Merlin : or, the early history of King Arthur : a prose romance / edited ... by Henry B. Wheatley

CHAPTER XXVI.
BANISHMENT OF BERTELAK; FIGHT AND RECONCILIATION BETWEEN ARTHUR AND LOOT; ARTHUR'S COURT AT LOGRES; VOWS OF THE KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE AND THE QUEEN'S KNIGHTS; THE TOURNAMENT.

Whan the kynge leodogan hadde comaunded his stiwarde to bringe his stepdoughter oute of the reame, he and Merlin departed from Vlfin and Bretell, and com in to the halle hande to hande, where thei fonde the Barouns alle redy, and oon hadde ronge to masse, and so thei wente to the mynster, and whan masse was seide thei com a-gein in to the halle, and than com the kyn of the deed knyght that Bertelak hadde slain, ffor to make theire complainte to the kynge; and the kynge leodogan sente for to seche hym at his hostell, and he com a-noon with-oute daunger well armed vndir his robes, and brought with hym grete plente of knyghtes, ffor he was full of feire courtesie and a feire speker, and a-noon the kynge hym asked why he hadde the knyght slain in treson, and he seide that of treson he sholde hym wele diffende a-gein alle tho that wolde hym apele, "and I sey no nay but that I slough the knyght, but firste I dide hym deffie, and it was not with-oute grete cause, ffor moche peple knowe wele that he slough my cosin germain for his wif that he diffouled, and me semeth that in alle maners that oon may oweth he to greve his mortall enmye after that he hath hym diffied;" and the kynge seide that that was not I-nough. "But yef ye hadde yow complayneth to me, and I wolde not haue it redressed than myght ye haue take vengaunce, but ye ne spake ther-of to me neuer worde." "Sir," quod he, "ye sey your volunte. But a-geins yow mysdide I neuer, ne neuer ne shall yef god will." Quod the kynge, "I will that right be hadde." "Sir," seide Bertelak le Rous, "I se well that I moste be at youre volunte," and than comaunded the kynge leodogan that Iugement sholde be yoven be the rede of his barouns.

At this Iugement was the kynge Arthur, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and sir Gawein, and sir Ewein, and Galasshin, and Nascien, and Adragain, and hervy de rivel, [folio 167a] and Guyomar. These x were at the Iugement and spake to-geder of oon thinge and other, and thei a-corded in the ende that he sholde be disherited, and voyde the londe of the kynge leodogan for euer more; and the kynge Ban that was of feire eloquense tolde the tale as he was charged, and he spake so high that he myght wele be herde, bothe of nygh and fer. "Sirs," quod he, "these barouns that beth here a-warded that Bertelais le Rous shall be disherited of all his londe that he holdeth in youre powere, and shall for-swhere the contre for euer more; ffor that he toke the Iustice vpon hym-self of the knyght that he slough, and namly by nyght, ffor the Iustice longed not to hym, and on that other side ye holde court open and myghty that oweth to condite alle saf goynge and saf comynge to alle tho that come at this high feste," and with that sat down the kynge Ban that no more seide at that tyme; and whan Bertelays saugh he was for-Iuged, and that he ne myght noon othirwise do he returned with-oute moo wordes; ffor he durste not the Iugement with-sey, ffor the highest lordes of the worlde, and the moste puyssaunt hadde it don. But yef eny other hadde it don a-noon he wolde the Iugement haue falsed, and thus wente Bertelais le Rous, but many a knyght hadde he hym to conueye to whom he hadde yoven many feire yeftes, ffor he hadde be a noble knyght and a vigerouse, and so he past forth on his iourneyes that he com to the same abbey, wher-as was the false Gonnore, and ther he a-bode and soiourned longe tyme, and was in grete thought as he that cowde moche euell, how that he myght be a-venged of the kynge leodogan and the kynge Arthur that hadde hym thus for-juged, and for that fill to Arthur grete trouble and so grete discorde be-twene hym and his wif, that he lefte her longe tyme, as ye shull here in the secunde book of this processe yef god will vouche-saf to graunte me so longe space to writen it. But now we moste cesse of this mater, and speke of the

goode kynge Arthur that is at Toraise, in Carmelide, with the kynge leodogan, and with the grete companye.

Full myry lif ledde the kynge Arthur with his wif viij dayes, and the neynthe day after that he was spoused he cleped his Barouns, and badde hem make hem redy to ride, ffor he was in talent for to repeire in to the reame of logres, and thei seide that thei were all redy for to ride; and than the kynge toke Gawein in counseile, and seide, "Ffeire nevew, take with yow as many of youre companye that ther leve here but v hundred, ffor I will come ride after stilleche and esely, and ye shall go to logres my chief Citee, and ordeyne redy alle thinges that is necessarie, and of vitaile, and of deynteis, as ye may so that nothinge ne faute, and sendith fer and nygh that I will holde court this mydde August the richest that I may." "Sir," seide Gawein, "I haue drede lest ye be encombred be the wey of some maner peple." "Of that haue ye no drede," quod [folio 167b] the kynge, "but go ye in all haste." Than departed sir Gawein from his vncle and com to his felowes, and bad hem to make hem redy for to ride, and thei wente to theire hostelles, and hem armed; but firste thei toke leve of the kynge leodogan, and of the Barouns of Carmelide, and thus departed Gawein fro the courte, he and his companye; and the kynge Arthur a-bode with v hundre men, whereof two hundre and fifty were knyghtes of the rounde table; and Gawein and his companye com to logres; but Gawein was euer pensif for his vncle that he hadde lefte in Carmelide, that hym sholde eny thinge myshappe vpon the wey, ffor he hadde fer contrey to ride that marched to his enmyes er he com in to his londe in safte, and he hym hasted to do the kynges comaundement, and sent to alle hem that the kynge loved that thei sholde come to his Court at the myddell of August, and eche made hym redy to come to court as strongely as thei myght, and Gawein ordeyned that vitaile com on alle parties with cartes and Chariettis that he stuffed so well the Citee as longed to soche a feste, as he

that full well coude hym entermete that nothinge ne failed; ffor as the storye seith he was oon of the beste knyghtes, and wiseste of the worlde, and ther-to the leste mysspeker, and noon a-vauntor, and the beste taught of alle thinges that longeth to worshippe or curtesie; and whan he hadde made all redy he toke his wey toward his vncle, ffor grete drede he hadde of that he sholde be distrobeled on the wey of som peple. But now we shull a-while cesse of hym and his companye, and speke of the kynge Arthur.

The thridde day after that Gawein was departed from the kynge Arthur his vncle, the kynge toke his wey towarde the Castell of Bredigan, he and his wif, and in her companye was the kynge Ban of Benoyk, and the kynge Bohors of Gannes that was his brother, and the beste knyght that eny man neded to seche, and so ther were CCL knyghtes of the rounde table that alle were feed men with the kynge leodogan, and the queene hadde so praied sir Amnistian that was chapelein with the kynge leodogan hir fader, that he com with hir, and was sithen hir chapelein longe tyme; and so ledde Gonnore hir cosin that was feire, and debonaire, and amyable to alle peple, and Sadoyne hir brother that was elther than she, and Castelein of Daneblaise, the noble Citee; and as soone as the kynge Arthur was departed oute of the reame of Carmelide, the kynge loot hadde knowinge by his asspies, and he and his knyghtes rode a-gein hym, and hem enbusshed in the foreste of sapernye, and seide that ther sholde he a-bide the kynge Arthur, and take from hym his wif, yef he myght. But of hym we shull now cesse, and speke of the kynge Arthur that was departed oute of Carmelide, and the storie seith how the kynge leodogan conveyed hem thre dayes hole, and the fourthe day he returned in to his reame, and than com Merlin to the kynge Arthur and toke leve, and seide that he sholde go to [folio 168a] his maister Blaase, for longe hadde he hym not seyn, and the kynge hadde well spedde of that he hadde for to done. Than seide the kynge, "Merlin, feire frende shull ye not be at my court at logres?" "Yesse," seide Merlin, "I shall be ther er it

departe," and ther-with eche of hem comaunded other to god, but he was but litill wey thens whan no man wiste where that he was be-comen; and Merlin wente to Blaase the same nyght, and he hym resceyued with grete ioye, whan that he hym saugh, and Merlin tolde hym alle the a-uentures that were falle seth that he departed, and he tolde hym how the kynge loot was enbusshed in the foreste of sapernye, and tolde hym other thinges I-nowghe that after be-fill in the reame of logres; and Blaase hem wrote as he tolde, and by his booke haue we the knowinge; but now cesseth to speke of Merlin, and Blase, and speke of Arthur.

Whan the kynge Arthur was departed from the kynge leodogan, and Merlin also, as ye haue herde, he rode with v hundre men of armes, and ledde with hym his wif Gonnore the queene, and he rode smale iourneyes till he com in to the foreste of sapernye, where-as the kynge loot was enbusshed with vij hundre men of armes; and the gromes that ledde the somers wiste neuer worde till that thei were fallen euen a-monge hem; and as soone as thei saugh thei were men of armes, thei wiste well thei were not well come. Than thei a-bode and wente no ferther, and sente to the kynge Arthur that thei hadde founde men I-armed; whan the kynge saugh that he was a-spied he a-light on foote, and made his peple come a-boute hym and ordeyned for bataile, and comaunded xl. knyghtes to kepe the queene, and bad hem lede hir to garison yef thei saugh nede. And than thei ride forth her heedes bowed down vndir theire helmes redy hem to diffende, yef thei founde eny peple to stoppe hem the wey, and so thei ride till thei dide falle vpon the wacche, and the kynge Arthur was be-fore in the firste frounte, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and the knyghtes of the rounde table; and the kynge looth spronge oute with vij hundre men of armes, and com hem a-geins theire spers, a-gein the assels of the sadeles, and the sheldes be-fore theire breste as faste as horse myght renne, and hem a-scride so high that all the foreste resounded, and these other com vpon hem boldely with sharpe trenchaunte

speres, and mette to-geder vpon sheldes that many of hem perced and slitte, many were throwe to grounde on bothe sides, and many ther were that brake theire speres and passed forth with-oute fallinge; and whan the spers were spente thei drowgh oute theire swerdes and be-gonne the bateile right grete, that neuer of so fewe peple ne saugh no man so fierce bateile, ffor thei were full noble knyghtes vpon bothe parties; and so longe it lasted, that the kynge Arthur and the kynge looth mette to-geder with speres in hande, and lett renne that oon a-gein that other so harde [folio 168b] as horse myght renne, and mette so harde to-geder with speres vpon sheldes, that the spere poyntes stynte at the hauberkes, and thei ther-on shof with all theire force; and the kynge loot brake his spere, and the kynge Arthur smote hym so harde that he bar hym to grounde ouer his horse croupe; but soone was he lepte vpon foote as he that was of grete prowesse, and drowh his swerde and couered hym with his shelde, and was so doelfull that nygh he yede oute of witte, ffor that he was overthrowe be the myght of knyght alone, ffor he was not a-customed for to falle often; and the kynge Arthur hadde made his returne and com toward the kynge loot gripinge his spere, for he coveited to take hym quyk; and whan the kynge looth saugh hym come he glenched a-side, and Arthur failed of hym and past forth, and in the passinge the kynge loot smote Arthurs horse in the bely thourgh the guttes, and Arthur fill to grounde, and his horse vpon his body, that his thigh was be-twene the horse and the grounde, so that he myght not a-rise; and the kynge loot sterte to and caught hym by the helme, and drough and pulled all that he myght, and sore hym peyned for to smyten of his heede, and soone ther sholde haue be so grete damage that neuer myght it haue be restored; but as the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and the knyghtes of the rounde table com fiercely vpon the peple of kynge loot, and be-gan sore bateile and harde, so that ther was noon but that he hadde I-nough to done; and so thei peyned hem on bothe parties that the two kynges be remounted, and be-gonne the stour grete and merveillouse; but at grete

myschef were the peple of kynge Arthur, ffor the kynge loot hadde two hundre knyghtes moo than hadde kynge Arthur; with that com sir Gawein with foure score felowes well armed, and kay the stiwarde bar the baner; and Arthur be-hielde and saugh Gawein come and knewe hym well by his armes, and also kay the stiwarde be the baner that he bar in his handes that sore desired the assemble, as he that was hardy and enterpendaunt, and right sure ne hadde ben oon tecche that he hadde, ffor that he was copiouse of langage in his disporte for the iolynesse that was in hym and the myrthe; for he was euer bourdinge and iapinge in game, and was the beste felowe in companye that eny man knewe, and for that euer he wolde of custome borde of the sothe hym hated many a knyght for the shame that thei hadde of his wordes, and therfore he myshapped in many a place, ffor the knyghtes that he hadde scorned in myrthe didde hym after grete annoye; but a trewe knyght was he euer a-gein his lorde, and a-gein the queene, euer in to the ende of his deth. Ne neuer in all his live dide he treson saf oon, and that was of lohoot the sone of kynge Arthur that he slough for enuye in the foreste perilouse, and for that Percevale ly Galoys was accused with grete wronge for the deth of the same hoot, like as an Ermyte hit tolde after that [folio 169a] hadde seyn all the dede.

Whan the kynge Arthur saugh Gawein, his nevew come so fiercely, his herte a-roos for grete ioye that he hadde. Than he com to the kynge Ban, and seide, "Sir, se how riche socour to vs cometh, knowe ye not hym that rideth be-fore vpon the blakke stede that gripeth the grete spere vnder the shelde of goolde and azur ther-ynne, a lyon rampaunt;" and the kynge Ban be-heilde, and seide, "Who is it? telle me; ffor I knowe hym not saf that me semeth it sholde be Gawein youre nevew." "Certes," quod Arthur, "he it is, and now may I me a-vaunten that in euell tyme come these vs for to assailen, ffor yef thei were yet as many moo thei myght not a-gein vs endure, yef god hym diffende from euell, he and his companye." "Trewly," seide the kynge Ban, "thei be not

wise yef thei hym a-bide till that he be a-monge hem medled;" and while thei spake thus to-geder com Gawein all be-fore gripinge his grete spere, and whan he com nygh he knewe well his vncle, and saugh that he hadde grete myster of socoure, and than he spronge in a-monge hem rudely as tempest of thunder, and fill that he mette with his fader the kynge loot that newliche was sette on horse, and heilde a stronge spere, and com a-gein hym as moche as the horse myght renne, and mette to-geder vpon the sheldes with all theire forces, and the kynge brake his spere vpon Gaweins shelde, and Gawein smote hym a-gein so harde that he perced shelde and hauberke, and wounded hym somwhat in the lifte side that the blode folowed after, and the kynge fill so harde to grounde that he wiste not wheder it was day or nyght; and Gawein paste forth rudely with-oute a-restinge, and whan he was returned a-gein he fonde his fader lyinge on the erthe vp-right, and he rode ouer hym on horsebak thre or foure tymes, and broused hym sore and foule that nygh he was ther-with slayn; and than Gawein a-light and pight his spere in the grounde, and drough oute Calibourne his goode swerde, that shone bright and clier, and com to the kynge loot that yet lay vp-right and plukked hym by the helme, and raced it of his heede so harde, that on his nose and his browes it was well seene, for he was hurte right sore; and than he a-valed the coyf of his hauberke be-nethe his shuldres, and seide that he was but deed, but yef he wolde yelde hym to prison, and he was so anguysshous that litill he hym ansuerde, neuertheles he dide hym-self enforce, so that he seide with grete sorowe at his herte, "Ha, sir, gentilman, ne sle me nought, for neuer dide I forfet a-gein the, where-fore that thow sholdest me sleen." "Yesse," quod Gawein, "that haste thow, and alle thi companye that haue assailed myn vncle for to distrouble him his weye." "How so," quod kynge loot, "who be ye that calle hym youre vncle." "What is that to the what I am, me liste nothinge the to telle, but do a-noon that as I the sey, or thow [folio 169b] art deed, and alle these other that ben in thi companye shull dye, and shull curse the tyme that euer

thei were of moder born." "Telle me," quod the kynge loot, "who ye ben for the love of that ye love moste in this worlde." "But what art thow?" quod Gawein, "that this doste me demaunde." Quod he, "Myn name is looth a caitife kynge of Orcanye, and of leonoys, to whom nothinge doth falle but myschef ne not hath don longe tyme. Now telle me youre name, what ye be." And whan Gawein vndirstode verily that it was his fader a-noon he nempned his name, and seide his name was Gawein, the nevew of kynge Arthur, and whan the kynge loot herde that a-noon he lepte vp, and wolde haue clypt hym in his armes, and seide, "Feire sone, ye be welcome, and I am the sorowfull caitif youre fader that ye haue thus viliche ouerthrowen," and Gawein bad hym drawe hym ferther a-rome, ffor his fader sholde he not be ne his goode frende till that he were a-corded with the kynge his vncle, and hadde cried hym mercy for his forfet, and than do to hym homage seynge alle his barouns; ffor othirwise loke neuer to truste in me, ffor elles shull ye leve noon other wedde saf youre heed, and than the kynge looth sowowned and fill down to the grounde, and whan he a-woke of swownynge he cride him mercy, and seide, "Feire sone, I will do all that yow may plese, and holde here my swerde, for I yelde it to yow;" and sir Gawein that ther-of hadde grete pite hit toke with gladde chere and myri, and wepte right tendirly water with his iyen vndir his helme, ffor sore he repente in his herte of that he hadde so hurte his fader, but as moche as he myght he kepte hym so that he was not aperceyved.

Than thei com bothe to theire horse, and lept vp and com to theire peple, and hem departed. But fowle were the kynge loothis men ouerleide, ffor the knyghtes of the rounde table and the felowes of sir Gawein hadde hem so euyll be seyn at the firste metynge that moo than xl thei hadde felde to grounde that thei hadde no power to remounte, and sir Gawein com and hem departed, and than wente Gawein to Arthur his vncle; and as soone as the kynge saugh hym come, he com hym ageins, and seide, "Feire nevew, ye be welcome, wherefore be ye come in to this parties, wiste ye eny thinge of this

a-wayte;" and Gawein seide that he douted hit sore, "ffor I myght neuer be in hertes ese till I hadde yow seyn, and oure lorde god," quod he, "now he thanked and honoured of this assemble, ffor it is the kynge looth my fader with whom that ye were in medle; and now hit is so be-fallen that he is come to crye yow mercy, as to his liege lorde erthly for the trespasse that he hath don a-gein yow, and therfore resceyveth his homage like as ye owe for to do, ffor he is here all redy hit to performe and do." Whan the kynge Arthur that herde he ioyned his handes toward heuene, [folio 170a] and thanked god of the worshippe that he hadde hym shewed; and with that com the kynge Loot and his knyghtes down the medowes alle on foote, and hadde don of theire helmes from theire heedes and valed theire coiffes of mayle vpon theire sholderes and com full symple; and whan Gawein saugh his fader come be-fore, he seide to his vncle, "Sir, lo here my fader cometh to yow for to do homage;" and a-noon the kynge Arthur sette foot to the grounde, and alle the other barouns after; and the kynge Loot com be-fore Arthur and sette hym on his knee, and hielde his swerde be the poynte as he that hadde forfeted, and seide, "Sir, I yelde me here to youre mercy as he that hath often a-gein yow forfeted, and dide yow neuer but grevaunce, and annoye, now do yowre plesire of me and of my londe," and ther be-com the kynge Loot liege man to the kynge Arthur be-fore alle his barouns, and assured his feith to do hym seruyse whan that he hym comaunded; than Arthur toke hym be the right hande and made hym to a-rise on his feet, and seide, "Sir, stondeth vp, for longe I-nough haue ye kneled, ffor I ought it yow to pardon, for that ye be so worthi a man, and a gretter forfet than this is, ffor thowgh that I haue hated yow neuer so dedly, ye haue here soche children that haue do me soche servise that I may haue no will to do yow noon euell, and therfore I offre here to yow all thinge that is myn at youre volunte, ffor the love of Gawein youre sone, that I love beste of eny knyght that is in the worlde, and ther be here two knyghtes that I owe to love as wele, and bothe ben thei kynges that moche

haue me socoured in grete nede." And he stode vp and seide, "Sire, gramercy." Thus was made pees be-twene kynge Loot and the kynge Arthur, and than thei lepe to theire horse gladde and ioyfull of this a-venture, and riden so by here iourneyes till thei com to logres where thei were resceyved with the grettest ioye of the worlde, and euery day the peple dide encrese; ffor the dwellers of the contrey com thider for drede of the saisnes that hem distroyed, and the londe; and ther was so grete prees of peple that many be-hoved to loigge in the medowes, and whan the kynge Arthur saugh so grete plente of peple, he was gladde and myry, and seide that he wolde holde court open and enforced, and sente by his messangers that alle sholde come to his court roiall; and on the morowe the kynge Loot dide his homage to the kynge Arthur, and made his oth on the chief mynster seinge alle the peple that was right grete and huge, and the kynge Arthur refeffed hym a-gein in his londe that he hadde be-fore, to hym and to hys heires for euer more, and who that dide hym eny wronge he sholde hym supporte to his power, and resceyved hym gladde and iocounde as a noble man, and fro that day forth were thei goode frendes all her lif; [folio 170b] and whan the masse was seide thei com a-gein to the paleyse, and yede to mete, and thei were well serued and richely, and after mete wente the knyghtes to se the medowes, and the river, and the tentes, and the pavilouns that were pight with-oute the town, ffor ther were many full feire and riche, and in this disporte and solace were thei viij dayes hool, and the peple dide sore encrece, ffor the kynge dide hit comaunde for that he wolde holde court roiall and plentevouse, and bere crowne he and his wif at the mydde of august, and whan it com to the evene that the feeste sholde be-gynne on the morowe, Arthur yaf his yeftes soche as to hym a-pertened of horse, and palfreyes, and armour, and money, as golde and siluer, for he hadde plente; and the queene yaf hem robes fressh and newe as she that well hadde therfore ordeyned, and moche cowde of honour and all curteysie, that alle peple hadde hir in so grete love that hem thought thei hadde recouered the

lady of alle ladyes, and yef the knyghtes hadde riche presentes, the ladyes and dameselles hadden also, and maydenes bothe fer and nygh; and so spradde the renoun thourgh every contrey of Arthur, that the princes that weren with hym wroth wisten of the pees that the kynge Loot hadde made with the kynge Arthur, and how he sholde holde his court roiall at the myddill of August, and that alle peple were thider somowned, and some of hem seiden secretly to theire counseile that thei wolde gladly haue spedde in the same manere as the kynge Loot hadde don; and some ther were of hem that thoughten in theire hertis and praied to god that thei sholde neuer dye on no deth er thei were acorded with the kynge Arthur, ffor all this trouble and myschef that is fallen vn-to vs, is com thourgh the synne that we have don agein god and forfet to hym.

Thus seide oon to a-nother; and the kynge Arthur was in his maister Citee in ioye and solace as ye haue I-herde, and whan it com to the day of the myddill August, thider com all the knyghtes to the courte clothed and a-raied in the richest robes that thei hadden, and the Queene was appareiled, she and hir ladyes, and maidenys, and dameseles richely as longeth to soche an high feeste; and whan thei hadde ronge to high masse thei wente alle to the mynster and herde the servise that the archebisshoppe dide singe; and that day bar Arthur crowne, and the queene Gonnore his wife, and the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors were crowned also for the love of hem; and after masse thei com to the halle where the clothes were leyde, and the lordes were sette thourgh the halle as thei owe for to be. That day serued Gawein at the high deyse ther as the foure kynges seten, and kay the stiward, and lucas the boteller, and sir Ewein le graunt the sone of kynge Vrien, and Gifflet, and Ewein [folio 171a] a-voutres, and Segramor, and Dodinell le sauage, and kay destranx, and kehedins ly bens, and kehedins le petit, and Ayglyns des vaux that was his brother, and Galegantius the walsh, and Blyoberis, and Galescowde, and Colegrenaunt, and launal, and Aglonall, and Ewein Eselains, and Ewein de lionell, and Ewein white hande, and Guyomar, and Synados, and

Gosenain hardy body, and Agrauain the prowde, and Gueheret, and Gaheries, and Acon de bemonde, and alle these xxi served at the high deyse, and xl other yonge bachelers serued at other tables ther-ynne, and thei were so well served of alle maner thinges that neuer peple were better, and whan alle the meesee were served in, than spake the kynge Arthur so lowde that alle that were in the halle myght it heren, and he seide, "Now lordinges, all ye that ben com here in to my courte me for to gladen and counforte, I yelde yow graces and thonkinge for the honour and the ioye that ye haue me don, and that ye be come for to do; and I do yow to wite that I will stablissh to my courte alle the tymes that I shall bere crowne. That neuer from hens-forth shall I not sitte to mete in to the tyme that I here some straunge tydinge, or elles some aventure. Be soche forwarde that yef it be myster I shall do it to be redressed by the knyghtes of my court, whiche for prise and honour hider to repeire and ben my frendes, and my felowes, and my peres." And whan the knyghtes of the rounde table herde this a-vow that the kynge hadde I-made, thei spake to-geder and seiden, "Seeth that the kynge hath made a-vow in his courte, hit be-hoveth that we make oure a-vow," and thei a-corded alle to oon thinge, and therwith thei charged Nascien to reherse it be-fore the kynge.

Than wente alle the knyghtes of the rounde table, and Nascien be-gan to speke be-fore the kynge so high, that thei alle myght here that were in the halle. "Sir," seide Nascien, "the knyghtes of the rounde table be come here to god, and in youre audyence, and to alle the barouns that here ben. In-as-moche as ye haue made a-vow thei make here a-nother that shall euer endure while her lif lasteth. That yef eny maiden haue eny nede or come to youre courte for to seche helpe or socour by so that it may be a-cheved by the body of oon knight a-gein a-nother, thei will with goode will go in to what contrey she will hem leden hir for to delyuer, and make alle the wronges to be redressed that to hir hath be don;" and whan the kynge this vndirstode, he asked of the knyghtes of

the rounde table yef thei dide graunte to that as Nascien hadde seide; and thei seiden, "Ye;" and to this thei wolde be sworn hit for to mayntene, and not to spare for lif ne for deth, and than be-gan the ioye gretter than it hadde be byfore; and whan Gawein vndirstode the ioye that thei maden for the a-vowes that were ther I-stablisshed, he seide to his felowes as he that cowde all [folio 171b] norture and curtesie. "Sirs," seide Gawein, "yef eche of yow will a-corde to that I shall seyn, I shall ofre soche a-vow wher-of shall come to yow and to me grete honour alle the dayes of oure life;" and thei ansuerde and seide that thei wolde graunte and assente to all that euer he wolde speke with his mowthe. "Than," quod he, "assureth me youre feith to holde me companye;" and a-noon thei hym assured, and were xxiiij be counte."

Whan that sir Gawein hadde take the feith of his felowes he come be-fore the Queene, and seide, "Madame, I and my felowes be come to yow, and praye yow and requere that ye will with-holde vs to be youre knyghtes and youre meyne. That whan thei come in eny strange contrey to seche loss and pris, yef any man hem aske with whom thei be, and of what londe. Than thei may seyn of the reame of logres, and be the knyghtes of Queene Gonnore, the wif of kynge Arthur." Whan the Queene vndirstode this, she dressed hir vp-stondinge, and seide, "Feire nevew, gramercy to yow and to hem alle; ffor I yow resceyve with gladde chere as lordes and my frendes, and as ye offre yow to me, so I offre me to yow with trewe herte; and I pray god lete me so long lyve that I may yow guerdon of the worshippe and the curtesie that ye promyse me for to do." "Madame," seide Gawein, "we be alle youre knyghtes, and ye haue us with-holde god it yow quyte. Now shull we make a-vow; That what man or woman cometh to yow for to seche socour or helpe a-geyn the body of oon knyght, he shall not faile to haue oon of vs to delyuer hym body for body, and go with hem in to what contrey thei will vs bringe; and whiche of vs so it be that take eny soche iourney on hande, and hit happe that he come not a-gein

with-ynne a moneth, eche oon of vs shall go for to seche hym sool by hym-self, a yere and a day with-oute repeire to courte; but yef with-ynne that terme he can bringe trewe tydinges of his felowe, and whan thei be come to court eueryche shall telle his a-ventures that hym be-falleth in the tyme what-so-euer thei be, gode or euell, and thei shull be sworn to sey the trouthe of all bothe in the goynge and in the comynge."

Whan the queene vndirstode the a-vow that Gawein hadde made, she was the gladdest woman in the worlde, and the kynge was glader than eny other that was in the courte, and for the kynge wolde comforte the queene, he seide, "Dame, seth god hath ordeyned yow this honour to haue so feire a companye, some curtesie moste I do for the love of hem, and also for the love of youre-self, and wite ye wher-of I putte in youre gouernaunce my tresour in soch maner that ye be lady and partyner of all youre plesier;" and whan the queene this herde, she kneled be-fore the kynge and seide, "Sir, gramercy." And than the queene called sir Gawein, and seide, "Feire [folio 172a] nevew, I will that foure clerkes be stablisshed hereynne that shull do nothinge elles but write the a-ventures that falle to yow and youre felowes, so that after youre deth it may be remembred the high prowesse of the worthi men hereynne." "Madame," seide Gawein, "I graunte;" and than were ther chosen foure clerkes to write the a-ventures as thei fill in the courte fro thens-forth; and than seide Gawein that he sholde not here speke of noon a-venture, but he sholde go to seche it; and he and his felowes sholde do so moche that thei sholde bringe ther-of trewe tidinges to courte, and so seiden the knyghtes of the rounde table in the same manere; and all-wey fro thens-fourth was sir Gawein and his felowes called the queenes knyghtes. With that were the clothes taken vp, and than be-gan the ioye right grete of oon and other ther-ynne, But ouer alle other that were ther-ynne was I-herde Dagenet of Clarion; ffor he made gret myrthe amonge hem, so that alle thei be-hielde hym for merveile. But a fooll he was of nature, and the moste coward pece of flessh that was in the worlde;

this Dagenet be-gan to trippe and daunce, and cried so lowde with high voyse, and seide, "to-morow shall I go seche these a-ventures," and seide to Gawein, "will ye come? and ye, sir Ewein and Segramor will ye come thider that be so feire and moche, and ye lordinges of the rounde table. Certes, I trowe not that ye haue the herte ne the hardynesse me for to sewen, ther I shall go to-morowe." Thus seide Dagenet the coward, and the knyghtes ther-at lowen, and hadde grete game; and with-oute faile he hym armed many tymes, and wente in to the forestes, and henge his shelde on an Oke, and smote it so that alle the colours were faded, and the shelde to hakked in many places, and than wolde he seyn that he hadde slayn a knyght or tweyne; and whan he mette eny knyght armed he turned to flight as fer as he myght here hym speke at the leeste; and many tymes fill yef he mette eny knyght erraunt that were pensif that spake no worde he wolde take hym by the bridell, and lede hym forth as he hadde hym taken; of soche maners was Dagenet, and yet he was right a feire knyght and of high lynage, and yet it semed not by his countenaunce that he was soche a fooll.

Grete was the ioye and the feeste the day of myddill of August, at logres, whan these a-vowes were made, and whan thei that hadden serued hadde eten, com kay the stiwarde, and seide, "Sirs, what thenke ye to do; shull we not tourney to be-gynne some myrthe at soche high feeste as this is?" Whan Segramor herde this he lepte vp, and seide that recreaunt and shamed be he that will not turneyn; and Mynoras ansuerde that thei wolde turney a-gein the queenes knyghtes, "and lete vs take so many knyghtes what oon and what other that we be euen like many," [folio 172b] and sir Gawein asked a-gein how many knyghtes thei wolde turney, and Adragain seide thei wolde haue V^c in her companye, and Gawein seide that he wolde take other V^c in his companye. "Than lete it no lenger be taried," quod Pynados, "for the day passeth." Than thei wente to theire hostels and armed hem with grete spede, and yede in to the medowes with-oute the town, and ther thei assembled

what oon what other that thei were x^c. Than was the ban cried that eche man sholde go on whiche part that he wolde, and thei disseuered and wente eche to his baner; and than com Gawein to hervy de rivell, and departed theire meyne, so that in eche partye ther was v hundred, and than the heraudes be-gan for to crye, Cy est lonours darmes Ore y parra qui checun le ferra; and whan it com to the assemble, a knyght cam to sir Gawein, and seide, "The kynge yowre vncle sente yow worde that ye sholde come speke with hym at the wyndowe ther-as he yow a-bideth;" and sir Gawein wente thider and ledde with hym sir Ewein his cosyn, and Segramour, and Gyfflet, and the curroyes were tho redy assembled for to mete.

The first that was renged was Pynodas, a knyght of the rounde table, and on that othir side com a knyght of the queenes that was brother to Gawein, and his name was Agravain the prowde, and he was wondir well horsed, and thei smote to-geder with speres vpon the sheldes so harde that thei perced that the steill heedes stynted at the hauberkes, and thei were bothe stronge and hardy, and the hauberkes of towgh mayle that the speres splyndred in peces, and in the passinge forth thei hurteled to-geder so harde with sheldes and helmes, and with theire horse, that bothe two fill to grounde, horse and man to-geder; and thei pressed to the rescew on bothe partyes and mette to-geder with sharpe speres; and sir Gawein hath so riden till he com on the diche brynke a-gein the wyndowe ther-as kynge Arthur dide lene, and the Queene Gonnore, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and ladyes and maydenes, a grete companye for to be-holde the bourdeys; and than the kynge seide, "Feire nevew, I praye yow for the feith that ye owe vnto me that ye rule so this turnement that ther a-rise no debate, ne wrath amonge hem, ne maltelente." "Sir," seide he, "as for me shall ther nothinge be mys-don, but I may not kepe hem alle from theire folyes. But yef ye se it turne to folye, ordeyne ye that it be departed, ffor I may not suffre that the companye of the rounde table diffoule, and ouer-lede my felowes be-fore me, but that I moste helpe

hem at my power." "Sir," seide the kynge Ban, "sir Gawein seith wisely; ffor it is goode reson that ye take a party of youre peple, and do hem to be armed as many as nedeth that yef myster be, thei to be redy to lepe on horsebak to do youre comaundement." "In godis name," seide the kynge, "so shall it be as ye haue seide." Than the kynge comaunded to arme thre thousande what of Sergauntes and squyers, and hym-self was armed, and the thre other kynges that were in his [folio 173a] companye; and Gawein was come to the turney, that tho was well be-gonne vpon the two knyghtes that were throwe to grounde, and so hadde bothe parties spedde that thei haue hem bothe remounted and sette on horse; and than the turnement be-gan sore to enforce, and the knyghtes of the rounde table that were CCL peyned hem sore to discounfite the foure score felowes of sir Gawein that were at grete myschief, and hadde sore the werse, but moche thei suffred as thei that full well eche dide other helpe feithfully. But their well doynge ne gayned hem but litill, ne hadde be the knyghtes of kynge Looth that hem socoured full vigerously. Ther was made many feire Iustinges and many a knyght vn-horsed that fill to the grounde, and the horses fledde thourgh the feeldes. Ther were the knyghtes of the rounde table euell I-ledde, but as vij score knyghtes that com hem for to socoure, and than hadde the knyghtes of the rounde table the better, ffor thei were more peple than the tother, and thei made hem to voyde the place wheder thei wolde or noon; and than a-roos the cry and the shoute vpon hem that fledden.

And whan Gawein vndirstode the shoute and the crye that was vpon his felowes, he be-helde and saugh hem at grete myscheif, and that for thought hym right sore, and seide to sir Ewein, "A-voy, cosin, we haue taried to longe." "Ewein" now quod Segramor, "neuer be he holde for a knyght that faileth to helpe at this nede." "I preise not at a boton," quod Gifflet, "the speche, but the dede be shewed. Now lete se who shall do beste;" and Gawein lowgh whan he herde this, and seide, "Sueth me;" with that he smote his

hors with the spores, and spronge forth as sperhauke after partriches or quayles, and bar to the erthe foure the firste that thei mette. Than these foure be-gan to do soche maistries that the chace stynte, and in a while were thei knowen of hem that neuer hadde hem seyn; and whan the Queenes knyghtes hadde founde sir Gawein thei drough a-boute hym, and so dide the knyghtes of kynge looth that were full notable knyghtes and goode; and Segramor be-gan to do soche merveiles that thei that weren at the wyndowes marked hym with the fynger, and seide, "Lo yonder, Sir Segramor, ffor yef he be feire of body and membres, yet is he better knyght at devise, and well may she that shall hym haue, a-vaunt hir that she hath oon of the beste knyghtes of the courte; and on that other side Gifflet dide right wele, and Galashin that gretly thei were be-holden of oon and of other, and to hem com the thre bretheren of Sir Gawein that were full noble and hardy. These dide merveilously wele, and so dide Sir Ewein, that a better knyght than he neded no man to be-holde; and whan the knyghtes of the rounde table saugh how the chase was a-rested, thei be-gan to traueile sore for to drive these other oute of the place, and ther they dide wondres in armes. But who that dide well, or who nought, a-bove alle other [folio 173b] dide sir Gawein merveiles, ffor he fonde no presse were it neuer so thikke ne cloos, but he it perced through be fin force, ffor he smote down knyghtes and horse, and raced of helmes from heedes and sheldes from nekkes, ne noon myght in-dure a-gein his strokes, and yef the companye of the rounde table hadde the better, now haue thei the werse; ffor sir Gawein and his felowes haue holde hem so shorte, that thei drof hem discounfited to the water side, and ther thei withstode stifly; and the storye seith that so moche thei suffred that x of the beste of hem were throwen to the erthe, wherof that oon was mynoras, and the secunde Natalis, and the thirde Pynados, and the fourth Bloaris, and the v^e Karismanx, and the vj^e Partreux, and the vij^e Grandoynes, and the viij^e ladynell, and the ix^e ladymus, and the x^e Traelus. These x were take with force, and hem hilde sir Ewein, and Segramor, and

Agravain, and Gueheret, and Gaheries, and kay the stiward, and sente hem to the Queene on sir Gaweins be-halue, that thei dide holde for her lorde and maister, and thei hadde reson, for he was a worthi man and wele hem helped and socoured in euery nede, and these x knyghtes that were taken com to the queene and yelde hem to hir on sir Gaweins be-halue, and she hem resceyved with grete ioye, and yaf eche of hem a riche Iuwell, and than thei wente and lened oute at the wyndowes of the paleise to se the turnement.

Whan the knyghtes of the rounde table saugh thei hadde loste x of hir felowes, thei were doelfull, for thei hadde neuer be-fore be made to voide the place. Than com theire grete bateile from the bregge that hem socoured vigerously, that thei putte hem a-gein in to the playn feelde, and the partie that was with Gawein com a-gein hem that were all fressh and newe, and that oo part smote thourgh that other and be-gonne a grete stour and traueiled so that thei gonne waxen wery, and Gawein and his felowes dide so well that thei drof hem a-gein to the river.

And whan the knyghtes of the rounde table saugh thei turned to discounfiture, thei seiden that to-day more wolde thei do theire werste seth it is so fer forth be-fallen. Than thei toke speres, grete and rude, and putte hem in fewtre, and that is the grettest crewelte that oon may do, ffor turnement oweth to be with-oute felonye, and thei meved to smyte hem as in mortall werre; and as soone as thei hadden speres thei smyten in a-monge the queenes knyghtes that thei sore hated, and at the firste shof thei smote down soche xx that were full worthi men, but soone were thei lept on foote and drough theire swerdes, and these rested vpon hem for to take hem prisoners, and ther be-gan the medle grete and fierce, and so thei myght a-noon haue loste [folio 174a] all; but as sir Ewein toke ther-of hede, and shewed it to Gawein and Segramor; and whan thei saugh the felonye that thei hadde be-gonne on her felowes; than seide sir Ewein, "Lorde, se the feire playe that these yonder haue be-gonne vpon vs;" and than seide Gawein that thei dide

nothinge curteisely as worthi men ne that wolde he not suffre. Than he cleped Griret de lamball and Guyomar, and seide, "Go to the knyghtes of the rounde table, and sey that I and my felowes sende hem worde that thei haue mys-taken hem at this this tyme a-gein vs, and bidde hem cesse of that folye that thei haue be-gonne, and for that thei haue don we playne vs gretly, and shull hem a-pele be-fore the kynge, and yef ther be eny of oure felowes on this side that haue agein hem mysdon, we shall make hem a-mendes at hir volunte;" and whan these herde the comaundement of sir Gawein, thei turned with-oute moo wordes, and com to the knyghtes of the rounde table and dide theire message, and thei ansuerde that thei sette no force of all that he seide, ffor thei wolde noon other wise do, and who that ther-with wrathed lete hym chese, for yet we will do more than we haue don be-fore, and so may ye sey to Gawein and to his felowes that soone may men se the moste hardy, and who shall beste furnyssh a stour; and whan these herde the bobance and the outrage thei returned and com to sir Gawein that in that tyme hadde his felowes remounted, and thei tolde hym the ansuere that thei hadden, and whan Gawein it herde, he was right wroth. "What," quod he, "is that trewe, will thei nothinge do for us? Now I do hem well to witen that seth we be comen to ernest, soone shull we be at the assay whiche is the moste hardy." Than departed Gawein oute of the turnement, and his thre brethern, and Segramor, and Ewein, and Galasshin, and Dodinell, and kay the stiward, and Gifflet, and lucas the botiller, and than he seide, "Sirs, the knyghtes of the rounde table haue take a-gein vs a fell strif, ffor that thei be greved with oure partye, and therfore thei trowe all to haue wonne for shewinge of theire crewelte and felonye, and ther-fore I will that eche of vs go fecche his hauberk, and the beste armes that he hath, and arme hym so that nothinge faile, and thei a-noon sente for her beste armours, and drough hem oute of the turnement and hem armed hastely, for longe hem semed er

thei were returned a-gein in to the turnement that was right grete, ffor the x hundred were assembled to-geder in bateile, and whan sir Gawein and his felowes were well araide, thei were well foure score only, and thei lepte to horse and ride a softe paas, and cloos a-gein the other felowes that well mayntened the turnement, and thei sought her felowes vp and down, and ben so sory for theire felowes that thei haue hem not founde, that nygh thei wax wode for angir, ffor thei of the rounde table hem ledde felonously in the werse maner.

[folio 174b] Than com Gawein and his felowes so harde that moo than xl thei ouerthrowe in theire comynge, and whan Nascien and Adragein saugh them thei stynten, and seide to theire felowes, "Feire lordes, we haue euell and folily spedde of the atynes that we haue vndirtake a-gein the Queenes knyghtes for envye and for nought." "I rede," quod Adragain, "that the turnement cesse er it be werse, ffor the nevewes of the kynge shull do vs damage fro hens-forth, and that may ye wete verily. Ne it may not endure with-oute grete losse, and also parauenture some to be slayn, and therfore it were good that it were cessed thus, ffor knowe it verily that ther be soche xx in the fore fronte of her companye that right soone thei shull xl of oure companye make to voyde place, and also thei be of high lynage, and the moste puyssaunt of the reame of grete breteigne," and the other ansuerde that it was spoken to late, "Now kepe hym that kepe may, for othir-wise now may it not be," and than thei smyte in to the medle, and the foure score felowes com hem a-geins, and eche hurte other with speres foule at theire metynge, and thei drowgh the swerdes and be-gonne the medle on horsbak and on foote full crewell and fell; and whan the vij score knyghtes of the kynge Looth knewe the foly and the disray that the knyghtes of the rounde table hadde be-gonne, thei drough a-side and armed hem right wele, and than com a-gein to sir Gawein, and seide, "Sir, now may ye ride suerly a-gein the envyouse, for we shull not this day forsake yow ne youre companye for no distresse, ffor we se well the erneste that is be-twene yow and the knyghtes of the rounde

table. But thei haue to fewe peple to do that thei haue purposed, and we se well that thei be CCL., and ye be but foure score, and therfore is it no merveile yef thei haue the better. But thei may hem a-vaunte that thei haue geten CC enmyes this day that well shull lete hem parceyve whethir thei be foles or wise," and sir Gawein thanked hem hertely; and than thei renged hem a-bowte hym as he that full well cowde it demenen.

Than sir Gawein cleped an high gentilman that was cleped by his right name Galescowde, and seide, "Go a-noon to my lorde, myn vncle, and sey to hym that he not displese though we vs diffende from them of the rounde table that haue be-gonne the foly a-gein vs, and tell hym how the caas stant all as it is," and whan that Galiscowde vndirstode the comaundement of Gawein, he turned and dide his message; and while that Gawein entended a-boute these thinges the queenes knyghtes hadde moche the worse, and the knyghtes of the rounde table rescowed hir felowes, and sette hem on horse and chaced the queenes knyghtes be fin force out of the felde, whan Gawein saugh that he com hem a-geins with alle the knyghtes of his fadres, and smote in a-monge hem so harde that alle the renges gonne fremyssh; and sir Gawein cried, "Vpon hem, gentill [folio 175a] knyghtes, for in euell tyme haue thei be-gonne this folye."

Whan the queenes knyghtes herde sir Gawein thus speke, and saugh the feire companye of knyghtes that hym sewed, thei returned as thei that were gladde and ioyfull of the socour, for tho knewe thei well that the werse sholde no be hers, and than thei recovered alle to-geders theire sheldes before theire brestes; and sir Gawein was in the fore frount with swerde drawen, for he hadde broken his spere, and smote so Dorilas vpon the helme that he smote thourgh, and the coyf of mayle, that he made hym a grete wounde in the heede, and a-stoned hym so sore that he fill flatte to the grounde, and his felowes cried, "He is ded; he is ded;" and thei ronne vpon hym on alle partyes, and he smote so the firste that he mette thourgh the helme that he yaf hym a grete wounde and fill to

grounde all blody; and than he smote a-nother right harde, and he saugh the stroke come and plukked his bridill to hym, and the stroke descended on the horse shuldres be-fore and smote the horse a-sonder, so that to grounde fill bothe horse and man, and whan Nascien saugh hym-self so fallen, he lepte on foote full delyuerly as he that was a full noble knyght and a sure, and drough his swerde, and couered hym with his shelde, for sore he douted a-nother stroke er he were redy hym to diffende; and whan that Gawein saugh that he was so redy appareiled, he returned with suerde in honde, and a-noon Nascien knewe the swerde, and seide, "A-voy, my lorde, sir Gawein, ye ne be not so wise a man ne so curteise as men of yow doth recorde; ffor ye be thus garnysshed of youre armes as ye were in werre mortall, and ye haue also brought youre goode swerde, and I do yow to wete that it shall be to yow reprof in many other places than here." Quod Gawein, "I knowe no knyght that me will a-peche of vntrouthe, but I shall me well deffende a-gein hym that dar it sey or a-gein tweyne yef nede bee oon after a-nother. But ye and youre felowes haue don vntrouthe, and haue be-gonne the folye; ffor we sente yow oure messages, but ye wolde hem not heren ne vndirstonde, but ye dide youre werste." "Sir," seide Nascien, "hit is go folyly hiderto, and hit were tyme that it were left yef it yow plesed, ffor soche haue it spoken and be-gonne that nothinge ther-on haue wonne, ffor I trowe he be wounded to the deth. But I praye yow at the reuerence of god that ye hem now departe, and than do ye well and curteisely er that eny more harme ther-of be-falle."

"I knowe not," quod Gawein, "what harme ther-of shall falle, but neuer for me shull thei not be departed. Ne neuer shall the companye of the rounde table be-gynne malice a-gein vs; but I with as goode will shall by-gynne the first a-gein hem [folio 175b] with spere a-reised, and for that I will that ye it hem telle, and haue ye no drede of me at this tyme, and telle hem wele that neither kynge ne queene ther-of entermete, for we be soche companye that shall fynde hem hote I-nough, kepe

thei hem neuer so wele owther fer or nygh." "Sir," seide Nascien, "other tyme than now haue ye do to me honour so moche that I may not yow guerdon, ne ye ther-to haue no myster. But as to this that ye sey we shull haue I-nough medle a-gein yow ne sey it nought, for ye be alle of high lynage, and men of grete puyssaunce, and thei be more alle of baas lynage than ye and youre companye, and therfore thei haue no power a-gein yow whan it com ther-to, that ye will hem greve or anoye," and with that departed Gawein, and lefte Nascien on foote, and he and his felowes smyten in to the bateile, and brake the presse, and smote down knyghtes, bothe horse and man, and ledde hem so euell that thei drof hem oute of the place all discounfited euen to the river that was right depe, and brode, and many fill in to the water a-gein theire will, ffor ther sholde ye haue sein speres and sheldes flote down the river, and the horse all quyk with-oute maister her reynes trailinge with the strem.

Whan Gawein saugh thei were goinge, and that thei myght not recouer that saugh he well, he put vp his goode swerde for doute leste he slough eny man vn-war, and as he put it in to the scauberk, he saugh knyghtes of the rounde table that were enbusshed on the chauchie, and he caught a plante of an appell tre, and caste his shelde to grounde, and toke the barre in bothe handes, and seide he wolde make hem to remeve. Than he smote a-monge hem so fiersely the firste that he mette be-twene the sholdres that he rolled to grounde vp-right, and after the secunde, and than the thirde, and the fourthe, and he ne smote no man were he neuer so stronge, but he fill to grounde; and whan thei saugh that he ferde with hem so euell thei were full wroth, and ran vpon hym with swerdes drawen for sore thei hym hated, and thei smyte at hym on alle sides ther thei myght a-reche so that thei slough his horse be-twene his legges, and he lepte vp on foote full delyuerly, for he was full of prowesse and of hardynesse, and he made a shelde of his staf and drough his swerde Calibourne, and seide, "Euell happe haue thei that holde yow the beste knyghtes of

the worlde; ffor here, " quod he, "haue thei it nothinge shewe, whan thei haue myn horse slayn," and ran vpon hem vigerously, and slitte sheldes, and helmes, and hew on hauberkes, and sholdres, and armes; and kutte of legges, and heedes that it blussht to grounde all that he raught, and in short tyme he hath xx so a-raied that thei [folio 176a] lay at grounde that hem nedeth to haue goode leches yef thei sholde ascape with the lif; with that com to the medle the foure score felowes and ten, and the vij score knyghtes of kynge looth that all day hadde hem sewed, and thei smote in a-monge hem with so grete randon that thei fonde sir Gawein on foote, and his suerde in his honde all blody of horse that he hadde slayn mo than xl. Ther was sir Gawein remounted and sette on horse, and he putte vp his goode swerde and toke the staf with bothe hondes, and ran vpon hem crewelly, and smote he rought not where, and discounfited hem alle in short tyme, and put hem to flight thourgh the yates of the town, and the tother V^C that were left vpon the river fought with hem that were of the same partye; and as soone as the knyghtes of kynge looth hadde hem lefte, and the foure score of the queenes knyghtes ther be-gan the stour grete and crewell, and ther were many feire Iustinges that were gladly be-holden of ladyes and maydenes that were on the walles of the town, and so endured the turnement longe tyme, ffor thei were goode knyghtes on bothe sides. But at the end myght not the knyghtes endure that were on Gaweins side, for thei were not so many as the tother, and so thei be-gonne to ruse oon hour vp and another down, till that tidinge come to sir Ewein that was stinte with-oute the yates of the town, and xxiiij felowes with hym, and whan he vndirstode that his fellowes hadde the werse, he rode thider hem to socour, and as soone as thei were come thider thei be-gonne to do so well that in all the day ne hadde thei do better, and so thourgh hir prowesses thei perced hem thourgh thre or foure tymes, and hem discounfited and made hem voide the place, and drof hem in at the yates of the town thourgh the stretes where thei dide hem ouerthrowe, and fowled hem vndir hir horse feet, for noon wolde thei take

ne with-holde thei were so wroth, for the outerage that the knyghtes of the rounde table hadde be-gonne vpon hem vncurteisly thourgh her pride.

On that other side was Gawein and the knyghtes of Orcanye, that hadde chaced so the knyghtes of the rounde table till thei com be-fore the chirche of seint Stephene, and thei with-stode and kepte the paas while thei myght. But in short tyme ther sholde haue ben do harme. But as the kynge Arthur com, and the kynge Ban and the Kynge Bohors com thider as sone as Galescowde hadde tolde his message; and the squyers that were thre thousande armed, and the thre kynges turned toward seint Stephene, and a party of the squyers a-boute a thre hundred turned down the high strete where-as thei mette the knyghtes of Orcanye that sewed sir Gawein that full euell ferde with the knyghtes of the rounde table, as ye haue herde; and as soone [folio 176b] as thei saugh the squyers thei wende it hadde ben a-wayte that hadde be leide for hem; and a-noon thei be-gonne to medle and be-gonne a newe trouble right huge and crewell, but at grete myschef were the felowes of sir Gawein, ffor oo part of hem foughten with the squyers at the straite entre of the strete, where-as many were ouerthrowen and diffouled right euell. Than com tidinges to Gawein that his frendes were in soche pereill; "ffor I wote neuer," quod he that brought the message, "what peple it ben that hem assaile be-hynde, and don hem grete damage;" and as soone as Gawein herde that his felowes were assaile be-hynde, he lefte the fight with the knyghtes of the rounde table to his felowes, and com thider ther as thise weren. But first he sette goode wardes to kepe the stretes ende, that thei of the rounde table ne turned not a-gein bakke, and than he com to the strete ther these were fightinge; and as soone as he hem saugh, he swor in euell tyme come thei thider, and whan thei saugh hym come thei cried to hym and badde hym cesse, or he was but deed; and whan Gawein herde hem manace hym of deth, he wax right wroth,

and cleped hem "fitz a-putayn traitours cowardes haue ye leyn in wayte. I do yow to wite er ye me ascape, the moste hardy wolde not haue come hider for this reame." Than he hilde Calibourne his goode swerde all blody, and these ronne vpon hym with axes, and billes, and swerdes right vigerously; and he spronge in a-monge hem, and smote the firste that he mette that the heed fill on the pament, and than he smote a-nother, and than the thridde and the fourthe, and smote of handes and armes that in a litill while noon durste a-bide his strokes, but turned to flight wroth and angry, and cried, "Fle, fle, lo here a devell that is broken oute of helle chaynes;" and whan Gawein hadde his felowes thus delyuered, he turned a-gein and toke xl. knyghtes at sette hem at the stretes ende that noon ne falle vpon hem, and seide, "Yef eny come and yow ouer-lede come fecche me." Than he wente to the tother ende of the strete ther the knyghtes of Orcanye faught with the knyghtes of the rounde table, and a-noon he spronge in a-monge hem, and cried a-lowde, "Traytours;" for well he wende that thei hadde leide that a-wayte, and whan thei herde hym so seyn thei wiste not what to ansuere, ffor thei wende well that he hadde it seide for that thei be-gan firste the ernest whan thei iusted with speres in fewtre, and sore thei repented yef thei myght, ffor so hadde the shame be doubled, and therefore seith the wise man in reprof of soche. "Many oon weneth his shame to a-venge, and he it encreseth," and therefore were thei shame-fast and mate; and Gawein smote in a-monge hem crewell as a lyon, and smote Adragain des vaux de gailore thourgh the helme that he kutte the quoyf of maile to the bare flessh that he fill to the erthe all a-stonyed that he wiste not whether it was nyght or day, and than he smote Pindolus on the sholdre that he kutte the gige that the shelde henge by and the haurberke and the flessh right depe that ner he was [folio 177a] maymed, and so fill the shelde on that oon side, and the knyght on that other; and after he smote Idonas on the iowe that he fill to grounde in

swowne, and whan thei of the rounde table saugh how he dide hem so grete damage, that noon armour myght endure a-gein his strokes, thei turned alle toward the cherche, and Gawein and his felowes hem enchaced, and fill that Gawein overtoke hervy de rivell, and wolde haue smyte hym on the helme, and he couered hym with his shelde, and all thei turned to-geder toward the mynster, and hervy seide to Gawein, "Cesse, sir knyght, ye haue done I-nowgh, and therfore ye may well stynte at this tyme, and trewly ye be right moche to blame for the crewelte that is in yow, ffor men were wonte to sey of yow all honour and curtesie, and now may men sey the contrarie, ffor ye ought to helpe and to socoure these a-gein all the worlde that hem wolde greve or annoye, and ye hem sle and diffoule at youre power; and thei haue yow nought offended." "Hervy," quod Gawein, "haue thei me not offended whan thei haue be-gonne the foly and the treson vpon my felowes to whom I moste bere feith, and ther-by wolde thei not cesse, but leide other peple for vs in a-wayte, and the turnement was not taken in that manere." "Sir," seide hervy, "yef thei haue hem mystaken a-gein yow at this tyme, thei shull a-mende it to yow at youre plesir, ffor the love of yow that from hens-forth thei will holde yow for theire frende and felowe." "To me," quod Gawein, "shull thei make noon a-mendes, for I shall hem neuer love, ffor I do hem well to wite where thei haue envye or werre a-gein eny of my felowes thei haue the same a-gein me. Ne neuer shull thei take turnoy ne Aatine, but we foure score shull turneyen a-geins vij score of the beste of hem, and thei will it vndertake, and lete hem well knowe that I shall neuer come in place in this contrey ne in noon other where ther is eny turnement or Aatine, yef eny of hem be there, but I shall greve hem at my power." "Sir," seide hervy, "ye sey euell and synfulliche, but soche is now youre talente; but here-after it shall not be so; ffor it were to grete damage yef so many worthi men sholde turne to euell for this folye, ffor rather thei shull clene forsake the court of youre vncle." "I can not sey," quod Gawein, "what thei will do, but for me shull thei it not

forsaken, and yef that thei do, thei ne shull not go in to no londe, but thei shall be ouertake, ffor we shull neuer here speke of place ther thei be conversaunt, but we shull go thider." "Sir," seide hervy, "a-slake youre mode and pese youre matalent a litill, ffor so god me helpe thei that haue be-gonne the foly thei haue it dere I-bought, ffor many ther be hurt and wounded full dolerously, ffor ther ben xxx that neuer shull bere shelde, where-of is right grete doell and pyte, ffor thei ben full noble knyghtes and worthi men;" and as thei spake thus com the kynge Arthur that hadde I-herde a partie of her wordes that thei hadde spoken, and seide, [folio 177b] "Gawein, feire nevew, is this the prayer that I praied yow to-day? Certes now it sheweth well that ye love me right litill whan a-gein my diffence, and in dispite of me as me semeth ye sle thus my peple, wite it well that it is a thinge that hevieth me right sore." "Sir," seide Gawein, "he that be-gan the foly it is reson that he repent. Ne in dispite of yow haue I nothinge do, and who ther-of will me accuse he is not vnder heuene, but I shall me well a-gein hym diffende; ffor as soone as the foly be-gan to a-rise I sente yow witinge by Galescoude oon of oure felowes, ffor er that tyme hadde thei vs sore diffouled, er that we wolde eny thinge do;" and the kynge looth his fader com to hym and toke hym by the bridill, and seide, "Gawein, sone, cesse of this foly, for ye haue don I-nowgh, and suffre the kynge to sey his wille, for it shall well be a-mended by leiser the wrath be-twene hym and yow, ffor well we haue sein a partye of the deede;" and the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors com to hym, and seide so to hym of o thinge and other that thei hym apesed.

Thus were disseuered the meyne of sir Gawein from the meyne of the rounde table, and the thre kynges hym dide bringe a-wey, and Galescowde com to the gret turnement that was with-ynne the yates that was grete and merveilouse. But to foule were thei be-seyn be-twene segramor and sir Ewein, and her other felowes; but Galescowde made hem be departed, and that was with moche peyne and sore annoye; ffor thei were sore chauffed that oon vpon that other, and than eche wente

to his hostell and hem vn-armed, and waissh her nekkes and theire visages with warm water, and clothed hem in her fresshest robes, and wente to court alle tho that myghten, and thei that were hurt and wounded a-bode at theire hostelles for to hele theire woundes, and on that other parte wente Gawein and his felowes hem for to vn-arme in oon of the Queenes chambres that was assigned for hem to repeire; and whan thei were vn-armed and waissh, thei clothed hem richely, and yef thei were well serued it nedeth not to aske, ffor ther were ladyes and maydenes hem for to serue grete foyson. Ther was Segramor moche be-holden of oon and of other, ffor he was a feire knyght and semly, and so was also Dodinell le sauage; these tweyne were sore preised of all that hem be-helden.

As soone as thei were a-raied, thei com in to the halle two and two to-geder, holdinge be the handes oon after a-nother, and thus com the foure score and x felowes, and sir Gawein and Ewein albefore in to the halle be-fore the kynge that to hem made gret ioye; and whan he saugh hem come he a-roos on his feet a-gein hem, and toke sir Gawein be the right hande, and the queene toke hym by the tother hande and wente to sitte alle to-geder, and the other knyghtes satte thourgh the halle, and pleied and disported oon with a-nother of dyuerse thinges, and were gladde and myry. But a-bove alle other was the quene ioyfull [folio 178a] of her knyghtes that hadde the victorye of the turnement. But the knyghtes of the rounde table be nother gladde ne iocunde, but were shamefast and mate for her felowes, that many were hurt and wounded, and so thei spake of many thinges till thei acorded to send hervy de rivell, that was a goode knyght and wise of counseile, and Nascien, for tweyne better myght thei not take to performe the message, and mynados that was a wise knyght and a feire speker; whan these thre knyghtes saugh thei most do the message, thei toke eche other by the hande and com be-fore the kynge; and whan the kynge saugh hem comynge he a-roos a-gein hem as he that beste cowde eny worthi man honouren and worshipen, and seide thei were well-come, and also a-roos sir Gawein. Than spake

Hervy to the kynge, and seide, "Sir, plese it yow to sitte, ye and youre companye, and we shull telle yow wherfore we beth come." Than sat down the kynge and his companye, and hervy be-gan his reson, "Sir, the companye of the rounde table have sente vs to speke to sir Gawein, and to my lady the quene, to whom he holdeth a partie, and first of all to yow that be oure souereigne lorde; and thei pray and be-seche yef thei haue ought mys-taken a-gein my lorde sir Gawein, or a-gein eny of his companye in what maner that it be, thei ben redy it for to amende as ye and my lady will a-warde. Be soche a maner that alle matalent be pardoned on bothe partyes;" and the kynge loked on the quene, and seide that sholde not be refuced; and the quene ansuerde and seide that it plesed hir wele, yef that sir Gawein ther-to a-corded, but he kept scilence, and spake no worde.

Whan the kynge saugh he stodied, he seide, "Gawein, feire nevew, what think ye of this thinge that ye be so wrorth and angry; ffor in this haue ye but honour, whan the beste knyghtes of the worlde obbey hem to yow and offre to a-mende all that is mysdon." "Worthi men!" quod Gawein. "Ye feire nevew worthy men, and noble ben thei trewly." "Thei ought well to be so," quod Gawein, and with that he hilde his pees; and the kynge that saugh well he was a-gein hem Irous and angry, he loked on the quene, and seide, "Dame, praye ye hym at this tyme;" and the quene seide, "Sir, with gode will." Than she toke hym be the hande, and seide, "Nevew, be not so wroth, refroide youre maltalente, ffor wrath hath many a worthi man and wise made to be holde for foles, while the rage endureth. Now yeve credence to my wordes, and do that I praye yow at this tyme, and as my lorde doth yow pray also; ffor it is youre honour and youre profite, and ye knowe well that this londe is in sorowe and turment of the saisnes, and ye here be but a small peple, and I shall telle yow what ye shull thinke and do, ye shull love eche other and helpe a-gein alle peple; and yef youre enmyes come a-gein yow to hem ye sholde be fierce, and not to hem that to-morowe shull

put her bodyes in a-uenture of deth for my lorde that is here and for me, [folio 178b] and for there foly that thei haue do now lightly shull ye not hem failen. But, feire nevew, pardon hem for I pray yow, and so doth the kynge youre vncle, that is right wroth;" and sir Gawein loked on the quene and be-gan to smyle for the wordes that she hadde seide, and seide, "Madame, who that will lerne lete hym come to yow, and blissed be that lorde that so yow hath ordeyned, and that the companye of so goode a lady, and so wise hath vs graunted, and well may the kynge hym a-vaunt that yef ye lyve to age ye shull be the wisest lady of the worlde, and so be ye now as I beleve; and wite ye what ye haue wonne, ye may do with my body and myn herte all youre volunte, say myn honour and myn vncle the kynges." "Now trewly," seide she, "that lady were nothinge wise that ther-of yow requered. Ne, I ne shall neuer, yef god will." Thus a-peesed the quene sir Gawein, and so was the pees grauntid, and than wente Nascien and Hervy de rivell for to fecche theire felowes of the rounde table, and com be-fore the kynge; and the quene dide clepe sir Ewein, and Segramor, and the thre brethern of Gawein, and a party of other, and tolde hem how the pees was made, and how it was required by the companye of the rounde table; and sir Ewein seide it was well don, and better it were to haue the love of hem than the hate.

With that were the knyghtes of the rounde table come be-fore the kynge, and as soone as thei were come thei kneled to sir Gawein, and folded the panes of her mantels; and than spake hervy de rivell, "Sir, we shull a-mende to yow for vs, and for oure felowes alle these thinges with-oute more seyinge, wher-of we haue a-gein yow mystaken, wher-fore we be-seche yow of pardon;" and sir Gawein lept vp on foote and seide he pardoned hem alle forfetes, and reised hem by the armes, and so dide Ewein, and Segramor, and the thre brethren of Gawein, eche of hem reised a knyght, and made alle the reuenaunt to stonde vp and a-coled eche other in armes, and foryaf all wrath and maltalent, and fro thens-forth was sir Gawein

a lorde and a maister and felowe of the rounde table; and the quene quyte cleymed the x knyghtes that were prisoners that hir knyghtes hadde her sent, and yaf eche of hem newe robes and fressh. This assaied the knyghtes of the rounde table, the quenes knyghtes be soche forward that neuer after noon of hem sholde turney a-gein other; but yef it were oon that wolde assay hym-self in eny straunge turnement by stelthe vnknowen whan thei were disgised that thei wolde not be knowe till thei hadde renomee of grete prowesse; and whan the knyghtes of the rounde table hem toke in her companye for the prowesse that in hem was shewed; and the story seith that the companye of the quenes knyghtes was but foure score and x. But after thei encresed as the storie shall declare, till thei were foure hundred er the quest of the sent graal was a-cheved; wherfore thei suffred after many grete peyne and traveile, for to a-cheve the [folio 179a] quest that long endured, and in other questes thei traueyled many dayes, and I shall telle to yow the cause and whi.