will tell you piteous speeches, of much calamity that is come to the land.  I have been in this realm your king’s steward, and spoken with him, and loved him as my life.  But he would not at the end any counsel approve, he loved the Peohtes, the foreign knights, and he would not do good to us, nor anywhere fair receive, but to them he was gracious, ever in their lives I might not of the king have remuneration (or wages), I spent my wealth, the while that it lasted, and afterwards I took leave to go to my land, and when I had my tribute, come again to court.  When the Peohtes saw that the king had no knights, nor ever any kind of man that would aught for them do, they took their course into the king’s chamber I say you through all things, they have slain the king, and think to destroy this kingdom and us all, and will forth-right make them king of a Peoht.  But I was his steward, avenge I will my lord, and every brave man help me to do that.  On I will with my gear, and forth-right I will go.”

Thirty hundred knights marched out of London; they rode and they ran, forth with Vortiger, until they approached where the Peohtes dwelt.  And he took one of his knights, and sent to the Peohtes, and said to them that he came, if they would him receive.  The Peohtes were blithe for their murder (that they had committed), and they took their good gear—­there was neither shield nor spear Vortiger weaponed all his knights forth right, and the Peohtes there came, and brought the head of the king.  When Vortiger saw this head, then fell he full nigh to the ground, as if he had grief most of all men, with his countenance he gan he, but his heart was full blithe.  Then said Vortiger, who was traitor full secret:  “Every brave man lay on them with sword, and avenge well in the land the sorrow of our lord!” None they captured, but all they them slew; and proceeded to the inn, into Winchester, and slew their swains, and their chamber-servants, their cooks, and their boys, all they deprived of life-day.  Thus faired the tidings of Constance the king.

And the worldly-wise men took charge of the other children; for they had care of Vortiger they took Ambrosie and Uther, and led them over sea, into the Less Britain, and delivered them fairly to Biduz the king.  And he them fairly received, for he was their kin and their friend, and with much joy the children he brought up; and so well many years with him they were there.

Vortiger in this land was raised to be king; all the strong burghs stood in his hand; five-and-twenty years he was king here.  He was mad, he was wild, he was cruel, he was bold; of all things he had his will, except the Peohtes were never still, but ever they advanced over the north end, and afflicted this kingdom with prodigious harm, and avenged their kin enow, whom Vortiger slew here.