From thence he marched to Cornwall, to Cador’s territory; he found there a maid extremely fair.  This maiden’s mother was of Romanish men, Cador’s relative; and the maid Cador on him bestowed, and he received her fair, and softly her fed.  She was of noble race, of Romanish men; was in no land any maid so fair, of speech and of deeds, and of manners most good; she was named Wenhaver, fairest of women.  Arthur took her to wife, and loved her wondrously much; this maiden he gan wed, and took her to his bed.  Arthur was in Cornwall all the winter there; and all for Wenhaver’s love, dearest of women to him.

When the winter was gone, and summer came there anon, Arthur bethought him what he might do, that his good folk should not lie there inert.  He marched to Exeter, at the midfeast (St. John Baptist?), and held there his husting of his noble folk, and said that he would go into Ireland, and win all the kingdom to his own hand; unless the King Gillomar the sooner came ere to him, and spake with him with good will, and yearned Arthur’s peace, he would waste his land, and go to him evilly in hand, with fire and with steel work hostile game, and the land-folk slay, who would stand against him.  Even with the words that the king said, then answered the folk, fair to the king:  “Lord king, hold thy word, for we are all ready, to go and to ride over all at thy need.”  There was many a bold Briton that had boar’s glances; heaved up their brows, enraged in their thought.  They went toward their inns, knights with their men:  they got ready burnies, prepared helms, they wiped their dear horses with linen cloths; they sheared, they shod—­the men were bold!  Some shaped (or shaved) horn; some shaped bone; some prepared steel darts; some made thongs, good and very strong; some bent spears, and made ready shields.  Arthur caused to be bidden over all his kingdom, that every good knight should come to him forth-right, and every brave man should come forth-right anon; and whoso should remain behind, his limbs he should lose, and whoso should come gladly, he should become rich.

Seven nights after Easter, when men had fasted, then came all the knights to ship forth-right; the wind stood to them in hand (favourably), that drove them to Ireland.  Arthur marched in the land, and the people destroyed; much folk he there slew, and he took cattle enow; and ever he ordered each man church-peace to hold.  The tiding came to the king, who was lord of the land, that Arthur the king was come there, and much harm there wrought.  He assembled all his people, over his kingdom; and his Irish folk marched to the fight, against Arthur the noble king.  Arthur and his knights they weaponed them forth-right, and advanced against them, a numerous folk.  Arthur’s men were with arms all covered, the Irish men were nearly naked, with spears and with axes, and with saexes exceeding sharp.  Arthur’s men let fly at them numerous darts, and killed the Irish folk; and greatly it felled; they might not this sustain, through any kind of thing, but fled away quickly, very many thousands.  And Gillomar the king fled, and awayward drew, and Arthur pursued after him, and caught the king; he took by the hand the king of the land.