|b_Malory,_Syr_Thomas
|b_Le_Morte_D'Arthur._Original_edition_of_William_Caxton,
|b_ed._H._Oskar_Sommer_(London:_David_Nutt,_1889),_2_vols.,_vol._1.
|b_pp.1-406.



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 ADUEN_TURES /
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



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|r[f1r]
|r[Caxton's_Preface]

   |r<b> AFter that I had accomplysshed and fynysshed dyuers
   hystoryes as wel of contemplacyon as of other hysto_ryal
   and wordly actes of grete conquerours & pryn_ces
/ And also certeyn bookes of ensaumples and doctryne /
Many noble and dyuers gentylmen of thys royame of Eng_lond
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 Io_sue 
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 no_ble
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 pur_pose
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 me_morye
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 ou¨t rather tenprynte
his actes and noble feates / than of godefroye of boloyne / or



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|r[f1v]
ony the other eyght / consyderyng that he was a man borne
wythin this royame and kyng and Emperour of the same /
And that there ben in frensshe dyuers and many noble volu_mes
of his actes / and also of his knyghtes / To whome I
answerd / that dyuers men holde oppynyon / that there was
no suche Arthur / and that alle suche bookes as been maad of
hym / ben fayned and fables / by cause that somme crony_cles
make of hym no mencyon ne remembre hym noo thynge
ne of his knyghtes / wherto they answerd / and one if specyal
sayd / that in hym that shold say or thynke / that there was ne_uer
suche a kynge callyd Arthur / myght wel be aretted grete
folye and blyndenesse / For he sayd that there were many euy_dences
of the contrarye / Fyrst ye may see his sepulture in the
monasterye of Glastyngburye / And also in polycronycon in
the v book the syxte chappytre / and in the seuenth book the
xxiij chappytre/ where his body was buryed and after foun_den
and translated in to the sayd monasterye / ye shal se also
in thystorye of bochas in his book de casu principum / parte of
his noble actes / and also of his falle / Also galfrydus in
his brutysshe book recounteth his lyf / and in dyuers places
of Englond / many remembraunces ben yet of hym and shall
remayne perpetuelly / and also of his knyghtes / Fyrst in the
abbey of westmestre at saynt Edwardes shryne remayneth the
prynte of his seal in reed Waxe closed in beryll/ In whych is
wryton Patricius Arthurus / Britannie / Gallie / Germanie /
dacie / Imperator / Item in the castel of douer ye may see Gau_wayns
skulle / & Cradoks mantle . At wynchester the rounde
table / in other places Launcelottes swerde and many other
thynges / Thenne al these thynges consydered there can no man
resonably gaynsaye but there was a kyng of thys lande na_med
Arthur / For in al places crysten and hethen he is re_puted
and taken for one of the ix worthy / And the fyrst of
the thre Crysten men / And also he is more spoken of beyonde
the see moo boookes made of his noble actes than there be in
englond as wel in duche ytalyen spaynysshe and grekysshe as
in frensshe / And yet of record remayne in wytnesse of hym in
wales in the toune of Camelot the grete stones & meruayl_lous
werkys of yron lyeng vnder the grounde & ryal vautes



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|r[f2r]
which dyuers now lyuyng hath seen / wherfor it is a meruayl
why he is nomore renomed in his owne contreye / sauf onelye
it accordeth to the worde of god / whyche sayth that no man is
accept for a prophete in his owne contreye / Thene al these thyn_ges
forsayd aledged I coude not wel denye / but that there was
suche a noble kyng named arthur / and reputed one of the ix
Worthy / & fyrst & chyef of the cristen men / & many noble volu_mes
be made of hym & of his noble knytes in frensshe which
I haue seen & redde beyonde the see / which been not had in our
maternal tongue / but in walsshe ben many & also in frensshe /
& somme in englysshe but no wher nygh alle / wherfore suche as
haue late ben drawen oute bryefly in to englysshe / I haue after
the symple connynge that god hath sente to me / vnder the
fauour and correctyon of al noble lordes and gentylmen en_prysed
to enprynte a book of the noble hystoryes of the sayd
kynge Arthur / and of certeyn of his knyghtes after a copye
vnto me delyuerd / whyche copye Syr Thomas Malorye dyd
take oute of certeyn bookes of frensshe and reduced it in to
Englysshe / And I accordyng to my copye haue doon sette it
in enprynte / to the entente that noble men may see and lerne
the noble actes of chyualrye / the Ientyl and vertuous dedes
that somme knyghtes vsed in tho dayes / by whyche they came
to honour / and how they that were vycious were punysshed
and ofte put to shame and rebuke / humbly bysechyng al no_ble
lordes and ladyes wyth al other estates of what estate
or degree they been of / that shal see and rede in this sayd book
and werke / that they take the good and honest actes in their
remembraunce / and to folowe the same / Wherin they shalle
fynde many Ioyous and playsaunt hystoryes / and noble &
renomed actes of humanyte / gentylnesse and chyualryes /
For herein may be seen noble chyualrye / Curtosye / Humanyte /
frendlynesse / hardynesse / loue / frendshyp / Cowardyse / Mur_dre
/ hate / vertue / and synne / Doo after the good and leue
the euyl / and it shal brynge you to good fame and renom_mee
/ And for to passe the tyme thys boook shal be plesaunte
to rede in / but for to gyue fayth and byleue that al is trewe
that is conteyned herin / ye be at your lyberte / but al is wry_ton
for our doctryne / and for to beware that we falle not to



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|r[f2v]
vyce ne synne / but texersyse and folowe vertu / by whyche we
may come and atteyne to good fame and renomme in thys
lyf / and after thys shorte and transytorye lyf to come vnto
euerlastyng blysse in heuen / the whyche he graunte vs that
reygneth in heuen the blessyd Trynyte Amen /

   |r<b> 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 conque_rour
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 / fe_ates
of armes of chyualrye / prowesse / hardynesse / humanyte
loue / curtosye / and veray gentylnesse / wyth many wonder_ful
hystoryes and adventures / And for to vnderstonde bry_efly
the contente of thys volume / I haue deuyded it in to xxj
bookes / and euery book chapytred as here after shal by god_des
grace folowe / The fyrst book shal treate how Vtherpen_dragon
gate the noble conquerour kyng Arthur and contey_neth
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 que_neuer
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 adventu_res
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



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|r[f3r]
chapytres / The x book treateth of syr Trystram & other mer_uayllous
adventures and conteyneth lxxxviij chappytres /
The xj book treateth of syr Launcelot and syr Galahad and
conteyneth xiiij chappytres / The xij book treateth of syr Laun_celot
and his madnesse and conteyneth xiiij chappytres / The
xiij book treateth how galahad came fyrst to kyng Arthurs
courte and the quest how the sangreall was begonne and con_teyneth
xx Chapytres / The xiiij boook treateth of the queste
of the sangreal & conteyneth x chapytres / The xv book treateth
of syr launcelot & conteyneth vj chapytres / The xvj book trea_teth
of Syr Bors & syr Lyonel his brother and conteyneth
xvij chapytres / The xvij book treateth of the sangreal and
conteyneth xxiij chapytres / The xviij book treateth of Syr
Launcelot and the quene and conteyneth xxv chapytres / The
xix book treateth of quene Gueneuer and Launcelot and con_teyneth
xiij chapytres / The xx book treateth of the pyetous
deth of Arthur and conteyneth xxij chapytres / The xxj book
treateth of his last departyng / and how syr Launcelot came
to reuenge his dethe and conteyneth xiij chapytres / The somme
is xxj bookes whyche conteyne the soome of v hondred & vij
chapytres / as more playnly shal folowe herafter /



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|r[f3v]
 The table or rubrysshe of the contente of chapytres shortly
of the fyrst book of kyng Arthur /

Fyrst how vtherpendragon sente for the duke of cornewayl &
Igrayne his wyf & of their departyng sodeynly ageyn ca primo
How Vtherpendragon made warre on the duke of cornewayl
and how by the moyane of Merlyn he laye by the duchesse &
gate Arthur Capitulo                                    ij
Of the byrthe of kyng arthur and of his nouryture / & of the
deth of kyng vtherpendragon / and how Arthur was chosen
kyng and of wondres and meruaylles of a swerde taken out
of a stone by the sayd Arthur capitulo              iij iiij & v
How kyng arthur pulled oute the swerde dyuers tymes    vj
How kyng arthur was crowned & how he made offycers vij
How kyng Arthur helde in wales at a pentecost a grete feest
and what kynges and lordes came to his feste viij
Of the fyrst warre that kyng Arthur had and how he wanne
the felde Capitulo     ix
How Merlyn counceylled kyng arthur to sende for kyng ban
& kyng bors & of theyr counceyl taken for the warre x
Of a grete tornoye made by kynge arthur & the ij kynges ban
and bors and how they wente ouer the see Capitulo xj
How xj kynges gadred a grete hoost ayenst kyng Arthur xij
Of a dreme of the kyng wyth the hondred knyghtes xiij
How the xj kynges wyth theyr hoost fought ayenst arthur &
his hoost and many grete feates of the warre capitulo xiiij
Yet of the same batayll Capitulo xv
|r{No_chapter_xvj_in_the_table_of_contents.}
Yet more of the said batayl & how it was ended by merlyn xvij
How Kyng Arthur kyng ban & kyng bors rescowed Kyng
Leodegraunce and other Incydentes xviij
How Kyng arthur rode to Garlyon and of his dreme / & how
he sawe the questyng beest capitulo xix
How kyng Pellynore took arthurs hors & folowed the ques_tyng
beest and how Merlyn mette wyth Arthur xx
How vlfyus apeched quene Igrayne Arthurs moder of trea_son
/ and how a knyght came and desyred to haue the deth of
hys mayster reuengyd capitulo xxj
How gryflet was made knyght & Iusted with a kny¨t xxij



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How xij knyghtes came from Rome & axed truage for thys
londe of arthur / and how arthur faught wyth a Knyght xxiij
How Merlyn saued Arthurs lyf & threwe an enchauntement
vpon Kyng Pellynore and made hym to slepe xxiiij
How Arthur by the meane of Merlyn gate Excalybur hys
swerde of the lady of the lake Capitulo xxv
How tydynges cam to arthur that kyng ryons had ouercome
xj kynges & how he desyred arthus berde to purfyl his mantel
Capitulo xxvij
 How al the chyldren were sente fore / that
were borne on may day . & how Mordred was saued xxviij
 The second book
Of a damoysel whyche came gyrde wyth a swerde for to fynde
a man of suche vertue to drawe it oute of the scabard ca primo
How balen arayed lyke a poure Knyght pulled out the swerde
whyche afterward was cause of his deth capitulo ij
How the lady of the lake demaunded the Kny¨tes heed that
had wonne the swerde / or the maydens hede iij
How merlyn tolde thaduenture of this damoysel capitulo iiij
How balyn was pursyewed by syr Launceor Knyght of Ire_londe
/ and how he Iusted and slewe hym v
How a damoysel whiche was loue to Launceor slewe hyr self
for loue / and how balyn mette wyth his brother balan vj
How a dwarfe repreuyd Balyn for the deth of Launceor / &
how Kyng Marke of Cornewayl founde them and maad a
tombe ouer them capitulo vij
How Merlyn prophecyed that two the best Knyghtes of the
world shold fyght there / whyche were Syr Launcelot and
syr Trystram Capitulo viij
How balyn and his broder by the counceyl of Merlyn toke
Kyng ryons and brought hym to Kyng Arthur ix
How Kyng arthur had a bataylle ayenst Nero and Kyng
loth of orkeney / and how Kyng loth was deceyued by merlyn
and how xij Kynges were slayne capitulo x
Of the entyerement of xij Kynges / & of the prophecye of mer_lyn
/ how balyn shold gyue the dolorous stroke xj
How a sorouful kny¨t cam tofore arthur & how balyn fet hym
& how that Knyght was slayn by a knyght Inuysyble xij
How balyn & the damoysel mette wyth a Knyght whych was



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in lyke wyse slayn / & how the damoysel bledde for the custom
of a castel Capitulo xiij
Ho balyn mette wyth that knyght named garlon at a feest &
there he slewe hym to haue his blood / to hele therwith the sone
of his hoost Capitulo xiiij
How Balyn fought wyth kyng Pelham / & how his swerde
brake / and how he gate a spere wherewyth he smote the dolo_rous
stroke capitulo xv
How balyn was delyuerd by Merlyn / and sauyd a knyght
that wold haue slayn hym self for loue capitulo xvj
How that knyght slewe his loue & a knyght lyeng by hyr / &
after how he slewe hym self wyth his owne swerde / & how ba_lyn
rode toward a castel where he lost his lyf Capitulo xvij
How balyn mette wyth his brother balen & how eche of theym
slewe other vnknowen tyl they were wounded to deth xviij
How merlyn buryed hem bothe in one tobe / & of balyns swerd
capitulo    xix
 Hrre folowen the chapytres of the thyrd book
How kyng arthur took a wyf and wedded gueneuer dough_ter
to leodegran kyng of the londe of Camelerd wyth whome
he had the rounde table Capitulo primo
How the knyghtes of the rounde table were ordeyned & theyr
syeges blessyd by the bysshop of caunterburye capitulo ij
How a poure man rydyng vpon a lene mare / and desyred of
kyng Arthur to make his sone knyght Capitulo iij
How syr Tor was knowen for sone of kyng Pellynore / and
how Gawayn was made knyght capitulo iiij
How atte feste of the Weddyng of kyng arthur to gueneuer
a Whyte herte came in to the halle & thyrty couple houndes / &
how a brachet pynched the herte whiche was taken awaye v
How syr Gawayn rode for to fetche ageyn the herte / & how ij
brethern fought eche ageynst other for the herte Capitulo vj
How the herte was chaced in to a castel and there slayn / and
how Gauwayn slewe a lady Capitulo vij
How iiij kny¨tes faught ayenst sir gawayn & gaheryse & how
they were ouercom & her lyues saued atte request of iiij ladyes
capitulo viij
 How syr Tor rode after the knyght wyth the
brachet & of his aduenture by the waye capitulo ix
How syr Tor fonde the brachet wyth a lady / & how a knyght



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|r[f5r]
assaylled hym for the sayd brachet capitulo x
How syr Tor ouercame the knyght / and how he losth ys heed
at the requeste of a lady capitulo xj
How kyng pellenore rode after the lady and the knyght that
ladde her awaye / & how a lady desyred helpe of hym and how
he faught wyth ij knyghtes for that lady of whome he slewe
that one at the fyrst stroke capitulo xij
How kyng Pellynore gate the lady & brought hyr to Came_lot
to the courte of kyng arthur capitulo xiij
How on the waye he herde two knyghtes as he laye by nyght
in a valeye & of other aduentures capitulo xiiij
How whan he was comen to Camelot he was sworne vpon a
book to telle the trouthe of his queste capitulo xv
 Here folowen the chapytres of the fourth book
How merlyn was assotted & dooted on one of the ladyes of
the lake / and how he was shytte in a roche vnder a stone and
there deyed capitulo primo
How v kynges came in to this londe to warre ayenst kyng Ar_thur
/ & what counceyl arthur had ayenst them capitulo ij
How kyng arthur had adoo with them & ouerthrewe them &
slewe the v kynges & made the remenaunte to flee iij
How the batayl was fynysshed or he came / & how the kyng
founded an abbay where the batayl was capitulo iiij
How syr Tor was made knyght of the rounde table and how
badgemagus was dyspleased capitulo v
How kyng Arthur / kyng Vryens & Syr Accolon of gaule
chaced an hert & of theyr meruayllous aduenture vj
How Arthur took vpon hym to fyght to be delyuerd oute of
pryson / & also for to delyuer twenty knyghtes that were in
pryson Capitulo vij
How accollon fonde hym self by a welle / & he toke vpon hym
to doo bataylle ayenst Arthur capitulo viij
Of the bataylle bytwene kyng Arthur & Accolon ix
How kyng arthurs swerde that he faught wyth brake / & how
he recouerd of accolon his owne swerde excalibur and ouer_came
his enemye Capitulo x
How accolon confessyd the treason of Morgan le fay Kyng
arthurs syster & how she wold haue doon slee hym ca xj



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|r[f5v]
How Arthur accorded the two brethern / and delyuerd the xx
knyghtes / & how syr Accolons deyed capitulo xij
How Morgan wold haue slayn syr vryens hyr husbond / &
how syr Ewayn hir sone saued hym Capitulo xiij
How quene Morgan le fay made grete sorowe for the deth of
accolon / & how she stale awaye the scawbard fro arthur xiiij
How Morgan le fay saued a knyght that shold haue be drow_ned
/ & how kyng Arthur retorned home ageyn capitulo xv
How the damoysel of the lake saued Kynge Arthur from a
mantel which shold haue brente hym capitulo xvj
How syr Gawayn & syr Ewayn mette with xij fayr damoy_selles
/ & how they compleyned on syr Marhaus ca xvij
How syr Marhaws Iusted with syr Gawayn & syr Ewayn
and ouerthrewe them bothe capitulo xviij and xix
How syr Marhaus syr Gawayn & syr Ewayn mette the da_moyselles
& eche of them toke one capitulo xx
How a knyght & a dwarf stroof for a lady capitulo xxj
How kyng Pelleas suffred hym self to be taken prysoner by
cause he wolde haue a syght of his lady / & how syr Gawayn
promysed hym for to gete to hym the loue of his lady xxij
How syr Gawayn came to the lady Ettard and laye by hyr
& how syr Pelleas fonde them slepyng capitulo xxiij
How syr Pelleas loued nomore ettard by the moyan of the
damoysel of the lake whome he loued euer after ca xxiiij
How syr marhaus rode with the damoysel and how he came to
the duke of the south marchis Capitulo xxv
How syr Marhaus faught wyth the duke and his vj sones
and made them to yelde them capitulo xxvj
How syr Ewayn rode wyth the damoysel of lx yere of age / &
how he gate the prys at tornoyeng capitulo xxvij
How syr Ewayn faut with ij kny¨tes & ouercam hem xxviij
How at the yeres ende alle thre knyghtes wyth theyr thre da_moyselles
metten at the fontayne capitulo xxix
 Of the fyfthe book the chapytres folowen
How xij aged Ambassyatours of rome came to kyng Arthur
to demaunde truage for brytayne capitulo primo
How the kynges and lordes promysed to kyng Arthur ayde
and helpe ageynst the Romayns capitulo ij



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|r[f6r]
How kyng Arthur helde a parlement at yorke & how he ordeyned
how the royame shold be gouerned in his abscence iij
How kyng Arthur beyng shypped & lyeng in his caban had
a meruayllous dreme / & of thexposycion therof capitulo iiij
How a man of the contreye tolde to hym of a meruayllous ge_aunte
/ & how he faught & conquerd hym Capitulo v
How kyng Arthur sente syr gawayn & other to lucius / & how
they were assaylled & escaped wyth worshyp Capitulo vj
How Lucius sente certeyn espyes in a busshement for to haue
taken hys knyghtes beyng prysonners / and how they were
letted capitulo vij
How a senatour tolde to Lucius of their dyscomfyture / & also
of the grete batayl betwene Arthur & Lucius capitulo viij
How Arthur after he had achyeued the batayl ayenst the Ro_mayns
entred in to almayn & so in to ytalye Capitulo ix
Of a bataylle doon by Gauwayn ayenst a sarasyn / whiche af_ter
was yelden & became crysten Capitulo x
How the Sarasyns came oute of a wode for to rescowe theyr
beestys / and of a grete bataylle Capitulo xj
How syr Gauwayn retorned to kyng Arthur wyth his pry_soners
/ And how the kyng wanne a Cyte / and how he was
crowned emperour capitulo xij
 Here folowen the chappytres of the vj book
How syr Launcelot and syr Lyonel departed fro the courte
for to seek auentures / and how syr Lyonel lefte hym slepyng
and was taken Capitulo primo
How syr Ector folowed for to seek syr Launcelot / & how he
was taken by syr Turquyne Capitulo ij
How iiij quenes fonde Launcelot slepyng / & how by enchaun_tement
he was taken & ledde in to a castel capitulo iij
How syr Lancelot was deliuerd by the meane of a damosel iiij
How a knyght founde syr Launcelot lyeng in his lemmans
bedde / & how syr Launcelot faught with the knyght ca v
How sir Launcelot was receyued of kyng bagdemagus dough_ter
/ & he made his complaynte to hir fader Capitulo vj
How syr Launcelot byhaued hym in a tournement / & how he
mette wyth syr Turquyn ledyng syr Gaheris capitulo vij
How syr Launcelot & sy Turquyn faught to gyders ca viij



|p12


|r[f6v]
How syr Turquyn was slayn / & how syr Launcelot bad syr
gaheris delyuer al the prysoners capitulo ix
How syr Launcelot rode with the damoysel & slewe a knyght
that distressid al ladyes / & also a vylayn pt kept a bridge x
How syr launcelot slewe ij geauntes & made a castel free xj
How syr Launcelot rode dysguysed in Syr kayes harnoys / &
how he smote doun a knyght Capitulo xij
How syr Launcelot Iusted ayenst four kny¨tes of the rounde
table and ouerthrewe theym capitulo xiij
How syr Launcelot folowed a brachet in to a castel where he
fonde a dede knyght & how he after was requyred of a damoy_sel
to hele hir brother capitulo xiiij
How sir Launcelot cam in to the chapel peryllous & gate there
of a dede corps a pyece of the cloth & a swerde capitulo xv
How syr Launcelot at the request of a lady recouerd a fawcon
by whiche he was deceyued capitulo xvj
How syr Launcelot ouertoke a knyght which chased hys wyf
to haue sleyn hyr / & how he sayd to hym capitulo xvij
How syr Launcelot came to kyng arthurs court / & how there
were recounted al his noble feates & actes capitulo xviij
 Here folowen the chappytres of the seuenth boook
How beaumayns came to kyng arthurs courte & demaunded
thre petycyons of kyng Arthur Capitulo primo
How syr Launcelot & syr Gauwayn were wroth by cause syr
kaye mocqued beaumayns / & of a damoysel whyche desyred
a knyght to fyght for a lady Capitulo ij
How beawmayns desyred the batayl / & how it was graunted
to hym / & how he desyred to be made kny¨t of sir Launcelot iij
How beaumayns departed & how he gate of syr Kaye a spere
and a shelde / and how he Iusted and faughte wyth Syr
Launcelot Capitulo iiij
How beaumayns tolde to syr Launcelot his name and how he
was dubbed knyght of Syr Launcelot / and after ouertooke
the damoysel Capitulo v
How beaumayns fought & slewe ij knyghtes at a passage vj
How beaumayns faught with the knyght of the blacke laun_des
/ & faught with hym tyl he fyl doun & deyed capitulo vij
How the brother of the knyght that was slayn mette wyth



|p13


|r[f7r]
beaumayns / & faut with beaumayns tyl he wos yelden viij
How the damoysel euer rebuked beaumayns / & wold not suf_fre
hym to syt at hir table / but callyd hym kychyn boye ix
How the iij brother callyd the rede knyght Iusted & faughte
ayenst beaumayns / & how beaumayns ouercame hym ca x
How syr beaumayns suffred grete rebukes of the damoysel / &
he suffred it pacyently capitulo xj
How beaumayns faughte wyth Syr Persaunt of ynde / and
made hym to be yelden capitulo xij
Of the godelye comynycacyon bytwene syr Persaunt & beau_mayns
/ & how he tolde hym that his name was syr gareth xiij
How the lady that was bysyeged had worde fro hyr syster
how she had brought a knyght to fyght for hyr / and what
bataylles he had achyeued Capitulo     xiiij
How the damoysel & beaumayns came to the syege / & came to
a Sykamor tree / & there beaumayns blewe an horne / & thenne
the kny¨t of the rede laundes cam to fyght wyth hym ca xv
How the two knyghtes mette to gyders and of their talkyng
and how they began theyr batayl Capitulo xvj
How after longe fyghtyng beaumayns ouercame the knyght
& wold haue slayn hym / but atte request of the lordes he sa_ued
his lyf & made hym to yelde hym to the lady capo. xvij
How the kny¨t yelded hym / & how beaumayns made hym to
goo vnto kyng arthurs court & to crye sir lancelot mercy xviij
How Beaumayns came to the lady . & whan he came to
the castel / the yates were closed ageynst hym / & of the wordes
that the lady sayd to hym Capitulo    xix
How syr beaumayns rode after to rescowe |r{ms=recsowe} his dwarfe / and
came in to the castel where he was capitulo       xx
How syr gareth otherwyse callyd beaumayns cam to è=e= presence
of his lady & how they toke acqueyntance / & of their loue xxj
How at nyght cam an armed knyght & faught with sir gareth
& he sore hurt in the thyghe smote of the knyghtes heed ca xxij
How the sayd knyght came ageyn the next nyght & was be_heded
ageyn / & how at the feste of pentecost al the kny¨tes that
syr gareth had ouercome cam & yelded hem to kyng arthur xxiij
How kyng Arthur pardoned them / and demaunded of them
where syr Gareth was Capitulo xxiiij



|p14


|r[f7v]
How the quene of Orkeney came to this feste of pentecoste / &
sir gawayn & his brethern cam to aske hir blessyng xxv xxvj
How kyng Arthur sente for the lady Lyonas / & how she lete
crye a tournoye at hir castel / where as came many knyghtes
Capitulo xxvij
How kyng Arthur wente to the tornoyment with his knygh_tes
/ and how the lady receyued hym worshypfully / & how
the knyghtes encountred Capitulo xxviij
How the knyghtes bare them in the batayl capitulo xxix
Yet of the sayd tornoyment capitulo xxx
How syr Gareth was espyed by the herowdes / and how he
escaped oute of the felde capitulo xxxj
How syr Gareth came to a castel where he was wel lodged &
he Iusted with a knyght & slewe hym Capitulo xxxij
How syr Gareth fought wyth a knyght that helde within his
castel xxx ladyes & how he slewe hym capitulo xxxiij
How syr gawayn & syr Gareth fought eche ayenst other / and
how they knewe eche other by the damoysel Lynet ca xxxiiij
How syr Gareth knowleched that they loued eche other to
kyng Arthur / & of thappoyntement of their weddyng xxxv
Of the grete ryalte & what offycers were made at the feste of
the weddyng & of the Iustes at the feest Capitulo xxxvj
 Here folowen the chappytres of the eyght book
How syr Trystram de Lyones was borne and how his moder
deyed at his byrthe / wherfore she named hym Tristram primo
How the stepmoder of syr Trystram had ordeyned poyson for
to haue poysened Syr Trystram Capitulo ij
How Syr Trystram was sente in to Fraunce and had one
to gouerne hym named Gouernayle / and how he lernyd to
harpe / hawke and hunte capitulo iij
How syr Marhaus came out of Irelonde for to aske trewage
of Cornewayle or ellys he wold fyght therefor capitulo iiij
How Trystram enterprysed the bataylle to fyght for the trew_age
of Cornwayl / & how he was made knyght Capitulo v
How Syr Trystram arryued in to the Ilond for to furnysshe
the bataylle wyth syr Marhaus Capitulo vj
hoow syr Tristram faught ayenst Syr Marhaus & achyeued
his batayl / & how syr Marhaus fledde to his shyppe ca vij



|p15


|r[f8r]
How Syr Marhaus after that he was arryued in Irelonde
dyed of the stroke that syr Trystram had gyuen to hym / and
how Trystram was hurte capitulo     viij
How syr Trystram was put to the kepyng of la bele ysoude
fyrst for to be helyd of hys wounde Capitulo ix
How syr Trystram wanne the degree at a tornoyment in Ire_londe
/ & there made palomydes to bere no harnoys in a yere x
How the quene espyed that syr Tristram had slayn hir broder
syr Marhaus by his swerde & in what Ieopardye he was xj
How Syr Trystram departed fro the kyng & la bele Isoude out
of Irelonde for to come in to cornewayl capitulo xij
How syr Trystram and Kyng Marke hurted eche other for
the loue of a knyghtes wyf capitulo xiij
How syr Trystram laye wyth the lady . and how her husbond
faught wyth syr Trystram Capitulo xiiij
How syr bleoberis demaunded the fayrest lady in kyng marks
court whom he toke awaye & how he was fou¨ten with xv
How syr Trystram faught wyth two knyghtes of the rounde
table capitulo xvj
How Syr tristram |r{ms=tristcum}
faught with syr bleoberis for a lady / and
how the lady was put to choyse to whome she wold goo xvij
How the lady forsoke syr tristram & abode with Syr bleoberis
and how she desyred to goo to hyr husbond ca xviij
How kyng mark sent syr trystram for la bele Isoude toward
Irelond & how by fortune he arryued in to englond xix
How kyng Anguysshe of Irelonde was somoned to come to
Kyng Arthurs courte for treason Capitulo xx
How syr Trystram rescowed a chylde fro a knyght / and how
gouernayle tolde hym of Kyng Anguysshe ca xxj
How syr trystram faught for syr anguysshe & ouercame hys
aduersarye & how his aduersarye wold neuer yelde hym xxij
How syr blamor desyred trystram to slee hym / & how syr tris_tram
spared hym & how they took appoyntement xxiij
How syr tristram demaunded la bele Isoude for kynge mark &
how syr trystram & Isoude dronken the loue drynke xxiiij
How syr Tristram & Isoude were in pryson / & how he faughte
for hir beaute / & smote of another ladyes hede capitulo xxv
How syr Trystram faught wyth syr breunor / and atte laste



|p16


|r[f8v]
smote of his hede Capitulo xxvj
How syr galahad faught wyth syr Tristram / & how syr tris_tram
yelded hym & promysed to felaushyp with lancelot xxvij
How syr Launcelot mette with syr Carados beryng awaye sir
gawayn / & of the rescows of syr Gawayn Capitulo xxviij
Of the weddyng of Kyng Marke to la bele Isoude / and of
brangwayn hyr mayde and of Palamydes xxix
How Palamydes demaunded quene Isoude / & how lambegus
rode after to rescowe hyr / and of thescape of Isoude xxx
How syr Trystram rode after Palamydes and how he fonde
hym and faught wyth hym / and by the moyne of Isoude the
batayl seced Capitulo xxxj
How syr Trystram brought quene Isoude home / and of the de_bate
of kyng Marke and Syr Trystram capitulo xxxij
How syr Lamerok Iusted wyth xxx knyghtes / & syr Tris_tram
atte requeste of kyng mark smote his hors doun xxxiij
How syr Lamerok sente an horne to kyng Marke in despyte
of syr Trystram / And how syr Trystram was dryuen in to
a chapel capitulo xxxiiij
How Syr tristram was holpen by his men / & of quene Isoude
which was put in lazaroote / & how tristra was hurt xxxv
How syr Trystram serued in warre the kyng howel of bry_tayn
and slewe hys aduersarye in the felde xxxvj
How syr Suppynabyles tolde syr Trystram how he was deffa_med
in the courte of kyng Arthur / & of syr lamerok xxxvij
How syr Trystram and his wyf arryued in wales and how
he mette there wyth syr Lamerok Capitulo xxxviij
How syr Trystram faught wyth Syr Nabon / and ouercame
hym / and made syr Lamerok lord of the yle xxxix
How syr Lamerok departed fro syr Trystram / & how he mette
wyth syr frolle and after wyth syr Launcelot capitulo xl
How syr Lamerok slewe syr frolle / and of the curtoyse fygh_tyng
wyth syr belleaunce hys brother Capitulo xlj
 here folowen the chapytres of the ix book
How a yonge man came in to the courte of kyng arthur / and
how syr Kaye called hym in scorne la cote male tayle primo
How a damoysel came in to the courte & desyred a knyght to
take on hym an enquest which la cote male tayle emprised ij



|p17


|r[f9r]
How le cote male tayle ouerthrewe syr Dagonet the Kynges
fole / and of the rebuke that he had of the damoysel ca iij
How le cote male tayle fought ayenst an hondred knyghtes / &
how he esscaped by the meane of a lady Capitulo iiij
How syr Launcelot cam to the courte and herde of la cote male
tayle / and how he folowed after hym / and how la cote male
tayle was prysoner Capitulo     v
How syr Launcelot faught wyth vj knyghtes / & after wyth
syr bryan / and how he delyuerd the prysonners vj
How syr Launcelot mette wyth the damoysel named maledy_saunt
/ and named hyr the damoysel bien pensaunt vij
How le cote male tayle was taken prysoner / & after rescowed
by syr launcelot / & how syr launcelot ouercam iiij brethern viij
How Syr Launcelot maad le cote mayle lord of the castel of
Pendragon & after was made knyght of the rounde table ix
How la bele Isoude sente letters to syr Trystram by hir mayde
brangwayn and of dyuers auentures of syr Trystram x
How syr Tristram mette with syr lamerok de gales / and how
they faught & after accorded neuer to fyght to gyders xj
How syr palomydes folowed the questyng beest & smote doun
syr Trystram and syr Lamerock wyth one spere   Capitulo xij
How syr lamerok mette wyth syr Melleagaunce / & faught to
gydre for the beaulte of dame Gueneuer capitulo xiiij
How Syr Kaye mette wyth Syr Trystram / and after of the
shame spoken of the knyghtes of Cornewayl / and how they
Iusted capitulo xv
How Kyng Arthur was brought in to the forest peryllous / &
how syr Trystram saued his lyf capitulo xvj
How syr Trystram came to la bele Isoude / & how kehydyous
began to loue bele Isoude & of a letter that tristram fonde xvij
How syr Tristram departed fro tyntagyl & how he sorowed &
was so longe in a forest tyl he was out of his mynde xviij
How syr Trystram sowsed dagonet in a welle / & how Pala_mydes
sente a damoysel to seche Trystram / and how palamydes
mette wyth Kyng Mark capitulo     xix
How it was noysed how syr Trystram was dede and how la
bele Isoude wolde haue slayn hyr self capitulo xx
How kyng Mark fonde syr Trystram naked and made hym



|p18


|r[f9v]
to be borne home to tyntagyl and how he was there knowen by
a brachet capitulo xxj
How Kyng Marke by thauys of his counceyl bannysshed
syr Trystram oute of Cornewayl the terme of x yere xxij
How a damoysel sou¨ght helpe to helpe sir laucelot ayenst xxx
knyghtes / & how syr trystram faught with them ca xxiij
How syr Trystram & syr Launcelot came to a lodgynge where
they must Iuste wyth two knyghtes capitulo xxiiij
How syr Trystram Iusted wyth syr Kaye and syr Sagramor
le desyrous / and how syr Gawayn torned Syr Trystram fro
Morgan le fay Capitulo xxv
How syr Trystram and syr Gauwayn rode to haue foughten
ayenst the xxx knyghtes / but they durst not come oute xxvj
How damoysel brangwayn fonde trystram slepyng by a welle
& how she delyuerd letters to hym fro bele Isoude ca xxvij
How syr Trystram had a falle of syr Palomydes / and how
Launcelot ouerthrewe two knyghtes capitulo xxviij
How syr Launcelot Iusted with Palomydes and ouerthrewe
hym / & after he was assaylled with xij knyghtes xxix
How syr Trystram byhaued hym the fyrst day of the tourne_ment
/ and there he had the prys Capitulo xxx
How syr Trystram retourned ayenst kyng arthurs partye by
cause he sawe syr Palomydes on that partye capitulo xxxj
How Syr Trystram fonde Palomydes by a welle / & broughte
hym wyth hym to his lodgyng Capitulo xxxij
How syr Trystram smote doun syr Palomydes / and how he
Iusted wyth kyng Arthur and other feates xxxiij
How syr Launcelot hurte syr Trystram / and how after syr
Trystram smote doun syr Palomydes capitulo xxxiiij
How the prys of the thyrd day was gyuen to Syr Launcelot
and syr Launcelot gaf it to syr Trystram ca xxxv
How Palomydes came to the castel where syr Trystram was
And of the queste that syr Launcelot & x knyghtes made for
syr Trystram Capitulo xxxvj
How syr Trystram / syr Palomydes / and Syr dynadan were
taken and put in pryson Capitulo xxxvij
How Kyng marke was sory for the good renommee of syr
Tristram / somme of arthurs knyghtes Iusted wyth knyghtes



|p19


|r[f10r]
of Cornewayl Capitulo xxxviij
Of the treason of kyng Marke / and how syr Gaheris smote
hym doun / and Andred / his cosyn capitulo xxxix
How after that syr Trystram / syr Palomydes / and syr Dyna_dan
had be longe in pryson / they were delyuerd ca xl
How syr Dynadan rescowed a lady fro syr breuse sauns pyte
& how syr Trystram receyued a shelde of Morgan le fay xlj
How syr Trystram took wyth hym the shelde / and also how
he slewe the paramour of Morgan le fay capitulo xlij
How Morgan le fay buryed hyr paramour / and how syr tris_tram
preysed syr Launcelot and hys kynne ca xliij
How syr Trystram at a tornoyment bare the shelde that Mor_gan
le fay delyuerd to hym capitulo xliiij
 Here folowen the chapytres of the tenth book
How syr Trystram Iusted and smote doun Kyng Arthur / by_cause
he tolde hym not the cause why he bare that shelde ca j
How syr Trystram saued syr Palomydes lyf / & how they pro_mysed
to fyght to gyder wythin fourtenyght capitulo ij
How syr Trystram sou¨ght a stronge knyght that had smy_ton
hym doun & many other knyghtes of the rounde table iij
How syr Trystram smote doun syr Sagramor le desyrous / &
syr Dodynas le sauage capitulo iiij
How syr Trystram mette at the perron wyth syr Launcelot / &
how they faught to gyder vnknowen Capitulo v
How syr Launcelot brought syr Trystram to the courte / and
of the Ioye that the kyng and other made for the comyng of
syr Trystram Capitulo vj
How for despyte of syr Trystram kyng Mark came wyth ij
knyghtes in to englond and how he slewe one of the knygh_tes
Capitulo vij
How the kyng came to a fontayne where he fonde syr Lame_rock
complaynyng for the loue of Kyng lots wyf viij
How kyng marke / syr Lamerok / and syr dynadan came to a
castel / and how Kyng Marke was knowen there capitulo ix
How syr Berluses mette wyth Kyng marke / and how Syr
dynadan toke his partye ca x
 How kyng marke mocked
syr dynadan / & how they mette wyth vj kny¨tes of the rounde
table xj 
How the vj kny¨tes sente sir dagonet to Iuste with



|p20


|r[f10v]
kyng marke & how Kyng marke refused hym ca xij
How syr Palomydes by aduenture mette kyng Marke fleyng
& how he ouerthrewe dagonet / and other knyghtes xiij
How kyng marke & syr Dynadan herde syr palomydes ma_kyng
grete sorowe & mornyng for la bele Isoude xiiij
How the kyng had slayn amant wrongfully tofore kyng
arthur / & syr launcelot fette kyng marke to kyng arthur xv
How syr dynadan tolde syr palamydes of the batayl betwene
Syr Launcelot and syr Trystram Capitulo xvj
How syr Lamerok Iusted wyth dyuers knyghtes of the cas_tel
/ wherin was Morgan le fay capitulo xvij
How syr Palamydes wold haue Iusted for syr Lamerock
wyth the knyghtes of the castel Capitulo xviij
How syr Lamerock Iusted wyth syr Palomydes and hurte
hym greuously capitulo  xix
How it was tolde syr Launcelot that Dagonet chaced kyng
marke / & how a knyght ouerthrewe hym & vj knyghtes xx
How Kyng Arthur lete do crye a Iustes / & how syr Lamo_rak
came in and ouerthrewe syr Gawayn & many other xxj
How Kyng Arthur made Kyng marke to be accorded with syr
Trystram & how they departed toward Cornewayll xxij
How syr Percyuale was made knyght of kyng arthur / and
how a dombe mayde spack & brou¨t hym to the roude table xxiij
How syr Lamerock laye wyth king lots wyf / and how syr Gaheris
slewe hir whiche was his owne moder ca xxiiij
How syr agrauayn & syr Mordred mette wyth a knyght fle_yng
/ and how they bothe were ouerthrowen and of Syr Dynadan Capitulo xxv
How Kyng Arthur / the quene & Launcelot receyued letters
oute of Cornewayle / & of the ansuer ageyn ca xxvj
How Syr Launcelot was wrothe wyth the letter that he re_ceyued
from kyng Marke / and of Dynadan whiche made a
laye of kyng Marke capitulo xxvij
How Syr Trystram was hurte / and of a warre maad to
Kynge Marke / And of Syr Trysstram how he promysed to
rescowe hym Capitulo xxviij
How syr Trystram ouercame the batayl / & how Elyas desy_red
a man to fyght body for body capitulo xxix



|p21


|r[f11r]
How syr Elyas & syr Trystram faught to gyder for the tru_age
/ & how syr trystram slewe Elyas in the felde xxx
How at a grete feste that kyng Marke made / an harper came
and sange the lay that dynadan had made capitulo xxxj
How kyng Marke slewe by treason his brother bowdyn for
good seruyce that he had done to hym Capitulo xxxij
How anglydes boudyns wyf escaped with hir yonge sone ali_saunder
le orphelyn & came to the castel of arondel xxxiij
How anglydes gaf the blody doblet to alysaunder hir sone the
same day that he was made kny¨t & the charge withal xxxiiij
How it was tolde to kyng marke of Alysaunder . and how he
wold haue slayn syr Sadok for sauyng of his lyf xxxv
How syr Alysaunder wanne the pryce at a tournoyment and
of Morgan le fay / And how he faught wyth Syr Maulgryn
and slewe hym capitulo xxxvj
How quene Morgan le fay had alysaunder in hyr castel / and
how she heelyd his woundes capitulo xxxvij
How Alysaunder was delyuerd fro the quene Morgan le
fay by the moyane of a damoysel capitulo xxxviij
How alysaunder mette wyth alys la beale pylgrym / and how
he Iusted wyth two knyghtes / And after of hym and of
Syr Mordred capitulo xxxix
How sir galahalt dyd do crye a Iustes in surluse / & quene gue_neuers
kny¨tes shold Iuste ayenst all that wold come xL
How syr Lancelot fought in the tournoyment / & how syr pa_lomydes
dyd armes there for a damoysell Ca xlj
How syr Galahault & syr Palomydes faught to gyder / and
of syr dynadan and syr Galahault Capitulo xlij
How syr archade appeled syr Palamydes of treason & how
syr palamydes slewe hym Capitulo xliij
Of the thyrd day & how syr Palomydes Iusted wyth syr La_merok
and other thynges capitulo xliiij
Of the iiij day & of many grete feates of armes ca xlv
Of the v day & how syr Lamerok byhaued hym ca xlvj
How palamydes fought wyth Corsabryn for a lady / & how
Palamydes slewe corsabryn xlvij
Of the vj day & what was thenne doon ca xlviij
Of the vij batayll / and how Syr Launcelot beyng desguysed



|p22


|r[f11v]
lyke a mayde smote doun syr dynadan capitulo xlix
How by treson syr Tristram was brought to a tournoyment for
to haue be slayn / and how he was put in pryson L
How Kyng Marke lete do counterfete letters from the pope
& how syr percyual delyuerd syr Tristram oute of pryson lj
How syr Trystram & la bele Isoude came in to englond / & how
syr Launcelot brought them to Ioyous garde capitulo lij
How by the counceyl of bele ysoude Trystram rode armed and
how he mette wyth syr Palomydes capitulo liij
Of syr Palomydes and how he mette wyth syr bleoberys &
wyth syr Ector and of syr Percyuale Capitulo liiij
How syr Trystram mette wyth syr dynadan & of their deuy_ses
& what he sayd to syr Gauwayns brethern lv
How syr Trystram smote doun syr agrauayn & syr gaheris &
how syr Dynadan was sente fore by la bele Isoude lvj
How syr Dynadan mette wyth syr Trystram / & wyth Iustyng
wyth syr Palamydes syr Dynadan knewe hym lvij
How they approched the castel Lona¨ep and of other deuyses
of the deth of syr Lamerok Capitulo lviij
How they came to humberbanke / & how they fonde a shyppe
there wherin laye the body of Kyng Hermaunce lix
How syr Trystram wyth his felawshyp came and were with
an hoost whyche after faught wyth Syr Trystram and other
maters capitulo lx
How Palamydes wente for to fyght wyth two brethern for
the deth of kyng Hermaunce Capitulo lxj
The copye of the letter wryton for to reuenge the kynges deth
and how syr palamydes faught for to haue the bataylle lxij
Of the preparacyon of syr Palamydes & the ij brethern
that shold fyght wyth hym Capitulo lxiij
Of the batayl betwene syr Palamydes & the two brethern and
how the two brethern were slayn capitulo lxiiij
How syr Trystram and syr Palamydes mette Breuce sauns
pyte and how Syr Tristram and la beale ysoude wente vnto
Lona¨ep Capitulo lxv How syr Palamydes Iusted wyth syr Galyhodyn / & after
wyth syr Gawayn & smote them doun lxvj
How syr Trystram & his felaushyp cam vnto the tournement



|p23


|r[f12r]
of lone¨ep and of dyuers Iustes and maters capitulo lxvij
How syr Trystram and hys felaushyp Iusted & of the noble
feates that they dyd in that tournoyeng lxviij
How syr Trystram was vnhorsed & smyten doun by syr launce_lot
/ & after that syr Tristram smote doun kyng arthur lxix
How syr Trystram chaunged his harnoys & it was al reed
and how he demenyd hym and how Syr Palamydes slewe
Launcelottes hors Capitulo lxx
How syr Launcelot sayd to syr Palamydes / & how the prys
of that day was gyuen to syr Palamydes lxxj
How syr dynadan prouoked syr Trystram to do wel lxxij
How kyng Arthur & syr Launcelot came to see la bele ysoude
& how Palamydes smote doun kyng arthur Capitulo lxxiij
How the second day Palamydes forsoke syr Trystram / and
wente to the contrarye partye ayenst hym capitulo lxxiiij
How syr Trystram departed out of the felde & awaked Sir
Dynadan and chaunged his araye in to blacke ca lxxv
How syr Palamydes chaunged his shelde & armour for to
hurte sir tristram / & how syr Launcelot dyd to sir tristram lxxvj
How syr Trystram departed wyth la bele Isoude / & how Pa_lomydes
folowed and excused hym capitulo lxxvij
How kyng arthur and syr Launcelot came in to theyr pauely_ons
as they satte at souper / and of Palomydes lxxviij
How syr Trystram and syr Palamydes dyd the nexte day
and how kyng Arthur was vnhorsed capitulo lxxix
How syr Trystram torned to kynge Arthurs syde / and how
Syr Palomydes wolde not capitulo lxxx
How syr bleoberis & syr Ector reported to quene Gueneuer
of the beaute of la bele Isoude capitulo lxxxj
How Palomydes complayned by a welle / & how Epynogris
came and fonde hym / and of theyr bothe sorowes lxxxij
How syr palomydes brou¨t to syr epynogris his lady / & how
sir palomydes & syr safer were assayled ca lxxxiij & lxxxiiij
How syr Trystram made hym redy to rescowe Syr Palomydes
but syr Launcelot rescowed hym or he came capitulo lxxxv
How syr Trystram and syr Launcelot wyth palomydes came to
Ioyous garde / of Palomydes and syr Trystram ca lxxxvj
How there was a day sette bytwene syr Trystram and Syr



|p24


|r[f12v]
palomydes for to fyght / & how sir trystram was hurte lxxxvij
How syr palomydes kepte his day for to haue foughten / but
syr Trystram myght not come / & other thynges ca lxxxviij
 Here folowen the chapytres of the xi book
How Syr Launcelot rode on his aduenture / & how he helpe a
dolorous lady fro hyr payne / and how that he faught wyth a
dragon capitulo primo
How syr Launcelot came to Pelles / and of the sangreal / and
how he begate galahad on Elayn kyng pelles dou¨ter ij
How Syr Launcelot was dyspleasyd whan he knewe that he
had layen by Elayn / & how she was delyuerd of galahad iij
How syr bors came to dame Elayn & sawe galahad / & how
he was fedde wyth the sangreal capitulo iiij
How syr bors made syr pedyuer to yelde hym / & of meruayl_lous
aduentures that he had & how he achyeued them ca v
How syr bors departed / & how syr Launcelot was rebuked of
the quene Gueneuer / and of his excuse capitulo vj
How dame Elayn galahads moder came in grete estate to ca_melot
/ and how Launcelot byhaued hym there Capitulo vij
How dame brysen by enchauntement brought syr Launcelotte
to Elayns bedde / & how quene gueneuer rebuked hym viij
How dame Elayn was commaunded by quene Gueneuer to
voyde the courte / & how syr Launcelot becam madde ix
What sorowe quene gueneuer made for Syr Launcelot / & how
he was sou¨ght by knyghtes of his kynne Capitulo x
How a seruaunte of syr Aglouals was slayn / & what ven_geaunce
syr aglouale & syr percyuale dyd therfore xj
How syr percyuale departed secretelye fro his brother / & how
he losed a knyght bounden with a chayne & other thynges xij
How syr Percyuale mette wyth sir Ector / & how they faught
longe and eche had almoost slayne other capitulo xiij
How by myracle they were bothe made hole by the comyng of
the holy vessel of Sangreal Capitulo xiiij
 Here folowen the chapytres of the xij book
How syr Launcelot in hys madnes took a swerde & faughte
with a knyght and after lepte in to a bedde capitulo primo
How syr Launcelot was caryed in an hors lytter / & after syr
Launcelot rescowed syr blyaunte his hoost Capitulo ij



|p25


|r[f13r]
How syr Launcelot faught ayenste a bore & slewe hym / & how
he was hurte / & brought to an hermytage capitulo iij
How syr Launcelot was knowen by dame Elayn / and was
borne in to a chambre & after helyd by the sangreal iiij
How syr Launcelot after that he was hole & had his mynde
he was ashamed / and how that Elayn desyred a castel for
hym capitulo v
How syr Launcelot came in to the Ioyous yle / & there he na_med
hym self le chyualer malfet capitulo vj
Of a grete tournoyeng in the Ioyous yle / and how syr Percy_uale
and Syr Ector came thyder and syr Percyuale fought
wyth hym capitulo vij
How eche of them knewe other / & of their curtoysye / & how his
brother Ector came to hym / and of theyr Ioye viij
How syr bors & syr Lyonel came to kyng brandegore / & how
syr bors toke his sone helyne le blank & of sir launcelot ix
How syr Launcelot wyth syr Percyuale & syr ector came to
the courte / and of the grete Ioye of hym capitulo x
How la bele ysoude counceylled syr Trystram to goo vnto the
courte to the grete feste of Pentecoste capitulo xj
How syr Trystram departed vnarmed and mette with syr
Palomydes / and how they smote eche other / and how Palo_mydes
forbare hym capitulo xij
How Syr Trystram gate hym harnoys of a Knyght whyche
was hurte & how he ouerthrewe syr Palomydes xiij
How syr Trystram and syr Palamydes fought longe to gy_ders
/ and after accorded / and syr Trystram maad hym to be
crystened Capitulo xiiij
 here folowen the chapytres of the xiij book
How at the vygyle of the feste of Pentecoste entred in to the
halle before Kyng Arthur a damoysel / and desyred syr launce_lot
for to come and dubbe a knyght / and how he wente wyth
hyr capitulo primo
How the letters were founde wryton in the syege peryllous &
of the meruayllous aduenture of the swerde in a stone ij
How syr Gawayn assayed to drawe oute the swerde / & how



|p26


|r[f13v]
an olde man brought in galahad capitulo iij
How the olde man broght Galahad to the syege peryllous &
sette hym therin / & how al the knyghtes meruaylled iiij
How Kyng Arthur shewed the stone houyng on the water
to Galahad and how he drewe oute the swerde v
How kyng Arthur had al the knyghtes to gyder for to Iuste
in the medowe besyde wynchester or they departed vj
How the quene desyred to see Galahad / & after al the knygh_tes
were replenysshed wyth the holy sangreal / & how all they
auowed the enqueste of the same capitulo vij
How grete sorowe was made of the kyng and ladyes for the
departyng of the knyghtes / & how they departed viij
How Galahad gate hym a shelde / and how they spedde that
presumed to take doun the sayd shelde capitulo ix
How Galahad departed with the shelde / and how Kyng ene_lake
had receyued thys shelde of Ioseph of armathye x
How Ioseph made a crosse on the whyte shelde with his blode
& how galahad was by a monke brought to a tombe xj
Of the meruayle that syr Galahad sawe & herde in the tombe
and how he made melyas knyght Capitulo xij
Of thaduenture that Melyas had / & how Galahad reuenged
hym / and how melyas was caryed in to an abbey xiij
How Galahad departed / & how he was commaunded to goo
to the castel of maydens to destroye the wycked custome xiiij
How syr Galahad faught wyth the knyghtes of the castel &
destroyed the wycked custome capitulo xv
How syr Gawayn came to thabbey for to folowe Galahad / &
how he was shryuen to an heremyte capitulo xvj
How syr Galahad mette with syr Launcelot & with syr Per_cyuale
/ and smote hem doun and departed fro them xvij
How syr Launcelot halfe slepyng and halfe wakyng sawe
a seek man borne in a lytter / and how he was heled by the
sangreal capitulo xviij
How a voys spake to syr Launcelot / & how he fonde his hors
& his helme borne awaye / & after wente a fote xix
How syr Launcelot was shryuen & what sorowe he made / & of
good ensaumples whyche were shewed to hym ca xx
 here folowen the chapytres of the xiiij book



|p27


|r[f14r]
How syr Percyuale came to a recluse and asked hyr coun_ceyl
/ & how she tolde hym that she was hys aunte ca primo
How Merlyn lykened the rounde table to the world / and
how the knyghtes that shold achyeue the sangreal shold be
knowen Capitulo ij
How syr Percyuale came in to a monasterye where he fonde
Kyng Enelake whyche was an olde man capitulo iij
How syr Percyuale sawe many men of armes beryng a dede
knyght and how he fauggt ageynst them capitulo iiij
How a yeman desyred hym to gete ageyn an hors / and how
Syr Percyualles hakenay was slayn / and how he gate an
hors capitulo v
Of the grete daunger that syr Percyual was in by hys hors
and how he sawe a serpent and a Lyon fyght vj
Of the aduysyon that syr percyual sawe / and how hys aduy_syon
was expowned / and of hys Lyon Capitulo vij
How syr Percyuale sawe a shyppe comyng to hym warde / &
how the lady of the shyppe tolde hym of hir disherytaunce viij
How syr Percyual promysed hir helpe & how he requyred hir
of loue / and how he was saued fro the fende ca ix
How Syr Percyual for penaunce roof hym self thorugh the
thyghe / and how she was knowen for the deuyl x
 here folowth the xv book whyche is of syr Launcelot
How Syr Launcelot came in to a chapel where he fonde deed
in a whyte sherte a man of relygyon / of on hondred wynter
olde capitulo primo
Of a dede man how men wold haue hewen / and it wolde
not be / & how syr Launcelot toke the hayr of the dede man ij
Of an aduysyon that syr Launcelot had / and how he tolde it
to an heremyte / and desyred counceyll of hym capitulo iij
How the heremyte expowned to syr Launcelot his advysyon
& tolde hym that syr Galahad was hys sone capitulo iiij
How syr Launcelot Iusted wyth many knyghtes / & he was
taken Capitulo v
How syr Launcelot tolde hys aduysyon to a woman / & how
she expowned it to hym capitulo vj



|p28


|r[f14v]
 here folowen the chapytres of the xvj book
How syr Gawayn was nyghe wery of the queste of sangreal
and of his meruayllous dreme capitulo primo
Of the advysyon of syr Ector / and how he Iusted wyth syr
Ewayn le auoultres hys sworne brother ca ij
How syr Gawayn & syr Ector cam to an hermytage to be con_fessyd
& how they tolde to the hermyte theyr aduysyons iij
How the heremyte expowned theyr aduysyon Capitulo iiij
Of the good counceyl that the heremyte gaf to them v
How Syr Bors mette wyth an heremyte / and how he was
confessyd to hym and of his penaunce enioyned to hym vj
How syr bors was lodged wyth a lady and how he took on
hym for to fyght ageynst a champyon for hyr lande vij
Of a vysyon whyche Syr bors had that nyght / and how he
faught and ouercame hys aduersarye capitulo viij
How the lady was restored to hyr londes by the bataylle of
syr Boors / and of his departyng / and how he mette syr Ly_onel
taken and beten wyth thornes / and also a mayde which
shold haue ben deuoured Capitulo ix
How syr boors lefte to rescowe his brother . & rescowed the da_moysel
/ & how it was tolde hym that lyonel was dede x
How syr boors tolde his dreme to a preest / whiche he had dre_med
& of the counceyl that the preest gaf to hym xj
How the deuyl in a womans lykenes wold haue had Syr
bors to haue layen by hir / & how by goddes grace he escaped xij
Of the holy comynycacyon of an abbot to Syr boors / and how
the abbot counceylled hym capitulo xiij
How syr boors mette wyth his brother syr Lyonel / and how
syr Lyonel wolde haue slayn syr boors capitulo xiiij
How syr Colgreuaunce fought ayenst syr Lyonel for to saue
syr boors / and how the heremyte was slayn ca xv
How syr Lyonel slewe Syr Colgreuaunce / and how after he
wold haue slayn syr boors capitulo xvj
How there came a voys whyche charged syr bors to touche not
hym and of a cloude that came bytwene them capitulo xvij
 here folowen the chapytres of the xvij book



|p29


|r[f15r]
How syr Galahad faught at a turnement / and how he was
knowen of syr gawayn & of syr ector de marris capitulo j
How syr Galahad rode with a damoysel / & came to the shyp
where as syr boors and syr Percyuale were in capitulo ij
How syr Galahad entryd in to the shyp / & of a fayr bedde
therin wyth other meruayllous thynges / & of a swerde iij
Of the meruaylles of the swerde & of the scaubard iiij
How Kyng Pelles was smyton thorugh bothe thyes by cause
he drewe the swerde / & other meruayllous hystoryes v
How Salomon toke dauyds swerde by the counceyl of hys
wyf / and of other maters meruayllous Capitulo vj
A wonderful tale of kyng Salamon & his wyf vij
How Galahad and hys felowes came to a castel / and how
they were foughten wyth al / & how they slewe theyr aduer_saryes
and other maters capitulo viij
How the iij knyghtes wyth Percyuales syster came in to the
waste forest / & of an herte & iiij Lyons and other thynges ix
How they were desyred of a strauge custom / which they wolde
not obeye / wherfore they faught & slewe many knyghtes x
How Percyuales syster bledde a dysshe ful of blood for to hele
a lady wherfore she dyed / and how that the body was put
in a shyppe Capitulo xj
How Galahad and percyuale fonde in a castel many tombes
of maydens that had bledde to dethe capitulo xij
How Syr Launcelot entred in to the shyppe where syr Percy_uales
syster laye deed / and how he mette wyth Syr Galahad
hys sone capitulo xiij
How a knyght brought to syr Galahad an hors / & bad hym
come from his fader syr Launcelot capitulo xiiij
How Launcelot was tofore the dore of the chambre / wherin the
holy sangreal was capitulo xv
How syr Launcelot had layen xiiij dayes & as many nyghtes
as a dede man & other dyuers maters capitulo xvj
How syr Launcelot retorned toward logres and of other ad_uentures
whyche he sawe in the waye capitulo xvij
How Galahad came to Kyng Mordrayns / and of other ma_ters
and aduentures Capitulo xviij
How syr Percyuale and syr boors mette wyth syr Galahad



|p30


|r[f15v]
& how they came to the castel of carbonek & other maters xix
How Galahad & his felowes were fedde of the holy sangreal
& how our lord apperyd to them and other thynges xx
How Galahad enoynted wyth the blood of the spere the
maymed kyng and of other aduentures capitulo xxj
How they were fedde wyth the sangreal whyle they were in
pryson / & how Galahad was made kyng capitulo xxij
Of the sorowe that Percyuale and boors made whan galahad
was dede & of Percyuale how he dyed & other maters xxiij
 here folowen the chapytres of the xviij book
Of the Ioye of Kyng Arthur and the quene had of thachy_euement
of the sangreal / and how Launcelot fyl to hys olde
loue ageyn capitulo primo
How the quene comaunded syr Launcelot to auoyde the court
and of the sorowe that Launcelot made capitulo ij
How at a dyner that the quene made there was a knyght en_poysoned
whyche syr Mador layed on the quene iij
How syr Mador appeched the quene of treason / & there was
no knyght wold fyght for hyr at the fyrst tyme iiij
How the quene requyred syr Boors to fyght for hyr / & how
he graunted vpon condycyon / and how he warned syr Laun_celot
therof capitulo v
How at the day syr boors made hym redy for to fyght for the
quene / & whan he shold fy¨t how another dyscharged hym vj
How syr Launcelot fought ayenst syr mador for the quene / &
how he ouercame syr Mador & dyscharged the quene vij
How the trouthe was knowen by the mayden of the lake / and
of dyuers other maters Capitulo viij
How syr Launcelot rode to astolat / & receyued a sleue to bere
vpon his helme at the requeste of a mayde capitulo ix
How the tornoye began at Wynchester and what Knyghtes
were at the Iustes and other thynges capitulo x
How sir Launcelot and syr Lauayn entred in the felde ayenst
them of kyng Arthurs court / & how launcelot was hurte xj
How syr Launcelot & syr Lauayn departed oute of the felde
and in what Ieopardye Launcelot was capitulo xij



|p31


|r[f16r]
How Launcelot was brought to an hermyte for to be helyd of
his wounde and of other maters capitulo xiij
How syr Gawayn was lodged wyth the lord of astolat / &
there had knowlege that hit was Syr Launcelot that bare the
rede sleue Capitulo xiiij
Of the sorowe that syr boors had for the hurte of Launcelot
and of the angre that the quene had by cause Launcelot bare
the sleue capitulo xv
How Syr boors sou¨ght launcelot & fonde hym in the hermy_tage
/ & of the lamentacion bytwene them Capitulo xvj
How syr Launcelot armed hym to assaye yf he myght bere ar_mes
& how his woundes brest oute ageyn capitulo xvij
How syr boors retorned & tolde tydynges of syr Launcelot / &
of the tournoye and to whome the prys was gyuen xviij
Of the grete lamentacyn of the fayr made of |r{ms=os} astolat whan Launcelot shold departe & how she dyed for his loue xix
How the corps of the mayde of astolat arryued tofore kyng
arthur and of the buryeng / and how syr Launcelot offryd
the masse peny capitulo xx
Of grete Iustes doon alle a crystemasse / and of a grete Ius_tes
and tournoye ordeyned by Kyng Arthur / and of Syr
Launcelot Capitulo xxj
How Launcelot after that he was hurt of a gentylwoman
came to an hermyte and of other maters capitulo xxij
How syr Launcelot byhaued hym at the Iustes / and other
men also capitulo   xxiij
How Kyng arthur meruaylled moche of the Iustyng in the
felde and how he rode & fonde syr Launcelot capitulo xxiiij
How trewe loue is lykened to sommer Capitulo xxv
 here folowen the chapytres of the xix book
How quene gueneuer rode on mayeng with certeyn knyghtes
of the rounde table and clad al in grene capitulo primo
How syr Mellyagraunce toke the quene & al hyr knyghtes
whyche were sore hurte in fyghtyng capitulo ij
How syr Launcelot had word how the quene was taken / &
how syr mellyagraunce layed a busshement for launcelot iij



|p32


|r[f16v]
How syr Launcelots hors was slayn / & how syr Laun_celot
rode in a carte for to rescowe the quene Capitulo iiij
How syr Mellyagraunce requyred foryeuenes of the quene / &
how she appeased syr Launcelot and other maters v
How syr Launcelot came in the nyght to the quene and laye
wyth hyr / and how syr Melyagraunce appeched the quene of
treson capitulo vj
How syr Launcelot answerd for the quene / and waged ba_taylle
ayenst syr melyagraunce / and how syr Launcelot was
taken in a trappe Capitulo vij
How syr Launcelot was delyuerd out of pryson by a lady &
toke a whyt courser and came for to kepe hys day viij
How syr Launcelot cam the same tyme that syr mellyagrauce
abode hym in the felde and dressyd hym to bataylle ix
How syr Vrre came in to arthurs courte for to be heled of his
woundes / & how kyng arthur wold begyn to handle hym x
How Kyng arthur handled syr Vrre / and after hym many
other knyghtes of the rounde table capitulo xj
How syr Launcelot was comanded by arthur to handle hys
woundes & anone he was al hool / & how they thanked god xij
How there was a party made of an hondred knyghtes ayenst
an hondred knyghtes / and of other maters capitulo xiij
 here foloweth the book of the pyteous hystorye whyche is
of the morte or deth of kyng Arthur / and the chapytres of the
twenty book
How syr Agrauayn & syr mordred were besy vpon syr Ga_wayn
for to dysclose the loue bytwene Syr Launcelot & quene
Gueneuer Capitulo primo
How syr Agrauayn dysclosed theyr loue to kyng Arthur / &
how Kyng Arthur gaf them lycence to take hym ij
How syr Launcelot was espyed in the quenes chambre / and
how Syr Agrauayn and Syr Mordred came wyth twelue
knyghtes to slee hym Capitulo iij
How syr Launcelot slewe syr colgreuance & armed hym in his
harnoys & after slewe syr agrauayn & xij of his felawes iiij
How Syr Launcelot came to syr bors & tolde hym how he had



|p33


|r[f17r]
spedde & in what aduenture he had ben / & how he escaped v
Of the counceyl and aduys whiche was taken by syr Laun_celot
and by hys frendes for to saue the quene Capitulo vj
How syr mordred rode hastely to the Kyng / to telle hym of
thaffray & deth of syr agrauayn & the other knyghtes vij
How syr Launcelot and hys kynnesmen rescowed the quene
from the fyre and how he slewe many knyghtes viij
Of the sorowe & lamentacyon for the dethe of his neuewes &
other good knyghtes / & also for the quene hys wyf ix
How Kyng Arthur at the requeste of syr Gawayn conclu_ded
to make warre ayenst syr Launcelot / and layed syege to
his castel called Ioyous garde capitulo x
Of the comynycacyon bytwene kyng Arthur & syr Launcelot
and how Kyng Arthur repreuyd hym capitulo xj
How the cosyns & kynnesmen of syr Launcelot excyted hym
to goo oute to batayl / and how they made them redy xij
How syr Gawayn Iusted and smote doun syr Lyonel / and
how syr Launcelot horsed kyng Arthur ca xiij
How the Pope sent doun his bulles to make pees / & how syr
Launcelot brought the quene to kyng Arthur xiiij
Of the delyueraunce of the quene to the kyng by sir launcelot
& what langage syr Gawayn had to syr Launcelot xv
Of the comynycacyon bytwene syr Gawayn and syr Launce_lot
wyth moche other langage capitulo xvj
How syr Launcelot departed fro the kyng & fro Ioyous garde
ouer see warde and what knyghtes wente wyth hym xvij
How syr Launcelot passed ouer the see / & how he made grete
lordes of the knyghtes that wente wyth hym capitulo xviij
How kyng arthur & syr Gawayn made a grete hoost redy to
go ouer see to make warre on syr Launcelot capitulo xix
What message syr Gawayn sente to syr Launcelot / & kynge
Arthur layed syege to benwyck and other maters xx
How syr launcelot & syr Gawayn dyd batayl togyder / and
how syr Gawayn was ouerthrowen and hurte capitulo xxj
Of the sorowe that kyng arthur made for the warre / & of an
other batayl where also syr Gawayn had the werse xxij
 here folowen the chapytres of the xxj book



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How Syr Mordred presumed & toke on hym to be kyng of
englond / & wold haue maryed the quene his faders wyf ca j
How after that kyng arthur had tydynges / he retorned and
came to douer where syr Mordred mette hym to lette his lan_dyng
/ and of the deth of Syr Gawayn Capitulo ij
How after syr Gawayns ghoost apperyd to kynge arthur &
warned hym that he shold not fyght that day capitulo iij
How by mysaduenture of an adder the batayl began / where
Mordred was slayn and arthur hurte to the deth iiij
How Kyng arthur comanded to caste his swerd excalybur in
to the water / & how he was delyuerd to ladyes in a barge v
How syr bedwere fonde hym on the morne deed in an hermy_tage
/ and how he abode there wyth the hermyte capitulo vj
Of thoppynyon of somme men of the deth of kynge arthur / &
how quene Gueneuer made hir a nonne in almesburye vij
How whan syr Launcelot herde of the deth of kyng arthur &
of syr Gawayn and other maters came in to englond viij
How syr Launcelot departed to seche the quene Gueneuer and
how he fonde hir at almesburye capitulo ix
How Syr Launcelot came to thermytage where tharchebysshop
of caunterburye was / & how he toke thabyte on hym x
How syr Launcelot wente wyth his seuen felowes to amesbu_rye
/ & fonde there quene Gueneuer deed / whom they brought
to glastynburye capitulo xj
How syr Launcelot began to sekene / & after dyed / whos body
was borne to Ioyous garde for to be buryed capitulo xij
How syr Ector fonde syr launcelot hys brother dede / and how
Constantyn reygned next after Arthur / and of the ende of
thys book capitulo xiij
 Explicit the table



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|r[f18r]
 Capitulum primum

   |r<b> HIt befel in the dayes of Vther pendragon when
   he was kynge of all Englond / and so regned
   that there was a my¨ty 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 ky_nge
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 depar_tyng
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 yo_ur
somos / 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 hy¨t



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|r[f18v]
Terrabyl / So his wyf Dame Igrayne he putte in the castell
of Tyntagil / And hym self he putte in the castel of Terrabyl
the whiche had many yssues and posternes oute / Thenne in
alle haste came Vther with a grete hoost / and leyd a syege a_bout
the castel of Terrabil / And ther he pyght many pauel_yons /
and there was grete warre made on bothe partyes / and
moche peple slayne / Thenne for pure angre and for grete lo_ue
of fayr Irayne the kyng Vther felle seke / So came to the
kynge Vther Syre Vlfius a noble knyght / and asked the
kynge why he was seke / I shall telle the said the kynge / I
am seke for angre and for loue of fayre Igrayne that I may
not be hool / wel my lord said Syre Vlfius / I shal seke Mer_lyn /
and he shalle do yow remedy that youre herte shalbe ple_asyd /
So Vlfius departed / and by aduenture he mette Mer_lyn
in a beggars aray / and ther Merlyn asked Vlfius who_me
he soughte / and he said he had lytyl ado to telle hym / Well
saide Merlyn / I knowe whome thou sekest / for thou sekest
Merlyn / therfore seke no ferther / for I am he / and yf kynge
Vther wille wel rewarde me / and be sworne vnto me to ful_fille
my desyre that shall be his honour & profite more tha myn
for I shalle cause hym to haue alle his desyre / Alle this wyll
I vndertake said Vlfius that ther shalle be nothyng resona_ble /
but thow shalt haue thy desyre / well said Merlyn / he shall
haue his entente and desyre / And therfore saide Merlyn / ryde
on your wey / for I wille not be long behynde

Capitulum Secundum

   |r<b>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 sa_id
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 euuagelistes / Syre said Merlyn this is my desyre / the
first ny¨t èt ye shal lye by Igrayne ye shal gete a child on her &



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|r[f19r]
whan that is borne that it shall be delyuerd to me for to nou_risshe
there as I wille haue it / for it shal be your worship / &
the childis auaille as mykel as the child is worth / I wylle
wel said the kynge as thow wilt haue it / Now make you re_dy
said Merlyn this nyght ye shalle lye with Igrayne in the
castel of Tyntigayll / & ye shalle be lyke the duke her husband
Vlfyus shal be lyke Syre Brastias / a knyghte of the dukes
And I will be lyke a knyghte that hyghte Syr Iordanus a
knyghte of the dukes / But wayte ye make not many questi_ons
with her nor her men / but saye ye are diseased and soo hye
yow to bedde / and ryse not on the morne tyll I come to yow /
for the castel of Tyntygaill is but x myle hens / soo this was
done as they deuysed / But the duke of Tyntigail aspyed hou
the kyng rode fro the syege of tarabil / & therfor that nyghte he
yssued oute of the castel at a posterne for to haue distressid the
kynges hooste / And so thorowe his owne yssue the duke hym
self was slayne or euer the kynge cam at the castel of Tynti_gail /
so after the deth of the duke kyng Vther lay with Igra_yne
more than thre houres after his deth / and begat on her that
nyg¨ arthur / & on day cam Merlyn ca to the kyng / & bad hym
make hym redy / & so he kist the lady Igrayne and departed in
all hast / But whan the lady herd telle of the duke her husbad
and by all record he was dede or euer kynge Vther came to her
thenne she merueilled who that myghte be that laye with her
in lykenes of her lord / so she mourned pryuely and held hir
pees / Thenne alle the barons by one assent prayd the Kynge
of accord betwixe the lady Igrayne and hym / the kynge gaf
hem leue / for fayne wold he haue ben accorded with her / Soo
the kyng put alle the trust in Vlfyus to entrete bitwene them
so by the entrete at the last the kyng & she met to gyder / Now
wille we doo well said Vlfyus / our kyng is a lusty knyghte
and wyueles / & my lady Igrayne is a passynge fair lady / it
were grete ioye vnto vs all and hit myghte please the kynge
to make her his quene / vnto that they all well accordyd and
meued it to the kynge / And anone lyke a lusty knyghte / he
assentid therto with good wille / and so in alle haste they we_re
maryed in a mornynge with grete myrthe and Ioye /
And Kynge Lott of Lowthean and of Orkenay thenne



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|r[f19v]
wedded Margawse that was Gaweyns moder / And kynge
Nentres of the land of Garlot wedded Elayne / Al this was
done at the request of kynge Vther / And the thyrd syster mor_gan
lesey was put to scole in a nonnery / And ther she lerned
so moche that she was a grete Clerke of Nygromancye / And
after she was wedded to kynge Vryens of the lond of Gore
that was Syre Ewayns le blaunche maynys fader /

Capitulum tercium

   |r<b> THen~e 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 ou¨t to hym whos was
the child within her body / the~ne she sore abasshed to yeue
ansuer / Desmaye you not said the kyng but telle me the tro_uthe /
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
èt my lord was dede the houre of his deth as his kny¨tes 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 ou¨t to do with my lord / & the sa_me
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 gre_te
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 yoder pryuy posterne vncrystned / So like



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|r[f20r]
as Merlyn deuysed it was done / And whan syre Ector was
come / he made fyau~ce to the kyng for to nourisshe the child ly_ke
as the Kynge desyred / and there the kyng graunted syr ec_tor
grete rewardys / Thenne when the lady was delyuerd the
kynge commaunded ij knyghtes & ij ladyes to take the child
bound in a cloth of gold / & that ye delyuer hym to what pou_re
man ye mete at the posterne yate of the castel / So the child
was delyuerd vnto Merlyn / and so he bare it forth vnto Syre
Ector / and made an holy man to crysten hym / and named
hym Arthur / and so sir Ectors wyf nourysshed hym with her
owne pappe / Thenne within two yeres kyng Vther felle seke
of a grete maladye / And in the meane whyle hys enemyes
Vsurpped vpon hym / and dyd a grete bataylle vpon his men /
and slewe many of his peple / Sir said Merlyn ye may not lye
so as ye doo / for ye must to the feld though ye ryde on an hors
lyttar / for ye shall neuer haue the better of your enemyes / but
yf your persone be there / and thenne shall ye haue the vyctory
So it was done as Merlyn had deuysed / and they caryed the
kynge forth in an hors lyttar with a grete hooste towarde his
enemyes / And at saynt Albons ther mette with the kynge a
grete hoost of the north / And that day Syre Vlfyus and sir
Bracias dyd grete dedes of armes / and kyng Vthers men o_uercome
the northeryn bataylle and slewe many peple & putt
the remenaunt to flight / And thenne the kyng retorned vnto
london and made grete ioye of his vyctory / And the~ne he fyll
passynge sore seke / so that thre dayes & thre nyghtes he was spe_cheles /
wherfore alle the barons made grete sorow and asked
Merlyn what counceill were best / There nys none other reme_dye
said Merlyn but god wil haue his wille / But loke ye al
Barons be bifore kynge Vther to morne / and god and I
shalle make hym to speke / So on the morne alle the Barons
with merlyn came to fore the kyng / then~e Merlyn said aloud
vnto kyng Vther / Syre shall your sone Arthur be kyng after
your dayes of this realme with all the appertenaunce / thenne
Vtherpendragon torned hym and said in herynge of them alle
I gyue hym gods blissing & myne / & byd hym pray for my
soule / & righteuously & worshipfully that he clayme è=e= croune
vpon forfeture of my blessyng / & therwith he yelde vp the ghost &



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|r[f20v]
thenne was he enterid as longed to a kyng / wherfor the que_ne
fayre Igrayne made grete sorowe and alle the Barons /
Thenne stood the reame in grete ieopardy long whyle / for eue_ry
lord that was myghty of men maade hym stronge / and ma_ny
wende to haue ben kyng / Thenne Merlyn wente to the ar_chebisshop
of Caunterbury / and counceilled hym for to sende
for alle the lordes of the reame / and alle the gentilmen of ar_mes
that they shold to london come by Cristmas vpon payne of
cursynge / And for this cause èt Ihu 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 a_yest
the hyghe aulter a grete stone four square lyke vnto a mar_bel
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 En_lond /
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 kny¨tes
men of good fame / & they to kepe this swerd / so it was ordey_ned
|r{ms=ordeydeyned} / & the~ne ther was made a crye / è=t= euery ma shold assay è=t=



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|r[f21r]
wold for to wynne the swerd / And vpon newe yeersday the
barons lete maake a Iustes and a tournement / that alle kny¨_tes
shat wold Iuste or tourneye / there myt playe / & all this
was ordeyned for to kepe the lordes to gyders & the comyns / for
the Archebisshop trusted / that god wold make hym knowe
that shold wynne the swerd / So vpon newe yeresday whan
the seruyce was done / the barons rode vnto the feld / some to Ius_te /
& som to torney / & so it happed that syre Ector that had gre_te
lyuelode aboute london rode vnto the Iustes / & with hym ro_de
syr kaynus his sone & yong Arthur that was hys nouris_shed
broder / & syr kay was made kny¨t at al halowmas afore
So as they rode to ye Iustes ward / sir kay lost his swerd for
he had lefte it at his faders lodgyng / & so he prayd yong Ar_thur
for to ryde for his swerd / I wyll wel said Arthur / & ro_de
fast after ye swerd / & whan he cam home / the lady & al were
out to see the Ioustyng / thenne was Arthur wroth & saide to
hym self / I will ryde to the chircheyard / & take the swerd with
me that stycketh in the stone / for my broder sir kay shal not be
without a swerd this day / so whan he cam to the chircheyard
sir Arthur alit & tayed his hors to the style / & so he wente to
the tent / & found no kny¨tes there/ for they were atte Iustyng
& so he handled the swerd by the handels / and litly & fiersly
pulled it out of the stone / & took his hors & rode his way vn_tyll
he came to his broder sir kay / & delyuerd hym the swerd / &
as sone as sir kay saw the swerd he wist wel it was the swerd
of the stone / & so he rode to his fader syr Ector / & said / sire / loo
here is the swerd of the stone / wherfor I must be kyng of thys
land / when syre Ector beheld the swerd / he retorned ageyne &
cam to the chirche / & there they alite al thre / & wente in to the
chirche / And anon he made sir kay swere vpon a book / how
he came to that swerd / Syr said sir kay by my broder Arthur
for he brought it to me / how gate ye this swerd said sir Ector
to Arthur / sir I will telle you when I cam home for my bro_ders
swerd / I fond no body at home to delyuer me his swerd
And so I thought my broder syr kay shold not be swerdles
& so I cam hyder egerly & pulled it out of the stone withoute
ony payn / found ye ony kny¨tes about this swerd seid sir ector
Nay said Arthur /Now said sir Ector to Arthur I vnderstade



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ye must be kynge of this land / wherfore I / sayd Arthur and
for what cause / Sire saide Ector / for god wille haue hit soo
for ther shold neuer man haue drawen oute this swerde / but
he that shal be rightwys kyng of this land / Now lete me see
whether ye can putte the swerd ther as it was / and pulle hit
oute ageyne / that is no maystry said Arthur / and soo he put it
in the stone / wherwith alle Sir Ector assayed to pulle oute the
swerd and faylled.

Capitulum sextum

   |r<b> NOw assay said Syre Ector vnto Syre kay / And a_non
   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 ther_with
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 Ec_tor
told hym all how he was bitaken hym for to nourisshe hym
And by whoos commandement / and by Merlyns delyuerauce
 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 we_re
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 de_syre
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



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And saide it was grete shame vnto them all and the reame to
be ouer gouernyd with a boye of no hyghe blood borne / And
so they fell oute at that tyme that it was put of tyll Candel_mas /
And thenne alle the barons shold mete there ageyne / but
alwey the x knyghtes were ordeyned to watche the swerd day
& ny¨t / & so they sette a pauelione ouer the stone & èe swerd &
fyue alwayes watched / Soo at Candalmasse many moo gre_te
lordes came thyder for to haue wonne the swerde / but there
myghte none preuaille / And right as Arthur dyd at Crist_masse /
he dyd at Candelmasse and pulled oute the swerde e_asely
wherof the Barons were sore agreued and put it of in
delay till the hyghe feste of Eester / And as Arthur sped a_fore /
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 knygh_tes
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 bar_sias /
All these with many other were alweyes about Arthur
day and nyghte till the feste of Pentecost

 Capitulum septimum

   |r<b> ANd at the feste of pentecost alle maner of men assayed
   to pulle at the swerde that wold assay / but none my_ghte
   preuaille but Arthur / and pulled it oute afore
all the lordes and comyns that were there / wherfore alle the co_myns
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 hol_deth
ageynst it we wille slee hym / And therwith all they kne_lyd
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



|p44


|r[f22v]
was the coronacyon made / And ther was he sworne vnto his
lordes & the comyns for to be a true kyng to stand with true
Iustyce fro thens forth the dayes of this lyf / Also thene he ma_de
alle lordes that helde of the croune to come in / and to do ser_uyce
as they oughte to doo / And many complayntes were ma_de
vnto sir Arthur of grete wronges that were done syn the
dethe of kyng Vther / of many londes that were bereued lordes
knyghtes / ladyes & gentilmen / wherfor kynge Arthur maade
the londes to be yeuen ageyne to them that oughte hem /
 Whanne this was done that the kyng had stablisshed alle
the countreyes aboute london / thenne he lete make Syr kay sen_cial
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 èt tyme èe 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

 Capitulum octauum

   |r<b> THenne the kyng remeued in to walys / and lete crye
   a grete feste |r{ms=seste} that is shold be holdyn at Pentecost after
   the incoronacion of hym at the Cyte of Carlyon / vnto
the fest come kyng Lott of Lowthean / and of Orkeney / with
fyue C kny¨tes with hym / Also ther come to the feste kynge
Vryens of gore with four C kny¨tes with hym     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 do_ne
hym worship at his feste / wherfor the kyng made grete io_ye /
and sente the kynges and knyghtes grete presentes / But



|p45


|r[f23r]
the kynges wold none receyue / but rebuked the messagers
shamefully / and said they had no ioye to receyue no yeftes of
a berdles boye that was come of lowe blood / and sente hym
word / they wold none of his yeftes / But that they were co_me
to gyue hym yeftes with hard swerdys betwixt the neck
and the sholders / And therfore they came thyder / so they told
to the messagers playnly / for it was grete shame to all them
to see suche a boye to haue a rule of soo noble a reaume as this
land was / With this ansuer the messagers departed & told
to kyng Arthur this ansuer / wherfor by the aduys of his ba_rons
he took hym to a strong towre with / v / C good men with
hym / And all the kynges afore said in a maner leyd a syege
tofore hym / but kyng Arthur was well vytailled / And with_in
xv dayes ther came Merlyn amonge hem in to the Cyte of
Carlyon / thenne all the kynges were passyng gladde of Mer_lyn /
and asked hym for what cause is that boye Arthur made
your kynge / Syres said Merlyn / I shalle telle yow the cause
for he is kynge Vtherpendragons sone borne in wedlok goten
on Igrayne the dukes wyf of Tyntigail / thenne is he a bas_tard
they said al / nay said Merlyn / After the deth of the du_ke
more than thre houres was Arthur begoten / And xiij da_yes
after kyng Vther wedded Igrayne / And therfor I pre_ue
hym he is no bastard / And who saith nay / he shal be kyng
and ouercome alle his enemyes / And or he deye / he shalle be
long kynge of all Englond / and haue vnder his obeyssaunce
Walys / yrland and Scotland / and moo reames than I will
now reherce / Some of the kynges had merueyl of Merlyns
wordes and demed well that it shold be as he said / And som
of hem lough hym to scorne / as kyng Lot / and mo other cal_led
hym a wytche / But thenne were they accorded with Mer_lyn
that kynge Arthur shold come oute and speke with the
kynges / and to come sauf and to goo sauf / suche suraunce ther
was made / So Merlyn went vnto kynge Arthur / and told
hym how he had done / and badde hym fere not but come oute
boldly and speke with hem / and spare hem not / but ansuere
them as their kynge and chyuetayn / for ye shal ouercome hem
all whether they wille or nylle /

 Capitulum ix



|p46


|r[f23v]
   |r<b> 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 Caunterbu_ry /
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 an_suerd
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 kny¨tes / what will ye do said Merlyn to the kynges
ye were better for to stynte / for ye shalle not here preuaille tho_ugh
ye were x so many / be we wel auysed to be aferd of a dre_me
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 Bras_tias
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 ma_ny
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 vn_dernethe
hym / And therwith kynge lot smote doune kyng Ar_thur /
With that his four knyghtes receyued hym and set hym
an horsback / then~e he drewe his swerd Excalibur / but it was
so bryght in his enemyes eyen / that it gaf light lyke xxx tor_chys /
And therwith he put hem on bak / and slewe moche peple
And thenne the comyns of Carlyon aroos with clubbis and



|p47


|r[f24r]
stauys and slewe many knyghtes / but alle the kynges hel_de
them to gyders with her knyghtes that were lefte on lyue /
and so fled and departed / And Merlyn come vnto Arthur /
and counceilled hym to folowe hem no further. Ca / x
   |r<b> 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 couceil / for Merlyn
had told the kynge that the sixe kynges that made warre vp_on
hym wold in al haste be awroke on hym & on his landys
wherfor the kyng asked counceil at hem al / they coude no coun_ceil
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 sente |r{ms=fente} for & fair desyred of al the ba_rons
to gyue them best counceil / I shall say you said Merlyn
I warne yow al / your enemyes are passyng strong for yow /
and they are good men of armes as ben on lyue / & by thys
tyme they haue goten to them four kynges mo / and a mygh_ty
duke / and onlesse that our kyng haue more chyualry with
hym than he may make within èe 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 be_yond
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 Kny¨tes that he putteth these
two kynges moost parte do the werse / wherfor this is my coun_ceil
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



|p48


|r[f24v]
vnto them to helpe them in their warrys ageynst kynge Clau_das /
Now what saye ye vnto this counceill said Merlyn / thys
is wel counceilled said the kynge & alle the Barons / right so
in alle haste ther were ordeyned to goo two knyghtes on the
message vnto the two kynges / Soo were there made letters in
the plesaunt wyse accordyng vnto kyng Arthurs desyre / Vl_fyus
and Brastias were made the messagers / & so rode forth
wel horsed and wel armed / and as they gyse was that tyme
& so passed the see & rode toward the cyte of Benwyck / and
there bysydes were viij knyghtes that aspyed them / And at a
strayt passage they mette with Vlfyus & Brastias / & wold
haue taken hem prysoners / so they prayd hem that they myght
passe / for they were messagers vnto kyng Ban & Bors sent
from kynge Arthur / therfor said the viij knyghtes ye shalle
dye or be prysoners / for we ben knyghtes of kyng Claudas
And therwith two of them dressid theire sperys / and Vlfyus
and Brastias dressid theire speres and ranne to gyder with
grete raundon / And Claudas knyghtes brack their speres /
and ther to hylde and bare the two knyghtes out of her sadels
to the erthe / and so lefte hem lyeng and rode her wayes / And
the other sixe knyghtes rode afore to a passage to mete wyth
hem ageyne / and so Vlfyus & Brastias smote other two doun
And so past on her wayes / And at the fourth passage there
mette two for two / and bothe were leid vnto the erthe / so ther
was none of the viij knyghtes but he was sore hurte or brysed
And whan they come to Benwick it fortuned ther were both
kynges Ban and Bors / And whan it was told the kynges
that there were come messagers / there were sente vnto them ij
knyghtes of worship / the one hyghte Lyonses lord of the co_untry
of payarne and Sir phariaunce a worshipful |r{ms=worshipsul} knyght
Anone they asked from whens they came / and they said from
kynge Arthur kyng of Englond / so they took them in theyre
armes and made grete ioye eche of other / But anon as the ij
kynges wist they were messagers of Arthurs / ther was ma_de
no taryenge / but forthwith they spak with the knyghtes / &
welcomed hem in the feythfullest wyse / & said / they were most
welcome vnto them before alle the kynges lyuynge / and ther
with they kyst the letters & delyuerd hem / And whan Ban



|p49


|r[f25r]
and Bors vnderstood the letters / thenne were they more wel
come than they were before / And after the hast of the letters /
they gaf hem this ansuer that they wold fulfille the desyre of
kynge Arthurs wrytyng & Vlfyus & Brastias tary there as
longe as they wold / they shold haue suche chere as myghte be
made them in tho marchys / Thenne Vlfyus & Brastias told
the kyng of the adueture at their passages of the eyghte kny¨_tes /
Ha A said Ban and Bors they were my good frendes
I wold I had wyst of hem they shold not haue escaped so
So Vlfius & Brastias had good chere and grete yeftes as
moche as they myghte bere awey / and hadde their ansuere by
mouthe and by wrytynge that tho two Kynges wold come
vnto Arthur in all the hast that they myte / So the two Kny_¨tes
rode on a fore / and passed the see / and come to their lord
and told hym how they had spedde / wherof Kynge Arthur
was passyng gladde / At what tyme suppose ye / the ij Kynges
wol be here / Syr said they afore all halowmasse / Thenne the
kynge lete puruey for a grete feeste / and lete crye a grete Ius_tes /
And by all halowmasse the two kynges were come ouer
the see with thre honderd kny¨tes wel arayed both for the pees
and for the werre / And kyng Arthur mette with hem x my_le
oute of london / and ther was grete ioye as coude be thou¨t
or made / And on al halowmasse / at the grete feeste sate in the
halle the thre kynges / and syre kay sencial serued in the halle
And Syr lucas the bottelere that was duke Corneus sone / &
sir gryflet that was the sone of Cardol / these iij kny¨tes had
the rule of alle the seruyse that serued the kynges / And anon
as they had wasshen & rysen / al kny¨tes that wold Iuste ma_de
hem redy / by than they were redy on horsbak there were vij
C knyghtes / And Arthur Ban and Bors with the Archebis_shop
of Caunterbury / and syre Ector kays fader they were in
a place couerd with clothe of gold lyke an halle with ladyes
and gentilwymmen for to behold who dyd best and theron to
giue Iugement                          Capitulum xj
   |r<b> 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 gau_le
torned on the other syde than they dressid her sheldes / and



|p50


|r[f25v]
beganne to couche her speres many good knyghtes / So Gryf_let
was the first that mette with a knyghte one ladynas and
they mett so egerly that al men hadde wonder / And they soo
faughte that her sheldes felle to pyeces / and hors and man
felle to the erthe / And bothe the frensshe knyghte and the En_glysshe
knyghte lay so longe that alle men wend they had ben
dede / Whan lucas the botteler sawe Gryflet soo lye / he horsed
hym ageyne anon / and they two dyd merueillous dedes of ar_mes
with many bachelers / Also syre kay came oute of an en_busshement
with fyue knyghtes with hym / and they sixe smo_te
other sixe doune / But syr kay dyd that day merueillous
dedes of armes / that ther was none dyd so wel as he that day
Thenne ther come ladynas & Grastian two knyghtes of fra_unce /
and dyd passynge wel that all men preysed them /
Thenne come there Syre placidas a good knyghte and mette
with syr kay and smote hym doune hors and man / wherfore
Syre gryflet was wrothe and mette with Syre placidas soo
harde that hors and man felle to the erthe / But whan the / v /
knyghtes wyst that syr kay had a falle they were wrothe out
of wyt / And therwith eche of them / v / bare doune a knyghte /
Whanne kyng Arthur and the two kynges sawe hem begyn
waxe wrothe on bothe partyes / they lepte on smale hakeneis /
and lete crye that all men shold departe vnto their lodgynge
And so they wente home and vnarmed them and so to euen_songe
and souper |r{ms=fouper} / And after the thre kynges wente in to a
gardyn / and gaf the pryce vnto syre kay and to lucas the bot_telere /
and vnto Syre Gryflet / And thenne they wente vnto
counceil / and with hem gwenbaus the brother vnto syr Ban
& Bors a wyse Clerk / and thyder went Vlfyus and Bras_tias
and Merlyn / And after they had ben in counceill / they
wente vn to bedde / And on the morne they herde masse and to
dyner / and so to their counceille and made many argumentis
what were best to doo / At the last they were concluded / that
Merlyn shold goo with a token of kyng Ban and that was
a rynge vnto his men and kynge Bors and Gracian & pla_cidas
sholde goo ageyne and kepe theire castels and her coun_treyes /
as for kynge Ban of Benwick and kynge Bors of
Gaules had ordeyned hem / and so passed the see and came to



|p51


|r[f26r]
Benwyck / And whan the peple sawe kyng Bans rynge &
gracian and placidas they were glad / and asked how the kyn_ges
ferd / and made grete ioye of their welfare and cordyng /
and accordynge vnto the souerayne lordes desyre / the men of
warre made hem redy in al hast possyble / soo that they were xv
M on hors and foot / and they had grete plente of vytaylle
with hem by Merlyns prouysyon / But gracian and placidas
were lefte to furnysshe and garnysshe the castels for drede of
kynge Claudas / ryght so Merlyn passed the see wel vytailled
bothe by water and by land / And whan he came to the see / he
sente home the foote men ageyne and took no mo with hym /
but x M men on horsbak the moost parte men of armes and so
shypped and passed the see in to Englond / and londed at Do_uer /
and thorow the wytte of Merlyn he had the hoost North_ward
the pryuyest wey that coude be thoughte vnto the foreist
of Bedegrayne / and there in a valey he lodged hem secretely /
 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 pur_ueyed /
So with xx M he passed by nyghte and day / but ther
was made suche an ordenaunce 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 th_orow
the kynges enemyes durste not ryde as they dyd to fore
to aspye

 Capitulum xij

   |r<b> ANd soo within a lytel space the thre kynges came vn_to
   the Castel of Bedegrayne / and fond there a pas_synge
   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 kyn_ges
by her meanes gate vnto hem fyue other kynges / And
thus they beganne to gadre theyr peple  And how
they sware that for |r{ms=sor} wele nor woo they shold not leue other /



|p52


|r[f26v]
tyl they had destroyed Arthur / and thenne they made an oth
The fyrst that beganne the othe was the duke of Candebenet
/ that he wold brynge with hym v M men of armes the which
were redy on horsbak / Thenne sware kynge Brandegoris of
stranggore that he wold brynge v M men of armes on horsbak
/ Thenne sware kynge Claryuaus of Northumberland he
wold brynge thre thousand men of armes / thenne sware the
kyng of the C knyghtes that was a passynge good man and
a yonge that he wold brynge four thousand men of armes on
horsbak / thenne ther swore kynge Lott a passyng good kny¨t
and syre Gawayns fader that he wold brynge v M men of
armes on horsbak / Also ther swore kynge Vryence that was
syr Vwayns fader of the lond of gore and he wold brynge
vj M men of armes on horsbak / Also ther swore kyng Idres
of Cornewallle that he wold brynge v M men of armes on
horsbak / Also ther swore kynge cardelmans to brynge v M me
on horsbak / Also ther swore kyng Agwysaunce of Irelond to
brynge v M men of armes on horsbak / Also ther swore kyng
Nentres to brynge v M men of armes on horsbak / Also there
swore kynge Carados to brynge v M of armes on hors_bak
/ Soo her hool hoost was of clene men of armes on horsbak
fyfty thousand and a foot x thousand of good mennes bodyes
/ thenne were they soone redy and mounted vpon hors and
sente forth their fore rydars / for these xj kynges in her wayes
leyd a syege unto the castel of Bedegrayne / and so they depar_ted
and drewe toward Arthur and lefte fewe to abyde at the
syege for the castel of Bedegrayne was holden of kynge Ar_thur
/ and the men that were theryn were Arthurs

 Capitulum xiij

|r<b> SOo by Merlyns aduys ther were sente fore rydars to
      skumme the Countreye / & they mette with the fore ry_dars
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 con_trey
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 cas_tels
and her townes / and after that cam a water and bare hit



|p53


|r[f27r]
all awey / Alle that herd of the sweuen said / it was a token of
grete batayll / Thenne by counceill of Merlyn whan they wist
whiche wey the xj kynges wold ryde and lodge that nyghte
At mydnyght they sette vpon them as they were in theyr pa_elyons
/ But the scoute watche by her hoost cryed lordes att
armes for here be your enemyes at your hand

capitulum xiiij
|r<b> 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 a_boute
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



|p54


|r[f27v
vand Kynge Claryaunce of Northumberland / were alweye
greuous on Vlfyus / thenne Brastias sawe his felawe ferd
so with al / he smote the duke with a spere that hors & man fell
doune / that sawe kyng Claryaunce and retorned vnto Bra_stias
/ and eyther smote other soo that hors & man wente to the
erthe / and so they lay long astonyed / & their hors knees brast
to the hard bone / Thenne cam Syr kay the sencyal with syxe
felawes with hym / and dyd passyng wel / with that cam the
xj kynges / and ther was Gryflet put to the erthe hors & man
and lucas the bottelere hors and man by kynge Brandego_rys
and kyng Idres & kyng Agwysaunce / thene waxed the
medle passynge hard on bothe partyes / whan syre kay sawe
Gryflet on foote / he rode on kyng Nentres & smote hym doun
and lad his hors vnto syr gryflet & horsed hym ageyne / Al_so
syr kay with the same spere smote doun kyng Lott / & hurt
hym passyng sore / that sawe the kyng with the C kny¨tes and
ran vnto syr kay and smote hym doune and toke his hors / &
gaf hym kyng Lott wherof he said gramercy / whan syr Gryf_let
sawe syr kay & lucas the bottelere on foote / he tooke a sharp
spere grete and square / and rode to pynel a good man of ar_mes
/ and smote hors and man doune / And thenne he tooke
his hors / and gaf hym vnto syr kay / Thenne kynge Lot saw
kyng Nentres on foote / he ranne vnto Melot de la roche / & smo_te
hym doune hors and man & gaf kyng Nentres the hors &
horsed hym ageyne / Also the kyng of the C kny¨tes sawe ky_nge
Idres on foot thenne he ran vnto Gwymyart de bloy and
smote hym doune hors and man & gaf kynge Idres the hors
& horsed hym ageyne / & kyng Lot smote doun Claryaunce de
la foreist saueage & gaf the hors vnto duke Eustace / And so
whanne they had horsed the kynges ageyne they drewe hem
al xj kynges to gyder and said they wold be reuenged of the
dommage that they had taken that day / The meane whyle cam
in syr Ector with an egyr countenaunce / and found Vlfyus
and Brastias on foote in grete perylle of deth that were fow_le
defoyled vnder horsfeet / Thenne Arthur as a lyon ranne vn_to
kynge Cradelment of North walys / and smote hym tho_rowe
the lyfte syde that the hors and the kynge fylle doune /
And thenne he tooke the hors by the rayne / and ladde hym



|p55


|r[f28r]
vnto Vlfyus & said haue this hors myn old frend / for gre_te
nede hast thow of hors / gramercy said Vlfyus / thenne syre
Arthur dyd so merueillously in armes that all men had won_dyr
/ Whan the kynge with the C knyghtes sawe kyng Cradel_ment
on foote / he ranne vnto syre Ector that was wel horsed
syr kayes fader / and smote hors and man doune / and gaf the
hors vnto the kynge / and horsed hym ageyne / and when kyng
Arthur sawe the kyng ryde on syr Ectors hors he was wroth
and with his swerd he smote the kynge on the helme / that a
quarter of the helme and shelde fyll doune / and so the swerd
carf doune vnto the hors neck / and so the kyng & the hors fyll
doune to the ground / Thenne syr kay cam vnto syr Morgano_re
sencial with the kyng of the C knyghtes & smote hym doun
hors and man / and lad the hors vnto his fader syre Ector /
thenne syr Ector ranne vnto a knyght hyghte lardans / & smo_te
hors & man doune / & lad the hors vto syr Brastias that
grete nede had of a hors and was gretely defoyled / whan
Brastias beheld lucas the botteler that lay lyke a dede man
vnder the horse feet / and euer syr Gryflet dyd mer_ueillously
for to rescowe hym / and there were alweyes xiiij knyghtes on
syr lucas / & thenne Brastias smote one of hem on the helme /
that it wente to the teeth / & he rode to another and smote hym
that the arme flewe in to the feld / Thene he wente to the third
and smote hym on the sholder that sholder and arme flewe in
the feld / And whan Gryflet sawe rescowes / he smote a kny_ght
on the tempils that hede & helme wente to the erthe / and
gryflet took the hors of that knyght & lad hym vnto syr lu_cas
/ & bad hym mounte vpon the hors & reuenge his hurtes /
For Brastias had slayne a knyghte to fore & horsed gryf_let /

 Capitulum xv
|r<b> 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 fo_te
bloyas de la flaundres and syr Gwynas ij hardy kny¨tes
& in that woodenes that lucas was in / he slewe ij bachelers &
horsed hem ageyn / thene waxid the batail possyng hard on both
partyes / but arthur was glad èt his kny¨tes were horsed ayene



|p56


|r[f28v]
& thene they foughte to gyders that the noyse and sowne rang
by the water & the wood / wherfor kyng Ban and kyng bors
made them redy and dressyd theyr sheldes and harneys / and
they were so couragyous that many Knyghtes shoke & beuerd
for egrenes / All this whyle lucas and Gwynas & bryaunte
& Bellyas of Flaundrys helde strong medle ayenst vj kyn_ges
/ that was Kynge Lott / kynge Nentres / kyng Brandego_rys /
Kyng Idres / kyng Vryens & kyng Agwysaunce / Soo
with the helpe of syre kay & of syr gryflet / they helde these vj
kynges hard that vnnethe they had ony power to defend them
But whan syr Arthur sawe the batail wold not be endyd
by no maner / he ferd wood as a lyon / & stered his hors here
& there on the right hand & on the lyft hand . that he stynte not
tyl he had slayne xx kny¨tes / Also he wounded kyng Lot so_re
on the sholder and made hym to leue that ground / for syre
kay & gryflet dyd with kyng Arthur there grete dedes of ar_mes /
Thenne Vlfyus and Brastias & sir Ector encountred
ageynst the duke Eustace & kyng Cradelment & kyng Cradel_mat
and kynge Claryaunce of Northumberland & kyng Ca_rados
& ageynst the kyng with the C kny¨tes / So these kny¨_tes
encountred with these kynges that they made them to auoy_de
the grounde / thene Kyng Lott made grete dool for his dom_magis
& his felawes / & said vnto the x kynges but yf ye wil
do as I deuyse we shalle be slayn & destroyed / lete me haue the
kynge with the C Kny¨tes & kyng Agwysaunce & kyng I_dres
and the duke of Canbenec / & we v Kynges wol haue
xv M men of armes with vs & we wille go on parte / wyle ye
vj Kynges holde medle with xij M / & we see that ye haue
fou¨ten with hem long thene will we come on fyersly / & ellys
shall we neuer matche hem said kynge Lot but by this meane
So they departed as they here deuysed / & vj kynges made her
party strong ageynst Arthur and made grete warre longe /
In the meane whyle brake the enbusshement of Kynge Ban
and kynge bors and Lyonses and Pharyaunce had the ad_uant
garde / and they two knyghtes mette with kyng Idres
and his felauship / and there began a grete medele of brekyng
of speres and smytynge of swerdys with sleynge of men and
horses/ And kynge Idres was nere at discomforture



|p57


|r[f29r]
That sawe Agwysaunce the kynge and put lyonses and phar_yaunce
in poynte of dethe / for the duke of Canbenek came on
with all with a grete felauship / soo these two knyghtes were
in grete daunger of their lyues that they were fayn to retorne
but alweyes they rescowed hem self and their felauship mer_ueillously /
Whan kynge Bors sawe tho knyghtes put on bak
it greued hym sore / thene he cam on so fast that his felauship
semed as blak as Inde / whan kyng Lot had aspyed kynge
bors / he knewe hym wel / thenne he said O Ihesu defende vs fro
deth & horryble maymes / for I see wel we ben in grete perylle
of dethe / for I see yonder a kynge one of the most worshipful_lest
men & one of the best kny¨tes of the world ben enclyned
vnto his felauship / what is he said the kynge with the C kny¨_tes /
it is said kyng Lot kyng bors of gaule / I merueile how
they come in to this countreye without wetynge of vs all
It was by Merlyns auyse said the knyghte / As for hym sa_yd
kynge Carados / I wylle encountre with kynge bors / and
ye wil rescowe me whan myster is / go on said they al / we wil
do all that we may / thenne kyng Carados & his hoost rode on a
softe pace tyl that they come as nyghe kynge Bors as bowe
draughte / thenne eyther bataill lete their hors renne as
fast as they myghte / And Bleoberys that was godson vnto kynge
Bors he bare his chyef standard / that was a passynge good
knyghte / Now shall we see said kyng Bors hou these northe_ren
bretons can bere the armes / & kyng Bors encountred with
a knyght / and smote hym thorow out with a spere that he fel
dede vnto the erthe / and after drewe his swerd & dyd mer_ueillous
dedes of armes that all partyes had grete woder ther_of /
& his kny¨tes failled not but dyd their part / & kyng Ca_rados
was smyten to the erthe / With that came the kyng with
the C kny¨tes & rescued kyng Carados mytely by force of ar_mes /
for he was a passyng good knyght of a kynge / & but a
yong man


 Capitulum xvj

|r<b> BY than come in to the feld kynge Ban as fyers as a
      lyon with bandys of grene / & therupon gold / Ha a sa_id
kyng Lot we must be discomfyte / for yonder I see the moste
valyaunt knyght of the world / and the man of the most re_noume /
for suche ij bretheren as is kyng Ban & kyng bors ar



|p58


|r[f29v]
not lyuynge / wherfore we must nedes voyde or deye/ And but
yf we auoyde manly and wysely / ther is but dethe / whanne
kynge Ban came in to the bataill / he cam in so fiersly / that the
strokes redounded ageyne fro the woode and the water / wher_for
kynge Lott wepte for pyte and doole that he sawe so ma_ny
good kny¨tes take theyr ende / But thorowe the grete for_ce
of kyng Ban they made both the Northeren bataylles that
were departed / hurtled to gyders for grete drede / and the thre
kynges & their knyghtes slewe on euer that it was pyte on to
behold that multitude of the people that fledde / But kynge
Lott and Kynge of the honderd kny¨tes & kynge Morgano_re
gadred the peple to gyders passyng knyghtly / and dyd gre_te
prowesse of armes / and helde the bataill all that daye lyke
hard /  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 stro_ke
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 pye_ces
that the swerd felte the erthe / Thenne the kynge of the C
knyghtes voyded the hors lyghtly and with his swerd he bro_ched
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 no_ne
nyghe hym as fer as he myght reche with his swerd / but he
caughte a greuous buffet wherof Kynge Arthur had grete py_te /
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



|p59


|r[f30r]
to hym / and smote hym on the helme that his swerd wente
vnto his teeth / and the knyght sanke doune to the erthe dede / &
anon Arthur tooke the hors by the rayne and ladde hym vnto
kynge Ban & said fair broder / haue this hors / for ye haue
grete myster thereof & me repenteth sore of your grete dammage
Hit shall be soone reuengid said Kynge Ban / for I truste in
god myn eure is not suche but some of them may sore repente
thys / I wol wel said Arthur / for I see your dedes full actual
Neuertheles I myghte not come at yow at that tyme / But
whanne Kynge Ban was mounted on horsbak / thenne there
beganne newe bataill the whyche was sore and hard / and pas_syng
grete slaughter / And so thurgh grete force Kynge Ar_thur
/ Kynge Ban and Kynge Bors made her kynghtes a li_tel
to with drawe them / But alwey the xj Kynges with her
chyualrye neuer torned bak / and so withdrewe hem to a lytil
woode / and so ouer a lytyl ryuer / & there they rested hem / for
on the nyghte they myghte haue no rest on the feld / And the_ne
the xj kynges and knyghtes put hem on a hepe all to gy_ders
as men adrad and out of alle comforte / but ther was no
man myghte passe them / they helde hem so hard to gyders bothe
behynde and before |r{ms=besore} that kynge Arthur had merueille of their
dedes of armes and was passynge wrothe / A syr Arthur sa_id
kynge Ban and kynge Bors blame hem noughte / For
they doo as good men out to doo / For by my feith said kyng
Ban / they are the best fyghtyng men and knyghtes of moost
prowesse that euer I sawe or herd speke of / And tho xj kyn_ges
are men of grete worship / And yf they were longyng vn
to yow / there were no kynge vnder the heuen hadde suche xj
knyghtes and of suche worship / I may not loue hem said Ar_thur
/ they wold destroye me / that wote we wel said kynge
Ban and Kynge Bors / for they are your mortal enemyes /
and that hath ben preued afore hand / And this day they haue
done theire parte / and that is grete pyte of theire wilfulnes
Thenne alle the xj kynges drewe hem to gyder / And thenne sa_id
kynge Lott / lordes ye must other wayes than ye do / or els
the grete losse is behynde / ye may see what peple we haue lost /
and what good men we lese / by cause we waytte alweyes on
these foote men / and euer in sauynge of one of the foote men



|p60


|r[f30v]
we lese x horsmen for hym / therfore this is myne aduys / lete
vs put our foote men from vs / for it is nere nyghte / For the
noble Arthur wille not tary on the foote men / for they maye
saue hym self / the woode is nerehand / And whan we horsmen
be to gyders / loke eueryche of yow kynges lete make suche or_dinaunce
that none breke vpon payne of dethe / And who that
seeth ony man dresse hym to flee / lightly that he be slayne / for
it is better that we slee a coward than thorow a coward alle
we to be slayne / How saye ye said kynge Lott / ansuere me all
ye kynges / it is wel said quod kynge Nentres / so said the ky_nge of the honderd knyghtes / the same saide the kynge Cara_dos
and kyng Vryence / so dyd kynge Idres and kyng bran_degorys /
and so dyd kyng Cradulmas and the duke of Ca_debenet /
the same said kyng Claryaunce & kyng Agwysaunce
and sware they wold neuer faille other neyther for lyf nor
for dethe / And who so that fledde but did as they dyd shold
be slayne / Thenne they amended their harneys and ryghted
theire sheldes and tooke newe sperys and sette hem on theire
thyes and stode stille as hit had ben a plompe of wood /

capitulum xvij
|r<b> WHanne Syre Arthur and kynge ban and bors by_helde
      the mand all her knyghtes they preysed hem mo_che
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 / briat de la
foreyst saueage / bellaus / Moryans of the castel maydyns / fla_nedreus
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 kny¨tes rode on afore with
sperys on their thyes / and spored their horses myghtely as
the horses myte renne / And the xj kynges with parte of her
kny¨tes russched with their horses as fast as they my¨te with
their speres / & ther they dyd onboth |r{ms= on both} partyes merueillous dedes
of armes / soo came in the thycke of the prees Arthur ban &



|p61


|r[f31r]
bors & slewe doune right on both handes that her horses went
in bloood vp to the fytlokys / But euer the xj Kynges and
their hooste was euer in the vysage of Arthur / wherfore Ban
and Bors had grete merueille consyderyng the grete slau¨_ter
that there was / but at the last they were dryuen abak ouer
a lytil ryuer / with that came Merlyn on a grete black hors /
and said vnto arthur thow hast neuer done / hast thou not do_ne
ynough / of thre score thousand this day hast thow lefte on
lyue but xv M / and it is tyme to saye ho for god is wrothe
with the that thow wolt neuer haue done / for yonder xj kyn_ges
at this tyme will not be ouerthrowen / but and thow tary
on them ony lenger / thy fortune wille torne and they shall en_creace
/ And therfor withdrawe yow vnto your lodgyng and
reste you as soone as ye may and rewarde your good kny¨tes
with gold and with syluer / for they haue wel deserued hit /
there may no rychesse be to dere for them / for of so fewe men as
ye haue ther were neuer men dyd more of prowesse than they
haue done to day / for ye haue matched this day with the beste
fyghters of the world / that is trouthe said kyng Ban and
bors / Also said Merlyn / withdrawe yow where ye lyst / For
this thre yere I dar vndertake they shalle not dere yow / And
by than ye shalle here newe tydynges / And thenne Merlyn sa_id
vnto arthur / these xj kynges haue more on hand than they
are ware of / for the Sarasyns are londed in their countreyes mo
than xl M that brenne and slee / and haue leid syege att the
castel Wandesborow and make grete destruction / therfore drede
yow not this thre yere /  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 kny¨tes 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



|p62


|r[f31v]
in Northumberland / and so he departed and cam to his mais_ter
that was passyng glad of his comynge / & there he tolde /
how Arthur and the two kynges had sped at the grete bata_yll /
and how it was ended / and told the names of euery ky_ng
and knyght of worship that was there / And soo Bleyse
wrote the bataill word by word as Merlyn told hym how it
began / & by whome / and in lyke wyse how it was endyd /
And who had the werre / All the batails that were done in arthurs
dayes / merlyn dyd his maister Bleyse do wryte / Also he did
do wryte all the batails that euery worthy knyght dyd of ar_thurs
Courte / After this Merlyn departed from his mayster
and came to kynge Arthur that was in the castel of Bede_grayne /
that was one of the castels that stondyn in the forest
of Sherewood / And Merlyn was so disguysed that kynge
Arthur knewe hym not for he was al be furred in black she_pe
skynnes and a grete payre of bootes / and a bowe and a_rowes
in a russet gowne / and broughte wild gyse in his had
and it was on the morne after candelmas day / but kyng Ar_thur
knewe hym not / Syre said Merlyn vnto the kynge / Wil
ye gyue me a yefte / wherfor said kyng Arthur shold I gyue
the a yefte chorle / Sir said Merlyn ye were better to gyue me
a yefte that is not in your hand than to lese grete rychesse / for
here in the same place there the grete bataill was is grete treso_ur
hyd in the erthe / who told the so chorle said Arthur / Mer_lyn
told me so said he / thenne Vlsyus and Brastias knew
hym wel ynough and smyled / Syre said these two knyghtes
It is Merlyn that so speketh vnto yow / thenne kyng arthur
was gretely abasshed and had merueyll of Merlyn / & so had
kynge Ban and kynge Bors / and soo they had grete dys_port
at hym / Soo in the meane whyle there cam a damoysel
that was an erlys doughter his name was Sanam / and her
name was Lyonors a passynge fair damoysel / and so she cam
thyder for to do homage |r{ms=dohomage} as other lordes dyd after the grete ba_taill /
And kyng Arthur sette his loue gretely vpon her and
so dyd she vpon hym / and the kyng had adoo with her / and
gat on her a child / his name was Borre that was after a
good knyghte and of the table round / thenne ther cam word
that the kyng Ryence of Northen walys maade grete werre on



|p63


|r[f32r]
kynge Lodegreance of camylyard / for the whiche thyng arthur
was wroth for he loued hym wel and hated kyng Ryence / for
he was alwey ageynst hym / So by ordenaunce of the thre kyn_ges
that were sente home vnto Benwyck / alle they wold de_parte
for drede of kynge Claudas and pharyaunce and An_temes
and Grasians and lyonses / payarne with the leders of
tho that shold kepe the kynges landys


 Capitulum xviij

|r<b> 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 re_scowed
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 ky_ng
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 wed_dyd
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 ma_lyce
/ for by the grace of god and we haue nede we wille sen_de
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 ene_myes
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 go_od knyghtes as ben ony lyuyng /  Now torne we to the xj



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kynges that retorned vnto a cyte that hyghte Sorhaute / the
whiche cyte was within kynge Vryens / and ther they refres_shed
hem as wel as they myght / and made leches serche theyr
woundys and sorowed gretely for the dethe of her peple / with
that ther came a messager and told how ther was comen in to
their landes people that were laules as wel as sarasyns a xl
M / and haue brent & slayne al the peple that they may come
by withoute mercy / and haue leyd syege on the castel of wa_disborow /
Allas sayd the xj kynges here is sorow vpon sorou
And yf we had not warryd ageynst Arthur as we haue do_ne
/ he wold soone reuenge vs / as for kyng Lodegryaunce he lo_ueth
Arthur better than vs / And as for kyng Ryence / he hath
ynough to doo with Lodegreans / for he hath leyd syege vnto
hym / Soo they consentyd to gyder to kepe alle the marches of
Cornewayle / of walys and of the northe / soo fyrst they putte
kynge Idres in the Cyte of Nauntys in Brytayne with iiij
thowsand men of armes / to watche bothe the water and the
land / Also they put in the cyte of Wyndesan kynge Nauntres
of garlott with four thousand knyghtes to watche both on wa_ter
and on lond / Also they had of other men of werre moo
than eyght thousand for to fortyfye alle the fortresses in the
marches of Cornewaylle / Also they put moo kny¨tes in alle
the marches of walys and scotland with many good men of
armes / and soo they kepte hem to gyders the space of thre yere
And euer alyed hem with myghty kynges and dukes and
lordes / And to them felle kynge Ryence of North walys / the
whiche was a myghty man of men & Nero that was a mygh_ty
man of men / And all this whyle they furnysshed hem and
garnysshed hem of good men of armes and vytaille and of
alle maner of abylement that pretendith to the werre to auen_ge
hem for the bataille of Bedegrayne / as it telleth in the book
of auentures folowynge


Capitulum xix

|r<b> Thene 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 messa_ge
/ but she was sente thyder to aspye the Courte of kynge Ar_thur
/ and she cam rychely bisene with her four sones / gawayn



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Gaherys / Agrauaynes / and Gareth with many other knygh_tes
and ladyes / for she was a possynge fayr lady / wherfore
the kynge cast grete loue vnto her / and desyred to lye by her / so
they were agreed / and he begate vpon her Mordred / and she
was his syster on the moder syde Igrayne / So ther she rested
her a moneth and at the last departed / Thenne the kyng dre_med
a merueillous dreme wherof he was sore adrad / But al
this tyme kyng Arthur knewe not that kyng Lots wyf was
his syster / Thus was the dreme of Arthur / hym thought ther
was come in to this land Gryffons and Serpentes / And
hym thoughte they brente and slough alle the peple in the lad
And thenne hym thoughte / he faughte with hem / and they dyd
hym passynge grete harme / and wounded hym ful sore / but at
the last he slewe hem / Whanne the kynge awaked / he was pas_synge
heuy of his dreme / and so to put it oute of thoughtes /
he made hym redy with many knyghtes to ryde on huntynge /
As soone as he was in the forest / the kynge sawe a grete hert
afore hym / this herte wille I chace said kynge Arthur / And
so he spored the hors / and rode after longe / And so by fyne for_ce
ofte he was lyke to haue smyten the herte / where as the ky_nge
had chaced the herte soo long that his hors had loste hys
brethe and fylle doune dede / Thenne a yoman fette the kynge
another hors / So the kyng sawe the herte enbusshed and his
hors dede / he sette hym doune by a fontayne and there he fell in
grete thoughtes / And as he satte so hym thoughte he herd a
noyse of houndes to the somme of xxx / And with that the ky_nge
sawe comyng toward hym the straungest best that euer he
sawe or herd of / so the best wente to the welle and drank / and
the noyse was in the bestes bely lyke vnto the questyng of xxx
coupyl houndes / but alle the whyle the beest dranke there was
no noyse in the bestes bely / and therwith the best departed with
a grete noyse / wheros the kyng had grete merueyll / And so he
was in a grete thoughte / and therwith he fell on slepe / Ryght
so ther came a knyght a foote vnto Arthur / and sayd knyght
full of thought and slepy / telle me yf thow sawest a straunge
best passe this waye / Suche one sawe I said kynge Arthur /
that is past two myle / what wold ye with the best said arthur
Syre I haue folowed that best long tyme / and kyld myne



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hors / so wold god I had another to folowe my quest / ry¨te
so came one with the kynges hors / and whan the knyght sa_we
the hors / he prayd the kyng to yeue hym the hors / for I
haue folowed this quest this xij moneth / and other I shal en_cheue
hym or blede of the best blood of my body / Pellinore that
tyme kynge folowed the questynge best / and after his deth sir
Palamydes folowed hit


 Capitulum xx

|r<b> SYr knyghte said the kynge leue that quest / and suffre
      me to haue hit / and I wyll folowe it another xij mo_neth
/ 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 my¨te preue the whether thow were better on hors_bak
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 sy¨t
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 fa_der
/ 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 kno_we
/ for he was not of age to knowe my fader / yes said the old



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man / the child told yow trouthe / and more wold he haue
tolde yow and ye wolde haue suffred hym / But ye haue do_ne
a thynge late that god is displeasyd with yow / for ye ha_ue
layne by your syster / and on her ye haue goten a chyld /
that shalle destroye yow and all the knyghtes of your realme
What are ye said Arthur that telle me these tydynges / I am
Merlyn / and I was he in the childes lykenes / A sayd kyng
Arthur ye are a merueillous man / but I merueylle moche /
of thy wordes that I mote dye in bataille / Merueylle not sa_id
Merlyn / for it is gods wyll youre body to be punysshed for
your fowle dedes / but I may wel be sory said Merlyn / for I
shalle dye a shameful deth / to be put in the erthe quyck / and ye
shall dye a worshipful |r{ms=worshipsul} deth / And as they talked this / cam one
with the kynges hors / and so the kyng mounted on his hors
and Merlyn on another and so rode vnto Carlyon / & anone
the kynge asked Ector and Vlfyus how he was bigoten / &
they told hym Vtherpendragon was his fader & quene Igra_yn
his moder / thenne he sayd to Merlyn I wylle that my mo_der
be sente for that I may speke with her / And yf she saye so
her self / thene wylle I byleue hit / In all hast the quene was
sente for / and she cam & broughte with her Morgan le fay her
doughter that was as fayre a lady as ony myghte be / & the
kynge welcomed Igrayne in the best maner /


 Capitulum xxj

|r<b> RYght soo cam Vlfyus & saide openly that the kynge and all my¨t here that      were fe_sted
that day / ye are the falsest lady of the world and
the most traitresse vnto the kynges person / Beware saide Ar_thur
what thow saist / thow spekest a grete word / I am wel wa_re
said Vlfyus what I speke / & here is my gloue to preue hit_ vpon ony man that will seye the contrary / that this quene I_grayne
is causar af your grete domage / & of your grete werre
For and she wold haue vtterd it in the lyf of kyng Vtherpe_dragon
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



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preue her fals to god and to yow and to al your realme and
who wyll saye the contrary I wyll preue it on his body
Thenne spak Igrayne and sayd I am a woman and I may
not fyghte / but rather than I shold be dishonoured / ther wold
some good man take my quarel // More she sayd / Merlyn kno_weth
wel and ye syr Vlfyus how kynge Vther cam to me in
the Castel of Tyntagaill in the lykenes of my lord that was
dede thre houres to fore / and therby gat a child that nyght vp_on
me / And after the xiij day kynge Vther wedded me / and
by his commaundement whan the child was borne it was de_lyuerd
vnto Merlyn and nourysshed by hym / and so I sa_we
the child neuer after / nor wote not what is his name / for I
knewe hym neuer yet / And there Vlfyus saide to the quene
Merlyn is more to blame than ye / wel I wote said the quene
I bare a child by my lord kyng Vther / but I wote not where
he is become / thenne Merlyn toke the kynge by the hand sa_yeng /
this is your moder / and therwith syr Ector bare wytnes
how he nourysshed hym by Vthers commaundement / And ther_with kynge Arthur toke his moder quene Igrayne in his ar_mes
and kyst her / and eyther wepte vpon other / And thenne
the kyng lete make a feest that lasted eyght dayes / Thenne on
a day ther come in the courte a squyer on  hors back ledynge a
knyght before hym wounded to the dethe / and told hym how
ther was a knyght in the forest had rered vp a pauelione by
a well and hath slayne my mayster a good knyght / his na_me
was mylis / wherfor I byseche yow that my mayster maye
be buryed / and that somme kny¨t maye reuenge my maysters
deth / thenne the noyse was grete of that knyghtes dethe in the
Court / and euery man said his aduys / thenne came Gryflett
that was but a squyer / and he was but yonge of the age of
the kyng Arthur / soo he besoughte the kyng for alle his seruyse
that he had done hym to gyue the ordre of knyghthode

capitulum xxij
|r<b> 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 kny¨t / Syr said Merlyn it were gre_te
pyte to lese Gryflet / for he wille be a passynge good man /
whanne he is of age / abydynge with yow the terme



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me of his lyf / And yf he auenture his body with yonder kny_ght
at the fontayne it is in grete peryll yf euer he come agey_ne
/ for he is one of the best knyghtes of the world / and the stre_gyst
man of armes / wel said Arthur / so at the desyre of gryf_let
the kynge made hym knyght / Now said Arthur vnto syre
Gryflet / Sythen I haue made yow knyghte thow must yeue
me a gyfte / what ye will said Gryflet / thou shalt promyse me
by the feythe of thy body whan thou hast Iusted with the kny_ght
at the fontayne / whether it falle ye be on foote or on hors_bak /
that ryght so ye shal come ageyne vnto me withoute ma_kynge
ony more debate / I wyll promyse yow said Gryflet as
yow desyre / Thenne toke Gryflet his hors in grete haste / & dres_syd
his sheld and toke a spere in his hand / and so he rode a
grete wallop tyll he cam to the fontayne / and ther by he sawe
a ryche pauelion / and ther by vnder a clothe stode a fayr hors
wel sadeled and brydeled / and on a tree a shelde of dyuerse co_lours
and a grete spere / Thenne Gryflet smote on the sheld
with the bott of his spere that the shylde felle doune to the gro_und /
with that the knyght cam oute of the pauelione / & sayd
fair knyght why smote ye doune my sheld / for I wil Iuste
with yow said gryflet / it is better ye doo not sayd the knyghte
for ye are but yong and late made knyght / and your myghte
is nothyng to myn / as for that saide Gryflet I wylle Iuste
with yow / that is me loth said the knyght / but sythen I muste
nedes I wille dresse me therto / of whens be ye sayd the knyte
syre I am of Arthurs courte / So the two knyghtes ranne to
gyder that gryflets spere al to sheuered / and ther with all he
smote Gryflet |r{ms=Gryslet} thorowe the shelde & the lyfte syde / and brake
the spere that the troncheon stack in his body / that hors and
knyghte fylle doune

capitulum xxiij
|r<b> 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 kny¨t / & so syr Gryflet rode to the court where grete doole



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was made for hym / But thorowe good leches he was heled /
and saued / Ryght so cam in to the Courte xij kny¨tes & were
aged men / and they cam from themperour of Rome / & they as_ked
of Arthur truage for this realme / other els themperour
wold destroye hym & his land / wel said kyng Arthur ye are
messagers / therfor ye may say what ye wil other els ye shold
dye therfore / But this is myn ansuer I owe themperour noo
truage nor none will I hold hym / but on a fayr felde I shall
yeue hym my truage that shal be with a sharp spere / or els
with a sharp swerd / & that shall not be long by my faders sou_le
Vtherpendragon / & therwith the messagers departed passyn_gly
wroth / & kyng arthur as wroth / for in euyl tyme cam they
thenne / for the kyng was passyngly wroth for the hurte of sir
Gryflet / & soo he commaunded a pryuy man of his chambre /
that or hit be day his best hors and armour with all that lon_geth
vnto his persone be withoute the cyte or to morowe daye
Ryght so or to morow day he met with his man and his hors
and so mounted vp and dressid his sheld / & toke his spere
and bad his chamberlayne tary there tyll he came ageyne /
And so Arthur roode a softe paas tyll it was day / & thenne
was he ware of thre chorles chacynge Merlyn / and wold ha_ue
slayne hym / thenne the kyng rode vnto them / and bad them
flee chorles / thenne were they aferd whan they sawe a knyght
and fled / O Merlyn said Arthur / here haddest thou be slayne
for all thy craftes had I not byn / Nay said Merlyn not soo
for I coude saue my self and I wold / and thou arte more
nere thy deth than I am for thow gost to the deth ward & god
be not thy frend / So as they wente thus talkyng / they came
to the fontayne / and the ryche pauelione there by hit / thenne
kyng Arthur was ware where sat a knyght armed in a cha_yer /
Syr knyght said Arthur / for what cause abydest thow here
that ther maye no knyght ryde this wey but yf he Iuste wyth
the said the kynge / I rede the leue that custome said Arthur
This customme saide the knyght haue I vsed and wille vse
magre who saith nay / & who is greued with my custome / lete
hym amende hit that wol / I wil amende it said Arthur / I shal
defende the said the kny¨t / anon he toke his hors & dressid his
shylde & toke a spere & they met so hard either in others sheldes



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that al to sheuered their sperys / ther with anone Arthur pul_led
oute his swerd / nay not so said the knyght / it is fayrer sa_yd
the kny¨t that we tweyne renne more to gyders with sharp
sperys / I wille wel said Arthur and I had ony mo sperys
I haue ynow said the kny¨t / so ther cam a squyer and brou¨t
in good sperys / and Arthur chose one & he another / so they spo_red
their horses & cam to gyders with al the myghtes / that ey_ther
brak her speres to her handes / thenne Arthur sette hand on
his swerd / nay seid the knyght / ye shal do better / ye are a pas_synge
good Iuster as euer I mette with al / & ones for the loue
of the hyghe ordre of kny¨thode lete vs Iuste ones ageyn / I as_sente
me said Arthur / anone there were brought two grete spe_rys /
and euery knyght gat a spere / and therwith they ranne
to gyders that Arthurs spere al to sheuered / But the other
knyghte hy¨t hym so hard in myddes of the shelde / that horse &
man felle to the erthe / and ther with Arthur was egre & pul_led
oute his swerd / and said I will assay the syr knyghte on
foote / for I haue lost the honour on horsbak / I will be on hors_bak
said the knyght / thenne was Arthur wrothe and dressid
his sheld toward hym with his swerd drawen / whan the kny_ght
sawe that / he a lyghte / for hym thought no worship to ha_ue
a knyght at suche auaille he to be on horsbak and he on foot
and so he alyght & dressid his sheld vnto Arthur & ther bega
a strong bataille with many grete strokes / & soo hewe with her
swerdes that the cantels flewe in the feldes / and moche blood
they bledde bothe / that al the place there as they faught was
ouer bledde with blood / and thus they fought long and rested
hem / and thenne they wente to the batayl ageyne / and so hurt_led
to gyders lyke two rammes that eyther felle to the erthe
So at the last they smote to gyders that both her swerdys met
euen to gyders / But the swerd of the knyght smote kyng ar_thurs
swerd in two pyeces / wherfor he was heuy / thenne said
the knyghte vnto Arthur / thow arte in my daunger whether
my lyst to saue the or slee the / and but thou yelde the as ouer_come
and recreaunt / thow shalt deye / as for deth said kyng ar_thur
welcome be it whan it cometh / But to yelde me vnto the
as recreaunt I had leuer dye than to be soo shamed / And
ther with al the kynge lepte vnto Pellinore & tooke hym by



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the myddel and threwe hym doune and raced of his helme /
Whan the knyght felt that / he was adrad / for he was pas_synge
bygge man of myghte / and anone he broughte Arthur
vnder hym / and reaced of his helme and wold haue smyten of
his hede /


 Capitulum xxiiij
|r<b> THer with all came Merlyn and sayd knyghte / hold
      thy hand / For and thow slee that knyghte thou put_test
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 enchaunte_ment
to the knyghte that he felle to the erthe in a grete slepe /
Thenne Merlyn tooke vp kyng Arthur and rode forth on the
kny¨tes hors / Allas said Arthur what hast thou done merlyn
hast thow slayne this good knyghte by thy craftes / there ly_ueth
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 Pel_linore /
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


 Capitulum xxv
|r<b> 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



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an arme clothed in whyte samyte / that held a fayr swerd in
that hand / loo said Merlyn yonder is that swerd that I spak
of / with that they sawe a damoisel goyng vpon the lake / what
damoysel is that said Arthur / that is the lady of the lake said
Merlyn / And within that lake is a roche / and theryn is as
fayr a place as ony on erthe and rychely besene / and this da_moysell
wylle come to yow anone / and thenne speke ye fayre
to her that she will gyue yow that swerd / Anone with all ca_me
the damoysel vnto Arthur / and salewed hym / and he her a_geyne /
Damoysel said Arthur / what swerd is that / that yon_der
the arme holdeth aboue the water / I wold it were myne /
for I haue no swerd / Syr Arthur kynge said the damoysell /
that swerd is myn / And yf ye will gyue me a yefte whan
I aske it yow / ye shal haue it by my feyth said Arthur / I
will yeue yow what yefte ye will aske / wel said the damoisel
go ye into yonder barge / & rowe your self to the swerd / and
take it / and scaubart with yow / & I will aske my yefte whan
I see my tyme / So syr Arthur & merlyn alyght & tayed the_ir
horses to two trees / & so they went in to the ship / & whanne
they came to the swerd that the hand held / syre Arthur toke
it vp by the handels / & toke it with hym / & the arme & the had
went vnder the water / & so come vnto the lond & rode forth / &
thene syr Arthur sawe a ryche pauelion / what sygnyfyeth yo_der
pauelion / èt is èe kny¨tes pauelion seid merlyn èt ye fou¨t
with last / syr Pellinore / but he is out / he is not there / he hath a_doo
with a knyght of yours that hyght Egglame & they ha_ue
fou¨ten 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 bata_ill
with hym & be auenged on hym / sir ye shal not so said Mer_lyn /
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 lytly matched of one kny¨t lyuyng / & therfor it is my co_unceil /
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 ri¨t glad to yeue him your sister to wedde
Whan I see hym I wil doo as ye aduyse sayd Arthur



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Thenne syre Arthur loked on the swerd / and lyked it pas_synge
wel / whether lyketh yow better sayd Merlyn the suerd
or the scaubard / Me lyketh better the swerd sayd Arthur / ye
are more vnwyse sayd Merlyn / for the scaubard is worth x
of the swerdys / for whyles ye haue the scaubard vpon yow
ye shalle neuer lese no blood / be ye neuer so sore wounded ther_for
kepe wel the scaubard alweyes with yow / so they rode vn_to
Carlyon / and by the way they met with syr Pellinore / but
Merlyn had done suche a crafte / that pellinore sawe not Ar_thur /
and he past by withoute ony wordes / I merueylle sayd
Arthur that the knyght wold not speke / syr said Merlyn / he
sawe yow not / for and he had sene yow ye had not lyghtly
departed / Soo they come vnto Carlyon / wherof |r{ms=wheros} his knygh_tes
were passynge glad / And whanne they herd of his auen_tures /
they merueilled that he wold ieoparde his persone soo
al one / But alle men of worship said it was mery to be vnder
suche a chyuetayne that wolde put his persone in auenture as
other poure knyghtes dyd /

 Capitulum xxvij

|r<b> THis meane whyle came a messager from kynge Ry_ons
      of Northwalys / And kynge he was of all Ire_land
and of many Iles / And this was his message gre_tynge
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 Ry_ons
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 pur_fyl
|r{ms=pursyl} of hit / But telle thow thy kynge this / I owe hym none
homage / ne none of myn elders / but or it be longe to / he shall do
me homage on bothe his kneys / or els he shall lese his hede by
the feith of my body / for this is the most shamefullest message



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that euer I herd speke of / I haue aspyed / thy kyng met ne_uer
yet with worshipful man / but telle hym / I wyll haue his
hede withoute he doo me homage / thenne the messager departed
 Now is there ony here said Arthur that knoweth kyng Ry_ons
thenne ansuerd a knyght that hyght Naram / Syre I kno_we
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 puyssa_unce
/ wel said Arthur I shall ordeyne for hym in short tyme


 Capitulum xxviij
|r<b> Thene kyng arthur lete sende for al the childre born on
      may day begote 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 af_ter
in the book of Balyn le saueage that foloweth next after /
how by aduenture Balyn gat the swerd


 Explicit liber primus
Incipit liber secundus

|r[Chapter_1]

AFter the dethe of Vtherpendragon regned Ar_thur
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 real_me
of Englond and in walys / Scotland and
Cornewaille / Soo it befelle on a tyme / whanne kyng Arthur



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|r[f38v]
was at London ther came a knyght and tolde the kynge ty_dynges
how that the kynge Ryons of Northwalys had rered
a grete nombre of peple / and were entryd in to the land and
brente and slewe the kynges true liege peple / yf this be true sa_id
Arthur / it were grete shame vnto myn estate / but that he we_re
myghtely withstand / it is trouthe sayd the kynghte / for I
sawe the hoost my self / wel saide the kynge / lete make a crye /
that all the lordes knyghtes and gentylmen of armes shold
drawe vnto a castel called Camelot in tho dayes / and ther the
kynge wold lete make a counceil general and a grete Iustes
So whan the kynge was come thyder with all his baronage
and lodged as they semed best / ther was come a damoisel the
whiche was sente on message from the grete lady lylle of aue_lyon /
And whan she came bifore kynge Arthur / she told from
whome she came / and how she was sent on message vnto hym
for these causes Thenne she lete her mantel falle that was ry_chely
furred / And thenne was she gyrd with a noble swerd
wherof the kynge had merueill / and said Damoysel for what
cause are ye gyrd with that swerd / it bisemeth yow not /
Now shall I telle yow said the damoysel / This swerd that I
am gyrd with al doth me grete sorowe and comberaunce / for I
may not be delyuerd of this swerd / but by a knyghte / but he
must be a passyng good man of his handes and of his dedes
and withoute vylonye or trecherye and withoute treason / And
yf I maye fynde suche a knyghte that hath all these vertues /
he may drawe oute this swerd oute of the shethe / for I haue
ben at kyng Ryons / it was told me ther were passyng good
knyghtes / and he and alle his knyghtes haue assayed it and
none can spede / This is a grete merueill said Arthur / yf this
be sothe / I wille my self assaye to drawe oute the swerd / not
presumynge vpon my self that I am the best knyghte / but
that I will begynne to drawe at your swerd in gyuyng exam_ple
to alle the Barons that they shall assay euerychone after
other whan I haue assayed it / Thenne Arthur toke the swerd
by the shethe and by the gyrdel and pulled at it egrely / but
the swerd wold not oute /  Sire seid the damoysell ye ne_de
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



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ye al my barons / but beware ye be not defoyled with shame tre_chery
ne gyle / thenne it wille not auaylle sayd the damoysell/
for he must be a clene knyght withoute vylony and of a gentil
strene of fader syde and moder syde / Moost of all the barons of
the round table that were there at that tyme assayed alle by
rewe / but ther myght non spede / wherfor the damoysel made
grete sorow oute of mesure and sayd Allas I wende in this
Courte had ben the best knyghtes withoute trechery or treson /
By my feythe sayth Arthur here are good knyghtes as I de_me
as ony ben in the world / but theyr grace is not to helpe
yow / wherfor I am displeasyd


 Capitulum ij
|r<b> THenne felle hit soo that tyme / ther was a poure kny_ght
      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 kny_ght
was called Balen / and by good meanes of the barons
he was delyuerd oute of pryson / for he was a good man na_med
of his body / and he was borne in northumberland / and
soo he wente pryuely in to the Courte / and sawe this aduen_ture /
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 as_sured
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 cal_led
vnto her and sayd Damoysel I praye yow of your cur_tosy /
suffre me as wel to assay as these lordes though that I
be so pourely clothed / in my herte me semeth I am fully assu_red
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 tre_chery /
And thene she sayd vnto the knyght / sir it nedeth not to
put me to more payn or labour / for it semeth not yow to spe_de
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 vn_to



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|r[f39v]
alle people / and therfore worship and hardynesse is not in
arayment / By god sayd the damoysel ye say sothe / therfor ye
shal assaye to do what ye may / Thenne Balen took the swerd
by the gyrdel and shethe / and drewe it out easyly / and when
he loked on the swerd hit pleasyd hym moche / thenne had the
kynge and alle the barons grete merueille that Balen hadde
done that auenture / many knyghtes had grete despyte af Ba_len /
Certes said the damoysel / this is a passynge good knyght
and the best that euer I found and moost of worship with_oute
treson / trechery or vylony / and many merueylles shalle he
do / Now gentyl and curtois knyght yeue me the swerd ayene
nay said Balen / for this swerd wylle I kepe but it be taken
from me with force / wel saide the damoysel ye are not wyse to
kepe the swerd from me / for ye shalle slee with the swerd the
best frende that ye haue and the man that ye moste loue in the
world / and the swerd shalle be your destruction / I shal take
the aduenture sayd Balen that god wille ordeyne me / but the
swerd ye shalle not haue at this tyme by the feythe of my bo_dy /
ye shalle repente hit within short tyme sayd the damoysel/
For I wold haue the swerd more for your auaylle than for
myne / for I am passyng heuy for your sake / For ye wil not
byleue that swerd shal be youre destruction / and that is grete
pyte / with that the damoysel departed makynge grete sorowe /
Anone after Balen sente for his hors and armour / and soo
wold departe fro the Courte and toke his leue of kynge Ar_thur /
nay sayd the kynge I suppose ye wyll not departe so li¨_tely
fro this felauship / I suppose ye are displeased that I ha_ue
shewed yow vnkyndenes / Blame me the lasse / for I was
mys senformed ageynst yow / but I wende ye had not ben suche
a knyght as ye are of worship and prowesse / and yf ye wyll
abyde in this courte among my felauship / I shalle so auaun_ce
yow as ye shalle be pleased / god thanke your hyhenes said
Balen / your bounte and hyhenes may no man preyse half to
the valewe / but at this tyme I must nedes departe / bysechyng
yow alwey of your good grace / Truly said the kynge I am
ryght wrothe for your departyng / I pray yow faire knyghte /
that ye tary not long / and ye shal be ryght welcome to me / &
to my barons / and I shalle amende all mysse that I haue



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|r[f40r]
done ageynst yow / god thanke your grete lordship said Ba_len
/ and therwith made hym redy to departe / Thenne the moost
party of the knyghtes of the round table sayd that Balen did
not this auenture al only by myghte but by wytchecraft


 Capitulum Tercium
|r<b> 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 kny¨te 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 as_ke
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 Ar_thur
he went to her streyte and said euyl be you foude / ye wold
haue my hede / and therfore ye shall lese yours / and with hys
swerd lyghtly he smote of hir hede before kynge Arthur / al_las
for shame sayd Arthur why haue ye done so / ye haue sha_med
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 for_thynketh
of your displeasyr / for this same lady was the vn_truest
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 tre_chery /
what cause soo euer ye had said Arthur ye shold haue



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forborne her in my presence / therfor thynke not the contrary ye
shalle repente it / for suche another despyte had I neuer in my
Courte / therfor withdrawe yow oute of my Courte in al hast
that ye may / Thenne Balen toke vp the heed of the lady and
bare it with hym to his hostry / and there he met with his squy_er
that was sory he had displeasyd kyng Arthur / and so they
rode forth oute of the town / Now said Balen we must depar_te
/ take thow this hede and bere it to my frendys / and telle hem
how I haue sped / and telle my frendys in Northumberland
that my most foo is deed / Also telle hem how I am oute of pry_son /
and what aueture befelle me at the getyng of this swerd
Allas said the squyar ye are gretely to blame for to displease
kyng Arthur / as for that said Balen I wylle hyhe me in al
the hast that I may to mete with kynge Ryons and destroye
hym eyther els or dye therfor / and yf it may happe me to wyn_ne
hym / thenne wille kynge Arthur be my good and gracious
lord / where shall I mete with yow saide the squyer / in kynge
Arthurs Court said Balen / so his squyer and he departed
at that tyme / thenne kynge Arthur and alle the Court made
grete doole and had shame of the deth of the lady of the lake
thenne the kyng buryed her rychely


 Capitulum iiij
|r<b> AT that tyme ther was a knyghte / the whiche was the
      kynges sone of Irelond and his name was Launce_or /
the whiche was an orgulous kny¨t / and counted hym self
one of the best of the Courte / and he had grete despyte at Ba_len for the encheuynge of the swerd that ony shold be acoun_ted
more hardy or more of prowesse / and he asked kynge Ar_thur
yf he wold gyue hym leue to ryde after Balen and to re_uenge
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 sa_me
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



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|r[f41r]
hath a broder a passynge good knyght of prowesse and a ful
true man / and this damoysel loued another knyght that helde
her to peramour / and this good knyght her broder mett with
the knyght that held her to peramour and slewe hym by force
of his handes / whan this fals damoysel vnderstood thys / she
wente to the lady lyle of Auelione / and besought her of help /
to be auengyd on her owne broder


 Capitulum quintum
|r<b> 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 kno_we
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 go_od
but alweyes grete harme / and that knyght that hath enche_ued
the suerd shal be destroyed by that suerd / for the whiche wil
be grete dommage / for ther lyueth not a kny¨t of more prowesse
than he is / and he shalle do vnto yow my lord Arthur grete ho_nour
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 Ba_lyn /
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 co_me
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 co_urte
be ye sente fro said Balyn / I am come fro the Courte of
kynge Arthur sayd the knyghte of Irlond / that come hy_der
for to reuenge the despyte ye dyd this day to kyng arthur



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and to his courte / wel said Balyn / I see wel I must haue
adoo with yow that me forthynketh for to greue kyng arthur
or ony of his courte / and your quarel is ful symple said Ba_lyn
vnto me / for the lady that is dede / dyd me grete domma_ge
or els wold I haue ben lothe as ony knyghte that lyueth
for to slee a lady / Make yow redy sayd the knyght launceor /
and dresse yow vnto me / for that one shalle abyde in the feld
thenne they toke their speres / and cam to gyders as moche as
their horses myght dryue / and the Irysshe knyght smote Ba_lyn
on the sheld that alle wente sheuers of his spere / & Ba_lyn
hy¨t hym thorugh the sheld / and the hauberk perysshed / &
so percyd thurgh his body and the hors croppe / and anon tor_ned
his hors fyersly and drewe oute his swerd and wyste
not that he had slayn hym / and thenne he sawe hym lye as a
dede corps


 Capitulum vj
|r<b> 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 swerd |r{ms=fwerd} oute of her had
but she helde it so fast / he myghte not take it oute of her hand
onles he shold haue hurte her / and sodenly she sette the pomell
to the ground / and rofe her self thorow the body / whan balyn
aspyed her dedes he was passynge heuy in his herte and asha_med
that so fair a damoysell had destroyed her self for the loue
of his deth / Allas said Balyn me repeteth sore the deth of this
knyght for the loue of this damoysel / for ther was moche true
loue betwixe them bothe / and for sorowe myght not lenger be_hold
hym but torned his hors and loked toward a grete forest
and ther he was ware by the armes of his broder Balan / and
whan they were mette they putte of her helmes and kyssed to
gyders and wepte for ioye and pyte / Thenne Balan sayd / I



|p83


|r[f42r]
lytel wende to haue met with yow at this sodayne auenture / I
am ryght glad of your delyueraunce and of youre dolorous
prysonement / for a ma told me in the castel of four stones that
ye were delyuerd / & that man had sene you in the court of ky_nge
Arthur / & therfor I cam hyder in to this countrey / for he_re
I supposed to fynde you / anon the kny¨t balyn told his bro_der
of his aduenture of the swerd & of the deth of the lady of
the lake / & how kyng arthur was displeasyd with hym wher_for
he sente this kny¨t after me that lyeth here dede / & the dethe
of this damoysel greueth me sore / so doth it me said Balan / but
ye must take the aduenture that god will ordeyne yow / Tru_ly
said Balyn I am ryght heuy that my lord Arthur is dis_pleasyd
with me / for he is the moost worshipful knyght that
regneth now on erthe / & his loue will I gete or els I wil put
my lyf in auenture / for the kyng Ryons lyeth at a syege atte
castel Tarabil & thyder will we drawe in all hast to preue our
worship & prowesse vpon hym / I wil wel said Balan that we
do & we wil helpe eche other as bretheren ou¨t to do /


 Ca vij

|r<b> NOw go we hens said balyn & wel be we met / the me_ne
whyle as they talked ther cam a dwarf from the cy_te
of camelot on horsbak as moche as he myght & foud
the dede bodyes / wherfor he made grete dole & pulled out his he_re
for sorou & saide which of you kny¨tes 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 de_fendaut
for hyder he cam to chaace me & other I must slee hym
or he me / & this damoysel slewe her self for his loue whiche re_penteth
me / & for her sake I shal owe al wymmen the better lo_ue /
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 ar_thur
for the deth of this knyght / Soo as they talked to gy_ders
there came a kynge of Cornewaille rydynge / the whiche
hyghte kynge Mark /  And whanne he sawe these two body_es
dede and vnderstood hou they were dede by the ij knyghtes



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|r[f42v]
aboue saide / thenne maade the kynge grete sorowe for the true
loue that was betwix them / & said I wil not departe tyl I haue
on this erthe made a tombe / and there he pyght his pauelions
and soughte thurgh alle the countrey to fynde a tombe / and in
a chirche they found one was fair and ryche / & thenne the ky_nge
lete put hem bothe in the erthe & put the tombe vpon hem /
and wrote the names of them bothe on the tombe / How here ly_eth
launceor the kynges sone of Irlond that at his owne re_quest
was slayne by the handes of balyn / & how his lady co_lombe
and peramoure slewe her self with her loues swerd for
dole and sorowe

 Capitulum viij
|r<b> 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 Trys_tram /
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 na_me
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
kny¨t & the man of most worship that now lyueth / & thorow
that stroke iij kyngdoms shal be in grete pouerte mysere & wret_chidnes
xij yere / & the kny¨t shal not be hool of that woud ma_ny
yeres / thene 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



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|r[f43r]
vanysshed awey sodenly / and thenne balyn and his broder to_ke
her leue of kynge Mark / fyrst said the kynge telle me yo_ur
name / syr said Balen ye may see he bereth two swerdes ther
by ye may calle hym the knyght with the two swerdes & soo
departed kyng marke vnto camelot to kynge Arthur & balyn
toke the wey toward kyng Ryons / and as they rode to gyder
they mett with Merlyn desguysed / but they knewe hym not /
whyder ryde yow said Merlyn / we haue lytel to do saide the ij
kny¨tes to telle the / but what is thy name said Balen at this
tyme said Merlyn I will not telle it the / it is euyl sene said
the knyghtes that thou art a true man that thou wolt not tel_le
thy name / as for that sayd Merlyn / be hit / as it be may I
can telle yow wherfor ye ryde this wey for to mete kyng Ry_ons
but it will not auaille you without ye haue my counceill
A said Balyn ye are Merlyn we wyl be rulyd by your cou{~}_ceill
/ come on said Merlyn ye shal haue grete worship & loke
that ye do kny¨tely for ye shal haue grete nede / as for that sa_id
Balen drede yow not we will do what we may /

capitulum ix
|r<b> THenne Merlyn lodged them in a wode amonge leuys
      besyde the hyhe way & toke of the brydels of their hor_ses
& put hem to gras & leid hem doun to reste hem tylle
it was nyhe mydnyt / Thenne Merlyn badde hem ryse / & make
hem redy / for the the kynge was nygh them that was stolen a_wey
from his hoost with a iij score horses of his best kny¨tes &
xx of hem rode to fore to warne the lady de Vance that the ky_ng
was comyng / for that ny¨t 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 she_wed
Balyn & his broder where he rode / anon balyn & his bro_der
mette with the kyng & smote hym doune & wounded hym
fyersly & leid hym to the ground / & there they slewe on the ry_ght
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



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|r[f43v]
and so leyd hym on on hors lyttar / with that Merlyn was
vanysshed and came to kyng Arthur afore hand & told hym
how his most enemy was taken and discomfyted / by whome
said kynge Arthur / by two knyghtes said Merlyn that wold
please your lordship / and to morowe ye shalle knowe what
knyghtes they are / Anone after cam the knyght with the two
swerdes and balan his broder / and brought with hem kynge
Ryons of Northwalys and there delyuerd hym to the porters
and charged hem with hym / & soo they two retorned ageyne
in the daunyng of the day / kynge Arthur cam thenne to kyng
Ryons and said Syr kynge ye are welcome / by what auen_ture
come ye hyder / syr said kyng Ryons I cam hyther by an
hard auenture / who wanne yow said kyng Arthur / syre said
the kyng the knyght with the two swerdes & his broder whi_che
are two merueillous knyghtes of prowesse / I knowe hem
not sayd arthur but moche I am beholden to them / A said mer_lyn
I shal telle yow it is balen that encheued the swerd & his
broder balan a good knyght / ther lyueth not a better of pro_wesse
& of worthynesse / and it shal be the grettest dole of hym
that euer I knewe of knyght / for he shalle not long endure /
Allas saide kynge Arthur that is grete pyte for I am moche
beholdyng vnto hym / & I haue yll deserued it vnto hym for his
kyndenes / nay said Merlyn he shal do moche more for yow /
and that shal ye knowe in hast / but syr are ye purueyed said
Merlyn for to morne the hooste of Nero kynge Ryons broder
wille sette on yow or none with a grete hoost and therfor ma_ke
yow redy for I wyl departe from yow

 Capitulum x
|r<b> THenne kyng Arthur made redy his hoost in x batails
      and Nero was redy in the felde afore the castel Ta_rabil
with a grete hoost / & he had x batails with many mo pe_ple
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 ne_uer
fro hym & sir heruys de reuel did merueillous dedes with



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with kynge Arthur / and kynge Arthur slewe that daye xx
knyghtes & maymed xl / At that tyme cam in the kny¨te with
the two swerdys and his broder Balan / But they two did
so merueillously that the kynge and alle the knyghtes mer_ueilled
of them / and alle they that behelde them said they we_re
sente from heuen as aungels or deuyls from helle / & kynge
Arthur said hym self they were the best knyghtes that euer he
sawe / for they gaf suche strokes that all men had woder of hem
In the meane whyle came one to kynge Lott and told hym /
whyle he taryed there nero was destroyed and slayne with al
his peple / Allas sayd kynge Lot I am ashamed / for by my
defaute ther is many a worshipful man slayne / for and we
had ben to gyders there hadde ben none hooste vnder the heuen
that had ben abel for to haue matched with vs / This fayter
with his prophecye hath mocked me / Al that dyd Merlyn for
he knewe wel that and kyng Lot had ben with his body there
at the fyrst bataille / kynge Arthur had be slayne / and alle his
peple destroyed / & wel Merlyn knewe the one of the kynges
shold be dede that day / & loth was Merlyn that ony of them both
sholde be slayne / But of the tweyne / he had leuer kyng Lotte
had be slayne than kynge Arthur / Now what is best to doo
sayd kyng Lot of Orkeney whether is me better to treate with
kynge Arthur or to fyghte / for the gretter party of oure pe_ple
are slayne / and destroyed / Syr said a knyght set on arthur
for they are wery and forfoughten and we be fresshe / As for
me sayd kyng Lot I wolde euery knyght wolde do his parte
as I wold do myn / And thenne they auaunced baners and
smoten to gyders and al to sheuered their speres / and arthurs
knyghtes with the helpe of the knyght with two swerdes &
his broder balan put kyng lot & his hoost to the werre / But
alweyes kyng Lot helde hym in the formest frunte & dyd mer_ueillous
dedes of armes / for alle his hooste was borne vp by
his handes for he abode al knyghtes / allas he myght not endu_re
the whiche was grete pyte that so worthy a knyyt as he was
one shold be ouermatched that of late tyme afore hadde ben a
knyght of kyng Arthurs & wedded the sister of kyng arthur
& for kyng Arthur lay by kyng lots wyf the whiche was ar_thurs
syster & gat on her Mordred / therfor kyng lot held ayest



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Arthur / So ther was a knyght that was called the knyghte
with the straunge beeste / and at that tyme his ryght name
was called Pellinore / the whiche was a good man of pro_wesse
/ and he smote a myghty stroke att kynge Lot as he fo_ught
with all his enemyes / and he fayled of his stroke / and
smote the hors neck that he fylle to the grounde with kyng lot
And therwith anon Pellinore smote hym a grete stroke tho_row
the helme & hede vnto the browes & thenne alle the hooste
of Orkeney fled for the deth of kynge Lott / and there were
slayn many moders sones / But kynge Pellinore bare the wy_tte
of the deth of kynge Lot / wherfore syr Gawayne reuenged
the deth of his fader the x yere after he was made knyght and
slewe kynge Pellinore with his owne handes / Also there we_re
slayne at that bataille xij kynges on the syde of kyng Lot
with Nero / and alle were buryed in the chirche of saynt Ste_uyns
in Camelot / and the remenaunt of knyghtes and of o_ther
were buryed in a grete roche

 Capitulum xj
|r<b> 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 ny¨t / & 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 ma_de
Merlyn by his subtyl crafte and ther he told the kyng wha
I am dede / these tapers shalle brenne no lenger / and soone af_ter
the aduentures of the Sangrayll shalle come among yow
and be encheued / Also he told Arthur how Balyn the wor_shipful
knyght shal gyue the dolourous stroke / wherof shalle
falle grete vengeaunce / O where is Balen & Balan & Pelli_nore
saide kynge Arthur / as for Pellinore sayd Merlyn / he
wyl mete with yow soone /  And as for Balyn



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he wille not be longe from yow / but the other broder wil depar_te
ye shalle see hym no more / By my feyth said Arthur they
are two merueyllous knyghtes / and namely Balyn passeth
of prowesse of ony knyghte that euer I found / for moche
be holden I am vnto hym / wold god he wold abyde with me /
Syr sayd Merlyn loke ye kepe wel the scaubard of Excali_bur
/ for ye shalle lese no blood whyle ye haue the scauberd vp_on
yow though ye haue as many woundes vpon yow as ye
may haue / Soo after for grete trust Arthur betoke the scau_berd
to Morgan le fay his syster / and she loued another kny_ght
better than her husband kynge Vryens or kynge Arthur
And she wold haue had Arthur her broder slayne / And ther
for she lete make another scauberd lyke it by enchauntement
and gaf the scauberd Excalibur to her loue / and the knyghtes
name was called Accolon that after had nere slayne kyng ar_thur
/ After this Merlyn told vnto kynge Arthur of the pro_phecye
/ that there shold be a grete batail besyde Salysbury and
Mordred his owne sone sholde be ageynste hym / Also he tolde
hym that Basdemegus was his cosyn and germayn vnto ky_nge
Vryence

 Capitulum xij
|r<b> WYthin a daye or two kynge Arthur was somewhat se_ke
      / and he lete pytche his pauelione in a medowe / &
there he leyd hym doune on a paylet to slepe / but he my_ght
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 ba_len
/ 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 lord_ship
than that said balyn / and so he rode more than a paas and
found the knyght with a damoysel in a forest & said sir kny¨t



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ye must come with me vnto kynge Arthur for to telle hym of
your sorow / that wille I not / sayd the knyghte / for hit wylle
scathe me gretely / and now do yow none auaylle / syr sayd Balyn
I pray yow make yow redy for ye must goo with me / or els
I must fyghte with yow and brynge yow by force / and that
were me loth to doo / wylle ye be my waraunt said the knyght
and I goo with yow / ye saide Balyn or els I wylle deye
therfore / And so he made hym redy to go with Balyn / and
lefte the damoysel stylle / And as they were euen afore kynge
Arthurs pauelione / there came one inuysybel and smote thys
knyghte that wente with Balyn thorow oute the body wyth
a spere / Allas sayd the knyght I am slayne vnder youre co_duyt
with a knyght called Garlon / therfor take my hors that
is better than yours and ryde to the damoysel and folowe the
quest that I was in / as she wylle lede yow and reuenge my
deth whan ye may / That shalle I doo sayd Balyn / and that
I make vowe vnto knyghthode / and so he departed from thys
knyghte with grete sorowe / Soo kyng Arthur lete berye thys
knyght rychely / and made a mensyon on his tombe / how there
was slayne Herlews le berbeus / and by whome the trechery
was done the knyght garlon / But euer the damoysel bare the
truncheon of the spere with her that syr Harlews was sla_yn
with al

 Capitulum xiij
|r<b> 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 so_rowe
/ 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 bo_dy
neuer to departe from yow whyle my lyf lasteth / & soo they
wente to the hostry and armed hem / and so rode forth with ba_lyn
/ 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 spe_re
/ Allas saide the knyghte I am slayne by this traytoure



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|r[f46r]
knyghte that rydeth Inuysyble / Allas said balyn it is not the
fyrst despyte he hath done me / and there the heremyte and Ba_lyn
beryed the knyght vnder a ryche stone and a tombe royal
And on the morne they fond letters of gold wryten / how
syr Gaweyn shalle reuenge his faders deth kynge Lot / on the
kynge Pellinore / Anone after this balyn and the damoysel
rode tyl they came to a castel and there balyn alyghte / and he
and the damoysel wende to goo in to the castel / and anone as
balyn came within the castels yate the portecolys fylle doune
at his bak / and there felle many men about the damoysel / and
wold haue slayne her / whan balyn sawe that / he was sore a_greued
/ for he myghte not helpe the damoysel / thanne he
wente vp in to the toure and lepte ouer wallys in to the
dyche / and hurte hym not / and anone he pulled oute his suerd
and wold haue fou¨ten with hem / and they all sayd nay they
wold not fyghte with hym / for they dyd no thyng but thold
custome of the castel / and told hym how her lady was seke / &
had layne many yeres / and she myghte not be hole but yf she
had a dysshe of syluer ful of blood of a clene mayde & a kyn_ges
doughter / and therfore the custome of this castel is / there
shalle no damoysel passe this way but she shal blede of her blo_od
in a syluer dysshe ful / wel said Balyn she shal blede as mo_che as she may blede / but I wille not lese the lyf of her why_les
my lyf lasteth / & soo balyn made her to blede by her good
will / but her blood halpe not the lady / and so he & she res_ted
there al nyght / & had there ryght good chere / and on the morn
they passed on their wayes / And as it telleth after in the san_graylle
that syre Percyualis syster halpe that lady with her
blood wherof she was dede

 Capitulum xiiij
|r<b> 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 greuous_ly
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 Iust_ynge
/ and there I Iusted with a knyghte that is broder vn_to
kynge Pellam / and twyes smote I hym doune / & thenne



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he promysed to quyte me on my best frynde / and so he woun_ded
my sone that can not be hole tyll I haue of that knyghtes
blood / and he rydeth alwey Inuysyble / but I knowe not his
name / A sayd Balyn / I knowe that knyght / his name is
Garlon / he hath slayne two knyghtes of myn in the same ma_ner
/ therfor I had leuer mete with that knyght than alle the
gold in this realme / for the despyte he hath done me / wel said
his ooste I shalle telle yow kynge Pellam of lystyneyse hath
made do crye in all this countrey a grete feest that shal be with_in
these xx dayes / & no knyght may come ther but yf he bryn_ge
his wyf wyth hym / or his peramour / & that kynte youre e_nemy
and myn ye shalle see that daye / Thenne I behote yow
sayd Balyn parte of his blood to hele youre sone with alle /
we wille be forward to morne sayd his oost / So on the morne
they rode all thre toward Pellam / and they had xv dayes Io_urney
or they cam thyder / and that same day began the greete
feeste / and soo they alyght and stabled theyr horses / and went
in to the Castel / but balyns oost myght not be lete in by cause
he had no lady / thenne Balyn was wel receyued & brought
vnto a chamber and vnarmed hym / and there were brought hym robes to his pleasyr / and wold haue had Balen
leue his swerd behynde hym / Nay sayd Balen that doo I not for
it is the customme of my Countrey a knyghte alweyes to ke_pe
his wepen with hym and that customme wylle I kepe / or
els I wyll departe as I cam / thenne they gaf hym leue to we_re
his swerd / and so he wente vnto the castel / and was sette
amonge knyghtes of worship and his lady afore hym / Soo_ne
balyn asked a knyght / is ther not a knyghte in this court
whos name is Garlon / yonder he goth sayd a knyght / he with
the blak face / he is the merueyllest kny¨t that is now lyuyng
for he destroyeth many good knyghtes / for he goth Inuysyble
A wel said Balen is that he / thene balyn auysed hym long
yf I slee hym here I shall not scape / And yf I leue hym now
perauentur I shalle neuer mete with hym ageyne at suche a
steuen / and moche harme he wille doo and he lyue / Ther with
this Garlon aspyed that this Balen behelde hym / and then_ne
he came and smote Balyn on the face with the bak of his
hand / and sayd kny¨t why beholdest thow me so for shame



|p93


|r[f47r]
therfor ete thy mete and doo that thow cam for / Thow sayst so_the
said Balyn / this is not the fyrst despyte that thow hast do_ne
me / and therfor I will doo that I cam for and rose vp fy_ersly
and claue his hede to the sholders / gyue me the truncheon
sayd Balyn to his lady where with he slewe your knyghte /
anone she gaf it hym / for alwey she bare the troncheon with her
And therwith Balyn smote hym thurgh the body / and sayd
openly with that truncheon thow hast slayn a good knyghte /
and now it stycketh in thy body / And thenne Balyn called
vnto hym his hoost / sayenge / now may ye fetche blood ynough
to hele your sone with all /


Capitulum xv
|r<b> ANone all the knyghtes aroos from the tabyl for to set
      on Balyn / and kynge Pellam hym self aroos vp fy_ersly
/ & sayd kny¨t hast thow slayn my broder / thow
shalt dye therfor or thou departe / wel said balen do it your self
yis sayde kyng pella / ther shall no ma haue ado with the / but
my self for the loue of my broder / Thenne kyng Pellam cau¨t
in his hand a grym wepen and smote egrely at balyn / but ba_lyn
put his swerd betwixe his hede and the stroke / and ther_with
his swerd brest in sonder / And whan balyn was wepen_les
he ranne in to a chamber for to seke somme wepen / and soo
fro chamber to chamber / and no wepen he coude fynde / and al_weyes
kynge Pellam after hym / And at the last he entryd
in to a chambyr that was merueillously wel dyte and ryche_ly
/ and a bedde arayed with clothe of gold the rychest that my_ghte
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 straun_gely
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

 Capitulum xvj



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|r[f47v]
|r<b> 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 gre_te
pyte it was of his hurte / for thorow that stroke torned to
grete dole tray and tene / Thenne departed Balyn from Mer_lyn
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 ly_ue
cryed O balyn thow hast caused grete dommage in these co_trayes
for the dolorous stroke thow gauest vnto kynge Pella
thre countreyes are destroyed / and doubte not but the vengeaun_ce
wil falle on the at the last / whanne Balyn was past tho
contrayes he was passyng fayne / so he rode ey¨t 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



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|r[f48r]
yow my helpe to gete yow your lady / and ye wille telle me
where she is / what is your name sayd the knyght / myn name
is Balyn le saueage / A syr I knowe yow wel ynough ye
are the knyght with the two swerdys and the man of moost
prowesse of your handes lyuyng / what is your name sayd ba_len
/ my name is garnysshe of the mount a poure mans sone
/ But by my prowesse and hardynesse a duke hath maade me
knyght / and gaf me landes / his name is duke Hermel / and
his doughter is she that I loue and she me as I demed / hou
fer is she hens sayd Balyn / but xj myle said the knyghte
Now ryde we hens sayde these two knyghtes / so they rode mo_re
than a paas tyll that they cam to a fayr castel wel wallyd
and dyched / I wylle in to the castel sayd Balen / and loke
yf she be ther / Soo he wente in and serched fro chamber to cha_bir / and fond her bedde but she was not there / Thenne Balen
loked in to a fayr litil gardyn / and vnder a laurel tre he sawe
her lye vpon a quylt of grene samyte and a knyght in her a_rmes
fast halsynge eyther other and vnder their hedes grasse &
herbes / whan Balen sawe her lye so with the fowlest knyghte
that euer he sawe and she a fair lady / thenne Balyn wente
thurgh alle the chambers ageyne and told the knyghte how
he fond her as she had slepte fast / and so brought hym in the
place there she lay fast slepynge

 Capitulum xvij
|r<b> 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



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|r[f48v]
he dressid hym thens ward / lest folke wold say he had slayne
them / and so he rode forth / and within thre dayes he cam by a
crosse / & theron were letters of gold wryte that said / it is not
for no knyght alone to ryde toward this Castel / thene sawe he
an old hore gentylman comyng toward hym that sayd Ba_lyn
le Saueage thow passyst thy bandes to come this waye /
therfor torne ageyne and it will auaille the / and he vanysshed
awey anone / and soo he herd an horne blowe as it had ben the
dethe of a best / That blast said Balyn is blowen for me / For
I am the pryse and yet am I not dede / anone with al he sa_we
an hondred ladyes and many knyghtes that welcommed
hym with fayr semblaunt and made hym passyng good chere /
vnto his syght and ledde hym in to the castel / and ther was
daunsynge and mynstralsye and alle maner of Ioye / Then_ne
the chyef lady of the castel said / knyghte with the two suer_dys
ye must haue adoo and Iuste with a knyght hereby that
kepeth an Iland / for ther may no man passe this way but he
must Iuste or he passe / that is an vnhappy customme said Ba_lyn
that a knyght may not passe this wey / but yf he Iuste / ye
shalle not haue adoo but with one knyghte sayd the lady /
Wel sayd Balyn syn I shalle therto I am redy but traueil_lynge
men are ofte wery and their horses to / but though my
hors be wery / my hert is not wery / I wold be fayne ther my
deth shold be / Syr said a knyght to Balyn / me thynketh your
sheld is not good / I wille lene yew a byggar / therof I pray
yow / and so he tooke the sheld that was vnknowen and lefte
his owne and so rode vnto the Iland / and put hym and his
hors in a grete boote / and whan he came on the other syde / he
met with a damoysel / and she said / O knyght balyn why haue
ye lefte your owne sheld / allas ye haue put your self in grete
daunger / for by your sheld ye shold haue ben knowen / it is gre_te
pyte of yow as euer was of knyght / for of thy prowesse &
hardynes thou hast no felawe lyuynge / Me repenteth said ba_lyn
that euer I cam within this Countrey / but I maye not
torne now ageyne for shame and what auenture shalle falle
to me be it lyf or dethe I wille take the aduenture that shalle
come to me & / thenne he loked on his armour / & vnderstood he
was wel armed / and therwith blessid hym and mounted



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|r[f49r]
vpon his hors

 Capitulum xviij
|r<b> THenne afore hym he sawe come rydynge oute of a cas_tel
      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 ba_lyn
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 the_yr
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 my¨t
haue ben the dethe of the myghtyest gyaunt in this world /
Thenne they wente to batail ageyn so merueillously that dou_bte
it was to here of that bataille for the grete blood shedynge
And their hawberkes vnnailled that naked they were on e_uery
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 kny¨t 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 ba_lan
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



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|r[f49v]
my broder thow hast slayne me and I the / wherfore alle the
wyde world shalle speke of vs bothe /  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 cau_se
ye had another shild I demed ye had ben another kny¨t
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 my¨t lyue I wold destroye that cas_tel
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 knygh_tes
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 recey_ue
our sacrament and receyue the blessid body of our lord Ihe_su
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 /

 Capitulum xix
|r<b> IN the morne cam Merlyn and lete wryte balyns na_me
      on the tombe with letters of gold / that here lyeth
balyn le Saueage that was the kny¨t with the two swerdes



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|r[f50r]
and he that smote the dolorous stroke / Also Merlyn lete ma_ke
there a bedde / that ther shold neuer man lye therin / but he
wente oute of his wytte / yet Launcelot de lake fordyd that
bed thorow his noblesse / and anone after Balyn was dede /
merlyn toke his swerd / and toke of the pomel and set on an
other pomel / so merlyn bad a knyght that stode afore hym han_deld
that swerd / and he assayed / and he myght not handle hit
Thenne Merlyn lough / why laugh ye said the knyghte / this is
the cause said Merlyn / ther shalle neuer man handle this suerd
but the best knyght of the world / and that shalle be syr Laun_celot
or els Galahad his sone / and Launcelot with this suerd
shalle slee the man that in the world he loued best that shalle
be syr Gawayne / Alle this he lete wryte in the pomel of the
swerd / Thenne Merlyn lete make a brydge of yron & of stele
in to that Iland / and it was but half a foote brode / & there
shalle neuer man passe that brydge nor haue hardynes to goo
ouer / but yf he were a passyng good man and a good kny_ght
withoute trechery or vylonye / Also the scaubard of Ba_lyns
swerd Merlyn lefte it on this syde of the Iland that ga_lahad
shold fynde it / Also merlyn lete make by his subtyly_te
that Balyns swerd was put in a marbel stone standyng
vp ryght as grete as a mylle stone / and the stone houed al
weyes aboue the water and dyd many yeres / and so by adue_ture
it swam doun the streme to the Cyte of Camelot that is in
englysshe wynchestre / & that same day galahad the haute pryn_ce
came with kyng Arthur / and soo galahad broughte wyth
hym the scaubard and encheued the swerde / that was there in
the marbel stone / houynge vpon the water / And on whytson_day
he encheued the swerd as it is reherced in the book of Sac
grayll / Soone after this was done Merlyn came to kyng Ar_thur
and told hym of the dolorous stroke that Balyn gaf to
kyng Pellam / and how Balyn and Balan foughte to gy_ders
the merueillous batail that euer was herd of / and how
they were buryed bothe in one Tombe / Allas said kyng Ar_thur
/ this is the grettest pyte that ouer I herd telle of two
kny¨tes / for in the world I knowe not suche two knyghtes /
 Thus endeth the tale of Balyn and of Balan two bre_theren
born in northuberlad good kni¨tes /  Sequitur iij liber



|p100


|r[f50v

 Capitulum primum
|r<b> IN the begynnynge of Arthur after he was cho_sen
      kyng by adueture and by grace for the most
party of the barons knewe not that he was V_ther
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 boun_te
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 Ca_melerd
/ the whiche holdeth in his hows the table round that ye
told he had of my fader Vther / And this damoysel is the mo_ost
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 damoy_sel
of beaute and of goodenesse that shold lyke yow & ple_se
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 gwene_uer
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 mer_lyn
desyred of the kynge for to haue men with hym that shold
enquere of gweneuer / and so the kyng graunted hym / & Mer_lyn
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 /



|p101


|r[f51r]
but he hath londes ynowe / hym nedeth none / but I shalle sende
hym a gyfte shalle please hym moche more / for I shalle gyue
hym the table round / the whiche Vtherpendragon gaue me / &
whan it is ful complete / ther is an C knyghtes & fyfty / And
as for on C good knyghtes I haue my self / but I fawte / l /
for so many haue ben slayne in my dayes / and so Ladegreans
delyuerd his doughter Gweneuer vnto Merlyn / and the table
round with the C knyghtes / and so they rode fresshly with gre_te
royalte / what by water and what by land / tyl that they
came nyghe vnto london

 Capitulum Secundum
|r<b> WHanne kyng Arthur herd of the comyng of gwene_uer
      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 Co_ronacyon
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 & wor_ship /
within short tyme merlyn had founde suche kny¨tes 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 ky_ng
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 kny¨t / 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 /

 Ca iij



|p102


|r[f51v]
|r<b> 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 ar_thur /
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 Ihe_su
saue the / Syr it was told me that at this tyme of your ma_ryage
ye wolde yeue any man the yefte that he wold aske /
oute excepte that were vnresonable / that is trouth said the ky_nge
suche cryes I lete make / and that will I holde so it apay_re
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 po_ure
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 kny¨t
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 ky_nge /
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



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|r[f52r]
hym knyght / & that he myghte be a knyght of the table round
As for a kny¨t I will make yow / & therwith smote hym in
the neck with the swerd sayeg be ye a good kny¨t / & so I pray
to god so ye may be / & yf ye be of prowesse and of worthy_nesse
ye shalle be a knyght of the table round / Now Merlyn
sayd Arthur say wether this Tor shall be a good knyghte /
or no / ye syre he ought to be a good knyght / for he is comen
of as good a man as ony is on lyue / and of kynges blood
how so syr sayd the kynge / I shalle telle yow sayd Merlyn /
This poure man Aryes the cowherd is not his fader / he is no
thyng syb to hym / for kynge Pellinore is his fader / I suppose
nay said the Cowherd / fetche thy wyf afore me said merlyn /
and she shalle not say nay / anon the wyf was fet which was
a fair houswyf / and there she ansuerd Merlyn ful womanly /
and there she told the kynge and Merlyn that whan she was
a maide & went to mylke kyen / ther met with her a sterne kny_ght /
& half by force he had my maidenhede / & at that tyme he bi_gat
my sone Tor / & he toke awey from me my greyhound that
I had that tyme with me / & saide that he wold kepe the grey_hound
for my loue / A said the Cowherd I wende not thys /
but I may bileue it wel / for he had neuer no tatches of me / sir
said Tor vnto Merlyn dishonoure not my moder / syr said mer_lyn
it is more for your worship than hurte / for your fader is
a good man & a kyng / & he may ryght wel auaunce you and
your moder / for ye were begoten or euer she was wedded / that
is trouth said the wyf / hit is the lasse gryef vnto me sayd the
Cowherd

 Capitulum Quartum
|r<b> 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 Pel_linore
beheld Tor / he pleasyd hym moche / so the kyng made ga_wayne
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



|p104


|r[f52v]
shalle sytte there shalle haue no felawe / And therwith Mer_lyn
tooke kynge Pellinore by the hand / and in the one hand
next the two seges and the sege peryllous he said in open au_dyence
this is your place and best ye are worthy to sytte there
in of ony that is here / there at sat syr gawayne in grete enuy &
told Gaherys his broder / yonder knyghte is put to grete wor_ship /
the whiche greueth me sore / for he slewe our fader kynge
Lot / therfor I wille slee hym said Gauayne with a swerd
|r{ms=fwerd} / that was sente me that is passyng trenchaunt / ye shall not soo
said Gaherys at this tyme / For at this tyme I am but a squy_er /
and whan I am made knyght / I wol be auenged on hym
and therfor broder it is best ye suffre tyl another tyme that we
may haue hym oute of the Courte / for & we dyd so / we shold
trouble this hyhe feest / I wyl wel said gauayn as ye wylle /


 Capitulum quintum
|r<b> 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 e_uery
man was set after his degree / Merlyn wente to alle the
knyghtes of the round table / and bad hem sytte styll that no_ne
of hem remeue / for ye shalle see a straunge and a merueill_ous
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 & pul_led
oute a pees / where thurgh the herte lepte a grete lepe / and
ouerthrewe a knyght that sat at the boord syde / and therwith
the kny¨t 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 suffre |r{ms=sussre} me not to haue this despyte for the
brachet was myn that the knyght lad aweye / I maye not doo
therwith said the kynge

 With this there came
a knyght rydynge al armed on a grete hors / and tooke the la_dy
awey with hym with force / and euer she cryed and made
grete dole / whanne she was gone the kynge was glad for she



|p105


|r[f53r]
made suche a noyse / Nay said merlyn / ye may not leue this a_dve{~}tures
so lyghtely / For these aduentures must be brought a_gayne
or els it wold be disworship to yow and to your feest
I wyll said the kynge that al be done by your aduys / Then_ne
saide merlyn lete calle syr gauayne / for he must brynge a_geyne
the whyte herte / Also syr ye must lete calle Syre Tor /
for he must brynge ageyne the brachet / and the knyght or els
slee hym / Also lete calle kynge Pellinore for he must brynge a_geyne
the lady and the knyght or els slee hym / and these thre
knyghtes shalle doo merueillous auetures or they come ageyn
Thenne were they called al thre as it reherceth afore / and eue_ryche
of hem toke his charge / and armed them surely / But sir
gauayne had the fyrst request / and therfore we wille begynne
at hym /

 Capitulum vj
|r<b> 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 kny¨tes
fyghte on horsbak passyng sore / so syr gauayn & his broder ro_de
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 houdes
chaced hym / & a whyte brachet was alwey next hym / and
we vnderstood it was auenture made for the hyhe feest of ky_nge
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 thou¨t to preue whiche of
vs bothe was better kny¨t / This is a symple cause said sir ga_uayn /
vncouth me ye shold debate with al & no broder with bro_der /
therfor but yf ye wil do by my couceil 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 kny¨t said the ij bre_theren
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 /



|p106


|r[f53v]
we wille agree to fulfylle |r{ms=fulsylle} your wylle / But by whom shalle
we saye that we be thyder sente / ye maye say / by the kny¨t that
foloweth the quest of the herte that was whyte / Now what is
your name sayd gauayne / Sorlouse of the forest said the eldar
& my name is sayde the yonger Bryan of the forest and soo
they departed and wente to the kynges Court / and Syr ga_uayne
on his quest / and as gauyne folowed the herte by the
crye of the houndes euen afore hym ther was a grete Ryuer /
and the hert swamme ouer / and as syr gauayne wold folo_we
after / ther stode a knyght ouer the other syde and sayd /
Syre knyghte come not ouer after this herte / but yf thou wilt
Iuste with me / I wille not faille as for that said sir gauayn
to folowe the quest that I am in / and soo maade his hors to
swymme ouer the water / and anone they gat theire speres /
and ranne to gyder ful hard / but syre gauayne smote hym
of his hors / and thenne he torned his hors & bad hym yelde
hym / Nay sayd the knyght not so though thow haue the bet_ter
of me on horsbak / I pray the valyaunt knyght alyghte a
foote and matche we to gyders with swerdes / what is youre
name said sir gauayne / Alardyn of the Ilys said the other /
thenne eyther dressid her sheldes and smote to gyders / but sir
gauayne smote hym so hard thorow the helme that it went to
the braynes and the knyght felle doune dede / A said Gaheryse
that was a myghty stroke of a yonge knyght /


 Capitulum Septimum
|r<b> Thene 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 cas_tel /
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



|p107


|r[f54r]
shalle be dere bought and I lyue / and anone he wente in to
his chamber and armed hym / and came oute fyersly / & there
mette he with syr gauayne / why haue ye slayne my houndes
said syr gauayn / for they dyd but their kynde / and leuer I
had ye had wroken your angre vpon me than vpon a dom best
thow saist trouth said the knyght I haue auengyd me on thy
houndes and so I wille on the or thow goo / Thenne syr Ga_uayne
alyght afoote and dressid his shelde and stroke to gy_ders
myghtely / and clafe their sheldes and stoned their helmes
and brak their hawberkes that the blood ranne doune to their
feet / Atte last syr gauayne smote the knyght so hard that he
felle to the erthe / and thenne he cryed mercy / and yelded hym
and besought hym as he was a knyghte and gentylman / to
saue his lyf / thow shalt dye said sir gauayne for sleyng of my
houndes / I wille make amendys said the knyght vnto my po_wer /
Syr gauayne wold no mercy haue but vnlacyd his hel_me
to haue stryken of his hede / Ryght soo came his lady oute
of a chamber and felle ouer hym / and soo he smote of her hede
by mysauenture / Allas saide Gaheryse that is fowle and sha_mefully
done / that shame shal neuer from yow / Also ye shold
gyue mercy vnto them that aske mercy / for a kny¨t without
mercy is withoute worship / Syr gauayne was so stonyed of
the deth of this fair lady / that he wiste not what he dyd / and
said vnto the knyght aryse I wille gyue the mercy / nay nay
said the knyght / I take no force of mercy now / for thou hast
slayne my loue and my lady that I loued best of alle erth_ely
thynge / Me sore repentith it said syr gauayn / for I thoughte
to stryke vnto the / But now thow shalt goo vnto kyng Ar_thur
and telle hym of thyne aduentures and how thow arte o_uercome
by the knyghte that wente in the queste of the whyte
herte / I take no force said the kny¨t whether I lyue or I dye
but so for drede of deth he swore to goo vnto kynge Arthur / &
he made hym to bere one greyhound before hym on his hors and
another behynde hym / what is your name said sir gauayn or
we departe / my name is said the knyght Ablamor of the ma_rise /
soo he departed toward Camelot


 Capitulum Octauum



|p108


|r[f54v]
|r<b> 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 vn_arme
yow in this Countrey / ye may thynke ye haue many e_nemyes
here / they had not sooner sayd that word but ther ca{~}
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 ne_de
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 gahe_ryse
were in ieopardy of their lyues / and one with a bowe an
archer smote syr gauayne thur 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 / er_ly
on the morow ther cam to syr gauayne one of the four la_dyes /
that had herd alle his complaynte and said syr kny¨te
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



|p109


|r[f55r]
his quest /
 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 mer_lyn
desyred of kyng Arthur ét 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 la_dy /
And ther by ordenaunce of the quene ther was set a quest
of ladyes on syr gauayn / and they Iuged hym for euer why_le
he lyued to be with all ladyes & to fy¨te 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 gentil_woman /
but yf he fought for a lady / and his aduersary fou¨t
for another / And thus endeth the auenture of syr gauayn that
he dyd at the maryage of kyng Arthur Amen

 Capitulum ix
|r<b> THan Syre Tor was redy he mounted vpon his hors_bak /
      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 pas_se
this way / but yf thow Iuste with yonder knyghtes of the pa_uelions /
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 ar_med
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 pauel_ione
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



|p110


|r[f55v
merueille it was to see / but the knyght smote syre Tor a gre_te
stroke in myddes of the shelde that his spere all to sheuered
And syr Tor smote hym thurgh the sheld by lowe of the sheld
and it wente thorow the coost of the kny¨t / but the stroke sle_we
hym not / And therwith syr Tor alyght & smote hym on
the helme a grete stroke / and therwith the knyght yelded hym
and besought hym of mercy / I wille wel said syr Tor / But
thou and thy felawe must goo vnto kynge Arthur / and yelde
yow prysoners vn to hym / by whome shall we say are we thy_der
sente / ye shall say by the knyght that wente in the quest of
the knyght that wente with the brachet / Now what be your ij
names said syr Tor / my name is sayd the one Sire Felot of
Langduk / & my name is said the other Sir Petypase of wyn_chylse /
Now go ye forth saide syre Tor and god spede yow &
me / Thenne cam the dwarf and saide vnto syr Tor / I praye
yow gyue me a yefte / I wylle wel said syr Tor / aske / I as_ke
no more saide the dwarf / but that ye wille suffre me to doo
yow seruyse / for I will serue no more recreaunt knyghtes /
Take an hors said syr Tor and ryde on with me / I wote ye
ryde after the knyght with the whyte brachet / and I shalle
brynge yow there he is said the dwerf / And soo they rode tho_row
oute a forest / and at the last they were ware of two pauel_ions
euen by a pryory with two sheldes / And the one shylde
was enewed with whyte / and the other shelde was reed


 Capitulum x
|r<b> THer with syr Tor alyghte and toke the dwarf his gla_yue /
      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 damoy_sels /
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 bra_chet
haue I sou¨ght 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



|p111


|r[f56r]
cometh by the grace of god / and so mounted vpon his hors /
and passed on his way towarde Camelot / but it was so nere
nyght he my¨t not passe but lytel ferther / knowe ye ony lod_gyng
said Tor I knowe none said the dwarf / but here besy_des
is an hermytage / and there ye muste take lodgynge as ye
fynde / And within a whyle they cam to the heremytage & took
lodgyng / and was there gras otys and breed for their horses
soone it was sped / and full hard was their souper but there
they rested hem al nyght tyl on the morne / and herd a masse
deuoutely / and tooke their leue of the heremyte / and syre Tor
prayed the heremyte to pray for hym / he sayd he wold and be_tooke
hym to god / And soo mounted vpon horsbak and rode
towardes Camelot a long whyle / with that they herd a kny¨te
calle lowde that came after hem / and he sayd knyghte abyde / &
yelde my brachet that thow took from my lady / Syr Tor retor_ned
ageyne / and behelde hym how he was a semely knyghte
and wel horsed and wel armed at al poyntes / thenne Syre
Tor dressyd his shelde and took his spere in his handes and
the other cam fyersly vpon hym / and smote bothe hors & man
to the erthe / anone they aroos lyghtely and drewe her swerdes
as egrely as lyons and put their sheldes afore them and smo_te
thorow the sheldes that the cantels felle of bothe partyes /
Also they tamyd their helmes that the hote blood ranne oute
/ and the thyck maylles of their hawberkes they carfe and rofe
in sonder that the hote blood ranne to the erthe / and both they
had many woundes and were passyng wery / But syr Tor as_pyed
that the other knyght faynted / and thenne he sewed fast
vpon hym and doubled his strokes and garte hym go to the
erthe on the one syde / thenne Syre Tor bad hym yelde hym /
that wille I not said Abilleus whyle my lyf lasteth and the
soule is within my body onles that thou wilt yeue me the bra_chet /
that wylle I not doo sayd syre Tor / for it was my quest
to brynge ageyne thy brachet / the or bothe /

 Capitulum xj
|r<b> WYth that cam a damoysel rydynge on a palfrey as fast
      as she my¨t dryue and cryed with a lowde voys vnto
Syre Tor / what wille ye with me sayd syr Tor / I byseche the



|p112


|r[f56v]
said the damoysel for kynge Arthurs loue / gyue me a yefte /
requyre the gentyl knyght as thow arte a gentilman / Now
said Tor Aske a yefte and I wille gyue it yow / gramercy
said the damoysel / Now I aske the hede of the fals knyght A_belleus /
for he is the mooste outragyous knyght that lyueth &
the grettest murtherer / I am loth seid syr Tor of that gyfte I
haue gyuen yow / lete hym make amendys in that he hath tre_spaced
vnto yow / now said the damoysel he may not / for he sle_we
myn owne broder afore myn owne eyen that was a better
knyght than he / and he hadde had grace / and I kneled half
an houre afore hym in the myre for to saue my broders lyf that
had done hym no dammage but fought with hym by auentu_re
of armes / and so for al that I coude do / he stroke of his hede
wherfore I requyre the as thow arte a true knyght to gyue
me my yefte or els I shal shame the in al the Court of kyng
Arthur / for he is the falsest knyght lyuynge and a grete des_troyer
of good knyghtes / Thenne whan Abelleus herd this / he
was more aferd / and yelded hym and asked mercy / I maye
not now saide syr Tor / but yf I shold be founde fals of my
promesse / for whyle I wold haue taken you to mercy / ye wold
none aske but yf ye had the brachet ageyn that was my quest
And therwith he tooke of his helme / and he aroos and fled /
and syr Tor after hym and smote of his hede quyte /  Now
syr said the damoysel / it is nere nyght / I pray yow come & lod_ge
with me here at my place / it is here fast by / I will wel said
syr Tor / for his hors and he had ferd euyll syn they departed
from Camelot / and soo he rode with her and had passyng go_od
chere with her / and she hadde a passyng fair old knyght to
her husband that made hym passynge good chere and wel ea_syd
bothe his hors and he / and on the morne he herd his masse
and brake his fast and tooke his leue of the knyghte and of
the lady that besought hym to telle hym his name / Truly he sa_id
my name is syr Tor that was late made knyght / and this
was the fyrst queste of armes that euer I dyd to brynge a_geyn
that this knyght Abelleus toke awey fro kyng arthurs
courte / O fayr knyght said the lady and her husband / and ye
come here in oure marches / come and see oure poure lodgynge
/ and it shalle be alweyes at your commaundement / Soo syre



|p113


|r[f57r]
Tor departed and came to Camelot on the thyrdde day by no_one
/ and the kyng & the quene & alle the Courte was passyng
fayne of his comyng and made grete ioye that he was come a_geyne /
for he wente from the Court with lytel socour / but as
kyng Pellinore his fader gaf hym an old courser / and kyng
Arthur gaf hym armour and a swerd / and els had he none
other socour / but rode so forthe hym self alone / And thenne the
kyng and the quene by merlyns aduys made hym to swere to
telle of his auentures / and soo he told and made pryeues of
his dedes as it is afore reherced / wherfor the kyng and the que_ne
made hym grete ioye / nay nay saide Merlyn these ben but Iapes
to that he shalle doo / for he shalle preue a noble knyght of pro_wesse
as good as ony is lyuyng and gentyl and curteis &
of good tatches and passyng true of his promesse / and neuer
shalle outrage where thorow Merlyns wordes kynge Arthur
gaf hym an erldome of londes that felle vnto hym / and here en_deth
the quest of Syr Tor kynge Pellenors sone

capitulum xij
|r<b> THenne kynge Pellinore armed hym and mounted vp_on
      his hors and rode more than a paas after the lady
that the kny¨t 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 my¨t
fele it or he dyed / Soo as the book telleth the knyght there dy_ed
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 kny¨tes of the pauelions



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|r[f57v]
chalengyd that lady of that knyght and sayd she was his
cosyn nere / wherfor he shold lede her no ferther / And soo they
wage bataill in that quarel / the one saide he wold haue her
by force / and the other said he wold haue the rule of her by
cause he was her kynnesman and wold led her to her kyn / for
this quarel he lefte them fyghtynge / And yf ye wille ryde a
paas ye shalle fynde them fyghtyng / and the lady was beleft
with the two squyers in the pauelions / god thanke the sayd
kynge Pellenore / Thenne he rode a wallop tyll he had a syght
of the two pauelions and the two knyghtes fyghtyng / anon
he rode vnto the pauelions / and sawe the lady that was his
quest / and sayd fayre lady ye must goo with me vnto the co_urt
of kynge Arthur / Syr knyght said the two squyers that
were with her yonder are two knyghtes that fyghte for thys
lady / goo thyder and departe them / and be agreed with hem / &
thenne may ye haue her at your pleasyr / ye say wel sayd kyng
Pellenore / And anone he rode betwixt them and departed hem
and asked hem the causes why that they fought / Sir knyght
said the one / I shalle telle yow / this lady is my kynneswo_man
nygh myn auntes doughter / And whan I herd her com_playne
that she was with hym maulgre her hede / I waged ba_taille
to fyghte with hym / Syre knyght sayd the other whoos
name was Hontzlake of wentland / and this lady I gat by
my prowesse of armes this day at Arthurs courte / that is vn_truly
said / said kynge Pellenore / for ye cam in sodenly ther as
we were at the hyghe feest and tooke awey this lady or ony
man myght make hym redy and therfore hit was my quest to
brynge her ageyne and yow bothe / or els the one of vs to aby_de
in the felde / therfor the lady shalle goo with me / or I wille
dye for it / for I haue promysed hit kynge Arthur / And ther_for
fyghte ye no more / for none of yow shalle haue no parte
of her at this tyme / And yf ye lyst to fy¨te for her / fy¨te with
me / and I wille defende her / wel said the knyghtes make you
redy / and we shalle assaile yow with al our power / And as
kynge Pellenore wold haue put his hors for them syr Hontz_lake
roofe his hors thorow with a swerd and said / Now art
thow on foote as wel as we are / whan kynge Pellinore as_pyed
that his hors was slayne / ly¨tely he lepte from his hors/



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and pulled oute is swerd / and put his sheld afore hym /
and sayde knyghte kepe wel thy heede / for thow shalt haue a
buffet for the sleyng of my hors / So kyng Pellenore gaf hym
suche a stroke vpon the helme that he clafe the hede doune to the
chynne that he fylle to the erthe dede

 Capitulum xiij
|r<b> ANd thenne he torned hym to the other kny¨te 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 kny¨te
of prowesse as ye be / wel said Pellenore / ye say wel / I pro_myse
yow she shall haue no vylony by me as I am true kny_ght /
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 sa_yd
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 bro_ughte
hym a fayre bay courser / and kynge Pellenors sadel
sette upon hym / Now what shalle I calle yow said the kny¨t
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 I_lys
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 la_dy
my cosyn hyght Nymue / and the knyghte that was in the
other pauelione is my sworne broder a passynge good kny¨te
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 so_re
sout on / so that for shame he may not leue it / It is merueil



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said Pellinore that he wille not haue adoo with me / syr he wil
not haue adoo with no man but yf it be at his request / Bryn_ge
hym to the Courte said Pellenore one of these dayes / Syr
we wylle come to gyders / and ye shalle be welcome said Pel_linore
to the Courte of kynge Arthur / and gretely allowed
for your comynge and so he departed with the lady / & brou¨t
her to Camelot / Soo as they rode in a valey it was ful of sto_nes /
and there the ladyes hors stumbled and threwe her doun
that her arme was sore brysed and nere she swouned for pa_yne /
Allas syr sayd the lady myn arme is oute of lythe wher
thorow I must nedes reste me / ye shal wel said kyng Pelli_nore /
and so he aly¨t vnder a fayr tree where was fayr grasse
and he put his hors therto / and so leyd hym vnder the tree /
and slepte tyl it was nyghe nyght / And whan he awoke / he
wold haue ryden / Sir said the lady it is so derke that ye may
as wel ryde backward as forward / soo they abode styll & made
there their lodgyng / Thenne syr Pellenore put of his armour
thene a ly¨tel afore mydny¨t they herd the trottynge of an hors
be ye styll said kyng Pellenore / for we shalle here of somme a_uenture

 Capitulum xiiij
|r<b> ANd ther with he armed hym / so ryght euen afore hym
      ther met two knyghtes / the one cam froward Came_lot /
and the other from the northe / and eyther salewed other /
what tydynges at Camelot sayd |r{ms=fayd} the
one / by my hede saide the other ther haue I ben & aspyed the courte of kynge Arthur
And ther is suche a felauship they may neuer be broken / and
wel nyghe al the world holdeth with Arthur / for there is the
flour of chyualrye / Now for his cause I am rydyng in to the
north to telle or chyuetayns of the felauship that is withhol_den
with kyng Arthur / as for that said the other knyght I ha_ue
brought a remedy with me that is the grettest poyson that
euer ye herd speke of & to Camelot wyll I with it / for we ha_ue
a frend ryght nyghe kyng Arthur and wel cherysshed that
shal poysone kynge Arthur / for so he hath promysed oure chy_uetayns
& receyued grete yeftes for to do it / Beware said the
other knyght of Merlyn / for he knoweth all thynges by the
deuyls crafte / therfore wille I not lete it said the knyghte / &
so they departed in sonder / Anone after Pellenore maade hym



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|r[f59r]
redy and his lady rode toward Camelot / And as they
cam by the wel there as the wounded knyght was and the la_dy /
there he fond the knyghte and the lady eten with lyons
or wylde beestes al sauf the hede / wherfor he made grete sorowe
and wepte passynge sore and said Allas her lyf myghte I
haue saued / but I was so fyers in my quest therfore I wold
not abyde / wherfore make ye suche doole said the lady / I wote
not said Pellinore / but my herte morneth sore of the deth of her
for she was a passyng fayr lady and a yonge / Now wylle ye
doo by myne aduys said the lady / take this knyghte and lete
hym be buryed in an heremytage / and thenne take the ladyes
hede and bere it with yow vnto Arthur / So kyng Pellinore
took this dede knyght on his sholders / and broughte hym to
the heremytage and charged the heremyte with the corps / that
seruyse shold be done for the soule / and take his harneys for
your payne / it shalle be done said the heremyte as I wille an_suer
vnto god

 Capitulum xv
|r<b> ANd ther with they departed and cam there as the he_de
      of the lady lay with a fair yelow here that greued
kyng Pellinore passyngly sore whan he loked on hit / for mo_che
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 swe_re
vpon the four euuangelystes to telle the trouth of his quest
from the one to the other / A syr Pellinore sayd quene Gwe_neuer
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 my¨t / but sauf your plea_sir
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 ou¨t sore to repente it / for that lady was your own dou¨ter
begoten on the lady of the rule / & that knyght that was dede
was her loue / and shold haue wedded her / and he was a ry_ght
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 laudys / & a kny¨t cam behynde hym / & slewe him
with spere & his name is Lorayne le saueage a fals kny¨t
& a coward / & she for grete sorow & dole slewe her self with



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|r[f59v]
his swerd / and her name was Eleyne / And by cause ye wold
not abyde and helpe her / ye shalle see youre best frende faylle
yow whan ye been the grettest distresse that euer ye were / or
shalle be / And that penauce god hath ordeyned yow for that
dede / that he that ye shalle most truste to of ony man alyue / he
shalle leue yow ther ye shalle be slayne / Me forthynketh said
kynge Pellinore that this shalle me betyde but god may for_doo
wel desteny / Thus whan the quest was done of the why_te
herte / the whiche folowed syr gawayne and the quest of the
brachet folowed of syr Tor Pellenors sone / & the quest of the
lady that the knyghte tooke aweye / the whiche kyng Pellinre
at that tyme folowed / Thenne the kyng stablysshed all his kny_ghtes
and gaf them that were of londes not ryche / he gaf them
londes / and charged hem neuer to doo outragyousyte nor mor_dre /
and alweyes to flee treason / Also by no meane to be cru_el /
but to gyue mercy vnto hym that asketh mercy vpon payn
of forfeture of their worship and lordship of kyng Arthur for
euermore / and alweyes to doo ladyes / damoysels / and gen_tylwymmen
socour vpon payne of dethe / Also that no man ta_ke
noo batails in a wrongful quarel for noo lawe ne for noo
worldes goodes / Vnto this were all the knyghtes sworne of
the table round both old and yong / And euery yere were they
sworne at the hyghe feest of Pentecost.


 Explicit the weddynge of kynge Arthur


 Sequitur quartus liber  Capitulu~ Primu~

|r<b> SOo after these questys of Syr Gawyne / Syre
Tor / and kynge Pellinore / It felle so that Mer_lyn
felle in a dottage on the damoisel that kyng
Pellinore broughte to the Courte / and she was o_ne
of the damoysels of the lake that hy¨te Ny_neue /
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



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|r[f60r]
so he told the kynge many thynges that shold befalle / but alle
wayes he warned the kynge to kepe wel his swerd and the
scaubard / for he told hym how the swerd and the scaubard
shold be stolen by a woman from hym that he most trusted /
Also he told kynge Arthur that he shold mysse hym / yet had
ye leuer than al your landes to haue me ageyne / A sayd the
kynge / syn ye knowe of your aduenture puruey for hit / and
put awey by your craftes that mysauenture / Nay said Merlyn
it wylle not be / soo he departed from the kynge / And within a
whyle the damoysel of the lake departed / and Merlyn wente
with her euermore where some euer she wente / And oftymes
merlyn wold haue had her pryuely awey by his subtyle craf_tes /
thenne she made hym to swere that he shold neuer do none
enchauntement vpon her yf he wold haue his wylle / And so
he sware / so she and Merlyn wente ouer the see vnto the land
of Benwyck there as kynge Ban was kynge that had gre_te
warre ageynst kynge Claudas / and there Merlyn spake
with kynge Bans wyf a fair lady and a good / and her na_me
was Elayne / and there he sawe yonge Launcelot / there the
quene made grete sorowe for the mortal werre ét 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 Launce_lot /
that is trouthe said the quene / his fyrst name was Gala_had /
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



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enchauntement that wente vnder a grete stone / So by her sub_tyle
wyrchynge she maade Merlyn to goo vnder that stone to
lete her wete of the merueilles there / but she wroughte so ther
for hym that he came neuer oute for alle the crafte he coude doo /
And so she departed and lefte Merlyn /

 Capitulum Secundum
|r<b> ANd as kynge Arthur rode to Camelot / and helde ther
      a grete feest with myrthe and Ioye / so soone after he re_torned
vnto Cardoylle / and ther cam vnto Arthur newe ty_dynges
that the kynge of Denmarke and the kynge of Ire_land
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 lad
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 crow_ned
kyng of this land / Now shalle I neuer reste tyl I me_te
with tho kynges in a fayre feld / that I make myn auowe
for my true lyege peple shalle not be destroyed in my defaul_te /
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 ly¨t_lyest
rere and hye hym after in al hast / All the Barons we_re
pryuely wrothe / that the kynge wold departe so sodenly but
the kynge by no meane wold abyde / but made wrytynge vn_to
them that were not there / and bad them hye after hym su_che
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



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|r[f61r]
aboue sayd that Arthur was besyde humber in a foreste there
was a knyght broder vnto one of the fyue kynges that gafe
hem this counceille / ye knowe wel that syre Arthur hath the
floure of Chyualrye of the world with hym as it is preued
by the grete bataille he dyd with the xj kynges / And therfor
hye vnto hym nyghte and daye tyl that we be nyghe hym / for
the lenger he taryeth the bygger he is / and we euer the waiker
And he is so couragyous of hym self that he is come to the fel_de
with ly¨tel peple / And therfore lete vs set vpon hym or day
and we shalle slee doune of his knyghtes ther shal none esca_pe

Capitulum Tercium
|r<b> 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 ly¨tel pauelione by the kynge /
With that they herd a grete noyse and many cryed treson tre_son /
Allas said kynge Arthur we ben bitrayed / Vnto armes
felawes thenne he cryed / so they were armed anone at al po_yntes /
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 ro_ugh
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 hors_bak
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



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|r[f61v]
them / and thenne may ye thre vndertake for the other thre / and
ther with al syr kay lete his hors renne as fast as he myghte
and strake one of them thorow the shelde / and the body a fa_dom
that the kynge felle to the erthe stark dede / That sawe syr
Gawayne and ranne vnto another kyng so hard that he smo_te
hym thurgh the body / And ther with all kyng Arthur ran
to another / and smote hym thurgh the body with a spere that
he fylle to the erthe dede / Thenne syr Gryflet ranne vnto the iiij
kyng and gaf hym suche a falle that his neck brake / Anone
syr kay ranne vnto the fyfthe kynge and smote hym so hard
on the helme that the stroke clafe the helme and the hede to the
erthe / that was wel stryken sayd kynge Arthur / and wor_shipfully
hast thow hold thy promesse / therfor I shal honou_re
the / whyle that I lyue / and ther with all they set the que_ne
in a barge in to humber / but alweyes quene gweneuer pra_ysed
syr kay for his dedes / and sayd what lady that ye loue /
and she loue yow not ageyne she were gretely to blame / and
amonge ladyes said the Quene I shalle bere youre noble fa_me /
for ye spak a grete word and fulfylled it worshipfully
and therwith the quene departed / Thenne the kyng and the
thre knyghtes rode in to the forest / for there they supposed to he_re
of them that were escaped / and there he fond the most par_ty
of his peple / and told hem all how the fyue |r{ms=syue} kynges were
dede / and therfore lete vs hold vs to gyders tyll it be day / and
whan their hoost have aspyed that their chyuetayns be slayn
they wille make suche dole that they shalle not mowe helpe hem
self / and ryght so as the kynge said / so it was / for whan they
fonde the fyue kynges dede / they made suche dole that they fell
fro their horses / Ther with all cam kyng Arthur but with a fe_we
peple and slewe on the lyfte hand and on the ryght hand
that wel nyhe ther escaped no man / but alle were slayne to the
nombre of xxx M / And whan the bataille was all ended the
kynge kneled doune and thanked god mekely / and thenne
he sente for the quene and soone she was come / and she maade
grete Ioye of the ouercomynge of that bataille

 Capitulum iiij



|p123


|r[f62r]
|r<b> 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 / Then_ne
the kyng lete serche how moche people of his party ther was
slayne / And ther were founde but ly¨tel past two honderd men
slayne and viij kny¨tes 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 aduentu_re /
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 a_geyne
of the best we may fynde in this Courte / Syr said Pel_linore /
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 kny¨tes 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 lad
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 senescha |r{sic} for many tymes he hath done



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ful worshipfully / And now at your last bataille he dyd full
honourably for to vndertake to slee two kynges / By my hede
said Arthur he is best worthy to be a knyght of the rounde ta_ble
of ony that ye haue reherced / and he had done no more pro_wesse
in his lyf dayes

 Capitulum Quintum
|r<b> 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 a_ge
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 ta_ke
ony wronge / By my hede said Arthur he is a passyng go_od
knyght / as ony ye spak of this day that wote I wel sa_id
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 aly¨t
and sayd his prayers deuoutely / The meane whyle his squyer
founde wryten vpon the crosse that Bagdemagus shold ne_uer
retorne vnto the Courte ageyne / tyll he had wonne a kny¨_tes
body of the round table body for body / lo syr said his squy_er /
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 brauche of an holy herbe that was
the sygne of the Sancgraill / and no knyght founde suche to_kens
but he were a good lyuer / So as sir Bagdemagus rode



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to see many aduentures / it happed hym to come to the roche / ther
as the lady of the lake had put Merlyn vnder the stone / and
there he herde hym make grete dole / wherof syre Bagdemagus
wold haue holpen hym and wente vnto the grete stone / and
he was so heuy that an C men myght not lyfte hy¨t vp / whan
Merlyn wyste he was there he bad leue his labour / for al was
in vayne / for he myght neuer be holpen but by her that put hym
ther / and so Bagdemagus departed and dyd many auentu_res
and preued after a full good knyght / and came ageyne
to the Courte and was made knyght of the round table / So
on the morne ther felle newe tydynges and other auentures

 Capitulum Sextum
|r<b> THenne it befelle that Arthur and many of his knygh_tes
      rode on huntynge in to a grete forest / and it hap_ped
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 pas_synge
wery and enbusshed / What wille we doo said kyng ar_thur
we are hard bestad / lete vs goo on foote said kyng Vry_ens
tyl we may mete with some lodgynge / Thenne were they
ware of the herte that lay on a grete water banke / and a bra_chet
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 ly¨tel ship al apparailled with sylke
doune to the water / and the shyp cam ryghte vnto hem and la_ded
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



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|r[f63v]
cam out twelue fayr damoysels and salewed kynge Arthur
on her knees and called hym by his name / and sayd he was
ryght welcome / and suche chere as they had he shold haue of
the best / the kynge thanked hem fayre / There with all they lad
the kyng and his two felawes in to a faire chambre / and ther
was a clothe leyd rychely bysene of al that longed vnto a ta_bel /
and there were they serued of al wynes and metes that
they coude thynke / of that the kynge had grete merueille / for
he ferd neuer better in his lyf as for one souper / And so when
they had souped at her leyser / kyng Arthur was ledde vnto a
chamber / a rycher besene chamber sawe he neuer none / and soo
was kynge Vryens serued / and ledde in to suche another cha_byr /
and syr Accolon was ledde in to the thyrd chamber pas_synge
rychely and wel bysene / and so were they layde in the_ire
beddes easyly / And anone they felle on slepe / and slepte
merueillously sore all the nyght / And on the morowe kynge
Vryens was in Camelott abed in his wyues armes Morgan
le fay / And whan he awoke / he had grete merueylle / how he
cam there / for on the euen afore he was two dayes Iourney fro
Camelot / And whan kyng Arthur awoke he found hym self |r{ms=sels}
in a derke pryson herynge aboute hym many complayntes of
woful knyghtes

 Capitulum Septimum
|r<b> 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 wor_shipfully /
and is wel biloued of al peple / & this syre Damas
our maister is as euyll beloued for he is without mercy / and



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|r[f64r]
he is acoward / and grete werre hath ben betwyxe them bothe /
but Ontzlake hath euer the better / and euer he profereth syre
Damas to fyghte for the lyuelode body for body / but he wylle
not doo / other els to fynde a knyghte to fyghte for hym / Vnto
that syr Damas hath graunted to fynde a knyghte / but he is
so euyll byloued and hated / that there nys neuer a knyghte
wylle fyghte for hym / And whan Damas sawe this that ther
was neuer a knyght / wold fyghte for hym / he hath daily layn
a wayte with many knyghtes with hym / and taken alle the
knyghtes in this countrey to see and aspye her auentures / he
hath taken hem by force and broughte hem to his pryson / and
so he tooke vs seueratly as we rode on oure auentures / & many
good kny¨tes haue dyed in this pryson for hongre to the nom_bre
of xviij knyghtes / And yf ony of vs alle that here is or
hath ben wold haue foughten with his broder Ontzlake / he
wold haue delyuerd vs / but for by cause this Damas is so
fals and so ful of treason we wold neuer fyghte for hym to
dye for it / And we be soo lene for hongre that vnnethe we
may stande on oure feete / god delyuer yow for his mercy sa_yd
Arthur / Anone there with alle ther cam a damoysel vnto
Arthur / and asked hym what chere / I can not say sayd he / sir
sayd she and ye wylle fyghte for my lord ye shall be delyuerd
oute of pryson / and els ye escape neuer the lyf / Now sayd
Arthur that is hard / yet had I leuer to fyghte with a kny_ght
than to dye in pryson / With this said Arthur I may be de_lyuerd
and alle these prysoners I wylle doo the batail / yes
said the damoysel / I am redy sayd Arthur and I had hors
and armour / ye shalle lacke none said the damoysel / Me semeth
damoysel I shold haue sene yow in the Courte of Arthur /
Nay said the damoysel I cam neuer there / I am the lordes do_ughter
of this castel / yet was she fals for she was one of the
damoysels of Morgan le fay / Anone she wente vnto syr Da_mas
and told hym how he wold doo bataille for hym / and so
he sente for Arthur / And whan he cam he was wel coloured
and wel made of his lymmes / that al kny¨tes that sawe hym
said it were pyte that suche a knyghte shold dye in pryson / soo
syr Damas and he were agreed that he shold fyghte for hym
vpon this couenaut that all other knyghtes shold be delyuerd



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|r[f64v]
And vnto that was syr Damas sworne vnto Arthur / and
also to doo the bataille to the vttermest / And with that all the
xx knyghtes were brought oute of the derke pryson in to the
halle and delyuerd / and so they all abode to see the bataille

 Capitulum Octauum
|r<b> 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 sa_we
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 enchautementys /
 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 fy¨te 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 vt_termest
without ony mercy lyke as ye had promysed her wha
ye spake to gyder in pryuete / And what damoysel that bryn_geth
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 ha_ue
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 / Ry¨t so there cam a kny_ghte
and a lady with syxe squyers / and salewed Accolon /
and prayd hym for |r{ms=sor} to aryse and come and reste hym at his



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maner / and so Accolon mounted vpon a voyde hors / & wente
with the knyghte vnto a fayre maner by a pryory / and there
he had passynge good chere / Thenne sir Damas sente vnto his
broder syr Ontzelake / and badde make hym redy by to morne
at the houre of pryme / and to be in the felde to fyghte wyth a
a good knyght / for he had founden a good knyght that was re_dy
to doo bataill at all poyntes / whan this word cam vnto sir
Ontzelake / he was passyng heuy / for he was wounded a ly_tel
to fore thorow bothe his thyes with a spere / and made gre_te
dole / But as he was wounded he wold haue taken the ba_taille
on hand / Soo it happed at that tyme by the meanes of
Morgan le fay Accolon was with syr Ontzelake lodged / and
whan he herd of that bataille and how Ontzelake was wou~_ded /
he sayd that he wold fyghte for hym by cause Morgan le
fey had sente hym Excalibur and the shethe for to fy¨te with
the knyght on the morne / This was the cause syr Accolon to_ke
the bataille on hand / thenne syre Ontzelake was passynge
glad / and thaked syr Accolon with alle his herte that he wold
do so moche for hym / & ther with al syr Ontzelake sente word
vnto his broder syre Damas / that he had a kny¨te èt 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 re_dy
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 coun_trey
for to wayte vpon the two knyghtes / And ryght as Ar_thur
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 sen_deth
here your swerd for grete loue / and he thanked her / & wen_de
it had ben so / but she was fals / for the swerd and the scau_bard
was counterfeet & brutyll and fals

 Capitulum ix



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|r<b> 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 he_de /
that bothe hors and man wente to the erthe / And thenne
they sterte vp bothe / and pulled oute their swerdys / the mea_ne
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 de_med
treason that his swerd was chaunged / for his swerd
boote not styl as it was wonte to do / therfor he dredde hym so_re
to be dede / for euer hym semed that the swerd in Accolons
hand was Excalibur / for at euery stroke that Accolon stroke
he drewe blood on Arthur / Now knyghte said Accolon vnto
Arthur kepe the wel from me / but Arthur ansuerd not age_yne /
and gaf hym suche a buffet on the helme that he made hym
to stoupe nygh fallynge doune to the erthe / Thenne syr Acco_lon
withdrewe hym a ly¨tel / and cam on with Excalibur on
hyghe / and smote syr Arthur suche a buffet that he felle nyhe
to the erthe / Thenne were they wroth bothe / and gaf eche other
many sore strokes / but alweyes syr Arthur lost so moche blo_od
that it was merueille he stode on his feet / but he was soo
ful of knyghthode that knyghtly he endured the payne / And
syr Accolon lost not a dele of blood / therfor he waxt passynge
lyghte / and syr Arthur was passynge feble / and wende very_ly
to haue dyed / but for al that he made countenaunce as tho_ugh
he myghte endure / and helde Accolon as shorte as he my_ght /
But Accolon was so bolde by cause of Excalibur that he
waxed passynge hardy / But alle men that beheld hym sayd
they sawe neuer knyghte fyghte so wel as Arthur dyd consy_deryng
the blood that he bled / Soo was all the peple sory for



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rhym / but the two bretheren wold not accorde / thene alweyes
they sou¨ght to gyders as fyers knyghtes / and syre Arthur
withdrewe hym a ly¨tel for to reste hym / and syre Accolon cal_led
hym to bataille and said it is no tyme for me to suffre the
to reste / And therwith he cam fyersly vpon Arthur / and syre
Arthur was wrote for the blood that he had lost / and smote
Accolon on hyhe vpon the helme soo my¨tely that he made hym
nyhe to falle to the erthe / And therwith Arthurs swerd brast
at the crosse and felle in the grasse amonge the blood and the
pomel and the sure handels he helde in his handes / When syr a_rthur
sawe that / he was in grete fere to dye / but alweyes he hel_de
vp his shelde and lost no ground nor bated no chere /

 Capitulum x
|r<b> 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 ful |r{ms=sul} lothe to slee the / therfor yel_de
the to me as recreaunt / Nay saide syre Arthur I maye not
so / for I haue promysed to doo the bataille to the vttermest by
the feythe of my body whyle me lasteth the lyf / and therfor I
had leuer to dye with honour than to lyue with shame / And
yf it were possyble for me to dye an C tymes I had leuer to
dye so ofte / than yelde me to the / for though I lacke wepen / I
shalle lacke no worship / And yf thow slee me wepenles that
shalle be thy shame / wel sayd Accolon as for the shame I wyl
not spare / Now kepe the from me for thow arte but a dede ma
And therwith Accolon gaf hym suche a stroke that he felle ny_ghe
to the erthe / and wolde haue had Arthur to haue cryed
hym mercy / But syre Arthur pressed vnto Accolon with his
sheld / and gaf hym with the pomel in his hand suche a buf_fet
that he went thre strydes abak / whan the damoisel of the la_ke
beheld arthur / how ful of prowesse his body was & the fals
treson that was wrout for hym to haue had hym slayn she had
grete pyte that so good a kny¨t & suche a ma of worship shold
so be destroyed / And at the next stroke syr Accolon stroke hym
suche a stroke that by the damoysels enchauntement the swerd
Excalibur felle out of Accolons hande to the erthe / And
therwith alle Syre Arthur lyghtely lepte to hit / and gate hit



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in his hand / and forthwith al he knewe that it was his suerd
Excalibur / & sayd thow hast ben from me al to long / & moche
dommage hast thow done me / & ther with he aspyed the scau_bard
hangynge by his syde / and sodenly he sterte to hym and
pulled the scaubard from hym and threwe hit fro hym as fer
as he myghte throwe hit / O knyghte saide Arthur this daye
hast thow done me grete dommage with this swerd / Now are
ye come vnto your dethe / for I shalle not waraunt yow but
ye shalle as wel be rewarded with this swerde or euer we de_parte
as thow hast rewarded me / for moche payne haue ye ma_de
me to endure / and moche blood haue I lost / And therwith
syr Arthur russhed on hym with alle his myghte and pulled
hym to the erthe / and thene russhed of his helme / and gaf hym
suche a buffet on the hede that the blood cam oute at his eres /
his nose & his mouthe / Now wylle I slee the said Arthur /
Slee me ye may wel said Accolon and it please yow / for ye ar
the best knyghte that euer I fonde / and I see wel that god is
with yow / But for |r{ms=sor} I promysed to do this batail said Acco_lon
to the vttermest and neuer to be recreaunt whyle I lyued
therfore shal I neuer yelde me with my mouthe / but god doo
with my body what he wyll /  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 coutrey 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 /

 Capitulum xj
|r<b> THenne syre Accolon bethou¨te 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



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|r[f67r
rentente to slee kyng Arthur her broder / for ye shal vnderstand
kynge Arthur is the man in the world that she moost hateth
by cause he is moost of worship and of prowesse of ony of her
blood / Also she loueth me oute of mesure as paramour / and I
her ageyne / And yf she myghte brynge aboute to slee Arthur
by her craftes / she wold slee her husband kynge Vryens ly_ghtely /
And thenne hadde she me deuysed to be kyng in this
land / and soo to regne / and she to be my quene / but that is
now done saide Accolon / for I am sure of my dethe wel sayd
syre Arthur / I fele by yow ye wold haue ben kynge in this
land / It had ben grete dommage to haue destroyed your lord
sayd Arthur /it is trouth said Accolon / but now I haue told
yow trouthe / wherfore I praye yow telle me of whens ye are
and of what courte / O Accolon sayd kynge Arthur now I
lete the wete / that I am kynge Arthur to whome thow haste
done grete dommage / Whanne Accolon herd that / he cryed on
lowde fayre swete lord haue mercy on me / for I knewe not
yow / O syr Accolon sayd kynge Arthur mercy shalt thow
haue / by cause I fele by thy wordes at this tyme / thow kno_west
not my persone / But I vnderstand wel by thy wordes
that thow hast agreed to the dethe of my persone / and therfore
thow arte a traytour / but I wyte the the lasse / for my syster
Morgan le fay by her fals craftes made the to agree and con_sente
to her fals lustes / but I shalle be sore auengyd vpon
her and I lyue that alle Crystendome shalle speke of it / god
knoweth / I haue honoured her and worshipped her more than
alle my kynne / and more haue I trusted her than myn owne
wyf and alle my kynne after /
 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 thene 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



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worship in the world / for it is hym self kynge Arthur our al
ther liege lord & with myshap and with mysaueture have I do_ne
this bataill with the kyng and lord that I am holden with
all

 Capitulum xij
|r<b> THenne alle the peple felle doune on her knees and cry_ed
      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 ly¨tel 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 orgu_lous
knyghte and full of vylony and not worthe of prowesse
of youre dedes / therfor I wylle that ye gyue vnto your bro_der
alle the hole manoir with the appertenauce vnder thys for_me /
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 kny¨_tes
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
cometo 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
ourte 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 Ontze_lake
as god wold as I was hurte but late with an aduen_tures
knyght thurgh both my thyes that greued me sore / & els



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|r[f68r]
had I done this bataille with yow / god wold sayd Arthur
it had ben so / for thenne had not I ben hurte as I am / I
shalle telle you the cause why / for I had not ben hurte as I
am hadde not ben myne owne swerd / that was stolen from
me by treason / And this bataille was ordeyned afore hand to
haue slayne me / and so it was brou¨te to the purpos by fals
treason and by fals enchauntement / Allas said syr Ontzela_ke
that is greete pyte that euer soo noble a man as ye are of
your dedes and prowesse / that ony man or woman my¨t fyn_de
in their hertes to worche ony treason ageynst yow / I shalle
reward them said Arthur in short tyme by the grace of god
Now telle me said Arthur how fer am I from Camelot / syr ye
are two dayes iourney ther fro / I wold fayn be at some pla_ce
of worship said syr Arthur that I myghte reste me / Syre
said syr Ontzelake / here by is a ryche abbey of your elders fou_dacyon
of Nonnes but thre myle hens / So the kynge took his
leue of alle the peple / and mounted vpon horsbak / and sir Ac_colon
with hym / And whan they were come to the Abbaye / he
lete fetche leches and serche his woundes and Accolons bothe /
but syr Accolon dyed within four dayes / for he had bled soo
moche blood that he myghte not lyue / but kyng Arthur was
wel recouerd / Soo whan Accolon was dede / he lete sende hym
on a horsbere with syxe knyghtes vnto Camelot / and said / be_re
hym to my syster Morgan le fay / and say that I sende her
hym to a presente / and telle her I haue my swerd Excalibur
and the scaubard / soo they departed with the body

 Capitulum xiij
|r<b> 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 / Thene the damoisel departed



|p136

|r[f68v]
fonde syre Vwayne slepynge vpon a bedde in another chamber
soo she wente vnto sire Vwayne and awaked hym / and badde
hym aryse and wayte on my lady youre moder / for she wille
slee the kynge your fader slepynge in his bedde / for I goo to
fetche his swerd / wel said syr Vwayne go on your waye / and
lete me dele / Anone the damoysel brought Morgan the swerd
with quakynge handes / and lyghtely took the swerd / & pul_led
it out / and wente boldely vnto the beddes syde / and away_ted
how and where she myght sle hym best / And as she lyfte
vp the swerd to smy¨te / sir Vwayne lepte vnto his moder and
caughte her by the hand and sayd A fende what wilt thow do
And thow were not my moder with this swerd I shold smy_te
of thy hede / A sayd syr Vwayn men saith that Merlyn was
begoten of a deuylle / but I may saye an erthely deuylle bare
me / O fayre sone Vwayne haue mercy vpon me / I was temp_ted
with a deuylle / wherfore I crye the mercy / I wylle neuer
more doo soo and saue my worship and discouer me not / On
this couenaunt said syr Vwayne I wille forgyue it yow / soo
ye wille neuer be aboute to doo suche dedes / Nay sone said she / &
that I make yow assuraunce /

 Capitulum xiiij
|r<b> THenne came tydynges vnto Morgan le fay that Ac_colon
      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 counte_ce
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



|p137


|r[f69r]
whanne ye wille / Soo erly on the morne or hit was daye she
tooke her hors and rode alle that daye and mooste parte of the
nyghte / And on the morn by none she cam to the same Abbay
of Nonnes / where as lay kyng arthur / & she knowyng he was
there she asked where he was / And they ansuerd how he had
leyd hym in his bed to slepe / for he had had but ly¨tel reste these
thre nyghtes / Wel said she I charge yow that none of yow
awake hym tyl I doo / and thenne she alyghte of her hors / &
thoughte for to stele awey Excalibur his swerd / and soo she
wente streyghte vnto his chamber / And noo man durste dys_obeye
her commaundement / and there she fond Arthur a slepe
in his bedde and Excalibur in his ryght hand naked / Whan
she sawe that she was passynge heuy that she myghte not co_me
by the swerd withou¨te she had awaked hym / and thenne
she wyst wel she had ben dede / Thenne she tooke the scaubard
and wente her wey on horsbak / whan the kynge awoke and
myssed his scaubard / he was wrothe / and he asked who had
ben there / and they said his syster quene Morgan had ben ther
and had put the scaubard vnder her mantel and was gone /
Allas sayd Arthur falsly ye haue watched me / Syre sayd
they alle we durste not disobeye your systers commaundement
A said the kynge lete fetche the best hors maye be founde / And
byd syre Ontzlake arme hym in al hast / and take another go_od
hors and ryde with me / Soo anone the kynge and Ontze_lake
were wel armed / and rode after this lady / and soo they
cam by a crosse and found a Cowherd / and they asked the
poure man yf ther cam ony lady rydynge that way / Syre
said this poure man / ryght late cam a lady rydynge with a xl
horses / and to yonder forest she rode / Thenne they spored theire
horses / and folowed fast / And within a whyle Arthur had
a syghte of Morgan le fay / thenne he chaced as fast as he my_ghte /
whanne she aspyed hym folowynge her / she rode a gretter
paas thorowe the forest tyl she cam to a playne / And whanne
she sawe she myghte not escape she rode vnto a lake ther by / &
sayd what soo euer come of me / my broder shall not haue this
scaubard / And thenne she lete throwe the scauberd in the de_pest
of the water soo it sanke / for it was heuy of gold and pre_cious
stones  Thenne she rode in to a valeye



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|r[f69v]
where many grete stones were / And whan she sawe she muste
be ouertake she shope her self hors and man by enchaunteme{~}t
vnto a grete marbyl stone / Anone with al cam Syr Arthur /
and syr Ontzelake where as the kynge myght knowe his sys_ter
and her men / and one knyght from another / A sayd the
kynge here may ye see the vengeaunce of god / & now am I
sory that this mysauenture is befalle / & thenne he loked for the
scaubard / but it wold not be founde / so he retorned to the Ab_beye
there he came fro / So whan Arthur was gone / she torned
alle in to the lykenesse as she and they were before / and sa_yd
syrs now may we goo where we wylle /

capitulum xv
THenne said Morgan sawe ye Arthur my broder / ye sa_id
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 kny¨t on his hors before hym boun_de
hand and foote blyndefeld to haue drouned hym in a fon_tayne
/ whan she sawe this kny¨t so boude / 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 kny¨t is it trouthe èt he sa_ith
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 Acco_lon
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 kny_ght
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



|p139


|r[f70r]
and them that ben with me in lykenes of stones / And lete
hym wete I can doo more whan I see my tyme / And
so she departed in to the countrey of Gorre / and there was she
rychely receyued / and maade her castels and townes passynge
stronge / for alweyes she drad moche kynge Arthur / Whanne
the kynge had wel rested hym at the Abbey he rode vnto Ca_melot /
and fonde his quene and his barons ryght glad of his
comynge / And whan they herd of his straunge auentures as
is afore reherced / they alle hadde merueille of  the falshede of
Morgan le fay / many knyghtes wysshed her brent / thenne cam
Manessen to courte and told the kyng of his auenture / well
said the kynge she is a kynde syster / I shalle soo be auengid
on her and I lyue / that alle Crystendome shalle speke of hit /
So on the morne ther cam a damoisel from Morgan to the ky_nge
and she brought with her the rychest mantel that euer was
sene in that Courte / for it was sette as ful of precious stones
as one myght stand by another / and there were the rychest sto_nes
that euer the kynge sawe / And the damoysel saide youre
syster sendeth yow this mantel / and desyreth that ye shold ta_ke
this gyfte of her / And in what thyng she hath offended you
she wille amende it at youre owne pleasyr / whan the kyng be_held
this mantel it pleasyd hym moche / but he said but ly¨tel

capitulum xvj
|r<b> 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 wy_se
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 ky_nge
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 vp_on
her / And forth with al she felle doune dede / and neuer more



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|r[f70v]
spake word after and brente to coles / Thenne was the kyng
wonderly wrothe more than he was to fore hand / and sayd
vnto kynge Vryens my syster your wyf is alwey aboute to
bytraye me / and wel I wote outher ye or my neuewe youre
sone is of counceille with her to haue me destroyed / But as for
yow said the kyng to kynge Vryens I deme not gretely that
ye be of her counceill / For Accolon confessyd to me by his own
mouth that she wold haue destroyed yow as wel as me ther
for I hold yow excused / But as for your sone Syr Vwa_yn
I hold hym suspect / therfore I charge yow put hym oute
of my courte / So syr Vwayne was discharged / And whanne
Syr Gawayne wyst that he made hym redy to go with hym / &
said who so bannyssheth my cosyn germayn / shal bannysshe me
Soo they two departed / and rode in to a grete forest / and soo
they came to an Abbay of Monkes / and ther were wel lodged
But whanne the kynge wyst that syr Gawayne was depar_ted
from the Courte / ther was made grete sorowe amonge alle
the estates / Now sayd Gaherys Gawayns broder we haue lost
two good knyghtes for the loue of one / So on the morne they
herd their masses in the abbay / and so they rode forth tyl that
they came to a grete forest / thenne was syr Gawayne ware in
a valey by a turret xij fayre damoysels / and two knyghtes ar_med
on grete horses / and the damoysels wente to and fro by a
tree / And thenne was syr Gawayne ware how ther henge a
whyte shelde on that tree / And euer as the damoysels cam by
it / they spytte vpon it / and some threwe myre vpon the sheld /

 Capitulum xvij
|r<b> THenne syr Gawayne and syr Vwayne wente and sa_lewed
      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 coutrey 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 des_pyte
to the shelde / I shall say yow said syr gawayne / hit byse_meth
euylle a good knyghte to despyse all ladyes and gentil
wymmen / And parauentur though he hate yow he hath somme



|p141


|r[f71r]
And parauenture he loueth in somme other places ladyes and
gentylwymmen / and to be loued ageyne / and he be suche a ma{~}
of prowesse as ye speke of / Now what is his name / syr sayd
they / his name is Marhaus the kynges sone of Irelond I
knowe hym wel sayd syre Vwayne / he is a passynge good
knyght as ony is on lyue / for I sawe hym ones preued at a
Iustes where many knyghtes were gadered / and that tyme
ther myghte no man withstande hym / A sayd syr Gawayne
Damoysels me thynketh ye are to blame / for hit is to suppose /
he that henge that sheld ther / he wille not be longe ther fro / &
thenne may tho knyghtes matche hym on horsbak / and that
is more your worship than thus / For I wille abyde no len_ger
to see a knyghtes sheld dishonoured / And therwith syre
Vwayne and Gawayne departed a ly¨tel fro them / And then_ne
were they ware where syre Marhaus cam rydynge on a gre_te
hors streyghte toward them / And whanne the xij damoy_sels
sawe syr Marhaus they fled in to the turret as they we_re
wylde so that somme of them felle by the wey / Thenne the
one of the knyghtes of the Toure dressid his shelde and said
on hyghe syr Marhaus defende the / and soo they ranne to gy_ders
that the kny¨t brake his spere on Marhaus / & Mar_haus
smote hym so hard that he brake his neck and the hors back /
That sawe the other knyght of the turret and dressyd hym to_ward
Marhaus / and they mette so egrely to gyders that the
knyght of the Turret was soone smy¨ten doune hors and man
stark dede /

 Capitulum xviij
|r<b> ANd thenne syre Marhaus rode vnto his shelde / and sa_we
      how it was defowled / and sayd of this despyte I
am a parte auengyd / But for her loue that gaf me this why_te
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



|p142


|r[f71v]
aduenture that ye wylle desyre / And soo departed fro them /
to fetche his raunge / lete hym goo seid syr Vwayn vnto syre
Gawayne / for he is a passynge good knyghte as ony is ly_uynge /
I wold not by my wille that ony of vs were matched
with hym / Nay said sir Gawayne not so / it were shame to vs
were he not assayed were he neuer soo good a knyghte / wel
said syr Vwayne I wylle assaye hym afore yow / for I am
more weyker than ye / And yf he smy¨te me doune / thenne may
ye reuenge me / soo these two knyghtes cam to gyders with gre_te
raundon that syr Vwayne smote syr Marhaus that his spe_re
braste in pyeces on the shelde / and Syre Marhaus smote
hym so sore that hors and man he bare to the erthe / and hurte
syre Vwayne on the lyfte syde / Thenne syr Marhaus torned
his hors and rode toward Gawayne with his spere / and when
syr Gawayne sawe that / he dressid his sheld / and they auen_tryd
their speres / and they cam to gyders with alle the my¨te
of their horses / that eyther knyght smote other so hard in myd_des
of theyr sheldes / but syr Gawayns spere brak / but sir mar_haus
spere helde / And therwith syre Gawayne and his hors
russhed doune to the erthe / And lyghtly syre Gawayne rose on
his feet / and pulled out his swerd / and dressyd hym toward
syr Marhaus on foote / and syr marhaus sawe that / and pul_led
oute his fwerd / and beganne to come to syr Gawayne on
horsbak / Syre knyght said syr gawayn aly¨te on foote or els
I wylle slee thy hors / gramercy sayd syr Marhaus of youre
gentylnes ye teche me curtosye / for hit is not for one  kny¨t to
be on foote / and the other on horsbak / & therwith syr Mar_haus
sette his spere ageyne a tree and alyghte and tayed his
hors to a tree / and dressid his shelde / and eyther cam vnto o_ther
egerly / and smote to gyders with her swerdes that her shel_des
flewe in cantels / and they brysed their helmes and their
hauberkes and wounded eyther other / but Syre gawayne fro
it passed ix of the clok waxed euer stronger and stronger /
for thenne hit cam to the houre of noone & thryes his myghte
was encreaced / Alle this aspyed syr Marhaus and had grete
wonder how his myghte encreaced / and so they wounded other
passynge sore / And thenne whan it was past noone / and whan
it drewe toward euensonge syre gawayns strengthe febled &



|p143


|r[f72r]
waxt passynge faynte that vnnethes he myght dure ony len_ger /
and syr Marhaus was thenne bygger and bygger / syre
knyght said syr Marhaus / I haue wel felt that ye are a pas_synge
good knyghte and a merueyllous man of myghte as
euer I felt ony / whyle hit lasteth / And oure quarels are not
grete / and therfor it were pyte to doo yow hurte / for I fele ye
are passynge feble / A said syr Gawayn gentyl knyghte ye say
the word that I shold say / And therwith they took of theire
helmes / and eyther kyssed other / and there they swore to gy_ders
eyther to loue other as bretheren / And syr Marhaus pra_yd
syr gawayn to lodge with hym that nyghte / And so they
toke theyr horses / and rode toward syr Marhaus hous / And
as they rode by the wey / syr knyghte said syr gawayne I ha_ue
merueylle that so valyaunt a man as ye be loue no ladyes
ne damoysels / Syre sayd syr marhaus they name me wrong_fully
tho that gyue me that name / but wel I wote it ben the
damoyseles of the Turret that so name me and other suche as
they be / Now shalle I telle yow for what cause I hate them /
For they be sorceresses and enchaunters many of them / & be a
kny¨t neuer so good of his body and ful of prowesse as man
may be / they wille make hym a stark coward to haue the bet_ter
of hym / and this is the pryncipal cause that I hate them
& to al good ladyes and gentyl wymmen I owe my ser_uyse
as a knyght ou¨te to do / As the book reherceth in frensshe
ther were many knyghtes that ouermatched syr gawayne for
alle the thryes myghte that he had / Syr Launcelot de lake / syr
Trystrams / syr Bors de ganys / syr Percyuale / syr Pellias &
syr Marhaus / these sixe kny¨tes had the better of sir gawayn
Thenne within a ly¨tel whyle they cam to syr Marhaus place /
whiche was in a ly¨tel pryory / and there they alyghte and la_dyes
and damoysels vnarmed them / and hastely loked to the_yr
hurtes / for they were all thre hurte / and so they had all thre
good lodgynge with syr Marhaus and good chere / for whan
he wyst that they were kynge Arthurs syster sones / he maade
them al the chere that lay in his power / and so they soiourned
there a vij nyghte / and were wel easyd of their woundes and
at the last departed / Now said syre Marhaus we wylle not
departe soo ly¨tely / for I wylle brynge you thorow the forest



|p144


|r[f72v]
And rode daye by day wel a seuen dayes or they fond ony a_uenture /
At the last they cam in to a grete forest that was na_med
the countreye and foreste of |r{ms=os} Arroy and the countrey of straunge
auentures / In this countrey sayd syr Marhaus cam
neuer knyghte syn it was crystened / but he fonde straunge
auentures / and soo they rode / and cam in to a depe valey ful
of stones / and ther by they sawe a fayr streme of water / abo_ue
ther by was the hede of the streme a fayr fontayne / & thre
damoysels syttynge therby / And thenne they rode to them / and
eyther salewed other / and the eldest had a garland of gold
aboute her hede / and she was thre score wynter of age / or more
and her here was whyte vnder the garland / The second da_moysel
was of thyrtty wynter of age with a serkelet of gold
aboute her hede / The thyrd damoysel was but xv yere of age /
and a garland of floures aboute her hede / when these knygh_tes
had soo beholde them / they asked hem the cause why they
sat at that fontayne / we be here sayd the damoysels for |r{ms=sor} thys
cause / yf we may see ony erraunt knyghtes to teche hem vnto
straunge auentures / and ye be thre knyghtes that seken auen_tures
and we be thre damoysels / and therfore eche one of yow
must chese one of vs / And whan ye haue done soo / we wylle
lede yow vnto thre hyhe wayes / and there eche of yow shal che_se
a wey and his damoysel with hym / And this day twelue
monethe ye must mete here ageyn / and god sende yow your ly_ues /
and there to ye must ply¨te your trouthe / this is wel sa_id
sayd syr Marhaus

 Capitulum xx
|r<b> 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 / therfor |r{ms=thersor} I wyl haue the eldest da_moysel /
for she hath sene moche and can best helpe me whan I
haue nede / for I haue moost nede of helpe of yow bothe / Now
said syr Marhaus I wyll haue the damoysel of thyrtty wyn_ter
age for she falleth best to me / wel sayd syre gawayne / I
thanke yow for ye haue lefte me the yongest and the fayrest /
and she is moost leuest to me / Thenne euery damoysel tooke her



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|r[f73r]
knyght by the raynes of his brydel / and broughte him to the
thre wayes / and there was their othe made to mete at the fon_tayne
that day twelue moneth and they were lyuynge / and
soo they kyst and departed / and eueryche knyghte sette his la_dy
behynd hym / and syr Vwayne took the wey that lay west
And syr Marhaus took the wey that lay southe / and syr ga_wayne
took the weye that laye northe / Now wylle we begyn_ne
at syr gawayne that helde that wey tyll that he cam vnto a
fayre manoir where dwellyd an old knyghte & a good hous_holder /
and there syr Gawayn asked the knyght yf he knewe
ony auentures in that countrey / I shalle shewe yow somme
to morne sayd the old knyghte / and that merueyllous / Soo  on
the morne they rode in to the forest of aduentures tyl they cam
to a launde / and ther by they fond a crosse / and as they sto_de
and houed / ther cam by them the fayrest knyght and the se_melyest
man that euer they sawe / makynge the grettest dole
that euer man made / And thenne he was ware of syr gawa_yn
and salewed hym and praid god to sende hym moche wor_ship /
As to that said syr gawayn gramercy / Also I praye to
god that he send yow honour and worship / A said the kny_ghte
I may laye that on syde / for sorowe and shame cometh
to me after worship /

 Capitulum xxj
|r<b> ANd ther with he passed vnto the one syde of the laun_de /
      And on the other syde sawe syr Gawayne & kny¨_tes
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 kny¨t serued hem al / that at the lest way he smo_te
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 kny_ght /
and he stode stone styll / and suffred hem to pulle hym dou_ne
of his hors / and bound hym hande and foote / and tayed
hym vnder the hors bely / and so ledde hym with hem / O Ihesu



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sayd syr gawayne this is a dooleful syghte / to see the yonder
knyghte so to be entreted / and it semeth by the knyght that he
suffreth hem to bynde hym soo / for he maketh no resystence / Noo
said his hoost that is trouthe / for and he wold they al were to
weyke soo to doo hym / Syr said the damoyfel vnto syr Gawa_yn /
me semeth hit were your worship to helpe that dolorous
knyghte / for me thynketh he is one of the best knyghtes that
euer I sawe / I wold doo for hym sayd syre gawayn but hit
semeth he wylle haue no helpe / thenne sayd the damoysel me
thynketh ye haue no luste to helpe hym / Thus as they talked
they sawe a kny¨te on the other syde of the launde al armed
sauf the hede / And on the other syde ther cam a dwerf on hors_bak
all armed sauf the hede with a grete mouthe / and a  shorte
nose / And whan the dwerf came nyghe he said where is the la_dy
shold mete vs here / and ther with all she came forth out of
the wood / And thenne they began to stryue for the lady / For
the knyghte sayd he wold haue her / & the dwerf said he wold
haue her / Wylle we doo wel sayd the dwerf / yonder is a kny_ht
at the crosse / lete vs put it bothe vpon hym / and as he de_meth
so shalle it be / I wylle wel said the knyght / and so they
wente all thre vnto syre gawayn and told hym wherfor they
strofe / wel syrs said he wylle ye put the mater in my hand / ye
they sayd both / Now damoysel sayd syr gawayn ye shal stande
betwixe them both / and whether ye lyst better to go to / he shal
haue yow / And whan she was sette bitwene them both she left
the knyghte and wente to the dwerf / and the dwerf took her
and wente his waye syngynge / and the knyghte wente hys
wey with grete mornyng / Thenne cam ther two knyghtes all
armed and cryed on hyghe Syre gawayn / knyghte of kynge
Arthurs make the redy in al hast and Iuste with me / soo they
ranne to gyders that eyther felle doune / and thenne on foote
they drewe their swerdes and dyd ful actually / the mene why_le
the other knyghte wente to the damoysel / and asked her /
why she abode with that knyghte / and yf ye wold abyde with
me / I wylle be your feythful knyghte and with yow wylle
I be said the damoysel / for with syr Gawayn I may not fyn_de
in myn herte to be with hym / For now here was one kny¨t
scomfyte x knyghtes / And at the laste he was cowardly led



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awey / and therfore lete vs two goo whylest they fyghte / and
syre Gawayne fought with that other knyght longe / but at the
last they accorded both / And thenne the knyght prayd syr ga_wayn
to lodge with hym that nyghte / Soo as syre Gawayn wente with this knyghte he asked hym what knyghte is he in
this countrey that smote doune the ten knyghtes / for whan he
had done so manfully he suffred hem to bynde hym hand and
foote / and soo ledde hym away / A sayd the knyghte that is the
best knyght I trowe in the world / and the moost man of pro_wesse /
and he hath be serued soo as he was ene more than x
tymes / and his name hyghte syr Pelleas / and he loueth a gre_te
lady in this countrey and her name is Ettard / and so when
he loued her there was cryed in this country a greete Iustes
thre dayes / And alle the knyghtes of this countrey were there
and gentylwymmen / And who that preued hym the best kny_ght
shold haue a passyng good swerd and a Serklet of gold
and the serklet the knyght shold gyue hit to the fayrest lady
that was at the Iustes / And this knyghte syre Pelleas  was
the best knyghte that was there / and there were fyue honderd
knyghtes / but there was neuer man that euer syre Pelleas
met with al / but he stroke hym doune or els from his hors /
And euery day of thre dayes he strake doune twenty knygh_tes
/ therfore they gaf hym the pryse / & forthe with all he wente
there as the lady Ettard was / and gaf her the serklet  / & said
openly / she was the fayrest lady that ther was / & that wold
he preue vpon ony knyghte that wold say nay /   Ca xxij
|r<b> ANd soo he chose her for his souerayne lady / & neuer to
oue other but her / but she was so proude that she had
scorne ef hym and sayd that she wold neuer loue hym
thou he wold dye for her / wherfor al ladyes and gentylwym_men
hadde scorne of her that she was so proude / for there were
fayrer than she / & ther was none that was ther but & sir Pel_leas
wold haue proferd hem loue they wold haue loued hym
for his noble prowesse / & so this kny¨t promysed the lady et_tard
to folowe her in to this coutrey / & neuer to leue her tyl she
loued hym / & thus he is here the moost party nyghe her and lod_ged
by a pryory / and euery weke she sendeth knyghtes to fy¨te
with hym / And whan he hath put hem to the wers than wylle



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he suffre hem wylfully to take hym prysoner by cause he wold
haue a syghte of this lady / And alweyes she doth hym grete
despyte / for some tyme she maketh her knyghtes to taye hym to
his hors taylle and some to bynd hym vnder the hors bely
Thus in the moost shamefullest wyse that she can thynke he is
broughte to her / And alle she doth hy¨t for to cause hym to leue
this countreye and to leue his louynge / But all this can not
make hym to leue / for and he wold haue foughte on foote
he myghte haue had the better of the ten knyghtes as wel on
foote as on horsbak / Allas sayd syr gawayn it is grete pyte
of hym / And after this nyghte I wylle seke hym to morowe
in this forest to doo hym alle the helpe I can / So on the mor_ne
syr gawayne tooke his leue of his hoost syre Carados and
rode in to the forest / And at the last he mette with syr Pelle_as
makyng grete moone oute of mesure / so eche of hem salewed
other / and asked hym why he made suche sorowe / And as it
is aboue reherced / syre Pelleas told syre Gawayne / but alwey_es
I suffre her knyghtes to fare soo with me as ye sawe yes_terdaye
in truste at the last to wynne her loue / for she knoweth
wel alle her knyghtes shold not lyghtely wynne me / and
me lyste to fyghte with them to the vttermest / Wherfore and
I loued her not so sore I hadde leuer dye an honderd tymes /
and I myght dye soo ofte rather than I wold suffre that des_pyte /
but I truste she wylle haue pyte vpon me at the laste /
for loue causeth many a good knyght to suffre to haue his en_tent /
but allas I am vnfortunate / And ther with he maade soo
grete dole & sorowe that vnnethe he myghte holde hym on hors_back
 Now sayd syre gawayne leue your mor_nynge
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 yo_ur
lady / and ther to I wylle ply¨te 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 co_urte
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 lo_ued
lady nor damoysel tyl now in an vnhappy tyme / and syr



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knyghte syn ye are soo nyghe cosyn vnto kynge Arthur and
a kynges sone / therfor bytraye me not but helpe me / for I may
neuer come by her but by somme good knyghte / for she is in a
stronge castel here fast by within this four myle / and ouer all
this countrey she is lady of / And so I may neuer come to her
presence / but as I suffre her knyghtes to take me / and but yf I
dyd so that I myghte haue a syghte of her I had ben dede long
or this tyme / and yet fayre word had I neuer of her / but wha{~}
I am brought to fore her she rebuketh me in the fowlest ma_ner /
And thenne they take my hors and harneis and putten
me oute of the yates / and she wylle not suffre me to ete nor
drynke / and alweyes I offre me to be her prysoner / but that
she wylle not suffre me / for I wold desyre no more what pay_nes
so euer I had / soo that I my¨te haue a syghte of her day_ly
/ wel sayd syr gawayne / Al this shalle I amende and ye
wylle do as I shal deuyse / I wylle haue your hors and yo_ur
armour / and so wylle I ryde vnto her castel and telle her
that I haue slayne yow / and soo shal I come withynne her
to cause her to cherysshe me / And thenne shalle I do my true
parte that ye shalle not faylle to haue the loue of |r{ms=os} her

capitulum xxiij
|r<b> ANd there with syr Gawayne plyghte his trouthe vn_to
      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 withou¨te
the yate / And as soone as Ettard had aspyed syr Gawayn
she fledde |r{ms=sledde} in toward the castel / syr Gawayn spak on hyghe /
and badde her abyde / for he was not syre Pelleas / I am ano_ther
knyghte that haue slayne syr Pelleas / doo of youre hel_me
said the lady Ettard that I maye see your vysage / And
soo whan she sawe that it was not syr Pelleas / she made hym
alyghte / and ledde hym vnto her castel / and asked hym feyth_fully /
whether he had slayne syr Pelleas / and he sayd her ye /
and told her his name was syre gawayn of the courte of ky_nge
Arthur and his syster sone / Truly sayd she that is grete
pyte for he was a passynge good knyghte of his body / but



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of al men on lyue I hated hym moost / for I coude neuer be
quyte of hym / And for ye haue slayne hym / I shalle be your
woman and to doo ony thynge that myghte please yow / Soo
she made syr Gawayne good chere / Thenne syr gawayn sayd
that he loued a lady / and by no meane she wold loue hym /
She is to blame sayd Ettard and she wylle not loue yow /
for ye that be soo wel borne a man and suche a man of pro_wesse /
there is no lady in the world to good for yow / wylle
ye sayd syre Gawayne promyse me to doo alle that ye maye
by the feythe of youre body to gete me the loue of my lady / ye
syre sayd she / and that I promyse yow by the feythe of my
body / Now sayd syre Gawayne it is your self that I loue so
wel / therfore I praye yow hold your promyse / I maye not
chese sayd the lady Ettard / but yf I shold be forsworne / and
soo she graunted hym to fulfylle alle his desyre /
 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 pauel_ione
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 pauel_ione
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 moun_ted
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 kny¨t
shold be founde so fals / and thene he took his hors & my¨t not
abyde no lenger for pure sorowe / And whanne he hadde ryden



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nyghe half a myle he torned ageyne and thoughte to slee hem
bothe / And whanne he sawe hem bothe soo lye slepynge faste /
vnnethe he myght holde hym on horsbak for sorowe / and sayd
then to hym self / though this knyght be neuer soo fals |r{ms=sals} I wyl
neuer slee hym slepynge / For I wylle neuer destroye the hy_gh
ordre of knyghthode / and therwith he departed ageyne
And or he hadde ryden half a myle he retorned ageyne / and
thoughte thenne to slee hem bothe / makynge the grettest sorou
that euer man made / And whanne he came to the pauelions /
he tayed his hors vnto a tree / and pulled oute his swerd na_ked
in his hand / and wente to them there as they lay / and
yet he thought it were shame to slee them slepynge / and layd
the naked swerd ouerthwart bothe their throtes / and soo to_oke
his hors and rode his awaye
 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 la_dyes
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



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lorde was bitrayed thurgh a knyghte and a lady / and how
he wyll neuer aryse oute of his bed tyl he be dede / Brynge me
to hym sayd she anone / and I wyl waraunt his lyf he shal
not dye for loue / and she that hath caused hym so to loue / she
shalle be in as euyl ply¨te as he is or it be long to / for it is no
Ioy of suche a prowde lady that wylle haue no mercy of suche
a valyaunt knyght / anone that kny¨te broughte her vnto hym
And whan she sawe hym lye in his bedde / she thoughte she sa_we
neuer so lykely a knyght / and ther with she threwe an en_chauntement
vpon hym / and he felle on slepe / And ther why_le
she rode vnto the lady Ettard / and charged no man to a_wake
hym tyl she came ageyne / Soo within two houres she
broughte the lady Ettard thydder / and both ladyes fonde hym
on slepe / loo sayd the damoysel of the lake ye oughte to be asha_med
for to murdre suche a knyght / And therwith she threwe
suche an enchauntement vpon her that she loued hym sore / that
wel nyghe she was oute of her mynde / O lord Ihefu saide the
lady Ettard / how is it befallen vnto me / that I loue now hym
that I haue moost hated of ony man alyue / that is the ryght
wys Iugement of god sayd the damoysel / And thenne anone
syr Pelleas awaked and loked vpon Ettard / And whan he
sawe her / he knewe her / & thene he hated her more than ony wo_man
alyue / and said awey traitresse come neuer in my sy¨t
And whan she herd hym say so / she wepte and made grete so_rou
oute of mesure

 Capitulum xxiiij
|r<b> SYre knyghht Pelleas sayd the damoysel of the lake / ta_ke
      your hors / and come forthe with me oute of this co_untrey /
and ye shal loue a lady that shal loue yow / I wylle
wel said syr Pelleas / for this lady Ettard hath done me gre_te
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



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anone syre Pellas armed hym and tooke his hors and com_maunded
his men to brynge after his pauelions and his
stuffe where the damoysel of the lake wold assigne / soo the la_dy
Ettard dyed for sorowe / and the damoysel of the lake re_ioysed
syr Pellas and loued to gyders durynge their lyf da_yes

 Capitulum xxv
|r<b> NOw torne we vnto syr Marhaus that rode with the da_moysel
      of xxx wynter of age southard / and soo they
cam in to a depe forest / and by fortune they were ny¨_ted /
and rode longe in a depe way / and at the last they came
vnto the courtelage / and there they asked herborow / but the ma{~}
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 brou¨t
hym a knyght erraunt and a damoysel that wold be lodged
with hym / lete hym in said the lord / it may happen he shalle re_pente
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 go_odely
men about hym / thene this lord asked hym what he hy_ghte /
and fro whens he cam / and with whome he dwelt / syre
he said I am a knyghte of kynge Arthurs |r{ms=Nrthurs} and knyght of the
table round / and my name is syre Marhaus / and borne I
am in Irland / And thenne sayd the duke to hym / that me
sore repenteth / the cause is this / for I loue not thy lord / nor



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none of thy felawes of the table round / And therfor ease thy
self this nyghte as wel as thow mayst / for as to morne I &
my sixe sonnes shal matche with yow / Is ther no remedy but
that I must haue a doo with yow and your vj sones at ones
sayd syr Marhaus / No sayd the duke for this cause I maade
myn auowe / for syr gawayne slewe my seuen sonnes in a re_counter /
therfore I made myn auowe / there shold neuer kny¨t
of kynge Arthurs court lodge with me or come there as I my_ght
haue adoo with hym / but that I wold haue a reuengyng
of my sonnes dethe / what is your name said syr Marhaus I
requyre yow telle me and it please yow / wete thow wel I am
the duke of south marchys / A sayd sir Marhaus I haue herd
saye that ye haue ben longe tyme a grete soo vnto my lord ar_thur
and to this knyghtes / that shalle ye fele to morne said the
duke / Shalle I haue adoo with yow sayd syr Marhaus / ye
sayd the duke / therof shalt thow not chese / and therfore take
yow to your chambre and ye shalle haue all that to yow lon_geth /
So syr Marhaus departed and was led to a chamber /
and his damoysel was led vnto her chamber / And on the morn
the duke sente vnto syre Marhaus and bad make hym redy /
And so syr Marhaus arose and armed hym / and thenne ther
was a masse songe afore hym and brake his fast / and so mou{~}_ted
on horsback in the courte of the castel there they shold doo
the batail / So ther was the duke al redy on horsbak clene ar_med
and his syxe sonnes by hym / and eueryche had a spere
in his hand / and soo they encountred where as the duke and
his two sones brak theyr speres vpon hym / but sir Marhaus
helde vp his spere and touched none of them /

 Capitulum xxvj
|r<b> 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 mar_haus
. 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



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yelde hym or els he wold slee hym / And thenne some of his
sones recouerd / and wold haue set vpon syr Marhaus / then_ne
syr Marhaus sayd to the duke seace thy sones or els I will
doo the vttermest to yow all / Thenne the duke sawe he myghte
not escape the deth he cryed to his sones and charged them to
yelde them to syr Marhaus / And they kneled al doune / and
put the pomels of theire swerdes to the knyght / and soo he re_ceyued
them / And thenne they halp vp their fader / and soo
by their comynal assente promysed to syr Marhaus neuer to be
foes vnto kynge Arthur / and therupon at whytsontyde after
to come he and his sones and putte them in the kynges grace
Thenne syr Marhaus departed and within two dayes his da_moysel
brought hym where as was a grete tornement that the lady de
Vawse has cryed / And who that dyd best shold ha_ue
a ryche serklet of gold worthe a thousand besauntes / And
there syr Marhaus dyd so nobly that he was renomed / & had
somtyme doune fourty knyghtes / and soo the serklet of gold
was rewarded hym / Thenne he departed fro them with grete
worship / And soo within seuen nyghtes his damoysel brought
hym to an erles place / his name was the erle Fergus / that af_ter
was syre Trystrams knyghte / and this Erle was but a
yonge man / and late come in to his landes / and there was a
gyant fast by hym that hy¨te Taulurd / and he had another
broder in Cornewaille that hyghte Taulas that syr Trystram
slewe whanne he was oute of hys mynde / So this Erle maade
his complaynte vnto syre Marhaus that there was a gyaunt
by hym that destroyed al his londes / & how he durst nowhere
ryde nor goo for hym / Syr sayd the knyghte whether vseth he
to fyghte on horsbak or on foote / nay sayd the erle there maye
no hors bere hym / Wel said syr marhaus thenne wille I fy_ghte
with hym on foote / Soo on the morne syr Marhaus prayd
the erle that one of his men myghte brynge hym where as the
gyaut was / and so he was / for he sawe hym sytte vnder a tree
of hoolly / and many clubbes of Iron and gysarms about hym
Soo thys knyghte dressid hym to the gyant puttyng his sheld
afore hym / and the gyant toke an Iron clubbe in his hande / &
at the fyrste stroke he clafe syre Marhaus shelde in ij pyeces /
And there he was in grete peryl / for the gyant was a wyly



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fyghter / but atte last syr Marhaus smote of his ryght arme
aboue the elbowe / thene the gyant fledde and the knyght after
hym / and soo he drofe hym in to a water / but the gyant was
soo hyghe that he myghte not wade after hym / And thenne sir
Marhaus made the erle Fergus man to fetche hym stones / &
with tho stones the knyghte gaf the gyaunt many sore knoc_kes /
tyl at the last he made hym falle doune in to the water / &
so was he there dede / thene syr Marhaus wete vnto the gyants
castel / and there he delyuerd xxiiij ladyes and twelue kny¨_tes
oute of the gyants pryson / and there he had grete rychesse
withou¨te nombre / soo that the dayes of his lys he was neuer
poure man / thenne he retorned to the erle Fergus / the whiche
thanked hym gretely / and wold haue gyuen hym half his la{~}_des
but he wold none take / Soo syr Marhaus dwellyd with
the erle nyghe half a yere / for he was sore brysed with the gy_aunt /
and at the laste he took his leue / And as he rode by the
way / he mette with syr gawayne and syr Vwayne / and so by
aduenture he mette with foure knyghtes of Arthurs courte /
the fyrst was syr Sagramore desyrus / syr Ozanna / syr Do_dynas
le saueage / and syre felot of lystynoyse / and there syr
Marhaus with one spere smote doune these foure knyghtes /
and hurte them sore / Soo he departed to mete at his day afore
sette

 Capitulum xxvij
|r<b> NOw tourne we vnto syr Vwayne 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 kny¨tes that
were bretheren / and they were called two peryllous knygh_tes /
the one knyghte hyght syre Edward of the reed castel / &



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the other syr Hue of the reed castel / And these two bretheren
had disheryted the lady of the roche of a Baronry of landes
by their extorsion |r{ms=extorfion} / And as this kny¨t was lodged with this
lady she made her compleynt to hym of these two knyghtes /
Madame sayd syr Vwayne / they are to blame / for they doo a_geynst
the hyghe ordre of knyghthode & the othe that they ma_de /
And yf hit lyke yow I wille speke with hem by cause I
am a knyghte of kynge Arthurs / and I wylle entrete them
with fayrenesse / And yf they wylle not I shalle doo bataille
with them and in the deffense of youre ryghte / gramercy sayd
the lady / and there as I maye not acquyte yow / god shalle /
Soo on the morne the two knyghtes were sente for / that they
shold come thyder to speke with the lady of the roche / and we_te
ye wel they fayled not / for they cam with an C hors / But
whan this lady sawe them in this maner soo bygge / she wold
not suffre syr Vwayne to goo ou¨te to them vpon to surete ne
for no fayr langage / but she made hym speke with them ouer a
toure / but fynally these two bretheren wold not be entreated
and ansuerd that they wold kepe that they had / wel said syr
Vwayne / thenne wylle I fyghte with one of yow / and pre_ue
that ye doo this lady wronge / that wille we not said they
For and we doo bataille we two wyl fyghte with one kny¨t
at ones / and therfore yf ye wille fyghte soo we wille be redy
at what houre ye wille assigne / And yf ye wynne vs in bata_ille
the lady shal haue her landes ageyne / ye say wel sayd sir
Vwayne / therfor make yow redy so that ye be here to morne in
the defence of the ladyes ryght

 Capitulum xxviij
|r<b> 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 withou¨te the gates where houed the two bretheren a_bydynge
hym / Soo they rode to gyders passynge sore that syre
Edward and syr Hue brake their speres vpon syr Vwayne



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And syr Vwayne smote syre Edward that he felle ouer his
hors and yet his spere brast not / And thenne he spored his
hors and came upon syr Hue and ouerthrewe hym / but they
soone recouerd and dressid their sheldes and drewe their suer_des
and bad syre Vwayne alyghte and doo his bataill to the
vttermest / Thenne syr Vwayn deuoyded his hors sodenly / &
put his shelde afore hym and drewe his swerde / and soo they
dressyd to gyders and eyther gaf other suche strokes / & there
these two bretheren wounded syr Vwayne passyng greuously
that the lady of the roche wende he shold haue dyed / And thus
they fought to gyders fyue houres as men raged oute of reason /
And at the laste syr Vwayne smote syre Edward vpon
the helme suche a stroke that his swerd kerued vnto his canel_bone /
and thenne syr Hue abated his courage / but syr Vwa_yn
pressed fast to haue slayne hym / That sawe syr Hue he kne_led
doune and yelde hym to syr Vwayne and he of his gentil_nesse
receyued his swerd and took hym by the hand & went
in to the castel to gyders / thenne the lady of the roche was pas_syng
glad and the other broder made grete sorowe for his bro_ders
dethe / thenne the lady was restored of al her landes / and
syr Hue was commaunded to be at the Courte of kynge Ar_thur
at the next feest of penthecost / So sir Vwayn dwelt with
the lady nyghe half a yere / for it was longe or he myghte be hole
of his grete hurtes / and soo whan it drewe nygh the terme
day that syr gawayn syr Marhaus and syre Vwayne shold
mete at the crosse way / thenne euery knyght drewe hym thyder
to holde his promyse that they had made / & syr Marhaus
and syr Vwayne broughte their damoysels with them / but sir
Gawayn had lost his damoysel as it is afore reherced

Capitulum xxix
|r<b> 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 ly¨tel wor_ship
of hym / soo they departed from the damoysels and roode



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thurgh a grete forest / and there they mette with a messager
that cam fro kynge Arthur that foughte them wel nyhe a
xij moneth thorou oute al Englond / walys and Scotland /
and charged yf euer he myght funde syre Gawayn and syre
Vwayn to brynge hem to the courte ageyne / And thenne we_re
they al gladde / and soo prayd they syre Marhaus to ryde
with hem to the kynges courte / And soo within twelue dayes
they cam to Camelot / and the kynge was passyng glad of the_ir
comynge and soo was alle the Courte / thenne the kyng ma_de
hem to swere vpon a book to telle hym alle theire aduentures
that had befalle hem that twelue monethe and soo they dyd /
And there was sir Marhaus wel knowen / for ther were kny_ghtes
that he had matched afore tyme / and he was named o_ne
of the best knyghtes lyuyng / Ageyne the feest of pentecost
cam the damoysel of the lake and broughte with hir syr Pelle_as /
and at that hyhe feest there was grete Iustynge of knygh_tes
/ and of al knyghtes that were at that Iustes / syr Pelle_as
had the pryse / and syr Marhaus was named the next / but
syr Pelleas was soo stronge / there myght but fewe knyghtes
sytte hym a buffet with spere / And at that next feest sir pel_leas
and syr marhaus were made knyghtes of the table rou{~}d
For there were two seges voyde / for two knyghtes were slayn
that twelue moneth / and grete ioye had kynge Arthur of sire
Pelleas and of sire Marhaus / but Pelleas loued neuer after
sire Gawayne but as he spared hym for the loue of kyng ar_thur /
But oftymes at Iustes and turnementes sire Pelleas
quyte sire Gawayn / for so it reherceth in the book of Frensshe /
Soo sire Trystram many dayes after faughte with sire Mar_haus
in an yland / and there they dyd a grete bataylle / but at
the last sire Trystram slewe hym / soo sire Trystram was wou{~}_ded
that vnnethe he myght recouer and lay at a nonnery halfe
a yere / and sire Pelleas was a worshipful knyghte / & was o_ne
of the four that encheued the sancgreal / and the damoysel of
the lake made by her meanes that neuer he had adoo with sire
launcelot de lake / for where sire launcelot was at ony Iustes /
or ony tornement / she wold not suffre hym be there that daye /
but yf it were on the syde of sire launcelot /



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|r[f80v]
 Explicit liber quartus
 Incipit liber quintus[Book Five: the conqueste of kynge Arthur over Lucius][Chapter One]
WHanne kyng Arthur had after longe werre re_sted /
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 au_cyen
men / berynge eche of them a braunche of Olyue in token
that they cam as Embassatours and messagers fro the Empe_rour
Lucyus / whiche was called at that tyme / Dictatour or
procurour of the publyke wele of Rome / whiche sayde messa_gers
after their entryng & comyng in to the presence of kynge
Arthur dyd to hym theyr obeyssauce in makyng to hym reue_rence
said to hym in this wyse / The hyghe & myghty Emperour
Lucyus sendeth to the kyng of Bretayne gretyng / comaudyng
the to knouleche hym for thy lord / and to sende hym the trua_ge
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 withhol_dest
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



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kynge commaunded that none of them vpon payne of dethe to
myssaye them ne doo them ony harme / and commauded a kny_ghte
to brynge them to their lodgynge / and see that they haue
alle that is necessary and requysyte for them / with the best che_re /
and that noo deyntee be spared / For the Romayns ben gre_te
lordes / and though theyr message please me not ne my court
yet I must remembre myn honour /  After this the kyng le_te
calle alle his lordes and knyghtes of the round table to co_unceyl
vpon this mater / and desyred them to saye theire ad_uys /
thenne syr Cador of Cornewaile spacke fyrste and sayd
Syre this message lyketh me wel / for we haue many dayes re_sted
vs and haue ben ydle / and now I hope ye shalle make
sharp warre on the Romayns where I doubte not we shal ge_te
honour / I byleue wel sayd Arthur that this mater pleaseth
the wel / but these ansuers may not be ansuerd / for the dema_unde
greueth me sore / For truly I wyl neuer paye truage to
Rome / wherfore I pray yow to counceylle me / I haue vnder_stande
that Bellinus and Brenius kynges of Bretayne ha_ue
had tempyre in their handes many dayes / And also Con_stantyn
the sone of Heleyne / whiche is an open euydence that
we owe noo trybute to Rome / but of ryght we that ben des_cended
of them haue ryght to clayme the tytle of thempyre /



capitulum Secundum
|r<b> 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 kny¨t_hode
ne of dygnyte / & I counceylle you |r{ms=counceylleyou} neuer to obey the Ro_mayns /
for whan they regned on vs / they destressyd oure el_ders /
and putte this land to grete extorcions & taylles / wher_fore
I make here myn auowe to auenge me on them / and for
to strengthe youre quarel I shal furnysshe xy |r{sic} M good men
of warre and wage them on my costes / whiche shal awayte
on yow with my self whan it shal please yow / and the kyng
of ly¨tel Bretayne graunted hym to the same xxx M / wher_for
kynge Arthur thanked them / And thenne euery man



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agreed to make warre / and to ayde after their power / that is
to wete the lord of westwalis promysed to brynge xxx M men
And syr Vwayne / syre Ider his sone with their cosyns pro_mysed
to brynge xxx M / thenne syre launcelot with alle other
promysed in lyke wyse euery man a grete multytude /  And
whan kynge Arthur vnderstood theire courages and good
wylles / he thanked them hertely / and after lete calle thembas_satours
to here theire ansuere / And in presence of alle his lor_des
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 com_maundement
I sette nothyng / And that I knowe of no tru_age
ne trybute that I owe to hym / ne to none erthely prynce /
Crysten ne hethen / but I pretende to haue and occupye the so_ueraynte
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 gra_ce
of god to take possession in thempyre / and subdue them that
ben rebelle / wherfore I commaunde hym and alle them of Ro_me
that incontynent they make to me their homage or to knou_leche
me for their Emperour and gouernour vpon payne that
shal ensiewe / And thenne he commaunded his tresorer to gy_ue
to them grete and large yeftes / and to paye alle theyr dis_pencys /
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 flaun_drys /
Almayn / the montayns / and all ytalye vntyl they cam
vnto Lucius / And after the reuerence made / they made relacy_on
of their ansuer lyke as ye to fore haue herd / whan thempe_rour
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 wor_des /
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



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whiche sore is to be doubted yf he come / for he is al another ma
than ye wene / and holdeth the most noble courte of the world
alle other kynges ne prynces maye not compare vnto his no_ble
mayntene / On newe yeres daye we sawe hym in his estate
whiche was the ryallest that euer we sawe / for he was serued
at his table with ix kynges / and the noblest felauship of other
prynces lordes and knyghtes that ben in the world / and eue_ry
knyghte approued and lyke a lord and holdeth table roud
And in his persone the moost manly man that lyueth / and is
lyke to conquere alle the world / for vnto his courage it is to
lytel / wherfore I aduyse yow to kepe wel youre marches and
straytes in the montayns / For certaynly he is a lord to be do_ubted /
Wel sayd Lucius bifore Eester I suppose to passe the
moutayns and soo forth in to fraunce / and there byreue hym
his londes with Ianeweyes and other myghty warryours of
Tuskane and lombardye / And I shall sende for them all that
ben subgettys and alyed to thepyre of Rome to come to myn
ayde / and forthwith sente old wyse knyghtes vnto these coun_trayes /
folowynge / fyrste to ambage and arrage / to Alysaun_drye /
to ynde. to hermonye / where as the ryuer of Eufrates ren_neth
in to Asye / to Auffryke / and Europe the large / to erta_yne
and Elamye to Arabye / Egypte and to damaske / to da_myete
and Cayer / to Capadoce / to tarce / Turkye / pounce / and
pampoylle / to Surrye and gallacye / And alle these were sub_gette
to Rome and many moo / as Grece / Cypres / Macydone
Calabre / Cateland / portyngale with many thousandes of spay_nardys /
Thus alle these kynges / dukes / and admyrals assem_bled
aboute Rome with xvj kynges attones with grete mul_tytude
of peple / whan themperour vnderstood their comyng / he
made redy his Romayns / and alle the people bytwene hym &
Flaundres  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



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and after destroyed many fayr countrees / whiche Arthur had
wonne of kyng Claudas / And thus Lucius cam with alle
his hoost whiche were disperplyd lx myle in brede / and com_maunded
them to mete with hym in Burgoyne / for he purpo_sed
to destroye the Royame of lytyl Bretayne /

Capitulo tercio

NOw leue we of Lucius the emperour and speke we of
kynge Arthur / that commaunded alle them of his re_tenue
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 sand_wyche /
and there he shewed to his armye how he purposed to
conquere thempyre whiche he ought to haue of ryght / And the_re
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 af_ter
the dethe of Arthur was kyng of this Royamme / And in
the presence of alle his lordes he resyned the rule of the roya_me
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 gre_te
sorowe for the departynge of her lord and other / and swou_ned
in suche wyse that the ladyes bare her in to her chambre
Thus the kyng with his grete armye departed leuyng the que_ne
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 Constan_tyn
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 /



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 Capitulum iiij
|r<b> 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 be_ly
lyke maylles of a merueyllous hewe / his taylle ful of tat_ters /
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 rug_ged
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 hey¨te / and come dou_ne
with suche a swough and smote the bore on the rydge whi_che
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 ab_homynable
whoos pere ye sawe neuer in your dayes / wherfore



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|r[f83v]
of this dredeful dreme doubte the no thynge / but as a Con_queror
come forth thy self / Thenne after this soone they had
syghte of londe and saylled tyl they arryued atte Barflete
in Flaundres / and whanne they were there he fond many
of his grete lordes redy / as they had ben commaunded to awa_yte
vpon hym

capitulum v
|r<b> THenne came to hym an husbond man of the countrey /
      and told hym how there was in the countre of Con_stantyn
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 co_myns
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 sup_pose
than he hath slayn her in fulfyllynge his fowle lust of le_chery /
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 no_ble
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 resco_wed
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 vn_derstanden
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



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|r[f84r]
mounte / And thenne anone he maad hym redy / and armed
hym at alle poyntes / and tooke his hors and his sheld /
And soo they thre departed thens and rode forthe as faste as
euer they my¨t tyl that they cam to the forlond of that mount
And there they alyghted / and the kynge commaunded them
to tarye there / for he wold hym self goo vp in to that mounte
And soo he ascended up in to that hylle tyl he came to a grete
fyre / and there he fonde a careful wydowe wryngynge her han_des
and makyng grete sorowe syttynge by a graue newe ma_de /
And thenne kynge Arthur salewed her / and demaunded
of her wherfore she made suche lamentacion / to whome she an_suerd
and sayd Syre knyghte speke softe / for yonder is a de_uyll
yf he here the speke / he wylle come and destroye the / I
hold the vnhappy what dost thow here in this mountayne /
For yf ye were suche fyfty as ye be / ye were not able to ma_ke
resystence ageynst this deuyl / here lyeth a duchesse deede the
whiche was the fayrest of alle the world wyf to syre Howel /
duc of Bretayne / he hath murthred her in forcynge her / and
has slytte her vnto the nauyl /  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 sa_yd
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 fra_unce /
Beware approche hym not to nygh / for he hath vaynquys_shed
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 Cry_stemasse
/ And yf thow wylt / speke with hym at yonder grete
fyre at souper / wel sayd Arthur I wyll accomplysshe my mes_sage
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 sy¨te / he had grete compassion on them so that his hert



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|r[f84v]
bledde for sorowe / and hayled hym sayeng in this wyse he that
alle the world weldeth gyue the shorte lyf & shameful dethe /
And the deuyl haue thy soule / why hast thow murthred the_se
yonge Innocent children / and murthred this duchesse / Ther_fore
aryse and dresse the thow gloton / For this day shall thou
dye of my hand / Thenne the gloton anone starte vp and tooke
a grete clubbe in his hand / and smote at the kynge that his
coronal fylle to the erthe / and the kynge hytte hym ageyn that
he carf his bely and cutte of his genytours / that his guttes &
his entraylles fylle doune to the ground / thenne the gyaunt
threwe awey his clubbe / and caught the kynge in his armes
that he crusshyd his rybbes / Thenne the thre maydens knelyd
doune and callyd to Cryst for helpe and comforte of Arthur
And thenne Arthur weltred and wrong / that he was other
whyle vnder and another tyme aboue / And so weltryng and
walowynge they rolled doune the hylle / tyl they came to the
see marke / and euer as they soo weltred / Arthur smote hym
with his daggar / and it fortuned they came to the place / whe_re
as the two knyghtes were and kepte Arthurs hors / then_ne
when they sawe the kynge fast in the gyaunts armes / they
ame and losed hym / And thenne the kynge commaunded syr
kaye to smy¨te of the gyaunts hede / and to sette it vpon a trun_cheon
of a spere / and bere it to syre howel / and telle hym that
his enemy was slayne / and after late this hede be bounden to
a barbycan that alle the peple may see and behold hit / and go
ye two up to the montayn / and fetche me my sheld / my suerd
and the clubbe of yron / And as for the tresour take ye it / for
ye shalle fynde there good oute of nombre / So I haue the ker_tyl
and the clubbe I desyre no more / This was the fyerst gy_aunt
that euer I mette with / sauf one in the mount of Arabe /
whiche I ouercame / but this was gretter and fyerser / Thenne
the knyghtes fette the clubbe and the kyrtyl / and some of the
tresour they took to them self / and retorned ageyne to the host
And anone this was knowen thurgh alle the countrey / wher
for the peple came and thanked the kynge / And he sayd a_geyne
yeue the thanke to god / and departe the goodes among
yow / And after that kynge Arthur sayd and commaunded
his Cosyn howel that he shold ordeyne for a chirche to be bylded



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|r[f85r]
on the same hylle in the worship of saynte Mychel /  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 frauce
and sayd to the kyng that themperour was entryd in to fra_unce /
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 /

capitulum sextum
|r<b> THenne the kynge dyd doo calle syre Gawayne / syre
      Borce / syr Lyonel and syre Bedewere / and comma_unded
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 sa_we
many pauelions sette in a medowe of sylke of dyuerse co_lours
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 Ar_thurs
name to auoyde his lond / or shortly to adresse hym to ba_taylle /
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 bur_goyne
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



|p170


|r[f85v]
with these wordes / and pulled oute his swerd and smote of
his hede / And therwith torned theyr horses and rode ouer wa_ters
and thurgh woodes tyl they came to theyre busshement /
where as syr Lyonel and syr Bedeuer were houyng / The ro_mayns
folowed fast after on horsbak and on foote ouer a cha_payn
vnto a wood / thenne syre Boors torned his hors / and
sawe a knyghte come fast on / whome he smote thurgh the bo_dy
with a spere that he fylle dede doune to the erthe / thenne cam
Callyburne one of the strengest of pauye and smote doun ma_ny
of Arthurs knyghtes / And whan syr Bors sawe hym do
soo moche harme he adressyd toward hym & smote hym thur¨
the brest that he fylle doune dede to the erthe / Thenne syr Fel_denak
thought to reuenge the dethe of gaynus vpon syre Ga_wayn /
but syre gawayn was ware therof and smote hym on
the hede / whiche stroke stynted not tyl it came to his breste /
And thenne he retorned and came to his felawes in the bus_shement /
And there was a recountre / for the busshement brake
on the Romayns / and slewe and hewe doune the Romayns
and forced the Romayns to flee and retorne / whome the no_ble
knyghtes chaced vnto theyr tentes / Thenne the Romayns
gadred more peple / and also foote men cam on / and ther was
a newe bataille and soo moche peple that syr Bors and syr
Berel were taken / but whan syre gawayn sawe that / he tooke
with hym syre Idrus the good knyght and sayd he wold ne_uer
see kynge Arthur but yf he rescued them / and pulled out
galatyn his good swerd / and folowed them that ledde tho ij
knyghtes awaye / and he smote hym that lad syre Bors / and
took syr Bors fro hym and delyuerd hym to his felawes /
And syre Idrus in lyke wyse rescowed syre Berel / thenne
beganne the bataill to be grete that oure kny¨tes were in grete
Ieopardy / wherfore syre Gawayn sente to kyng Arthur for so_cour
and that he hye hym for I am sore wounded / and that
oure prysoners may paye good oute of nombre / And the mes_sager
came to the kyng and told hym his message / And anon
the kynge dyd doo assemble his armye / but anone or he depar_ted
the prysoners were comen / and syre gawayn and his fe_lawes
gate the felde and put the Romayns to flyght / and af_ter
retorned and came with their felauship in suche wyse / that



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|r[f86r]
no man of worship was loste of them / sauf that syr Gawayn
was sore hurte / Thenne the kynge dyd do ransake his woun_des
and comforted hym / And thus was the begynnyng of
the fyrst iourney of the brytons and Romayns / and ther we_re
slayne of the Romayns moo than ten thousand / and grete
ioye and myrthe was made that nyghte in the hoost of kynge
Arthur / And on the morne he sente alle the prysoners in to pa_rys
vnder the garde of syre launcelot with many knyghtes &
of syr Cador

 Capitulum vij
|r<b> NOw torne we to the Emperour of Rome whiche aspy_ed
      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 knygh_tes
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 Laucelot sente certayne knyghtes tespye yf ony we_re
in the woodes to lette them / And whanne the said knyghtes
cam in to the wood / anone they aspyed and sawe the grete en_busshement
/ and retorned and told syr Laucelot that ther lay
in a wayte for them thre score thousand Romayns / And then_ne
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 dreten_chid
many of the Romayns / and slewe many knyghtes & ad_myrals
of the party of the Romayns and sarasyns / ther was
slayne the kynge of lylye and thre grete lordes Aladuke / he_rawde
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 fou¨te that
tydynges came to kynge Arthur / And anone he graythed hym
and came to the bataille / and sawe his knyghtes how they had



|p172


|r[f86v]
vaynquysshed the bataylle / he enbraced them knyght by kny¨te
in his armes and said ye be worthy to welde all your honour
and worship / there was neuer kynge sauf my self that had so
noble knyghtes / Syre sayd Cador there was none of vs fail_led
other / but of the prowesse and manhode of syre Launcelot
were more than wonder to telle / and also of his cosyns whi_che
dyd that daye many noble feates of werre / And also syre
Cador tolde who of his knyghtes were slayne / as syr beriel &
other syr Morys and syr Maurel two good knyghtes / then_ne
the kynge wepte and dryed his eyen with a keuerchyef / &
sayd your courage had nere hand destroyed yow / For though
ye had retorned ageyne / ye had lost no worship / For I calle
hit foly / knyghtes to abyde whan they be ouermatched / Nay
sayd Launcelot and the other / For ones shamed maye neuer
be recouerd

 Capitulum viij
|r<b> 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 esca_ped
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 Ar_thurs
knyghtes was worth in the batayll an honderd of ours
Fy on the sayd Lucius thow spekest cowardly / for thy wor_des
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 par_tyes /
to thende that his enemyes shold not escape / whanne the



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|r[f87r]
Emperour was entryd in to the vale of Sessoyne / he myghte
see where kynge Arthur was enbatailled and his baner dys_played /
and he was bysette round aboute with his enemyes /
that nedes he must fyghte or yelde hym / for he myght not flee /
But sayd openly vnto the Romayns / syrs I admoneste you
that this day ye fyghte and acquyte yow as men / and remem_bre
how Rome domyneth and is chyef and hede ouer alle the
erthe and vnyuersal world / and suffre not these bretons thys
day to abyde ageynste vs / & ther with he dyd commaunde hys
tropettes to blowe the blody sownes in suche wyse that the gro_und
trembled and dyndled / Thenne the batails approuched
and shoue and showted on bothe sydes and grete strokes were
smy¨ten on bothe sydes / many men ouerthrowen / hurte / & slayn
and grete valyaunces / prowesses and appertyces of werre we_re
that day shewed / whiche were ouer long to recounte the no_ble
feates of euery man / For they shold conteyne an hole vo_lume /
But in especyal kynge Arthur rode in the bataille ex_hortynge
his knyghtes to doo wel / and hym self dyd as no_bly
with his handes as was possyble a man to doo / he drewe
oute Excalibur his swerd / and awayted euer where as the ro_mayns
were thyckest and moost greued his peple / and anone
he adressyd hym on that parte and hewe and slewe doune ry¨t
and rescued his peple / and he slewe a grete gyaunt named ga_lapas /
whiche was a man of an huge quantyte and heyghte
he shorted hym and smote of bothe his legges by the knees / sa_yenge
Now arte thow better of a syse to dele with / than thou
were / and after smote of his hede / there syre gawayn foughte
nobly and slewe thre admyrales in that bataill / And so dyd
alle the knyghtes of the round table / Thus the bataill bitwe_ne
kynge Arthur and Lucius themperour endured longe / Lu_cius
had on his syde many sarasyns / whiche were slayn / and
thus the bataille was grete / and oftsydes that one party was
at a fordele and anone at an afterdele / whiche endured so longe
tyl at the last kyng Arthur aspyed / where Lucius themperour
fought / and dyd wonder with his owne handes / And anon he
rode to hym / And eyther smote other fyersly / and atte last Lu_cyus
smote Arthur thwart the vysage/ and gaf hym a large
wound / And whanne kyng Arthur felte hym self hurte / anon



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he smote hym ageyne with Excalibur that it clefte his hede fro
the somette of his hede / and stynted not tyl it cam to his breste
And thenne themperour fylle doune dede / and there ended his
lyf / And whan it was knowen that themperour was slayne
anone alle the Romayns with all their hoost put them to fly_ght /
and kynge Arthur with alle his knyghtes folowed the
chaas / and slewe doune ryght alle them that they myghte at_teyne /
And thus was the vyctory gyuen to kynge Arthur &
the tryumphe / and there were slayne on the party of Lucius
moo than an hondred thousand / And after kyng Arthur dyd
doo ransake the dede bodyes / and dyd doo burye them that were
slayne of his retenue euery man accordynge to thestate & de_gree
that he was of / And them that were hurte he lete the sur_gyens
doo serche their hurtes and woundes / and commaun_ded
to spare no salues ne medecynes tyl they were hole /
Thenne the kyng rode strayte to the place where themperour lu_cius
lay dede / and with hym he fond slayne the Sowdan of
Surrey / the kynge of Egypte and of Ethyope / whiche we_re
two noble kynges with xvij other kynges of dyuerse regy_ons /
and also syxty senatours of Rome al noble men / whome
the kynge dyd do bawme and gomme with many good gom_mes
aromatyk / and after dyd do cere them in syxty fold of ce_red
clothe of Sendale / and leyd them in chestys of leed / by ca_use
they shold not chauffe ne sauoure / and vpon alle these bo_dyes
their sheldes with theire armes and baners were sette / to
thende they shold be knowen of what country they were / and
after he fonde thre Senatours whiche were on lyue to whome
he sayd / for to saue your lyues I wylle that ye take these dede
bodyes / and carye them with yow vnto grete Rome / and pre_sente
them to the potestate on my behalue shewynge hym my let_ters /
and telle them that I in my persone shal hastely be atte
Rome / And I suppose the Romayns shalle beware how they
shal demaunde ony trybute of me / And I commaunde yow to
saye whan ye shal come to Rome to the potestate and all the
counceylle and Senate / that I sende to them these dede bodyes
for the trybute that they haue demaunded / And yf they be not
content with these / I shal paye more at my comynge / for other
trybute owe I none / ne none other wylle I paye / And me



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thynketh this suffyseth for Bretayne / Irlond and al Alma_yne
with germanye / And ferthermore I charge yow to saye
to them / that I commaunde them vpon payne of theyre hedes ne_uer
to demaunde trybute ne taxe of me ne of my londes
Thenne with this charge and commaundement the thre Sena_tours
afore sayd departed with alle the sayd dede bodyes le_ynge
the body of Lucius in a carre couerd with tharmes of the
Empyre al alone / And after alwey two bodyes of kynges in
a charyot / and thenne the bodyes of Senatours after them
and soo wente toward Rome / and shewed theyr legacyon &
message to the potestate and Senate / recountyng the bataylle
done in Fraunce / and how the feld was lost and moche peo_ple
& Innumerable slayne / wherfore they aduysed them in no
wyse to meue no more warre ageynste that noble conqueroure
Arthur / For his myght and prowesse is most to be doubted
seen the noble kynges and grete multytude of knyghtes of
the round table / to whome none erthely prynce may compare /


 Capitulo nono
NOw torne we vnto kynge Arthur and his noble kny_ghtes
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 mo_tayns
in to lombardye / and after in to Tuskane / wherin was
a Cyte / whiche in no wyse wold yelde them self ne obeye / wher_fore
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 flo_rence
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



|p176


|r[f88v]
ful of fayre floures and grasse / And there they rested them &
theyr horses alle that nyghte / And in the spryngynge of the
day in the next morne / syre Gawayn took his hors and stale
away from his felauship to seke some aduentures / And anon
he was ware of a man armed walkynge his hors easyly by
a wodes syde / and his sheld laced to his sholdre syttynge on
a stronge courser withou¨te ony man sauyng to a |pberynge
a myghty spere . The knyght bare in his sheld thre gryffons of
gold in sable charbuncle the chyef of syluer / whan syre Ga_wayn
aspyed this gay knyght / he fewtryd his spere and rode
strayt to hym / and demauded of hym from whens that he was
that other ansuerd and sayd he was of Tuscane / and dema_unded
of syre gawayn / what profryst thow proude knyghte
the so boldly / here getest thou no praye / thou mayst proue wha{~}
thou wylt / for thou shalt be my prysoner or thou departe /
 Thenne sayd gawayn / thou auauntest the gretely and spe_kest
proude wordes / I couceylle the for alle thy boost that thou
make the redy / and take thy gere to the / to fore gretter grame
falle to the

 Capitulum x
|r<b> 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 fy_re
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 gro_ned
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



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neuer be staunched of bledynge / Thenne ansuerd gawayn hit
greueth me but lytyl / thy grete wordes shalle not feare me ne
lasse my courage / but thow shalt suffre tene and sorow or we
departe / but telle me in hast who maye staunche my bledynge /
That may I doo sayd the knyght yf I wylle / And so wyll
I yf thou wylt socoure an ayde me that I maye be crystned
and byleue on god / And therof I requyre the of thy man_hode /
and it shalle be grete meryte for they soule I graunte sa_id
Gawayne so god helpe me taccomplysshe alle thy desyre /
But fyrst telle me what thou soughtest here thus allone / and
of what londe and legeaunce thou arte of / Syre he sayd my na_me
is Pryamus / and a grete prynce is my fader / and he hath
ben rebelle vnto Rome and ouer ryden many of theyr londes /
My fader is lyneally descended of Alysaunder and of hect{Sonderzeichen bei t}or
by ryght lygne / And duke Iosue and Machabeus were of
oure lygnage / I am ryght enherytour of Alysaunder and au_ffryke
and alle the oute yles / yet wyl I byleue on thy lord
that thow byleuest on / And for thy laboure I shalle yeue the
tresour ynough / I was soo elate and hauteyn in my hert that
I thought no man my pere ne to me semblable / I was sente
in to this werre with seuen score knyghtes / and now I haue
encountred with the whiche hast gyuen to me of fyghtyng my
fylle / wherfore syr knyghte I pray the to telle me what thow
arte / I am no knyght sayd gawayn / I haue ben brought vp
in the garderobe with the noble kynge Arthur many yeres for
to take hede to his armour and his other araye / and to poyn-te
his paltockes that longen to hym self / At yole last he  made
me yoman and gaf to me hors and harneys and an honderd
pound in money / And yf fortune be my frend / I doubte not /
but to be wel auaunced and holpen by my lyege lord / A sa_yd
Pryamus / yf his knauys be so kene and fyers / his kny¨_tes
ben passynge good / Now for the kynges loue of heuen whe_ther
thou be a knaue or a knyghte telle thou me thy name /
By god sayd syre Gawayn / Now wyl I saye the sothe / my
name is syre gawayn and knowen I am in his courte and in
his chambre / and one of the knyghtes of the round table / he
dubbed me a duke with owne hand / Therfore grutche not
yf this grace is to me fortuned / hit is the goodnesse of god



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hat lente to me my strengthe / Now am I better pleasyd sayd
Pryamus than thou haddest gyuen to me al the prouynce and
parys the ryche / I had leuer to haue ben torn with wylde hor_ses /
than ony varlet had wonne suche loos / or ony |por pry_ker
shold haue had prys on me / But now syre knyghte I
warne the / that here by is a duke of Lorayne with his armye
and the noblest men of Dolphyne and lordes of lombardye /
with the garneson of godard / and sarasyns of Southland y_nombred
lx M of good men of armes / wherfor but yf we
hye vs hens / it wylle harme vs bothe / for we ben sore hurte / ne_uer
lyke to recouer / but take hede to my |pthat he no horne
blowe / For yf he doo ther ben houynge fast by an C kny¨_tes
awaytynge on my persone / and yf they take the / ther shall
no raunson of gold ne syluer acquyte the / Thenne syre gawa_yne
rode ouer a water for to saue hym / And the knyghte folo_wed
hym / and soo rode forthe tyl they came to his felawes /
whiche were in the medowe / where they had ben al the nyghte
Anone as syre wychard was ware of syre gawayn and sawe
that he was hurte / he ranne to hym soroufully wepynge / and
demaunded of hym who had soo hurte hym / and gawayn told
how he had foughten with that man / and eche of them hadde
hurte other / and how he had salues to hele them / but I can tel_le
yow other tydynges / that soone we shal haue adoo with ma_ny
enemyes / Thenne syre pryamus and syre gawayn alygh_ted /
and lete theire horses grase in the medowe and vnarmed
them / And thenne the blood ranne fresshly fro theyre woun_des /
And pryamus toke fro his |pa vyolle ful of the four
waters that came oute of paradys / and with certayne baume
enoynted theyr woundes / and wesshe them with that water / &
within an houre after / they were both as hole as euer they we_re /
And thenne with a trompet were they alle assembled to co_unceylle /
And there pryamus told vnto them / what lordes and
knyghtes had sworne to rescowe hym / and that without faill
they shold be assailled with many thousandes / wherfor he coun_ceilled
them to withdrawe them / Thenne syre gawayn sayd it
were grete shame to them to auoyde withou¨te ony strokes /
Wherfore I aduyse to take oure armes and to make vs redy
to mete with these sarasyns and mysbyleuyng men / and wyth



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the helpe of god we shal ouerthrowe them and haue a fayre
day on them / And syre Florens shall abyde styll in thys felde
to kepe the stale as a noble knyghte / and we shal not forsake
yonder felawes / Now sayd Pyramus seasse your wordes / for
I warne yow ye shal fynde in yonder woodes many peryllo_us
knyghtes / they wylle put forthe beestes to calle yow on /
they be out of nombre / and ye are not past vij C whiche ben o_uer
fewe to fyght with soo many / Neuertheles sayd syr gawa_yn
we shal ones encountre them / and see what they can do
and the beste shalle haue the vyctory

 Capitulo xj

THenne syre Florence callyd to hym syre florydas with
an honderd knyghtes and droofe forth the herde of be_stes /
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 gro_unde /
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 Ga_wayn /
and badde hym that he shold goo and socoure his fe_lauship /
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 thousa~des
& pryamus kny¨tes / & cam strayte vn to the bataylle / the~ne sir
gawayn comforted his knyghtes / and bad them not to be a_basshed /
for al shal be ours / the~ne they began to wallope & mette
with their enemyes / there were me slayn & ouerthrowen on euery



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syde / Thenne threstyd in amonge them the knyghtes of the ta_ble
round / and smote doune to the erthe alle them that wyth_stode
them / in soo moche that they made them to recuyelle & flee /
By god sayd syre Gawayn this gladeth my herte / for now
ben they lasse in nombre by xx M / Thenne entryd in to the ba_taylle
Iubaunce a geaunt / and fought and slewe doune ryght
and distressyd many of our knyghtes / emonge whome was
slayne syre Gherard a knyght of walys / Thenne oure knygh_tes
toke herte to them / and slewe many sarasyns / And thenne
came in syr Priamus with his penon / and rode with the kn_yghtes
of the round table / and fought so manfully that ma_ny
of their enemyes lost theyr lyues / And ther syr Pryamus
slewe the Marquys of Moyses land / and syre gawayn with
his felawes so quytte hem that they had the feld / but in that
stoure was syr Chestelayne a chyld and ward of syre Ga_wayne
slayne / wherfore was moche sorou made / and his deth
wes soone auengyd / Thus was the bataille ended and ma_ny
lordes of lombardye and sarasyns left dede in the feld /
 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 Ar_thur
whiche lay styl at the syege / And whanne they came to
the kynge / they presented theyr prysoners and recounted the_yre
aduentures / and how they had vaynquysshed theyre ene_myes

 Capitulum xij
|r<b> 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 bap_tysed /
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 du_ke
and knyghte of the table round  And thenne anon
the kynge lete do crye assaulte to the cyte / and there was re_rynge
of laddres brekyng of wallys and the dyche fylled /



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that men with lytel payne my¨t entre in to the cyte / the~ne cam
out a duchesse / & Clarysyn the countesse with many ladyes &
damoysels / and knelyng bifore kynge Arthur requyred hym
for the loue of god to receyue the cyte / & not to take it by assa_ulte
for thenne shold many gyltles be slayne / the~ne the kyng
aualyd his vyser with a meke & noble coutenauce / & said ma_dame
ther shal none of my subgettys mysdoo you ne your may_dens /
ne to none that to yow longen / but the duke shal abyde
my Iugement / thenne anone the kyng commaunded to leue the
assault / & anon the dukes oldest sone brought out the keyes / &
knelyng delyuerd them to the kyng / & bysou¨t hym of grace / &
the kyng seased the toun by assent of his lordes / & toke the duc
& sent hym to douer there for to abyde prysoner terme of his lyf
& assigned certayn rentes for the dower of the duchesse & for
her children / Thenne he made lordes to rule tho londes & lawes
as a lord ought to do in his owne countrey / & after he took his
iourney toward Rome / & sent sir Florys & syr florydas to fore
with v C men of armes / & they cam to the cyte of vrbyne & leid
there a busshement there as them semed most best for them / & rode
to fore the toune / where anon yssued oute moche peple & skar_musshed
with the fore rydars / the~ne brake out the busshement &
wan the brydge & after the toun / & set vpon the wallis the kyn_ges
baner / the~ne cam the kynge vpon an hille & sawe the Cyte
& his baner on the wallys / by whiche he knewe that the Cyte
was wonne / & anone he sente & commaunded that none of his
lyege men shold defoule ne lygge by no lady / wyf / ne maide / &
whan he cam in to the cyte / he passid to the castel / and comforted
them that were in sorou / & ordeyned ther a captayn a kny¨t of
his own cou~trey / & whan they of Melane herd that thylk cyte
was wone / they sent to kyng Arthur grete somes of money / &
besout hym as their lord to haue pyte of them / promysyng to be
his subgettys for euer / & yelde to hym homage & fealte for the
lades of plesau~ce & pauye / petersaynt & the port of tremble / &
to gyue hym yerly a melyon of gold al his lyf tyme / the~ne
he rydeth in to Tuskane & wynneth tounes & castels & wasted al
in his way that to hym wil not obeye / & so to spolute & viterbe
& fro thens he rode in to the vale of vycecoute emong the vynes
And fro thens he sente to the senatours to wete / whether they



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wold knowe hym for theyr lord / But soone after on a sater_day
came vnto kynge Arthur alle the senatours that were left
on lyue / and the noblest Cardynals that thenne dwellyd in
Rome / And prayd hym of pees / and profered hym ful large
And bysought hym as gouernour to gyue lycence for vj we_kes
for to assemble alle the Romayns / And thenne to crowne
hym Emperour with creme as it bylongeth to so hyhe astate / I
assente sayd the kynge lyke as ye haue deuysed / and at cry_stemas
there to be crowned / and to holde my round table with
my knyghtes as me lyketh / And thenne the senatours
maade redy for his Intronysacyon / And at the day appoynted as the
Romaunce telleth he came in to Rome / and was crouned em_perour
by the popes hand with all the ryalte that coude be ma_de /
And sudgerned there a tyme / and establysshed all his lon_des
from Rome in to Fraunce / and gaf londes and royammes
vnto his seruauntes and knyghtes to eueryche after his desert
in suche wyse that none complayned ryche ne poure / & he gafe
to syre Pryamus the duchye of Lorayne / and he thanked hym
and sayd he wold serue hym the dayes of his lyf / and after
made dukes and erles / and made euery man ryche / Thenne
after this alle his knyghtes and lordes assembled them afore
hym / and sayd blessyd be god your warre is fynysshed and
your conquest acheued / in soo moche that we knowe none soo
grete ne myghty that dar make warre ageynst yow / wherfore
we byseche you to retorne homeward / and gyue vs lycence to
goo home to our wyues / fro whome we haue ben longe / and
to reste vs / for your Iourney is fynysshed with honour & wor_ship |r{ms=wo_ship} /
Thenne sayd the kyng / ye saye trouthe / and for to temp_te
god it is no wysedome / And therfore make you redy and
retorne we in to Englond / Thenne there was trussyng of har_neis
and bagage and grete caryage / And after lycence gyuen
he retorned and commaunded that noo man in payne of dethe
shold not robbe ne take vytaylle / ne other thynge by the way
but that he shold paye therfore / And thus he came ouer the see
and londed at sandwyche / ageynste whome Quene Gweneuer
his wyf came and mette hym / and he was nobly receyued of
alle his comyns in euery cyte and burgh / and grete yeftes
presented to hym at his home comyng to welcome hym with /



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 Thus endeth the fyfthe booke of the conqueste that kynge
Arthur hadde ageynste Lucius the Emperoure of Rome / and
here foloweth the syxth book whiche is of syr Launcelot du lake

[Book Six: Syr Launcelot du Lake]

 Capitulum primum
|r<b> SOone after that kyng Arthur was come / fro ro_me
      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 kny¨tes whiche encreaced so in ar_mes
and worship that they passed alle their felawes in pro_wesse
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 kny¨tes / 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 kny¨t that the frensshe book ma_keth
mencyon of after kynge Arthur came fro rome / wherfore
quene gweneuer had hym in grete fauour aboue al other kny_ghtes
. and in certayne he loued the quene ageyne aboue al o_ther
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 sto_de
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 son_dry
trees / and so syr launcelot layd hym doune vnder an ap_pyl
tree / and his helme he layd vnder his hede / And Syre



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lyonel waked whyle he slepte / Soo syre launcelot was a sle_pe
passynge fast / And in the mene whyle there came thre kny_ghtes
rydynge as faste fleynge as euer they myghte ryde
And there folowed hem thre but one knyghte / And whanne
syr lyonel sawe hym / hym thought he sawe neuer soo grete a
knyghte nor soo wel farynge a man neyther soo wel appara_illed
vnto al ryghtes / Soo within a whyle this strong kny¨t
had ouertaken one of these knyghtes / and there he smote hym
to the cold erth that he lay styll / And than he rode vnto the se_cond
knyght / and smote hym soo that man and hors felle do_une /
And thenne streyghte to the thyrdde knyghte he rode and
smote hym behynde his hors ars a spere length / And thenne
he alyghte doune arayned his hors on the brydel & bonde
alle the thre knyghtes fast with the raynes of their owne bry_dels /
Whan syr lyonel sawe hym doo thus / he thought to assay
hym / & made hym redy & stylly / and pryuely he took his hors &
thoughte not for to awake syr launcelot / And whan he was
mounted vpon his hors / he ouertoke this strong knyght / & bad
hym torne / and the other smote syr lyonel so hard that hors &
man he bare to the erthe / & so he alyght doun & bound hym fast
and threwe hym ouerthwart his owne hors / and soo he serued
hem al foure / & rode with hem awey to his owne castel / And
whan he came there he garte vnarme them & bete hem with thor_nys
al naked / & after put hem in a depe pryson where were ma_ny
mo knyghtes that made grete doloure

 Capitulum secundum /
|r<b> WHan syre Ect{Sonderzeichen bei t}or de marys wyst that syre lau~celot was
      past out of the court to seke aduentures he was wroth
with hym self / & made hym redy to seke syre lau~celot / & as he
had ryden long in a grete forest he mette with a man was ly_ke
a foster / Fayre felaw said syre Ect{Sonderzeichen bei t}or 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 knygh_tes /
& atte hoole of the tree hangeth a bacyn of coper & latoen /



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and stryke vpon that bacyn with the but of thy spere thryes /
And soone after thou shalt here newe tydynges / And ellys
hast thou the fayrest grace that many a yere had euer knyght
that passed thorou this forest / gramercy sayd syre Ect{t}or / and
departed / and came to the tree and sawe many fayre sheldes
And amonge them he sawe his broders sheld syr Lyonel and
many moo that he knewe that were his felawes of the round
table / the whiche greued his herte / and promysed to reuenge
his broder / Thenne anone syr Ect{t}or bete on the bacyn as he we_re
wood / and thenne he gaf his hors drynke at the fourde / &
ther came a knyghte behynd hym / and bad hym come oute of
the water and make hym redy / and syre Ect{t}or anone torned
hym shortly and in fewter cast his spere and smote the other
knyghte a grete buffet that his hors torned twyes aboute /
This was wel done said the strong kny¨t / & kny¨tly thou hast
stryken me / And therwith he russhed his hors on syre Ect{t}or /
and cley¨te hym vnder his ryght arme & bare hym clene out
of the sadel / and rode with hym awey in to his owne halle / &
threwe hym doune in myddes of the floore / the name of thys
knyghte was syre Turquyne / than he said vnto syre Ect{t}or for
thou hast done this day more vnto me than ony knyghte dyd
these xij yeres / Now wille I graunte the thy lyf so thou wilt
be sworn to be my prysoner all thy lyf dayes / Nay said sir Ec_tor /
that wylle I neuer promyse the / but that I will do myne
auauntage / That me repenteth sayd syre Turquyne / and then_ne
he garte to vnarme hym and bete hym with thornys all na_ked /
and sythen putte hym doune in a depe dungeon where he
knewe many of his felawes / But whan syre Ect{t}or sawe syr
lyonel thenne made he grete sorowe / Allas broder sayd sir Ec_tor /
where is my broder syre Launcelot / Fayre broder I lefte
hym on slepe whan that I from hym yode vnder an appel tree
and what is become of hym I can not telle yow / Allas said
the knyghtes / but syre launcelot helpe vs we may neuer be de_lyuerd /
for we knowe now noo knyght that is able to matche
oure mayster Turquyn

 Capitulum tercium



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|r<b> NOw leue we these knyghtes prysoners and speke we
      of syre Launcelott du lake that lyeth vnder the Ap_pyl
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 by_ganne
for to stryue for that knyghte / euerychone sayd they
wold haue hym to her loue /  We shalle not stryue sayd Mor_gan
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 enchaunte_ment
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 kny¨te 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 withou¨te comforte of ony body
 And on the morne erly came these foure quenes passyng_ly
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



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|r[f94r]
sone / And by cause we vnderstande your worthynes that thou
arte the noblest knyght lyuyng / And as we knowe wel ther
can no lady haue thy loue but one / and that is quene Gwene_uer /
and now thow shalt lose her for euer and she the / and ther-fore
the behoueth now to chese one of vs four / I am the quene
Morgan le fay quene of the land of Gorre / and here is the
quene of Northgalys and the quene of Eestland / and the que_ne
of the oute yles /  Now chese one of vs whiche thou wylt
haue to thy peramour / for thou mayst not chese or els in thys
pryson to dye / This is an hard caaas sayd syre Launcelot that
eyther I muste dye or els chese one of yow / yet had I leuer
to dye in this pryson with worship than to haue one of you to
my peramour maugre my hede / And therfore ye be ansuerd I
wylle none of yow for ye be fals enchauntresses / And as for
my lady dame Gweneuer / were I at my lyberte as I was /
I wold preue hit on you or on yours / that she is the truest
lady vnto her lord lyuyng / Wel sayd the quenes / is this yo_ur
ansuer that ye wylle reffuse vs / ye on my lyf sayd syr lau~_celot /
reffused ye ben of me / Soo they departed and lefte hym
there alone that made grete sorowe

 Capitulum quartum
|r<b> RYght so at the noone came the damoysel vnto hym with
      his dyner / and asked hym what chere / truly fayre da_moysel
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 sha_me
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 na_me
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



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the kynge of Northgalys / for the last tewesdaye past my fader
lost the felde thorugh thre knyghtes of Arthurs courte / And
ye wyll be there on tewesday next comyng / and helpe my fader
to morne or pryme by the grace of god I shalle delyuer yow
clene / Fayre mayden sayd syr launcelot telle me what is your
faders name / and thenne shal I gyue you an ansuer / Syre
knyghte she sayd / my fader is kyng Bagdemagus that was
foule rebuked at the last turnement / I knowe your fader wel
said syre launcelot for a noble kyng and a good knyghte /
And by the feythe of my body ye shalle haue my body redy to
doo your fader and you seruyse at that day / Syre she sayd gra_mercy /
and to morne awayte ye be redy by tymes and I shal
be she that shal delyuer you / and take you your armoure and
your hors shelde and spere / And here by within this x myle is
an Abbey of whyte monkes / there I praye you that ye me a_byde
/ and thyder shal I brynge my fader vnto you / alle thys
shal be done saide syre Launcelot as I am true knyghte / and
soo she departed and came on the morne erly / and found hym
redy / thenne she brought hym oute of twelue lockes & brou¨t
hym vnto his armour / & whan he was clene armed / she brou_ght
hym vntyl his owne hors / and lyghtely he sadeled hym
and toke a grete spere in his hand / and soo rode forth / and sa_yd
fayre damoysel I shal not faile you by the grace of god /
And soo he rode in to a grete forest all that day / and neuer co_ude
fynde no hyghe waye / and soo the nyght felle on hym / and
thenne was he ware in a slade of a pauelione of reed sendel /
By my feythe sayd syre launcelot in that pauelione wil I lod_ge
alle this nyghte / and soo there he alyghte doune and tayed
his hors to the pauelione / and there he vnarmed hym / and
there he fond a bedde / and layd hym theryn / and felle on slepe
sadly

 Capitulum v
|r<b> THenne within an houre there came the knyghte to who_me
      the pauelione ought / And he wende that his lema~
had layne in that bedde / and soo he laid hym doune besyde syr
Launcelot / and toke hym in his armes and beganne to kysse



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hym / And whanne syre launcelot felte a rough berd kyssyng
hym / he starte oute of the bedde lyghtely / and the other kny¨t
after hym / and eyther of hem gate their swerdes in theire han_des /
and oute at the pauelione dore wente the knyghte of the
pauelione / and syre launcelot folowed hym / and ther by a ly_tyl
slake syr launcelot wounded hym sore nyghe vnto the deth
And thenne he yelded hym vnto syre launcelot / and so he grau~_ted
hym so that he wold telle hym why he came in to the bedde
syre sayd the knyght the pauelione is myn owne / and there
thys nyght I had assygned my lady to haue slepte with me
And now I am lykely to dye of this wounde / that me repen_teth
sayd Launcelot of youre hurte / but I was adrad of tre_son /
for I was late begyled / and therfore come on your way
in to your pauelione and take your rest / And as I suppose I
shalle staunche your blood / and soo they wente bothe in to the
pauelione / And anone syre launcelot staunched his blood /
There with al came the knyghtes lady / that was a passynge
fayre lady / And whanne she aspyed that her lord Belleus
was sore wounded she cryed oute on syre launcelot / and ma_de
grete dole oute of mesure / Pees my lady and my loue said
Belleus / for this knyght is a goood man and a knyght ad_uenturous /
and there he told her all the cause how he was wou~_ded /
And whan that I yolde me vnto hym / he lefte me goode_ly
and hath staunched my blood / Syre sayd the lady I re_quyre
the telle me what knyght ye be / and what is youre na_me /
Fayr lady he sayd / my name is syre launcelot du lake / soo
me thought euer by your speche sayd the lady / for I haue se_ne
yow ofte or this / and I knowe you better than ye wene /
 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 roud 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 cou_rte
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



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thenne syre launcelot armed hym / and took his hors / and they
taught hym to the Abbaye and thyder he rode within the spa_ce
of two owrys

 Capitulum Sextum /
|r<b> ANd soone as syre launcelott came withyn the Abbeye
      yarde / the doughter of kynge Bagdemagus herd a gre_te
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 thene she made launcelot passyng
good chere / and she sayd he was the kny¨t 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 yo_de
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 launce_lot
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 do_ughter _/ But syre whatknyghtes  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 ga_halaytyne
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 kny_ghtes
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



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partyes / and we shalle falle in the frounte of oure enemyes &
greue hem that we may / And thus shal I not be knowen what
knyght I am / Soo they took their rest that nyght / and thys
was on the sonday / and soo the kyng departed / and sente vnto
syre launcelot thre knyghtes with the four whyte sheldes
And on the tewesday they lodged hem in a lytyl leued wood
besyde there the turnement shold be / And there were scaffoldis
and holes that lordes and ladyes myghte beholde and to gy_ue
the pryse / Thenne came in to the feld the kyng of Northga_lys
with eyght score helmes / And thenne the thre knyghtes of
Arthur stode by them self /  Thenne cam in to the feld kyng
Bagdemagus with four score of helmys / And thenne they fe_wtryd
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 par_ty /
and kyng Bagdemagus party was ferre sette a back /

 Capitulum septimum
|r<b> 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 Mor_dred /
for syr Mador hath afore falle / Syre Launcelot was wa_re
of hym / and gate a grete spere in his hand / and mette hym
and syr Mordred brake a spere vpon hym / and syre launce_lot
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 my¨t dryue that both her speres to brast euen



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|r[f96v]
to their handes / and thenne they flang out with their swerdes
and gaf many a grym stroke / Thenne was syr launcelot wroth
oute of mesure / and thene he smote syr galahantyne on the hel_me
that his nose braste oute on blood and eerys and mouthe
bothe / and ther with his hede henge lowe / And therwith his
hors ranne awey with hym / and he felle doune to the erthe /
Anone there with al syre launcelot gate a greete spere in hys
hand / And or euer that grete spere brake / he bare doune to the
erthe xvj knyghtes some hors and man / and some the man &
not the hors / & there was none but that he hy¨t surely he bare no_ne
armes that day / And thenne he gate another grete spere &
smote doune twelue knyghtes / and the moost party of hem ne_uer
throfe after / And thene the kny¨tes of the kyng of north_galys
wold Iuste nomore / And there the gree was was gyuen to
kynge Bagdemagus / So eyther party departed vnto his ow_ne
place / and syr launcelot rode forth with kynge Bagdema_gus
vnto his castel / and there he had passynge good chere both
with the kyng and with his doughter / and they profred hym
grete yeftes / And on the morne he took his leue / and told the
kynge that he wold goo and seke his broder syre Lyonel that
wente from hym whan that he slepte / so he toke his hors / and
betaught hem alle to god / And there he sayd vnto the kynges
doughter yf ye haue nede ony tyme of my seruyse I praye you
lete me have knouleche / and I shal not faylle you as I am
true knyght / and so syr launcelot departed / and by aduenture
he came in to the same forest / there he was take slepyng / And in
the myddes of an hyhe way he mette a damoysel rydyng on a
whyte palfroy / and there eyther salewed other / Fayre damoy_sel
said syre launcelot knowe ye in this countray ony aduen_tures
/ syre knyghte sayd that damoysel / here are aduentures
nere hand / and thou durst preue hem / why shold I not pre_ue
aduentures said syre launcelot for that cause come I hyder /
Wel sayd she thou semest wel to be a good knyght / And yf
thou dare mete with a good knyght / I shal brynge the where
is the best knyght / and the myghtyest that euer thou fond / so
thou wylt telle me what is thy name / and what knyght thou
arte / damoysel as for to telle the my name I take no grete for_ce /
Truly my name is syre laucelot du lake / syre thou bysemyst



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wel / here ben aduentures by that fallen for the / for here by du_elleth
a knyght that wylle not be ouermatched for no man I
knowe but ye ouermatche hym / & his name is syre Turquyne
And as I vnderstand he hath in his pryson of Arthurs co_urte
good knyghtes thre score and foure / that he hath wonne
with his owne handes / But whan ye haue done that Iourney
ye shal promyse me as ye are a true knyght for to go with me
and to helpe me / and other damoysels that are distressid day_ly
with a fals knyghte / All your entente damoysel and desy_re
I wylle fulfylle / soo ye wyl brynge me vnto this knyghte
Now fayre knyght come on your waye / and soo she broughte
hym vnto the fourde and the tre where henge the bacyn / So sir
launcelot lete his hors drynke / and sythen he bete on the bacyn
with the butte of his spere so hard with al his my¨t tyl the bo_ttom
felle oute / and longe he dyd soo but he sawe noo thynge
Thenne he rode endlong the gates of that manoyre nyghe half
an houre / And thenne was he ware of a grete kny¨t that dro_fe
an hors afore hym / and ouerthwarte the hors there lay an
armed knyght bounden / And euer as they came nere and ne_re /
syre launcelot thou¨t he shold knowe hym / Thenne sir laun_celot
was ware that hit was syre gaherys Gawayns broder a
knyghte of the table round / Now fayre damoysel sayd sir la_uncelot /
I see yonder cometh a knyght fast bounden that is a
felawe of myne / and broder he is vnto syr gawayne / And att
the fyrst begynnyng I promyse yow by the leue of god to re_scowe
that knyght / But yf his mayster sytte better in the sa_del
I shal delyuer alle the prysoners that he hath oute of daun_ger /
for I am sure he hath two bretheren of myne prysoners
with hym / By that tyme that eyther had sene other / they gryp_ped
theyr speres vnto them / Now fayre knyghte sayd syr la_uncelot /
put that wounded knyghte of the hors / and lete hym
reste a whyle / and lete vs two preue oure strengthes / For as
it is enformed me thou doest and hast done grete despyte and
shame vnto knyghtes of the round table / and therfor now de_fende
the / And thow be of |r{ms=os} the table round sayd Turquyne I
defye the and alle thy felauship / that is ouermoche sayd / sa_yd
syre launcelot



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|r[f97v]
Capitulum viij
|r<b> ANd thene 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 ma_ny
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 fe_lawe
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 kny¨t that I hate aboue al other kny_ghtes /
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 launce_lot /
but sythen hit is soo that I may haue thy frendship what
knyght is he that thou soo hatest aboue al other / Feythfully sa_yd
syr Turquyne his name is syre launcelot du lake / for he sle_we
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 af_ter
helpe them self / and many haue dyed in pryson / and yet ha_ue
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 my_ghte
be I myght haue peas / and suche a man I myghte be /



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|r[f98r]
that ther shold be warre mortal betwyxte vs / and now syre
knyghte at thy request I wyl that thou wete and knowe that
I am Launcelot du lake kynge Bans sone of Benwyck / &
very knyghte of the table round / And now I defye the and
doe thy best / A sayd Turquyne / launcelot / thou arte vnto me
moost welcome that euer was knyghte / for we shalle neuer de_parte
tyl the one of vs be dede / Thenne they hurtled to gyders
as two wilde bulles rosshynge and lasshyng with their shel_des
and swerdes that somtyme they felle bothe ouer theyr no_ses /
Thus they foughte stylle two houres and more / and ne_uer
wolde haue reste / and syre Turquyn gaf syre lau~celot ma_ny
woundes / that alle the ground there as they foughte was
al bespeckled with blood

 Capitulum ix
|r<b> THenne at the last syr Turquyn waxed faynte / and
      gaf somwhat a bak / and bare his shelde lowe for wery_nesse /
That aspyed syre Launcelot / and lepte upon hym fyers_ly
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 lau~celot 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 de_lyuer
alle the prysoners / Soo syr launcelot wente vnto Gahe_ryes
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 my¨test man
& the best knyghte excepte yow that euer I sawe / & fore syre
said Gaheryes I pray you telle me your name / Syre my na_me
is syr launcelot du lake that ou¨te 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 yon_der
manayr / I am sure ye shal fynde ther many kny¨tes of the
round table / for I haue sene many of their sheldes that I knowe



|p196


|r[f98v]
on yonder tree / there is kayes shelde / & sir braundeles sheld /
and syr Marhaus sheld and syre Galyndes shelde and syre
Bryan de lystnoyse sheld and syr Alydukes sheld with ma_ny
mo that I am not now auysed of / and also my two brethe_ren
sheldes syre Ector de marys and syr Lyonel / wherfore I
pray yow grete them al from me / and say that I bydde them
take suche stuffe there as they fynd / and that in ony wyse my
bretheren goo vnto the courte and abyde me there tyl that I
come / for by the feest of pentecost I cast me to be there / for as at
this tyme I must ryde with this damoysel for to saue my pro_myse /
and soo he departed from Gaheryse / & Gaheryse yede in to
the manore / and ther he fond a yoman porter kepyng ther ma_ny
keyes / Anone with al syre gaheryse threwe the porter vnto
the ground / and toke the keyes from hym / and hastely he ope_ned
the pryson dore / and there he lete oute all the prysoners /
and euery man losed other of their boundes / And whan they
sawe syre Gaheryse / alle they thanked hym / for they wend that
he was wounded / Not soo sayd Gaheryse / hit wos launcelot
that slewe hym worshipfully with his owne handes / I sawe
it with myn owne eyen / and he greteth you al wel / and pra_yeth
you to haste you to the courte / And as vnto syr Lyonel
and Ector de marys he prayeth yow to abyde hym at the court
That shalle we not doo says his bretheren / we wyll fynde hym
and we may lyue / So shal I sayd syr kay fynde hym or I
come at the courte as I am true knyghte / Thenne alle tho kn_yghtes
sou¨ght the hous there as the armour was / and thenne
they armed hem / and euery knyght fonde his owne hors / &
al thet euer longed vnto hym / And whan this was done ther
cam a foster |r{ms=soster} with foure horses lade with fatte veneson / A none
syr kay sayd / here is good mete for vs for one meale / for we
had not many a day no good repast / And so that veneson
was rosted baken and soden / and so after souper somme abode
there al that nyghte / But syre Lyonel and Ector de marys
and syre kay rode after syre launcelot to fynde hym yf they
myghte

 Capitulum Decimum



|p197


|r[f99r]
|r<b> NOw torne we vnto syre laucelot that rode with the da_moysel
      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 kny_ght
& a rauyssher of wymmen / he doth shame vnto the ordre of
knyghthode / and contrary vnto his othe / hit is pyte that he ly_ueth /
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 |pwith hym / & the_re
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 gentyl_wymmen /
whanne the knyghte sawe syre launcelot thus rebu_kynge
hym / he ansuerd not / but drewe his swerd and rode vn_to
syre launcelot / and syre laucelot 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 wat_ched
to destroye knyghtes / soo dyde this knyght attende to des_troye
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 whe_re
someuer ye ryde or goo / for the curteyst knyghte thou arte
and mekest vnto all ladyes and gentylwymmen that now ly_ueth /
But one thyng syre knyghte me thynketh ye lacke / ye
that are a knyghte wyueles that ye wyl not loue some may_den
or gentylwoman / sor I coude neuer here say that euer ye lo_ued
ony of no maner degree and that is grete pyte / but hit is
noysed that ye loue quene Gueneuer / and that she hath ordey_ned
by enchauntement that ye shal neuer loue none other / but
her / ne none other damoysel ne lady shall reioyse you / wherfor



|p198


|r[f99v]
many in this land of hyghe estate and lowe make grete so_rowe /
 Fayre damoysel sayd syr launcelot I maye not war_ne
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 aduentu_res /
And as for to say for to take my plesaunce with peramo_urs
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 ouerco_me
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 withou¨te 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 gre_te
clubbe shod with yron / Thenne syre laucelot 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 laucelot 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 do_res
and wyndowes that sayd fayr knyghte thou arte vnhap_py

Capitulum xj



|p199


|r[f100r]
Capitulum xij |r{ms=Capitulum_xj}
|r<b> ANone with al cam there vpon hym two grete gyaunts
      wel armed al sauf the hedes with two horryble club_bes
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 / &
laucelot after hym with al his my¨t & smote hym on the shol_der /
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 kny¨te
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 gya_unts /
for many fayre knyghtes haue assayed hit / and here ha_ue
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 V_therpendragon /
& 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



|p200


|r[f100v]
countreyes and thorou many waters and valeyes and euyl
was he lodged / And at the laste by fortune hym happend a_geynst
a nyghte to come to a fayr courtelage / & therin he fond
an old gentylwoman that lodged hym with good wyl / and
there he had good chere for hym and his hors / And whan ty_me
was his oost brought hym in to a fayre garet ouer the ga_te
to his bedde / There syre Launcelot vnarmed hym & sette hys
harneys by hym / and wente to bed / and anone he felle on slepe /
So soone after ther cam one on horsback / & knocked at the ga_te
in grete haste / and whan syr launcelot herd this / he arose vp
and loked oute at the wyndowe / & sawe by the mone lyghte
thre knyghtes cam rydyng after that one man / and al thre las_shed
on hym at ones with swerdes / & that one kny¨t tourned
on hem kny¨tly ageyne / and deffended hym / Truly saide syre
launcelot yonder one kny¨te shal I helpe / for it were shame for
me to see thre kny¨tes on one / And yf he be slayne I am parte_ner
of his deth / & ther with he took his harneis / and went out
at a wyndowe by a shete doune to the four kny¨tes / & thenne
syr launcelot sayd on hyghe / torne you knyghtes vnto me and
leue your fyghtyng with that knyght / And thenne they alle
thre lefte syr kay / and torned vnto syr launcelot / and there be_ganne
grete bataylle / for they alyghte al thre / and strake ma_ny
grete strokes at syr launcelot / and assayled hym on eue_ry
syde / Thenne syre kay dressid hym for to haue holpen syre
Launcelot / nay syre sayd he I wylle none of your helpe / ther_for
as ye wylle haue my helpe / lete me alone with them / Syre
kay for the pleasyre of the knyghte suffred hym for to doo hys
wylle / and soo stode on syde / And thenne anon within vj stro_kes /
syre launcelot had stryken hem to the erthe
 And thenne they al thre cryed syre knyghte we yelde vs
vnto you as man of myght makeles / As to that said syr lau~_celot
I will not take your yeldyng vnto me / But so that ye
wylle yelde you vnto syr kay the Seneschal on that couena_unt
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 laucelot / auyse you wel / for ye may chese whether ye wyll



|p201


|r[f101r]
dye or lyue / for and ye be yolden it shal be vnto syr kay /
 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 Gue_neuer /
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 ly_uynge /
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 ta_ke
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 lod_ged
to gyders in one bedde / On the morne sir launcelot arose er_ly /
and lefte syre kay slepynge / and sir launcelot toke sire ka_yes
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 feythe |r{ms=seythe} I knowe wel that he wylle
greue some of the courte of kynge Arthur. For on hym knygh_tes
wylle be bolde / and deme that it is I / and that wyll begyle
them / And by cause of his armoure and shelde I am sure I
shal ryde in pees / And thenne soone after departed sir kay &
thanked his hoost

 Capitulum xij



|p202


|r[f101v]
|r<b> NOw torne we vnto syre launcelot that had ryden long
      in a grete forest / and at the last he came in to a lowe co_untray
ful of fayre Ryuers and medowes / And a_fore
hym he sawe a longe brydge / and thre pauelions stode ther
on of sylke and sendel of dyuers hewe / And withou¨te the pa_uelions
henge thre whyte sheldes on truncheons of sperys / &
grete longe sperys stode vpryght by the pauelions / and at eue_ry
pauelions dore stode thre fresshe squyers / and soo syre laun_celot
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 ofty_me
preued / By my feythe sayd one of the knyghtes / his na_me
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 kny_ght
syr kay / for thou shalt not passe quyte / Soo syr launcelot
torned hym / and eyther feutryd their speres / and came to gy_ders
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 o_ther
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 / whe_ther
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 ynou¨
to matche that knyght / for euer me semeth by his persone it is
syre Launcelot / or syr Trystram / or syr Pelleas the good kny_ght /
Thenne anon they toke theyr horses and ouertook syr la_uncelot /
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 my_ght
with my worship I wold not haue a doo with yow but



|p203


|r[f102r]
nedes I must take parte as they doo / And therfor knyghte he
sayd / kepe thy self / And soo they hurtled to gyders with alle
theyr myghtes / and al to sheuered bothe theyre speres / And
thenne they drewe her swerdes and lasshyd to gyder egerly /
Anone there with aroos syre Gauter / and came vnto his bro_der
syre gylmere / and bad hym aryse and helpe we oure bro_der
syr Raynold that yonder merueyllously matched yonder
good knyght / There with alle they lepte on theyr horses & hurt_led
vnto syre launcelot /  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 brethe_ren /
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 ray_nold
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 vn_to
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

 Capitulum xiij
|r<b> 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 Vwa_yne /
Anone as these four knyghtes had aspyed sir Launcelot
they wend by his armes it hadde ben sir kay / Now by my fey_the
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



|p204


|r[f102v]
feutryd his spere ageynst hym / and smote syre Sagramore so
sore that hors and man felle bothe to the erthe / Lo my felaus
sayd he yonder ye may see what a buffet he hath / that kny¨t is
moche bygger than euer was syre kay / Now shal ye see what
I may doo to hym / Soo syr Ector gate his spere in his hand
and wallopte toward syre Laucelot / and syre Launcelot smo_te
hym thorou the shelde & sholder that man and hors went to
the erthe / and euer his spere held / By my feythe sayd sir V_wayne
yonder is a strong knyghte / and I am sure he hath sla_yne
syr kay / And I see by his grete strengthe it wyll be hard
to matche hym / And there with al syre Vwayne gate his spe_re
in his hand and rode toward syre Launcelot / and syr laun_celot
knewe hym wel / and soo he mette hym on the playne / &
gafe hym suche a buffette that he was astonyed / that longe he
wyst not where he was / Now see I wel sayd syre gawayne
I must encoutre with that kny¨t / Thenne he dressid he his sheld
and gate a good spere in his hand / and syre launcelot kne_we
hym wel / and thenne they lete renne theyr horses with all
theyr myghtes / and eyther knyght smote other in myddes of
the shelde / But syre gawayns spere to brast / and syre launcelot
charged so sore vpon hym that his hors reuersed vp so doune
And moche sorowe had syre gawayn to auoyde his hors / and
so syre launcelot passed on a paas and smyled and said god
gyue hym ioye that this spere made / for there came neuer a bet_ter
in my hand / Thenne the four knyghtes wente echone to o_ther
and comforted eche other / what saye ye by this gest sayd
syre Gawayne / that one spere hath feld vs al foure / we com_maunde
hym vnto the deuyl they sayd al / for he is a man of
grete myght / ye may wel saye it / sayd syre gawayne / that he is
a man of myght / for I dare lay my hede it is syre Launcelot
I knowe it by his rydyng / Lete hym goo sayd syre Gawayn
for whan we come to the courte than shal we wete / and then_ne
had they moche sorowe to gete theyr horses ageyne

 Capitulum xiiij
|r<b> NOw leue we there & speke of syr Launcelot that rode a
      grete whyle in a depe forest where he saw a black brachet



|p205


|r[f103r]
sekyng in maner as it had ben in the feaute of an hurt dere /
And ther with he rode after the brachet and he sawe lye on the
ground a large feaute of blood / And thenne syre launcelot
rode after / And euer the Brachet loked behynd her / and soo
she wente thorou a grete mareyse / and euer syre launcelot folo_wed /
And thenne was he ware of an old manoyr / and thy_der
ranne the brachet / and soo ouer the brydge / Soo syre laun_celot
rode ouer that brydge that was old and feble / and whan
he cam in myddes of a grete halle ther he sawe lye a dede kny_ght
that was a semely man / and that brachet lycked his wo_undes /
and there with al came oute a lady wepyng & wryn_gyng
her handes / And thenne she sayd / O knyghte to moche
sorowe hast thou broughte me / Why saye ye soo sayd syre laun_celot /
I dyd neuer this knyghte no harme / for hyther by feau_te
of blood this Brachet broughte me / And therfor fayre la_dy
be not displeased with me / for I am ful sore agreued of
your greuaunce / Truly syre she sayd I trowe hit be not ye that
hath slayne my husband / for he that dyd that dede is sore wo_unded /
& he is neuer lyckly to recouer / that shal I ensure hym /
What was your husbandes name sayd syre laucelot / Syre sayd
she / his name was called syre Gylbert the bastard one of the
best knyghtes of the world / and he that hath slayne hym I
knowe not his name / Now god sende you better comforte sa_yd
syre launcelot / and soo he departed and wente in to the fo_rest
ageyne / and there he met with a damoysel / the whiche kne_we
hym wel / and she sayd on loude wel be ye fond my lord
And now I requyre the on thy knyghthode helpe my brother
that is sore wounded / and neuer stynteth bledyng / for this day
he fought with syre gylbert the bastard & slewe hym in playn
bataylle / and there was my broder sore wounded / and there is
a lady a sorceresse that duelleth in a castel here besyde / and this
day she told me / my broders woundes shold neuer be hole tyl I
coud fynde a knyght that wold go in to the chappel peryllous / &
ther he shold fynde a swerd and a blody clothe that the woun_ded
knyght was lapped in / and a pyece of that clothe & swerd
shold hele my broders woundes so that his woundes were ser_ched
with the swerde and the clothe / This is a merueyllous
thynge sayd syre launcelot / but what is your broders name /



|p206


|r[f103v]
Syre she sayd / his name was syre Melyot de logurs / that me
repenteth said syre launcelott / for he is a felawe of the table
round / and to his helpe I wylle doo my power / Thenne syre
sayd she / folowe euen this hyhe waye / and it wyl brynge you
vnto the chappel peryllous / And here I shalle abyde tyl god
send you here ageyne / and but you spede I knowe no kny¨te
lyuynge that may encheue that aduenture

 Capitulum xv
|r<b> RYyght soo syr Launcelot departed / And whan he cam
      vnto the chappel peryllous / he alyghte doune / and te_yed
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 shel_des
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 ba_taylle /
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 sy_de
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 ly_ght /
but a dymme lamp brennynge / and thenne was he ware
of a corps hylled with a clothe of sylke / Thenne syre Launce_lot
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



|p207


|r[f104r]
by yonde the chappel yarde ther mette hym a fayre damoysel &
sayd syr launcelot leue that swerd behynde the / or thou wil
dye for it / I leue it not sayd syr launcelot for no treatys /
No sayd she and thou dydest loue that swerd / quene gwene_uer
shold thou neuer see / thenne were I a foole and I wold
leue this swerd sayd launcelot / Now gentyl knyghte sayde
the damoysel / I requyre the to kysse me but ones / Nay sayd
syr launcelot that god me forbede / wel syr sayd she / and thou
haddest kyssed me / thy lyf dayes had ben done / but now allas
she said I haue loste al my labour / for I ordeyned this chap_pel
for thy sake / and for syre gawayne / And ones I had syr
Gawayne within me / and at that tyme he foughte with that
knyghte that lyeth there dede in yonder chappel syre Gylbert
the bastard . and at that tyme he smote the lyfte hand of of sir
Gylbert the bastard / And syre Launcelot now I telle the / I
haue loued the this seuen yere / but there may no woman ha_ue
thy loue but quene Gweneuer / But sythen I maye not
reioyce the to haue thy body on lyue I had kepte no more ioye
in this world / but to haue thy body dede / Thenne wold I ha_ue
baumed hit and serued hit / and soo haue kepte it my lyfe
dayes / and dayly I shold haue clypped the / and kyssed the in
despyte of Quene Gweneuer / ye saye wel sayd syr launcelot
Ihesu preserue me from your subtyle craftes / And ther with al
he took his hors and soo departed from her / And as the book sa_yth
whan syr launcelot was departed she took suche sorou that
she dyed within a fourten nyghte / and her name was Hella_wes
the sorceresse lady of the castel Nygramous / Anone syre
launcelot mette with the damoysel syre Melyotis syster / And
whan she sawe hym she clapped her handes / and wepte for ioye
And thenne they rode vnto a castel there by where lay syr Me_lyot /
And anone as syre launcelot sawe hym / he knewe hym /
but he was passynge pale as the erthe for bledyng / whan syre
Melyot sawe syre launcelot he kneled vpon his knees and cry_ed
on hyghe / O lord syr launcelot helpe me / Anone syre laun_celot
lepte vnto hym and touched his woundes with syr Gyl_bertes
swerde / And thenne he wyped his woundes with a part
of the blody clothe that sir gylbert was wrapped in / and anon
an holer man in his lyf was he neuer / And thenne ther was



|p208


|r[f104v]
grete ioye bytwene hem / and they made syr launcelot all the che_re
that they myghte / and soo on the morne syre launcelot toke
his leue / and badde syre Melyot hye hym to the courte of my
lord Arthur / for it draweth nyhe to the feest of pentecoste / and
there by the grace of god ye shal fynde me / and therwith they
departed /

 Capitulum xvj
|r<b> ANd soo syre Launcelot rode thorou many straunge co_untreyes
      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 leg_ges
fast / and syre launcelot sawe how he henge / and byheld the
fayre faucon perygot / & he was sory for her / The meane why_le
came a lady oute of the castel and cryed on hyghe O laun_celot
launcelot as thou arte floure of alle knyghtes helpe me
to gete my hauke / for and my hauke be lost / my lord wyl des_troye
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 bo_wes
to helpe me with alle / And ther with sir launcelot aly¨te
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 gre_te
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



|p209


|r[f105r]
husband al armed / and with his naked swerd in his hand
and sayd O knyghte launcelot now haue I fond the as I
wold and stode at the bole of the tree to slee hym / A lady sa_yd
syre Launcelot why haue ye bytrayed me / She hath done
sayd syre Phelot but as I commaunded her / and therfor ther
nys none other boote but thyne houre is come that thou muste
dye / That were shame vnto the sayd syre launcelot thou an ar_med
knyghte to slee a naked man by treason / thou getest no_ne
other grace sayd syre phelot and therefor helpe thy self and
thou canst / Truly sayde syre launcelot that shal be thy shame /
but syn thou wylt doo none other / take myn harneys with the
and hange my swerde vpon a bough that I maye gete hit / &
thenne doo thy best to slee me and thou canst / Nay nay said
sir
Phelot / for I knowe the better than thou wenest / therfor thow
getest no wepen and I may kepe you ther fro / Allas said sir
launcelot that euer a knyghte shold dye wepenles / And ther
with he wayted aboue hym and vnder hym / and ouer his he_de
he sawe a rownsepyk a bygge bough leueles / and ther with
he brake it of by the body / And thenne he came lower & away_ted
how his owne hors stode / and sodenly he lepte on the fer_ther
syde of the hors froward the knyghte / And thenne sir phe_lot
lasshed at hym egerly wenynge to haue slayne hym / But
syr Launcelot putte aweye the stroke with the rounsepyk / and
ther with he smote hym on the one syde of the hede that he felle
doune in a swoune to the ground / Soo thenne syre launcelot
took his swerd oute of his hand and stroke his neck fro the
body / Thenne cryed the lady / Allas why hast thou slayne my
husband / I am not causer sayd syre launcelot / for with fals_hede
ye wold haue had slayne me with treson / and now it is
fallen on you bothe / And thenne she souned as though she
wold dye / And ther with al syre launcelot gate al his armo_ur
as wel as he myght / and put hit vpon hym for drede of
more resorte / for he dredde that the kny¨tes castel was soo nygh
And soo as soone as he myght he took his hors and departed
and thanked god that he had escaped that aduenture

 Capitulum xvij



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|r[f105v]
|r<b> 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 na_ked
swerd to haue slayn her / And by fortune as this kny¨te
shold haue slayne thys lady she cryed on syr Launcelot and
prayd hym to rescowe her / Whan syre launcelot sawe that me_schyef /
he took his hors and rode bytwene them / sayeng kny¨te
fy for shame / why wolt thou slee this lady / thou dost shame vn_to
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 ca_use
I loue and cherysshe my cosyn germayne / he is Ialous
betwixe hym and me / And as I shalle ansuer to god there
|r{ms=three} was neuer synne betwyxe vs / But sir sayd the lady as thou
arte called the worshipfullest knyghte of the world I requy_re
the of true kny¨thode kepe me and saue me / For what som_euer
ye saye he wyl slee me / for he is withou¨te mercy / haue ye
no doubte sayd launcelot it shal not lye in his power / Syr sa_yd
the knyghte in you syghte I wyl be ruled as ye wylle
haue me / And soo sir launcelot rode on the one syde and she on
the other / he had not ryden but a whyle / but the knyghte badde
sir Launcelot torne hym and loke behynde hym / and sayde syre
yonder come men of armes after vs rydynge / And soo sir la_uncelot
torned hym and thoughte no treason / and there wyth
was the knyghte and the lady on one syde / & sodenly he swap_ped
of his ladyes hede / And whan syr Launcelot hadde aspy_ed
hym what he had done / he sayd and called hym traytour
thou hast shamed me for euer / and sodenly sir launcelot aly¨te
of his hors and pulled oute his |r{ms=hrs} swerd to slee hym / and there
with al he felle flat to the erthe / and grypped sir launcelot by
the thyes and cryed mercy / Fy on the sayd sir launcelot thow
shameful knyght thou mayst haue no mercy / and therfor ary_se
and fyghte with me / nay sayde the knyghte I wyl neuer
aryse tyl ye graunte me mercy / Now wyl I profer the fayr sa_id
launcelot I wyl vnarme me vnto my sherte / and I wylle



|p211


|r[f106r]
haue nothyng vpon me / but my sherte and my swerd and my
hand / And yf thou canst slee me / quyte be thou for euer / nay
sir said Pedyuere that wille I neuer / wel said sir Launcelott
take this lady and the hede / and bere it vpon the / and here shalt
thou swere vpon my swerd to bere it alweyes vpon thy back
and neuer to reste tyl thou come to quene Gueneuer / Syre sa_yd
he that wylle I doo by the feithe of my body / Now said la_uncelot
telle me what is your name / sir my name is Pedyue_re /
In a shameful houre were thou borne said launcelot / Soo
Pedyuere departed with the dede lady and the hede / and fond
the quene with kynge Arthur at wynchestre / and there he told
alle the trouthe / Syre kny¨t said the quene this is an horryble
dede and a shameful / and a grete rebuke vnto sire launcelott
But not withstondynge his worship is not knowen in many
dyuerse countreyes / but this shalle I gyue you in penaunce
make ye as good skyfte as ye can ye shal bere this lady with
you on horsbak vnto the pope of Rome / and of hym receyue
your penaunce for your foule dedes / and ye shalle neuer reste
one nyghte there as ye doo another / and ye goo to ony bedde the
dede body shal lye with you / this othe there he made and soo de_parted /
And as it telleth in the frensshe book / whan he cam to
Rome / the pope badde hym goo ageyne vnto quene Gueneuer
and in Rome was his lady beryed by the popes commaunde_ment /
And after this sir Pedyuere felle to grete goodnesse / &
was an holy man and an heremyte

 Capitulum xviij
|r<b> NOw torne we vnto sir launcelot du lake that came ho_me
      two dayes afore the seest of Pentecost / and the ky_ng
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 spe_re /
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 wor_shipped
syre launcelot /  Whanne sire Gaheryes herd them



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|r[f106v]
speke / he said / I sawe alle the bataille from the begynnyng to
the endynge / and there he told kyng Arthur alle how it was
and how syre Turquyn was the strongest knyghte that euer
he sawe excepte syre launcelot / there were many knyghtes bare
hym record nyghe thre score / Thenne sire kay told the kynge /
how syr launcelot had rescowed hym whan he shold haue ben
slayne / and how he made the knyghtes yelde hem to me / and
not to hym / And there they were al thre / and bare record / and
by Ihesu said syr kay by cause syr launcelot took my harneis
and lefte me his / I rode in good pees / and no man wold ha_ue
adoo with me /  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 yo_ur
herte said sir kay / yonder is syr launcelot the ouercam you
whan they wyst that / they were glad / And thenne syr Mely_ot
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 north_galys
and kynge Bagdemagus Alle the trouthe syr Gaha_lantyne
dyd telle / and syre Mador de la porte and syre Mor_dred /
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 lau~_celot
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

 Explicit the noble tale of syr Launcelot du lake whiche is
the vj book
Here foloweth the tale of syr Gareth of Orkeney that was
called Beaumayns by syr kay and is the seuenth book



|p213


|r[f107r]
 Capitulum primum
|r<b> WHan Arthur held his round table moost ple_nour /
      it fortuned that he commaunded that the
hyhe feest of Pentecost shold be holden at a cy_te
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 ma_ner
of straunge aduentures came before Arthur as at that fe_est
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 hy_he
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 ryche_ly
/ 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 with_out
sayeng of ony wordes / thenne this moche yong man pul_led
hym a bak and easily stretched vp streyghte / sayeng kynge
Arthur god you blisse and al your fair felauship / and in espe_cial
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



|p214


|r[f107v]
no grete hurte nor losse / And the fyrst done and gyfte I wil
aske now / and the other two yeftes I wylle aske this daye
twelue moneth / where someuer ye hold your hyghe feest / Now
aske sayd Arthur / and ye shalle haue your askyng
 Now syre this is my petycyon for thys feest / that ye wylle
gyue me mete and drynke suffycyauntly for this twelue mo_neth
/ 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 as_ked
that I wylle aske / wel sayd the kynge ye shal have me_te
& drynke ynou¨ / I neuer deffended èt none / nother my fren_de
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 so_ne /
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 èt 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  Ca ij
|r<b> THere at was sir Gawayn wroth / & in especyal sir lau_ncelot
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 kny¨t
Brewnor syre Dynadamys broder a name / and ye called
hym la cote male tayle / and that tourned you to anger after-



|p215


|r[f108r]
ward / As for that sayd syr kay this shall neuer preue none
suche / For syr Brewnor desyred euer worship and thys desy_reth
breed & drynke / & brothe vpon payne of my lyf he was
fostred vp in some abbay / and how someuer it was they fay_led
mete and drynke / and soo hyther he is come for his sus_tenaunce
 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 dis_pleasyd
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 Ga_wayne /
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 Whytson_tyde /
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 vn_tyl
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 aduen_ture /
 Syre she sayd I haue a lady of grete worship and
renomme / and she is byseged with a tyraunte so that she may



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|r[f108v]
not oute of her castel / And by cause here are callyd the no_blest
knyghtes of the world / I come to you to praye you of
socour / What heteth your lady and where dwelleth she / & who
is he / & what is his name that hath byseged her / syre kyng she
saide / as for my ladyes name that shall not ye knowe for me
as at this tyme / but I lete you wete she is a lady of grete wor_ship
and of grete landes / And as for the tyraunt that  bysye_geth
her and destroyeth her landes he is called the rede knyght
of the reed laundes / I knowe hym not sayd the kynge / Syre
said syre Gawayne / I knowe hym wel for he is one of the pe_rilloust
knyghtes of the world / men saye that he hath seuen
mennys strengthe / and from hym I escaped ones ful hard /
with my lyf / Fayre damoysel sayd the kynge there ben kny_¨tes
here wolde doo her power for to rescowe your lady / but by
cause ye wylle not telle her name nor where she dwelleth / ther_for
none of my knyghtes that here be now shal goo with yow
by my wylle / thenne must I speke further sayd the damoysel

 Capitulum iij
|r<b> 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 sustenauce and now I will aske my
two yeftes that ben behynde / Aske vpon my peryl said the ky_nge /
Syre this shal be my two gyftes / fyrst that ye wil gra_unte
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 Launce_lot
du lake to make me kny¨t 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 requy_re
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
|p/ 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 ma_ner
/ ther at al the court had moche merueill from whens cam al èt {è mit hochgestelltem t}



|p217


|r[f109r]
gere / Soo whanne he was armed ther was none but fewe soo
goodely a man as he was / and ryght soo as he came in to the
halle and took his leue of kyng Arthur & sir Gawayn & syr
launcelot / and prayed that he wolde hyhe after hym / and soo
departed and rode after the damoysel

 Capitulum iiij
|r<b> BVt there wente many after to behold how wel he was
      horsed and trapped in clothe of gold / but he had ney_ther
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 ga_wayn
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 tor_ned
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 laucelot to Ius_te /
and eyther made hem redy / and they came to gyder soo fyers_ly
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



|p218


|r[f109v]
mountenaunce of an houre / and syre launcelot felte hym soo
bygge that he merueylled of his strengthe / for he fought more
lyker a gyaunt than a knyght / and that his fyghtynge was
durable and passynge perillous / For syr launcelot had so mo_che
adoo with hym that he dred hym self to be shamed / and sa_yd
Beaumayns fyghte not so sore / youre quarel and myn is
not soo grete but we may leue of / Truly that is trouthe sayd
Beaumayns / but it doth me good to fele your myght / and yet
my lord I shewed not the vtteraunce

 Capitulum quintum
|r<b> 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 sa_yd
Launcelot / doo as ye haue done / and I shal be your wara_unt
/ Thenne I praye you sayd Beaumayns yeue me the or_dre
of knyghthode / thenne must ye telle me your name seyd la_uncelot /
and of what kynne ye be borne / Syr soo that ye wylle
not discouer me I shal sayd Beaumayns / nay sayd syre lau~_celot /
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 thou¨te 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 kny¨thode / and thenne sire Ga_reth
prayd hym for to departe and lete hym goo / Soo syre la_uncelot
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 re_buke
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



|p219


|r[f110r]
the greece and talowe that thou gaynest in kyng Arthurs ke_chyn /
wenest thou sayd she that I alowe the for yonder kny¨t
that thou kyllest / Nay truly / for thou slewest hym vnhappely
and cowardly / therfor torne ageyn bawdy kechyn |p/ I kno_we
the wel / for syre kay named the Beaumayns / what arte
thou but a luske and a torner of broches and a ladyl wessher
Damoysel sayd Beaumayns saye to me what ye wylle / I
wylle not goo from you what someuer ye say / for I haue vn_tertake
to kynge Arthur for to acheue your aduenture / and  so
shal I fynysshe it to the ende / eyther I shal dye therfore / Fy
on the kechyn knaue wolt thou fynysshe myn aduenture / thou
shalt anone be met with al / that thou woldest not for alle the
brothe that euer thou soupest ones loke hym in the face / I shal
assaye sayd Beaumayns / Soo thus as they rode in the wo_ode /
ther came a man fleynge al that euer he myghte / whether
wolt thou sayd Beaumayns / O lord he said / helpe me / for he_re
by in a slade are syxe theues that haue taken my lord and
bounde hym / soo I am aferd lest they wyl slee hym / Brynge
me thyder said Beaumayns / and soo they rode to gyders vn_tyl
they came there as was the knyghte bounden / and thenne
he rode vnto hem / and strake one vnto the dethe / and  thenne an
other / and at the thyrd stroke he slewe the thyrdde theef / and
thenne the other thre fledde / And he rode after hem / and he o_uertook
hem / and thenne tho thre theues tourned ageyne and
assayled Beaumayns hard / but at the last he slewe them / & re_torned
and vnbounde the knyghte / And the knyght thanked
hym / and prayd hym to ryde with hym to his castel there a ly_tel
besyde / and he shold worshipfully rewarde hym for his go_od
dedes / Syr sayd Beaumayns I wille no reward haue /
I was this day made knyghte of noble syr launcelot / & ther_for
I wylle no reward haue / but god rewarde me / And also
I must folowe this damoysel / And whan he came nyghe her
she bad hym ryde fro her / for thou smellyst al of the kechyn /
Wenest thou that I haue Ioye of the / for |r{ms=sor} al this dede that thou
hast done nys but myshappen the / But thou shalt see a syghte
shal make the torne ageyne and that lyghtly / Thenne the sa_me
knyght whiche was rescowed of the theues rode after that
damoysel and prayed her to lodge with hym alle that nyghte
And by cause it was nere nyght / the damoysel rode with hym



|p220


|r[f110v]
to his castel / and there they had grete chere / and at souper the
knyght sat syr Beumayns afore the damoisel / Fy fy said she
syr knyghte ye are vncurtoys to sette a kechyn |pafore me
hym bysemeth better to stycke a swyne than to sytte afore a da_moysel
of hyhe parage / thenne the knyght was ashamed atte
her wordes / and took hym vp / and sette hym at asyde bord /
and sette hym self afore hym / and soo al that nyght they had
good chere and mery reste /

 Capitulum sextum
|r<b> ANd on the morn the damoisel & he took their leue & than_ked
      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 sa_yd
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 swer_des /
and smote egerly at other / And at the last syr Beauma_yns
smote the other vpon the helme that his hede stonyed / and
there with alle he felle doune in the water / and there waks he
drowned / And the~ne he sporyd his hors vpon the londe / whe_re
he 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
|pshold haue that fortune to destroye suche two dou¨ty kn_yghtes /
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 be_hynde
hym and myshappely thou slowe hym / Damoysel sayd
Beaumayns ye maye saye what ye wyl / but with whom som_euer
I haue a doo with al I truste to god to serue hym or he



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|r[f111r]
departe / And therfor I recke not what ye say soo that I may
wynne youre lady / Fy fy foule kechen knaue thou shalt see
knyghtes that shal abate thy boost / Fayre damoysel gyue me
goodly langage / and thenne my care is past / for what knygh_tes
someuer they be / I care not ne I doubte hem not / Also sayd
she I saye it for thyne auayle / yet mayst thou torne ageyne
with thy worship / for and thou folowe me / thou arte but sla_yne /
for I see alle that euer thou dost is but by mysauenture /
and not by prowesse of thy handes / wel damoysel ye may say
what ye wylle / but where someuer ye goo I wylle folowe you
Soo this Beaumayns rode with that lady tyl euensong tyme
and euer she chyde hym and wold not reste / And they cam
to a black launde / and there was a black hauthorne / & theron
henge a blak baner / and on the other syde there henge a black
shelde / and by hit stode a black spere grete and longe  / and a
grete black hors couerd with sylke / and a black stone fast by

 Capitulum septimum
|r<b> THer sat a{kursiv} knyghte al armed in black harneis / and
      his name was èe{e ist hochgestellt} kny¨t of the blak lau~de / the~ne èe{è mit hochgestelltem e} da_moysel
whanne she sawe that knyghte she badde hym flee doun
that valey for his hors was not sadeled / Gramercy sayd Be_aumayns /
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 do_ne
this day / thorou myshappe I sawe hym slee two knyghtes
at the passage of the water / and other dedes he dyde beforne ry_ght
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 da_moysel /
And for by cause he rydeth with me / they wene that he



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|r[f111v]
be some man of worship borne / that may be / sayd the blak kn_yghte /
how be it as ye say that he be no man of worshyp he is
a ful lykely persone / and ful lyke to be a stronge man / but
thus moche shal I graunte you sayd the black knyghte / I
shal putte hym doune vpon one foote / and his hors and hys
harneys he shal leue with me / for it were shame to me to doo
hym ony more harme / Whanne syre Beaumayns herd hym sa_ye
thus / he sayd syre knyghte thou art ful large of my hors
and my harneys / I lete the wete it coste the noughte / & whe_ther
hit lyketh the or not this launde wylle I passe maulgre
thyn hede / And hors ne harneys getest thou none of my / but
yf thou wynne hem with thy handes / and therfor lete see what
thou canst doo / Sayst thou that sayd the black knyghte / now
yelde thy lady fro the / for it besemeth neuer a kechyn |pto
ryde with suche a lady / Thou lyest sayd Beaumayns I am
a gentyl man borne and of more hyghe lygnage than thou / &
that wyl I preue on thy body / Thenne in grete wrathe they de_parted
with theyr horses / and came to gyders as hit had ben
the thonder / and the black knyghtes spere brake / and Beau_mayns
threste hym thorou bothe his sydes / and there with his
spere brak / and the truncheon lefte stylle in his syde / But ne_uertheles
the black knyght drewe his suerd / and smote ma_ny
eger strokes and of grete myghte / and hurte Beaumayns
ful sore / But at the laste the black knyghte within an houre
and an half he felle doune of his hors in swoune / and there
he dyed / And thenne Beaumayns sawe hym soo wel horsed
and armed / thenne he alyghte doune and armed hym in his
armour / and soo took his hors and rode after the damoysel /
Whanne she sawe hym come nyghe / she sayd awey kechyn kna_ue
oute of the wynde / for the smelle of thy baudy clothes gre_ueth
me / Allas she sayd that euer suche a knaue shold by mys_hap
slee soo good a knyghte as thou hast done / but alle thys
is thyn vnhappynes / But here by is one shal paye the alle thy
payement / and therfore yet I counceylle the / flee / it may hap_pen
me sayd Beaumayns to be beten or slayne / but I warne
you fayre damoysel I wyll not flee awey / nor leue your com_pany
for al that ye can say / for euer ye say that they wil kylle
me or bete me / but how someuer hit happeneth I escape / and



|p223


|r[f112r]
they lye on the groud / And therfore it were as good for you
to hold you styll thus al day rebukynge me / for aweye wille I
not tyl I see the vttermest of this Iourneye / or els I wylle
be slayne / outher truly beten / therfore ryde on your waye / For
folowe you I wille what someuer happen

 Capitulum octauum
|r<b> THus as they rode to gyders they sawe a knyght come
      dryuend by them al in grene bothe his hors & his har_neis /
And whanne he came nyghe the damoysel he as_ked
her / is that my broder the black Kny¨te that ye haue bro_ught 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 kna_es
hand as ye say that he is / a traytour sayd the grene kny_ghte
thou shalt dye for sleynge of my broder / he was a ful noble
knyghte and his name was syr Pereard / I defye the sa_id
Beaumayns / for I lete the wete I slewe hym knyghtely
and not shamefully / There with al the grene knyghte rode vn_to
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 ho_rs
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 ly_ke
two myghty kempys a longe whyle / and sore they bledde
bothe / with that cam the damoysel / and said my lord the gre_ne
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



|p224


|r[f112v]
wede ouer grewe the corne / There with the grene knyght was
ashamed / and there with al he gaf a grete stroke of myghte &
clafe his shelde thorou / Whan Beaumayns sawe his shelde clo_uen
a sonder / he was a lytel ashamed of that stroke and of her
langage / And thenne he gaf hym suche a buffet vpon the hel_me
that he felle on his knees / And soo sodenly Beaumayns
pulled hym vpon the ground grouelynge / And thenne the
grene knyghte cryed hym mercy / and yelded hym vnto syre
Beaumayns / and prayd hym to slee hym not / Al is in vayn
said Beaumayns for thou shalt dye but yf this damoysel that
came with me praye me to saue thy lyf / and ther with al he vn_laced
his helme lyke as he wold slee hym / Fy vpon the false
kechen |p/ I wyll neuer pray the to saue his lyf / for I will
neuer be soo moche in thy daunger / Thenne shalle he deye sayde
Beaumayns / Not soo hardy thou bawdy knaue sayd the da_moysel
/ that thou slee hym / Allas sayd the grene knyghte suf_fre
me not to dye for a fayre word may saue me / Fayr kny¨t
said the grene knyghte saue my lyf / & I wyl foryeue the /
the dethe of my broder / and for euer to become thy man / and xxx
knyghtes that hold of me for euer shal doo you seruyse / In
the deuyls name sayd the damoysel that suche a bawdy kechen
knaue shold haue the and thyrtty knyghtes seruyse / Syr kn_yght
said Beaumayns alle this auaylleth the not / but yf my
damoysel speke with me for thy lyf / And therwith al he ma_de
a semblaunt to slee hym / lete be sayd the damoysel thou bau_dy
knaue / slee hym not / for and thou do / thou shalt repente it
Damoysel said Beaumayns your charge is to me a pleasyr
and at your commaundement his lyf shal be saued / & els not
Thenne he said sir Knyghte with the grene armes I releace the
quyte at this damoysels request / for I wylle not make her
wrothe / I wille fulfylle al that she chargeth me / And thenne
the grene knyghte kneled doune / and dyd hym homage with
his swerd / thenne said the damoisel me repenteth grene kny_ghte
of your dommage / and of youre broders dethe the black
knyghte / for of your helpe I had grete myster / For I drede
me sore to passe this forest / Nay drede you not sayd the grene
knyghte / for ye shal lodge with me this nyghte / and to morne
I shalle helpe you thorou this forest / Soo they tooke theyre



|p225


|r[f113r]
horses and rode to his manoyr whiche was fast there besyde

 Capitulum ix
|r<b> ANd euer she rebuked Beaumayns and wold not suf_fre
      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 no_ble
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 kny¨t
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 ha_ue
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
ou 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 kna_ue
/ Soo thenne departed the grene Knyghte and the damoy_sel /
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 ry_ght
soone Allas for were thou as wy¨te as euer was wade



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|r[f113v]
or Lau~celot / Trystram / or the good knyghte syr lamaryk thou
shalt not passe a paas here that is called the paas perillous /
Damoysel said Beaumayns who is aferd lete hym flee / for
it were shame to torne ageyne sythen I haue ryden soo longe
with yow / wel said the damoysel ye shal sone whether ye wyll
or not

 Capitulum x
|r<b> SOo within a whyle they sawe a toure as whyte as o_ny
      snowe wel matchecold al aboute / and doubel dy_ked /
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 scaf_foldes
and pauelions / for there vpon the morn shold be a gre_te
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 kny¨t armed at al poyntes / So god me helpe said the lord
with èt{t ist hochgestellt}  kny¨t wyll I Iuste / for I see that he is a kni¨t arrau~t &
soo he armed hym and horsed hym hastely / And whanne he
was on horsbak with his shelde and his spere / it was al re_de
bothe his hors and his harneis / and alle that to hym lon_geth /
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 damoy_sel /
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 sa_yd
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 bro_der
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 shel_des
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



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|r[f114r]
reed knyghte / thynke what worship hath folowed the / lete ne_uer
a kechyn knaue endure the soo longe as he doth / Thenne
the reed knyght waxed wrothe and doubled his strokes and
hurte Beaumayns wonderly sore that the blood ranne doune
to the ground that it was wonder to see that stronge bataille /
Yet at the last syre Beaumayns strake hym to the erthe / and
as he wold haue slayne the reed knyghte he cryed mercy sa_yeng
Noble knyghte slee me not / and I shall yelde me to the
with fyfty knyghtes with me that be at my commaundement
And I forgyue the al the despyte that thou hast done to me /
and the dethe of my broder the black knyghte / All this auail_leth
not said Beaumayns / but yf my damoysel praye me to
saue thy lyf / And therwith he maade semblaunt to stryke of
his hede / Lete be thou Beaumayns slee hym not / for he is a no_ble
knyghte / and not soo hardy vpon thyne hede but thou saue
hym / Thenne Beaumayns badde the reed knyghte stand vp
and thanke the damoysel now of thy lyf /  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 wor_des
vnto Beaumayns wherof the reed knyght had grete mer_ueylle /
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 homa_ge
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 damoy_sel
and euer she rode chydynge hym in the fowlest manere /



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|r[f114v]
 Capitulum xj
|r<b> DAmoysel said Beaumayns ye are vncurteis so to re_buke
      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 recreau~t
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 why_le
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 we_re
many pauelions fayre to beholde / Lo said the damoysel yon_der 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 & gen_tilmen
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 per_sant
of Inde the moost lordlyest knyghte that euer thou lokest
on / Hit may wel be said Beaumayns / but be he neuer so sto_ute
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 ty_mes /
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



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|r[f115r]
at ones / I shall hym not fayle whylest my lyf lasteth / Fy fy
said the damoysel that euer suche a stynkynge knaue shold
blowe suche a boost / Damoysel he said ye ar to blame soo to re_buke
me / For I had leuer do fyue batails / than so to be rebu_ked
/ lete hym come and thenne lete hym doo his werst / Syre
she said I merueylle what thou arte and of what kyn thou
arte come / boldly thou spekest / and boldly thou hast done / that
haue I sene / therfore I praye the saue thy self and thou ma_yst /
for thy hors and thou haue had grete traueylle / And I
drede we dwelle ouer longe from the sege / For hit is but hens
seuen myle / and alle perillous passages we ar past saue al on_ly
this passage / and there I drede me sore lest ye shalle ketche
some hurte / therfore I wold haue ye were hens that ye were not bry_sed
nor hurte with this stronge knyghte / But I lete you we_te
this syr Persant of ynde is no thyng of my¨te nor strength
vnto the knyghte that leid the syege aboute my lady / As for
that said syre Beaumayns be it as it be may / For sythen I
am come soo nyghe this knyght I wille preue his myghte or
I departe from hym / and els I shalle be shamed / and I now
withdrawe me from hym / And therfore damoysel haue ye
no doubte by the grace of god I shall so dele with this kny_ghte
that within two houres after none I shalle delyuer hym
And thenne shal we come to the syege by day lyghte / O Ihe_su
merueille haue I said the damoysel what maner a man ye
be / for hit may neuer ben otherwyse but that ye be comen of a
noble blood / for soo foule ne shamefully dyd neuer woman
rule a knyghte as I haue done you / and euer curtoisly ye ha_ue
suffred me / and that cam neuer but of a gentyl blood /
 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 mo_re
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 thyn_ke
to shewe & preue my self at the ende what I was / for pera_ventur
thou I had mete in kyng Arthurs kechyn / yet I my¨t
haue had mete ynou¨ in other places / but alle that I dyd it
for to preue & assaye my frendes / and that shalle be knowen



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|r[f115v]
another day / and whether that I be a gentylman borne or no_ne
/ I lete you wete fayre damoysel I haue done you gentil_mans
seruyse / and parauentur better seruyse yet wille I do or
I departe from you / Allas she said fayre Beaumayns for_gyue
me alle that I haue myssaid or done ageynst the / wyth
alle my herte said he I forgyue it yow / for ye dyde no thyng
but as ye shold doo / for al your euyl wordes pleasyd me / &
damoysel saide Beaumayns syn hit lyketh you to saye thus
fayre vnto me / wete ye wel it gladeth my herte gretely / and
now me semeth ther is no knyght lyuynge but I am able y_nough
for hym

 Capitulum Duodecimum
|r<b> WYth this sir Persant of ynde had aspyed them as they
      houed in the felde / and kny¨tly he sente to them whe_ther
he came in werre or in pees / say to thy lord said beauma_yns
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 gy_ders
that bothe their horses felle dede to the erthe & ly¨tly they
auoyded their horses / and put their sheldes afore them / & dre_we
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 we_re
wounded / So at the last syr Beaumayns smote hym tho_rou
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 ha_ue
slayne hym / Thenne syr Persant yelded hym & asked hym
mercy / with that cam èe damoisel & praid to saue his lyf / I wil
wel / for it were pyte this noble kny¨t shold dye / gramercy sa_yd
Persaunt gentyl kny¨t & damoysel / For certeynly now I



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wote wel it was ye that slewe my broder the black knyghte /
at the black thorne / he was a ful noble kny¨te / his name was
syr Perard / Also I am sure that ye are he that wanne myn
other brother the grene knyght / his name was syre Pertolepe
Also ye wanne my broder the reed knyght syr Perrymones /
And now syn ye haue wonne these / this shal I do for to ple_ase
you ye shal haue homage & feaute of me / & an C knyghtes
to be alweyes at your commaundement to go & ryde where ye
wil commaunde vs / & so they wente vnto sir Persauntes paue_lione
& dranke the wyne / & ete spyeces / & afterward sire Per_saunte
made hym to reste vpon a bedde vntyl souper tyme / and
after souper to bedde ageyne / whan Beaumayns was abedde
syr Persaunt had a lady a faire dou¨ter of xviij yere of age
and there he called her vnto hym / & charged her & commaunded
her vpon his blessynge to go vnto the knyghtes bedde / and lye
doun by his syde / & make hym no straunge chere / but good che_re /
and take hym in thyne armes & kysse hym / & loke that this
be done I charge you as ye wil haue my loue & my good wil
So syr Persants doughter dyd as her fader bad her / and soo
she wente vnto syr Beaumayns bed / & pryuely she dispoylled
her / & leid her doune by hym / & thenne he awoke & sawe her &
asked her what she was / syre she said I am sir Persants dou¨_ter
that by the commaundement of my fader am come hyder /
Be ye a mayde or a wyf said he / sir she said I am a clene mai_den /
God defende sayd he that I shold defoyle you to doo syre
Persaunt suche a shame / therfore fayre damoysel aryse oute of
this bedde or els I wille / Syre she said I cam not to you by
myn owne wille but as I was commaunded / Allas said syr
Beaumayns I were a shameful knyghte and I wolde do
your fader ony disworship / and so he kyst her and soo she de_parted
and came vnto syr Persant her fader / & told hym
alle how she had spedde / Truly saide syre Persaunt what som_euer
he be / he is comen of a noble blood / and soo we leue hem
there tyl on the morne

Capitulum xiij



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|r[f116v]
 Capitulum xiij
|r<b> 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 per_saunt
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 withou¨ten mercy / and men sayen that he hath seuen
mens strength / god saue you said he to Beaumayns from ét {è mit hochgestelltem t}
knyghte / for he doth grete wrong to that lady / and that is gre_te
pyte / for she is one of the fairest ladyes of the world / & me
semeth that your damoysel is her suster / is not your name Ly_net
said he / ye sir said she / and my lady my susters name is da_me
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 laucelot 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 sym_ple
a man as I am / Sire said Beaumayns I thanke you
for your good wil / for I am better sped / for certaynly the no_ble
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 laucelot du lake / syr Trystram de ly_ones
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 Bla_more
de ganys his broder / Also syr Bors de Ganys & syrt Ec_tor
de marys & sir Percyuale de galis / these & many mo ben no_ble
kni¨tes / but ther be none èt passe èe iij aboue said / therfor god



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|r[f117r]
spede you wel said syr Persant / for and ye may matche the re_de
knyghte ye shalle be called the fourth of the world / sir said
Beaumayns I wold fayne be of good fame / and of knygh_thode /
And I lete you wete I am of good men / for I dare
say my fader was a noble man / and soo that ye wil kepe hit
in close / and this damoysel / I wyl telle you of what kyn I am
We wille not discouer you said they both tyl ye commaunde vs
by the feythe we owe vnto 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 Mor_gawse /
and sir Gawayne is my broder / and sir Agrauayne &
sir Gaheryes / and I am the yongest of hem alle / And yet wo_te
not kyng Arthur nor sir Gawayn what I am

 Capitulum xiiij
|r<b> SOo the book saith / that the lady that was biseged had
      word of her systers comynge by the dwerf and a kn_yghte
with her / and how he had passed al the perillous passa_ges /
what manere a man is he said the lady / he is a noble kn_yght
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 kyn_ges
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 kn_yght
hyght sir Arnolde le Brewse / thenne madame he recoun_tred
with the black knyght / and slewe hym in playne batail
& so he toke his hors & his armour & fou¨t with the grene kn_yght
& wanne hym in playn bataill / & in lyke wyse he serued
the reed kny¨t / and aftir in the same wyse he serued the blewe
kny¨t & wan hym in playn batail / thene said the lady he hath
ouercome sir Persaut of Inde / one of the noblest kny¨tes of the
world / & èe dwerf said he hath wone al the iiij brethere & slayn



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|r[f117v]
the blak knyght / and yet he dyd more tofore he ouerthrewe sir
kay and lefte hym nyghe dede vpon the ground / Also he dyd
a grete batayll with syre launcelot / and there they departed on
euen handes / And thenne syre launcelot made hym knyghte /
Dwerf sayd the lady I am gladde of these tydynges / therfor
go thou in an hermytage of myn here by / and there shalt thow
bere with the of my wyn in two flagans of siluer / they ar of
two galons / and also two cast of brede with fatte veneson bake
and deynte foules / and a cop of gold here I delyuer the /
that is ryche and precyous and bere all this to myn hermyta_ge /
and put it in the hermy¨tes handes / And sythen go thow
vnto my syster and grete her wel / and commaude me vnto that
gentyl knyghte / and praye hym to ete and to drynke and ma_ke
hym stronge / and say ye hym I thanke hym of his curto_sye
and goodenes that he wold take vpon hym suche labour
for me that neuer dyd hym bounte nor curtosye /  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 the_yr
wayes / And thenne belefte hem to god / and soo within a
lytil whyle they came to that heremytage / and there they dra_nke
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 sa_yd
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 Trys_tram /
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



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|r[f118r]
the black knyghte and other two mo / and wonne the grene
knyght / the reed knyghte and the blewe knyghte / thenne is he
one of these four that I haue afore reherced / He is none of tho
said the dwerf / but he is a kynges sone / what is his name sa_yd
the reed knyght of the reed laund / that wille I not telle
you seyd the dwerf / but sire kay upon scorne named hym Be_aumayns /
I care not said the knyght what knyghte soo euer
he be / for I shal soone delyuer hym / And yf I euer matche
hym he shalle haue a shameful dethe as many other haue had
that were pyte sayd the dwerf / And it is merueill that ye ma_ke
suche shameful warre vpon noble knyghtes

 Capitulum xv
|r<b> NOo leue we the knyghte and the dwerf / and speke we
      of Beaumayns that al ny¨t 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 play_ne
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 vp_on
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 ry_che
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 withou¨te 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 vylay_nous
dethe and shenship of armes / For rather than I sholde
so be faren with all / I wolde rather be slayn manly in playn



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|r[f118v]
bataille / Soo were ye better said the damoysel / for trust not in
hym is no curtosye but alle goth to the deth or shameful mur_ther /
and that is pyte / for he is a ful lykely man / wel made
of body / and a ful noble knyghte of prowesse and a lorde
of grete laundes and possessions / Truly said Beaumayns /
he may wel be a good knyghte / but he vseth shameful customs
and it is merueylle that he endureth so longe that none of the
noble knyghtes of my lord Arthurs haue not delt with hym
And thenne they rode to the dykes and sawe them double dy_ked
with ful warly wallis / and there were lodged many gre_te
lordes nyghe the wallys / and there was grete noyse of myn_stralsy /
and the see betyd vpon the one syde of the walles whe_re
were many shippes and maryners noyse with hale & how
And also there was fast by a Sykamore tree / and ther henge
an horne the grettest that euer they sawe of an Olyfantes bo_ne /
and this knyght os the reed laund had hanged it vp ther
that yf ther came ony arraunt knyghte / he muste blowe that
horne / and thenne wylle he make hym redy & come to hym to
doo bataille / But syr I pray you said the damoysel Lynet blo_we
ye not the horne tyl it be hyghe none / for now it is aboute
pryme / & now encreaced his myghte / that as men say he hath
seuen mens strengthe / A fy for shame fair damoisel say ye ne_uer
soo more to mo / For and he were as good a knyghte as
euer was I shalle neuer fayle hym in his moost myghte / for
outher I wille wynne worship worshipfully or dye knyghte_ly
in the felde / and ther with he spored his hors streyghte to
the Sykamore tree / and blewe soo the horne egerly that alle
the sege and the castel range therof / And thenne there lepte
oute knyghtes oute of their tentys and pauelions / and they
within the castel loked ouer the wallis and oute att wyndo_wes /
Thenne the reed knyghte of the reed laudes armed hym
hastely / and two barons sette on his spores vpon his heles /
and alle was blood reed his armour spere and shelde / And
an Erle bucled his helme vpon his hede / and thenne they bro_ughte
hym a rede spere and a rede stede / and soo he rode into a
lytyl vale vnder the castel / that al that were in the castel and
at the sege myghte behold the bataill



|p237


|r[f119r]
 Capitulum xvj
|r<b> 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 do_une
to the erthe with holdynge vp bothe their handes / Wyth
that the reed knyghte of the reed laundes callid to syr Be_aumayns /
leue syr knyghte thy lokynge / and behold me I cou~_ceille
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 Be_aumayns /
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 for_bere
thy felauship / And therfor wete thou wel thou rede kny_ghte
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 Beauma_yns
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 kny_ghtes
shold fere me / Nay truly not so / that shameful syght cau_seth
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 lau~_des /
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 my¨t



|p238


|r[f119v]
that they had bothe / and eyther smote other in myddes of their
sheldes that the paytrellys / sursenglys and crowpers braste /
and felle to the erthe bothe / and the reynys of their brydels
in their handes / and soo they laye a grete whyle sore stonyed
that al that were in the castel and in the sege wende their nec_kes
had ben broken / and thenne many a straunger and other
sayd the straunge kny¨t was a bygge man / and a noble Ius-
ter / for or now we sawe neuer noo knyghte matche the reed
knyghte of the reed laundes / thus they sayd bothe within the
castel and withou¨te / thenne lyghtly they auoyded theyr hor-
ses and put their sheldes afore them / and drewe their swerdes
and ranne to gyders lyke two fyers lyons / and eyther gafe
other suche buffets vpon their helmes that they relyd bacward
bothe two strydys / and thenne they recouerd bothe and hewe
grete pyeces of theire harneis and theire sheldes / that a grete
parte felle in to the feldes


 Capitulum xvij
|r<b> ANd thenne thus they foughte tyl it was past none /
      and neuer wold stynte tyl att the laste they lacked
wynde bothe / and thene they stode wagyng and scateryng pon-
tyng / 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 a-
mased 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 my¨t
see their naked sydes / and in other places / they were naked /
but euer the naked places they dyd defende / and the rede kn-
yghte 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



|p239


|r[f120r]
hem doune vpon two molle hylles there besydes the fyghtynge
place / and eyther of hem vnlaced his helme / and toke the cold
wynde / for either of their pages was fast by them to come wha
they called to vnlace their harneis and to sette hem on ageyn
at their commaundement / And thenne whan syr Beaumayns
helme was of / he loked vp to the wyndowe / and there he sawe
the faire lady Dame Lyones / and she made hym suche counte-
naunce that his herte waxed lyghte and Ioly / and ther with
he bad the reed knyghte of the reed laundes make hym redy
and lete vs doo the bataille to the vtteraunce / I will wel sa-
id the knyghte / and thenne they laced vp their helmes / and
their pages auoyded / & they stepte to gyders & foughte fresshe-
ly / but the reed knyghte of the reed laundes awayted hym /
& at an ouerthwart smote hym within the hand / that his sw-
erd felle oute of his hand / and yet he gaf hym another buf-
fet vpon the helme that he felle grouelynge to the erthe / & the
reed knyghte felle ouer hym / for to holde hym doune / Thenne
cryed the maiden Lynet on hyghe / O syr Beaumayns where
is thy courage become / Allas my lady syster beholdeth the
and she sobbeth and wepeth / that maketh myn herte heuy / when
syr Beaumayns herd her saye soo / he abrayed vp with a gre-
te myght and gate hym vpon his feet / and lyghtely he lepte
to his swerd and gryped hit in his hand and doubled hys
paas vnto the reed knyghte and there they foughte a newe ba-
taille to gyder / But sir Beaumayns thenne doubled his stro-
kes / and smote soo thyck that he smote the swerd oute of his
hand / and thenne he smote hym vpon the helme that he felle to
the erthe / and sir Beaumayns felle vpon hym / and vnlaced
his helme to haue slayne hym / and thenne he yelded hym and
asked mercy / and said with a lowde vois O noble knyghte
I yelde me to thy mercy / Thenne syr Beaumayns bethoughte
hym vpon the knyghtes that he had made to be hanged shame-
fully / and thenne he said I may not with my worship saue
thy lyf / for the shameful dethes that thou hast caused many
ful good knyghtes to dye / Syre saide the reed knyghte of the
reed laundes hold your hand and ye shalle knowe the causes
why I put hem to so shameful a dethe / saye on said sir Beau-
mayns / Syre I loued ones a lady a faire damoisel / and she



|p240


|r[f120v]
had her broder slayne / and she said hit was syr launcelot du
lake / or els syr gawayn / and she praide me as that I loued
her hertely that I wold make her a promyse by the feith of my
knyghthode for to laboure dayly in armes vnto I mette wyth
one of them / and alle that I myghte ouercome I shold putte
them vnto a vylaynous dethe / and this is the cause that I ha-
ue putte alle these knyghtes to dethe / and soo I ensured her to
do alle the vylony vnto kynge Arthurs knyghtes / and that I
shold take vengeauce vpon alle these knyghtes and syr now
I wille the telle that euery daye my strengthe encreaceth tylle
none / and al this tyme haue I seuen mens strengthe


 Capitulum xviij
|r<b> THenne came ther many Erles and Barons and no-
      ble knyghtes and praid that knyghte to saue his lyf
and take hym to your prysoner / And all they felle vpon the-
ir 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 ho-
mage 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 ther-
for 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 kny¨t
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 forgy-
ue and quyte hym / I wil wel / with this he make her amen-
dys 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 ha-
ue / And soo thenne whan the assuraunce was made / he made



|p241


|r[f121r]
his homage and feaute / and alle tho erles and barons wyth
hym / And thenne the mayden Lynet came to syre Beauma-
yns / and vnarmed hym and serched his woundes / and styn-
ted his blood / and in lyke wyse she dyd to the rede knyghte
of the reed laundes / and there they soiourned ten dayes in
their tentes / and the reed knyghte made his lordes and serua-
untes to doo alle the pleasyre that they myghte vnto syre Be-
aumayns / And soo within a whyle the reed knyghte of the
reed laundes yede vnto the castel / and putte hym in her grace
And soo she receyued hym vpon suffysaunt seurte / so alle her
hurtes were wel restored of al that she coude complayne / and
thenne he departed vnto the Courte of kyne Arthur / and
there openly the reed knyghte of the reed laundes putte hym
in the mercy of syre Launcelot and syr Gawayne / and there
he told openly how he was ouercome and by whome / and al-
so he told alle the batails from the begynnynge vnto the en-
dynge / Ihesu mercy sayd kynge Arthur and sire Gawayne
we merueylle moche of what blood he is come / for he is a no-
ble knyghte / Haue ye no merueille saide sire Launcelot / for ye
shal ryght wel wete that he is comen of a ful noble blood /
and as for his myghte and hardynes ther ben but fewe now
lyuynge that is so myghty as he is / and so noble of prowesse
It semeth by yow said kynge Arthur that ye knowe his na-
me / and fro whens he is come / and of what blood he is / I sup-
pose I doo so said Launcelot / or els I wold not haue yeuen
hym thordre of kny¨thode / but he gaf me suche charge at that
tyme that I shold neuer discouer hym vntyl he requyred me
or els it be knowen openly by some other


 Capitulum xix
|r<b> 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 strey¨t
vnto the castel / And whanne he cam to the gate he fond there
many men armed and pulled vp the drawe brydge / & drewe



|p242


|r[f121v]
the porte cloose /  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 tydyn-
ges / 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 go-
od loue shal not be lost / for I consydre your grete trauail & la-
bour / 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 wry-
thed for the loue of the lady of the castel / And soo vpon the
morowe he took his hors and rode vn tyl vnderne / and thene
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 wat-
che 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 ma-
ner as he loued her hertely that he wold ryde after syr Beau-
mayns / and euer haue ye wayte vpon hym tyl ye may fynde
hym slepynge / for I am sure in his heuynes he wil aly¨t doun



|p243


|r[f122r]
in some place / and leye hym doune to slepe / And therfor ha-
ue ye yourwayte vpon hym / and in the preuyest manere ye
can take his dwerf / and go ye your waye with hym as faste
as euer ye maye or syr Beaumayns awake / For my syster
Lynet telleth me that he can telle of what kynreed he is come /
and what is his ryghte name / And the meane whyle I and
my syster wille ryde vnto youre castel to awayte whanne ye
brynge with you the dwerf / And thenne whan ye haue bro-
ughte hym vnto youre Castel / I wylle haue hym in examy-
nacion my self / vnto the tyme that I knowe what is his ry-
ghte name / and of what kynred he is come / shalle I neuer be
mery at my herte  Syster said syre Grynga-
more 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 Beau-
mayns 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 /


 Capitulum xx
|r<b> THenne syre Beaumayns putte on his helme anone /
      and buckeled his shelde / and tooke his hors / and ro-
de after hym alle that euer he myghte ryde thorou ma-
rys 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 ma-
ny tymes he was lyke to perysshe / And at the laste hym hap-
pend to come to a fayre grene waye And there he mette with
a poure man of the countreye whom he salewed & asked hym /



|p244


|r[f122v]
whether he mette not with a knyghte vpon a black hors & all
black harneis a lytel dwerf syttynge behynde hym with heuy
chere / Syre saide this poure man here by me came syre Gryn-
gamor the knyght with suche a dwerf mornyng as ye saye / &
therfore I rede you not folowe hym / For he is one of the pe-
rylloust knyghtes of the world / and his castel is here nyhe
hand but two myle / therfor we aduyse you ryde not after syr
Gryngamor but yf ye owe hym good wille / Soo leue we syre
Beaumayns rydynge toward the castel and speke we of sir
Gryngamor and the dwerf / Anone as the dwerf was come
to the castel / dame Lyones and dame Lynet her syster asked
the dwerf where was his maister borne / and of what lygnage
he was come / And but yf thou telle me said dame Lyones
thou shalt neuer escape this castel / but euer here to be prysoner
As for that said the dwerf I fere not gretely to telle his na-
me and of what kynne he is come / Wete ye wel he is a kyn-
ges sone / and his moder is syster to kyng Arthur / and he is
broder to the good knyghte of syre Gawayne / and his name
is syre Gareth of Orkeney / and now I haue told you his ry-
ght name / I praye you fayre lady lete me goo to my lord a-
geyne / for he wille neuer oute of this countrey vntyl that he
haue me ageyne / And yf he be angry / he wil doo moche harme
or that he be stynte / and worche you wrake in this countray
As for that thretyng sayd syr Gryngamore be it as it be may
We wille goo to dyner / and soo they wasshed and wente to
mete / and made hem mery and wel at ease / by cause the lady
Lyones of the castel was there / they made grete Ioye
 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 gentylwo-
man 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 talky-
nge / ther came sire Gareth in at the gate with an angry coun-
tenaunce and his swerd drawen in his hand / and cryed a-
loude that alle the castel my¨t here hit sayeng thou traitour syre



|p245


|r[f123r]
Gryngamor delyuer me my dwerf ageyn / or by the feith that
I owe to the ordre of knyghthode I shal doo the al the harme
that I can / Thenne syr Gryngamor loked oute at a wyndow
and said syr gareth of Orkeney leue thy bostyng wordes / for
thou getest not thy dwerf ageyne / Thou coward knyghte sayd
syr Gareth brynge hym with the / and come and doo bataylle
with me / and wynne hym and take hym / So wille I do sa-
id syr Gryngamor and me lyst / but for al thy grete wordes
thou getest hym not / A fayr broder said dame Lyones I wold
he had his dwerf ageyne / for I wold he were not wroth / for
now he hath told me al my desyre I kepe nomore of the dwerf
And also broder he hath done moche for me / and delyuerd me
from the reed knyghte of the reed laundes / and therfor bro-
der I owe hym my seruyse afore al knyghtes lyuynge / And
wete ye wel that I loue hym before al other / and ful fayne I
wold speke with hym / But in no wyse I wold that he wist
what I were / but that I were another straunge lady / Wel sa-
id syr Gryngamor sythen I knowe now your wille / I wylle
obeye now vnto hym / And ryght ther with al he wente doun
vnto syr Gareth / and said syr I crye you mercy / and al that
I haue mysdone I wille amend hit at your wille / And ther-
fore I pray you that ye wold alyghte / and take suche chere
as I can make you in this castel / Shal I haue my dwerfe
saide syre Gareth / ye syr / and alle the pleasaunce that I can
make you / for as soone as your dwerf told me what ye we-
re and of what blood ye ar come / and what noble dedes ye ha-
ue done in these marches / thenne I repentyd of my dedes /
And thenne syre Gareth alyghte / and ther came his dwerf &
took his hors / O my felawe said syr gareth / I haue had ma-
ny aduentures for thy sake / And soo syre Gryngamor tooke
hym by the hand / and ledde hym in to the halle where his own
wyf was

 Capitulum xxj |r{ms=xxij}



|p246


|r[f123v]
|r<b> 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 ma-
ny tymes Ihesu wold that the lady of the castel perillous we-
re so fayre as she was / there were al maner of games & pla-
es of dauncyng and syngynge / And euer the more syre Ga-
reth 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 to-
ward 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 coutenauce betwixe
you and this knyght / And I wil syster that ye wete he is a
ful nobel kny¨t / & yf ye can make hym to abyde here I wil
do hym all the pleasyr èt 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 bet-
ter how be it I am moost beholdyng to hym of ony erthely ma
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 sa-
id 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 mo-
neth / 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 thene moche loued / & kyst her



|p247


|r[f124r]
many tymes / and eyther made grete Ioye of other / And there
she promysed hym her loue certaynly to loue hym and none o-
ther the dayes of hyr lyf / Thenne this lady dame Lyones by
the assente of her broder told syr Gareth alle the trouth what
she was / And how she was the same lady that he dyd batail
for / and how she was lady of the castel peryllous / and there
she told hym how she caused her broder to take awey his dwerf


 Capitulum xxij
|r<b> 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 Ga-
reth more gladder than he was to fore / And thene they trouth-
ply¨te eche other to loue / and neuer to faylle whyles their ly-
fe lasteth / And soo they brente bothe in loue that they were ac-
corded 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 ly-
tel afore mydnyght / This counceil was not soo pryuely kepte
but it was vnderstande / for they were but yonge bothe and ten-
dyr 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 dely¨tes / 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 kny¨t to take his rest in / and so there were or-
deynedgrete 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 ga-
reth / And there with alle he beganne to kysse her / And thenne
he loked afore hym and there he apperceuyued and sawe co-
me an armed knyght with many lyghtes aboute hym / and



|p248


|r[f124v]
sawe come an armed kny¨t with many lyghtes about hym |r{sic} /
& this knyghte had a longe Gysarme in his hand / and maade
grym countenaunce to smy¨te hym / Whanne syre Gareth sawe
hym come in that wyse / he lepte oute of his bedde and gate in
his hand his swerd and lepte strayte toward that knyght /
And whanne the knyght sawe syr Gareth come so fyersly vp-
on hym / he smote hym with a foyne thorou the thycke of the
thy that the wound was a shaftmon brode and had cutte a-
two many vaynes and senewes / And there with al syr Ga-
reth smote hym vpon the helme suche a buffet that he felle gro-
uelyng / and thenne he lepte ouer hym and vnlaced his hel-
me and smote of his hede fro the body / And thenne he bledde so-
fast that he myghte not stande / but soo he leid hym doun vpon
his bedde / and there he swouned and laye as he had ben dede
Thenne dame Lyones cryed alowde / that her broder syr Gryn-
gamor herd / and came doune / And whan he sawe syr Gareth
soo shamefully wounded / he was sore displeasyd and sayd I
am shamed that this noble knyghte is thus honoured / Syr sa-
yd syr Gryngamore hou may this be / that ye be here / and thys
noble knyghte wounded / Broder she said I can not telle yow
For it was not done by me nor by myn assente / For he is my
lord and I am his / and he must be myn husband / therfore my
broder I wille that ye wete I shame me not to be with hym /
nor to doo hym alle the pleasyr that I can / Syster said syre
Gryngamore / and I will that ye wete it and syr Gareth both
that it was neuer done by me nor by my assente that this vn-
happy dede was done / And there they staunched his bledynge
as wel as they myght / and grete sorou made sir Gryngamor
and Dame Lyones / And forthe with al came Dame Lynet
and toke vp the hede in the syghte of hem alle / and enoynted
it with an oyntement there as it was smy¨ten of / and in the sa-
me wyse she dyd to the other parte there as the hede stak / And
thenne she sette it to gyders / and it stak as fast as euer it did
And the knyghte arose lyghtely vp / and the damoysel Lynet
put hym in her chambre / Alle this sawe sir Gryngamor and
dame Lyones / and soo dyd sir Gareth / and wel he espyed that
it was the damoysel Lynet that rode with hym thorou the pe-
ryllous passages / A wel damoysel said syre Gareth I wende



|p249


|r[f125r]
wold |r{sic} not haue done as ye haue done / My lord Gareth said
Lynet / alle that I haue done I will auowe / and alle that I
haue done shal be for youre honoure and worship / and to vs
alle / And soo within a whyle syr Gareth was nyghe hole / &
waxid lyghte and Iocounde / and sange / daunced and ga-
med / and he and dame Lyones were soo hote in brennynge
loue that they made their couenaunte at the tenth nyghte after
that she shold come to his bedde / And by cause he was wouded
afore / he laid his armour / and his swerd nyghe his beddes
syde


 Capitulum xxiij
|r<b> 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 Ga-
reth / and lyghtly thorou the good helpe of Dame Lyones he
was armed / and they hurtled to gyders with grete Ire & ma-
lyce 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 a-
geyne on bledyng / but he was hote and couragyous and to-
ke no kepe / but with his grete force he stroke doune that kny-
ghte / 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 flo-
re / And thenne dame Lyones cryed soo that syr Gryngamor
herd / And whan he cam and fond syr Gareth in that ply¨te 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 fa-
ryd 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 wyn-
dowe / and there she enoynted hem as she had done to fore / & set
them to gyder ageyn / wel damoisel Lynet said syre Gareth /



|p250


|r[f125v]
I haue not deserued alle this despyte that ye doo vnto me / sir
knyghte she said / I haue no thynge do / but I will auowe /
And al that I haue done shalle be to your worship and to
vs al / And thenne was syre Gareth stauched of his bledyng
But the leches said / that ther was no man that bare the lyf /
sholde hele hym thorou oute of his wounde / but yf they heled
hym that caused that stroke by enchauntement / So leue we syr
Gareth there with syr Gryngamore and his systers / and tor-
ne we vnto kynge Arthur that at the nexte feest of Pentecost
helde his feest / and there cam the grene kny¨t with fyfty kny-
ghtes / and yelded hem all vnto kynge Arthur / And so there
came the reed knyghte his broder / and yelded hym to kyng Ar-
thur and thre score knyghtes with hym / Also there came the
blewe knyghte broder to them with an honderd knyghtes / &
yelded hem vnto kynge Arthur / and the grene knyghtes na-
me was Partolype / and the reed knyghtes name was Pe-
rymones / and the blewe knyghtes name was syr Persant of
Inde / these thre bretheren told kynge Arthur how they were
ouercome by a knyghte that a damoysel had with her / and
called hym Beaumayns / Ihesu sayd the kynge I mer-
ueylle what knyghte he is / and of what lygnage he is come /
He was with me a twelue monethe / and pourely and sha-
mefully he was fostred / and syre kay in scorne named hym
Beaumayns / Soo ryghte as the kyng stode soo talkyng with
these thre bretheren / there came syr Launcelot du lake and told
the kynge that there was come a goodly lord with vj C kn-
ghtes with hym / thenne the kynge wente oute of Carlyon /
for there was the feest / and there came to hym this lord / and
salewed the kynge in a goodly manere / What wylle ye sayd
kyng Arthur / and what is youre erand / Syr he said my na-
me |r{ms=naname} is the reed knyghte of the reed laundes / but my name is
syr Ironsyde / and syre wete ye wel / here I am sente to yow /
of a knyght that is called Beaumayns / for he wanne me in
playne bataille hande for hand / and soo dyd neuer no kny-
ght but he that euer had the better of me this xxx wynter /
the whiche commaunded to yelde me to yow at youre wylle /
ye are welcom said the kyng / for ye haue ben long a grete foo
to me and my Courte / and now I truste to god I shalle



|p251


|r[f126r]
soo entreate you that ye shal be my frend / Syre / bothe I and
these fyue honderd knyghtes shal alweyes be at your somons
to doo you seruyse as maye lye in oure powers / Ihesu mercy
said kyng Arthur I am moche beholdynge vnto that knyght /
that hath put soo his body in deuoyre to worshippe me & my
Courte / And as to the Ironsyde that art called the reed kn-
yghte of the reed laundes thou arte called a peryllous kny¨t
And yf thou wylt holde of me I shal worshippe the and ma-
ke the knyghte of the table round / but thenne thou must be no
more a murtherer / Syre as to that I haue promysed vnto
syre Beaumayns neuer more to vse suche custommes / for all
the shameful customes that I vsed I dyd at the request of a
lady that I loued / and therfor I must goo vnto syr Laun-
celot and vnto syre Gawayne / and aske them foryeuenes of
the euyll wylle I had vnto them / for alle that I put to deth
was al only for the loue of syr Launcelot and of syr Gawa-
yne / They ben here now said the kynge afore the / now maye ye
saye to them what ye wylle / And thenne he kneled doune vn-
to syre Launcelot and to syre Gawayne and prayd them of foryeuenes of
his enemy¨tee that euer he had ageynste them /


 Capitulum xxiiij
|r<b> 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 Iron-
syde 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 ad-
uentures ben neuer abydynge in no place /  But to saye the
worship that the reed knyghte of the reed laundes and syr per-
saunt 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 vp-
on one day knyghtes of the table round / And as to the syre
Persaunt of Inde thou hast ben euer called a ful noble kny-
ghte / and soo haue euer ben thy thre bretheren called / But I
merueil said the kyng that I here not of the black kny¨t your



|p252


|r[f126v]
broder / he was a ful noble knyghte / Syr sayd Pertolype the
grene kny¨t syr Beaumayns slewe hym in a recoutre with his
spere / his name was syr Perard / that was grete pyte sayd
the kynge and soo said many knyghtes / For these four brethe-
ren were ful wel knowen in the courte of kynge Arthur for
noble knyghtes / for long tyme they had holden werre ageynst
the knyghtes of the round table / Thenne sayd Pertolepe the
grene knyghte to the kynge atte a passage of the water of
mortayse there encountred syr Beaumayns with two brethe-
ren that euer for the moost party kepte that passage / and they
were two dedely knyghtes / and there he slewe the eldest broder
in the water / and smote hym vpon the heede suche a buffet that
he felle doune in the water / and there he was drouned / & his
name was sir Garard le brewse / and after he slewe the other
broder vpon the lond / his name was syr Arnold le brewse /


 Capitulum xxvj4*
|r<b> SOo thenne the kyng and they wente to mete / and we-
      re serued in the best manere / And as they satte at the
mete / ther came in the quene of Orkeney with ladyes & kny¨-
tes a grete nombre / And thenne syr Gawayn / syr Agraua-
yn and Gaherys arose / and wente to her / and salewed her vp-
on 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 kna-
ue 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 mo-
der said syr Gawayn I knewe hym not / Nor I said the ky-
nge 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



|p253


|r[f127r]
bretheren / but sythen it is soo said the kyng that he is thus
gone from vs alle / we must shape a remedy to fynde hym / Also
syster me semeth ye myght haue done me to wete of his comy-
nge / And thenne and I had not done wel to hym / ye my¨t
haue blamed me / For whan he cam to this courte he came le-
nyng vpon two mens sholders as though he myght not haue
gone / And thenne he asked me thre yeftes / and one he asked
the same day / that was that I wold gyue hym mete ynough
that twelue moneth / and the other two yeftes he asked that
day a twelue moneth / and that was that he myghte haue thad-
uenture of the damoysel Lynet / and the thyrd was that syre
Launcelot shold make hym knyght whan he desyred hym /
And soo I graunted hym alle his desyre / and many in this
Courte merueilled that he desyred his sustenaunce for a twelf
monethe / And there by we demed many of vs that he was
not come of a noble hous / Syre said the Quene of Orkeney
vnto kynge Arthur her broder / wete ye wel that I sente hym
vnto you ryghte wel armed and horsed and worshipfully
bysene his body / and gold and syluer plente to spend / it
may be said the kynge / but therof sawe we none / sauf that sa-
me daye as he departed from vs / knyghtes told me that ther
came a dwerf hyder sodenly and broughte hym armour and
a good hors ful wel and rychely bysene / and there at we al
had merueille / fro whens that rychesse came / that we demed al
that he was come of men or worship / Broder said the Quene
alle that ye saye I byleue / for euer sythen he was growen / he
was merueillously wytted / and euer he was feythful & true
of his promesse / But I merueille said she that syre kay dyd
mocke hym and scorne hym / and gaf hym that name Beau-
mayns / yet syr kay said the quene named hym more ryghte-
uously than he wende / For I dare saye and he be on lyue / he
is as fair an handed man and wel disposed as ony is lyu-
ynge / Syre said Arthurle te this langage be stylle / and by the
grace of god he shal be founde / and he be within these seuen ro-
yames / and lete alle this passe and be mery / for he is proued
to be a man of worship / and that is my Ioye
 Capitulum xxvij



|p254


|r[f127v]
|r<b> THenne said syr Gawayne and his bretheren vnto ar-
      thur / 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 mes-
sager / 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
thene she may gyue you best couceille 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 vn-
derstode this message / she badde hym ryde on his way vnto ky-
nge Arthur / and she wold come after in al goodely hast
 Thenne whan she came to syr Gryngamor and to sir Ga-
reth 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 va-
lewe of a thousand pound and a whyte Iarfaucon /
Soo dame Lyones departed / and came to kynge Arthur whe-
re 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 / &



|p255


|r[f128r]
your knyghtes / and I will puruey that my knyghtes shalle
be ageynst yours / And thenne I am sure ye shall here of syr
Gareth / this is wel aduysed said kynge Arthur / and soo she
departed / And the kynge and she maade grete prouysyon to
that turnement / Whan dame Lyones was come to the yle of A-
uylyon that was the same yle ther as her broder syr Grynga-
mor dwelte / thenne she told hem al how she had done / and
what promyse she had made to kynge Arthur / Allas said syr
Gareth / I haue been soo wounded with vnhappynes sythen I
cam in to this castel that I shal not be abyl to doo at that tur-
nement lyke a knyghte / for I was neuer thorouly hole syn I
was hurte / Be ye of good chere said the damoysel Lynet / for
I vndertake within these xv dayes to make you hole and as
lusty as euer ye were / And thenne she leid an oynement & a
salue to hym as it pleasyd to her that he was neuer so fressh
nor soo lusty / Thenne said the damoysel Lynet / send you vnto
syr Persaunt of ynde / and assomone hym and his knyghtes
to be here with you as they haue promysed / Also that ye send
vnto syr Ironsyde that is the reed knyghte of the reed laun-
des / and charge hym that he be redy with you with his hole
somme of knyghtes / and thenne shalle ye be abyl to matche
with kynge Arthur and his knyghtes / Soo this was done &
alle knyghtes were sente for vnto the castel peryllous / & then-
ne the reed knyght ansuerd and said vnto dame Lyones and
to syre Gareth / Madame & my lord syr Gareth ye shal vnder-
stande that I haue ben at the court of kynge Arthur and sire
Persaunt of Inde and his bretheren / and there we haue done
oure homage as ye commaunded vs / Also syr Ironsyde sayd
I haue taken vpon me with syre Persaunt of Inde and his
bretheren to hold party ageynst my lord sir Launcelot and the
knyghtes of that courte / And this haue I done for the loue of
my lady Dame Lyones and you my lord sir Gareth / ye haue
wel done said syr Gareth / But wete you wel ye shal be ful
sore matched with the moost noble knyghtes of the world / ther-
for we must purueye vs of goode knyghtes where we may ge-
te them / That is wel said / said sir Persaunt and worshipfully
And soo the crye was made in England / walis and scotland
Ireland / Cornewaille / & in alle the oute Iles and in bretayn



|p256


|r[f128v]
and in many countreyes that at the feest of our lady the as-
sumpcion next comyng men shold come to the castel peryllous
besyde the yle of Auylyon / And there al the knyghtes that
ther came shold haue the choyse whether them lyst to be on the
one party with the knyghtes of the castel or on the other par-
ty with kynge Arthur / And two monethes was to the daye
that the turnement shold be / & so ther cam many good kny¨-
tes that were at her large and helde hem for the moost party a-
geynst kynge Arthur and his knyghtes of the round table /
cam in the syde of them of the castel / For syr Epynogrus was
the fyrst / and he was the kynges sone of Northumberland / &
syr Palamydes the sarasyn was another / and syr Safere his
broder / and syre Segwarydes his broder / but they were cryst-
ned / and syre Malegryne another / and syr Bryan des les
Ilelys a noble knyghte / and syr Grummore gummursum a
good knyghte of Scotland / and syr Carados of the dolorous
toure a noble knyghte and syr Turquyn his broder / and syr
Arnold and syre Gauter two bretheren good knyghtes of
Cornewaile / there cam syr Trystram de lyones / and with hym
syr Dynadas the seneschal / and sir Saduk / but this syr Tris-
tram was not at that tyme knyght of the table round / but he
was one of the best knyghtes of the world / And soo all these
noble knyghtes accompanyed hem with the lady of the castel
and with the reed knyghte of the reed laundes / but as for sir
Gareth he wold not take vpon hym more but as other meane
knyghtes


 Capitulum xxviij
|r<b> 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 ga-
nys 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 kny¨t



|p257


|r[f129r]
And al the most party of the round table / Also ther cam with
kynge Arthur these knyghtes the kynge of Ireland / kynge
Agwysaunce / and the kyng of Scotland kyng Carados and
kynge Vryens of the londe of gore and kyng Bagdemagus
and his sone syr Melyaganus and syr Galahault the noble
prynce / Alle these kynges prynces and Erles Barons and
other noble knyghtes / as syre Braundyles / syre Vwayne les
auowtres / and syre kay / syr Bedeuere / syr Melyot de logrys
syr Petypase of wynkelsee / syr Godelake / alle these came with
kynge Arthur and moo that can not ben reherced /
 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 wa-
ter that ther lacked no thynge for her party nor for the other
but there was plente to be had for gold and syluer for ky-
nge Arthur and his knyghtes / And thenne ther cam the her-
begeours from kynge Arthur for to herberowe hym & his ky-
nges / 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 Grynga-
mor that in no wyse ther shold none of them telle not his na-
me and makeno 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 gre-
ne / 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 ry-
nge is passynge mete for me / for it wille torne al manere of



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|r[f129v]
lykenes that I am in / and that shalle cause me that I shall
not be knowen / Thenne syr Gryngamor gaf syr Gareth a bay
courser that was a passyng good hors / Also he gafe hym go-
od armoure and sure and a noble swerd that somtyme syre
Gryngamors fader wanne vpon an hethen Tyraunt / And soo
thus euery knyghte made hym redy to that turnement & kyng
Arthur was comen two dayes to fore thassumpcion of our la-
dy / And there was al maner of Royalte of al mynstralsye /
that myghte be founde / Also there cam quene Gweneuer and
the quene of Orkeney syr Gareths moder / And vpon the as-
sumpcion day whanne masse and matyns were done there we-
re herowdes with trompettes commaunded to blowe to the feld
And soo there came oute syr Epynogrus the kynges sone of
Northumberland from the castel / and there encountred with
hym syre Sagramor le desyrus / and eyther of hem brake their
speres to their handes / And thenne came in syre Palamydes
oute of the Castel / and there encountred with hym Gawayne
and eyther of hem smote other so hard that bothe the good kn-
yghtes and their horses felle to the erthe / And thenne knygh-
tes of eyther party rescowed their knyghtes / And thenne cam
in syr Safere and syre Segwarydes bretheren to syre Pala-
mydes / and there encountred syr Agrauayne with syr Safere
and syr Gaherys encountred with syre Segwarydes / So syr
Safere smote doune Agrauayne syr Gawayns broder / and sir
Segwarydes syr Saferys broder And syr Malgryne a kny¨t
of the Castel encountred with syr Vwayne le blaunche may-
nys / And there syre Vwayne gaf syr Malgryn a falle / that
he had almost broke his neck


 Capitulum xxix
|r<b> THenne syr Bryan de les yles and Grummore grum-
      morssum 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 Tur-
quyne knyghtes of the Castel / and there encoutred with hem
syr Percyuale de galys & syr Launcelot de galys / that were
two bretheren / And there encountred syr Percyuale with syre



|p259


|r[f130r]
Caradus / and eyther brake their speres vnto their handes / &
thenne syr Turquyn with syre Lamerak / and eyther of hem
smote doune others hors and alle to the erthe / and eyther par-
tyes rescowed other / and horsed them ageyn / And syr Arnold
and syr Gautere knyghtes of the castel encountred with syre
Braundyles and syr kay / and these four knyghtes encountred
myghtely / and brake their speres to their handes / Then-
ne came in syr Trystram / syre Saduk / and syre Dynas kny-
ghtes of the castel / and there encountred syr Trystram wyth
syre Bedyuere / and there syr Bedyuere was smy¨ten to the er-
the bothe hors and man / And syr Saduk encountred with sir
Petypase / and there syr Saduk was ouerthrowen / And there
Vwayne les auoutres smote doune syr Dynas the seneschal /
Thenne came in syr Persaunt of Inde a knyght of the castel
And there encountred with hym syr Launcelot du lake / and
there he smote syr Persaunts hors and man to the erthe / then-
ne came syr Pertylope from the castel / and there encountred
with hym syr Lyonel / and there syr Pertylope the grene kn-
yght smote doune syr Lyonel broder to syr Laucelot / All this
was marked by noble heroudes / who bare hym best / and theire
names / And thenne came in to the feld syre Perymones the
grene knyght syr Persaunts broder that was a knyght of the
Castel / and he encountred with syr Ector de marys / and ey-
ther smote other so hard / that bothe their horses and they felle
to the erthe / And thenne came in the reed knyght of the reed
laundes and syr Gareth from the castel / and there encountred
with hem syr Bors de ganys and syr Bleoberys / and there
the reed knyghte and syr Bors smote other so hard that her
speres brast and their horses felle grouelynge to the erthe
Thenne syr Blamor brake his spere vpon syr Gareth / but of
that stroke syr Blamor felle to the erthe / whan syr Galyhou-
dyn sawe that / he bad sir gareth kepe hym / & sire gareth smote
hym to the erthe / thenne sire Galyhud gate a spere to auenge
his broder / & in the same wyse sir gareth serued hym / & sir Dy-
nadan & his broder la cote male tayle / & sir Sagramor desirus
& sir Dodynas le saueage / All these he bare doun with one spe-
re / Whan kyng Aguysauce of Irland sawe syr Gareth fare so
he merueiled what he my¨t be ét one tyme semed grene & another



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|r[f130v]
tyme at his ageyne comyng he semed blewe / And thus at e-
uery cours that he rode to and fro he chaunged his colour so
that ther myghte neyther kynge nor knyghte haue redy cong-
nyssaunce of hym / Thenne syr Anguyssaunce the kyng of Ir-
land encountred with syr Gareth / and there syr Gareth smo-
te hym from his hors sadyl and all / And thenne came kyng
Caradus of Scotland and syr Gareth smote hym doun hors
and man / And in the same wyse he serued kyng Vryens of
the land of Gore / And thenne came in syr Bawdemagus /
and syr Gareth smote hym doune hors and man to the erthe
And Bawdemagus sone Melyganus brake a spere vpon sir
Gareth myghtely and knyghtely / And thenne syr Galahaut
the noble prynce cryed on hyghe knyghte with the many colo-
urs wel hast thou Iusted / Now make the redy that I maye
Iuste with the / Syre Gareth herd hym / and he gat a grete spe-
re / and soo they encountred to gyder / and there the prynce bra-
ke his spere / But syr Gareth smote hym vpon the lyfte syde
of the helme / that he relyd here and there / and he had falle do-
une had not his men recouerd hym / Soo god me help sayd
kynge Arthur that same knyght with the many colours is a
good knyghte / wherfor the kynge called vnto hym syr Laun-
celot and praid hym to encountre with that knyghte / Syr sa-
id Launcelot I may wel fynde in my herte for to forbere hym
as at this tyme / for he hath hadde trauail ynough this day / &
whan a good knyghte doth soo wel vpon somme day / it is no
good knyghtes parte to lette hym of his worship / And na-
mely whan he seeth a Knyght hath done soo grete labour / for
peraduenture said syr Launcelot his quarel is here this day / &
perauentur he is best byloued with this lady of al that ben he-
re / for I see wel / he payneth hym & enforceth hym to do grete de-
des / & therfor said syr launcelot as for me this day he shall ha-
ue the honour / though it lay in my power to put hym fro it / I
wold not


 Capitulum xxx
|r<b> THenne whanne this was done / there was drawynge
      of swerdes / And thenne there began a sore turnement



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And there dyd syr Lamerak merueyllous dedes of armes / &
betwixe syr Lamerak and syre Ironsyde that was the reed
knyghte of the reed laudes there was strong batail / & betwix
syre Palamides & Bleoberys there was a strong batail / & sir
Gawayne and syr Trystram mette / and there syr Gawayne
had the werse / for he pulled syre Gawayne from his hors /
And there he was long vpon foote and defouled / Thenne cam
in syr Launcelot and he smote syr Turquyne / and he hym / &
thenne came syr Caradus his broder / and bothe at ones they
assayled hym / & he as the moost noblest knyght of the world
worshipfully foughte with hem bothe / that al men wondred of
the noblesse of syr launcelot / And thenne came in syr Gareth
and knewe that it was sir launcelot that fought with tho two
peryllous knyghtes / And thenne syr Gareth came with his
good hors and hurtled hem in sonder / & no stroke wold he sm-
yte to syr Launcelot / that aspyed sir launcelot & demed it shold
be the good knyghte syre Gareth / & thenne syr Gareth rode he-
re and there / & smote on the ryght hand & on the lyfte hand
that alle the folke myghte wel aspye where that he rode / and
by fortune he mette with his broder syr Gawayn / and there he
put syr Gawayne to the werse / for he put of his helme / and so
he serued fyue or syxe knyghtes of the rounde table that alle
men said / he put hym in the most payne / and best he dyd his de-
uoyr / For whan syr Trystram beheld hym how he fyrst Ius-
ted and after foughte so wel with a swerd / Thenne he rode
vnto syr Ironsyde and to syre Persaunt of ynde and asked
hem by their feythe / what maner a knyghte is yonder knyght
that semeth in soo many dyuerse colours / Truly me semeth sa-
yd Trystram that he putteth hym self in grete payne for he ne-
uer ceaseth / Wote ye not what he is sayd syr Ironsyde / No sa-
id syr Trystram / thenne shal ye knowe that this is he that lo-
ueth the lady of the castel and she hym ageyne / and this is he
that wanne me whan I byseged the lady of this castel / and
this he that wanne syr Persaunt of ynde / and his thre brethe-
ren / what is his name sayd syr Trystram and of what blood
is he come / he was called in the courte of kyng Arthur Be-
aumayns / but his ry¨t name is sir Gareth of Orkeney broder
to sir Gawayn / by my hede said sir Tristram he is a good kni¨t



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|r[f131v]
knyght and a bygge man of armes / & yf he be yong he shalle
preue a ful noble knyghte / he is but a child they all saide & of
syr Launcelot he was made kny¨t / therfor is he mykel the bet-
ter said Trystram / And thenne syr trystram / syr Ironsyde /
syr Persaunt and his broder rode to gyders for to helpe sir ga-
reth / & thenne there were gyuen many strong strokes / And then-
ne syr Gareth rode oute on the one syde to amende his helme /
& thenne said his dwerf take me your ryng that ye lese it not
whyle that ye drynke / And so whan he had dronken he gat on
his helme / & egerly took his hors & rode in to the felde & lefte
his rynge with his dwerf / and the dwerf was gladde the ry-
ng was from hym / for thenne he wist wel he shold be knowen
And thenne whan syr Gareth was in the felde all folkes sa-
we hym wel / & playnly that he was in yelowe colours / & the-
re he rassyd of helmes & pulled doun kny¨tes that kynge Ar-
thur had merueylle what kny¨t he was / for the kyng sawe by
his here that it was the same knyght


 Capitulum xxxj
|r<b> 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 cou-
de / 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 kny-
ghtes of Arthurs beheld hym & awayted / & thenne they pre-
ssyd al to beholde hym / & euer the heroudes cryed this is syre
gareth of Orkeney kyng Lots sone / and whan syr gareth as-
pyed that he was discoueryd / thenne he doubled his strokes / &
smote doune syr Sagramore & his broder sir gawayn / O bro-
der saide sir gawayn I wende ye wolde not haue stryken me /
so whan he herd hym say so he thrang here & there / & so with gre-
te 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



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|r[f132r]
I may hyde my body with al / and soo he tooke it hym / And
thenne they all wist not where he was become / and syr Gawa_yn
had in maner aspyed where syr Gareth rode / and thenne he
rode after with alle his myghte / that aspyed syr Gareth and
rode lyghtely in to the forest that syr Gawayn wist not where
he was become / And whan syr Gareth wyst that syr Gawa_yn
was past / he asked the dwerf of best counceil / Syr said the
dwerf / me semeth it were best now that ye are escaped fro spy_eng
that ye send my lady dame lyones her rynge / It is wel
aduysed said syr Gareth / now haue it here and bere it to her /
And saye that I recommaunde me vnto her good grace / and
saye her I will come whan I maye / and I pray her to be true
and feythful to me as I wil be to her / Syr said the dwerf it
shal be done as ye commaunde / and soo he rode his waye and
dyd his eraund vnto the lady / Thenne she said where is my
knyghte syr Gareth / Madame said the dwerf he bad me saye /
that he wold not be long from you /  And soo lyghtely the
dwerf cam ageyne vnto syr Gareth that wold ful fayne ha_ue
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  Capitulum xxxij /
|r<b> 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 kny¨te
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



|p264


|r[f132v]
on hyhe whether thou be lord or lady gyaunt or champyon I
take no force so that I may haue herberowe this nyghte / & yf
hit so be that I must nedes fyghte / spare me not to morne when
I haue restyd me for bothe I and myn hors ben wery / Syr
knyghte said the lady thou spekest knyghtly and boldly / but
wete thou wel the lord of this castel loueth not kyng Arthur /
nor none of his court / for my lord hath euer ben ageynst hym
and therfor thou were better not to come within this castel /
For and thou come in this nyghte / thou must come in vnder
suche fourme that where someuer thou mete my lord by sty¨ or
by strete / thou must yelde the to hym as prysoner / Madame sa_id
syre Gareth what is your lord and what is his name / syr
my lordes name is the duke de la rouse / wel madame said syr
Gareth I shal promyse yow in what place I mete your lord
I shalle yelde me vnto hym and to his good grace with that
I vnderstande he wille do me no harme / And yf I vnderstand
that he wille I wil releace my self and I can with my spe_re
and my swerd / ye say wel said the duchesse / and thenne she
lete the drawe brydge doune / and soo he rode in to the halle /
and there he alyghte / and his hors was ledde in to a stable / &
in the halle he vnarmed hym / & saide madame I will not oute
of this holle this nyghte / And whan it is daye lyght / lete see /
who wil haue adoo with me / he shal fynde me redy / Thenne
was he sette vnto souper / and had many good dysshes / then_ne
syr Gareth lyst wel to ete / and knyghtely he ete his mete /
and egerly / there was many a fair lady by hym / & some said
they neuer sawe a goodlyer man nor so wel of etynge / then_ne
they made hym passyng good chere / & shortly whan he had
souped his bedde was made there so he rested hym al nyghte /
And on the morne he herd masse & brake his fast & toke his le_ue
at the duchesse / & at them al / & thanked her goodely of her
lodgyng & of his good chere / & thenne she asked gym his na_me /
Madame he saide truly my name is Gareth of Orkeney / &
some men calle me Beaumayns / thene knewe she wel it was
the same kny¨t that fout for dame lyones / so sir gareth depar_ted
& rode vp in to a montayne / & ther mette hym a knyghte /
his name was syr Bendelayne and sayd to syr Gareth thou
shalt not passe this way / for outher thou shalt Iuste with me or



|p265


|r[f133r]
els be my prysoner / Thenme wille I Iuste said syr Gareth /
And soo they lete their horses renne / and there syr Gareth smo_te
hym thorou oute the body / and syr Bendalyne rode forth to
his castel there besyde and there dyed / So syr gareth wold ha_ue
rested hym / and he cam rydynge to Bendalaynis castel /
Thenne his knyghtes and seruauntes aspyed that it was he
that had slayne their lord / Thenne they armed xx good men
and cam out and assailled syr gareth / and soo he had no spe_re
but his swerd / and put his shelde afore hym / and there they
brake their speres vpon hym / and they assailled hem passyng_ly
sore / But euer syr gareth deffended hym as a knyght

 Capitulum xxxiij
|r<b> 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 lady_es
and gentylwymmen / so ther cam by hym a |p/ what noy_se
is this said syr gareth that I here within this castel / Syre
knyghte said the |phere ben within this castel thyrtty lady_es
and alle they be wydowes / For here is a knyght that way_teth
dayly vpon this castel / and his name is the broun kn_yght
withou¨te pyte / and he is the perylloust knyght that now
lyueth / And therfor sir said the |pI rede you flee / Nay sa_id
sir gareth I wille not flee though thou be aferd of hym /
And thenne the |psawe where came the broune knyghte / loo
said the |pyonder he cometh / lete me dele with hym said syre
gareth / And whan eyther of other had a syghte they lete the_yr
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 èt he my¨t repose hym / allas said the ladyes
ye may not be lodged here / make hym good chere said the page



|p266


|r[f133v]
for this knyghte hath slayne your enemy / thenne they al ma_de
hym good chere as laye in their power / But wete ye wel
they maade hym good chere for they myghte none otherwyse
doo for they were but poure / And so on the morne he wente to
masse / and there he sawe the thyrtty ladyes knele / and lay gro_uelyng
vpon dyuerse tombes makynge grete dole and sorowe /
Thenne syr Gareth wyst wel that in the tombes lay theire lor_des /
Fayre ladyes said syr Gareth ye must at the next feeste
of Pentecost be at the court of kynge Arthur / and saye that I
syr Gareth sente you thyder / we shal doo this said the ladyes
Soo he departed / and by fortune he came to a mountayne / &
there he found a goodely knyght that badde hym abyde syr kny_ghte
and Iuste with me / what are ye said syr Gareth / My na_me
is said he the duke de la rowse / A syr ye ar the same kn_yghte
that I lodged ones in your Castel / And there I ma_de
promyse vnto your lady that I shold yelde me vnto yow
A said the duke arte thou that proud knyghte that proferest
to fyghte with my knyghtes / therfore make the redy for I wil
haue adoo with you / Soo they lete their horses renne / and ther
syr Gareth smote the duke doune from his hors / But the du_ke
lyghtly auoyded his hors / and dressid his shelde and dre_we
his swerd / and bad syr Gareth alyghte and fyghte with
hym / Soo he dyd alyghte / and they dyd grete batail to gy_ders
more than an houre / and eyther hurte other ful sore / Att
the last sir Gareth gat the duke to the erthe / and wold haue
slayn hym / and thenne he yelded hym to hym / Thenne must ye
goo said sir Gareth vnto syr Arthur my lord at the next feest
and saye that I sir Gareth of Orkeney sente you vnto hym / hit
shal be done said the duke / and I wil doo to yow homage and
feaute with an C kny¨tes with me / and alle the dayes of my
lyf to doo you seruyse where ye wille commaunde me /

 Capitulum xxxiiij |r{ms=xxiiij}
|r<b> 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



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|r[f134r]
mounted vpon horsbak / and soo withou¨te bydyng they ranne
to gyder as it had ben the thonder / And there that kny¨t hurt
syr Gareth vnder the syde with his spere / And thenne they a_lyghte /
and drewe their swerdes / and gafe grete strokes that
the blood trayled to the ground / And soo they foughte two
houres / At the last there came the damoysel Lynet that somme
men calle the damoysel saueage / and she came rydynge vpon
an ambelynge meule / and there she cryed al on hyghe / syr Ga_wayne
syr Gawayne leue thy fyghtynge with thy broder syre
Gareth / And whan he herd her saye soo he threwe aweye hys
shelde and his swerd / and ranne to syre Gareth / and tooke
hym in his armes / and sythen kneled doune and asked hym
mercy / What are ye said syr Gareth that ryght now were soo
stronge and soo myghty / and now so sodenly yelde you to me
O Gareth I am your broder syr Gawayn that for youre sake
haue had grete sorou and labour / Thenne syr Gareth vnlaced
his helme / and knelyd doune to hym / and asked hym mercy /
thenne they rose both and enbraced eyther other in their armes
and wepte a grete whyle or they myghte speke / and eyther of
hem gaf other the pryce of the bataille / And there were many
kynde wordes bitwene hem / Allas my faire broder said sir ga_wayn
perde I owe of ryghte to worshippe you / and ye were
not my broder / for ye haue worshipped kyng Arthur and all
his courte / for ye haue sente me mo worshipful knyghtes this
twelue moneth than syxe the best of the round table haue do_ne
excepte sir Launcelot / Thenne cam the damoysel saueage that
was the lady Lynet that rode with sir gareth soo longe / and
there she dyd staunche sir gareths woundes / and sir gawayns
Now what wille ye doo said the damoysel saueage / me semeth
that it were wel do èt Arthur had wetyng of you both for yo_ur
horses are soo brysed that they may not bere / Now faire da_moysel
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 tydyn_ges
the kynge bad gete hym a palfroy /  And whan he was
vpon his bak he badde the lordes and ladyes come after who



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that wold / and there was sadelyng and brydelyng of quenes
horses and prynces horses / & wel was hym that soonest myght
be redy / Soo whan the kynge came there as they were he sawe
syr Gawayn and syr Gareth sytte vpon a lytel hylle syde / &
thenne the kynge auoyded his hors / And whanne he cam ny_ghe
syre Gareth / he wold haue spoken but he myghte not / and
therwith he sanke doune in a swoune for gladnesse / and soo
they starte vnto theyr vnkyl / and requyred hym of his good
grace to be of good comforte / Wete ye wel the kyng made gre_te
ioye and many a pyteous complaynte he made to syr Ga_reth /
And euer he wepte as he had ben a chyld / With that cam
his moder the quene of Orkeney dame Morgause / And whan
she sawe syr Gareth redely in the vysage she myghte not wepe
but sodenly felle doun in a swoune / and lay there a grete why_le
lyke as she had ben dede / And thenne syr Gareth recomfor_ted
his moder in suche wyse that she recouerd and made good
chere / Thenne the kynge commaunded that al maner of knygh_tes
that were vnder his obeissaunce shold make their lodgyng
ryght there for the loue of his neuewes / And soo it was do_ne
and al manere of purueaunce purueyd that ther lacked
nothyng that myghte be goten of tame nor wylde for gold or
syluer / And thenne by the meanes of the damoysel Saueage
syr Gawayne and syr Gareth were heled of their woundes /
and there they soiourned eyght dayes / Thenne said kyng Ar_thur
vnto the damoysel saueage I merueylle that your syster
Dame Lyones cometh not here to me / and in especyal that she
cometh not to vysyte her knyghte my neuewe syre Gareth that
hath had soo moche trauaille for her loue / My lord said the da_moysel
Lynet ye must of your good grace hold her excused /
For she knoweth not that my lord syr Gareth is here / Go the~_ne for her said kynge Arthur that we may be apoynted what
is best to done accordyng to the plesyr of my neuewe / Syr sa_id
the damoysel that shal be done / and soo she rode vnto her sys_ter /
And as lyghtely as she myght made her redy & she cam
on the morne with her broder syr Gryngamor / and with her
xl kny¨tes / And so whan she was come she had alle the che_re
that myghte be done bothe of the kynge and of many other
kynges and quenes



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|r[f135r]
 Capitulum xxxv
|r<b> ANd amonge alle these ladyes she was named the fay_rest
      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 ky_nge
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 Ar_thur
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 Ly_ones
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 withdra_we
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 mo_der /
thenne there was made a prouysyon for the day of mary_ge /
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 won_nen
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



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gold / and soo she departed / and kyng Arthur and his felau_ship
rode toward Kynkenadon / and syr Gareth broughte his
lady on the way / & so cam to the kyng ageyne and rode with
hym / Lord the grete chere that syr launcelot made of sir Gareth
and he of hym / for there was neuer no knyght that syr gareth
loued so wel as he dyd syr Launcelot / and euer for the most
party he wold be in syr launcelots company / for after syr Ga_reth
had aspyed sir Gawayns condycions he withdrewe hym
self fro his broder syr Gawayns felauship / for he was venge_able /
and where he hated he wold be auengyd with murther
and that hated syr gareth

 Capitulum xxxvj
|r<b> 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 Agraua_yne
to wedde dame Lyones nees a fayr lady / her name was
dame Laurel / And so whan this solemnacion was done / then_ne
came in the grene knyghte syr Pertylope with thyrtty kn_yghtes /
and there he dyd homage and feaute to syr gareth and
these knyghtes to hold of hym fro euermore / Also sir Pertilo_pe
said I pray you that at this feest I maye be your cham_berlayne /
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 ga_reth
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 we_re
better / Thenne came in syr Persant of Inde with an C kn_yghtes
with hym / and there he dyd homage and feaute / and



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al his knyghtes shold doo hym seruyse / and hold their lon_des
of hym for euer / and there he prayd syr Gareth to make
hym his Sewar chyef at the feest / I wil wel said syr Ga_reth
that ye haue it & it were better / Thenne cam the dukde la
rowse with an C knyghtes with hym / and there he dyd ho_mage
and feaute to syr Gareth / and soo to hold theire londes
of hym for euer / And he requyred syr Gareth that he myght
serue hym of the wyn that day at that feest / I wil wel sayd
syr Gareth and it were better / Thenne came in the reed kny¨te
of the reed laundes that was syr Ironsyde / and he broughte
with hym thre honderd knyghtes / and there he dyd homage &
feaute / and al these knyghtes to hold their landes of hym for
euer / And thenne he asked syr Gareth to be his keruer / I
will wel said syr Gareth and it please you / Thenne came in to
the courte thyrtty ladyes / and alle they semed wydowes / and
tho thyrtty ladyes broughte with hem many fayre gentylwy_mmen /
And alle they kneled doune at ones vnto kyng arthur
and vnto syr Gareth / and there al tho ladyes told the kyng
how syr Gareth delyuerd hem from the dolorous toure / and slewe
the broune knyght withou¨te pyte / And therfore we and
oure heyres for euermore wille doo homage vnto syr Gareth of
Orkeney / So thenne the kynges and quenes / prynces & erlys
Barons and many bold knyghtes wente vnto mete / & well
maye ye wete there were al manere of mete plentyuously / alle
manere rules and games with al manere of mynstralsy that
was vsed in tho dayes /  Also there was grete iustes thre da_yes /
But the kynge wold not suffre syre Gareth to Iuste by
cause of his newe bryde / for as the fresshe book sayth that da_me
Lyones desyred of the kynge that none that were wedded
shold Iuste at that feest / Soo the fyrst day there Iusted sir la_merak
de galys / for he ouerthrewe thyrtty knyghtes / & did pas_syng
merueillously dedes of armes / and thenne kyng Arthur
made syr Persuant and his two bretheren knyghtes of the ro_und
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



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his lyues ende / and gaf hym grete landes / The thyrd day there
Iusted syr launcelot du lake / and he ouerthrewe fyfty knygh_tes
and dyd many merueyllous dedes of armes that all men
wondred on hym / And there kynge Arthur made the duke de
la rouse a knyghte of the round table to his lyues ende / and
gaf hym grete landes to spende / But whan this Iustes
were done / syr Lamerak and syr Trystram departed sodenly / & wold
not be knowm / for the whiche kyng Arthur and all the court
were sore displeasyd / And soo they helde the courte fourty da_yes
with grete solempnyte / And this syr Gareth was a no_ble
knyghte and a wel rulyd and fayr langaged

 Thus endeth this tale of syr Gareth of Orkeney that wed_ded
dame Lyones of the castel peryllous / And also syr Gahe_rys
wedded her syster dame Lynet / that was called the damo_ysel
saueage / And syr Agrauayne wedded dame Laurel a fa_yr
lady and grete and myghty landes with grete rychesse
gaf with them kyng Arthur that ryally they myght lyue tyl
their lyues ende

 Here foloweth the viij book the which is the first book of sir
Tristram de Lyones / & who was his fader & his moder / & hou
he was borne and fosteyrd / And how he was made knyghte



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|r[f137r]
 Capitulum primum
|r<b> 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 we_re
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 Me_lyodas
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 en_chauntement
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 gentylwo-man
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 ma_ny
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



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none other boote / And whanne this quene Elyzabeth sawe
that ther was none other bote / thenne she made grete dole / and
said vnto her gentylwoman / whan ye see my lord kyng Me_lyodas
recommaunde me vnto hym / and telle hym what pay_nes
I endure here for gis |r{sic} loue / and how I must dye here for
his sake for defaute of good helpe / and lete hym wete that I
am ful sory to departe out of this world fro hym / therfor pray
hym to be frende to my soule / Now lete me see my lytel child /
for whome I haue had alle this sorowe / And whanne she sa_we
hym she said thus / A my lytel sone thou hast murthered
thy moder / and therfore I suppose thou that arte a murtherer
soo yong / thou arte ful lykely to be a manly man in thyn age /
And by cause I shal dye of the byrthe of the / I charge the
gentylwoman / that thou pray my lord kynge Melyodas that
whan he is crystned lete calle hym Trystram that is as moch
to saye / as a sorouful byrthe / And ther with this quene gafe
vp the ghoost and dyed / Thenne the gentylwoman leyd her
vnder an vmbre of a grete tree / and thenne she lapped the ch_yld
as wel as she myght for cold / Ryghte soo ther came the
Barons folowynge after the quene /  And whan they sawe
that she was dede / and vnderstood none other but the kynge
was destroyed /

 Capitulum secundum
|r<b> 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 gentylwo_man /
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 ma_de
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 le_te
crystene his child as his wyf commaunded afore her



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|r[f138r]
deth / And thenne he lete calle hym Trystram the sorouful bo_rne
child /  Thenne the kynge Melyodas endured seuen ye_res
without a wyf / And alle this tyme Trystram was nou_rysshed
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 sho_ld
drynke that drynke / And so hit felle vpon a daye the que_nes
sone as he was in that chamber / aspyed the pyece with
poyson / and he wende hit hadde ben good drynke / and by ca_use
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 vndersto_de
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 hus_band
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 pul_led
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



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|r[f138v]
Trystram knelyd afore kynge Melyodas / and besought hym
to gyue hym a bone / I wylle wel said the kynge ageyne /
 Thenne saide yonge Trystram gyue me the lyf of thy que_ne
my stepmoder / That is vnryghtfully asked said kyng Me_lyodas /
for thou oughte of ryght to hate her / for she wold ha_ue
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 forgy_ue
it her and I doo / and soo moche it lyked your hyhenes to
graunte me my bone / for goddes loue I requyre you hold yo_ur
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 commaunde_ment
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 ma_de
the kynge and her accorded / But thenne the kynge wold
not suffre yonge Trystram to abyde no lenger in his courte

 Capitulum iij
|r<b> 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 / then_ne
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



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|r[f139r]
gentylman more that euer we herd rede of /  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 hunty_nge
is called the book of syr Trystram / Wherfor as me semeth
alle gentylmen that beren old armes oughte of ryght to ho_noure
syre Trystram for the goodly termes that gentilmen ha_ue
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 cus_tommes
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 eue_ry
estate loued hym / where that he wente

 Capitulum quartum
|r<b> THenne it befelle that kynge Anguysshe of Irland /
      sente vnto kynge Marke of Cornewaile for his tru_age
that Cornewaile had payed many wynters / And
alle that tyme kynge Marke was behynde of the truage for se_uen
yeres / And kyng Marke and his Barons gaf vnto the
messager of Irland these wordes and ansuere that they wo_ld
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 de_parted
in to Irland /  And whanne kynge Anguysh vn_derstood
the ansuere of the messagers / he was wonderly wroth



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And thenne he callyd vnto hym syr Marhaus the good kn_yght
that was nobly preued / and a knyghte of the table ro_und /
And this Marhaus was broder vnto the quene of Ir_land /
 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 mar_haus /
and he hadde al thynge that to hym neded / and soo he de_parted
out of Irland / and arryued vp in Cornewaile euen
fast by the castel of Tyntagil / And whan kynge Marke vn_derstood
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 famo_sest
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 Mar_haus
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 ty_me
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 /



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|r[f140r]
by cause syr Marhaus was a knyght of the round table / ther_for
ony of hem will be loth to haue adoo with other / but yf hit
were ony knyght at his owne request wold fyghte dysguysed
and vnknowen / Soo the kynge and alle his barons assented
that it was no bote to seke ony knyght of the round table /
 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 kn_yghte
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 /

 Capitulum quintum
|r<b> 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 we_re
ful pyteous letters & in them were wryten many compla_yntes
of loue / but syre Tristram had no Ioye of her letters nor



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|r[f140v]
regard vnto her / Also she sente hym a lytel brachet that was
passynge fayre / But whan the kynges doughter vnderstood
that syre Trystram wold not loue her / as the book sayth / she
dyed for sorou /  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 Cornewa_yle /
 And whanne he came there / he herd say that ther wold
no knyghte fyghte with syre Marhaus / Thenne yede sir Tris_tram
vnto his eme and sayd / syre yf ye wylle gyue me thor_dre
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 yo_ur
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 messa_ger
vnto syre Marhaus with letters that said / that he hadde
fonde a yonge knyghte redy for to take the bataile to the vtter_mest /
hit may wel be said syre Marhaus /  But telle kynge
Marke I wille not fyghte with no knyghte but he be of bl_ood
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 se_yth
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



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|r[f141r]
to me /  Thenne in alle the haste the kynge lete horse syr Tris_tram
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 ma~
than he was hym self shold fyghte with hym / and his name
is sir Trystram de lyonas goten of kynge Melyodas / and bo_rne
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 bo_the
for his body and for his hors / Syre Trystram lacked no
thynge / And whan kynge Marke and his Barons of Cor_newaile
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 /

 Capitulum sextum
|r<b> SOo to shorten this tale whan syr Trystram was arry_ued
      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 Trys_tram
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 ynou¨ Thenne he commaunded his seruaunt Gouernayle



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|r[f141v]
to goo to his vessaile ageyne / and commaunde me vnto myne
eme kynge Marke / and praye hym / yf that I be slayn in this
bataille for to entere my body as hym semed best / & as for me
lete hym wete I will neuer yelde me for cowardyse / and yf I
be slayne and flee not / thenne they haue lost no truage for me
And yf soo be that I flee or yelde me as recreaut / bydde myn
eme neuer berye me in Crysten beryels / And vpon thy lyf sa_id
syr Trystram to Gouernayle / come thou not nyghe this I_land
tyl that thou see me ouercomen or slayne / or els that I
wynne yonder knyght / soo eyther departed from other sore we_pynge

 Capitulum septimum
|r<b> ANd thenne syr Marhaus auysed syr Trystram and sa_id
      thus / yonge knyght syr Trystram what dost thou he_re /
me sore repenteth of thy courage / for wete thou wel I haue
ben assayed / and the best knyghtes of this land haue ben as_sayed
of my hand / And also I haue matched with the best kn_yghtes
of the world / and therfor by my counceille retorne a_geyne
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 kn_yghtes
of the world / and by cause of that noyse and fame /
that thou hast / thou gyuest me courage to haue adoo with the /
for neuer yet was I preued with good knyghte / And sy_then
I toke the ordre of knyghthode this day / I am wel plea_syd
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 bo_dy /
and to delyuer the countrey of Cornewaile for euer fro al



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maner of truage from Irland for euer / Whanne syr Marhaus
had herde hym saye what he wold / he saide thenne thus ageyn
Fair Knyght sythen it is soo that thou castest to wynne wor_ship
of me / I lete the wete / worship may thou none lese by me
yf thou mayst stande me thre strokes / for  I lete the wete / for
my noble dedes preued and sene / Kyng Arthur made me kny_ghte
of the table round / Thenne they beganne to feutre theyre
speres / and they mette soo fyersly to gyders / that they smote
eyther other doune / bothe hors and all / But sir Marhaus smo_te
syr Trystram a grete wounde in the syde with his spere /
& thenne they auoyded their horses / and pulled oute their swer_des /
and threwe their sheldes afore them / And thenne they las_shed
to gyders as men that were wyld and couragyous / And
whan they hadde stryken soo to gyder longe / thenne they lefte
her strokes / and foyned at their brethes and vyfours / & when
they sawe that that myght not preuaile them / thene they hurt_led
to gyders lyke rammes to bere eyther other doun / thus they
fought stylle more than half a day / and eyder were wounded
passyng sore / that the blood ranne doune fresshly fro them vp_on
the ground / By thenne syr Trystram waxed more fressher /
than syr Marhaus and better wynded and bygger / and with a
myghty stroke he smote syr Marhaus vpon the helme suche a
buffet that hit went thorou his helme / and thorou the coyfe
of stele and thorou the brayn pan / and the swerd stak soo fast in
the helme and in his brayn pan that sir Trystram pulled thry_es
at his swerd or euer he myght pulle it out from his hede / &
there Marhaus felle doun on his knees the edge of Tristrams
swerd left in his brayne pan / And sodenly syr Marhaus rose
grouelynge / and threwe his swerd and his shelde from hym /
and soo ranne to his shippes and fledde his waye / and sir tris_tram
hadde euer his shelde and his swerd / And whan sir Tristram
sawe sir Marhaus withdrawe hym / he said A sir knyght
of the roud table why withdrawest thou the / thou dost thy selfe
and thy kyn grete shame / for I am but a yong Knyghte / or
now I was neuer preued / and rather than I shold withdra_we
me from the / I had rather be hewen in C pyeces / Syr mar_haus
ansuerd no worde but yede his way sore gronynge / Well
sir knyght said sir Tristram I promyse the thy suerd and thy



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|r[f142v]
sheld shal be myn / and thy sheld shalle I were in al places
where I ryde on myn aduentures and in the syghte of kyng
Arthur and alle the round table

 Capitulum viij
|r<b> ANon sir Marhaus and his felauship departed in to Ir_land /
      And as soone as he came to the kynge his bro_der /
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 surge_ons /
and soo he dyed of syr Trystrams swerd / and that py_ece
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 my¨t not within a lytel whyle when
he had take cold vnnethe stere hym of his lymmes / and the~_ne
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 se_nescal
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 / Then_ne
was kynge Mark and alle his barons passynge heuy / For
they demed none other / but that syr Trystram shold not reco_uer /
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



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|r[f143r]
be hole / but yf sire Trystram wente in the same countrey that
the venym came fro / and in that countrey shold he be holpen
or els neuer / Thus said the lady vnto the Kynge / whan ky_nge
Marke vnderstood that / he lete purueye for syr Trystram
a faire vessel / wel vytailled / and therin was put syr Trys_tram
and gouernail with hym / and sir Tristram toke his harp
with hym / and soo he was putte in to the see to sayle in to Ir_land /
and soo by good fortune he arryued vp in Irland e_uen
fast by a castel where the Kynge and the quene was / and
at his arryuayl he sat and harped in his bedde a mery lay su_che
one herd they neuer none in Irland afore that tyme /
 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 gre_te
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 Trystra~
wherefore syr Marhaus was slayne / Syr Trystram made sem_blaunt
as he had ben sory / and better knewe he how hit was
than the kynge

 Capitulum ix
|r<b> THenne the kynge for grete fauoure maade Tramtryst
      to be put in his doughters ward and kepyng by cau_se
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



|p286


|r[f143v]
quene / And euery day syr Palamydes drewe vnto la beale
Isoud / and profered her many yeftes / for he loued her passy_ngly
wel / Al that Aspyed Tramtryst / and ful wel knewe
he syr Palamydes for a noble knyght and a myghty man /
And wete ye wel syr Tramtryst had grete despyte at syr pa_lomydes /
for la beale Isoud told Tramtryst that Palamydes
was in wylle to be crystened for her sake / Thus was ther gre_te
enuy betwixe Tramtryst and syr Palamydes / Thenne hit
befelle that kynge Anguysshe lete crye a grete Iustes and a
grete turnement for a lady that was called the lady of the la_undes /
and she was nyghe cosyn vnto the kynge / And what
man wanne her / thre dayes after he shold wedde her and ha_ue
alle her landes / This crye was made in England / walys
Scotland and also in Fraunce and in Bretayne / It befelle
vpon a day la beale Isoud came vnto syr Tramtryst and told
hym of this turnement / he ansuerd and sayd sayr lady I am
but a feble knyghte / and but late I had ben dede / had not
your good ladyship ben / Now fayre lady what wold ye I
shold doo in this matere / wel ye wote my lady that I maye
not Iuste / A Tramtryst said la beale Isoud why wille ye
not haue ado at that turnement / wel I wote syr Palamydes
shall be there / and to doo what he maye / And therfore Tram_tryst
I pray you for to be there / for els syr Palamydes is ly_ke
to wynne the degree / Madame said Tramtrist as for that /
it may be soo / for he is a proued knyght / and I am but a
yong knyght and late made / and the fyrst batail that I dyd
it myshapped me to be soore wounded as ye see / But and I
wyst ye wold be my better lady / at that turnement I will be
so that ye wille kepe my counceille and lete no creature haue
knouleche that I shalle Iuste but your self / and suche as ye
wil to kepe your counceil / my poure persone shall I Ieoparde
there for your sake that parauentur sir Palamydes shal kno_we
whan that I come / Therto said la beale Isoud do your best
& as I can said la beale Isoud I shal purueye hors and a_rmour
for you at my deuyse / as ye will soo be hit said syr Tra~_trist
I wille be at your comaundement / So at the day of Ius_tes /
ther cam sir Palamydes with a black sheld / & he ouerthrew
many knyghtes that alle the peple had merueylle of hym /



|p287


|r[f144r]
For he putte to the werse syr Gawayne / Gaherys / Agrauayn
Bagdemagus / kay / Dodyus le saueage / Sagramor le desy_rus
/ Gumret le petyte / and Gryslet le fyse de dieu / Alle these
the fyrste daye syr Palamydes strake doune to the erthe / And
thenne alle maner of |r{ms=os} knyghtes were adred of sir Palamydes
and many called hym the knyght with the black shelde / Soo
that day syre Palamydes had grete worshyp /  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 Tristra~
he felle flat to his feete / Alle that aspyed la Bele Isoud /
what curtosye the squyer made vnto syr Trystram / And ther_with
al sodenly syr Trystram ranne vnto his squyer whos na_me
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

 Capitulum x
|r<b> THenne syr Trystram asked hym what de dyd in those
      countreyes / syr he sayd / I came hyder with syr Gawa_yn
for to be made knyght / And yf it please you of your han_des
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 com_forted
her self / and cast more loue vnto hym than she had do_ne
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



|p288


|r[f144v]
there syr Trystram smote doune syr Palamydes vnto the erth
And thenne there was a grete noyse of people / some sayd / syre
Palamydes hadde a falle / some said the knyght with the blak
shelde had a falle / And wete you wel la beale Isoud was
passynge gladde / And thenne sire Gawayne and his felawes
ix had merueille what knyghte it myght be that had smyten
doune syr Palamydes / Thenne wold there none Iuste with
Tramtryst / but alle that there were forsoke hym / moost & lest /
Thenne syr Trystram made Heles a knyght / and caused hym
to put hym self forthe / and dyd ryght wel that day / So af_ter
syr Heles held hym with syr Trystram / And whan syre
Palamydes had receyued this falle / wete ye wel that he was
sore ashamed / And as pryuely as he myght / he withdrewe
hym oute of the feld / Alle that aspyed syre Trystram / and
lyghtly he rode after syre Palamydes and ouertoke hym /
and badde hym torne / for better he wold assaye hym / or euer
he departed / Thenne syr Palamydes torned hym and eyther
lasshed at other with their swerdes / But at the fyrste stroke
syre Trystram smote doune Palamydes / and gaf hym suche a
stroke vpon the hede that he felle to the erthe / Soo thenne Tris_tram
badde yelde hym / and doo his commaundement or els he
wold slee hym / whan syre Palamydes beheld his countena_unce
/ he dredde his buffets soo / that he graunted al his askyn_ges /
Wel said / said sir Tristram / this shalle be your charge /
Fyrst vpon payne of your lyf that ye forsake my lady la be_ale
Isoud / and in no maner wyse that ye drawe not to her /
Also this twelue moneth and a day / that ye bere none armo_ur
nor none harneis of werre /  Now promyse me this or here
shalt thou dye / Allas saide Palamydes for euer I am asha_med /
 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 smy¨ten doune /



|p289


|r[f145r]
Thenne the damoysel prayd syr Trystram to telle her what he
was / And whether that he were syr Launcelot du lake / for she
demyd that there was no knyght in the world myghte do su_che
dedes of armes / but yf it were Launcelot / Fayre damoysel
sayd syr Trystram wete ye wel that I am not syr launcelot
for I was neuer of suche prowesse / but in god is al that he
maye make me as good a knyght as the good knyght sir lau~_celot /
Now gentyl knyght said she / put vp thy vysure / & whan
she beheld his vysage / she thou¨t she sawe neuer a better ma~s
vysage / nor a better farynge knyght / And thenne whan the
damoysel knewe certaynly that he was not syre launcelot /
thenne she took her leue and departed from hym / And then_ne
syre Trystram rode pryuely vnto the posterne where kepte
hym la beale Isoud / and there she made hym good chere and
thanked god of his good spede / Soo anone within a whyle
the kynge and the quene vnderstood that hit was Tramtryst
that smote doune syre Palamydes / thenne was he moche ma_de
of more than he was before

 Capitulum xj
|r<b> 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 He_les
attendyd vpon Tramtryst / & the quene beheld his swerd
there as it laye vpon his bedde / And thene by vnhap the que_ne
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 foude 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



|p290


|r[f145v]
soo / she was passynge sore abasshed / for passyng wel she loued
Tramtryst / and ful wel she knewe the cruelnes of her moder
the quene / Anon there with alle the quene went vnto her o_wne
chamber / and soughte her cofre / and there she toke oute the
pyece of the swerd that was pulled out of syr Marhaus hede
after that he was dede / And thenne she ranne with that pyece
of yron to the swerd that laye vpon the bedde / And whanne
she putte that pyece of stele and yron vnto the swerd / hit was
as mete as it myghte be / whan it was newe broken / And the~_ne
the quene gryped that swerd in her hand fyersly / & with
alle her myghte she ranne streyghte vpon Tramtryst where he
sat in his bayne / And there she hadde ryued hym thorou hadde
not syr Heles goten her in his armes / and pulled the suerd
from her / and els she hadde threst him thorou / Thenne whanne
she was lettyd of her euyl wylle / she ranne to the kynge An_guyssh
her husband and sayde on her knees / O my lord here
haue ye in your hous that traitour knyght that slewe my bro_der
and your seruaunt that noble knyght syr Marhaus / Who
is that said kynge Anguysshe and where is he / Syr she said
hit is syr Tramtryst the same knyght that my doughter helyd
Allas said the kynge therfore am I ryght heuy / for he is a
ful noble knyght as euer I sawe in felde /  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

 Capitulum xij



|p291


|r[f146r]
|r<b> SYr said Trystram now I shalle telle you alle the tro_uthe /
      my faders name is sir Melyodas kynge of Lyo_nas /
& my moder hy¨t 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 Trystram |r{ms=Tcystram} / &
by cause I wold not be knowen in this countrey I turned my
name and lete me calle Tramtryst / & for the truage of Corne_wayle
I fought for myn emes sake / & for the ryght of Cor_newaile
that ye had posseded many yeres / And wete ye well
said Trystram vnto the kynge I dyd the bataille for |r{ms=sor} the loue
of myn vnkel kynge Marke / and for the loue of the countreye
of Cornewaile / and for to encreace myn honoure / For that sa_me
day that I fought with sir Marhaus I was made kny¨t
And neuer or than dyd I no bataile with no knyght / & fro
me he went alyue & lefte his sheld & his suerd behynde / so god
me helpe said the kyng I may not say but ye dyd as a kny_ght
shold / & it was your part to doo for your quarel / & to en_creace
your worship as a knyght shold / how be it I may not
mayntene you in this countrey with my worship onles that I
shold displease my barons & my wyf / & her kyn / Syr said Tr_ystram
I thanke you of your good lordship that I haue had
with you here / and the grete goodenes my lady your doughter
hath shewed me / & therfor said sir Tristram it may so happen
that ye shalle wynne more by my lyf than by my dethe / for in
the partyes of Englond it may happen I may doo you seruyse
at some season that ye shal be glad that euer ye shewed me yo_ur
good lordship /  With more I promyse you as I am true
kny¨t that in all places I shal be my lady your douters ser_uaunt /
& kny¨t 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 kny_ghtes /
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 èt shold neuer be hole tyl he cam in to this cou~trey where



|p292


|r[f146v]
the poyson was made / where thorou I was nere my dethe had
not your ladyship ben / O gentyl knyght said la beale Isoud
ful wo am I of thy departynge / for I sawe neuer man that
I oughte soo good wille to / and there with all she wepte her_tely /
Madame said sire Trystram ye shalle vnderstande that
my name is sir Trystram de lyones goten of kyng Melyodas
and borne of his quene / And I promyse you feythfully that
I shal be alle the dayes of my lyf your knyghte / Gramercy sa_id
La beale Isoud / and I promyse you there ageynste that I
shalle not be maryed this seuen yeres but by your assent / and
to whome that ye wille shalle be maryed to / hym wylle I
haue / and he wille haue me yf ye wil consente / And thenne
syre Trystram gaf her a rynge and she gaf hym another / and
ther with he departed fro her / leuynge her / makynge grete dole
and lamentacion / and he streyghte wente vnto the Courte a_monge
alle the Barons / and there he took his leue at moost
and leest / and openly he said amonge them all / Faire lordes
now it is soo that I muste departe / Yf there be ony man here
that I haue offended vnto / or that ony man be with me gre_ued /
lete complayne hym here afore me or that euer I depart
and I shal amende it vnto my power / And yf there be ony
that wil profer me wronge or say of me wrong / or shame be_hynde
my bak / saye hit now or neuer / and here is my body to
make it good body ageynst body / And alle they stood stylle /
ther was not one that wold saye one word / yet were there
some knyghtes that were of the quenes blood and of sire Mar_haus
blood / but they wold not medle with hym /

 Capitulum xiij
|r<b> 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 wo_undes /
therof was kynge marke passyng glad / & soo were alle
the barons / & whan he sawe his tyme he rode vnto his fader ky_ng
melyodas / & there he had al the chere that the kyng & the
quene coude make hym / And thenne largely Kyng Melyo_das
and his quene departed of their landes and goodes to sire
Trystram /  Thenne by the lycence of Kyng



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|r[f147r]
Melyodas his fader he retorned ageyne vnto the court of ky_nge
Mark / and there he lyued in grete ioye long tyme / vntyl
at the laste there befelle a Ialousye and an vnkyndenes betw_yxe
kynge Marke and sir Tristram / for they loued bothe one
lady / And she was an erles wyf that hyght syre Segwary_des /
And this lady loued syre Trystram passyngly wel /
And he loued her ageyne for she was a passynge fayr lady /
And that aspyed sir Tristram wel /  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 dw_erf
vnto sir Tristram and badde hym as he loued her / that he
wold be with her the ny¨t nexte folowynge / Also she charged
you that ye come not to her but yf ye be wel armed / for her lo_rd
was called a good knyghte  Syre Trystram an_swerd
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 hurt_lynge
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 Tris_tram
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



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|r[f147v]
he myghte welde hym self / And thenne he ranne to the one kn_yght /
and efte to the other / and smote hem to the cold erthe /
that they laye stylle / And ther with alle sir Tristram rode for_the
sore wounded to the lady / and fonde her abydynge hym
at a posterne

 Capitulum xiiij
|r<b> 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 Tris_tram
bebled both the ouer shete and the nether & pelowes / and
hede shete / and within a whyle ther came one afore that war_ned
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 seg_warydes
her lord / and whan he fond her bedde troubled & bro_ken
and wente nere and beheld it by candel lyghte / thenne
he sawe that there had layne a wounded knyght / A fals tra_itresse
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 sa_yd
the lady / and helde vp her handes / sayeng / slee me not / and
I shall telle you alle who hath ben here / Telle anone said seg_warydes
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 ho_rs
bak not yet hens half a myle / ye saye wel said segwarydes
thenne he armed hym lyghtly / and gate his hors and rode af_ter
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 smo_te
syr Trystram with a spere that it alle to braste /  And



|p295


|r[f148r]
thenne he swange oute his swerd / and smote fast at syr Tris_tram /
Syre knyght said syre Trystram I counceyle you that
ye smy¨te no more how be it for the wronges that I haue do_ne
you / I wille forbere you as longe as I maye /  Nay sa_yd
Segwarides that shalle not be / for outher thou shalt dye
or I / Thenne syre Tristram drewe out his swerd and hurt_led
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 secre_tely
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 brou¨t hym
home on his shelde / and there he lay longe or that he were ho_le /
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 ky_nge
Marke had mette with hym / And soo the kynges astau~_ce
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 / ther_fore
he lete it ouer slyp / for he that hath a pryuy hurte is loth
to haue a shame outward

 Capitulum xv /
|r<b> 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 la_ke /
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



|p296


|r[f148v]
askynge / but by cause he was knyghte of the round table / &
of a grete renomme / kynge Marke graunted hym his hole as_kynge /
thenne saide sire Bleoberys I wille haue the fayrest
lady in your Courte that me lyst to chese / I maye not say nay
sayd kynge marke / Now chese at youre aduenture
And soo sir Bleoberys dyd chese syr segwarydes wyf / and to_ke
her by the hand and soo wente his waye with her / and soo
he tooke his hors and gart sette her behynde his squyer and
rode vpon his way / When sir segwarydes herd telle that his la_dy
was gone with a knyght of kynge Arthurs courte /
 Thenne he armed hym and rode after that knyght for to re_scowe
his lady / soo whan Bleoberys was gone with this la_dy /
kyng Mark and all the courte was wroth that she was a_wey /
thenne were there certayne ladyes that knewe that there
was grete loue bitwene sir Tristram and her / and also that la_dy
loued sir Tristram aboue alle other knyghtes / Thenne there
was one lady that rebuked sir Tristram in the horryblest wy_se /
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 ma_ters
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 segwari_des
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 ar_med
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 Ma_rke
was sente brynge forth & euer it laye in his power / ij /



|p297


|r[f149r]
knyghtes of Arthurs Courte that rode by the countrey to seke
their aduentures / Whan syr Trystram sawe sir Andret / he as_ked
hym what tydynges / Soo god me helpe said syre An_dret /
ther was neuer worse with me / for here by the commaun_dement
of kynge Mark I was sente to fetche two knyghtes of
kynge Arthurs courte / and that one bete me / and wounded
me / and sette nought by my message / Faire cosyn said sir tris_tram
ryde on your way / and yf I may mete them / it may hap_pen
I shal reuenge you / So syr Andret rode in to Cornewaile
And syr Tristram rode after the two knyghtes the whiche one
hyght Sagramor le desyrus / & the other hyght Dodynas le
saueage /

 Capitulum xvj /
|r<b> 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 as_ked
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 Sa_gramore
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 kny¨t 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



|p298


|r[f149v]
thy self / And thenne they departed and came to gyders as it
had ben thonder / And syr Dodynas spere brast in sonder / but
syr Trystram smote hym with a more myght / that he smote
hym clene ouer the hors croupe that nyghe he hadde broken his
neck / Whanne syre Sagramour sawe his felawe haue suche a
falle / he merueylled what kny¨t he myght be / And he dresseth
his spere with alle his myght / and syr Trystram ageynst hym
and they came to gyders as the thonder / and ther sir Tristram
smote syr Sagramore a stronge buffet that he bare his hors &
hym to the erthe / and in the fallyng he brake his thygh / whan
this was done / syr Trystram asked hem / Fayre knyghtes will
ye ony more / Be there no bygger kny¨tes in the courte of ky_nge
Arthur / it is to you shame to say of vs kny¨tes of Corne_wayle
dishonoure / for it may happen a Cornysshe knyght may
matche you / that is trouthe said syr Sagramore / that haue we
wel preued / but I requyre the sayd syre Sagramore telle
vs youre ryght name by the feythe and trouthe that ye owe to
the hyghe ordre of knyghthode / ye charge me with a grete thy_nge
said syr Trystram / and sythen ye lyst to wete hit / ye shal
knowe and vnderstande that my name is syr Trystram de ly_onas
kynge Melyodas sone / and neuewe vnto kynge Marke
Thenne were they two knyghtes fayne / that they had mette
with Trystram / and soo they praid hym to abyde in their fela_uship /
Nay said sire Tristram / for I must haue ado with one of
your felawes / his name is syr Bleoberys de ganys / god spe_de
you wel said syr Sagramore and Dodynas / Syre Trys_tram
departed and rode on ward on his waye / And thenne
was he ware before hym in a valeye where rode syr Bleoberys
with sir Segwarydes lady that rode behynde his squyer vpon
a palfroy

 Capitulum xvij
|r<b> Thene syr Trystram rode more than a paas vntyl that
      he had ouertake hym / Thenne spak syr Trystram aby_de
he said knyght of Arthurs courte / brynge ageyne
that lady or delyuer her to me / I wille doo neyther said Ble_oberys /
for I drede no Cornysshe knyght soo sore that me lyste



|p299


|r[f150r]
to delyuer her / why said syr Tristram may not a Cornysshe kn_yght
doo as wel as another knyght / this same daye two kn_yghtes
of your Courte within this thre myle mette with me /
And or euer we departed / they fonde a Cornyssh knyght go_od
ynough for them bothe / what were their names said Bleo_beris /
they told me said syr Trystram that the one of them hy_ghte
syr Sagramore le desyrus / and the other hyghte Dody_nas
le saueage / A said syr Bleoberys haue ye met with them
Soo god me helpe they were two good knyghtes and men of
grete worship / And yf ye haue bete them bothe / ye must nedes
be a good knyght / but yf it soo be / ye haue bete them bothe / yet
shalle ye not fere me / but ye shalle bete me / or euer ye haue thys
lady / Thenne defende you said syr Tristram / soo they departed
and came to gyder lyke thonder / and eyder bare other doune
hors and alle to the erthe / Thenne they auoyded their horses /
and lasshed to gyder egerly with swerdes and myghtely / now
tracyng and trauersynge on the ryght hand and on the lyfte
hand more than two houres / And somtyme they rasshed to gy_der
with suche a myght that they laye bothe grouelynge on the
ground / Thenne sir Bleoberis de ganys starte abak / and said
thus / Now gentyl good knyght a whyle hold your handes / &
lete vs speke to gyders / Saye what ye wille said Trystram / &
I wille ansuere you / Sire saide Bleoberys I wold wete of
whens ye be / and whom ye be come / and what is your na_me /
Soo god me help said syr Trystram I fere not to telle you
my name / Wete ye wel I am kynge Melyodas sone / and my
moder is kyng Markes sister / and my name is sir Tristram de
Lyonas and kynge Marke is myn vnkel / Truly said Bleo_berys
I am ryght gladde of you / for ye are he that slewe mar_haus
the knyght hand for hand in an Iland for the truage of
Cornewaile / Also ye ouercame sir Palamydes the good kny_ght
at a turnement in an Iland / where ye bete sir Gawayne &
his nyne felawes / Soo god me helpe said sir Trystram wete
ye wel that I am the same kny¨t / Now I haue told you my
name / telle me yours with good will / Wete ye wel that my
name is sir Bleoberys de ganys / and my broder hyghte sire
Blamore de ganys / that is called a good knyght and we be
syster children vnto my lord sir Laucelot du lake that we calle



|p300


|r[f150v]
one of the best knyghtes of the world / That is trouthe said sir
Tristram / sir Launcelot is called pierles of curtosy and of kn_yghthode /
and for his sake said sir Trystram I will not with
my good wille fyghte no more with you for the grete loue I
haue to sir Launcelot du lake / In good feith said Bleobe_rys /
as for me / I will be lothe to fyghte with you / But sy_then
ye folowe me here to haue this lady / I shal profer you ky_ndenys
curtosy and gentilnes right here vpon this ground /
This lady shalle be betwixe vs bothe / and to whome that she
wille go / lete hym haue her in pees / I wille wel said Tristra~
For as I deme she wille leue you / and come to me / ye shalle
preue hit anone said Bleoberys

 Capitulum xviij
|r<b> SOo whan she was sette betwixe them bothe / she sayd
      these wordes vnto sir Tristram / wete ye wel syr Tris_tram
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 resco_we
me / but suffred my lord Segwarydes ryde after me / but
vn tyl that tyme I wend thou haddest loued me / And ther_fore
now I wille leue the / and neuer loue the more / & there
with alle she went vnto sir Bleoberys / Whan syr Tristram sa_we
her doo soo / he was wonderly wrothe with that lady & asha_med
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 her_tely
displeasyd with me / I wold ye had her / and she wold
abyde with you / Nay said the lady / so god me help I wil ne_uer
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 kny¨t 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



|p301


|r[f151r]
this countrey / that he wille lede me to the Abbeye / there my lo_rd
syr Segwarydes lyeth Soo god me helpe said Bleoberis
I lete yow wete good knyght sire Trystram by cause kynge Marke gaf me the choyse of a yefte in this courte / and so this
lady lyked me best / Not withstandynge she is wedded and
hath a lord / and I haue fulfylled my quest / she shall be sent
vnto her husband ageyne / And in especyal moost for youre
sake sir Trystram / And yf she wold goo with you / I wold
ye had her / I thanke you said syr Trystram / but for her loue
I shal beware what manere a lady I shalle loue or truste /
For had her lord syr Segwarydes ben away from the courte
I shold haue ben the fyrst that shold haue folowed yow / but
sythen ye haue refused me / as I am true knyght I shalle her
knowe passyngly wel that I shal loue or trust / and soo they
took theyr leue one fro thother and departed / And soo sir tris_tram
rode vnto Tyntagyl / and syr Bleoberys rode vnto the ab_bay
where syr segwarydes lay sore wounded / and there he de_lyuerd
his lady / and departed as a noble knyght / & whan
sir segwarydes sawe his lady / he was gretely comforted / and
thenne she told hym that sir Trystram had done grete bataill
with syre Bleoberys / and caused hym to brynge her ageyne /
These wordes pleasyd sir segwarydes ryght wel that sir tris_tram
wold doo soo moche / and soo that lady told alle the bata_ill
vnto kynge Marke betwixe syr Trystram and sir Bleobe_rys

 Capitulum xix
|r<b> THenne whanne this was done / kynge Mark cast al_weyes
      in his hert how he myght destroye syr Tristram
And thenne he ymagyned in hym self to sende sir tris_tram
in to Irland for la beale Isoud / For sir Trystram had
soo preysed her beaute and her goodnes that kynge Mark sa_id
he wold wedde her / where vpon he praid syr Tristram to ta_ke
his wey in to Irland for hym on message / And all this
was done to the entente to slee syr Tristram / Not withstandy_nge
syr Trystram wold not reffuse the message for no dau~ger
nor peryl that myght falle for the pleasyr of his vnkel / but



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|r[f151v]
to goo he made hym redy in the most goodlyest wyse that my_ght
be deuysed / For sir Tristram tooke with hym the mooste
goodlyest knyghtes that he myght fynde in the courte / & they
were arayed after the gyse that was thenne vsed in the goo_dlyest
maner / So sir Tristram departed and toke the see with
alle his felauship / And anone as he was in the brode see / a
tempest toke hym and his felauship and drofe them bak in to
the coste of Englond / And there they arryued fast by Came_lot /
and ful fayne they were to take the land /  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 sa_id
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 so_re
brysed them / And whan they laye vpon the erthe / they as_ked
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

 Capitulum xx
|r<b> 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 Ar_thur
was with sir launcelot at the castel ioyous gard / And so



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|r[f152r]
kynge Arthur assigned kyng Carados and the kyng of scot_tes
to be there that day as Iuges / So whan the kynges were
at Camelot / kynge Anguysshe of Irland was come to kno_we
is accusars / Thenne was there Blamore de ganys and
appeled the kynge of Irland of treason / that he hadde slayne
a cosyn of his in his courte in Irland by treason / The kyng
was sore abasshed of his accusacion / for why / he was come att
the somons of kynge Arthur / And or that he came at Came_lot
/ he wist not wherfore has was sente after / And whanne the
kyng herd sir Blamor saye his wille / he vnderstood wel there
was none other remedy but to ansuere hym knyghtly / for the
custome was suche in tho dayes / that and ony man were appe_aled
of ony treason or murther / he shold fyghte body for body /
or els to fynde another knyght for hym / And alle maner of
Murtherers in tho dayes were callid treason / So whan kyng
Anguysshe vnderstood his accusynge / he was passynge heuy /
for he knewe sir Blamor de ganys that he was a noble kny_ght /
and of noble knyghtes comen / Thenne the kynge of Ir_land
was symply purueyed of his ansuere / therfore the Iu_ges
gaf hym respyte by the thyrdde daye to gyue his ansuere /
Soo the kynge departed vnto his lodgynge / the mean whyle
ther came a lady by sir Trystrams pauelione makyng grete do_le /
what eyleth you said sir Tristram that ye make suche dole /
A fayre knyght said the lady I am ashamed onles that som
good knyght helpe me / for a grete lady of worship sente by
me a fayre child and a ryche vnto sir launcelot du lake / and
here by there mette with me a knyghte and threwe me doune
fro my palfray and took aweye the child from me / wel my
lady said syr Tristram / and for my lord syr Launcelots sake
I shalle gete you that child ageyne / or els I shalle be beten
for hit / And soo sire Tristram tooke his hors / and asked the
lady whiche wey the knyght rode / And thenne she tolde hym
And he rode after hym / and within a whyle he ouertoke that
knyght / And thenne syr Tristram badde hym come |r{ms=corne} and gyue
ageyne the child

 Capitulum xxj



|p304


|r[f152v]
|r<b> 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 / Then_ne
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 a_geyne
that sore reyentyd |r{sic} hym after / for he was a grete foo vn_to
many good knyghtes of kynge arthurs courte / 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 go_uernaile
told sir Trystram / how kynge anguysshe was somo_ned
and appealed of murther / Soo god me help said sir Tris_tram
these ben the best tydynges that euer came to me this vii ye_re /
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 ga_nys /
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 wel_comed
hym / and asked hym what he wolde / Syr saide Gouer_naile /
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 lyonas |r{ms=fyonas}
that for your good grace ye shewed hym in your landes wyll
rewarde you in these countreyes / Come on felawe said the ky_nge
with me anone / and shewe me vnto sir Trystram / soo the
Kyng took a lytel hackney and but fewe felauship with him
vntyl he came vnto sir Tristrams pauelione / and whanne syre
Trystram sawe the Kynge / he ranne vnto hym and wold haue
holden his styrope / But the kynge lepte from his hors lyght_ly /
and eyther halsed other in armes / my gracious Lord sayde
sire Trystram gramercy of your grete goodnesses shewed vn_to



|p305


|r[f153r]
me in your marches and landes / And at that tyme I pro_mysed
you to doo my seruyse / and euer it laye in my power / &
gentyl knyght said the kynge vnto sir Tristram / now haue I
grete nede of you / neuer had I soo grete nede of no knyghtes
helpe / How soo my good lord said sire Trystram / I shalle telle
you said the kynge I am assomoned and appeled fro my co_untrey
for the deth of a knyght that was kyn vnto the good
knyght sir Launcelot / wherfor sir Blamor de ganys broder to
sir Bleoberys hath appeled me to fyghte with hym / outher to
fynde a knyght in my stede / And wel I wote said the kyng
these that are come of kynge Bans blood as sir Launcelot &
these other are passynge good knyghtes and hard men for to
wynne in bataille as ony that I knowe now lyuynge / Syre
said sir Trystram / for the good lordship ye shewed me in Ir_land
and for my lady youre doughters sake / La Beale I_soud
I wille take the bataille for you vpon this condycyon /
that ye shalle graute me two thynges / that one is that ye shal
swere to me that ye are in the ryght that ye were neuer consen_tynge
to the kny¨tes dethe / Syr thenne said sir Tristram when
that I haue done this bataille yf god yeue me grace that I
spede that ye shalle gyue me a reward what thynge resonable
that I wille aske of you / Soo god me help said the kyng ye
shal haue what someuer ye will aske / It is wel said / said sir
Trystram

 Capitulum xxij
|r<b> NOw make your ansuer that youre Champyon is redy
      For I shalle dye in your quarel rather than to be ra_creaunt /
I haue no doubte of you said the kynge / that and ye
shold haue adoo with sir Launcelot du lake / Syr said sir Tris_tram
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 noy_sed
said the kynge / that Blamor is the hardyer knyghte / sire
as for that lete hym be / he shal neuer be refused / & as he were



|p306


|r[f153v]
the best knyght that now bereth shelde or spere / Soo kyng An-guysshe
departed vnto kynge Carados / and the kynges that
were that tyme as Iuges / and told hem that he hadde fonde
his champyon redy / Thenne by the commaundementes of the
kynges sir Blamor de ganys and sire Tristram were sente for
to here the charge / And whan they were come beforne the Iu_ges /
there were many kynges and knyghtes biheld sire Tris_tram /
and moche speche they had of hym by cause he slewe sir
Marhaus the good knyght / and by cause he foriusted sir Pa_lamydes
the good knyght /  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 de_re
broder remembre of what kyn we be come of / and what a
man is sir launcelot du lake / neyther ferther nor nere but bro_ther
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 smy¨te me doun with his
grete my¨t 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 a_do
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 knygh_tes
had grete wonder that they myghte stande / for euer they



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|r[f154r]
fought lyke wood men so that there were neuer knyghtes se_ne
fyghte more fyersly than they dyd / for sire Blamore was
so hasty he wold haue no rest that alle men wondred that they
had brethe to stande on their feet / and alle the place was blo_dy
that they fought in / And at the laste syre Tristram smote
sir Blamor suche a buffet vpon the helme that he there felle do_une
vpon his syde / and sir Trystram stode and beheld hym /

 Capitulum xxiij
|r<b> 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 re_quyre
the / Whanne sir Tristram herd hym saye soo knyghtely /
he wyste not what to doo with hym / he remembryng hym of bo_the
partyes of what blood he was comen / and for sir Launce_lots
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 wor_shippes
and for kynge Arthurs and sir Laucelots sake that
they wold take this mater in theyr handes / For my fayre lor_des
said sir tristram hit were shame and pyte / that this noble
knyght that yonder lyeth shold be slayne / for ye here wel / sha_med
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



|p308


|r[f154v]
wylle hertely pray the kynges that ben here as Iuges to take
hit in theire handes / And the kynges that were Iuges called
syr Bleoberys to them / and asked hym his aduyse  My lor_des
said Bleoberys / though my broder be beten and hath the
wers thorou myghte of armes I dare saye though syre Trys_tram
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 Tris_tram
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 fy_ghte
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 le_ue
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 my_ghte /
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

 Capitulum xxiiij
|r<b> THenne vpon a daye kynge Anguysshe asked syr Tris_tram why
      he asked not his bone / For what someuer he
had promysed hym / he shold haue hit withoute fayle



|p309


|r[f155r]
Syre sayd sire Trystram now is hit tyme this is alle that I
wylle desyre that ye wylle gyue me la beale Isoud youre do_ughter
not for |r{ms=sor} my self but for myn vnkel kynge Marke that
shalle haue her to wyf / for soo haue I promysed hym / Allas
said the kynge I had leuer than alle the land that I haue /
ye wold wedde her youre self / Syre and I dyd than I were
shamed for euer in this world / and fals of my promyse /
Therfore said sire Trystram I praye you hold your promyse
that ye promysed me / for this is my desyre that ye wylle gyue
me la Beale Isoud to goo with me in to Cornewaile for to
be wedded to kynge Marke myn vnkel /  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 re_dy
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 ca_ban
hit happed soo that they were thursty / and they sawe a ly_tyl
flacked of gold stande by them / and hit semed by the co_loure
and the taste that it was noble wyn /
Thenne sire Trystram toke the flacket in his hand / and sa_yd
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 ma_de
good chere and eyther dranke to other frely / and they tho_ughte
neuer drynke that euer they dranke to other was soo
swete nor soo good / But by that theyr drynke was in their



|p310


|r[f155v]
bodyes / they loued eyther other so wel that neuer theyr loue de_parted
for wele neyther for wo / And thus it happed the loue
fyrste betwixe sire Tristram and la beale Isoud / the whiche
loue neuer departed the dayes of their lyf / soo thenne they say_led
tyl by fortune they came nyghe a castel that hyght Pluere
And there by arryued for to repose them wenyng to them to ha_ue
hadde good herborou¨ / but anon as sir Trystram was with_in
the castel / they were taken prysoners / for the customme of the
castel was suche who that rode by that castel and brought ony
lady he must nedes fyghte with the lord that hyghte Breunor
And yf it were soo that Breunor wanne the feld / thenne sh_old
the knyght straunger and his lady be putte to dethe what
that euer they were / and yf hit were so that the straunge kny_ghte
wanne the feld of sir Breunor / thenne shold he dye and
his lady bothe / this custome was vsed many wynters / for hit
was called the castel pluere that is to saye the wepynge castel

 Capitulum xxv
|r<b> THus as sire Trystram and la beale Isoud were in pry_son /
      hit happed a knyght and a lady came vnto them /
where they were to chere them / I haue merueille said Tristram
vnto the kny¨t 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 des_troye
them that ben his gestes / Syr said the kny¨t 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 bryn_geth /
be fouler than out lordes wyf / she must lese her heede / And
yf she be fayrer preued than is oure lady / thenne shal the la_dy
of this castel lese her heede / Soo god me help said sire Tris_tram
this is a fowle custome and a shameful / But one auau~_tage
haue I said sir Trystram I haue a lady is fayre ynou¨
fayrer sawe I neuer in alle my lyfe dayes / And I doubte



|p311


|r[f156r]
not for lack of beaute she shalle not lese her heed / and rather
than I shold lese my heede I wille fyghte for hit on a fayre
felde /  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 wan_te
no thynge that you behoueth / and ther with he departed and
on the morne by tymes that same knyghte came to sire Trys_tram
and fetched hym oute and his lady & brou¨te 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 lord_ship
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 whe_re
was his lady / for and thy lady be fayrer than myn wyth
thy swerd smy¨te 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 she_wed
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 Tris_tram
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 wy_se
torne his lady / But whanne syre Breunor beheld la beale
Isoud / hym thoughte he sawe neuer a fayrer lady / and then_ne
he dradde his ladyes hede shold be of / and soo al the peple



|p312


|r[f156v]
that were there present gaf Iugement that la beale Isoud was
the fayrer lady and the better made / how now said sir Tristra~
me semeth it were pyte that my lady shold lose her heed / but
by cause thou and she of long tyme haue vsed this wycked cus_tome /
and by you bothe haue many good knyghtes and la_dyes
ben destroyed / for that cause it were no losse to destroye
you bothe / Soo god me help said sir Breunor for to saye the
sothe / thy lady is fayrer than myn / and that me sore repenteth
And soo I here the peple pryuely saye / for alle wymmen I
sawe none soo fayre / and therfor and thou wilt slee my lady
I doute not but I shal slee the and haue thy lady /  Thou
shalt wynne her said sir Trystram as dere as euer kny¨t 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 /

 Capitulum xxvj
|r<b> 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 Trys_tram
smote sir Breumor clene from his hors / and ly¨tely 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 the_re /
and felle dede to the ground / And euer sir Breunor ranne
after to haue slayne sire Tristram / but sire Tristram was ly_ght
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 my¨_tely
and wysely as two noble knyghtes / For this sire Breu_nor
was a proued knyghte and hadde ben or than the dethe of
many good knyghtes / that it was pyte that he had so long en_dured /
Thus they fou¨t hurlyng here & there ny¨ two houres &



|p313


|r[f157r]
eyder were wounded sore / thenne at the last sir Breunor rass_hed
vpon sir Trystram and tooke hym in his armes / for he tr_usted
moche to his strengthe / Thenne was sir Trystram called
the strengest and the hyest knyght of the world / For he was
called byggar than sir laucelot / but sir Launcelot was better
brethed / Soo anone sire Trystram thrust syr Breunor doune
grouelynge / and thenne he vnlaced his helme / and strake of
his hede / And thenne al they that longed to the castel cam to
hym and dyd hym homage and feaute prayenge hym / that he
wold abyde there stylle a li¨tel whyle to fordo that foule custom
Syr Trystram graunted ther to / the meane whyle one of the
knyghtes of the castel rode vnto sire Galahad the haut prynce
the whiche was sir Breunors sone / whiche was a noble kny¨t
and told hym what mysauenture his fader hadde and his mo_der

 Capitulum xxvij
|r<b> THenne came sir Galahad and the kyng with the hon_derd
      knyghtes with hym / and this syr Galahad pro_fered
to fyghte with sir Trystram hand for hand / and
soo they made them redy to go vnto bataile on horsbak with gre_te
courage / Thenne sir Galahad and sir Trystram mette to gy_ders
soo hard that eyder bare other doune hors and alle to the
erthe / And thene 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 tra_uersynge
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 vp_on
sir Tristram / whan sir Trystram sawe them comyng vpon
hym / thenne he wist wel he myghte not endure /  Thene 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



|p314


|r[f157v
vnoble knyghte of your handes / hit is grete shame to you / So
god me helpe said sire Galahad there is none other waye but
thou must yelde the to me / outher els to dye said sir Galahad
to sir Trystram I wille rather yelde me to you than dye / for
that is more for the myght of your men than of your handes /
And ther with alle sir Trystram tooke his owne suerd by the
poynte / and put the pomel in the hand of sir Galahad / there
with alle came the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / and
hard beganne to assaylle sir Trystram / lete be said sir Galahad
be ye not soo hardy to touche hym / for I haue gyuen this kny_ght
his lyf / that is youre shame said the kynge with the C
knyghtes / hath he not slayne your fader and your moder / As
for that said syre Galahad I may not wy¨te hym gretely for
my fader had hym in pryson / and enforced hym to doo bataill
with hym / and my fader had suche a customme that was a sha_meful
custome that what knyght came there to aske herborou¨h
his lady must nedes deye but yf she were fayrer than my mo_der /
And yf my fader ouercame that knyght he must nedes de_ye /
This was a shameful customme and vsage / a knyghte
for his herberowe askynge to haue suche herborage / 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 lau~_celot
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 Cornewai_le /
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



|p315


|r[f158r]
soo god me helpe I wende ye had ben syr launcelot du lake /
whan I sawe you fyrste / and therfore I dredde you the more
And sire I promyse you said sir Tristram as soone as I may
I wille see sir launcelot / and enfelaushippe me with hym / for
of alle the knyghtes of the world I moost desyre his felau_ship

 Capitulum xxviij
|r<b> ANd thene 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 col_ler /
and pulled hym oute of his sadel / and fast bounde hym to
the sadel bowe / and so rode his wey with hym toward his cas_tell /
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 kn_yght
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 spa_re
me not / for I warne the I wille not spare the / And then_ne
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 / & then_ne
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 bra_yne pan /
So thenne sir Launcelot toke sir Carados by the col_ler
and pulled hym vnder his hors feet / And thenne he aly¨te
and pulled of his helme / and strake of his hede / And thenne



|p316


|r[f158v]
sir Launcelot vnbounde sir Gawayne / soo this same tale was
told to sir Galahad and to sir Trystram / here maye ye here the
noblenes that foloweth sir launcelot / Allas said syr Trystram
and I had not this message in hand with this fayre lady /
truly I wold neuer stynte or I had fonde syre Launcelot /
Thenne sire Trystram and la beale Isoud wente to the see &
came in to Cornewaile / and there alle the barons mette hem /

 Capitulum xxix |r{ms=xix]
|r<b> ANd anone they were rychely wedded with grete nob_ley /
      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 lor_des
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 & bo_unde
feete and hand to a tree / and soo she was bounden thre
dayes / And by fortune sir Palamydes fond dame Bragwa_yne /
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 e_uer
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 Palamy_des
to her / and had herd alle her complaynte / and sayd Mada_me
Isoud and ye wille graunte me my bone / I shalle bryn_ge
to you dame Bragwayne sauf and sound / And the que_ne
was so glad of his profer / that sodenly vnauysed she grau~_ted
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



|p317


|r[f159r]
And sir Palamydes rode forth his way to that nonnery / and
lyghtly he came ageyne with dame Bragwayne / but by her
good wille she wold not haue comen ageyne / by cause for loue
of the quene she stood in aueture of her lyf / Notwithstandyng
half ageynst her wille she wente with sir Palamydes vnto the
quene / And whan the quene sawe her / she was passyng glad
Now madame said Palamydes remembre vpon your promy_se /
for I haue fulfilled my promyse / Sir Palamydes said the
quene I wote not what is your desyre / But I wille that ye
wete how be it I promysed you largely I thought none euyl
nor I warne you none ylle wille I doo / Madame said sir pa_lamydes /
as at this tyme ye shalle not knowe my desyre / but
bifore my lord your husband there shalle ye knowe that I wil
haue my desyre that ye haue promysed me / And therwith
the quene departed and rode home to the kynge / and sir palamy_des
rode after her / And whan syr Palamydes came before the
kynge / he said sir kyng I requyre you as ye be a ryghteuous
kynge that ye wille Iuge me the ryght / Telle me your cause sa_id
the kynge and ye shalle haue ryght /

 Capitulum xxx
|r<b> 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 auyseme~t
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 be_thought
hym of sir Trystram / and demed that he wold resco_we
her / And thenne hastely the kynge ansuerd take her with
the aduetures that shal falle of hit / for as I suppose thou wylt



|p318


|r[f159v]
not enioye her noo whyle / As for that said Palamydes I dare
ryght wel abyde the aduenture / and soo to make short tale / sir
Palamydes toke her by the hand / and said Madame grutche
not to goo with me / for I desyre no thynge but your own pro_myse /
As for that said the quene I fere not gretely to go with
the / hou be it thou hast me at auauntage vpon my promyse /
For I doute not I shalle be worshipfully rescowed from the /
As for that said sir Palamydes be it as it be maye / So quene
Isoud was sette behynde Palamydes / and rode his way / anon
the kynge sente after syr Trystram / but in no wyse he coude be
foude / for he was in the forest an huntyng / for that was alwe_yes
his custome / but yf he vsed armes / to chase and to hunte
in the forestes / Allas said the kynge now I am shamed for
euer that by myn owne assente my lady and my quene shalle
be deuoured / Thenne came forth a knyght his name was lam_begus /
and he was a knyght of syr Trystram / My lord sayd
this knyght sythe ye haue truste in my lord sire Tristram / we_te
ye wel for his sake I wille ryde after your quene and re_scowe
her / or els I shal be beten / Gramercy saide the kynge / &
I lyue sir Lambegus I shal deserue hit / And thenne sir Lam_begus
armed hym / and rode after as fast as he myghte / And
thenne within a whyle he ouertoke sir Palamydes / And then_ne
sir Palamydes lefte the quene / what arte thou saide Pala_mydes /
arte thou Trystram / nay he saide I am his seruaunte / and
my name is Lambegus / that me repenteth saide Pala_mydes /
I hadde leuer thou haddest ben sire Trystram / I bileue
you wel said Lambegus / but when thou metest with sir Trys_tram
thou shalt haue thy handes ful / And thenne they hurtled
to gyders and alle to braste their speres / and thenne they pul_led
oute their swerdes / and hewed on helmes and hauberkes /
At the laste sire Palamydes gaf sir Lambegus suche a wound
that he felle doun lyke a dede knyghte to the erthe / Thenne he lo_ked
after la beale Isoud / and thene she was gone he nyst whe_re /
wete ye wel sir Palamydes was neuer soo heuy / So the qu_ene
ranne in to the forest / and there she fond a wel / and theryn
she hadde thoughte to haue drouned her self / And as good for_tune
wold ther came a knyght to her that hadde a Castel ther_by
his name was sire Adtherp / And when he fonde the quene



|p319


|r[f160r]
in that meschyef / he rescowed her / and broughte her to his cas_tel /
And whanne he wyst what she was he armed hym / and
took his hors and said / he wold be auengyd vpon palamydes
and soo he rode on tyll he mette with hym / and there sir Pala_mydes
wounded hym sore / and by force he made hym to telle
hym the cause why he dyd bataille with hym / and how he had
ladde the quene vnto his castel / Now brynge me there said pa_lamydes
or thou shalt dye of my handes / Sir said sir Adtherp
I am soo wounded I may not folowe / but ryde you this way
and hit shalle brynge you in to my castel / and there within is
the quene / Thenne sire Palamydes rode styll tyl he came to the
Castel / And at a wyndowe La Beale Isoud sawe sir Pa_lamydes /
thenne she made the yates to be shette strongly / And
whan he sawe he myght not come within the castel / he putte of
his brydel and his sadel / and putte his hors to pasture / and
sette hym self doune atte gate lyke a man that was oute of
his wytte that retchyd not of hym self /

 Capitulum xxxj
|r<b> 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 me_sure /
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 wou~_ded
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 / &



|p320


|r[f160v]
she can hold her within hit / Gramercy said syre Trystram of
thy grete goodenes / and soo he rode tyl he came nyghe to that
Castel / and thenne syr Trystram sawe where syr Palamydes
sat at the gate slepynge / and his hors pastured fast afore hym
Now goo thou Gouernaile said sire Tristram / and byd hym
awake / and make hym redy / So Gouernayle rode vnto hym /
and said sir Palamydes aryse and take to the thyn harneis
but he was in suche a study he herd not what Gouernayle said
So Gouernaile came ageyne and told syre Trystram he sle_pte
or els he was madde / Goo thou ageyne said sire Tristram /
and bydde hym aryse / and telle hym that I am here his mor_tal
foo / So Gouernaile rode ageyne and putte vpon hym the
but of his spere / and said sir Palamydes make the redy / for
wete ye wel syr Tristram houeth yonder and sendeth the word
he is thy mortal foo / And there with all sire Palamydes arose
stylly withou¨te wordes and gate his hors / and sadeled hym /
and brydeled hym / and lyghtely he lepte vpon / and gat his
spere in his hand / and eyder feutryd their speres and hurt_led
faste to gyders / and there Tristram smote doune sire Pa_lamydes
ouer his hors tayle / Thenne lightely sire Palamydes
putte his sheld afore hym and drewe his swerd / And there
beganne stronge bataill on bothe partyes / for both they fought
for the |r{ms=thr} loue of one lady / and euer she laye on the walles and
behelde them / hou they foughte oute of mesure / and eyther we_re
wou~ded possyng sore / but Palamydes was moche sorer wou~_ded /
thus they fought tracynge and trauercyng more than two
houres that wel nygh for dole and sorowe la beale Isoud swo_uned /
 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 pa_lamydes
slayne / for wel I knowe by that tyme the ende be
done sir Palamydes is but a dede kny¨t / by cause he is not cry_stened
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



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tyme for your sake /  Thenne she said to sire Palamydes this
shalle be your charge that thou shalt goo oute of this coun_trey
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 recommaude me vnto quene Gue_neuer /
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 I_soud

 Capitulum xxxij
|r<b> ANd soo syre Palamydes departed with grete heuynes
      And sir Tristram took the quene and brou¨te her agey_ne
to kynge Marke / And thenne was there made grete
Ioye of her home comynge / who was cherysshed but sir Tryst_ram /
Thenne sir Trystram lete fetche syr Lambegus his kny¨te
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 wyn_dowe /
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 stry_ken
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 st_ryken
hym / And thenne kynge Marke fledde / and sire tristram
folowed hym and smote vpon hym fyue or sixe strokes fla_tlynge
on the neck that he made hym to falle vpon the nose / &
thenne sir Tristram yede his waye and armed hym and tooke



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his hors and his men / and soo he rode in to that forest / And
there vpon a daye syr Trystram mette with two bretheren that
were knyghtes with kynge Marke / and there he strake of the
hede of the one / & wounded the other to the dethe / and he maade
hym to bere his broders hede in his helme vnto the kynge / and
thyrtty moo there he wounded / And whan that knyght came
before the kynge of saye his message / he there dyed afore the
kynge and the quene / Thenne kynge Marke called his coun_ceill
vnto hym / and asked aduyse of his barons what was
best to doo with sire Trystram / Syr said the barons in especyal
Syre Dynas the Seneschal / syr / we wille yeue you counceyll
for to sende for sir Tristram / for we wille that ye wete / many
men wille holde with syre Trystram / and he were hard bestad
And syr said sire Dynas ye shalle vnderstande that sir Trist_ram
is called pyerles and makeles of ony Crysten knyghte /
and of his myghte and hardynes we knewe none soo good
a knyght / but yf hit be sire Launcelot du lake / And yf ye de_parte
from your Courte and goo to kynge Arthurs courte /
wete ye wel he wille gete hym suche frendes there that he wylle
not sette by your malyce / And therfore syre I counceyle yow
to take hym to youre grace / I wylle wel said the kynge that
he be sente for / that we maye be frendes / Thenne the Barons
sente for syr Tristram vnder a sauf conduyte / And soo whan
syre Tristram came to the kynge / he was welcome / and no re_hersail
was made / and there was game and playe / and then_ne
the kynge and the quene wente on huntynge and sir Tris_tram

 Capitulum xxxiij
|r<b> THe kynge and the quene made their pauelions & the_ire
      tentes in that forest besyde a Ryuer / and ther was
dayly huntynge and Iustynge / for there were euer x_xx
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 kny¨tes



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that there was not one of hem but that he gaf hym a falle / and
somme of them were sore hurte / I merueyle said kyng Mark
what knyght he is that doth suche dedes of armes / Sir said sire
Tristram / I knowe hym wel for a noble knyght / as fewe now
ben lyuynge / and his name is sir Lamorak de Galys / it were
grete shame saide the kynge that he shold goo thus aweye on_les
that somme of you mette with hym better / Syre said syre
Tristram me semeth it were no worship for a noble man to ha_ue
adoo with hym / And for by cause at this tyme he hath done
ouer moche for ony meane knyght lyuynge / therfore as me se_meth
hit were grete shame and vylony to tempte hym ony mo_re
at this tyme / in soo moche as he and his hors are wery bothe
For the dedes of armes that he hath done this daye and they be
wel consydered / it were ynough for sir Launcelot du lake /
 As for that said kynge Marke I requyre you as ye loue
me and my lady the Quene La beale Isoud take youre ar_mes
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 commaundeme~t
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 dre_we
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 Tris_tram /
fyghte with me on foote /  I wylle not soo



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said ore Tristram / And wete ye wel my name is sire Tristra~
de lyones / and wel I knowe ye be sire Lamorak de Galys /
And this that I haue done to you was ageynst my wylle /
but I was requyred therto / but to saye that I wille doo atte
youre request / as at thys tyme I will haue no more ado with
you / for me shameth of that I haue done /  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 vnder_stande
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 sta~_de
or endure / And therfore said sire Tristram I wille not ha_ue
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 /

 Capitulum xxxiiij
|r<b> NOo he departed from hym with sire Dryaun / and by
      the weye they mette with a kny¨t 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 ver_tue
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 que_ne
Gueneuer and in despyte of sire Launcelot this horne
was sente vnto kynge Arthur / and by force sire Lamorak ma_de
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



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I sent hit hym for to assay his lady /  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 swa_re
a grete othe / that she shold be brente and the other ladyes /
 Thenne the Barons gadred them to gyder and said playn_ly
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 a_uowe /
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 boud hande and foot / and soo was he kepte vn_tyl
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 lor_des
remembre what I haue done for the Countreye of Corne_waile /
and in what Ieopardy I haue ben in for the wele of
you alle / For whan I fou¨t for the truage of cornewaile with



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|r[f163v]
sir Marhaus the good knyght / I was promysed for to be bet_ter
rewarded / whanne ye alle reffused to take the betaille / ther_fore
as ye be good gentyl knyghtes / see me not thus shame_fully
to dye / for it is shame to alle knyghthode thus to see me
dye / For I dare saye said sire Tristram that I neuer met with
no knyght but I was as good as he / or better / Fy vpon the
said sir Andred fals traitour that thou arte with thyn auau~_cynge /
for alle thy boost thou shalt dye this daye / O Andred
Andred said sir Tristram thou sholdest be my kynnesman / and
now thou art to me ful vnfrendely / but and there were no mo
but thou and I / thou woldest not putte me to deth / No said sir
Andred / and ther with he drewe his swerd / and wold haue
slayne hym / Whanne sir Tristram sawe hym make suche coun_tenaunce /
he loked vpon bothe his handes that were fast boun_den
vnto two knyghtes / and sodenly he pulled them bothe to
hym / and vnwrast his handes / and thenne he lepte vnto his co_syn
syr Andred and wrothe his swerd oute of his handes /
thenne he smote sir Andred that he fylle to the erthe / and soo
sir Tristram foughte tyl that he hadde kylled x knyghtes / So
thenne sir Tristram gate the chappell and kepte hit myghtely /
thenne the crye was grete / and the peple drewe faste vnto sire
Andred moo than an honderd / whanne sir Tristram sawe the
peple drawe vnto hym he remembryd he was naked / & sperd
fast the chappel dore and brake the barrys of a wyndowe / and
soo he lepte oute and fylle vpon the crackys in the see / And so
at that tyme sir Andred nor none of his felawes myghte ge_te
to hym at that tyme /

 Capitulum xxxv
|r<b> 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 Iso_ud /
for he wende she had ben had aweye of Andreds peple /
Syr said Gouernaile she is put in a lazar cote  Allas



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said syre Trystram this is a ful vngoodely place for suche a
fayre lady / And yf I maye she shalle not be longe there /
And soo he took his men and wente there as was la Beale
Isoud / and fette her aweye and broughte her in to a forest to
a fayre manoyre / and sire Tristram there abode with her /
Soo the good knyghte badde his men goo from hym / For att
this tyme I maye not helpe you / soo they departed alle sauf
Gouernaile / And soo vpon a daye sir Tristram yede in to the
forest for to disporte hym / and thenne hit happend / that there
he felle on slepe / And there came a man that sire Tristram a_fore
hand had slayne his broder / And whan this man hadde
foud hym he shotte hym thorou the sholder with an arow / and
sir Tristram lepte vp and kylled that man / And in the me_ane
tyme it was told kynge Marke / how sir Tristram and la
beale Isoud were in that same manoir / and as soone as euer he
myght thyder he came with many kny¨tes to slee sir Tristram
And whanne he came there / he fond hym gone / and there he
took la beale Isoud home with hym / and kepte her strayte that
by no meane neuer she myght wete nor sende vnto Trystram
nor he vnto her / And thenne whanne syre Tristram came to_ward
the old manoir / he fond the trak of many horses / and
ther by he wiste his lady was gone / And thenne sir Tristram
took grete sorou / and endured with grete payne long tyme /
for the arowe that he was hurte with al was enuenymed /
Thenne by the meane of la Beale Isoud she told a lady that
was cosyn vnto dame Bragwayne / and she came to sir Trist_ram
and told hym that he myght not be hole by no meanes /
For thy lady la beale Isoud maye not helpe the / therfor she byd_deth
you haste in to Bretayne to kynge Howel / and there ye
shal fynde his dou¨ter Isoud le blaunche maynys / and she shal
helpe the / Thenne sir tristram and gouernaile gat them shypp_yng /
and soo sailed in to Bretayne / And whan kynge Howel
wist that it was sir tristram / he was ful gladde of hym / Syre
he said I am comen in to this countrey to haue help of your do_ughter /
For hit is tolde me / that there is none other may hele me
but she / and soo within a whyle she heled hym /



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|r[f164v]
 Capitulum xxxvj
|r<b> THere was an Erle that hyghte Gryp / And this Erle
      maade grete werre vpon the kynge / and putte the ky_nge
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 war_ris
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 thene 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 worship_fully
with procession  Thenne kynge Howel enbra_ced
hym in his armes / and said sire Tristram alle my kyng_dome
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 gre_te
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 for_saken
la beale Isoud / And soo vpon a tyme sir Trystram a_greed
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 su_che
a thought sodenly that he was alle desmayed / and other che_re
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



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|r[f165r]
Also it maketh mencyon that the lady wende there had ben no
pleasyr but kyssynge and clyppynge /  And in the meane
tyme there was a knyght in Bretayne his name was Suppy_nabyles /
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 foude 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 le_te
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

 Capitulum xxxvij
|r<b> THenne departed syr Suppynabyles vnto Bretayne a_geyne /
      and there he fond sir Tristram / and told hym /
that he had ben in kynge Arthurs courte / Thenne said sir Tris_tram
herd ye ony thynge of me / Soo god me help saide syre
Suppynabyles / there I herd sire Launcelot speke of you gre_te
shame / and that ye be a fals |r{ms=sals} knyght to your lady / and he bad
me doo you to wete that he wille be your mortal enemy in eue_ry
place where he may mete you / That me repenteth said Tris_tram /
for of alle knyghtes I loued to be in his felauship / Soo
syre Tristram made grete mone and was ashamed that noble
knyghtes shold dessame hym for the sake of his lady / And in
this meane whyle la beale Isoud maade a letter vnto Quene
Gueneuer complaynyng her of the vntrouthe of Sir Tristram
and how he hadde wedded the kynges doughter of Bretayne /
Quene Gueneuer sente her another letter / and badde her be of
good chere / for she shold haue Ioye after sorou / for sire tristram
was so noble a kny¨t called / that by craftes of sorcery ladyes
wolde make suche noble men to wedde them / but in the ende
Quene Gueneuer said hit shal be thus / that he shalle hate her /
and loue you better than euer he dyd to fore  So leue



|p330


|r[f165v]
we sire Trystram in Bretayne and speke we of sire Lamerak
de galys / that as he sayled his shyp felle on a rok and perys_shed
all / saue sire Lamerak and his squyer / and there he swam
myghtely / and fysshers of the yle of seruage toke hym vp and
his squyer was drouned / and the ship men had grete laboure
to saue sire Lamoraks lyf / for alle the comfort that coude
doo / and the lord of that yle hyght syre Nabon le noyre a gre_te
myghty gyaunt / And this sir Nabon hated alle the knygh_tes
of kynge Arthurs / and in no wyse he wold doo hem fa_uoure /
And these fysshers told sir Lamorak alle the gyse of
syre Nabon / how there came neuer knyghte of kynge Arthurs
but he destroyed hym / And atte last bataille that he dyd was
slayne syr Nanowne le petyte / the which he put to a shameful |r{ms=shamesul}
dethe in despyte of kynge Arthur / for he was drawen lymme
meale / That forthynketh me said sir Lamerak for that knygh_tes
dethe / for he was my cosyn / And yf I were at myn ease
as wel as euer I was I wold reuenge his dethe / Pees sa_yd
the fysshers and make here no wordes / for or euer ye depar_te
from hens syre Nabon must knowe that ye haue ben here / or
els we shold dye for your sake / So that I be hole said Lamo_rak
of my disease / that I haue taken in the see / I wille that ye
telle hym that I am a kny¨t of kynge Arthurs / for I was ne_uer
aferd to reneye my lord /

 Capitulum xxxviij
|r<b> NOw tourne we vnto sire Trystram that vpon a daye he
      took a lytel Barget and his wyf Isound la blau~che
maynys with sire kay hedyus her broder to playe hem in the cos_stes /
And whan they were from the land / there was a wyn_de
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 my¨te
they gate in to the forest / and there by a welle he sawe Segwa_rydes
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



|p331


|r[f166r]
ye departed the loue bitwene me and my wys / but as for that
sayd Segwarydes I wil neuer hate a noble kny¨t for a ly¨t
lady / And therfore I pray you be my frende and I wille be
yours vnto my power / for wete ye wel / ye are hard bestad in
this valey / and we shalle haue ynough to doo eyther of vs to
socoure other / And thenne sir Segwarydes brought sir Trys_tram
to a lady there by that was borne in Cornewaile / and
she told hym alle the peryls of that valey / and how ther cam
neuer knyght there but he were taken prysoner or slayne / wete
you wel fair lady said sir Trystram that I slewe sire Marhaus
and delyuerd Cornewaile from the truage of Irland / And
I am he that delyuerd the kynge of Irlande from sire Bla_mor
de ganys / and I am he that bete sire Palamydes / and we_te
ye wel I am sire Trystram de lyones that by the grace of
god shalle delyuer this woful yle of seruage / So sir Tristram
was wel eased / thenne one told hym there was a knyghte of
kyng Arthur èt 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 Tdestram |r{sic} and ye maye brynge hym hyder that I
maye see hym / And yf he be ony of the Knyghtes of Arthurs
I shalle knowe hym / Thenne the lady prayed the fysshers to
brynge hym to her place / Soo on the morowe they brou¨t hym
thyder in a fysshers rayment / And as soone as sire Tristram
sawe hym he smyled vpon hym and knewe hym wel / but he
knewe not sir Tristram / Fair sir saide sire Tristram me semeth
by your chere ye haue ben diseased but late / and also me thynketh
I shold knowe you here to fore / I wille wel said sir La_morak
that ye haue sene me and mette with me / Fair sir saide
sir tristram telle me your name / vpon a couenaunt I wil telle
you said sir Lamorak / that is / that ye wil telle me whether ye
be lord of this Iland or noo that is called Nabon le noyre /
For sothe said sir tristram I am not he nor I hold not of hym
I am his foo as wel as ye be / and soo shal I be foude or I de_parte
out of this yle / Wel said sir Lamorak syn ye haue saide
soo largely vnto me / My name is sire Lamorak de galis sone
vnto kynge pellinore / forsothe I trowe wel said sir tristram /



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for and ye said other / I knowe the contrary / What are ye sa_id
syre Lamorak that knoweth me / I am sir Trystram de ly_ones
/ A syre remembre ye not of the falle ye dyd yeue me o_nes /
and after ye refused me to fyghte on foot / that was not
for fere I had of you said sire Tristram / but me shamed att
that tyme to haue more a doo with you / for me semed ye hadde
ynough / but sire Lamorack for my kyndenes many ladyes ye
putte to a repreef / whan ye sente the horne from Morgan le fay
to kynge Marke where as ye dyd this in despyte of me / Well
said he / and it were to doo ageyne / soo wold I doo / for I had
leuer stryf and debate felle in kyng Marks courte rather than
Arthurs courte / for the honour of bothe courtes be not y lyke
As to that said sir Tristram I knowe wel /  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 gy_aunt
sir Nabon le noyre / that is lord of this Iland to destroye
hym / Sir said sir Lamorak now I vnderstande your knyght_hode /
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

 Capitulum xxxix
|r<b> 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 Tris_tram 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



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peple said there was neuer kny¨t that euer they sawe do suche
dedes of armes / for as the Frensshe book saith he foriusted alle
that were there for the moost party of fyue honderd knyghtes
that none abode hym in his sadel Thenne sir Nabon profered to
playe with hym his playe / for I sawe neuer no knyghte doo
soo muche vpon a daye / I wille wel said sire Lamorak playe
as I may but I am wery and sore brysed / and there eyther
gate a spere / but Nabon wold not encountre with sire Lamo_rak /
but smote his hors in the forhede and soo slewe hym / and
thenne sire Lamorak yede on foote and torned his shelde and
drewe his swerd / and there beganne stronge bataill on foote /
But sir Lamorak was so sore brysed and shorte brethed that
he tracyd and trauercyd somwhat abak / Fair felawe said syre
Nabon hold thy hand and I shalle shewe the more curtosye /
than euer I shewed knyght by cause I haue sene this daye thy
noble knyghthode / And therfore stand thou by and I wil wete
whether ony of thy felawes wille haue adoo with me / Thenne
whan sir Tristram herd that / he stepte forth and and said Nabon le_nde
me hors and sure armour and I wille haue adoo with the
Wel felawe said sir Nabon goo thou to yonder pauelione and
arme the of the best thou fyndest there / and I shalle playe a
merueillous playe with the / Thenne said sire Tristram loke ye
playe wel or els peraduentur I shalle lerne you a newe play
that is wel said felawe said sir Nabon / So whan sir Tristram
was armed as hym lyked best and wel shelded and swerded /
he dressid to hym on foote / For wel he knewe syr Nabon wold
not abyde a stroke with a spere / therfore he wold slee alle kny_ghtes
horses / Now fair felawe said sir Nabon lete vs playe /
Soo thenne they foughte longe on foote tracynge and trauer_cynge
smytynge and foynynge longe withou¨te ony rest / Atte
last sir Nabon praid hym to telle hym his name / Syre Nabon
I telle the my name is sir Tristram de lyones a kny¨t of Cor_newail
vnder kynge Marke / thou art welcome said sir nabon /
for of alle knyghtes I haue moost desyred to fyghte with the
or with sir Launcelot / Soo thenne they wente egerly to gyders
and sire tristram slewe sire nabon / and soo forth with he lepte
to his sone / and strake of his hede / and thenne al the countrey
sayde / they wold holde of sire Tristram / nay saide sire Tristram



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I wille not soo / here is a worshipfull knyght sir Lamorak de
galys that for me he shalle be lord of this countreye / for he ha_th
done here grete dedes of armes / nay said sir Lamorak I wil
not be lord of this countrey / for I haue not deserued it as wel
as ye / therfore gyue ye hit where ye wille for I will none ha_ue /
Wel saide sire Tristram syn ye nor I wille not haue hit /
lete vs yeue hit to hym that hath not so wel deserued hit / Doo
as ye lyst said Segwarydes / for the yefte is yours for I wil
none haue and I had deserued hit / Soo was it yeuen to seg_warydes
wherof he thanked hem / and soo was he lord / & wor_shipfully
he dyd gouerne hit / And thenne sir Segwarydes
delyuerd alle prysoners and sette good gouernaunce in that
valey / and soo he torned in to Cornewaile / and told kynge
Mark and la beale Isoud how sir Tristram had auaunced
hym to the yle of seruage / and there he proclamed in al Cor_newaile
of alle the aduentures of these two knyghtes / so was
hit openly knowen / But ful wo was la Beale Isoud when
she herde telle that sire Tristram was wedded to Isoud la bla_unche
maynys

 Capitulum xl
SOo torne we vnto sir Lamorak that rode toward Ar_thurs
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 adue~tures
they merueilled of his noble dedes / Now torne we vnto sir La_morak
that whan he was departed from sire Tristram / he rode
oute of the forest tyll he came to an hermytage / whan the here_my¨te
sawe hym / he asked hym from whens he came / sir said sir
Lamorak I come fro this valey / sir said the hermy¨te therof
I merueille / For this xx wynter I sawe neuer no knyght passe
this countrey / but he was other slayne or vylaynously woun_ded
or passe as a poure prysoner / Tho ylle customs said sir la_morak
are fordone / for sir Tristram slewe your lord sir Nabon
and his sone / thenne was the heremy¨te gladde and all his bre_theren /
for he said ther was neuer suche a tyraunt among cry_sten
men / And therfor said the hermyte this valey and frau~ceis



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we wille holde of sire Tristram / Soo on the morowe sir Lamo_rak
departed / And as he rode he sawe four knyghtes fyghte a_geynst
one / and that one knyght defended hym wel but atte
last the four knyghtes had hym doune / And thenne sir Lamo_rak
wente betwixe them / and asked them why they wold slee
that one knyght / and said hit was shame four ageynst one /
Thou shalt wel wete said the four knyghtes that he is fals /
that is youre tale said sir Lamorak / And whanne I here hym
also speke / I wille say as ye saye /  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 La_morak /
but many speke behynde a man more than they wylle
saye to his face / And by cause of your wordes ye shalle vnders_tande
that I am one of the symplest of kynge Arthurs co_urte /
in the worship of my lord now doo your best / and in despy_te
of you I shalle rescowe hym / And thenne they lasshed alle
at ones to sir Lamorak / but anone at two strokes syre Lamo_rak
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 / ther_fore
I wil Iuste with hym / ye shal not doo soo said sire Lamo_rak
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 / the~ne wil
I cou~ceile you dele no more with hym / for me semeth by his co_untenaunce
he shold be a noble knyght / and no Iaper / for me
thynketh / he shold be of the table round / therfor I wil not spa_re
said sir Frol / and thenne he cryed and said / sir kny¨t make



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the redy to Iust / That nedeth not said the whyte knyghte / For
I haue no luste to Iuste with the / but yet they feutryd theyr
speres / and the whyte knyghte ouerthrewe sire Frol / and the~_ne
he rode his waye a softe paas / Thenne sir Lamorak rode af_ter
hym / and praid hym to telle hym his name / for me semeth
ye shold be of the felauship of the round table / Vpon a coue_naunt
said he I wille telle you my name / soo that ye wylle
not discouer my name / and also that ye wille telle me yours /
Thenne said he my name is sir Lamorak de galys / And my
name is sir Launcelot du lake / thenne they putte vp their suer_des /
and kyssed hertely to gyders / and eyder made grete Ioye
of other / Syr said sir Lamorak and hit please you I wyll do
you seruyse / God defende said Launcelot that ony of soo noble
a blood as ye be shold doo me seruyse / Thenne he saide more I
am in a quest that I must doo my self alone / Now god spede
you said sir Lamorak / and so they departed / Thenne sir Lamo_rak
came to sir Frol and horsed hym ageyne / what knyght is
that said sir Frol / sir he said it is not for you to knowe nor it
is no poynte of my charge / ye are the more vncurteis saide sire
Frol / and therfore I wille departe fro yow / ye may doo as ye
lyst said sir Lamorak / and yet by my company ye haue saued
the fayrest floure of your garland / soo they departed

 Capitulum xlj
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 tor_ned
hym and ranne to hym that ought the lady with his spe_re /
but the knyght with pure myght smote doune syre Gawa_yne /
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



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me dishonour in kynge Arthurs courte / Thenne sire Lamorak
retorned and profered that knyght to Iuste / Syr said he I am
redy / and there they came to gyders with alle their myght / and
there sir Lamorak smote the knyght thorou both sydes / that he
fylle to the erthe dede / thenne that lady rode to that knyghtes
broder that hyght Belliauce le orgulus / that duelled fast ther
by / and thenne she told hym how his broder was slayne /
Allas said he I wille be reuengyd / and soo he horsed hym / &
armed hym / and within a whyle he ouertook syre Lamorak /
and badde hym torne and leue that lady / for thou and I must
playe a newe playe / for thou hast slayne my broder syre Froll
that was a better knyghte than euer were thou / It myghte
wel be said sir Lamorak / but this day in the felde I was fou~d
the better / Soo they rode to gyder / and vnhorsed other / & torned
their sheldes / and drewe their swerdes / and foughte myghtely
as noble knyghtes preued by the space of two houres / So the~_ne
sir Bellyaunce prayed hym to telle hym his name / Syr sa_id
he my name is sire Lamorak de galys / A said syr Belly_aunce /
thou arte the man in the world that I moost hate / for
I slewe my sones for thy sake / where I saued thy lyf / and
now thou hast slayne my broder syr Frol / Allas how shold I
be accorded with the / therfore defende the / for thou shalt dye ther
is none other remedy /  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 sa_ke /
and for the honour of knyghthode forgyue me al that I ha_ue
offended vnto you / Allas said Belleaunce leue thy knely_nge
or els I shal slee the withou¨te mercy / Thenne they yede
ageyne vnto batail / and either wounded other that al the gro_und
was blody there as they foughte / And at the laste Bel_leaunce
withdrewe hym abak and sette hym doune softely vp_on
a lytil hylle / for he was so faynte for bledyng that he my_ght
not stande / Thenne sir lamorak threwe his shelde vpon his



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bak / and asked hym what chere / wel said syr Belliaunce / A
syr yet shalle I shewe you faueour in your male ease / A kn_yght
syr Belliaunce said syr Lamorak thou arte a foole / for
and I had had the at suche auauntage as thou hast done me
I shold slee the / but thy gentylnes is so good and so large /
that I must nedes forgyue the myn euylle wille / And then_ne
sire Lamorak knelyd adoune / and vnlaced fyrst his vm_berere /
and thenne his owne / and thenne eyther kyssed other
with wepynge teres / Thenne sire Lamerak ledde sir Belliau~ce
to an Abbay fast by / and there sire Lamorak wold not departe
from Bellyaunce tyl he was hole / And thenne they sware to
gyders that none of hem shold neuer fyghte ageynst other / So
syre Lamorak departed and wente to the courte of kynge Ar_thur /

 here leue we of sire Lamorak and of sir Tristram

 And here begynneth the historye of La cote male tayle
[Book Nine: the historye of La cote male tayle}

 Capitulum primum
AT the Courte of kynge Arthur there cam a yo_nge
man and bygly made / and he was ryche_ly
bysene / and he desyred to be made knyghte of
the kyng but his ouer garmet sat ouerthwart_ly /
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 ca_use
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 fast |r{ms=sast} on
slepe / he alle to hewe hym / And this same cote had my fader



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on the same tyme / and that maketh this cote to sytte soo evyll
vpon me / for the strokes ben on hit as I fond hit / and neuer
shalle be amendyd for me / Thus to haue my faders dethe in re_membraunce
I were this cote tyl I be reuengyd / and by cau_se
ye are callyd the moost noblest kynge of the world I come to
you that ye shold make me knyght / Sir said sir Lamorak and
sir Gaherys / hit were wel done to make hym knyght / for hym
besemeth wel of persone / and of countenaunce / that he shall pre_ue
a good man and a good knyght / and a myghty for sire and
ye be remembryd euen suche one was sire launcelot du lake /
whanne he came fyrste in to this Courte / and full fewe of vs
knewe from whens he came / and now is he preued the man of
moost worship in the world / and all your courte and alle yo_ur
Round table is by sire launcelot worshipped and amended
more than by ony knyghte now lyuynge / that is trouthe saide
the kynge / and to morou att your request I shalle make hym
knyght  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 ly_on
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 raump_pynge
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



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and true of his promyse / thenne the kynge forth with al ma_de
hym knyght / Now sire said this yonge knyght I requyre
you and alle the knyghtes of youre courte / that ye calle me
by none other name but la cote male tayle / in soo moche that
syr kay hath soo named me / soo wille I be called / I assente
me wel therto said the kynge

 Capitulum secundum
|r<b> 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 Ar_thur
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 yo_ur
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 / & the~_ne
he commaunded me to bere this shelde to the Courte of ky_nge
Arthur / he requyrynge and prayenge somme good kny¨t
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 kny¨t
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 kny¨t 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



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not to that entent / but goo where someuer thou wilt / for I will
not go with you / Thenne the damoysel stode stylle a grete why_le /
and byheld many of tho knyghtes / Thenne spak the kny_ght
La cote male tayle / fayre damoysel I wille take the shel_de
and that aduenture vpon me / soo I wyst I shold knowe /
wheder ward my iourney myght be / for by cause I was thys
daye made knyght I wold take this aduenture vpon me /
What is your name fayre yonge man said the damoysel / My
name is said he la cote male tayle / wel mayst thou be called so
said the damoysel / the kny¨t with the euylle shapen cote / but &
thou be soo hardy to take vpon the to bere that shelde and to fo_lowe
me / wete thou wel / thy skyn shalle be as wel hewen as
thy cote / As for that said la cote male tayle whan I am soo
hewen I wille aske you no salue to hele me with alle / And
forth with all ther came in to the Court two squyers & brou¨t
hym grete horses and his armour and his speres / and anone
he was armed and tooke his leue /  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

 Capitulum Tercium /
|r<b> 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 Ius_te
and soo he dyd / and whan he sawe la cote male tayle he cry_ed
and badde hym make hym redy to Iuste / Soo sir la cote ma_le
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



|p342


|r[f171v]
came sir Bleoberys the good knyght / and there he Iusted with
la cote male tayle / and there syre Bleoberys smote hym so sore
that hors and alle felle to the erth / Thenne la cote male tayle
arose vp lyghtely and dressid his sheld / and drewe his suerd
and wold haue done bataill to the vtterauce / for he was wode
wrothe / Not soo said Bleoberys de ganys / as at this tyme I
wille not fyghte vpon foote / Thenne the damoysel Maledysau~t
rebuked hym in the foulest maner / and badde hym torne ayene
coward / A damoysel he said I pray you of mercy to myssay
me no more / my gryef is ynough though ye gyue me no more /
I calle my self neuer the wers knyght / whan a marys sone fa_yleth
me / and also I compte me neuer the wers knyght for a
falle of sir Bleoberys / Soo thus he rode with her two dayes /
and by fortune there came sir Palomydes and encountred with
hym / and he in the same wyse serued hym as dyd Bleoberys
to fore hand /  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 Palamy_des /
and yet grete disworship haue I none / for neyder Bleo_berys
nor yet palamydes wold not fyghte with me on foote /
As for that said the damoysel wete thou wel they haue desda_yne
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 felau_ship
with the damoysel maledysaunt / And thenne they came a_fore
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 har_neis /
and there came oute two knyghtes ageynst them / and sir
Mordred Iusted with the formest / and that knyght of the cas_tel
smote sire Mordred doune of his hors / and thenne la cote
male tayle Iusted with that other / and eyther of hem smote o_ther
doune hors and alle to the erthe / And whanne they auoy_ded
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



|p343


|r[f172r]
and putte hym from his hors as he had ben dede / So he torned
vnto hym that mette hym afore / and he took the flyght toward
the castel / and sire la cote male tayle rode after hym in to the
Castel Orgulous / and there la cote male tayle slewe hym


 Capitulum iiij
|r<b> ANd anone there came an honderd kny¨tes about hym
      and assaylled hym / and whan he sawe his hors shold
be slayne / he alyghte and voyded his hors / & putte the brydel vn_der
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 damoi_sel
Maledysaunt / And in the meane tyme as he stood & fou¨t
that lady whos was the chamber wente out slyly at her post_erne /
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 fygh_test
wonderly wel / but for alle that at the last thou must ne_des
dye / But and thou canst thorou thy my¨ty prowesse wyn_ne
vnto yonder posterne / for there I haue fastned thy hors to
abyde the / but wete thou wel thou must thynke on thy wor_ship /
& 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 reher_ced
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 kny¨t be outher slayn or take prysoner / thene we_re
they ware where he came rydyng / And whan he was come



|p344


|r[f172v]
to them / he told alle how he hadde spedde / and escaped in despy_te
of them alle / and somme of the best of hem wille telle no ta_les /
Thou lyest falsly saide the damoysel / that dare I make go_od /
but as a foole and a dastard to alle knyghthode / they ha_ue
lete the passe / that may ye preue said La cote male tayle /
With that she sente a currour of hers that rode alweye with her
for to knowe the trouthe of this dede / and soo he rode thydder
lyghtly / and asked how and in what maner that la cote ma_le
tayle was escaped oute of the castel /  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 lau_celot
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 Male_dysaunt
his lady / and told her alle how syr la cote male ta_yle
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 war_ne
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 stro_kes
of his swerd / he is thenne noble and myghty / and that sa_we
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 par_ty
they wille not lyghte on foote with yonge knyghtes / For
they are wyght and strongly armed / For in lyke wyse sir la_uncelot
du lake whan he was fyrste made knyghte / he was of_ten
putte to the werse vpon horsbak / but euer vpon foote he re_couerd
his renomme / and slewe and defoyled many knygh_tes
of the round table / And therfor the rebukes that sir Launce_lot
dyd vnto many knyghtes causeth them that be men of pro_wesse
to beware / for often I haue sene the old preued knygh_tes
rebuked and slayne by them that were but yonge begyn_ners /
Thus they rode sure talkynge by the way to gyders /



|p345


|r[f173r]
 here leue we of a whyle of this tale and speke we of sire
Launcelot du lake /


 Capitulum Quintum
|r<b> 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 Laucelot vnto many of his felawes / it was sha_me
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 ma_ledysaunt
hath born that shelde many a day for to seche the most
proued knyghtes / and that was she that Breunys saunce py_te
took that sheld from her / and after Tristram de lyones resco_wed
that shelde from hym / and gaf it to the damoysell ageyne
A lytil afore that tyme that sir Tristram fought with my ne_uewe
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 aduen_ture /
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 laucelot / thenne he lefte their
felauship / and soo sir launcelot rode with hem al a day / and e_uer
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 da_moysel
a letter vnto sire launcelot excusynge hym of the wed_dynge
of Isoud le blaunche maynys / and said in the letter as
he was a true kny¨t / he hadde neuer adoo flesshly with Isoud
la blaunche maynys / and passynge curtoisly & gentyly sir tris_tram
wrote vnto sire launcelot / euer bysechyng hym to be his
good frende / & vnto la beale Isoud of Cornewaile / and that sire



|p346


|r[f173v]
Launcelot wold excuse hym yf that euer he sawe her /  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 Ius_te
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 smo_te
la cote male tayle doune hors and man / And thenne they a_lyght
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 kn_yght
I requyre the telle me your name / for moche my herte ye_ueth
vnto you / Nay said sire Launcelot as at this tyme I wil
not telle you my name / onles thenne that ye telle me your na_me /
Certaynly said the knyght my name is sir Nerouens that
was made knyght of my lord sir Launcelot du lake / A Nero_uens
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 ha_ue
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 Nero_uens
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



|p347


|r[f174r]
a knyght prysoner yesterday that rode with a damoysel / & they
saye he is a knyghte of the round table


 Capitulum vj
|r<b> 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 Laucelot 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 ma
and grete enemy vnto kyng arthur / within a whyle he was
armed and vpon horsbak / And thenne they feutryd their spe_res
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 ras_shed
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 laucelot fonde of arthurs kn_yghtes
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



|p348


|r[f174v]
Maledysaunt / the meane whyle syre Neroueus that sir Laun_celot
had foughten with alle afore at the brydge / he sente a da_moysel
after sir Launcelot to wete hou he spedde at the Castell
of Pendragon / And thenne they within the castel merueylled
what knyght he was whan sir Bryan and his knyghtes de_lyuerd
alle tho prysoners / haue ye no merueille said the da_moysel /
for the best knyghte in this world was here / and dyd
this iourney / and wete ye wel she said it was sire launcelott
Thenne was sir Bryan ful gladde and soo was his lady / &
alle his knyghtes / that suche a man shold wynne them / And
whan the damoysel and la cote male tayle vnderstood that it
was syr Launcelot du lake that had ryden with them in felau_ship /
 And that she remembryd her hou she had rebuked hym
and callyd hym coward / thenne was she passynge heuy


 Capitulum septimum
|r<b> SOo thenne they took their horses and rode forth a pas
      aster sire Launcelot / And within two myle they ouer_took
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 kno_weth
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 why_te
hand holdynge a naked swerd / that sir Bruyns saunce py_te
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 ha_th
told her / But damoysel said sire Launcelot vpon this coue_naunt
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



|p349


|r[f175r]
sake and pyte that he sholde not be destroyed / I folowed hym
to socoure hym in this grete nede / A / Ihesu thanke you said the
damoysel / for now I wil say vnto you and to hym both / I re-buked
hym neuer for no hate that I hated hym / but for grete
loue that I had to hym / For euer I supoosed that he had ben
to yonge and to tendyr to take vpon hym these aduentures /
And therfore by my wille I wold haue dryuen hym aweye
for Ialousy that I had of his lyf / for it maye be no yong kny_ghtes
dede that shal enchyeue this aduenture to the ende / Per_dieu
said sire Launucelot his is wel said / and where ye are cal_led
the damoysel Maledysaunt I wille calle you the damoy_sel
Bien pensaunt / and soo they rode forthe a grete whyle vn_to
they came to the Bordoure of the countrey of Surluse / and
there they fond a fayr vyllage with a stronge brydge lyke a
fortresse / And whanne sir launcelot and they were at the brid_ge /
there starte forth afore them of gentilmen and yomen ma_ny
that saide / Faire lordes ye maye not passe this brydge and
this fortresse by cause of that black shelde that I see one of
you bere / And therfore there shalle not passe but one of you at
ones / therfore chese you whiche of you shalle entre withynne
this brydge fyrste / Thenne sir Launcelot profered hym self fyrst
to entre within this brydge / Syr said La cote male tayle I bi_seche
you lete me entre within this fortresse / and yf I may spe_de
wel / I wille sende for you / and yf it happend that I be slayn
there it goth / And yf soo be that I am a prysoner taken / then_ne
maye ye rescowe me / I am lothe said sir launcelot to lete
you passe this passage / Syre said la cote male tayle I praye
you lete me putte my body in this aduenture / Now goo youre
waye said sire Laucelot / and Ihesu be your spede / So he entrid
and anone there mette with hym two bretheren / the one hy¨te
syr Playne de force and the other hyght sir Playne he amours
And anone they mette with sir la cote male tayle / and fyrste
la cote male tayle smote doune Playne de force / and after he
smote doune playne de amours / and thenne they dressid them
to their sheldes and swerdes / and badde la cote male tayle a_lyghte /
and soo he dyd / and there was dasshyng and foynyng
with swerdes / and soo they began to assaile ful hard la cote
male tayle / and many grete woundes they gaf hym vpon his



|p350


|r[f175v]
heed and vpon his brest and vpon his sholders / And as he
myght euer amonge he gaf sadde strokes ageyne /
And thenne the two bretheren traced and trauercyd for to be
of bothe handes of sire la cote male tayle / but he by fyne force &
knyghtly prowesse gate hem afore hym / And thenne whan he
felte hym self soo wounded / thenne he doubled his strokes / &
gaf them soo many woundes that he feld them to the erthe / &
wold haue slayne them had they not yelded them / And ry¨t
soo sire la cote male tayle tooke the best hors that there was of
them thre / and soo rode forth his waye to the other fortresse &
brydge and there he mette with the thyrd broder whoos name
was sire Plenorius / a ful noble knyghte / and there they Ius_ted
to gyder / and eyther smote other doune hors and man to
the erthe / And thenne they auoyded their horses / and dressid
their sheldes / and drewe their swerdes / and gaf many sad stro_kes /
and one whyle the one knyght was afore on the brydge /
and an other whyle the other / And thus they foughte two
houres and more / and neuer rested / And euer sire Launcelot
and the damoysel beheld them /  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 con_sydre
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 /

 Capitulum Octauum
|r<b> THis meane whyle syre la cote male tayle sanke ryghte
      doun vpon the erthe / what forwounded and what for_bled
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 ha_ue
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



|p351


|r[f176r]
he commaunded hym the wyn / and made to sarche hym and to
stoppe his bledynge woundes /  Syre said la cote male tayle
withdrawe you from me / and hyhe you to yonder brydge age_yne /
for there wille mete with you another maner knyght than
euer was I / why said Plenorius / is there another maner kn_yght
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 laun_celot /
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 my¨tely vpon sir lau~_celots
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 thene he rode to the other bryd_ge /
and there sir launcelot Iusted with other thre of his brethe_ren /
the one hyght Pillounes / and the other hyght Pellogris
and the thyrdde sir Pellandris / and fyrst vpon horsbak sir la_uncelot
smote hem doune / and afterward he bete them on foote /
and made them to yelde them vnto hym / and thenne he retorned



|p352


|r[f176v]
vnto sir Plenorius / and there he fond in his pryson kyng Ca_rados
of scotland and many other knyghtes / and alle they
were delyuerd / And thenne sire la cote male tayle came to sire
launcelot / and thenne sir launcelot wold haue yeuen hym alle
these fortresses and these brydges / Nay said la cote male tayle
I wille not haue sire Plenorius lyuelode / with that he wylle
graunte you my lord sire launcelot to come vnto kynge Arth_urs
courte and to be his knyght and alle his bretheren I will
pray you my lord to lete hym haue his lyuelode / I wille wel
said sire launcelot / with this that he wille come to the Courte
of kynge Arthur and bicome his man / and his bretheren fy_ue /
And as for you sir Plenorius I wille vndertake said sir
Launcelot at the next feest soo there be a place voyded that ye
shalle be knyght of the round table / Syr said Plenorius atte
next feest of Pentecost I wille be at Arthurs courte / and at
that tyme I wille be guyded and ruled as kynge Arthur &
ye wille haue me / Thenne sir Launcelot and sire la cote male
tayle reposed hem there vnto the tyme sire la cote male ta_yle
was hole of his woundes / and there they hadde mery chere
and good rest and many good gamys / and there were many
fayre ladyes /

 Capitulum Nonum /
|r<b> ANd in the meane whyle came sir kay the seneschal and
      sire Brandyles / and anone they felaushypped wyth
them / And thenne within ten dayes thene departed tho knygh_tes
of Arthurs Courte from these fortresses / And as sir lau~_celot
came by the castel of Pendragon / there he putte sir Bry_an
de les yles from his landes / for cause he wold neuer be with_hold
with kynge Arthur / and alle that castel of Pendragon /
and alle the landes therof he gaf to sire la cote male tayle / &
the~ne sir launcelot sente for Neroueus that he made ones kn_yghte /
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 fo_lowynge
there was sire Plenorius and sir la cote male tayle
called otherwyse by ryght syr Breunes le noyre bothe maade



|p353


|r[f177r]
knyghtes of the table round / and grete londes kynge Arthur
gaf them / and there Breune le noyre wedded that damoysell
Maledysaunt / And after she was called Beau viuante / but
euer after for the more party he was called la cote male tayle
and he preued a passynge noble knyghte and myghty / & many
worshipful dedes he dyd after in his lyf / and sire Plenorius
proued a noble knyght and ful of prowesse / and alle the da_yes
of their lyf for the moost party they awayted vpon sir lau~_celot /
and sire Plenorius bretheren were euer knyghtes of ky_nge
Arthur / and also as the frensshe book maketh mencyon /
syr la cote male tayle auengyd his faders dethe /

 Capitulum x
|r<b> 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 co_ude
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 vn_to
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 co_stes
of Northwalys nygh the castel peryllous / Thenne sayd sir
Tristram here shalle ye abyde me these ten dayes / and Gouer_naile
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



|p354


|r[f177v]
at the last sir Tristram sawe afore hym a lykely kny¨t armed
syttynge by a welle / and a stronge myghty hors passyng ny_ghe
hym teyed to an Oke and a man houynge and rydynge
by hym ledynge an hors lade with speres / And this knyghte
that satte atte welle / semed by his countenaunce to be passyng
heuy / Thenne sire Tristram rode nere hym / and said fayr kny¨t
why sytte ye soo droupyng / ye seme to be a knyght erraunt by
your armes and harneis / and therfor dresse you to Iuste with
one of vs or with bothe / There with all that knyght made noo
wordes / but took his shelde and bokeled hit aboute his neck /
and lyghtely he took his hors and lepte vpon hym / And the~_ne
he took a grete spere of his squyer / and departed his waye
a furlonge / Sire kehydius asked leue of sir Tristram to Iuste
fyrst / doo your best said sire Tristram / soo they mette to gyders
and there sir kehydius had a falle / and was sore wounded /
on hyghe aboue the pappys /  Thenne sir Tristram said / kny¨t
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 ho_rs
and had a grete falle / Thenne sir Tristram was sore asha_med /
and lyghtly he auoyded his hors / and put his sheld a_fore
his sholder and drewe his swerd / And thenne sire Trys_tram
requyred that knyghte of his knyghthode to alyghte vp_on
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 /

 Capitulum xj
|r<b> 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



|p355


|r[f178r]
be we mette / and bethynke the now of the despyte thou dydest
me of the sendyng of the horne vnto kynge Markes courte to
the entente to haue slayne or dishonoured my lady the Quene
la Beale Isoud / and therfore wete thou wel said sir Tristram
the one of vs shalle dye or we departe / Sire said sir Lamorak
remembre that we were to gyders in the yle of seruage / and at
that tyme ye promysed me grete frendship / thenne sire Tristram
wold make no lenger delayes but lasshed at sir Lamorak / &
thus they foughte longe / tyl eyder were wery of other / Thenne
sir Tristram seid to sir Lamorak in alle my lyf mette I neuer
with suche a knyght that was soo bygge and well brethed
as ye be / therfore said syre Tristram hit were pyte / that ony of vs
both shold here be meschyeued Syr said sire Lamorak for youre
renomme and name I wille that ye haue the worship of this
bataille / and therfor I will yelde me vnto you / And ther with
he took the poynte of his swerd to yelde hym / Nay said sir tris_tram
ye shalle not doo soo / for wel I knowe your profers and
more of your gentylnesse than for my fere or drede ye haue of
me / And there with alle sir Tristram profered hym his swerde
and said sire Lamorak as an ouercomen knyghte I yelde me
vnto you / as to a ma~ of the most noble prowesse / that euer I
mette with alle / Nay said sir Lamorak I wille doo you gen_tylnesse /
I requyre yow lete vs be sworne to gyders that ne_uer
none of vs shalle after this day haue adoo with other / and
there with alle syre Tristram and sire Lamorak sware that ne_uer
none of hem shold fyghte ageynst other nor for wele / nor
for woo

 Capitulum xij
|r<b> 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 houdes questyng / and suche a noyse that beest
made where someuer he wente / & this beest euermore syr palo_mydes
folowed / for hit was called his quest / & ry¨t so as he fo_lowed
this beest / it came by syr Tristram / and soone after cam



|p356


|r[f178v]
Palamydes / and to breue this matere / he smote doune sir tris_tram
and sir Lamorak bothe with one spere / and soo he depar_ted
after the beste Glatysaunt / that was called the questynge
beest / wherfore these two knyghtes were passynge wrothe / that
sir Palomydes wold not fyghte on foote with hem /
 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 / Then_ne
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 hor_ses /
and at the crosse they departed / And thenne said sir Tris_tram
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 whe_ther
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 chap_pel /
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 la_morak /
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 fo_rest /
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 fa_yne
mete with all / Syre they said / hit is sire launcelot that sle_we
oure broder / And yf euer we maye mete with hym / he shal
not escape but we shalle slee hym /  Ye take vpon you a



|p357


|r[f179r]
grete charge saide sir Lamorak / for sire launcelot is a noble
proued kny¨t / As for that we doute not / for there nys none of
vs but we are good ynough for hym I will not bileue that
said sir Lamorak / For I herd neuer yet of no knyght the da_yes
of my lyf but sir launcelot was to bygge for hym

 Capitulum xiij /
|r<b> 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 cowa_rdes /
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 yo_ur
complaynte by the cappel / Dyd ye soo said sir Melyagau~_ce /
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 fay_rest
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 the_ir
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



|p358


|r[f179v]
they fought a grete whyle / For Melyagaunce was a good
man and of grete myght / but sire Lamorak was hard bygge
for hym / and putte hym alweyes a bak / but eyther had wo_unded
other sore /  And as they stode thus fyghtynge / by for_tune
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 kny_ghtes
of kynge Arthur /

 Capitulum xiiij
|r<b> SYr said Melyagaunce I shalle telle you for what ca_use
      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 beau_te /
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 boun_te
in the world  Syre said sire Lamorak I am loth
to haue adoo with you in this quarell / For euery man thyn_keth
his owne lady fayrest / and though I prayse the lady /
that I loue moost / ye shold not be wrothe / For though my la_dy
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 Lau~_celot /
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 sh_old
be wrothe with me for suche langage / And wel ye wote /
that syr Lamorak is as noble a knyght as I knowe / and he



|p359


|r[f180r]
hath oughte you and vs euer good wille / and therfore I pr_aye
you be good frendes /  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 Ar_thur
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

 Capitulum xv
|r<b> NOw leue we of this tale / and speke we of sire Trist_ram /
      that as he rode he mette with sir kay the seneschal
and there sire kay asked sir Tristram of what cou~trey
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 ouer_thwarte
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 kny¨t
Iusted with sir kay / and there that knyght gaf sir kay a falle /
his name was sire Tor syre Lamoraks half broder / and then_ne
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



|p360


|r[f180v]
them spak alle shame by Cornysshe knyghtes /  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 ho_rs
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 Brandy_les
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 lyght_ly /
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 knyght_hode
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 Corne_wayle /
In good tyme saide sire Brandyles / and wel be ye
fonden / and wete ye wel that we be ryght gladde that we ha_ue
fonde you / and we be of a felauship that wold be ry¨t 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 cal_led
now moost of prowesse excepte sir launcelot du lake / For
he bereth not the lyf crysten ne hethen that can fynde suche ano_ther
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



|p361


|r[f181r]
other suche weyes as hem semed best /

 Capitulum xvj /
|r<b> NOw shall ye here what was the cause that kynge Ar_thur
      cam in to the forest perillous / that was in North_walys
by the meanes of a lady / her name was An_nowre /
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 my¨t not haue hym at
her wille / thenne she laboured by fals meanes to haue destro_yed
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 Tris_tram
for to helpe kynge arthur / for as that same day this lady
of the lake knewe wel that kynge arthur shold be slayne / on_les
that he hadde helpe of one of these two kny¨tes / and thus
she rode vp and doune tyl she mette with sire Tristram / and a_none
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 kny¨t of the world hard bestad



|p362


|r[f181v]
 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 Tryst_ram
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 bi_held
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 the~_ne
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 ouerto_ke
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 he_yre
of her sadel bowe / And thenne sir Tristram horsed kyng Ar_thur /
and rode forth with hym / but he charged the lady of the
lake not to discouer his name as at that tyme / Whan the ky_nge
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 fe_lauship
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 smo_te
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 de_de
that I haue done for you I truste to god ye shalle vnder_stande
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



|p363


|r[f182r]

 Capitulum xvij
|r<b> ANd thenne at a day sette sire Tristram and sire Lamo_rak
      mette at the welle / and thenne they took kehydi_us
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 que_ne
la Beale Isoud that sir tristram was nyghe her in that co_untrey /
thenne for very pure Ioye la beale Isoud swouned / &
whan she myghte speke / she said gentyl kny¨t 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 cham_bre
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 wry_te
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 co~_playnt /
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 my_ght /
she came vnto sire tristram / So on a day kynge Mark pla_yed
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 let_ter
that Kehydius sent vnto la beale Isoud / also he had fou~d
the letter that she wrote vnto Kehydius / & at that same tyme
la Beale Isoud was in the same chamber / Thenne sir tristram



|p364


|r[f182v]
came vnto la Beale Isoud and said / Madame here is a let_ter
that was sente vnto you / and here is the letter that ye sent
vnto hym that sente you that letter / Allas madame the good
loue that I haue loued you / and many landes and rychesse
haue I forsaken for your loue / and now ye are a traytresse to
me the whiche dothe me grete payne / but as for the sir kehydi_us
I broughte the oute of Bretayne in to this Coutrey / and
thy fader kynge Howel I wanne his landes / how be it I wed_ded
thy syster Isoud le blaunche maynys for the goodenes she
dyd vnto me / And yet as I am true knyghte she is a clene
mayden for me / but wete thou wel syr Kehydius for this fals_hede
and treason thou hast done me / I wille reuenge hit vpon
the / And there with alle sir Tristram drewe oute his swerd /
and said sire kehydius kepe the / and thenne la Beale Isoud
swouned to the erthe / And whanne sir kehydius sawe sir tris_tram
come vpon hym / he sawe none other bote / but lepte oute at
a bay wyndowe euen ouer the hede where sat kynge Marke pla_yenge
at the chesses / And whanne the kynge sawe one come
hurlynge ouer his hede / he sayd / Felawe what arte thou / and
what is the cause thou lepest oute at that wyndowe /  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

 Capitulum xviij |r{ms=xiij}
|r<b> 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 with_stande
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 open_ly
that was called the castel of Tyntagil / And euen atte ga_te
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



|p365


|r[f183r]
tyme had but a swerd / and gaf hym suche a buffet vpon the
helme that he fylle doune from his sadel / and his swerd slode
adoune / and carf a sonder his hors neck / And soo sire tristram
rode his waye in to the forest / and alle this doynge sawe kyng
Mark / And thenne he sente a squyer vnto the hurte knyghte
and commaunded hym to come to hym / and soo he dyd / And
whanne kynge Marke wyst that it was sir Gyngalyn / he wel_comed
hym / and gaf hym an hors / and asked hym what kn_yght
hit was that had encoutred with hym / Syr said sir gyn_galyn /
I wote not what kny¨t he was / but wel I wote that he
sygheth and maketh grete dole / Thenne sir Tristram within a
whyle mette with a knyght of his owne that hyghte sir Fer_gus /
And whan he had mette with hym he made grete sorowe
in so moche that he felle doune of his hors in a swoune / and
in suche sorowe he was in thre dayes and thre nyghtes / Thenne
at the laste sir Tristram sent vnto the courte by sir Fergus for
to spere what tydynges / And so as he rode by the way he met
with a damoysel that came from sir Palamydes to knowe and
seke how sir Tristram dyd / Thenne sir Fergus told her / how
he was al most out of his mynde /  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 do_le
by cause she my¨t not amende hym / for the more she made of
hym / the more was his payne / And at the last sir Tristram to_ke
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 hap_ped
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 a_geyne
makynge the grettest dole that euer erthely creature ma_de /
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



|p366


|r[f183v]
shalle haue mete and drynke of the best / and an harp I haue
of his / where vpon he taught me / For of goodely harpynge he
bereth the pryce in the world / So this lady and damoisel bro_ught
hym mete and drynke / but he ete lytel therof / Thenne
vpon a nyght he putte his hors from hym / And thenne he vn_laced
his armour / and thenne sir Tristram wold go in to the
wildernesse and brast doune the trees and bowes / and other_whyle
whan he fond the harp that the lady sente hym / thenne
wold he harpe and playe therupon / and wepe to gyders / and
somtyme whan sire Tristram was in the woode that the la_dy
wyst not where he was / thenne wold she sytte her doune and
playe vpon that harp / Thenne wold sire Tristram come to that
harp / and herken ther to / and somtyme he wold harpe hym self
Thus he there endured a quarter of a yere / thene at the last he
ranne his way / and she wiste not where he was become / And
thenne was he naked and waxed lene / and poure of flesshe /
and soo he felle in the felauship of herd men and sheepherdes /
and dayly they wold gyue hym somme of their mete / & dry_nke /
And whan he dyd ony shrewd dede / they wold bete hym
with roddes / and soo they clypped hym with sheres and ma_de
hym lyke a foole

 Capitulum xix
|r<b> 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 / & af_ter
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 le_pe
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



|p367


|r[f184r]
hym alle the meschyef that sir Tristram endured / Allas sayd
sir Palomydes hit is grete pyte that euer soo noble a Knyght
shold be soo mescheued for the loue af a lady / But neuerthe_les
I wille goo and seke hym / and comforte hym and I may
 Thenne a lytel before that tyme la Beale Isoud had com_maunded
sir Kehydius oute of the Countrey of Cornewaile /
Soo sir Kehydius departed with a dolorous herte / and by ad_uenture
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 Palomy_des
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 pa_lomydes
knewe hym / but sir Kehydius knewe hym not / A fa_ls
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 vnar_med /
As for that said sir Palomydes I shalle fynde a remedy
therfore / here is a Kny¨t with me / and thou shalt haue his har_neis /
Nay said kyng Mark I wille not haue adoo with yow
for cause haue ye none to me / For alle the mysease that sir tris_tram
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 ca_use
that they laughed at hem / and soo they rode vnto the kepers
of beestes and alle to bete them / Syr tristram sawe them bete



|p368


|r[f184v]
that were wonte to gyue hym mete and drynke / thenne he ran
thyder / and gat sir Dagonet by the hede / and gaf hym suche a
falle to the erthe / that he brysed hym sore so that he lay stylle /
And thenne he wrast his swerd oute of his hand / And ther_with
he ranne to one of his squyers / and smote of his hede / &
the other fled / And soo sir Tristram took his waye with that
swerd in his hand rennynge as he hadde ben wylde woode /
 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 /

 Capitulum xx
|r<b> THenne sir Andred that was cosyn vnto sir Tristram /
      made a lady that was his peramour to say and to no_yse
hit that she was with sire Tristram or euer he dyed / And
this tale she broughte vnto kynge markes courte that she bu_ryed
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 la~_des /
 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 tho_ught
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



|p369


|r[f185r]
Marke / how she kneled doune and saide / swete lord Ihesu ha_ue
mercy vpon me / for I maye not lyue after the dethe of syr
Tristram de lyones / for he was my fyrst loue / and he shalle be
the last / and with these wordes came Kyng mark and took her
in his armes / and thenne he took vp the swerd / and bare her
away with hym in to a Toure / and there he made her to be kept
and watched her surely / and after that she lay longe seke ny¨
at the poynte of dethe / This meane whyle ranne sir Tristram
naked in the forest with the swerd in his hand / and soo he cam
to an hermytage / and there he leid hym doun and slepte / and
in the meane whyle the heremy¨te stale aweye his swerd / and
leid mete doune by hym / Thus was he kepte there a ten dayes
And at the last he departed and came to the herd men ageyne /
And there was a gyaunt in that countre that hyght Tawleas
And for fere of sir Tristram more than seuen yere he durst ne_uer
moche goo at large / but for the moost party he kepte hym
in a sure castel of his owne / and soo this Tauleas herd telle /
that sir Tristram was dede by the noyse of the courte of kynge
Marke / Thenne this Tauleas wente dayly at large / And soo
he happed vpon a daye he came to the herd men wandryng and
langerynge / And there he sette hym doun to reste among them
The meane whyle ther cam a knyght of Cornewaile that ledde a lady
with hym / and his name was sir Dynaunt / & whanne
the gyaunt sawe hym / he wente from the herd men and hydde
hym vnder a tree / and soo the knyght came to that welle / and
there he alyghte to repose hym / And as soone as he was from
his hors / this gyaunt Tauleas came betwixe this knyght and
his hors / and toke the hors and lepte vpon hym / So forth with
he rode vnto sir Dynaunt / and took hym by the coller / & pulled
hym afore hym vpon his hors / and there wolde haue stryken
of his hede / Thenne the herd men said vnto sire Tristram / helpe
yonder knyght / helpe ye hym seid sir tristram / we dare not said
the herd men / Thenne sir tristram was ware of the swerd of the
knyght there as hit lay / and soo thyder he ranne / and took vp
the swerd and stroke of sir tauleas hede and so he yede his way
to the herd men

 Capitulum xxj



|p370


|r[f185v]
|r<b> THenne the knyght took vp the gyaunts hede / and ba_re
      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 sa_id
syr Dynaunt at the fayre fontayne in your foreste / where
many aduenturous kny¨tes 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 Ma_rk
blewe and straked / and there with his knyghtes came to
hym / and thenne the kynge commaunded his knyghtes to ta_ke
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 ba_thed
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 pas_sed
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 que_ne
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



|p371


|r[f186r]
there as was la Beale Isoud / and this brachet was sente
from the kynges doughter of Fraunce vnto syre Tristram for
grete loue / and anone as this lytel brachet felte a saueour of
syr Tristram she lepte vpon hym and lycked his learys and
his erys / and thene he whyned and quested and she smelled
at his feet and at his handes / and on all partyes of his body
that she myghte come to / A my lady sayd dame Brangwayn
vnto la beale Isoud / Allas allas said she I see it is myn own
lord syr Tristram / And therupon Isoud felle doune in a sw_oune
and soo laye a grete whyle / And whan she myght spe_ke
she said / my lord sir Tristram blessid be god ye haue your
lyf / and now I am sure ye shalle be discouerd by this lytel bra_chet /
for she wille neuer leue you / And also I am sure as so_one
as my lord kynge Mark doo knowe you / he wil bannyssh
you oute of the countrey of Cornewaile / or els he will destroye
you / For goddes sake myn owne lord / graunte kynge Marke
his wille / and thenne drawe you vnto the Courte of kyng ar_thur /
for there are ye byloued / and euer whan I maye I shalle
sende vnto you / And whan ye lyst ye may come to me / and at
alle tymes erly and late I wille be at your commaundement /
to lyue as poure a lyf as euer dyd quene or lady / O madame
said sir Tristram goo from me / for mykel anger and daunger
haue I escaped for your loue

 Capitulum xxij
|r<b> 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 / thene 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 coutrey for x yere / & therup_on
he took his oth vpon a book before the kyng & his barons /



|p372


|r[f186v]
And soo he was made to departe oute of the Countrey of Cor_newaile /
and there were many barons brought hym vnto hys
shyp / of the whiche somme were his frendes / & somme his foes /
And in the meane whyle there came a knyghte of kynge Ar_thurs /
his name was Dynadan / and his comyng was for to
seke after sir Tristram / thenne they shewed hym where he was
armed at alle poyntes goynge to the shyp / Now fayre kny¨te
said sir Dynadan or ye passe this courte that ye will Iuste with
me / I requyre the / with a good wille said sir Tristram / & the_se
lordes wille gyue me leue / Thenne the Barons graunted
therto / and soo they ranne to gyders / and there sire Tristram
gaf sire Dynadan a falle / And thenne he praid sir Tristram to
gyue hym leue to goo in his felauship / ye shalle be ryght wel_come
said thenne sire Tristram / and soo they took theyr horses
and rode to their shyppes to gyders / and whanne sire Tristram
was in the see / he said / Grete wel kyng Marke and all myn
enemyes / and saye hem I wille come ageyne whan I maye /
And wel am I rewarded for the fyghtynge with sire Mar_haus /
and delyuerd all this countrey from seruage / and wel
am I rewarded for the fetchyng and costes of Quene Isoud
oute of Irland / and the daunger that I was in fyrst & last
and by the way comynge home what daunger I had to bryn_ge
ageyne Quene Isoud from the castel Pluere / and well I
am rewarded whanne I foughte with sir Bleoberys for syre
Segwarydes wyf / and well am I rewarded whan I fou¨t
with syre Blamore de ganys for kynge Anguysshe / fader vn_to
la Beale Isoud / and well am I rewarded whan I smo_te
doune the good knyghte syre Lamorak de galys at Kyng
Markes request / And wel am I rewarded whan I fought
with the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / and the kynge of
Northgalys / and bothe these wold haue put his land in serua_ge /
and by me they were put to a rebuke / and wel I am re_warded
for the sleynge of Tauleas the myghty gyaunte and
many other dedes haue I done for hym / and now haue I my
waryson / And telle Kynge Mark that many noble knyghtes
of the table roud haue spared the barons of this countrey for
my sake / Also am I not wel rewarded whan I fought with
the good knyght sir Palomydes and rescowed quene Isoud



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|r[f187r]
from hym / And at that tyme kynge Marke said afore all his
barons I shold haue ben better rewarded / nad forth with alle
he took the see /  Capitulum xxiij |r{ms=xiij]
|r<b> ANd at the next landynge faste by the see / there mette
      with sir Tristram & with sir Dynadan sir Ector de ma_rys
and sir Bors de ganys / and there sir Ector Ius_ted
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 Bleobe_rys /
Thenne said sire Bors de ganys / I wist neuer Cornyssh
knyghte of soo grete valoure nor soo valyaunt as that kny¨t
that bereth the trappours enbroudred with crounes / And then_ne
sir Tristram and syr Dynadan departed fro them in to a fo_rest /
and there mette them a damoysel that came for the loue of
sire launcelot to seke after somme noble knyghtes of kyng Ar_thurs
courte for to rescowe sir launcelot / and soo sir launcelott
was ordeyned / for by the treason of quene Morgan le fay to ha_ue
slayne sir launcelot / and for that cause she ordeyned thyrtty
knyghtes to lye in a wayte for sir launcelot / and this damoy_sel
knewe this treason / And for this cause the damoysel came
for to seke noble knyghtes to helpe syr Launcelot / For that ny_ght
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 pro_mysed
her that they wold be nyghe where sire launcelot shold
mete with the xxx kny¨tes / & 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 Dyna_dan /
& there the damoysel told hem al the treason that was or_deyned
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



|p374


|r[f187v]
not thereof / as to matche one knyght two or thre is ynough and
they be men / But for to matche xv knyghtes that wille I ne_uer
vndertake / fy for shame said sire Tristram / doo but youre
parte / Nay said sir Dynadan I will not therof / but yf ye wil
lene me your sheld / for ye bere a sheld of Cornewaile / and for
the cowardyse that is named to the kny¨tes of Cornewaile by
your sheldes ye be euer forborne / Nay said syr Tristram I will
not departe from my sheld for her sake that gaf it me / But one
thyng said sir Tristram I promyse the syr Dynadan / but yf
thou wilt promyse me to abyde with me / here I shalle slee the
For I desyre no more of the / but ansuer one knyghte / And yf
thy herte wille not serue the / stande by and loke vpon me and
them / Syre said syre Dynadan I promyse you to loke vpon &
to doo what I may to saue my self / but I wold I had not
mette with you / Soo thenne anone these thyrtty knyghtes cam
fast by these four knyghtes / and they were ware of them / and
eyther of other / And soo these thyrtty knyghtes lete for thys
cause that they wold not wrathe them yf caas be that they had
adoo with syr launcelot / and the four knyghtes lete them passe
to this entent that they wold see and beholde what they wo_ld
doo with syr launcelot / and soo the thyrtty knyghtes paste
on / and came by sir Tristram and by sir Dynadan / and then_ne
sir Tristram cryed on hyghe / loo here is a knyght ageynste
you for the loue of sire launcelot / and there he slewe two with
one sperd and ten with his swerd / And thenne came in syre
Dynadan and he dyd passynge wel / and soo of the thyrtty
knyghtes there wente but ten awey / and they fledde / Al this
bataille sawe sir Bors de ganys and his thre felawes / and
thenne they sawe wel hit was the same knyghte that Iusted
with hem at the brydge / thenne they took their horses and rode
vnto syr Tristram and praysed hym and thanked hym of his
good dedes / and they alle desyred syre Tristram to goo wyth
hem to their lodgynge / and he said nay / he wold not go to no
lodgynge / Thenne they alle four knyghtes praid hym to telle
hem his name / Faire lordes said syr Tristram / as at this tyme
I wille not telle you my name /  Capitulum xxiiij /
|r<b> Thene sir Tristram & sir Dynadan rode forth theire weye
      tyl they came to the sheepherdes & to the herde men / & the_re ["re" auf der neuen Seite]



|p375


|r[f188r]
they asked hem yf they knewe ony lodgynge or herberough
there nyghe hand / Forsothe syrs sayde the herde_men /
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 Dy_nadan
smote hem doune bothe / and soo they entred in to the cas_tel
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 cus_tomme
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 Dyna_dan
came I in to your company / and so they made them redy
And sir Gaherys encountred with sire Tristram / and syr Ga_herys
had a falle / and sir Palamydes encountred with sir Dy_nadan /
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 Dy_nadans
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 fa_re
said sire Dynadan vnto syr Tristram as a madde man and
as a man þ t is oute of his mynde èt wold cast hym self awey



|p376


|r[f188v]
and I may curse the tyme that euer I sawe you / For in al the
world are not two suche knyghtes that ben so wode as is sire
launcelot and ye syr Tristram / for ones I felle in the felauship
of syr launcelot as I haue done now with you and he set me
a werke that a quarter of a yere I kepte my bedde / Ihesu de_fende
me said syr Dynadan from suche two knyghtes / and spe_cially
from your felauship / Thenne said syre Tristram I will
fyghte with hem both / Thenne syr Tristram badde hem come fo_rth
both / for I wille fyghte with you / thenne syr Palomydes
and syr Gaherys dressid them / and smote at hem bothe / thenne
Dynadan smote at syr Gaherys a stroke or two / and torned
from hym / nay said sir Palomydes / it is to moche shame for vs
two knyghtes to fyghte with one / And thenne he dyd byd syr
Gaherys stande a syde with that knyght that hath no lyste to
fyghte / Thenne they rode to gyders and fought longe / and atte
last syr Tristram doubled his strokes / and drofe syre Palomy_des
a bak / more than thre strydes / And thenne by one assente
syre Gaherys and syr Dynadan wente betwixe them / and de_parted
them in sonder / And thenne by assent of syr Tristram
they wold haue lodged to gyders / But syre Dynadan wold
not lodge in that castel / And thenne he cursed the tyme that e_uer
he came in their feauship / and soo he took his hors / and
his harneis / and departed / thenne sir Tristram prayd the lor_des
of that castel to lene hym a man to brynge hym to a lodg_ynge /
and soo they dyd / and ouertoke sir Dynadan / and rode
to their lodgynge two myle thens with a good man in a pry_ory /
and there they were wel at ease / And that same nyght sir
Bors and sire Bleoberys and sir Ector and syre Dryaunt /
abode stylle in the same place there as sire Tristram fou¨t with
the thyrtty knyghtes / and there they mette with syr Launcelot
the same knyght / and had made promyse to lodge with syr Col_greuaunce
the same nyght /

 Capitulum xxv
|r<b> BVt anone as the noble Knyghte syre launcelot herd of
      the shelde of Cornewayle thenne wyst he wel that hy¨t



|p377


|r[f189r]
was sire Tristram that fought with his enemyes / And thenne
syre Launcelot praysed syre Tristram / and called hym the man
of moost worship in the world /  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 / sy_then
that ye wille not telle me that knyghtes name I will ry_de
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 Pelli_nore
rode after sire Tristram and requyred hym of Iustes / the~_ne
sir Tristram smote hym doune and wounded hym thoru¨
the sholder / and soo he past on his way / And on the next day
folowyng syr Tristram mette with pursyuauts / 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 pursyuautes sou¨ght alle the coutrey after the good kny¨_tes /
and in especyal kynge Carados lete make sekynge for sir
launcelot du lake / and the kyng of Northgalys lete seke af_ter
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 may_dens /
and therfore he thought to repose hym and to reste hym /
And alway sir kay cryed sir kny¨t 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 fyn_de
the / I shalle take the / Thenne sire Kay torned with euylle
wylle / and syre Tristram smote syr kay doune / and soo he ro_de
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



|p378


|r[f189v]
and rode his way / and the same day he mette with a damoysel
that told hym that he shold wynne grete worship of a kny¨t
aduenturous that dyd moche harme in alle that countrey /
 Whanne sir Tristram herd her say soo / he was gladde to goo
with her to wynne worship / So sire Tristram rode with that da_moysel
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 Gawa_yne 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 kny¨t with the thou shalt dye
for hit ryght anone / I knowe alle your ladyes treason / & yo_urs /
Mercy syre Gawayne sshe 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 la_u~celot
or sir tristram / & by èe trainys of these ladyes who èt may
fyrst mete ony of these two knyghtes they shold torne hem vn_to
Morgan le fays castel / sayenge that they shold doo dedes of
worship / & yf ony of tho two kny¨tes 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 Gawa_yne
that euer suche fals treason shold be wrought or vsed in a
quene and a kynges syster / and a kynge and quenes dough_ter

 Capitulum xxvj
|r<b> 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 kny¨tes of that quenes felauship



|p379


|r[f190r]
And god spede vs soo that we may wynne worship / So the~_ne
sir Gawayne and sire tristram rode toward the castel where
Morgan le fay was / and euer sir Gawayne demed wel that
he was sire tristram de lyones by cause he herd that two kn_yghtes
had slayne and beten thyrtty knyghtes / And whanne
they came afore the castel sir Gawayn spak on hyghe / and sa_id
Quene Morgan le fay sende oute youre knyghtes / that ye
haue leyd in a watche for sir laucelot & for sir tristram / Now
said sir Gawayne I knowe your fals treason / and thorou
all places where that I ryde men shall knowe of your fals trea_son /
And now lete see sir Gawayn / whether ye dare come out of
your castel ye thyrtty knyghtes / thenne the quene spak and al
the thyrtty knyghtes attones / and said / sir Gawayne ful wel
wetest thou what thou dost and saist / For by god we knowe
the passynge wel / But alle that thou spekest / and dost / thow
saist hit vpon pryde of that good Knyghte that is there with
the / For there be somme of vs that knowen full wel the han_des
of that knyght ouer alle wel / And wete thou wel sir ga_wayne /
hit is more for his sake than for thyn that we wylle
not come oute of this castel / For wete ye wel sir Gawayne
the Knyght that bereth the armes of Cornewaile / we knowe
hym / and what he is / thenne sir Gawayne and sir tristram de_parted
and rode on their wayes a day or two to gyders / and
there by aduenture they met with syr Kay and syr Sagramor
le desyrus / And thenne they were glad of syr gawayne / and
he of them / but they wiste not what he was with the shelde of
Cornewaile / but by demynge / And thus they rode to gyders a
daye or two / And thenne they were ware of syr Breuse sau~_ce
pyte chacynge a lady for to haue slayne her / for he had slayn
her peramour afore / Hold you all stylle said syr Gawayne &
shewe none of you forthe / and ye shalle see me reward yonder
fals Knyght / for and he aspye you he is so wel horsed that he
wille escape awey / And thenne syre Gawayne rode betwix syr
Breuse and the lady / and said fals knyghte leue her / and ha_ue
adoo with me / whan syr Breuse sawe no moo but syre ga_yne
he feutryd his spere / and syr Gawayne ageynst hym / and
there syr Breuse ouerthrewe syr Gawayne / and thenne he rode
ouer hym / & ouerthwart hym twenty tymes to haue destroyed



|p380


|r[f190v]
hym / and whan sire Tristram sawe hym doo soo vylaynous a
dede / he hurled oute ageynste hym / And whan syr Breuse sa_we
hym with the shelde of Cornewaile / he knewe hym well /
that it was syre Tristram / and thenne he fledde / and sir Tris_tram
folowed after hym / and syr Breuse saunce pyte was so
horsed that he wente his waye quyte / and sir Tristram folowed
hym longe / for he wold fayne haue ben auengyd vpon hym /
And soo whanne he hadde longe chaced hym / he sawe a fayre
welle / and thyder he rode to repose hym / and teyed his hors til
a tree /

 Capitulum xxvij |r{ms=xvij}
|r<b> 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 so_ught
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 Bran_gwayne
abode stylle tyl he was awake / Soo whanne she sawe
hym wake / she salewed hym / and he her ageyn / sor eyther kn_ewe
other of old acqueyntaunce / thenne she told hym how she
had sou¨ght 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 the_ryn
was many a pyteous complaynte / Thenne sir Tristram sa_id /
lady Brangwayne ye shalle ryde with me tyl that turne_ment
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 sou¨ght lodgynge / and there he mette wyth
a good auncyent knyght and prayd hym to lodge with hym
Ry¨t so came Gouernaile vnto sir Tristram / that was glad
of that lady / Soo this old knyghtes name was sir Pellow_nus
/ and he told of the grete turnement that shold be att the
Castel of maydens / And there sir launcelot and xxxij kny¨tes



|p381


|r[f191r]
of his blood had ordeyned sheldes of Cornewaile / and ry¨te
soo there came one vnto syr Pellounes / and told hym that sir
Persydes de bloyse was come home / thenne that knyght helde
vp his handes and thanked god of his comynge home / and
there sir Pellounes told syr Tristram that in two yeres he had
not sene his sone syr Persydes / Syr said sir Tristram I kno_we
your sone wel ynough for a good knyght / soo on a tyme
syr Tristram and syr Persydes came to their lodgynge both at
ones / and soo they vnarmed hem / and putte vpon hem their
clothynge / And thenne these two knyghtes eche welcomed o_ther /
And whanne syr Persydes vnderstode that sir Tristram
was of Cornewaile / he said he was ones in Cornewaile / and
there I Iusted afore kynge Marke / And soo it happed me at
that tyme / to ouerthrowe ten knyghtes / and thenne came to
me syre Tristram de lyones and ouerthrewe me / and took my
lady awey from me / and that shalle I neuer forgete / but I
shalle remembre me and euer I see my tyme / A said sir trys_tram
now I vnderstande that ye hate syr Tristram / what deme
ye / wene ye that sir Tristram is not able to withstande your ma_lyce /
yes said sir Persydes I knowe wel that sir Tristram is
a noble knyght and a moche better knyght than I / yet shalle
I not owe hym my good wille /  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 vp_on
a grete black hors / and a black couerd shelde / what kny¨te
is that said sire Tristram with the black hors & the blak sheld
he semes a good kny¨t / 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 /

 Capitulum xxviij
|r<b> 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



|p382


|r[f191v]
smyten doune thyrten kny¨tes / Fayr broder said sir Tristram
vnto syr Persydes / lete vs caste vpon vs clokes / and lete vs
goo see the play / Not soo said sir Persydes / we wille not goo
lyke knaues thyder / but we wille ryde lyke men and good
knyghtes to withstande oure enemyes / Soo they armed them
and took their horses and grete speres / and thyder they went
there as many kny¨tes assayed hem self before the turnement
And anone sir Palomydes sawe sir Persydes / and thenne he
sente a squyer vnto hym and said / goo thou to the yonder kn-yght
with the grene sheld and therin a lyon of gooldis / and
say hym I requyre hym to Iuste with me / and telle hym that
my name is sire Palomydes / whanne sir Persydes vnderstood
that request of syre Palomydes / he made hym redy / and there
anone they mette to gyders / but syre Persydes had a falle
Thenne syre Tristram dressid hym to be reuengyd vpon sir pa_lomydes /
and that sawe syre Palomydes that was redy / and
soo was not sire Tristram and took hym at auauntage / and
smote hym ouer his hors tayle whanne he had no spere in his
reyste / Thenne starte vp syre Tristram and took his hors ly¨_tely /
and was wrothe oute of mesure / and sore ashamed of
that falle / Thenne sire Tristram sente vnto syr Palomydes by
Gouernaile and prayd hym to Iuste with hym at his request
Nay said sire Palomydes as att this tyme I wille not Iuste
with that knyght / for I knowe hym better than he weneth /
And yf he be wrothe / he may ryghte it to morne att the castel
of maydens / where he maye see me and many other knyghtes
with that came syr Dynadan / and whanne he sawe sire Tristra~
wrothe / he lyst not to Iape / lo sayd sir Dynadan / here may a ma~
preue / Be a man neuer soo good yet maye he haue a falle / &
he was neuer soo wyse but he myght be ouersene / and he rydeth
wel that neuer fylle / Soo syre Tristram was passynge wrothe
and sayd to syre Persydes and to syre Dynadan I wille re_uenge
me / Ryghte soo as they stood talkyng there / there came
by sir Tristram a lykely knyght rydyng passynge soberly and
heuyly with a blak shelde / what knyght is that said sir Tris_tram
vnto syr Persydes / I knowe hym well said sir Persy_des /
for his name is sire Bryaunt of Northwalys / soo he paste
on amonge other knyghtes of Northwalys / And there came



|p383


|r[f192r]
in syre launcelot du lake with a sheld of the armes of Cor_newaile /
and he sente a squyer vnto syr Bryaunt / and requy_red
hym to Iuste with hym / wel said syr Bryaunt / sythen I
am requyred to Iuste / I wille doo what I may / and there
syre launcelot smote doune syr Bryaunt from his hors a gre_te
falle / And thenne syr Tristram merueiled what knyght he
was that bare the sheld of Cornewaile / what so euer he be sa_id
syr Dynadan I warante you he is of Kynge Bannys
blood / the whiche ben knyghtes of the moost noble prowesse /
in the world for to accompte soo many for soo many / Thenne
there came two kny¨tes of Northgales / that one hyghte Hewe
de la montayne / and the other syr Madok de la montayne / &
they chalengyd fire launcelot foote hote / Syr Launcelot not
refusyng hem but made hym redy / with one spere he smote hem
doune bothe ouer their hors croupes / and soo sir launcelot rode
his way / By the good lord said sire Tristram he is a good
knyght that bereth the shelde of Cornewaile / and me semeth he
rydeth in the best maner that euer I sawe knyghte ryde / Then_ne
the kynge of Northgalys rode vnto syre Palomydes / and
praid hym hertely for his sake to Iuste with that knyght that
hath done vs of Northgalys despyte / Syr said sir Palomydes
I am ful lothe to haue adoo with that knyght / and cause why
is / for as to morne the grete turnement shalle be / And therfor
I wille kepe my self fresshe by my wille / Nay said the kyng
of Northgalys I pray you requyre hym of Iustes / syre sayd
syr palomydes I wille Iuste at your request / and requyre that
knyght to Iuste with me / and often I haue sene a man
haue a falle at his owne request

 Capitulum xxix |r{ms=xix}
|r<b> THenne sir palomydes sente vnto sir launcelot a squyer
      and requyred hym of Iustes / Fair felawe seid sir la_uncelot
/ telle me thy lordes name / Syre said the squyer my lor_des
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 /



|p384


|r[f192v]
And so eyther knyghtes made hem redy with two grete speres
Nay said syr Dynadan ye shalle see that sir Palomydes will
quyte hym ryght wel / hit may be soo said sir Tristram / but I
vndertake that knyght with the sheld of Cornewayle shal gy_ue
hym a falle / I bileue hit not said sir Dynadan / Ryght so
they spored their horses / and feutryd their speres / and eyther
hytte other / and syr palomydes brake a spere vpon sire launce_lot /
and he sat and meued not / but sir Launcelot smote hym so
lyghtly that he made his hors to auoyde the sadel / and the stro_ke
brake his shelde and the hauberke/ and had he not fallen / he
had be slayne / how now said sir Tristram / I wiste wel by the
maner of their rydyng bothe that sire Palomydes shold haue
a falle / Ryght so sir launcelot rode his way and rode to a well
to drynke and to repose hym / and they of Northgalys aspyed
hym whyther he rode / and thenne there folowed hym twelue
knyghtes for to haue meschyeued hym / for this cause that vp_on
the morne at the turnement of the castel of maydens that he
shold not wynne the vyctory / Soo they came vpon sir launce_lot
sodenly and vnnethe he myght putte vpon hym his helme /
and take his hors but they were in handes with hym / & then_ne
sir launcelot gat his spere and rode thorou them / and there
he slewe a knyght and brake his spere in his body / Thenne he
drewe his swerd and smote vpon the ryght hand and vpon the
lyfte hand soo that within a fewe strokes he had slayne o_ther
thre knyghtes / and the remenaunt that abode he wounded
hem sore alle that dyd abyde / Thus syr launcelot escaped from
his enemyes of Northwalys / and thenne sir launcelot rode his
way tyl a frende & lodged hym tyl on the morne / for he wold
not the fyrste daye haue adoo in the turnement by cause of his
grete labour / And on the fyrst day the was with kyng Arthur
there as he was set on hyhe vpon a schaffold to discerne who
was best worthy of his dedes / So sir Launcelot was with kyng
Arthur / and Iusted not the fyrst daye /

 Capitulum xxx
|r<b> NOw torne we vnto sir Tristram de lyones that comma_unded
      Gouernaile his seruaunt to ordeyne hym a blak
sheld with none other remembraunce therin /



|p385


|r[f193r]
And soo syre Persydes and syr Tristram departed from the_ir
hooste syr Pellounes / and they rode erly toward the tur_nement /
and thenne they drewe hem to kynge Carados syde of
Scotland / and anone kny¨tes beganne the felde what of ky_nge
Northgalys party / and what of kynge Carados party / &
there began grete party / Thenne there was hurlyng and ras_shynge /

Ryght soo came in syr Persydes and sire Tristram / and
soo they dyd fare that they put the kyng of Northgalys abak
Thenne came in syre Bleoberys de ganys and syre Gaherys
with them of Northaglys / and thenne was sir Persydes smy_ten
doune / and alle moost slayne / For moo than xl horsmen
wente ouer hym / For syr Bleoberys dyd grete dedes of armes
and syre Gaherys fayled hym not / whanne sire Tristram by_held
them / and sawe hem doo suche dedes of armes / he meruey_led
what they were / Also sir Tristram thought shame that sir
Persydes was soo done to / and thenne he gat a grete spere in
his hand / and thenne he rode to sire Gaherys and smote hym
doune from his hors / And thenne was sire Bleoberys wroth
and gate a spere and rode ageynst sir Tristram in grete yre / &
there syre Tristram mette with hym / and smote sir Bleoberys
from his hors / Soo thenne the kynge with the honderd knygh_tes
was wrothe / and he horsed sire Bleoberys and sir gaherys
ageyne / and there beganne a grete medle / and euer sir tristram
held them passynge shorte / and euer sir Bleoberys was pas_synge
besy vpon syre Tristram / and there came sire Dynadan a_geynst
syre Tristram / and sire Tristram gaf hym suche a buffet
that he swouned in his sadel / Thenne anone sir Dynadan cam
to sire Tristram / and said syr I knowe the better than thow
wenest / But here I promyse the my trouthe I wille neuer co_me
ayenst the more / for I promyse the that swerd of thyn shal
neuer come on myn helme / with that came sir Bleoberys / and
syr Tristram gaf hym suche a buffet that doune he leyd his he_de /
and thenne he raught hym so sore by the helme / that he pul_led
hym vnder his hors feet / And thenne kyng Arthur blewe
to lodgynge / Thenne syre Tristram departed to his pauelione /
and sire Dynadan rode with hym / and sire Persydes & kyng
Arthur thenne and the kynges vpon bothe partyes merueylled
what knyght that was with the blak shelde / Many said their



|p386


|r[f193v]
aduyse / and some knewe hym for syre Tristram / and helde the_ir
pees and wold nought say / Soo that fyrste day kyng Ar_thur
and alle the kynges and lordes that were Iuges gaf sir
Tristram the pryce / hou be hit they knewe hym not but named
hym the knyght with the black sheld

 Capitulum xxxj
|r<b> 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 palo_mydes
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 Palomy_des
wille be on kyng Arthurs syde / where the moost noble kn_yghtes
of the world ben / In the name of god said sir Tris_tram /
thenne wille I be with the kynge of Northgalys by ca_use
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



|p387


|r[f194r]
other knyghtes / And thenne sir Tristram smote on the ryght
hand and on the lyfte hand that alle lordes and ladyes spak
of his noble dedes / But at the last syre Tristram shold haue
had the werse / had not the kynge with the honderd knyghtes
ben / And thenne he came with his felauship and rescowed
sir Tristram / and brought hym awey from tho knyghtes that
bare the sheldes of Cornewaile / and thenne sir Tristram sawe
another felauship by them self / and there were a xl Knygh_tes
to gyder / and sir Kay the Seneschal was there gouerno_ur /
Thenne sire Tristram rode in amongest them / and there he
smote doune syr Kay from his hors / and there he fared among
tho Knyghtes lyke a grey hound among conyes / Thenne syre
launcelot fond a Knyght that was sore wounded vpon the he_de /
Sir said sir launcelot who wounded you so sore / Sire he sa_id
a Knyght that bereth a black shelde / and I maye curse the
tyme that euer I mette with hym for he is a deuyl and no man
Soo sire launcelot departed fro hym / & thought to mete with sir
Tristram / and soo he rode with his swerd drawen in his hand
to seke sir Tristram / and thenne he aspyed hym how he hurled
here and there / and at euery stroke syr Tristram wel nygh smo_te
doune a knyght / O mercy Ihesu said the kynge syth the ty_me
I bare armes sawe I neuer no knyght do so merueillous
dedes of armes / And yf I shold sette vpon this knyght said sir
Launcelot to hym self I dyd shame to my self / & there with al
sir launcelot put vp his swerd / And thene the Kyng with the
C Kny¨tes / and an honderd more of Northwalys set vpon
the twenty of sir launcelots kyn / and they xx Kny¨tes held them
euer to gyder / as wylde swyne and none wold faile other / & so
whan sir Tristram beheld the noblesse of these xx Knyghtes /
he merueiled of their good dedes / for he sawe by their fare and
by theil reule that they had leuer deye than auoyde the felde /
 Now Ihesu saide syre Tristram wel maye he be valyaunte
and ful of prowesse that hath suche a sorte of noble Knygh_tes
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 be_holden
them long / he thou¨t shame to see / ij / C kny¨tes batteryng



|p388


|r[f194v]
vpon twenty knyghtes /  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 wor_ship
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 kny¨_tes
for your pleasyr / for euermore a good knyght wylle fa_uoure
another / and lyke wille drawe to lyke /

 Capitulum xxxij
|r<b> THenne the kyng with the honderd knyghtes withdre_we
      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 so_denly
syr Tristram / syr Dynadan / and Gouernaile his man ro_de
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 then_ne
in alle the felde was a noyse that with the wynde hit my_ght
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



|p389


|r[f195r]
the felde this daye and many were hurte and sore wounded /
and many were hole /  My felawes said kynge Ar_thur
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 I_soud
vnto syr Tristram alle the whyle the turnement was a_doynge
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 Tris_trams
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 as_pyed
the squyer / ther with he abraide / and brake hym self lo_os
and took his swerd in his hand / and ranne to haue sla_yne
that squyer / Thenne he took his hors and fledde all that e_uer
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 com_playned
vnto hym self and sayd / I woful knyght syre pa_lomydes
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 way_led
and wrange his handes / And at the laste for pure sorow
he ranne in to that Fontayne ouer his bely / and soughte after



|p390


|r[f195v]
his swerd / Thenne sir Tristram sawe that and ranne vpon syr
Palomydes / and helde hym in his armes fast / what arte thou
said Palomydes that holdeth me soo / I am a man of this fo_rest
that wold the none harme / Allas said sire Palomydes I
maye neuer wynne worship where syr Tristram is / For euer
where he is / and I be there thenne gete I no worship / And
yf he be awey / for the moost party I haue the gree / onles that
sir Launcelot be there or syr Lamorak / Thenne sire Palomydes
said ones in Irland syr Tristram putte me to the werse / and
another tyme in Cornewaile and in other places in this land
What wold ye do said syre Tristram & ye had sir Tristram / I
wold fyghte with hym said sir Palomydes and ease my hert
vpon hym / and yet to saye the sothe syre Tristram is the gen_telyst
knyght in this world lyuynge / what wil ye doo sayd sir
Tristram wille ye goo with me to youre lodgynge / Nay sayde
he I wille goo to the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / for
he rescowed me from sire Bors de ganys / and sir Ector / & els
had I ben slayne traitourly / Syre Tristram said hym suche
kynde wordes that syre Palomydes wente with hym to his lod_gynge /
Thenne Gouernaile wente to fore / and charged dame
Brangwayn to goo oute of the way to her lodgynge / and byd
ye syre Persydes that ye make hym no quarels / And so they
rode to gyders tyl they came to sire Tristrams pauelione / and
there syre Palomydes had alle the chere that myght be had all
that nyghte / But in no wyse sire Palomydes my¨t not knowe
what was syr Tristram / and soo after souper they yede to reste
And syr Tristram for grete trauaile slepte tylle it was daye /
And syr Palomydes myghte not slepe for anguysshe / and in
the daunynge of the daye he tooke his hors pryuely / and rode
his waye vnto syr Gaherys and vnto syr Sagramour le desy_rus /
where they were in their pauelions / for they thre were fe_lawes
at the begynnynge of the turnement / And thenne vp_on
the morne the kynge blewe vnto the turnement vpon the
thyrdde daye /

 Capitulum xxxiij /



|p391


|r[f196r]
|r<b> SOo the kynge of Northgalys and the kynge with the
      honderd knyghtes they two encountred with kyng ca_rados
and with the kynge of Irland / and there the
kynge with the honderd knyghtes smote doune kynge Cara_dos /
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 smo_te
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 then_ne
by force of kyng Arthurs knyghtes the kynge and sir pa_lomydes
were horsed ageyne / Thenne kyng Arthur with a gre_te
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 ha_ue
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 pa_lomydes
lyghtely arose / and thenne they dasshed to gyder my_ghtely
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 my¨ty strokes / and
at euery stroke that he gaf hym he said this for syre Tris_trams
sake / With that syre Palomydes felle to the erthe groue_lynge /
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 spe_res /
& thenne in the presence of hem al he lete hym falle at his



|p392


|r[f196v]
aduenture / Thenne sire Tristram was ware of kynge Arthur /
with a naked suerd in his hand / and with his spere sir Tris_tram
ranne vpon kynge Arthur / and thenne kynge Arthur
boldely abode hym and with his swerd he smote atwo his spe_re /
and there with alle syre Tristram stonyed / and soo kynge
Arthur gaf hym thre or four grete strokes or he my¨t gete out
his swerd / and at the last sir Tristram drewe his swerd and
assailed other passynge hard / with that the grete prees depar_ted /
thenne sir Tristram rode here and there and dyd his grete
payne that xj of the good knyghtes of the blood of kynge
Ban that was of sire launcelots kyn / that daye syre Tristram
smote doune / that alle the estates merueilled of his grete dedes
and alle cryed vpon the knyght with the black sheld

 Capitulum xxxiiij
|r<b> 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 gy_der
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 he_de
lowely toward his sadel bowe / And there with alle sir tris_tram
departed from the felde / for he felte hym soo wou~ded 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 woud / thene wende sir Dynodan that he shold



|p393


|r[f197r]
haue dyed / Nay nay saide sire Tristram / Dynadan / neuer drede
the / for I am herte hole / & of this wounde I shal soone be hole
by the mercy of god /  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 age_ynst
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 counte_naunce
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 Tris_tram /  Thenne syre Tris_tram
sente vnto syr palomydes and r	equyred 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 smo_te
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 Trys_tram
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 Persy_des
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 laucelot held alwey



|p394


|r[f197v]
the stoure lyke hard as a man araged that took no heede to
hym self / and wete ye wel there was many a noble knyghte
ageynst hym / And whanne kyng Arthur sawe sir Launcelot
doo soo merueyllous dedes of armes / he thenne armed hym / &
took his hors and his armour / and rode in to the felde to helpe
syr launcelot / and so many knyghtes came in with kyng Ar_thur /
and to make short tale in conclusion the kyng of North_galys /
and the kynge of the honderd knyghtes were putte to
the wers / and by cause syre launcelot abode and was the last
in the feld / the pryce was yeuen hym / But sir Lau~celot wold
neyther for kyng / Quene ne knyghte haue the pryce / but whe_re
the crye was cryed thorugh the felde / syr launcelot  sir laun_celot
hath wonne the felde this day / syre Launcelot lete make
an other crye contrary syr Tristram hath wonne the feld / for
he baganne fyrst and last he hath endured / and soo hath he do-ne
the fyrst day / the second and the thyrd day /

 Capitulum xxxv
|r<b> THenne alle the estates and degrees hyhe and lowe sa_yd
      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 renou_med
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 ro_de
to kynge Arthur / Allas said the kynge we are alle dys_mayed
that syr Tristram is thus departed from vs / By god
said kynge Arthur he is one of the noblest kny¨tes 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 thry_es
/ that he abasshed his helme with his strokes / and also he sa_id /
here is a stroke for syr Tristram / and thus thryes he sayd
/ Thenne kynge Arthur / syr launcelot / and sire Dodynas le sa_ueage
took their horses to seke sir Tristram / and by the menes



|p395


|r[f198r]
of syr Persydes / he had told kyng Arthur where syr Tristram
was in his pauelione / but whanne they came there / syr Trist_ram
and sir Dynadan were gone / thenne kynge Arthur and
syr launcelot were heuy / and retorned ageyne to the castel of
maydens makyng grete dole for the hurte of syre Trystram / &
his sodeyne departynge / Soo god me helpe said kyng Arthur
I am more heuy that I can not mete with hym / thenne for al
the hurtes that alle my knyghtes haue had at the turnement
Ryght soo came sir Gaherys and told kyng Arthur how syr
Tristram had smy¨ten doune syr Palomydes / and it was atte
syr Palomydes owne request / Allas said Kyng Arthur that
was grete dishonoure to syre Palomydes in as moche as syre
Tristram was sore wounded / and now may we alle kynges
and kny¨tes and men of worship saye that syre Tristram may
be called a noble knyght and one of the best Knyghtes that e_uer
I sawe the dayes of my lyf / For I wille that ye al kynges
and Knyghtes knowe said Kynge Arthur that I neuer
sawe Knyghte doo so merueyllously as he hath done these thre
dayes / for he was the first that began and that lengest held on
sauf last day / And though he was hurte it was a manly
aduenture of two noble Knyghtes / and whan two noble men
encountre nedes must the one haue the werse lyke as god wil
suffre at that tyme /  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 Kny¨_tes /
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 Ar_thur
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



|p396


|r[f198v]
And soo he folowed hym by aduenture / And as he came by
a ryuer in his woodenes / he wold haue made his hors to haue
lepte ouer / and the hors fayled footynge / and felle in the Ry_uer /
wherfore syre palomydes was adrad left he shold haue ben
drouned / and thenne he auoyded his hors / and swamme to
the land / and lete his hors goo doune by aduenture /

 Capitulum xxxvj /
|r<b> ANd whanne he came to the land he took of his harne_is /
      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 mor_dred
that lay seke in the same place with that old kny¨t whe_re
syr Tristram was / For as the Frensshe book saith syr Per_sydes
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 pa_lomydes /
and she and he had langage to gyder / the whiche ple_asyd
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 go_od
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 ty_me
syr Tristram was walkyng vpon his feet / and wel amen_ded
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 ß t



|p397


|r[f199r]
ye booste behynde syr Tristram / for it is but late that he was in
youre handes / and ye in his handes / why wold ye not holde
hym whanne ye hadde hym / for I sawe my self twyes or thry_es
that ye gat but lytel worship of sir Tristram / thenne was
syr Palomydes ashamed / Soo leue we them a lytyl whyle in
the old castel / with the old knyght sir Darras /  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 vn_to
the tyme ye mette with hym / and in an euylle tyme sayd
Arthur ye encountred with hym / My lord Arthur said Laun_celot
ye putte vpon me that I shold ben cause of his departy_cyon
/ 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 vn_derstande
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 the~_ne
sir launcelot said / here we are ten Knyghtes that wil swe_re
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 foul_nesse
I shalle brynge hym to this courte / or els I shalle dye
therfore / And the names of these ten knyghtes that hadde vn_dertake
this quest were these folowynge / Fyrst was sir Laun_celot /
syr Ector de Marys / syr Bors de ganys and Bleoberis
and syre Blamor de ganys / and Lucan the botteler / syr Vwa_yne /
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 cro_sse
where departed four wayes / and there departed the felau_ship
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



|p398


|r[f199v]
sir launcelot / Thenne whanne sire Launcelot sawe sir Breuse
saunce pyte / syre launcelot cryed vnto hym / and said / fals kn_yght
destroyer of ladyes and damoysels / now thy last dayes
be come / Whanne sire Breuse saunce pyte sawe sire launcelots
shelde he knewe hit wel / for at that tyme he bare not the armes
of Cornewaile / but he bare his owne shelde / And thenne syre
Breuse fled / and syr Tristram folowed after hym / But sir
Breuse was soo wel horsed that whan hym lyst to flee he my_ght
wel flee / and also abyde whan hym lyft /
And thenne sire launcelot retorned vnto dame Brangwayne
and she thanked hym of his grete labour /

 Capitulum xxxvij
|r<b> 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 as_ke
herborou¨ / 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 the~_ne
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 de_foiled /
Abyde said sir Tristram and I shalle redresse it / and
in the meane whyle syr Dynadan was on horsbak and he Ius_tid
with Lucan èe botteler / & ther sir lucan smote doune dynada~ thur¨
the thyck of the thyghe / and soo he rode his way / and sire tris_tram
was wrothe that sir Dynadan was hurte / & folowed af_ter
and thought to auenge hym / and within a whyle he ouer_took
sir lucan / and badde hym torne / and soo they mette to gy_ders
soo that sire Tristram hurt sir Lucan passynge sore / and



|p399


|r[f200r]
gaf hym a falle / With that came sire Vwayne a gentyl kny¨t
And whanne he sawe fire Lucan soo hurte / he called syre tris_tram
to Iuste with hym / Faire knyght said sire Tristram telle
me your name I requyre you / Syre knyghte wete ye wel my
name is syre Vwayne le fyse de roy Vreyne / A saide sire Tris_tram
by my wille I wold not haue adoo with you at no ty_me /
ye shalle not soo said sir Vwayne but ye shalle haue adoo
with me / And thenne sire Tristram sawe none other boote but
rode ageynst hym and ouerthrewe syr Vwayn and hurte hym
in the syde / and soo he departed vnto his lodgynge ageyne /
And whanne sire Dynadan vnderstood that syr Tristram had
hurte sir Lucan / he wold haue ryden after syr Lucan for to
haue slayne hym / but sir Tristram wold not suffre hym /
 Thenne syr Vwayne lete ordeyne an hors lytter / and bro_ught
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 fe_lawes
to mete in the quest of syr Tristram / Soo whan sir tris_tram
was come to his lodgyng ther cam a damoisel èt told sir
Darras that thre of his sones were slayne at that turnement
and two greuously wouded that they were neuer lyke to hel_pe
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 Palo_mydes
and syr Dynadan within a strong pryson / and there sir
Tristram was lyke to haue dyed of grete sekenesse / and eue_ry
day syr Palomydes wold repreue sir Tristram of old hate
betwixe them / And euer sir Tristram spak fayre and said ly_tel /
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



|p400


|r[f200v]
his two felawes / but sire Darras wold not suffre that but
kepte them in pryson / and mete and drynke they had / So sire
Tristram endured there grete payne / for sekenesse had vnderta_ke
hym / and that is the grettest payne a prysoner maye haue
For alle the whyle a prysoner may haue his helthe of body / he
maye endure vnder the mercy of god and in hope of good de_lyueraunce
/ But whanne sekenes toucheth a prysoners body /
thenne may a prysoner say al welthe is hym berafte / and then_ne
he hath cause to wayle and to wepe / Ry¨t so dyd syre Trist_ram
whanne sekenes had vndertake hym / for thenne he tooke
suche sorou that he had almost slayne hym self

 Capitulum xxxviij
NOw wille we speke and leue sir Tristram / syre Palo_mydes /
& syr Dynadan in pryson / and speke we of o_ther
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 reg_neth
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 da_yes
/ and he bare a black shelde / and of alle knyghtes that e_uer
I sawe he preued the best kny¨t / 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 Ga_heryse
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



|p401


|r[f201r]
had grete chere with kynge Marke / and with quene la Bea_le
Isoud the whiche was gladde of syr Gaheryse wordes / For
wel she wist by his dedes and maners / that it was syr Trist_ram /
And thenne the kynge made a feest Royal / and to that
feest came sir Vwayne le fyse de roy Vreyne / and somme callid
hym Vwayne le blaunche maynys / And this syr Vwayn cha_lengyd
alle the knyghtes of Cornewaile / Thenne was the ky_ng
woode wroth that he had no knyghtes to ansuer hym /
Thenne sire Andred neuewe vnto kynge Mark lepte vp and
said I wille encountre with syr Vwayne / Thenne he yede and
armed hym and horsed hym in the best maner / And there syre
Vwayne mette with syre Andred and smote hym doune that
he swouned on the erthe / Thenne was kynge Marke sory and
wrothe oute of mesure that he had no knyghte to reuenge his
neuewe sir Andred / Soo the kynge called vnto hym syr Dy_nas
the seneschal / and praid hym for his sake to take vpon
hym to Iuste with sir Vwayne / Syr said syr Dynas I am ful
lothe to haue adoo with ony knyght of the round table / yet said
the kyng for my loue take vpon the to Iuste / Soo syr Dynas
made hym redy / and anone they encountred to gyders with gre_te
speres / but sire Dynas was ouerthrowen hors and man a
grete falle / who was wrothe but kynge Marke / Allas he said
haue I no knyght that wille encountre with yonder knyghte
Syr said sir Gaheryse for your sake I wille Iuste / So sir Ga_herys
made hym redy / and whanne he was armed he rode in to
the felde / And whanne sir Vwayne sawe syr Gaheryses sheld
he rode to hym and said / sir ye doo not youre parte / For sire the
fyrst tyme ye were made Knyght of the round table ye sware
that ye shold not haue a do with your felauship wetyngly
And par dy sir Gaheryse ye knewe me wel ynou¨ by my shelde
& so do I knowe you by your sheld / and thou ye wold breke
your othe / I wold not breke myn / for there is not one here
nor ye that shall thynke I am aferd of yow / but I durst ry_ght
wel haue adoo with you / and yet we be sister sones / Then_ne
was sir Gaheryse ashamed / and soo there with alle euery
knyght wente their way / and sir Vwayne rode in to the coun_trey /
Thenne kyng mark armed hym and tooke his hors and
his spere with a squyer with hym / And thenne he rode afore sir



|p402


|r[f201v]
Vwayne / and sodenly at a gap he ranne vpon hym as he that
was not ware of hym / and there he smote hym al most thurgh
the body / and there lefte hym / So within a whyle there cam sir
Kay / and fonde sir Vwayne / and asked hym how he was
hurte / I wote not said sir Vwayne why nor wherfore / but by
treason I am sure I gat this hurte / for here came a knyghte so_denly
vpon me or that I was ware / and sodenly hurte me /
 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 then_ne
syr Gaherys took his leue of kynge Mark / But or he de_parted
he sayd / syre kynge ye dyd a foule shame vnto you &
your Courte whan ye bannysshed sir Tristram out of this cou~_trey /
for ye neded not to haue doubted no knyght and he had
ben here / and soo he departed

 Capitulum xxxix
|r<b> THenne there came syre kay the Seneschal vnto kynge
      Marke / and there he hadde good chere shewyng oute_ward /
Now sayre lordes said he wille ye preue ony
duenture 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 ky_nge
Mark for he deleth alle with treason / Thenne said sire kay
I requyre you lete vs preue this aduenture / I shal not fayle



|p403


|r[f202r]
you said sir Gaherys / and soo they rode that tyme tyl a lake /
that was that tyme called the peryllous lake / And there they
abode vnder the shawe of the wood /  The meane whyle kyng
Marke within the castel of Tyntagyl auoyded alle his baro~s
& 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 ar_med
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 sho_ne
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
wrout / 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 sha_me
said sir Gaherys to saue thy lyf / thou arte a kynge enoyn_ted
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 &



|p404


|r[f202v]
couerd hym with his sheld and defended hym as he myghte /
and thenne sir kay lasshed at sir Andred / and there with all
kynge Marke yelded hym vnto syr Gaherys / And thenne he
kneled adoune / and made his othe vpon the crosse of the suerd
that neuer whyle he lyued he wold be ageynst arraunt knygh_tes /
And also he sware to be good Frende vnto sir Tristram /
yf euer he came in to Cornewaile / By thenne sir Andred was
on the erthe / and sir Kay wold haue slayne hym / lete be said
sir Gaherys / slee hym not I pray you / It were pyte said syre
kay that he shold lyue ony lenger / for this is nygh cosyn vn_to
syr Tristram / and euer he hath ben a traytour vnto hym / &
by hym he was exyled oute of Cornewaile / and therfor I will
slee hym sayd sir Kay / ye shalle not said Gaherys sythen I
haue gyuen the kynge his lyf / I pray you yeue hym his lyf /
and there with alle sir Kay lete hym goo / And soo sir Kay
and syre Gaherys rode their way vnto Dynas the Seneschal
for by cause they herd say that he loued wel sir Tristram / Soo
they reposed them there / and soone after they rode  vnto the ro_yamme
of Logrys / And soo within a lytel whyle they mette
with sire Launcelot that alweyes had dame Bragwayn with
hym / to that entente / he wende to haue mette the sooner with sir
Tristram / and syr launcelot asked what tydynges in Corne_waile /
and whether they herd of sir Tristram or not / Syr Kay
and sir Gaherys ansuerd and said that they herd not of hym
Thenne they told sir launcelot word by word of theire aduen_ture /
Thenne syr launcelot smyled and said / hard hit is to take
oute of the flesshe that is bred in the bone / and soo maade hem
mery to gyders

 Capitulum xl
|r<b> 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



|p405


|r[f203r]
Dynas come home / and myst his peramour and his brachets
thenne was he the more wrother for his Brachets than for
the lady / Soo thenne he rode after the knyght that had his per_amour
and badde hym torne and Iuste / So syr Dynas smo_te
hym doune that with the falle he brake his legge and his ar_me /
And thenne his lady and peramour cryed sire Dynas
mercy / and said she wold loue hym better than euer she dyd /
Nay said sir Dynas I shalle neuer truste them that ones by_trayed
me / and therfor as ye haue begonne so ende / for I wyll
neuer medle with you / And so sir Dynas departed and tooke
his brachets with hym / and soo rode to his castel / Now wil we
torne vnto sir launcelot that was ryght heuy that he coude ne_uer
here no tydynges of sir Tristram / for al this whyle he was
in pryson with sir Darras / Palomydes / & Dynadan / Thenne
dame Brangwayne took her leue to goo in to Cornewaile and
syr launcelot / syr kay / & syr Gaherys rode to seke sir Tristram
in the countrey of Surleuse / Now speketh this tale of sir tris_tram
and of his two felawes / for euery daye syre Palomydes
brauled and sayd langage ageynst syr Tristram I merueyle
said sir Dynadan of the syr Palomydes / and thou haddest syre
Tristram here / thou woldest do hym no harme / For and a wolf
and a shepe were to gyders in a pryson / the wolf wold suffre
the sheep to be in pees / and wete thou wel said sire Dynadan
this same is sire Tristram at a word / and now maist thou doo
thy best with hym / & lete see now yf ye can skyfte it with your
handes / thenne was sire Palomydes abasshed and said lytyl/
syr Palomydes thenne said syr Tristram / I haue herd moche
of your maugre ageynst me / but I wille not medle with you
as at this tyme by my wille / by cause I drede the lord of this
place that hath vs in gouernaunce / for and I dredde hym not
more than I doo the / soone hit shold be skyfte / soo they peaced
them self / Ryght soo came in a damoysel and said knyghtes be
of good chere for ye are sure of your lyues / and that I herd say
my lord syre Darras / Thenne were they gladde alle thre / For
dayly they wende they shold haue dyed /  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



|p406


|r[f203v]
came in to them and fonde them mornynge / Thenne she wente
vnto sire Darras / and told hym how that myghty knyghte
that bare the black shelde was lykely to dye / That shalle not
be sayd sir Darras / for god defende whanne Knyghtes come
to me for socour that I shold suffre hem to dye within my pry_son /
Therfor said sir Darras to the damoysel / fetche that kny¨t
and his felawes afore me / And thenne anone sir Darras sa_we
sir Tristram brought afore hym / he said sire Knyghte me
repenteth of thy sekenesse / for thou arte called a ful noble kn_yght /
and soo hit semeth by the / And wete ye wel it shall ne_uer
be said that syr Darras shalle destroye suche a noble kny_ght
as thou arte in pryson / how be hit / that thou hast slayn / iij
of my sones / where by I was gretely agreued / But now shalt
thou goo and thy felawes / and youre harneis & horses haue
ben fayre and clene kepte / and ye shall goo where hit lyketh
you vpon this couenaunt / that thou Knyght wilt promyse me
to be good frende to my sones two that ben now on lyue / and
also that thou telle me thy name / Syr said he as for me my na_me
is sir Tristram de Lyones / and in Cornewaile was I born
and neuewe I am vnto Kynge Marke / And as for the deth
of your sones I myght not doo with alle / For and they had
ben the next kyn èt I haue / I my¨t 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 ser_uyse /
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 hor_ses
and soo departed and rode to gyders tyl they came to a
crosse way / Now felawes said syr Tristram here wylle we de_parte
in sondry wayes / and by cause sire Dynadan hadde the
fyrst aduenture of hym I wille begynne

|r_end_of_vol._1