Arthur was in London, noblest of kings, and heard say sooth relation, that Howel the strong was come to land, forth-right to Hamtone, with thirty thousand knights, and with innumerable folk, that followed the king; Arthur towards him marched, with great bliss; with a mickle host, towards his relation.  Together they came—­bliss was among the folk—­and they kissed and embraced, and spake familiarly; and anon forthright assembled their knights.  Then were there together two good armies, of whom Howel should command thirty thousand knights, and Arthur had in land forty thousand in hand.  Forth-right they marched toward the North end, toward Lincoln night and day, that Childric the kaiser besieged.  But he the yet had nought won; for there were within seven thousand men, brave men and active, by day and night.

Arthur with his forces marched toward the burgh; and Arthur fore-ordered his knights, by day and night, that they should proceed as still, as if they would steal; pass over the country, and cease any noise; horns and trumpets, all should be relinquished.  Arthur took a knight, that was a brave man and active; and sent him to Lincoln to his dear men, and he said to them in sooth, with mouth, that Arthur would come, noblest of kings, at the midnight, and with him many a good knight.—­“And ye within, then be ye ware, that when ye hear the din, that ye the gates unfasten; and sally out of the burgh, and fell your foes; and smite on Childric, the strong and the powerful; and we shall tell them British tales!”

It was at the midnight, when the moon shone right south, Arthur with his host marched to the burgh; the folk was as still as if they would steal; forth they proceeded until they saw Lincoln.  Thus gan he call, Arthur the keen man:  “Where be ye, my knights, my dear-worthy warriors?  See ye the tents, where Childric lieth on the fields; Colgrim and Baldulf, with bold strength; the Alemainish folk, that us hath harmed, and the Saxish folk, that sorrow to us promiseth; that all hath killed the highest of my kin; Constance and Constantine, and Uther, who was my father, and Aurelie Ambrosie, who was my father’s brother, and many thousand men of my noble kindred?  Go we out to them, and lay to the ground, and worthily avenge our kin and their realm; and all together forth-right now ride every good knight!” Then Arthur gan to ride, and the army gan to move, as if all the earth would be consumed; and smote in the fields among Childric’s tents.  That was the first man, that there gan to shout—­Arthur the noble man, who was Uther’s son—­keenly and loud, as becometh a king:  “Now aid us, Mary, God’s mild mother!  And I pray her son, that he be to us in succour!” Even with the words they turned their spears; pierced and slew all that they came nigh.  And the knights out of the burgh marched against them (the enemy); if they fled to the burgh, there they were destroyed; if they fled to the wood, there they slaughtered them; come wherever they might come, ever they them slew.  It is not in any book indited, that ever any fight were in this Britain, that mischief was so rife; for folk it was most miserable, that ever came to the land!  There was mickle blood-shed, mischief was among the folk; death there was rife; the earth there became dun!