly, in two separate passages we find a break in construction which seems to be due rather to a lack of continuity in thought than to mechanical error in transcription: (i) In the account of the Settlement of Britain, which is found only in R, but which, as I showed in my article, The West Saxon genealogy in
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Gaimar (P.Q. II (1923), 173-86), is to be attributed to Gaimar, we read:
Mes pur ço ke Henges e Hors
E Certiz ki aprés lur morz
Ki vindrent en la terre
E tant sovent i firent guere
Furent de cest rëal linage
Cels e lur barnage
Nez del païs ki Ange ad nun
Engleis tuz les apela hom; (ll. 845-52)
here there seems to be something missing between morz and the following line. (ii) In the longer epilogue, which is found only in R, but which is to be attributed to Gaimar, as I have shown in The Epilogue to Gaimar's Estoire des Engleis (M.L.R. XXV (1930), 52-9), we read:
E de l'estoire de Wincestre
Fust amendé ceste geste
De Wassingburc un livere engleis
U il trovad escrit des reis
E de tuz les emperurs
Ke de Rome furent seignurs
E de Engleterre ourent treu; (ll. 6461-7)
here there seems to be something missing after the second line as the following line has no predicate. Secondly, there are two other uncertainties in the text which are scarcely to be regarded as scribal carelessness. (i) In the Wasing episode (ll. 895-918), which is common to all four MSS., we find a mysterious line–Il e Lowine de Gloucestre (l. 917); here all the MSS. diverge and none appears to have had an intelligible line to copy. (ii) In the account of the compilation of the A.S. Chronicle, inserted into the list of Bretwaldas, we read:
Mais n'alot pas la terre issi,
Que nuls hom né pur la guerre
Seüst cument alot la terre
Ne [en] cel tens sul ne saveit
Nuls hom ki chescon rei estait.
Moines, chanoines des abeïes
Escristrent de dis reis les vies,
Si adresça chascun sun per
Pur la veire raisun mustrer
Des reis; (ll. 2312-21)
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here the transition at the beginning is very abrupt and far from clear, and there is also uncertainty in the reading of ll. 2317-18. Also of interest is the fact that the Settlement, Wasing, and Chronicle passages are all later insertions by Gaimar and are all of the same length. Thirdly, we find in the earlier portion of the Estoire a number of couplets occurring only in R which are due to Gaimar, but possibly involve marginal additions made by him. As an example I shall consider one such couplet in some detail. At ll. 969-70, in a passage referring to the Pictish mission of St. Ninian, we read, but only in R: A Wyternen gist saint Dinan, Long tens vint devant Columban. It is clear that there is a mistake in the initial letter of the earlier saint's name, for he had been mentioned previously (l. 965); there DLH read Ninan, but R has the same corrupt form Dinan. Now this form would have made it impossible for anyone to find further information about the saint, so the couplet, with the correct name, must have been present at an earlier stage in the transmission of R. The whole passage is condensed and arranged from A.S.C. 565; from this annal Gaimar drew the fact of the donation of Ii (=Iona) (l. 963), the fact of St. Columba's abbacy there (l. 964), and the fact of the much earlier baptism of Picts by St. Ninian (ll. 965-6). It was natural for him to conclude, from the wording of the annal, which he must have read in order to obtain the above facts, that St. Ninian had come to those parts long before St. Columba and this conclusion, together with the burial-place, also supplied by the annal, are precisely the contents of the couplet found only in R. There are indications that Gaimar, when he first started to translate A.S.C., was not quite sure how to tackle the job; he seems to have read a group of annals first, and then to have made his translation; later he decided to deal with one annal at a time. The couplet I have just considered, and other similar ones, suggest that marginal additions, which could be understood as alternatives, are here involved. Thus the existence of a MS. intermediate between the author's original and (βR is, to say the least, problematical, nor, in view of the popularity of Wace's work, does it appear necessary to assume an actual combination of Brut and Estoire in one MS. only; Gaimar's work did not pass entirely unnoticed, and the idea of substituting the later, and more famous, account of British history for his Estoire des Bretuns could have occurred independently to more than one copyist; alternatively, the knowledge that such a changePage xxii
had been made by one could have inspired another to do likewise and add the Estoire to his copying of the Brut.Nevertheless, except for the elimination of his α, the relationship of the MSS. first worked out by Vising seems to me still to hold good, subject to the provisos (i) the R is not a direct copy of the original, and (ii) that there appears to be some contamination between L and H in the last few hundred lines. To this I referred in my Haveloc edition (p. 99) and my collation of the Gaimar MSS. substantiates the claim there advanced. It is, of course, almost impossible to specify the exact point at which such contamination began, but somewhere between l. 5500 and l. 6000 the change in the relationship between L and H would appear to have taken place. At any rate I have counted only some thirty-six instances up to l. 6000 in which L and H agree in their reading against the other two MSS.; of these some sixteen occur between the limits just mentioned. That the two should occasionally agree in omitting some little word–a pronoun or an adverb, should agree in some odd spelling of an O.E. personal- or place-name, should now and then change the number or the tense of a verb, is only to be expected and is of no significance, nor is it impossible for two scribes to hit on the same word to substitute for an obsolescent one, e.g. guarneisun for guareisun (l. 4553). When, however, we find two scribes making the same spelling change in a place-name, e.g. Stanford for Estanfort (ll. 5558, 5564) and substituting one name for another, e.g. Bardenie for Aberni (l. 5711); when we find them agreeing in a change of rime which may be influenced by a following rime, as in ll. 5593-4, where D and R have mandot : -ot, but LH mandat : -at, and all four have mandat (: -at) in l. 5595; when LH agree in omitting three lines (ll. 5641-3) and in adding a line (after l. 5644); then we are justified in suspecting some change in the relationship of the two MSS. The instances of agreement between L and H become even more numerous (some 55) after l. 6000. We find, of course, the same types as previously, but many of them, trivial when taken singly, help to increase the sense of deliberate change when considered in the mass. Certain others are much more significant and go far to establish contamination between the two MSS., probably in the direction of H from L. Thus at l. 6036 the text reads: Sa verge aidier a sustenir; for this L has: La verge deir a sustenir; but H reads: La verge d'or a sustenir; which looks like a deliberate attempt to
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give meaning to the line rendered unintelligible by L. Again, at l. 6039 the text reads: E mult suvent s'est puis gabez, for this L has: E suvent s'et pus babedez, but H reads: Et sovent s'est puis bauboiez, which once more looks like a deliberate correction. Again, at l. 6202 the text reads: Li reis aver l'en ad doné; for this LH have; Al rei sun frere l'ont doné; which alteration does not make sense.Thus, it will be seen, the hitherto accepted views on the affiliation of the MSS. require some modification and I append a revised stemma, keeping Vising's sigla where possible and indicating contamination by a dotted line.
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7. Establishment of Text
The edition is based on MS. D; a partial collation of the text in the Rolls Series showed that, apart from occasional reinterpretation of a succession of minims, it could be relied on to provide sense-variants, but in view of its importance the epilogue in that edition's MS. base–R–has been transcribed afresh. The text of the MS. base has been followed except where it has been necessary to make
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good omissions, or to correct mistakes by resort to other MSS. Words, or letters, supplied from other MSS. are enclosed in square brackets. Very occasionally ee is used by D to represent e; I have relegated these few spellings to the variants, so that in the text ee always represents two syllables.Study of the author's versification shows that he usually kept the pretonic vowel in hiatus, so I have marked it, when e, with a trema and introduced it into the text where not present in the MS. base; this is the only systematic correction made for metrical reasons. I do not feel quite so sure about Gaimar's acceptance of hiatus before an initial vowel, so I have not used the trema in such cases.
All departures from the MS. base are grouped together immediately below the text; where the reading is shared with other MSS. or when the MS. base is not D, the appropriate sigla are added. In the second variants are grouped together those from the other MSS.; they include only those which affect the sense; I have, however, included tense-variations, as these may reflect later usage, and I also give some interesting verb-forms from H. In the variants capital letters are used (i) to indicate the first word in the line, (ii) when followed by a full stop, to indicate abbreviation of a name in the text.
Abbreviations and contractions have been expanded normally without special indication, all names and initial words have been capitalized and modern punctuation introduced. As the MS. base usually gives numbers in full, this has been done in the text, though in the variants numerals are kept if they appear in the MS. cited.
The acute accent has been placed on final tonic e and es to avoid confusion with the corresponding atonic endings; the cedilla is used to indicate the assibilated pronunciation of c before a, o, or u; i and j and u and v have been distinguished. There is no agreed division into sections, each MS. following its own plan, and it does not seem possible to establish such divisions in any logical way.
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BIBLIOGRAPHY
The bibliography is selective; details of books and/or articles referring to specific points are given at the appropriate place in the introduction and/or notes.
A. Editions
1836. F. Michel, Chroniques anglo-normandes, I; gives ll. 5129-6526.
1848. H. Petrie, Monumenta Historica Britannica, I; gives ll. 1-5340 and ll. 6429-6526; cited as M.H.B.
1850. T. Wright, The Anglo-Norman Metrical Chronicle of Geoffrey Gaimar (Caxton Society, XI).
1888-9. Sir T. Duffus Hardy and C. T. Martin, L'Estoire des Engles (Rolls Series).
1925. A. Bell, Le Lai d'Haveloc; gives ll. 1-816.
B. Studies
1902. M. Gross, Geffrei Gaimar : Die Komposition seiner Reimchronik and sein Verhältnis zu den Quellen (Strassburg diss.).
1906. F. Rathmann, Die lautliche Gestaltung englischer Personennamen in Geffrei Gaimars Reimchronik (Kiel diss.).
1934. P. A. Becker, Der gepaarte Achtsilber in der französischen Dichtung (Abh. der philogisch-historischen Klasse der Sächsischen Akademie, XLIII).
1939. A. Bell, The Munich Brut and the Estoire des Bretuns, M.L.R., XXXIV, 321-54.
C. Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
1892-99. C. Plummer, Two Saxon Chronicles; cited as A.S.C., followed by appropriate siglum where required, for the text, and as Plummer for the introduction and notes.
1953. G. N. Garmonsway, The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (Everyman's Library, 624); translation of A.S.C.
Page 1
L'ESTOIRE DES ENGLEIS
[I comence l'estorie des Engles solum la translacion maistre Geffrei Gaimar].L0 [L0] Before 1 in R: Ca en arere el livere bien devant Si vus en estes remembrant2L0 [L0] Rubric not in DL2 [f.94b]
[O]ïd avez cumfaitementL1 [L1] Avez oi R2
Coste[n]tin ot cest casementL2 [L2] C. tint apres artur tenement R2
E cum Yvain refait fu reisL3 [L3] Y. fud fet r. LR2
4 De Mureif e de Loeneis.L3 [L3] In these details Gaimar differs from Wace who, in agreement with Geoffrey of Monmouth, makes Yvain succeed his father in Moray and his uncle in Alban. E. Brugger (Yvain and his Lion, M.P. XXXVIII (1941) 267-87) suggests that Gaimar may have been influenced in some way by the earlier Vita S. Kentigerni, which connects Yvain with Lothian and gives his mother's name as Erwegenda. This name Brugger would emend to Orwegenda, a form of Orwegen, and would then equate it with the Orwen of the Historia Meriadoci. As Orwegen is a possible etymon for the name of Argentille's mother (Orwain 61, Orewain 81), it may be that Gaimar obtained this name from the story of St. Kentigern; at any rate the possibility cannot be excluded.2
Mes de ço vait [mult] malement:L5 [L5] om mult DL2
Mort sunt [tut] lur meilor parentL6 [L6] om tut DL2
E li Seisne sunt espanduzL7 [L7] S. se s. R2
8 Ki [od Certiz] erent venuz.L8 [L8] furent v. R2L8 [L8] de kerdiz DL2
Des Humbre desqu'en Kateneis
Duné lur ot Modred li reis,
Si unt saisi e tut purprisL11 [L11] om tut R2
12 La terre que ja tint Hengis.
Cele claiment en eritage
Kar Hengis fud de lur lignage.L14 [L14] estait R2
Este vus ci une [acheson]:L15 [L15] om une R2L15 [L15] chancon DL2
16 En grant travail entrent Bretun,L16 [L16] Dunt en R2
Si funt Escot e li Pecteis,
Li Galweien e li Cumbreis.L18 [L18] galwais L gawaleis R2L18 [L18] galwein2
Tel guerre funt la gent [estraine]L19 [L19] estrange DR2
20 En grant dolur entrat Bretaine
E li Engleis tuz jorz creisseientL21 [L21] acreisseient R2L21 [L21] om E DLR2
Kar d'ultremer suvent veneient;
Cil de Seisuine e d'Alemaine
24 S'ajustoent a lur cunpaine;L24 [L24] Sajustent R2
Pur dan Hengis lur anceisur
Page 2
Les altres firent d'els seignur.
Tuz jorz, si cum il cunquereient,
28 Des Engleis la [recunusseient],L28 [L28] recunciseient3
La terre que vunt cunquerant,L29 [L29] v. cumq. L conq. R3L29 [L29] t. kil R3L29 [L29] querant3
Si l'apeloent Engelant.L30 [L30] apelent DLR3
Este vus ci une [acheson]L31 [L31] chancon DL3
32 Par quei Bretaine perdi sun nun.
E les nevoz Arthur regnerent
Ki encuntre Engleis guerïerent
Mes li Daneis mult les haeient
36 Pur lur parenz ki mort esteient [f.94c]
Es batailles que Arthur fist
Cuntre Modred qu'il puis ocist.L1 [L1] This passage, often called a prologue, is really a connecting link between Gaimar's lost Estoire des Bretuns and his Estoire des Engleis; ll. 35-8 represent an extension made necessary by his decision to insert here his Haveloc episode; in R the opening is differently worded, but appears to refer to the arrangement of a particular MS. and has not been accepted into the text.3
[S]e ço est veir que Gilde ditL39 [L39] De L3L39 [L39] dist DLR3
40 En la geste trovai escritL40 [L40] trova R3L40 [L40] g. quil escrist DL3L39 [L39] There is considerable divergence between DL on the one hand and R on the other, and neither reading, as it stands, is quite satisfactory. The objections to DL are that l. 40 is metrically incorrect and that, being a continuation of l. 39, we are left with an unfinished sentence. The objection to R is that his verb appears to be a 3 sg., but as he does very occasionally write a for ai in verbal terminations (e.g. l. 609 sa = sai) and as Gaimar is clearly appealing to the authority of Gilde, I have corrected the verb in the interests of clarity. Whether by Gilde Gaimar meant the author of the De Excidio Britanniae or whether he had in mind the Historia Britonum, a work often ascribed to Gildas in medieval times, cannot be determined, but neither of these works justifies in any way the appeal to its authority on the point of the two under-kings, though Gildas, of course, does feature a number of kings contemporary with Constantine.3
Que dous reis ot ja en Bretaine,
Quant Costentins ert chevetaine,L42 [L42] C. estait R3
Cil Constentins li niés Arthur
44 Ki ot l'espee Kalibur.
[Adelbrit] ot nun un des reis,L45 [L45] A. aveit a n. li uns des R3L45 [L45] Achebrit DL3L45 [L45] Adelbrit R, Achebrit DL. This difference in the name, with minor graphic variants in the last component, is constant in Gaimar's Haveloc story. As the name in R explains the two-syllable form Albrit, which is required by the metre at l. 89, and as most other independent versions of the story use an Æthel- name, I have accepted R's form into my text.3
Riches hum fud, si ert Daneis.
Li altres ot nun Edelsi,
48 Sue [ert] Nincole e Lindesi;L48 [L48] fud DL3
Des Humbre desqu'en [Roteland]L49 [L49] orient DL3L49 [L49] Roteland R, orient DL. The former reading has been adopted, because the other boundaries are very definite and because Gaimar is describing the kingdom in a north-south direction; the parallel passage in the Lai d' Haveloc also gives Rotelande (l. 200).3
Iert le pais en sun cumant.L50 [L50] s. cumandement L3
Li altre ert reis de la cuntree
52 Ki ore est Northfolke apelee.
Tant s'acuinterent cil dui rei
K'il furent cumpaignun par fei
E que entr'els [dous] ot tel amurL55 [L55] om dous DL3
56 [Que] Edelsi dunad sa sorurL56 [L56] om Que R3L56 [L56] Qua3
A [Adelbrit] cel riche reisL57 [L57] achebrit DL3
Ki ert del lignage as Daneis.
Li altre reis esteit Bretun
Page 3
60 Ki Edelsi aveit a nun.
Sa sorur ot a nun Orwain,
Mult ert franche e de bone main;
De sun seignur ot une fille,
64 Que l'um apelad Argentille.
La pulcele crut e tehid
Kar asez fud süef nurrid,L66 [L66] f. ki la n. R4
Si avint ore tut pur veirL67 [L67] a. trestut p. R4
68 Que sun pere n'ot nul altre eir.L68 [L68] p. uolt n. L4
En Danemarche le regnez
Avait quatre riches cuntez
E en Bretaine aveit conquis
72 Kaïr Koël [od] le païs;L72 [L72] od tut le R4L72 [L72] ot4 [f.94d]
Des Colecestre desqu'en Hoyland
Durot sun regne en un tenant.L74 [L74] s. realme R4
Tant cum il fud si poëstis
76 Edelsi fud bien sis amis
Mes dunc fud [Adelbrict] mortL77 [L77] d avint ke A. fu m. R4L77 [L77] achebrit DL4
[Enz] en la cité de Tiedfort.L78 [L78] om Enz DL4
A Colecestre fud ported,
80 Iloc fud li reis enterred
E Or[e]wain e Argentille –L81 [L81] orwain DL4
Ço fud la reïne e sa fille –
En sunt alé a [Lindesi],L83 [L83] lindesie4
84 A sun frere rei Edelsi.
Le regne que [Adelbrict] teneitL85 [L85] achebriht DL4
Li unt livré que guarde en seitL86 [L86] om en L4
Kar la reïne ert enfermee,L87 [L87] afermee glossed infirmata L4
88 Ne mes oit jorz nen ad duree.L88 [L88] vint j. ad R4
Aprés [Albrict], quant fud finie,L89 [L89] achebriht DL4
Unt la reïne ensevelie
E Argentille fud nurrie
92 A Nincole e a Lindesie.
Si cum dient l'antive gent,L93 [L93] dit R4
Page 4
Ele n'ot nul chevel parentL94 [L94] chive L cheval R5L94 [L94] chievol5L94 [L94] cheval R, chievol D, chive L. Evidently the adjective was not familiar to DL, which at l. 2282 again stumble over the word, and there H substitutes another word. The word occurs three times in the Estoire–here and at ll. 2282, 2591 – and each time with somewhat different meaning. Here I translate: She had no near relative.5
De part sun pere des Daneis.L95 [L95] om pere R5
96 Oëz que fist cist feluns reis!
Pur l'erité qu'il cuveitad
Sa niece mesmariee ad;L98 [L98] mesmarier quidad L mesmariat R5L98 [L98] senes mariad5L98 [L98] mesmariee ad. It is the disparity in status involved in the proposed marriage, and not its speediness, which is important to Edelsi's design. This leads me to abandon the reading of D–in itself acceptable–in favour of an emendation based on the occurrence in LR of the verb mesmarier, though neither MS. offers a metrically correct line.5
Il la dunad a un garçon
100 Ki Cuaran aveit a nun;
Pur ço que abaisier la voleit,L101 [L101] que abassier LR5L101 [L101] que baisier5
Se purpensa qu'il li durreit.
Cil Cuaran esteit quistrun
104 Mes mult esteit bel vadletun;L104 [L104] mult par ert b. R5L104 [L104] om Mes L5
Bel vis aveit e beles mains,
Cors eschiwid, süef e plains,
Li suen semblanz ert tut tens liez,
108 Beles jambes ot e bels piez. [f.95a]
Mes pur ço que hardiz esteit
E volentiers se cumbateit,
N'aveit vadlet en la maison,
112 Si li faiseit ahateisun
E sur lui cumençast medlees,
K'il nel ruast jambes leveesL114 [L114] rueit R5
E quant il bien se curesçot,
116 De sa ceinture le liout
E cil dunc n'en aveit guarant,L117 [L117] E si cil d. naveit R5
Bien le bateit a un verjant.
E nepurquant tant francs esteit,
120 Si li vadlez li prameteitL120 [L120] co DL5
Que pur [i]ço meins ne l'amast,
Senés l'ure le desliast.L122 [L122] Ignelure R5
Quant il [se erent] entrebaisiez,L123 [L123] serreient DL5
124 Dunc esteit Cuaran haitiez.
E li reis e li chevalier
Lui dunoent de lur mangier;
Esquanz lui dunoent guastels,
Page 5
128 Esquanz quartiers de simenels,
Les altres hastes e gelines
Ki lur veneient des quisines,L130 [L130] veneint R6L130 [L130] veneit DL6
Que tant aveit [pain e] cunreiL131 [L131] de c. DL6
132 Que dous vadlez aveit od sei
E as vadlez de la [meisun]L133 [L133] meisuns DR6
Feseit suvent mult [large dun]L134 [L134] larges duns DR6
[De simenels, de canestels]L135 [L135] s. e de c. R6
136 E de hastes e de gastels.L135 [L135] not in DL6
Pur ço qu'esteit si bien amezL137 [L137] co est. R6
E si preisiez e si loez,
N'aveit francs hum en la meisun,
140 Si Cuaran en voleit dun,
Ke ne li dunast volentiers.L141 [L141] Kil R6
Mes il n'aveit suig de luiers,
De tant duner cum il avait –
144 Ço li ert vis [ke] poi esteit –L144 [L144] om ke DL6
E quant il n'aveit que duner,
Volentiers alot enpruenter;L146 [L146] V. lalout R6 [f.95b]
Puis le dunot e despendeit –
148 Ço qu'enpruentot, tres bien rendeit –L148 [L148] b. soldout R6
Quanqu'il aveit, trestut dunot
Mes nule rien ne demandot.
Il iert issi en la meisun
152 Escuieler [a un] quistrun;L152 [L152] E. a une q. R6L152 [L152] E. cume q. DL6
Dous vadlez ot qu'il nurriseit.L153 [L153] nurisout R6
Or oiez pur quei le faseit:L154 [L154] il le fesout R6L154 [L154] Seignurs oiez R6
Il quidot qu'il fussent si frere
156 Mes ne lur [a]partint sun pereL156 [L156] partint DL6
Ne sa mere ne sun lignage
Ne n'esteit de lur parentage.L158 [L158] l. parage R6
Puroc, [s'il] iert en [tel] despit,L159 [L159] s. estait R6L159 [L159] P. nent s. L6L159 [L159] itel DL6L159 [L159] om sil DL6
160 [Venuz] esteit de gentil litL160 [L160] Gentiz home fu si cum jo quit L6L160 [L160] Ne nuls e.6
E se li reis [s']aparceüst,L161 [L161] aparceust DL6
Page 6
Ne qui que ja sa niece eüst.
Dunt il iert nez, pas ne saveit,
164 De lui sun jugleür faseit.
Pur la terre Adelbriht tolirL165 [L165] albrict R7L165 [L165] akebriht DL7L165 [L165] In order to take Adelbriht's land. As the king is already dead, this must be the meaning; similarly constructed lines occur elsewhere in the Estoire. e.g. A la maisun Eiftroed alat (l. 3998), where only the context shows that we have the appositional genitive.7
Faseit sa niece od lui gisir,
La fille al rei en povre lit.L167 [L167] om en R7
168 Ore est mestier que Deus aït
Kar ci ot fait grant cruelté
Pur cuveitise de cel regné,
Quant pur le regne sul aveir
172 Hunist sa niece a sun espeir.
Il la dunad a sun quistrunL173 [L173] E la d. R7
Ki Cuarans aveit a nun.
Cil ne saveit que femme [esteit]
176 Ne qu'il faire ne li deveit;L176 [L176] Second ne not in LR7
Des qu'il unkes el lit veneit,
Adenz giseit, si se dormeit.
Argentille ert en grant purpens
180 Pur quei il giseit si adenz
E mult forment se merveillotL181 [L181] f. sesm. R7
Que [unques] vers li ne se turnotL182 [L182] unc7 [f.95c]
Ne ne la voleit aprismierL183 [L183] Second ne not in L7
184 Cum hum deit faire sa muillier.
La niece [al] rei se cumplaineit,L185 [L185] lu DL7L185 [L185] the king's niece. The construction is the same as in ll. 167, 193 and DL seem to have altered the phrase in order to avoid possible ambiguity.7
Suvent sun uncle maldiseit
Ki si l'aveit deseriteeL187 [L187] Ke L7
188 E a un tel hume dunee,
Tant qu'il avint a une nuit
Qu'il firent primes lur deduit.
Aprés iço si s'endormirent.
192 Mult s'entramerent e joïrent.
La fille al rei en sun dormant
Sunjad qu'ele iert od Cuarant
Entre la [mer] e un boscage,L195 [L195] veie DL7
196 U cunversad un urs salvage.
Page 7
Devers la mer vëeit venirL197 [L197] m. en un L8
Porcs e sengliers prestz [d'asaillir]L198 [L198] prist a. R8L198 [L198] de saillir8
Icel [grant] urs ki tant [ert] fierL199 [L199] k. si e. R8L199 [L199] esteit8L199 [L199] om grant DL8
200 Ki [voleit] Cuaran mangier.L200 [L200] Ke L8L200 [L200] volt DL8
Od l'urs aveit asez gupilz
Ki puis le jor orent perilz
Kar les sengliers les entrepristrent,
204 Mult en destruistrent e ocistrent.
Quant li gupil furent destruit,
Cel urs ki demenot tel bruit,
Un sul senglier fier e hardid
208 L'ad par sun cors sul asaillid;L208 [L208] om sun L8
Tel li dunad od l'une dent,L209 [L209] d. de l. R8
En dous meitiez le cors li fent.L210 [L210] le quer l. R8
Quant l'urs se sent a mort feruz,
212 Un cri jetad, puis chaï jusL212 [L212] p. est chau R8
E li gupil vindrent curantL213 [L213] v. avant L8
De tutes parz vers Cuarant,
Entre lur quisses lur cüettes,
216 Lur chiefs enclins en chatonettes,L216 [L216] enc. a genuletes R8
E funt semblant de merci querre
A Cuarant que firent guerre.L218 [L218] C. a ki f. R8 [f.95d]
Quant il les ot fait tuz lïer,L219 [L219] t. lever R8
220 Envers la mer volt repairier.
Li grant arbre ki el bois erent
De tutes [parz] li enclinerent;
La mer munta e li floz vint,L223 [L223] muntout R8
224 Dessi qu'al bois unc ne se tint;L224 [L224] om unc R8
Li bois chaeit, la mer veneit,L225 [L225] si c. R8
Cuaran ert en grant destreit;
Aprés veneient dous leons,
228 Si chaeient a genuilluns
Mes des bestes mult ocieient
El bois qui en lur veie esteient.
Page 8
Cuaran pur poür qu'il ot
232 Sur un [des granz arbres] muntotL232 [L232] grant arbre DL9
E les [leons] vindrent avantL233 [L233] urs DL9
Envers [cel] arbre agenuillant.L234 [L234] la. DL9
Partut le bois ot si grant cri
236 Que la dame s'en esperiL236 [L236] sen eveilli R9
E cum ele ot iço sungié,
Sun seignur ad fort enbracié.
Ele le trovad gisant envers,
240 Entre ses bras si l'ad aers.
Pur [la] poür ses oilz ovrid,L241 [L241] le9
Une flamme vit ki issidL242 [L242] ki sen i. DL9
Fors de la buche sun marid
244 Que encore ert tut endormid.L244 [L244] Ki R9
Merveillad sei de l'avisiun
E de la buche sun barun
E de la flamme qu'ele vit.
248 Ore entendez qu'ele ad dit.L248 [L248] om ad R9
'Sire', fait [ele], 'vus ardez.
Esveilliez vus, si vus volez.
De vostre buche une flamme ist,
252 Jo ne sai unques qui l'i mist.'L252 [L252] ki i m. R9
Tant l'enbraçad e traist vers sei
Qu'il s'esveillad e dist: 'Pur quei [f.96a]
M'avez esveillié, bele amie?L255 [L255] Pur quei mav. R9
256 Pur quei estes espoürie?'L256 [L256] e. esponti R9
Tant la preiad, tant la blandidL257 [L257] p. e tant R9
Qu'ele li cuntad tut e gehidL258 [L258] e regehit R9
De la flambe e de l'avisiun
260 Qu'ele ot veü de sun barun.
Cuaran l'en respundidL261 [L261] om len R9
De l'avisiun qu'il oïd;
Sulunc sun sen espelst le sunge –L263 [L263] s. sens R9
264 Quanqu'il [dist], tut i ert menconge.L264 [L264] om i R9L264 [L264] dit DL9
Page 9
'Dame,' fait il, 'ço serrad bienL265 [L265] dit il LR10
Ambure a vostre ues e al mien.
Ore m'est avis que ço puet estre,
268 Que li reis tendrad demein feste.L268 [L268] sa f. R10L268 [L268] om Que R10
Mult [i] avrad de ses baruns;
Cerfs e chevrols e veneisuns
E altres chars tant i avrad
272 En la quisine en remaindrad;L272 [L272] q. tant r. R10L272 [L272] E en R10
Tant en prendrum a espandant,L273 [L273] prendrun L prendrom R10L273 [L273] prendrunt10
Les esquiers ferai manant
Des bons lardez e des braüns
276 Des escuieles as baruns.L276 [L276] E des DL10
Li escuier me sunt aclin
Ambure al seir e al matin.L278 [L278] al vespre e al m. R10
Cil signifient li gupil
280 Dunt vus [sunjastes: ço] sunt il.L280 [L280] v. co sunjastes s. DL10
E l'urs est morz, er fud ocis,
En un bois fud salvage pris;
Dous tors i ad pur les leons
284 E pur la mer pernum les pluns,
U l'ewe munted cume mer
Deci que freit la fait cesser;
La char des tors i serrad quite.
288 Dame, l'avisiun est dite.'
Argentille quant [ot ço] dire:L289 [L289] q. co oid d. DL10
'Encore avant me dites, sire,L290 [L290] ll. 287-8 and ll. 289-90 interverted in DL10 [f.96b]
Que icel feu puet espelerL291 [L291] Quei R10
292 Que vi en vostre buche arder.'L292 [L292] Ken v.b. vi a. R10
['Dame,' fait il, 'ne sai ke dait]L293 [L293] dist il R10
Mes en dormant si me deceit;L293 [L293] not in DL10
Des que [jo] dorm, ma buche esprent,L295 [L295] om jo DL10
296 De la flamme nient ne me sent.
Vers tei en ai hunte mult grantL297 [L297] om mult L10L297 [L297] Veires jo en R10
Que ço m'avient en mun dormant.'L298 [L298] om mun DLR10
Page 10
Dist Argentille: 'Ami, entend.L299 [L299] A. a moi e. R11
300 Nus sumes ci huntusement;
Mielz nus vendreit estre issilliez
Entre paiens e enperrezL302 [L302] e enterrez L11L302 [L302] E. aliens R11
Que ci gisir en tel huntage.
304 Amis, u est li tuen lignage?'
'Dame,' fait il, 'a Grimesbi;
D'iloc turnai, quant jo vinc ci.
Si la ne truis mun parenté,L307 [L307] ne trofs m. L11
308 Suz ciel ne sai dunt jo sui né.'
'Amis,' fait ele, 'kar i alum
Saveir si ja i troverumL310 [L310] om i R11
Nul hum ki mei ne tei amast
312 U meillor cunseil nus dunast.'L312 [L312] U mieldre c. R11
Dist Cuaran: 'La meie amie,
U seit saveir u seit folie,
Jo f[e]rai ço que vus volez,
316 La vus merrai, si vus loez.'L316 [L316] si si v. l. L si v. me l. R11
La nuit jurent desqu'al cler jor.
L'endemein vunt a lur seignur,
Al rei vindrent querre cungié.L319 [L319] v. querent c. R11
320 Quant il ço ot, sin est haitié,L320 [L320] si en fu h. R11
Tut en riant le lur dunad,
A tuz ses humes s'en gabad
E dit: 'S'il unt un poi de faim,
324 U al tierz jor u al demein,
Tut se mettrunt el repairer,L325 [L325] remettrunt L11
Quant ne purrunt mielz espleiter.'
Ore s'en vunt cil a Grimesbi.
328 La troverent un bon ami, [f.96c]
Pescheür ert, iloc maneit,
La fille Grim celui aveit.
Quant recunut les treis meschins,L331 [L331] meschines L11L331 [L331] meschiens11
332 Cuaran e les dous fiz Grims,
Page 11
E il sot de la fille al reiL321 [L321] torn out in R12
[…] [en la lei
Mult fu pensifs en son corage;
336 Dist a sa femme que mult ert sage:
'Dame,' fait il, 'que ferom?L337 [L337] dist il R12
Si vus loez, descoverom
A Haveloc le fiz le rei]L334 [L334] not in DL12
340 Nostre cunseil e le secrei.L340 [L340] e nostre s. L12
Dime[s] [li] tut overtement,L341 [L341] Dium L12L341 [L341] om li DL12
Dunt il est nez e de quel gent.'
Dist la dame: 'S'il le saveit,
344 Jo qui que il le descuvereit
En itel lieu par sun folage,L345 [L345] tel DLR12
U tost li vendreit grant damage.L346 [L346] t. len avendreit R12
Il nen est mie si savantL347 [L347] Il ne mie si s. R12
348 Qu'il saced cuvrir sun talent.L348 [L348] saceit L12
S'il saveit qu'il de reis fust nez,L349 [L349] fud LR12L349 [L349] s. ke des r. R12
Curtes ures [serreit] celezL350 [L350] fust DL12
E nepuroc ore l'apelum,
352 Dunt il est nez ore demandumL352 [L352] n. li d. R12
E si sa femme vient od lui,
Bien li poüm dire, ço qui,
Dunt il est nez e de quel terre,
356 Cum il eisillad par la guerre.'L356 [L356] om la L12L356 [L356] E cum DL12
A tant apelent Aveloc –
E Argentele vint avoc –L358 [L358] argentille R12
E li pruedhueme e sa muillier
360 L'unt pris mult bel araisuner.L360 [L360] unt pris . . . araisuner. There is no assured example in Gaimar of prendre (= begin) followed by the pure infinitive and, in view of Brendan, l. 872, I now favour the explanation put forward by E. Burghardt, Einfluss des Englischen auf das Anglo-normannische, (Studien zur eng. Philologie XXIV, Halle, 1906, pp. 29, 32) and adopted by E. G. R. Waters, Brendan, l. 48 n, that the successive a's have coalesced. The construction still has inchoative value in the Estoire and has not yet become a mere periphrasis.12
'Amis,' funt il, 'dunt estes nez?L361 [L361] d. est n. L d. es tu n. R12
En quel lieu est tis parentez?'
'Dame,' fait il, 'ici laissaiL363 [L363] cil L12L363 [L363] ci12
364 Mun parenté, quant m'en turnai.
Tu es ma suer, jo sui tis frere
Page 12
Ambure de pere e de mere;
Grim fud mis pere un [pescheür],L367 [L367] peschur13L363 [L363] torn out in R13
368 Ma mere ot nun Sebruc sa uxor.
Quant furent mort, d'ici turnai,L369 [L369] de ci t. LR13
Mes dous freres od mei menai. [f.96d]
Ore eimes granz, revenuz sumes
372 Mes noz [parenz] ne coneümesL372 [L372] conussumes R13L372 [L372] cunumes DL13L372 [L372] parentez DL13L368 [L368] partly torn in R13
Ne mes sul tei e tun seignur;
Bien sai, tu ies nostre sorur.'
Respunt Kelloc: 'Tut i ad el.
376 Unc tis peres ne vendi selL376 [L376] ton pere R13
Ne ta mere ne fud salniere.
Grim vendi sel, si fud peschiere.
De mes freres grant gré te sai;
380 Ço que[s] nurris, t'en mercierai.L380 [L380] De co kes as n. te m. R13L380 [L380] que13
Yer arivad laÿs al portL381 [L381] a leus al p. R13
Un bon kenard e grant e fort,L382 [L382] k. grant L13L382 [L382] grant and bon interverted in R13
Pain e char meine e vin e ble –
384 De tel unt il mult grant plenté.L384 [L384] Dicel R13
Ultre la mer vuelent passer.
Si vus vulez od els aler,
[Jo quid k'il irrunt el païs,
388 U sunt vos parenz e amis.L388 [L388] e vos a. R13
Si vus volez od els aler,
Nus les vus purrum alüer]L390 [L390] p. bien a. R13L387 [L387] not in DL13
Dras vus durrum a remuiers,
392 Sin porterez de noz deniers
E pain e char e bon cler vin
Pur prendre al vespre e al matin;
Cunrei avrez, tant cum voldres,
396 Voz dous vadlez od vus merrez.L396 [L396] Noz L13
Mes celez bien vostre secrei:
Vus fustes fiz a un bon rei;
[Danemarche out par heritage,
Page 13
400 Si out son pere e son linage.L399 [L399] not in DL14
Li vostre pere ot nun Guntier,
Si prist la fille al rei Gaifier.
[Alvive] ot nun, ele me nurrid,L403 [L403] Allene L14L403 [L403] Alleve14L403 [L403] Alvive R, Alleve D, Allene L. I have adopted the first form in the text, because a scribal corruption of Alvive to Alleve is rather more likely than one in the reverse direction; later in the Estoire Gaimar uses Elvive to render O.E. Ælfgifu (l. 4524).14
404 Maint bien me fist, tant cum [vesqui];L404 [L404] c. fud vif DL14
Ele me levad, ço dist ma mere.
Fille sui Grim un sun cumpere.
Mes ço avint en vostre terre:
408 Li reis Arthur la vint cunquerre.L408 [L408] A. lalot cumquere L14L408 [L408] cunqueere14
Pur sun treü que li detintL405 [L405] torn out in R14
Od mult grant gent el païs vint;
Al rei Guntier semblad [contraille],L411 [L411] cuntraire14
412 Juste la mer li tint bataille;L412 [L412] E juste DL14L411 [L411] repeated by new scribe at f. 97a14 [f.97a]
Ocis i fud li rei GuntierL413 [L413] le r L li reis R14
E d'ambes parz maint chevalier.L410 [L410] partly torn in R14
Qui Artur plot dunat la terre.L415 [L415] A. volt d. R14
416 Mais la reïne pur la guerre
Ne pot [el] païs remaneir,L417 [L417] p. en la terre r. R14L417 [L417] al14
Si s'en fuït od le dreit eir,
Ço este[s] vus, si cum jo crei,
420 Danz Avelocs le fiz le rei.
Mis pere aveit mult bone nef,
La reïne amenot süef,
Vers cest païs l'en amenot,L423 [L423] lamenout R14
424 Quant si avint cum [a] Deu plot:L424 [L424] om a DR14
De uthlages fumes encuntrez.
En mer furent trestuz rüez
Noz chevaliers e nostre gent
428 E la reïne ensement.
Unc n'i guarid hom fors mun pere
Ne nule femme fors ma mere.
Mis pere esteit lur conuissant;
432 Pur ço garirent li emfant,L432 [L432] si e. L14
E jo e vus e mi dui frere,
Page 14
Par la preiere de mun pere.
En cest païs quant arivames,
436 Nostre grant nef parmi trenchames
Kar tute ert frainte e malmise,L437 [L437] fu freite e malveise R15
Quant la reïne ert ocise.L438 [L438] fu R15
De nostre nef maisun feïmes;
440 Par un batel bien garesimes,L440 [L440] om bien L15
Dunt nostre pere alad peschier.
Peissuns eümes a mangier,
Turbuz, salmuns e mulüels,
444 Graspeis, porpeis e makerels;
A grant plenté e a fuisun
Oümes pain e bon peissun. [f.97b]
Del peissun cangïum le pain
448 [Que] hom nus aportout a plain
E, cum nus eümes deniers,
Mis peres dunc devint salniers.
Tant cum vesqui il e ma mere,
452 Bien [vus] nurrit mielz que mi frereL452 [L452] nus15
E jo remis, si pris seignur.
Cil m'ad tenud a grant onur.
Marchëant ert, mer sot passerL455 [L455] marchant DL15
456 E set bien vendre e achater.L455 [L455] The change of tense of saveir here could be justified on the assumption that the first reference is to the time of marriage, and the second to the time of interview, but it is not certain that any such justification is necessary. For a similar change of tense, cf. Thomas, Tristan (ed. Wind, Sn1 609).15
En Danemarche fud le [autrer]L457 [L457] aut'er15L447 [L447] torn out in R15
E a plusurs oïd preier,
Si hom vus trovot, que venissiezL459 [L459] Sil vus trovast R15L458 [L458] partly torn in R15
460 E le païs chalengissiez.
Bien [vus] loüm que la [turnez],L461 [L461] om la R15L461 [L461] turnissiez15
Voz dous vadlez od vus menez,L461 [L461] not in L15
Pur vus servir seient od vos.L463 [L463] serreient L15L463 [L463] I pur L15
464 Si bien vus prent, mandez le nus;
Nus vus siuvrum, si vus volez,
Si Deu vus rent voz heretez.'L466 [L466] Si deus L15
Dist Aveloc e sa muillier:
468 'Nus vus rendrum mult bon luier,L468 [L468] m. ben l. L15
Page 15
[Plus] vus [ferum] que ne [querez],L469 [L469] E plus L16L469 [L469] quidez DL16L469 [L469] rendrum DL16L469 [L469] E pus16
Se Deus nus rent noz heritez,
E les vadlez od nus merrum.
472 Pur Deu pensez que nus passum.'L472 [L472] D. bien en penserom R16
Respunt la dame: 'Veirement
Ci remaindrez tant que aiez ventL474 [L474] om tant L16
[E] si jo puis, ainz que passez,L475 [L475] om E DL16
476 De meillurs dras vestuz serrez.'
Cil remistrent dunc a sujur,
Vestuz furent a grant enur.L478 [L478] f. par honur R16
Tant sujurnerent que vint l'oredL479 [L479] T. sujurnent R16
480 E puis si sunt en nef entred;
E danz Algiers li marchëantL481 [L481] marchanz LR16L481 [L481] algers R16L481 [L481] algies DL16
Ad fait pur els le cuvenant.L482 [L482] les cuvenanz L li covenanz R16
[Lur froc dona il e Kelloc
484 Pur la meisnee HavelocL484 [L484] meisne R16L483 [L483] not in DL16 [f.97c]
E] asez lur mist enz vitaille,L485 [L485] lur i m.v. R16L485 [L485] om E DL16
Tresqu'a un meis ne ferad faille;L486 [L486] T. treis m. ne volt ke f. R16L486 [L486] frad DL16
Pain e vin e char e [peissunL487 [L487] e bon p. R16L487 [L487] peisuns16
488 Lur ] mist es nefs a grant [fuisun]L488 [L488] fuisuns16L488 [L488] om Lur DL16
E tresque unches la nef flotat,L489 [L489] om unches R16
Li esterman bien se drescat.
Dous nefs i ot tuit veirement,L491 [L491] om tuit L16
492 Lur veilz drescent cuntre [le] vent.L492 [L492] L. sigles d. al v. R16
Tant unt nagied e governezL493 [L493] e sujurne L16
Qu'en Danemarche sunt arivez.
En la cuntree, u ariverent,
496 A une vile s'en alerent,
La quistrent sumiers e [carrei],L497 [L497] charrei L16L497 [L497] careie16
Mener i firent lur [cunrei],L498 [L498] cunreie16
Les marchëanz sunt tuz [remés]L499 [L499] remeis16L499 [L499] marchanz DLR16
500 Od lur herneis enz es dous nefsL500 [L500] om enz R16L500 [L500] half-lines interverted16
Page 16
E Aveloc e sa muillier
Vont a la vile herbergier.
Iloc maneit un[s] riches hom,
504 Sigar [Estalre] aveit a nun,L504 [L504] om a LR17L504 [L504] lestarle DL17
Seneschal iert al rei GuntierL505 [L505] le r. G. L17L505 [L505] S. fu R17
E de sa terre justisier.
Mais ore est tels qu'en pais teneitL507 [L507] ore ert R17
508 E icel rei forment haeitL508 [L508] E i. riche r. R17L508 [L508] E il cel r. L17
Ki dunc ert rei e poëstisL509 [L509] om e R17
Sur l'autre gent d'icel païs
[Pur] sun seignur qu'il aveit mortL511 [L511] om Pur L17L511 [L511] Sur17
512 Par [la vertu Artur le fort]L512 [L512] de A. R17L512 [L512] artur le rei qui mult fud fort DL17
Qu'il ot par traïsun mandet
E cel païs li ot dunet.
Pur ço qu'il ert traïtre e fel,
516 Plusurs unt tenud le cunseilL516 [L516] om le LR17L516 [L516] Plus en u. R17
Que ja od lui ne se tendrunt
Ne de li terre ne prendrunt,
Deci qu'il sachent del dreit eir
520 De sa vie u sa mort le veir.L520 [L520] u de sa m. DL17 [f.97d]
Cist rei[s] ki dunc ert el païs
Il [esteit] frere al rei AschisL522 [L522] ert DL17
Qui pur Arthur suffrid la mort
524 La u Modret li fist tel tort;
Il ot a nun Odulf le reis,
Mult fud haïz de ses Daneis.
Si cum Deu plut e aventure,
528 Deus mist en Aveloc sa cureL516 [L516] partly torn in R17
Pur sa muillier qui tant ert bele,L529 [L529] q. trop ert R17
Fille le rei dam' Argentele.L530 [L530] La f. al r. R17L530 [L530] After 530 six lines blank in R17
Sis bacheliers dunc l'asaillirent,L531 [L531] It is probable that some reference was here made to the arrival of Haveloc and his company at their quarters, though only R actually shows a gap.17
532 Pristrent s'amie, lui ferirentL532 [L532] assaillirent L (interlined above is another verb - ? ferent)17L532 [L532] P. la dame l. R17
E ses vadlez mult ledengerent,
Page 17
En plusurs lius lur chiefs briserent.L534 [L534] bruserent R18
Si cum [il] s'en vont od s'amie,L535 [L535] il vint od L il sen vnt od R18
536 Danz Avelocs en ot envie,
Prent une hache mult trenchant,
Qu'en la maisun trovad [pendant];L538 [L538] Ken une m. R18L538 [L538] gisant18L538 [L538] Quil trovad en la m. DL18L538 [L538] None of the MSS. give a metrically correct line and there are also divergences in the readings, which seem, in part, to be connected with the gap assumed in the previous note. R uses the indefinite article, as though the house had not been mentioned before; DL, which have no outward sign of a gap, use the definite article, as though the house were already familiar to their readers; as the change in article renders R's line metrically correct, I have followed that reading; the agreement of LR shows that gisant is not original.18
Cels ad ateint a la rüele
540 Qi menoent dam' Argentele,
Treis en ocist, dous en tuad
E al sist[e] le poin trenchad;L542 [L542] sist DL18
Prent sa femme, vint a l'ostel.
544 Es vus le cri mult criminel!
Prist ses vadlez e sa muillier,
Si s'en entrat en un mustier,
Fermat les us pur la poür,
548 Puis munterent sus en la tur.
Iloc aveit tel defensail,
Ja n'i fust pris senz grant travailL548 [L548] partly torn out in R18
Kar cil tres bien se defendirent,
552 [Blescerent] cels kis asailirent.L552 [L552] Blescied ierent18
Quant dan Sigar i vint puignant,L553 [L553] om i DL18
Veit cum les pieres vait ruantL554 [L554] p. vunt r. L18
Danz Avelocs qui mult ert fort;
556 Les cinc bricuns aveit il mort.L556 [L556] b. esteient m. L18 [f.98a]
Sigar le vit, si l'avisat,
Del rei Guntier dunc li membrat.L558 [L558] om dunc L18
Tresqu'il unques l'ot choisid,
560 Unc pur ses humes nel haïd.
A sun seignur si resemblotL561 [L561] om si DL18
Que quant le vit, tel pitied otL562 [L562] p. avoit L18L562 [L562] en ot18
Qu'a mult grant paine pot parler.
564 Tut l'asalt ad fait cesser,L551 [L551] torn out in R18
Pais e triwes lui afiad
E en sa sale l'en amenad,L566 [L566] om E LR18
Lui e sa femme e ses cumpainz,
Page 18
568 [Les dous] vadlez dunt dis des ainz,L568 [L568] om des R19L568 [L568] E les v. DL19L568 [L568] The context shows that the reading of R is original, for Haveloc has received no accretion of strength.19
E quant furent aseürez,
Li riches hom ad demandez
Qui il esteit e cum ad num
572 [E] dunt erent si cumpaignun,L572 [L572] U DL19
E de la dame lui demandatL573 [L573] om lui R19
Dunt ele vint, qui lui donat.L574 [L574] e ki li d. R19
'Sire,' fait il, 'ne sai qui sui,
576 En cest païs quid que nez fui.
Uns mariniers qui Grim ot nun
M'amenat petit vadletun.
En Lindesie en volt aler;L579 [L579] second en not in R19
580 Cum venimes en halte mer,
D'uthlages fumes asaillizL581 [L581] sumes R19
Par qui jo sui si malbailliz:L582 [L582] om jo R19
Ma mere i ert, si fud ocise;
584 Jo guari, ne sai en quel guise,L584 [L584] mes ne sai L19
E li prodom en eschapad
Qui me nurid e mult m'amad.
Il e sa femme me nurirent,
588 Mult m'amerent e encherirent.L588 [L588] E mult me nurirent e cherirent R19
Quant furent mort, si m'en turnai,
Un rei servi, u jo alai,
E dous vadlez furent od mei,L590 [L590] partly torn in R19
592 Tant cum jo fui od [i]cel rei. [f.98b]
Tant fui od lui en ma juvente –
E ceste dame iert sa parente –
Si cum lui plut, la me donad
596 E ensemble nus espusad.
Ci sui venud en cest païs,
Ne cunuis nul de mes amis
Ne jo ne sai a escient,
600 Si jo ai ci un sul parent.L600 [L600] om ci DL19
Mais par le los de un marchëant,L601 [L601] marchant DL19
A Grimesbi est remanant,
Page 19
Mult est prodom, nun ad Algier,
604 Il me load e sa muillier
Ci a venir mes amis querre
E mes parenz en ceste terre.L592 [L592] torn out in R20
Mes jo ne sai un sul numer
608 [Ne] ne sai cum jos puis trover.'L608 [L608] c. jo les p. L com les puisse t. R20L608 [L608] Ne sai DL20
Dist li prodom: 'Cum as tu nun?'
'[Sire], ne sai,' [cil li] respunt,L610 [L610] om li L20L610 [L610] sil R20L610 [L610] Ne s. respunt li vadletun D20L610 [L610] The agreement of LR shows that D is at fault. For the imperfect rime, cf. nun : idunc (ll. 937-8).20
'Mais cum jo fui en la curt grant,L611 [L611] jo sui en R20L611 [L611] tant cum DL20
612 Si me apeloent CuarantL612 [L612] mapelerent LR20
[E] tant cum jo fui vadletun,L613 [L613] jo sui v. R20L613 [L613] A t. L20L613 [L613] En20
Sai bien que Aveloc oi a nun;L614 [L614] oi n. L eut n. R20
A Grimesbi [quant] fui l'autrier,L615 [L615] om quant fui R20
616 Haveloc m'apelad Algier.
Or sui ici, quel que voldrez
De ces dous nuns m'apel[er]ez.'L618 [L618] mapelez DL20
Sigar s'estut, si escutad,
620 Del fiz lu rei si li membradL620 [L620] r. bien li R20
A icel nun dun[t] il [diseit],L621 [L621] esteit DL20L621 [L621] diseit R, esteit DL. The mention of the name Haveloc has set Sigar's memory working and this leads me to follow R rather than DL.20
Le fiz Guntier cel nun aveit,
Si li membrat d'un altre vice
624 Qu'il sot jadis par la nurrice,L624 [L624] Kil vit j. R20
De la flambe qui ert issant
De sa buche, quant ert dormant.L626 [L626] sa buchuche en d. L20
La nuit le fist tres bien gaitier
628 La u il jut od sa muillier. [f.98c]
Pur ço qu'il ert forment lassed
De la bataille e del pensed
Que aveit eüd le jur devant,
632 Si s'endormit, nul nel demant.L632 [L632] Sil sen R20
Eneslepas cume dormid,L633 [L633] ngnelpas cum d. L Ignelpas com il d. R20
De sa buche la flambe issid
E li sergant qui l'unt gaitedL635 [L635] vant ki R20
636 A lur seignur l'unt tost [nuncié]L636 [L636] cunted20
Page 20
E li prodom levat del lit.
Quant il i vint, la flambe vit.L638 [L638] Q. a li v. L21
Dunc sot il bien que veirs esteitL635 [L635] partly torn in R21
640 Ço que de lui pensez aveit;
Mais tant li ert cel pensé chier,
Unc nel voit dire a sa muillierL642 [L642] nel not d. L21
Tresqu'al demain qu'il levad.
644 Dun[c] pur ses humes enveiad,
Si mandat pur ses chevaliers,
Pur geldons e pur peoniers;L646 [L646] Pur geldes e p. puigneres L21
De tutes parz vienent asez.L647 [L647] p. i v. DL21
648 Quant il en ot mult asemblez,L640 [L640] torn out in R except for cher and moiller21
Dunc vait a Haveloc parler;
Bainer le fait e cunreier,
De novels dras le fait vestir,L651 [L651] d. lad feit v. R21
652 En la sale le fait venir.
Cum en la sale est entrez,
[U] vit tanz homes asemblez,L654 [L654] v. de h. L21
Poür ot grant que cele gent
656 Ne li facent mal jugement.
Pur les cinc homes que ot tuez
Quidat qu'il fussent asemblez.L658 [L658] Q. ke f. R21
Pur une hache en volt alerL659 [L659] h. i v. L om en R21
660 Que iloc teneit un bacheler;
Saisir la volt pur sei defendre.
Sigar [le vait, si l'ad fet prendre.L662 [L662] Ne trove nul quil voille attendre L21L662 [L662] S. la prist de sa main tendre21
Com il le tindrent de tuz lez,L663 [L663] leez R21L663 [L663] not in L21
664 Sigar li dist: 'Ne vus dotez],L664 [L664] After 664 in L: Mes la hache de vus metez21L661 [L661] Both in D and L we have obvious attempts to improve a passage already corrupt; the omission of ll. 663-4 in D is due to the repetition of Sigar in its source and the presence of l. 664 in L as well as in R confirms the authenticity of the couplet.21
N'aiez garde le mien ami.
Bien le vus jur, [sil vus] afiL666 [L666] j. e a. DL21 [f.98d]
Qu'ore vus aim plus que ne fis ier,
668 Quant vus asis a mun mangier.'
Puis si l'asiet delez sei,L669 [L669] asist R21
Aporter fait le corn le rei;
Page 21
Ço fud le corn le rei Guntier;L671 [L671] c. al r. G. LR22
672 Suz ciel n'i aveit chevalier,L672 [L672] c. nen ad c. L c. naveit nul c. R22
[Que] ja cel cor peüst sonerL673 [L673] Se22
Ne venëor ne bacheler,L674 [L674] ne chivaler L22
Si que ja [nuls] corner l'oïst,L675 [L675] nuls ja R22L675 [L675] nus22
676 Si rei [u] dreit eir nel feïst.L676 [L676] eir le f. R22L676 [L676] Si d. eir le rei nel f. L22
De Danemarche le dreit eir
Le poeit [bien] corner par veirL678 [L678] pur v. LR22L678 [L678] b. soner p. R22L678 [L678] Le poit L Le pot R22L678 [L678] om bien DL ben R22
Mais autre hom ja nel cornast,
680 Nuls hom pur nïent s'en penast.L680 [L680] n. sen traveillast R22
Cel cor aveit Sigar guardé,
Li rei[s] Guntier lui ot livré.L682 [L682] G. laveit l. L22
Quant il le tint, nel pot suner;
684 Un chevalier le fait livrer,L684 [L684] A un c. DR22
Si lui ad dit tut en riant:L685 [L685] After 685 in R: Si ke jo en saie oiant22L685 [L685] not in R22
'Quil [sunerad], qu'il seit cornant,L686 [L686] sune si22
Jo lui dorrai un bon anel
688 Qui a bosuin valt un chastel.
[Celui] qui en sun dei l'avrad,L689 [L689] Cil22
Si chiet en mer, ne neieradL690 [L690] Sil R22L688 [L688] partly torn in R22
Ne fu [nel] pot rien damagierL691 [L691] r. dampner L22L691 [L691] p. de rien LR22L691 [L691] ne li22
692 Ne nul arme nel pot navrer.'
[Tels com vus di est li anel.L693 [L693] om vus R22
Ore vont corner le meienel]L694 [L694] mainel R22L694 [L694] ll. 693-4 not in DL22
Li chevalier e li serjant;
696 [Ne volt] soner ne tant ne quant,L696 [L696] Ne le poent s. tant L22L696 [L696] Nel porent22L693 [L693] The first couplet is not in DL, and there seems to be some connexion between this fact and the presence of the word meienel. In l. 697 we have, I think, a stylistic device to emphasize the complete lack of success among those who attempt the feat and the device loses its effectiveness without the repetition of ne volt soner, but if this expression is in l. 696, then li chevalier e li serjant have no predicate unless we accept the preceding couplet. Further, in DL l. 696 has a syllable too many and reads like a rewriting in order to supply a predicate to l. 695 left in the air by the omission of ll. 693-4. On balance I accept the authenticity of the couplet. Cf. ll. 6373-4, 6379-80 n.22
Unc pur nul d'els ne volt suner.L697 [L697] pur nuls LR22
Dunc l'unt bailliez al bachelier
Qu'il apeloent le prisun
700 Qui Aveloc aveit a nun.L700 [L700] A. out n. R22
Quant cil le tint, si l'esgardat
Page 22
E dist qu'il unches [ne cornad].L702 [L702] u. cor ne sonat23
Al seignur dist: 'Larrai ester.
704 Quant autre [home] nel pot corner,L704 [L704] om home DL23 [f.99a]
Tut vus claim quite vostre anel,
[Ne rois pener le meienel].'L706 [L706] le mencebuel L23L706 [L706] meinel R23L706 [L706] Quant lunt asaiez tant damisel23L706 [L706] There seems to have been something not quite clear in the last word of the line, for D has rewritten the line completely; L has the meaningless men cebuel, which suggests the possibility of a hole in its copy at this point through which cebu was mistakenly read from the underlying folio.23
Respunt Sigar: 'Vus si ferez,L707 [L707] S. nun f. R23
708 A vostre buche le metez.'L708 [L708] le mettrez L23
'Sire,' fait il, 'cel [ne] vus vied,L709 [L709] f. cil co ne R23L709 [L709] nert correction23
Ja serrad de mei asaied.'L710 [L710] De mai s. ja R23
[Donc prist le corn, si l'ad seigné,
712 A sa buche l'ad asaié].L712 [L712] ll. 711-12 not in DL23
Tresque [sa] buche l'atuchad,L713 [L713] le tuchad LR23L713 [L713] Tost a sa b. L23L713 [L713] la23
Le corn [tant] gentement sunadL714 [L714] om tant DL23
Que unc ne fud ainz oïd [son per];L715 [L715] suner DL23L715 [L715] son per R, suner DL. As the line is referring to the quality of the sound, the reading of R is to be preferred.23
716 Nuls hom ne sot si bien corner.
Sigar l'entent, salid en piez,
Entre ses braz l'ad enbraciez.
Puis [s'escriad]: 'Deu seit loed!L719 [L719] sescrie23
720 Or ai mun dreit seignur trovez,
Ore ai celui que desirai
Pur qui la guerre maintendrai.
Ço est [li dreiz eirs] e la personeL723 [L723] le dreit eir23
724 Qui deit porter d'or la corune.'L724 [L724] or. This is the noun, not the adverb. Cf. l. 3915: Li reis corone d'or portad.23
Tuz ses [homes] ad dunc mandez,L725 [L725] baruns DL23L725 [L725] homes R, baruns DL. There are two recognitions of Haveloc's position: (a) by Sigar and his personal retinue (ll. 725-8) and (b) by the disaffected barons (ll. 729-32); but this has been lost sight of by DL, so their reading is to be rejected.23
Lores li firent fedeiltez,
Il [meïsmes] s'agenuillad,L727 [L727] E il mesme DL23
728 De fei tenir [l'aseürad].L728 [L728] lui seurad23
Puis [enveia] pur ses barunsL729 [L729] les b. R23L729 [L729] enveit DL23
A qui cel rei aveit tençuns,
Si sunt ses humes devenuzL731 [L731] Tuz sunt R23
732 E a seignur l'unt [receüz].L732 [L732] E a lur s. unt tenuz L23L732 [L732] reconeuz23L732 [L732] receuz R, reconeuz D, tenuz L. As DL diverge in their readings and as hiatus -e is generally maintained by Gaimar, I have followed R. The parallel passage in the Harley fragments (R. Imelmann, Lazamon, Versuch . . ., Berlin, 1906):
Li Bretun qui i ierent venu
Si hume sunt tu[it devenu],
A seinur l'unt tuit receu should be noted. For some reason DL take exception to this use of receveir on another occasion, viz. l. 2345: A Dorewit fud receüd, where DL read reconeud.23
Quant ço unt fait, asemblent gent,
Page 23
[En] quatre jurz [en] unt maint centL734 [L734] jurz unt DL24L734 [L734] An24
E el quint jur des chevaliers
736 Orent il bien trente milliers.
Le rei Odulf dunc defïerentL737 [L737] Li reis O. R24
E en plain camp [s'entrecontrerent].L738 [L738] om camp R24L738 [L738] En un plein c. R24L738 [L738] sencuntrerent DL24
Asez i ot [granz] cops feruz,L739 [L739] grant24
740 Li reis Odul[f] fud dunc vencuz
Car Aveloc si se cuntint, [f.99b]
Il sul en ocist plus de vint.
Dous princes [i ot] del païsL743 [L743] p. aveit el p. R24L743 [L743] ocist24
744 Qui ainz erent ses enemis
E od Odulf s'erent tenud;
Ore sunt a sa merci venud.
Del païs la menue gent
748 Vindrent a merci ensement
E Aveloc lur fist parduns
Par le cunseil de ses baruns.
Tuit lui jurerent fedeiltedL751 [L751] Tuz j. sa f. R24
752 Li chevalier de cel regné
E li prodom e li burgeis
De lui firent seignur e reis.
Grant feste fist e grant baldoire,L755 [L755] f. tint R24
756 Si cum nus dit la veire estoire.L756 [L756] la verai e. R24
Aprés sumunst tut son navire,L757 [L757] tut sa n. L tute sa n. R24L757 [L757] sumond R24
De sun rëalme tuit l'empire,L758 [L758] tute lemp. R24
Od sa grant ost la mer passad,L759 [L759] Od grant od ost L24
760 Rei Edelsi dunc defiad;L760 [L760] Li reis E. R24
Celui [mandad] qu'il le defie,L761 [L761] Co li m. R24L761 [L761] mandet24
Si lui ne rent le dreit s'amie,L762 [L762] Si ne li r. L Sil ne li r. R24
E Edelsi [li remandad]L763 [L763] E. le r. L24L763 [L763] om E L Li reis E. R24L763 [L763] tost lui mandad24
764 Qu'encuntre lui se cumbatrad.
Cumbatirent [sei] en un plainL765 [L765] enz en L24L765 [L765] Se c. en24
Page 24
[Des le matin tresk'al serain].L766 [L766] Del m. R25L766 [L766] Des le seir tresqual matin DL25L766 [L766] ll. 765 and 766 interverted25
Mult i ot humes [afolez]L767 [L767] asemblez DL25
768 D'ambes[dous] parz [e mort ruez]L768 [L768] a m. dampnez L25L768 [L768] e m. rueiz R25L768 [L768] a m. navrez D25L768 [L768] om dous DL25L765 [L765] In D the first couplet is interverted, as shown by the agreement in order of L and R. Further, in DL we have a faulty rime due to the interversion of matin and seir in l. 766, for the context requires an all-day battle with cessation of hostilities at nightfall and this is supplied by R. In l. 767 both D and L give a metrically faulty line and their readings diverge in the second half of the line, so it is advisable to follow R; moreover the construction calls for an expression at the end of l. 767 parallel in sense to that which terminates the couplet, and this is adequately supplied by R.25
Quant neire nuit les desevrad
Tresqu'al demain qu'il ajurnad.
Mais par cunseil de la reïneL771 [L771] om de L25L771 [L771] le c. DL25
772 Qui enseignat une mescine
Remist le mal e la bataille,L773 [L773] Par ki r. R25
Sun regné ot senz grant cuntraille.L774 [L774] g. ?ca uaile L25L774 [L774] s. grei R25L773 [L773] line-ends torn in R25
Tute nuit fist enfichier pelsL775 [L775] f. en terre ficher p. R25
776 Plus gros e greinurs de tinels,L776 [L776] que toneuls L ke tonels R25L776 [L776] e granz R25
Les morz humes i enficherentL777 [L777] h. en sus ficherent R25 [f.99c]
E tute nuit sus les drescerent;L778 [L778] om sus L25
Dous eschieles en firent granz,
780 [Que] veirement furent semblanz,L780 [L780] v. estait s. R25
Cum fussent cumbatanz e vifs.L781 [L781] Que L Kil R25
Le jur devant furent ocis.L782 [L782] d. erent o. R25
Hom ki de luin[z] les [es]gardoutL783 [L783] agardout25
784 Tute la char l'en heriçot
Ambure de luinz e de pres
Hysdus semblent morz descunfés.
L'endemain s'en raparaillerent,
788 De cumbatre mult s'aficherent
[E les vëors vindrent devantL789 [L789] om E R25L789 [L789] ll. 789-90 not in DL25
Vëeir la gent dan Cuarant].L790 [L790] Cuherant R25L790 [L790] Veher R25
Quant unt veüd quei il i ad,L791 [L791] v. que tant en i a R25
792 Tute la char lur heriçadL792 [L792] c. len h. R25
Car encuntre un [hom] qu'il aveient,L793 [L793] home DL25
De l'autre part set en vëeient.L794 [L794] vaient R25L794 [L794] aveient DL25
[Arere en vont al rei] nuncierL795 [L795] Al rei le vont tost DL25
796 Del cumbatre n'i ad mestier,L796 [L796] Le c. L Li c. R25
Page 25
[Rende] a la dame sun dreitL797 [L797] om a R26L797 [L797] Rendez L26L797 [L797] Rent26
E facet [pais], ainz que pis seit.L798 [L798] facez L26L798 [L798] plait26L797 [L797] The subjunctive is required in both lines, though D substitutes the indicative, giving a metrically faulty line. The reading of L is perhaps an indication that Gaimar used the same termination for the two verbs, so I have made the first conform to the second. Cf. the corresponding couplet in the Lai d' Haveloc:
A la dame rende sun dreit
E face pes ainz ke pis seit (ll. 1083-4).26
Li reis ne pot par el passer.L799 [L799] el aler R26
800 Dunc li estuet [ço] graanterL800 [L800] granter DLR26L800 [L800] ico26
Kar si barun lui unt loed.L801 [L801] om si R26
Re[ndu] li fu tuit le regned
Des Hoiland tresqu'en Colecestre.
804 Reis Havelocs la tint sa feste,L804 [L804] H. i tint L26L804 [L804] Rei R26
Les homages de ses baruns
Reçut par[tut] ses regïuns.
Pois aprés desque quinze disL807 [L807] a. co ke q. R26
808 Ne vesquid li reis Edelsis.
Il ne ot nul eir si dreiturierL809 [L809] dreiturel R26
Cume Haveloc e sa muillier.
Il ot enfanz mais morz esteient.
812 Les barnages tres bien otreient
Que Haveloc e sa amieL813 [L813] sa amie. As we are without the reading of R, owing to a tear in the MS., we do not know whether this hiatus is due to Gaimar. As he nowhere uses the masculine form of the possessive to avoid hiatus before a feminine noun, I keep the reading of the MSS. A similar non-elision–sa anme–occurs in the Bestiaire, where the editor emends to sue anme (cf. l. 12 n), Tobler (Versbau3, p. 55, n. 1) adduces sa ante from Angier (S. Greg., l. 77) and in Ste. Marie l'Egyptienne (ed. A. T. Baker, R.d.l.r. LIX (1916-17), 145-400) we find sa ure (l. 835).26
Ait la terre rei Edelsie.
Ja si ot il, vint anz fud reis
816 E mult cunquist par les Daneis.L816 [L816] om E DL26 [f.99d]
Dunc ot des la Nativited
Bien pres de cinc cenz anz passed,
N'en ot que sul cinc anz a dire.L819 [L819] Niert ke c.a. R26L819 [L819] passed in text a dire noted in margin26
820 L'autre Certiz od sun navireL820 [L820] La outre C. H26L820 [L820] l'autre Certiz. The use of the same expression elsewhere, viz. l. 1779 to distinguish Wilfrid, successor of St. John of Beverley, from St. Wilfrid, l. 4207, to distinguish Edmund Ironside from a shadowy uncle of the same name, l. 5225 to distinguish Harold of England from his namesake of Norway, shows that Gaimar is distinguishing Cerdic of Wessex, of whom he is reading in A.S.C., from another Cerdic, to whom Modred gave land (ll. 7-10). This Cerdic somehow represents the Cheldric of Geoffrey of Monmouth, though we do not know, because of the loss of the Estoire des Bretuns, whether or no Gaimar had observed that there were really two Saxon leaders of that name in the Historia. At a later stage, at the meeting between Cnut and Edmund Ironside, he had forgotten this distinction, for he clearly makes Cerdic of Wessex the recipient of Modred's donation.26
[Ariva a Certicesore –L821 [L821] certesore R26
Ço est un moncel ki pert uncore –L822 [L822] om Co est R26
La] arivad il e sun fiz,L823 [L823] om La DLH26
824 Engleis l'apelerent Kenriz.L824 [L824] En lap. H26
Hors e Henges fud lur ancestre,L825 [L825] furent l. a. H26L825 [L825] Hors e (et) added later26L825 [L825] This line, which is undoubtedly authentic, reaffirms the kinship of Cerdic and Hengist to which Gaimar has earlier given expression (ll. 14-17 and l. 25) and which later reappears, though indirectly, following the genealogy of Cerdic (ll. 839-40, 845-6).26
Si cum cunte la veire geste.L826 [L826] la vereie g. R26
Il fud fiz [Elessinc] le reis,L827 [L827] li r. RH26L827 [L827] f. a selinc L f. alsinc H26L827 [L827] om fud L26L827 [L827] alesinc26
828 Icest Certiz, si fud Engleis.L828 [L828] si ert E. R26L828 [L828] om si H26
Page 26
[E Elessinc fu fiz Elese]
[E Elese fu fiz Esling
832 Esling fiz Eslage fiz Wising
Fiz Gewis fiz Wigening
Fiz Wilte frere a Winsing
Fiz Fretewine fiz Freodagaring
836 Fiz Freodegar fiz Brending
Fiz Brand fiz Beldeging
Fiz Beldeg nez Winhing
Beldeg fu del linage Wodnez
840 De ki linage Hors e Henges furent nez.
De lur linage furent nez
Cels ki furent apelez
Lé Westsexiens e lé Suthsexiens
844 E les Estsexiens e lé Midelsexiens.
Mes pur ço ke Henges e Hors
E Certiz ki aprés lur morz –
Ki vindrent en la terre
848 E tant sovent i firent guere
Furent de cest real linage
Cels e lur barnage
E nez del païs ki Ange ad nun
852 Engleis tuz les apela hom.
Vint e quatre] anz durad la guerreL853 [L853] Quatorze DLH27L853 [L853] vint e quatre R, quatorze DLH. As Cerdic arrived in 495 and acceded in 519, which gives a period of 24 years, and as quatorze spoils the metre, we must accept the reading of R.27
Ainz que Certiz peüst cunquereL854 [L854] poust R la pout H27
Sur les Bretuns guerres de chose.
856 Idunc iert Cirecestre enclose;L856 [L856] C. close R27
Par la mesgarde des BretunsL857 [L857] Mes par la m. as B. R27
Fud alumee par muissuns
Qui fu e sulfre dedenz porterentL859 [L859] d. getterent H27L859 [L859] e suffre LR et foudre H27L859 [L859] Quar f. L27L859 [L859] essulfre27
860 E des maisuns mulz alumerent,L860 [L860] Et les m. a. H27
E li sieges qui defors fud
Firent l'asalt par grant vertud.
Dunc fud cele cited cunquise
864 E Glouecestre refud prise;L864 [L864] G. fud p. L27L864 [L864] gloucestre DLRH27
Page 27
Tresqu'a Saverne tuit cunquistrent,
Tuz les meillurs Bretuns ocistrentL866 [L866] Et les H28
E des la mer, u ariverent,
868 Tresqu'a Saverne [a els turnerent]L868 [L868] tur cunquistrent28
Tuit le païs e le regned
E les Bretuns en unt cacied.L856 [L856] This siege, and capture, of Cirencester is distinct from that recorded A.S.C. 577 and duly described by Gaimar in ll. 991-2. It is important, because it introduces the stratagem of the fire-bearing sparrows, which is later found attached to the Gormund story. Gaimar did not find it in Geoffrey of Monmouth nor in connexion with Gormund. The stratagem is an old folk-tale, it would seem, told of varying people, including Cerdic, and of varying places, including Silchester. It would appear that Gaimar found it attached to Cerdic and to Cirencester, hence its introduction here. Metre shows that the form of Gloucester used by Gaimar had four syllables, so I have emended here and elsewhere. Cf. l. 1030 n.28
Quinze anz regnad li reis Certiz.L871 [L871] om li reis L28
872 Aprés sa mort regnad Kenriz,
[Fiz fud Certiz, mult gueread
E grant païs a sei turnad];
E les Bretuns mult le haeient,L875 [L875] le leidoient H28
876 Suvent rancone li faseient.L876 [L876] E s. R28
Les autres Engleis s'espandirent,
En plusurs lius regnes saisirent.
Si cum Bretun furent enceis,L879 [L879] B. erent R B. firent LH28L879 [L879] li B.28
880 Chescun se fist apeler reis.L880 [L880] se fesait R28 [f.100a]
D'ultre la mer Saines veneient,L881 [L881] om la LRH28
Cum arivoent, tut perneient
E les Bretons pur la lur guerreL883 [L883] Et aus B. H28
884 Estuet guerpir la bone terre
E vers Guales, [vers] occident,L885 [L885] en loc. R28L885 [L885] Envers LR Vers H28L885 [L885] envers o. DH28
U erent lur autre parent,
S'en alouent e la fueient
888 E cel païs bien defendeientL888 [L888] defendirent R28L888 [L888] En cel p. se d. H28L888 [L888] Icel p. R28
E mult suvent ost asembloent,L889 [L889] om mult H28
Ultre Saverne le menoent,L890 [L890] les m. RH28L890 [L890] Et vers S. H28
Si guerreoent les Engleis,L891 [L891] Et guerreroient H28
892 Kenriz li e les autres [reis],L892 [L892] a. maneis L28L892 [L892] om li L28L892 [L892] engleis28
E mult sovent se cumbatirentL893 [L893] om E H28
E lur païs bien chier vendirent.L894 [L894] om bien H28
En Norfolke erent les Daneis
896 Del tens que Avelocs fud reis,L896 [L896] El t. L Des le t. H28
Si defendirent lur païsL897 [L897] de. cel p. RH28L897 [L897] Si defendeient R28
Page 28
E cel qui fud rei Edelsis.L898 [L898] reis LR29L898 [L898] f. al r. RH29
Mais Wasing ert de lur [linage]L899 [L899] langage DL29
900 Qui mult suvent lur fist ultrage;
Unc pur home ne volt pleier,
Tuz jurz fist tort senz adrescier;
[Unques] de rien ne s'adresçad,L903 [L903] U. de tort ne R29L903 [L903] Unc29
904 Cuntre dous reis mult guerreiad.
Li uns ot nun [li] reis Burgard,L905 [L905] om li DLH29
Li autre ot nun [Geine], cuardL906 [L906] gemecuard L geine le choard R29L906 [L906] Et li a. H29L906 [L906] gemetuard DH29
Qui pur poür guerpid sa terre.
908 Poi tens durad entr'els la guerre.L908 [L908] om tens H29L908 [L908] P. de t. R29
Dunc vint Kenriz od ses Engleis,L909 [L909] K. li E. R29
Si guerreiad Wasing le reis,L910 [L910] li r. RH29L910 [L910] Qui H29
[Il e] sun fiz, Cheulinz ot nuns,L911 [L911] De s. L29L911 [L911] Un29
912 Mult ot entr'els lunges tençunsL912 [L912] longe tencon R grant tencon H29
Tant que Wasing en fud ocis;L913 [L913] om en R29
Kenriz l'ocist sis enemis.
Li reis [Burgard] lur aïdatL915 [L915] lur adjuvat R29L915 [L915] hurgard29
916 E des Seisnes dous reis menad,L916 [L916] E de ses nies R29 [f.100b]
Il e Lowine de Glouecestre.L917 [L917] gloecestre L29L917 [L917] Ireloune de leycestre R29L917 [L917] Il e li home de L Il e loune de H29L917 [L917] gloucestre DH29
Mort fud Wasing, ne pot el estre.L895 [L895] This passage, of which the source is unknown, is not without difficulties and obscurities, which are fully discussed in my article Gaimar's Early Danish Kings (PMLA LXV (1950), 601-40), where I give grounds for thinking that Gaimar actually called his Danish king Walsing, this is, however, not sufficiently certain to warrant its adoption into the text. The original wording of l. 917 cannot be satisfactorily established.29
Dous reis de Sesuine [itant] furent,L919 [L919] od els DH od li L29
920 Trente anz regnerent, [puis] mururent.L920 [L920] dunc DL29
A Salesbiri par dous feiz
Se cumbatid Kenriz li reis,
Il e Cheulins, od les Bretuns
924 Kar tuz jurz ot entr'els tençuns.
[E] en lur tens, quant il regnerent,L925 [L925] om E DL29
Dous jurz tuz clers noit [anuiterent]L926 [L926] om noit H29L926 [L926] auorterent DL (eu- L)29
E aprés les noiz anoitandL927 [L927] om E L29
928 [Ida] reçout Norhumberland.L928 [L928] resceu N. L rescut N. R receut N. H29L928 [L928] Iad DL29
Sachiez, ço fud li premier reis
Page 29
Qui la tenist del lin [d'Engleis].L930 [L930] om del lin H30L930 [L930] des E. DLH30
Icest [Ida] duze anz regnadL931 [L931] Icestui d. anz i r. L30L931 [L931] .iad. last two letters capitals in form, d somewhat compressed30
932 E Baenbur[c] bien restorad,L932 [L932] baenbure30
Dechaette ert e mult defraite
De si cum Eubrac l'ot ainz faite.L934 [L934] c. embrauc lot H30L934 [L934] des ainz30
Ida fud fiz Cubbe, un tirantL935 [L935] f. umba H30L935 [L935] Icest I. DL30L935 [L935] Cubbe. The name represents O.E. Eoppa, but apparently it was not in the version of A.S.C. used by Gaimar. There has been confusion of initial c and e, such as is found elsewhere in the Estoire, but the form of the consonant suggests borrowing from Nennius, where the name appears as Eobba.30
936 Qui unc a Deu ne fud servantL936 [L936] ne fut a dieu s. H30
[E el] tens Ide encore iduncL937 [L937] e encore mun L30L937 [L937] om E LR30L937 [L937] Cel30
Norhumberland [aveit] sun nun.L938 [L938] ot DH30
[Deiron ert de l'est del Fossé,
940 Berniche ert l'altre part nomé].L940 [L940] Herniche R30
Cist reis dunc Ide se cumbatidL941 [L941] E cist r. Ida se L Cist r. idonc se R Cist r. Ide donc se H30
Cuntre Bretuns k'il mult haïd
E tant forment le[s] guerreiad,
944 Cel païs sur els cunquestad.L944 [L944] Le p. L30
Mult fud doté partut BretaineL945 [L945] par B. RH30L945 [L945] par tute DL30
Kar tuz jurz cresseit sa cumpaigne.
Elle e Ide furent regnanz
948 Le un puis l'altre trente anz.L948 [L948] chescun .xxx. a. H30L948 [L948] Lun e p. R30L947 [L947] Here there is a double misunderstanding by Gaimar of his source, A.S.C. 560. Firstly, the phrase Idan forðgefarenum seems to have led him to think of Ælla as Ida's successor; secondly, and consequently, he has taken the phrase hyra ægðer to apply to the Northumbrian monarchs, not, as in the annal, to Ceawlin of Wessex and Ælla of Deira. Curiously enough he seems to have construed the annal correctly a little earlier, if the Rolls edition is correct in its assumption that ll. 919-20 contain a confused reference to Ceawlin and Ælla. As l. 948 is metrically incorrect in DLR, can it be that H, which reads chescun before trente, here preserves the true reading?30
Puis la neisance al Salveür,
[Danz] Jesu Crist nostre Seignur,L950 [L950] om Danz DLH30
[Cinq] cenz e [seisante] cinc anz,L951 [L951] quarante c. H30L951 [L951] quatre c. DL30L951 [L951] Cinz30
952 Si cum croniches est garanz,L952 [L952] sunt g. R30L952 [L952] c. cronikes L c. cronicles RH30L952 [L952] creniches30
Edelbrit fud fait rei de KentL953 [L953] E Ed. L30
E de Surrie ensement.L954 [L954] de sudeine R30 [f.100c]
[Cinquante treis] anz tint le regne,L955 [L955] regnie L30L955 [L955] om tint L30L955 [L955] Quarante cinc DLH30
956 [Cristienté] e dreit [baptesme]L956 [L956] Cristiene fud L Crestienete R30L956 [L956] e d. baptize DL30L956 [L956] De crestiens30
[Li] enveiad li apostoire;L957 [L957] Il env. a L Lenv. H30L957 [L957] I30
Il le requist de saint Gregoire.L958 [L958] Il la r. L30
Danz Columbans le baptized,
Page 30
960 Un sainz prestre que Deus amad,L960 [L960] un p. fu q. R31
Puis alad norht, la cunversad,
Od les [Pecteis] dunc abitad,L962 [L962] picteis R31L962 [L962] pecleis DL31
L'ille de Nun li fud donedL963 [L963] de luni li H31L963 [L963] om de R31L963 [L963] Nun. All MSS. agree in this name, which Gross explains as due to a misreading of hii (= Iona). As this mistake may have been made by Gaimar, I have made no correction in the text.31
964 E puis fud iloc abed.
Ninan aveit einz baptizedL965 [L965] Dinan R31
Les autres Pecteis del regned –L966 [L966] pictes R pectes H31L966 [L966] pecleis DL31
Ço sunt les Westmaringïens,L967 [L967] Westmaringiens. As the source of this information is not known, the identity of the people concerned remains a problem, but the name is, perhaps, to be connected with the westmering which figures in the story of Rodric, king of the Picts.31
968 Idunc esteient [Pectïens.L968 [L968] pictiens R31L968 [L968] Ki donc R31L968 [L968] pecliens DL31
A Wyternen gist saint Ninan,L969 [L969] dinan R31
Long tens vint devant Columban].L969 [L969] not in DLH31
Cinc cenz anz e [sessante] uitL971 [L971] e uit31L971 [L971] e quatre DL31L971 [L971] The agreement of RH shows that the correct number is 68; DL have the same type of meaningless numeral (quatre e uit) as at l. 951.31
972 Furent alez en cele nuit,
Quant Cheulinz e Cuda li reis
Mistrent en fuie les Kenteis.
Reis Edelbrith fud desconfiz,
976 Ses dous baruns furent osciz.L976 [L976] i furent DL31
Mort i furent si [dui barun],L977 [L977] f. andui li b. L31L977 [L977] om i LH31L977 [L977] barun dui31
Oslaf e [Cnebbe orent cil nun].L978 [L978] cubbe L cheuebe H31L978 [L978] C. tut pur ennui31L978 [L978] cuebe31
Cil Cude fud frere [Ceulin],L979 [L979] Cil cubbe f. L31L979 [L979] ceulinz DL31
980 Bretuns venquid un jur [matin];L980 [L980] matinz DL31
A Bedefort la les venquid,L981 [L981] Bedefort. All MSS. concur in this reading, and Gaimar most probably understood by it Bedford, though place-name scholars no longer accept this identification of the Biedcanford of A.S.C.(E) 571.31
Treis bons recez dunc lur tolid,L982 [L982] la lur t. L31L982 [L982] om dunc LH31
Ailesbiri e Besentune
984 E la cited de Luietune.L984 [L984] luitune R luintune H31L984 [L984] E donc la c. R31L984 [L984] luntune DL31
Entre Cheulinz e cel sun frereL985 [L985] om cel H31L985 [L985] e cude s. f. R31
Firent as Bretuns male here.
A Sorham treis reis ocistrent,L987 [L987] forham L31
988 Si cum li livre ancien distrent,L988 [L988] om livre H31
[Coimagil e Candidant,
Farinmagil un rei poant].
Page 31
Dunc si cunquistrent Glouecestre,L991 [L991] gloecestre L32L991 [L991] gloucestre DRH32L991 [L991] a G.32
992 Si pristrent Bade e Cirecestre.L992 [L992] cycestre R32L992 [L992] p. bae en C. L32
Cheulinz e Cude avant alerent,
Bretuns quistrent tant ques troverent,L994 [L994] quels t. L ke t. R quil les t. H32 [f.100d]
A els vindrent en la cuntree
996 Qui ot a nun Feadecanlee.L996 [L996] Whence did Gaimar derive his form of the place-name–Feadecanlee? It has every appearance of being the transcription of a genuine O.E. form. If so, the first component seems to be a personal-name of the same type as that in Bedcanford A.S.C.(A) 571 and in Badecanwielle A.S.C.(A) 924.32
Cudan ocistrent li BretunL997 [L997] C. i o. R32
Puis vont a grant perdicïun,L998 [L998] a destruccion H32L998 [L998] Vont puis R32
Destruiz furent e descunfiz.
1000 Le reis Cheulinz ad tut saisiz
E lur herneis e lur aveirsL1001 [L1001] Lur h. H32L1001 [L1001] aveirs and maneirs interverted32
E lur tresors e lur maneirs.
Dunc fud mort li reis d'Everwic,
1004 Si firent rei de Edelric.L1004 [L1004] edelfriz R32L1004 [L1004] cedefric DLH32
Edelfrid fud reis e vaillanz,
[Edelriz] ne fud fors cinc anz,L1006 [L1006] E E. ne fu reis f. R32L1006 [L1006] Cedefriz DLH32
[Edelfrid fu del linage Ida.
1008 Mes danz Ceulin, Quintelm e CridanL1008 [L1008] ll. 1007-8 not in DLH32
Furent alé] de ceste vie.L1009 [L1009] Quant cez sunt alez DLH32
Uns reis d'Escoce fist estultie;
Egtan ot nun, od EdelfridL1011 [L1011] om od H32
1012 Od tute s'ost se cumbatid.L1012 [L1012] Od tut sun ost LR32
A [Dexestane] se asemblerent,L1013 [L1013] A soreham H32L1013 [L1013] heroldesham DL32L1013 [L1013] Dexestane R. This represents the Dægsanstane of A.S.C. 603, but was early misunderstood in the tradition of DLH. The latest MS. reads Sorham, but DL give Heroldesham, by which they appear to mean Hexham. I suggest that a misdivision ad exestane combined with a misreading of -stane as -ham gave rise to this mistake. Cf. l. 3248 where Fuleham becomes Fulchestan in L.32
Mult des Escoz i meserrerentL1014 [L1014] M. les E. m. R32
E li freres rei [Edelfriz],L1015 [L1015] f. reis E. RH32L1015 [L1015] edelfrid32
1016 Tiedbald ot nun, cil fud ocis;L1016 [L1016] Teedbald L Thebaud H32L1016 [L1016] Tielbald DR32
[Herins] ot nun cil quis menad,L1017 [L1017] Kenriz H32L1017 [L1017] Henris DL32
La gent d'Escoce caelad.
Dunc ot le siecle bien duretL1019 [L1019] li secles RH32
1020 De la Jesu Nativited
Sis cenz e cinc anz, ço lisum.L1021 [L1021] The arrival of the mission is given by A.S.C. in 596, but it is possible to surmise why Gaimar gives the later date. He had followed Northumbrian affairs through a number of annals as far as the battle of Dægsanstane and in so doing had read of Augustine's mission and of the sending of the pallium. At 596 he read: Her Gregorius papa sende to Brytene Augustinum mid wel manegum munucum, and at 601: Her sende Gregorius papa Augustine arcebiscope pallium on Brytene $$ wel manega godcunde larewas. He seems to have felt the need to give some content to these phrases, hence the mention of Paulinus from 601 and of Mellitus and Justus from 604. Thus he would have arrived at 605 and, when he began to compose this section of his Estoire, set down this date instead of the real one.32
Dunc enveiad Gregorïum
Page 32
Saint Aüstin en Engleterre.L1023 [L1023] en la terre R33L1023 [L1023] S. augustin LH33
1024 Il i fist paiz, destruist la guerre.L1024 [L1024] om i R33L1024 [L1024] p. e d. DL33
Paulin i vint sun cumpainiun,
E dan Justin e [Meliton].L1026 [L1026] melicun DL33
Crestïented mult eshalcerent,L1027 [L1027] om mult H33
1028 En plusurs lius genz bapticerent.
Dunc fud Chealwlf reis de Gincestre,
De Westsexe e de Glouecestre.L1030 [L1030] gloecestre L33L1030 [L1030] gloucestre DRH33L1030 [L1030] E de DLRH33L1030 [L1030] Glouecestre. Though the MSS., with the exception of L, usually have no -e before -cestre in this name, the metre shows that it is required and Gloecestre, the uniform spelling in L, seems to confirm this. The adoption of the form with -e- makes the line hypermetric, unless, as I have done, we omit the copula at the beginning of the line; the construction is then parallel to that in l. 3163.33
Cist reis levad tençuns, estrifs,L1031 [L1031] t. e est. LRH33L1031 [L1031] r. ama t. R r. meut t. H33
1032 Pur guerreier penad tut disL1032 [L1032] g. se p. LRH33L1032 [L1032] P. guerrer L33 [f.101a]
U as Engleis u as SeisunsL1033 [L1033] a […] a LR33
U [as] Escoz u [as] Bretuns.L1034 [L1034] a […] as L33L1034 [L1034] a […] a DR33
[Li reis Edwine esteit donc reis,L1035 [L1035] E. fut d. H33
1036 Si prist les crestïenes leis],L1036 [L1036] cristienes H33L1036 [L1036] crestiene R33L1036 [L1036] ll. 1035-6 not in DL33
De Everwic ert; [i]ço savom:L1037 [L1037] co DLH33
Qu'il estorad religïum
E un mustier i estoradL1039 [L1039] m. restorat R33
1040 E a saint Piere l'adonad.L1040 [L1040] le dunad LH33
Icist fud reis del lignage ElleL1041 [L1041] I. reis fu RH33
Qui a saint Piere fist sacelle.
Un evesque le baptizad,L1043 [L1043] Uns evesques R33
1044 Paulins ot nun, Deu [mult] l'amad.L1044 [L1044] om mult DLH33
Cist aportad le pallïunL1045 [L1045] Cil L Icist H33
De Rome Augustin le barun.L1046 [L1046] a A. LR33
A l'arcevesque AüstinsL1047 [L1047] augustins LH33
1048 Fud enveied [i]cist [Paulins],L1048 [L1048] pallins DLH33L1048 [L1048] cist DR33
Od lui vindrent [mulz] cumpaignunsL1049 [L1049] m. de c. H33L1049 [L1049] mult DL33
Pur faire predicatïuns.
En plusurs lius par le regned
1052 Pristrent bien tost crestïentedL1052 [L1052] om bien H33
Mais mult demurad lungement,
Page 33
Ainz qu'il fust [fait] comunalment,L1054 [L1054] Einz qen fut fet comandement H34L1054 [L1054] fud f. LR34L1054 [L1054] A. ke f. R34
E li alquant qui l'otreierent
1056 Sovent [la] pristrent e relaisserent.L1056 [L1056] Le p. sovent DLH34L1056 [L1056] Whichever reading is adopted, we have an additional syllable, but as the final of sovent is tonic and the pronoun in R is more correct, I have accepted R, the line now conforming to a type quite familiar to Gaimar.34
Saint Aüstins le bon barunL1057 [L1057] augustin LH34
Ad faite sa beneïçun.L1058 [L1058] f. par sa b. H34
Dous evesques ad ordenez
1060 E els tres bien de Deu sacrez.L1060 [L1060] E cels de D. tres ben s. L E ces dous trebien s. R Et ambesdeus a D. s. H34
Melites ot li uns a nun,L1061 [L1061] li uns out n. R34
Li autre Justin sun cumpaignun;
A Melite donad sun sied,
1064 A Lundres oüst s'evesquied,L1064 [L1064] L. out sa e. L L. out son e. H34
E [a Justin], a RouecestreL1065 [L1065] E augustins H34L1065 [L1065] first a not in L34L1065 [L1065] E austin34
De la crestïented fust mestre.L1066 [L1066] seit m. R34L1066 [L1066] fud DLH34L1066 [L1066] fud DLH, seit R. The line is a continuation of Augustine's dispositions and parallel to l. 1064, so I have introduced the imp. subjunctive.34
Melites dunc tut [al] premierL1067 [L1067] om tut R34L1067 [L1067] om al DLH34
1068 En Estsexe alad prëeschier;
Le rei Seibert tant prëeschadL1069 [L1069] Li reis R34
Qu'il baptisterie demandad. [f.101b]
Cil ert nevod rei [Edelbert],L1071 [L1071] n. le rei E. L n. reis E. R34L1071 [L1071] edelbrit34
1072 Fiz sa serur; a descovert
[Amad il] Deu e bien servid.L1073 [L1073] D. ama et servit H34L1073 [L1073] Il amad D. DL34
Ricolan ot nun quil nurid,
Serur le rei qui Chent teneit.
1076 De Deu seium nus benëeit!L1076 [L1076] beneit DLRH34L1076 [L1076] nus tuz DL34
E par cest rei ki Kent dunc tintL1077 [L1077] ke dunc K. t. L34
Saint Aüstin el païs vint.L1078 [L1078] S. augustin H34
Edelfrit ert [nobles] poantL1079 [L1079] n. e p. R34L1079 [L1079] reis DLH34
1080 [Si ert reis] de Norhumberland.L1080 [L1080] De trestut DLH34
A Leïrcestre ost amenadL1081 [L1081] L. sost mena H34L1081 [L1081] L. grant ost mena R34L1081 [L1081] leicestre RH34L1081 [L1081] Leïrcestre. This appears to be the name used by Gaimar, but he seems not to have realized that Chester, not Leicester, is meant. He may have been misled by his copy of A.S.C., for it is not without interest that A.S.C.(E) 605 reads: Æðelfrið lædde his ferde to Legaceastre . . . Scrocmail wæs gehaten hyra ealdor; but the addition to A.S.C.(A) 607 has: Æðelfrið lædde his færde to Legercyestre . . . Scrocmail was gehaten heora ealdormann.34
E maint Bretun iloec trovad;L1082 [L1082] i. tua H34L1082 [L1082] om E DLRH34
Od els [i]dunc se cumbatid,L1083 [L1083] dunc DLH34
1084 Mult en ocist, tuz les venquid.L1084 [L1084] om les H34
Page 34
Dous cenz prestres vindrent orer,
Les morz [voleient] enterrer.L1086 [L1086] s. neschapa v. H35L1086 [L1086] un tut s. R35L1086 [L1086] vindrent DLH35
[Cil] refurent el champ ocis,L1087 [L1087] E il DL35
1088 Neïs un sul n'en alad vifs.
Brocmaïl [i]cist reis ot nun,L1089 [L1089] Broemail L Broemal H35L1089 [L1089] cist DLH35L1089 [L1089] Brocinail DR35L1089 [L1089] Brocmaïl. This is clearly the name used by Gaimar and shows that the copy of A.S.C. used by him was not identical with the extant E-version. He does not seem to have realized Brocmail's position, viz. defensor of the monks, otherwise he would scarcely have contradicted himself in almost the same breath by saying neïs un sul n'en alad vifs (l. 1088) and then passing immediately to the flight of Brocmail and his companions.35
Sei cinquantime cumpaignun
[Fuït] cum hom desbareted,L1091 [L1091] Fud35
1092 S'il [remansist], si fust tued.L1092 [L1092] remeist DL35
[Saint] Aüstins par prophecie,L1093 [L1093] Sant35L1093 [L1093] space for name in H35
Si cum escrit est en sa vie,
Aveit ço [dit e] bien pramis:L1095 [L1095] en35L1095 [L1095] dist DR35
1096 'Tuz les Bretuns d'icel païsL1096 [L1096] A tuz L35
Qui la triwe freindre voldruntL1097 [L1097] enfreindre H35
Es mains [as] Sednes perirunt'.L1098 [L1098] m. de S. R35L1098 [L1098] es35
Ici fud bien la prophecieL1099 [L1099] sa p. R35L1099 [L1099] Isci RH35L1099 [L1099] la p. and aemplie interverted in DLH35
1100 E asumee [e] aemplie.L1100 [L1100] om e DLH35
Idunc fud morz li reis de Kent;
Ço fud damage a mainte gent.L1102 [L1102] mute R multe H35
Sis fiz regnad danz Edelbald,L1103 [L1103] om danz R35L1103 [L1103] Son f. R35L1103 [L1103] Edelbald. All MSS. concur in this form, but it is wrong; the real name is Eadbald, but the Edel- may have been induced by confusion with the name of the father, though it is impossible to say whether the mistake was made by Gaimar or was already in his source. The name is correctly rendered later (ll. 1247, 1271).35
1104 Crestïenté [tut] s'en defalt.L1104 [L1104] C. tint sanz faut H35L1104 [L1104] En c. t. se d. R35L1104 [L1104] tute DL35
[Cinquante] treis anz ot regnedL1105 [L1105] Quarante DLH35L1105 [L1105] The number in R agrees with A.S.C. and also with l. 955, so I regard it as due to Gaimar.35
Cil Edelbrit li reis preised.L1106 [L1106] C. ethelbald H35L1106 [L1106] om Cil R35 [f.101c]
Une feme [ot], sun fiz [la] pristL1107 [L1107] le35L1107 [L1107] aod35
1108 E l'arcevesque le cuntredist,
Laurent ot nun, guerpir voleit.
L'arcevesque cure n'aveitL1110 [L1110] c. nen a. LH35L1110 [L1110] car c. R35L1110 [L1110] Lercevesquie L35
De cunsentir si a errer,L1111 [L1111] c. le rei si R35
1112 Tel advoltire a demener.L1112 [L1112] om a L35L1112 [L1112] Ne tel R35
Seint Piere vint, a lui parlad:
'Alez al rei', ço cumandat,L1114 [L1114] om co R35L1114 [L1114] Asez R35
Que laist ester ceste heresie,
Page 35
1116 Si [maint] bunté, ament sa vie!!L1116 [L1116] en b. et arme sa v. H36L1116 [L1116] Si merrad en b. sa v. L36L1116 [L1116] aimt36
Cil s'en turnad liez e joiant.
Tant ad parlé en sermonant
Que li reis prist crestïentedL1119 [L1119] r. fut cristiene H36
1120 E [amad sens] e honestedL1120 [L1120] a. seinte e L a. sen et H36L1120 [L1120] ame ad sainte h.36
[E] quant li reis fud adrescet,L1121 [L1121] Mais36
Li arcevesque se fist mult liet.L1122 [L1122] a. sen feit l. R a. en fut m.l. H36
Ne demurad giens lungementL1123 [L1123] gueres R36L1123 [L1123] mie DLH36L1123 [L1123] giens. Neither the mie of DLH nor the gueres of R gives a metrically correct line; however, l. 2486 shows giens in DL, but divergence in reading between guers R and pas H. The particle was obsolescent by the end of the twelfth century, so is not likely to have been introduced by the scribes and the reading of R at both places suggests the presence of the same word each time in its copy.36
1124 Que ne transid li bon Laurent.L1124 [L1124] om ne LH36
Pres del sarcu l'unt dunc posed,L1125 [L1125] lont puis p. H36
Saint Aüstin l'[out] cumanded;L1126 [L1126] S. augustin LH36L1126 [L1126] unt DL36L1126 [L1126] A s.36
Si cum il ainz l'amad en vie,
1128 Ore li refaced cumpaignie.
Dunc fud Melites amened,L1129 [L1129] om il H36
A arcevesque l'unt sacred.
Quant cil de Lundres le perdirent,
1132 Crestïented tut deguerpirent.L1132 [L1132] om en R36
Aprés l'arcevesque Mellit
Idunc si fud Justin eslit;L1134 [L1134] om si LH36L1133 [L1133] not in R36
Li [evesque] de RouecestreL1135 [L1135] Li eveskes R36L1135 [L1135] arcevesque DH36
1136 A Cantuorbire en firent mestreL1136 [L1136] a londres R36
E a Rumain donent le siedL1137 [L1137] a ruinien H36
De Rouecestre e l'evesquied.
Reis Edelfrid en icel tens
1140 Fud dunc ocis, si cum jo pens.
[Readwald] l'ocist li reis d'Estengle,L1141 [L1141] om li H36L1141 [L1141] Redwald L36L1141 [L1141] Rei edwald36
Norfolke, Sudfolke, Estsexe ensemble:L1142 [L1142] e E. out e. R36 [f.101d]
Ço ert le regne qu'il teneit.
1144 Icist [Readwald] saisit l'aveitL1144 [L1144] Occist R. L36L1144 [L1144] rei edwalt36
[E] quant fud mort reis Edelfrid,L1145 [L1145] om E DLH36
Edwine Elling ad tut saisid.L1146 [L1146] see note36L1146 [L1146] om ad H36L1146 [L1146] Edwinelin L Edwine alline R Edwine adeling H36L1146 [L1146] E E. ad36L1146 [L1146] E Edwine D, Edwin elin L, Edwine elline R, Edwine adeling H. It is clear that Gaimar used the double name corresponding to the Eadwine Ælling of A.S.C.(E) 617, hence my correction. The reading of H is interesting; it has arisen from a displacement of the verb ad from before tut and suggests that the meaning of O.E. æðeling was still known to the copyist, for he did not meet it in his text until l. 1726.36
Page 36
Tute Bretaine [i]dunc cunquist,
1148 Asquanz chaçad, asquanz ocist
Des gentilz homes de la terreL1149 [L1149] not in H37
Cum home qui la volt cunquerre.L1150 [L1150] l. voleit c. LRH37L1150 [L1150] om la R37
Mais cil de Kent tindrent lur dreit
1152 E funt la guerre a grant espleit.
Edelfrit fud del lignage Ide;
Se si enfant unt bon' aïde,
Nus hom n'ad tel dreit en la terre;
1156 [Perdue] l'unt, sin [firent] guerre.L1156 [L1156] ferent L37L1156 [L1156] ferunt37L1156 [L1156] Perdu DL37
Ore vus dirai cum [ourent] nunL1157 [L1157] c. il unt n. L37L1157 [L1157] Mes o. L37L1157 [L1157] c. unt a n.37
Les fiz Edelfrit lu barun;
[Heanfrid] ot nun [tut] li ainznez,L1159 [L1159] Heunfred L Henfrei H37L1159 [L1159] om tut DLH37L1159 [L1159] Elured37
1160 Li autre Oswald [uns] hom amez,L1160 [L1160] h. ainez L37L1160 [L1160] O. lautre H37L1160 [L1160] om uns DL37
[Le] tierz apelerent Oswi,L1161 [L1161] Li DR37
Le quart Os[wude], issi vus di,L1162 [L1162] issi le vus R37L1162 [L1162] q. oswide H37L1162 [L1162] Li q. R37L1162 [L1162] oswise DL37
Le quint Oslaf apelad hom,L1163 [L1163] Li q. R37L1163 [L1163] Oslaf. According to A.S.C.(E) 617 Æthelfrith had seven sons, not six as in the Estoire; between Oswy and Oswudu should appear Oslac and consequently the ordinal before each of the last three names is one out. Similarity of Oslac and Oslaf in a sequence of names in Os- could account for the mistake, but there is no means of knowing whether Gaimar made it.37
1164 Le sist Offa: ço fud sun nun.L1164 [L1164] Li siste R37L1163 [L1163] not in L37
Cist od les autres s'aliowent,L1165 [L1165] salient R37
Le rei Edwine guerrioent.L1166 [L1166] guerreient R37L1166 [L1166] Li reis R37
Quintelm li reis le guerriot,L1167 [L1167] om le L37L1167 [L1167] quincelin LH quintelin R37L1167 [L1167] quinzelin37L1167 [L1167] Quintelm. The metre shows that Gaimar is using a two-syllable name and the variations in the MSS. lead back to the form adopted, but whether Gaimar is responsible for the deformation cannot be determined. Rathmann (Die lautliche Gestaltung englischer Personnamen . . ., Kiel diss., 1906) is probably correct (o.c., p. 17) in assuming confusion with a Latin name, e.g. Quintilianus.37
1168 De lui traïr mult se penot;L1168 [L1168] om mult L37
Un traïtur i enveiad
Pur lui ocire: [ço pensad].L1170 [L1170] P. lui trahir L37L1170 [L1170] se penad DLH37L1170 [L1170] The reading of R makes better sense and is in closer agreement with the þohte of A.S.C. 626; also the reading of DLH is partially explicable as a dittography.37
Emor ot nun cel traïtur,
1172 Oez cum fist grant desonur;
Tant fist cist hom de pute orine,L1173 [L1173] T. fud LH37
Par nuit vint en la chambre Edwine,L1174 [L1174] De n. H37L1174 [L1174] The MSS. diverge completely in their renderings of the name, so I have adopted the one in the source, which is clearly the one Gaimar intended. Cf. l. 1537, where in DL Ine appears as Ille.37
A [un] cutel cist mal felunsL1175 [L1175] om un DL37
1176 [I] ocist dous gentilz barunsL1176 [L1176] om I DLH37
E rei Edwine mult navrad;L1177 [L1177] le r. E. n. H37L1177 [L1177] reis E. R37
Page 37
D'iloc tres bien [puis] eschapad.L1178 [L1178] De iloeques puis sen e. H38L1178 [L1178] b. en e. L38L1178 [L1178] om puis DL38
Fordhere e Lillan sunt oscis,L1179 [L1179] elinant L linnan H liban R38L1179 [L1179] e elliman38 [f.102a]
1180 Tres bien furent enseveliz.L1180 [L1180] b. sont e. H38
La fille Edwine la nuit fu nee.
Li reis pramet qu'ele ert levee;
Par tel covent Deu l'ad pramisL1183 [L1183] t. covenant R38L1183 [L1183] a Deu DRH38
1184 Qu'il venjance ait [des] enemisL1184 [L1184] de ses e. DLH38
Qui cest felun lui enveierentL1185 [L1185] Q. cel enemi l. H38
E ses amis Deu [en] preierent.L1186 [L1186] om en DLH38
E puis quant [ot] ço pramis,L1187 [L1187] q. out cest p. R q. out ceo p. H38L1187 [L1187] co ot L38L1187 [L1187] co aveit38L1187 [L1187] As LRH agree in using the preterite, I have rejected aveit given by D. The line is thus a syllable short, but I have not ventured to introduce iço, which suggests itself, into the text.38
1188 Ost menat sur ses enemisL1188 [L1188] Sost H38
E en Westsexe les encuntrad,L1189 [L1189] as W. R38L1189 [L1189] om E LH38
Fiere betaille lur livrad;
Cinc reis iloec reçurent mort
1192 De cels qui fait lui orent tort.L1192 [L1192] qui li eurent fet t. H38
Sa fille [ad dunc] a Deu donee,L1193 [L1193] f. ad puis R38L1193 [L1193] dunc ad38
[Heanfled] l'unt li parent nomee;L1194 [L1194] si p. H38L1194 [L1194] Ealfled38
Unze autre enfant i ot leved,L1195 [L1195] enfanz […] levez LRH38L1195 [L1195] U. altres e. RH38
1196 Si cum li reis l'ot comanded:L1196 [L1196] cumandez LRH38
Ço fud en Pentecuste fait.
Paulin fud mestre d'icel pleit.L1198 [L1198] m. de cest p. R m. del fet H38
E aprés ço en Pascherez
1200 Li funz furent bien benëeiz.L1200 [L1200] Les f. RH38L1200 [L1200] beneiz DLRH38
Li reis idunc fud baptiziedL1201 [L1201] r. i fut donc b. H38
E [prim]sinez e cunfermedL1202 [L1202] pisnsinez38L1202 [L1202] participles interverted in R38
E od lui tuz cels del païs:
1204 Ço fud fait a Everwis,L1204 [L1204] Et ceo f. H38
La u il ainz aveit donedL1205 [L1205] ainz out d. R38
Le liu saint Piere en poësted.L1206 [L1206] liu a s. P. RH38
Saint Paulin tint cel evesquied,L1207 [L1207] P. out cel e. H38L1207 [L1207] A seinz P. fu cel e. R38
Page 38
1208 Cum ercevesque tint le sied.
Li rei[s] Pentan dunc reçut regne,
Tut le rëalme de Marcenne.L1210 [L1210] de maresne H39
Il guerreiad cuntre dous reisL1211 [L1211] Cil LRH39L1211 [L1211] encuntre DLR39
1212 E anz [e] dis e plusurs meis:L1212 [L1212] p. meins L39
Ço fud Quintelm e Kenegilz,L1213 [L1213] quinzheline R39L1213 [L1213] quincelin DLH39
Maint hom[e] mistrent en essilz. [f.102b]
Puis avint si qu'a CirecestreL1215 [L1215] om si RH39
1216 Une bataille entr'els dut estreL1216 [L1216] e. doit e. H39
Mais dunc avint mult gentement
[Kar fait en] fud acordement.L1218 [L1218] om en R f. i f. H39L1218 [L1218] Quar L39L1218 [L1218] lac.39L1218 [L1218] Par faite39
Aprés iço ne demurerent
1220 Que tuz lur homes asemblerentL1220 [L1220] h. sassamb. H39L1220 [L1220] h. nasemb.39
E lur humes e lur amis
E quanqu'il porent el païs.L1222 [L1222] del p. LH39L1222 [L1222] Tant qe p. H39L1219 [L1219] As Gross pointed out, the reference is still to Cwichelm and Cynegils; this seems to be an oversight on Gaimar's part, possibly due to springing from A.S.C. 628 to A.S.C. 633 in order to attach some content to the agreement in the earlier annal; the result is that the position of the real leaders of the attack on Northumbria, Cadwalla and Penda, is obscured.39
Encuntre Edwine en sunt alez,L1223 [L1223] Contre E. H39
1224 En Hetfelde l'unt encuntrez,L1224 [L1224] En edelfelde H39
Mult [par] i ot maint home ocisL1225 [L1225] Meint h. i out o. H39L1225 [L1225] E m. L39L1225 [L1225] om par DLH39
E detrenchied e fait chaitis;
Mal me serreit tut a redireL1227 [L1227] me seit L me ferreit R39
1228 Cum li uns vait l'autre ocireL1228 [L1228] uns lautre volt o. R39
Mais le ferir entr'els ne fineL1229 [L1229] li ferirs R39
Tresque mort fud li reis Edwine.L1230 [L1230] om li RH39L1230 [L1230] fud mort LH39L1230 [L1230] Desqua ne L39
[Ceadwale] ot nun [cil] qui l'ocist,L1231 [L1231] C. cil loccist H39L1231 [L1231] om cil DL39L1231 [L1231] Edwald DL39
1232 Li reis Pentan le chief en prist,
Osfrid sun fiz i refud mort.L1233 [L1233] i fut m. H39
Fuiant s'en vont la gent de nort,L1234 [L1234] g. del n. RH39
Cil vont aprés od lur gent grant,
1236 Tuit destruistrent Norhumberlant.L1236 [L1236] Et destruient H39
Paulin qui arcevesque esteit
Ot que le tort venquit le dreit,L1238 [L1238] li touz v. R39
Page 39
Mult l'em pesad que li paiensL1239 [L1239] li paen R40L1239 [L1239] li pes. LR40
1240 Orent destruit les crestïens.L1240 [L1240] li crestien R40
Dunc li avint tuit a guerpir,L1241 [L1241] a deguerpir R40L1241 [L1241] D. covint t. H40
En mer entrad pur se[i] garir,L1242 [L1242] m. entrer p. H40L1242 [L1242] E en DL40
La reïne menad od sei
1244 Que fud femme Edwine lu [rei],L1244 [L1244] reine40
Edelburc ot nun veirement,
Par mer alerent tresqu'en Kent;
[Ead]bald li reis bien les recuillid,L1247 [L1247] om bien H40L1247 [L1247] Abald DLH40
1248 Mult honureement goïd;L1248 [L1248] h. paulin oid LH honura paulins e joi R40L1247 [L1247] Although the first line has nine syllables, I have not ventured to omit bien with H. In the second line honureement renders arwurðlice of A.S.C.(E) 633 and so must stand. As between goïd and oïd, the agreement of DR tips the scale in favour of the former. The introduction of the name Paulin, probably an interlinear gloss originally, spoils the metre and has led to rewriting of the line in R.40
Quant arcevesque ne pot estre,
Evesque [en] fist a Rouecestre,L1250 [L1250] E. fut a H40L1250 [L1250] om en DLH40 [f.102c]
Tuit sun vivant i cunversad
1252 E la reïne Deu amad.
Pois aprés ço cil de Ber[ni]cheL1253 [L1253] beriche L berewike H40L1253 [L1253] berïche40
Qui trop [esteient d'aveir] richeL1254 [L1254] daveir erent DLH40
Firent lur rei d'un gentil hom,L1255 [L1255] om lur H40
1256 Fiz Edel[frid], [Heanfrid] ot num,L1256 [L1256] alfred L haufrid H40L1256 [L1256] haufred40L1256 [L1256] edelfred40
E en [celé cil] de EverwizL1257 [L1257] ci de H40L1257 [L1257] en celee R40L1257 [L1257] en cel tens ceus DL40L1257 [L1257] The real relation between the accessions of Eanfrith and Osric on the one hand and of Oswald on the other is obscure in A.S.C.(E) 634, which Gaimar is translating, and can only be understood by reference to its source, Bede, Historia, III, 1. Obviously Gaimar could form no clear picture of the events, but I wonder whether by any chance his phrase en celé, shown to be his by the agreement of RH, was occasioned by a confusion of dearne of the Deirans and dærne secretly.40
Refirent rei de Oseriz
E les baruns de Norhumbreis
1260 Del bon Oswald refirent reis.L1260 [L1260] firent lur r. R40L1259 [L1259] not in H40
En icel tens, qui veir volt dire,L1261 [L1261] t. a voir d. H40L1261 [L1261] E en cel t. L40
Reçut Kinegilz baptistire,
Li reis qui Westsexe teneit.
1264 Un autre reis dunc i aveit,L1264 [L1264] idunc a. R40L1264 [L1264] a. rei RH40
A Dorkecestre fud levez,
Un evesque l'ad cunfermez,L1266 [L1266] Uns evesques R40
Berin ot nun quil baptizad,L1267 [L1267] qui le conferma H40
1268 Li reis Oswald dunc le levadL1268 [L1268] O. idunc leva H40
E ainz que li anz fust passez,L1269 [L1269] fud p. LH40L1269 [L1269] om E H40
Page 40
Refud Quintelm ici levez.L1270 [L1270] quincelin l. LH quinzeleine l. R41L1270 [L1270] Fud L41L1270 [L1270] quidelmicin l.41L1261 [L1261] This passage is best taken as a single section into which Gaimar has thrown pell-mell baptismal notices from three consecutive annals; possibly the scene of the baptisms was the unifying factor in Gaimar's mind and led him to think of these events taking place in the same year. According to A.S.C. the sequence of events is:
635 Cynegils baptized at Dorchester; Oswald stood sponsor.
636 Cwichelm baptized at Dorchester.
639 Cuthred baptized at Dorchester; Birinus stood sponsor; at the first and third dates Birinus performed the ceremony.41
[Ead]bald murut li reis de Kent,L1271 [L1271] Et abald H41L1271 [L1271] E abald DL41
1272 Vint [e quatre anz tint] chasement.L1272 [L1272] V. anz ad tenud DLH41
Ercenbrit ot nun [un] sun fiz;L1273 [L1273] Herrebrich L Ercherbricht R Herkenbrit H41L1273 [L1273] om un DLH41L1273 [L1273] Hercebrit41
Celui unt dunc a rei choisiz.L1274 [L1274] De lui ont lur r. c. H41
Celui [juna] primes Quaresme,L1275 [L1275] E c. R41L1275 [L1275] jeunad41
1276 Nuls reis Engleis nel tint ensemble;L1276 [L1276] t. ainz e. R t. par esme L41L1276 [L1276] Nul rei LRH41L1276 [L1276] ensemble. This word does duty on two other occasions in assonance (ll. 1142, 1968), but on neither occasion is it so totally devoid of meaning as it appears to be here. L gives a satisfactory rime, but this may be an individual variation, as it does not seem feasible to derive the ensemble of the other MSS. from an esme in the original. If it were, and if we could be reasonably sure that Gaimar intended to use pure rime and not assonance, then it might be suggested that he wrote . . . nel tint ainz, esme; this would be a parenthetic use of esme (< esmer) parallel to that of espeir (< esperer) in l. 2228: Unc puis, espeir, n'i ot si grant.41
Cestui tint Pasches tut premier,
Engleis nel volt ainz cumencier;L1278 [L1278] E. e nel volent a. L41
Il prist muillier, Sexburc ot nun,
1280 Fille al rei Ane un nobles hum.L1280 [L1280] F. a un r. mult n. H41L1280 [L1280] uns n. R41
Ercenbert [en] ot une fille,L1281 [L1281] Enchelbert R Erkenbright H41L1281 [L1281] Herchenberz DL41
Cele fud belle a mirabille,
Eccengode l'apelot l'um,
1284 Mult maintint bien religïun.L1283 [L1283] not in H41
En icel tens, quant cist esteientL1285 [L1285] En icest t. ke c. R41
E seinte lei bien mainteneient,L1286 [L1286] om E and bien H41 [f.102d]
Dunc fud ossis [un] rei vaillant,L1287 [L1287] o. un reis R o. le r. H41L1287 [L1287] um41
1288 Oswald qui tint Norhumberlant;
A Maserfeld l'ocist Pentan.L1289 [L1289] meserfeld R masrefeld H41L1289 [L1289] malrefeld DL41
Puis qu'il fud morz al novime an,L1290 [L1290] au .ix. an H41L1290 [L1290] f. reis en n. R41
A Bardeneie fud ported;L1291 [L1291] en f. R41
1292 La fud une nuit herberged.L1292 [L1292] Son cors i fu bien enterre R41
Sur saint [Cuth]bert la gist sun chief,L1293 [L1293] cudbert R41L1293 [L1293] cubert41
A Durelme est; ço dit le brief;L1294 [L1294] li b. R41
Le braz est a Bur[c tut] entier,L1295 [L1295] Sa main a B. tut e. R41L1295 [L1295] om tut DLH41L1295 [L1295] bure41
1296 Cil quil gardent mult l'unt chier.L1296 [L1296] lont mult c. H41L1296 [L1296] q. guarde lad mult c. R41L1287 [L1287] Gaimar has not been content with the information supplied by his main source, but has added an allusion (l. 1291-2) to the translation of the king's body to Bardney some years after his death and, very obscurely, to the body being left outside overnight. He also gives the whereabouts of the saint's head and arm; le brief (l. 1294) possibly refers to some more or less official list similar to the Resting Places of Saints (Liebermann, Die Heiligen Englands, Hanover, 1889). Cf. p. lvi.41
En [i]cel tens dunt ci vus diL1297 [L1297] E cel R41L1297 [L1297] cel DLR41
[Kenwald fud] dunc [a] rei choisi,L1298 [L1298] a reis R41L1298 [L1298] Chenewold R41L1298 [L1298] om a DLH41L1298 [L1298] Kenewald41
Page 41
Cil de Westsexe en firent reisL1299 [L1299] W. len f. H42
1300 [Trente] e un an sur les Engleis;L1300 [L1300] om e and les R42L1300 [L1300] Vint DLH42
Cil cumençad prodom a estre,L1301 [L1301] Il R42
Le mustier fist faire a Gincestre,
Kenegilsing fud sun surnun,
1304 Il fud del lignage [a] barun.L1304 [L1304] al DL42
Aprés Oswald Oswi fud reis,
Il regnad sur les Norhumbreis;L1306 [L1306] l. 1306 and 1310 interverted in H42
[Vint e oit anz regnad, ne meis,L1307 [L1307] r. nient mains R42
1308 Les leis assist, si ama pais.L1308 [L1308] a. e les pais L42
Cestui fud frere Oswald le reis,L1309 [L1309] Cesti L42
Bien le maintindrent Norhumbreis];L1310 [L1310] b. maintint les N. H42L1310 [L1310] les N. L42L1310 [L1310] Ben les L42L1310 [L1310] ll. 1307-10 not in D42
Par lui fud mort li reis Oswine,L1311 [L1311] f. occis le r. H42
1312 Le fiz a l'uncle le rei Edwine;L1312 [L1312] u. al rei E. R42
Ço fud frere rei Oseriz,L1313 [L1313] f. reis O. R42L1313 [L1313] f. li f. H42
Lur [pere] ot nun reis Edelriz.L1314 [L1314] n. rei E. LH42L1314 [L1314] pere42L1311 [L1311] Gaimar has here completely misunderstood the relationship. The phraseology of his source, A.S.C.(E) 643, is involved and the apparent repetition of a word, suna sunu, may have had some share in the confusion, but other unknown causes also seem to have been at work. Gross suggests a copyist took suna sunu as a meaningless repetition, and substituted broðor for sunu, but I doubt whether this is likely. In any case it does not account for the introduction of Edelriz as progenitor.42
Oswine ne fud reis que set anz,
1316 Idunc murut e Aïdanz,
Uns evesques pruz e vaillanzL1317 [L1317] e. mult v. R42
Crestïented bien maintenanz;L1318 [L1318] Fust apres lui translatanz R42
Entr'els [nen] ot que duze jurz,L1319 [L1319] not DHL42
1320 Par cel saint cors oent les surz.L1320 [L1320] d. il ad lescrit R42
Saint Aïdan, il nus aït
E saint Oswald dunt ai escrit!
Oswi li reis [aprés un an]L1323 [L1323] xpistien LH42L1323 [L1323] cristian42L1323 [L1323] The reading of R does not correspond to reality, but is metrical and from it, by way of the abbreviation xp, could be reached the reading of the other MSS. LH actually have xpian.42
1324 A Winguitfeld ocist Pentan;L1324 [L1324] wingingfeld L winwitfel R wingefeld H42
Od lui [ot occis] trente [treis]L1325 [L1325] reis DL42L1325 [L1325] ocist42
Gentilz humes, [tuz] fiz a reis,L1326 [L1326] om tuz DLH42 [f.103a]
E reis i ot asquanz ocis –L1327 [L1327] E li r. H42
1328 Un en i ot de mult grant pris,L1328 [L1328] om en R42
D'Estengle esteit frere al ma[r]chis –L1329 [L1329] as manis H42
Page 42
Qui dunc teneient cel païs.L1330 [L1330] t. le p. R43L1330 [L1330] d. teneit c. LH43L1327 [L1327] The construction is very awkward, involving a parenthesis coming between a main and a relative clause; both L and H seem to have found the passage obscure and there is no doubt it would gain in clarity if ll. 1328-9 were put after l. 1330. Were those two lines a marginal afterthought which has been inserted in the wrong place?43
En icel tens fud anumbrez
1332 Cumbien del siecle esteit alez:
Cinc mil anz oit cenz [cinquante].L1333 [L1333] .viii. et quarante H43L1333 [L1333] anz e huit R43L1333 [L1333] e quatre DL43L1333 [L1333] cinquante R, quarante H, quatre DL. The number in R agrees with that in A.S.C.(A) 655; DL are clearly wrong because of the change in the rime in D and the makeshift assonance (?) in L; this passage is one of those which suggest the frequent use of numerals in the original.43
Dunc reçut Peade honur [vaillante];L1334 [L1334] om vaillante L43L1334 [L1334] honur P. L43L1334 [L1334] en latre43
Cil de Merke le firent reis
1336 Kar il esteit des Westingeis.L1336 [L1336] wentingeis R43L1336 [L1336] Westingeis DLH, Wentingeis R. How did Gaimar end this line? The translator in the Rolls edition naturally follows the reading of R on which his text is based and, relying on the authority of his predecessors, Wright and Stevenson, treats it as an error, the P being mistaken for an A.S. W, but ventures no opinion as to where the mistake was made. Gross accepts this explanation and thinks the mistake more probably occurred in the transmission of A.S.C.(E). There are, however, difficulties in the way of accepting the explanation, quite apart from any claims which may be urged on behalf of the alternative reading. The confusion of p and w does occur in O.E. texts; it is found, for instance, sporadically in A.S.C.(D), but only in names, and once in A.S.C.(E), at 892, but here it is p which is misread as w. Now this is a mistake rather easily made when copying O.E. script in O.E. script, because there the two letters are much alike, but less likely to occur in transposing the O.E. script into Roman, because neither of the two O.E. letters looks like a Roman w. Yet we have no unambiguous example of p being taken for w by Gaimar. True, at l. 3430, we have a name, rather distorted by the copyists of the Estoire, which we must read as Awuldre; this stands for Appledore (K), but Gaimar may not be responsible for the mistake, because it was probably already in his source. A similarly dubious instance of the reverse confusion is found at l. 1374; there Gaimar gives the burial-place of Tuda as Paggle, whereas in A.S.C.(E) 664, the annal he is translating, the name appears as Wægle. Now this particular item of information is absent from the other versions of A.S.C. and derives from Bede, Historia, III, 27, where the burial-place appears as Pægnalæch; hence Gaimar may quite well have found a p-form in the actual MS. of the Chronicle used by him. The late 14th century A.N. Resting Places of Saints, printed from the Breviate of Domesday in the Rolls edition (I, xxxix-xlii) has the entry Saint Tude en Pagle; unfortunately it is not quite certain that this text is entirely independent of Gaimar. There remains one undoubted instance of confusion of p and w; at l. 1546 we read the name Bruthpat, only in R, corresponding to the Brihtwald of A.S.C.(E) 692, 693. Further, though Gaimar on occasion modifies the ending -ing of patronymics to secure a rime, there is no other instance in the Estoire of such a treatment as we must accept, if we read Wentingeis in this line. But can anything be urged in support of the alternative? Very little, I am afraid, and that very speculative. At l. 1347, in a passage where Gaimar is following his source very closely, we read in DLH: Ço fud puis qu'il d'Estengle vint, which agrees well with syððan he of East-Engla com in his source, but R gives a different place-name, Wastenge. This is a mistake, but if R, at some stage in its transmission, has Westingeis in l. 1336, then there would appear to be a contradiction in the later line, which was corrected, and at a later stage Westingeis would be altered to harmonize with the mistaken Wenting of l. 1341. In view of the impossibility of determining what Gaimar did write I have adhered to the text of the MS base.43
Cinquante e sis anz, ço cuntum,L1337 [L1337] C. cinc a. LH43
E sis cenz anz avoec metum
Des l'Encarnacïun Jesu
1340 Tres [qu'al jur] que Peade oscis fu.L1340 [L1340] Tresque P. DLH43
Vulfere Penting firent reisL1341 [L1341] wenting R43
E il regnad sur les Merkeis.
Idunc si fud la grant bataille
1344 A Peonum par grant cuntraille;
Wlfere dunc Bretuns maneçad,L1345 [L1345] B. chasca R43L1345 [L1345] om dunc H43L1345 [L1345] bretuns dunc43L1345 [L1345] All MSS. concur in ascribing the victory at Peonum to Wulfhere instead of Cenwalh. This passage otherwise follows A.S.C. 658 so closely that it is difficult to account for the mistake; if it were in his source, then Gaimar would hardly have assumed two battles by the same king; if it were due to dittography from l. 1341, then the substitution of the correct name would clear up the later confusion (ll. 1353-6), but this is not so. Thus we are bound to follow our MSS. and to ascribe the mistake to Gaimar himself.43
Tresque Pedredan les encaçad.L1346 [L1346] P. contrels chevalcha R43
Ço fud puis qu'il d'Estengle vintL1347 [L1347] de wastenge v. R43L1347 [L1347] p. que d. RH43
1348 E par eissil treis anz se tint;L1348 [L1348] a. le t. H43
Li reis Pendan l'ot decacied,L1349 [L1349] Le r. L43
Desherited, toleit sun fied;L1350 [L1350] son siee H43L1350 [L1350] e tol. R43
Pur ço qu'il sa serur guerpid,
1352 Ses heritez treis anz perdid.L1347 [L1347] This passage renders quite accurately A.S.C. 658 except that, as a result of the earlier mistake in the name of the victor at Peonum, it is now made to apply to Wulfhere and so makes him marry his own aunt!43
Puis refist cist autre bataille
Prof de Cestre [al reis Cenwaille].L1354 [L1354] r. de cornewaille LH43L1354 [L1354] r. de cornuaille43L1354 [L1354] C. reis DLH43
Ço fud [a Bosentesbiri],L1355 [L1355] a bosentesbirid L a bosentebiri R43L1355 [L1355] al bois entesberid43
1356 [U] a Vulfere mult toli;L1356 [L1356] E a DLH43
[Tut Esendune ad donc purpris,
A Wlfhere tolt cel païs].L1358 [L1358] tost c. R43
Li reis Gudred ert del lignage
1360 Al rei Quintelm qui fud sage.L1360 [L1360] Q. si fu s. R43L1360 [L1360] quinzeline RH43L1360 [L1360] quincelin DL43
Entre lui e le rei [Ken]britL1361 [L1361] hebrit L43L1361 [L1361] e le reis R43L1361 [L1361] kenebrit43
Page 43
Tut preierent l'isle [de] Wit.L1362 [L1362] de with R de wight H44L1362 [L1362] T. purpernent R44L1362 [L1362] del wic DL44
Puis que l'idle fud si preied,
1364 Li reis Wlfere l'ad doned [f.103b]
A Edelwold un sun fillol –L1365 [L1365] om un H44L1365 [L1365] E. u a son f. R44
Cil ert reis de Sudsexeiol –L1366 [L1366] suthsexol RH44
E les Wités fist baptizerL1367 [L1367] les witteis RH44
1368 Par lui en cumençail premier.L1368 [L1368] Par lui comence p. H44L1359 [L1359] According to A.S.C. 661 Cuthred and Coenberht both died in the same year that Wulfhere harried the Isle of Wight and gave it to his godson, and Eoppa first brought baptism to its inhabitants. Gaimar's account is completely at variance with this and has actually become absurd, though whether, as Gross suggests, as a result of textual corruption in his source or as a result of his own careless reading cannot be decided. It is not clear why Gaimar should have substituted Guth- in the first syllable of Cuthred here and elsewhere.44
Idunc avint a nuit le jur,L1369 [L1369] I. revint a n. R I. devint la n. a j. H44L1369 [L1369] Dunc DLRH44
Si fud mortalited majur,
[Tel] ne fud ainz ne puis cel tens.L1371 [L1371] Tele DL44
1372 [Tuda] l'evesque al mien purpens,L1372 [L1372] Cuda H44L1372 [L1372] Tuit DL44
Il fud dunc mort, ço sai de fid,L1373 [L1373] om Il H44
E a [Paggle] fud enfuïdL1374 [L1374] pangle DLH44
E Ercembert le rei de KentL1375 [L1375] li reis LR44L1375 [L1375] erchenbert R erkenbright H44L1375 [L1375] recembert DL44
1376 Refud dunc mort tuit ensement.L1376 [L1376] om tuit RH44
Ecbrit [son fiz saisit le regne].L1377 [L1377] om son fiz R44L1377 [L1377] Heebrict L Hecburth R Hedbright H44L1377 [L1377] E ebrit44L1377 [L1377] rest of l. 1377 not in DL44
Donc tint l'arcevesque son seneL1378 [L1378] lar. ensemble H44L1378 [L1378] senee R44
[E Colman] e ses cumpaignunsL1379 [L1379] coleman R44L1379 [L1379] first two words not in DL44
1380 En vont a lur [possessions]L1380 [L1380] processiuns DL44
E [Ceadda] fud dunc benëeizL1381 [L1381] E C. fu donc leveiz a levesque Il e wlfriz larcevesque R44L1381 [L1381] beneit DLH44L1381 [L1381] Cade DLH44
A evesque, il e Wilfreiz.L1382 [L1382] wilfrit L44L1382 [L1382] E a ev. L44L1382 [L1382] wlfrit DH44
L'arcevesque cel an transit,L1383 [L1383] Cel an un a. t. R44L1383 [L1383] quen cel L qui cel H44L1383 [L1383] que cel44
1384 Cil ot a nun Deusdedit.L1384 [L1384] Cil out dieus dedie H44L1383 [L1383] follow 1385 in H44
Vitalianus l'apostoireL1385 [L1385] Vitali ad non li apostoli H44L1385 [L1385] E V. R44
Fist arcevesque de Theodoire.L1386 [L1386] E fut a. H44
Li reis Ecbrit a [Bas] le prestreL1387 [L1387] E. al us le p. H44L1387 [L1387] heebrict L ecbricth R em' it H44L1387 [L1387] bos DL44L1387 [L1387] eebrit44
1388 Donat Raculve u il volt estre.L1388 [L1388] D. la cure mes il nel v. R44
Page 44
Dunc [murrut] Oswi li bon reis,L1389 [L1389] om Oswi and bon H45L1389 [L1389] murit45
Grant dol en firent Norhumbreis;L1390 [L1390] d. firent li N. H45
Ecfert sun fiz [rendent] l'onur,L1391 [L1391] remaint DL45
1392 Rei en firent e dreit seignurL1392 [L1392] Reis R45
E Theodor fist dunc evesque
Del clerc [Lohier partut] Westsexe.L1394 [L1394] De la clergie de W. H45L1394 [L1394] De un c. rorer de W. L45L1394 [L1394] lorer de45
[Sis cenz] anz e seisante [e] unL1395 [L1395] .vii. c. a. .lxiii. et un H45L1395 [L1395] e s. un R45L1395 [L1395] Seisante a. DL45
1396 Ot dunc des l'Encarnatïun.L1396 [L1396] Donc out H45L1396 [L1396] ll. 1395-6 interverted in H45
Dunc cumbatirent les oiselsL1397 [L1397] les oiselleuls R45
Par valees e par muncels,L1398 [L1398] p. muscels L45
Tant en i ot mort e ocisL1399 [L1399] morz e o. R45L1399 [L1399] om i H45
1400 Que ço fud dit que nul [n'est] vis.L1400 [L1400] que nuls R45L1400 [L1400] ne fud DLH45
Li reis [Cenwalh] un [an] aprésL1401 [L1401] r. cheolwlf L r. kenwald H45L1401 [L1401] chewalhun en a.45
Fud mort, sun tens ne fud mes; [f.103c]
E puis de rechief en l'autre an
1404 Sexburc transid la fille Anan;
E el tierz an [Ecbrith] mort fud;L1405 [L1405] heebrict L etright H45L1405 [L1405] om E R45L1405 [L1405] heebrit45
E dunc [sue ante] saint' EdeldrudL1406 [L1406] edeltrud L adeldru R etheltrut H45L1406 [L1406] E une s. a. R45L1406 [L1406] edeldredud45L1406 [L1406] om sue ante DLH45
Esteit [nonain], si amot Deu;L1407 [L1407] si ama H45L1407 [L1407] Nonaine esteit R Estre nunait H45L1407 [L1407] nenan45
1408 En Eli pert, la est lur [leu].L1408 [L1408] eleperz R heliper H45L1408 [L1408] deu45L1408 [L1408] lingpert DL45L1401 [L1401] A difficult passage, for uncertainties of text are added to confusions of matter. Gaimar first describes the celebrated fugla wæl, the murrain of birds, under the date 671, though like others he turns it into a regular battle. Then, agreeing with A.S.C., he gives the death of Cenwalh as occurring one year later, but, reading of Seaxburh's one year reign as widow, deduces that she died at the end of that period, hence his en l'altre an, but as Egbert's death is not recorded until the next year, this must now be el tierz an from Gaimar's reckoning-point. Moreover, he has confused the West-Saxon Seaxburh with her Kentish namesake, the daughter of the East-Anglian king, Anna, whom he had previously mentioned (l. 1279) and who was connected with Ely. In the next line (l. 1406) we have a divergence of reading; where DLH have merely e dunc in the first hemistich, thus giving a six-syllable line, R reads e une sue ante, making the line too long. Gross accepts without discussion this reading and assumes an addition in Gaimar's source (A.S.C. 673), but, as we have already seen, Gaimar is thinking of the Ely associations of the family and could quite well have known of the relationship from some other source. Linked with this divergence of reading is that in the following line; R reads nonaine estait, whereas DLH give esteit nonain. This divergence seems to correspond to a difference of construction and thus of interpretation: in R the line is rather a parenthesis and l. 1406 a continuation of the preceding line; in DLH it supplies the predicate to the preceding line. As in A.S.C. 673 the mention of St. Æthelthryth's foundation of Ely is separated from that of the king's death, I think the interpretation of DLH is more likely to correspond to Gaimar's intention, though he cannot be exonerated from confusion of thought, but the reading of R nearer to what Gaimar wrote in l. 1406; hence the readings adopted into my text. In l. 1408 the reference is undoubtedly to Ely, where both Æthelthryth and Seaxburh were buried; the reading of DL–Lingpert–is shown to be wrong by the partial agreement of R and H; the element -pert, which is treated as part of the name in the MSS., does not correspond to any known form of the name and the context seems to require a verb, so I have taken it as ind. pr. 3 of pareir and understand: In Ely it is to be seen, there is their place.45
En icel tens [lurent] WestsexienL1409 [L1409] un W. H45L1409 [L1409] om lurent DLH45
[Esewine], ot nun Kenfusien;L1410 [L1410] chenfusien R45L1410 [L1410] Ewine H45L1410 [L1410] kent fud suen DLH45L1410 [L1410] Lefwine DL45
Cil esteit eirs, sin firent [reis].L1411 [L1411] eirs45L1409 [L1409] Unless we accept with R a verb in l. 1409, we are faced with an almost meaningless passage, but if we do accept it, we get a metrically faulty line. The rime-word in l. 1410 is a distortion of the patronymic Cenfusing which Gaimar found in his source; this probably agreed with A.S.C.(E) 674, 675, for he appears to have run the two annals together and, in doing so, to have omitted all reference to Wulfhere's opponent in the battle he describes; this would be less likely if his source were similar to A.S.C.(A), where the phrase se wes Cenfusing and a genealogy conclude the bare notice of Æscwine's accession. At an early stage in the transmission of DLH someone apparently did not recognize any kind of personal-name in Kenfusien, but took it as an obscure phrase to which he imparted a meaning by writing Kent fud suen; did he by any chance object to sien as a possessive? It is also probable that the second e in Esewine is a scribal error for c, as Rathmann (o.c., p. 45) suggests.45
1412 Wlfere od [tut] ses MerkeneisL1412 [L1412] W. out les M. H45L1412 [L1412] om tut DLH45
Se cumbatid, il e sa gent,L1413 [L1413] Si c. LH45
Al Chief de Bede veirement;L1414 [L1414] de radhe R45
Asez i ot [homes] ocis,L1415 [L1415] gent45
1416 Al rei Wlfere estut le pis;L1416 [L1416] W. en estut p. R W. esteit le p. LH45
Page 45
Plus i perdeit qu'il n'i cunquist,L1417 [L1417] i perdi q. LRH46L1417 [L1417] om i H46
Fol cunseil ot, quant ço enprist;L1418 [L1418] q. il lenp. R46
Puis ne vesquid que un [sul] anL1419 [L1419] v. fors un H46L1419 [L1419] om sul DLH46
1420 Ne nul[s] ne sot rien de sun ban.L1420 [L1420] s. nient de sun LH46L1420 [L1420] ne siwit r. R46L1420 [L1420] l. 1419 and l 1420 interverted46
Dunc firent Edelred seignurL1421 [L1421] lur s. L46
Li Mercïen par grant enur.
Cil fud prodom, se lui leüstL1423 [L1423] om lui R46L1423 [L1423] si hom li l. L46L1423 [L1423] Et cil H46
1424 E s'encumbrier si grant [n]'eüst,L1424 [L1424] Si e. g. H46L1424 [L1424] g. ne fust R46L1424 [L1424] U senc. L E si encombres R46L1424 [L1424] nen DH46
Mais en cel an qu'il rei fud fait,L1425 [L1425] M. a cel tens qe li rois f. H46L1425 [L1425] en icel an R46
Od sun grant ost en Kent s'en vait,L1426 [L1426] om s'en R46L1426 [L1426] om sun H sa g. LR46
Par le païs homes ocist,
1428 Arst, destruist, granz preies prist;L1428 [L1428] A. e d. L A. e guasta R46
E en cel an mort fud Eswine,L1429 [L1429] fu mort RH46L1429 [L1429] egwine LH oswine R46L1429 [L1429] om E LH46L1429 [L1429] edwine46
Tute Westsexe saisit Kentwine.
Dunc s'aparut une comete,
1432 Un' esteille que [li] propheteL1432 [L1432] la46
E li clerc astronomïen,
Quant se [demustre], seivent bienL1434 [L1434] demustrent46
Que Deus cel signe fait [vëeir]L1435 [L1435] f. veir R46L1435 [L1435] venir DL46
1436 Pur ço que pueple deit saveirL1436 [L1436] Que p. se deive repentir L Que le p. en d. H46L1436 [L1436] li p. R46
Que li asquanz ne funt nïent
De tut [le] sun cumandementL1438 [L1438] om le DL46 [f.103d]
Ne ses fedeilz [n']unt entr'els pais,L1439 [L1439] Ne si ses L Et ses H46L1439 [L1439] nen DR46
1440 Encuntre dreit se sunt irais,L1440 [L1440] se funt il reis R46
[Par irasce ses serfs travailent,
De tut dreit fere se defaillent];L1442 [L1442] ll. 1441-2 not in DLH46
Pur ço se [demustra] cel signe,L1443 [L1443] om se LH46L1443 [L1443] demustre DL46
1444 Treis meis la virent cler[e] e digne;L1444 [L1444] Un m. R46L1444 [L1444] cler46
Par tute Bretaine fud [veüe],L1445 [L1445] veud DL46
Cum rai de soleil fud [estendue];L1446 [L1446] om fud L46L1446 [L1446] estendud DL46
Page 46
Le plus del rai, quant s'estendeit,
1448 Sur saint Wilfrei veneit tut dreit,L1448 [L1448] Sus H47
[Quel] part que l'arcevesque alad,L1449 [L1449] la. alast LR47L1449 [L1449] Quele47
Od lui la comete turnad.L1450 [L1450] c. turnast LR47L1450 [L1450] sen t.47
Ecfert li reis l'ad dechacied,
1452 Dous evesques mist en sun sied;
Bosa sistrent sur DeïronL1453 [L1453] desur D. H47L1453 [L1453] Bois assistrent L47L1453 [L1453] B. sist R47L1453 [L1453] Deiron and Bernicon interverted in DL47
E [Ethan] desur Bernicon;L1454 [L1454] sur B. H47L1454 [L1454] beuerlicun R beruicon H47L1454 [L1454] E heorti de R47L1454 [L1454] bericon DL47L1454 [L1454] echan DL47L1453 [L1453] The agreement of R and H shows that the names in the rime have been interverted in DL; none of the MSS. give an acceptable form for Bernicia, but those in DLH point back to the one adopted, whereas that in R seems to show confusion with Beverley. The name Eata elsewhere figures in the Estoire with Eat-, so the name in DLH, followed in the text, is probably corrupt, as that in R certainly is.47
E saint Wilfreit alad a Rome,
1456 Si se cuntint cume [seint home].L1456 [L1456] cun uns sainz h. R47L1456 [L1456] prodome DL47
Le tierz evesque unt ordenez
E Linde[s]ware li unt donez;L1458 [L1458] lindesie H47L1458 [L1458] om E RH47
Hecces ot nun, unques enceisL1459 [L1459] All MSS. agree in the form with germinated c, which can hardly represent O.E. Heca, as Rathmann (o.c., p. 49) assumes, for this name does not appear in the annal under translation; there the name is Eadhed, but in the previous annal occurs Hedde and this may have influenced Gaimar.47
1460 N'orent evesque iloec Engleis.L1460 [L1460] Nor. eves i. L47
Dunc fud ocis un gentilz hom
Sur Trente – Elfwine ot [a] nom –L1462 [L1462] E. aveit a n. R47L1462 [L1462] om a DH47
A la bataille de dous reis;
1464 L'un fud Ecfert li Norhumbreis,L1464 [L1464] E. de N. LH47L1464 [L1464] Li uns R47
Li autre Edelred ot a nun,L1465 [L1465] Elred H47
Merceneland ert sun regïun.L1466 [L1466] sa r. LH47
Saint' Edeltrud idunc transit,
1468 Coledesburc idunc bruïd,L1468 [L1468] i. bruillit H47L1468 [L1468] Colesburc L47
[Li feus] celestre le alumad,L1469 [L1469] celestres RH47L1469 [L1469] Le feu47
Si cum Deu plot, issi alad.
Dous anz aprés Hilde murud,L1471 [L1471] seint H. R47
1472 De Streneshale abaësse fud;L1472 [L1472] S. abedesse f. L S. abbesse RH47
E en cel an fud la batailleL1473 [L1473] om E LH47
Del barnage de [Cornewaille]L1474 [L1474] Del lignage H47L1474 [L1474] cornuaille47
E des Bretuns a qui Ken[t]wineL1475 [L1475] kenwine DLH47
1476 Fist fuïr tresqu'a la marine. [f.104a]
Dous anz aprés Ecfert li reis
Page 47
[Enveiat ost] sur Escoteis;L1478 [L1478] E. sost H48L1478 [L1478] Ost env.48
Cil destruistrent par crüelted,L1479 [L1479] par ruiste H48L1479 [L1479] tut par c. R48
1480 Devant els n'ot mustier tensed,L1480 [L1480] nert m. R48
Arstrent mustiers e chapeles,
[Muilliers] hunirent e puceles.L1482 [L1482] Femmes DL48
Cinc anz aprés li reis EcfertL1483 [L1483] cinc anz. Actually it was only one year later, but all the MSS. concur. Gross suggests that an abbreviation ū may have been misread; if, as in D, the first letter in the line were separated by a space, such a mistake could the more easily occur, but Gaimar may just have followed the last letter of the date, so I have made no correction.48
1484 Fist evesque de saint [Cuth]bert;L1484 [L1484] cubert48
L'arcevesque Theodur
Benesquid icel seignur;L1486 [L1486] Reuesti L48
En Everwic la le sacrad,
1488 A Hectoldesham [la] l'enveiadL1488 [L1488] A hectilham R48L1488 [L1488] om la DL48
Kar iloc ert le mestre siedL1489 [L1489] li m. R48
Idunc de tut l'arcevesquied
E Trumbert en fud deposedL1491 [L1491] ert d. R48L1491 [L1491] om en RH48L1491 [L1491] teumbert L chembert H wilfri R48L1491 [L1491] teunibert48
1492 Qui arcevesque i ot ested.L1492 [L1492] om i R48
Ecfert li reis en icel anL1493 [L1493] le roi H48
Ocistrent li ArchemanL1494 [L1494] li orkenan R48
[E mult grant gent la furent mort
1496 Ultre la mer devers le nort].L1496 [L1496] ll. 1495-6 not in DLH48
Ecfert [regna quinze] anz de fid,L1497 [L1497] de ad R48L1497 [L1497] regna after anz in H48L1497 [L1497] cinc DLH48L1497 [L1497] om regna DL48
Aprés fud rei sun frere [Eald]frid.L1498 [L1498] f. reis R f. mort s. L48L1498 [L1498] first word not clear in R48L1498 [L1498] elfrid DLH48L1493 [L1493] The whole passage is due to Gaimar who is translating A.S.C. 685; the phrase be norðan sæ of that annal refers to the Forth, but when Plummer says in his note Gaimar is quite correct, this can only refer to the translation of the phrase, for it is open to doubt whether Gaimar understood the allusion. Whence he derived the name of the slayers is unknown nor is the actual name certain; I have therefore not adopted the form in R which may represent a late attempt to make the name intelligible.48
En icel tens Heate transit,L1499 [L1499] i. an Eade t. H48
1500 A Hectoldesham dunc unt choisit;L1500 [L1500] A hecfildesham R48
Johans tint dunc l'arcevesquied,
Tant que W[i]lfrit fud repeirié;
Il fud receü cume mestreL1503 [L1503] f. refud r.48
1504 E seint Johan alad a Cestre.
Bos li evesque esteit transid,L1505 [L1505] e. que e. R48L1505 [L1505] Boefs H48
Saint Johan unt quis e cuillid,L1506 [L1506] om quis e H48L1506 [L1506] unt pris L48L1506 [L1506] recuillid DLH48
Grant piece i fud, puis s'en [turnat],L1507 [L1507] transit DL48
Page 48
1508 Wilfrei sun prestre iloc [lessat];L1508 [L1508] p. le sie saisid L p. i l. H49L1508 [L1508] Wilfri RH49L1508 [L1508] laissit49
Cil fud a evesque sacrezL1509 [L1509] f. ercevesque s. LH49
E saint Johan s'en est alez
A Beverle[i] a sun mustier;
1512 Tant servid Deu que mult l'ad chier.L1512 [L1512] out R49L1499 [L1499] Certain contradictions and obscurities in this passage are taken over by Gaimar from his source, which possibly included a reference to the death of Eata, as Gross argues. There was a loose, but popular, usage by which St. Cuthbert, St. John and St. Wilfrid were on occasion referred to as archbishops, and Gaimar simply conforms to this. On the other hand it is possible that Gaimar, with his interest in Chester, did not recognize York in the Ceastre of his source, hence Cestre (l. 1504).49
[E] en sun tens [si] fist CeadwaleL1513 [L1513] cadwal L cedwale R chaelwale H49L1513 [L1513] E el s. R49L1513 [L1513] ceawale49L1513 [L1513] om si DLH49L1513 [L1513] om E DH49
[Par] sun regne guerre mult maleL1514 [L1514] g. e m. mal L49L1514 [L1514] Pur DL49 [f.104b]
[E] en cel [an] qu'il [guerreiad],L1515 [L1515] regnad DLH49L1515 [L1515] tens DL49
1516 Li reis [Lodhere] deviad;L1516 [L1516] rodere DLH49
Cil fud prodom e noble[s] reis,
[Si] tint [tuz jorz sur les] Kenteis.L1518 [L1518] t. tut sul les K. L tint soul les K. H49L1518 [L1518] tut sul as49L1518 [L1518] Se49
[Aprés sa mort Mol e CeadwaleL1519 [L1519] The context requires a reference to the activities of Cædwalla and Mul; the similarity of rime (Ceadwale : male) at ll. 1513-14 and ll. 1519-20 and the lesser similarity of the beginning (Aprés) of l. 1519 and l. 1523 suggest the cause of the omission by DLH.49
1520 Firent en Kent guere mult male,
Arstrent, tolirent e roberent,
L'isle de With trestut preierent].L1522 [L1522] ll. 1519-22 not in DLH49
Aprés iço en icel an
1524 Firent Kenteis a Mol [ahan];L1524 [L1524] M. haan R49L1524 [L1524] acan DL49
Sei duz[i]me cumpaignunL1525 [L1525] compaignons R49L1525 [L1525] duzeme L49L1525 [L1525] The phrase in A.S.C. is: Mul . . . oðre .xii. men mid him; there is thus a slight discrepancy in Gaimar's statement.49
Arstrent en feu cume felun.L1526 [L1526] cum felons R49
[Ceadwale] mult s'e[n] curesçad,L1527 [L1527] Eadwale L49L1527 [L1527] Edwine49
1528 Cel an me[ï]sme Kent robad,L1528 [L1528] mesme DR49
Puis aprés ço alad a RomeL1529 [L1529] om ço H49L1529 [L1529] om Puis R49
E l'apostoire le fist prodome,L1530 [L1530] a. en f. H49L1530 [L1530] prodome. It may be true, as Gross suggests, that the word provides a convenient rime for Rome, but he is wrong to describe it as dieser ungeschickte und sinnlose Ausdruck. The word occurs a number of times in the Estoire in its usual sense of man of worth and valour, but when Gaimar, speaking of Cenwalh says:
Cil cumençad prodom a estre,
Le mustier fist faire a Gincestre (ll. 1301-2), he is giving to it a slightly religious tinge. Further on in the Estoire, when, after describing the revolt of Robert of Mowbray, Gaimar says:
[…] en prisun fud mis vint anz,
En la prisun finat muranz,
Prodom devint einz qu'il murust(ll. 6169-71)he adds to it an idea of moral regeneration, and this, I submit, is not absent here. Thus to some extent he approaches the thirteenth-century meaning of the word discussed by Mrs. Crossland in her article Prou, preux, preux hom, preud'ome (French Studies I (1947), 149-56) and the reading of DL in l. 1456, cume prodome instead of cume seint home, shows something of this same meaning. Cf. p. xl.49
Es funz tres bien le baptizad,L1531 [L1531] om tres H49
1532 Petres idunc si l'apelad;L1532 [L1532] Terres idonques lap. H49L1532 [L1532] Petres. The form of the name is unexpected; we cannot suppose Gaimar unable to render Petrum, but perhaps his eye was caught by the following Petres in the name of the church, unnamed in the Estoire.49
Ne mes uit jurz [aprés] vesquid,L1533 [L1533] j. ne v. DLH49
Al mustier fud ensevelid:
Ço fud unze jurz devant Mai.
1536 D'un autre rei ore parlerai,L1536 [L1536] om ore R49
[Ine] out nun, ço oï dire,L1537 [L1537] ceo ai oi H49L1537 [L1537] Hinne R49L1537 [L1537] Ille DL49
Westsexïen en firent sire;
Page 49
Trente set anz cel rei regnadL1539 [L1539] cil rois H50L1539 [L1539] Trente oit H50
1540 E puis a Rome s'en alad;
Iloec fud lunc tens remanantL1541 [L1541] f. tuz jors r. R50
Tresqu'al jur de sun muriant.
[L'arcevesque Theodorus
1544 Transit cel an, ne vesqui plus,
E de Raculve li abbé
Bruthpat fu en cel liu posé].L1546 [L1546] ll. 1543-46 not in DLH50
Dous reis en Kent idunc aveit;
1548 Li uns [Wihtret] numed esteit,L1548 [L1548] wilfrid H50L1548 [L1548] wicfered DL50
Seuphart li autre ot [a] nun.L1549 [L1549] om li autre R50L1549 [L1549] Seufart LH Sunheart R50L1549 [L1549] om a DRH50
Dunc transit [l'evesque] GefmunL1550 [L1550] gesinon H gefron R50L1550 [L1550] livesque50
E [Tobian] reçut sun sied.L1551 [L1551] thobinan DL50
1552 Drithelm [morut], Deu gracïed,L1552 [L1552] D. ot D. mercie L50L1552 [L1552] morust R50L1552 [L1552] Drithelem R50L1552 [L1552] mout50L1552 [L1552] Brithelin DLH50L1552 [L1552] Drithelem R, Brithelin DLH. As Gross points out, it is curious that the only two MSS. of A.S.C. to contain this annal should also show the same confusion in the initial; he ascribes the mistake, as does Plummer, to the presence of Brihtwald in the same annal (A.S.C. 693). In the form Bruthpat this name also occurs in the Estoire (l. 1546), but only in R which has the correct initial for the name under discussion. The agreement of R and H shows that Gaimar wrote morut; this is a possible translation of wæs of lyfe gelæd, the phrase in A.S.C.(E) 693, and was in fact adopted by Plummer in his glossary, but in his note to the annal he pointed out that the reference was to Dryhthelm's vision of a journey to the other world, described in greater detail by Bede (Historia, V, 12). I take the second half of the line to be a parenthetic remark by the author, and translate God be thanked.50
E cil de Kent si unt donedL1553 [L1553] om si RH50
Trente mil unces d'or pesed;
Pur l'arsun que de Mol firent
1556 Al rei Yne tuit ço rendirent;L1556 [L1556] Et tut ceo au r. Y. r. H50L1556 [L1556] hinne R50
E de Withred firent lur reiL1557 [L1557] om de R50
La gent de Kent sulunc lur lei.L1558 [L1558] s. la. l. R50 [f.104c]
Trente anz regnad e tint la terre,L1559 [L1559] om la R50
1560 Tres bien se [con]tint en sa guerre.L1560 [L1560] b. abati sa g. R50L1560 [L1560] tint DL50
Dunc ot de l'Encarnatïun
Set cenz e quatre anz, ço lisun.L1562 [L1562] e quarante a. L50
Li reis de Merke Edelred
1564 Prist dras de moine mais Kenred
Puis aprés lui regnad e tint.L1565 [L1565] om lui L50
Del rei [Eal]frid dunc mesavint;L1566 [L1566] edfrid H50L1566 [L1566] elfrid50
Il ert sire des Norhumbreis,
1568 A Drifeld[e] fud mort li reis.L1568 [L1568] drifeld DLH50
Osred sun fiz aprés regnad,
Si cum sun pere devisat.
Page 50
Un an aprés cil de Westsexe
1572 Del [bon Ealdelm] unt fait evesque;L1572 [L1572] aldeline LH51L1572 [L1572] aldeling51L1572 [L1572] om bon DLH51
Dous evesquez [firent donc] d'uneL1573 [L1573] om firent donc H51L1573 [L1573] unt fait51
Tut par l'esgard de la cumune;L1574 [L1574] om Tut H51
L'un evesquet tint Danïel,
1576 L'autre Ealdelm qui mult fud bel;L1576 [L1576] q. fut mult H51L1576 [L1576] ealdelf R aldelin H51L1576 [L1576] Laltre out E. R51L1576 [L1576] aldolf DL51
Aprés Ealdelm Fordhere vint,L1577 [L1577] eadelf R51L1577 [L1577] aldelin DLH51
Par grant honur l'evesqued tint;
[Fordhere tint en l'occidentL1579 [L1579] Forhere R51
1580 E Danïel en l'orïent;
Bois out entr'els e forez granz
Mes ambedous furent mananz];L1582 [L1582] ambdous R51L1582 [L1582] ll. 1579-82 not in DLH51
L'un est l'evesqued de Wincestre,
1584 A Salesbire deit l'autre estre.L1573 [L1573] The division of the diocese took place in 705, after the death of Hedde, bishop of Winchester, and was effected in regular council (cf. Plummer's note to Bede, Historia, V, 18); though this fact is not recorded by Bede or by A.S.C., l. 1574 seems to indicate that it was known to Gaimar. The new see was at Sherborne, but was transferred to Salisbury in 1075, so that Gaimar in his amplification (ll. 1579-84) of the entry in A.S.C. is reflecting contemporary conditions.51
Devant iço ert avenud:L1585 [L1585] D. co R51
Ultre Humbre devers le sudL1586 [L1586] Del H. H51L1586 [L1586] U. le H. R51
Vindrent icels ki la reïneL1587 [L1587] v. cil ki H51
1588 [Ostrut] ocistrent e sa cusine;L1588 [L1588] Estrild H51L1588 [L1588] Eltret DL51L1585 [L1585] Gaimar has mistakenly divided Her Suðanhumbre of A.S.C. 697 as Her suðan Humbre; just as earlier he had rendered be norðan sæ by devers le nort (l. 1496), so here he renders suðan by devers le sud; hence probably his ignorance of the perpetrators of the outrage. The cusine seems to be a relation by rime only!51
Reis Edelred ert sun seignur,
Ecfert sun frere, ele sa serur.
Beard fud ocis par les Pecteis.L1591 [L1591] Reard L Hebard H51
1592 Kenred regnet sur [Suthumbreis]:L1592 [L1592] Henred L51L1592 [L1592] norhumbreis DL51L1592 [L1592] Having with the division of the West-Saxon diocese reached A.S.C. 709, Gaimar expressly retraces his steps–Devant iço ert avenud (l. 1585)–to A.S.C.(E) 697 and proceeds to translate the following annals. This brings him to A.S.C.(E) 702: Her Kenred feng to Suðhumbra rice; he had already recorded the succession of Coenred (ll. 1564-5) from A.S.C. 704, but it is not quite certain that the event is duplicated. Plummer inclines to that view, assuming a double source in A.S.C.(D,E,F), but continues though it is possible that Ethelred may have associated Cenred with himself in the kingship prior to his resignation. Gaimar seems unaware of any repetition and launches out into his description of the kingdom of the Suthumbreis, which for him corresponds very much to the great medieval diocese of Lincoln.51
[ço est Lyndeseye e Holmedene,
Kestevene e Hoyland e Hestdene].
Des Humbre desqu'en RotelantL1595 [L1595] Des R. d. en humberland H51L1595 [L1595] rocaland L51
1596 Durot cel regne e plus avant;L1596 [L1596] En cel liu i ot H51
Par plusurs feiz fud la devise,
Tels lius i ot dreit a Tamise;
Le chief del regne soleit estreL1599 [L1599] r. i devoit e. H51L1599 [L1599] Le clef R51
1600 A la cité de DorchecestreL1600 [L1600] horkecestre H51 [f.104d]
E Huntedone e [le] cuntedL1601 [L1601] e la contree H51L1601 [L1601] la51
Soleit estre de cel regned,L1602 [L1602] de cest r. R51L1602 [L1602] Soleient H51
Page 51
Neis la [meité] de GrantecestreL1603 [L1603] cited DLH52L1603 [L1603] meité R, cited DLH. I have preferred the reading of R, because it is the lectio difficilior and because Grantecestre is apparently Cambridgeshire. Cf. Zachrisson, A.N. Influence . . . (Lund, 1909), p. 79.52
1604 I fud jadis e deveit estre;L1604 [L1604] e soleit e. L e devereit e. R52
[Bel] s'en poeit un rei guarir,L1605 [L1605] uns reis RH52L1605 [L1605] B. se pout H52L1605 [L1605] Bien DL52
Se il ço peüst en pais tenir.L1606 [L1606] Sil le pout H52
En icel tens les Merkeneis
1608 Firent Cheolred [seignur e] reis.L1608 [L1608] f. de Chenred r. L52L1608 [L1608] om seignur e DL52
Li reis Kenred alad a RumeL1609 [L1609] om Li reis R52
E Offe od lui un gentil hume;
Chenred remist tresqu'a [sa] fin,L1611 [L1611] C.i r. R52L1611 [L1611] la DLR52
1612 Iloc transid par Deu destin.L1612 [L1612] t. a la D. H52
En icel an sai bien e vei,L1613 [L1613] an saisit beuerley H52
A Undele fud mort saint Wilfrei,L1614 [L1614] U. morut s. W. H52
Sun cors fud condut a Ripun,
1616 La tint l'um bien religïun;L1616 [L1616] om l'um H52L1616 [L1616] La teneit lom R52
Quarante cinc anz, [ço] est escrit,L1617 [L1617] a. come est H52L1617 [L1617] om ço DL52
Evesque fud a Deu eslitL1618 [L1618] f. jadis e. R52
Icil prohom icil WilfreiL1619 [L1619] p. seint W. H52
1620 Que dechaçad Ecfert [le] reiL1620 [L1620] om Que R Qui LH52L1620 [L1620] li52
E aprés lui [Acce] sun prestreL1621 [L1621] ace L hacke R52L1621 [L1621] acee52
Remist [el liu] pur evesque estre.L1622 [L1622] od lui DL52
En icel an dan Berefrid
1624 Od les Pecteis se cumbatid;L1624 [L1624] pectiens H52
Entre dous ewes Hese e [Ciere]L1625 [L1625] e. eie et eriere H52L1625 [L1625] criere DL52L1625 [L1625] As Hese instead of an expected hefe is supported by DLR, it may be due to Gaimar. I have retained it, but have preferred Ciere (R) to Criere (DL) as nearer to O.E. Cære.52
Fud la bataille [fort] e fiereL1626 [L1626] En la b. R52L1626 [L1626] forte DLH52L1626 [L1626] e f.52
E Yne [e Nun] un sun cusinL1627 [L1627] om un R52L1627 [L1627] Y. et un H52L1627 [L1627] om e Nun DLH52L1627 [L1627] Yne un sun c. DL, Ine et un son c. H, Hine e Nun son c. R. As A.S.C. 710 has both names and as the line is metrically faulty unless it incorporates both the name and the article, I have emended accordingly; nun un could easily be taken as a repetition or mechanically overlooked.52
1628 Tindrent bataille a Gerentin;
Un rei de Wales cil ert fort,
De [tut] sun dreit [li firent] tort;L1630 [L1630] firent il DL52L1630 [L1630] om tut DLH52
E Sibald fud cel an ocis,
1632 Un[s] riches hom fud del païs.L1632 [L1632] de cel p. LH52L1632 [L1632] om fud H52L1632 [L1632] ert R52
En icel [tens Guthlac] esteit,L1633 [L1633] gudlac R52L1633 [L1633] cutlac52L1633 [L1633] an52
Page 52
Uns hom qui Dampnedeu serveit;L1634 [L1634] Uns seinz home qui dieu s. H53
Qui la vie de lui vereit,L1635 [L1635] Mainte m. H53
1636 Maint miracle i trovereit;L1636 [L1636] ll. 1635-6 interverted in L53 [f.105a]
Tucher m'estuet, ne puis [tut] dire.L1637 [L1637] plus53
Yne, Cheolred firent martireL1638 [L1638] Yne doret f. H53
A Wodnesberge en la bataille.
1640 Un an aprés, ço [di] senz faille,L1640 [L1640] a. ke di R53L1640 [L1640] dit DH53
Dunc fud ocis Osred li reis
Qui regnot sur les NorhumbreisL1642 [L1642] Ceo fut damage as englois H53L1642 [L1642] regnat R53
En la marce devers midi;
1644 Reis fud set anz, si cum jo [qui].L1644 [L1644] Qui regna. vii. anz H53L1644 [L1644] di DL53
Dunc firent cil de Kenred reis,
Dous anz tint regne e [demi] meis.L1646 [L1646] d. meins L53L1646 [L1646] un DL53
Dunc la retint [Osric] unze anz.L1647 [L1647] .ix. anz R53L1647 [L1647] D. le receut H53L1647 [L1647] oseric DL53
1648 [Chelred] de [Merce] li reis vaillanzL1648 [L1648] meroc DL53L1648 [L1648] Chereld53
Transit cel an: ço est acuntez;L1649 [L1649] a. si est H53
A Lichesfeld fud [enterrez]L1650 [L1650] Et a L. H53L1650 [L1650] posez DLH53
[E] Edelred Pending li reisL1651 [L1651] om E DLH53
1652 En porterent [li] Merkeneis,L1652 [L1652] les M. R53L1652 [L1652] om li DL53
A Bardeneie l'enterrerent.
A Edelbald Mercene dunerent.L1654 [L1654] merce RH53
Cil regnat quarante e un an,L1655 [L1655] om e DLR .xli. H53
1656 Asez ot guerre e grant ahan.L1656 [L1656] om grant H53L1656 [L1656] A. i ot L53
[Uns riches hom, Ecbert out nun,
En icel tens par bel sarmon
Se prist a Deu e a seint Pere;
1660 En oreisons e en praiere
Remist tuz jors tresk'a sa fin,
Enterrez fu a Mirmartin].
Un autre gentil frere [a rei],L1663 [L1663] aveit DLH53
1664 Ingild ot nun, [murut, ço crei];L1664 [L1664] morust R53L1664 [L1664] e mureit DLH53
Page 53
Cil esteit frere al bon rei Yne;L1665 [L1665] f. la reyne H54
Cutburc lur suer esteit reïne,L1666 [L1666] ert H54L1666 [L1666] ll. 1665-6 interverted in H54
Winburne estorat en sa vieL1667 [L1667] Winelire (?) L Winburgne R Wynburgh H54L1667 [L1667] Winborc54
1668 E mult i fist [bel'] abeïe.L1668 [L1668] grant54
Ealfred li reis l'ot espusee,
En lur vivant fud [deseveree];L1670 [L1670] donee DL54
Del rei qui tint Norhumberlant
1672 Se departid en lur vivant;L1672 [L1672] en son v. H54
Tant par amad sa [chasteté],L1673 [L1673] chastetee L54L1673 [L1673] chasteed54
Tuit en laissad sa [richeté].L1674 [L1674] richetee L54L1674 [L1674] la r. LH54L1674 [L1674] richeteed54
Chenburc ot nun l'autre sorur,L1675 [L1675] a nun DL54
1676 Tant se penad de fere onur,
Unc en cel tens en la cuntree,L1677 [L1677] Ke unc R54
Cum ele fud, n'ot si amee.L1678 [L1678] tant a. R54L1678 [L1678] U ele RH54 [f.105b]
Dunc ot set cenz e vint e un an,L1679 [L1679] vint un R .xxxi. H54
1680 Si cum dïent li ancïan,L1680 [L1680] c. la content a. R54
De la Jesu Nativited;
Tant ert del siecle dunc aled,L1682 [L1682] des le s. a H54L1682 [L1682] idonc ert tant a. R54L1682 [L1682] Del s54
Quant Danïel a Rume alad
1684 [Li] evesque que Deu amad.L1684 [L1684] ke deus a. RH54L1684 [L1684] Lev. DL54
Kenewlf fud cel an ocis,
Un fiz de rei de mult grant pris.L1686 [L1686] om mult H54L1686 [L1686] r. ki out g. R54
Li bon[s] Johan[s] idunc [transi],L1687 [L1687] transist L54L1687 [L1687] transit54
1688 Celui qui [gist en Beverli]L1688 [L1688] beverlei DL54L1688 [L1688] qui en B. gist DL54
[E] Edelburc l'ovre abatidL1689 [L1689] om E DLH54
Que li reis [Inne] aveit bastid;L1690 [L1690] a. abasti H54L1690 [L1690] om Inne DLH54
A Tantune aveit fait ovrer,
1692 Ele fist l'ovre degeter.
En [i]cel an qui vint aprésL1693 [L1693] E en cel a. DL54
Furent plusurs de guere engrés.
Li reis Withred qui Kent teneitL1695 [L1695] wildret H54L1695 [L1695] om Li reis R54
Page 54
1696 Fud mort, [si] cum Deu voleit;L1696 [L1696] D. le v.55L1696 [L1696] om si DH55
Trente quatre anz cel rei regnat,L1697 [L1697] .xxxiii. a. cil rois r. H55
Bien tint sun regne, [sa] gent amat;L1698 [L1698] om sa DL55
E Yne li reis de Westsexe
1700 Guerreiad Surrie e Sudsexe,
[Ealbrit ocist, un] fiz de reiL1701 [L1701] E habalt huni (hun [L]) DL55
Qu'il dechaçad ainz de sur sei,L1702 [L1702] ainz chascat R55L1702 [L1702] chacad DLRH55L1702 [L1702] All the MSS. concur in reading chaçad, but the line is then a syllable short; it renders the phrase from A.S.C.(E) 725: þe he ær ut flymde; in view of Gaimar's frequent use of dechacier in similar contexts I have added the prefix to the verb.55
Ainz l'aveit tut desherited,L1703 [L1703] t. desbarette H55
1704 Or l'ad ocis e mort rüed;L1704 [L1704] a mort H55
E de Sudsexïens mult prist,L1705 [L1705] om mult H55
Asquanz raïnst, asquanz ocist;L1706 [L1706] A. rauist L raint R55
Puis aprés ço poi sujurnad,L1707 [L1707] a. ke poi R55L1707 [L1707] om Puis H55
1708 A Rume [li reis] Yne aladL1708 [L1708] le rei55
E Edelbert un sun cusinL1709 [L1709] om E H55L1709 [L1709] Edelbert. The true name of Ine's successor is Æthelheard. There is no knowing who is responsible for the confusion, but Gaimar gives the correct name when recording the death of this king (l. 1759).55
Reçut le regne Westsexin;L1710 [L1710] Tint le H55
Quatorze anz tint mult sagement,L1711 [L1711] a. le tint s. H55L1711 [L1711] a. la tint R55L1711 [L1711] Quarante R55
1712 Amed esteit entre sa gent.L1712 [L1712] e. mult e. L55L1712 [L1712] ll. 1711-2 interverted in H55
Aprés dous anz dunc trespasserent,L1713 [L1713] om dunc H55
Dous cometes se demustrerent, [f.105c]
[L]es esteilles geterent rais;
1716 Asquanz distrent encuntre pais,L1716 [L1716] d. kencontre p R55
Asquanz distrent encuntre guerre:L1717 [L1717] d. contre g. R55
Ço signefïed eissil de terre.
[M]ais ki k'en dïet tort u dreit,L1719 [L1719] ou t. ou d. H55L1719 [L1719] en deit L55
1720 Pur quei ço ert, nuls ne saveit.
[Osric] li reis idunc fud morz,L1721 [L1721] Oseric DL55
Unze anz regnad, asez fud forz
E saint [Ecbricht] dunc deviadL1723 [L1723] edbright H55L1723 [L1723] idunc DR55L1723 [L1723] ebric DL55
1724 Qui bone vie demenad.
Cheolwlf aprés [uit] anz retint,L1725 [L1725] set DLH55
Dunc fud mort Oswald l'edeling.L1726 [L1726] Idunc55
Page 55
Le jur a nuit dunc s'oscurad.L1727 [L1727] j. apres d. H56
1728 Edelbald Westsexe preiad,L1728 [L1728] Edelwald H56
Sumertune prist e saisit,
Asez cunquist tant cum vesquid.L1730 [L1730] om tant H cum il v. R56
[Acce] l'evesque fud decaciedL1731 [L1731] f. donc chasce R fud chaced LH56L1731 [L1731] Acke R56L1731 [L1731] E cel e. DL56
1732 De [Hextildesham], de s'evesqued.L1732 [L1732] de son sie R56L1732 [L1732] om de H56L1732 [L1732] En edenesham H56L1732 [L1732] hecteuesham DL56
La lune dunc se [de]mustrad,L1733 [L1733] mustrad DL56
En ruge sanc ert: ço semblad
A tuz icels qui la vëeient;L1735 [L1735] A tuz cels LRH56
1736 En sanc esteit, [tuz le] diseient.L1736 [L1736] co DLH56
Li arcevesque idunc transit,
Tathwine Deu mult bien servid.L1738 [L1738] T. qui dieu s. H56L1738 [L1738] Cathwine R56L1738 [L1738] Teinthwine DLH56L1738 [L1738] Cathwine R, Teinthwine DLH. As the reading of R is closer to the O.E. name, Tatwine, I have adopted it, subject to the correction in the initial.56
Ecbrict eslistrent en sun sied,L1739 [L1739] Edbright esleustrent H56L1739 [L1739] E ebrict L Ecbruth R56L1739 [L1739] E ebriet56
1740 Cil tint mult bien l'arcevesquied.L1740 [L1740] om mult LH56
Bede le prestre dunc deviad,
A Weremue iloc [posa].L1742 [L1742] i. lum le p. R56L1742 [L1742] gernemue H56L1742 [L1742] reposad DL56L1742 [L1742] posad. The agreement of R and H in the verb supports its retention in the text. The verb in this sense occurs again at l. 2535 and DLH again seem to object. Here both DL on the one hand and R on the other seem to have objected to the use of poser as a neuter verb and to have altered the line to avoid it, but in so doing have made the line unmetrical.56
[Cheolwlf] li reis moine devint.L1743 [L1743] Cheelwld56
1744 Un sun cusin le regne tint,
Eadbrith [out nun], vint e un anL1745 [L1745] Et cheosulf H56L1745 [L1745] om out nun DLH56
Tint le regne en grant ahanL1746 [L1746] r. par g. R56L1746 [L1746] Le r. tint a g. H56
Kar Edelbald le guerreiad,
1748 Norhumberland cel an preiad.
[Eadbrict] EatingL1749 [L1749] eatinc R56L1749 [L1749] Ecbrith R Eadring H56L1749 [L1749] eanting DLH56L1749 [L1749] Eadhirng56
Eate Luedwalding,L1750 [L1750] luedwadinc R leadwalding H56L1750 [L1750] Eaze H56L1750 [L1750] luedwanding DL56L1749 [L1749] Gaimar has been misled by his source, A.S.C. 738, into taking the genealogy as the name of the king; he has copied the names and patronymics, but his copyists have found them difficult to cope with; I have therefore followed his source and corrected accordingly, and likewise in l. 1753.56
Eissi ot nun li riche reisL1751 [L1751] li riches r. RH56 [f.105d]
1752 Qui regnat sur les Norhumbreis.
Ecbrict Eating ot nun sun frere,L1753 [L1753] Ecberith eatinc R56L1753 [L1753] Eadbrit eanting DLH56
Arcevesque ert de gentil [ere].L1754 [L1754] ert e g. R56L1754 [L1754] here DL56
[Ambedous gisent pres a pres
1756 A Everwic as porticés].L1756 [L1756] a p. R es p. H56
Page 56
Dunc aprés ço un poi [de tens]L1757 [L1757] om co R57L1757 [L1757] apres DL57
Murut li reis Westsexïe[n]sL1758 [L1758] r. de W. H57L1758 [L1758] M. un rei R57L1758 [L1758] westsexies DL57
Reis Edelard. Un sun cusinL1759 [L1759] un un s.57
1760 Gudred regnat aprés sa fin;
[Sesze] anz dïent qu'il tint la terre.L1761 [L1761] om quil H57L1761 [L1761] Trente L57L1761 [L1761] Treze DH57
Reis Edelbald li fist grant guerre.
Edelbald ert de Merce reis,L1763 [L1763] E E.57
1764 Gudret [maintint] ses Westsexeis.L1764 [L1764] westsexies L westsexiens R suthsexois H57L1764 [L1764] G. meut noise as W. L57L1764 [L1764] westsexis57L1764 [L1764] maint moy57
Saint [Cuth]bert tint l'arcevesquiedL1765 [L1765] ert R57L1765 [L1765] cubert57
[Kar l'arcevesque] fud eissillied.L1766 [L1766] Ace levesque DLH57
Gudred e Edelbald li reis
1768 Se cumbatirent as Waleis,
Triwes pristrent pur la bataille,L1769 [L1769] sa b. H57
Bien descunfistrent l'assemblaile
Que li Gualeis aveient fait.
1772 Qui pot anceis, [s'il pot], s'en vait.L1772 [L1772] p. al ainz kil p. R57L1772 [L1772] fuir57
Un an aprés cil de Wincestre,
Quant Danïel n'i pot plus estre,L1774 [L1774] om plus H57
Dunc [firent] Hunfert lur evesque.L1775 [L1775] winfert H57L1775 [L1775] ercevesque DL57L1775 [L1775] funt DLH57L1775 [L1775] After 1775 DLH add: De clergie fud mult bon mestre mult not in LH57
1776 [Li esteiles del ciel se hautesce
E remüerent par semblant,
La gent dïent k'il vont dechaant].
Idunc transit l'autre Wilfre[i]zL1779 [L1779] wilfriz H57L1779 [L1779] li a. wlfriz R57
1780 Tierz jur dedenz Avril [le] meis;L1780 [L1780] om le meis H57L1780 [L1780] Le tierz jour d. averilz H57L1780 [L1780] de57
Il fud evesque par trente anz,
Si cum nus [dit li ancïans].L1782 [L1782] d. lestorie a. L d. li estoires a. H57L1782 [L1782] om Si and nus H57L1782 [L1782] anciens LR57L1782 [L1782] trovum en lisanz57L1782 [L1782] The general agreement of LHR shows that we have an individual variation by D; the reading without estoire (as in R) is supported by l. 1680.57
Dunc fud li rei[s] Chelred ocis.L1783 [L1783] elred H57
1784 Li reis [Eadbrith donc fu transis]L1784 [L1784] r. edbright est d.t. H57L1784 [L1784] ecbrit idunc transid57
E de Westsexe dan ChenrisL1785 [L1785] dan Chenris and refud ocis interverted in DH57L1784 [L1784] not in L57
Page 57
Un fiz de rei refud ocis.L1786 [L1786] r. dan chenris L58
En icel tens une saisunL1787 [L1787] t. e en cele s. R t. ont seisson H58L1787 [L1787] E en58
1788 [Entre] Gudred e [Edelhun]L1788 [L1788] E. gueret H58L1788 [L1788] Regna L58L1788 [L1788] edeldun DLH58L1788 [L1788] Estre58
[Tindrent bataille e firent guere;
Cil ert un baron de la tere,L1790 [L1790] de sa t. H58L1790 [L1790] Cil et un H58
Li uns ert reis, l'altre baron,L1791 [L1791] li autres H58
1792 Bien tint le son cist Edelhon].L1792 [L1792] Mes b. t. cil de huir le son H58L1792 [L1792] ll. 1789-92 not in DL58
Quant Gudred ot duze anz regned,L1793 [L1793] om ot R58
Cuntre Edelbald [se cumbatied]L1794 [L1794] sest cumbated DRH58 [f.106a]
Le rei de Merke en fuie mist,L1795 [L1795] en sui m. L58L1795 [L1795] Li reis R58
1796 De ses humes mult [en] ocist;L1796 [L1796] om en DL58
A Berceford fud la bataille,L1797 [L1797] berford R hereforde H58
Li [Merceis] orent grant cuntraille.L1798 [L1798] Les M. o. la c. R58L1798 [L1798] merceneis DL58
[Dous anz aprés Gudred li reis]L1799 [L1799] G. dous anz apres fud reis58
1800 Se cumbatid cuntre Gualeis,
Descunfit fud mais bien guarid,
Ne gueres del suen [n'i] perdit.L1802 [L1802] ne58
Dous anz aprés vait a sa fin.
1804 Dunc firent rei de sun cusinL1804 [L1804] de un s. RH58
Ki [Sïebrand] aveit a nun,L1805 [L1805] siebart DL58
Ne tint que un an cel regïun.L1806 [L1806] cele r. RH58
Set cenz [sessante] e cinc anz meinsL1807 [L1807] om anz R58L1807 [L1807] et .lx. H58L1807 [L1807] om e DLRH58L1807 [L1807] e quarante DL58
1808 Ot en cel jur e en cel tensL1808 [L1808] En cel jur fut et H58L1808 [L1808] ll. 1807-8 interverted in H58
Des la Jesu Nativited
Tresqu'a cel jur – ço fud cunted –L1810 [L1810] j. qe fut nome H58
Que Kenewlf desheritadL1811 [L1811] chewolf R58
1812 Sibrit. Sun cusin decaçadL1812 [L1812] Siebrant son c. en chascat R58
E les baruns [de la contree]L1813 [L1813] del cunted DLH58
Par traïsun que orent menee,L1814 [L1814] mened DLRH58
Si tint le cunté de HamtuneL1815 [L1815] de huntedone R58
Page 58
1816 E de Westsexe e de Wiltune.L1816 [L1816] E tote W. e W. R Et W. et W. H59
Kenewlf tint lung tens la terre
Tresque un barun l'acoilt de guerre.L1818 [L1818] b. la tuilt de g. R59
Mult guerreiad e bien se tintL1819 [L1819] M. le guereiout e mult se t. R59
1820 Desci que tut mal l'en avint.
Cuntre Kenewlf tint bataille,
Tute fud morte sa rascailleL1822 [L1822] f. mort LR59L1822 [L1822] Tut f. LRH59
E il nafred s'en eschapad,
1824 En [Andredeswalt] se musçadL1824 [L1824] adreswald DLH59
Tant que un porchier l'ad mort rüed
En un buissun, u fud [trové].L1826 [L1826] musce L59L1826 [L1826] muscred59
Kenewlf fud [i]dunc regnanzL1827 [L1827] i. tenanz R59L1827 [L1827] dunc DLH59
1828 Tant que ot regné [plus de] vint anz.L1828 [L1828] om plus de DLH59 [f.106b]
Cel Sïebrit k'il ot caciedL1829 [L1829] kout c. R59L1829 [L1829] sibrict LH siebrant R59L1829 [L1829] ciebrit59
Ert sun cusin mais par pechiedL1830 [L1830] par purchez R59
E par cunseil de ses barunsL1831 [L1831] c. dun sun barun L59
1832 Qui furent fols e mult felunsL1832 [L1832] om mult H59L1832 [L1832] Q. fu f. L59
[Estait li reis vers li marriz.L1833 [L1833] v. eus m. H59
Un frere aveit cil SïebrizL1834 [L1834] ll. 1833-4 not in DL59
Qui Kenehard aveit a nun.L1835 [L1835] kenard L chenehart R cheard H59L1835 [L1835] keneward59
1836 Cil fist mult fol[e] vengeisun;L1836 [L1836] avengison H59L1836 [L1836] fol DL59
Par espies tant espiad
Que en la chambre le rei trovad,L1838 [L1838] r. entrad R59
U ert venud priveement
1840 A une dame senz sa gent.
A cele chambre l'asaillit
Tant que li reis fors s'en issid;L1842 [L1842] om sen H59
A une hache qu'il teneit
1844 Sur lui curut tresqu'il le [veit].L1844 [L1844] le vit L59L1844 [L1844] veeit59
De la hache tel li donad
Ensun le chief, u l'asenad,L1846 [L1846] u il la. DLH59
Page 59
Tresqu'as espalles le fendit.
1848 Celui ocist qui l'asaillitL1848 [L1848] o. si en saillit H60
Mais [cels altres] li curent sure,L1849 [L1849] M. les a. R M. homes li H60L1849 [L1849] ceus60
Oscis i fud en [mult] poi d'ureL1850 [L1850] om i R60L1850 [L1850] om mult DLH60
E Sïebrit, quant il l'oïd,L1851 [L1851] Quant esebright lad oi H60L1851 [L1851] siebrant R60
1852 Il e sa gent vindrent al crid.L1852 [L1852] Li et sa g. H60
Tuit ocistrent, quanqu'il troverent,L1853 [L1853] o. kil t. R60
E pristrent robe, aver preierent;L1854 [L1854] a. porterent H60L1854 [L1854] p. e roberent e p. R60
Mais [ainz] qu'il [fust] d'iloc partid,L1855 [L1855] fud DH60
1856 La mesnee vindrent al cridL1856 [L1856] criz RH60L1856 [L1856] m. vint a grant c. H60L1856 [L1856] ci60L1853 [L1853] not in L60
Qui od le rei orent ested,
Qui l'aveit cherid e amed.
Quant cil virent mort lur se[ignur],
1860 Al cuer orent grant dolur.L1860 [L1860] o. ire et d. H60L1860 [L1860] c. en o. R60
Dunc nel voldrent pur rien lai[sser]L1861 [L1861] voudrent H60L1861 [L1861] voldreient DLR60
Que lur seignur [n']algent vengier.
Sure [lur] curent, [sis] ferirent,L1863 [L1863] sil f. R et f. H60L1863 [L1863] si60
1864 Cil vassalment les atendirent,L1864 [L1864] Cist vassal ml't L60L1856 [L1856] written round hole; some final letters trimmed60
Cil mult pramist e bel parladL1865 [L1865] Cil vassaument et b. p. H60L1865 [L1865] b. preia R60
E les baruns araisunad. [f.106c]
'[S]eignurs,' fait il, 'ne m'asaillez
1868 Kar jo m'en sui par dreit vengiez.L1868 [L1868] jo me sui RH60
[Vus] savez bien, si cum jo crei,
Que sui fiz Sï[e]brant le rei,L1870 [L1870] jo sui f. L jeo fui f. H60L1870 [L1870] sibrant DLH60
Si deüsse par jugementL1871 [L1871] p. dreit j. DLH60
1872 Tenir le regne, aveir la gent.
[Q]uant cest mien uncle me fist guere,L1873 [L1873] Q. mon u. H60
Ne poi remaneir en la terre.L1874 [L1874] Ne poai R Ne poeie H60
[S]i jo me sui de lui vengiez,L1875 [L1875] jo ne me R60
1876 A tort vus en esmerveilliez.L1876 [L1876] emerveillez R esmerveillerez H60L1876 [L1876] om en H60L1876 [L1876] merveilliez DL60
Page 60
[B]aruns, kar faites grant baldur,L1877 [L1877] om grant H61
Si me faites rendre m'onur.
[Par] tel covent cum jo l'avrai,
1880 Chascun [de vus] s'onur rendraiL1880 [L1880] A ch. LH61L1880 [L1880] om de vus DL61
[E] creissement vus durai grant,L1881 [L1881] d. tant H61L1881 [L1881] Et acressement H61
Le plus povre f[e]rai manant.'
[Cil] respunent: '[Pas nel] ferum.L1883 [L1883] Cil respondirent R61L1883 [L1883] Et cil H61L1883 [L1883] pais ne f.61L1883 [L1883] E il (?) 61
1884 Cum[e] felun vus defium.L1884 [L1884] Cum DL61
Nostre seignur nus avez mort.
Alum ferir, nul nel deport.'L1886 [L1886] nuls nes d. H61
A tant ferirent vassalment.
1888 Cil les refierent ensement.L1888 [L1888] referirent R61
Qu'e[n] direie? Grant fud l'estur,
Sïebrit fud ocis le jur,
Il e trestuz ses cumpaignuns
1892 Fors sulement un vadletuns;
Icil esteit fillol le rei,L1893 [L1893] Icist L Cist H61L1891 [L1891] written round hole61
Pur ço guarid, si cum jo crei.L1894 [L1894] g. co cr. R61
Eissi finad iceste guere.
1896 Or [n'out] nul d'els [gueres] la terre,L1896 [L1896] g. de t. H61L1896 [L1896] nuls dels g. de la t. R61L1896 [L1896] n'out and nul d'els interverted in L61L1896 [L1896] nul and d'els interverted61L1896 [L1896] nunt61
L'uncle ne les nevoz ne l'unt
Ne les baruns qui morz en sunt
Ne Cumbran qui se cumbatidL1899 [L1899] cumbrant L combran R enconbrand H61L1899 [L1899] cumbart61
1900 Qui en Andredeswald fuïdL1900 [L1900] andreswald sen f. LRH61 [f.106d]
Que li porchiers el bois ocist.
Mult mal eire home qui traïst.L1902 [L1902] Malement e. cil q. H61
Li lignages [a ces] dous reisL1903 [L1903] dicels d. D deces d. LH61L1903 [L1903] a ces dous reis and dunt dis ainceis interverted in DLH61
1904 E as nevoz dunt dis ainceis,
De lur peres lur parentezL1905 [L1905] p. li p. R p. les p. H61
Furent a Certiz [acontez];L1906 [L1906] acointiez L61L1906 [L1906] F. acerteiz e a. L F. acertiz et a. H61L1906 [L1906] acuintiez61
D'uncle a nevo, de pere a fiz,
Page 61
1908 Del lignage furent Certiz.L1908 [L1908] f. a C. R62
[Cheol]wlf regnat vint e un an,L1909 [L1909] Edel62
Asez suffri peine e ahan;
A Wincestre la l'unt ported,L1911 [L1911] W. len u. p. R W. lont p. H62
1912 Par grant honur l'unt enterred,L1912 [L1912] lunt iloc e. R62
E ses nevoz qui sunt ocis;
A [Axemustre] fud l'un mis,L1914 [L1914] exsemustre H62L1914 [L1914] axeministre DL62
L'autre enterrerent a [Defurel],L1915 [L1915] definel DL62
1916 [Kenehard] ot nun li dancel.L1916 [L1916] Kenard DLH62L1804 [L1804] This long passage is based on the celebrated annal, A.S.C. 755, though Gaimar has failed to find his way successfully through the varying references of the O.E. pronouns, with the result that he has changed the story very considerably. A detailed analysis of that annal, with translation, is given by F. P. Magoun, Jr., Cynewulf, Cyneheard, and Osric, Anglia XLV (1933), 361-76. In his dissertation Gross discussed Gaimar's mistakes and alterations; subsequently I proposed modifications of some of his interpretations in Cynewulf and Cyneheard in Gaimar, M.L.R. X (1915), 42-6. Discussion of the passage will, however, be facilitated by a short summary of the relevant annals. In A.S.C. we read that Cuthred died in 754, that Sigeberht, his mæg, succeeded and reigned one year, that Cynewulf in 755 took the kingdom from Sigeberht, his mæg, leaving him only Hampshire, that Sigeberht killed Cumbra, an ealdorman who had long supported him, and was eventually slain in the forest of Andred by a swain. Later his brother, Cyneheard, reacting against Cynewulf's attempt to expel him, found the king, with only a small retinue, at a lady's house, made a surprise attack on him, killed him and his retinue, but was in his turn attacked and slain by the main body of the king's supporters. In ll. 1804-6 Gaimar translates correctly the entry about Cuthred's death, but names his successor Siebrand; then, in ll. 1811-3, he deals with the expulsion of Sigeberht, whom he calls Siebrit. These two are quite distinct, for in l. 1870 the latter calls himself fiz Siebrant le rei; he is also, for Gaimar, nephew of Cynewulf and thought of as young. Two problems arise: whence did Gaimar derive the name Siebrand and why did he introduce him? To the former I have no solution to offer beyond possible faulty memories of the East Anglian royal genealogy, but with respect to the latter I would suggest that the phrasing of A.S.C. may have contributed to Gaimar's imagining the existence of two Sigeberht's. From the statement, in A.S.C. 754, that Sigeberht heold .1. gear, he drew the faulty conclusion that Sigeberht died at the end of that year and by the failure to make explicit the relationship between Cuthred and Cynewulf A.S.C. obscured the identity of Sigeberht in 754 with Sigeberht in 755. Now that Gaimar had two Sigeberht's in his mind, it was an easy step to regard them as father and son, and this he has done. On top of this comes a misunderstanding. A.S.C. tells us that Cynewulf and the Witan expelled Sigeberht for unrihtum dædum, but Gaimar has applied this phrase to Cynewulf and so arrives at the conception that Siebrit was treacherously deprived of the succession by Cynewulf and the Witan, a conception expressed somewhat ambiguously in ll. 1812-14, but quite clearly in ll. 1829-33. Now comes another misunderstanding by Gaimar and this has serious consequences. In his source he read: he hafde þa oð he ofsloh þone ealdorman þe him lengst wunode $$ hine þa Cynewulf on Andred adrefede $$ he þær wunode oþ þæt an swan hine ofstang. In the O.E. text the italicized pronouns all refer to Sigeberht, but for some unknown reason (perhaps merely hurried reading) Gaimar referred the first he to Cynewulf. Consequently the second he must also refer to him, but now hine, at its first occurrence, can no longer refer to Cynewulf nor, for Gaimar, to Sigeberht; the author therefore had no choice but to apply it to the ealdorman. Thus Gaimar arrived at the conception of a revolt against the king by the ealdorman who is defeated and takes refuge in the forest of Andred, though I am doubtful whether, as Gross suggests, Gaimar confused the O.E. verbs wunnian and winnan. That the murdered nobleman whose death was avenged by the swain should thus become a defeated rebel who is miserably slain by a porchier is of minor importance beside the fact that Siebrit has now survived and can still take part in the later proceedings. As a result of this survival Gaimar has to modify the struggle at Merantum. His Cyneheard is killed by the king, who is then slain by Cyneheard's men; Siebrit now turns up, kills some rather mysterious survivors and sacks the house, but is attacked, before he can get away, by some royal supporters–evidently the party led by Osric and Wigfrith in A.S.C.; Siebrit parleys with them, but in vain, and in the final struggle he and his followers are killed with the exception of the godson, not of the ealdorman, but of the king, though I am unable to say whether this is due to Gaimar misunderstanding his source or merely to him translating ealdorman by rei, as he does elsewhere. Thus, whether by accident or design, Gaimar has omitted the parallel in the fates of the two retinues so noticeable in A.S.C. What led him to bury Siebrit at Axminster and Cyneheard elsewhere is still a mystery, unless by chance there was the tomb of some Cyneheard at one of the Deverills.62
[E] en cel an [si] fud ocisL1917 [L1917] om si DLH62
Reis [Edelbalt] li [Mercenis],L1918 [L1918] edelbard li merceneis L62L1918 [L1918] Li r. R62L1918 [L1918] marchis62L1918 [L1918] edelwald62
A Rependune l'enfuïrent,
1920 Pur lui le liu [maint an] cherirent;L1920 [L1920] l. mult en c. H62L1920 [L1920] l. en c. DL62
Quarante [e] un an fud [cil] reis.L1921 [L1921] .xli. H62L1921 [L1921] cel62L1921 [L1921] om e DL62
Aprés lui firent Merkeneis
Brithred rei par tel tenur;L1923 [L1923] B. reis R62L1923 [L1923] Budret H62L1923 [L1923] All MSS. support Brithred as the name, but again Gaimar has made a mistake, for in A.S.C. 755 it is Beornred who succeeded. The second half of the line does not connect with what follows, as it leads us to expect a que-clause.62
1924 Cel an fud chacied [de l]'onur.L1924 [L1924] donur62
Offe li reis l'en dechaçad,
Trente nef anz [tint e] regnadL1926 [L1926] t. la terre e r. R62L1926 [L1926] a. puis r. DLH62L1926 [L1926] The line is metrically faulty in DLH, but the omission of la terre from R as proposed by Gross, gives a correct line and this absolute use of tenir is well attested in the Estoire.62
E aprés lui les MerkeneisL1927 [L1927] li M. H62
1928 Ecfert firent del regne reis.
Il fud fiz Offe qui ainz tint,
Asez regnad, bien lui avint,
Cenz jurs quarante anz e un plusL1931 [L1931] j. e q. a. R62L1931 [L1931] All MSS. agree in anz, so this must be what Gaimar wrote; perhaps he thought the heold .xli. daga $$ .c. daga of his source involved a mistaken repetition.62
1932 Tint cum hume [bien] vertuus.L1932 [L1932] Le t. H62L1932 [L1932] om bien DLH62
Ecfert esteit en Merce sire,L1933 [L1933] Et Offerd H62
Dunc prist un jur suvent a dire,
Aler voleit pur Deu servir,L1935 [L1935] a D. R om pur LH62L1935 [L1935] Que a. LRH62
1936 Moine u chanoine devenir. [f.107a]
Puis s'en turnad, trestut guerpit,L1937 [L1937] t. tut g. H62
Osulf sun fiz dunc [ad] saisit;L1938 [L1938] om ad DH62
Page 62
Norhumberland, Merce e Dairon
1940 E [Berniche li] rendit l'om.L1940 [L1940] birinke L bernicke R63L1940 [L1940] berewic len63L1933 [L1933] There is here confusion between Eadberht of Northumbria and Ecgfrith of Mercia. The two names are elsewhere interchanged in the MSS. of the Estoire and the same confusion occurs in William of Malmesbury, but the agreement of our four MSS. at this point suggests that the mistake is most probably due to Gaimar himself. As a result Oswulf of Northumbria becomes for him son of the Mercian king and so lord of both Mercia and Northumbria! Gross calls attention to a discrepancy in the reading of l. 1933 between Monumenta Historica Britannica and the Rolls edition; the former attributes to our D the reading Edbert esteit en Northumbre sire, but it is not to be found in that MS. Whence this particular reading derives, I do not know, but it is curious that the translator in the Rolls edition deserts his text, which agrees with mine, and follows M.H.B., possibly because that agrees with A.S.C.(E) 757: Eadberht Norðhymbra cining.63
Un an vesquid, puis fud ocis;
[Ço] firent ses serganz chaitisL1942 [L1942] Cum63
Qui puis [en] furent tuz destruiz,L1943 [L1943] om tuz R63L1943 [L1943] om en DLH63
1944 Penduz, defaiz, malement duiz.L1944 [L1944] m. tuz R63L1944 [L1944] Maumenez et penduz H63
A [i]cel jur – [ço] dist l'estoire –L1945 [L1945] ce63L1945 [L1945] cel DL63
Set cenz cinquante e nef memoireL1946 [L1946] c. e c. nof R c. et c. H63
Aveient fait li anceisurL1947 [L1947] Des anz ourent f. H63
1948 Des l'oent Deu tresqu'a cel jur.L1948 [L1948] D. lavenue D. L Del advent D. R Des la nativite D. H63
[I]tant anz ot, quant deviadL1949 [L1949] om anz H63L1949 [L1949] E t.63
Li [ber Cuthbert] que Deus amadL1950 [L1950] que dampnedeus a. L63L1950 [L1950] Le bon C. H63L1950 [L1950] Li ber que L63L1950 [L1950] Li bert que D. mult a.63
E Mol [Edelwald] fud fait reis;L1951 [L1951] edewald R63L1951 [L1951] edelwlf DL63
1952 [Iço] firent les Norhumbreis.L1952 [L1952] li N. LH63L1952 [L1952] Ice DL63
Dous anz fud reis [e] bien tint terre,L1953 [L1953] om e DL63
Mult amad pais mielz que guere.L1954 [L1954] Meis m. a. mains p. que g. R Il a. pees et hait g. H63
Al secund an qu'il [regnot],L1955 [L1955] regnoit H63L1955 [L1955] regnad63
1956 Fud fort iver; pluveit, [negot]L1956 [L1956] p. e n. R i. et mult plovoit H63L1956 [L1956] negad63
E si gelot e feseit freit,L1957 [L1957] Negoit geloit et f. fesoit H63
Avisunkes [rien] garisseit,L1958 [L1958] om rien DLH63
[Hume ne femme], aver ne beste,L1959 [L1959] f. nautre b. H63L1959 [L1959] H. ne gent a R63L1959 [L1959] Humes ne femmes63
1960 Del fort iver, de la tempeste.L1960 [L1960] i. e de DLH63
Ço fud dit que signifiad
La mort re[i] Mol qui dunc regnadL1962 [L1962] om Mol H63L1962 [L1962] m. le r. R m. du r. H63L1962 [L1962] re DL63
Qui fud ocis aprés un munt,
1964 Edwinesclive apelé l'unt,L1964 [L1964] E. nome l. R63L1964 [L1964] Eadwinesdine L63
Iloc l'ocist Anche e Oswine.L1965 [L1965] ake et O. H63L1965 [L1965] In A.S.C.(E) 761 it is the king who slays Oswine. Gaimar seems to have misinterpreted owing to confusing subject and object, and so to have reversed the situation and this may, as Gross suggests, account for the shortening of the reign from six to two years in l. 1953. 63
A Alchered fud la terre encline,
Nof ans vesquid e tint cel regne
Page 63
1968 Mais les baruns trestuz ensembleL1968 [L1968] b. touz e. H64
L'unt deguerpid pur lur dreit eir,L1969 [L1969] p. le d. H64
Si li firent sun regne aveir;
A Everwic l'unt receüd,
1972 Alchered li reis dechacied fud.L1972 [L1972] om li reis H64 [f.107b]
Edelred fud fiz Mol lu rei,L1973 [L1973] f. fid e M. L64
Li Norhumbreis li tindrent fei.
Il [ne] regnad ne mais quatre anz.L1975 [L1975] r. fors q. H64
1976 Dunc fud un signes aparisanz;L1976 [L1976] uns signes LH un signe R64
Del ciel a terre s'[estendeit],L1977 [L1977] estendirent DLH64
En semblance de cruiz [esteit];L1978 [L1978] le virent L les virent H64L1978 [L1978] lavirent64L1976 [L1976] DLH apparently took signes at its first occurrence as a plural, but landed in difficulties in l. 1978. R is consistent and agrees with l. 1980, so I have preferred its readings.64
Ço fud puis soleil rescunsantL1979 [L1979] s. cuchant RH64L1979 [L1979] le s. DLH64L1979 [L1979] rescunsant DL, couchant RH. As it is possible that R and H have altered independently and as Gaimar elsewhere uses rescunser of the sun, but nowhere else employs culchier in this sense, I have kept the reading of the MS base.64
1980 Que cel signes fud demustrant.L1980 [L1980] Q. cest s. LR64
Idunc transit [Eadbert] li reis,L1981 [L1981] ealbrid L64L1981 [L1981] E dunc LRH64L1981 [L1981] elbrith64
Eating le clamerent Engleis,L1982 [L1982] eatinc R eanting H64L1982 [L1982] anting DL64
[E] en cel an firent dous reis,L1983 [L1983] om E DL64
1984 Li reis de Merce e de Kenteis,L1984 [L1984] e li K. R64L1984 [L1984] Le rei RH64
A [Otteford] bataille grant,L1985 [L1985] O. ot baille L64L1985 [L1985] unt b.64L1985 [L1985] otesford DL64
U fud ocis maint hom vaillant.L1986 [L1986] m. home v. LRH64
Dunc furent veüz uns serpenz,L1987 [L1987] D. i f. venu .ii. s. H64
1988 Unc ainz en terre nes virent genz.L1988 [L1988] a. ne v. en t. g. H64L1988 [L1988] a. itels ne v. R64
En Sudsexe se demustrerent.
Ço distrent cels quis esgarderentL1990 [L1990] d. cil q. RH64
Que blanches e neires esteient,
1992 Ruges e vertes deveneient,
Puis muoent mainte colur,L1993 [L1993] mueient L muait R64L1993 [L1993] muent DH64
En set, en uit, par un sul jurL1994 [L1994] U seit feiz u huit le j. R Ben set feiz en un sul j. L Ou .v. ou .vi. en un soul j. H64L1994 [L1994] uiz64
E quant veneit encuntre nuit,
1996 Si cantoent par tel deduit
Que suz ciel n'ot tel estrument,L1997 [L1997] not cel e. L nout nul e. R nout e. H64
Page 64
Si volentiers oïssent gent,L1998 [L1998] la g. DL65
[E] quant alcun[s] les enchasçot,L1999 [L1999] enchacot LH enchascout R65L1999 [L1999] enchalcot65L1999 [L1999] om E DL65
2000 [Bricun] qui prendre les quidotL2000 [L2000] p. les volt R65L2000 [L2000] Fol65
Tost par les jambes [ert lïez]L2001 [L2001] e. alez L e. lacez H65L2001 [L2001] erent aliez65
Qu'il ne poeit moveir ses piez.L2002 [L2002] ne pout m. H65
Idunc fud plait e cuntençunL2003 [L2003] e grant tencon R65
2004 Entre dous reis pur [Besington];L2004 [L2004] besrancun L65L2004 [L2004] besratun65
Offe li reis l'ad dunc saisidL2005 [L2005] r. d. lasist R65L2005 [L2005] dunc lad H65
E [Kenewlf] mult s'esmarid.L2006 [L2006] K. en est mult mari H65L2006 [L2006] kenewolf mult se marist R65L2006 [L2006] kenulf DL65
Un an aprés furent ocis [f.107c]
2008 Treis vescuntes de cel païs –
Ço fist [Eadbrith] e Edelbalt,L2009 [L2009] edelbrit DL65L2009 [L2009] Eadbrith R, Edelbrit DL, Edbright H. The reading of DL gives a metrically incorrect line and has been influenced by the second name; that of RH evidently goes back to a dissyllabic name, but the name in A.S.C.(E) 778 is Heardberht.65
Par els fud cumencié l'asalt –L2010 [L2010] comence fut H65
Eadwulf, Kenewlf e [Ecgan]L2011 [L2011] hegan DLH65L2011 [L2011] E. e K. DL65
2012 [A Chimingesclive] e Eliburnan.L2012 [L2012] e a E. R et liburnan H65L2012 [L2012] A kenningesclive H65L2012 [L2012] E remigesclive DL65
[E Elfwolt] saisid le regned,L2013 [L2013] E elwold L Edelwlf H65L2013 [L2013] Edelwold65
Rei [Edelred] en ad chaced;L2014 [L2014] edelbert65
Dis anz regnad dunc icel rei.
2016 En icel tens tel ert la lei:
Ki force aveit. [si] faiseit guerre,L2017 [L2017] om si DLH65
A sun veisin tolit [sa] terre.L2018 [L2018] toleit R65L2018 [L2018] la65
Idunc si fud une batailleL2019 [L2019] om si R65
2020 Entre Franceis e l'[asemblaille]L2020 [L2020] e la flambaille L65L2020 [L2020] E. saxiens R65L2020 [L2020] afembaille65
Qui de Saisune esteit venue.
Ço fud al havene de Portesmue;
A l'ariver que cil quiderentL2023 [L2023] quil q. LRH65
2024 Saxiens [i] encuntrerentL2024 [L2024] As S. i e. R Saxseneis i e. H65L2024 [L2024] S. les e. DL65
Qui la terre lur defendirent;
Uthlages erent, pur ço le firent.L2026 [L2026] ceo la f. H65L2019 [L2019] This passage is an expansion of the entry in A.S.C. 779: Her Ealdseaxne and Francan gefuhton. Gaimar's source undoubtedly refers to an affair on the Continent, but Gaimar has transformed this into a cross-Channel raid on the English coast. Before we can interpret the passage, we have to decide on the reading of l. 2020: DLH have Franceis, but R gives Saxiens, Gross accepted the latter, but, as the former renders correctly Francan, which it does again later in the Estoire, and as it is metrically more correct, I have accepted Franceis into my text. This fixes firmly one party to the battle to the Continent, but what made Gaimar put the other party in this island? A misunderstanding, I think, of Ealdseaxe. This name is only found in two annals in A.S.C.(E), here and at 449. Now the latter is the annal which describes the Settlement of Britain and memories of that, I submit, influenced Gaimar's translation of the later annal. Quite early in the Estoire he used the phrase cil de Seisune (l. 23); the reference is undoubtedly to Saxony, but as he also had in mind the followers of Cerdic, the phrase could be associated with Wessex, as it seems to be when next he uses it (l. 919); a later reference–
Ainz que unches Engleis i entrast
Ne hume de Seisune i abitast (ll. 2077-8)–shows the same ambivalency, whereas a still later one–
Un mais aprés a Meredune
Furent vencu cels de Seisune (ll. 3005-6)–quite clearly refers to Wessex. Once Gaimar, as a result of such associations, has equated Ealdseaxe with West Saxons, the rest follows: an attempted raid which, since the aggressors came from France, must have been on the South Coast. On this interpretation cil (l. 2023) must refer to the Franceis and Saxiens (l. 2024) to the defenders. The latter line is a syllable short in DL and grammatically incorrect in R; the reading of H has the appearance of an individual correction, so, although it seems probable that Gaimar had a syllable in front of Saxiens, I have refrained from conjecture.65
En [i]cel an a [Seletun]L2027 [L2027] eletum L elentoun H65L2027 [L2027] Et en i. a. H65L2027 [L2027] elecin65L2027 [L2027] cel DLR65
Page 65
2028 Fud ars dan Buern un riches hum;L2028 [L2028] un r. barun R66L2028 [L2028] a. de burn L66L2028 [L2028] F. aisdan bruilli un r. H66
Li Norhumbreis tant le haïrent
Que en un grant feu arde[i]r le firent.L2030 [L2030] om grant H66
En icel tens, ço sevent gent,
2032 Des le Jesu avenementL2032 [L2032] Del J. a. R66
Aveit set [cenz quatre vinz] anzL2033 [L2033] c. e q. RH66L2033 [L2033] cent L66L2033 [L2033] quarante vint DL66L2033 [L2033] om cenz D66
E dous avoc; jo en ai garanz
Kar Guereburc idunc transid,
2036 Une reïne qui santid;L2036 [L2036] r. que dieu servit H66
[Kelred] li reis l'ot a muillier;L2037 [L2037] Kelsed66
A Cestre gist en un liu chier,
A chascun an i est veüzL2039 [L2039] E c. i est R66
2040 [Ke] Deus fait pur lui granz vertuz.L2040 [L2040] D. i f. R66L2040 [L2040] om Ke DH66L2035 [L2035] There is a difference of opinion about the identity of the Wærburh Ceolredes cwen whose death is recorded in A.S.C.(E) 782. Gaimar has no doubts on the subject: for him she is the saint who lay buried at Chester, in the abbey refounded by Hugh, Earl of Chester, for whom Gaimar later expresses such admiration (ll. 5854-68).66
Dous anz aprés sun muriant
Dui rei alerent guerreiant.
Li uns aveit nun Keneherd,
2044 Kenewlf ocist en apert [f.107d]
E quatre [vinz] humes e quatreL2045 [L2045] vint DL66
Fist Keneher[d] iloc abatre.
En icel tens tint reis BurchtrizL2047 [L2047] burectriz DLRH66L2047 [L2047] li r. DL66
2048 Sexze anz Westsexe, ço est escriz,
A Werlame fud enfuïz,L2049 [L2049] werlaine LH66L2049 [L2049] Werlame. The actual place of burial was Wareham, but the MSS. concur in the reading, so we must ascribe the mistake to Gaimar.66
Des parenz fud al rei Certiz.
Dunc fud [Ecfert] a rei levezL2051 [L2051] hecfert66
2052 E a Hibert croce donez.L2052 [L2052] hibald R66L2052 [L2052] haiebert DLH66L2052 [L2052] None of the MSS. give the name correctly, but DLH point the way to the correction. The reading of R–Hibald–is curious as, although he had been mentioned earlier in A.S.C., the annal concerned is not translated by Gaimar and consequently the name occurs for the first time in the Estoire at l. 2196.66
Li messagier vindrent [de] RumeL2053 [L2053] adrian un s. R66L2053 [L2053] a DLH66
Par Adrianum un saint hume
Pur renuveler seinte lei;L2055 [L2055] la s.l. DLRH66
2056 Si cum la fist enceis, ço crei,L2056 [L2056] c. le f. L c. lom f. H66
Saint Aüstin e saint Gregoire,
Eissi la fist [cist] apostoire.L2058 [L2058] f. cest a. RH66L2058 [L2058] E. le f. R om la H66L2058 [L2058] icist66
E li reis Offe dunc donat
2060 Sa fille qu'il bien empleiad;
Page 66
Al rei Brectric donad sa fille
Edburc qui bele ert e gentille.L2062 [L2062] fu R67
E en cel tens vindrent DaneisL2063 [L2063] om E H67
2064 Pur guerrïer [sur] les Engleis.L2064 [L2064] om sur DLH67
Un seneschal lu rei ocistrent,L2065 [L2065] s. al r. R67
La terre saisirent e pristrent,
Mult firent mal par les cuntrees,
2068 Si nen ot que treis navees.L2068 [L2068] n. unt q. RH67
Pois ralerent en lur païs,
Si asemblerent lur amis;
En Bretaine voldrent venir,L2071 [L2071] v. aler H67
2072 As Engleis la [voldrent] tolirL2072 [L2072] v. toler H67L2072 [L2072] voldrunt67
Kar entr'els orent esgardez
E dit que ert lur heritezL2074 [L2074] q. co est l.h. R q. ceo e. H67
E [mulz] humes de lur lignageL2075 [L2075] mult de h. L multz des h. H67L2075 [L2075] mult67
2076 Orent lu regne en heritage,
Ainz que unches Engleis i entrastL2077 [L2077] Ainceis q. E. R67
Ne hum de Seisuine i abitast.L2078 [L2078] hume DLRH67
Li reis [Danes] tint lu regnedL2079 [L2079] daneis DLH67L2079 [L2079] Danes R, Daneis DLH. The reference here is to the mythical king Dan, so I have preferred the spelling of R.67
2080 Ki de Danemarche fud ned, [f.108a]
Si fist [Ailbrith]e AvelocL2081 [L2081] edbright H67L2081 [L2081] ecbrict DL67L2081 [L2081] Ailbrith R, Ecbrict DL, Edbright H. As it is probable that the first of the two kings is to be equated with the Adelbricht of Gaimar's Haveloc episode, I have adopted the reading of R. The form Edbright is twice previously used by H, where DL have variants of Ecbricht (ll. 1723, 1739); for some reason this name appears to have caused great trouble to the scribes and we find forms beginning with El- at ll. 2291 (R), 3160 (DL). Ail- would normally represent O.E. Ægel-, but in A.N. this same spelling could also represent O.E. Æðel-; does the form here derive by any chance from a source different from that used by Gaimar for his Haveloc episode?67
E plus en [nomerent ovoc];L2082 [L2082] pur oc DL67L2082 [L2082] mururent DLH67
Pur quei il distrent par verited,
2084 Bretaine ert lur dreit erited.
Qui chalt de ço? Mult [demorerent],L2085 [L2085] Qen chaut m. en d. H67L2085 [L2085] Quimhald R67L2085 [L2085] demurad DL67
A cele feiz pas n'i [alerent].L2086 [L2086] alad DL67
De Guenelinge, d'un païs,L2087 [L2087] wellinge H67L2087 [L2087] Guenelinge. Though Gaimar seems to be alluding vaguely to Danish campaigns in the Baltic, the actual place to which he is referring has not been satisfactorily identified. The name would appear to be Germanic, and is reminiscent of the Wenilings cited by Ekwall, s.n. Wendling, in his Place-Names in Ing (Lund, 1923).67
2088 Vindrent sur els lur enemis;L2088 [L2088] Si v. R67
Par l'achaisun de [cele guere
Si lur estuet garder la terre.L2090 [L2090] l. arstrent la t. H67
En icel tens, en icel dis,L2091 [L2091] cels R ices H67L2091 [L2091] t. e en LRH67L2091 [L2091] icel DL67
2092 [Donc] fud li reis Oswald oscis;L2092 [L2092] om Donc DLH67
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Icil reis tint Norhumberlant,L2093 [L2093] Icist retint R Cist r. H68
Mult [fu] saint hume, seive e vaillant.L2094 [L2094] h. saine e R om seive H68L2094 [L2094] om fu DLH68L2091 [L2091] ll. 2091-2 and 2093-4 interverted in DL68
Pentan li reis le guerreiad,
2096 Sigge un sun rei le decolad,L2096 [L2096] S. son frere le H68
[En Maserfelde fu oscis.L2097 [L2097] merserfelde H68L2097 [L2097] mescesfeld R68
Le liu serra cheri tut dis]L2098 [L2098] chers t. R68L2098 [L2098] ll. 2097-8 not in DL68
Kar clarted e [grant] feu celestreL2099 [L2099] om grant H68L2099 [L2099] gent68
2100 Sovent [i] virent clerc e prestre.L2100 [L2100] et c. et p. H68L2100 [L2100] om i DL68
Mais sun [seint] cors fud iloec pris,L2101 [L2101] f. diloec H68L2101 [L2101] om seint DL68
Si fud ported luinz el païs;
[Par pïeté] e [par] manaieL2103 [L2103] pur m. DH68L2103 [L2103] Pur pitied DLH68L2103 [L2103] Second par not in L68
2104 [En] fud ported a Bardenaie;L2104 [L2104] om En DL68
Iloc le [voldrent] ensevelir,L2105 [L2105] v. sepelir R68L2105 [L2105] vindrent DL68
Le liu amer, le cors servir;L2106 [L2106] Le deu ami le c. L68
E es croniches est escrizL2107 [L2107] om E H68
2108 Qu'i[l] fud iloc enseveliz.
A Nostle – ço dient asquanz –L2109 [L2109] N. redient L68L2109 [L2109] om ço LRH68
La l'en porterent [ses] amanz;L2110 [L2110] p. si mananz H68L2110 [L2110] les68
A Hectoldesham dïent plusurL2111 [L2111] hectevesham R68L2111 [L2111] li p. DL68
2112 K'il unt reliques del seignur;
E a Coledesburc [el] sud,L2113 [L2113] en DL68
La est sun braz par Deu vertud,L2114 [L2114] p. la D. v. H pur ki D. feit v. R68
Entier i est, Deu seit loed!L2115 [L2115] D. en s. H68L2115 [L2115] om i R68L2115 [L2115] A duralme D. L68
2116 Sun chief entier [est] bien posedL2116 [L2116] b. pese L68L2116 [L2116] c. est enter p. R68
Sur la peitrine saint Cutbert;
Gueredun rent al hom quil sert.L2118 [L2118] r. al home LRH68L2091 [L2091] This whole passage originates in a confusion between Ælfwald and Oswald, a confusion which would be all the more understandable if Gaimar's source read Alwold, as does A.S.C.(F). Once Gaimar was committed to the second name, whether he was responsible for the mistake or not, it was, in view of his obvious interest in the saint and his relics, not unnatural for him to expand the brief entry in A.S.C.(E) 789. It is uncertain whether Gaimar actually referred back to his earlier account (ll. 1287-96), though one of his copyists may have done so (l. 2115). To Oswald belong the references to Penda and Maserfeld (ll. 2095, 2097) and the decollation (l. 2096), but the name Sigge comes from the Ælfwald annal and contradicts to some extent Gaimar's earlier statement–A Maserfeld l'ocist Pentan (l. 1289). This decollation, which is not found in A.S.C. nor in Geoffrey of Monmouth, must have formed part of the current legend, for it reappears, attributed to Penda, in Wace's Brut (ll. 14489-90). A heavenly light is connected with the translation of Oswald's body to Bardney in Bede, but as one is specifically mentioned in connection with Ælfwald in A.S.C.(E) 789, Gaimar probably took it thence. The burial at Bardney goes back to A.S.C.(E) 641, but for the disposal of the relics Gaimar evidently had some other source of information, the nature of which is uncertain. Gross thought of it as a compilation similar to the Resting Places of Saints, and in view of le brief (l. 1294) this is not unlikely, though the problem is not without complications. The O.E. account (Liebermann, o.c.) puts his head at Durham with the body of St. Cuthbert, the right arm at Bamburgh, and the rest of the body at Gloucester. The A.N. version is quite different, stating that the body is said to be at Nostell and the hands in Peterborough, but it is not certain that this list is independent of Gaimar. Common to both accounts in the Estoire are the burial at Bardney (ll. 1291, 2104) and the association of the head with the body of St. Cuthbert (ll. 1293, 2116); in the first account possession of his uncorrupted arm is ascribed to Peterborough (l. 1295), but in the second we are told the arm is a Coledesburc, el sud (l. 2113). Now this place-name occurs earlier in the Estoire (l. 1468), where it undoubtedly refers to Coldingham (Berwick), but, as Gross pointed out, this can hardly be described as in the south and there does not seem to be any connexion between St. Oswald, alive or dead, and Coldingham. After rejecting, and rightly so in my opinion, the possibility that we have here a corruption of early forms of either Colchester or Gloucester, for although the two names are not infrequently confused in O.Fr., I know of no form ending in -burc attached to either of them, he is inclined to accept the proposal made in the Rolls edition that the reference is to Peterborough and that Coledesburc represents a corruption of eglise de Burc. Palæographically a corruption could more feasibly have occurred if the line had read: *A l'escole de Burc el sud; unfortunately I have not come across such an expression elsewhere to support that emendation; it is, perhaps, not without interest that Marie in her Ste. Audree twice uses a form Goldeborch (ll. 1332, 1334), reminiscent of the name gyldeneburh occasionally given to Peterborough, where Bede, on whose account her source is based, speaks of Coludi urbem and the O.E. version of coludesbyrig. Admittedly there is difficulty in the interpretation of l. 2113 as it stands, but it is found in all four MSS. and so presumably represents what Gaimar wrote. We must remember that for some reason or other he was interested in the saint and had gone to the trouble of seeking further information about him. Thus he reports the claim of Hexham to the possession of relics of St. Oswald, which is probable in itself, though not attested elsewhere, because the church erected on the scene of Ælfwald's death was dedicated to St. Oswald. He reports, too, the claim of Nostell, that the saint's body had been carried thither, which is not attested elsewhere, but has its interest for us. At Nostell was a priory, dedicated to St. Oswald, founded in the early twelfth century, which already in 1121 owned property in Stixwould (Li), where was a nunnery of which Ralf FitzGilbert was a benefactor; moreover an uncle of Walter Espec, from whom Ralf obtained Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia for Gaimar, was connected with Nostell and according to legend he it was who advised Walter Espec to found abbeys in commemoration of his only son, said to have been thrown and dragged to his death by his horse while returning from the chase, a fate reminiscent of that of St. Edward of Shaftesbury according to William of Malmesbury and Gaimar.68 [f.108b]
E aprés ço li NorhumbreisL2119 [L2119] om E H68
2120 De sun nevod firent [lur] reis,L2120 [L2120] om lur DLH68L2120 [L2120] en f. DL68
Osred ot nun, fiz fud Alkered.L2121 [L2121] om fud H68
Page 68
Mult poi durad le suen [balded],L2122 [L2122] baudet R69L2122 [L2122] om le LRH69L2122 [L2122] om Mult H69L2122 [L2122] regned DL69L2122 [L2122] durad poi69
Il fud chacied de sun regned.
2124 A Edelred fud dunc doned;L2124 [L2124] donc fu R69
[Celui fu fiz rei Edelwald,L2125 [L2125] edelbaud H69L2125 [L2125] edelwold R69L2125 [L2125] om rei RH69
De guereier fu ferm e bald].L2126 [L2126] g. estoit mult baud H69L2126 [L2126] ll. 2125-6 not in DL69
Il aveit ainz la terre eüe
2128 Mais par ses humes l'ot perdue;L2128 [L2128] aveit R69
Offe li reis mult le haïd
Pur sun nevod que ot desaisid.L2130 [L2130] om ot H69L2130 [L2130] n. quil o. LRH69L2129 [L2129] There is serious confusion here. Osred was the nevod of Ælfwald (l. 2120), but here Gaimar seems to regard him as the nevod of Offa. Because Æthelred had driven out Osred, Offa hates him and yet shortly afterwards gives him his daughter Ælfled in marriage. Gaimar most probably did not know of this relationship, as it is not given in A.S.C., but the hatred is possibly due to some confusion between Æthelred and Æthelbert, the East Anglian king beheaded at Offa's behest. Gross assumes a mistaken reading, due to error in the copying, in A.S.C., but there was also a deeper-seated confusion at work; both names seem to have been used of the same person, viz. of Alhred's successor. Cf. Plummer, II, 53.69
Puis revint Osred de l'[eissil]L2131 [L2131] O. de e. L69L2131 [L2131] isle69
2132 Qui einz fud reis e mult [gentil],L2132 [L2132] om e H69L2132 [L2132] gentile69
Mais oscis [l'unt] par crueltedL2133 [L2133] fud DLH69
Cil ki l'orent desherited;L2134 [L2134] Par ceus q. H69
A Tinemue en gist le cors,L2135 [L2135] li c. H69
2136 [E] Edelred prist femme lors,L2136 [L2136] Edred L69L2136 [L2136] om E DLH69
Elfled ot nun ceste reïne,L2137 [L2137] cele r. H69L2137 [L2137] Estled H69
A sun seignur fud mult encline,
De lui servir mult se penadL2139 [L2139] om mult H69L2139 [L2139] s. bien s. p. R69
2140 E il pur ço forment l'amad.
En icel tens [dunt] jo [vus] disL2141 [L2141] t. come j.d. H69L2141 [L2141] t. si cum j.d.69
Vindrent uns signes el païs,
Vermeilles se vont demustrant,L2143 [L2143] sen v. R69L2143 [L2143] Vermeilz L69
2144 Tels ne vit ainz [nul] hom vivant,L2144 [L2144] v. onques h. devant H69L2144 [L2144] hom ainz v. DL69
Cum escarlates s'[estendeient],L2145 [L2145] estenderent L69L2145 [L2145] C. eschaleites H69L2145 [L2145] estendirent DH69
Prof de la terre [s'apareient];L2146 [L2146] se demustrerent DLH69
Dunc veneient turmenz granz,L2147 [L2147] v. turmentes g. H69
2148 Puis [volouent] draguns [ardanz]L2148 [L2148] volanz DL69L2148 [L2148] veneient DLH69
E les [esclistres ke hom] vëeit.L2149 [L2149] Eles urent e e. ke hom v. R E les legistres qe lom v. H69L2149 [L2149] crestes cum DL69L2141 [L2141] Gaimar has expanded very considerably the brief entry in A.S.C.(E) 793, which refers to lightning and dragons. Gross, rightly I think, suggests that Gaimar misread reðe (= terrible) as rede (= red), hence vermeilles (l. 2143). Was his description aided by a reminiscence of the aurora borealis? It is probably merely a coincidence that the display in October 1138, recorded in Annales Plymptonenses and in Florence of Worcester, is linked by the latter with troubles in Northumbria. In l. 2149 no MS. has a really satisfactory reading; DL have: Eles crestes cum v.; R has: Eles urent e esclistres ke hom v.; H has: E les legistres qe lom v. It is difficult to decide on the correct reading; from R and H is derived that adopted in the text, assuming that DL had mistakenly conceived the line as a continuation of the description of the dragons, but we cannot absolutely exclude the possibility that eles crestes conceals Gaimar's adaptation of ligreascas which he could not translate.69
Que ço espalt, nuls ne saveit.L2150 [L2150] n. nel s. R69
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Asquanz distrent en lur purpens
2152 Que ço ert encuntre chier tens.
Ne distrent pas trop grant [mençonge],L2153 [L2153] om trop RH70L2153 [L2153] merveille DL70
Cest signe ne [sembla] pas [songe].L2154 [L2154] p. gui with de veille interlined above in L70L2154 [L2154] veille70L2154 [L2154] semblet DL70
Ço fud desuz Norhumberlant
2156 Que cist signes fud demustrant.L2156 [L2156] q. ces s. R70 [f.108c]
[A]prés ces signes veirementL2157 [L2157] A. cel signe H70
Dunc vindrent [la] paiene gent.L2158 [L2158] om Dunc H70L2158 [L2158] om la DL70
[E]l havene del Humbre ariverent,L2159 [L2159] de H. LRH70
2160 En Lindesie [deserterent];L2160 [L2160] desheriterent DLH70L2157 [L2157] It was Lindisfarne that the Danes destroyed. Gaimar has confused lindisfarena and lindiswarum. This latter name he transcribes as Lindesware (l. 1458), but H reads Lindeseie instead. As a result of his mistake Gaimar invents a battle between Offa and the Danes.70
[U]nc n'i remist mustier a freindreL2161 [L2161] om Unc H70
En liu, u peüssent ateindre.L2162 [L2162] pussent LR puissent H70
[I]dunc murut Sigge li reis,
2164 Cil ot oscis Oswald [ainceis],L2164 [L2164] li reis DL70
[E] li reis Offe dunc mandat
As paiens qu'il se cumbatrat
E les paiens se cumbatirent;L2167 [L2167] om paiens R70
2168 [T]rop orent gent, pur ço venquirent.L2168 [L2168] l. 2167 and l.2168 interverted70
[E] li felun, li Norhumbreis,L2169 [L2169] second li not in H70
Ocistrent Edelred li reis.
[E] aprés Offe Ecfert [regnat],L2171 [L2171] om E H70L2171 [L2171] fud reis70
2172 Mercenelant tint [e guardat];L2172 [L2172] t. e guerria L M. tut g. H70L2172 [L2172] Mercelande R70L2172 [L2172] maint dis70L2172 [L2172] E M.70
[C]um [il] mielz la quidot garder,L2173 [L2173] om il DLH70
Murut, ne pot par el passer;L2174 [L2174] M. nen p. R70
L'an [meïsme] que l'ot saisie,L2175 [L2175] saisine R70L2175 [L2175] quil ot LR quil lout H70L2175 [L2175] messne70
2176 Si lui avint qu'il perdit vie.L2176 [L2176] p. sa v. L p. la v. R70
[Ecbrith] fud dunc fait rei de Kent,L2177 [L2177] r. en K. R70L2177 [L2177] om dunc H70L2177 [L2177] ecferd LH70L2177 [L2177] .cfert70
Il ot un autre nun Pren prent.L2178 [L2178] n. priveement R70L2177 [L2177] Gaimar is here translating the entry in A.S.C. 794 which reads: $$ Eadbriht onfeng rice on Cent þam wæs oðer nama nemned Præn. The name used by Gaimar for the king is uncertain; DLH agree in Ecfert, but this is demonstrably wrong, since we are told (ll. 2171, 2176) that he was king of Mercia and was dead; R gives Ecbrith, which cannot represent the O.E. name, but may represent what Gaimar wrote, as there is much confusion in our MSS. between the two names, Eadberht and Ecgbriht. Thus at l. 1745, where the reference is to Eadberht (of Northumbria), the name is adequately represented, but when, at ll. 1749-50, Gaimar gives his genealogy, DLH give, less rather than more, successfully, Eadbrict and R quite clearly Ecbrith; three lines later, where the reference is to the king's brother, the archbishop of York, R has Ecberith, but DLH, having apparently gone back to l. 1749 and read it more correctly, give Eadbrit. Earlier at l. 1739, where the reference is to the same archbishop, DLR represent it successfully, but H gives Edbright. Later, at l. 2211, where the reference is to the well-known Egbert of Wessex, DLR are correct, but H again gives Edbright. I have, therefore, decided not to make any correction in l. 2177, because of the possibility that Gaimar may have made a slip. In the second line there is even greater difficulty in determining what Gaimar wrote. R reads: Il out un altre nun priveement; this gives a satisfactory sense, but is metrically faulty. DLH give: Il out un autre nun Pren prent; this is metrically satisfactory, but the last word seems meaningless. The first part of the line, common to all the MSS., renders the oðer nama of A.S.C. 794, so it must stand. Pren in DLH also agrees with the source, so we must accept it, the more so as priveement may very well be an attempt to give meaning to what looked like a senseless repetition. This leaves us with prent, which Gross accepted, but regarded as ein reines sinnloses Flickwort. But is it? Did Gaimar by any chance fail to recognize nemned as a past participle and confuse it with the present of niman and thus take nemned Præn as a separate clause, which he rendered by his Pren prent? On this view we should have to put a comma after nun and regard Pren as a place(?)-name.70
[L]i paien ne se targent mie;L2179 [L2179] targerent RH70L2179 [L2179] Les paens R70
2180 Quant orent gasted Lindesie,
Page 70
Amunt Humbre alerent siglantL2181 [L2181] H. vont s. H71
Desci qu'en Use e puis avant;L2182 [L2182] U. puis en vont R71
En la buche de Don est dit
2184 E es croniches est escritL2184 [L2184] c. fu e. R71
Que illoc ot grant gent asemblee,L2185 [L2185] i. ont gent a. H71
[Defendre volent] lur cuntree,L2186 [L2186] E defendirent L Pur defendre la c. H71L2186 [L2186] Defendirent71
Homes ocistrent plus de trente;L2187 [L2187] p. ke t. R71
2188 En l'eve aveit [mult] grant turmente,L2188 [L2188] om mult DLH71
Un de lur dux [i] fud ocis,L2189 [L2189] om i DL71
Cil [mar] entrad [en cel] païs,L2190 [L2190] el DL71L2190 [L2190] mal71
[E] de lur nefs i perillerent,L2191 [L2191] n. asquanz i p. L71L2191 [L2191] om E DL71
2192 De lur humes asquanz neierent.L2192 [L2192] E de DL71 [f.108d]
E nepurquant [non] s'en ralerent,L2193 [L2193] om non DLH71
Mais [del] païs grant part guasterent.L2194 [L2194] p. mult g. L71L2194 [L2194] E cele contree mult g. H71L2194 [L2194] de cel DL71L2179 [L2179] Though Gaimar is here translating his source, A.S.C.(E) 794, with reasonable accuracy, he has completely misapprehended the scene of the incident. As a result of his earlier confusion (l. 2160), the Danes are in Lincolnshire, not in Durham. Therefore, although his phrase en la buche de Don (l. 2181) could legitimately be adduced by Plummer (II, 64) in support of the reading of A.S.C.(E) as against a proposed correction to æt þone muðe, Gross is equally justified in asserting that Gaimar has misunderstood his source after all. There is no doubt of this: in this passage Gaimar uses the same kind of geographical expressions as he does in his description of the route to York taken by the Danes (ll. 2578, 2586), when he is combining A.S.C. 867 and the Buern Bucecarle story, and as he does when describing the route followed by Tostig and Harald Hardrada (ll. 5202-4) on their way to York for the campaign which ended with the battle of Stamford Bridge.71
Idunc l'arcevesque [Heanbald]L2195 [L2195] haenbald DLH71
2196 E un evesque, saint Hybald,
Mistrent Earwlf en sun siedL2197 [L2197] M. cearwolf en R M. arnulf en H71
A Everwic a l'evesquied;L2198 [L2198] E. en larcevesche H71
Norhumberlant i apendeit.
2200 Cist dui l'unt [a rei] benëeit.L2200 [L2200] lunt tresben b. L71L2200 [L2200] beneit DLRH71L2200 [L2200] bien DH71
Li reis Offe dunc transitL2201 [L2201] E li r. R71
Qui [quarante] anz regnat, ço quid.L2202 [L2202] quatre DL71
Cheolwlf reçut Mercenelant,L2203 [L2203] Keeulf H71L2203 [L2203] Cheolwlf. Historically the king was Cœnwulf, but the name is wrongly given as Ceolwulf in most versions of A.S.C., so the mistake is most probably not by Gaimar.71
2204 Un rei guerrer fort e tirant.L2204 [L2204] om e R71L2204 [L2204] guerreer L guereier R om guerrer H71
En Kent alad, si la preiad,L2205 [L2205] si prescha H71
[Edelbrich] Pren en amenad.L2206 [L2206] E ecfert prent en a. L E. prist e en a. R E adelbright en a. H71L2206 [L2206] Egelbrit71L2206 [L2206] The name of the king concerned has again caused trouble. A.S.C. has only Præn, but Gaimar has evidently connected this correctly with the full name Eadbriht Præn which had occurred earlier and had given his copyists trouble (l. 2177). Only L gives a two-syllable name, Ecfert, but it has simply carried over its earlier mistake; LH introduce the line by the copula which is metrically necessary, if we are to have a two-syllable name. D gives the second name, Pren; this is not in H, but appears as prent in L, where it must go back to the mysterious prent of l. 2178; the same form was before R, which took it as a verb, changed it to prist to harmonize with the other verbs of his sentence and inserted the copula before his last clause. In DRH the name goes back to one beginning with Edel-, so I have used it here and not made any correction.71
Icil ert sire de[s] Kenteis,L2207 [L2207] de DH71
2208 En Merke l'en menad cil reis.L2208 [L2208] M. le m. li r. H71L2208 [L2208] En merceneland m. R71
De Westsexe Brithrit li reis
Transit del siecle en [i]cel meisL2210 [L2210] om en H71L2210 [L2210] cel DLR71
Page 71
E Ecbrith regnad apré[s] lui,L2211 [L2211] E ecbrichtid L Edbright H72
2212 Tute Westsexe tint, ço qui.
Dunc en cel tens vindrent GualeisL2213 [L2213] om Dunc H72
Guaster la terre a icel reis
Tuit dreit a Kenemeresford;L2215 [L2215] chelmeresford LH chelmesford R72
2216 Iloec furent li Galeis mort
Kar Edelmunt de WiltesireL2217 [L2217] E. od W. R72
Fist des Gualeis [mult] grant martyre.L2218 [L2218] om mult DLH72L2213 [L2213] A complete perversion of history. According to A.S.C. 800 Æthelmund rode from the Hwicce (in Mercia) across the Thames with hostile intent and was there met by the men of Wiltshire under Weohstan, who defeated him, both leaders being killed in the battle. Gross in his discussion of the passage offers two explanations, of which the second is to be preferred. He assumes that Gaimar took the phrase þa gemette hine W. of his source in the friendly sense and so had two leaders on the same side, but no opponents; the Welsh were conveniently to hand, so this difficulty was easily disposed of. On the other hand I have discovered no explanation for Gaimar's total omission of Weohstan and for his failure to mention the deaths of the ealdormen.72
[Isci] transit li reis Gudred,L2219 [L2219] eldret H72L2219 [L2219] Ore H72L2219 [L2219] Cil DL72
2220 En Kent regnad e en Taned,
E de Norhumberland lu reisL2221 [L2221] li r. LH lur r. R72
[Eardwolf] cacerent Norhumbreis.L2222 [L2222] Arulf H72L2222 [L2222] Cheolwlf DL72
[Huit] anz aprés Karle murutL2223 [L2223] Set DLH72
2224 Qui Cumberlant aveit eüd;L2224 [L2224] C. tint et eut H72
Il vesquid quarante cinc anz,
Aclin lui ert Norhumberlanz;
Tele paiz tint en sun vivant,L2227 [L2227] Cel pais t. tut son regnant R72
2228 Unc puis, espeir, n'[i] ot si grant.L2228 [L2228] p. co crei not L72L2228 [L2228] Unques p. LH72L2228 [L2228] om i DLH72L2228 [L2228] co e.72 [f.109a] L2229 [L2229] cel DH72
La dreite [estorie] a Gincestre,L2230 [L2230] e. de G. R72L2230 [L2230] estoire DH72
Li reis Ecbrith Gales preiad,
2232 Tuit le païs de[l] west [guastat]L2232 [L2232] p. degasta H72L2232 [L2232] passad DL72
E puis de l'est al returner;L2233 [L2233] del ost H72
Tuit l'aver prist que pot trover.L2234 [L2234] p. kil p. R72L2234 [L2234] om prist H72
En [i]cel an, ço dit la geste,
Set anz aprés Kenulf de Merce
2236 Transit el liu de Basewer[c]e.L2236 [L2236] basewece L hasewerche H72
[E Ceawolf regnat aprés lui,
Dous anz tint terre a grant ennui,
Al chef de dous anz la perdi;
2240 N'ert pas amé: pur ço fuï;
Tant aveit feit, tuz le haeient,L2241 [L2241] haerent R72
Plusurs oscire le voleient].L2242 [L2242] ll. 2237-2242 not in DLH72
Page 72
De lui larrum, parlerum de el,L2243 [L2243] l. e p. RH73
2244 D'un vassal [rei] d'autre regnel;L2244 [L2244] dun a. r. H a. regned L73L2244 [L2244] om vassal H73
De Westsexe [Ecbricht] ot num.L2245 [L2245] edbright H73L2245 [L2245] eclbrith73
Burnulfs li mut grant cuntençun,L2246 [L2246] g. tencun LH73L2246 [L2246] Boefs H73
Reis ert de Merke. [A Elendune]L2247 [L2247] et de dalendone H73L2247 [L2247] M. e de L73L2247 [L2247] de aledone DL73
2248 Parut quels ert mieldre persone;L2248 [L2248] Lors H73
D'ambesdous parz fud grant l'ociseL2249 [L2249] ert R73L2249 [L2249] om dous H73
A la bataille que orent prise;
En la parfin, ço dit l'estoire,L2251 [L2251] A la fin H73
2252 Li reis Ecbrith ot la victoire.L2252 [L2252] edbricht LH73L2251 [L2251] follow 2256 in DL73
Li reis Ecbrit un fiz aveitL2253 [L2253] Edbricht L73
Qui Edelwlf apeled esteit;L2253 [L2253] not in H73
[Lui e l']evesque [Adelstan]L2255 [L2255] Il et le e. H73L2255 [L2255] Li e. ad (aveit [L]) a nun elstan DL73L2255 [L2255] Adelstan RH, Elstan DL. The latter is closer to the Ealhstan of A.S.C. 823, but the agreement is fortuitous, resulting from faulty transcription in DL; they left out the initial pronoun and inserted a nun between ad and elstan. Thus the mistake must be attributed to Gaimar, though it is curious that the bishop is designated Æthelstan in certain charters.73
2256 E Wlfard cumandat par ban
Que preïssent mult de sa gent,L2257 [L2257] E prist m. L73
Si [alassent conquere] en Kent;L2258 [L2258] Sis laisserent (cun?) venir en K. L73L2258 [L2258] Sis laissent en K.73
E cil [ki vont] od mult grant ostL2259 [L2259] c. sont ale od g. H73L2259 [L2259] c. wnt L73L2259 [L2259] vint73L2259 [L2259] om ki DLH73
2260 Baldred en [chascerent] mult tost.L2260 [L2260] om mult H73L2260 [L2260] chacent DL73
Cil orent la terre cunquise,
Li reis fuïd ultre Tamise,L2262 [L2262] fui RH73L2262 [L2262] fud DL73
E cil de Kent unt otrïezL2263 [L2263] cels de K. R73
2264 Ke Ecbrith ait lu regnez,L2264 [L2264] a. tuit le r. R73L2264 [L2264] edbricht LH73
E en Sudsexe e en Surrie
Partut alad [sa] seignurieL2266 [L2266] lur73
E cil d'[Estsexe] de lur fiedL2267 [L2267] de westsexe de lur see H73L2267 [L2267] esexe73
2268 Lui unt ostages enveied.L2268 [L2268] cele g. LR73L2268 [L2268] co le LR73L2268 [L2268] co DH73
Pur çol reçurent celes genzL2269 [L2269] pur çol. Both here and at l. 4319 the enclisis is required by the metre; at ll. 2026, 3871 we probably have the same form, but there the reading ço le is possible, if we accept an extra-metrical syllable at the end of the first hemistich (cf. p. li).73
Que de ses ancïens parenz [f.109b]
[Aveient] ainz la terre eüeL2271 [L2271] Eurent H73L2271 [L2271] Aveit73
Page 73
2272 E par [guere l'ourent] perdueL2272 [L2272] la terre aveient L74L2272 [L2272] om par L74L2272 [L2272] p. la terre aveit74
E pur crieme [des Merceneis]L2273 [L2273] des northumbrois H74L2273 [L2273] dicele gent marked for correction74
Reçurent cil Ecbrit li reisL2274 [L2274] edbrich LH74L2274 [L2274] receustrent H74
[E] cil d'Estengle ensementL2275 [L2275] estsexe H74
2276 Pur la crieme d'icele gent.
En icel tens aveit dous reis
El rëalme de Merceneis;
L'un ert Burnulf, menot boban,L2279 [L2279] burnel nome b. H74L2279 [L2279] B. ki m. L B. mult m. R74L2279 [L2279] Li uns R74
2280 Li autre ot a nun Lutecan.L2280 [L2280] luteran R74L2280 [L2280] om a LRH74L2280 [L2280] Li altres o. R74L2280 [L2280] leutean DLH74
Entr'els aveit set reietels,L2281 [L2281] reitels DLRH74L2281 [L2281] un DL74
Cil dui erent sur tuz [chevels];L2282 [L2282] cheveteaus H74L2282 [L2282] ceals DL74
[E] ensement el regne aillursL2283 [L2283] om E DLH74
2284 Partuit aveit itels seignurs;L2284 [L2284] avoient H74
Tresque poeit un poi munter,L2285 [L2285] T. alcuns p. R74
Si se faiseit rei apeller.L2286 [L2286] reis a. R74L2286 [L2286] Chescuns se f. H74L2277 [L2277] For some reason Gaimar has taken Beornwulf and Ludeca to be contemporaneous, not successive, kings of Mercia. Gross is inclined to assume that Gaimar wrote cinc in l. 2281 corresponding to the .v. ealdormen of A.S.C. 825, but in so doing he has not given full value to entr'els which here means among the Mercians. Now Gaimar has here, as elsewhere, rendered ealdorman by reis, so with their addition to Beornwulf and Ludeca we arrive at the number, seven, given by RH and indirectly supported by un of DL. Finding himself with a large number of kings on hand, Gaimar's thoughts have turned vaguely to the early days of the Settlement. Cf. ll. 877-80; 2291-311; 2337-8. In his version of the list of Bretwaldas supplied by A.S.C. 827 Gaimar is guilty of a serious mistake which lands him in difficulties: he manages to make Ceawlin, the sixth-century West Saxon king a contemporary of Egbert, king of Wessex in the ninth century. The annal relates that Egbert conquered Mercia and all to the south of the Humber and continues: he wæs se eahtoða cining se þe Brytenwealda wæs. In the Estoire ll. 2291-4 tell us directly of his conquests and indirectly of his Bretwaldaship, but the MSS. diverge in the line (2294) which does this; all agree in the repetition of the preposition, so we must retain par cunte e par numbre; R begins with Tint l'om de lui which gives the line a syllable too many, whereas D has simply Tint which makes the line two syllables short; LH agree with D in having nothing between Tint and par cunte, but after the noun L has a meaningless de la and H, thus in partial agreement with R, de lui. It looks as if de lui were somehow misplaced in the common ancestor of DLH, but in such a way that D could overlook it, so I have kept the phrase in the text. The next three lines develop the Bretwalda theme, but give the number who held the title rather differently. The MSS. diverge in l. 2295; DL read Ainz aveit esté, a quite general statement whereas H reads Einz avoit .viii., a specific statement and one which receives indirect support from the ainz aveit uni of R, the latter, meaningless, word being clearly a misreading of the numeral by the scribe. The number is correct, for Gaimar with his ainz aveit is thinking of his own times, not of the period about which he is writing. In l. 2297, while not making Egbert the first Bretwalda, he does list him first, in contradiction of A.S.C., which rightly makes Ælla of Sussex head the list; Gaimar seems to have confused the ordinal ærest with the adverb, hence his devant lui en l'antif tens. As it happens, Gaimar had not mentioned this Ælla earlier in the Estoire, but he had very briefly noted the reign of his namesake of Deira, and here identifies the two. He has now arrived at the third name in his list, which should of course be that of the second Bretwalda in A.S.C., but Gaimar leaves him out altogether, and continues with Æthelbert of Kent, thus coming into agreement with his source. In l. 2303 the MSS. diverge in an interesting way; R gives as the second half of the line reis fu e bald, H merely fier et bald, but DL read frere Edelbald: this looks like confusion with two later English kings, but must have arisen from a reading fier e bald in their common ancestor. In ll. 2307-10 Gaimar expands the brief statement in the annal: fifta Ædwine Norþanhymbra cining; le regné ultre Tine is Bernicia, d'Everwic l'autre regned is Deira, and l. 2310 echoes the earlier statement (l. 1147) that Tute Bretaine dunc cunquist. Having arrived at the seventh Bretwalda, Oswy, Gaimar realizes that he had announced eight holders of the title, brings in Ceawlin as the eighth and so has to add ll. 2339-41 to explain the co-existence of Ceawlin and Egbert as kings of Wessex. But what led him to make the mistake? A combination of circumstances. As we have seen, the third name in Gaimar's list coincides with the third in his source, but the postponement of Ceawlin is, I think, the result of a misunderstanding. In A.S.C.(E) 827 we read: oþær wæs Ceawlin; this should have caused no trouble, for elsewhere Gaimar shows his familiarity with this use of oþær, which indeed coincides with his use of altre. In A.S.C.(A) 827, however, the reading is: se æftera wæs Ceawlin; I would suggest the possibility that Gaimar found this, or something similar, in his source, that he understood se æftera as the last, and so deliberately made Ceawlin the eighth Bretwalda.74
Cil [Lutecan] dunt dis anceisL2287 [L2287] d. des ainz dis R74L2287 [L2287] leuchen L leutean H74L2287 [L2287] leuten74
2288 [Il] fud ocis par les GualeisL2288 [L2288] par les waleis ocis R74L2288 [L2288] Si f. H74L2288 [L2288] Ocis fud74
E [Wilaf] reçut le regnedL2289 [L2289] wilas DL74
U Lutecan aveit ested.L2290 [L2290] Uthlage L Ou leutean H74L2290 [L2290] Ulteham74L2289 [L2289] not in R74
En [i]cel tens Ecbrit li reiL2291 [L2291] le r. LH74L2291 [L2291] elbrith R edebricht LH74L2291 [L2291] cel DLH74
2292 [Conquist cel regne e prist vers sei]L2292 [L2292] Recut le regne envers sei DLH74
E quanque ot [del] sud [de] HumbreL2293 [L2293] del74L2293 [L2293] el s. DL74
Tint [de lui] par cunte e par numbre.L2294 [L2294] T. p. c. de la L T. lom de lui p. c. R T. p. c. de lui H74
Ainz aveit [uit] reis [el] regned,L2295 [L2295] uni R74L2295 [L2295] del r.74L2295 [L2295] este DL .viii. H74
2296 Des quels autres teneient fied;L2296 [L2296] fie RH74L2296 [L2296] t. le f. L t. lur f. R74L2296 [L2296] q. les altres t. LR Desqes li autre H74L2296 [L2296] sied DL74
Il en ert un, si cum jo pens,L2297 [L2297] om si H74L2297 [L2297] e. li uns R74
Mais devant lui en l'antif tensL2298 [L2298] om lui H74
Ot en Sudsexe un reis vaillantL2299 [L2299] un rei R uns r. H74
Page 74
2300 Qui puis cunquist Norhumberlant;
[Elle] ot nun tut sun eded.L2301 [L2301] Il DL75
Li tiercz fud Edelbrith clamed,L2302 [L2302] edbright H75
Reis fud de Kent, [reis fier e bald],L2303 [L2303] r. fu e b. R K. f. et b. H75L2303 [L2303] freres edelbald DL75
2304 E li quart rei[s] ot nun [Redwald],L2304 [L2304] redwold R75L2304 [L2304] om reis RH75L2304 [L2304] li quatre LR75L2304 [L2304] redald DL75
En Estengle cist rei regnad,L2305 [L2305] cis rois H75
Mult fud prodom e [bel] finad.L2306 [L2306] Prodome fut et bien f. H75L2306 [L2306] bes75 [f.109c]
[L]e quint rei ot [a] nun Edwine,L2307 [L2307] om a DLH75
2308 Si tint le regné ultre Tine
[E] d'Everwic l'autre regned
E tut Westsexe esteit sun fied.
[L]e sist Oswald, le setme OswiL2311 [L2311] setime LRH75
2312 Mais n'alot pas la terre issi,L2312 [L2312] M. nalot mie L M. nala mie H75
[Que] nuls hom né pur la guerreL2313 [L2313] om né RH75
Seüst cument alot la terreL2314 [L2314] alast LH75L2314 [L2314] Sout L75
[Ne en cel tens sul ne saveitL2315 [L2315] om en R75
2316 Nuls hom, ki chescon rei estait].L2316 [L2316] ll. 2315-6 not in DLH75
[M]oines, chanoines des abeïesL2317 [L2317] Mes m. e c. de a. R75
Escristrent de dis reis les vies,L2318 [L2318] Ki des r. e. les v. R E. des r. les v. H75L2318 [L2318] The MSS. diverge here; R reads: Ki des reis escristrent les vies; but this does not connect with what follows; DL read: Escristrent de dis reis les vies; and H reads: Escristrent des rois les vies; this is clearly derived from a reading similar to that of DL, but the meaning of dis in their line is doubtful.75
[S]i [adresça] chascun sun perL2319 [L2319] drescast75
2320 Pur la veire raisun mustrerL2320 [L2320] la veraie r. R75L2320 [L2320] follows 2318 in H with a blank line after75
[D]es reis: cumbien chascun regnad,
Cument ot nun, cum deviad,L2322 [L2322] coment d. R coment fina H75
[Q]uel fud ocis e quel transist,L2323 [L2323] transi RH75L2323 [L2323] Qui H75
2324 Quels est entiers e quels puristL2324 [L2324] purri R perit H75L2324 [L2324] est entres R75
[E] des evesques ensement
Firent li clerc adrescement.
[Cronike ad] nun, un livre grant,L2327 [L2327] Croniz R75L2327 [L2327] aveit DL75L2327 [L2327] .orinke75
2328 Engleis l'alerent asemblant.
[Ore] est issi auctorizedL2329 [L2329] Que(?) D Ke L75
Page 75
Que a Vincestre [a] l'evesquiedL2330 [L2330] V. en lev. RH76L2330 [L2330] ait76
[L]a est des reis la dreite [estoire]L2331 [L2331] estorie LR76L2331 [L2331] estoires76
2332 E les vies e [la memoire].L2332 [L2332] memorie LR76L2332 [L2332] les memoires76
[L]i reis Elvred l'ot en demeine,
Fermer i fist une [chaeine];L2334 [L2334] chaine DLR76
[Qui] lire [i] volt, bien i gardastL2335 [L2335] om i DL76
2336 Mais de sun liu nel remuast.L2336 [L2336] l. pas nel r. H76
Cheaulinz ot nun le oitme rei,L2337 [L2337] li utimes r. R loitisme r. H76L2337 [L2337] E C. L76L2337 [L2337] oitme D, oitime LRH. Which is Gaimar's form? This is, unfortunately, the only occurrence of eighth in the Estoire and the other ordinals of the group, not being well represented, do not help towards a solution. On the one hand seventh is found twice: at l. 2311, where D has setme, but the other MSS. spoil the metre by giving setime, and at l. 5557, where all MSS. concur in setme. On the other hand all give the longer form novime at l. 1290. If in the line under discussion we follow D then the definite article must have syllabic value to give a correct line, but is eighth preceded by li or by le? The noun is in the nominative singular, but the rime with the reflexive proves that Gaimar is using rei in that function, as he does elsewhere and as the reading of D on two of these occasions emphasizes; at l. 2015 it has icel reis (: la lei) and at l. 2291 Ecbrit li reis (: sei). In l. 2337 both D and L have le, but the latter has the longer former of the ordinal and so must elide, as H actually does in writing; R has li, again with the longer ordinal, and so elision is once more necessary. In view of these uncertainties I have followed D, but am not prepared to aver that Gaimar admitted hiatus after le.76
Westsexïens menad od sei,L2338 [L2338] W. aveit od s. R76
Il esteit rei d'une partie,L2339 [L2339] e. reis RH76L2339 [L2339] ert H76
2340 En cel regne ert sa seignurie.L2340 [L2340] Iloec ert H76
De l'autre part Ecbrit fud reisL2341 [L2341] cebrit L edbright H76
Qui puis regnad sur [Suthumbreis],L2342 [L2342] sur walois H76L2342 [L2342] les galeis DL76L2342 [L2342] Sur Suthumbreis R, sur les Galeis DL, sur Walois H. The implied contrast with ultre Humbre in l. 2344 and the inclusive nort e sud of l. 2346 have led me to follow R.76
E quant ot issint cunquested,L2343 [L2343] issi LRH76L2343 [L2343] om E H76
2344 Ultre Humbre ad s'ost mened.L2344 [L2344] son ost m. R76 [f.109d]
A Dorewit fud receüd;L2345 [L2345] receuz RH76L2345 [L2345] A everwick R76L2345 [L2345] reconeud DL76L2345 [L2345] Dorewit DL, Dorewik H, Everwick R. It was suggested by Stevenson, the early translator of the Estoire, that Gaimar's place-name arose from a misreading of the phrase to Dore wið in A.S.C. 827 and this still seems the most likely explanation. The reading in R must represent an attempted correction of an obscurity, for it is unlikely that a copyist would alter a perfectly intelligible everwic, and I would suggest that R read his text as ad orewic and took the latter to mean Everwic, the obvious place at which to be acknowledged by the Northumbrians. Cf. note to ll. 987-90.76
Ore fud rei e nort e sud.L2346 [L2346] f. reis LR76L2346 [L2346] Quil f. H76
Wilaf repurcaçad le regne,L2347 [L2347] Wolof R Willaf H76L2347 [L2347] Wilas DL76
2348 Si refud reis desur Mercenne.L2348 [L2348] r. sur M. R r. de M. H76
En [i]cel an Ecbrith li reisL2349 [L2349] edbright H76L2349 [L2349] E en R76L2349 [L2349] cel DL76
Clinat a sei les Norwaleis,L2350 [L2350] l. walois H76L2350 [L2350] Aclinat R Enclina H76
Tut de lur bone volentéL2351 [L2351] Tute R76
2352 Les ad Ecbrith a sei cliné.L2352 [L2352] a s. acline R76L2352 [L2352] edbright H76
Dous anz aprés tuit veirementL2353 [L2353] om tuit H76
Dunc vindrent la paiene gent,L2354 [L2354] om Dunc H76
Si preierent tute [Escepaie],L2355 [L2355] escepaine R76L2355 [L2355] espaine DL76
2356 Unkes [de] hume n'orent manaie.
Le autre an aprés Ecbrith aladL2357 [L2357] edbright H76
E sur paiens sun ost menad,L2358 [L2358] En sun pais s. o. L Sus p. sost H76
Od les paiens tint grant bataille,L2359 [L2359] om grant H76
Page 76
2360 Mult i ot humes mort senz faille;L2360 [L2360] sanz LRH77L2360 [L2360] sen77
La bataille fud a Karum,
Mult i ot mort maint bon barun,L2362 [L2362] om bon H77L2362 [L2362] Mort i ot L77
Mais li paien furent plus fort,L2363 [L2363] Et li p. H77
2364 Si chacerent Ecbrith a tort.L2364 [L2364] edbright H77
Dunc revint un autre navire,
En Westgales tindrent cunsire;L2366 [L2366] t. confire L77L2366 [L2366] tint c. H77
Tant unt parled as [West]waleisL2367 [L2367] as waleis DL77
2368 Que se tindrent [od les] Daneis;L2368 [L2368] Kil R Qui H77L2368 [L2368] as DLH77
Ensemble [alerent] guerreiant,L2369 [L2369] vont DL77
Par le païs grant mal faisant.L2370 [L2370] om grant H77
Dunc reis Ecbrit [unt] encuntredL2371 [L2371] D. unt rei E. R Roi edbright u. H77L2371 [L2371] ad77
2372 [E] en sa terre erent entred.L2372 [L2372] sont H77L2372 [L2372] om E DL77
[Hengestesdune] ad nun le munt,L2373 [L2373] Hengesdune R77L2373 [L2373] Hengesteslune77
U cuntre lui bataille funt.L2374 [L2374] contre RH77L2374 [L2374] U cil c. R77L2374 [L2374] encuntre DL77
Iloc en fist destructïun,
2376 Vencu furent paien felun.L2376 [L2376] f. li p. LH77
Idunc ot le siecle dured
Des la Jesu Nativited
Oit cenz [e trente] set anz,L2379 [L2379] et .xlviii. H77L2379 [L2379] quarante DL77L2379 [L2379] trente seit R, quarante set DL, .xlviii. H. The date in the forties is wrong, though metrically satisfactory; the date in R is closer to that in A.S.C. which gives 836, so I have followed R, the more so as Gaimar gives the correct date in l. 2443.77
2380 Si cum distrent li clerc lisanz.L2380 [L2380] Si come nus trovoms l. H77L2380 [L2380] d. les clers R77 [f.110a]
En icel tens en cel endreitL2381 [L2381] en tel e. R77
Murut Ecbrith qui tant aveit.L2382 [L2382] edbright H77
Ço fud celui [ke] Offe chaçad,L2383 [L2383] qui77
2384 Trente set anz e un [meis] regnad.L2384 [L2384] .xxvii. H77L2384 [L2384] meins77L2384 [L2384] e un meis. In A.S.C. 836 we find .vii. monðas and Gross assumes that Gaimar wrote .vii. meis, attributing the error in which all four MSS. concur to miscopying. This, though the mistake itself is quite possible, is too uncertain to justify a correction.77
Puis regnad Edelwlf sun fiz
E Edelstan un rei gentilz;L2386 [L2386] E. dous reis g. L E. li rois g. H77
L'un ot Westsexe, l'autre Kent,L2387 [L2387] e laltre R77L2387 [L2387] Li uns R77
2388 Surrie e Sudsexe ensement,
E tuit voleient chalengierL2389 [L2389] om E L77
Ço que ot [lur] pere a justisier.L2390 [L2390] sun77
Page 77
Dunc vint un navire [mult] fort,
2392 A Hantune arivad al port,L2392 [L2392] une n. LR78L2392 [L2392] D. revint R78L2392 [L2392] om mult DH78
Trente [treis] nefs i aveit,L2393 [L2393] et trois vinz H78L2393 [L2393] reis e vint DL78L2393 [L2393] I have followed R because it is closer to A.S.C. 836 (sciphlesta) and because D, L, and H diverge.78
Jo qui que Deus mult les haeitL2394 [L2394] om mult H78
Kar [par] Wlfeard un bon barunL2395 [L2395] W. le b. H78L2395 [L2395] om par DLH78
2396 Les mist en grant destructïun.L2396 [L2396] om grant H78L2396 [L2396] En fu feit g. R78
Celui a els se cumbatid,
Mult en ocist e sis venquid.L2398 [L2398] om e H78
Me[ï]smes l'an transit li ber;L2399 [L2399] mesmes78
2400 S'il peüst alques durer,
Si cum distrent l'antive gent,L2401 [L2401] d. latine g. H78
Paiens m[e]ïst en mal turment.L2402 [L2402] mist78
Mais li paien s'en [ralïerent]L2403 [L2403] M. les paens se relierent R78L2403 [L2403] ralerent DL78
2404 E firent mal e guerrïerent;
Lur gent veneit Daneis feluns,L2405 [L2405] veneient LR78
Mult [ocieient] des baruns.L2406 [L2406] osciaient R78L2406 [L2406] ocistrent DLH78
Adelelme dunc unt ocis,L2407 [L2407] ont donc o. H78L2407 [L2407] Adeleine L Aelesme R Adeelme H78L2407 [L2407] Adeleune78
2408 Il ot bataille encuntr'els pris;L2408 [L2408] o. la b. R78
[Cil] ert si pruz e si vaillantL2409 [L2409] E il78
E en bataille si ferant
Que quant Engleis l'orent perdut,
2412 Ne lur remist si bon escut.
A Lundres alerent maneisL2413 [L2413] a. demanois H78
Faire bataille les Daneis.L2414 [L2414] b. as D. H78
Iloec firent lur volented,
2416 Mult i ot humes mort rüed. [f.110b]
D'iloc en vont a Rouecestre,
Iloec [rot] bataille campestre,L2418 [L2418] I. out H78
Mult ocistrent des païsanzL2419 [L2419] M. i o. H78
2420 Mais les plusurs furent fuianz;L2420 [L2420] Mes li felons sen vont fuianz H78
Qui entrer pot en la cited,
Si fud garid e bien tensed
Page 78
E qui ne pot, pas ne garid,
2424 Si alcune part ne s'en fuïd.
D'iloc alerent a SandwizL2425 [L2425] Sandwiz. The name is here as the result of a mistake. In A.S.C.(E) 839 we read: Her wæs mycel wælsleht on Lundene $$ on Cantwic $$ on Rofecæstre. Gaimar has expanded this brief entry very considerably, giving four lines to the battle at London, eight to that at Rochester, and ten to that at Sandwich, and the third description is clearly a pendant to the second. It must be admitted that the entry in A.S.C. is rather too concise, the place intended, as shown by Cwantawic in A.S.C.(A), being a lost French seaport at the mouth of the R. Canche not very far from Etaples, and that Gaimar is to be excused for taking the second name to be that of a place near the other two and not that of a place on the Continent. Having mistakenly identified Cantwic with Sandwich, Gaimar has changed the order of the names, so bringing them into harmony with the actual situations of the places.79
Mais ne furent [pas] recuilliz.L2426 [L2426] ni f. R pas ni f. r. H79
Tuz les Kenteis [asemblez erent],L2427 [L2427] K. ensemble alerent H79L2427 [L2427] asemblerent DL79
2428 En un plain champ les encuntrerent,L2428 [L2428] om champ H79
Mult fierement se cumbatirent,L2429 [L2429] om Mult H79
Mais nepurquant Daneis venquirent.L2430 [L2430] D. nepurquant v. H79
Ne fust le burc qui [clos] esteit,L2431 [L2431] fud L79L2431 [L2431] quiloc DL79
2432 Mult i fussent [Kenteis] destreitL2432 [L2432] Kentois i f. mult d. H79L2432 [L2432] mis en DL79
Mais par le burc plusurs garirent,L2433 [L2433] om Mais H79
Li remananz trestuz perirent.L2434 [L2434] les r. R79
Reis Edelwlf idunc regnot,
2436 Par le païs cuntr'els alot
E les Daneis de tutes parz
Arivo[e]nt en lur kenarz.L2438 [L2438] en lu keuarz H79
A Carum Edelwlf li reis
2440 Se cumbatid as DaneisL2440 [L2440] c. od les D. H79
Mais les Daneis orent victoire,
Sil cunsentid li reis de gloire.L2442 [L2442] Ensi le vout l. r. H79
Dunc ot uit cenz quarante cinc anzL2443 [L2443] c. anz et .xlv. H79L2443 [L2443] .dccc.79
2444 Que Crist en cest mund fud venanz.L2444 [L2444] Qe dieus en c. monde vint H79L2444 [L2444] Des donc ke C. el m. R79
En [i]cel an se cumbatidL2445 [L2445] cel DLH79
Li dux Arnulf, Daneis venquid;L2446 [L2446] e D. v. R les D. v. H79
Un autre dux, [Osric] ot nun,L2447 [L2447] oseric L79L2447 [L2447] oscrie79
2448 Il fud od lui cume barun;
Li uns menad cels de Dorsete,
Li autre genz de Sumersete.L2450 [L2450] a. les g. L a. la gent H a. cels de S. R79
A la buche de Pedredan
2452 Vencuz furent Daneis cel an. [f.110c]
Cheorl [alderman] les [re]chaçad,L2453 [L2453] anderman L79L2453 [L2453] Cheor e alderma R79L2453 [L2453] chacad DL79L2453 [L2453] arderman79
Page 79
Tresqu'en Tanet unc [ne] finad;
Li barun de DevenesireL2455 [L2455] Les b. R80
2456 Lui aidoent a descunfire.L2456 [L2456] aiderent RH80
A Wïenberge comencerent,L2457 [L2457] wingberge L wienberghe R wiberge H80L2457 [L2457] winberge80
Tresqu'en Tanet les decacerent.
Iloec furent tut l'iver tens.L2453 [L2453] Gaimar had endeavoured to introduce some kind of sequence into the events listed by A.S.C. 851. Thus he makes the Danish wintering in Thanet the result of the English victory at Wigborough; as Gross points out, Gaimar would scarcely have made this deduction, had his source agreed with A.S.C.(A) in putting the account of the battle of Sandwich between that at Wigborough and the stay in Thanet. Then, for Gaimar, the arrival took place at the end of that winter, not in the same year as the battle æt Wicgeanbeorge, a name which has given some trouble to his copyists. All agree in the second element, but DLH have a first element of one syllable, which renders the line metrically incorrect; R's form, Wien-, is closer to the O.E., so I have accepted it and treated it as a dissyllable.80
2460 Autre navire reparensL2460 [L2460] A. navie r. H80L2460 [L2460] tut r. DL80
[I] est venud cuntre l'ested.
A Cantuorbire en sunt aled,
[L]a cité [frainstrent] e roberent,L2463 [L2463] c. arstrent H80L2463 [L2463] asistrent DL80
2464 Le rei Brectwlf desbareterent,L2464 [L2464] bittulf H80L2464 [L2464] Li reis R80
[C]el rei de Mercene unt mis en fuieL2465 [L2465] Cil r. R Le r. H80
Desi que la cited de LuieL2462 [L2462] According to A.S.C.(ABC) the Danes stormed Canterbury, then London, and then crossed the Thames into Surrey, but A.S.C.(DEF) omit the reference to London. Gaimar's source had not this mistake, for he has a disguised mention of the city. Possibly, as Gross suggests, an unusual spelling put him off, for elsewhere the name gives him no difficulty. At any rate, there seems to be some connexion between his cited de Luie (l. 2466) and the earlier cited de Luietune (l. 984), by which he renders Lygeanbyrig of A.S.C. 571, though in each case the cause of the confusion eludes us.80
[E] li paien vont en Surrie.L2467 [L2467] les p. R80
2468 Ço fud ultrage e estultie
[Kar] Edelwlf li maistre rei
E Edelbald sis fiz, ço crei,L2470 [L2470] son f. R80
[A]d Aclie se cumbatirent.
2472 Westsexïens si bien le firent,L2472 [L2472] si b. les ferirent L b. i ferirent H80
[T]uz les Daneis unt descunfit,L2473 [L2473] u. iloc d. DL80
Maint hume iloc vie perdit.L2474 [L2474] h. la v. i p. H80L2474 [L2474] i. sa v. L80
[C]el an meïsme a SandwizL2475 [L2475] a. meismes RH80
2476 Refurent les Daneis matizL2476 [L2476] li D. H80L2476 [L2476] R. lor D. L80
[Par] Edelstan e par Alchere.L2477 [L2477] par adelhere R80
Edelstan esteit al rei frere.L2478 [L2478] Au roi adelstan ert frere H80
[L]i uns esteit frere Edelwlf,L2479 [L2479] ert H80
2480 D'Estengle ert [meistre] rei sul;L2480 [L2480] r. il sul R80L2480 [L2480] estoit L80
[A]chere ert dux e de lui tint,L2481 [L2481] A. donc de li t. H80L2481 [L2481] d. de li tenant R80L2481 [L2481] Adelhere R80
Des Daneis ocist plus de vint;L2482 [L2482] om Des H80L2478 [L2478] In his source Gaimar found simply Æðelstan cining and Ealhere dux; he seems to have amplified this by a vague memory of his earlier reference to Athelstan the sub-king (ll. 2385-8); he is correct when he makes him brother of Edelwlf (l. 2479), but wrong when he sets him over Estengle.80
[E] de lur nefs que il amenerent,
2484 [En] Tamise la us troverent,L2484 [L2484] T. jus neierent H80L2484 [L2484] la u il les t. R80L2484 [L2484] A L80L2484 [L2484] E a80L2484 [L2484] The mention of the R. Thames is out of place here, not being apposite to the situation of Sandwich; I agree with Gross that Gaimar has derived the name from its earlier occurrence in the same annal (A.S.C. 851).80
Page 80
[Pri]strent humes e lur aveirs.
Ne firent giens grant nunsaveirs:L2486 [L2486] f. guers g.n. R f. pas n. H81
[D]e quanque pot de mal ovrerL2487 [L2487] q. hom p. RH81
2488 [D]eit l'um sun enemi [mater].L2488 [L2488] encumbrer DL81L2487 [L2487] Cf. J. Morawski, Proverbes français (C.F.M.A. 47), No. 688.81 [f.110d]
Al tens que furent [ces] DaneisL2489 [L2489] si DL81
Burhred esteit de Merce reis.L2490 [L2490] ert R81L2490 [L2490] Burhert R Burred H81L2490 [L2490] Burbred DL81
Par l'aïe Edelwlf li berL2491 [L2491] a. de E. R aide de E. H81
2492 Fist Norwaleis a sei cliner.
En [i]cel an, quant ço avint,L2493 [L2493] an ke RH81L2493 [L2493] cel DL81
Alcher li reis qui dunc Kent tintL2494 [L2494] Adelher R81
Od [les] Kenteis e od dux [Hude]L2495 [L2495] huge DL81L2495 [L2495] lur81
2496 Qui les Surreis ot en aiudeL2496 [L2496] Ke li S. L81
En sunt alez sur les Daneis.L2497 [L2497] om En H81
En l'isle de TaneteisL2498 [L2498] de katenois H81L2498 [L2498] i. des T. R81
Od les paiens se cumbatirent;
2500 Poi gainerent, vie perdirent,L2500 [L2500] la v. p. H81L2500 [L2500] gainerent. All MSS. concur in the contracted form, so I have retained it, though Gaimar may well have used the fuller form, treating the final syllable as extra-metrical (cf. p. xlix).81
Oscis fud Hude e Algier,L2501 [L2501] adelher R81L2501 [L2501] huge L81L2501 [L2501] furent R81
Unc n'i porent meis espleitier.L2502 [L2502] p. mielz eschaper R p. meuz e. H81
Idunc prist Burhred de MercenneL2503 [L2503] burgred L burhret R81L2503 [L2503] burred DH81
2504 La fille [Edelwlf] a sa femme.L2504 [L2504] om sa RH81L2504 [L2504] edulf H81L2504 [L2504] edeluf81
Un an aprés vindrent Daneis
A [Escepeie] od lur [escheiz]L2506 [L2506] nefs DL81L2506 [L2506] sepaie DL81
E od [cyules] e od [kenarz].L2507 [L2507] e od kandart R81L2507 [L2507] Od escheiz RH81L2507 [L2507] kenart81L2507 [L2507] escheiles81
2508 L'iver i furent tresqu'en Marz.L2505 [L2505] Cf. Glossarial and Textual Notes . . . (M.L.R. XLIII (1948), 39-46) for a discussion of the text of this passage and for the history of the word cyules.81
En [i]cel an dunt ci ai ditL2509 [L2509] an ke ci R81L2509 [L2509] En cel L81L2509 [L2509] E en cel81
Reis Edelwlf terres partit;
Tute sa terre bien dunad,L2511 [L2511] dunad and devisad interverted in R81
2512 En l'onur Deu la devisad.L2512 [L2512] E en R81
[Puis aprés feit son aire agreie,L2513 [L2513] Cf. Further glossarial notes . . . (M.L.R. XLIX (1954), 308-21) for a discussion of this line. I take sun eire as dative.81
Vers Rome tint la dreite veie,L2514 [L2514] ll. 2513-14 not in DLH81
Par grant honur a Rome alat
Page 81
2516 E tut un an i sojurnat.
El revenir donc espusat
La fille Charles; il li donat.]L2518 [L2518] charle H82L2518 [L2518] ll. 2515-18 not in DL82
Ço fud la fille le rei de France,L2519 [L2519] al r. RH82
2520 Tuz jurz se penad d'onurance.
Dous anz aprés dunc deviad,
Dis e nof anz cel rei regnad;
Si cum [demustred] la viele geste,L2523 [L2523] om la R82L2523 [L2523] demistrent82
2524 Enseveliz fud a Guincestre.
[Cestui] fud fiz Ecbrit le reiL2525 [L2525] edbright H82L2525 [L2525] Il H82L2525 [L2525] Cist DL82
Qui fist le regne aclin a sei.L2526 [L2526] a. vers sei R82
Ses dous fiz reçorent le regneL2527 [L2527] son r. R82L2527 [L2527] receustrent H82
2528 Qu'il ot de sa premiere femme.
[Edelbalt out tote Westsexe
E Edelbrith Kent e Suthsexe
E Estsexe e Sudreie;L2531 [L2531] hestsexe R82
2532 Riches reis furent en lur vie].L2532 [L2532] ll. 2529-32 not in DLH82
Cinc anz regnad reis Edelbald,
Idunc transid, vie lui falt,L2534 [L2534] Donc t. la v. H82
Sun cors [posat] a [Schireburne],L2535 [L2535] schireburnes R82L2535 [L2535] chiereburne DL82L2535 [L2535] fud mis DLH82 [f.111a]
2536 Il fist Daneis en sun tens murne.L2536 [L2536] murnes R82L2536 [L2536] f. les D. sovent m. H82
Reis Edelbrith ses frere esteit,L2537 [L2537] son f. RH82
Westsexe prist: ço ert tuit dreit.L2538 [L2538] e. son d. H82
Sis anz en cest siecle regnad,L2539 [L2539] a. icist r. H82L2539 [L2539] en ces regnez r. R82
2540 Dunc [si] transid; hom le portadL2540 [L2540] lemporta H82L2540 [L2540] om si DLH82
A [Schireburne] aprés sun frere.L2541 [L2541] chiereburne DL82
Dunc chaïd as Engleis lur here.L2542 [L2542] lur chere H82
Pur les dous reis [ke] orent perdutL2543 [L2543] quil DL82
2544 Suvent orent paiens vencud.L2544 [L2544] o. daneis v. R82L2529 [L2529] Cf. Glossarial and Textual Notes . . . for a discussion of this passage and of the meaning of here.82
En icel tens que cil regnoent,
A une feiz paiens gastoentL2546 [L2546] .xii. f. H82L2546 [L2546] om A RH82
Cele cuntree de GuincestreL2547 [L2547] La c. de R82
Page 82
2548 Mais dous baruns esteient mestre,L2548 [L2548] b. ki e. R83L2548 [L2548] Deus paiens e. H83
As reis [gardouent] la cuntreeL2549 [L2549] guastoent DLH83
Qui Hamtesire est apellee.L2550 [L2550] ert H83
Osric, Eadwulf orent cil nun,L2551 [L2551] O. e edwolf R O. et adwlf H83
2552 Andui erent riche barun.L2552 [L2552] Ambedou L83
[Osric ot] gent de Hamtesire,L2553 [L2553] Oseric od83
E Eadwlf cels de Bercesire,L2554 [L2554] od ceus de B. H83L2554 [L2554] adulf L edwolf R adewlf H83L2554 [L2554] edelwlf83
Se cumbatirent demaneis,L2555 [L2555] Si se c. R83
2556 Victoire orent sur les Daneis.
Puis vindrent Daneis en Tanet
Ki tindrent Kenteis pur vaslet;L2558 [L2558] Si H83
Triwes pristrent a cele gent,
2560 Puis preierent tuit l'orïent
Mais uns reis vint ki dunc regnad,L2561 [L2561] om vint R83L2561 [L2561] un r. R un roi H83
Mult volentiers les guerreiad,L2562 [L2562] om Mult H83
Edelred frere as dous reisL2563 [L2563] le f. R83
2564 Qui aveient regned anceis.
En tens cestui [vint] la [grant] flote,L2565 [L2565] g. flete R83L2565 [L2565] om grant DL83L2565 [L2565] i ut83
Tel ne vit hom qui vesti cote,L2566 [L2566] h. ki ne vist ceste R83
En Estengle sunt arived,
2568 Tuit l'iver i unt sujurned.L2568 [L2568] .liv. sont s. H83
En Marz pur enganissementL2569 [L2569] p. escharnissement R p. engarnissement H83
Triwes donent a cele gent. [f.111b]
Idunc se mistrent a cheval
2572 Li plus preised de lur vassal
E li plusur s'en vont as nefsL2573 [L2573] p. sen unt es n. R83L2573 [L2573] om li H83
Tresque [Humbre] sigles levés.L2574 [L2574] T. il unt s. L83L2574 [L2574] hime83
[A pié en] vunt plus de vint mile.L2575 [L2575] .xxx. H83L2575 [L2575] om en H83L2575 [L2575] Apres DL83
2576 Sempres orrez grant mirabile!L2576 [L2576] om grant H83L2576 [L2576] oirez R83L2576 [L2576] orent DLH83
Icil Daneis dunc s'en turnerent,L2577 [L2577] om dunc R83
A Grimesbi Humbre passerent
Page 83
[E cil a pié tut ensement,
2580 Mult grant plenté ourent de gent
E cil ki erent od les nefs
Vers Everwich sunt tuz alez.L2582 [L2582] evewich R84
Ambure par ewe e par terre
2584 A Everwich firent grant guere].
Cil qui par ewe sunt alez
Deci qu'en Use [unt donc siglez]L2586 [L2586] om donc H84L2586 [L2586] sunt passez DL84
Mais dreit cum soleil rescunsot
2588 Li floz ariere repairotL2588 [L2588] reportoit H84
E cil [se] sunt dunc logez,L2589 [L2589] d. herbergez R84L2589 [L2589] Cil sont donc aloignez H84L2589 [L2589] sen84
Asquanz en l'eve herbergez,L2590 [L2590] A. en lewe asquanz logez R84L2590 [L2590] Aucuns H84L2571 [L2571] An interesting passage in which Gaimar is combining two sources, A.S.C. and the Buern Bucecarle story. From the former he took the grant flote (l. 2565), the wintering in East Englia, the horsing and the truce; for the Danes winter once more ends en Marz (l. 2569), as it had done earlier for them in Sheppey–L'iver i furent tresqu'en Marz (l. 2508); it is then that the horsing took place preparatory to a new campaign, an intelligent deduction by Gaimar. There is, however, a difference: in A.S.C. 866 all the Danes gehorsade wurdon, but in the Estoire only li plus preisied de lur vassal (l. 2572). For this there are two reasons, one general, one particular. Quite understandably Gaimar has failed to realize that the Danes used their horses for greater mobility, i.e. they became mounted infantry; for him they were cavalry, and so in accordance with contemporary custom he thought of the horse forming a section only of the army, hence the twenty thousand foot (l. 2575). The particular reason is that, according to the Buern Bucecarle story, the Danes were specially brought over from Denmark (ll. 2597-8) and were still in their ships. To this, rather than to the ambiguity of O.E. faran, which can refer to movement by land or by sea, is due the combined attack on York, specifically mentioned in ll. 2583-4 and implied in ll. 2703-7.84
[Mes les chevels homes barons
2592 Vont a la vile as meisons].
Iloec maneit uns gentilz hom,L2593 [L2593] un gentil LH84
Buern Bucecarle aveit nom.L2594 [L2594] ad n. R84
Cil herbergat tuz les [seignurs]L2595 [L2595] baruns DLH84
2596 Mult richement par grant honurs.
Cestui les ot ainz asemblezL2597 [L2597] om ainz L84
E de Danemarche amenez
Pur la hunte de sa muillier
2600 Dunt volentiers se volt vengier.
Une hunte l'en fud fait grant.
Osbrith qui tint NorhumberlantL2602 [L2602] O. teneit N. R84
A Everwic ot sujurnez.
2604 Un jur esteit al bois alez,
Aval Use [ert] alez chacier,L2605 [L2605] esteit84
Priveement alad mangierL2606 [L2606] P. urnat m. R84
A la maisun a [cel] barunL2607 [L2607] cele84
2608 Qui Buern Bucecarle aveit nun.L2608 [L2608] out RH84L2608 [L2608] B. le B. R84L2608 [L2608] a n.84
Li prodom ert dunc a la mer,
Pur uthlages la sot garderL2610 [L2610] u. la soelt g. H84L2610 [L2610] u. le soleit g. R84L2610 [L2610] sot DL, soelt H, soleit R. The last form makes the line hypermetrical and so is to be rejected but the question still remains: did Gaimar use saveir (with DL) or soleir (with RH)? We have in the Estoire three other examples of this construction: (i)
Marchëant ert, mer sot passer
E set bien vendre e achater (ll. 455-6), (ii) Sidrac le viel qui ferir sot (l. 2980), (iii) Bien sot ses enemis pleisier (l. 3442), but in all three the MSS. concur in the verb used, saveir. At l. 2980 the verb rimes with ot (< aveir) and at l. 456 we again have saveir, this time in the ind. present; in view of the absence of proof of vocalization of l in the Estoire we cannot accept an actual form of soleir in this construction. At the same time it is undeniable that semantically the two verbs come very close to each other in such phrases, especially here, where the approach is confirmed by the variants and by the translation sicut solitus fuerat in Bromton (Twysden, Scriptores X, p. 802). Warnke called attention to the resulting ambiguity in Marie de France, Fables, I, 3-4:
Sulunc nature purchaçot
Sa viande si cum il sot (Intro., p. lxxxv n) and the same is true of similar phrases in other texts, e.g.
Quant ele ot s'ovraigne finee
Tel come ele la sot ovrer (Philomena 1134-5),
Vostre Deu pur mei preez
Que mon boef me rende sein
Qui me sout gainer del pain (Simon de Freine, S. Georges 847-9).84
[E] la dame qui mult ert beleL2611 [L2611] om E DLH84
Page 84
2612 Dunt li rei ot oï noveleL2612 [L2612] o. la n. RH85L2612 [L2612] reis RH85
Ert a maisun, cum dreit esteit,
De malvesté talent n'aveit. [f.111c]
A tant es vus le rei venuz!
2616 Par grant honur fud receüz.L2616 [L2616] h. i f. H85
Quant ot manged tant cum li plut,
Dunc dist folie que pensot:L2618 [L2618] d. a f. RH85
'Dame, jo voil a vus parler,
2620 La chambre faites delivrer'.
Tuz sunt fors de la chambre issuz
Fors ceus ki unt les us tenuz,L2622 [L2622] F. dous k. R f. cil k. H85
Cil erent cumpaignun le rei,
2624 Bien saveient tut sun segrei.L2624 [L2624] om tut RH85L2624 [L2624] sevent R85
La dame pas n'aparceveit
Pur quei li reis iço faiseit.
Quant il la prist estre sun gred,
2628 De lui ad fait sa volented,
Puis s'en turnat, lait la plurant,L2629 [L2629] turne H85
A Everwic alad puinnant
E quant il est [od] ses privez,L2631 [L2631] i est H85L2631 [L2631] a DL85
2632 Par maintes feiz s'en est gabez.
La dame mult s'en adulat,
De la hunte que fait li ad,L2634 [L2634] Pur H85
Tute en devint descoluree
2636 De la dolur qu'en ad menee.L2636 [L2636] d. qele ad demenee H85
A tant es vus Buern sis mariz
Qui mult ert nobles e gentilz!
Parmi tuit ço que mer hantot,L2639 [L2639] t. ico q. R85
2640 Mieldre vassal en terre [n']otL2640 [L2640] navoit H85L2640 [L2640] nen85
Ne el regne dunt il fud nezL2641 [L2641] ert R85
N'ert nuls [hom] mielz enparentez.L2642 [L2642] n. home RH85L2642 [L2642] om nuls H85L2642 [L2642] Not L85
Quant veit sa femme enpalie
2644 E veit la feble e enmegrieL2644 [L2644] om veit la H85
Page 85
E tute estrange la trovad
De si cum ert, quant la laissad,L2646 [L2646] De issi c. R86
Dunc demandat que ço deveit,L2647 [L2647] Demanda donc H86
2648 Que ço espelt e qu'ele aveit.L2648 [L2648] E ceo qesp. H86L2648 [L2648] E que DL86
Ele lui ad dit: 'Jo vus dirai.L2649 [L2649] li dist H86L2649 [L2649] E ele L86
Jo më[ï]sme m'encuserai,L2650 [L2650] men accuserai H86L2650 [L2650] meismes RH86
Puis faites de mei [tel] justiseL2651 [L2651] tele DH86
2652 Cum fusse [a larecin prise]'.L2652 [L2652] C. f. prise a la remise H86L2652 [L2652] larcin R86L2652 [L2652] C. jo f. pris e la remise DL86L2652 [L2652] Though the general sense of the line is clear, what Gaimar actually wrote is uncertain. DL have the pronoun, RH do not; DLH read, with minor differences, pris e la remise, which does not make sense, but might derive from a line like that in R with the participle displaced.86
Cil [li]respunt: 'Que est avenud?'L2653 [L2653] om li DLH86
'[Ja] ad li reis od mei geüd.L2654 [L2654] Ies DL86
Par force fist la felunie,L2655 [L2655] sa f. R86
2656 Ore est dreit que [perde] la vie.L2656 [L2656] q. jo p. L86L2656 [L2656] Qe bien est d. H86L2656 [L2656] perc86L2656 [L2656] bien d. DL86
Si ço [fud feit] cuvertement,L2657 [L2657] om feit DL86L2657 [L2657] fust DH86
Jo voil murir overtement.
Mielz voil murir que vivre plus'.L2659 [L2659] Que m. v.86
2660 Pasmee chiet a ses piez jus.
Cil li respunt: 'Levez, amie.L2661 [L2661] E cil R86L2661 [L2661] om li DLRH86
Ja pur ço ne serrez hunie.L2662 [L2662] s. pas haie R86L2662 [L2662] om Ja R86
Cuntre force ne puet fieblesce,L2663 [L2663] Encontre R86
2664 En vus ad meinte bone teche.
Quant vus m'avez primes gehid,L2665 [L2665] vus le ma. R86
De vus avrai bone mercid
Mais si vus le me eussiez celez,L2667 [L2667] me leuissiez L86
2668 Tant quel m'eüst autre mustrez,L2668 [L2668] T. qautre le meust m. H86
Ja mais mis quers ne vus amast
Ne ma buche ne vus baisast.
Si li fel fist sa felunie,
2672 [Jo] querrai que il perdrat la vie'.L2672 [L2672] om la H86L2672 [L2672] om Jo DL86
La nuit se jut mes le matin
Vers Everwic tint sun chemin.
Le rei trovat entre sa gent,
2676 Buern i [aveit] maint bon parent.L2676 [L2676] ot DLH86
Page 86
Li reis le vit, si l'apellad.
Buern iloches le desfiad:L2677 [L2677] not in H87
'Jo te desfi e tut te rent,
2680 De tei ne voil tenir neient,L2680 [L2680] v. jo t.87
Tun humage ci te rendrai,
Ja mais de tei rien ne tendrai'.L2682 [L2682] ll. 2681-2 interverted in R87
A tant issi de la maisun,
2684 Od lui issi maint bon barun.L2684 [L2684] om bon H87
Dunc tint cunseil od sun lignage,L2685 [L2685] de corrected to od87
A els se clamat del huntage;L2686 [L2686] E a DL87 [f.112a]
Cument li reis le aveit mened
2688 Lur ad tut dit e tuit cunted.L2688 [L2688] om tuit LRH87
Puis lur ad dit [qu'il] s'en irad,L2689 [L2689] quel87
S'il pot, les Daneis amerrad;
Ja li suen cuer n'ert mais liedL2691 [L2691] om li R87
2692 Desi que seit [del rei] vengied,L2692 [L2692] de li H87L2692 [L2692] quil s. LRH87L2692 [L2692] a lui87
E ses parenz li unt pramis
Qu'il le metrunt fors del païs.
Si firent il. Pur cel forfait
2696 Le rei guerpirent entreshait,
Si firent rei del regïunL2697 [L2697] de la r. LH87
De un chevalier qui Elle ot nun.
Ore avint si cum vus orez.L2699 [L2699] oez R87
2700 Cil ot [les] Daneis amenez;L2700 [L2700] Il ad H87
A [Kawode] erent herbergezL2701 [L2701] furent H87L2701 [L2701] kauud DL87
Cil ki furent es nefs cargez
Mais li plusur de lur amisL2703 [L2703] l. daneis R87L2703 [L2703] de ses a. H87
2704 Vindrent parmi [lu] HoldernisL2704 [L2704] om lu DLH87
E puis par le païs gastedL2705 [L2705] p. ont le p. H87
Tant que prof sunt de la citedL2706 [L2706] q. pres s. L87
E li navire encuntre vint.L2707 [L2707] En loure qe cel e. H87
2708 Li reis qui dunc la terre tint
Ert icel jur el bois alez,L2709 [L2709] e. cel LR87
Page 87
Quant cil vindrent a la citez,L2710 [L2710] Q. il v. H88
Mais l'autre rei esteit remés,L2711 [L2711] li altres r. ert remis R88
2712 Cil qui desaisit ert des cles.L2712 [L2712] e. deschis H88L2712 [L2712] q. de sai e. RH88
[Quant les Daneis les asaillirent,
Une piece se defendirent]L2714 [L2714] pece ce R88L2714 [L2714] ll. 2713-4 not in DL88
Mais poi durad lur defensaille.
2716 Puis que Daneis orent le baille,L2716 [L2716] o. la b. LR o. bataille H88
[Tost fud idunc] la cité prise;L2717 [L2717] dunc LH88L2717 [L2717] Dunc fud tost88
De homes i ot [mult] grant ocise.L2718 [L2718] om mult DH88
Osbrith li reis [i] fud ocis,L2719 [L2719] om i DL88
2720 Buern fud venged, sis enemis.L2720 [L2720] Bien f. H88
Elle li reis en bois esteit,
Quatre bisses dunc pris aveit.L2722 [L2722] b. pris i a. H88L2722 [L2722] idonc p. R88
Asis esteit a sun disner,
2724 Uns hom oïd [cloke] suner;L2724 [L2724] Un home H88L2724 [L2724] iloec DL un c. R88 [f.112b]
En sa main [tint] une clochete,
Si sonot cler cume eschelete.L2726 [L2726] sona H88
Li reis rovat que avant venist,
2728 A mangier eust kar ço requist.L2728 [L2728] ot LH88
Cum li reis sist a sun mangier,L2729 [L2729] Si c. L88
Si ad dit a un chevalier:
'Mult avom [hui] bien espleitied,L2731 [L2731] om hui DLH88
2732 Pris avom ço que avom chaced,L2732 [L2732] co ke nus a. L88
Quatre bisses e chevrols sis,
Mainte feiz avom chaced pis'.
Li orps l'oïd ki loinz sëeit.
2736 Dunc dist un mot qui veir esteit:L2736 [L2736] veirs e. RH88
'Si vus en bois avez tant pris,
Perdu avez tut cest païs;L2738 [L2738] om tut H88
Les Daneis unt mielz espleitedL2739 [L2739] Li D. H88
2740 Qui Everwic unt purchaced
E mult baruns i ad ocis,L2741 [L2741] m. des b. i ont o. H88
Osbrith unt mort ses enemis'.
Page 88
Respunt li reis: 'Cument le sez?'
2744 'Mun sen le m'ad si demustrez.L2744 [L2744] om si RH89L2744 [L2744] M. sens R89L2744 [L2744] Moi s. L89
As enseignes, se m'en crëez,L2745 [L2745] si ne me c. R si mei nen c. H89
Le fiz ta suer qu'iloec vëez,
Orin, ert le premier ocisL2747 [L2747] li primes o. R89L2747 [L2747] Orrum R Il en e. H89L2747 [L2747] Orin DL, Orrum R. The name shows this same variation at each occurrence, viz. here and at ll. 2786, 2803; each time H gives, not a name, but some other word; we thus have no means of deciding which form Gaimar actually used. The nephew and his exploits do not appear to be known from any other source.89
2748 De la bataille a Everwis.L2748 [L2748] de and a interverted in H89
Une bataille i avrad grant.
Si tu m'en creiz, ne iras avantL2750 [L2750] pas a. R89L2750 [L2750] Et si H89
E nepuroc ne pot el estre,L2751 [L2751] om el L p. altre e. R89L2751 [L2751] E nepurquant RH89
2752 Uns reis i deit perdre la teste'.L2752 [L2752] Un r. L Un roi H89
Respunt li reis: 'Tu as mentid.L2753 [L2753] tu mas m. H89
Pris en seras e malbaillid;L2754 [L2754] om en H89
Si ço n'est veir, perdras la vie,L2755 [L2755] ne. veirs p. RH89
2756 Comprer t'estuet ta sorcerie'.
Respunt li orps: 'E jo l'otrei!
Si ço n'est veir, ocïez mei'.
Li reis l'ad fait od lui mener,L2759 [L2759] le fet H89
2760 Bien le comandat a garder.L2760 [L2760] om a H89 [f.112c]
En une tur qui halt' esteit
Mist sun nevod qu'iloc esteit,L2762 [L2762] i. seit R i. avoit H89
Puis lui ad dit qu'encore encuiL2763 [L2763] d. uncor ui RH89L2763 [L2763] P. lur H89
2764 Par mes [enveierat] pur lui.L2764 [L2764] Tost enveirad p.l. L Pramet ken. R Enverra message p.l. H89L2764 [L2764] Enveirat il co dit p.l.89
La gent asemblent del païs,L2765 [L2765] asemblerent R89
Od le rei vont vers Everwis,L2766 [L2766] vo. a E. H89
Asez [encontrent] des navrezL2767 [L2767] encontrerent DLH89
2768 E des fuianz qui unt [cuntez]L2768 [L2768] cunted89
Tut ço ke li devins ot dit.L2769 [L2769] om ot R89
[Neis] un sul mot n'aveit mentid.L2770 [L2770] ni m. R nen m. H89L2770 [L2770] om Neis R89L2770 [L2770] Reis89
E li reis Elle ot mult grant gent,L2771 [L2771] om grant L m. de ge. H89
2772 Si [chevalchat] mult fierement.L2772 [L2772] m. seurement H89L2772 [L2772] c. bien f. R89L2772 [L2772] chivacha L89L2772 [L2772] chevad89
Page 89
Mais sun nevod fist grant folur
Qu'il ot laissiez [de]sur la tur.L2774 [L2774] l. desouz la H90
Dous escuz prist qu'il ad troved,
2776 A la fenestre en est aled,
[En] les escuz mist ses dous braz,L2777 [L2777] Les e. m. en ses DLH90
Voler quidat, mais un grant quaz
Prist cuntre terre, quant chaïd,L2779 [L2779] q. il c. H90
2780 E nepuroc issi guarid,L2780 [L2780] E nepurquant R90
Unc ne l'en fud guerres de pis.L2781 [L2781] om de H90L2781 [L2781] g. le p. R90L2781 [L2781] nen f. H90L2781 [L2781] Ke u. R90
Un cheval vit, mult tost l'ad pris;L2782 [L2782] c. i ot m. L90
Un bachelier iloec esteit
2784 Qui le cheval par frein teneit,L2784 [L2784] p. le f. LR c. au f. H90
Treis gavelocs tint en sa main.L2785 [L2785] g. out en LRH90
Orin ne fud mie vilain.L2786 [L2786] Orrum ne f. pas v. R Ore ne fist m. qe v. H90
Les gavelocs sempres saisid
2788 E le cheval tost lui tolid,L2788 [L2788] om tost H90L2788 [L2788] mult t. l.90
Puis est munted, alad mult tost,L2789 [L2789] m. et ala t. H90
Pres d'Everwic esteit ja l'ostL2790 [L2790] om ja H90
[E il] puinst tant qu'il vint devant.L2791 [L2791] p. si q. H90L2791 [L2791] Cil90
2792 Les oz aloent asemblant.L2792 [L2792] alerent R90
Purpensad sei cum hom legier
Qu'il [i] ferrad le cop premier.L2794 [L2794] om i DL90
En l'eschele [ke] devant [vint]L2795 [L2795] tint90L2795 [L2795] quil90L2792 [L2792] not in H90
2796 Lançad le gaveloc qu'il tint,L2796 [L2796] Eschauca H90 [f.112d]
Un chevaler en asenadL2797 [L2797] en senad L en navera H90
Si qu'en la buche li entrad,L2798 [L2798] la bucle H90
Deriere al col en issid fors,L2799 [L2799] c. la i. L c. li i. RH90L2799 [L2799] al dos H90
2800 Ne pot ester en piez le cors,L2800 [L2800] li c. R90
Jus chaïd mort, ne pot altre estre,L2801 [L2801] p. el e. H90L2801 [L2801] Il H90
Paiens esteit, n'ot suing de prestre.
Orin retint un autre dartL2803 [L2803] Oncore r. H90
2804 Qu'il lur lançat de l'autre part;L2804 [L2804] Si le l. H90
Page 90
Un fel Daneis si en ferid,L2805 [L2805] Un des D. H91
Bien l'asenad, pas ne faillid,L2806 [L2806] p. ni f. R91
Sur la mamele lui entrad,L2807 [L2807] Suz RH91
2808 Al quor lui vint, mort le getad.
Mais al retur qu'il volt turner
Un archiers lait [un dart] voler;L2810 [L2810] d. aler R91L2810 [L2810] l. une seete v. H91L2810 [L2810] a lui91
Si l'[aconsiut] sur la furceleL2811 [L2811] la surcele L la mamele H91L2811 [L2811] suz la LRH91L2811 [L2811] cunseut L aconsiwt R91L2811 [L2811] cunsivit91
2812 K'al quor li vint mortel novele;
L'aneme s'en vait, li cors chaïd,L2813 [L2813] le c. LH91
Si cum li orps aveit geïd.L2814 [L2814] o. lout g. H91
E li reis Elle, quant ço sot,L2815 [L2815] q. il ceo s. H91L2815 [L2815] om Elle H91L2815 [L2815] om E R91
2816 Unc en [sun] quor tel doel nen ot,L2816 [L2816] d. not LH91L2816 [L2816] Onques au q. H91L2816 [L2816] om sun DH91
Par hardement dunc s'escriad,
Dous des escheles tresperçad,L2818 [L2818] e. trespassa H91L2818 [L2818] om des H91
Mais de ço fist que malsened
2820 Que trop s'i est abandoned.L2820 [L2820] om i R91
De tutes parz fierent Daneis,L2821 [L2821] p. furent D. RH91
Ocis i fud Elle li reis,
Ocis i fud en la champaine,L2823 [L2823] om i R91
2824 Poi eschapad de sa cumpaine.L2824 [L2824] P. en e. DL91L2823 [L2823] not in H91
Li lius, u il fud mort rüed,L2825 [L2825] m. gete L91
[Ellecroft] est ore apeled;L2826 [L2826] Ellecrost L91L2826 [L2826] Ellecros91
Devers le west une croiz ad,L2827 [L2827] c. i ad RH91
2828 En miliu d'Engleterre estad,
Engleis l'apelent Ellecros.L2825 [L2825] There is some contradiction here. In the Estoire the battle in which Ella met his death takes place pres d'Everwic (l. 2790) and so it is reasonable to suppose that li lius u il fud mort rued (l. 2825) is also near York, though the intervening account of the battle rather puts that out of the reader's mind. The MSS. show variation in the name; R and H agree in Ellescroft, in L the name appears as Ellecrost and it looks as if D had this same form before him and changed it to Ellecros to harmonize with what follows. Then without any warning Gaimar continues:
devers le west une croiz ad,
En miliu d'Engleterre estad (ll. 2827-8). Now this description certainly does not fit a site near York, so it looks as if Gaimar knew of some other place associated with an Ella and connected the two. In l. 2829 the name is undoubtedly Ellecros, as shown by the agreement of the four MSS. and by the rime with repos, but whether this is a deliberate alteration of ellecroft by Gaimar to fit the cross of l. 2827 or whether he actually knew a place ellecros must be left open.91
Unc li Daneis n'orent reposL2830 [L2830] om li R91
Desci qu'il orent tuit cunquis
2832 Del [north de Humbre] cel païs.L2832 [L2832] De north le humbre tut le p. H91L2832 [L2832] norhumbre DL91 [f.113a]
[Mes donc asistrent la cité,
Partut firent lur volunté].L2834 [L2834] ll. 2833-4 not in DLH91
Quant lur gardeins i orent mis,
Page 91
2836 En Mercene vont en un païs.L2836 [L2836] Merce RH92
Notingeham pristrent Daneis,
Ywar e Ube esteit lur reis,L2838 [L2838] esteient LRH92
Trestuit l'iver i sujurnerent.L2839 [L2839] Tut H92
2840 Les Merceneis ost asemblerent,
Ost asemblad li reis Burred,
Si ad mandet pur Edelred;L2842 [L2842] m. par E. L92
Reis de Westsexe cil esteit,L2843 [L2843] cist e. H92
2844 Elvred un sun frere aveitL2844 [L2844] E bureth un R92
Qui bien saveit cunseil donerL2845 [L2845] Q. bon c. savoit d. H92
E bataille [bien] ordenerL2846 [L2846] om bien DL92
E guerrïer resaveit bien,L2847 [L2847] g. savoit b. H92
2848 Clers ert, bon astronomïen.L2848 [L2848] e b.a. RH92L2848 [L2848] C. estait R92
Cil vindrent od lur ost banie,
Notingeham unt asaillie
Mais les Daneis qui dedenz erentL2851 [L2851] li D. H92
2852 Legerement les reüserent.
Tuit furent liez, quant triwes pristrent,
Ariere en la veie se mistrent
E li Daneis sulunc lur lei
2856 I firent feste cheün par sei.L2856 [L2856] chescon RH checun L92L2856 [L2856] I funt RH92
Pois ralerent a Everwis,L2857 [L2857] alerent H92
Asemblent gent de cel païs,L2858 [L2858] Et assemblerent ceus del p. H92
Si [manderent les] Merceneis,L2859 [L2859] mandent ces92
2860 Viengent en l'ost od les Daneis.L2860 [L2860] Kil v. L92L2860 [L2860] I v.92
Il vindrent e la gent de nort
Od les Daneis tresqu'a Tiefort.
Il orent [ainz] triwes donez,L2863 [L2863] enz L om ainz H92L2863 [L2863] tuz92
2864 Sis troverent aseürez,L2864 [L2864] tut a. H92
Pais e triwes lur unt fruissiez,L2865 [L2865] om lur H92
Tuit lu païs unt eissilliez.
Un rei troverent el païs,L2867 [L2867] Uns reis R92
2868 Bon crestïen e Deu amis,L2868 [L2868] om e H92
Page 92
Edmund ot nun, seinz hom esteit,
[Trestut Estengle] mainteneit.L2870 [L2870] T. les engleis L T. hestengle R93L2870 [L2870] Tut H93L2870 [L2870] Trestuz engleis93 [f.113b]
Od tant de gent cum cel reis outL2871 [L2871] r. avoit H93L2871 [L2871] cel rei RH93
2872 Se cumbatid, veintre nel potL2872 [L2872] ne p. L nes p. R ne pooit H93
Pur la grant gent que cil aveient;L2873 [L2873] g. qil a. H93
Mult fierement se cumbateient,
La victoire del champ fud lur.L2875 [L2875] Et la v. f.l. H93
2876 Deus! Quel damage del seignur,
Del rei Edmund qui fud chaciedL2877 [L2877] not in H93
A un chastel, u fud sun sied.L2878 [L2878] c. sen fui H93L2878 [L2878] ert R93
E li paien l'unt purseüd,L2879 [L2879] parsey R pursui H93
2880 Edmund lur est encuntre issud.L2880 [L2880] After 2880 H inserts Et baudement a eus venu93L2880 [L2880] issy R93
Tut li premiers qui l'encontrerentL2881 [L2881] Tut le primer RH93
L'unt pris e lui demanderent:L2882 [L2882] Si le pristrent et d. H93L2882 [L2882] e puis d. R93L2882 [L2882] Unt R93
'U est Edmund? Dites le nus'.
2884 'Jo volentiers tuit a estrus.
Tant cum jo [ere] en cel refui,L2885 [L2885] fui H93L2885 [L2885] er DL93
Edmund i ert e jo od lui.
Quant m'en turnai, il s'en turnad,L2887 [L2887] t. si sen t. H93
2888 Ne sai, s'il vus eschaperad'.L2888 [L2888] si de vus e. H93
[Ore est en Deu del rei la fin
E en Jesu ki est aclin].L2890 [L2890] k. il e. H93L2890 [L2890] a ki RH93
Cil ki l'unt pris tant l'unt tenudL2891 [L2891] lunt tant RH93
2892 Ke Ywar e Ube i sunt venud.L2892 [L2892] om i RH93L2892 [L2892] Qa H93
Plusurs de lur venud i suntL2893 [L2893] l. nevouz i H93
Ki reconurent saint EdmuntL2894 [L2894] r. E. seint R93L2894 [L2894] Reconeu ont s.E. H93
E quant ço sorent cil malfed,L2895 [L2895] s. li m. H93
2896 Mult cruelment unt cumandetL2896 [L2896] om Mult H93
Qu'il reneiast la lei divine,
Crist qui nasquit de la virgine.
Li reis lur dist que [nun] feradL2899 [L2899] nu93
Page 93
2900 Mais [fermement] en lui crerad.L2900 [L2900] l. co dit c.94L2900 [L2900] forment DH94
Que firent dunc cil aversier?L2901 [L2901] Quei H94L2901 [L2901] Q. lui f.94
A un arbre l'unt fait lïer.L2902 [L2902] a. le font l. H94
Puis si unt dit e mult jured,L2903 [L2903] om si and mult H94
2904 D'estrange mort ert turmented.L2904 [L2904] m. lunt t. R94
Dunc manderent pur lur archiers,L2905 [L2905] om lur R94L2905 [L2905] om pur H94
Al rei traistrent od arcs manners.L2906 [L2906] a. manuers R94L2906 [L2906] t. a arcs H94
Tant [i] unt trait e [tant] lancetL2907 [L2907] t. li f. H94L2907 [L2907] om tant DH94
2908 Que sun cors fud si enfichetL2908 [L2908] f. issi e H94 [f.113c]
De darz que traistrent cil felun
Cum est la pel del heriçun
Espés de puinnantes brochetes
2912 Dunt del gardin trait les pumetes.L2912 [L2912] g. ported p. RH94
Encore, ço qui, peüssent traireL2913 [L2913] puissent cil t. H94
Ainz que cil reis volsist rien faireL2914 [L2914] q. li r. RH94
[De] quanque cil felun voleientL2915 [L2915] E94
2916 Qui sun saint cors [si] baillisseient.L2916 [L2916] c. en leidissoient H94
Dunc demanderent un felun,
[Coran Colbe out cil] a nun,L2918 [L2918] C. cocba avoit n. H94L2918 [L2918] Ne sai cum cil aveit94L2918 [L2918] The executioner does not seem to be named in any other account of the martyrdom. Evidently the name was an unusual one, for R and H, which alone preserve it, differ in the second part (it is not in L owing to a lengthy omission) and D evidently could not make anything of it, because he writes ne sai cum cil aveit a nun. As between R and H I have followed the former, connecting his Colbe with O.N. Kolbein.94
La teste al saint cil ad trenchied;L2919 [L2919] om cil H94
2920 Issi fud Edmund martiried.L2920 [L2920] martirize RH94
Mais si Gaimar eüst laisir,L2921 [L2921] si gillemar R94
Il parlast plus [del] saint martyr;L2922 [L2922] de94
Pur ço que ailurs en est la vieL2923 [L2923] la veie R94L2923 [L2923] om en H94
2924 E les leçons e l'estorie,
Si [l'ad leissé] icele fiedeL2925 [L2925] l. ceste f. R l. a cele f. H94L2925 [L2925] se (le [H]) laissad DH94
Pur l'estoire que ot cumencee.
Cil felun rei [Ubbe] e YwarL2927 [L2927] om rei H94
2928 Ço firent de sa sainte char.L2928 [L2928] de la s. RH94
Quant ç'orent fait, d'iloc turnerent,L2929 [L2929] Q. co unt feit d. RH94
Dreit vers Redinges s'en alerentL2930 [L2930] om Dreit H94
Page 94
Mais lentement i sunt alez,L2931 [L2931] om Mais H95
2932 Viles destruistrent e citezL2932 [L2932] V. destruites e c. H95
E crestïens vont [osciant]L2933 [L2933] om E H95L2933 [L2933] destruiant95
E lur yglises [destruiant].L2934 [L2934] Les egl. vont d. H95L2934 [L2934] vont depescant95
Quant a Redinges sunt venuz,
2936 Westsexïens s'en sunt issuz,
Cuntre lur rei en sunt alez,L2937 [L2937] om en H95L2937 [L2937] Encontre H95
La u sun ost est asemblez,L2938 [L2938] o. out a. R95L2938 [L2938] u sost e. H95
E li Daneis dous jurz sujurnent,L2939 [L2939] sojurnerent RH95L2939 [L2939] om E H95
2940 Tuz tens funt mal [quel] part que turnent.L2940 [L2940] turnerent RH95L2940 [L2940] Mult f. m. H95L2940 [L2940] que95
Al tierz jur sunt aparailliez
Dous cuntes ki unt chevalchiez,
A Englesfeld en sunt alez
2944 Edelwlf unt iloc trovez
[Riche baron ert del païs;
Asemblé aveit ses amis [f.113d]
E ses homes e ses efforz]L2947 [L2947] Qui ad asemblez tut sun eforz DH95
2948 Qui des Daneis unt asez morz
E l'un des cuntes fud ocis,
Sidrac qui fel ert e guerris.L2950 [L2950] e. fiz ewerris H95L2950 [L2950] fut RH95L2950 [L2950] om fel H95
[Quart] jur aprés vint AdelredL2951 [L2951] Un j. vint apres E. H95L2951 [L2951] Quant le95
2952 Li reis e sun frere Elvred;
A Redinges ot mult grant ostL2953 [L2953] R. od g. H95
E les Daneis issirent tost,L2954 [L2954] Sont venuz amdui t. H95L2954 [L2954] D. en i. R95
En un plain champ tindrent esturL2955 [L2955] c. pristrent e. H95
2956 Qui ne faillit en tuit un jur.L2956 [L2956] f. de t. le j. H95
Iloc fud Edelwlf ocis,
Li riches hom [dunt ainz vus dis]L2958 [L2958] des a. R95L2958 [L2958] dicel pais95
E Edelred e ElvredL2959 [L2959] om E H95
2960 Furent chaciez a Wiceled.L2960 [L2960] After 2960 R inserts Co est un gue vers Windesoueres A unes estand en unes mores95
Iloc l'un ost alad ariere,
Page 95
Ne surent gued sur la riviere;
Twiford ad nun le gued tuit dis,L2963 [L2963] li g. R96
2964 U les Daneis sunt resortis
E les Engleis sunt eschapez,L2959 [L2959] Gaimar here gives additional information, evidently derived from a local tradition which Plummer (II, 87) is prepared to accept as genuine. The place Gaimar has in mind is Whistley, near Hurst (Berks.) but R has apparently confused this with Whistley Park, near Windsor, and has added an explanatory couplet; the form Windesoueres does not appear to be attested much before the end of the thirteenth century.96
Mais mult en sunt mort e navrez,L2966 [L2966] om Mais H96
Si orent Daneis la victur.L2967 [L2967] om la RH96L2967 [L2967] Ci furent D. R96
2968 Mais aprés ço [dreit] le quart jur
Sur Eschesdune [s'] asemblerentL2969 [L2969] eschesdoune H esenesdune R96L2969 [L2969] hesdune96
La gent qui pas ne s'entramerent;
Ço sunt [Daneis e Engleis]L2971 [L2971] Daneis and Engleis interverted96
2972 Qui se [erent combatu] enceis.L2972 [L2972] Q. furent c. H96L2972 [L2972] cumbatirent96
Iloc firent lur gent partir
En dous batailles pur ferir;
[Par lur orguil l'unt feit Daneis.
2976 En l'une furent lur dous reis];L2976 [L2976] ll. 2975-6 not in DH96
[Baseng] e Halfdene [ourent] nun,L2977 [L2977] o. cel n. R o. a n. H96L2977 [L2977] om e H96L2977 [L2977] E B. R96L2977 [L2977] brent en96L2977 [L2977] Baseg96
Od els ot maint bon campïun.L2978 [L2978] m. compaignon H96
En l'autre eschele cuntes ot,
2980 Sidrac le viel qui ferir sotL2980 [L2980] S. le veil R S. letuel H96L2980 [L2980] leinel96
E od lui le guene SidrocL2981 [L2981] sydroc R sidrac H96L2981 [L2981] le quien S. H96L2981 [L2981] sideroc96
Qui fud le parent Haveloc,L2982 [L2982] f. p. le rei H. R96L2982 [L2982] Q. ert p. H96L2982 [L2982] Haveloc. Whether, as Gross suggests, Gaimar, in need of a rime to Sidroc (l. 2981), recalled the name of the Danish king whose story he had told at length much earlier or whether the name refers to some other person is an unsolved puzzle.96
Li cunte Osber[n] e li cuens Frane,L2983 [L2983] osbert H96L2983 [L2983] E le quens O. R96
2984 Cunte Harald, nevod Haldene;L2984 [L2984] n. dane R n. aldane H96 [f.114a]
[Od els erent barons asez
E chevalers bons e provez].L2986 [L2986] ll. 2985-6 not in DH96
E les Engleis de l'autre part
2988 Se sunt partiz, nel funt a tart;L2988 [L2988] f. pas t. H96L2988 [L2988] Qui s. p. H96
Reis Edelred cuntre les reisL2989 [L2989] E. encontre R96
Se cumbatid od les EngleisL2990 [L2990] od ses E. R96
E Elvred encuntre les cuntes.L2991 [L2991] E. contre RH96
2992 Le jur reçurent Daneis huntesL2992 [L2992] r. les D. R96
Page 96
Kar li Engleis les [ont] chacied,L2993 [L2993] les E. R97L2993 [L2993] orent DH97
Vencud en champ e deglaivez,
[Mult maint miller en ont ocis,
2996 Cels mar vindrent en lor païs],L2996 [L2996] ll. 2995-6 not in DH97
[Baseng] li reis iloc fud mort,L2997 [L2997] r. idonc f. H97L2997 [L2997] Rasig97
Li cons Sidroc, li granz, li forz,L2998 [L2998] si g. si f. H97L2998 [L2998] grant and fort RH97L2998 [L2998] Sidroc. Three Danish leaders of this name figure in A.S.C. and likewise in the Estoire; one was killed at Englefield (l. 2950) and two at Ashdown (ll. 2980-1); Gaimar would, I think, have been hard put to it to say which of the three he has in mind here.97
E les cuntes dunt des ainz dis;L2999 [L2999] E des c. d. einz d. H97
3000 Unze en i ot el champ ocis.L3000 [L3000] om en H97
E aprés ço une quinzeineL3001 [L3001] om co H97
Rasemblerent la gent grifaine,L3002 [L3002] Res. R Se rass. H97L3002 [L3002] Sas.97
A Basi[n]ges se cumbatirent,L3003 [L3003] basins R97
3004 Cil sunt chaciez qui ainz venquirent.L3004 [L3004] om ainz R97L3004 [L3004] Cels R97
Un [mais] aprés a MereduneL3005 [L3005] an97
Furent vencu cels de Seisune,L3006 [L3006] Vencu f. cil H97
[Hamund] l'evesque i fud ocis,L3007 [L3007] i f. o. and levesque interverted in R97L3007 [L3007] Edmunt DH97
3008 De Guincestre ert poëstifs.L3008 [L3008] Ki de R97
Dunc vint un Daneis, un tyrantL3009 [L3009] un D. t. H97
Qui Sumerlede ot nun le grant,L3010 [L3010] sumersede R97L3010 [L3010] Sumerlede. In the passage Gaimar is here translating from A.S.C. 871 we read: com mycel sumerlida; the reference is to those Viking bands who raided Britain in the summer, but returned to winter-quarters on the Continent. For some reason, though the text of his source is clear, Gaimar has confused the military expression with the personal-name of the same form; it was probably better known to him, being still in use in his time. One bearer of the name, Somerled, Lord of the Isles, killed at Renfrew in 1164, was very active in the first half of the twelfth century and his name at least was introduced into the romance Fergus.97
A Redinges vint od sun ost,
3012 Quanqu'il trovad, destruit mult tost.L3012 [L3012] om mult H97
Reis Edelred se volt cumbatre
Mais il transit, si gist en l'atre;L3014 [L3014] en lestre R97
A Wineburne est li reis posez
3016 Que sul cinc anz ne tint regnez.
Dunc regnat li reis Elvred,L3017 [L3017] Donques r. E. H97
Edelwlfing ert apeled,
[E] li Daneis dunc s'asemblerent,L3019 [L3019] om E DH97
3020 En Westsexe quere le alerent,
A Wiltune la l'unt trovez.
Od poi de gent que ot asemblez
Cumbatit sei: ço fud en vein;L3023 [L3023] E c.97
3024 Al bois le chacerent del plain.
Page 97
[E en cel an ke cist fud reis,
Nof batailles tint as DaneisL3026 [L3026] Nos R98
Estre asemblers e esturs
3028 K'entre els furent par plusurs jors]. [f.114b]
En [i]cel an furent ocisL3029 [L3029] E en R98L3029 [L3029] cel DLH98
Unze cuntes poëstifs,L3030 [L3030] c. mult p. H98L3030 [L3030] Nof R98
De Danemarche [erent] icil;L3031 [L3031] furent98
3032 Ensemble od els humes set milL3032 [L3032] .xii. m. H98L3032 [L3032] om Ensemble R98
E li rei Baseng lur seignur;L3033 [L3033] li reis L le r. H98
Elvred sur els ot la victur.L3034 [L3034] om la H98L3034 [L3034] E E. L98
E en cel an tuz les DaneisL3035 [L3035] En cel L E cel R En icel H98
3036 [Pristrent triwes de Elvred le reis.L3036 [L3036] li reis RH98L3036 [L3036] t. a E. H98
Pus de Redinges s'en alerent,L3037 [L3037] om sen R98
L'iver a Lundres sujornerent
E en l'esté les MerceneisL3039 [L3039] Pus en L98
3040 Pristrent triwes od les Daneis.
L'iver aprés a [Torchesie]L3041 [L3041] a T. and la gent haie interverted in R98L3041 [L3041] torcheseie DR98
Pristrent sujur la gent haïe,
Le tierz iver a Rependune.L3043 [L3043] t. iur L98
3044 Burred ert rei, dreite persone,L3044 [L3044] rei e d. R98
Merceine esteit [le] sun regnet,L3045 [L3045] de DL98
[Par] lur efforz l'en unt chaciez;L3046 [L3046] om en H98L3046 [L3046] lur force R98L3046 [L3046] Pur98
[Vint e dous anz l'aveit tenu,L3047 [L3047] Duze a. aveit regne tenuz Suvent sert cumbatuz DLH98
3048 Quant del regne chascé fu].L3047 [L3047] There is divergence in this couplet between the MSS.
Li reis a Rume s'en alad,
Cel an me[ï]sme deviad,
El mustier sainte MarieL3051 [L3051] m. de s. M. R98L3051 [L3051] R inserts de after mustier, thus making the line a correct octosyllable. There are grounds for thinking that Gaimar preferred the older construction in such phrases, so I have left the line untouched. At l. 4074 R again inserts the preposition into the genitival phrase; at l. 4161 all MSS. agree in El mustier saint Piere giseit and at l. 6411 in Enz el mustier seint Swithun.98
3052 En Engleschescole perdit vie,L3052 [L3052] p. la v. LR98L3052 [L3052] Est leng L98
Iloec fud icel seignurL3053 [L3053] f. dunc cel s. L98L3053 [L3053] Ilokes R98
Ensevelit par grant honur.
Dunc firent Daneis que enfantL3055 [L3055] les D. R98
3056 Cheolwlf livrerent Mercenelant,L3056 [L3056] Teolwlf L Keelulf H98
Page 98
E il ostages lur livratL3057 [L3057] lurad L99L3057 [L3057] Cil LR99
Que fëelment les servirat.L3058 [L3058] f. mult les R99
Puis s'en turnerent plusurs [parz],L3059 [L3059] om parz DL99
3060 A Lundres [sujurnot Iwarz]L3060 [L3060] s. marus L99L3060 [L3060] sojornerent H99L3060 [L3060] sujurner ert les ivers jurs99
E Haldene li autre reis
Vait guerrier sur les PecteisL3062 [L3062] om sur H99
E sur [Streclued] reis de Gal[e]weie,L3063 [L3063] sur srestwed r. L99L3063 [L3063] trectued99
3064 Suvent les mist en male veie.L3063 [L3063] The leonine rime Galeweie : male veie, given by three out of the four MSS., has every appearance of being intentional, so Galweie in D is to be rejected. A.S.C.(E) 875 has: gehergode on Pehtas $$ on Strætlæd Wealas; the form in the Estoire suggests that Gaimar's actual source had, like A.S.C.(A), Stræcled. In the chronicle the reference is, of course, to the Strathclyde Britons, but in the Estoire their place is apparently taken by a king of Galloway. Where did he come from? In his note on the annal Plummer referred to this mistake and recalled that the Annales Domitiani Latini (ed. F. P. Magoun, Jr., Mediæval Studies IX (1947), 235-95) under the year 924 speak of a Streclæde rege Uualorum, but the two cases are not quite parallel. At 924 the English texts have Stræcled Weala cyning (A), Streaclede Wæla cinge (F), but at 875 they make no mention of a king in the section concerned. It is evident that Gaimar split the O.E. compound name in two, but it is not so certain that he took Stræcled to be a personal-name. Quite clearly he realized that Wealas by itself could not in this context refer to the Welsh, for he could easily have found a rime to either waleis or to wales; earlier he had listed the Galweien along with the Pecteis (l. 18) and his treatment of Sumerlede (l. 3010) as a personal-name suggests that he was not unaware of the geography of S.W. Scotland, and makes it reasonable to suppose that he recognized Strathclyde in Stræcled. I would therefore hazard the suggestion that he wrote: E sur Streclued e Galeweie and that reis was later mistakenly added as a gloss in the archetype MS.99
Li reis [Godrum] e OschetelL3065 [L3065] gordwin DL99
E Annuent pristrent en conseilL3066 [L3066] ancivent p. un concil H Il aveient pris c. R99L3066 [L3066] Entrels p. L99L3066 [L3066] Et H99L3066 [L3066] om E DLR99
Que a Grantebrige turnerunt
3068 E la cited asegerunt. [f.114c]
Si firent il. Od lur grant ostL3069 [L3069] om grant H99L3069 [L3069] om od L99
De Rependune vont mult tost,
Trestut un an le siege tindrent,L3071 [L3071] Tut H99
3072 A chief de tur pur fol i vindrent,L3072 [L3072] om i R99L3072 [L3072] cum f. LRH99
Mult perdirent, poi gaainerent.L3073 [L3073] M. i p. poi i g. R99L3073 [L3073] gainerent DLRH99
[Tut en emblé donc chevacherentL3074 [L3074] Tut ensemble sen alerent DLH99L3074 [L3074] ll. 3073-4 interverted in H99
Dreit a Warham, si l'unt asis,
3076 En un sul jorn ont le burc pris].L3076 [L3076] ll. 3075-6 not in DLH99
Li reis Elvred dunc s'en aladL3077 [L3077] d. i a. R99
E l'ost de Westsexe menad;L3078 [L3078] W. i amenad R99L3078 [L3078] lost sus W. H99
Tant menat gent de sun regned
3080 [E] de autre gent [k'il] out [manded]L3080 [L3080] amened DL99L3080 [L3080] que DL99L3080 [L3080] om E DLH99
Que li Daneis sunt eschived,L3081 [L3081] D. lunt e. R99
Plait firent a sa volented.
[Ço li jurerent les treis rais
3084 E les meillors de lur Daneis]L3084 [L3084] ll. 3083-4 not in DLH99
[E bons] ostages en livrerent,L3085 [L3085] Tels o. DLH99
[Tels] cum Engleis lur demanderent:L3086 [L3086] E. les d. R om lur H99L3086 [L3086] om Tels DLH99
Senz demurance s'en irunt,L3087 [L3087] Ke s. R99
Page 99
3088 Ja mais de rien ne forferunt.L3088 [L3088] ne li f. R nel f. H100
Par itels triwes departirent.L3089 [L3089] t. sen partirent H100
Ore oiez que [li] Daneis firent.L3090 [L3090] om li DL100
[Nutantré e] en embledL3091 [L3091] om e DL100L3091 [L3091] Noitantement DL100
3092 A Execestre en sunt aled,
Cil a cheval la vile emblerent;L3093 [L3093] c. a la v. H100
Lur autre gent par nef alerent.L3094 [L3094] g. es nefs a. R g. par mier a. H100
A la cited voldrent aler,L3095 [L3095] voldrunt L100
3096 La [se deveient] encontrerL3096 [L3096] deveroient H100L3096 [L3096] le deivent100
Mais dunc lur avint un encumbrer,L3097 [L3097] om dunc H100
En mer lur estuet perillier,L3098 [L3098] m. les e. R100L3098 [L3098] dunc p. DL100
Cent e quarante dous [navees]L3099 [L3099] navies L100L3099 [L3099] om dous R100L3099 [L3099] nefs100
3100 En sunt a diables alees.
Elvred li reis, quant ço entent,L3101 [L3101] E li r. E. R100
Mandat ses humes e sa gent.
Idunc avint, ne pot autre estre,L3103 [L3103] p. el e. H100L3103 [L3103] I. vint L100
3104 Le [sege] tint a ExecestreL3104 [L3104] siute DL100
E li paien [ki] sunt asisL3105 [L3105] i DH100
Unt suffraite de lur amisL3106 [L3106] Urent s. R Si unt H100
Que orent perduz [en la] navieL3107 [L3107] Kil en o. R100L3107 [L3107] el DR100
3108 E de lur bone cumpaignie. [f.114d]
Pur quei, quant nel porent tenir,L3109 [L3109] poeient H100L3109 [L3109] Pur co q. ne se p. R100L3109 [L3109] om quant DLH100
Dunc firent plait [pur els] garir.
Ostages unt itels livred
3112 Cum [li] Engleis unt demanded.L3112 [L3112] om li DLH100
Puis jurerent pais a tenir
E [a] tuz jurs les a servir.L3114 [L3114] j. a eus s. H100L3114 [L3114] Tut jurs le rai voldrunt s. R100L3114 [L3114] om a DL100
Quant ço unt [fait], en Mercene vont,L3115 [L3115] co veient en L100L3115 [L3115] om ço R100
3116 Entre els cel regne parti unt,L3116 [L3116] r. departirent H100
Cheolwlf partie [en] unt donezL3117 [L3117] E C. L A C. H100L3117 [L3117] om en DLH100
Page 100
Qui [rei aveit del tut] estez.L3118 [L3118] q. reis R101L3118 [L3118] rei de t. a. DL101
[Puis en Noël] felun DaneisL3119 [L3119] N. li f. RH101L3119 [L3119] En N. puis101
3120 [Ki peis urent juré ainceisL3120 [L3120] Come tricheour fruisserent pes H101L3120 [L3120] Cum trecheurs (traiturs [L]) fruissent la pais DL101
Fruissent la pes. Li deffaiéL3121 [L3121] l. 3121 not in DLH101
En Westsexe en [re]sunt alé.L3122 [L3122] W. sen sont a. H101L3122 [L3122] sunt DLH101
A Sipeham pristrent estal,L3123 [L3123] sunt arivez DLH101
3124 Mult volunters i firent mal,
Musters destruistrent e maisons,
Chapeles e religïons],
La gent chacerent del païs,
3128 Les plusurs unt en prisun mis.L3128 [L3128] om Les H101
Li reis Elvred qui ert lur sireL3129 [L3129] om Li reis H101
Ne sot que faire ne ke dire;
De totes parz feit gent manderL3131 [L3131] tote R101
3132 [Mes mult en pout poi asembler].
Cum veit que si est entreprisL3133 [L3133] vist H101
E [si] baillit par enemis,L3134 [L3134] si malbailli p.e. R si baillez de ses e. H101L3134 [L3134] om si DL101
As bois se tint e as gastinesL3135 [L3135] om e H101L3135 [L3135] Al b. LH101
3136 Pur eschaper des mains sanguines
E nepuroc, quant il [poait],L3137 [L3137] q. unque p. L101L3137 [L3137] om E L101L3137 [L3137] pot DLH101
Od tant de gent cum il aveitL3138 [L3138] Sur els vint sis assaillot L Sovent a eus sassemblout H101L3138 [L3138] Aalin a lui se asemblot101
[Si s'asemblout contre dous tanz,
3140 Sovent oscist de lur asquanz].
Un frere Ywar e [de] HaldeneL3141 [L3141] e H. R101L3141 [L3141] Le f. de H. et de Y. H101L3141 [L3141] le DL101
[En] fud ocis el bois de Pene,L3142 [L3142] b. sanz eschar H101L3142 [L3142] om En LH101L3142 [L3142] E101
Ube ot a nun un malfaisant,
3144 Sur lui firent un' hoge grantL3144 [L3144] un huche g. H101L3144 [L3144] f.h. mult g. R101
Li Daneis, quant l'[ourent] troved;L3145 [L3145] unt DL101
Ubelaue l'unt apeled,
La hoge est en Devenesire,L3147 [L3147] La howe H101
Page 101
3148 De gent i ot mult grant martire,L3148 [L3148] om mult H102L3148 [L3148] out bien g. R102L3141 [L3141] In his source Gaimar read that a brother of Ivar and Halfdan was killed in Devonshire. To this brief statement he has made three additions: (i) that the death occurred el bois de Pene, by which he probably meant the wooded country near Penselwood on the Somerset-Wiltshire border; (ii) that the brother was Ubba; (iii) that a mound called Ubbelawe was erected over his body in Devonshire. The last two items have every appearance of being connected in an attempt, as suggested by Gross, to explain the place-name, and the passage is comparable to the explanation of Ellecros (ll. 2827-9). Asser, followed by Florence of Worcester, in his account of the raid, leaves the leader unnamed, but has him killed at Arx Cynuit, said by antiquaries to have been near Appledore (D). Now Gaimar's account could be taken to imply that the burial was not on the battlefield, and the same applies to the account given by Eulogium Historiarum (c. lxxxii) where we read: Aluredus autem Danos præivit et ad Chippenham congressi sunt; ibi enim occisus est Ubba rex Danorum . . . et multa millia ceciderunt ex utraque parte sed victoria Danis remisit. Dani vero corpora suorum occisorum sepelientes et corpus Ubbæ invenientes magno mærore perculsi sunt. Ipsum vero sepelierunt more paganorum; fecerunt magnum struem lapidum . . . quod usque in hodiernum diem vocatur Ubbeslawe, quod est in Devonia. The site is unidentified, and the name itself raises a difficulty: place-names compounded with hlaw are very rare in the south-west and the development to law is associated chiefly with Nb. and Du., so it is not without interest that Roger of Howden, or rather the writer of the additions in MS. Arundel 69 of his chronicle, says: Ubba apud Ubbelawe in Eboracensi Colonia post multas cædes Christianorum, Deo volente, interfectus est.102
[Huit cenz quarante en i morurent.
Quin chalt? Feluns perjures furent.L3150 [L3150] chald R102
Conquis i fu le gumfanun
3152 Ubbe ke Raven out a nun].
Aprés la Pasche en icel an
Od poi de gent par grant ahan
Fermat li bons reis Elvred
3156 A [Edelinge] un chasteled.L3156 [L3156] edeluge DL102
[Fermer i fist un defensal
Par ki Daneis mist en traval]. [f.115a]
Aprés ço la quarte semaineL3159 [L3159] A. pasche quatre s. R102L3159 [L3159] A. en la q. H102
3160 Chevalchat [a] Ecbrithestaine –L3160 [L3160] elbrichesteine L ecbrithstane R etrichaine H102L3160 [L3160] elbrithestaine102
Ço est de l'est de [Selewode] –L3161 [L3161] del de S. H102L3161 [L3161] feleswde DL102
[Ceolmer] vint [contre li e] ChudeL3162 [L3162] li encude H102L3162 [L3162] om li e D102L3162 [L3162] encuntre DLH102L3162 [L3162] Colmer DLH102
Od les baruns de Sumersete,L3163 [L3163] Sumersete and Dorsete interverted in H102
3164 De Wiltesire e de Dorsete;
[De Hanteschire i vint Chilman
Ki les barons manda par ban]
E cil vindrent ki remis erentL3167 [L3167] cil qui v. H102
3168 Deça la mer ki fuiz [n']erent
E quant il virent lur seignur,
Mult loërent le creaturL3170 [L3170] loent H102
De ço que vif l'orent trovez
3172 Kar lungement fud adirezL3172 [L3172] f. desire H102
E quiderent en lur avisL3173 [L3173] l. pais H102L3173 [L3173] quidouent R102
Que Daneis le eüssent ocis.L3174 [L3174] orent L102
Del rei [orent mult grant] cunfortL3175 [L3175] om mult DH102L3175 [L3175] r. grant orent102
3176 Kar vif esteit, [ne] mie mort.L3176 [L3176] Que LR102
Idunc pristrent en lur cunseilL3177 [L3177] om en H102L3177 [L3177] Donc s. R102
Li reis Elvret e si fedeil
Que tute nuit chevalcherunt
Page 102
3180 E l'endemain tant cum purrunt.
Donc alerent cele nuit,
Tresk'Aclee urent conduit]L3182 [L3182] ll. 3181-2 not in DLH103
E l'endemain a ure de nune
3184 En sunt venuz a [Edenesdone].L3184 [L3184] Dunc R103L3184 [L3184] abendune DLH103L3181 [L3181] The first couplet, which occurs only in R, corresponds to the mention of Æglea in A.S.C.(DE) 878; the repetition of E l'endemain is sufficient to explain the omission in the other MSS. R is also closer to A.S.C. in the place-name in ll. 3184, though he seems to have given it an extra syllable. How DLH came to substitute Abendune is a mystery.103
Iloc troverent les Daneis,
Cumbatit sei Elvret li reisL3186 [L3186] Cumbatu sest E. L103
[Mes ne sai dire par deviseL3187 [L3187] s. a dire L103L3187 [L3187] ll. 3187-3416 not in H103
3188 Des quels i out greinur occise,
U des Engleis u des Daneis,L3189 [L3189] Engleis and Daneis interverted in R103
Mes ço sai bien ke li bon reis
Elvred ot dunc la victurL3191 [L3191] o. donkes la v. R103
3192 [E ses barons] par grant enur.L3192 [L3192] Od les engleis L103L3192 [L3192] Od les daneis103
Puis chevalchat sur els suvent
E fist lur maint envaïement,L3194 [L3194] envaisement R103
[En] quinze jurs les dantad si,L3195 [L3195] E103
3196 [Icels] Daneis dunt jo vus di,L3196 [L3196] Ces DL103
Qu'il firent plait, si se acorderent
E bons ostages en livrerentL3198 [L3198] om en R103
E jurerent, quanqu'il sunt,
3200 Que ja mais nel guerrieruntL3200 [L3200] nel guerpirent R103
E uncore plus si unt pramis,L3201 [L3201] p. li u. R103
Crestïented li unt requisL3202 [L3202] E c. R103 [f.115b]
E li reis dit, quant ço entent,
3204 Qu'il le f[e]rat mult bonement.
Le jur lur mist del repairer,
Vint e huit dis, un meis plenier,L3206 [L3206] m. entier R103
E il vindrent a icel jur,L3207 [L3207] Cil LR103
3208 Si amenerent lur seignur,
Le rei Godrun unt amened.L3209 [L3209] Li r. LR103
De ses parenz les plus privezL3210 [L3210] E de R103
[Vindrent od lui al baptizer,
3212 Trente en i out al primsener].L3212 [L3212] ll. 3211-12 not in DL103
Page 103
Li reis [meïsmes] les levad,L3213 [L3213] elvred DL104
[Nuns e bons enges lur] donad,L3214 [L3214] E a chascun sun nun DL104
A[l] batistire reis [Gudrum]L3215 [L3215] gorun DL104L3215 [L3215] A DL104
3216 Edelstan apellat l'omL3216 [L3216] E. donc lap. R104
E les trente, sis cumpaignuns,L3217 [L3217] E ses t. L104
Chascun par sei ot [enges e] nuns.L3218 [L3218] changie DL104
[Ad Alre furent] baptiziez,L3219 [L3219] Tuit li altre sunt DL104
3220 Fait crestïens e primseniez.
Ço est mult pres de [Edelingee]L3221 [L3221] E co L104L3221 [L3221] alingee DL104
U faite fud ceste asemblee.L3222 [L3222] U fu feit R104
A [Wethmore] furent desalbezL3223 [L3223] deus abbez L dous abez R104L3223 [L3223] desabez104L3223 [L3223] westmore DL104
3224 E duze jurs unt sujurnezL3224 [L3224] j. i u. R104L3213 [L3213] Cf. my article Glossarial and Textual Notes . . . for a discussion of this passage and for the meaning of enges.104
Od Elvred le gentil rei
Qui pur onur prist d'els cunreiL3226 [L3226] par o. R104
E il e ses bons cumpaignuns
3228 Lur donerent mult riches dons.
Dunc ot des la Nativited
Oit cenz anz li siecle durez
E dis e nof anz de surplus,L3230 [L3230] The true date is 879, but the mistake must be due to Gaimar, as all MSS. concur in the faulty number; that it is not possible to suggest a satisfactory correction rather tends to confirm this view.104
3232 Si cum es livres est espunsL3232 [L3232] e. respouns LR104
Dunt li prodom unt la memoire
Qui parsivent la dreite istoire,
En icel an, ço dit mis mestre,L3235 [L3235] icel tens R104
3236 Vint reis Gurmund a Cirecestre.
Puis ad mandet pur [i]cel ostL3237 [L3237] ad demande L104L3237 [L3237] cel DL104
De Sipeham, i viengent tost,L3238 [L3238] S. ke v. R104
E il vindrent, n'unt demurez,L3239 [L3239] v. nen u. R104
3240 Trestut l'iver unt sujurnez. [f.115c]
Puis en l'ested el meis d'AvrilL3241 [L3241] el meins L104
Maint chaitif mistrent en issil.L3242 [L3242] Mistrent m. c. R104
De Cirecestre sunt turned,
3244 En Estengle s'en sunt aled.
Li reis Gurmund par sun devis
Page 104
Mist ses gardeins en cel païs.
Aprés iço mandat par ban
3248 Pur l'ost qui fud a [Fuleham],L3248 [L3248] fulchestan L105L3248 [L3248] ert R105L3248 [L3248] fuchehan105
Cuntre lui viengent a la mer;L3249 [L3249] Encuntre DL105
Partut mandat le suen enperL3250 [L3250] m. par s. R105
E celui qui n'i volt venir
3252 De male mort estuet murir.L3252 [L3252] m. lestut m. L105
Bien asemblat plus de cent reis.
Od lur grant ost, od lur herneis,
A Gernemue entrent en mer,
3256 Desuz Chaihu vont ariver;
Lur nef [firent] a terre traire,L3257 [L3257] L. nefs f. LR105L3257 [L3257] funt DL105
[N'en] quident mais aveir a faire.L3258 [L3258] ja m. DL105L3258 [L3258] Ne DL105L3257 [L3257] This couplet affords an interesting parallel to Eneas:
Fait a ses nes el Toivre traire
n'en quida mes avoir que faire (ll. 3109-10). Gross thinks it possible that Gaimar knew a version of the Gormund story in which, as in Philippe Mousquet and Loher et Maller, the Danes burn their ships to cut off their retreat.105
Puis unt guasté icel païsL3259 [L3259] g. cel p. L g. tut cel p. R105
3260 E la terre saint Gualeris.L3260 [L3260] A la R105
Avant [s'en] vont, en Pontiu entrent.L3261 [L3261] Quant L105
Les païsanz mult se dementent.
Dunc violerent Saint Richier,
3264 Les crucifix funt depescier,
Partuit s'espandent el païs,
Maint barun i unt ocis.L3266 [L3266] b. e meint hom i R105
Pur ço que el païs out plented,
3268 Gurmund i ad mult sujurned
Mais sa grant ost alad avant,L3269 [L3269] M. sun g. L M. si g. R105
Unc ne finerent tresqu'a Gant.
Iloc furent tuit l'iver tens,
3272 Mult firent mal en trestut sens
E les Franceis tart asemblerent,L3273 [L3273] t. sas. R105
Gurmunt quistrent tant quel troverent,L3274 [L3274] t. kil le t. R105
[Od lui iloc se combatirent.
3276 Il fu oscis, Franceis venquirent]
E l'ost [ki] ert aled avantL3277 [L3277] quert DL105
E sujurnet aveit a Gant
Page 105
[f.115d]D'iloc turnerent, en France vont.L3279 [L3279] turnent R106
3280 Qui que Franceis se [cumbatrunt].L3280 [L3280] Jo qui ke F. si c. R106L3280 [L3280] cumbaterunt DR106
Si firent il mais poi unt gent
E trop despurvëuementL3282 [L3282] despurvuement LR106L3282 [L3282] despurveument106
Tut senz lur rei se cumbatirent,
3284 Mult de lur humes i perdirent;L3284 [L3284] l. herneis i R106
Reis Loëwis esteit navrez,L3285 [L3285] lowis DLR106L3285 [L3285] Li r. DL106
Pur ço furent desbaretez
E par la plaie qu'il reçut
3288 Lunges languit, puis [si] murutL3288 [L3288] om si DL106L3280 [L3280] Gaimar now returns to A.S.C. 881: þa Francan him wið gefuhton, but interprets the phrase in a sense unfavourable to the Franks, possibly, as Zenker (quoted by Gross) suggested, because the Danes in the next annal had pushed farther into France, possibly, as Gross suggests, as a necessary consequence of the wounding of their king, a feature from the story, not from A.S.C.106
E les paiens [en] vont avant,L3289 [L3289] p. unt a. L106L3289 [L3289] om en DL106
[France] troverent senz garant.L3290 [L3290] Franceis DL106
Mais li Franceis tuit li plusur
3292 Unt fait de Karle lur seignurL3292 [L3292] om lur R106
E li alquanz lui vont desdire,L3293 [L3293] a. le v. LR106
De dous cunseilz [firent] le pire,L3294 [L3294] funt DL106
Kar se il ensemble se tenissent,
3296 Paiene gent tost destrusisent.L3296 [L3296] destruissent R106
Pur ço que firent al rei guerreL3297 [L3297] co kil f. R106
E li Daneis gastent la terre,
Fud France malement menee
3300 Tant que [paens] pristrent entreeL3300 [L3300] franceis DL106
En un païs ça vers Bretaine.
Scantland ot nun, or est le Maine.L3302 [L3302] scathlant L106L3301 [L3301] In A.S.C.(A) 890 we are told that the Danes left the Seine and went to Sant Laudan, by which is meant St. Lô (Manche), but the corresponding entry in A.S.C.(EF) has Scandlaudan and this, or something like it, must have been the form in Gaimar's source. But why change from a city betwix Brittum $$ Francum to un païs ça vers Bretaine? Very plausibly Gross suggests that Gaimar took the second element of the name to be landan (= land), but whether, as Gross thinks, the identification with Le Maine is due solely to the exigencies of rime or whether Gaimar had some other reason must remain undecided.106
[Icele gent] e les BretunsL3303 [L3303] Ices genz DL106
3304 Se cumbatirent as feluns;
La merci Deu le rei de gloireL3305 [L3305] D. li reis R106
Sur les Daneis orent victoire.
Iloc furent paiens destruizL3307 [L3307] paiens furent L106
3308 Que tuit l'orguil e li grant bruizL3308 [L3308] t. lur o. e lur b. R106L3308 [L3308] om Que L106
Chaït ensemble en un sul jur,
En France puis ne firent retur.
Endementiers que icele guereL3311 [L3311] ke cele g. LR106L3311 [L3311] Endementres R106
Page 106
3312 Esteit itele en cele terre,
Li reis Elvret en [son] regnedL3313 [L3313] cel DL107L3313 [L3313] E li DL107
Ot bien ses enemis mated. [f.116a]
En mer suvent se cumbateit
3316 E des Daneis mult oscieit.L3316 [L3316] E les D. L107
E il aveit tant espleitied
Par sa bunted e purchacied
Que Marinus li [ad tramis]L3319 [L3319] out R107L3319 [L3319] tramist107
3320 De la cruiz, u [Crist fud ocis].L3320 [L3320] ocis f. crist107
Marins ert de Rume apostoire,L3321 [L3321] R. apostoille LR107
De bons presenz fist si grant gloire,
Tels reliques i enveiat,L3323 [L3323] r. li e. R107
3324 Ja mais par arme ne murat.L3324 [L3324] par armes ne murin R107
E Edelswed ert sa serur,
A Rume alad od tel honurL3326 [L3326] od cel h. R107
Que Elvred i enveiot.
3328 Idunc murut, avant ne pot,
Le cors de [li] gist en Pavie,L3329 [L3329] lui DL107L3329 [L3329] le cors de lui. The phrase here has its literal sense and is not a mere periphrasis for the personal pronoun.107
U ele fud ensevelie.L3325 [L3325] In agreement with A.S.C.(E) 883 Gaimar has spoken of the Pope's gift of a fragment of the True Cross to Alfred and now, in this passage, has jumped to A.S.C. 888 to relate the dispatch of return gifts. Gross made two suggestions to account for this jump: (i) that Gaimar took the reference to gifts at the beginning of the later annal to be a faulty repetition of that in the earlier one, but this does not explain the later return to A.S.C. 885; (ii) that he found the later reference already transferred in his source from 888 to 883, but, though this is a possibility, since there are grounds for thinking the earlier entry misplaced, I suspect the explanation is more likely to be literary. Gaimar was clearly interested in Alfred and his relations with Rome, thought courtesy required a return gift, found what he wanted in A.S.C. 888, used it to round off this little section of the Estoire and returned to his main theme.107
Ore avint si e tant fud pis,
3332 Un [sengler] ad Karlun ocis.L3332 [L3332] ad charles o. R107L3332 [L3332] senglenter L107L3332 [L3332] sengleter107
[Li reis fud mort mais un sun frereL3333 [L3333] om fud R107L3333 [L3333] fre L107L3333 [L3333] om mais L107L3333 [L3333] r. uolt with nomen written above L107
Murut enceis ke fist lur pere.L3334 [L3334] ke ne f. R107L3334 [L3334] proprium nomen in margin L107L3334 [L3334] ke fud l. L107
Andui furent fiz Loëwis,L3335 [L3335] lowis L107
3336 Celui ki out Gurmund oscis]L3336 [L3336] C. ke G. ot ocis L107L3331 [L3331] Only the first couplet of this passage, based on A.S.C. 885, occurs in D, but the agreement of L and R shows this to be an omission, for which the similarities in the endings of ll. 3332, 3336 suggest the explanation. It is hardly to be expected that Gaimar would recognize in the Carl Franca cyng of his source Carloman, king of the Franks 879-84; his source, unlike A.S.C.(E) 885, most probably contained the clause hie wæron begen Hloþwiges suna and for Gaimar at this point there was, as Gross observed, only one Louis, viz. the one who figured in the Gormund story, and so it is immaterial which Louis his source had in mind. A further problem confronts us in ll. 3333-4, for our two available MSS. differ considerably; in L the couplet reads:
Li reis uolt fud mort un sun fre[re]
Murut enceis ke fud lur pere; over uolt an annotator has written nomen and in the margin beside l. 3334 proprium nomen (did he by any chance confuse enceis with anseïs?). We do not know where uolt came from, but the line does supply the verb missing in R. In the second half of l. 3334 R has: ke ne fist lur pere; this gives a nine-syllable line, but the ne does not appear to be essential. Moreover A.S.C. 885, from which this passage derives, reads: ane geare ær his broðor forðferde, so the father's death seems to have been introduced by Gaimar inadvertently, as the later phrase in the annal–hie wæron Hloþwiges suna–should have prevented the absurdity, always provided it was in his source, for it is absent from A.S.C.(E) 885 along with other references to Frankish affairs; neither do we know what the version of the Gormund story used by him had to say of the Frankish royal family.107
E [Loëwis] fud fiz KarlunL3337 [L3337] lowis DL107
Qui donat sa fille al barun,
Rei Edelwlf l'ot a reïne,L3339 [L3339] Reis R107
3340 Unc dame n'ot mieldre doctrine.
Or vus ai dit cest parentage.
Dunc vint a Rume un grant damageL3342 [L3342] g. homage R107
De Marin le bon [apostoille]L3343 [L3343] apostoire107
Page 107
3344 Qui franchid primes Engleschescole;
Par le purchad [le] rei ElvredL3345 [L3345] p. le purchace reis R108L3345 [L3345] om le DR108
Fut franchie, Deu seit loed.L3346 [L3346] Fu celui franc D. R108
En icel tens avint issi
3348 Tels aventures cum jo di.
Reis Elvred mult guerriot,
Cuntre paiens suvent alot.
Icil Daneis qui triwes pristrent
3352 Al chief de tur mult les malmistrent
E surquetut cil d'EstengleL3353 [L3353] Ensurketut cil de Hest. R108
Tuz jurz [començouent] la gengle.L3354 [L3354] la gangle R108L3354 [L3354] cumencent DL108 [f.116b]
A Lundres erent repairant,
3356 La u paiens erent manant;
La cited teneient Daneis.
Que fist dunc Elvred li reis?
Partut [manda] pur chevaliersL3359 [L3359] p. ses c. L108L3359 [L3359] mant108
3360 E pur serganz e pur archiers,
Si ad mandet pur ses amis,
Pur les Engleis loinz el païs;L3362 [L3362] E p. R108
E loinz e pres tut ad mandet,L3363 [L3363] om E R108
3364 Mult grant effort ad asemblez,
A Lundres vint, sis asegat,L3365 [L3365] v. sil a. R108
Tant i estut que prise l'ad.
Puis establit si la cited
3368 [Cum si] barun li unt loed.L3368 [L3368] Si cum108
A [Edelret] un suen barunL3369 [L3369] eldred L108L3369 [L3369] elred108
De la garde li fist le don
E cil [la] gardat fedelmentL3371 [L3371] le DL108
3372 E defendit d'estrange gent.
En icel an murut li reis
Que Elvred ot levet enceis,
Paiens l'apelerent Gudron,
3376 Ore aveit Edelstan a non;
Le cors de lui gist a Tiefort,
Page 108
La fud ensevelit cel mort.L3378 [L3378] e. icel m.109
Or ert Elvred mult bien muntez,
3380 Quant ot cunquis ceste citez,L3380 [L3380] ot conquise R109
E les Daneis qui luinz [maneient]L3381 [L3381] esteient109
Pur sa prueise mult le cremeient.L3382 [L3382] om mult R109L3382 [L3382] sa pruesce LR109
Tuit le païs que il teneit
3384 En icel tens en pais aveit.L3384 [L3384] p. esteit R109
Mais mult [l'alouent] maneçantL3385 [L3385] le vont DL109
Cil Daneis de Norhumberlant
E cil d'Estengle e de Merceinne
3388 Volentiers lui faseient peine
Mais sis aveit cist reis matezL3389 [L3389] M. sil a. R109
Que en pais teneit dunc ses regnez. [f.116c]
Idunc avint en icel tens
3392 Que l'ost repairat des paiens
Ki en France furent alez;
Tut le lur orent guasted.L3394 [L3394] T. lurent deg. R109
[L'altre ost] qui fud de cels sevrezL3395 [L3395] de ces desevere R109L3395 [L3395] els DL109L3395 [L3395] Le autre DL109
3396 Esteit el Maine einz desertezL3396 [L3396] deserte R109L3396 [L3396] deseritez DL109
Mais icest ost fud desevrez
Tresque Gurmunt fud arivez.
De lui partit, avant alad,
3400 Trestute France trespassad,
Ariere vint vers l'occident
Robant e destruiant la gent.L3402 [L3402] destrusant R109
Ore aveient asez cunquis,
3404 Or e argent, chevals de pris.
A Chiereburc entrent en mer,L3391 [L3391] In this passage, where he is combining information from A.S.C. and from the Gormund story, Gaimar has not succeeded in avoiding obscurity. He had latterly been following up themes through a number of annals rather than observing strict chronological order and, after pursuing the fortunes of the Danes on the Continent, had reverted to home affairs culminating in the death of Guthrum and his burial at thetford. This brought him to A.S.C. 892: in all versions this annal speaks of se mycle here of which earlier mention had been made; now this is actually true of all but A.S.C.(E) which has no annal for 891! If Gaimar's source agreed with A.S.C.(E) in this respect, and it almost certainly did, then the earlier mention could only be for Gaimar that which he had made himself under the influence of the Gormund story (ll. 3235-310). At l. 3236 Gormund arrives unexpectedly at Cirencester from no one knows where, assembles a great army, embarks at Yarmouth (l. 3255) for the Continent, lands at Cayeux and ravages Ponthieu (ll. 3256-66); Gormund stays in Ponthieu, where he is defeated by the Franks (l. 3276) and killed by their king, but sa grant ost goes on to Ghent (l. 3270), winters there and returns to France (l. 3279) where they are eventually defeated on the borders of Britanny (viz. at St. Lô), in Le Maine (l. 3302). With all this in his mind Gaimar was confronted by an annal (A.S.C. 892) which spoke of a Danish army moving westward to Boulogne: what was he to do? He had already told of one which moved west and was defeated el Maine and to this one ll. 3395-6 seem to refer. The fate of the Danes who shared Gormund's defeat is vaguer, for Gaimar does not say whether it was a defeat or a rout, so they could easily re-appear–defeat of the Danes and their quick recovery was well known to Gaimar from A.S.C.; he does not say where Gormund was killed, so his army could reappear when and where convenient. It seems, then, that the army which crosses the Channel according to A.S.C. 892 is for Gaimar that defeated by Louis; if not, it must be one he more or less conjured up for the occasion. Further than this we cannot go, because the text of the Estoire is open to doubt at this point. The repetition sevrez – desevrez, though possible, arouses suspicion and in l. 3396 the MSS. diverge, DL giving deseritez, which cannot be right, R giving deserté, which does not suit the context. Gross suggests changing esteit to aveit; this would impart sense to the line, but is too drastic a change, and the disagreement of the MSS. suggests that the mistake, if it is one, is in the participle. It is, too, these preoccupations with Gormund which are partly, if not entirely, responsible for the choice of Cherbourg, instead of Boulogne, as the port of embarcation; we have no means of knowing whether Gaimar understood Bunan (= Boulogne) of A.S.C. 892.109
A Limene vunt ariver;
Ço est un' eve al chief de KentL3407 [L3407] al chief de. Used in the sense at the end of the phrase is hardly apposite to the position of the river and seems to have arisen from a misunderstanding of A.S.C. 892: se muða (of the R. Lympne) is on eastwarde Cent æt $$es mycclan wuda east enda; Gaimar has apparently contrued enda with the county instead of with the forest.109
3408 De l'est que hom cleimed orient;
Andredeswald s'estent amont
Cel' eve Limeine bien parfunt;L3410 [L3410] est b. R109L3410 [L3410] limmene R109
Icest bois est de lung cunted
Page 109
3412 Quarante dous liues mesuredL3412 [L3412] l. est m. L110L3412 [L3412] Both number and metre are incorrect. In ll. 3413, 3418 liues translates mila of A.S.C. 892, and must do so in l. 3412, for we can hardly assume that Gaimar translated the same word in two ways in two consecutive lines. The mistake must therefore lie in the number, but whether Gaimar misread his source or whether the faulty numeral was already in his source, we cannot say. Gross suggests correcting the metre by omitting dous, but all MSS. agree in the number, so it is best to allow the line to stand.110
E trente liues ad de [laise],L3413 [L3413] laaise110
Limine curt parmi en aise.
En cest havene vindrent Daneis;L3415 [L3415] c. ewe v. R110
3416 Ço fud el tens Elvred li reis;]L3416 [L3416] ll. 3187-3416 not in H110
Amunt l'eve traistrent lur nefs,
A [quatre] liues sunt remésL3418 [L3418] quarante DLH110
Luinz de la buche de Limine.L3419 [L3419] de la L. H110
3420 Tuit cel païs lez la marineL3420 [L3420] T. le p. RH110
Unt [donc] destruit cil adversier.L3421 [L3421] om donc DLH110
Mult fud malveis lur repairier,
Il orent nefs cent e seisante,L3423 [L3423] Niefs i eurent c. H110L3423 [L3423] All MSS. concur in reading cent e seissante, there being no trace in them of a reading dous cent cinquante to which Gross refers, but the number according to A.S.C.(A,E,F) was 250, according to A.S.C.(B,C,D) 200.110
3424 Mult funt grant mal, la u il hante.L3424 [L3424] il hantent L110L3424 [L3424] m. lur h. R110L3424 [L3424] om grant H110L3424 [L3424] la u il hante DH, la u il hantent L, lur hante R. The sudden change from plural to singular is disconcerting, but the rime in L cannot be accepted for Gaimar, and the reading of R is impossible for both grammatical and metrical reasons.110
De l'autre part [re]vint EsteinL3425 [L3425] vint DLH110
En Tamise par un flot plein, [f.116d]
Mult fist en Kent de ses avels,
3428 A Mide[l]tune fermat chastels,L3428 [L3428] f. un c. R110L3428 [L3428] midetune DL110
Cel ost mandat ki vint de France,
A Ewldre ert lur remanance.L3430 [L3430] Awuldre H110
Quant ces dous ostz sunt asemblez,
3432 Destruiant vont crestïented.
Dunc mesavint, si cum Deu plut,L3433 [L3433] D. avint si R110
Mort fud Elvred kis guerreiout.
Idunc des la Nativited,L3435 [L3435] Donc de la R110
3436 Des icel jur que Deus fu nez,L3436 [L3436] Dicel j. H110
Ot nof cenz anz e un avocL3437 [L3437] om anz L110
Trescique Elvred murrut iloc.L3438 [L3438] Tresque roi E. H110
Il regnat bien vint e oit anz,L3439 [L3439] om bien H110
3440 Poi sunt humes tels vivanzL3440 [L3440] tels homes R110L3440 [L3440] Puis ne fud home t. L110
Kar sages fud e bon [guerier],L3441 [L3441] guerreier DRH110
Bien sot [ses] enemis pleisier,L3442 [L3442] om ses DL110
Nul mieldre clerc de lui n'esteit
3444 Kar en [s'enfance] apris l'aveit.L3444 [L3444] france DLH110L3444 [L3444] en France DLH, en s'enfance R. I have followed R as more in accordance with tradition and as metrically better.110
Page 110
Il fist escrivre un livre engleis
Des aventures e des leis
E des batailles de la terre
3448 E des reis ki firent guerre
E meint livre fist il escrire,L3449 [L3449] escrivere RH111
U li bon clerc vont suvent lire.L3450 [L3450] om bon H111
Deus ait merci de la sue alme
3452 E seinte Mari[e] la dame!L3452 [L3452] la duze d. DL111
[I]dunc regnat Edwart sis fiz,L3453 [L3453] E. son f. RH111L3453 [L3453] Dunc DLH111
Li proiz, li sages, li gentilz,L3454 [L3454] p. li saives li R111
Mais uncore ert mult grant la guereL3455 [L3455] e. m. fort la R e. forte la H111
3456 Par plusurs lius en Engleterre
Kar il [i] aveit plusurs reis,L3457 [L3457] il i avoient H111
Sis guerrioent les [Daneis]L3458 [L3458] guerroierent H111L3458 [L3458] engleis111
E lur force tuit dis creisseitL3459 [L3459] t. tens c. R111
3460 Qui d'ultremer suvent veneit,L3460 [L3460] u. a eus v. H111
Si qu'el sist an que Edward regnot,
Quant il par el passer ne pot,L3462 [L3462] om el R111L3462 [L3462] om il H111 [f.117a]
Lui estuet triwes afermer
3464 E as Daneis sa pais donerL3464 [L3464] om sa pais R111
E nepurquant ne durat gueres.
Daneis erent de mult mal eires.L3466 [L3466] om mult H111L3466 [L3466] e. mult de mal e. R111
Tant [guerrïerent] sur EngleisL3467 [L3467] g. od les E. H111L3467 [L3467] guerrieient R111L3467 [L3467] furent engres111
3468 Que Edward [se] cumbatit li reisL3468 [L3468] si DL111
Od les Engleis qu'il asemblat;
A [Thuetenhale] la les matat.L3470 [L3470] om la RH111L3470 [L3470] tenetehale DL111L3470 [L3470] Thuetenhale R, Tutenhale H, Tenetehale D, Thenethale L. The reading of DL goes back to a form with nasal in the first element and so can hardly derive directly from the Teotanheale of A.S.C.(E) 910. In his rendering of Thetford Gaimar seems to represent the O.E. eo of þeod- by ie and possibly did the same here, but it would be hazardous to emend; in view of l. 3377, where DL give Tiefort, but R has Thuefford, I have followed that MS. here.111
En icel tens murut uns reis,
3472 Edret qui ert sur Merceneis.L3472 [L3472] Edelret R111
Icist Edred Lundres teneit,L3473 [L3473] I. edelret R111
Li reis Elvred mis [l'i] aveit,L3474 [L3474] mis i lav. R111L3474 [L3474] Ke li r. L Rois H111L3474 [L3474] lui111
Ne l'aveit mie en heritage.
3476 Cum dut murir, si fist que sage:
Page 111
Al rei Edward rendit sun dreit
Od quanqu'il i aparteneit;L3478 [L3478] quantqui a. H112
Lundres rendit, ainz que fust morz,L3479 [L3479] a. quil LRH112
3480 E la cité d'Oxenefort
E les païs e les [contez]L3481 [L3481] cuntrez L112L3481 [L3481] cuntrees D112
Ki apendeient as [citez].L3482 [L3482] appendent H112L3482 [L3482] citees112
En icel an vint un navireL3483 [L3483] une n. LRH112
3484 Ki el païs fist grant martyre.
De Litwice ert cest ost venuz,L3485 [L3485] om cest ost H112
Lung Saverne s'est estenduz,
Edward li reis cuntr'els alat,L3487 [L3487] r. encontre a. H112
3488 Mult en ocist, puis en turnat.
Dis e oit anz quant ot regnez,
Mercenelant reçut en fiez;
Elfled sa suer l'en heritad,L3491 [L3491] sa sorur R112L3491 [L3491] Elfled. All MSS. concur in this name in place of the Æđelflæd of A.S.C.(E) 918, so the mistake is probably due to Gaimar.112
3492 Si cum Edred li reis rovad;L3492 [L3492] eldret l. r. comanda R112
Pur [ço k'] enfant ne pot aveir,L3493 [L3493] quei DL112
Kant ele murut, sin fist sun eir.L3494 [L3494] m. len f. H112
Treis anz aprés Sithriz li reis,
3496 Li autre parsur Merceneis,L3496 [L3496] Ki laltre partie teneit de M. R Ke regna p. M. L Lautre pier sur M. H112
Ocist Nëel sun frere a tort;L3497 [L3497] Neel. Gaimar is translating literally A.S.C.(E) 921, but this appears to be an error in his source, for the reference is generally taken to be to the slaying of Niall Glundubh, king of Ireland, who was not Sihtric's brother (cf. Plummer, II, 129); there was, it seems, an underking named Neil at this period and I wonder whether he is any way involved.112 [f.117b]
Li reis Edward vengat sa mort,L3498 [L3498] om Li H112
Sithriz [oscist od une] espee,L3499 [L3499] S. ot une L o. dune H112L3499 [L3499] S. par la sue112
3500 Puis fud [il] reis de la cuntree.L3500 [L3500] om il DLH112
Un an aprés par la devise
Ad Reinold Everwic cunquise;L3502 [L3502] Ad R. ad E. H112L3502 [L3502] reinolf L112
Ço ert un rei demi Daneis,
3504 De part sa mere esteit Engleis.L3503 [L3503] Gaimar is clearly following the concise entry of A.S.C.(DE) 923: Her Reynold cyng gewan Eoferwic. No earlier source appears to know anything of Rægnald's mixed birth, but I doubt whether, as Gross rather implies, it is entirely the author's invention.112
Sur lui voleit Edward aler,
Si aveit fait ost asemblerL3506 [L3506] f. sost a. H112
Mais dunc murut, ne pot el estre,L3507 [L3507] p. altre e. R112
3508 Ensevelit fud a Gincestre.
Page 112
Puis regnat sun fiz Edelstan.
Quant ot regnet tresqu'al quart an,L3510 [L3510] r. el q. H113
Bataille tint cuntre Daneis,
3512 Si descunfist [Gudfrid li] reis.L3512 [L3512] le r.113L3512 [L3512] gaufrit DL113
Puis asemblat mult grant [empire]L3513 [L3513] om mult H113L3513 [L3513] P. semblad H113L3513 [L3513] empire and navire interverted in DL113
E en la mer mist grant [navire],L3514 [L3514] om E H113L3514 [L3514] m. mult g. DL113
[Dreit en] Escoce s'en alat,L3515 [L3515] A E. dreit L113L3515 [L3515] A dreit E.113
3516 Icel païs forment preiat.
Aprés un an ne mei[n]s ne plus
A Brunewerce ot le desusL3518 [L3518] bruneswerce R brunewerche H113L3518 [L3518] burneweste DL113
Sur les Escoz e sur Cumbreis,L3519 [L3519] sur les C. DL113
3520 Sur Galweiens e sur Pecteis;L3520 [L3520] galweneis L gawaleis R galewarz H113L3520 [L3520] galwains113
Iloc en furent tant ocis,L3521 [L3521] tant tant L113L3521 [L3521] I. erent t. H113
Crei que parole en ert tut dis.L3522 [L3522] om en L113L3522 [L3522] que parle RH113L3522 [L3522] Jeo c. H113L3517 [L3517] No weight is to be attached to Gaimar's vague dating of the famous battle of Brunanburh one year after Athelstan's harrying of Scotland, for he elsewhere uses this and similar phrases to refer to the next entry in his source. At the same time he had a little more information about the battle than the scanty entry in A.S.C.(E) 937: Her Æðelstan cyning lædde fyrde to Brunanbyrig, though the famous poem on the battle seems to have been unknown to him. Gross cites a passage from Simeon of Durham's Historia Dunelmensis Ecclesiae in which the site of the battle is located at Weondune, quod alio nomine Etbrunnanwerc vel Brunnanbyrig appellatur and mention is made of regum . . . Scottorum et Cumbrorum, and the same two kings are referred to by Simeon of Durham in his Historia Regum. The similarity in place-name suggests some connexion between the two authors, most probably not direct, but through the O.E. text from which Simeon derived his place-name with incorporated O.E. preposition (æt). Some nationality-names must have been in the material Gaimar was using and have reminded him of his earlier enumeration (ll. 17-18). Whether ll. 3521-2 are entirely due to Gaimar is uncertain; the fame of the battle may have come to his ears.113
Puis ne vesquit [il] que treis anz,L3523 [L3523] om il DH113
3524 Il n'ot fiz ne [altres] enfanz.L3524 [L3524] n. ne f. R113L3524 [L3524] autre DL113
De sun frere firent dunc rei,L3525 [L3525] om dunc H113
Edmund ot nun, prodom, ço crei,
E el tierz [an] cum il regnat,L3527 [L3527] El t. an quil r. H113L3527 [L3527] E li t. R113L3527 [L3527] anz DR113
3528 Ultre Humbre [son ost mena].L3528 [L3528] sen alat DLR113
Dous [reis] i ot felons Daneis;L3529 [L3529] om felons H113
Li uns ot nun [Anlaf] li reis,L3530 [L3530] unlaf R anfal H113L3530 [L3530] anlans113
Li autre ert Reinold apelez;L3531 [L3531] Laltre RH113
3532 Fors les chaçat [de cel] regnez.L3532 [L3532] del DLH113
Quant ço ot fait, alat avant,
Grant preie [prist] en Cumberlant.L3534 [L3534] Et p. H113L3534 [L3534] fist113L3534 [L3534] Gaimar is simply copying his source and was probably quite unaware that this annal is really concerned with Strathclyde. Cf. Plummer, II, 145.113 [f.117c]
Il tint sa terre puis treis anz,L3535 [L3535] t. en pees t. H113
3536 Dunc fist de lui Deu ses cumanz.L3536 [L3536] l. deus s. LR113
Edred sun frere aprés regnad,L3537 [L3537] f. dunc r. L113L3537 [L3537] om aprés R113
Son frere Edward tres bien vengad,L3538 [L3538] om tres RH113L3538 [L3538] All MSS. concur in the name, but the reference is to Edmund; most probably the mistake is due to Gaimar.113
Page 113
Il le vengat des enemis
3540 Ki l'aveient par murdre ocis.L3539 [L3539] not in H114
Puis saisit tuit NorhumberlantL3541 [L3541] om tuit RH114
E les Escoz li sunt clinant.L3542 [L3542] li vont enclinant R s. enclinant H114L3542 [L3542] Li E. H114
Kant [il] regnot el secund an,L3543 [L3543] om il DL114
3544 Idunches vint Anlaf Quiran,
Norhumberlant saisid e prist,
Ne trovat ki lui defendist.
Treis anz la tint [icil] Daneis,L3547 [L3547] cel DL114
3548 Puis l'en chacerent Norhumbreis.
Yric le fiz Harald reçurent,L3549 [L3549] f. barald recoverirent H114
De fei tenir bien l'aseürent,L3550 [L3550] t. sasseurerent H114L3550 [L3550] Del fiez t. R114
Dous anz regnad en cel regned,
3552 Dunc al tiers an l'en unt chacied.L3552 [L3552] len unt dech. R lont dech. H114L3552 [L3552] om Dunc H114
[Edred] idunches la reçutL3553 [L3553] Hedred114
Mais d'iloc a un an murut.
Idunc avint al regne issi,
3556 Engleis firent rei [de Edwi].L3556 [L3556] om de L114L3556 [L3556] f. lur r. R114L3556 [L3556] rei bedewi114
Aprés Edred fud Edwi reis,
Fiz fud Edmund, cil ert Engleis.L3558 [L3558] cil fut E. H114
Partut aloent ses cumanz,
3560 Il ne vesqui que sul treis anz.L3560 [L3560] om sul H114L3560 [L3560] Si ne H114
Aprés regnat Edgar sun frere,
Cil tint la terre cum emperere,L3562 [L3562] om la R114
En sun tens amendat la terre,
3564 Partuit ert pais, n'ert nule guere.L3564 [L3564] nert point de g. H114L3564 [L3564] P. out p. R114
Il sul regnot sur tuz les reisL3565 [L3565] regna H114
E sur Escoz e sur [Gualeis];L3566 [L3566] s. galewois H114L3566 [L3566] engleis114
Unc puis que Artur s'en fud alez,
3568 Nen ot nul reis tel poëstez.L3568 [L3568] o. un rei R114
Li reis amat mult saint' yglise,L3569 [L3569] om mult H114L3569 [L3569] mult amad L114
De tort, de dreit, sot la devise;L3570 [L3570] et de d. fit la d. H114 [f.117d]
Pur ço se penat de bien faire
Page 114
3572 Que francs esteit e debonaire,L3572 [L3572] Ke franceis e. L115L3572 [L3572] Car f. R115
Bones custumes alevat,
Tuz ses veisins vers sei clinat,L3574 [L3574] aclina H115L3574 [L3574] v. lui c. RH115
Par bel amur e [par supplei]L3575 [L3575] a. nent par s. L115L3575 [L3575] om bel H115L3575 [L3575] e neent par bethlei115
3576 Les aclinat trestuz vers sei.L3576 [L3576] Les turna t. H115
Unc ne trovat kil guerreiastL3577 [L3577] guerriad L115L3577 [L3577] Onc ne repaira qi le guerrast H115
Ne par mal en sa terre entrastL3578 [L3578] m. ne ? crossed out sa t. H115L3578 [L3578] Ne ke p. R115L3578 [L3578] not in L115
Fors sul Tored ki revelad;L3579 [L3579] relevad LH115L3579 [L3579] Uns i out non T. qe se H115
3580 Westmerelant sur lui preiad;L3580 [L3580] sur lui roba H115
Pur cel forfait reçut cil mort,L3581 [L3581] not in L115
Mar cumençat la guere a tort.L3582 [L3582] guere corrected from t're115L3577 [L3577] Historians are still not agreed whether the ravaging was due to a hostile incursion or was done at Edgar's orders. Gaimar rather supports the former view, and treats Thored as a rebel vassal, as indicated by the verb revelat (l. 3579) and the phrase pur cel forfait (l. 3580).115
Cist reis fud saives e vaillanz,L3583 [L3583] f. sages e v. L115
3584 De sa reïne ot bels enfanz,
Un fiz en ot dunt jo sai dire,L3585 [L3585] om en RH115
Ço fud Edward de Saftesbire,
E sa fille ot a nun [Edith],L3587 [L3587] n. seint E. R115L3587 [L3587] om a RH115L3587 [L3587] edieth115
3588 La dame que Deus beneït.L3588 [L3588] benesquit H115
Encore ot il dous autres fiz,L3589 [L3589] il treis a. R115L3589 [L3589] om il H115
Par treis meres furent nasquiz,L3590 [L3590] De t. H115
Treis meres orent icés treis,L3591 [L3591] o. ico t. L o. ces t. R o. ceus t. H115
3592 De femmes ert jolif li reis.
Quant sa reïne fud transie,L3593 [L3593] sa femme f. L115
Par femmes empeirat sa vie.L3583 [L3583] These lines form the transition from history to saga, and show that Gaimar had his two sources available at the time of composition; the three wives are historical, but the amorous proclivities belong rather to legend, to the cantilenaa to which William of Malmesbury refers (Gesta Regum, II, c. 8).115
Un riches hom maneit el regne,L3595 [L3595] el realme R115
3596 Bien sai que morte esteit sa femme,L3596 [L3596] ert R est H115
Une fille l'en donat Deus,
Nul autre enfant ne l'ert remés.L3598 [L3598] nen ert R115L3598 [L3598] om enfant H115
Orgar aveit nun cel riche home.L3599 [L3599] O. out n. H115
3600 Des Execestre tresqu'a [Frume]L3600 [L3600] rume DLH115L3600 [L3600] Rume DLH, Frume R. Gaimar is here describing the actual extent of Orgar's domain, so Frome (So) is intended; the other reading is due to confusion with a common type of comparison, but one not found in the Estoire.115
N'a vile, n'a burc, n'a citedL3601 [L3601] Naveit nule b. ne c. R115L3601 [L3601] v. ne b. ne c. H115
Page 115
De qui Orgar ne fust feffed.L3602 [L3602] ne fud LH116
Mais vielz hom ert a grant merveille,L3603 [L3603] om grant H116
3604 Ço que sa fille lui cunseille,L3604 [L3604] sa femme li H116
Ço fait e [ço] comant a faire,L3605 [L3605] comande RH116L3605 [L3605] om ço DLH116
Ne trovet qui s'en ost retraire.L3606 [L3606] ose H116L3606 [L3606] trovad LH116 [f.118a]
Elftroed ot nun ceste pucele,L3607 [L3607] a nun DL116
3608 Ne qui suz ciel eüst si bele,L3608 [L3608] c. ot si L c. nad si H116L3608 [L3608] Jeo q. H116L3608 [L3608] qui que s. DLH116
De sa belté par la cuntree
Esteit mult grant la renomeeL3610 [L3610] om la H116L3610 [L3610] la reme L116
E quant [iloc] tanz en parloent,L3611 [L3611] parlouent R parlerent H116L3611 [L3611] q. co fud que t. L116L3611 [L3611] parolent DL116L3611 [L3611] il ot que116L3611 [L3611] The verb in DL spoils the rime and may be due to graphic confusion. The common ancestor of DL appears to have misread iloc as il ot and to have introduced que, but L has further changed the line.116
3612 Cil de la curt i repeiroentL3612 [L3612] repeirerent H116
E li curteis qui la veneientL3613 [L3613] la veaient R116
De sa belted mult bien diseient.L3614 [L3614] b. grant b. LH116
Li reis Edgar ad escuted,
3616 Cum hum parlot de sa belted;
Suventes feiz l'oïd loer,
De sa belted a tanz parler,L3618 [L3618] b. ad oi tant p. R116L3618 [L3618] E sa b. mult regreter L116
Qu'il purpensat e dist: 'Purquei,L3619 [L3619] purpensout e d. en sei R116L3619 [L3619] pur quei DLH, en sei R. Though the latter reading undoubtedly makes the better sense, I have not adopted it into the text, because Gaimar has earlier used the same half-line (l. 254) and because the fact that pur quei does not here fit the context very well may have given rise to the change in R.116
3620 Parmi tut ço que jo sui reiL3620 [L3620] tut ico R116
E ele est fille a un barun,L3621 [L3621] Cele LH116
Ne i vei nul[e] descretïun!L3622 [L3622] om i LRH116
Fiz a un cunte fud sis pere,L3623 [L3623] son p. RH116L3623 [L3623] om un R116
3624 De reis gentils nasquit sa mere,
Ele est asez de halt parage,
Bien la puis prendre senz huntage'.
Dunc apelat un chevalier,
3628 Si prist a lui a cunseillier,
Mult l'aveit chier, si l'[out] nuriz,L3629 [L3629] c. qil le nurit H116L3629 [L3629] aveit DL116
Ço que pensot, ço descovrid.L3630 [L3630] descuri L116L3630 [L3630] p. li d. LRH116L3630 [L3630] ll. 3629-30 interverted in H116
'Edelwold frere,' dist li rei,L3631 [L3631] Edelwlf si d. H116
3632 'Jo te voil dire mun segrei:L3632 [L3632] de mon s. RH116L3632 [L3632] te dirrei LRH116
Page 116
Jo aim Elftroed la fille Orgar.
A tute gent l'oi si loarL3634 [L3634] loer LR117L3634 [L3634] lai oi R loit H117
E de beltet si bien [preiser],L3635 [L3635] om bien RH117L3635 [L3635] E de sa b. R Et sa b. H117L3635 [L3635] loer DL117
3636 Faire en [voldreie] ma muillier,L3636 [L3636] voil117
Si tele fust e jol seüsseL3637 [L3637] estait R117L3637 [L3637] As we do not know for certain that Gaimar did not use analogical tele (cf. p. xxviii), I have followed the base MS. The continuing second condition is quite usually expressed by the imperfect subjunctive without conjunction; cf. Lerch, Historische franz. Syntax, I, 172, II, 280.117
E de sa belted seür fusse.L3638 [L3638] b. aseur f. RH117
Pur ço te pri, va la [vëeir];L3639 [L3639] veer DLR117
3640 Ço qu'en diras, tendrai pur [veir].L3640 [L3640] veer117
Jo te crei mult, fai mun afaire,L3641 [L3641] c. fai bien m. a. H117
Ne sujurner, mes tost repaire'.L3642 [L3642] Ne sojorne pas m. H117 [f.118b]
Cil s'en alad aparaillier,L3643 [L3643] C. sala H117
3644 Unc ne finat ne volt targierL3644 [L3644] ne ne v. H117
Deci qu'il vint en Devenesire
A la maisun Orgar li sire.
De part lu rei l'ad salüed,
3648 De tutes parz fud uelcumed.L3648 [L3648] p. lad v. L117
Orgar juot a uns eschés,L3649 [L3649] O. jua as e. H117
Un giu qu'il aprist as Daneis;L3650 [L3650] a. des D. R117
Od lui [juout] Elftroed la bele,L3651 [L3651] guot L117L3651 [L3651] iueit117
3652 Suz ciel n'ot tele damoisele,L3652 [L3652] nout donc t. R117
E Edelwold mult l'esgardat,L3653 [L3653] Edelwlf H117
Trestut un jur i demurat.L3654 [L3654] Tut H117L3654 [L3654] ll. 3653-4 interverted in R117
Tant l'esgardat vis e colur
3656 E cors e mains la bele flurL3655 [L3655] The verb in the si-clause differs in the four MSS. R and H, by inserting the copula, treat the couplet as containing three parallel conditions (cf. note to l. 3637), but are, I think, mistaken; gardast and honurast continue serreit, hence my punctuation. I understand: to a man of my rank it would be no great harm if he took her; [if he did], he would protect the honour and would much honour the father.117
Que quidat [bien] que [ço] fust feeL3657 [L3657] q. quil f. f. L117L3657 [L3657] Quil LRH117L3657 [L3657] om bien and ço DLH117
E qu'ele ne fust de femme neeL3658 [L3658] fud L117L3658 [L3658] Kele ne f. pas R117
E quant la vit de tel belted,
3660 Tant [par] en fud enluminedL3660 [L3660] Tut en f. il allume H117L3660 [L3660] om par DLH117
Qu'il purpensat en sun curage,L3661 [L3661] Cil p. H117
U turt a pru u a damage,
Ne dirat mie a sun seignur
Page 117
3664 La verited cil traïtur,
Ainz dirat qu'ele n'est pas si bele;L3665 [L3665] om Ainz H118
De luinz purtraist la grant puscele.
Il en avint treis anz aprésL3667 [L3667] trais RH118L3667 [L3667] Kil R118L3667 [L3667] tres DL118
3668 Kar mort en fud tut descunfés.L3668 [L3668] Ke LH118L3667 [L3667] There is a difficulty here. The couplet is a reflexion by the author and so DLH have understood it; this apparently escaped R which, by starting the line with kil, turned l. 3667 into a dependent clause, but left it hanging in the air. In l. 3668 DR read kar against ke in LH: which did Gaimar write? There can be no doubt that the latter reading gives a smooth construction, but why should anyone want to change it and is kar the word that D and R, independently, would choose? I think not, and so kar must go farther back in the MS. tradition than ke. Yet kar does not connect satisfactorily with l. 3667, if we take avenir in its usual sense. Now the context requires the expression of the idea that things are going wrong and I submit that avenir is to be taken in the sense turn out badly, a sense more than once expressed by mesavenir in the Estoire, (e.g. l. 3433) and I suggest that this word may have been at the back of the author's mind when he wrote the passage.118
D'iloc turnat, al rei revintL3669 [L3669] r. vint R118L3669 [L3669] returnat DL118
A un cuncile qu'il tint.L3670 [L3670] un consail q. H118
Cuntes i ot, baruns, chasez,L3671 [L3671] b. e c. R118L3671 [L3671] ot e b. c. LH118
3672 E arcevesques e abez.L3672 [L3672] a. evesques e a. R118L3672 [L3672] om first e H118
Oëz que fist cel losengier!L3673 [L3673] f. cil adverser H118
Il vint al rei aprés mangier,
Bien fud venud e welcumed
3676 Mais il aveit avant parledL3676 [L3676] il devant aveit p. R118
A cels qui bien erent del reiL3677 [L3677] erent bien H118
E ki saveient cest segrei.L3678 [L3678] om E H118 [f.118c]
Ço lur preied qu'il lui aidassent,
3680 La fille Orgar lui demandassent,
E bien lur fist [a] tuz acreireL3681 [L3681] om a DLH118
Qu'ele ert mesfaite e laide e neire.L3682 [L3682] e. desfete H118
Devant lu rei s'agenuillat,
3684 Priveement lui demustrat:
'Reis, [de] la dame, u jo alai,L3685 [L3685] a DL118
La verited t'en cunterai.
Qui que ait mentit, jo dirai veir.L3687 [L3687] Ki kad m. R Qui qen a. H118
3688 Tu ne deiz pas tele femme aveir.
Un semblant ad e un regardL3689 [L3689] et fou r. H118
Que mult [li] vient de male part,L3690 [L3690] lui118
Altres teches i vi asez,L3691 [L3691] A. choses i H118
3692 U [jo ne note] nule beltez.L3692 [L3692] nen ot DLH118L3692 [L3692] u jo ne note R, u nen ot DLH. As Edelwold is giving a personal report, the first person is more appropriate; also jo ne not could appear more easily to be a mistake for u nen ot than vice versa. The reading of R is metrically satisfactory, which that of the other MSS. is not, whether we regard the ending of the verb as a scribal addition or not.118
A un hume de mun parage
Ne sereit mie mult grant damage,L3694 [L3694] g. homage R118L3694 [L3694] om mult RH118
S'il la [perneit], l'onur gardastL3695 [L3695] e lo. RH118L3695 [L3695] prist L preist H118L3695 [L3695] Sil il la L118L3695 [L3695] prent118
Page 118
3696 E le pere mult honurast'.
De tutes parz dïent al rei:L3697 [L3697] De tute d. R119
'Ço qu'il dist, dist l'um a mei
Ne n'est bien que la prengez,L3699 [L3699] q. tu la H119L3699 [L3699] Nest pas b. R Nest b. H119
3700 Un bachelier en [seisisez]'.L3700 [L3700] saisez H119L3700 [L3700] seissiez119
Li reis ert liez, trop ot beüz,
Legerement [l'unt] deceüz.L3702 [L3702] fud DL119
Vers Edelwold a parler prist,L3703 [L3703] edelulf H119
3704 Bien esperat [ke veir] lui [dist].L3704 [L3704] deist DL119L3704 [L3704] vers DL119L3704 [L3704] ke veir il dist RH, vers lui deïst DL. Both constructions, assuming vers = veir, are grammatically possible; that of DL refers rather to something that has not yet taken place, that of RH to something that has already been done; now the context shows clearly that Edelwold has spoken, hence the reading adopted.119
'Amis,' fait il, 'tres bien te crei.L3705 [L3705] om tres H119
Quant tele est que aveir ne la dei,L3706 [L3706] t. nest a. H119
Jo la te duins od [tut] l'onur;L3707 [L3707] tute DLH119
3708 De sun pere fai tun seignur,
Gardez le bien cum pere en lei,L3709 [L3709] Garde LR119
Espuse la, puis vien a mei'.L3710 [L3710] la bien si revien a m. H119L3710 [L3710] follows 3712 in H119
Une verge [teneit] le rei,L3711 [L3711] tint DLH119
3712 Si [li tendit] e fist l'otrei.L3712 [L3712] la fendit119
Cil [li] jurat sa [fëelté],L3713 [L3713] Sil L E cil R119L3713 [L3713] felted119L3713 [L3713] om li DL119
En icel liu s'est parjured.L3714 [L3714] sen est L119 [f.118d]
Hom qui traïst n'ad nule lei,L3715 [L3715] lei and fei interverted in H119
3716 Nel deit hom creire par sa fei.L3716 [L3716] Nul nel d.c. H119
Cist traïtur del rei turnat,L3717 [L3717] Cil RH119
Cum felun dunc l'enganat.L3718 [L3718] Et come f. sen ala H119
Vint a Orgar, sil retraït,L3719 [L3719] sil le trait R cil le creit H119L3719 [L3719] Vient H119L3719 [L3719] recreit DL119L3719 [L3719] sil recreït DL, cil le creït H, sil le traït R. The verb recreire does not suit the context, and H appears to have corrected to give sense to a, to him, meaningless line. The emphasis in the passage is on Edelwold's treachery and so, following R's lead, I have emended to retraït.119
3720 Sa fille prist, s'onur saisit.
En cel païs tant sujurnat
Que d'un fiz la dame enceintat
Mais la bele, s'ele peüst,
3724 Ja de Edelwold enfant n'eüst;L3724 [L3724] E. enceinte ne fust R119L3724 [L3724] Ja de lui e. H119
Pas ne l'amot, dit [li] esteitL3725 [L3725] lu ? for lui119
Cum deceü le rei aveit.L3726 [L3726] Coment le r. d. a. H119
Page 119
Il [meïsmes] tut en apertL3727 [L3727] mesme DL120
3728 Envers Elftroed [s'ert] descovert.L3728 [L3728] elstruet R elfred H120L3728 [L3728] sen ert DL120L3728 [L3728] eltroed DL120
Al dreit terme l'emfant fud nez.
Öez que fist cel defaed!
Pur ço que encore se cremeitL3731 [L3731] Pur quei e. H120
3732 Del rei qui mult jolif esteit,L3732 [L3732] r. ke m. R120
A lui en vint, tant le requist
[Ke cel] enfant lever lui fist.L3734 [L3734] om lui H120L3734 [L3734] E len. DL120
Quant ot ço fait, dunc fud seürL3735 [L3735] Q. co eut f. RH120
3736 Ne n'ot del rei nule poür.
Li reis francs e gentilz esteit,
Nïent ne s'[en] aparceveit,L3738 [L3738] De rien ne H120L3738 [L3738] om en DL120
Del mal felun ne se gardot,
3740 Nurid l'aveit, pur ço l'amot,
Tant qu'il [a]vint a [un] superL3741 [L3741] sun120L3741 [L3741] vint DL120
Li reis oïd de Elftroed parlerL3742 [L3742] de E. oit p. H120L3742 [L3742] de la femme p. R120
De tutes parz e mult [la] loentL3743 [L3743] loerent H120L3743 [L3743] m. soleient L120L3743 [L3743] om e RH120L3743 [L3743] le120
3744 Cil chevalier [ki] en [parloent]L3744 [L3744] parlerent H120L3744 [L3744] Li c. H120L3744 [L3744] parolent DR120L3744 [L3744] que120
E diseient en lur favele
Qu'en tut le mund n'aveit si beleL3746 [L3746] out H120
E si ele fust encore virgine,
3748 Bien fust digne d'estre reïne.L3748 [L3748] fud L120
Aprés parolent del saveirL3749 [L3749] parloient de son s. H120
E que ço poeit espeleirL3750 [L3750] ceo qe pout e. H120 [f.119a]
Qu'ele ert ambure e bele e sageL3751 [L3751] Que ambour fut b. H120L3751 [L3751] om first e LR120
3752 E de parler de franc curage,L3752 [L3752] Et en p. H120L3752 [L3752] e de f. DL120
Que unkes hom de nule [envie]L3753 [L3753] u. nul h. R120L3753 [L3753] om Que H120L3753 [L3753] vie120
Ne d'eschar ne de vilainie
Ne poeit en lui rien truver,L3755 [L3755] pout RH120
3756 Si ert sage de li garder.L3756 [L3756] de sei g. RH120
Li reis se merveillot forment,L3757 [L3757] merveilat RH120
Page 120
Eissi oeit parler suvent,L3758 [L3758] Qensi en oit p. la gent H121
A sei diseit en sun pensez:
3760 'Crei que Edelwold m'ad enganez'L3760 [L3760] Jeo c. q. edelulf H121
E pur Elftroed fud mult pensifs.L3761 [L3761] om mult H121L3761 [L3761] elured H121L3761 [L3761] De E. R121
Or vult errer de mal [en] pis.L3762 [L3762] Des o. R121L3762 [L3762] em121
Li reis Edgar se purpensat
3764 Que en Devenesire s'en irat;
Pur cerfs chacier dist qu'il ireitL3765 [L3765] i irrat R121L3765 [L3765] om il H121
Mais en sun cuer tut el aveit.
Il n'ert pas loinz de la cuntree,L3767 [L3767] de sa c. H121
3768 Maint hom fait greindre jurnee.L3768 [L3768] greignur j. RH121L3768 [L3768] h. fort g. R121
Elftroed esteit a un maneir,L3769 [L3769] ert H121
U li reis vint l'endemain al seir,
Pres ert de[l] bois, u volt chacier,L3771 [L3771] b. ou il v. H121
3772 La nuit remist pur herbergier.L3772 [L3772] n. i r. RH121
Quant ço [a]vint qu'il dut super,L3773 [L3773] dust R deust H121L3773 [L3773] E q. R121L3773 [L3773] vint DL121L3773 [L3773] vint DL, avint RH. The reading of DL is defensible, taken as meaning when the time came, but the change to avint gives a more usual phrase, so, after some hesitation, I have decided to adopt the verb from RH.121
Encore luseit le soleil cler.
Dunc demandat [de] sa cumere,L3775 [L3775] om de DL121
3776 U [ele] esteit, u ert sun [pere].L3776 [L3776] p̱ere121L3776 [L3776] om ele DL121
Dist [Edelwold]: 'En cel solier.L3777 [L3777] en co s. L121L3777 [L3777] edelwlf DH121L3777 [L3777] solier. The word is used here of a more private room, probably in an upper story, and recalls the bower of the M.E. romances. It is discussed briefly by Miss Pope in her article Notes on the vocabulary of the romance of Horn and Rimel (Mélanges Hoepffner, 63-70); earlier it was discussed by P. Lebel in his article Représentants français de sola poutre (Rom. 67 (1942-3), 361-7), where he rejected the customary derivation < solarium < sol.121
Rei, trop junez, alez mangier'.
Li reis entent, si s'aparceit,L3779 [L3779] si parceit R121
3780 Si [Edelwolt] pot, ne la vereit.L3780 [L3780] puet LH121L3780 [L3780] edwold L121L3780 [L3780] edelwlf DH121
Dunc prist par main un chevaler,L3781 [L3781] p. par la m. LH121L3781 [L3781] prist la m. R121
Si est venuz tresqu'al solier.L3782 [L3782] v. sus el s. R121
Dames, puceles mult [i] trovat,L3783 [L3783] om i DL121
3784 A nule d'eles ne parlat,
Elftroed cunut par la beltedL3785 [L3785] par sa b. H121
E ele ad le rei welcumed. [f.119b]
[f.119c]
En la cuntree el bois chaçad,L3821 [L3821] es b. L122
Page 122
Des cerfs qu'il prist li enveiad,L3822 [L3822] c. ke p. R123
Autres presenz li fist asez,
3824 Par treis feiz est a li alez.
Quant il turnat de la cuntree,
Si la laissad enluminee.
Tant [ot] oïd, bien entendeit
3828 Qui li reis prendre la voleit.
Ne demurat que sul oit jurz,
A Salesbire ert li curz;L3830 [L3830] la curz LR123
Mult [i] asemblat grant barnage,L3831 [L3831] om i DL123
3832 Meint barun i ot de halt parage.L3832 [L3832] i vint de R123
Pur la terre faire guarder
Les aveit fait li reis mander.L3834 [L3834] gmander false start as gu…123
Od les autres vint Edelwold.L3835 [L3835] a. edelwlf venoit H123L3835 [L3835] a. i v. R123
3836 Li reis en fist que faire volt.L3836 [L3836] f. en v. R f. voloit H123
A Everwic le enveiad,L3837 [L3837] len env. H123L3837 [L3837] The line is a syllable short; the frequent use of la to resume a phrase consisting of preposition + place-name (cf. l. 1487) suggests, but does not compel, its introduction here.123
Terre de nort lui comandat;L3838 [L3838] La t. del n. RH123
Tut justisast des Humbre avantL3839 [L3839] del H. RH123
3840 E feïst ent le suen cumant,L3840 [L3840] E feseient L E feisent R Et en feist H123L3840 [L3840] E il feseit123L3840 [L3840] il feseit D, feseient L, feisent R, en feist H. Evidently the phrase used by Gaimar caused difficulties. The context requires the verb to be in the subjunctive, as in H, but also in the singular, as in DH; at the same time there must have been some reason for the plural form in LR and I suggest they have misunderstood a postponed ent used as a stressed form of en.123
Hastivement e senz targier
Alt pur le païs adrescier.L3842 [L3842] om pur H123
Les briefs reçut tels cum il volt,L3843 [L3843] om Les H123
3844 Ore s'en vait danz [Edelwold].L3844 [L3844] De fere quantqe li plout H123L3844 [L3844] edelwot123
En cel aler que la alotL3845 [L3845] qil a. H123L3845 [L3845] la en DL123
Ne sai quels genz [i] encuntrot –L3846 [L3846] g. il e. H123L3846 [L3846] om i DL123
Uthlages sunt e enemis.L3847 [L3847] furent H123
3848 Dunc fud iloc cel fel ocis.L3848 [L3848] icel f. R123
Asquanz dïent que cel cunreiL3849 [L3849] cel convei R qe cunei H123L3849 [L3849] distrent R123
Lui enveiad Edgar lu reiL3850 [L3850] I env. H123
Mais nul n'i ot qui l'osast direL3851 [L3851] nul ne sout R123
3852 Qui cil furent quil [vunt] ocire.L3852 [L3852] funt123
Page 123
Al rei en vint l'anuncement,L3853 [L3853] lanunciement LH le nunciement R124
Dunc ne pot faire vengementL3854 [L3854] f. geissement H124
Kar ne [trovast] qui lui [deïst]L3855 [L3855] deisist H124L3855 [L3855] diseit DL124L3855 [L3855] truveit DLH124
3856 Qui ço ot fait ne qui l'[oscist].L3856 [L3856] faiseit DL124L3855 [L3855] After qui (= anyone) in the first line the subjunctive is to be expected (cf. l. 3851), so, as RH agree in supplying one, their rime-words have been preferred. Both truveit (DLH) and trovast (R) would make sense, but the context, I think, requires the sense could be found, so I have followed R.124 [f.119d]
Puis enveiat sun fieu saisir,
Si fait Elftroed a curt venir;L3858 [L3858] E. avant v. H124
Venged a curt hastivement,
3860 Li reis li dirat sun talent.L3860 [L3860] dirrait R124
Ne demurat que sul un meis,L3861 [L3861] un sul m. R124
A Glouecestre esteit li reis,L3862 [L3862] gloecestre L124L3862 [L3862] gloucestre DRH124
Od lui erent les reis de Gales,L3863 [L3863] e. li roi H124
3864 Mulz chevaliers aveit es sales.L3864 [L3864] Mult i out c. H124
Dunc vint Elftroed e sa maisneeL3865 [L3865] E. od sa m. H124
Qui mult ert bien aparaillee.
Tuz les baruns de Sumersete,
3868 De Devenesire e de DorseteL3868 [L3868] Et de D. H124L3867 [L3867] The same two county-names occur in rime elsewhere in the Estoire, at l. 2449 and more particularly at l. 3163; the latter couplet is parallel in construction to the one here, and it may have been in Gaimar's mind, as only Devon and Somerset appear to be included in the domain of Ælfthryth's father (cf. l. 3600).124
E les cuntes de [Cornewaille]L3869 [L3869] cornuaille124
Vindrent od li a l'assemblaile:
Pur ço le firent qu'il ert lur dreit.L3871 [L3871] Par dreit le f. car ceo ert H124
3872 Chascun de li grant fieu teneit,L3872 [L3872] de lui LRH124
Del feu sun pere erent chasez,L3873 [L3873] ert H124
De grant richeise erent feffez;L3874 [L3874] ert H124L3874 [L3874] not in R124
[De ses] parenz menad od sei.L3875 [L3875] m. asez R124L3875 [L3875] E des p. DL124
3876 Que direie de sun cunrei?
Un anel aveit en sun dei –L3877 [L3877] Un anelet out R124
Forment le cuveita li rei –L3878 [L3878] le rei LH124L3878 [L3878] not in R124
Ki plus valeit tuit senglement
3880 Que ne firent si vestement.L3880 [L3880] fireint R124
Une cape ot de neire [suale],L3881 [L3881] c. de soie avoit H124L3881 [L3881] suaue DL124L3881 [L3881] suale; 3884 dowet (wachet D). Cf. my article Further glossarial notes . . . (M.L.R. XLIX (1954), 308-21) for a discussion of these names of dress-fabrics. Professor Raphael Lévy kindly informs me that dove (= demi-drap) is mentioned under date 1275 by G. de Poerck, La draperie médiévale en Flandre et en Artois (Bruges 1951), II, 58; this suggests that dowet is a single word and that the w does not represent the hiatus-breaking glide; it also suggests that dowet is the name of a woollen fabric. An entirely different consideration suggests that the same may be true of suale. The wedding of Edgar and Ælfthryth takes place at Gloucester, but we are not told at what season of the year. Now it was the custom of William I, as we learn from A.S.C. 1086, when in England to wear his crown at Christmas at Gloucester, and William II seems to have continued the custom (A.S.C. 1094, 1100). If Gaimar had this in mind, then the choice of woollen fabrics for the lady's dress would not be inappropriate.124
Qui [traïnat] enmi la sale,L3882 [L3882] Qen la s. li trainoit H traignad L124L3882 [L3882] Ke li t. en la s. R124L3882 [L3882] traine124
Desuz aveit un mantelet,
Page 124
3884 Dedenz de gris, [dehors dowet],L3884 [L3884] g. defors d. RH125L3884 [L3884] hors de wachet125
De [altretel] paille ert sun blia[l]t.L3885 [L3885] autre DLH125
Trop ert bele. De ço qui chalt?L3886 [L3886] de ceo ke c. LH125
'O', fait [Gaimar], 'ne rois parlerL3887 [L3887] auctor libri interlined above name in L125L3887 [L3887] Ore f. L125L3887 [L3887] gaimer DH125
3888 [De] sa belté pur demurer.L3888 [L3888] pur demustrer H125L3888 [L3888] Od125
Si jo deïsse tut le veirL3889 [L3889] disaie R125
Des le matin tresqu'al seir,L3890 [L3890] m. un jor t. R125
N'avreie dit ne acunted
3892 La [tierce] part de sa belted'.L3892 [L3892] partie R125L3892 [L3892] terce L125L3892 [L3892] disme125 [f.120a]
Li reis levad, encuntre vint,
Prist la par main. Quant il la tint,L3894 [L3894] Par la m. q. H125
Mult devint lied, si l'amenat,
3896 En une chambre la herbergat;
Ne la volt [pas] loinz [herberger].L3897 [L3897] amener DLH125L3897 [L3897] om pas DL125L3897 [L3897] herberger R, amener DLH. The repetition of either verb from the preceding couplet would not be out of keeping with Gaimar's style, but the context rather suggests that the emphasis is on the lodging, so I have preferred the reading of R.125
Suz ciel n'ad rien qu'il tant ait chier.L3898 [L3898] ait tant LR tant out H125
L'endemain fist aparaillier
3900 Ses privez clers en un mustier
En l'ajurnee mult matin.L3901 [L3901] lenj. bien m. H125
Ore volt il traire a une fin.
Mener i fait Elftroed la bele,L3903 [L3903] M. il f. L125
3904 Si l'espusat en la chapele.L3904 [L3904] en sa c. H125
Puis fist mander pur ses barunsL3905 [L3905] om pur H125
E par dreit ban les ad sumuns.
Nuls n'en i ad ki ost laissier,L3907 [L3907] Nul nel ert ke o. L Nuls nen i ait ki lo. R Nuls nen ad qui o. H125
3908 Ki ne seit [hui] a sun mangier.L3908 [L3908] s. veu a H125L3908 [L3908] Ke L Kil RH125L3908 [L3908] om hui DL125L3908 [L3908] ne i s.125
Pur la joie que volt mener
S'i fist li reis aorner,L3910 [L3910] r. bien a. R125L3910 [L3910] Se RH125
Ses vestemenz reals vestid.
3912 Elftroed amat [mult] e goïdL3912 [L3912] a. et la g. H125L3912 [L3912] tint DL125
Kar ensement la fist vestirL3913 [L3913] le f. L125
E coroner e bien servir.
Li reis corone d'or portad
Page 125
3916 E feste tint, granz dons donad;L3916 [L3916] Feste t. e g. R126
Dous evesquez, treis abeïes,L3917 [L3917] e. e t. R126
Religïuns e seignuries
Estorat cel jur plusurs,L3919 [L3919] E. il icels jurs R126
3920 [Desheritez] rendit honurs;L3920 [L3920] r. lur h. H126L3920 [L3920] Plusurs d. R126L3920 [L3920] Deseverez126
Vers tute gent si s'adresçat,
Nuls nel haïd, chascuns l'amat.L3922 [L3922] N. nen h. H126
Sa feste tint enz en [ses sales],L3923 [L3923] en sale L126L3923 [L3923] om enz H126L3923 [L3923] La H126L3923 [L3923] la sale DH126
3924 Mult honorat les reis de [Wales].L3924 [L3924] wale H126L3924 [L3924] gale DL126
Les treis espees cil porterent;L3925 [L3925] e. li p. H126
Si cum li clerc enz l'ordenerentL3926 [L3926] om enz H126
[E] escrit l'orent e trovez,L3927 [L3927] E escriez lo. t. R En e. lo. t. H126L3927 [L3927] om E DL126
3928 Tuit ensement l'unt agreged.L3928 [L3928] agrae RH126L3923 [L3923] Gaimar is evidently referring to what was regarded as an old-established custom which had persisted to his day, for he again alludes to it in his account of the feast held by William II in his new hall at Westminster (ll. 6001-8). There is one discrepancy between the two accounts: at Edgar's feast only three swords and three kings are mentioned, at William's four. This number is in accord with the number in the account of Arthur's great feast on his return from the conquest of Gaul in the Historia (IX, 13) and Geoffrey's phrase quorum ius id fuerat seems to allude to the same juridical aspect as does Gaimar.126 [f.120b]
Jo ne puis pas acunter [l'estreL3929 [L3929] p. conter tote le. R126L3929 [L3929] om l'estre . . . cum dit DL126
Ne les richesces de la feste
Mes tant vus di cum dit] l'estoire,
3932 [Richesce] i ot [e] grant baldoire.L3932 [L3932] Richesces L126L3932 [L3932] a DL126L3932 [L3932] Richeises126
Ne demurat aprés que un meis,
A Lundres ert Edgar li reis.
En sun lit jut e la reïne,L3935 [L3935] j. od la H126
3936 Entur els ot une curtine
Delgié d'un paile [escariman].L3937 [L3937] Deugiee dune p. desc. H126L3937 [L3937] estharman DL126
Es vus l'arcevesque Dunstan,L3938 [L3938] Este R126L3938 [L3938] saint D. DLH126
Tres par matin [vint] en la chambre,L3939 [L3939] om vint DL126
3940 Sur un pecul de vermeil lambre
S'est apuied cel arcevesque.
Al rei parlat parole englesche,L3942 [L3942] parla en language e. R126
Si demandat qui ço esteit
3944 Qui en sun lit od lui giseit.L3944 [L3944] Ke en LH126
Li reis respunt: 'Ço est la reïne,
Elftroed a qui cest regne acline'.L3946 [L3946] r. est encline H126L3946 [L3946] q. ceo r. L126
Page 126
Dist l'arcevesque: 'Ço est tort.
3948 Mielz vus venist que fuissiez mortL3948 [L3948] v. a est m. L127
Que si gisir en adultirie.L3949 [L3949] avostrie L awlterie R avoutire H127L3949 [L3949] Qissi H127
Voz anemes irunt a martirie'.L3950 [L3950] V. enemis i L127
La reïne, quant ele l'oïd,L3951 [L3951] q. ceo o. H127
3952 Vers l'ercevesque s'en marid,
Si fort l'en devint enemie,
Puis ne l'amat jur de sa vie.
Lui ne chalut, pas ne voleitL3955 [L3955] ne chalt R127L3955 [L3955] Ne li chaloit H127
3956 Que hom feïst tort, laisast le dreit.L3956 [L3956] om le R127L3956 [L3956] t. e l. RH127L3956 [L3956] le t. H127
Soventes feiz amonestat,L3957 [L3957] f. les a. R127
Qu'il desevrassent lur preiad.L3958 [L3958] se severassent H127L3958 [L3958] E q. RH127
N'i valut rien sun predichier,L3959 [L3959] preschier LRH127L3959 [L3959] Ne volent rien de s. p. H127L3959 [L3959] Ni valt R127
3960 Il [amat li], ele ot lui chier.L3960 [L3960] amad si L127L3960 [L3960] lamat si127
Un fiz puis de li engendratL3961 [L3961] p. en li H127L3961 [L3961] f. en lui puis e. R127
E Edelred le apellatL3962 [L3962] eldret donc la. R127L3962 [L3962] om E H127
Pur sun ancestre, un rei barun
3964 Ki Edelred aveit a nun.L3964 [L3964] emelred L127
Mais ço avint, quant il [nasquit]:L3965 [L3965] nasquist R127L3965 [L3965] vesquid DL127
Saint Swithun idunc transit.L3966 [L3966] dunc LR127L3966 [L3966] esswitune R127L3965 [L3965] This is completely unhistorical and apparently derives from the same source which supplied Gaimar with information about Edgar and his two sons; as Gross points out, the date of the saint's death (862) and of his translation (971) must have been confused, though the latter does not fit the date of Æthelred's birth.127 [f.120c]
E quant li emfes ot sis anz,
3968 Dunc transit Edgar li vaillanz.L3968 [L3968] om Dunc H127
Edward sun fiz idunc regnat;L3969 [L3969] f. apres r. R127L3969 [L3969] dunc L127
Ço fud cel reis que Deus amat
Mais en sun tens pur sa juvente
3972 Estrange gent lui funt ententeL3972 [L3972] f. tormente H127
Les quels aveit sun pere atraitL3973 [L3973] s. p. aveit R127
En sun regne – mal aveit fait –
E sa marastre qui viveit,
3976 Ki la force del regne aveit,
Pur la baldur de sun lignage
Fist faire al rei [maint] grant ultrageL3978 [L3978] g. damage L127L3978 [L3978] om maint DLH127
Page 127
E pur sun fiz qui tehiseit,
3980 De qui [ele] rei faire voleit.
Li reis Edward duze anz regnat.L3981 [L3981] .vii. anz H128L3981 [L3981] How long did Edward reign according to Gaimar? DLR say twelve years, but H makes it seven; both D and H have numerals, so there has been some misreading. Actually Edward was king 975-978, but even if we make the quite unwarranted substitution of the correct number, we should still be in difficulties. At l. 3967 Gaimar says Æthelred was six when his father died and this appears to be substantially correct; consequently he would be nine or ten at his accession. At l. 4072 DLH say he was fifteen, and R sixteen, when this event took place, but this harmonizes neither with history nor with the length of Edward's reign given here. Whether the discrepancy is due to Gaimar or whether it goes back to his source, or sources, cannot be decided, so I follow the MS. base.128
Or vus dirai cum deviat.L3982 [L3982] c. il d. L128L3982 [L3982] O. oiez coment d. H128
Il ert un jur joius e lied,
3984 En Wiltesire aveit mangied.L3984 [L3984] a. mande L128
Wlstanet un naim aveit
Ki [baler] e trescher saveit,L3986 [L3986] baleer DL128
Si saveit saillir e tumberL3987 [L3987] e tiber R128L3987 [L3987] Et s. H128
3988 E autres gius plusur jüer.L3988 [L3988] p. juir R128
Li reis le vit, si l'apelatL3989 [L3989] r. se v. L128L3989 [L3989] Le r. R128
E a jüer lui comandat.
Lu naim lui dist que nu[n] fereit,L3991 [L3991] ferat R128L3991 [L3991] Le n. R Li n. L Li naims H128L3991 [L3991] nu DR128
3992 Pur sun cumant ne jüereit.L3992 [L3992] juerat R128
Cum li reis plus bel l'en preiat,L3993 [L3993] li pr. LH le pr. R128L3993 [L3993] r. le plus l. H128L3993 [L3993] E c. R128
E il [encuntre le ramponad],L3994 [L3994] om le L128L3994 [L3994] Cil H128L3994 [L3994] de juer refusat128
Forment s'en est li reis marid.L3995 [L3995] F. li r. sen m. H128L3995 [L3995] om s'en L128
3996 Wlstanet dunc s'en issit,L3996 [L3996] W. adonc i. H128
Son cheval prist, prest le trovat,
A la maisun [Elftroed] alat.L3998 [L3998] eltroed128
Il n'i aveit que une loëte,
4000 Ço ert mult pres de Sumersete,L4000 [L4000] om mult H128
Bois [i aveit espés e grant].L4001 [L4001] espes i a. grand128
Li neims [la veit] mult tost puinant.L4002 [L4002] n. vint m. L n. i vait tut p. H128L4002 [L4002] aveit128 [f.120d]
Li reis montat, siwant le [vad]L4003 [L4003] monte H128L4003 [L4003] Le r. R128L4003 [L4003] vait DR128
4004 Sur un cheval que prest [trovad].L4004 [L4004] troveit128
Unc ne finat de gualoper,
Le nein voleit vëer jüer.L4005 [L4005] not in H128
A la maisun Elftroed [turnad],L4007 [L4007] alat128
4008 Ki vit sun naim, ço demandat.
Poi trovat gent en la maisun,
Nuls ne lui dist ne oïl ne nun.L4010 [L4010] ne oc ne R128L4010 [L4010] oïl DLH, oc R. The affirmative particle in the oldest texts was o, but this seems to have lasted only in the locution dire ne o ne non; at first the particle was followed by the appropriate personal pronoun, but later the third person form oil was generalized, as already in the Estoire (ll. 4347, 4548). The corresponding locution in Provençal had oc; apart from loar (l. 3634) there is nothing to suggest that Gaimar was influenced linguistically by that group of dialects. Not without interest is the fact that, when the locution is used by Wace in his Brut (l. 14303), the majority of the MSS. use oï(l), but two, of which one is our R (= Arnold's B), use oc; both are thirteenth-century MSS., and I wonder whether by any chance they have been influenced by the well-known soubriquet of Richard I. As there is no means of deciding which particle Gaimar used, I have followed the MS. base.128
Page 128
Fors la reïne s'en issitL4011 [L4011] r. ke i. R129
4012 De sa chambre, si respondit:
'Sire, ça ne vint il nëent.L4013 [L4013] veneit il nent L129L4013 [L4013] S. ja ne R129
Remain od nus, bon rei, decent!
Rei, si te pleist, herberge tei!L4015 [L4015] Si te p. reis h. R129
4016 Ta gent ferai venir a [mei],L4016 [L4016] tei DL129
Wlstanet quere ferai,
Jo qui [ke] bien le troverai'.L4018 [L4018] om ke DL129
Respunt li reis: 'Vostre merci.
4020 Jo ne puis pas descendre issi'.L4020 [L4020] d. ici L d. ci H129
'Sire', fait ele, 'kar bevez
Tut a cheval, se vus m'amez'.
'Jo volentiers', respunt li rei,
4024 'Mais tut premier bevez a mei'.L4024 [L4024] beverez LR129
Li butilliers un corn emplitL4025 [L4025] U li b. L Un b. H129
De bon clared, puis l'en saisit;
La meitié but del corn tut plain,
4028 Al rei Edward le mist en main;
Al corn [liverer] le dut baisier.L4029 [L4029] c. prendre le L129
Dunc vint ne sai quel adversier
Od un cutel grant, esmolud,L4031 [L4031] om grant H129
4032 Al quer en ad le rei ferud.L4032 [L4032] Le r. en ad au q. f. H129
Li rei chaïd, un cri getad,L4033 [L4033] r. chet jus un R129L4033 [L4033] Li reis R Le r. H129
Li cheval s'en espoëntadL4034 [L4034] Le c. LRH129
Eissi sanglant cum il esteit,
4036 Od sele, od frein, cum Deus voleit,
A saint Edward vers Cirecestre –L4037 [L4037] Sen vait tut dreit a C. H129L4037 [L4037] e s. R129
La est la sele, la deit estre –L4038 [L4038] s. e la R129 [f.121a]
E le saint cors de cel martir
4040 Fist la reïne luinz covrir.L4040 [L4040] r. leenz c. H129
En une more fud ported,
U hom n'aveit ainz ested,L4042 [L4042] Nuitantre e a cele H129L4042 [L4042] e. entre R129L4033 [L4033] A passage in which are obscurities which cannot be cleared up. The reference to Cirencester and its possession of the saddle seems to be peculiar to the Estoire, and may have been introduced as an afterthought with a resulting dislocation of the text which Gaimar did not quite succeed in putting right. He seems to be acquainted with a tradition similar to that first recorded by William of Malmesbury, in which the body, entangled in the stirrup, was dragged along by the frightened horse. After the preterites of ll. 4033-4 we expect a parallel verb in the clause introduced by eissi sanglant, but are disappointed; il in l. 4035 is ambiguous, as it can refer either to the horse or to the king, and l. 4037 does not connect satisfactorily with what precedes, whether we follow DL and read a or accept R and read e; we are also left in the dark about the body; was it found on the way to Cirencester, as seems to be implied, or did it remain at the scene of the murder? The three older MSS. give substantially the same account, but H has felt a need for clarification and has made a correction which improves the sense; in l. 4037 H reads S'en vait tut dreit a Cirecestre, supplying the verb which appears to be missing in the other MSS. and also avoiding the awkward reference to St. Edward. It is curious that H has substituted for l. 4042 a line – Nuitantré e a celé – reminiscent of his earlier l. 3091. In view of the uncertainties of the tradition I adhere to the MS. base.129
La fud covert li reis de rosL4043 [L4043] Et f. H129
Page 129
4044 Mais [n'i ot lungement] repos.L4044 [L4044] lungement ni ot130
E la mesnee lui vint siwant,L4045 [L4045] m. le rei le vont s. R130L4045 [L4045] sa m. H130
A la maisun [Elftroed] querant,
Ele [lur] fuïd, pur ço est ditL4047 [L4047] Cele lur fu RH130L4047 [L4047] les130
4048 Que la reïne [le] murdrit.L4048 [L4048] les130
La nuit cum en la more esteit,
Un rai del ciel s'i estendeit,
[Cler] ert le rei, ne m'esmerveil,L4051 [L4051] r. a merveil L r. ne mes mervesleel R130L4051 [L4051] Clere130
4052 Bien pres resemblot le soleil.L4052 [L4052] al s. R130L4052 [L4052] semblot L130L4052 [L4052] om bien H130
Sur le saint cors cel rai veneit
E l'autre chief el ciel esteit.
Plusurs enquistrent que pot estre.
4056 A tant es vus un sage prestre,
De Dunehewe esteit proveire,L4057 [L4057] Dunehewe. The reference is to Donhead in S.W. Wiltshire, but there is nothing to indicate which of the present villages is intended. The O.E. form of the name is dunheafod and Gaimar may have retained the final dental, as he does in Gatesheved (l. 5449); if so, then the e following the nasal is probably merely graphic (cf. p. xlvi). The more important problem raised by the name is that of the scene of the murder. Traditionally, as already in A.S.C.(E), this took place at Corfe, the king being buried at near-by Wareham (Do) and the body later transferred to Shaftesbury. Gaimar knew nothing of this. For him, Edward is in Wiltshire (l. 3984) and displeased because his dwarf had refused to perform; the latter rides off to go to Ælfthryth's house a short mile away and close to Somerset (ll. 3999-4000); the king mounts and follows him, arrives at his stepmother's house, and is there murdered. The scene is thus quite clearly near the junction of the three counties Dorset, Somerset, Wiltshire, not far from the Devrill at which Gaimar had buried Cyneheard (l. 1915) in his account of the events described A.S.C. 755.130
La verité lur dist aneire:L4058 [L4058] d. envaire R130
'Ore espleitiez e sin alez,L4059 [L4059] e. e si a. R e. si i a. H130
4060 Un saint martir i troverez'.L4060 [L4060] m. vus t. L130
Li saint Esperit li ot gehidL4061 [L4061] Le RH130
Par une voiz qu'il oïd.
[Al bienmatin] en la cuntreeL4063 [L4063] Par matin DLH130
4064 Par plusurs lius vint renomeeL4064 [L4064] v. la r. H130L4064 [L4064] En p. H130
Que tut alassent cele part,
U ert murdrit li reis Edwart.L4066 [L4066] murdrez L130
Tuit li cuntrait ki la veneientL4067 [L4067] li clochant ki R130
4068 E cius e surz seins [i] esteient.L4068 [L4068] om i DL130
A Saftesbire fud ported,
La est cheri e onured.L4070 [L4070] not in H130
Ore fist Elftroed rei de Edelred.L4071 [L4071] eldret R130L4071 [L4071] f. reis de R130
4072 N'aveit que quinze ans li vadlet.L4072 [L4072] sesze a. le v. R130L4072 [L4072] There is a discrepancy in the age of the new king. According to Gaimar he was six when his father died (l. 3967) and Edward reigned twelve years (l. 3981), so Ethelred should be eighteen at his accession. This number is not given by any MS., and in view of the fact that elsewhere (ll. 3489, 5541) Gaimar uses dis e uit, which would make the line too long, that is probably not the number he used here. The evidence does not allow us to decide between quinze of DLH and sesze of R, so I have followed the MS. base. Cf. note to l. 3981.130
Par la force de ses parenzL4073 [L4073] not in H130
Devant l'autel saint Vince[n]zL4074 [L4074] a. de s. V. R130L4074 [L4074] D. lauter RH130 [f.121b]
A Wincestre le firent rei.L4075 [L4075] f. le r.130
Page 130
4076 Saint Dunestan transit, ço [crei],L4076 [L4076] qei131
Le arcevesque de Cantorbire,
Elftroed asolst de la grant yre;L4078 [L4078] a. de g. martire H131L4078 [L4078] asolt LRH131L4078 [L4078] solst131
Ainz qu'il transist, li pardonatL4079 [L4079] transit RH131
4080 E penitence li chargat.
A [Warwelle] s'espeneït,L4081 [L4081] walewelle H131L4081 [L4081] espenit DLRH131L4081 [L4081] walmeweste DL131L4081 [L4081] Warwelle R, Walewelle H. As between these two forms that of R is closer to the O.E. hwerwillas, so I have adopted it into the text; the Walmeweste of DL must be due to some unexplained confusion. In R the line is a syllable short, but the adoption of the earlier form of the verb remedies this.131
Bien servid Deu, iloc transid,
La est le cors, ço dit l'estoire;
4084 Les nuneins [funt de li] memoire:L4084 [L4084] Li moigne f. H131L4084 [L4084] de li funt131
Messe[s], matines e servise[s]L4085 [L4085] servise DL131L4085 [L4085] e m. DL131L4085 [L4085] Messe DLH131
E oreisuns par plusur[s] guise[s].L4086 [L4086] en mainte g. R en p. g. H131L4086 [L4086] guise DL131
Ore en facet Deu sun plaisir
4088 Ki poeir ad de li garir.L4088 [L4088] Il ad poer R131
Al tens que Edelred regnot,
Transit Dunstan, si cum Deu plot,
E aprés lui fud Edelgar,L4091 [L4091] f. arcevesque E. R131L4091 [L4091] om E LH131
4092 Pur Deu servir penat sa char,
Puis fud l'arcevesque Siric,L4093 [L4093] a. irric H131
Quant il transit, si fud Elvric,L4094 [L4094] elfrid R131L4094 [L4094] t. donc f. R t. i f. H131
Elfeh reçurent e eslistrent,L4095 [L4095] esleustrent H131L4095 [L4095] E. i r. L131L4095 [L4095] Elfrich R131
4096 Par grant honur el sied l'asistrent;L4096 [L4096] s. le mistrent H131
Cil arcevesque en cel endreit
Furent, quant Edelred esteit.L4089 [L4089] This passage seems to have been taken from a list of episcopal successions rather than compiled from separate annals; in his account of A.S.C. Gaimar indicates his knowledge of such material:
E des evesques ensement
Firent li clerc adrescement (ll. 2325-6).131
Il aveit un sun frere enznezL4099 [L4099] om sun H131
4100 Qui Edmund esteit apelez,L4100 [L4100] Edmund. This cannot be the historical brother who died when Ethelred was an infant, but he turns up again (ll. 4207-12), where his burial at Hereford is recorded; it is probable that Gaimar found him in the source on which he relied for the reign of Ethelred.131
Celui qui chalengot la terre,L4101 [L4101] om qui R131
Si la voleit sur lui [conquerre].L4102 [L4102] requerre DL131
Les Galeis erent ses amis
4104 Kar sa femme ert de lur païs,L4104 [L4104] om ert H131
Fille a un rei ert de la terre,
Od lui mainteneient la [guere].L4106 [L4106] terre131
De l'autre part li parentezL4107 [L4107] De a. p. LRH131
Page 131
4108 [Dunt] li reis Edward esteit nez,L4108 [L4108] ert H132L4108 [L4108] Dum132
De part sa mere le haeient [f.121c]
E mult grant guerre lui feseientL4110 [L4110] g. le f. R132L4110 [L4110] om mult H132
E les Escoz e les Pecteis,L4111 [L4111] Les E. H132
4112 [Les Galeis e les Cumbreis]L4112 [L4112] Les C. e les G.132
Ne deinoent de li tenir,L4113 [L4113] Desdeignoient H132
N'unc n'orent soign de lui servir.L4114 [L4114] Ne no. R Unc no. LH132
Quant li reis vait que si mal vait,L4115 [L4115] v. qissi v. H132L4115 [L4115] Q. veit li r. R132
4116 A ses amis en tint un plait,L4116 [L4116] om en R132
Cunseil requist, mester ert grant,L4117 [L4117] C. en quert m. H132
Tuit sun regne li vont tolant.
Dunc lui loerent cele gent
4120 Qu'il past la mer isnelement,
Demant Emme la suer Ricard,L4121 [L4121] Demande femme la sorour R. H132
Si l'en ameint de ceste part.L4122 [L4122] Sen lameine c. H132
Si les Normans sunt ses amis,
4124 Bien [pleiserat] ses enemis;L4124 [L4124] presserat DL132L4124 [L4124] pleiserat RH, presserat DL. Nowhere else does Gaimar use the latter verb, but we find an analogous use of the former at l. 3442: Bien sot ses enemis pleiser; this leads me to adopt this verb in the text both here and in l. 4126. Why DL objected I cannot say.132
Li cuens Ricard le meintendrat,L4125 [L4125] R. les m. L132
Tuz ses [veisins li pleiserat].L4126 [L4126] presserat DL132L4126 [L4126] om li DL132L4126 [L4126] enemis DLH132L4126 [L4126] veisins R, enemis DLH. Although H agrees with DL in the noun, it goes with R in the rest of the line, but, as we have just seen, the verb in DL, is suspect; if enemis were original, it is difficult to suggest any reason for a change, but veisins could appear to contradict l. 4124 and so invite alteration. This, I think, was done in the common ancestor of DLH and then DL objected to the verb; in view of these circumstances I have adopted the reading of R in this line.132
Cil en creït tres bien lur los,L4127 [L4127] om tres H132
4128 Unc n'ot sujur ne nul reposL4128 [L4128] s. et r. H132L4128 [L4128] om nul LRH132
Deci qu'il ot [Emme] espusee.L4129 [L4129] femme DLH132L4129 [L4129] Emme R, femme DLH. The whole emphasis in the discussion of Ethelred's marriage is on the desirability for political reasons of a union with the Norman princess and this makes the reading of R preferable; for some reason H also makes this same substitution earlier at l. 4121.132
Li cuens Ricard lui ad donee,
En Engleterre la menat,
4132 Wincestre en duaire [li] donat,L4132 [L4132] d. la d. H132L4132 [L4132] en drurie R en dowaire H132L4132 [L4132] lui132
Rochingesham e Roteland,
Que Elftroed aveit eüd devant;L4134 [L4134] elvered out e. H132
Tut li donat e chier la tint.L4135 [L4135] c. li t. R132L4135 [L4135] T. la d. H132
4136 En icel tens reis [Suain] vintL4136 [L4136] yvein DL132
Pur chalengier e pur cunquerre.
[Cil le] reçurent de la terre.L4138 [L4138] rescustrent H132L4138 [L4138] Cis les r. L132L4138 [L4138] Cis r.132
Page 132
Li cuens Ochtred de Lindesie
4140 Cunsentit, lui e [sa] navie,L4140 [L4140] sun133
E dela Humbre ensement,
Si firent puis tute la gentL4142 [L4142] om la H133
Qui dunc furent en Engleterre,L4143 [L4143] erent R133
4144 Unc n'i trovad guaires de guere.L4144 [L4144] Home ni trovast g. H133
Trestut saisit e trestut prist,L4145 [L4145] et tut p. H133
Unc nul hom ne l'encontredist.L4146 [L4146] nel cunt. LR133 [f.121d]
Kar Edelred n'ot nul' aïe,
4148 Si ert fuït en Normendie,
Il e sa femme e ses dous fiz,
Ricard les ad bien recuillid.
Quant li reis [Swains] l'ot tut cunquisL4151 [L4151] Q. roi S. out c. H133L4151 [L4151] S. ot LR133L4151 [L4151] ywain DL133
4152 E veit que suens est lu païs,L4152 [L4152] le p. LRH133
A [Gaynesburc] s'en est alezL4153 [L4153] gemelburc DL133
E piece iloc est sujurnez,L4154 [L4154] p. ad iloc s. R133L4154 [L4154] Iloeqes sest s. H133
A cel sujurn iloc transit,
4156 A Everwic fud enfuïd.
[Meis] puis aprés dis anz e plusL4157 [L4157] anz u p. R133L4157 [L4157] om Meis DLH133
Li Daneis traistrent les os sus,L4158 [L4158] D. en t. R133
En Norwege furent portez,L4159 [L4159] furent L133
4160 A Saint Olaf la sunt posez.
El mustier saint Piere giseit,
Quant li Daneis li unt toleit.L4162 [L4162] li vot t. R133L4157 [L4157] This additional information, particularly the reference to the translation of the remains, may have been obtained by Gaimar from Kirkstead Abbey which had a daughter-house in Norway. He is in agreement with Simeon of Durham over the burial at York, and he apparently thought the death a natural one. It is, therefore, of interest, in view of his obvious knowledge of St. Edmund materials, that Gaimar seems to be unaware of the legend which ascribed the Danish king's death to the miraculous intervention of the saint.133
E Chnut remist le fiz [Swain],L4163 [L4163] r. ki fu f. R133L4163 [L4163] A C. L om E H133L4163 [L4163] ywein DL133L4163 [L4163] Chnut see note133L4163 [L4163] The king's name is usually spelled kenut in D, but the other MSS. prefer a single-syllable form closer to that used by A.S.C.; this mostly satisfies metrical requirements, but occasionally the line is a syllable short unless the dissyllabic form is used (cf. p. xliv). In view of this element of doubt I have adhered to the spelling of the MS. base.133
4164 [A] bien en aise un an tut plein.L4164 [L4164] b. e en R133L4164 [L4164] om A DH133
Dunc vint grant ost e grant navieL4165 [L4165] v. la g. n. H133
Od Edelred de Normendie
E li Engleis e li Daneis
4168 Le reçurent, sil firent reis.L4168 [L4168] Li receustrent come r. H133L4168 [L4168] si en f. R133
Chnut, quant l'oïd, si s'en alad,L4169 [L4169] om si H133
Isnelement la mer passat,
Ost asemblat de plusurs terres,
Page 133
4172 N'at soing de pais, mult amat gueres.L4172 [L4172] aimet R134L4172 [L4172] Nout H134
Reis Edelred en LindesieL4173 [L4173] V. demandant H134
Vait demenant sa seignurie,
Les preies prent, destruit la terre,
4176 Asez i fait crüele guerre.
E Kenut [revint] od [sa] navie,L4177 [L4177] i vint H134L4177 [L4177] om E L134L4177 [L4177] sun DR134L4177 [L4177] vint DL134
Ariver volt en Lindesie.
Quant ot que Edelred i esteit,L4179 [L4179] il ot DL134
4180 Vers Tamise siglat tut dreit,
A la buche [de] Fron entrat,L4181 [L4181] frunt LR134L4181 [L4181] del DH134
[Tut cel] païs a sei turnat;L4182 [L4182] Tuz cels del DL134 [f.122a]
De tutes parz vindrent Engleis,
4184 Si se pristrent a Kenut li reis.
Reis Edelred a Lundres vint,
Bien se garnid, iloc se tint;L4186 [L4186] B. le g. L B. la g. RH134
Nen ot par quei se cumbatistL4187 [L4187] Ne sot p. L Nout H134
4188 Encuntre Chenut: pur ço guenchist.L4188 [L4188] ceo venquit H134L4188 [L4188] co se g. R134
Iloc dit que se defendrat.L4189 [L4189] d. kil se R134L4189 [L4189] dist H134
Dunc [i] vint Kenut, si l'asegat.L4190 [L4190] om i DLH134
Tant [i] estut e atenditL4191 [L4191] e. tant a. H134L4191 [L4191] om i DLH134
4192 Que Edelred li reis transit.
A Saint Pol iloches gist,
A l'evesqued sun tresor mist.
Un fiz aveit reis Edelred;
4196 Li autre dui sunt petited,L4196 [L4196] s. de petit ee H134
En Normendie erent ported
Kar la esteit lur parentez.
Li cuens Ricard lur uncle esteit
4200 Quis doctrinot e nurisseitL4200 [L4200] d. et enseignoit H134
E la reïne ert a Gincestre,L4201 [L4201] La r. estoit H134
Plus bele femme ne pot estre.
E Kenut regnot, si ot cunquisL4203 [L4203] om E H134
4204 De plusurs pars [tut] lu païsL4204 [L4204] le p. LRH134L4204 [L4204] om tut DLH134
Page 134
Mais Edmund Edeling [pesout],L4205 [L4205] parlot LH135L4205 [L4205] palot135L4205 [L4205] pesout R, palot D, parlot LH. The reading of D is meaningless and that of LH a make-shift alteration which does not make sense. Though I have followed R, I am not sure this represents what Gaimar wrote. Did he by any chance write paralot? True, this would give a nine-syllable line, if we regard edeling as of three syllables, but this word is treated in a similar way in l. 4646.135
Ço qu'il poeit, si guerriot.
Il e sun uncle l'autre Edmund
4208 Encuntre Kenut grant guere funt,L4208 [L4208] om grant H135
De l'einzned Edmund mesavint,
Un mal le prist e tant le tintL4210 [L4210] et si le H135
Qu'il finit e sin fud mort,L4211 [L4211] et fut m. H135L4211 [L4211] Q. en f. R135
4212 Enfuït fud a Herefort.
Mais cist Edmund aünat gent,L4213 [L4213] cil E. avoit g. H135
Si guerreiat mult vassalment,
Od lui se tindrent les Gualeis,L4215 [L4215] A sei se H135
4216 Si prist la suer a un des reisL4216 [L4216] pristrent H135L4216 [L4216] The marriage is quite unhistorical. Edmund Ironside married the widow of Siferth, a thane of the Seven Boroughs, whose name, according to Florence of Worcester, was Ealdgyth; Plummer (II, 194) suspects that Gaimar confused her with Ealdgyth, widow of Gruffydd [king of N. Wales] and wife of Harold II. The mistake may have originated in some such way, but I doubt whether Gaimar made it; he is using here a source which stresses Edmund's Welsh associations and I suggest the mistake was already in that source.135
E tuit icil dela SaverneL4217 [L4217] t. cil de RH135
Des [Lancastre] tresque [Malverne]L4218 [L4218] alverne DLH135L4218 [L4218] danecastre DL135L4218 [L4218] Lancastre . . . Malverne R, Lancastre . . . Auverne H, Danecastre . . . Alverne DL. The agreement of R and H, and also the context, support Lancaster as the first place named; the context also requires another place west of the line of the Severn as the southern limit and this is supplied by R.135 [f.122b]
Sivent sun [ban] e sun cumand.L4219 [L4219] bon135
4220 E il vait mult Kenut guerriantL4220 [L4220] K. mult H135L4220 [L4220] om mult R135
Tant que Daneis sunt asemblez.L4221 [L4221] les D. R135
Od ost sunt sur lui alez.L4222 [L4222] o. en s. R135
Li cuens Turkil cest ost menad,L4223 [L4223] cel o. R135L4223 [L4223] Gaimar, or his source, appears to be the sole authority for Thurkil being in command at Sherston, but this may well be correct.135
4224 Le fiz del rei encuntre alad.L4224 [L4224] f. le r. H135L4224 [L4224] Li f. RH135L4224 [L4224] le fiz DL, li fiz RH. If we follow the MS. base, the subject of alad is Turkil, and I think that is what Gaimar intended, in view of the stress laid on Edmund's forward move and the Danish reaction to it.135
Dunc vindrent a [Escorestan]L4225 [L4225] escorham H135L4225 [L4225] soreham135L4225 [L4225] Escorestan R, Escoreham H, Soreham DL. The reference is to the battle at Sherston, so R is to be followed in the text. Confusion of -stan and -ham in place-names occurs elsewhere in the Estoire (cf. l. 3248 L and note to ll. 987-90.135
L'endemain de saint Johan.L4226 [L4226] de la s. L135
Iloc firent dure bataille,L4227 [L4227] I. tindrent d. R135L4227 [L4227] Il lur f. H135
4228 Quant les Engleis asquanz funt failleL4228 [L4228] li E. RH135
A lur seignur quis ot menez;L4229 [L4229] q. i out R135
Od les Daneis se sunt turnez
Par traïsun e felunie,L4231 [L4231] e en f. R135L4231 [L4231] e par f.135
4232 Maint gentil hom perdit la vie.L4232 [L4232] la p. la v. R135
Edriz Estrene lui faillitL4233 [L4233] E. lestrene lad f. H135
[E plusurs] autres que ot nuridL4234 [L4234] a. kil o. RH135L4234 [L4234] Et assez a. H135L4234 [L4234] Plus DL135
Le rei Edward e EdelredL4235 [L4235] E. frere corrected from fiz E. H135L4235 [L4235] om e R135L4235 [L4235] Li rei L Li reis RH135L4228 [L4228] According to A.S.C. 1016 Eadric was fighting on the Danish side at the battle of Sherston. It is not quite clear whether Gaimar thought that he changed sides during the battle or that the defection had taken place earlier. It is interesting that Gaimar does not seem to know the specific act of treachery associated with Sherston by Florence of Worcester and William of Malmesbury and with Ashingdon by Henry of Huntingdon.135
Page 135
4236 E li Daneis meinent balded.L4236 [L4236] D. maneit b. L136L4236 [L4236] les D. R136
A Esse[n]dune repareisL4237 [L4237] E. tut dreit pur veirs L E. repaira H136
Menat sun ost Kenut li reis.L4238 [L4238] Cnut li r. sost i mena H136
Edmund se cumbatid od [lui]L4239 [L4239] A poi de gent se combati E. et nuls homs ceo qui H136L4239 [L4239] E E. R136L4239 [L4239] li136
4240 A poi de gent. Nus hom, ço qui,L4240 [L4240] g. mes nul h. R136
N'i [ferit] mielz qu'il [ne ferit],L4241 [L4241] que il feseit L136L4241 [L4241] Ne f. LR136L4241 [L4241] quil fereit136L4241 [L4241] fereit m. DL136
Volsist u nun le champ [guerpit],L4242 [L4242] guerpeit136
Par force l'en traistrent Gualeis,
4244 La victoire orent Daneis.L4244 [L4244] o. li D. R136L4244 [L4244] La victorie LR136
Issi durat par plusurs dis
Entre ces dous guerre e estrifsL4246 [L4246] Entre eus d. RH136
Tant que a eissil alad [la] terreL4247 [L4247] alout R136L4247 [L4247] om a R136L4247 [L4247] a136
4248 Par lur orguil e par lur guerre.
Les baruns dunc [se] purpenserent,L4249 [L4249] om se DL136
Tant unt parled que els acorderent.L4250 [L4250] p. kes a. R p. qil les a. H136
A Derehuerste sunt asemblez,L4251 [L4251] derewente H136
4252 Iloc fud entr'els graantez.L4252 [L4252] I. ont e. H136L4252 [L4252] grantez DLRH136
Une bataille i unt gagee,
Par lur dous cors fud otrïee. [f.122c]
Purparled fud e devised,L4255 [L4255] i fut g. H136
4256 Cument chascun ert adubed:L4256 [L4256] c. serreit a. R136
Hauberc e elme, escud e hache,L4257 [L4257] e. et hanste H136
Hansax, espee e bone mache,L4258 [L4258] b. mace LRH136
Chalces de fer chascun avrad,L4257 [L4257] The details of equipment are those contemporary with the author; Wace gives chauces de fer to Arthur (Brut 9275) and to the Normans at Hastings (Rou 7700); only a few of the important leaders among the invaders are shown wearing them in the Bayeux Tapestry; they were probably unknown in the early eleventh century.136
4260 Quant en la bataille enterad.L4260 [L4260] entread L entrat R136L4260 [L4260] om la H136
Aprés distrent u ço dut estre.L4261 [L4261] deit R136L4261 [L4261] A. ceo d. ou deut e. H136L4261 [L4261] dust DL136L4261 [L4261] dust DL, deut H, deit R. The indicative is required, not the subjunctive, as seems to be intended by DL and by H, so I have emended accordingly.136
Otrïed fud a Glouecestre;L4262 [L4262] gloescestre L136L4262 [L4262] gloucestre DRH136
Enmi Saverne en une nefL4263 [L4263] om en H136
4264 Les [ameint hom] bel e süefL4264 [L4264] hom ameint136
E la nef seit bien atachee,L4265 [L4265] b. ateach L136
Page 136
Enchaenee e ferlïeeL4266 [L4266] de fer liee LH137L4266 [L4266] om e H137
De ambesdous parz que ferme seitL4267 [L4267] Dambes p. afferme s. H137
4268 En miliu de l'ewe tut dreit –L4268 [L4268] En mi lewe H137
Ço ert entre els [dreite] devise,L4269 [L4269] dreit DL137
Pur ço i unt bataille asise –L4270 [L4270] om i L137
E lur dous oz seient de dous [parz].L4271 [L4271] seit R137L4271 [L4271] part DL137
4272 Ço unt establit en lur [esgarz]L4272 [L4272] E unt jure ambesdous par e. R137L4272 [L4272] esgart DL137L4272 [L4272] lur unt137L4272 [L4272] The insertion of lur with D makes the line metrically faulty; ço usually has full syllabic value before parts of aveir in the Estoire, but elision is not impossible and I accept it here (cf. l. 2929). The line has obviously been recast in R.137
E [hostaged] e afïed:L4273 [L4273] ostages137
Se il ne sunt ainz acordezL4274 [L4274] seient H137
E la bataille seit ferue,L4275 [L4275] ferue and vencue interverted in H137
4276 Li quel [d'els] dous qui l'ait vencue,L4276 [L4276] kil lait R137L4276 [L4276] om dous qui H137L4276 [L4276] des d. L137L4276 [L4276] de137
A li se irunt tuz alïer,L4277 [L4277] si i. R sen i. H137
Sil larrunt sur [els] regner.L4278 [L4278] S. lesserunt R137L4278 [L4278] lui137
[Al jur] se sunt tuz asemblez,L4279 [L4279] si s. H137L4279 [L4279] A or137
4280 Li dui rei en la nef menez,L4280 [L4280] n. sunt m. R137L4280 [L4280] les .ii. r. H137
E de dous parz a l'ariver
Sunt les dous oz pur esguarder.L4282 [L4282] om dous R137
Tute[s] les nefs de la cited
4284 Furent aval l'eve mened;L4284 [L4284] Sunt R137L4283 [L4283] not in H137
A sis liues luinz les menerent,L4285 [L4285] .vii. l. H137
Si cum li barun esgarderent,
Ne voleient que nul bricun
4288 La començast nul[e] tençunL4288 [L4288] om nule H137L4288 [L4288] Ja H137
Mais par els dous fust derained;L4289 [L4289] om dous H137
Qui Deu plarat, ait le regned.L4290 [L4290] p. qeit le r. H137 [f.122d]
A l'un chief de la nef fut KenutL4291 [L4291] ert H137
4292 Qui des Daneis [estait] venut;L4292 [L4292] venu fut H137L4292 [L4292] fut DLH137
A l'autre chief Edmund esteit
Qui as Engleis aparteneit.
Culchied se sunt en oreisuns,L4295 [L4295] a o. LH137L4295 [L4295] E c. DL137
4296 Asez firent [afflictïuns],L4296 [L4296] A. i f. H137L4296 [L4296] asflictiuns137
Page 137
Puis se drescerent en estant,L4297 [L4297] E p. DL138
Chascun vait ses armes seignant.
Quant se furent bien aturned,L4299 [L4299] Q. il f. H Q. se firent L138
4300 [Li uns] vers l'autre ad esgarded.L4300 [L4300] Li uns ad lautre e. H138L4300 [L4300] Le un DL138
Dunc parlat Kenut mult sagementL4301 [L4301] om mult H138
E dist: 'Edmund, un poi atent.L4302 [L4302] d. a E. H138
Jo sui Daneis e vus EngleisL4303 [L4303] e tu E. R138L4303 [L4303] E jo138
4304 E noz peres furent dous reis.
L'un tint la terre e l'autre l'ot,L4305 [L4305] om e LH138L4305 [L4305] Li uns H138
Chascuns en fist [ço ke li plot].L4306 [L4306] que faire pot138
Tant cum l'orent en poësted,
4308 Chascuns en fist sa volented
E bien sachiez luinteinementL4309 [L4309] savez L138
L'orent Daneis nostre parent;
Pres de mil anz l'ot Dane enceisL4311 [L4311] a. leurent danois H138
4312 Que unc i [entrast] Certiz li reis.L4312 [L4312] Einz qonc H138L4312 [L4312] entrad DL138
Certiz ço fud [vostre] ancienL4313 [L4313] f. tun a. L138L4313 [L4313] f. li a.138L4313 [L4313] C. fud DLH138
E li reis [Danes] fud le mien,L4314 [L4314] dane L138L4314 [L4314] daneis DH138
Danes la tint en chief [de Deu],L4315 [L4315] le t. RH138L4315 [L4315] Dane L138L4315 [L4315] om de Deu DLH138L4315 [L4315] D. li reis DLH138L4315 [L4315] Daneis DRH138
4316 Modred donat Certiz sun [feu],L4316 [L4316] s. fie LH138L4316 [L4316] sied138L4313 [L4313] The text of this passage is doubtful. In the first line the agreement of R and H and the divergence of D and L support vostre ancien. There is a similar use of the demonstrative at l. 82, so I keep it. In ll. 4314-5 there is confusion between the eponymous king Dan and the adjective daneis, but the former is clearly intended. In the second couplet the MS. diverge; R gives:
D. le tint an chief de Deu,
Modret donat Certiz son feu; DLH give:
D. li reis la (le H) tint en chief,
Modred donat Certiz sun sied (fie LH). Nowhere else does Gaimar appear to use fief, the word required for a correct rime, but he does use feu; the pronoun in RH has no reference, whereas the la of DL can refer back to terre (l. 4305), if it is not, after all, the adverb. As the reading of R is a little clearer, and the rime less open to objection, I have followed that MS. Why, in l. 4316, H objected to Modred and so made Dan the donor is a mystery and completely disregards the thousand years interval recorded in l. 4311.138
Il ne tint unkes chevelment,
De lui vindrent vostre parent.L4318 [L4318] nostre p. L138
Pur çol [vus] di, si nel savez:L4319 [L4319] co H138L4319 [L4319] om vus DL138L4319 [L4319] co le DLR138
4320 Si vus od mei vus cumbatez,L4320 [L4320] om second vus R138
Li uns [de nus ad] greignur tort,L4321 [L4321] Ne savum ki a g. L138L4321 [L4321] Lun R138L4321 [L4321] ot138
Ne savoms li quels en ert mort.L4322 [L4322] s. mie quels en R138
Pur ço [vus] voil un offre faireL4323 [L4323] om vus DL138
4324 E ne me voil [de] rien retraire.L4324 [L4324] ne men v. R138
Partums la terre dreit en dous;L4325 [L4325] om dreit H138
La une partie en aiez vus,L4326 [L4326] om en H138
Page 138
[f.123a]L'autre partie m'en remaine,L4327 [L4327] me r. R139L4327 [L4327] follows 4328 in H139
4328 Ke jo ne vus ne [nuls] se plaine.L4328 [L4328] Et la tiegnez en demaine H139L4328 [L4328] nus L139L4328 [L4328] Ne jo R139L4328 [L4328] om nuls DR139L4328 [L4328] ne se plaine D, ne nus se pleine L, ne se complaigne R. I take nus in L to be the pronoun nuls, as the first plural pronoun does not make sense, and suspect the word may have been regarded as a dittography of vus in D and in R. No help in the solution of this little problem is given by H which inserts Et la tiegnez en demaine before l. 4327 and leaves out our line.139
Puis [conquerom cele] partieL4329 [L4329] P. tute cel autre p. L139L4329 [L4329] apres icele139
Dunt jo ne vus n'en avoms mie.L4330 [L4330] ore mie L139L4330 [L4330] navun LRH139L4330 [L4330] Qe vus ne moi H139L4330 [L4330] Ke L139
Si cum nus la cunquerums,L4331 [L4331] Et si H139
4332 Entre nus dous la [departoms]L4332 [L4332] partisuns DL139
E seiuns [dous] freres en lei.L4333 [L4333] deus L .ii. H139
Jo jurai vus, vus jurez mei,L4334 [L4334] et vus moi H139
De tenir tel fraternitedL4335 [L4335] om tel H139
4336 Cum d'une mere fuissum ned,
Cum se fuissum ambedui frere
E de un pere e d'une mere,L4338 [L4338] Dun p. H139
Si ait hostages entre nusL4339 [L4339] ert LH139
4340 E crëez mei, jo crerai vus'.L4340 [L4340] e jo RH139L4340 [L4340] om E H139
Edmund [s'estut] de l'autre part,L4341 [L4341] sestud L139L4341 [L4341] sestent139
De hardement semblat lepart,L4342 [L4342] semblout R resembloit H139L4342 [L4342] resemblat139
Le humilited ot e le dreitL4343 [L4343] Lumblete oit H139
4344 Que li bon re[i] Kenut diseit.L4344 [L4344] li d. R li fesoit H139L4344 [L4344] li rois H139
Respons donat mult sagement:L4345 [L4345] dount H139
'Parsiwerez vus cest parlement?'
'[Oïl]', dist Kenut, 'par verited.L4347 [L4347] Oil en d. L139L4347 [L4347] O en139L4347 [L4347] o en d. D, oïl d. LRH. I have followed the majority reading, but D may give what Gaimar wrote. Cf. note to l. 4010.139
4348 Entre nus dous seit afïed.
Tenez, ma fei jo vus afi
De tenir ço que jo vus di'.L4350 [L4350] Cest covenant tendrai issi R139
Cest cuvenant fud afïed.
4352 Este les vus tuz acordez!L4352 [L4352] tut a. RH139L4352 [L4352] Estes RH139
Par cel covent s'entrebaiserent,L4353 [L4353] P. tel covenant R P. tieu c. H139
Ces covenanz bien tenuz erent,L4354 [L4354] Et cil c. H139L4251 [L4251] In A.S.C. 1016 we are told that, on the advice of the nobles, a meeting between Edmund Ironside and Cnut was arranged, that it took place æt Olanege, that the kings made peace and that they agreed to divide the kingdom. Round this meeting an elaborate tradition developed which has been much discussed. (Cf. Plummer, II, 198-9; Miss M. Ashdown, The Single Combat in certain cycles of English and Scandinavian tradition and romance, M.L.R. XVII (1922), 113-30; C. E. Wright, o.c.; Bell, Gaimar's early Danish kings, P.M.L.A. LXV (1950), 601-40.) Accounts differ; some mention a proposal for a single combat, others describe one actually taking place. The Encomium Emmæ (c. 1026) first refers to a proposal for combat, and William of Malmesbury describes one in greater detail, but his contemporary, Henry of Huntingdon, is the first to describe an actual combat. Wright (o.c., p. 191) says the reference to the idea of a single combat in the very early Encomium Emmæ seems to me strongly in favour of the tradition of either an actual or a proposed combat between Edmund and the Danish and points out the absence of any idea of judicial trial by combat in Anglo-Saxon law, though the Scandinavian holmgang must have been very familiar throughout Anglo-Saxon England in the eleventh century. In this respect the Estoire occupies a middle position: not only is a single combat proposed, it is actually arranged. Gaimar agrees with Henry of Huntingdon in making Cnut the proposer of an amicable settlement, though for different reasons: in the Estoire the general ground is the fact that their two fathers were both kings, and this is found elsewhere, but the further invocation of the sovereignty of Dan and the donation of Modred is largely, if not entirely, the work of Gaimar.139
De ambesdous parz tut le barnageL4355 [L4355] om dous H139
4356 Loerent Deu, cil qui sunt sage,
E li dui reis nefs demanderent.L4357 [L4357] d. rei R139
Page 139
Dous petiz batels amenerentL4358 [L4358] b. lur a.140
Uns pescheürs qui iloc maneient,L4359 [L4359] ke i. maneit L140L4359 [L4359] Dous R140
4360 En une fosse muciez esteient.L4360 [L4360] m. esteit L140L4360 [L4360] un f. R140L4357 [L4357] not in H140
Li dui rei vindrent a lur gent.
L'endemain funt l'acordementL4362 [L4362] Le. fu feit la. R Le. fut le parlement H140 [f.123b]
Kar la terre fud departie
4364 Par l'esgard de la baronie.L4364 [L4364] P. le grant de H140
Si cum l'eve curt de TamiseL4365 [L4365] curt lewe R140
Unt esgardet dreite devise
E des le liu, u ele surt,
4368 Tresque Fosse; iloc recurtL4368 [L4368] retourt H140L4368 [L4368] diloc R140
E alt tut dreit tresqu'al cheminL4369 [L4369] Et vet H140
Que fist faire li reis Belin,
Wathlingestrete; iloec endreitL4371 [L4371] Wathlingstrete RH140L4371 [L4371] Vathingestrete DL140
4372 Trestut le west devisé seit.L4365 [L4365] The passage reads as though taken from an actual record; Cnut has Northumbria and the Danelaw together with the roughly triangular piece west of the old boundary between English and Danish Mercia and limited by Fosse Way and the Thames. With this passage should be taken ll. 4381-6 which show clearly that Gaimar allocated London to Cnut; in this he agrees with Henry of Huntingdon, but they are probably mistaken.140
Quant li barun ço orent fait,
Nuls des dous reis ne s'en retrait;
Loz e [cavles] en funt par dreitL4375 [L4375] e chaules L et changes en H140L4375 [L4375] eschaules140L4375 [L4375] loz e cavles. For this phrase, and particularly the second word, see my article Glossarial and Textual Notes . . ..140
4376 Que ja mais cuntençun n'en seit.L4376 [L4376] contencon ja mes R140
Del sud avint Edmund sa part,L4377 [L4377] a. a E. H140
La ert sun uncle seint Edwart
E de l'autre part de TamiseL4379 [L4379] dautre p. H140
4380 Tint li reis Kenut dreite justise;L4380 [L4380] om li H140
Lundres aveit, la ert sun sied,
Everwic ert en sun regned.
Edmund aveit CantuorbireL4383 [L4383] E E. R140
4384 E Wincestre e SalesbireL4384 [L4384] E ovoc W. R140
E Glouecestre e dreite CestreL4385 [L4385] dreite Cestre. By this phrase, I take it, Gaimar means Chester (on the Dee), the adjective having the sense without any addition, standing by itself, possibly to emphasize the reference to the Chester from which the twelfth-century Earls of Chester, in whom Gaimar was clearly interested, took their title.140
E Cirecestre e Execestre.L4386 [L4386] Cicestre H140
Que direie des dous regnez?
4388 Chascun fud richement chasez.L4388 [L4388] estoit H140
Ore regnoent plus üelmentL4389 [L4389] regnent H140
Que ne funt frere ne parent
Page 140
E plus s'entreamouent cil duiL4391 [L4391] cil dui and ço qui interverted in RH141L4391 [L4391] sentreamerent RH141
4392 Que ne funt dous freres, ço qui,L4392 [L4392] il dui R141L4392 [L4392] om dous RH141
Quant un traïtre en ot envie.
Dunc fist cel fel sa felunie.L4394 [L4394] Fist donc H141
Edmund sumunst e vait preier
4396 Qu'il vienged od lui herbergier.L4396 [L4396] vengez R141
Cil ert sun hom, tant le preiad,L4397 [L4397] sis h. R141L4397 [L4397] e t.141
Li reis Edmund [s'i] herbergat.L4398 [L4398] i DL141 [f.123c]
Cunrei i ot a grant plented
4400 Mais malement fud aloed.
Cil kil donat tut le perdit,
Car cume fel le rei murdrit.L4402 [L4402] aveit m.141
Edriz ot fait un engin faire,L4403 [L4403] fert141
4404 L'arc ki ne [falt] eissi seit traire.
Si rien atuchet la cordele,L4405 [L4405] sa c. RH141
Tost pot oïr male novele,
Neis un ovet, si il [s'i] fereit,L4407 [L4407] o. sur se i f. L141L4407 [L4407] un ewet R141L4407 [L4407] se141
4408 De sa sëete le [fendreit].L4408 [L4408] s. lui f. L141L4408 [L4408] la seite R141L4408 [L4408] fendeit DL141L4408 [L4408] sete DL141
La u cel arc fud aprested,
Un nof ostel i ot posed,L4410 [L4410] novel o. RH141
Privé hostel l'apeled l'om,L4411 [L4411] apela RH141
4412 Pur cel mestier [i] entrad hom.L4412 [L4412] nentrait h. L i entre lom H141L4412 [L4412] P. tieu m. H141L4412 [L4412] ni141
Li rei[s] i fud la nuit mened,
Si cum Edriz ot cumanded.
Tresqu'il s'asist sur la sete,L4415 [L4415] sa. desus la sele H141
4416 Unc puis ne mot [car la sëete]L4416 [L4416] Larc destent vole la s. L El fundement li fiert la s. R141L4416 [L4416] de la sete141L4416 [L4416] se mot141L4415 [L4415] In the first line DLR agree in reading Tresqu'il s'asist sur la sete. I take the final word to be sete privy and am confirmed in this by H which substitutes, to the detriment of the rime, la sele. The MSS. diverge in the second line. D has Unc puis ne se mot de la sete which does not fit into the context and probably ends with a dittography; it is partially supported by H which reads Onc puis ne meust car la seete; though the other two MSS. diverge considerably in their readings, they both agree with H in the rime-word, so I have, by a slight correction, introduced that word into the text. Otherwise the readings of L and R represent independent attempts to clarify the situation.141
Amunt li vint tresqu'al pulmun,
Unc ne parurent li penunL4418 [L4418] U. ni p. H141L4418 [L4418] not in R141
De la sëete qu'il ot el cors,L4419 [L4419] s. kot el R141
4420 Nïent de sanc n'en isseit fors.L4420 [L4420] i. hors H141L4420 [L4420] issi LRH141L4420 [L4420] Ne n. R141
Li reis criad un cri mortel,
L'aneme s'en vait, n'i aveit el,L4422 [L4422] il ni out el R ni out el H141
Page 141
Del revenir ne i fud nïent.L4423 [L4423] ni out n. H142L4423 [L4423] om i R142
4424 [D'iloc] le porterent sa gent.L4424 [L4424] le reporterent L lemporterent R li p. H142L4424 [L4424] De loc142
En un mustier en fud portez,L4425 [L4425] m. lunt p. L m. fu RH142L4425 [L4425] En fud en un m.142
Asez i ot lit e chanted
E dit matines e servise.
4428 Deu, se li pleist, facet justiseL4428 [L4428] Deus LR142L4428 [L4428] en f. DL142
Del mal felun, del traïturL4429 [L4429] m. fel del L142
Qui si ot murdri sun seignur.L4430 [L4430] Qissi m. H142L4426 [L4426] Cf. the similar combination of details of worship and pious reflections by the author in ll. 4084-8.142
Li reis fud bien ensevelizL4431 [L4431] om bien H142
4432 E enterez e bien serviz.
Mais sa reïne nel saveit.L4433 [L4433] la r. H142
Dous bels valez par li aveitL4434 [L4434] de li RH142 [f.123d]
E einz qu'ele unkes le seüst
4436 Ne hom dire ne li peüst,L4436 [L4436] d. li p. RH142L4436 [L4436] Ne home LH Ne ke home R142
Li dui valez li sunt toleit,
A Kenut furent porté tut dreit.
Ço fist Edriz le traïtur,
4440 Pur ço quidat creistre s'onur.
A Lundres vint cel mal felun,L4441 [L4441] v. icel f. H142
[Reis] Kenut i ert e maint barun.L4442 [L4442] om Reis DLH142
Devant le rei s'agenuillad,
4444 En s'oreille li cunseillad
Cument aveit de Edmund [overé]L4445 [L4445] erred DL142
E des emfanz que ot amened.
Quant li reis l'ot bien entendut,L4447 [L4447] lad R142L4447 [L4447] Et q. il lout e. H142
4448 Mult devint grains e irascud,L4448 [L4448] om Mult H142L4448 [L4448] l. 4447 and l.4448 interverted142
Tuz ses baruns ad fait mander,L4449 [L4449] mande L142L4449 [L4449] om fait L142L4449 [L4449] om ad H142
La traïsun fait recunter.L4450 [L4450] Sa raison refet recorder H142
Quant lur oiant l'ad si proved,L4451 [L4451] Q. oiant eus lad H142L4451 [L4451] a lur DL142
4452 Prendre le fait, puis fud mened
Sur une tur antive asise.
[Quant vient li floz, si i bat Tamise].L4454 [L4454] En (Et [H]) fud pened en meinte guise DLH142L4454 [L4454] The reading of R is quite different from that in the other MSS.: En (Et H) fud pened en meinte guise. The first word in DL cannot be right, as it results in a breaking of the connexion with l. 4452; the reading of H obviates this, but even so a line based on these three MSS. contradicts the summary punishment carried out by the king in person. As R does not involve any break in construction nor any contradiction and is supported by ll. 4466-8, I have adopted its reading into the text.142
Page 142
Li reis me[ï]sme aprés alad,L4455 [L4455] r. meismes RH143
4456 [Pur tuz les citëeins mandat].L4456 [L4456] citezeins H143L4456 [L4456] citeins R143L4456 [L4456] Pur lui tormenter i vad DL143
Une hache en fist porter,L4457 [L4457] h. fist aporter R143
Ne qui su[z] ciel eüst sa per.L4458 [L4458] c. ot sa L c. nout sa H143L4458 [L4458] qui que DLH143
El tup devant del traïtur
4460 Fist une verge tortre entur.L4460 [L4460] Quissi murdrit murdrit son seignur (4430 []) Fist une v. toerdre devant H143
Quant bien fud ferme el tup devant,
Li reis Kenut i vint errant,
Un petit cop li ad donet,
4464 Del buc lui ad le chief sevred,L4464 [L4464] ad. sun c. L143
Aval trebuchier fist le cors.L4465 [L4465] fist tre. RH143
Li floz ert venuz de defors.L4466 [L4466] om de H143L4466 [L4466] est R fut H143L4466 [L4466] Le flod R143
Le chief de[l] fel fist fors jeter,
4468 [Ambure enveit vers] halte mer.L4468 [L4468] par h. L vers la m. H143L4468 [L4468] A. envait L A. en vont H143L4468 [L4468] Andui vont par h.143
Le vif diable les en meine,L4469 [L4469] les ameine H143L4469 [L4469] Li v. R143
Issi [finist Edriz] Estreine.L4470 [L4470] E. lestreine H143L4470 [L4470] fud E. mort DL143L4456 [L4456] An interesting description which may well be true to life and also the actual manner of Eadric's death; at any rate, as Wright (o.c., p. 206) points out, the Encomium Emmæ asserts that Cnut carried out the sentence personally and with an axe. The fact that the scene, for Gaimar, took place on the bank of a tidal river helps to support l. 4454 R and agrees with other authorities, e.g. William of Malmesbury, who fix the scene at London. There are also certain divergent readings in the passage which do not appear to be simple mistakes. At l. 4456 DL have a line – Pur lui turmenter i vad – which is somehow connected with the rejected reading of DLH in l. 4454. After l. 4459 H repeats, for some reason, its l. 4430 – Qu'issi murdrit son seignur – and combines most of l. 4460 with the last word of l. 4461 to give Fist une verge toerdre devant.143 [f.124a]
[E] li reis dist a ses privez,L4471 [L4471] om E DL143
4472 Si que plusurs l'oent asez:
'Cestui aveit mun frere ocis,
Vengied en ai tuz mes amis.L4474 [L4474] Vengez ment t. H143
[Il esteit bien] mun frere en lei,L4475 [L4475] om bien H143L4475 [L4475] Bien esteit DL143
4476 Ne voil metre altre pur mei.
Puis qu'il est si avenud,
Le cors Edriz ait Belzebud'.
D'iloc turnat li reis aval,
4480 Si est munted sur un cheval.L4480 [L4480] m. a c. H143
A la reïne vait parler
Pur cunseil quere e demanderL4482 [L4482] om quere e H143
Des dous vadlez, des fiz Edmund.L4483 [L4483] om vadlez des H143L4483 [L4483] v. les f. R143
4484 Dist la reïne: 'Cil u sunt?'
Respunt li reis: 'A Westmustier.
Page 143
A l'abed les livrai l'autrier'.L4486 [L4486] l. her R144
'Sire,' fait ele, 'crëez mei.
4488 Prendre en estuet autre cunrei.
Ço sunt li dreit eir de la terre,L4489 [L4489] Cels s. L Cil s. H144
S'il vivent, il ferunt guerreL4490 [L4490] i. funt g. L144
[E] quant vus paiz poez aveir,L4491 [L4491] v. poez peis R v. quidez pees H144L4491 [L4491] om E DL144
4492 Si me crëez, faites saveir,
Sis enveiez en autre terre,L4493 [L4493] Saient menez R Soient amenez H144
Gardez que ne [pussent] forfere,L4494 [L4494] p. mal fere R144L4494 [L4494] g. ques les p. L g. kil ne R144L4494 [L4494] peussent144
A tel hume les comandez,
4496 De forfaire seient gardez'.
Dunc [demanderent] un Daneis,L4497 [L4497] demandat DL144
Un gentilz hom luintain marcheis,
Citez aveit e grant cunted,
4500 Si esteit Walgar apelled.
Les dous vadlez lui comanderentL4501 [L4501] om dous H144
Qui fiz de rei e gentilz erent.L4502 [L4502] Les f. L144
Cil les reçut pur bien nurir,L4503 [L4503] om bien H144
4504 Pur alever e pur [espeldrir].L4504 [L4504] e guaranter L p. esbaudir H144L4504 [L4504] P. alaiter H144L4504 [L4504] espeleir144L4504 [L4504] espeldrir. For a discussion of the reading and of the meaning of the word see my article Further glossarial notes . . ..144
E bien pensat [ke], s'il viveit,L4505 [L4505] vivait RH144L4505 [L4505] viveient DL144L4505 [L4505] om ke DL144
[Par grant honur les nurireit].L4506 [L4506] A g. H144L4506 [L4506] nurirait RH144L4506 [L4506] Granz honurs lui fereient. DL144 [f.124b]
Que direie? Cil s'en turnat,L4507 [L4507] dirrai LR144
4508 En Danemarche s'en alat.
Od les enfanz [s'en est] alez;L4509 [L4509] s st144
Li uns ert [Edgar] apelled,L4510 [L4510] edward DL144
Li autre ot a nun Edelred,L4510 [L4510] Actually the names were Edmund, who married Hedwig, daughter of Stephen, king of Hungary, and Edward, who married Agatha, a kinswoman of the Emperor Henry II, and was the father of Edgar Ætheling and Margaret. DL have here Edward as the name of the elder, but later (l. 4616) call him Edgar.144
4512 Ço fud le plus joefne valed.L4512 [L4512] Cil f. H144
Bien sunt gardez e bien nurid.L4513 [L4513] et n. H144L4513 [L4513] furent R144
Cum il furent [alkes] tehizL4514 [L4514] f. ben t. L144
E orent bien passé [duze] anz,L4515 [L4515] duce144
4516 Mult furent [genz e avenanz].L4516 [L4516] gentilz et a. H144L4516 [L4516] gentilz e vaillanz DL144L4516 [L4516] genz e avenanz R, gentilz et avenanz H, gentilz e vaillanz DL. The agreement of R and H fixes the rime-word and substitution of gentilz for genz is more probable than the reverse.144
Page 144
En Engleterre en vint le criL4517 [L4517] E. vint H145
Que lur dreit eir erent tehi.L4518 [L4518] tahi R tei H145L4518 [L4518] thei DL145
Mult s'en esbaldisent Engleis
4520 Kar pas n'amoent les Daneis,L4520 [L4520] om les H145L4520 [L4520] namerent R145
Si firent nefs aparaillier
E la voleient enveier,
Quant cunté fud a la reïne
4524 Ki ot nun Elvive Emeline.L4524 [L4524] om Elvive R E. e E. L alwine E. H145L4524 [L4524] a nun DLH145
Reis Edelred la tint enceis,
Ore la teneit Kenut li reis.
Ele aveit dous fiz de Edelred,
4528 Edward li uns, l'autre Elvred;L4528 [L4528] la. edelred H145L4528 [L4528] u. li altre R145
Li cons Ricard de Normendie
Aveit ses nevoz en baillie.
Cil erent de rechief dreit eir,L4531 [L4531] Cil estoient li d. H145
4532 Engleterre voldrent aveir.L4532 [L4532] voldrunt R145
La reïne Emme esteit lur mere,
Od le rei Kenut tint l'empere.L4534 [L4534] lemperere H145L4534 [L4534] om tint H145L4534 [L4534] K. teneit apres lur pere R145L4534 [L4534] lempire DL145L4534 [L4534] tint l'empire DL, l'emperere H, teneit apres lur pere R. The reading of R is metrically very faulty, and does not fit the context; that of DL is more satisfactory, apart from the unusual rime; that of H, which omits the verb and the succeeding couplet, does not make sense, but does give a correct rime. The variants are best explained by assuming Gaimar's use of empere in the rime. Cf. emperere : empere (S. Eustace (C.M.F.A. 53) 1333, 1815); pere : empere (S. Remi 7691); pere : empere (Gerbert, Percival 10949).145
Pur ses dous fiz que mult amotL4535 [L4535] f. ele m. R145
4536 De[s] dous meschins mult li pesotL4536 [L4536] De des m. R145L4535 [L4535] not in H145
E unc pur sun seignur partieL4537 [L4537] E pur s. s. une partie LH145L4537 [L4537] uncore pur R145
Lur portot ele grant envieL4538 [L4538] mult g. R145
E quant ele ot que les EngleisL4539 [L4539] om ele H145
4540 Unt cuveited [d'els] faire reis,L4540 [L4540] de DL145
Purpensat sei d'un mal engin,L4541 [L4541] de m. R par m. H145
A sun seignur vint chief enclin.L4542 [L4542] v. le c. R145 [f.124c]
'Sire,' fait ele, 'tu ne sez.
4544 Les fiz Edmund serunt mandez.L4544 [L4544] Li f. H145
Engleis dïent ke sunt dreit eir,L4545 [L4545] d. kil s. R145
Sis volent sur tei receveir'.L4546 [L4546] t. recendir R145L4546 [L4546] v. lur roi r. H145
Kenut respunt: 'Pot ço veirs estre?'L4547 [L4547] K. co r. L145
4548 'Oïl, chier sire. A Porecestre
Page 145
Est une nef aparaillieL4549 [L4549] Estoit H146
Kis amerrat od grant mainie'.
Li reis i ad tost enveied,
4552 [La] nef trovent aparaillied,L4552 [L4552] Une DLH146
Pristrent herneis e guareisun,L4553 [L4553] e guarneisun LH146
Les humes mistrent en prisun.
Al rei [revont] nuveles dire.L4555 [L4555] r. revindrent n. L r. vienent n. H146L4555 [L4555] revint146
4556 Quant il l'oït, mult fut plein d'ire.L4556 [L4556] tut f. R si f. H146L4556 [L4556] il les oi L il oit R146L4556 [L4556] om il H146
Dunc fist ses briés ensëeler,
Sis enveiat ultre la merL4558 [L4558] outre mier H146
[A ses dous fiz] ki la esteientL4559 [L4559] As dous valez DL146
4560 Qui Danemarche [meinteneient].L4560 [L4560] E D. R146L4560 [L4560] en D. maneient146
Ço lur mandat e as baruns:L4561 [L4561] A eus m. H146
Qu'il preïssent les vadletuns,L4562 [L4562] les .ii. v. H146
Celeement les [afolassent],L4563 [L4563] afolissent L146L4563 [L4563] murdrissent146
4564 [Si] qu'il ja mais [nel] guerreiassent.L4564 [L4564] guarissent L guarissaient R146L4564 [L4564] m. nes g. H146L4564 [L4564] om il H146L4564 [L4564] guaresissent146L4564 [L4564] ne DL146L4564 [L4564] om Si DLH146L4563 [L4563] afolassent . . . guerroiassent H, afolassent . . . guaraissaient R, affolissent . . . guarissent L, murdrissent . . . guaresissent D. The agreement of R and H in l. 4563 shows that Gaimar used a rime in -assent; H supplies a correct rime in l. 4564 and his verb fits the context (cf. l. 4430). How the confusion between guerreier and guarir arose we do not know, but D evidently objected to the resulting faulty rime.146
[A cel] cunseil oïr ot tel,L4565 [L4565] Al DL146
S'il pot, quil turnerat a el.L4566 [L4566] om quil H146L4566 [L4566] le t. DLH146
Hastivement idunc mandat
4568 Walgar ki les enfanz gardat,L4568 [L4568] A W. H146
Se il de rien les aveit chier,L4569 [L4569] eit H146L4569 [L4569] om de H146
Aillurs les faced enveierL4570 [L4570] leis feist e. R146
Kar si iloc erent troved,L4571 [L4571] sil i sont H146
4572 Par veir sereient afoled.L4572 [L4572] serront H146L4572 [L4572] Pur v. LRH146
Li prodom pas ne se targat,
Sa terre a ses treis fiz laissat,L4574 [L4574] om treis H146
Od sul treis nefs se mist en mer,L4575 [L4575] om sul H146
4576 Si espleitat tant de l'errerL4576 [L4576] de e. LH146L4576 [L4576] e. son e. R146
Qu'en sul cinc jurz passat RussieL4577 [L4577] p. susie R146L4577 [L4577] om sul H146
E vit la terre de Hungerie.L4578 [L4578] E vint en t. R146 [f.124d]
Le sist[e] jur est arivedL4579 [L4579] sist DL146
Page 146
4580 Desuz [Gardimbre] la cited.L4580 [L4580] gardhumbre DLH147L4576 [L4576] The route followed by Walgar is obscure, but was probably familiar to the original writer – possibly the author of a life of St. Margaret of Scotland. Walgar sails east from Denmark and then ascends one of the rivers flowing north into the Baltic. Such routes had been in use for centuries and involved a light portage to the southward-flowing rivers which gave access to the Black Sea and the Eastern Mediterranean. A successful identification of Gardimbre (l. 4580) would give some indication of the route followed. The first element in this name suggests the gard, grad which figures in many place-names in Slavonic lands; the second element seems to have been influenced in DLH by the English river-name.147
Li reis i ert e la reïne
Ki Hungerie esteit acline.L4582 [L4582] A k. Hungrie LRH147
Walgar este[it] lur [cunuisanz],L4583 [L4583] cunuissant147
4584 Si [acesmat] les dous [enfanz],L4584 [L4584] ses d. R147L4584 [L4584] amena L asena H147L4584 [L4584] enfant147L4584 [L4584] enseignat147L4584 [L4584] enseignat D, amena L, acesmat R, asena H. It looks as if Gaimar used an unfamiliar verb which puzzled his copyists. Probably we shall never know what he actually wrote, so we can only choose the variant which seems best to fit into the context. There is a measure of agreement between R and H which suggests we look in that direction. It seems possible that Gaimar is implying that Walgar wishes to make a good impression on the Hungarian king when he presents the two young princes and with that idea in mind I have accepted the reading of R into my text.147
Al rei en vint, sil saluat.
Li reis [encuntre] lui levat,
Baisat Walgar, lez lui l'asist,
4588 De lui [cherté e] goie fist.L4588 [L4588] heiter DL147L4588 [L4588] cherté e jois RH, heiter joie DL. The compound object fits the context a little better and is supported by the agreement of R and H, so I have adopted it.147
Des dous valez tres bien saveit,L4589 [L4589] Des v. li dist coment estoit H (4595 [])147
Cum il en garde les aveitL4590 [L4590] Et coment en H147
E que erent [dreiz] eirs d'Engleterre,L4591 [L4591] dreiz eirs erent L147L4591 [L4591] Et qil H147
4592 Mais ne sait pas que volt requerre,L4592 [L4592] ne solt p. L147
Entresque li mestre parlat.L4593 [L4593] entresque. Though found quite early as adverb and as preposition, its use as conjunction (= until) has not previously been noted before the late twelfth century (cf. Lerch, Historische franszosische Syntax, II, 37-8). The corresponding conjunction in Provençal is found early (in S. Leger); is the use in the Estoire another trait from farther south?147
Le rei requist, si li mustratL4594 [L4594] Le rei r. R147L4593 [L4593] not in H147
Des dous valez coment esteit,L4595 [L4595] Des v. li dist tut dreit H147
4596 Cum hom destruire les voleit.
Puis [li] ad dit cum sunt fuïzL4597 [L4597] si DL147
E cum vienent a ses mercizL4598 [L4598] a sa merci RH147L4598 [L4598] c. il v. H147
E si il cunseil lur volt doner,L4599 [L4599] lur voelt consail H147
4600 Il i peüssent recovrer.L4600 [L4600] Quil pussent lur terre r. H147L4600 [L4600] E il ja pussent R147L4600 [L4600] E il DLR147
'Sire,' fait il, 'de tei tendrunt
E tes humes devendrunt'.L4602 [L4602] h. donc d. R147
Li reis respunt: 'Bien sunt venuz.
4604 Tut mun poeir e mes vertuzL4604 [L4604] e ma v. R147
Metrai jo bien pur els [aider],L4605 [L4605] om jo bien H147L4605 [L4605] garder DLH147L4605 [L4605] aider R, garder DLH. As the two princes were brought to the king of Hungary not only for safe keeping, but also in expectation of active help in the prosecution of their claims I have preferred the reading of R.147
Penerai mei [de] els eshalcier,L4606 [L4606] pur DL147
A mun poeir lur f[e]rai guerreL4607 [L4607] frai DR147
4608 A cels qui unt toleit lur terre'.L4608 [L4608] qui lur tollent la t. H147
Respunt Walgar: 'Vostre merci.
Sur vostre [fei] les comand [ci].L4610 [L4610] f. isci le vus comant R147L4610 [L4610] f. vus l. H147L4610 [L4610] om vostre H147L4610 [L4610] c. oi147
Page 147
Si cum en Deu fiance avez,
4612 Ço vus conjur, bien les gardez'.
Iloc remistrent li enfant.
D'iloc a treis anz furent grant. [f.125a]
Quinze anz [aveit] li juvenurL4615 [L4615] furent DL148
4616 Mais li enzned [ert le] majur,L4616 [L4616] om le L148L4616 [L4616] furent148L4616 [L4616] ert le majur RH, ert majur L, furent majur D. The verb in D is clearly wrong; some word is required before majur, but I doubt whether the article found in RH is what Gaimar wrote, though I have accepted it into the text. The adverb ja would be more suitable, as the context seems to imply royal attainment of majority at eighteen.148
Dis e nof anz aveit passed;
Edgar ot nun, mult fud sened.
La fille al rei en fist sun drud
4620 E [cil] l'amat, [ço fud seü].L4620 [L4620] senz soud (seu [L]) DL148L4620 [L4620] si DL148
[Ainz ke passast] tut l'an entier,L4621 [L4621] om tut H148L4621 [L4621] Enz ke passad L148L4621 [L4621] E einz passat148
[Avint] la dame a enceintier.L4622 [L4622] E vit148
Que direie? Tant est alez,
4624 Li pleiz ne pot estre celez.
Li reis l'oïd e dit lui fud,
Ne s'en est geres irascud,L4626 [L4626] Ne s'est g. R148
Enz dit que bien l'[otrïerad],L4627 [L4627] otreiad DR148L4627 [L4627] otreiad DR, otreierad LH. The context seems to require the future in parallel with that of the following line, so I have accepted the reading of LH, though it is curious that these same two MSS. diverge completely in the next line.148
4628 S'il la volt prendre, il lui durat.L4628 [L4628] p. si lavera H148L4628 [L4628] il li dunad L148
Li bacheliers l'at otreied,
Al rei en ad baisé le piedL4630 [L4630] le pie baise R148
E li reis ad mandé sa gent.L4631 [L4631] om E H148
4632 L'endemain fud l'asemblement.
Li reis sa fille li donat,L4633 [L4633] f. a Edgar d. R148L4633 [L4633] r. respunt sa148
Veiant sa gent [cil] l'espusatL4634 [L4634] om cil H148L4634 [L4634] g. sil e. L148L4634 [L4634] cel148
E li reis fist a tuz saveir,
4636 Aprés sun jur seit Edgar eir.
Puis que n'ad fiz, de lui eir fistL4637 [L4637] nout f. H148L4637 [L4637] Puis kil RH148
Pur sa einznee fille qu'il prist.
Pur ço l'ai dit, voil quel sacez,L4639 [L4639] v. que s. LRH148
4640 Nïent ne vus esmerveilliez:L4640 [L4640] N. nen vus R148
De cest Edgar e de sa femme
Eissit la preciuse gemme,L4642 [L4642] om Eissit H space left blank148
Margarete l'apelat l'om,
Page 148
4644 Reïne en fist reis [Malcolom].L4644 [L4644] om reis H149L4644 [L4644] masculun DL149
Ele aveit un sun frere einzned,L4645 [L4645] om sun H149
Edgar l'edeling ert apeled.L4646 [L4646] estait nomez R149
Engleis manderent les enfanz
4648 Kar lur pere n'ert pas vivanz.
Les dous enfanz erent [dreit] eir,L4649 [L4649] e. les deus eirs L149L4649 [L4649] Li dui e. H149
Qui recunuistre volsist veir.L4650 [L4650] Car conuistre voudrent le v. H149L4650 [L4650] voldreit LR149 [f.125b]
Cum durent en Humbre ariver,
4652 Une turmente vint en merL4652 [L4652] t. i ont en H149
Qui en Escoce les chaçad.
Reis [Malcolm] saisit les ad,L4654 [L4654] masculun DL149
De Margare[te] fist sa reïne,
4656 Ele fud bien a Deu acline.L4656 [L4656] D. encline LRH149
Sis fiz, ço quit, en ot li reis.
Or vus dirai des premiers treis:L4658 [L4658] d. de primes t. H149
Duvenal, Dunecane, Edmund.L4659 [L4659] et E. H149L4659 [L4659] Donewald R149
4660 Les autres treis [quid] que reis sunt:L4660 [L4660] qui R149L4660 [L4660] Li autre troi H149L4660 [L4660] om quid DL149
Edgar, Alixandre e David.L4657 [L4657] The number of sons is correct, but not the names of the first two; Duvenal was actually Malcolm's brother and Dunecan was Malcolm's son by an earlier marriage; omitted from the list are Edward, killed in the same battle as his father, and Æthelred. Edgar, Alexander and David were successive kings of Scotland and the last-named was on the throne when Gaimar wrote his Estoire.149
Cest lignage de Edmunt issid
Qui fud en Engleterre reis
4664 E sun lignage tut enceis.L4664 [L4664] E ses aincestres t. R149L4497 [L4497] Gaimar's account of the fate of Edmund Ironside's children has no parallel in the lives of Edward the Confessor, but may, in view of ll. 4639-44, derive from a life of St. Margaret of Scotland. Though the sojourn in Hungary is historical, there is confusion in the names of the two brothers and Walgar who plays such an important part in the Estoire is otherwise quite unknown.149
Or voil as Daneis repairer.
Kenut e Emme sa muillier
Orent une fille mult bele,
4668 Gunild ot nun la damisele.
Li [reis aveit] par sei dous fiz,L4669 [L4669] ot DLH149L4669 [L4669] rei149
Tut de Daneis erent nasquiz,L4670 [L4670] This is not true; Harthacnut was the son of Emma and full brother of Gunhild, whose marriage to the Emperor, Henry III, is alluded to by Gaimar (ll. 4753-6), but who is not mentioned in A.S.C.; Harold claimed to be a son of Cnut and Ælfgifu, daughter of Ælfhelm, but there were doubts current on this point.149
Harald e Hardekenut unt nun,L4671 [L4671] ourent R149
4672 Cil dui tindrent la regïun,L4672 [L4672] le r. R149
Aprés Kenut tindrent set anz.L4673 [L4673] se set L149L4673 [L4673] om Kenut H149
Ultremer erent les enfanz
Qui deüssent par dreit regner.
4676 Trop lur en fist l'um desturbier.L4676 [L4676] T. en f. lom eus d. H149L4676 [L4676] om en R149
Page 149
Kenut fut bon rei [riche e] poant,L4677 [L4677] f. fort r. H150L4677 [L4677] om e DL150L4677 [L4677] om riche DLH150L4677 [L4677] fut bon rei riche e poant R, fut fort roi et poant H, fut bon rei poant DL. The agreement of DLR shows the first adjective is bon, the copula in H, agreeing in position with that in R, suggests its possible omission in DL, so I have followed R in the text.150
Sa realted esteit mult grant.L4678 [L4678] Sa herite R Son roiaume H150L4678 [L4678] sa realted DL, son royaume H, sa herité R. Though the non-elision of sa would not in itself be an obstacle to accepting herité, yet the reading of the MS. base, partially supported by H, fits the context better, so I have made no change.150
[Danemarche] ot e Engleterre,L4679 [L4679] Demerche150
4680 Tute Norwege alat cunquere,
[Li reis Olaf fors en chasçat,L4681 [L4681] The first couplet is found only in R; in addition to interverting their next two lines DLH begin their l. 4684 with Li reis O. It is clear they have jumped from the beginning of l. 4681 to l. 4684150
En Engletere s'en ralat.L4682 [L4682] realat R150
Cum Cnuth regnout meillurment,L4683 [L4683] ll. 4681-3 not in DLH150
4684 Olaf revint] od mult grant gent,L4684 [L4684] om mult LH150L4684 [L4684] vint DH150L4684 [L4684] Li reis O. DLH150
Norwege quidat recovrer.
Noreis firent lur ost mander,
Bataille tindrent mult amere,
4688 Olaf ocistrent qui dreit reis ere.L4688 [L4688] d. eirs e. L150 [f.125c]
Dunc fud Kenut de treis regnes sire,
Poi trovad qui l'osast desdireL4690 [L4690] osad L osout R150
E nepurquant si fut desdit
4692 E sun cumandement despit.
A Lundres ert desur Tamise,
Li floz veneit pres de l'yglise
Qui Westmuster est apelez.L4695 [L4695] ert RH150
4696 Li reis a pié est arestezL4696 [L4696] ert a. L sest a. R150L4696 [L4696] i est150
En la [greve] sur le sablun.L4697 [L4697] Est la g. L150L4697 [L4697] guerre150
Li floz veneit par contençun,
Mult s'apresmat, pres del rei vint.
4700 Kenut en sa ma[i]n sa verge tint,L4700 [L4700] une v. LH150
Si dist al flot: 'Returne ariere,L4701 [L4701] return LR150
Fui de sur mei que ne te fiere!'L4702 [L4702] qe jeo ne H150L4702 [L4702] om sur L150
La mer pur lui pas ne laissat
4704 E plus e plus li floz muntat.L4704 [L4704] le flod R150L4704 [L4704] om E H150
Li reis [s'estut], si atendit,L4705 [L4705] r. et contre a. H150L4705 [L4705] estut R150L4705 [L4705] se fuit150
De sa verge l'ewe ferit.L4706 [L4706] e. feree L150L4706 [L4706] ll. 4705-6 interverted in H150
L'eve pur ço n'ad pas laissié,
Page 150
4708 Ainz vint al rei, si l'ad muillié.
Quant li reis vit que trop atent,
Li floz ne fait pur lui nïent,L4710 [L4710] pur lui ne f. L151L4710 [L4710] E ke li f. R151
De la greve se traist ariere,
4712 Puis s'arestut sur une piere,
Tendit ses mains vers orïent.
Oiez qu'il dist oiant sa gent:
'Cestui qui fait la mer munter,
4716 Deit l'um bien creire e honurer.L4716 [L4716] e amer L e aurer R et doter H151L4716 [L4716] om bien H151L4716 [L4716] creire b. L151L4716 [L4716] honurer D, aurer R, amer L, doter H. The last two readings are clearly independent corrections, but there is nothing to enable us to choose between D and R, so I have followed the MS. base.151
Il est bons reis, jo sui chaitifs,L4717 [L4717] chaitif LRH151L4717 [L4717] bon rei LRH151
Hom sui mortels e il est vifs.L4718 [L4718] vif LRH151L4718 [L4718] m. mes il R151
Tute rien fait le suen comant,
4720 Lui pri jo qu'il me seit garant.
A Rume vels l'irai [requerre],L4721 [L4721] R. le voil aler r. R151L4721 [L4721] R. voils li. L R. tost li. H151L4721 [L4721] querre151L4721 [L4721] A R. vels (voils L) l'irai querre DL, A R. tost l'irrai requerre H, A R. le voil aler requere R. The rime-word in RH is to be preferred, because it suits the context better and completes the second hemistich which is a syllable short in DL. In both L and R the adverb has been confused with a form of voleir, in the former perhaps only graphically, but in the latter quite definitely in meaning, hence the rewriting to correct the grammar; the adverb was evidently not current when H wrote, hence the substitution of another of similar meaning.151
De lui tendrai tute ma terre'.L4693 [L4693] This is Gaimar's version of the famous story of Cnut and the waves first related by Henry of Huntingdon; in the latter it is the prelude to the king's renunciation of his crown, in the former it heralds the announcement of his pilgrimage to Rome. Now this was a historic event, and if only we could be sure that Gaimar's sequence is correct, would give an approximate date for the incident. Its scene, too, is uncertain; Henry of Huntingdon locates it in littore maris, but Gaimar specifies
A Lundres ert desur Tamise,
Li floz veneit pres de l'yglise
Qui Westmuster est apelez (ll. 4693-5). Gaimar's previous editor, speaking of these two accounts (Rolls edition, II, xxx), says: I think everyone will agree that the latter version (sc. Gaimar) is more likely to be correct. Huntingdon's phrase is a natural amplification for anyone to make in re-telling the story, if no place was specified to him, and the waves of the sea are more impressive than the tide of a river, so that I think there can be no doubt that Gaimar's version is founded on fact. On the other hand Wright (o.c., p. 178) utters a caveat on the historicity of the incident, and rightly so, but prefers the sea-shore: Bosham . . . is certainly appropriate, and either Bosham or Porchester . . . is more suitable than the Thames at Westminster. That may be so, but Gaimar appears to have been impressed by the tide at London, for he twice alludes to it elsewhere (ll. 3425-6, 4454). Had the Thames in his day a bore?151
Puis fait sun eire aparaillier,
4724 Aler en volt senz demurer. [f.125d]
Or e argent portat asez.
Trestut les punz que troverezL4726 [L4726] p. kad trovez R151
Ultre les munz par le veage
4728 E de deça [de]sur [l'ewage]L4728 [L4728] d. la wage L d. ewage R sus le. H151L4728 [L4728] om first de LH151L4728 [L4728] leveage151L4728 [L4728] The reading in D is clearly a dittography from the preceding line. The word ewage waterway which occurs already in Brendan 569 was apparently not known to L. Cf. Waters, Rare or unexplained words in the Voyage of St. Brendan, (M.L.R. XXI (1926), 390-403).151
Fist li reis faire e manovrerL4729 [L4729] et overer H151
Par sun aveir qu'il volt doner,L4730 [L4730] Par sun adiude par sun doner L151
Si achatat [legacïun]L4731 [L4731] legation RH151L4731 [L4731] a la l. R151L4731 [L4731] Il a. H151L4731 [L4731] lecaciun151L4731 [L4731] legacïun LRH, lecacïun D. I take D's variant to be merely graphic and have followed the other MSS. Though the reading itself is not in doubt, there is uncertainty about the exact connotation of the word. The translator in the Rolls edition has the following note: legacion can hardly mean legation here, as the first archbishop of Canterbury who was legate was Theobald, in 1139. I have ventured to assume that the word should be ligacion. Now as a result of his visit to Rome Cnut obtained for his kingdom three privileges: the liberation from taxation of the English School at Rome, the abolition of irksome tolls collected from English pilgrims and merchants on their way to Rome, and the reduction of the extortionate charges on English archbishops proceeding to Rome to obtain the pallium. It is only natural to assume that Gaimar is here referring to these gains and to interpret the passage accordingly; this is what the translator has done in the following rendering: He redeemed the bondage (*ligacion), by money, of the house which the English support at Rome. By this means he obtained that no one of England should be put in irons, nor should leave his kingdom, for any sin he had done. In his country he should purge himself. Thus the translator would see a definite allusion to the first of the privileges, but can do so only because he distorts his text. What Gaimar actually says is that Cnut, after providing at his own expense for the construction of bridges on the way to Rome, obtained legacïun by the penny of his household which the English give to Rome. Apparently this is an allusion to the Rome-scot, Peter's Pence, but directly it certainly has nothing to do with the English School, so the proposed emendation was unnecessary. What Gaimar has in mind is, I think, some special privilege like that alleged to have been given to Peterborough by a bull (spurious) of Pope Agatho (A.S.C.(E) 675), viz. that anyone having vowed a pilgrimage to Rome and being for some reason prevented from fulfilling it, might come to Peterborough instead. Thus we should ascribe to legacïun the meaning delegation of power.151
4732 Par le denier de sa maisunL4732 [L4732] la m. LR151
Que li Engleis donent a Rome.
Par ço ad fait que ja nul humeL4734 [L4734] om ja R151
[En] Engleterre n'iert ferlïetL4735 [L4735] de fer lie H151L4735 [L4735] De R151L4735 [L4735] E151
4736 Ne n'isterat de sun regnetL4736 [L4736] istra H151L4736 [L4736] Ne nen i. R151
Pur nul pechié que ja ferat;L4737 [L4737] P. sun p. L151
En sun païs s'espurgerat.L4738 [L4738] se purgerat R151
Quant [li reis] ot si espleitet,L4739 [L4739] il151
Page 151
4740 En Engleterre est repeiret
Mais [nen] ot gueres sujurned.L4741 [L4741] not DL152
En Escoce est od ost alez,
Tant parlat al rei e pramist,
4744 De lui tendrat, cel rei ço dist,
En covenant tres bien li ot
Mais unc servise aveir [n'en] pot.L4746 [L4746] ne DL152
Ainz ne passa un meis compli,L4747 [L4747] p. un meins c. L p. li m. acompliz R152L4747 [L4747] A. qe fust un H152L4747 [L4747] Ainc R152
4748 Andui li rei furent feniL4748 [L4748] Ambedui li reis R152
E les fiz Kenut andui regnerent.L4749 [L4749] li fil K. H152
Haralt premier tuz requierent,L4750 [L4750] trestuz r. R152
Cil tint dous anz, Hardekenut cinc,L4751 [L4751] e H. R152L4751 [L4751] Il R152
4752 E li reis Kenut lur pere vint.
Cist dui donerent lur serur
Gunild al riche empereür
Qui dunc aveit Rume en baillie
4756 E [A]lemaine e Lumbardie.
Mais si cum jo des einz vus dis
Set anz regnerent el païs.
Dunc furent [mort] li eir Daneis,
4760 Grant [joie] en firent li EngleisL4760 [L4760] duel152 [f.126a]
Kar les Daneis vil les teneient,
Suventes feiz les hunisseient.
Si cent un sul encuntrassent,
4764 Mar fussent ned, [s'il nel] clinassent,L4764 [L4764] enclinassent R encontrassent H152L4764 [L4764] si ne lur152L4763 [L4763] not in L152
E sur un punt s'il veneient,
Atendissent, mar muvereient,L4766 [L4766] m. se m. R m. sil m. H152
Desci que li Daneis passast,
4768 Al trespasser chascun clinast.L4768 [L4768] c. lencl. R c. encl. H152L4768 [L4768] t. chaun c. L152
Qui nel feïst, [si] pris esteit,L4769 [L4769] f. qi pres e. H152
Huntusement hom le bateit.L4770 [L4770] H. le bateroit H152
En tel vilté erent Engleis,
4772 Sis laidisseient les Daneis.L4772 [L4772] leidassent R152L4772 [L4772] Si L Si les R Sis en H152
Page 152
Ore purparlerent qu'il fereient,L4773 [L4773] ferunt RH153
Pur les quels eirs enveiereient.L4774 [L4774] envairunt R enverront H153
S'il enveient en Hungerie,
4776 Trop sereit luinz, poi unt aïe.
Al chief de tur purparlé unt
Qu'en No[r]mendie enveieruntL4778 [L4778] enverront H153
Pur Edward e pur Alvred.
4780 Edward esteit [le] frere einzned,L4780 [L4780] li f. R153L4780 [L4780] lur153L4780 [L4780] There is some uncertainty on this point, but most authorities make Alfred the elder of the royal brothers.153
Alez esteit en Hungerie
A ses cusins en une aïe,L4782 [L4782] om une RH153
A une guerre qu'il aveient;L4783 [L4783] g. ki a. R153
4784 Cil de Welcase la faiseient.L4781 [L4781] This passage has no counterpart elsewhere and probably derives from the same source as the earlier voyage to Hungary. The suggestion has been made (Rolls edition, l. 4790 n) that the reference is to wars between Stephen, king of Hungary, and Henry, duke of Bavaria, but it has not been possible to verify this; I do not know on what grounds the Rolls edition suggests the identity of Welcase and Bulgaria.153
Quant li Engleis ne l'unt trovet,L4785 [L4785] les E. R153
Od els [en] meinent Alvret.L4786 [L4786] Od eus ont A. mene H153
Mult se hasterent pur Daneis,L4787 [L4787] p. les D. H153
4788 Ne volent mes que seient reisL4788 [L4788] m. kils s. R153
E nepurquant uns hom esteit,
De la suer as reis fiz aveit,L4790 [L4790] s. as dous r. R s. le roi H153L4790 [L4790] un f. DH153
Fille ert rei Chnut e suer Harold.L4791 [L4791] om rei R153L4790 [L4790] Two problems face us, one textual, one historical. Three of the four MSS. give nine syllables to l. 4790; D reads as reis un fiz, R gives as dous reis fiz, H has le rei un fiz. Gaimar is referring to Godwin who, as a matter of history, had more than one son, and the author states this in l. 4793: de ses enfanz quidad faire eir, so the indefinite article is a mistake; further the lady could not have been at the same time sister and daughter of Cnut, so as reis must be what Gaimar wrote; thus we arrive at the line given by L. Actually Godwin married the sister of Cnut's brother-in-law, but there was an early story that he married Cnut's sister and this may have been in the mind of H.153
4792 Ore entendez que faire volt:L4792 [L4792] e. kil f. R153L4792 [L4792] O. oiez H153
De ses enfanz quida faire eir.
Ço cumperat il puis, espeir.
Li cuens Godwine a Lundres vint,
4796 Celui qui as Daneis se tint.L4796 [L4796] om Celui R153 [f.126b]
Iloc erent tuit asembled,
Si atendeient AlvredL4798 [L4798] tut A. L153L4798 [L4798] attendirent LH153L4798 [L4798] Et H153
[Tuit li baron de cel regné,
4800 Pur lui aveient envaié].L4800 [L4800] ll. 4799-4800 not in DLH153
Li cuens Godwine se purpensat,
Chevaliers prist mulz e mandatL4802 [L4802] m. en amena L m. en m. H153L4802 [L4802] om mulz R153
E autre genz mult bien armez,L4803 [L4803] om mult H153
4804 Envers la mer s'en est alez.
Cele nuit jut a Geldefort,L4805 [L4805] a geldesdoune H153
Page 153
[Talent ad grant de] faire tort.L4806 [L4806] Lendemain vint a154
L'endemain [i] vint Alvred.L4807 [L4807] Lendemaint revint154L4807 [L4807] not in L154
4808 Li cuens Godwine [l'en] ad menedL4808 [L4808] lad DL154
[Ensun] le munt de Geldesdone.L4809 [L4809] En sur154
'Sire,' fait il, 'a ta corone,L4810 [L4810] om il R154
Quanque [tu] veiz, tuit i apentL4811 [L4811] om tuit i R154L4811 [L4811] i154
4812 E mil itant e cent e cent'.
Alvred dist: 'La Deu merci.L4813 [L4813] A. respont R154
S'il m'en leist estre saisid,
Bones custumes i aserraiL4815 [L4815] c. aleverai R154L4815 [L4815] Et b. H154
4816 E pais e dreit mult amerai'.L4816 [L4816] om E H154L4815 [L4815] not in H154
Godwine aveit bien comandé,
Tresqu'il avreit 'Warrei' crïé,L4818 [L4818] warrei. For a discussion of this word, and passage, see my article Further glossarial notes . . ..154
Que li Norman fussent tut pris,L4819 [L4819] les N. LR154
4820 Par [nofaines] fussent ocis;L4820 [L4820] P. nos enemis L P. nos armes H154L4820 [L4820] nof anemes154L4820 [L4820] par nofaines R, par nof anemes D, par nos armes H. The reading of L (cf. p. lxxx) can be neglected here. The phrase in D is possible, but the presence of les nof in the next line in DLR leads me to accept the numeral from R.154
Les nof fuissent tost detrenchiez,L4821 [L4821] Les normanz f. d. H154
Le disme fust esparnïez.
Issi furent par nof ocis,L4823 [L4823] f. cil o. L f. par nos o. H154
4824 Li uns en garisseit [des] dis.L4824 [L4824] des corrected to les154
Idunc si pristrent Elvred,L4825 [L4825] om si H154L4825 [L4825] Donc R154
Enz en Ely l'en unt mened.L4826 [L4826] lont H154L4826 [L4826] om Enz R154
Iloc firent ses oilz crever,L4827 [L4827] I. les (le [H]) f. les o. LH154L4827 [L4827] I. li funt les o. R154L4827 [L4827] f. il ses154
4828 Entur un pel le funt aler,
Le gros büel l'en orent trait;L4829 [L4829] b. li o. R154L4829 [L4829] Le croes b. en ont t. H154
Od aguilluns qu'[aveient] faitL4830 [L4830] qil ont f. H154L4830 [L4830] Od agoilles R154L4830 [L4830] orent154
Le firent tant entur alerL4831 [L4831] font H154L4831 [L4831] La le f. R154
4832 Pur sa büele deramerL4832 [L4832] b. desrainer R154
Qu'il ne pot mes ester en piez.
L'aneme s'en vait e il sunt liez,L4834 [L4834] e cil s. R154L4833 [L4833] not in L154 [f.126c]
Qui en tel guise le murdrirent;
4836 Pur amur Godwine le firent.L4836 [L4836] G. co f. R154
Page 154
Mais les baruns, quant il [ço] sorent,L4837 [L4837] savoient H155L4837 [L4837] om il LH155L4837 [L4837] le155
Qui pur Elvred enveié orentL4838 [L4838] Ke pur amor godwine fest lurent L155L4838 [L4838] E. mande avoient H155
Dolent en sunt e mult pensisL4839 [L4839] pensif H155L4839 [L4839] om mult H155
4840 E dïent, se Godwine est pris,L4840 [L4840] est vif H155
Nel pot garir rien terrïeneL4841 [L4841] g. en terine H155L4841 [L4841] r. vivant L155
Mes pis murrat que Edriz [Estriene].L4842 [L4842] E. E. devant L E. lestrine H155L4842 [L4842] estreine DL155
Li cuens Godwine pas n'atent,
4844 [Es nefs] se met il e sa gent,L4844 [L4844] m. od sa g. H155L4844 [L4844] El nef se R155L4844 [L4844] E ne se155
En Danemarche s'en fuïd,
Ilokes fud bien recuillid.L4846 [L4846] om bien H155L4843 [L4843] According to the vague chronology of this section of the Estoire the flight took place c. 1040 and not, as historically and for quite other reasons, in 1052.155
E li Engleis repassent mer,L4847 [L4847] se pasent L155
4848 Edward [vunt] ostages livrer,L4848 [L4848] A E. H155L4848 [L4848] volt155
Seür le funt de la corone
Qu'il l'en ferunt rei e persone.L4850 [L4850] e rei R155L4850 [L4850] ferent L155
E il idunc manda mesnieL4851 [L4851] ses meisnees H155L4851 [L4851] il dunc e sa m. L155L4851 [L4851] donc R155L4851 [L4851] om E il H155
4852 E ad grant gent reparaillie,L4852 [L4852] Et granz genz ad assemblees H155L4852 [L4852] apparaille LR155L4852 [L4852] om E L155
A la mer vint, [bien] la passatL4853 [L4853] v. et passa H155L4853 [L4853] b. le p. R155L4853 [L4853] si155
E a Lundres se coronat.L4773 [L4773] The murder took place in 1036, the year after the death of Cnut, and not, as here, following the death of Harthacnut. Gaimar agrees in his chronology with Henry of Huntingdon and for the details of the crime, though not in the scene, with Annales Wintonienses. The actual source of this passage is unknown, but we seem to be faced with a conflation of two accounts. The extraction of the bowels in this particular way apparently goes back to an old Germanic punishment; it figures also in the Njalssaga and in the A.N. S. Auban.155
Puis tint la terre, asist les leis,L4855 [L4855] a. ses l. R155
4856 Unc teles ne furent enceis.L4856 [L4856] f. oi e. L155L4856 [L4856] U tels R155L4856 [L4856] U. tel L155L4856 [L4856] Unckes R155
Pais amat mult, dreit e justise.L4857 [L4857] om mult H155L4857 [L4857] e d. DLH155
Pur ço l'asist en itel guiseL4858 [L4858] en cele g. L en tele g. RH155L4858 [L4858] la fist H155L4858 [L4858] les a. R155
Que unc devant ço ne puis sun jurL4859 [L4859] onques d. ne puis H155
4860 Ne pot nul rei faire meillur.
Cum il ot piece issi regné,L4861 [L4861] o. pose R155L4861 [L4861] issi pece H155
God[wine] s'est aparaillié,
Od grant navirie qu'il aveitL4863 [L4863] g. navie H155
4864 En Tamise siglad tuit dreit.L4864 [L4864] T. ariva H155
Dunc si [mandad] a ses amisL4865 [L4865] om a LH155L4865 [L4865] demandet155
Page 155
Qu'il aveit plusurs el païs
[Les] lur merci qu'al rei parlassent,L4867 [L4867] Lur m. qil au r. H156L4867 [L4867] Le156
4868 Sun dreit preïst, ço lui preassent.
E il si firent. Tant parlerent,L4869 [L4869] tant et prierent H156L4869 [L4869] om si H156
Devant le rei dunc l'amenerent.L4870 [L4870] om dunc H156L4861 [L4861] The confusion between events of c. 1040 and c. 1052 continues.156 [f.126d]
Il l'amenerent par itel leiL4871 [L4871] tele LRH156
4872 Que jugement siwist le rei.L4872 [L4872] j. en eut li r. L156L4872 [L4872] siwesist R156
De dreit faire gage donat
E maint riche [home] le [ostegat].L4874 [L4874] ostajad LH156L4874 [L4874] osteat156
Le guage fut [tut] veirementL4875 [L4875] verreiment RH156L4875 [L4875] furent R156L4875 [L4875] Li g. LR156L4875 [L4875] done156
4876 Mult honurable e bel e gent.L4876 [L4876] h. bel H156L4876 [L4876] M. noble R156L4876 [L4876] om Mult H156
De fin argent set grant buchez,L4877 [L4877] se g. huchez L .vii. buistez H156L4877 [L4877] .vii.156
D'or esmeré sunt les cerclez;L4878 [L4878] li c. H156
Pieres i ot de meintes guises
4880 Es cercles d'or mult bien asises:L4880 [L4880] om mult LH156L4880 [L4880] Es cercelez L156
Jaspes, saphirs e topaces,
Berilz, sardines e crisopaces,L4882 [L4882] om e R156
Allectoires e [aïmandes]L4883 [L4883] aimantes H156L4883 [L4883] amandes DR156
4884 E achates e [abestandes].L4884 [L4884] albestandnes R abestantes H156L4884 [L4884] bestandes156L4884 [L4884] abestandes. For a discussion of this word see my article Glossarial and textual notes . . ..156
Mult furent bien fait li buchez.L4885 [L4885] f. les huches L f. li boiste H156
Chascun aveit un cuverclezL4886 [L4886] coverclele H156
D'or e d'argent mult bien ovrez.L4887 [L4887] om mult H156
4888 Cent mars esteit chascun [preiset]L4888 [L4888] m. furent en c. pose H156L4888 [L4888] pesez156L4888 [L4888] preiset LR, pesez D, pose H. The value of the gift is being stressed by the author, so I have followed LR; as D occasionally writes -et in rime with -ez, I have left the spelling untouched.156
Mais pur les pieres e pur l'or
Valeient [plus] que nul tresor.L4890 [L4890] mielz156
Li cuens Godwine les cunquist
4892 Del rei de Swave qu'il ocist.L4892 [L4892] apele DH156
Ço fud le guage qu'il donat.
Ore l'[apelt] hom, il respundrat.
Li reis [meïsmes] est levez,L4895 [L4895] memes se levad L156L4895 [L4895] mesme156
4896 Par grant ire l'ad apelezL4896 [L4896] apelad L156
Page 156
E dit par lui est mort sun frere,L4897 [L4897] dist RH157L4897 [L4897] que par DH157
Il le traït cum fel e lere
E s'il de ço rien s'escondit,L4899 [L4899] om ço H157L4899 [L4899] sil r. de co e. L157
4900 Il l'en f[e]rat prover; ço dit.L4900 [L4900] Il en f. L Il le f. H157L4900 [L4900] frat DRH157
Respunt li cuens: 'Trestut le ni,
Si cum l'avez cuntez ici,L4902 [L4902] c. vus a. R157
De mot en mot le neierai,
4904 Par jugement m'[escundirai].L4904 [L4904] j. lesc. RH157L4904 [L4904] escundierai157
E mun guage vus ai dunet:L4905 [L4905] Et come g. H157
Par jugement seit graantet.L4906 [L4906] grante RH157L4905 [L4905] not in L157 [f.127a]
De vostre apel, de mun respuns,L4907 [L4907] a. e de R157
4908 Dreit en dïent [tut] ces baruns.L4908 [L4908] D. en dreit t. R157L4908 [L4908] om tut DLH157
Ici avez mult grant barnage,L4909 [L4909] om mult H157L4909 [L4909] I. aveit LR157
Cuntes, baruns, meint home sage'.
Li cuens Liefwine i ert asis,L4911 [L4911] E li L157
4912 De Cestresire [ert] poëstifs;L4912 [L4912] cestreschire RH157L4912 [L4912] eert157L4911 [L4911] Earl Leofwin was dead at this time, but his son, Leofric, played an important part in the reconciliation of Godwin and the king, so they have probably been confused. In the second line RH undoubtedly intend the county-name, so I have interpreted DL in the same sense, though in view of l. 4914 the division De Cestre sire ert poëstifs is possible.157
Li cuens Siwart i sëeitL4913 [L4913] S. donc i R157
Qui d'Everwic seignur esteitL4914 [L4914] E. sire e. H157
E le cunte de Huntedone
4916 Ki apendeit a sa [persone];L4916 [L4916] corune157
Li cuens Levriz Norfolke teneit,
Od les altres el banc sedeit.
Duze cuntes i ot mult sagesL4919 [L4919] Dous R .xi. H157
4920 Estre baruns e li clerzagesL4920 [L4920] om li H157
Qui la parole unt entendueL4921 [L4921] Ka la p. R157
Mais taisant [sunt] nul ne se remue,L4922 [L4922] om se H157
Desci qu'orent comandementL4923 [L4923] le c. H157L4923 [L4923] kil o. RH157
4924 Del rei qu'algent al jugement.
Idunc leverent en estant.L4925 [L4925] I. se l. H157L4925 [L4925] E donc R157
Li cuens Siward alad avant,L4926 [L4926] a. devant R157
En une chambre en sunt alez,L4927 [L4927] c. sont H157
4928 U hum muntot par uns degrez.L4928 [L4928] monte H157L4927 [L4927] Gaimar nowhere specifies the scene of the trial, but it was probably a hall in the royal palace (cf. l. 4870); the detail given in this couplet may well reflect an actual arrangement in the new Westminster Hall, with which Gaimar seems to have been acquainted.157
Page 157
Asis se sunt pur dreit jugier.L4929 [L4929] A. i s. L A. si s. H158
Dunc levat [sus] un chevalier,
Merleswain aveit cil nun,L4931 [L4931] a. a n. LRH158
4932 Daneis esteit, [riche barun],L4932 [L4932] r. e b. R158L4932 [L4932] riches hum158
Devers Godwine s'apendeitL4933 [L4933] se pendeit LRH158L4933 [L4933] Vers L158
E nepurquant si dist tut dreit:
'Seignurs,' fait il, 'oïd avez
4936 Cument cest cunte est apelez
E le respuns oïd avez.L4937 [L4937] not in H158
Tut ad neié, bien le savez.L4938 [L4938] Tut ad defendu b. H158L4938 [L4938] Blank line after 4938 in H158
Se li reis i met felunie,L4939 [L4939] E li r. L158
4940 N'est de veüe ne de oïeL4939 [L4939] not in H158
Ne nul hume ne vient avantL4941 [L4941] vint L158L4941 [L4941] Nuls homs ni v. H158
Qui die: 'Fait fud mun veiant'.L4942 [L4942] f. moi v. H158L4942 [L4942] Q. dit H158 [f.127b]
Esgardez i kar [mei] est vis,L4943 [L4943] mest avis H158L4943 [L4943] mest DH158
4944 Uncore purrunt estre amis'.L4944 [L4944] bien e. DL158
Li cuens Siward de l'autre partL4945 [L4945] Siward of Northumbria was a consistent opponent of Godwin, so the part attributed to him is in keeping with history.158
Dist: 'El [ai jo] al mien esgart.L4946 [L4946] om jo H158L4946 [L4946] D. cest ai L158L4946 [L4946] i ad158
Envers le rei fait fort neier.
4948 Hum deit ses diz [tuz] otreier,L4948 [L4948] d. fere son voler H158L4948 [L4948] tut s. d.158
Se il ne i meïst la felunie,L4949 [L4949] Sil ni niast la f. R158
La traïsun e la boisdie.
Mais d'icel se deit l'om defendre,L4951 [L4951] M. de ceo d. H158L4951 [L4951] bien d.158
4952 Al jugement deit l'um entendre.
Ço est grant chose apel de rei,
Pres del juïse irat, ço crei,
De fu u d'eve u de bataille;
4956 D'un de cez treis n'i ert pas faille'.L4956 [L4956] nert LRH158L4956 [L4956] de co t. L158L4956 [L4956] De ces .iii. H158
'Si ert, sire,' dist Freëgis,
'Ne n'est pas dreit en cest païs.L4958 [L4958] en co p. L158L4958 [L4958] Nest H158
Pur un plein dit d'un orp apel
4960 Ne ferum jugement [novel].L4960 [L4960] Ne freum j. nul L158L4960 [L4960] nuuenel158
Page 158
Par serement tres bien s'aquit,
N'i estuet ja autre respit'.L4962 [L4962] Nest. H159
Levriz parla de Norhamtune:L4963 [L4963] Once more Gaimar is in keeping with history in the part he assigns to Leofric.159
4964 'Edward li reis porte corone,L4964 [L4964] portez L159
Grant chose afiert a sun apel,
Bien deit um siwre sun avel.
Il en ad pris guage de dreit,L4967 [L4967] g. en d. H159
4968 Ne qui ja meis tel veü seit.L4968 [L4968] q. qe ja H159L4968 [L4968] Ne quide R159
Sulunc le començail d'onurL4969 [L4969] om d'onur H159
Merci crie a sun seignur,L4970 [L4970] criad L159L4970 [L4970] not in H159
Sulunc l'apel que li reis faitL4971 [L4971] om Sulunc l'apel H159
4972 Par jugement sivrat sun [pleit].L4972 [L4972] j. liverad s. plest L159L4972 [L4972] dreit159
De bataille n'i ad nïent,
Rien n'i avient del serrement,L4974 [L4974] Le s. bien i avient H159L4974 [L4974] Nen ni ad neis de s. L159L4974 [L4974] a. le s. R159L4974 [L4974] R. li a. R159
Ne fu ne ewe ne juïse.
4976 Ne jugerum en itel guise.L4976 [L4976] tele g. LRH159L4976 [L4976] Nus j. L159
Testimoine oïr e vëeirL4977 [L4977] doir e v. L159L4977 [L4977] Tesmoine RH159
Estuet par dreit celui aveir [f.127c]
Qui autre volt a fer menerL4979 [L4979] en f. H159
4980 U en ewe faire floter.
Mais un esguard senz jugementL4981 [L4981] e. par j. H159
En esgardum comunelment.L4982 [L4982] om En H159
Par grant richeise e par honur
4984 Face un offre a sun seignur.L4984 [L4984] Facez L159
L[i] offre seit tel cum dirai,L4985 [L4985] c. jo vus d. DL159L4985 [L4985] itel159
[Li quens] Godwine en greverai.L4986 [L4986] Le q. H159L4986 [L4986] Le cunte DL159
Il seit armez e ses cinc fiz
4988 E ses nevoz dunt il ad dis,
Sei seisantime armé seient,
De tutes armes se cunreient;
Sulunc la lei [de nos] EngleisL4991 [L4991] l. as E. H159L4991 [L4991] des DL159
4992 Seit deviset tut lur herneis;L4992 [L4992] om tut H159
Li halberc seient d'or saffrez
Page 159
E li helme [a or] cerclezL4994 [L4994] dor DL160
E li escu od bucles d'or;L4995 [L4995] e. a b. H160
4996 Li cuens Godwine ad grant tresor,
En chascun' arme ait or itant,L4997 [L4997] E en160
Al meins vint unces de pesant,L4998 [L4998] u. peisant RH160L4998 [L4998] m. .x. u. H160
E en lur braz lur bous d'or aient;L4999 [L4999] l. buies R l. boues H160L4999 [L4999] E enz R160L4999 [L4999] om E H160
5000 En itel guise al rei s'apaientL5000 [L5000] En tele g. RH160
Que li reis ait tut lur humages;
De fei tenir troissent ostages
E lur herneis lui seit livrez;
5004 Puis en face ses volentez;L5004 [L5004] facez L160
Li cuens Godwine od le rei seit
En sa merci tant qu'ait sun dreit.L5006 [L5006] t. quil a. R160
Icest esguard seit graantezL5007 [L5007] e. sil g. R160
5008 E d'ambes parz mult honurezL5008 [L5008] Est R160L5008 [L5008] om E H160
Ne nuls [n']ert ja par mal retraitL5009 [L5009] Ne a nus nen e. p. R160L5009 [L5009] nen160
Sulunc l'apel que li reis fait,
Se nus icest esgardum'.L5011 [L5011] All four MSS. concur in the reading, but the line is a syllable short; ll. 4981-2 suggest as a possible emendation: cest esgard esgardum.160
5012 Dïent trestuz: 'Bien l'otrïum'.
Ore furent tuz a cest otrei,L5013 [L5013] f. tres t. H160
Venuz en sunt devant le rei. [f.127d]
Quant cest esguard fud recordez,
5016 D'ambesdous parz fu graantez.L5016 [L5016] Dambes p. f. bien g. H160L4895 [L4895] As pointed out in the Rolls edition (II, xxxi) this description is anachronistic, but corresponds to twelfth-century practice. Whether it was known to Marie de France is uncertain (cf. p. lxxv), but because this trial and that of Lanval reflect contemporary usage, there is a certain similarity between them; the account in the Estoire is an early example of the literary use of such material.160
[Li reis] reçut tuz lur humages,L5017 [L5017] r. dels tuz h. R160L5017 [L5017] Li receust (? reieust) L160L5017 [L5017] Le roi H160L5017 [L5017] Il160L5017 [L5017] tuz lur humages DLH, dels tuz homages R. The echo in this couplet of ll. 5001-2 supports the reading of the MS. base; the action proposed by Leofric is to be put into effect.160
De fei tenir prist les ostages,L5018 [L5018] om les H160
Les armes prist, l'or e l'argent,
5020 Baisat les par acordement.
E li cuens l'ad si bien servi
Qu'i[l] furent puis si bon ami
Que li reis sa fille espusat
5024 E a reïne la coronat
E lui rendit tut sun cuntetL5025 [L5025] E len r. L E a li r. RH160
E tuz ses fiz ad [alevé],L5026 [L5026] eslevee L160L5026 [L5026] eslevez160L5026 [L5026] alevé RH, eslevez DL. I have preferred the first reading, because of Gaimar's use of the same verb in l. 3573.160
Page 160
Cuntes en fist, tant les amat.
5028 Par grant honur Edward regnat.
En icel tens que si esteit
E icest rei issi teneit,L5030 [L5030] i. se t. H161
Dunc furent li Norman chaciedL5031 [L5031] om Dunc H161
5032 Fors del païs [tut] curusciez;L5032 [L5032] mult161
Neïs l'arcevesque Robert
En fu chacied ki mult i pert.
Li cuens Godwine idunc transit,L5035 [L5035] G. que dunc L idonqes H161L5035 [L5035] om Godwine H161
5036 A Gincestre fud enfuït.
Li cuens Siward dunc s'acordatL5037 [L5037] om dunc H161
Al rei d'Escoce, u il alat,L5038 [L5038] E ke dunc i a. L161
Mais [Macheden] defraint la pais,L5039 [L5039] M. defuit la R M. defruist la H161L5039 [L5039] malcolom H161L5039 [L5039] masculun DL161
5040 De guerreier ne fist relais.
Li cuens Siward fist nes mander,
Sun ost i enveiat par merL5042 [L5042] om i H161
E cil menat grant [ost] par terre.L5043 [L5043] cil amena sost H161L5043 [L5043] E il m. R161
5044 A [Macheden] mut itel guerre,L5044 [L5044] M. ml't itel L161L5044 [L5044] malcolom H161L5044 [L5044] masculun DL161
En bataille le descunfist
E de ses humes mult ocist,
Or e argent, harneis, espeesL5047 [L5047] a. bones e. L a. harnies e e. R a. vesseus e. H161L5047 [L5047] nielles161L5047 [L5047] harnies R, nielles D, bones L, vesseus H. The divergent readings show that Gaimar used some unusual word here. Context seems to require a noun, and as that supplied by R fits better, I have accepted it into the text, but do not claim that it is necessarily what Gaimar wrote; I am inclined to suspect that is concealed by the reading of D.161
5048 En cunquistrent en ces cuntrees.L5048 [L5048] en celes c. H161L5048 [L5048] I c. L Il conquist R En conquist H161
Mais un sun fiz, Osbern ot nun,L5049 [L5049] osebert H161L5049 [L5049] om un H161
E sun nevo Siward barun [f.128a]
E un des chevaliers le rei
5052 Qui Siward ot menet od seiL5052 [L5052] Que LRH161
E les huscherles qu'il menatL5053 [L5053] il menat RH161L5053 [L5053] Este vus cherles L E ses usecarles R Et les buscecarles H161
En Escoce morz les laissat.L5054 [L5054] om les LH161L5054 [L5054] E. noz l. L161L5037 [L5037] The opening phrase seems to hint at earlier hostilities between Siward and Macbeth, such as are mentioned in Annales Lindisfarnenses (cf. Plummer, II, 242); the double movement, viz. by land and by sea, is also found in A.S.C.(D) 1054 with which this passage has much similarity.161
Aprés iço Siward transit.
5056 Dunc firent cunte de [Tosti],L5056 [L5056] Donqes f. tofti et passim H161L5056 [L5056] tostit161
Le fiz Godwine cil esteit,L5057 [L5057] Li f. H161
Page 161
En Everwic nul dreit n'aveit.
Dunc murut le cunte Leveriz,
5060 Raüf de s'onur fud saisizL5060 [L5060] De sonur f. raul s. R Raul de sun fie f. s. L162L5060 [L5060] Ralph was not the successor of Leofric, but the opponent of the latter's outlawed son at Hereford in 1055; he did die in the same year as Leofric, and was buried at Peterborough.162
Mais poi la tint e tost finat,L5061 [L5061] p. si t. poi i dura H162
Mult fu prodom, poi durat.L5062 [L5062] trop p. d. L pr. tost fina H162
Li cuens a Burc fud enfuïz,L5063 [L5063] q. alfric f. e. H162
5064 A Coventrie li cuens Levriz.L5064 [L5064] C. et li c. H162
Li reis Grifin dunc s'acordat,
Le cunte Algar cunduit l'atL5066 [L5066] A. a c. R A. en c. ala H162
Mais petit [tint] l'acordement,
5068 Al rei Edward mesfist suvent.L5065 [L5065] This passage alludes obscurely to the second outlawry of Ælfgar in 1058; actually it was with the help of Grifin (Gruffydd of N. Wales) that he recovered his earldom.162
Dunc alat Tosti del north,L5069 [L5069] El north T. donc aloit H162L5069 [L5069] D. i a. R162
Harald de[l] suth, d'Oxenefort;L5070 [L5070] om del L162
Li dui frere grant ost menerent,
5072 Dreit vers Wales [dunc] cheminerent;
Li Sudwaleis se cumbatirent
Cuntre Grifin, [sa] gent venquirentL5074 [L5074] la162
E la teste [del] rei colperent,L5075 [L5075] om E R162L5075 [L5075] al162L5070 [L5070] not in H162
5076 Harald, Tosti la presenterentL5076 [L5076] H. T. le presentoit H162L5076 [L5076] H. e T. R162
E cil la portent a Edward;L5077 [L5077] la portad L lapportent H162L5077 [L5077] om Cil H162
Unc puis des [Waleis] n'ot regard.L5078 [L5078] engleis DLH162
Mais les Escoz le guerrioent,L5079 [L5079] E. les g. LR162
5080 Norhumberland suvent preioent.
Li reis Edward les apresmat,L5081 [L5081] E. la sap. R162
Dous evesques i enveiat,
L'evesque Elwine e Kenesi,L5083 [L5083] ailwine e K. LR162
5084 Od eus alat li cuens Tosti;
Al rei [Malcolom] tant parlerent,L5085 [L5085] malcolub R162L5085 [L5085] masculun DL162
Deça Tuede [l'en] amenerent.L5086 [L5086] le L162L5086 [L5086] les162L5081 [L5081] not in H162 [f.128b]
Li reis Edward encuntre vint,
5088 Od [Malcolom] parlement tint,L5088 [L5088] malcolub R162L5088 [L5088] masculun DL162
Presenz [li] fist, mult l'onurat,
Page 162
Ço malement tut enpleiat,L5090 [L5090] Ke m. R om Ço H163L5089 [L5089] not in L163
Pais e triwes [entr'els unt] prisL5091 [L5091] unt entrels163
5092 Mais ne durat gueres de dis.
A Rome alat li cuens Tosti,
Od lui la cuntesse [Nidi].L5094 [L5094] indi H163L5094 [L5094] sa c. L163L5094 [L5094] nidih163L5094 [L5094] Nidi DLR, Indi H. The real name of Tostig's wife was Judith, but neither here nor at other occurrences of the name do any of the MSS. give a correct rendering; in view of Baldewine : Nidine 5125 it is possible that the mistake was already in Gaimar's source.163
Endementieres sun cunted
5096 Reis [Malcolom] ad tut preied,L5096 [L5096] om tut L163L5096 [L5096] tut ad R163L5096 [L5096] malcolumb R163L5096 [L5096] masculuns DL163
[Halïeland] fud dunc preiedL5097 [L5097] donc fu R163L5097 [L5097] Halteland H163L5097 [L5097] Haneland163
Qui tuz jurz [ainz] ert deported.L5098 [L5098] j. enz e. L163
Puis aprés [ço] bien lungementL5099 [L5099] om bien H163
5100 S'asemblerent moines e gentL5100 [L5100] m. e grant R163
Cuntre l'evesque Edelwine
Qui traist de terre seint Oswine.L5102 [L5102] t. la t. R163
[Quatre cenz] anz [e] quinze ovocL5103 [L5103] Q. set a. L163L5103 [L5103] om e DL163L5103 [L5103] cinc a.163L5103 [L5103] Quarante DLH163
5104 Aveit le cors geü iloc,
A Tinemue, u il esteit
E uncore est, kar ço est dreitL5106 [L5106] indi H163L5106 [L5106] e c. L163L5106 [L5106] om kar R163
E Deus [i] fait mult grant vertuz
5108 Pur le [cors seint]: ço est seüz.L5108 [L5108] seint cors163L5099 [L5099] The reference is to the discovery of the tomb of St. Oswine in 1065, not mentioned in A.S.C. Florence of Worcester alludes to it and his information, said Sir Henry Howorth, 1 [1] The Chronicle of John of Worcester . . ., Archaeological Journal LXXIII (1916), 132.163 doubtless comes from the anonymous life of the saint in MS. Cott. Jul. A x, fol. 2, published in Miscellanea Biographica, Surtees Society, VIII (1838), 1-59. However, the position is not quite so straightforward. The Vita and Florence of Worcester call the bishop of Durham Ægelwinus, but Gaimar gives his name as Edelwine (l. 5101); the Vita says the discovery occurred anno a passione ejus quadringentesimo quarto decimo and this is correct, the king having died 651, but Florence of Worcester and Gaimar agree in making the period 415 years; Gaimar says:
Puis aprés ço bien lungement
S'asemblerent moines e gent
Cuntre l'evesque (ll. 5099-101), to which Florence of Worcester offers no parallel, but the Vita does speak of a certain dissatisfaction at the initial non-success of the search which led many cum summa indignatione abire, qui cum devotione convenerant (o.c., p. 13). If, as the editor of the Vita suggested, it was written during Stephen's reign, it could conceivably have been known to Florence of Worcester (I use the conventional title, though Florence himself died in 1118) and to Gaimar, but as one of the miracles speaks of the beneficiary visiting the tomb of St. Thomas at Canterbury, the Vita, if it is the work of a single author, must be considerably later than the Estoire. There was a translation of the saint's remains in 1110 followed by a plentiful crop of miracles and I suggest that Gaimar obtained his information from the aftermath of that movement; the phraseology used by him in his account of Waltheof is similar (cf. particularly ll. 5729-30).163
En icel an revint Tosti
E la cuntesse Nidi,L5110 [L5110] c. dame N.163
Si s'acordat a [Malcolom];L5111 [L5111] malcolumb R163L5111 [L5111] masculun163
5112 Od li alerent li barun.L5109 [L5109] At first sight this appears to be anticipating Tostig's flight to the Scottish court in 1066, but consideration of Gaimar's account of the earl's movements shows this is not the case. Our author told us how Tostig went to Rome (ll. 5093-4) and how Malcolm ravaged his earldom in his absence (ll. 5095-8); then Gaimar jumped to the finding of St. Oswine in 1065 and, in agreement with A.S.C., to the rising against, and outlawry of, Tostig. Thus when Gaimar says: En icel an revint Tosti (l. 5109), he must be bringing him back from Rome in order that he may leave England for Flanders. Later Tostig has to take refuge with Malcolm, but after the latter's hostile behaviour something must have changed for the better, hence the reconciliation. The four lines under discussion can thus be explained on literary grounds, but I think it more probable that Gaimar had some warrant for his statements among the various sources of material at his disposal.163
Cil d'Everwic al revenir
Pristrent Tosti si a haïr
Qu'en la cité ne pot entrer,
5116 Pur poi nel voleient tüer;L5116 [L5116] nel volen t. L163
De ses huscarles mult ocistrentL5117 [L5117] hucharles L buscarles H163
E ses meisnees [plusurs] malmistrent.L5118 [L5118] E semeismes R Et sa meisnee H163L5118 [L5118] mult DH163
Puis firent cunte de Morkar,L5119 [L5119] monecar L morgar H163L5119 [L5119] f. quens de R163
5120 Celui fud fiz al cunte Alfgar.L5120 [L5120] al quens A. R163
Page 163
Quant orent fait de Morkar sire,L5121 [L5121] mororar L morgar H164
Od l'ost vait en Norhamtesire,L5122 [L5122] norhantonschire RH164L5122 [L5122] lo. vint en R164 [f.128c]
[Cele] cunté [tute] preierent,L5123 [L5123] t. preia L164L5123 [L5123] trestut164L5123 [L5123] Cel DLR164L5123 [L5123] cele H, cel DLR. Unless we accept cunté as feminine the line has only seven syllables; usually in the Estoire the noun is masculine, and so D regards it here; the other MSS. all concur in reading tute, so I follow H and show the gender.164
5124 A Everwic l'aveir menerent.L5124 [L5124] la. mene L164L5124 [L5124] Lavoir a E. H164
[Tosti] alad a BaldewineL5125 [L5125] Tostine164
Qui suer il ot, dame Nidine.L5126 [L5126] indine H164
Cil le reçut par grant enurL5127 [L5127] C. les r. L164
5128 E fist joie de sa serur.L5128 [L5128] f. grant j. H164
Dunc ot des la NativitedL5129 [L5129] i ot DLH164
Mil anz seisante e [sis] passed.L5130 [L5130] et .lxvii. H164L5130 [L5130] s. set L164L5130 [L5130] a. e s. RH164L5130 [L5130] .lx. e .vii.164
En icel an Edward transit,L5131 [L5131] En cel a. H164
5132 [Vint e quatre] anz regnat, ço quit,L5132 [L5132] .xlix. H164L5132 [L5132] Quatorze DL164L5132 [L5132] vint e quatre R, quatorze DL. As Edward came to the throne in 1042 and died in 1066 and as the reading of DL spoils the metre, I have followed R. This same mistake in the numeral had already occurred in DLH at l. 853.164
Le mieldre rei e le meillur
Que Engleis eüssent a seignur
E la reïne [Edit] murut,L5135 [L5135] edward164
5136 Si cum Deu plot [e] estre dut,
A Westmuster furent posez
En dous sarcuz mult bien ovrez.L5138 [L5138] om mult H164L5135 [L5135] The queen did not die until 1075, but she was buried beside the king in Westminster Abbey.164
Aprés lur mort une comete –L5139 [L5139] Pres L164
5140 Une esteille est dunt li propheteL5140 [L5140] om est H164
E li bon astronomïen
Sevent qu'espelt u mal u bien –L5142 [L5142] om first u H164L5142 [L5142] ke esplet R164L5142 [L5142] Sovent R164
Se demustrat al firmament,L5143 [L5143] Si demustrent L164
5144 Asez la virent meinte gent.
La nuit de Letaine majurL5145 [L5145] de la L. H164
Fist [tel] clarted cum se fust jur,L5146 [L5146] cum co f. L come f. H164L5146 [L5146] tele c. RH164L5146 [L5146] cel164L5139 [L5139] The vocabulary of this description resembles that in ll. 1431-43 and both passages may be coloured by personal reminiscence; Gaimar could have seen, and remembered, the comets recorded A.S.C.(E) 1110, 1114.164
Mult plusurs humes l'esgarderent,L5147 [L5147] om Mult H164
5148 En meint endreit en devinerent,
Chascun diseit sa devinaille.L5149 [L5149] d. la d. L164
Mais tost survint la grant cuntrailleL5150 [L5150] t. surt la g. L t. seurent le g. H164
E la grant tribulatïunL5151 [L5151] om E L164
Page 164
5152 Qui puis avint [el] regïun.L5152 [L5152] a la DH165
Dunc vint Tosti od mult grant gent,L5153 [L5153] T. a g.g. H165L5153 [L5153] om mult L165L5152 [L5152] Between 5152 and 5153 two lines left blank in L165
Tut li plusur [furent Flamenc],L5154 [L5154] F. furent165
A Wardestane sunt arivet,
5156 Tut cel païs unt fort preietL5156 [L5156] om fort H165L5156 [L5156] T. co pais L165
E mult humes en unt ocis.L5157 [L5157] h. i unt LRH165L5157 [L5157] Multz des h. H165
En Tanet vont en cel païs, [f.128d]
Encuntre lui Copsi la vint,L5159 [L5159] om la LH165
5160 Un suen barun ki de lui tint.
Il vint de l'isle d'Orkenie,
Dis e set nes ot en baillie.L5162 [L5162] .xviii. H165
Puis cururent en Brunesmue,L5163 [L5163] P. turnerent en H165
5164 Cele cuntree unt cunfundue,
Granz damages e granz dolurs
Firent iloc e aillurs.L5166 [L5166] e unc a. R165L5166 [L5166] In DLH the line is a syllable short, but the unc in R is not found in the Estoire in the sense apparently required here.165
Puis vont en Humbre od lur navie,L5167 [L5167] l. navire R165
5168 Grant [preie] unt pris en Lindesie,L5168 [L5168] chose165
Plusurs humes [i] unt ocisL5169 [L5169] om i DH165
Einz qu'il turnassent del païs.
Li cuens Edwine [od] mult grant ostL5171 [L5171] om mult H165L5171 [L5171] c. godwine L c. gowine H165L5171 [L5171] ot165
5172 En Lindesie vint mult tost.
Puis lur defendit cel païsL5173 [L5173] defent R165
Mais mult l'aveient [ainz] malmis.L5174 [L5174] la. enz m. L165L5174 [L5174] om Mais L165L5173 [L5173] not in H165
Li cuens Morkar de l'autre partL5175 [L5175] morgar H165
5176 Defent la terre, n'ad regart.L5176 [L5176] Defendent la t. L D. sa t. R165
Sur Humbre sunt pres de la mer,
Bien lur defendit l'ariverL5178 [L5178] Dont lur defent R B. lur defendent LH165L5178 [L5178] defendent LH, defendit D, defent R. The context seems to require the plural, so I have preferred it; the singular may be due to the verb in l. 5176.165
Mais li Flameng, quant il ço virent,L5179 [L5179] co veient L165L5179 [L5179] om il H165
5180 [Emblerent] s'en, Tosti faillirent,L5180 [L5180] Tost sasemblerent si sen aleient L Ensemblerent tost et f. H165L5180 [L5180] Asemblerent sen e T.165L5180 [L5180] emblerent s'en R, asemblerent s'en e D. His shipmen did desert Tostig, so the reading of R is to be preferred. L and H have distorted the line in different ways, apparently because the name Tosti had been misplaced and/or misdivided in an earlier MS.165
Chargiez s'en vont en lur païs
De la pelfre [d]'Engleis chaitifs.L5182 [L5182] p. as c. H165L5182 [L5182] des DL165
Page 165
Od icels dunc qui remis suntL5183 [L5183] om qui H166
5184 S'aturnerent, puis [si] s'en vont,L5184 [L5184] om si DL166
Vers Escoce en sunt alezL5185 [L5185] E. sen s. LR166
A [Malcolom] kis ad [amez].L5186 [L5186] ad mandez L ad amenez H166L5186 [L5186] malcolumb R166L5186 [L5186] om A H166L5186 [L5186] menez166L5186 [L5186] masculun DL166
[Li quens] Tosti mult honuratL5187 [L5187] T. m. lon. H166L5187 [L5187] Le cunte DL166
5188 E bels aveirs lui presentat.L5187 [L5187] follow 5189-90 in H166
Li reis de Norwege la vint,
Od grant navire od Tosti tint;L5190 [L5190] g. navie od T. H166
Harald [Harfage] ot nun cil reis,L5191 [L5191] cel r. LRH166L5191 [L5191] hardfach L arson H166L5191 [L5191] harefan166L5191 [L5191] Harfage R, Harefan D, Hardfach L. The Norwegian king was Harald Hardrada, but the confusion with the earlier Harald Harfagr is widespread (cf. Plummer, II, 256); as the reading of R is nearest that form, I have adopted it.166
5192 Od lui se tindrent les Daneis.L5192 [L5192] li D. LH166
Tant unt parlé il e Tosti,
Chascun ad l'autre sa fei pleviL5194 [L5194] om sa fei H166L5194 [L5194] C. al a. ad saf. R166L5194 [L5194] E c. L166 [f.129a]
De quanqu' ensemble cunquerunt,
5196 Tut üelment le partirunt.L5196 [L5196] u. dep. H166
Ore volent primes par lur guere
Entr'els partir Engleterre.L5198 [L5198] p. tut E. R166L5198 [L5198] E. dep. H166
Il dui orent navire grant,L5199 [L5199] o. navie g. H166L5199 [L5199] Cil H166
5200 Quatre cenz nefs seisante avant.L5200 [L5200] n. setante a. LR166L5200 [L5200] Quarante set n. L166L5200 [L5200] .lx. DH166L5200 [L5200] Authorities do not agree on the size of the fleet. As there is no means of deciding between the 460 ships of DH and the 470 of LR, I follow the MS. base.166
Tant unt nagié e tant siglé
Qu'el flum del Humbre [sunt] entré,L5202 [L5202] el flot de H166
De Humbre en Use sunt venuz,L5203 [L5203] U. en s. R166
5204 A Saint Wilfrei des nefs issuz.L5201 [L5201] This route is well known to Gaimar. In his Buern Bucecarle story the Danish fleet sails into the Humber and thence into the Ouse; the tide turns and the leaders spend the night at Cawood. In our passage Tostig and Harald Hardrada enter the Humber and then the Ouse and go ashore at Saint Wilfrei, apparently to spend the night, for they sail on next day to York. Florence of Worcester says they landed near Riccal, 3½ miles north of Selby and about a mile from the river; Gaimar's stopping-place is not otherwise known, but the parallel accounts suggest it is somewhere in this reach of the river; M.H.B. (p. 827) proposed to identify it with Brayton, 1½ miles south-west of Selby but not on the river, mainly, it would seem, because the church is dedicated to St. Wilfrid.166
L'endemain vindrent dreit siglant
A Everwic a l'avesprant.L5206 [L5206] E. dreit a H166
Mais les dous cuntes s'asemblerent,L5207 [L5207] M. li dui c. H166
5208 De set cuntez la gent menerent,L5208 [L5208] g. manderent H166
A [Fuleford] se cumbatirent,L5209 [L5209] fukeford166
Noreis idunc le champ venquirent
Mais d'ambes parz ot grant ocise;L5211 [L5211] p. ert g. H166L5211 [L5211] dambe part L166L5211 [L5211] om Mais H166
5212 Puis unt Norreis la terre prise.
Tuit cel païs vont purpernant
Page 166
E les preies mult dechaçant.
Qui ço ne set, si se remembre:L5215 [L5215] set le sen r. L seit isci sen r. R siet ne nen r. H167
5216 Duze jurs fud dedenz Septembre.L5216 [L5216] .xii.167L5216 [L5216] The reckoning in Gaimar's source will have been on the Roman system, cf. l. 1535: Ço fud unze jurs devant Mai which renders on .xii. kt. Mai of A.S.C.(E) 688.167
Quint jur aprés reis Haralt vint,L5217 [L5217] Quart H167
Cuntre Norreis bataille tint,
Ço fud Harald le fiz GodwineL5219 [L5219] om le RH167
5220 Qui des Norreis fist discipline.
Ço fud [al] Punt de la bataille,L5221 [L5221] le167
Noreis trovat pernant almaille;
Li reis Harald dunc les siwit,L5223 [L5223] om dunc H167
5224 [Ireement] se cumbatit,L5224 [L5224] Irousement H167L5224 [L5224] Ireenment167
Harald, l'autre, el champ ocistL5225 [L5225] Laltre H. R167
E de Tosti ensement fist.
Sur les Daneis ot la victoire,L5227 [L5227] Sur norois ot H167
5228 La gent del suth semblat grant gloire
Mes om ne sot cunter demisL5229 [L5229] ne siet c. demi H167
Ces ki el champ furent ocis.L5230 [L5230] f. occi H167L5230 [L5230] el pais LH167L5230 [L5230] C. kel c. R167L5230 [L5230] Cels LR167L5230 [L5230] om Ces H167 [f.129b]
Tutes les nefs e lur herneisL5231 [L5231] Touz lur n. H167
5232 Ad fait saisir Harald li reis.L5232 [L5232] om Ad H167
Le fiz [cel rei] i fu trovez,L5233 [L5233] celui DH167L5233 [L5233] cel rei R, celui DH. As the reference is to the son of Harald Hardrada, I have followed the clearer reading of R.167
Cel fu a Harald amenez,L5234 [L5234] Cil f. R Si f. H167L5233 [L5233] not in L167
Merci criad, treü pramist,
5236 Harald humage de lui pristL5236 [L5236] H. de lui h. L167
E de trestuz les remananzL5237 [L5237] de touz les H167
Prist bons ostages e vaillanz.L5238 [L5238] om bons and e H167
Od vint nes les laissat aler,
5240 Dunc eirent tant que sunt en mer.L5240 [L5240] D. font t. H167
Cinc jurz aprés sunt arivez
Franceis od bien unze [mil] nefsL5242 [L5242] om nefs L167L5242 [L5242] b. unz miliers L167L5242 [L5242] .ix. H167L5242 [L5242] om bien H167L5242 [L5242] mile DH167L5242 [L5242] .xi.167L5242 [L5242] Authorities differ in the number of ships they assign to William's fleet, but that of Gaimar seems too high; the divergence between nine (H) and eleven (DLR) thousand makes the actual number given by him uncertain.167
A Hastinges desur la mer;
5244 Iloc firent chastel fermer.
Li reis Harald, quant ço oïd,L5245 [L5245] q. il o. R167
Page 167
L'evesque [Aldret] ad dunc saisidL5246 [L5246] A. idonc s. H168L5246 [L5246] alred DLH168
De[l] grant aveir e de[l] herneis
5248 Qu'il ot cunquis sur les Noreis.L5248 [L5248] c. des N. H168
Merleswain idunc i laissat,L5249 [L5249] om i H168L5249 [L5249] M. dunc i LR168
Pur ost mander en suth alat.
Cinc jurz i mist a l'asemblerL5251 [L5251] .v.168
5252 Mais ne pot gueres aüner
Pur la grant gent [ki ert] ocise,L5253 [L5253] ke ert LH168L5253 [L5253] quot168
Quant des Noreis fist Deus justise.
Tresqu'en Suthsexe Harald alat,L5255 [L5255] en sudreie H. L168
5256 [Tel gent] cum pot [od] sei menat,L5256 [L5256] od li m. RH168L5256 [L5256] Tels c. LH168L5256 [L5256] cum s.168L5256 [L5256] Tant168
[Ses] dous freres genz asemblerent,L5257 [L5257] Les168L5257 [L5257] tel gent c. R, tels c. LH, tant c. D. I regard the reading of D as an individual correction, made because tels seemed ambiguous, and follow R, because it also gives a metrically correct line.168
A la bataille od lui alerent,
Li uns fud Gerd, l'autre Lefwine,L5259 [L5259] leswine LRH168L5259 [L5259] gered L gerard H168
5260 Cuntre la gent d'ultremarine.L5260 [L5260] C. lost du. H168
Quant les eschieles furent rengiesL5261 [L5261] rengees LRH168L5261 [L5261] sunt R168
E del ferir aparaillies,L5262 [L5262] aparaillees LRH168
Mult i ot gent d'ambes[dous] parz,L5263 [L5263] damp p. L168L5263 [L5263] om dous DLH168
5264 De hardement semblent leuparz.L5264 [L5264] semblad L168
Un des Franceis dunc se hastat,
Devant les autres chevalchat, [f.129c]
Taillifer ert cil apelez,
5268 Juglere [estait] ardiz asez,L5268 [L5268] om estait H168L5268 [L5268] ert DL168
Armes aveit e bon cheval,
Si ert hardi e noble vassal.L5270 [L5270] e bon v. L168
Devant les autres cil se mist,L5271 [L5271] om cil H168
5272 Devant Engleis merveilles fist.
Sa lance prist par le [tüet],L5273 [L5273] cuet168
Si cum ço fust un bastunet,L5274 [L5274] un hastuned L168L5274 [L5274] Com si co R168
Encuntremunt halt le getaL5275 [L5275] h. lengetta H168L5275 [L5275] le geta DLR, l'engetta H. As the reference is to lance (l. 5273) we should expect the feminine pronoun and R seems to have felt this, for in its next line the past participle is in the feminine. The mistake, possibly due to the intervening bastunet (l. 5274) is due to Gaimar; he seems to have repeated it in l. 5283 where the reference is to espee (l. 5281), DLH giving le, but R having la.168
5276 E par le fer rec[e]ü l'a.L5276 [L5276] receue la R168
Treis feiz getad issi sa lance,L5277 [L5277] la l. L168L5277 [L5277] issi geta R168
Page 168
La quarte feiz mult pres s'avance,L5278 [L5278] m. par sa. L f. puis sa. H169
Entre les Engleis la lançat,L5279 [L5279] om la L169
5280 Parmi le cors un en navrat.
Puis trait l'espee, ariere vint,L5281 [L5281] sespee LRH169
Getat l'espee qu'il tintL5282 [L5282] sespee R169L5282 [L5282] Et g. H169
Encuntremun[t], [puis] le receit.L5283 [L5283] c. veoit H169L5283 [L5283] halt DLH169L5283 [L5283] puis R, halt DLH. The context supports the former reading – he threw the sword up high, then caught it; the halt of the other MSS. appears to have come from l. 5275.169
5284 L'un dit a l'autre qui ço veit
Que ço esteit enchantement
Que cil faiseit devant la gent.L5286 [L5286] Cil se fiert d. H169
Quant treis feiz ot geté l'espee,
5288 Le cheval [od] gule baieeL5288 [L5288] v. a esleise R169L5288 [L5288] ad la DLH169L5288 [L5288] c. od g. R, c. ot la g. DLH. The latter reading is due, I think, to confusion of od (prep.) and ot (verb); the latter entailed the introduction of the article and consequent spoiling of the metre.169
Vers les Engleis vint esleissié;
Alquant quident estre mangiéL5290 [L5290] Si i ad a. ki q. R169
Pur le cheval que si baiot;L5291 [L5291] ki issi b. R qissi b. H169
5292 Le jugleür apris lui ot.L5292 [L5292] j. enpres venout H169
De l'[espee] fiert un Engleis,L5293 [L5293] sespee H169L5293 [L5293] espie169
Le puin li fait voler maneis,L5294 [L5294] v. des mains L v. demanois H169
Altre en fiert tant cum il pot,L5295 [L5295] Un a. ferit H169
5296 Mal gueredon le jur en ot
Kar les Engleis de tutes parzL5297 [L5297] li E. H169
Li lancent gavelocs e darz,L5298 [L5298] launcerent H169
Lui ocistrent e sun destrier.L5299 [L5299] Sil o. H169
5300 Mar demanda le cop premier.
Aprés iço Franceis requierentL5301 [L5301] A. ceo F. les r. H169
E les Engleis encuntre fierent.L5302 [L5302] Assez i ot l. H169 [f.129d]
La ot asez levé grant cri,
5304 Desci qu'al vespre ne failli
Ne le ferir ne le lancer.
Mult i ot mort maint chevalier.
Ne sai numer, ne ruis mentir,L5307 [L5307] s. nomai nos m. R169L5307 [L5307] Nes LRH169
5308 Les quels alerent mielz ferir.L5308 [L5308] Li englois a. bien f. H169
Li cuens Alains, cil de Bretaine,L5309 [L5309] om cil DLH169L5309 [L5309] In view of the frequent occurrence of the phrase-type (name of person) cil de (name of place) I have introduced the pronoun here.169
Page 169
Bien [i] ferit od sa cumpaigne;
Cil i ferit cume barun,L5311 [L5311] ferd L170
5312 Mult [bien le firent si] Bretun.L5312 [L5312] om si DH170L5312 [L5312] le firent bien170
Od le rei vint en ceste terre
Pur lui aider de sa guerre,
Sun cusin ert de sun lignage,
5316 Gentils hom ert de grant parage.L5316 [L5316] om ert H170
Le rei servit [e mult l]'amatL5317 [L5317] s. et a. H170L5317 [L5317] om rei L170L5317 [L5317] mult e a.170
E il bien lui gueredonat;L5318 [L5318] tres b.170
Richemunt li donat en nort,L5319 [L5319] Riche honeur li L Richement li H170
5320 Bon chastel e bel e fort;L5320 [L5320] Bel c. e bon e f. L170
En plusurs lius en Engleterre
Li reis li donat de sa terre.
Lunges la tint e puis fenit,
5324 A Saint Edmund fud enfuït.L5324 [L5324] E. lom lenfouit H170
Or ai dit d'icel barun,
Repeirer voil a ma raisun.L5326 [L5326] Repeirai a L170
Il e les autres [tant] ferirentL5327 [L5327] Lui et li a. t. en firent H170L5327 [L5327] fant ? corrected to tant170
5328 Que la bataille bien venquirent
E ço sachiez qu'al chief del turL5329 [L5329] Mes co sai bien kal c. R170L5329 [L5329] s. bien170
Engleis furent li [surdeür].L5330 [L5330] li soldeur L li peiour H170L5330 [L5330] suduiur170
En [l'avesprer] turnent en fuie,L5331 [L5331] Et tournent a f. el pre H170L5331 [L5331] turnerent R170L5331 [L5331] En la presse L170L5331 [L5331] en l'avesprer R, en la pree D, en la presse L. The line is completely recast in H in order to avoid the rime fuie : voie. The reading of D looks meaningless and that of L suggests an attempt to give some meaning to a corrupt line. The context rather requires an indication of time, so I have followed R. I wonder, however, whether en l'avespree is what Gaimar actually wrote.170
5332 Maint cors remaint de l'aneme voie.L5332 [L5332] a. veie R170L5332 [L5332] c. fut del a. voide H170L5332 [L5332] c. i r. R170
Haralt remist e ses dous freres,L5333 [L5333] et les d. H170L5333 [L5333] la pree170
Par eus sunt morz e fiz e peres,
[Uncles], nevoz, de tuz lignages.L5335 [L5335] Et multz autres des l. H170L5335 [L5335] de tut li barnages R170L5335 [L5335] Un des170
5336 Engleis cumprerent lur ultrages.L5336 [L5336] Dunt mult estoit granz damages H170L5336 [L5336] cumperent R170L5335 [L5335] not in L170
Lefwine e Gert furent ocis.L5337 [L5337] gerard H170L5337 [L5337] leswine LH170
Li [quens] Willame ot le païs.L5338 [L5338] Li quons W. L170L5338 [L5338] reis170L5338 [L5338] quens RLH, reis D. A curious divergence, though the agreement of the three MSS. leads to the rejection of the reading of the MS. base. Had Gaimar written reis, it is unlikely that a copyist would have changed it for a lesser dignity, but after finding William called king more than once in the preceding passage the reverse alteration is explicable.170 [f.130a]
[Vint e dous] anz en fud [il] sireL5339 [L5339] celui170L5339 [L5339] Duze DH Unze L170
Page 170
5340 Fors sul cinc semaines a dire.L5340 [L5340] s. .v. sintaignes H171
Mais quant il ot [un] poi regnéL5341 [L5341] om un DL171
E le païs bien apaisié,
Mil e sesante [e set] anz otL5343 [L5343] seit R171L5343 [L5343] om e set DLH171
5344 Que Deus fud nez, si cum li plot,L5344 [L5344] come li p. H171L5344 [L5344] om si H171L5344 [L5344] om fud R171
Dunc mandat li reis chevaliers,
Si retint mil soldeiers.L5346 [L5346] r. bien m. R171
Ignelement la mer passat,
5348 En Normendie s'en alat,
La terre asist, puis s'en revint,L5349 [L5349] t. saisist p. L171
A Lundres une feste tint,
Mais al venir de Normendie
5352 En mer ot de sa gent perie.L5343 [L5343] The date suggests that Gaimar is here using a source of annalistic nature, but it was not A.S.C. Whence he learnt of the feast and of the loss of life is not known.171
En [icel] an tut veirementL5353 [L5353] cel DLR171
Un signe virent plusur gent,L5354 [L5354] Une R171
En semblance de feu esteit,
5356 En l'air [flambot], formet [ardeit],L5356 [L5356] f. e a. R171L5356 [L5356] ardeii f. flambeit171L5356 [L5356] The two verbs are interverted in D which has substituted analogical flambeit to secure a rime.171
Envers la terre s'aprismot,
Pur poi tute ne l'alumot,
Puis [re]volot lasus amunt,L5359 [L5359] om la LH171L5359 [L5359] revola H171
5360 Dunc descendeit en mer parfunt,L5360 [L5360] descendit H171
En plusurs lius arst bois e plains.
[Nuls hom nen ert] ki [fust] certainsL5362 [L5362] h. nert R n. fut c. H171L5362 [L5362] fu c. DL171L5362 [L5362] Nul home nert171
Ne qui seüst que ço deveitL5363 [L5363] c. deust L171L5363 [L5363] Ne ne sout quei c. H171
5364 Ne que cel signe espeleit.L5364 [L5364] s. espunt L171L5364 [L5364] q. tiel s. H171L5364 [L5364] que que171
El païs de Norhumberlant
S'alot cest feu [si] demustrantL5366 [L5366] om si DLH171
[E] en un an en dous saisunsL5367 [L5367] om E DH171
5368 Fu iceste demustreisuns.L5368 [L5368] icest d. L ceste d. H171
En icel an tut veirementL5369 [L5369] an certeinement H171
Li reis Willame [od] mult grant gent,L5370 [L5370] W. a grant H171L5370 [L5370] ot171L5370 [L5370] W. od m.g. LR, W. ot m.g. D, W. a g. H. The partial repetition in the next line supports the reading of LR which makes the four lines a single sentence; D and H seem to have read a verb into l. 5370, so that l. 5371 belongs to a second sentence. Cf. 5288 n.171
Od mult granz genz e ses barunsL5371 [L5371] Od contes et od meint baron H171L5371 [L5371] g. od ses b. R171L5371 [L5371] om mult R171
Page 171
5372 Alat luinz en ses regïuns.L5372 [L5372] A. par la region H172
Quant il vint a Notingeham,
Manda a Everwic par ban [f.130b]
E par preiere e par amur
5376 Quel recunuissent a seignur.L5376 [L5376] Q. le receivent a H172L5376 [L5376] Qui le r. L Kel R172L5376 [L5376] Quil DH172
Un arcevesque i enveiat,
[Aldret] ot nun, par lui mandat: –L5378 [L5378] Alred DLH172
Arcevesque ert de la cited,
5380 Mult alot luinz sa poësté –L5380 [L5380] ala H172
Viengent a lui tuit li barun
De la cité e d'envirun
Kar qui de lui tenir voldrat,
5384 Les heritez bien lur rendratL5384 [L5384] Ses h. b. li r. H172
Que li ancestre orent devant
E lur pere furent tenant,
En pais aler e salf venir;
5388 Cil ki de lui voldrat partir,
Alt s'en ariere seinement,
Ja n'i avrat desturbement.
Cil vindrent tuit qui sunt mandez,
5392 Li reis les ad enprisunez.L5373 [L5373] That the king advanced to Nottingham is historical, but Gaimar appears to be the sole authority for Ealdred's mission and William's duplicity.172
A Eve[r]wic puis s'en alat
E un chastel dedenz fermat,L5394 [L5394] om E LRH172L5394 [L5394] William I built two castles at York, but it is a matter of debate whether both were constructed at the same time. Gaimar appears to contradict himself, speaking here of un chastel, but later (l. 5434) of les chastels. As, however, his chronology is vague and confused, no conclusion can be drawn.172
Les baruns prist de la cuntree,
5396 Lur terre as Franceis a donee,L5396 [L5396] As F. ad lur terres d. H172L5396 [L5396] L. terres as R172
Puis s'en alat en sud preiant,L5397 [L5397] en sun p. L172
Mainte vile laissat ardant.
En icel an dunt jo vus di
5400 Revint Godwine, Edmund, Tosti;L5400 [L5400] G. et E. T. H172L5400 [L5400] E. e T. R172L5400 [L5400] edmund godwine L172
Godwine, Edmund, [les] fiz HaraldL5401 [L5401] G. et E. li f. H172L5401 [L5401] le DL172
E le fiz Swein, Tosti Reinald.L5402 [L5402] T. revenout R172
Od grant navirie en sunt venuz.L5403 [L5403] g. navie en H172
5404 Ednod s'en est aparceüz,L5404 [L5404] se est L172L5404 [L5404] Ernald R172
Page 172
Uns riches hom de cel païs;
Manda sa gent e ses amis,L5406 [L5406] M. s. homes H173
Ost aünat, encuntr'els vint,L5407 [L5407] om els H173
5408 Fiere bataille encuntr'els tint,L5408 [L5408] b. a els donc T. R173
Mais ne sai dire a escïent
Li quels ferit plus durement [f.130c]
Mais ço sai jo: Daneis venquirent,L5411 [L5411] E ne sai si D. L173L5411 [L5411] jo bien173
5412 Franceis, Engleis le jur perirent,L5412 [L5412] F. e E. RH173
Mult en sunt mort e mult ocis.L5413 [L5413] s. fuiz et o. H173L5399 [L5399] Here, as elsewhere in this section of the Estoire, Gaimar does not distinguish clearly between events in the South-west and events in the North, and so events historically connected with Bristol and Somerset appear to be linked with York. Florence of Worcester speaks of three sons of Harold taking part in the attack, but says nothing of any son of Swein, neither is it clear whether Tosti Reinald (l. 5402) refers to one person or to two; possibly this name really belongs to a different incursion.173
Puis pristrent Daneis Everwis.
Mais li bons reis, quant l'oïd dire,
5416 Mult l'en pesat, sin ot grant ire.
Dunc fist Flamengs aparaillier,
Las enveiat pur guerreier,L5418 [L5418] La les RH Les L173L5418 [L5418] Jas173L5418 [L5418] jas D, les L, la les RH. The reading of RH gives a syllable too many, but makes sense, which that of D does not; the latter, however, points the way to an emendation which satisfies metre and sense – las. The earlier, less common enclises were on the way out when Gaimar wrote, but he uses one or two sporadically, viz. ques 380, 994, us 2484 and also, though it is not actually found in the MSS., çol (cf. l. 2269 n).173
A Durelme en un muncelL5419 [L5419] dreline H173
5420 La voleient faire chastel
Mais as Engleis en ad peset,L5421 [L5421] om en H173
Od les [Flamencs] se sunt meslet,L5422 [L5422] engleis173
Tuz les ocistrent en un jur
5424 E [les homes] e lur seignur.L5424 [L5424] a le s. LH173L5424 [L5424] eus173
E en cel an enveiat Suein,L5425 [L5425] om E LRH173
Un rei qui mult fud de ire plein,L5426 [L5426] om mult RH173
Sun frere Osbern e ses treis fiz,L5427 [L5427] .iiii. H173L5427 [L5427] .iii.173
5428 Harald e Kenut e Buern Leriz,L5428 [L5428] Meint vassal i ot le jor ocis L173L5428 [L5428] K. et le bon leweriz H173L5417 [L5417] Though he is not mentioned by name, this passage deals with the local uprising which culminated in the murder of Robert de Commines and was the prelude to the second rising in the North.173
Od grant navirie en Engleterre.L5429 [L5429] g. navie en H173
Daneis, Norreis pur faire guerre
En la buche de Humbre entrerent,
5432 Les païsanz encuntre alerent,L5432 [L5432] Cil del pais e. H173
A Everwic en sunt venuz
E les chastels unt abatuz
Que les Normanz orent fait.L5435 [L5435] aveient R173L5435 [L5435] li N. H173
5436 Maint' aneme i ot de vassal traitL5436 [L5436] de cors t. RH173
Page 173
Kar les [gardeins] furent ocis,L5437 [L5437] f. malmis L174L5437 [L5437] engleis174
[Mult] poi s'en eschaperent vis.L5438 [L5438] om Mult DH174
Or e argent i ot asez
5440 E autre aveir mult aünez,L5440 [L5440] om mult H174
Engleis, Daneis l'unt departit,
Tel en prist [part] ki n'en joïtL5442 [L5442] p. pas nen j. H174L5442 [L5442] k. pus nen j. L174L5442 [L5442] om part DL174
Kar li reis vint, la cité prist,
5444 Daneis, Noreis tuz les ocist.L5444 [L5444] D. et N. touz o. H174L5425 [L5425] This is the invasion led by Osbern, brother of Swein Estrithson, king of Denmark. Authorities differ on the number of nephews who accompanied him. A.S.C.(E) gives no number, but A.S.C.(D) specifies three, Florence of Worcester names two – Harald and Cnut – and Gaimar apparently three, though his Buern Leriz (l. 5428) has not been identified; in view of Swein Estrithson's large progeny, not all of whose names are known, Gaimar may be correct.174
Li reis Willame dunc ne fine,
Tuit arst, destruist tresqu'en Tine.L5446 [L5446] a. et d. H174L5446 [L5446] d. que quen T. L174L5446 [L5446] T. ad destruit R174 [f.130d]
L'evesque Walcher ert ocis.L5447 [L5447] fut H174L5447 [L5447] walzeier R walgar H174L5447 [L5447] Li e. L174L5447 [L5447] walgier174
5448 Li reis destruist ses enemis,L5448 [L5448] destruit LR174L5448 [L5448] d. mult s. DL174
A Gatesheved [le vengat]L5449 [L5449] G. se v. H174L5449 [L5449] lenveiat DL174
Li reis [ki] laenz l'enveiat.L5450 [L5450] l. lenferma L174L5450 [L5450] l. les e. H174L5450 [L5450] om ki DLH174L5447 [L5447] The murder, here briefly mentioned, is described in detail in Florence of Worcester, and took place in 1080, ten years after the events in Ely which next occupy Gaimar's attention, but the reason for the antedating remains undiscovered.174
Un an aprés l'evesque Elwine
5452 E Siward [Barn] en la marineL5452 [L5452] bren DLH174
Murent d'Escoce od nof esnecces,L5453 [L5453] od novels esnerhes R174L5453 [L5453] .ix.174
Tresqu'en Humbre siglent es brecces.L5454 [L5454] es brecces. All MSS. concur in the reading, but the Rolls edition left the phrase untranslated. It has been glossed as ship, but this seems to be due to regarding the word as a synonym of esnecces in the previous line. To me a topographical term seems to be called for by the context; I would connect the word with O.N. brekkja and suggest as meaning open beach.174
Li cuens Morcar encuntre vint,L5455 [L5455] morgar H174
5456 Es nes [entrad], od eus se tint.L5456 [L5456] En nef R174L5456 [L5456] entret174L5451 [L5451] The move to Ely took place in 1071, two years after the arrival of Osbern in the Humber (ll. 5425-31). There is a curious divergence of reading in l. 5453: DLH give a number, but R, doubtless as the result of a confusion, reads novels and spoils the metre; the number is to be preferred.174
A Welle encuntrerent Engleis,L5457 [L5457] e. les E. LRH174L5457 [L5457] encuntrent L174L5457 [L5457] Welle. This is either Upwell or Outwell on the Cambridge-Norfolk border, and seems to have been of greater importance in the Middle Ages than now. It is mentioned in the Gesta Herwardi (R.S., I, 391): Hereward in quodam mare Wide vocatum juxta Welle secessit; it appears in Thomas of Monmouth, Vita S. Willelmi (ed. A. Jessopp and M. R. James), II, c. 4: Erat enim homo quidam Lewinus nomine in uilla que apellatur Welle, que sita in palustribus Hely aquis undique a continenti intercluditor; it also ensured the Abbot of Peterborough a plentiful supply of eels: in Welles iiij milia anguillarum singulis annis according to Hugh Candidus (ed. W. T. Mellows, p. 112).174
Utlages sunt Willame al reis.L5458 [L5458] Fuiz sont a W. li r. H174L5458 [L5458] W. li r. L W. as r. R174
Tant unt parlé de cumpaignie,
5460 Chascun volt faire [a altre] aïe.L5460 [L5460] om a H174L5460 [L5460] om a altre DL174
Des utlages mult i aveit.
Un gentilz hom lur sire esteitL5462 [L5462] ll. 5461-2 interverted in H174
Qui Hereward aveit a nun,
5464 [Un des mellurs del] regïun,L5464 [L5464] Des mieldres de la174
Normans l'orent desheritet.
Ore sunt a lui tut asemblez
Li cuens Morkar e ses baruns,
Page 174
5468 L'evesque e ses cumpaignuns.
Puis unt preié mult del païs
Que li Norman orent purpris.
D'iloc alerent a Ely.
5472 Ne dutoent lur enemi.
Iloc voleient sujurner
E laissier l'iver trespasserL5474 [L5474] l. le jur t. L175L5463 [L5463] not in H; instead merely: Par la terre sont alez Et vont degastant le regne175
Mais [quant Willame] ço entent,L5475 [L5475] Li rois W. quant il ceo sout Mult fut irez si len pesout H175L5475 [L5475] W. ico e L175L5475 [L5475] W. quant175
5476 Si s'aturnat tut autrement.
Sun ost sumunst, mandat guerriers:L5477 [L5477] om Sun L Sost H175
Franceis, Engleis, e chevaliers;
Devers la mer mist marinals:L5479 [L5479] m. vint m. L175
5480 Bucekarles, serjanz, haspalsL5480 [L5480] B. valez as peaus H175L5480 [L5480] haspals. Cf. my article Further glossarial notes . . ..175
E autres genz dunt tant i ot,
Nul des asis aler [n'en] potL5482 [L5482] Si ke nuls numbrer nes p. L175L5482 [L5482] ni DH175 [f.131a]
E de rec[hef] par les boschages
5484 Furent [gardez] tuz les passagesL5484 [L5484] om tuz H175
E les mareis tuz envirunL5485 [L5485] E les maners t. L Et li marchis t. H175L5485 [L5485] E le m. R175
[Fud] bien gardez par cuntençun.L5486 [L5486] Sunt175
Aprés cumandat ço li reis:L5487 [L5487] Apres co c. LH175
5488 [Que hom] feïst punt ultre mareis,L5488 [L5488] u. le m. LR u. les m. H175L5488 [L5488] h. feie p. L175L5488 [L5488] Fere p. H175L5488 [L5488] Cum175
Si dist que tuz les destruereit,L5489 [L5489] Et d. H175
Ja nu[ls] n'en eschapereit.L5490 [L5490] nul nel e. L nus nel e. R175
Quant il ço sorent en Ely,L5491 [L5491] Q. cil le s. R175
5492 Si se sunt mis en sa merci;L5492 [L5492] om Si H175
Tuz alerent merci crïerL5493 [L5493] a. sa m. criant L175
Fors Hereward qui mult fud ber.L5494 [L5494] f. vaillant L175
Il eschapat od poi de gent,
5496 Geri od lui un sun parent,L5495 [L5495] not in L175
Od eus orent cinc cumpaignuns.L5497 [L5497] Od lui aveit c. L175
Uns hom qui amenot peissunsL5498 [L5498] q. aveit p. L q. menoit p. H175
As gardeürs lunc le mareisL5499 [L5499] As gardeins l. RH175L5499 [L5499] gardeürs DL, gardeins RH. The reading of DL gives correct syllable count, so I have retained it. The readings of RH could have been influenced by gardeins in l. 5503.175
Page 175
5500 Fist que prodom e que curteis.
En un batel les recuilli,L5501 [L5501] En son b. R176
De ros, de glai tut les covri,L5502 [L5502] r. e de g. R176
Vers les gardeins prist a nagier;
5504 Si cum un seir dut [anuiter],L5504 [L5504] ariver176
Vint pres des loges od sa nef.L5505 [L5505] Mult p. R176
Franceis esteient en un tref,L5506 [L5506] F. seeent en L176
Guid le vescunte en ert seignur,
5508 Bien cunuisseit le pesch[e]ür
E bien sorent qu'il veneit,
De lui nul d'eus garde n'aveit;L5510 [L5510] l. nule g. n. H176L5510 [L5510] De li g. nuls dels n. L176
Le pescheür virent nagier,
5512 Noiz ert e sistrent al mangier.L5512 [L5512] e. si s. R176L5512 [L5512] Nuit LRH176
Fors de la nef ist Hereward,L5513 [L5513] om ist H176
De hardement semblot leupard,L5514 [L5514] semblad L176
Ses cumpaignuns aprés eissirent,L5515 [L5515] Si c. H176
5516 Desuz un bois le tref choisirent,L5516 [L5516] bois and tref interverted in L176
[Od] eus alat le pescheür,L5517 [L5517] A DH176
Hereward ert einz sun seignur.L5518 [L5518] e. seins s. s. H176 [f.131b]
Qu'en [direie]? Li chevalierL5519 [L5519] direient176
5520 Furent suspris [a lur] mangier.L5520 [L5520] al176
Cil entrent haches en lur mains,L5521 [L5521] e. od h. es m. R176
De bien ferir ne sunt vilains,
Normans ocistrent vint e [sis]L5523 [L5523] N. o. et desconfirent Cil qui poeient sen fuirent H176L5523 [L5523] set176
5524 E duze Engleis i ot ocis.L5524 [L5524] .xii.176L5524 [L5524] Engleis. These are not Hereward's followers, for his party consisted of eight all told, but form part of the sheriff's force.176
Grant fu l'effrei par les ostels,
De la fuite sunt cumunels,L5526 [L5526] om sunt L176L5526 [L5526] f. tuz s. H176
Chevals laissent tut enselez,L5527 [L5527] om tut H176L5527 [L5527] leissierent L176
5528 Les utlages i sunt muntezL5528 [L5528] u. en s. LH176
Tut a leisir e [sainement];L5529 [L5529] seineement L176L5529 [L5529] om e L176L5529 [L5529] enseineement176L5529 [L5529] e sainement RH, seineement L, e enseineement D. The latter reading spoils the metre and there was clearly some disturbance of the text in the immediate ancestor of DL; I therefore follow RH.176
Unc n'i orent desturbement,L5530 [L5530] Onques neurent H176
[A aise] erent de faire mal,L5531 [L5531] A us e. R176L5531 [L5531] Aisie176
Page 176
5532 Chascun choisi tres bon cheval.L5532 [L5532] om tres H177
Li bois sunt pres, enz sunt entrez,L5533 [L5533] ert R177
Il [n'alerent] pas esgarez,L5534 [L5534] om Il H177L5534 [L5534] nerent177
Bien sorent tut cel païs,L5535 [L5535] saveient R177
5536 Mult i aveit de lur amis.
A une vile, u sunt turnez,L5537 [L5537] om u L177
Troverent dis de lur privez,L5538 [L5538] .x.177
Od Hereward cil se sunt pris.L5539 [L5539] A H. R177
5540 Ainz furent [huit], or sunt plus de dis,L5540 [L5540] .vi. H177L5540 [L5540] .vii. D Set L177L5540 [L5540] All four MSS. concur in this reading, but the verb is probably redundant, as it gives the line an extra syllable; I think that Gaimar wrote simply or plus de dis now more by ten and that the copyists were not familiar with the construction.177
Dis e uit sunt li cumpaignun;L5541 [L5541] .viii.177
Ainz qu'il passerent Huntendun,L5542 [L5542] passasent R177
[Orent cenz homes] bien armezL5543 [L5543] om cenz LH177L5543 [L5543] Dumes tres b.177L5543 [L5543] cenz. The number occurs only in R, but the other three MSS. have clearly omitted it and D even leaves out the verb.177
5544 Des Hereward liges privez,
Si home erent e si fedeil;
Einz qu'al demain levast soleil,L5546 [L5546] l. le s. H177
Set cenz en sunt a lui venuz,L5547 [L5547] om en RH177L5547 [L5547] .vii.177
5548 En Bruneswald l'unt cunseüz.L5548 [L5548] aconseuz H177L5548 [L5548] B. en sunt c. L177
Or fut bien grant lur cumpaignie.L5549 [L5549] la c. H177L5549 [L5549] om bien H177
Une cité unt asaillie,
Burc asaillirent pur lur forfait,L5551 [L5551] a. cil forsfait R177
5552 Bien tost en fud li mur tut [frait];L5552 [L5552] t. defreit L177L5552 [L5552] om li mur L177L5552 [L5552] Tost fut le m. H177L5552 [L5552] trait177
Entrent dedenz, asez unt prisL5553 [L5553] E. enz a. H177
Or e argent e veir e gris,L5554 [L5554] ll. 5553-4 interverted177 [f.131c]
Autre herneis i ot asez,L5555 [L5555] Autres177
5556 La chose as munes unt tensez.
D'iloc s'en vont a Estanfort.
De ço qu'il pernent ne funt tortL5558 [L5558] co ke p. LH177
Kar li burgeis orent braciez
5560 Que Hereward ert dechaciez;L5560 [L5560] si d. L si chace R177L5560 [L5560] fu R en fut H177
Meslé l'orent envers le rei
A mult grant [tort] e a beslei.L5562 [L5562] om mult H177
S'il se vengat, ne fud nul tort,L5563 [L5563] f. mie t. R177L5563 [L5563] vengast L vengoit H177L5563 [L5563] om se L sen v. R177
Page 177
5564 De cels de Burc e d'Estanfort.
Qu'en direie? Par plusurs anz
Tint Hereward [contre Normanz].L5566 [L5566] H. encuntre N. L178L5566 [L5566] par plusurs anz178
Il e Winter sun cumpaignunL5567 [L5567] wilter L178
5568 E dan Geri un gentil hom,L5568 [L5568] Lur firent sovent grant tencon H178L5568 [L5568] geheri L178
Alvriz Grusgan, Saiswold, Azier,L5569 [L5569] azecier R178L5569 [L5569] laiswold L178L5569 [L5569] Alvriz Grusgan. In the Gesta Herwardi (Rolls edition, I, 373) Aluricus Grugan figures in a list of Hereward's followers, and in a context of double-barrelled names probably refers to one man – so at least the editor regards it; in the Estoire the structure of the line suggests the possibility that two persons are intended by Gaimar.178
Icist e si autre chevalierL5570 [L5570] Icil e li a. guerreier R178L5570 [L5570] E cil li a. L178
Guerrierent issi Franceis:
5572 Se un d'ous encuntrot treis,L5572 [L5572] encuntrast L178L5572 [L5572] un dels LR178
Ne s'en alassent senz asalt.
Ço pert encore en Bruneswalt,
La u Gier se cumbatitL5575 [L5575] geheri L178L5575 [L5575] Gier DR, Geheri L. The passage is absent from H and the name in L is clearly repeated from l. 5568. Nevertheless the reading of DR leaves the line a syllable short. Now in the Gesta Herwardi (Rolls edition, I, 400) there is an account of a fight between Hereward and a certain Ogger which has some resemblance to our passage. This suggests the possibility that Gaimar wrote Ogier, but it would be hazardous to emend.178
5576 Qui mult fud [fort], fier e hardit;L5576 [L5576] f. e f. R178
Lui setme asailli HerewardL5577 [L5577] Le set a. L178
Sul par sun cors; n'[i] ot regard,L5578 [L5578] om i DL178
Les quatre ocist, les treis fuïrent,L5579 [L5579] .iii.178L5579 [L5579] .iiii.178
5580 Navrez, sanglenz, cil s'en partirent.L5569 [L5569] not in H178
En plusurs lius iço avint:L5581 [L5581] l. issi a. R l. ceo a. H178
[En]cuntre set tres bien se tint;L5582 [L5582] om tres H178L5582 [L5582] Cuntre les treis t. L178L5582 [L5582] Kenc. R178L5582 [L5582] Cuntre DL178
De set humes aveit vertu,
5584 Unc plus hardi ne fu veü.
Par plusurs anz tant guerreiat,L5585 [L5585] a. si g. R178
[Si] que une dame le mandatL5586 [L5586] d. len amad L178L5586 [L5586] Tant que R178
Qui de lui ot oï parler.
5588 Par meinte feiz le fist manderL5588 [L5588] lad fet m. H178
Qu'a lui venist, se lui plaiseit,L5589 [L5589] veneit L vensist H178
L'onur sun pere li durreit [f.131d]
E s'il la perneit a muillier,L5591 [L5591] si la p. R178
5592 Bien purreit Franceis guerreier.L5592 [L5592] F. venger H178
Ço fud [Alftrued] que ço mandotL5593 [L5593] mandad LH178L5593 [L5593] alucfed L alfued H178L5593 [L5593] alftued178
A Hereward que mult amot.L5594 [L5594] amad LH178L5594 [L5594] H. ke ele m. L178
Page 178
[Par] plusurs feiz tant le mandatL5595 [L5595] om Par DLH179
5596 Que Hereward s'[en] aprestat.L5596 [L5596] om en DH179
Vers lui alad [od] mult grant gent,L5597 [L5597] m. de gent H179L5597 [L5597] ot179
Triwes aveit tut veirement;L5598 [L5598] om tut H179
Al rei se deveit acorder,
5600 Dedenz cel meis deveit passerL5600 [L5600] m. passer la mer H179
La mer pur guerreier ManselsL5601 [L5601] Deveit pur g. les M. H179
Qui unt al rei toleit chastels.L5602 [L5602] orent L179
Il i aveit enceis esté,L5603 [L5603] a. einz e. H179L5603 [L5603] Iloc a. L179
5604 Galtier [del] Bois aveit matéL5604 [L5604] al179L5604 [L5604] Galtier del (al D) Bois. This personage still remains unidentified.179
E dan Giefrei, [cil] de Mëaine,L5605 [L5605] de alemaine L179L5605 [L5605] om cil R179L5605 [L5605] maine DRH179L5605 [L5605] celui179L5605 [L5605] Geoffrey de Mayenne's castle was captured in 1063, but he was concerned in an insurrection in 1073, and William I took an English contingent with him on his campaign of suppression. There was a tradition that Hereward was in command of the contingent and Gaimar may have this confusedly in mind.179
Tint en prisun une semaine.
Ore quidot bien aler en pais,L5607 [L5607] Ereward q. a. H179
5608 D'or e d'argent [aveit] maint fais.L5608 [L5608] ot179
Quant li Norman ço entendirent,
Fruissent la pais, si l'asaillirent;L5610 [L5610] La pees despiecerent si H179
A sun mangier l'unt asaillit.
5612 Se Hereward en fust warnit,L5612 [L5612] De H. L179
Le plus hardi semblast cuard.
Malement le guaitat Ailward,L5614 [L5614] M. lagueitat A. R179
Sun chapelein le dut gaitier,
5616 Si s'endormi sur un rochier.L5616 [L5616] send. sus un H179
Que direie? Supris i fud
Mais gentement s'es[t] cuntenud,L5618 [L5618] sen est R179
Si se cuntint cum un lïun,L5619 [L5619] come l. H179
5620 Il e Winter sun cumpaignun.L5620 [L5620] wilter L179
Quant nul halberc ne pot [cumbrer]L5621 [L5621] ne p. aver L ni p. aveir H179L5621 [L5621] Q. son h. R179L5621 [L5621] cobrer179
Ne ses armes pur lui [armer]L5622 [L5622] p. sei a. RH179L5622 [L5622] aidier179
[Ne sur] destrier ne pot saillir,L5623 [L5623] Nen sun179
5624 Un escu prist que vit gesirL5624 [L5624] kil v. R qil i v. H179
E une lance e une espee;
[L'espee] ceinst, si l'ad [nuee].L5626 [L5626] lad viree L lad nue R179L5626 [L5626] unee179L5626 [L5626] La spee179
Page 179
[f.132a]Devant trestuz ses cumpaignuns
5628 S'est acemez cume lëuns.L5628 [L5628] cum uns l. L come uns l. H180
Mult fierement dist as Franceis:
'Triwes m'aveit doné li reis
Mais vus venez ireement,
5632 Le mien pernez, tuez ma gent.L5632 [L5632] p. e t. R180
Suspris m'avez a mun mangier,
Fels traïtres, vendrai mei chier'.L5634 [L5634] v. men c. R180
Treis gavelocs un sergant tint,
5636 Ses hom esteit, devant lui vint;L5636 [L5636] Sis LRH180
L'un en baillat a sun seignur.L5637 [L5637] om en H180
Un chevalier alot entur,
Partut le champ alot querant
5640 [E Hereward mult demandant,
De ses homes aveit oscis
E morz getez desci k'a dis.
Si com il l'alout demandant],
5644 Li bers li est venuz devant;L5644 [L5644] After 5644 in LH: Sil Si le H vait ferir demaintenant180
Le gaveloc [li] lait aler,L5645 [L5645] g. i fet a. H180L5645 [L5645] leist LR180
Parmi l'escu le fait voler,L5646 [L5646] les. fert le chevaler R180
Le hauberc rumpi, pas ne se tint,
5648 Le quer trenchat, issi avint,L5648 [L5648] q. li t. R180L5647 [L5647] not in L180
E cil chaïd, ne pot el estre,L5649 [L5649] p. altre e. R180L5649 [L5649] om E H180
A sun murir nen ot nul prestre.L5650 [L5650] m. nout point de p. H180L5650 [L5650] m. not n. L180
Dunc l'asaillirent li Normant,
5652 Traient a lui e vunt lançant,
De tutes parz l'avirunerent,
En plusurs lius sun cors navrerentL5654 [L5654] l. le n. H180
E il fiert eus [come] senglerL5655 [L5655] e. com feit s. R180L5655 [L5655] Cil f. a eus L180L5655 [L5655] cum DL180
5656 Tant cum sa lance lui pot durerL5656 [L5656] om lui R180L5656 [L5656] om la L180
E quant sa lance li falit,L5657 [L5657] l. li fud f. L180L5657 [L5657] la l. LRH180
Del brand d'acier granz cops ferit.
Page 180
Tel le quidat mult vil troverL5659 [L5659] om mult H181L5659 [L5659] E t. L181
5660 Ki de sun cors l'estuet achater.L5660 [L5660] estut LR181L5660 [L5660] de sei lest. R181L5660 [L5660] om Ki H181L5660 [L5660] de sun cors DLH, de sei R. The latter reading gives a correct syllable count and H also achieves this by not having the relative; this may be just an accident, as the pronoun is required by the context. We cannot determine whether de sun cors was substituted to emphasize the element of personal risk or whether de sei was introduced, because R objected to this use of sun core, as H apparently did in l. 5654. I therefore follow the MS. base.181
E quant le trovent si amer,L5661 [L5661] troverent R181
Asquanz n'i osent plus aresterL5662 [L5662] p. ester R181L5662 [L5662] ne vuelent p. H181L5662 [L5662] nosent L181
Kar il fereit ahogement,L5663 [L5663] f. vigerousement H181
5664 Sis requereit [menu] suvent;L5664 [L5664] m. e s. R181L5664 [L5664] requist H181L5664 [L5664] mult DLH181L5664 [L5664] menu e sovent R, mult suvent DLH. The latter reading leaves the line a syllable short, the former gives it one too many, as the reading of R is less likely to be a copyist's alteration, I accept it, but omit the copula.181
Od l'espee quatre en ocist,L5665 [L5665] sespee H181
Des cops qu'il [fiert] le bois tentistL5666 [L5666] b. retentist RH181L5666 [L5666] fert L181L5666 [L5666] om cops H181 [f.132b]
Mais dunc brisat le brand d'acierL5667 [L5667] d. brusa LR d. debrisa H181
5668 Desur le helme a un chevalierL5668 [L5668] h. dun c. LH181
E il l'escu en ses mains prist,L5669 [L5669] om il H181
Sin fiert que dous Franceis ocistL5670 [L5670] Si en f. RH181
Mais quatre vindrent a sun dosL5671 [L5671] q. en v. R181
5672 Ki l'unt feru parmi le cors;
Od quatre lances l'unt feru,
N'est merveille s'il est chaü,
A genuilluns s'agenuillat,
5676 Par tel [aïr] l'escu jetatL5676 [L5676] hair181
Que l'un de cels ki l'ot ferutL5677 [L5677] Que un LH181
Fiert en volant si de l'escu
Qu'en dous meitiez li fraint le col.L5679 [L5679] li fert le c. L181
5680 Cil ot a nun Raülf de Dol,L5680 [L5680] n. wi de D. L181
De Tutesbire esteit venu;L5681 [L5681] Destutesbirie R181L5681 [L5681] Tutesbire DLH, Estutesbirie R. If the two readings refer to the same place, then it is most probably Tutbury (St). There are, however, two difficulties: one is that the O.E. name is uncertain, forms involving both Stut- and Tut- being known; the other is that the line seems to imply that Raüf de Dol had come from Tutesbire, not that it was merely titular, and Tutbury is a long way from the Fens. Were only the form in R concerned, Stuchbury (Nth) might be the place involved, for Zachrisson, Anglo-Norman Influence . . . (Lund, 1909) cites (p. 67) forms in Stutes-, but none without the initial s.181
Or sunt andui mort abatu
E Hereward e le Bretun,L5683 [L5683] e li B. H181
5684 Raüf de Dol aveit a nun.L5684 [L5684] Ke wi de D. L181
Mais Halselin le parocist,L5685 [L5685] om le R181L5685 [L5685] alselm H181
Cil de Hereward le chief en prist,L5686 [L5686] om en H181L5686 [L5686] H. e le c. R181L5686 [L5686] om de R181L5686 [L5686] Cist LR181
Si jurat Deu e sa vertu
5688 E li autre ki l'unt veüL5688 [L5688] forjure DL181
Par mainte feiz l'unt for[t] juréL5689 [L5689] f. ont j. H181
Que unc si hardi ne fu trovéL5690 [L5690] unque LH181
Page 181
E si il eüst od lui [tels] treis,L5691 [L5691] e. eu od H182L5691 [L5691] il out od L182L5691 [L5691] om tels DH182
5692 Mar i entrassent les FranceisL5692 [L5692] om les L li F. H182
E s'il ne fust issi ocis,
Tuz les chaçast fors del païs.L5694 [L5694] om fors H182L5694 [L5694] les enchascat R182
Li quens Morkar sun cumpaignunL5695 [L5695] morgar H182
5696 Fud mort en la lunge prisun,
Si fud l'evesque ensement,
Qui se rendirent folement
E li autre ki se rendirent
5700 En la prisun tant mal suffrirent,
Mielz lur venist, kant furent pris,
Le [jur] que fussent tuz ocis,L5702 [L5702] furent L182L5702 [L5702] jurz182
Quant en prisun furent jetez [f.132c]
5704 E Hereward fud eschapez.L5704 [L5704] estorie L182L5704 [L5704] la verai e. R182
Aprés iço [en cel tempoire,L5705 [L5705] temporie L182L5705 [L5705] si cum dit lestoire Ki retenu lad en memoire182
Si cum nus dit la veire estoire],
Li reis Willame e si barun
5708 Meinent grant ost sur [Malcolom].L5708 [L5708] malcolumb R182L5708 [L5708] om grant H182L5708 [L5708] Menerent LH182L5708 [L5708] masculun DL182
[Malcolom] resembla sun ost,L5709 [L5709] rasembla LH182L5709 [L5709] malcolumb R182L5709 [L5709] masculun DL182
Encuntre vint tut prest e tost;L5710 [L5710] v. et p. H182
A Aberni s'[entrecuntrerent].L5711 [L5711] bardenie LH182L5711 [L5711] sentre enc. DR182
5712 Icil dui rei itant parlerentL5712 [L5712] Et cil d. r. tant i p. H182L5712 [L5712] tant L182
E [lur] baruns qu'il s'acorderent,L5713 [L5713] q. safaiterent R182L5713 [L5713] Les lur b. R182L5713 [L5713] li ? corrected to lur182
Tut li Escot Deu gracïerent.L5714 [L5714] Tuz les escoz R182L5705 [L5705] Gaimar is here referring to a written source, but A.S.C. does not name the meeting-place, though Florence of Worcester does; the mistake in the place-name shared by LH remains unexplained. The reading of D in the first couplet is unsupported and not to be accepted into the text.182
Ço fu si fait. Treis ans aprésL5715 [L5715] f. .ii. a. H182L5715 [L5715] om fu L182
5716 Raüf le cunte de [Waers]L5716 [L5716] uers L wers H182L5716 [L5716] uaers182
Fud dechacié; il [se] forfist.L5717 [L5717] le DL182
Li reis Willame Wallief prist.L5718 [L5718] Ne fud merveilles sil senfuit L182L5718 [L5718] W. wales p. H182
Li quens Gallief e li quens Rogier
5720 Le rei voleient issillier.
Puis en perdit Wallief la teste
Page 182
Pur cel surdit e a WincestreL5722 [L5722] Si fu enterre a W. L183L5722 [L5722] om e H183L5722 [L5722] The reading of L is different and the construction is smoother, but the agreement of the other three MSS. is against its acceptance into the text. The usual meeting of surdit calumny comes in awkwardly, but Gaimar may be implying that he believed Waltheof innocent.183
Lung tens aprés fud defuïd,
5724 Si cum Deu plot e sa merci.
Muines furent ki l'emporterent,
A seint Gudlac le presenterent,
Enz en Croilande l'ensevelirent,L5727 [L5727] ensepelirent R183L5727 [L5727] om Enz RH183
5728 Le cors de lui tres bien cherirent.L5728 [L5728] om tres H183
Puis est suvent el lieu veüzL5729 [L5729] s. ben loin suz L183
Que Deus i fait mult granz vertuz.L5730 [L5730] f. meintes v. LR183L5730 [L5730] om mult H183L5730 [L5730] D. en f. LR D. en ad f. H183L5715 [L5715] This refers to the conspiracy of 1075, three years after the meeting at Abernethy. The prime movers were the Earls of Hereford and of Norfolk, but Waltheof was in some way involved in it. A.S.C. appears to infer that the burial at Crowland took place following the execution, but Florence of Worcester says he was first buried at Winchester, and then later translated to Crowland, and Gaimar shares this view.183
Puis aprés ço, si cum jo pens,L5731 [L5731] co en poi de tens R183L5731 [L5731] om si L183L5731 [L5731] om ço H183
5732 Transit li reis en poi de tensL5732 [L5732] r. co pens R183
E la reïne esteit transie,
Mahalt qui menat bone vie.L5734 [L5734] Maud H183
Treis fiz remistrent d'icest reiL5735 [L5735] de cel r. H183
5736 E beles filles plus, ço crei.L5736 [L5736] Et une belle fille si come jeo c. H183L5736 [L5736] p. ke trei R183
Ses einznez fiz Robert ot nun,L5737 [L5737] Son aine f. R Leinzne f. H183
Suz ciel n'aveit meillur barun,L5738 [L5738] c. nout m. H183L5738 [L5738] c. nen out m. R183L5737 [L5737] not in L183 [f.132d]
Celui fud duc de Normendie,L5739 [L5739] Lun fiz fud dunc de N. L183
5740 Sur Normanz ot la seignurie;
Mainte bunté e maint barnage
E maint estrange vassalage
Fist icest duc de NormendieL5743 [L5743] F. cist d. H183L5740 [L5740] not in L183
5744 E mainte bele chevalerie.L5744 [L5744] m. bone c. H183L5744 [L5744] E fist m. L183
Ço fud celui ki mult bien fist,L5745 [L5745] f. cil k. R183
Jerusalem sur paiens prist;
Il cunquist la bone cité,
5748 Des crestïens fud alosé;
Pur Curbarant qu'il ot ocis
Entrat le duc en si halt prisL5750 [L5750] si grant p. H183
Qu'a rei [le] voleient eslire,
5752 Esgardé [unt] qu'il ert lur sire.L5752 [L5752] seit LRH183L5752 [L5752] lunt183
Page 183
A Antioche [la] cité,L5753 [L5753] om A LH184L5753 [L5753] A. a la184
La fu tenu pur avué,
Il la cunquist cum [ber] vaillant,L5755 [L5755] hom184
5756 Puis la donat a [un] Normant;L5756 [L5756] om un DR184
E les autres bones citez,
Si cum li dux ad devisez,L5758 [L5758] d. les ad H184
Furent parties e duneesL5759 [L5759] F. departies H184
5760 E les païs e les cuntrees.
Dux Godefrei par sun otreiL5761 [L5761] Dont G. H184
Fu fait en Jerusalem rei;
Pur ço qu'il n'i volt remaneir,L5763 [L5763] kil ne v. H184
5764 Lui la laissat, sin fist sun eir.L5764 [L5764] om la LRH184L5764 [L5764] A lui H184
Puis s'en revint par [Conversaine],L5765 [L5765] r. en C. H184L5765 [L5765] cunversane DL184L5765 [L5765] The place concerned is Conversano in Apulia, but the contemporary form of the name in O.Fr. varies; Wace, Rou 10332, gives Conversaine, thus agreeing with RH and making it probable that Gaimar used the same form. Both these MSS. are, of course, young enough not to take exception to the resulting rime; D and L would also have accepted the rime, so the alteration they each make must be due to the form of the place-name, as both give Cunversane and alter the rime-word. Cf. p. xxiv.184
La fille al duc, Sibille, en [maine],L5766 [L5766] en mene L184L5766 [L5766] mane184
En Normandie od lui [s'en] vint,L5767 [L5767] se184
5768 Un fiz en ot: itant la tint.L5768 [L5768] o. tant la LR184
[O]r parlerai del rei sun [frere],L5769 [L5769] O. en p. R O. dirrai H184L5769 [L5769] p̱ere184
Willame ot nun, cum ses pere.L5770 [L5770] sis p. R sun p. LH184L5770 [L5770] n. si c. R184L5770 [L5770] o. le n. L184
Celui [re]fud mult alosez,L5771 [L5771] Et cil r. H184L5771 [L5771] om re- DLH184
5772 Engleis, Normanz l'unt curunezL5772 [L5772] lont honure H184
Tant cum li dux alat conquerre,L5773 [L5773] c. le duc H184L5773 [L5773] om cum R184
Sin ferent rei en EngleterreL5774 [L5774] om en L184L5774 [L5774] Le f. H184 [f.133a]
[E] il la tint e bel regnat,L5775 [L5775] et bien r. H184
5776 Normanz, Engleis fort justisat,
Tute la terre mist en pais.
Puis passat mer, alat a Sais,
Od mult grant ost qu'il aünatL5779 [L5779] quil mena H184L5779 [L5779] om mult H184
5780 A Alençun Sarte passat,
El Maine vint, le Mans asist,
Tant i estut, la cité prist.L5782 [L5782] estoit qe la H184
Puis i laissat de ses privez,
5784 En Engleterre en est alez.L5784 [L5784] om en L sen e. H184
Page 184
Li Angevin e li Mansel
Par le cumant Giefrei Martel
Vindrent al Mans, si l'asegerent,L5787 [L5787] V. alemans H185
5788 De tutes parz entur logerent
E mult manacent ceus dedenz,L5789 [L5789] om E H185
Dïent, mar entrerent laenz,L5790 [L5790] E d. R185
Mais nepurquant un messagier
5792 Alat mult tost al rei nuncier.L5792 [L5792] r. conter H185L5792 [L5792] om mult H185L5792 [L5792] Lalat R185
Il le trovat a Brocheherst
Al chief de la Nove Forest,L5794 [L5794] la novele F. H185
U il sëeit a sun disner.L5795 [L5795] sist H185
5796 Quant del mangier le vit lever,
Devant lui vint, sil saluat.
Li reis demande: 'Coment vat?
Cument le funt mi chevalier
5800 Que jo laissai al Mans l'autrier?'
'Sire', dist il, 'asegié sunt.
Le siege tient desci qu'al punt.L5802 [L5802] tienent H185L5802 [L5802] Li siges LRH185
De tutes parz de la cited
5804 Sunt [li] Angevin ostelet;
Plus de mil tres i ad tenduz,
Unc tel orguil ne fud veüz.L5806 [L5806] Unke LR185
Chascun jur funt furches drecier
5808 Es quels pendrunt li chevalierL5808 [L5808] U il penderunt R185
E li sergant e li burgeis.
Tenez cest brief, chier sire reis'.L5810 [L5810] om chier R185 [f.133b]
Li reis le prist, tost le fruissat,
5812 Randulf Flambart [le bref] baillat.L5812 [L5812] a lui le185
Iço qu'ot dit le messagierL5813 [L5813] d. li m. R185L5813 [L5813] quil ot oi del m. L185L5813 [L5813] Tut ico R185
Mandent par brief li chevalier,L5809 [L5809] not in H185
A la cité sucurs envaitL5815 [L5815] om A L185
5816 Kar chascun jur lur gent creisseit.L5816 [L5816] crest H185
Li reis, quant l'ot, mult s'esmarit,L5817 [L5817] q. lout fut marri H185L5817 [L5817] q. il lot R185
Sur un cheval est tost saillit,
Page 185
A Hamtune [s'en est] alez,L5819 [L5819] est tost186
5820 Ses soldëers ad tuz mandez.L5820 [L5820] s. ad tost m. L s. i ad m. H186
Ço lur mandat qu'aprés li viengent,
Desci [qu'a] lui sejur ne tiengent;L5822 [L5822] qua186
E il od meisnee priveeL5823 [L5823] Cil od sa m. L il ove m. H186
5824 Vint a la mer, si l'ad passee.
Encuntre vent la mer passat.
Li esturman lui demandat,
S'il voleit cuntre vent passerL5827 [L5827] encontre v. R186
5828 E perillier enz en la mer.L5828 [L5828] om enz H186L5828 [L5828] U p. R186
Li reis respunt: 'Frere, teisiez.L5829 [L5829] r. nestoet parler H186L5829 [L5829] Frere dist il t. R186
Unc ne veïstes rei neiezL5830 [L5830] r. neier LH186L5830 [L5830] v. reis n. R186L5830 [L5830] Onques H186L5829 [L5829] L has objected to the past participle in the second line and substituted the infinitive, regardless of the faulty rime; H does the same, but secures a more correct rime by rewriting the second half of l. 5829.186
Ne jo n'en ierc ja le premier.L5831 [L5831] ere R186L5831 [L5831] om en LH186
5832 Faites voz eschipres [nagier]'.L5832 [L5832] nalgier186L5826 [L5826] This anecdote is related by a number of contemporary historians, e.g. William of Malmesbury, Henry of Huntingdon, Wace, but the context differs somewhat from author to author.186
Tant unt nagié e guverné
Qu'a Barbefluet sunt arivé.
Il ot de privee maisnie
5836 Mil e set cenz cele feïe,L5836 [L5836] .ii. cenz a c. H186
Tuz erent riches chevaliers,
Sachiez, li reis les aveit chiers.L5838 [L5838] les out mult c. H186
Les chevaliers qu'il reteneitL5839 [L5839] q. teneit R186L5838 [L5838] I take les to be anticipatory of les chevaliers (l. 5839); this same use of the pronoun is found ll. 28-9, 6109-10.186
5840 En poi de tens bien lur faiseit;L5840 [L5840] t. quil lur H186
Riches erent, bien aturnez,L5841 [L5841] e. e b. RH186
Entr'els n'aveit pas povertezL5842 [L5842] nav. de p. H186
Mais richement veneit li reisL5843 [L5843] r. i v. H186
5844 Cume prodom e cume curteis.L5844 [L5844] om second cume R186L5844 [L5844] Come […] come H186L5844 [L5844] Cum . . . cum DL186
Les soldeiers qu'il ot mandez,
De ceus i ot plus qu'asez, [f.133c]
Trei mil en ot el brief le rei.
5848 Il les teneit, ne sai pur quei,
Kar nule guere il n'aveitL5849 [L5849] il nen a. L186L5849 [L5849] om il H186
Ne de nul hume ne se cremeitL5850 [L5850] Ne il de n. L Ne il n. h. ne suscremeit R186
Page 186
Mais pur sa grant nobilitedL5851 [L5851] g. noblete R187
5852 Aveit tel gent od sei mened.L5852 [L5852] sei juste R187L5852 [L5852] cele g. H187
Ke direie de ses baruns?
Quels hom esteit li quens [Huguns]!L5854 [L5854] huons RH187L5854 [L5854] iuns187
L'empereür de Lumbardie
5856 Ne menot pas tel cumpaignie
Cum il faseit de gent privee.
Ja sa maisun ne fust vedeeL5858 [L5858] fud LH187
A gentil home ne a franc.
5860 Ewe en vivier u en estancL5860 [L5860] E. ne v. nest. H187L5860 [L5860] v. e en R187
Ert plus legier a espuchier
Que n'ert sun beivre [ne] sun mangier.L5862 [L5862] e187
Tut tens aveit richeise asez.L5863 [L5863] a. richesces a. R187
5864 Ja tant ne eüst le jur donez
Que l'endemain l'en suvenistL5865 [L5865] len. si i venist L len. li s. H187
E qu'altretant ne departist.L5866 [L5866] ne despendit L187
Cunte de Cestre esteit clamez.
5868 Od grant gent est al rei alez.L5853 [L5853] This panegyric of Hugh d'Avranches, Earl of Chester, is shared by all four MSS., and is in keeping with other references in the Estoire to the redoubtable earl. He died in 1109, the year in which an embassy from the Emperor came to seek the hand of Henry I's daughter, Matilda, and there may be an echo of this visit in l. 5855. Cf. p. xi.187
[Robert le conte de Mellent
Alat al rei od mult grant gent.
Li quens Robert, cil de Belesme,
5872 Mil chevalers out en son esme,
En Engleterre out treis contez,
Quens de Pontif estait clamez,
Si ert conte de le Neimeis,
5876 D'Esparlon e de Sessuneis,L5875 [L5875] The two names in the rime appear to be corrupt. The first may conceal a form of Hiémois (pagus Oxymensis), a name which also caused some trouble to copyists of Wace's Rou, for confusion of the capitals H and N is not unknown; also I do not recall any other instance of de le before consonant in R. For the second one the Rolls edition suggests that possibly Le Sonnois, between Roche Mabille and Bellême, is meant. It is useless to attempt a correction, though I wonder whether by any chance there were two place-names in l. 5875, so that it read something like Si ert cuens de – e del Ueismeis.187
Sue estait Argenton, Seis,
Roche Mabilie estait en sa pees,
En Rom out rues assez,L5879 [L5879] Rom. The city is Rouen. In the twelfth century the name was dissyllabic – rüem – and it is of interest that if we introduce that form here we get a kind of pun similar to that between Aïdan and aït in l. 1321. The same city is named again in l. 5920 and there L gives Rom, but DRH, by a further confusion, have Rome.187
5880 Il estait quens de sis contez;
Ço ert le meillur chevaler
Ke l'em seüst pur guerreier.
Cil vint a son seignur le rei
5884 Mil chevalers menat od sei.
E Huon de Muncumeri
Page 187
Revint al rei altresi.
Li quens Roger lur frere esteit,
5888 Le Paitevin a surnon aveit.
Le conte Ernulf ert le quarte frere,
Par cors valeit un emperere.
Cil quatre sunt de Normandie,
5892 Al rei en vont pur fere aïe.
Walter Giffard e li quens d'Ou
Lur chevalers ne furent mie pou.
Li quens Willam, cil d'Evriwes,
5896 Il e Eüstace de Driwes
Vindrent al rei od mult grant gent.
A Barbeflet son ost atent.
E Willam de Mortein
5900 Atent li reis ki estait loing,
Il e Rotro de Mortaigne;
Cil dui conte unt mult grant compaignie].
[De ultre la mer] tel gent veneit,L5903 [L5903] De totes genz tant i v. H188L5903 [L5903] De tutes parz DL188L5903 [L5903] De ultre la mer R, de tutes parz DL. The line is rewritten in H, but derives from something resembling DL. Clearly there is a connexion between the presence or absence of ll. 5869-902 and the reading of l. 5903. DLH do not give that passage, so a reference to ultre la mer would be out of place. As I have accepted the passage into the text, I must here follow R; at the same time I think we may have an addition made by Gaimar and a consequent modification of his original l. 5903.188
5904 Qui d'ous [nomer] s'entremeteit,L5904 [L5904] sentremettreit RH188L5904 [L5904] numbrer188
S'il n'erent ains [enbrevez],L5905 [L5905] enbevrez188
Ja mais [ne seraient] numbrez.L5906 [L5906] s. pur nuls nomer L188L5906 [L5906] nerent DL188
[Trestote gent ert esmeüe,L5907 [L5907] esmue R188
5908 Ço estait vis, en cest' aiue]
E tuz veneient bonement
Servir le rei qui l'ost atent.L5910 [L5910] qui les a. H188
Mais quant le sorent AngevinL5911 [L5911] q. ceo s. li A. H188
5912 E li Mansel, un jur matin
[Vont] s'en, si firent [grant] saveir,L5913 [L5913] si en f. H188L5913 [L5913] sen sin funt g. sen L188L5913 [L5913] om grant DH188L5913 [L5913] Vint188
N'i faseit pas bon remaneirL5914 [L5914] Ni feissent p. H188
E se li reis les parsewist,L5915 [L5915] om se H188
5916 Senz cuntredit Angevins preist.L5916 [L5916] prist LH188L5916 [L5916] preïst DR, prist LH. The subjunctive would be normal here, but its admission entails the acceptance of synaeresis. Cf. p. l.188
Unc ne fud rei si bien amezL5917 [L5917] b. armez H188
Ne de sa gent si honurez. [f.133d]
Li re[i]s, quant ot que cil s'en vont,
Page 188
5920 A [Rom] vait par grant punt.L5920 [L5920] v. apres g. R189L5920 [L5920] rome DRH189L5920 [L5920] Rom L, Rome DRH. In spite of the agreement of the three MSS. their reading is a mistake, for the city in question is Rouen (cf. l. 5879 n). It is not clear whether grant punt represents a place-name or not, so no decision between par (DLH) and aprés (R) is possible.189
Li quens del Mans ert en prisun,
Doner voleit grant raënçunL5922 [L5922] Auner H189
Mais ço diseit que s'il seüstL5923 [L5923] M. il d. L189
5924 Que l'um issi prendre le deüst,L5924 [L5924] i. pendre le dust R189L5924 [L5924] Que hom L189L5924 [L5924] que l'un DRH, que hom L. In this hypothetical sentence the subjunctive must stand; it is not certain that Gaimar accepted synaeresis in the verb (cf. p. l) and enclisis of the pronoun with the infinitive, though not found elsewhere in the Estoire, is a possibility.189
Tuit autrement se cuntenist,
Li rei[s] le Mans ja ne preïst.
Quant fu cunté devant le rei,L5927 [L5927] co fu189
5928 Sil fist [amener] devant sei.L5928 [L5928] f. mener d. H189L5928 [L5928] venir189
Par bel amur ad demandé,L5929 [L5929] a. li ad H189
S'il s'esteit issi vanté.L5930 [L5930] sest. si avante L189
Cil [li] respunt: 'Sire, jol dis.L5931 [L5931] respondit H189L5931 [L5931] om li DLH189
5932 Mult sui amez en cel païs.L5932 [L5932] om sui R189
Il n'ad suz ciel nul si fort rei,L5933 [L5933] om nul H189
Si par force veneit sur mei,L5934 [L5934] venist H189
Qu'il ne perdist, si jol seüsse,L5935 [L5935] om jo L189L5935 [L5935] perdisist R189
5936 Pur quei ma gent [ensemble] eüsse'.L5936 [L5936] asemble DLH189
Li reis, quant l'ot, si prist a rire,L5937 [L5937] prent H189
Par bel amur, neient [p]ar ire,L5938 [L5938] a. et n. H189L5938 [L5938] ṛar189
Li cumandat qu'il s'en alast,
5940 Preïst le Mans, sil guerreiast,L5940 [L5940] P. les mansels sil L P. les M. H189
E cil fud lié, si s'en alat.L5927 [L5927] This incident is related in William of Malmesbury's Gesta Regum (IV, c. 1), but in a manner more consonant with the generally received view of William II's character.189
Tuz ses chastels rendu li ad;L5942 [L5942] ses chevalers r. H189
Li reis par bone volunté
5944 Rendi le Mans la fort citéL5944 [L5944] la bone c. L189L5944 [L5944] R. les M. H189L5944 [L5944] E nais le M. R189
E cil mandat pur ses baruns,L5945 [L5945] om pur H189L5945 [L5945] demandad L189
Moveir voleit ses cuntençunsL5946 [L5946] v. la c. LR v. les c. H189
Mais si barun li unt loed
5948 Qu'il rende al rei la citéL5948 [L5948] rendit L189
E les chastels de sun païs,
Ses hom liges seit a tuz dis.L5950 [L5950] om a H189L5950 [L5950] Sis h. R Son h. H189
Page 189
Li cuens Elies issi fist,L5951 [L5951] i. le f. H190
5952 Unc ses homes ne cuntredistL5952 [L5952] h. nen c. H190L5952 [L5952] Devint sis hom nel c. R190
E s'il issi ne l'eüst fait,
Mult fust entré en amer plait,L5954 [L5954] entre els a. R190 [f.134a]
Li reis par force le preïst,
5956 De mult vil mort l'oceïst.L5956 [L5956] occieit L oscesist R190L5956 [L5956] Et de vile m. H190L5956 [L5956] vil DL, vile RH. Though Gaimar does use analogical feminines on occasion, we cannot be sure that he did so here, hence I follow the MS. base.190
Li reis idunc ot NormendieL5957 [L5957] ad H190
E tuit le Mai[n]e en sa baillie,L5958 [L5958] Et tote manie H190
Par tute France [les] barunsL5959 [L5959] par190L5959 [L5959] force corrected to france190
5960 Le dutoent [cum uns] leüns,L5960 [L5960] cume190
Tresqu'a Peitiers ne remist ber
Qu'il ne feïst vers sei cliner;L5962 [L5962] v. lui encliner LH190
Pur sa nobilited grantL5963 [L5963] n. si g. H190L5963 [L5963] sa noblece g. R190
5964 Tut [si] veisin li sunt clinantL5964 [L5964] Tuz ses veisins R190L5964 [L5964] li190
E s'il peüst aukes regner,
A Rome alast pur chalengier
L'ancïen dreit d'icel païs
5968 Que [i ot Brenes] e Belins.L5968 [L5968] Q. avoit B. H190L5968 [L5968] B. i ot190
Li reis, quant ot tut apaisié,
Dreit vers la mer est repairié,L5970 [L5970] est passe L190
En Engleterre s'en revint,L5971 [L5971] s'en revint and sa feste tint interverted in L190
5972 A Westmustier sa feste tint;
En sa sale qui ert nuvele
Tint une feste riche e bele.
Mult i ot reis, cuntes e dux.
5976 Treis cenz ussiers aveit as us,L5976 [L5976] al us R190L5976 [L5976] i out as u. H190
Chascun aveit u veir u gris
U bon paile d'altre païs.L5978 [L5978] Un b. H190
Cil cundueient les barunsL5979 [L5979] cundueint L cunduaient R190L5979 [L5979] cunduient DH190
5980 Par les degrez pur les garçuns;
Od les verges qu'as mains teneientL5981 [L5981] v. qil t. H190
As evesques veie faseientL5982 [L5982] As barons v. R190
Page 190
Que ja garçuns n'i aprimast,L5983 [L5983] g. nes a. R191L5983 [L5983] Q. nul g. H191
5984 Si alcun d'eus nel cumandast.
Ensement tut reparésL5985 [L5985] t. revenaient par els R191L5985 [L5985] E. feseient a tuz cels L191L5985 [L5985] Ensement tut reparés DH, E. feseient a tuz cels L, E. tut revenaient par els R. Both L and R offer reconstructed lines, especially the former, so I follow the MS. base; repareis is in rime with reis at l. 4237, but may have seemed unsuitable to L and R in the present line.191
Cil ki aportouent les mesL5986 [L5986] q. portent les m. H191L5986 [L5986] Ke en la sale portoent les m. L191
De la cusine e des mestiers
5988 E les beivres e les mangiers,L5988 [L5988] li b. e li m. R191
[Icil] ussier les cunduieientL5989 [L5989] Li u. H191L5989 [L5989] E cil DL191
Pur la veissele dunt il serveient,L5990 [L5990] om il R191L5990 [L5990] Pur le vessel d. H191
[Ke lecheür nes eschaçastL5991 [L5991] ne les eschecast R191L5991 [L5991] ll. 5991-2 not in DLH191
5992 Ne malmeïst ne defrussast.] [f.134b]
Franc fiu teneient ces ussiersL5993 [L5993] Bien le firent li u. H191L5993 [L5993] f. aveient ces u. R191
Ki [afereit] a lur mestiers,L5994 [L5994] Ceo qappent a H191L5994 [L5994] afereient191
De [granz honurs] erent saisiz,L5995 [L5995] grant enur191
5996 A la curt erent bien serviz;
[Chescon sa livereson aveit,
Tel cum a curt aver deveit].L5998 [L5998] ll. 5997-8 not in DLH191
Li reis par merveillus barnage
6000 Oïd la messe en sun estage.L6000 [L6000] en une e. L191L6000 [L6000] O. sa m. R191
[Les reis de Wales] i esteient,L6001 [L6001] Li r. walois H191L6001 [L6001] Les r. gualeis DL191
Les espees porter deveientL6002 [L6002] Ki les e. R191
E bien voleient deraisnier
6004 Que ço esteit lur dreit mestierL6004 [L6004] om dreit H191L6001 [L6001] Cf. ll. 3923-8 n.191
Mais nel voldrent suffrir [Normant].L6005 [L6005] voldrunt R191L6005 [L6005] normanz191
Quatre cuntes vindrent avant,
Chascun une espee saisit,
6008 Del bel [porter] chascun servit.L6008 [L6008] saisi L191L6008 [L6008] parler191
Li cuens Huun esteit si fierL6009 [L6009] H. si fut si f. H191
Que ne deignat nule baillier,L6010 [L6010] Q. nen d. R191
Einz dist que pas n'esteit sergant.L6011 [L6011] q. nestoit pas s. H191L6011 [L6011] p. ne fud s. L191
6012 Li reis s'en rist, si fud joiant,
Page 191
Sa verge d'or li rovat prendreL6013 [L6013] (rua) L192
E par parage od lui defendre.
Li quens respunt: 'Jo la prendrai,
6016 Cum a seignur la vus rendrai,L6016 [L6016] Et c. H192L6007 [L6007] repeated in L at turn of page with minor variants enclosed where quoted192
Suztendrai la tant cum voldrezL6017 [L6017] Suz la tendrai L192L6017 [L6017] c. vus v. DH192
Pur le grant fais que vus portez
Del soc, del sceptre e coroneL6019 [L6019] e la c. R192L6019 [L6019] Del sustenir sc. L192L6019 [L6019] soc. Apparently this is the earliest mention in O.Fr. of the garment, a mantle or cloak specially associated with coronations.192
6020 [Dunt] estes reis e personeL6020 [L6020] et dreit p. H192L6020 [L6020] D. vus e. R192L6020 [L6020] Dū192L6020 [L6020] The line is a syllable short, but comparison with l. 3044 suggests that Gaimar may have written Dunt estes reis, dreite persone.192
E pur l'onur que fait m'avez
Me met en vostre fëeltez,
Tuz jurz serrai vostre fedeil
6024 Mais nient vers vus [ne m'] apareilL6024 [L6024] ne me parail L192L6024 [L6024] cum192
De nul parage que ja seit;L6025 [L6025] not in H192
Eslit estes reis benëeitL6026 [L6026] e. et bien a roi H192L6026 [L6026] r. ben estre deit L192L6026 [L6026] e. rei b. R192L6026 [L6026] beneit DR192
E jo sui vostre e estre dei,L6027 [L6027] et bien e. d. H192
6028 Pur vus servir tres bien l'otrei'.L6028 [L6028] Pur s. vus ben L192L6028 [L6028] (not in H)192
Piece sustint la verge al reiL6029 [L6029] Grant p.192
Par grant amur en simple lei,L6030 [L6030] e en s. L192 [f.134c]
A l'evangile li rendi.L6031 [L6031] e. la li r. L192L6031 [L6031] A genuillons la li r. H192
6032 Li reis des diz mult s'esjoïL6032 [L6032] om mult LH192
E a ses eirs en fiu deit estreL6033 [L6033] f. deist e. L192
E a tuz les cuntes de Cestre;
De tel mestier deivent servir,
6036 Sa verge aidier a sustenir.L6036 [L6036] La v. de or ? altered from deir in L; dor H a s. LH192
Li reis Norwales l'en donat,L6037 [L6037] N. li d. LR192L6037 [L6037] Earl Hugh was invested with N. Wales by William II in 1088, but the new hall at Westminster, the scene of the feast, was not completed until 1099; if, therefore, Gaimar means that the investiture took place on this occasion, he is wrong.192
Pur onurance l'otriatL6038 [L6038] Pur sonur avancer li o. R192L6038 [L6038] Pur lon. LH192
E mult suvent s'est puis gabezL6039 [L6039] p. babedez L p. bauboiez H192L6039 [L6039] om mult LH192
6040 Li reis del cunte a ses privez
De l'espee qu'il dejetat
E en quel bien li aturnat
[E tuz jurz ert en bien turné
Page 192
6044 Les feiz del rei e sa bonté]L6044 [L6044] ll. 6043-4 not in DLH193
E tuz jurz mes parlé serat
Del barnage qu'il demenat
E del cunte tut ensementL6047 [L6047] om tut L193
6048 Tuz jurz en parlerunt la gent.L6048 [L6048] en parolent la g. LH193
De ous deüst om esample prendre,L6049 [L6049] Deus devereit lom LR De eus deit lom H193
Ui del munter demain desendre.L6050 [L6050] d. del eindre R193L6050 [L6050] De oi m. L Hui m. H193
Ki en sa vie fait bunté,
6052 Si eir en sunt [mielz] honuré;L6052 [L6052] Tut dis en s. li son m. h. R193L6052 [L6052] om en H193L6052 [L6052] plus193
Ensement ki vilment eire,L6053 [L6053] Ausi qi vileinement e. H193L6053 [L6053] ki vilement e. R193
Al dei demustrent en la faireL6054 [L6054] d. le mustre lern en la f. R193L6054 [L6054] d. demustred lom la f. LH193L6054 [L6054] demustrent en la faire D, demustred lom l'a f. LH, le mustre l'em en la f. R. In spite of the partial agreement of LRH I adhere to the MS. base, because of the verb dïent, common to all four MSS., in the next line.193
E dïent tuz: 'Vëez le la,L6055 [L6055] om le R193
6056 Celui qui ja [rien] ne durra.L6056 [L6056] om ne R193
[Le mal trebuz puisse il prendre,
Trop est munté, bien deit descendre'.
Cil est de linage Neiron
6060 E del Judas al mal felon
E del Herode e del Caïn
Ki ne quidet ke vienge fin.
De quanke pot agrapiner
6064 Feit sa musage pur guarder.
Tut tens quide ke bien li faille,
A usure met sa maaille;L6066 [L6066] maille R193
Un sul dener feit usurer,
6068 En poi de tens pot amonter
Un sul dener maint marc d'argent.
Ki issi monte, sovent descent].
Laissum de ço, del rei parlum.L6071 [L6071] initial not in L193
6072 Sa feste tint cume barunL6072 [L6072] La f. R193
Mais n'ai leisir [de] tut retraireL6073 [L6073] del193
La grant richeise qu'il fist faireL6074 [L6074] g. rischesce q. RH193
Ne les granz duns qu'il donat.L6075 [L6075] Ne des g. H193
6076 Maint gentil home i adubat;
Page 193
Od sul Giffart le PeitevinL6077 [L6077] om sul LH194
Ki de [bar]bastre ert sun cusinL6077 [L6077] A puzzling allusion. Two difficulties are involved: (i) the identity of the person, and (ii) the meaning of barbastre. In the second line three MSS. give barbastre, but D has only bastre; this seems to have influenced the translator in the Rolls edition who says in his note to the line: I am inclined to think it (sc. barbastre) must have something to do with bastre, illegitimate, referring to Walter Giffard's affinity with William. Now it is only William I's bastardy which is involved in that connexion, for Walter Giffard's own descent was in order; moreover in the Estoire the phrase in question applies to Giffart. The Walter Giffard to whom the Rolls edition refers was the first of three barons of that name and was already elderly in 1066; his son died shortly after 1100, leaving a son who was still a minor; this was Walter Giffard III, who could, on chronological grounds, have been knighted on this occasion. Whether this was actually so may be doubted, because the epithet le Peitevin points away from England and Normandy. Further, it is rather more natural to take barbastre as a place, though I have been unable to locate it. The behaviour of William II is completely in accord with Gaimar's view of his character and the account is probably based on a real incident which came to Gaimar's notice through his court connexions (cf. p. lxxii).194
Aduba il trente vadlez.
6080 Trenchié aveient lur tupez,L6080 [L6080] Ke furent trenche l. t. L Qui firent trencher l. t. H194L6080 [L6080] T. aveit lur t. R194
Trestuz orent les tups trenchiezL6081 [L6081] not in LH194
Kar lur seignur fud curusciezL6082 [L6082] s. se curuscad LH194
Pur un sul meis qu'il demuratL6083 [L6083] qi d. H194L6083 [L6083] Pur sul un m. R194 [f.134d]
6084 Ke li reis armes ne lur dunat;L6084 [L6084] After 6084 in L: Si forment se ennuiad194
Lui e sa gent fist estuper,
Les tups trenchiez a curt aler;
Ço furent les premiers vadlezL6087 [L6087] li primerains v. H194
6088 Ki firent trenchier lur tupez.L6088 [L6088] A ki L194
Li reis s'en rist, si s'en gabat,L6089 [L6089] r. e g. LH194
A curtesie le lur turnat
E quant li reis en bien le tint,
6092 De ses vadlez desci qu'a vint
[S'estuperent tut ensement.L6093 [L6093] Se tuperent R194
Ore fu en curt l'estaucement],
Plus de treis cenz s'en [estaucerent]L6095 [L6095] se est. LH194L6095 [L6095] eschaperent194
6096 Unc puis en curt cel ne laisserent.L6096 [L6096] curt ne la l. R194
El secund meis que Giffard vint
Li reis iceste feste tint.L6098 [L6098] icele f. LRH194
Si richement les aduba
6100 Que tuz jurz parlé en serra;L6100 [L6100] Ke a t. L194
D'iceus e d'autres tant en fistL6101 [L6101] Dices R194
Que tute Lundres en resplendist.L6102 [L6102] Q. tut L. LH194
Que direie d'iceste feste?L6103 [L6103] de cele f. LH194
6104 Si riche fud, plus ne pot estre.L6104 [L6104] ne pot plus L194
Quant li reis ot sa curt tenue,
La nuvele [li] est venueL6106 [L6106] om li DL194
Que [Malcolom] esteit ocis,L6107 [L6107] M. i est o. H194L6107 [L6107] malcolumb R194L6107 [L6107] masculun DL194
6108 Li reis ki ert ses enemis.L6108 [L6108] e. sis e. LH194
Page 194
Robert de Munbrai l'aveit mortL6109 [L6109] M. aveit m. L195
Cel rei, u fust u dreit u [tort].L6110 [L6110] u f. a d. u fust a t. R195L6110 [L6110] si f. u d. L ou f. d. H195L6110 [L6110] dreit195
A Alnewic fud la bataille,L6111 [L6111] A danewic LH195
6112 Trei mil homes tut par tailleL6112 [L6112] h. trestuz p. R195L6112 [L6112] treis LRH195
I ot ocis od [Malcolum]L6113 [L6113] malculun L195L6113 [L6113] masculun195
E d'ambes parz maint bon barun.L6114 [L6114] om E LH195
Ço fud Giefrei Engulevent,L6115 [L6115] Engulevent. This I take as one word, and regard as a typically Norman nickname, though I have not met it elsewhere; Gaimar seems to be the only authority for his existence.195
6116 Il e Morel un suen parent,L6116 [L6116] om Il LH195
Qui [Malcolom tolirent] vie.L6117 [L6117] la v. LH195L6117 [L6117] malculun L malcolumb R195L6117 [L6117] Q. a M. LH195L6117 [L6117] tolit v. ? with attempted alteration195L6117 [L6117] masculun195
Quant la nuvele en fud oïe,L6118 [L6118] om en H195L6118 [L6118] E q. LH195
Li reis pur le cunte manda:
6120 Vienget a curt, ses diz orraL6120 [L6120] Viengent H195 [f.135a]
E sulunc ço qu'il orreit
Bien fust garni de faire dreit.
Li cuens, cil de Munbra[i], Robert,L6123 [L6123] om cil H195
6124 Ert encusé par un culvert,
Ses hom esteit, si l'ot nurrit.L6125 [L6125] Sis LRH195
Celui aveit al rei ço dit,L6126 [L6126] r. lout dit issi H195L6126 [L6126] al r. aveit R195
[Ço li out dit cel mal felun:
6128 Li quens ert recté de la treison],
[Un] de ses traïtres esteitL6129 [L6129] de ces t. L195L6129 [L6129] U de195
Qui le rei ocire voleit
De [meïsme] la traïsunL6131 [L6131] meismes R195L6131 [L6131] mesme DL195
6132 Que purparlerent li barunL6132 [L6132] parlerent H195
Pur quei Wallef esteit ocis,
Nëel, Willame d'Ou malmis.L6134 [L6134] W. qe out m. H195L6134 [L6134] Neel. As a name this comes in awkwardly, for Gaimar clearly states that only one person was appealed. The Rolls edition translates the line thus: Black William of Eu broke his trust; the verb is completely misunderstood, and I demur to the rendering of our word. It is true that one MS. (L) actually reads neiel, but neiel (< nigellum) seems only to be used in O.Fr. of black enamel and not as a general colour term. The agreement of the MSS. hardly favours emendation, otherwise one might suggest beginning the line with neïs.195
Gieffrei Bainart l'en apelot,L6135 [L6135] rapelout R195
6136 Willame d'Ou cil vencu ot.
Tant i aveit des [apellanz],L6137 [L6137] epelant195
Li cuens de NorhumberlantL6138 [L6138] Ke li c. R195
Ne volt a cele feiz aler.L6139 [L6139] Sen v. L Se v. H Ni v. R195
Page 195
6140 A un chastel desur la mer
Ki Baëmburc ert apelez,L6141 [L6141] est L196
Iloc s'en est le cunte entrez.L6142 [L6142] c. arestez LH196L6142 [L6142] est il e. R196
Li reis od sun ost i alat,L6143 [L6143] od sost H196
6144 Le Nef Chastel idunc fermatL6144 [L6144] Le novel c. R196L6144 [L6144] le nef chastel DLH, le novel ch. R. The shorter adjective is to be preferred on metrical grounds; the same interchange is found in the mentions of the New Forest, and again to the detriment of the metre: at l. 5794 it is H which deviates, but at l. 6249 it is R. It is not quite certain whether we have to do with a real place-name here, though I have treated it as such. In the campaign against Earl Robert Newcastle-on-Tyne was involved as well as a temporary structure which William II had built to watch Bamburgh and called Malveisin; Gaimar makes no mention of an attack on Tynemouth nor, probably, of that on Newcastle, hence the reference here is to Malveisin; that he is not following the same account as A.S.C. and Florence of Worcester is shown by the particulars he gives about Morpeth, the capture of which evidently preceded the king's arrival before Bamburgh.196
Puis prist [Morpade] un fort chastelL6145 [L6145] un bon c. L196L6145 [L6145] morpape196
Qui ert asis sur un muncel,
Desur [Wenspic] asis esteit,L6147 [L6147] wespiz196L6147 [L6147] Wenspic. This is the river Wansbeck (Nb). In his Place Names of Northumberland and Durham (Cambridge, 1920) Mawer quotes a form wenespic of 1139 and this represents the older form of the name. The castle of Morpeth was built on rising ground near the river, but whether sur un muncel (l. 6146) derives from Gaimar's personal knowledge or from his source or is merely a deduction from the name remains undetermined.196
6148 Willame de Merlai l'aveit,L6148 [L6148] M. ferme lav. L M. ferme av. H196L6148 [L6148] morlei R196
E quant il ot cel chastel pris,
Avant alat en cel païs.
A Baëmburc desur la mer
6152 Sun ost ad fait arester.L6152 [L6152] f. tut a. R196
Robert de Monbrai i esteit,
Cil que li reis prendre voleit.
Li reis grant piece i demurat
6156 E maint asalt i enduratL6156 [L6156] i dona H196
Meis el chastel ot poi vitaille.L6157 [L6157] p. de v. H196
Quant li cuens veit d'iço la faille,L6158 [L6158] v. ceo la H196 [f.135b]
Devers la mer par [la] posterneL6159 [L6159] une DLH196
6160 Vint a la nef que un[s] hom guverne,L6160 [L6160] a la mer H196
Dedenz entrat od poi de gent,
Se mist en mer, mult ot bon vent,L6162 [L6162] m. e ot bon v. LH196L6162 [L6162] en la m. L196L6162 [L6162] Si se R196
A Tienemue en est alez.
6164 Or quida bien estre eschapez
Mais mult matin fu dit al reiL6165 [L6165] M. le ma. LH196L6165 [L6165] William II was most probably not present at the capture of Earl Robert (Rolls edition, II, 195) and any contrivance was due to the royal garrison at Newcastle-on-Tyne which, according to Florence of Worcester, sent a false offer of surrender to the Earl.196
Qui altrement turnat la lei.
Tant enginnat qu'il le prist,L6167 [L6167] T. leng. H196
6168 Ne l'ad desfait ne ne l'ocist
Mais en prisun fud mis vint anz,L6169 [L6169] f. puis v. R196L6169 [L6169] .xx.196
En [la] prisun finat muranz;L6170 [L6170] finit H196
Prodom devint einz qu'il murust,L6171 [L6171] murut L196
6172 Ja ne veiast rien qu'il eüst.L6172 [L6172] q. ot L196L6172 [L6172] neast L veia H196
Page 196
Or ad li rei[s] tut apaisiet,
Ainz que cest ost seit repairiet,
Devers Escoce les regnez.L6175 [L6175] E. li r. R197
6176 Li reis Edgar est sis privez,L6176 [L6176] e. si p. L197
De lui sun regne ad [receü]L6177 [L6177] receuz DL197
En franc servise senz [treü]L6178 [L6178] s. trud L197L6178 [L6178] treuz197
E li reis blois li otreiatL6179 [L6179] r. dunc li LH r. bien li R197
6180 Que quant il [vers] sa curt vendrat,L6180 [L6180] a197
Quarante solz ait chascun jurL6181 [L6181] Seissante s. R197L6181 [L6181] .xl.197
Dunt servi seit par grant enurL6182 [L6182] Dunt il (il [H]) seit servid p. honur LH197
Estre presenz e autres duns:
6184 Ço [fust] sa dreite livreisunsL6184 [L6184] seit LH197L6184 [L6184] fu197
Tresqu'il fors de la terre istreitL6185 [L6185] de sa t. R197
Desci qu'ariere revendreit;
Itant eüst en ses sujur[s],
6188 Aprés le rei fust si seignur[s],L6188 [L6188] om fust LH197L6188 [L6188] Aprof R197
Partut alast sa seignurie
En Engleterre e en Normendie
E ses eirs aient ensementL6191 [L6191] The confusion of Harald Harfagr and Harald Hardrada is already in A.S.C.197
6192 Cest eritet en chasement.
Si orent il tut mun ëed.L6193 [L6193] tut a sun e. L tut son e. RH197L6193 [L6193] E si197L6193 [L6193] mun D, sun LRH. In spite of the agreement of the three MS. the reading of D must stand, because it does not contradict the stipulation about Edgar's heirs.197
Unc ne fud rei[s] plus redutetL6194 [L6194] Unque ne f. r. p. duted LH197 [f.135c]
Que fu cest rei de ses veisins,L6195 [L6195] Q. cist r. ne fust H197L6195 [L6195] cist reis L197
6196 Trestuz les fist a sei aclins.L6196 [L6196] f. vers sei LRH197L6196 [L6196] Tuz LH197
Reis ert e dux [icest seignur]L6197 [L6197] d. de cest henur DLH197L6197 [L6197] icest seignur R, de cest honur DLH. Gaimar is explaining how William II has become Duke of Normandy and this can hardly be said to be a part of the vaguely indicated honour; D agrees with R in beginning the next line with the relative pronoun and this connects more satisfactorily with seignur.197
Qui demenot itel baldur.L6198 [L6198] Si d. tel b. LH197
Pur ço ert dux de Normendie:
6200 Del cunte Robert n'i aveit mie,L6200 [L6200] Del quens R197
En Jerusalem en ert alé.L6201 [L6201] om en LH197
Li reis [aver] l'en ad doné,L6202 [L6202] Al rei sun frere lout d. LH197L6202 [L6202] out R197L6202 [L6202] en eir197L6202 [L6202] aver R, en eir D. The latter reading does not make sense, but could derive from aveir; evidently the mistake was in an earlier copy, for LH rewrite the line.197
Despuis la tint tant [cum] vesquit.L6203 [L6203] Pois LH197L6203 [L6203] e197
6204 Henri sis freres le servit.L6204 [L6204] H. son f. R197
Page 197
Mais quant il ot piece regnet
E le païs bien apaisiet
E tel justise e dreit teneit,L6207 [L6207] E tele j. i t. LH198
6208 Nul[s] par tort rien n'i perdeit
Ne nul francs hom n'ert esgaret
Ne suffraitus en sun regnet
Kar par sun dreit ordenementL6211 [L6211] Ke L198
6212 Aveit fait sun cumandementL6212 [L6212] om sun LH198
Ke cil que franchement teneient,L6213 [L6213] om que L198
Se lur ostel escundisseient
A nul franc home qui fust nez,L6215 [L6215] home franc H198
6216 Tuit en fussent deseritez
E la viande e les ostelsL6217 [L6217] li viandes R198
Fust as franc[s] humes cumunels;L6218 [L6218] Fusent LH198
[Tuit li franc home ki eust mestier
6220 I eussent itel recoverer].
De l'altre part raveit asisL6221 [L6221] aveit R198
Ses justisiers par sun païs,
Par ses forez ses forestiers;L6223 [L6223] P. les f. LH198
6224 Ja n'i entrast chien ne archiers
E si archiers i est entrez,L6225 [L6225] ert R198
S'il esteit pris, [mal] ert menezL6226 [L6226] m. est m. L m. fut m. H198L6226 [L6226] mar198
E li chien perd[e]ient les piez,L6227 [L6227] les chens perderent R198
6228 Ja ne fust un esparnïez;L6228 [L6228] nen f. nul e. R198
Pur les forez le rei garder
Les faseit l'um [espeleter].L6230 [L6230] espeelter198
Dunc veïssiez par ces boscages
6232 Cerfs, chevrols e porcs salvages,L6232 [L6232] ch. daims e p. R ch. p. senglers L198L6232 [L6232] R includes in the enumeration daims; this may be right, as otherwise the line is a syllable short, but I have not felt certain enough to accept the word into the text. There is a curious change in L: senglers is substituted for salvages regardless of the complete destruction of the rime.198 [f.135d]
Lievres, gupilz e salvaginesL6233 [L6233] not in H198
A tel plenté par ces gastinesL6234 [L6234] After 6234 line left blank in H198
[Sol les milliers n'acuntast home
6236 Pur trestut l'or ki est en Rome].
Li reis amat mult [son deduit],L6237 [L6237] ses deduiz R sun dedut L198L6237 [L6237] om mult LH198L6237 [L6237] amout R amoit LH198L6237 [L6237] deduiz198
Page 198
Ja ne finast ne jur ne [nuit];L6238 [L6238] ne nuit ne jur R199L6238 [L6238] nuiz199
[Tuz jurz ert liez e menout joie,
6240 Barbe aveit russe e crine bloie.
Pur ço le cunt e di a quei
Il out le surnun del Rus Rei].
Cest rei gentil par grant [baldur]L6243 [L6243] enur199
6244 Teneit sun regne par [enur].L6244 [L6244] baldur199
El trezime an que si regnot,L6245 [L6245] ke cil r. L199
Dunc avint, si cum Deu plot,L6246 [L6246] a. come D. H199
Li reis esteit alé chacier
6248 Vers Brocheherst e archeier.L6248 [L6248] B. a a. R B. od un archer L B. od li archer H199
Ço est en la Nove ForestL6249 [L6249] novele F. R199L6249 [L6249] om en L199
Un liu qui ad nun Brocheherst.L6250 [L6250] ad a n.199
Priveement esteit alez,
6252 Waltier Tirel aveit menez.L6252 [L6252] laveit199
Walter esteit un riches hom,
De France ert per [del] regïun,L6254 [L6254] F. esteit la r. L F. ert la r. H199L6254 [L6254] a la199
Piez esteit suen un fort chastel,
6256 Asez aveit de sun avel.L6256 [L6256] A. i a. LH199
Al rei esteit venu servir,
Duns e soldeies recuillir.L6258 [L6258] s. recoverir LH199L6258 [L6258] D. e soldes L199
Par grant chiertet ert recuilli,
6260 Asez ert bien del rei cheri;
Pur ço que estranges hom esteit,
Li gentil rei le cheriseit.L6262 [L6262] Li reis ben le c. LH199
Ensemble vont andui parlant,L6263 [L6263] v. il dui p. R199
6264 De mainte chose esbaniant,
Tant que Galtier prist a gabber
E par engin al rei parler.L6266 [L6266] om E R199
Demandat lui tut en riant,L6267 [L6267] om tut LH199
6268 A quei il sujurnot itant:L6268 [L6268] tant LRH199
'Reis, quant tu es si poëstifs,L6269 [L6269] om tu H199
A quei n'eshalces tu tun pris?
Page 199
Ja n'as tu nul veisin proceinL6271 [L6271] om nul LH200
6272 Qui cuntre tei ost drescier mainL6272 [L6272] d. sa m. R200L6272 [L6272] encuntre t. osast d. m. L encontre t. ose tendre m. H200
Kar se sur l'un aler voleies,L6273 [L6273] sur lui a. R200
Tuz les autres mener purreies.L6274 [L6274] m. i p. R200 [f.136a]
Tut sunt ti home a tei aclin,
6276 Bretun, Mansel e Angevin
E li Flamenc tienent de tei,
Cil de Buluine t'unt pur rei,L6278 [L6278] B. te tenent r. LH200L6278 [L6278] de burgoine R200
Eüstace, cil de Buluine,L6279 [L6279] E E. L200
6280 Poez bien mener en ta busuigne,L6280 [L6280] om bien LH200
Alein le Neir, cil de Bretaigne,
Poez [bien] mener en ta cumpaigne:L6282 [L6282] ll. 6281-2 not in LH200
Tant as [aïes] e granz genz,L6283 [L6283] aie e tant as gent LH200L6283 [L6283] asise200
6284 Mult me merveil que tant atenz
Que alcune part n'esmuvez guerreL6285 [L6285] ne movez ta g. LRH200
E ne cunquiers fors de [ta] terre'.L6286 [L6286] Ne ne H200
Li [reis] respunt asez briefment:
6288 'Desci qu'as munz merrai ma gent,
En occident puis m'en irai,
A Peitiers ma feste tendrai,
A cest Noël qu'ore vendrat,
6292 Si jo tant vif, mun sied serrat'.L6292 [L6292] s. i s. RH200L6292 [L6292] m. fie H200L6292 [L6292] om jo LH200L6292 [L6292] ll. 6291-2 interverted in H200
'Ço est fort chose', dist Walter,
'As munz aler, puis [repeirer]L6294 [L6294] a. e p. LH200L6294 [L6294] revenir200
E a Peitiers feste tenir.
6296 De male mort [pussent] murirL6296 [L6296] peussent200
Li Burguinun e li Franceis,
Si ja [sujez sunt] as Engleis'.L6298 [L6298] Si ja sugeste s. a E. R200L6298 [L6298] Si s. seient as E. LH200L6298 [L6298] sunt sujez200
Li reis par gab li aveit dit
6300 E cil ert fel e mult requit.L6300 [L6300] c. come f. le r. H200
En sun quor tint sa felunie,L6301 [L6301] t. la f. RH200
Purpensat sei d'une estultie:
Page 200
Se il ja lui vëer purreit,L6303 [L6303] l. veeir p. H201L6303 [L6303] li ver poeit L201
6304 Tut altrement le [plait] fereit.L6304 [L6304] p. ireit LH p. serreit R201
En la forest esteit li reis
En l'espeisse juste un marreis,
[Talent] li prist d'un cerf berserL6307 [L6307] Tant201
6308 Qu'en une herde vit aler.
Dejuste un arbre est descenduz,L6309 [L6309] estoit H201
Il meïsmes ad sun arc tenduz. [f.136b]
Partut descendent li barun,
6312 Li autre aceinent d'envirun;L6312 [L6312] a. ensement de. H201
Walter Tirel ert descenduzL6313 [L6313] est LH201L6313 [L6313] Willelmi 2di mors in modern hand in margin201
Trop pres del rei juste un sambuz,L6314 [L6314] r. lez un s. H201
Aprés un tremble s'adosat;
6316 Si cum la herde trespassat
E le grant cerf a mes li vint,
[Entesad] l'arc qu'en sa main tint.L6318 [L6318] Entesant201
Une saete barbelee
6320 Ad trait par male destinee.
[Ja] avint si: qu'al cerf faillit,L6321 [L6321] a. issi q. H201L6321 [L6321] Il LH201L6321 [L6321] I201
Desci qu'al quor le rei [ferit];L6322 [L6322] faillit marked as incorrect and ? altered to ferit201
Une saete al quor li vint
6324 Mes ne savum qui l'arc suztintL6324 [L6324] ne sai q. LH201
Mais ço distrent li [altre] archierL6325 [L6325] diseient LR201
Qu'ele issi de l'arc Galter.L6326 [L6326] ele vint de LH201
Semblant en fut kar tost fuït,
6328 Il eschapat, le rei chaït,L6328 [L6328] li reis RH201
Par treis feiz s'est escrïez,L6329 [L6329] P. quatre f. R201
Corpus domini ad demandezL6330 [L6330] Le c. d. LRH201
Mais il n'i fu qui lui dunast,L6331 [L6331] Mes ni f. q. le li d. H201
6332 Luinz ert de mustier en un wastL6332 [L6332] fud LH201L6332 [L6332] L. de m. ert R201
E nepurquant un veneürL6333 [L6333] E nequedent H201
Prist des herbes od tute la flur,L6334 [L6334] od tut la R201L6334 [L6334] om Prist LH201
Un poi en fist al rei mangier;
Page 201
6336 Issil quida encumengier.L6336 [L6336] Issi le LRH202
En Deu est e estre deit.L6337 [L6337] om deit L202L6337 [L6337] est co e R202L6337 [L6337] D. en est L202
Il aveit pris pain benëeitL6338 [L6338] beneit DLRH202
Le dïemeine [dedevant]:L6339 [L6339] devant DLH202
6340 Ço li deit estre bien garant.L6340 [L6340] om bien LH e. bon g. R202
Or avint si: mort fut li reis.L6341 [L6341] a. si ke m. L a. issi qe m. H a. ki m. R202
De ses baruns ot od lui treisL6342 [L6342] od lui ot LH202
Qui descenduz erent od lui;
6344 [Li] fiz Richard erent li dui –L6344 [L6344] e. cil d. LH202L6344 [L6344] Le202
[Quens Gilebert e dan Roger,
Cil furent preisé chevaler]–L6346 [L6346] ll. 6345-6 not in DLH202
E Gilebert de l'Aigle od ous.L6347 [L6347] od els LRH202
6348 Cil [detirerent] lur chevolsL6348 [L6348] detirent DR202 [f.136c]
E firent dol desmesuret,L6349 [L6349] d. a desmesure R202
Unc ne fu mes tel demenet.L6350 [L6350] om mes LH202L6350 [L6350] Onques H202
Robert i vint le fiz Hamun,L6351 [L6351] Robert fitz Hamun in modern hand in margin ? same as at 6313202
6352 Riche e gentil e noble barun.L6352 [L6352] R. home e gentil b. LH202L6352 [L6352] Riche g. R202
Cil fist tel duel, tant le [menat],L6353 [L6353] t. lamad R202L6353 [L6353] demenat202
E dist suvent: '[Qui] m'ocirat?L6354 [L6354] quil202
Mielz voil murir que vivre plus'.
6356 Dunc se pasmat, si chaï jus.L6356 [L6356] D. est pasme et chiet j. H202L6356 [L6356] D. sest palme e chet j. L202
Quant il revint, detuert ses mains,L6357 [L6357] om il LH202
[Tant par devint febles e vainsL6358 [L6358] Getat granz criz (G. criz [L]) e granz cumplains DLH202
Ke pur un poi ne rechaï,
6360 De tutes parz grant dol oï].
Li vadlet e li veneür
[I] unt pluré [e fait] dolur,L6362 [L6362] e fest d. LH202L6362 [L6362] a grant202L6362 [L6362] E202
Quant Gilebert de l'Aigle dist:L6363 [L6363] om Quant R202
6364 'Taisiez, seignur, pur Jesu Crist.
Ceste dolur laissiez ester,
N'i ad [nïent] del recovrer.L6366 [L6366] rien202
Page 202
Mes que tuz jurz menum [tel] plur,L6367 [L6367] j. tiel doel menom H203
6368 Ja meis n'avrum itel seignur.L6368 [L6368] m. tiel s. naverom H203L6368 [L6368] a. tel L a. un tel R203
Qui l'ad amet, or i parrat,
De faire biere m'aiderat'.L6370 [L6370] b. qui ma. LH203L6370 [L6370] f. fere ma. R203
Dunc veïssiez vadlet descendre
6372 E veneür lur hanxax prendre;L6372 [L6372] h. tendre H203L6372 [L6372] l. haches p. LRH203
[Tost] furent trenchié li fuissel,L6373 [L6373] Tut203
De quei [firent] li meienel.L6374 [L6374] meinel DR203L6374 [L6374] furent203L6373 [L6373] not in LH203
Dous bleteruns trovent trenchiez,L6375 [L6375] D. blestruns R D. blertrons H D. bel truncs L203
6376 Bien sunt legier e bien [sechez],L6376 [L6376] et ensechez H203L6376 [L6376] Mult s. R203L6376 [L6376] segez203
Ne sunt trop gros, mes lung esteient,
Tut a mesure les cunreient.
[De lur ceintures e de peitrels
6380 Lïent estreit les meienels],L6380 [L6380] mainels R203L6380 [L6380] ll. 6379-80 not in DLH203
Puis firent lit en la biereL6381 [L6381] f. un l. sur la b. R203
De beles flurs e de fulgiere.
Dous palefreiz unt amenez
6384 Od riches freins, bien enselez,
Sur [i]cés dous culchent lu biere,L6385 [L6385] S. co d. L S. ceus .ii. H203
N'ert pas pesante mes legiere,
Puis i estendent un mantel
6388 Envols de paille tut novel;L6388 [L6388] Ke ert de p. LH203 [f.136d]
Le fiz Heimun le desfublat,
Robert qui sun seignur amat.
Sur la biere culchent le rei
6392 Que portouent li palefrei.
E[n]seveliz fud d'un tiretL6393 [L6393] f. en un t. LH203
Dunt Willame de Munfichet
Le jur devant ert adubez;
6396 Ne fud fors un sul jur portezL6396 [L6396] Naveit este ke (fors H) un j. LRH203
Le mantel gris [dunt il l']ostat,L6397 [L6397] dunc o. DLH203
Desur la biere estendu l'at.
Page 203
Dunc veïssiez baruns a piet
6400 Aler plurant e deshaitiet,
[Il ne voleient chevalcher
Pur lur seignur ke ourent si cher]L6402 [L6402] ll. 6401-2 not in DLH204
E li vadlet aprés aloent
6404 Plurant e mult se dementoent,
Li veneür tut ensement,
[E diseient: 'Chaitif], dolent!L6406 [L6406] om E LH204L6406 [L6406] Se clamoent las e d.204
Que ferum nus? [Que devendrums]?L6407 [L6407] las que ferums204
6408 Ja mais tel seignur [nen] avroms'.L6408 [L6408] nav. DH204
Tresqu'a Wincestre n'unt finet,
Iloches unt le rei poset.
Enz el mustier seint Swithun
6412 La asemblerent li barunL6412 [L6412] La sas. H204
E le clergié de la citetL6413 [L6413] E la c. LH Od le c. R204
E li evesque e li abet.
Li bons evesquez Walkelin
6416 Guaitat le rei tresqu'al matin,L6416 [L6416] Agueitat R204
Od lui muine, clerc e abet;
Bien [fu] servit e purchantet.L6418 [L6418] B. unt lit (leu H) e ben chanted LH204
L'endemain funt tel departie,L6419 [L6419] cele de. H204
6420 Tel ne vit einz hom[e] de vie,L6420 [L6420] home enz en v. L204L6420 [L6420] om einz R204
Ne tantes messes ne [tel] serviseL6421 [L6421] Ne tanz m. LR204L6421 [L6421] cel204
N'iert fait tresqu'en Deu juïseL6422 [L6422] tresquen jor de j. LH204L6422 [L6422] treske D. en j. R204
Pur un rei cum pur lui firent.L6423 [L6423] r. ke p. L204L6423 [L6423] un sul r. R204
6424 Tut autrement l'ensevelirent
Que li barun n'aveient faitL6425 [L6425] b. aveient L204
La u Walter ot a lui trait. [f.137a]
Qui ço ne creit, alt a Gincestre,
6428 Oïr purrat, si veir pot estre.L6428 [L6428] O. i p. R204L6428 [L6428] DLH finish here204 [f.R149c]
Ici voil del rei finer.
Ceste estorie fist translater
Dame Custance la gentil.
Page 204
6432 Gaimar i mist Marz e Averil
E tuz les dusze mais,
Ainz k'il oust translaté des reis.
Il purchaça maint esamplaire, [f.149d]
6436 Liveres engleis e par gramaire
E en romanz e en latin,
Ainz k'en pust traire a la fin.
Si sa dame ne li aidast,
6440 Ja a nul jor ne l'achevast.
Ele enveiad a Helmeslac
Pur le livere Walter Espac;
Robert li quens de Gloucestre
6444 Fist translater icele geste
Solum les liveres as Waleis
K'il aveient des bretons reis.
Walter Espec la demandat,
6448 Li quens Robert li enveiat,
Puis la prestat Walter Espec
A Raul de fiz Gilebert;
Dame Custance l'enpruntat
6452 De sun seignur k'ele mult amat.
Geffrei Gaimar cel livere escrit,
Les transsadanfes i mist
Ke li Waleis ourent leissé
6456 K'il aveit ainz purchacé,
U fust a dreit u fust a tort,
Le bon livere de Oxeford
Ki fust Walter l'arcediaen,
6460 Si en amendat son livere bien
E de l'estorie de Wincestre
Fust amendé ceste geste […]
De Wassingburc un livere engleis,
6464 U il trovad escrit des reis
E de tuz les emperurs
Ke de Rome furent seignurs
E de Engleterre ourent treu,
6468 Des reis ki d'els ourent tenu,
De lur vies e de lur plaiz,
Des aventures e des faiz,
Page 205
Coment chascuns maintint la terre,
6472 Quel amat pes e li quel guere;
De tut le plus pout ci trover
Ki en cest livere volt esgarder
E ki ne creit ço ke jo di,
6476 Demand a Nicole de Trailli.
Ore dit Gaimar, s'il ad guarant,
Del rei Henri dirrat avant,
Ke s'il en volt un poi parler
6480 E de sa vie translater,
Tels mil choses en purrad dire [f.150a]
Ke unkes Davit ne fist escrivere
Ne la reine de Luvain
6484 N'en tint le livere en sa main.
Ele en fist fere un livere grant,
Le primer vers noter par chant.
Bien dit Davit e bien trovat
6488 E la chançon bien asemblat.
Dame Custance en ad l'escrit,
En sa chambre sovent le lit
E ad pur l'escrire doné
6492 Un marc d'argent ars e pesé.
En plusurs lius est espandu
Del livere ço ke feit en fiu.
Mes des festes ke tint li reis,
6496 Del boschaier ne del gabeis,
Del dounaier e de l'amur
Ke demenat li reis meillur
Ki unkes fust ne ja ne seit
6500 E crestien fust e beneit
Ne dit gueres l'escrit Davi.
Ore dit Gaimar k'il tressailli,
Mes s'il uncore s'en volt pener,
6504 Des plus bels fais pot vers trover:
Ço est d'amur e dosnaier,
De boscheier e del gaber
E de festes e des noblesces,
6508 Des largetez e des richesces
E del barnage k'il mena,
Page 206
Des larges dons k'il dona;
D'iço devereit hom bien chanter,
6512 Nient leissir ne trespasser.
Ore mand Davit ke, si li pleist,
Avant die, si pas nel leist
Car s'il en volt avant trover,
6516 Son livere en pot mult amender
E s'il ne volt a ço entendre,
Pur lui irrai, sil frai prendre;
Ja mes n'istrat de ma prison,
6520 Si eit parfeite la chançon.
Ore avom pes e menum joie.
Treske ci dit Gaimar de Troie,L6522 [L6522] gaima R207
Il començat la u Jasun
6524 Ala conquere la tuisun, [f.150b]
Si l'ad definé ci endreit.
De Deu seium nus beneit. Amen.
Page 207
APPENDIX
[f.D138d]Ci vuil ore finir m'estoire,AL1 [AL1] Isci L9999
Del rei Henri ne frai memoireAL2 [AL2] ferai L9999
Kar Aeliz la bone reineAL3 [AL3] aliz L9999
4 A qui Deu doinst grace divine
En ad traitié un livre grant;
Pur ço [si] fin le mien a tant.
L'estoire des Engleis ci finist.AL7 [AL7] ici L9999AL7 [AL7] Lestories L9999
8 Beneie les tuz Jesu Crist
Qui lur entente i mettrunt
E qui as autres la dirrunt
Qui ne la sevent [ne l'] unt oie;AL11 [AL11] nen9999
12 Deu del ciel tuz les beneie
Kar a tel chose deit l'um entendre,
U il n'i ad rien que reprendre
Ne vilain[i]e ne mençonge;
16 N'est pas [cest livre ne] fable ne sunge,
Ainz est de veire estoire estrait
Des anciens reis e de els fait
Qui guvernoent Engleterre,
20 Alcuns [en païs], alcuns en guerre.AL20 [AL20] empes with en pais interlined above in later hand9999
Issi cuvint, ne pot el estre.
Beneie vus Deu le rei celestre.
Page 9999
End
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