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

Arthur was in London, with all the Britons; he summoned his forces over all this land, that every man, that good would grant to him, quickly and full soon to London should come.  Then was England filled with harm; here was weeping and here was lament, and sorrow immoderate; mickle hunger and strife at every man’s gate!  Arthur sent over sea two good knights, to Howel his relation, who was to him dearest of men, who possessed Britanny, knight with the best; and bade him full soon, that he hither should come, sail to land, to help the people; for Childric had in hand much of this land, and Colgrim and Baldulf were come to him, and thought to drive Arthur the king out of the land; take from him his right, and his kingdom;—­then were his kindred disgraced with shameful injury; their worship lost in this worlds-realm:  then were it better for the king, that he were not born!  Howel heard this, the highest of Britanny; and he gan to call his good knights anon, and bade them to horse exceeding speedily, and go into France, to the free knights, and should say to them that they should come, quickly and full soon, to Michael’s Mount, with mickle strength, all who would of silver and of gold, win worship in this worlds-realm.  To Poitou he sent his good thanes; and some toward Flanders, exceeding quickly; and to Touraine, two there proceeded, and into Gascony, knights eke good, and ordered them to come with strength toward Michael’s Mount; and ere they went to flood (embarked), they should have gifts good, that they might the blither depart from their land, and with Howel the fair come to this land, to help Arthur, noblest of kings.  Thirteen days were passed since the messengers came there, then advanced they toward the sea, as the hail doth from the welkin; and two hundred ships were there well prepared, men filled them with folk, and forth they voyaged; the wind and the weather stood after their will; and they came to land at Hamtone.  Up leapt from the ships the furious men; bare to the land helms and burnies; with spears and with shields they covered all the fields.  There was many a bold Briton that threat had raised, they threatened greatly, by their quick life, that they would greet Childric the powerful, the bold kaiser, with much harm there.  And if he would not flee away, and toward Alemaine proceed, and if he would in the land with fight resist; with his bold people the barks abide; here they should leave what to them were dearest of all, their heads and hands, and their white helms; “and so they shall in this land lose their friends, and fall into hell—­the heathen hounds’”