Bab Bab 64 · How King Arthur had ado with them and overthrew them, and

. How King Arthur had ado with them and overthrew them, and

slew the five kings and made the remnant to flee.

Unto this counsel these five kings assented, and so they passed forth

with their host through North Wales, and came upon Arthur by night, and

set upon his host as the king and his knights were in their pavilions.

King Arthur was unarmed, and had laid him to rest with his Queen

Guenever. Sir, said Sir Kay, it is not good we be unarmed. We shall

have no need, said Sir Gawaine and Sir Griflet, that lay in a little

pavilion by the king. With that they heard a great noise, and many

cried, Treason, treason! Alas, said King Arthur, we be betrayed! Unto

arms, fellows, then he cried. So they were armed anon at all points.

Then came there a wounded knight unto the king, and said, Sir, save

yourself and my lady the queen, for our host is destroyed, and much

people of ours slain. So anon the king and the queen and the three

knights took their horses, and rode toward Humber to pass over it, and

the water was so rough that they were afraid to pass over. Now may ye

choose, said King Arthur, whether ye will abide and take the adventure

on this side, for an ye be taken they will slay you. It were me liefer,

said the queen, to die in the water than to fall in your enemies’ hands

and there be slain.

And as they stood so talking, Sir Kay saw the five kings coming on

horseback by themselves alone, with their spears in their hands even

toward them. Lo, said Sir Kay, yonder be the five kings; let us go to

them and match them. That were folly, said Sir Gawaine, for we are but

three and they be five. That is truth, said Sir Griflet. No force, said

Sir Kay, I will undertake for two of them, and then may ye three

undertake for the other three. And therewithal, Sir Kay let his horse

run as fast as he might, and struck one of them through the shield and

the body a fathom, that the king fell to the earth stark dead. That saw

Sir Gawaine, and ran unto another king so hard that he smote him

through the body. And therewithal King Arthur ran to another, and smote

him through the body with a spear, that he fell to the earth dead. Then

Sir Griflet ran unto the fourth king, and gave him such a fall that his

neck brake. Anon Sir Kay ran unto the fifth king, and smote him so hard

on the helm that the stroke clave the helm and the head to the earth.

That was well stricken, said King Arthur, and worshipfully hast thou

holden thy promise, therefore I shall honour thee while that I live.

And therewithal they set the queen in a barge into Humber; but always

Queen Guenever praised Sir Kay for his deeds, and said, What lady that

ye love, and she love you not again she were greatly to blame; and

among ladies, said the queen, I shall bear your noble fame, for ye

spake a great word, and fulfilled it worshipfully. And therewith the

queen departed.

Then the king and the three knights rode into the forest, for there

they supposed to hear of them that were escaped; and there he found the

most part of his people, and told them all how the five kings were

dead. And therefore let us hold us together till it be day, and when

their host have espied that their chieftains be slain, they will make

such dole that they shall no more help themselves. And right so as the

king said, so it was; for when they found the five kings dead, they

made such dole that they fell from their horses. Therewithal came King

Arthur but with a few people, and slew on the left hand and on the

right hand, that well-nigh there escaped no man, but all were slain to

the number thirty thousand. And when the battle was all ended, the king

kneeled down and thanked God meekly. And then he sent for the queen,

and soon she was come, and she made great joy of the overcoming of that

battle.