From Belt and Spur, Stories of the Knights of the Middle Ages from the Old Chronicles, by E. L. S. (Emma L. Seeley), New York: Scribner and Welford, 1883; pp. 97-133.
CHAPTER V.
FULK FITZWARINE.
”The illuminations are mainly adapted from illuminated manuscripts in the British Museum.”)
Now in the days when Owen Gwynned was Prince of Wales all the marches from Chester to Mount Gilbert lay waste and desolate, so cruelly did he ravage all the country round his land. The King of England, therefore, being wise, gave the lands of the marches to the most valiant knights in his army, that they should defend the march to their own profit and to the honour of their lord the King. Alberbury, with all the honour appertaining to it, he gave to a knight born in Lorraine, in the city of Metz, who was greatly renowned for his strength, beauty, and courtesy. His banner was of vermilion samite, with two gold peacocks. And the White Land, with its forests and chace, he gave to Payn Peverel, who died soon after in his castle in the Peak, and William Peverel, his sister’s son, became his heir. He conquered much land, and built himself a tower, which he named the White Tower, and the town which is built round it is still called Whittington.
98Now William had two fair nieces, Eleyne, the elder, and Melette, the younger, and he married Eleyne to Fitz-Alan, and gave her at her marriage all the land of Morlas. But Melette was most beautiful, and many desired her in marriage, but no one could please her, for she said, ‘There is no knight in the world whom I will marry for his riches and his lands, but he must be handsome, courteous, and accomplished, and the most valiant knight in Christendom.’ So William made a proclamation in many lands and many cities that all knights who were ready to joust for love should come to Castle Peverel, in the Peak, at the feast of St. Michael, and that the knight who should conquer should win the love of Melette of the White Tower, and become lord of Whittington and all its honours.
Now the brave Guarin of Metz had neither wife nor child, and he sent to John, duke of Little Britain, and prayed his aid and help in this matter; and the Duke had ten sons, the most valiant knights in all Little Britain, — Roger, the eldest, Howel, Audwyn, Urien, Thebaud, Bertrem, Amys, Gwychard, Gyrard, and Guy. So the Duke sent his ten sons and a hundred knights, well mounted and richly apparelled to his cousin of Metz. And there came to the tournament Eneas, the son of the King of Scotland, with the Earl of Moray, and the Bruces, Dunbars, Umfravilles, and two hundred knights, and Owen, Prince of Wales, with two hundred shields, and the Duke of Burgundy with three hundred; Ydromor, son of the King of Galloway, came with one hundred 99 and fifty knights; and the knights of England were numbered at three hundred.
Guarin de Metz and his company lodged in tents in the forest near, and they were clothed in red samite, and their horses were covered with cloths that reached to the ground. Guarin himself, that he might be known from the others, had a crest of gold. Then sounded the drums, and trumpets, and Saracen horns, until the valleys re-echoed, and the tournament began.
Many a hard blow was given and many a knight thrown from his horse. The damsel, with other ladies, was in a tower watching the knights to see how each one bore himself; but the first day Guarin and his company were found to be the best and the most valiant, and among them Guarin was the most praised. When night came, Guarin and his company went back to their tents in the forest, and none of the other knights knew who they were. And the next day Guarin came to the jousts with a crest of green ivy out of the forest, like an unknown adventurer; and the Duke of Burgundy rushed upon him and struck him a great blow with his lance, but Guarin flung him from his horse, and a second, and a third. Then Melette of the White Tower sent him her glove and bade him fight for her. And he returned to the forest and put on his red armour, and came back with his companions and held the field against all comers; and he was declared the victor, and was adjudged the prize and Melette of the White Tower. So they sent for the bishop of the country, and he married them. And William Peverel gave a great feast; and 100 when it was over, Guarin took his wife and went to Whittington. And the ten brothers and their knights prepared to return to Little Britain; but the youngest son, Guy, stayed behind in England, and he was called Guy L’Estrange; and from him are descended the great lords of that name.
Guarin de Metz held Whittington and defended it against the Welshmen. And he had a little son, named Fulk; and when he was seven years old he was sent to a famous knight, Joce de Dynan, to be taught the manners of chivalry.
Now when Fulk was eighteen years old, tall and strong, Sir Joce went up to his tower early in the morning, and saw the fields covered with knights and squires, and among them he saw the banner of his great enemy, Sir Walter Lacy. So he bade his knights arm and mount their horses, and go down and guard the bridge; and they held it until Sir Joce came with five hundred men — knights and servants, and the citizens of the town of Dynan — with his banners, argent with three lions passant in azure, crowned with gold. He forced the bridge, and Lacy was discomfited and lost his banner and fled. But Joce de Dynan knew Walter de Lacy by his arms and saw him fleeing alone, so he put spurs to his horse and overtook Lacy in the wood near Bromfield, and called 101 to him to turn. And when Lacy saw that Sir Joce was alone, he turned, and they fought long and many hard blows were given and taken. Joce struck Lacy through the shield and wounded his left arm, and would have taken him prisoner, but Sir Godard de Bruce and two knights came up to his aid and assaulted Sir Joce on all sides, but he defended himself like a lion.
Now Sir Joce’s wife and his two daughters had climbed up into the tower to see the fight and to pray to God to guard their lord; and when they saw him so surrounded with enemies, they set up a great cry, and Fulk FitzWarine heard them (for Sir Joce had left him in the castle, being still but a youth), and he came to them and asked Hawyse the younger daughter what ailed her that she cried so? ‘Hold your tongue!’ she said, ‘You are little like your bold father, for you are a coward and always will be. Do you not see that my lord, who has nourished and cherished you, is in peril of death for lack of help, and you walk up and down in safety and do nothing to aid him?’ Upon that he turned red with anger, and going from the tower in haste, clad himself in an old rusty hauberk that he found, and took a great Danish axe; then he went to the stable and found there a cart-horse, and mounting it went out by the postern and came to the field just as his lord had been plucked from off his horse and was about to be killed. But with a blow of his axe he cut in two the backbone of Godard de Bruce, who had hold of his lord, and helped him to remount; then he turned to Sir Andrew de 102 Preez, and struck him such a blow on his helmet that he split his head down to his teeth. And when Sir Arnold de Lys found he could not escape, he surrendered to Sir Joce, and Lacy was taken also.
As they returned to the castle, Sir Joce turned to him and said, ‘Friend burgess, you are very brave and strong, and if you had not been here I should have been killed.’ Then the boy answered, ‘Sir, I am no burgess. Do you not know me? I am Fulk, your foster child!’ ‘Fair son,’ quoth he, ‘blessed be the day I took you home! a man never loses what he does for a brave man.’
So Sir Walter de Lacy and Sir Arnold de Lys were led prisoners to the castle; but in a short space, by the falsehood of a servant, they escaped and got safely away.
And Fulk, who was called Fulk the Brown, because he had so dark a skin, was married to Hawyse, and Sir Joce made him heir of half his land.
But Sir Walter de Lacy pondered how he might be revenged; and though the lords of England made him and Sir Joce swear to live in peace, he gathered many men together from Ireland and other places, and came upon Sir Joce’s castle of Dynan, when Sir Joce and Fulk were away, and by treachery obtained entrance into it; and they burnt the town and made a great slaughter of the people, young and old, and set up his banner on the Pendover Tower.
Now when the news came to Sir Joce, he gathered together an army of seven thousand men, and he, and Sir Guarin, and Fulk the Brown, came and laid siege 103 to the castle; but it was strong and the siege lasted long, and Sir Guarin fell ill. So he returned to Alberbury with only one squire, and there he died. Fulk the Brown, when his father was dead, went to Alberbury and took homage of his people, and then returned to Sir Joce.
Sir Walter de Lacy, fearing that the war would go against him, sent to the Prince of Wales for aid, and he came with an army of twenty thousand Welsh, Scotch, and Irish, burning the towns and plundering the people. Sir Joce and Fulk, through they fought like lions, were overcome, and Sir Joce was wounded and taken prisoner. When Fulk saw him led away, he was mad with anger, but he was sore wounded himself and could not help, so he made his escape from the battle; but his enemies seized his lands and took his constable prisoner.
Now at that time King Henry was sojourning at Gloucester, and Fulk, all wounded as he was, made his way to him, and told him all that had befallen him. And the King was very furious and swore he would be avenged on all such malefactors. He showed himself gracious to Fulk, and had his wounds healed, and sent for his mother, Melette, and his wife, Hawyse, and they dwelt in the Queen’s chambers. And at this time a little son was born to him, and his name also was called Fulk.
Then the King sent a letter to Sir Walter de Lacy 104 and commanded him, as he valued life and limb, to deliver up Sir Joce whom he held in prison wrongfully; and Sir Walter was afraid, and entreated Sir Joce and his knights honourably, and set them free. So he came to the King, and he promised him law and right; and then he went to Lambourne, and soon after died and was buried there.
And the King made Fulk constable of his army, and bade him take men and drive the Welshmen out of the march, for Jervard Droyndoun, the prince, had driven out all the barons, and had taken the march from Chester to Worcester. Sir Fulk fought a battle with him at Hereford, and won the field; but the war lasted for four years, until, at the request of the King of France, a love-day was set between the King and Jervard the prince, and they made accord. And the Prince gave up the lands that he had conquered, but for no money would he yield Whittington; so King Henry gave to Sir Fulk instead Alveston and the honours appertaining to it, and Whittington was given to Roger de Powis. Thus Sir Fulk was disinherited of Whittington, and Sir Walter de Lacy holds wrongfully the castle of Dynan; but the town was rebuilt and named Ludlow.
Sir Fulk and Hawyse lived with the King many years, and they had five sons, — Fulk, William, Philip the Red, John, and Alan. King Henry had four sons, — Henry, 105 Richard Cœur de Lion, Geoffrey, who was Count of Little Britain, and John, who was all his life wicked, and quarrelsome, and envious. Young Fulk was brought up with the King’s four sons, and was much loved by all of them except John, with whom he quarreled often. And it happened one day that John and Fulk were all alone in a room, playing at chess. John took the chess-board and struck Fulk a great blow. Fulk, finding himself hurt, raised his foot and gave John such a kick in his stomach that his head flew against the wall, and he fell down and fainted. Fulk was much afraid, but he was glad there was no one else in the room, and he rubbed John’s ears and recovered him from his faint. The Prince went to the King and made a great complaint, but the King only answered, ‘Hold your tongue! you are always quarrelling. If Fulk did anything to you, you certainly deserved it.’ And he sent for his master and bade him give him a good beating for complaining. But John kept his anger in his heart, and could never forgive Fulk.
And when King Henry was dead, Fulk the Brown, FitzWarine, found favour with King Richard, and he made all his sons knights. Then young Fulk and his brothers went over the seas and travelled in many lands, and whenever they heard of tournament or jousts, they went to the place and won everywhere honour and fame. But Fulk the Brown fell sick and died, and Richard sent letters to young Fulk to come back to England and receive his lands. And when King Richard went to the Holy Land he gave 106 the march into the care of Sir Fulk and Sir Fulk was in high honour all the days of Richard.
But when King Richard was dead, John was crowned king; and he came to visit the march, and sojourned at Castle Baldwin, which is now called Montgomery. And when Moris, the son of Roger de Powis, Lord of Whittington, heard that the King was there, he sent him a fine horse and a white gerfalcon. And the King made him of his council, and Keeper of the March. Then Moris prayed the King to confirm to him the honour of Whittington. The King knew well that it belonged rightfully to Sir Fulk, but he remembered the blow that Fulk had given him, so he gave the land to Moris and sealed the writing with his seal. And Moris promised to give him a hundred pounds of silver.
But a knight went and told Fulk what the King had done; and he and his four brothers came to the King and prayed that he would give them their lands, and they would pay him a hundred pounds. But the King answered, that he would hold to his word to Sir Moris, whoever might be offended. Then Sir Moris said to Sir Fulk, ‘Sir Knight, you are a fool if you challenge my lands. If you say you have a right to Whittington, you lie; and I would prove it on your body, if we were not in the King’s presence!’ Upon that, Sir William, Fulk’s brother, without another word, rushed forward and struck Sir Moris a blow in his face with his fist. But the knights around interfered, and no more harm was done.
Then Sir Fulk turned to the King and said, ‘Sir 107 King, you are my liege lord, and I am bound to you by fealty, as long as I am in your service, and hold my lands from you, and you ought to maintain my right; but you fail me in right and in common law. And it is no good King who denies to his tenant the law in his court; and, therefore, I give you back my homage.’ And he turned, and went away.
Then he and his brothers, and his cousin Baldwin de Hodnet, armed themselves; and when they were about half a league from the town, there came after them fifteen knights well armed, and commanded them to return, saying that they had promised to bring the King their heads. ‘Fair sirs,’ said Sir Fulk, ‘you were fools to promise to give what you cannot get.’ And they fought together; and four of the King’s knights were killed, and all the others grievously wounded, except one who took to flight. And he came and told the King; and when the King saw how his knights were wounded he swore he would revenge them.
Sir Fulk went to Alberbury, and told his mother, Dame Hawyse, what had happened. And she gave him treasure; and he and his brother went over the seas to Little Britain and sojourned there. But King John took all his lands, and did great injury to all his people.
Then, after a time, Sir Fulk and his brothers, and his cousins Baldwin de Hodnet and Aldulf de Bracy, 108 came back secretly to England. And they travelled at night, and by day hid themselves in the woods. But when they came to Alberbury, the people told them that their mother was dead; and Sir Fulk was much grieved, and prayed piteously for her soul.
And he and his people went to a forest called Babbing, near Whittington, to spy Moris Fitz-Roger But a servant of Sir Moris saw them and told his master. Then Sir Moris armed himself and took his shield, which was green, with two boars or, the bordure was silver, with fleurs-de-lys in azure. And he had with him thirty men, well mounted, and five hundred on foot. But when Fulk saw him, he came out of the forest in haste, and a fierce fight began. And many were killed, and Sir Moris was wounded in the shoulder. At last Sir Moris fled towards the castle, and Fulk pursued him, and aimed a blow at his helmet, but it fell on the crupper of his horse; and Sir Fulk himself was wounded in the leg by an arrow from the castle. So Sir Moris escaped into the castle, and sent word to the King that Sir Fulk was returned to England.
Then the King appointed a hundred knights to go with their men through the land of England, and bring Sir Fulk to him alive or dead; and the King promised them great rewards of lands and money. So the knights rode about England; but when they heard he was in a place, they rode another way, for some of them loved him much, and others feared him for his strength and boldness.
Sir Fulk and his company came to the Forest of 109 Bradene; and there came by ten merchants with rich cloths, furs, and gloves for the King and Queen of England, and there were with them twenty-four soldiers to guard the King’s treasure. When Fulk saw them, he sent his brother John to them to demand who they were and whence they came. But one of them demanded fiercely who he was that he should ask such a question. Then John asked them if they would come quietly to speak to his lord, for if they would not, he would make them. Upon that, one of the soldiers struck him a blow with his sword; but John felled him to the ground. Then Sir Fulk and his men came up and assailed the merchants. They defended themselves vigorously, but at last they were taken and carried into the forest. Then they told Sir Fulk that they were the King’s merchants; at which Sir Fulk was very glad. And he said, ‘Master Merchants, if you lose these goods who will suffer loss? Tell me truly.’
‘Sir,’ they answered; ‘if we lose them by our cowardice or carelessness, we should suffer; but if we lost them by peril of sea or force of arms, the loss would be the King’s.’
When Sir Fulk heard that, he made them measure off the rich cloth and furs on his lance; and clothed all those that were with him, little and great, and every one had good measure. When evening was come, and the merchants had supped, he sent them away, and bade them carry to the King Fulk FitzWarine’s salutations, and his thanks for his good cloths. Now Sir Fulk, all the time he was outlawed, 110 never did harm to any one but the King and his knights.
And when the King heard from the merchants and soldiers what had happened to them, he was mad with rage. And he sent a proclamation through the kingdom that whosoever would bring him Fulk, alive or dead, he would give him a thousand pounds of silver and all the lands that belonged to Fulk in England.
Then Fulk went into the forest of Kent, and, leaving his knights in the forest, went riding alone on the highroad; and he met a messenger coming along singing, with a chaplet of red roses on his head. And Sir Fulk asked to give him the chaplet, and he would pay him double what it was worth. But the man answered, ‘Sir, he must be very niggardly of his goods who will not give a chaplet of roses to a knight.’ So he gave the chaplet to Fulk, and Sir Fulk gave him twenty sous for it.
Now the man knew him well, for he had often seen him; and he came to Canterbury, and met there the hundred knights who had sought Fulk through England. And he asked them what they would give him if he led them to the place where he was. And they promised so much that he told them how he had met him and given him the chaplet. Then the hundred knights summoned all the knights, and squires, and soldiers, and raised the country, and besieged the forest; and they sent people to start the game, as if they had been hunting, and people with horns to tell them when Sir Fulk and his companions came out of the forest.
111And when Sir Fulk heard the sound of a bugle, he divined what had happened, and he, and his brothers, and cousins, and all his men, mounted and issued from the forest; and they came upon the hundred knights, and charged them, and killed some of them, and passed through them. But when he saw that behind them were knights, and squires, and burgesses, and people without number, he knew that he was not able to fight them all, and they returned to the forest; but John was wounded in the head. The people pursued them a long way, but at last they escaped; and, leaving their horses behind them, fled on foot to an abbey that was near. The porter seeing them ran to lock the gates; but Alan, who was very tall, leaped over the walls, and seizing the porter, took the keys from him, and let the others in.
Then Fulk put on the habit of an old monk, and took a great stick in his hand and went out, and made them shut the gate after him. He went, leaning on his staff and limping as if he were very lame. And the knights, and the soldiers, and a great crowd of people, overtook him.
And a knight cried to him, ‘Old monk! have you seen any armed knights pass this way?’
‘Yes, sir, and may they be punished for the evil they have done!’
‘Why? What have they done to you?’
‘Sir,’ he said, ‘I am old and infirm, and can no longer help myself; and there came seven on horses, and fifteen on foot, and because I could not clear the road quickly, they made their horses ride over me.’
112‘You shall be soon avenged,’ said he. And they rode on in haste to overtake Fulk, and were soon a league from the abbey.
After they were gone, came Sir Girard de Malfée and his companions, well mounted on costly horses, for they had come from abroad. And Sir Girard looked on him and said, mockingly, ‘Here is a fine fat monk, big enough to hold two gallons!’ Now Fulk’s brothers were watching inside the gate. And Fulk, without a word, raised his stick and struck Sir Girard behind the ear and he fell to the ground stunned. And Fulk’s brothers, rushing out of the gate, took all the knights prisoners, and bound them in the porter’s lodge, and took their armour and their horses, and never ceased riding till they came to Huggeford. And there they stayed till John was healed of his wound.
Now while they were there, there came to them a messenger, who had been seeking them a long time, with salutations from Hubert, Archbishop of Canterbury, who prayed him to come in haste to speak with him. So Sir Fulk and his men returned to the forest near Canterbury; and he and his brother William disguised themselves as merchants, and came to the Archbishop, and he said to them, ‘Fair sons, you are very welcome. You know that Sir Theobald Butler, my brother, had married Dame Maude de 113 Caus, a very rich lady, and the most beautiful in England. And now that he is dead, King John is trying to seize her and carry her away; and I have sent for you, Sir Fulk, to pray you to take her to wife.’ And Sir Fulk saw her, and knew that she was fair and good, and had in Ireland many castles and lands, and with the assent of his brother William he was married to Dame Maude de Caus; and he stayed there two days, and then leaving his wife in the care of the Archbishop, he returned to the wood, and told his companions; and they asked him where the fine castle was to which he would take his wife, and made great game of him.
Now there was living in the marches of Scotland a knight named Robert Fitz-Sampson, who was rich, and would often receive Sir Fulk and give him lodging. And his wife, Dame Amable, was a very courteous lady. And in the same country was a knight, Piers de Bruville, who used to assemble the wild youths and ribald people and kill and rob the merchants and others. And he gave out that he was Fulk FitzWarine; so that Fulk and his companions had much blame for things that they had not done. Now Fulk, who could never stay long in one place, came by night to the house of Sir Robert Fitz-Sampson. And he made his companions wait outside, but seeing a great light, he went boldly into the hall, and Sir Piers de Bruville and his knights were sitting at supper. But Sir Robert Fitz-Sampson and his good lady and his servants were lying on the ground bound. Sir Piers and his knights wore masks, 114 but those who served him bent the knee to him and called him Sir Fulk. And the lady cried piteously, ‘Ha! Sir Fulk, I have never done you any harm, but have always loved you.’ Then Sir Fulk, when he heard that, could be silent no longer, but, all alone as he was, stepped forward, with his sword drawn in his hand, and swearing that if any one dared to move he would cut him into little pieces, demanded which of them called himself Fulk. ‘Sir,’ said Piers, ‘I am a knight, and am called Fulk.’ ‘Then, Sir Fulk,’ he answered, ‘get up at once and bind all your companions, or you shall be the first to lose your head.’ And Piers, terrified at the menace, rose and unbound the lords, lady, and the servants of the house, and bound his companions. Then Sir Fulk made him cut off all their heads, and when that was done he himself cut off the head of Sir Piers, saying, ‘I will pay you that you have deserved for bringing upon me the charge of robbery.’
Then Sir Fulk left the marches of Scotland, and returned to a forest near Alberbury; for though he was so bold, he was too wise to remain long in one place, for the King’s people were ever in pursuit of him, and sometimes, to deceive them, he would have his horses shod with their shoes reversed. One of Sir Fulk’s men was a clever minstrel and juggler, and his name was John de Rampaigne; and Sir Fulk sent him to Whittington to spy upon Moris Fitz-Roger. So he took a certain herb, and crushed it, and put it in his mouth, and his face began to swell, and became so discoloured that his companions even 115 hardly knew him. Then he dressed himself in poor clothes, and took his box of juggler’s tools and a great stick, and went to Whittington, and told the porter he was a juggler. Then the porter took him in to Sir Moris Fitz-Roger, and Moris asked him of what country he was. And he answered that he was born in the march of Scotland. Then Sir Moris asked what news he brought; and he answered that he had none, except that Sir Fulk FitzWarine had been killed while robbing the house of Sir Robert Fitz-Sampson.
‘Is that true?’ cried Sir Moris.
‘Certainly,’ he replied; ‘all the people of the country say so.’
‘Minstrel,’ answered he, ‘for your news I will give you this cup of fine silver.’
So the minstrel took the cup and gave him many thanks.
Now John was an ugly, clumsy fellow, and the household servants mocked him, and pulled his hair, and treated him roughly. But he, enraged, struck one of them on the head with his stick, and knocked out his brains. Then Sir Moris swore that, but for the news he had brought, he would have had his head cut off. So the juggler made haste to escape; and he returned to Sir Fulk, and told him that he had heard say in the house that Sir Moris and his fifteen knights and attendants were going the next day to the castle of Shrewsbury, for he was keeper of the march.
Then Sir Fulk was glad, and the next morning he and his companions armed themselves and rode out of the forest. And Sir Moris and his knights 116 came riding on the way to Shrewsbury, and he looked towards the pass of Nesse; and he saw coming a man with a shield quartered with gules and indented argent, and by the arms he knew it was Fulk. ‘Now know I,’ said Sir Moris, ‘that jugglers are liars, for there is Fulk.’ But Moris and his companions were bold knights, and they attacked Sir Fulk and his men, calling them thieves, and crying out that their heads should be on the high tower of Shrewsbury before the evening. But Sir Fulk and his men defended themselves well, and Sir Moris and his fifteen knights and his companions were slain; so Sir Fulk had so many fewer enemies.
Then Sir Fulk passed over to Rhuddlan to Sir Lewis, Prince of Wales, for the Prince had been brought up with Sir Fulk at King Henry’s court. And the Prince received him gladly, and asked him how he and the King accorded. ‘Not at all, sir,’ answered Fulk. ‘I cannot have peace for anything, and therefore I have come to you.’ ‘Certainly,’ said the Prince, ‘I will give you my peace. The King of England will have peace neither with you, nor me, nor any one else.’ So Sir Fulk thanked him; and then he told him that Sir Moris Fitz-Roger was dead, for he had killed him. Now Sir Moris was the Prince’s cousin, and he was much enraged, and said if he had not given him his peace he would have had him drawn and hanged. But the Princess Joan 117 came and made accord between them, and they kissed each other.
Prince Lewis ordered Sir Fulk to march against his enemy Gwenwynwyn, and to ravage his land; but Sir Fulk knew that it was the Prince who was to blame, and he reasoned with him, and the Prince listened to him, and made peace with Gwenwynwyn.
Then news came to King John at Winchester that Sir Fulk had killed Sir Moris, and was now living with Prince Lewis, who had married Joan of England. He became very pensive, and fell into a long silence. Then he said, ‘Ha, St. Mary! I am King of England, Duke of Anjou and Normandy, and Lord of all Ireland, and yet I cannot find any one who will avenge me of the damage and shame that Fulk has done me. But I will not fail to avenge myself of the Prince.’ So he summoned to Shrewsbury all his earls and barons and knights.
And Prince Lewis was warned that the King was preparing for war, and he called Sir Fulk and told him. Then Sir Fulk assembled an army of thirty thousand men at Castle Balaham in Pentlyn, and Gwenwynwyn and his men came too. Sir Fulk was skilful in war, and knew all the passes by which King John could enter. And there was a very narrow pass called the Ford of Gymele, shut in by woods and marshes, so that it could only be traversed by the highroad. Then Fulk and Gwenwynwyn dug a deep and wide ditch across the highway, and filled it with water, and made a palisade behind it. The ditch may still be seen.
118So King John and his army came to the place and found ten thousand knights guarding the passage. But Fulk and his companions, with Gwenwynwyn and several other knights, had crossed by a secret path, and were on the same side as the King. And a fierce skirmish began, Fulk and his men fighting like lions, and killing many of the King’s knights, and being often dismounted themselves. But Gwenwynwyn was sore wounded in the head; so Fulk and his men returned by the secret path and defended the ditch, and the fight lasted, with great loss to the King, until evening, when he returned to Shrewsbury.
Then the Prince gave back to Sir Fulk his inheritance of Whittington, and the knight was very glad, and had it repaired. And he gave a great feast because he had a new entry into his land, and there came to him seven hundred knights from Wales and many others. But the King sent against him Sir Henry de Audley and Sir John Lestrange, whose castle had been destroyed by Prince Lewis; and they came with ten thousand knights, killing all they met, both men and women, and robbing the country. So Sir Fulk and his friends went out to meet them. And when Sir John saw Sir Fulk he spurred his horse and charged Sir Fulk with his lance so fiercely that it flew into little pieces. But Sir Fulk struck Sir John through his helmet, so that he kept the mark in his face all his life, and he fell flat on the ground. But he was a valiant man, and sprang to his feet, and cried aloud, ‘Now, lords, all at Fulk!’ And Fulk answered proudly, ‘Right! and Fulk at all!’
119And the battle grew fierce, and Sir Fulk and his men killed many knights, but Alan and Philip Fitz-Warine were wounded. And when Sir Fulk saw that, in his rage he pushed into the thick of the fight. But he had but seven hundred knights, and the others were ten thousand and more; so he was forced to return to Whittington. Sir Audulf de Bracy was dismounted, and, though he defended himself bravely, he was at last taken and led prisoner to Shrewsbury. Sir Henry and Sir John were proud of their prize, and they brought him to the King, who swore that he would have him drawn and hanged, because he was a traitor and a thief. But to that Sir Audulf replied that he was no traitor, nor any of his lineage.
Now Sir Fulk was at Whittington with his brothers and other wounded knights, but when he heard that Sir Audulf could not be found he made great lamentation. Then came John de Rampaigne and said, ‘Leave this lamentation; if God please, I will bring you good news of him to-morrow.’ Now he was skilled in the tabor and harp. and he dressed himself richly, as if he had been a baron. And he dyed his hair and all his body as black as jet, so there was nothing white about his body but his teeth. And he hung a tabor round his neck. And mounted a fine palfrey, and rode through the town of Shrewsbury to the gate of the castle. And he came to the King, and knelt before him, and saluted him. The 120 King asked him whence he came. ‘Sir,’ he answered, ‘I am an Ethiopian minstrel, born in Ethiopia.’
‘Then,’ said the King, are all the people of your land of your colour?’
‘Yea, my lord; both man and woman.’
‘And what do they say of me in those strange lands?’
‘Sir,’ he answered, ‘you are the most renowned knight in all Christendom; and because of your renown have I come to see you.’
‘Welcome, fair sir,’ answered the King.
Then John said he was more renowned for wickedness than goodness, but that the King did not hear.
So that day John showed his minstrelsy, and played before the King on his tabor and other instruments. And when the King was gone to bed Sir Henry de Audley sent for the black minstrel, and brought him to his chamber; and he played before him. And when Sir Henry had drunk well, he said to his servant, ‘Go and fetch Sir Audulf de Bracy, whom the King will have killed to-morrow. Let him have a good night before his death.’ So he was brought into the room, and they talked and played. Then John began a song that Sir Audulf used to sing, and he raised his head and looked him in the face, and, with great trouble, recognised him.
Then Sir Henry called for wine, and John was very serviceable, and sprang to his feet, and handed the cup before any one else could reach it. But John put a powder in the cup, and no one saw him, for he was a good juggler, and all who drank became sleepy. And 121 when they were all asleep John took one of the King’s fools, and put him between the knights who were to guard Sir Audulf. Then Sir Audulf and John took all the linen and towels, in the room, and escaped by a window, and went away to Whittington, which was twelve leagues from Shrewsbury. And when Fulk rose early in the morning, for he could sleep little, he looked towards Shrewsbury and saw Sir Audulf and John coming. He ran to them and kissed them, and Sir Audulf told them of John’s doings, and how they had escaped.
Now when the King heard that Sir Fulk had married Dame Maude de Caus, he did great damage to the Archbishop and the lady, and she took refuge in the minster. There she bore a little daughter, and the Archbishop baptized her Hawyse. She became afterwards lady of Wem. Then Fulk and his companions came by night to Canterbury, and took his wife to Huggeford, and afterwards she dwelt secretly at Alberbury. And when she found she was not safe there she fled to the church of Our Lady at Shrewsbury, and there she bore another daughter, who was baptized Joan, and who was afterwards married to Sir Henry de Pembridge. Afterwards Dame Maude had a son, who was born on a mountain in Wales, and was baptized by the name of John in a stream which comes out of the Maiden’s Spring. But when the child was confirmed by the Bishop he was named Fulk.
Now when the King saw he could not prevail against Fulk, he wrote a letter to Prince Lewis, and said he would give him all the lands that his ancestors 122 had ever taken if he would give him up the body of Fulk. But it was told Fulk what the King had said, and he sent away Dame Maude secretly to the care of the Bishop of Canterbury. And he and his brothers armed themselves and went to Prince Lewis, and told him he had had a letter and had not showed it to them. The Prince prayed him to stay, for he had not thought to betray him, but Fulk answered, ‘Sir, I believe you well, but I will no longer stay.’ So he took leave of him, and they travelled night and day and came to Dover and took ship, and arrived at Whitsand.
Then they came to Paris, and King Philip was gone to the fields to watch his knights jousting. And when the Frenchmen saw the English knights stand by, one of them, Sir Druz de Montbener, sent to challenge Sir Fulk to joust with him. And Sir Fulk and his knights armed themselves and mounted their horses, and John de Rampaigne struck the tabor at the entry of the lists until the hills and valleys resounded and the horses danced with glee. When the King saw Sir Fulk in arms, he said to Sir Druz de Montbener, ‘Think well what you do, for I perceive well this English knight is very valiant.’ ‘Sire,’ he answered, ‘there is not a knight on earth whom I dare not encounter on horse or on foot, body to body.’ So Sir Fulk and Sir Druz spurred their horses, and 123 met, and Sir Fulk’s lance pierced through the shield, and the good hauberk, to his shoulder, and then flew to pieces, and Sir Druz fell to the ground. And Sir Fulk took Sir Druz’s horse, and led it away, but he sent it back as a present to Sir Druz. Then came a French knight to avenge Sir Druz, and pierced Sir Fulk’s shield, but Sir Fulk struck him on the helmet so that he left his saddle, whether he would or not.
Then the King rode up to Sir Fulk and bade him welcome, and prayed him to stay with him. And Fulk won everywhere much praise, and was ever the first where boldness, chivalry, prowess, or goodness, were to be found. So he dwelt with the King of France, but he told him not who he was, but called himself Amis du Bois. But when the King of England heard that Sir Fulk was dwelling with the King of France, he sent to pray the King that he would send away his mortal enemy, Fulk FitzWarine. Then the King of France replied that he had no such knight in his retinue. But Fulk came to the King and prayed for leave to depart. Then the King understood that he was Fulk FitzWarine, and he said, ‘Stay with me, and I will give you richer lands than you ever had in England.’
‘But,’ answered Fulk, ‘he is not worthy to receive lands by gift that cannot hold those that came to him by heritage.’
So he took leave of him, and came to the sea, and saw the ships afloat, and the weather was fine. And he called a sailor to him who seemed hardy and bold, and said, ‘Is that ship yours?’
124‘Yes, sir,’ answered he.
‘What is your name?’ and he said, ‘Mador, of the Mount of Russia, where I was born.’
‘Mador,’ said Fulk, ‘do you know your business well, and can you take people by sea into various regions?’ and he answered, ‘There is no land in Christendom which I do not know well.’
‘Truly,’ said Fulk, ‘you have a perilous trade. Tell me by what death did your father die?’
Mador answered, ‘He was drowned at sea.’
‘And your grandfather?’
‘He, too.’
‘And your great-grandfather?’
‘In the same way and all my relations that I know of, to the fourth degree.’
‘Then,’ said Fulk, ‘you are foolhardy to dare to go to sea.’
‘Why, sir,’ he answered, ‘everyone dies the death to which he is destined; and, tell me, where did your father die?’
‘In his bed, certainly.’
‘And your grandfather and your great-grandfather?’
‘In the same way, all of our lineage, that I know of, have died in their beds.’
‘Then,’ said Mador, ‘I marvel greatly that you dare ever to go to bed.’
Fulk then prayed Mador to prepare a ship at his expense, so a ship was made in a forest near the sea, with all the cordage that appertained to it, and prepared and victualled richly. Then Fulk and his brothers 125 put to sea, and ran along the coast of England. And a well-armed ship approached them, and a knight called to Mador and asked whose ship it was, and he answered that it was his.
‘Nay,’ said the knight, ‘on the sail are the arms of Fulk FitzWarine, and he is on board, and this day I will deliver him to King John.’
But Mador, who was a bold sailor, let his ship sail, and it struck the other ship in the middle, and the sea rushed in. But ere the ship foundered many a blow was struck, and Fulk and his men captured great spoil.
Fulk coasted England a whole year, injuring none but the King, and then he sailed away and visited many lands — Gothland, Norway, Denmark, Orkney, Ireland, and Scandinavia, and saw strange things and had many perilous adventures, and fought with many monsters and wild beasts.
Afterwards they sailed back to England, and landed at Dover, and they heard that King John was at Windsor. So they started for Windsor, travelling by night and resting in the woods by day, and they came to the forest of Windsor. And they heard the sound of horns, and knew that the King was going hunting. Then Fulk swore a great oath that nothing should stop him from avenging himself on the King, who wrongfully and by force had disinherited him, and he made his companions stay behind, and went 126 out alone. And as he went he met an old charcoal-burner, carrying a sieve in his hand, and he had on black clothes fit for a charcoal-burner. Then Fulk prayed him to give him his clothes and his sieve, and he bought them for ten besants, and he sent the charcoal-burner away, and bade him tell no man. Then he dressed himself in the clothes and set himself to arrange the fire with a great iron fork. And while he was thus busy, there came by the King and three knights, all on foot. When Fulk saw the King he threw away his fork, and threw himself humbly on his knees, and the excellent breeding and carriage of the charcoal-burner caused great merriment to the King and his knight.
‘Master villain,’ said the King, ‘have you seen any stag or doe pass this way?’
‘Yes, my lord; a little while ago.’
‘What sort of beast did you see?’
‘One with long horns, my lord; and I could lead you to the place.’
‘On, then, master villain, and we will follow.’
‘Sir,’ said the charcoal-burner, ‘may I take my fork with me, for it would be a great loss to me if it were taken?’
So the King gave him leave, and Fulk took the great iron fork with him, and led the King into another part of the forest. Then he said, ‘If it will please you, my lord, to wait here, I will go and drive the beast this way.’ But he went quickly to his companions, and they all rushed out upon the King and seized him.
127Then said Sir Fulk, ‘Now, Sir King, I have you in my power, and will judge you as you would judge me if you had taken me.’
But the King, trembling with fear, cried him mercy, and promised he would give him back all his heritage, and all that he had taken from him, and would grant him his peace and love all his life. So Fulk made him pledge his faith before his knights and then let him go.
But the King returned to his palace and assembled his knights, and told them how Fulk had treated him, but that, as he had made him swear by force, he would not keep his oath, but bade them arm quickly, and go take those felons in the park. Then Sir James of Normandy, a cousin of the King’s, begged to have the advanced guard. ‘For all these English,’ he said, ‘are cousins of Sir Fulk, and traitors to the King, and will not take him.’
Then answered Randolf, Earl of Chester, ‘Saving the honour of the King, not yours, you lie, for we are no traitors, though all the great men and the King himself are cousins of Sir Fulk.’ And he would have struck him with his fist if the earl-marshal had not been there. Then Sir James of Normandy and his fifteen knights armed themselves in white armour and mounted their white horses, and rode out in haste.
But Sir Fulk heard of these doings, for John de Rampaigne had spied out the matter, and he and his men went out to meet them, and killed many of them, and took Sir James prisoner. Then they armed themselves in the Norman’s white armour, and mounted 128 their white horses, for their own horses were tired, and they armed Sir James in Sir Fulk’s armour, and bound his mouth so that he could not speak, and put his helmet on his head and rode to the King. And they presented Sir James prisoner to the King, saying they had taken Sir Fulk, but they must ride away quickly and pursue the other FitzWarines. So the King dismounted from his horse, and gave it to Sir Fulk, and they rode away into the wood and washed and bound their wounds, for William was sore wounded, and they feared he would die.
Then the King commanded them to hang Sir Fulk; but when they took off his helmet, they found it was not Sir Fulk, but Sir James of Normandy. And when the King perceived that he had been deceived, he, with his earls and barons, followed the trace of the horses’ feet and came to the place where Sir Fulk was making lamentation over his wounded brother. Then William begged that his brother would cut off his head and not let him fall into the hands of his enemies; but Fulk would not. And Randolf, Earl of Chester, came first to the spot, and sending back his men, went forward by himself and prayed Sir Fulk to yield himself to the King, and he would answer for him for life and limb. But Sir Fulk would not consent, but bade him go back to the King and do his duty in fighting against him; only he prayed him when his brother was dead, to care for his burial. Then Randolf returned to his men, and Fulk stayed weeping and praying by his brother.
Then the attack was made, and the Earl of Chester 129 fought bravely, and Fulk and his men defended themselves well. But a knight came behind Sir Fulk and wounded him in the side and thought to have killed him. And Fulk turned, and holding his sword in both hands, struck him a blow on his left shoulder and cut down to his heart, so he fell dead; but the blood poured from Fulk’s wound, and he fell fainting on his horse’s neck, and his sword dropped from his hand. Then the brothers lamented sore, and his brother John sprang up behind him on his horse and held him up, and they all made haste to flee. The King and his men pursued, but could not overtake them. They fled all that night, and the next morning came to the sea and to Mador with the ship. Then Fulk awoke and asked where he was; and they made him a bed in the ship, and John de Rampaigne dressed his wounds.
After the battle was over the Earl of Chester found William FitzWarine nigh death, and had him carried to an abbey to be doctored. But the matter was told the King, and he was much enraged against Earl Randolf, and commanded that William should be brought in a litter to Windsor and thrown into a dungeon. And the ship sailed away to Spain, and Fulk’s wound healed; and they went to the land of Barbary, and made themselves famous everywhere by their prowess and knightly deeds.
Then they returned to England laden with riches 130 that the King of Barbary had given them. And they desired much to learn whether their brother William was in life or no. So John de Rampaigne disguised himself as a merchant, and came to London, and lodged in the house of the Mayor. Then he gave many fair gifts to the household, and won favour with the Mayor, and prayed him to obtain leave from the King for his ship to come to shore. And he spoke ever in corrupt Latin, but the Mayor understood him well. And he brought him to the King at Westminster, and the King asked him who he was and whence he came. ‘Sir,’ said he, ‘I am a Greek merchant, and have been in Babylon, Alexandria, and India the Greater, and my ship is laden with rich cloths, pearls, and horses, and other valuable things.’ So the King gave him leave to bring his ship to shore, and he commanded him to stay and eat; so the Mayor and the merchant ate together before the King. While they were eating there came in two sergeants-at-mace, and brought in a tall knight with a long, black beard, and made him sit down in the hall, and brought him food. Then the merchant asked the Mayor who he was, and he told him his name was William FitzWarine; and he recounted to him the doings of him and his brothers. Then John was very glad to see he was still in life; and he went back to Sir Fulk and told him of his brother, and they brought the ship as near the city as they could.
The next day the merchant brought a white palfrey, the like of which could not be found in the kingdom, and presented it to King John. And he 131 gave so largely to all that he became much beloved, and could do at court whatever he pleased.
Then one day he and his companions armed themselves, and then put on their mariners’ gowns, and came thus to Westminster; and as they entered they met William FitzWarine going with his guard towards the prison. And they fell suddenly on his guard, and carried him away by force to their boat, which was floating near. The guard called for help but the merchants defended themselves well, and escaped to their ship and sailed away.
And they came to Little Britain, and stayed with their cousins there for half-a-year. But Fulk longed ever to be in England. So he returned, and they went to the New Forest; and as they wandered there they encountered the King pursuing a wild boar. And they seized him and six of his knights, and carried him away to their galley. There they had many words; but at last the King agreed to pardon them, and to give them back all their heritage, and that their peace should be cried through all England. And he left his six knights with them as hostages.
Then he went to Westminster and summoned all his earls, and barons, and clergy, and told them that he had granted his peace to Fulk FitzWarine, his brothers, and adherents, and had given them their 132 heritage; and he commanded that they should be honourably received throughout the realm. When the Archbishop Hubert heard that, he was glad, and he sent letters to Fulk, and to the Earl of Gloucester, and Earl Randolf, and to Hugh, Earl-Marshal, to come to him at Canterbury; and when they were come they agreed that Fulk and his brothers should go at once to the King. So Fulk and his brothers, with the three earls, put on as rich attire as they could, and rode through London to the King at Westminster, and knelt before him, and yielded themselves up to him. And the King received them graciously, and they dwelt with him a whole month. Then Fulk went and dwelt with the Earl Marshal, and he gave him Ashdown and Wantage; and Fulk made Wantage a fair and a market town.
Then he took leave of the Earl Marshal and went to the Earl of Chester, who was arming his men to defend his rights in Ireland; and Fulk went with him and fought for him, and the Earl subdued all his lands.
So Fulk came back to Whittington, and Dame Maude and his children rejoiced greatly to see him. And he returned with great riches, and gave largely to his soldiers and friends, and maintained himself in great honour. And he was very hospitable, and turned the highroad through the hall at Alveston, that none might pass without meat and lodging. Then he bethought himself of all the blood that he had shed, and in remission of his sins founded a priory near Alberbury, in a wood on the river Severn. 133 And not long after, Dame Maude de Caus, his wife, died, and was buried in this priory.
Then a good while after she was dead Fulk married a noble, sweet lady, Dame Clarice de Auberville, and they had many fair children.
And it came to pass one night that Fulk lay thinking of his youth and repenting of his sins, and he saw in the chamber a marvelously bright light and heard a voice like thunder, saying, ‘Vassal, God has granted thee penance, for it is better here than elsewhere.’ And his wife woke and saw the light, and hid her face for fear. And when the light was gone Fulk was found blind, and he remained blind all the rest of his days.
And Dame Clarice died, and was buried at the New Abbey; and Fulk lived but a year longer, and died at Whittington, and was buried at New Abbey with great honour.