Beves of Hamtoun, also known as Beves of Hampton, Bevis of Hampton or Sir Beues of Hamtoun, is an anonymous Middle English romance of 4620 lines, dating from around the year 1300, which relates the adventures of the English hero Beves in his own country and in the Near East. It is often classified as a Matter of England romance. It is a paraphrase or loose translation of the Anglo-Norman romance Boeuve de Haumton, and belongs to a large family of romances in many languages, including Welsh, Russian and Yiddish versions, all dealing with the same hero.
For centuries Beves of Hamtoun was one of the most popular verse romances in the English language, and the only one that never had to be rediscovered, since it has been circulated and read continuously from the Middle Ages down to modern times, in its original form, in prose adaptations, and in scholarly editions. It influenced, among others, Chaucer, Spenser, Shakespeare and Bunyan.
Synopsis Eugen Kölbing provided a summary, Intro. §4. The Contents of the Romance, pp. xxi–xxxiii of his edition, whose base is the A manuscript (Auchinleck manuscript version), which is oldest.
Upbringing in England, sold by mother to Ermonye (Armenia)
Beves's father, the aged nobleman Guy of Hampton, is murdered by her mother's lover, the Emperor of Almayne (Germany) named Devoun. The guilty pair become engaged to be married the very next dayText, vv. 1–294, and summary, taking over Guy's earldom, and she hands over the 7 year-old Beves (who calls her a whore) to his fosterer () Saber, with the intention that he be dispatched. Saber readies bloody clothing to fake the death, disguising Beves as a shepherd, planning to send the boy to be groomed under an earl so he can later recover his rights in his maturity. The boy however angrily crashes the festivities, staff in hand, demanding the return of the estate and striking the emperor thrice, into unconsciousness. Beves is caught and sold off as slave to a paynim (heathen) land. There he finds refuge at the court of Ermin, king of Ermonye (Medieval Armenia) and gains royal favor, growing to age fifteen.vv. 295–584,
Advancement in Ermonye, and love of Princess Josian
Beves furthers his proof of valour. Though he nearly loses the king's favor after killing Saracen knights who mocked and attacked, Josian intercedes, and she tends to his wounds.vv. 585–734, Next, Beves sets out to kill a giant boar and enters the forest, when Josian comes to the realization of her love for him.Text, top, vv. 763–864: "him be-held,/Al hire loue to him [s]he feld". Beves beheads the boar,vv. –988, and in an encounter with foresters, kills all with a broken lance (and in the A version, obtains the sword Morglay () from the steward.Cf. , summary, p. xxxiii, prefers "..twelve foresters" as in variant texts and the French version, but footnotes that "According to A [base text], a steward at the court of King Ermin.. with four-and-twenty-knights an ten foresters,... Beves defends.. with the boar's head, .. winning..Morgelai from.. steward".As to the A-text plot (which Kölbing refrained from incorporating into the summary proper and footnoting it instead), he calls it "entirely superfluous parallel story to the boar-hunting" (pp. xxxvi–xxxvii), with additional commentary in endnote, p. 259. Beves presents the head to the king.vv. 837–908, After three years (or soon after), the Saracen King Brademond of Damascus invades Ermonye, demanding Josian's hand in marriage. Josian nominates Beves general to lead the war against the foe, and the king gives him the sword Morglay (or, in A, merely girds him with the sword), while Josian furnishes him with the horse Arondel (Arundel).vv. 909–988, and cf. text, pp. 44–46, top: "gerte him wiþ Morgelay" (v. 975); "clepede hit Arondel " (v. 988); : "A good sword that hight Morglay"; "Josyan gave him.. a steed, .. Men called him Arundel".
Imprisoned in Damascus
Beves takes Brademond captive and subjugates him under Ermin, also freeing two knights in the process, and returns triumphant to court. Josian declares her love for Beves, but he plays coy and they end in a spat. The two are reconciled in town upon Josian agreeing to convert to Christianity. They kiss, but the two knights whom Beves saved make false report to the king that Beves slept with his daughter.vv. 989–1218, King Ermin is enraged, and sends Beves to Brademond to carry a sealed letter, blaming Beves of having lain with her. Beves is persuaded to leave his horse and his sword behind.vv. 1219–1262, Saber sends his son Terri to find Beves, but not recognizing Beves, brings back false report that Beves was executed. Saber retreats to the Isle of Wight and wars with the German Emperor Beves reaches Damascus, insults the Saracen gods, and presents his letter to Brademond, who casts Beves into a deep dungeon; he fends off dragons and snakes with a stick.vv. 1345–1432,
In the meanwhile, Josian is forced upon another suitor named Yvor of Mombraunt, and is told Beves has returned to England to wed another. Convinced of a conspiracy, she consents to marrying but preserves her virginity using a charmed ring (or written amulet). The wedding is officiated, and Yvor receives Morglay and Arondel as gifts, but the horse throws off Yvor causing grievous injury, and the horse is confined to stable.vv. 1433–1534, Cf. .
Reunion with Josian
After lying seven years in prison, Beves escapes.He slays the prison guards, vv. 1575–1634, but has no access to food until his prayer frees him from shackles and the great stone on his midriff, vv. 1635–1649, Cf. Beves now turned fugitive, overcomes King Grander, and wins the horse Trenchefis.vv. 1650–1744, fights with Grander, smites off his head, and rides off on Trenchefis 1745–1786, . Cf. Trenchefys, and Trencheffys, V. 1786, E text, He throws off pursuit by riding across sea, but in a subsequent fight with the giant, Grander's brother, loses the horse. Victorious, he demands food and another horse to ride off on.Beves crosses sea, reaches castle, demands food from wife of the giant, who was a Christian-hater and Grander's brother, vv. 1745–1880; defeats giant, etc., 1881–1958 Cf.
Beves travels to Jerusalem and confesses to the patriarch of the church there, who then forbids Beves to take a wife, unless she is a virgin. Beves intended next to reach Ermonye (Armenia), but discovering that Josian has been married off to Yvor, decides to go to the latter's city-state of Monbraunt. Disguised as a (poor pilgrim), Beves asks Josian to show him his old horse, Arondel, who has not allowed any rider on him but Beves. Arondel recognises Beves, and then so does Josian. Beves, mindful of what the patriarch told him, tells Josian he cannot be with her as she has had a husband for the past seven years. Josian claims that though married she is still a virgin and urges him to remember their love.vv. 1959–2146; 2147–2208, . Cf.
They escape from the court while Yvor is away with his army to help his brother, the King of Dabilent. Yvor's henchman King Garcy remains behind, but he is put to sleep with a soporific (wine drugged with herb) by Josian's chamberlain Bonifas. When Garcy awakens, he uses a magic ring to learn what happened, and leads a party in pursuit, but is unable to track down Beves to the cave where they find shelter.vv. 2209–2250; 2251–2280; 2281–2349, . Cf. "Boniface" and "Sir Grassy", . Beves returning from hunt dispatches a pair of lions that entered the cave and killed Bonifas. Without respite, Beves is attacked by Garcy's giant named Ascopard. Ascopard is defeated by Beves but is spared through Josian's plea, and becomes his page. The three discover a ship, kill its Saracen crew, and sail off to the West.vv. 2350–2568, . Cf. "Ascapard"
Josian christened, return to England
In Cologne they meet a bishop (actually Beves's uncle named Saber Florentin) who baptises Josian. Although Ascopard has a giant Baptismal font built specifically for him, he refuses to enter it for fear of drowning.Cf. Beves fights and kills a poisonous dragon, aided by a purifying sacred well.(First day into night), vv. 2597–2802; (next day) 2803–2910, He resolves to return England to back claim his earldom, leaving Josian behind for the time being.vv. 2911–2950, Before leaving Germany, Beves assumes the identity of a Frenchman willing to ally with the Emperor, and dupes him into providing arms and horses,vv. 2951–3022, which he delivers to Saber, resisting the emperor in the Isle of Wight.vv. 3023–3116, Left in Cologne, Josian is forced to marry Count Miles,vv. 3117–3174, but she kills him on their wedding night.vv. 3175–3224, She is condemned to death for this crime, but is rescued by Beves and Ascopard, and the three make their escape to the Isle of Wight.vv. 3225–3304, The Isle is assaulted by the forces of the Emperor and the King of Scotland,vv. 3305–3392, Beves unhorses his stepfather, the emperor, in single combat, but the latter escapes; Ascopard slays the Scottish King and captures the Emperor, who is put to death inside a kettle of molten lead. Beves's mother commits suicide. Beves and Josian are married.vv. 3393–3482, .
Beves returns to Armenia, Ascopard's betrayal
Beves's estate is recognized by the English king Edgar, who appoints him martial,vv. 3483–3510, . but after Beves wins the race on his Arondel, winning the prize, and erects Arundel Castle,vv. 3511–3542, . Edgar's son covets the horse, and is killed by its kick trying to steal it. The king wants Beves hanged, the barons advise for the horse's death, but Beves volunteers self-banishment to Armenia rather than lose his horse, and relinquishing his estate to Saber, accompanies his pregnant wife back to her home country.
Ascopard, plotting to betray Beves, restores allegiance to his former lord, Yvor of Mombraunt.vv. 3543–3594, . Ascopard abducts Josian, immediately after she delivers her twin sons Miles and Guy in a makeshift hut in the forest.vv. 3595–3644, . Beves fosters his sons out to a fisherman and a forester, then goes in search of Josian.vv. 3709–3792, . Meanwhile, Saber, guided by a dream, sets out to rescue Beves's kins, killing Ascopard and freeing Josian. Their search for Beves continues for seven years of wandering.vv. 3841–3962, .
Beves reconciles with the Armenian king Ermin and helps him win a war against king Yvor.vv. 3963–4004, . Ermin dies, having made Beves's son Guy his heir (and Armenia is converted to Christianity) Arondel is stolen by Yvor's underling,vv. 4005–4038, . and Saber back in England is prompted by another dream, returns to recover the horse, and the Saracens who pursued him are defeated by Beves's sons.vv. 4039–4172, . Beves fights one more war against Yvor, defeats him,vv. 4173–4252, . and takes his place as king of Mombraunt.
The family return to England to seek retribution on King Edgar for confiscating Saber's son's estate,vv. 4253–4286, . and though the King was willing to restore the estate, the steward was hard-linedvv. 4287–4322, . and sought to rile the people of Cheapside, London into taking Beves prisoner,vv. 4323–4376, . and after the ensuing battle with Londoners,vv. 4377–4436, . the false news reaches Josian and her sons that Beves has fallen, and at London-gate (Ludgate) they massacres all who opposevv. 4437–4496, . (and in the interpolated text, Sir Guy here uses the sword or which once belonged to Sir Lancelot of the Lakev. 4313+114, mid-page interpolate text, ; v. 4313+157, mid-page interpolation footer, ). Beves is successfully rescued and they hold festivities.vv. 4497–4538, . The conflict ends with Edgar offering Miles his only daughter in marriage, with Miles as future heir to England. Once more Beves, Josian and Guy journey eastward and take up their two kingdoms. After twenty years Beves and Josian die together in each other's arms.vv. 4539–4620, .
Manuscripts