Modred

Layamon's Brut

• attribution: He was named Modred, wickedest of men; truth he had none to ever any man. (Layamon's Brut)

  "he was named Modred, wickedest of men;"

• attestation: To the queen was his resort--that was evilly done—-to his uncle he did treachery. But it was all secret, in host and in hall, for no man it weened, that it should be, but men in sooth weened him, because Walwain was his brother, the truest man of all that came to the folk. (Layamon's Brut)

  "to the queen was his resort--that was evilly done—-to his uncle he did treachery."

• attestation: Approached Modred there, with innumerable folk; he bare in his hand a battle-axe strong. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Then approached Modred there, with innumerable folk;"

• attestation: Would it not begin, for any worldly man!" Even with the words forth-right then answered the knight: "I say thee sooth, dear king, for I am thy underling. Thus hath Modred done. (Layamon's Brut)

  "would it not begin, for any worldly man!"

Even with the words forth-right then answered the knight: "I say thee sooth, dear king, for I am thy underling."

• attestation: When the army was gathered of each people, then were they there in a heap an hundred thousand, heathens and christians, with Modred the king. (Layamon's Brut)

  "When the army was gathered of each people, then were they there in a heap an hundred thousand, heathens and christians, with Modred the king."

• attestation: The night separated them over slades and over downs. (Layamon's Brut)

  "The night separated them over slades and over downs;"

• attribution: and Modred came so far forth, that he was at London. (Layamon's Brut)

  "and Modred came so far forth, that he was at London."

• attestation: Modred thence went toward Winchester;. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Modred thence went toward Winchester;"

• attestation: He commanded all his thanes, and his noble knights, together to take the fight, and fell his enemies, and the burgh all to destroy, and hang the burgh-folk. They stept together, and sternly fought. (Layamon's Brut)

  "he commanded all his thanes, and his noble knights, together to take the fight, and fell his enemies, and the burgh all to destroy, and hang the burgh-folk."

• attestation: They stept together, and sternly fought. (Layamon's Brut)

  "They stept together, and sternly fought."

• attestation: Modred then thought what he might do. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Modred then thought what he might do;"

• attestation: Modred heard that, and advanced against him with innumerable folk--there were many fated! (Layamon's Brut)

  "Modred heard that, and advanced against him with innumerable folk--there were many fated!"

• attestation: Upon the Tambre they came together. (Layamon's Brut)

  "Upon the Tambre they came together;"

• attribution: The place hight Camelford, evermore lasted the same word. And at Camelford was assembled sixty thousand men, and more thousands thereto. (Layamon's Brut)

  "the place hight Camelford, evermore lasted the same word."

• attestation: There might no man in the fight know any warrior, nor who did worse, nor who did better, so was the conflict mingled! For each slew downright, were he swain, were he knight. (Layamon's Brut)

  "there might no man in the fight know any warrior, nor who did worse, nor who did better, so was the conflict mingled!"

• attestation: For each slew downright, were he swain, were he knight. There was Modred slain, and deprived of life-day, and all his knights slain in the fight. (Layamon's Brut)

  "For each slew downright, were he swain, were he knight."