The Peohtes saw that—­the drunken knights—­how Vortiger would depart, herefore they had much care, they went to counsel, they went to communing, all they lamented their life exceedingly, because Vortiger was so dear to them And thus said the Peohtes, the drunken knights:  “What may we now in counsel? who shall us now advise? who shall us feed, who shall us clothe, who shall be our lord at court?  Now Vortiger is gone, we all must depart,—­we will not for anything have a monk for king!  But we will do well, forth-right go we to him, secretly and still, and do all our will, into his chamber, and drink of his beer When we have drunk, loudly revel we, and some shall go to the door, and with swords stand therebefore, and some forth-right take the king and his knights, and smite off the heads of them, and we ourselves have the court, and cause soon our lord Vortiger to be overtaken, and afterwards through all things raise him to be king;—­then may we live as to us is befest of all.”

The knights proceeded to the king forth-right; they all went throughout the hall into the king’s chamber, where he sate by the fire There was none that spake a word except Gille Callaet; thus he spake with the king whom he there thought to betray:  “Listen to me now, monarch, I will nothing lie to thee We have been in court highly honoured through thy steward, who hath governed all this land, he hath us well fed, he hath us well clothed And in sooth I may say to thee, with him we ate now to day, but sore it us grieveth, we had nought to drink, and now we are in thy chamber give us drink of thy beer” Then gave the king answer “That shall be your least care, for ye shall have to drink the while that you think good” Men brought them drink, and they gan to revel, thus said Gille Callaet—­at the door he was full active “Where be ye, knights?  Bestir you forth right!” And they seized the king, and smote off his head, and all his knights they slew forth-right And took a messenger, and sent toward London, that he should ride quickly after Vortiger, that he should come speedily, and take the kingdom, for that he should know through all things, slain was Constance the king.  Vortiger heard that, who was traitor full secret; thus he ordered the messenger back forth-right anon, and bade them “well to keep all our worship that never one depart out of the place, but all abide me, until that I arrive, and so I will divide this land among us all.”

Forth went the messenger, and Vortiger took anon and sent over London, and ordered them quickly and full soon, that they all should come to husting.  When the burgh-men were come, who were most bold, then spake Vortiger, who was traitor full secret,—­much he gan to weep, and sorrowfully to sigh, but it was in his head, and not in his heart.  Then asked him the burgh-men, who were most bold.  “Lord Vortiger, what is that thou mournest?  Thou art no woman so sore to weep.”  Then answered Vortiger, who was traitor full secret:  “I