_How the eleven kings with their host fought against Arthur and his
host, and many great feats of the war._
Then king Arthur and king Ban and king Bors, with their good and trusty
knights, set on them so fiercely that they made them overthrow their
pavilions on their heads; but the eleven kings by manly prowess of arms
took a fair field. But there was slain that morrow tide ten thousand
good men’s bodies. And so they had afore them a strong passage, yet
were they fifty thousand of hardy men. Then it drew toward day. Now
shall ye do by mine advice, said Merlin unto the three kings: I would
that king Ban and king Bors with their fellowship of ten thousand men
were put in a wood here beside in an embushment, and keep them privy,
and that they be laid or the light of the day come, and that they stir
nor till ye and your knights have fought with them long: and when it is
daylight dress your battle even afore them and the passage, that they
may see all your host, for then they will be the more hardy when they
see you but about twenty thousand, and be the gladder to suffer you and
your host to come over the passage. All the three kings and the whole
barons said that Merlin said passingly well, and it was done anon as
Merlin had devised. So on the morn, when either host saw other, the
host of the north was well comforted. Then to Ulfius and Brastias were
delivered three thousand men of arms, and they set on them fiercely in
the passage, and slew on the right hand and on the left hand, that it
was wonder to tell. When that the eleven knights saw that there was so
few a fellowship did such deeds of arms, they were ashamed, and set on
them again fiercely, and there was Sir Ulfius’s horse slain under him,
but he did marvellously well on foot. But the duke Eustace of Cambenet,
and king Clariance of Northumberland, were alway grievous on Sir
Ulfius. When Brastias saw his fellow fared so withal, he smote the duke
with a spear, that horse and man fell down. That saw king Clariance,
and returned to Brastias, and either smote other so that horse and man
went to the earth, and so they lay long astonied, and their horses’
knees brast to the hard bone. Then came Sir Kay the seneschal with six
fellows with him, and did passing well. With that came the eleven
kings, and there was Griflet put to the earth, horse and man, and Lucas
the butler, horse and man, by king Brandegoris and king Idres and king
Agwisance. Then waxed the meddle passing hard on both parties. When Sir
Kay saw Griflet on foot he rode on king Nentres and smote him down, and
led his horse to Sir Griflet and horsed him again. Also Sir Kay with
the same spear smote down king Lot, and hurt him passing sore. That saw
the king with the hundred knights, and ran unto Sir Kay and smote him
down and took his horse, and gave him to king Lot, whereof he said
gramercy. When Sir Griflet saw Sir Kay and Lucas the butler on foot, he
took a sharp spear great and square and rode to Pinel, a good man of
arms, and smote horse and man down, and then he took his horse and gave
him unto Sir Kay. When king Lot saw king Nentres on foot he ran unto
Melot de la Roche and smote him down horse and man, and gave king
Nentres the horse and horsed him again. Also the king of the hundred
knights saw king Idres on foot; then he ran unto Gwimiart de Bloi, and
smote him down horse and man, and gave king Idres the horse and horsed
him again; and king Lot smote down Clariance de la Forest Savage, and
gave the horse unto duke Eustace. And so when they had horsed the kings
again they drew them all eleven kings together, and said they would be
revenged of the damage they had taken that day. The meanwhile came in
Sir Ector with an eager countenance, and found Ulfius and Brastias on
foot in great peril of death, that were foul bruised under the horse
feet. Then king Arthur as a lion ran unto king Cradelment of North
Wales, and smote him through the left side, that the horse and the king
fell down; and then he took the horse by the rein and led him unto
Ulfius, and said, Have this horse, mine old friend, for great need hast
thou of horse. Gramercy, said Ulfius. Then Sir Arthur did so
marvellously in arms that all men had wonder. When the king with the
hundred knights saw king Cradelment on foot he ran unto Sir Ector, that
was well horsed, Sir Kay’s father, and smote horse and man down, and
gave the horse unto the king and horsed him again. And when king Arthur
saw the king ride on Sir Ector’s horse he was wroth, and with his sword
he smote the king on the helm, that a quarter of the helm and shield
fell down, and the sword carved down unto the horse’s neck, and so the
king and the horse fell down to the ground. Then Sir Kay came to Sir
Morganore, seneschal with the king of the hundred knights, and smote
him down horse and man, and led the horse unto his father Sir Ector:
then Sir Ector ran unto a knight, hight Lardans, and smote horse and
man down, and led the horse unto Sir Brastias that great need had of an
horse, and was greatly bruised. When Brastias beheld Lucas the butler,
that lay like a dead man under the horse feet, and ever Sir Griflet did
marvellously for to rescue him, and there were always fourteen knights
on Sir Lucas, then Brastias smote one of them on the helm that it went
to the teeth, and he rode to another and smote him that the arm flew
into the field. Then he went to the third, and smote him on the
shoulder that shoulder and arm flew in the field. And when Griflet saw
rescues he smote a knight on the temples, that head and helm went to
the earth, and Griflet took the horse of that knight and led him unto
Sir Lucas, and bad him mount upon the horse and revenge his hurts. For
Brastias had slain a knight tofore, and horsed Griflet.