Gamelyn

General Information

Plot Summary

On his deathbed, Sir John of Boundis divides his land between his three sons: Johan, Ote and Gamelyn. Although his knights suggest that he split it between the oldest two, he insists that the youngest has his share. As soon as he is dead, however, the eldest son Johan appropriates Gamelyn’s land and takes the child into his castle, treating him poorly and letting his property fall into disrepair. Years pass and Gamelyn grows into a strong young man. When he realises that his inheritance has been wasted he curses his brother, beating off the men that Johan sets on him. Claiming that he was simply ‘testing’ Gamelyn, the scheming Johan apologises and seals his false promise with a kiss.

Gamelyn wins a wrestling match, but when he returns to Johan’s castle with the crowd, he finds the doors bolted. He breaks them down, throws the porter into a well and holds a week-long feast. Johan hides in a tower and plots his revenge: when the guests finally depart, Gamelyn is captured. He observes that fifteen years of wasted rent should pay for the feast and Johan pretends to relent, promising to make Gamelyn his heir. He then tricks his brother into fetters and, telling the court that he is mad, binds him to a post in the hall. The spencer, Adam, helps Gamelyn escape and the two plan his revenge. The following Sunday Johan holds a feast for wealthy churchmen. Gamelyn stands at his post but when the churchmen ignore his pleas for help he casts off his fetters and, taking a staff from Adam, beats them while joking about religious rituals. Johan is bound and when the sheriff sends men to investigate they are beaten too. Reinforcements arrive and Gamelyn and Adam flee into the forest. There they meet a troop of outlaws who recognise Gamelyn and eventually appoint him as their King.

Meanwhile, Johan becomes sheriff and declares his brother an outlaw. When Gamelyn hears how badly his tenants are being treated, he returns to the court to confront Johan and is imprisoned. The middle brother Ote rebukes Johan and releases Gamelyn, pledging himself as surety. Gamelyn returns to the forest, promising to attend his trial, and Johan sets about bribing the justice and jury to hang him. When he arrives on the appointed day and finds Ote in chains, Gamelyn beats the corrupt judge and takes his place at the bench. With his outlaws acting as jury he tries the justice, jurors and sherriff, sentencing them all to be hanged. This done, Ote and Gamelyn travel to the king, who makes Ote justice and Gamelyn Chief Justice of the Forest. Ote and Gamelyn share their inheritance, Gamelyn marries and lives happily.

From: Donald Sands, Middle English Verse Romances. Exeter, University of Exeter Press, 1986.

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Modern Editions