Verse romance · c. 1400

The Avowynge of King Arther

The Avowing of King Arthur, Sir Gawan, Sir Kaye, and Sir Bawdewyn of Bretan

by Anonymous (Middle English)

While King Arthur hunts at Carlisle, a monstrous boar draws the Round Table into a night of vows: Arthur swears to hunt it down alone and keep watch over it, Gawain to guard a lady against all comers, Kay to defend a forest against every knight, and Baldwin never to be jealous, never to refuse a guest, and never to fear death. A north-of-England verse romance of seventy-two sixteen-line stanzas.

Contents · 5 parts

• Stanzas I–XVabout 240 lines
• Stanzas XVI–XXXabout 240 lines
• Stanzas XXXI–XLVabout 240 lines
• Stanzas XLVI–LXabout 240 lines
• Stanzas LXI–LXXIIabout 190 lines

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