still I will do your will, if ye will in land hold me for lord.”  Then forth-right answered the knights “We will do all thy will,” and they gan proceed to Constance the king.  To the king came Vortiger—­of evil he was well ware—­and said him of—­ had done—­“And here I have the Peohtes, who shall be household knights; and I have most well stored all thy castles, and these foreign knights shall before us fight.”  The king commended all as Vortiger purposed, but alas! that the king knew nothing of his thoughts, nor of his treachery, that he did soon thereafter!  These knights were in court highly honoured, full two years with the king they dwelt there, and Vortiger the steward was lord of them all.  Ever he said that the Britons were not of use, but he said that the Peohtes were good knights.  Ever were the Britons deprived of goods, and the Peohtes wielded all that they would.  They had drink, they had meat, they had eke much bliss.  Vortiger granted them all that they would, and was to them as dear as their own life; so that they all spake, where they ate their meat, that Vortiger were worthy to govern this realm throughout all things, better than three such kings!  Vortiger gave these men very much treasure.

Then befell it on a day, that Vortiger lay at his inn; he took his two knights and sent after the Peohtes, bade them come here, for they all should eat there.  Forth-right the knights came to him, to his inn, he tried them with words as they sate at the board, he caused draughts to be brought them of many kinds of drinks, they drank, they revelled, the day there forth passed.  When they were so drunk that their shanks weakened, then spake Vortiger what he had previously thought:  “Hearken now to me, knights, I will say to you forth-right of my mickle sorrow that I for you have mourned.  The king delivered me this land for to be his steward.  Ye are to me liefest of all men alive, but I have not wealth to give my knights, for this king possesses all this land, and he is young and also strong, and all I must yield to him that I take of his land, and if I destroy his goods, I shall suffer the law, and mine own wealth I have spent, because I would please you.  And now I must depart hence far to some king, serve him with peace, and gain wealth with him; I may not for much shame have here this abode, but forth I must go to foreign lands And if the day shall ever come that I may acquire wealth, and I may so well thrive, that ye come in the land where I am, I will well reward you with much worship.  And have now all good day, for to-night I will go away, it is a great doubt whether ye see me evermore”—­These knights knew not what the traitor thought Vortiger was treacherous, for here he betrayed his lord, and the knights held it for sooth, what the traitor said Vortiger ordered his swains to saddle his steeds, and named twelve men to lead with himself, to horse they went as if they would depart from the land.