Kabanata Kabanata 414 · How Galahad and his fellows came to a castle, and how

. How Galahad and his fellows came to a castle, and how

they were fought withal, and how they slew their adversaries, and other

matters.

So it befell as they spoke thus there came a squire by them, and asked

what they were; and they said they were of King Arthur’s house. Is that

sooth? said he. Now by my head, said he, ye be ill arrayed; and then

turned he again unto the cliff fortress. And within a while they heard

an horn blow. Then a gentlewoman came to them, and asked them of whence

they were; and they told her. Fair lords, said she, for God’s love turn

again if ye may, for ye be come unto your death. Nay, they said, we

will not turn again, for He shall help us in whose service we be

entered in. Then as they stood talking there came knights well armed,

and bade them yield them or else to die. That yielding, said they,

shall be noyous to you. And therewith they let their horses run, and

Sir Percivale smote the foremost to the earth, and took his horse, and

mounted thereupon, and the same did Galahad. Also Bors served another

so, for they had no horses in that country, for they left their horses

when they took their ship in other countries. And so when they were

horsed then began they to set upon them; and they of the castle fled

into the strong fortress, and the three knights after them into the

castle, and so alighted on foot, and with their swords slew them down,

and gat into the hall.

Then when they beheld the great multitude of people that they had

slain, they held themself great sinners. Certes, said Bors, I ween an

God had loved them that we should not have had power to have slain them

thus. But they have done so much against Our Lord that He would not

suffer them to reign no longer. Say ye not so, said Galahad, for if

they misdid against God, the vengeance is not ours, but to Him which

hath power thereof.

So came there out of a chamber a good man which was a priest, and bare

God’s body in a cup. And when he saw them which lay dead in the hall he

was all abashed; and Galahad did off his helm and kneeled down, and so

did his two fellows. Sir, said they, have ye no dread of us, for we be

of King Arthur’s court. Then asked the good man how they were slain so

suddenly, and they told it him. Truly, said the good man, an ye might

live as long as the world might endure, ne might ye have done so great

an alms-deed as this. Sir, said Galahad, I repent me much, inasmuch as

they were christened. Nay, repent you not, said he, for they were not

christened, and I shall tell you how that I wot of this castle. Here

was Lord Earl Hernox not but one year, and he had three sons, good

knights of arms, and a daughter, the fairest gentlewoman that men knew.

So those three knights loved their sister so sore that they brent in

love, and so they lay by her, maugre her head. And for she cried to her

father they slew her, and took their father and put him in prison, and

wounded him nigh to the death, but a cousin of hers rescued him. And

then did they great untruth: they slew clerks and priests, and made

beat down chapels, that Our Lord’s service might not be served nor

said. And this same day her father sent to me for to be confessed and

houseled; but such shame had never man as I had this day with the three

brethren, but the earl bade me suffer, for he said they should not long

endure, for three servants of Our Lord should destroy them, and now it

is brought to an end. And by this may ye wit that Our Lord is not

displeased with your deeds. Certes, said Galahad, an it had not pleased

Our Lord, never should we have slain so many men in so little a while.

And then they brought the Earl Hernox out of prison into the midst of

the hall, that knew Galahad anon, and yet he saw him never afore but by

revelation of Our Lord.