_Yet of the same battle._
Then Lucas saw king Agwisance, that late had slain Moris de la Roche,
and Lucas ran to him with a short spear that was great, that he gave
him such a fall that the horse fell down to the earth. Also Lucas found
there on foot Bloias de la Flandres and Sir Gwinas, two hardy knights,
and in that woodness that Lucas was in he slew two bachelors, and
horsed them again. Then waxed the battle passing hard on both parties,
but Arthur was glad that his knights were horsed again, and then they
fought together that the noise and sound rang by the water and the
wood. Wherefore king Ban and king Bors made them ready and dressed
their shields and harness, and they were so courageous that many
knights shook and trembled for eagerness. All this while Lucas, and
Gwinas, and Briant, and Bellias of Flanders, held strong meddle against
six kings, that was king Lot, king Nentres, king Brandegoris, king
Idres, king Uriens, and king Agwisance. So with the help of Sir Kay and
of Sir Griflet they held these six kings hard, that unneth they had any
power to defend them. But when Sir Arthur saw the battle would not be
ended by no manner he fared wood as a lion, and steered his horse here
and there, on the right hand and on the left hand, that he stinted not
till he had slain twenty knights. Also he wounded king Lot sore on the
shoulder, and made him to leave that ground, for Sir Kay and Griflet
did with king Arthur there great deeds of arms. Then Ulfius, Brastias,
and Sir Ector, encountered against the duke Eustace, and king
Cradelment, and king Cradelmas, and king Clariance of Northumberland,
and king Carados, and against the king with the hundred knights. So
these knights encountered with these kings that they made them to avoid
the ground. Then king Lot made great dole for his damages and his
fellows, and said unto the eleven kings. But if ye will do as I devise
we shall be slain and destroyed: let me have the king with the hundred
knights, and king Agwisance, and king Idres, and the duke of Cambenet,
and we five kings will have fifteen thousand men of arms with us, and
we will go apart while ye six kings hold the meddle with twelve
thousand, and when we see that ye have foughten with them long then
will we come on fiercely, and else shall we never match them, said king
Lot, but by this mean. So they departed as they here devised, and six
kings made their party strong against Arthur, and made great war long.
In the meanwhile brake the embushment of king Ban and Bors, and Lionses
and Phariance had the advant guard, and they two knights met with king
Idres and his fellowship, and there began a great meddle of breaking of
spears and smiting of swords with slaying of men and horses, and king
Idres was near at discomfiture.
That saw Agwisance the king, and put Lionses and Phariance in point of
death: for the duke of Cambenet came on withal with a great fellowship,
so these two knights were in great danger of their lives that they were
fain to return, but always they rescued themselves and their fellowship
marvellously. When king Bors saw those knights put aback it grieved him
sore; then he came on so fast that his fellowship seemed as black as
Inde. When king Lot had espied king Bors he knew him well; then he
said, O defend us from death and horrible maims, for I see well we be
in great peril of death; for I see yonder a king, one of the most
worshipfulest men, and one of the best knights of the world, is
inclined unto his fellowship. What is he? said the king with the
hundred knights. It is, said king Lot, king Bors of Gaul; I marvel how
they came into this country without witting of us all. It was by
Merlin’s advice, said the knight. As for him, said king Carados, I will
encounter with king Bors, if ye will rescue me when need is. Go on,
said they all, we will do all that we may. Then king Carados and his
host rode on a soft pace till that they came as nigh king Bors as a bow
draught: then either battle let their horses run as fast as they might.
And Bleoberis that was god-son unto king Bors he bare his chief
standard, that was a passing good knight. Now shall we see, said king
Bors, how these northern Britons can bear their arms. And king Bors
encountered with a knight, and smote him throughout with a spear that
he fell dead unto the earth, and after drew his sword and did
marvellous deeds of arms, that all parties had great wonder thereof;
and his knights failed not but did their part, and king Carados was
smitten to the earth. With that came the king with the hundred knights
and rescued king Carados mightily by force of arms, for he was a
passing good knight of a king, and but a young man.