and thus the treacherous woman hailed him (drank his health):  “Lord king, wassail, for thee I am most joyful!” Hearken now the great treachery of the wicked woman, how she gan there betray the King Vortimer!  The king received her fair, to his own destruction.  Vortimer spake British, and Rowenne Saxish; to the king it seemed game enow, for her speech he laughed.  Hearken how she took on, this deceitful woman!  In her bosom she bare, beneath her teats, a golden phial filled with poison; and the wicked Rowenne drank (or drenched) the bowl, until she had half done, after the king’s will.  The while that the king laughed, she drew out the phial; the bowl she set to her chin, the poison she poured in the wine, and afterwards she delivered the cup to the king; the king drank all the wine, and the poison therein.  The day forth passed, bliss was in the court, for Vortimer the good king of the treachery knew nothing, for he saw Rowenne hold the bowl, and drink half of the same wine that she had put therein.  When it came to the night, then separated the courtiers; and the evil Rowenne went to her inn, and all her knights with her forth-right.  Then ordered she her swains, and eke the thanes all, that they in haste their horse should saddle; and they most still to steal out of the burgh, and proceed all by night to Thwongchester forth-right, and there most fast to inclose them in a castle, and lie to Vortiger, that his son would besiege him.  And Vortiger the false king believed the leasing.

Now understood Vortimer, his son, that he had taken poison; might no leechcraft help him any whit.  He took many messengers, and sent over his land, and bade all his knights to come to him forth-right.  When the folk was arrived, then was the king exceeding ill; then asked the king their peace, and thus he spake with them all:  “Of all knights are ye best that serve any king; there is of me no other hap, but that speedily I be dead.  Here I deliver you my land, all my silver and all my gold, and all my treasures—­your worship is the greater.  And ye forth-right send after knights, and give them silver and gold, and hold ye yourselves your land, and avenge you, if ye can, of Saxish men; for when as I be departed, Hengest will make care to you.  And take ye my body, and lay in a chest, and carry me to the sea strand, where Saxish men will come on land; anon as they know me there, away they will go; neither alive nor dead dare they abide me!”

Among all this discourse the good king died; there was weeping, there was lament, and piteous cries!  They took the king’s body, and carried to London, and beside Belyns-gate buried him fair; and carried him no whit as the king ordered.  Thus lived Vortimer, and thus he ended there.

Then the Britons fell into evil counsel; they took Vortiger anon, and delivered him all this kingdom; there was a well rueful thing, now was eft Vortiger king!  Vortiger took his messengers, and sent to Saxland, and greeted well Hengest, fairest of all knights, and bade him in haste to come to this land, and with him should bring here a hundred riders.  “For that know thou through all things, that dead is Vortimer the king, and safe thou mayest hither come, for dead is Vortimer my son.  It is no need for thee to bring with thee much folk, least our Britons eft be angry, so that sorrow eft come between you.”