against his uncle King Arthur.  Childrich proceeded soon into Britain.  When Modred had assembled his host of men, then were there told sixty thousand hardy warriors of heathen folk, when they were come hither, for Arthur’s harm, and to help Modred, wickedest of men!  When the army was gathered of each people, then were they there in a heap an hundred thousand, heathens and christians, with Modred the king.

Arthur lay at Whitsand; a fortnight seemed to him too long; and Modred knew all what Arthur there would; each day came messengers to him from the king’s army.  Then befell it on a time, much rain it gan to rain, and the wind it gan to turn, and stood from the east end.  And Arthur proceeded to ship with all his host, and ordered that his shipmen should bring him to Romney, where he thought to come up into this land.  When he came to the haven, Modred was opposite to him, as the day gan light, they began to fight, all the day long; many a man dead there lay!  Some they fought on land, some by the strand; some they let fly sharp spears out of the ships.  Walwain went before, and cleared the way; and slew there soon eleven thanes; he slew Childrich’s son, who was come there with his father.  To rest went the sun; woe was then to the men!  There was Walwain slain, and deprived of life-day, through a Saxish earl—­sorry be his soul!  Then was Arthur sorry, and sorrowful therefore in heart; and these words said, mightiest of all Britons:  “Now I have lost my loved swains!  I knew by my dream, what sorrow were given to me!  Slain is Angel the king, who was mine own darling, and Walwain, my sister’s son—­woe is me that I was born man!  Up now from ship, quickly, my brave knights!”

Even with the words sixty thousand good warriors pressed anon to the fight, and brake Modred’s ranks, and well nigh himself was taken.  Modred began to flee, and his folk to follow after; they fled exceedingly, the fields eke trembled; the stones jar with the blood-streams!  There would have been all the fight ended, but the night came too soon; if the night had not been, they all would have been slain!

The night separated them over slades and over downs; and Modred came so far forth, that he was at London.  The burghmen heard how it had all fared, and denied him entry, and all his folk.  Modred thence went toward Winchester; and they him received, with all his men.  And Arthur pursued after, with all his might, until he came to Winchester, with a mickle host, and the burgh all besieged; and Modred therein abode.  When Modred saw that Arthur was so nigh to him, oft he bethought him what he might do.  Then on the same night, he ordered all his knights, with all their weapons, to march out of the burgh; and said that he would with fight there make a stand.  He promised the burghmen free law evermore, on condition that they should help him at his great need.