Le Morte dArthur Volume 1

Capítulo 1

And the names of these ten

knights that had undertaken this quest were these following: First was

Sir Launcelot, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir Bors de Ganis, and Bleoberis,

and Sir Blamore de Ganis, and Lucan the Butler, Sir Uwaine, Sir Galihud

Lionel, and Galiodin. So these ten noble knights departed from the

court of King Arthur, and so they rode upon their quest together until

they came to a cross where departed four ways, and there departed the

fellowship in four to seek Sir Tristram.

And as Sir Launcelot rode by adventure he met with Dame Bragwaine that

was sent into that country to seek Sir Tristram, and she fled as fast

as her palfrey might go. So Sir Launcelot met with her and asked her

why she fled. Ah, fair knight, said Dame Bragwaine, I flee for dread of

my life, for here followeth me Sir Breuse Saunce Pité to slay me. Hold

you nigh me, said Sir Launcelot. Then when Sir Launcelot saw Sir Breuse

Saunce Pité, Sir Launcelot cried unto him, and said: False knight,

destroyer of ladies and damosels, now thy last days be come. When Sir

Breuse Saunce Pité saw Sir Launcelot’s shield he knew it well, for at

that time he bare not the arms of Cornwall, but he bare his own shield.

And then Sir Breuse fled, and Sir Launcelot followed after him. But Sir

Breuse was so well horsed that when him list to flee he might well

flee, and also abide when him list. And then Sir Launcelot returned

unto Dame Bragwaine, and she thanked him of his great labour.

CHAPTER XXXVI. How Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir Dinadan were

taken and put in prison.

Now will we speak of Sir Lucan the butler, that by fortune he came

riding to the same place thereas was Sir Tristram, and in he came in

none other intent but to ask harbour. Then the porter asked what was

his name. Tell your lord that my name is Sir Lucan, the butler, a

Knight of the Round Table. So the porter went unto Sir Darras, lord of

the place, and told him who was there to ask harbour. Nay, nay, said

Sir Daname, that was nephew to Sir Darras, say him that he shall not be

lodged here, but let him wit that I, Sir Daname, will meet with him

anon, and bid him make him ready. So Sir Daname came forth on

horseback, and there they met together with spears, and Sir Lucan smote

down Sir Daname over his horse’s croup, and then he fled into that

place, and Sir Lucan rode after him, and asked after him many times.

Then Sir Dinadan said to Sir Tristram: It is shame to see the lord’s

cousin of this place defoiled. Abide, said Sir Tristram, and I shall

redress it. And in the meanwhile Sir Dinadan was on horseback, and he

jousted with Lucan the butler, and there Sir Lucan smote Dinadan

through the thick of the thigh, and so he rode his way; and Sir

Tristram was wroth that Sir Dinadan was hurt, and followed after, and

thought to avenge him; and within a while he overtook Sir Lucan, and

bade him turn; and so they met together so that Sir Tristram hurt Sir

Lucan passing sore and gave him a fall. With that came Sir Uwaine, a

gentle knight, and when he saw Sir Lucan so hurt he called Sir Tristram

to joust with him. Fair knight, said Sir Tristram, tell me your name I

require you. Sir knight, wit ye well my name is Sir Uwaine le Fise de

Roy Ureine. Ah, said Sir Tristram, by my will I would not have ado with

you at no time. Ye shall not so, said Sir Uwaine, but ye shall have ado

with me. And then Sir Tristram saw none other bote, but rode against

him, and overthrew Sir Uwaine and hurt him in the side, and so he

departed unto his lodging again. And when Sir Dinadan understood that

Sir Tristram had hurt Sir Lucan he would have ridden after Sir Lucan

for to have slain him, but Sir Tristram would not suffer him. Then Sir

Uwaine let ordain an horse litter, and brought Sir Lucan to the abbey

of Ganis, and the castle thereby hight the Castle of Ganis, of the

which Sir Bleoberis was lord. And at that castle Sir Launcelot promised

all his fellows to meet in the quest of Sir Tristram.

So when Sir Tristram was come to his lodging there came a damosel that

told Sir Darras that three of his sons were slain at that tournament,

and two grievously wounded that they were never like to help themself.

And all this was done by a noble knight that bare the black shield, and

that was he that bare the prize. Then came there one and told Sir

Darras that the same knight was within, him that bare the black shield.

Then Sir Darras yede unto Sir Tristram’s chamber, and there he found

his shield and showed it to the damosel. Ah sir, said the damosel, that

same is he that slew your three sons. Then without any tarrying Sir

Darras put Sir Tristram, and Sir Palomides, and Sir Dinadan, within a

strong prison, and there Sir Tristram was like to have died of great

sickness; and every day Sir Palomides would reprove Sir Tristram of old

hate betwixt them. And ever Sir Tristram spake fair and said little.

But when Sir Palomides saw the falling of sickness of Sir Tristram,

then was he heavy for him, and comforted him in all the best wise he

could. And as the French book saith, there came forty knights to Sir

Darras that were of his own kin, and they would have slain Sir Tristram

and his two fellows, but Sir Darras would not suffer that, but kept

them in prison, and meat and drink they had. So Sir Tristram endured

there great pain, for sickness had undertaken him, and that is the

greatest pain a prisoner may have. For all the while a prisoner may

have his health of body he may endure under the mercy of God and in

hope of good deliverance; but when sickness toucheth a prisoner’s body,

then may a prisoner say all wealth is him bereft, and then he hath

cause to wail and to weep. Right so did Sir Tristram when sickness had

undertaken him, for then he took such sorrow that he had almost slain

himself.

CHAPTER XXXVII. How King Mark was sorry for the good renown of Sir

Tristram. Some of King Arthur’s knights jousted with knights of

Cornwall.

Now will we speak, and leave Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir

Dinadan in prison, and speak we of other knights that sought after Sir

Tristram many divers parts of this land. And some yede into Cornwall;

and by adventure Sir Gaheris, nephew unto King Arthur, came unto King

Mark, and there he was well received and sat at King Mark’s own table

and ate of his own mess. Then King Mark asked Sir Gaheris what tidings

there were in the realm of Logris. Sir, said Sir Gaheris, the king

reigneth as a noble knight; and now but late there was a great jousts

and tournament as ever I saw any in the realm of Logris, and the most

noble knights were at that jousts. But there was one knight that did

marvellously three days, and he bare a black shield, and of all knights

that ever I saw he proved the best knight. Then, said King Mark, that

was Sir Launcelot, or Sir Palomides the paynim. Not so, said Sir

Gheris, for both Sir Launcelot and Sir Palomides were on the contrary

party against the Knight with the Black Shield. Then was it Sir

Tristram, said the king. Yea, said Sir Gaheris. And therewithal the

king smote down his head, and in his heart he feared sore that Sir

Tristram should get him such worship in the realm of Logris

wherethrough that he himself should not be able to withstand him. Thus

Sir Gaheris had great cheer with King Mark, and with Queen La Beale

Isoud, the which was glad of Sir Gaheris’ words; for well she wist by

his deeds and manners that it was Sir Tristram. And then the king made

a feast royal, and to that feast came Sir Uwaine le Fise de Roy Ureine,

and some called him Uwaine le Blanchemains. And this Sir Uwaine

challenged all the knights of Cornwall. Then was the king wood wroth

that he had no knights to answer him. Then Sir Andred, nephew unto King

Mark, leapt up and said: I will encounter with Sir Uwaine. Then he yede

and armed him and horsed him in the best manner. And there Sir Uwaine

met with Sir Andred, and smote him down that he swooned on the earth.

Then was King Mark sorry and wroth out of measure that he had no knight

to revenge his nephew, Sir Andred.

So the king called unto him Sir Dinas, the Seneschal, and prayed him

for his sake to take upon him to joust with Sir Uwaine. Sir, said Sir

Dinas, I am full loath to have ado with any knight of the Round Table.

Yet, said the king, for my love take upon thee to joust. So Sir Dinas

made him ready, and anon they encountered together with great spears,

but Sir Dinas was overthrown, horse and man, a great fall. Who was

wroth but King Mark! Alas, he said, have I no knight that will

encounter with yonder knight? Sir, said Sir Gaheris, for your sake I

will joust. So Sir Gaheris made him ready, and when he was armed he

rode into the field. And when Sir Uwaine saw Sir Gaheris’ shield he

rode to him and said: Sir, ye do not your part. For, sir, the first

time ye were made Knight of the Round Table ye sware that ye should not

have ado with your fellowship wittingly. And pardie, Sir Gaheris, ye

knew me well enough by my shield, and so do I know you by your shield,

and though ye would break your oath I would not break mine; for there

is not one here, nor ye, that shall think I am afeard of you, but I

durst right well have ado with you, and yet we be sisters’ sons. Then

was Sir Gaheris ashamed, and so therewithal every knight went their

way, and Sir Uwaine rode into the country.

Then King Mark armed him, and took his horse and his spear, with a

squire with him. And then he rode afore Sir Uwaine, and suddenly at a

gap he ran upon him as he that was not ware of him, and there he smote

him almost through the body, and there left him. So within a while

there came Sir Kay and found Sir Uwaine, and asked him how he was hurt.

I wot not, said Sir Uwaine, why nor wherefore, but by treason I am sure

I gat this hurt; for here came a knight suddenly upon me or that I was

ware, and suddenly hurt me. Then there was come Sir Andred to seek King

Mark. Thou traitor knight, said Sir Kay, an I wist it were thou that

thus traitorly hast hurt this noble knight thou shouldst never pass my

hands. Sir, said Sir Andred, I did never hurt him, and that I will

report me to himself. Fie on you false knight, said Sir Kay, for ye of

Cornwall are nought worth. So Sir Kay made carry Sir Uwaine to the

Abbey of the Black Cross, and there he was healed. And then Sir Gaheris

took his leave of King Mark, but or he departed he said: Sir king, ye

did a foul shame unto you and your court, when ye banished Sir Tristram

out of this country, for ye needed not to have doubted no knight an he

had been here. And so he departed.

CHAPTER XXVIII. Of the treason of King Mark, and how Sir Gaheris smote

him down and Andred his cousin.

Then there came Sir Kay, the Seneschal, unto King Mark, and there he

had good cheer showing outward. Now, fair lords, said he, will ye prove

any adventure in the forest of Morris, in the which I know well is as

hard an adventure as I know any. Sir, said Sir Kay, I will prove it.

And Sir Gaheris said he would be avised for King Mark was ever full of

treason: and therewithal Sir Gaheris departed and rode his way. And by

the same way that Sir Kay should ride he laid him down to rest,

charging his squire to wait upon Sir Kay; And warn me when he cometh.

So within a while Sir Kay came riding that way, and then Sir Gaheris

took his horse and met him, and said: Sir Kay, ye are not wise to ride

at the request of King Mark, for he dealeth all with treason. Then said

Sir Kay: I require you let us prove this adventure. I shall not fail

you, said Sir Gaheris. And so they rode that time till a lake that was

that time called the Perilous Lake, and there they abode under the shaw

of the wood.

The meanwhile King Mark within the castle of Tintagil avoided all his

barons, and all other save such as were privy with him were avoided out

of his chamber. And then he let call his nephew Sir Andred, and bade

arm him and horse him lightly; and by that time it was midnight. And so

King Mark was armed in black, horse and all; and so at a privy postern

they two issued out with their varlets with them, and rode till they

came to that lake. Then Sir Kay espied them first, and gat his spear,

and proffered to joust. And King Mark rode against him, and smote each

other full hard, for the moon shone as the bright day. And there at

that jousts Sir Kay’s horse fell down, for his horse was not so big as

the king’s horse, and Sir Kay’s horse bruised him full sore. Then Sir

Gaheris was wroth that Sir Kay had a fall. Then he cried: Knight, sit

thou fast in thy saddle, for I will revenge my fellow. Then King Mark

was afeard of Sir Gaheris, and so with evil will King Mark rode against

him, and Sir Gaheris gave him such a stroke that he fell down. So then

forthwithal Sir Gaheris ran unto Sir Andred and smote him from his

horse quite, that his helm smote in the earth, and nigh had broken his

neck. And therewithal Sir Gaheris alighted, and gat up Sir Kay. And

then they yode both on foot to them, and bade them yield them, and tell

their names outher they should die. Then with great pain Sir Andred

spake first, and said: It is King Mark of Cornwall, therefore be ye

ware what ye do, and I am Sir Andred, his cousin. Fie on you both, said

Sir Gaheris, for a false traitor, and false treason hast thou wrought

and he both, under the feigned cheer that ye made us! it were pity,

said Sir Gaheris, that thou shouldst live any longer. Save my life,

said King Mark, and I will make amends; and consider that I am a king

anointed. It were the more shame, said Sir Gaheris, to save thy life;

thou art a king anointed with cream, and therefore thou shouldst hold

with all men of worship; and therefore thou art worthy to die. With

that he lashed at King Mark without saying any more, and covered him

with his shield and defended him as he might. And then Sir Kay lashed

at Sir Andred, and therewithal King Mark yielded him unto Sir Gaheris.

And then he kneeled adown, and made his oath upon the cross of the

sword, that never while he lived he would be against errant-knights.

And also he sware to be good friend unto Sir Tristram if ever he came

into Cornwall.

By then Sir Andred was on the earth, and Sir Kay would have slain him.

Let be, said Sir Gaheris, slay him not I pray you. It were pity, said

Sir Kay, that he should live any longer, for this is nigh cousin unto

Sir Tristram, and ever he hath been a traitor unto him, and by him he

was exiled out of Cornwall, and therefore I will slay him, said Sir

Kay. Ye shall not, said Sir Gaheris; sithen I have given the king his

life, I pray you give him his life. And therewithal Sir Kay let him go.

And so Sir Kay and Sir Gaheris rode their way unto Dinas, the

Seneschal, for because they heard say that he loved well Sir Tristram.

So they reposed them there, and soon after they rode unto the realm of

Logris. And so within a little while they met with Sir Launcelot that

always had Dame Bragwaine with him, to that intent he weened to have

met the sooner with Sir Tristram; and Sir Launcelot asked what tidings

in Cornwall, and whether they heard of Sir Tristram or not. Sir Kay and

Sir Gaheris answered and said, that they heard not of him. Then they

told Sir Launcelot word by word of their adventure. Then Sir Launcelot

smiled and said: Hard it is to take out of the flesh that is bred in

the bone; and so made them merry together.

CHAPTER XIX. How after that Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir

Dinadan had been long in prison they were delivered.

Now leave we off this tale, and speak we of Sir Dinas that had within

the castle a paramour, and she loved another knight better than him.

And so when Sir Dinas went out a-hunting she slipped down by a towel,

and took with her two brachets, and so she yede to the knight that she

loved, and he her again. And when Sir Dinas came home and missed his

paramour and his brachets, then was he the more wrother for his

brachets than for the lady. So then he rode after the knight that had

his paramour, and bade him turn and joust. So Sir Dinas smote him down,

that with the fall he brake his leg and his arm. And then his lady and

paramour cried Sir Dinas mercy, and said she would love him better than

ever she did. Nay, said Sir Dinas, I shall never trust them that once

betrayed me, and therefore, as ye have begun, so end, for I will never

meddle with you. And so Sir Dinas departed, and took his brachets with

him, and so rode to his castle.

Now will we turn unto Sir Launcelot, that was right heavy that he could

never hear no tidings of Sir Tristram, for all this while he was in

prison with Sir Darras, Palomides, and Dinadan. Then Dame Bragwaine

took her leave to go into Cornwall, and Sir Launcelot, Sir Kay, and Sir

Gaheris rode to seek Sir Tristram in the country of Surluse.

Now speaketh this tale of Sir Tristram and of his two fellows, for

every day Sir Palomides brawled and said language against Sir Tristram.

I marvel, said Sir Dinadan, of thee, Sir Palomides, an thou haddest Sir

Tristram here thou wouldst do him no harm; for an a wolf and a sheep

were together in a prison the wolf would suffer the sheep to be in

peace. And wit thou well, said Sir Dinadan, this same is Sir Tristram

at a word, and now must thou do thy best with him, and let see now if

ye can skift it with your hands. Then was Sir Palomides abashed and

said little. Sir Palomides, then said Sir Tristram, I have heard much

of your maugre against me, but I will not meddle with you as at this

time by my will, because I dread the lord of this place that hath us in

governance; for an I dread him not more than I do thee, soon it should

be skift: so they peaced themself. Right so came in a damosel and said:

Knights, be of good cheer, for ye are sure of your lives, and that I

heard say my lord, Sir Darras. Then were they glad all three, for daily

they weened they should have died.

Then soon after this Sir Tristram fell sick that he weened to have

died; then Sir Dinadan wept, and so did Sir Palomides under them both

making great sorrow. So a damosel came in to them and found them

mourning. Then she went unto Sir Darras, and told him how that mighty

knight that bare the black shield was likely to die. That shall not be,

said Sir Darras, for God defend when knights come to me for succour

that I should suffer them to die within my prison. Therefore, said Sir

Darras to the damosel, fetch that knight and his fellows afore me. And

then anon Sir Darras saw Sir Tristram brought afore him. He said: Sir

knight, me repenteth of thy sickness for thou art called a full noble

knight, and so it seemeth by thee; and wit ye well it shall never be

said that Sir Darras shall destroy such a noble knight as thou art in

prison, howbeit that thou hast slain three of my sons whereby I was

greatly aggrieved. But now shalt thou go and thy fellows, and your

harness and horses have been fair and clean kept, and ye shall go where

it liketh you, upon this covenant, that thou, knight, wilt promise me

to be good friend to my sons two that be now alive, and also that thou

tell me thy name. Sir, said he, as for me my name is Sir Tristram de

Liones, and in Cornwall was I born, and nephew I am unto King Mark. And

as for the death of your sons I might not do withal, for an they had

been the next kin that I have I might have done none otherwise. And if

I had slain them by treason or treachery I had been worthy to have

died. All this I consider, said Sir Darras, that all that ye did was by

force of knighthood, and that was the cause I would not put you to

death. But sith ye be Sir Tristram, the good knight, I pray you

heartily to be my good friend and to my sons. Sir, said Sir Tristram, I

promise you by the faith of my body, ever while I live I will do you

service, for ye have done to us but as a natural knight ought to do.

Then Sir Tristram reposed him there till that he was amended of his

sickness; and when he was big and strong they took their leave, and

every knight took their horses, and so departed and rode together till

they came to a cross way. Now fellows, said Sir Tristram, here will we

depart in sundry ways. And because Sir Dinadan had the first adventure

of him I will begin.

CHAPTER XL. How Sir Dinadan rescued a lady from Sir Breuse Saunce Pité,

and how Sir Tristram received a shield of Morgan le Fay.

So as Sir Dinadan rode by a well he found a lady making great dole.

What aileth you? said Sir Dinadan. Sir knight, said the lady, I am the

wofullest lady of the world, for within these five days here came a

knight called Sir Breuse Saunce Pité, and he slew mine own brother, and

ever since he hath kept me at his own will, and of all men in the world

I hate him most; and therefore I require you of knighthood to avenge

me, for he will not tarry, but be here anon. Let him come, said Sir

Dinadan, and because of honour of all women I will do my part. With

this came Sir Breuse, and when he saw a knight with his lady he was

wood wroth. And then he said: Sir knight, keep thee from me. So they

hurtled together as thunder, and either smote other passing sore, but

Sir Dinadan put him through the shoulder a grievous wound, and or ever

Sir Dinadan might turn him Sir Breuse was gone and fled. Then the lady

prayed him to bring her to a castle there beside but four mile thence;

and so Sir Dinadan brought her there, and she was welcome, for the lord

of that castle was her uncle; and so Sir Dinadan rode his way upon his

adventure.

Now turn we this tale unto Sir Tristram, that by adventure he came to a

castle to ask lodging, wherein was Queen Morgan le Fay; and so when Sir

Tristram was let into that castle he had good cheer all that night. And

upon the morn when he would have departed the queen said: Wit ye well

ye shall not depart lightly, for ye are here as a prisoner. Jesu

defend! said Sir Tristram, for I was but late a prisoner. Fair knight,

said the queen, ye shall abide with me till that I wit what ye are and

from whence ye come. And ever the queen would set Sir Tristram on her

own side, and her paramour on the other side. And ever Queen Morgan

would behold Sir Tristram, and thereat the knight was jealous, and was

in will suddenly to have run upon Sir Tristram with a sword, but he

left it for shame. Then the queen said to Sir Tristram: Tell me thy

name, and I shall suffer you to depart when ye will. Upon that covenant

I tell you my name is Sir Tristram de Liones. Ah, said Morgan le Fay,

an I had wist that, thou shouldst not have departed so soon as thou

shalt. But sithen I have made a promise I will hold it, with that thou

wilt promise me to bear upon thee a shield that I shall deliver thee,

unto the castle of the Hard Rock, where King Arthur had cried a great

tournament, and there I pray you that ye will be, and to do for me as

much deeds of arms as ye may do. For at the Castle of Maidens, Sir

Tristram, ye did marvellous deeds of arms as ever I heard knight do.

Madam, said Sir Tristram, let me see the shield that I shall bear. Then

the shield was brought forth, and the field was goldish, with a king

and a queen therein painted, and a knight standing above them, [one

foot] upon the king’s head, and the other upon the queen’s. Madam, said

Sir Tristram, this is a fair shield and a mighty; but what signifieth

this king and this queen, and the knight standing upon both their

heads? I shall tell you, said Morgan le Fay, it signifieth King Arthur

and Queen Guenever, and a knight who holdeth them both in bondage and

in servage. Who is that knight? said Sir Tristram. That shall ye not

wit as at this time, said the queen. But as the French book saith,

Queen Morgan loved Sir Launcelot best, and ever she desired him, and he

would never love her nor do nothing at her request, and therefore she

held many knights together for to have taken him by strength. And

because she deemed that Sir Launcelot loved Queen Guenever paramour,

and she him again, therefore Queen Morgan le Fay ordained that shield

to put Sir Launcelot to a rebuke, to that intent that King Arthur might

understand the love between them. Then Sir Tristram took that shield

and promised her to bear it at the tournament at the Castle of the Hard

Rock. But Sir Tristram knew not that that shield was ordained against

Sir Launcelot, but afterward he knew it.

CHAPTER XLI. How Sir Tristram took with him the shield, and also how he

slew the paramour of Morgan le Fay.

So then Sir Tristram took his leave of the queen, and took the shield

with him. Then came the knight that held Queen Morgan le Fay, his name

was Sir Hemison, and he made him ready to follow Sir Tristram. Fair

friend, said Morgan, ride not after that knight, for ye shall not win

no worship of him. Fie on him, coward, said Sir Hemison, for I wist

never good knight come out of Cornwall but if it were Sir Tristram de

Liones. What an that be he? said she. Nay, nay, said he, he is with La

Beale Isoud, and this is but a daffish knight. Alas, my fair friend, ye

shall find him the best knight that ever ye met withal, for I know him

better than ye do. For your sake, said Sir Hemison, I shall slay him.

Ah, fair friend, said the queen, me repenteth that ye will follow that

knight, for I fear me sore of your again coming. With this this knight

rode his way wood wroth, and he rode after Sir Tristram as fast as he

had been chased with knights. When Sir Tristram heard a knight come

after him so fast he returned about, and saw a knight coming against

him. And when he came nigh to Sir Tristram he cried on high: Sir

knight, keep thee from me. Then they rushed together as it had been

thunder, and Sir Hemison brised his spear upon Sir Tristram, but his

harness was so good that he might not hurt him. And Sir Tristram smote

him harder, and bare him through the body, and he fell over his horse’s

croup. Then Sir Tristram turned to have done more with his sword, but

he saw so much blood go from him that him seemed he was likely to die,

and so he departed from him and came to a fair manor to an old knight,

and there Sir Tristram lodged.

CHAPTER XLII. How Morgan le Fay buried her paramour, and how Sir

Tristram praised Sir Launcelot and his kin.

Now leave to speak of Sir Tristram, and speak we of the knight that was

wounded to the death. Then his varlet alighted, and took off his helm,

and then he asked his lord whether there were any life in him. There is

in me life, said the knight, but it is but little; and therefore leap

thou up behind me when thou hast holpen me up, and hold me fast that I

fall not, and bring me to Queen Morgan le Fay; for deep draughts of

death draw to my heart that I may not live, for I would fain speak with

her or I died: for else my soul will be in great peril an I die.

For[thwith] with great pain his varlet brought him to the castle, and

there Sir Hemison fell down dead. When Morgan le Fay saw him dead she

made great sorrow out of reason; and then she let despoil him unto his

shirt, and so she let him put into a tomb. And about the tomb she let

write: Here lieth Sir Hemison, slain by the hands of Sir Tristram de

Liones.

Now turn we unto Sir Tristram, that asked the knight his host if he saw

late any knights adventurous. Sir, he said, the last night here lodged

with me Ector de Maris and a damosel with him, and that damosel told me

that he was one of the best knights of the world. That is not so, said

Sir Tristram, for I know four better knights of his own blood, and the

first is Sir Launcelot du Lake, call him the best knight, and Sir Bors

de Ganis, Sir Bleoberis, Sir Blamore de Ganis, and Sir Gaheris. Nay,

said his host, Sir Gawaine is a better knight than he. That is not so,

said Sir Tristram, for I have met with them both, and I felt Sir

Gaheris for the better knight, and Sir Lamorak I call him as good as

any of them except Sir Launcelot. Why name ye not Sir Tristram? said

his host, for I account him as good as any of them. I know not Sir

Tristram, said Tristram. Thus they talked and bourded as long as them

list, and then went to rest. And on the morn Sir Tristram departed, and

took his leave of his host, and rode toward the Roche Dure, and none

adventure had Sir Tristram but that; and so he rested not till he came

to the castle, where he saw five hundred tents.

CHAPTER XLIII. How Sir Tristram at a tournament bare the shield that

Morgan le Fay delivered to him.

Then the King of Scots and the King of Ireland held against King

Arthur’s knights, and there began a great medley. So came in Sir

Tristram and did marvellous deeds of arms, for there he smote down many

knights. And ever he was afore King Arthur with that shield. And when

King Arthur saw that shield he marvelled greatly in what intent it was

made; but Queen Guenever deemed as it was, wherefore she was heavy.

Then was there a damosel of Queen Morgan in a chamber by King Arthur,

and when she heard King Arthur speak of that shield, then she spake

openly unto King Arthur. Sir King, wit ye well this shield was ordained

for you, to warn you of your shame and dishonour, and that longeth to

you and your queen. And then anon that damosel picked her away privily,

that no man wist where she was become. Then was King Arthur sad and

wroth, and asked from whence came that damosel. There was not one that

knew her nor wist where she was become. Then Queen Guenever called to

her Sir Ector de Maris, and there she made her complaint to him, and

said: I wot well this shield was made by Morgan le Fay in despite of me

and of Sir Launcelot, wherefore I dread me sore lest I should be

destroyed. And ever the king beheld Sir Tristram, that did so

marvellous deeds of arms that he wondered sore what knight he might be,

and well he wist it was not Sir Launcelot. And it was told him that Sir

Tristram was in Petit Britain with Isoud la Blanche Mains, for he

deemed, an he had been in the realm of Logris, Sir Launcelot or some of

his fellows that were in the quest of Sir Tristram that they should

have found him or that time. So King Arthur had marvel what knight he

might be. And ever Sir Arthur’s eye was on that shield. All that espied

the queen, and that made her sore afeard.

CHAPTER XL

CHAPTER XLI. How Sir Lamorak slew Sir Frol, and of the courteous

fighting with Sir Belliance his brother.

BOOK IX.

CHAPTER I. How a young man came into the court of King Arthur, and how

Sir Kay called him in scorn La Cote Male Taile.

CHAPTER II. How a damosel came into the court and desired a knight to

take on him an enquest, which La Cote Male Taile emprised.

CHAPTER III. How La Cote Male Taile overthrew Sir Dagonet the king's

fool, and of the rebuke that he had of the damosel.

CHAPTER IV. How La Cote Male Taile fought against an hundred knights,

and how he escaped by the mean of a lady.

CHAPTER V. How Sir Launcelot came to the court and heard of La Cote

Male Taile, and how he followed after him, and how La Cote Male Taile

was prisoner.

CHAPTER VI. How Sir Launcelot fought with six knights, and after with

Sir Brian, and how he delivered the prisoners.

CHAPTER VII. How Sir Launcelot met with the damosel named Male disant,

and named her the Damosel Bienpensant.

CHAPTER VIII. How La Cote Male Taile was taken prisoner, and after

rescued by Sir Launcelot, and how Sir Launcelot overcame four

brethren.

CHAPTER IX. How Sir Launcelot made La Cote Male Taile lord of the

Castle of Pendragon, and after was made knight of the Round Table.

CHAPTER X. How La Beale Isoud sent letters to Sir Tristram by her maid

Bragwaine, and of divers adventures of Sir Tristram.

CHAPTER XI. How Sir Tristram met with Sir Lamorak de Galis, and how

they fought, and after accorded never to fight together.

CHAPTER XII. How Sir Palomides followed the Questing Beast, and smote

down Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak with one spear.

CHAPTER XIII. How Sir Lamorak met with Sir Meliagaunce, and fought

together for the beauty of Dame Guenever.

CHAPTER XIV. How Sir Kay met with Sir Tristram, and after of the shame

spoken of the knights of Cornwall, and how they jousted.

CHAPTER XV. How King Arthur was brought into the Forest Perilous, and

how Sir Tristram saved his life.

CHAPTER XVI. How Sir Tristram came to La Beale Isoud, and how Kehydius

began to love Beale Isoud, and of a letter that Tristram found.

CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Tristram departed from Tintagil, and how he

sorrowed and was so long in a forest till he was out of his mind.

CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Tristram soused Dagonet in a well, and how

Palomides sent a damosel to seek Tristram, and how Palomides met with

King Mark.

CHAPTER XIX. How it was noised how Sir Tristram was dead, and how La

Beale Isoud would have slain herself.

CHAPTER XX. How King Mark found Sir Tristram naked, and made him to be

borne home to Tintagil, and how he was there known by a brachet.

CHAPTER XXI. How King Mark, by the advice of his council, banished Sir

Tristram out of Cornwall the term of ten years.

CHAPTER XXII. How a damosel sought help to help Sir Launcelot against

thirty knights, and how Sir Tristram fought with them.

CHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Tristram and Sir Dinadan came to a lodging

where they must joust with two knights.

CHAPTER XXIV. How Sir Tristram jousted with Sir Kay and Sir Sagramore

le Desirous, and how Sir Gawaine turned Sir Tristram from Morgan le

Fay.

CHAPTER XXV. How Sir Tristram and Sir Gawaine rode to have foughten

with the thirty knights, but they durst not come out.

CHAPTER XXVI. How damosel Bragwaine found Tristram sleeping by a well,

and how she delivered letters to him from La Beale Isoud.

CHAPTER XXVII. How Sir Tristram had a fall with Sir Palomides, and how

Launcelot overthrew two knights.

CHAPTER XXVIII. How Sir Launcelot jousted with Palomides and overthrew

him, and after he was assailed with twelve knights.

CHAPTER XXIX. How Sir Tristram behaved him the first day of the

tournament, and there he had the prize.

CHAPTER XXX. How Sir Tristram returned against King Arthur's party

because he saw Sir Palomides on that party.

CHAPTER XXXI. How Sir Tristram found Palomides by a well, and brought

him with him to his lodging.

CHAPTER XXXII. How Sir Tristram smote down Sir Palomides, and how he

jousted with King Arthur, and other feats.

CHAPTER XXXIII. How Sir Launcelot hurt Sir Tristram, and how after Sir

Tristram smote down Sir Palomides.

CHAPTER XXXIV. How the prize of the third day was given to Sir

Launcelot, and Sir Launcelot gave it to Sir Tristram.

CHAPTER XXXV. How Palomides came to the castle where Sir Tristram was,

and of the quest that Sir Launcelot and ten knights made for Sir

Tristram.

CHAPTER XXXVI. How Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir Dinadan were

taken and put in prison.

CHAPTER XXXVII. How King Mark was sorry for the good renown of Sir

Tristram. Some of King Arthur's knights jousted with knights of

Cornwall.

CHAPTER XXXVIII. Of the treason of King Mark, and how Sir Gaheris

smote him down and Andred his cousin.

CHAPTER XXXIX. How after that Sir Tristram, Sir Palomides, and Sir

Dinadan had been long in prison they were delivered.

CHAPTER XL. How Sir Dinadan rescued a lady from Sir Breuse Saunce

Pité, and how Sir Tristram received a shield of Morgan le Fay.

CHAPTER XLI. How Sir Tristram took with him the shield, and also how

he slew the paramour of Morgan le Fay.

CHAPTER XLII. How Morgan le Fay buried her paramour, and how Sir

Tristram praised Sir Launcelot and his kin.

CHAPTER XLIII. How Sir Tristram at a tournament bare the shield that

Morgan le Fay delivered to him.

GLOSSARY

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

The Morte D’Arthur was finished, as the epilogue tells us, in the ninth

year of Edward IV., i.e. between March 4, 1469 and the same date in

1470. It is thus, fitly enough, the last important English book written

before the introduction of printing into this country, and since no

manuscript of it has come down to us it is also the first English

classic for our knowledge of which we are entirely dependent on a

printed text. Caxton’s story of how the book was brought to him and he

was induced to print it may be read farther on in his own preface. From

this we learn also that he was not only the printer of the book, but to

some extent its editor also, dividing Malory’s work into twenty-one

books, splitting up the books into chapters, by no means skilfully, and

supplying the “Rubrish” or chapter-headings. It may be added that

Caxton’s preface contains, moreover, a brief criticism which, on the

points on which it touches, is still the soundest and most sympathetic

that has been written.

Caxton finished his edition the last day of July 1485, some fifteen or

sixteen years after Malory wrote his epilogue. It is clear that the

author was then dead, or the printer would not have acted as a clumsy

editor to the book, and recent discoveries (if bibliography may, for

the moment, enlarge its bounds to mention such matters) have revealed

with tolerable certainty when Malory died and who he was. In letters to

The Athenaeum in July 1896 Mr. T. Williams pointed out that the name of

a Sir Thomas Malorie occurred among those of a number of other

Lancastrians excluded from a general pardon granted by Edward IV. in

1468, and that a William Mallerye was mentioned in the same year as

taking part in a Lancastrian rising. In September 1897, again, in

another letter to the same paper, Mr. A. T. Martin reported the finding

of the will of a Thomas Malory of Papworth, a hundred partly in

Cambridgeshire, partly in Hunts. This will was made on September 16,

1469, and as it was proved the 27th of the next month the testator must

have been in immediate expectation of death. It contains the most

careful provision for the education and starting in life of a family of

three daughters and seven sons, of whom the youngest seems to have been

still an infant. We cannot say with certainty that this Thomas Malory,

whose last thoughts were so busy for his children, was our author, or

that the Lancastrian knight discovered by Mr. Williams was identical

with either or both, but such evidence as the Morte D’Arthur offers

favours such a belief. There is not only the epilogue with its

petition, “pray for me while I am alive that God send me good

deliverance and when I am dead pray you all for my soul,” but this very

request is foreshadowed at the end of chap. 37 of Book ix. in the

touching passage, surely inspired by personal experience, as to the

sickness “that is the greatest pain a prisoner may have”; and the

reflections on English fickleness in the first chapter of Book xxi.,

though the Wars of the Roses might have inspired them in any one, come

most naturally from an author who was a Lancastrian knight.

If the Morte D’Arthur was really written in prison and by a prisoner

distressed by ill-health as well as by lack of liberty, surely no task

was ever better devised to while away weary hours. Leaving abundant

scope for originality in selection, modification, and arrangement, as a

compilation and translation it had in it that mechanical element which

adds the touch of restfulness to literary work. No original, it is

said, has yet been found for Book vii., and it is possible that none

will ever be forthcoming for chap. 20 of Book xviii., which describes

the arrival of the body of the Fair Maiden of Astolat at Arthur’s

court, or vii for chap. 25 of the same book, with its discourse on true

love; but the great bulk of the work has been traced chapter by chapter

to the “Merlin” of Robert de Borron and his successors (Bks. i.-iv.),

the English metrical romance La Morte Arthur of the Thornton manuscript

(Bk. v.), the French romances of Tristan (Bks. viii.-x.) and of

Launcelot (Bks. vi., xi.-xix.), and lastly to the English prose Morte

Arthur of Harley MS. 2252 (Bks. xviii., xx., xxi.). As to Malory’s

choice of his authorities critics have not failed to point out that now

and again he gives a worse version where a better has come down to us,

and if he had been able to order a complete set of Arthurian

manuscripts from his bookseller, no doubt he would have done even

better than he did! But of the skill, approaching to original genius,

with which he used the books from which he worked there is little

dispute.

Malory died leaving his work obviously unrevised, and in this condition

it was brought to Caxton, who prepared it for the press with his usual

enthusiasm in the cause of good literature, and also, it must be added,

with his usual carelessness. New chapters are sometimes made to begin

in the middle of a sentence, and in addition to simple misprints there

are numerous passages in which it is impossible to believe that we have

the text as Malory intended it to stand. After Caxton’s edition

Malory’s manuscript must have disappeared, and subsequent editions are

differentiated only by the degree of closeness with which they follow

the first. Editions appeared printed by Wynkyn de Worde in 1498 and

1529, by William Copland in 1559, by Thomas East about 1585, and by

Thomas Stansby in 1634, each printer apparently taking the text of his

immediate predecessor and reproducing it with modifications. Stansby’s

edition served for reprints in 1816 and 1856 (the latter edited by

Thomas Wright); but in 1817 an edition supervised by Robert Southey

went back to Caxton’s text, though to a copy (only two are extant, and

only one perfect!) in which eleven leaves were supplied from Wynkyn de

Worde’s reprint. In 1868 Sir Edward Strachey produced for the present

publishers a reprint of Southey’s text in modern spelling, with the

substitution of current words for those now obsolete, and the softening

of a handful of passages likely, he thought, to prevent the book being

placed in the hands of boys. In 1889 a boon was conferred on scholars

by the publication of Dr. H. Oskar Sommer’s page-for-page reprint of

Caxton’s text, with an elaborate discussion of Malory’s sources. Dr.

Sommer’s edition was used by Sir E. Strachey to revise his Globe text,

and in 1897 Mr. Israel Gollancz produced for the “Temple Classics” a

very pretty edition in which Sir Edward Strachey’s principles of

modernisation in spelling and punctuation were adopted, but with the

restoration of obsolete words and omitted phrases. As to the present

edition, Sir Edward Strachey altered with so sparing a hand that on

many pages differences between his version and that here printed will

be looked for in vain; but the most anxious care has been taken to

produce a text modernised as to its spelling, but in other respects in

accurate accordance with Caxton’s text, as represented by Dr Sommer’s

reprint. Obvious misprints have been silently corrected, but in a few

cases notes show where emendations have been introduced from Wynkyn de

Worde—not that Wynkyn had any more right to emend Caxton than we, but

because even a printer’s conjecture gains a little sanctity after four

centuries. The restoration of obsolete words has necessitated a much

fuller glossary, and the index of names has therefore been separated

from it and enlarged. In its present form the index is the work of Mr.

Henry Littlehales.

A. W. POLLARD.

PREFACE OF WILLIAM CAXTON

After that I had accomplished and finished divers histories, as well of

contemplation as of other historial and worldly acts of great

conquerors and princes, and also certain books of ensamples and

doctrine, many noble and divers gentlemen of this realm of England came

and demanded me many and oft times, wherefore that I have not do made

and imprint the noble history of the Saint Greal, and of the most

renowned Christian king, first and chief of the three best Christian,

and worthy, King Arthur, which ought most to be remembered among us

Englishmen to-fore all other Christian kings; for it is notoyrly known

through the universal world, that there be nine worthy and the best

that ever were, that is to wit, three Paynims, three Jews, and three

Christian men. As for the Paynims, they were to-fore the Incarnation of

Christ, which were named, the first Hector of Troy, of whom the history

is comen both in ballad and in prose, the second Alexander the Great,

and the third Julius Caesar, Emperor of Rome, of whom the histories be

well known and had. And as for the three Jews, which also were to-fore

the incarnation of our Lord, of whom the first was duke Joshua which

brought the children of Israel into the land of behest, the second

David king of Jerusalem, and the third Judas Machabeus, of these three

the Bible rehearseth all their noble histories and acts. And since the

said Incarnation have been three noble Christian men, stalled and

admitted through the universal world into the number of the nine best

and worthy. Of whom was first the noble Arthur, whose noble acts I

purpose to write in this present book here following. The second was

Charlemain, or Charles the Great, of whom the history is had in many

places, both in French and in English. And the third and last was

Godfrey of Boloine, of whose acts and life I made a book unto the

excellent prince and king of noble memory, King Edward the Fourth.

The said noble gentlemen instantly required me to imprint the history

of the said noble king and conqueror King Arthur, and of his knights,

with the history of the Saint Greal, and of the death and ending of the

said Arthur; affirming that I ought rather to imprint his acts and

noble feats, than of Godfrey of Boloine, or any of the other eight,

considering that he was a man born within this realm, and king and

emperor of the same: and that there be in French divers and many noble

volumes of his acts, and also of his knights. To whom I answered that

divers men hold opinion that there was no such Arthur, and that all

such books as been made of him be feigned and fables, because that some

chronicles make of him no mention, nor remember him nothing, nor of his

knights. Whereto they answered, and one in special said, that in him

that should say or think that there was never such a king called Arthur

might well be aretted great folly and blindness. For he said that there

were many evidences of the contrary. First ye may see his sepulchre in

the monastery of Glastonbury. And also in Policronicon, in the fifth

book the sixth chapter, and in the seventh book the twenty-third

chapter, where his body was buried, and after found, and translated

into the said monastery. Ye shall see also in the history of Bochas, in

his book De Casu Principum, part of his noble acts, and also of his

fall. Also Galfridus in his British book recounteth his life: and in

divers places of England many remembrances be yet of him, and shall

remain perpetually, and also of his knights. First in the abbey of

Westminster, at St. Edward’s shrine, remaineth the print of his seal in

red wax closed in beryl, in which is written, Patricius Arthurus

Britannie, Gallie, Germanie, Dacie, Imperator. Item in the castle of

Dover ye may see Gawaine’s skull, and Cradok’s mantle: at Winchester

the Round Table: in other places Launcelot’s sword and many other

things. Then all these things considered, there can no man reasonably

gainsay but there was a king of this land named Arthur. For in all

places, Christian and heathen, he is reputed and taken for one of the

nine worthy, and the first of the three Christian men. And also, he is

more spoken of beyond the sea, more books made of his noble acts, than

there be in England, as well in Dutch, Italian, Spanish, and Greekish,

as in French. And yet of record remain in witness of him in Wales, in

the town of Camelot, the great stones and the marvellous works of iron

lying under the ground, and royal vaults, which divers now living have

seen. Wherefore it is a marvel why he is no more renowned in his own

country, save only it accordeth to the Word of God, which saith that no

man is accepted for a prophet in his own country.

Then all these things aforesaid alleged, I could not well deny but that

there was such a noble king named Arthur, and reputed one of the nine

worthy, and first and chief of the Christian men. And many noble

volumes be made of him and of his noble knights in French, which I have

seen and read beyond the sea, which be not had in our maternal tongue.

But in Welsh be many and also in French, and some in English but

nowhere nigh all. Wherefore, such as have late been drawn out briefly

into English I have after the simple conning that God hath sent to me,

under the favour and correction of all noble lords and gentlemen,

enprised to imprint a book of the noble histories of the said King

Arthur, and of certain of his knights, after a copy unto me delivered,

which copy Sir Thomas Malorye did take out of certain books of French,

and reduced it into English. And I, according to my copy, have done set

it in imprint, to the intent that noble men may see and learn the noble

acts of chivalry, the gentle and virtuous deeds that some knights used

in those days, by which they came to honour, and how they that were

vicious were punished and oft put to shame and rebuke; humbly

beseeching all noble lords and ladies, with all other estates of what

estate or degree they been of, that shall see and read in this said

book and work, that they take the good and honest acts in their

remembrance, and to follow the same. Wherein they shall find many

joyous and pleasant histories, and noble and renowned acts of humanity,

gentleness, and chivalry. For herein may be seen noble chivalry,

courtesy, humanity, friendliness, hardiness, love, friendship,

cowardice, murder, hate, virtue, and sin. Do after the good and leave

the evil, and it shall bring you to good fame and renown. And for to

pass the time this book shall be pleasant to read in, but for to give

faith and belief that all is true that is contained herein, ye be at

your liberty: but all is written for our doctrine, and for to beware

that we fall not to vice nor sin, but to exercise and follow virtue, by

which we may come and attain to good fame and renown in this life, and

after this short and transitory life to come unto everlasting bliss in

heaven; the which He grant us that reigneth in heaven, the blessed

Trinity. Amen.

Then to proceed forth in this said book, which I direct unto all noble

princes, lords and ladies, gentlemen or gentlewomen, that desire to

read or hear read of the noble and joyous history of the great

conqueror and excellent king, King Arthur, sometime king of this noble

realm, then called Britain; I, William Caxton, simple person, present

this book following, which I have enprised to imprint: and treateth of

the noble acts, feats of arms of chivalry, prowess, hardiness,

humanity, love, courtesy, and very gentleness, with many wonderful

histories and adventures. And for to understand briefly the content of

this volume, I have divided it into XXI Books, and every book

chaptered, as hereafter shall by God’s grace follow. The First Book

shall treat how Uther Pendragon gat the noble conqueror King Arthur,

and containeth xxviii chapters. The Second Book treateth of Balin the

noble knight, and containeth xix chapters. The Third Book treateth of

the marriage of King Arthur to Queen Guenever, with other matters, and

containeth xv chapters. The Fourth Book, how Merlin was assotted, and

of war made to King Arthur, and containeth xxix chapters. The Fifth

Book treateth of the conquest of Lucius the emperor, and containeth xii

chapters. The Sixth Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and Sir Lionel, and

marvellous adventures, and containeth xviii chapters. The Seventh Book

treateth of a noble knight called Sir Gareth, and named by Sir Kay

Beaumains, and containeth xxxvi chapters. The Eighth Book treateth of

the birth of Sir Tristram the noble knight, and of his acts, and

containeth xli chapters. The Ninth Book treateth of a knight named by

Sir Kay Le Cote Male Taille, and also of Sir Tristram, and containeth

xliv chapters. The Tenth Book treateth of Sir Tristram, and other

marvellous adventures, and containeth lxxxviii chapters. The Eleventh

Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and Sir Galahad, and containeth xiv

chapters. The Twelfth Book treateth of Sir Launcelot and his madness,

and containeth xiv chapters. The Thirteenth Book treateth how Galahad

came first to king Arthur’s court, and the quest how the Sangreal was

begun, and containeth xx chapters. The Fourteenth Book treateth of the

quest of the Sangreal, and containeth x chapters. The Fifteenth Book

treateth of Sir Launcelot, and containeth vi chapters. The Sixteenth

Book treateth of Sir Bors and Sir Lionel his brother, and containeth

xvii chapters. The Seventeenth Book treateth of the Sangreal, and

containeth xxiii chapters. The Eighteenth Book treateth of Sir

Launcelot and the queen, and containeth xxv chapters. The Nineteenth

Book treateth of Queen Guenever and Launcelot, and containeth xiii

chapters. The Twentieth Book treateth of the piteous death of Arthur,

and containeth xxii chapters. The Twenty-first Book treateth of his

last departing, and how Sir Launcelot came to revenge his death, and

containeth xiii chapters. The sum is twenty-one books, which contain

the sum of five hundred and seven chapters, as more plainly shall

follow hereafter.

BOOK I.

CHAPTER I. First, How Uther Pendragon sent for the duke of Cornwall and

Igraine his wife, and of their departing suddenly again.

It befell in the days of Uther Pendragon, when he was king of all

England, and so reigned, that there was a mighty duke in Cornwall that

held war against him long time. And the duke was called the Duke of

Tintagil. And so by means King Uther sent for this duke, charging him

to bring his wife with him, for she was called a fair lady, and a

passing wise, and her name was called Igraine.

So when the duke and his wife were come unto the king, by the means of

great lords they were accorded both. The king liked and loved this lady

well, and he made them great cheer out of measure, and desired to have

lain by her. But she was a passing good woman, and would not assent

unto the king. And then she told the duke her husband, and said, I

suppose that we were sent for that I should be dishonoured; wherefore,

husband, I counsel you, that we depart from hence suddenly, that we may

ride all night unto our own castle. And in like wise as she said so

they departed, that neither the king nor none of his council were ware

of their departing. All so soon as King Uther knew of their departing

so suddenly, he was wonderly wroth. Then he called to him his privy

council, and told them of the sudden departing of the duke and his

wife.

Then they advised the king to send for the duke and his wife by a great

charge; and if he will not come at your summons, then may ye do your

best, then have ye cause to make mighty war upon him. So that was done,

and the messengers had their answers; and that was this shortly, that

neither he nor his wife would not come at him.

Then was the king wonderly wroth. And then the king sent him plain word

again, and bade him be ready and stuff him and garnish him, for within

forty days he would fetch him out of the biggest castle that he hath.

When the duke had this warning, anon he went and furnished and

garnished two strong castles of his, of the which the one hight

Tintagil, and the other castle hight Terrabil. So his wife Dame Igraine

he put in the castle of Tintagil, and himself he put in the castle of

Terrabil, the which had many issues and posterns out. Then in all haste

came Uther with a great host, and laid a siege about the castle of

Terrabil. And there he pight many pavilions, and there was great war

made on both parties, and much people slain. Then for pure anger and

for great love of fair Igraine the king Uther fell sick. So came to the

king Uther Sir Ulfius, a noble knight, and asked the king why he was

sick. I shall tell thee, said the king, I am sick for anger and for

love of fair Igraine, that I may not be whole. Well, my lord, said Sir

Ulfius, I shall seek Merlin, and he shall do you remedy, that your

heart shall be pleased. So Ulfius departed, and by adventure he met

Merlin in a beggar’s array, and there Merlin asked Ulfius whom he

sought. And he said he had little ado to tell him. Well, said Merlin, I

know whom thou seekest, for thou seekest Merlin; therefore seek no

farther, for I am he; and if King Uther will well reward me, and be

sworn unto me to fulfil my desire, that shall be his honour and profit

more than mine; for I shall cause him to have all his desire. All this

will I undertake, said Ulfius, that there shall be nothing reasonable

but thou shalt have thy desire. Well, said Merlin, he shall have his

intent and desire. And therefore, said Merlin, ride on your way, for I

will not be long behind.

CHAPTER II. How Uther Pendragon made war on the duke of Cornwall, and

how by the mean of Merlin he lay by the duchess and gat Arthur.

Then Ulfius was glad, and rode on more than a pace till that he came to

King Uther Pendragon, and told him he had met with Merlin. Where is he?

said the king. Sir, said Ulfius, he will not dwell long. Therewithal

Ulfius was ware where Merlin stood at the porch of the pavilion’s door.

And then Merlin was bound to come to the king. When King Uther saw him,

he said he was welcome. Sir, said Merlin, I know all your heart every

deal; so ye will be sworn unto me as ye be a true king anointed, to

fulfil my desire, ye shall have your desire. Then the king was sworn

upon the Four Evangelists. Sir, said Merlin, this is my desire: the

first night that ye shall lie by Igraine ye shall get a child on her,

and when that is born, that it shall be delivered to me for to nourish

there as I will have it; for it shall be your worship, and the child’s

avail, as mickle as the child is worth. I will well, said the king, as

thou wilt have it. Now make you ready, said Merlin, this night ye shall

lie with Igraine in the castle of Tintagil; and ye shall be like the

duke her husband, Ulfius shall be like Sir Brastias, a knight of the

duke’s, and I will be like a knight that hight Sir Jordanus, a knight

of the duke’s. But wait ye make not many questions with her nor her

men, but say ye are diseased, and so hie you to bed, and rise not on

the morn till I come to you, for the castle of Tintagil is but ten

miles hence; so this was done as they devised. But the duke of Tintagil

espied how the king rode from the siege of Terrabil, and therefore that

night he issued out of the castle at a postern for to have distressed

the king’s host. And so, through his own issue, the duke himself was

slain or ever the king came at the castle of Tintagil.

So after the death of the duke, King Uther lay with Igraine more than

three hours after his death, and begat on her that night Arthur, and on

day came Merlin to the king, and bade him make him ready, and so he

kissed the lady Igraine and departed in all haste. But when the lady

heard tell of the duke her husband, and by all record he was dead or

ever King Uther came to her, then she marvelled who that might be that

lay with her in likeness of her lord; so she mourned privily and held

her peace. Then all the barons by one assent prayed the king of accord

betwixt the lady Igraine and him; the king gave them leave, for fain

would he have been accorded with her. So the king put all the trust in

Ulfius to entreat between them, so by the entreaty at the last the king

and she met together. Now will we do well, said Ulfius, our king is a

lusty knight and wifeless, and my lady Igraine is a passing fair lady;

it were great joy unto us all, an it might please the king to make her

his queen. Unto that they all well accorded and moved it to the king.

And anon, like a lusty knight, he assented thereto with good will, and

so in all haste they were married in a morning with great mirth and

joy.

And King Lot of Lothian and of Orkney then wedded Margawse that was

Gawaine’s mother, and King Nentres of the land of Garlot wedded Elaine.

All this was done at the request of King Uther. And the third sister

Morgan le Fay was put to school in a nunnery, and there she learned so

much that she was a great clerk of necromancy. And after she was wedded

to King Uriens of the land of Gore, that was Sir Ewain’s le

Blanchemain’s father.

CHAPTER III. Of the birth of King Arthur and of his nurture.

Then Queen Igraine waxed daily greater and greater, so it befell after

within half a year, as King Uther lay by his queen, he asked her, by

the faith she owed to him, whose was the body; then she sore abashed to

give answer. Dismay you not, said the king, but tell me the truth, and

I shall love you the better, by the faith of my body. Sir, said she, I

shall tell you the truth. The same night that my lord was dead, the

hour of his death, as his knights record, there came into my castle of

Tintagil a man like my lord in speech and in countenance, and two

knights with him in likeness of his two knights Brastias and Jordanus,

and so I went unto bed with him as I ought to do with my lord, and the

same night, as I shall answer unto God, this child was begotten upon

me. That is truth, said the king, as ye say; for it was I myself that

came in the likeness, and therefore dismay you not, for I am father of

the child; and there he told her all the cause, how it was by Merlin’s

counsel. Then the queen made great joy when she knew who was the father

of her child.

Soon came Merlin unto the king, and said, Sir, ye must purvey you for

the nourishing of your child. As thou wilt, said the king, be it. Well,

said Merlin, I know a lord of yours in this land, that is a passing

true man and a faithful, and he shall have the nourishing of your

child, and his name is Sir Ector, and he is a lord of fair livelihood

in many parts in England and Wales; and this lord, Sir Ector, let him

be sent for, for to come and speak with you, and desire him yourself,

as he loveth you, that he will put his own child to nourishing to

another woman, and that his wife nourish yours. And when the child is

born let it be delivered to me at yonder privy postern unchristened. So

like as Merlin devised it was done. And when Sir Ector was come he made

fiaunce to the king for to nourish the child like as the king desired;

and there the king granted Sir Ector great rewards. Then when the lady

was delivered, the king commanded two knights and two ladies to take

the child, bound in a cloth of gold, and that ye deliver him to what

poor man ye meet at the postern gate of the castle. So the child was

delivered unto Merlin, and so he bare it forth unto Sir Ector, and made

an holy man to christen him, and named him Arthur; and so Sir Ector’s

wife nourished him with her own pap.

CHAPTER IV. Of the death of King Uther Pendragon.

Then within two years King Uther fell sick of a great malady. And in

the meanwhile his enemies usurped upon him, and did a great battle upon

his men, and slew many of his people. Sir, said Merlin, ye may not lie

so as ye do, for ye must to the field though ye ride on an

horse-litter: for ye shall never have the better of your enemies but if

your person be there, and then shall ye have the victory. So it was

done as Merlin had devised, and they carried the king forth in an

horse-litter with a great host towards his enemies. And at St. Albans

there met with the king a great host of the North. And that day Sir

Ulfius and Sir Brastias did great deeds of arms, and King Uther’s men

overcame the Northern battle and slew many people, and put the remnant

to flight. And then the king returned unto London, and made great joy

of his victory. And then he fell passing sore sick, so that three days

and three nights he was speechless: wherefore all the barons made great

sorrow, and asked Merlin what counsel were best. There is none other

remedy, said Merlin, but God will have his will. But look ye all barons

be before King Uther to-morn, and God and I shall make him to speak. So

on the morn all the barons with Merlin came to-fore the king; then

Merlin said aloud unto King Uther, Sir, shall your son Arthur be king

after your days, of this realm with all the appurtenance? Then Uther

Pendragon turned him, and said in hearing of them all, I give him God’s

blessing and mine, and bid him pray for my soul, and righteously and

worshipfully that he claim the crown, upon forfeiture of my blessing;

and therewith he yielded up the ghost, and then was he interred as

longed to a king. Wherefore the queen, fair Igraine, made great sorrow,

and all the barons.

CHAPTER V. How Arthur was chosen king, and of wonders and marvels of a

sword taken out of a stone by the said Arthur.

Then stood the realm in great jeopardy long while, for every lord that

was mighty of men made him strong, and many weened to have been king.

Then Merlin went to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and counselled him

for to send for all the lords of the realm, and all the gentlemen of

arms, that they should to London come by Christmas, upon pain of

cursing; and for this cause, that Jesus, that was born on that night,

that he would of his great mercy show some miracle, as he was come to

be king of mankind, for to show some miracle who should be rightwise

king of this realm. So the Archbishop, by the advice of Merlin, sent

for all the lords and gentlemen of arms that they should come by

Christmas even unto London. And many of them made them clean of their

life, that their prayer might be the more acceptable unto God. So in

the greatest church of London, whether it were Paul’s or not the French

book maketh no mention, all the estates were long or day in the church

for to pray. And when matins and the first mass was done, there was

seen in the churchyard, against the high altar, a great stone four

square, like unto a marble stone; and in midst thereof was like an

anvil of steel a foot on high, and therein stuck a fair sword naked by

the point, and letters there were written in gold about the sword that

said thus:—Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil, is

rightwise king born of all England. Then the people marvelled, and told

it to the Archbishop.

I command, said the Archbishop, that ye keep you within your church and

pray unto God still, that no man touch the sword till the high mass be

all done. So when all masses were done all the lords went to behold the

stone and the sword. And when they saw the scripture some assayed, such

as would have been king. But none might stir the sword nor move it. He

is not here, said the Archbishop, that shall achieve the sword, but

doubt not God will make him known. But this is my counsel, said the

Archbishop, that we let purvey ten knights, men of good fame, and they

to keep this sword. So it was ordained, and then there was made a cry,

that every man should assay that would, for to win the sword. And upon

New Year’s Day the barons let make a jousts and a tournament, that all

knights that would joust or tourney there might play, and all this was

ordained for to keep the lords together and the commons, for the

Archbishop trusted that God would make him known that should win the

sword.

So upon New Year’s Day, when the service was done, the barons rode unto

the field, some to joust and some to tourney, and so it happened that

Sir Ector, that had great livelihood about London, rode unto the

jousts, and with him rode Sir Kay his son, and young Arthur that was

his nourished brother; and Sir Kay was made knight at All Hallowmass

afore. So as they rode to the jousts-ward, Sir Kay lost his sword, for

he had left it at his father’s lodging, and so he prayed young Arthur

for to ride for his sword. I will well, said Arthur, and rode fast

after the sword, and when he came home, the lady and all were out to

see the jousting. Then was Arthur wroth, and said to himself, I will

ride to the churchyard, and take the sword with me that sticketh in the

stone, for my brother Sir Kay shall not be without a sword this day. So

when he came to the churchyard, Sir Arthur alighted and tied his horse

to the stile, and so he went to the tent, and found no knights there,

for they were at the jousting. And so he handled the sword by the

handles, and lightly and fiercely pulled it out of the stone, and took

his horse and rode his way until he came to his brother Sir Kay, and

delivered him the sword. And as soon as Sir Kay saw the sword, he wist

well it was the sword of the stone, and so he rode to his father Sir

Ector, and said: Sir, lo here is the sword of the stone, wherefore I

must be king of this land. When Sir Ector beheld the sword, he returned

again and came to the church, and there they alighted all three, and

went into the church. And anon he made Sir Kay swear upon a book how he

came to that sword. Sir, said Sir Kay, by my brother Arthur, for he

brought it to me. How gat ye this sword? said Sir Ector to Arthur. Sir,

I will tell you. When I came home for my brother’s sword, I found

nobody at home to deliver me his sword; and so I thought my brother Sir

Kay should not be swordless, and so I came hither eagerly and pulled it

out of the stone without any pain. Found ye any knights about this

sword? said Sir Ector. Nay, said Arthur. Now, said Sir Ector to Arthur,

I understand ye must be king of this land. Wherefore I, said Arthur,

and for what cause? Sir, said Ector, for God will have it so; for there

should never man have drawn out this sword, but he that shall be

rightwise king of this land. Now let me see whether ye can put the

sword there as it was, and pull it out again. That is no mastery, said

Arthur, and so he put it in the stone; wherewithal Sir Ector assayed to

pull out the sword and failed.

CHAPTER VI. How King Arthur pulled out the sword divers times.

Now assay, said Sir Ector unto Sir Kay. And anon he pulled at the sword

with all his might; but it would not be. Now shall ye assay, said Sir

Ector to Arthur. I will well, said Arthur, and pulled it out easily.

And therewithal Sir Ector knelt down to the earth, and Sir Kay. Alas,

said Arthur, my own dear father and brother, why kneel ye to me? Nay,

nay, my lord Arthur, it is not so; I was never your father nor of your

blood, but I wot well ye are of an higher blood than I weened ye were.

And then Sir Ector told him all, how he was betaken him for to nourish

him, and by whose commandment, and by Merlin’s deliverance.

Then Arthur made great dole when he understood that Sir Ector was not

his father. Sir, said Ector unto Arthur, will ye be my good and

gracious lord when ye are king? Else were I to blame, said Arthur, for

ye are the man in the world that I am most beholden to, and my good

lady and mother your wife, that as well as her own hath fostered me and

kept. And if ever it be God’s will that I be king as ye say, ye shall

desire of me what I may do, and I shall not fail you; God forbid I

should fail you Sir, said Sir Ector, I will ask no more of you, but

that ye will make my son, your foster brother, Sir Kay, seneschal of

all your lands. That shall be done, said Arthur, and more, by the faith

of my body, that never man shall have that office but he, while he and

I live. Therewithal they went unto the Archbishop, and told him how the

sword was achieved, and by whom; and on Twelfth-day all the barons came

thither, and to assay to take the sword, who that would assay. But

there afore them all, there might none take it out but Arthur;

wherefore there were many lords wroth, and said it was great shame unto

them all and the realm, to be overgoverned with a boy of no high blood

born. And so they fell out at that time that it was put off till

Candlemas and then all the barons should meet there again; but always

the ten knights were ordained to watch the sword day and night, and so

they set a pavilion over the stone and the sword, and five always

watched. So at Candlemas many more great lords came thither for to have

won the sword, but there might none prevail. And right as Arthur did at

Christmas, he did at Candlemas, and pulled out the sword easily,

whereof the barons were sore aggrieved and put it off in delay till the

high feast of Easter. And as Arthur sped before, so did he at Easter;

yet there were some of the great lords had indignation that Arthur

should be king, and put it off in a delay till the feast of Pentecost.

Then the Archbishop of Canterbury by Merlin’s providence let purvey

then of the best knights that they might get, and such knights as Uther

Pendragon loved best and most trusted in his days. And such knights

were put about Arthur as Sir Baudwin of Britain, Sir Kay, Sir Ulfius,

Sir Brastias. All these, with many other, were always about Arthur, day

and night, till the feast of Pentecost.

CHAPTER VII. How King Arthur was crowned, and how he made officers.

And at the feast of Pentecost all manner of men assayed to pull at the

sword that would assay; but none might prevail but Arthur, and pulled

it out afore all the lords and commons that were there, wherefore all

the commons cried at once, We will have Arthur unto our king, we will

put him no more in delay, for we all see that it is God’s will that he

shall be our king, and who that holdeth against it, we will slay him.

And therewithal they kneeled at once, both rich and poor, and cried

Arthur mercy because they had delayed him so long, and Arthur forgave

them, and took the sword between both his hands, and offered it upon

the altar where the Archbishop was, and so was he made knight of the

best man that was there. And so anon was the coronation made. And there

was he sworn unto his lords and the commons for to be a true king, to

stand with true justice from thenceforth the days of this life. Also

then he made all lords that held of the crown to come in, and to do

service as they ought to do. And many complaints were made unto Sir

Arthur of great wrongs that were done since the death of King Uther, of

many lands that were bereaved lords, knights, ladies, and gentlemen.

Wherefore King Arthur made the lands to be given again unto them that

owned them.

When this was done, that the king had stablished all the countries

about London, then he let make Sir Kay seneschal of England; and Sir

Baudwin of Britain was made constable; and Sir Ulfius was made

chamberlain; and Sir Brastias was made warden to wait upon the north

from Trent forwards, for it was that time the most party the king’s

enemies. But within few years after Arthur won all the north, Scotland,

and all that were under their obeissance. Also Wales, a part of it,

held against Arthur, but he overcame them all, as he did the remnant,

through the noble prowess of himself and his knights of the Round

Table.

CHAPTER VIII. How King Arthur held in Wales, at a Pentecost, a great

feast, and what kings and lords came to his feast.

Then the king removed into Wales, and let cry a great feast that it

should be holden at Pentecost after the incoronation of him at the city

of Carlion. Unto the feast came King Lot of Lothian and of Orkney, with

five hundred knights with him. Also there came to the feast King Uriens

of Gore with four hundred knights with him. Also there came to that

feast King Nentres of Garlot, with seven hundred knights with him. Also

there came to the feast the king of Scotland with six hundred knights

with him, and he was but a young man. Also there came to the feast a

king that was called the King with the Hundred Knights, but he and his

men were passing well beseen at all points. Also there came the king of

Carados with five hundred knights. And King Arthur was glad of their

coming, for he weened that all the kings and knights had come for great

love, and to have done him worship at his feast; wherefore the king

made great joy, and sent the kings and knights great presents. But the

kings would none receive, but rebuked the messengers shamefully, and

said they had no joy to receive no gifts of a beardless boy that was

come of low blood, and sent him word they would none of his gifts, but

that they were come to give him gifts with hard swords betwixt the neck

and the shoulders: and therefore they came thither, so they told to the

messengers plainly, for it was great shame to all them to see such a

boy to have a rule of so noble a realm as this land was. With this

answer the messengers departed and told to King Arthur this answer.

Wherefore, by the advice of his barons, he took him to a strong tower

with five hundred good men with him. And all the kings aforesaid in a

manner laid a siege to-fore him, but King Arthur was well victualed.

And within fifteen days there came Merlin among them into the city of

Carlion. Then all the kings were passing glad of Merlin, and asked him,

For what cause is that boy Arthur made your king? Sirs, said Merlin, I

shall tell you the cause, for he is King Uther Pendragon’s son, born in

wedlock, gotten on Igraine, the duke’s wife of Tintagil. Then is he a

bastard, they said all. Nay, said Merlin, after the death of the duke,

more than three hours, was Arthur begotten, and thirteen days after

King Uther wedded Igraine; and therefore I prove him he is no bastard.

And who saith nay, he shall be king and overcome all his enemies; and,

or he die, he shall be long king of all England, and have under his

obeissance Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, and more realms than I will

now rehearse. Some of the kings had marvel of Merlin’s words, and

deemed well that it should be as he said; and some of them laughed him

to scorn, as King Lot; and more other called him a witch. But then were

they accorded with Merlin, that King Arthur should come out and speak

with the kings, and to come safe and to go safe, such surance there was

made. So Merlin went unto King Arthur, and told him how he had done,

and bade him fear not, but come out boldly and speak with them, and

spare them not, but answer them as their king and chieftain; for ye

shall overcome them all, whether they will or nill.

CHAPTER IX. Of the first war that King Arthur had, and how he won the

field.

Then King Arthur came out of his tower, and had under his gown a

jesseraunt of double mail, and there went with him the Archbishop of

Canterbury, and Sir Baudwin of Britain, and Sir Kay, and Sir Brastias:

these were the men of most worship that were with him. And when they

were met there was no meekness, but stout words on both sides; but

always King Arthur answered them, and said he would make them to bow an

he lived. Wherefore they departed with wrath, and King Arthur bade keep

them well, and they bade the king keep him well. So the king returned

him to the tower again and armed him and all his knights. What will ye

do? said Merlin to the kings; ye were better for to stint, for ye shall

not here prevail though ye were ten times so many. Be we well advised

to be afeared of a dream-reader? said King Lot. With that Merlin

vanished away, and came to King Arthur, and bade him set on them

fiercely; and in the meanwhile there were three hundred good men, of

the best that were with the kings, that went straight unto King Arthur,

and that comforted him greatly. Sir, said Merlin to Arthur, fight not

with the sword that ye had by miracle, till that ye see ye go unto the

worse, then draw it out and do your best. So forthwithal King Arthur

set upon them in their lodging. And Sir Baudwin, Sir Kay, and Sir

Brastias slew on the right hand and on the left hand that it was

marvel; and always King Arthur on horseback laid on with a sword, and

did marvellous deeds of arms, that many of the kings had great joy of

his deeds and hardiness.

Then King Lot brake out on the back side, and the King with the Hundred

Knights, and King Carados, and set on Arthur fiercely behind him. With

that Sir Arthur turned with his knights, and smote behind and before,

and ever Sir Arthur was in the foremost press till his horse was slain

underneath him. And therewith King Lot smote down King Arthur. With

that his four knights received him and set him on horseback. Then he

drew his sword Excalibur, but it was so bright in his enemies’ eyes,

that it gave light like thirty torches. And therewith he put them

a-back, and slew much people. And then the commons of Carlion arose

with clubs and staves and slew many knights; but all the kings held

them together with their knights that were left alive, and so fled and

departed. And Merlin came unto Arthur, and counselled him to follow

them no further.

CHAPTER X. How Merlin counselled King Arthur to send for King Ban and

King Bors, and of their counsel taken for the war.

So after the feast and journey, King Arthur drew him unto London, and

so by the counsel of Merlin, the king let call his barons to council,

for Merlin had told the king that the six kings that made war upon him

would in all haste be awroke on him and on his lands. Wherefore the

king asked counsel at them all. They could no counsel give, but said

they were big enough. Ye say well, said Arthur; I thank you for your

good courage, but will ye all that loveth me speak with Merlin? ye know

well that he hath done much for me, and he knoweth many things, and

when he is afore you, I would that ye prayed him heartily of his best

advice. All the barons said they would pray him and desire him. So

Merlin was sent for, and fair desired of all the barons to give them

best counsel. I shall say you, said Merlin, I warn you all, your

enemies are passing strong for you, and they are good men of arms as be

alive, and by this time they have gotten to them four kings more, and a

mighty duke; and unless that our king have more chivalry with him than

he may make within the bounds of his own realm, an he fight with them

in battle, he shall be overcome and slain. What were best to do in this

cause? said all the barons. I shall tell you, said Merlin, mine advice;

there are two brethren beyond the sea, and they be kings both, and

marvellous good men of their hands; and that one hight King Ban of

Benwick, and that other hight King Bors of Gaul, that is France. And on

these two kings warreth a mighty man of men, the King Claudas, and

striveth with them for a castle, and great war is betwixt them. But

this Claudas is so mighty of goods whereof he getteth good knights,

that he putteth these two kings most part to the worse; wherefore this

is my counsel, that our king and sovereign lord send unto the kings Ban

and Bors by two trusty knights with letters well devised, that an they

will come and see King Arthur and his court, and so help him in his

wars, that he will be sworn unto them to help them in their wars

against King Claudas. Now, what say ye unto this counsel? said Merlin.

This is well counselled, said the king and all the barons.

Right so in all haste there were ordained to go two knights on the

message unto the two kings. So were there made letters in the pleasant

wise according unto King Arthur’s desire. Ulfius and Brastias were made

the messengers, and so rode forth well horsed and well armed and as the

guise was that time, and so passed the sea and rode toward the city of

Benwick. And there besides were eight knights that espied them, and at

a strait passage they met with Ulfius and Brastias, and would have

taken them prisoners; so they prayed them that they might pass, for

they were messengers unto King Ban and Bors sent from King Arthur.

Therefore, said the eight knights, ye shall die or be prisoners, for we

be knights of King Claudas. And therewith two of them dressed their

spears, and Ulfius and Brastias dressed their spears, and ran together

with great raundon. And Claudas’ knights brake their spears, and theirs

to-held and bare the two knights out of their saddles to the earth, and

so left them lying, and rode their ways. And the other six knights rode

afore to a passage to meet with them again, and so Ulfius and Brastias

smote other two down, and so passed on their ways. And at the fourth

passage there met two for two, and both were laid unto the earth; so

there was none of the eight knights but he was sore hurt or bruised.

And when they come to Benwick it fortuned there were both kings, Ban

and Bors.

And when it was told the kings that there were come messengers, there

were sent unto them two knights of worship, the one hight Lionses, lord

of the country of Payarne, and Sir Phariance a worshipful knight. Anon

they asked from whence they came, and they said from King Arthur, king

of England; so they took them in their arms and made great joy each of

other. But anon, as the two kings wist they were messengers of

Arthur’s, there was made no tarrying, but forthwith they spake with the

knights, and welcomed them in the faithfullest wise, and said they were

most welcome unto them before all the kings living; and therewith they

kissed the letters and delivered them. And when Ban and Bors understood

the letters, then they were more welcome than they were before. And

after the haste of the letters they gave them this answer, that they

would fulfil the desire of King Arthur’s writing, and Ulfius and

Brastias, tarry there as long as they would, they should have such

cheer as might be made them in those marches. Then Ulfius and Brastias

told the kings of the adventure at their passages of the eight knights.

Ha! ah! said Ban and Bors, they were my good friends. I would I had

wist of them; they should not have escaped so. So Ulfius and Brastias

had good cheer and great gifts, as much as they might bear away; and

had their answer by mouth and by writing, that those two kings would

come unto Arthur in all the haste that they might. So the two knights

rode on afore, and passed the sea, and came to their lord, and told him

how they had sped, whereof King Arthur was passing glad. At what time

suppose ye the two kings will be here? Sir, said they, afore All

Hallowmass. Then the king let purvey for a great feast, and let cry a

great jousts. And by All Hallowmass the two kings were come over the

sea with three hundred knights well arrayed both for the peace and for

the war. And King Arthur met with them ten mile out of London, and

there was great joy as could be thought or made. And on All Hallowmass

at the great feast, sat in the hall the three kings, and Sir Kay

seneschal served in the hall, and Sir Lucas the butler, that was Duke

Corneus’ son, and Sir Griflet, that was the son of Cardol, these three

knights had the rule of all the service that served the kings. And

anon, as they had washen and risen, all knights that would joust made

them ready; by then they were ready on horseback there were seven

hundred knights. And Arthur, Ban, and Bors, with the Archbishop of

Canterbury, and Sir Ector, Kay’s father, they were in a place covered

with cloth of gold like an hall, with ladies and gentlewomen, for to

behold who did best, and thereon to give judgment.

CHAPTER XI. Of a great tourney made by King Arthur and the two kings

Ban and Bors, and how they went over the sea.

And King Arthur and the two kings let depart the seven hundred knights

in two parties. And there were three hundred knights of the realm of

Benwick and of Gaul turned on the other side. Then they dressed their

shields, and began to couch their spears many good knights. So Griflet

was the first that met with a knight, one Ladinas, and they met so

eagerly that all men had wonder; and they so fought that their shields

fell to pieces, and horse and man fell to the earth; and both the

French knight and the English knight lay so long that all men weened

they had been dead. When Lucas the butler saw Griflet so lie, he horsed

him again anon, and they two did marvellous deeds of arms with many

bachelors. Also Sir Kay came out of an ambushment with five knights

with him, and they six smote other six down. But Sir Kay did that day

marvellous deeds of arms, that there was none did so well as he that

day. Then there came Ladinas and Gracian, two knights of France, and

did passing well, that all men praised them.

Then came there Sir Placidas, a good knight, and met with Sir Kay, and

smote him down horse and man, where fore Sir Griflet was wroth, and met

with Sir Placidas so hard, that horse and man fell to the earth. But

when the five knights wist that Sir Kay had a fall, they were wroth out

of wit, and therewith each of them five bare down a knight. When King

Arthur and the two kings saw them begin to wax wroth on both parties,

they leapt on small hackneys, and let cry that all men should depart

unto their lodging. And so they went home and unarmed them, and so to

evensong and supper. And after, the three kings went into a garden, and

gave the prize unto Sir Kay, and to Lucas the butler, and unto Sir

Griflet. And then they went unto council, and with them Gwenbaus, the

brother unto Sir Ban and Bors, a wise clerk, and thither went Ulfius

and Brastias, and Merlin. And after they had been in council, they went

unto bed. And on the morn they heard mass, and to dinner, and so to

their council, and made many arguments what were best to do. At the

last they were concluded, that Merlin should go with a token of King

Ban, and that was a ring, unto his men and King Bors’; and Gracian and

Placidas should go again and keep their castles and their countries, as

for [dread of King Claudas] King Ban of Benwick, and King Bors of Gaul

had ordained them, and so passed the sea and came to Benwick. And when

the people saw King Ban’s ring, and Gracian and Placidas, they were

glad, and asked how the kings fared, and made great joy of their

welfare and cording, and according unto the sovereign lords desire, the

men of war made them ready in all haste possible, so that they were

fifteen thousand on horse and foot, and they had great plenty of

victual with them, by Merlin’s provision. But Gracian and Placidas were

left to furnish and garnish the castles, for dread of King Claudas.

Right so Merlin passed the sea, well victualled both by water and by

land. And when he came to the sea he sent home the footmen again, and

took no more with him but ten thousand men on horseback, the most part

men of arms, and so shipped and passed the sea into England, and landed

at Dover; and through the wit of Merlin, he had the host northward, the

priviest way that could be thought, unto the forest of Bedegraine, and

there in a valley he lodged them secretly.

Then rode Merlin unto Arthur and the two kings, and told them how he

had sped; whereof they had great marvel, that man on earth might speed

so soon, and go and come.

So Merlin told them ten thousand were in the

forest of Bedegraine, well armed at all points. Then was there no more

to say, but to horseback went all the host as Arthur had afore

purveyed. So with twenty thousand he passed by night and day, but there

was made such an ordinance afore by Merlin, that there should no man of

war ride nor go in no country on this side Trent water, but if he had a

token from King Arthur, where through the king’s enemies durst not ride

as they did to-fore to espy.

CHAPTER XII. How eleven kings gathered a great host against King

Arthur.

And so within a little space the three kings came unto the castle of

Bedegraine, and found there a passing fair fellowship, and well beseen,

whereof they had great joy, and victual they wanted none. This was the

cause of the northern host: that they were reared for the despite and

rebuke the six kings had at Carlion. And those six kings by their

means, gat unto them five other kings; and thus they began to gather

their people.

And now they sware that for weal nor woe, they should not leave other,

till they had destroyed Arthur. And then they made an oath. The first

that began the oath was the Duke of Cambenet, that he would bring with

him five thousand men of arms, the which were ready on horseback. Then

sware King Brandegoris of Stranggore that he would bring five thousand

men of arms on horseback. Then sware King Clariance of Northumberland

he would bring three thousand men of arms. Then sware the King of the

Hundred Knights, that was a passing good man and a young, that he would

bring four thousand men of arms on horseback. Then there swore King

Lot, a passing good knight, and Sir Gawain’s father, that he would

bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. Also there swore King

Urience, that was Sir Uwain’s father, of the land of Gore, and he would

bring six thousand men of arms on horseback. Also there swore King

Idres of Cornwall, that he would bring five thousand men of arms on

horseback. Also there swore King Cradelmas to bring five thousand men

on horseback. Also there swore King Agwisance of Ireland to bring five

thousand men of arms on horseback. Also there swore King Nentres to

bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. Also there swore King

Carados to bring five thousand men of arms on horseback. So their whole

host was of clean men of arms on horseback fifty thousand, and a-foot

ten thousand of good men’s bodies. Then were they soon ready, and

mounted upon horse and sent forth their fore-riders, for these eleven

kings in their ways laid a siege unto the castle of Bedegraine; and so

they departed and drew toward Arthur, and left few to abide at the

siege, for the castle of Bedegraine was holden of King Arthur, and the

men that were therein were Arthur’s.

CHAPTER XIII. Of a dream of the King with the Hundred Knights.

So by Merlin’s advice there were sent fore-riders to skim the country,

and they met with the fore-riders of the north, and made them to tell

which way the host came, and then they told it to Arthur, and by King

Ban and Bors’ council they let burn and destroy all the country afore

them, there they should ride.

The King with the Hundred Knights met a wonder dream two nights afore

the battle, that there blew a great wind, and blew down their castles

and their towns, and after that came a water and bare it all away. All

that heard of the sweven said it was a token of great battle. Then by

counsel of Merlin, when they wist which way the eleven kings would ride

and lodge that night, at midnight they set upon them, as they were in

their pavilions. But the scout-watch by their host cried, Lords! at

arms! for here be your enemies at your hand!

CHAPTER XIV. How the eleven kings with their host fought against Arthur

and his host, and many great feats of the war.

Then King Arthur and King Ban and King Bors, with their good and trusty

knights, set on them so fiercely that they made them overthrow their

pavilions on their heads, but the eleven kings, by manly prowess of

arms, took a fair champaign, but there was slain that morrowtide ten

thousand good men’s bodies. And so they had afore them a strong

passage, yet were they fifty thousand of hardy men. Then it drew toward

day. Now shall ye do by mine advice, said Merlin unto the three kings:

I would that King Ban and King Bors, with their fellowship of ten

thousand men, were put in a wood here beside, in an ambushment, and

keep them privy, and that they be laid or the light of the day come,

and that they stir not till ye and your knights have fought with them

long. And when it is daylight, dress your battle even afore them and

the passage, that they may see all your host, for then will they be the

more hardy, when they see you but about twenty thousand men, and cause

them to be the gladder to suffer you and your host to come over the

passage. All the three kings and the whole barons said that Merlin said

passingly well, and it was done anon as Merlin had devised. So on the

morn, when either host saw other, the host of the north was well

comforted. Then to Ulfius and Brastias were delivered three thousand

men of arms, and they set on them fiercely in the passage, and slew on

the right hand and on the left hand that it was wonder to tell.

When that the eleven kings saw that there was so few a fellowship did

such deeds of arms, they were ashamed and set on them again fiercely;

and there was Sir Ulfius’s horse slain under him, but he did

marvellously well on foot. But the Duke Eustace of Cambenet and King

Clariance of Northumberland, were alway grievous on Ulfius. Then

Brastias saw his fellow fared so withal he smote the duke with a spear,

that horse and man fell down. That saw King Clariance and returned unto

Brastias, and either smote other so that horse and man went to the

earth, and so they lay long astonied, and their horses’ knees brast to

the hard bone. Then came Sir Kay the seneschal with six fellows with

him, and did passing well. With that came the eleven kings, and there

was Griflet put to the earth, horse and man, and Lucas the butler,

horse and man, by King Brandegoris, and King Idres, and King Agwisance.

Then waxed the medley passing hard on both parties. When Sir Kay saw

Griflet on foot, he rode on King Nentres and smote him down, and led

his horse unto Sir Griflet, and horsed him again. Also Sir Kay with the

same spear smote down King Lot, and hurt him passing sore. That saw the

King with the Hundred Knights, and ran unto Sir Kay and smote him down,

and took his horse, and gave him King Lot, whereof he said gramercy.

When Sir Griflet saw Sir Kay and Lucas the butler on foot, he took a

sharp spear, great and square, and rode to Pinel, a good man of arms,

and smote horse and man down, and then he took his horse, and gave him

unto Sir Kay. Then King Lot saw King Nentres on foot, he ran unto Melot

de la Roche, and smote him down, horse and man, and gave King Nentres

the horse, and horsed him again. Also the King of the Hundred Knights

saw King Idres on foot; then he ran unto Gwiniart de Bloi, and smote

him down, horse and man, and gave King Idres the horse, and horsed him

again; and King Lot smote down Clariance de la Forest Savage, and gave

the horse unto Duke Eustace. And so when they had horsed the kings

again they drew them, all eleven kings, together, and said they would

be revenged of the damage that they had taken that day. The meanwhile

came in Sir Ector with an eager countenance, and found Ulfius and

Brastias on foot, in great peril of death, that were foul defoiled

under horse-feet.

Then Arthur as a lion, ran unto King Cradelment of North Wales, and

smote him through the left side, that the horse and the king fell down;

and then he took the horse by the rein, and led him unto Ulfius, and

said, Have this horse, mine old friend, for great need hast thou of

horse. Gramercy, said Ulfius. Then Sir Arthur did so marvellously in

arms, that all men had wonder. When the King with the Hundred Knights

saw King Cradelment on foot, he ran unto Sir Ector, that was well

horsed, Sir Kay’s father, and smote horse and man down, and gave the

horse unto the king, and horsed him again. And when King Arthur saw the

king ride on Sir Ector’s horse, he was wroth and with his sword he

smote the king on the helm, that a quarter of the helm and shield fell

down, and so the sword carved down unto the horse’s neck, and so the

king and the horse fell down to the ground. Then Sir Kay came unto Sir

Morganore, seneschal with the King of the Hundred Knights, and smote

him down, horse and man, and led the horse unto his father, Sir Ector;

then Sir Ector ran unto a knight, hight Lardans, and smote horse and

man down, and led the horse unto Sir Brastias, that great need had of

an horse, and was greatly defoiled. When Brastias beheld Lucas the

butler, that lay like a dead man under the horses’ feet, and ever Sir

Griflet did marvellously for to rescue him, and there were always

fourteen knights on Sir Lucas; then Brastias smote one of them on the

helm, that it went to the teeth, and he rode to another and smote him,

that the arm flew into the field. Then he went to the third and smote

him on the shoulder, that shoulder and arm flew in the field. And when

Griflet saw rescues, he smote a knight on the temples, that head and

helm went to the earth, and Griflet took the horse of that knight, and

led him unto Sir Lucas, and bade him mount upon the horse and revenge

his hurts. For Brastias had slain a knight to-fore and horsed Griflet.

CHAPTER XV. Yet of the same battle.

Then Lucas saw King Agwisance, that late had slain Moris de la Roche,

and Lucas ran to him with a short spear that was great, that he gave

him such a fall, that the horse fell down to the earth. Also Lucas

found there on foot, Bloias de La Flandres, and Sir Gwinas, two hardy

knights, and in that woodness that Lucas was in, he slew two bachelors

and horsed them again. Then waxed the battle passing hard on both

parties, but Arthur was glad that his knights were horsed again, and

then they fought together, that the noise and sound rang by the water

and the wood. Wherefore King Ban and King Bors made them ready, and

dressed their shields and harness, and they were so courageous that

many knights shook and bevered for eagerness. All this while Lucas, and

Gwinas, and Briant, and Bellias of Flanders, held strong medley against

six kings, that was King Lot, King Nentres, King Brandegoris, King

Idres, King Uriens, and King Agwisance. So with the help of Sir Kay and

of Sir Griflet they held these six kings hard, that unnethe they had

any power to defend them. But when Sir Arthur saw the battle would not

be ended by no manner, he fared wood as a lion, and steered his horse

here and there, on the right hand, and on the left hand, that he

stinted not till he had slain twenty knights. Also he wounded King Lot

sore on the shoulder, and made him to leave that ground, for Sir Kay

and Griflet did with King Arthur there great deeds of arms. Then

Ulfius, and Brastias, and Sir Ector encountered against the Duke

Eustace, and King Cradelment, and King Clariance of Northumberland, and

King Carados, and against the King with the Hundred Knights. So these

knights encountered with these kings, that they made them to avoid the

ground. Then King Lot made great dole for his damages and his fellows,

and said unto the ten kings, But if ye will do as I devise we shall be

slain and destroyed; let me have the King with the Hundred Knights, and

King Agwisance, and King Idres, and the Duke of Cambenet, and we five

kings will have fifteen thousand men of arms with us, and we will go

apart while ye six kings hold medley with twelve thousand; an we see

that ye have foughten with them long, then will we come on fiercely,

and else shall we never match them, said King Lot, but by this mean. So

they departed as they here devised, and six kings made their party

strong against Arthur, and made great war long.

In the meanwhile brake the ambushment of King Ban and King Bors, and

Lionses and Phariance had the vanguard, and they two knights met with

King Idres and his fellowship, and there began a great medley of

breaking of spears, and smiting of swords, with slaying of men and

horses, and King Idres was near at discomforture.

That saw Agwisance the king, and put Lionses and Phariance in point of

death; for the Duke of Cambenet came on withal with a great fellowship.

So these two knights were in great danger of their lives that they were

fain to return, but always they rescued themselves and their fellowship

marvellously. When King Bors saw those knights put aback, it grieved

him sore; then he came on so fast that his fellowship seemed as black

as Inde. When King Lot had espied King Bors, he knew him well, then he

said, O Jesu, defend us from death and horrible maims! for I see well

we be in great peril of death; for I see yonder a king, one of the most

worshipfullest men and one of the best knights of the world, is

inclined unto his fellowship. What is he? said the King with the

Hundred Knights. It is, said King Lot, King Bors of Gaul; I marvel how

they came into this country without witting of us all. It was by

Merlin’s advice, said the knight. As for him, said King Carados, I will

encounter with King Bors, an ye will rescue me when myster is. Go on,

said they all, we will do all that we may. Then King Carados and his

host rode on a soft pace, till that they came as nigh King Bors as

bow-draught; then either battle let their horse run as fast as they

might. And Bleoberis, that was godson unto King Bors, he bare his chief

standard, that was a passing good knight. Now shall we see, said King

Bors, how these northern Britons can bear the arms: and King Bors

encountered with a knight, and smote him throughout with a spear that

he fell dead unto the earth; and after drew his sword and did

marvellous deeds of arms, that all parties had great wonder thereof;

and his knights failed not, but did their part, and King Carados was

smitten to the earth. With that came the King with the Hundred Knights

and rescued King Carados mightily by force of arms, for he was a

passing good knight of a king, and but a young man.

CHAPTER XVI. Yet more of the same battle.

By then came into the field King Ban as fierce as a lion, with bands of

green and thereupon gold. Ha! a! said King Lot, we must be discomfited,

for yonder I see the most valiant knight of the world, and the man of

the most renown, for such two brethren as is King Ban and King Bors are

not living, wherefore we must needs void or die; and but if we avoid

manly and wisely there is but death. When King Ban came into the

battle, he came in so fiercely that the strokes redounded again from

the wood and the water; wherefore King Lot wept for pity and dole that

he saw so many good knights take their end. But through the great force

of King Ban they made both the northern battles that were departed

hurtled together for great dread; and the three kings and their knights

slew on ever, that it was pity on to behold that multitude of the

people that fled. But King Lot, and King of the Hundred Knights, and

King Morganore gathered the people together passing knightly, and did

great prowess of arms, and held the battle all that day, like hard.

When the King of the Hundred Knights beheld the great damage that King

Ban did, he thrust unto him with his horse, and smote him on high upon

the helm, a great stroke, and astonied him sore. Then King Ban was

wroth with him, and followed on him fiercely; the other saw that, and

cast up his shield, and spurred his horse forward, but the stroke of

King Ban fell down and carved a cantel off the shield, and the sword

slid down by the hauberk behind his back, and cut through the trapping

of steel and the horse even in two pieces, that the sword felt the

earth. Then the King of the Hundred Knights voided the horse lightly,

and with his sword he broached the horse of King Ban through and

through. With that King Ban voided lightly from the dead horse, and

then King Ban smote at the other so eagerly, and smote him on the helm

that he fell to the earth. Also in that ire he felled King Morganore,

and there was great slaughter of good knights and much people. By then

came into the press King Arthur, and found King Ban standing among dead

men and dead horses, fighting on foot as a wood lion, that there came

none nigh him, as far as he might reach with his sword, but he caught a

grievous buffet; whereof King Arthur had great pity. And Arthur was so

bloody, that by his shield there might no man know him, for all was

blood and brains on his sword. And as Arthur looked by him he saw a

knight that was passingly well horsed, and therewith Sir Arthur ran to

him, and smote him on the helm, that his sword went unto his teeth, and

the knight sank down to the earth dead, and anon Arthur took the horse

by the rein, and led him unto King Ban, and said, Fair brother, have

this horse, for he have great myster thereof, and me repenteth sore of

your great damage. It shall be soon revenged, said King Ban, for I

trust in God mine ure is not such but some of them may sore repent

this. I will well, said Arthur, for I see your deeds full actual;

nevertheless, I might not come at you at that time.

But when King Ban was mounted on horseback, then there began new

battle, the which was sore and hard, and passing great slaughter. And

so through great force King Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors made their

knights a little to withdraw them. But alway the eleven kings with

their chivalry never turned back; and so withdrew them to a little

wood, and so over a little river, and there they rested them, for on

the night they might have no rest on the field. And then the eleven

kings and knights put them on a heap all together, as men adread and

out of all comfort. But there was no man might pass them, they held

them so hard together both behind and before, that King Arthur had

marvel of their deeds of arms, and was passing wroth. Ah, Sir Arthur,

said King Ban and King Bors, blame them not, for they do as good men

ought to do. For by my faith, said King Ban, they are the best fighting

men, and knights of most prowess, that ever I saw or heard speak of,

and those eleven kings are men of great worship; and if they were

longing unto you there were no king under the heaven had such eleven

knights, and of such worship. I may not love them, said Arthur, they

would destroy me. That wot we well, said King Ban and King Bors, for

they are your mortal enemies, and that hath been proved aforehand; and

this day they have done their part, and that is great pity of their

wilfulness.

Then all the eleven kings drew them together, and then said King Lot,

Lords, ye must other ways than ye do, or else the great loss is behind;

ye may see what people we have lost, and what good men we lose, because

we wait always on these foot-men, and ever in saving of one of the

foot-men we lose ten horsemen for him; therefore this is mine advice,

let us put our foot-men from us, for it is near night, for the noble

Arthur will not tarry on the footmen, for they may save themselves, the

wood is near hand. And when we horsemen be together, look every each of

you kings let make such ordinance that none break upon pain of death.

And who that seeth any man dress him to flee, lightly that he be slain,

for it is better that we slay a coward, than through a coward all we to

be slain. How say ye? said King Lot, answer me all ye kings. It is well

said, quoth King Nentres; so said the King of the Hundred Knights; the

same said the King Carados, and King Uriens; so did King Idres and King

Brandegoris; and so did King Cradelment, and the Duke of Cambenet; the

same said King Clariance and King Agwisance, and sware they would never

fail other, neither for life nor for death. And whoso that fled, but

did as they did, should be slain. Then they amended their harness, and

righted their shields, and took new spears and set them on their

thighs, and stood still as it had been a plump of wood.

CHAPTER XVII. Yet more of the same battle, and how it was ended by

Merlin.

When Sir Arthur and King Ban and Bors beheld them and all their

knights, they praised them much for their noble cheer of chivalry, for

the hardiest fighters that ever they heard or saw. With that, there

dressed them a forty noble knights, and said unto the three kings, they

would break their battle; these were their names: Lionses, Phariance,

Ulfius, Brastias, Ector, Kay, Lucas the butler, Griflet le Fise de

Dieu, Mariet de la Roche, Guinas de Bloi, Briant de la Forest Savage,

Bellaus, Morians of the Castle [of] Maidens, Flannedrius of the Castle

of Ladies, Annecians that was King Bors’ godson, a noble knight,

Ladinas de la Rouse, Emerause, Caulas, Graciens le Castlein, one Blois

de la Case, and Sir Colgrevaunce de Gorre; all these knights rode on

afore with spears on their thighs, and spurred their horses mightily as

the horses might run. And the eleven kings with part of their knights

rushed with their horses as fast as they might with their spears, and

there they did on both parties marvellous deeds of arms. So came into

the thick of the press, Arthur, Ban, and Bors, and slew down right on

both hands, that their horses went in blood up to the fetlocks. But

ever the eleven kings and their host was ever in the visage of Arthur.

Wherefore Ban and Bors had great marvel, considering the great

slaughter that there was, but at the last they were driven aback over a

little river. With that came Merlin on a great black horse, and said

unto Arthur, Thou hast never done! Hast thou not done enough? of three

score thousand this day hast thou left alive but fifteen thousand, and

it is time to say Ho! For God is wroth with thee, that thou wilt never

have done; for yonder eleven kings at this time will not be overthrown,

but an thou tarry on them any longer, thy fortune will turn and they

shall increase. And therefore withdraw you unto your lodging, and rest

you as soon as ye may, and reward your good knights with gold and with

silver, for they have well deserved it; there may no riches be too dear

for them, for of so few men as ye have, there were never men did more

of prowess than they have done today, for ye have matched this day with

the best fighters of the world. That is truth, said King Ban and Bors.

Also said Merlin, withdraw you where ye list, for this three year I

dare undertake they shall not dere you; and by then ye shall hear new

tidings. And then Merlin said unto Arthur, These eleven kings have more

on hand than they are ware of, for the Saracens are landed in their

countries, more than forty thousand, that burn and slay, and have laid

siege at the castle Wandesborow, and make great destruction; therefore

dread you not this three year. Also, sir, all the goods that be gotten

at this battle, let it be searched, and when ye have it in your hands,

let it be given freely unto these two kings, Ban and Bors, that they

may reward their knights withal; and that shall cause strangers to be

of better will to do you service at need. Also you be able to reward

your own knights of your own goods whensomever it liketh you. It is

well said, quoth Arthur, and as thou hast devised, so shall it be done.

When it was delivered to Ban and Bors, they gave the goods as freely to

their knights as freely as it was given to them. Then Merlin took his

leave of Arthur and of the two kings, for to go and see his master

Bleise, that dwelt in Northumberland; and so he departed and came to

his master, that was passing glad of his coming; and there he told how

Arthur and the two kings had sped at the great battle, and how it was

ended, and told the names of every king and knight of worship that was

there. And so Bleise wrote the battle word by word, as Merlin told him,

how it began, and by whom, and in likewise how it was ended, and who

had the worse. All the battles that were done in Arthur’s days Merlin

did his master Bleise do write; also he did do write all the battles

that every worthy knight did of Arthur’s court.

After this Merlin departed from his master and came to King Arthur,

that was in the castle of Bedegraine, that was one of the castles that

stand in the forest of Sherwood. And Merlin was so disguised that King

Arthur knew him not, for he was all befurred in black sheep-skins, and

a great pair of boots, and a bow and arrows, in a russet gown, and

brought wild geese in his hand, and it was on the morn after Candlemas

day; but King Arthur knew him not. Sir, said Merlin unto the king, will

ye give me a gift? Wherefore, said King Arthur, should I give thee a

gift, churl? Sir, said Merlin, ye were better to give me a gift that is

not in your hand than to lose great riches, for here in the same place

where the great battle was, is great treasure hid in the earth. Who

told thee so, churl? said Arthur. Merlin told me so, said he. Then

Ulfius and Brastias knew him well enough, and smiled. Sir, said these

two knights, it is Merlin that so speaketh unto you. Then King Arthur

was greatly abashed, and had marvel of Merlin, and so had King Ban and

King Bors, and so they had great disport at him. So in the meanwhile

there came a damosel that was an earl’s daughter: his name was Sanam,

and her name was Lionors, a passing fair damosel; and so she came

thither for to do homage, as other lords did after the great battle.

And King Arthur set his love greatly upon her, and so did she upon him,

and the king had ado with her, and gat on her a child: his name was

Borre, that was after a good knight, and of the Table Round. Then there

came word that the King Rience of North Wales made great war on King

Leodegrance of Cameliard, for the which thing Arthur was wroth, for he

loved him well, and hated King Rience, for he was alway against him. So

by ordinance of the three kings that were sent home unto Benwick, all

they would depart for dread of King Claudas; and Phariance, and

Antemes, and Gratian, and Lionses [of] Payarne, with the leaders of

those that should keep the kings’ lands.

CHAPTER XVIII. How King Arthur, King Ban, and King Bors rescued King

Leodegrance, and other incidents.

And then King Arthur, and King Ban, and King Bors departed with their

fellowship, a twenty thousand, and came within six days into the

country of Cameliard, and there rescued King Leodegrance, and slew

there much people of King Rience, unto the number of ten thousand men,

and put him to flight. And then had these three kings great cheer of

King Leodegrance, that thanked them of their great goodness, that they

would revenge him of his enemies; and there had Arthur the first sight

of Guenever, the king’s daughter of Cameliard, and ever after he loved

her. After they were wedded, as it telleth in the book. So, briefly to

make an end, they took their leave to go into their own countries, for

King Claudas did great destruction on their lands. Then said Arthur, I

will go with you. Nay, said the kings, ye shall not at this time, for

ye have much to do yet in these lands, therefore we will depart, and

with the great goods that we have gotten in these lands by your gifts,

we shall wage good knights and withstand the King Claudas’ malice, for

by the grace of God, an we have need we will send to you for your

succour; and if ye have need, send for us, and we will not tarry, by

the faith of our bodies. It shall not, said Merlin, need that these two

kings come again in the way of war, but I know well King Arthur may not

be long from you, for within a year or two ye shall have great need,

and then shall he revenge you on your enemies, as ye have done on his.

For these eleven kings shall die all in a day, by the great might and

prowess of arms of two valiant knights (as it telleth after); their

names be Balin le Savage, and Balan, his brother, that be marvellous

good knights as be any living.

Now turn we to the eleven kings that returned unto a city that hight

Sorhaute, the which city was within King Uriens’, and there they

refreshed them as well as they might, and made leeches search their

wounds, and sorrowed greatly for the death of their people. With that

there came a messenger and told how there was come into their lands

people that were lawless as well as Saracens, a forty thousand, and

have burnt and slain all the people that they may come by, without

mercy, and have laid siege on the castle of Wandesborow. Alas, said the

eleven kings, here is sorrow upon sorrow, and if we had not warred

against Arthur as we have done, he would soon revenge us. As for King

Leodegrance, he loveth Arthur better than us, and as for King Rience,

he hath enough to do with Leodegrance, for he hath laid siege unto him.

So they consented together to keep all the marches of Cornwall, of

Wales, and of the North. So first, they put King Idres in the City of

Nauntes in Britain, with four thousand men of arms, to watch both the

water and the land. Also they put in the city of Windesan, King Nentres

of Garlot, with four thousand knights to watch both on water and on

land. Also they had of other men of war more than eight thousand, for

to fortify all the fortresses in the marches of Cornwall. Also they put

more knights in all the marches of Wales and Scotland, with many good

men of arms, and so they kept them together the space of three year,

and ever allied them with mighty kings and dukes and lords. And to them

fell King Rience of North Wales, the which and Nero that was a mighty

man of men. And all this while they furnished them and garnished them

of good men of arms, and victual, and of all manner of habiliment that

pretendeth to the war, to avenge them for the battle of Bedegraine, as

it telleth in the book of adventures following.

CHAPTER XIX. How King Arthur rode to Carlion, and of his dream, and how

he saw the questing beast.

Then after the departing of King Ban and of King Bors, King Arthur rode

into Carlion. And thither came to him, King Lot’s wife, of Orkney, in

manner of a message, but she was sent thither to espy the court of King

Arthur; and she came richly beseen, with her four sons, Gawaine,

Gaheris, Agravine, and Gareth, with many other knights and ladies.

For

she was a passing fair lady, therefore the king cast great love unto

her, and desired to lie by her; so they were agreed, and he begat upon

her Mordred, and she was his sister, on his mother’s side, Igraine. So

there she rested her a month, and at the last departed. Then the king

dreamed a marvellous dream whereof he was sore adread. But all this

time King Arthur knew not that King Lot’s wife was his sister. Thus was

the dream of Arthur: Him thought there was come into this land griffins

and serpents, and him thought they burnt and slew all the people in the

land, and then him thought he fought with them, and they did him

passing great harm, and wounded him full sore, but at the last he slew

them. When the king awaked, he was passing heavy of his dream, and so

to put it out of thoughts, he made him ready with many knights to ride

a-hunting. As soon as he was in the forest the king saw a great hart

afore him. This hart will I chase, said King Arthur, and so he spurred

the horse, and rode after long, and so by fine force oft he was like to

have smitten the hart; whereas the king had chased the hart so long,

that his horse lost his breath, and fell down dead. Then a yeoman

fetched the king another horse.

So the king saw the hart enbushed, and his horse dead, he set him down

by a fountain, and there he fell in great thoughts. And as he sat so,

him thought he heard a noise of hounds, to the sum of thirty. And with

that the king saw coming toward him the strangest beast that ever he

saw or heard of; so the beast went to the well and drank, and the noise

was in the beast’s belly like unto the questing of thirty couple

hounds; but all the while the beast drank there was no noise in the

beast’s belly: and there with the beast departed with a great noise,

whereof the king had great marvel. And so he was in a great thought,

and therewith he fell asleep. Right so there came a knight afoot unto

Arthur and said, Knight full of thought and sleepy, tell me if thou

sawest a strange beast pass this way. Such one saw I, said King Arthur,

that is past two mile; what would ye with the beast? said Arthur. Sir,

I have followed that beast long time, and killed mine horse, so would

God I had another to follow my quest. Right so came one with the king’s

horse, and when the knight saw the horse, he prayed the king to give

him the horse: for I have followed this quest this twelvemonth, and

either I shall achieve him, or bleed of the best blood of my body.

Pellinore, that time king, followed the Questing Beast, and after his

death Sir Palamides followed it.

CHAPTER XX. How King Pellinore took Arthur’s horse and followed the

Questing Beast, and how Merlin met with Arthur.

Sir knight, said the king, leave that quest, and suffer me to have it,

and I will follow it another twelvemonth. Ah, fool, said the knight

unto Arthur, it is in vain thy desire, for it shall never be achieved

but by me, or my next kin. Therewith he started unto the king’s horse

and mounted into the saddle, and said, Gramercy, this horse is my own.

Well, said the king, thou mayst take my horse by force, but an I might

prove thee whether thou were better on horseback or I.—Well, said the

knight, seek me here when thou wilt, and here nigh this well thou shalt

find me, and so passed on his way. Then the king sat in a study, and

bade his men fetch his horse as fast as ever they might. Right so came

by him Merlin like a child of fourteen year of age, and saluted the

king, and asked him why he was so pensive. I may well be pensive, said

the king, for I have seen the marvellest sight that ever I saw. That

know I well, said Merlin, as well as thyself, and of all thy thoughts,

but thou art but a fool to take thought, for it will not amend thee.

Also I know what thou art, and who was thy father, and of whom thou

wert begotten; King Uther Pendragon was thy father, and begat thee on

Igraine. That is false, said King Arthur, how shouldest thou know it,

for thou art not so old of years to know my father? Yes, said Merlin, I

know it better than ye or any man living. I will not believe thee, said

Arthur, and was wroth with the child. So departed Merlin, and came

again in the likeness of an old man of fourscore year of age, whereof

the king was right glad, for he seemed to be right wise.

Then said the old man, Why are ye so sad? I may well be heavy, said

Arthur, for many things. Also here was a child, and told me many things

that meseemeth he should not know, for he was not of age to know my

father. Yes, said the old man, the child told you truth, and more would

he have told you an ye would have suffered him. But ye have done a

thing late that God is displeased with you, for ye have lain by your

sister, and on her ye have gotten a child that shall destroy you and

all the knights of your realm. What are ye, said Arthur, that tell me

these tidings? I am Merlin, and I was he in the child’s likeness. Ah,

said King Arthur, ye are a marvellous man, but I marvel much of thy

words that I must die in battle. Marvel not, said Merlin, for it is

God’s will your body to be punished for your foul deeds; but I may well

be sorry, said Merlin, for I shall die a shameful death, to be put in

the earth quick, and ye shall die a worshipful death. And as they

talked this, came one with the king’s horse, and so the king mounted on

his horse, and Merlin on another, and so rode unto Carlion. And anon

the king asked Ector and Ulfius how he was begotten, and they told him

Uther Pendragon was his father and Queen Igraine his mother. Then he

said to Merlin, I will that my mother be sent for that I may speak with

her; and if she say so herself then will I believe it. In all haste,

the queen was sent for, and she came and brought with her Morgan le

Fay, her daughter, that was as fair a lady as any might be, and the

king welcomed Igraine in the best manner.

CHAPTER XXI. How Ulfius impeached Queen Igraine, Arthur’s mother, of

treason; and how a knight came and desired to have the death of his

master revenged.

Right so came Ulfius, and said openly, that the king and all might hear

that were feasted that day, Ye are the falsest lady of the world, and

the most traitress unto the king’s person. Beware, said Arthur, what

thou sayest; thou speakest a great word. I am well ware, said Ulfius,

what I speak, and here is my glove to prove it upon any man that will

say the contrary, that this Queen Igraine is causer of your great

damage, and of your great war. For, an she would have uttered it in the

life of King Uther Pendragon, of the birth of you, and how ye were

begotten ye had never had the mortal wars that ye have had; for the

most part of your barons of your realm knew never whose son ye were,

nor of whom ye were begotten; and she that bare you of her body should

have made it known openly in excusing of her worship and yours, and in

like wise to all the realm, wherefore I prove her false to God and to

you and to all your realm, and who will say the contrary I will prove

it on his body.

Then spake Igraine and said, I am a woman and I may not fight, but

rather than I should be dishonoured, there would some good man take my

quarrel. More, she said, Merlin knoweth well, and ye Sir Ulfius, how

King Uther came to me in the Castle of Tintagil in the likeness of my

lord, that was dead three hours to-fore, and thereby gat a child that

night upon me. And after the thirteenth day King Uther wedded me, and

by his commandment when the child was born it was delivered unto Merlin

and nourished by him, and so I saw the child never after, nor wot not

what is his name, for I knew him never yet. And there, Ulfius said to

the queen, Merlin is more to blame than ye. Well I wot, said the queen,

I bare a child by my lord King Uther, but I wot not where he is become.

Then Merlin took the king by the hand, saying, This is your mother. And

therewith Sir Ector bare witness how he nourished him by Uther’s

commandment. And therewith King Arthur took his mother, Queen Igraine,

in his arms and kissed her, and either wept upon other. And then the

king let make a feast that lasted eight days.

Then on a day there came in the court a squire on horseback, leading a

knight before him wounded to the death, and told him how there was a

knight in the forest had reared up a pavilion by a well, and hath slain

my master, a good knight, his name was Miles; wherefore I beseech you

that my master may be buried, and that some knight may revenge my

master’s death. Then the noise was great of that knight’s death in the

court, and every man said his advice. Then came Griflet that was but a

squire, and he was but young, of the age of the king Arthur, so he

besought the king for all his service that he had done him to give the

order of knighthood.

CHAPTER XXII. How Griflet was made knight, and jousted with a knight.

Thou art full young and tender of age, said Arthur, for to take so high

an order on thee. Sir, said Griflet, I beseech you make me knight. Sir,

said Merlin, it were great pity to lose Griflet, for he will be a

passing good man when he is of age, abiding with you the term of his

life. And if he adventure his body with yonder knight at the fountain,

it is in great peril if ever he come again, for he is one of the best

knights of the world, and the strongest man of arms. Well, said Arthur.

So at the desire of Griflet the king made him knight. Now, said Arthur

unto Sir Griflet, sith I have made you knight thou must give me a gift.

What ye will, said Griflet. Thou shalt promise me by the faith of thy

body, when thou hast jousted with the knight at the fountain, whether

it fall ye be on foot or on horseback, that right so ye shall come

again unto me without making any more debate. I will promise you, said

Griflet, as you desire. Then took Griflet his horse in great haste, and

dressed his shield and took a spear in his hand, and so he rode a great

wallop till he came to the fountain, and thereby he saw a rich

pavilion, and thereby under a cloth stood a fair horse well saddled and

bridled, and on a tree a shield of divers colours and a great spear.

Then Griflet smote on the shield with the butt of his spear, that the

shield fell down to the ground. With that the knight came out of the

pavilion, and said, Fair knight, why smote ye down my shield? For I

will joust with you, said Griflet. It is better ye do not, said the

knight, for ye are but young, and late made knight, and your might is

nothing to mine. As for that, said Griflet, I will joust with you. That

is me loath, said the knight, but sith I must needs, I will dress me

thereto. Of whence be ye? said the knight. Sir, I am of Arthur’s court.

So the two knights ran together that Griflet’s spear all to-shivered;

and there withal he smote Griflet through the shield and the left side,

and brake the spear that the truncheon stuck in his body, that horse

and knight fell down.

CHAPTER XXIII. How twelve knights came from Rome and asked truage for

this land of Arthur, and how Arthur fought with a knight.

When the knight saw him lie so on the ground, he alighted, and was

passing heavy, for he weened he had slain him, and then he unlaced his

helm and gat him wind, and so with the truncheon he set him on his

horse, and so betook him to God, and said he had a mighty heart, and if

he might live he would prove a passing good knight. And so Sir Griflet

rode to the court, where great dole was made for him. But through good

leeches he was healed and saved. Right so came into the court twelve

knights, and were aged men, and they came from the Emperor of Rome, and

they asked of Arthur truage for this realm, other else the emperor

would destroy him and his land. Well, said King Arthur, ye are

messengers, therefore ye may say what ye will, other else ye should die

therefore. But this is mine answer: I owe the emperor no truage, nor

none will I hold him, but on a fair field I shall give him my truage

that shall be with a sharp spear, or else with a sharp sword, and that

shall not be long, by my father’s soul, Uther Pendragon. And therewith

the messengers departed passingly wroth, and King Arthur as wroth, for

in evil time came they then; for the king was passingly wroth for the

hurt of Sir Griflet. And so he commanded a privy man of his chamber

that or it be day his best horse and armour, with all that longeth unto

his person, be without the city or to-morrow day. Right so or to-morrow

day he met with his man and his horse, and so mounted up and dressed

his shield and took his spear, and bade his chamberlain tarry there

till he came again. And so Arthur rode a soft pace till it was day, and

then was he ware of three churls chasing Merlin, and would have slain

him. Then the king rode unto them, and bade them: Flee, churls! then

were they afeard when they saw a knight, and fled. O Merlin, said

Arthur, here hadst thou been slain for all thy crafts had I not been.

Nay, said Merlin, not so, for I could save myself an I would; and thou

art more near thy death than I am, for thou goest to the deathward, an

God be not thy friend.

So as they went thus talking they came to the fountain, and the rich

pavilion there by it. Then King Arthur was ware where sat a knight

armed in a chair. Sir knight, said Arthur, for what cause abidest thou

here, that there may no knight ride this way but if he joust with thee?

said the king. I rede thee leave that custom, said Arthur. This custom,

said the knight, have I used and will use maugre who saith nay, and who

is grieved with my custom let him amend it that will. I will amend it,

said Arthur. I shall defend thee, said the knight. Anon he took his

horse and dressed his shield and took a spear, and they met so hard

either in other’s shields, that all to-shivered their spears. Therewith

anon Arthur pulled out his sword. Nay, not so, said the knight; it is

fairer, said the knight, that we twain run more together with sharp

spears. I will well, said Arthur, an I had any more spears. I have

enow, said the knight; so there came a squire and brought two good

spears, and Arthur chose one and he another; so they spurred their

horses and came together with all their mights, that either brake their

spears to their hands. Then Arthur set hand on his sword. Nay, said the

knight, ye shall do better, ye are a passing good jouster as ever I met

withal, and once for the love of the high order of knighthood let us

joust once again. I assent me, said Arthur. Anon there were brought two

great spears, and every knight gat a spear, and therewith they ran

together that Arthur’s spear all to-shivered. But the other knight hit

him so hard in midst of the shield, that horse and man fell to the

earth, and therewith Arthur was eager, and pulled out his sword, and

said, I will assay thee, sir knight, on foot, for I have lost the

honour on horseback. I will be on horseback, said the knight. Then was

Arthur wroth, and dressed his shield toward him with his sword drawn.

When the knight saw that, he alighted, for him thought no worship to

have a knight at such avail, he to be on horseback and he on foot, and

so he alighted and dressed his shield unto Arthur. And there began a

strong battle with many great strokes, and so hewed with their swords

that the cantels flew in the fields, and much blood they bled both,

that all the place there as they fought was overbled with blood, and

thus they fought long and rested them, and then they went to the battle

again, and so hurtled together like two rams that either fell to the

earth. So at the last they smote together that both their swords met

even together. But the sword of the knight smote King Arthur’s sword in

two pieces, wherefore he was heavy. Then said the knight unto Arthur,

Thou art in my daunger whether me list to save thee or slay thee, and

but thou yield thee as overcome and recreant, thou shalt die. As for

death, said King Arthur, welcome be it when it cometh, but to yield me

unto thee as recreant I had liefer die than to be so shamed. And

therewithal the king leapt unto Pellinore, and took him by the middle

and threw him down, and raced off his helm. When the knight felt that

he was adread, for he was a passing big man of might, and anon he

brought Arthur under him, and raced off his helm and would have smitten

off his head.

CHAPTER XXIV. How Merlin saved Arthur’s life, and threw an enchantment

on King Pellinore and made him to sleep.

Therewithal came Merlin and said, Knight, hold thy hand, for an thou

slay that knight thou puttest this realm in the greatest damage that

ever was realm: for this knight is a man of more worship than thou

wotest of. Why, who is he? said the knight. It is King Arthur. Then

would he have slain him for dread of his wrath, and heaved up his

sword, and therewith Merlin cast an enchantment to the knight, that he

fell to the earth in a great sleep. Then Merlin took up King Arthur,

and rode forth on the knight’s horse. Alas! said Arthur, what hast thou

done, Merlin? hast thou slain this good knight by thy crafts? There

liveth not so worshipful a knight as he was; I had liefer than the

stint of my land a year that he were alive. Care ye not, said Merlin,

for he is wholer than ye; for he is but asleep, and will awake within

three hours. I told you, said Merlin, what a knight he was; here had ye

been slain had I not been. Also there liveth not a bigger knight than

he is one, and he shall hereafter do you right good service; and his

name is Pellinore, and he shall have two sons that shall be passing

good men; save one they shall have no fellow of prowess and of good

living, and their names shall be Percivale of Wales and Lamerake of

Wales, and he shall tell you the name of your own son, begotten of your

sister, that shall be the destruction of all this realm.

CHAPTER XXV. How Arthur by the mean of Merlin gat Excalibur his sword

of the Lady of the Lake.

Right so the king and he departed, and went unto an hermit that was a

good man and a great leech. So the hermit searched all his wounds and

gave him good salves; so the king was there three days, and then were

his wounds well amended that he might ride and go, and so departed. And

as they rode, Arthur said, I have no sword. No force, said Merlin,

hereby is a sword that shall be yours, an I may. So they rode till they

came to a lake, the which was a fair water and broad, and in the midst

of the lake Arthur was ware of an arm clothed in white samite, that

held a fair sword in that hand. Lo! said Merlin, yonder is that sword

that I spake of. With that they saw a damosel going upon the lake. What

damosel is that? said Arthur. That is the Lady of the Lake, said

Merlin; and within that lake is a rock, and therein is as fair a place

as any on earth, and richly beseen; and this damosel will come to you

anon, and then speak ye fair to her that she will give you that sword.

Anon withal came the damosel unto Arthur, and saluted him, and he her

again. Damosel, said Arthur, what sword is that, that yonder the arm

holdeth above the water? I would it were mine, for I have no sword. Sir

Arthur, king, said the damosel, that sword is mine, and if ye will give

me a gift when I ask it you, ye shall have it. By my faith, said

Arthur, I will give you what gift ye will ask. Well! said the damosel,

go ye into yonder barge, and row yourself to the sword, and take it and

the scabbard with you, and I will ask my gift when I see my time. So

Sir Arthur and Merlin alighted and tied their horses to two trees, and

so they went into the ship, and when they came to the sword that the

hand held, Sir Arthur took it up by the handles, and took it with him,

and the arm and the hand went under the water. And so [they] came unto

the land and rode forth, and then Sir Arthur saw a rich pavilion. What

signifieth yonder pavilion? It is the knight’s pavilion, said Merlin,

that ye fought with last, Sir Pellinore; but he is out, he is not

there. He hath ado with a knight of yours that hight Egglame, and they

have foughten together, but at the last Egglame fled, and else he had

been dead, and he hath chased him even to Carlion, and we shall meet

with him anon in the highway. That is well said, said Arthur, now have

I a sword, now will I wage battle with him, and be avenged on him. Sir,

you shall not so, said Merlin, for the knight is weary of fighting and

chasing, so that ye shall have no worship to have ado with him; also he

will not be lightly matched of one knight living, and therefore it is

my counsel, let him pass, for he shall do you good service in short

time, and his sons after his days. Also ye shall see that day in short

space, you shall be right glad to give him your sister to wed. When I

see him, I will do as ye advise, said Arthur.

Then Sir Arthur looked on the sword, and liked it passing well. Whether

liketh you better, said Merlin, the sword or the scabbard? Me liketh

better the sword, said Arthur. Ye are more unwise, said Merlin, for the

scabbard is worth ten of the swords, for whiles ye have the scabbard

upon you, ye shall never lose no blood, be ye never so sore wounded;

therefore keep well the scabbard always with you. So they rode unto

Carlion, and by the way they met with Sir Pellinore; but Merlin had

done such a craft, that Pellinore saw not Arthur, and he passed by

without any words. I marvel, said Arthur, that the knight would not

speak. Sir, said Merlin, he saw you not, for an he had seen you, ye had

not lightly departed. So they came unto Carlion, whereof his knights

were passing glad. And when they heard of his adventures, they

marvelled that he would jeopard his person so, alone. But all men of

worship said it was merry to be under such a chieftain, that would put

his person in adventure as other poor knights did.

CHAPTER XXVI. How tidings came to Arthur that King Rience had overcome

eleven kings, and how he desired Arthur’s beard to trim his mantle.

This meanwhile came a messenger from King Rience of North Wales, and

king he was of all Ireland, and of many isles. And this was his

message, greeting well King Arthur in this manner wise, saying that

King Rience had discomfited and overcome eleven kings, and everych of

them did him homage, and that was this, they gave him their beards

clean flayed off, as much as there was; wherefore the messenger came

for King Arthur’s beard. For King Rience had purfled a mantle with

kings’ beards, and there lacked one place of the mantle; wherefore he

sent for his beard, or else he would enter into his lands, and burn and

slay, and never leave till he have the head and the beard. Well, said

Arthur, thou hast said thy message, the which is the most villainous

and lewdest message that ever man heard sent unto a king; also thou

mayest see my beard is full young yet to make a purfle of it. But tell

thou thy king this: I owe him none homage, nor none of mine elders; but

or it be long to, he shall do me homage on both his knees, or else he

shall lose his head, by the faith of my body, for this is the most

shamefulest message that ever I heard speak of. I have espied thy king

met never yet with worshipful man, but tell him, I will have his head

without he do me homage. Then the messenger departed.

Now is there any here, said Arthur, that knoweth King Rience? Then

answered a knight that hight Naram, Sir, I know the king well; he is a

passing good man of his body, as few be living, and a passing proud

man, and Sir, doubt ye not he will make war on you with a mighty

puissance. Well, said Arthur, I shall ordain for him in short time.

CHAPTER XXVII. How all the children were sent for that were born on

May-day, and how Mordred was saved.

Then King Arthur let send for all the children born on May-day,

begotten of lords and born of ladies; for Merlin told King Arthur that

he that should destroy him should be born on May-day, wherefore he sent

for them all, upon pain of death; and so there were found many lords’

sons, and all were sent unto the king, and so was Mordred sent by King

Lot’s wife, and all were put in a ship to the sea, and some were four

weeks old, and some less. And so by fortune the ship drave unto a

castle, and was all to-riven, and destroyed the most part, save that

Mordred was cast up, and a good man found him, and nourished him till

he was fourteen year old, and then he brought him to the court, as it

rehearseth afterward, toward the end of the Death of Arthur. So many

lords and barons of this realm were displeased, for their children were

so lost, and many put the wite on Merlin more than on Arthur; so what

for dread and for love, they held their peace. But when the messenger

came to King Rience, then was he wood out of measure, and purveyed him

for a great host, as it rehearseth after in the book of Balin le

Savage, that followeth next after, how by adventure Balin gat the

sword.

Explicit liber primus.

BOOK II.

CHAPTER I. Of a damosel which came girt with a sword for to find a man

of such virtue to draw it out of the scabbard.

After the death of Uther Pendragon reigned Arthur his son, the which

had great war in his days for to get all England into his hand. For

there were many kings within the realm of England, and in Wales,

Scotland, and Cornwall. So it befell on a time when King Arthur was at

London, there came a knight and told the king tidings how that the King

Rience of North Wales had reared a great number of people, and were

entered into the land, and burnt and slew the king’s true liege people.

If this be true, said Arthur, it were great shame unto mine estate but

that he were mightily withstood. It is truth, said the knight, for I

saw the host myself. Well, said the king, let make a cry, that all the

lords, knights, and gentlemen of arms, should draw unto a castle called

Camelot in those days, and there the king would let make a

council-general and a great jousts.

So when the king was come thither with all his baronage, and lodged as

they seemed best, there was come a damosel the which was sent on

message from the great lady Lile of Avelion. And when she came before

King Arthur, she told from whom she came, and how she was sent on

message unto him for these causes. Then she let her mantle fall that

was richly furred; and then was she girt with a noble sword whereof the

king had marvel, and said, Damosel, for what cause are ye girt with

that sword? it beseemeth you not. Now shall I tell you, said the

damosel; this sword that I am girt withal doth me great sorrow and

cumbrance, for I may not be delivered of this sword but by a knight,

but he must be a passing good man of his hands and of his deeds, and

without villainy or treachery, and without treason. And if I may find

such a knight that hath all these virtues, he may draw out this sword

out of the sheath, for I have been at King Rience’s it was told me

there were passing good knights, and he and all his knights have

assayed it and none can speed. This is a great marvel, said Arthur, if

this be sooth; I will myself assay to draw out the sword, not presuming

upon myself that I am the best knight, but that I will begin to draw at

your sword in giving example to all the barons that they shall assay

everych one after other when I have assayed it. Then Arthur took the

sword by the sheath and by the girdle and pulled at it eagerly, but the

sword would not out.

Sir, said the damosel, you need not to pull half so hard, for he that

shall pull it out shall do it with little might. Ye say well, said

Arthur; now assay ye all my barons; but beware ye be not defiled with

shame, treachery, nor guile. Then it will not avail, said the damosel,

for he must be a clean knight without villainy, and of a gentle strain

of father side and mother side. Most of all the barons of the Round

Table that were there at that time assayed all by row, but there might

none speed; wherefore the damosel made great sorrow out of measure, and

said, Alas! I weened in this court had been the best knights without

treachery or treason. By my faith, said Arthur, here are good knights,

as I deem, as any be in the world, but their grace is not to help you,

wherefore I am displeased.

CHAPTER II. How Balin, arrayed like a poor knight, pulled out the

sword, which afterward was the cause of his death.

Then fell it so that time there was a poor knight with King Arthur,

that had been prisoner with him half a year and more for slaying of a

knight, the which was cousin unto King Arthur. The name of this knight

was called Balin, and by good means of the barons he was delivered out

of prison, for he was a good man named of his body, and he was born in

Northumberland. And so he went privily into the court, and saw this

adventure, whereof it raised his heart, and he would assay it as other

knights did, but for he was poor and poorly arrayed he put him not far

in press. But in his heart he was fully assured to do as well, if his

grace happed him, as any knight that there was. And as the damosel took

her leave of Arthur and of all the barons, so departing, this knight

Balin called unto her, and said, Damosel, I pray you of your courtesy,

suffer me as well to assay as these lords; though that I be so poorly

clothed, in my heart meseemeth I am fully assured as some of these

others, and meseemeth in my heart to speed right well. The damosel

beheld the poor knight, and saw he was a likely man, but for his poor

arrayment she thought he should be of no worship without villainy or

treachery. And then she said unto the knight, Sir, it needeth not to

put me to more pain or labour, for it seemeth not you to speed there as

other have failed. Ah! fair damosel, said Balin, worthiness, and good

tatches, and good deeds, are not only in arrayment, but manhood and

worship is hid within man’s person, and many a worshipful knight is not

known unto all people, and therefore worship and hardiness is not in

arrayment. By God, said the damosel, ye say sooth; therefore ye shall

assay to do what ye may. Then Balin took the sword by the girdle and

sheath, and drew it out easily; and when he looked on the sword it

pleased him much.

Then had the king and all the barons great marvel

that Balin had done that adventure, and many knights had great despite

of Balin. Certes, said the damosel, this is a passing good knight, and

the best that ever I found, and most of worship without treason,

treachery, or villainy, and many marvels shall he do. Now, gentle and

courteous knight, give me the sword again. Nay, said Balin, for this

sword will I keep, but it be taken from me with force. Well, said the

damosel, ye are not wise to keep the sword from me, for ye shall slay

with the sword the best friend that ye have, and the man that ye most

love in the world, and the sword shall be your destruction. I shall

take the adventure, said Balin, that God will ordain me, but the sword

ye shall not have at this time, by the faith of my body. Ye shall

repent it within short time, said the damosel, for I would have the

sword more for your avail than for mine, for I am passing heavy for

your sake; for ye will not believe that sword shall be your

destruction, and that is great pity. With that the damosel departed,

making great sorrow.

Anon after, Balin sent for his horse and armour, and so would depart

from the court, and took his leave of King Arthur. Nay, said the king,

I suppose ye will not depart so lightly from this fellowship, I suppose

ye are displeased that I have shewed you unkindness; blame me the less,

for I was misinformed against you, but I weened ye had not been such a

knight as ye are, of worship and prowess, and if ye will abide in this

court among my fellowship, I shall so advance you as ye shall be

pleased. God thank your highness, said Balin, your bounty and highness

may no man praise half to the value; but at this time I must needs

depart, beseeching you alway of your good grace. Truly, said the king,

I am right wroth for your departing; I pray you, fair knight, that ye

tarry not long, and ye shall be right welcome to me, and to my barons,

and I shall amend all miss that I have done against you; God thank your

great lordship, said Balin, and therewith made him ready to depart.

Then the most part of the knights of the Round Table said that Balin

did not this adventure all only by might, but by witchcraft.

CHAPTER III. How the Lady of the Lake demanded the knight’s head that

had won the sword, or the maiden’s head.

The meanwhile, that this knight was making him ready to depart, there

came into the court a lady that hight the Lady of the Lake. And she

came on horseback, richly beseen, and saluted King Arthur, and there

asked him a gift that he promised her when she gave him the sword. That

is sooth, said Arthur, a gift I promised you, but I have forgotten the

name of my sword that ye gave me. The name of it, said the lady, is

Excalibur, that is as much to say as Cut-steel. Ye say well, said the

king; ask what ye will and ye shall have it, an it lie in my power to

give it. Well, said the lady, I ask the head of the knight that hath

won the sword, or else the damosel’s head that brought it; I take no

force though I have both their heads, for he slew my brother, a good

knight and a true, and that gentlewoman was causer of my father’s

death. Truly, said King Arthur, I may not grant neither of their heads

with my worship, therefore ask what ye will else, and I shall fulfil

your desire. I will ask none other thing, said the lady. When Balin was

ready to depart, he saw the Lady of the Lake, that by her means had

slain Balin’s mother, and he had sought her three years; and when it

was told him that she asked his head of King Arthur, he went to her

straight and said, Evil be you found; ye would have my head, and

therefore ye shall lose yours, and with his sword lightly he smote off

her head before King Arthur. Alas, for shame! said Arthur, why have ye

done so? ye have shamed me and all my court, for this was a lady that I

was beholden to, and hither she came under my safe-conduct; I shall

never forgive you that trespass. Sir, said Balin, me forthinketh of

your displeasure, for this same lady was the untruest lady living, and

by enchantment and sorcery she hath been the destroyer of many good

knights, and she was causer that my mother was burnt, through her

falsehood and treachery. What cause soever ye had, said Arthur, ye

should have forborne her in my presence; therefore, think not the

contrary, ye shall repent it, for such another despite had I never in

my court; therefore withdraw you out of my court in all haste ye may.

Then Balin took up the head of the lady, and bare it with him to his

hostelry, and there he met with his squire, that was sorry he had

displeased King Arthur and so they rode forth out of the town. Now,

said Balin, we must depart, take thou this head and bear it to my

friends, and tell them how I have sped, and tell my friends in

Northumberland that my most foe is dead. Also tell them how I am out of

prison, and what adventure befell me at the getting of this sword.

Alas! said the squire, ye are greatly to blame for to displease King

Arthur. As for that, said Balin, I will hie me, in all the haste that I

may, to meet with King Rience and destroy him, either else to die

therefore; and if it may hap me to win him, then will King Arthur be my

good and gracious lord. Where shall I meet with you? said the squire.

In King Arthur’s court, said Balin. So his squire and he departed at

that time. Then King Arthur and all the court made great dole and had

shame of the death of the Lady of the Lake. Then the king buried her

richly.

CHAPTER IV. How Merlin told the adventure of this damosel.

At that time there was a knight, the which was the king’s son of

Ireland, and his name was Lanceor, the which was an orgulous knight,

and counted himself one of the best of the court; and he had great

despite at Balin for the achieving of the sword, that any should be

accounted more hardy, or more of prowess; and he asked King Arthur if

he would give him leave to ride after Balin and to revenge the despite

that he had done. Do your best, said Arthur, I am right wroth with

Balin; I would he were quit of the despite that he hath done to me and

to my court. Then this Lanceor went to his hostelry to make him ready.

In the meanwhile came Merlin unto the court of King Arthur, and there

was told him the adventure of the sword, and the death of the Lady of

the Lake. Now shall I say you, said Merlin; this same damosel that here

standeth, that brought the sword unto your court, I shall tell you the

cause of her coming: she was the falsest damosel that liveth. Say not

so, said they. She hath a brother, a passing good knight of prowess and

a full true man; and this damosel loved another knight that held her to

paramour, and this good knight her brother met with the knight that

held her to paramour, and slew him by force of his hands. When this

false damosel understood this, she went to the Lady Lile of Avelion,

and besought her of help, to be avenged on her own brother.

CHAPTER V. How Balin was pursued by Sir Lanceor, knight of Ireland, and

how he jousted and slew him.

And so this Lady Lile of Avelion took her this sword that she brought

with her, and told there should no man pull it out of the sheath but if

he be one of the best knights of this realm, and he should be hard and

full of prowess, and with that sword he should slay her brother. This

was the cause that the damosel came into this court. I know it as well

as ye. Would God she had not come into this court, but she came never

in fellowship of worship to do good, but always great harm; and that

knight that hath achieved the sword shall be destroyed by that sword,

for the which will be great damage, for there liveth not a knight of

more prowess than he is, and he shall do unto you, my Lord Arthur,

great honour and kindness; and it is great pity he shall not endure but

a while, for of his strength and hardiness I know not his match living.

So the knight of Ireland armed him at all points, and dressed his

shield on his shoulder, and mounted upon horseback, and took his spear

in his hand, and rode after a great pace, as much as his horse might

go; and within a little space on a mountain he had a sight of Balin,

and with a loud voice he cried, Abide, knight, for ye shall abide

whether ye will or nill, and the shield that is to-fore you shall not

help. When Balin heard the noise, he turned his horse fiercely, and

said, Fair knight, what will ye with me, will ye joust with me? Yea,

said the Irish knight, therefore come I after you. Peradventure, said

Balin, it had been better to have holden you at home, for many a man

weeneth to put his enemy to a rebuke, and oft it falleth to himself. Of

what court be ye sent from? said Balin. I am come from the court of

King Arthur, said the knight of Ireland, that come hither for to

revenge the despite ye did this day to King Arthur and to his court.

Well, said Balin, I see well I must have ado with you, that me

forthinketh for to grieve King Arthur, or any of his court; and your

quarrel is full simple, said Balin, unto me, for the lady that is dead,

did me great damage, and else would I have been loath as any knight

that liveth for to slay a lady. Make you ready, said the knight

Lanceor, and dress you unto me, for that one shall abide in the field.

Then they took their spears, and came together as much as their horses

might drive, and the Irish knight smote Balin on the shield, that all

went shivers off his spear, and Balin hit him through the shield, and

the hauberk perished, and so pierced through his body and the horse’s

croup, and anon turned his horse fiercely, and drew out his sword, and

wist not that he had slain him; and then he saw him lie as a dead

corpse.

CHAPTER VI. How a damosel, which was love to Lanceor, slew herself for

love, and how Balin met with his brother Balan.

Then he looked by him, and was ware of a damosel that came riding full

fast as the horse might ride, on a fair palfrey. And when she espied

that Lanceor was slain, she made sorrow out of measure, and said, O

Balin, two bodies thou hast slain and one heart, and two hearts in one

body, and two souls thou hast lost. And therewith she took the sword

from her love that lay dead, and fell to the ground in a swoon. And

when she arose she made great dole out of measure, the which sorrow

grieved Balin passingly sore, and he went unto her for to have taken

the sword out of her hand, but she held it so fast he might not take it

out of her hand unless he should have hurt her, and suddenly she set

the pommel to the ground, and rove herself through the body. When Balin

espied her deeds, he was passing heavy in his heart, and ashamed that

so fair a damosel had destroyed herself for the love of his death.

Alas, said Balin, me repenteth sore the death of this knight, for the

love of this damosel, for there was much true love betwixt them both,

and for sorrow might not longer behold him, but turned his horse and

looked toward a great forest, and there he was ware, by the arms, of

his brother Balan. And when they were met they put off their helms and

kissed together, and wept for joy and pity. Then Balan said, I little

weened to have met with you at this sudden adventure; I am right glad

of your deliverance out of your dolorous prisonment, for a man told me,

in the castle of Four Stones, that ye were delivered, and that man had

seen you in the court of King Arthur, and therefore I came hither into

this country, for here I supposed to find you. Anon the knight Balin

told his brother of his adventure of the sword, and of the death of the

Lady of the Lake, and how King Arthur was displeased with him.

Wherefore he sent this knight after me, that lieth here dead, and the

death of this damosel grieveth me sore. So doth it me, said Balan, but

ye must take the adventure that God will ordain you. Truly, said Balin,

I am right heavy that my Lord Arthur is displeased with me, for he is

the most worshipful knight that reigneth now on earth, and his love

will I get or else will I put my life in adventure. For the King Rience

lieth at a siege at the Castle Terrabil, and thither will we draw in

all haste, to prove our worship and prowess upon him. I will well, said

Balan, that we do, and we will help each other as brethren ought to do.

CHAPTER VII. How a dwarf reproved Balin for the death of Lanceor, and

how King Mark of Cornwall found them, and made a tomb over them.

Now go we hence, said Balin, and well be we met. The meanwhile as they

talked, there came a dwarf from the city of Camelot on horseback, as

much as he might; and found the dead bodies, wherefore he made great

dole, and pulled out his hair for sorrow, and said, Which of you

knights have done this deed? Whereby askest thou it? said Balan. For I

would wit it, said the dwarf. It was I, said Balin, that slew this

knight in my defence, for hither he came to chase me, and either I must

slay him or he me; and this damosel slew herself for his love, which

repenteth me, and for her sake I shall owe all women the better love.

Alas, said the dwarf, thou hast done great damage unto thyself, for

this knight that is here dead was one of the most valiantest men that

lived, and trust well, Balin, the kin of this knight will chase you

through the world till they have slain you. As for that, said Balin, I

fear not greatly, but I am right heavy that I have displeased my lord

King Arthur, for the death of this knight. So as they talked together,

there came a king of Cornwall riding, the which hight King Mark. And

when he saw these two bodies dead, and understood how they were dead,

by the two knights above said, then made the king great sorrow for the

true love that was betwixt them, and said, I will not depart till I

have on this earth made a tomb, and there he pight his pavilions and

sought through all the country to find a tomb, and in a church they

found one was fair and rich, and then the king let put them both in the

earth, and put the tomb upon them, and wrote the names of them both on

the tomb. How here lieth Lanceor the king’s son of Ireland, that at his

own request was slain by the hands of Balin; and how his lady, Colombe,

and paramour, slew herself with her love’s sword for dole and sorrow.

CHAPTER VIII. How Merlin prophesied that two the best knights of the

world should fight there, which were Sir Lancelot and Sir Tristram.

The meanwhile as this was a-doing, in came Merlin to King Mark, and

seeing all his doing, said, Here shall be in this same place the

greatest battle betwixt two knights that was or ever shall be, and the

truest lovers, and yet none of them shall slay other. And there Merlin

wrote their names upon the tomb with letters of gold that should fight

in that place, whose names were Launcelot de Lake, and Tristram. Thou

art a marvellous man, said King Mark unto Merlin, that speakest of such

marvels, thou art a boistous man and an unlikely to tell of such deeds.

What is thy name? said King Mark. At this time, said Merlin, I will not

tell, but at that time when Sir Tristram is taken with his sovereign

lady, then ye shall hear and know my name, and at that time ye shall

hear tidings that shall not please you. Then said Merlin to Balin, Thou

hast done thyself great hurt, because that thou savest not this lady

that slew herself, that might have saved her an thou wouldest. By the

faith of my body, said Balin, I might not save her, for she slew

herself suddenly. Me repenteth, said Merlin; because of the death of

that lady thou shalt strike a stroke most dolorous that ever man

struck, except the stroke of our Lord, for thou shalt hurt the truest

knight and the man of most worship that now liveth, and through that

stroke three kingdoms shall be in great poverty, misery and

wretchedness twelve years, and the knight shall not be whole of that

wound for many years. Then Merlin took his leave of Balin. And Balin

said, If I wist it were sooth that ye say I should do such a perilous

deed as that, I would slay myself to make thee a liar. Therewith Merlin

vanished away suddenly. And then Balan and his brother took their leave

of King Mark. First, said the king, tell me your name. Sir, said Balan,

ye may see he beareth two swords, thereby ye may call him the Knight

with the Two Swords. And so departed King Mark unto Camelot to King

Arthur, and Balin took the way toward King Rience; and as they rode

together they met with Merlin disguised, but they knew him not. Whither

ride you? said Merlin. We have little to do, said the two knights, to

tell thee. But what is thy name? said Balin. At this time, said Merlin,

I will not tell it thee. It is evil seen, said the knights, that thou

art a true man that thou wilt not tell thy name. As for that, said

Merlin, be it as it be may, I can tell you wherefore ye ride this way,

for to meet King Rience; but it will not avail you without ye have my

counsel. Ah! said Balin, ye are Merlin; we will be ruled by your

counsel. Come on, said Merlin, ye shall have great worship, and look

that ye do knightly, for ye shall have great need. As for that, said

Balin, dread you not, we will do what we may.

CHAPTER IX. How Balin and his brother, by the counsel of Merlin, took

King Rience and brought him to King Arthur.

Then Merlin lodged them in a wood among leaves beside the highway, and

took off the bridles of their horses and put them to grass and laid

them down to rest them till it was nigh midnight. Then Merlin bade them

rise, and make them ready, for the king was nigh them, that was stolen

away from his host with a three score horses of his best knights, and

twenty of them rode to-fore to warn the Lady de Vance that the king was

coming; for that night King Rience should have lain with her. Which is

the king? said Balin. Abide, said Merlin, here in a strait way ye shall

meet with him; and therewith he showed Balin and his brother where he

rode.

Anon Balin and his brother met with the king, and smote him down, and

wounded him fiercely, and laid him to the ground; and there they slew

on the right hand and the left hand, and slew more than forty of his

men, and the remnant fled. Then went they again to King Rience and

would have slain him had he not yielded him unto their grace. Then said

he thus: Knights full of prowess, slay me not, for by my life ye may

win, and by my death ye shall win nothing. Then said these two knights,

Ye say sooth and truth, and so laid him on a horse-litter. With that

Merlin was vanished, and came to King Arthur aforehand, and told him

how his most enemy was taken and discomfited. By whom? said King

Arthur. By two knights, said Merlin, that would please your lordship,

and to-morrow ye shall know what knights they are. Anon after came the

Knight with the Two Swords and Balan his brother, and brought with them

King Rience of North Wales, and there delivered him to the porters, and

charged them with him; and so they two returned again in the dawning of

the day. King Arthur came then to King Rience, and said, Sir king, ye

are welcome: by what adventure come ye hither? Sir, said King Rience, I

came hither by an hard adventure. Who won you? said King Arthur. Sir,

said the king, the Knight with the Two Swords and his brother, which

are two marvellous knights of prowess. I know them not, said Arthur,

but much I am beholden to them. Ah, said Merlin, I shall tell you: it

is Balin that achieved the sword, and his brother Balan, a good knight,

there liveth not a better of prowess and of worthiness, and it shall be

the greatest dole of him that ever I knew of knight, for he shall not

long endure. Alas, said King Arthur, that is great pity; for I am much

beholden unto him, and I have ill deserved it unto him for his

kindness. Nay, said Merlin, he shall do much more for you, and that

shall ye know in haste. But, sir, are ye purveyed, said Merlin, for

to-morn the host of Nero, King Rience’s brother, will set on you or

noon with a great host, and therefore make you ready, for I will depart

from you.

CHAPTER X. How King Arthur had a battle against Nero and King Lot of

Orkney, and how King Lot was deceived by Merlin, and how twelve kings

were slain.

Then King Arthur made ready his host in ten battles and Nero was ready

in the field afore the Castle Terrabil with a great host, and he had

ten battles, with many more people than Arthur had. Then Nero had the

vanguard with the most part of his people, and Merlin came to King Lot

of the Isle of Orkney, and held him with a tale of prophecy, till Nero

and his people were destroyed. And there Sir Kay the seneschal did

passingly well, that the days of his life the worship went never from

him; and Sir Hervis de Revel did marvellous deeds with King Arthur, and

King Arthur slew that day twenty knights and maimed forty. At that time

came in the Knight with the Two Swords and his brother Balan, but they

two did so marvellously that the king and all the knights marvelled of

them, and all they that beheld them said they were sent from heaven as

angels, or devils from hell; and King Arthur said himself they were the

best knights that ever he saw, for they gave such strokes that all men

had wonder of them.

In the meanwhile came one to King Lot, and told him while he tarried

there Nero was destroyed and slain with all his people. Alas, said King

Lot, I am ashamed, for by my default there is many a worshipful man

slain, for an we had been together there had been none host under the

heaven that had been able for to have matched with us; this faiter with

his prophecy hath mocked me. All that did Merlin, for he knew well that

an King Lot had been with his body there at the first battle, King

Arthur had been slain, and all his people destroyed; and well Merlin

knew that one of the kings should be dead that day, and loath was

Merlin that any of them both should be slain; but of the twain, he had

liefer King Lot had been slain than King Arthur. Now what is best to

do? said King Lot of Orkney; whether is me better to treat with King

Arthur or to fight, for the greater part of our people are slain and

destroyed? Sir, said a knight, set on Arthur for they are weary and

forfoughten and we be fresh. As for me, said King Lot, I would every

knight would do his part as I would do mine. And then they advanced

banners and smote together and all to-shivered their spears; and

Arthur’s knights, with the help of the Knight with the Two Swords and

his brother Balan put King Lot and his host to the worse. But always

King Lot held him in the foremost front, and did marvellous deeds of

arms, for all his host was borne up by his hands, for he abode all

knights. Alas he might not endure, the which was great pity, that so

worthy a knight as he was one should be overmatched, that of late time

afore had been a knight of King Arthur’s, and wedded the sister of King

Arthur; and for King Arthur lay by King Lot’s wife, the which was

Arthur’s sister, and gat on her Mordred, therefore King Lot held

against Arthur. So there was a knight that was called the Knight with

the Strange Beast, and at that time his right name was called

Pellinore, the which was a good man of prowess, and he smote a mighty

stroke at King Lot as he fought with all his enemies, and he failed of

his stroke, and smote the horse’s neck, that he fell to the ground with

King Lot. And therewith anon Pellinore smote him a great stroke through

the helm and head unto the brows. And then all the host of Orkney fled

for the death of King Lot, and there were slain many mothers’ sons. But

King Pellinore bare the wite of the death of King Lot, wherefore Sir

Gawaine revenged the death of his father the tenth year after he was

made knight, and slew King Pellinore with his own hands. Also there

were slain at that battle twelve kings on the side of King Lot with

Nero, and all were buried in the Church of Saint Stephen’s in Camelot,

and the remnant of knights and of others were buried in a great rock.

CHAPTER XI. Of the interment of twelve kings, and of the prophecy of

Merlin, and how Balin should give the dolorous stroke.

So at the interment came King Lot’s wife Margawse with her four sons,

Gawaine, Agravaine, Gaheris, and Gareth. Also there came thither King

Uriens, Sir Ewaine’s father, and Morgan le Fay his wife that was King

Arthur’s sister. All these came to the interment. But of all these

twelve kings King Arthur let make the tomb of King Lot passing richly,

and made his tomb by his own; and then Arthur let make twelve images of

latten and copper, and over-gilt it with gold, in the sign of twelve

kings, and each one of them held a taper of wax that burnt day and

night; and King Arthur was made in sign of a figure standing above them

with a sword drawn in his hand, and all the twelve figures had

countenance like unto men that were overcome. All this made Merlin by

his subtle craft, and there he told the king, When I am dead these

tapers shall burn no longer, and soon after the adventures of the

Sangreal shall come among you and be achieved. Also he told Arthur how

Balin the worshipful knight shall give the dolorous stroke, whereof

shall fall great vengeance. Oh, where is Balin and Balan and Pellinore?

said King Arthur. As for Pellinore, said Merlin, he will meet with you

soon; and as for Balin he will not be long from you; but the other

brother will depart, ye shall see him no more. By my faith, said

Arthur, they are two marvellous knights, and namely Balin passeth of

prowess of any knight that ever I found, for much beholden am I unto

him; would God he would abide with me. Sir, said Merlin, look ye keep

well the scabbard of Excalibur, for ye shall lose no blood while ye

have the scabbard upon you, though ye have as many wounds upon you as

ye may have. So after, for great trust, Arthur betook the scabbard to

Morgan le Fay his sister, and she loved another knight better than her

husband King Uriens or King Arthur, and she would have had Arthur her

brother slain, and therefore she let make another scabbard like it by

enchantment, and gave the scabbard Excalibur to her love; and the

knight’s name was called Accolon, that after had near slain King

Arthur. After this Merlin told unto King Arthur of the prophecy that

there should be a great battle beside Salisbury, and Mordred his own

son should be against him. Also he told him that Bagdemegus was his

cousin, and germain unto King Uriens.

CHAPTER XII. How a sorrowful knight came before Arthur, and how Balin

fetched him, and how that knight was slain by a knight invisible.

Within a day or two King Arthur was somewhat sick, and he let pitch his

pavilion in a meadow, and there he laid him down on a pallet to sleep,

but he might have no rest. Right so he heard a great noise of an horse,

and therewith the king looked out at the porch of the pavilion, and saw

a knight coming even by him, making great dole. Abide, fair sir, said

Arthur, and tell me wherefore thou makest this sorrow. Ye may little

amend me, said the knight, and so passed forth to the castle of Meliot.

Anon after there came Balin, and when he saw King Arthur he alighted

off his horse, and came to the King on foot, and saluted him. By my

head, said Arthur, ye be welcome. Sir, right now came riding this way a

knight making great mourn, for what cause I cannot tell; wherefore I

would desire of you of your courtesy and of your gentleness to fetch

again that knight either by force or else by his good will. I will do

more for your lordship than that, said Balin; and so he rode more than

a pace, and found the knight with a damosel in a forest, and said, Sir

knight, ye must come with me unto King Arthur, for to tell him of your

sorrow. That will I not, said the knight, for it will scathe me

greatly, and do you none avail. Sir, said Balin, I pray you make you

ready, for ye must go with me, or else I must fight with you and bring

you by force, and that were me loath to do. Will ye be my warrant, said

the knight, an I go with you? Yea, said Balin, or else I will die

therefore. And so he made him ready to go with Balin, and left the

damosel still. And as they were even afore King Arthur’s pavilion,

there came one invisible, and smote this knight that went with Balin

throughout the body with a spear. Alas, said the knight, I am slain

under your conduct with a knight called Garlon; therefore take my horse

that is better than yours, and ride to the damosel, and follow the

quest that I was in as she will lead you, and revenge my death when ye

may. That shall I do, said Balin, and that I make vow unto knighthood;

and so he departed from this knight with great sorrow. So King Arthur

let bury this knight richly, and made a mention on his tomb, how there

was slain Herlews le Berbeus, and by whom the treachery was done, the

knight Garlon. But ever the damosel bare the truncheon of the spear

with her that Sir Herlews was slain withal.

CHAPTER XIII. How Balin and the damosel met with a knight which was in

likewise slain, and how the damosel bled for the custom of a castle.

So Balin and the damosel rode into a forest, and there met with a

knight that had been a-hunting, and that knight asked Balin for what

cause he made so great sorrow. Me list not to tell you, said Balin.

Now, said the knight, an I were armed as ye be I would fight with you.

That should little need, said Balin, I am not afeard to tell you, and

told him all the cause how it was. Ah, said the knight, is this all?

here I ensure you by the faith of my body never to depart from you

while my life lasteth. And so they went to the hostelry and armed them,

and so rode forth with Balin. And as they came by an hermitage even by

a churchyard, there came the knight Garlon invisible, and smote this

knight, Perin de Mountbeliard, through the body with a spear. Alas,

said the knight, I am slain by this traitor knight that rideth

invisible. Alas, said Balin, it is not the first despite he hath done

me; and there the hermit and Balin buried the knight under a rich stone

and a tomb royal. And on the morn they found letters of gold written,

how Sir Gawaine shall revenge his father’s death, King Lot, on the King

Pellinore.

Anon after this Balin and the damosel rode till they came to

a castle, and there Balin alighted, and he and the damosel went to go

into the castle, and anon as Balin came within the castle’s gate the

portcullis fell down at his back, and there fell many men about the

damosel, and would have slain her. When Balin saw that, he was sore

aggrieved, for he might not help the damosel. Then he went up into the

tower, and leapt over walls into the ditch, and hurt him not; and anon

he pulled out his sword and would have foughten with them. And they all

said nay, they would not fight with him, for they did nothing but the

old custom of the castle; and told him how their lady was sick, and had

lain many years, and she might not be whole but if she had a dish of

silver full of blood of a clean maid and a king’s daughter; and

therefore the custom of this castle is, there shall no damosel pass

this way but she shall bleed of her blood in a silver dish full. Well,

said Balin, she shall bleed as much as she may bleed, but I will not

lose the life of her whiles my life lasteth. And so Balin made her to

bleed by her good will, but her blood helped not the lady. And so he

and she rested there all night, and had there right good cheer, and on

the morn they passed on their ways. And as it telleth after in the

Sangreal, that Sir Percivale’s sister helped that lady with her blood,

whereof she was dead.

CHAPTER XIV. How Balin met with that knight named Garlon at a feast,

and there he slew him, to have his blood to heal therewith the son of

his host.

Then they rode three or four days and never met with adventure, and by

hap they were lodged with a gentle man that was a rich man and well at

ease. And as they sat at their supper Balin overheard one complain

grievously by him in a chair. What is this noise? said Balin. Forsooth,

said his host, I will tell you. I was but late at a jousting, and there

I jousted with a knight that is brother unto King Pellam, and twice

smote I him down, and then he promised to quit me on my best friend;

and so he wounded my son, that cannot be whole till I have of that

knight’s blood, and he rideth alway invisible; but I know not his name.

Ah! said Balin, I know that knight, his name is Garlon, he hath slain

two knights of mine in the same manner, therefore I had liefer meet

with that knight than all the gold in this realm, for the despite he

hath done me. Well, said his host, I shall tell you, King Pellam of

Listeneise hath made do cry in all this country a great feast that

shall be within these twenty days, and no knight may come there but if

he bring his wife with him, or his paramour; and that knight, your

enemy and mine, ye shall see that day. Then I behote you, said Balin,

part of his blood to heal your son withal. We will be forward to-morn,

said his host. So on the morn they rode all three toward Pellam, and

they had fifteen days’ journey or they came thither; and that same day

began the great feast. And so they alighted and stabled their horses,

and went into the castle; but Balin’s host might not be let in because

he had no lady. Then Balin was well received and brought unto a chamber

and unarmed him; and there were brought him robes to his pleasure, and

would have had Balin leave his sword behind him. Nay, said Balin, that

do I not, for it is the custom of my country a knight always to keep

his weapon with him, and that custom will I keep, or else I will depart

as I came. Then they gave him leave to wear his sword, and so he went

unto the castle, and was set among knights of worship, and his lady

afore him.

Soon Balin asked a knight, Is there not a knight in this court whose

name is Garlon? Yonder he goeth, said a knight, he with the black face;

he is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many

good knights, for he goeth invisible. Ah well, said Balin, is that he?

Then Balin advised him long: If I slay him here I shall not escape, and

if I leave him now, peradventure I shall never meet with him again at

such a steven, and much harm he will do an he live. Therewith this

Garlon espied that this Balin beheld him, and then he came and smote

Balin on the face with the back of his hand, and said, Knight, why

beholdest me so? for shame therefore, eat thy meat and do that thou

came for. Thou sayest sooth, said Balin, this is not the first despite

that thou hast done me, and therefore I will do what I came for, and

rose up fiercely and clave his head to the shoulders. Give me the

truncheon, said Balin to his lady, wherewith he slew your knight. Anon

she gave it him, for alway she bare the truncheon with her. And

therewith Balin smote him through the body, and said openly, With that

truncheon thou hast slain a good knight, and now it sticketh in thy

body. And then Balin called unto him his host, saying, Now may ye fetch

blood enough to heal your son withal.

CHAPTER XV. How Balin fought with King Pellam, and how his sword brake,

and how he gat a spear wherewith he smote the dolorous stroke.

Anon all the knights arose from the table for to set on Balin, and King

Pellam himself arose up fiercely, and said, Knight, hast thou slain my

brother? thou shalt die therefore or thou depart. Well, said Balin, do

it yourself. Yes, said King Pellam, there shall no man have ado with

thee but myself, for the love of my brother. Then King Pellam caught in

his hand a grim weapon and smote eagerly at Balin; but Balin put the

sword betwixt his head and the stroke, and therewith his sword burst in

sunder. And when Balin was weaponless he ran into a chamber for to seek

some weapon, and so from chamber to chamber, and no weapon he could

find, and always King Pellam after him. And at the last he entered into

a chamber that was marvellously well dight and richly, and a bed

arrayed with cloth of gold, the richest that might be thought, and one

lying therein, and thereby stood a table of clean gold with four

pillars of silver that bare up the table, and upon the table stood a

marvellous spear strangely wrought. And when Balin saw that spear, he

gat it in his hand and turned him to King Pellam, and smote him

passingly sore with that spear, that King Pellam fell down in a swoon,

and therewith the castle roof and walls brake and fell to the earth,

and Balin fell down so that he might not stir foot nor hand. And so the

most part of the castle, that was fallen down through that dolorous

stroke, lay upon Pellam and Balin three days.

CHAPTER XVI. How Balin was delivered by Merlin, and saved a knight that

would have slain himself for love.

Then Merlin came thither and took up Balin, and gat him a good horse,

for his was dead, and bade him ride out of that country. I would have

my damosel, said Balin. Lo, said Merlin, where she lieth dead. And King

Pellam lay so, many years sore wounded, and might never be whole till

Galahad the haut prince healed him in the quest of the Sangreal, for in

that place was part of the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, that Joseph

of Arimathea brought into this land, and there himself lay in that rich

bed. And that was the same spear that Longius smote our Lord to the

heart; and King Pellam was nigh of Joseph’s kin, and that was the most

worshipful man that lived in those days, and great pity it was of his

hurt, for through that stroke, turned to great dole, tray and tene.

Then departed Balin from Merlin, and said, In this world we meet never

no more. So he rode forth through the fair countries and cities, and

found the people dead, slain on every side. And all that were alive

cried, O Balin, thou hast caused great damage in these countries; for

the dolorous stroke thou gavest unto King Pellam three countries are

destroyed, and doubt not but the vengeance will fall on thee at the

last. When Balin was past those countries he was passing fain.

So he rode eight days or he met with adventure. And at the last he came

into a fair forest in a valley, and was ware of a tower, and there

beside he saw a great horse of war, tied to a tree, and there beside

sat a fair knight on the ground and made great mourning, and he was a

likely man, and a well made. Balin said, God save you, why be ye so

heavy? tell me and I will amend it, an I may, to my power. Sir knight,

said he again, thou dost me great grief, for I was in merry thoughts,

and now thou puttest me to more pain. Balin went a little from him, and

looked on his horse; then heard Balin him say thus: Ah, fair lady, why

have ye broken my promise, for thou promisest me to meet me here by

noon, and I may curse thee that ever ye gave me this sword, for with

this sword I slay myself, and pulled it out. And therewith Balin stert

unto him and took him by the hand. Let go my hand, said the knight, or

else I shall slay thee. That shall not need, said Balin, for I shall

promise you my help to get you your lady, an ye will tell me where she

is. What is your name? said the knight. My name is Balin le Savage. Ah,

sir, I know you well enough, ye are the Knight with the Two Swords, and

the man of most prowess of your hands living. What is your name? said

Balin. My name is Garnish of the Mount, a poor man’s son, but by my

prowess and hardiness a duke hath made me knight, and gave me lands;

his name is Duke Hermel, and his daughter is she that I love, and she

me as I deemed. How far is she hence? said Balin. But six mile, said

the knight. Now ride we hence, said these two knights. So they rode

more than a pace, till that they came to a fair castle well walled and

ditched. I will into the castle, said Balin, and look if she be there.

So he went in and searched from chamber to chamber, and found her bed,

but she was not there. Then Balin looked into a fair little garden, and

under a laurel tree he saw her lie upon a quilt of green samite and a

knight in her arms, fast halsing either other, and under their heads

grass and herbs. When Balin saw her lie so with the foulest knight that

ever he saw, and she a fair lady, then Balin went through all the

chambers again, and told the knight how he found her as she had slept

fast, and so brought him in the place there she lay fast sleeping.

CHAPTER XVII. How that knight slew his love and a knight lying by her,

and after, how he slew himself with his own sword, and how Balin rode

toward a castle where he lost his life.

And when Garnish beheld her so lying, for pure sorrow his mouth and

nose burst out a-bleeding, and with his sword he smote off both their

heads, and then he made sorrow out of measure, and said, O Balin, much

sorrow hast thou brought unto me, for hadst thou not shewed me that

sight I should have passed my sorrow. Forsooth, said Balin, I did it to

this intent that it should better thy courage, and that ye might see

and know her falsehood, and to cause you to leave love of such a lady;

God knoweth I did none other but as I would ye did to me. Alas, said

Garnish, now is my sorrow double that I may not endure, now have I

slain that I most loved in all my life; and therewith suddenly he rove

himself on his own sword unto the hilts. When Balin saw that, he

dressed him thenceward, lest folk would say he had slain them; and so

he rode forth, and within three days he came by a cross, and thereon

were letters of gold written, that said, It is not for no knight alone

to ride toward this castle. Then saw he an old hoar gentleman coming

toward him, that said, Balin le Savage, thou passest thy bounds to come

this way, therefore turn again and it will avail thee. And he vanished

away anon; and so he heard an horn blow as it had been the death of a

beast. That blast, said Balin, is blown for me, for I am the prize and

yet am I not dead. Anon withal he saw an hundred ladies and many

knights, that welcomed him with fair semblant, and made him passing

good cheer unto his sight, and led him into the castle, and there was

dancing and minstrelsy and all manner of joy. Then the chief lady of

the castle said, Knight with the Two Swords, ye must have ado and joust

with a knight hereby that keepeth an island, for there may no man pass

this way but he must joust or he pass. That is an unhappy custom, said

Balin, that a knight may not pass this way but if he joust. Ye shall

not have ado but with one knight, said the lady.

Well, said Balin, since I shall thereto I am ready, but travelling men

are oft weary and their horses too, but though my horse be weary my

heart is not weary, I would be fain there my death should be. Sir, said

a knight to Balin, methinketh your shield is not good, I will lend you

a bigger. Thereof I pray you. And so he took the shield that was

unknown and left his own, and so rode unto the island, and put him and

his horse in a great boat; and when he came on the other side he met

with a damosel, and she said, O knight Balin, why have ye left your own

shield? alas ye have put yourself in great danger, for by your shield

ye should have been known; it is great pity of you as ever was of

knight, for of thy prowess and hardiness thou hast no fellow living. Me

repenteth, said Balin, that ever I came within this country, but I may

not turn now again for shame, and what adventure shall fall to me, be

it life or death, I will take the adventure that shall come to me. And

then he looked on his armour, and understood he was well armed, and

therewith blessed him and mounted upon his horse.

CHAPTER XVIII. How Balin met with his brother Balan, and how each of

them slew other unknown, till they were wounded to death.

Then afore him he saw come riding out of a castle a knight, and his

horse trapped all red, and himself in the same colour. When this knight

in the red beheld Balin, him thought it should be his brother Balin by

cause of his two swords, but by cause he knew not his shield he deemed

it was not he. And so they aventryd their spears and came marvellously

fast together, and they smote each other in the shields, but their

spears and their course were so big that it bare down horse and man,

that they lay both in a swoon. But Balin was bruised sore with the fall

of his horse, for he was weary of travel. And Balan was the first that

rose on foot and drew his sword, and went toward Balin, and he arose

and went against him; but Balan smote Balin first, and he put up his

shield and smote him through the shield and tamed his helm. Then Balin

smote him again with that unhappy sword, and well-nigh had felled his

brother Balan, and so they fought there together till their breaths

failed. Then Balin looked up to the castle and saw the towers stand

full of ladies. So they went unto battle again, and wounded everych

other dolefully, and then they breathed ofttimes, and so went unto

battle that all the place there as they fought was blood red. And at

that time there was none of them both but they had either smitten other

seven great wounds, so that the least of them might have been the death

of the mightiest giant in this world.

Then they went to battle again so marvellously that doubt it was to

hear of that battle for the great blood-shedding, and their hauberks

unnailed that naked they were on every side. At last Balan the younger

brother withdrew him a little and laid him down. Then said Balin le

Savage, What knight art thou? for or now I found never no knight that

matched me. My name is, said he, Balan, brother unto the good knight,

Balin. Alas, said Balin, that ever I should see this day, and therewith

he fell backward in a swoon. Then Balan yede on all four feet and

hands, and put off the helm off his brother, and might not know him by

the visage it was so ful hewn and bled; but when he awoke he said, O

Balan, my brother, thou hast slain me and I thee, wherefore all the

wide world shall speak of us both. Alas, said Balan, that ever I saw

this day, that through mishap I might not know you, for I espied well

your two swords, but by cause ye had another shield I deemed ye had

been another knight. Alas, said Balin, all that made an unhappy knight

in the castle, for he caused me to leave my own shield to our both’s

destruction, and if I might live I would destroy that castle for ill

customs. That were well done, said Balan, for I had never grace to

depart from them since that I came hither, for here it happed me to

slay a knight that kept this island, and since might I never depart,

and no more should ye, brother, an ye might have slain me as ye have,

and escaped yourself with the life.

Right so came the lady of the tower with four knights and six ladies

and six yeomen unto them, and there she heard how they made their moan

either to other, and said, We came both out of one tomb, that is to say

one mother’s belly, and so shall we lie both in one pit. So Balan

prayed the lady of her gentleness, for his true service, that she would

bury them both in that same place there the battle was done. And she

granted them, with weeping, it should be done richly in the best

manner. Now, will ye send for a priest, that we may receive our

sacrament, and receive the blessed body of our Lord Jesus Christ? Yea,

said the lady, it shall be done; and so she sent for a priest and gave

them their rights. Now, said Balin, when we are buried in one tomb, and

the mention made over us how two brethren slew each other, there will

never good knight, nor good man, see our tomb but they will pray for

our souls. And so all the ladies and gentlewomen wept for pity. Then

anon Balan died, but Balin died not till the midnight after, and so

were they buried both, and the lady let make a mention of Balan how he

was there slain by his brother’s hands, but she knew not Balin’s name.

CHAPTER XIX. How Merlin buried them both in one tomb, and of Balin’s

sword.

In the morn came Merlin and let write Balin’s name on the tomb with

letters of gold, that Here lieth Balin le Savage that was the Knight

with the Two Swords, and he that smote the Dolorous Stroke. Also Merlin

let make there a bed, that there should never man lie therein but he

went out of his wit, yet Launcelot de Lake fordid that bed through his

noblesse. And anon after Balin was dead, Merlin took his sword, and

took off the pommel and set on another pommel. So Merlin bade a knight

that stood afore him handle that sword, and he assayed, and he might

not handle it. Then Merlin laughed. Why laugh ye? said the knight. This

is the cause, said Merlin: there shall never man handle this sword but

the best knight of the world, and that shall be Sir Launcelot or else

Galahad his son, and Launcelot with this sword shall slay the man that

in the world he loved best, that shall be Sir Gawaine. All this he let

write in the pommel of the sword. Then Merlin let make a bridge of iron

and of steel into that island, and it was but half a foot broad, and

there shall never man pass that bridge, nor have hardiness to go over,

but if he were a passing good man and a good knight without treachery

or villainy. Also the scabbard of Balin’s sword Merlin left it on this

side the island, that Galahad should find it. Also Merlin let make by

his subtilty that Balin’s sword was put in a marble stone standing

upright as great as a mill stone, and the stone hoved always above the

water and did many years, and so by adventure it swam down the stream

to the City of Camelot, that is in English Winchester. And that same

day Galahad the haut prince came with King Arthur, and so Galahad

brought with him the scabbard and achieved the sword that was there in

the marble stone hoving upon the water. And on Whitsunday he achieved

the sword as it is rehearsed in the book of Sangreal.

Soon after this was done Merlin came to King Arthur and told him of the

dolorous stroke that Balin gave to King Pellam, and how Balin and Balan

fought together the marvellest battle that ever was heard of, and how

they were buried both in one tomb. Alas, said King Arthur, this is the

greatest pity that ever I heard tell of two knights, for in the world I

know not such two knights. Thus endeth the tale of Balin and of Balan,

two brethren born in Northumberland, good knights.

Sequitur iii. liber.

BOOK III.

CHAPTER I. How King Arthur took a wife, and wedded Guenever, daughter

to Leodegrance, King of the Land of Cameliard, with whom he had the

Round Table.

In the beginning of Arthur, after he was chosen king by adventure and

by grace; for the most part of the barons knew not that he was Uther

Pendragon’s son, but as Merlin made it openly known. But yet many kings

and lords held great war against him for that cause, but well Arthur

overcame them all, for the most part the days of his life he was ruled

much by the counsel of Merlin. So it fell on a time King Arthur said

unto Merlin, My barons will let me have no rest, but needs I must take

a wife, and I will none take but by thy counsel and by thine advice. It

is well done, said Merlin, that ye take a wife, for a man of your

bounty and noblesse should not be without a wife. Now is there any that

ye love more than another? Yea, said King Arthur, I love Guenever the

king’s daughter, Leodegrance of the land of Cameliard, the which

holdeth in his house the Table Round that ye told he had of my father

Uther. And this damosel is the most valiant and fairest lady that I

know living, or yet that ever I could find. Sir, said Merlin, as of her

beauty and fairness she is one of the fairest alive, but, an ye loved

her not so well as ye do, I should find you a damosel of beauty and of

goodness that should like you and please you, an your heart were not

set; but there as a man’s heart is set, he will be loath to return.

That is truth, said King Arthur. But Merlin warned the king covertly

that Guenever was not wholesome for him to take to wife, for he warned

him that Launcelot should love her, and she him again; and so he turned

his tale to the adventures of Sangreal.

Then Merlin desired of the king for to have men with him that should

enquire of Guenever, and so the king granted him, and Merlin went forth

unto King Leodegrance of Cameliard, and told him of the desires of the

king that he would have unto his wife Guenever his daughter. That is to

me, said King Leodegrance, the best tidings that ever I heard, that so

worthy a king of prowess and noblesse will wed my daughter. And as for

my lands, I will give him, wist I it might please him, but he hath

lands enow, him needeth none; but I shall send him a gift shall please

him much more, for I shall give him the Table Round, the which Uther

Pendragon gave me, and when it is full complete, there is an hundred

knights and fifty. And as for an hundred good knights I have myself,

but I faute fifty, for so many have been slain in my days. And so

Leodegrance delivered his daughter Guenever unto Merlin, and the Table

Round with the hundred knights, and so they rode freshly, with great

royalty, what by water and what by land, till that they came nigh unto

London.

CHAPTER II. How the Knights of the Round Table were ordained and their

sieges blessed by the Bishop of Canterbury.

When King Arthur heard of the coming of Guenever and the hundred

knights with the Table Round, then King Arthur made great joy for her

coming, and that rich present, and said openly, This fair lady is

passing welcome unto me, for I have loved her long, and therefore there

is nothing so lief to me. And these knights with the Round Table please

me more than right great riches. And in all haste the king let ordain

for the marriage and the coronation in the most honourable wise that

could be devised. Now, Merlin, said King Arthur, go thou and espy me in

all this land fifty knights which be of most prowess and worship.

Within short time Merlin had found such knights that should fulfil

twenty and eight knights, but no more he could find. Then the Bishop of

Canterbury was fetched, and he blessed the sieges with great royalty

and devotion, and there set the eight and twenty knights in their

sieges. And when this was done Merlin said, Fair sirs, ye must all

arise and come to King Arthur for to do him homage; he will have the

better will to maintain you. And so they arose and did their homage,

and when they were gone Merlin found in every sieges letters of gold

that told the knights’ names that had sitten therein. But two sieges

were void. And so anon came young Gawaine and asked the king a gift.

Ask, said the king, and I shall grant it you. Sir, I ask that ye will

make me knight that same day ye shall wed fair Guenever. I will do it

with a good will, said King Arthur, and do unto you all the worship

that I may, for I must by reason ye are my nephew, my sister’s son.

CHAPTER III. How a poor man riding upon a lean mare desired King Arthur

to make his son knight.

Forthwithal there came a poor man into the court, and brought with him

a fair young man of eighteen years of age riding upon a lean mare; and

the poor man asked all men that he met, Where shall I find King Arthur?

Yonder he is, said the knights, wilt thou anything with him? Yea, said

the poor man, therefore I came hither. Anon as he came before the king,

he saluted him and said: O King Arthur, the flower of all knights and

kings, I beseech Jesu save thee. Sir, it was told me that at this time

of your marriage ye would give any man the gift that he would ask, out

except that were unreasonable. That is truth, said the king, such cries

I let make, and that will I hold, so it apair not my realm nor mine

estate. Ye say well and graciously, said the poor man; Sir, I ask

nothing else but that ye will make my son here a knight. It is a great

thing thou askest of me, said the king. What is thy name? said the king

to the poor man. Sir, my name is Aries the cowherd. Whether cometh this

of thee or of thy son? said the king. Nay, sir, said Aries, this desire

cometh of my son and not of me, for I shall tell you I have thirteen

sons, and all they will fall to what labour I put them, and will be

right glad to do labour, but this child will not labour for me, for

anything that my wife or I may do, but always he will be shooting or

casting darts, and glad for to see battles and to behold knights, and

always day and night he desireth of me to be made a knight. What is thy

name? said the king unto the young man. Sir, my name is Tor. The king

beheld him fast, and saw he was passingly well-visaged and passingly

well made of his years. Well, said King Arthur unto Aries the cowherd,

fetch all thy sons afore me that I may see them. And so the poor man

did, and all were shaped much like the poor man. But Tor was not like

none of them all in shape nor in countenance, for he was much more than

any of them. Now, said King Arthur unto the cow herd, where is the

sword he shall be made knight withal? It is here, said Tor. Take it out

of the sheath, said the king, and require me to make you a knight.

Then Tor alighted off his mare and pulled out his sword, kneeling, and

requiring the king that he would make him knight, and that he might be

a knight of the Table Round. As for a knight I will make you, and

therewith smote him in the neck with the sword, saying, Be ye a good

knight, and so I pray to God so ye may be, and if ye be of prowess and

of worthiness ye shall be a knight of the Table Round. Now Merlin, said

Arthur, say whether this Tor shall be a good knight or no. Yea, sir, he

ought to be a good knight, for he is come of as good a man as any is

alive, and of kings’ blood. How so, sir? said the king. I shall tell

you, said Merlin: This poor man, Aries the cowherd, is not his father;

he is nothing sib to him, for King Pellinore is his father. I suppose

nay, said the cowherd. Fetch thy wife afore me, said Merlin, and she

shall not say nay. Anon the wife was fetched, which was a fair

housewife, and there she answered Merlin full womanly, and there she

told the king and Merlin that when she was a maid, and went to milk

kine, there met with her a stern knight, and half by force he had my

maidenhead, and at that time he begat my son Tor, and he took away from

me my greyhound that I had that time with me, and said that he would

keep the greyhound for my love. Ah, said the cowherd, I weened not

this, but I may believe it well, for he had never no tatches of me.

Sir, said Tor unto Merlin, dishonour not my mother. Sir, said Merlin,

it is more for your worship than hurt, for your father is a good man

and a king, and he may right well advance you and your mother, for ye

were begotten or ever she was wedded. That is truth, said the wife. It

is the less grief unto me, said the cowherd.

CHAPTER IV. How Sir Tor was known for son of King Pellinore, and how

Gawaine was made knight.

So on the morn King Pellinore came to the court of King Arthur, which

had great joy of him, and told him of Tor, how he was his son, and how

he had made him knight at the request of the cowherd. When Pellinore

beheld Tor, he pleased him much. So the king made Gawaine knight, but

Tor was the first he made at the feast. What is the cause, said King

Arthur, that there be two places void in the sieges? Sir, said Merlin,

there shall no man sit in those places but they that shall be of most

worship. But in the Siege Perilous there shall no man sit therein but

one, and if there be any so hardy to do it he shall be destroyed, and

he that shall sit there shall have no fellow. And therewith Merlin took

King Pellinore by the hand, and in the one hand next the two sieges and

the Siege Perilous he said, in open audience, This is your place and

best ye are worthy to sit therein of any that is here. Thereat sat Sir

Gawaine in great envy and told Gaheris his brother, yonder knight is

put to great worship, the which grieveth me sore, for he slew our

father King Lot, therefore I will slay him, said Gawaine, with a sword

that was sent me that is passing trenchant. Ye shall not so, said

Gaheris, at this time, for at this time I am but a squire, and when I

am made knight I will be avenged on him, and therefore, brother, it is

best ye suffer till another time, that we may have him out of the

court, for an we did so we should trouble this high feast. I will well,

said Gawaine, as ye will.

CHAPTER V. How at feast of the wedding of King Arthur to Guenever, a

white hart came into the hall, and thirty couple hounds, and how a

brachet pinched the hart which was taken away.

Then was the high feast made ready, and the king was wedded at Camelot

unto Dame Guenever in the church of Saint Stephen’s, with great

solemnity. And as every man was set after his degree, Merlin went to

all the knights of the Round Table, and bade them sit still, that none

of them remove. For ye shall see a strange and a marvellous adventure.

Right so as they sat there came running in a white hart into the hall,

and a white brachet next him, and thirty couple of black running hounds

came after with a great cry, and the hart went about the Table Round as

he went by other boards. The white brachet bit him by the buttock and

pulled out a piece, wherethrough the hart leapt a great leap and

overthrew a knight that sat at the board side; and therewith the knight

arose and took up the brachet, and so went forth out of the hall, and

took his horse and rode his way with the brachet. Right so anon came in

a lady on a white palfrey, and cried aloud to King Arthur, Sir, suffer

me not to have this despite, for the brachet was mine that the knight

led away. I may not do therewith, said the king.

With this there came a knight riding all armed on a great horse, and

took the lady away with him with force, and ever she cried and made

great dole. When she was gone the king was glad, for she made such a

noise. Nay, said Merlin, ye may not leave these adventures so lightly;

for these adventures must be brought again or else it would be

disworship to you and to your feast. I will, said the king, that all be

done by your advice. Then, said Merlin, let call Sir Gawaine, for he

must bring again the white hart. Also, sir, ye must let call Sir Tor,

for he must bring again the brachet and the knight, or else slay him.

Also let call King Pellinore, for he must bring again the lady and the

knight, or else slay him. And these three knights shall do marvellous

adventures or they come again. Then were they called all three as it

rehearseth afore, and each of them took his charge, and armed them

surely. But Sir Gawaine had the first request, and therefore we will

begin at him.

CHAPTER VI. How Sir Gawaine rode for to fetch again the hart, and how

two brethren fought each against other for the hart.

Sir Gawaine rode more than a pace, and Gaheris his brother that rode

with him instead of a squire to do him service. So as they rode they

saw two knights fight on horseback passing sore, so Sir Gawaine and his

brother rode betwixt them, and asked them for what cause they fought

so. The one knight answered and said, We fight for a simple matter, for

we two be two brethren born and begotten of one man and of one woman.

Alas, said Sir Gawaine, why do ye so? Sir, said the elder, there came a

white hart this way this day, and many hounds chased him, and a white

brachet was alway next him, and we understood it was adventure made for

the high feast of King Arthur, and therefore I would have gone after to

have won me worship; and here my younger brother said he would go after

the hart, for he was better knight than I: and for this cause we fell

at debate, and so we thought to prove which of us both was better

knight. This is a simple cause, said Sir Gawaine; uncouth men ye should

debate withal, and not brother with brother; therefore but if you will

do by my counsel I will have ado with you, that is ye shall yield you

unto me, and that ye go unto King Arthur and yield you unto his grace.

Sir knight, said the two brethren, we are forfoughten and much blood

have we lost through our wilfulness, and therefore we would be loath to

have ado with you. Then do as I will have you, said Sir Gawaine. We

will agree to fulfil your will; but by whom shall we say that we be

thither sent? Ye may say, By the knight that followeth the quest of the

hart that was white. Now what is your name? said Gawaine. Sorlouse of

the Forest, said the elder. And my name is, said the younger, Brian of

the Forest. And so they departed and went to the king’s court, and Sir

Gawaine on his quest.

And as Gawaine followed the hart by the cry of the hounds, even afore

him there was a great river, and the hart swam over; and as Sir Gawaine

would follow after, there stood a knight over the other side, and said,

Sir knight, come not over after this hart but if thou wilt joust with

me. I will not fail as for that, said Sir Gawaine, to follow the quest

that I am in, and so made his horse to swim over the water. And anon

they gat their spears and ran together full hard; but Sir Gawaine smote

him off his horse, and then he turned his horse and bade him yield him.

Nay, said the knight, not so, though thou have the better of me on

horseback. I pray thee, valiant knight, alight afoot, and match we

together with swords. What is your name? said Sir Gawaine. Allardin of

the Isles, said the other. Then either dressed their shields and smote

together, but Sir Gawaine smote him so hard through the helm that it

went to the brains, and the knight fell down dead. Ah! said Gaheris,

that was a mighty stroke of a young knight.

CHAPTER VII How the hart was chased into a castle and there slain, and

how Sir Gawaine slew a lady.

Then Gawaine and Gaheris rode more than a pace after the white hart,

and let slip at the hart three couple of greyhounds, and so they chased

the hart into a castle, and in the chief place of the castle they slew

the hart; Sir Gawaine and Gaheris followed after. Right so there came a

knight out of a chamber with a sword drawn in his hand and slew two of

the greyhounds, even in the sight of Sir Gawaine, and the remnant he

chased them with his sword out of the castle. And when he came again,

he said, O my white hart, me repenteth that thou art dead, for my

sovereign lady gave thee to me, and evil have I kept thee, and thy

death shall be dear bought an I live. And anon he went into his chamber

and armed him, and came out fiercely, and there met he with Sir

Gawaine. Why have ye slain my hounds? said Sir Gawaine, for they did

but their kind, and liefer I had ye had wroken your anger upon me than

upon a dumb beast. Thou sayest truth, said the knight, I have avenged

me on thy hounds, and so I will on thee or thou go. Then Sir Gawaine

alighted afoot and dressed his shield, and struck together mightily,

and clave their shields, and stoned their helms, and brake their

hauberks that the blood ran down to their feet.

At the last Sir Gawaine smote the knight so hard that he fell to the

earth, and then he cried mercy, and yielded him, and besought him as he

was a knight and gentleman, to save his life. Thou shalt die, said Sir

Gawaine, for slaying of my hounds. I will make amends, said the knight,

unto my power. Sir Gawaine would no mercy have, but unlaced his helm to

have stricken off his head. Right so came his lady out of a chamber and

fell over him, and so he smote off her head by misadventure. Alas, said

Gaheris, that is foully and shamefully done, that shame shall never

from you; also ye should give mercy unto them that ask mercy, for a

knight without mercy is without worship. Sir Gawaine was so stonied of

the death of this fair lady that he wist not what he did, and said unto

the knight, Arise, I will give thee mercy. Nay, nay, said the knight, I

take no force of mercy now, for thou hast slain my love and my lady

that I loved best of all earthly things. Me sore repenteth it, said Sir

Gawaine, for I thought to strike unto thee; but now thou shalt go unto

King Arthur and tell him of thine adventures, and how thou art overcome

by the knight that went in the quest of the white hart. I take no

force, said the knight, whether I live or I die; but so for dread of

death he swore to go unto King Arthur, and he made him to bear one

greyhound before him on his horse, and another behind him. What is your

name? said Sir Gawaine, or we depart. My name is, said the knight,

Ablamar of the Marsh. So he departed toward Camelot.

CHAPTER VIII. How four knights fought against Gawaine and Gaheris, and

how they were overcome, and their lives saved at request of four

ladies.

And Sir Gawaine went into the castle, and made him ready to lie there

all night, and would have unarmed him. What will ye do, said Gaheris,

will ye unarm you in this country? Ye may think ye have many enemies

here. They had not sooner said that word but there came four knights

well armed, and assailed Sir Gawaine hard, and said unto him, Thou

new-made knight, thou hast shamed thy knighthood, for a knight without

mercy is dishonoured. Also thou hast slain a fair lady to thy great

shame to the world’s end, and doubt thou not thou shalt have great need

of mercy or thou depart from us. And therewith one of them smote Sir

Gawaine a great stroke that nigh he fell to the earth, and Gaheris

smote him again sore, and so they were on the one side and on the

other, that Sir Gawaine and Gaheris were in jeopardy of their lives;

and one with a bow, an archer, smote Sir Gawaine through the arm that

it grieved him wonderly sore. And as they should have been slain, there

came four fair ladies, and besought the knights of grace for Sir

Gawaine; and goodly at request of the ladies they gave Sir Gawaine and

Gaheris their lives, and made them to yield them as prisoners. Then

Gawaine and Gaheris made great dole. Alas! said Sir Gawaine, mine arm

grieveth me sore, I am like to be maimed; and so made his complaint

piteously.

Early on the morrow there came to Sir Gawaine one of the four ladies

that had heard all his complaint, and said, Sir knight, what cheer? Not

good, said he. It is your own default, said the lady, for ye have done

a passing foul deed in the slaying of the lady, the which will be great

villainy unto you. But be ye not of King Arthur’s kin? said the lady.

Yes truly, said Sir Gawaine. What is your name? said the lady, ye must

tell it me or ye pass. My name is Gawaine, the King Lot of Orkney’s

son, and my mother is King Arthur’s sister. Ah! then are ye nephew unto

King Arthur, said the lady, and I shall so speak for you that ye shall

have conduct to go to King Arthur for his love. And so she departed and

told the four knights how their prisoner was King Arthur’s nephew, and

his name is Sir Gawaine, King Lot’s son of Orkney. And they gave him

the hart’s head because it was in his quest. Then anon they delivered

Sir Gawaine under this promise, that he should bear the dead lady with

him in this manner; the head of her was hanged about his neck, and the

whole body of her lay before him on his horse’s mane. Right so rode he

forth unto Camelot. And anon as he was come, Merlin desired of King

Arthur that Sir Gawaine should be sworn to tell of all his adventures,

and how he slew the lady, and how he would give no mercy unto the

knight, wherethrough the lady was slain. Then the king and the queen

were greatly displeased with Sir Gawaine for the slaying of the lady.

And there by ordinance of the queen there was set a quest of ladies on

Sir Gawaine, and they judged him for ever while he lived to be with all

ladies, and to fight for their quarrels; and that ever he should be

courteous, and never to refuse mercy to him that asketh mercy. Thus was

Gawaine sworn upon the Four Evangelists that he should never be against

lady nor gentlewoman, but if he fought for a lady and his adversary

fought for another. And thus endeth the adventure of Sir Gawaine that

he did at the marriage of King Arthur. Amen.

CHAPTER IX. How Sir Tor rode after the knight with the brachet, and of

his adventure by the way.

When Sir Tor was ready, he mounted upon his horseback, and rode after

the knight with the brachet. So as he rode he met with a dwarf suddenly

that smote his horse on the head with a staff, that he went backward

his spear length. Why dost thou so? said Sir Tor. For thou shalt not

pass this way, but if thou joust with yonder knights of the pavilions.

Then was Tor ware where two pavilions were, and great spears stood out,

and two shields hung on trees by the pavilions. I may not tarry, said

Sir Tor, for I am in a quest that I must needs follow. Thou shalt not

pass, said the dwarf, and therewithal he blew his horn. Then there came

one armed on horseback, and dressed his shield, and came fast toward

Tor, and he dressed him against him, and so ran together that Tor bare

him from his horse. And anon the knight yielded him to his mercy. But,

sir, I have a fellow in yonder pavilion that will have ado with you

anon. He shall be welcome, said Sir Tor. Then was he ware of another

knight coming with great raundon, and each of them dressed to other,

that marvel it was to see; but the knight smote Sir Tor a great stroke

in midst of the shield that his spear all to-shivered. And Sir Tor

smote him through the shield below of the shield that it went through

the cost of the knight, but the stroke slew him not. And therewith Sir

Tor alighted and smote him on the helm a great stroke, and therewith

the knight yielded him and besought him of mercy. I will well, said Sir

Tor, but thou and thy fellow must go unto King Arthur, and yield you

prisoners unto him. By whom shall we say are we thither sent? Ye shall

say by the knight that went in the quest of the knight that went with

the brachet. Now, what be your two names? said Sir Tor. My name is,

said the one, Sir Felot of Langduk; and my name is, said the other, Sir

Petipase of Winchelsea. Now go ye forth, said Sir Tor, and God speed

you and me. Then came the dwarf and said unto Sir Tor, I pray you give

me a gift. I will well, said Sir Tor, ask. I ask no more, said the

dwarf, but that ye will suffer me to do you service, for I will serve

no more recreant knights. Take an horse, said Sir Tor, and ride on with

me. I wot ye ride after the knight with the white brachet, and I shall

bring you where he is, said the dwarf. And so they rode throughout a

forest, and at the last they were ware of two pavilions, even by a

priory, with two shields, and the one shield was enewed with white, and

the other shield was red.

CHAPTER X. How Sir Tor found the brachet with a lady, and how a knight

assailed him for the said brachet.

Therewith Sir Tor alighted and took the dwarf his glaive, and so he

came to the white pavilion, and saw three damosels lie in it, on one

pallet, sleeping, and so he went to the other pavilion, and found a

lady lying sleeping therein, but there was the white brachet that bayed

at her fast, and therewith the lady yede out of the pavilion and all

her damosels. But anon as Sir Tor espied the white brachet, he took her

by force and took her to the dwarf. What, will ye so, said the lady,

take my brachet from me? Yea, said Sir Tor, this brachet have I sought

from King Arthur’s court hither. Well, said the lady, knight, ye shall

not go far with her, but that ye shall be met and grieved. I shall

abide what adventure that cometh by the grace of God, and so mounted

upon his horse, and passed on his way toward Camelot; but it was so

near night he might not pass but little further. Know ye any lodging?

said Tor. I know none, said the dwarf, but here beside is an hermitage,

and there ye must take lodging as ye find. And within a while they came

to the hermitage and took lodging; and was there grass, oats and bread

for their horses; soon it was sped, and full hard was their supper; but

there they rested them all night till on the morn, and heard a mass

devoutly, and took their leave of the hermit, and Sir Tor prayed the

hermit to pray for him. He said he would, and betook him to God. And so

mounted upon horseback and rode towards Camelot a long while.

With that they heard a knight call loud that came after them, and he

said, Knight, abide and yield my brachet that thou took from my lady.

Sir Tor returned again, and beheld him how he was a seemly knight and

well horsed, and well armed at all points; then Sir Tor dressed his

shield, and took his spear in his hands, and the other came fiercely

upon him, and smote both horse and man to the earth. Anon they arose

lightly and drew their swords as eagerly as lions, and put their

shields afore them, and smote through the shields, that the cantels

fell off both parties. Also they tamed their helms that the hot blood

ran out, and the thick mails of their hauberks they carved and rove in

sunder that the hot blood ran to the earth, and both they had many

wounds and were passing weary. But Sir Tor espied that the other knight

fainted, and then he sued fast upon him, and doubled his strokes, and

gart him go to the earth on the one side. Then Sir Tor bade him yield

him. That will I not, said Abelleus, while my life lasteth and the soul

is within my body, unless that thou wilt give me the brachet. That will

I not do, said Sir Tor, for it was my quest to bring again thy brachet,

thee, or both.

CHAPTER XI. How Sir Tor overcame the knight, and how he lost his head

at the request of a lady.

With that came a damosel riding on a palfrey as fast as she might

drive, and cried with a loud voice unto Sir Tor. What will ye with me?

said Sir Tor. I beseech thee, said the damosel, for King Arthur’s love,

give me a gift; I require thee, gentle knight, as thou art a gentleman.

Now, said Tor, ask a gift and I will give it you. Gramercy, said the

damosel; now I ask the head of the false knight Abelleus, for he is the

most outrageous knight that liveth, and the greatest murderer. I am

loath, said Sir Tor, of that gift I have given you; let him make amends

in that he hath trespassed unto you. Now, said the damosel, he may not,

for he slew mine own brother before mine own eyes, that was a better

knight than he, an he had had grace; and I kneeled half an hour afore

him in the mire for to save my brother’s life, that had done him no

damage, but fought with him by adventure of arms, and so for all that I

could do he struck off his head; wherefore I require thee, as thou art

a true knight, to give me my gift, or else I shall shame thee in all

the court of King Arthur; for he is the falsest knight living, and a

great destroyer of good knights. Then when Abelleus heard this, he was

more afeard, and yielded him and asked mercy. I may not now, said Sir

Tor, but if I should be found false of my promise; for while I would

have taken you to mercy ye would none ask, but if ye had the brachet

again, that was my quest. And therewith he took off his helm, and he

arose and fled, and Sir Tor after him, and smote off his head quite.

Now sir, said the damosel, it is near night; I pray you come and lodge

with me here at my place, it is here fast by. I will well, said Sir

Tor, for his horse and he had fared evil since they departed from

Camelot, and so he rode with her, and had passing good cheer with her;

and she had a passing fair old knight to her husband that made him

passing good cheer, and well eased both his horse and him. And on the

morn he heard his mass, and brake his fast, and took his leave of the

knight and of the lady, that besought him to tell them his name. Truly,

he said, my name is Sir Tor that was late made knight, and this was the

first quest of arms that ever I did, to bring again that this knight

Abelleus took away from King Arthur’s court. O fair knight, said the

lady and her husband, an ye come here in our marches, come and see our

poor lodging, and it shall be always at your commandment. So Sir Tor

departed and came to Camelot on the third day by noon, and the king and

the queen and all the court was passing fain of his coming, and made

great joy that he was come again; for he went from the court with

little succour, but as King Pellinore his father gave him an old

courser, and King Arthur gave him armour and a sword, and else had he

none other succour, but rode so forth himself alone. And then the king

and the queen by Merlin’s advice made him to swear to tell of his

adventures, and so he told and made proofs of his deeds as it is afore

rehearsed, wherefore the king and the queen made great joy. Nay, nay,

said Merlin, these be but japes to that he shall do; for he shall prove

a noble knight of prowess, as good as any is living, and gentle and

courteous, and of good tatches, and passing true of his promise, and

never shall outrage. Wherethrough Merlin’s words King Arthur gave him

an earldom of lands that fell unto him. And here endeth the quest of

Sir Tor, King Pellinore’s son.

CHAPTER XII. How King Pellinore rode after the lady and the knight that

led her away, and how a lady desired help of him, and how he fought

with two knights for that lady, of whom he slew the one at the first

stroke.

Then King Pellinore armed him and mounted upon his horse, and rode more

than a pace after the lady that the knight led away. And as he rode in

a forest, he saw in a valley a damosel sit by a well, and a wounded

knight in her arms, and Pellinore saluted her. And when she was ware of

him, she cried overloud, Help me, knight; for Christ’s sake, King

Pellinore. And he would not tarry, he was so eager in his quest, and

ever she cried an hundred times after help. When she saw he would not

abide, she prayed unto God to send him as much need of help as she had,

and that he might feel it or he died. So, as the book telleth, the

knight there died that there was wounded, wherefore the lady for pure

sorrow slew herself with his sword. As King Pellinore rode in that

valley he met with a poor man, a labourer. Sawest thou not, said

Pellinore, a knight riding and leading away a lady? Yea, said the man,

I saw that knight, and the lady that made great dole; and yonder

beneath in a valley there shall ye see two pavilions, and one of the

knights of the pavilions challenged that lady of that knight, and said

she was his cousin near, wherefore he should lead her no farther. And

so they waged battle in that quarrel, the one said he would have her by

force, and the other said he would have the rule of her, by cause he

was her kinsman, and would lead her to her kin. For this quarrel he

left them fighting. And if ye will ride a pace ye shall find them

fighting, and the lady was beleft with the two squires in the

pavilions. God thank thee, said King Pellinore.

Then he rode a wallop till he had a sight of the two pavilions, and the

two knights fighting. Anon he rode unto the pavilions, and saw the lady

that was his quest, and said, Fair lady, ye must go with me unto the

court of King Arthur. Sir knight, said the two squires that were with

her, yonder are two knights that fight for this lady, go thither and

depart them, and be agreed with them, and then may ye have her at your

pleasure. Ye say well, said King Pellinore. And anon he rode betwixt

them, and departed them, and asked them the causes why that they

fought? Sir knight, said the one, I shall tell you, this lady is my

kinswoman nigh, mine aunt’s daughter, and when I heard her complain

that she was with him maugre her head, I waged battle to fight with

him. Sir knight, said the other, whose name was Hontzlake of Wentland,

and this lady I gat by my prowess of arms this day at Arthur’s court.

That is untruly said, said King Pellinore, for ye came in suddenly

there as we were at the high feast, and took away this lady or any man

might make him ready; and therefore it was my quest to bring her again

and you both, or else the one of us to abide in the field; therefore

the lady shall go with me, or I will die for it, for I have promised it

King Arthur. And therefore fight ye no more, for none of you shall have

no part of her at this time; and if ye list to fight for her, fight

with me, and I will defend her. Well, said the knights, make you ready,

and we shall assail you with all our power. And as King Pellinore would

have put his horse from them, Sir Hontzlake rove his horse through with

a sword, and said: Now art thou on foot as well as we are. When King

Pellinore espied that his horse was slain, lightly he leapt from his

horse and pulled out his sword, and put his shield afore him, and said,

Knight, keep well thy head, for thou shalt have a buffet for the

slaying of my horse. So King Pellinore gave him such a stroke upon the

helm that he clave the head down to the chin, that he fell to the earth

dead.

CHAPTER XIII. How King Pellinore gat the lady and brought her to

Camelot to the court of King Arthur.

And then he turned him to the other knight, that was sore wounded. But

when he saw the other’s buffet, he would not fight, but kneeled down

and said, Take my cousin the lady with you at your request, and I

require you, as ye be a true knight, put her to no shame nor villainy.

What, said King Pellinore, will ye not fight for her? No, sir, said the

knight, I will not fight with such a knight of prowess as ye be. Well,

said Pellinore, ye say well; I promise you she shall have no villainy

by me, as I am true knight; but now me lacketh an horse, said

Pellinore, but I will have Hontzlake’s horse. Ye shall not need, said

the knight, for I shall give you such an horse as shall please you, so

that you will lodge with me, for it is near night. I will well, said

King Pellinore, abide with you all night. And there he had with him

right good cheer, and fared of the best with passing good wine, and had

merry rest that night. And on the morn he heard a mass and dined; and

then was brought him a fair bay courser, and King Pellinore’s saddle

set upon him. Now, what shall I call you? said the knight, inasmuch as

ye have my cousin at your desire of your quest. Sir, I shall tell you,

my name is King Pellinore of the Isles and knight of the Table Round.

Now I am glad, said the knight, that such a noble man shall have the

rule of my cousin. Now, what is your name? said Pellinore, I pray you

tell me. Sir, my name is Sir Meliot of Logurs, and this lady my cousin

hight Nimue, and the knight that was in the other pavilion is my sworn

brother, a passing good knight, and his name is Brian of the Isles, and

he is full loath to do wrong, and full loath to fight with any man, but

if he be sore sought on, so that for shame he may not leave it. It is

marvel, said Pellinore, that he will not have ado with me. Sir, he will

not have ado with no man but if it be at his request. Bring him to the

court, said Pellinore, one of these days. Sir, we will come together.

And ye shall be welcome, said Pellinore, to the court of King Arthur,

and greatly allowed for your coming. And so he departed with the lady,

and brought her to Camelot.

So as they rode in a valley it was full of stones, and there the lady’s

horse stumbled and threw her down, that her arm was sore bruised and

near she swooned for pain. Alas! sir, said the lady, mine arm is out of

lithe, wherethrough I must needs rest me. Ye shall well, said King

Pellinore. And so he alighted under a fair tree where was fair grass,

and he put his horse thereto, and so laid him under the tree and slept

till it was nigh night. And when he awoke he would have ridden. Sir,

said the lady, it is so dark that ye may as well ride backward as

forward. So they abode still and made there their lodging. Then Sir

Pellinore put off his armour; then a little afore midnight they heard

the trotting of an horse. Be ye still, said King Pellinore, for we

shall hear of some adventure.

CHAPTER XIV. How on the way he heard two knights, as he lay by night in

a valley, and of their adventures.

And therewith he armed him. So right even afore him there met two

knights, the one came froward Camelot, and the other from the north,

and either saluted other. What tidings at Camelot? said the one. By my

head, said the other, there have I been and espied the court of King

Arthur, and there is such a fellowship they may never be broken, and

well-nigh all the world holdeth with Arthur, for there is the flower of

chivalry. Now for this cause I am riding into the north, to tell our

chieftains of the fellowship that is withholden with King Arthur. As

for that, said the other knight, I have brought a remedy with me, that

is the greatest poison that ever ye heard speak of, and to Camelot will

I with it, for we have a friend right nigh King Arthur, and well

cherished, that shall poison King Arthur; for so he hath promised our

chieftains, and received great gifts for to do it. Beware, said the

other knight, of Merlin, for he knoweth all things by the devil’s

craft. Therefore will I not let it, said the knight. And so they

departed asunder. Anon after Pellinore made him ready, and his lady,

[and] rode toward Camelot; and as they came by the well there as the

wounded knight was and the lady, there he found the knight, and the

lady eaten with lions or wild beasts, all save the head, wherefore he

made great sorrow, and wept passing sore, and said, Alas! her life

might I have saved; but I was so fierce in my quest, therefore I would

not abide. Wherefore make ye such dole? said the lady. I wot not, said

Pellinore, but my heart mourneth sore of the death of her, for she was

a passing fair lady and a young. Now, will ye do by mine advice? said

the lady, take this knight and let him be buried in an hermitage, and

then take the lady’s head and bear it with you unto Arthur. So King

Pellinore took this dead knight on his shoulders, and brought him to

the hermitage, and charged the hermit with the corpse, that service

should be done for the soul; and take his harness for your pain. It

shall be done, said the hermit, as I will answer unto God.

CHAPTER XV. How when he was come to Camelot he was sworn upon a book to

tell the truth of his quest.

And therewith they departed, and came there as the head of the lady lay

with a fair yellow hair that grieved King Pellinore passingly sore when

he looked on it, for much he cast his heart on the visage. And so by

noon they came to Camelot; and the king and the queen were passing fain

of his coming to the court. And there he was made to swear upon the

Four Evangelists, to tell the truth of his quest from the one to the

other. Ah! Sir Pellinore, said Queen Guenever, ye were greatly to blame

that ye saved not this lady’s life.

Madam, said Pellinore, ye were

greatly to blame an ye would not save your own life an ye might, but,

save your pleasure, I was so furious in my quest that I would not

abide, and that repenteth me, and shall the days of my life. Truly,

said Merlin, ye ought sore to repent it, for that lady was your own

daughter begotten on the lady of the Rule, and that knight that was

dead was her love, and should have wedded her, and he was a right good

knight of a young man, and would have proved a good man, and to this

court was he coming, and his name was Sir Miles of the Launds, and a

knight came behind him and slew him with a spear, and his name is

Loraine le Savage, a false knight and a coward; and she for great

sorrow and dole slew herself with his sword, and her name was Eleine.

And because ye would not abide and help her, ye shall see your best

friend fail you when ye be in the greatest distress that ever ye were

or shall be. And that penance God hath ordained you for that deed, that

he that ye shall most trust to of any man alive, he shall leave you

there ye shall be slain. Me forthinketh, said King Pellinore, that this

shall me betide, but God may fordo well destiny.

Thus, when the quest was done of the white hart, the which followed Sir

Gawaine; and the quest of the brachet, followed of Sir Tor, Pellinore’s

son; and the quest of the lady that the knight took away, the which

King Pellinore at that time followed; then the king stablished all his

knights, and them that were of lands not rich he gave them lands, and

charged them never to do outrageousity nor murder, and always to flee

treason; also, by no means to be cruel, but to give mercy unto him that

asketh mercy, upon pain of forfeiture of their worship and lordship of

King Arthur for evermore; and always to do ladies, damosels, and

gentlewomen succour, upon pain of death. Also, that no man take no

battles in a wrongful quarrel for no law, nor for no world’s goods.

Unto this were all the knights sworn of the Table Round, both old and

young. And every year were they sworn at the high feast of Pentecost.

Explicit the Wedding of King Arthur. Sequitur quartus liber.

BOOK IV.

CHAPTER I. How Merlin was assotted and doted on one of the ladies of

the lake, and how he was shut in a rock under a stone and there died.

So after these quests of Sir Gawaine, Sir Tor, and King Pellinore, it

fell so that Merlin fell in a dotage on the damosel that King Pellinore

brought to court, and she was one of the damosels of the lake, that

hight Nimue. But Merlin would let her have no rest, but always he would

be with her. And ever she made Merlin good cheer till she had learned

of him all manner thing that she desired; and he was assotted upon her,

that he might not be from her. So on a time he told King Arthur that he

should not dure long, but for all his crafts he should be put in the

earth quick. And so he told the king many things that should befall,

but always he warned the king to keep well his sword and the scabbard,

for he told him how the sword and the scabbard should be stolen by a

woman from him that he most trusted. Also he told King Arthur that he

should miss him,—Yet had ye liefer than all your lands to have me

again. Ah, said the king, since ye know of your adventure, purvey for

it, and put away by your crafts that misadventure. Nay, said Merlin, it

will not be; so he departed from the king. And within a while the

Damosel of the Lake departed, and Merlin went with her evermore

wheresomever she went. And ofttimes Merlin would have had her privily

away by his subtle crafts; then she made him to swear that he should

never do none enchantment upon her if he would have his will. And so he

sware; so she and Merlin went over the sea unto the land of Benwick,

whereas King Ban was king that had great war against King Claudas, and

there Merlin spake with King Ban’s wife, a fair lady and a good, and

her name was Elaine, and there he saw young Launcelot. There the queen

made great sorrow for the mortal war that King Claudas made on her lord

and on her lands. Take none heaviness, said Merlin, for this same child

within this twenty year shall revenge you on King Claudas, that all

Christendom shall speak of it; and this same child shall be the most

man of worship of the world, and his first name is Galahad, that know I

well, said Merlin, and since ye have confirmed him Launcelot. That is

truth, said the queen, his first name was Galahad. O Merlin, said the

queen, shall I live to see my son such a man of prowess? Yea, lady, on

my peril ye shall see it, and live many winters after.

And so, soon after, the lady and Merlin departed, and by the way Merlin

showed her many wonders, and came into Cornwall. And always Merlin lay

about the lady to have her maidenhood, and she was ever passing weary

of him, and fain would have been delivered of him, for she was afeard

of him because he was a devil’s son, and she could not beskift him by

no mean. And so on a time it happed that Merlin showed to her in a rock

whereas was a great wonder, and wrought by enchantment, that went under

a great stone. So by her subtle working she made Merlin to go under

that stone to let her wit of the marvels there; but she wrought so

there for him that he came never out for all the craft he could do. And

so she departed and left Merlin.

CHAPTER II. How five kings came into this land to war against King

Arthur, and what counsel Arthur had against them.

And as King Arthur rode to Camelot, and held there a great feast with

mirth and joy, so soon after he returned unto Cardoile, and there came

unto Arthur new tidings that the king of Denmark, and the king of

Ireland that was his brother, and the king of the Vale, and the king of

Soleise, and the king of the Isle of Longtains, all these five kings

with a great host were entered into the land of King Arthur, and burnt

and slew clean afore them, both cities and castles, that it was pity to

hear. Alas, said Arthur, yet had I never rest one month since I was

crowned king of this land. Now shall I never rest till I meet with

those kings in a fair field, that I make mine avow; for my true liege

people shall not be destroyed in my default, go with me who will, and

abide who that will. Then the king let write unto King Pellinore, and

prayed him in all haste to make him ready with such people as he might

lightliest rear and hie him after in all haste. All the barons were

privily wroth that the king would depart so suddenly; but the king by

no mean would abide, but made writing unto them that were not there,

and bade them hie after him, such as were not at that time in the

court. Then the king came to Queen Guenever, and said, Lady, make you

ready, for ye shall go with me, for I may not long miss you; ye shall

cause me to be the more hardy, what adventure so befall me; I will not

wit my lady to be in no jeopardy. Sir, said she, I am at your

commandment, and shall be ready what time so ye be ready. So on the

morn the king and the queen departed with such fellowship as they had,

and came into the north, into a forest beside Humber, and there lodged

them. When the word and tiding came unto the five kings above said,

that Arthur was beside Humber in a forest, there was a knight, brother

unto one of the five kings, that gave them this counsel: Ye know well

that Sir Arthur hath the flower of chivalry of the world with him, as

it is proved by the great battle he did with the eleven kings; and

therefore hie unto him night and day till that we be nigh him, for the

longer he tarrieth the bigger he is, and we ever the weaker; and he is

so courageous of himself that he is come to the field with little

people, and therefore let us set upon him or day and we shall slay

down; of his knights there shall none escape.

CHAPTER III. How King Arthur had ado with them and overthrew them, and

slew the five kings and made the remnant to flee.

Unto this counsel these five kings assented, and so they passed forth

with their host through North Wales, and came upon Arthur by night, and

set upon his host as the king and his knights were in their pavilions.

King Arthur was unarmed, and had laid him to rest with his Queen

Guenever. Sir, said Sir Kay, it is not good we be unarmed. We shall

have no need, said Sir Gawaine and Sir Griflet, that lay in a little

pavilion by the king. With that they heard a great noise, and many

cried, Treason, treason! Alas, said King Arthur, we be betrayed! Unto

arms, fellows, then he cried. So they were armed anon at all points.

Then came there a wounded knight unto the king, and said, Sir, save

yourself and my lady the queen, for our host is destroyed, and much

people of ours slain. So anon the king and the queen and the three

knights took their horses, and rode toward Humber to pass over it, and

the water was so rough that they were afraid to pass over. Now may ye

choose, said King Arthur, whether ye will abide and take the adventure

on this side, for an ye be taken they will slay you. It were me liefer,

said the queen, to die in the water than to fall in your enemies’ hands

and there be slain.

And as they stood so talking, Sir Kay saw the five kings coming on

horseback by themselves alone, with their spears in their hands even

toward them. Lo, said Sir Kay, yonder be the five kings; let us go to

them and match them. That were folly, said Sir Gawaine, for we are but

three and they be five. That is truth, said Sir Griflet. No force, said

Sir Kay, I will undertake for two of them, and then may ye three

undertake for the other three. And therewithal, Sir Kay let his horse

run as fast as he might, and struck one of them through the shield and

the body a fathom, that the king fell to the earth stark dead. That saw

Sir Gawaine, and ran unto another king so hard that he smote him

through the body. And therewithal King Arthur ran to another, and smote

him through the body with a spear, that he fell to the earth dead. Then

Sir Griflet ran unto the fourth king, and gave him such a fall that his

neck brake. Anon Sir Kay ran unto the fifth king, and smote him so hard

on the helm that the stroke clave the helm and the head to the earth.

That was well stricken, said King Arthur, and worshipfully hast thou

holden thy promise, therefore I shall honour thee while that I live.

And therewithal they set the queen in a barge into Humber; but always

Queen Guenever praised Sir Kay for his deeds, and said, What lady that

ye love, and she love you not again she were greatly to blame; and

among ladies, said the queen, I shall bear your noble fame, for ye

spake a great word, and fulfilled it worshipfully. And therewith the

queen departed.

Then the king and the three knights rode into the forest, for there

they supposed to hear of them that were escaped; and there he found the

most part of his people, and told them all how the five kings were

dead. And therefore let us hold us together till it be day, and when

their host have espied that their chieftains be slain, they will make

such dole that they shall no more help themselves. And right so as the

king said, so it was; for when they found the five kings dead, they

made such dole that they fell from their horses. Therewithal came King

Arthur but with a few people, and slew on the left hand and on the

right hand, that well-nigh there escaped no man, but all were slain to

the number thirty thousand. And when the battle was all ended, the king

kneeled down and thanked God meekly. And then he sent for the queen,

and soon she was come, and she made great joy of the overcoming of that

battle.

CHAPTER IV. How the battle was finished or he came, and how King Arthur

founded an abbey where the battle was.

Therewithal came one to King Arthur, and told him that King Pellinore

was within three mile with a great host; and he said, Go unto him, and

let him understand how we have sped. So within a while King Pellinore

came with a great host, and saluted the people and the king, and there

was great joy made on every side. Then the king let search how much

people of his party there was slain; and there were found but little

past two hundred men slain and eight knights of the Table Round in

their pavilions. Then the king let rear and devise in the same place

whereat the battle was done a fair abbey, and endowed it with great

livelihood, and let it call the Abbey of La Beale Adventure. But when

some of them came into their countries, whereof the five kings were

kings, and told them how they were slain, there was made great dole.

And all King Arthur’s enemies, as the King of North Wales, and the

kings of the North, [when they] wist of the battle, they were passing

heavy. And so the king returned unto Camelot in haste.

And when he was come to Camelot he called King Pellinore unto him, and

said, Ye understand well that we have lost eight knights of the best of

the Table Round, and by your advice we will choose eight again of the

best we may find in this court. Sir, said Pellinore, I shall counsel

you after my conceit the best: there are in your court full noble

knights both of old and young; and therefore by mine advice ye shall

choose half of the old and half of the young. Which be the old? said

King Arthur. Sir, said King Pellinore, meseemeth that King Uriens that

hath wedded your sister Morgan le Fay, and the King of the Lake, and

Sir Hervise de Revel, a noble knight, and Sir Galagars, the fourth.

This is well devised, said King Arthur, and right so shall it be. Now,

which are the four young knights? said Arthur. Sir, said Pellinore, the

first is Sir Gawaine, your nephew, that is as good a knight of his time

as any is in this land; and the second as meseemeth best is Sir Griflet

le Fise de Dieu, that is a good knight and full desirous in arms, and

who may see him live he shall prove a good knight; and the third as

meseemeth is well to be one of the knights of the Round Table, Sir Kay

the Seneschal, for many times he hath done full worshipfully, and now

at your last battle he did full honourably for to undertake to slay two

kings. By my head, said Arthur, he is best worth to be a knight of the

Round Table of any that ye have rehearsed, an he had done no more

prowess in his life days.

CHAPTER V. How Sir Tor was made knight of the Round Table, and how

Bagdemagus was displeased.

Now, said King Pellinore, I shall put to you two knights, and ye shall

choose which is most worthy, that is Sir Bagdemagus, and Sir Tor, my

son. But because Sir Tor is my son I may not praise him, but else, an

he were not my son, I durst say that of his age there is not in this

land a better knight than he is, nor of better conditions and loath to

do any wrong, and loath to take any wrong. By my head, said Arthur, he

is a passing good knight as any ye spake of this day, that wot I well,

said the king; for I have seen him proved, but he saith little and he

doth much more, for I know none in all this court an he were as well

born on his mother’s side as he is on your side, that is like him of

prowess and of might: and therefore I will have him at this time, and

leave Sir Bagdemagus till another time. So when they were so chosen by

the assent of all the barons, so were there found in their sieges every

knights’ names that here are rehearsed, and so were they set in their

sieges; whereof Sir Bagdemagus was wonderly wroth, that Sir Tor was

advanced afore him, and therefore suddenly he departed from the court,

and took his squire with him, and rode long in a forest till they came

to a cross, and there alighted and said his prayers devoutly. The

meanwhile his squire found written upon the cross, that Bagdemagus

should never return unto the court again, till he had won a knight’s

body of the Round Table, body for body. So, sir, said the squire, here

I find writing of you, therefore I rede you return again to the court.

That shall I never, said Bagdemagus, till men speak of me great

worship, and that I be worthy to be a knight of the Round Table. And so

he rode forth, and there by the way he found a branch of an holy herb

that was the sign of the Sangreal, and no knight found such tokens but

he were a good liver.

So, as Sir Bagdemagus rode to see many adventures, it happed him to

come to the rock whereas the Lady of the Lake had put Merlin under the

stone, and there he heard him make great dole; whereof Sir Bagdemagus

would have holpen him, and went unto the great stone, and it was so

heavy that an hundred men might not lift it up. When Merlin wist he was

there, he bade leave his labour, for all was in vain, for he might

never be holpen but by her that put him there. And so Bagdemagus

departed and did many adventures, and proved after a full good knight,

and came again to the court and was made knight of the Round Table. So

on the morn there fell new tidings and other adventures.

CHAPTER VI. How King Arthur, King Uriens, and Sir Accolon of Gaul,

chased an hart, and of their marvellous adventures.

Then it befell that Arthur and many of his knights rode a-hunting into

a great forest, and it happed King Arthur, King Uriens, and Sir Accolon

of Gaul, followed a great hart, for they three were well horsed, and so

they chased so fast that within a while they three were then ten mile

from their fellowship. And at the last they chased so sore that they

slew their horses underneath them. Then were they all three on foot,

and ever they saw the hart afore them passing weary and enbushed. What

will we do? said King Arthur, we are hard bestead. Let us go on foot,

said King Uriens, till we may meet with some lodging. Then were they

ware of the hart that lay on a great water bank, and a brachet biting

on his throat, and more other hounds came after. Then King Arthur blew

the prise and dight the hart.

Then the king looked about the world, and saw afore him in a great

water a little ship, all apparelled with silk down to the water, and

the ship came right unto them and landed on the sands. Then Arthur went

to the bank and looked in, and saw none earthly creature therein. Sirs,

said the king, come thence, and let us see what is in this ship. So

they went in all three, and found it richly behanged with cloth of

silk. By then it was dark night, and there suddenly were about them an

hundred torches set upon all the sides of the ship boards, and it gave

great light; and therewithal there came out twelve fair damosels and

saluted King Arthur on their knees, and called him by his name, and

said he was right welcome, and such cheer as they had he should have of

the best. The king thanked them fair. Therewithal they led the king and

his two fellows into a fair chamber, and there was a cloth laid, richly

beseen of all that longed unto a table, and there were they served of

all wines and meats that they could think; of that the king had great

marvel, for he fared never better in his life as for one supper. And so

when they had supped at their leisure, King Arthur was led into a

chamber, a richer beseen chamber saw he never none, and so was King

Uriens served, and led into such another chamber, and Sir Accolon was

led into the third chamber passing richly and well beseen; and so they

were laid in their beds easily. And anon they fell asleep, and slept

marvellously sore all the night. And on the morrow King Uriens was in

Camelot abed in his wife’s arms, Morgan le Fay. And when he awoke he

had great marvel, how he came there, for on the even afore he was two

days’ journey from Camelot. And when King Arthur awoke he found himself

in a dark prison, hearing about him many complaints of woful knights.

CHAPTER VII. How Arthur took upon him to fight to be delivered out of

prison, and also for to deliver twenty knights that were in prison.

What are ye that so complain? said King Arthur. We be here twenty

knights, prisoners, said they, and some of us have lain here seven

year, and some more and some less. For what cause? said Arthur. We

shall tell you, said the knights; this lord of this castle, his name is

Sir Damas, and he is the falsest knight that liveth, and full of

treason, and a very coward as any liveth, and he hath a younger

brother, a good knight of prowess, his name is Sir Ontzlake; and this

traitor Damas, the elder brother will give him no part of his

livelihood, but as Sir Ontzlake keepeth thorough prowess of his hands,

and so he keepeth from him a full fair manor and a rich, and therein

Sir Ontzlake dwelleth worshipfully, and is well beloved of all people.

And this Sir Damas, our master is as evil beloved, for he is without

mercy, and he is a coward, and great war hath been betwixt them both,

but Ontzlake hath ever the better, and ever he proffereth Sir Damas to

fight for the livelihood, body for body, but he will not do; other-else

to find a knight to fight for him. Unto that Sir Damas had granted to

find a knight, but he is so evil beloved and hated, that there is never

a knight will fight for him. And when Damas saw this, that there was

never a knight would fight for him, he hath daily lain await with many

knights with him, and taken all the knights in this country to see and

espy their adventures, he hath taken them by force and brought them to

his prison. And so he took us separately as we rode on our adventures,

and many good knights have died in this prison for hunger, to the

number of eighteen knights; and if any of us all that here is, or hath

been, would have foughten with his brother Ontzlake, he would have

delivered us, but for because this Damas is so false and so full of

treason we would never fight for him to die for it. And we be so lean

for hunger that unnethe we may stand on our feet. God deliver you, for

his mercy, said Arthur.

Anon, therewithal there came a damosel unto Arthur, and asked him, What

cheer? I cannot say, said he. Sir, said she, an ye will fight for my

lord, ye shall be delivered out of prison, and else ye escape never the

life. Now, said Arthur, that is hard, yet had I liefer to fight with a

knight than to die in prison; with this, said Arthur, I may be

delivered and all these prisoners, I will do the battle. Yes, said the

damosel. I am ready, said Arthur, an I had horse and armour. Ye shall

lack none, said the damosel. Meseemeth, damosel, I should have seen you

in the court of Arthur. Nay said the damosel, I came never there, I am

the lord’s daughter of this castle. Yet was she false, for she was one

of the damosels of Morgan le Fay.

Anon she went unto Sir Damas, and told him how he would do battle for

him, and so he sent for Arthur. And when he came he was well coloured,

and well made of his limbs, that all knights that saw him said it were

pity that such a knight should die in prison. So Sir Damas and he were

agreed that he should fight for him upon this covenant, that all other

knights should be delivered; and unto that was Sir Damas sworn unto

Arthur, and also to do the battle to the uttermost. And with that all

the twenty knights were brought out of the dark prison into the hall,

and delivered, and so they all abode to see the battle.

CHAPTER VIII. How Accolon found himself by a well, and he took upon him

to do battle against Arthur.

Now turn we unto Accolon of Gaul, that when he awoke he found himself

by a deep well-side, within half a foot, in great peril of death. And

there came out of that fountain a pipe of silver, and out of that pipe

ran water all on high in a stone of marble. When Sir Accolon saw this,

he blessed him and said, Jesus save my lord King Arthur, and King

Uriens, for these damosels in this ship have betrayed us, they were

devils and no women; and if I may escape this misadventure, I shall

destroy all where I may find these false damosels that use

enchantments. Right with that there came a dwarf with a great mouth and

a flat nose, and saluted Sir Accolon, and said how he came from Queen

Morgan le Fay, and she greeteth you well, and biddeth you be of strong

heart, for ye shall fight to morrow with a knight at the hour of prime,

and therefore she hath sent you here Excalibur, Arthur’s sword, and the

scabbard, and she biddeth you as ye love her, that ye do the battle to

the uttermost, without any mercy, like as ye had promised her when ye

spake together in privity; and what damosel that bringeth her the

knight’s head, which ye shall fight withal, she will make her a queen.

Now I understand you well, said Accolon, I shall hold that I have

promised her now I have the sword: when saw ye my lady Queen Morgan le

Fay? Right late, said the dwarf. Then Accolon took him in his arms and

said, Recommend me unto my lady queen, and tell her all shall be done

that I have promised her, and else I will die for it. Now I suppose,

said Accolon, she hath made all these crafts and enchantments for this

battle. Ye may well believe it, said the dwarf. Right so there came a

knight and a lady with six squires, and saluted Accolon, and prayed him

for to arise, and come and rest him at his manor. And so Accolon

mounted upon a void horse, and went with the knight unto a fair manor

by a priory, and there he had passing good cheer.

Then Sir Damas sent unto his brother Sir Ontzlake, and bade make him

ready by to-morn at the hour of prime, and to be in the field to fight

with a good knight, for he had found a good knight that was ready to do

battle at all points. When this word came unto Sir Ontzlake he was

passing heavy, for he was wounded a little to-fore through both his

thighs with a spear, and made great dole; but as he was wounded, he

would have taken the battle on hand. So it happed at that time, by the

means of Morgan le Fay, Accolon was with Sir Ontzlake lodged; and when

he heard of that battle, and how Ontzlake was wounded, he said that he

would fight for him. Because Morgan le Fay had sent him Excalibur and

the sheath for to fight with the knight on the morn: this was the cause

Sir Accolon took the battle on hand. Then Sir Ontzlake was passing

glad, and thanked Sir Accolon with all his heart that he would do so

much for him. And therewithal Sir Ontzlake sent word unto his brother

Sir Damas, that he had a knight that for him should be ready in the

field by the hour of prime.

So on the morn Sir Arthur was armed and well horsed, and asked Sir

Damas, When shall we to the field? Sir, said Sir Damas, ye shall hear

mass. And so Arthur heard a mass, and when mass was done there came a

squire on a great horse, and asked Sir Damas if his knight were ready,

for our knight is ready in the field. Then Sir Arthur mounted upon

horseback, and there were all the knights and commons of that country;

and so by all advices there were chosen twelve good men of the country

for to wait upon the two knights. And right as Arthur was on horseback

there came a damosel from Morgan le Fay, and brought unto Sir Arthur a

sword like unto Excalibur, and the scabbard, and said unto Arthur,

Morgan le Fay sendeth here your sword for great love. And he thanked

her, and weened it had been so, but she was false, for the sword and

the scabbard was counterfeit, and brittle, and false.

CHAPTER IX. Of the battle between King Arthur and Accolon.

And then they dressed them on both parties of the field, and let their

horses run so fast that either smote other in the midst of the shield

with their spear-heads, that both horse and man went to the earth; and

then they started up both, and pulled out their swords. The meanwhile

that they were thus at the battle, came the Damosel of the Lake into

the field, that put Merlin under the stone; and she came thither for

love of King Arthur, for she knew how Morgan le Fay had so ordained

that King Arthur should have been slain that day, and therefore she

came to save his life. And so they went eagerly to the battle, and gave

many great strokes, but always Arthur’s sword bit not like Accolon’s

sword; but for the most part, every stroke that Accolon gave he wounded

sore Arthur, that it was marvel he stood, and always his blood fell

from him fast.

When Arthur beheld the ground so sore be-bled he was dismayed, and then

he deemed treason that his sword was changed; for his sword bit not

steel as it was wont to do, therefore he dreaded him sore to be dead,

for ever him seemed that the sword in Accolon’s hand was Excalibur, for

at every stroke that Accolon struck he drew blood on Arthur. Now,

knight, said Accolon unto Arthur, keep thee well from me; but Arthur

answered not again, and gave him such a buffet on the helm that it made

him to stoop, nigh falling down to the earth. Then Sir Accolon withdrew

him a little, and came on with Excalibur on high, and smote Sir Arthur

such a buffet that he fell nigh to the earth. Then were they wroth

both, and gave each other many sore strokes, but always Sir Arthur lost

so much blood that it was marvel he stood on his feet, but he was so

full of knighthood that knightly he endured the pain. And Sir Accolon

lost not a deal of blood, therefore he waxed passing light, and Sir

Arthur was passing feeble, and weened verily to have died; but for all

that he made countenance as though he might endure, and held Accolon as

short as he might. But Accolon was so bold because of Excalibur that he

waxed passing hardy. But all men that beheld him said they saw never

knight fight so well as Arthur did considering the blood that he bled.

So was all the people sorry for him, but the two brethren would not

accord. Then always they fought together as fierce knights, and Sir

Arthur withdrew him a little for to rest him, and Sir Accolon called

him to battle and said, It is no time for me to suffer thee to rest.

And therewith he came fiercely upon Arthur, and Sir Arthur was wroth

for the blood that he had lost, and smote Accolon on high upon the

helm, so mightily, that he made him nigh to fall to the earth; and

therewith Arthur’s sword brast at the cross, and fell in the grass

among the blood, and the pommel and the sure handles he held in his

hands. When Sir Arthur saw that, he was in great fear to die, but

always he held up his shield and lost no ground, nor bated no cheer.

CHAPTER X.

How King Arthur’s sword that he fought with brake, and how

he recovered of Accolon his own sword Excalibur, and overcame his

enemy.

Then Sir Accolon began with words of treason, and said, Knight, thou

art overcome, and mayst not endure, and also thou art weaponless, and

thou hast lost much of thy blood, and I am full loath to slay thee,

therefore yield thee to me as recreant. Nay, said Sir Arthur, I may not

so, for I have promised to do the battle to the uttermost by the faith

of my body, while me lasteth the life, and therefore I had liefer to

die with honour than to live with shame; and if it were possible for me

to die an hundred times, I had liefer to die so oft than yield me to

thee; for though I lack weapon, I shall lack no worship, and if thou

slay me weaponless that shall be thy shame. Well, said Accolon, as for

the shame I will not spare, now keep thee from me, for thou art but a

dead man. And therewith Accolon gave him such a stroke that he fell

nigh to the earth, and would have had Arthur to have cried him mercy.

But Sir Arthur pressed unto Accolon with his shield, and gave him with

the pommel in his hand such a buffet that he went three strides aback.

When the Damosel of the Lake beheld Arthur, how full of prowess his

body was, and the false treason that was wrought for him to have had

him slain, she had great pity that so good a knight and such a man of

worship should so be destroyed. And at the next stroke Sir Accolon

struck him such a stroke that by the damosel’s enchantment the sword

Excalibur fell out of Accolon’s hand to the earth. And therewithal Sir

Arthur lightly leapt to it, and gat it in his hand, and forthwithal he

knew that it was his sword Excalibur, and said, Thou hast been from me

all too long, and much damage hast thou done me; and therewith he

espied the scabbard hanging by his side, and suddenly he sterte to him

and pulled the scabbard from him, and threw it from him as far as he

might throw it. O knight, said Arthur, this day hast thou done me great

damage with this sword; now are ye come unto your death, for I shall

not warrant you but ye shall as well be rewarded with this sword, or

ever we depart, as thou hast rewarded me; for much pain have ye made me

to endure, and much blood have I lost. And therewith Sir Arthur rushed

on him with all his might and pulled him to the earth, and then rushed

off his helm, and gave him such a buffet on the head that the blood

came out at his ears, his nose, and his mouth. Now will I slay thee,

said Arthur. Slay me ye may well, said Accolon, an it please you, for

ye are the best knight that ever I found, and I see well that God is

with you. But for I promised to do this battle, said Accolon, to the

uttermost, and never to be recreant while I lived, therefore shall I

never yield me with my mouth, but God do with my body what he will.

Then Sir Arthur remembered him, and thought he should have seen this

knight. Now tell me, said Arthur, or I will slay thee, of what country

art thou, and of what court? Sir Knight, said Sir Accolon, I am of the

court of King Arthur, and my name is Accolon of Gaul. Then was Arthur

more dismayed than he was beforehand; for then he remembered him of his

sister Morgan le Fay, and of the enchantment of the ship. O sir knight,

said he, I pray you tell me who gave you this sword, and by whom ye had

it.

CHAPTER XI. How Accolon confessed the treason of Morgan le Fay, King

Arthur’s sister, and how she would have done slay him.

Then Sir Accolon bethought him, and said, Woe worth this sword, for by

it have I got my death. It may well be, said the king. Now, sir, said

Accolon, I will tell you; this sword hath been in my keeping the most

part of this twelvemonth; and Morgan le Fay, King Uriens’ wife, sent it

me yesterday by a dwarf, to this intent, that I should slay King

Arthur, her brother. For ye shall understand King Arthur is the man in

the world that she most hateth, because he is most of worship and of

prowess of any of her blood; also she loveth me out of measure as

paramour, and I her again; and if she might bring about to slay Arthur

by her crafts, she would slay her husband King Uriens lightly, and then

had she me devised to be king in this land, and so to reign, and she to

be my queen; but that is now done, said Accolon, for I am sure of my

death. Well, said Sir Arthur, I feel by you ye would have been king in

this land. It had been great damage to have destroyed your lord, said

Arthur. It is truth, said Accolon, but now I have told you truth,

wherefore I pray you tell me of whence ye are, and of what court? O

Accolon, said King Arthur, now I let thee wit that I am King Arthur, to

whom thou hast done great damage. When Accolon heard that he cried

aloud, Fair, sweet lord, have mercy on me, for I knew not you. O Sir

Accolon, said King Arthur, mercy shalt thou have, because I feel by thy

words at this time thou knewest not my person; but I understand well by

thy words that thou hast agreed to the death of my person, and

therefore thou art a traitor; but I wite thee the less, for my sister

Morgan le Fay by her false crafts made thee to agree and consent to her

false lusts, but I shall be sore avenged upon her an I live, that all

Christendom shall speak of it; God knoweth I have honoured her and

worshipped her more than all my kin, and more have I trusted her than

mine own wife and all my kin after.

Then Sir Arthur called the keepers of the field, and said, Sirs, come

hither, for here are we two knights that have fought unto a great

damage unto us both, and like each one of us to have slain other, if it

had happed so; and had any of us known other, here had been no battle,

nor stroke stricken. Then all aloud cried Accolon unto all the knights

and men that were then there gathered together, and said to them in

this manner, O lords, this noble knight that I have fought withal, the

which me sore repenteth, is the most man of prowess, of manhood, and of

worship in the world, for it is himself King Arthur, our alther liege

lord, and with mishap and with misadventure have I done this battle

with the king and lord that I am holden withal.

CHAPTER XII. How Arthur accorded the two brethren, and delivered the

twenty knights, and how Sir Accolon died.

Then all the people fell down on their knees and cried King Arthur

mercy. Mercy shall ye have, said Arthur: here may ye see what

adventures befall ofttime of errant knights, how that I have fought

with a knight of mine own unto my great damage and his both. But, sirs,

because I am sore hurt, and he both, and I had great need of a little

rest, ye shall understand the opinion betwixt you two brethren: As to

thee, Sir Damas, for whom I have been champion and won the field of

this knight, yet will I judge because ye, Sir Damas, are called an

orgulous knight, and full of villainy, and not worth of prowess your

deeds, therefore I will that ye give unto your brother all the whole

manor with the appurtenance, under this form, that Sir Ontzlake hold

the manor of you, and yearly to give you a palfrey to ride upon, for

that will become you better to ride on than upon a courser. Also I

charge thee, Sir Damas, upon pain of death, that thou never distress no

knights errant that ride on their adventure. And also that thou restore

these twenty knights that thou hast long kept prisoners, of all their

harness, that they be content for; and if any of them come to my court

and complain of thee, by my head thou shalt die therefore. Also, Sir

Ontzlake, as to you, because ye are named a good knight, and full of

prowess, and true and gentle in all your deeds, this shall be your

charge I will give you, that in all goodly haste ye come unto me and my

court, and ye shall be a knight of mine, and if your deeds be

thereafter I shall so prefer you, by the grace of God, that ye shall in

short time be in ease for to live as worshipfully as your brother Sir

Damas. God thank your largeness of your goodness and of your bounty, I

shall be from henceforward at all times at your commandment; for, sir,

said Sir Ontzlake, as God would, as I was hurt but late with an

adventurous knight through both my thighs, that grieved me sore, and

else had I done this battle with you. God would, said Arthur, it had

been so, for then had not I been hurt as I am. I shall tell you the

cause why: for I had not been hurt as I am, had it not been mine own

sword, that was stolen from me by treason; and this battle was ordained

aforehand to have slain me, and so it was brought to the purpose by

false treason, and by false enchantment. Alas, said Sir Ontzlake, that

is great pity that ever so noble a man as ye are of your deeds and

prowess, that any man or woman might find in their hearts to work any

treason against you. I shall reward them, said Arthur, in short time,

by the grace of God. Now, tell me, said Arthur, how far am I from

Camelot? Sir, ye are two days’ journey therefrom. I would fain be at

some place of worship, said Sir Arthur, that I might rest me. Sir, said

Sir Ontzlake, hereby is a rich abbey of your elders’ foundation, of

nuns, but three miles hence. So the king took his leave of all the

people, and mounted upon horseback, and Sir Accolon with him. And when

they were come to the abbey, he let fetch leeches and search his wounds

and Accolon’s both; but Sir Accolon died within four days, for he had

bled so much blood that he might not live, but King Arthur was well

recovered. So when Accolon was dead he let send him on an horse-bier

with six knights unto Camelot, and said: Bear him to my sister Morgan

le Fay, and say that I send her him to a present, and tell her I have

my sword Excalibur and the scabbard; so they departed with the body.

CHAPTER XIII. How Morgan would have slain Sir Uriens her husband, and

how Sir Uwaine her son saved him.

The meanwhile Morgan le Fay had weened King Arthur had been dead. So on

a day she espied King Uriens lay in his bed sleeping. Then she called

unto her a maiden of her counsel, and said, Go fetch me my lord’s

sword, for I saw never better time to slay him than now. O madam, said

the damosel, an ye slay my lord ye can never escape. Care not you, said

Morgan le Fay, for now I see my time in the which it is best to do it,

and therefore hie thee fast and fetch me the sword. Then the damosel

departed, and found Sir Uwaine sleeping upon a bed in another chamber,

so she went unto Sir Uwaine, and awaked him, and bade him, Arise, and

wait on my lady your mother, for she will slay the king your father

sleeping in his bed, for I go to fetch his sword. Well, said Sir

Uwaine, go on your way, and let me deal. Anon the damosel brought

Morgan the sword with quaking hands, and she lightly took the sword,

and pulled it out, and went boldly unto the bed’s side, and awaited how

and where she might slay him best. And as she lifted up the sword to

smite, Sir Uwaine leapt unto his mother, and caught her by the hand,

and said, Ah, fiend, what wilt thou do? An thou wert not my mother,

with this sword I should smite off thy head. Ah, said Sir Uwaine, men

saith that Merlin was begotten of a devil, but I may say an earthly

devil bare me. O fair son, Uwaine, have mercy upon me, I was tempted

with a devil, wherefore I cry thee mercy; I will never more do so; and

save my worship and discover me not. On this covenant, said Sir Uwaine,

I will forgive it you, so ye will never be about to do such deeds. Nay,

son, said she, and that I make you assurance.

CHAPTER XIV. How Queen Morgan le Fay made great sorrow for the death of

Accolon, and how she stole away the scabbard from Arthur.

Then came tidings unto Morgan le Fay that Accolon was dead, and his

body brought unto the church, and how King Arthur had his sword again.

But when Queen Morgan wist that Accolon was dead, she was so sorrowful

that near her heart to-brast. But because she would not it were known,

outward she kept her countenance, and made no semblant of sorrow. But

well she wist an she abode till her brother Arthur came thither, there

should no gold go for her life.

Then she went unto Queen Guenever, and asked her leave to ride into the

country. Ye may abide, said Queen Guenever, till your brother the king

come home. I may not, said Morgan le Fay, for I have such hasty

tidings, that I may not tarry. Well, said Guenever, ye may depart when

ye will. So early on the morn, or it was day, she took her horse and

rode all that day and most part of the night, and on the morn by noon

she came to the same abbey of nuns whereas lay King Arthur; and she

knowing he was there, she asked where he was. And they answered how he

had laid him in his bed to sleep, for he had had but little rest these

three nights. Well, said she, I charge you that none of you awake him

till I do, and then she alighted off her horse, and thought for to

steal away Excalibur his sword, and so she went straight unto his

chamber, and no man durst disobey her commandment, and there she found

Arthur asleep in his bed, and Excalibur in his right hand naked. When

she saw that she was passing heavy that she might not come by the sword

without she had awaked him, and then she wist well she had been dead.

Then she took the scabbard and went her way on horseback. When the king

awoke and missed his scabbard, he was wroth, and he asked who had been

there, and they said his sister, Queen Morgan had been there, and had

put the scabbard under her mantle and was gone. Alas, said Arthur,

falsely ye have watched me. Sir, said they all, we durst not disobey

your sister’s commandment. Ah, said the king, let fetch the best horse

may be found, and bid Sir Ontzlake arm him in all haste, and take

another good horse and ride with me. So anon the king and Ontzlake were

well armed, and rode after this lady, and so they came by a cross and

found a cowherd, and they asked the poor man if there came any lady

riding that way. Sir, said this poor man, right late came a lady riding

with a forty horses, and to yonder forest she rode. Then they spurred

their horses, and followed fast, and within a while Arthur had a sight

of Morgan le Fay; then he chased as fast as he might. When she espied

him following her, she rode a greater pace through the forest till she

came to a plain, and when she saw she might not escape, she rode unto a

lake thereby, and said, Whatsoever come of me, my brother shall not

have this scabbard. And then she let throw the scabbard in the deepest

of the water so it sank, for it was heavy of gold and precious stones.

Then she rode into a valley where many great stones were, and when she

saw she must be overtaken, she shaped herself, horse and man, by

enchantment unto a great marble stone. Anon withal came Sir Arthur and

Sir Ontzlake whereas the king might know his sister and her men, and

one knight from another. Ah, said the king, here may ye see the

vengeance of God, and now am I sorry that this misadventure is

befallen. And then he looked for the scabbard, but it would not be

found, so he returned to the abbey where he came from. So when Arthur

was gone she turned all into the likeliness as she and they were

before, and said, Sirs, now may we go where we will.

CHAPTER XV. How Morgan le Fay saved a knight that should have been

drowned, and how King Arthur returned home again.

Then said Morgan, Saw ye Arthur, my brother? Yea, said her knights,

right well, and that ye should have found an we might have stirred from

one stead, for by his armyvestal countenance he would have caused us to

have fled. I believe you, said Morgan. Anon after as she rode she met a

knight leading another knight on his horse before him, bound hand and

foot, blindfold, to have drowned him in a fountain. When she saw this

knight so bound, she asked him, What will ye do with that knight? Lady,

said he, I will drown him. For what cause? she asked. For I found him

with my wife, and she shall have the same death anon. That were pity,

said Morgan le Fay. Now, what say ye, knight, is it truth that he saith

of you? she said to the knight that should be drowned. Nay truly,

madam, he saith not right on me. Of whence be ye, said Morgan le Fay,

and of what country? I am of the court of King Arthur, and my name is

Manassen, cousin unto Accolon of Gaul. Ye say well, said she, and for

the love of him ye shall be delivered, and ye shall have your adversary

in the same case ye be in. So Manassen was loosed and the other knight

bound. And anon Manassen unarmed him, and armed himself in his harness,

and so mounted on horseback, and the knight afore him, and so threw him

into the fountain and drowned him. And then he rode unto Morgan again,

and asked if she would anything unto King Arthur. Tell him that I

rescued thee, not for the love of him but for the love of Accolon, and

tell him I fear him not while I can make me and them that be with me in

likeness of stones; and let him wit I can do much more when I see my

time. And so she departed into the country of Gore, and there was she

richly received, and made her castles and towns passing strong, for

always she dreaded much King Arthur.

When the king had well rested him at the abbey, he rode unto Camelot,

and found his queen and his barons right glad of his coming. And when

they heard of his strange adventures as is afore rehearsed, then all

had marvel of the falsehood of Morgan le Fay; many knights wished her

burnt. Then came Manassen to court and told the king of his adventure.

Well, said the king, she is a kind sister; I shall so be avenged on her

an I live, that all Christendom shall speak of it. So on the morn there

came a damosel from Morgan to the king, and she brought with her the

richest mantle that ever was seen in that court, for it was set as full

of precious stones as one might stand by another, and there were the

richest stones that ever the king saw. And the damosel said, Your

sister sendeth you this mantle, and desireth that ye should take this

gift of her; and in what thing she hath offended you, she will amend it

at your own pleasure. When the king beheld this mantle it pleased him

much, but he said but little.

CHAPTER XVI. How the Damosel of the Lake saved King Arthur from mantle

that should have burnt him.

With that came the Damosel of the Lake unto the king, and said, Sir, I

must speak with you in privity. Say on, said the king, what ye will.

Sir, said the damosel, put not on you this mantle till ye have seen

more, and in no wise let it not come on you, nor on no knight of yours,

till ye command the bringer thereof to put it upon her. Well, said King

Arthur, it shall be done as ye counsel me. And then he said unto the

damosel that came from his sister, Damosel, this mantle that ye have

brought me, I will see it upon you. Sir, she said, It will not beseem

me to wear a king’s garment. By my head, said Arthur, ye shall wear it

or it come on my back, or any man’s that here is. And so the king made

it to be put upon her, and forth withal she fell down dead, and never

more spake word after and burnt to coals. Then was the king wonderly

wroth, more than he was to-forehand, and said unto King Uriens, My

sister, your wife, is alway about to betray me, and well I wot either

ye, or my nephew, your son, is of counsel with her to have me

destroyed; but as for you, said the king to King Uriens, I deem not

greatly that ye be of her counsel, for Accolon confessed to me by his

own mouth, that she would have destroyed you as well as me, therefore I

hold you excused; but as for your son, Sir Uwaine, I hold him suspect,

therefore I charge you put him out of my court. So Sir Uwaine was

discharged. And when Sir Gawaine wist that, he made him ready to go

with him; and said, Whoso banisheth my cousin-germain shall banish me.

So they two departed, and rode into a great forest, and so they came to

an abbey of monks, and there were well lodged. But when the king wist

that Sir Gawaine was departed from the court, there was made great

sorrow among all the estates. Now, said Gaheris, Gawaine’s brother, we

have lost two good knights for the love of one. So on the morn they

heard their masses in the abbey, and so they rode forth till that they

came to a great forest. Then was Sir Gawaine ware in a valley by a

turret [of] twelve fair damosels, and two knights armed on great

horses, and the damosels went to and fro by a tree. And then was Sir

Gawaine ware how there hung a white shield on that tree, and ever as

the damosels came by it they spit upon it, and some threw mire upon the

shield.

CHAPTER XVII. How Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine met with twelve fair

damosels, and how they complained on Sir Marhaus.

Then Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine went and saluted them, and asked why

they did that despite to the shield. Sir, said the damosels, we shall

tell you. There is a knight in this country that owneth this white

shield, and he is a passing good man of his hands, but he hateth all

ladies and gentlewomen, and therefore we do all this despite to the

shield. I shall say you, said Sir Gawaine, it beseemeth evil a good

knight to despise all ladies and gentlewomen, and peradventure though

he hate you he hath some certain cause, and peradventure he loveth in

some other places ladies and gentlewomen, and to be loved again, an he

be such a man of prowess as ye speak of. Now, what is his name? Sir,

said they, his name is Marhaus, the king’s son of Ireland. I know him

well, said Sir Uwaine, he is a passing good knight as any is alive, for

I saw him once proved at a jousts where many knights were gathered, and

that time there might no man withstand him. Ah! said Sir Gawaine,

damosels, methinketh ye are to blame, for it is to suppose, he that

hung that shield there, he will not be long therefrom, and then may

those knights match him on horseback, and that is more your worship

than thus; for I will abide no longer to see a knight’s shield

dishonoured. And therewith Sir Uwaine and Gawaine departed a little

from them, and then were they ware where Sir Marhaus came riding on a

great horse straight toward them. And when the twelve damosels saw Sir

Marhaus they fled into the turret as they were wild, so that some of

them fell by the way. Then the one of the knights of the tower dressed

his shield, and said on high, Sir Marhaus, defend thee. And so they ran

together that the knight brake his spear on Marhaus, and Marhaus smote

him so hard that he brake his neck and the horse’s back. That saw the

other knight of the turret, and dressed him toward Marhaus, and they

met so eagerly together that the knight of the turret was soon smitten

down, horse and man, stark dead.

CHAPTER XVIII. How Sir Marhaus jousted with Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine,

and overthrew them both.

And then Sir Marhaus rode unto his shield, and saw how it was defouled,

and said, Of this despite I am a part avenged, but for her love that

gave me this white shield I shall wear thee, and hang mine where thou

wast; and so he hanged it about his neck. Then he rode straight unto

Sir Gawaine and to Sir Uwaine, and asked them what they did there? They

answered him that they came from King Arthur’s court to see adventures.

Well, said Sir Marhaus, here am I ready, an adventurous knight that

will fulfil any adventure that ye will desire; and so departed from

them, to fetch his range. Let him go, said Sir Uwaine unto Sir Gawaine,

for he is a passing good knight as any is living; I would not by my

will that any of us were matched with him. Nay, said Sir Gawaine, not

so, it were shame to us were he not assayed, were he never so good a

knight. Well, said Sir Uwaine, I will assay him afore you, for I am

more weaker than ye, and if he smite me down then may ye revenge me. So

these two knights came together with great raundon, that Sir Uwaine

smote Sir Marhaus that his spear brast in pieces on the shield, and Sir

Marhaus smote him so sore that horse and man he bare to the earth, and

hurt Sir Uwaine on the left side.

Then Sir Marhaus turned his horse and rode toward Gawaine with his

spear, and when Sir Gawaine saw that he dressed his shield, and they

aventred their spears, and they came together with all the might of

their horses, that either knight smote other so hard in midst of their

shields, but Sir Gawaine’s spear brake, but Sir Marhaus’ spear held;

and therewith Sir Gawaine and his horse rushed down to the earth. And

lightly Sir Gawaine rose on his feet, and pulled out his sword, and

dressed him toward Sir Marhaus on foot, and Sir Marhaus saw that, and

pulled out his sword and began to come to Sir Gawaine on horseback. Sir

knight, said Sir Gawaine, alight on foot, or else I will slay thy

horse. Gramercy, said Sir Marhaus, of your gentleness ye teach me

courtesy, for it is not for one knight to be on foot, and the other on

horseback. And therewith Sir Marhaus set his spear against a tree and

alighted and tied his horse to a tree, and dressed his shield, and

either came unto other eagerly, and smote together with their swords

that their shields flew in cantels, and they bruised their helms and

their hauberks, and wounded either other. But Sir Gawaine from it

passed nine of the clock waxed ever stronger and stronger, for then it

came to the hour of noon, and thrice his might was increased. All this

espied Sir Marhaus and had great wonder how his might increased, and so

they wounded other passing sore. And then when it was past noon, and

when it drew toward evensong, Sir Gawaine’s strength feebled, and waxed

passing faint that unnethes he might dure any longer, and Sir Marhaus

was then bigger and bigger. Sir knight, said Sir Marhaus, I have well

felt that ye are a passing good knight and a marvellous man of might as

ever I felt any, while it lasteth, and our quarrels are not great, and

therefore it were pity to do you hurt, for I feel ye are passing

feeble. Ah, said Sir Gawaine, gentle knight, ye say the word that I

should say. And therewith they took off their helms, and either kissed

other, and there they swore together either to love other as brethren.

And Sir Marhaus prayed Sir Gawaine to lodge with him that night. And so

they took their horses, and rode toward Sir Marhaus’ house. And as they

rode by the way, Sir knight, said Sir Gawaine, I have marvel that so

valiant a man as ye be love no ladies nor damosels. Sir, said Sir

Marhaus, they name me wrongfully those that give me that name, but well

I wot it be the damosels of the turret that so name me, and other such

as they be. Now shall I tell you for what cause I hate them: for they

be sorceresses and enchanters many of them, and be a knight never so

good of his body and full of prowess as man may be, they will make him

a stark coward to have the better of him, and this is the principal

cause that I hate them; and to all good ladies and gentlewomen I owe my

service as a knight ought to do.

As the book rehearseth in French, there were many knights that

overmatched Sir Gawaine, for all the thrice might that he had: Sir

Launcelot de Lake, Sir Tristram, Sir Bors de Ganis, Sir Percivale, Sir

Pelleas, and Sir Marhaus, these six knights had the better of Sir

Gawaine. Then within a little while they came to Sir Marhaus’ place,

which was in a little priory, and there they alighted, and ladies and

damosels unarmed them, and hastily looked to their hurts, for they were

all three hurt. And so they had all three good lodging with Sir

Marhaus, and good cheer; for when he wist that they were King Arthur’s

sister’s sons he made them all the cheer that lay in his power, and so

they sojourned there a sennight, and were well eased of their wounds,

and at the last departed. Now, said Sir Marhaus, we will not depart so

lightly, for I will bring you through the forest; and rode day by day

well a seven days or they found any adventure. At the last they came

into a great forest, that was named the country and forest of Arroy,

and the country of strange adventures. In this country, said Sir

Marhaus, came never knight since it was christened but he found strange

adventures; and so they rode, and came into a deep valley full of

stones, and thereby they saw a fair stream of water; above thereby was

the head of the stream a fair fountain, and three damosels sitting

thereby. And then they rode to them, and either saluted other, and the

eldest had a garland of gold about her head, and she was three score

winter of age or more, and her hair was white under the garland. The

second damosel was of thirty winter of age, with a circlet of gold

about her head. The third damosel was but fifteen year of age, and a

garland of flowers about her head. When these knights had so beheld

them, they asked them the cause why they sat at that fountain? We be

here, said the damosels, for this cause: if we may see any errant

knights, to teach them unto strange adventures; and ye be three knights

that seek adventures, and we be three damosels, and therefore each one

of you must choose one of us; and when ye have done so we will lead you

unto three highways, and there each of you shall choose a way and his

damosel with him. And this day twelvemonth ye must meet here again, and

God send you your lives, and thereto ye must plight your troth. This is

well said, said Sir Marhaus.

CHAPTER XIX. How Sir Marhaus, Sir Gawaine, and Sir Uwaine met three

damosels, and each of them took one.

Now shall everych of us choose a damosel. I shall tell you, said Sir

Uwaine, I am the youngest and most weakest of you both, therefore I

will have the eldest damosel, for she hath seen much, and can best help

me when I have need, for I have most need of help of you both. Now,

said Sir Marhaus, I will have the damosel of thirty winter age, for she

falleth best to me. Well, said Sir Gawaine, I thank you, for ye have

left me the youngest and the fairest, and she is most liefest to me.

Then every damosel took her knight by the reins of his bridle, and

brought him to the three ways, and there was their oath made to meet at

the fountain that day twelvemonth an they were living, and so they

kissed and departed, and each knight set his lady behind him.

And Sir

Uwaine took the way that lay west, and Sir Marhaus took the way that

lay south, and Sir Gawaine took the way that lay north. Now will we

begin at Sir Gawaine, that held that way till that he came unto a fair

manor, where dwelled an old knight and a good householder, and there

Sir Gawaine asked the knight if he knew any adventures in that country.

I shall show you some to-morn, said the old knight, and that

marvellous. So, on the morn they rode into the forest of adventures to

a laund, and thereby they found a cross, and as they stood and hoved

there came by them the fairest knight and the seemliest man that ever

they saw, making the greatest dole that ever man made. And then he was

ware of Sir Gawaine, and saluted him, and prayed God to send him much

worship. As to that, said Sir Gawaine, gramercy; also I pray to God

that he send you honour and worship. Ah, said the knight, I may lay

that aside, for sorrow and shame cometh to me after worship.

CHAPTER XX. How a knight and a dwarf strove for a lady.

And therewith he passed unto the one side of the laund; and on the

other side saw Sir Gawaine ten knights that hoved still and made them

ready with their shields and spears against that one knight that came

by Sir Gawaine.

Then this one knight aventred a great spear, and one of the ten knights

encountered with him, but this woful knight smote him so hard that he

fell over his horse’s tail. So this same dolorous knight served them

all, that at the leastway he smote down horse and man, and all he did

with one spear; and so when they were all ten on foot, they went to

that one knight, and he stood stone still, and suffered them to pull

him down off his horse, and bound him hand and foot, and tied him under

the horse’s belly, and so led him with them. O Jesu! said Sir Gawaine,

this is a doleful sight, to see the yonder knight so to be entreated,

and it seemeth by the knight that he suffereth them to bind him so, for

he maketh no resistance. No, said his host, that is truth, for an he

would they all were too weak so to do him. Sir, said the damosel unto

Sir Gawaine, meseemeth it were your worship to help that dolorous

knight, for methinketh he is one of the best knights that ever I saw. I

would do for him, said Sir Gawaine, but it seemeth he will have no

help. Then, said the damosel, methinketh ye have no lust to help him.

Thus as they talked they saw a knight on the other side of the laund

all armed save the head. And on the other side there came a dwarf on

horseback all armed save the head, with a great mouth and a short nose;

and when the dwarf came nigh he said, Where is the lady should meet us

here? and therewithal she came forth out of the wood. And then they

began to strive for the lady; for the knight said he would have her,

and the dwarf said he would have her. Will we do well? said the dwarf;

yonder is a knight at the cross, let us put it both upon him, and as he

deemeth so shall it be. I will well, said the knight, and so they went

all three unto Sir Gawaine and told him wherefore they strove. Well,

sirs, said he, will ye put the matter in my hand? Yea, they said both.

Now damosel, said Sir Gawaine, ye shall stand betwixt them both, and

whether ye list better to go to, he shall have you. And when she was

set between them both, she left the knight and went to the dwarf, and

the dwarf took her and went his way singing, and the knight went his

way with great mourning.

Then came there two knights all armed, and cried on high, Sir Gawaine!

knight of King Arthur’s, make thee ready in all haste and joust with

me. So they ran together, that either fell down, and then on foot they

drew their swords, and did full actually. The meanwhile the other

knight went to the damosel, and asked her why she abode with that

knight, and if ye would abide with me, I will be your faithful knight.

And with you will I be, said the damosel, for with Sir Gawaine I may

not find in mine heart to be with him; for now here was one knight

discomfited ten knights, and at the last he was cowardly led away; and

therefore let us two go whilst they fight. And Sir Gawaine fought with

that other knight long, but at the last they accorded both. And then

the knight prayed Sir Gawaine to lodge with him that night. So as Sir

Gawaine went with this knight he asked him, What knight is he in this

country that smote down the ten knights? For when he had done so

manfully he suffered them to bind him hand and foot, and so led him

away. Ah, said the knight, that is the best knight I trow in the world,

and the most man of prowess, and he hath been served so as he was even

more than ten times, and his name hight Sir Pelleas, and he loveth a

great lady in this country and her name is Ettard. And so when he loved

her there was cried in this country a great jousts three days, and all

the knights of this country were there and gentlewomen, and who that

proved him the best knight should have a passing good sword and a

circlet of gold, and the circlet the knight should give it to the

fairest lady that was at the jousts. And this knight Sir Pelleas was

the best knight that was there, and there were five hundred knights,

but there was never man that ever Sir Pelleas met withal but he struck

him down, or else from his horse; and every day of three days he struck

down twenty knights, therefore they gave him the prize, and forthwithal

he went thereas the Lady Ettard was, and gave her the circlet, and said

openly she was the fairest lady that there was, and that would he prove

upon any knight that would say nay.

CHAPTER XXI. How King Pelleas suffered himself to be taken prisoner

because he would have a sight of his lady, and how Sir Gawaine promised

him to get to him the love of his lady.

And so he chose her for his sovereign lady, and never to love other but

her, but she was so proud that she had scorn of him, and said that she

would never love him though he would die for her. Wherefore all ladies

and gentlewomen had scorn of her that she was so proud, for there were

fairer than she, and there was none that was there but an Sir Pelleas

would have proffered them love, they would have loved him for his noble

prowess. And so this knight promised the Lady Ettard to follow her into

this country, and never to leave her till she loved him. And thus he is

here the most part nigh her, and lodged by a priory, and every week she

sendeth knights to fight with him. And when he hath put them to the

worse, then will he suffer them wilfully to take him prisoner, because

he would have a sight of this lady. And always she doth him great

despite, for sometime she maketh her knights to tie him to his horse’s

tail, and some to bind him under the horse’s belly; thus in the most

shamefullest ways that she can think he is brought to her. And all she

doth it for to cause him to leave this country, and to leave his

loving; but all this cannot make him to leave, for an he would have

fought on foot he might have had the better of the ten knights as well

on foot as on horseback. Alas, said Sir Gawaine, it is great pity of

him; and after this night I will seek him to-morrow, in this forest, to

do him all the help I can. So on the morn Sir Gawaine took his leave of

his host Sir Carados, and rode into the forest; and at the last he met

with Sir Pelleas, making great moan out of measure, so each of them

saluted other, and asked him why he made such sorrow. And as it is

above rehearsed, Sir Pelleas told Sir Gawaine: But always I suffer her

knights to fare so with me as ye saw yesterday, in trust at the last to

win her love, for she knoweth well all her knights should not lightly

win me, an me list to fight with them to the uttermost. Wherefore an I

loved her not so sore, I had liefer die an hundred times, an I might

die so oft, rather than I would suffer that despite; but I trust she

will have pity upon me at the last, for love causeth many a good knight

to suffer to have his entent, but alas I am unfortunate. And therewith

he made so great dole and sorrow that unnethe he might hold him on

horseback.

Now, said Sir Gawaine, leave your mourning and I shall promise you by

the faith of my body to do all that lieth in my power to get you the

love of your lady, and thereto I will plight you my troth. Ah, said Sir

Pelleas, of what court are ye? tell me, I pray you, my good friend. And

then Sir Gawaine said, I am of the court of King Arthur, and his

sister’s son, and King Lot of Orkney was my father, and my name is Sir

Gawaine. And then he said, My name is Sir Pelleas, born in the Isles,

and of many isles I am lord, and never have I loved lady nor damosel

till now in an unhappy time; and, sir knight, since ye are so nigh

cousin unto King Arthur, and a king’s son, therefore betray me not but

help me, for I may never come by her but by some good knight, for she

is in a strong castle here, fast by within this four mile, and over all

this country she is lady of. And so I may never come to her presence,

but as I suffer her knights to take me, and but if I did so that I

might have a sight of her, I had been dead long or this time; and yet

fair word had I never of her, but when I am brought to-fore her she

rebuketh me in the foulest manner. And then they take my horse and

harness and put me out of the gates, and she will not suffer me to eat

nor drink; and always I offer me to be her prisoner, but that she will

not suffer me, for I would desire no more, what pains so ever I had, so

that I might have a sight of her daily. Well, said Sir Gawaine, all

this shall I amend an ye will do as I shall devise: I will have your

horse and your armour, and so will I ride unto her castle and tell her

that I have slain you, and so shall I come within her to cause her to

cherish me, and then shall I do my true part that ye shall not fail to

have the love of her.

CHAPTER XXII. How Sir Gawaine came to the Lady Ettard, and how Sir

Pelleas found them sleeping.

And therewith Sir Gawaine plight his troth unto Sir Pelleas to be true

and faithful unto him; so each one plight their troth to other, and so

they changed horses and harness, and Sir Gawaine departed, and came to

the castle whereas stood the pavilions of this lady without the gate.

And as soon as Ettard had espied Sir Gawaine she fled in toward the

castle. Sir Gawaine spake on high, and bade her abide, for he was not

Sir Pelleas; I am another knight that have slain Sir Pelleas. Do off

your helm, said the Lady Ettard, that I may see your visage. And so

when she saw that it was not Sir Pelleas, she bade him alight and led

him unto her castle, and asked him faithfully whether he had slain Sir

Pelleas. And he said her yea, and told her his name was Sir Gawaine of

the court of King Arthur, and his sister’s son. Truly, said she, that

is great pity, for he was a passing good knight of his body, but of all

men alive I hated him most, for I could never be quit of him; and for

ye have slain him I shall be your woman, and to do anything that might

please you. So she made Sir Gawaine good cheer. Then Sir Gawaine said

that he loved a lady and by no means she would love him. She is to

blame, said Ettard, an she will not love you, for ye that be so well

born a man, and such a man of prowess, there is no lady in the world

too good for you. Will ye, said Sir Gawaine, promise me to do all that

ye may, by the faith of your body, to get me the love of my lady? Yea,

sir, said she, and that I promise you by the faith of my body. Now,

said Sir Gawaine, it is yourself that I love so well, therefore I pray

you hold your promise. I may not choose, said the Lady Ettard, but if I

should be forsworn; and so she granted him to fulfil all his desire.

So it was then in the month of May that she and Sir Gawaine went out of

the castle and supped in a pavilion, and there was made a bed, and

there Sir Gawaine and the Lady Ettard went to bed together, and in

another pavilion she laid her damosels, and in the third pavilion she

laid part of her knights, for then she had no dread of Sir Pelleas. And

there Sir Gawaine lay with her in that pavilion two days and two

nights. And on the third day, in the morning early, Sir Pelleas armed

him, for he had never slept since Sir Gawaine departed from him; for

Sir Gawaine had promised him by the faith of his body, to come to him

unto his pavilion by that priory within the space of a day and a night.

Then Sir Pelleas mounted upon horseback, and came to the pavilions that

stood without the castle, and found in the first pavilion three knights

in three beds, and three squires lying at their feet. Then went he to

the second pavilion and found four gentlewomen lying in four beds. And

then he yede to the third pavilion and found Sir Gawaine lying in bed

with his Lady Ettard, and either clipping other in arms, and when he

saw that his heart well-nigh brast for sorrow, and said: Alas! that

ever a knight should be found so false; and then he took his horse and

might not abide no longer for pure sorrow. And when he had ridden nigh

half a mile he turned again and thought to slay them both; and when he

saw them both so lie sleeping fast, unnethe he might hold him on

horseback for sorrow, and said thus to himself, Though this knight be

never so false, I will never slay him sleeping, for I will never

destroy the high order of knighthood; and therewith he departed again.

And or he had ridden half a mile he returned again, and thought then to

slay them both, making the greatest sorrow that ever man made. And when

he came to the pavilions, he tied his horse unto a tree, and pulled out

his sword naked in his hand, and went to them thereas they lay, and yet

he thought it were shame to slay them sleeping, and laid the naked

sword overthwart both their throats, and so took his horse and rode his

way.

And when Sir Pelleas came to his pavilions he told his knights and his

squires how he had sped, and said thus to them, For your true and good

service ye have done me I shall give you all my goods, for I will go

unto my bed and never arise until I am dead. And when that I am dead I

charge you that ye take the heart out of my body and bear it her

betwixt two silver dishes, and tell her how I saw her lie with the

false knight Sir Gawaine. Right so Sir Pelleas unarmed himself, and

went unto his bed making marvellous dole and sorrow.

When Sir Gawaine and Ettard awoke of their sleep, and found the naked

sword overthwart their throats, then she knew well it was Sir Pelleas’

sword. Alas! said she to Sir Gawaine, ye have betrayed me and Sir

Pelleas both, for ye told me ye had slain him, and now I know well it

is not so, he is alive. And if Sir Pelleas had been as uncourteous to

you as ye have been to him ye had been a dead knight; but ye have

deceived me and betrayed me falsely, that all ladies and damosels may

beware by you and me. And therewith Sir Gawaine made him ready, and

went into the forest. So it happed then that the Damosel of the Lake,

Nimue, met with a knight of Sir Pelleas, that went on his foot in the

forest making great dole, and she asked him the cause. And so the woful

knight told her how his master and lord was betrayed through a knight

and lady, and how he will never arise out of his bed till he be dead.

Bring me to him, said she anon, and I will warrant his life he shall

not die for love, and she that hath caused him so to love, she shall be

in as evil plight as he is or it be long to, for it is no joy of such a

proud lady that will have no mercy of such a valiant knight. Anon that

knight brought her unto him, and when she saw him lie in his bed, she

thought she saw never so likely a knight; and therewith she threw an

enchantment upon him, and he fell asleep. And therewhile she rode unto

the Lady Ettard, and charged no man to awake him till she came again.

So within two hours she brought the Lady Ettard thither, and both

ladies found him asleep: Lo, said the Damosel of the Lake, ye ought to

be ashamed for to murder such a knight. And therewith she threw such an

enchantment upon her that she loved him sore, that well-nigh she was

out of her mind. O Lord Jesu, said the Lady Ettard, how is it befallen

unto me that I love now him that I have most hated of any man alive?

That is the righteous judgment of God, said the damosel. And then anon

Sir Pelleas awaked and looked upon Ettard; and when he saw her he knew

her, and then he hated her more than any woman alive, and said: Away,

traitress, come never in my sight. And when she heard him say so, she

wept and made great sorrow out of measure.

CHAPTER XXIII. How Sir Pelleas loved no more Ettard by means of the

Damosel of the Lake, whom he loved ever after.

Sir knight Pelleas, said the Damosel of the Lake, take your horse and

come forth with me out of this country, and ye shall love a lady that

shall love you. I will well, said Sir Pelleas, for this Lady Ettard

hath done me great despite and shame, and there he told her the

beginning and ending, and how he had purposed never to have arisen till

that he had been dead. And now such grace God hath sent me, that I hate

her as much as ever I loved her, thanked be our Lord Jesus! Thank me,

said the Damosel of the Lake. Anon Sir Pelleas armed him, and took his

horse, and commanded his men to bring after his pavilions and his stuff

where the Damosel of the Lake would assign. So the Lady Ettard died for

sorrow, and the Damosel of the Lake rejoiced Sir Pelleas, and loved

together during their life days.

CHAPTER XXIV. How Sir Marhaus rode with the damosel, and how he came to

the Duke of the South Marches.

Now turn we unto Sir Marhaus, that rode with the damosel of thirty

winter of age, southward. And so they came into a deep forest, and by

fortune they were nighted, and rode long in a deep way, and at the last

they came unto a courtelage, and there they asked harbour. But the man

of the courtelage would not lodge them for no treatise that they could

treat, but thus much the good man said, An ye will take the adventure

of your lodging, I shall bring you where ye shall be lodged. What

adventure is that that I shall have for my lodging? said Sir Marhaus.

Ye shall wit when ye come there, said the good man. Sir, what adventure

so it be, bring me thither I pray thee, said Sir Marhaus; for I am

weary, my damosel, and my horse. So the good man went and opened the

gate, and within an hour he brought him unto a fair castle, and then

the poor man called the porter, and anon he was let into the castle,

and so he told the lord how he brought him a knight errant and a

damosel that would be lodged with him. Let him in, said the lord, it

may happen he shall repent that they took their lodging here.

So Sir Marhaus was let in with torchlight, and there was a goodly sight

of young men that welcomed him. And then his horse was led into the

stable, and he and the damosel were brought into the hall, and there

stood a mighty duke and many goodly men about him. Then this lord asked

him what he hight, and from whence he came, and with whom he dwelt.

Sir, he said, I am a knight of King Arthur’s and knight of the Table

Round, and my name is Sir Marhaus, and born I am in Ireland. And then

said the duke to him, That me sore repenteth: the cause is this, for I

love not thy lord nor none of thy fellows of the Table Round; and

therefore ease thyself this night as well as thou mayest, for as

to-morn I and my six sons shall match with you. Is there no remedy but

that I must have ado with you and your six sons at once? said Sir

Marhaus. No, said the duke, for this cause I made mine avow, for Sir

Gawaine slew my seven sons in a recounter, therefore I made mine avow,

there should never knight of King Arthur’s court lodge with me, or come

thereas I might have ado with him, but that I would have a revenging of

my sons’ death. What is your name? said Sir Marhaus; I require you tell

me, an it please you. Wit thou well I am the Duke of South Marches. Ah,

said Sir Marhaus, I have heard say that ye have been long time a great

foe unto my lord Arthur and to his knights. That shall ye feel to-morn,

said the duke. Shall I have ado with you? said Sir Marhaus. Yea, said

the duke, thereof shalt thou not choose, and therefore take you to your

chamber, and ye shall have all that to you longeth. So Sir Marhaus

departed and was led to a chamber, and his damosel was led unto her

chamber. And on the morn the duke sent unto Sir Marhaus and bade make

him ready. And so Sir Marhaus arose and armed him, and then there was a

mass sung afore him, and brake his fast, and so mounted on horseback in

the court of the castle where they should do the battle. So there was

the duke all ready on horseback, clean armed, and his six sons by him,

and everych had a spear in his hand, and so they encountered, whereas

the duke and his two sons brake their spears upon him, but Sir Marhaus

held up his spear and touched none of them.

CHAPTER XXV. How Sir Marhaus fought with the duke and his four sons and

made them to yield them.

Then came the four sons by couple, and two of them brake their spears,

and so did the other two. And all this while Sir Marhaus touched them

not. Then Sir Marhaus ran to the duke, and smote him with his spear

that horse and man fell to the earth, and so he served his sons; and

then Sir Marhaus alighted down and bade the duke yield him or else he

would slay him. And then some of his sons recovered, and would have set

upon Sir Marhaus; then Sir Marhaus said to the duke, Cease thy sons, or

else I will do the uttermost to you all. Then the duke saw he might not

escape the death, he cried to his sons, and charged them to yield them

to Sir Marhaus; and they kneeled all down and put the pommels of their

swords to the knight, and so he received them. And then they helped up

their father, and so by their cominal assent promised to Sir Marhaus

never to be foes unto King Arthur, and thereupon at Whitsuntide after

to come, he and his sons, and put them in the king’s grace.

Then Sir Marhaus departed, and within two days his damosel brought him

whereas was a great tournament that the Lady de Vawse had cried. And

who that did best should have a rich circlet of gold worth a thousand

besants. And there Sir Marhaus did so nobly that he was renowned, and

had sometime down forty knights, and so the circlet of gold was

rewarded him. Then he departed from them with great worship; and so

within seven nights his damosel brought him to an earl’s place, his

name was the Earl Fergus, that after was Sir Tristram’s knight; and

this earl was but a young man, and late come into his lands, and there

was a giant fast by him that hight Taulurd, and he had another brother

in Cornwall that hight Taulas, that Sir Tristram slew when he was out

of his mind. So this earl made his complaint unto Sir Marhaus, that

there was a giant by him that destroyed all his lands, and how he durst

nowhere ride nor go for him. Sir, said the knight, whether useth he to

fight on horseback or on foot? Nay, said the earl, there may no horse

bear him. Well, said Sir Marhaus, then will I fight with him on foot;

so on the morn Sir Marhaus prayed the earl that one of his men might

bring him whereas the giant was; and so he was, for he saw him sit

under a tree of holly, and many clubs of iron and gisarms about him. So

this knight dressed him to the giant, putting his shield afore him, and

the giant took an iron club in his hand, and at the first stroke he

clave Sir Marhaus’ shield in two pieces. And there he was in great

peril, for the giant was a wily fighter, but at last Sir Marhaus smote

off his right arm above the elbow.

Then the giant fled and the knight after him, and so he drove him into

a water, but the giant was so high that he might not wade after him.

And then Sir Marhaus made the Earl Fergus’ man to fetch him stones, and

with those stones the knight gave the giant many sore knocks, till at

the last he made him fall down into the water, and so was he there

dead. Then Sir Marhaus went unto the giant’s castle, and there he

delivered twenty-four ladies and twelve knights out of the giant’s

prison, and there he had great riches without number, so that the days

of his life he was never poor man. Then he returned to the Earl Fergus,

the which thanked him greatly, and would have given him half his lands,

but he would none take. So Sir Marhaus dwelled with the earl nigh half

a year, for he was sore bruised with the giant, and at the last he took

his leave. And as he rode by the way, he met with Sir Gawaine and Sir

Uwaine, and so by adventure he met with four knights of Arthur’s court,

the first was Sir Sagramore le Desirous, Sir Osanna, Sir Dodinas le

Savage, and Sir Felot of Listinoise; and there Sir Marhaus with one

spear smote down these four knights, and hurt them sore. So he departed

to meet at his day aforeset.

CHAPTER XXVI. How Sir Uwaine rode with the damosel of sixty year of

age, and how he gat the prize at tourneying.

Now turn we unto Sir Uwaine, that rode westward with his damosel of

three score winter of age, and she brought him thereas was a tournament

nigh the march of Wales. And at that tournament Sir Uwaine smote down

thirty knights, therefore was given him the prize, and that was a

gerfalcon, and a white steed trapped with cloth of gold. So then Sir

Uwaine did many strange adventures by the means of the old damosel, and

so she brought him to a lady that was called the Lady of the Rock, the

which was much courteous. So there were in the country two knights that

were brethren, and they were called two perilous knights, the one

knight hight Sir Edward of the Red Castle, and the other Sir Hue of the

Red Castle; and these two brethren had disherited the Lady of the Rock

of a barony of lands by their extortion. And as this knight was lodged

with this lady she made her complaint to him of these two knights.

Madam, said Sir Uwaine, they are to blame, for they do against the high

order of knighthood, and the oath that they made; and if it like you I

will speak with them, because I am a knight of King Arthur’s, and I

will entreat them with fairness; and if they will not, I shall do

battle with them, and in the defence of your right. Gramercy said the

lady, and thereas I may not acquit you, God shall. So on the morn the

two knights were sent for, that they should come thither to speak with

the Lady of the Rock, and wit ye well they failed not, for they came

with an hundred horse. But when this lady saw them in this manner so

big, she would not suffer Sir Uwaine to go out to them upon no surety

nor for no fair language, but she made him speak with them over a

tower, but finally these two brethren would not be entreated, and

answered that they would keep that they had. Well, said Sir Uwaine,

then will I fight with one of you, and prove that ye do this lady

wrong. That will we not, said they, for an we do battle, we two will

fight with one knight at once, and therefore if ye will fight so, we

will be ready at what hour ye will assign. And if ye win us in battle

the lady shall have her lands again. Ye say well, said Sir Uwaine,

therefore make you ready so that ye be here to-morn in the defence of

the lady’s right.

CHAPTER XXVII. How Sir Uwaine fought with two knights and overcame

them.

So was there sikerness made on both parties that no treason should be

wrought on neither party; so then the knights departed and made them

ready, and that night Sir Uwaine had great cheer. And on the morn he

arose early and heard mass, and brake his fast, and so he rode unto the

plain without the gates, where hoved the two brethren abiding him. So

they rode together passing sore, that Sir Edward and Sir Hue brake

their spears upon Sir Uwaine. And Sir Uwaine smote Sir Edward that he

fell over his horse and yet his spear brast not. And then he spurred

his horse and came upon Sir Hue and overthrew him, but they soon

recovered and dressed their shields and drew their swords and bade Sir

Uwaine alight and do his battle to the uttermost. Then Sir Uwaine

devoided his horse suddenly, and put his shield afore him and drew his

sword, and so they dressed together, and either gave other such

strokes, and there these two brethren wounded Sir Uwaine passing

grievously that the Lady of the Rock weened he should have died. And

thus they fought together five hours as men raged out of reason. And at

the last Sir Uwaine smote Sir Edward upon the helm such a stroke that

his sword carved unto his canel bone, and then Sir Hue abated his

courage, but Sir Uwaine pressed fast to have slain him. That saw Sir

Hue: he kneeled down and yielded him to Sir Uwaine. And he of his

gentleness received his sword, and took him by the hand, and went into

the castle together. Then the Lady of the Rock was passing glad, and

the other brother made great sorrow for his brother’s death. Then the

lady was restored of all her lands, and Sir Hue was commanded to be at

the court of King Arthur at the next feast of Pentecost. So Sir Uwaine

dwelt with the lady nigh half a year, for it was long or he might be

whole of his great hurts. And so when it drew nigh the term-day that

Sir Gawaine, Sir Marhaus, and Sir Uwaine should meet at the cross-way,

then every knight drew him thither to hold his promise that they had

made; and Sir Marhaus and Sir Uwaine brought their damosels with them,

but Sir Gawaine had lost his damosel, as it is afore rehearsed.

CHAPTER XXVIII. How at the year’s end all three knights with their

three damosels met at the fountain.

Right so at the twelvemonths’ end they met all three knights at the

fountain and their damosels, but the damosel that Sir Gawaine had could

say but little worship of him so they departed from the damosels and

rode through a great forest, and there they met with a messenger that

came from King Arthur, that had sought them well-nigh a twelvemonth

throughout all England, Wales, and Scotland, and charged if ever he

might find Sir Gawaine and Sir Uwaine to bring them to the court again.

And then were they all glad, and so prayed they Sir Marhaus to ride

with them to the king’s court.

And so within twelve days they came to

Camelot, and the king was passing glad of their coming, and so was all

the court. Then the king made them to swear upon a book to tell him all

their adventures that had befallen them that twelvemonth, and so they

did. And there was Sir Marhaus well known, for there were knights that

he had matched aforetime, and he was named one of the best knights

living.

Against the feast of Pentecost came the Damosel of the Lake and brought

with her Sir Pelleas; and at that high feast there was great jousting

of knights, and of all knights that were at that jousts, Sir Pelleas

had the prize, and Sir Marhaus was named the next; but Sir Pelleas was

so strong there might but few knights sit him a buffet with a spear.

And at that next feast Sir Pelleas and Sir Marhaus were made knights of

the Table Round, for there were two sieges void, for two knights were

slain that twelvemonth, and great joy had King Arthur of Sir Pelleas

and of Sir Marhaus. But Pelleas loved never after Sir Gawaine, but as

he spared him for the love of King Arthur; but ofttimes at jousts and

tournaments Sir Pelleas quit Sir Gawaine, for so it rehearseth in the

book of French. So Sir Tristram many days after fought with Sir Marhaus

in an island, and there they did a great battle, but at the last Sir

Tristram slew him, so Sir Tristram was wounded that unnethe he might

recover, and lay at a nunnery half a year. And Sir Pelleas was a

worshipful knight, and was one of the four that achieved the Sangreal,

and the Damosel of the Lake made by her means that never he had ado

with Sir Launcelot de Lake, for where Sir Launcelot was at any jousts

or any tournament, she would not suffer him be there that day, but if

it were on the side of Sir Launcelot.

Explicit liber quartus.

Incipit liber quintus.

BOOK V.

CHAPTER I. How twelve aged ambassadors of Rome came to King Arthur to

demand truage for Britain.

When King Arthur had after long war rested, and held a royal feast and

Table Round with his allies of kings, princes, and noble knights all of

the Round Table, there came into his hall, he sitting in his throne

royal, twelve ancient men, bearing each of them a branch of olive, in

token that they came as ambassadors and messengers from the Emperor

Lucius, which was called at that time, Dictator or Procuror of the

Public Weal of Rome. Which said messengers, after their entering and

coming into the presence of King Arthur, did to him their obeisance in

making to him reverence, and said to him in this wise: The high and

mighty Emperor Lucius sendeth to the King of Britain greeting,

commanding thee to acknowledge him for thy lord, and to send him the

truage due of this realm unto the Empire, which thy father and other

to-fore thy precessors have paid as is of record, and thou as rebel not

knowing him as thy sovereign, withholdest and retainest contrary to the

statutes and decrees made by the noble and worthy Julius Cesar,

conqueror of this realm, and first Emperor of Rome. And if thou refuse

his demand and commandment know thou for certain that he shall make

strong war against thee, thy realms and lands, and shall chastise thee

and thy subjects, that it shall be ensample perpetual unto all kings

and princes, for to deny their truage unto that noble empire which

domineth upon the universal world. Then when they had showed the effect

of their message, the king commanded them to withdraw them, and said he

should take advice of council and give to them an answer. Then some of

the young knights, hearing this their message, would have run on them

to have slain them, saying that it was a rebuke to all the knights

there being present to suffer them to say so to the king. And anon the

king commanded that none of them, upon pain of death, to missay them

nor do them any harm, and commanded a knight to bring them to their

lodging, and see that they have all that is necessary and requisite for

them, with the best cheer, and that no dainty be spared, for the Romans

be great lords, and though their message please me not nor my court,

yet I must remember mine honour.

After this the king let call all his lords and knights of the Round

Table to counsel upon this matter, and desired them to say their

advice. Then Sir Cador of Cornwall spake first and said, Sir, this

message liketh me well, for we have many days rested us and have been

idle, and now I hope ye shall make sharp war on the Romans, where I

doubt not we shall get honour. I believe well, said Arthur, that this

matter pleaseth thee well, but these answers may not be answered, for

the demand grieveth me sore, for truly I will never pay truage to Rome,

wherefore I pray you to counsel me. I have understood that Belinus and

Brenius, kings of Britain, have had the empire in their hands many

days, and also Constantine the son of Heleine, which is an open

evidence that we owe no tribute to Rome but of right we that be

descended of them have right to claim the title of the empire.

CHAPTER II. How the kings and lords promised to King Arthur aid and

help against the Romans.

Then answered King Anguish of Scotland, Sir, ye ought of right to be

above all other kings, for unto you is none like nor pareil in

Christendom, of knighthood nor of dignity, and I counsel you never to

obey the Romans, for when they reigned on us they distressed our

elders, and put this land to great extortions and tallies, wherefore I

make here mine avow to avenge me on them; and for to strengthen your

quarrel I shall furnish twenty thousand good men of war, and wage them

on my costs, which shall await on you with myself when it shall please

you. And the king of Little Britain granted him to the same thirty

thousand; wherefore King Arthur thanked them. And then every man agreed

to make war, and to aid after their power; that is to wit, the lord of

West Wales promised to bring thirty thousand men, and Sir Uwaine, Sir

Ider his son, with their cousins, promised to bring thirty thousand.

Then Sir Launcelot with all other promised in likewise every man a

great multitude.

And when King Arthur understood their courages and good wills he

thanked them heartily, and after let call the ambassadors to hear their

answer. And in presence of all his lords and knights he said to them in

this wise: I will that ye return unto your lord and Procuror of the

Common Weal for the Romans, and say ye to him, Of his demand and

commandment I set nothing, and that I know of no truage nor tribute

that I owe to him, nor to none earthly prince, Christian nor heathen;

but I pretend to have and occupy the sovereignty of the empire, wherein

I am entitled by the right of my predecessors, sometime kings of this

land; and say to him that I am delibered and fully concluded, to go

with mine army with strength and power unto Rome, by the grace of God,

to take possession in the empire and subdue them that be rebel.

Wherefore I command him and all them of Rome, that incontinent they

make to me their homage, and to acknowledge me for their Emperor and

Governor, upon pain that shall ensue. And then he commanded his

treasurer to give to them great and large gifts, and to pay all their

dispenses, and assigned Sir Cador to convey them out of the land. And

so they took their leave and departed, and took their shipping at

Sandwich, and passed forth by Flanders, Almaine, the mountains, and all

Italy, until they came unto Lucius. And after the reverence made, they

made relation of their answer, like as ye to-fore have heard.

When the Emperor Lucius had well understood their credence, he was sore

moved as he had been all araged, and said, I had supposed that Arthur

would have obeyed to my commandment, and have served you himself, as

him well beseemed or any other king to do. O Sir, said one of the

senators, let be such vain words, for we let you wit that I and my

fellows were full sore afeard to behold his countenance; I fear me ye

have made a rod for yourself, for he intendeth to be lord of this

empire, which sore is to be doubted if he come, for he is all another

man than ye ween, and holdeth the most noble court of the world, all

other kings nor princes may not compare unto his noble maintenance. On

New Year’s Day we saw him in his estate, which was the royalest that

ever we saw, for he was served at his table with nine kings, and the

noblest fellowship of other princes, lords, and knights that be in the

world, and every knight approved and like a lord, and holdeth Table

Round: and in his person the most manly man that liveth, and is like to

conquer all the world, for unto his courage it is too little: wherefore

I advise you to keep well your marches and straits in the mountains;

for certainly he is a lord to be doubted. Well, said Lucius, before

Easter I suppose to pass the mountains, and so forth into France, and

there bereave him his lands with Genoese and other mighty warriors of

Tuscany and Lombardy. And I shall send for them all that be subjects

and allied to the empire of Rome to come to mine aid. And forthwith

sent old wise knights unto these countries following: first to Ambage

and Arrage, to Alexandria, to India, to Armenia, whereas the river of

Euphrates runneth into Asia, to Africa, and Europe the Large, to