Roman De Brut

Wace

Merlin and his mother (a priestess who became a nun) are brought in to describe the nature of Merlin's conception. NOTE: Merlin's mother claims he was fathered by an incubus. Upon hearing why he was sought out, Merlin has the king summon his advisers to ask them what the problem with the building process is, theorizing that if they do not know the problem, they cannot know how to solve it. The advisers cannot answer Merlin's questions; Merlin informs the king the cause of his falling tower and also how to solve it (here he shows Vortigern the two red dragons (red and white) and gives the prophesy written by Geoffrey of Monmouth). NOTE: Wace admits that he cannot understand the whole meaning of the prophesy which is why he did not translate it in his work.

Aurelius and Uther, Vortigern's younger brothers, return to Britain to avenge their treatment by Vortigern and burn him to death in his tower. Aurelius takes the crown. Merlin tells Aurelius to get the magic stones (later Stonehenge) from Ireland and transport them to Britain. The Stones are immovable by man and Merlin tells Aurelius that sometimes the mind is stronger than the body. Aurelius sends Uther with troops and Merlin to Ireland where they engage and defeat the Irish army. Merlin uses magic to "lighen" the stones and they are moved and reassembled in Britain.

Paschent, son of Vortigern, allies himself with the Irish and attacks Wales. Aurelius moves in to intercept him but is poisoned. Knowing that he will die, he tells his retainers to burry him at Stonehenge. Uther arrives to find the Irish in Menevia, sees the comet signifying a change of kings, Merlin tells him what it means. Uther wipes out the Irish then takes the crown at the people's request and in accordance with his lineage. Uther has two dragons made of gold, one that traveled with him in battle, the other given to Winchester to the bishop's church. Uther became known as Uther Pendragon, Pendragon meaning dragonhead, head dragon or Chief Dragon in French.

Uther allies with Cornwall and defeats the Saxon leaders Octa and his cousin Ossa; captures them at York and takes them back to London to prison. Uther returns from the North and celebrates both his victory and his crowning. During the festivities, he sees Igerna, wife of Cornwall, and falls in love with her. Cornwall figures this out and leaves court without permission, a major faux pas. Uther rallies his army, Cornwall fortifies his castles, placing Igerna at Tintagel. Uther lays siege to Cornwall's other castle, tells Merlin his problem i.e. his love for Igerna. Merlin uses his magic to transform Uther into the semblance of Cornwall, himself as Bretel and Uther's aid as Jordan (Bretel and Jordan are Cornwall's advisers). Merlin does this for free, Wace does not include the part about Merlin getting the product of that night.

Uther's men realize that no one of importance is around to lead them and wildly attack Cornwall's other castle, taking it quickly. Word reaches Tintagel and Uther, still looking and acting like Cornwall, claims that reports of Cornwall's death are exaggerated. Uther leaves and discovers that the reports were true. Uther and his army, back to normal form, convince the guards at Tintagel that giving up is their only logical choice and the guards give up. Uther marries Igerna.

Ossa and Octa are freed from prison and get right back to work against Uther and Lot (Lot married Uther's daughter Anna). Uther falls sick, is given water from a poisoned well and dies. He is carried to Stonehenge and burried there. Arthur takes control.

Arthur takes his sword, Excalibur (forged on the island of Avalon), his shield Pridwen, and his lance Ron, and attempts to drive the Saxons from Britain. He breaks the Saxon siege of Bath (Wace interpreted Badon as Bath) saving the people trapped inside. He returned to York and stayed there until Christmas. Arthur settles his realm and establishes justice, peace, and the Round Table.

Fast forward to Arthur's death...

Wace writes that Arthur is not really dead, just mostly dead. He is taken to Avalon to heal and will return to free the Britons from the Saxons. He also says that Arthur was carried to Avalon 542 years after the birth of Christ. Arthur gave his kingdom to his cousin Constantine of Cornwall, son of Cador of Cornwall who helped Arthur defeat the Saxons at Bath, until the day when Arthur himself would return.

NOTE: Wace didn't understand the Merlin's prophesies as written by Monmouth. Therefore, those translators of that work who said people alive in that day would know who all those people were, might be wrong. [Good point!]