_How Arthur accorded the two brethren, and delivered the twenty
knights, and how Sir Accolon died._
Then all the people fell down on their knees, and cried king Arthur
mercy. Mercy shall ye have, said Arthur: here may ye see what
adventures befall oft time of errant knights, how that I have fought
with a knight of mine own unto my great damage and his both. But sirs,
because I am sore hurt, and he both, and I had great need of a little
rest, ye shall understand the opinion betwixt you two brethren: As to
thee, Sir Damas, for whom I have been champion, and won the field of
this knight, yet will I judge because ye Sir Damas are called an
orgulous knight, and full of villainy, and not worth of prowess of your
deeds, therefore I will that ye give unto your brother all the whole
manor with the appurtenance, under this form, that Sir Ontzlake hold
the manor of you, and yearly to give you a palfrey to ride upon, for
that will become you better to ride on than upon a courser. Also I
charge thee, Sir Damas, upon pain of death, that thou never distress no
knights errant that ride on their adventure. And also that thou restore
these twenty knights that thou hast long kept prisoners of all their
harness that they be content for, and if any of them come to my court
and complain of thee, by my head thou shalt die therefore. Also, Sir
Ontzlake, as to you, because ye are named a good knight, and full of
prowess, and true and gentle in all your deeds, this shall be your
charge: I will give you that in all goodly haste ye come unto me and my
court, and ye shall be a knight of mine, and if your deeds be
thereafter I shall so prefer you, by the grace of God, that ye shall in
short time be in ease for to live as worshipfully as your brother Sir
Damas.—God thank your largeness of your goodness and of your bounty,
and I shall be from henceforth at all times at your commandment: for,
Sir, said Sir Ontzlake, I was hurt but late with an adventurous knight
through both my thighs, which grieved me sore, and else had I done this
battle with you. Would, said Arthur, it had been so, for then had not I
been hurt as I am. I shall tell you the cause why: for I had not been
hurt as I am had not it been mine own sword that was stolen from me by
treason; and this battle was ordained aforehand to have slain me, and
so it was brought to the purpose by false treason, and by false
enchantment. Alas, said Sir Ontzlake, that is great pity, that ever so
noble a man as ye are of your deeds and prowess, that any man or woman
might find in their hearts to work any treason against you. I shall
reward them, said Arthur, in short time by the grace of God. Now tell
me, said Arthur, how far am I from Camelot? Sir, ye are two days’
journey therefrom. I would fain be at some place of worship, said Sir
Arthur, that I might rest me. Sir, said Sir Ontzlake, hereby is a rich
abbey of your elders’ foundation, of Nuns, but three mile hence. So the
king took his leave of all the people, and mounted upon horseback, and
Sir Accolon with him. And when they were come to the abbey, he let
fetch leeches and search his wounds and Accolon’s both, but Sir Accolon
died within four days, for he had bled so much blood that he might not
live, but king Arthur was well recovered. So when Accolon was dead he
let send him on an horse-bier with six knights unto Camelot, and said,
Bear him to my sister Morgan le Fay, and say that I send her him to a
present, and tell her that I have my sword Excalibur, and the scabbard.
So they departed with the body.