_How Ulfius appeached queen Igraine, Arthur’s mother, of treason: and
how a knight came and desired to have the death of his master
revenged._
Right so came Ulfius and said openly, that the king and all might hear
that were feasted that day, Ye are the falsest lady of the world, and
the most traitress unto the king’s person. Beware, said Arthur, what
thou sayest; thou speakest a great word. I am well ware, said Sir
Ulfius, what I speak, and here is my glove to prove it upon any man
that will say the contrary, that this queen Igraine is causer of your
great damage, and of your great war. For, and she would have uttered it
in the life of king Uther Pendragon of the birth of you, ye had never
had half the mortal wars that ye have had: for the most part of your
barons of your realm knew never whose son ye were, nor of whom ye were
born. And she that bear you should have made it known openly in
excusing of her worship and yours, and in likewise to all the realm;
wherefore I prove her false to God and to you and to all your realm,
and who will say the contrary I will prove it upon his body.
Then spake Igraine and said, I am a woman, and I may not fight, but
rather than I should be dishonoured there would some good man take my
quarrel. More she said, Merlin knoweth well, and ye Sir Ulfius, how
king Uther came to me in the castle of Tintagel, in the likeness of my
lord that was dead three hours tofore. And after my lord was dead king
Uther wedded me, and by his commandment when the child was born it was
delivered unto Merlin, and nourished by him, and so I saw the child
never after, nor wot not what is his name, for I knew him never yet.
And there Ulfius said to the queen, Merlin is more to blame than ye.
Well I wot, said the queen, that I bare a child by my lord king Uther,
but I wot not where he is become. Then Merlin took the king by the
hand, saying, This is your mother. And therewith Sir Ector bare witness
how he nourished him by Uther’s commandment. And, therewith king Arthur
took his mother queen Igraine in his arms and kissed her and either
wept upon other. And then the king let make a feast that lasted eight
days. Then on a day there came into the court a squire on horseback,
leading a knight before him wounded to the death, and told him how
there was a knight in the forest had reared up a pavilion by a well,
and hath slain my master, a good knight, his name was Miles; wherefore
I beseech you that my master may be buried, and that some knight may
revenge my master’s death. Then the noise was great of that knight’s
death in the court, and every man said his advice: then came Griflet
that was but a squire, and he was but young, of the age of king Arthur;
so he besought the king for all his service that he had done him to
give him the order of knighthood.