The tiding came to Arthur the king, that Frolle would with fight win France; was he never so blithe ere in his life!  And he gan to laugh, with loud voice; and said these words Arthur the keen:  “Now I know that Frolle will with me fight, to-morrow in the day, as he himself determined, in the island that with water is surrounded; for it becometh a king, that his word should stand.  Let the trumpets blow, and bid my men, that every good man watch to-night for that, and pray our Lord, that all dooms wieldeth, that he preserve me from Frolle the fierce, and with his right hand protect me from disgrace.  And if I may obtain this kingdom to mine own hand, every poor man the easier shall be, and work I will the great God’s will!  Now aid me thereto that all things may well do; the high heavenly king stand me in help; for him I will love (or praise), the while that I live!”

There was all the long night songs and candle-light; loudly sung clerks holy psalms of God.  When it was day on the morrow, people gan to stir.  His weapons he took in hand, Arthur the strong; he threw on his back a garment most precious, a cheisil shirt, and a cloth kirtle; a burny exceeding precious, embroidered of steel.  He set on his head a good helm; to his side he suspended his word Caliburn; his legs he covered with hose of steel, and placed on his feet spurs most good.  The king with his weeds leapt on his steed; men reached to him a good shield; it was all clean of elephant’s bone (ivory).  Men gave him in hand a strong shaft; there was at the end a spear most fair; it was made in Caermarthen by a smith that hight Griffin; Uther it possessed, who was ere king here.  When that the stern man was weaponed, then gan he to advance; then might he behold, who were there beside, the mighty king ride boldly; since this world was made, was it nowhere told, that ever any man so fair rode upon horse, as Arthur he was, son of Uther!  Bold chieftains rode after the king; in the foremost flock forty hundred, noble warriors, clad in steel, bold Britons, busy with weapon.  After that marched fifty hundred, that Walwain led, who was a bold champion.  Afterwards there gan out follow sixty thousand Britons most bold; that was the rearward.  There was the King Angel; there was Loth and Urine; there was Urine’s son, named Ywain; there was Kay and Beduer, and commanded the host there; there was the King Howel, noble man of Britanny; Cador there was eke, who was keen in flock; there was from Ireland Gillomar the strong; there was Gonwais the king, Orkney’s darling; there was Doldanim the keen, out of Gothland, and Rumaret the strong, out of Winet-land; there was Aescil the king, Denmark’s darling.  Folk there was on foot, so many thousand men, that was never a man in this worlds-realm so wise, that might tell the thousands, in ever any speech, unless he had with right wisdom of the Lord, or unless he had with him what Merlin he had.