_How king Arthur had a battle against Nero and king Lot of Orkney, and
how king Lot was deceived by Merlin, and how twelve kings were slain._
Then king Arthur made ready his host in ten battles, and Nero was ready
in the field afore the castle Terrabil with a great host, for he had
ten battles, with many more people than Arthur had. Then Nero had the
vaward with the most party of his people: and Merlin came to king Lot
of the Isle of Orkney, and held him with a tale of prophecy till Nero
and his people were destroyed. And there Sir Kay the seneschal did
passingly well, that the days of his life the worship went never from
him. And Sir Hervis de Revel did marvellous deeds with king Arthur, and
king Arthur slew that day twenty knights and maimed forty. At that time
came in the knight with the two swords, and his brother Balan, but they
two did so marvellously that the king and all the knights marvelled of
them, and all they that beheld them said they were sent from heaven as
angels, or devils from hell: and king Arthur said himself they were the
best knights that ever he saw, for they gave such strokes that all men
had wonder of them. In the meanwhile came one to king Lot, and told him
while he tarried there Nero was destroyed and slain with all his
people. Alas, said king Lot, I am ashamed, for by my default there is
many a worshipful man slain, for and we had been together there had
been none host under the heaven that had been able for to have matched
with us: this deceiver with his prophecy hath mocked me. All that did
Merlin, for he knew well that if king Lot had been with his body there
at the first battle, king Arthur had been slain and all his people
destroyed. And well Merlin knew that one of the kings should be dead
that day; and loth was Merlin that any of them both should be slain,
but of the twain he had lever king Lot had been slain than king Arthur.
Now what is best to do? said king Lot of Orkney, whether is me better
to treat with king Arthur or to fight, for the greater part of our
people are slain and destroyed. Sir, said a knight, set on Arthur, for
they are weary and for-foughten, and we be fresh. As for me, said king
Lot, I would that every knight would do his part as I would do mine.
And then they advanced banners and smote together, and all to-shivered
their spears; and Arthur’s knights, with the help of the knight with
the two swords and his brother Balan, put king Lot and his host to the
worse. But alway king Lot held him in the foremost front, and did
marvellous deeds of arms, for all his host was borne up by his hands,
for he abode all knights. Alas, he might not endure, the which was
great pity, that so worthy a knight as he was should be overmatched,
that of late time afore had been a knight of king Arthur’s, and wedded
the sister of king Arthur, and for the wrong king Arthur did him
therefore king Lot held against Arthur. So there was a knight that was
called the knight with the strange beast, and at that time his right
name was called Pellinore, the which was a good man of prowess, and he
smote a mighty stroke at king Lot as he fought with all his enemies,
and he failed of his stroke, and he smote the horse’s neck, that he
fell to the ground with king Lot; and therewith anon Sir Pellinore
smote him a great stroke through the helm and head unto the brows. And
then all the host of Orkney fled for the death of king Lot; and there
were slain many mothers’ sons. But king Pellinore bare the blame of the
death of king Lot, wherefore Sir Gawaine revenged the death of his
father the tenth year after he was made knight, and slew king Pellinore
with his own hands. Also there were slain at that battle twelve kings
on the side of king Lot with Nero, and all were buried in the church of
Saint Stephen’s, in Camelot; and the remnant of knights and of other
were buried in a great rock.