Baldolf was gone aside to save himself, and fled through the wilderness, wondrously fast; and had his dear men with sorrow deserted, and fled him so far north, that he came so forth, where Arthur lay on the weald, with his powerful host, all about York—­king most surprising!  Colgrim was within with the Saxish men, and Baldulf bethought him what he might do; with what kind of stratagem he might come within, into the burgh, to Colgrim his brother, who was to him the dearest of all men alive.  Baldulf caused to be shaved to the bare skin his beard and his chin, and made him as a fool; he caused half his head to be shorn, and took him in hand a long harp.  He could harp exceeding well in his childhood; and with his harp he went to the king’s host, and gan there to play, and much game to make.  Oft men him smote with wands most smart; oft men him struck as men do fool; each man that met him, greeted him with derision; so never any man knew of Baldulf’s appearance, but that it were a fool come to the folk!  So long he went upward, so long he went downward, that they were aware, who were there within, that it was Baldulf without, Colgrim’s brother.  They cast out a rope, and Baldulf grasped it fast, and they drew up Baldulf, so that he came within, with such kind of stratagem Baldulf came within.  Then was Colgrim blithe, and all his knights with him, and greatly they gan to threaten Arthur the king.  Arthur was beside, and saw this game, and wrathed himself wondrously much; and ordered anon all his brave folk to weapon them; he thought to win the burgh with strength.

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

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