_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 are 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 afeard to pass over. Now may ye
choose, said king Arthur, whether ye will abide and take the adventure
on this side, for and ye be taken they will slay you. It were me lever,
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 four 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 king Arthur 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 of
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.