SOURCE: "The Contents of the Romance" in The Romance of Sir Beues of Hamptoun, Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 1885, pp. xlv-lxvi, vii-xliii.

[In the following excerpt, Kölbing provides a detailed summary of the narrative of Bevis of Hampton, generally following the plot line in the Auchinleck manuscript but drawing upon other texts as well.]

… The story [of Sir Beues of Hamtoun] begins with our hero's father, Guy, Earl of South-Hampton, a most strong and valiant man, who unfortunately does not marry till he is old, exhausted and worn out by his battles and warlike expeditions. Then he makes up his mind to marry the daughter of the King of Scotland, a beautiful young lady, with whom the Emperor of Almaine, named Devoun, had been in love before. Her father refuses Devoun her hand, and gives her to Sir Guy. The result of this marriage is a pretty and bold boy, who receives the name Beves (1. 1-54).

After his birth, the lady feels unhappy at not having got a young and vigorous husband, instead of her old one, and she resolves to procure his death. She sends a messenger to the Emperor of Almaine, requiring him to come over to England on the first of May, go into a forest at the sea-side, and kill her husband, whom she will send there. When he has done this, he shall enjoy her love. The messenger promises to fulfil her wish (1. 55-108).

He gets to Almaine, and finds the Emperor at Rifoun, and gives him the message of his lady. The Emperor is very well pleased, makes the messenger a rich present, and bids him tell his mistress that he is entirely at her disposal. This the man does. On the first of May the Earl's wife pretends to be ill, and says she hopes to be cured by the flesh of a wild boar, which is in the forest at the sea-side (1. 109-192).

Thither her husband rides, armed only with a shield and sword, and accompanied by three attendants. He meets the Emperor, who has a large retinue. After a short conversation the Emperor throws Guy from his horse; but the Earl gets up again, draws his sword, and massacres many of his enemy's troops. But his own three men being killed, Guy kneels to the Emperor, and offers him all his possessions except his wife and son. The other refuses this demand, and strikes off Guy's head, which he sends to the lady, who promises him to become his wife the following day (1. 193-294).

Beves grieves enormously at his father's death, reproaches his mother with the murder, and calls her a whore. She boxes his ear so that he falls down; and in consequence, his fosterer Saber takes Beves away to his own house. Being desired by the lady to murder the boy, Saber does not refuse; but, in order to deceive her, he kills a pig, sprinkles the garments of Beves with its blood, and sends him, in the dress of a poor herd, to the field to tend his sheep. Saber also promises the youth that,. in a fortnight, he will remove him to the court of an earl, and, when his education is finished, will help him to get back his patrimony (1. 295-378).

In the field, Beves hears from his father's palace the sounds of instruments and revelry. He cannot refrain himself, but goes there, staff in hand. As the porter refuses to let him in, and insults him, Beves kills him with one blow on the head, enters the hall, and peremptorily requires the Emperor to give him back his possessions. The Emperor calls him a fool, so Beves hits him three strokes with his club on the head, and he faints away. In spite of the lady's order to seize the boy, the knights let him pass. He repairs to Saber, confesses frankly that he has killed (as he believes) his stepfather, and is earnestly reproached for his imprudence (1. 379-474).

When the lady asks Saber for Beves, he shows her the bloody clothes, but without effect. As she threatens Saber, Beves leaves the secret room where Saber had shut him up, and shows himself fearlessly. His mother has him brought to the shore of the sea, and sold for a large sum to heathen merchants. These sail with Beves to Armenia, and present him to King Ermin, who has a beautiful only daughter, named Josian. Being asked by him for his name and native country, Beves gives Ermin a full reply; but, when the king wants him to turn heathen and to believe in Apolyn, Beves declines that demand positively. Still, the king makes him his chamberlain, and says that, after being knighted, he shall be his ensign-bearer in every battle. The king is very fond of Beves, but nobody at the court dares enter into a contest with him, since he is only fifteen years old (1. 475-584).

On Christmas-day he happens to ride out, accompanied by a number of Saracen knights, one of whom reproaches him for not knowing that it was the festival of the nativity of Christ. Beves has still one trick of Christendom in his mind, that on this day knights are wont to tourney; and he adds, that if he were as strong as his father, he would for God's love gladly undertake to fight against all his companions. The Saracen knights, offended by these words, attack and wound him severely with their swords; but he succeeds in wresting a sword from a heathen, and with that he kills the whole lot of them (1. 585-644).

While Beves retires to his own room to get relief from his wounds, the king, being told what has happened, swears that Beves shall be killed for this deed. But Josian, affirming that he acted only in self-defence, wants her father to allow him to speak for himself, a demand with which he willingly complies. Beves drives away roughly two knights, whom Josian had sent to fetch him; and so she, not at all intimidated by his refusal, makes up her mind to go herself to his room, accompanied by the knights. She does so, and persuades him by her affectionate words to follow her to the king. He, having heard the course of the whole adventure, gives up his wrath, and commands his daughter to do her best to heal Beves. The baths she prepares for him are so effective, that within a very short time he is entirely restored, and as fresh as he was before (1. 645-738).

There was in a neighbouring forest a boar of enormous size, which nobody had been able to kill. One night Beves bethinks himself of this animal, and the next morning he rides out, resolved to kill the boar. Josian sees him and falls in love with him. After a long fight, in the course of which Beves breaks his lance, he at last kills the animal, and cuts off its head (1. 739-836).

On his way to the king, Beves meets with twelve foresters, who intend to kill him. Having left his sword where he slew the boar, he has nothing to defend himself with but a piece of his broken lance.¹ With this he kills, not only the steward, but all his men too. This admirable feat is witnessed by Josian, who, in consequence, is utterly tormented by love for Beves. He presents the king with the boar's head (1. 837-908).

Some time afterwards, Brademond, King of Damascus, invades Armenia and demands Josian in marriage; else he will win her in battle and destroy the whole country. Still he is refused. The princess reminds her father of Beves's adventure in the wood, and wants him to knight the youth and make him leader of the Armenian army. The king agrees, and both he and Josian provide Beves with weapons, especially with the sword Morgelai; and finally she gives him the horse Arondel (1. 837-988).

Beves leads his host against the enemy, and himself kills Redefoun, the ensign-bearer of King Brademond. The result of the battle is that the whole host of the latter is destroyed, and the king takes to flight. Two knights of Beves's army, whom Brademond happens to meet on his way, he takes prisoners, but Beves rides after him, and throws him from his horse (1. 989-1040).

Brademond offers to become Beves's liege man; but he declines, refers Brademond to his master, King Ermin; makes him swear to keep the peace with Ermin, and submit to him. When Brademond has done so, Beves lets him go (1. 1041-1068).

Ermin receives the news of his general's victory with the greatest pleasure, and asks Josian to disarm Beves. This she does, and avails herself of this opportunity to tell him that she is deeply in love with him, and that she will die if he does not agree to love her again. When Beves refuses to become her lover, pretending that he is of too low degree to marry a princess, she is angry, and calls him a churl, who is not worthy to be in the company of pretty ladies. Beves is utterly offended, and, after having declared himself to be an earl's son and no churl, he adds, that she shall no more see him, and he retires to the town (1. 1069-1136).

Josian sends her chamberlain Bonefas to Beves, in order to make her peace; but though Beves gives her messenger a precious mantle, he refuses to comply with her wish. So she repairs herself to the apartments of the hero, and wins him by promising to adopt the Christian faith. In confirmation of this atonement he kisses her. Unfortunately the king is wrongly informed by the two knights freed by Beves from Brademond's hands, that he had deflowered his daughter (1. 1137-1218).

The king is very ill-pleased with this intelligence, and, on the advice of these villains, he writes a letter to Brademond about Beves, and orders him to deliver it to the heathen king, without taking with him his sword Morgelay or his horse Arondel, or showing the letter to any one else (1. 1219-1262).

Saber sends out his son Terri, to seek Beves through all accessible foreign countries. In the neighbourhood of Damascus, Beves meets Terni eating his dinner in a meadow, and is invited by him to share his repast, an offer which Beves gladly accepts. After dinner, Terni asks his guest about a child named Beves, and gets the reply that Beves was hanged by the Saracens a few days ago. On hearing this bad news, Terri faints away. When he recovers he wants to read the letter, which he supposes dangerous for the bearer himself, but is refused. Then they separate. Terri tells his father of Beves's death; but Saber, from the Isle of Wight, continues to fight against the Emperor. of Almaine (1. 1263-1344).

Beves pursues his journey towards Damascus, and there meets with a crowd of Saracens, who have just offered a sacrifice to their god Mahoun. Beves kills the priest, and throws the idols into the dirt. Then he addresses King Brademond in a very disrespectful way, and delivers him the letter. Having read it, Brademond orders his men to seize Beves and confine him in a deep dungeon. Here he lies for a long time, miserably fed, and obliged to defend himself against dragons and snakes with a stick, which he found at the prison door (1. 1345-1432).

When Josian asks her father about Beves, he pretends that the hero has returned to England and married the king's daughter there. Suspecting at once that some treason has been committed, when a new lover, King Yvor of Mombraunt, is obtruded on her, Josian does not oppose the marriage, but succeeds in preserving her virginity by a charm. When the appointed time of the marriage approaches, Yvor sends for the Soldan of Babylon and fifteen other vassal kings, to be present at the festivity (1. 1433-1482).

The wedding being solemnized, King Ermin presents his son-in-law with the horse Arondel and the sword Morgelay. But the former gift proves fatal; for, when Yvor mounts the horse, to ride triumphantly to his residence, it throws him so violently that he is near losing his life. From that time Arondel stands in its stable, fettered with iron chains (1. 1483-1534).

Now the story returns to Beves, who has lain for seven years in Brademond's horrible prison. When asleep one night, he is wounded by a flying adder, which he kills with his stick. This wound leaves a scar on his right eyebrow (1. 1535-1574).

One day he prays to Jesus and to Mary for his deliverance out of the dungeon. His two gaolers are so much offended by his prayer, that one of them comes down to murder him; but, instead, Beves kills his assailant with his fist. The other gaoler, who, intending to help his companion, has likewise descended by a rope, is pierced by Beves with the sword of his fellow-gaoler (I. 1575-1634).

After his gaolers are dead, Beves is entirely deprived of the hope of getting food. Three days having elapsed in this way, his prayer is answered, his fetters break, and the great stone on his body gives way. He gains the surface of the pit about midnight, provides himself with weapons and a horse, and, telling the porter that Beves has escaped from prison, he prevails upon the man to open the town gates. Thus he leaves Damascus in order to reach Armenia; but he unfortunately loses his way and rides back to Damascus, where, meanwhile, the news of Beves's flight has been reported to King Brademond. He, much ill-pleased, tells the fifteen kings, his vassals, and wants them to help him fetch Beves back. The first who gets a sight of Beves is King Grander, who possesses a very precious horse, called Trinchefis (1. 1635-1744).

After a long fight, Beves smites off the head of his adversary, mounts Trinchefis, and continues his flight, constantly followed by King Brademond and his vassals, until he comes to a rocky sea-shore, so that he is obliged either to swim over the sea or to fight with the Saracens. Having recommended himself to God in a prayer, he spurs his horse into the water, and Trinchefis is strong enough to bear him to the opposite shore. Though enfeebled by want of food, Beves continues his journey and comes to a castled town. On its tower he sees a lady, whom he beseeches to give him food sufficient for one meal. Though the lady answers that her lord is a giant, and a hater of all Christians, Beves insists upon his demand. The lady announces this to the giant, who seizes a club, rushes out of the door, and asks the stranger where he stole the horse Trinchefis, which had belonged to his brother Grander. Beves confesses, in scornful words, that he has killed him (1. 1745-1880).

Then they fight. After the giant has killed Trinchefis instead of the rider, Beves gets angry; and the end of the combat is, that he breaks the giant's neckbone. He now gets the dinner which he had formerly asked for in vain; then he orders a horse and leaves the castle. Being strengthened by meat and drink, he ardently wishes to meet Brademond and his army, to fight against them (1. 1881-1958).

He continues his journey to Jerusalem, where he confesses his sins to the Patriarch, who enjoins upon him, that he shall never marry a woman unless she is a pure virgin. Having left Jerusalem, Beves makes up his mind to take the road to Armenia; but, being told by a knight, an old friend of his whom he meets on the way, that king Yvor of Mombraunt has married Josian, he resolves upon going there. Having almost reached this rich and brilliant city, Beves exchanges dresses with a poor palmer, who informs him that the king is out hunting, and the queen in her apartment. At the gate he finds many pilgrims who wait for their share of food, which Josian is in the habit of distributing to poor palmers in the middle of the day, for the love of a knight called Sir Beves. Meanwhile, examining the exterior of the castle, Beves hears Josian in a turret complain of the falseness of her lover. Having returned to the gate, he enters with the rest of the poor, gets plenty of food, and in reply to Josian's question, professes to be an intimate friend of Sir Beves, who has told him of a horse, called Arondel, which he wants to see (1. 1959-2146).

The horse, hearing the name of its master, breaks its chains and rushes into the court of the palace. Beves approaches the horse, mounts it, and by that is recognized by Josian. She entreats him to take her home with him, and assures him that she is a pure virgin. Only on this condition does he comply with her wish (1. 2147-2208).

Bonefas, Josian's chamberlain, advises Beves to meet the king when he returns from hunting; and when he is asked for news, to tell King Yvor that his brother, the king of Dabilent, is in great danger of his life (1. 2209-2250).

Beves follows this advice, and pretends to Yvor that he has visited many countries and met everywhere with peace, except in the realm of Dabilent, the king of which is oppressed by his enemies (1. 2251-2280).

King Yvor, when he hears this, resolves at once to depart for Dabilent, to help his brother; and he leaves behind only an old king, named Garcy, to guard the queen. Bonefas contrives to give Garcy a soporific, which makes him sleep for four-and-twenty hours. During this time Beves, accompanied by Bonefas, carries off Josian; but Garcy, on awaking from his sleep, learns by a magic ring what has happened, and pursues the fugitives, though without success, as Bonefas has shown them a cave, in which they take refuge. Next day, whilst Beves is absent to get some venison to eat, two lions enter the cave and kill Bonefas, who most valiantly defends himself and his horse. Fortunately they cannot hurt Josian, for she is, at the same time, a king's daughter, a queen, and a pure virgin. On coming back from hunting, Beves will not let her hold fast one lion, whilst he fights the other, but he attacks both at the same time. First he kills the male lion (1. 2281-2464).

No sooner has he slain the lioness, than they meet with a most horrible giant, called Ascopart, who says he is sent by Garcy to fetch back the queen and to kill Beves. Beves answers that the giant will do neither (1. 2465-2532).

A fight ensues. Ascopart does not succeed in wounding Beves, and, at length, falls down while aiming a mighty blow at him. Beves is about to kill him, but spares his life at the intercession of Josian. The giant, in consequence, agrees to become Beves's page. All three proceed till they reach the sea, where they find a trading vessel, occupied by Saracens. Ascopart drives them out, and carries Beves, Josian, and Arondel into the ship, which bears them to Cologne. The bishop of this town, called Saber Florentin, who happens to be the uncle of Sir Beves, christens Josian, whilst Ascopart cannot be prevailed upon to enter a great font specially constructed for this purpose (1. 2533-2596).

After Josian's baptism, Beves achieves a most dangerous adventure, by killing a dreadful dragon. Two kings, one of Apulia, the other of Calabria, who had warred against one another during their whole life, were after their deaths transformed as a punishment into dragons; and, in this shape, they continue their fighting, until a holy hermit expels them by his prayers. One of them flies to St. Peter's bridge in Rome, where it will lie to the day of judgment; the other goes through Tuscany, Lombardy, and Provence, to the territory of Cologne. Sir Beves, moved by the groans of a knight, who suffers from the poison of this dragon, determines to attack it, attended by Ascopart, who, however, having heard the dragon's voice at some distance, is cowardly enough to go back. Still Beves proceeds alone to fight with the monster. His lance being broken, he attacks it with his sword, and the fight lasts till night. Then, in order to refresh himself, Beves dives into a well, which he has discovered in the neighbourhood (1. 2597-2802).

The fact that a virgin who lived in that country had bathed in the well, had rendered the water so holy that the dragon dares not come near it. After having drunk a gallon of this water, Beves leaves the well and renews his combat with the dragon, which spits so much poison on him, that his body looks like a leper's, and his coat of mail breaks in pieces. At last he tumbles into the well, where he recovers his strength and his health. After saying a prayer, he resumes the fight once more, and finally succeeds in cutting off the dragon's head. He sticks its tongue on his broken lance, and returns to Cologne, where the bishop and the people, who believed the dragon had killed him, receive him most triumphantly (1. 2803-2910).

Beves makes up his mind to go to England, attended by a hundred valiant knights, whom the bishop equips for him, in order to help Saber against his step-father Devoun. As to Josian, he takes his leave of her, and intrusts her to the care of Ascopart (1. 2911-2950).

Having landed in the neighbourhood of Southampton, Beves sends a knight to the Emperor of Almaine, with orders to say that a French knight, named Gerard, has arrived with a hundred men, and is ready to take his part in the war against Saber. In consequence, the Emperor invites Beves to supper, and gives him a very partial account of Beves's youth and of Saber's enmity against himself; Beves replies that if the Emperor will lend him arms and horses, he is willing to assault Saber (1. 2951-3022).

Beves carries both armour and horses to the Isle of Wight, and after having raised a flag with his arms on it, he lands, and is received by Saber with the utmost joy. Then, he instantly orders a messenger to return to Southampton, and to tell the Emperor that the knight who supped with him bore, not the name Gerard, but was Beves, and claims the lordship over Hamtoun. When the Emperor, who is at table, hears this unexpected news, he throws a knife at Sir Beves's ambassador, but misses him and pierces the body of his own son, a misfortune which gives the messenger a welcome opportunity of sneering at him. Sir Beves, when he learns what has happened, laughs, and is very much pleased (1. 3023-3116)."

We return to Josian. In the neighbourhood of Cologne lives an earl named Miles, who is enamoured of her, and wants her to become his sweetheart. When she refuses him, saying that she relies on Ascopart, he forges a letter to that worthy, which he pretends is from Sir Beves, ordering his immediate presence in a castle on an island. Ascopart, having arrived there, is locked up in the castle, while Earl Miles returns, imagining that there is no further obstacle to his wishes. He tells Josian what he has done, and she sends a letter to Sir Beves, to inform him. Meanwhile she declares to Miles that she will surrender her person only to the man who has married her; and the Earl says that he has made up his mind to marry her against her will (1. 3117-3174).

Next day the wedding takes place. At night Josian is led to the wedding-chamber and the Earl follows her, attended by a lot of knights; but in compliance with her wish he agrees to turn out the guests and to shut the door. Then Josian makes a slip-knot in her girdle,² passes it round his neck, and strangles him (1. 3175-3224).

The following morning, when the Earl does not rise, Josian is obliged to confess that she has killed him. She is condemned to be burnt in a tun, outside the town. Ascopart, descrying from his castle the preparations for the burning, suspects that something is wrong, breaks the gate of the castle, seizes a fishing-boat, and rows to the opposite shore. There he is overtaken by Sir Beves, whose reproaches of having betrayed him Ascopart easily invalidates. They rescue Josian, and sail with her to the Isle of Wight (1. 3225-3304).

Meanwhile, Beves and Saber collect a great army, and the Emperor, on his part, summons his large host from Almaine, and is assisted by his wife's father, the King of Scotland. In the month of May, the Emperor lands with his army in Wight, and encamps before the castle in which Beves and Saber have collected their forces. Being aware of the approach of the enemy, Saber resolves at once to give them battle. He divides his host into three parts, one of which he leads himself, whilst the other two are led by Beves and Ascopart (1. 3305-3392).

In the middle of the fight, Beves throws his step-father from his horse, and would have beheaded him if his men had not rescued him in time. He calls on Ascopart, and wants him to seize the Emperor. Ascopart first kills the King of Scotland, and then takes hold of the Emperor, and carries both him and his horse to the castle. This decides the battle in favour of Beves and Saber. Beves's step-father dies, being cast into a kettle of molten lead. The countess, beholding the end of her husband, falls down from the top of the castle and breaks her neck. Beves rejoices as much at the decease of his mother as of his step-father. The lords of Hamtonshire render homage to Beves, who is very glad at having been able to take revenge on his father's murderer. Beves then sends for the Bishop of Cologne, who marries Beves and Josian (1. 3393-3482).

Sir Beves begets two children on Josian in the first year of their marriage. By Saber's advice, he proceeds to King Edgar in London, in order to be invested with his hereditary earldom. The king complies at once with his wish, and confers on him, at the same time, the dignity of his marshal (1. 3483-3510).

At Whitsuntide a horse-race is arranged, in which Sir Beves desires to take part, because he trusts in the speed of Arondel. On the appointed day he wins the race, in spite of two knights who started too soon. Beves takes the prize, and with the help of this and of other money he afterwards builds the castle of Arundel (1. 3511-3542).

The king's son, desiring to possess the horse Arondel, wants Beves to make him a present of it, which Beves decidedly refuses to do. During the dinner, which Beves had to attend in his duty as Marshal, the prince enters the stable, but, when he approaches the horse and is about to untie it, Arondel kicks him with its hind foot and kills him with one blow. King Edgar, eager to revenge the death of his only son, wants to have Beves hanged and drawn; but the barons do not agree with this sentence; they decide that the horse only must suffer death. Sir Beves, however, declares that he will rather leave England and make over his estates to Saber, than lose Arondel. This expedient being accepted, Beves departs from Hamton, and tells Josian and Ascopart what has happened. He makes Terri, Saber's son, his page, and all start for Ermony. But Ascopart, knowing which road they were to take, hastens to Mombraunt, with the intention of betraying his master (1. 3543-3594).

Ascopart promises King Yvor to fetch back the queen, and obtains from him a company of forty knights to go with him. In a forest, on the way to Ermony, Josian is seized with the pains of child-birth. Beves and Terri construct a hut, bring Josian into it, and retire for a short time. Scarcely is Josian delivered of two boys, when Ascopart comes with his companions and carries her off (1. 3595-3646).³

Beves, returning with Terri, and finding the two children quite alone, feels very uneasy. They wrap the children in their ermine mantles, and, continuing their journey, deliver one babe to a forester whom they meet on the way, charging him to christen it "Gii"; the other boy they consign to a fisher, who, according to their wish, christens it "Miles." That being done, Beves and his squire proceed on their voyage, until they arrive at a great town where a tournament has been proclaimed: the victor is to get the hand of the daughter and heiress of the King of Aumbeforce. Beves and Terri resolve to take part in the tournay; and their arms, when they ride through the town, excite general admiration (1. 3709-3792).

Beves tilts so brilliantly, that the princess falls in love with him and wants to marry him. When he objects that he has a wife, who has been stolen from him, she proposes that he shall be her lord in a pure manner, and that, if within seven years his real wife should appear, she will accept Terni as her husband. Beves declares his full agreement with these terms (1. 3793-3840).

One night, Saber dreams that Sir Beves was wounded, and that he had undertaken a pilgrimage to St. James's and St. Giles's. This dream he tells his wife; and she expounds it, that Beves has lost either his wife or a child. Saber thereupon equips twelve knights with pilgrims' robes, under which they wear complete armour, and embarks with them. When they overtake Ascopart, who carried off Josian, Saber kills the giant with the first stroke, and his companions knock down the Saracens who attend him.⁴ Josian being rescued in this way, Saber disguises her as a palmer, and wanders about with her for seven years, in the hope of finding Beves and Terri (1. 3841-3898).

One day they come to a town in which Beves resides. Saber meets with his son Terni, and delivers Josian to her husband, who sends after his children, whilst Terri is married to the heiress of the land. (1. 3899-3962).

King Yvor makes war against King Ermin, and besieges him in his capital. Beves leads an army to Ermony, is reconciled with Ermin, and promises to fight against King Yvor. He vanquishes Yvor and sends him prisoner to King Ermin, who gives him his liberty on his paying a large ransom (1. 3963-4004).

When the old Ermin feels his end approaching, he sends for Guy, one of Beves' twin sons, and places the crown of Ermony on his head. Soon after he dies. Saber, desirous of seeing his wife, returns to England. In the service of King Yvor is a very sly thief, who manages to steal the horse Arondel, which he presents to King Yvor (1. 4005-4038).

This having happened, Saber dreams one night that Beves is in a very bad state and fearfully wounded. His wife, being told this dream, conjectures that Beves may have lost Arondel. When he hears that, Saber sets off without hesitation to see Beves, from whom he learns that his dream has been properly expounded. He at once starts for Mombraunt, and having taken away the horse (which is about to be watered) from a Saracen, he sets off speedily for Ermony, followed by a great number of heathen knights. From these he is rescued by Beves's two sons, who kill all the pursuers of his uncle (1. 4039-4108).

In order to take revenge, Yvor collects an enormous army, which he leads into Ermony. Having arrived there, he proposes to decide the war by a single combat between himself and Beves. This proposition is gladly accepted, and the two combatants betake themselves to a small island, where the fight is to be held. The combat is very long and fierce (1. 4109-4172).

At last, Beves hits his adversary such a blow that his right arm and his shoulder-bone fall on the ground. Beves in vain asks Yvor to be baptized,—the heathen thinking his to be the better faith;—he beheads the king, and all his attendants are killed likewise (1. 4173-4252).

After this victory, Beves is crowned king of the land over which King Yvor had held dominion. But his tranquility is interrupted by the arrival of a messenger, who informs Saber that King Edgar has deprived his son Robant of his estates. When Beves hears this ill news, he determines to accompany Saber to England, and to take with him a great army, his wife, his two sons, and Saber's son, Terri. They arrive in England, and Beves swears to take revenge on King Edgar (1. 4253-4286).

Beves leaves his army at Hamtoun, and, accompanied only by a few knights, repairs to the king at Westminster, and requests the restoration of his estates. Edgar and his barons are inclined to comply with Beves's wish; the steward alone contradicts, observing that Beves was an outlaw and a traitor. Hearing this, Beves gets very angry, leaves the court at once, and rides to London (1. 4287-4322).

The steward repairs to Cheapside, and proclaims to the people that the king commands them to take Beves prisoner as soon as possible. In deference to this proclamation, the citizens shut their gates, barricade the streets, and flock together in order to seize Beves. Beves arms quickly, mounts Arondel, and the first man he meets in the street is the steward, who calls him traitor, and summons him to surrender (1. 4323-4376).

Beves stabs the steward with his lance; but his knights are surrounded and slain by the citizens. He himself succeeds in cutting through the chains which confine him in a narrow lane, and advances to Cheapside, pursued by an immense crowd of people (1. 4377-4436).

Here he defends himself with the utmost bravery, assisted by his valiant steed. In the meanwhile, news is brought to Josian, whom he had left at Putney, that Beves has been slain in London. She relates this fact to her two sons, who resolve at once to revenge his death. They hasten to London-gate, and kill all who oppose them (1. 4437-4496).

Guy comes just in the nick of time to rescue his father from a traitorous Lombard. Miles follows at his heels, and then these three men stand up against all their assailants and gain a brilliant victory over them. At the opening of the night they fetch Josian to London, and hold a splendid festival there (1. 4497-4538).

When King Edgar hears of this dreadful slaughter, he determines to offer his only daughter to Miles with the prospect of becoming King of England after his death. His barons agree to this proposal, and the marriage takes place. Beves, having delivered his earldom of Hamtoun to Saber, repairs with Josian and his son Guy to Ermony, where the latter resumes the reins of government, leaves Terri at Aumbeforce, and then continues his journey to Mombraunt, of which he himself is king. When Josian, being seized with a mortal disease, finds that she will soon die, she sends for her son Guy, and for Terri. At the same time Beves enters his stable and finds Arondel dead. Returning to his dying wife, he folds her in his arms, and they both die together. Guy orders a chapel to be erected and dedicated to St. Lawrence, where the bodies of his father and mother are interred under the high altar. He also founds a monastery, in which the monks are to sing masses for the souls of Beves and of Josian (I. 4539-4620).…

Notes

¹ According to [the Auchinleck MS.], a steward at the court of King Ermin, out of envy of Beves, sallies out with four-and-twenty knights and ten foresters, in order to kill him. Beves defends himself with the boar's head, until he succeeds in winning the sword Morgelai from the steward.

² According to [the Auchinleck MS.] she takes a towel instead.

³ Iosian, being allowed to retire for a short time (1. 3646-3670), plucks and eats a herb, which has the power of making one look like a leper. The consequence is, that when Yvor sees her, he is very ill-pleased with the appearance of his wife, and wants Ascopart to take her to a castle in the neighbourhood of Mombraunt, and to guard her there (1..3671-3708). This passage is only in [Auchinleck].

⁴ According to [the Auchinleck MS.], Saber and his companions find out the castle where Josian is kept; she calls to them for relief. Ascopart, hearing that, goes to meet the strangers, but is killed by them. Josian, being relieved, renders her complexion clean by an ointment.