From the May 1929 edition of The Sussex County Magazine

The Ballad of Sir Bevis of Arndel

Sir Bevis was the giant warder who guarded the gate of the old Arundel Castle (called in "Le Morte d’Arthur" the "Castle of Magouns") with his sword Morglay. Morglay is still in existence; at any rate the late Duke of Norfolk once produced for my inspection a gigantic sword from behind the library door at Arundel Castle, which, he informed me, was known as the sword of Sir Bevis.

Bevis’ wages as warder of the gate consisted of two weekly hogsheads of beer, an ox and supplies of bread and mustard in proportion. When he required exercise he waded the Channel to the Isle of Wight.

The fame of Bevis is shared by his horse Hirondelle (which everybody knows is French for swallow, for the great men of those days spoke French rather than English) -–so called by reason of its great swiftness; and this horse, as some aver, gave its name to Arundel, which, so they say, is but a corruption of Hirondelle, but which real Sussex men pronounce Arundel.

When the time came for Bevis to die he called upon his squire to fetch his sword, Morglay, and commanded him to bury him where the weapon should fall. So saying he swung the sword round his head thrice and loosed it from his grasp. It flew through the air and buried itself in the grass at Pugh Dean in Arundel Park, and on that spot the hero was buried. I have seen the grave, a mighty mound under the trees; and so may you, too, if you go thither in search of it.

I regret to say that the folk of Hampshire have claimed Bevis at THEIR hero. This is probably due to the fact that his father, Sir Guy of Southampton, lived among their ancestors. Of the mother of Sir Bevis, and her immoralities with her lover, Sir Murdour, I say nothing here, since the ballad tells the story, as it also relates the adventures of her son before he came to guard the Bevis Tower of Arundel Castle.

The Ballad of Sir Bevis of Arndel 

The story of Sir Bevis brave
Is very memorable
And some there are who call it true
And some who call it fable
But Bevis was a Sussex man
And Sussex men aren’t liars
For when about to tell a lie
They think of hell’s fierce fires
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

The hist’ry of Sir Bevis then
Is quite as true, I wot, sir
As are the tales of such heroes
Be they English, Irish, Scot, sir
And Hampshire says that Bevis is
The best of Hampshire men
How can that selfsame claim be true
For all do know that when
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

Sir Bevis had for his father
Sir Guy of Southampton
His mother was a Scotch princess
Unworthy of her son
Sir Bevis stood full twelve feet high
He was of giant girth-a
In strength he was, as I’ve been told
The stoutest man on earth-a
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

And when that Bevis seven years was
His mother took a lover
Sir Murdour was that knave and name
A fickle man and rover
He sought to kill the good Sir Guy
As he sat at his table
Sir Bevis saw his little plan
And so he wasn’t able . . .
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

Sir Murdour then he took the boy
And placed him in a ship
He told the captain, “Take him off
And do not spare the whip;
I’d have him sold in pagan lands
He’ll fetch of pounds a score
He hateth me, I hateth him
So doth my paramour *
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

The ship did sail full swift away
And came to Ermyn’s court
King Ermyn of the Saracens
At once Sir Bevis bought
And Bevis was a brave young wight
And by his great valor
He gained full soon a high renown
And won the King’s favour
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

If I set out to tell the tale
Of every doughty deed-a
That Bevis did in Sar’cen land
How often he did bleed-a
In fighting foe of Ermyn King
I should but raise your ire
You’d say of Sussex I can’t be
I’m such an awful liar
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

Now, patience, friend, do not forget
That Bevis was a rare man
What’s true of him would not be true
Of Frenchman or of German
He was a hero, bold and brave
So grant him, then your bounty
And don’t forget that Bevis was
Of good old Sussex county
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

So we’ll cry “Pax” and I will tell
How, since the world began
No greater deeds were ever wrought
By Christian or by Pagan
For Bevis finding sixty knights
Call the Christian faith a riddle
He took his long, sharp edged sword
And clove each to the middle
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

And now I come to tell the fame
Of Bevis’ sword and steed-a
Of Morglay and of Hirondelle –
I pray you give a heed-a
No praise of sword Excalibur
Is worth a greater ditty
The horse of Bevis gave its name
To Arndel, Sussex city
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

Now presently in that same land
Of fear all had a spasm
There came a boar that burrowed deep
As Curtius’ chasm
This boar did feed on human flesh
And tore it like a hawk-o
Young Bevis met that bloody boar
And turned it into pork-o
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

“Now,” said the King, “for your reward
is anything you ask us?”
“Grant me the boon, great King,” says he
“to journey to Damascus;
your enemy is Brandamond
if you would have his gore-o
give me command of your armee
of knights a thousand score-o”
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

Then came the Princess Josyan
And brought the sword Morglay, sir
The Princess was a winsome wench
And fair as any fay, sir
And forth she led the good swift horse
Y’cleped Hirondelle, sir
There never was a horse so swift
Not e’en a horse of hell, sir
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

Thus forth went Bevis with his men
With Morglay and his horse, sir
And to the Pagan land he went
By short and straightest course, sir
And there he met the enemy
And awful was the carnage
A thousand heroes bit the dust
A thousand went to bondage
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

When Bevis came back to the court
All dusty and all swear-o
The King did call a great fanfare
Of horn and of trumpet-o
And Josyan, of love so full
Was fain to make complain-a
“Sir Bevis, be my husband dear
I can’t my love contain-a”
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

“Nay, nay,” said Bevis, frowning dark
“I will not wed a pagan
I would not dare the wrath of church
Of Bishop and Suffragan”
“I love you more than all my gods
I dare incur their wrath-a
Them I renounce,” says Josyan
And so they plighted troth-a
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

Then Ermyn King did roar with rage
That Josyan was apostate
“If she deserts our native gods
by gum, she’s in a lost state!
Sir Bevis, go to Brandamond
And take this little letter.”
Here Ermyn winked the other eye
And whispered, “He won’t get her!”
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

The letter said, “Good Brandamond,
With these same words I greet you
The knight who beareth this despatch
Is he who did defeat you
Since you and I are now sworn friends
And he my plans is spoiling
Just throw him in a dungeon strong
And let the oil be boiling
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

“Oh, welcome, good Sir Bevis, knight
I’ll drink with you a flagon
And then I’ll introduce to you
My fire-spitting dragon.”
Thus spake King Brandamond and then
Without the slightest fluster
He pushed him in the dragon’s cell
That dragon was a buster!
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

Sir Bevis seized the dragon’s tail
And gave it such a turn-a
The dragon spat a fiery spit
Brave Bevis for to burn-a
“By cock!” cried Bevis, “you are rude,
and very badly bred-o”
he gave the tail another twist
and killed the dragon dead-o
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

And then for seven lonesome years
In that deep dungeon dreary
Sir Bevis thought upon his sins
Till he was worn and weary
But one fine day an angel came
The knight for to deliver
Sir Bevis fled the dungeon then
And next he swam a river
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

He hied him back to his betrothed
Found she’d been made to marry
Old Inor, King of Mountbraunt
Said Bevis, “I won’t tarry
Where is my good horse Hirondelle
My faithful blade Morglay?”
“They’re given,” said one, “to Inor, King
alack and well-a-day
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

“When King Inor did mount your steed
and thought off home he’d toddle
your faithful Hirondelle did throw
him off upon his noddle
and thus did Inor break his neck
and thus came he to perish.”
“By cock!” cried Bevis, “good old horse
thee always will I cherish!”
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

Then Bevis took his Josyan
And got upon his courser
He buckled Morglay at his side
And then he spurred his horse, sir
He took the way for old England
He was upon his mettle
He spurred the horse upon its side
The horse was in fine fettle
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

And soon they met one Ascupart
A giant forty feet high
The giant cried “Hand me your bride”
Cried Bevis “You defeat I
And take the girl”says Ascupart
“To win so fair a reasure
I’d fight a million armed men
And one I’ll fight with pleasure
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

Sir Bevis swung his good Morglay
And smote the giant sorely
He punched him in his stomach fat
And made him feel quite poorly
“I’ve had enough!” cried Ascupart
“I’ll be your slave for ever
to serve you well is now my part
‘Twill be my best endeavour
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

So thus they came to old Cologne
Where Bevis had an uncle
He was the Bishop of that land
(His ring a big carbuncle)
the Bishop baptised Bevis’ bride
and Bevis was quite cheery
the Bishop drank the twain’s good health
until he was quite beery
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

And after dinner Bevis went
To slay the Cologne Dragon
But Ascupart on seeing it
Fled like a craven Pagan
St Bevis took his vlade Morglay
And smote the Dragon’s noddle
He then cut off the monster’s head
And homeward he did toddle
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

The Colognais they were so glad
They granted knights a hundred
To attend Bevis home again
To England and to kindred
He left his bride in fair Cologne
In Uncle Bishop’s keeping
He set out in the rosy morn
When Josyan was sleeping
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

No sooner had Sir Bevis gone
Than came Sir Mile to woo her
Sir Mile, who was a mighty earl
With passion strong did sue her
But Josyan she seized the swain
And with a rope she hanged him
She saw him swinging by his neck
And on his head she banged him
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

The people then took Josyan fair
And said she must be burned
The news did come to Bevis bold
And back again he turned
He set her on his swift, sure steed
And fled by low – and high land
And so they came at length to Wight –
A very pretty island
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

Now Bevis, come to old England
Made up his mind to settle
He’d got a wife, he’d got a sword
He’d got a horse of mettle
And every day he does delight
As sure as he’s a sinner
To wade the Channel wide from Wight
It gives zest for his dinner
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

And thus one day he camed near
To the Castle called Magouns
Cries he, “This is a lordly pile
By cock an’ blood an’ oons!”
He straightaway went to the Earl
And offered to be warden
For wages mustard, bread and beer
But not of cash a farden
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

He brought his horse, he brough Morglay
And there was great rejoicing
The praises of the famous steed
The Sussex men ‘gan voicing
The Earl then said, “I have a plan
To add fame to Hirondelle
For evermore out town shall be
The famous town Arundel
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

For many long and lab’rous years
Sir Bevis did his duty
With Morglay and with Hirondelle
He won both fame and booty
At last he felt that he must die
(For Bevis, sir, was mortal)
he knocked upon the postern gate
his squire came to the portal
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

“Go fetch my Morglay,” Bevis said
“From this same spot I’ll cast it
I’d have my grave where Morglay falls
But not before nor past it”
He swung the sword around his head
It flew and fell – Hic jacet –
The grave is in the park to-day
May no rude hand deface it
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

So ends my tale. But one thing more
If you don’t believe, sir
Don’t take my word; I give a proof
Which you can’t but receive, sir
That Bevis lived and Bevis died
Is matter for surprise, sir
In Arndel Castle you may see
Good Morglay ‘fore your eyes, sir
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.

Now each good man who hears this tale
I bid you have good cheer-o
Some day you may the father be
Of such a mighty hero
At least you may is Sussex born –
For Sussex men have fire –
Those not of Sussex, don’t despair
‘Tis your lot to admire
St George he stood for England: St Dennis stood for France:
Sir Bevis stood at Arndel Gate with Morglay and with lance.