Complete Works of Sir Thomas Malory

by Thomas Malory

  And at the feste of Pentecost alle maner of men assayed to pulle [7] at the swerde that wold assay, but none myghte prevaille but Arthur, and he pulled it oute afore all the lordes and comyns that were there. Wherfore alle the comyns cryed at ones, ‘We wille have Arthur unto Qur kyng! We wille put hym no more in delay, for we all see that it is Goddes wille that he shalle be our kynge, and who that holdeth ageynst it we wille slee hym.’

  And therwithall they knelyd at ones both ryche and poure and cryed Arthur mercy bycause they had delayed hym so longe. And Arthur foryaf hem and took the swerd bitwene both his handes and offred it upon the aulter where the Archebisshop was, and so was he made knyghte of the best man that was there.

  And so anon was the coronacyon made, and ther was he sworne unto his lordes and the comyns for to be a true kyng, to stand with true justyce fro thens forth the dayes of this lyf. Also thenne he made alle lordes that helde of the croune to come in and to do servyce as they oughte to doo. And many complayntes were made unto sir Arthur of grete wronges that were done syn the dethe of kyng Uther, of many londes that were bereved lordes, knyghtes, ladyes, and gentilmen; wherfor kynge Arthur maade the londes to be yeven ageyne unto them that oughte hem.

  Whanne this was done that the kyng had stablisshed alle the countreyes aboute London, thenne he lete make syr Kay sencial of Englond, and sir Baudewyn of Bretayne was made constable, and sir Ulfyus was made chamberlayn, and sire Brastias was maade wardeyn to wayte upon the Northe fro Trent forwardes, for it was that tyme the most party the kynges enemyes. But within fewe yeres after Arthur wan alle the North, Scotland and alle that were under their obeissaunce, also Walys; a parte of it helde ayenst Arthur, but he overcam hem al as he dyd the remenaunt thurgh the noble prowesse of hymself and his knyghtes of the Round Table.

  Thenne the kyng remeved into Walys and lete crye a grete feste, [8] that it shold be holdyn at Pentecost after the incoronacion of hym at the cyté of Carlyon. Unto the fest come kyng Lott of Lowthean and of Orkeney with fyve hondred knyghtes with hym; also ther come to the feste kynge Uryens of Gore with four hondred knyghtes with hym; also ther come to that feeste kyng Nayntres of Garloth with seven hundred 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 fyve honderd knyghtes.

  And kyng Arthur was glad of their comynge, for he wende that al the kynges and knyghtes had come for grete love and to have done hym worship at his feste, wherfor the kyng made grete joye and sente the kynges and knyghtes grete présentes. But the kynges wold none receyve, but rebuked the messagers shamefully and said they had no joye to receyve 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 come to gyve 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 have a rule of soo noble a reaume as this land was. With this ansuer the messagers departed and told to kyng Arthur this ansuer, wherfor by the advys of his barons he took hym to a strong towre with fyve hondred good men with hym. And all the kynges aforesaid in a maner leyd a syege tofore hym, but kyng Arthur was well vytailled.

  And within fyftene dayes ther came Merlyn amonge hem into the cyté of Carlyon. Thenne all the kynges were passyng gladde of Merlyn 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 Uther Pendragons sone borne in wedlok, goten on Igrayne, the dukes wyf of Tyntigail.’

  ‘Thenne is he a bastard,’ they said al.

  ‘Nay,’ said Merlyn, ‘after the deth of the duke more than thre houres was Arthur begoten, and thirtene dayes after kyng Uther wedded Igrayne, and therfor I preve hym he is no bastard. And, who saith nay, he shal be kyng and overcome alle his enemyes, and or he deye he shalle be long kynge of all Englond and have under his obeyssaunce Walys, Yrland, and Scotland, and moo reames than I will now reherce.’

  Some of the kynges had merveyl 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 me other called hym a wytche. But thenne were they accorded with Merlyn 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 unto 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 chyvetayn, for ye shal overcome hem all, whether they wille or nylle.’

  Thenne kynge Arthur came oute of his tour and had under his [9] gowne a jesseraunte of double maylle, and ther wente with hym the Archebisshop of Caunterbury, and syr Baudewyn of Bretayne, and syr Kay, and syre Brastias; these were the men of moost worship that were with hym. And whan they were mette there was no mekenes but stoute wordes on bothe sydes, but alweyes kynge Arthur ansuerd them and said he wold make them to bowe and he lyved, wherfore they departed with wrath. And kynge Arthur badde kepe hem wel, and they bad the kynge kepe hym wel. Soo the kynge retornyd hym to the toure ageyne and armed hym and alle his knyghtes.

  ‘What will ye do?’ said Merlyn to the kynges. ‘Ye were better for to stynte, for ye shalle not here prevaille, though ye were ten so many.’

  ‘Be we wel avysed to be aferd of a dreme-reder?’ said kyng Lot. With that Merlyn vanysshed aweye and came to kynge Arthur and bad hym set on hem fiersly. And in the menewhyle there were thre honderd good men of the best that were with the kynges that wente streyghte unto kynge Arthur, and that comforted hym gretely.

  ‘Syr,’ said Merlyn to Arthur, ‘fyghte not with the swerde that ye had by myracle til that ye see ye go unto the wers; thenne drawe it out and do your best.’

  So forthwithalle kynge Arthur sette upon hem in their lodgyng, and syre Bawdewyn, syre Kay, and syr Brastias slewe on the right hand and on the lyfte hand, that it was merveylle; and alweyes kynge Arthur on horsback leyd on with a swerd and dyd merveillous dedes of armes, that many of the kynges had grete joye 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 ever sir Arthur was in the formest prees tyl his hors was slayne undernethe hym. And therwith kynge Lot smote doune kyng Arthur. With that his four knyghtes reskowed hym and set hym on horsback; thenne he drewe his swerd Excalibur, but it was so bryght in his enemyes eyen that it gaf light lyke thirty torchys, and therwith he put hem on bak and slewe moche peple. And thenne the comyns of Carlyon aroos with clubbis and stavys and slewe many knyghtes, but alle the kynges helde them togyders with her knyghtes that were lefte on lyve, and so fled and departed; and Merlyn come unto Arthur and counceilled hym to folowe hem no further.

  [10] So after the feste and journeye kynge Arthur drewe hym unto London. And soo by the counceil of Merlyn the kyng lete calle his barons to counceil, for Merlyn had told the kynge that the sixe kynges that made warre upon hym wold in al haste be awroke on hym and on his landys; wherfor the kyng asked counceil at hem al. They coude no counceil gyve, but said they were bygge ynough.

  ‘Ye saye well,’ 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. And whan he is afore you I wold that ye prayd hym hertely of his best avyse.’

  Alle the barons sayd they wold pray hym and desyre hym. Soo Merlyn was sente for and fair desyred of al the barons to gyve 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 lyve. And by thys tyme they have goten to them four kynges me and
a myghty duke, and onlesse that our kyng have more chyvalry with hym than he may make within the boundys of his own reame, and he fyghte with hem in batail, he shal be overcome and slayn.’

  ‘What were best to doo in this cause?’ said al the barons.

  ‘I shal telle you,’ said Merlyn, ‘myne advys. There ar two bretheren beyond the see, and they be kynges bothe and merveillous 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 stryveth with hem for a castel; and grete werre is betwixt them. But this Claudas is so myghty of goodes wherof he geteth good knyghtes that he putteth these two kynges moost parte to the werse. Wherfor this is my counceil: that our kyng and soverayne lord sende unto the kynges Ban and Bors by two trusty knyghtes with letters wel devysed, that and they wil come and see kynge Arthur and his courte and helpe hym in hys warrys, that he wolde be sworne unto them to helpe hem in theire warrys agaynst kynge Claudas. Now what sey ye unto thys counceyle?’ seyde Merlyon.

  ‘Thys ys well councelde,’ seyde the kynge.

  And in all haste two barownes ryght so were ordayned to go on thys message unto thes two kyngis, and lettirs were made in the moste plesauntist wyse accordynge unto kynge Arthurs desyre, and Ulphuns and Brastias were made the messyngers; and so rode forth well horsed and well i-armed and as the gyse was that tyme, and so passed the see and rode towarde the cité of Benwyk. And there besydes were eyght knyghtes that aspyed hem, and at a strayte passage they mette with Ulphuns and Brastias and wolde a takyn them presoners. So they preyde them that they myght passe, for they were messyngers unto kyng Ban and Bors isente frome kynge Arthure.

  ‘Therefore,’ seyde the knyghtes, ‘ye shall dey othir be presoners, for we be knyghtes of kynge Claudas.’

  And therewith two of them dressed their sperys unto Ulphuns and Brastias, and they dressed their sperys and ran togydir with grete random. And Claudas his knyghtes brake theire spearis, and Ulphuns and Brastias bare the two knyghtes oute of their sadils to the erth and so leffte them lyynge and rode their wayes. And the other six knyghtes rode before to a passage to mete with them ayen, and so Ulphuns and Brastias othir two smote downe and so paste on hir wayes. And at the fourthe passage there mette two for two and bothe were leyde unto the erthe. So there was none of the eyght knyghtes but he was hurte sore othir brused.

  And whan they com to Benwyke hit fortuned both the kynges be there, Ban and Bors. Than was hit tolde the two kyngis how there were com two messyngers. And anone there was sente unto them two knyghtes of worshyp, that one hyght Lyonses, lorde of the contrey of Payarne, and sir Pharyaunce, a worshipfull knyght; and anone asked them frome whens they com, and they seyde frome kyng Arthure, kynge of Ingelonde. And so they toke them in theire armys and made grete joy eche of othir. But anone as they wyste they were messyngers of Arthurs there was made no taryynge, but forthwith they spake with the kyngis. And they welcommed them in the most faythfullyst wyse and seyde they were moste welcom unto them before all the kynges men lyvynge. And therewith they kyssed the lettirs and delyvird them. And whan kynge Ban and Bors undirstoode them and the lettirs, than were they more welcom than they were tofore.

  And aftir the haste of the lettirs they gaff hem thys answere that they wolde fulfille the desire of kyng Arthurs wrytynge, and bade sir Ulphuns and sir Brastias tarry there as longe as they wolde, for they shulde have such chere as myght be made for them in thys marchis. Than Ulphuns and Brastias tolde the kynge of theire adventure at the passagis for the eyght knyghtes.

  ‘A ha,’ seyde Ban and Bors, ‘they were oure good frendis. I wolde I had wyste of them, and they sholde nat so have ascaped.’

  So thes two knyghtes had good chere and grete gyfftis as much as they myght bere away, and had theire answere by mowth and by wrytynge that the two kynges wolde com unto Arthure in all the haste that they myght. So thes two knyghtes rode on afore and passed the see and com to their lorde and tolde hym how they had spedde, wherefore kyng Arthure was passyng glad and seyde, ‘How suppose you, at what tyme woll thes two kynges be here?”Sir,’ they seyde, ‘before Allhalowmasse.’

  Than the kynge lette purvey a grete feste, and also he lette cry both turnementis and justis thorowoute all his realme, and the day appoynted and sette at Allhalowmasse. And so the tyme drove on and all thynges redy ipurveyed. Thes two noble kynges were entirde the londe and comyn ovir the see with three hondred knyghtes full well arayed both for the pees and also for the werre. And so royally they were resceyved and brought towarde the cité of London. And so Arthure mette them ten myle oute of London, and there was grete joy made as couthe be thought.

  And on Allhalowmasse day at the grete feste sate in the hall the three kynges, and sir Kay the Senesciall served in the halle, and sir Lucas the Butler that was Duke Corneus son, and sir Gryfflet that was the son of God of Cardal: thes three knyghtes had the rule of all the servyse that served the kyngis. And anone as they were redy and wayshe n, all the knyghtes that wolde juste made hem redy. And be than they were redy on horsebak there was seven hondred knyghtes. And kynge Arthure, Ban, and Bors, with the Archebysshop of Caunterbyry, and sir Ector, Kays fadir, they were in a place covirde with clothys of golde lyke unto an halle, with ladyes and jantillwomen for to beholde who dud beste and thereon to gyS a jugemente.

  And kyng Arthure with the two kyngis lette departe the seven [11] hondred knyghtes in two partyes. And there were three hondred knyghtes of the realme of Benwyke and Gaule that turned on the othir syde. And they dressed their shyldis and began to couche hir sperys, many good knyghtes. So sir Gryfflet was the firste that sette oute, and to hym com a knyght, hys name was sir Ladynas, and they com so egirly togydir that all men had wondir, and they so sore fought that hir shyldis felle on pecis and both horse and man felle to the erthe, and both the Frensh knyght and the Englysh knyght lay so longe that all men wente they had bene dede. Whan Lucas the Butler saw sir Gryfflet ly so longe, he horsed hym agayne anone, and they too ded many mervelous dedis of armys with many bachelers.

  Also sir Kay com oute of a bushemente with fyve knyghtes with hym, and they six smote othir six downe. But sir Kay dud that day many mervaylous dedis of armys, that there was none that dud so welle as he that day. Than there com Ladynas and Grastian, two knyghtes of Fraunse, and dud passynge well, that all men praysed them. Than com in sir Placidas, a good knyght, that mette with sir Kay and smote hym downe horse and man, wherefore sir Gryfflet was wroth and mette with sir Placidas so harde that horse and man felle to the erthe. But whan the fyve knyghtes wyst that sir Kay had a falle they were wroth oute of mesure and therewithal! ech of them fyve bare downe a knyght.

  Whan kynge Arthur and the two kynges saw hem begynne wexe wroth on bothe partyes, they leped on smale hakeneyes and lette cry that all men sholde departe unto theire lodgynge. And so they wente home and unarmed them, and so to evynsonge and souper. And aftir souper the three kynges went into a gardyne and gaff the pryce unto sir Kay and unto sir Lucas the Butler and-unto sir Gryfflet. And than they wente unto counceyle, and with hem Gwenbaus, brothir unto kynge Ban and Bors, a wyse clerke; and thidir wente Ulphuns, Brastias and Merlion. And aftir they had ben in her counceyle they wente unto bedde. And on the morne they harde masse, and to dyner and so to theire counceyle, and made many argumentes what were beste to do.

  So at the laste they were concluded that M erlion sholde go with a tokyn of kynge Ban, that was a rynge, unto hys men and kynge Bors; Gracian and Placidas sholde go agayne and kepe their castels and theire contreyes; and as for kynge Ban of Benwyke and kynge Bors of Gaule, they had ordayned them all thynge. And so they passed the see and com to Benwyke. And whan the people sawe kynge Bannys rynge, and Gracian and Placidas, they were glad and asked how theire kynge fared and made grete joy of their welfare. And accordyng unto theire soveraigne lordis desire, the men of warre made hem redy in all haste possible, so that they were fyftene thousand on horsebacke and foote, and they had grete plenté of v
itayle by Merlions provisions. But Gracian and Placidas were leffte at home to furnysh and garnysh the castell for drede of kyng Claudas.

  Ryght so Merlion passed the see well vitayled bothe by watir and by londe. And whan he com to the see he sente home the footemen agayne, and toke no me with hym but ten thousand men on horsebake, the moste party of men of armys; and schipped and passed the see into Inglonde and londed at Dovir. And thorow the wytte of Merlion he ledde the oste northwarde the pryvéyst wey that coude be thought, unto the foreste of Bedgrayne, and there in a valey lodged hym secretely. Than rode Merlion to Arthure and to the two kynges, and tolde hem how he had spedde, whereof they had grete mervayle that ony man on erthe myght spede so sone to go and com. So Merlion tolde them how ten thousande were in the forest of Bedgrayne well armed at all poyntis.

  Than was there no more to sey, but to horsebak wente all the oste as Arthure had before provyded. So with twenty thousand he passed by nyght and day. But there was made such an ordinaunce afore by Merlyon that there sholde no man of warre ryde nothir go in no contrey on this syde Trente watir but if he had a tokyn frome kynge Arthure, wherethorow the kynges enemyes durst nat ryde as they dud tofore to aspye.

  And so wythin a litill whyle the three kyngis com to the forest [12] of Bedgrayne and founde there a passynge fayre felyship and well besene, whereof they had grete joy, and vitayle they wanted none.

  Thys was the causis of the northir hoste, that they were rered for the despite and rebuke that the six kyngis had at Carlyon. And the six kyngis by hir meanys gate unto them fyve othir kyngis; and thus they began to gadir hir people, and now they swore nother for welle nothyr we they sholde nat lyve tyll they had destroyed Arthure.

  And than they made an othe, and the first that began the othe was the deuke of Canbenet, that he wolde brynge with hym fyve thousand men of armys, the which were redy on horsebakke. Than swore kynge Brandegoris of Strangore that he wolde brynge with hym fyve thousand men of armys on horsebacke. Than swore kynge Clarivaus of Northumbirlonde that he wolde brynge rthree” thousand men of armys with hym. Than swore the Kynge with the Hondred Knyghtes that was a passynge good man and a yonge, that he wold brynge four thousand good men of armys on horsebacke. Than there swore kynge Lott, a passyng good knyght and fadir unto sir Gawayne, that he wolde brynge fyve thousand good men of armys on horsebak. Also ther swore kynge Uryens that was sir Uwaynes fadir of the londe of Goore, and he wolde brynge six thousand men of armys on horsebak. Also there swore kynge Idres of Cornuwaile that he wolde brynge fyve thousand men of armys on horsebake. Also there swore kynge Cradilmans to brynge fyve thousand men on horsebacke. Also there swore kyng Angwysshauns of Irelonde to brynge fyve thousand men of armys on horsebak. Also there swore kynge Nentres to brynge fyve thousand men on horsebak. Also there swore kynge Carados to brynge fyve thousand men of armys on horsebak. So hir hole oste was of clene men of armys: on horsebacke was fully fyffty thousand, and on foote ten thousand of good mennes bodyes.