Childric the kaiser had a castle here, in Lincoln’s field, where he lay within, that was newly wrought, and exceeding well guarded; and there were with him Baldulf and Colgrim, and saw that their folk suffered death.  And they anon forth-right, on with their burnies, and fled out of the castle, of courage bereft; and fled forth-right anon to the wood of Calidon.  They had for companions seven hundred riders; and they left forty thousand slain, and deprived of life-day, felled to the ground; Alemainish men, with mischief destroyed, and the Saxish men, brought to the ground!  Then saw Arthur, noblest of kings, that Childric was flown, and into Calidon gone, and Colgrim and Baldulf with him were gone into the high wood, into the high holm.  And Arthur pursued after with sixty thousand knights of British people; the wood he all surrounded; and on one side they it felled, full seven miles, one tree upon another, truly fast; on the other side he surrounded it with his army, three days and three nights;—­that was to them mickle harm.

Then saw Colgrim, as he lay therein, that there was without meat sharp hunger, and strife; nor they nor their horses help had any.  And thus called Colgrim to the kaiser:  “Say me, Lord Childric, sooth words; for what kind of thing lie we thus herein?  Why should we not go out, and assemble our host, and begin fight with Arthur and with his knights?  For better it is for us on land with honour to lie, than that we thus here perish for hunger; it grieveth us sore, to the destruction of the folk.  Either send we again and again, and yearn Arthur’s peace, and pray thus his mercy, and hostages deliver him, and make friendship with the free king.”  Childric heard this, where he lay within the dyke, and he answered with sorrowful voice:  “If Baldulf it will, who is thine own brother, and more of our comrades, who with us are here, that we pray Arthur’s peace, and make amity with him, after your will I will do it.  For Arthur is esteemed very noble man in land; dear to all his men, and of royal kindred, all come of kings; he was Uther’s son.  And oft it befalleth, in many kind of land, where the good knights come to stern fight, that they who first gain, afterwards they it lose.  And thus to us now is befallen here, and eft to us better will happen, if we may live.”  Soon forth-right answered all the knights:  “We all praise this counsel, for thou hast well said!”

They took twelve knights, and sent forth-right, where he was in tent, by the wood’s end; and the one called anon with quick voice:  “Lord Arthur, thy peace!  We would speak with thee; hither the kaiser sent us, who is named Childric, and Colgrim and Baldulf, both together.  Now and evermore they pray thy mercy; thy men they will become, and thy honour advance, and they will give to thee hostages enow, and hold thee for lord, as to thee shall be liefest of all, if they may depart hence with life into their land; and bring evil tidings.  For here