[Le morte darthur]

¶Capitulum secundum

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 / & thē∣ne he commaunded me to bere this shelde to the Courte of ky∣nge Arthur / he requyrynge and prayenge somme good knyʒt 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 knyʒt 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 knyʒt 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

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 knyʒt 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 & brouʒt 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