That they will be watched and held in a ward,
Guarded by sworn officers with honest knights;
Hire him the best men and don't hesitate to ask for silver;
I have warned that man; be cautious of where he steps!"
Now prepare the Britons as the king bides,
Make ready their battalions, display their banners,
Toward Chartres they go those chivalrous knights,
And in the Champain land they have fully achieved,
For the Emperor of power had ordained himself
Sir Utolf and Sir Evander, two honorable kings,
Erles of the Orient with adventurous knights,
Of the most adventurous men that to his leader longed
Sir Sextynour of Lybia and senators everywhere,
The king of Syria himself is with Sarazens now;
The senator of Sutri with large sums of profit
Was assigned to that court by approval of his peers,
Goes toward Troy in France to work,
But had been trapped with a trick by our traveling knights,
That he perceived had been Peter at Paris should let
In prison he had the worst pains to suffer.
They made themselves ready with banners displayed,
In the bushes in his way, on horses and steeds,
Plants them in the path with power displayed
To go pick up the prisoners from our knights.
Sir Cador of Cornwall commands his peers,
Sir Clegis, Sir Cleremus, Sir Cleremond the noble:
"Here is the Close of Clime with very high cliffs;
The country is so clear our borders are large;
Discover and search shrubs and others,
That no harmful person in the shrubs will ridicule us afterward;
Look and arrange it so no harm will befall upon us,
No attack from ambush is ever defeated."
Now they hasten to the wood, these violent knights,
To hear the high men to help these noble lords,
Finds them completely armed on horses and steeds,
Waiting on the high way by the wood's edges.
With knightly support Sir Clegis himself
He cries to the company and says these words
"Is there any renowned knight, peace officer or any other
Who will show love for his king in battle
We come from the king of this powerful country
That is known for conquering crowned in erthe;
His rich attendants here, at the Round Table,
To ride with that royal man in the company when he likes
We seek the fighting of war, if any will happen,
Of the happiest men, judged by lords;
If there be any noble man, warrior or other,
That for the love of the Emperor will give himself."
And an erl in anger answers him soon
"I am angry at Arthur and his noble men,
That is his error occupies these realms,
And outrages the Emperor, his earthly lord!
The distribution and