King Arthur and the Emperor Lucius

Summary

HYT BEFELLE WHAN Kyng Arthur had wedded Quene Gwenyvere and fulfylled the Rounde Table, and so aftir his mervelous knyghtis and he had venquyshed the moste party of his enemyes, than sone aftir com Sir Launcelot de Lake unto the courte, and Sir Trystrams come that tyme also. And than he rested and helde a royall feste and table rounde with his alyes of kynges, prynces, and noble knyghtes all of the Rounde Table.

So hit befelle that there cam into his halle, he syttynge in his throne royall, twelve auncient men berynge eche of hem a braunche of olyff, in tokyn that they cam as embassatours and messyngers fro the Emperour Lucyus, whiche was called at that tyme Procurour of the Publyke Wele of Rome, whiche sayde messyngers after theire comyng into the presence of Kynge Arthur dyd to hym theire obeysaunce in makyng to hym reverence, and seyde to hym in this wyse: “The hyghe and myghty Emperour Lucyus sendeth to the Kyng of Bretayne gretyng, commaundyng the to knowlecche hym for thy lorde and to sende hym the truage due of this realme unto the empyre, whiche thy fadir and other tofore thy precessours have payde, as is of recorde, and thou as rebell nat knowynge hym as thy soverayne withholdest, contrary to the statutes and decrees made by the noble Julius Cezar, conquerrour of this realme and fyrste Emperour of Rome.”

Whan Kynge Arthure wyste what they mente he loked up with his gray yghen and angred at the messyngers passyng sore. Than were this messyngers aferde, and knelyd stylle and durste nat aryse, they were so aferde of his grymme countenaunce. Than one of the knyghtes messyngers spake alowde and seyde, “Crowned kynge, myssedo no messyngers, for we be com at his commaundemente, as servytures sholde.”

Than spake the Conquerrour, “Thou recrayed and coward knyghte, why feryst thou my countenaunce? There be in this halle, and they were sore aggreved, thou durste nat for a deukedom of londis loke in theire facis.”