Complete Works of Sir Thomas Malory

by Thomas Malory

  Than they were sone redy and mounted uppon horsebacke, and sente forthe before the foreryders. For thes a eleven kynges in hir wayes leyde a sege unto the castell of Bedgrayne; and so they departed and drew towarde Arthure, and leffte a fewe to byde at the sege, for the castell of Bedgrayne was an holde of kynge Arthurs and the men that were within were kynge Arthurs men all.

  [13] So by Merlyons advice there were sente foreryders to skymme the contrey; and they mette with the foreryders of the Northe and made hem to telle which way the oste com. And than they tolde kynge Arthure, and by kynge Ban and Bors his counceile they lette brenne and destroy all the contrey before them there they sholde ryde.

  The Kynge of the Hondred Knyghtis that tyme mette a wondir dreme two nyghtes before the batayle: that there blew a grete wynde and blew downe hir castels and hir townys, and aftir that com a watir and bare hit all away. And all that herde of that swevyn seyde hit was a tokyn of grete batayle. Than by counceile of Merlion, whan they wyst which wey the an eleven kynges wolde ryde and lodge that nyght, at mydnyght they sette uppon them as they were in their pavilions. But the scowte-wacche by hir oste cryed: ‘Lordis, to armes! for here be oure enemyes at youre honde!’

  [14] Than kynge Arthure and kynge Ban and Bors with hir good and trusty knyghtes sette uppon them so fersely that he made them overthrowe hir pavilions on hir hedis. But the eleven kynges by manly prouesse of armys toke a fayre champion, but there was slayne that morow tyde ten thousand good mennes bodyes. And so they had before hem a stronge passage; yet were there fyffty thousand of hardy men.

  Than hit drew toward day. ‘Now shall ye do by myne advice,’ seyde Merlyon unto the three kyngis, and seyde: ‘I wolde kynge Ban and Bors with hir felyship of ten thousand men were put in a woode here besyde in an inbusshemente and kept them prevy, and that they be leyde or the lyght of the day com, and that they stire nat tyll that ye and youre knyghtes have fought with hem longe. And whan hit ys daylyght, dresse youre batayle evyn before them and the passage, that they may se all youre oste, for than woll they be the more hardy whan they se you but aboute twenty thousande, and cause hem to be the gladder to suffir you and youre oste to com over the passage.’

  All the three kynges and the hole barownes seyde how Merlion devised passynge well, and so hit was done.

  So on the morn whan aythir oste saw othir, they of the Northe were well comforted. Than Ulphuns and Brastias were delyvirde three thousand men of armys, and they sette on them fersely in the passage, and slew on the ryght honde and on the lyffte honde that hit was wondir to telle. But whan the eleven kynges saw that there was so few a felyship that dud such dedis of armys, they were ashamed and sette on hem agayne fersely. And there was sir Ulphuns horse slayne, but he dud mervelously on foote. But the duke Estanse of Canbenet and kynge Clarivaunce of Northehumbirlonde were allwey grevously set on Ulphuns. Than sir Brastias saw his felow yfared so withall, he smote the duke with a spere, that horse and man felle downe. That saw kyng Claryvauns, and returned unto sir Brastias, and eythir smote othir so that horse and man wente to the erthe. And so they lay longe astoned, and theire horse knees braste to the harde bone.

  Than com sir Kay the Senesciall with six felowis with hym and dud passynge well. So with that com the eleven kyngis, and there was Gryfflette put to the erth horse and man, and Lucas the Butler horse and man, by kynge Brandegoris and kynge Idres and kynge Angwyshaunce.

  Than wexed the medlee passyng harde on both parties. Whan sir Kay saw sir Gryfflet on foote, he rode unto kynge Nentres and smote hym downe, and ledde his horse unto sir Gryfflette and horsed hym agayne. Also sir Kay with the same spere smote downe kynge Lotte and hurte hym passynge sore. That saw the Kynge with the Hondred Knyghtes and ran unto sir Kay and smote hym downe, and toke hys horse and gaff hym kynge Lotte, whereof he seyde gramercy. Whan sir Gryfflet saw sir Kay and sir Lucas de Butler on foote, he with a sherpe spere grete and square rode to Pynnel, a good man of armys, and smote horse and man downe, and than he toke hys horse and gaff hym unto sir Kay.

  Than kynge Lotte saw kynge Nentres on foote, he ran unto Meliot de la Roche and smote hym downe horse and man, and gaff hym to kynge Nentres the horse and horsed hym agayne. Also the Kynge with the Hondred Knyghtes saw kynge Idres on foote, he ran unto Gwyniarte de Bloy and smote hym downe horse and man, and gaff kynge Idres the horse and horsed hym agayne. Than kynge Lotte smote downe Clarinaus de la Foreyste Saveage and gaff the horse unto duke Estans. And so whan they had horsed the kyngis agayne, they drew hem all eleven kynges togydir, and seyde they wolde be revenged of the damage that they had takyn that day.

  The meanewhyle com in kyng Arthure with an egir countenans, and founde Ulphuns and Brastias on foote, in grete perell of dethe, that were fowle defoyled undir the horse feete. Than Arthure as a lyon ran unto kynge Cradilment of North Walis and smote hym thorow the lyffte syde, that horse and man felle downe. Than he toke the horse by the reygne and led hym unto Uphine and seyde, ‘Have this horse, myne olde frende, for grete nede hast thou of an horse.’

  ‘Gramercy,’ seyde Ulphuns.

  Than kynge Arthure dud so mervaylesly in armys that all men had wondir. Whan the Kyng with the Hondred Knyghtes saw kynge Cradilmente on foote, he ran unto sir Ector, sir Kayes fadir, that was well ihorsed and smote horse and man downe, and gaff the horse unto the kynge and horsed hym agayne. And whan kynge Arthure saw that kynge ryde on sir Ectors horse he was wrothe, and with hys swerde he smote the kynge on the helme, that a quarter of the helme and shelde clave downe; and so the swerde carve downe unto the horse necke, and so man and horse felle downe to the grounde. Than sir Kay com unto kynge Morganoure, senesciall with the Kynge of the Hondred Knyghtes, and smote hym downe horse and man, and ledde the horse unto hys fadir, sir Ector.

  Than sir Ector ran unto a knyght that hyght Lardans and smote horse and man downe, and lad the horse unto sir Brastias, that grete nede had of an horse and was gretly defoyled. Whan Brastias behelde Lucas the Butler that lay lyke a dede man undir the horse feete — and ever sir Gryflet dud mercyfully for to reskow hym, and there were allwayes fourtene knyghtes upon sir Lucas — and than sir Brastias smote one of them on the helme, that hit wente unto his tethe; and he rode unto another and smote hym, that hys arme flow into the felde; than he wente to the thirde and smote hym on the shulder, that sholdir and arme flow unto the felde. And whan Gryfflet saw rescowis he smote a knyght on the templis, that hede and helme wente of to the erthe; and Gryfflet toke that horse and lad hym unto sir Lucas, and bade hym mownte uppon that horse and revenge his hurtis — for sir Brastias had slayne a knyght tofore — and horsed sir Lucas.

  Than sir Lucas saw kynge Angwysschaunce that nyghe had [15] slayne Maris de la Roche; and Lucas ran to hym with a sherpe spere that was grete, and he gaff hym suche a falle that the horse felle downe to the erthe. Also Lucas founde there on foote Bloyas de la Flaundres and sir Gwynas, two hardy knyghtes; and in that woodnes that Lucas was in, he slew two bachelers and horsed them agayne. Than wexed the batayle passynge harde one bothe partyes.

  But kynge Arthure was glad that hys knyghtes were horsed agayne. And than they fought togiders, that the noyse and the sowne range by the watir and woode. Wherefore kynge Ban and Bors made hem redy and dressed theire shyldis and harneysse, and were so currageous that their enemyes shooke and byverd for egirnesse.

  All thys whyle sir Lucas, Gwynas, Bryaunte, and Bellias of Flaundres helde stronge medlé agaynste six kynges, which were kynge Lott, kynge Nentres, kynge Brandegoris, kynge Idres, kyng Uriens and kynge Angwysshauns. So with the helpe of sir Kay and of sir Gryfflet they helde thes six kyngis harde, that unneth diey had ony power to deffende them. But whan kynge Arthure saw the batayle wolde nat be ended by no manner, he fared woode as a lyon and stirred his horse here and there on the ryght honde and on the lyffte honde, that he stynted nat tylle he had slayne twenty knyghtes. Also he wounded kynge Lotte sore on the shulder, and made hym to leve that grownde, for sir Kay with sir Gryfflet dud with kynge Arthure grete dedis of armys there.

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nbsp; Than sir Ulphuns, Brastias and sir Ector encountirde agaynste the duke Estans and kynge Cradilmante and kynge Clarivauns of Northhumbirlonde and kynge Carados and the Kynge with the Hondred Knyghtes. So thes kynges encountird with thes knyghtes, that they made them to avoyde the grounde. Than kynge Lotte made grete dole for his damagis and his felowis, and seyde unto the kyngis, ‘But if we woll do as I have devised, we all shall be slayne and destroyed. Lette me have the Kynge with the Hondred Knyghtes, and kynge Angwysshaunce, and kynge Idres, and the duke of Canrbenetl And we fyve kyngis woll have ten thousand men of armys with us, and we woll go on one party whyle the six kynges holde the medlé with twelve thousand. And whan we se that ye have foughtyn with hem longe, than woll we com on freysshly; and ellis shall we never macche them,’ seyde kynge Lotte, ‘but by thys means.’ So they departed as they here devised, and thes six kyngis made theire party stronge agaynste kynge Arthure and made grete warre longe in the meanwhyle.

  Than brake the bushemente of kynge Banne and Bors; and Lionse and Phariaunce had that advaunte-garde, and they two knyghtes mette with kynge Idres and his felauship, and there began a grete medelé of brekyng of speres and smytyng of swerdes with sleynge of men and horses, that kynge Idres was nere discomfited. That saw kynge Angwysshaunce, and put Lyonses and Phariaunce in poynte of dethe, for the duke of Canbenet! com on with a grete felyship. So thes two knyghtes were in grete daungere of their lyves, that they were fayne to returne; but allweyes they rescowed hemselff and hir felyship merveylously. Whan kynge Bors saw the knyghtes put on bak hit greved hym sore. Than he com on so faste that his felyship semed as blak as inde. Whan kynge Lotte had aspyed kynge Bors, he knew hym well, and seyde, ‘Jesu defende us from dethe and horryble maymes, for I se well we be in grete perell of dethe; for I se yondir a kynge, one of the moste worshipfullyst men, and the best knyghtes of the worlde be inclyned unto his felyship.’

  ‘What ys he?’ seyde the Kynge with the Hundirde Knyghtes. ‘Hit ys,’ he seyde, ‘kynge Bors of Gaule. I mervayle,’ seyde he, ‘how they com unto this contrey withoute wetynge of us all.’

  ‘Hit was by Merlions advice,’ seyde a knyght.

  ‘As for me,’ seyde kynge Carados, ‘I woll encountir with kynge Bors, and ye woll rescow me whan myster ys.’

  ‘Go on,’ seyde they, ‘for we woll all that we may.’

  Than kynge Carados and hys oste rode on a soffte pace tyll they com as nyghe kynge Bors as a bowe-draught. Than eythir lette theire horsys renne as faste as they myght. And Bleobris that was godson unto kynge Bors, he bare his chyeff standard; that was a passyng good knyght.

  ‘Now shall we se,’ seyde kynge Bors, ‘how thes northirne Bretons can bere theire armys!’

  So kynge Bors encountird with a knyght and smote hym throwoute with a spere, that he felle dede unto the erthe; and aftirwarde drew hys swerde and dud mervaylous dedis of armys, that all partyes had grete wondir thereof. And his knyghtes fayled nat but dud hir parte. And kynge Carados was smytten to the erthe. With that com the Kynge with the Hondred Knyghtes and rescowed kynge Carados myghtyly by force of armys, for he was a passynge good knyght and but a yonge man.

  Be than com into the felde kynge Ban as ferse as a lyon, with [16] bondis of grene and thereuppon golde.

  ‘A ha,’ seyde kynge Lott, ‘we muste be discomfite, for yondir I se the moste valiante knyght of the worlde, and the man of moste renowne, for such two brethirne as ys kynge Ban and kynge Bors ar nat lyvynge. Wherefore we muste nedis voyde or dye, and but if we avoyde manly and wysely there ys but dethe.’

  So wan thes two kyngis, Ban and Bors, com into the batayle, they com in so fersely that the strokis redounded agayne fro the woode and the watir. Wherefore kynge Lotte wepte for pité and dole that he saw so many good knyghtes take their ende. But thorow the grete force of kynge Ban they made bothe the northirne batayles that were parted hurteled togidirs for grete drede. And the three kynges and their knyghtes slew on ever, that hit was pité to se and to beholde the multitude of peple that fledde.

  But kyng Lott and the Kynge with the Hundred Knyghtes and kynge Morganoure gadred the peple togydir passynge knyghtly, and dud grete proues of armys, and helde the batayle all the day lyke harde. Whan the Kynge with the Hundred Knyghtes behelde the grete damage that kynge Ban dyd he threste unto hym with his horse and smote hym an hyghe on the helme a grete stroke and stoned hym sore. Than kynge Ban was wood wrothe with hym and folowed on hym fersely. The othir saw that and caste up hys shelde and spored hys horse forewarde, but the stroke of kynge Ban downe felle and carve a cantell of the shelde, and the swerde sloode downe by the hawbirke byhynde hys backe and kut thorow the trappoure of stele and the horse evyn in two pecis, that the swerde felle to the erth. Than the Kynge of the Hundred Knyghtes voyded the horse lyghtly, and with hys swerde he broched the horse of kynge Ban thorow and thorow. With that kynge Ban voyded lyghtly from the dede horse and smote at that othir so egirly on the helme that he felle to the erthe. Also in that ire he felde kynge Morganoure, and there was grete slawghtir of good knyghtes and muche peple.

  Be that tyme com into the prees kynge Arthure and founde kynge Ban stondynge amonge the dede men and dede horse, fyghtynge on foote as a wood lyon, that there com none nyghe hym as farre as he myght reche with hys swerde; but he caught a grevous buffette, whereof kynge Arthure had grete pité. And kynge Arthure was so blody that by hys shylde there myght no man know hym, for all was blode and brayne that stake on his swerde and on hys shylde. And as kynge Arthure loked besyde hym he sawe a knyght that was passyngely well horsed. And therewith kynge Arthure ran to hym and smote hym on the helme, that hys swerde wente unto his teeth, and the knyght sanke downe to the erthe dede. And anone kynge Arthure toke hys horse by the rayne and ladde hym unto kynge Ban and seyde, ‘Fayre brothir, have ye thys horse, for ye have grete myster thereof, and me repentys sore of youre grete damage.’

  ‘Hit shall be sone revenged,’ seyde kynge Ban, ‘for I truste in God myne hurte ys none suche but som of them may sore repente thys.”I woll welle,’ seyde kynge Arthure, ‘for I se youre dedys full actuall; nevertheless I myght nat com to you at that tyme.’

  But whan kynge Ban was mounted on horsebak, than there began a new batayle whych was sore and harde, and passynge grete slaughtir. And so thorow grete force kyng Arthure, kynge Ban, and kynge Bors made hir knyghtes alyght to wythdraw hem to a lytyll wood, and so over a litill ryvir; and there they rested hem, for on the nyght before they had no grete reste in the felde. And than the eleven kyngis put hem on an hepe all togydirs, as men adrad and oute of all comforte. But there was no man that myght passe them; they helde hem so harde togydirs bothe behynde and before that kynge Arthure had mervayle of theire dedis of armys and was passynge wrothe.

  ‘A, sir Arthure,’ seyde kynge Ban and kynge Bors, ‘blame hem nat, for they do as good men ought to do. For be my fayth,’ seyde kynge Ban, ‘they ar the beste fyghtynge men and knyghtes of moste prouesse that ever y saw other herde off speke. And the eleven kyngis ar men of grete worship; and if they were longyng to you, there were no kynge undir hevyn that had suche eleven kyngis nother off suche worship.’

  ‘I may nat love hem,’ seyde kynge Arthure, ‘for they wolde destroy me.’

  ‘That know we well,’ seyde kynge Ban and kynge Bors, ‘for they ar your mortall enemyes, and that hathe bene preved beforehonde. And thys day they have done their parte, and that ys grete pité of their wylfulnes.’

  Than all the eleven kynges drew hem togydir. And than seyde Lott, ‘Lordis, ye muste do othirwyse than ye do, othir ellis the grete losses ys behynde: for ye may se what peple we have loste and what good men we lese because we wayte allweyes on thes footemen; and ever in savying of one of thes footemen we lese ten horsemen for hym. Therefore thys ys myne advise: lette us putte oure footemen frome us, for hit ys nere nyght. For thys noble kynge Arthure woll nat tarry on the footemen, for they may save hemselff: the woode ys nerehonde. And whan we horsemen be togydirs, looke every of you kyngis lat make such ordinaunce that none breke uppon pay
ne of deth. And who that seeth any man dresse hym to fle lyghtly, that he be slayne; for hit ys bettir we sle a cowarde than thorow a coward all we be slayne. How sey ye?’ seyde kynge Lotte. ‘Answere me, all ye kynges!’

  ‘Ye say well,’ seyde kynge Nentres. So seyde the Kynge with the Hondred Knyghtes; the same seyde kynge Carados and kynge Uryens; so seyde kynge Idres and kynge Brandegoris; so dud kyng Cradilmasse and the duke of Canbenet; the same seyde kynge Claryaunce, and so dud kynge Angwysshaunce, and swore they wolde never fayle other for lyff nothir for dethe. And whoso that fledde all they sholde be slayne.

  Than they amended their harneyse and ryghted their s’neldis, and toke newe speris and sette hem on theire thyghes, and stoode stylle as hit had be a plumpe of woode. Whan kynge Arthure and kynge Ban and Bors behelde them and all hir knyghtes, they preysed them much for their noble chere of chevalry, for the hardyeste fyghters that ever they herde other saw.