These eleven kings have more on hand than they are ware of, for
the Saracens are landed in their countries, more than forty thousand,
that burn and slay, and have laid siege at the castle Wandesborow, and
make great destruction; therefore dread you not this three year. Also,
sir, all the goods that be gotten at this battle, let it be searched,
and when ye have it in your hands, let it be given freely unto these two
kings, Ban and Bors, that they may reward their knights withal; and that
shall cause strangers to be of better will to do you service at
need. Also you be able to reward your own knights of your own goods
whensomever it liketh you. It is well said, quoth Arthur, and as thou
hast devised, so shall it be done. When it was delivered to Ban and
Bors, they gave the goods as freely to their knights as freely as it
was given to them. Then Merlin took his leave of Arthur and of the
two kings, for to go and see his master Bleise, that dwelt in
Northumberland; and so he departed and came to his master, that was
passing glad of his coming; and there he told how Arthur and the two
kings had sped at the great battle, and how it was ended, and told the
names of every king and knight of worship that was there. And so Bleise
wrote the battle word by word, as Merlin told him, how it began, and by
whom, and in likewise how it was ended, and who had the worse. All the
battles that were done in Arthur's days Merlin did his master Bleise do
write; also he did do write all the battles that every worthy knight did
of Arthur's court.

After this Merlin departed from his master and came to King Arthur, that
was in the castle of Bedegraine, that was one of the castles that stand
in the forest of Sherwood. And Merlin was so disguised that King Arthur
knew him not, for he was all befurred in black sheep-skins, and a great
pair of boots, and a bow and arrows, in a russet gown, and brought wild
geese in his hand, and it was on the morn after Candlemas day; but King
Arthur knew him not. Sir, said Merlin unto the king, will ye give me
a gift? Wherefore, said King Arthur, should I give thee a gift, churl?
Sir, said Merlin, ye were better to give me a gift that is not in your
hand than to lose great riches, for here in the same place where the
great battle was, is great treasure hid in the earth. Who told thee so,
churl? said Arthur. Merlin told me so, said he. Then Ulfius and Brastias
knew him well enough, and smiled. Sir, said these two knig