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Contents: v. 1. Text -- v. 2. Introduction -- v. 3. Studies on the sources
Front matter and editorial notes from 1889 edition are not included in the electronic text.
In the few instances when Caxton has not supplied a chapter heading, either a division has been inserted when the break is clear, or a note lists all the chapters that have been joined together according to the table of contents. Some chapters are not listed in the table of contents but exist in the text, as, for example, with chapter xvj, book one; similarly, some chapters do not exist in either the table of contents or the text, as with chapter xxvj, book one. In the first instance, a note has been inserted in the table of contents, and, in the second, in the text, indicating this discrepancy.
As frequently occurs, book headings have been supplied when they do not appear in the text, and they are based on the theme announced in the preceding trailer (if the trailer is that explicit). When a book heading appears twice, we have left them as they appear in the text.
N-macron characters that occur in renderings of "then̄e" have been retained, as have all marks resembling periods.
Le Morte dArthur was keyboarded by Sencor and found not to be within 1 error in 20,000 character standards. The volume was subsequently fully proofed and corrected by HTI.
A number of substantive corrections to Caxton's text have been made by Kenneth Hodges and Kenneth Church, and marked with the elements CORR or SIC, along with the RESP attribute identifying the source of the correction.
THE NOBLE AND IOYOUS BOOK ENTYTLED LE MORTE DARTHUR NOTWYTHSTONDYNG IT TREATETH OF THE BYRTH / LYF / AND ACTES OF THE SAYD KYNG ARTHUR / OF HIS NOBLE KNYGHTES OF THE ROUNDE TABLE / THEYR MERUAYLLOUS ENQUESTES AND ADUENTURES / THACHYEUYNG OF THE SANGREAL / & IN THENDE THE DOLOROUS DETH & DEPARTYNG OUT OF THYS WORLD OF THEM AL / WHYCHE BOOK WAS REDUCED IN TO ENGLYSSHE BY SYR THOMAS MALORY KNYGHT
AFter that I had accomplysshed and fynysshed dyuers
hystoryes as wel of contemplacyon as of other
hystoryal and wordly actes of grete conquerours &
prynces / And also certeyn bookes of ensaumples and doctryne /
Many noble and dyuers gentylmen of thys royame of
Englond camen and demaunded me many and oftymes / wherfore
that I haue not do made & enprynte the noble hystorye of the
saynt greal / and of the moost renomed crysten kyng / Fyrst
and chyef of the thre best crysten and worthy / kyng Arthur /
whyche ought moost to be remembred emonge vs englysshe
men tofore al other crysten kynges / For it is notoyrly knowen
thorugh the vnyuersal world / that there been ix worthy & the
best that euer were / That is to wete thre paynyms / thre Iewes
and thre crysten men / As for the paynyms they were tofore the
Incarnacyon of Cryst / whiche were named / the fyrst Hector
of Troye / of whome thystorye is comen bothe in balade and
in prose / The second Alysaunder the grete / & the thyrd Iulyus
Cezar Emperour of Rome of whome thystoryes ben wel kno
and had / And as for the thre Iewes whyche also were tofore
thyncarnacyon of our lord of whome the fyrst was Duc
Iosue whyche brought the chyldren of Israhel in to the londe of
byheste / The second Dauyd kyng of Iherusalem / & the thyrd
Iudas Machabeus of these thre the byble reherceth al theyr
noble hystoryes & actes / And sythe the sayd Incarnacyon haue
ben thre noble crysten men stalled and admytted thorugh the
vnyuersal world in to the nombre of the ix beste & worthy / of
whome was fyrst the noble Arthur / whos noble actes I
purpose to wryte in thys present book here folowyng / The second
was Charlemayn or Charles the grete / of whome thystorye is
had in many places bothe in frensshe and englysshe / and the
thyrd and last was Godefray of boloyn / of whos actes & lyf
I made a book vnto thexcellent prynce and kyng of noble
memorye kyng Edward the fourth / the sayd noble Ientylmen
Instantly requyred me temprynte thystorye of the sayd noble
kyng and conquerour kyng Arthur / and of his knyghtes
wyth thystorye of the saynt greal / and of the deth and endyng
of the sayd Arthur / Affermyng that I ouȝt rather tenprynte
his actes and noble feates / than of godefroye of boloyne / or
THenne to procede forth in thys sayd book / whyche I
dyrecte vnto alle noble prynces / lordes and ladyes /
gentylmen or gentylwymmen that desyre to rede or here
redde of the noble and Ioyous hystorye of the grete
conquerour and excellent kyng . Kyng Arthur / somtyme kyng of
thys noble royalme / thenne callyd / brytaygne / I wyllyam
Caxton symple persone present thys book folowyng / Whyche I
haue enprysed tenprynte / And treateth of the noble actes /
feates of armes of chyualrye / prowesse / hardynesse / humanyte
loue / curtosye / and veray gentylnesse / wyth many
wonderful hystoryes and adventures / And for to vnderstonde
bryefly the contente of thys volume / I haue deuyded it in to xxj
bookes / and euery book chapytred as here after shal by
goddes grace folowe / The fyrst book shal treate how
Vtherpendragon gate the noble conquerour kyng Arthur and
conteyneth xxviij chappytres / The second book treateth of Balyn
the noble knyght and conteyneth xix chapytres / The thyrd
book treateth of the maryage of kyng Arthur to quene
queneuer wyth other maters and conteyneth fyftene chappytres /
The fourth book how Merlyn was assotted / and of warre
maad to kyng Arthur / and conteyneth xxix chappytres /
The fyfthe book treateth of the conqueste of Lucius themperour
and conteyneth xij chappytres / The syxthe book treateth of
Syr Launcelot and syr Lyonel and meruayllous
adventures and conteyneth xviij chapytres / The seuenth book treateth
of a noble knyght called syr Gareth and named by syr kaye
Beaumayns and conteyneth xxxvj chapytres / The eyght
book treateth of the byrthe of Syr Trystram the noble knyght
and of hys actes / and conteyneth xlj chapytres /
The ix book treateth of a knyght named by Syr kaye le cote
male taylle and also of Syr Trystram and conteyneth xliiij
HIt befel in the dayes of Vther pendragon when he was kynge of all Englond / and so regned that there was a myȝty duke in Cornewaill that helde warre ageynst hym long tyme / And the duke was called the duke of Tyntagil / and so by meanes kynge Vther send for this duk / chargyng hym to brynge his wyf with hym / for she was called a fair lady / and a passynge wyse / and her name was called Igrayne / So whan the duke and his wyf were comyn vnto the kynge by the meanes of grete lordes they were accorded bothe / the kynge lyked and loued this lady wel / and he made them grete chere out of mesure / and desyred to haue lyen by her / But she was a passyng good woman / and wold not assente vnto the kynge / And thenne she told the duke her husband and said I suppose that we were sente for that I shold be dishonoured Wherfor husband I counceille yow that we departe from hens sodenly that we maye ryde all nyghte vnto oure owne castell / and in lyke wyse as she saide so they departed / that neyther the kynge nor none of his counceill were ware of their departyng Also soone as kyng Vther knewe of theire departyng soo sodenly / he was wonderly wrothe / Thenne he called to hym his pryuy counceille / and told them of the sodeyne departyng of the duke and his wyf /
¶ Thenne they auysed the kynge to send for the duke and his wyf by a grete charge / And yf he wille not come at your somōs / thenne may ye do your best / thenne haue ye cause to make myghty werre vpon hym / Soo that was done and the messagers hadde their ansuers / And that was thys shortly / that neyther he nor his wyf wold not come at hym / Thenne was the kyng wonderly wroth / And thenne the kyng sente hym playne word ageyne / and badde hym be redy and stuffe hym and garnysshe hym / for within xl dayes he wold fetche hym oute of the byggest castell that he hath /
¶ Whanne the duke hadde thys warnynge / anone he wente
and furnysshed and garnysshed two stronge Castels of his
of the whiche the one hyght Tyntagil / & the other castel hyȝt
THenne Vlfius was glad and rode on more than a
paas tyll that he came to kynge Vtherpendragon / and
told hym he had met with Merlyn / where is he said the kyng
sir said Vlfius he wille not dwelle long / ther with al Vlfius
was ware where Merlyn stood at the porche of the pauelions
dore / And thenne Merlyn was bounde to come to the kynge
Whan kyng Vther sawe hym he said he was welcome / syr
said Merlyn I knowe al your hert euery dele / so ye will be sworn
vnto me as ye be a true kynge enoynted to fulfille my desyre
ye shal haue your desyre / thenne the kyng was sworne vpon
the iiij euuāgelistes / Syre said Merlyn this is my desyre / the
first nyȝt þt ye shal lye by Igrayne ye shal gete a child on her &
THen̄e quene Igrayne waxid dayly gretter & gretter / so
it befel after within half a yere as kyng Vther lay by
his quene he asked hir by the feith she ouȝt to hym whos was
the child within her body / thēne she sore abasshed to yeue
ansuer / Desmaye you not said the kyng but telle me the
trouthe / and I shall loue you the better by the feythe of my body
Syre saide she I shalle telle you the trouthe / the same nyghte
þt my lord was dede the houre of his deth as his knyȝtes record
ther came in to my castel of Tyntigaill a man lyke my lord in
speche and in countenaunce / and two knyghtes with hym in
lykenes of his two knyghtes barcias and Iordans / & soo I
went vnto bed with hym as I ouȝt to do with my lord / & the
same nyght as I shal answer vnto god this child was begoten
vpon me / that is trouthe saide the kynge as ye say / for it was
I my self that cam in the lykenesse / & therfor desmay you not
for I am fader to the child / & ther he told her alle the cause /
how it was by Merlyns counceil / thenne the quene made
grete ioye whan she knewe who was the fader of her child / Sone
come merlyn vnto the kyng / & said syr ye must puruey yow /
for the nourisshyng of your child / as thou wolt said the kyng
be it / wel said Merlyn I knowe a lord of yours in this land
that is a passyng true man & a feithful / & he shal haue the
nourysshyng of your child / & his name is sir Ector / & he is a
lord of fair lyuelode in many partyes in Englond & walys / &
this lord sir ector lete hym be sent for / for to come & speke with
you / & desyre hym your self as he loueth you that he will put
his owne child to nourisshynge to another woman / and that
his wyf nourisshe yours / And whan the child is borne lete it
be delyuerd to me at yōder pryuy posterne vncrystned / So like
e croune
vpon forfeture of my blessyng / & therwith he yelde vp the ghost &t Ihū that was borne on that
nyghte that he wold of his grete mercy shewe some myracle /
as he was come to be kynge of mankynde for to shewe somme
myracle who shold be rightwys kynge of this reame / So the
Archebisshop by the aduys of Merlyn send for alle the lordes
and gentilmen of armes that they shold come by crystmasse
euen vnto london / And many of hem made hem clene of her lyf
that her prayer myghte be the more acceptable vnto god / Soo
in the grettest chirch of london whether it were Powlis or not
the Frensshe booke maketh no mencyon / alle the estates were
longe or day in the chirche for to praye / And whan matyns &
the first masse was done / there was sene in the chircheyard
ayēst the hyghe aulter a grete stone four square lyke vnto a
marbel stone / And in myddes therof was lyke an Anuylde
of stele a foot on hyghe / & theryn stack a sayre swerd naked
by the poynt / and letters there were wryten in gold aboute
the swerd that saiden thus / who so pulleth oute this swerd of
this stone and anuyld / is rightwys kynge borne of all
Enlond / Thenne the peple merueilled & told it to the Archebisshop
I commande said tharchebisshop that ye kepe yow within your
chirche / and pray vnto god still that no man touche the swerd
tyll the hyghe masse be all done / So whan all masses were done
all the lordes wente to beholde the stone and the swerd / And
whan they sawe the scripture / som assayed suche as wold haue
ben kyng / But none myght stere the swerd nor meue hit He
is not here said the Archebisshop that shall encheue the swerd
but doubte not god will make hym knowen / But this is my
counceill said the archebisshop / that we lete puruey x knyȝtes
men of good fame / & they to kepe this swerd / so it was
t euery mā shold assay þt
NOw assay said Syre Ector vnto Syre kay / And anon he pulled at the swerd with alle his myghte / but it wold not be / Now shal ye assay said Syre Ector to Arthur I wyll wel said Arthur and pulled it out easily / And therwith alle Syre Ector knelyd doune to the erthe and Syre Kay / Allas said Arthur myne own dere fader and broder why knele ye to me / Nay nay my lord Arthur / it is not so I was neuer your fader nor of your blood / but I wote wel ye are of an hygher blood than I wende ye were / And thenne Syre Ector told hym all how he was bitaken hym for to nourisshe hym And by whoos commandement / and by Merlyns delyueraūce
¶ Thenne Arthur made grete doole whan he vnderstood that
Syre Ector was not his fader / Sir said Ector vnto Arthur
woll ye by my good & gracious lord when ye are kyng / els
were I to blame said arthur for ye are the man in the world that
I am most be holdyng to / & my good lady and moder your wyf
that as wel as her owne hath fostred me and kepte / And yf
euer hit be goddes will that I be kynge as ye say / ye shall
desyre of me what I may doo / and I shalle not faille yow / god
forbede I shold faille yow / Sir said Sire Ector / I will aske
no more of yow / but that ye wille make my sone your foster
broder Syre Kay Senceall of alle your landes / That shalle be
done said Arthur / and more by the feith of my body that neuer
man shalle haue that office but he whyle he and I lyue / There
with all they wente vnto the Archebisshop / and told hym how
the swerd was encheued / and by whome / and on twelfth day
alle the barons cam thyder / and to assay to take the swerd who
that wold assay / But there afore hem alle ther myghte none
take it out but Arthur / wherfor ther were many lordes wroth
e swerd &
fyue alwayes watched / Soo at Candalmasse many moo
grete lordes came thyder for to haue wonne the swerde / but there
myghte none preuaille / And right as Arthur dyd at
Cristmasse / he dyd at Candelmasse and pulled oute the swerde
easely wherof the Barons were sore agreued and put it of in
delay till the hyghe feste of Eester / And as Arthur sped
afore / so dyd he at Eester / yet there were some of the grete lordes
had indignacion that Arthur shold be kynge / and put it of in
a delay tyll the feest of Pentecoste / Thenne the Archebisshop
of Caunterbury by Merlyns prouydence lete purueye thenne
of the best knyghtes that they myghte gete / And suche
knyghtes as Vtherpendragon loued best and moost trusted in his
dayes / And suche knyghtes were put aboute Arthur as syr
Bawdewyn of Bretayn / syre kaynes / syre Vlfyus / syre
barsias / All these with many other were alweyes about Arthur
day and nyghte till the feste of Pentecost
ANd at the feste of pentecost alle maner of men assayed
to pulle at the swerde that wold assay / but none
myghte preuaille but Arthur / and pulled it oute afore
all the lordes and comyns that were there / wherfore alle the
comyns cryed at ones we wille haue Arthur vnto our kyng
we wille put hym nomore in delay / for we alle see that it is
goddes wille that he shalle be our kynge / And who that
holdeth ageynst it we wille slee hym / And therwith all they
knelyd at ones both ryche and poure / and cryed Arthur mercy
by cause they had delayed hym soo longe / and Arthur foryaf
hem / and took the swerd bitwene both his handes / and offred
it vpon the aulter where the Archebisshop was / and so was
he made knyghte of the best man that was there / And so anon
¶ Whanne this was done that the kyng had stablisshed alle
the countreyes aboute london / thenne he lete make Syr kay
sencial of Englond / and sir Baudewyn of Bretayne was made
Constable / and sir Vlfyus was made chamberlayn / And sire
Brastias was maade wardeyn to wayte vpon the northe fro
Trent forwardes for it was þt tyme þe most party the kynges
enemyes / But within fewe yeres after Arthur wan alle the
north scotland / and alle that were vnder their obeissaunce /
Also walys a parte of it helde ayenst Arthur / but he ouercam
hem al as he dyd the remenaunt thurgh the noble prowesse
of hym self and his knyghtes of the round table
THenne the kyng remeued in to walys / and lete crye
a grete
¶ Also
ther come to that feeste kyng Nayntres of garloth with seuen
C knyghtes with hym / Also ther came to the feest the kynge
of Scotland with sixe honderd knyghtes with hym / and he
was but a yong man / Also ther came to the feste a kyng that
was called the kyng with the honderd knyghtes / but he and
his men were passyng wel bisene at al poyntes Also ther cam
the kyng of Cardos with fyue honderd knyghtes / And kyng
Arthur was glad of their comynge / for he wende that al the
kynges & knyghtes had come for grete loue / and to haue
done hym worship at his feste / wherfor the kyng made grete
ioye / and sente the kynges and knyghtes grete presentes / But
THenne kynge Arthur came oute of his tour / and had
vnder his gowne a Iesseraunte of double maylle / and
ther wente with hym the Archebisshop of
Caunterbury / and syr Baudewyn of Bretayne and syr kay / and syre
Brastias / these were the men of moost worship that were with
hym / And whan they were mette / there was no mekenes but
stoute wordes on bothe sydes / but alweyes kynge Arthur
ansuerd them and said / he wold make them to bowe and he lyued
wherfore they departed with wrath / and kynge Arthur badde
kepe hem wel / and they bad the kynge kepe hym wel / Soo the
kynge retorned hym to the toure ageyne and armed hym and
alle his knyȝtes / what will ye do said Merlyn to the kynges
ye were better for to stynte / for ye shalle not here preuaille
though ye were x so many / be we wel auysed to be aferd of a
dreme reder said kyng Lot / with that Merlyn vanysshed aweye /
and came to Kynge Arthur / and bad hym set on hem fiersly / &
in the mene whyle there were thre honderd good men of the best
that were with the kynges / that wente streyghte vnto kynge
Arthur / and that comforted hym gretely / Syr said Merlyn to
Arthur / fyghte not with the swerde ye had by myracle /
til that ye see ye go vnto the wers / thenne drawe it out and do
your best / So forth with alle kynge Arthur sette vpon hem in
their lodgyng / And syre Bawdewyn syre Kay and syr
Brastias slewe on the right hand & on the lyfte hand that it was
merueylle / and alweyes Kynge Arthur on horsback leyd on
with a swerd and dyd merueillous dedes of armes that
many of the kynges had grete ioye of his dedes and hardynesse /
Thenne Kynge Lot brake out on the bak syde / and the kyng
with the honderd knyghtes and kyng Carados / and sette on
Arthur fiersly behynde hym / with that Syre Arthur torned
with his knyghtes / and smote behynd and before / and euer sir
Arthur was in the formest prees tyl his hors was slayne
vndernethe hym / And therwith kynge lot smote doune kyng
Arthur / With that his four knyghtes receyued hym and set hym
an horsback / then̄e he drewe his swerd Excalibur / but it was
so bryght in his enemyes eyen / that it gaf light lyke xxx
torchys / And therwith he put hem on bak / and slewe moche peple
And thenne the comyns of Carlyon aroos with clubbis and
SO after the feste and iourneye kynge Arthur drewe
hym vnto london / and soo by the counceil of Merlyn
the kyng lete calle his barons to coūceil / for Merlyn
had told the kynge that the sixe kynges that made warre
vpon hym wold in al haste be awroke on hym & on his landys
wherfor the kyng asked counceil at hem al / they coude no
counceil gyue but said they were bygge ynough / ye saye wel said
Arthur / I thanke you for your good courage / but wil ye al
that loveth me speke with Merlyn ye knowe wel that he hath
done moche for me / and he knoweth many thynges / & whan
he is afore you / I wold that ye prayd hym hertely of his best
auyse / Alle the barons sayd they wold pray hym and desyre
hym / Soo Merlyn was e boundys of his own reame
and he fyghte with hem in batail / he shal be ouercome & slayn
what were best to doo in this cause said al the barons / I shal
telle you said Merlyn myne aduys / there ar two bretheren
beyond the see / & they be kynges bothe and merueillous good men
of her handes / And that one hyghte Kynge Ban of Benwic
And that other hyght Kyng Bors of gaule that is Fraunce
And on these two Kynges warrith a myghty man of men
the Kynge Claudas / and stryueth with hem for a castel / and
grete werre is betwixt them / But this Claudas is so myghty
of goodes wherof he geteth good Knyȝtes that he putteth these
two kynges moost parte do the werse / wherfor this is my
counceil that our kyng and souerayne lord sende vnto the kynges
Ban and Bors by two trusty knyghtes with letters wel
deuysed / that and they wil come and see kynge Arthur and
his courte / & so helpe hym in his warrys that he wil be sworne
And kynge Arthur and the two Kynges lete departe
the vij C knyghtes in two partyes And there were iij
C knyghtes of the reame of Benwick and of
gaule torned on the other syde than they dressid her sheldes / and
¶ Thenne rode Merlyn vnto Arthur and the two kynges & told hem how he had sped / wherof they had grete merueylle / that man on erthe myghte spede so soone / and goo and come So Merlyn told them x M were in the forest of Bedegrayne wel armed at al poyntes / thenne was there no more to saye / but to horsbak wente all the hoost as Arthur had afore purueyed / So with xx M he passed by nyghte and day / but ther was made suche an ordenaūnce afore by Merlyn that ther shold no man of werre ryde nor go in no countrey on this syde trent water / but yf he had a token from kynge Arthur / where thorow the kynges enemyes durste not ryde as they dyd to fore to aspye
ANd soo within a lytel space the thre kynges came vnto the Castel of Bedegrayne / and fond there a passynge fayr felauship and wel be sene / wherof they had grete ioye / and vytaille they wanted none / This was the cause of the northeren hoost that they were rered for the despyte and rebuke the syx kynges had at Carlyon / And tho vj kynges by her meanes gate vnto hem fyue other kynges / And thus they beganne to gadre theyr peple
¶ And how
they sware that
SOo by Merlyns aduys ther were sente fore rydars to skumme the Countreye / & they mette with the fore rydars of the north / and made hem to telle whiche wey the hooste cam / and thenne they told it to Arthur / and by kyng Ban and Bors counceill they lete brenne and destroye alle the contrey afore them there they shold ryde /
¶ The kynge with the
honderd knyghtes mette a wonder dreme two nyghtes a fore
the bataille / that ther blewe a grete wynde & blewe doun her
castels and her townes / and after that cam a water and bare hit
THenne kynge Arthur and kynge Ban and Kynge Bors with her good and trusty knyghtes set on hem so fyersly that he made them ouer throwe her pauelions on her hedys / but the xj kynges by manly prowesse of armes tooke a fayre champayne / but there was slayne that morowe tyde x M good mennys bodyes / And so they had afore hem a strong passaye yet were they fyfty M of hardy men / Thenne it drewe toward day / now shalle ye doo by myne aduys said Merlyn vnto the thre kynges I wold that kynge Ban and kynge Bors with her felauship of x M men were put in a wood here besyde in an enbusshement and kepe them preuy / and that they be leid or the lyght of the daye come / and that they stere not tyll ye and your knyghtes haue foughte with hem longe And whanne hit is daye lyght dresse your bataille euen afore them and the passage that they may see alle your hooste / For thenne wyl they be the more hardy when they see yow but aboute xx M / and cause hem to be the gladder to suffre yow and youre hoost to come ouer the passage / All the thre kynges and the hoole barons sayde that Merlyn said passyngly wel / and it was done anone as Merlyn had deuysed / Soo on the morn whan eyther hoost sawe other / the hoost of the north was well comforted / Thenne to Vlfyus and Brastias were delyuerd thre thowsand men of armes / and they sette on them fyersly in the passage / and slewe on the ryght hand and on the lyft hand that it was wonder to telle /
¶ Whanne that the enleuen kynges sawe that there was so fewe a felauship dyd suche dedes of armes they were ashamed and sette on hem agayne fyersly / and ther was syr Vlfyus hors slayne vnder hym / but he dyd merueyllously well on foote /
¶ But the Duke Eustace of Cambenet
THenne lucas sawe kyng Agwysaunce that late hadde
slayne Morys de la roche / and lucas ran to hym with
a short spere that was grete / that he gaf hym suche a falle that
the hors felle doun to the erthe / Also lucas found there on
fote bloyas de la flaundres and syr Gwynas ij hardy knyȝtes
& in that woodenes that lucas was in / he slewe ij bachelers &
horsed hem ageyn / thēne waxid the batail possyng hard on both
partyes / but arthur was glad þt his knyȝtes were horsed ayene
BY than come in to the feld kynge Ban as fyers as a
lyon with bandys of grene / & therupon gold / Ha a
said kyng Lot we must be discomfyte / for yonder I see the moste
valyaunt knyght of the world / and the man of the most
renoume / for suche ij bretheren as is kyng Ban & kyng bors ar
¶ Whanne the kynge of the honderd knyghtes beheld the
grete damage that kynge Ban dyd / he threst vnto hym wyth
his hors and smote hym in hyhe vpon the helme a grete stroke
and stonyed hym sore / Thenne kynge Ban was wroth with
hym / and folowed on hym fyersly / the other sawe that / and
cast vp his sheld & spored his hors forward / But the
stroke of kynge Ban felle doune and carfe a cantel of the sheld /
and the swerd slode doune by the hauberk behynde his back / &
cut thorow the trappere of stele / and the hors euen in two
pyeces that the swerd felte the erthe / Thenne the kynge of the C
knyghtes voyded the hors lyghtly and with his swerd he
broched the hors of kyng Ban thorow and thorow / with that
kynge Ban voyded lyghtly from the deede hors / and thenne
kynge Ban smote at the other so egrely / and smote hym on
the helme that he felle to the erth / Also in that yre he feld kyng
Morganore and there was grete slaughter of good knyghtes
and moche peple / by than come in to the prees kynge Arthur /
and fond Kynge Ban stondynge among dede men and dede
hors fyghtynge on foote as a wood lyon / that ther came
none nyghe hym as fer as he myght reche with his swerd / but he
caughte a greuous buffet wherof Kynge Arthur had grete
pyte / And Arthur was so blody that by his shelde ther myght
no man knowe hym / for all was blood and braynes on his
swerd / And as Arthur loked by hym he sawe a knyght that
was passyngly wel horsed / and therwith syre Arthur ranne
WHanne Syre Arthur and kynge ban and bors
byhelde the mand all her knyghtes they preysed hem
moche for their noble chere of chyualrye for the hardyest fyghters
that euer they herd or sawe / with that there dressyd hem a xl
noble knyghtes and saide vnto the thre kynges / they wold
breke their bataille / these were her names Lyonses / pharyaunce
Vlfyus / brastias / Ector / kaynes / lucas the bottelere / Gryflett
la fyse de dieu / mariet de la roche / Gwynas de bloy / briāt de la
foreyst saueage / bellaus / Moryans of the castel maydyns /
flānedreus of the castel of ladyes / Annecians that was kynge
bors godsone a noble knyght / ladynas de la rouse / Emerause
Caulas / Gracyens le casteleyn / one bloyse de la caase / and syre
Colgreueaunce de gorre / all these knyȝtes rode on afore with
sperys on their thyes / and spored their horses myghtely as
the horses myȝte renne / And the xj kynges with parte of her
knyȝtes russched with their horses as fast as they myȝte with
their speres / & ther they dyd
¶ Also syre al the goodes that ben
goten at this bataill lete it be serched / And whanne ye haue
it in your handys lete it be gyuen frely vnto these two kynges
Ban and Bors that they may rewarde theyr knyght with
all / And that shalle cause straungers to be of better wyll to do
yow seruyse at nede / Also ye be able to reward youre owne
knyghtes of your owne goodes whan someuer it lyketh you
It is wel said qd Arthur And as thow hast deuysed so shal
it be done / whanne it was delyuerd to Ban & Bors they gaf
the goodes as frely to their knyȝtes as frely as it was yeuen
to them / Thenne Merlyn took his leue of Arthur and of the
ij kynges for to go and see his mayster Bleyse that dwelde
ANd thenne kynge Arthur and kynge Ban & kyng Bors departed with her felauship a xx M and came within vj dayes in to the countrey of Cmyliarde and there rescowed kynge Lodegreaunce and slewe ther moche people of kynge Ryence vnto the nombre of x M men and put hym to flyghte / And thenne had these thre kynges grete chere of kyng Lodegreaunce / that thanked them of their grete goodnesse that they wold reuenge hym of his enemyes / and there hadde Arthur the fyrst syght of gweneuer the kynges doughter of Camylyard / and euer after he loued her / After they were weddyd as it telleth in the booke / Soo breuely to make an ende / they took theyr leue to goo in to theyre owne Countreyes for kynge Claudas dyd grete destruction on their landes / Thenne said Arthur I wille goo with yow / Nay said the kynges ye shalle not at this tyme / for ye haue moche to doo yet in these landes / therfore we wille departe / and with the grete goodes that we haue goten in these landes by youre yeftes we shalle wage good knyghtes & withstande the kynge Claudas malyce / for by the grace of god and we haue nede we wille sende to yow for youre socour / And yf ye haue nede sende for vs / and we wille not tary by the feythe of our bodyes / Hit shalle not saide Merlyn nede that these two kynges come ageyne in the wey of werre / But I knowe wel kynge Arthur maye not be longe from yow / for within a yere or two ye shalle haue grete nede / And thenne shalle he reuenge yow on youre enemyes as ye haue done on his / For these xj kynges shal deye all in a day by the grete myghte and prowesse of armes of ij valyaunt knyghtes as it telleth after / her names ben Balyn le Saueage and Balan his broder that ben merueillous good knyghtes as ben ony lyuyng /
¶ Now torne we to the xj
THēne after the departyng of kyng Ban and of kyng
Bors kynge Arthur rode vnto Carlyon / And thyder
cam to hym kyng Lots wyf of Orkeney in maner of a
message / but she was sente thyder to aspye the Courte of kynge
Arthur / and she cam rychely bisene with her four sones / gawayn
SYr knyghte said the kynge leue that quest / and suffre
me to haue hit / and I wyll folowe it another xij
moneth / A foole said the knyghte vnto Arthur / it is in
veyne thy desyre / for it shalle neuer ben encheued but by me /
or my next kyn / there with he sterte vnto the kynges hors and
mounted in to the sadel / and said gramercy this hors is myn
owne / wel said the kynge thow mayst take myn hors by force
but and I myȝte preue the whether thow were better on
horsbak or I / wel said the knyght seke me here whan thow wolt
and here nygh this wel thow shalt fynde me / and soo passyd
on his weye / thenne the kyng sat in a study and bad his men
fetche his hors as faste as euer they myghte / Ryght soo came
by hym Merlyn lyke a child of xiiij yere of age and salewed
the kyng / and asked hym why he was so pensyf / I may wel
be pensyf sayd the kynge / for I haue sene the merueyllest syȝt
that euer I sawe / that knowe I wel said Merlyn as wel as
thy self and of all thy thoughtes / but thow art but a foole to
take thought / for it wylle not amend the / Also I knowe what
thow arte / and who was thy fader / and of whome thow were
begoten / kynge Vtherpendragon was thy fader / and begat the
on Igrayne / that is fals said kyng Arthur / how sholdest thou
knowe it / for thow arte not so old of yeres to knowe my
fader / yes sayd Merlyn I knowe it better than ye or ony man
lyuynge / I wille not bileue the said Arthur and was wroth
with the child / Soo departed Merlyn and came ageyne in
the lykenes of an old man of iiij score yere of age / wherof the
kynge was ryght glad / for he semed to be ryghte wyse
Thenne saide the old man why are ye so sad / I maye wel be
heuy said Arthur for many thynges / Also here was a chyld
and told me many thynges that me semeth / he shold not
knowe / for he was not of age to knowe my fader / yes said the old
RYght soo cam Vlfyus & saide
openly that the kynge and all myȝt here that were
fested that day / ye are the falsest lady of the world and
the most traitresse vnto the kynges person / Beware saide
Arthur what thow saist / thow spekest a grete word / I am wel
ware said Vlfyus what I speke / & here is my gloue to preue hit
vpon ony man that will seye the contrary / that this quene
Igrayne is causar af your grete domage / & of your grete werre
For and she wold haue vtterd it in the lyf of kyng
Vtherpēdragon of the byrthe of yow / and how ye were begoten ye had
neuer had the mortal werrys that ye haue had for the moost
party of your barons of your realme knewe neuer whos sone
ye were / nor of whome ye were begoten / & she that bare yow of
her body shold haue made it knowen openly in excusyng of her
worship & yours / & in lyke wyse to alle the reame / wherfor I
THou arte full yong and tendyr of age sayd Arthur
for to take so hyghe an ordre on the / Sir said gryflet
I byseche yow make me knyȝt / Syr said Merlyn it were
grete pyte to lese Gryflet / for he wille be a passynge good man /
whanne he is of age / abydynge with yow the
THan the knyght sawe hym lye soo on the ground / he
alyght and was passynge heuy / for he wende he had
slayne hym / and thenne he vnlaced his helme and gate hym
wynde / and so with the troncheon he set hym on his hors and
gate him wynde / and so bytoke hym to god / and seid he had a
myghty hert and yf he myght lyue he wold preue a passynge
good knyȝt / & so syr Gryflet rode to the court where grete doole
THer with all came Merlyn and sayd knyghte / hold thy hand / For and thow slee that knyghte thou puttest this reame in the grettest dammage that euer was reame / For this knyght is a man of more worship than thou wotest of / Why / who is he said the knyghte / it is kyng Arthur Thenne wold he haue slayn hym for drede of his wrathe / and heue vp his swerd / and therwith Merlyn cast an enchauntement to the knyghte that he felle to the erthe in a grete slepe / Thenne Merlyn tooke vp kyng Arthur and rode forth on the knyȝtes hors / Allas said Arthur what hast thou done merlyn hast thow slayne this good knyghte by thy craftes / there lyueth not soo worshipful a knyghte as he was / I had leuer than the stynte of my land a yere that he were on lyue / care ye not sayd Merlyn / for he is holer than ye / for he is but on slepe and will awake within thre houres / I told you said Merlyn what a knyghte he was / Here had ye be slayn had I not ben Also ther lyueth not a bygger knyght than he is one / and he shal here after do yow ryght good seruyse & his name is Pellinore / and he shal haue two sones that shal be passyng good men sauf one / they shalle haue no felawe or prowesse and of good lyuynge / and her names shal be Persyual of walys / & Lamerak of walis / & he shal telle yow the name of your own sone bygoten of your syster that shal be the destruction of alle this royame
RYghte so the kyng and he departed & wente vn tyl an
ermyte that was a good man and a grete leche / Soo
the heremyte serched all his woundys & gaf hym good salues
so the kyng was there thre dayes & thenne were his woundes
wel amendyd that he myght ryde and goo / & so departed / & as
they rode Arthur said I haue no swerd / no force said Merlyn
here by is a swerd that shalle be yours and I may / Soo they
rode tyl they came to a lake the whiche was a fayr water / and
brood / And in the myddes of the lake Arthur was ware of
t is þe knyȝtes pauelion seid merlyn þt ye fouȝt
with last / syr Pellinore / but he is out / he is not there / he hath
adoo with a knyght of yours that hyght Egglame & they
haue fouȝten to gyder / but al the last Egglame / fledde and els
he had ben dede / & he hath chaced hym euen to Carlyon / and we
shal mete with hym anon in the hygh wey / that is wel sayd /
said Arthur / now haue I a swerd / now wille I wage
bataill with hym & be auenged on hym / sir ye shal not so said
Merlyn / for the knyght is wery of fyghtyng & chacyng so that ye
shal haue no worship to haue a do with hym / Also he will not
be lyȝtly matched of one knyȝt lyuyng / & therfor it is my
counceil / lete hym passe / for he shal do you good seruyse in shorte
tyme & his sones after his dayes / Also ye shal see that day in
short space ye shal be riȝt glad to yeue him your sister to wedde
Whan I see hym I wil doo as ye aduyse sayd Arthur
THis meane whyle came a messager from kynge
Ryons of Northwalys / And kynge he was of all
Ireland and of many Iles / And this was his message
gretynge wel kynge Arthur in this manere wyse sayenge / that
kynge Ryons had discomfyte and ouercome xj kynges / and
eueryche of hem did hym homage / and that was this / they gaf
hym their berdys clene flayne of / as moche as ther was / wher
for the messager came for kyng Arthurs berd / For kyng
Ryons had purfyled a mantel with kynges berdes / and there
lacked one place of the mantel / wherfor he sente for his berd
or els he wold entre in to his landes / and brenne and slee / &
neuer leue tyl he haue the hede and the berd / wel sayd Arthur
thow hast said thy message / the whiche is the most vylaynous
and lewdest message that euer man herd sente vnto a kynge /
Also thow mayst see / my berd is ful yong yet to make a
¶ Now is there ony here said Arthur that knoweth kyng Ryons thenne ansuerd a knyght that hyght Naram / Syre I knowe the kynge wel / he is a passyng good man of his body / as fewe ben lyuynge / and a passyng prowde man / and sir doubte ye not / he wille make warre on yow with a myghty puyssaunce / wel said Arthur I shall ordeyne for hym in short tyme
THēne kyng arthur lete sende for al the childrē born on may day begotē of lordes & born of ladyes / for Merlyn told kynge Arthur that he that shold destroye hym / shold be borne in may day / wherfor he sent for hem all vpon payn of deth and so ther were founde many lordes sones / and all were sente vnto the kynge / and soo was Mordred sente by kyng Lotts wyf / and all were put in a ship to the see / and some were iiij wekes old and some lasse / And so by fortune the shyp drofe vnto a castel and was al to ryuen and destroyed the most part sauf that Mordred was cast vp and a good man fonde hym / and nourysshed hym tyl he was xiiij yere olde / & thenne he brought hym to the Court / as it reherceth afterward toward the ende of the deth of Arthur / So many lordes and barons of this reame were displeasyd / for her children were so lost / and many put the wyte on Merlyn more than on Arthur / so what for drede and for loue they helde their pees / But whanne the messager came to kynge Ryons / thenne was he woode oute of mesure and purueyed hym for a grete hoost as it rehercyth after in the book of Balyn le saueage that foloweth next after / how by aduenture Balyn gat the swerd.
AFter the dethe of Vtherpendragon regned
Arthur his sone / the whiche had grete werre in his
dayes for to gete al Englond in to his hand /
For there were many kynges within the
realme of Englond and in walys / Scotland and
Cornewaille / Soo it befelle on a tyme / whanne kyng Arthur
¶ Sire seid the damoysell ye
nede not to pulle half so hard / for he that shall pulle it out shal
do it with lytel myghte / ye say wel said Arthur / Now assaye
THenne felle hit soo that tyme / ther was a poure
knyght with kynge Arthur / that had byn prysoner with
hym half a yere & more for sleynge of a knyghte / the
whiche was cosyn vnto kynge Arthur / the name of this
knyght was called Balen / and by good meanes of the barons
he was delyuerd oute of pryson / for he was a good man
named of his body / and he was borne in northumberland / and
soo he wente pryuely in to the Courte / and sawe this
aduenture / werof hit reysed his herte / and wolde assaye it as other
knyghtes dyd / but for he was poure and pourely arayed he
put hym not ferre in prees / But in his herte he was fully
assured to doo as wel yf his grace happed hym as ony knyght
that there was / And as the damoysel toke her leue of Arthur
and of alle the barons so departyng / this knyght Balen
called vnto her and sayd Damoysel I praye yow of your
curtosy / suffre me as wel to assay as these lordes though that I
be so pourely clothed / in my herte me semeth I am fully
assured as somme of these other / And me semeth in my herte to
spede ryght wel / The damoysel beheld the poure knyght / and
sawe he was a lykely man / but for his poure arrayment she
thoughte he shold be of no worship withoute vylonye or
trechery / And thēne she sayd vnto the knyght / sir it nedeth not to
put me to more payn or labour / for it semeth not yow to
spede there as other haue failled / A fayr Damoysel said Balen
worthynes and good tatches and good dedes are not only in
arrayment / but manhood and worship is hyd within mans
persone and many a worshipful knyghte is not knowen
THe meane whyle that this knyght was makyng hym
redy to departe / there came in to the Court a lady that
hyght the lady of the lake / And she came on horsback rychely
bysene / and salewed kynge Arthur / and there asked hym a
yefte that he promysed her whan she gaf hym the swerd / that
is sothe said Arthur / a gyfte I promysed yow / but I haue
forgoten the name of my swerd that ye gaue me / The name
of it said the lady is Excalibur that is as moche say as cut
stele / ye saye wel said the kynge / Aske what ye wil and ye
shall haue it / and hit lye in my power to yeue hit / wel sayd
the lady / I aske the heede of the knyghte that hath wonne
the swerd / or els the damoysels heede that broughte hit / I
take no force though I haue bothe their hedes / for he slewe my
broder a good knyȝte and a true / and that gentilwoman was
causar of my faders deth / Truly said kynge Arthur I maye
not graunte neyther of her hedes with my worship / therfor
aske what ye wille els / and I shall fulfille your desyre / I wil
aske none other thyng said the lady / whan Balyn was redy
to departe he sawe the lady of the lake that by her menes had
slayne Balyns moder and he had soughte her thre yeres / and
whan it was told hym that she asked his hede of kynge
Arthur he went to her streyte and said euyl be you foūde / ye wold
haue my hede / and therfore ye shall lese yours / and with hys
swerd lyghtly he smote of hir hede before kynge Arthur /
allas for shame sayd Arthur why haue ye done so / ye haue
shamed me and al my Courte / for this was a lady that I was
be holden to / and hyther she came vnder my sauf conduyte / I
shalle neuer foryeue you that trespas / Sir said Balen me
forthynketh of your displeasyr / for this same lady was the
vntruest lady lyuynge / and by enchauntement and sorssery she
hath ben the destroyer of many good knyghtes / and she was
causer that my moder was brente thorow her falshede and
trechery / what cause soo euer ye had said Arthur ye shold haue
AT that tyme ther was a knyghte / the whiche was the
kynges sone of Irelond and his name was
Launceor / the whiche was an orgulous knyȝt / and counted hym self
one of the best of the Courte / and he had grete despyte at
Balen for the encheuynge of the swerd that ony shold be
acounted more hardy or more of prowesse / and he asked kynge
Arthur yf he wold gyue hym leue to ryde after Balen and to
reuenge the despyte that he had done / Doo your best said Arthur
I am right wroth said Balen I wold he were quyte of the
despyte that he hath done to me and to my Courte / Thenne this
Launceor wente to his hostry to make hym redy / In the meane
whyle cam Merlyn vnto the Court of kyng Arthur and there
was told hym the aduenture of the swerd and the deth of the
lady of the lake / Now shall I saye yow said Merlyn / this
same damoysel that here standeth that broughte the swerde vnto
your Court / I shalle telle yow the cause of her comynge / she
was the falsest damoysel that lyueth / say not so said they / She
ANd so this lady lyle of Auelion toke her this swerd
that she broughte with her / and told there shold noo
man pulle it oute of the shethe but yf he be one of the
best knyghtes of this reame / and he shold be hard and ful of
prowesse / and with that swerd he shold slee her broder / this
was the cause that the damoysel came in to this Courte / I
knowe it as wel as ye / wolde god she had nat comen in to thys
Courte / but she came neuer in felauship of worship to do
good but alweyes grete harme / and that knyght that hath
encheued the suerd shal be destroyed by that suerd / for the whiche wil
be grete dommage / for ther lyueth not a knyȝt of more prowesse
than he is / and he shalle do vnto yow my lord Arthur grete
honour and kyndenesse / and it is grete pyte shall not endure
but a whyle / for of his strengthe and hardynesse I knowe
not his matche lyuynge / Soo the knyght of Irelonde armed
hym at al poyntes / and dressid his shelde on his sholder and
mounted vpon horsback and toke his spere in his hand and
rode after a grete paas as moche as his hors myght goo / and
within a lytel space on a montayne he had a syghte of
Balyn / and with a lowde voys he cryed abyde knyght / for ye shal
abyde whether ye will or nyll / and the sheld that is to fore you
shalle not helpe / whan Balyn herd the noyse / he tourned his
hors fyersly / and saide faire knyghte what wille ye with me /
wille ye Iuste with me / ye said the Irysshe knyghte / therfor
come I after yow / parauenture said Balyn it had ben better to
haue hold yow at home / for many a man weneth to putte his
enemy to a rebuke / and ofte it falleth to hym self / of what
courte be ye sente fro said Balyn / I am come fro the Courte of
kynge Arthur sayd the knyghte of Irlond / that come
hyder for to reuenge the despyte ye dyd this day to kyng arthur
THenne he loked by hym and was ware of a damoysel
that came ryde ful fast as the hors myghte ryde on a
fayr palfroy / and whan she aspyed that launceor was
slayne / she made sorowe oute of mesure and sayd O Balyn
two bodyes thou hast slayne and one herte and two hertes in
one body / and two soules thow hast lost / And therwith she toke
the swerd from her loue that lay ded and fylle to the ground
in a swowne / And whan she aroos she made grete dole out of
mesure / the whiche sorowe greued Balyn passyngly sore / and
he wente vnto her for to haue taken the
NOw go we hens said balyn & wel be we met / the mene whyle as they talked ther cam a dwarf from the cyte of camelot on horsbak as moche as he myght & foūd the dede bodyes / wherfor he made grete dole & pulled out his here for sorou & saide which of you knyȝtes haue done this dede / where by askest thou it said balan / for I wold wete it said the dwarfe / it was I said balyn that slewe this knyght in my defendaūt for hyder he cam to chaace me & other I must slee hym or he me / & this damoysel slewe her self for his loue whiche repenteth me / & for her sake I shal owe al wymmen the better loue / Allas said the dwarf thow hast done grete dommage vnto thy self / for this knyght that is here dede was one of the most valyaunts men that lyued / and trust wel balyn the kynne of this knyght wille chace yow thorowe the world tyl they haue slayne yow / As for that sayd Balyn I fere not gretely / but I am ryght heuy that I haue displeasyd my lord kyng arthur for the deth of this knyght / Soo as they talked to gyders there came a kynge of Cornewaille rydynge / the whiche hyghte kynge Mark /
¶ And whanne he sawe these two
bodyes dede and vnderstood hou they were dede by the ij knyghtes
THe mene whyle as this was a doyng / in cam merlyn
to kyng mark seyng alle his doynge said / Here shalle
be in this same place the grettest bataille betwixt two
knyghtes that was or euer shall be / and the truest louers / and
yet none of hem shalle slee other / and there Merlyn wrote her
names vpon the tombe with letters of gold that shold fyghte
in that place / whos names were Launcelot de lake / and
Trystram / thow art a merueillous man saide kynge Marke vnto
Merlyn that spekest of suche merueilles / thou art a boystous
man and an vnlykely to telle of suche dedes / what is thy
name said kynge Marke / at this tyme said Merlyn I will not
telle / but at that tyme whan syr Trystram is taken with his
souerayne lady / thenne ye shalle here and knowe my name / &
at that tyme ye shal here tydynges that shal not please yow /
Thenne said merlyn to balyn thou hast done thy self grete hurt
by cause that thow sauest not this lady that slewe her self that
myght haue saued her & thow woldest / by the feyth of my body
sayd balyn I myght not saue her for she slewe her self sodenly
Me repenteth saide Merlyn by cause of the dethe of that lady
thou shalt stryke a stroke most dolorous that euer man stroke
excepte the stroke of oure lorde / for thou shalt hurte the truest
knyȝt & the man of most worship that now lyueth / & thorow
that stroke iij kyngdoms shal be in grete pouerte mysere &
wretchidnes xij yere / & the knyȝt shal not be hool of that woūd
many yeres / thēne merlyn toke his leue of balyn & balen said yf
I wist it were soth that ye say I shold do suche peryllous dede
as that I wold slee my self to make the a lyar / therwith merlyn
THenne Merlyn lodged them in a wode amonge leuys
besyde the hyhe way & toke of the brydels of their
horses & put hem to gras & leid hem doun to reste hem tylle
it was nyhe mydnyȝt / Thenne Merlyn badde hem ryse / & make
hem redy / for the the kynge was nygh them that was stolen
awey from his hoost with a iij score horses of his best knyȝtes &
xx of hem rode to fore to warne the lady de Vance that the
kyng was comyng / for that nyȝt kyng Ryons shold haue layn
with her / whiche is the kyng said Balyn / abyde said Merlyn
here in a streyte wey ye shal mete with hym & therwith he
shewed Balyn & his broder where he rode / anon balyn & his
broder mette with the kyng & smote hym doune & wounded hym
fyersly & leid hym to the ground / & there they slewe on the
ryght hand & the lyfte hand & slewe moo than xl of his men / &
the remenaunt fled / thenne went they ageyne to kyng Ryons
& wold haue slayn hym had he not yelded hym vnto her grace
Thenne said he thus knyghtes ful of prowesse slee me not / for
by my lyf ye may wynne / & by my dethe ye shalle wynne noo
thynge / Thenne sayd these two knyghtes ye say sothe & trouth
THenne kyng Arthur made redy his hoost in x batails
and Nero was redy in the felde afore the castel
Tarabil with a grete hoost / & he had x batails with many mo
peple than Arthur had / Thenne Nero had the vaward with the
moost party of his peple / & merlyn cam to kyng lot of the yle
of Orkeney / and helde hym with a tale of prophecye til Nero
and his peple were destroyed / & ther syr kay the sencyal dyd
passyngly wel that the dayes of his lyf the worship went
neuer frō hym & sir heruys de reuel did merueillous dedes with
SO at the enterement cam kynge Lots wyf Morgause with her foure sones Gawayne / Agrauayne / Gaherys and Gareth / Also ther came thyder kyng Vryens syr Ewayns fader and Morgan le fay his wyf that was kyng Arthurs syster / Alle these cam to the enterement / but of alle these xij kynges kyng Arthur lete make the tombe of kynge Lot passyng rychely / and made his tombe by his owne / and thenne Arthur lete make xij ymages of laton and couper / & ouer gylt hit with gold in the sygne of xij kynges / & echon of hem helde a tapyr of wax that brent day and nyȝt / & kyng Arthur was made in sygne of a fygure standynge aboue hem with a swerd drawen in his hand / and alle the xij fygures had countenaunce lyke vnto men that were ouercome / All this made Merlyn by his subtyl crafte and ther he told the kyng whā I am dede / these tapers shalle brenne no lenger / and soone after the aduentures of the Sangrayll shalle come among yow and be encheued / Also he told Arthur how Balyn the worshipful knyght shal gyue the dolourous stroke / wherof shalle falle grete vengeaunce / O where is Balen & Balan & Pellinore saide kynge Arthur / as for Pellinore sayd Merlyn / he wyl mete with yow soone /
¶ And as for Balyn
WYthin a daye or two kynge Arthur was somewhat
seke / and he lete pytche his pauelione in a medowe / &
there he leyd hym doune on a paylet to slepe / but he
myght haue no rest / Ryght so he herd a grete noyse of an hors and
therwith the kynge loked oute at the porche of the pauelione /
and sawe a knyght comynge euen by hym makyng grete dole
Abyde fair syr said Arthur / & telle me wherfor thow makest
this sorowe / ye maye lytel amend me said the knyghte and soo
passed forthe to the castel of Melyot / Anone after ther cam
balen / and whan he sawe kynge Arthur / he alyght of his hors /
and cam to the kynge on foote / and salewed hym / by my hede
saide Arthur ye be welcome / Sire ryght now cam rydynge
this way a knyght makynge grete moorne / for what cause I
can not telle / wherfor I wold desyre of yow of your curtosye
and of your gentylnesse to fetche ageyne that knyght / eyther
by force or els by his good wil / I wil do more for your
lordship than that said balyn / and so he rode more than a paas and
found the knyght with a damoysel in a forest & said sir knyȝt
SO Balyn and the damoysel rode in to a forest / & ther
met with a knyght that had ben on huntynge / and
that knyght asked Balyn for what cause he made so grete
sorowe / me lyst not to telle yow saide Balyn / Now saide the
knyghte and I were armed as ye be I wolde fyghte wyth
yow / that shold lytel nede sayd Balyn / I am not aferd to
telle yow / and told hym alle the cause how it was A sayd the
knyght is this al / Here I ensure yow by the feithe of my
body neuer to departe from yow whyle my lyf lasteth / & soo they
wente to the hostry and armed hem / and so rode forth with
balyn / And as they came by an heremytage euen by a Chyrche
yerd / ther cam the knyghte garlon invysybel and smote thys
knyghte Peryn de mountebeliard thurgh the body with a
spere / Allas saide the knyghte I am slayne by this traytoure
THenne they rode thre or foure dayes and neuer mette
with aduenture / and by happe they were lodged with
a gentyll man that was a ryche man and well at ease / And
as they sat at her souper balyn herd ouer complayne
greuously by hym in a chayer / what is this noyse said balen / forsothe
said his hoost I wylle telle yow / I was but late att a
Iustynge / and there I Iusted with a knyghte that is broder vnto
kynge Pellam / and twyes smote I hym doune / & thenne
ANone all the knyghtes aroos from the tabyl for to set on Balyn / and kynge Pellam hym self aroos vp fyersly / & sayd knyȝt hast thow slayn my broder / thow shalt dye therfor or thou departe / wel said balen do it your self yis sayde kyng pellā / ther shall no mā haue ado with the / but my self for the loue of my broder / Thenne kyng Pellam cauȝt in his hand a grym wepen and smote egrely at balyn / but balyn put his swerd betwixe his hede and the stroke / and therwith his swerd brest in sonder / And whan balyn was wepenles he ranne in to a chamber for to seke somme wepen / and soo fro chamber to chamber / and no wepen he coude fynde / and alweyes kynge Pellam after hym / And at the last he entryd in to a chambyr that was merueillously wel dyȝte and rychely / and a bedde arayed with clothe of gold the rychest that myghte be thought / and one lyenge theryn / and therby stode a table of clene gold with four pelours of syluer / that bare vp the table / and vpon the table stood a merueillous spere straungely wrought / And whan balyn sawe that spere / he gat it in his hand and torned hym to kyng Pellam / and smote hym passyngly sore with that spere that kynge Pellam felle doune in a swoune / and therwith the castel roofe and wallys brake and fylle to the erthe / and balyn felle doune so that he myghte not stere foote nor hand / And so the moost parte of the castel that was falle doune thorugh that dolorous stroke laye vpon Pellam and balyn thre dayes
THenne Merlyn cam thyder and toke vp Balyn and
gat hym a good hors for his was dede / and bad hym
ryde oute of that countrey / I wold haue my damoysel
sayd balyn / Loo sayd Merlyn where she lyeth dede & kynge
Pellam lay so many yeres sore wounded / and myght neuer
be hole tyl Galahad / the haute prynce heled hym in the quest of
the Sangraille / for in that place was part of the blood of our
lord Ihesu cryst that Ioseph of Armathe broughte in to this
lond / and ther hym self lay in that ryche bed / And that was
the same spere that Longeus smote oure lorde to the herte / and
kynge Pellam was nyghe of Ioseph kynne / and that was
the moost worshipful man that lyued in tho dayes / and
grete pyte it was of his hurte / for thorow that stroke torned to
grete dole tray and tene / Thenne departed Balyn from
Merlyn and sayd in this world we mete neuer nomore / Soo
he rode forth thorowe the fayr countreyes and Cytees & fond
the peple dede slayne on euery syde / and alle that were on
lyue cryed O balyn thow hast caused grete dommage in these
cōtrayes for the dolorous stroke thow gauest vnto kynge Pellā
thre countreyes are destroyed / and doubte not but the
vengeaunce wil falle on the at the last / whanne Balyn was past tho
contrayes he was passyng fayne / so he rode eyȝt dayes or he met
with auenture / And at the last he came in to a fayr forest in
a valey and was ware of a Toure / And there besyde he sawe
a grete hors of werre tayed to a treee / and ther besyde satte a
fayr knyght on the ground and made grete mornynge and he
was a lykely man and a wel made / Balyn sayd God saue
yow why be ye so heuy / telle me and I wylle amende it and
I may to my power / Syr knyghte said he ageyne thow doest
me grete gryef / for I was in mery thoughtes and now thou
puttest me to more payne / Balyn wente a lytel from hym / &
loked on his hors / thenne herd Balyn hym saye thus / a fair
lady why haue ye broken my promyse / for thow promysest me
to mete me here by none / and I maye curse the that euer ye
gaf me this swerd / for with this swerd I slee my self / and
pulled it oute / and therwith Balyn sterte vnto hym & took
hym by the hand / lete goo my hand sayd the knyght or els I
shal slee the / that shal not nede said balyn / for I shal promyse
ANd whan Garnyssh beheld hir so lyeng for pure sorou
his mouth and nose brast oute on bledynge and with
his swerd he smote of bothe their hedes / and thenne he maade
sorowe oute of mesure and sayd O Balyn / Moche sorow hast
thow brought vnto me / for haddest thow not shewed me that
syght I shold haue passed my sorow / forsoth said balyn I did
it to this entent that it sholde better thy courage / and that ye
myght see and knowe her falshede / and to cause yow to leue
loue of suche a lady / god knoweth I dyd none other but as
I wold ye dyd to me / Allas said garnysshe now is my sorou
doubel that I may not endure / Now haue I slayne that I
moost loued in al my lyf / and therwith sodenly he roofe hym
self on his own swerd vnto the hyltys / when balen sawe that
THenne afore hym he sawe come rydynge oute of a
castel a knyght and his hors trapped all reed and hym
self in the same colour / whan this knyghte in the reed
beheld Balyn hym thought it shold bee his broder Balen by
cause of his two swerdys / but by cause he knewe not his sheld
he demed it was not he / And so they auentryd theyr speres &
came merueillously fast to gyders / and they smote other in
the sheldes / but theire speres and theire cours were soo bygge
that it bare doune hors & man that they lay bothe in a swoun
But balyn was brysed sore with the falle of his hors / for he
was wery of trauaille / And Balan was the fyrst that rose
on foote and drewe his swerd and wente toward Balyn /
and he aroos and wente ageynst hym / But balan smote
balyn fyrste / and he put vp his shelde and smote hym thorow
the shelde and tamyd his helme / thenne Balyn smote hym
ageyne with that vnhappy swerd and wel nyghe had fellyd
his broder Balan / and so they fought ther to gyders tyl
theyr brethes faylled / thenne Balyn loked vp to the castel and
sawe the Towres stand ful of ladyes / Soo they went vnto
bataille ageyne and wounded eueryche other dolefully / and
thenne they brethed oftymes / and so wente vnto bataille that
alle the place there as they fought was blood reed / And att
that tyme ther was none of them bothe but they hadde eyther
smyten other seuen grete woundes so that the lest of them myȝt
haue ben the dethe of the myghtyest gyaunt in this world /
Thenne they wente to batail ageyn so merueillously that
doubte it was to here of that bataille for the grete blood shedynge
And their hawberkes vnnailled that naked they were on
euery syde / Atte last balan the yonger broder withdrewe hym a
lytel & leid hym doune / Thenne said balyn le Saueage what
knyghte arte thow / for or now I found neuer no knyȝt that
matched me / my name is said he balan broder vnto the good
knyght balyn / Allas sayd balyn that euer I shold see this
day / and therwith he felle backward in a swoune / Thenne
balan yede on al four feet and handes and put of the helme of
his broder and myght not knowe hym by the vysage / it was
so ful hewen and bledde / but whan he awoke he sayd O balan
¶ Allas sayd Balan that euer I sawe this day that thorow myshap I myght not knowe yow / for I aspyed wel your two swerdys / but by cause ye had another shild I demed ye had ben another knyȝt Allas saide Balyn all that maade an vnhappy knyght in the castel / for he caused me to leue myn owne shelde to our bothes destruction / and yf I myȝt lyue I wold destroye that castel for ylle customes / that were wel done said Balan / For I had neuer grace to departe fro hem syn that I cam hyther / for here it happed me to slee a knyght that kepte this Iland / & syn myght I neuer departe / and nomore shold ye broder & ye myght haue slayne me as ye haue and escaped your self with the lyf / Ryght so cam the lady of the Toure with iiij knyghtes and vj ladyes and vj yomen vnto them and there she herd how they made her mone eyther to other and sayd we came bothe oute of one tombe that is to say one moders bely / And so shalle we lye bothe in one pytte / So Balan prayd the lady of her gentylnesse for his true seruyse / that she wold burye them bothe in that same place there the bataille was done / and she graunted hem with wepynge it shold be done rychely in the best maner / Now wille ye sende for a preest that we may receyue our sacrament and receyue the blessid body of our lord Ihesu cryst / ye said the lady it shalle be done / and so she sente for a preest and gaf hem her ryghtes / Now sayd balen whan we are buryed in one tombe and the mensyon made ouer vs / how ij bretheren slewe eche other / there wille neuer good knyght nor good man see our tombe but they wille pray for our soules / & so alle the ladyes and gentylwymen wepte for pyte / Thenne anone Balan dyed but Balyn dyed not tyl the mydnyghte after / and so were they buryed bothe / and the lady lete make a mensyon of Balan how he was ther slayne by his broders handes / but she knewe not balyns name /
IN the morne cam Merlyn and lete wryte balyns
name on the tombe with letters of gold / that here lyeth
balyn le Saueage that was the knyȝt with the two swerdes
IN the begynnynge of Arthur after he was
chosen kyng by aduēture and by grace for the most
party of the barons knewe not that he was
Vther pendragons sone / But as Merlyn made it
openly knowen / But yet many kynges & lordes
helde grete werre ayenst hym for that cause / But wel Arthur
ouercame hem alle / for the mooste party the dayes of his lyf he
was ruled moche by the counceil of Merlyn / Soo it fell on a
tyme kyng Arthur sayd vnto Merlyn / my barons wille lete
me haue no rest but nedes I muste take a wyf / and I wylle
none take / but by thy counceill and by thyne aduys / it is wel
done said Merlyn / that ye take a wyf / for a man of your
bounte and noblesse shold not be without a wyf / Now is ther ony
that ye loue more than another / ye said kyng Arthur / I loue
gweneuer the kynges doughter Lodegrean of the land of
Camelerd / the whiche holdeth in his hows the table round that ye
told he had of my fader Vther / And this damoysel is the
moost valyaunt and fayrest lady that I knowe lyuynge or yet
that euer I coude fynde / Syre sayd Merlyn as of her beaute
and fayrenes she is one of the fayrest on lyue / But and ye
loued her not so wel as ye doo / I shold fynde yow a
damoysel of beaute and of goodenesse that shold lyke yow &
plese yow and your herte were not sette / But there as a mans
herte is set / he wylle be lothe to retorne / that is trouth said kyng
Arthur / but Merlyn warned the kynge couertly that
gweneuer was not holsome for hym to take to wyf / for he warned
hym that launcelot shold loue her and she hym ageyne / and so
he torned his tale to the auentures of Sancgreal / Thenne
merlyn desyred of the kynge for to haue men with hym that shold
enquere of gweneuer / and so the kyng graunted hym / &
Merlyn wente forth vnto kyng Lodegrean of Camyllerd / & told
hym of the desyre of the kyng that he wold haue vnto his wyf
Gweneuer his doughter / that is to me sayd kyng Lodegreans
the best tydynges that euer I herd that so worthy a kyng of
prowesse and noblesse wille wedde my doughter / And os for
my landes I wylle gyue hym wyst I it myght please hym /
WHanne kyng Arthur herd of the comyng of gweneuer and the C knyghtes with the table round / thenne kynge Arthur maade grete Ioye for her comyng / and that ryche presente / and said openly this fair lady is passyng welcome vnto me / for I haue loued her longe / And therfore ther is nothyng so lyef to me / And these knyghtes with the round table pleasen me more than ryght grete rychesse / And in alle hast the kynge lete ordeyne for the maryage and the Coronacyon in the moost honorable wyse that coude be deuysed Now Merlyn said kyng Arthur / goo thow and aspye me in al this land l knyghtes whiche ben of most prowesse & worship / within short tyme merlyn had founde suche knyȝtes that shold fulfylle xx & xiij knyghtes but no mo he coude fynde Thenne the Bisshop of Caunterbury was fette and he blessid the syeges with grete Royalte and deuoycyon / and there sette the viij and xx knyghtes in her syeges / and whan this was done / Merlyn said fayr syrs ye must al aryse and come to kyng Arthur for to doo hym homage / he will haue the better wil to mayntene yow / and so they arose and dyd their homage / & when they were gone / merlyn fond in euery syeges letters of gold that told the knyghtes names that had sytten therin / But two syeges were voyde / And so anone cam yong gawayn & asked the kyng a yefte Aske said the kyng / & I shal graunte it yow / syr I aske that ye will make me knyȝt / that same day ye shall wedde faire Gweneuer / I will do it with a good wil said kyng arthur & do vnto yow all the worship that I may / for I must by reson ye ar myn neuew my susters sone /
FOrth with alle ther cam a poure man in to the Courte
and broughte with hym a fayre yonge man of xviij
yere of age rydynge vpon a lene mare / and the poure
man asked all men that he met / where shall I fynde kyng
arthur / yonder he is sayd the knyghtes / wylt thow ony thynge
with hym / ye sayd the poure man / therfor I cam hyder / anone
as he came before the kyng he salewed hym and sayd O kyng
Arthur the floure of all knyghtes and kynges I byseche
Ihesu saue the / Syr it was told me that at this tyme of your
maryage ye wolde yeue any man the yefte that he wold aske /
oute excepte that were vnresonable / that is trouth said the
kynge suche cryes I lete make / and that will I holde so it
apayre not my realme nor myne estate / ye say wel and graciously
said the poure man / Syre I aske no thyng els but that ye wil
make my sone here a knyghte / it is a grete thynge thow askest
of me said the kyng / what is thy name said the kyng to the
poure man / syr my name is Aryes the Cowherd / whether cometh
this of the or of thy sone said the kyng / Nay syre said Aryes /
this desyre cometh of my sone and not of me / For I shal telle
yow I haue xiij sones / & alle they will falle to what laboure
I put them & wille be ryght glad to doo labour / but this child
wylle not laboure for me for ony thyng that my wyf or I may
doo / but alweyes he wille be shotynge or castynge dartes /
and glad for to see batailles and to behold knyghtes / And
alweyes day and nyghte he desyreth of me to be made a knyȝt
what is thy name sayd the kynge vnto the yonge man / Syre
my name is Tor / the kyng beheld hym fast / and sawe he was
passyngly wel vysaged and passyngly wel made of his yeres
Wel said kyng Arthur vnto Aryes the Cowherd fetche al thy
sones afore me that I may see them / and so the poure man did
and al were shapen moche lyke the poure man / But Tor was
not lyke none of hem al in shap ne in contenaunce / for he was
moche more than ony of hem / Now said kyng Arthur vnto the
Cowherd / where is the swerd he shalle be made knyght with
al / it is here sayd Tor / take it oute of the shethe sayd the
kynge / and requyre me to make yow a knyght
Thenne Tor alyght of his mare and pulled oute his swerd
knelynge and requyrynge the kynge / that he wold maake
SO on the morne kyng Pellinore cam to the Court of
kynge Arthur / whiche had grete ioye of hym and told
hym of Tor / how he was his sone / and how he hadde
made hym knyght at the request of the Cowherd / Whan
Pellinore beheld Tor / he pleasyd hym moche / so the kyng made
gawayne knyght / but Tor was the fyrst he made at the feest /
What is the cause said kyng Arthur that there ben two places
voyde in the syeges / Syre said Merlyn / ther shalle no man syt
in tho places / but they shall be of moost worship / But in
the sege perillous there shall no man sytte therin but one / and
yf ther be ony so hardy to doo it he shall be destroyed / & he that
THenne was the hyghe feeste made redy / and the kynge
was wedded att Camelott vnto Dame Gweneuer in
the chirche of saynt steuyns with grete solempnyte / And as
euery man was set after his degree / Merlyn wente to alle the
knyghtes of the round table / and bad hem sytte styll that
none of hem remeue / for ye shalle see a straunge and a
merueillous aduenture / Ryght so as they sat ther came rennyng in a
whyte hert in to the halle and a whyte brachet next hym and
xxx couple of black rennyng houndes cam after with a greete
crye / and the hert went aboute the table round as he went by
other boordes / the whyte brachet boot hym by the buttok &
pulled oute a pees / where thurgh the herte lepte a grete lepe / and
ouerthrewe a knyght that sat at the boord syde / and therwith
the knyȝt aroos & toke vp the brachet / & so went forth oute of
the halle & toke his hors & rode his wey with the brachet / right
so anone cam in a lady on a whyte palfrey & cryed aloude for the
kyng Arthur / Syre
¶ With this there came
a knyght rydynge al armed on a grete hors / and tooke the
lady awey with hym with force / and euer she cryed and made
grete dole / whanne she was gone the kynge was glad for she
SYre gauayne roode more than a paas and gaheryse his
broder that roode with hym in stede of a squyer to doo
hym seruyse / Soo as they rode they sawe two knyȝtes
fyghte on horsbak passyng sore / so syr gauayn & his broder
rode betwixe them / and asked them for what cause they foughte
so / the one knyght ansuerd and sayd / we fyghte for a symple
mater / for we two be two bretheren born & begoten of one man
& of one woman / allas said sir gauayn why do ye so / syr said
the eldar / ther cam a whyte hert this way this day & many
hoūdes chaced hym / & a whyte brachet was alwey next hym / and
we vnderstood it was auenture made for the hyhe feest of
kynge Arthur / and therfore I wold haue gone after to haue
wonne me worship / and here my yonger broder said he wolde
go after the herte / for he was better knyght than I / And for
this cause we felle at debate / & so we thouȝt to preue whiche of
vs bothe was better knyȝt / This is a symple cause said sir
gauayn / vncouth mē ye shold debate with al & no broder with
broder / therfor but yf ye wil do by my coūceil I wil haue ado with
yow / that is ye shal yelde you vnto me / & that ye go vnto kyng
Arthur and yelde yow vnto his grace / sir knyȝt said the ij
bretheren we are forfoughten & moche blood haue we loste thorow
our wilfulnesse / And therfore we wolde be loth to haue adoo
with yow / thenne do as I will haue yow said sir gauayne /
THēne Gauayne and Gaheryse rode more than a paas
after the whyte herte / and lete slyppe at the herte thre
couple of greyhoundes / and so they chace the herte in to a
castel / and in the chyef place of the castel they slewe the hert / syr
gauayne and gaheryse folowed after / Ryght soo there came a
knyght oute of a chamber with a swerd drawe in his hand
and slewe two of the greyhoundes euen in the syghte of syre
gauayne / and the remenaunte he chaced hem with his swerd
oute of the castel / And whan he cam ageyne he sayd / O my
whyte herte / me repenteth that thow art dede / for my souerayne
lady gaf the to me / and euyll haue I kepte the / and thy deth
ANd syr gauayne went in to the castel and made hym
redy to lye there al nyght / and wold haue vnarmed
hym / what wylle ye doo sayd gaheryse / wylle ye
vnarme yow in this Countrey / ye may thynke ye haue many
enemyes here / they had not sooner sayd that word but ther cā
four knyghtes wel armed and assayled syr gauayne hard
and said vnto hym thou newe made knyght thow hast shamed
thy knyghthode / for a knyght withoute mercy is dishonoured
Also thow hast slayne a fayr lady to thy grete shame to the
worldes ende / and doubte thow not thow shalt haue grete
nede of mercy or thow departe from vs / And therwith one of
hem smote syr gauayne a grete stroke that nygh he felle to the
erthe / and gaheryse smote hym ageyne sore / and soo they were
on the one syde and on the other / that syr gauayne and
gaheryse were in ieopardy of their lyues / and one with a bowe an
archer smote syr gauayne thurȝ the arme that it greued hym
wonderly sore / And as they shold haue ben slayne / there cam
four fair ladyes / and besought the knyghtes of grace for syre
gauayne / and goodely atte request of the ladyes they gaf syr
gauayne and gahersye their lyues / & made hem to yelde them
as prysoners / thenne gauayne and gaheryse made grete dole /
Allas sayd syre gauayne myn arme greueth me sore / I am
lyke to be maymed and so made his complaynt pytously /
erly on the morow ther cam to syr gauayne one of the four
ladyes / that had herd alle his complaynte and said syr knyȝte
what chere / not good said he it is your owne defaulte sayd the
lady / for ye haue doone a passynge fowle dede in the sleynge
of the lady / the whiche will be grete vylany vnto yow / But
be ye not of kynge Arthurs kyn saide the lady / yes truly
sayd syr gauayne / what is your name saide the lady / ye must
telle it me or ye passe / my name is gauayne the kyng Lott of
Orkeney sone / and my moder is kynge Arthurs syster / A
thenne are ye neuewe vnto kyng Arthur sayd the lady / and
I shalle so speke for yow that ye shall haue conduyte to go to
kynge Arthur for his loue / and soo she departed / and told
the foure knyghtes how theire prysoner was kynge Arthurs
neuewe / and his name is syr gauayne kyng Lots sone of
Orkeney / and they gaf hym the hertes hede by cause it was in
¶ Thenne anone they delyuerd syr Gauayne vnder
this promyse that he shold bere the dede lady with hym in this
maner / The hede of her was hanged aboute his neck and the
hole body of hyr lay before hym on his hors mane / Ryght soo
rode he forth vnto Camelot / And anone as he was come
merlyn desyred of kyng Arthur þt Syre Gauayne shold be sworne
to telle of alle his auentures / and how he slewe the lady / and
how he wold gyue no mercy vnto the knyght / where thurgh
the lady was slayne / Thenne the kynge and the quene were
gretely displeasyd with syr gauayn for the sleynge of the
lady / And ther by ordenaunce of the quene ther was set a quest
of ladyes on syr gauayn / and they Iuged hym for euer
whyle he lyued to be with all ladyes & to fyȝte for her quarels / &
that euer he shold be curteys / & neuer to refuse mercy to hym /
that asketh mercy / Thus was gauayne sworne vpon the four
euuangelystes that he shold neuer be ageynst lady ne
gentilwoman / but yf he fought for a lady / and his aduersary fouȝt
for another /
THan Syre Tor was redy he mounted vpon his
horsbak / and rode after the knyght with the brachet / so as
he rode he mette with a dwarf sodenly / that smote hys
hors on the hede with a staf / that he wente backward his spere
lengthe / why dost thou so said syre Tor / for thou shalt not
passe this way / but yf thow Iuste with yonder knyghtes of the
pauelions / Thenne was Tor ware where two pauelions were / &
grete sperys stood oute / and two sheldes henge on trees by the
pauelions / I may not tary said syr Tor / for I am in a quest
that I must nedes folowe / thou shalt not passe said the dwarf
and therwith alle he blewe his horne / thenne ther cam one
armed on horsbak / and dressyd his shelde / and cam fast toward
Tor / and he dressid hym ageynst hym / and so ranne to gyders
that Tor bare hym from his hors / and anone the knyght yeld
hym to his mercy / But syr I haue a felawe in yonder
pauelione that wille haue adoo with yow anone / he shall be welcome
said syr Tor / Thenne was he ware of another knyght comyng
with grete raundon / and eche of them dressid to other / that
THer with syr Tor alyghte and toke the dwarf his
glayue / and soo he cam to the whyte pauelione / and sawe
thre damoysels lye in it / and one paylet slepyng / & so he wente
to the other pauelione / and found a lady lyeng slepyng ther
in / But ther was the whyte brachet that bayed at her fast / and
therwith the lady yede oute of the pauelione & all her
damoysels / But anone as syr Tor aspyed the whyte brachet / he took
her by force and took her to the dwerf / what / wille ye so sayd
the lady take my brachet from me / ye sayd syr Tor / this
brachet haue I sought from kynge Arthurs Courte hyder / well
said the lady / knyght ye shalle not go fer with her / but that ye
shalle be mette and greued / I shall abyde what auenture that
WYth that cam a damoysel rydynge on a palfrey as fast
as she myȝt dryue and cryed with a lowde voys vnto
Syre Tor / what wille ye with me sayd syr Tor / I byseche the
THenne kynge Pellinore armed hym and mounted
vpon his hors and rode more than a paas after the lady
that the knyȝt ladde awey / And as he rode in a forest
he sawe in a valey a damoysel sitte by a welle and a wounded
knyght in her armes / and Pellenore salewed her / And whan
she was ware of hym she cryed ouer lowde / helpe me knyghte
for crystes sake kynge Pellinore & he wold not tarye he was
so eger in his quest / and euer she cryed an C tymes after help
Whanne she sawe he wold not abyde / she prayd vnto god to
sende hym as moche nede of help as she had / and that he myȝt
fele it or he dyed / Soo as the book telleth the knyght there
dyed that there was wounded / wherfor the lady for pure sorowe
slewe her self with his swerd / As kynge Pellinore rode in
that valey he met with a poure man a labourer / Sawest thow
not saide Pellinore a knyghte rydynge and ledynge aweye
a lady / ye said the man / I sawe that knyght and the lady
that made grete dole / And yonder bynethe in a valey ther shal
ye see two pauelions and one of the knyȝtes of the pauelions
ANd thenne he torned hym to the other knyȝte that was
sore wounded / but whan he sawe the others buffet / he
wold not fyghte / but kneled doune and sayd take
my cosyn the lady with yow at youre request / and I requyre
yow as ye be a true knyghte / put her to no shame nor vylony /
What sayd kynge Pellenore wylle ye not fyghte for her / no
syr sayd the knyghte I wylle not fyghte with suche a knyȝte
of prowesse as ye be / wel said Pellenore / ye say wel / I
promyse yow she shall haue no vylony by me as I am true
knyght / but now me lacketh an hors said Pellinore / but I wylle
haue hontzlakes hors / ye shalle not nede sayd the knyght / for
I shalle gyue yow suche an hors as shalle please yow / so that
ye wille lodge with me / for it is nere nyghte / I wille wel
sayd kynge Pellenore abyde with yow al nyghte / and there he
hadde with hym ryght good chere / and faryd of the best with
passynge good wyne and had mery rest that nyghte / And on
the morne he herd a masse and dyned / And thenne was
broughte hym a fayre bay courser / and kynge Pellenors sadel
sette upon hym / Now what shalle I calle yow said the knyȝt
in as moche as ye haue my cosyn at your desyre of your quest
Syr I shalle telle yow my name is kyng Pellenore of the
Ilys and knyghte of the table round / Now I am glad said
the knyght that suche a noble man shalle haue the rule of my
cosyn / Now what is your name said Pellenore / I pray yow
telle me / Syr my name is syr Meliot of Logurs / and this
lady my cosyn hyght Nymue / and the knyghte that was in the
other pauelione is my sworne broder a passynge good knyȝte
and his name is Bryan of the Ilys / and he is ful loth to do
wronge and ful lothe to fyghte with ony man / but yf he be
sore souȝt on / so that for shame he may not leue it / It is merueil
ANd ther with he armed hym / so ryght euen afore hym
ther met two knyghtes / the one cam froward
Camelot / and the other from the northe / and eyther salewed other /
what tydynges at Camelot
ANd ther with they departed and cam there as the
hede of the lady lay with a fair yelow here that greued
kyng Pellinore passyngly sore whan he loked on hit / for
moche he cast his herte on the vysage / And soo by none they came
to Camelot / and the kynge and the quene were passyng fayn
of his comynge to the Courte / And there he was made to
swere vpon the four euuangelystes to telle the trouth of his quest
from the one to the other / A syr Pellinore sayd quene
Gweneuer ye were gretely to blame that ye saued not this ladyes
lyf / Madame said Pellinore ye were gretely to blame and ye
wold not saue your owne lyf & ye myȝt / but sauf your
pleasir I was so furyous in my quest that I wold not abyde / & that
repenteth me & shal the dayes of my lyf / Truly saide Merlyn
ye ouȝt sore to repente it / for that lady was your own douȝter
begoten on the lady of the rule / & that knyght that was dede
was her loue / and shold haue wedded her / and he was a
ryght good knyght of a yonge man and wold haue preued a
good man / & to this court was he comyng & his name was sir
Myles of the laūdys / & a knyȝt cam behynde hym / & slewe him
with spere & his name is Lorayne le saueage a fals knyȝt
& a coward / & she for grete sorow & dole slewe her self with
SOo after these questys of Syr Gawyne / Syre
Tor / and kynge Pellinore / It felle so that
Merlyn felle in a dottage on the damoisel that kyng
Pellinore broughte to the Courte / and she was
one of the damoysels of the lake that hyȝte
Nyneue / But Merlyn wold lete haue her no rest but alweyes he
wold be with her / And euer she maade Merlyn good chere tyl
she had lerned of hym al maner thynge that she desyred and
he was assoted vpon her that he myghte not be from her / Soo
on a tyme he told kynge Arthur that he sholde not dure longe
but for al his craftes he shold be put in the erthe quyck and
t kyng claudas
made on her lord and on her landes / Take none heuynesse said
Merlyn / for this same child within this xx yere shall reuenge
yow on kynge Claudas that all Crystendom shalle speke of it
And this same child shalle be the moost man of worship of
the world / and his fyrst name is galahad / that knowe I
wel said Merlyn / And syn ye haue confermed hym
Launcelot / that is trouthe said the quene / his fyrst name was
Galahad / O Merlyn said the quene shalle I lyue to see my sone
suche a man of prowesse / ye lady on my parel ye shal see hit /
and lyue many wynters after / And soo sone after the lady
and Merlyn departed / and by the waye Merlyn shewed her
many wondres / and cam in to Cornewaille / And alweyes
Merlyn lay aboute the lady to haue her maydenhode / and she
was euer passynge wery of hym / and fayne wold haue ben
delyuerd of hym / for she was aferd of hym by cause he was a
deuyls sone / and she coude not beskyfte hym by no meane /
¶ And soo on a tyme it happed that Merlyn shewed to her
in a roche where as was a greete wonder / and wroughte by
ANd as kynge Arthur rode to Camelot / and helde ther a grete feest with myrthe and Ioye / so soone after he retorned vnto Cardoylle / and ther cam vnto Arthur newe tydynges that the kynge of Denmarke and the kynge of Ireland that was his broder and the kynge of the vale and the kynge of Soleyse / and the kynge of the yle of Longtaynse al these fyue kynges with a grete hoost were entrid in to the lād of kynge Arthur and brente and slewe clene afore hem / both Cytees and castels that it was pyte to here /
¶ Allas sayd Arthur yet had I neuer reste one monethe syn I was crowned kyng of this land / Now shalle I neuer reste tyl I mete with tho kynges in a fayre feld / that I make myn auowe for my true lyege peple shalle not be destroyed in my defaulte / goo with me who wille and abyde who that wylle / thenne the kynge lete wryte vnto kynge Pellenore and prayd hym in alle haste to make hym redy with suche peple as he myght lyȝtlyest rere and hye hym after in al hast / All the Barons were pryuely wrothe / that the kynge wold departe so sodenly but the kynge by no meane wold abyde / but made wrytynge vnto them that were not there / and bad them hye after hym suche as were not at that tyme in the Courte / Thenne the kynge came to quene gweneuer and sayd lady make yow redy / for ye shall goo with me / for I may not longe mysse yow / ye shal cause me to be the more hardy / what auenture so befalle me / I wille not wete my lady to be in no ieopardy / Sire said she I am at your commaundement / and shalle be redy what tyme so ye be redy / So on the morne the kynge and the quene departed with suche felauship as they hadde / and came in to the Northe in to a forest besyde humber and there lodged hem
¶ Whanne the word & tydynge came vnto the fyue kynges
UN to this counceille these fyue kynges assented / and
so they passed forth with her hoost thorow Northwalis
and came vpon Arthur by nyghte and sett vpon his
hoost as the kynge and his knyghtes were in their pauelions
kynge Arthur was vnarmed / and had leid hym to rest with
hys quene Gweneuer / Sir said syr kaynus it is not good we
be vnarmed /we shalle haue no nede said syre Gawayne and
Syr Gryflet that laye in a lytel pauelione by the kynge /
With that they herd a grete noyse and many cryed treson
treson / Allas said kynge Arthur we ben bitrayed / Vnto armes
felawes thenne he cryed / so they were armed anone at al
poyntes / Thenne cam ther a wounded knyghte vnto the kynge &
saide syr saue your self and my lady the quene for our hooste
is destroyed and moche peple of ours slayne / Soo anone the
kynge and the quene and the thre knyghtes took her horses &
rode toward humber to passe ouer it / and the water was so
rough that they were aferd to passe ouer / Now may ye chese sayd
kynge Arthur whether ye wille abyde and take the aduentur
on this syde / for and ye be taken / they wille slee yow / It were
me leuer sayd the quene to dye in the water than to falle in
your enemyes handes & there be slayne / And as they stode soo
talkyng / syr kaynus sawe the fyue kynges comynge on
horsbak by hem self alone with her speres in her handes euen toward
hem / loo said syr kaynus yonder be the fyue kynges / lete vs go
to them and matche hem / that were foly sayd sire gawayne /
for we are but thre and they ben fyue that is trouthe said syre
Gryflet / No force said syr kay I wille vndertake for two of
THere with alle came one to kynge Arthur / and told
hym that kyng Pellinore was within thre myle with
a grete hoost / and he said / go vnto hym and lete hym
vnderstande how we haue spedde / Soo within a whyle kynge
Pellinore cam with a grete hoost / and salewed the peple and
the kyng / and ther was grete ioye made on euery syde /
Thenne the kyng lete serche how moche people of his party ther was
slayne / And ther were founde but lytel past two honderd men
slayne and viij knyȝtes of the table round in their pauelions
Thenne the kynge lete rere and deuyse in the same place there
as the batail was done a faire abbeye and endowed it wyth
grete lyuelode and lete it calle the Abbey of la beale
aduenture / but whanne somme of them cam in to their Countreyes ther
of the fyue kynges were kynges and told hem how they were
slayne / ther was made grete dole / And alle kynge Arthurs
enemyes as the kynge of Northwales and the kynges of the
North wyste of the bataille they were passynge heuy / and soo
the kynge retorned vnto Camelot in hast / And whan he was
come to Camelot / he called kynge Pellinore vnto hym & sayd
ye vnderstand wel that we haue loste viij knyghtes of the best
of the table round / and by your aduys we wille chese viij
ageyne of the best we may fynde in this Courte / Syr said
Pellinore / I shal counceille yow after my conceyte the best / there
are in your Courte ful noble knyghtes bothe of old & yonge
And therfor by myn aduys ye shal chese half of the old and
half of the yonge / whiche be the old said kyng Arthur / Syre
said kynge Pellinore me semeth that kynge Vryence that hath
wedded your syster Morgan le fay and the kynge of the lake
and syr Heruyse de reuel a noble knyght / and syr galagars
the iiij / this is wel deuysed said kyng Arthur and right soo
shal it be / Now whiche are the four yong knyȝtes said Arthur
Syre saide Pellinore the fyrst is syr Gawayne your neuewe
that is as good a knyght of his tyme / as ony is in this lād
And the second as me semeth best is syre Gryflet le fyse the
dene that is a good knyght and ful desyrous in armes / and
who may see hym lyue he shal preue a good knyghte / And
the thyrd as me semeth is wel to be one of the knyghtes of the
round table syr kay the
NOw said kynge Pellenore I shalle putte to yow two
knyghtes / and ye shalle chese whiche is moost worthy /
that is Syr Bagdemagus and syr Tor my sone /
But by cause Syre Tor is my sone I may not prayse hym /
but els and he were not my sone / I durst saye that of his
age ther is not in this land a better knyghte than he is nor of
better condycions and lothe to doo ony wronge / and loth to
take ony wronge / By my hede said Arthur he is a passyng
good knyght / as ony ye spak of this day that wote I wel
said the kyng / for I haue sene hym preued but he seyth lytyll
and he doth moche more / for I knowe none in al this courte &
he were as wel borne on his moder syde as he is on your syde
that is lyke hym of prowesse and of myghte / And therfor I
wille haue hym at this tyme and leue syr Bagdemagus tyll
another tyme / Soo whan they were so chosen by the assente of
alle the barons / Soo were there founden in her syeges euery
knyghtes names that here are reherced / and so were they set in
their syeges / wherof syr Bagdemagus was wonderly wrothe
that syr Tor was auaunced afore hym / and therfore sodenly
he departed from the Courte and toke his squyer with hym / &
rode longe in a forest tyll they came to a crosse and there alyȝt
and sayd his prayers deuoutely / The meane whyle his squyer
founde wryten vpon the crosse that Bagdemagus shold
neuer retorne vnto the Courte ageyne / tyll he had wonne a
knyȝtes body of the round table body for body / lo syr said his
squyer / here I fynde wrytyng of yow / therfor I rede yow retorne
ageyne to the Courte / that shalle I neuer said Bagdemagus
by men speke of me grete worship / and that I be worthy to
be a knyghte of the round table / and soo he rode forthe / And
ther by the way he founde a braūche of an holy herbe that was
the sygne of the Sancgraill / and no knyght founde suche
tokens but he were a good lyuer / So as sir Bagdemagus rode
THenne it befelle that Arthur and many of his
knyghtes rode on huntynge in to a grete forest / and it
happed kyng Arthur / kynge Vryens and syr Accolon of gaulle
folowed a grete herte for they thre were wel horsed / and soo
they chaced so fast that within a whyle they thre were thenne
x myle from her felauship / And at the last they chaced so sore
that they slewe theyr horses vndernethe them / thenne were they
al thre on foote / and euer they sawe the herte afore them
passynge wery and enbusshed / What wille we doo said kyng
arthur we are hard bestad / lete vs goo on foote said kyng
Vryens tyl we may mete with some lodgynge / Thenne were they
ware of the herte that lay on a grete water banke / and a
brachet bytynge on his throte and mo other houndes cam after /
Thenne kynge Arthur blewe the pryse and dyghte the herte /
Thenne the kynge loked aboute the world / and sawe afore
hym in a grete water a lytel ship al apparailled with sylke
doune to the water / and the shyp cam ryghte vnto hem and
lāded on the sandes / Thenne Arthur wente to the banke & loked
in / and sawe none erthely creature therin / Sirs said the kyng
come thens / and lete vs see what is in this ship / Soo they
wente in al thre and founde hit rychely behanged with clothe
of sylke / By thenne it was derke nyghte / and there sodenly
were aboute them an C torches sette vpon alle the sydes of the
shyp bordes and it gaf grete lyghte / And ther with all there
WHat are ye that soo complayne said kynge Arthur /
we ben here xx knyghtes prysoners sayd they / & some
of vs haue layne here seuen yere and somme more and somme
lasse / for what cause sayd Arthur / we shalle telle yow said the
knyghtes / this lord of this castel his name is syr Damas / &
he is the falsest knyght that lyueth / and ful of treason / and a
very coward as ony lyueth / and he hath a yonger broder a
good knyghte of prowesse / his name is syr Ontzlake / and
this traytour Damas the elder broder wylle gyue hym noo
parte of his lyuelode / But as syre Ontzlake kepeth thorow
prowesse of his handes / and so he kepeth from hym a ful fair
maner and a ryche and therin syre Ontzlake dwelleth
worshipfully / and is wel biloued of al peple / & this syre Damas
our maister is as euyll beloued for he is without mercy / and
NOw torne we vnto Accolon of Gaulle that whanne he awoke / he found hym self by a depe welle syde within half a foote in grete perylle of dethe / And there cam oute of that fontayne a pype of syluer / and oute of that pype ranne water all on hyhe in a stone of marbel / whan syre Accolon sawe this / he blessyd hym and sayd Ihesu saue my lorde kyng Arthur and kynge Vryens / for these damoysels in this ship haue bitrayed vs / they were deuyls and noo wymmen / And yf I may escape this misauenture / I shalle destroye all where I may fynde these fals damoysels that vsen enchaūtementys /
¶ Ryght with that ther cam a dwarf with a grete mouthe &
a flat nose and salewed syre Accolon and said how he came
from Quene Morgan le fay / and she greteth yow wel / and
byddeth yow be of strong herte / for ye shal fyȝte to morne with
a knyghte at the houre of pryme / And therfore she hath sente
yow here Excalibur Arthurs swerd and the scaubard / and
she byddeth yow as ye loue her that ye doo batail to the
vttermest without ony mercy lyke as ye had promysed her whā
ye spake to gyder in pryuete / And what damoysel that
bryngeth her the knyghtes hede whiche ye shal fyghte with al / she
wille make her a quene / Now I vnderstand yow wel sayd
Accolon / I shalle holde that I haue promysed her now I
haue the swerd / whan sawe ye my lady Quene Morgan le fay
Ryghte late sayd the dwarf / thenne Accolon tooke hym in
his armes / and said recommaunde me vnto lady Quene /
and telle her all shal be done that I haue promysed her / and
els I wille dye for hit / Now I suppose said Accolon she hath
made alle these craftes and enchauntement for this bataille /
ye may wel bileue it said the dwarf / Ryȝt so there cam a
knyghte and a lady with syxe squyers / and salewed Accolon /
and prayd hym t for hym
shold be redy in the felde by the houre of pryme / Soo on the
morne syr Arthur was armed and wel horsed / and asked
syr Damas whan shalle we to the felde / syr said syr Damas
ye shalle here masse / and so Arthur herd a masse / And whan
masse was done / there cam a squyer on a grete hors & asked
syr Damas yf his knyght were redy / for oure knyght is
redy in the felde / Thenne syre Arthur mounted vpon horsbak / &
there were alle the knyghtes and comyns of that countrey / &
so by alle aduyses ther were chosen xij good men of the
countrey for to wayte vpon the two knyghtes / And ryght as
Arthur was on horsbak / ther cam a damoisel from Morgan le fey
and broughte vnto syr Arthur a swerd lyke vnto Excalibur /
and the scaubard / and sayd vnto Arthur Morgan le fey
sendeth here your swerd for grete loue / and he thanked her / &
wende it had ben so / but she was fals / for the swerd and the
scaubard was counterfeet & brutyll and fals
ANd thenne they dressyd hem on bothe partyes of the
felde / & lete their horses renne so fast that eyther smote
other in the myddes of the shelde / with their speres
hede / that bothe hors and man wente to the erthe / And thenne
they sterte vp bothe / and pulled oute their swerdys / the
meane whyle that they were thus at the bataille cam the damoysel
of the lake in to the felde / that put Merlyn vnder the stone / &
she cam thydder for loue of kynge Arthur / for she knewe how
Morgan le fay had soo ordeyned / that kynge Arthur shold
haue ben slayne that daye / and therfor she cam to saue his lyf
And so they went egrely to the bataille / and gaf many grete
strokes / but alweyes Arthurs swerd bote not lyke Accolon
swerd / But for the most party euery stroke that Accolon gaf
he wounded sore Arthur / that it was merueylle he stode / And
alweyes his blood fylle from hym fast / whan Arthur beheld
the ground so sore bebledde he was desmayed / and thenne he
demed treason that his swerd was chaunged / for his swerd
boote not styl as it was wonte to do / therfor he dredde hym
THene syre Accolon beganne with wordes of treason
and sayd knyghte thow arte ouercome / and maxste
not endure and also thow arte wepenles / and thow hast loste
moche of thy blood / and I am
¶ Thenne syr Arthur remembrid hym and thoughte he shold haue sene this knyghte / Now telle me said Arthur or I wylle slee the / of what coūtrey art thou and of what courte / Syre knyghte sayd syr Accolon I am of the courte of kynge Arthur / & my name is Accolon of gaulle Thenne was Arthur more desmayed than he was before hand For thenne he remembryd hym of his syster Morgan le fay / and of the enchauntement of the ship / O syre knyghte sayd he I pray yow telle me who gaf yow this swerd and by whom ye had it /
THenne syre Accolon bethouȝte hym and said wo worth
this swerd / for by hit haue I geten my dethe / it may
wel be / said the kynge / Now syre said Accolon I wil
telle yow this swerd hath ben in my kepynge the moost party
of this twelue moneth / And Morgan le fay kynge Vryens
wyf sente it me yester daye by a dwerf to this entente that I
shold slee kynge Arthur her broder / For ye shall vnderstand
¶ Thenne syr Arthur called the kepars of the felde and said Syrs cometh hyder / for here are we two knyghtes that haue foughten vnto a grete dommage vnto us both / and lyke echone of vs to haue slayne other / yf it had happed soo / And hadde ony of vs knowen other / here had ben no bataille / nor stroke stryken
¶ Thenne al a lowde cryed Accolon
vnto alle the knyghtes and men that were thēne there gadred
to gyder / and sayd to them in this manere / O lordes this noble
knyghte that I haue foughten with all / the whiche me sore
repenteth is the mooste man of prowesse of manhode and of
THenne alle the peple felle doune on her knees and
cryed kynge Arthur mercy / mercy shalle ye haue sayd
Arthur / here maye ye see what auentures befallen oftyme of
erraunte knyghtes how that I haue foughten with a knyght
of myn owne vnto my grete dommage and his bothe /
But syrs by cause I am sore hurte and he bothe / and I had
grete nede of a lytel rest / ye shalle vnderstande the oppynyon
betwixe yow two bretheren as to the syre Damas / for whom
I haue ben champyon and wonne the feld of this knyghte /
yet wylle I Iuge by cause ye syre Damas are called an
orgulous knyghte and full of vylony and not worthe of prowesse
of youre dedes / therfor I wylle that ye gyue vnto your
broder alle the hole manoir with the appertenaūce vnder thys
forme / that sir Ontzelake hold the manoir of yow / and yerely to
gyue yow a palfrey to ryde vpon / for that wylle become yow
better to ryde on than vpon a courser / Also I charge the syre
Damas vpon payne of deth / that thow neuer destresse no
knyȝtes erraunte that ryde on their aduenture / And also that thow
restore these xx knyghtes that thow hast longe kepte prysoners
of all their harneis that they be content for / and yf ony of hem
come to my court and complayne of the / by my hede thou shalt
dye therfore / Also syre Ontzelake as to yow by cause ye are
named a good knyghte and ful of prowesse and true and
gentyl in all your dedes this shalle be youre charge I wylle
gyue yow that in al goodely haste ye come vnto me and my
courte and ye shalle be a knyghte of myne / and yf your dedes
be there after I shall so proferre yow by the grace of god that
ye shalle in shorte tyme be in ease for to lyue as worshipfully
as your broder syre Damas / God thanke your largenesse of
your goodenes & of your bounte / I shall be from hens forward
at all tymes at your commaundement / For syr said syr
Ontzelake as god wold as I was hurte but late with an
aduentures knyght thurgh both my thyes that greued me sore / & els
THe meane whyle Morgan le fay hadde wend kynge Arthur had been dede / soo on a day she aspyed kynge Vryens lay in his bedde slepynge / thenne she called vnto her a mayden of her counceyll / & said go fetche me my lordes swerd for I sawe neuer better tyme to slee hym than now /
¶ O Madame sayd the damoysel / and ye slee my lord ye can
neuer escape / Care not yow said Morgan le fay / for now I
see my tyme in the whiche it is best to doo hit / And therfor hye
the fast and fetche me the suerd / Then̄e the damoisel departed
THenne came tydynges vnto Morgan le fay that Accolon was dede / and his body brought vnto the chirche And how kynge Arthur had his swerd ageyne / But whanne Quene Morgan wyste that Accolon was dede / she was soo sorouful that nere hir herte to brast / But by cause she wold not it were knowen / oute ward she kepte her countece naun / & maade no semblaunt of sorowe / But wel she wyste and she abode tyll her broder Arthur cam thyder / there shold no gold goo for her lyf
¶ Thenne she wente vnto Quene Gweneuer / and asked her
leue to ryde in to the countreye / ye maye abyde sayde Quene
Gweneuer tyll youre brother the kynge come home / I maye
not sayde Morgan le fay / for I haue suche hasty tydynges /
that I may not tary / wel saide Gueneuer ye maye departe
¶ Thenne she rode in to a valeye
THenne said Morgan sawe ye Arthur my broder / ye
said her knyghtes ryght wel / and that ye shold haue
founde and we myghte haue stered from one stede / for by his
armyuestal contenaunce he wold haue caused vs to have fled
I byleue yow said Morgan / Anone after as she rode she met
a knyght ledyng another knyȝt on his hors before hym
bounde hand and foote blyndefeld to haue drouned hym in a
fontayne / whan she sawe this knyȝt so boūde / she asked hym what
wylle ye doo with that knyght / lady said he I wylle drowne
hym / for what cause she asked / for I fonde hym with my wyf
and she shalle haue the same dethe anone / that were pyte sayd
Morgan le fay / Now what saye ye knyȝt is it trouthe þt he
saith of yow she said to the knyght that shold be drowned / nay
truly madame he seith not ryght on me / Of whens be ye sayd
Morgan le fay and of what countre / I am of the Courte of
kynge Arthur / and my name is Manassen cosyn vnto
Accolon of gaulle / ye say wel said she / and for the loue of hym ye
shalle be delyuerd / and ye shalle haue your aduersary in the
same caas ye be in / So Manessen was losed & the other
knyght bounde / And anone Manessen vnarmed hym and armed
hym self in his harneis / and soo mounted on horsbak / and the
knyght afore hym and soo threwe hym in to the fontayne and
drowned hym / And thenne he rode vnto Morgan ageyne / &
asked yf she wold ony thyng vnto kynge Arthur / Telle hym
that I rescued the / not for the loue of hym but for the loue of
Accolon / and telle hym I fere hym not whyle I can make me
WYth that came the damoysel of the lake vnto the kyng
and said syr I must speke with yow in pryuyte / say
on said the kynge what ye wille / Syr sayd the damoysel put
not on yow this mantel tyl ye haue sene more / and in no
wyse lete it not come on yow nor on no knyghte of yours tyl ye
commaunde the brynger thereof to put it vpon her / wel said
kynge Arthur / It shalle be done as ye counceille me / And thenne
he said vnto the damoysel that cam fro his sister / damoisel this
mantel that ye haue brought me I wille see it vpon yow / syr
she said / it wille not biseme me to were a kynges garment / by
my hede said Arthur / ye shalle were it or it come on my bak or
ony mans that here is / and so the kyng made it to be putt
vpon her / And forth with al she felle doune dede / and neuer more
THenne syr Gawayne and syr Vwayne wente and
salewed them / and asked why they dyd that despyte to
the shelde / Syrs saiden the damoysels / we shalle telle yow /
There is a knyght in this coūtrey that oweth this whyte sheld
and he is a passyng good man of his handes / but he hateth al
ladyes and gentylwymmen / and therfor we doo alle this
despyte to the shelde / I shall say yow said syr gawayne / hit
bysemeth euylle a good knyghte to despyse all ladyes and gentil
wymmen / And parauentur though he hate yow he hath somme
ANd thenne syre Marhaus rode vnto his shelde / and
sawe how it was defowled / and sayd of this despyte I
am a parte auengyd / But for her loue that gaf me this
whyte shelde I shalle were the / and hange myn where thow was
and soo he hanged it aboute his neck / Thenne he rode streyght
vnto syr Gawayn and to syr Vwayne / and asked them what
they dyd there / They ansuerd hym that they cam from kynge
Arthurs courte for to see auentures / wel sayd syre Marhaus
here am I redy an auentures knyghte that wille fulfylle ony
NOw shalle eueryche of vs chese a damoysel / I shalle
telle yow sayd syre Vwayne I am the yongest and
moost weykest of yow bothe /
ANd ther with he passed vnto the one syde of the
launde / And on the other syde sawe syr Gawayne &
knyȝtes that houed styll and make hem redy with her sheldes and
speres ageynst that one knyght that cam by syr gawayn /
Thenne this one knyght auentryd a grete spere / and one of
the x knyghtes encountred with hym / but this woful knyght
smote hym so hard that he felle ouer his hors taylle / So this
same dolorous knyȝt serued hem al / that at the lest way he
smote doune hors and man / and alle he dyd with one spere / and
soo whan they were all x on fote / they wente to that one
knyght / and he stode stone styll / and suffred hem to pulle hym
doune of his hors / and bound hym hande and foote / and tayed
hym vnder the hors bely / and so ledde hym with hem / O Ihesu
ANd soo he chose her for his souerayne lady / & neuer to
loue other but her / but she was so proude that she had
scorne ef hym and sayd that she wold neuer loue hym
thouȝ he wold dye for her / wherfor al ladyes and
gentylwymmen hadde scorne of her that she was so proude / for there were
fayrer than she / & ther was none that was ther but & sir
Pelleas wold haue proferd hem loue they wold haue loued hym
for his noble prowesse / & so this knyȝt promysed the lady
ettard to folowe her in to this coūtrey / & neuer to leue her tyl she
loued hym / & thus he is here the moost party nyghe her and
lodged by a pryory / and euery weke she sendeth knyghtes to fyȝte
with hym / And whan he hath put hem to the wers than wylle
¶ Now sayd syre gawayne leue your
mornynge and I shalle promyse yow by the feythe of my body
to doo alle that lyeth in my power to gete yow the loue of
your lady / and ther to I wylle plyte yow my trouthe / A sayd
syr Pelleas of what Courte are ye telle me I praye yow my
good frend / And thenne syr gawayne sayd I am of the
courte of kynge Arthur / and his susters sone / and kynge Lott
of Orkeney was my fader / and my name is syre Gawayne /
And thenne he sayd my name is Syre Pelleas borne in the
Iles / and of many Iles I am lord / and neuer haue I
loued lady nor damoysel tyl now in an vnhappy tyme / and syr
ANd there with syr Gawayne plyghte his trouthe
vnto syr Pelleas to be true and feythful vnto hym / soo
eche one plyghte their trouthe to other / and soo they chaunged
horses and harneis / and sire Gawayn departed / and came to
the castel where as stoode the pauelions of this lady withoute
the yate / And as soone as Ettard had aspyed syr Gawayn
she
¶ Soo it was thenne in the moneth of May that she and syre Gawayn wente oute of the castel and souped in a pauelione / and there was made a bedde / and there syre gawayne and the lady Ettard wente to bedde to gyders / and in another pauelione she layd her damoysels / and in the thyrd pauelione she leyd parte of her knyghtes / for thenne she had no drede of syr Pelleas / And there syre gawayn lay with her in that pauelione two dayes and two nyghtes / And on the thyrd day in the mornyng erly syr Pelleas armed hym / for he hadde neuer slepte syn syr Gawayn departed from hym / for syr Gawayne had promysed hym by the feythe of hys body to come to hym vnto his pauelione by that pryory within the space of a daye and a nyghte
¶ Thenne syre Pelleas
mounted vpon horsbak / and cam to the pauelions that stode without
the castel / and fonde in the fyrst pauelione thre knyghtes in
thre beddes / and thre squyers lyggynge at theire feet / thenne
wente he to the seconde pauelione & fond four gentyl wymmen
lyenge in four beddes / & thenne he yede to the thyrd pauelion
& fond syr gawayn lyggyng in bedde with his lady Ettard
& eyther clyppyng other in armes / and whan he sawe that his
herte wel nyghe brast for sorou / & said Allas that euer a knyȝt
shold be founde so fals / and thēne he took his hors & myȝt not
abyde no lenger for pure sorowe / And whanne he hadde ryden
¶ And whanne syre Pelleas came to his pauelions he told his knyghtes and his squyers how he had sped / and sayd thus to them for your true and good seruyse ye haue done me I shall gyue you alle my goodes / for I wylle goo vnto my bedde and neuer aryse vntyl I am dede / And whan that I am dede / I charge yow that ye take the herte oute of my body and bere it her betwyxe two syluer dysshes / and telle her how I sawe her lye with the fals knyght Syr Gawayne / Ryght soo syr Pelleas vnarmed hym selfe and wente vnto his bedde makynge merueyllous dole and sorowe /
¶ Thenne syre Gawayne and Ettard awoke of her slepe / &
fonde the naked swerd ouerthwart theire throtes / thenne she
knewe wel it was syr Pelleas swerd / Allas sayd she to sir
Gawayne ye haue bitrayed me and syr Pelleas bothe / for ye
told me ye had slayne hym / and now I knowe wel it is not
soo he is on lyue / And yf syre Pelleas had ben as vncurteis
to yow as ye haue ben to hym ye hadde bene a dede knyghte /
but ye haue deceyued me and bytrayd me falsly / that al
ladyes and damoysels may beware by yow and me / And ther
with syr gawayn made hym redy / and wente in to the forest /
Soo it happed thenne that the damoysel of the lake Nymue
mette with a knyghte of syr Pelleas that wente on his foote
in the forest makyng grete dole / and she asked hym the cause
And soo the woful knyghte told her how his mayster and
SYre knyghht Pelleas sayd the damoysel of the lake /
take your hors / and come forthe with me oute of this
countrey / and ye shal loue a lady that shal loue yow / I wylle
wel said syr Pelleas / for this lady Ettard hath done me
grete despyte and shame / and there he told her the begynnynge
and endynge / And how he had purposed neuer to haue arysen
tyll that he hadde ben dede / And now suche grace god hath sente
me / that I hate her as moche as euer I loued her thanked
be our lord Ihesus / Thanke me sayde the damoysel of the lake
NOw torne we vnto syr Marhaus that rode with the
damoysel of xxx wynter of age southard / and soo they
cam in to a depe forest / and by fortune they were
nyȝted / and rode longe in a depe way / and at the last they came
vnto the courtelage / and there they asked herborow / but the mā
of the courtelage wold not lodge them for no treatyce that they
coude treate / but thus moche the good man sayd / and ye will
take the aduenture of youre lodgyng / I shal brynge you there
ye shalle be lodged / what auenture is that that I shal haue /
for my lodgynge sayd syr Marhaus / ye shalle wete whan ye
come there sayd the good man / syr what auenture so it be bryng
me thyder I pray the sayd syr Marhaus / for I am wery / my
damoysel and my hors / So the good man wente and opened
the gate / and within an houre he broughte hym vnto a fayre
castel / and thenne the poure man called the porter / and anon
he was lete in to the castel / & soo he told the lord how he brouȝt
hym a knyght erraunt and a damoysel that wold be lodged
with hym / lete hym in said the lord / it may happen he shalle
repente that they toke their lodgyng here / So syr Marhaus was
lete in with torche lyghte / and there was a goodely syghte of
yonge men that welcomed hym / And thenne his hors was
ledde in to the stable / and he and the damoysel were broughte
in to the halle / and there stode a myghty duke and many
goodely men about hym / thēne this lord asked hym what he
hyghte / and fro whens he cam / and with whome he dwelt / syre
he said I am a knyghte of kynge
THenne cam the foure sones by couple / and two of them
brake their speres / and soo dyd the other two / And
alle this whyle syre marhaus touched hem not / Thenne sir
marhaus � ranne to the duke / and smote hym with his spere that
hors and man felle to the erthe / And so he serued his sones /
And thenne syr Marhaus alyghte doune and bad the duke
NOw tourne we vnto syr Vwāyne that rode westwarde
with his damoysel of thre score wynter of age / and
she broughte hym there as was a turnement nyghe the marche
of walys / and at that tornement syre Vwayne smote doune
xxx knyghtes / therfore was gyuen hym the pryse / and that
was a gerfaukon / and a whyte stede trapped with clothe of
gold / Soo thenne syr Vwayn dyd many straunge auentures
by the meanes of the old damoysel / and so she broughte hym
to a lady that was called the lady of the roche / the which was
moche curtois / So there were in the countrey two knyȝtes that
were bretheren / and they were called two peryllous
knyghtes / the one knyghte hyght syre Edward of the reed castel / &
SO was there sykernesse made on both partyes that no
treason shold be wrought on neyther partye / soo thenne
the knyghtes departed and made hem redy / and that nyghte
syr Vwayn had grete chere / And on the morne he arose erly
and herd masse and brake his fast / and soo he rode vnto the
playn withoute the gates where houed the two bretheren
abydynge hym / Soo they rode to gyders passynge sore that syre
Edward and syr Hue brake their speres vpon syr Vwayne
RYght soo at the twelue monethes ende they mette alle
thre knyghtes at the fontayne and their damoisels but
the damoysel that syr gawayn had coude saye but lytel
worship of hym / soo they departed from the damoysels and roode
WHanne kyng Arthur had after longe werre
rested / and helde a Ryal feeste and table rounde
with his alyes of kynges / prynces / and noble
knyghtes all of the round table / there came in to
his halle he syttynge in his throne Ryal xij
aūcyen men / berynge eche of them a braunche of Olyue in token
that they cam as Embassatours and messagers fro the
Emperour Lucyus / whiche was called at that tyme / Dictatour or
procurour of the publyke wele of Rome / whiche sayde
messagers after their entryng & comyng in to the presence of kynge
Arthur dyd to hym theyr obeyssaūce in makyng to hym
reuerence said to hym in this wyse / The hyghe & myghty Emperour
Lucyus sendeth to the kyng of Bretayne gretyng / cōmaūdyng
the to knouleche hym for thy lord / and to sende hym the
truage due of this Royamme vnto thempyre / whiche thy fader and
other to fore thy precessours haue paid as is of record / And
thou as rebelle not knowynge hym as thy souerayne
withholdest and reteynest contrary to the statutes and decrees maade
by the noble and worthy Iulius Cezar conquerour of this
royame / and fyrst Emperour of Rome / and yf thou refuse
his demaunde and commaundement / knowe thou for certayne
that he shal make stronge werre ageynst the / thy Royames &
londes / and shall chastyse the and thy subgettys / that it shal be
ensamble perpetuel vnto alle kynges and prynces / for to denye
their truage vnto that noble empyre whiche domyneth vpon the
vnyuersal world / Thenne whan they had shewed theffecte of
their message / the kyng commaunded them to withdrawe them
And said he shold take auyce of counceylle and gyue to them
an ansuere / Thenne somme of the yonge knyghtes heryng this
their message wold haue ronne on them to haue slayne them
sayenge that it was a rebuke to alle the knyghtes there beyng
present to suffre them to saye so to the kynge / And anone the
¶ After this the kyng lete calle alle his lordes and knyghtes of the round table to counceyl vpon this mater / and desyred them to saye theire aduys / thenne syr Cador of Cornewaile spacke fyrste and sayd Syre this message lyketh me wel / for we haue many dayes rested vs and haue ben ydle / and now I hope ye shalle make sharp warre on the Romayns where I doubte not we shal gete honour / I byleue wel sayd Arthur that this mater pleaseth the wel / but these ansuers may not be ansuerd / for the demaunde greueth me sore / For truly I wyl neuer paye truage to Rome / wherfore I pray yow to counceylle me / I haue vnderstande that Bellinus and Brenius kynges of Bretayne haue had tempyre in their handes many dayes / And also Constantyn the sone of Heleyne / whiche is an open euydence that we owe noo trybute to Rome / but of ryght we that ben descended of them haue ryght to clayme the tytle of thempyre /
THenne ansuerd kynge Anguysshe of Scotland / Syr
ye oughte of ryght to be aboue al other kynges / for
vnto yow is none lyke ne pareylle in Crystendome / of
knyȝt hode ne of dygnyte / & I
¶ And
whan kynge Arthur vnderstood theire courages and good
wylles / he thanked them hertely / and after lete calle
thembassatours to here theire ansuere / And in presence of alle his
lordes and knyghtes he sayd to them in thys wyse / I wylle that
ye retorne vnto your lord and procurour of the comyn wele for
the Romayns / and saye ye to hym Of his demaunde and
commaundement I sette nothyng / And that I knowe of no
truage ne trybute that I owe to hym / ne to none erthely prynce /
Crysten ne hethen / but I pretende to haue and occupye the
soueraynte of thempyre / wherin I am entytled by the ryght of
my predecessours somtyme kynges of this lond / and saye to
hym that I am delybered and fully concluded to goo wyth
myn armye with strengthe and power vnto Rome by the
grace of god to take possession in thempyre / and subdue them that
ben rebelle / wherfore I commaunde hym and alle them of
Rome that incontynent they make to me their homage or to
knouleche me for their Emperour and gouernour vpon payne that
shal ensiewe / And thenne he commaunded his tresorer to
gyue to them grete and large yeftes / and to paye alle theyr
dispencys / and assygned syre Cador to conueye them oute of the
land / and soo they took theire leue and departed / and tooke
theyr shyppyng at Sandwyche / and passed forthe by
flaundrys / Almayn / the montayns / and all ytalye vntyl they cam
vnto Lucius / And after the reuerence made / they made
relacyon of their ansuer lyke as ye to fore haue herd / whan
themperour Lucyus had wel vnderstonde theyre credence / he was sore
meued as he had ben al araged / & sayd / I had supposed that
Arthur wold haue obeyed to my commaundement / and haue
serued yow hym self / as hym wel bysemed or ony other kyng
to doo / O syre sayd one of the senatours late be suche vayn
wordes / for we late yow wete that I and my felawes were ful
sore aferd to beholde his countenaunce / I fere me ye haue made
a rodde for your self / for he entendeth to be lord of this empyre
¶ Also he hadde goten wyth
hym fyfty Geaunts whiche had ben engendred of fendys
And they were ordeyned to garde his persone / and to breke
the frounte of the bataylle of kynge Arthur /
And thus departed fro Rome and came doune the montayns
for to destroye the londes that Arthur had conquerd and cam
vnto Coleyne / and byseged a Castel there by / and wanne it
soone and stuffed hit with two honderd sarasyns or Infydeles
NOw leue we of Lucius the emperour and speke we of
kynge Arthur / that commaunded alle them of his
retenue to be redy atte vtas of hyllary for to holde a parlement
at yorke / And at that parlement was concluded to areste alle
the nauye of the lond and to be redy within xv dayes at
sandwyche / and there he shewed to his armye how he purposed to
conquere thempyre whiche he ought to haue of ryght / And
there he ordeyned two gouernours of his Royame that is to say
Syre Bawdewyn of Bretayne for the counceille to the best and
syr Constantyn sone to syre Cador of Cornewaylle / whiche
after the dethe of Arthur was kyng of this Royamme / And in
the presence of alle his lordes he resyned the rule of the
royame and Gweneuer his quene to them / wherfore syre launcelot
was wrothe / for he left syre Trystram with kynge marke for
the loue of beal Isoulde / Thenne the quene Gweneuer made
grete sorowe for the departynge of her lord and other / and
swouned in suche wyse that the ladyes bare her in to her chambre
Thus the kyng with his grete armye departed leuyng the
quene and Royamme in the gouernaunce of syre Bawduyn and
Constantyn / And whan he was on his hors / he sayd with an
hyhe voys yf I dye in this iourney I wyl that syre
Constantyn be myn heyer and kyng crowned of this royame as next
of my blood / And after departed and entred in to the see atte
Sandwyche with alle his armye with a greete multitude of
shyppes / galeyes / Cogges / and dromoundes / sayllynge on the
see /
ANd as the kyng laye in his caban in shyp / he fyll in a slomerynge and dremed a merueyllous dreme / hym semed that a dredeful dragon dyd drowne moche of his peple / and he cam fleynge oute of the west / and his hede was enameled with asure / and his sholders shone as gold / his bely lyke maylles of a merueyllous hewe / his taylle ful of tatters / his feet ful of fyne sable / & his clawes lyke fyne gold And an hydous flamme of fyre flewe oute of his mouthe / lyke as the londe and water had flammed all of fyre / After hym semed there came oute of thoryent / a grymly bore al blak in a clowde / and his pawes as bygge as a post / he was rugged lokynge roughly / he was the foulest beest that euer man sawe / he rored and romed soo hydrously that it were merueill to here / Thenne the dredeful dragon auaunced hym and cam in the wynde lyke a fawcon gyuynge grete strokes on the bore / and the bore hytte hym ageyne with his grysly tuskes / that his brest was al blody / and that the hote blood made alle the see reed of his blood / Thenne the dragon flewe awey al on a heyȝte / and come doune with suche a swough and smote the bore on the rydge whiche was x foote large fro the hede to the taylle / and smote the bore all to powdre bothe flesshe and bonys / that it flutteryd al abrode on the see / And therwith the kynge awoke anone / and was sore abasshed of this dreme / And sente anone for a wyse philosopher / commaundynge to telle hym the sygnyfycacion of his dreme / Syre sayd the philosopher / the dragon that thow dremedest of / betokeneth thyn owne persone that sayllest here / & the colours of his wynges ben thy Royames that thow haste wonne / And his taylle whiche is al to tatterd sygnefyeth the noble knyghtes of the round table
¶ And the
bore than the dragon slough comyng fro the clowdes / betokeneth
some tyraunt that tormenteth the peple / or else thow arte lyke
to fyghte with somme Geaunt thy self / beynge horryble and
abhomynable whoos pere ye sawe neuer in your dayes / wherfore
THenne came to hym an husbond man of the countrey / and told hym how there was in the countre of Constantyn besyde Bretayne a grete gyaunt whiche hadde slayne murthered and deuoured moche peple of the countreye and had ben susteyned seuen yere with the children of the comyns of that land / in soo moche that alle the children ben alle slayne and destroyed / and now late he hath taken the duchesse of Bretayne as she rode by with her meyne / and hath ledde her to his lodgynge whiche is in a montayne for to rauysshe and lye by her to her lyues ende / and many people folowed her moo than v C / but alle they myghte not rescowe her / but they lefte he shrykyng and cryenge lamentably / wherfore I suppose than he hath slayn her in fulfyllynge his fowle lust of lechery / She was wyf vnto thy Cosyn syre Howel / whome we calle ful nyhe of thy blood / Now as thow a ryghtful kynge haue pyte on this lady / and reuenge vs al as thow arte a noble conquerour /
¶ Alas sayd kynge Arthur / this is a grete meschyef / I had leuer than the best Royame that I haue / that I hadde ben a forlonge way to fore hym for to haue rescowed that lady /
¶ Now felawe sayd kynge Arthur canst thou brynge me there as thys gyaunt haunteth / ye syre sayd the good man / loo yonder where as thow seest tho two grete fyres / there shalt thou fynde hym / and more tresour than I suppose is in al Fraunce / whanne the kynge hadde vnderstanden this pyteous caas / he retorned in to his tente /
¶ Thenne he callyd to hym syre kaye and syre Bedewere / &
commaunded them secretely to make redy hors and harneis for
hym self and them tweyne / For after euensonge he wold
ryde on pylgremage with them two only vnto saynt Mychels
¶ Dame sayd the kynge / I came fro the noble Conqueroure kynge Arthur for the treate with that tyraunt for his lyege peple / Fy on suche treatys sayd she / he setteth not by the kynge ne by no man els / But and yf thou haue broughte Arthurs wyf dame Gweneuer / he shalle be gladder than thow haddest gyuen to hym half fraunce / Beware approche hym not to nygh / for he hath vaynquysshed xv kynges / and hath maade hym a cote ful of precious stones enbrowdred with theyre berdes / whiche they sente hym to haue his loue for sauacion of theyr peple at this laste Crystemasse / And yf thow wylt / speke with hym at yonder grete fyre at souper / wel sayd Arthur I wyll accomplysshe my message for al your ferdful wordes / and wente forth by the creast of that hylle / and sawe where he satte atte souper gnawynge on a lymme of a man / bekynge his brode lymmes by the fyre and brecheles / and thre fayr damoysels tornynge thre broches wheron were broched twelue yonge children late borne lyke yonge byrdes
¶ Whanne kynge Arthur beheld that
pyteous syȝte / he had grete compassion on them so that his hert
¶ And on the morne the kynge remeuyd with his grete bataylle / and came in to Champayne and in a valeye / and there they pyght their tentys / and the kynge beynge set at his dyner / ther cam in two messagers / of whome that one was Marchal of fraūce and sayd to the kyng that themperour was entryd in to fraunce / and had destroyed a grete parte and was in Burgoyn and had destroyed and made grete slaughter of peple & brente townes and borowes / wherfor yf thou come not hastely / they must yelde vp their bodyes and goodes /
THenne the kynge dyd doo calle syre Gawayne / syre Borce / syr Lyonel and syre Bedewere / and commaunded them to goo strayte to syre Lucius / and saye ye to hym that hastely he remeue oute of my land / And yf he wil not / bydde hym make hym redy to bataylle and not distresse the poure peple / Thenne anone these noble knyghtes dressyd them to horsbak / And whanne they came to the grene wood / they sawe many pauelions sette in a medowe of sylke of dyuerse colours besyde a ryuer / And themperours pauelione was in the myddle with an egle displayed aboue / To the whiche tente our knyghtes rode toward / and ordeyned syr Gawayn and syre Bors to doo the message / And lefte in a busshement syre Lyonel / and syre Bedwere / And thenne syre Gawayn and syr Borce dyd their message / and commaunded Lucius in Arthurs name to auoyde his lond / or shortly to adresse hym to bataylle / To whome Lucius ansuerde and sayd ye shalle retorne to your lord and saye ye to hym that I shall subdue hym and alle his londes / Thenne syre Gawayn was wrothe and sayde I hadde leuer than alle Fraunce fyghte ageynst the / and soo hadde I saide syr Borce leuer than alle Bretayne or burgoyne
¶ Thenne a knyght named syre Gaynus
nyghe cosyn to the Emperour sayde / loo how these Bretons ben
ful of pryde and boost / and they bragge as though they bare
up alle the worlde / Thenne syre Gawayne was sore greued
NOw torne we to the Emperour of Rome whiche
aspyed that these prysoners shold be sente to Parys / and
anone he sente to leye in a busshement certayne knyghtes and
prynces with syxty thousand men for to rescowe his
knyghtes and lordes that were prysoners / And so on the morne as
Launcelot and syre Cador chyuetayns and gouernours of all
them that conueyed the prysoners as they sholde passe thurgh
a wode syr Laūcelot sente certayne knyghtes tespye yf ony
were in the woodes to lette them / And whanne the said knyghtes
cam in to the wood / anone they aspyed and sawe the grete
enbusshement / and retorned and told syr Laūcelot that ther lay
in a wayte for them thre score thousand Romayns / And
thenne syr Launcelot with suche knyghtes as he hadde and men of
warre to the nombre of x M put them in araye and met wyth
them and foughte with them manly / and slewe and
dretenchid many of the Romayns / and slewe many knyghtes &
admyrals of the party of the Romayns and sarasyns / ther was
slayne the kynge of lylye and thre grete lordes Aladuke /
herawde and heryngdale / but syr Launcelot fought soo nobly that
no man myght endure a stroke of his hande / but where he came
he shewed his prowesse and myght / for he slewe doune ryght
on euery syde / And the Romayns and sarasyns fledde from
hym as the sheep fro the wulf or fro the lyon / and putt them
alle that abode alyue to flyght / And so longe they fouȝte that
tydynges came to kynge Arthur / And anone he graythed hym
and came to the bataille / and sawe his knyghtes how they had
NOw leue we kynge Arthur and his noble knyghtes
whiche had wonne the felde / and had brought theyre
prysoners to parys / and speke we of a senatour whiche
escaped fro the bataille / and came to Lucius themperour & sayd to
hym / Syre emperour I aduyse the for to withdrawe the / what
dost thow here / thow shalt wynne noo thynge in these marches
but grete strokes oute of al mesure / For this day one of
Arthurs knyghtes was worth in the batayll an honderd of ours
Fy on the sayd Lucius thow spekest cowardly / for thy
wordes greue me more than alle the losse that I had this day / and
anone he sende forth a kynge whiche hyghte syr leomye with a
grete armye / and badde hym hye hym fast to fore / and he wold
folowe hastely after / kynge Arthur was warned pryuely / &
sente his peple to Sessoyne / and toke vp the townes & castels
fro the Romayns / Thenne the kyng commaunded syr Cador to
take the rereward / & to take with hym certayne knyghtes of
the round table / and syre Launcelot / syre Bors / syr kay / syre
Marrok with syre Marhaus shalle awayte on our persone /
Thus the kynge Arthur disperplyd his hoost in dyuerse
partyes / to thende that his enemyes shold not escape / whanne the
NOw torne we vnto kynge Arthur and his noble
knyghtes whiche after the grete bataylle acheued ageynste
the Romayns / entryd in to Lorayne braban and Flaundres
and sythen retorned in to hault Almayn / and so ouer the
mōtayns in to lombardye / and after in to Tuskane / wherin was
a Cyte / whiche in no wyse wold yelde them self ne obeye /
wherfore kynge Arthur biseged it / and lay longe aboute hit / and
gaf many assaultes to the Cyte / And they within deffended
them valyauntly / Thenne on a tyme the kynge called syr
florence a knyght / and sayd to hym they lacked vytaylle / and
not ferre from hens ben grete forestes and woodes / wherin ben
many of myn enemyes with moche bestyayl / I wyl that thou
make the redy and goo thyder in foreyeng / and take with the
syr Gawayn my neuew / Syre wysshard / syre Clegys / Syre
Cleremond and the Captayn of Cardef with other / & brynge
with yow alle the beestes that ye there can gete / And anone
these knyghtes made them redy / and rode ouer holtys & hyllys
thurgh forestes and woodes / tyl they cam in to a fayr medow
¶ Thenne sayd gawayn / thou auauntest the gretely and spekest proude wordes / I coūceylle the for alle thy boost that thou make the redy / and take thy gere to the / to fore gretter grame falle to the
THenne they took theyr speres and ranne eche at other with alle the myghte they had / and smote eche other thurgh their sheldes in to theyr sholders / wherfore anone they pulled oute their swerdes / and smote grete strokes that the fyre sprange oute of their helmes / Thenne syre gawayne was al abashed and with galatyn his good swerd he smote thurgh shelde and thycke hauberke made of thyck maylles and al to russhed and brake the precious stones / and made hym a large wounde / that men myghte see bothe lyuer and long / Thenne groned that knyght / and adressyd hym to syr Gawayn / & with an awke stroke gaf hym a grete wound and kytte a vayne / whiche greued gawayn sore / and he bledde sore /
¶ Thenne the
knyghte sayd to syre Gawayn / bynde thy wounde or thy blee
chaunge / for thou bybledest al thy hors and thy fayre armes /
For alle the Barbours of Bretayne shal not conne staunche
thy blood / For who someuer is hurte with this blade he shalle
THenne syre Florence callyd to hym syre florydas with an honderd knyghtes and droofe forth the herde of bestes / Thenne folowed hym vij honderd men of armes / and syr Feraunt of spayne on a fayr stede came spryngynge oute of the woodes / and came to syre Florence and axyd hym why he fledde / Thenne syre Florence took his spere / and rode ageynste hym / and smote hym in the forhede and brake his necke bone / Thenne all thother were meued / and thought to auenge the dethe of syr Feraunt / and smote in emonge them / and there was grete fyghte and many slayne and leyd doune to grounde / and syr Florence with his C knyghtes alwey kepte the stale and foughte manly /
¶ Thenne whan Pryamus the
good knyght perceyued the grede fyght / he wente to syre
Gawayn / and badde hym that he shold goo and socoure his
felauship / whiche were sore bystad with their enemyes / Syr
greue yow not sayd syre Gawayn / For theyr gree shall be theirs
I shall not ones meue my hors to them ward / but yf I see mo
than ther ben / For they ben stronge ynough to matche them / &
with that he sawe an erle called syre Ethelwold and the duk
of duchemen cam lepyng out of a wood with many thousādes
& pryamus knyȝtes / & cam strayte vn to the bataylle / thēne sir
gawayn comforted his knyghtes / and bad them not to be
abasshed / for al shal be ours / thēne they began to wallope & mette
with their enemyes / there were mē slayn & ouerthrowen on euery
¶ Thenne syre florence and syre Gawayne herberowed surely theyr peple / and token grete plente of bestyal of gold & syluer and grete tresour and rychesse and retorned vnto kyng Arthur whiche lay styl at the syege / And whanne they came to the kynge / they presented theyr prysoners and recounted theyre aduentures / and how they had vaynquysshed theyre enemyes
NOw thanked be god sayd the noble kynge Arthur / But what maner man is he that standeth by hym self hym semed no prysoner / Syre sayd Gawayne this is a good man of armes / he hath matched me / but he is yolden vnto god and to me for to bycome Crysten had not he haue be we shold neuer haue rotorned / wherfor I pray yow that he may be baptysed / for ther lyueth not a nobler man ne better knyght of his handes / thenne the kyng lete hym anon be crystned / and dyd doo calle hym his fyrste name Pryamus / and made hym a duke and knyghte of the table round
¶ And thenne anon
the kynge lete do crye assaulte to the cyte / and there was
rerynge of laddres brekyng of wallys and the dyche fylled /
SOone after that kyng Arthur was come / fro rome in to Englond / thenne alle the knyghtes of the table round resorted vnto the kyng / & made many Iustes & turnementes / & some there were that were but knyȝtes whiche encreaced so in armes and worship that they passed alle their felawes in prowesse and noble dedes / and that was wel preued on many But in especyal it was preued on syre launcelot du lake / for in al turnementys and Iustes and dedes of armes both for lyf and deth he passed al other knyȝtes / and at no tyme he was neuer ouercome / but yf it were by treson or enchauntement / so syr Launcelot encreaced soo merueyllously in worship / and in honour / therfor is he the fyrst knyȝt that the frensshe book maketh mencyon of after kynge Arthur came fro rome / wherfore quene gweneuer had hym in grete fauour aboue al other knyghtes . and in certayne he loued the quene ageyne aboue al other ladyes damoysels of his lyf / And for her he dyd many dedes of armes and saued her from the fyer thorou his noble chyualry / Thus syre launcelot rested hym longe with play & game / And thenne he thought hym self to preue hym self in straunge auentures / thenne he badde his neuewe syre Lyonel for to make hym redy / for we two wylle seke aduentures / So they mounted on their horses armed at al ryghtes / and rode in to a depe forest & soo in to a depe playne /
¶ And thenne the
weder was hote about noone / and syre launcelot had grete lust
to slepe / Thenne syr lyonel aspyed a grete Appyl tree that
stode by an hedge / & said broder yonder is a fayre shadowe / there
maye we reste vs on oure horses / hit is wel saide faire broder
said syr launcelot / for this viij yere I was not so slepy as I am
now / and so they there alyghted & tayed their horses vnto
sondry trees / and so syr launcelot layd hym doune vnder an
appyl tree / and his helme he layd vnder his hede / And Syre
WHan syre Ector de marys wyst that syre laūcelot was
past out of the court to seke aduentures he was wroth
with hym self / & made hym redy to seke syre laūcelot / & as he
had ryden long in a grete forest he mette with a man was
lyke a foster / Fayre felaw said syre Ector knowest thou in thys
countrey ony aduentures that ben here nyghe hand / Syr sayd
the foster / this countrey knowe I wel . and here by within thys
myle / is a stronge manoir and wel dyked / & by that manoir
on the lyfte hand there is a faire fourde for horses to drynke
of / and ouer that fourde there groweth a fayr tree / and theron
hangen many fayre sheldes that welded somtyme good
knyghtes / & atte hoole of the tree hangeth a bacyn of coper & latoen /
NOw leue we these knyghtes prysoners and speke we of syre Launcelott du lake that lyeth vnder the Appyl Tree slepynge / euen aboute the noone there come by hym foure quenes of grete estate / And for the hete shold not nyhe hem there rode foure knyghtes aboute hem / and bare a clothe of grene sylke on foure speres betwixe them and the sonne / And the quenes rode on foure whyte mules
¶ Thus as they rode they herde by them a grete hors grymly neye / thenne were they ware of a slepynge knyghte that laye alle armed vnder an appyl tree / anone as these quenes loked on his face / they knewe it was syre launcelot / Thenne they byganne for to stryue for that knyghte / euerychone sayd they wold haue hym to her loue /
¶ We shalle not stryue sayd Morgan le fay that was kynge Arthurs syster / I shalle putte an enchauntement vpon hym / that he shalle not awake in syxe owres / And thenne I wylle lede hym awey vnto my castel / And whanne he is surely within my hold / I shalle take the enchauntement from hym / And thenne lete hym chese whyche of vs he wylle haue vnto peramour /
¶ Soo thys enchauntement was caste vpon syre Launcelot / And thenne they leyd hym vpon his shelde / and bare hym soo an horsback betwixt two knyghtes / and brought hym vnto the castel charyot / and there they leyd hym in a chambyr cold / and att nyghte they sente vnto hym a fayre damoysel with his souper redy dyght By that the enchauntement was past / And whan she came she salewed hym / and asked hym what chere / I can not saye fayre damoysel said syre Launcelot / for I wote not how I cam in to this castel / but it be by an enchauntement / Syre sayd she ye must make good chere / And yf ye be suche a knyȝte as it is sayd ye ben / I shalle telle you more to morne by pryme of the daye / Gramercy fayre damoysel sayd syre Launcelot of youre good wyl I requyre yow / And soo she departed / And there he laye alle that nyght withoute comforte of ony body
¶ And on the morne erly came these foure quenes passyngly wel bysene / Alle they byddyng hym good morne / and he them ageyne /
¶ Syre knyghte the foure quenes sayd thow
must vnderstande thou arte our prysoner / and we here knowe
the wel that thou arte syre Launcelot du laake / kynge Bans
RYght so at the noone came the damoysel vnto hym with
his dyner / and asked hym what chere / truly fayre
damoysel sayd syre Launcelot in my lyf dayes neuer so ylle / sir
she sayd that me repentest / but and ye wylle be reulyd by me /
I shal help you out of this distresse / and ye shal haue no
shame nor vylony soo that ye hold me a promyse / fayre damoysel
I wil graunte yow / and sore I am of these quenes sorceresses
aferd / for they haue destroyed many a good knyght / syre sayd
she that is sothe and for the renome and bounte that they here
of you / they wold haue your loue / and sir they sayne / your
name is syre Launcelot du laake the floure of knyghtes / & they
be passynge wrothe with yow that ye haue reffused hem / But
syre and ye wold promyse me to helpe my fader on tewsdaye
next comynge / that hath made a turnement betwixe hym and
THenne within an houre there came the knyghte to
whome the pauelione ought / And he wende that his lemā
had layne in that bedde / and soo he laid hym doune besyde syr
Launcelot / and toke hym in his armes and beganne to kysse
¶ But now and ye wold promyse me of your curtosy for the harmes that ye haue done to me and to my lord Belleus that whanne he cometh vnto Arthurs courte for to cause hym to be made knyghte of the roūd table / for he is a passyng good man of armes and a myghty lord of landes of many oute yles /
¶ Fayre lady said syr launcelot lete hym come vnto the courte the next hyhe feest / and loke that ye come with hym / and I shal doo my power / and ye preue you doughty of your handes that ye shalle haue your desyre
¶ So thus within a whyle as
they thus talked the nyghte passed / and the daye shone / and
ANd soone as syre launcelott came withyn the Abbeye
yarde / the doughter of kynge Bagdemagus herd a
grete hors goo on the pauyment / And she thenne aroos and yede
vnto a wyndowe / and there she sawe syr launcelot / and anone
she made men fast to take his hors from hym / & lete lede hym
in to a stabyl / and hym self was ledde in to a fayre chamber /
and vnarmed hym / and the lady sente hym a longe goune / &
anone she came her self / And thēne she made launcelot passyng
good chere / and she sayd he was the knyȝt in the world was
moost welcome to her / Thenne in al haste she sente for her fader
Bagdemagus that was within xij myle of that Abbay and
afore euen he came with a fayre felauship of knyghtes wyth
hym / And whanne the kynge was alyghte of his hors he
yode streyte vnto syr launcelots chamber / and there he fond hys
doughter / and thenne the kyng enbraced syr Launcelot in hys
armes / and eyther made other good chere / Anone syre
launcelot made his complaynt vnto the kynge how he was bytrayed
And how his broder syre lyonel was departed from hym / he
nyst not where / and how his doughter had delyuerd hym out
of pryson / therfor whyle I lyue I shal doo her seruyse and al
her kynred / Thenne am I sure of youre helpe sayd the kynge
on tewesday next comynge / ye syr sayd syr launcelot / I shalle
not faylle yow / for soo I haue promyfed my lady your
doughter / But syre what knyghtes be they of my lord Arthurs
that were with the kynge of Northgalys / and the kyng sayd
it was syre madore de laporte / and syr Mordred and syr
gahalaytyne that al fur fared my knyghtes / for ageynst hem thre
I nor my knyghtes myghte bere no strenghte / Syre sayde syre
launcelot as I here say that the turnement shal be here within
this thre myle of this abbay / ye shal sende vnto me thre
knyghtes of yours suche as ye trust and loke that the thre knyghtes
haue al whyte sheldes & I also & no paynture on the sheldes / &
and we four will come out of a lytel wood in myddes of both
¶ Thenne cam in to the feld kyng Bagdemagus with four score of helmys / And thenne they fewtryd their sperys / and cam to gyders with a grete dasshe / & there were slayn of knyghtes at the first recountre xij of kyng Bagdemagus parte / and syx of the kyng of Northgalys party / and kyng Bagdemagus party was ferre sette a back /
WYth that came syr Launcelot du lake and he threste in with his spere in the thyckest of the prees / and there he smote doune with one spere fyue knyghtes / and of foure of hem he brake their backes / And in that throng he smote doune the kynge of Northgalys / and brake his thye in that falle / Alle thys doyng of syre Launcelot sawe the thre knyghtes of Arthurs / Yonder is a shrewde gest sayd syre Madore de la port therfore haue here ones at hym / soo they encountred / and syre Launcelot bare hym doune hors and man / soo that his sholder wente oute of lyth / Now befalleth it to me to Iuste sayd Mordred / for syr Mador hath afore falle / Syre Launcelot was ware of hym / and gate a grete spere in his hand / and mette hym and syr Mordred brake a spere vpon hym / and syre launcelot gaf hym suche a buffet that the arsson of his sadel brake / & soo he flewe ouer his hors taylle that his helme butte in to the erthe a foote and more that nyhe his neck was broken / & there he lay longe in a swoune /
¶ Thenne came in syr Gahalantyne
with a grete spere / and Launcelot ageynst hym with al theyre
strength that they myȝt dryue that both her speres to brast euen
ANd thēne they put theyr speres in the restys / & cam to gyders with her horses as fast as they myght renne / And eyther smote other in myddes of theyre sheldes that bothe theyre horse backes braste vnder them / and the knyghtes were bothe astonyed / and as soone as they myghte auoyde theyre horses / they took theire sheldes afore them / and drewe oute her swerdes / and came to gyder egerly / and eyther gaf other many stronge strokes / for there myght neyder sheldes nor harneis hold theyr strokes / And soo within a whyle they hadde bothe grymly woundes / and bledde passynge greuously / Thus they ferd two houres or mo trasyng and rasyng eyther other where they myght hytte ony bare place / Thenne at the last they were bretheles bothe / and stode lenyng on theyre swerdes / Now felawe sayd syr Turquyne hold thy hand a whyle / and telle me what I shal aske the / Say on thenne Turquyne sayd thou arte the byggest man that euer I mette with al / and the beste brethed / and lyke on knyȝt that I hate aboue al other knyghtes / so be hit that thou be not he I wyl lyghtly accorde with the / & for thy loue I wil delyuer al the prysoners that I haue that is thre score and foure / soo thou wylt telle me thy name / And thou and I we wyl be felawes to gyders and neuer to fayle the whyle that I lyue / it is wel sayd / sayd syr launcelot / but sythen hit is soo that I may haue thy frendship what knyght is he that thou soo hatest aboue al other / Feythfully sayd syr Turquyne his name is syre launcelot du lake / for he slewe my broder syr Caradus at the dolorous toure that was one of the best knyghtes on lyue / And therfore hym I excepte of al knyghtes / for may I ones mete with hym / the one of vs shal make an ende of other I make myn auowe / And for sir launcelots sake I haue slayne an C good knyghtes / and as many I haue maymed al vtterly that they myght neuer after helpe them self / and many haue dyed in pryson / and yet haue I thre score and foure / and al shal be delyuerd so thou wilt telle me thy name / so be it that thou be not syre launcelot /
¶ Now see I wel sayd syre launcelot that suche a man I
myghte be I myght haue peas / and suche a man I myghte be /
THenne at the last syr Turquyn waxed faynte / and
gaf somwhat a bak / and bare his shelde lowe for
werynesse / That aspyed syre Launcelot / and lepte upon hym
fyersly and gate hym by the Bauowre of his helmet / and plucked
hym doune on his knees / And anone he racyd of his helme /
and smote his neck in sondyr / And whanne syre laūcelot had
done this / he yode vnto the damoysel and sayd / damoysel I am
redy to goo with yow where ye wylle haue me / but I haue no
hors / Fayre syre sayd she / take this wounded knyghtes hors
and sende hym in to this manoyr and commaunde hym to
delyuer alle the prysoners / Soo syr launcelot wente vnto
Gaheryes and praid hym not to be agreued for to leue hym his hors
Nay fayr lord said Gaheryes I wyll that ye take my hors atte
your owne commaundement / for ye houe bothe saued me and
my hors / & this day I saye ye are the best knyghte in the worlde
For ye haue slayne this daye in my syghte the myȝtest man
& the best knyghte excepte yow that euer I sawe / & fore syre
said Gaheryes I pray you telle me your name / Syre my
name is syr launcelot du lake that ouȝte to helpe you of ryghte
for kyng arthurs sake / & in especial for my lord sir gawayns
sake your owne dere broder / & whan that ye come within
yonder manayr / I am sure ye shal fynde ther many knyȝtes of the
round table / for I haue sene many of their sheldes that I knowe
NOw torne we vnto syre laucelot that rode with the
damoysel in a fayre hyghe waye / syr sayd the damoysel /
here by this way haunteth a knyght that destressyd al
ladyes and gentylwymmen / And at the leest he robbeth them
or lyeth by them / what said sir launcelot is he a theef & a
knyght & a rauyssher of wymmen / he doth shame vnto the ordre of
knyghthode / and contrary vnto his othe / hit is pyte that he
lyueth / But fayr damoysel ye shal ryde on afore your self / and
I wylle kepe my self in couerte / And yf that he trouble yow
or distresse yow / I shalle be your rescowe and lerne hym to be
ruled as a knyghte / Soo the mayde rode on by the way a soft
ambelynge paas / And within a whyle cam oute that knyght
on horsbak oute of the woode / and his page with hym / &
there he put the damoysel from her hors / and thenne she cryed /
With that came launcelot as fast as he myghte tyl he came to
that knyght / sayenge / O thou fals knyght and traytour vnto
knyghthode / who dyd lerne the to dystresse ladyes and
gentylwymmen / whanne the knyghte sawe syre launcelot thus
rebukynge hym / he ansuerd not / but drewe his swerd and rode
vnto syre launcelot / and syre laūcelot threwe his spere fro hym /
and drewe oute his swerd / and strake hym suche a buffet on
the helmet that he clafe his hede and neck vnto the throte
Now hast thou thy payement that long thou hast deserued / that
is trouthe sayd the damoysel / For lyke as syr Turquyne
watched to destroye knyghtes / soo dyde this knyght attende to
destroye and dystresse ladyes damoysels and gentylwymmen / &
his name was syre Perys de foreyst saueage / Now damoysel
sayde syre launcelot wylle ye ony more seruyse of me / Nay syre
she sayd at this tyme / but almyghty Ihesu perserue you
where someuer ye ryde or goo / for the curteyst knyghte thou arte
and mekest vnto all ladyes and gentylwymmen that now
lyueth / But one thyng syre knyghte me thynketh ye lacke / ye
that are a knyghte wyueles that ye wyl not loue some
mayden or gentylwoman / sor I coude neuer here say that euer ye
loued ony of no maner degree and that is grete pyte / but hit is
noysed that ye loue quene Gueneuer / and that she hath
ordeyned by enchauntement that ye shal neuer loue none other / but
her / ne none other damoysel ne lady shall reioyse you / wherfor
¶ Fayre damoysel sayd syr launcelot I maye not warne peple to speke of me what it pleaseth hem / But for to be a wedded man / I thynke hit not / for thenne I must couche with her / and leue armes and turnementys / batayls / and aduentures / And as for to say for to take my plesaunce with peramours that wylle I refuse in pryncypal for drede of god / For knyghtes that ben auenturous or lecherous shal not be happy ne fortunate vnto the werrys / for outher they shalle be ouercome with a symplyer knyghte than they be hem self / Outher els they shal by vnhap and her cursydnes slee better men than they ben hem self / And soo who that vseth peramours shalle be vnhappy / and all thyng is vnhappy that is aboute hem / And soo syre Launcelot and she departed / And thenne he rode in a depe forest two dayes and more / and had strayte lodgynge / Soo on the thyrdde day he rode ouer a longe brydge / and there starte vpon hym sodenly a passynge foule chorle / and he smote his hors on the nose that he torned aboute / & asked hym why he rode ouer that brydge withoute his lycence / why shold I not ryde this way sayd syr launcelot / I may not ryde besyde / thou shall not chese sayd the chorle and lasshyd at hym with a grete clubbe shod with yron / Thenne syre laūcelot drewe his suerd and put the stroke abak / and clafe his hede vnto the pappys / At the ende of the brydge was a fayre village / & al the people men and wymmen cryed on syre launcelot / and sayd A wers dede dydest thou neuer for thy self / for thou hast slayn the chyef porter of oure castel / syr laūcelot lete them say what they wold And streyghte he wente in to the castel / And whanne he cam in to the castel he alyghte / and teyed his hors to a rynge on the walle / And there he sawe a fayre grene courte / and thyder he dressyd hym / For there hym thought was a fayre place to fyghte in / Soo he loked aboute / and sawe moche peple in dores and wyndowes that sayd fayr knyghte thou arte vnhappy
ANone with al cam there vpon hym two grete gyaunts wel armed al sauf the hedes with two horryble clubbes in theyr handes / Syre Launcelot put his sheld afore hym and put the stroke aweye of the one gyaunt / and with his swerd he clafe his hede a sondre / Whan his felaw sawe that / he ran awey as he were wood / for fere of the horryble strokes / & laūcelot after hym with al his myȝt & smote hym on the sholder / and clafe hym to the nauel / Thenne syre launcelot went in to the halle / and there came afore hym thre score ladyes and damoysels / and all kneled vnto hym / and thanked god & hym of their delyueraunce. For syre sayd they / the mooste party of vs haue ben here this seuen yere their prysoners / and we haue worched al maner of sylke werkes for oure mete / and we are al grete gentylwymmen borne / and blessyd be the tyme knyȝte that euer thou be borne / For thou hast done the moost worship that euer dyd knyght in this world / that wyl we bere recorde and we al pray you to telle vs your name / that we maye telle our frendes who delyuerd vs oute of pryson / Fayre damoysel he sayd / my name is syre launcelot du lake / A syre sayde they al / wel mayst thou be he / for els saue your self / as we demed / there myghte neuer knyght haue the better of these two gyaunts / for many fayre knyghtes haue assayed hit / and here haue ended / and many tymes haue we wysshed after yow / and these two gyaunts dredde neuer knyghte but you / Now maye ye saye sayd syr launcelot vnto youre frendes how & who hath delyuerd you / and grete them al from me / and yf that I come in ony of your marches / shewe me suche chere as ye haue cause and what tresour that there in this castel is I gyue it you for a reward for your greuaunce / And the lorde that is owner of this castel I wold he receyued it as is ryght / Fayre syre saide they / the name of this castel is Tyntygayl / & a duke oughte it somtyme that had wedded fair Igrayn / & after wedded her Vtherpendragon / & gate on her Arthur / wel saide sir launcelot I vnderstande to whome this castel longeth / and soo he departed from them / and bytaughte hem vnto god
¶ And thenne
he mounted vpon his hors & rode in to many straunge & wyld
¶ And thenne they al thre cryed syre knyghte we yelde vs vnto you as man of myght makeles / As to that said syr laūcelot I will not take your yeldyng vnto me / But so that ye wylle yelde you vnto syr kay the Seneschal on that couenaunt I wyl saue your lyues and els not /
¶ Fayre knyghte
sayd they that were lothe to doo / For as for syr kay / we
chaced hym hyder / and had ouercome hym had not ye ben /
therfor to yelde vs vnto hym it were no reson / wel as to that
said laūcelot / auyse you wel / for ye may chese whether ye wyll
¶ Fayre knyght thenne they sayd in sauynge of oure lyues
we wylle doo as thou commaundys vs / Thenne shal ye sayd
syre launcelot on whytsonday nexte comyng go vnto the courte
of kynge Arthur / and there shal ye yelde you vnto quene
Gueneuer / and put you al thre in her grace and mercy / and saye
that sir kay sente you thyder to be her prysoners / Syre they said
it shalle be done by the feythe of oure bodyes / and we ben
lyuynge / and there they swore euery knyghte vpon his swerd /
And so sir launcelot suffred hem soo to departe / And thenne sir
launcelot knocked at the yate with the pomel of his swerd /
and with that came his oost / and in they entred sir kay and he
Syre sayd his hoost I wende ye had ben in youre bedde / so I
was / sayd sire launcelot / But I arose and lepte oute atte my
wyndowe for to helpe an old felawe of myne / And so whanne
they came nyghe the lyghte / sir kay knewe wel / that it was sir
launcelot / and ther with he kneled doune and thanked hym of
al his kyndenesse that he had holpen hym twyes from the deth
Syre he sayd I haue no thynge done but that me ought for to
doo / and ye are welcome / and here shal ye repose yow and
take your rest / Soo whan sir kay was vnarmed / he asked after
mete / soo there was mete fette hym / and he ete strongly / And
whan he hadde souped they went to theyr beddes and were
lodged to gyders in one bedde / On the morne sir launcelot arose
erly / and lefte syre kay slepynge / and sir launcelot toke sire
kayes armour and his shelde and armed hym / and so he wente to
the stable / and toke his hors and toke his leue of his oost / and
soo he departed / Thenne soone after arose syr kay and myssed
sir launcelot / And thenne he aspyed that he had his armoure
and his hors / Now by my
NOw torne we vnto syre launcelot that had ryden long
in a grete forest / and at the last he came in to a lowe
countray ful of fayre Ryuers and medowes / And
afore hym he sawe a longe brydge / and thre pauelions stode ther
on of sylke and sendel of dyuers hewe / And withoute the
pauelions henge thre whyte sheldes on truncheons of sperys / &
grete longe sperys stode vpryght by the pauelions / and at
euery pauelions dore stode thre fresshe squyers / and soo syre
launcelot passed by them and spake no worde / whan he was paste
the thre knyghtes sayden hym that hit was the proud kay / he
weneth no knyght soo good as he / and the contrary is
oftyme preued / By my feythe sayd one of the knyghtes / his
name was syre gaunter / I wylle ryde after hym / & assaye hym /
for alle his pryde / and ye may beholde how that I spede / Soo
this knyght syre Gaunter armed hym / and henge his shelde
vpon his sholder / and mounted vpon a grete hors / and gate
his spere in his hand / and wallopt after syre launcelot / and
whanne he came nyghe hym / he cryed Abyde thou proude
knyght syr kay / for thou shalt not passe quyte / Soo syr launcelot
torned hym / and eyther feutryd their speres / and came to
gyders with alle theyr myghtes / and syre Gaunters spere brake
but syre launcelot smote hym doune hors and man / and whan
syr gaunter was at the erthe / his bretheren sayd echone to
other yonder knyght is not syre kay / for he is bygger than he /
I dare laye my heed sayd syre Gylmere yonder knyghte hath
slayne syr kay and hath taken his hors and his harneis /
whether it be soo or no sayd syr Raynold the thyrd broder / lete vs
now goo mounte vpon oure horses and rescowe our broder sir
Gaunter vpon payne of dethe / we alle shal haue werke ynouȝ
to matche that knyght / for euer me semeth by his persone it is
syre Launcelot / or syr Trystram / or syr Pelleas the good
knyght / Thenne anon they toke theyr horses and ouertook syr
launcelot / and syre gylmere put forth his spere / and ranne to sir
launcelot / and syre launcelot smote hym doune that he lay in a
swoune / Syre knyght sayd syr Raynold thou arte a strong
man / and as I suppose thou hast slayne my two bretheren /
for the whiche rasyth my herte sore ageynst the / And yf I
myght with my worship I wold not haue a doo with yow but
¶ And whanne he sawe them come / he smote a sore stroke vnto syr Raynold that he felle of his hors to the ground / And thenne he stroke to the other two bretheren / and at two strokes he strake them doune to the erthe / With that sir Raynold beganne to starte vp with his heede al blody / and came streyte vnto syre launcelot / Now late be sayd sir launcelot / I was not ferre from the whan thou were maade knyght sir Raynold / and also I knowe thou arte a good knyght / and lothe I were to slee the / Gramercy sayd syr raynold as for your goodnes / And I dare saye as for me and my bretheren we wyl not be lothe to yelde vs vnto you / with that we knewe your name / for wel we knowe ye are not sire kay / As for that be it as it be maye / for ye shal yelde yow vnto dame gweneuer / and loke that ye be with her on whytsonday and yelde you vnto her as prysoners / and saye that syre kay sente yow vnto her / thenne they swore hit shold be done / and so passed forthe sire launcelot / and echone of the bretheren halpe other as wel as they myght
SOo sir launcelot rode in to a depe forest / and ther by in
a slade / he sawe four knyghtes houyng vnder an oke /
and they were of Arthurs courte / one was sir Sagramour le
desyrus and Ector de marys / and sir Gawayn and sir
Vwayne / Anone as these four knyghtes had aspyed sir Launcelot
they wend by his armes it hadde ben sir kay / Now by my
feythe sayd sir Sagramour / I wylle preue sir kayes myghte / &
gate his spere in his hand / and came toward sir launcelot
Ther with sir launcelot was ware and knewe hym wel / and
NOw leue we there & speke of syr Launcelot that rode a
grete whyle in a depe forest where he saw a black brachet
RYyght soo syr Launcelot departed / And whan he cam
vnto the chappel peryllous / he alyghte doune / and
teyed his hors vnto a lytyl gate / and as soone as he was with
in the chirche yard / he sawe on the frount of the chappel many
sayre ryche sheldes torned vp so doune / and many of the
sheldes syre launcelot had sene knyghtes bere byfore hand / wyth
that he sawe by hym there stande a xxx greete knyghtes more
by a yarde than ony man that euer he had sene / and all tho
greued and gnasted at syre launcelot / And whan he sawe
theyr countenaunce he dred hym sore / and soo putte his shelde
afore hym / and toke his swerd redy in his hand redy vnto
bataylle / and they were al armed in black harneis redy with her
sheldes and her swerdes drawen / And whan syr Launcelot
wold haue gone throu oute them / they scateryd on euery
syde of hym / and gaf hym the way / and ther with he waxed al
bold / and entred in to the chappel / and thenne he sawe no
lyght / but a dymme lamp brennynge / and thenne was he ware
of a corps hylled with a clothe of sylke / Thenne syre
Launcelot stouped doune / and cutte a pyece awey of that clothe / and
thenne it ferd vnder hym as the erthe had quaked a lytel /
there with al he feryd / And thenne he sawe a fayre swerd lye
by the dede knyghte / and that he gate in his hand and hyed
hym oute of the chapel / Anone as euer he was in the chappel
yarde / alle the knyghtes spak to hym with a grymly voys / and
sayd knyghte syr launcelot leye that swerd from the or ellys
thou shalt dye / whether that I lyue or dye sayd syr launcelot
with noo grete word gete ye hit ageyne / therfor fyghte for it
and ye lyst / Thenne ryght soo he passed thorou out them / and
ANd soo syre Launcelot rode thorou many straunge
countreyes ouer marys and valeyes tyl by fortune he
came to a fayre castel / and as he paste beyonde the castel / hym
thought he herde two bellys rynge . And thenne was he ware of
a Faucon came fleynge ouer his hede toward an hyghe elme /
and longe lunys aboute her feet / and she flewe vnto the elme
to take her perche / the lunys ouer cast aboute a bough / And
whanne she wold haue taken her flyghte / she henge by the
legges fast / and syre launcelot sawe how he henge / and byheld the
fayre faucon perygot / & he was sory for her / The meane
whyle came a lady oute of the castel and cryed on hyghe O
launcelot launcelot as thou arte floure of alle knyghtes helpe me
to gete my hauke / for and my hauke be lost / my lord wyl
destroye me / for I kepte the hauke and she slypped from me / and
yf my lord my husband wete hit / he is soo hasty that he wyll
slee me / What is your lordes name sayd sir Launcelot / sir she
said his name is sire Phelot a knygthe that longeth vnto the
the kynge of Northgalys / wel fayre lady syn that ye knowe my
name and requyre me of knyghthode to helpe yow I wylle doo
what I may to gete your hauke / and yet god knoweth I am
an ylle clymber and the tree is passynge hyghe / and fewe
bowes to helpe me with alle / And ther with sir launcelot alyȝte
and teyed his hors to the same tree / and prayd the lady to
vnarme hym / And soo whan he was vnarmed / he put of alle
his clothes vnto his sherte and breche / and with myghte &
force he clamme vp to the faucon / and teyed the lunys to a
grete rotten boyshe / and threwe the hauke doune and it with alle /
Anone the lady gate the hauke in her hand / and there with al
came oute syre phelot oute of the greuys sodenly / that was her
SOo syre launcelot rode many wylde wayes thorou out
mareys and many wylde wayes / And as he rode in
a valey he sawe a knyght chacynge a lady with a
naked swerd to haue slayn her / And by fortune as this knyȝte
shold haue slayne thys lady she cryed on syr Launcelot and
prayd hym to rescowe her / Whan syre launcelot sawe that
meschyef / he took his hors and rode bytwene them / sayeng knyȝte
fy for shame / why wolt thou slee this lady / thou dost shame
vnto the and alle knyghtes / what haste thou to doo betwyx me &
my wyf / sayd the knyght / I wylle slee her maugre thy hede /
that shalle ye not sayd syr launcelot / for rather we two wylle
haue adoo to gyders / Syre Launcelot sayd the knyght thow
doest not thy part / for this lady hath bytrayed me / hit is not
so sayd the lady / truly he sayth wronge on me / And for by
cause I loue and cherysshe my cosyn germayne / he is Ialous
betwixe hym and me / And as I shalle ansuer to god
NOw torne we vnto sir launcelot du lake that came home two dayes afore the seest of Pentecost / and the kyng and alle the courte were passynge fayne of his comynge / And whanne sire Gawayne / sir Vwayne / sire Sagramore / sir Ector de marys sawe sire Launcelot in Kayes armour / thenne they wist wel it was he that smote hem doune al with one spere / Thenne there was laughyng and smylyng amonge them / and euer now and now came alle the Knyghtes home that sir Turquyn hadde prysoners and they alle honoured and worshipped syre launcelot /
¶ Whanne sire Gaheryes herd them
¶ Anone there with alle ther came the thre knyghtes that fought with syre launcelot at the longe brydge And there they yelded hem vnto syr kay / and sir kay forsoke hem and said he foughte neuer with hem / but I shall ease your herte said sir kay / yonder is syr launcelot the ouercam you whan they wyst that / they were glad / And thenne syr Melyot de logrys came home / and told the kynge how syr launcelot had saued hym fro the dethe / and all his dedes were knowen how foure quenes sorceresses had hym in pryson / and how he was delyuerd by kynge Bagdemagus doughter / Also there were told alle grete dedes of armes that syr launcelot dyd betwixe the two kynges / that is for to saye the kynge of northgalys and kynge Bagdemagus Alle the trouthe syr Gahalantyne dyd telle / and syre Mador de la porte and syre Mordred / for they were at that same turnement /
¶ Thenne cam in the lady that knewe syr launcelot whan that he wounded syr Bellyus at the pauelione / And there atte request of syr laūcelot syr Bellyus was made knyghte of the round table / And soo at that tyme sir launcelot had the grettest name of ony knyghte of the world / and most he was honoured of hyhe and lowe
WHan Arthur held his round table moost plenour / it fortuned that he commaunded that the hyhe feest of Pentecost shold be holden at a cyte and a Castel the whiche in tho dayes was called kynke kenadonne vpon the sondes that marched nyghe walys /
¶ Soo euer the kyng hadde a custom
that at the feest of Pentecost in especyal afore other feestes in
the yere he wold not goo that daye to mete vntyl he had herd
or sene of a grete merueylle / And for that custome alle
maner of straunge aduentures came before Arthur as at that
feest before alle other feestes / And soo sire Gawayne a lytyl to
fore none of the daye of Pentecost aspyed att a wyndowe thre
men vpon horsbak and a dwarf on foote / and soo the thre men
alighte and the dwarf kepte their horses / and one of the thre
men was hyher than the other tweyne by a foote and a half
Thenne sir Gawayne wente vnto the kynge and sayd / sire go
to your mete / for here at the hande comen straunge aduentures
So Arthur wente vnto his mete with many other kynges /
And there were all the knyghtes of the round table only tho
that were prysoners or slayn at a recountre / thenne at the
hyhe feest euermore they shold be fulfilled the hole nombre of an
C and fyfty / for thenne was the round table fully complisshed
Ryght soo cam in to the halle two men wel bisene and
rychely / and vpon their sholders there lened the goodlyest yong man
& the fairest that euer they al sawe / & he was large and long
and brode in the sholders & wel vysaged / and the fayrest and
the largest handed that euer man sawe / but he ferd as though
he myght not goo nor bere hym self / but yf he lened vpon their
sholders / Anon as Arthur sawe hym there was made pees &
rome / & ryght so they yede with hym vnto the hyghe deyse
without sayeng of ony wordes / thenne this moche yong man
pulled hym a bak and easily stretched vp streyghte / sayeng kynge
Arthur god you blisse and al your fair felauship / and in
especial the felauship of the table rounde / And for thys cause I
am come hyder to praye you and requyre you to gyue me thre
yeftes / and they shalle not be vnresonably asked / but that ye
may worshipfully and honorably graunte hem me / and to you
¶ Now syre this is my petycyon for thys feest / that ye wylle gyue me mete and drynke suffycyauntly for this twelue moneth / and at that day I wylle aske myn other two yeftes
¶ My fayr sone sayd Arthur aske better I counceille the for
this is but a symple askynge / for my herte geueth me to the
gretely that thou arte come of men of worshyp / and gretely
my consayte fayleth me / but thou shalt preue a man of ryghte
grete worship / Syre he sayd / ther of be as it be may I haue
asked that I wylle aske / wel sayd the kynge ye shal have
mete & drynke ynouȝ / I neuer deffended þt none / nother my
frende ne my foo / But what is thy name I wold wete / I can
not telle you sayd he / that is merueylle sayd the kynge / that
thou knowest not thy name / and thou arte the goodlyest yong
man one that euer I sawe / Thenne the kyng betook hym to sir
kay the steward / and charged hym that he shold gyue hym
of al maner of metes and drynkes of the best / and also that
he hadde al maner of fyndynge as though he were a lordes
sone / that shal lytel nede sayd syr kay to doo suche cost vpon hym
For I dare undertake he is a vylayne borne / and neuer will
make man / for and he had come of gentylmen he wold haue
axed of you hors and armour / but suche as he is so he asketh
And sythen he hath no name / I shall yeue hym a name that
shal be Beaumayns that is fayre handes / and in to the kechen
I shalle brynge hym / and there he shal haue fatte broweys
euery day þt he shall be as fatte by the twelue monethes ende
as a porke hog / ryght soo the two men departed and belefte
hym to syr kay / that scorned hym and mocked hym
THere at was sir Gawayn wroth / & in especyal sir
launcelot bad sir kay leue his mockyng / for I dare laye
my hede he shall preue a man of grete worship / lete be /
said sir kay / it may not be by no reason / for as he is / so he hath
asked / Beware said syre Launcelot / so ye gafe the good knyȝt
Brewnor syre Dynadamys broder a name / and ye called
hym la cote male tayle / and that tourned you to anger
after-
¶ And soo syre kay badde gete hym a place and sytte doune to mete / soo Beaumayns wente to the halle dore / and sette hym doune amonge boyes and laddys / & there he ete sadly / And thenne syre launcelot after mete badde hym come to his chamber / And there he shold haue mete and drynke ynough / And soo dyd syre Gawayne / but he reffused hem al / he wold doo none other / but as syr kay commaunded hym for no profer / But as touchynge syre Gawayn he hadde reson to profer hym lodgyng mete and drynke / for that profer came of his blood / for he was nere kynne to hym than he wyst But that as syre launcelot dyd was of his grete gentylnes and curtosye
¶ Soo thus he was putte in to the kechyn and laye nyghtly as the boyes of the kechen dyd / And soo he endured alle that twelue moneth / and neuer displeasyd man nor chylde / but alweyes he was meke & mylde / But euer whanne that he sawe ony Iustynge of knyghtes / that wold he see and he myght / And euer syre launcelot wold gyue hym gold to spende and clothes / and soo dyd syre Gawayne / and where there were ony maystryes done / there atte wold he be / and there myghte none cast barre nor stone to hym by two yerdys / Thenne wold syre kay saye how lyketh yow my boye of the kechyn / soo it past on tyl the feest of Whytsontyde / And at that tyme the kynge helde hit att Carlyon in the moost royallest wyse that myghte be / lyke as he dyd yerly / But the Kynge wold no mete ete vpon the whyysonday vntyl he herd some aduentures / Thenne cam ther a squyer to the Kyng / and said / syre ye maye goo to your mete / for here cometh a damoysel with somme straunge aduentures / thenne was the Kynge gladde and sette hym doune /
¶ Ryghte soo ther came a damoysel in to the halle and salewed the Kynge and prayd hym of socour / for whome sayd the Kynge what is the aduenture /
¶ Syre she sayd I haue a lady of grete worship and
renomme / and she is byseged with a tyraunte so that she may
WYth these wordes came before the kynge Beaumayns
whyle the damoysel was ther / & thus he said syr Kyng
god thanke you I haue ben this xij monethe in your kechyn
and haue hadde my ful sustenaūce and now I will aske my
two yeftes that ben behynde / Aske vpon my peryl said the
kynge / Syre this shal be my two gyftes / fyrst that ye wil
graunte me to haue this aduenture of the damoysel / for hit
belongeth vnto me / thou shalt haue hit sayd the kyng I graunte it
the / thenne syr this is the other yeft / that ye shal bydde
Launcelot du lake to make me knyȝt for of hym I wil be made
knyght and els of none / And whanne I am paste I praye yow
lete hym ryde after me and make me Knyght / whan I
requyre hym / Al this shal be done sayd the Kynge / Fy on the sayde
the damoysel / shalle I haue none but one that is your kechyn
page / thenne was she wrothe and toke her hors and departed /
And with that there cam one to Beaumayns and told hym
his hors and armour was come for hym / and there was the
dwarf come with all thyng that hym neded in the rychest
maner / ther at al the court had moche merueill from whens cam al þt
BVt there wente many after to behold how wel he was
horsed and trapped in clothe of gold / but he had
neyther shelde nor spere / Thenne syr kay sayd al open in the halle
I wylle ryde after my boye in the kechyn to wete / whether he
wylle knowe me for his better / Said syr launcelot and sir
gawayn yet abyde at home / So syr kay made hym redy and took
his hors and his spere and rode after hym / And ryghte as
Beaumayns ouertook the damoysel / ryghte soo cam syre kay &
sayd Beumayns what syre knowe ye not me / Thenne he
torned his hors / and knewe hit was sir kay / that had done hym
alle the despyte as ye haue herde afore / ye sayd beaumayns I
knowe yow for an vngentyl knyghte of the courte / and
therfore beware of me / There with syre kay putte his spere in the
reyste / and ranne streyghte vpon hym / and beaumayns cam as
fast vpon hym with his swerd in his hand / and soo he putte
awey his spere with his swerd and with a foyne thrested hym
thorou the syde / that syr kay felle doune as he had ben dede / &
he alyght doune and took sir kayes shelde and his spere / and
starte vpon his owne hors and rode his waye / Al that sawe
syr launcelot and soo dyd the damoysel / And thenne he badde
his dwarf starte vpon sir kayes hors / and soo he dyd / by that
syre Launcelot was come / thenne he profered sir laūcelot to
Iuste / and eyther made hem redy / and they came to gyder soo
fyersly that eyther bare doune other to the erthe / and sore were they
brysed / Thenne sir launcelot arose and halpe hym fro his hors
And thenne beaumayns threwe his sheld from hym / and
profered to fyghte with sir launcelot on foote / and soo they rasshed
to gyders lyke borys tracynge / rasynge and foynynge to the
IN goddes name sayd syr launcelot / for I promyse you
by the feythe of my body I had as moche to doo as I
myght to saue my self fro you vnshamed / and therfore haue
ye no doubte of none erthely knyghte / Hope ye so that I maye
ony whyle stand a proued knyght sayd Beaumayns / ye
sayd Launcelot / doo as ye haue done / and I shal be your
waraunt / Thenne I praye you sayd Beaumayns yeue me the
ordre of knyghthode / thenne must ye telle me your name seyd
launcelot / and of what kynne ye be borne / Syr soo that ye wylle
not discouer me I shal sayd Beaumayns / nay sayd syre
laūcelot / and that I promyse yow by the feithe of my body / vn tyl
hit be openly knowen / Thenne syr he sayd my name is Gareth
and broder vnto syr Gawayn of fader and moder / A syr said
Launcelot I am more gladder of you than I was / For euer
me thouȝte ye shold be of a grete blood / and that ye cam not
to the courte neyther for mete ne for drynke / And thenne sire
Launcelot gaf hym thordre of knyȝthode / and thenne sire
Gareth prayd hym for to departe and lete hym goo / Soo syre
launcelot departed from hym and came to syre kay and maade
hym to be born home vpon his shelde / and so he was helyd hard
with the lyf / and al men scorned syr kay / and in especyal sir
Gawayne and syre launcelot sayd it was not his parte to
rebuke no yong man / for ful lytel knewe he of what byrth he
is comen / and for what cause he came to this courte / and soo
we leue syr kay and torne we vnto Beaumayns / whanne he
had ouertaken the damoysel / anone she sayd what dost thow
here / thou stynkest al of the kechyn / thy clothes ben bawdy of
ANd on the morn the damoisel & he took their leue &
thanked the knyght / and soo departed / and rode on her
way / vntyl they came to a grete forest / And there was a grete
ryuer and but one passage / and ther were redy two knyghtes
on the ferther syde to lette them the passage / what saist thou
sayd the damoysel / wylt thou matche yonder knyghtes or torne
ageyne / Nay sayd syr Beaumayns I wyl not torne ageyn
and they were syxe mo / And ther with al he rasshyd in to the
water / and in myddes of the water eyther brake their speres
vpon other to their handes / and thenne they drewe their
swerdes / and smote egerly at other / And at the last syr
Beaumayns smote the other vpon the helme that his hede stonyed / and
there with alle he felle doune in the water / and there was he
drowned / And thēne he sporyd his hors vpon the londe /
where the other knyghte felle vpon hym / and brake his spere / and
soo they drewe theyr swerdes / and foughte longe to gyders
At the laste syre Beaumayns clafe his helme and his heede
doune to the sholders / and soo he rode vnto the damoysel & bad
her ryde forth on her way / Allas she sayd that euer a kechen
page shold haue that fortune to destroye suche two douȝty
knyghtes / thou wenest thou hast done doughtely that is not soo /
For the fyrste knyghte his hors stumbled / and there he was
drouned in the water / and neuer it was by thy force / nor by
thy myght / And the last knyghte by myshap thou camyst
behynde hym and myshappely thou slowe hym / Damoysel sayd
Beaumayns ye maye saye what ye wyl / but with whom
someuer I haue a doo with al I truste to god to serue hym or he
THer sat a knyghte al armed in black harneis / and
his name was þe knyȝt of the blak laūde / thēne þe
damoysel whanne she sawe that knyghte she badde hym flee doun
that valey for his hors was not sadeled / Gramercy sayd
Beaumayns / for alweyes ye wold haue me a coward / with that
the black knyghte / whanne she came nyghe hym spak / & sayd
damoysel haue ye broughte this knyghte of kynge Arthur to
be your champyon / Nay fayr knyghte sayd she / this is but a
kechyn knaue that was fedde in kynge Arthurs kechyn for
almesse / Why cometh he sayd the knyghte in suche aray / hit is
shame that he bereth you company / syr I can not be delyuerd
of hym sayd she / for with me he rydeth maugre myn hede / god
wold that ye shold put hym from me / outher to slee hym and
ye may / for he is an vnhappy knaue / and vnhappely he hath
done this day / thorou myshappe I sawe hym slee two knyghtes
at the passage of the water / and other dedes he dyde beforne
ryght merueyllous and thorou vnhappynes / that merueylled
me sayd the black knyghte that ony man that is of worshyp
wylle haue adoo with hym / they knowe hym not sayd the
damoysel / And for by cause he rydeth with me / they wene that he
THus as they rode to gyders they sawe a knyght come
dryuend by them al in grene bothe his hors & his
harneis / And whanne he came nyghe the damoysel he
asked her / is that my broder the black Knyȝte that ye haue
brought with yow / Nay nay she sayd this vnhappy kechen knaue
hath slayne your broder thorou vnhappynesse / Allas sayd the
grene knyghte that is grete pyte that soo noble a knyghte as
he was shold soo vnhappely be slayne / and namely of a
knaues hand as ye say that he is / a traytour sayd the grene
knyghte thou shalt dye for sleynge of my broder / he was a ful
noble knyghte and his name was syr Pereard / I defye the
said Beaumayns / for I lete the wete I slewe hym knyghtely
and not shamefully / There with al the grene knyghte rode
vnto an horne that was grene / and hit henge vpon a thorne / and
there he blewe thre dedely motys / and there came two damoysels
and armed hym lyghtely / And thenne he took a grete hors /
and a grene shelde and a grene spere / And thenne they ranne
to gyders with al their myghtes and brake their speres vnto
their handes / And thenne they drewe their swerdes / and gaf
many sadde strokes / and either of them wounded other ful yll
And at the last at an ouerthwart Beaumayns with his
hors strake the grene knyghtes hors vpon the syde that he felle to
the erthe / And thenne the grene knyghte auoyded his hors
lightly / and dressid hym vpon foote / That sawe Beaumayns
And there with al he alighte and they rasshed to gyders
lyke two myghty kempys a longe whyle / and sore they bledde
bothe / with that cam the damoysel / and said my lord the
grene knyghte / why for shame stande ye soo longe fyghtyng with
the kechyn knaue / Allas it is shame that euer ye were made
knyghte to see suche a ladde to matche suche a knyghte / as the
ANd euer she rebuked Beaumayns and wold not
suffre hym to sytte at her table / but as the grene knyghte
took hym and sat hym at a syde table / Merueylle me thynketh
said the grene knyght to the damoysel why ye rebuke this
noble knyghte as ye doo / for I warne you damoysel he is a full
noble knyght / and I knowe no knyght is abel to matche hym
therfor ye doo grete wrong to rebuke hym / for he shall do yow
ryght good seruyse / for what someuer he maketh hym self / ye
shalle preue at the ende that he is come of a noble blood and
of kynges lygnage / Fy fy said the damoisel it is shame for
you to saye of hym suche worship / Truly said the grene knyȝt
it were shame for me to sey of hym ony disworship / for he hath
preued hym self a better knyght than I am / yet haue I mett
with many knyghtes in my dayes / and neuer or this tyme
haue I fond no knyght his matche / and so that nyghte they
yede vnto rest / and al that nyght the grene knyght commaunded
thyrtty knyghtes pryuely to watche Beaumayns for to kepe
hym from al treason / And soo on the morne they al arose and
herd their masse and brake theyr fast / and thenne they tooke
their horses / and rode on theire waye / and the grene knyghte
conueyed hem thorou the forest / and there the grene Knyghte
said my lord Beaumayns I & these thyrtty knyghtes shall
be alweye at your somons both erly and late at your callyng
and whether that euer ye wille sende vs / it is wel said / sayd
Beaumayns / whanne that I calle vpon you / ye must yelde
you vnto kynge Arthur and all your knyghtes / yf that ye so
commaunde vs / We shal ben redy at all tymes said the grene
knyght / Fy fy vpon the in the deuyls name saide the damoysel
that ony good knyghtes shold be obedyent vnto a kechyn
knaue / Soo thenne departed the grene Knyghte and the
damoysel / And thenne she said vnto Beaumayns why folowest thou
me thou kechyn boye / caste away thy shelde and thy spere / and
flee aweye / yet I counceille the by tymes or thou shalt say
ryght soone Allas for were thou as wyȝte as euer was wade
SOo within a whyle they sawe a toure as whyte as
ony snowe wel matchecold al aboute / and doubel
dyked / And ouer the toure gate there henge a fyfty sheldes of
dyuerse colours / and vnder that toure there was a fayr medow
And therin were many knyghtes and squyers to behold
scaffoldes and pauelions / for there vpon the morn shold be a
grete turnement / and the lord of the toure was in his castel and
loked out at a wyndowe / and sawe a damoysel / a dwarf and
a knyȝt armed at al poyntes / So god me helpe said the lord
with þt knyȝt wyll I Iuste / for I see that he is a kniȝt arraūt &
soo he armed hym and horsed hym hastely / And whanne he
was on horsbak with his shelde and his spere / it was al
rede bothe his hors and his harneis / and alle that to hym
longeth / And whanne that he came nyghe hym he wende it hadde
ben his broder the black knyghte / And thenne he cryed a loude
broder what doo ye in these marches / nay nay sayd the
damoysel / it is not he / this is but a kechyn knaue that was brought
vp for almesse in kynge Arthurs courte / Neuertheles sayd
the reed knyghte I wylle speke with hym or he departe / A
sayd the damoysel this knaue hath kylled thy broder / and syre
kay named hym Beaumayns / and this hors and this
harneis was thy broders the black knyghte / Also I sawe thy
broder the grene knyghte ouercome of his handes / Now maye ye
be reuenged vpon hym / for I may neuer be quyte of hym
¶ With this eyther knyghtes departed in sondre / and they cam
to gyder with alle their myght / and eyther of their horses fell
to the erthe / and they auoyded their horses / and put their
sheldes afore them and drewe their swerdes / and either gaf other
sadde strokes / now here / now there / rasyng / tracyng / foynynge
and hurlynge lyke two bores the space of two houres / And
thenne she cryed on hyhe to the rede knyghte / Allas thou noble
¶ Thenne the reed
knyght praid hym to see his castel / and to be there al nyghte
Soo the damoysel thenne graunted hym / and there they had
mery chere / But alweyes the damoysel spak many foule
wordes vnto Beaumayns wherof the reed knyght had grete
merueylle / and alle that nyghte the reed knyghte maade thre
score knyghtes to watche Beaumayns that he shold haue no
shame nor vylony / And vpon the morne they herd masse and
dyned / and the reed knyghte came before Beaumayns with
his thre score knyghtes / and there he profered hym his
homage and feaute at al tymes he and his knyghtes to doo hym
seruyse / I thanke you said Beaumayns / but this ye shalle
graunte me / whanne I calle vpon you to come afore my lord
kynge Arthur and yelde you vnto hym to be his knyghtes /
Syr said the reed knyghte I wille be redy and my felauship
at your somons / So syr Beaumayns departed and the
damoysel and euer she rode chydynge hym in the fowlest manere /
DAmoysel said Beaumayns ye are vncurteis so to
rebuke me / as ye doo / for me semeth I haue done you
good seruyse / and euer ye threate me I shal be betyn
with knyghtes that we mete / but euer for al your boost they
lye in the dust or in the myre / and therfor I pray you rebuke
me no more / And whan ye see me beten or yolden as recreaūt
thenne may ye bydde me goo from you shamefully / but fyrste
I lete you wete I wylle not departe from you / for I were
werse than a foole and I wold departe from you all the
whyle that I wynne worship / wel said she / ryght soone ther shall
mete a knyght shal paye the alle thy wages / for he is the most
man of worship of the world excepte kyng Arthur / I will
wel said Beaumayns / the more he is of worship / the more
shalle be my worship to haue adoo with hym / Thenne anone
they were ware / where was afore them a Cyte ryche and fayre
And betwixe them and the Cyte a myle and a half there
was a fayre medowe that semed newe mowen / and therin
were many pauelions fayre to beholde / Lo said the damoysel
yonder is a lord that oweth yonder cyte / and his custome is whan
the weder is fayr to lye in this medowe to Iuste and torneye /
And euer there ben aboute hym fyue honderd knyghtes &
gentilmen of armes / and there ben alle maner of games that ony
gentylman can deuyse / That goodly lord saide Beaumayns
wold I fayne see / thou shalt see hym tyme ynough saide the
damoysel / and soo as she rode nere she aspyed the pauelione /
where he was / Loo sayd she seest thou yonder pauelione that is
al of the coloure of Inde and al maner of thynge that there
is aboute men and wymmen / and horses trapped / sheldes and
speres were all of the colour of Inde and his name is sir
persant of Inde the moost lordlyest knyghte that euer thou lokest
on / Hit may wel be said Beaumayns / but be he neuer so
stoute a knyghte in this felde / I shalle abyde tyl that I see hym
vnder his shelde / A foole said she thou were better flee by
tymes / why sayd Beaumayns and he be suche a knyghte as ye
make hym he wylle not sette vpon me with alle his men / or
with his / v / C knyghtes / For and ther come no more but one
¶ Damoysel sayd Beaumayns a knyght may lytel do that
may not suffre a damoisel / for what someuer ye said vnto me /
I took none hede to your wordes / for the more ye sayd the
more ye angryd me / and my wrathe I wrekyd vpon them that
I had adoo with al / And therfor alle the myssayenge that
ye myssayed me / fordered me in my bataill & caused me to
thynke to shewe & preue my self at the ende what I was / for
peraventur thouȝ I had mete in kyng Arthurs kechyn / yet I myȝt
haue had mete ynouȝ in other places / but alle that I dyd it
for to preue & assaye my frendes / and that shalle be knowen
WYth this sir Persant of ynde had aspyed them as they
houed in the felde / and knyȝtly he sente to them
whether he came in werre or in pees / say to thy lord said
beaumayns I take no force / but whether as hym lyst hym self / Soo
the messager went ageyne vnto syr Persaunt / and told hym
alle this ansuer / wel thenne will I haue adoo with hym to the
vtteraunce / and soo he purueyed hym and rode ageynst hym /
And Beaumayns sawe hym and made hym redy / & ther they
mette with all that euer theyr horses myght renne / and braste
their speres eyther in thre pyeces / & their horses rassed so to
gyders that bothe their horses felle dede to the erthe & lyȝtly they
auoyded their horses / and put their sheldes afore them / &
drewe their swerdes / and gaf many grete strokes that somtyme
they hurtled to gyder that they felle grouelyng on the ground
Thus they fought two houres and more that their sheldes &
theyr hauberkes were al forhewen / & in many stedys they
were wounded / So at the last syr Beaumayns smote hym
thorou the cost of the body / & thenne he retrayed hym here & there
& knyghtly mayntened his batail long tyme / And at the last
though hym lothe were Beaumayns smote sir Persant aboue
vpon the helme that he felle grouelyng to the erthe / & thenne
he lepte vpon hym ouerthwart and vnlaced his helme to
haue slayne hym / Thenne syr Persant yelded hym & asked hym
mercy / with that cam þe damoisel & praid to saue his lyf / I wil
wel / for it were pyte this noble knyȝt shold dye / gramercy
sayd Persaunt gentyl knyȝt & damoysel / For certeynly now I
ANd soo on the morne the damoysel & sir Beaumayns
herd masse & brake their fast / and soo took their leue
Fair damoysel said Persant whether ward ar ye way ledyng
this knyghte / syr she said this knyghte is goyng to the sege /
that besyegeth my syster in the castel Dangerus / A a sayd
persaunt that is the knyghte of the reed launde / the whiche is the
moost peryllous knyghte that I knowe now lyuyng / and a
man that is withouten mercy / and men sayen that he hath seuen
mens strength / god saue you said he to Beaumayns from þt
knyghte / for he doth grete wrong to that lady / and that is
grete pyte / for she is one of the fairest ladyes of the world / & me
semeth that your damoysel is her suster / is not your name
Lynet said he / ye sir said she / and my lady my susters name is
dame Lyonesse / Now shal I telle you said syr Persaunt / thys
reed knyghte of the reed laund hath layne long at the syege
wel nyghe this two yeres / and many tymes he myghte haue
had her and he had wold / but he prolongeth the tyme to thys
entent / for to haue sir laūcelot du lake to doo bataill with hym
or sir Trystram or syr Lamerak de galys / or syre Gawayne / &
this is his taryenge soo longe at the syege / Now my lord syre
Persaunt of ynde saide the damoysel Lynet I requyre you that
ye wille make this gentilman knyghte or euer he fyghte with
the reed knyghte / I will with all my herte said syr Persaunt
and it please hym to take the ordre of knyghthode of so
symple a man as I am / Sire said Beaumayns I thanke you
for your good wil / for I am better sped / for certaynly the
noble knyght sir Launcelot made me knyght / A said sir Persant
of a more renomed knyghte myghte ye not be made knyghte /
For of alle knyghtes he maye be called chyef of knyghthode / &
so all the world saith that betwixe thre knyghtes is departed
clerly knyghthode / that is laūcelot du lake / syr Trystram de
lyones and sir Lamerak de galis / these bere now the renommee /
there ben many other knyghtes as sir Palamydes the sarasyn
and sir Sasere his broder / Also sir Bleoberys and sire
Blamore de ganys his broder / Also syr Bors de Ganys & syr
Ector de marys & sir Percyuale de galis / these & many mo ben
noble kniȝtes / but ther be none þt passe þe iij aboue said / therfor god
¶ Truly thenne saide he / my name is Gareth of Orkeney and kynge Lot was my fader / & my moder is kynge Arthurs syster / her name is Dame Morgawse / and sir Gawayne is my broder / and sir Agrauayne & sir Gaheryes / and I am the yongest of hem alle / And yet wote not kyng Arthur nor sir Gawayn what I am
SOo the book saith / that the lady that was biseged had word of her systers comynge by the dwerf and a knyghte with her / and how he had passed al the perillous passages / what manere a man is he said the lady / he is a noble knyght truly madame said the dwerf and but a yong man / but he is as lykely a man as euer ye sawe ony / what is he sayd the damoysel / and of what kynne is he comen / and of whome was he made knyghte / Madame said the dwerf he is the kynges sone of Orkeney / but his name I wille not telle you as at this tyme / but wete ye wel of syre launcelot was he maade knyght / for of none other wolde he be maade knyghte / and sire kay named hym Beaumayns / how escaped he said the lady from the bretheren of Persaunt /
¶ Madame he said as a noble
knyghte shold / Fyrste he slewe two bretheren att a passage of
a water / A saide she they were good knyghtes but they were
murtherers / the one hyght Gherard de breusse / & the other
knyght hyght sir Arnolde le Brewse / thenne madame he
recountred with the black knyght / and slewe hym in playne batail
& so he toke his hors & his armour & fouȝt with the grene
knyght & wanne hym in playn bataill / & in lyke wyse he serued
the reed knyȝt / and aftir in the same wyse he serued the blewe
knyȝt & wan hym in playn batail / thēne said the lady he hath
ouercome sir Persaūt of Inde / one of the noblest knyȝtes of the
world / & þe dwerf said he hath wōne al the iiij bretherē & slayn
¶ Also pray
hym that he be of good herte & courage / for he shalle mete with
a ful noble knyghte / but he is neyther of bounte / curtosye / nor
gentylnes / for he attendyth vnto nothynge but to murther / &
that is the cause I can not prayse hym nor loue hym / So this
dwerf departed / and came to syre Persant where he fond the
damoysel lynet and syr Beaumayns / and there he tolde hem
alle as ye haue herd / and thenne they took theyr leue / but syr
Persant took an ambelyng hacney and conueyed hem on
theyr wayes / And thenne belefte hem to god / and soo within a
lytil whyle they came to that heremytage / and there they
dranke the wyne / and ete the veneson and the foules baken /
And so whan they had repasted hem wel / the dwerf retorned
ageyn with his vessel vn to the castel ageyne / and there mette
with hym the reed knyght of the reed laundes / and asked
hym from whens that he came / and where he had ben / Syr
sayd the dwerf I haue ben with my ladyes syster of this castel
and she hath ben at kynge Arthurs courte / and broughte a
knyghte with her / thenne I accompte her trauaille but loste /
For though she had broughte with her syre launcelot / sir
Trystram / syr Lamerak or syr gawayne / I wold thynke my selfe
good ynough for them all / it may well be said the dwerf / but
this knyghte hath passed alle the peryllous passages & slayn
NOo leue we the knyghte and the dwerf / and speke we
of Beaumayns that al nyȝt lay in the hermytage / &
vpon the morne he and the damoysel lynet herd their masse /
and brake their fast / And thenne they toke theyr horses / and
rode thorou oute a fair forest / and thenne they came to a
playne and sawe where were many pauelions and tentys / and a
fayr castel / and there was moche smoke and grete noyse / and
whanne they came nere the sege / syr Beaumayns aspyed
vpon grete trees as he rode / how there henge ful goodly armed
knyghtes by the neck and theire sheldes aboute theire neckys
with their swerdes / and gylt spores vpon their heles / and soo
there henge nyghe a fourty knyghtes shamefully with ful
ryche armes / Thenne sir Beaumayns abated his countenaunce &
sayd what meneth this / Fayre syre said the damoysel abate not
your chere for all this syghte / for ye must courage your self or
els ye ben al shente / for all these knyghtes came hyder to this
sege to rescowe my syster Dame lyones / and whanne the reede
knyghte of the reed laund hadde ouercome hem / he putte them
to this shameful dethe withoute mercy and pyte / And in the
same wyse he wyll serue you / but yf ye quyte you the better
Now Ihesu deffende me said Beaumayns from suche a
vylaynous dethe and shenship of armes / For rather than I sholde
so be faren with all / I wolde rather be slayn manly in playn
SYre sayd the damoysel Lynet vnto syr Beaumayns
loke ye be gladde and lyght / for yonder is your dedely
enemy / and at yonder wyndowe is my lady syster dame
Lyones / where sayd Beaumayns / yonder said the damoysel &
poynted with her fynger / that is trouthe sayd Beaumayns /
She besemeth a ferre the fayrest lady that euer I loked vpon
and truly he said I aske no better quarel than now for to do
bataylle / for truly she shalle be my lady / and for her I wylle
fyghte / And euer he loked vp to the wyndowe with gladde
countenaunce / And the lady Lyones made curtosy to hym
doune to the erthe with holdynge vp bothe their handes / Wyth
that the reed knyghte of the reed laundes callid to syr
Beaumayns / leue syr knyghte thy lokynge / and behold me I
coūceille the / for I warne the wel she is my lady / and for her I
haue done many stronge batails / Yf thou haue so done said
Beaumayns / me semeth it was but waste labour / for she loueth
none of thy felauship / and thou to loue that loueth not the / is
but grete foly / For and I vnderstode that she were not glad
of my comynge / I wold be auysed or I dyd bataille for her /
But I vnderstande by the syegyng of this castel she may
forbere thy felauship / And therfor wete thou wel thou rede
knyghte of the reed laundes / I loue her / and wille rescowe her or
els to dye / Saist thou that said the reed knyghte / me semeth /
thou oughte of reson to beware by yonder knyghtes that thow
sawest hange vpon yonder trees / Fy for shame said
Beaumayns that euer thou sholdest saye or do so euyl for in that thou
shamest thy self and knyghthode / and thou mayst be sure ther
wylle no lady loue the that knoweth thy wycked custommes
And now thou wenest that the syghte of these hanged
knyghtes shold fere me / Nay truly not so / that shameful syght
causeth me to haue courage and hardynes ageynste the more than
I wold haue had ageynst the / and thou were a wel ruled
knyght / make the redy said the reed knyghte of the reed
laūdes / and talke no lenger with me / Thenne syre Beamayns
badde the damoysel goo from hym / and thenne they putte their
speres in their reystes and came to gyders with alle their myȝt
ANd thenne thus they foughte tyl it was past none /
and neuer wold stynte tyl att the laste they lacked
wynde bothe / and thēne they stode wagyng and scateryng
pontyng / blowynge and bledynge that al that behelde them for the
moost party wepte for pyte / Soo whan they had restyd them
a whyle / they yede to bataille ageyne / tracyng racyng foynyng
as two bores / And at some tyme they toke their renne as hit
had ben two rammys & hurtled to gyders that somtyme they
felle grouelyng to the erthe / And at somtyme they were so
amased that eyther took others swerd in stede of his owne /
Thus they endured tyl euensong tyme / that there was none
that beheld them myghte knowe whether was lyke to wynne
the bataill / and their armour was so fer hewen that men myȝt
see their naked sydes / and in other places / they were naked /
but euer the naked places they dyd defende / and the rede
knyghte was a wyly knyght of werre / and his wyly fyhtyng
taughte syr Beaumayns to be wyse / but he aboughte hit fulle
sore or he dyd aspye his fyghtynge / And thus by assente of
them bothe they graunted eyther other to rest / and so they sette
THenne came ther many Erles and Barons and noble knyghtes and praid that knyghte to saue his lyf and take hym to your prysoner / And all they felle vpon their knees and prayd hym of mercy / and that he wolde saue his lyf / and syr they all sayd it were fairer of hym to take homage and feaute / and lete hym holde his landes of you than for to slee hym / by his deth ye shal haue none auauntage and his mysdedes that ben done maye not ben vndone / And therfor he shal make amendys to al partyes & we al wil become your men and doo you homage and feaute / Fayre lordes said Beaumayns / wete you wel I am ful lothe to slee this knyȝt neuertheles he hath done passyng ylle and shamefully / But in soo moche al that he dyd was at a ladyes request I blame hym the lesse / and so for your sake I wil releace hym that he shal haue his lyf vpon this couenaunt / that he goo within the castel / and yelde hym there to the lady / And yf she wil forgyue and quyte hym / I wil wel / with this he make her amendys of al the trespas he hath done ageynst her and her landes /
¶ And also whanne that is done that ye goo vnto the courte
of kyng Arthur / and there that ye aske syr Launcelot mercy / &
syr Gawayn for the euyl wil ye haue had ageynst them / sire
said the reed knyght of the reed laundes / al this wil I do as
ye commaunde / and syker assuraunce and borowes ye shal
haue / And soo thenne whan the assuraunce was made / he made
NOw torne we vnto syr Beaumayns that desyred of
Lynet that he myght see her syster his lady / Syre she
said I wold fayne ye sawe her / Thenne syr Beaumayns al
armed hym and toke his hors and his spere and rode streyȝt
vnto the castel / And whanne he cam to the gate he fond there
many men armed and pulled vp the drawe brydge / & drewe
¶ Thenne merueilled he why they wold not
suffre hym to entre / And thenne he loked vp to the wyndow
And there he sawe the fair Lyones that said on hyghe go thy
way / syr Beaumayns / for as yet thou shalt not haue holy
my loue vnto the tyme that thou be callyd one of the nombre
of the worthy knyghtes / And therfor goo laboure in worship
this twelue monethe / and thenne thou shalt here newe
tydynges / Allas faire lady said Beaumayns I haue not deserued
that ye shold shewe me this straungenes / and I had wend
that I shold haue ryght good chere with you and vnto my
power I haue deserued thanke / and wel I am sure I haue
boughte your loue with parte of the best blood within my body
Fayre curteis knyghte said Dame Lyones / be not displeasyd
nor ouer hasty / for wete you wel / your grete trauaill nor
good loue shal not be lost / for I consydre your grete trauail &
labour / your bounte and your goodenes as me oughte to doo /
And therfore goo on your wey / and loke that ye be of good
comforte for all shal be for your worship / and for the best / &
perde a twelue moneth wille soone be done / and trust me fair
knyghte I shal be true to you and neuer te bitraye you / but
to my dethe I shalle loue you / and none other / And ther with
alle she torned her from the wyndowe / and syr Beaumayns
rode awey ward from the castel makyng grete dole / and soo
he rode here and there & wyste not ne where he rode tyl hit was
derke nyghte / And thenne it happend hym to come to a poure
mans hous and there he was herborowed all that nyghte /
But syr Beaumayns hadde no rest but walowed and
wrythed for the loue of the lady of the castel / And soo vpon the
morowe he took his hors and rode vn tyl vnderne / and then̄e
he came to a brode water / and there by was a grete lodge / and
there he alyghte to slepe and leid his hede vpon the shelde / and
bitoke his hors to the dwarf / and commaunded hym to
watche al nyghte / Now torne we to the lady of the same castel /
that thoughte moche vpon Beaumayns / and thenne she called
vnto her syr Gryngamore her broder / and praid hym in al
maner as he loued her hertely that he wold ryde after syr
Beaumayns / and euer haue ye wayte vpon hym tyl ye may fynde
hym slepynge / for I am sure in his heuynes he wil alyȝt doun
¶ Syster said syre Gryngamore alle thys shalle be done after your entente / And soo he rode alle the other daye and the nyghte tylle that he fond syre Beaumayns lyenge by a water and his hede vpon his shelde for to slepe /
¶ And thenne whanne he sawe syre Beaumayns fast on slepe / he cam stylly stalkyng behynde the dwerf and plucked hym fast vnder his arme / and soo he rode aweye with hym as faste as euer he myght vnto his owne castel And this syre Gryngamors armes were alle black and that to hym longeth / But euer as he rode with the dwerf toward his castel / he cryed vnto his lord / and prayd hym for helpe / And there with awoke syre Beaumayns / and vp he lepte lyghtly / & sawe where the Gryngamor rode his waye with the dwerf / and soo syr Gryngamor rode oute of his syghte /
THenne syre Beaumayns putte on his helme anone /
and buckeled his shelde / and tooke his hors / and
rode after hym alle that euer he myghte ryde thorou
marys and feldes and grete dales / that many tymes his hors
and he plonged ouer the hede in depe myres / for he knewe not
the wey / but took the gaynest waye in that woodenes that
many tymes he was lyke to perysshe / And at the laste hym
happend to come to a fayre grene waye And there he mette with
a poure man of the countreye whom he salewed & asked hym /
¶ Truly Madame sayd Lynet vnto her syster wel maye he be a kynges sone / for he hath many good tatches on hym / for he is curteis and mylde and the moost sufferynge man that euer I mette with al / For I dar saye ther was neuer gentylwoman reulyd man in soo foule a manere / as I haue rebuked hym / And at all tymes he gafe me goodely and meke ansuers ageyne
¶ And as they sate thus
talkynge / ther came sire Gareth in at the gate with an angry
countenaunce and his swerd drawen in his hand / and cryed
aloude that alle the castel myȝt here hit sayeng thou traitour syre
ANd thenne came forth Dame Lyones arayed lyke a
pryncesse / and there she made hym passyng good chere
and he her ageyne / and they had goodely langage &
louely countenaunce to gyder / And syre Gareth thought
many tymes Ihesu wold that the lady of the castel perillous
were so fayre as she was / there were al maner of games &
playes of dauncyng and syngynge / And euer the more syre
Gareth bihelde that lady / the more he loued her / and so he brenned
in loue that he was past hym self in his reason / and forth
toward nyghte they yede vnto souper / and syre Gareth myghte
not ete for his loue was soo hote / that he wist not where he was
Alle these lokes aspyed syr Gryngamor / and thenne at after
souper he callid his syster Dame Lyones vnto a chamber / and
sayd / fair syster I haue wel aspyed your coūtenaūce betwixe
you and this knyght / And I wil syster that ye wete he is a
ful nobel knyȝt / & yf ye can make hym to abyde here I wil
do hym all the pleasyr þt I can / for & ye were better than ye ar
ye were wel bywaryd vpon hym / Fayre broder said Dame
lyones I vnderstande wel that the knyghte is good & come he
is of a noble hous / Notwithstandyng I wille assaye hym
better how be it I am moost beholdyng to hym of ony erthely mā
for he hath had grete labour for my loue / and passid many a
daungerous passage / Ryght soo syr Gryngamor wente vnto
syr Gareth and said syre make ye good chere / for ye shal haue
none other cause / for this lady my syster is yours at al tymes
her worship saued / for wete ye wel she loueth you as wel as
ye doo her and better / yf better may be / And I wist that
said syr Gareth / ther lyued not a gladder man than I wold be
Vpon my worship said syr Gryngamor trust vnto my promyse
And as long as it lyketh you ye shal soiourne with me and
this lady shal be with vs dayly and nyghtly to make yow
alle the chere that she can / I wille wel said syre Gareth / For
I haue promysed to be nyghe this countrey this twelue
moneth / And wel I am sure kynge Arthur and other noble
knyghtes wille fynde me where that I am within this twelfe
moneth / For I shal be soughte and founden yf that I be on
lyue
¶ And thenne the noble knyghte syre Gareth wente
vnto the dame Lyones whiche he thēne moche loued / & kyst her
FOr this cause to knowe the certaynte what was your name / and of what kynne ye were come / And thenne she lete fetche tofore hym Lynet the damoysel that had ryden with hym many wylsome wayes / Thenne was syre Gareth more gladder than he was to fore / And thēne they trouthplyte eche other to loue / and neuer to faylle whyles their lyfe lasteth / And soo they brente bothe in loue that they were accorded to abate their lustes secretely / And there Dame Lyones counceylled syr Gareth to slepe in none other place but in the halle / And there she promysed hym to come to his bedde a lytel afore mydnyght / This counceil was not soo pryuely kepte but it was vnderstande / for they were but yonge bothe and tendyr of age / and had not vsed none suche craftes to forne / Wherfor the damoysel Lynet was a lytel displeasyd / and she thoughte her syster Dame Lyones was a lytel ouer hasty / that she myghte not abyde the tyme of her maryage / And for sauyng their worship / she thoughte to abate their hote lustes /
¶ And so she lete ordeyne by her subtyl craftes that they had
not their ententes neyther with other as in her delytes / vntyl
they were maryed / And soo it past on / At after souper was
made clene auoydaunce / that euery lord and lady shold goo
vnto his rest / But syr Gareth said playnly he wold goo noo
ferther than the halle / for in suche places he said was conuenyent
for an arraunt knyȝt to take his rest in / and so there were
ordeyned grete couches / & theron fether beddes / & there leyde hym
doune to slepe / & within a whyle cam dame Lyones wrapped in
a mantel furred with Ermyne & leid her doun besydes syr
gareth / And there with alle he beganne to kysse her / And thenne
he loked afore hym and there he apperceuyued
RYght as she promysed she came / and she was not soo soone in his bedde / but she aspyed an armed knyghte comyng toward the bedde / there with alle she warned syr Gareth / and lyghtly thorou the good helpe of Dame Lyones he was armed / and they hurtled to gyders with grete Ire & malyce al aboute the halle / and there was grete lyght as it had ben the nombre of xx torches bothe before and behynd / soo that syr Gareth strayned hym / soo that his old wounde braste ageyne on bledyng / but he was hote and couragyous and toke no kepe / but with his grete force he stroke doune that knyghte / and voyded his helme / and strake of his hede / Thenne he hewe the hede in an honderd pyeces / And whan he had done so he took vp alle tho pyeces and threwe hem oute at a wyndow in to the dyches of the castel / and by this done / he was so faynt that vnnethes he myght stande for bledyng / And by thenne he was al most vnarmed / he felle in a dedely swoune in the flore / And thenne dame Lyones cryed soo that syr Gryngamor herd / And whan he cam and fond syr Gareth in that plyte he made grete sorou / & there he awaked sir Gareth / and gaf hym a drynke that releued hym wonderly wel / but the sorou that Dame Lyones made there maye no tonge telle / for she soo faryd with her self as she wold haue dyed /
¶ Ryghte soo cam
this damoysel Lynet before hem al / and she had fette alle the
goblets of the hede that syr Gareth had throwen out at a
wyndowe / and there she enoynted hem as she had done to fore / & set
them to gyder ageyn / wel damoisel Lynet said syre Gareth /
THenne goodely they said al at ones / god foryeue you and we do / and praye you that ye will telle vs where we may fynde syr Beaumayns / Fayre lordes said syr Ironsyde I can not telle you / for it is ful hard to fynde hym / for suche yong knyghtes as he is one / whanne they be in their aduentures ben neuer abydynge in no place /
¶ But to saye the
worship that the reed knyghte of the reed laundes and syr
persaunt and his broder said of Beaumayns / it was merueil to
here / Wel my fayre lordes said kynge Arthur / wete yow wel /
I shalle do you honour for the loue of syr Beaumayns / and
as soone as euer I mete with hym I shalle make you al
vpon one day knyghtes of the table round / And as to the syre
Persaunt of Inde thou hast ben euer called a ful noble
knyghte / and soo haue euer ben thy thre bretheren called / But I
merueil said the kyng that I here not of the black knyȝt your
SOo thenne the kyng and they wente to mete / and
were serued in the best manere / And as they satte at the
mete / ther came in the quene of Orkeney with ladyes &
knyȝtes a grete nombre / And thenne syr Gawayn / syr
Agrauayn and Gaherys arose / and wente to her / and salewed her
vpon their knees / and asked her blyssyng / For in xv yere they
had not sene her / Thenne she spak on hyghe to her broder kynge
Arthur / where haue ye done my yong sone syr Gareth / he was
here amongst you a twelue moneth / & ye made a kechyn
knaue of hym / the whiche is shame to you all / Allas where haue
ye done my dere sone that was my Ioye and blysse / O dere
moder said syr Gawayn I knewe hym not / Nor I said the
kynge that now me repenteth / but thanked be god he is preued
a worshipful knyghte as ony is now lyuyng of his yeres / &
I shal neuer be glad tyl I may fynde hym / A broder sayd
the quene vnto kyng Arthur and vnto syr Gawayne and to
alle her sones / ye dyd your self grete shame whan ye amongst
you kepte my sone in the kechyn and fedde hym lyke a poure
hog / Fayr sister said kyng Arthur ye shall ryghte wel wete /
I knewe hym not / nor nomore dyd syre Gawayn / nor his
THenne said syr Gawayne and his bretheren vnto arthur / syre and ye wyl gyue vs leue we wille go and seke oure brother / Nay said syr Launcelot that shalle ye not nede / and so said syr Bawdewyn of Bretayne / for as by oure aduys the kynge shal sende vnto dame Lyones a messager / and praye her that she wille come to the courte in alle the hast that she may / and doubte ye not she wille come / And thēne she may gyue you best coūceille where ye shal fynde hym This is wel said of you said the kyng / Soo thenne goodely letters were made / and the messager sente forth that nyghte & day he wente tyl he cam vnto the castel perillous / And thenne the lady dame Lyones was sente fore there as she was wyth syr Gryngamor her broder and syre Gareth / and whan she vnderstode this message / she badde hym ryde on his way vnto kynge Arthur / and she wold come after in al goodely hast
¶ Thenne whan she came to syr Gryngamor and to sir
Gareth she told hem al how kyng Arthur had sente for her / that
is by cause of me said syr Gareth / Now auyse me said dame
Lyones what shalle I saye and in what manere I shal rule
me / My lady and my loue said sir Gareth I pray you in no
wyse be ye aknowen where I am / but wel I wote my moder
is there and alle my bretheren / and they wille take vpon hem
to seke me / I wote wel that they doo / But this madame I
wold ye sayd and aduysed the kynge whan he questyoned
with you of me / Thenne maye ye say / this is your aduys that
and hit lyke his good grace / ye wille doo make a crye ayenst
the feest of thassumpcion of our lady that what knyghte there
preueth hym best he shal welde you and all your land / And
yf soo be that he be a wedded man that his wyf shall the degre
and a coronal of gold besette with stones of vertue to the
valewe of a thousand pound and a whyte Iarfaucon /
Soo dame Lyones departed / and came to kynge Arthur
where she was nobly receyued / and there she was sore questyoned
of the kyng and of the quene of Orkeney / And she ansuerde
where syr Gareth was she coude not telle / But thus moche she
said vnto Arthur / syre I wille lete crye a turnement that shal
be done before my castel at the Assumpcion of oure lady / and
the crye shal be this that you my lorde Arthur shalt be there / &
ANd thenne ther cam with kynge Arthur sir Gawayn
Agrauayne / Gaherys his bretheren / And thenne his
neuewes syr Vwayn le blaunche maynys / and syr Aglouale
syr Tor / sir Percyuale de galys / and syre Lamorrak de galis
Thenne came sir Launcelot du lake with his bretheren neuews
and cosyns as sir Lyonel / sir Ector de marys / syr bors de
ganys and sir Galyhodyn / syre Galihud and many moo of syre
Launcelots blood and syre Dynadan / sir la coote male tayle /
his broder a good knyghte / and sir Sagramore a good knyȝt
¶ Now leue we of these kynges and knyghtes / and lete vs speke of the grete araye that was made within the castel and aboute the castel for bothe partyes / the lady Dame Lyones ordeyned grete aray vpon her party for her noble knyghtes for al maner of lodgyng and vytaille that cam by land & by water that ther lacked no thynge for her party nor for the other but there was plente to be had for gold and syluer for kynge Arthur and his knyghtes / And thenne ther cam the herbegeours from kynge Arthur for to herberowe hym & his kynges / dukes Erles Barons and knyghtes / And thenne syr Gareth prayd dame Lyones and the reed knyghte of the reed laundes / and syr Persant and his broder / and syre Gryngamor that in no wyse ther shold none of them telle not his name and make no more of hym than of the leest knyghte that there was / for he said I wille not be knowen of neyther more ne lesse / neyther at the begynnynge neyther at the endynge
¶ Thenne Dame Lyones said vnto syr Gareth / syre I wylle lene you a rynge / but I wold pray you as ye loue me hertely lete me haue it ageyne whanne the turnement is done /
¶ For
that rynge encreaceth my beaute moche more than it is of hym
self / And the vertu of my rynge is that / that is grene it will
torne to reed / and that is reed it wil torne is lykenes to
grene / And that is blewe it wil torne in lykenes of whyte / and
that is whyte it wil torne in lykenes to blewe / and so it wil
doo of al manere of colours / Also who that bereth my rynge /
shalle lese no blood / and for grete loue I will gyue you thys
rynge / Gramercy said syr Gareth myn own lady / for this
rynge is passynge mete for me / for it wille torne al manere of
THenne syr Bryan de les yles and Grummore
grummorssum knyghtes of the Castel with syre Aglouale
and syre Tor smote doun syr Gromere Gromorson to the erth
Thenne cam in syr Carados of the dolorous toure / & syr
Turquyne knyghtes of the Castel / and there encoūtred with hem
syr Percyuale de galys & syr Launcelot de galys / that were
two bretheren / And there encountred syr Percyuale with syre
t one tyme semed grene & another
THenne whanne this was done / there was drawynge
of swerdes / And thenne there began a sore turnement
BVt by fore he was in so many colours and now he is
but in one colour that is yelowe / Now goo said kyng
Arthur vnto dyuerse heroudes and ryde aboute hym &
aspye what maner knyghte he is / for I haue speryd of many
knyghtes this day that ben vpon his party / and all saye they
knowe hym not / And so an heroude rode nyhe Gareth as he
coude / and there he sawe wryten aboute his helme in golde / This
helme is syr gareth of Orkeney / Thenne the heroude cryed as he
were wood / & many heroudes with hym / This is syre gareth
of Orkeney in the yelowe armes that by all kynges and
knyghtes of Arthurs beheld hym & awayted / & thenne they
pressyd al to beholde hym / & euer the heroudes cryed this is syre
gareth of Orkeney kyng Lots sone / and whan syr gareth
aspyed that he was discoueryd / thenne he doubled his strokes / &
smote doune syr Sagramore & his broder sir gawayn / O
broder saide sir gawayn I wende ye wolde not haue stryken me /
so whan he herd hym say so he thrang here & there / & so with
grete payne he gat out of the prees / and there he mette with his
dwerf / O boye said syr gareth thou hast begyled me foule this
day that thou kepte my rynge / Gyue it me anone ageyn that
¶ And soo lyghtely the dwerf cam ageyne vnto syr Gareth that wold ful fayne haue had a lodgyng / for he had nede to be reposed / And thenne felle there a thonder and a rayne as heuen and erthe shold goo to gyder / And syr Gareth was not a lytyl wery / for of al that day he had but lytel rest neyther his hors nor he / So this syr Gareth rode soo longe in that forest vntyl the nyghte came And euer it lyghtned and thondred as it had ben woode At the last by fortune he came to a Castel / and there he herd the waytes vpon the wallys
THenne syr Gareth rode vnto the barbycan of the castel / and praid the porter fayr to lete hym in to the castel / The porter ansuerd vngoodely ageyne / and saide thow getest no lodgyng here / Fayr syr say not soo for I am a knyȝte of kynge Arthurs / & pray the lord or the lady of this castel to gyue me herberow for the loue of kynge Arthur / Thenne the porter wente vnto the duchesse / and told her how ther was a knyghte of kyng Arthurs wold haue herberowe / lete hym in said the duchesse / for I wille see that knyghte / And for kyng Arthurs sake he shalle not be herberoules /
¶ Thenne she yode vp in to a toure ouer the gate with greete
torche lyght / whan sir Gareth sawe that torche lyghte he cryed
SOo whan they sawe that they myghte not ouercome
hym / they rode from hym / and took their counceylle to
slee his hors / and soo they cam in vpon syr gareth / and with
speres they slewe his hors / and thenne they assailled hym hard
But whan he was on foote / there was none that he raughte
but he gaf him suche a buffet that he dyd neuer recouer / So he
slewe hem by one and one tyl they were but foure / and there
they fledde / and sire gareth took a good hors that was one of
theirs and rode his waye / Thenne he rode a grete paas til that
he came to a castel and there he herd moche mornynge of
ladyes and gentylwymmen / so ther cam by hym a page / what
noyse is this said syr gareth that I here within this castel / Syre
knyghte said the page here ben within this castel thyrtty
ladyes and alle they be wydowes / For here is a knyght that
wayteth dayly vpon this castel / and his name is the broun
knyght withoute pyte / and he is the perylloust knyght that now
lyueth / And therfor sir said the page I rede you flee / Nay
said sir gareth I wille not flee though thou be aferd of hym /
And thenne the page sawe where came the broune knyghte / loo
said the page yonder he cometh / lete me dele with hym said syre
gareth / And whan eyther of other had a syghte they lete
theyr horses renne / and the broune knyghte brake his spere and
sir gareth smote hym thorou oute the body that he ouerthrewe
hym to the ground stark dede / So sir gareth rode in to the castel
& praid the ladyes þt he myȝt repose hym / allas said the ladyes
ye may not be lodged here / make hym good chere said the page
SOo the duke departed / and sir Gareth stode there alone
and there he sawe an armed knyght comyng toward
hym / Thenne syre Gareth toke the dukes shelde / and
t Arthur had wetyng of you both for
your horses are soo brysed that they may not bere / Now faire
damoysel said syr Gawayne / I praye you ryde vnto my lord myn
vnkel kynge Arthur / and telle hym what aduenture is to me
betyd here / and I suppose he wille not tary long / Thenne she
tooke her meule and lyghtly she came to kynge Arthur / that
was but two myle thens / And whan she had told hym
tydynges the kynge bad gete hym a palfroy /
¶ And whan he was
vpon his bak he badde the lordes and ladyes come after who
ANd amonge alle these ladyes she was named the
fayrest and pyereles / Thenne whanne syr Gawayn sawe
her / there was many a goodely loke and goodely wordes that
alle men of worship had ioye to beholde them / Thenne cam
kynge Arthur and many other kynges and dame Gweneuer &
the quene of Orkeney / And there the kyng asked his neuew
syre Gareth whether he wold haue that lady as peramour or
to haue her to his wyf / My lord wete yow wel that I loue
her aboue al ladyes lyuynge / Now fayre lady said kyng
Arthur what say ye / Moost noble kynge said dame Lyones wete
yow wel that my lord syr Gareth is to me more leuer to haue
and welde as my husband than ony kyng or prynce that is
crystened / and yf I maye not haue hym I promyse yow I
wylle neuer haue none / For my lord Arthur sayd dame
Lyones wete ye wel he is my fyrst loue and he shal be the laste /
And yf ye wil suffre hym to haue his wyl and free choyse I
dare saye he wylle haue me / That is trouthe said syr Gareth /
And I haue not you and weld not you as my wyf / there
shal neuer lady ne gentylwoman reioyce me / What neuewe
said the kynge is the wynde in that dore / for wete ye wel I
wold not for the stynte of my croune to be causar to
withdrawe your hertes / And wete ye wel ye con not loue so wel but
I shal rather encrease hit than dystresse hit / And also ye shal
haue my loue and my lordship in the vttermest wyse that may
lye in my power / And in the same wyse said sir Gareths
moder / thenne there was made a prouysyon for the day of
maryge / and by the kynges aduyse it was prouyded that it shold
be at Mychelmas folowyng at kynkenadon by the see syde / for
ther is plentyful countrey / And soo it was cryed in al the
places thurgh the royamme / And thenne syr Gareth sent his
somones to alle these knyghtes and ladyes that he had
wonnen in batail to fore that they shold be at his day of maryage
at kynkenadon by the sandys / And thenne dame Lyones and
the damoysel Lynet with syr Gryngamor rode to theire castel /
and a goodely and a ryche rynge she gaf to syr Gareth / and
he gaf her another / And kyng Arthur gaf her a ryche bee of
SOo hit drewe faste to Mychelmas / and thyder came
dame Lyones the lady of the castel peryllous and her
syster dame Lynet with syre gryngamor her broder with hem /
For he had the conduyte of these ladyes / And there they were
lodged at the deuyse of kyng Arthur / And vpon mychelmas
day the Bisshop of Caunterbury made the weddyng betwixe
syr gareth and the lady Lyones with grete solempnyte / and
kyng Arthur made gaherys to wedde the damoysel saueage /
that was dame Lynet / and kyng Arthur made syr
Agrauayne to wedde dame Lyones nees a fayr lady / her name was
dame Laurel / And so whan this solemnacion was done /
thenne came in the grene knyghte syr Pertylope with thyrtty
knyghtes / and there he dyd homage and feaute to syr gareth and
these knyghtes to hold of hym fro euermore / Also sir
Pertilope said I pray you that at this feest I maye be your
chamberlayne / with a good wil said syr gareth / syth it lyketh you
to take soo symple on offyce / Thenne come in the reed knyghte
with thre score knyghtes with hym / and dyde to syr Gareth
homage and feaute / and alle tho knyghtes to hold of hym
for euermore / And thenne this syr Perymonyes praide sir
gareth to graunte hym to be his chyef botteler at that hyghe feest
I wil wel saide sir gareth that ye haue this offyce and it
were better / Thenne came in syr Persant of Inde with an C
knyghtes with hym / and there he dyd homage and feaute / and
¶ Also there was grete iustes thre
dayes / But the kynge wold not suffre syre Gareth to Iuste by
cause of his newe bryde / for as the fresshe book sayth that
dame Lyones desyred of the kynge that none that were wedded
shold Iuste at that feest / Soo the fyrst day there Iusted sir
lamerak de galys / for he ouerthrewe thyrtty knyghtes / & did
passyng merueillously dedes of armes / and thenne kyng Arthur
made syr Persuant and his two bretheren knyghtes of the
round table to their lyues ende / and gaf hem grete londes / Also
the second daye there Iusted Trystram best / and he ouerthrew
fourty knyghtes / and dyd there merueillous dedes of armes
And there kynge Arthur made Ironsyde that was the reed
knyghte of the reed laundes a knyghte of the table round to
Hit was a kyng that hyghte Melyodas / and he was lord and kynge of the countre of Lyonas And this Melyodas was a lykely knyght as ony was that tyme lyuynge / And by fortune he wedded kynge Markys syster of Cornewaille / And she was called Elyzabeth that was callyd bothe good and fair And at that tyme kynge Arthur regned / and he was hole kynge of Englond / walys and Scotland & of many other royammes how be it there were many kynges that were lordes of many countreyes / but alle they held their landes of kyng Arthur / for in walys were two kynges / and in the north were many kynges / And in Cornewail and in the west were two kynges /
¶ Also in Irland were two or thre kynges
and al were vnder the obeissaunce of kyng Arthur / So was
the kynge of Fraunce and the kyng of Bretayn and all the
lordshippes vnto Rome / So whan this kyng Melyodas hadde
ben with his wyf / within a whyle she waxid grete with child
and she was a ful meke lady / and wel she loued her lord / &
he her ageyne / soo there was grete ioye betwixe them / Thenne
ther was a lady in that countrey that had loued kynge
Melyodas longe / And by no meane she neuer coude gete his loue
therfore she lete ordeyne vpon a day as kynge Melyodas rode
on huntynge / for he was a grete chacer / and there by an
enchauntement she made hym chace an herte by hym self alone / til
that he came to an old Castel / and there anone he was taken
prysoner by the lady that hym loued / Whanne Elyzabeth kyng
Melyodas myst her lord / and she was nyghe oute of her wytte
and also as grete with child as she was she took a
gentylwoman with her / and ranne in to the forest to seke her lord /
And whanne she was ferre in the forest she myghte no ferther
for she byganne to trauaille fast of her child / And she had
many grymly throwes / her gentylwoman halp her alle that she
myghte / And soo by myracle of oure lady of heuen she was
delyuerd with grete paynes / But she had taken suche cold for
the defaute of helpe that depe draughtes of deth toke her / that
nedes she must dye and departe oute of this world / ther was
¶ And whan they sawe that she was dede / and vnderstood none other but the kynge was destroyed /
THenne certayne of them wold haue slayne the child /
by cause they wold haue ben lordes of the countrey of
Lyonas / But thenne thorou the faire speche of the
gentylwoman / and by the meanes that she made / the moost party of the
Barons wold not assente ther to / And thenne they lete cary
home the dede quene / and moche dole was made for her / Thenne
this meane whyle Merlyn delyuerd kynge Melyodas out of
pryson on the morne after his quene was dede / And so when
the kynge was come home / the moost party of the barons
made grete ioye / But the sorou that the kyng made for his quene
that myghte no tong telle
Soo thenne the kynge lete entere her rychely and after he
lete crystene his child as his wyf commaunded afore her
¶ Thenne the kynge Melyodas endured seuen yeres without a wyf / And alle this tyme Trystram was nourysshed wel /
¶ Thenne hit befelle that kynge Melyodas wedded kynge Howles doughter of Bretayne / and anone she hadde children of kynge Melyodas / thenne was she heuy and wrothe / that her children shold not reioyce the Countrey of Lyones / wherfor this quene ordeyned for to poysone yong Tristram / So she lete poyson be put in a pyece of syluer in the chamber where as Trystram and her children were to gyders / Vnto that entente that whanne Trystram were thursty he shold drynke that drynke / And so hit felle vpon a daye the quenes sone as he was in that chamber / aspyed the pyece with poyson / and he wende hit hadde ben good drynke / and by cause the child was thursty he tooke the pyece with poyson and dranke frely / and there with al sodenly the child brast & was dede / whanne the quene Melyodas wyst of the dethe of her sone wete ye wel that she was heuy / But yet the kyng vnderstode no thynge of her treason /
¶ Not withstandynge the quene wold not leue this / but efte she lete ordeyne more poyson / and putte hit in a pyece / And by fortune kyng Melyodas her husband fond the pyece with wyn where was the poyson / and he that was moche thursty took the pyece for to drynke ther oute And as he wold haue dronken therof / the Quene aspyed hym / and thenne she ranne vnto hym / and pulled the pyece from hym sodenly
¶ The kyng merueilled why
she dyd soo / and remembyrd hym how her sone was sodenly
slayne with poyson / And thenne he took her by the hand and
sayd / thou fals traitresse thou shalte telle me what manere of
drynke this is / or els I shalle slee the / And ther with he
pulled oute his swerd / and sware a grete othe that he shold slee
her / but yf she told hym trouthe / A mercy my lord sayd she /
and I shalle telle you alle / And thenne she told hym why
she wold haue slayne Trystram / by cause her chyldren shold
reioyced his land / wel said the kyng Melyodas / and therfor shal
ye haue the lawe / And soo she was dampned by the assente
of the Barons to be brent / and thenne was ther made a grete
fyre / & ryght as she was at the fyre to take he execucion / yong
¶ Thenne saide yonge Trystram gyue me the lyf of thy quene my stepmoder / That is vnryghtfully asked said kyng Melyodas / for thou oughte of ryght to hate her / for she wold haue slayne the with that poyson and she myghte haue hadde her wille / And for thy sake moost is my cause that she sholde dye Syr saide Trystram as for that I byseche you of your mercy that ye wille forgyue hit her / And as for my parte god forgyue it her and I doo / and soo moche it lyked your hyhenes to graunte me my bone / for goddes loue I requyre you hold your promyse / Sythen hit is soo said the kynge I wille that ye haue her lyf / thenne said the kynge I gyue her to you / and go ye to the fyre and take her / and doo with her what ye wylle / Soo syre Trystram wente to the fyre / and by the commaundement of the kyng delyuerd her from the dethe / But after that kynge Melyodas wold neuer haue adoo with her as at bedde and borde / But by the good meanes of yong Trystram he made the kynge and her accorded / But thenne the kynge wold not suffre yonge Trystram to abyde no lenger in his courte
ANd thenne he lete ordeyne a gentylman that was wel lerned and taughte / his name was gouernayle / and thenne he sente yonge Trystram with Gouernayle in to Fraunce to lerne the langage / and nurture / and dedes of armes / And there was Trystram more than seuen yeres /
¶ And thenne whanne he wel couthe speke the langage and
hadde lerned alle that he myght lerne in that countreyes /
thenne he came home to his fader kynge Melyodas ageyne / and so
Trystram lerned to be an harper passynge alle other that there
was none suche called in no countrey / and soo in harpynge &
on Instrumentys of musyke he applyed hym in his yongthe
for to lerne / And after as he growed in myght and strengthe
he laboured euer in huntynge and in haukynge soo that neuer
¶ And as the book sayth / he beganne good mesures of blowyng of beestes of venery and beestes of chace / and alle manere of vermayns / and alle these termes we haue yet of haukyng and huntyng And therfore the book of venery / of haukynge and huntynge is called the book of syr Trystram / Wherfor as me semeth alle gentylmen that beren old armes oughte of ryght to honoure syre Trystram for the goodly termes that gentilmen haue and vse / and shalle to the daye of dome / that there by in a maner alle men of worship maye disseuer a gentylman fro a yoman / and from a yoman a vylayne / For he that gentyl is wylle drawe hym vnto gentil tatches / and to folowe the custommes of noble gentylmen
¶ Thus syr Trystram endured in Cornewaile vntyl he was bygge / and stronge / of the age of xviij yeres / And thenne the kynge Melyodas had grete ioye of syr Trystram / and soo had the quene his wyfe / For euer after in her lyf by cause syre Trystram saued her from the fyre she dyd neuer hate hym more after / but loued hym euer after / and gaf Trystram many grete yeftes for euery estate loued hym / where that he wente
THenne it befelle that kynge Anguysshe of Irland / sente vnto kynge Marke of Cornewaile for his truage that Cornewaile had payed many wynters / And alle that tyme kynge Marke was behynde of the truage for seuen yeres / And kyng Marke and his Barons gaf vnto the messager of Irland these wordes and ansuere that they wold none paye / and bad the messagyer goo vnto his Kynge Anguysshe / and telle hym we wille paye hym no truage / but telle youre lord / and he wille alweyes haue truage of vs of Cornewaile / bydde hym sende a trusty knyghte of his land / that wille fyghte for his ryght / and we shalle fynde another for to defende oure ryght / With this ansuer the messagers departed in to Irland /
¶ And whanne kynge Anguysh
vnderstood the ansuere of the messagers / he was wonderly wroth
¶ Thenne the kynge sayd thus / Fayre broder sir Marhaus I praye yow goo in to Cornewaile for my sake and do bataille for our truage that of ryght we oughte to haue / and what someuer ye spende ye shalle haue suffyciently more than ye shal nede / Syre saide Marhaus wete ye wel that I shalle not be lothe to doo bataille in the ryght of you and your land with the best knyght of the table rounde / for I knowe them for the moost party what ben theire dedes / and for to auaunce my dedes and to encreace my worship I wylle ryght gladly goo vnto this iourneye for our ryghte
¶ Soo in alle haste there was made purueaunce for syr marhaus / and he hadde al thynge that to hym neded / and soo he departed out of Irland / and arryued vp in Cornewaile euen fast by the castel of Tyntagil / And whan kynge Marke vnderstood that he was there arryued to fyghte for Irland /
¶ Thenne made kynge marke grete sorou whan he vnderstood that the good and noble knyghte sire Marhaus was come / For they knewe no knyght that durste haue adoo with hym / For at that tyme syre Marhaus was called one of the famosest and renoumed knyghtes of the world
¶ And thus syre Marhaus abode in the see / and euery daye he sente vnto kynge Marke for to paye the truage that was behynde of seuenyere / outher els to fynde a knyght to fyghte with hym for the truage / This maner of message syre Marhaus sente dayly vnto kynge Marke /
¶ Thenne they of Cornewayle lete make cryes in euery place that what knyght wold fyghte for to saue the truage of Cornewaile he sholde be rewarded soo that he sholde fare the better terme of hys lyf /
¶ Thenne some of the Barons sayde to kynge Marke / and counceiled hym to sende to the courte of Kynge Arthur for to seke syre Launcelot du lake that was that tyme named for the merueilloust Knyght of alle the worlde /
¶ Thenne there were somme other Barons that counceylled
the Kynge not to doo soo & said that it was laboure in vayn /
¶ This meane whyle came the langage and the noyse vnto kynge Meliodas hou that sire Marhaus abode bataille faste by Tyntagil / And how kyng Marke couthe fynde no maner knyghte to fyghte for hym / Whan yong Trystram herd of thys / he was wrothe and sore ashamed that ther durst no knyghte in Cornewaile haue adoo with syr Marhaus of Irland /
THere with al Trystram wente vnto his fader Kynge Meliodas and asked hym counceil what was best to doo for to recouer Cornewaile from truage / For as me semeth said sir Tristram it were shame that syr Marhaus the quenes broder of Irland shold goo aweye onles that he were foughten with alle
¶ As for that said kyng Meliodas wete you wel sone Tristram that syre Marhaus is called one of the best knyghtes of the world and knyghte of the table round / And therfore I knowe no knyghte in this countre that is able to matche with hym /
¶ Allas saide syre Tristram that I am not made knyght / And yf sir Marhaus shold thus departe in to Irland / god lete me neuer haue worship and I were made knyght I shold matche hym / And syr said Trystram I pray you gyue me leue to ryde to kynge Mark / and soo ye be not displeasyd / of kynge Marke wille I be made Knyght / I wille wel saide kyng Meliodas that ye be ruled as your courage wille rule you
¶ Thenne sir Trystram thanked his fader moche / And thenne he made hym redy to ryde in to Cornewaile /
¶ In the meane
whyle there came a messager with letters of loue fro kynge
Faramon of Fraunces doughter vnto syre Trystram that
were ful pyteous letters & in them were wryten many
complayntes of loue / but syre Tristram had no Ioye of her letters nor
¶ And thenne the same squyer that broughte the letter and the brachet came ageyne vnto syr Trystram / as after ye shalle here in the tale
¶ Soo this yonge syre Trystram rode vnto his eme kynge Marke of Cornewayle /
¶ And whanne he came there / he herd say that ther wold no knyghte fyghte with syre Marhaus / Thenne yede sir Tristram vnto his eme and sayd / syre yf ye wylle gyue me thordre of knyghthode / I wille doo bataille with syr Marhaus / What are ye said the kynge and from whens be ye comen / Sir said Trystram I come fro kynge Melyodas that wedded your syster and a gentylman wete ye wel I am
¶ Kynge Marke behelde sir Trystram and sawe that he was but a yonge man of age / but he was passyngly wel maade and bygge /
¶ Faire syre said the kynge what is youre name and where were ye borne / Syre sayd he ageyne / my name is Trystram / and in the countreye of Lyones was I borne / Ye saye wel said the kynge / and yf ye wille doo this batayll I shalle make yow knyghte / Therfore I come to you sayd syre Trystram and for none other cause
¶ But thenne kynge Marke made hym knyghte / And there with al anone as he had made hym knyght he sente a messager vnto syre Marhaus with letters that said / that he hadde fonde a yonge knyghte redy for to take the bataile to the vttermest / hit may wel be said syre Marhaus /
¶ But telle kynge Marke I wille not fyghte with no knyghte but he be of blood royal / that is to saye outher kynges sone outher quenes sone borne of a prynce or pryncesse /
¶ Whanne Kynge Marke vnderstood that / he sente for syre Trystram de lyones and tolde hym what was the ansuer of syr Marhaus /
¶ Thenne sayd syre Trystram sythen that he seyth soo / lete hym wete that I am comen of fader syde and moder syde of as noble blood as he is /
¶ For syre now shalle ye
knowe that I am kynge Melyodas sone borne of youre own
syster dame Elyzabeth that dyed in the forest in the byrthe of
me / O Ihesu said kynge Mark ye are welcome faire neuewe
¶ Thenne in alle the haste the kynge lete horse syr Tristram and arme hym in the best maner that myghte be had or goten for gold or syluer /
¶ And thenne kynge Marke sente vnto sir Marhaus / and dyd hym to wete that a better born mā than he was hym self shold fyghte with hym / and his name is sir Trystram de lyonas goten of kynge Melyodas / and borne of kynge Markes syster / Thenne was sir Marhaus glad and blythe that he shold fyghte with suche a gentylman / and soo by the assente of kynge Mark and of syr Marhaus they lete ordeyne that they shold fyghte within an Iland nyghe syr Marhaus shyppes / and soo was syr Trystram putte in to a vessel both his hors and he and all that to hym longed bothe for his body and for his hors / Syre Trystram lacked no thynge / And whan kynge Marke and his Barons of Cornewaile beheld how yonge syr Trystram departed with suche a caryage to fyghte for the ryghte of Cornewaile / there was neyther man ne woman of worship but they wepte to see and vnderstande soo yonge a knyght to Ieoparde hym self for their ryghte /
SOo to shorten this tale whan syr Trystram was
arryued within the Iland / he loked to the ferther syde / &
there he sawe at an anker syxe shippes nyghe to the land / and
vnder the shadowe of the shippes vpon the land / there houed
the noble knyghte syr Marhaus of Irland / Thenne syr
Trystram commaunded his seruaunt gouernail to brynge his hors
to the land and dresse his harneis at al manere of ryghtes /
And thenne whan he had soo done / he mounted vpon his hors
And whan he was in his sadel wel apparailled / & his shelde
dressid vpon his sholder / Trystram asked Gouernayle where
is this knyghte that I shal haue adoo with alle / Syre sayd
Gouernaile / see ye hym not / I wende ye had sene hym yonder
he houeth vnder the vmbre of his shippes on horsbak with his
spere in his hand and his sheld vpon his sholder / That is
trouthe sayd the noble knyghte syre Trystram now I see hym
wel ynouȝ Thenne he commaunded his seruaunt Gouernayle
ANd thenne syr Marhaus auysed syr Trystram and
said thus / yonge knyght syr Trystram what dost thou
here / me sore repenteth of thy courage / for wete thou wel I haue
ben assayed / and the best knyghtes of this land haue ben
assayed of my hand / And also I haue matched with the best
knyghtes of the world / and therfor by my counceille retorne
ageyne vnto thy vessaile / And faire knyght and wel preued
knyght said syre Trystram thou shalt wel wete I maye not
forsake the in this quarel / for I am for thy sake made knyght
And thou shalt wel wete that I am a kynges sone born and
goten vpon a quene / and suche promyse I haue made att my
neuews request and myn owne sekyng that I shalle fyghte
with the vnto the vttermest / and delyuer Cornewaile from
the old truage / And also wete thou wel syr Marhaus / that
this is the grettest cause that thou couragest me to haue adoo
with the / For thou art called one of the moost renoumed
knyghtes of the world / and by cause of that noyse and same /
that thou hast / thou gyuest me courage to haue adoo with the /
for neuer yet was I preued with good knyghte / And
sythen I toke the ordre of knyghthode this day / I am wel
pleasyd that I maye haue adoo with so good a knyght as thou
arte / And now wete thou wel syr Marhaus that I caste me
to gete worship on thy body / And yf that I be not preued / I
trust to god that I shal be worshipfully preued vpon thy
body / and to delyuer the countrey of Cornewaile for euer fro al
ANon sir Marhaus and his felauship departed in to Irland / And as soone as he came to the kynge his broder / he lete serche his woundes /
¶ And whan his hede was serched / a pyece of syre Trystrams swerd was founden therin / and myghte neuer be had oute of his hede for no surgeons / and soo he dyed of syr Trystrams swerd / and that pyece of the swerd the quene his syster kepte hit for euer wyth her / for she thoughte to be reuengyd and she myghte /
¶ Now
torne we ageyne vnto syr Trystram that was sore wounded /
and ful sore bled that he myȝt not within a lytel whyle when
he had take cold vnnethe stere hym of his lymmes / and
thēne he sette hym doune softely vpon a lytel hylle / and bledde
fast / Thenne anone came Gouernaile his man with his vessel
And the kynge and his barons came with procession ageynst
hym / And whan he was come vnto the land / Kynge Marke
toke hym in his armes / and the kynge and sir Dynas the
senescal ladde syr Tristram in to the castel of Tyntygail / And
thenne was he serched in the best maner / and leid in his bedde /
And whan kynge Marke sawe his woundes / he wepte hertely
and soo dyd alle his lordes / So god me help said kyng Mark
I wolde not for alle my landes that my neuewe dyed / Soo
syr Trystram laye there a moneth and more / and euer he was
lyke to deye of that stroke that sir Marhaus smote hym fyrst
with the spere / For as the Frensshe book saith / the speres hede
was enuenymed that syr Trystram myghte not be hole /
Thenne was kynge Mark and alle his barons passynge heuy / For
they demed none other / but that syr Trystram shold not
recouer / Thenne the kynge lete sende after alle manere of leches &
surgens bothe vnto men and wymmen / and there was none /
that wold behote hym the lyf / Thenne came there a lady that
was a ryght wyse lady / & she said playnly vnto kyng mark
and to sir Trystram and to alle his barons that he shold neuer
¶ And whan it was told the Kyng and the quene of suche a Knyght that was suche an harper / anone the Kyng sente for hym / and lete serche his woundes / and thenne asked hym his name / then he ansuerd I am of the countrey of Lyonas / & my name is Tramtryst that thus was wounded in a bataille as I fought for a ladyes ryght / So god me help said kyng Anguysshe ye shal haue al the helpe in this land that ye may haue here / But I lete you wete in Cornewaile I had a grete losse / as euer hadde kynge / for there I lost the best knyghte of the world / his name was Marhaus a ful noble knyghte and Knyght of the table round / and there he told syr Trystrā wherefore syr Marhaus was slayne / Syr Trystram made semblaunt as he had ben sory / and better knewe he how hit was than the kynge
THenne the kynge for grete fauoure maade Tramtryst
to be put in his doughters ward and kepyng by
cause she was a noble surgeon / And whan she had serched hym /
she fond in the bottome of his wound that therin was poyson /
And soo she heled hym within a whyle / and therfore Tramtrist
cast grete loue to la beale Isoud / for she was at that tyme the
fairest mayde and lady of the worlde / And there Tramtryst
lerned her to harpe / and she beganne to haue grete fantasye
vnto hym / And at that tyme sir Palamydes the sarasyn was
in that countrey and wel cherysshed with the kynge and the
¶ Thenne cam kynge Anguysshe vnto Tramtryst / and asked hym why he wold not Iuste / Syr he said I was but late hurte / and as yet I dare not auenture me /
¶ Thenne came there the same squyer that was sente from the kynges doughter of Fraunce / vnto syr Trystram / And whanne he had aspyed syre Tristrā he felle flat to his feete / Alle that aspyed la Bele Isoud / what curtosye the squyer made vnto syr Trystram / And therwith al sodenly syr Trystram ranne vnto his squyer whos name was Heles le renoumes / and praid hym hertely in noo wyse to telle his name / Syr said Heles I wille not discouer your name / but yf ye commaunde me
THenne syr Trystram asked hym what de dyd in those countreyes / syr he sayd / I came hyder with syr Gawayn for to be made knyght / And yf it please you of your handes that I may be made knyghte / Awaite vpon me as to morn secretely / and in the feld I shal make you a knyght / Thenne had la beale Isoud grete suspecyon vnto Tramtryst that he was somme man of worship proued / and ther with she comforted her self / and cast more loue vnto hym than she had done tofore
¶ And soo on the morne syr Palamydes maade hym redy to come in to the feld as he dyd the fyrst day / And there he smote doune the kynge with the C knyghtes and the kynge of Scottes /
¶ Thenne had la beale Isoud ordeyned
and wel arayed syr Trystram in whyte hors and harneis /
And ryght soo she lete putte hym oute at a preuy posterne / &
soo he came in to the feld as it had ben a bryght angel / And
anone syr Palamydes aspyed hym / and ther with he feutrid
a spere vnto syr Tramtrist / and he ageyne vnto hym / And
¶ Now promyse me this or here shalt thou dye / Allas saide Palamydes for euer I am ashamed /
¶ Thenne he sware as syr Trystram hadde commaunded
hym / Thenne for despyte and anger / syre Palamydes cutte of
his harneis / and threwe them aweye / And soo syr Trystram
torned ageyne to the Castel where was la beale Isoud / and
by the weye he mette with a damoysel that asked after syre
launcelot that wanne the dolorous gard worshipfully / & this
damoysel asked sire Tristram what he was / For it was tolde
her that it was he that smote doune syr Palamydes / by whom
the x knyghtes of kynge Arthurs were smyten doune /
THus was sir Tramtryst longe there wel cherysshed /
with the kynge and the quene / and namely with la
beale Isoud / So vpon a daye / the quene and la beale
Isoud made a bayne for syre Tramtryst / And whan he was
in his bayne / the quene and Isoud her doughter romed vp &
doune in the chamber / and there whyles Gouernail and
Heles attendyd vpon Tramtryst / & the quene beheld his swerd
there as it laye vpon his bedde / And thēne by vnhap the
quene drewe oute his swerd / and beheld it a longe whyle / and
bothe they thoughte it a passynge fayre swerd / but within a
foote and an half of the poynte there was a grete pyece there
of oute broken of the edge / And whan the quene aspyed that
gap in the swerd / she remembryd her of a pyece of a swerd /
that was foūde in the brayne pan of syre Marhaus the good
knyght that was her broder / Allas thenne said she vnto her
doughter la beale Isoud / this is the same traytour knyghte
that slewe my broder thyn eme / Whanne Isoud herd her saye
¶ But I charge you said the kyng to the quene that ye haue not ado with that knyght / but lete me dele with hym / Thenne the kynge went in to the chambre vnto syr Tramtryst / and thenne was he gone vnto his chambre / and the kynge fond hym al redy armed to mounte vpon his hors / Whanne the kynge sawe hym al redy armed to goo vnto horsbak / the kynge said nay Tramtryst hit wille not auaile to compare the ageynst me / But thus moche I shalle doo for my worship and for thy loue in soo moch as thou arte within my courte / hit were no worship for me to slee the / Therfore vpon this condycyon I wille gyue the leue for to departe from this courte in saufte / so thou wilt telle me who was thy fader / and what is thy name / and yf thou slewe syr Marhaus my broder
SYr said Trystram now I shalle telle you alle the
trouthe / my faders name is sir Melyodas kynge of
Lyonas / & my moder hyȝt Elyzabeth that was sister vnto
kynge Marke of Cornewaile / & my moder dyed of me in the
foreste / And by cause therof she commaunded or she dyed that
whan I were crystened / they shold crystene me
¶ With more I promyse you as I am true knyȝt that in all places I shal be my lady your douȝters seruaunt / & knyȝt in ryght & in wrong / & I shal neuer fayle her to doo as moche as a knyght maye doo
¶ Also I byseche your good grace that I may take my leue at my lady your doughter and at alle the Barons and knyghtes / I wille wel said the kynge /
¶ Thenne sire Tristram
wente vnto la beale Isoud / and tooke his leue of her / And
thenne he tolde her all what he was and how he had chaunged
his name by cause he wold not be knowen / & hou a lady told
hym he þt shold neuer be hole tyl he cam in to this coūtrey where
SOo sir Tristram departed and toke the see / & with good wynde he aryued vp at Tyntagyl in Cornewaile / & whan kyng Mark was hole in his prosperite ther cam tydynges that sir Tristram was arryued and hole of his woundes / therof was kynge marke passyng glad / & soo were alle the barons / & whan he sawe his tyme he rode vnto his fader kyng melyodas / & there he had al the chere that the kyng & the quene coude make hym / And thenne largely Kyng Melyodas and his quene departed of their landes and goodes to sire Trystram /
¶ Thenne by the lycence of Kyng
¶ Thenne kynge Mark vnderstood that and was Ialous / for kyng Marke loued her passyngly wel / Soo it felle vpon a day / this lady sent a dwerf vnto sir Tristram and badde hym as he loued her / that he wold be with her the nyȝt nexte folowynge / Also she charged you that ye come not to her but yf ye be wel armed / for her lord was called a good knyghte
¶ Syre Trystram answerd to the dwerf / recommaunde me vnto my lady / and telle her I wille not fayle but I wille be with her the terme that she hath sette me / and with this ansuer the dwerf departed / And kynge Marke aspyed that the dwerfe was with syre Trystram vpon message from Segwarydes wyf / thenne kyng Marke sent for the dwerfe / And whanne he was comen / he maade the dwerf by force to telle hym alle why and wherfore that he came on message from sire Tristram
¶ Now said kynge Marke goo where thou wolt / and vpon payne of dethe that thou saye no word that thou spakest with me / soo the dwerf departed from the kynge /
¶ And that same nyghte that the steuen was sette betwixt Segwarydes wyfe & syr Trystram kynge Marke armed hym / and made hym redy and took two knyghtes of his counceylle with hym / and soo he rode afore for to abyde by the waye / for to awayte vpon sir Trystram /
¶ And as sire Trystram came rydynge vpon hys
waye with his spere in his hand / kynge Marke came
hurtlynge vpon hym with his two knyghtes sodenly / And alle
thre smote hym with theyre speres / and kynge Marke hurte
syre Trystram on the brest ryght sore / And thenne syre
Tristram feutryd his spere / and smote his vnkel kynge Marke
soo sore that he rasshyd hym to the erthe / and brysed hym that
he laye stylle in a swoune / and longe hit was or euer
ANd there she welcomed hym fayre / and eyther halsed other in armes / and soo she lete putte vp his hors in the best wyse / and thenne she vnarmed hym / And soo they souped lyghtely and wente to bedde with grete ioye and plesaunce / and soo in his ragyng he took no kepe of his grene wound that kynge Marke had gyuen hym / And soo syr Tristram bebled both the ouer shete and the nether & pelowes / and hede shete / and within a whyle ther came one afore that warned her that her lord was nere hand within a bowe draughte Soo she made sir Trystram to aryse / and soo he armed hym / and tooke his hors and so departed / By thenne was come segwarydes her lord / and whan he fond her bedde troubled & broken and wente nere and beheld it by candel lyghte / thenne he sawe that there had layne a wounded knyght / A fals traitresse thenne he said / why hast thou bitrayed me / and there with alle he swange oute a swerd and said / but yf thou telle me who hath ben here / here thou shalt dye / A my lord mercy sayd the lady / and helde vp her handes / sayeng / slee me not / and I shall telle you alle who hath ben here / Telle anone said segwarydes to me alle the trouthe / Anone for drede she saide here was sir Trystram with me / and by the way as he came to me ward / he was sore wounded / A fals traitresse said segwarides where is he become / sir she said he is armed and departed on hors bak not yet hens half a myle / ye saye wel said segwarydes thenne he armed hym lyghtly / and gate his hors and rode after syre Tristram that rode streyght waye vnto Tyntagyl / And within a whyle he ouertoke sire Tristram / And thenne he badde hym torne fals traitour knyghte / and syr Tristram anon torned hym ageynst hym / And there with al segwarides smote syr Trystram with a spere that it alle to braste /
¶ And
¶ Nay sayd Segwarides that shalle not be / for outher thou shalt dye or I / Thenne syre Tristram drewe out his swerd and hurtled his hors vnto hym fyersly / and thorou the waste of the body he smote syre Segwarides that he felle to the erthe in a swoune / And soo sire Tristram departed and lefte hym there And soo he rode vnto Tyntagil and tooke his lodgynge secretely for he wold not be knowen that he was hurte
¶ Also sir Segwarides men rode after theyr maister / whome they fond lyenge in the feld sore wounded / and brouȝt hym home on his shelde / and there he lay longe or that he were hole / but at the laste he recouerd
¶ Also kynge Marke wold not be aknowen of that sir Tristram and he hadde mette that nyght / And as for syre Trystram he knewe not that kynge Marke had mette with hym / And soo the kynges astaūce came to sir Tristram to comforte hym as he laye seke in his bedde / But as longe as kynge Marke lyued / he loued neuer sire Trystram after that / though there was fayre speche / loue was there none / And thus it past many wekes and dayes / & alle was forgyuen and forgotten / For sire Segwarydes durste not haue ado with sir Tristram by cause of his noble prowesse And also by cause he was neuewe vnto kynge Marke / therfore he lete it ouer slyp / for he that hath a pryuy hurte is loth to haue a shame outward
THenne hit befelle vpon a daye that the good knyghte Bleoberys de ganys broder to Blamore de ganys / & nyghe cosyn vnto the good knyght sir launcelot du lake / This Bleoberys came vnto the courte of kynge Marke / & there he asked of kynge Marke a bone to gyue hym what yeft that he wold aske in his courte
¶ Whanne the kyng herd hym aske soo / he merueilled of hys
¶ Thenne he armed hym and rode after that knyght for to
rescowe his lady / soo whan Bleoberys was gone with this
lady / kyng Mark and all the courte was wroth that she was
awey / thenne were there certayne ladyes that knewe that there
was grete loue bitwene sir Tristram and her / and also that
lady loued sir Tristram aboue alle other knyghtes / Thenne there
was one lady that rebuked sir Tristram in the horryblest
wyse / and called hym coward knyghte / that he wold for shame
of his knyghthode see a lady soo shamefully be taken aweye /
fro his vnkels courte / But she ment that eyther of hem hadde
loued other with entiere hert / But sire Tristram ansuerd her
thus / Faire lady it is not my parte to haue adoo in suche
maters whyle her lord and husband is present here / And yf hit
hadde ben that her lord hadde not ben here in this courte / thenne
for the worship of this courte perauentur / I wold haue ben her
champyon / And yf so be / sir segwarides spede not wel / it may
happen that I wille speke with that good knyght / or euer he
passe from this countrey / Thenne within a whyle came one of
sir segwarydes squyers / and told in the court that sir
segwarides was beten sore and wounded to the poynte of dethe / as he
wold haue rescowed his lady / sir Bleoberis ouerthrewe hym
and sore hath wounded hym / Thenne was kynge marke heuy
therof / and alle the courte / When sire Tristram herd of this / he
was ashamed and sore greued / And thenne was he soone
armed and on horsbak / & gouernaile his seruaunt bare his shelde
and spere / And soo as sire Tristram rode fast / he mette with sir
Andret his cosyn that by the commaundement of kynge
Marke was sente brynge forth & euer it laye in his power / ij /
THenne within a whyle syr Trystram sawe hem afore
hym two lykely knyghtes / Sir said Gouernaile vnto
his maister / sir I wold counceile you nought to haue
ado with hem / for they ben two preued knyghtes of Arthurs
Courte / As for that said syr Trystram haue ye no doute / but
I wille haue adoo with hem to encreace my worship / for it is
many daye sythen I dyd ony dedes of armes / doo as ye lyste
said Gouernaile / and there with alle anone syr Trystram
asked them / from whens they came / and wheder they wold / and
what they dyd in tho marches / Syre Sagramore loked vpon
syre Tristram / and hadde scorne of his wordes / & asked hym
ageyne / Fair knyghte be ye a knyght of Cornewaile / where by
aske ye hit said sir Tristram / For it is seldom sene said sir
Sagramore that ye Cornysshe knyghtes ben valyaunte men of
armes / For within these two houres there mette vs one of you
cornysshe knyghtes / and grete wordes he spak / and anon with
lytel myght he was leyd to the erthe / And as I trowe sayd
sir Sagramore ye shal haue the same handsel that he hadde
Faire lordes said sire Tristram it may soo happen that I maye
better withstande than he dyd / and whether ye will or nyl / I
wil haue ado with you / by cause he was my cosyn that ye bete
And therfore here do your best / & wete ye wel but yf ye quyte
you the better here vpon this ground / one knyȝt of cornewaile
shal bete you both / Whan sire Dodynas le saueage herd hym
saye soo he gatte a spere in his hand and said / sire knyghte
THēne syr Trystram rode more than a paas vntyl that
he had ouertake hym / Thenne spak syr Trystram
abyde he said knyght of Arthurs courte / brynge ageyne
that lady or delyuer her to me / I wille doo neyther said
Bleoberys / for I drede no Cornysshe knyght soo sore that me lyste
SOo whan she was sette betwixe them bothe / she sayd
these wordes vnto sir Tristram / wete ye wel syr
Tristram de lyones that but late thou was the man in the
world that I moost loued and trusted / And I wende thou
haddest loued me ageyne aboue alle ladyes / But whan thou
sawest this knyght lede me awey thou madest no chere to
rescowe me / but suffred my lord Segwarydes ryde after me / but
vn tyl that tyme I wend thou haddest loued me / And
therfore now I wille leue the / and neuer loue the more / & there
with alle she went vnto sir Bleoberys / Whan syr Tristram
sawe her doo soo / he was wonderly wrothe with that lady &
ashamed to come to the courte / sir Tristram said sir Bleoberys ye
are in the defaute / for I here by these ladyes wordes / she before
this day trusted you aboue alle erthly knyghtes / and as she
saith ye haue deceyued her / therfore wete ye wel / ther may noo
man hold that wille aweye / and rather than ye shold be
hertely displeasyd with me / I wold ye had her / and she wold
abyde with you / Nay said the lady / so god me help I wil
neuer goo with hym / For he that I loued most / I wende he had
loued me / And therfore sire Trystram she said ryde as thou
cam / for though thou haddest ouercome this knyȝt as ye was
lykely / with the neuer wold I haue gone / And I shall pray
this knyghte soo faire of his knyghthode that or euer he passe
THenne whanne this was done / kynge Mark cast
alweyes in his hert how he myght destroye syr Tristram
And thenne he ymagyned in hym self to sende sir
tristram in to Irland for la beale Isoud / For sir Trystram had
soo preysed her beaute and her goodnes that kynge Mark
said he wold wedde her / where vpon he praid syr Tristram to
take his wey in to Irland for hym on message / And all this
was done to the entente to slee syr Tristram / Not
withstandynge syr Trystram wold not reffuse the message for no daūger
nor peryl that myght falle for the pleasyr of his vnkel / but
¶ And whan they were landed sir Tristram sette vp his pauelione vpon the land of Camelot / and there he lete hange his shelde vpon the pauelione / And that same day came two knyghtes of kynge Arthurs / that one was sir Ector de marys and sir Morganor And they touched the shelde / and badde hym come oute of the pauelione for to Iust and he wold Iust / ye shalle be ansuerd said sir Tristram and ye wille tarye a lytel whyle / Soo he made hym redy / and fyrste he smote doune sir Ector de marys / and after he smote doune sir Morganor alle with one spere / and sore brysed them / And whan they laye vpon the erthe / they asked sir Tristram what he was / and of what countrey he was knyghte / Faire lordes said sir Tristram wete ye wel that I am of Cornewaile / Allas said sire Ector now am I ashamed / that euer ony Cornysshe knyghte shold ouercome me / And thenne for despyte syre Ector put of his armour fro hym / and wente on foot and wold not ryde
THenne it felle that sire Bleoberys and sire Blamore
de ganys that were bretheren they hadde assomoned the
kyng Anguysshe or Irland for to come to Arthurs
Court vpon payne of forfeture of kyng Arthurs good grace
And yf the kynge of Irland came not in at the day assigned
and sette / the kynge shold lese his landes / So by hit happend
that at the day assigned kyng Arthur neither sire Launcelot
myght not be there for to gyue the Iugement / for kynge
Arthur was with sir launcelot at the castel ioyous gard / And so
The knyghte torned his hors / and he made hym redy to
fyghte / And thenne sir Trystram smote hym with a
swerd suche a buffet / that he tombled to the erthe / And
thenne he yelded hym vnto sir Tristram / thenne come thy waye
sayd sire Trystram and brynge the child to the lady ageyne /
Soo he took his hors wekely and rode with sir Trystram / and
thenne by the way syr Trystram asked hym his name /
Thenne he said my name is Breunis saunte pyte / Soo whanne he
hadde delyuerd that child to the lady / he said / sir as in this the
child is wel remedyed / Thenne sir Trystram lete hym goo
ageyne that sore
¶ Thenne
whan sir Tristram was in his pauelione / Gouernaile his man
cam / and told hym how that kynge anguysshe of Irland was
come thyder / and he was putte in grete distresse / and there
gouernaile told sir Trystram / how kynge anguysshe was
somoned and appealed of murther / Soo god me help said sir
Tristram these ben the best tydynges that euer came to me this vii
yere / for now shalle the kynge of Irland haue nede of my helpe
for I dare saye there is no knyght in this countrey that is not
of arthurs courte dare doo bataille with syre Blamore de
ganys / and for to wynne the loue of the kyng of Irland I wil
take the batail vpon me / and therfor gouernaile brynge me I
charge the to the kyng / Thenne Gouernaile wente vnto kynge
anguysshe of Irland and salewed hym fayre / the kynge
welcomed hym / and asked hym what he wolde / Syr saide
Gouernaile / here is a knyghte nere hande that desyreth to speke with
you / he badde me saye he wolde doo you seruyse / what Knyght
is he saide the Kynge / syr he said hit is sir Tristram du
NOw make your ansuer that youre Champyon is redy
For I shalle dye in your quarel rather than to be
racreaunt / I haue no doubte of you said the kynge / that and ye
shold haue adoo with sir Launcelot du lake / Syr said sir
Tristram as for sire Launcelot he is called the noblest knyghte of
the worlde / And wete ye wel that the knyghtes of his blood
are noble men and drede shame / And as for Bleoberys broder
to syr Blamor I haue done bataille with hym / therfore vpon
my hede / it is no shame to call hym a good knyght / It is
noysed said the kynge / that Blamor is the hardyer knyghte / sire
as for that lete hym be / he shal neuer be refused / & as he were
¶ So when they had taken theire
charge / they withdrewe hem to make hem redy to doo bataile /
Thenne said sir Bleoberys to his broder sir Blamore / fayr
dere broder remembre of what kyn we be come of / and what a
man is sir launcelot du lake / neyther ferther nor nere but
brother children / and ther was neuer none of oure kyn that euer
was shamed in bataille / and rather suffre deth broder than to
be shamed / Broder said Blamore haue you no doute of me / for
I shal neuer shame none of my blood / hou be it I am sure
that yonder knyghte is called a passynge good knyght as of
his tyme one of the world / yet shal I neuer yelde me nor say
the lothe word / wel may he happen to smyte me doun with his
grete myȝt of chyualry / but rather shalle he slee me than I shal
yelde me as recreaunt / God spede you wel said Bleoberys for
ye shal fynde hym the myghtyest knyght that euer ye hadde
ado with all / for I knowe hym for I haue had ado with hym
God me spede said Blamor de ganys / and therwith he tooke
his hors at the one ende of the lystes / and sire Trystram atte
other ende of the lystes / and soo they feutryd theyre speres / &
came to gyders as it had ben thonder / and there sir Tristram
thorou grete myght smote doune sir Blamore and his hors to
the erthe / Thenne anone sir Blamor auoyded his hors and
pulled oute his swerd / and threwe his shelde afore hym / and
badde sir Trystram alyghte / for though an hors hath failed me
I truste to god the erthe wil not faile me / And thenne syre
Trystram alyght and dressid hym vnto batail / and there they
lasshed to gyder strongly as racyng and tracyng / foynynge
and dasshyng many sad strokes that the kynges and
knyghtes had grete wonder that they myghte stande / for euer they
THenne whan sir Blamor myghte speke / he said thus Syre Tristram de Lyones I requyre the as thou art a noble knyghte and the best knyghte that euer I fond that thou wilt slee me oute / for I wold not lyue to be made lord of alle the erth / for I haue leuer dye with worship than lyue with shame / and nedes sir Tristram thou must slee me / or els thou shalt neuer wynne the feld / for I wille neuer saye the lothe word / And therfore yf thou dare slee me / slee me / I requyre the / Whanne sir Tristram herd hym saye soo knyghtely / he wyste not what to doo with hym / he remembryng hym of bothe partyes of what blood he was comen / and for sir Launcelots sake he wold be lothe to slee hym / and in the other party in no wyse he myghte not chese / but that he must make hym to saye the lothe word or els to slee hym / Thenne syre Tristram starte abak and went to the kynges that were Iuges / and ther he kneled doun to fore hem and besoughte hem for their worshippes and for kynge Arthurs and sir Laūcelots sake that they wold take this mater in theyr handes / For my fayre lordes said sir tristram hit were shame and pyte / that this noble knyght that yonder lyeth shold be slayne / for ye here wel / shamed wille he not be / and I pray to god that he neuer be slayne nor shamed for me / And as for the kyng for whome I fyghte fore I shalle requyre hym as I am his true champyon and true knyght in this felde that he wille haue mercy vpon this knyghte / So god me helpe said kynge Anguysshe I wil for your sake syre tristram be ruled as ye wylle haue me / For I knowe you for my true knyghte /
¶ And therfore I
¶ My lordes said Bleoberys / though my broder be beten and hath the wers thorou myghte of armes I dare saye though syre Trystram hath beten his body / he hath not beten his herte / and I thanke god he is not shamed this daye / And rather than he shold be shamed / I requyre you sayd Bleoberys lete sir Tristram slee hym oute / It shalle not be soo said the kynges / for his parte aduersary bothe the kynge and the champyon haue pyte of syre Blamors knyghthode / My lordes said Bleoberys I wille ryght wel as ye wille /
¶ Thenne the kynges called the kynge of Irland and fond hym goodely and tretabyl / And thenne by alle their aduyses syre Tristram and syre Bleoberys toke vp sire Blamore / and the two bretheren were accorded with kynge Anguysshe / and kyssed and made frendys for euer / And thenne sire Blamor and sire Trystram kyssed to gyders / and there they made their othes that they wold neuer none of them two bretheren fyghte with syre Trystram / and syre Trystram made the same oth And for that gentyl bataille alle the blood of syre Launcelot loued sire Trystram for euer /
¶ Thenne kynge Anguysshe and syre Tristram toke theire leue ande sailed in to Irland with grete noblesse and ioye /
¶ Soo whanne they were in Irland / the kynge lete make it knowen thoroute alle the land how and in what manere syre Trystram had done for hym
¶ Thenne the Quene and alle that there were made the moost of hym that they myghte / But the Ioye that la beale Isoud made of syr Tristram there myghte no tonge telle / for of alle men erthely she loued hym moost
THenne vpon a daye kynge Anguysshe asked syr
Tristram why he asked not his bone / For what someuer he
had promysed hym / he shold haue hit withoute fayle
¶ As for that sayd kynge Anguysshe ye shalle haue her with you to doo with her what it please you / that is for to saye yf that ye lyst to wedde her your self that is me leuest / And yf ye wille gyue her vnto kynge Marke youre vnkel that is in youre choyse /
¶ Soo to make short conclusion la beale Isoud was made
redy to goo with syre Trystram and dame Bragwayne wente
with her for her chyef gentylwoman with many other / thenne
the quene Isouds moder gaf to her and dame Bragwayne her
doughters gentilwoman and vnto Gouernaile a drynke and
charged them that what day kynge Marke shold wedde that
same daye they shold gyue hym that drynke / soo that kynge
Marke shold drynke to la beale Isoud / and thenne said the
Quene I vndertake eyther shalle loue other the dayes of their
lyf / Soo this drynke was yeuen vnto dame Bragwayne and
vnto Gouernaile / And thenne anone syre Trystram tooke the
see / and la Beale Isoud / and whan they were in theire
caban hit happed soo that they were thursty / and they sawe a
lytyl flacked of gold stande by them / and hit semed by the
coloure and the taste that it was noble wyn /
Thenne sire Trystram toke the flacket in his hand / and
sayd Madame Isoud here is the best drynke that euer ye drank
that dame Bragwayne youre mayden and Gouernayle my
seruaunt haue kepte for them self / Thenne they lough and
made good chere and eyther dranke to other frely / and they
thoughte neuer drynke that euer they dranke to other was soo
swete nor soo good / But by that theyr drynke was in their
THus as sire Trystram and la beale Isoud were in
pryson / hit happed a knyght and a lady came vnto them /
where they were to chere them / I haue merueille said Tristram
vnto the knyȝt and the lady what is the cause the lord of this
Castel holdeth vs in pryson / hit was neuer the custome of no
place of worship that euer I came in / whan a knyghte and a
lady asked herborugh / and they to receyue hem / & after to
destroye them that ben his gestes / Syr said the knyȝt this is the
old custome of this castel that whan a knyght cometh here / he
must nedes fyghte with our lord / and he that is weyker muste
lese his hede / And whan that is done yf his lady that he
bryngeth / be fouler than out lordes wyf / she must lese her heede / And
yf she be fayrer preued than is oure lady / thenne shal the
lady of this castel lese her heede / Soo god me help said sire
Tristram this is a fowle custome and a shameful / But one
auaūtage haue I said sir Trystram I haue a lady is fayre ynouȝ
fayrer sawe I neuer in alle my lyfe dayes / And I doubte
¶ Wherfore Syre knyght I pray you telle your lord that I wille be redy as to morne with my lady and my selfe to doo batail yf hit be so I maye haue my hors and myne armour / Syre said that knyght I vndertake that youre desyre shalle be spedde ryght wel / And thenne he sayd take youre rest and loke that ye be vp by tymes and make you redy and your lady / for ye shall wante no thynge that you behoueth / and ther with he departed and on the morne by tymes that same knyghte came to sire Trystram and fetched hym oute and his lady & brouȝte hym hors and armour that was his owne / and badde hym make hym redy to the feld / for alle the estates and comyns of that lordship were there redy to behold that bataille and Iugement /
¶ Thenne came syre Breunor the lord of that Castel wyth his lady in his hand muffeld / and asked syre Trystram where was his lady / for and thy lady be fayrer than myn wyth thy swerd smyte of my ladyes hede / and yf my lady be fayrer than myn / with my swerd I muste stryke of her heed / And yf I maye wynne the / yet shalle thy lady be myne / and thou shalt lese thy hede /
¶ Syre said Trystram this is a fowle custome and horryble / and rather than my lady shold lese her heed / yet had I leuer lese my hede /
¶ Nay nay said sire Breunor the ladyes shalle be fyrst
shewed to gyder / and the one shalle haue her Iugement / Nay I
wille not soo said sire Tristram / For here is none that wille
gyue ryghteuous Iugement / But I doubte not said sir
Tristram my lady is fayrer than thyne / And that wille I preue
and make good with my hand / And who someuer he be that
wille saye the contrary I wille preue hit on his hede
And there with sire Tristram shewed la beale Isoud / and
torned her thryes aboute with his naked swerd in his hand
And whanne syre Breunor sawe that he dyd the same
wyse torne his lady / But whanne syre Breunor beheld la beale
Isoud / hym thoughte he sawe neuer a fayrer lady / and
thenne he dradde his ladyes hede shold be of / and soo al the peple
¶ Thou shalt wynne her said sir Trystram as dere as euer knyȝt wan lady / And by cause of thyn owne Iugement as thou woldest haue done to my lady yf that she had ben fouler / and by cause of the evyl custome gyue me thy lady said Trystram / & there with alle sir Tristram strode vnto hym and toke his lady from hym / and with an auke stroke he smote of her hede clene / wel knyght said sir Breunor now hast thou done me a despyte /
NOw take thyn hors sythen I am lady les I wil wyn thy lady and I may / thenne they took their horses / & came to gyders as hit had ben the thonder / and sire Trystram smote sir Breumor clene from his hors / and lyȝtely he rose vp And as sir Trystram came ageyne by hym / he threst his hors thorou oute both the sholders that his hors hurled here and there / and felle dede to the ground / And euer sir Breunor ranne after to haue slayne sire Tristram / but sire Tristram was lyght and nymel and voyded his hors lightely / And or euer sir Trystram myght dresse his sheld and his swerd / the other gaf hym thre or foure sadde strokes
¶ Thenne they
rasshed to gyders like two bores tracyng and trauercyng
myȝtely and wysely as two noble knyghtes / For this sire
Breunor was a proued knyghte and hadde ben or than the dethe of
many good knyghtes / that it was pyte that he had so long
endured / Thus they fouȝt hurlyng here & there nyȝ two houres &
THenne came sir Galahad and the kyng with the honderd knyghtes with hym / and this syr Galahad profered to fyghte with sir Trystram hand for hand / and soo they made them redy to go vnto bataile on horsbak with grete courage / Thenne sir Galahad and sir Trystram mette to gyders soo hard that eyder bare other doune hors and alle to the erthe / And then̄e they auoyded their horses as noble knyghtes and dressid theire sheldes and drewe their swerdes with Ire & rancour / and they lasshed to gyder many sadde strokes / and one whyle strykynge another whyle foynynge / tracynge and trauersynge as noble knyghtes / thus they fought long nere half a day and eyder were sore wounded / At the last sire Trystram waxed lyghte and bygge / and doubled his strokes and drofe syr Galahad abak on the one syde and on the other / so that he was lyke to haue ben slayne / With that came the kynge with the honderd knyghtes and all that felauship went fyersly vpon sir Tristram / whan sir Trystram sawe them comyng vpon hym / thenne he wist wel he myghte not endure /
¶ Thēne as a wyse knyght of werre he said to sir Galahaud the haut prynce syre ye shewe to me no knyghthode for to suffre alle youre men to haue adoo with me al at ones /
¶ And as me semeth ye be a
¶ And for
this customme I wold neuer drawe aboute hym / So god me
helpe said the kynge this was a shameful customme / Truly
said syre Galahad soo semed me / and me semed it had ben
grete pyte that this knyght shold haue ben slayne / for I dare
saye he is the noblest man that bereth lyf / but yf it were sir
laūcelot du lake / Now fayre knyght said sir Galahad I requyre
the telle me thy name / and of whens thou arte / and whyder
thou wolt / Syr he said my name is sir Trystram du lyones &
from kynge Marke of Cornewaile I was sente on message
vnto kynge Anguysshe of Irland for to fetche his doughter
to be his wyf / & here she is redy to go with me into
Cornewaile / and her name is la beale Isoud / and / sir Trystram said sir
Galahad the haut prynce / wel be ye fonde in these marches / &
soo ye wille promyse me to goo vnto syr Launcelot du lake /
and accompanye with hym / ye shalle goo where ye wylle / and
your fayre lady with you / And I shalle promyse you neuer
in al my dayes shal suche custommes be vsed in this castel as
haue ben vsed / Syr said syre Trystram now I lete you wete
ANd thēne sir Tristram took his leue whan he sawe his
tyme and tooke the see / And the meane whyle word
came vnto sir Launcelot and to sir Trystram that sire
Carados the myghty kynge that was made lyke a gyaunt /
that fought with sir Gawayn and gaf hym suche strokes that
he swouned in his sadel / and after that he took hym by the
coller /and pulled hym oute of his sadel / and fast bounde hym to
the sadel bowe / and so rode his wey with hym toward his
castell / And as he rode by fortune sir Launcelot mette with sire
Carados and anone he knewe sire Gawayne / that lay bounde
after hym / A said sir Launcelot vnto sire Gawayne how stande
it with you / Neuer so hard said sir gawayn onles that ye helpe
me / for so god me help without ye rescowe me I knowe no
knyght that may but outher you or syr Trystram / where for sir
Launcelot was heuy of sir Gawayns wordes / And thenne sir
Launcelot bad sir Carados leye doune that knyghte / & fyghte
with me / thou arte but a foole saide sire Carados / for I wylle
serue you in the same wyse / as for that said sir Launcelot
spare me not / for I warne the I wille not spare the / And
thenne he bond sir Gawayne hand and foot / and so threwe hym to
the ground / And thenne he gate his spere of his squyer / and
departed from syr launcelot to fetche his cours / and soo eyther
met with other / and brake their speres to their handes / &
thenne they pulled out swerdes / and hurtled to gyders on horsbak
more than an houre / And at the laste sire launcelot smote sir
Carados suche a buffet vpon the helme that it perched his
brayne pan / So thenne sir Launcelot toke sir Carados by the
coller and pulled hym vnder his hors feet / And thenne he alyȝte
and pulled of his helme / and strake of his hede / And thenne
ANd anone they were rychely wedded with grete nobley / But euer as the frensshe book sayth sir Trystram and la beale Isoud loued euer to gyders /
¶ Thenne
was there grete Iustes and grete torneyenge / and many
lordes and ladyes were at that feest / and sir Trystram was most
preysed of alle other / thus dured the feest longe / and after
the feest was done / within a lytel whyle after by the assent of
two ladyes that were with quene Isoud / they ordeyned for
hate and enuy for to destroye dame Bragwayne / that was
mayden and lady vnto la beale Isoud / and she was sente in
to the forest for to fetche herbes / & there she was mette &
bounde feete and hand to a tree / and soo she was bounden thre
dayes / And by fortune sir Palamydes fond dame
Bragwayne / and there he delyuerd her from the dethe / and brought her
to a nonnery there besyde for to be recouerd / whanne Isoud the
quene myst her mayden / wete ye wel she was ryght heuy as
euer was ony quene / for of alle erthely wymmen she loued her
best / the cause was for she came with her oute of her countreye /
And soo vpon a day quene Isoud walked in to the forest to
putte aweye her thoughtes / and ther she wente her self vnto a
welle / and made grete mone / and sodenly there came
Palamydes to her / and had herd alle her complaynte / and sayd
Madame Isoud and ye wille graunte me my bone / I shalle
brynge to you dame Bragwayne sauf and sound / And the
quene was so glad of his profer / that sodenly vnauysed she
graūted alle his askynge / wel madame said Palamydes I trust
to your promyse / And yf ye wille abyde here half an houre / I
shal brynge her to you / I shall abyde you said la beale Isoud
SYre said Palamydes I promysed your Quene Isoud
to brynge ageyne dame Bragwayne that she had lost
vpon this couenaunt that she shold graunte me a bone
that I wold aske / and without grutchynge outher auysemēt
she graunted me / what saye ye my lady said the kynge / hit is
as he saith soo god me help said the quene / to saye the sothe / I
promysed hym his askynge for loue and ioye that I had to
see her / Wel madame said the kynge / and yf ye were hasty to
graunte hym what bone he wold aske / I wylle wel that ye
performe your promyse / Thenne said Palamydes I will that
ye wete that I wille haue your quene to lede her and gouerne
her where as me lyst / There with the kynge stood styll and
bethought hym of sir Trystram / and demed that he wold
rescowe her / And thenne hastely the kynge ansuerd take her with
the aduētures that shal falle of hit / for as I suppose thou wylt
NOw torne we vnto sir Tristram that whanne he was
come home / and wyste la Beale Isoud was gone
with syr Palamydes wete ye wel he was wrothe oute of
mesure / Allas said sir Trystram I am this day shamed / Thenne
he cryed to Gouernaile his man / haste the that I were armed
and on horsbak / for wel I wote Lambegus hath no myghte
nor strengthe to withstande sir Palamydes / Allas that I haue
not ben in his stede / Soo anone as he was armed and horsed
sir Tristram and Gouernaile rode after in to the forest / and
within a whyle he fond his knyght Lambegus al moost
woūded to the dethe / and syre Trystram bare hym to a foster / and
charged hym to kepe hym wel / And thenne he rode forth and
there he fond syr Adtherp sore wounded / and he told hym hou
the quene wold haue drouned her self had not he ben / And
how for her sake & loue he had taken vpon hym to doo bataille
with sir Palamydes / where is my lady said sire Trystram /
Syr said the knyght she is sure ynough within my Castel / &
¶ Allas she said that one I loued and yet doo / and the
other I loue not / yet it were grete pyte that I shold see sir
palamydes slayne / for wel I knowe by that tyme the ende be
done sir Palamydes is but a dede knyȝt / by cause he is not
crystened I wold be lothe that he shold dye a sarasyn / And there
with alle she came doune and bisought sire Trystram to fyghte
no more / A madame saide he what meane you / wille ye haue
me shamed / wel ye knowe I wille be ruled by you / I wylle
not your dishonour saide la beale Isoud but I wold that ye
wold for my sake spare this vnhappy sarasyn Palamydes /
Madame said syre Trystram I wille leue fyghtynge at this
¶ Thenne she said to sire Palamydes this shalle be your charge that thou shalt goo oute of this countrey whyle I am therin / I wille obeye your commaundement said sire Palamydes / the whiche is sore ageynst my wylle
¶ Thenne take thy waye said la beale Isoud vnto the Courte of kynge Arthur / and there recommaūde me vnto quene Gueneuer / and telle her that I send her word / that ther be withyn this land but four louers / that is sire Launcelot du lake and Quene Gueneuer and sire Trystram de lyonas and quene Isoud
ANd soo syre Palamydes departed with grete heuynes
And sir Tristram took the quene and brouȝte her
ageyne to kynge Marke / And thenne was there made grete
Ioye of her home comynge / who was cherysshed but sir
Trystram / Thenne sir Trystram lete fetche syr Lambegus his knyȝte
fro the fosters hous and hit was longe or he was hole / but at
the last he was wel recouerd / thus they lyued with Ioye and
play a long whyle / But euer sir Andred that was nygh cosyn
to syr Trystram lay in a watche to wayte betwix sir Trystram
and la beale Isoud for to take hem and sklaundre hem / Soo
vpon a day syr Tristram talked with la beale Isoud in a
wyndowe / and that aspyed sir Andred and told it to the kynge /
Thenne kynge Marke took a swerd in his hand and came to
sir Tristram and called hym fals traitour / and wold haue
stryken hym / But sir Trystram was nyghe hym and ranne vnder
his swerd and tooke his oute of his hande / And thenne the
kynge cryed where are my knyghtes and my men / I charge
you slee this traitour / But at that tyme there was not one
wold meue for his wordes / Whanne syre Trystram sawe that
there was not one wold be ageynst hym / he shoke the swerd to
the kynge and made countenaunce as though he wold haue
stryken hym / And thenne kynge Marke fledde / and sire tristram
folowed hym and smote vpon hym fyue or sixe strokes
flatlynge on the neck that he made hym to falle vpon the nose / &
thenne sir Tristram yede his waye and armed hym and tooke
THe kynge and the quene made their pauelions &
theire tentes in that forest besyde a Ryuer / and ther was
dayly huntynge and Iustynge / for there were euer
xxx knyghtes redy to Iuste vnto alle them that came in at that
tyme / And there by fortune came sire Lamerak de galys and
sir Dryaunt / and there syre Dryaunt Iusted ryght wel / but
at the laste he had a falle / Thenne sire Lamerak profered to
Iuste / And whan he began he ferd so with the thyrtty knyȝtes
¶ As for that said kynge Marke I requyre you as ye loue me and my lady the Quene La beale Isoud take youre armes and Iuste with sire Lamorak de Galys /
¶ Syre said sir Tristram ye byd me doo a thynge that is ageynst knyghthode / And wel I can deme that I shal gyue hym a falle / For hit is no maystry / for my hors and I ben fresshe bothe / and so is not his hors and he / and wete ye wel / that he wil take hit for grete vnkyndenes / For euer one good is lothe to take another at disauauntage / But by cause I wil not displease yow / as ye requyre me / soo wille I doo and obeye your commaundemēt And soo sire Tristram armed hym and took his hors / & putt hym forth / and there sire Lamerak mette hym myghtely / and what with the myght of his owne spere / and of sire Tristram spere syr Lamoraks hors felle to the erthe / and he syttynge in the sadel / Thenne anone as lyghtly as he myghte he auoyded the sadel and his hors / and put his shelde afore hym and drewe his swerd / And thenne he badde sir Tristram alyghte thou knyght and thou darst / Nay said sire Tristram I wil no more haue adoo with the / for I haue done to the ouer moche vnto my dishonour and to thy worship /
¶ As for that said sir Lamorak I can the no thanke / syn thou hast foriusted me on horsbak I requyre the and I biseche the / and thou be sir Tristram / fyghte with me on foote /
¶ I wylle not soo
¶ As for the shame said sire Lamorak on thy party or on myne / beare thou hit & thou wilt / For though a marys sone hath fayled me / now a Quenes sone shalle not fayle the / And therfore and thou be suche a knyghte as men calle the / I requyre the / alyghte / and fyghte with me / Syre Lamorak said sire Tristram I vnderstande youre herte is grete / and cause why ye haue / to saye the sothe / for hit wold greue me and ony knyght shold kepe hym fresshe / and thenne to stryke doune a wery knyghte / for that knyghte nor hors was neuer fourmed that alwey myght stāde or endure / And therfore said sire Tristram I wille not haue adoo with you / for me forthynketh of that I haue done / as for that said sire Lamorak I shal quyte you and euer I see my tyme /
NOo he departed from hym with sire Dryaun / and by the weye they mette with a knyȝt that was sente from Morgan le fay vnto kynge Arthur / and this knyght hadde a fayre horne harnest with gold / and the horne had suche a vertue that there myght no lady ne gentilwoman drynke of that horne / but yf she were true to her husband / And yf she were fals she shold spylle alle the drynke / And yf she were true to her lord she myght drynke peasyble / and by cause of the quene Gueneuer and in despyte of sire Launcelot this horne was sente vnto kynge Arthur / and by force sire Lamorak made that knyghte to telle alle the cause why he bare that horne /
¶ Now shalte thou bere this horn sayd Lamorak vnto kyng
Marke or els chese thou to dye for it / For I telle the playnly
in despyte and repreef of sire Tristrams thou shalte bere that
horne vnto kynge Marke his vnkel / and say thou to hym that
¶ And yf she be true to hym he shal preue her / Soo the knyghte wente his waye vnto kynge Marke and broughte hym that ryche horne / and sayd that sir Lamorak sente hit hym / and there to he told hym the vertue of that horne
¶ Thenne the kynge maade Quene Isoud to drynke therof / and an honderd ladyes / and there were but four ladyes of alle tho that dranke clene /
¶ Allas saide kynge Marke this is a grete despyte / and sware a grete othe / that she shold be brente and the other ladyes /
¶ Thenne the Barons gadred them to gyder and said playnly they wold not haue tho ladyes brente for an horne maade by sorcery that came from as fals a sorceresse and wytche as tho was lyuynge / For that horne dyd neuer good but caused stryf and debate / and alweyes in her dayes she had ben an enemy to alle true louers / Soo there were many knyghtes made their auowe / and euer they met with Morgan le fay that they wold shewe her short curtosye /
¶ Alfo sir Tristram was passynge wrothe that sire Lamorak sente that horne vnto kynge Marke for wel he knewe that hit was done in the despyte of hym / And therfor he thoughte to quyte sire Lamorak /
¶ Thenne syre Tristram vsed dayly and nyghtely to go to quene Isoud whanne he myght / and euer syre Andred his cosyn watched hym nyght and daye for to take hym with la Beale Isoud / And soo vpon a nyght syre Andred aspyed the houre and the tyme whan sir Trystram wente to his lady /
¶ Thenne syre Andred gate vnto hym twelue knyghtes / and at mydnyghte he sette vpon sire Tristram secretely and sodenly / and there sire Tristram was take naked a bedde with la beale Isoud / and thenne was he boūd hande and foot / and soo was he kepte vntyl daye /
¶ And thenne by the assent of kynge Marke and of
syr Andred and of somme of the Barons syre Tristram was
ledde vnto a chappel that stode vpon the see rockes there for to
take his Iugement / and soo he was ledde bounden with fourty
knyghtes / And whan sire Tristram sawe that there was none
other boote / but nedes that he must dye / thenne said he fayr
lordes remembre what I haue done for the Countreye of
Cornewaile / and in what Ieopardy I haue ben in for the wele of
you alle / For whan I fouȝt for the truage of cornewaile with
SOo whanne they were departed / Gouernaile and sire Lambegus and sire Sentraille de lushon that were sir Tristrams men soughte their maister / whanne they herd he was escaped / thenne they were passynge gladde / and on the rockes they fond hym / and with tuels they pulled hym vp / And thenne sire Tristram asked hem where was la beale Isoud / for he wende she had ben had aweye of Andreds peple / Syr said Gouernaile she is put in a lazar cote
¶ Allas
THere was an Erle that hyghte Gryp / And this Erle maade grete werre vpon the kynge / and putte the kynge to the werse / and byseged hym / And on a tyme syre kehydyus that was sone to kynge Howel / as he yssued oute / he was sore wounded nyghe to the dethe /
¶ Thenne Gouernaile wente to the kynge and said / syre I counceyle you to desyre my lord syre Tristram as in your nede to helpe you / I wille doo by your counceylle said the kynge / and soo he yede vnto syr Trystram and praid hym in his warris to helpe hym / for my sone kehydyus may not goo in to the felde
¶ Sire said sir Tristram I wille goo to the feld and doo what I maye / Thenne sir Tristram yssued out of the towne with suche felauship as he myght make / and dyd suche dedes that alle Bretayne spake of hym / And thēne at the last by grete myghte and force he slewe the Erle Gryp with his owne handes / and moo than an honderd knyghtes he slewe that daye / And thenne sire Tristram was receyued worshipfully with procession
¶ Thenne kynge Howel enbraced hym in his armes / and said sire Tristram alle my kyngdome I wille resygne to the / God defende said sir Tristram / For I am beholden vnto you for youre doughters sake to doo for you /
¶ Thenne by the grete meanes of kynge Howel & kehydyus his sone by grete profers there grewe grete loue betwixe Isoud and sire Trystram / for that lady was bothe good and fayre / and a woman of noble blood & fame
¶ And for by cause sir Tristram had suche chere and Rychesse
and alle other plesaunce that he hadde / all moost he hadde
forsaken la beale Isoud / And soo vpon a tyme sir Trystram
agreed to wedde Isoud la blaunche maynys / And at the laste
they were wedded / and solempnly held theyr maryage / And
soo whanne they were abedde bothe / sire Tristram remembryd
hym of his old lady la beale Isoud / And thenne he toke
suche a thought sodenly that he was alle desmayed / and other
chere maade he none but with clyppynge and kyssynge as for
other flesshly lustes sire Trystram neuer thoughte nor hadde
adoo with her / suche mencyon maketh the frensshe booke
¶ And in the meane tyme there was a knyght in Bretayne his name was Suppynabyles / and he came ouer the see in to Englond / And thenne he came in to the court of kynge Arthur / and he met with sir Launcelot du lake / and told hym of the maryage of syre Tristram / Thenne said sire Launcelot / Fy vpon hym vntrue knyghte to his lady that soo noble a knyghte as sir Trystram is shold be foūde to his fyrst lady fals / la beale Isound / quene of Cornewaile / But saye ye hym this / said sire Launcelot that of alle knyghtes in the world I loued hym moost / and had moost ioye of hym / and alle was for his noble dedes / and lete hym wete the loue bitwene hym and me is done for euer / And that I gyue hym warnyng from this daye forth as his mortal enemy
THenne departed syr Suppynabyles vnto Bretayne
ageyne / and there he fond sir Tristram / and told hym /
that he had ben in kynge Arthurs courte / Thenne said sir
Tristram herd ye ony thynge of me / Soo god me help saide syre
Suppynabyles / there I herd sire Launcelot speke of you
grete shame / and that ye be a
¶ So leue
NOw tourne we vnto sire Trystram that vpon a daye he
took a lytel Barget and his wyf Isound la blaūche
maynys with sire kay hedyus her broder to playe hem in the
cosstes / And whan they were from the land / there was a
wynde drofe hem in to the coste of walys vpon this yle of seruage /
where as was syre Lamorak and there the Barget all to rose
and there dame Isoud was hurte / and as wel as they myȝte
they gate in to the forest / and there by a welle he sawe
Segwarydes and a damoysel / And thenne eyther salewed other / syre
sayde Segwarydes I knowe you for sire Tristram de Lyones
the man in the world that I haue moost cause to hate by cause
t had wrackyd on the rockes / what is his name
said sir Tristram / we wote not said the fysshers but he kepeth it
no counceil but that he is a knyghte of Kynge Arthurs / and
by the myghty lord of this yle he setteth nought by / I praye
you said sir
¶ But that that was done it was for despyte of me / but alle youre malyce I thanke god hurte not gretely / Therfor said sir Tristram ye shal leue alle your malyce / and soo wille I and lete vs assay hou we may wynne worship bitwene you and me vpon this gyaunt sir Nabon le noyre / that is lord of this Iland to destroye hym / Sir said sir Lamorak now I vnderstande your knyghthode / it maye not be fals that alle men saye / for of your bounte nobles and worship of alle knyghtes ye are pyerles / And for your curtosy and gentilnes I shewed you vngentilnesse / & that now me repenteth
IN the meane tyme there cam word that sir Nabon had made a crye that alle the peple of that yle shold be at his castel the fyfthe day after /
¶ And the same daye the sone
of Nabon shold be made knyghte / and alle the knyghtes of
that valey and there about shold be there to Iuste and all tho
of the Royamme of Logrys shold be there to Iuste with them
of Northwalys / and thyder came fyue honderd knyghtes / and
they of the countrey brought thyder syre Lamorak and sir
Tristram and syre kehydyus and sire Segwarides / for they durst
none other wyse doo / and thenne sir Nabon lent sire Lamorak
hors and armour at sire Lamoraks desyre / and sire Lamorak
Iusted and dyd suche dedes of armes that Nabon and all the
SOo torne we vnto sir Lamorak that rode toward
Arthurs courte / and sire Tristrams wyf and Kehydyus
took a vessel and sailed in to Bretayne vnto kynge Howel
where he was welcome / And whan he herd of these aduētures
they merueilled of his noble dedes / Now torne we vnto sir
Lamorak that whan he was departed from sire Tristram / he rode
oute of the forest tyll he came to an hermytage / whan the
heremyte sawe hym / he asked hym from whens he came / sir said sir
Lamorak I come fro this valey / sir said the hermyte therof I
merueille / For this xx wynter I sawe neuer no knyght passe
this countrey / but he was other slayne or vylaynously
wounded or passe as a poure prysoner / Tho ylle customs said sir
lamorak are fordone / for sir Tristram slewe your lord sir Nabon
and his sone / thenne was the heremyte gladde and all his
bretheren / for he said ther was neuer suche a tyraunt among
crysten men / And therfor said the hermyte this valey and fraūceis
¶ Thenne said Lamorak / a knyght can ye not excuse you / but that ye are a fals knyghte / Syr said he yet can I excuse me both with my word & with my handes / that I wille make good vpon one of the best of them my body to his body /
¶ Thenne spake they al attones / we wil not Ieopardy our bodyes as for the / But wete thou wel they saide and kynge Arthur were here hym self it shold not lye in his power to saue his lyf / That is to moche said / said sire Lamorak / but many speke behynde a man more than they wylle saye to his face / And by cause of your wordes ye shalle vnderstande that I am one of the symplest of kynge Arthurs courte / in the worship of my lord now doo your best / and in despyte of you I shalle rescowe hym / And thenne they lasshed alle at ones to sir Lamorak / but anone at two strokes syre Lamorak had slayne two of them / and thenne the other two fledde
¶ Soo thenne sire Lamorak torned ageyne to that knyghte / &
asked hym his name / syre he sayde my name is sire Frolle of
the oute Iles / thenne he rode with sire Lamorak and bare hym
company / And as they rode by the waye / they sawe a semely
knyght rydynge ageynst them / and all in whyte / A said Frol
yonder knyght Iusted late with me and smote me doune /
therfore I wil Iuste with hym / ye shal not doo soo said sire
Lamorak by my counceil / and ye will telle me your quarel whether
ye Iusted at his request / or he at yours / Nay said sir Frol / I
Iusted with hym at my request / Syr said Lamorak / thēne wil
I coūceile you dele no more with hym / for me semeth by his
countenaunce he shold be a noble knyght / and no Iaper / for me
thynketh / he shold be of the table round / therfor I wil not
spare said sir Frol / and thenne he cryed and said / sir knyȝt make
THenne within two or thre dayes syr Lamorak fond a
knyghte at a welle slepynge / and his lady sate with
hym and waked / Ryght so came sir Gawayne and toke the
knyghtes lady / and sette her vp behynde his squyer / Soo syre
Lamorak rode after syre Gawayne / and said sire Gawayne /
torne ageyne / And thenne said sir Gawayne what wylle ye do
with me / for I am neuewe vnto kyng Arthur / syre said he for
that cause I wil spare you / els that lady shold abyde wyth
me / or els ye shold Iuste with me / Thenne sire Gawayne
torned hym and ranne to hym that ought the lady with his
spere / but the knyght with pure myght smote doune syre
Gawayne / and took his lady with hym / Alle this sir Lamorak saw
and said to hym self / but I reuenge my felawe / he will say of
¶ Allas said sir Lamorak ful wel me
ought to knowe you / for ye are the man that moost haue done
for me / And there with alle sire Lamorak knelyd doune / and
bisought hym of grace / Aryse said sir Bellyaunce / or els there
as thou knelest I shalle slee the / That shal not nede saide sire
Lamorak / for I wyl yelde me vnto you / not for fere of yow /
nor for your strengthe / but your goodenes maketh me ful loth
to haue adoo with you / wherfore I requyre you for goddes
sake / and for the honour of knyghthode forgyue me al that I
haue offended vnto you / Allas said Belleaunce leue thy
knelynge or els I shal slee the withoute mercy / Thenne they yede
ageyne vnto batail / and either wounded other that al the
ground was blody there as they foughte / And at the laste
Belleaunce withdrewe hym abak and sette hym doune softely
vpon a lytil hylle / for he was so faynte for bledyng that he
myght not stande / Thenne sir lamorak threwe his shelde vpon his
AT the Courte of kynge Arthur there cam a yonge man and bygly made / and he was rychely bysene / and he desyred to be made knyghte of the kyng but his ouer garmēt sat ouerthwartly / how be hit / hit was ryche clothe of gold /
¶ What is your name said kynge Arthur / Syre saide he / my
name is Breunor le noyre / and within shorte space ye shalle
knowe that I am of good kyn / It maye wel be said sir kay
the Seneschal / but in mockage ye shalle be called la cote male
tayle / that is as moche to saye the euyl shapen cote / Hit is a
grete thynge that thou askest said the kyng / And for what
cause werest thou that ryche cote / telle me / for I can wel thynke
for somme cause hit is / Syre he ansuerd I had a fader a noble
knyght / And as he rode on huntynge vpon a daye hit happed
hym to leye hym doune slepe / And there came a knyght that
had ben longe his enemy / And whan he sawe he was
¶ So on the morou there was an herte founden / and thyder rode kynge Arthur with a company of his knyghtes to slee the herte / And this yonge man that sire kay named la cote male tayle was there lefte behynd with Quene Gueneuer / and by sodeyne aduenture ther was an horryble lyon kepte in a stronge Toure of stone and it happend that he at that tyme brake loos / and came hurlynge afore the Quene & her knyghtes
¶ And whanne the Quene sawe the lyon / she cryed and fledde / and praide her knyghtes to rescowe her / And there was none of hem alle but twelue that abode / and alle the other fledde /
¶ Thenne saide La cote male tayle Now I see wel that alle coward knyghtes ben not dede / and there with alle he drewe his swerd / and dressid hym afore the lyon / and that lyon gaped wyde and came vpon hym raumppynge to haue slayne hym / And he thenne smote hym in the mydde of the hede suche a myghty stroke / that it clafe his hede in sonder / and dasshed to the erthe /
¶ Thenne was hit tolde the Quene how the yonge man that sire kay named by scorne La cote male tayle hadde slayne the lyon / With that the kyng came home /
¶ And whanne the Quene tolde hym of that
aduenture / he was wel pleased / and said / vpon payne of myn
hede he shalle preue a noble man and a feythful Knyghte
THenne that same daye there came a damoysel in to the courte / and she brought with her a grete black shelde / with a whyte hand in the myddes holdynge a swerd Other pyctour was there none in that shelde / whan kyng Arthur sawe her / he asked her from whens she came / and what she wold / Syr she said I haue ryden longe and many a day with this sheld many wayes / and for this cause I am come to your courte / There was a good knyght that ought this sheld / & this knyght had vndertake a grete dede of armes to enchieue hit / and soo it mysfortuned hym / another stronge knyght met with hym by sodeyne aduenture / and there they fought longe / & eyther wounded other passynge sore / and they were soo wery / that they lefte that bataille euen hand / Soo this knyghte that ought this shelde sawe none other way but he must dye / & thēne he commaunded me to bere this shelde to the Courte of kynge Arthur / he requyrynge and prayenge somme good knyȝt to take this shelde / and that he wold fulfylle the quest that he was in / Now what saye ye to this quest said kynge Arthur / Is there ony of you here that wille take vpon hym to welde this shelde /
¶ Thenne was there not one that wold speke one
word / thenne sir kay took the shelde in his handes / Sire knyȝt
said the damoysel what is your name / Wete ye wel said he my
name is sir kay the seneschal that wyde where is knowen /
Syre said that damoysel laye doune that shelde / for wete ye wel
it falleth not for you / for he must be a better knyȝt than ye / that
shalle welde this shelde / damoysel sayd syr kay wete ye wel
I toke this sheld in my handes by youre leue / for to behold it
¶ I wold not by my will said the kynge that ye took vpon you that hard aduenture / sir said he / this aduenture is myn / and the fyrst that euer I took vpon me / and that wille I folowe what someuer come of me
¶ Thenne that damoysel departed / and la cote male tayle fast folowed after / And within a whyle he ouertook the damoysell and anone she myssaid hym in the fowlest maner
THenne sire kay ordeyned sir dagonet / kynge Arthurs foole to folowe after la cote male taile / and there sir kay ordeyned that sir Dagonet was horsed and armed and bad hym folowe la cote male taile / and profer hym to Iuste and soo he dyd / and whan he sawe la cote male tayle he cryed and badde hym make hym redy to Iuste / Soo sir la cote male tayle smote sir Dagonet ouer his hors croupe / Thenne the damoysel mocked la cote male tayle / and said fy for shame / now art thou shamed in Arthurs courte / whan they sende a foole to haue adoo with the / and specially at thy fyrst Iustes / thus she rode longe and chyde /
¶ And within a whyle there
¶ What dost thou here in my felauship saide the damoysel maledysaunt / thou canst not sytte no knyghte / nor withstande hym one buffet / but yf hit were sir dagonet / A fair damoysel I am not the wers to take a falle of sire Palamydes / and yet grete disworship haue I none / for neyder Bleoberys nor yet palamydes wold not fyghte with me on foote / As for that said the damoysel wete thou wel they haue desdayne and scorne to lyghte of their horses to fyghte with suche a lewde knyght as thou arte / Soo in the meane whyle ther cam sir Mordred / sir Gawayns broder / and soo he felle in the felauship with the damoysel maledysaunt / And thenne they came afore the castel Orgulous / and there was suche a customme that there myght no knyght come by that castel / but outher he must Iuste or be prysoner / or at the lest to lese his hors and his harneis / and there came oute two knyghtes ageynst them / and sir Mordred Iusted with the formest / and that knyght of the castel smote sire Mordred doune of his hors / and thenne la cote male tayle Iusted with that other / and eyther of hem smote other doune hors and alle to the erthe / And whanne they auoyded their horses / thenne eyther of hem took others horses /
¶ And thenne la cote male tayle rode vnto that knyght that
smote doune sire Mordred and Iusted with hym / And there
syre La cote male tayle hurte & wounded hym passynge sore
ANd anone there came an honderd knyȝtes about hym
and assaylled hym / and whan he sawe his hors shold
be slayne / he alyghte and voyded his hors / & putte the brydel
vnder his feete / and so put hym out of the gate / And whan he had
soo done / he hurled in amonge hem / and dressid his bak vnto a
ladyes chamber walle / thynkynge hym self that he had leuer
dye there with worship / than to abyde the rebukes of the
damoisel Maledysaunt / And in the meane tyme as he stood & fouȝt
that lady whos was the chamber wente out slyly at her
posterne / and without the gates she fond la cote male tayles hors
and lyghtly she gate hym by the brydel / and teyed hym to the
posterne / And thenne she wente vnto her chambre slyly ageyn
for to behold hou that one knyght fought ageynst an honderd
knyghtes / And whan she had behold hym longe / she wente to
a wyndowe behynde his bak / and said thou knyght thou
fyghtest wonderly wel / but for alle that at the last thou must
nedes dye / But and thou canst thorou thy myȝty prowesse
wynne vnto yonder posterne / for there I haue fastned thy hors to
abyde the / but wete thou wel thou must thynke on thy
worship / & thynke not to dye / for thou maiste not wynne vnto that
posterne without thou doo nobly and myghtly / Whan la cote
male tayle herd her saye so / he gryped his swerd in his handes
and put his sheld fayre afore hym / & thorou the thyckest prees
he thrulled thorou them / And whan he came to the posterne he
fond there redy four knyghtes / and at two the fyrst strokes he
slewe two of the knyghtes / & the other fledde / & soo he wanne
his hors and rode from them / and alle as it was it was
reherced in kynge Arthurs courte / hou he slewe twelue knyghtes
within the castel Orgulous / and so he rode on his waye / And
in the meane whyle the damoysel said to sir Mordred I wene
my foolysshe knyȝt be outher slayn or takē prysoner / thēne
were they ware where he came rydyng / And whan he was come
¶ Thenne alle the knyghtes cursyd hym and said that he was a fende and noo man / For he hath slayne here twelue of oure best knyghtes / & we wende vnto this daye that hit ben to moche for sir laūcelot du lake or for sire Tristram de lyones / And in despyte of vs alle he is departed from vs and maulgre oure hedes /
¶ With this ansuer the currour departed and came to
Maledysaunt his lady / and told her alle how syr la cote male
tayle had spedde at the castel Orgulous / Thenne she smote doun
her heed / and sayd lytel / By my hede said sir Mordred to the
damoysel ye are gretely to blame so to rebuke hym / for I
warne you playnly he is a good knyghte / and I doubte not / but
he shalle preue a noble knyghte / but as yet he may not yet sytt
sure on horsbak / for he that shalle be a good horsman / hit must
come of vsage and excercyse / But whan he cometh to the
strokes of his swerd / he is thenne noble and myghty / and that
sawe sire Bleoberys and sir Palamydes / for wete ye wel they
are wyly men of armes / and anon they knowe when they see
a yonge knyghte by his rydyng / how they ar sure to yeue hym
a falle from his hors or a grete buffet / But for the moost
party they wille not lyghte on foote with yonge knyghtes / For
they are wyght and strongly armed / For in lyke wyse sir
launcelot du lake whan he was fyrste made knyghte / he was
often putte to the werse vpon horsbak / but euer vpon foote he
recouerd his renomme / and slewe and defoyled many
knyghtes of the round table / And therfor the rebukes that sir
Launcelot dyd vnto many knyghtes causeth them that be men of
prowesse to beware / for often I haue sene the old preued
knyghtes rebuked and slayne by them that were but yonge
begynners / Thus they rode sure talkynge by the way to gyders /
THat whan he was come to the courte of kynge Arthur
thenne herd he telle of the yonge knyghte la cote male
tayle how he slewe the lyon / & how he tooke vpon hym
the aduenture of the black shelde / the whiche was named atte
that tyme the hardyest aduenture of the world / Soo god me
saue said sir Laūcelot vnto many of his felawes / it was
shame to alle the noble knyghtes to suffre suche a yonge knyghte
to take suche aduenture vpon hym for his destructyon / for I
wille that ye wete said sire launcelot / that that damoysel
maledysaunt hath born that shelde many a day for to seche the most
proued knyghtes / and that was she that Breunys saunce
pyte took that sheld from her / and after Tristram de lyones
rescowed that shelde from hym / and gaf it to the damoysell ageyne
A lytil afore that tyme that sir Tristram fought with my
neuewe sire Blamore de Ganys for a quarel that was betwixe
the kynge of Irland and hym / Thenne many knyghtes were
sory that sir La cote male tayle was gone forth to that
aduenture / Truly said sir launcelot I cast me to ryde after hym / and
within seuen dayes sir launcelot ouertook la cote male tayle /
And thenne he salewed hym / and the damoysel maledysaunt /
And whan sir Mordred sawe sir laūcelot / thenne he lefte their
felauship / and soo sir launcelot rode with hem al a day / and
euer that damoysel rebuked la cote male taile / and thenne sire
launcelot ansuerd for hym / thenne she lefte of / and rebuked sir
launcelot / Soo this meane tyme syre Tristram sente by a
damoysel a letter vnto sire launcelot excusynge hym of the
weddynge of Isoud le blaunche maynys / and said in the letter as
he was a true knyȝt / he hadde neuer adoo flesshly with Isoud
la blaunche maynys / and passynge curtoisly & gentyly sir
tristram wrote vnto sire launcelot / euer bysechyng hym to be his
good frende / & vnto la beale Isoud of Cornewaile / and that sire
¶ And within shorte tyme by the grace of god said sir Tristram that he wold speke with la Beale Isoud and with hym ryghte hastely / Thenne sire Launcelot departed from the damoysel / & from syr la cote male taile for to ouersee that letter / and to wryte another letter vnto syre Tristram de lyones / and in the meane whyle la cote male tayle roode with the damoysel vntyl they came to a castel that hyght Pendragon / and there were syxe knyghtes stode afore hym / and one of hem profered to Iuste with la cote male tayle / And there la cote male tayle smote hym ouer his hors croupe /
¶ And thenne the fyue knyghtes
sette vpon hym all at ones with their speres / & there they
smote la cote male tayle doune hors and man / And thenne they
alyght sodenly / and sette their handes vpon hym all attones /
and toke hym prysoner / and soo ledde hym vnto the castel / &
kepte hym as prysoner / And on the morne sir Launcelot arose
and delyuerd the damoysel with letters vnto sir Tristram / &
thenne he took his way after la cote male tayle / & by the waye
vpon a brydge there was a knyghte profered sire Launcelot to
Iuste / and sire Launcelot smote hym doune / and thenne they
foughte vpon foote a noble batail to gyders and a myghty / &
at the laste sire Launcelot smote hym doune grouelynge vpon
his handes and his knees / And thenne that knyghte yelded
hym / and sire launcelot receyued hym fayre / Syr said the
knyght I requyre the telle me your name / for moche my herte
yeueth vnto you / Nay said sire Launcelot as at this tyme I wil
not telle you my name / onles thenne that ye telle me your
name / Certaynly said the knyght my name is sir Nerouens that
was made knyght of my lord sir Launcelot du lake / A
Nerouens de lyle said sire Launcelot I am ryght gladde that ye ar
proued a good knyghte / for now wete ye wel my name is sir
Launcelot du lake / Allas said sire Nerouens de lyle what
haue I done / and there with al flatlyng he selle to his feet / and
would haue kyst them / but sir Launcelot wold not lete hym / &
thenne eyther made grete ioye of other / And thenne sire
Nerouens told sir Launcelot that he shold not goo by the castel of
Pendragon / for there is a lord a myghty knyght / and many
knyghtes with hym / and this nyght I herd say that they toke
A Said sir Launcelot that knyght is my felawe / & hym
shalle I rescowe or els I shalle lese my lyf therfore
And there with alle he rode fast tyl he came before the
Castel of Pendragon / and anone there with alle there cam vj
knyghtes / and alle made hem redy to sette vpon sire Launcelot
at ones / thenne sire Laūcelot feutryd his spere / and smote the
formest that he brake his bak in fonder / and thre of them hytte
and thre fayled / And thenne sire launcelot past thorou them /
and lyghtly he torned in ageyne / and smote another knyghte /
thorugh the brest and thorou oute the bak more than an ell / &
ther with alle his spere brak / Soo thenne alle the remenaunt
of the four knyghtes drewe their swerdes and lasshed at syre
Launcelot / And at euery stroke sire launcelot bestowed so his
strokes that at four strokes sondry they auoyded theyr sadels
passynge sore wounded / and forthe with alle rode hurlynge
in to that castel / And anon the lord of the castel that was that
tyme cleped sir Bryan de les yles the which was a noble mā
and grete enemy vnto kyng arthur / within a whyle he was
armed and vpon horsbak / And thenne they feutryd their
speres and hurled to gyders soo strongly that bothe theire horses
rasshed to the erthe / And thenne they auoyded their sadels / &
dressid their sheldes and drewe theire swerdes and flange to
gyders as wood men / and there were many strokes yeuen in a
whyle / at the last sir launcelot gaf to sir Bryan suche a buffet
that he kneled vpon his knees / and thenne sir launcelot
rasshed vpon hym / and with grete force he pulled of his helme /
and whanne sire Bryan sawe that he shold be slayne he yelded
hym and put hym in his mercy and in his grace / Thenne sire
launcelot made hym to delyuer alle his prysoners that he had
within his castel / and therin sir laūcelot fonde of arthurs
knyghtes thyrtty / and / xl / ladyes / and soo he delyuerd hem / and
thenne he rode his waye / and anon as la cote male tayle was
delyuerd he gat his hors and his harneis / and his damoysel
¶ And that she remembryd her hou she had rebuked hym and callyd hym coward / thenne was she passynge heuy
SOo thenne they took their horses and rode forth a pas
aster sire Launcelot / And within two myle they
ouertook hym / and salewed hym / and thanked hym / and
the damoysel cryed sir Launcelot mercy of her euyll dede / and
sayenge / for now I knowe the floure of alle knyghthode is
departed euen bitwene sire Tristram and you / For god
knoweth said the damoysel that I haue soughte you my lord sir
Launcelot and sir Tristram longe / and now I thanke god I
haue mette with you / and ones at Camelot I mette with sir
Tristram / and there he rescowed this blak shelde with the
whyte hand holdynge a naked swerd / that sir Bruyns saunce
pyte had taken from me / Now fayre damoysel said sir Launcelot
who told you my name / Syre said she / there came a damoysell
from a knyghte that ye fought with all at the brydge / and she
told me your name was sir Launcelot du lake / blame haue
she thenne said sire Launcelot / but her lord sire Neroueus
hath told her / But damoysel said sire Launcelot vpon this
couenaunt I wille ryde with you / so that ye wille not rebuke this
knyght sir La cote male tayle nomore / for he is a good knyght
and I doubte not he shalle preue a noble knyght / and for his
¶ Allas said the damoysel my knyghte fyghteth passynge sore and ouer longe /
¶ Now may ye see said sir Launcelot that he is a noble knyghte for to consydre his fyrste bataile / and his greuous woundes / And euen forth with all so wounded as he is / it is merueile that he may endure this longe batail with that good knyghte /
THis meane whyle syre la cote male tayle sanke ryghte
doun vpon the erthe / what forwounded and what
forbled he myghte not stande / Thenne the other knyghte
hadde pyte of hym / and sayd fayr yonge knyghte desmaye you
not / for had ye ben fresshe whan ye mette with me / as I was /
I wote wel that I shold not haue endured so longe as ye
haue done / and therfore / for youre noble dedes of armes / I shall
shewe to you kyndenes and gentylnesse in alle that I maye /
And forth with al this noble knyght sir Plenorius took hym
vp in his armes / and ledde hym in to his toure / And thenne
¶ Syre said la cote male tayle
withdrawe you from me / and hyhe you to yonder brydge
ageyne / for there wille mete with you another maner knyght than
euer was I / why said Plenorius / is there another maner
knyght behynde of your felauship / ye said la cote male tayle / ther
is a moche better knyght than I am / what is his name sayd
Plenorius / ye shalle not knowe for me / said la cote male tayle
Wel said the knyght / he shalle be encountred with alle / what
someuer he be / Thenne sir Plenorius herd a knyght calle / that
sayd syr Plenorius where art thou / outher thou must delyuer
me the prysoner that thou hast led vnto thy toure / or els come
and doo bataile with me / Thenne Plenorius gat his hors / and
came with a spere in his hand walloppynge toward syr
launcelot / and thenne they beganne to feutre their speres / and came
to gyders as thonder / and smote eyther other so myghtely that
their horses felle doune vnder them / And thenne they auoyded
their horses / and pulled out their swerdes / & lyke two bulles
they lasshed to gyders with grete strokes and foynes / but euer
syr launcelot recouerd ground vpon hym / and sire Plenorius
traced to haue gone aboute hym / But sire launcelot wold not
suffer that / but bare hym backer and backer / tyll he came nyyhe
his toure gate / And thenne said sire launcelot I knowe the
wel for a good knyght / but wete thou wel / thy lyf and dethe
is in my hand / and therfore yelde the to me / and thy prysoner
The other ansuerd no word / but strake myȝtely vpon sir
laūcelots helme that the fyre sprange out of his eyen / thenne syre
Launcelot doubled his strokes soo thyck / and smote at hym so
myghtely that he made hym knele vpon his knees / And there
with sir launcelot lepte vpon hym / and pulled hym grouelyng
doune / Thenne sir Plenorius yelded hym / and his toure / and
alle his prysoners at his wille / thenne sir launcelot receyued
hym and took his trouthe / and thēne he rode to the other
brydge / and there sir launcelot Iusted with other thre of his
bretheren / the one hyght Pillounes / and the other hyght Pellogris
and the thyrdde sir Pellandris / and fyrst vpon horsbak sir
launcelot smote hem doune / and afterward he bete them on foote /
and made them to yelde them vnto hym / and thenne he retorned
ANd in the meane whyle came sir kay the seneschal and
sire Brandyles / and anone they felaushypped wyth
them / And thenne within ten dayes thēne departed tho
knyghtes of Arthurs Courte from these fortresses / And as sir
laūcelot came by the castel of Pendragon / there he putte sir
Bryan de les yles from his landes / for cause he wold neuer be
withhold with kynge Arthur / and alle that castel of Pendragon /
and alle the landes therof he gaf to sire la cote male tayle / &
thēne sir launcelot sente for Neroueus that he made ones
knyghte / and he made hym to haue alle the rule of that castel / &
of that countrey vnder la cote mayle tayle / and soo they rode to
Arthurs courte al holy to gyders / And at Pentecost next
folowynge there was sire Plenorius and sir la cote male tayle
called otherwyse by ryght syr Breunes le noyre bothe maade
NOw leue we here sire la cote male tayle / and torne we
vnto sir Tristram de lyones that was in Bretayne /
whanne la beale Isoud vnderstode that he was wedded / she sent
to hym by her mayden Bragwayne as pyteous letters as
coude be thoughte and made / and her conclusion was / that / and
hit pleasyd syr Tristram / that he wold come to her courte / and
brynge with hym Isoud la blaunche maynys / and they shold
be kepte as wel as she her self / Thenne sir Tristram called
vnto hym sir kehydius / and asked hym whether he wold go with
hym in to Cornewaile secretely / He ansuerd hym that he was
redy at al tymes / And thenne he lete ordeyne pryuely / a lytel
vessel / and therin they wente syr Tristram / kehydius / Dame
Bragwayne and Gouernaile sir Tristrams squyer / So when
they were in the see / a contraryous wynde blewe hem on the
costes of Northwalys nygh the castel peryllous / Thenne sayd sir
Tristram here shalle ye abyde me these ten dayes / and
Gouernaile my squyer with you / And yf so be I come not ageyne /
by that daye / take the next way in to Cornewaile / for in thys
forest are many straunge aduentures / as I haue herd saye / &
somme of hem I caste me to preue or I departe / And whanne
I maye / I shalle hyhe me after you / Thenne sir Tristram and
kehydius took their horses and departed from their felauship /
And soo they rode within that forest a myle and more / And
¶ Thenne sir Tristram said / knyȝt that is wel Iusted / Now make you redy vnto me / I am redy said the knyght / And thenne that knyght took a gretter spere in his hand / and encountred with sir Tristram / and there by grete force that knyght smote doune sir Tristram from his hors and had a grete falle / Thenne sir Tristram was sore ashamed / and lyghtly he auoyded his hors / and put his sheld afore his sholder and drewe his swerd / And thenne sire Trystram requyred that knyghte of his knyghthode to alyghte vpon foote and fyghte with hym / I wille wel said the knyght and soo he alyghte vpon foote / and auoyded his hors / and cast his shelde vpon his sholder / and drewe his swerd / and there they fought a longe bataile to gyder ful nyghe two houres /
¶ Thenne sir Tristram said fayr knyght hold thyn hand / & telle me of whens thou arte / and what is thy name /
¶ As for that said the knyght / I wille be auysed / but and thou wolt telle me thy name / peraduenture I wille telle the myn /
NOw fayr knyght he said / my name is sire Tristram de
lyones / Syre saide the other knyght / and my name is
sir lamorak de galys / A sir lamorak said sir Tristram / well
ANd this meane whyle there came sire Palomydes the
good knyght folowynge the questynge beest that hadde
in shap a hede lyke a serpentes hede / and a body lyke a
lybard / buttocks lyke a lyon / and foted lyke an herte / and in
his body there was suche a noyse as hit had ben the noyse of
thyrtty coupel of hoūdes questyng / and suche a noyse that beest
made where someuer he wente / & this beest euermore syr
palomydes folowed / for hit was called his quest / & ryȝt so as he
folowed this beest / it came by syr Tristram / and soone after cam
¶ Here men may vnderstande / that ben of worship that he was neuer fourmed that alle tymes myght stande / but somtyme he was putte to the werse by male fortune / And at soome tyme the wers knyghte putte the better knyghte to a rebuke / Thenne sire Tristram the sire Lamorak gate sire kehydius vpon a sheld betwixe them bothe / and ledde hym to a fosters lodge / & there they gaf hym in charge to kepe hym well / and with hym they abode thre dayes / Thenne the two knyghtes toke their horses / and at the crosse they departed / And thenne said sir Tristram to fire Lamorak I requyre you yf ye happe to mete wyth sir Palamydes / say hym that he shal fynde me atte same welle there I mette hym / and there I sire Tristram shalle preue whether he be better knyght than I / and soo eyther departed from other a sondry way / and sire tristram rode nyghe there as was sire kehydius / and sire Lamorak rode vn tyl he came to a chapel / and there he putte his hors vnto pasture / and anone there came sir Melyagaunce that was kynge Bagdemagus sone / & he there putte his hors to pasture / and was not ware of sir lamorak / and thenne this knyght sire Melliagaunce maade his mone of the loue that he hadde to quene Gueneuer / and there he made a woful complaynte / All this herd sire Lamorak / and on the morne sir lamorak took his hors and rode vnto the forest / and there he mette with two knyghtes houynge vnder the wood shawe / Faire knyghtes said fire Lamorak what doo ye houynge here and watchynge / And yf ye be knyghtes arraunt that wille Iuste / loo I am redy / Nay sir knyght they said / not soo / we abyde not here for to Iuste with you / but we lye here in a wayte of a Knyghte that slewe our broder /
¶ What knyght was that said sir Lamorak that ye wold fayne mete with all / Syre they said / hit is sire launcelot that slewe oure broder / And yf euer we maye mete with hym / he shal not escape but we shalle slee hym /
¶ Ye take vpon you a
RYyght soo as they stode talkynge thus / syre Lamorak was ware hou syr launcelot came rydynge streyghte toward them / thenne sire Lamorak salewed hym / and he hym ageyne / And thenne sire lamorak asked sir launcelot / yf there were ony thynge that he myght doo for hym in these marches / Nay said sire launcelot not at this tyme / I thanke you / thenne eyther departed from other / and sir Lamorak rode ageyn ther as he lefte the two knyghtes / and thenne he fond them hydde in the leued woode / Fy on you said sir Lamorak fals cowardes / pyte and shame it is / that ony of you shold take the hyhe ordre of knyghthode / Soo sir Lamorak departed fro them / and within a whyle he mette with sire Melyagaunce / And thenne syre Lamorak asked hym / why he loued Quene Gueneuer as he dyd / for I was not fer from you whanne ye made your complaynte by the cappel / Dyd ye soo said sir Melyagaūce / thenne wille I abyde by hit / I loue quene gueneuer what wille ye with hit / I wille preue and make good / that she is the fayrest lady and moost of beaute in the world /
¶ As to
that said sire Lamorak I say nay therto / for quene Morgause
of Orkeney moder to sire Gawayne and his moder is the
fayrest quene and lady that bereth the lyf / That is not so sayd
syre Melyagaunce / and that wille I preue with my handes
vpon thy body / wille ye soo said sire Lamorak / and in a better
quarel kepe I not to fyghte / Thenne they departed eyther from
other in grete wrathe / And thenne they came rydyng to gyder
as hit had ben thonder / and eyther smote other so sore that
their horses felle bakward to the erthe / And thenne they auoyded
their horses and dressid their sheldes / and drewe their swerdes
And thenne they hurtled to gyders as wylde bores / and thus
¶ And as they stode thus fyghtynge / by fortune came sire Launcelot and sire Bleoberys rydynge / And thenne sire launcelot rode betwixe them / and asked them / For what cause they fought soo to gyders / and ye are bothe knyghtes of kynge Arthur /
SYr said Melyagaunce I shalle telle you for what cause we doo this bataille / I praysed my lady Quene Gueneuer / and said she was the fayrest lady of the world / and sire Lamorak said nay therto / For he said quene Morgause of Orkeney was fayrer than she and more of beaute / A syre Lamorak why saist thou soo / hit is not thy parte to disprayse thy pryncesse that thou arte vnder theire obeyssaunce dn we alle / and there with he alyghte on foote / and sayd for this quarel make the redy / For I wille preue vpon the / that Quene Gueneuer is the fayrest lady and moost of bounte in the world
¶ Syre said sire Lamorak I am loth to haue adoo with you in this quarell / For euery man thynketh his owne lady fayrest / and though I prayse the lady / that I loue moost / ye shold not be wrothe / For though my lady quene Gueneuer be fayrest in your eye / wete ye wel Quene Morgause of Orkeney is fayrest in myn eye / and soo euery knyght thynketh his owne lady fayrest / and wete ye wel syr ye are the man in the world excepte sire Tristram / that I am moost lothest to haue adoo with alle / But and ye wille nedes fyghte with me I shal endure you as long as I may /
¶ Thenne spake sire Bleoberys / and said / my lord sire Laūcelot / I wyste you neuer soo mysauysed as ye are now / For syre Lamorak saith you but reason and knyghtely /
¶ For I
warne you I haue a lady / and me thynketh that she is the
fayrest lady of the world / were this a grete reason that ye
shold be wrothe with me for suche langage / And wel ye wote /
that syr Lamorak is as noble a knyght as I knowe / and he
¶ Thenne sire Launcelot sayd vnto sir lamerak / I pray you foryeue me myn euylle wylle / And yf I was mysauysed I wille amende hit / Syre sayde sir Lamorak the amendys is soone made betwixe you and me And soo sir Launcelot and sire Bleoberys departed / and syr Melyagaunce and sir Lamorak took their horses / and eyther departed from other / And within a whyle came kynge Arthur and mette with sir Lamorak and Iusted with hym / and there he smote doune sire Lamorack / and wounded hym sore with a spere / and soo he rode from hym / wherfore sir Lamorak was wrothe that he wold not fyghte with hym on foote / hou be it that sire Lamorak knewe not kynge Arthur
NOw leue we of this tale / and speke we of sire Tristram / that as he rode he mette with sir kay the seneschal and there sire kay asked sir Tristram of what coūtrey he was / he ansuerd that he was of the countrey of Cornewail Hit maye wel be said sir kay / for yet herd I neuer that euer good knyghte came oute of Cornewaile / that is euyl spoken said sir Tristram / but and it please you to telle me your name I requyre you / Syre wete ye wel said sire kay that my name is sire kay the seneschal / Is that your name said sir Tristram / now wete ye well that ye are named the shamefullest knyghte of youre tonge that now is lyuynge / how be it ye are called a good knyght / but ye are called vnfortunate / and passyng ouerthwarte of your tonge / And thus they rode to gyders tyl they came to a brydge / And there was a knyghte wold not lete hem passe / tyl one of hem Iusted with hym / and so that knyȝt Iusted with sir kay / and there that knyght gaf sir kay a falle / his name was sire Tor syre Lamoraks half broder / and thenne they two rode to theyre lodgynge / And there they fonde sire Brandyles / and sir Tor came thyder anone after /
¶ And as they satte atte souper these foure knygtes / thre of
¶ Syr Tristram herd alle that they saide / and he sayd but lytell / but he thoughte the more / but at that tyme he discouerd not his name / Vpon the morne sir Tristram took his hors / and abode them vpon their way / And there syre Brandyles proferd to Iuste with sir Tristram / and sir Tristram smote hym doune hors and alle to the erthe / Thenne sire Tor le fyse de vayshoure encountred with syre Tristram / and there sire Tristram smote hym doune / and thenne he rode his waye / and sir kay folowed hym / but he wold not of his felauship / Thenne sire Brandyles came to sir kay / and said I wold wete fayne what is that knyghtes name / Come on with me said sir kay / and we shall praye hym to telle vs his name / Soo they rode to gyders / tylle they came nyghe hym / and thenne they were ware where he sat by a welle / and had putte of his helme to drynke at the welle And whanne he sawe them come / he laced on his helme lyghtly / and took his hors / and proferd hem to Iuste / Nay said syre Brandyles we Iusted late ynough with you / we come not in that entent / But for this we come to requyre you of knyghthode to telle vs your name / My fayre knyghtes sythen that is your desyre / and to please you ye shal wete that my name is sir Tristram de lyones neuewe vnto kynge Mark of Cornewayle / In good tyme saide sire Brandyles / and wel be ye fonden / and wete ye wel that we be ryght gladde that we haue fonde you / and we be of a felauship that wold be ryȝt glad of your company / For ye are the knyghte in the world that the noble felauship of the round table mooste desyreth to haue the company of / God thanke them said sir Tristram of theyre grete goodenes / but as yet I feale wel that I am vnabyl to be of their felauship / For I was neuer yet of suche dedes of worthynes to be in the company of suche a felauship / A sayde sire kay and ye be syre Trystram de lyones ye are the man called now moost of prowesse excepte sir launcelot du lake / For he bereth not the lyf crysten ne hethen that can fynde suche another knyght to speke of his prowesse and of his handes and his trouthe with alle / For yet coude there neuer creature saye of hym dishonour and make hit good /
¶ Thus they
talked a grete whyle / and thenne they departed eyther from
NOw shall ye here what was the cause that kynge
Arthur cam in to the forest perillous / that was in
Northwalys by the meanes of a lady / her name was
Annowre / and this lady came to kynge Arthur at Cardyf / and
she by fayre promyse and fayre bihestes maade kynge Arthur
to ryde with her in to that forest perillous / and she was a grete
sorceresse / and many dayes she hadde loued kynge arthur / and
by cause she wold haue hym to lye by her / she came in to that
Countrey / Soo whanne the kynge was gone with her / many
of his knyghtes folowed after kynge arthur / whan they myst
hym / as sir launcelot Braundyles and many other / and when
she had brought hym to her toure / she desyred hym to lye by her
and thenne the kynge remembryd hym of his lady / and wold
not lye by her for no crafte that she coude doo / Thenne euery
daye she wolde make hym ryde in to that forest with his owne
knyghtes to the entent to haue had kynge arthur slayne / For
whan this lady annoure sawe that she myȝt not haue hym at
her wille / thenne she laboured by fals meanes to haue
destroyed kynge arthur and slayne / Thenne the lady of the lake
that was alwey frendely to kynge arthur / she vnderstoode by
her subtyl craftes that kynge arthur was lyke to be destroyed
And therfore this lady of the lake that hyght Nyneue cam in
to that forest to seke after sire Launcelot du lake / or sire
Tristram for to helpe kynge arthur / for as that same day this lady
of the lake knewe wel that kynge arthur shold be slayne /
onles that he hadde helpe of one of these two knyȝtes / and thus
she rode vp and doune tyl she mette with sire Tristram / and
anone as she sawe hym / she knewe hym / O my lord sir Tristram
she said well be ye mette / and blessid be the tyme that I haue
mette with you / for this same day / and within these two houres
shalle be done the foulest dede that euer was done in this land
O fair damoysel said sir Tristram maye I amende hit / Come
on with me she said and that in alle tha haste ye maye / for ye
shal see the most worshipfullest knyȝt of the world hard bestad
¶ Thenne said sire Tristram I am redy to helpe suche a noble
man / he is neither better ne wers said the lady of the lake but
the noble kynge Arthur hym self / God defende said sir
Trystram that euer he shold be in suche distresse / Thenne they rode to
gyders a grete pas vntyl they came to a lytel turret a castel / &
vndernethe that castel they sawe a knyghte standynge vpon
foote fyghtynge with two knyghtes / And soo sir Tristram
biheld them / and at the laste the two knyghtes smote doune the
one knyghte / and that one of hem vnlaced his helme to haue
slayne hym / And the lady Annoure gat kyng Arthurs suerd
in her hand to haue stryken of his hede / And there with alle
came sire Tristram with alle his myghte / cryenge / Traytresse /
Traitresse leue that / And anone there sire Tristram smote the
one of the knyghtes thorou the body that he felle dede / and
thēne he rasshed to the other / and smote his bak in sonder / and in
the meane whyle the lady of the lake cryed to kyng Arthur
lete not that fals lady escape / Thenne kynge Arthur
ouertoke her / and with the same swerd he smote of her heed / and the
lady of the lake took vp her heed and henge it vp by the
heyre of her sadel bowe / And thenne sir Tristram horsed kyng
Arthur / and rode forth with hym / but he charged the lady of the
lake not to discouer his name as at that tyme / Whan the
kynge was horsed / he thanked hertely sire Tristram / and desyred
to wete his name / but he wold not telle hym / but that he was
a poure knyght auenturous / and soo he bare kynge Arthur
felauship tyl he met with somme of his knyghtes / And within
a whyle he mette with sir Ector de marys / and he knewe not
kynge Arthur nor sir Tristram / and he desyred to Iuste with
one of hem / Thenne sire Tristram rode vnto sir Ector / and
smote hym from his hors / And whanne he hadde done soo / he cam
ageyne to the kynge / and said my lord yonder is one of your
knghtes / he may bere you felauship / and another day that
dede that I haue done for you I truste to god ye shalle
vnderstande that I wold do you seruyse / Allas said kyng Arthur
lete me wete what ye are / Not at this tyme said sir Tristram /
Soo he departed and lefte kynge Arthur and sir Ector to
gyders
ANd thenne at a day sette sire Tristram and sire Lamorak mette at the welle / and thenne they took kehydius at the fosters hous / and soo they rode with hym to the ship / where they lefte dame Brangwayne and Gouernayle and soo they sayled in to Cornewaile all holy to gyders / and by assent and enformacyon of dame Brangwayn whan thye were landed they rode vnto sire Dynas the seneschal / a trusty frende of sir Tristrams / and so dame Brangwayne and syre Dynas rode to the courte of kynge Marke / and told the quene la Beale Isoud that sir tristram was nyghe her in that countrey / thenne for very pure Ioye la beale Isoud swouned / & whan she myghte speke / she said gentyl knyȝt Seneschall help that I myght speke with hym / outher my herte wille brast /
¶ Thenne sir Dynas and dame Brangwayne broughte syre tristram and kehydius pryuely vnto the courte vnto a chambre where as la beale Isoud hadde assygned hit / and to telle the ioyes that were betwixe la beale Isoud and sire tristram / there is no tonge can telle it / nor herte thynke hit / nor pen wryte hit / And as the Frensshe book maketh mencyon at the fyrst tyme that euer sir kehydius sawe la beale Isoud / he was soo enamoured vpon her / that for very pure loue he myghte neuer withdrawe hit / And at the last as ye shall here or the book be ended / sire Kehydius dyed for loue of la beale Isoud / and thenne pryuely he wrote vnto her lettres and ballades of the moost goodlyest that were vsed in tho dayes /
¶ And whanne
La beale Isoud vnderstood his letters she hadde pyte of his
cōplaynt / and vnauysed she wrote another letter to comforte hym
with alle / And sire tristram was alle this whyle in a turret
at the commaundement of la beale Isoud / and whan she
myght / she came vnto sire tristram / So on a day kynge Mark
played at the chesse vnder a chamber wyndowe / and at that tyme
sire tristram and sire Kehydius were within the chamber ouer
Kyng Marke / and as it myshapped sir tristram fonde the
letter that Kehydius sent vnto la beale Isoud / also he had foūd
the letter that she wrote vnto Kehydius / & at that same tyme
la Beale Isoud was in the same chamber / Thenne sir tristram
¶ My lord the kynge said Kehydius / hit fortuned me that I was a slepe in the wyndowe aboue your hede / and as I slepte I slommeryd / and soo I felle doune / And thus sir kehydius excused hym
THenne sir Tristram dredde sore lest he were discouerd
vnto the kynge that he was there / wherfore he drewe
hym to the strengthe of the Toure / and armed hym in
suche armour as he had to fyghte with hem that wold
withstande hym / And soo whanne sire Tristram sawe / there was no
resystence ageynst hym / he sente Gouernaile for his hors and
his spere / and knyghtely he rode forth oute of the castel
openly that was called the castel of Tyntagil / And euen atte
gate he mette with Gyngalyn syr Gawayns sone / And anone
sir Gyngalyn putte his spere in his reyste / and ranne vpon
sire Trystram and brake his spere / and sire Tristram at that
¶ Allas said the damoysel where shalle I fynde hym / In suche a place said sire Fergus
¶ Thenne sir Fergus fond Quene Isoud seke in her bedde /
makynge the grettest dole that euer ony erthely woman made
And whan the damoysel fonde sire Tristram / she made grete
dole by cause she myȝt not amende hym / for the more she made of
hym / the more was his payne / And at the last sir Tristram
toke his hors and rode aweye from her / And thenne was it thre
dayes or that she coude fynde hym / And thenne she broughte
hym mete and drynke / but he wold none / and thenne another
tyme sir Tristram escaped awey from the damoysel / and it
happed hym to ryde by the same castel where sire Palamydes and
sir Tristram dyd bataille whan la beale Isoud departed them /
And there by fortune the damoysel mette with sire Tristram
ageyne makynge the grettest dole that euer erthely creature
made / and she yede to the lady of that castel / and tolde her of the
mysauenture of sire Tristram / allas said the lady of that castel
where is my lord sir tristram / Ryght here by your castel said the
damoysel / In good tyme saide the lady / is he soo nyghe me / he
ANd vpon a day Dagonet kynge Arthurs foole came in to Cornewaile with two squyers with hym / and as they rode thorugh that forest / they came to a fayre welle / where sir Tristram was wonte to be / and the whether was hote / and they alyghte to drynke of that welle / and in the meane whyle their horses brake lous /
¶ Ryght soo sire Tristram came vnto them / and fyrst he sousyd sire Dagonet in that welle / & after his squyers / and there at lough the sheepherdes / and forth with al he ranne after their horses and broughte hem ageyne / one by one / and ryghte soo wete as they were / he made hem lepe vp / and ryde their wayes /
¶ Thus sire Tristram endured
there an halfe yere naked / and wold neuer come in town / ne
vyllage / The meane whyle the damoysel that syre Palomydes
sente to seke sir Tristram she yede vnto sir Palomydes / and told
¶ Thenne a lytel before that tyme la Beale Isoud had commaunded sir Kehydius oute of the Countrey of Cornewaile / Soo sir Kehydius departed with a dolorous herte / and by aduenture he mette with sir Palomydes / and they enfelaushypped to gyder / and eyther complayned to other of theire hote loue that they loued la beale Isoud / Now lete vs said sir Palomydes seke sire tristram that loued her as wel as we / and lete vs preue whether we maye recouer hym / Soo they rode in to that forest / and thre dayes and thre nyghtes they wold neuer take their lodgynge but euer soughte sir tristram / And vpon a tyme by aduenture they mette with Kynge Mark that was ryden from hys men al alone / whanne they sawe hym / syre palomydes knewe hym / but sir Kehydius knewe hym not / A fals kynge said sir Palomydes / it is pyte thou hast thy lyf / For thou arte a destroyer of alle worshipful Knyghtes / and by thy meschyef and thy vengeaunce thou hast destroyed the mooste noble Knyght sire tristram de lyones / And therfor defende the said sir Palomydes / for thou shalt dye this day / that were shame said Kyng Mark / for ye two are armed and I am vnarmed / As for that said sir Palomydes I shalle fynde a remedy therfore / here is a Knyȝt with me / and thou shalt haue his harneis / Nay said kyng Mark I wille not haue adoo with yow for cause haue ye none to me / For alle the mysease that sir tristram hath / was for a letter that he fond / for as to me I dyd to hym no displeasyre / and god knoweth I am ful sory for his disease and malady / Soo when the kyng had thus excused hym / they were frendes / and kyng Mark wold haue had them vnto tyntagil / but syr Palomydes wolde not but torned vnto the Realme of Logrys / and sir kehydius saide that he wolde goo in to Bretayn /
¶ Now torne we vnto sir Dagonet ayene
that whanne he and his squyers were vpon horsbak / he demyd
that the sheepherdes had sente that soole to araye hem so / by
cause that they laughed at hem / and soo they rode vnto the kepers
of beestes and alle to bete them / Syr tristram sawe them bete
¶ Thenne sir Dagonet rode to kyng Mark and told hym hou he had spedde in that forest / And therfore said sir Dagonet / Beware kynge Mark that thou come not aboute that welle / in the forest / For there is a foole naked / and that foole and I foole mette to gyders / and he hadde almost slayn me /
¶ A said kynge Mark / that is sir Matto le breune / that felle oute of his wytte by cause he lost his lady / For whan sir Gaherys smote doune sir Matto and wanne his lady of hym / Neuer syns was he in his mynde / and that was pyte / for he was a good knyght /
THenne sir Andred that was cosyn vnto sir Tristram / made a lady that was his peramour to say and to noyse hit that she was with sire Tristram or euer he dyed / And this tale she broughte vnto kynge markes courte that she buryed hym by a welle / and that or he dyed / he besoughte kynge Marke to make his cosyn sir Andred kynge of the countre of Lyonas / of the whiche sir Trystram was lord of / Alle this dyd sir Andred by cause he wold haue had sire tristrams lādes /
¶ And whanne kynge Mark herd telle / that sir tristram was dede / he wepte / and made grete dole / But whanne quene Isoud herd of these tydynges / she maade suche sorowe / that she was nyghe oute of her mynde / And soo vpon a daye she thought to slee her self / and neuer to lyue after sir tristrams deth And soo vpon a day la beale Isoud gat a swerd pryuely / and bare hit in to her gardyn / and there she pyghte the swerd thorugh a plumme tree vp to the hyltes / soo that hit stak fast and hit stode brest hyhe / And as she wold haue ronne vpon the swerd and to haue slayne her self /
¶ Alle this aspyed kyng
THenne the knyght took vp the gyaunts hede / and
bare hit with hym vnto kynge Marke / and told hym /
what aduenture betyd hym in the forest / and how a
naked man rescowed hym / from the grymly gyaunt Tauleas
where hadde ye this aduenture said kynge Marke / forsothe
said syr Dynaunt at the fayre fontayne in your foreste / where
many aduenturous knyȝtes mete / and there is the madde man
wel said kyng Mark I wille see that wild man / So within
a day or two kynge Marke commaunded his knyghtes / & his
hunters that they shold be redy on the morne for to hunte / and
soo vpon the morne he wente vnto that forest / And whanne the
kynge came to that welle / he fonde there lyenge by that welle
a fayr naked man / and a swerd by hym / Thenne kyng
Mark blewe and straked / and there with his knyghtes came to
hym / and thenne the kynge commaunded his knyghtes to
take that naked man with fayrenes / and brynge hym to my
castel / Soo they did saufly & fayre and cast mantels vpon sir
Tristram and soo ledde hym vnto Tyntagyll / and there they
bathed hym and wasshed hym and gaf hym hote suppynges til
they had brought hym wel to his remembraunce / but alle this
whyle there was no creature that knewe sir Tristram nor what
man he was / Soo hit felle vpon a daye that the quene la beale
Isoud herd of suche a man / that ranne naked in the foreste /
and how the kynge had brought hym home to the Courte /
Thenne la Beale Isoud called vnto her dame Brangwayne
and said come on with me / For we wille goo see this man /
that my lord brought from the forest the last daye / So they
passed forthe / and spered where was the seke man / And thenne
a squyer told the quene that he was in the gardyn / takynge
his rest / and repose hym ageynst the sonne / Soo whan the
quene loked vpon sir Tristram she was not remembryd of hym /
but euer she seid vnto dame Brangwayne / me semeth I shold
haue sene hym here to fore in many places / but as soone as sir
Tristram sawe her / he knewe her wel ynough / And thenne he
torned awey his vysage / and wepte / Thenne the quene hadde
alweyes a lytel brachet with her that sir Tristram gaf her the
fyrst tyme that euer she came in to Cornewaile / & neuer wold
that brachet departe from her / but yf syre Tristram was nyghe
THenne the quene departed / but the brachet wold not from hym / and there with alle came kynge Marke and the brachet sat vpon hym / and bayed at them all / There with al syr Andred spak and said syr this is sir Tristram I see by the brachet / Nay said the kyng I can not suppose that / Thenne the kyng asked hym vpon his feith what he was / and what was was his name /
¶ So god me help said he / my name
is sir Tristram de lyones / now do by me what ye lyst / A saide
kyng Mark me repenteth of your recouer / & thenne he lete calle
his barons to Iuge sir Tristram to the dethe / thēne many of his
barons wold not assente therto / and in especyal syr Dynas
the seneschal / & sir Fergus / And so by thaduyse of them al sir
Tristram was banysshed out of the coūtrey for x yere / &
therupon he took his oth vpon a book before the kyng & his barons /
ANd at the next landynge faste by the see / there mette
with sir Tristram & with sir Dynadan sir Ector de
marys and sir Bors de ganys / and there sir Ector
Iusted with syr Dynadan / and he smote hym and his hors doun
And thenne sir Tristram wold haue Iusted with syre Bors
and sir Bors said that he wolde not Iuste with no Cornysshe
knyghtes / for they are not called men of worship / and all this
was done vpon a brydge / and with this came sire Bleoberys
and syr Dryaunt / and sir Bleoberys profered to Iuste with
syr Tristram / and there sir Tristram smote doune syr
Bleoberys / Thenne said sire Bors de ganys / I wist neuer Cornyssh
knyghte of soo grete valoure nor soo valyaunt as that knyȝt
that bereth the trappours enbroudred with crounes / And
thenne sir Tristram and syr Dynadan departed fro them in to a
forest / and there mette them a damoysel that came for the loue of
sire launcelot to seke after somme noble knyghtes of kyng
Arthurs courte for to rescowe sir launcelot / and soo sir launcelott
was ordeyned / for by the treason of quene Morgan le fay to
haue slayne sir launcelot / and for that cause she ordeyned thyrtty
knyghtes to lye in a wayte for sir launcelot / and this
damoysel knewe this treason / And for this cause the damoysel came
for to seke noble knyghtes to helpe syr Launcelot / For that
nyght or day after syr launcelot shold come where these xxx
knyghtes were / And soo this damoysel mette with syre Bors
and sire Ector and with sir Dryaunt / and there she told hem
alle four of the treason of Morgan le fay / and thenne they
promysed her that they wold be nyghe where sire launcelot shold
mete with the xxx knyȝtes / & yf soo be they set vpon hym / we
wil do rescowes as we can / so the damoysel departed / and by
aduenture the damoisel met with sir tristram & with sir
Dynadan / & there the damoysel told hem al the treason that was
ordeyned for sir launcelot / Fair damoysel said sir tristram bryng
me to that same place where they shold mete with sir launcelot
Thenne said sir Dynadan what will ye do / hit is not for vs to
fyghte with thyrtty knyghtes / and wete you wel I wylle
THēne sir Tristram & sir Dynadan rode forth theire weye
tyl they came to the sheepherdes & to the herde men / &
¶ Forsothe syrs sayde the herdemen / here by is good lodgynge in a castel / But there is suche a customme that there shalle no knyghte be herberowed but yf he Iuste with two knyghtes / and yf he be but one knyghte / he must Iuste with two / And as ye be therin soone shalle ye be matched / There is shrewde herberowe said syre Dynadan / lodge where ye will / for I wille not lodge there / Fy for shame sayd sir Tristram are ye not a knyghte of the table round / wherfore ye may not with your worship refuse your lodgynge / Not soo said the herd men / for and ye be beten / and haue the wers ye shalle not be lodged there / and yf ye bete them ye shalle be wel herberowed A said syr Dynadan they are two sure knyghtes / Thenne sire Dynadan wold not lodge there in no manere / but as sire Tristram requyred hym of his knyghthode / and so they rode thyder / and to make shorte tale syr Tristram and sir Dynadan smote hem doune bothe / and soo they entred in to the castel and had good chere / as they coude thynke or deuyse / And whanne they were vnarmed and thought to be mery and in good rest / there came in at the yates syre Palomydes and syre Gaherys requyrynge to haue the customme of the castel / what aray is this said sire Dynadan / I wold haue my rest / that may not be said sir Tristram / Now must we nedes defende the customme of this castel / in soo moche as we haue the better of the lordes of this castel / and therfore saide sire Tristram / nedes muste ye make you redy / In the deuyls name said sir Dynadan came I in to your company / and so they made them redy And sir Gaherys encountred with sire Tristram / and syr Gaherys had a falle / and sir Palamydes encountred with sir Dynadan / and sir Dynadan had a falle / thenne was hit fall for falle / Soo thenne muste they fyghte on foote / that wold not syr Dynadan / for he was so sore brysed of the falle that syre Palomydes gaf hym / Thenne sir Tristram vnlaced syre Dynadans helme / and praid hym to helpe hym / I wille not sayde syr Dynadan for I am sore wounded of the thyrtty knyghtes that we hadde but late agoo to doo with alle
¶ But ye
fare said sire Dynadan vnto syr Tristram as a madde man and
as a man þt is oute of his mynde þt wold cast hym self awey
BVt anone as the noble Knyghte syre launcelot herd of
the shelde of Cornewayle thenne wyst he wel that hyt
¶ Soo there was a knyght in that pryory that hyght Pellinore / and he desyred to wete the name of sire Tristram / but in no wyse he coude not / and so syr Tristram departed and lefte sir Dynadan in the pryory / for he was soo wery and soo sore brysed that he myghte not ryde / Thenne this knyght syre Pellinore said to sire Dynadan / sythen that ye wille not telle me that knyghtes name I will ryde after hym / and make hym to telle me his name / or he shall dye therfore / Beware sir knyght said sir Dynadan / for and ye folowe hym / ye shalle repente hit / Soo that knyghte sire Pellinore rode after sire Tristram and requyred hym of Iustes / thēne sir Tristram smote hym doune and wounded hym thoruȝ the sholder / and soo he past on his way / And on the next day folowyng syr Tristram mette with pursyuaūts / and they told hym that there was made a grete crye of turnement bitwene kynge Carados of scotland and the kynge of Northwalys / & eyther shold Iuste ageyne other at the castel of maydens / and these pursyuaūtes sought alle the coūtrey after the good knyȝtes / and in especyal kynge Carados lete make sekynge for sir launcelot du lake / and the kyng of Northgalys lete seke after sir Tristram de lyonas /
¶ And at that tyme syr Tristram thought to be at that Iustes / and soo by aduenture they mette with sire kay the seneschal and syr Sagramor le desyrus / and syr kay requyred sir Tristram to Iuste / and sire Tristram in a maner refused hym / by cause he wold not be hurte nor brysed ageynste the grete Iustes that shold be bifore the castel of maydens / and therfore he thought to repose hym and to reste hym / And alway sir kay cryed sir knyȝt of Cornewaile Iust with me / or els yelde the to me as recreaunte / whan sir Tristram herd hym saye soo / he torned to hym / and thenne sire kay refused hym and torned his bak / Thenne syr Tristram said as I fynde the / I shalle take the / Thenne sire Kay torned with euylle wylle / and syre Tristram smote syr kay doune / and soo he rode forthe /
¶ Thenne syre Sagramore le desyrus rode after syre
Tristram / and maade hym to Iuste with hym / and there syre
Tristram smote doune syre Sagramor le desyrus from his hors
¶ Whanne sir Tristram herd her say soo / he was gladde to goo
with her to wynne worship / So sire Tristram rode with that
damoysel a vj myle / and thenne mette hym syre Gawayne / and
there with alle syre Gawayne knewe the damoysel / that she
was a damoysel of Quene Morgan le fay / Thenne sir
Gawayne vnderstode that she ladde that knyght to somme meschyef /
Faire knyght said sire Gawayne whyder ryde you now wyth
that damoysel / Syr said sire Tristram I wote not whyder I
shalle ryde / but as the damoysel wylle lede me / Syr saide syre
Gawayne ye shalle not ryde with her / for she and her lady did
neuer good but ylle / And thenne sir Gawayne pulled oute
his swerd / and said / damoysel / but yf thou telle me anon / for
what what cause thou ledest this knyȝt with the thou shalt dye
for hit ryght anone / I knowe alle your ladyes treason / &
yours / Mercy syre Gawayne she said / and yf ye wille saue my
lyf / I wille telle you / Saye on said sir Gawayne / and thow
shalte haue thy lyf / Syre she said Quene Morgan le fay my
lady hath ordeyned a xxx ladyes to seke & to aspye after sir
laūcelot or sir tristram / & by þe trainys of these ladyes who þt may
fyrst mete ony of these two knyghtes they shold torne hem
vnto Morgan le fays castel / sayenge that they shold doo dedes of
worship / & yf ony of tho two knyȝtes cam there / there be xxx
knyghtes lyenge and watchyng in a toure to wayte vpon sir
launcelot or vpon syre tristram / Fy for shame said sire
Gawayne that euer suche fals treason shold be wrought or vsed in a
quene and a kynges syster / and a kynge and quenes
doughter
SYr said sire Gawayne wille ye stande with me / and
we wille see the malyce of these thyrtty knyghtes / syr
said sir tristram goo ye to hem / and hit please you / and ye shal
see I wille not fayle you / for hit is not long a go syn I and
a felawe mette with thyrtty knyȝtes of that quenes felauship
ANd thenne he pulled of his helme and wasshed his vysage / and his handes / and soo he felle on slepe /
¶ In the meane whyle came a damoysel that had
sought sir tristram many wayes and dayes within this land /
And whanne she came to the welle she loked vpon hym / & had
forgeten hym as in remembraunce of sire Tristram / but by hys
hors she knewe hym / that hyghte passe Brewel / that had ben
sire Tristrams hors many yeres / For whanne he was mad in
the forest / syr Fergus kepte hym / Soo this lady dame
Brangwayne abode stylle tyl he was awake / Soo whanne she sawe
hym wake / she salewed hym / and he her ageyn / sor eyther
knewe other of old acqueyntaunce / thenne she told hym how she
had sought hym longe and brode / and there she told hym hou
she hadde letters from quene la beale Isoud / Thenne anon sire
Tristram redde them / and wete ye well / he was gladde / for
theryn was many a pyteous complaynte / Thenne sir Tristram
said / lady Brangwayne ye shalle ryde with me tyl that
turnement be done at the castel of maydens / And thenne shalle ye
bere letters and tydynges with you / And thenne sire tristram
took his hors and sought lodgynge / and there he mette wyth
a good auncyent knyght and prayd hym to lodge with hym
Ryȝt so came Gouernaile vnto sir Tristram / that was glad
of that lady / Soo this old knyghtes name was sir
Pellownus / and he told of the grete turnement that shold be att the
Castel of maydens / And there sir launcelot and xxxij knyȝtes
¶ Ryght as they stode thus talkynge at a bay wyndowe of that castel / they sawe many knyghtes rydynge to and fro toward the turnement / And thenne was sire Tristram ware of a lykely knyght rydyng vpon a grete black hors / and a black couerd shelde / what knyȝte is that said sire Tristram with the black hors & the blak sheld he semes a good knyȝt / I knowe hym wel said sir Persydes he is one of the best knyghtes of the world / thenne is it syre Launcelot said sir Tristram / nay said syre Persydes / hit is syr Palomydes / that is yet vncrystened /
THenne they sawe moche people of the countrey salewe
sire Palomydes / And within a whyle after / ther cam
a squyer of the castel / that told syre Pellounes that
was lord of that castel / that a knyght with a blak sheld had
THenne sir palomydes sente vnto sir launcelot a squyer
and requyred hym of Iustes / Fair felawe seid sir
launcelot / telle me thy lordes name / Syre said the squyer my
lordes name is syr Palomydes the good knyght / In good
houre said sir launcelot / for there is no knyght that I sawe thys
seuen yeres that I had leuer adoo with all than with hym /
NOw torne we vnto sir Tristram de lyones that
commaunded Gouernaile his seruaunt to ordeyne hym a blak
sheld with none other remembraunce therin /
THenne vpon the morne sire Palomydes retorned from the kynge of Northgalys / and rode to kyng Arthurs syde where was kynge Carados and the kynge of Irland / & syr launcelots kynne and sir Gawayns kynne / Soo sire palomydes sente the damoyfel vnto sire Tristram that he sente to seke hym whanne he was oute of his mynde in the forest / and thys damoysel asked sire Tristram / what he was / and what was his name / As for that said sir Tristram telle sir Palomydes ye shalle not wete as at this tyme vnto the tyme I haue broken two speres vpon hym / But lete hym wete thus moche said sir Tristram / that I am the same knyghte that he smote doune in ouer euenyng at the turnement & telle hym playnly / on what party that syre Palomydes be / I wille be of the contrary parte Syre said the damoysel ye shalle vnderstande that sir Palomydes wille be on kyng Arthurs syde / where the moost noble knyghtes of the world ben / In the name of god said sir Tristram / thenne wille I be with the kynge of Northgalys by cause syr Palomydes wille be on kynge Arthurs syde / and els I wold not but for his sake /
¶ Soo whanne kynge Arthur was come they blewe vnto the felde / and thenne there began a grete party / and soo kynge Carados Iusted with the kynge of the honderd knyghtes / and there kynge Carados hadde a falle / thenne was there hurlynge and rasshynge / and ryght so cam in knyghtes of kynge Arthurs / and they bare on bak the kynge of Northgalys knyghtes / Thenne sir Tristram came in and beganne so roughly and soo bygly that there was none myght withstande hym / and thus sire Tristram dured longe /
¶ And at the last syr Trystram felle amonge the felauship of
kynge Ban / and there felle vpon hym syr Bors de ganys /
and syr Ector de marys / and sire Blamor de ganys / & many
¶ Now Ihesu saide syre Tristram wel maye he be valyaunte and ful of prowesse that hath suche a sorte of noble Knyghtes vnto his kynne / and ful lyke is he to be a noble man that is their leder and gouernour / he mente hit by sir Launcelot du Lake /
¶ Soo whanne syre Tristram had
beholden them long / he thouȝt shame to see / ij / C knyȝtes batteryng
¶ Thenne sire Tristram rode vnto the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / and said syre leue youre fyghtynge with tho twenty knyghtes / for ye wynne no worship of them / ye be soo many / and they soo fewe / And wete ye well they wille not oute of the felde I see by their chere and countenaunce / and worship gete ye none and ye slee them / therfore leue your fyghtynge with them / for I to encreace my worship / I wyll ryde to the twenty knyghtes and helpe them with all my myghte and power /
¶ Nay said the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / ye shall not do so / Now I see youre courage and curtosy / I wille withdrawe my knyȝtes for your pleasyr / for euermore a good knyght wylle fauoure another / and lyke wille drawe to lyke /
THenne the kyng with the honderd knyghtes withdrewe his knyghtes / And al this whyle and long tofore syr launcelot had watched vpon syr Tristram with a very purpos to haue felaushipped with hym / And thenne sodenly syr Tristram / syr Dynadan / and Gouernaile his man rode their waye in to the forest that no man perceyued where they wente / Soo thenne kynge Arthur blewe vnto lodgynge / and gaf the kynge of Northgalys the pryce by cause syr Tristram was vpon his syde / Thenne syr launcelot rod here and there so wood as lyon that fauted his fylle by cause he had loste syre Tristram / and soo he retorned vnto kynge Arthur / and thenne in alle the felde was a noyse that with the wynde hit myght be herd two myle thens / how the lordes and ladyes cryed the knyght with the blak shelde hath wonne the felde
¶ Allas said kynge Arthur where is that knyght become / hit is shame to alle tho in the felde so to lete hym escape awey from you / but with gentylnes and curtosy ye myght haue brought hym vnto me to the castel of maydens
¶ Thenne the noble kynge Arthur wente vnto his knyghtes
and comforted them in the best wyse that he coude / and sayd /
my fayre felawes be not dysmayed / how be hit ye haue loste
¶ My felawes said kynge Arthur loke that ye be of good chere / for to morne I wille be in the feld with you and reuenge you of youre enemyes
¶ Soo that nyght Kynge Arthur and his knyghtes reposed them self /
¶ The damoysel that came from la Beale Isoud vnto syr Tristram alle the whyle the turnement was adoynge she was with Quene Gueneuer / and euer the Quene asked her for what cause she came in to that Countrey
¶ Madame she ansuerd I come for none other cause but from my lady la Beale Isoud to wete of your welfare / For in no wyse she wold telle the Quene that she came for syr Tristrams sake / Soo this lady dame Brangwayne took her leue of Quene Gueneuer / and she rode after syr Tristram / And as she rode thurgh the forest she herd a grete crye / thenne she commaunded her squyer to goo in to that forest to wete what was that noyse / and soo he came to a welle and there he fond a Knyght bounden tyl a tree cryeng as he had ben wode and his hors and his harneis standynge by hym / And whan he aspyed the squyer / ther with he abraide / and brake hym self loos and took his swerd in his hand / and ranne to haue slayne that squyer / Thenne he took his hors and fledde all that euer he myght vnto dame Brangwayne / and told her of his aduenture / Thenne she rode vnto syr Tristrams pauelione / and told sire Tristram what aduenture she had fonde in the forest / Allas said syr Tristram vpon my heede there is somme good Knyghte at meschyef / Thenne sire Tristram tooke his hors and his swerd / and rode thyder / there he herd how the Knyght complayned vnto hym self and sayd / I woful knyght syre palomydes what mysauenture befalleth me / that thus am defoiled with falshede and treason thorou syre Bors and syre Ector / Allas he sayde why lyue I soo longe / And thenne he gat his swerd in his handes / and maade many straunge sygnes and tokens / and soo thorou his ragynge he threwe his swerd in to that fontayne
¶ Thenne sir Palomydes
wayled and wrange his handes / And at the laste for pure sorow
he ranne in to that Fontayne ouer his bely / and soughte after
SOo the kynge of Northgalys and the kynge with the honderd knyghtes they two encountred with kyng carados and with the kynge of Irland / and there the kynge with the honderd knyghtes smote doune kynge Carados / and the kynge of Northgalys smote doune the kynge of Irland / With that came in syr Palomydes / and whan he cam he made grete werke / for by his endented shelde he was well knowen / Soo came in kynge Arthur / and dyd grete dedes of armes to gyders / and putte the kynge of Northgalys and the kynge with the honderd knyghtes to the werse / With this came in syr Tristram with his black shelde / And anone he Iusted with syre palomydes / and there by fyne force syr Tristram smote syre palomydes ouer his hors croupe / Thenne kynge Arthur cryed Knyght with the black shelde make the redy to me / and in the same wyse sir Tristram smote kynge Arthur / And thenne by force of kyng Arthurs knyghtes the kynge and sir palomydes were horsed ageyne / Thenne kyng Arthur with a grete egre herte he gate a spere in his hand / and therupon the one syde he smote syr Tristram ouer his hors / Thenne foote hote syr Palomydes cam vpon sir Tristram as he was vpon foot to haue ouer ryden hym / Thenne sir Tristram was ware of hym / & there he stouped a syde / and with grete yre he gate hym by the arme / and pulled hym doune from his hors / Thenne syre palomydes lyghtely arose / and thenne they dasshed to gyder myghtely with their swerdes / and many kynges / Quenes and lordes stode and beheld them / And at the laste syre Tristram smote syre palomydes vpon the helme thre myȝty strokes / and at euery stroke that he gaf hym he said this for syre Tristrams sake / With that syre Palomydes felle to the erthe grouelynge / Thenne came the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / & broughte syre Tristram an hors / and soo was he horsed ageyn By thenne was syr Palomydes horsed / and with grete yre he Iusted vpon syr Tristram with his spere as hit was in the reyste and gaf hym a grete dasshe with his swerd /
¶ Thenne sir Tristram auoyded his spere / and gate hym by
the neck with his bothe handes / and pulled hym clene oute of
his sadel / and soo he bare hym afore hym the lengthe of ten
speres / & thenne in the presence of hem al he lete hym falle at his
THenne this crye was soo large / that sir launcelot herd
it / And thenne he gate a grete spere in his hand / and
came towardes the crye / Thenne sir launcelot cryed / the
knyght with blak shelde make the redy to Iuste with me /
Whanne sire Tristram herd hym say so he gate his spere in his
hand / and eyther abeyshed doun their hedes / and came to
gyder as thonder / and sire Tristrams spere brake in pyeces / and
syr launcelot by male fortune stroke sir Tristram on the syde a
depe wound nyghe to the dethe / But yet syr Tristram auoyded
not his sadel / and soo the spere brak / there with all sir tristram
that was wounded gate oute his swerd / and he rasshed to sir
launcelot / and gaf hym thre grete strokes vpon the helme that
the fyre sprange there oute / and sir launcelot abeyshed his
hede lowely toward his sadel bowe / And there with alle sir
tristram departed from the felde / for he felte hym soo woūded that
he wende he shold haue dyed / and sir Dynadan aspyed hym
and folowed hym in to the forest / Thenne sir launcelot abode &
dyd many merueyllous dedes / Soo whan fire Tristram was
departed by the forests syde / he alyght & vnlaced his harneis
and fresshed his woūd / thēne wende sir Dynodan that he shold
¶ By that sir Dynadan was ware where came palomydes rydynge streyghte vpon them / And thenne syre Tristram was ware that syre Palomydes came to haue destroyed hym / and so syre Dynadan gaf hym warnyng and saide sire Tristram my lord ye are soo sore wounded that ye may not haue adoo with hym / therfore I wille ryde ageynst hym and doo to hym what I maye / And yf I be slayne ye maye praye for my soule and in the meane whyle ye maye withdrawe you and goo in to the castel / or in the foreste that he shalle not mete with you /
¶ Syre Tristram smyled and said I thanke you syre Dynadan of your good wylle / but ye shalle wete that I am able to handle hym / And thenne anone hastely he armed hym and took his hors / and a grete spere in his hand and said to syre Dynadan Adieu / & rode toward syre Palamydes a softe paas
¶ Thenne whanne sire Palomydes sawe that / he made countenaunce to amende his hors / but he dyd hit for this cause / For he abode sire Gaherys that came after hym /
¶ And whanne he was come he rode toward syre Tristram /
¶ Thenne syre Tristram sente vnto syr palomydes and requyred hym to Iuste with hym / And yf he smote doune sir Palomydes / he wold doo no more to hym / And yf it so happend that sire Palomydes smote doune syr Tristram he badde hym do his vtteraunce / So they were accorded / thenne they mette to gyders / and syre Tristram smote doune sir palomydes / that he had a greuous falle / soo that he laye stylle as he hadde ben dede / And thenne sire Trystram ranne vpon syr Gaherys / and he wold not haue Iusted But whether he wolde or not syre Tristram smote hym ouer his hors croupe that he laye stylle as though he had ben dede / And thenne syr Tristram rode his waye and lefte syre Persydes squyer within the pauelions / and syre Tristram and syre Dynadan rode to an old knyghtes place to lodge them / And that olde knyght had fyue sones at the turnement / for whome he prayed god hertely for their comyng home /
¶ And so as the
frensshe book faith they cam home al / v / wel beten / And whan
syr Tristram departed in to the forest syr laūcelot held alwey
THenne alle the estates and degrees hyhe and lowe
sayd of syr launcelot grete worship / for the honour that
he dyd vnto syr Tristram / and for that honour doyng
to sir Tristram he was at that more preysed and
renoumed than and he had ouerthrowen v C knyghtes / and all the
peple holy for this gentylnes / fyrst the estates bothe hyhe and
lowe / and after the comynalte cryed at ones syre Launcelot
hath wonne the felde who soo euer saye nay / Thenne was syre
Launcelot wroth and ashamed / and soo there with alle he
rode to kynge Arthur / Allas said the kynge we are alle
dysmayed that syr Tristram is thus departed from vs / By god
said kynge Arthur he is one of the noblest knyȝtes that euer
I sawe hold spere or swerd in hand / and the moost curteyst
knyght in his fyghtyng / for ful hard I sawe hym sayd kyng
Arthur whanne he smote syr Palomydes vpon the helme
thryes / that he abasshed his helme with his strokes / and also he
said / here is a stroke for syr Tristram / and thus thryes he sayd /
Thenne kynge Arthur / syr launcelot / and sire Dodynas le
saueage took their horses to seke sir Tristram / and by the menes
¶ As for me said sir launcelot for alle the
landes that euer my fader lefte me I wold not haue hurte sir
Tristram and I had knowen hym at that tyme / that I hurt
hym was for I sawe not his sheld / For and I had sene his
black sheld / I wold not haue medled with hym for many
causes/ for late he dyd as moche for me as euer dyd Knyght
and that is wel knowen that he had adoo with thyrtty
Knyȝtes / and no helpe saue syr Dynadan / And one thynge shalle
I promyse said syr launcelot / syr Palomydes shalle repente it
as in his vnkyndely delynge for to folowe that noble knyght
that I by myshap hurted thus / Syr launcelot sayd alle the
worship that myght be said by sir Tristram / Thenne kyng
Arthur made a grete feest to alle that wold come / And thus we
lete passe Kynge Arthur / and a lytyl we wille torne vnto sir
Palomydes that after he had a falle of sire Tristram / he was
nyghe hand araged oute of his wyt for despyte of sir Tristram
ANd whanne he came to the land he took of his
harneis / and satte rorynge and cryenge as a man oute of
his mynde / Ryght so came a damoysel euen by syr Palomydes
that was sente fro syr Gawayne and his broder vnto sir
mordred that lay seke in the same place with that old knyȝt
where syr Tristram was / For as the Frensshe book saith syr
Persydes hurte soo syr Mordred a ten dayes afore / and had not
ben for the loue of sir Gawayne and his broder / syr Persydes
had slayne sir Mordred / and soo this damoysel came by sir
palomydes / and she and he had langage to gyder / the whiche
pleasyd neyther of them / and soo the damoysel rode her wayes tyl
she came to the old knyghtes place / & there she told that old
knyght how she mette with woodest knyght by aduenture
that euer she mette with all / what bare he in his sheld said sir
Tristram / hit was endented with whyte and black saide the
damoysel / A said sir Tristram that was sir palomydes / the
good knyght / For wel I knowe hym said sir Tristram for one
of the best knyghtes lyuynge in this realme / Thenne that old
knyght took a lytel hackney and rode for syre palomydes / and
brought hym vnto his owne manoyr / and ful wel knewe sire
Tristram syr Palomydes / but he said but lytel / for at that
tyme syr Tristram was walkyng vpon his feet / and wel
amended of his hurtes / and alweyes whan sire Palomydes sawe
syr Tristram / he wold behold hym ful merueillously / And
euer hym semed that he hadde sene hym / Thenne wold he saye
vnto syre Dynadan and euer I may mete with syre Tristram
he shal not escape myn handes / I merueile said sir Dynadan þt
¶ Now shall we speke of Kynge Arthur / that said to sir Launcelot had not ye ben / we had not lost syre Tristram for he was here dayly vnto the tyme ye mette with hym / and in an euylle tyme sayd Arthur ye encountred with hym / My lord Arthur said Launcelot ye putte vpon me that I shold ben cause of his departycyon / god knoweth hit was ageynste my wille / But whan men ben hote in dedes of armes ofte they hurte their frendes as wel as their foes / And my lord said sir launcelot ye shal vnderstande that sir Tristram is a man that I am loth to offende for he hath done for me more than euer I dyd for hym as yet / But thenne sir Launcelot made brynge forth a book and thēne sir launcelot said / here we are ten Knyghtes that wil swere vpon a book neuer to reste one nyght where we rest another this twelue moneth vn tyl that we fynde syr Tristram / And as for me said syre Launcelot I promyse you vpon this book that and I may mete with hym / outher with fayrenes or foulnesse I shalle brynge hym to this courte / or els I shalle dye therfore / And the names of these ten knyghtes that hadde vndertake this quest were these folowynge / Fyrst was sir Launcelot / syr Ector de Marys / syr Bors de ganys and Bleoberis and syre Blamor de ganys / and Lucan the botteler / syr Vwayne / syr Galyhud / Lyonel and Gaylodyn / Soo these x noble knyghtes departed from the courte of kynge Arthur / and soo they rode vpon their quest to gyders vntyl they came to a crosse where departed four wayes / and there departed the felauship in four to seke syr Tristram / And as syr launcelot rode by aduenture he mette with dame Brangwayn that was sent in to that countrey to seke sir Tristram / and she fled as faste as her palfrey myght goo / Soo sire Launcelot mette with her and asked her why she fledde /
¶ A fayre knyghte said dame
Brangwayne I flee for drede of my lyf / for here foloweth me
syr Breuse saunce pyte to slee me / Hold you nyghe me sayd
NOw wille we speke of sir Lucan the buttelere that by
fortune he came rydyng to the same place there as was
syr Tristram / and in he came in none other entente /
but to aske herberowe / thenne the porter asked what was his
name / Telle your lord that my name is syr Lucan the botteler
a knyghte of the round table / Soo the porter wente vnto syre
Darras lord of the place / and told hym who was there to
aske herborouȝ / Nay nay seid syr Daname that was neuewe to
syr Darras / saye hym that he shalle not be lodged here / But
lete hym wete that I syr Daname wyll mete with hym anon
and bydde hym make hym redy / So sire Daname came forth
on horsbak / and there they mette to gyders with speres / and sir
Lucan smote doune syr Daname ouer his hors croupe / and
thēne he fledde in to that place / and sir Lucan rode after hym / &
asked after hym many tymes / Thenne syr dynadan said to sire
Tristram hit is shame to see the lordes cosyn of this place
defoiled / Abyde said sir Tristram and I shalle redresse it / and
in the meane whyle syr Dynadan was on horsbak and he
Iustid with Lucan þe botteler / & ther sir lucan smote doune dynadā thurȝ
the thyck of the thyghe / and soo he rode his way / and sire
tristram was wrothe that sir Dynadan was hurte / & folowed
after and thought to auenge hym / and within a whyle he
ouertook sir lucan / and badde hym torne / and soo they mette to
gyders soo that sire Tristram hurt sir Lucan passynge sore / and
¶ Thenne syr Vwayne lete ordeyne an hors lytter / and
brought sir Lucan to the abbey of Ganys / and the castel there by
hyght the castel of Ganys / of the whiche syr Bleoberys was
lord / And at that Castel sire launcelot promysed alle his
felawes to mete in the quest of syr Tristram / Soo whan sir
tristram was come to his lodgyng ther cam a damoisel þt told sir
Darras that thre of his sones were slayne at that turnement
and two greuously woūded that they were neuer lyke to
helpe them self / And alle this was done by a noble knyghte that
bare the black shelde / and that was he that bare the pryce /
¶ Thenne came there one and told syr Darras that the same
knyght was within hym that bare the black sheld / Thenne sir
Darras yede vnto sir Tristrams chamber / and there he fond his
sheld shewed it to the damoysel / A syr said the damoysel
that same is he / that slewe your thre sones / Thenne withoute
ony taryenge sir Darras putte syre Tristram and syre
Palomydes and syr Dynadan within a strong pryson / and there sir
Tristram was lyke to haue dyed of grete sekenesse / and
euery day syr Palomydes wold repreue sir Tristram of old hate
betwixe them / And euer sir Tristram spak fayre and said
lytel / But whan sir Palomydes sawe the fallynge of sekenesse
of sir Tristram thenne was he heuy for hym / and comforted
hym in alle the best wyse he coude / And as the Frensshe booke
saith there came fourty knyghtes to sire Darras / that were of
his owne kyn / and they wold haue slayne sire Tristram and
NOw wille we speke and leue sir Tristram / syre Palomydes / & syr Dynadan in pryson / and speke we of other knyghtes that soughte after syre Tristram many dyuerse partyes of this land / and some yede in to Cornewaile / and by aduenture syr Gaheryse neuewe vnto kyng Arthur came vnto Kynge Mark / and there he was wel receyued / and satte atte kynge Marks owne table & ete of his owne messe /
¶ Thenne
kynge Mark asked sir Gaheryse what tydynges there were in
the royalme of Logrys / Syre said syr Gaheryse the Kyng
regneth as a noble knyght / and now but late there was a grete
Iustes and turnement as euer I sawe ony in the realme of
Logrys / and the moost noble knyghtes were at that Iustes /
But there was one knyght that dyd merueyllously thre
dayes / and he bare a black shelde / and of alle knyghtes that
euer I sawe he preued the best knyȝt / thrnne said Kyng mark
that was syre launcelot or syre palomydes the paynym / Not soo
said syr Gaherys / for bothe syre launcelot and sire Palomydes
were on the contrary party ageynst the Knyght with the blak
shelde / thenne was it sir Tristram said the kyng / ye said sir
Gaheryse And there with all the Kyng smote doun his hede / & in
his herte he feryd sore that syre Tristram shold gete hym suche
worship in the Royame of Logrys / where thorou that he hym
self shold not be able to withstande hym / Thus syre Gaheryse
¶ Thenne there was come syre Andred to seke kynge Marke
¶ Thou traytour knyght said sir kay / and I wiste it were thou that thus traitourly hast hurte this noble knyghte / thow sholdest neuer passe my handes / Syre saide sir Andred I dyd neuer hurte hym / and that I wylle reporte me to hym self / Fy on you fals knyghtes said syr kay / for ye of Cornewaile ar nought worthe / Soo syr kay made cary syr Vwayne to the abbay of the black Crosse / and there he was helyd / And thenne syr Gaherys took his leue of kynge Mark / But or he departed he sayd / syre kynge ye dyd a foule shame vnto you & your Courte whan ye bannysshed sir Tristram out of this coūtrey / for ye neded not to haue doubted no knyght and he had ben here / and soo he departed
THenne there came syre kay the Seneschal vnto kynge
Marke / and there he hadde good chere shewyng
outeward / Now sayre lordes said he wille ye preue ony
aduenture in the forest of Morris in the whiche I knowe wel
is as hard an aduenture as I knowe ony / Syr said sir kay /
I wille preue hit / And sir Gaheryse said he wold be auysed
For kynge Mark was euer ful of treason / and there with al
syr Gaheryse departed and rode his waye / And by the same
waye that syre Kay shold ryde / he leyd hym doune to reste
chargynge his squyer to wayte vpon sir kay / and warne me
whanne he cometh / Soo within a whyle sir kay came rydynge
that way / and thenne sir Gaheryse tooke his hors and met hym
and sayd sire kay ye are not wyse to ryde at the request of
kynge Mark for he deleth alle with treason / Thenne said sire kay
I requyre you lete vs preue this aduenture / I shal not fayle
¶ The meane whyle kyng
Marke within the castel of Tyntagyl auoyded alle his barōs
& alle other sauf suche as were pryuy with hym / were auoyded
oute of his chamber / And thenne he lete calle his neuewe sir
Andred / and badde arme hym and horse hym lyghtely / & by
that tyme it was mydnyght / And soo kynge Marke was
armed in blak hors and alle / and soo att a pryuy posterne they
two yssued oute with their varlets with them / and rode tylle
they came to that lake / Thenne sir Kay aspyed them fyrst and
gat his spere / and profered to Iuste / And kynge Mark rode
ageynst hym / and smote eche other ful hard / for the mone
shone as the bryght day / And there at that Iustes sir Kayes hors
fylle doune / for his hors was not so bygge as the kynges hors
and sir kayes hors brysed hym ful sore / Thenne sire Gaherys
was wrothe that sir kay had a falle / Thenne he cryed knyght
sytte thou fast in thy sadel / for I wille reuenge my felawe /
Thenne kynge Marke was aferd of syr Gaherys / and so with
euyl wylle kynge Marke rode ageynst hym / and sir Gaherys
gaf hym suche a stroke that he felle doun / So thenne forth with
all syr Gaheryse ranne vnto syr Andred and smote hym from
his hors quyte that his helme smote in the erthe / and nyhe had
broken his neck / And there with al syr Gaherys alyghte and
gate vp sir Kay / And thenne they yode bothe on foote to them /
and badde them yelde them / and telle theire names other they
shold dye / Thenne with grete payne sire Andred spak fyrst &
said hit is kynge Marke of Cornewaile / therfore be ye ware
what ye do / and I am sir Andred his cosyn / Fy on you bothe
said sir Gaheryse for a fals traitour / and fals treason hast thou
wrouȝt / and he both vnder the fayned chere that ye made vs / it
were pyte said sir Gaherys that thou sholdest lyue ony lenger /
Saue my lyf said kynge Marke and I wil make amendys &
consyder that I am a kynge anoynted / it were the more
shame said sir Gaherys to saue thy lyf / thou arte a kynge
enoynted with creme / and therfore thou sholdest holde with alle men
of worship / And therfor thou arte worthy to dye /
With that he lasshed at kyng Mark without sayeng ony more &
NOw leue we of this tale / and speke we of syr dynas that had within the castel a peramour / and she loued another knyghte better than hym / And so whanne syr Dynas wente oute on huntynge / she slypped doune by a tuell / And took with her two brachets / and soo she yede to the knyght that she loued / and he her ageyne /
¶ And whanne sir
¶ Thenne soone after this syr Tristram fylle seke that he wende to haue dyed / thenne syr Dynadan wepte / and soo dyd sire Palomydes vnder them bothe makyng grete sorou /
¶ Soo a damoysel
t I haue / I myȝt haue done none other wyse/
And yf I had slayne hem by treason or trechery I hadde ben
worthy to haue dyed / Alle this I consyder said syr Darras/
that alle that ye dyd was by force of knyghthode / and that
was the cause I wold not putte you to deth / But sythe ye be
syr Tristram the good knyght I pray you hertely to be my good
frend and to my sones / Syr said sire Tristram I promyse yow
by the feithe of my body euer whyle I lyue I wille do yow
seruyse / for ye haue done to vs but as a naturel Knyghte ought
to doo / Thenne sir Tristram reposed hym there tyl that he was
amended of his sekenesse / And whanne he was bygge and
stronge / they took their leue / and euery knyght took their
horses and soo departed and rode to gyders tyl they came to a
crosse way / Now felawes said syr Tristram here wylle we
departe in sondry wayes / and by cause sire Dynadan hadde the
fyrst aduenture of hym I wille begynne
SOo as sir Dynadan rode by a welle / he fond a lady
makyng grete dole / what eyleth you said sir Dynadan
Syre knyght said the lady I am the wofullest lady
of the world / for within these fyue dayes / here came a knyght
called sir Breuse saunce pyte / and he slewe myn owne broder /
And euer syns he hath kepte me at his owne will / and of al
men in the world I hate hym moost / And therfor I requyre
you of knyghthode to auenge me / for he wille not tary but be
here anone / Lete hym come said sire Dynadan / And by cause of
honour of alle wymmen I wylle doo my parte / With this cam
syr Breuse / And whan he sawe a Knyght with his lady / he
was wood wrothe / And thenne he said sir Knyght kepe the
from me / soo they hurled to gyder as thonder / and eyther
smote other passynge sore / But syre Dynadan putte hym thurgh
the sholder a greuous wounde / and or euer sir Dynadan
myght torne hym syr Breuse was gone and fledde / Thenne the
lady prayd hym to brynge her to a Castel there besyde but
four myle thens / and soo sir Dynadan brought her there / & she
was welcome / for the lord of that castel was her vnkel / and
soo syre Dynadan rode his way vpon his aduenture / Now
torne we this tale vnto syre Tristram that by aduenture he cam to
a castel to aske lodgynge / wherin was quene Morgan le fay / &
soo whan sire Tristram was lete into that castel / he had good
chere alle that nyght / And vpon the morne whan he wold
haue departed / the Quene said / wete ye wel ye shall not departe
lyghtely / for ye are here as a prysoner / Ihesu defende said syr
Tristram / for I was but late a prysoner / Fayr knyght sayd
the quene ye shalle abyde with me tyl that I wete what ye ar
and from whens ye come / And euer the Quene wold set syr
Tristram on her owne syde / and her peramour on the other
syde / And euer Quene Morgan wold beholde syr Tristram / &
ther at the knyght was Ialous / and was in wille sodenly to
haue ronne vpon syr Tristram with a swerd / but he lefte it for
shame / then̄e the quene said to sir Tristram telle me thy name &
SOo thenne sire Tristram took his leue of the Quene / and took the sheld with hym / Thenne came the knyȝte that helde Quene Morgan le fay / his name was syre Hymeson / and he made hym redy to folowe syre Tristram / fayr frende said Morgan le fay ryde not after that knyght / for ye shalle not wynne no worship of hym / Fy on hym coward saide sire Hemyson / for I wyst neuer good knyghte come oute of Cornewaile / but yf hit were syr Tristram de Lyones / what & that be he said she / Nay nay said he / he is with la beale Isoud and this is but a daffyssh knyght / Allas my fair frende ye shalle fynde hym the best knyght that euer ye mette with alle / For I knowe hym better than ye doo / for your sake said sir Hemyson I shalle slee hym / A fayr frende said the Quene me repenteth that ye wylle folowe that knyght / for I fere me sore of youre ageyne comynge / with this / this knyghte rodd his waye woode wrothe / and he rode after syr Tristram as fast as he hadde ben chaced with knyghtes / Whanne sir Tristram herd a knyghte come after hym soo fast / he retorned aboute / and sawe a knyȝt comynge ageynst hym / And whanne he came nyghe to sir Tristram / he cryed on hyghe syr knyght kepe the from me / Thenne they rasshed to gyders as hit had ben thonder / and sir Hemyson brysed his spere vpon syr Tristram / but his harneis was soo good that he myght not hurte hym / And syre Trystram smote hym harder and bare hym thorou the body / and fylle ouer his hors croupe / Thenne sire Tristram torned to haue done more with his swerd / but he sawe soo moche blood go from hym that hym semed he was lykely to deye / And so he departed from hym / and came to a fayre manoyre to an old knyȝt and there syre Tristram lodged
¶ Now leue to speke of sir Tristram / and speke we of the
knyght that was wounded to the dethe / thenne his varlet
alyght and took of his helme / and thēne he asked his lord whether
there were only lyf in hym / there is in me lyf saide the knyghte
but hit is but lytyl / and therfore lepe thou vp behynde me /
whan thou hast holpen me vp / and holde me fast that I falle
not / and brynge me to Quene Morgan le fay / for depe
drauȝtes of dethe drawen to my herte that I may not lyue / for I
wold fayne speke with her or I dyed / For els my soule wyll
¶ Now torne we vnto syre Tristram that asked the knyght his hoost yf he sawe late ony knyghtes aduenturous / Sir he said the last nyght here lodged with me Ector de marys and a damoysel with hym / and that damoysel told me that he was one of the best knyghtes of the world / that is not soo said sir Tristram / for I knowe four better knyghtes of his owne blood / and the fyrst is syr launcelot du lake / calle hym the best knyght / and sir Bors de ganys Syr Bleoberys / syr Blamor de ganys and syr Gaheris / nay said his hoost / sir Gawayne is a better knyght than he / that is not soo said syr Tristram / for I haue mette with hem bothe / & I felte syr Gaherys for the better knyght and sir Lamorak I calle hym as good as ony of them / excepte sir launcelot / Why name ye not sir Tristram said his hoost / for I accompte hym as good as ony of them / I knowe not sire Tristram said tristram / thus they talked and bourded as longe as them lyste / and thenne wente to reste / And on the morne sir Tristram departed and took his leue of his hoost / and rode toward the roche deure / and anone aduenture had sire Tristram but that / & soo he rested not tyl he came to the castel where he sawe fyue C tentys
THenne the kynge of Scottes and the kyng of Irland
helde ageynst kynge Arthurs knyghtes / and there
beganne a grete medle / So came in syr Tristram and dyd
merueillous dedes of armes / for there he smote doune many
knyȝtes / And euer he was afore kynge Arthur with that shelde /
And whanne kynge Arthur sawe that shelde / he meruyylled
gretely in what entente hit was made / but Quene Gueneuer
demed as it was wherfor she was heuy / Thēne was ther a
ANd yf so be ye can descryue what ye bere / ye ar
worthy to bere the armes / As for that said syr
Tristram I wille ansuere you / this sheld was
yeuen me / not desyred / of quene Morgan le fay
And as for me I can not descryue these armes
for it is no poynt of my charge / and yet I truste to god to
bere hem with worship / Truly sayd kynge Arthur ye oughte not
to bere none armes / but yf ye wist what ye bare / But I pray
you telle me youre name / to what entente said syre Tristram /
for I wold wete said Arthur / Syre ye shalle not wete as at
this tyme / thenne shalle ye and I doo bataille to gyders sayd
Kyng Arthur / why said syre Tristram wylle ye doo bataille
with me but yf I telle you my name / and that lytyl nedeth
you and ye were a man of worshyp / for ye haue sene me thys
day haue had grete traueylle / And therfore ye are a
vylaynous knyght to aske bataille of me consyderynge my grete
traueylle / how be hit I wyl not fayle you / and haue ye no
doubte that I feare not you / though ye thynke ye haue me atte a
grete auauntage / yet shalle I ryght wel endure you / And
there with all kynge Arthur dressid his shelde and his spere
and syre Tristram ageynst hym / and they came soo egerly to
gyders / And there kynge Arthur brake his spere all to
pyeces vpon syr Tristrams shelde / But sir Tristram hitte Arthur
ageyne that hors and man felle to the erthe / And there was
kynge Arthur wounded on the lyfte syde a grete wounde and
a peryllous / Thenne whanne sir Vwayne sawe his lord
Arthur lye on the ground sore wounded he was passynge heuy /
And thenne he dressid his shelde and his spere / and cryed
SO syre Tristram alyghte of his hors by cause they were on foote that they shold not slee his hors / And thēne dressid his sheld with his swerd in his hand / and he smote on the ryght hand and on the lyfte hand passyng sore that wel nygh at euery stroke he strake doun a knyght / And when they aspyed his strokes / they fled all with Breuse saūce pyte vnto the toure / & sir Tristram folowed fast after with his suerd in his hand / but they escaped in to the toure / and shytte sire Tristram withoute the gate /
¶ And whanne sire Tristram sawe this / he retorned abak vnto syr Palomydes / and fond hym syttyng vnder a tree sore wounded / A faire knyght saide syre Tristram wel be ye fonde / Gramercy said sir palomydes of your grete goodenes / for ye haue rescowed me of my lyf and saued me from my dethe / what is your name said sir Tristram / he said my name is syr Palomydes / O Ihesu said syr Tristrā thou hast a fayre grace of me this daye / that I shold rescowe the / and thou arte the man in the world that I mooste hate / but now make the redy / for I will doo bataille with the / what is your name sayd palomydes / my name is sir Tristram your mortal enemy / hit may be soo said sir palomydes / But ye haue done ouer moche for me this day that I shold fyghte with you / for in as moche as ye haue saued my lyf / hit wille be no worship for you to haue adoo with me / for ye are fressh and I am wounded sore / And therfor and ye wille nedes haue ado with me / Assigne me a day and thenne I shal mete with you withoute fayle / ye saye wel said sir Tristram / Now I assigne you to mete me in the medowe by the ryuer of Camelot / where Merlyon sette the peron / soo they were agreed / Thenne sir Tristram asked syr Palomydes why the ten knyghtes dyd bataill with hym / for this cause said sir palomydes / as I rode vp myn aduentures in a forest here besyde / I aspyed where laye a dede Knyght / and a lady wepynge besyde hym / And whanne I sawe her makynge suche dole / I asked her who slewe her lorde
¶ Syre she said the falsest knyght of the world now lyuyng
and he is the moost vylayne that euer man herd speke of /
¶ And thenne this straunge knyght lefte them there / and took his way thurgh the foreste / With this sir Palomydes and sire Tristram were on foote and gat their horses ageyn / and eyther asked counceylle of other / what was best to done / By my hede said sir Tristram I wyll folowe this strong knyght that thus hath shamed vs /
¶ Well
ANd so syre Tristram rode longe after this stronge
knyght / And at the laste he sawe where lay a lady
ouerthwarte a dede knyght / Faire lady said sir Tristram who hath
slayne your lord / Syr she said here came a knyght rydyng as
my lord and I rested vs here / and asked hym of whens he
was / and my lord said of Arthurs courte / therfore said the
stronge knyght I wille Iuste with the / for I hate alle these
that ben of Arthurs Courte / And my lord that lyeth here dede
amounted vpon his hors / and the stronge knyght and my
lord encountred to gyder / and there he smote my lord thorugh
oute with his spere / and thus he hath broughte me in grete
woo and dammage / That me repenteth said sire Tristram of
your grete anger / and hit please you / telle me your husbandes
name / syr said she his name was Galardoun that wold
haue preued a good knyghte / Soo departed sir Tristram from
that dolorous lady and hadde moche euylle lodgyng / Thenne
on the thyrdde day syr Tristram mette with syr Gawayne and
with sir Bleoberys in a forest at a lodge and eyther were
sore wounded / Thenne syre Tristram asked syr Gawayne and
syr Bleoberys yf they met with suche a Knyghte with suche a
cognoyssaunce with a keuerd shelde / Faire syr said these
knyghtes suche a knyght met with vs to oure grete dommage / &
fyrst he smote doune my felawe syre Bleoberys & sore woūded
¶ And thenne on the morne was waged bataille
with hym for the cause / And at the fyrst recoūtre said sir kay
he smote me doune from my hors / and hurte me passynge fore /
And whanne my felawe syr Dynadan sawe me smyten doune
and hurte / he wold not reuenge me / but fledde from me / And
thus is he departed / And thenne sir Tristram asked them theyr
names / and soo eyther told other their names / And soo syre
Tristram departed from syr kay / and from sir Dynodan / and
so he past thurgh a grete forest in to a playne tyl he was ware
ANd thenne he sente his man that hyght Gouernaile / &
commaunded hym to goo to a Cyte there by to fetche
hym newe harneis / for hit was long tyme afore that / that syre
Tristram had ben refresshed / his harneis was brysed & broken
And whanne Gouernaile his seruaunt was come with his
apparail / he toke his leue at the wydowe / and mounted vpon his
hors / and rode his way erly on the morne / And by sodeyn
aduenture syr Tristram mette with sir Sagramore le desyrus / &
with syre Dodynas le saueage / And these two knyghtes mette
with syre Tristram and questyoned with hym / and asked hym
yf he wold Iuste with hem / Faire knyghtes said sir Tristram
with a good wylle I wold Iuste with you / But I haue
promysed at a day sette nere hand to do bataille with a strong
knyght / And therfore I am lothe to haue adoo with you / for
and hit mysfortuned me here to be hurte I shold not be able
to doo my bataille / whiche I promysed / As for that said
Sagramor maulgre your hede ye shalle Iuste with vs / or ye passe
from vs / well said syr Tristram / yf ye enforce me therto I must
doo what I may / And thenne they dressid their sheldes / and
came rennynge to gyder with grete yre / But thurgh syr
Tristrams grete force he strake syr Sagramor from his hors /
Thenne he hurled his hors ferther / and said to sir Dodynas / knyȝte
make the redy / and soo thorou fyne force syre Tristram strake
Dodynas from his hors / And whanne he sawe hem lye on the
erthe / he took his brydel / and rode forth on his way and his
man Gouernaile with hym / Anone as sir Tristram was paste
syr Sagramore and sir Dodynas gate ageyne their horses / &
mounted vp lyghtely and folowed after sir Tristram / And
whan syre Tristram sawe them come soo fast after hym / he
retorned with his hors to them / and asked them what they wold
Hit is not longe ago sythen I smote you to the erthe at your
owne request / and desyre / I wold haue ryden by you / but ye
wold not suffre me / and now me semeth ye wold doo more
bataille with me / That is trouthe said sire Sagramore and syre
THenne departed sire Tristram and rode streyghte vnto Camelot to the Peron that Merlyn had made to fore where sire Lancyor that was the Kynges sone of Irland was slayne by the handes of Balyn / and in that same place was a fayr lady Columbe slayn that was loue vnto sir Lanceor for after he was dede she took his suerd and threst hit thorou her body / And by the crafte of Merlyn he made to entiere this knyght Lanceor and his lady Columbe vnder one stone / And at that tyme Merlyon profecyed / that in that same place shold fyghte two the best knyghtes that euer were in Arthurs dayes / and the best louers /
¶ Soo whanne syre Tristram
came to the tombe where lancyor and his lady were buryed / he
REtorne ageyne said sir launcelot for your quest is
done / for I haue mette with sir Tristram / loo here is his
owne persone / Thenne was syr Gawayne gladde / and said to
sire Tristram ye are welcome / for now haue ye easyd me
gretely of my labour / For what cause said sir Gawayne came ye
in to this courte / Fair sir said sir Tristram I came in to thys
countrey / by cause of syr Palomydes / for he and I had
assygned at this day to haue done bataille to gyders at the Peroun
And I merueyle I here not of hym / And thus by aduentur
my lord syre Laūcelot and I mette to gyders / With this came
Kynge Arthur / And whan he wyst that there was sir
Tristram / thenne he ranne vnto hym and toke hym by the hand /
And saide sire Tristram ye are as welcome as ony Knyghte /
that euer came to this Courte / And whanne the Kynge had
herd how sire Launcelot and he had foughten / and eyther had
wounded other wonderly sore / thenne the Kynge maade grete
dole / Thenne sir Tristram told the Kynge how he came thydder
for to haue had adoo with sire Palomydes / And thenne he told
the kynge how he had rescowed hym from the nyne knyghtes
and Breuse saunce pyte / And how he fond a Knyght lyeng
by a well / and that Knyght smote doune sir Palomydes and
me / but his sheld was couerd with a clothe / Soo sir
Palomydes lefte me / and I folowed after that Knyghte / and in
many places I fonde where he had slayne Knyghtes / and
foriusted many / By my hede said sir Gawayne that same Knyghte
smote me doun and sire Bleoberys and hurte vs sore both / he
with the couerd shelde / A sayd sir Kay that Knyght smote
me adoune & hurte me passynge sore / & fayne wolde I haue
knowen hym but I myȝt not / Ihesu mercy said Arthur what
THenne Kynge Marke had grete despyte of the
renoume of sir Tristram / and Thanne he chaced hym oute
of Cornewaile / yet was he neuewe vnto Kynge Marke / but he
had grete suspecyon vnto sire Tristram by cause of his Quene
la Beale Isoud / for hym semed that there was to moche
loue bitwene them bothe / Soo whan sir Tristram departed oute
of Cornewaile in to Englond / kynge marke herd of the grete
prowesse that sir Tristram dyd there / the whiche greued hym
sore / Soo he sente on his party men to aspye what dedes he dyd /
And the Quene sente pryuely on her party spyes to knowe
what dedes he had done / for grete loue was bitwene them tweyn
Soo whan the messagers were come home / they told the trouth
as they had herd that he passed alle other knyghtes / but yf it
were sir launcelot / Thenne kynge Marke was ryght heuy of
these tydynges / and as glad was la Beale Isoud / Thenne
in grete despyte he took with hym two good Knyȝtes / and two
squyers / and
¶ And the laste batail that euer he dyde / he foughte with syre
THenne kynge Mark rode tyl he came to a fontayne / and there he rested hym / and stode in a doubte whether he wold ryde to Arthurs courte or none / or retorne ageyne to his countrey / And as he thus rested hym by that fontayne / ther came by hym a knyght wel armed on horsbak / and he alyghte and teyed his hors vntyl a tree / and sette hym doune by the brynke of the fontayne / and there he made grete lāgour and dole / and made the dolefullest complaynte of loue / that euer man herd / and al this whyle was he not ware of kynge Marke / And this was a grete parte of his complaynte / he cryed and wepte sayenge O fayre Quene of Orkeney kynge Lots wyf and moder of sir Gawayne and to sire Gaheris and moder to many other / for thy loue I am in grete paynes / Thenne Kynge Marke arose and wente nere hym / and sayd / Fayr knyght ye haue made pyteous complaynte / Truly said the knyght / hit is an honderd parte more reufullyr than my herte can vtter / I requyre you said Kyng Marke telle me your name / Sir said he as for my name I wil not hyde it from no knyght that bereth a shelde / and my name is sire Lamorak de galys / But whan sire Lamorak herd Kynge Mark speke thenne wist he wel by his speche that he was a Cornysshe knyght / Syr said sir Lamorak / I vnderstande by your tonge ye be of Cornewaile wherin there duelleth the shamefullest kynge that is now lyuynge / for he is a grete enemy to alle good knyghtes / and that preueth wel / for he hath chaced oute of that Countrey syr Tristram that is the worshipfullest knyght that now is lyuynge / and alle knyghtes speken of hym worship / And for Ialousnes of his quene he hath chaced hym oute of his countrey / Hit is pyte said sir Lamorak that euer ony suche fals knyght coward as kynge Marke is shold be matched with suche a fayre lady and good as la Beale Isoud is / for alle the world of hym speketh shame / and of her worshyp that ony Quene maye haue
¶ I haue
not adoo in this matere said kynge marke / neyther noughte
wille I speke therof wel said syre Lamorak syre can ye
¶ Thenne there came a knyght that was callid sire
Dynadan / and salewed them bothe / And whan he wyst that kynge
Marke was a knyght of Cornewaile / he repreued hym for the
loue of kynge Marke a thousand fold more / than dyd sir
lamorak / thenne he profered to Iuste with kynge Mark / and he
was ful lothe therto / But sir Dynadan edgyd hym soo / that
he Iusted with sir lamorak / & sir lamorak smote kyng marke
so sore that he bare hym on his spere ende ouer his hors tayle /
And thenne kynge Marke arose ageyne / and folowed after
sir lamorak / but sir Dynadan wold not Iuste with sire
Lamorak / But he told kynge Marke that sire Lamorak was syre
kay the seneschall / that is not soo said kynge Mark / for he is
moche byggar than sir kay / and soo he folowed and
ouertoke hym / and badde hym abyde / what wille ye doo said sir
Lamorak / Syr he said / I will fyghte with a swerd / for ye haue
shamed me with a spere / and there with they dasshed to gyders
with swerdes / and sir Lamorak suffred hym / and forbare hym
And kynge Marke was passyng hasty / and smote thycke
strokes / Syr Lamorak sawe he wold not stynte and waxyd
somwhat wrothe / and doubled his strokes / for he was one of the
noblest knyghtes of the world / and he bete hym soo on the
helme that his hede henge nyȝ vn the sadel bowe Whan sir lamorak
sawe hym fare soo / he said / syr knyght what chere me semeth ye
haue nyghe your fylle of fyghtynge / hit were pyte to doo yow
ony more harme / for ye are but a meane knyght / therfore I
gyue you leue to goo where ye lyst / Gramercy said kyng Mark
For ye & I be not matches / Thenne sir dynadan mocked kyng
Marke and said ye are not able to matche a good knyght / as
for that said Kyng Mark at the first tyme that I Iusted with
this Knyȝt ye refused hym / Thynke ye that it is a shame to
me said syr Dynadan / Nay syr it is euer worship to a Knyȝt
to refuse that thyng that he may not atteyne / therfor your
worship had ben moche more to haue refused hym as I dyd / for
I warne you playnly he is able to bete suche fyue as ye / and
THenne they rode forth alle to gyders Kynge Mark / sir
Lamorak & sir Dynadan tyl that they came to a
brydge / And at the ende therof stode a fayre Toure / Thenne sawe
they a Knyght on horsbak wel armed braundysshyng a spere
cryenge and proferynge hym self to Iuste / Now said sir
Dynadan vnto Kyng Mark / yonder ar two bretheren that one
hyght Aleyn / and the other hyghte Tryan that will Iuste with
ony that passeth this passage / Now profer your self said
Dynadan to Kynge Mark / for euer ye be leide to the erthe / Thenne
Kynge Marke was ashamed / and there with he feutryd hys
spere / and hurtlid to sir Tryan / and eyther brake their speres /
all to pyeces / and passid thurgh anone / Thenne syr Trian sent
Kynge Mark another spere to Iuste more / But in no wyse he
wold not Iuste no more / Thenne they came to the castel al thre
Knyghtes / and praid the lord of the castel of herburgh / ye are
ryght welcome said the Knyghtes of the castel / for the loue of
the lord of this castel / the whiche hyght sir Tor le fyse aries / &
thenne they came in to a fayr courte wel repayred / and they
had passynge good chere tyl the lieutenaunt of this castel that
hyght Berluse / aspyed Kyng Marke of Cornewaile /
Thenne said Berluse / syr Knyght I knowe you better than ye
wene / for ye are Kynge Marke that slewe my fader afore myne
owne eyen / and me hadde ye slayne hadde I not escaped in
to a wood / but wete ye wel for the loue of my lord of this
castel I will neyther hurte you ne harme you nor none of your
felauship / But wete ye wel whan ye are past this lodgynge /
I shalle hurte you and I may / for ye slewe my fader
traitourly / But fyrst for the loue of my lord sir Tor / and for the
loue of sir Lamorak the honourable Knyght that here is lodged
ye shal haue none ylle lodgynge / For hit is pyte that euer ye
shold be in the company of good Knyghtes / for ye ar the moost
THenne was Kynge Marke sore ashamed / and sayd but lytyl ageyne / But whanne sir Lamorak and sir Dynadan wyst that he was kynge Marke / they were sory of his felauship / Soo after souper they wente to lodgynge / Soo on the morne they arose erly / and kynge Marke and sir Dynadan rode to gyders / and thre myle fro their lodgynge there met with hem thre knyghtes / and sir Berluse was one / and that other his two cosyns / Syr Berluse sawe kynge Marke / and thenne he cryed on hyghe traytour kepe the from me / for wete thou wel that I am Berluse / Syr knyght said sir Dynadan / I counceylle you to leue of at this tyme / for he is rydynge to Kynge Arthur / And by cause I haue promysed to conduyte hym to my lord kynge Arthur / nedes must I take a part with hym / how be hit I loue not his condycyon / and fayne I wold be from hym / Wel dynadan said sir Berluse me repenteth that ye wille take party with hym / but now doo your best / And thēne he hurtled to Kynge Marke and smote hym sore vpon the shelde / that he bare hym clene out of his sadel to the erthe / That sawe sir Dynadan / and he feutryd his spere / and ranne to one of Berluses felawes / and smote hym doune of his sadel / Thenne Dynadan torned his hors / and smote the thyrdde knyght in the same wyse to the erthe / for sire Dynadan was a good knyght on horsbak / and there byganne a grete batail for Berluse and his felawes helde them to gyders strongly on fote And soo thurgh the grete force of sir Dynadan / kyng Marke had Berluse to the erthe / and his two felawes fledde / and had not ben syre Dynadan kynge Marke wold haue slayne hym / And soo syre Dynadan rescowed hym of his lyf / for kynge Marke was but a murtherer / And thenne they took their horses / and departed / and lefte sir Berluse there sore woūded Thenne kynge Mark and sir Dynadan rode forth a four leges englysshe tyl that they came to a brydge where houed a knyght on horsbak armed and redy to Iuste /
¶ Loo sayd
SOo as they rode by the way / Kynge Mark thenne
beganne to mocke sir Dynadan and said I wend yow
Knyghtes of the table round myȝt not in no wyse fynde their
matches / ye say well said sir Dynadan / as for you on my lyfe
I calle you none of the best knyghtes / But sythe ye haue such
a despyte at me / I requyre you to Iuste with me / to preue my
strengthe / Not soo said Kynge Mark / for I wille not haue ado
with you in no maner / But I requyre you of one thyng that
whanne ye come to Arthurs courte discouer not my name / for
I am there soo hated / It is shame to you said sir Dynadan /
that ye gouerne you soo shamefully / for I see by you ye ar ful
of cowardyse and ye are a murtherer / and that is the grettest
shame that a Knyght may haue / for neuer a Knyght beynge
a murtherer hath worship / nor neuer shalle haue / for I sawe
but late thurȝ my force ye wold haue slayn sir Berluse a
better Knyghte than ye / or euer ye shal be / & more of prowesse
¶ Thus they rode forth talkynge tyl they came to a fayre
place where stood a knyght and prayd them to take their
lodgynge with hym / Soo at the request of that knyght / they reposed
them there and made them wel at ease / and had grete chere /
For al arraunt knyghtes were welcome to hym / and specially
alle tho of Arthurs courte / Thenne sire Dynadan demaunded
his hoost what was the Knyghtes name that kepte the brydge
For what cause aske you it said his hoost / for hit is not long
ago said syr Dynadan sythen he gaf me a falle / A fayr
knyght said his hoost / therof haue ye no meruaylle for he is a
passynge good knyght / and his name is sir Tor the sone of
aries le vayshere / A said sir Dynadan was that sir Tor / for
truly soo euer me thought / Ryght as they stode thus talkyng to
gyders / they sawe come rydynge to them ouer a playne vj
knyghtes of the courte of kynge Arthur wel armed at al
poyntes / And there by theire sheldes sire Dynadan knewe them
wel / The fyrst was the good knyght sir Vwayne the sone of
Kynge Vryens / the second was the noble knyght sir
Brandyles / the thyrd was Ozana le cure hardy / the fourthe was
Vwayne les auenturous / The fyfthe was syr Agrauayne /
The vj sir Mordred broder to sir Gawayne / Whanne sir
Dynadan had sene these vj knyghtes / he thought in hym self he wold
brynge kynge Marke by some wyle to Iuste with one of them
And anone they toke their horses & ranne after these knyghtes
wel a thre myle englysshe / Thenne was kynge Marke ware /
where they sat al syxe aboute a welle / and ete and drank
suche metes as they had / and their horses walkyng and somme
teyed / and their sheldes henge in dyuerse places aboute them
Loo said sir Dynadan yonder ar Knyghtes arraunt that wyl
Iuste with vs / God forbede said Kynge Mark / for they be syx
and we but two / As for that said sire Dynadan lete vs not
spare / for I wille assaye the formest / and there with he maade
hym redy / whanne kynge Marke sawe hym doo soo as fast as
sir Dynadan rode toward them Kynge marke rode froward
them with alle his mayneal meyny / Soo whan sire Dynadan
sawe Kynge Marke was gone / he sette the spere oute of the
reest / and threwe his sheld vpon his bak / and came rydynge
to the felauship of the table round / And anone sire Vwayne
ANd thenne they asked hym of his aduentures / &
whether he had sene syr Tristram or sir launcelot / So god
me helpe said sir Dynadan I sawe none of them sythen I
departed from Camelot / what Knyght is that said sir
Brandyles that soo sodenly departed from you / and rode ouer yonder
felde / Syr said he / hit was a Knyghte of Cornewaile / and the
moost horryble coward that euer bestrode hors / what is his
name said alle these knyghtes / I wote not said sir Dynadan /
Soo whan they had reposed them / and spoken to gyders / they
took their horses / and rode to a castel where duellid an old
knyght that made alle Knyghtes erraunt good chere / Thenne in
the meane whyle that they were talkynge came in to the
castel syr Gryflet le fyse de dieu / and there was he welcome / and
they alle asked hym whether he had sene sire Launcelot or syre
Tristram / Syrs he ansuerd I sawe hym not sythen he
departed from Camelot / Soo as sir Dynadan walked and beheld
the castel / there by in a chamber he aspyed Kynge Marke / and
thenne he rebuked hym / and asked hym why he departed soo /
Syr said he for I durst not abyde by cause they were so many
But how escaped ye said Kyng Mark / syr said sir Dynadan
they were better frendes than I wend they had ben / who is
Capytayn of that felauship said the Kynge / thenne for to fere
hym sir Dynadan sayd that it was sir Launcelot / O Ihesu
said the Kyng myghte I knowe sir Launcelot by his shelde / ye
said Dynadan / for he bereth a shelde of syluer and black
bendys / Alle this he said to fere the kyng / for sire launcelot was
not in his felauship / Now I pray you said kyng Mark that
ye wille ryde in my felauship / that is me lothe to doo said syre
Dynadan by cause ye forsoke my felauship / Ryght soo sir
Dynadan went from kyng Mark & wente to his own felauship
and soo they mounted vpon their horses / & rode on their
wayes / and talked of the Cornyssh knyghte / for Dynadan told
them that he was in the castel where they were lodged / hit is
¶ Wille ye doo wel said sir Dynadan I haue told the Cornysshe Knyght that here is sir Launcelot / and the Cornysshe Knyght asked me what shelde he bare / Truly I told hym that he bereth the same shelde that sir Mordred bereth / wyl ye doo wel said sir Mordred I am hurte and maye not wel bere my shelde nor harneis / And therfore put my shelde and my harneis vpon sir Dagonet / and lete hym sette vpon the Cornysshe Knyght / that shalle be done said sir Dagonet by my feythe / Thenne anone was Dagonet armed hym in Mordreds harneis and his shelde / & he was sette on a grete hors & a spere in his hand / Now said Dagonet shewe me the Knyght / & I trowe I shalle bere hym doune / Soo alle these Knyghtes rode to a woode syde / and abode tyl Kynge Marke came by the way / Thenne they putte forth sir Dagonet / and he came on al the whyle his hors myght renne streyght vpon Kynge Mark And whanne he came nyghe Kynge Marke / he cryed as he were wood / and said kepe the Knyghte of Cornewaile / for I wille slee the / Anone as Kynge Mark beheld his shelde / he said to hym self / yonder is sir launcelot Allas now am I destroyed / and there with all he made his hors to renne as fast as it myghte thorugh thycke and thynne / And euer sire Dagonet folowed after Kynge Mark cryenge and rateynge hym as a wood man thurgh a grete forest / whanne sir Vwayne and sire Brandyles sawe dagonet soo chace Kynge Marke / they laughed all as they were wood / And thenne they toke theire horses / and rode after to see how sir Dagonet spedde / for they wold not for no good that sire Dagonet were shente / for Kyng Arthur loued hym passynge wel / and made hym Knyght his owne handes / And att euery turnement he beganne to make Kynge Arthur to laughe / Thenne the knyghtes rode here and there cryenge and chacyng after kynge Marke that alle the forest range of the noyse /
SOo kyng Mark rode by fortune by a welle in the way
where stood a Knyght erraunte on horsbak armed att
al poyntes with a grete spere in his hand
¶ Soo whan this was done this stronge Knyght rode on his
¶ Thenne the varlet wente his way and came to the manoyr and salewed the lady / and told her from whens he came / And whan she vnderstode that he came from the knyghte that folowed the questynge beeste / O swete lord Ihesu the sayd whan shalle I see that noble Knyghte my dere sone Palomydes / Allas wille he not abyde with me / and there with she swouned and wepte / and made passynge grete dole / and thenne also soone as she myghte she gaf the varlet alle that he axyd / And the varlet retorned vnto sir Palomydes / for he was a varlet of kynge Marke / And as soone as he came / he told the knyghtes name was sir Palomydes / I am wel pleasyd said kynge Marke but holde the styll and seye no thynge /
¶ Thenne they alyghte and sette them doune and reposed them a whyle / Anone with alle kynge Marke felle on slepe / whanne syre Palomydes sawe hym sound a slepe / he took his hors and rode his way and said to them I wille not be in the companye of a slepynge Knyghte / And soo he rode forthe a grete paas
NOw torne we vnto sire Dynadan that fonde these seuen
knyghtes passynge heuy / And whanne he wyste how
that they sped/ as heuy was he / My lord Vwayne said
Dynadan / I dare ley my hede it is sir Lamorak de galys / I
promyse you alle / I shalle fynde hym / and he may be founde in
¶ Now leue we that / and talke we of sire Dynadan that rode to seke syr Palomydes / And as he came within a foreste / he mette with a Knyght a chacer of a dere / Syr said sire Dynadan mette ye with a Knyghte with a shelde of syluer / and lyons hedes / ye fayr knyghte sayd the other / with suche a knyght mette I with but a whyle agone / and strayte yonder waye he yede / Gramercy said sir Dynadan/ for myght I fynde the trak of his hors I shold not fayle to fynde that Knyghte / Ryghte so as sir Dynadan rode in the euen late / he herd a doleful noyse as it were of a man /
¶ Thenne sir Dynadan rode toward that noyse / And whanne he came nyghe that noyse / he alyghte of his hors / and wente nere hym on foote / Thenne was he ware of a knyght that stood vnder a tree and his hors teyed by hym / and the helme of his hede / and euer that knyght made a doleful complaynte as euer made knyghte / And alweyes he made his complaynte of la Beale Isoud the Quene of Cornewaile / and said A fayr lady why loue I the / for thou art fayrest of alle other / and yet shewest thou neuer loue to me / nor bounte / Allas yet must I loue the / And I may not blame the fayre lady / for myn eyen ben cause of this sorowe / And yet to loue the I am but a foole / for the best knyghte of the world loueth the / and ye hym ageyne / that is sir Tristram de Lyones And the falsest kynge and Knyghte is youre husband / and the moost coward and ful of treason is your lord kyng marke
¶ Allas that euer so fayre a lady and pyerles of
alle other shold be matched with the moost vylaynous knyght
of the world / Alle this langage herd Kynge Marke / what
sir Palomydes said by hym / wherfore he was adradde / whanne
he sawe sire Dynadan lest and he aspyed hym / that he wold
telle syre Palomydes that he was Kynge Marke / and
¶ Thenne were ther maydens / that la Beale Isoud hadde sente to sire Tristram that knewe sir Amant wel
THenne by the lycence of Kynge Arthur / they went to hym and spak with hym / for whyle the troncheon of the spere stake in his body he spak / A fayr damoysels said Amant / ye recommaūde me vnto la Beale Isoud / and telle her that I am slayn for the loue of her and of sir Tristram / And there he told the damoysels how cowardly Kyng Mark had slayne hym and sire Bersyles his felawe /
¶ And for
that dede I appeled hym of treason / and here am I slayne in
a ryghtuous quarel / and alle was by cause of sir Bersules &
I wold not consente by treason slee the noble knyght sir
tristram / Thenne the two maydens cryed alowde that alle the
courte myght here it / and said O swete lord Ihesu that knowest
alle hydde thynges / why suffrest thow soo fals a traytour to
vaynquysshe and slee a trewe knyght that fought in a
ryghtuous quarel / Thenne anone hit was spronge to the Kyng and
the quene and to alle the lordes that it was kynge Mark that
had slayne syr Amant / and sire Bersules afore hand /
wherfor they dyd theire bataile / Thenne was Kyng Arthur wroth
oute of mesure / and so were alle the other knyghtes
But whanne sire Tristram knewe alle the matere / he maade
grete dole and sorowe oute of mesure / and wepte for sorou for
the losse of the noble knyghtes syr Bersyles & of sir Amant
¶ Whanne sir Launcelot aspyed sir Tristram wepe / he wente hastely to Kynge Arthur and said syre I pray you gyue me leue to retorne ageyne to yonder fals kynge and knyghte / I pray yow said kynge Arthur / fetche hym ageyne / but I wold not that ye slewe hym for my worship / Thenne sir launcelot armed hym in alle haste / and mounted vpon a grete hors / & toke a spere in his hand and rode after kynge Marke / And from thens a thre myle englysshe / sir launcelot ouertook hym/ and badde hym torne recreaunt kyng and knyght / For whyder thou wilt or not thow shalt go with me to kyng Arthurs Courte / Kynge Marke retorned and loked vpon sir Launcelot / and said Faire syr what is your name / wete thou wel said he my name is sire Launcelot / and therfor defende the / And whanne Kynge Marke wiste that it was sire Launcelot / and came soo fast vpon hym with a spere / he cryed thenne on lowde I yelde me to the sir launcelot / honourable Knyghte / But sire Launcelot wold not here hym / but came fast vpon hym / kyng Marke sawe that / and maade no defence but tombled adoune out of his sadel to the erthe as a sak / and there he lay stylle / and cryed sire launcelot mercy / Aryse recreaunt knyghte and Kynge / I wylle not fyghte said Kynge Marke / But whether that ye wille I wil goo with yow / Allas Allas said sire Launcelot that I maye not gyue the one buffet for the loue of sire Tdestram and of la Beale Isoud And for the two knyghtes that thou hast slayne traitourly / And soo he mounted vpon his hors and brouȝt hym to kyng Arthur / and there Kynge Marke alyghte in that same place and threwe his helme from hym vpon the erthe / and his suerd and fylle flat to the erthe of kynge Arthurs feet and putte hym in his grace and mercy /
¶ Soo god me help said Arthur ye are welcome in a maner / and in a maner ye ar not welcome / In this maner ye are welcome that ye come hyder maulgre thy hede as I suppose /
¶ That is trouthe said kynge Marke / and els I had not ben here / For my lord sir launcelot brought me hyder thurgh his fyne force / and to hym am I yolden to as recreaunt /
¶ Wel said Arthur ye vnderstande
ye oughte to doo me seruyse / homage and feaute / And neuer
NOW torne we ageyne vnto sir Palomydes how sir
Dynadan comforted hym in alle that he myghte from his
grete sorow / what Knyghte are ye said sir Palomydes / syre I
am a knyght erraunt as ye be that hath soughte you longe by
your sheld / Here is my sheld said sir Palomydes / Wete ye wel
and ye wille oughte / there with I wille defende hit / Nay said
sir Dynadan I wille not haue adoo with yow / but in good
maner / And yf ye wil ye shal fynde me sone redy / Syr said sir
Dynadan whyder ward ryde you this way / By my hede sayd
sir Palomydes I wote not but as fortune ledeth me / Herde ye
or sawe ye ought of sir Tristram / So god me help of sir
Tristram I bothe herd and sawe / and not / for thenne we loued
not Inwardly wel to gyders / yet at my meschyef sir Tristram
rescowed me from my dethe / and yet or he and I departed by
bothe our assentes we assigned a day that we shold haue met
at the stony graue / that merlyon sette besyde Camelot / & there
to haue done bataille to gyders / how be hit I was letted sayd
sir Palomydes that I myght not holde my daye / the whiche
greueth me sore / but I haue a large excuse / For I was
prysoner with a lord and many other moo / and that shalle syre
Tristram ryght wel vnderstande / þt I brake hit not of fere of
cowardyse / And thenne sir Palomydes told sir Dynodan the
same day that shold haue mette / Soo god me helpe sayd
syre Dynadan that same day mette sire Launcelot and sir
Tristram at the same graue of stone /
¶ And there was the moost
myghtyest bataille that euer was sene in this land betwyxe
¶ And so at the laste by bothe their assentes they were made frendes and sworne bretheren for euer / and no man can Iuge the better knyght / And now is sir Tristram made a Knyghte of the round table / and he sytteth in the sege of the noble knyght sire Marhaus /
¶ By my hede said sir Palomydes syre Tristram is ferre bygger that sir Launcelot / and the hardyer Knyghte /
¶ Haue ye assayed them bothe saide syre Dynadan /
¶ I haue sene syre Tristram fyghte said syre Palomydes / but neuer sire Launcelot / to my wetynge / But at the fontayne where sire Launcelot lay on slepe there with one spere he smote doune sire Tristram / and me said Palomydes / but at that tyme they knewe not eyther other Faire Knyghte said sir Dynadan as for sir launcelot and sir Tristram lete them be / for the werst of them wille not be lyghly matched of no knyghtes that I knowe lyuynge / No said sire Palomydes god defende but and I had a quarel to the better of them bothe / I wold with as good a wylle fyghte with hym as with yow
¶ Syre I requyre you telle me your name and in good feith I shalle hold you company / tyl that we come to Camelot / and there shall ye haue grete worship now at this grete turnement for there shalle be the Quene Gueneuer / and la Beale Isoud of Cornewaile / wete yow wel syre Knyght for the loue of la Beale Isoud I wille be there and els not / but I wille not haue adoo in Kynge Arthurs courte / Sir said Dynadan / I shal ryde with yow and doo you seruyse / so ye wille telle me youre name / Syre ye shalle vnderstande my name is syre palomydes brother to Safere the good and noble Knyghte / And Syre Segwarydes and I we be Sarasyns borne of fader and moder /
¶ Syre said sire Dynadan I thanke you
moche / for the tellyng of your name / For I am gladde of that
I knowe your name / & I promyse you by the feyth of my body
ye shalle not be hurte by me by my will / but rather be
auaunced / And therto wille I helpe yow with all my power I
promyse you / doubte ye not / And certaynly on my lyf ye shalle
SYr Palomydes said Dynadan here is a Castell that I knowe wel / and therin duelleth Quene Morgan le fay Kynge Arthurs syster / And kynge Arthur gafe her this Castel / the whiche he hath repented hym sythen a thousand tymes / for sythen kynge Arthur and she haue ben at debate and stryfe / but this castel coude he neuer gete nor wynne of her by no maner of engyne / And euer as she myght she made werre on kynge Arthur / And alle daungerous knyghtes she withholdeth with her for to destroye alle these knyghtes that Kynge Arthur loueth / And there shalle noo Knyghte passe this way but he muste Iuste with one knyght or with two or with thre And yf it happe that Kyng Arthurs knyght be beten / he shal lese his hors and his harneis / and alle that he hath / and hard yf that he escape / but that he shalle be prysoner /
¶ Soo god me helpe said Palomydes this is a shameful
customme and a vylaynous vsaunce for a Quene to vse / And
namely to make suche werre vpon her owne lord / that is
called the floure of chyualry that is Crysten of hethen / and with
alle my hert I wold destroye that shameful customme / And
I wille that alle the world wete she shalle haue no seruyse of
me / And yf she sende oute ony knyghtes / as I suppose she wil
for to Iuste they shalle haue bothe their handes ful /
And I shalle not fayle you said sir Dynadan vnto my
puyssaunce vpon my lyf / Soo as they stode on horsbak afore the
Castel / there came a Knyght with a reed sheld and ij
squyers after hym / And he came streyght vnto syre Palomydes the
good Knyghte / and sayd to hym / Fayre and gentyl Knyȝt
¶ Thenne anone came forth a knyght of the Castel and profered to Iuste with the knyȝte with the reed sheld / Anone they encountred to gyders / and he with the reed shelde smote hym soo hard that he bare hym ouer to the erthe / There with anone came another Knyght of the castel / and he was smyten so sore that he auoyded his fadel / And forth with alle came the thyrd knyghte / and the knyght with the reed shelde smote hym to the erthe / Thenne came sir Palomydes and besought hym that he mygth helpe hym to Iuste Faire knyght said he vnto hym suffre me as at this tyme to haue my wylle / For and they were twenty knyghtes I shalle not doute them / And euer there were vpon the wallys of the castel many lordes and ladyes that cryed and said wel haue ye Iusted knyght with the reed shelde /
¶ But as soone as the Knyght had smyten hem doune / his squyer toke their horses / & auoyed their sadels and brydels of the horses / and tourned them in to the forest / and made knyghtes to be kepte to the ende of the Iustes / Ryght soo came oute of the castel the fourth Knyght / and fresshly proferd to Iuste with the knyghte with the reed shelde / and he was redy / and he smote hym soo hard / that hors and man felle to the erthe / & the knyghtes bak brak with the falle and his neck also / O Ihesu said syr Palomydes that yonder is a passyng good knyȝt / and the best Iustar that euer I sawe / By my hede said sir Dynadan he is as good as euer was sir launcelot or sir Tristram what knyghte someuer he be/
THenne forthe with alle came a knyght oute of the castel with a shelde bended with blak and with whyte /
¶ And anone the knyghte with the reede shelde and
¶ Thenne
they two Knyȝtes came to gyders as fast as their horses
myght renne / and the Knyght smote sir Palomydes so sore on the
shelde that the spere wente in to his syde a grete wounde and
a perillous / And there with alle sir Palomydes auoyded his
sadel / And that Knyght torned vnto sir Dynadan / And when
he sawe hym comynge / he cryed a loude and said / syr I wyll
not haue ado with you / but for that he lete it not / but cam
streyghte vpon hym / Soo sire Dynadan for shame put forthe hys
spere and alle to sheuerd hit vpon the Knyght / But he
smote syr Dynadan ageyne soo hard that he smote hym clene from
his sadel / but their horses he wold not suffre his squyers to
medle with / and by cause they were knyghtes erraunt / Thenne he
dressid hym ageyne to the castel and Iusted with feuen
knyȝtes moo / and there was none of hem myght withstande hym /
but bare hym to the erthe / And of these twelue Knyghtes he
slewe in playne Iustes four / And the eyght knyghtes he
made them to swere on the crosse of a suerd / that they shold neuer
vse the euylle custommes of the castel / And whan he had
made them to swere that othe / he lete them passe / And euer stode
the lordes and the ladyes on the Castel walles cryeng and
sayenge / knyghte with the reed shelde ye haue merueyllously
THenne Palomydes rode faste tyl he came nyghe hym /
And then̄e he said Knyght remembre ye of the shame
ye dyd to me ryght now at the Castel / therfore dresse the / for
I will haue adoo with the / Fair knyȝt said he to Palomydes
of me ye wynne no worship / for ye haue sene this daye that I
haue ben trauailed sore / As for that said Palomydes I wille
not lete / for wete ye wel I wil be reuenged / wel said the
knyght I may happen to endure you / And there with all he
moūted vpon his hors and took a grete spere in his hand redy for
¶ And whan sir Palomydes beheld his felawes swerd ouer hylled with his blood / hit greued hym sore / some whyle they fayned / some whyle they strake as wyld men / But at the last sir Palomydes waxed faynte by cause of his first wounde that he had atte castel with a spere / for that wound greued hym wonderly sore / Faire knyght said Palomydes me semeth we haue assayed eyther other passyng sore / and yf hit may please the / I requyre the of thy knyghthode telle me thy name / Sir said the knyȝt to Palomydes / that is me loth to doo / for thou hast done me wronge / and no knyghthode to profer me bataille / consyderynge my grete trauaylle /
¶ But and
thou wolt telle me thy name / I wille telle the myn / Syr said
he wete thou wel my name is palomydes / A syr ye shall
vnderstande my name is sir Lamorak de galys / sone and heyre vnto
the good knyghte and kynge / kynge Pellenore / and syr Tor
the good knyght is my half broder / Whanne sire Palomydes
herd hym saye soo he kneled doune and asked mercy for
oultragously haue I done to you this daye / consyderyng the
grete dedes of armes I haue sene you done / shamefully and
vnknyghtely I haue requyred you to doo bataile / A syre
Palomydes said sir Lamorak / ouer moche haue ye done and sayd to
me / And ther with he enbraced hym with his both handes / and
said Palomydes the worthy knyght in alle this land is noo
better than ye nor more of prowesse / and me repentyd sore that
¶ But as for that I shalle soone therof be hole / But certaynly I wold not for the fayrest castel in this land / but yf thou and I had met for I shalle loue you the dayes of my lyfe afore al other knyghtes excepte my broder sir Safere / I saye the same said syre Lamorak excepte my broder sir Tor / Thenne came sire Dynadan / and he made grete ioye of sir Lamorak /
¶ Thenne theire squyers dressid bothe their sheldes and their harneis / and stopped their woundes / And there by at a pryory they rested them alle nyghte /
NOw torne we ageyne / whan sire Gaynys and sir brandyles with his felawes came to the Courte of kyng Arthur / they told the kynge / syr Launcelot and sir Tristram / how sire Dagonet the foole chaced Kynge Marke thurgh the forest / and how the stronge knyght smote them doune al seuen with one spere / There was grete laughynge and Iapynge atte Kynge Marke and at sire Dagonet / But all these knyghtes coude not telle what knyȝt it was that rescowed kyng mark Thenne they asked kynge Marke yf that he knewe hym / and he ansuerd and said / he named hym self the Kynght that folowed the questynge beest / and on that name he sente one of my varlets to a place where was his moder / and when she herd from whens he cam / she made passyng grete dole and discouerd to my varlet his name and said / O my dere sone sire Palomydes why wolt thou not see me / and therfor syr said kyng mark it is to vnderstande his name is sir Palomydes a noble knyght / Thenne were alle these seuen knyghtes gladde that they knewe his name /
¶ Now torne we ageyne / for on the morne
they toke their horses bothe sir Lamorak / Palomydes Dynadā
with their squyers and varlets tyl they sawe a fayre castel /
that stood on a montayne wel closed / and thyder they rode
and there they fond a knyght that hyght Galahalt that was
lord of that castel / and there they had grete chere and were
wel eased / Syr Dynadan said sire Lamorak what wil ye doo
¶ But my hede said sir Palomydes I wille not ryde these thre dayes / for I am sore hurte / and moche haue I bled And therfor I wille repose me here / Truly said sir Lamorak / and I wille abyde here with you / And whan ye ryde / thenne wille I ryde / onles that ye tary ouer longe / Thenne wyll I take myn hors / therfor I pray you syr Dynadan abyde and ryde with vs / Feythfully said Dynadan I wylle not abyde for I haue suche a talent to see sir Tristram that I may not abyde longe from hym / / A Dynadan said syre Palomydes now do I vnderstande / that ye loue my mortal enemy / and therfore how shold I trust yow / wel said Dynadan I loue my lord syre Tristram aboue all other / and hym wille I serue and do honoure / So shalle I said syre Lamorak in al that may lye in my power / Soo on the morne sir Dynadan rode vnto the court of kynge Arthur / And by the way as he rode he sawe where stoode an erraunt Knyght / and made hym redy for to Iuste / Not soo said Dynadan for I haue no wylle to Iuste / with me shalle ye Iuste said knyght or that ye passe this waye / Whether aske ye Iustes by loue or by hate / the knyght ansuerd wete ye wel / I aske hit for loue & and not hate / hit maye wel be soo said syre Dynadan / but ye profer me hard loue / whan ye wylle Iuste with me a sharp spere / But fayre knyghte sayd syre Dynadan sythe ye wylle Iuste with me / mete wyth me in the Courte of Kynge Arthur / and there shalle I Iuste with you / Wel said the Knyght sythe ye wille not Iuste with me I pray yow telle me your name /
¶ Syr knyght said he my name is syre Dynadan / A said the Knyghte / ful wel knowe I you for a good knyghte and a gentyl / and wete yow wel I loue you hertely /
¶ Thenne shalle here be no Iustes sayd Dynadan betwixe vs / Soo they departed / And the same day he came to Camelot where lay Kynge Arthur / And there he salewed the Kynge and the quene / syre Launcelot and syre Tristram / and alle the Courte was gladde of sir Dynadan / for he was gentyl wyse and curteys / and a good Knyghte / And in especyal the valyaunt Knyght sir Tristram loued syre Dynadan passyng wel aboue alle other knyghtes sauf sir launcelot
¶ Thenne the kynge asked
THenne within thre dayes after the kynge lete make a
Iustyng at a pryory / And there made hem redy many
Knyghtes of the round table / For syr Gawayne and
his bretherē made them redy to Iuste / But Tristram / Laūcelot
nor Dynadan wold not Iuste / but suffred sir Gawayne for
the loue of kyng Arthur with his bretheren to wynne the gree
yf they myght / Thenne on the morne they apparayled them to
Iuste syr Gawayne and his four bretheren / and dyd there
grete dedes of armes / and sir Ector de marys dyd merueyllously
wel / But sire Gawayne passed alle that felauship / wherfore
¶ Ryght soo kynge Arthur was ware of a knyght and two squyers / the whiche came oute of a forest syde with a sheld couerd with leder / And thenne he came slyly and hurtlyd here and there / And anone with one spere he had smyten doune two knyghtes of the round table Thenne with this hurtlyng he lost the keuerynge of his sheld thenne was the kynge and alle other ware that he bare a reed shelde / O Ihesu saide Kynge Arthur see where rydeth a stoute Knyghte he with the reed shelde / And there was noyse & cryenge Beware the knyght with the reed shelde / Soo within a lytel whyle he had ouerthrowen thre bretheren of sire Gawayns / Soo god me help said Kynge Arthur me semeth yonder is the best Iuster that euer I sawe / with that he sawe hym encountre with sire Gawayne / and he smote hym doune with soo grete force that he made his hors to auoyde the sadel /
¶ How now said the Kyng sire Gawayne hath a falle / wel were me / and I knewe what knyght he were with the reed shelde / I knowe hym wel said Dynadan / but as this tyme ye shalle not knowe his name / By my hede said syr Tristram he Iusted better than sir Palomydes / An yf ye lyst to knowe his name / wete ye wel his name is sir Lamorak de galys / As they stode thus talkynge / sire Gawayne and he encountred to gyders ageyne / And there he smote sir Gawayne from his hors / and brysed hym sore / And in the syghte of Kynge Arthur he smote doune twenty knyghtes besyde sire Gawayne and his bretheren / And soo clerely was the pryce yeuen hym as a knyght pyerles / Thenne slyly and merueyllously syr Lamorak withdrewe hym from alle the felauship in to the forest syde / Al this aspyed Kynge Arthur / for his eye wente neuer from hym /
¶ Thenne the Kynge syr Launcelot syr Tristram and syr
dynadan took theire hackneis / and rode streyght after the good
knyght syr Lamorak de galys / And there fond hym / And
thus said the kyng / A fayr knyght wel be ye fonde / Whanne
he sawe the kynge / he put of his helme and salewed hym / and
whanne he sawe sir Tristram / he alyghte doun of his hors and
ranne to hym to take hym by the thyes / but sir Tristram wold
¶ And wete ye wel my fayr bretheren / that this sir Lamorak wille neuer loue vs / by cause we slewe his fader Kynge Pellenore / for we demed that he slewe our fader Kynge of Orkeney / And for the despyte of Pellenore syr Lamorak dyd vs a shame to oure moder / therfore I wille be reuenged / Syr said sir Gawayns bretheren / lete see how ye wylle or maye be reuenged / and ye shalle fynde vs redy / Wel said Gawayne hold you stylle and we shalle aspye oure tyme /
NOw passe we oure matere / and leue we sire Gawayn
and speke of Kynge Arthur that on a day sayd
vnto Kynge Marke / Syr I pray yow gyue me a yefte that I
shall axe yow / Syr said Kyng Mark I will gyue you what
someuer ye desyre and hit be in my power / Syre gramercy
said Arthur / This I wille aske yow that ye wille be good
lord vnto sir Tristram / for he is a man of grete honour / and that
ye wille take hym with yow in to Cornewaile / & lete hym see
his frendes / and there cherysshe hym for my sake / Syre said
Kynge Marke I promyse yow by the feythe of my body and
by the feythe that I owe to god and to yow I shalle
worshippe hym for your sake in alle that I can or may / Syr said
Arthur / and I wylle forgyue yow alle the euylle wylle that
euer I oughte yow / and so be that ye swere vpon a book
afore me / with a good wille said Kynge Marke / and soo he
there sware vpon a boook afore hym and alle his knyghtes / &
ther with kynge Mark and sire Tristram toke eyther other by
¶ Allas said sir Launcelot vnto kynge Arthur what haue ye done / for ye shall lese the moost man of worship that euer cam in to your court It was his owne desyre said Arthur / and therfore I myghte not doo with alle / for I haue done alle that I can and made them at accord / Accord said sir launcelot fy vpon that accord For ye shalle here that he shalle slee sir Tristram / or put hym in a pryson / for he is the moost coward and the vylaynst kyng and knyght that is now lyuyng / And there with sire Launcelot departed / and cam to kynge Mark / and said to hym thus Syr kyng wete thou wel the good knyght sir Tristram shalle goo with the / Beware I rede the of treason / for and thou meschyeue that knyght by ony maner of falshede or treson by the feythe I owe to god and to the ordre of knyghthode I shall slee the myn owne handes / Syr launcelot said the kyng ouer moche haue ye said to me / and I haue sworne and said ouer largely afore kyng Arthur in herynge of alle his knyghtes / that I shal not sle nor bitraye hym / It were to me ouer moche shame to breke my promyse / ye saye wel said sir Launcelot but ye are called so fals and ful of treason that no man man byleue yow
¶ For soth it is knowen wel wherfor ye came in to this countrey / and for none other cause but to slee sir tristram / Soo with grete dole Kynge Marke and sir Tristram rode to gyders / for hit was by sir Tristram wil and his meanes to goo with kyng Marke and all was for the entente to see la Beale Isoud / for without the syghte of her syr Tristrā myght not endure
NOw torne we ageyne vnto sire Lamorak / and speke we of his bretheren / syr Tor whiche was kynge Pellenors fyrst sone and bygoten of Aryes wyf the couherd for he was a bastard and sire Aglouale was his fyrste sone begoten in wedlok / syre Lamorak / Dornar / Percyuale / these were his sones to in wedlok /
¶ Soo whanne kynge Marke and sire Tristram were departed from the Courte / there was made grete dole and sorowe for the departynge of sir Tristram Thenne the kynge and his knyghtes made no manere of Ioyes eyghte dayes after / And atte eyghte dayes ende ther cam to the courte a knyghte with a yonge squyer with hym / And whanne this knyghtes was vnarmed / he went to the kynge and requyred hym to make the yonge squyer a knyghte / Of what lygnage is he come said Kynge Arthur / Syre sayd the knyght he is the sone of kyng Pellenore that dyd you somtyme good seruyse / And he is broder vnto syr Lamorak de galys the good knyght / wel sayd the kynge for what cause desyre ye that of me that I shold make hym knyghte / wete you wel my lord the Kynge that this yonge squyer is broder to me as wel as to sir Lamorak / and my name is Aglauale Syre Aglouale sayd Arthur for the loue of sire Lamorak and for his faders loue he shalle be made knyghte to morowe /
¶ Now telle me said Arthur what is his name / Syre sayd the Knyght his name is Percyuale de Galys / Soo on the morne the kynge made hym knyght in Camelott / But the Kynge and alle the knyghtes thoughte hit wold be longe or that he preued a good knyghte
¶ Thenne at the
dyner whanne the Kynge was set at the table / and euery
knyȝt after he was of prowesse / the kyng commaunded hym to be
sette amonge meane Knyghtes / and soo was sire Percyuale
sette as the Kyng commaunded / Thenne was there a mayden
in the Quenes court that was come of hyhe blood / & she was
domme & neuer spak word / Ryght so she cam streyght in to the
halle / & went vnto sir Percyuale & toke hym by þe hād & said
NOw torne we vnto sir Lamorak that moche was there preysed / Thenne by the meane of sir Gawayn and his bretheren / they sente for her moder there besydes fast by Castel besyde Camelot / and alle was to that entente to slee sir Lamorak / The Quene of Orkeney was there but a whyle but sir Lamorak wyst of their beynge / and was ful fayne / & for to make an ende of this matere he sente vnto her / and ther betwixe them was a nyght assygned that sir Lamorak shold come to her / Therof was ware syre Gaherys / and there he rode afore the same nyght and waited vpon sire Lamorak / and thēne he sawe where he came all armed / and where sire Lamorak alyghte / he teyed his hors to a preuy posterne / and so he wēt in to a palour and vnarmed hym / And thenne he wente vnto the Quenes bedde / and she made of hym passynge grete Ioye and he of her ageyne / for eyther loued other passynge sore /
¶ Soo whan the Knyght syr Gaherys / sawe his tyme / he cam to their beddes syde alle armed with his swerd naked / and sodenly gat his moder by the here and strake of her hede / whanne sir Lamorak sawe the blood dasshe vpon hym all hote / the whiche he loued passynge wel / wete yow wel he was sore abasshed and desmayed of that dolorous knyght / And there with al sir Lamorak lepte out of the bedde in his sherte as a knyght desmayed sayenge thus A syre Gaherys knyght of the table round foule and euylle haue ye done and to yow grete shame Allas why haue ye slayn your moder that bare you with more ryght ye shold haue slayne me /
¶ The offence hast thou done
NOw leue we of sire Lamorak / and speke of sire Gawayns bretheren & specially of syr Agrauayne and syre Mordred as they rode on theire aduentures they mette with a Knyghte fleynge sore wounded / and they asked hym what tydynges / Faire Knyghtes said he here cometh a knyght after me that wylle slee me / With that came sire Dynadan rydynge to them by aduenture / but he wold promyse them no help But sir Agrauayne and sire Mordred promysed hym to rescowe hym / There with alle came that knyght streyght vnto them And anone he proferd to Iuste / That sawe syre Mordred and rode to hym but he strake Mordred ouer his hors tayle
¶ That sawe sire Agrauayn and streyghte he rode toward that knyght / And ryghte soo as he serued Mordred soo he serued Agrauayne / and said to them / Syrs wete ye wel bothe that I am Breuse saunce pyte that hath done this to yow / And yet he rode ouer Agrauayne fyue or syxe tymes /
¶ Whan Dynadan sawe this / he muste nedes Iuste with hym
for shame / And so Dynadan and he encountred to gyders / that
with pure strengthe sir Dynadan smote hym ouer his hors
tayle / Thenne he took his hors and fledde / for he was on foot one
of the valyauntest knyghtes in Arthurs dayes / and a grete
destroyer of alle good knyghtes / Thenne rode sir Dynadan vnto
sir Mordred and vnto sir Agrauayne / Syre knyght said they
alle wel haue ye done / and wel haue ye reuenged vs / wherfor
we praye yow telle vs youre name / Faire sirs ye ouȝte to
knowe my name the whiche is called sire Dynadan / Whanne they
vnderstood that it was Dynadan / they were more wroth than
they were before / for they hated hym oute of mesure by cause of
sir Lamorak / For Dynadan had suche a custome that he loued
alle good Knyghtes that were valyaunt / and he hated al tho
that were destroyers of good knyghtes / And there were none
that hated Dynadan but tho that euer were called murtherers
Thenne spack the hurt knyght that Breuse saunce pyte hadde
chaced / his name was Dalan / and said yf thou be Dynadan /
thow slewest my fader / Hit may wel be so said Dynadan / but
thenne it was in my defence and at his request / By my hede
said Dalan thow shalt dye therfore / and there with he dressid
¶ And soo sire Dynadan rode to a Castel that hyght Beale valet / And there he fonde sire Palomydes that was not yet hole of the wound that syr Lamorak gaf hym / And there Dynadan told Palomydes all the tydynges that he herd and sawe of syre Tristram / and how he was gone with kynge Marke / and with hym he hath alle his wyll and desyre / There with syre Palomydes waxed wrothe / for he loued la Beale Isoud / And thenne he wyste wel that syre Tristram enioyed her
NOw leue we sire Palomydes and sire Dynadan in the castel of Beale valet / and torne we ageyne vnto kynge Arthur / There came a Knyght oute of Cornewail his name was Fergus / a felawe of the round table / And ther he told the Kynge and sir Launcelot good tydynges of sir Tristram / and there were brought goodly letters / and how he lefte hym in the castel of Tyntagil
¶ Thenne came the damoysel that broughte goodly letters vnto kynge Arthur and vnto sire launcelot / and there she hadde passynge good chere of the Kynge and of the Quene Gueneuer and of sire Launcelot /
¶ Thenne they wrote goodly letters ageyne / But syre Laūcelot badde euer sire Tristram beware of kynge Marke / for euer he called hym in his letters Kynge Foxe / As who saith / he fareth alle with wyles and treason / wherof sire Tristram in his herte thanked syre Laūcelot
¶ Thenne the Damoysel went vnto la Beale Isoud and bare her letters from the Kynge and from syre Launcelot / wherof she was in passynge grete Ioye
¶ Faire damoysel said la Beale Isoud / how fareth my
WHanne kynge Arthur vnderstood the letter / he musyd of many thynges / & thouȝt on his systers wordes quene Morgan le fay that she had sayd betwixe quene gueneuer and sir Launcelot / And in this thoughte he studyed a grete whyle / Thenne he bethought hym ageyne how his syster was his owne enemy / and that she hated the Quene and sir launcelot / and soo he putte all that oute of his thoughte
¶ Thenne Kyng Arthur redde the letter ageyne / and the latter clause said that Kynge Marke tooke sire Tristram for his mortal enemy / wherfor he put Arthur oute of doubte he wold be reuengyd of sir Tristram / Thenne was kyng Arthur wroth with kynge Marke / And whanne quene Gueneuer redde her letter and vnderstood hit / she was wrothe oute of mesure / for the letter spak shame by her / and by sir launcelot / And soo pryuely she sente the letter vnto sir Launcelot / And whanne he wyste the entent of the letter / he was soo wrothe that he leyd hym doune on his bedde to slepe / wherof sir Dynadan was ware / for hit was his maner to be preuy with alle good knyghtes / And as sire launcelot slepte he stale the letter oute of his hand and red it word by word / And thenne he made grete sorow for anger / and soo sir Launcelot awaked / and went to a wyndowe / and redde the letter ageyne / the whiche maade hym angry / Syre said Dynadan wherfore be ye angry / discouer your hert to me / For sothe ye wote wel I owe yow good wylle / how be hit I am a poure knyght and a seruytour vnto yow and to alle good knyghtes / For though I be not of worship my self I loue alle tho that ben of worship / It is trouth said sir Launcelot / ye are a trusty knyght / and for grete trust I wille shewe yow my counceylle / And whan Dynadan vnderstood alle / he said this is my counceyl / Sette you ryght nought by these thretys / For kynge marke is soo vylaynous / that by fayre speche shalle neuer man gete of hym /
¶ But ye shalle see what I shalle doo / I wille make a lay for hym / & whan hit is made I shalle make an harper to synge hit afore hym / Soo anone he wente and made hit / and taughte hit an harper that hyght Elyot / And whanne he coude hit / he taught hit to many harpers
¶ And soo by the wylle of
sire Launcelot and of Arthur the harpers went streyghte in to
NOw torne we ageyne vnto sire Tristram and to Kyng Marke / As syr Tristram was at Iustes and att turnement / hit fortuned he was sore hurte bothe with a spere and with a swerd / but yet he wanne alweyes the degre And for to repose hym / he wente to a good knyght that duelled in Cornewaile in a Castel whos name was Syr Dynas le Seneschall / Thenne by mysfortune there came oute of Sessoyne a grete nombre of men of armes / and an hydous hoost / & they entred nyghe the castel of Tyntagyl / and her Capytayns name was Elyas a good man of armes / Whan Kyng Mark vnderstode his enemyes were entred in to his land / he maade grete dole and sorow / for in no wyse by his wille kyng Mark wold not sende for sir Tristram for he hated hym dedely / Soo whan his counceill was come / they deuysed and cast many peryls of the strengthe of her enemyes / And thenne they concluded all at ones and said thus vnto kynge Marke / Syr wete ye wel ye must sende for sire Tristram the good knyghte or els they wylle neuer be ouercome / For by sire Tristram they must be foughten with alle / or els we rowe ageynst the streme
¶ Wel said Kynge Marke I wille doo by your counceylle /
but yet he was ful lothe ther to / but nede constrayned hym to
sende for hym / Thenne was he sente for in alle hast that myȝte
be that he shold come to Kynge Marke / And whanne he
vnderstood that Kynge Marke had sente for hym / he mounted
vpon a softe ambuler and rode to Kynge Marke / And when
he was come / the Kynge said thus / Faire neuewe syr Tristrā
this is alle / Here be come oure enemyes of Sessoyne / that are
here nyghe hand / and withoute taryenge they must be mette
with shortly or els they wylle destroye this countrey / Syr said
sir Tristram wete ye wel alle my power is at your
commaundement / And wete ye wel syre / these eyght dayes I may bere
¶ Thenne he sente the varlet ageyne and bad hym telle Kyng
Mark that I wille come as soone as I am hole / for erste I
maye doo hym noo good / Thenne Kynge Mark hadde his
ansuer / There with came Elyas and badde the Kynge yelde vp
the castel / for ye maye not hold it no whyle / Sir Elyas said
the kyng so wyll I yelde vp the castel yf I be not soone
rescoued / Anone Kyng Marke sente ageyne for rescowe to sir
tristram / By thenne sir Tristram was hoole / and he hadde goten
hym ten good Knyghtes of Arthurs / And with hem he rode
vnto Tyntagyl / And whanne he sawe the grete hoost of
Sessoyns he merueylled wonder gretely / And thenne sir Trystram
rode by the woodes and by the dyches as secretely as he myght
tyl he came nyghe the gatys / And there dressid a Knyghte to
hym / when he sawe that sir Tristram wold entre & sir tristram
SOo on the morne Elyas the capytayne came / and bad kynge Marke come oute / and doo bataille / for now the good knyghte sir Tristram is entryd / It wylle be shame to the sayd Elyas for to kepe thy walles / whan kynge Mark vnderstood this / he was wrothe and sayd no word / but went vnto sir Tristram and axed hym his counceyl / Sire said sir Tristram wylle ye that I gyue hym his ansuer / I wille wel sayd Kynge Marke / Thenne sir Tristram said thus to the messagere Bere thy lord word from the kynge and me / that we wyl do batail with hym to morne in the playne felde / what is your name said the messager / wete thou wel / my name is sir Trystram de Lyones / There with alle the messager departed / and told his lord Elyas alle that he had herd / Syr saide sire Tristram vnto Kynge Marke I praye yow gyue me leue to haue the rule of the bataill / I pray yow take the rule said kyng mark Thenne sire Tristram lete deuyse the bataille in what manere that it shold be / He lete departe his hoost in syxe partyes / and ordeyned sir Dynas the Seneschal to haue the fore ward / & other knyghtes to rule the remenaunt / And the same nyghte syre Tristram brente alle the Sessoyns shyppes vnto the cold water / Anone as Elyas wyst that he said hit was of sir Tristrams doynge / for he casteth that we shalle neuer escape moder sone of vs / Therfore fayre felawes fyghte frely to morowe / & myscomforte yow noughte for ony knyȝt though he be the best knyght in the world / he maye not haue adoo with vs alle /
¶ Thenne they ordeyned theyr batails in four partyes
wonderly wel apparailled and garnysshed with men of armes
Thus they within yssued / and they withoute sette frely vpon
them / and there sir Dynas dyd grete dedes of armes / not for
¶ Whan Elyas the capytayn vnderstode the dethe of his men / he made grete dole / And whan he wyst that they were lothe to goo to bataille ageyne / he was wrothe oute of mesure / Thenne Elyas sente word vnto Kyng Mark in grete despyte whether he wold fynde a Knyght that wold fyghte for hym / body for body /
¶ And yf that he myght slee Kynge Markes
knyghte / he to haue the truage of Cornewaile yerely / And yf
that this knyght slee hym / I fully releece my clayme for euer
Thenne the messager departed vnto Kynge Marke and told
hym how that his lord Elyas had sente hym word to fynde a
Knyght to doo bataille with hym body for body / whanne kyng
Marke vnderstood the messagyer he badde hym abyde / and he
shold haue his ansuer / Thenne called he alle the Baronage
to gyder to wete what was the best counceyll / They sayd all at
ones to fyghte in a felde we haue no lust / for had not ben syr
Tristrams prowesse / hit had ben lykely that we neuer shold
haue escaped / And therfor sir as we deme / hit were wel done
to fynde a knyȝt that wold do batail with hym for he knyȝtly
NOt for thenne whan alle this was said / they coude
fynde no Knyght that wold doo bataille with hym / Syre
kynge said they alle / here is no knyght that dare fyghte wyth
Elyas / Allas said kynge Marke thenne am I vtterly
ashamed and vtterly destroyed / onles that my neuewe sire
Tristram wylle take the bataille vpon hym / wete yow wel they
sayd alle he had yesterday ouer moche on hand / and he is wery
for trauaille / and sore wounded / where is he said Kyng mark
Syr said they he is in his bedde to repose hym / Allas said
kynge Marke / but I haue the socoure of my neuewe sir Tristram
I am vtterly destroyed for euer / There with one wente to syr
Tristram there he lay and told hym what kynge Marke had
sayd / And there with sire Tristram aroos lyghtely / and putt
on hym a longe gowne / and came afore the Kynge and al the
lordes / And whan he sawe hem alle soo desmayed / he asked the
Kynge and the lordes what tydynges were with hem / Neuer
werse said the Kynge / And ther with he told hym alle how
he had word of Elyas to fynde a knyȝt to fyghte for the
truage of Cornewail / and none can I fynde / And as for yow
said the kynge and alle the lordes we maye aske no more of
yow for shame / For thurgh your hardynes yesterday ye saued
alle your lyues / Syre said syr Tristram now I vnderstande
ye wold haue my socour / reason wold that I shold doo al that
lyeth in my power to doo / sauynge my worship / and my lyf /
how be hit I am sore brysed and hurte / And sythen sir Elyas
profereth soo largely / I shalle fyghte with hym or els I will
be slayne in the felde / or els I wille delyuer Cornewaile from
the old truage / And therfore lyghtely calle his messager and
he shalle be ansuerd / for as yet my woundes ben grene and they
wille be sorer a seuen nyght after than they ben now / And
therfor he shalle haue his ansuere / that I will doo bataill to morn
with hym / Thenne was the messager departed
brought before kynge Marke / Herke my felawe said sir Tristram
goo fast vnto thy lord and bydde hym make true assuraunce
on his party / for the truage / as the kyng here shalle make on
his party / and thēne telle thy lord sir Elyas that I sir Tristram
kynge Arthurs knyght / and knyghte of the table round /
¶ And by thenne they had foughten the mountenaunce of an houre / sir Tristram waxte faynte and forbledde / and gaf sore a bak / That sawe sire Elyas / and folowed fyersly vpon hym / and wounded hym in many places / And euer sire Tristram tracyd and trauercyd / and wente froward hym here and there / and couerd hym with his shelde as he myghte alle weykely / that alle men said he was ouercome / For sir Elyas hadde gyuen hym twenty strokes ageynst one /
¶ Thenne was there laughyng of the
Sessoyns party and grete dole on Kynge Markys party /
Allas said the Kynge we are ashamed and destroyed all for
euer / for as the book saith syr Tristram was neuer so matched
but yf it were sir launcelot / Thus as they stode and beheld
bothe partyes / that one party laughynge and the other party
wepynge / Syre Tristram remembryd hym of his lady la
beale Isoud that loked vpon hym / And how he was lykely
neuer to come in her presence / Thenne he pulled vp is shelde that
erst henge ful lowe / And thenne he dressid vp his shelde vnto
¶ Thenne whanne sir Tristram sawe hym soo stakkerynge on the groūd he said syr Elyas I am ryght sory for the / for thou arte a passynge good knyghte as euer I mette with alle excepte sire Launcelot / ther with alle sir Elyas fylle to the erthe / & there dyed / what shalle I doo said sir Tristram vnto Kynge marke for this bataille is at an ende / Thenne they of Elyas party departed / and kynge Marke took of hem many prysoners to redresse the harmes and the scathes that he had of them / and the remenaunt he sente in to their countrey to borowe oute their felawes / Thenne was sire Tristram serched and wel helyd / yet for alle this Kynge Marke wold fayne haue slayne sir Tristram /
¶ But for alle that euer sire Tristram sawe or herd by kynge Marke yet wold he neuer beware of his treason / but euer he wold be there as la Beale Isoud was
NOw wille we passe of this mater / and speke we of the harpers that sir Launcelot and sir Dynadan hadde sente in to Cornewaile / And at the grete feest that kyng marke made for Ioye that the Sessoyns were putte oute of his Countrey / Thenne came Elyas the harper with the lay that Dynadan had made and secretely broughte hit vnto sir Tristram and told hym the lay that Dynadan had made by kynge Marke / And whan sir Tristram herd hit / he said O lord Ihesu that Dynadan can make wonderly wel and ylle / there as it shalle be /
¶ Syr said Elyas dare I synge this songe afore Kynge Marke / ye on my perylle said sire Tristram / for I shalle be thy waraunt / Thenne at the mete cam in Elyas the harper / & by cause he was a curyous harper men herd hym synge the same lay that Dynadan had made / the whiche spak the moost vylony by Kyng Marke of his treason / that euer man herd / whan the harper had songe his songe to the ende / kynge Marke was wonderly wrothe
¶ And sayd / thow
t Kyng Mark
was wonderly wrothe he was / for he demed that the lay that
was songe afore hym was made by sir Tristrams counceylle/
wherfore he thoughte to slee hym / and alle his wel wyllars /
in that countrey
NOw torne we to another mater that felle bitwene kyng
Marke and his broder that was called the good
prynce Bodwyne that alle the peple of the countrey loued
passynge wel / So hit befelle on a tyme that the mescreaunts
Sarasyns londed in the countreye of Cornewaile soone after
these sessoyns were gone / And thēne the good prynce
Boudwyne at the landynge he areysed the countrey pryuely and
hastly / And or hit were day / he lete put wylde fyre in thre of his
owne shyppes / and sodenly he pulled vp the sayle / And with
the wynde he made tho shyppes to be dryuen among the nauye
of the Sarasyns / And to make shorte tale tho thre shippes set
on fyre alle the shippes that none were saued / And atte poynt
of the day the good prynce Boudwyn with all his felauship
sette on the mescreauntes with shoutes and cryes and slewe
to the nombre of xl / M / and lefte none on lyue / whan kynge
Marke wyst this he was wonderly wrothe that his broder
shold wynne suche worship / And by cause this prynce was
better byloued than he in all that countrey / And that al so
Boudwyn loued wel sir Tristram / therfore he thoughte to slee hym
NOt withstandynge whan Kyng Marke had done this
dede / yet he thought to doo more vengeaunce / and with
¶ And when Sadok came to kyng Marke he told hym feythfully that he had drouned yong Alysander her sone / and therof kynge Marke was ful gladde /
¶ Now torne we vnto Anglydes that rode bothe nyghte and day by aduenture oute of Cornewaile / and lytyl and in fewe places she rested / but euer she drewe southward to the see syde / tyl by fortune she came to a castel that is called Magouns / & now hit is called Arundel in southsex / and the Conestable of the castel welcomed her and said she was welcome to her owne castel / and there was Anglydes worshipfully receyued / for the Conestables wyf was nyghe her cosyn / and the Conestables name was Belangere / and that same Conestable told Anglydes that the same Castel was hers by ryght enherytaunce / Thus Anglydes endured yeres and wynters tyl Alysander was bygge and stronge / there was none soo wyght in all that Countrey / neyther there was none that myghte doo no manere of maystry afore hym /
THenne vpon a day Bellangere the Conestable came to Anglydes and sayd Madame it were tyme my lord Alysander were made knyȝt / for he is a passyng strong yonge man / Syre said she I wold he were made knyghte / But thenne must I yeue hym the moost charge that euer synful moder gaf to her childe / Doo as ye lyste sayd Bellangere / and I shalle gyue hym warnynge that he shalle be maade knyght / Now hit wyl be wel done that he may be made knyght at oure lady day in lente / Be hit soo said Anglydes / and I pray yow make redy therfore / Soo came the Conestable to Alysander and told hym that he shold at oure lady in lente be made knyghte / I thanke god said Alysander these are the best tydynges that euer came to me / Thenne the Conestable ordeyned twenty of the grettest gentylmens sones and the best born men of the countrey that shold be maade knyghtes that same day that Alysander was made knyght / Soo on the same daye that Alysander and his twenty felawes were made Knyghtes / at the offrynge of the masse there came Anglydes vnto her sone and sayd thus /
¶ O fayre swete sone I charge the vpon my blessynge and of the hyghe ordre of chyualry that thou takest here this day / that thow vnderstande what I shalle saye / and charge the with alle / There with alle she pulled out a blody dobblet and a blody sherte that were bebledde with old blood / whanne Alysaunder sawe this / he starte abak and waxed paale / and sayd fayre moder what maye this meane / I shall telle the fayre sone / this was thyne owne faders dobblett and sherte that he ware vpon hym that same daye that he was slayne / and there she told hym why wherfore / And hou for his goodenes kynge Marke slewe hym with his daggar afore myn owne eyen / And therfor this shalle be your charge that I I shalle gyue the
NOw I requyre the / and charge the vpon my blessyng
¶ Soo this feest was endyd / and the conestabyl by the aduyse of anglydes lete purueye that Alysander was wel horsed and harneysid / Thenne he Iusted with his twenty felawes that were made knyghtes with hym / but for to make a shorte tale he ouerthrewe alle tho twenty that none myght withstande hym a buffet /
¶ Thenne one of tho Knyghtes departed vnto Kynge Marke / and told hym alle how Alysander was maade Knyghte / and alle the charge that his moder gaf hym as ye haue herd afore tyme
¶ Allas fals treason said Kynge Marke I wende that yonge traitour had ben dede / Allas whome may I truste / And there with alle kynge Marke took a swerd in his hand / and soughte sire Sadok from chamber to chamber to slee hym /
¶ Whanne sir Sadok sawe kynge Marke come with his suerd in his hand / he sayd thus / Beware Kynge Marke and come not nyghe me / for wete thow wel that I saued Alysander his lyf / of whiche I neuer repente me / for thow falsly and cowardly slewe his fader Boudwyn traytourly for his good dedes / wherfor I pray almyghty Ihesu sende Alysander myghte and strengthe to be reuengyd vpon the / and now beware Kynge Marke of yonge Alysander / for he is made a knyghte /
¶ Alas said Kynge Marke that euer I shold here a traytour saye soo afore me /
¶ And there with foure Knyghtes of kynge Markes drewe theire swerdes to slee syre Sadok / but anone sir Sadok slewe hem alle in Kynge Markes presence / And thenne sire Sadok past forthe in to his chamber / and toke his hors and his harneis / and rode on his waye a good paas / For there was neyther syre Tristram / neyther syre Dynas nor syre Fergus that wold sir Sadok ony euylle wylle /
¶ Thenne was Kynge Marke wrothe / and thoughte to
destroye syre Alysander and syre Sadok that had saued hym / for
kynge Marke dredde and hated Alisander moost of ony man
¶ Soo this letter was sente to Alysander from his cosyn syr Tristram / And at that tyme he thought to doo after his commaundement / Thenne kynge Mark called a knyght that broughte hym the tydynges from Alysander / and badde hym abyde stylle in that countrey / Syre sayd that knyght soo muste I doo / for in myn owne countrey I dare not come / No force said Kynge Marke / I shalle gyue the here double as moche landes as euer thow haddest of thyne owne / But within short space sir Sadok mette with that fals knyght / and slewe hym Thenne was Kynge Marke wode wrothe oute of mesure
¶ Thenne he sente vnto Quene Morgan le say / and to the quene of Northgalys prayenge them in his letters that they two sorceresses wold sette alle the countrey in fyre with ladyes that were enchauntresses / And by suche that were daungerous knyghtes as Malgryn Breuse saunce pyte / that by no meane Alysander le Orphelyn shold escape / but outher he shold be taken or slayne / This ordenaunce made kyng Marke for to destroye Alysander
NOw torne we ageyne vnto sire Alysander that at his departynge his moder toke with hym his faders blody sherte / Soo that he bare with hym alweyes tylle hys dethe daye in tokenynge to thynke on his faders dethe
¶ Soo was Alysander purposed to ryde to london by the coūceille of sire Tristram to syre Launcelot / And by fortune he wente by the see syde / and rode wronge / and there he wanne at a turnement the gree / that Kynge Carados made / And there he smote doune Kynge Carados and twenty of his knyghtes and also sire Safere a good knyght that was sire Palomydes broder the good knyght /
¶ Alle this sawe a damoysel / and
¶ Soo torne we to the damoysell of the Castel that whanne Alysander le Orphelyn hadde foriusted the four Knyghtes she called hym to her and said thus / Syre knyghte wolt thou for my sake Iuste and fyghte with a knyghte for my sake of this countrey that is and hath ben long tyme an euyll neyghbour to me / his name is Malgryne / and he wylle not suffer me to be maryed in no maner wyse for all that I can doo / or ony knyght for my sake /
¶ Damoysel said Alysander and he come whyles I am
here I wylle fyghte with hym / and my poure body for your
sake I wille Ieoparde / And there with alle she sente for hym /
for he was at her commaundement / And whan eyther hadde a
syghte of other / they made hem redy for to Iusfe / and they cam
to gyder egerly / and Malgryn brysed his spere vpon
Alysander / and alisander smote hym ageyne so hard that he bare hym
quyte from his sadell to the erthe / But this Malgryne aroos
lyghtly and dressid his sheld and drewe his suerd / and badde
hym alyȝte / sayēg thouȝ thou haue the better of me on horsbak
¶ And in the meane whyle came Morgan le fay to the damoysel of the Castel / and they beheld the bataylle / But this malgryne was an olde roted Knyghte / and he was called one of the daungerous knyghtes of the world to doo bataille on foot but on horsbak there were many better / And euer this Malgryne awayted to slee Alysander / and soo wounded hym wonderly sore / that it was merueylle that euer he myghte stande / for he had bledde soo moche blood / for Alysander fought wyldly and not wyttely / And that other was a felonous knyȝte and awayted hym / and smote hym sore / and somtyme they rasshed to gyders with their sheldes lyke two bores or rammes and fylle grouelynge bothe to the erthe /
¶ Now knyghte sayd Malgryn hold thy hand a whyle / & telle me what thow arte / I wylle not said Alysander / but yf me lyst / But telle me thy name / and why thow kepest thys countrey / or els thow shalt dye of my handes / wete thow well sayd Malgryne that for this maydens loue of this Castel I haue slayne ten good knyghtes by myshap / and by outerage and orgulyte of my self I haue slayne ten other knyghtes / Soo god me helpe sayd Alysander this is the fowlest confessyon that euer I herd knyghte make / nor neuer herd I speke of other men of suche a shameful confession / wherfore hit were grete pyte & grete shame vnto me that I shold lete the lyue ony lenger / therfore kepe the as wel as euer thow mayst / for as I am true knyghte eyther thow shalte slee me or els shal slee the / I promyse the feythfully
¶ Thenne they lasshed to gyders fyersly / And at the last Alysander smote Malegryne to the erthe / And thenne he racyd of his helme / and smote of his hede lyghtely /
¶ And whanne he hadde done and ended this bataille / anone
he called to hym his varlet the whiche brought hym his hors
And thēne he wenyng to be strong ynouȝ wold haue moūted
THene Quene Morgan le fay serched his woundes /
and gaf suche an oynement vnto hym that he shold
haue dyed / And on the morne whanne she came to hym
he camplayned hym sore / And thenne she put other oynements
vpon hym / And thenne he was out of his payne / Thenne cam
the damoysel of the Castel and said vnto Morgan le fay / I
pray yow helpe me that this Knyghte myghte wedde me / for
he hath wonne me with his handes / ye shalle see said Morgan
le fay what I shalle saye Thenne Morgan le fay wente vnto
Alysander and bad in ony wyse that he shold refuse this lady
and she desyre to wedde yow / for she is not for yow / Soo the
damoysel came and desyred of hym maryage / damoysel sayd
Orphelyn I thanke yow but as yet I caste me not to marye
in this countrey / Syre she said sythen ye will not mary me / I
pray yow in soo moche as ye haue wonne me that ye wyl gyue
me to a Knyghte of this countrey that hath ben my frende / &
loued me many yeres / with alle my herte said Alysander I
wylle assente therto / Thenne was the Knyȝte sente for / his
name was Geryne le grose / And anone he made them hand fast /
and wedded them / Thenne came Quene Morgan le fay to
Alysander and badde hym aryse and putte hym in an hors lyttar
and gaf hym suche a drynke that in thre dayes and thre
nyghtes he waked neuer but slepte / and soo she brought hym to her
owne castel that at that tyme was called la Beale regard /
Thenne Morgan le fay came to Alysander and asked hym yf
he wold fayne be hole / who wold be seke said Alysander and he
myghte be hole / wel said Morgan le fay thenne shalle ye
promyse me by youre knygthode that this daye twelue monethe
and a daye ye shalle not passe the compas of thys Castel / and
withoute doubte ye shalle lyghtely be hole / I assente said sire
SYre knyghte said the damoysel / and ye wold be mery
I coude telle yow good tydynges / wel were me said
Alysander / and I myghte here of good tydynges / for now I
stand as a prysoner by my promyse / Syr she sayd wete ye wel
that ye be a prysoner and werse than ye wene / for my lady
my cosyn Quene Morgan le fay kepeth yow here for none
other entente but for to doo her pleasyr with yow whan hit
lyked her / O Ihesu defende me said Alysander from suche
pleasyr for I had leuer cutte away my hangers than I wold do
her suche pleasyr / As Ihesu helpe me said the damoysel / and
ye wold loue me and be ruled by me I shalle make youre
delyueraunce with your worshyp / Telle me said Alysander / by
what meane / and ye shalle haue my loue / fayre knyghte sayd
she / this castel of ryght ought to be myn / And I haue an
vnkel the whiche is a myghty Erle / he is Erle of pase / and of al
folkes he hateth moost Morgan le fay / and I shalle sende
vnto hym / and praye hym for my sake to destroye this castel / for
the euylle custommes that ben vsed therin / And thenne wylle
he come and sette wylde fyre on euery parte of the castel / and
I shalle gete yow oute at a pryuy posterne / and there shall ye
haue your hors and your harneis / ye say wel damoysel sayd
Alysander / and thenne she sayd ye may kepe the rome of thys
Castel this twelue moneth / and a day / thenne breke ye not
your othe / Truly sayr damoysel said Alysander ye saye sothe /
And thenne he kyste he and dyd to her plesaunce as it
pleased them bothe at tymes and leysers / Soo anone she sent vnto
THenne she vnwympeled her vysage / And whanne he
sawe her / he said here haue I fond my loue and my
lady / Truly fayre lady said he I promyse yow to be
your knyghte / and none other that bereth the lyf / Now gentil
knyghte said she telle me your name / My name is said he
Alysander le Orphelyn / Now damoysel telle me your name sayd
he / my name is said she / Alys la beale pilggrym / And whan
we be more at oure hertes ease both ye and I shalle telle other
of what blood we be come / So there was grete loue betwyxe
them / And as they thus talked / there came a Knyghte that
hyghte Harsouse le Berbuse and axed parte of sir
Alysanders speres / Thenne sire Alysander encountred with hym / and
at the fyrst sir Alysander smote hym ouer his hors croupe /
And thenne there came another knyghte that hyȝt sire
Hewgon / And sire Alysander smote hym doune as he dyd that
other / Thenne sire Heugon profered to do bataille on foote / syre
Alysander ouercame hym with thre strokes / and there wold
haue slayne hym had he not yelded hym / Soo thenne Alisander
made bothe tho Knyghtes to swere to were none armour in a
twelue moneth and a day / Thenne sire Alisander alyȝte doun
and wente to reste hym and repose hym / Thenne the damoysell
that halp sire Alysander oute of the castel in her play told
Alys all to gyder how he was prysoner in the castel of la
beale regard / and there she told her how she gat hym oute of
pryson / Syr said Alys la Beale pylgrym me semeth ye ar moche
beholdynge to this mayden / that is trouth said sir Alysander /
And there Alys told hym of what blood she was come /
Syre wete ye wel she said that I am of the blood of Kynge
Ban that was fader vnto sir Launcelot ye wys fayr lady
sayd Alysander my moder told me that my fader was broder
¶ Thenne sir Alysander
Iusted thus day by day / and on foot he dyd many batails with
many knyghtes of kynge Arthurs court and with many
knyghtes straungers / therfore to telle alle the batails that he did
it were ouer moche to reherse / for euery day within that twelue
moneth he had adoo with one Knyght or with other / and some
day he had adoo with thre or with foure / And there was neuer
knyght that putte hym to the werse / & at the twelue monethes
ende he departed with his lady Alys le beale pylgrym / and
the damoysel wold neuer goo from hym / and soo they went in
BVt as the book sayth / kyng marke wold neuer stynte
tyll he had slayne hym by treason/ /and by Alys he
gat a child that hyght Bellengerus le Beuse / and by good
fortune he came to the courte of Kynge Arthur / and preued
a passynge good Knyghte / and he reuenged his faders dethe
for the fals Kynge marke slewe bothe syre Tristram &
Alysander falsly and felonsly / and hit happed so that Alysander
hadde neuer grace ne fortune to come to Kynge Arthurs court
For and he had comen to sire launcelot alle knyghtes sayd /
that knewe hym / he was one of the strengest knyghtes that
was in Arthurs dayes / and grete dole was made for hym
Soo lete we of hym passe and torne we to another tale
So hit befelle that sire Galahalt the haute prynce was lord of
the countrey of Surluse / wherof came many good knyghtes /
And this noble prynce was a passynge good man of armes
and euer he helde a noble felaushyp to gyders / And thenne he
came to Arthurs court / & told hym his entent / how this was
his wyll / how he wold lete crye a Iustes in the coūtrey of
Surluse / the whiche countrey was within the landes of kynge
Arthur / and there he axed leue to lete crye a Iustes / I wyl
gyue yow leue said Kynge Arthur / But wete thow wel sayd
Kynge Arthur / I maye not be there / Syre said Quene
Gueneuer please hit you to gyue me leue to be at that Iustes / with
ryght good wille said Arthur / for sire Galahalt the haute
prynce shall haue yow in gouernaunce / Syr said Galahalt I
wille as ye wylle / sir thenne the quene I wille take with me
and suche knyghtes as pleasen me best / do as ye lyst said
kynge Arthur / So anone she commaunded sire Launcelot to
make hym redy with suche knyghtes as he thought best / Soo in
euery good towne and castel of this land was made a crye /
that in the countrey of Surluse syre Galahalt sholde make a
Iustes that shold laste eyghte dayes / And how the haute
prynce with the help of Quene Gueneuers knyghtes shold Iuste
THenne at the request of Quene Gueneuer and of
kynge Bagdemagus / sir Laūcelot came in to the rayeng
but he was desguysed / and that was the cause that
fewe folke knewe hym / and there mette with hym sir Ector de
marys his owne broder / and eyther brake their speres vpon
other to theyr handes / And thenne eyther gate another spere /
And thenne sire launcelot smote doune syr Ector de marys his
owne broder / That sawe sire Bleoberys / and he smote sir
launcelot suche a buffet vpon the helme that he wyst not wel where
he was / Thenne sir launcelot was wrothe / and smote sir
Bleoberys so sore vpon the helme that his hede bowed doune
backward / And he smote efte another buffet that he auoyded his
sadel / and soo he rode by / and threst forth to the thyckest / whan
the kynge of Northgalys sawe sire Ector and Bleoberys lye
on the ground / thenne was he wroth / for they came on his
party ageynst them of Surluse / So the kynge of Northgalys ran
to sire Launcelot / and brake a spere vpon hym all to pyeces
There with sire Launcelot ouertook the kynge of Northgalys
and smote hym suche a buffet on the helme with his suerd that
he made hym to auoyde his hors / and anone the kyng was
horsed ageyne / So bothe the kynge Bagdemagus and the kyng
of Northgalys party hurled to other / and thenne beganne a
stronge medle / but they of Northgalys were ferre bygger
Whanne sire launcelot sawe his party goo to the werst / he
thrange in to the thyckest prees with a suerd in his hand / &
there he smote doune on the ryght hand and on the lyft hand
and pulled doune knyghtes and racyd of their helmes that
alle men hadde wonder that euer one knyght myghte doo such
dedes of armes / whanne sire Mellegaunt that was sone vnto
kyng Bagdemagus saw how sir Launcelot ferd / he merueiled
¶ Thenne in the meane whyle there came a damoysel to the haute prynce / and complayned that there was a knyghte that hyght Goneryes that withhelde her alle her landes Thenne the knyghte was there presente and caste his gloue to hym or to any that wold fyghte in her name / Soo the damoysel took vp the gloue alle heuyly for defaute of a champyon / Thenne there came a varlet to her and sayd damoysel / wille ye doo after me / ful fayne said the damoysel / thenne goo ye vnto suche a knyght that lyeth here besyde in an ermytage / and that foloweth the questyng best / and pray hym to take the bataille vpon hym / and anone I wote wel he wille graunte yow /
¶ So anone she took her palfroy / and within a whyle she fond that knyght that was sire Palomydes / And whan she requyred hym / he armed hym and rode with her / and made her to go to the haute prynce / and to aske leue for her knyght to doo batail / I wille wel said the haute prynce / Thenne the knyghtes were redy in the feld to Iuste on horsbak / and eyther gatte a spere in their handes and mette soo fyersly to gyders that their speres alle to sheuerd / Thenne they flange out swerdes / and syr Palomydes smote sire Gonereys doune to the erthe / And thenne he racyd of his helme and smote of his hede / Thenne they wente to souper / and the damoysel loued Palomydes as peramour / but the book saith she was of his kyn / Soo thenne Palomydes desguysed hym self in this manere / in his shelde he bare the questynge beest and in alle his tarappours /
¶ And
HEre begynneth the second daye / anone as sire Palomydes came in to the felde / syr Galahalt the haute prynce was at the raunge ende / and mette with sire Palomydes / and he with hym with grete speres / And thenne they cam soo hard to gyders that their speres alle to sheuered / But syr Galahalt smote hym soo hard that he bare hym backward ouer his hors / but yet he lost not his styropes /
¶ Thenne they drewe
their swerdes and lasshed to gyder many sadde strokes / that
many worshipful knyghtes lefte their besynes to behold them
But at the last sire Galahalt the haut prynce smote a stroke
of myghte vnto Palomydes sore vpon the helme / but the helme
was soo hard that the swerd myght not byte but slypped and
smote of the hede of the hors of sir Palomydes / whan the haut
prynce wyst and sawe the good knyght falle vnto the erthe /
he was ashamed of that stroke / And there with he alyghte
doune of his owne hors / and prayd the good knyghte
Palomydes to take that hors of his yefte / and to forgyue hym that
dede / Syre said Palomydes I thanke yow of your grete
goodnes / for euer of a man of worship / a knyghte shalle neuer
haue disworship / and soo he mounted vpon that hors / and the
haute prynce had another anone / Now said the haute prynce
I relece to yow that maiden / for ye haue wonne her / A said
palomydes the damoysel and I be at your commaundement / So
they departed and sire Galahalt dyd grete dedes of armes /
And ryght soo came Dynadan / and encountred with syr
Galahalt / and eyther came to other so fast with theire speres that
their speres brak to their handes / But Dynadan had wende
the haute prynce had ben more wery than he was / And thenne
WHanne Palomydes was vnarmed he axed lodgynge
for hym self and the damoysel / Anone the haute
prynce commaunded them to lodynge / And he was not so soone
in his lodgynge / but there came a Knyghte that hyght
Archade / he was broder vnto Gomoryes that Palomydes slewe
afore in the damoysels quarel / And this Knyght Archade called
syre Palomydes traytour / and appelyd hym for the dethe of
his broder / By the leue of the haute prynce sayd Palomydes
I shalle ansuer the / whan sire Galahalt vnderstood theyre
quarel / he badde them goo to dyner / and so soone as ye haue
dyned / loke that eyther knyghte be redy in the felde / So when
they hadde dyned they were armed bothe / and tooke their
horses / and the quene and the prynce and syr Launcelot were set
to behold them / and soo they lete renne their horses / and there
sir Palomydes bare Archade on his spere ouer his hors tayle
¶ Thenne the haute prynce and Quene Gueneuer wente vnto souper /
¶ Thenne Kynge Bagdemagus sente aweye his sone Melyagaunt by cause syr Launcelot shold not mete with hym / for he hated sire launcelot / and that knewe he not
NOw begynneth the thyrdde daye of Iustynge / and att that daye Kynge Bagdemagus made hym redy / and there came ageynst hym kynge Marsyl / that had in yefte an Iland of syre Galahalt the haute prynce / And this yland had the name Pomytayn / Thenne hit befelle that Kyng Bagdemagus and kynge Marsyl of Pomytayn mette to gyders with speres / and Kynge Marsyl had suche a buffet that he felle ouer his hors croupe
¶ Thenne came therin a Knyght of Kynge Marsyl to reuenge his lord / And kynge Bagdemagus smote hym doune hors and man to the erthe
¶ Soo there came an Erle that hyght arrouse / and sir Breuse and an honderd knyghtes with hem of Pometayne / and the Kynge of Northgalys was with hem / And alle these were ageynst them of Surluse / And thenne there beganne grete bataylle / and many Knyghtes were caste vnder hors feet / And euer Kynge Bagdemagus dyd best / for he fyrste beganne / & euer he helde on / Gaherys Gawayns broder smote euer at the face of Kynge Bagdemagus / And at the laste kynge Bagdemagus hurtled doune Gaherys hors and man
¶ Thenne by aduenture syre Palomydes the good Knyghte
mette with syre Bleoberys de Ganys / syre Bleoberys broder/
And eyther smote other with grete speres / that both theyre
horses and Knyghtes felle to the erthe / But syre Blamore had
suche a falle that he had al moost broken his neck / for the
blood braste oute at nose / mouthe and his eres / but at the laste he
recouerd well by good surgyens / Thenne therecam in the duke
¶ Soo the Duke Chaleyns of Claraunce dyd there grete dedes of armes / and of soo late as he came in the thyrdde daye there was no man dyd soo wel excepte kynge Bagdemagus and sire Palomydes that the pryce was gyuen that day to Kynge Bagdemagus /
¶ And thenne they blewe vnto lodgynge and vnarmed hem and wente to the feest /
¶ Ryght soo came Dynadan and mocked and Iaped with Kynge Bagdemagus that alle knyghtes lough at hym / for he was a fyne Iaper and wel louynge alle good knyghtes /
¶ Soo anone as they had dyned / there came a varlet berynge foure speres on his bak / & he came to Palomydes / & sayd thus / here is a Knyȝte by hath sente yow the choyse of foure speres / and requyreth yow for your lady sake to take that one half of these speres / and Iuste with hym in the felde /
¶ Telle hym said Palomydes I wyll not fayle hym / whanne sire Galahalt wyste of this / he badde Palomydes make hym redy /
¶ So the Quene Gueneuer the haute prynce and sire Launcelot they were set vpon schafholdes to gyue the Iugement of these two Kngyhtes /
¶ Thenne syre Palomydes and the straunge knyght ranne so egerly to gyders that their speres brake to their handes / Anon with alle eyther of them tooke a grete spere in his hand and alle to sheuered them in pyeces / And thenne eyther tooke a gretter spere / And thenne the knyghte smote doune syre Palomydes hors and man to the erthe / And as he wold haue passed ouer hym / the straunge knyghtes hors stumbled and felle doune vpon Palomydes
¶ Thenne they drewe their swerdes and lasshed to gyders wonderly sore a grete whyle /
¶ Thenne the haute prynce and sire Launcelot sayd they sawe neuer two kngyhtes fyghte better than they dyd / but euer the straunge knyght doubled his strokes / and putte Palomydes abak / there with alle the haute prynce cryed hoo / and thenne they wente to lodgynge / And whanne they were vnarmed / they knewe hit was the noble knyȝt syr Lamorak
¶ Whanne syr Launcelot knewe that hit was sir Lamorak he
¶ Thenne Quene Gueneuer commended hym / and soo dyd alle other good knyghtes made moche of hym excepte sire Gawayns bretheren / Thenne quene Gueneuer said vnto sire launcelot syr I requyre yow that & ye Iuste ony more / that ye Iuste with none of the blood of my lord Arthur / soo he promysed he wold not as at that tyme
HEre begynneth the fourthe daye / thenne came in to the felde the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / and alle they of Northgalys and the duke chaleyns of Claraunce / and Kynge Marsyl of pomatyn / and there came Safyr Palomydes broder / and there he told hym tydynges of his moder / and his name was called the Erle / And so he appeled hym afore kynge Arthur / for he made warre vpon oure fader and moder / and there I slewe hym in playne bataille / Soo they wente in to the feld / and the damoysel wyth them / and there came to encountre ageyne them sire Bleoberys de ganys / and sir Ector de marys / sire Palomydes encoūtred with sir Bleoberys / and eyther smote other doune / And in the same wyse dyd sire Safere and sir Ector / and tho two couples dyd bataille on foote / Thenne came in sire Lamorak & he encountred with the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / and smote hym quyte ouer his hors tayle / And in the same wyse he serued the kynge of Northgalys / and also he smote doune Kynge Marsyl / And so or euer he stynte / he smote doune with his spere and with his suerd thyrtty knyghtes whan Duke Chaleyns sawe Lamorak doo soo grete prowesse / he wolde not medle with hym for shame / and thenne he charged all his knyghtes in payne of dethe that none of yow touche hym / For hit were shame to alle good knyghtes and that Knyght were shamed /
¶ Thenne the two Kynges gadred
them to gyders / and alle they sette vpon sire Lamorak / and
he faylled them not / but rasshed here and there smytyng on the
ryght hand and on the lyfte & racyd of many helmes / so that
¶ And alle this whyle foughte Palomydes / sire Bleoberys / sire Safere / sire Ector on foot / neuer were there foure knyghtes euener matched / And thenne they were departed and had vnto their lodgyng and vnarmed hem / and soo they wente to the grete feeste / But whanne sire Lamorak was come in to the courte quene Gueneuer took hym in her armes and sayd syr wel haue ye done this daye / Thenne came the haute prynce and he maade of hym grete Ioye / And soo dyd Dynadan for he wepte for Ioye But the Ioye that sire Launcelot made of sire Lamorak there myghte no man telle / thenne they wente vnto rest / and on the morne the haute prynce lete blowe vnto the felde
HEre begynneththe fyfthe daye / soo hit befelle that syre
Palomydes came in the morne tyde / and profered to
Iuste there as kynge Arthur was in a Castle there
besydes Surluse / and there encountred with hym a worshipful
duke / and there sire Palomydes smote hym ouer his hors
croupe / And this duke was vnkel vnto kynge Arthur / Thenne
sire Elyses sone rode vnto Palomydes / and Palomydes
serued Elyse in the same wyse / whanne sire Vwayne sawe thys
¶ Allas sayd Arthur now wote I wel / it is syre Lamorak de galys / O Lamorak abyde with me / and by my croune I shalle neuer fayle the / and not soo hardy in Gawayns hede / nor none of his bretheren to doo the ony wronge / Syre said syre Lamorak wronge haue they done me and to yow bothe / That is trouth sayd the kyng for they slewe theyre owne moder and my syster / the whiche me fore greueth / It hadde ben moche fayrer and better that ye had wedded her / for ye are a kynges sone as wel as they
¶ O Ihesu sayd the noble Knyght sire Lamorak vnto
Arthur her dethe shalle I neuer forgete / I promyse yow and
make myn auowe vnto god I shalle reuenge her dethe as soone
as I see tyme conenable / And yf hit were not at the reuerence
of your hyhenes / I shold now haue ben reuenged vpon syre
Gawayn & his bretheren / truly said arthur I wil make you at
SOo by fortune this damoysel herd telle that Palomydes dyd moche for damoysels sake / soo she sent to hym a pensel / and prayd hym to fyghte with sire Corsabryn for her loue / and he shold haue her / and her landes of her faders that shold falle to her / Thenne the damoysel sente vnto corsabryn and badde hym goo vnto syr Palomydes that was a paynym as wel as he / and she gaf hym warnyng that she had sente hym her pensel / and yf he myghte ouercome Palomydes she wold wedde hym / whanne Corsabryn wyst of her dedes / then was he wood wroth and angry / and rode vnto Surluse where the haute prynce was / and there he fond sire Palomydes redy the whiche had the pensel / Soo there they waged batail either with other afore Galahalt / wel said the haute prynce / this daye muste noble knyghtes Iuste / and at after dyner we shall see how ye can spede / Thenne they blewe to Iustes And in the cam Dynadan / and mette with sir Geryn a good knyght / and he threwe hym doune ouer his hors croupe / and sire Dynadan ouerthrewe four knyȝtes moo / and there he dyd grete dedes of armes / for he was a good knyȝt / but he was a scoffer / and a Iaper and the meryest knyght among felauship that was that tyme lyuynge / And he hadde suche a customme that he loued euery good knyghte / and euery good knyght loued hym ageyne /
¶ Soo thenne whanne the
haute prynce sawe Dynadan doo soo wel / he sente vnto syre
launcelot / and bad hym stryke doune syre Dynadan / And whan
that ye haue done so brynge hym afore me and the noble quene
¶ Thenne whanne the dyner was done / they blewe to the felde to beholde sire Palomydes and Corsabryn / Syre Palomydes pyght his pensell in myddes of the felde / & thēne they hurtled to gyders with their speres as it were thonder / and eyther smote other to the erthe / And thenne they pulled oute their swerdes / and dressid their sheldes / and lasshed to gyders myghtely as myghty knyȝtes / that wel nyghe there was no pyece of harneis wold hold them / for this Corsabryn was a passynge felonous knyghte / Corsabryn said Palomydes wylte thow releace me yonder damoysel / and pensell / Thenne was Corsabryn wrothe oute of mesure / and gaf Palomydes suche a buffet that he kneled on his knee /
¶ Thenne Palomydes arose lyghtely / and smote hym vpon the helme / that he felle doune ryȝt to the erthe / And ther with he racyd of his helme / and sayd Corsabryn yelde the or ellys thou shalt dye of my handes / Fy on the said Corsabryn / doo thy werst / thenne he smote of his hede / And there with all cam a stynke of his body whan the soule departed / that there myȝt no body abyde the sauoure / Soo was the corps hadde aweye and buryed in a wood by cause he was a paynym /
¶ Thenne they blewe vnto lodgynge / and Palomydes was vnarmed
¶ Thenne he wente vnto Quene Gueneuer / to the haute prynce / and to syre launcelot /
¶ Syre sayd the haute prynce / here haue ye sene this day a grete myrakel by Corsabryn / what sauour there was whanne the soule departed from the body / There for syre we wylle requyre yow to take the baptym vpon yow / and I promyse yow alle knyghtes wyll sette the more by yow / and say more worship by yow
¶ Syre said Palomydes I wille that ye alle knowe / that in
¶ But I haue made suche an auowe that I maye not be crystend tyl I haue done seuen true batails for Ihesus sake / And thenne wil I be crystend / And I truste god wylle take myn entent for I meane truly / Thenne sire Palomydes prayed Quene Gueneuer and the haute prynce to soupe with hym / And soo they dyd bothe sire Launcelot and sire Lamorak / and many other good knyghtes / Soo on the morne they herd their masse / and blewe the felde / and thenne knyghtes made them redy /
HEre begynneth the syxthe day / Thenne came therin syr Gaherys / and there encountred with hym syre Ossaise of Surluse / and sir Gaherys smote hym ouer his hors croupe / And thenne eyther party encountred with other / and there were many speres broken / and many knyghtes cast vnder feete /
¶ Soo there came in sir Dornard and sir Aglouale
that were bretheren vnto sire Lamorak / and they mette with
other two knyghtes / and eyther smote other soo hard that all
four knyghtes and horses felle to the erthe / whan sire
Lamorak sawe his two bretheren doune / he was wrothe out of
mesure / And thenne he gat a grete spere in his hand / and there
with alle he smote doune four good knyȝtes / and thenne his
spere brake / Thenne he pulled oute his suerd / and smote
aboute hym on the ryght hand and on the lyfte hand / and
racyd of helmes and pulled doune knyghtes that alle men
merueylled of suche dedes of armes as he dyd / for he ferd so that
many knyghtes fledde / Thenne he horsed his bretheren ageyne
and sayd bretheren ye oughte to be ashamed to falle so of
your horses / What is a Knyght but whan he is on horsbak / I sett
not by a knyght whanne he is on foote / for all batails on
fote ar but pelowres batails / For there shold no Knyghte
syghte on foote / but yf hit were for treason / or els he were dryuen
therto by force / therfore bretheren sytte faste on your horses or
els fyghte neuer more afore me / with that cam in the duke
NOw begynneth the seuenth bataill / there cam in the duke Cambynes / and there encountred with hym syr Arystaunce that was counted a good knyghte / & they mette soo hard that eyther bare other doune hors and man
¶ Thenne came there the Erle of lambayle and helped the duke ageyne to hors / Thenne came there syr Ossayse of Surluse / and he smote the erle Lambayle doune from his hors / Thenne beganne they to doo grete dedes of armes / and many speres were broken / and many knyghtes were caste to the erthe
¶ Thenne the kynge of Northgalys and the Erle Vlbawes
smote to gyders that alle the Iuges thought it was lyke
mortal dethe / This meane whyle quene Gueneuer and the haute
prynce and syr laūcelot made there syre Dynadan make hym
redy to Iuste / I wold said Dynadan ryde in to the felde / but
thenne
NOw torne we fro this mater / and speke we of sir
tristram of whome this booke is pryncipal of / and leue
we the kynge and the quene / syr Launcelot / and syre
Lamorak / and here begynneth the treason of kynge Marke that
he ordeyned ageynst syr Tristram / There was cryed by the
costes of Cornewaile a grete turnement and Iustes / and al was
done by sir Galahalt the haut prynce / and kynge
Bagdemagus to the entent to slee Launcelot or els vtterly destroye hym
and shame hym / by cause sir launcelot had alweyes the hyher
degree / therfore this prynce and this kynge made this Iustes
ageynst sire Launcelot / And thus her coūceyll was discouerd
¶ So whanne the Iustes were alle done / they knewe wel that hit was sire Tristram de Lyones / and all that were on Kyng markes party were glad that sir Tristram was hurte / and the remenaunt were sory of his hurte / for syre Tristram was not soo behated as was syre Launcelot within the Reame of Englond / Thenne came Kyng Marke vnto syre Tristram / and sayd fayre neuewe I am sory of your hurtes / Gramercy my lord said syre Tristram /
¶ Thenne Kynge Marke made sir Tristram to be putte in an
hors bere in grete sygne of loue / and said fayre cosyn I shalle
be your leche my self / and soo he rode forthe with sire Tristram
and brought hym to a Castel by day lyghte / And thenne
Kynge Mark made syre Tristram to ete / And thenne after he gaf
hym a drynke / the whiche as soone as he had dronke / he fell on
slepe / And whanne it was nyghte he made hym to be caryed to
another castel / and there he putte hym in a stronge pryson / &
there he ordeyned a man and a woman to gyue hym his mete
and drynke / Soo there he was a grete whyle / thenne was syr
Tristram myssed / and no creature wyst where he was become
When la beale Isoud herd hou he was myssed pryuely she went
vnto sir Sadok & praid hym to aspye where was sir Tristram
Thenne when Sadok wyst hou sir tristram was myssed & anon
aspyed that he was put in pryson by kyng mark & the
traitours of Magōs / theēne sadok & two of his cosyns leid them in an
NOw torne we vnto Kynge Marke that whan he was
escaped from sir Sadok / he rode vnto the Castel of
Tyntagyl / and there he made grete crye and noyse / &
cryed vnto harneis alle that myghte bere armes / Thenne they
sought and fond where were dede four cosyns of kyng Markes
and the traytour of Magouns / Thenne the kynge lete entyere
them in a chappel / thenne the kynge lete crye in alle the
countrey that helde of hym to goo vnto armes / for he vnderstood
to the werre he must nedes / Whanne Kynge Marke herde and
vnderstood how syre Sadok and sir Dynas were arysen in the
Countrey of Lyones / he remembryd of wyles and treason / Lo
thus he dyd / he lete make and counterfete letters from the pope
¶ Soo syre
Percyuale departed from sire Tristram / and rode streyghte
vnto Kynge Marke / and told hym how he had delyuerd syre
Tristram / and also he told the kyng that he had done hym self
grete shame for to putte sir Tristram in pryson / For he is now
the knyght of moost renomme in this world lyuynge
And wete thow wel the noblest knyghtes of the worlde loue
syr Tristram / and ys he wille make werre vpon yow / ye maye
not abyde hit / That is trouthe said kynge Marke / but I may
not loue sire Tristram by cause he loueth my Quene and my
wyf la beale Isoud / A fy for shame said syr Percyuole say
ye neuer so more / Are ye not vnkel vnto sir Tristram / and he
your neuewe / ye shold neuer thynke that soo noble a Knyghte
as sire Tristram is that he wold doo hym self soo grete a
vylony to holde his vnkels wyf / how be it said syr Percyuale he
may loue your Quene synles by cause she is called one of the
fayrest ladyes of the world / Thenne syr Percyuale departed
from Kynge Marke / Soo whan he was departed Kyng Mark
bethought hym of more treson / Not withstādyng kyng mark
graunted syr Percyuale neuer by no manere of meanes to
hurte sire Tristram / Soo anone Kynge Marke sente vnto syre
Dyanas the Seneschal that he shold putte doune alle the peple
that he had reysed / for he sente hym an othe that he wold goo
hym self vnto the pope of Rome to warre vpon the
mescreauntes / and this is a fayrer werre than thus to areyse the peple /
ageynst youre kynge / whanne sir Dynas vnderstood that
kynge marke wold goo vpon the mescreauntes / thenne sire
Dynas in alle hast putte doune alle the peple / and whan the
peple were departed euery man to his home / thēne Kyng mark
aspyed where was sire Tristram with la Beale Isoud / and
there by treason Kynge Marke lete take hym and put hym in
pryson contrary to his promyse that he made vnto syre
Percyuale / whan Quene Isoud vnderstood that syr Tristram was
¶ Whanne la beale Isoud vnderstood syre Tristram letters and his entent she sente hym another / and badde hym be of good comforte / for she wold doo make the vessel redy and alle thynge to purpos
¶ Thenne la beale Isoud sente vnto syre Dynas and to sadok and prayd hem in ony wyse to take Kynge Marke / and put hym in pryson vnto the tyme that she and syre Tristram were departed vnto the Royamme of Logrys / whan sir Dynas the Seneschall vnderstood the treason of Kynge Marke / he promysed her ageyne and sente her word that Kynge Marke shold be put in pryson / And as they deuysed hit soo hit was done / And thenne syre Tristram was delyuerd out of pryson / and anone in alle the haste Quene Isoud and syr Tristram and went and took their counceyll with that they wold haue with them whan they departed
THenne la Beale Isoud and sire Tristram took their vessel / and came by water in to this land / and so they were not in this land four dayes / but there came a crye of a Iustes and turnement that Kynge Arthur lete make / Whanne sire Tristram herd telle of that turnement he desguysed hym self / and la Beale Isoud / and rode vnto that turnement And whan he came there he sawe many Knyghtes Iuste and turneye / and so syr Tristram dressid hym to the raunge / and to make short conclusion / he ouerthrewe fourten Knyghtes of the round table / Whanne sir Launcelot sawe these Knyghtes thus ouerthrowen / sire launcelot dressid hym to sir Tristram / That sawe la Beale Isoud how sire launcelot was come in to the felde /
¶ Thenne la Beale Isoud sente vnto sire Launcelot a
rynge / and badde hym wete that it was sir Tristram de lyones
Whanne sir launcelot vnderstood that there was syre Tristram
he was ful gladde / and wold not Iuste / thēne sire Launcelot
¶ Soo sire launcelot departed vnto kynge Arthur / and thenne he told Quene Gueneuer how he that Iusted soo wel atte last turnement was sire Tristram / and there he told her how he hadde with hym la beale Isoud maulgre kynge Marke / & soo Quene Gueneuer told alle this vnto kynge Arthur /
¶ Whanne kynge Arthur wyste that sire Tristram was escaped and comen from kynge Marke / and had broughte la beale Isoud with hym / thenne was he passynge gladde / So by cause of sire Tristram kynge Arthur lete make a crye / that on may day shold be a Iustes before the castel of Lonaȝep / And that Castel was fast by Ioyous gard / And thus Arthur deuysed that alle the knyghtes of this land and of Cornewaile and of Northwalys shold Iuste ageynste all these countreyes / Irland / Scotland / and the remenaunt of walys & the countrey of Gore and Surluse and of Lystynoyse / & they of Northumberland and alle they that helde landes of arthur a this half the see / whanne this crye was made / many knyghtes were gladde and many were vngladde /
¶ Syre said laūcelot vnto Arthur by this crye that ye haue made ye wyll put vs that ben aboute yow in grete Ieopardy / for there be many Knyghtes that haue grete enuye to vs / therfore whan we shal mete at the daye of Iustes there wille be hard skyfte amonge vs / As for that said Arthur I care not / there shal we preue who shal be best of his handes / Soo whan sir launcelot vnderstode wherfore kynge Arthur made this Iustyng thēne he made suche purueaunce that la beale Isoud shold behold the Iustes in a secrete place that was honest for her estate /
¶ Now torne we vnto sire Tristram and to la beale Isoud /
how they maade grete Ioye dayly to gyders with alle manere
SOo on a daye la beale Isoud sayd vnto sir Tristram I merueyle me moche said she / that ye remembre not your self how ye be here in a straunge countrey and here be many peryllous knyghtes / and wel ye wote that kyng Marke is ful of treason / and that ye wylle ryde thus to chace and to to hunte vnarmed ye myghte be destroyed /
¶ My fayr lady and my loue I crye you mercy I wille no more doo soo Soo thenne sire Tristram rode dayly on huntynge armed and his men berynge his shelde and his spere / Soo on a day a lytyl afore the monethe of may syre Tristram chaced an hert passynge egerly / and soo the herte passed by a fayr welle / And thenne sir Tristram alyghte and putte of his helme to drynke of that burbley water / Ryght soo he herd and sawe the questynge beest come to the welle / whan syre Tristram sawe that beste / he putte on his helme for he demed he shold here of sir Palomydes / for that beste was his quest /
¶ Ryght so sir Tristram
sawe where came a knyghte armed vpon a noble courser / and
he salewed hym / and they spake of many thynges / and thys
knyghtes name was Breuse saunce pyte / and ryght so with
alle there came vnto them the noble knyghte sire Palomydes /
and eyther salewed other / and spake fair to other
¶ And at the laste tyme Quene La beale Isoud delyuerd hym / and wente cleryly aweye with hym in to this reame / & alle this whyle kynge Marke the fals traytour is in pryson / Is this trouthe said Palomydes / Thenne shall we hastely here of sire Tristram / And as for to say that I loue la Beale Isoud peramours I dare make good that I doo / and that she hath my seruyse aboue alle other ladyes / and shalle haue the terme of my lyf / And ryght soo as they stood talkynge / they sawe afore them where came a Knyghte alle armed on a grete hors / and one of his men bare his sheld / and the other his speres / And anone as that Knyght aspyed them he gatte his shelde and his spere / and dressid hym to Iuste
¶ Fair felawes said sire Tristram yonder is a Knyghte wil Iuste with vs / lete see whiche of vs shalle encountre with hym for I see wel he is of the courte of Kynge Arthur
¶ It shalle not be longe or he be mette with alle said sire Palomydes / for I fonde neuer noo knyght in my queste of this Glastynge beest / but and he wold Iuste I neuer refused hym
¶ As wel may I said Breuse saunce pyte folowe that beest as ye / Thenne shalle ye doo bataille with me said Palomydes / Soo syre Palomydes dressid hym vnto that other Knyghte syre Bleoberys that was a ful noble Knyghte nyghe kynne vnto sire Launcelot / And soo they mette soo hard / that syre Palomydes felle to the erthe hors and alle / Thenne sir Bleoberis cryed a lowde and said thus / make the redy thou fals traytour knyghte Breuse saunce pyte / for wete thow certaynly I wille haue adoo with the to the vtteraunce for the noble knyghtes and ladyes that thou hast falsly bitraid
¶ Whanne this false knyght and traitour Breuse saunce pyte herde hym saye soo / he took his hors by the brydel and fledde his waye as faste as euer his hors myghte renne / for sore he was of hym aferd /
¶ Whan syr Bleoberys
¶ Whanne sir Harre sawe that they were bothe to the erthe / thenne he said to hym self / neuer was Breuse of suche prowesse / Soo sire Harre dressid his hors / & they mette to gyders soo strongly that bothe the horses and knyghtes felle to the erthe / but sire Bleoberis hors beganne to recouer ageyne / That sawe sire Breuse and he came hurtlyng / & smote hym ouer and ouer and wolde haue slayne hym as he lay on the ground / Thenne syr Harre le fyse lake arose lyghtely and toke the brydel of sir Breuse hors and said /
¶ Fy for
shame stryke neuer a Knyght when he is at the erthe / for this
Knyght may be called no shameful knyghte of his dedes / for
yet as men may see there as he lyeth on the groūd he hath done
RYght soo as they stood thus / there came sir Palomydes And whanne he sawe the shelde of bleoberys lye on the erthe /
¶ Thenne said Palomydes he that oweth
¶ Syre Palomydes sayd Ector wete thow wel there is neyther thow nor none knyght that bereth the lyf that sleeth ony of oure blood / but he shalle dye for hit / therfor and thow lyste to fyghte goo seche sire laūcelot or sir Tristram and there shalle ye fynde your matche / with hem haue I mette said Palomydes / but I had neuer no worship of them / was there neuer no maner of knyghte said sire Ector but they that euer matched with yow / yes sayd Palomydes / there was the thyrdde a good knyght as ony of them / and of his age he was the best that euer I fond / for and he myghte haue lyued tyl he had ben an hardyer man / there lyueth no knyghte now suche / and his name was syre Lamorak de galys / And as he had Iusted at a turnement / there he ouerthrewe me / and xxx knyghtes moo / and there he wanne the degree / And at his departynge there mette hym syre Gawayne and his bretheren / & with grete payne they slewe hym felonsly vnto alle good knyghtes grete domage / Anone as sir Percyuale herd that his broder was dede syr Lamorak / he felle ouer his hors mane swounynge / and there he made the grettest dole that euer maade knyghte /
¶ And whan syr Percyuale aroos / he said / Allas my good and noble broder syre Lamorak / now shalle we neuer mete / and I trowe in alle the wyde world a man maye not fynde suche a knyght as he was of his age / and hit is to moche to suffre the dethe of our fader kynge Pellenore / & now the dethe of our good broder sir Lamorak / Thenne in the meane wyhle there came a varlet from the court of kyng Arthur and told them of the grete turnement that shold be at Lonaȝep / and how these landes Cornewail / & Northgalys shold be ageynst alle them that wold come
NOw torne we vnto sir Tristram that as he rode on
huntynge / he mette with sire Dynadan that was comen in
to that countrey to seke syre Tristram / Thenne sire
Dynadan told sire Tristram his name / but sire Tristram wold
not telle hym his name / wherfore syr Dynadan was wrothe /
For suche a foolysshe knyghte as ye are said sire Dynadan I
sawe but late this day lyenge by a welle / and he fared as he
slepte / and there he lay lyke a foole grymmynge and wold
not speke / and his shelde lay by hym / and his hors stode by
hym / and wel I wote he was a louer / A fayr syr said syre
Tristram are ye not a louer / mary fy on that crafte said sir
dynadan / that is euylle said said sire Tristram / for a knyȝt maye
neuer be of prowesse / but yf he be a louer / it is wel said said sir
Dynadan / Now telle me your name syth ye be a louer / or els
I shalle doo bataille with yow / As for that said sir Tristram
hit is no reason to fyghte with me / but I telle yow my name
And as for that my name shalle ye not wete as at this tyme
Fy for shame said Dynadan arte thow a knyghte and darste
not telle thy name to me / therfore I wil fyghte with the / As
for that said sir Tristram I wylle be aduysed / for I wil not
doo batail / but yf me lyft / And yf I doo batail said sire
Tristram ye are not able withstande me / Fy on the coward sayd
syre Dynadan / and thus as they houed styl they fawe a
knyght came rydyng ageynst them / Lo said sir Tristram see
where cometh a knyght rydynge wyll Iuste with you / Anon as sir
Dynadan beheld hym he said that is the same doted knyȝt that
I sawe lye by the welle neither slepyng ne wakyng / wel
sayde sire Tristram I knowe that knyght wel with the couerd
shelde of asure / he is the kynges sone of Northumberland / his
name is Epynegrys / and he is as grete a louer as I knowe /
and he loueth the kynges doughter of walys a ful fayre lady
And now I suppose said sire Tristram / and ye requyre hym / he
wille Iuste with yow / and thenne shalle ye preue whether a
louer be a better knyghte or ye that wylle not loue no lady / wel
said Dynadan now shalt thou see what I shall do / There with
alle sire Dynadan spake on hyghe and said sir knyghte make
the redy to Iuste with me / for it is the custome of erraūt
knyȝtes one to Iuste with other / Sir said Epynegrys is þt the rule
¶ And thenne
they gate of their horses as wel as they myghte and dressyd
their sheldes and swerdes do do their bataile to the vtteraunce
Knyghtes said sire Tristram ye shalle telle me of whens ye ar
and what be youre names / for suche men ye myȝte be ye shold
SOo when they hadde ouertake sire Tristram / sir
Agrauayne badde hym torne traytour knyght / that is euyll
sayd / said sir Tristram / and ther with he pulled out his
suerd / and smote syr Agrauayne suche a buffet vpon the helme
that he tombled doune of his hors in a swoune / and he hadde
a greuous wounde / And thenne he torned to Gaherys / and sire
Tristram smote his swerd and his helme to gyders with suche
a myght that Gaherys felle oute of his sadel / and soo sir
Tristram rode vnto Ioyous gard and there he alyght and vnarmed
hym / Soo sire Tristram told la beale Isoud of alle his
aduenture as ye haue herd to forne / And whan she herd hym telle of
sire Dynadan / syr said she is not that he that made the song by
THenne after that syr Dynadan departed / and rode his
way a grete paas vntyl he had ouertake sir Tristram
And when syr Dynadan had ouertake hym / he
knewe hym anone / and he hated the felauship of hym aboue all
other knyghtes / A said syre Dynadan art thow that coward
knyght that I mette with yesterday / kepe the / for thou shalte
Iuste with me maulgre thy hede / Wel said sire Tristram and I
am lothe to Iuste / and soo they lete theyr horses renne / and syr
Tristram myssid of hym a purpos / & sir Dynadan brak a
spere vpon sire Tristram / and there with syre Dynadan dressid
hym
Thus they rode vntyl they were ware of the Castel lonaȝep / And thenne were they ware of foure honderd tentys and pauelions / and merueylous grete ordenaunce / Soo god me helpe saide sire Tristram yonder I see the grettest ordenaunce that euer I sawe / Syre said Palomydes / me semeth that there was as grete an ordenaunce att the castel of maydens vpon the roche where ye wanne the pryce / for I sawe my self where ye foriusted thyrtty knyghtes /
¶ Syr sayd
Dynadan and in Surluse at that turnement that Galahalt
of the longe Iles maade the whiche there dured seuen dayes /
was as grete a gadrynge as is here / for there were many
nacyons / who was the best said sire Tristram / sire it was sir
Launcelot du lake and the noble knyghte sire Lamorak de galys /
and sir launcelot wanne the degree / I doubte not said sir
Tristram but he wanne the degree / So he had not ben ouermatched
with many knyghtes / and of the dethe of sire Lamorak sayd
syre Tristram hit was ouer grete pyte / for I dare say / he was
the clenest myȝted man and the best wynded of his age / that
was on lyue / for I knewe hym that he was the byggest
knyght that euer I mette with all but yf hit were sire Launcelot/
Allas said sire Tristram ful woo is me for his deth / And yf
they were not the cosyns of my lord Arthur that slewe hym /
they shold dye for hit / and all tho that were consentyng to his
dethe / And for suche thynges said sire Tristram I feare to
drawe vnto the courte of my lord Arthur / I wylle that ye wete
hit said sire Tristram vnto Gareth / Syre I blame yow not
said Gareth / For wel I vnderstande the vengeaunce of my
bretheren sire Gawayne / Agrauayne / Gaherys / and Mordred /
But as for me said sire Gareth I medle not of their maters
therfore there is none of them that loueth me / And for I
vnderstande they be murtherers of good knyghtes I lefte theyre
company / and god wold I had ben by sayd Gareth whanne
the noble knyghte syre Lamorak was slayne / Now as Ihesu
be my help said sir Tristram / it is wel said of you / for I had
leuer than al the gold betwixe this & Rome I had ben there/
ye wys said palomydes & soo wold I had ben there / & yet had I
neuer the degree at no Iustes nor turnement there as he was /
but he put me to the werse or on foot or on horsbak / & that day
¶ And whan hym was gyuen the degree by my lord Arthur / syre Gawayne and his thre bretheren Agrauayne / Gaherys and sire Mordred sette vpon syre Lamorack in a pryuy place / and there they slewe his hors / and so they fought with hym on foote more than thre houres bothe biforne hym and behynd hym / and sire Mordred gaf hym his dethes wound / behynde hym at his bak / and alle to hewe hym / for one of his squyers told me that sawe hit / Fy vpon treason said sir Trystram / for hit kylleth my herte to here this tale / So it doth myn said Gareth bretheren as they be myn I shall neuer loue them nor drawe in their felauship for that dede / Now speke we of other dedes said Palomydes / and lete hym be / for his lyf ye maye not gete ageyne / that is the more pyte said Dynadan / For sire Gawayne and his bretheren excepte yow sire Gareth/ haten alle the good knyghtes of the round table for the most party / for wel I wote and they myght pryuely / they hate my lord sire Launcelot and al his kynne / and grete pryuy despyte they haue at hym / and that is my lorde syre launcelot wel ware of / and that causeth hym to haue the good knyghtes of his kyn aboute hym /
SYre said Palomydes lete vs leue of this matere / and lete vs see how we shalle doo at this turnement / By myn aduyse said Palomydes lete vs foure holde to gyders ageynste alle that wyl come / Not by my counceil said sire Tristram / for I see by their pauelions ther wil be four honderd knyghtes / and doubte ye not said sir Tristram but there wil be many good knyghtes / and be a man neuer soo valyaunt nor soo bygge / yet he may be ouermatched / And soo haue I sene knyghtes done many tymes / And whanne they wend best to haue wonne worship they loste hit / For manhode is not worthe / but yf it be medled with wysedome / And as for me said sir Trystram hit maye happen I shalle kepe myn owne hede as wel as another / Soo thus they rode vntyl that they came to humber bank where they herd a crye and a doleful noyse /
¶ Thenne
were they ware in the wynde where came a ryche vessel hylled
¶ And whanne he came within he sawe a fayre bedde rychely couerd / and there vpon laye a dede semely knyghte all armed sauf the hede was al bebledde with dedely woundes vpon hym / the whiche semed to be a passynge good knyghte /
¶ How may thys
be said sire Tristram / that this knyghte is thus slayne / Thenne
syre Tristram was ware of a letter in the dede knyȝtes hande /
Maister maronners said sire Tristram what meaneth that
letter / Syre sayd they / in that letter ye shalle here and knowe hou
he was slayne / and for what cause / and what was his name/
But sire said the maronners wete ye wel that no man shall
take that letter and rede hit but yf he be a good knyghte / and
that he wille feythfully promyse to reuenge his dethe / els shal
there no knyghte see that letter open / wete ye wel said sir
Tristram that somme of vs may reuenge his dethe as wel as other
And yf hit be soo as ye maronners saye / his dethe shalle be
reuenged / And there with sire Tristram took the letter oute of
the knyghtes hande / and hit sayd thus / Harmaunce kynge &
lord of the reed Cyte I send vnto alle knyghtes erraunt
recommaundynge vnto yow noble knyghtes of Arthurs courte
I byseche them alle amonge them to fynde one knyghte that
wylle fyghte for my sake with two bretheren that I brought
vp of nought and felonsly and traytourly they haue slayne
me / wherfore I byseche one good knyghte to reuenge my deth
And he that reuenged my dethe I wille that he haue my rede
Cyte and alle my castels / Syre said the maronners wete ye
wel this kynge and knyghte that here lyeth was a ful
worshipful man and of ful grete prowesse / and ful wel he loued
alle maner knyghtes errauntes / Soo god me help said sire
Tristram here is a pyteous caas / and ful fayne I wold take
this enterpryse vpon me / but I haue made suche a promyse that
nedes I must be at this grete turnement / or els I am shamed
For wel I wote for my sake in especyal my lord Arthur lete
make this Iustes and turnement in this countrey / and well
I wote that many worshipful people wylle be there att that
turnement for to see me / therfor I fere me to take this enterpryse
THenne departed sire Tristram / Gareth / and sir
Dynadan / and lefte sire Palomydes in the vessel / and so sir
Tristram behelde the maronners how they sayled ouer
longe humber / And whan sir Palomydes was oute of theyre
syghte / they toke theyr horses and beheld aboute them / And
thenne were they ware of a Knyght that came rydyng
ageynst them vnarmed / and nothynge aboute hym but a swerd /
And whan this knyghte came nyghe them / he salewed them / &
they hym ageyne / Faire knyghtes sayd that knyght I praye
yow in soo moche as ye be knyghtes erraunt that ye wille come
and see my castel and take suche as ye fynde there / I praye
yow hertely / and soo they rode with hym vntyl his Castel / &
there they were brought in to the halle that was wel
apparailled / and soo they were there vnarmed and sette at a bord / &
whan this knyghte sawe sire Tristram anone he knewe hym /
And thenne this Knyght waxed pale and wroth at sir
tristram / whan sire Tristram sawe his hoost make suche chere / he
merueylled and said Syre myn hoost what chere make yow
wete thou wel said he I fare the werse for the / for I knowe the
sir Tristram de lyones / thou slewest my broder / And therfore
I gyue the somons I wille slee the / and euer I maye gete
the at large / Syr knyght said sir Tristram I am neuer
aduysed that euer I slewe ony broder of yours / And yf ye say
that I dyd I wille make amendys vnto my power / I wyll
none amendys said the knyȝt but kepe the from me / So whan
he had dyned sir Tristram asked his armes & departed / & so they
rode on their wayes / & within a whyle / sir Dynadan sawe
where cam a knyȝt wel armed & wel horsed withoute shelde / syre
¶ So
they had not ryden but a whyle but they sawe rydyng ayenst
them two ful lykely knyghtes wel armed and wel horsed &
goodly seruauntes aboute them / the one was Berraunt le
apres / and he was called the kynge with the honderd Knyȝtes
and the other was sir Segwarydes whiche were renomed two
noble Knyghtes / So as they cam eyther by other / the Kynge
loked vpon sir Dynadan that at that tyme he had syre
Tristrams helpe vpon his sholder / the whiche helme the kynge had
sene to sore with the Quene of Northgalys / and that quene
the kynge loued as peramour / & that helme the quene of
northgalys had gyuen to la Beale Isoud / & the quene la Beale
Isoud gaf it to sir Tristram / Syr Knyghte sayd Berraunt
Where had ye that helme / what wold ye said sire Dynadan /
for I wylle haue adoo with the said the kynge for the loue of
her that owed that helme / and therfore kepe yow / Soo they
departed and came to gyders with alle their myghtes of
theyr horses / and there the kyng with the honderd knyghtes
smote sire Dynadan hors and alle to the erthe / and thēne he
commaunded his seruaunt goo and take thou his helme of / and
kepe hit / Soo the varlet wente to vnbockel his helme / What
¶ Thenne Segwarydes asked who shal Iuste with me / I praye the said syre Gareth vnto Dynadan / lete me haue this Iustes / syr said Dynadan I pray yow take it as for me / that is no reason said tristrā / for this Iustes shold be yours /
¶ Att a word said Dynadan I wille not therof /
¶ Thenne Gareth dressid hym to syre Segwarides / and there syre Segwarides smote Gareth and his hors to the erthe /
¶ Now sayd syr Tristram to Dynadan Iuste with yonder knyghte / I wil not therof said Dynadan / Thenne wille I said syr Tristram / and thenne syr Tristram ranne to hym / and gaf hym a falle / and soo they lefte them on foote / and syre Tristram rode vnto Ioyous gard / and there sir Gareth wold not of his curtosy haue gone in to this castel / but syre Tristram wold not suffre hym to departe / And soo they alyghte and vnarmed them / & hadde grete chere / But whan Dynadan came afore la Beale Isoud he cursed the tyme that euer he bare syr Tristram helme / and there he tolde her how syre Tristram had mocked hym / Thenne was there laughyng and Iapynge at syr Dynadan that they wiste not what to doo with hym
NOw wille we leue them mery within Ioyous gard
& speke we of syr palomydes / thēne sir palomydes
sailled euen longes hūber to the costes of the see / where was a fair
¶ And for this cause / We had a kynge that hyght Hermaunce and he was kynge of the reed cyte / and this kyng that was lord / was a noble knyght large and lyberal of his expense / And in the world he loued no thynge soo moche as he dyd erraunt knyȝtes of kynge Arthurs courte / and alle Iustynge huntynge and al maner of knyȝtly games / for so kynde a kynge and knyghte had neuer the rule of poure peple as he was / and by cause of his goodenes and gentylnesse we bemone hym / and euer shalle / And alle kynges and estates may beware by oure lord for he was destroyed in his owne defaute / for had he cherisshed them of his blood / he hadde yet lyued with grete rychesse and reste / but alle estates may beware by our kynge / But allas sayd Ebel that we shalle gyue alle other warnynge by his dethe /
¶ Telle me said palomydes / and in what manere was youre
lord slayne and by whome / Syr said sir Ebel / oure kyng
brought vp of children two men that now are peryllous
knyghtes / & these two knyghtes oure kynge had soo in cherete that he
loued no man nor trusted no man of his blood / nor none other
that was aboute hym / And by these two knyghtes oure kyng
was gouerned / and soo they ruled hym peasybly and his
landes / and neuer wolde they suffre none of his blood to haue
REcommaundynge vnto kyng Arthur & to al his
knyȝtes erraūt bisechyng them al that in so moche as I
kyng Hermaūce kyng of the reed cyte thus am slayn by felony
& treason thurȝ two knyghtes of myn own & of myn own
bryngyng vp & of myn owne makyng that som worshipful
knyȝt wil reuenge my deth / in so moche I haue ben euer to my
power wel willyng vnto Arthurs court / & who that wil
aduenture his lyf with these two traitours for my sake in one batail
I kyng hermaūce kyng of the rede cyte frely gyue hym all my
¶ Thus was the complaynte of our kyng Hermaūce / Now said sir Ebel ye knowe alle how our lord was bitrayed / we requyre you for goddes sake haue pyte vpon his dethe / and worshipfully reuenge his dethe / and thenne may ye weld alle thise landes / For we alle wete wel / that & ye may slee these two traytours the reed cyte and alle tho that ben therin will take you for their lord / Truly said sire Palomydes hit greueth my herte for to here you telle this doleful tale / and to saye the trouthe I sawe the same letter that ye speke of / and one of the best knyghtes on the erthe redde that letter to me / and by his commaundement I cam hydder to reuenge your Kynges deth / and therfor haue done / and lete me wete where I shall fynde tho traitours / for I shal neuer be at ease in my herte tyl I be in handes with them /
¶ Syr said sire Ebel thenne take your ship ageyne / and that shyp must brynge you vnto the delectable yle fast by the reed Cyte / and we in this castel shalle pray for yow / and abyde your ageyne comynge / for this same castel and ye spede wel must nedes be yours / for oure kyng Harmaunce lete make this castel for the loue of the two traytours / and so we kepte it with stronge hande / & therfore ful sore are we threted /
¶ wote ye what ye shal do said sir Palomydes what somme euer come of me / loke ye kepe wel this castel / for & it mysfortune me soo to be slayn in this quest / I am sure there wil come one of the best knyghtes of the world for to reuenge my deth / and that is sir Tristram de lyones or els sir Launcelot du lake
¶ Thenne sir Palomydes departed from that castel / And as
he cam nyghe the Cyte / there cam out of a shyp a goodly knyȝt
WEl be ye fond said the knygyte to Palomydes / for of
alle knyghtes that ben on lyue excepte thre I had
leuest haue yow / The fyrste is sire Launcelot du lake &
sir Tristram de lyones / the thyrd is my nyȝ cosyn syr Lamorck
de galys / and I am broder vnto kynge Harmaunce that is dede
& my name is sir Hermynde / ye saye wel said sir Palomydes / &
ye shal see how I shal spede / & yf I be there slayn / goo ye to my
lord sir laūcelot or els to my lord sir Tristram / & pray them to
reuenge my deth / for as for sir Lamorak hym shal ye neuer see
in this world / Allas said sir Hermynde how may that be / he is
THēne they departed and the two bretheren came
ayenst sir Palomydes / and he ageynst them as fast as
their horses myght renne / And by fortune sir Palomydes smote
Helake thorou his shelde and thurgh the brest more than a
fadom / Alle this whyle sir Helyas helde vp his spere / and for
pryde and orgulyte he wold not smyte sire Palomydes wyth
his spere / but whan he sawe his broder lye on the erth / and
sawe he myȝt not helpe hym self / thēne he said vnto sir palomydes
ANd thenne sire Tristram desyred sire Palomydes to
ryde in to the feldes and woodes / So they were accorded
to repose them in the foreste / And whanne they hadde
played them a grete whyle / they rode vnto a fayre welle / and
anone they were ware of an armed knyght that came rydyng
ageynste them / and there eyther salewed other / Thenne this
armed knyghte spak sire Tristram and asked what were these
knyghtes that were lodged in Ioyous gard / I wote not what
they ar said sir Tristram / what knyȝtes be ye said that knyȝte
for me semeth ye be no knyghtes erraunt by cause ye ryde
vnarmed / whether we be Knyghtes or not / we lyste not to telle
¶ Soo sir Tristram had thre squyers / and la beale Isoud had thre gentylwymmen and bothe the Quene and they were rychely apparailled / and other peple had they none with them / but varlets to bere their sheldes and their speres /
¶ And thus they rode forthe / So as they rode / they sawe afore them a route of knyghtes / hit was the knyght Galyhodyn with / xx / knyghtes with hym / Fair felawes said Galyhodyn / yonder comen foure knyghtes and a ryche and wel fayre lady / I am in wylle to take that lady fro them / That is not of the best counceil said one of Galyhodyns men / but sende ye to them / and wete what they wille saye / and soo hit was done / there came a squyer vnto sire Tristram / and asked them wether they wold Iuste or els to lese their lady / Not soo said sire Tristram telle your lord I byd hym come as many as we ben wynne her to take her / Syre said Palomydes and hit please you lete me haue this dede / and I shalle vndertake them all foure / I wyll that ye haue it said sire Tristram at your pleasyr / Now goo and telle your lord Galyhodyn / that this same knyghte wylle encountre with hym and his felawes
THenne this squyer departed and told Galyhodyn / &
thenne he dressid his shelde / and put forthe a spere / &
sir Palomydes another / and there sire Palomydes smote
Galyhodyn soo hard that he smote bothe hors and man to the erthe
BVt sir Tristram was not soo soone come in to the
place but sire Gawayne and sir Galyhodyn wente to
kynge Arthur and told hym that same grene Knyȝte in the
grene harneis with the whyte hors smote vs two doune / and / vj /
NOw vpon what party said Tristram is hit best / we be
with alle as to morne / Syr said Palomydes ye shalle
haue myn aduyse to be ageynst Kynge Arthur as to morne for
on his party wille be syre Launcelot and many good
knyghtes of his blood with hym / And the moo men of worship that
they be / the more worship we shalle we wynne / That is full
knyghtely spoken said sir Tristram / and ryght soo as ye
counceile me / soo wille we doo / In the name of god said they all
Soo that nyghte they were lodged with the best / And on the
morne whan it was day they were arayed alle in grene
trappours sheldes and speres / and la Beale Isoud in the same
coloure and her thre damoysels / And ryghte soo these four
knyghtes came in to the feld endlonge and thurgh / And so they
ledde la beale Isoud thyder as she shold stande and beholde all
the Iustes in a bay wyndowe / but al wayes she was wympeld
that no man myȝt see her vysage / And thenne these thre
knyȝtes rode streyght vnto the party of the kynge of Scottes /
Whan Kyng arthur had sene hym doo all this he asked sir
laūcelot what were these knyȝtes & that quene / sir said launcelot
I can not say you in certayn / but yf sir Tristram be in this
countrey or sir palomydes / wete ye wel it be they in certeyn / and
THenne was the crye of Heraudes and alle manere of
comyn peple the grene knyghte hath done
merueyllously and beten all them of Orkeney / & there the heraudes
nombred that syr Tristram that satte vpon the black hors had
smyten doune with speres and swerdes xxx knyghtes / and sir
palomydes had smyten doune twenty knyghtes / and the moost
party of these / 1 / knyȝtes were of the hous of kyng Arthur / &
proued knyȝtes / So god me help said Arthur vnto sir laūcelot
this is a grete shame to vs to see four knyghtes bete soo many
knyghtes of myn / & therfor make yow redy for we wyll haue
adoo with them / Syr said launcelot wete ye wel that there ar
two passynge good knyghtes and grete worship were hit not
to vs not to haue adoo with them / for they haue this day sore
¶ Soo syr Launcelot smote sir Tristram soo sore vpon the shelde that he bare hors and man to the erthe / but sir launcelot wend that it had ben sire Palomydes and soo he passed forthe / And thenne sire Bleoberys encountred with sire Palomydes / and he smote hym soo hard vpon the shelde that sire Palomydes and his whyte hors rustled to the erthe
¶ Thenne sir Ector
de marys smote sire Gareth soo hard that doune he felle of his
hors / And the noble kynge Arthur encountred with sir
Dynadan / and he smote hym quyte from his sadel / And thenne
the noyse torned a whyle how the grene knyghtes were
slayn doune / Whanne the Kynge of Northgalys sawe that syre
Tristram had a falle / thenne he remembryd hym how grete
dedes of armes sir Tristram had done / Thenne he made redy
many knyghtes for the customme and crye was suche that what
knyght were smyten doun and myghte not be horsed ageyne
by his felawes outher by his owne strength that as that daye
he shold be prysoner vnto the party that had smyten hym
doune / Soo came in the Kynge of Northgalys and he rode
streyghte vnto sire Tristram / And whanne he came nyghe hym / he
alyghte doune sodenly and bytoke sir Tristram his hors / and
sayd thus Noble knyghte I knowe the not / of what countrey
that thow arte / but for the noble dedes that thow haste done
ANd whan the Quene la Beale Isoud sawe that syre
Tristram was vnhorsed and she wist not where he was
thenne she wept gretely / But sir Tristram whan he was redy
came dasshynge lyghtely in to the feld / And thenne la Beale
Isoud aspyed hym / and so he dyd grete dedes of armes with
one spere that was grete / syr Tristram smote doune fyue
knyȝtes or euer he stynte / Thenne syr Launcelot aspyed hym
redyly that it was syr Tristram and thenne he repentyd hym that
he had smyten hym doune / and soo syr Launcelot went oute
of the prees to repose hym and lyghtely he came ageyne / and
now whanne syr Tristram came in to the prees thorou his
grete force / he put syre palomydes vpon his hors / and syr Gareth
and syre Dynadan / and thenne they beganne to do
merueyllously / but sir Palomydes nor none of his two felawes
knewe not who had holpen them on horsbak ageyne / But euer
syre Tristram was nyghe them / and socoured them and they
¶ Thenne syre Palomydes beganne to double his strengthe / and he dyd soo merueyllously that alle men had wonder of hym / and euer he caste vp his eye vnto la Beale Isoud / And whanne he sawe her make suche chere / he ferd lyke a lyon that there myghte no man withstande hym / and thenne syre Tristram beheld hym how that sire Palomydes bestured hym / and thenne he said vnto sir Dynadan / soo god me help sir Palomydes is a passynge good knyghte and a wel endurynge / But suche dedes sawe I hym neuer doo / nor neuer herd I telle that euer he dyd soo moche in one day / it is his day said Dynadan / and he wold saye no more vnto syr Tristram / but to hym self he sayd / and yf ye knewe for whos loue he doth alle these dedes of armes / soone wolde syre Tristram abate his courage/ Allas said syre Tristram that syre Palomydes is not crystened / Soo said Kynge Arthur / and soo said all tho that behelde hym / Thenne alle peple gaf hym the pryce as for the best knyght that day that he passed syr launcelot outher syre Tristram wel said Dynadan to hym self alle this worship that syre Palomydes hath here this daye he maye thanke the Quene Isoud For had she ben aweye this daye / syre Palomydes had not geten the pryce this daye
¶ Ryght soo come in to the
felde syr launcelot du lake and sawe and herd the noyse and
crye and the grete worship that syre Palomydes had he dressid
hym ageynst syr Palomydes with a grete myghty spere / and
¶ Ryght thenne were there many knyghtes wrothe with syre Palomydes by cause he had done that dede / therfor many knyghtes held there ageynst that it was vnknyhtely done in a turnement to kylle an hors wilfully but that hit had ben done in playne batail lyf for lyf
WHanne sir Ector de marys sawe sir launcelot his broder haue suche a despyte / & so set on foot / thenne he gat a spere egerly / & ran ageynst sir palomydes / & he smote hym so hard that he bare hym quyte from his hors / that sawe sir tristrā that was in reed harneis / & he smote doune syr Ector de marys quyte from his hors / thenne sir launcelot dressid his sheld vpon his sholder / & with his suerd naked in his hand / & so cam streȝt vpon sir palomydes fyersly & said wete thou wel thow hast done me this day the grettest despyte that euer ony worshipful knyȝt dyd to me in turnement or in Iustes / & therfore I will be auengid vpon the / therfor take kepe to your self /
¶ A
mercy noble knyȝt said palomydes / & forgyue me myn
vnkyndely dedes for I haue no power nor myȝt to withstande you / &
I haue done soo moche this daye that wel I wote I dyd neuer
so moche nor neuer shal in my lyf dayes / & therfore moost
noble knyȝt I requyre the spare me as at this day / & I promyse
you I shal euer be your knyȝt whyle I lyue / And ye putte
me from my worship now / ye putte me from the grettest
worship that euer I had or euer shalle haue in my lyf dayes / wel
¶ Thenne sir
Launcelot by grete force and myghte gate his owne hors
maulgre xx knyghtes / Soo whanne sire Launcelot was horsed/
he dyd many merueylles / and soo dyd sir Tristram / and syre
palomydes in lyke wyse / Thenne sir laūcelot smote doune with
a spere sir Dynadan / and the kynge of scotland / and the
kynge of walys / and the kynge of Northumberland / and the
kynge of Lystynes / Soo thenne sire laūcelot and his felawes
smote doune wel a fourty knyghtes / Thenne came the kyng of
Irland and the kynge of the stryete marches to rescowe syre
Tristram and sire Palomydes / There beganne a grete medle / &
many knyghtes were smyten doune on bothe partyes / and
alweyes sir launcelot spared sir Tristram / and he spared hym /
And sir Palomydes wold not medle with sir launcelot / and
soo there was hurtelynge here and there / And thenne Kynge
Arthur sente oute many knyghtes of the table round / and sir
palomydes was euer in the formest fronte / and syre Trystram
dyd soo strongly wel that the kynge and alle other had
merueylle / And thenne the kynge lete blowe to lodgynge / and by
cause sir Palomydes beganne fyrste / and neuer he went nor
rode oute of the feld to repose / but euer was doynge
merueyllously wel outher on foote or on horsbak / and lengest durynge
Kynge Arthur and alle the kynges gaf sir Palomydes the
honour and the gree as for that daye / Thenne syr Tristram
commaunded sir Dynadan to fetche the Quene la Beale Isoud
and brynge her to his two pauelions that stode by the welle /
And soo Dynadan dyd as he was commaunded / But when
sir Palomydes vnderstode and wyst that sire Tristram was in
¶ Thus they talked on eyther party / and soo sire Dynadan rayled with sir Tristram & said what the deuyl is vpon the this day / for sir palamydes strength febled neuer this day but euer he doubled his strengthe
ANd thou sire Tristram faryst alle this daye as though
thou haddest ben a slepe / and therfor I calle the coward
wel Dynadan said sir Tristram / I was neuer called
coward or now of no erthely knyghte in my lyf / and wete thou
wel syr I calle my selfe neuer the more coward though syre
Launcelot gaf me a falle / For I oute cepte hym of al
knyghtes / And doubte ye not syr Dynadan and syr Launcelot haue
a quarel good / he is to ouer good for ony knyght that now is
lyuynge / and yet of his sufferaunce largesse / bounte / and
curtosy I calle hym knyght pyerles / and soo sire Tristram was
in maner wrothe with syr Dynadan / But alle this langage
syr Dynadan said by cause he wold angre syre Tristram for to
cause hym to awake his spyrytes & to be wrothe for wel
knewe syr Dynadan that and syr Tristram were thorouly wrothe
syre Palomydes shold not gete the pryce vpon the morn / And
for this entente syr Dynadan said alle this raylynge and
langage ageynst sir Tristram / Truly said syre palomydes / as for
syr launcelot of his noble knyȝthode / curtosye and prowesse /
SOo on the morne syre Launcelot departed and sir tristram was redy and la Beale Isoud with sir Palomydes and sir Gareth / And soo they rode alle in grene ful fresshely bysene vnto the forest / and sir Tristram left sir Dynadan slepynge in his bed / and so as they rode / it happed the kynge and launcelot stode in a wyndowe / and sawe syre Tristram ryde and Isoud / Syre sayd Launcelot yonder rydeth the fayrest lady of the world excepte youre quene Dame Gueneuer / who is that said sir Arthur / Sir sayd he / it is quene Isoud that oute taken my lady your quene she is makeles / Take your hors said Arthur / and araye yow at alle ryȝtes as I wylle doo / and I promyse yow said the kynge / I wille see her /
¶ Thenne anone they were armed &
horsed / and eyther took a spere and rode vnto the forest / Syre
said launcelot it is not good that ye goo to nyghe them / for
wete ye wel there are two as good knyghtes as nowe are
lyuynge / and therfore sir I pray yow be not to hasty / For
peraduenture there wille be somme knyghtes ben displeased and we
THenne there was a crye vnto all knyghtes that when
they herd an horne blowe they shold make Iustes as
they dyd the fyrst day / And lyke as the bretheren sire
¶ Thenne they of Dorkeney horsed ageyne syr Lucanere / And thenne came in syr Tristram de Lyones / and thenne syr Tristram smote doune syr Vwayne / and syre Lucanere and syre Palomydes smote doune other two Knyghtes / and syre Gareth smote doune other two knyghtes / Thenne said syre Arthur vnto syr Launcelot / see yonder thre knyghtes doo passyngly wel / & namely the fyrst that Iusted / Sir said launcelot that Knygthe beganne not yet / but ye shalle see hym this day doo merueyllously / and thenne came in to the place the dukes sone of Orkeney / and thenne they beganne to do many dedes of armes /
¶ Whan syre Tristram sawe them soo begynne / he said to Palomydes / how fele ye your self / maye ye doo this daye as ye dyd yesterday / Nay said Palomydes I fele me self soo wery and soo sore brysed of the dedes of yesterday that I maye not endure as I dyd yesterday / That me repenteth said syre Tristram / for I shall lacke yow this day / Sire Palomydes saide truste not to me / for I maye not doo as I dyd / alle these wordes said Palomydes for to begyle syr Tristram / Syr said syr Tristram vnto syr Gareth thenne muste I truste vpon yow wherfor I praye yow be not ferre from me to rescowe me / and nede be said Gareth I shalle not fayle yow in alle that I maye doo
¶ Thenne syr Palomydes rode by hym self / and thenne in
despyte of syr Tristram he putte hym self in the thyckest prees
amonge them of Dorkeney / and there he dyd soo merueyllous
dedes of armes that alle men had wonder of hym / for there
myghte none stande hym a stroke / whanne syre Tristram sawe
syre Palomydes doo suche dedes / he merueylled and sayd to
hym self / he is wery of my company / Soo syr Tristram beheld
hym a grete whyle and dyd but lytel els / for the noyse and
crye was soo huge / and grete / that syre Tristram merueylled /
from whens came the strengthe that sire Palomydes had there
THenne came kynge Arthur and the kynge of Northgalys / and sir Launcelot du lake and sire Bleoberis sire Bors de ganys / sir Ector de maris / these thre knyghtes came in to the feld with sire launcelot / And thenne sire Launcelot with the thre knyghtes of his kynne dyd soo grete dedes of armes that alle the noyse beganne vpon sir launcelot / And soo they bete the kynge of walys and the kyng of scottes ferre abak / and made them to auoyde the felde / but sir Tristram and sir Gareth abode stylle in the felde and endured all that euer there came / that alle men had wonder that ony knyght myght endure soo many strokes / But euer sir launcelot & his thre kynnesmen by the cammaūdement of syr launcelot forbare sir Tristram / Thenne said sir Arthur is that sir Palomydes that endureth soo wel / nay sayd launcelot / wete ye wel it is good knyght sir Tristram / for yonder ye maye see syr Palomydes beholdeth and houeth and doth lytel or noughte / And sire ye shalle vnderstande that sire Tristram weneth thys day to bete vs alle oute of the felde / And as for me said sire launcelot I shal not bete hym / bete hym who soo wil / Sir said Launcelot vnto Arthur ye maye see how sir Palomydes houeth yonder / as though he were in a dreme / wete ye wel he is ful heuy that Tristram doth suche dedes of armes / Thenne is he but a foole said Arthur/ for neuer was sire Palomydes / nor neuer shalle be of suche prowesse as sir Tristram / And yf he haue ony enuy at sir Tristram and cometh in with hym vpon his syde he is a fals knyghte /
¶ As the kynge and sir Launcelot thus spake / sir Tristram rode pryuely oute of the prees / that none aspyed hym / but la Beale Isoud and sir Palomydes / for they two wold not lete of their eyen vpon sir Tristram /
¶ And whanne sir Tristram cam to his pauelions he fond sire
Dynadan in his bedde a slepe / Awake said Tristram / ye ouȝt
to be ashamed soo to slepe whan knyghtes haue ado in the feld
Thenne syr Dynadan arose lyghtely and said syr what wylle
ye that I shalle doo / make yow redy said syr Tristram to ryde
with me in to the felde / Soo whan syr Dynadan was armed
he loked vpon syre Tristrams helme and on his shelde / and
THenne whanne sire Palomydes sawe that sir Tristram was desguysed / thenne he thoughte to doo hym a shame / Soo syre Palomydes rode to a knyghte that was sore wounded that satte vnder a fayre welle from the felde / Syr knyghte said sire Palomydes I pray you to lene me your armour / and your shelde / for myn is ouer wel knowen in this felde / and that hath done me grete dommage / and ye shall haue myn armour and my shelde that is as sure as yours / I wille wel said the knyghte that ye haue myn armour and my shelde / yf they may doo yow ony auayle / So sire Palomydes armed hym hastely in that Knyghtes armoure & his sheld that shone as ony crystall or syluer and soo he came rydynge in to the felde / And thenne ther was neyther sire Tristram nor none of kynge Arthurs party that knewe sir Palomydes /
¶ And ryght soo as sir Palomydes was come in to the feld
syr Tristram smote doune thre Knyghtes euen in the syght of
sir Palomydes / And thenne sir Palomydes rode ageynst syre
¶ Soo they lasshed to gyder and gaf many sadde strokes to
gyders / and many knyghtes merueylled what knyghte he
myghte be that soo encountred with the black knyghte sir
tristram / ful wel knewe la Beale Isoud there was syre
palomydes that fought with sir Tristram / for he aspyed al in
her wyndowe where that she stode / as syr palomydes chaunged
his harneis with the wounded knyghte / And thenne she
beganne to wepe so hertely for the despyte of syr palomydes that
ther she swouned / Thenne came in syr laūcelot with the
knyghtes of Orkeney / And whanne the other party had aspyed sir
Launcelot / they cryed / retorne retorne / here cometh syre
launcelot du lake / Soo there came knyghtes and sayd syr
launcelot ye must nedes fyghte with yonder knyght in the black
harneis that was syr Tristram / for he hath al moost ouercome that
good knyghte that fyghteth with hym with the syluer shelde
that was syr palomydes / Thenne sir launcelot rode betwix sir
Tristram and syr palomydes / and syr launcelot said to
palomydes / syr knyghte lete me haue the batail / for ye haue nede
to be reposed / Syr palomydes knewe syr launcelot wel / and so
dyd syre Tristram / but by cause syr Launcelot was ferre
hardyer knyght than hym self / therfor he was gladde / and suffred
syr launcelot to fyghte with syr Tristram / For wel wyste he
that syre launcelot knewe not sir Tristram / and there he hoped
that syr launcelot shold bete or shame syre Tristram / wherof
syre palomydes was ful fayne / and soo syr launcelot gaf syr
Tristram many sadde strokes / but syre launcelot knewe not sir
Tristram / but sir Tristram knewe wel syre launcelot /
And thus they fought longe to gyders that la Beale Isoud
was wel nygh oute of her mynde for sorou / thenne syr
Dynadan told sir Gareth how þt knyȝt in the black harneis was sir
tristrā & this is laūcelot þt fyȝteth with hym þt must nedes haue
¶ Thenne syre Tristram hurteled vnto syre palomydes & gafe hym a grete buffet / and thenne sir Tristram gate sir palomydes and pulled hym doune vnder nethe hym / And so felle sir Tristram with hym / and syr Tristram lepte vp lyghtely and lefte sir palomydes and wente betwixe sir launcelot and Dynadan / and thenne they beganne to do bataille to gyders /
¶ Ryght soo sire Dynadan gat sir Tristrams hors and said
on hyghe that sir Launcelot myght here it / my lord sir Tristrā
take yours hors / And whanne sire Launcelot herd hym
nename sir Tristram / O Ihesu said launcelot what haue I done
I am dishonoured / A my lord syre Tristram said Launcelot /
why were ye desguysed / ye haue put your self in grete perille
this daye / But I praye you noble Knyghte to pardone me /
for and I had knowen yow we had not done this bataille /
THenne they blewe vnto lodgynge / and Quene Isoud was ledde vnto her pauelions / but wete yow wel she was wrothe oute of mesure with syr Palomydes / for she sawe alle this treason from the begynnynge to the endynge / And all this whyle neyther syr Tristram neyther sir Gareth nor Dynadan knewe not of the treason of sir Palomydes / but afterward ye shalle here that there befelle the grettest debate betwixe syre Tristram and sire Palomydes that myghte be / So whanne the turnement was done / sir Tristram Gareth and Dynadan rode with la Beale Isoud to these pauelions / And euer sire Palomydes rode with them in theyr company desguysed as he was But whanne sir Tristram had aspyed hym that he was the same knyghte with the sheld of syluer / that helde hym soo hote that day / Sir knyghte said sire Tristram wete yow wel here is none that hath nede of youre felauship / and therfore I praye yow departe from vs /
¶ Sire Palomydes ansuerd ageyne as
though he had not knowen sir Tristram / wete yow wel sir
knyhte from this felaushuip wille I neuer departe / for one of the
best knyghtes of the world commaunded me to be in this
company / and tyl he discharge me of my seruyse I wille not be
discharged / by that sir Tristram knewe that it was sir palomydes
A sir palomydes sayd the noble knyghte sire Tristram ar ye
suche a knyghte ye haue ben named wronge / For ye haue longe
¶ And anone as he had foūde yow / he encountred with yow /
and thus wilfully sir Palomydes dyd bataille with yow / &
as for hym sir I was not gretely aferd but I dred fore laūcelot
¶ Sir Palomydes said sir Tristram I wille take your excuse / but wel I wote ye spared me but lytel / but alle is pardonned on my party / Thenne la beale Isoud held doune her heed and said no more at that tyme /
ANd there with alle two knyghtes armed cam vnto the pauelione / and there they alyghte bothe / and came in armed at alle pyeces / Faire knyghtes sayd syre Tristram / ye ar to blame to come thus armed at alle pyeces vpon me whyle we ar at oure mete / yf ye wold ony thynge whan we were in the felde / there myghte ye haue easyd your hertes / Not so said the one of tho knyghtes we come not for that entent / But wete ye wel sir Tristram we be come hydder as your frendes / And I am come here said the one for to see yow & thys knyghte is come for to see la Beale Isoud / Thenne said sire Tristram I requyre yow doo of your helmes that I maye see yow / that wille we doo at your desyre the knyghtes / And whanne their helmes were of / sir Tristram thought that he shold knowe them / Thenne said sir Dynadan pryuely vnto syr Tristram / syr that is sire Launcelot du lake that spak vnto yow fyrst / and the other is my lord Kynge Arthur / Thenne said sir Tristram vnto la Beale Isoud Madame aryse for here is my lord kynge Arthur / thenne the kynge and the quene kyssed and sire launcelot and syr Tristram braced eyther other in armes / and thenne there was Ioye withoute mesure / & at the request of la Beale Isoud kynge Arthur and Launcelot were vnarmed / and thenne there was mery talkynge
¶ Madame said sire Arthur hit is many a day sythen that I
haue desyred to see yow / for ye haue ben praysed soo ferre / and
now I dar say ye are the fayrest that euer I sawe / & sir
Tristram is as fayre and as good a knyghte as ony that I
knowe / therfor me besemeth ye are wel besett to gyders /
Syr god thanke yow said the noble knyȝt sire Tristram and
Isoud / of your grete goodenesse & largesse ye ar pyerles / Thus
¶ So god me help said Arthur that was vnknyghtely done of you of soo good a Knyghte / for I haue herd many peple calle you a curtois knyghte / Sir said Palomydes I knewe not sir Tristram / for he was soo desguysed / Soo god me helpe sayd launcelot it maye wel be / for I knewe not sir Tristram / But I merueyle why ye torned on oure party / That was done for the same cause said launcelot / As for that said sir Tristram I haue pardonned hym / and I wold be ryght lothe to leue his felauship / for I loue ryght wel his company / soo they lefte of and talked of other thynges / And in the euenynge kyng arthur and sir launcelot departed vnto their lodgynge / but wete ye wel sir Palomydes had enuy hertely for alle that nyght he had neuer rest in his bedde / but wayled and wepte oute of mesure / Soo on the morn sire Tristram Gareth and Dynadan arose erly / and thenne they wente vnto sire Palomydes chamber / and there they fond hym fast on slepe / for he had al nyȝt watched / And it was seene vpon his chekes that he had wept ful sore / Say no thynge said syr Tristram / for I am sure he hath taken anger and sorowe for the rebuke that I gaf to hym and la Beale Isoud
THenne sir Tristram lete calle sir Palomydes / and bad
hym make hym redy / for it was tyme to go to the felde
whan they were redy they were armed and clothed al
in reed bothe Isoud and alle they / and soo they lad her
passynge fresshely thurgh the feld in to the pryory where was her
lodgynge / and thenne they herd thre blastes blowe / and euery
kynge and knyghte dressid hym vnto the felde / and the fyrste
that was redy to Iuste was sir Palomydes and sir Kaynus le
straunge a knyghte of the table round / And soo they two
encountred to gyders / but sire Palomydes smote sir Kaynus soo
hard that he smote hym quyte ouer his hors croupe / and forth
with alle sir Palomydes smote doune another knyght and
brake thenne his spere & pulled oute his swerd and did
wonderly wel / And thenne the noyse beganne gretely vpon sir
palomydes / loo said Kynge Arthur yonder palomydes begynneth
to play his pagent / So god me help said Arthur he is a
passynge good knyght / And ryght as they stood talkyng thus
in came sir Tristram as thonder / and he encountred with syre
Kay the Seneschall / and there he smote hym doune quyte from
his hors / and with that same spere sir Tristram smote doune
thre knyghtes moo / and thenne he pulled oute his swerd and
dyd merueyllously / Thenne the noyse and crye chaunged from
syr Palomydes and torned to sir Tristram and alle the peple
cryed O Tristram O Tristram / And thenne was sir
Palomydes clene forgeten / How now said Launcelot vnto Arthur /
yonder rydeth a knyght that playeth his pagents / So god me
help said Arthur to launcelot ye shalle see this daye that
yonder two knyghtes shalle here doo this day wonders / Syr said
Launcelot the one knyght wayteth vpon the other / and
enforceth hym self thurgh enuy to passe the noble knyght sire
Tristram / and he knoweth not of the pryuy enuy / the whiche syre
Palomydes hath to hym / For all that the noble syre Tristram
dothe is thorou clene knygthode / And thenne sire Gareth and
Dynadan dyd wonderly grete dedes of armes as two noble
knyghtes soo that Kyng Arthur spak of them grete honour &
¶ And so when he was horsed ageyne/ with one spere he smote doune four knyghtes / And thenne sir Launcelot broughte to kynge Arthur one of the best of the iiij horses / Thenne syr launcelot with kynge Arthur and a fewe of his Knyghtes of sire Launcelots kynne dyd merueyllous dedes / for that tyme as the booke recordeth syr launcelot smote doune and pulled doune thyrtty knyghtes / Not withstandyng the other parte held them soo fast to gyders that kyng arthur and his knyghtes were ouermatched / And whanne sir Trisram sawe that what labour Kyng Arthur and his knyghtes and in especyal the noble dedes that syre launcelot dyd with his owne handes he merueylled gretely
THenne sir Tristram called vnto hym syr Palomydes/ syr Gareth and syr Dynadan / and sayd thus to them my fayre felawes wete ye wel that I will torne vnto kynge Arthurs party / for I sawe neuer soo fewe men doo soo wel / and hit wille be shame vnto vs knyghtes that ben of the round table to see our lord kynge Arthur and that noble knyght sire Launcelot to be dishonoured / It wille be wel do said sire Gareth / and syr Dynadan / do your best said palomydes / for I wille not chaunge my party that I came in with al That is for my sake said sir Tristram / god spede yow in your Iourneye / and soo departed syr Palomydes fro them / Thenne sir Tristram Gareth and Dynadan torned with sir launcelot And thenne syr launcelot smote doune the kynge of Irland quyte from his hors / and so syr launcelot smote doune the kynge of Scottes and the Kynge of walys / and thenne sir arthur ranne vnto syre Palomydes and smote hym quyte from his hors / and thenne syr Tristram bare doune alle that he mett Syr Gareth and sir Dynadan dyd there as noble knyghtes/ thenne al the partyes beganne to flee / Allas said Palomydes that euer I shold see this day / for now haue I lost al the worship that I wanne / and thēne sir palomydes wente his way waylynge / and soo withdrewe hym tyl he came to a welle and there he putte his hors from hym / and dyd of his armour and wayled and wepte lyke as he had ben a wood man / Thenne many Knyghtes gaf the pryce to syre Tristram / and there were many that gaf the pryce vnto syre Launcelot /
¶ Fair lordes said sir Tristram I thanke yow of the honour
ye wold yeue me / but I pray yow hertely that ye wold gyue
your voys to syr launcelot / for by my feythe said syre
Trystram / I wille gyue sir launcelot my voys / but syre launcelot
wold not haue hit / and so the pryce was gyuen betwix them
bothe / Thenne euery man rode to his lodgynge and syr
bleoberis and syr Ector rode with sir Tristram and la Beale Isoud
vnto her pauelions / Thenne as syr Palomydes was atte well
waylynge and wepynge / there came by hym fleyng the kyng
of walys and of Scotland / and they sawe syre Palomydes
in that arage / Allas said they that soo noble a man as ye be/
shold be in this araye / & thenne tho kynges gat sir palomydes
¶ Soo whan sire Palomydes came nyghe the pauelions there as syre Tristram and La beale Isoud was in / thenne sire palomydes prayd the two kynges to abyde hym there the whyle that he spake with sir Tristram / And whanne he came to the porte of the pauelions / syre palomydes said on hyghe where arte thow syr Tristram de lyones / Syr said Dynadan that is palomydes What sir Palomydes wille ye not come in here amonge vs / Fy on the traytour sayd Palomydes / for wete yow wel and hit were day lyght as it is nyght I shold slee the myn owne handes / And yf I euer maye gete the said Palomydes thou shalt dye for this dayes dede / Sir Palomydes said sir Tristram ye wyte me with wronge / for had ye done as I dyd ye hadde wonne worship / But sythen ye gyue me soo large warnynge/ I shalle be wel ware of yow / Fy on the traitour saide Palomydes / and there with departed / Thenne on the morne sir Tristram / Bleoberis and sir Ector de marys / sir Gareth / syr Dynadan what by water and what by lond they brought la beale Isoud vnto Ioyous gard / and there reposed them a vij nyghte / and made alle the myrthes and disportes that they coude deuyse / and kyng Arthur and his knyghtes drewe vnto Camelot / and syre Palomydes rode with the two kynges / And euer he made the grettest dole that ony man coude thynke for he was not alle only soo dolorous for the departyng from la beale Isoud / but he was a parte as sorouful to departe from the felauship of sir Tristram / for sire Tristram was soo kynd and soo gentyl that whanne sire Palomydes remembrid hym therof he myghte neuer be mery
SO at the seuen nyghtes ende / sir Bleoberys & syr
Ector departed from sir Tristram and from the Quene / &
these two good knyghtes had grete yeftes / and sir Gareth and
sir Dynadan abode with sir Tristram / & whan sire Blebeorys
and sir Ector were comen there as the Quene Gueneuer was
¶ Thenne she asked the two knyghtes from whens they came / they sayd that they came from sir Tristram and from la beale Isoud / how doth sir Tristram said the quene and la Beale Isoud / Truly sayd tho two knyghtes he dothe as a noble knyght shold doo / and as for the Quene Isoud she is pyerles of alle ladyes / for to speke of her beaute bounte and myrthe / and of her goodenesse we sawe neuer her matche as ferre as we haue ryden and gone O mercy Ihesu said quene Gueneuer soo sayth alle the people / that haue sene her and spoken with her / God wold that I had parte of her condycyons / and it is mysfortuned me of my sekenesse whyle that turnement endured / And as I suppose / I shalle neuer see in alle my lyf suche an assemble of knyghtes and ladyes as ye haue done / Thenne the knyghtes told her hou Palomydes wanne the degree at the fyrst daye with grete noblesse / And the second day sir Trystram wanne the degree / and the thyrdde day syre launcelot wanne the degree / wel said quene Gueneuer who dyd best alle these thre dayes / Soo god me help said these knyghtes sir launcelot and sire Tristram hadde leest dishonour / And wete ye wel sir palomydes dyd passynge wel and myghtely / but he torned ageynst the party that he cam in with alle / and that caused hym to lese a grete parte of hys worship / for it semed that sir Palomydes is passyng enuyous Thenne shalle he neuer wynne worship said Quene Gueneuer for and it happeth an enuyous man ones to wynne worshyp he shalle be dishonoured twyes therfore / And for this cause alle men of worship hate an enuyous man / and wille shewe hym no fauour / And he that is curtois and kynde and gentil hath fauour in euery place /
NOw leue we of this mater / and speke we of sir
Palomydes that rode and lodged hym with the two
kynges wherof the knynges were heuy / Thenne the kynge of
Irland sent a man of his to syr Palomydes and gaf hym a
grete courser / and the Kynge of Scotland gaf hym grete yeftes/
NAy nay sayde Epynogrys youre sorowe is but Iapes
to my sorowe / for I reioyced my lady and wanne her
with my handes / and loste her ageyn allas that daye /
Thus fyrst I wanne her said Epynogrys My lady was an
Erles doughter And as the Erle and two knyȝtes cam from
the turnement of Loneȝep / for her sake I sette vpon this erle
and on his two knyghtes my lady there beynge present / and
soo by fortune there I slewe the erle and one of the knyghtes
and the other knyghte fledde / and soo that nyghte I had my
lady / And on the morne as she and I reposed vs atte thys
welle syde / there came there to me an erraunt knyghte his
name was syr Helyor le preuse an hardy knyght / and this sir
Helyor chalengyd me to fyghte for my lady / And thenne
we wente to bataille fyrst vpon hors and after on foote / But
at the last sir Helyor wounded me soo that he lefte me for
dede / and soo he toke my lady with hym / And thus my sorowe
is more than yours / for I haue reioyced and ye reioyced neuer
That is trouthe said Palomydes / but sythe I can neuer recouer
my self I shalle promyse yow yf I can mete with sir Helynor I
shalle gete yow your lady ageyne or els he shalle bete me /
Thenne sire Palomydes made sir Epynogrys to take his hors
¶ Thenne sire Palomydes dressid hym vp by cause he wyste
wel that that same lady was Epynogrys lady / and he
promysed hym to helpe hym / Thenne sir Palomydes wente
streyghte to that lady and toke her by the hand and asked her
whether she knewe a knyghte that hyghte Epynogrys / Allas she
said that euer he knewe me or I hym / for I haue for his
sake loste my worship / and also his lyf greueth me moost of al
Not so lady said Palomydes / come on with me / for here is
Epynogris in this hermytage / A wel is me said the lady and
he be on lyue / whether wylt thow with that lady said the
knyght with syr Ectors shelde / I will doo with her what me lyst
said Palomydes / wete yow wel sayd that knyghte thou
spekest ouer large / though thou semest me to haue at auauntage /
by cause thow sawest me doo bataille but late / Thou wenest sir
knyghte to haue that lady away from me so lyghtly / nay
thynke hit neuer not / and thow were as good a knyghte as is
THenne sir Palomydes tooke the lady by the hand / & broughte her to sire Epynogrys / and there was grete ioye betwixe them / for eyther swouned for Ioye / whan they were mette / Fair knyght and lady said sir Safer / it were pyte to departe yow / Ihesu send yow Ioye eyther of other / Gramercy gentyl knyghte said Epynogrys / and moche more thanke be to my lord sir Palomydes / that thus hath thurgh his prowesse made me to gete my lady /
¶ Thenne sir Epynogrys
requyred sire Palomydes and sire Safere his brother to ryde
with them vnto his castel for the sauf gard of his person / Sire
said Palomydes we will be redy to conduyte you by cause that
ye are sore wounded / and soo was Epynogrys and his lady
horsed / and his lady behynde hym vpon a softe ambuler /
And thenne they rode vnto his castel where they had grete chere
and Ioye as grete as euer sir Palomydes and sir Safere had
in their lyfe dayes / Soo on the morne sir Safere and sir
palomydes departed and rode as fortune ledde them / and soo they
¶ Fair syrs said palomydes wherfore wepe ye / and make this sorowe / Anone one of the knyghtes of the castel beheld sir palomydes / and knewe hym / and thēne wente to his felawes and said Fair felawes wete ye wel al / we haue in this Castel the same knyght that slewe oure lord at Loneȝep / for I knowe hym wel it is syre palomydes / Thenne they wente vnto harneis alle that myghte bere harneis / some on horsbak / and some on foote to the nombre of thre score / And whan they were redy / they came fresshly vpon syr palomydes and vpon syr Safere with a grete noyse and sayd thus / kepe the fyre palomydes . for thow arte knowen / and by ryght thow must be dede for thow hast slayne oure lord / and therfore wete ye wel / we wille slee the / therfore defende the / Thenne sir palomydes & syr Safer the one sette his bak to the other / and gaf many grete strokes / and took many grete strokes / and thus they fouȝte with a twenty knyghtes and fourty gentilmen / and yomen nyghe two houres / But at the last though they were lothe sir palomydes and syr Safere were taken and yolden and putte in a stronge pryson / and within thre dayes twelue knyghtes passed vpon them / and they fond sir palomydes gylty / and syr Safyr not gylty of their lordes dethe / And whan sir Safyr shold be delyuerd there was grete dole betwixe syr palomydes and hym / and many pyteous complayntys that sir Safyr made at his departynge / there is no maker can reherce the tenthe parte / Fair broder said palomydes lete be thy dolour and thy sorou / And yf I be ordeyned to dye a shameful dethe welcome be it / but and I had wist of this deth that I am demed vnto I shold neuer haue ben yolden / Soo syr Safere departed from his broder with the grettest dolour and sorou that euer made knyghte /
¶ And on the morne they of the castel
¶ And as they passed by that Castel / there came rydynge oute of that castel by them one that knewe syr palomydes / And whan that knyghte sawe sire palomydes bounden vpon a croked courser / the knyght asked syre palomydes / for what cause he was led so / A my fair felawe and knyghte sayd palomydes / I ryde toward my dethe for the sleynge of a knyght at a turnement of Loneȝep / & yf I had not departed from my lord syr Tristrā as I ouȝte not to haue done / now myȝt I haue ben sure to haue had my lyf saued / But I pray yow syr knyght recommaunde me vnto my lord sir Tristram and vnto my lady Quene Isoud / & say to them / yf euer I trespaced to them / I aske them foryeuenes / And also I biseche yow recommaunde me vnto my lord kynge Arthur and to alle the felauship of the round table vnto my power / Thenne that knyghte wepte for pyte of syr palomydes / and there with alle he rode vnto Ioyous gard as faste as his hors myghte renne / ande lyghtly that knyght descended doune of his hors and wente vnto sir Tristram / and there he told hym all as ye haue herd / and euer the knyghte wepte as he had ben madde
WHen sir Tristram herd how sir palomydes went to his
deth / he was heuy to here that / and said how be it that
I am wroth with sir palomydes / yet wil not I suffre hym to dye
so shameful a deth for he is a ful noble knyȝt / & thenne anon
sir Tristram was armed & toke his hors & two squyers wyth
hym / & rode a grete paas towarde the castel of pelownes where
sir palomydes was Iuged to deth / & these twelue knyytes that
led sir palomydes passed by a welle where as sir laūcelot was
whiche was alyghte there & had teyed his hors to a tree &
taken of his helme to drynke of that welle / & whan he saw these
¶ And thenne sir launcelot
mounted vpon his hors and gate his spere in his hand / and
rode after the twelue knyghtes that ledde sir Palomydes /
Fair knyghtes said sir Launcelot whyder lede ye that knyȝt/
it bysemeth hym ful ylle to ryde bounden / Thenye these twelue
Knyghtes sodenly torned their horses / and said to sir
launcelot / syr Knyghte we counceille the not to medle with this
knyght / for he hath deserued deth / and vnto dethe he is Iuged / that
me repenteth said launcelot that I may not borowe hym with
fayrenesse / for he is ouer good a knyghte to dye suche a
shameful dethe / And therfor fayre knyghtes said syr launcelot kepe
yow as wel as ye can / for I will rescowe that knyght or dye
for it / Thenne they beganne to dresse their speres / and sir
launcelot smote the formest doune hors and man / and so he serued
thre moo with one spere / and thenne that spere brast / and there
with al sir launcelot drewe his swerd / and thenne he smote on
the ryght hand and on the lyfte hand / thenne within a
whyle he lefte none of tho twelue knyghtes / but he had leyd them
to the erthe / and the moost party of hem were sore wounded / &
thenne syr Launcelot took the best hors that he fonde and
loused sire Palomydes / and sette hym vpon that hors / and so they
retorned ageyne vnto Ioyous gard / & thenne was sir
Palomydes ware of sir Tristram how he came rydynge / And whan
sir Launcelot sawe hym / he knewe hym wel / but sir Tristram
knewe not hym by cause syre Launcelot had on his sholder a
golden shelde / Soo syr launcelot made hym redy to Iuste with
syr Tristram / that sire Tristram sholde not wene that he were
syre Launcelot / Thenne sir Palomydes cryed on lowde to syr
Tristram O my lorde I requyre yow Iuste not with this
knyght / for this goode knyght hath saued me from my dethe /
Whan syre Tristram herde hym saye so / he came a softe trottyng
FAyre knyght said syr Tristram vnto syre Launcelot /
of whens be ye / I am a knyght erraunt sayd sir
laūcelot that rydeth to seke many aduentures / What is
your name said sir Tristram / syre at this tyme I wille not telle
yow / Thenne syre launcelot sayd vnto sir Tristram and to
palomydes / now eyther of yow ar mette to gyders / I wille
departe from yow / Not soo said syr Tristram I pray yow of
knyȝthode to ryde with me vnto my Castel / wete yow wel said syr
Launcelot I may not ryde with yow / for I haue many dedes
to doo in other places / that att this tyme I maye not abyde
with yow / A mercy Ihesu said syr Tristram I requyre yow/
as ye be a true knyghte to the ordre of knyghthode / playe you
with me this nyghte / Thenne sire Tristram had a graunte of
syre launcelot / how be it though he had not desyred hym / he
wold haue ryden with hem / outher soone haue come after them
for syr launcelot cam for none other cause in to that Countrey
but for to see syr Tristram / And whanne they were come
within Ioyous gard / they alyght / and their horses were ledde in to
a stable / and thenne they vnarmed them / And whanne syre
Launcelot was vnhelmed / sir Tristram and syr Palomydes
knewe hym / Thenne sire Tristram took syr launcelot in armes / &
soo dyd la Beale Isoud / and Palomydes kneled doune
vpon his knees / and thanked syr Launcelot / whan syr launcelot
sawe sir Palomydes knele / he lyghtely toke hym vp and sayd
thus / wete thou wel sir Palomydes I and ony knyght in this
land of worship oughte of veray ryght socoure and rescowe
¶ And in the meane whyle syr Tristram was that same day ryden in to the forest to chace the herte of greese / but sire Tristram wold not ryde on huntynge neuer more vnarmed by cause of syr Breuse saunce pyte / and soo as sir Tristram rode in to that forest vp and doune / he herd one synge merueyllously lowde / and that was syre Palomydes that lay by the welle / And thenne syr Tristram rode softely thyder / for he demed / there was some knyght erraunt that was at the welle
¶ And whanne sire Tristram came nyghe hym / he descended doune from his hors and teyed his hors fast tyl a tree / and thenne he came nere hym on foote / and anone he was ware where lay sire palomydes by the welle and sange lowde and meryly / and euer the complayntes were of that noble Quene La Beale Isoud / the whiche was merueyllously and wonderfully wel sayd / and ful dolefully and pytously made And alle the hole songe the noble knyghte sire Tristram herd from the begynnynge to the endynge / the whiche greued and troubled hym sore
¶ But thenne at the last whanne
THenne said syr Tristram I wil fyghte with yow to the
vttermest / I graunte saide palomydes / for in a better
BVt in no wyse there was no knyghte aboute syr
Tristram that wold byleue that euer syr Palomydes
wold hurte sir Tristram neyther by his owne handes nor by
none other consentynge / thenne whan the fyftenth day was come
sir Palomydes came to the welle with four knyȝtes with hym
of Arthurs courte and thre sergeauntes of armes / And for
this ententente syr palomydes broughte the knyȝtes with hym
and the sergeaunt of armes / for they shold bere record of the
bataille betwixe syre Tristram and syr Palomydes / And the
one sergeaunt brought in his helme / the other his spere / the
thyrd his swerd / Soo thus Palomydes came in to the felde / &
there he abode nyghe two houres / and thenne he sente a squyer
vnto syr Tristram / and desyred hym to come in to the felde / to
holde his promyse / whan the squyer was come to Ioyous gard
Anone as sir Tristram herd of his comynge he lete
commaunde that the squyer shold come to his presence there as he lay in
his bedde / My lord sir Tristram said Palomydes squyer wete
yow wel my lord Palomydes abydeth yow in the felde / and
he wold wete whether ye wold doo bataille or not / A my fair
broder said sir Tristram wete thou wel that I am ryght heuy
for these tydynges / therfor telle sire Palomydes / and I were
wel atte ease I wold not lye here nor he shold haue noo
nede to sende for me / and I myghte outher ryde or goo / and for
thow shalt saye that I am no lyer / syre Tristram shewed hym
his thye that the wounde was sixe Inches depe / and now thou
hast sene my hurte / telle thy lord that this is no fayned mater
and telle hym that I had leuer than all the gold of kyng
Arthur that I were hole / & telle palomydes as soone as I am
hole I shal seke him endlong & ouerthwart & þt promyse you as
I am true knyȝt / & if euer I may mete with hym / he shal haue
batail of me his fylle / & with this squyer departed / & when
palomydes wist þt tristrā was hurt he was glad & said now I
NOw leue we syr Tristram de lyones / & speke we of sire launcelot du lake and of sire Galahalt syr launcelots sone hou he was goten / and in what maner as the book of Frensshe reherceth Afore the tyme that syre Galahalt was goten or borne / there came in an hermyte vnto kynge Arthur vpon whytsonday / as the knyghtes satte at the table round / And whan the heremyte sawe the syege perillous / he asked the kyng and alle the knyghtes why that sege was voyd / Sir Arthur and alle the knyghtes ansuerd / ther shalle neuer none sytte in that syege / but one / but yf he be destroyed /
¶ Thenne sayd
the hermyte wote ye what is he / nay said Arthur / and alle the
Knyghtes / we wote not who is he / that shalle sytte therin /
thenne wote I said the heremyte / for he that shal sytte there is
vnborne and vngoten / and this same yere he shalle be goten
that shalle sytte ther in that syege perillous / and he shall
wynne the Sancgreal whan this hermyte had made this mensyon
he departed from the courte of kynge Arthur / And thenne
after this feeste syr launcelot rode on his aduenture tyl on a
tyme by aduenture he past ouer the pounte of Corbyn / and there
he sawe the fayrest toure that euer he sawe / and ther vnder was
a fayre Towne ful of peple and alle the peple men and
wymmen cryed at ones / welcome sir Launcelot du lake the
floure of all knyghthode for by the alle we shalle be holpen oute
of daunger / what mene ye said sire Launcelot that ye crye soo
vpon me / A fayr knyght said they alle here is within thys
Toure a dolorous lady that hath ben ther in paynes many
wynters and dayes / for euer she boyleth in scaldynge water / & but
late said alle the peple sire Gawayne was here and he myght
not helpe her / and soo he lefte her in payne / Soo may I saide
syr Launcelot leue her in payne as wel as sire Gawayne dyd
Nay said the peple we knowe wel that it is sir Laūcelot that
shalle delyuer her / wel said launcelot / thenne shewe me what
I shalle doo / thenne they brought sire launcelot in to the toure
And when he came to the chamber there as this lady was the
dores of yron vnlocked and vnbolted / And so syr launcelot
¶ Madame said sir launcelot cometh on with me I wille goo with yow / Soo whanne they came there and gaf thankynges to god / alle the people both lerned and lewde gaf thankynges vnto god and hym / and sayd sir knyght syn ye haue delyuerd this lady / ye shall delyuer vs from a serpent that is here in a tombe / Thenne syr launcelot tooke his shelde and said brynge me thyder / and what I may doo vnto the pleasyr of god and yow I wille doo /
¶ Soo whanne sir Laūcelot came thydder / he sawe wryten vpon the tombe letters of gold that said thus / Here shalle come a lybard of kynges blood / and he shalle slee this serpent / and this lybard shalle engendre a lyon in this foreyn countrey the whiche lyon shall passe alle other knyghtes / Soo thenne sir launcelot lyfte vp the tombe / and there came out an horryble & a fyendly dragon spyttynge fyre oute of his mouthe / Thenne sir launcelot drewe his swerd and fought with the dragon longe / and atte laste with grete payne sir launcelot slewe that dragon / There with alle came kynge Pelles the good and noble knyght / and salewed syr launcelot and he hym ageyne / Fair knyghte sayd the kynge / What is your name / I requyre you of your knyȝthode telle me
SYr said launcelot wete yow wel my name is syre
launcelot du lake / & my name is sayd the kyng / Pelles
¶ Thenne came forth a lady that hyghte Dame Brysen / and she said vnto the Kynge / Syr wete ye wel / syre Launcelot loueth no lady in the world but all only Quene Gueneuer / and therfore wyrche ye by counceylle and I shalle make hym to lye with your doughter / & he shall not wete but that he lyeth with Quene Gueneuer / O fayre lady dame Brysen said the kyng / hope ye to brynge this about syr said she vpon payne of my lyf lete me dele / for this Brysen was one of the grettest enchauntresses that was at that tyme in the world lyuynge /
¶ Thenne anone by dame Brysens wytte she maade one to
come to syr launcelot that he knewe wel / And this man brouȝt
hym a rynge from Quene Gueneuer lyke as hit hadde come
from her / and suche one as she was wonte for the moost parte
to were / & when sir laūcelot sawe that tokē wete ye wel he was
ANd anone as he had vnshet the wyndowe the enchaūtement was gone / thēne he knewe hym self that he had done amys / Allas he sayd that I haue lyued so long now I am shamed / Soo thenne he gat his swerd in his hand and said thow traitresse what arte thow that I haue layn by alle this nyghte / thow shalt dye ryghte here of my handes / Thenne this fayr lady Elaye skypped oute of her bedde al naked and kneled doune afore sir launcelot / and sayd Fair curteis knyghte comen of kynges blood / I requyre yow haue mercy vpon me /
¶ And as thow arte renoumed the moost noble
THenne as hit felle by fortune and aduenture sire
Bors de ganys that was neuewe vnto sir Launcelot cam
ouer that brydge / and ther syre Bromel and sire bors
Iusted / & sir Bors smote syre Bromel suche a buffet that he
bare hym ouer his hors croupe / And thenne syre Bromel as
an hardy knyghte pulled out his suerd / and dressid his sheld
to doo bataille with syr Bors / And thenne syr Bors alyȝte /
and auoyded his hors / and there they dasshed to gyders
many sadde strokes / and long thus they foughte / tyl att the laste
syr Bromel was leyd to the erthe / and there syre bors began
to vnlace his helme to slee hym / Thenne syr bromel cryed syre
bors mercy / and yelded hym / vpon this couenaunt thou shalt
haue thy lyf said syr bors / soo thou goo vnto syr launcelot
vpon whytsondaye that next cometh and yelde the vnto hym as
knyghte recreaunt / I wille doo hit said syr bromel / and that
he sware vpon the crosse of the swerd / and soo he lete hym
departe / and syr bors rode vnto kynge Pelles / that was within
Corbyn / And whanne the kynge and Elayne his doughter
wist that syr bors was neuewe vnto syr launcelot / they made
hym grete chere / Thenne said dame Elayne / we merueyle
where sir Launcelot is / for he came neuer here but ones / Meruelle
not said sir bors / for this half yere he hath ben in pryson with
quene Morgan le fay kyng Arthurs syster / Allas said dame
Elayne that me repenteth / and euer syr bors beheld that child
in her armes / and euer hym semed it was passynge lyke sire
launcelot / Truly said Elayne wete ye wel this child he gat
vpon me / Thēne sir bors wepte for Ioye / & he praid to god it myȝt
THenne sir Bors thought he shold no more goo in to
that chamber to reste hym / and soo syr Bors dressyd
hym betwixe the knyghte and that chamber dore / and there sir
Bors smote hym doune / and thenne that knyght yelded hym
What is your name said syr Bors / Syr said he / my name is
pedyuere of the streyte marches / Soo syre Bors made hym to
swere at whytsonday next comyng to be atte court of kyng
arthur / and yelde hym there as a prysoner as an ouercome
knyghte by the handes of syr Bors / Soo thus departed syr
pedyuere of the strayte marches / And thenne syre Bors layd
hym doune to reste / and thenne he herd and felt moche noyse in
that chamber / and thenne sir Bors aspyed that there came in /
he wist not whether at the dores nor wyndowes shot of arowes
and of quarels soo thyck that he merueylled / and many felle
vpon hym and hurte hym in the bare places / And thenne syre
Bors was ware where came in an hydous lyon / soo sire bors
dressid hym vnto the lyon / & anone the lyon berafte hym his
sheld & with his suerd syr bors smote of the lyons heed /
NOw said that old man to sire Bors goo ye to your
cosyn syr Launcelot / and telle hym of this aduenture
the whiche had ben most conuenyent for hym of al erthely
knyȝtes / but synne is soo foule in hym / he may not encheue suche
holy dedes / for had not ben his synne he had past al the knyȝtes
that euer were in his dayes / and telle thou sir launcelot of alle
wordly aduentures he passeth in manhode & prowesse al other
But in this spyrytuel mater he shalle haue many his better/
And thenne sir Bors sawe four gentylwymen come by hym
pourely bisene / & he sawe where that they entrid in to a chamber
where as grete lyȝte as it were a somer lyghte / & the wymen
ANd when dame Elayne the doughter of kyng Pelles
herd of this feeste / she wente to her fader and requyred
hym that he wold gyue her leue to ryde to that feest / The kyng
ansuerd I will wel ye go thyder / but in ony wyse as ye loue
me / and wile haue my blessyng that ye be wel bisene in the
rychest wyse / and loke that ye spare not for no cost / aske and
ye shalle haue alle that yow nedeth / Thenne by the aduyse of
dame Brysen her mayden alle thynge was apparaylled vnto
the purpose that there was neuer no lady more rychelyer
bysene / So she rode with xx knyȝtes & x ladyes & gētilwymen to þe
¶ And anone as kynge Arthur wyste that she was come / he mette her / and salewed her / and soo dyd the moost party of al the knyghtes of the round table / bothe syr Tristram / sir Bleoberys and syr Gawayne and many moo that I wille not reherce / But whanne syre Launcelot sawe her he was soo ashamed / & that by cause he drewe his swerd on the morne whan he had layne by her / that he wold not salewe her nor speke to her / & yet syre Launcelot thought she was the fayrest woman that euer he sawe in his lyf dayes / But whanne dame Elayn sawe syre Launcelot that wold not speke vnto her / she was so heuy that she wend her herte wold haue to brast / For wete you wel oute of mesure she loued hym / And thenne Elayne sayd vnto her woman dame Brysen the vnkyndenesse of syr Launcelot sleeth me nere /
¶ A pees madame said dame Brysen I wille vndertake that this nyghte he shalle lye with yow / and ye wold hold yow stylle / that were me leuer sayd dame Elayne than alle the gold that is aboue the erthe / Lete me dele said dame Brysen /
¶ Soo whanne Elayne was broughte vnto quene Gueneuer eyther made other good chere by countenaunce but nothynge with hertes / But alle men & wymmen spake of the beaute of dame Elayne and of her grete Rychesses / thenne at nyghte the quene commaunded that dame Elayne shold slepe in a chamber / nyghe her chamber and alle vnder one roofe / & soo it was done as the quene commaunded
¶ Thenne the quene sent sor syre Launcelot & badde hym come to her chamber that nyghte / or els I am sure said the Quene / that ye will go to your ladyes bed dame Elayn / by whome ye gat Galahalt / A madame said syr Launcelot neuer saye ye so For that I dyd was ageynste my wille / thenne said the quene loke that ye come to me whan I send for yow / Madame said launcelot I shall not fayle yow but I shall be redy at your commaundemēt / this bargayn was soone done & made bitwene them / but dame Brysen knewe it by her craftes / & told hit to her lady dame Elayne /
¶ Allas said she how shall I
¶ Now wel is me said dame Elayne / for alle the world I loue not soo moche as I doo syr launcelot /
SOo whanne tyme came that alle folkes were a bedde / Dame Brysen came to syr launcelots beddes syde and said Syre launcelot du lake slepe yow / My lady quene gweneuer lyeth and awayteth vpon yow / O my fayre lady sayd syr launcelot I am redy to goo with yow where ye will haue me / Soo syr launcelot threwe vpon hym a long gowne / and his suerd in his hand / and thenne dame Brysen took hym by the fynger and ledde hym to her ladyes bedde dame Elayne / And thenne she departed and lefte them in bedde to gyders / wete yow wel the lady was gladde and soo was syr launcelot / for he wende that he had had another in his armes /
¶ Now leue we them kyssynge and clyppynge as was kyndely thyng / & now speke we of quene gueneuer that sente one of her wymen vnto syr launcelots bed /
¶ And whan she came there / she fond the bedde colde / and he was away / soo she came to the Quene and told her alle / Allas said the Quene where is that fals knyghte become / Thenne the quene was nyghe oute of her wytte / and thenne she wrythed and weltred as a mad woman / and myght not slepe a four or fyue houres /
¶ Thenne syre launcelot had a condycion that he vsed of customme he wolde clater in his slepe / and speke ofte of his lady Quene Gueneuer / Soo as syr launcelot had waked as longe as hit had pleasyd hym / thenne by course of kynde he slepte / & dame Elayne bothe / And in slepe he talked and clatered as a Iay of the loue that had ben betwixe Quene Gweneuer and hym /
¶ And soo as he talke soo lowde the Quene herde hym there as she laye in her chamber / & when she herde hym soo clater she was nyghe woode and out of her mynde / and for anger and payne wist not what to do /
¶ And
¶ And thenne he knewe well that he lay not by the Quene / and there with he lepte out of his bed as he had ben a wood man in his sherte / and the quene mett hym in the floore / and thus she said / fals traytour knyȝt that thow arte / loke thow neuer abyde in my Courte and auoyde my chamber / and not soo hardy thow fals traytour knyȝt that thow arte that euer thow come in my syghte / Allas sayd syr launcelot / and there with he tooke suche an hertely sorowe atte her wordes that he felle doune to the floore in a swoune / And there with alle Quene Gueneuer departed / And whanne syr Launcelot awoke of his swoune / he lepte oute at a bay wyndowe in to a gardyne / and there with thornes he was alle to cratched in his vysage and his body / and soo he ranne forthe he wyst not whyder / and was wylde wood as euer was man and soo he ranne two yere / and neuer man myghte haue grace to knowe hym
NOw torne we vnto Quene Gueneuer and to the fayr lady Elayne that whanne dame Elayn herd the quene soo to rebuke syr launcelot / and also she sawe how he swouned / and hou he lepte oute at a bay wyndowe / Thenne she said vnto quene Gueneuer Madame ye are gretely to blame for syr launcelot / for now haue ye lost hym / for I sawe & herd by his countenaunce that he is mad sor euer / Allas madame ye doo grete synne / and to your self grete dishonour / for ye haue a lord of your owne / and therfor it is youre parte to loue hym / for there is no quene in this world / hath suche an other kynge as ye haue / And yf ye were not myghte haue the loue of my lord syr Launcelot / and cause I haue to loue hym / for he had my maydenhode / and by hym I haue borne a fayre sone / and his name is Galahalt / and he shalle be in his tyme the best knyghte of the world /
¶ Dame Elayne said the Quene whanne hit is daye lyght
I charge yow and commaunde yow to auoyde my Courte
¶ And by the way she told sir Bors de ganys alle how hit betyd that same nyghte And how sir launcelot lepte out att a wyndowe araged oute of his wytte / Allas said syr Bors where is my lord sir launcelot become / Syr said Elayne I wote nere / Allas said syre bors betwixe yow bothe ye haue destroyed that good knyghte / As for me said dame Elayne I sayd neuer nor dyd neuer thynge that shold in ony wyse displease hym / but with the rebuke that Quene Gueneuer gaf hym I sawe hym swoune to the erthe / And whanne he woke he took his swerd in his hand naked sauf his sherte / and lepte oute at a wyndowe with the grysylyest grone that euer I herd man make
¶ Now fare wel dame Elayne saide syre Bors / and hold my lord Arthur with a tale as long as ye can / for I wylle torne ageyne to Quene Gueneuer / and gyue her a hete / and I requyre yow as euer ye wylle haue my seruyse make good watche and aspye yf euer ye may see my lord sire Launcelot
¶ Truly sayd fayr Elayne I shalle doo alle that I may do for as fayne wold I knowe and wete where he is become as yow or ony of his kynne / or Quene Gueneuer / and cause grete ynough haue I therto as wel as ony other / And wete ye wel said fayre Elayne to sire Bors / I wold lese my lyf for hym / rather than he shold be hurte / but allas I cast me neuer for to see hym / and the chyef causer of this is dame Gueneuer
¶ Madame said dame Brysen the whiche had made the
enchauntement before betwix sir launcelot and her / I pray you
hertely lete syre Bors departe / and hye hym with al his myȝt
ANd whanne the Quene herd them saye soo / she felle to the erthe in a dede swoune / and thenne syr Bors took her vp / and dawed her / & whanne she was awaked she kneled afore the thre knyghtes / and helde vp bothe their handes and besoughte them to seke hym / and spare not for noo goodes but that he be founden / for I wote he is oute of his mynde / & sir Bors / syr Ector / and syr Lyonel departed from the quene for they myght not abyde no lenger for sorowe / and thenne the quene sent them tresour ynough for theyr expencys / and so they took their horses and their armour and departed / and thenne they rode from countrey to countrey in forestes and in wyldernes and in wastes / and euer they laid watche bothe att forestes and at alle maner of men as they rode to herken and spere after hym / as he that was a naked man in his sherte with a swerd in his hand /
¶ And thus they rode nyghe a quarter of a yere endlonge and ouerthwarte in many places forestes and wildernes / and oftymes were euylle lodged for his sake / and yett for alle theire laboure and sekynge coude they neuer here word of hym /
¶ And wete yow well
¶ Thenne sire Melyon departed from them / and sayd that he wold telle the kynge and the quene and alle the felaushyp of the round table as they had desyred hym / Soo whanne sire Melyon came to the Courte of kynge Arthur / he told the kynge and the quene and al the felauship of the round table what sir Bors had said of syre Launcelot / Thenne sire Gawayne sire Vwayne / syr Sagramor le desyrus / syr Aglouale / and syre Percyuale de galys tooke vpon them by the grete desyre of kynge Arthur / and in especial by the quene to seke thorou out all Englond walys & Scotland to fynde sire Launcelot / and with hem rode eyghten knyghtes moo to bere them felauship / and wete ye wel / they lacked no maner of spendyng / and soo were they thre and twenty knyghtes /
¶ Now torne we to syre Launcelot / and speke we of his care and woo / and what payne he there endured / for cold / honger and thurste he had plente /
¶ And thus as these
noble knyghtes rode to gyders / they by one assente departed / &
thenne they rode by two / by thre / and by foure / and by fyue / &
euer they assigned where they shold mete / And soo sir
Aglouale and syr Percyuale rode to gyders vnto theyr moder that
was a quene in tho dayes / And whanne she sawe her two
sones / for Ioye she wepte tendyrly / And thenne she sayd / A my
dere sones / whanne your fader was slayne / he lefte me iiij
sones / of the whiche now be tweyn slayne / And for the dethe of
my noble sone syre Lamorak shalle my herte neuer be gladde /
And thenne she kneled doune vpon her knees to fore
Aglouale and sir Percyuale / and besoughte them to abyde at home
with her / A swete moder said syr Percyuale we may not / For
we be come kynges blood of bothe partyes / and therfor
moder it is our kynde to haunte armes and noble dedes / Allas
ANd whanne she was awaked / she sente a squyer after them with spendynge ynough / And soo whane the squyer had ouertake them / they wold not suffre hym to ryde with hem / but sente hym home ageyne to comforte theyr moder / prayenge her mekely of her blessynge / And so this squyer was benyghted / and by mysfortune he happend to come to a castel where dwellid a Baroune /
¶ And so whanne the squyer was come in to the castel / the lord asked hym / from whens he came / and whome he serued / my lord sayd the squyer a serue a good knyghte that is called sire Aglouale / the squyer said it to good entente / wenynge vnto hym to haue ben more forborne for syre Aglouals sake / than he had said he had serued the quene Aglouals moder / wel my felawe said the lord of that Castel / for syre Aglouals sake thow shalt haue euyl lodgynge / for sir Aglouale slewe my brodr / and therfor thow shalt dye on party of payement /
¶ And thenne that lord commaunded his men to haue hym aweye and slee hym / and soo they dyd / and soo pulled hym oute of the castel / and there they slewe hym without mercy /
¶ Ryghte so on the
morne came sire Aglouale and sire Percyuale rydynge by a
chirche where men and wymmen were besy / and beheld the dede
squyer / and they thoughte to berye hym / what is there said sir
Aglouale / that ye behold soo fast / A good man starte forthe /
ANd whanne this was done / they rode in to many
countreyes euer enquyryng after syr Launcelot / but neuer
SYr sayd syre percydes on my lyf he shalle preue a
noble knyghte as ony now is lyuynge / And whanne he
sawe sire kay and syr Mordred / syr percydes said thus / My
fayre lordes bothe syr percyuale greteth yow wel bothe / and he
sente you word by me that he trusteth to god or euer he come
to the courte ageyne to be of as grete noblesse as euer were ye
bothe and mo men to speke of his noblesse than euer they did
THenne they made bothe grete dole oute of mesure / this wille not auayle said sire Percyuale / And thenne he kneled doune and made his prayer deuoutely vnto al myghty Ihesu / for he was one of the best knyghtes of the world that at that tyme was / in whome the veray feythe stode moost in
¶ Ryght soo there came by / the holy vessel of the Sancgreal
with alle maner of swetnes and sauour / but they coude not
redyly see who that bare that vessel / but syre Percyuale hadde a
glemerynge of the vessel and of the mayden that bare hit / for
he was a parfyte clene mayden / and forth with al they bothe
were as hole of hyde and lymme as euer they were in theire
lyf dayes / thenne they gaf thankynges to god with grete
myldenesse / O Ihesu said syr Percyuale what maye this meane /
that we be thus heled / and ryghte now we were at the poynt
of dyenge / I wote ful wel said sire Ector what it is / It is
an holy vessel that is borne by a mayden / and therin is parte
of the hooly blood of oure lord Ihesu crist blessid mote he be
but it may not be sene said syr Ector / but yf hit be by a
parfyte man / Soo god me help said syr Percyuale I sawe a
damoysel as me thoughte alle in whyte with a vessel in both her
handes / and forth with al I was hole / Soo thenne they toke
their horses and their harneis and amended theire harneis as
wel as they myghte that was broken / and soo they mounted
vpon theyr horses / and rode talkynge to gyders / And there sir
Ector de marys told sire Percyuale how he hadde foughte his
ANd now leue we of a whyle of syr Ector and of syre Percyuale / and speke we of sir launcelot that suffred and endured many sharp shoures that euer ranne wylde wood from place to place and lyued by fruyt / and suche as he myght gete / and dranke water two yere / and other clothyng had he but lytel / but his sherte and his breche /
¶ Thus as sir laūcelot wandred here and there / he came in a fayre medowe where he fond a pauelione / and there by vpon a tree there henge a whyte shelde / and two swerdes henge there by and two speres lened there by a tree /
¶ And whanne syr launcelot sawe
the swerdes / anone he lepte to the one swerd and tooke hit in
his hand and drewe hit oute / And thenne he lasshed at the
sheld that alle the medowe range of the dyntes / that he gaf
suche a noyse as ten knyghtes had foughten to gyders / Thenne
came forthe a dwerf and lepte vnto syr launcelot / and wold
haue had the suerd oute of his hand / and thenne syre
launcelot took hym by the bothe sholders and threwe hym to the
ground vpon his neck that he had al moost broken his neck / and
there with alle the dwerf cryed helpe / Thenne came forth a
lykely knyghte and wel apparaylled in scarlet furred with
myneuer / And anone as he sawe syr launcelot / he demed that he
shold be oute of his wytte / And thenne he said with fayre
speche good man leye doune that swerd / for as me semeth / thow
haddest more nede of slepe and of warme clothes / than to
welde that swerd / As for that said syr Launcelot come not to nyȝ
for and thow doo wete thou wel I will slee the / And when
SOo the dwerf rode fast / and he came ageyne / and
broughte syr Selyuaunt with hym / and syxe men with
¶ But whanne sire
blyaunt sawe that syr launcelot was hurte with the brekyng
SOo came syr launcelot and fonde the hors bounden tyl
a tree / & a spere lenyng ageynst a tree / & a swerd
teyed to the sadel bowe / & thenne sir launcelot lepte in to
the sadel & gat that spere in his hand / & thenne he rode after the
bore / & thenne syre laūcelot was ware where the bore set his ars
to a tree by an hermytage / Thenne sir launcelot ranne atte
bore with his spere / & ther with the bore torned hym nemly / &
rafe out the longes & the hert of the hors so that launcelot felle
to the erthe / & or euer sire launcelot myȝt gete from the hors /
the bore rafe hym on the brawne of the thyȝ vp to the
houghbone / and thenne sir launcelot was wrothe / & vp he gat vpon
his feet / & drewe his swerd / & he smote of the bores hede at one
stroke / & there with all came out the heremyte / & sawe hym
haue suche a wound / thenne the heremyte came to sir launcelot and
bemoned hym / and wold haue had hym home vnto his
hermytage / but whan syr launcelot herd hym speke / he was so wroth
with his wound that he ranne vpon the heremyte to haue
slayne hym / & the heremyte ranne awey / & whan sir laūcelot
myght not ouer gete hym / he threwe his swerd after hym / for syr
launcelot myght tho no ferther for bledyng / thēne the
heremyte torned ageyn / & asked sir launcelot how he was hurte /
Felawe said sir launcelot this bore hath bete me sore / Thenne
come with me said the heremyte and I shalle hele yow / Goo thy
wey said sir launcelot and dele not with me / Thenne the
heremyte ranne his way / and there he mette with a good knyghte
SO it befelle that kynge Pelles had a neuewe / his
name was Castor / and so he desyred of the kyng to be
made knyghte / & so atte request of this Castor the kynge
¶ Thenne within a lytel whyle after the
ANd whanne sir launcelot sawe kynge Pelles &
Elayne / he waxed ashamed and said thus / O lord
Ihesu how came I here / for goddes sake my lord lete me
wete how that I came here / Sir said dame Elayne in to thys
Countrey ye cam lyke a madde man clene oute of your wytte
And here haue ye ben kepte as a foole / and no creature here
knewe what ye were vntyl by fortune a mayden of myn
broughte me vnto yow where as ye lay slepynge by a welle / and
anone as I veryly beheld yow / I knewe yow / And thenne I
told my fader / and so were ye broughte asore this holy vessel
And by the vertu of it thus were ye helyd / O Ihesu mercy
said sire launcelot yf this be sothe / how many there be that
knowen of my woodenes / Soo god me help sayd Elayne no mo
but my fader and I and dame Brysen / Now for Crystes
loue said sir Launcelot kepe hit in counceylle / and lete noo man
knowe hit in the world / for I am sore ashamed that I haue ben
thus myscaryed / for I am bannysshed oute of the Countrey of
Logrys for euer that is to for to saye the countrey of Englond/
And soo syr Launcelot lay more than a fourtenyghte or euer
that he myghte stere for sorenes / And thenne vpon a day he
sayd vnto dame Elayne these wordes / lady Elayne for your
sake I haue had moche trauaill care and anguysshe / it nedeth not
to reherse hit / ye knowe how / Not withstandyng I knowe wel
I haue done foule to yow whan that I drewe my swerd to you
to haue slayn you vpon the morn whan I had layn with yow
And alle was the cause that ye & dame Brysen made me for
¶ Now wille ye for my loue said sire launcelot goo vnto your fader and gete me a place of hym wherin I maye dwelle / For in the Courte of kynge Arthur maye I neuer come / Syr said dame Elayne I will lyue and dye with yow / and only for your sake / and yf my lyf myghte not auaile you and my dethe myghte auaile yow / wete you wel I wold dye for your sake / and I wille go to my fader / and I am sure/ there is no thynge that I can desyre of hym but I shalle haue hit / And where ye be my lord syr Launcelot doubte ye not but I wille be with yow with alle the seruyse that I may do Soo forth with alle she wente to her fader / and said syre / my lord syr launcelot desyreth to be here by yow in some Castel of yours / wel doughter said the kynge sythe hit his desyre to abyde in these marches he shalle be in the Castel of Blyaunt / and there shalle ye be with hym and twenty of the fayrest ladyes that ben in this countrey / and they shalle alle be of the grete blood / and ye shalle haue ten knyghtes with yow / For doughter I wille that ye wete we alle ben honoured by the blood of sire launcelot
THenne wente dame Elayne vnto syr Launcelot & told hym alle how her fader had deuysed for hym and her/ Thenne cam the knyȝt syr Castor that was neuewe vnto kyng Pelles vnto syr launcelot & asked hym what was his name Sir said syr launcelot my name is le cheualer malfet that is to say the knyȝt that hath trespaced / Sir said sir Castor it may wel be so / but euer me semeth your name shold be syr laūcelot du lake / for or now I haue sene yow / sir said launcelot ye are not as a gentyl knyȝt / I put caas my name were syr laūcelot/ & that it lyste me not to discouer my name / what shold it greue you here to kepe my counceyl / & ye not hurte ther by / but wete thou wel & euer it lye in my power I shal greue yow & that I promyse you truly / Thenne sir Castor kneled doune and besouȝt sir laūcelot of mercy / for I shal neuer vtter what ye be whyle ye be in these partyes / thenne sire launcelot pardonned hym /
¶ And thenne after this kynge Pelles with
¶ And whanne they were there / syr launcelot lete calle hit the Ioyous yle / & there was he called none other wyse / but Le cheualer malfet the knyghte that hath trespaced / Thenne sire Launcelot lete make hym a shelde alle of Sabel / and a quene crowned in the myddes alle of syluer / & a knyghte clene armed knelyng afore her and euery day ones for ony myrthes that alle the ladyes myȝt make hym / he wold ones euery day loke toward the realme of Logrys / where kynge Arthur and Quene Gueneuer was And thenne wold he falle vpon a wepyng as his hert shold to braste / Soo hit felle that tyme syr launcelot herd of a Iustynge fast by his Castel within thre leghes thenne he called vnto hym a dwerf and he badde hym goo vnto that Iustynge / and or euer the knyghtes departe loke thow make there a crye in herynge of alle knyghtes / that there is one knyghte in the Ioyous yle that is the Castel of Blyaunt / and saye his name is le cheualer malfet that wille Iuste ageynste knyghtes that wille come / And who that putteth that knyghte to the werse / shalle haue a fayr mayde and a Ierfaucon /
SOo whanne this crye was made / vnto Ioyous yle
drewe knyghtes to the nomber of fyue honderd / and
wete ye wel there was neuer sene in Arthurs dayes one knyght
that dyd soo moche dedes of armes as syre launcelot dyd thre
dayes to gyders / For as the booke maketh truly mencyon / he
had the better of all the fyue honderd knyghtes / and ther was
not one slayne of them / And after that syr launcelot maade
them alle a grete feest / and in the meane whyle came syr
Percyual de galys & syr Ector de marys vnder that Castel / that
was called the Ioyous yle / And as they beheld that gay
castel / they wold haue gone to that Castel / but they myghte not
for the brode water / and brydge coude they fynde none / Thenne
they sawe on the other syde a lady with a sperhauk on her hād
ANd there with alle syre launcelot kneled doune vpon his knees and threwe awey his sheld and his suerd from hym / Whanne sire Percyual sawe hym doo so / he merueyled what he mened / And thenne thus he said / syre knyghte what someuer thow be / I requyre the vpon the hyghe ordre of knyghthode telle me thy true name / Thenne he said so god me help my name is syre launcelot du lake kynge Bans sone of Benoy / Allas said syr Percyual what haue I done I was sente by the Quene for to seke yow / and soo I haue soughte yow nygh this two yere / and yonder is syre Ector de marys your broder abydeth me on the other syde of the yonder water/ Now for goddes sake said sire Percyual forgyue me myn offencys that I haue here done / hit is soone forgyuen said syre launcelot / Thenne syre Percyual sente for svr Ector de marys And whanne syr launcelot had a syghte of hym / he ranne vnto hym and took hym in his armes / and thēne syr Ector kneled doune / and eyther wepte vpon other that all had pyte to beholde them / Thenne came dame Elayne / and she there maade them grete chere as myghte lye in her power / and there she told syr Ector and syr Percyual how and in what manere sir launcelot came in to that countrey / And how he was heled / and there hit was knowen how longe syr launcelot was with syre Blyaunt and with syr Selyuaunt / and how he fyrste mette with them / and how he departed from them by cause of a bore / and how the heremyte heled syre launcelot of his grete woūd and how that he came to Corbyn /
NOw leue we sire launcelot in the Ioyous yle with the lady dame Elayne and syr Percyual and sir Ector playenge with hem / and torne we to syr Bors de ganys and sire Lyonel that had soughte sire launcelot nygh by the space of two yere / and neuer coude they here of hym / & as they thus rode / by aduenture they cam to the hous of Brandegore / and there syr Bors was wel knowen / for he had geten a child vpon the kynges doughter fyten yere to forne / & his name was Helyn le blank / And whanne syre Bors sawe that child hit lyked hym passynge wel / And so tho knyghtes had good chere of the kynge Brandegore /
¶ And on the morne syre Bors came afore kynge Brandegore and said Here is my sone Helyn le blanck / that as it is sayd he is my sone / and sythe hit is soo / I wille that ye wete that I wil haue hym with me vnto the Courte of kynge Arthur / Sir sayd the kynge / ye maye wel take hym with you / but he is ouer tender of age / As for that sayd syre Bors I wille haue hym with me / and brynge hym to the hows of most worship of the world / Soo whanne syre Bors shold departe / there was made grete sorowe for the departynge of Helyn le blanck / and grete wepynge was there made / But sire Bors and syre Lyonel departed / And within a whyle they came to Camelot / where was kynge Arthur / And whanne kynge Arthur vnderstood that Helyn le blank was kynge Bors sone / and neuewe vnto kynge Brandegore / Thenne kynge Arthur lete hym make knyghte of the round table / and soo he preued a good knyght / and an aduenturous /
¶ Now wille we torne to our
mater of sire launcelot / Hit befelle vpon a day syr Ector and syr
Percyual cam to syr Launcelot and asked hym what he
wold doo / and whether he wold goo with them vnto kynge
Arthur or not / Nay sayd syr Laūcelot that may not be by no
meane / for I was so venetreted at the Courte that I cast me
neuer to come there more / Sir said syr Ector I am youre broder
and ye are the man in the world that I loue moost / And yf I
vnderstode that it were your disworship / ye may vnderstande I
neuer counceyle yow ther to / but kynge Arthur and al
his knyghtes / and in especial Quene Gueneuer maade suche
dole and sorowe that hit was merueyle to here and see
THenne they departed / and within fyue dayes Iourney
they came to Camelot / that is called in Englyssh
wynchester / And whanne syre launcelot was come among
them / the kynge and all the knyghtes made grete Ioye of hym
And there syre Percyual de galys and sire Ector de marys
beganne and told the hole aduentures that syre launcelot had
ben oute of his mynde the tyme of his absence / and how he
called hym self le cheueler malefet / the knyȝt that had trespaced
And in thre dayes sir launcelot smote doun fyue honderd
knyghtes / And euer as sire Ector and sire Percyual told these
tales of syre launcelot quene Gueneuer wepte as she shold
haue dyed / Thenne the quene made grete chere / O Ihesu sayd
kynge Arthur I merueyle for what cause ye syre launcelot
wente out of your mynde / I and many other deme it was for
the loue of fayre Elayne the doughter of kynge Pelles / by
NOw wille we leue of this mater and speke we of sire Tristram / and of syr Palomydes that was the Sarasyn vncrystened / whanne syr Tristram was come home vnto Ioyous gard from his aduentures / Alle this whyle that syr launcelot was thus myst two yere and more / syre Tristram bare the renomme thurgh alle the realme of Logrys and many straunge aduentures befelle hym and ful wel and manly and worshipfully he broughte hem to an ende /
¶ So
whanne he was come home la Beale Isoud told hym of the
grete feest that shold be at Pentecost next folowyng / and there
she told hym how sir launcelot had ben myst two yere / and al
that whyle he had ben oute of his mynde / and how he was
holpen by the holy vessel the Sancgreal / Allas said syr Tristram
that caused some debate betwixe hym and Quene Gueneuer /
Syr said dame Isoud I knowe hit all / for quene Gweneuer
sente me a letter in the whiche she wrote me alle how hit was
for to requyre yow to seke hym / and now blessid be god said
la Beale Isoud he is hole and sound and come ageyne to
the Courte / therof am I glad said syr Tristram and now shal
ye and I make vs redy / for both ye and I wille be atte feest
Sir said Isoud and hit please yow I wille not be there / for
thorugh me ye be marked of many good knyghtes / and that
caused yow to haue moche more labour for my sake than
nedeth yow / Thenne wille I not be there said syr Tristram / but
yf ye be there / god defende said la beale Isoud / for thenne
shal I be spoken of shame amonge alle Quenes and ladyes
ANd soo whanne the daye came / syre Tristram toke his
leue at la Beale Isoud / and she sente with hym / iiij
knyghtes / and within half a myle he sente them ageyne / and
within a myle after sir Tristram sawe afore hym where sir
palomydes had stryken doune a knyghte / and al moost wounded
hym to the dethe / Thenne syr Tristram repentyd hym / that he
was not armed / and thenne he houed stylle / with that sir
palomydes knewe syr Tristram and cryed on hygh / syr Tristram
now be we mette / for or we departe / we wille redresse our old
sores / As for that said sir Tristram there was yet neuer cristen
man myghte make his boost that euer I fledde from hym / and
wete ye wel syr Palomydes thow that arte a saresyn shal
neuer make thy boost that syr Tristram de lyones shall flee from
the / And there with syr Tristram made his hors to renne / and
with all his myghte he came streyghte vpon syr Palomydes / &
braste his spere vpon hym an honderd pyeces / And forth with
alle sir Tristram drewe his swerd / And thenne he torned his
hors & stroke at palomydes / vj / grete strokes vpon his helme / &
thenne sir Palomydes stode stylle / and beheld syre Tristram / &
¶ Thow coward knyghte what castest thow to doo / why wolt thow not doo bataille with me / for haue thow noo doubte I shalle endure alle the malyce / A syr Tristram said Palomydes ful wel thou wotest I maye not fyghte with the for shame / for thow arte here naked and I am armed / And yf I slee the / dishonour shal be myn / and wel thow wotest said syr Palomydes to sir Tristram I knowe thy strengthe and thy hardynesse to endure ageynst a good knyghte / that is trouthe said syr Tristram I vnderstande they valyauntnesse wel / ye saye wel said syr Palomydes / Now I requyre yow telle me a question that I shalle saye to yow / Telle me what hit is said syr Tristram / and I shalle ansuer yow the trouthe as god me helpe / I putte caas said sir Palomydes that ye were armed at al ryȝtes as wel as I am / and I naked as ye be what wold ye doo to me now by your true knyghthode / A said syr Tristram now I vnderstande the wel syr Palomydes / for now must I say myn own Iugement / and as god me blysse that I shalle say / shal not be said for no fere that I haue of the / But this is all wete sir Palomydes / as at this tyme thou sholdest departe from me / for I wold not haue adoo with the / no more wil I said palomydes / & therfor ryde forth an thy way / as for that I maye chese said sir Tristram outher to ryde or to abyde / but sir Palomydes said sir Tristram I merueille of one thyng that thow that art soo good a knyghte that thow wolt not be crystened / & thy broder syr Safere hath ben Crystened many a daye
AS for that said sire Palomydes I may not yet be cristened / for one auowe that I haue made many yeres agone / how be it in my herte I bileue in Ihesu crist & his mylde moder mary / but I haue one batail to do / & when that is done I wil be baptysed with a good wille
¶ By my hede sayd Tristram as for one bataille thou shat not
t hath beten me / Sir as for my name it is sir Tristram
de lyones / and as for the knyghtes name that hath hurte you
is syr Palomydes broder to the good knyghte syre Safere / &
yet is syr Palomydes vncrystened / Allas said syr Galleron/
that is pyte that soo good a knyghte and soo noble a man of
armes shold be vncrystened / Soo god me help said sir
Tristram outher he shalle slee me or I hym / but that he shalle be
crystened / or euer we departe in sonder / My lord syr Tristram
said sir Galeron / your renoume and worship is wel knowen
thorou many reames / and god saue yow this day from
senshyp and shame / Thenne syr Tristram vnarmed Galeron / the
whiche was a noble knyghte / and had done many dedes of
armes / and he was a large knyghte of flesshe and boone / And
whan he was vnarmed he stood vpon his feet / for he was
brysed in the bak with a spere / yet soo as syr Galleron myghte he
armed syr Tristram / And thenne syr Tristram mounted
vpon his owne hors and in his hand he gat syr Gallerons
spere / and there with al syr palomydes was redy / & soo they came
hurtlynge to gyders / and eyther smote other in myddes of
theyr sheldes / & there with al sir Palomydes spere brak / and syre
Tristram smote doune the hors / and sir Palomydes as soone
ANd thenne they came to gyders as two wyld bores /
lasshynge to gyders tracyng and trauercyng as noble
men / that ofte had ben wel proued in batail / but euer
syr Palomydes dredde the myghte of syre Tristram / and
therfor he suffred hym to brethe hym / thus they fought more than
two houres / but often syr Tristram smote suche strokes at sir
Palomydes that he made hym to knele / and syre Palomydes
brake and cutte awey many pyeces of sir Tristrams shelde / &
thenne sir Palomydes wounded sir Tristram for he was a wel
fyghtynge man / Thenne sire Tristram was woode wrothe oute
of mesure and rasshed vpon syr Palomydes with suche a
myghte that sire Palomydes felle grouelynge to the erthe / & there
with alle he lepte vp lyghtely vpon his feet / and thenne syre
Tristram wounded Palomydes sore thurgh the sholder / & euer
syr Tristram foughte stylle in lyke hard / and syr Palomydes
fayled not but gaf hym many sadde strokes / And atte laste
syr Tristram doubled his strokes / & by fortune syre Tristram
smote syr Palomydes swerd oute of his hand / & yf sir
Palomydes had stouped for his swerd he had ben slayne / Thenne
Palomydes stode stylle and beheld his swerd with a sorouful
herte / How now said syr Tristram vnto Palomydes / now
haue I the at auauntage as thow haddest me this daye / but it
shalle neuer be said in no Courte nor among good knyghtes
that syr Tristram shalle slee ony knyghte that is wepenles / &
therfor take thow thy swerd / & let vs make an ende of thys
batail / As for to doo this batail sayd Palomydes I dar ryȝt
wel ende hit / but I haue no grete luste to fyghte no more / and
for this cause said Palomydes / Myn offence to yow is not soo
grete / but that we may be frendes / Alle that I haue offended
is and was for the loue of la Beale Isoud / And as for her/
I dar say she is pyerles aboue alle other ladyes / and also I
¶ And whanne they cam to the suffrecan syre Tristram told hym their desyre / Thenne the suffrecan lete fylle a grete vessel with water / And whanne he had halowed hit / he thenne confessid clene syr Palomydes / and syr Tristram and sir galleron were his godfaders / And thenne soone after they departed rydynge toward Camelot / where kynge Arthur & Quene Gueneuer was / And for the moost party alle the knyghtes of the round table / And so the kynge and all the Court were glad that syre Palomydes was crystened / And at the same fesste in came Galahad and sat in the sege perillous/
¶ And soo there with alle departed and disseuered alle the knyghtes of the round table / and sire Tristram retorned ayene vnto Ioyous gard / and syr Palomydes folowed the questynge beest
AT the vygyl of Pentecost whan alle the felauship of the round table were comen vnto Camelot / and there herd their seruyse And the tables were set redy to the mete / Ryȝte so entryd in to the halle a ful fayre gentylwoman on horsbak that had ryden ful fast/ for her hors was al besuette / Thenne she there alyght / and came before the kynge & falewed hym / and he said damoysel god the blysse / Sire said she for goddes sake saye me where syr launcelot is / yonder ye may see hym said the kynge / Thenne she wente vnto Launcelot and said syr launcelot I salewe yow on kyng Pelles behalf / and I requyre yow come on with me here in to a forest / thenne syr launcelot asked her with whome she dwelled / I dwelle said she with kynge Pelles / what wille ye with me said Launcelot / ye shal knowe said she whanne ye come thyder / wel sayd he I wille gladly goo with yow / So syr launcelot badde his squyer sadel his hors / and brynge his armes / and in all hast he dyd his commaundement / Thenne came the quene vnto laūcelot / and said wille ye leue vs at this hyhe feest / Madame said the gentylwoman wete ye wel he shal with yow to morn by dyner tyme
¶ Yf I wyst said the Quene that he shold not be with vs here to morne he shold not goo with you by my good wylle
¶ Ryght soo departed sir launcelot with the gentylwoman / &
rode vntyl that he came in to a foreste and in to a grete valey /
where they sawe an Abbay of nonnes / and there was a squyer
redy and opened the gates / and soo they entryd and descended
of their horses / and there came a fayr felauship aboute sir
laūcelot / and welcomed hym / & were passyng gladde of his
comynge / And thenne they ladde hym vnto the Abbesse chamber &
vnarmed hym / And ryght soo he was ware vpon a bed lyeng
two of his cosyns syr Bors & sir Lyonel / & thenne he waked
¶ As god me help said syr launcelot a gentylwomen brought me hyther but I knowe not the cause In the meane whyle that they thus stode talkynge to gyder / therin came twelue nonnes that broughte with hem Galahad the whiche was passynge fayre and wel made that vnneth in the world men myghte not fynde his matche / and alle tho ladyes wepte /
¶ Sire sayd they alle we brynge yow here thys child / the whiche we haue nourisshed / and we praye yow to make hym a knyght / for of a more worthyer mans hande may he not receyue the ordre of knyghthode / Sir launcelot beheld the yonge squyer / and sawe hym semely and demure as a douue / with alle maner of good fetures / that he wende of his age neuer to haue sene soo fayre a man of forme
¶ Thenne said sir launcelot cometh this desyre of hym self / he and alle they sayd ye / Thenne shalle he sayd sir launcelot receyue the hyghe ordre of knyghthode as to morne atte reuerence of the hyghe feeste / That nyght syr launcelot had passyng good chere / And on the morne at the houre of pryme att Galahalts desyre he made hym knyȝt & said / god make hym a good man / for of a beaute fayleth yow not as ony that lyueth /
NOw fayre syr said syr launcelot wille ye come wyth
me vnto the Courte of kynge Arthur / Nay sayd he / I
wille not goo with yow as at this tyme / Thenne he departed
fro them and took his two Cosyns with hym / and so they cam
vnto Camelot by the houre of vndorn on whytsonday / By that
tyme the kynge and the Quene were gone to the mynster to
here their seruyse / Thenne the kyng and the quene were passyng
gladde of sir Bors and syr Lyonel and soo was alle the
felauship / So when the kynge & all the knyȝtes were come from
seruyse / the barons aspyed in the syeges of the round table al
aboute wryten with golden letters / here ouȝt to sytte he / and
he oughte to sytte here / And thus they wente soo longe tylle
¶ Thenne syr launcelot ansuerd ful soberly / Certes sir it is not my swerde /
¶ Also sir wete ye wel I haue no hardynes to sett my hande
¶ Also who that assayeth to take the swerd and fayleth of hit / he shalle receyue a wound by that swerd that he shalle not be hole longe after /
¶ And I wille that ye wete that this same day shall the aduentures of the Sancgreal that is called the hooly vessel begynne /
NOw fayre neuewe said the kynge vnto syr gawayn/ assaye ye for my loue / Sir he said sauf your good grace I shall not doo that / Sir sayd the kynge assaye to take the suerd and at my commaundement / Syre sayd Gawayne your commaundement I wille obeye / and ther with he took vp the suerd by the handels / but he myghte not stere hit/ I thanke yow said the kynge to syre Gawayne /
¶ My lord syr Gawayne said syr Laūcelot now wete ye wel this swerd shalle touche yow soo sore / that ye shalle wylle ye had neuer sette your hand therto for the best Castel of this realme / Syr he sayd I myghte not withsay myn vnkels wyll and commaundement / but whanne the kynge herd this he repented hit moche / and said vnto syr Percyual that he shold assaye for his loue / and he said gladly for to bere syr Gawayn felaushyp / and there with he sette his hand on the swerd/ and drewe hit strongly / but he myghte not meue hit / Thenne were there moo that durste be soo hardy to sette theire handes therto /
¶ Now maye ye goo to your dyner said syr kay vnto the kynge / for a merueillous aduenture haue ye sene / Soo the kynge and alle wente vnto the Courte / and euery knyghte knewe his owne place / and sette hym therin / and yonge man that were knyghtes serued them / Soo whan they were serued and alle seges fulfylled sauf only the syege perillous / Anon there befelle a merueillous aduenture / that alle the dores & wyndowes of the palays shut by them self / Not for thenne the halle was not gretely darked / and there with they abasshed both one and other /
¶ Thenne kynge Arthur spak fyrst and sayd
by god fayre felawes & lordes we haue sene this daye
merueyls / but or nyght I suppose we shal see gretter merueyls / In
¶ Thenne the old man sayd vnto Arthur / syre I brynge here a yonge knyghte / the whiche is of kynges lygnage & of the kynrede of Ioseph of Abarimathye where by the merueylles of thys Courte and of straunge realmes shalle be fully accomplysshed
THe kynge was ryghte gladde of his wordes / and said
vnto the good man / syr ye be ryghte welcome / and the
yonge knyȝte with yow / Thenne the old man made the yong
man to vnarme hym / and he was in a cote of reed sendel / &
bare a mantel vpon his sholder that was furred with ermyn /
and put that vpon hym / And the old knyghte sayd vnto the
yonge knyght / syr foloweth me / and anone he ledde hym vnto
the sege peryllous / where besyde sat syr Laūcelot / and the good
man lyfte vp the clothe / and fonde there letters that said thus
this is the sege of Galahalt the haute prynce / Sir said thold
knyghte / wete ye wel that place is yours / And thenne he sett
hym doune surely in that syege / And thenne he sayd to the old
man / syr ye maye now goo your way / for wel haue ye done /
that ye were commaunded to doo / & recommaunde me vnto my
graunt sir kynge Pelles / and vnto my lord Petchere / and say
hem on my behalf I shalle come and see hem as soone as euer
I may / Soo the good man departed / and there met hym xx
noble squyers / and so took their horses and wente their way
Thenne alle the knyghtes of the table round merueylled
gretely of sir Galahalt that he durst sytte there in that syege
perillous / and was soo tendyr of age / and wist not from whens he
came but al only by god / and said this he by whome the
Sācgreal shal encheued / For there sat neuer none / but he / but he
were mescheued / Thenne syr launcelot beheld his sone and had
THe Quene herd therof and came after with many ladyes / and shewed hem the stone where it houed on the water / Sire said the kyng vnto syre Galahad here is a grete merueylle as euer I sawe / and ryght good knyghtes haue assayed and fayled /
¶ Syre said Galahad that is no merueil / for this aduenture
is not theirs / but myne / and for the seurte of this swerd I
brought none with me / For here by my syde hangeth the
NOw sayd the kyng I am sure at this quest of the
Sācgreal shalle alle ye of the table rounde departe / and
neuer shalle I see yow ageyne hole to gyders / therfor I
THenne the kyng at the quenes request made hym to
alyghte / and to vnlace his helme that the Quene myȝt
see hym in the vysage / whanne she beheld hym she sayd sothely
I dar wel say that sir launcelot begat hym / for neuer two men
resembled more in lykenes / therfor it nys no merueyle though
he be of grete prowesse / So a lady that stode by the Quene
said / Madame for goddes sake oughte he of ryghte to be so good
a knyghte / ye forsothe said the quene / for he is of alle partyes
come of the best knyghtes of the world and of the hyhest
lygnage / for sir launcelot is come but of the / viij / degre from oure
lord Ihesu Cryst / and syre Galahalt is of the nynthe degree
from oure lord Ihesu Cryst / therfor I dar saye they be the
grestest gentilmen of the world / and thenne the kynge and al
estates wente home vnto Camelot / and soo wente to euensonge
¶ Anone as kynge Arthur herd this / he was gretely dyspleasyd / for he wyste wel they myghte not ageyne saye theyre auowes
¶ Allas said kynge Arthur vnto sir Gawayn
ye haue nyghe slayne me with the auowe and promesse that
ANd ther with the teres fylle in his eyen / And thenne
he sayd Gawayne Gawayne ye haue sette me in grete
sorowe / For I haue grete doubte that my true felauship
shalle never mete here more ageyne / A sayd syr Launcelot
comforte your self / for hit shalle be vnto vs a grete honour &
moche more than yf we dyed in ony other places / for of deth we
be syker / A laūcelot said þe kyng þe grete loue þt I haue had
vnto you al the dayes of my lyf maketh me to say suche dolefull
wordes / for neuer Crysten kynge had neuer soo many worthy
men at this table as I haue had this daye at the round table
and that is my grete sorowe /
¶ Whanne the Quene ladyes &
gentilwymmen wyst these tydynges / they had suche sorowe &
heuynesse that ther myght no tonge telle hit / for tho knyghtes
had hold them in honour and chyerte / But amonge all
othther Quene Gueneuer made grete sorowe / I merueylle said she
my lord wold suffre hem to departe from hym / thus was al the
Courte troubled for the loue of the departycyon of tho
knyghtes / And many of tho ladyes that loued knyghtes wold
haue gone with her louers / and soo had they done had not an
old knyghte come amonge them in Relygyous clothyng / and
thenne he spake alle on hyghe / and said fayre Lordes which
haue sworn in the quest of the Sancgreal / Thus sendeth you
nacyen the heremyte word that none in this queste lede lady nor
gentylwoman with hym / for hit is not to doo in so hyghe a
seruyfe as they labour in / for I warne yow playne he that is not
clene of his synnes / he shalle not see the mysteryes of our lord
¶ After this the quene came vnto Galahad and asked hym of whens he was / and of what countrey / he told her of whens he was / and sone vnto Launcelot / she saide he was / as to that he said neyther ye nor nay / So god me helpe said the quene of your fader ye nede not to shame yow / for he is the goodlyest knyghte and of the best men of the world comen and of the strene of alle partyes of kynges / Wherfore ye oughte of ryghte to be of your dedes a passynge good man / & certaynly she said ye resemble hym moche / Thenne syr Galahad was a lytel ashamed and said Madame sythe ye knowe in certayne wherfore doo ye aske hit me / for he that is my fader/ shalle be knowen openly and al by tymes / And thenne they wente to reste them / And in the honour of the hyhenes of Galahad he was ledde in to kynge Arthurs chamber / and there rested in his owne bedde / And as soone as hit was daye the kynge arose for he had no rest of alle that nyght for sorowe / Thenne he wente vnto Gawayne and to syr launcelot that were arysen for to here masse / And thenne the kyng ageyn said A Gawayne Gawayne ye haue bitrayed me / For neuer shal my Courte be amended by yow / but ye wille neuer be sory for me as I am for yow / And there with the teres began to renne doune by his vysage / And there with the kyng said A knyghte syr launcelot / I requyre the thow counceyle me / for I wold that this quest were vndone and it myghte be / syr sayd syr launcelot / ye sawe yesterday soo many worthy knyghtes that thenne were sworne / that they may not leue it in no maner of wyse / That wote I wel said the kyng / but it shal so heuye me at their departynge that I wote wel there shal no manere of Ioye remedye me / And thenne the kynge and the Quene wente vnto the mynster / Soo anone launcelot and Gawayne commaunded her men to brynge her armes / And whanne they alle were armed sauf her sheldes and her helmes / thenne they came to theyre felauship / whiche alle were redy in the same wyse for to goo to the mynster to here their seruyse
¶ Thenne after the seruyse was done / the kynge wolde wete
how many hadde vndertake the queste of the holy grayle / and
to accompte them he praid them alle
NOw rydeth Galahalt yet withouten shelde / and so rode
four dayes without ony aduenture / And at the fourth
day after euensonge / he came to a whyte Abbay / and
there was he receyued with grete reuerence / and ledde vnto a
chambre / and there was he vnarmed / And thenne was he
ware of knyghtes of the table round / one was sir Bagdemagus
and syr Vwayne / And whanne they sawe hym / they wente
vnto Galahad / and made of hym grete solace / and soo they
wente vnto souper / Sirs said sire Galahalt what aduenture
e squyer wēt vnto Bagdemagus / & asked whether he were
sore wounded or not / ye forsothe said he / I shalle escape hard
from the dethe / Thenne he fette his hors and brought hym with
grete payne vnto an Abbay / thenne was he taken doun softely
and vnarmed and leid in a bedde / and there was loked to
his woundes / And as the booke telleth he laye there longe / &
escaped hard with the lyf /
SYr Galahalt sayd the squyer that knyghte that wounded Bagdemagus sendeth yow gretynge / and bad that ye shold bere this shelde where thurgh grete aduentures shold befalle / Now blessid be good & fortune said Galahad / And thenne he asked his armes / and mounted vpon his hors / and henge the whyte shelde aboute his neck / & commaunded hem vnto god / and syr Vwayne said he wold bere hym felauship yf it pleasyd hym /
¶ Sir sayd Galahad that maye ye not / for I must goo alone sauf this squyer shall bere me felauship / and so departed Vwayne / Thenne within a whyle came Galahad there as the whyte knyght abode hym by the heremytage / and eueryche salewed other curtoisly /
¶ Sir said
Galahad by this shelde ben many merueils fallen / Sir sayd
the knyght hit befelle after the passion of our lord Ihesu Crist
xxxij yere that Ioseph of Armathye the gentyl knyghte / the
whiche took doune oure lord of the hooly Crosse att that tyme
he departed from Iherusalem with a grete party of his kynred
with hym / and so he laboured tyl that they came to a cyte that
hyght Sarras / and att that same houre that Ioseph came to
Sarras there was a kynge that hyghte Euelake that had
greto werre ageyne the Sarasyns / and in especyal ageynste one
Sarasyn / the whiche was kyng Euelaks cosyn / a ryche kyng
NOt longe after that Ioseph was layd in his dedely bed And whanne kynge Euelake sawe that / he made moche sorowe / and sayd / for thy loue I haue lefte my countrey / And sythe ye shalle departe oute of this world / leue me somme token of yours that I may thynke on you / Ioseph said that wille I doo ful gladly / Now brynge me your sheld that I toke yow whanne ye went in to bataille ageynst kyng Tolleme / Thenne Ioseph bled sore at the nose / so that he myȝt not by no meane be staunched / And therupon that sheld he made a crosse of his owne blood / Now may ye see a remembraunce that I loue yow / for ye shalle neuer see this shelde but ye shal thynke on me / and it shall be alweyes as fresshe as it is now And neuer shalle man bere this sheld aboute his neck but he shalle repente hit vnto the tyme that Galahad the good knyȝte bere hit / and the laste of my lygnage shal leue hit aboute his neck that shall doo many merueyllous dedes / Now sayd kynge Euelake where shalle I put this shelde that this worthy knyght may haue hit / ye shal leue hit there as nacyen the heremyte shal be put after his dethe / For thydder shal that good knyghte come the fyftenth day after that he shal receyue the ordre of knyghthode / and soo that daye that they sette / is this tyme that he haue his shelde / And in the same abbay lyeth Nacyen the heremyte / And thenne the whyte knyghte vanysshed away Anone as the squyer had herde these wordes / he alyghte of his hakney and kneled doune at Galahads feet and prayd hym that he myghte goo with hym tyll he had made hym knyghte/ Yf I wold not refuse yow / thenne will ye make me a knyȝte sayd the squyer / and that ordre by the grace of god shal be wel sette in me / Soo syr Galahad graunted hym and tourned ageyne vnto the Abbay there they came fro / and there men made grete Ioye of syr Galahad / And anone as he was alyghte / there was a monke broughte hym vnto a Tombe in a Chirche yerd where that was suche a noyse that who that herd hit shold veryly nyghe be madde or lese his strengthe / and syre they sayd we deme hit is a fende
NOw lede me thyder sayd Galahad / and soo they dyd alle armed sauf his helme / Now sayd the good man / goo to the Tombe and lyfte hit vp / Soo he dyd and herd a grete noyse / and pytously he sayd that alle men myȝte here hit / Syr Galahad the seruaunt of Ihesu Cryste come thou not nyghe me / For thow shalt make me goo ageyne ther where I haue ben soo longe / But Galahad was no thynge affrayed but lyfte vp the stone / and there came out so foul a smoke / and after he sawe the fowlest fygur lepe there oute that euer he sawe in the lykenes of a man / & thenne he blessid hym/ and wyste wel hit was a sende /
¶ Thenne herd he a voyse say / Galahad I see there enuyronne aboute the so many angels that my power may not dere the /
¶ Ryght soo syr
Galahad sawe a body al armed lye in that tombe and besyde hym
a swerd / Now fayr broder sayd Galahad lete vs remeue this
body for hit is not worthy to lye in this chircheyerd / for he was
a fals Crysten man / And there with they alle departed and
wente to the Abbay / And anone as he was vnarmed a good
man cam and sette hym doune by hym / and sayd syre I shall
telle yow what betokeneth alle that ye sawe in the Tombe / for
that couerd body betokeneth the duresse of the world and the
grete synne that oure lord fond in the world / For there was
suche wretchydnesse that the fader loued not the sone / nor the
sone loued not the fader / and that was one of the causes that
oure lord took
¶ Syre sayd he men calleth me Melyas de lyle / And I am the sone of the kynge of Denmarke /
¶ Now fayre sire sayd Galahad sythe that ye be come of kynges and Quenes / now loketh that knyghthode be wel sette in yow / for ye oughte to be a myrrour vnto all chyualry
¶ Sire sayd syre Melyas ye saye sothe / But syre sythen ye
haue made me a knyȝt ye must of ryȝt graūte me my fyrst
desyre þt is resonable / ye say soth said galahad / melyas said thēne
t one wey defendeth the that thow ne go þt way / for he
shalle not go oute of the way ageyne / but yf he be a good man
and a worthy knyghte / And yf thow goo on the lyfte hand /
thow shalt not lyghtely there wynne prowesse / for thow shalt
in this way be soone assayed / Sir said Melyas to Galahad /
yf hit lyke yow to suffer me to take the way on the lyft hand
telle me / for there I shalle wel preue my strengthe / hit were
better said Galahad ye rode not that way / for I deme I shold
better escape in that way than ye / nay my lord I praye yow
lete me haue that aduenture / Take it in goddes name said
Galahad
ANd thēne rode melyas in to an old forest / and therin
he rode two dayes and more / And thenne he came in
to a fayr medowe / and there was a fayr lodge of bowes / And
thenne he aspyed in that lodge a chayer wherin was a crown
of gold subtyly wroughte / Also there were clothes couerd
vpon the erthe / and many delycious metes sette theron / Sir
Melyadas behelde this auenture and thoughte hit merueillous/
but he had no honger / but of the croune of gold he took moch
kepe / and there with he stouped doune and took hit vp / and
rode his way with it / And anone he sawe a knyght came
rydynge after hym that sayd / knyghte sette doune that crowne/
whiche is not yours / & therfor defendeth yow / Thenne syre
Melyas blessid hym and said Fair lord of heuen helpe and
saue thy newe made knyght / & thenne they lete theire horses
renne as fast as they myȝt / so that the other knyȝt smote sir melias
NOw wylle I departe sayd Galahad / for I haue moche on hand / for many good knyghtes be ful besy aboute hit / And this knyghte and I were in the same quest of the Sancgreal / Sire said a good man / for his synne he was thus wounded / and I merueylle said the good man how ye durst take vpon yow soo ryche a thynge as the hyghe ordre of knyghthode withoute clene confession / & that was the cause ye were bytterly wounded / For the way on the ryȝt hand betokeneth the hyghe way of our lord Ihesu Cryste / and the way of a good true good lyuer / And the other wey betokeneth the way of synners and of mysbyleuers / And whanne the deuylle sawe your pryde and presumpcyon for to take yow in the quest of the Sancgreal / that made you to be ouerthrowen for hit may not be encheued but by vertuous lyuynge / Also the wrytynge on the crosse was a sygnyfycacyon of heuenly dedes and of knyghtly dedes in goddes werkes and no knyȝtly dedes in worldly werkes / and pryde is hede of alle dedely synnes that caused this knyghte to departe from Galahad / & where thow tokest the croune of gold / thow synnest in couetyse and in thefte / Alle this were no knyghtely dedes / And this Galahad the holy knyghte / the whiche foughte with the two knyghtes / the two knyghtes sygnefyen the two dedely synnes whiche were holy in this knyghte Melyas / and they myghte not withstande yow / for ye are withoute dedely synne / Now departed Galahad from thens and betaught hem alle vnto god Sir Melyas sayd my lord Galahad as soone as I may ryde I shalle seke yow / god send yow helthe said Galahad / & soo toke his hors and departed / and rode many Iourneyes forward and backward as aduenture wold lede hym /
¶ And at the laste hit happend hym to departe from a place or a Castel the whiche was named Abblasoure / and he hadde herd no masse / the whiche he was wonte euer to here or euer he departed oute of ony Castel or place / and kepte that for a customme /
¶ Thenne syr Galahad came vnto a montayne
WHanne syr Galahad herd this / he thanked god / &
toke his hors / and he had not ryden but half a myle / he
sawe in a valeye afore hym a stronge Castel with
depe dyches / and there ranne besyde hit a fayr ryuer that hyghte
Syuarne / and there he mette with a man of grete age / and
eyther salewed other / and Galahad asked hym the Castels
name / Fair syr said he hit is the Castel of maydens / That is a
cursyd Castel said Galahalt / and alle they that ben
conuersaunt therin / for alle pyte is oute therof and alle hardynesse and
meschyef is therin / therfor I counceyle yow sir knyght to torne
ageyne / Sir said Galahad wete yow wel I shalle not tourne
ageyne / Thenne loked syre Galahad on his armes that noo
thynge fayled hym / and thenne he put his sheld afore hym / &
anone there mette hym seuen fayr maydens / the whiche sayd
vnto hym / syr knyghte ye ryde here in a grete foly / for ye haue the
water to passe ouer / why shold I not passe the water said
galahad / So rode he awey from them / and mette with a Squyer
that said knyghte / tho knyghtes in the Castel defyen yow / &
defenden yow / ye go no ferther tyl that they wete what ye
wolde / Faire sir saide Galahad I come for to destroye the wycked
custome of this Castel / Sir and ye wille abyde by that ye shal
haue ynough to doo / go yow now said Galahad and hast my
nedes / Thenne the squyer entryd in to the castel / And anone
after there came oute of the Castel seuen knyghtes and all were
bretheren / And whan they sawe Galahad / they cryed knyghte
kepe the for we assure the no thynge but dethe / why sayd
galahad will ye alle haue adoo with me at ones / ye sayde they
therto maist thow trust / Thenne Galahad putte forth his spere
and smote the formest to the erthe that nere he brake his neck
¶ Thenne syr Galahad drewe oute his swerd / and set vpon hem soo hard that it was merueylle to see hit / and soo thurgh grete force he made hem to forsake the felde / and Galahad chased hem tyl they entryd in to the Castel / and so passed thurȝ the Castel at another gate / And there mette syr Galahad an old man clothed in Relygyous clothynge and sayd / sire haue here the kayes of this Castel / Thenne syr Galahad opened the gates / and sawe soo moche peple in the stretes that he myghte not nombre them / and alle sayd syr ye be welcome / for longe haue we abyden here our delyueraunce / Thenne came to hym a gentylwoman and sayde these knyghtes be fledde / but they wille come ageyne this nyghte / and here to begynne ageyn their euylle customme
¶ What wille ye that I shalle doo sayd Galahad / Sir said the gentilwoman that ye send after alle the knyghtes hyder that hold their landes of this Castel / and make hem to swere for to vse the custommes that were vsed here to fore of olde tyme / I wille wel said Galahad / and there she broughte hym an horne of Iuory boūden with gold rychely / & saide sir blowe this horne whych wille be herde two myle aboute this Castel/
¶ Whanne syr Galahad had blowen the horne / he set hym doune vpon a bedde / Thenne came a preest to Galahad / and said syr hit is past a seuen yere agone that these seuen bretheren cam in to this Castel and herberowed with the lord of this castell that hyght the Duke Lyanowre / and he was lord of alle thys countrey / And whanne they aspyed the dukes doughter / that was a ful faire woman / Thenne by their fals couyn they made debate betwixe them self / and the duke of his goodenes wold haue departed hem / and there they slewe hym and his eldest sone / And thenne they took the mayden and the tresour of the castel / And thenne by grete force they helde alle the knyghtes of this Castel ageynste theire wylle vnder theyre obeyssaunce and in grete seruage and truage / robbynge and pyllynge the poure comyn peple of all that they had
¶ Soo hit happend on a daye the dukes doughter sayd ye
haue done vnto me greete wronge to slee myn owne fader / and
NOw saith the tale after syr Gawayne departed / he rode many Iourneyes bothe toward and froward / And att the laste he cam to the Abbaye where syre Galahad had the whyte sheld / and there syr Gawayne lerned the way to sewe after syr Galahad / and soo he rode to the Abbay where Melyas lay seke / and there syr Melyas told syr Gawayn of the merueyllous aduentures that syr Galahad dyd / Certes said sire Gawayne I am not happy / that I took not the way that he wente / for and I maye mete with hym / I wille not departe from hym lyghtely / for alle merueyllous aduentures sir Galahad encheueth / Sir said one of the monkes he wille not of your felauship / why said syr Gawayne / Sir said he / for ye be wycked and synful / and he is ful blessid /
¶ Ryght as they thus stode talkynge / there came in rydynge
syr Gareth / And thenne they made Ioye eyther of other / And
on the morne they herd masse / and soo departed / And by the
¶ Here leueth the tale of syr Gawayne and his felawes / and speke we of syr Galahad /
SOo whanne syr Galahad was departed from the
castel of maydens / he rode tyl he came to a waste forest / &
there he mette with syre launcelot and syr Percyuale
but they knewe hym not / for he was newe desguysed / Ryghte
so syr launcelot his fader dressid his spere and brake it vpon
syr Galahad / and Galahad smote hym so ageyne that he
smote doune hors and man / And thenne he drewe his suerd / and
dressid hym vnto syr Percyuale / and smote hym soo on the
helme that it rofe to the coyfe of stele / and had not the swerd
swarued / syr Percyuale had ben slayne / and with the stroke
he felle oute of his sadel / This Iustes was done to fore the
hermytage where a recluse dwelled / And when she sawe syr
galahad ryde / she said god be with the best knyghte of the world
A certes said she alle alowde that Launcelot and Percyuale
myȝt here it / And yonder two knyghtes had knowen the as
wel as I doo they wold not haue encoūtred with the / thenne
ANd soo he felle on slepe and half wakynge and
slepyng he sawe come by hym two palfreyes alle fayr &
whyte / the whiche bare a lytter / therin lyenge a seke
knyghte / And whanne he was nyghe the crosse / he there abode
stylle / Alle this syr launcelot sawe / and beheld for he slepte
not veryly / and he herd hym saye / O swete lord whanne shal
¶ Also there came a table of syluer and the holy vessel of the Sancgreal whiche launcelot had sene afore tyme in kynge Pescheours hows / And there with the seke knyghte sette hym vp / & helde vp bothe his handes / and said Faire swete lord whiche is here within this holy vessel / take hede vnto me that I may be hole of this maladye / And ther with on his handes and on his knees he wente soo nyghe that he touched the holy vessel / and kyste hit / and anone he was hole / and thenne he sayd lord god I thanke the / for I am helyd of this sekenesse / So whanne the holy vessel had ben there a grete whyle hit wente vnto the Chappel with the chaundeler and the lyght / soo that launcelot wyst not where it was become for he was ouertaken with synen that he had no power to ryse ageyne the holy vessel / wherfor after that many men said of hym shame / but he took repentaunce after that / Thenne the seke knyght dressid hym vp / & kyssed the crosse / anone his squyer brought hym his armes/ and asked his lord how he dyd / Certes sayd he I thanke god ryghte wel thurgh the holy vessel I am helyd / But I haue merueil of this slepynge knyghte that had no power to awake whanne this holy vessel was brought hyder / I dare ryȝt wel saye / sayd the squyer that he dwelleth in some dedely synne wherof he was neuer confessid / By my feythe said the knyght what someuer he be / he is vnhappy / for as I deme he is of the felauship of the round table / the whiche is entryd in to the quest of the Sancgreal / Sire said the squyer here I haue brought yow alle your armes sauf your helme and your suerd / and therfor by myn assente now maye ye take this knyȝtes helme and his suerd and so he dyd / And whan he was clene armed / he took syr laūcelots hors / for he was better than his and soo departed they from the Crosse /
THenne anone syr launcelot waked and sette hym vp
and bethought hym what he had sene there / & whether
it were dremes or not / Ryght so herd he a voys that
said syr launcelot more harder than is the stone / and more
bytter than is the wood / and more naked and barer than is the
leef of the fygge tree / therfore goo thow from hens / and
wythdrawe the from this hooly place / And whanne syre launcelot
herd this / he was passynge heuy and wyst not what to do / & so
departed sore wepynge / and cursed the tyme that he was borne
For thenne he demed neuer to haue hadde worship more For
tho wordes went to his herte tyl that he knewe wherfor he was
called soo / Thenne syre Launcelot wente to the Crosse & fonde
his helme / his swerd and his hors taken away / And thenne
he called hym self a veray wretche and moost vnhappy of all
knyghtes / and there he sayd my synne and my wyckednes
haue brought me vnto grete dishonour / For whanne I soughte
worldly aduentures for worldly desyres I euer encheued them
and had the better in euery place / and neuer was I discomfyt
in no quarel were it ryght or wronge / And now I take
vpon me the aduentures of holy thynges / & now I see and
vnderstande that myn old synne hyndereth me and shameth me /
so that I had no power to stere nor speke whan the holy blood
appiered afore me / So thus he sorowed til hit was day / & herd
the fowles synge / thenne somwhat he was comforted / But
whan syr Launcelot myst his hors and his harneis thenne he
wyste wel god was displeasyd with hym / Thenne he
departed from the crosse on foote in to a foreste / and soo by
pryme he came to an hyghe hylle & fonde an hermytage and an
Heremyte theryn whiche was goynge vnto masse / And
thenne launcelot kneled doune / & cryed on oure lorde mercy for his
wycked werkes / Soo whanne masse was done launcelot
called hym and prayed hym for charite for to her his lyfe / with
a good will sayd the good man / Sir sayd he be ye of Kyng
Arthurs Courte and of the felauship of the round table / ye
forsothe and my name is sir Launcelot du lake that hath ben
ryght wel said of / and now my good fortune is chaunged /
For I am the moost wretche of the world / The Heremyte
behelde hym & hadde merueille how he was soo abasshed / Syre
THenne sir launcelot wept with heuy chere / and sayd
Now I knowe wel ye saye me sothe / Sire sayd the
good man / hyde none old synne from me / Truly said
syr Launcelot that were me ful lothe to discouere / For this
xiiij yere I neuer discouerd one thynge that I haue vsed / and
that maye I now wyte my shame and my disauentur / And
thenne he told there that good man alle his lyf / And hou he
had loued a quene vnmesurably and oute of mesure longe / &
alle my grete dedes of armes that I haue done I dyd for the
moost party for the quenes sake / And for her sake wold I
doo batail were hit ryght or wronge / and neuer dyd I
bataille alle only for goddes sake / but for to wynne worshyp and
to cause me to be the better biloued / and lytel or noughte I
thanked god of hit / Thenne syr launcelot sayd I praye yow /
counceylle me / I wille counceyle yow said the heremyte / yf ye
wille ensure me that ye will neuer come in that quenes
felauship as moche as ye may forbere / And thenne syre launcelot
promysed hym he nold by the feithe of his body / loke that
your herte and your mouthe accorde said the good man / and I
shalle ensure yow ye shalle haue more worship than euer ye
had / Holy fader said syre launcelot I merueylle of the voys
NOw sayth the tale that whan syr launcelot was
ryden after syre Galahad / the whiche had alle
these aduentures aboue sayd / Sir Percyual
torned ageyne vnto the recluse / where he demed to
haue tydynges of that knyȝt that Launcelot
folowed / And soo he kneled at her wyndow / and the recluse
opened hit / and asked syre Percyuale what he wold / Madame
he sayd I am a knyghte of kynge Arthurs Courte / and my
name is syr Percyual de Galys / whanne the reecluse herd his
name she had grete Ioye of hym / for mykel she had loued
hym to forne ony other knyȝt / for she ouȝ to do so / for she was
his aunt / And thenne she commaunded the gates to be opened
and there he had alle the chere that she myght make hym and
alle that was in her power was at his commaundement / Soo
on the morne syr Percyual wente to the recluse / and asked
her yf she knewe that knyghte with the whyte shelde / Sir said
she why wold ye wete / Truly madame said syr Percyual I
shalle neuer be wel at ease tyl that I knowe of that
knyghtes felauship / and that I may fyghte with hym / for I maye
not leue hym soo lyghtely / for I haue the shame yet / A
Percyual sayd she wold ye fyghte with hym / I see wel ye haue
grete wylle to be slayne as your fader was thorugh
oultrageousnes / Madame sayd syr Percyual hit semeth by your
wordes that ye knowe me / ye sayd she / I wel ought to knowe you
for I am your aunt / al though I be in a pryory place / For
¶ A fair neuewe said she whanne herd ye tydynges of your moder / Truly sayd he I herd none of her / but I dreme of her moche in my slepe / And therfore I wote not whether she be dede or on lyue / Certes fayr neuew sayd she / your moder is dede / for after your departynge from her / she took suche a sorowe that anone after she was confessid she dyed / Now god haue mercy on her sowle sayd syr Percyual hit sore forthynketh me / but alle we must chaunge the lyf /
¶ Now fayre Aunt telle me what is the knyghte / I deme hit be he that bare the reed armes on whytsonday / wete yow well said she / that this is he / for other wyse oughte he not to doo / but to goo in reed armes / and that same knyghte hath no piere / for he worcheth alle by myracle / and he shalle neuer be ouercome of none erthely mans hand
ALso Merlyn made the round table in tokenyng of
roundenes of the world / for by the round table is the
world sygnefyed by ryghte / For al the world crysten
and hethen repayren vnto the round table / And whan they are
chosen to be of the felauship of the roūd table / they thynke hem
more blessid & more in worship than yf they had goten halfe
the world / and ye haue sene that they haue loste her faders &
her moders and alle her kynne and her wyues and her
children for to be of your felauship / It is wel sene by yow / For
syns ye departed fro your moder / ye wold neuer see her ye fond
suche felauship at the roūd table / whan Merlyn had ordeyned
the round table he said by them which shold be felawes of the
round table / the trouth of the Sancgreal shold be wel knowen
and men asked hym how men myghte knowe them that sholde
best do and to encheue the Sancgreal / thenne he said ther shold
be thre whyte bulles that shold encheue hit / and the two sholde
be maydens / and the thyrd shold be chast / And that one of the
thre shold passe his fader as moche as the lyon passeth the
lybard bothe of strengthe and hardynes
THenne departed syr Percyuale from his aunte eyther
makynge grete sorowe / And soo he rode tyl euensonge
tyme / And thenne he herd a clok smyte / and thēne he was
ware of an hows closed wel with walles and depe dyches / and
there he knocked at the gate / and was lete in / and he alyght
and was ledde vnto a chamber and soone he was vnarmed /
And there he had ryght good chere alle that nyghte / and on
the morne he herd his masse / and in the monastery he fonde a
preest redy at the aulter / And on the ryght syde he sawe a
pewe closyd with yron / and behynde the aulter he sawe a ryche
bedde and a fayre as of clothe of sylke and golde / Thenne syr
Percyual aspyed that therin was a man or a woman / for the
vysage was couerd / thenne he left of his lokyng and herd his
seruyse / And whan hit came to the sacrynge / he that lay
within that Percloos dressid hym vp and vncouerd his heede / and
thenne hym besemed a passynge old man / and he had a crowne
of gold vpon his hede / & his sholders were naked & vnhylled
WHanne the kynge thus had made his prayers he herd
a voys that sayd herd ben thy prayers / for thow shalt
not dye tyl he haue kyst the / And whanne that knyȝte
shalle come the clerenes of your eyen shalle come ageyne / and
thow shalt see openly / and thy woundes shalle be heled / & erst
shalle they neuer close / and this befelle of kynge Euelake / &
this same kynge hath lyued this thre honderd wynters thys
holy lyf / and men saye the knyghte is in the Courte that shall
hele hym / Sir sayd the good man I praye yow telle me what
knyghte that ye be / and yf ye be of kyng Arthurs courte &
of the table roūd / ye forsoth said he / & my name is sir percyual
e reed armes come there by aduenture
in to tho partyes / And whanne he sawe alle tho knyghtes
vpon one knyghte / he cryed saue me that knyghtes lyf / And
thenne he dressid hym toward the twenty men of armes as faste
as his hors myght dryue with his spere in the reyste / & smote
the formest hors and man to the erthe / And whanne his
spere was broken / he sette his hand to his suerd and smote on the
ryght hand and on the lyfte hand / that it was merueylle to
see / and at euery stroke he smote one doune or put hym to a
rebuke / soo that they wold fyghte no more but fled to a thyck
forest / and syr Galahad folowed them / And whanne sir
percyuale sawe hym chase hem soo / he made grete sorowe that hys
hors was awey / And thenne he wyst wel it was syre
Galahad / And then̄e he cryed alowde A fayre knyghte abyde and
suffre me to doo thankynges vnto the / for moche haue ye done
for me / But euer syr Galahad rode soo fast that atte laste he
past oute of his syghte / And as fast as sir percyual myght he
wente after hym on foote cryenge / And thenne he mette with
a yoman rydynge vpon an hakney the whiche led in his hand
a grete stede blacker than ony bere / A fayr frend sayd sir
percyuale as euer as I maye doo for yow / and to be your true
knyghte in the fyrst place ye wille requyre me that ye wille
lene me that black stede that I myghte ouertake a knyghte the
whiche rydeth afore me
¶ Syre knyghte sayd the yoman I praye yow hold me
excused of that / for that I maye not doo / For wete ye wel the
hors is suche a mans hors that and I lente hit yow or ony man
ANd anone the yoman came pryckynge after as fast as
euer he myghte / and asked syre Percyuale yf he
sawe ony knyghte rydynge on his blak stede / ye sir for soth said
he / why syr aske ye me that / A syre that stede he hath benome
me with strength / wherfor my lord wylle slee me / in what
place he fyndeth me / Wel saide syre Percyual what woldest thow
that I dyd thou seest wel that I am on foote / but and I had
a good hors / I shold brynge hym soone ageyne / Sir said the
yoman take myn hakney and doo the best ye can / and I shall
sewe yow on foote to wete how that ye shalle spede / Thenne sir
Percyual alyghte vpon that hakney / and rode as faste as he
myghte / And at the laste he sawe that knyghte / And thenne
he cryed knyghte torne ageyne / and he torned / and set his
spere ageynst syr Percyuale / and he smote the hakney in the
myddes of the brest that he felle doune dede to the erthe / and there he
had a grete falle / and the other rode his waye / And thenne
syr Percyual was wood wrothe / and cryed abyde wycked
knyghte coward and
ANd whanne syr Percyuale came nyghe the brymme / & sawe the water so boystous / he doubted to ouerpasse it And thenne he made a sygne of the crosse in his forheed / whan the fende felte hym soo charged / he shoke of syr Percyual / and he wente in to the water cryenge and roryng makyng grete sorowe / and it semed vnto hym that the water brente / Thenne sir Percyual perceyued it was a fend the which wold haue brought hym vnto his perdycyon / Thenne he commaunded hym self vnto god / and prayd oure lord to kepe hym from alle suche temptacyons / and so he praid alle that nyghte tyl on the morn that it was day / thenne he sawe that he was in a wylde montayne / the whiche was closed with the see nygh al aboute that he myȝt see no land about hym whiche myȝte releue hym but wylde beestes / and thenne he went in to a valey / and there he sawe a yonge serpent brynge a yonge lyon by the neck / and soo he came by sir Percyual / with that came a grete lyon cryenge and rorynge after the serpent
¶ And as fast as syr Percyual sawe thys / he merueylled / &
hyhed hym thyder / but anon the lyon had ouertake the serpent
¶ And thenne syr Percyual
thoughte to helpe the lyon for he was the more naturel beeste /
of the two / and there with he drewe his suerd / and sette hys
shelde afore hym / and ther he gaf the serpent suche a buffet that
he had a dedely wound / whanne the lyon sawe that / he made
no resemblaunt to fyghte with hym / but made hym all the
chere that a beest myghte make a man / Thenne Percyuale
perceyued that and caste doune his sheld / whiche was broken / and
thenne he dyd of his helme for to gadre wynde / for he was
gretely enchafed with the serpente / and the lyon wente alwaye
aboute hym fawnynge as a spanyel / And thenne he stroked
hym on the neck and on the sholders / And thenne he thanked
god of the felauship of that beeste / And aboute none the lyon
took his lytel whelp and trussed hym and bare hym there he
came fro / Thenne was syr Percyual alone / And as the tale
telleth be was one of the men of the world at that tyme /
whiche moost byleued in oure lord Ihesu Cryste / for in tho dayes
there were but fewe folkes that byleued in god parfytely /
For in tho dayes the sone spared not the fader no more than a
straunger / And soo syre Percyual comforted hymself in our
lord Ihesu / and besoughte god no temptacyon shold brynge
hym oute of goddes seruyse / but to endure as his true
champyon / Thus whanne syr Percyual had prayd he sawe the lyon
came toward hym / and thenne he couched doune at his feete /
And soo alle that nyghte the lyon and he slepte to gyders / &
whanne syr Percyual slepte / he dremed a merueyllous dreme
that there two ladyes mette with hym / and that one sat vpon
a lyon / and that other sat vpon a serpent / and that one of hem
was yonge and the other was old / and the yongest hym
thought said sir Percyual my lord saleweth the / and sendeth the
word that thow araye the / and make the redy / for to morne
thow must fyghte with the strongest champyon of the world /
And yf thow be ouercome / thou shalt not be quyte for losyng
of ony of thy membrys / but thow shalt be shamed for euer to
the worldes ende / And thenne he asked her what was her lord
And she said the grettest lord of alle the world / and soo she
departed sodenly that he wyste not where
THenne came forth the other lady that rode vpon the
serpent / and she sayd syr Percyual I complayne me of
yow that ye haue done vnto me and haue not offended vnto
yow / Certes madame he sayd / vnto yow nor no lady I neuer
offended / yes sayd she / I shalle telle yow why / I have
nourysshed in this place a grete whyle a serpent whiche serued me
a grete whyle / and yesterday ye slewe hym as he gat his pray
Saye me for what cause ye slewe hym / for the lyon was not
yours / Madame said syre Percyuale I knowe wel the Lyon
was not myn / but I dyd hit / for the lyon is of more gentiller
nature than the serpent / and therfor I slewe hym / me semeth /
I dyd not amys ageynst yow / Madame sayd he what wold
ye that I dyd / I wold sayd she for the amendys of my
beste that ye bycome my man / and thenne he ansuerd that wylle
I not graunte yow / No sayd she truly ye were neuer but my
seruaunt / syn ye receyued the homage of our lord Ihesu crist
Therfor I ensure yow in what place I may fynde yow
withoute kepynge I shalle take yow as he that somtyme was my
man / And soo she departed from syr Percyual and lefte hym
slepynge the whiche was sore trauaylled of his aduysyon / &
on the morne he aroos and blessid hym and he was passynge
feble / Thenne was sire Percyual ware in the see / and sawe a
ship come sayllynge toward hym / and syr Percyual went
vnto the shyp and fond hit couerd within and withoute wyth
whyte Samyte / And at the bord stood an old man clothed
in a surples in lykenes of a preest / Syr said syr Percyuale ye
be welcome / god kepe yow sayd the good man / Sir sayd the
old man of whens be ye / Syr said sir Percyual I am of
kynge Arthurs Courte / and a knyghte of the table Round / the
whiche am in the quest of the Sancgreal / and here I am in
grete duresse and neuer lyke to escape oute of this wyldernesse
Doubte not sayd the good man and ye be soo true a knyghte /
as the ordre of chyualry requyreth / and of herte as ye oughte
to be / ye shold not doubte that none enemy shold slay yow /
What ar ye said syr Percyuale / syr sayd the old man I am of
a straunge countrey / and hyther I come to comforte yow / Syr
BY that syr Percyuale had abyden there tyl myddaye /
he sawe a shyp came rowyng in the see as all the
wynd of the world had dryuen hit / And soo it droof
vnder that roche / And whanne syr Percyual sawe this / he hyhed
hym thyder / and fonde the ship couerd with sylke more blacker
than ony beare / and therin was gentilwoman of grete
beaute / and she was clothed rychely that none myghte be better /
And whanne she sawe syr Percyuale / she saide Who broughte
yow in this wyldernes where ye be neuer lyke to passe hens /
for ye shal dye here for hongre and meschyef / Damoysel saide
THenne syr Percyual promysed her alle the helpe that
he myghte / And thenne she thanked hym / And at that
tyme the wheder was hote / thenne she called vnto her a
gentylwoman and badde her brynge forth a pauelione / And
soo she dyd / and pyght hit vpon the grauel / Sire sayd she /
Now maye ye reste yow in this hete of the day / Thenne he
thanked her / and she put of his helme and his sheld / and there he
slepte a grete whyle / And thenne he awoke / and asked her /
yf she had ony mete / and she sayd ye / also ye shalle haue
ynough / and soo there was sette ynough vpon the table / and
theron soo moche þt he had merueil / for there was all maner of
metes þt he coude thynke on / Also he dranke ther the strengest
wyn that euer he dranke / hym thoughte / and there with he
was a lytel chafed more than he oughte to be / with that he
beheld the gentilwoman / and hym thought / she was the fayrest
creature that euer he sawe / And thenne syre Percyual proferd
her loue and prayd her that she wold be his / Thenne she
refused hym in a maner whan he requyred her for the cause he shold
be the more ardant on her / and euer he seased not to pray her of
loue / And whanne she sawe hym wel enchauffed / thenne she
sayd syr Percyuale wete yow wel I shall not fulfylle youre
wylle / but yf ye swere from hensforth ye shalle be my true
seruaunt / and to doo no thynge but that I shall commaunde
FAyr swete fader Ihesu Cryste ne lete me not be
shamed / the whiche was nyghte lost had not thy good
grace ben / And thenne he loked in to a shyp / and sawe her entre
therin / Whiche sayd sir Percyual ye haue bitrayed me / and soo
she wente with the wynde rorynge and yellynge that it semed
alle the water brent after her / Thenne syr percyual made grete
sorowe / and drewe his suerd vnto hym / sayēg sythen my flessh
will be my maister I shalle punysshe it / and there with he rofe
hym self thurgh the that thygh the blood starte aboute hym / &
said O good lord takek this in recompensacion of that I haue
done ageynst the my lord / Soo thenne he clothed hym and armed
hym / and called hym self a wretche / sayenge how nyghe was I
lost / and to haue loste that I shold neuer haue geten ageyne /
that was my vyrgynyte / for that maye neuer be recouerd
after hit is ones lost / and thenne he stopped his bledyng wounde
with a pyece of his sherte / Thus as he made his moue he saw
the same shyp come fro Oryent that the good man was in the
day afore / and the noble knyȝt was ashamed with hym selfe / &
there with he felle in a swoune / And whan he awoke he went
vnto hym wekely and there he salewed this good man / And
WHanne the Heremyte had kepte syr Launcelot thre dayes / the heremyte gate hym an hors / an helme / and a suerd /
¶ And thenne he departed about the houre of none And thenne he sawe a lytel hows / And whanne he came nere / he sawe a Chappel / and there besyde he sawe an old man that was clothed al in white ful rychely / and thenne sire launcelot saide god saue yow / god kepe yow sayd the good man / and make yow a good knyghte / Thenne syr Launcelot alyghte and entred in to the Chappel / and there he sawe an old man dede in a whyte shert of passyng fyne clothe /
¶ Sir said the good man this man that is dede oughte not to be in suche clothynge as ye see hym in / for in that he brake the othe of hys ordre // For he hath ben more than an C wynter a man of a relygyon / And thenne the good man and sire Launcelot wente in to the Chappel / and the good man tooke a stole aboute hys neck and a book / and thenne be coniured on that book / & with that they sawe in an hydous fygure & horryble / that there was no man soo hard herted nor soo hard but he shold haue ben aferd / Thenne saide the fende thow hast trauaylled me gretely / Now telle me what thou wilt with me / I wille saide the good man that thow telle me how my felawe became dede / & whether he be saued or dampned / Thenne he said with an horryble voys / he is not lost but saued / how may that be sayd the good man / It semed to me that he lyued not wel / for he brake his ordre for to were a sherte / where he oughte to were none / And who that trespaceth ageynst our ordre dothe not wel / Not soo sayd the fende this man that lyeth here dede was come of a grete lygnage / and there was a lord that hyghte the erle de Vale that helde grete werre ageynste this mans neuewe the whiche hyghte Aguarus And soo this Aguarus sawe the Erle was byggar than he / Thenne he wente for to take counceylle of his vnkel the which lyeth here dede as ye maye see /
¶ And thenne he asked leue & wente oute of his heremytage
THenne was there pees betwyxe the Erle and this Aguarus / & grete seurte that the erle shold neuer werre ageynst hym / Thenne this dede man that here lyeth came to this heremytage ageyne / And thenne the erle made two of his neuewes for to be auenged vpon this man / Soo they came on a day / and fonde this dede man at the sacryng of his masse / and they abode hym tyl he had sayd masse / And thenne they set vpon hym and drewe oute swerdes to haue slayne hym / But there wold no suerd byte on hym more than vpon a gad of stele for the hyghe lord whiche he serued / he hym preserued /
¶ Thenne made they a grete fyre and dyd of alle his clothes
and the hayre of his bak / And thenne this dede man heremyte
sayd vnto them / wene ye to brenne me / it shalle not lye in
your power nor to perysshe me as moche as a threde & there were
ony on my body / Noo sayd one of them / hit shalle be assayed / &
thenne they dispoylled hym / and putte vpon hym this sherte /
and cast hym in a fyre / and there he laye all that nyȝt tyl hit
was daye in that fyre and was not dede / and soo in the morn
I came and fond hym dede / but I fond neyther threde nor
skynne tamyd / & soo tooke hym oute of the fyre with grete
fere and leyd hym here as ye may see / And now may ye suffer
me to goo my way / for I haue sayd yow the sothe / And
thenne he departed with a grete tempest / Thenne was the good man
and syr launcelot more gladder than they were to fore / And
thenne syr launcelot dwelled with that good man that nyght
Sire said the good man be ye not sir launcelot du lake / ye sire
said he / what seke ye in this countrey / syr sayd syr launcelot I
goo to seke the aduentures of the Sancgreal / wel sayd he
seke it ye may wel / But though it were here ye shalle haue noo
power to see hit no more than a blynd man shold see a bryȝte
suerd / and that is longe on your synne / and els ye were more
ANd soo he putte his hors to pasture / and dyd of hys
helme and his shelde and made his prayers vnto the
Crosse that he neuer falle in dedely synne ageyne / And soo he
leyd hym doune to slepe / And anone as he was on slepe / hit
befelle hym there an aduysyon / that there came a man afore
hym alle by compas of sterres / and that man had a crowne
of gold on his hede / and that man ledde in his felaushyp
seuen kynges and two knyghtes / And alle these worshipped
the Crosse knelyng vpon their knees / holdyng vp their handes
¶ Thenne sir launcelot rode tyl nyghte / and by aduentur he met an heremyte / and eche of hem salewed other / and there he rested with that good man alle nyght / and gaf his hors suche as he myghte gete / Thenne sayde the good man vnto Launcelot / of whens be ye / syr sayd he I am of Arthurs courte / and my name is sir launcelot du lake / that am in the Quest of the Sancgreal / And therfor I pray yow to counceylle me of a vysyon the whiche I hadde et the Crosse / And soo he tolde hym alle /
LOo sir launcelot said the good man / there thou myȝtest vnderstande the hyghe lygnage that thou art comen of / And thyne aduysyon betokeneth after the passion of Ihesu Criste fourty yere Ioseph of Armathye preched the vyctory of kynge Euelake / that he had in the batails the better of his enemyes of the seuen kynges and the two knyghtes / the fyrst of hem is called Nappus an holy man / and the second hyghte Nacyen in remembraunce of his graunte syre / and in hym dwelled oure lord Ihesu Cryst / And the thyrd was called Hellyas le grose / and the fourth hyght Lysays / and the fyfthe hyghte Ionas / he departed out of his countrey and went in to walys / and toke there the doughter of Manuel / where by he had the lond of Gaule / and he came to dwelle in this countrey / And of hym came kynge launcelot thy graūte syre / the whiche there wedded the kynges doughter of Irland and he was as worthy a man as thow art / and of hym cam kynge Ban thy fader the which was the last of the seuen kynges / and by the sir launcelot hit sygnefyeth that the Angels sayd thou were none of the seuen felauships / and the laste was the ix knyght / he was sygnefyed to a lyon / for he shold passe all maner of erthely knyghtes / that is syre Galahad / the whiche thow gate on kynge Pelles doughter / and thou ought to thanke god more than ony other man lyuynge / for of a synner erthely thow hast no piere as in knyghthode nor neuer shalle be / But lytyl thanke hast thou gyuen to god for al the grete vertues that god hath lent the /
¶ Syr said Launcelot ye saye that that good knyȝt is my sone
That ouȝtest thow to knowe and no man better said the good
man / For thow knewest the doughter of kyng Pelles
flesshely / and on her thow begattest Galahad / And that was he
that at the feest of Pentecost satte in the sege peryllous / And
therfor make thow hit knowen openly that he is one of thy
begetynge on kynge Pelles doughter / for that wyl be youre
worship and honour and to alle thy kynred /
And I coūceyle yow in no place prece not vpon hym to haue
ANd thenne mounted vpon his hors / and rode in to a
forest / and helde no hyhe waye / And as he loked afore
hym / he sawe a fayre playne / and besyde that a fayre Castel / &
afore the Castel were many pauelions of sylke & of dyuerse
hewe / And hym semed that he sawe there fyue honderd
knyȝtes rydynge on horsbak / and there were two partyes / they that
were of the Castel were all in blak horses and their trappours
blak / and they that were withoute were al on whyte horses &
trappours / and eueryche hurteled to other that it merueylled
syr launcelot / And at the laste hym thoughte they of the
castel were putte to the werse / Thenne thoughte sir launcelot for
to helpe there the weyker party in encrecynge of his chyualry
And soo syr launcelot threst in among the party of the Castel
and smote doune a knyghte hors and man to the erthe / And
thenne he rasshed here and there and dyd merueyllous dedes
of armes / And thenne he drewe oute his suerd / and strake
many knyghtes to the erthe / so that alle tho that sawe hym
merueylled that euer one knyghte myghte doo soo grete dedes of
armes / But alweyes the whyte knyghtes helde them nyghe
aboute syr launcelot for to tyere hym and wynde hym /
But att the laste as a man may not euer endure syre
Launcelot waxed so faynt of fyȝtyng & trauaillyng & was so wery
ANd thenne he told her alle to gyder word by word and the trouthe how it befelle hym at the turnement / And after told her his aduysyon that he had had that nyghte in his slepe / and prayd her to telle hym what hit myght mene / for he was not wel contente with hit /
¶ Now said the lady sythen ye be sette amonge the knyghtes of heuenly aduentures / yf aduenture felle the contrary at that turnement / haue thou no merueille / for that turnement yesterdaye was but a tokenynge of oure lord / And not for thenne there was none enchauntement for they at the turnement were erthely knyghtes / The turnemēt was a token to see who shold haue most knyghtes outher Clyazar the sone of kynge Pelles or Argustus the sone of kynge Harlon / But Clyazar was alle clothed in whyte / and Argustus was couered in blak the whiche were comen / Alle what this betokeneth I shalle telle yow /
¶ the daye of Pentecost whan kynge Arthur helde his court / it befelle that erthely kynges and knyghtes toke a turnement to gyders / that is to say the quest of the Sancgreal / The erthely knyghtes were they / the whiche were clothed al in black / and the couerynge betokeneth the synnes wherof they be not confessid / And they with the couerynge of whyte betokeneth vyrgynyte / and they that chosen chastyte / And thus was the quest begonne in them / Thenne thow behelde the synners and the good men / and when thow sawest the synners ouercomē / thow enclynest to that party for bobaunce and pryde of the world / and alle that must be lefte in that quest /
¶ For in this quest thow shalte
haue many felawes and thy betters / For thow arte soo feble
of euylle truste and good byleue / this made hit whan thou
were there where they took the / and ledde the in to the forest /
And anone there appiered the Sancgreal vnto the whyte
knyghtes / but thow was soo feble of good byleue and feyth that
thou myghtest not abyde hit for alle the techynge of the good
man / but anone thou tornest to the synners / and that caused
thy mysauenture that thow sholdest knowe good from euylle /
and vayne glory of the world / the whiche is not worth a pere
And for grete pryde thou madest grete sorow that thou
haddest not ouercome alle the whyte knyghtes with the keueryng
of whyte by whome was betokeneth vyrgynyte & chastyte / &
therfor god was wroth with yow / for god loueth no suche
dedes in this quest / & this aduision signefyeth þt thou were of euil
¶ Now haue I warned the of thy vayne glory / and of thy pryde / that thow hast many tymes erryd ageynst thy maker beware of euerlastynge payne / for of alle erthely knyghtes I haue moost pyte of the / for I knowe wel thow hast not thy pyere of ony erthely synful man / And soo she commaunded syr launcelot to dyner / And after dyner he toke his hors and commaunded her to god / and soo rode in to a depe valeye / and there he sawe a ryuer and an hyhe montayn / And thorou the water he must nedes passe / the whiche was hydous / and thenne in the name of god he took hit with good herte / and when he came ouer / he sawe an armed knyghte hors and man black as ony beare without ony word he smote syr launcelots hors to the erthe / and soo he passed on he wyst not where he was become / And thenne he took his helme and his shelde / & thanked god of his aduenture
WHanne sire Gawayne was departed from his his felaushyp / he rode long withoute ony aduenture / For he fond not the tenth parte of aduenture as he was wonte to doo / For syre Gawayn rode from whytsontyde vntyl Mychelmasse And fonde none aduenture that pleasyd hym / Soo on a daye it befelle Gawayne mette with sir Ector de marys / and eyther made grete Ioye of other / that it were merueylle to telle / And soo they told eueryche other and complayned them gretely that they coude fynde none aduenture /
¶ Truly sayd fyre Gawayne vnto syre Ector I am nyghe
wery of this quest / and loth I am to folowe further in straūge
t fayled them / And so they
departed one here and another there / this aduyson befelle
Gawayne that nyght
BVt to Ector de marys befelle another vysyon the contrary / For hit semed hym that his broder syre launcelot and he alyghte oute of a chayer and lepte vpon ij horses / and the one sayde to the other go we seke that we shal not fynde / and hym thoughte that a man bete syr launcelot / and despoylled hym / and clothe hym in another aray the whiche was al ful of knottes / and sette hym vpon an asse / and so he rode tylle he cam to the fayrest welle that euer he sawe / and syre Laūcelot alyghte and wold haue dronke of that welle / And whan he stouped to drynke of the water the water sanke from hym /
¶ And whanne syre launcelot sawe that he torned and wente thyder as the hede come fro / And in the meane whyle he trowed that hym self and syr Ector rode tyl that they cam to a ryche mans hows where there was a weddynge / And there he sawe a kynge / the whiche sayd syr knyghte here is no place for yow / and thenne he torned ageyne vnto the chayer that he came fro / Thus within a whyle bothe Gawayne and Ector awaked / and eyther told other of their aduysyon / the whiche merueylled them gretely / Truly sayd Ector I shalle neuer be mery tyl I here tydynges of my broder launcelot /
¶ Now as they sat thus talkyng they sawe an hand sheuyng
vnto the elbowe / and was couerd with reed Samyte / And
vpon that henge a brydel not ryght ryche / and helde within the
fyst a grete candel whiche brenned ryght clere / and soo passed
afore them / and entryd in to the chappel / and thēne vanysshed
awey and they wyst not where / And anone came doune a
voyse whiche sayd knyghtes ful euylle feyth and of poure
byleue these two thynges haue fayled yow / and therfor ye may
not come to the aduentures of the sancgreal / Thenne fyrst spak
Gawayne and sayd Ector haue ye herd these wordes / ye
truly said sir Ector I herd alle / Now goo we sayd syre Ector
vnto some heremyte that wille telle vs of our aduysyon / for
hit semeth me we labour alle in vayne / and soo they departed
and rode in to a valeye and there mette with a squyer whiche
rode on an hakney / and they salewed hym fayre / Sire sayd
Gawayne can thou teche vs to ony heremyte / Here is one in a
lytel montayne / but hit is soo rough there may no hors go
thyder / and therfore ye muste goo vpon foote / there shalle ye fynde
ALlas sayd Gawayne that euer this mysauenture is
befallen me / No force sayd Vwayne sythe I shalle dye
this deth / of a moche more worshypfuller mans hand
myghte I not dye / but whanne ye come to the Court /
recommaunde me vnto my lord kynge Arthur and alle tho that ben
lefte on lyue / and for old brotherhode thynke on me / Thenne
beganne Gawayne to wepe and Ector also / And thenne
Vwayne hym self and syre Gawayne drewe oute the truncheon
of the spere / and anone departed the soule from the body /
Thēne sir Gawayne and sir Ector beryed hym as men oughte to
berye a kynges sone / and made wryten vpon his name / & by
whome he was slayne / Thenne departed Gawayne and Ector
as heuy as they myghte for their mysauentur / and so rode til
that they came to te rouȝ montayne / and there they teyed
their horses and wente on foote to the heremytage / And whanne
they were come vp / they sawe a poure hows / & besyde the
chappel a lytyl courtelage / where Nacyen the heremyte gadred
wortes as he whiche had tasted none other mete of a grete whyle
And whanne he sawe the erraunt knyghtes / he came toward
them and salewed them / and they hym ageyne / Faire lordes
said he what aduentur brought yow hyther / Syr said
Gawayn to speke with yow for to be confessid / Sir said the heremyte
I am redy / thenne they told hym soo moche that he wyst well
what they were / And thenne he thoughte to counceylle hem yf
he myght / Thenne began gawayne fyrst & told hym of his
aduysyon that he had in the Chappel / and Ector told hym
alle as it is afore reherced / Sir said the heremyte vnto sir
Gawayne the fayr medowe and the rak therin ought to be
vnderstande the round table / and by the medowe oughte to be
vnderstande humylyte and pacyence / tho ben the thynges whiche ben
alweyes grene and quyck / for men maye no tyme
ouercome humylyte and pacyence / therfor was the round table
foūden and the Chyualry hath ben at alle tymes / soo by the
fraternyte whiche was there that she myght not be ouercomen / For
men sayd she was founded in pacyence and in humylyte at the
THenne spak Nacyen vnto Ector sothe hit is that launcelot and ye came doune of one chayer / the chayer betokeneth maistership and lordshyp whiche ye came doune fro / But ye two knyghtes sayd the heremyte ye goo to seke that ye shalle neuer fynde that is the Sancgreal For hit is the secrete thynge of oure lord Ihesu Cryste / what is to meane thar syre Launcelot felle doune of his hors / he hath left pryde / and taken hym to humylyte / for he hath cryed mercy lowde for his synne and sore repented hym / and our lorde hath clothed hym in his clothyng whiche is ful of knottes that is the hayre that he weryth dayly /
¶ And the asse that he rode vpon is a beest of
¶ Now wille I telle yow what betokeneth the hande with the candel and the brydel / that is to vnderstande the holy ghost where charyte is euer / and the brydel sygnefyeth abstynence / For whanne she is brydeled in Crysten mans herte / she holdeth hym soo shorte that he falleth not in dedely synne / And the candell whiche sheweth clerenesse and syghte sygnefyeth the ryȝt way of Ihesu Cryst / And whanne he wente and sayd knyghtes of poure feythe and of wycked byleue / these thre thynges fayled charyte / abstynence / and trouth / therfor ye maye not atteyne that hyhe aduenturr of the Sancgreal
CErtes sayd Gawayne / sothely haue ye sayd that I see it openly /
¶ Now I pray yow good man and holy fader telle me why we mette not with soo many aduentures as we were wonte to doo / and comynly haue the better /
¶ I shalle telle yow gladly sayd the good man / The
aduenture of the Sancgreal whiche ye and many other haue
vndertake þe quest of it & fynde it not / the cause is / for it appiereth
¶ Thenne the good man called Gawayne and sayd it is longe tyme passed syth that ye were made knyghte / and neuer sythen thow seruedest thy maker / and now thow arte soo old a tree that in the is neyther lyf ne fruyte / wherfore bethynk the that thou yelded to oure lord the bare rynde / sythe the fende hath the leues and the fruyte / Syr said Gawayne & I had leyser I wold speke with yow / but my felawe here syr Ector is gone and abydeth me yonder bynethe the hylle / wel sayd the good man thow were better to be counceylled / Thenne departed Gawayne ande came to Ector / and soo took their horses & rode tyl they came to a fosters hows whiche herberowed them ryȝt wel / And on the morne they departed from theyr hooste / and rode longe or they coude fynde ony aduenture
WHanne Bors was departed from Camelot / he mette
with a Relygyous man rydynge on an asse / and syre
Bors salewed hym / Anon the good man knewe hym
that he was one of the knyȝtes erraunt that was in the quest
of the Sancgreal / what are ye sayd the good man / Sire sayd
ANd whanne he was vnarmed / they ledd hym in to an hyhe toure where was a lady yonge / lusty and fayre / And she receyued hym with grete Ioye / and made hym to sytte doune by her / and soo was he sette to soupe with flesshe / and many deyntees / And whanne syre Bors sawe that / he bethought hym on his penaunce and badde a squyer to brynge hym water / / And soo he broughte hym / and he made soppes therin / and ete them / A sayd the lady / I trowe ye lyke not my mete / yes truly sayd syr Bors / god thanke yow madame but I may ete none other mete this daye / thenne she spak nomore as at that tyme / for she was lothe to displease hym /
¶ Thenne after souper they spak of one thynge and other / With that came a squyer and sayd / Madame ye must purueye yow to morne for a champyon / for els your syster wille haue this castel and also your landes excepte ye can fynde a knyȝt that wille fyghte to morne in your quarel ageynst Prydam le noyre / Thenne she made sorowe and sayd / A lord god wherfor graunted ye to hold my lond wherof I shold now be disheryted withoute reason and ryghte / And whanne sire Bors had herd her say thus / he sayd I shalle comforte yow / Syr sayd she I shal telle yow there was here a kynge that hyghte Anyause / whiche held alle this land in his kepynge / Soo hit myshapped he loued a gentilwoman a grete dele elder that I Soo tooke he her alle this land to her kepyng / and all his men to gouerne / and she brought vp many euylle custommes where by she putte to dethe a grete party of his kynnesmen / And whanne he sawe that / he lete charce her oute of this land / and bytoke hit me / and alle this land in my demenys / but anone as that worthy kynge was dede / this other lady beganne to werre vpon me / and hath destroyed many of my men / & tourned hem ageynste me / that I haue wel nyghe no man lefte me And I haue nought els but this hyhe toure that she lefte me And yet she hath promysed me to haue this Toure withoute I can fynde a knyghte to fyghte with her Champyon / Now telle me sayd syr Bors / what is that Prydam le noyre / fyre sayd she he is the moost doubted man of thys land /
¶ Now
ANd anone as he was a slepe / hym befelle a vysyon /
that there came to hym two byrdes / the one as whyte
as a swan / and the other was merueyllous blak / but it was
not soo grete as the other / but in the lykenes of a Rauen /
thēne the whyte byrd came to hym / and sayd / and thou woldest
gyue me mete and serue me / I shold gyue the alle the ryches
of the world / And I shalle make the as fayre and as
whyte as I am / Soo the whyte byrd departed / and there came the
blak byrd to hym & sayd / & thou wolte serue me to morowe &
haue me in no despyte / though I be blak / for wete thow wel /
that more auayleth my blaknes than the others whytnes / and
thenne he departed / and he had another vysyon / hym thoughte /
that he came to a grete place whiche semed a chappel / & there he
fonde a chayer sette on the lyfte syde whiche was worme eten /
and feble / And on the ryghte hand were two floures lyke a
lylye / and the one wold haue benome the others whytnes
But a good man departed hem that touched not the other / &
thenne oute of eueryche floure came oute many floures and
fruyte grete plente / Thenne hym thoughte the good man sayd /
shold not be doo grete foly that wold lete these two floures
perysshe for to socoure the rotten tree that hit felle not to the erthe
Syr sayd he / it semeth me that this woode myghte not auayle
Now kepe the sayd the good man that thou neuer see suche
aduenture befalle the / Thenne he awaked and made a sygne of
the crosse in myddes of the
¶ And thenne he ranne vpon hym more and more/ and the other wente bak for drede of deth Soo in his withdrawynge he felle vp ryght / and syre Bors drewe his helme soo strongly that he rente hit fro his hede / and gafe hym grete strokes with the flatte of his swerd vpon the vysage / and bad hym yelde hym or he shold slee hym / Thenne he cryed hym mercy and sayd Faire knyght for goddes loue slee me not / and I shall ensure the neuer werre ageynst thy lady / but be alwey toward her / Thenne Bors lete hym be / thenne the old lady fledde with alle her knyghtes
SOo thenne came Bors to alle tho that held landes of his lady / and sayd he shold destroye hem / but yf they dyd suche seruyse vnto her as longed to their landes / Soo they dyd their homage and they that wold not were chaced oute of their landes / Thenne befelle that yonge lady to come to her estate ageyne by the myghty prowesse of syr Bors de ganys Soo whan alle the countrey was wel set in pees / thenne syre Bors toke his leue and departed / and she thanked hym gretely / and wold haue gyuen hym grete rychesse but he refused hit / Thenne he rode alle that day tyl nyght / and came to an herberowe to a lady whiche knewe hym wel ynough / & maade of hym grete Ioye / Vpon the morne as soone as the day appiered / Bors departed from thens / and soo rode in to a foreste / vnto the houre of mydday / and there bifelle hym a merueyllous aduenture / So he mette at the departyng of the two wayes two knyghtes that ledde lyonel his broder al naked bounden vpon a straunge hakney / & his handes bounden to fore his brest And eueryche of hem helde in his handes thornes where with they wente betynge hym so sore that the blood trayled doune more than in an honderd places of his body / soo that he was al blood to fore and behynde / but he said neuer a word as he whiche was grete of herte / he suffred alle that euer they dyd to hym as though he had felte none anguysshe / Anone syre Bors dressid hym to rescowe hym that was his broder / and soo he loked vpon the other syde of hym / and sawe a knyghte whiche brought a fair gentylwoman / and wold haue set her in the thyckest place of the forest for to haue ben the more surer oute of the way from hem that sought hym / And she whiche was no thynge assured cryed with an hyghe voys Saynte mary socoure your mayde
¶ And anone she aspyed where syre Bors came rydynge /
And whanne she came nygh hym / she demed hym a knyghte
of the round table / wherof she hoped to haue some comforte / &
thenne she coniured hym by the feythe that he ought vnto hym
in whos seruyse thow arte entryd in / and for the feythe ye
owe vnto the hyghe ordre of knyghthode / & for the noble kyng
¶ Whanne Bors herd her saye thus / he had soo moche sorowe there he nyst not what to doo / For yf I lete my broder be in aduenture he must be slayne / and that wold I not for alle the erthe And yf I help not the mayde / she is shamed for euer / and also she shall lese her vyrgynyte / the whiche she shal neuer gete ageyne / Thenne lyfte he vp his eyen and sayd wepynge / Fair swete lord Ihesu Cryste whoos lyege man I am kepe Lyonel my broder that these knyghtes slee hym not / and for pyte of yow / and for Mary sake I shalle socoure this mayde /
THenne dressid he hym vnto the knyghte / the whiche had the gentylwoman / and thenne he cryed sir knyghte lete your hand of that mayden or ye be but dede / & thenne he sette doune the mayden / and was armed at alle pyeces sauf he lacked his spere / Thenne he dressid his sheld / and drewe oute his swerd / and Bors smote hym soo hard that it went thurgh his shelde and haberion on the lyfte sholder / and thorowe grete strengthe he bete hym doune to the erthe / and at the pullynge oute of Bors spere there he swouned /
¶ Thenne came Bors to the mayde / and sayd how semeth it yow of this knyghte / ye be delyuerd at this tyme /
¶ Now sir
said she I praye yow lede me there as this knyghte hadde me
soo shall I do gladly / & took the hors of the wounded knyȝght
and sette the gentylwoman vpon hym / and soo broughte her
as she desyred / Sir knyghte sayd she / ye haue better sped than
ye wend / for and I had lost my maydenhede / fyue honderd men
shold haue dyed for hit / what knyghte was he that had yow
in the forest / by my feithe sayd she / he is my cosyn / So wote I
neuer with what engyn the fende enchauffed hym / for yesterday
he took me from my fader pryuely / for I nor none of my faders
men mystrusted hym not / And yf he hadde hadde my
maydenhede / he shold haue dyed for the synne & his body shamed &
dishonoured for euer / Thus as she stood talkynge with hym
there came twelue knyghtes sekyng after her / and anone she
NOw leue we hym here sayd the good man / and goo
we to oure herberowe tyl to morowe we wille come
here ageyne to doo hym seruyse / Sir sayde Bors be ye a
preest / ye forsothe sayd he / thenne I pray yow telle me a dreme
that befalle to me þe last nyȝt / Say on sayd he / thenne he began
soo moche to telle hym of the grete byrd in the forest / And
after told hym of his byrdes one whyte / another black / and
¶ And yf thou warne her loue she shalle goo dye anone yf thou haue no pyte on her / that sygnefyeth the grete byrd / the whiche shalle make the to warne her /
¶ Now for noo fere that
thou hast ne for no drede that thow haste of god / thow shalte
not warne her but thou woldest not do hit for to be holden chast
for to conquere the loos of the veyne glory of the world / for
that shalle befalle the now and thou warne her that
Launcelot the good knyghte thy cosyn shalle dye / And therfore men
shalle now saye þt thow art a man sleer / both of thy broder syre
Lyonel and of thy cosyn syre launcelot du lake / the whiche
thow myghtest haue saued and rescowed easyly / But thow
wenest to rescowe a mayde whiche perteyneth no thynge to the
¶ Now loke thow whether hit had ben gretter harme of thy broders deth or els to haue suffred her to haue lost her maydenhode /
¶ Thenne asked he hym haste thow herd the tokens of thy dreme the whiche I haue told to yow / Ye forsothe sayd syre Bors / alle youre exposycyon and declarynge of my dreme I haue wel vnderstande and herd / Thenne said the man in this black clothynge / thenne is hit in thy defaute yf sire Launcelot thy cosyn dye /
¶ Syre said bors that were me lothe / for wete ye wel there is no thynge in the world but I had leuer doo hit than to see my lord sire launcelot du lake to dye in my defaute Chese ye now the one or the other said the good man / And thenne he led syre Bors in to an hyghe Toure / and there he fonde knyghtes and ladyes tho ladyes sayde he was wel come / and soo they vnarmed hym /
¶ And whanne he was in
his dobblet / men broughte hym a mantel furred with ermyn
and putte hit aboute hym / and thenne they made hym suche
chere that he hadde forgeten alle his sorowe and anguysshe /
and only sette his herte in these delytes and deyntees / & tooke
noo thoughte more for this broder syre Lyonel neyther of syre
Launcelot du lake his cosyn / And anone came oute of a
chamber to hym the fayrest lady that euer he sawe & more rycher
¶ Whanne Bors vnderstood her wordes / he was ryght euyll at ease / whiche in no maner wold not breke chastyte / soo wyst not he how to ansuer her /
ALlas sayd she Bors shalle ye not doo my wylle / Madame said Bors / there is no lady in this world whos wylle I wylle fulfylle as of this thynge / for my broder lyeth dede whiche was slayne ryght late / A Bors sayd she I haue loued yow longe for the grete beaute I haue sene in yow / and the grete hardynes that I haue herd of yow that nedes ye must lye by me this nyghte / & therfor I praye yow graunte it me /
¶ Truly sayd he I shalle not doo hit in no maner wyse / thenne she made hym suche sorowe as though she wold haue dyed / wel Bors sayd she vnto this haue ye broughte me nyghe to myn ende / And there with she took hym by the hand / & badde hym behold her / and ye shal see how I shalle dye for your loue / A sayd thenne he that shalle I neuer see / Thenne she departed and wente in to an hyhe batilment / and led with her twelue gentylwymmen / and whan they were aboue one of the gentylwymmen cryed and sayd
¶ A syr Bors gentil knyghte haue mercy on vs all / and suffre my lady to haue her wil And yf ye doo not we muste suffre deth with oure lady for to falle doune of thys hyhe towre / And yf ye suffre vs thus to dye for soo lytel a thynge / alle ladyes and gentilwymmen wylle saye of you dishonour /
¶ Thenne loked he vpward
ANd that nyghte was syre Bors serued rychely / and on the morne erly he herd masse / and the Abbot came to hym / and bad hym good morow / and Bors to hym ageyne / And thēne he told hym he was a felawe of the quest of the Sancgreal / and how he had charge of the holy man to ete brede and water /
¶ Thenne oure lord Ihesus Cryste
shewed hym vnto yow in the lykenes of a sowle that suffred
THenne wente sir Bors from thens and commaunded the Abbot vnto god / And thenne he rode alle that day and herberowed with an old lady / And on the morne he rode to a Castel in a valey / and there he mette with a yoman goynge a grete paas toward a foreste / Saye me sayd syre Bors canst thow telle me of ony aduenture / Syre sayd he / here shall be vnder this Castle a grete and a merueyllous turnement / of what folkes shal hit be sayd syr Bors / The erle of playns shal be in the one party / & the ladyes neuew of Heruyn on the other party / thenne bors thouȝt to be there yf he myȝt mete with his broder syr Lyonel or ony other of his felaushyp / whyche were in the quest of the Sancgreal / And thenne he torned to an hermytage that was in the entre of the foreste / And when he was come thyder / he fonde there syr Lyonel his broder whiche sat al armed at the entre of the Chappel dore for to abyde there herberowe tyl on the morn that the turnement shalle be / And whanne sir Bors sawe hym / he had grete Ioye of hym/ that it were merueil to telle of hys Ioye / And thenne he alyghte of his hors / and sayd fair swete broder whanne cam ye hydder / Anone as Lyonel sawe hym he said
¶ A Bors ye
maye not make none auaunt / but as for you I myȝt haue ben
slayn whan ye sawe two knyȝtes ledyng me awey betyng me
ye lefte me for to socoure a gentilwoman / and suffred me in
perylle of deth / for neuer erst ne dyd no broder to another so
grete an vntrouthe / And for that mysdede now I ensure you but
deth / for wel haue ye deserued it / therfore kepe the from
hensforward / and that shal ye fynde as soone as I am armed / whan
sir Bors vnderstood his broders wrath / he knelyd doune to
¶ Thenne came the heremyte rennyng vnto hym whiche was a good man and of grete age / and wel had herd alle the wordes that were bitwene them / and soo felle doune vpon syre Bors
THenne he sayd to Lyonel A gentyl knyghte haue
mercy vpon me and on thy broder / for yf thow slee hym /
THenne ofte Colgreuauance cryed vpon syre Bors / Why wylle ye lete me dye here for your sake / yf it plese yow that I dye for yow the dethe / it wille please me the better for to saue a worthy man / with that word syre Lyonel smote the helme from his hede / Thenne Colgreuaunce sawe that he myght not escape / thenne he sayd Fair swete Ihesu that I haue mysdoo haue mercy vpon my sowle / For suche sorowe that my herte suffreth for goodenes and for almes dede that I wold haue done here / be to me a lygement of penaunce vnto my soules helthe / At these wordes Lyonel smote hym soo sore that he bare hym to the erthe / soo whanne he had slayne Colgreuaunce / he ranne vpon his broder as a fendly man / & gaf hym suche a stroke that he made hym stoupe / and he that was ful of humylyte prayd hym for goddes loue to leue this bataille / For and hit befelle fayre broder that I slewe yow or ye me / we shold be dede of that synne /
¶ Neuer god me help
but yf I haue on yow mercy and I maye haue the better
hand / Thenne drewe Bors his suerd al wepynge and sayd /
Faire brother god knoweth myn entente / A fayre broder ye
haue done ful euylle this daye to slee suche an holy preest the
ANd thēne he herd a voyce that sayd flee bors & touche hym not / or els thow shall slee hym / Ryght so alyȝt a clowde betwixe them in lykenes of a fyre and a merueyllous flamme that bothe her two sheltes brente /
¶ Thenne were
they sore affrayed that they felle bothe to the erthe / and laye
there a grete whyle in a swoune / And whanne they came to
them self Bors sawe that his broder had no harme / thenne he
held vp bothe his handes / for he dradde god had taken
vengeaunce vpon hym / with that he herd a voyce saye Bors go hens
and bere thy broder noo lenger felaushyp / but take thy way
anone ryghte to the see / For sire Percyual abydeth the there /
Thenne he sayd to his broder fayr swete broder forgyue me for
goddes loue alle that I haue trespaced vnto yow / Thenne he
ansuerd God forgyue it the and I doo gladly / So sir Bors
departed from hym and rode the nexte way to the see / And at
the last by fortune he came to an Abbay whiche was nygh the
see / That nyght Bors rested hym there / and in his slepe there
came a voice to hym & badde hym go to the see / thenne he starte
vp and made a sygne of the Crosse in the myddes of his
forhede and took his harneis and made redy his hors / and
moūted vpon hym / And at a broken walle he rode oute / & rode soo
long tyl that he came to the see / And on the strond he fond a
shyp couerd all with whyte samyte / And he alyghte & bitoke
hym to Ihesu Cryst / And as soone as he entryd in to the ship
the shyp departed in to the see and wente so fast that hym
semed the shyp wente fleynge / but hit was soone derke soo that
he myght knowe no man / and soo he slepte tyl hit was daye
¶ Thenne Bors told hym how he came in to the shyp / and by whoos ammonysshement / and eyther told other of theyre temptacyons / as ye haue herd to fore hand /
¶ Soo wente they douneward in the see one whyle bakward another whyle forward / and eueryche comforted other / and ofte were in their prayers / thenne sayd syre Percyual we lak no thynge but Galahad the good knyghte
NOw saith this story whanne Galahad had
rescowed Percyual from the twenty knyghtes /
he yede tho in to a waste foreste / wherin he rode
many Iourneyes / and he fonde many
aduentures / the whiche he brought to an ende / wherof the
story maketh here no mencyon / Thenne he toke his waye to the
see on a daye / & hit befelle as he passed by a Castel where was
a wonder turnement / but they withoute had done soo moche/
that they within were putte to the werse / yet were they wythin
good knyghtes ynouȝ / whanne Galahad sawe that tho
within were at soo grete a meschyef that men slewe hem att the
entre of the Castel / thenne he thoughte to helpe hem / and putte a
spere forth / and smote the fyrste that he slay to the erthe / and
the spere brak to pyeces / thanne he drewe his suerd / and smote
there as they were thyckest / and so he dyd wonderful dedes of
armes / that alle they merueylled / thenne hit happed that
Gawayne and sir Ector de marys were with the knyghtes
withoute / But whanne they aspyed the whyte shelde with the
reed Crosse / the one sayd to the other yonder is the good knyght
sir Galahad the haute prynce / Now he shold be a grete foole /
whiche shold mete with hym to fyghte / Soo by aduenture he
came by sire Gawayne and he smote hym soo hard that he claf
his helme and the coyfe of yron vnto his hede / so that
Gawayn felle to the erthe / but the stroke was soo grete that it slented
doune to the erthe and carfe the hors sholder in two / Whan
Ector sawe Gawayne doune he drewe hym asyde / and thoughte
it no wysedome for to abyde hym / and also for naturel loue that
he was his vnkel / Thus thurgh his grete hardynesse he bete
abak alle the knyghtes withoute / And thenne they within cam
oute and chaced hem alle aboute / But whanne Galahad sawe
ther wold none torne ageyne / he stale awey pryuely so that
none wyst where he was bicome / Now by my hede sayd Gawayn
to Ector now are the wonders true that were sayd of
Launcelot du lake / that the swerd whiche stak in the stone shold
gyue me suche a buffet þt I wold not haue it for the best Castell
in this world / and sothely now hit is preued trewe for neuer
SOo she rode as fast as her palfrey myght bere her tylle
that she came to the see / the whiche was called Collybe
And at the nyghte they came vnto a Castel in a valeye closed
with a rennynge water and with stronge walles and hyhe / &
soo she entred in to the Castel with Galahad and there had he
grete chere for the lady of that Castel was the damoysels
lady / soo whan he was vnarmed / thenne said the damoysels
madame shalle we abyde here all this day / Nay sayd she but tylle he
hath dyned and tyl he hath slepte a lytyl / so he ete and slepte
a whyle tyl that the mayde called hym / and armed hym by
¶ And whanne they came thyder / they fond the ship ryche ynouȝ / but they fond neyther man ne woman therin / But they fonde in the ende of the ship two fayre letters wryten whiche sayd a dredeful word and a merueyllous / Thow man whiche shalle entre in to this shyp beware thou be in stedfast bileue for I am feith & therfor beware hou thou entrest / for & thou faile I shal not helpe the / thenne saide the gētilwoman Percyual wote ye what I am / Certes said nay to my wetynge /
¶ Wete you wel sayd she that I
IN the meane whyle Galahad blessed hym / & entrid
therin / and thenne next the gentylwoman / & thenne sir
Bors & sir Percyual / And whan they were in / it was so
merueyllous fayre and ryche that they merueylled / & in myddes
of the shyp was a fayr bedde / & Galahad wente therto / & fond
there a crowne of sylke / And at the feet was a swerd ryche &
fayre / and hit was drawen oute of the shethe half a foot and
more / and the suerd was of dyuerse facyons / and the pomel
was of stone / and there was in hym alle manere of colours
that ony man myght fynde / and eueryche of the colours hadde
dyuerse vertues / and the skalys of the hafte were of two
rybbes of dyuerse beestes / the one beest was a serpent whiche was
conuersaunt in Calydone / and is called the serpent of the fend
And the bone of hym is of suche a vertu that there is no
hand that handeleth hym shalle neuer be wery nor hurte / and the
other beest is a fysshe which is not ryght grete / and haunteth
the flood of Eufrate / and that fysshe is called Ertanax / and
his bones be of suche a maner of kynde that who that handeleth
hem / shalle haue soo moche wille that he shalle neuer be wery
and he shalle not thynke on Ioye nor sorow that he hath had
But only that thynge that he beholdeth before hym / And as
for this suerd there shalle neuer man begyrype hym at the
handels but one / but he shalle passe alle other / In the name of god
said Percyual I shall assaye to handle hit / Soo he sette his
hand to the suerd / but he myghte not begrype hit / by my feyth
said he now haue I fayled / Bors set his hand therto & fayled
Thenne Galahad beheld the suerd and sawe letters lyke blood
that sayd / lete see who shall assaye to drawe me oute of my
¶ And when kynge Hurlame sawe kynge Labor he dressid this suerd / and smote hym vpon the helme soo hard that he clafe hym / and his hors to the erthe with the fyrst stroke of his suerd / and hit was in the realme of Logrys / and soo bifelle grete pestylence & grete harme to both Realmes / for sythen encrecyd neyther corne ne grasse nor wel nyghe no fruyte / ne in the water was no fysshe werfor men callen hit the landes of the two marches the waste land / for that dolorous stroke / And when kynge Hurlame sawe this suerd soo keruyng / he torned ageyne to fetche the scaubard / And soo came in to this shyp and entred and putt vp the suerd in the shethe / And as soone as he had done it / he felle doune dede afore the bedde / Thus was the swerd preued that none ne drewe it but he were dede or maymed / So laye he ther tyl a mayden cam in to the shyp / and cast hym oute / for there was no man so hardy of the world to entre in to shypthat for the defence
ANd thenne beheld they the scaubard / hit semed to be
of a serpentes skynne / And theron were letters of
gold and syluer / and the gyrdel was but pourely to
come to / and not able to susteyne suche a ryche suerd / and the
letters sayd / he whiche shal welde me oughte to be more harder
than ony other yf he bere me as truly as me oughte to be born
For the body of hym whiche I oughte to hange by he shal not
be shamed in no place whyle he is gyrd with this gyrdel / nor
neuer none be soo hardy to doo awey this gyrdel / for it oughte
not be done away but by the handes of a mayde / and that she be
a kynges doughter and quenes / and she must be a mayde alle
the dayes of her lyf / bothe in wylle and in dede / And yf she
breke her vyrgynte she shalle dye the moost vylaynous dethe
that euer dyd ony woman / Sir said Percyual torne this suerd
that we may see what is on the other syde / & hit was reed as
blood with blak letters as ony cole / whiche sayd / he that shal
prayse me moost / moost shalle he fynde me to blame at a grete
nede and to whome I shold be moost debonair shall I be most
felon / and that shalle be at one tyme / Faire broder sayd she to
Percyual it befelle after a fourty yere after the passion of
Ihesu Cryst that Nacyen thy broder in lawe of kyng Mordrayns
was boren in to a Towne more than xiiij dayes Iourneye from
his countrey by the commaundement of our lord in to an yle /
in to the partyes of the west that men clepyd the yle of
Turnaunce / Soo befelle hit that he fond this shyp at the entre of a
roche / and he fond the bedde and his suerd as we haue herd
now / Not for thenne he had not soo moche hardynesse to drawe
hit / and there he dwellid an eyght dayes / and at the nynythe
day there felle a grete wynde whiche departed hym out of the
yle and brought hym to another yle by a roche / and there he
fond the grettest gyaunt that euer man myghte see / therwith
cam that horryble gyaunt to slee hym / and thenne he loked
aboute hym aad myghde not flee / and he had no thynge to
defende hym with / Soo he ranne to his suerd / and when he sawe
hit naked / he praysed it moche / and thenne he shoke it / and
therwith he brak it in the myddes A said Nacyen the thyng that I
moost praysed ought I now moost to blame / and ther with he
threwe the pyeces of his suerd ouer his bedde / And after he
SYr sayd she there was a kynge that hyghte Pelles the
maymed kynge / And whyle he myghte ryde / he
supported moche crystendome and holy chirche / Soo vpon a daye
he hunted in a woode of his whiche lasted vnto the see / and
at the last he loste his houndes / and his knyghtes / sauf only
one / and there he and his knyghte wente tyl that they cam
toward Irland / and there he fonde the shyp / And whanne he
sawe the letters and vnderstood them / yet he entryd / for he was
ryghte parfyte of his lyf / but his knyghte had none hardynes
to entre & ther fonde he this suerd & drewe it oute as moche as
ye maye see / Soo there with entryd a spere where with he was
NOw haue I certefyed the of that thow stodest in
doubte / thenne was Salamon glad that there shold
come ony suche of his lygnage / but euer he merueylled &
studyed who that shold be / And what his name myghte be/
his wyf perceyued that he studyed and thoughte she wolde
knowe it at some season / and so she wayted her tyme / & asked
of hym the cause of his studyenge / and there he told her alle to
gyder how the voyce tolde hym / Wel sayd she / I shalle lete
make a shyp of the best wood and moost durable that men maye
fynde / Soo Salamon sente for alle the Carpenters of the lond
and the best / And whan they had made the shyp / the lady
sayd to Salamon / syr sayd she / syn hit is soo that this knyght
ouȝte to passe all knyghtes of cheualry whiche haue ben to
fore hym / & shall come after hym / More ouer I shalle telle yow
sayd she ye shalle goo in to oure lordes temple where is kynge
Dauyds suerd your fader / the whiche is the merueylloust and
the sharpest that euer was taken in ony knyghtes hand /
therfore take that / and take of the pomel / and therto make ye a
pomel of precyous stones that it be soo subtylly made that noo
man perceyue it / but that they be al one / & after make there an
hylte soo merueyllously and wonderly that noo man maye
THat nyght lay Salamon bifore the ship with lytel
felauship / And whan he was on slepe / hym thoughte /
¶ Now sayth thystory that a grete whyle the thre felawes
biheld the bedde / and the thre spyndels / than they were at
certayne that they were of naturel colours withoute payntynge /
Thenne they lefte vp a clothe whiche was aboue the ground &
there fond a ryche purse by semynge / and Percyuale took hit/
And fonde therin a wrytte / & soo he redde hit / and deuysed the
maner of the spyndels and of the shyp whens hit came / and
by whome it was made / Now sayd Galahad where shall we
fynde the gentylwoman / that shalle make newe gyrdels to the
suerd / Fair syre sayd Percyuals syster / desmaye yow not /
For by the leue of god I shall lete make a gyrdel to the suerd
suche one as shalle longe therto / And thenne she opened a boxe
and toke oute gyrdels which were semely wroughte with
golden thredys / and vpon that were sette ful precyous stones &
a ryche buckel of gold / lo lordes said she / here is a gyrdel that
oughte to be sette aboute the suerd / And wete ye wel the
grettest parte of this gyrdle was made of my here whiche I loued
wel whyle that I was a woman of the world / But as
soone as I wyst that this aduenture was ordeyned me I
clypped of my here / and made this gyrdel in the name of god / ye
be wel y fonde said sir Bors / for certes ye haue put vs out of
grete payne wherin we shold haue entryd ne had your
tydynges ben / Thenne wente the gentilwoman and sette hit on the
gyrdel of the suerd / Now sayd the felauship what is the name
SOo hit befelle as they spoken thus / there cam a squyer by them / and asked what they were / and they said they were of kynge Arthurs hows / is that sothe sayd he / Now by my hede sayd he ye be ylle arayed / and thenne torned he ageyn vnto the clyff fortresse / And within a whyle they herd an horne blowe / Thenne a gentylwoman came to hem and asked hem of whens they were / and they told her / Faire lordes sayd she for goddes loue torne ageyne yf ye may / for ye be come vnto youre dethe / Nay they sayd we wille not torne ageyne / for he shalle helpe vs in whos seruyse we ben entred in /
¶ Thenne as they
¶ And soo whan they were horsed / thenne beganne they to sette vpon them / and they of the Castel fled in to the stronge fortresse / and the thre knyghtes after them in to the Castel / and soo alyghte on foote / and with their swerdes slewe them doune and gate in to the halle / Thenne whan they beheld the grete multytude of peple / that they had slayne / they held them self grete synners / Certes sayd Bors / I wene & god had loued hem that we shold not haue had power to haue slayne hem thus / But they haue done soo moche ageyn our lord that he wold not suffre hem to regne no lenger / Say ye not soo sayd Galahad / for yf they mysdyd ageynst god / the vengeaunce is not ours / but to hym whiche hath power therof / So came there oute of a chamber a good man whiche was a preest and bare goddes body in a coupe / And whanne he sawe hem whiche lay dede in the halle / he was alle abasshed / and Galahad dyd of his helme and kneled doune / and soo dyd his two felawes / syre sayd they haue ye no drede of vs / For we ben of kynge Arthurs courte /
¶ Thenne asked the
good man how they were slayn so sodenly / and they told it hym
Truly sayd the good man and ye myghte lyue as longe as
the world myght endure / ne myghte ye haue done soo grete an
almesse dede as this / Sire sayd Galahad I repente me moch
in as moche as they were crystened / Nay repente yow not
sayd he for they were not crystened / and I shalle telle you hou
that I wote of this Castel / here was lord Erle Hernox not
but one yere / and he had thre sones good knyghtes of armes
and a doughter the fayrest gentylwoman that men knewe / soo
tho thre knyghtes loued theyr syster so sore that they brente in
loue / and so they lay by her maulgre her hede / And for she
cryed to her fader / they slewe her and took their fader / and putte
hym in pryson / and woūded hym nygh to the deth / but a cosyn
THenne beganne he to wepe ryght tendyrly & said long
haue I abyden your comynge / but for goddes loue
holdeth me in your armes that my sowle may departe oute of my
body in soo good a mans armes as ye be / Gladly sayd
Galahad / And thenne one sayd on hyghe that alle herde / Galahad/
wel hast thou auenged me on goddes enemyes / Now behoueth
the to goo to the maymed kyng as soone as thow maist / for he
shalle receyue by the helthe whiche he hath abyden soo long / and
ther with the sowle departed from the body / and Galahad made
hym to be buryed as hym ought to be / Ryght soo departed the
thre knyghtes and Percyuals syster with them / And soo they
came in to a waste foreste / and there they sawe afore them a
whyte herte whiche four lyons ladde / Thenne they took hem to
assent for to folowe after / for to knowe whydder they repayred
and soo they rode after a grete paas til that they cam to a
valeye / & ther by was an hermytage where a good man dwellid
and the herte and the lyons entryd also / soo whanne they
sawe all this / they torned to the chappel / and sawe the good man
in a relygyous wede & in the armour of our lord / for he wold
synge masse of the holy ghoost / and soo they entryd in & herde
¶ And vpon the morowe whan they had herde masse / they departed and commaunded the good man to god and soo they came to a Castel and passed by / So there came a knyghte armed after them and sayd lordes herke what I shal saye to yow
THis gentylwoman that ye lede with yow is a mayde /
Syr said she / a mayde I am / Thenne he took her by the
brydel / and sayd by the holy crosse ye shalle not escape me to
fore ye haue yolden the customme of this Castel / lete her go
sayd Percyual ye be not wyse / for a mayde in what place she
cometh is free / Soo in the meane whyle there came oute a ten
or twelue knyghtes armed oute of the Castel / and with hem
came gentylwymmen whiche held a dysshe of syluer / and
thenne they sayd this gentylwoman must yelde vs the customme
of this Castel / sir sayd a knyghte / what mayde passeth here by
shalle yeue this dysshe ful of blood of her ryghte arme / blame
haue he sayd Galahad that broughte vp suche custommes / and
soo god me saue I ensure yow of this gentylwoman ye shal
fayle whyle that I lyue / Soo god me help sayd Percyual I
had leuer be slayne / and I also sayd sir Bors / By my
trouthe sayd the knyght / thenne shalle ye dye / for ye maye not
endure ageynste vs / though ye were the best knyghtes of the
world / thenne lete they renne eche to other / and the thre
felawes bete the ten knyghtes / and thenne sette theire handes to
their swerdes and bete them doune and slewe them / Thenne
there came oute of the Castel a thre score knyghtes armed /
Faire lordes sayd the thre felawes haue mercy on youre selfe
and haue not adoo with vs / Nay fayre lordes sayd the
knyghtes of the Castel we counceyl yow to withdrawe yow / for ye
ben the best knyghtes of the world / and therfore doo no more
for ye haue done ynough / We wille lete yow go with this
harme but we must nedes haue the customme / Certes sayd
Galahad for nought speke ye / wel sayd they / wille ye dye / we be
not yet come therto sayd Galahad / thēne beganne they to
medle to gyders / and Galahad with the straunge gyrdels
drewe his suerd / and smote on the ryght hand and on the lyfte
hand & slewe what that euer abode hym / & dyd suche merueils
that there was none that sawe hym / they wend he had ben
none erthely man but a monstre / and hist two felawes halp hym
passyng wel / and soo they held the Iourney eueryche in lyke
hard tyl it was nyȝt / thenne must they nedes departe / So cam
THer is in this Castel a gentylwoman whiche we and
this castel is hers and many other / Soo it befelle
many yeres agone there fylle vpon her a maladye / And whanne
she had layne a grete whyle she felle vnto a mesel / and of no
leche she coude haue no remedy / But at the last an old man
sayd and she myght haue a dysshe ful of blood of a mayde and
a clene vyrgyn in wylle and in werke / And a kynges
doughter / that blood shold be her hele / and for to anoynte her
with alle / & for this thynge was this customme made
Now said Percyuals sister fayr knyȝtes I see wel þt this
gentylwoman is but dede / Certes sayd Galahad and ye blede
soo moche ye maye dye / Truly sayd she / and I dye for to
hele her / I shal gete me grete worship and sowles helthe / and
worshyp to my lygnage / and better is one harme than tweyn
And therfor ther shall be no more batail but to morne I shall
yelde yow your customme of this castel / and thenne there was
grete Ioye more than there was to fore / For els had there ben
mortal werre vpon the morne / not withstandyng she wold
none other whether they wold or nold / that nyght were the thre
felawes easyd with the best / & on the morne they herd masse /
and sir Percyuals sister bad brynge forth the seke lady / so she
was / the whiche was euylle at ease / thenne sayd she who shall
NOw saith the story that al nyght Galahad and Percyual were in a chappel in her prayers for to saue sir Bors /
¶ Soo on the morowe they dressid hem in theire harneis toward the Castel to wete what was fallen of them there in / And when they cam there / they fond neyther man ne woman that he ne was dede by the vengeaunce of oure lord / with that they herd a voyce that sayd / this vengeaunce is for blood shedynge of maydens / Also they fonde atte ende of the chappel a Chirche yard / and therin myght they see a thre score fair tombes / and that place was soo fayre and soo delectable that it semed hem there had ben none tempest / For there lay the bodyes of alle the good maydens whiche were martred for the seke ladyes sake / Also they fond the names of eueryche / and of what blood they were come / and alle were of kynges blood & twelue of them were kynges doughters / Thenne they departed and wente in to a foreste / Now said Percyual vnto Galahad we must departe / soo pray we oure lord that we maye mete to gyders in short tyme / thenne they dyd of their helmes and kyssed to gyder / and wepte at their departynge
NOw sayth the history that whan launcelot was come to the water of Mortoyse as hit is reherced before / he was in grete perylle / and soo he leyd hym doune and slepte/ and toke the aduenture that god wold sende hym /
¶ Soo whan he was a slepe / there came a vysyon vnto hym and said Launcelot aryse vp & take thyn armour / and entre in to the first ship that thow shalt fynde /
¶ And when he
herd these wordes he starte vp and sawe grete clerenes about
SOo after on a mondaye hit befelle that they aryued in
the edge of a foreste to fore a crosse / and thenne sawe
they a knyghte armed al in whyte and was rychely horsed/
and ledde in his ryght hand a whyte hors / and soo he cam to
the shyp and salewed the two knyghtes on the hyghe lordes
behalf / and sayd Galahad syr ye haue ben longe ynough with
your fader / come oute of the ship / and starte vpon this hors / &
goo where the aduentures shall lede the in the quest of the
sancgreal / thenne he wente to his fader and kyst hym swetely and
sayd / Fair swete fader I wote not whan I shal see you more
tyl I see the body of Ihesu Cryst / I praye yow sayd
launcelot praye ye to the hyghe fader that he hold me in his seruyse
& soo he took his hors / & ther they herd a voyce that sayd
thynke for to doo wel / for the one shal neuer see the other before the
dredeful day of dome / Now sone galahad said laūcelot syn we
shal departe / & neuer see other / I pray to þe hyȝ fader to conserue
THenne he enforced hym mykel to vndoo the dore /
thenne he lystned and herd a voyce whiche sange so
swetely that it semed none erthely thynge / and hym thoughte the
voyce said Ioye and honour be to the fader of heuen / Thenne
¶ Thenne felte he many handes aboute hym whiche tooke hym
vp / and bare hym oute of the chamber dore / withoute ony
amendynge of his swoune / and lefte hym there semyng dede to
IN suche maner they kepte launcelot four and twenty dayes and also many nyghtes that euer he laye stylle as a dede man / and at the xxv daye byfelle hym after myddaye that he opened his eyen / and whan he sawe folke he made grete sorowe and sayd why haue ye awaked me / for I was more at ease than I am now / O Ihesu Cryst who myghte be soo blessid that myght see openly thy grete merueyls of secretenes there where no synnar may be / what haue ye sene sayd they aboute hym / I haue sene said he so grete merueyls that no tong may telle / and more than ony herte can thynke / & had not my sone ben here afore me I had sene moche more / Thenne they told hym how he had layne there four and twenty dayes and nyghtes / thenne hym thoughte hit was punysshement for the four and twenty yeres that he had ben a synner wherfore our lord put hym in penaunce four and twenty dayes and nyghtes Thenne loked syr launcelot afore hym / & sawe the hayre whiche he had borne nyghe a yere / for that he forthoughte hym ryȝte moche that he had broken his promyse vnto the heremyte whiche he had auowed to doo /
¶ Thenne they asked how hit stood
with hym / for sothe sayd he I am hole of body thanked be our
¶ Soo as they sate / they sawe alle the dores and the wyndowes of the place were shitte withoute mannys hand / wherof they were al abasshed / and none wyste what to doo
¶ And thenne it happed sodenly a knyghte cam to the chyefe
dore and knocked / and cryed / vndo the dore / but they wold
not / and euer he cryed vndoo / but they wold not / And atte
laste it noyed hem soo moche that the kynge hym self arose and
THenne kynge Pelles came to sire Launcelot and told hym tydynges of his broder wherof he was sory that he wyste not what to doo / Soo sir launcelot departed and toke his armes and sayd he wold goo see the realme of Logrys / whiche I haue no sene in twelue moneth / and there with commaunded the kynge to god / and soo rode thurgh many realmes / And at the last he came to a whyte Abbay / And there they made hym that nyghte grete chere / And on the morne he aroos and herd masse / and afore an aulter he fond a ryche Tombe whiche was newely made / And thenne he took hede / & sawe the sydes wryten with gold / whiche sayd
¶ Here lyeth
kynge Bagdemagus of Gore whiche kynge Arthurs neuew
slewe and named hym syr Gawayn / Thenne was not he a
lytel sory / for launcelot loued hym moche more than ony other
and had it ben ony other than Gawayne he shold not haue
escared from dethe to lyf / and sayd to hym self A lord god this
is a grete hurte vnto kynge Arthurs courte the losse of suche
NOw saith the story Galahad rode many Iorneyes
invayne / And at the last he cam to the Abbay where
kyng Mordrayns was / and whan he herd that he thouȝte
he wold abyde to see hym / And vpon the morne whanne he had
herd masse Galahad came vnto kyng Mordrayns / And anon
the kynge sawe hym the whiche had leyne blynd of long tyme
And thenne he dressid hym ageynst hym / and said Galahad
the seruaunt of Ihesu cryste whos comynge I haue abyden so
longe / Now enbrace me and lete me reste on thy brest / So that
I may reste bitwene thyn armes / for thow arte a clene
vyrgyn aboue all knyghtes as the floure of the lyly / in whome
vyrgynyte is sygnefyed /and thou arte the rose the whiche is
the floure of al good vertu / & in coloure of fyre / For the fyre
of the holy ghoost is take so in the / that my flesshe which was
al dede of oldenes / is become yonge ageyne / Thenne Galahad
herd his wordes thenne he enbraced hym & alle his body /
SOo departed he from thens / and commaunded the
bretheren to god / and soo he rode fyue dayes tyl that he
came to the maymed kynge / And euer folowed Percyual the
fyue dayes askynge where he had ben / and soo one told hym /
how the aduentures of Logrys were encheued / So on a daye
it befelle that they cam oute of a grete foreste / and there they
mette at trauers with sir Bors the whiche rode alone / hit is
none nede to telle yf they were glad / & hem he salewed / & they
yelded hym honour and good aduenture / and eueryche told
other / Thenne said Bors hit is more than a yere and an half
that I ne lay ten tymes where men dwelled / but in wylde
forestes and in montayns / but god was euer my comforte /
Thenne rode they a grete whyle tyl that they came to the castel
of Carbonek / And whan they were entryd within the Castel
kynge Pelles knewe hem / thenne there was grete Ioye / For
they wyst wel by theire comynge that they had fulfylled the
quest of the Sancgreal / Thenne Elyazar kynge Pelles sone
broughte to fore hem the broken suerd where with Ioseph was
stryken thurgh the thygh / Thenne Bors sette his hand therto /
yf that he myght haue souded hit ageyne but it wold not be /
Thenne he took it to Percyual but he had no more power
therto than he / Now haue ye hit ageyne sayd Percyuall to
Galahad / for and it be euer encheued by ony bodely man / ye must
doo hit / and thenne he took the pyeces and sette hem to gyders
and they semed that they had neuer ben broken / and as well
as hit had ben fyrst forged / And whanne they within aspyed
that the aduenture of the suerd was encheued / thenne they gaf
the suerd to Bors / for hit myght not be better set / for he was a
good knyghte and a worthy man / and a lytel afore euen the
suerd arose grete and merueyllous / and was ful of grete
hete that many men felle for drede / And anone alyght a voys
amonge them and sayd they that ought not to sytte at the
table of Ihesu Cryst / aryse / for now shalle veray knyghtes ben
fedde / Soo they wente thens all sauf kynge Pelles and
Elyazar his sone / the whiche were holy men and a mayde which
was his nece / and soo these thre felawes and they thre were
¶ But now I truste to god the terme is come that my payn shall be alayed that I shall passe oute of this world so as it was promysed me longe ago / there with a voyce sayd ther be two amonge you that be not in the quest of the Sancgreal and therfor departe ye
THenne kynge Pelles and his sone departed / and there
with alle besemed that there cam a man and four
angels from heuen clothed in lykenes of a Bisshop / and had
a crosse in his hand / and these foure angels bare hym vp in a
chayer / and sette hym doune before the table of syluer where
vpon the Sancgreal was / and it semed that he had in myddes
of his forhede letters the whiche sayd / See ye here Ioseph the
fyrst Bisshop of Crystendome the same whiche our lord
socoured in the Cyte of Sarras in the spyrytuel place / Thenne the
knyghtes merueylled / for that Bisshop was dede more than
thre honderd yere to fore / O knyghtes sayde he / merueyle not /
For I was somtyme an erthely man / with that they herde the
chamber dore open / and there they sawe Angels and two
bare candels of waxe / and the thyrd a towel / and the fourthe a
spere whiche bled merueillously that thre droppes felle within
ANd Galahad wente anone to the spere whiche lay
vpon the table / and touched the blood with his fyngers
and came after to the maymed kynge and anoynted his
legges / and there with he clothed hym anone / and starte vpon his
feet oute of his bedde as an hole man / and thanked oure lorde
that he had helyd hym / and that was not to the world ward /
For anone he yelded hym to a place of Relygyon of whyte
monkes and was a ful holy man / That same nyghte aboute
mydnyght came a voyce amonge hem whiche sayde my sones &
not my chyef sones my frendes and not my werryours / goo ye
hens where ye hope best to doo and as I bad yow / A thanked
be thou lord that thou wilt vouchesaufe to calle vs thy synners
Now maye we wel preue that we haue not lost our paynes /
And anone in alle haste they took their harneis and departed
But the thre knyghtes of Gaule one of them hyghte
Claudyne kynge Claudas sone / and the other two were grete
gentylmen / thenne praid galahad to eueryche of them that yf they
come to kynge Arthurs court that they sholde salewe my lorde
sir launcelot my fader and of hem of the round table / and
prayed hem yf that they cam on that party that they shold not
forgete it / Ryght soo departed Galahad / Percyual / and Bors
BVt as soone as they were there oure lord sente hem the Sancgreal / thorow whoos grace they were al waye fulfylled whyle that they were in pryson / Soo at the yeres ende hit befelle that this kynge Estourause lay seke and felte that he shold dye / Thenne he sente for the thre knyghtes & they came afore hym / and he cryed hem mercy of that he had done to them / and they forgaf hit hym goodely and he dyed anone / Whanne the kynge was dede / alle the cyte was desmayed and wyst not who myghte be her kynge /
¶ Ryght soo as
they were in counceille there came a voyce amonge them / and
badde hem chese the yongest knyght of them thre to be her kynge
for he shalle wel mayntene yow and all yours / Soo they
made Galahad kynge by alle the assente of the hole Cyte / & els
they wold haue slayne hym / And whanne he was come to
beholde the land / he lete make aboue the table of syluer a cheste
of gold and of precyous stones that hylled the holy vessel /
And euery day erly the thre felawes wold come afore hit / &
make their prayers / Now at the yeres ende the self daye
after Galahad had borne the croune of gold / he arose vp erly
and his felawes / and came to the palais / and sawe to fore
hem the holy vessel / and a man knelynge on his knees in
lykenes of a Bisshop that had aboute hym a grete felaushyp of
Angels as it had ben Ihesu Cryst hym self / & thenne he arose
¶ Now blessyd lord wold I not lenger lyue yf it myghte please the lord / & there with the good man tooke oure lordes body betwixe hys handes / and proferd it to Galahad / and he receyued hit ryghte gladly and mekely /
¶ Now wotest thow what I am sayd the good man / Nay said Galahad / I am Ioseph of Armathye the whiche oure lord hath sente here to the to bere the felaushyp / and wotest thou wherfor that he hath sente me more than ony other / For thou hast resemblyd in to thynges in that thou hast sene the merueyles of the Sancgreal in that thou hast ben a clene mayden as I haue ben and am / And whanne he had said these wordes Galahad went to Percyual and kyssed hym & commaunded hym to god / and soo he wente to sire Bors / & kyssed hym / and commaunded hym to god / and sayd Fayre lord salewe me to my lord syr launcelot my fader / And as soone as ye see hym / byd hym remembre of this vnstable world And there with he kneled doune tofore the table / and made his prayers / and thenne sodenly his soule departed to Ihesu Crist and a grete multitude of Angels bare his soule vp to heuen / that the two felawes myghte wel behold hit / Also the two felawes sawe come from heuen an hand / but they sawe not the body / And thenne hit cam ryght to the vessel / and took it and the spere / and soo bare hit vp to heuen / Sythen was there neuer man soo hardy to saye that he had sene the Sancgreal /
WHanne Percyual & Bors sawe Galahad dede / they
made as moche sorowe as euer dyd two men / And yf
they had not ben good men / they myght lyghtly haue fallen in
despair / & the peple of the countrey & of the cyte were ryȝt heuy
¶ Also sire Launcelot Galahad prayed yow to remembre of this vnsyker world as ye behyght hym whan ye were to gyders more than half a yere / This is true sayd launcelot / Now I truste to god his prayer shalle auayle me / thenne Launcelot took syr Bors in his armes / and sayd gentyl cosyn ye are ryght welcome to me / and alle that euer I maye doo for yow and for yours ye shalle fynde my poure body redy atte all tymes / whyles the spyryte is in hit / and that I promyse yow feythfully / and neuer to fayle
¶ And wete ye wel
gentyl cosyn syre Bors that ye and I wylle neuer departe in
SOo after the quest of the Sancgreal was fulfylled / and alle knyghtes that were lefte on lyue were comen ageyne vnto the table round as the booke of the Sancgreal maketh mencyon
¶ Thenne was there grete Ioye in the courte / and in especyal
kynge Arthur and quene Gueneuer made grete Ioye of the
remenaunt that were comen home / and passynge glad was the
kynge and the quene of sire launcelot and of sire Bors / For
they had ben passynge long away in the quest of the
Sancgreal / Thenne as the book saith syr launcelot beganne to resorte
vnto quene Gueneuer ageyne / and forgat the promyse and the
perfectyon that he made in the quest / for as the book sayth had
not sire Launcelot ben in hie preuy thouȝtes and in his
myndes so sette inwardly to the quene as he was in semyng
outeward to god / there had no knyghte passed hym in the queste
of the Sancgreal / but euer his thouhgtes were pryuely on the
Quene / and so they loued to gyder more hotter than they did
to fore hand / and had suche preuy draughtes to gyder that
many in the Courte spak of hit / and in especial sir Agrauayne/
sir Gawayns broder / for he was euer open mouthed / So bifel
that syre Launcelot had many resortes of ladyes and
damoysels that dayly resorted vnto hym / that besoughte hym to be
their champyon / and in alle suche maters of ryghte sir launcelot
applyed hym dayly to do for the pleasyr of oure lord Ihesu crist
And euer as moche as he myghte he withdrewe hym from the
companye and felaushyp of Quene Gueneuer
¶ And yf I had not my pryuy thoughtes to retorne to your loue ageyne as I doo I had sene as grete mysteryes as euer sawe my sone Galahad outher Percyual or sir Bors / & therfor madame I was but late in that quest / wete ye wel madame hit maye not be yet lyghtely forgeten the hyȝ seruyse in whome I dyd my dylygent laboure / Also madame wete ye wel that there be many men speken of our loue in this courte / and ye haue yow and me gretely in a wayte / as sire Agrauayne and syr Mordred / and madame wete ye wel I drede them more for youre sake / than for ony fere I haue of them my self / for I maye happen to escape and ryde my self in a grete nede where ye must abyde alle that wille said vnto yow / And thenne yf that ye falle in ony distresse thurgh wylfulle foly / thenne is there none other remedy or help but by me and my blood / And wete ye wel madame the boldenes of you and me wille brynge vs to grete shame and sklaunder / and that were me lothe to see you dishonoured / and that is the cause / I take vpon me more for to do for damoysels and maydens than euer I dyd to forne that men shold vnderstande my Ioye and my delyte is my pleasyr to haue adoo for damoisels and maydens
ALle this whyle the quene stood stylle and lete sir
launcelot saye what he wold / And when he hadde alle said
she brast oute on wepynge / and soo she sobbed and wepte
¶ For wete thou wel she sayd now vnderstande thy falshede / and therfore shalle I neuer loue the no more / and neuer be thou so hardy to come in my syghte / and ryghte here I discharge the this Courte that thow neuer come within hit / and I forfende the my felaushyp / and vpon payne of thy hede that thou see me no more / Ryght soo sire Launcelot departed with grete heuynes / that vnneth he myȝt susteyne hym self for grete dole makyng Thenne he called sir Bors sir Ector de marys and syr Lyonel and told hem how the quene had forfendyd hym the Courte and soo he was in wille to departe in to his owne Countrey / Fair sir said sire Bors de ganys / ye shalle not departe oute of this land by myn aduyse / ye must remembre in what honour ye are renoumed and called the noblest knyght of the world / and many grete maters ye haue in hand / and wymmen in their hastynes wille doo oftymes that sore repenteth hem / & therfor by myn aduyse ye shalle take youre hors / and ryde to the good hermytage here besyde wyndsoure that somtyme was a good knyght / his name is sir Brasias / and there shalle ye abyde tyl I sende yow word of better tydynges / Broder said sir launcelot wete ye wel I am ful lothe to departe oute of this realme / but the quene hath defended me soo hyhely / that me semeth she wille neuer be my good lady as she hath ben / Saye ye neuer soo sayd sir Bors / for many tymes or this tyme she hath ben wroth with yow and after it she was the first that repented it / Ye saye wel sayd launcelot / for now wille I doo by youre counceylle and take myn hors and my harneis and ryde to the heremyte sir Brasias / and there will I repose me vntyl I here somme maner of tydynges fro yow / but fair broder I praye yow gete me the loue of my lady Quene Gueneuer and ye maye /
¶ Sire said sire Bors ye nede not to meue me of suche maters
For wel ye wote I wille doo what I may to please yow / &
thenne the noble knyghte sire Launcelot departed with ryghte
heuy chere sodenly / that none erthely creature wyste of hym / nor
ANd thenne the quene lete make a preuy dyner in
london vnto the knyȝtes of the round table / and al was
for to shewe outward that she had as grete Ioye in al other
knyghtes of the table round as she had in sir launcelot / al
only at that dyner she had sir Gawayne and his bretheren / that
is for to saye sir Agrauayn / sir Gaherys / sire Gareth and syre
Mordred / Also there was sir Bors de ganys / sire Blamor de
ganys / syr Bleoberys de ganys /sire Galyhud / sir Galyhodyn
syre Ector de marys / sir Lyonel / sire Palomydes / syr Safyr his
broder / sir la cote male tayle / sir Persaunt / syr Ironsyde / syre
Brandyles / syr kay le Seneschal / sir Mador de la porte / Syre
Patryse a knyght of Irland / Alyduk / sir Astamore / and sir
Pynel le saueage / the whiche was cosyn to sire Lamorak de
galys the good knyghte that syr Gawayne and his
bretheren slewe by treason / and so these four and twenty knyghtes
shold dyne with the quene in a preuy place by them self / and
there was made a grete feest of al maner of deyntees / but syre
Gawayne had a customme that he vsed dayly at dyner and at
souper that he loued wel al maner of fruyte / and in especial
appels and perys / And therfore who someuer dyned or feested
syre Gawayne wold comynly purueye for good fruyte for
hym / and soo dyd the quene for to please sir Gawayne / she
lete purueye for hym al maner of fruyte / for sir Gawayn was
a passynge hote knyght of nature / and this Pyonel hated syre
Gawayne by cause of his kynnesman syr Lamorak de galys
& therfor for pure enuy & hate sir Pyonel enpoysond certayn
appels for to enpoysonne sir Gawayn / & soo this was wel
vnto the ende of the mete / and soo it befelle by mysfortune a good
knyght named Patryse cosyn vnto sire Mador de la porte to
ANd euer sir Mador stood stylle afore the kynge / and
euer he appeled the quene of treason / for the customme
was suche that tyme that alle manere of shameful dethe was
called treason / Fair lordes sayd kynge Arthur me repenteth
of this trouble / but the caas is so I maye not haue adoo in
this mater for I must be a ryghtful Iuge / and that
repenteth me that I maye not doo batail for my wyf / for as I deme
this dede came neuer by her / And therfore I suppose she shalle
not be alle distayned / but that somme good knyght shal putt
his body in Ieopardy for my quene rather than she shal be
brent in a wrong quarel / And therfor sir Mador be not so hasty /
for hit maye happen she shalle not be all frendeles / and therfore
¶ So
whan the kynge and the quene were to gyders / the kynge
asked the quene how this caas bifelle / the quene ansuerd / so god
me help I wote not how or in what maner / where is sir
launcelot said kyng Arthur / and he were here he wold not
grutche to doo bataille for yow / Sire sayd the quene I wote not
where he is / but his brother and his kynnesmen deme that he
be not within this Realme / that me repenteth sayd kyng
Arthur / For and he were here / he wold soone stynte this stryf /
Thenne I wille counceyle yow sayd the kynge and vnto sire
Bors that ye wil doo bataille for her for sir launcelots sake /
And vpon my lyf he wille not refuse yow / For wel I see
said the kynge that none of these foure and twenty knyghtes
that were with you at your dyner where sir Patryse was slayn
¶ what eyleth yow said the kynge ye can not kepe sir launcelot vpon your syde / for wete ye wel sayd the kynge who that hath sire Launcelot vpon his partye / hath the moost man of worship in the world vpon his syde / Now goo your way said the kynge vnto the quene / and requyre sir Bors to doo bataille for yow for sire launcelots sake
SOo the quene departed from the kynge / and sente for
sir Bors in to her chamber / And whan he was come
she besought hym of socour / Madame said he / what wold ye
that I dyd / for I maye not with my worshyp haue adoo in
this mater by cause I was at the same dyner for drede that
ony of tho knyghtes wold haue me in suspecyon / Also
madame said sir Bors now mys ye sir launcelot / for he wold not
haue fayled yow neyther in ryght nor in wronge / as ye haue
wel preued whan ye haue ben in daunger / and now ye haue
dryuen hym oute of this countrey / by whome ye and alle we
were dayly worshypped by / therfor madame I merueylle how
ye dar for shame requyre me to doo ony thynge for yow in soo
moche ye haue chaced hym oute of your countrey / by whome
we were borne vp and honoured / Allas fayr knyghte sayd the
quene I put me holy in your grace / and alle that is done
amys / I will amende as ye wille counceyle me / And therwith
she kneled doune vpon bothe her knees / and besought sir Bors
to haue mercy vpon her / outher I shall haue a shameful dethe
and therto I neuer offended / Ryght soo cam kyng Arthur / &
fonde the quene knelyng afore sir Bors / thenne sir Bors
pulled her vp / and said Madame ye doo me grete dishonoure / A
gentil knyght said the kyng haue mercy vpon my Quene
curtois knyght / for I am now in certayne she is vntruly defamed
THe daye came on faste vntyl the euen that the bataille shold be / Thenne the quene sente for sir Bors and asked hym how he was disposed / Truly madame sayd he I am disposed in lyke wyse as I promysed yow / that is for to saye I shal not fayle yow / onles by aduenture there come a better knyghte than I am to doo batail for yow / thenne madame am I discharged of my promyse /
¶ Wylle ye
sayd the quene that I telle my lord Arthur thus / doth as it shal
please yow madame / Thenne the quene wente vnto the kynge
and told hym the ansuer of sir Bors / haue ye no doubte said
the kynge of sir Bors / for I calle hym now one of the beste
knyghtes of the world and the most profytelyest man / And
thus it past on vntyl the morne / and the kynge and the quene
and all maner of knyghtes that were there at that tyme
drewe them vnto the medowe bysyde wynchester where the bataylle
¶ And
thenne was he ware where cam from a wood there faste by a
knyght all armed vpon a whyte hors with a straunge shelde
of straunge armes / and he came rydynge alle that he myghte
renne / and soo he came to sir Bors and sayd thus Fair
knyght I pray yow be not displeased / for here must a better knyȝt
¶ what knyght is he said the kynge / I wote not sayd syre Bors / but suche couenaunt he made with me to be here this day Now my lord sayd syr Bors here am I discharged /
THenne the kynge called to that knyghte / and asked
hym / yf he wold fyghte for the quene / Thenne he
ansuerd to the kynge therfor cam I hydder / and therfor sir kyng
he sayd tary me noo lenger for I may not tary / For anone
as I haue fynysshed this bataille I must departe hens / for I
haue a doo many matters els where / For wete yow wel sayd
that knyght this is dishonour to yow alle knyghtes of the
round table to see and knowe soo noble a lady and so curtoys
a quene as quene Gueneuer is thus to be rebuked and
shamed amongest yow / thenne they alle merueylled what knyȝt
that myghte be that soo tooke the bataille vpon hym / For there
was not one that knewe hym but yf it were syre Bors /
Thenne sayd sir Mador de la porte vnto the kynge / now lete me
wete with whome I shalle haue adoo with alle / And thenne they
rode to the lystes ende / and there they couched theire speres / &
ranne to gyder with alle their myghtes / and sire Madors spere
brake alle to pyeces / but the others spere held / and bare syre
Madors hors and alle bakward to the erthe a grete falle /
But myghtely and sodenly he auoyded his hors / and putte
his sheld afore hym / and thenne drewe his suerd / and badde
the other knyghte alyghte / and doo batail with hym on foote
Thenne that knyght descended from his hors lyghtly lyke a
valyaunt man / and putte his sheld afore hym and drewe
his suerd / and soo they came egerly vnto bataille / and eyther
¶ And whan he
felte hym self soo wounded / and sawe his blood he lete hym
aryse vpon his feet / And thenne he gaf hym suche a buffet
vpon the helme / that he felle to the erthe flatlynge / and therwith
he strode to hym to haue pulled of his helme of his hede / And
thenne sir Mador prayd that knyghte to saue his lyf / and so
he yelded hym as ouercome and relecyd the quene of his
quarel / I wille not graunte the thy lyf said that knyghte only
that thou frely relece the quene for euer / and that no mencyon
be made vpon sir Patryces tombe that euer Quene Gueneuer
consented to that treason / Alle this shalle be done said sir
mador I clerely discharge my quarel for euer / Thenne the
knyȝtes parters of the lystes toke vp sire Mador / and ledde hym to
his tente / and the other knyghte wente streyghte to the steyer
foote where sat kyng Arthur / and by that tyme was the
quene come to the kynge / and eyther kyssed other hertely / And
whan the kynge sawe that knyghte / he stouped doune to hym/
and thanked hym / and in lyke wyse dyd the quene / and the
kynge prayd hym to putte of his helmet / and to repose hym / &
to take a sop of wyn / and thenne he putte of his helmet to
drynke / and thenne euery knyght knewe hym that it was syre
Launcelot du lake / Anone as the quene wyst that / he took the
quene in his hand / and yode vnto syr launcelot and sayd sir
graunt mercy of your grete trauaille that ye haue hadde thys
day for me and for my quene / My lord sayd sir launcelot wete
ye wel I oughte of ryghte euer to be in your quarel / and in
my lady the quenes quarel to do batail / for ye ar the man that
gaf me the hyghe ordre of knyghthode / and that daye my
lady your quene dyd me grete worship / & els I had ben shamed
¶ Thenne the knyghtes of his blood drewe vnto hym / and there eyther of them made grete ioye of other / And so came alle the knyghtes of the table round that were there at that tyme / and welcomed hym / And thenne sir Mador was had to leche crafte / and sire launcelot was helyd of his woūd / And thenne there was made grete Ioye & myrthes in that courte
ANd soo it befelle that the damoysel of the lake / her
name was Nymue / the whiche wedded the good knyȝt
sir Pelleas / and soo she cam to the Courte / for euer she
dyd grete goodenes vnto kynge Arthur / and to alle his
knytes thurgh her sorcery and enchauntementes / And soo whan
she herd how the quene was an angred for the dethe of syre
Patryse / Thenne she told it openly that she was neuer gylty
and there she disclosed by whome it was done and named hym
syr Pynel / and for what cause he dyd it / there it was openly
disclosed / and soo the quene was excused / and the knyȝt
Pynel fled in to his countre / Thenne was it openly knowen that
syr Pynel enpoysond the appels att the feest to that entente to
haue destroyed sire Gawayne / by cause syr Gawayne and his
bretheren destroyed syr Lamorak de galys / to the whiche syre
Pynel was cosyn vnto / Thenne was sire Patryce buryed in
the chirche of Westmestre in a tombe / and there vpon was
wryten / Here lyeth syre Patryce of Irlond slayne by syre Pynel
MAdame said syr Launcelot I allowe your wytte / it is of late come syn ye were wyse / And therfor madame at this tyme I wille be rulyd by your counceylle / and thys nyghte I wylle take my rest / and to morowe by tyme I wyll take my waye toward wynchestre / ¶ But wete yow wel sayd sir Launcelot to the quene / that at that Iustes I wille be ageynst the kynge and ageynste al his felauship / ye maye there doo as ye lyst sayd the Quene / but by my counceylle ye shalle not be ageynst youre kyng and youre felauship / For therin ben ful many hard knyghtes of youre blood as ye wote wel ynough / hit nedeth not to reherce them /
¶ Madame said syre Launcelot I praye yow that ye be not displeasyd with me / for I wille take the aduenture that god wylle sende me / And soo vpon the morne erly syre launcelot herd masse and brake his fast / and soo toke his leue of the quene departed / And thenne he rode soo moche vntyl he came to Astolat that is Gylford / and there hit happed hym in the euentyde he cam to an old Barons place that hyght sir Bernard of Astolat / And as syre launcelot entryd in to his lodgynge / kynge Arthur aspyed hym as he dyd walke in a gardyn besyde the Castel how he took his lodgynge / & knewe hym ful wel /
¶ It is wel sayd kynge Arthur vnto the
knyghtes that were with hym in that gardyn besyde the
castel / I haue now aspyed one knyghte that wylle playe his
playe at the Iustes / to the whiche we be gone toward / I
vndertake he wil do merueils / Who is that we pray you telle vs
¶ This old baron had a doughter that tyme that was called that tyme the faire mayden of Astolat / And euer she beheld sir launcelot wonderfully / And as the book sayth she cast suche a loue vnto sir launcelot that she coude neuer withdrawe her loue / wherfore she dyed / and her name was Elayne le blank / Soo thus as she cam to and fro / she was soo hote in her loue that she besoughte syr launcelot to were vpon hym at the Iustes a token of hers
¶ Faire damoysel said sir launcelot / and yf I graunte yow that ye may saye I doo more for youre loue than euer I dyd for lady or damoysel /
¶ Thenne he remembryd hym that he wold goo to the Iustes desguysed / And by cause he had neuer fore that tyme borne noo manere of token of noo damoysel
SOo vpon a daye on the morne kynge Arthur and al his knyghtes departed / for theire kynge had taryed thre dayes to abyde his noble knyghtes / And soo whanne the kynge was ryden / sir launcelot and sire Lauayne made hem redy to ryde / and eyther of hem had whyte sheldes / and the reed sleue sir Launcelot lete cary with hym / and soo they tooke their leue at syr Bernard the old baron / and att his doughter the faire mayden of Astolat / And thenne they rode soo long til that they came to Camelot that tyme called wynchestre / and there was grete prees of kynges / dukes / Erles / and barons/ and many noble knyghtes / But there sir launcelot was lodged pryuely by the meanes of sir lauayne with a ryche burgeis that no man in that toune was ware what they were / & soo they reposed them there til oure lady day assumpcyon as the grete feest sholde be / Soo thenne trumpets blewe vnto the felde / and kynge Arthur was sette on hyghe vpon a skafhold to beholde who dyd best / But as the Frensshe book saith / the kynge wold not suffer syre Gawayn to goo from hym / for neuer had sir Gawayn the better and sire launcelot were in the felde / & many tymes was sir Gawayn rebuked whan laūcelot cam in to ony Iustes desguysed / Thenne som of the kynges as kynge Anguysshe of Irland and the kynge of Scottes were that tyme torned vpon the syde of kynge Arthur /
¶ And
¶ Thenne syre Launcelot made hym redy / and putte the reed sleue vpon his hede / and fastned it fast / and soo syre launcelot and syre Lauayne departed out of wynchestre pryuely / and rode vntyl a lytel leuyd wood / behynde the party that held ageynst kyng Arthurs party / and there they helde them stylle tyl the partyes smote to gyders / & thenne cam in the kynge of Scottes and the kyng of Irland on Arthurs party / and ageynst them came the kynge of Northumberland / and the kynge with the honderd knyghtes smote doun the kynge of Northumberland / and the kynge with the honderd knyghtes smote doune kynge Anguysshe of Irland / Thenne syre Palomydes that was on Arthurs party encountred with syre Galahad / and eyther of hem smote doune other / and eyther party halpe their lordes on horsbak ageyne / Soo there began a stronge assaile vpon bothe partyes / And thenne came in syr Brandyles / syre Sagramor le desyrus / sire Dodynas le saueage / sir kay le seneschal / sir Gryflet le fyse de dieu / sir Mordred / sir Melyot de logrys / syr Ozanna le cure hardy / sir Safyr / sir Epynogrys / syr Galleron of Galway / Alle these xv knyghtes were knyghtes of the table round / Soo these with moo other came in to gyders / and bete on bak the kynge of Northumberland and the kynge of Northwalys / whan sir launcelot sawe this as he houed in a lytil leued woode / thenne he sayd vnto syre lauayn / see yonder is a company of good knyghtes / and they hold them to gyders as bores that were chauffed with dogges / that is trouthe said syre Lauayne
NOw sayd syre Launcelot / and ye wille helpe me a
lytel / ye shalle see yonder felauship that chaseth now
these men in oure syde that they shal go as fast bakward as they
wente forward / Sir spare not said sire Lauayne / for I shall
doo what I maye / Thenne sire Launcelot and sire Lauayne
cam in at the thyckest of the prees / and there syre launcelot
smote doune syr Brandyles / syre Sagramore / syre Dodynas/
sir Kay / syr Gryflet / and alle this he dyd with one spere / and
sire Lauayne smote doune sire Lucan the buttelere / and sir
Bedeuere / And thenne sire Launcelot gat another spere / & there
he smote doune sir Agrauayne / sire Gaherys / and sir Mordred
and sir Melyot de Logrys / and sir Lauayne smote doune
Ozanna le cure hardy / and thenne sir Launcelot drewe his suerd
and there he smote on the ryght hand and on the lyfte hand
and by grete force he vnhorced syr Safyr / sire Epynogrys / &
sir Galleron / and thenne the knyghtes of the table round
withdrewe them abak after they had goten their horses as wel as
they myghte / O mercy Ihesu said sire Gawayne what knyȝte
is yonder that doth soo merueyllous dedes of armes in that
felde / I wote not what he is sayd kynge Arthur / But as att
this tyme I wille not name hym / syre sayd sire Gawayne I
wold say it were syr launcelot by his rydynge and his
buffets that I see hym dele / but euer me semeth it shold not be he
for that he bereth the reed sleue vpon his hede / for I wyst hym
neuer bere token at no Iustes of lady nor gentilwoman / Lete
hym be said kynge Arthur / he wille be better knowen / and do
more or euer he departe / Thenne the party that was ayenst
kynge Arthur were wel comforted / and thenne they helde hem
to gyders that before hand were sore rebuked / Thenne sir Bors
sir Ector de marys and sir Lyonel called vnto them the
knyȝtes of their blood / as sir Blamor de ganys / syre Bleoberys
syr Alyduke / sir Galyhud / sire Galyhodyn / sir Bellangere le
beuse / soo these nyne knyghtes of sir launcelots skynne threste
in myghtely / for they were al noble knyghtes / and they of
grete hate and despyte that they had vnto hym thoughte to
rebuke that noble knyght sir launcelot & sir lauayne / for they
¶ And thenne afterward he hurled in to the thyckest prees
of them alle and dyd there the merueyloust dedes of armes
that euer man sawe or herde speke of / And euer sire Lauayne
the good knyghte with hym / and there sire Launcelot with
MErcy Ihesu said syr Gawayne to Arthur I merueil
what knyghte that he is with the reed sleue / Syr saide
kynge Arthur he wille be knowen of he departe / and thenne the
kynge blewe vnto lodgynge / and the pryce was gyuen by
herowdes vnto the knyghte with the whyte shelde that bare the
reed sleue / Thenne came the kynge with the honderd knyȝtes
the kynge of Northgalys / and the kynge of Northumberland
and sir Galahaut the haute prynce / and sayd vnto sire
launcelot / fayre knyght god the blesse / for moche haue ye done this
day for vs / therfor we praye yow that ye wille come with vs
that ye may receyue the honour and the pryce as ye haue
worshipfully deserued it / My faire lordes saide syre launcelot wete
yow wel yf I haue deserued thanke / I haue sore bought hit
and that me repenteth / for I am lyke neuer to escape with my
lyf / therfor faire lordes I pray yow that ye wille suffer me to
departe where me lyketh / for I am sore hurte / I take none force
of none honour / for I had leuer to repose me than to be lord
of alle the world / and there with al he groned pytously and
rode a grete wallop away ward fro them vntyl he came vnder
a woodes syde / And whan he sawe that he was from the felde
nyghe a myle that he was sure he myghte not be sene / Thenne
he said with an hyȝ voys / O gentyl knyght sir Lauayne helpe
me that this truncheon were oute of my syde / for it stycketh so
sore that it nyhe sleeth me / O myn owne lord said sir Lauayne
I wold fayn do that myȝt please yow / but I drede me sore / & I
pulle out the truncheon that ye shalle be in perylle of dethe / I
charge you said sir launcelot as ye loue me drawe hit oute / &
there with alle he descended from his hors / and ryght soo dyd
sir Lauayn / and forth with al sir Lauayn drewe the
truncheon out of his syde / and gaf a grete shryche and a merueillous
ANd whan the heremyte beheld hym as he sat lenynge vpon his sadel bowe euer bledynge pytously / and euer the knyghte heremyte thoughte that he shold knowe hym but he coude not brynge hym to knouleche / by cause he was soo pale for bledynge / what knyghte are ye sayd the heremyte / and where were ye borne / My fayre lord sayd syre Launcelot I am a straunger and a knyghte auenturous that laboureth thurȝ oute many Realmes for to wynne worship / Thenne the heremyte aduysed hym better / and sawe by a wound on his cheke that he was syr Launcelot / Allas sayd the heremyte myn owne lord why layne you your name from me /
¶ For sothe I oughte to knowe yow of ryȝt / for ye are the moost noblest knyghte of the world / for wel I knowe yow for sire launcelot Sire said he sythe ye knowe me / helpe me and ye may for goddes sake / for I wold be oute of this payne at ones / outher to dethe or to lyf / Haue ye no doubte sayd the heremyte ye shall lyue and fare ryght wel / and soo the heremyte called to hym two of his seruauytes / and so he and his seruauntes bare hym in to the hermytage / and lyghtely vnarmed hym / and leyd hym in his bedde / And thenne anone the heremyte staunched his blood and made hym to drynke good wyn so that sir launcelot was wel refresshed and knewe hym self / For in these dayes it was not the guyse of heremytes as is now a dayes For there were none heremytes in tho dayes but that they had ben men of worshyp and of prowesse / and tho heremytes helde grete housholde / and refresshyd peple that were in distresse /
¶ Now torne we vnto kynge Arthur and leue we sir launcelot in the hermytage /
¶ Soo whan the kynges were comen
to gyders on bothe partyes / and the grete feeste shold be holden
kynge Arthur asked the kynge of Northgalys and theyr
felaushyp where was that knyghte that bare the reed sleue /
brynge hym afore me that he may haue his lawde and honour &
¶ As for that sayd Arthur / whether I
knowe hym or knowe hym not / ye shal not knowe for me what
man he is but almyghty ihesu sende me good good tydynges
of hym and soo said they alle / By my hede said sire Gawayn
yf it soo be that the good knyghte be so sore hurte / hit is grete
dommage and pyte to alle this land / For he is one of the
noblest knyghtes that euer I sawe in a felde handle a spere or
a suerd / And yf he maye be founde I shalle fynde hym / For
I am sure he nys not fer fro this towne / bere yow wel sayd
kynge Arthur / and ye may fynde hym onles that he be in
suche a plyte that he may not welde hym self / Ihesu defende sayd
sir Gawayne / but wete I shalle what he is and I may
fynde hym / Ryght soo syre Gawayne took a squyer with hym
vpon hakneis and rode al aboute Camelot within vj or seuen
myle / but soo he came ageyne and coude here no word of hym /
Thenne within two dayes kynge Arthur and alle the
felaushyp retorned vnto london ageyne / And soo as they rode by
the waye / hit happed sir Gawayne at Astolat to lodge wyth
syr Bernard / there as was syr Launcelot lodged / and soo as
sire Gawayn was in his chamber to repose hym / syr Barnard
the old Baron came vnto hym and his doughter Elayne to
chere hym and to aske hym what tydynges and who dyd best
at that turnement of wynchester / Soo god me help said syre
Gawayne there were two knyghtes that bare two whyte
sheldes / but the one of hem bare a reed sleue vpon his hede and
certaynly he was one of the best knyghtes that euer I sawe Iuste
in felde / For I dare say sayd sire Gawayne that one knyght
¶ Now blessid be god sayd the fayre mayden of Astolat that that knyght sped soo wel / for he is the man in the world that I fyrst loued / and truly he shalle be laste that euer I shalle loue // Now fayre mayde sayd sir Gawayne is that good knyght your loue / Certaynly sir sayd she / were ye wel he is my loue / thenne knowe ye his name sayd sire gawayne / Nay truly said the damoysel / I knowe not his name not from whens he cometh / but to say that I loue hym I promyse you and god that I loue hym / how had ye knouleche of hym fyrst said sire Gawayne
THenne she told hym as ye haue herd to fore / and hou her fader betoke hym her broder to doo hym seruyse / and how her fader lente hym her broders syr Tyrreis shelde / and herre with me he lefte his owne sheld / For what cause dyd he so said sir Gawayne / For this cause sayd the damoysel / for his sheld was to wel knowen amonge many noble knyghtes / A fayr damoyfel sayd sir Gawayne please hit yow lete me haue a syghte of that sheld / syre said she it is in my chamber couerd with a caas / and yf ye wille come with me / ye shalle see hit / Not soo sayd syre Barnard tyl his doughter lete sende for it Soo whan the sheld was comen / sir Gawayne took of the caas / And whanne he beheld that sheld he knewe anone that hit was sir launcelots shelde / and his ownes armes / A Ihesu mercy sayd syr Gawayne now is my herte more heuyer than euer it was tofore why sayd Elayne / for I haue grete cause sayd sire Gawayne / is that knyght that oweth this shelde your loue ye truly said she my loue he is / god wold I were his loue/ Soo god me spede sayd sire Gawayne fair damoysel ye haue ryght / for and he be your loue / ye loue the moost honourable knyghte of the world and the man of moost worshyp / So me thoughte euer said the damoysel / for neuer or that tyme for no knyghte that euer I sawe / loued I neuer none erst /
¶ God
graunte sayd sire Gawayne that eyther of yow maye reioyse
¶ Ryghte soo the mayde made her redy and before syre
Gawayne makynge grete dole / Thenne on the morne syr
Gawayne came to kynge Arthur / and told hym how he had fonde
sire Launcelots shelde in the kepynge of the fayre mayden of
Astolat / Alle that knewe I afore hand sayd kynge Arthur
and that caused me I wold not suffer you to haue adoo atte
grete Iustes / for I aspyed said kynge Arthur whan he cam in
tyl his lodgynge ful late in the euenynge in Astolat / But
merueille haue I said Arthur that euer he wold bere ony
sygne of ony damoysel / For or now I neuer herd say nor
knewe that euer he bare ony token of none erthely woman / By
my hede said sir Gawayne the fayre mayden of Astolat loueth
ANd whanne sir Bors herd that wete ye wel / he was an heuy man / and soo were alle his kynnesmen / But whan quene Gueneuer wyste that syre Launcelot bare the reed sleue / of the fayre mayden of Astolat / she was nyghe oute of her mynde for wrathe /
¶ And thenne she sente for syr
Bors de ganys in alle the hast that myghte be / Soo whanne
sire Bors was come to fore the quene / thene she sayd / A sire
Bors haue ye herd say how falsly sir launcelot hath bytrayed
me / Allas madame said sire Bors / I am aferd he hath
bytrayed hym self and vs alle / No force said the quene though
he be destroyed / for he is a fals traytour knyghte / Madame
sayd sir Bors I pray yow saye ye not so / for wete yow wel /
I maye not here suche langage of hym / why sire Bors sayd
she / shold I not calle hym traytour whan he bare the reed sleue
vpon his hede at wynchestre at the grete Iustes / Madame sayd
syre Bors that sleeue beryng repenteth me sore / but I dar say
he dyd it to none euylle entente / but for this cause he bare the
reed sleue that none yf his blood shold knowe hym / For or
thenne we nor none of vs alle neuer knewe that euer he bare
token or sygne of mayde / lady / ne gentylwoman / Fy on hym
said the quene / yet for all his pryde and bobaunce there ye
proued your self his better / Nay madame saye ye neuer more soo
for he bete me / and my felawes / and myghte haue slayne vs
and he had wold / Fy on hym sayd the quene / For I herd
sir Gawayne saye bifore my lord Arthur that it were merueil
to telle the grete loue that is bitwene the fayre mayden of
Astolat and hym / Madame saide syre Bors I maye not warne
syr Gawayne to say what it pleasyd hym / But I dare fay
as for my lord syre Launcelot that he loueth no lady
gentilwoman nor mayde / but all he loueth in lyke moche / and therfor
NOw torne we vnto sire Bors de ganys that cam vnto wynchestre to seke after his cosyn syre Launcelot / and soo whanne he cam to wynchestre / anone there were men that sire Lauayne had made to lye in a watche for suche a man and anone sir Lauayne had warnynge / and thenne sire Lauayne came to wynchestre / and fond sir Bors / and there he told hym what he was / and with whome he was / and what was his name /
¶ Now fayr knyghte said sire Bors I requyre yow that ye wille brynge me to my lord sir launcelot / Syre sayd sir Lauayne take your hors / & within this houre ye shall see hym / and soo they departed / and came to the hermytage /
¶ And whan sir Bors sawe sir launcelot lye in his bedde
pale and discoloured / anone sir Bors lost his countenaunce / and
for kyndenes and pyte / he myghte not speke / but wepte
tendirly a grete whyle / And thenne whanne he myght speke / he
said thus / O my lord sire launcelot god yow blysse / and send
yow hasty recouer / And ful heuy am I of my mysfortune &
of myn vnhappynes / for now I may calle my self vnhappy / &
I drede me that god is gretely displeasyd with me that he
wold suffre me to haue suche a shame for to hurte yow that ar
alle oure leder / and alle oure worshyp / and therfor I calle my
self vnhappy / Allas that euer suche a caytyf knyghte as I am
shold haue power by vnhappynes to hurte the moost noblest
knyghte of the world / where I soo shamefully set vpon yow
and ouercharged yow / and where ye myghte haue slayne me
ye saued me / and so dyd not I / For I and your blood did
to yow our vtteraunce / I merueyle sayd sire Bors that my
herte or my blood wold serue me / wherfor my lord sir
launcelot I aske your mercy / Fair cosyn said sire Launcelot ye be
ryght welcome / & wete ye wel / ouer moche ye say for to please
THenne sire Bors told sire launcelot how there was
sworne a grete turnement and Iustes betwixe kynge
Arthur and the kynge of Northgalys that sholde be
vpon al halowmasse day besyde wynchestre / is that trouthe
said sir launcelot / thenne shalle ye abyde with me styl a lytyll
whyle vntyl that I be hole / for I fele myself ryght bygge &
stronge / Blessid be god said syr Bors / thenne were they
there nygh a moneth to gyders / and euer this mayden Elayn dyd
euer her dylygente labour nyghte and daye vnto syr
launcelot / that ther was neuer child nor wyf more meker to her
fader and husband than was that fayre mayden of Astolat/
wherfore sir Bors was gretely pleasyd with her / Soo vpon
a day by the assente of syr launcelot / syre Bors and syre
lauayne they made the heremyte to seke in woodes for dyuerse
herbes / and soo sir launcelot made fayre Elayne to gadre herbes
for hym to make hym a bayne / In the meane whyle syr
launcelot made hym to arme hym at alle pyeces / and there he
thoughte to assaye his armour and his spere for his hurte or not
And soo whan he was vpon his hors / he stered hym fyersly /
and the hors was passynge lusty and fresshe by cause he was
not laboured a moneth afore / And thenne syr Launcelot
couched that spere in the reest / that courser lepte myghtely whan
he felte the spores / and he that was vpon hym the whiche was
the noblest hors of the world strayned hym myghtely and
stably / and kepte stylle the spere in the reest / and ther with syre
Launcelot strayned hym self soo straytly with soo grete force
to gete the hors forward that the buttom of his wound brast
bothe within and withoute / and there with alle the blood cam
oute so fyersly that he felte hym self soo feble that he myghte
not sytte vpon his hors / And thenne syr Launcelot cryed vnto
syr Bors / A syr Bors and syr Lauayne helpe for I am
come to myn ende / And there with he felle doun on the one syde
to the erthe lyke a dede corps / And thenne syr Bors and syr
Lauayne came to hym with sorowe makyng out of mesure /
And soo by fortune the mayden Elayn herd their mornyng / &
thenne she came thyder / & whan she fond syr Launcelot there
armed in that place / she cryed & wepte as she had ben woode / &
THenne sire Bors made hym redy to departe from syre
launcelot / and thenne sire launcelot sayd / Faire cosyn
syr Bors recommaunde me vnto all them / vnto whome me
oughte to recommaunde me vnto / and I pray yow / enforce
your self at that Iustes that ye maye be best for my loue / & here
shalle I abyde yow at the mercy of god tyl ye come ageyne
and so sir Bors departed & came to the courte of kyng arthur
and told hem in what place he had lefte syre launcelot / that
me repenteth said the kynge / but syn he shall haue his lyf we
all may thanke god / and there syre Bors told the Quene in
what Ieopardy syre Launcelot was / whanne he wold assaye
¶ Also syr Gareth as the book sayth dyd that daye grete
dedes of armes / for he smote doune and pulled doune thyrtty
knyghtes / But whan he had done these dedes / he taryed not / but
soo departed / and therfor he lost his pryce / & sir Palomydes did
grete dedes of armes that day / for he smote doun twenty
knyȝtes / but he departed sodenly / & men demed syre Gareth & he rode
to gyders to somme maner aduentures / Soo whan this
turnement was done / syr Bors departed / & rode tyl he came to syre
launcelot his cosyn / & thenne he fonde hym walkynge on his
feet / & ther eyther made grete Ioye of other / & so sire Bors tolde
syr launcelot of all the Iustes lyke as ye haue herde / I
merueille said sir launcelot that syre Gareth whan he had done suche
dedes of armes that he wolde not tary / therof we merueyled al
saide syr Bors / for but yf it were yow or syr Tristram or syre
lamorak de galys I sawe neuer knyȝt bere doune soo many in
MY lord syr Launcelot now I see ye wylle departe Now fayre knyghte and curtois knyghte haue mercy vpon me / and suffer me not to dye for thy loue / what wold ye that I dyd said syr launcelot / I wold haue you to my husbond sayd Elayne / Fair damoysel I thanke yow sayd syr Launcelot / but truly sayd he I cast me neuer to be wedded man / thenne fair knyght said she / wylle ye be my peramour / Ihesu defende me said syr launcelot / for thenne I rewarded your fader and your broder ful euylle for their grete goodenes Allas sayd she / thenne must I dye for your loue / ye shal not so said syre launcelot / for wete ye wel fayr mayden I myght haue ben maryed & I had wolde / but I neuer applyed me to be maryed yet / but by cause fair damoysel that ye loue me as ye saye ye doo / I wille for your good wylle and kyndenes shewe yow somme goodenes / & that is this / that were someuer ye wille beset youre herte vpon somme goode knyghte that wylle wedde yow / I shalle gyue yow to gyders a thousand pound yerely to yow & to your heyres / thus moche will I gyue yow faire madame for your kyndenes / & alweyes whyle I lyue to be your owne knyghte
¶ Of alle this saide the
mayden I wille none / for but yf ye wille wedde me or ellys be
¶ Also quene Gueneuer was woode wrothe with sir launcelot and wold by no meanes speke with hym / but enstraunged her self from hym / and sir launcelot made alle the meanes that he myght for to speke with the quene / but hit wolde not be /
¶ Now speke we of the fayre mayden of Astolat that
made suche sorowe daye and nyght that she neuer slepte / ete / nor
drank / and euer she made her complaynt vnto sir Launcelot / so
when she had thus endured a ten dayes / that she febled so that
she must nedes passe out of thys world / thenne she shryued her
clene / and receyued her creatoure / And euer she complayned
SOo by fortune kynge Arthur and the quene
Gueneuer were spekynge to gyders at a wyndowe / and soo as they
loked in to Temse / they aspyed this blak barget / and hadde
merueylle what it mente / thenne the kynge called sire kay / &
shewed hit hym / Sir said sir kay wete you wel there is some
newe tydynges / Goo thyder sayd the kynge to sir kay / & take
with yow sire Brandyles and Agrauayne / and brynge me
redy word that is there / Thenne these four knyghtes departed
and came to the barget and wente in / and there they fond the
fayrest corps lyenge in a ryche bedde and a poure man sittyng
in the bargets ende and no word wold he speke / Soo these
foure knyghtes retorned vnto the kyng ageyne and told hym
what they fond / That fayr corps wylle I see sayd the kynge
And soo thenne the kyng took the quene by the hand / & went
thydder / Thenne the kynge made the barget to be holden fast / &
thenne the kyng & þe quene entred with certayn knyȝtes wyth
them / and there he sawe the fayrest woman lye in a ryche
bedde couerd vnto her myddel with many ryche clothes / and alle
was of clothe of gold / and she lay as though she had
smyled / Thenne the quene aspyed a letter in her ryght hand / and
told it to the kynge / Thenne the kynge took it and sayd / now
am I sure this letter wille telle what she was / and why she is
come hydder / Soo thenne the kynge and the quene wente oute
of the barget / and soo commaunded a certayne wayte vpon
the barget / And soo whan the kynge was come within his
chāber / he called many knyghtes aboute hym / & saide that he wold
wete openly what was wryten within that letter / thenne the
kynge brake it / & made a clerke to rede hit / & this was the
entente of the letter / Moost noble kynghte sir Launcelot / now
hath dethe made vs two at debate for your loue I was your
louer that men called the fayre mayden of Astolat / therfor
vnto alle ladyes I make my mone / yet praye for my soule & bery
me atte leest / & offre ye my masse peny / this is my last request
and a clene mayden I dyed I take god to wytnes / pray for
my soule sir launcelot as thou art pierles / this was alle the
¶ Thenne the quene sente for syr Launcelot / &
prayd hym of mercy / for why that she had ben wrothe with hym
causeles / this is not the fyrste tyme said sir launcelot that ye
haue ben displeasyd with me causeles / but madame euer I
must suffre yow / but what sorowe I endure I take no force /
Soo this paste on alle that wynter with alle manere of
huntynge and haukyng / and Iustes and torneyes were many
THus it past on tyl Crystmasse / And thenne euery day
there was Iustes made for a dyamond / who that
Iusted best shold haue a dyamond / but syr laūcelot
wold not Iuste but yf it were at a grete Iuftes cryed / but syr
lauayne Iusted there alle that Crystemasse passyngly wel / and
best was praysed / for there were but fewe that dyd so wel /
wherfore alle manere of knyghtes demed that sir lauayne
shold be made knyghte of the table round at the nexte feeste of
Pentecost / Soo at after Crystmasse kynge Arthur lete calle
vnto hym many knyghtes / and there they aduysed to gyders
to make a party and a grete turnement and Iustes / and the
kynge of Northgalys sayd to Arthur / he wold haue on his
party kynge Anguysshe of Irland / and the kynge with the
honderd knyghtes / and the kynge of Northumberland / and
sire Galahad the haute prynce / and soo these foure kynges &
this myghty duke took party ageynst kynge Arthur and the
kynghtes of the table round / and the crye was made that the
day of the Iustes shold be besyde westmynstre vpon candylmas
day wherof many knyghtes were glad / and made them redy to
be at that Iustes in the freyssheyst maner / Thenne quene
Gueneuer sent for syr launcelot / and said thus I warne yow that
ye ryde ny more in no Iustes nor turnementys / but that youre
kynnesmen may knowe yow / And at thise Iustes that shall be
ye shalle haue of me a sleue of gold / and I pray yow for my
sake enforce your self there that men may speke of yow
worship / but I charge yow as ye will haue my loue that ye
warne youre kynnesmen / that ye wille bere that daye the sleue of
gold vpon your helmet / Madame said sir launcelot it shalle be
don / and soo eyther made grete ioye of other / And whan syre
Launcelot sawe his tyme / he told sir Bors that he wold
departe / & haue no more with hym but sir Lauayne vnto the good
heremyte that dwellid in that forest of Wyndsoore / his name
¶ So at that tyme there was a lady dwellid in that forest / and she was a grete huntresse / & dayly she vsed to hunte / and euer she bare her bowe with her / and no men wente neuer with her / but alwayes wymmen / and they were shoters / and coude wel kylle a dere bothe at the stalke & at the trest / and they dayly bare bowes and arowes / hornes & wood knyues / and many good dogges they had / both for the strynge and for a bate / So hit happed this lady the huntresse had abated her dogge for the bowe at a barayne hynde / and so this barayne hynde took the flyghte ouer hedges and woodes And euer this lady and parte of her wymmen costed the hynde and chekked it by the noyse of the houndes to haue mette with the hynde at somme water / and soo hit happed the hynde came to the welle where as sire launcelot was slepyng & slomberynge / And soo whan the hynde came to the welle / for hete she wente to soyle / and there she lay a grete whyle / and the dogges came after / and vmbecast aboute / for she had lost the veray parfyte feaute of the hynde / Ryghte so came that lady the huntres that knewe by thy dogge that she had that the hynde was at the soyle in that welle / and there she cam styfly and fonde the hynde / and she put a brode arowe in her bowe / and shot atte hynde / and ouer shotte the hynde / and soo by mysfortune the arowe smote sir Launcelot in the thyck of the buttok ouer the barbys / whanne sir launcelot felte hym self so hurte / he hurled vp woodely / and sawe the lady that had smyten hym /
¶ And
whan he sawe she was a woman / he sayd thus / lady / or
damoysel what that thow be / in an euylle tyme bare ye a bowe /
the deuylle made yow a shoter /
NOw mercy fair sir said the lady I am a gentilwoman that vseth here in this forest huntynge / and god knoweth I sawe yow not / but as here was a barayn hynde at the soyle in this welle and I wend to haue done wel / but my hand swarued / Allas said syre launcelot ye haue mescheued me / and soo the lady departed / and sir launcelot as he myghte pulled oute the arowe / and lefte that hede styll in his buttok / and soo he wente weykely to the hermytage euer more bledynge as he went / And whan sir Lauayne and the heremyte aspyed that sir launcelot was hurte / wete yow wel they were passynge heuy / but sire Lauayne wyst not how that he was hurte nor by whome / And thenne were they wrothe out of mesure / thenne with grete payne the heremyte gat oute the arowes hede oute of syr launcelots buttok / and moche of his blood he shedde / and the wound was passynge fore / and vnhappyly smyten / for it was in suche a place that he myght not sytte in noo sadyl / A mercy Ihesu said sir Launcelot I may calle my self the moost vnhappyest man that lyueth for euer / whan I wold faynest haue worshyp / there befalleth me euer somme vnhappy thynge / Now soo Ihesu me helpe said sir launcelot / and yf no man wold but god / I shalle be in the felde vpon candelmasse daye at the Iustes what someuer falle of hit soo alle that myght be goten to hele sir launcelot was had /
¶ Soo whan the day was come / sir launcelot lete deuyse that
he was arayed / and sir Lauayne and their horses as thouȝ
they had ben sarazyns / and soo they departed and cam nygh
to the felde / The kynge of Northgalys with an honderd
knyghtes with hym / and the kynge of Northumberland broughte
with hym an honderd good knyghtes / and kynge Anguysshe
of Irland brought with hym an honderd good knyghtes
redy to Iuste / and sir Galahalt the haute prynce broughte with
hym an honderd good knyghtes / and the kynge with the
honderd knyghtes brought with hym as many / and alle these
were proued good knyghtes / Thenne cam in kyng Arthurs
party / and there came in the kynge of Scottes with an honderd
knyghtes / and kynge Vryens of Gore brought with hym an
THenne they blewe to the felde / and there the kyng of
northgalys encountred with the kynge of scottes / &
there the kynge of Scottes had a falle / and the kyng of
Irland smote doune kynge Vryens / and the kyng of
Northumberland smote doune kynge Howel of Bretayne / and sir
Galahaut the haute prynce smote doune Chalenge of Claraunce /
And thene kynge Arthur was woode wroth / and ranne to
the kynge with the honderd knyȝtes / and there kyng Arthur
smote hym doune / and after with that same spere kynge
Arthur smote doune thre other knyghtes / And thenne whan his
spere was broken / kynge Arthur dyd passyngly wel / and soo
there with alle came in syr Gawayne and sir Gaheryse / sire
Agrauayne and sir mordred / and there eueryche of them smote
doune a knyghte / and sir Gawayne smote doune four knyȝtes
and thene there beganne a stronge medle / for thenne there
came in the knyghtes of launcelots blood / and sir Gareth and
sire Palomydes with them / and many knyghtes of the table
round/ and they beganne to holde the foure kynges and the
myghty duke soo hard that they were discomfyte / but this
duke Galahad that haut prynce was a noble knyght / and by his
myghty prowesse of armes / he helde the knyghtes of the table
round strayte ynough / Alle this doynge sawe sir launcelot / &
thenne he came in to the felde with syr Lauayne as hit had ben
thonder / And thenne anone syre Bors and the kynghtes of
his blood aspyed sir launcelot / and said to them alle I warne
yow beware of hym with the sleue of gold vpon his hede / for
he is hym self sir launcelot du lake / and for grete goodenes sir
¶ Thene sir Lauayne mette with sir Palomydes / and eyther
mette other soo hard and so fyersly that bothe their horses felle
to the erthe / And thenne were they horsed ageyne / and
thenne mette sir Launcelot with sir Palomydes / and there sire
Palomydes had a falle / and soo sir launcelot or euer he stynte as
fast as he myghte gete speres / he smote doun thyrtty knyghtes
and the moost party of them were knyȝtes of the table round
and euer the knyghtes of his blood withdrewe them / & made
hem adoo in other places where sir launcelot came not / and
thenne kyng Arthur was wrothe whan he sawe sir Launcelot doo
suche dedes / and thenne the kynge called vnto hym sir gawayn
sir Mordred / sir kay / sir Gryflet / sir Lucan the butteler / syre
Pedeuer / sir Palomydes / Sir Safyr his broder / and so the
kynge with these nyne knyghtes made hem redy to sette vpon sir
Launcelot / and vpon syr Lauayne / Alle this aspyed sir bors
and sir Gareth / Now I drede me sore said sir Bors that my
lord syr launcelot wylle hard be matched / By my hede sayd
syr Gareth I wylle ryde vnto my lord sir launcelot for to
helpe hym / falle of hym what falle may / for he is the same man
that made me knyghte / ye shalle not soo said sir Bors by my
counceylle / onles that ye were desguysed / ye shalle see me
dysguysed said syre Gareth / and there with al he aspyed a
wallysshe knyghte where he was to repose hym / and he was sore
hurte afore hurte by syr Gawayne / and to hym syre Gareth
rode / and praid hym of his knyghthode to lene hym his shelde
for his / I wille wel said the walysshe knyghte / And whanne
sir Gareth had his shelde / the book saith / it was grene wyth a
mayden that semed in hit / Thenne syr Gareth came dryuynge
to sir Launcelot al that he myghte / and said knyghte kepe thy
self / for yonder cometh kyng Arthur with nyne noble knyȝtes
¶ And whan we haue delyuerd hem / lete vs thre hold vs sadly to gyders / Thenne came kynge Arthur with his nyne knyȝtes with hym / and sir launcelot encountred with sir Gawayne / & gafe hym suche a buffet / that the arson of his sadel brast / and syre Gawayne felle to the erthe / Thenne sir Gareth encountred with the good knyghte sir Palomydes / and he gaf hym suche a buffet that bothe his hors and he dasshed to the erthe / Thenne encountred kynge Arthr with sire Lauayne / and there eyther of hem smote other to the erthe hors and alle that they lay a grete whyle / Thenne sir launcelot smote doune syr Agrauayne & syre Gaheryse / and syr Mordred / and syr Gareth smote doune syr kay / and syr Safyr and syr Gryflet / And thenne syr lauayne was horsed ageyne / and he smote doune syre Lucan the butteler and syr Bedeuer / and thenne there beganne grete thrange of good knyghtes / Thenne syre Launcelot hurtlyd here and there / and racyd and pulled of helmes / soo that at that tyme there myght none sytte hym a buffet with spere nor with suerd / and syr Gareth dyd suche dedes of armes that all men merueylled what knyghte he was with the grene sheld / For he smote doune that daye and pulled doune moo than thyrtty knyghtes / And as the frensshe book sayth syr Launcelot merueylled whan he beheld syr Gareth doo suche dedes what knyghte he myghte be / and syr Lauayne pulled doune and smote doune twenty knyghtes /
¶ Also syr launcelot knewe not syr Gareth / for and syr Tristram de lyones / outher syr lamorak de galys had ben alyue / syr launcelot wold haue demed he had ben one of them tweyne / Soo euer as syr launcelot/ syr Gareth / syr lauayn faughte / and on the one syde syr bors syr Ector de marys / syr lyonel / syr lamorak de galys / syr bleoberys / syr Galyhud / syr Galyhodyn / syr Pelleas / and wyth moo other of kynge Bans blood foughte vpon another party and helde the kynge with the honderd knyghtes and the kyng of Northumberland ryght strayte /
SOo this turnement & this Iustes dured longe / tyl hit
was nere nyghte / for the knyghtes of the round table
releued euer vnto kynge Arthur / for the kynge was wrothe
out of mesure / that he and his knyghtes myght not preuaile
that day / Thenne sire Gawayne said to the kynge I merueile
where alle this day syr Bors de ganys and his felaushyp of
syre launcelots blood / I merueylle all this day they be not
aboute yow / hit is for somme cause sayd syr Gawayne / By my
hede said sire Kay syre Bors is yonder all this day vpon the
ryghte hand of this felde / and ther he and his blood done
more worshypfully than we doo / it may wel be sayd syr
Gawayne / but I drede me euer of gyle / for on payne of my lyf said
sir Gawayne this knyghte with the reed sleue of gold is hym
self syr launcelot / I see wel by his rydynge / and by his grete
strokes / and the other knyghte in the same colours is the good
yonge knyght sir lauayne / Also that knyghte with the grene
shelde is my broder syr Gareth / and yet he hath desguysed hym
self / for no man shalle neuer make hym be ageynst sir
launcelot by cause he made hym knyghte / By my hede said Arthur
neuewe I byleue yow / therfore telle me now what is youre
best counceyll / Sir said sir Gawayne ye shalle haue my
counceylle / lete blowe vnto lodgynge / for and he be syr Launcelot
du lake and my broder syr Gareth with hym with the helpe of
that good yong knyghte syr Lauayne / trust me truly it wyll
be no bote to stryue with them / but yf we shold falle ten or xij
vpon one knyghte / and that were no worship but shame / ye
saye trouthe sayd the kyng / and for to saye sothe said the
kynge it were shame to vs / soo many as we be to sette vpon them
ony more / for wete ye wel sayd kyng Arthur / they ben thre
good knyghtes / and namely that knyght with the sleue of
gold / Soo thenne they blewe vnto lodgyng / but forth with all
Kyng Arthur lete sende vnto the four kynges / and to the
myghty duke / and praid hem that the knyghte with the sleue of
gold departe not fro them / but that the kyng may speke with
hym / Thenne fourthe with alle kyng Arthur alighte &
vnarmed hym / & took a litill hakney / & rode after sire Launcelot /
¶ Also
Arthur blamed syr Gareth by cause he lefte his felaushyp / &
helde with sir launcelot / My lord sayd sir Gareth / he maade me
a knyghte / And whanne I sawe hym soo hard bestadde / me
thought it was my worshyp to helpe hym / for I sawe hym do
soo moche / and soo many noble knyghtes ageynst hym / and
whan I vnderstood that he was sir launcelot du lake / I
shamed to see soo many knyghtes ageynst hym alone / Truly
sayd kynge Arthur vnto syre Gareth ye saye wel and
worshypfully haue ye done and to your self grete worshyp / and alle
the dayes of my lyf sayd kynge Arthur vnto sir Gareth wete
yow wel I shalle loue yow / and truste yow the more better
For euer sayd Arthur hit is a worshypful knyghtes dede to
helpe an other worshypful knyghte whanne he seeth hym in a
grete daunger / for euer a worshipful man will be lothe to see a
worshipful shamed / and he that is of no worship and fareth
with cowardyse / neuer shall he shewe gentilnes / nor no maner
of goodnes where he seeth a man in ony daunger / for thenne
eur wylle a coward shewe no mercy / and alwayes a good
man wille doo euer to another man as he wold ben done to
hym self / Soo thenne there were grete feestes vnto kynges and
dukes / and reuel / game and playe / and al maner of noblesse
was vsed / and he that was curtois / true and feythful to his
frende was that tyme cherysshed
ANd thus it past on from candylmas vntyl after ester that the moneth of may was come / whan euery lusty herte begynneth to blosomme / and to brynge forth fruyte / for lyke as herbes and trees bryngen forth fruyte and florysshen in may / in lyke wyse euery lusty herte that is in ony maner a louer spryngeth and floryssheth in lusty dedes / For it gyueth vnto al louers courage that lusty moneth of may in some thyng to constrayne hym to some maner of thyng more in that moneth than in ony other moneth for dyuerse causes / For thenne alle herbes and trees renewen a man and woman / and lyke wyse louers callen ageyne to their mynde old gentilnes and old seruyse and many kynde dedes were forgeten by neclygence / For lyke as wynter rasure doth alway a rase and deface grene somer / soo fareth it by vnstable loue in man and woman / For in many persons there is no stabylyte / For we may see al day for a lytel blast of wynters rasure anone we shalle deface and lay a parte true loue / for lytel or noughte that cost moch thynge / this is no wysedome nor stabylyte / but it is feblenes of nature and grete disworshyp who someuer vsed this / Therfore lyke as may moneth floreth and floryssheth in many gardyns / Soo in lyke wyse lete euery man of worship florysshe his herte in this world / fyrst vnto god / and next vnto the ioye of them that he promysed his feythe vnto / for there was neuer worshypful man or worshypful woman / but they loued one better than another / and worshyp in armes may neuer be foyled / but fyrst reserue the honour to god / and secondly the quarel must come of thy lady / and suche loue I calle vertuous loue / but now adayes men can not loue seuen nyȝte but they must haue alle their desyres that loue may not endure by reason / for where they ben soone accorded and hasty hete / soone it keleth / Ryghte soo fareth loue now a dayes / sone hote soone cold / this is noo stabylyte / but the old loue was not so / men and wymmen coude loue to gyders seuen yeres / and no lycours lustes were bitwene them / and thenne was loue trouthe and feythfulnes / and loo in lyke wyfe was vsed loue in kynge Arthurs dayes /
¶ wherfor I lyken loue now
SOo it befelle in the moneth of May / quene
Gueneuer called vnto her knyȝtes of the table
round / and she gafe them warnynge that erly
vpon the morowe she wold ryde on mayeng in to
woodes & feldes besyde westmynstre / & I warne
yow that there be none of yow but that he be wel horsed / and
that ye alle be clothed on grene outher in sylke outher in clothe
and I shalle brynge with me ten ladyes / and euery knyght
shalle haue a lady behynde hym / and euery knyghte shal haue
a squyer and two yomen / and I wyll that ye alle be wel
horsed / Soo they made hem redy in the fresshest maner / and these
were the names of the knyghtes / sir Kay the Seneschal / sir
Agrauayne / sir Brandyles / sir Sagramor le desyrus / Sir
Dodynas le saueage / sir Ozanna le cure hardy / sir Ladynas of the
forest saueage / sir Persaunt on Inde / syre Ironsyde that was
called the knyghte of the reed laundes / and sire Pelleas the
louer / and these ten knyghtes made hem redy in the fresshest
maner to ryde with the quene / And soo vpon the morne they toke
their horses with the quene / and rode on mayenge in woodes
and medowes as hit pleasyd hem in grete Ioye and delytes /
for the quene had cast to haue ben ageyne with kyng Arthur
at the ferthest by ten of the clok / and soo was that tyme her
purpoos / Thenne there was a knyghte that hyghte
Mellyagraunce / and he was sone vnto kynge Bagdemagus / and this
knyghte had at that tyme a castel of the yefte of kyng arthur
¶ And the book sayth he had layne in a wayte for to stele away the quene / but euermore he forbare for by cause of sir launcelot / for in no wyse he wold medle with the quene / and sir Launcelot were in her company / outher els and he were nere hand her / and that tyme was suche a customme / the quene rode neuer withoute a grete felaushyp of men of armes aboute her / and they were many good knyghtes / and the moost party were yong men that wold haue worshyp / and they were called the quenes knyghtes and neuer in no batail / turnement / nor Iustes / they bare none of hem no maner of knoulechynge of their owne armes / but playne whyte sheldes / and there by they were called the quenes knyghtes / And thenne whan it happed ony of them to be of grete worshyp by his noble dedes / thenne at the next feest of Pentecost / yf there were ony slayne or dede / as there was none yere that there fayled / but somme were dede / Thenne was there chosen in his stede that was dede the moost men of worshyp that were called the quenes knyghtes / And thus they came vp alle fyrste or they were renoumed men of worship / both sire Launcelot and alle the remenaunt of them / But this knyȝte sir Mellyagraunce had aspyed the quene well and her purpos and how sir launcelot was not with her / and how she had no man of armes with her but the ten noble knyghtes all arayed in grene for mayeng / thenne he purueyed hym a xx men of armes and an honderd archers for to destroye the quene and her knyghtes / for he thoughte that tyme was best season to take the quene /
SOo as the quene had mayed and alle her knyghtes /
alle were bedasshed with herbys mosses and floures
in the best maner and fresshest / Ryghte so came oute of a
wode syre Mellyagraunce with an eyghte score men wel
harnysed as they shold fyghte in a batail of a reeste and bad the
quene and her knyghtes abyde / for maulgre theyr hedes they
¶ Thenne the ten knyghtes of the table
round drewe their swerdes / and the other lete renne at them/
with their speres / and the ten knyghtes manly abode them / &
smote awey their speres / that no spere dyd them none harme
Thenne they lasshed to gyder with swerdes / and anone syre
Kay / sir Sagramor / sir Agrauayn / sir Dodynas / sir Ladynas
and syr Ozanna were smyten to the erthe with grymly
woundes / Thenne sir Brandyles and sir Persaunt of Ironsyde / syre
Pelleas foughte longe / and they were sore wounded / for these
ten knyghtes or euer they were layd to the ground slewe xl
men of the boldest and the best of them / Soo whan the Quene
sawe her knyghtes thus dolefully wounded / and nedes must
be slayne at the last / thenne for pyte and sorowe she cryed syr
Mellyagraunce slee not my noble knyghtes / and I wille go
with the vpon this couenant that thou saue hem / and suffer
hem not to be no more hurte with this that they be ledde wyth
me where someuer thow ledest me / for I wylle rather slee my
self than I wylle goo with the / onles / that thyse my noble
¶ Thenne the quene prayd the four knyghtes to leue their fyghtynge / & she and they wold not departe / Madame sayd sir Pelleas we will doo as ye doo / for as for me I take no force of my lyfe nor deth / For as the Frensshe book sayth sir Pelleas gaf suche buffets there that none armour myghte holde hym /
THenne by the quenes commaundement they lefte batail
and dressid the wounded knyghtes on horsbak some syttyng
somme ouerthwarte their horses / that hit was pyte to beholde
them / And thenne sir Mellyagraunce charged the quene & al
her knyghtes that none of al her felaushyp shold departe from
her / for ful sore he dradde sir launcelot du lake lest he shold
haue ony knoulechynge / Alle this aspyed the Quene / and
pryuely she called vnto her a child of her chamber that was
swyftly horsed to whome she sayd / Go thow whan thou seest thy
tyme / and bere this rynge vnto sir launcelot du lake / and
praye hym as he loueth me that he wylle see me / and rescowe me
yf euer he wille haue Ioye of me / and spare not thy hors said
the quene nouther for water neyther for lond / Soo the chyld
aspyed his tyme / and lyghtely he took his hors with the
spores and departed as fast as he myghte / and whan sir
Mellyagraunce sawe hym soo flee / he vnderstood that hit was by
the quenes commaundement for to warne sir launcelot /
Thenne they that were best horsed chaced hym and shot at hym/
But from hem alle the child wente sodenly / and thenne syre
Mellyagraunce sayd to the quene / Madame ye are aboute to
bitraye me / but I shalle ordeyne for sir launcelot that he shall
not come lyghtely at yow / And thenne he rode with her and
they alle to his castel in alle the haste that they myghte / And
by the waye sire Mellyagraunce layd in an enbusshement the
best archers that he myghte gete in his coūtrey to the nombre of
THenne sir launcelot rode as fast as he myghte / and the book saith / he took the water at westmynstre brydge / & made his hors to swymme ouer Temse vnto lambehythe / And thēne within a whyle he came to the same place there as the ten noble knyghtes foughte with syre Mellyagraunce And thanne sir launcelot folowed the trak vntyl that he came to a wood / and there was a strayte waye / and there the xxx archers bad sir launcelot torne ageyne / and folowe noo lenger that trak / what commaundement have ye ther to sayd sir launcelot to cause me that am a knyghte of the round table to leue my ryghte way / This way shalte thou leue / outher els thow shalt goo it on thy foote / for wete thou wel thy hors shalle be slayne / that is lytel maystry sayd syre launcelot to slee myn hors / but as for my self whan my hors is slayne I gyue ryght nought for yow / not and ye were fyue honderd moo / So thenne they shot sir launcelots hors / and smote hym with many arowes / and thenne syr launcelot auoyded his hors / and wente on foote / but there were soo many dyches and hedges betwixe them and hym that he myghte not medle with none of hem /
¶ Allas for shame said launcelot that euer one knyght
shold bitraye another knyght / but hit is an old sawe / a good
man is neuer in daunger / but whan he is in the daunger of a
coward / Thenne sir launcelot wente a whyle / and thenne he
was fowle combred of his armour / his sheld and his spere &
alle that longed vnto hym / wete ye wel he was ful sore
annoyed / and ful loth he was for to leue ony thynge that
longed vnto hym / for he drad sore the treason of sir Mellyagraūce
Thenne by fortune there came by hym a charyot that cam
thyder for to fetche wood / Say me carter said syr launcelot what
shal I gyue the to suffre me to lepe in to thy charyot / & that
thou brynge me vnto a castel within this two myle / thou shalt
not come within my charyot said the carter / for I am sente for
to fetche wood for my lord sir Mellyagraunce / with hym
wold I speke / thou shalt not go with me said the carter / thēne sir
launcelot lept to hym / & gaf hym suche a buffet that he felle to
the erthe starke dede / thenne the other carter his felawe was
aferde & wende to haue gone the same way / & thenne he cryed
fair lord saue my lyf / & I shal brynge you where ye wil / thēne
¶ Ha a moost noble knyghte sayd quene Gueneuer I see wel thow arte hard bestad whan thow rydest in a charyot / thenne she rebuked that lady that lykend sir launcelot to ryde in a charyot to hangynge / hit was fowle mouthed sayd the quene and euylle lykened soo for to lyken the moost noble knyght of the world vnto suche a shameful dethe / O Ihesu defende hym and kepe hym said the quene from alle mescheuous ende / By thys was sir Launcelot comen to the gates of that Castel / and there he descended doune and cryed that alle the Castel range of it where arte thow fals traitour sir Melliagraunce and knyght of the table round / now come forth here thou traytour knyȝte thou and thy felauship with the / For here I am sir launcelot du lake that shal fyghte with yow / and there with all he bare the gate wyde open vpon the porter / and smote hym vnder his ȝere with his gauntelet that his neck brast in sonder /
WHanne sir Mellyagraūce herd that sir Launcelot was
there / he ranne vnto quene Gueneuer / and felle vpon
his knee / and sayd mercy madame now I put me
holy in to your grace / what eyleth yow now sayd quene
¶ A madame said sir Launcelot / & I had wyst ye wold haue ben soo soone accorded with hym / I wold not haue made suche haste vnto yow / why saye ye soo sayd the quene / doo ye forthynke your self of your good dedes / wete you well sayd the Quene I accorded neuer vnto hym for fauour nor loue that I had vnto hym / but for to laye doune euery shameful noyse
¶ Madame said syr launcelot ye vnderstande ful well I was
neuer willynge nor gladde of shameful sklaunder nor noyse
¶ Soo syr Launcelot had grete chere with the quene / and thenne syr launcelot made a promys with the quene that the same nyghte sir launcelot shold come to a wyndowe outward toward a gardyn / & that wyndowe was y barryd with yron / and there sir launcelot promysed to mete her when alle folkes were on slepe / So thenne came syr lauayne dryuynge to the gates cryeng where is my lord syr launcelot du lake / thenne was he sente for / & when sir lauayne sawe sir Launcelot / he sayd my lord I fond well how ye were hard bestad / for I haue fonde your hors that was slayne with arowes / As for that sayd syr launcelot I praye yow syr Lauayne speke ye of other maters / and lete ye this passe / & we shalle ryghte hit another tyme when we beste may
THenne the knyghtes that were hurte were serched / &
softe salues were leyd to their woundes / and soo hyt
past on tyl souper tyme / and alle the chere that myght
be made them / there was done vnto the quene and all her
knyȝtes / thenne whan season was / they wente vnto their chambres
but in no wyse the quene wold not suffre the wounded
knyȝtes to be fro her / but that they were layde within draughtes by
her chamber vpon beddes and pylowes that she her self myght
see to them that they wanted no thynge / Soo whan sir
launcelot was in his chamber that was assygned vnto hym / he
called vnto hym sire Lauayne / and told hym that nyght he must
goo speke with his lady dame Gueneuer / Sir said syr
Lauayne / lete me goo with yow and hit please yow / for I drede me
sore of the treason of sir Mellyagraunce / Nay sayd sir
launcelot I thanke yow / but I wille haue no body with me / thenne
sir Launcelot took his suerd in his hand / and pryuely went
to a place where he had aspyed a ladder to fore hand / and that
he took vnder his arme / and bare it thurgh the gardyn / & sette
it vp to the wyndowe / and there anone the quene was redy to
mete hym / and thenne they made eyther to other their
complayntes of many dyuerse thynges / & thenne sir launcelot
wysshed that he myghte haue comen in to her / wete ye wel said the
quene / I wold as fayne as ye / that ye myghte come in to me
wold ye madame said syre launcelot with youre herte that I
were with yow / ye truly said the quene / Now shalle I proue
my myght said syr Launcelot for your loue / and thenne he set
his handes vpon the barres of yron / and he pulled at them
with suche a myghte that he brast hem clene oute of the stone
walles / and there with all one of the barres of yron kytte the
braune of his handes thurgh out to the bone / & thenne he lepte
in to the chamber to the quene / make ye no noyse sayd the
quene / for my wounded knyghtes lye here fast by me / So to
passe vpon this tale syr Launcelot wente vnto bed with the
quene / & took no force of his hurte hand / but took his plesaūce
and his lykynge vntyll it was in the daunynge of the daye / &
wete ye well he slepte not but watched / and whan he sawe
his tyme that he myghte tary no lenger / he took his leue and
departed at the wyndowe / and putte hit to gyder as wel as he
WHat araye is this sayd sir Launcelot / thenne syr
mellygraunce told hem what he had fonde & shewed hem
the quenes bed / Truly said syr launcelot ye dyd not your part
nor knyȝtly to touche a quenes bedde whyle it was drawen / &
she lyeng therin / for I dar say my lord Arthur hym self wold
not haue displayed her courteyns she beyng within her bed /
onles that it had pleasyd hym to haue layne doune by her / and
therfor ye haue done vnworshipfully & shamefully to your selfe
I wote not what ye mene sayd syr Mellyagraunce / but well
I am sure ther hath one of her wounded knyȝtes layne by her
this nyȝte / & therfor I wil proue with my handes that she is a
traytresse vnto my lord Arthur / beware what ye do said
launcelot / for & ye say so & ye wil preue it / it wil be taken at your
handes / My lord sir Launcelot said sire Mellyagraunce I rede
yow beware what ye do / for thouȝ ye are neuer so good a
knyght as ye wote wel ye ar renomed the best knyȝt of the world
yet shold ye be aduysed to do batail in a wrong quarel / for god
wil haue a stroke in euery batail / As for that sayd syr
launcelot god is to be drad / but as to that I saye nay playnly / that
this nyȝte there lay none of these ten wounded knyȝtes wyth
my lady quene Gueneuer / & that wil I preue with my handes
that ye say vntruly in that now / Hold said sir Mellyagraunce
here is my gloue that she is traytresse vnto my lord kyng
Arthur / & that this nyghte one of the wounded knyȝtes lay with
her / & I receyue your gloue sayd sir Launcelot / & so they were
sealyd with their sygnettys / and delyuerd vnto the x knyȝtes
At what day shal we do batail to gyders said sir launcelot / this
day viij dayes said sir Mellyagraunce in the felde besyde
westmynstre / I am agreed said sir Launcelot / but now said sir
mellyagraunce / sythen it is so that we must fyȝte to gyders I pray
yow as ye be a noble knyȝt awayte me with no treason / nor
none vylony the meane whyle / nor none for yow / soo god me
help said sir launcelot ye shal ryȝte wel wete I was neuer of
no suche condycyons / for I reporte me to al knyȝtes that euer
haue knowen me I ferd neuer with no treason / nor I loued
neuer the felauship of no man that ferde with treson / Thenne
lete vs go to dyner seid melliagraūce. & after dyner ye & þe quene
SOo leue we syr Launcelot lyenge within that caue in
grete payne / and euery day ther came a lady & brouȝt
hym his mete & his drynke / & wowed hym to haue layne by
hym / and euer the noble knyghte syre Launcelot sayd
NOwe leue we sir Launcelot wallop alle that he myghte
And speke we of Quene Gueneuer / that was
broughte to a fyre to be brent / for sire Mellyagraunce was
sure / hym thoughte that sir launcelot shold not be att that
bataille / therfore he euer cryed vpon kynge Arthur to doo hym
Iustyce / outher els brynge forth syr launcelot du lake / thenne
was the kynge and al the Courte ful sore abasshed & shamed
that the quene shold be brente in the defaute of sir Launcelot
My lord Arthur sayd sir Lauayne ye maye vnderstande that
it is not wel with my lord syr launcelot / for and he were on
lyue / soo he be not seke outher in pryson / wete ye wel he wold
ben here / for neuer herd ye that euer he failed his part for
whome he shold doo batail for / and therfor sayd sir lauayne / my
lord kynge Arthur I byseche yow gyue me the lycence to doo
batail here this day for my lord and maister / and for to saue my
lady the quene / Gramercy gentil sir Lauayne sayd kyng
arthur / for I day say alle that sir Mellyagraunce putteth vpon
my lady the Quene / is wronge / for I haue spoken with al
the ten wounded knyghtes / and there is not one of them and
he were hole and able to doo bataille / but he wold preue vpon
sir Mellyagraunce body that it is fals that he putteth vpon my
quene / soo shal I sayd sir lauayne in the defence of my lord
syr launcelot and ye wylle gyue me leue / Now I gyue yow
leue sayd kynge Arthur and doo your best / for I dar wel say
there is some treason done to sir launcelot / Thenne was sir
Lauayne armed and horsed / and sodenly at the lystes ende he
rode to performe this bataille / and ryghte as the herowdes
shold crye / lesses les aler / Ryghte soo came in sir launcelot
dryuynge with alle the force of his hors / and thenne Arthur
cryed ho / and abyde / thenne was sir launcelot called on horsbak
to fore kynge Arthur / and there he told openly to fore the
kynge and alle how sire Mellyagraunce had serued hym fyrste
and last / And whanne the kynge and the quene and al the
lordes knewe of the treason of sir Mellyagraunce / they were
alle ashamed on his behalfe / thenne was quene Gueneuer
sente for / and sette by the kynge in grete truste of her champyon
And thenne there was no more els to say / but syr Launcelot
and sire Mellyagraunce dressid them vnto bataille / and took
THenne as the Frenssh booke maketh mencyon there
was a good knyghte in the land of Hongre his name
was syr Vrre and he was an aduenturous knyghte and in al
places where he myghte here of ony dedes of worshyp ther
wold he be / Soo it happend in Spayne there was an Erles sone
his name was Alphegus / and at a grete turnement in spayn
this syre Vrre knyghte of Hongry and sir Alphegus of
spayne encountred to gyders for veray enuy / and soo eyther
vndertook other to the Vtteraunce / and by fortune sire Vrre
slewe syr Alphegus the erles sone of Spayn / but this knyghte
that was slayne had yeuen syre Vrre or euer he was slayne
seuen grete woundes / thre on the hede / and four on his body / &
vpon his lyfte hand / and this syr Alphegus had a moder /
the whiche was a grete sorceresse / and she for the despyte of her
sones dethe wrought by her subtyl craftes that syr Vrre shold
neuer be hole / but euer his woundes shold one tyme feyster &
another tyme blede / so that he shold neuer be hole vntyl the best
knyghte of the world had serched his woundes / and thus she
made her auaunt where thurgh it was knowen that syre Vrre
¶ Thenne kynge Arthur lete calle that lady / and asked her
the cause why she broughte that hurte knyghte in to that land
My moost noble kynge sayd that lady / wete yow wel I
broughte hym hydder for to be heled of his woundes / that of alle
this seuen yere he myghte not be hole / & thenne she told the
kynge where he was wounded and of whome / and how his
moder had discouerd in her pryde / how she had wroughte that by
enchauntement / soo that he shold neuer be hole vntyl the best
knyghte of the world had serched his woundes / and soo I
haue passed thurgh alle the landes crystned to haue hym heled /
excepte this land / And yf I fayle to hele hym here in this
land I wylle neuer take more payne vpon me / and that is pyte
for he was a good knyghte and of grete noblenes / what is his
name sayd Arthur / My good and gracyous lord she sayde /
his name is syr Vrre of the mounte / In good tyme sayd the
Kynge / and sythe ye are come in to this land / ye are ryght wel
come / and wete yow wel here shal your sone be helyd / and euer
ony crysten man may hele hym /
And for to gyue alle other men of worshyp courage / I my
self wille assay to handle your sone / and soo shalle alle the
kynges dukes and Erles that ben here presente with me at this
tyme thereto wylle I commaunde them / and wel I wote they
shalle obeye and doo after my commaundement
And wete yow wel sayd kynge Arthur vnto Vrres syster I
shalle begynne to handle hym and serche vnto my power
THenne kynge Arthur loked vpon sire Vrre and the kynge thoughte he was a ful lykely man whanne he was hole / and thenne kynge Arthur made hym to be take doune of the lytter and layd hym vpon the erthe / and there was layd a cusshyn of gold that he shold knele vpon / And thenne noble Arthur sayd fayr knyghte me repenteth of thy hurte / and for to courage alle other noble Knyghtes / I wille praye the softly to suffre me to handle your woundes / Moost noble crystned kynge sayd Vrre doo as ye lyste / for I am at the mercy of god and at your commaundement /
¶ So
thenne Arthur softely handelyd hym / and thenne somme of his
woundes renewed vpon bledynge / Thenne the kynge
Claryaunce of Northumberland serched and it wold not be / And
thenne sir Baraunt le apres that was called the Kyng with
the honderd Knyghtes he assayed and fayled / and so dyd
kynge Vryence of the land of Gore / Soo dyd Kynge
Anguyssaunce of Irland / Soo dyd Kynge Nentres of Garloth / So
dyd Kyng Carados of Scotland / Soo dyd the duke
Galahalt the haute prynce / Soo dyd Constantyn that was sir
Carados sone of Cornewail / Soo dyd duke Challyns of
Claraunce / Soo dyd the Erle Vlbause / Soo dyd the Erle Lambaile
Soo dyd the erle Arystause
Thenne came in syr Gawayne with his thre sones sir
Gyngalyn / syr Florence / & sir Louel / these two were begoten vpon sir
¶ Thenne came in syre Gawayne with his thre sones syr gangalayne / syr Florence and syr Louel these two were goten vpon syr Brandyles syster / and al they fayled / Thenne cam in syr Agrauayne / syr Gaherys / syr Mordred / & the good knyȝt sir Gareth that was of veray knyghthode worth al the bretheren / Soo came knyghtes of Launcelots kynne / but syr launcelot was not that tyme in the courte / for he was that tyme vpon his aduentures / Thenne syr Lyonel / syr Ector de marys/ syr Bors de ganys / syr Blamor de ganys / syr Bleoberis de ganys / syr Gahalantyne / syr Galyhodyn / syr Menadeuke / syr Vyllyars the valyaunt / syr Hebes le renoumes / Al these were of syr launcelots kynne / and alle they fayled /
¶ Thenne came in syr Sagramore le desyrus / syr Dodynas le saueage syr Dynadan / syr Bruyn le noyre / that syr kay named la cote male tayle and syr Kay the Seneschal / syr Kay de straūges / syr Melyot de Logrys / syr Petypase of wynchelsee / syre Galleron of Galway / syr Melyon of the montayne / syr Cardok / syr Vwayne les aduoultres / and syr ozanna le cure hardy / Thenne came in syr Astamor & syr Gromere grummors sone / syr Crosselme / Sir Seruause le breuse that was callyd a passynge stronge knyghte / for as the book sayth the chyef lady of the lake feested syr launcelot and syr Seruause le breuse/ And whan she had feested hem bothe at sondry tymes she prayd hem to gyue her a bone / and they graunted it her / and thenne she prayd sur Seruause that he wold promyse her neuer to doo batail ageynst syr launcelot du lake / & in the same wyse she prayd syr Launcelot neuer to doo batail ageynst syr Seruause / and soo eyther promysed her / For the Frensshe book sayth / that sir Seruause had neuer courage nor lust to doo batail ageynst no man but yf it were ageynst gyaunts & ageynste dragons and wylde beestes / Soo we passe vnto them that att the kynges request made hem alle that were there at that hyȝ feest as of the knyȝtes of the table round for to serche sir Turre / to that entente the kynge dyd hit / to wete whiche was the noblest knyghte amonge them
¶ Thenne came sir Aglouale / sire Durnore / sir Tor that was
bygoten vpon Aryes the couherdes wyf / but he was begoten
¶ Also that traytour kyng
slewe the noble Knyghte syre Trystram as he sat harpyng
afore his lady la Beale Isoud with a trenchaunt glayue / for
whos deth was moche bewaylynge of euery knyghte that euer
were in Arthurs dayes / there was neuer none so bewailed as
was syre Tristram and syr lamorak / for they were
traytoursly slayne / syr Trystram by kyng Marke / and syr lamorak by
syr Gawayne and his bretheren / And this syre Bellangere
reuenged the deth of his fader Alysander and syr Tristram
slewe Kynge Marke and la Beale Isoud dyed swounyng
vpon the crosse of syr Tristram whereof was grete pyte / And alle
that were with Kyng Marke that were consentynge to the deth
of syr Tristram were slayne as syre Andred and many other /
Thenne came syr Hebes / syr Morganore / syr Sentrayle / Syre
Suppynabylis / Sire Bellangere le orgulous that the good
Knyghte syr lamorak wanne in playne batail syr Nerouens /
& syr Plenorius two good knyȝtes that syr launcelot wan/
sir Darras / sir Harre le fyse lake / sir ermynyde broder to kyng
MErcy Ihesu sayd kynge Arthur where is syr
launcelot du lake that he is not here at this tyme / Thus as
they stood and spak of many thynges / there was
aspyed syr launcelot that came rydyng toward them / and told the
kynge / Pees sayd the kynge lete no maner thynge be sayd
vntyl he be come to vs / Soo whan syr launcelot aspyed Kyng
Arthur / he descended from his hors and came to the kynge / &
salewed hym / and them all / Anone as the mayde syre Vrres
syster sawe syr launcelot / she ranne to her broder there as he lay
in his lyttar / and sayd broder here is come a knyghte that my
herte gyueth gretely vnto / Fayr syster sayd syr Vrre soo dothe
my herte lyghte ageynst hym / and certaynly I hope now to be
heled for my hert yeueth vnto hym more thā to al these þt haue
¶ Thenne kyng Arthur and alle the kynges and knyghtes kneled doune and gaf thankynges and louynges vnto god and to his blessid moder / And euer syre Launcelot wepte as he had ben a child that had ben beten / Thenne kynge Arthur lete araye preestes and clerkes in the moost deuoutest manere to brynge in sir Vrre within Carleil with syngynge and louynge to god / And when this was done / the kyng lete clothe hym in the rychest maner that coude be thoughte / and thenne were there but fewe better made knyghtes in alle the courte / for he was passyngly wel made and bygly / and Arthur asked syr Vrre how he felte hym self / My good lord he sayd I felt my self neuer soo lusty / wylle ye Iuste and doo dedes of armes sayd kyng Arthur / Sir sayd Vrre and I had all that longed vnto Iustes I wold be soone redy /
THenne Arthur made a party of honderd knyghtes to
be ageynste an honderd knyghtes / and soo vpon the
morne they Iusted for a dyamond / but there Iusted
none of the daungerous knyghtes / & soo for to shorten thys tale
syr Vrre & sir Lauayn Iusted best that day / for there was
none of hem but ouerthrewe & pulled doun thyrtty knyghtes/
& thenne by the assente of alle the knyges & lordes syre Vrre
& sir Lauayn were made knyghtes of the table round / & sir
lauayn caste his loue vnto dame Felelolle sire Vrres syster / &
thēne they were wedded to gyder with grete Ioye / & kyng
Arthur gaf to eueryche of hem a Barony of landes / and this sire
Vrre wold neuer goo from sire Launcelot / but he & sir
Lauayn awayted euermore vpon hym / & they were in all the courte
accounted for good knyghtes / & full desyrous in armes / &
many noble dedes they dyd / for they wold haue no reste / but euer
foughte aduentures / thus they lyued in all that courte wyth
grete noblesse & Ioye long tyme / But euery nyghte & day sire
IN May whan euery lusty herte floryssheth and burgeneth / For as the season is lusty to beholde and comfortable / Soo man and woman reioycen and gladen of somer comynge with hys fresshe floures / for wynter with his rouȝ wyndes and blastes causeth a lusty man and woman to coure / and sytte fast by the fyre / So in this season as in the monethe of May it byfelle a grete angre and vnhap / that stynted not til the floure of chyualry of alle the world was destroyed & slayn / and alle was long vpon two vnhappy knyghtes the whiche were named Agrauayne and sire Mordred that were bretheren vnto sir Gawayne / for this sir Agrauayne and sir mordred had euer a preuy hate vnto the Quene dame Gueneuer and to syr launcelot / and dayly and nyghtly they euer watched vpon sir Launcelot / Soo it myshapped syr Gawayne and alle his bretheren were in kynge Arthurs chamber / and thenne sir Agrauayne sayd thus openly and not in no counceylle that many knyghtes myghte here it / I merueylle that we alle be not ashamed bothe to see and to knowe how sire Launcelot lyeth dayly and nyghtly by the quene / and al we knowe it so and it is shamefully suffred of vs alle that we alle shold suffre soo noble a kyng as kynge Arthur is soo to be shamed /
¶ Thenne spak sir Gawayne and sayd / broder sir Agrauayn
I pray yow and charge yow meue no suche maters no more
afore me / for wete ye wel sayd syr Gawayne I wylle not be
of your counceylle / Soo god me help sayd sir Gaherys and
sir Gareth we wylle not be knowynge broder Agrauayne of
your dedes / Thenne wylle I sayd syre Mordred I leue well
that sayd syre Gawayne / for euer vnto alle vnhappynes broder
syr Mordred there to wille ye graunte / and I wold that ye
lefte alle this / and made you not soo besy / for I knowe sayd
syr Gawayne what wylle falle of hit / Falle of hit what falle
may sayd syr Agrauayne / I wille disclose it to the kyng /
Not by my counceylle sayd syr Gawayne / for and there ryse
warre and wrake betwyx syr launcelot and vs / wete you wel
broder there will many kynges and grete lordes hold with syr
¶ With these wordes came to them kynge Arthur / Now broder stynte your noyse sayd syre Gawayne / we wylle not sayd syr Agrauayne and sir Mordred / wylle ye soo sayd sir Gawayne / thenne god spede yow for I wil not here your tales ne be of your counceyll / no more wyll I sayd sir Gareth and sir Gaherys / for we wyl neuer saye euylle by that man / for by cause sayd syre Gareth syr launcelot made me knyghte by no manere owe I to say ylle of hym / and there with al they thre departed makynge grete dole / Allas sayd syr Gawayn and sir Gareth now is this Realme holy mescheued / and the noble felaushyp of the round table shalle be disparpyld / soo they departed
ANd thenne sir Arthur asked hem what noyse they
made / my lord sayd Agrauayye I shal telle yow that I
may kepe noo lenger / here is I and my broder syre Mordred
brake into my broder syr Gawayne / syr Gaherys / and to syre
Gareth / how this we knowe alle that syr Launcelot holdeth
your quene and hath done longe / and we be your syster sones / &
we may suffre it no lenger / and alle we wote that ye shold be
aboue syr launcelot / and ye are the kynge that made hym
knyghte / and therfor we wille preue hit that he is a traytoure to
your persone / yf hit be soo sayd syr Arthur wete yow wel he
is none other / but I wold be lothe to begynne suche a thynge
SOo sir Launcelot departed and took his swerd vnder his arme / and soo in his mantel that noble knyghte putte hym self in grete Ieopardy / and soo he past tyl he came to the quenes chamber / and thenne sir launcelot was lyȝtely putte in to the chamber / And thenne as the Frensshe book sayth the quene and Launcelot were to gyders / And whether they were a bedde or at other maner of disportes / me lyst not herof make no mencyon / for loue that tyme was not as is now adayes /
¶ But thus as they were to gyder / there came
sir Agrauayne and syre Mordred with twelue knyȝtes with
them of the round table / and they sayd with cryenge voys /
Traytour knyghte syr launcelot du lake now arte thou taken
And thus they cryed with a loude voys that alle the Courte
myghte here hit / and they all xiiij were armed at al poyntes
as they shold fyghte in a bataille / Allas sayd quene
Gueneuer now are we mescheued bothe / Madame sayd sir Launcelot
is there here ony armour within your chambre that I myght
couer my poure body with al / And yf there be ony gyue hit me /
and I shalle soone stynte their malyce by the grace of god
Truly sayd the quene I haue none armour sheld swerd nor
ANd there with syr Launcelot wrapped his mantel
aboute his arme wel and surely / and by thenne they
had geten a grete fourme oute of the halle / and there with all
they rasshed at the dore / Fair lordes sayd syre Launcelot leue
your noyse and your rassyng / and I shalle sette open this
dore / and thenne may ye doo with me what it lyketh yow / Come
of thenne sayd they alle / and do hit / for hit auayleth the not
to stryue ageynst vs alle / and therfor lete vs in to this
chamber / and we shalle saue thy lyf vntyl thow come to kyng
Arthur / Thenne launcelot vnbarred the dore / and with his lyfte
hand he held it open a lytel / so that but one man myghte
come in attones / and soo there came strydyng a good knyghte
a moche man and large / and his name was Colgreuaunce /
of Gore / and he with a swerd strake at syr launcelot myȝtely
and he put asyde the stroke / and gaf hym suche a buffett vpon
the helmet / that he felle grouelynge dede within the chamber
dore / and thenne syre Launcelot with grete myghte drewe that
dede knyght within the chamber dore / and syr Launcelot with
helpe of the Quene and her ladyes was lyghtely armed in
syr Colgreuaunce armour / and euer stode sir Agrauayn and
sir Mordred cryenge traytoure knyghte come oute of the
quenes chamber / leue your noyse sayd syr launcelot vnto sir
Agrauayne / For wete yow wel sir Agrauayne ye shall not
prysone me this nyghte and therfor and ye doo by my counceylle /
goo ye alle from this chamber dore and make not suche cryeng
and suche maner of sklaunder as ye doo / for I promyse you by
my knyghthode and ye wil departe and make no more noyse /
I shal as to morne appiere afore yow alle before the kyng / and
thenne lete it be sene whiche of yow all outher els ye all that
wille accuse me of treason / and there I shal ansuer yow as a
knyghte shold that hydder I cam to the quene for no maner of
male engyne / and that wyl I preue and make hit good vpon
WHan syre Bors sawe syr launcelot / he was neuer soo
gladde of his home comynge as he was thenne / Ihesu
mercy sayd syr Launcelot why be ye all armed what
meaneth this / Sir sayd sir Bors after ye were departed from
vs / we alle that ben of youre blood and youre well wyllers
were soo dretched that somme of vs lepte oute of oure beddes
naked / & some in their dremes caughte naked swerdes in their
handes / therfor said sir Bors we deme / there is some grete stryf
at hand / & thēne we all demed that ye were betrapped with som
treason / & therfor we made vs redy what nede that euer
ye were in / My fayre neuewe sayd sir launcelot vnto sir bors
now shal ye wete al that this nyȝt I was more harder bestad
wan euer I was in my lyf & yet I escaped / And so he told
¶ Thenne sire Bors called vnto hym sire Lyonel / syr Ector de marys / sir Blamor de ganys / sir Bleoberys de ganys / syre Gahalantyne / syr Galyhodyn / sir Galyhud / Sir menadeuke/ sir Vyllyers the valyaunt / sir Hebes le renoumes / sir lauayne syr Vrre of Hongry / sir Nerouneus / sire Plenorius /
¶ These
two knyghtes sire launcelot made / and the one he wanne
vpon
¶ Soo there came syre Palomydes and sir Safyr his broder
¶ Thenne there felle to them what of Northwalys and of Cornewaile for sir Lamoraks sake and for sire Tristrams sake to the nombre of a four score knyghtes
¶ My lordes sayd syre Launcelot wete yow wel / I haue ben euer syns I came in to this Countrey wel wylled vnto my lord kynge Arthur / and vnto my lady Quene Gueneuer vnto my power / and this nyghte by cause my lady the quene sente for me to speke with her / I suppose it was made by treason how be hit / I dare largely excuse her persone / not withstandynge I was ther by a fore cast nere slayne / but as Ihesu prouyded me I escaped alle theyir malyce and treason /
¶ And thenne that noble knyghte sire Launcelot told hem al how he was hard bestad in the quenes chamber / and how and in what manere he escaped from them / And therfore sayd sir Launcelot wete yow wel my fayre lordes I am sure ther nys but werre vnto me and myn / And for by cause I haue slayn this nyghte these knyghtes I wote wel as is sire Agrauayne syr Gawayns broder / and at the leste twelue of his felawes / for this cause now I am sure of mortal warre / for these knyghtes were sente and ordeyned by kynge Arthur to bitraye me / And therfore the kynge wylle in his hete & malyce Iuge the quene to the fyre / and that maye I not suffre that she shold be brente for my sake / for and I may be herd and sufferd and soo taken / I wyll fyghte for the Quene that she is a true lady vnto her lord / but the kynge in his hete I drede me wylle not take me as a I oughte to be taken
MY lord syre Launcelot sayd sir Bors by myn aduys ye shalle take the wo with the wele / and take hit in pacyence / and thanke god of hit /
¶ And sythen
¶ Thenne sir launcelot stood styl and sayd / my fayre lordes
wete yow wel I wold be lothe to doo that thynge that shold
dishonoure yow or my blood / and wete yow wel I wold
be lothe that my lady the quene shold dye a shameful dethe /
but and hit be soo that ye wylle counceylle me to rescowe her /
I muste doo moche harme or I rescowe her / and
peraduenture I shal there destroye somme of my best frendes / that shold
moche repente me / and peraduenture there be somme / and they
coude wel brynge it aboute / or disobeye my lord kynge
Arthur they wold soone come to me / the whiche I were loth to
hurte / & yf so be þt I rescowe her where shal I kepe her / that shal
NOw torne we ageyne vnto syre Mordred / that whan
he was escaped from the noble knyghte sire Launcelot
he anone gat his hors and mounted vpon hym / and
rode vnto Kynge Arthur / sore wounded and smyten / and alle
¶ Ihesu mercy sayd the kynge he is a merueyllous knyghte of prowesse / Allas me sore repenteth sayd the Kynge that euer syr launcelot shold be ageynst me / Now I am sure the noble felaushyp of the round table is broken for euer / for with hym wille many a noble knyghte holde / and now it is fallen soo/ sayd the Kyng / that I may not with my worshyp / but the quene must suffer the dethe / Soo thenne there was made grete ordynaunce in this hete / that the quene must be Iuged to the deth And the lawe was suche in tho dayes that what someuer they were / of what estate or degree / yf they were fonde gylty of treson / there shold be none other remedy but dethe / and outher the men or the takynge with the dede shold be causer of their hasty Iugement / and ryghte soo was it ordeyned for quene gueneuer / by cause sir Mordred was escaped sore wounded / and the dethe of thyrtten knyghtes of the round table / these preues & experyences caused kynge Arthur to commaunde the quene to the fyre there to be brente / Thenne spake sir gawayn and sayd my lord Arthur I wold counceylle yow not to be ouer hasty / but that ye wold putte it in respyte this Iugement of my lady the quene for many causes /
¶ One it is though it were so
that sir Launcelot were fonde in the quenes chamber / yet it
myghte be soo that he came thyder for none euylle / for ye knowe
my lord said syr gawayne that the quene is moche beholden
vnto syr launcelot more than vnto ony other Knyghte / for
oftyme he hath saued her lyf / and done batail for her whan al the
Courte refused the quene / and parauenture she sente for hym
for goodenes and for none euyl to rewarde hym for his good
dedes that he had done to her in tymes past / And peraduenture
my lady the quene sente for hym to that entente that syr
Launcelot shold come to her good grace pryuely and secretely /
wenynge to her that hit was best so to do in eschewyng & dredyng
THenne sayd the noble Kynge Arthur to syre Gawayne / dere neuewe I pray yow make yow redy in your best armoure with youre bretheren syre Gaherys and syre Gareth to brynge my Quene to the fyre there to haue her Iugement and receyue the dethe
¶ Nay my moost noble
¶ Thenne whan syr launcelot had thus done and slayne / and putte to flyghte alle that wold withstande hym / Thenne he rode streyghte vnto dame Gueneuer and maade a kyrtyl and a gowne to be cast vpon her / and thenne he made her to be sette behynde hym / and prayd her to be of good chere / wete yow wel / the Quene was gladde that she was escaped from the dethe / And thenne she thanked god and sir Launcelot / and soo he rode his way with the Quene as the Frensshe book saith vnto Ioyous gard / and there he kepte her as a noble knyghte shold doo / & many grete lordes and somme kynges sent syr Launcelot many good knyghtes / and many noble knyghtes drewe vnto sir Launcelot /
¶ whan this was knowen openly that kyng Arthur and sire launcelot were at debate / many knyghtes were gladde of their debate / and many were ful heuy of their debate
SOo torne we ageyne vnto kynge Arthur that whan it was told hym / how and in what maner of wyse the quene was taken awey from the fyre / And whan he herd of the deth of his noble knyghtes / and in especyal of syr gaheris and sir Gareths deth / thenne the kyng swouned for pure sorou And whan he awoke of his swoun / thenne he sayd
¶ Allas
that euer I bare croun vpon my hede / For now haue I loste
the fayrest felaushyp of noble knyghtes that euer helde crysten
¶ Thenne ther came one vnto syr Gawayne and told hym /
how the Quene was ladde awaye with syr launcelot / & nygh
a xxiiij knyghtes slayne / O Ihesu defende my bretheren sayd sir
gawayne / for ful wel wyst I that syr launcelot wold rescowe
her / outher els he wold dye in that felde / and to saye the trouth
he had not ben a man of worshyp had he not rescowed the
quene that day / in so moche she shold haue ben brente for his sake
ALlas sayd sire Gawayne now is my Ioye gone / and
thenne he felle doune and swouned / and long he lay
there as he had ben dede / And thenne whanne he aroos of his
swoune / he cryed oute sorowfully and sayd Allas / and ryȝte
soo syr Gawayne ranne to the kynge cryenge and wepynge
O kynge Arthur myne vnkel my good broder syr Gareth is
slayne / soo is my broder syr Gaherys / the whiche were / ij /
noble knyghtes / Thenne the kynge wepte and he bothe / and so
they felle on swounynge / And whan they were reuyued
thenne spak sir Gawayne / syr I wyl go see my broder syr
Gareth / ye may not see hym sayd the kynge / for I caused hym to
be entered and syr gaherys bothe / For I wel vnderstood that
ye wold make ouer moche sorowe / and the syghte of sir
Gareth shold haue caused your double sorowe / Allas my lord
sayd syr Gawayne how slewe he my broder sir gareth myn own
good lord I praye yow telle me / Truly sayd the Kyng I shal
telle yow as it is told me / syre Launcelot slewe hym & sir
Gaheris bothe / Allas sayd sire Gawayne they bare none armes
THenne it befel vpon a daye in heruest tyme / syr launcelot loked ouer the walles / and spak on hyghe vnto Kynge Arthur and sir Gawayne / my lordes bothe wete ye wel al is in vayne that ye make at this syege / for here wynne ye no worshyp but maulgre and dishonoure / for and it lyste me to come my self oute and my good knyghtes I shold ful soone make an ende of this werre / Come forthe sayd Arthur vnto Launcelot and thou darst / and I promyse the / I shalle mete the in myddes of the felde / God defende me sayd sir Launcelot that euer I shold encountre with the moost noble kyng that made me knyghte / Fy vpon thy fayre langage sayd the kynge / for wete yow wel and trust it I am thy mortal fo / & euer wylle to my deth daye / for thou hast slayne my good knyghtes / and ful noble men of my blood that I shal neuer recouer ageyne /
¶ Also thow hast layne by my Quene &
holden her many wynters / and sythen lyke a traytour taken her
from me by force / my moost noble lord and kyng sayd sir
launcelot ye may say what ye will / for ye wote wel with youre
self wil I not stryue / but there as ye say I haue slayn your
good knyghtes I wote wel that I haue done soo / and that
me sore repenteth / but I was enforced to doo batail with hem /
in sauyng of my lyf or els I muste haue suffred hem to haue
slayne me / and as for my lady Quene Gueneuer except
your persone of your hyhenes / and my lord sire Gawayne there
is noo knyghte vnder heuen that dar make it good vpon me /
that euer I was a traytour vnto youre persone / And where hit
please yow to saye that I haue holden my lady youre Quene
t
tyme / but allas that euer I was so vnhappy sayd laūcelot þt I
had not sene syr Gareth and sir Gaherys / Thow lyest
recreaunt knyght sayd sir Gawayne / thow slewest hym in despyte
of me / And therfore wete thou wel I shalle make warre to
the / and alle the whyle that I may lyue / That me repenteth
said sir Launcelot / for wel I vnderstande it helpeth not to seke
none accordement whyle ye syr Gawayne ar soo mescheuously
sette / And yf ye were not / I wold not doubte to haue the
good grace of my lord Arthur / I byleue it wel fals recreaunt
knyght sayd sir Gawayne / for thow hast many longe dayes
ouer ladde me and vs alle / and destroyed many of oure good
knyghtes / ye saye as it pleaseth yow sayd syr launcelot / & yet
may it neuer be sayd on me / and openly preued that euer I
before cast of treason slewe no good knyghte as my lord syre
Gawayne ye haue done / And soo dyd I neuer / but in my
defense that I was dryuen therto in sauynge of my lyf /
¶ A fals knyghte sayd syre Gawayne that thow menest by syre Lamorak / wete thow wel I slewe hym / ye slewe hym not youre self sayd sir launcelot / hit had ben ouer moche on hand for yow to haue slayne hym / for he was one of the best knyghtes crystned of his age / and it was grete pyte of his dethe /
THenne came forth sir Gawayne from the kynges host
and he came before and proferd to Iuste / and sir
Lyonel was a fyres knyghte / and lyghtely he encoūtred
with syr Gawayne / & there sir Gawayne smote syr lyonel
thurgh oute the body / that he dasshed to the erthe / lyke as he had
ben dede / And thenne sir Ector de marys and other more
bare hym in to the Castel / thenne there beganne a grete stoure &
moche peple was slayne / and euer syr launcelot dyd what he
myghte to saue the peple on kynge Arthurs party / for syr
palomydes and syr Bors and syr Safyr ouerthrowe many
knyghtes / for they were dedely knyghtes / and syre Blamor de
ganys / and syr Bleoberys de ganys with sir Bellangere le
bewse / these syxe knyghtes dyd moche harme / and euer kynge
Arthur was nyghe aboute syr launcelot to haue slayn hym / &
syr launcelot suffred hym / and wold not stryke ageyne / Soo
syr Bors encountred with kynge Arthur / and there with a
spere syr Bors smote hym doun / & soo he alyghte and drewe
his swerd / and sayd to syr launcelot / shalle I make an ende
of this werre / & that he mente to haue slayn Kynge Arthur
Not soo hardy sayd syr launcelot vpon payn of thy hede / that
thou touche hym no more / for I wille neuer see that most
noble kynge that made me knyghte neyther slayn ne shamed /
& there with al syr laūcelot alyght of his hors & tooke vp the
kynge & horsed hym ageyn / & sayd thus / my lord Arthur for
goddes loue stynte this stryf / for ye gete here no worshyp / and
I wold doo myn vtteraūce / but alweyes I forbere yow / & ye
nor none of yours forbereth me / my lord remembre what I
haue done in many places / & now I am euylle rewarded
Thenne whan kyng Arthur was on horsbak / he loked vpon
syr launcelot / & thēne the teres brast out of his eyen /
thynkyng on the grete curtosy that was in syr laūcelot more than in
ony other man / & therwith the Kynge rode his wey / & myghte
no lenger beholde hym / & sayd Allas that euer this werre
began / & thēne eyther partyes of the batails withdrewe them to
repose them / & buryed the dede / & to the woūded men they leid softe
¶ Soo vpon the morne there came syre Gawayne as brym as ony bore with a grete spere in his hand / And whan sir Bors sawe hym / he thoughte to reuenge his broder syre Lyonel of the despyte that syr Gawayn dyd hym the other daye /
¶ And so they that knewe eyther other feutryd their speres / and with alle theire myghtes of their horses and hem self / they mette to gyder soo felonsly / that eyther bare other thorowe / and soo they felle both to the erthe / and thenne the batails ioyned / and there was moche slaughter on bothe partyes / Thenne sir launcelot rescowed syr Bors and sente hym in to the Castel / But neyder syr Gawayne nor syr Bors dyed not of their woundes / For they were alle holpen / Thenne syr Lauayne and sir Vrre prayd syr Launcelot to doo his payne / and fyȝte as they had done / for we see / ye forbere and spare / and that doth moche harme therfor we praye yow spare not youre enemyes noo more than they done yow / Allas sayd sire Launcelot I haue no herte to fyghte ageynst my lord Arthur / For euer me semeth I doo not as I oughte to doo / My lord sayd sir Palomydes though ye spare them alle this day / they will neuer conne yow thank And yf they may gete yow at auayle / ye are but dede /
¶ So
thenne syr Launcelot vnderstood that they sayd hym trouth
& thenne he strayned hym self more than he dyd afore hand /
and by cause his neuewe sir Bors was sore wounded / And
thenne within a lytel whyle by euensong tyme sire Launcelot
and his party better stode / for their horses wente in blood past
the fytloks / there was soo moche people slayne / And thenne
for pyte syr launcelot withhelde his knyghtes / and suffred
kynge Arthurs party for to withdrawe them on syde / And
thenne sir launcelots party withdrewe hem in to his Castel / and
eyther partyes buryed the dede / & putte salf vnto the wounded
men / Soo whan syre Gawayne was hurte / they on kyng
Arthurs party were not soo orgulous as they were to fore hand
to do bataill / Of this werre was noysed thorou al crystendome
& at the last it was noysed afore the pope / and he consyderyng
the grete godenes of kynge Arthur / & of sir laūcelot that was
SOo whan this Bisshop was come Carleyl / he
shewed the kynge these bulles / And whan the kyng
vnderstood these bulles / he nyst what to doo / ful fayne he wold
haue ben accorded with sir launcelot / but sir Gawayne wold
not suffre hym / but as for to haue the quene / ther to he agreed
But in no wyse syre Gawayne wold not suffer the kyng to
accorde with syr Launcelot / but as for the quene he consented /
And thenne the Bisshop had of the kynge his grete seal / &
his assuraunce as he was a true ennoynted kynge / that syre
Launcelot shold come sauf / and goo sauf / and that the quene
shold not be spoken vnto / of the kynge / nor of none other / for
no thynge done afore tyme past / and of alle these
appoyntementes / the Bisshop broughte hym sure assuraunce &
wrytynge to shewe sir Launcelot / So whan the Bisshop was
come to Ioyous gard / there he shewed sir launcelot how the pope
had wryten to Arthur and vnto hym / and there he told hym
the peryls yf he withhelde the quene from the kyng / It was
neuer in my thoughte saide laūcelot to withholde the quene from
my lord Arthur / but in soo moche she shold haue ben dede for
my sake / me semeth it was my parte to saue her lyf and putte
her from that daunger tyl better recouer myghte come / & now
I thanke god sayd sir Launcelot that the pope hath made her
pees / for god knoweth sayd syr launcelot I wylle be a
thousand fold more gladder to brynge her ageyne than euer I was
of her takyng away / With this I maye be sure to come sauf /
and goo sauf / and that the quene shal haue her lyberte as she
had before / and neuer for no thynge that hath ben surmysed
¶ Therfore sayd sir Launcelot vnto the Bisshop / ye shall ryde
vnto the kynge afore / and recommaunde me vnto his good
grace / and lete hym haue knowlechynge that this same daye
eyghte dayes by the grace of god / I my self shall brynge my
lady Quene Gueneuer vnto hym / and thenne saye ye vnto
my most redoubted kyng that I will say largely for the
quene / that I shalle none excepte for drede nor fere / but the kyng
hym self and my lord sire Gawayn / and that is more for the
kynges loue than for hym self / Soo the Bisshop departed and
came to the kynge at Carleyl / and told hym alle how sir
laūcelot ansuerd hym / and thenne the teres brast oute of the
kynges eyen / Thenne sire Launcelot purueyed hym an honderd
knyghtes / and alle were clothed in grene velowet / and theyr
horses trapped to their heles / and euery knyghte helde a
braunche of olyue in his hande in tokenyng of pees / and the
quenne had four and twenty gentylwymmen folowyng her in the
same wyse / and sir Launcelot had twelue coursers folowynge
hym / and on euery courser sat a yonge gentylman / and alle
they were arayed in grene veluet with sarpys of gold about
their quarters / and the hors trapped in the same wyse doune
to the helys with many ouches y sette with stones and perlys
in gold to the nombre of a thowsand / and she and sir
Launcelot were clothed in whyte clothe of gold tyssew / and ryght
soo as ye haue herd as the Frensshe book maketh mencyon /
he rode with the quene from Ioyous gard to Carleyl / and so
syr Launcelot rode thorou oute Carleyl and soo in the castel
that alle men myȝt beholde / & wete you wel ther was many a
¶ Wete yow wel thenne was there many bold knyghte ther with kynge Arthur that wepte as tendyrly / as though they had sene alle their kynne afore them / Soo the kynge sat stylle / and sayd no word / And whan syre Launcelot sawe his coūtenaunce / he arose and pulled vp the quene with hym / & thus he spak ful knyghtely
MY moost redoubted kynge ye shalle vnderstande by the popes commaundement and yours I haue brouȝt to yow my lady the quene as ryghte requyreth / And yf there be ony knyghte of what someuer degree that he be excepte your persone that wylle saye or dar say but that she is true & clene to yow / I here my self syr Launcelot du lake wylle make it good vpon his body that she is a true lady vnto yow / but lyars ye haue lystned / & that hath caused debate betwixt yow & me / For tyme hath ben my lord Arthur that ye haue ben gretely plesyd with me whan I dyd batail for my lady youre quene / & ful wel ye knowe my moost noble kynge / that she hath ben put to grete wrong or this tyme / & sythen it pleasyd yow at many tymes that I shold fyghte for her / me semeth my good lord I had more cause to rescowe her from the syre in soo moche she shold haue ben brente for my sake / For they that told yow tho tales were lyers / & soo it befelle vpon them / for by lykelyhode had not the myght of god ben with me / I myghte neuer haue endured fourten knyghtes & they armed & afore purposed & I vnarmed & not purposed / for I was sente for vnto my lady your quene I wote not for what cause / but I was not so soone within the chamber dore but anon syre Agrauayn & syr mordred called me traytour & recreaunt knyghte / They called the ryght sayd syr Gawayn
¶ My lord syre Gawayn said syre Launcelot in their quarel
they preued hem self not in the ryght / wel wel syr launcelot
THe Kynge maye doo as he wylle sayd sire Gawayne But wete thow wel syre Launcelot thow and I shalle neuer ben accorded whyle we lyue / for thou hast slayne thre of my bretheren / and two of them ye slewe traytourly and pytously / for they bare none harneis ageynst the nor none wold bere / god wold they had ben armed sayd sire Launcelot / for thenne had they ben on lyue
¶ And wete ye wel syre Gawayne as for sire Gareth I loue none of my kynnesmen so moche as I dyd hym / and euer whyle I lyue sayd sir launcelot I wille bewaile sir Gareths deth not al only for the grete fere I haue of yow / but many causes causen me to be sorouful / one is / for I made hym knyghte / another is / I wote wel he loued me aboue alle other knyghtes And the thyrd is / he was passynge noble / true curteys & gentyl / and wel condycyoned / the fourth is / I wyst wel anone as I herd that sir Gareth was dede / I shold neuer after haue your loue but euerlastynge werre betwixe vs / and also I wist well that ye wold cause my noble lorde Arthur for euer to be my mortal foo / And as Ihesu be my help sayd syr Launcelot I slewe neuer sir Gareth nor sir Gaherys by my wylle / but allas that euer they were vnarmed that vnhappy daye / But thus moche I shalle offre me said sir launcelot yf hit may please the kynges good grace and yow my lord sire Gawayne I shalle fyrst begynne at Sandwyche / and ther I shal goo in my shert bare foot / and at euery ten myles endes I wylle founde & garmake an hows of relygyon of what ordre that ye wyl assygne me with an hole Couent to synge and rede day & nyghte in especyal for syr Gareths sake and sir gaherys / And this shal I performe from Sandwyche vnto Carleil / And euery hows shal haue suffycyent lyuelode / and this shal I performe whyle I haue ony lyuelode in Crystendom / and there nys none of al these relygyous places / but they shal be performed / furnysshed and garnysshed in alle thynges as an holy place oughte to be / I promyse yow feythfully /
¶ And this sir Gawayne me thynketh were more fayrer
holyer & more better to their soules than ye my most noble kyng &
¶ Nay sayd sir Gawayne we are past that at this tyme / and that caused the pope / for he hath charged myn vnkel the kyng that he shalle take his Quene ageyne / and to accorde with the syr Launcelot as for this season / and therfor thow shalte goo sauf as thow camest / But in this land thou shalte not abyde past xv dayes suche somons I gyue the / soo the kyng and we were consented and accorded or thow camest / and els sayd syre Gawayne wete thow wel thou sholdest not haue comen here / but yf hit were maulgre thy hede / And yf it were not for the popes commaundement sayd syre Gawayne I shold do bataille with myn owne body ageynst thy body / and preue it vpon the / that thow hast ben bothe fals vnto myn vnkel kyng arthur and to me bothe / and that shalle I preue vpon thy body whan thow arte departed from hens where someuer I fynde the
THenne syr launcelot syghed / and there with the teres
felle on his chekes / and thenne he sayd thus / Allas
moost noble Crysten Realme whome I haue loued aboue al
other realmes / and in the I haue geten a grete parte of my
worshyp / and now I shalle departe in this wyse / Truly me
repenteth that euer I came in this realme that shold be thus
shamefully bannysshed vndeserued and causeles / but fortune
TRuly sayd sir Launcelot I thanke yow alle of youre
good sayenge / how be it / I wote wel / in me was not
alle the stabylyte of this realme / but in that I myght
I dyd my deuoyr / and wel I am sure I knewe many
rebellyons in my dayes that by me were peased / and I trowe we
alle shalle here of hem in shorte space / and that me sore
repenteth / For euer I drede me sayd syr launcelot that syr Mordred
wille make trouble / for he is passyng enuyous & applyeth hym
to trouble / So they were accorded to go with sir Launcelot to
his landes / and to make shorte tale / they trussed and payd
alle that wold aske hem / and holy an honderd knyghtes
departed with sir laūcelot at ones / and made their auowes / they
wold neuer leue hym for wele nor for wo / & so they shypped
at Cardyf / & sayled vnto Benwyk / somme men calle it bayen
and somme men calle it Beaume where the wyn of beaume is
But to saye the sothe / syre Launcelot and his neuewes were
lordis of alle Fraunce and of alle the landes that longed vnto
Fraunce / he and his kynred reioyced it alle thurgh syr
Laūcelots noble prowes / And thenne sir Launcelot stuffed &
furnysshed and garnysshed alle his noble townes and castels/
Thenne alle the peple of tho landes came to syr Launcelot on
foote and handes / and so whan he had stabled alle these
countreyes / he shortly called a parlement / and there he crouned
syr Lyonel kynge of Fraunce / and sire Bors crouned hym
kynge of al kynge Claudas landes and sir Etct;tor de marys/
that was sir launcelot yongest broder / he crouned hym Kynge
of Benwyk and kynge of alle Gyan that was sir launcelot
owne land / and he made sir Ector prynce of them alle / & thus
SO leue we syr Launcelot in his landes / and his
noble knyghtes with hym / and retorne we ageyne vnto
kynge Arthur and to syr Gawayne that made a
grete hoost redy to the nombre of thre score thousand / and al
thynge was made redy for their shyppyng to passe ouer the see / &
so they shypped at Cardyf / and there kynge Arthur made sir
Mordred chyef ruler of alle Englond / and also he put quene
Gueneuer under his gouernaunce by cause syr Mordred was
kynge Arthurs sone he gaf hym the rule of his land and of
his wyf / and soo the kynge passed the see and landed vpon
syr launcelots landes / and there he brente and wasted thurgh
the vengeaunce of syr gawayne al that they myghte
¶ Thenne
spak seuen bretheren of northwalys / and they were seuen
noble knyghtes / a man myghte seke in seuen kynges landes or
he myghte fynde suche seuen Knyghtes / Thenne they all said at
ones / syr launcelot for crystes sake lete vs oute ryde with sir
Galyhud / for we be neuer wonte to coure in castels nor in
noble Townes / Thenne spak sir Launcelot that was mayster &
gouernour of them alle / my fayre lordes wete yow wel I am
full lothe to ryde oute with my knyghtes for shedynge of
crysten blood and yet my lendes I vnderstande ben full bare / for
to susteyne ony hoost a whyle / for the myghty warres that
whylome made kyng Claudas vpon this countrey vpon my fader
kyng Ban & on myn vnkell Kyng Bors / how be it we will
as at this tyme kepe oure strong walles / & I shalle sende a
messager vnto my lord Arthur a treatyce for to take for
better is pees than allwayes warre / So sir laūcelot sente forth a
damoysell & a dwerfe with her / requyrynge Kynge Arthur to
THenne sir Gawayne sayd to the damoysel thus /
Damoysel saye ye to sir launcelot that it is wast labour
now to sewe to myn vnkel / for telle hym / and he wold
haue made ony labour for pees / he shold haue made it or this
tyme / for telle hym now it is to late / & saye that I sir
Gawayn soo sende hym word / that I promyse hym by the feythe I
owe vnto god and to knyghthode / I shal neuer leue hym /
tyl he haue slayne me / or I hym / Soo the damoysel wepte &
departed / and there were many wepyng eyen / and soo sir
lucan broughte the damoysel to her palfroy / and soo she came to
syr launcelot where he was among all his Knyghtes / & whan
t
noble kynge / that made me knyghte / And whan I may noo
ferther / I muste nedes defende me / and that wyll be more
worshyp for me and vs alle / than to compare with that noble
kynge whome we haue alle serued / Thenne they helde theire
langage / and as that nyghte they tooke their rest / And vpon the
morne erly in the daunynge of the daye / as knyghtes loked
oute / they sawe the Cyte of Benwyk byseged round aboute /
and fast they beganne to sette vp ladders / and thenne they
defyed hem oute of the Towne / and bete hem from the walles
wyghtely / Thenne came forth sire Gawayne wel armed vpon
a styf stede / and he came before the chyef gate with his spere/
in his hand cryenge / syr Launcelot where arte thow / is there
none of you proude knyghtes dare breke a spere with me /
Thenne sir Bors made hym redy / and came forth oute of the
Towne / and there sir Gawayne encountred with syre Bors
And at that tyme he smote sire Bors doune from his hors /
and al moost he had slayne hym / and soo sire Bors was
rescowed and borne in to the Towne / Thenne came forth sir
Lyonel broder to syr Bors / and thoughte to reuenge hym / and
eyther feutryd their speres / and ranne to gyder / and there they
mette spytefully / but sir Gawayn had suche grace that he
smote sir Lyonel doune / and wounded hym there passynge sore / &
thenne syr Lyonel was rescowed / and borne in to the towne/
And this sir Gawayne came euery day / and he fayled not/
but that he smote doune one knyghte or other / Soo thus they
endured half a yere / and moche slauȝter was of peple on both
partyes / Thenne hit befelle vpon a day / syr Gawayne came
afore the gates armed at alle pyeces on a noble hors with a
grete spere in his hand / and thenne he cryed with a lowde
voys / where arte thow now thou fals traytour syre Launcelot /
¶ Sir Launcelot now must ye
defende yow lyke a knyghte / or els ye be shamed for euer / for now
ye be called vpon treason / it is tyme for yow to stere / for ye
haue slepte ouer longe and suffred ouer moche / Soo god me
helpe sayd sire Launcelot I am ryghte heuy of sire Gawayns
wordes / for now he charged me with a grete charge / And
therfor I wote it as wel as ye that I muste defende me / or els to
be recreaunt / Thenne syr launcelot badde sadel his strongest
hors / and bad lete fetche his armes / and brynge alle vnto the
gate of the Toure / and thenne sir Launcelot spak on hygh
vnto kynge Arthur / and sayd my lord Arthur and noble
kynge that made me knyghte / wete yow wel / I am ryghte heuy
for your sake / that ye thus sewe vpon me / and alweyes I
forbere yow / for and I wold haue ben vengeable / I myghte
haue mette yow in myddes of the felde / and there to haue
made your boldest knyghtes ful tame / and now I haue forborne
half a yere / and suffred yow and sire Gawayne to doo what
ye wold doo / and now I may endure it no lenger / for now
muste I nedes defende my self / in soo moche syr Gawayne hath
apeeled me of treason / the whiche is gretely ageynste my will
that euer I shold fyghte ayenst ony of your blood / but now
I maye not forsake hit / I am dryuen there to as a beste tyll
a baye / Thenne sir Gawayne sayd sir Launcelot / and thou
darst doo batail / leue thy babblynge / and come of / and lete vs
ease our hertes / Thenne syr Launcelot armed hym lyghtely / &
mounted vpon his hors / and eyther of the knyghtes gat
grete speres in their handes / and the hooste withoute stood stylle
all a parte / and the noble knyghtes came oute of the Cyte by
a grete nombre / in so moche that whan Arthur sawe the
nombre of men and knyghtes / he merueylled and sayd to hym
self / Allas that euer sir launcelot was ageynst me / for now I
see he hath forborne me / and so the couenaunt was made / there
shold no man nyghe hem / nor dele with hem / tyl the one were
THan syr Gauwayn and syr Launcelot departed a grete waye in sonder / & than they cam to gyder with al their hors myght as they myght renne & eyther smote other in myddes of their sheldes / but the knyghtes were soo stronge & theyr sperys so bygge that their horses myȝt not endure her buffettes / & so their horses fyl to therthe / & than they auoyded their horses & dressyd her sheldes afore them / Than they stode to gyders & gaf many sad strokes on dyuers places of theyr bodyes that the blood braste oute on many sydes and places / Thenne had Syr Gauwayn suche a grace and gyfte that an holy man had gyuen to hym That euery day in the yere from vnderne tyl hyhe none hys myght encreaced tho thre houres as moche as thryse hys strengthe / and that caused syr Gauwayn to wynne grete honour /
¶ And for hys sake kyng Arthur maad an ordenaunce that al maner of bataylles for ony quarellys that shold be done afore kyng Arthur shold begynne at vndern / & al was done for syr Gawayns loue / that by lyklyhode yf Syr Gauwayn were on the one parte he shold haue the better in batayl whyle his strengthe endured thre houres / but there were but fewe knyghtes that tyme lyuyng that knewe this aduauntage that syr Gauwayn had / but kyng Arthur all onelye / Thus syr Launcelot faught with syr Gauwayn / & whan syr Launcelot felte hys myght euer more encreace syr Launcelot wondred & dredde hym sore to be shamed For as the frensshe book sayth Syr Launcelot wende whan he felte syr Gauwayn double his strengthe that he had ben a fende and none erthely man / wherfore Syr Launcelotte traced and trauersyd and couerd hym self wyth his shelde and kepte his myght and his brayde duryng thre houres / And that whyle Syr Gauwayn gaf hym many sadde bruntes
¶ And many sadde strokes that al the knyghtes that behelde syr Launcelot meruaylled how that he myȝt endure hym / but ful lytell vnderstood they that trauaylle that Syr Launcelot had for to endure hym
¶ And thenne whan hit was paste none Syr
Gauwayn had noo more but hys owne myght / Thenne syr
ALas said the kynge that euer this vnhappy warre was
begonne / for euer syr Launcelot forbereth me in al
places / & in lyke wyse my kynne / & that is sene wel thys
day by my neuew syr Gauwayn / Thanne kyng Arthur fyl seek
for sorowe of syr Gauwayn that he was so sore hurt / and by
cause of the warre betwyxt hym and syr Launcelot / So than
they on kyng arthurs partye kepte the syege wyth lytel warre
withoutforth / & they withinforth kepte theyr walles / &
deffended them whan nede was / Thus syr Gauwayn laye seek thre
wekes in his tentes wyth al maner of leche crafte that myȝt
be had. & assone as syr Gawayn myȝt goo & ryde / he armyd
hym at al poyntes & sterte vpon a courser and gate a spere in
his hande / and so he came rydyng afore the chyef gate of
barwyk / and there he cryed on heyght where art thou sir
Launcelot come forth thou fals traytour knyȝt & recreante for I am
here sir Gauwayn wyl preue this that I say on the / Alle thys
langage sir Launcelot herde / & than he sayd thus / sir Gawayn
me repentys of your sayeng that ye wyll not sease of
¶ And wel ye wote syr Gauwayn ye may not gretelye hurte me / Come doune traytour knyght sayd he & make it good the contrarye wyth thy handes / For it myshapped me the laste bataylle to be hurte of thy handes
¶ Therfore wyte thou wel I am come thys day to make amendys / For I wene thys day to laye the as lowe as thou laydest me / Ihesu deffende me sayd syr Launcelot that euer I be so ferre in your daunger as ye haue ben in myn / for than my dayes were doon / But syr Gauwayn sayd syr Launcelot ye shal not thynke that I tary longe / but sythen that ye so vnknyghtelye calle me of treson ye shalle haue bothe your handes ful of me / And than syr Launcelot armed hym at al poyntes and mounted vpon his hors / and gate a grete spere in hys hande and rode oute at the gate / And bothe the hoostes were assembled / of hem wythoute and of them wythin / & stode in a raye ful manlye / And bothe partyes were charged to holde them stylle / to see and beholde the bataylle of these ij noble knyghtes / And thenne they layed their speerys in their reystys and they came to gyder as thondre / and syr Gawayn brake his spere vpon syr Launcelot in an hondred pyeces vnto his hande / & syr Launcelot smote hym wyth a gretter myght that syr Gauwayns hors sete reysed / and so the hors and he fyl to the erthe /
¶ Thenne syr Gauwayn delyuerlye auoyded / his hors and put his shelde afore hym / and eygyrlye drewe his swerde and bad Syr Launcelot alyghte traytoure knyght / for yf thys marys sone hath faylled me / wyt thou wel a kynges sone and a quenes sone shal not faylle the /
¶ Than syr Launcelot auoyded his hors & dressyd his shelde afore hym and drewe hys swerde and soo stode they to gyders and gaf many sad strokes that all men on bothe partyes had therof passyng grete wonder /
¶ But whan Syr Launcelot
felte Syr Gawyns myght soo meruayllously encrees / He
than with helde his courage and his wynde / & kepte hym self
wonder couert of his myght / and vnder his shelde he trasyd
and trauersyd here & there to breke syr Gauwayns strokes &
his courage / and syr Gauwayn enforced hym self with al his
myght and power to destroye syr Launcelot for as the frensshe
¶ And thenne Syr Launcelot stode nerre syr Gauwayn / and thenne syr Launcelot doubled hys strokes / And syr Gauwayn deffended hym myghtelye but neuerthelesse syr Launcelot smote suche a stroke vpon sir Gauwayns helme / and vpon the olde wounde that syr Gauwayn synked doun vpon hys one syde in a swounde / And anone as he dyd awake he wauyd and foyned at syr Launcelot as he laye / and sayd traytour knyght wyt thou wel I am not yet slayn / Come thou nere me and perfourme thys bataylle vnto the vttermyst /
¶ I wyl nomore doo than I haue doon sayd syr Launcelot / For whan I see you on fote I wyll doo bataylle vpon you alle the whyle I see you stande on your feet / but for to smyte a wounded man that may not stonde god deffende me from suche a shame / and thenne he tourned hym and wente his waye toward the cytee / And syr Gauwayn euermore callyng hym traytour knyght / and sayd wyt thou wel syr launcelot whan I am hoole I shal doo bataylle wyth the ageyn
¶ For I shal neuer leue the tyl that one of vs be slayn / Thus as thys syege endured & as syr Gauwayn laye seek nere a monthe / and whan he was wel recouerd and redy wythin thre dayes te do bataylle ageyn wyth syr Launcelot Ryght so came tydynges vnto Arthur from Englond that made kyng Arthur and al his hoost to remeue /
AS syr Mordred was rular of alle englond he dyd do make letters as though that they came from beyonde the see / and the letters specefyed that Kynge Arthur was slayn in bataylle wyth syr Launcelot /
¶ Wherfor Syr Mordred made a parlemente / and called the lordes togyder / & there he made them to chese hym kyng & soo was he crowned at caunterburye and helde a feest there xv dayes / & afterward he drewe hym vnto wynchester / and there he took the Quene Gueneuer and sayd playnly that he wolde wedde hyr / whyche was his vnkyls wyf and his faders wyf / And soo he made redy for the feest / And a day prefyxt that they shold be wedded / wherfore quene Gweneuer was passyng huey / But she durst not dyscouer hyr herte but spake fayre / & agreyd to syr Mordredes wylle /
¶ Thenne she desyred of syr Mordred for to goo to London to bye alle manere of thynges that longed vnto the weddyng / And by cause of hyr fayre speche Syr Mordred trusted hyr wel ynough / and gaf her leue to goo / and soo whan she came to London she took the toure of London / and sodeynlye in alle haste possyble she stuffed hyt wyth alle manere of vytaylle / & wel garnysshed it with men and soo kepte hyt /
¶ Than whan Syr Mordred wyste and vnderstode how he was begyled he was passyng wrothe oute of mesure / And a shorte tale for to make he wente and layed a myghty syege aboute the toure of London / and made many grete assaultes therat / And threwe many grete engynes vnto theym / and shotte grete gonnes / But alle myght not preuaylle Syr mordred / For quene Gueneuer wolde neuer for fayre speche nor for foule wold neuer truste to come in hys handes ageyn /
¶ Thenne came the bysshop of
caunterburye the whyche was a noble clerke and an holy man / and
thus he sayd to Syr mordred / Syr what wyl ye doo / wyl ye
fyrst dysplese god and sythen shame your self / & al
knyghthode / Is not kyng Arthur your vncle no ferther but your
moders broder / & on hir hym self kyng Arthur bygate you vpon
his own syster / therfor how may you wedde your faders wyf
Syr sayd the noble clerke leue this oppynyon or I shall curse
you wyth book & belle and candell / Do thou thy werst said syr
Mordred wyt thou wel I shal defye the / sir sayd the bysshop &
ANd soo as sire mordred wat at Douer with his host
there came kyng Arthur with a grete nauye of
shyppes and galeyes and Carryks / & there was syr Mordred
redy awaytynge vpon his londage to lette his owne fader to
lāde vp the lande that he was kyng ouer / thenne there was
launcynge of grete botes and smal / and ful of noble men of
armes / and there was moche slaughter of gentyl knyghtes and
many a full bolde baron was layd ful lowe on bothe partyes /
But kynge Arthur was soo couragyous that there myght no
maner of knyghtes lette hym to lande / and his knyghtes
fyersly folowed hym / and so they landed maulgre sir mordreds
and alle his power / and put sir mordred abak that he fledde &
alle his peple / Soo whan this batail was done / kyng Arthur
lete burye his peple that were dede / And thenne was noble syr
Gawayne fonde in a grete bote lyenge more than half dede /
Whan syr Arthur wyst that syre Gawayne was layd so lowe
he wente vnto hym / and there the kyng made sorowe oute of
mesure / and took sire Gawayne in his armes / and thryes he
there swouned / And thenne whan he awaked / he sayd / allas
sir Gawayne my systers sone / here now thow lyggest the man
in the world that I loued moost / and now is my Ioye gone /
for now my neuewe syre Gawayne I will discouer me vnto
your persone / in syr Launcelot & you I moost had my Ioye / &
myn affyaunce / & now haue I lost my Ioye of you bothe /
wherfor alle myn erthely Ioye is gone from me / Myn vnkel kyng
Arthur said sir Gawayn wete you wel my deth day is come / &
alle is thorou myn owne hastynes & wilfulnes / for I am
smyten vpon thold wounde the which sir launcelot gaf me / on the
whiche I fele wel I must dye / & had sir laūcelot ben with you
as he was / this vnhappy werre had neuer begonne / & of alle
this am I causer / for sir laūcelot & his blood thorou their prowes
ANd thenne the kyng lete serche all the townes for his
knyghtes that were slayne / and enteryd them / &
salued them with softe salues that so sore were wounded /
Thenne moche peple drewe vnto kynge Arthur / And thenne they
sayd that sir Mordred warred vpon kyng Arthur with
wronge / and thenne kynge Arthur drewe hym with his hoost
doune by the see syde westward toward Salysbury / and ther
was a day assygned betwixe kyng Arthur and sire mordred
that they shold mete vpon a doune besyde Salysbury / and not
ferre from the see syde / and this day was assygned on a
monday after Trynyte sonday / wherof kyng Arthur was passyng
glad that he myghte be auengyd vpon sire Mordred / Thenne
syr Mordred areysed moche peple aboute london / for they of
Kente Southsex and Surrey / Estsex and of Southfolke and
of Northfolk helde the most party with sir Mordred / and
many a ful noble knyghte drewe vnto syr Mordred and to the
kynge / but they loued sir Launcelot drewe vnto syr Mordred
Soo vpon Trynyte sonday at nyghte kynge Arthur dremed
¶ Than the kyng comaunded syr Lucan de butlere And his broder syr Bedwere with two bysshoppes wyth hem and charged theym in ony wyse & they myght take a traytyse for a monthe day wyth Syr mordred / And spare not proffre hym londes & goodes as moche as ye thynke best / So than they departed & came to syr Mordred where he had a grymme hoost of an hondred thousand men / And there they entreted syr Mordred longe tyme and at the laste Syr mordred was agreyd for to haue Cornwayl and kente by Arthures dayes After alle Englond after the dayes of kyng Arthur /
THan were they condesended that Kyng Arthure and syr
mordred shold mete betwyxte bothe theyr hoostes and
eueryche of them shold brynge fourtene persones And
they came wyth thys word vnto Arthure / Than sayd he I am
glad that thys is done And so he wente in to the felde / And
whan Arthure shold departe he warned al hys hoost that and
they see ony swerde drawen look ye come on fyersly and slee
that traytour syr Mordred for I in noo wyse truste hym / In
lyke wyse syr mordred warned his hoost that and ye see ony
swerde drawen look that ye come on fyersly & soo slee alle that
euer before you stondeth / for in no wyse I wyl not truste for
thys treatyse / For I knowe wel my fader wyl be auenged on
me / And soo they mette as theyr poyntemente was & so they
were agreyd & accorded thorouly / And wyn was fette and
they dranke / Ryght soo came an adder oute of a lytel hethe
busshe & hyt stonge a knyghte on the foot / & whan the knyght
felte hym stongen he looked doun and sawe the adder / & than
he drewe his swerde to slee the adder / & thought of none other
harme / And whan the hoost on bothe partyes saw that swerde
¶ And syr mordred in like wyse / And neuer was there seen a more doolfuller bataylle in no crysten londe / For there was but russhyng & rydyng fewnyng and strykyng & many a grymme worde was there spoken eyder to other & many a dedely stroke But euer kyng Arthur rode thorugh oute the bataylle of syr Mordred many tymes / & dyd ful nobly as a noble Kyng shold / & at al tymes he faynted neuer & syr Mordred that day put hym in deuoyr and in grete perylle
¶ And thus they faughte alle the longe day & neuer stynted tyl the noble knyghtes were layed to the colde erthe / & euer they faught stylle tyl it was nere nyghte & by that tyme was there an hondred thousand layed deed vpon the down / Thenne was Arthure wode wrothe oute of mesure whan he sawe his peple so slayn from hym /
¶ Thenne the kyng loked aboute hym / & thenne was he ware of al hys hoost & of al his good knyghtes were lefte no moo on lyue but two knyghtes that one was Syr Lucan de butlere & his broder Syr Bedwere / And they were ful sore wounded / Ihesu mercy sayd the kyng where are al my noble knyghtes becomen Alas that euer I shold see thys dolefull day / for now sayd Arthur I am come to myn ende /
¶ But wolde to god that I wyste where were that traytour Syr mordred that hath caused alle thys meschyef / Thenne was kyng arthure ware where syr Mordred lenyd vpon his swerde emonge a grete hepe of deed men / Now gyue me my spere sayd Arthur vnto Syr Lucan / For yonder I haue espyed the traytour that alle thys woo hath wrought / Syr late hym be sayd Syr Lucan for he is vnhappy / And yf ye passe thys vnhappy day ye shalle be ryght wel reuengyd vpon hym
¶ Good lord remembre ye of
your nyghtes dreme / & what the spyryte of Syr Gauwayn
tolde you this nyght / yet god of his grete goodnes hath
preserued you hyderto / Therfore for goddes sake my lord leue of
by thys / for blessyd by god ye haue wonne the felde / For
here we ben thre on lyue / and wyth syr Mordred is none on
lyue / And yf ye leue of now thys wycked day of desteynye
¶ God spede you wel sayd syr bedwere / Thenne the kyng gate hys spere in bothe his handes & ranne toward syr Mordred cryeng tratour now is thy deth day come / And whanne syr Mordred herde syr Arthur he ranne vntyl hym with his swerde drawen in his hande And there kyng Arthur smote syr mordred vnder the shelde wyth a foyne of his spere thorughoute the body more than a fadom / And whan syr Mordred felte that he had hys dethes wounde / He thryst hym self wyth the myght that he had vp to the bur of kynge Arthurs spere / And right so he smote his fader Arthur wyth his swerde holden in bothe his handes on the syde of the heed that he swerde persyd the helmet and the brayne panne / and therwythall syr Mordred fyl starke deed to the erthe / And the nobyl Arthur fyl in a swoune to the erthe / and there he swouned ofte tymes / And syr Lucan de butlere and syr Bedwere oftymes heue hym vp / And soo waykely they ledde hym betwyxte them bothe to a lytel chapel not ferre from the see syde / And whan the kyng was there he thought hym wel eased / Thenne herde they people crye in the felde / Now goo thou syr Lucan sayd the kyng and do me to wyte what bytokenes that noyse in the felde / So syr Lucan departed for he was greuously wounded in many places And so as he yede he sawe and herkened by the mone lyght how that pyllars and robbers were comen in to the felde To pylle and robbe many a ful noble knyghte of brochys and bedys of many a good rynge & of many a ryche Iewel / and who that were not deed al oute / there they slewe theym for theyr harneys and theyr rychesse / Whan syr Lucan vnderstode thys werke he came to the kyng assone as he myght and tolde hym al what he had herde & seen / Therfore be my rede sayd syr Lucan it is beste that we brynge you to somme towne I wolde it were soo sayd the kyng /
BVt I may not stonde myn hede werches soo / A Syr Launcelot sayd the kyng Arthur thys day haue I sore myst the / Alas that euer I was ayenst the / for now haue I my dethe / Wherof syr Gauwayn me warned in my dreme / Than syr lucan took vp the kyng the one parte And Syr Bedwere the other parte / & in the lyftyng the kyng sowned and syr Lucan fyl in a sowne wyth the lyfte that the parte of his guttes fyl oute of his bodye / And therwyth the noble knyghtes herte braste / And whan the kyng awake he behelde syr Lucan how he laye foomyng at the mowth & parte of his guttes laye at his feet /
¶ Alas sayd the kyng thys is to me a ful heuy fyght to see thys noble duke so deye for my sake / for he wold haue holpen me that had more nede of helpe than I / Alas he wold not complayne hym / hys herte was so sette to helpe me / Now Ihesu haue mercy vpon hys soule / than syr bedwere wepte for the deth of his brother / leue thys mornyng & wepyng sayd the kyng for al this wyl not auaylle me / for wyte thou wel and I myght lyue my self / the deth of syr Lucan wolde greue me euer more / but my tyme hyeth fast sayd the kyng / Therfore sayd Arthur vnto syr Bedwere take thou Excalybur my god swerde and goo with it to yonder water syde / and whan thou comest there I charge the throwe my swerde in that water & come ageyn and telle me what thou there seest / My lord sad Bedwere your commaundement shal be doon & lyghtly brynge you worde ageyn So syr Bedwere departed / & by the waye he behelde that noble swerde that the pomel & the haste was al of precyous stones / & thenne he sayd to hym self yf I throwe this ryche swerde in the water therof shal neuer come good but harme & losse / And thenne syr bedwere hydde excalybur vnder a tree / And so as sone as he myght he came ageyn vnto the kygn and sayd he had ben at the water and had throwen the swerde in to the water /
¶ What sawe thou there sayd the kyng / syr he sayd
I sawe no thynge but wawes and wyndes / That is
vntrewly sayd of the sayd the kynge / Therfore goo thou lyghtelye
ageyn and do my commaundemente as thou arte to me leef &
dere spare not but throwe it in / Than syr bedwere retorned
ageyn & took the swerde in hys hande / and than hym thought
¶ Thenne Syr Bedwere departed and wente to the swerde and lyghtly took hit vp / and wente to the water syde and there he bounde the gyrdyl aboute the hyltes / and thenne he threwe the swerde as farre in to the water as he myght / & there cam an arme and an hande aboue the water and mette it / & caught it and so shoke it thryse and braundysshed / and than vanysshed awaye the hande wyth the swerde in the water / So syr Bedwere came ageyn to the kyng and tolde hym what he sawe
¶ Alas sayd the kyng helpe me hens for I drede me I haue taryed ouer longe / Than syr Bedwere toke the kyng vpon his backe and so wente wyth hym to that water syde / & whan they were at the water syde / euyn fast by the banke houed a lytyl barge wyth many fayr ladyes in hit / & emonge hem al was a quene / and al they had blacke hoodes / and al they wepte and shryked whan they sawe Kyng Arthur /
¶ Now put me in to the barge sayd the kyng and so he dyd softelye / And there receyued hym thre quenes wyth grete mornyng and soo they sette hem doun / and in one of their lappes kyng Arthur layed hys heed / and than that quene sayd a dere broder why haue ye taryed so longe from me / Alas this wounde on your heed hath caught ouermoche colde / And soo than they rowed from the londe / and syr bedwere behelde all tho ladyes goo from hym /
¶ Than syr bedwere cryed a my
lord Arthur what shal become of me now ye goo from me /
And leue me here allone emonge myn enemyes / Comfort thy
¶ And yf thou here neuer more of me praye for my soule / but euer the quenes and ladyes wepte and shryched that hit was pyte to here / And assone as syr Bedwere had loste the syght of the baarge he wepte and waylled and so took the foreste / and so he wente al that nyght / and in the mornyng he was ware betwyxte two holtes hore af a chapel and an ermytage /
THan was syr Bedwere glad and thyder he wente & whan he came in to the chapel he sawe where laye an heremyte grouelyng on al foure there fast by a tombe was newe grauen / whan the Eremyte sawe syr Bedwere he knewe hym wel / for he was but lytel tofore bysshop of caunterburye that syr Mordred flemed / Syr sayd Syr Bedwere what man is there entred that ye praye so fast fore / Fayr sone sayd the heremyte I wote not verayly but by my demyyng / But thys nyght at mydnyght here came a nombre of ladyes / and broughte hyder a deed cors / and prayed me to berye hym / and here they offeryd an hondred tapers and they gaf me an hondred besauntes
¶ Alas sayd syr bedwere that was my lord kyng Arthur that here lyeth buryed in thys chapel / Than syr bedwere swowned and whan he awoke he prayed the heremyte he myght abyde wyth hym stylle there / to lyue wyth fastyng and prayers / For from hens wyl I neuer goo sayd syr bedwere by my wylle but al the dayes of my lyf here to praye for my lord Arthur / Ye are welcome to me sayd the heremyte for I knowe you better than ye wene that I doo / Ye are the bolde bedwere and the ful noble duke Syr lucan de butlere was your broder / Thenne syr Bedwere tolde the heremyte alle as ye haue herde to fore / so there bode syr bedwere with the hermyte that was tofore bysshop of Caunterburye / and there syr bedwere put vpon hym poure clothes / and seruyd the hermyte ful lowly in fastyng and in prayers
¶ Thus of Arthur I fynde
neuer more wryton in boookes that ben auctorysed nor more
YEt somme men say in many partyes of Englond that kyng Arthur is not deed / But had by the wylle of our lord Ihesu in to another place / and men say that he shal come ageyn & he shal wynne the holy crosse. I wyl not say that it shal be so / but rather I wyl say here in thys world he chaunged his lyf / but many men say that there is wryton vpon his tombe this vers
¶
¶ Now leue we
quene Gueneuer in Almesburye a nonne in whyte clothes &
blacke and there she was abbesse and rular as reason wolde
ANd whan he herde in his contreye that Syr Mordred was crowned kyng in Englond and maad warre ayenst kyng Arthur his owne fader / and wolde lette hym to lande in hys owne londe /
¶ Also it was tolde Syr Launcelot how that syr Mordred had layed syege aboute the toure of london by cause the quene wold not wedde hym / Than was syr Launcelot wroth oute of mesure and sayd to his kynnesmen alas that double traytour syr Mordred now me repenteth that euer he escaped my handes / for moche shame hath he done vnto my lord Arthur for alle I fele by the doleful letter that My lord syr Gauwayn sente me / on whos soule Iℏu haue mercy / that my lord Arthur is ful harde bestadde / Alas sayd syr Launcelot that euer I shold lyue to here that moost noble kyng that maad me knyght thus to be ouersette wyth his subiecte in his owne royame
¶ And this doleful letter that my
lord syr Gauwayn hath sente me afore his deth / prayeng me
to see his tombe / wyt you wel his doleful wordes shal neuer
goo from myn herte / For he was a ful noble knyght as euer
was borne / and in an vnhappy houre was I borne that euer
I shold haue that vnhappe to slee fyrst syr Gauwayn syr
Gaheris the good knyght and myn owne frende syr Gareth that
ful noble knyght / Alas I may say I am vnhappy sayd Syr
Launcelot that euer I shold do thus vnhappely / and alas yet
myght I neuer haue happe to slee that traytour syr Mordred
Leue your complayntes sayd syr Bors & fyrst reuenge you
of the deth of syr Gauwayn / & hit wyl be wel done that ye see
syr Gauwayns tombe / & secondly that ye reuenge my lord
Arthur and my lady quene Gueneuer / I thanke you sayd Syr
Launcelot for euer ye wyl my worshyp / Than they made them
redy in al the haste that myȝt be with shyppes & galeyes wyth
syr Launcelot & his hoost to passe in to englond / & so he passyd
ouer the see tyl he came to douer & there he landed wyth seuen
kynges / & the nombre was hydous to beholde / Than syr
Launcelot spyrred of men of douer where was kyng Arthur become
Than the peple tolde hym how that he was slayn / And Syr
THan came syr Bors de ganys and sayd my lord syr
Launcelot what thynke ye for to doo / now to ryde in
this royame wyt you wel ye shal fynde fewe frendes
be as be may sayd Syr Launcelot kepe you stylle here / for I
wyl forth on my Iourney / and noo man nor chylde shall goo
with me / So it was no bote to stryue but the departed and rode
BVt sythen I fynde you thus desposed I ensure you
faythfully I wyl euer take me to penaunce & praye whyle
my lyf lasteth / yf that I may fynde ony heremyte other
graye or whyte that wyl receyue me / wherfore madame I praye
you kysse me & neuer nomore / Nay sayd the quene that shal I
neuer do / but absteyne you from suche werkes & they departed
but there was neuer so harde an herted man but he wold haue
wepte to see the dolour that they made / for there was
laementacyon as they had be stungyn wyth sperys / and many tymes
they swouned / & the ladyes bare the quene to hir chambre / &
syr Launcelot awok & went & took his hors & rode al that day
& al nyȝt in a forest wepyng / & atte last he was ware of an
Ermytage & a chappel stode betwyxte two clyffes / and than he
herde a lytel belle rynge to masse / and thyder he rode & alyght
& teyed his hors to the gate & herd masse / & he that sange masse
was the bysshop of caunterburye / bothe the bysshop & sir
Bedwer knewe syr Launcelot / & they spake to gyders after masse
but whan syr Bedwere had tolde his tale al hole syr
Launcelottes hert almost braste for sorowe / & sir Launcelot threwe hys
armes abrode / & sayd alas who may truste thys world / & than
he knelyd doun on his knee and prayed the bysshop to shryue
hym and assoyle hym / and than he besought the bysshop that he
myght be hys brother / Than the bysshop sayd I wyll gladly
and there he put an habyte vpon Syr Launcelot / and there he
seruyd god day and nyȝt with prayers and fastynges / Thus
the grete hoost abode at douer and than sir Lyonel toke fyftene
lordes with hym & rode to london to seke sir Launcelot / & there
syr Lyonel was slayn and many of his lordes / Thenne Syr
Bors de ganys made the grete hoost for to goo hoome ageyn
THan syr Launcelot rose vp oe day & tolde the heremyte
It were wel done sayd the heremyte that ye made you
redy / & that ye dyshobeye not the auysyon / Than syr
Launcelot toke his vij felowes with hym & on fore they yede
from glastynburye to almysburye the whyche is lytel more
THen̄e syr Launcelot neuer after ete but lytel mete nor
dranke tyl he was dede / for than he seekened more and
more and dryed & dwyned awaye / for the bysshop nor none
of his felowes myȝt not make hym to ete and lytel he dranke
that he was waxen by a kybbet shorter than he was / that the
peple coude not knowe hym / for euermore day & nyȝt he prayed
but somtyme he slombred a broken slepe / euer he was lyeng
grouelyng on the tombe of kyng Arthur & quene Gueneuer / &
there was no comforte that the bysshop nor syr Bors nor none
of his felowes coude make hym it auaylled not / Soo wythin
syx wekye after syr Launcelot fyl seek and laye in his bedde
& thenne he sente for the bysshop that there was heremyte and
al his trewe felowes / Than Syr Launcelot sayd wyth drery
steuen / syr bysshop I praye you gyue to me al my ryghtes that
longeth to a chrysten man / It shal not nede you sayd the
heremyte and al his felowes / It is but heuynesse of your blood
ye shal be wel mended by the grace of god to morne / My fayr
lordes sayd syr Launcelot wyt you wel my careful body wyl
in to therthe I houe warnyng more than now I wyl say /
therfore gyue me my ryghtes / So whan he was howselyd and
enelyd / and had al that a crysten man ought to haue he
prayed the bysshop that his felowes myght bere his body to
Ioyous garde / Somme men say it was anwyk / & somme may say
it was hamborow how be it sayd syr Launcelot me repenteth
sore but I made myn auowe somtyme that in ioyous garde I
wold be buryed / and by cause of brekyng of myn auowe I
praye you al lede me thyder / Than there was wepyng and
wryngyng of handes among his felowes / So at a seson of the
nyght they al wente to theyr beddes for they alle laye in one
chambre / And so after mydnyght ayenst day the bysshop then
was hermyte as he laye in his bedd a slepe he fyl vpon a grete
laughter / and therwyth al the felyshyp awoke and came to
ANd whan syr Ector herde suche noyse & lyghte in the
quyre of Ioyous garde he alyght & put his hors from
hym & came in to the quyre & there he sawe men synge
wepe / & al they knewe syr Ector / but he knewe not them / than
wente syr Bors vnto syr Evctor & tolde hym how there laye
his brother syr Launcelot dede / & than Syr Ector threwe hys
shelde swerde & helme from hym / & whan he behelde syr
Launcelottes vysage he fyl doun in a swoun / & whan he waked
it were harde ony tonge to telle the doleful complayntes that
t euer cam emonge prees of knyghtes / & thou was the mekest
man & the Ientyllest that euer ete in halle emonge ladyes / &
thou were the sternest knyght to thy mortal foo that euer put
spere in the breste / than there was wepyng & dolour out of
mesure / Thus they kepte syr Launcelots corps on lofte xv dayes
& than they buryed it with grete deuocyon / & than at leyser
they wente al with the bysshop of canterburye to his ermytage
& there they were to gyder more than a monthe / Than syr
costantyn that was syr Cadores sone of cornwayl was chosen
kyng of Englond / & he was a ful noble knyght / &
worshypfully he rulyd this royame / & than thys kyng Costantyn sent
for the bysshop of caunterburye for he herde saye where he was
& so he was restored vnto his bysshopryche / & lefte that
Ermytage / And Syr Bedwere was there euer stylle heremyte
to his lyues ende / Than syr Bors de ganys / syr Ector de
maris / syr Gahalantyne / syr Galyhud / sir Galyhodyn / syr
Blamour / syr Bleoberys / syr Wyllyats de balyaunt / syr Clartus
of clere mounte / al these knyȝtes drewe them to theyr contreyes
How be it kyng Costantyn wold haue had them wyth hym
but they wold not abyde in this royame / & there they al lyued
in their cuntreys as holy men / & somme englysshe bookes
maken mencyon that they wente neuer oute of englond after the
deth of syr Launcelot / but that was but fauour of makers/
for the frensshe book maketh mencyon & is auctorysed that syr
Bors / syr Ector / syr Blamour / & syr Bleoberis wente in to
the holy lande there as Ihesu Cryst was quycke & deed / And
anone as they had stablysshed theyr londes / for the book saith
so syr Launcelot commaunded them for to do or euer he passyd
oute of thys world / & these foure knyghtes dyd many
bataylles vpon the myscreantes or turkes / and there they ded vpon
a good fryday for goddes sake /