_How La Cote Male Taile was taken prisoner, and after rescued by Sir
Launcelot, and how Sir Launcelot overcame four brethren._
This mean while Sir La Cote Male Taile sank right down upon the earth,
what for-wounded and what for-bled he might not stand. Then the other
knight had pity of him, and said, Fair young knight, dismay you not,
for had ye been fresh when ye met with me, as I was, I well wot that I
should not have endured so long as ye have done, and therefore for your
noble deeds of arms I shall shew to you kindness and gentleness in all
that I may. And forth withal this noble knight Sir Plenorius took him
up in his arms, and led him into his tower. And then he commanded him
the wine, and made to search him, and to stop his bleeding wounds. Sir,
said La Cote Male Taile, withdraw you from me, and hie you to yonder
bridge again, for there will meet you another manner knight than ever I
was. Why, said Sir Plenorius, is there another manner knight behind of
your fellowship? Yea, said La Cote Male Taile, there is a much better
knight than I am. What is his name? said Plenorius. Ye shall not know
for me, said La Cote Male Taile. Well, said the knight, he shall be
encountered withal, whatsoever he be. Then Sir Plenorius heard a knight
call that said, Sir Plenorius, where art thou? either thou must deliver
me the prisoner that thou hast led unto thy tower, or else come and do
battle with me. Then Sir Plenorius gat his horse, and came with a spear
in his hand, galloping towards Sir Launcelot, and then they began to
feutre their spears, and came together as thunder, and smote either
other so mightily that their horses fell down under them. And then they
avoided their horses, and pulled out their swords, and like two bulls
they lashed together with great strokes and foins, but ever Sir
Launcelot recovered ground upon him, and Sir Plenorius traced to have
gone about him. But Sir Launcelot would not suffer that, but bare him
backer and backer till he came nigh his tower gate. And then said Sir
Launcelot, I know thee well for a good knight, but wit thou well thy
life and death is in my hand, and therefore yield thee to me, and thy
prisoner. The other answered no word, but strake mightily upon Sir
Launcelot’s helm, that fire sprang out of his eyen; then Sir Launcelot
doubled his strokes so thick, and smote at him so mightily, that he
made him kneel upon his knees, and therewith Sir Launcelot lept upon
him and pulled him groveling down. Then Sir Plenorius yielded him, and
his tower, and all his prisoners, at his will. And then Sir Launcelot
received him and took his troth, and then he rode to the other bridge,
and there Sir Launcelot justed with other three of his brethren, the
one hight Pillounes, and the other hight Pellogris, and the third Sir
Pellandris. And first upon horseback Sir Launcelot smote them down, and
afterward he beat them on foot, and made them to yield them unto him,
and then he returned unto Sir Plenorius, and there he found in his
prison king Carados of Scotland and many other knights, and all they
were delivered. And then Sir La Cote Male Taile came to Sir Launcelot,
and then Sir Launcelot would have given him all these fortresses and
these bridges. Nay, said La Cote Male Taile, I will not have Sir
Plenorius’s livelihood: with that he will grant you, my lord Sir
Launcelot, to come unto king Arthur’s court, and to be his knight, and
all his brethren, I will pray you, my lord, to let him have his
livelihood. I will well, said Sir Launcelot, with this that he will
come to the court of king Arthur, and become his man, and his brethren
five. And as for you, Sir Plenorius, I will undertake, said Sir
Launcelot, at the next feast, so there be a place voided, that ye shall
be knight of the Round Table. Sir, said Sir Plenorius, at the next
feast of Pentecost I will be at Arthur’s court, and at that time I will
be guided and ruled as king Arthur and ye will have me. Then Sir
Launcelot and Sir La Cote Male Tail reposed them there unto the time
that Sir La Cote Male Taile was whole of his wounds, and there they had
merry cheer, and good rest, and many games, and there were many fair
ladies.