Then spake Arthur to his good knights:  “Go we to Iceland, and take we it in our hand.”  The host there marched, and to Iceland came.  The king was named AElcus, high man of the land, he heard the tiding of Arthur the king; he did all as a wiseman, and marched against him anon; anon forth-right, with sixteen knights; he bare in his hand a mickle wand (sceptre) of gold.  So soon as he saw Arthur, he bent him on his knees, and quoth these words to him—­the king was afraid:—­“Welcome, sir Arthur! welcome, lord’ Here I deliver thee in hand all together Iceland, thou shalt be my high king, and I will be thy underling.  I will obey thee, as man shall do his master, and I will become here thy man, and deliver thee my dear son, who is named Escol; and thou shalt him honour (or reward), and dub him to knight, as thine own man.  His mother I have to wife, the king’s choice daughter of Russia.  And eke each year I will give thee money, seven thousand pounds of silver and gold, and in every counsel be ready at thy need.  This I will swear to thee, upon my sword; the relique is in the hilt, the noblest of this land; like as me shall like, will I never be false to thee!”

Arthur heard this noblest of kings.  Arthur was winsome where he had his will, and he was exceeding stern with his enemies.  Arthur heard the mild words of the monarch; he granted him all that he yearned; hostages and oaths, and all his proffers.  Then heard say sooth words the King of Orkney, exceeding keen, who was named Gonwais, a heathen warrior, that Arthur the king would come to his land; with a mickle fleet sail to his country.  Gonwais proceeded towards him, with his wise thanes, and set to Arthur in hand all Orkney’s land, and two-and-thirty islands, that thither in heth, and his homage, with much reverence.  And he had (made) to him in covenant, before all his people, each year to wit, full sixty ships at his own cost to bring them to London, filled truly with good sea-fish.  This covenant he confirmed, and hostages he found, and oaths he swore good, that he would not deceive.  And afterwards he took leave, and forth he gan wend:—­“Lord, have well good day!  I will come when I may, for now thou art my lord, dearest of all kings.”  When Arthur had done this, the yet he would more undertake; he took his good writs, and sent to Gutlond; and greeted the King Doldanim, and bade him soon come to him, and himself become his man, and bring with him his two sons.—­“And if thou wilt not that, do what thou wilt, and I will send thee sixteen thousand noble warriors, to thy mickle harm, who shall waste thy land, and slay thy people, and set the land as to them best seemeth, and thyself bind, and to me bring.”  The king heard this, the threat of the kaiser, and he speedily took his fair weeds, hounds and hawks, and his good horses, much silver, much gold; his two sons in his hand.  And forth he gan wend to Arthur the king, and said these words Doldanim the good:  “Hail be thou, Arthur,