He was Hengest's relation, and dearest of men to
him; and Octa loved him, the while that he lived. The Saxish men were
greatly discouraged, and proceeded them together into Scotland; and
they made Colgrim the fair for king, and assembled a host, wide over
the land, and said that they would with their wicked craft in
Winchester town kill Uther Pendragon. Alas, that it should so happen!
Now said the Saxish men in their communing together: "Take we six
knights, wise men and active, and skilful spies, and send we to the
court, in almsman's guise, and dwell in the court, with the high king,
and every day pass through all the people; and go to the king's dole,
as if they were infirm, and among the poor people hearken studiously
if man might with craft, by day or by night, in Winchester's town come
to Uther Pendragon, and kill the king with murder;"--then were (would
be) their will wholly accomplished, then were they careless of
Constanine's kin. Now went forth the knights all by daylight, in
almsman's clothes--knights most wicked--to the king's court--there
they harm wrought. They went to the dole, as if they were infirm, and
hearkened studiously of the king's sickness, how men might put the
king to death.
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