_How Sir Launcelot justed with Palamides and overthrew him, and after
he was assailed with twelve knights._
Then Sir Palamides sent unto Sir Launcelot a squire, and required him
of justs. Fair fellow, said Sir Launcelot, tell me thy lord’s name.
Sir, said the squire, my lord’s name is Sir Palamides the good knight.
In good hour, said Sir Launcelot, for there is no knight that I saw
this seven years that I had lever have ado withal than with him. And so
either knights made them ready with two great spears. Nay, said Sir
Dinadan, ye shall see that Sir Palamides will quit him right well. It
may be so, said Sir Tristram, but I undertake that knight with the
shield of Cornwall shall give him a fall. I believe it not, said Sir
Dinadan. Right so they spurred their horses, and feutred their spears,
and either hit other, and Sir Palamides brake a spear upon Sir
Launcelot, and he sat and moved not, but Sir Launcelot smote him so
lightly that he made his horse to avoid the saddle, and the stroke
brake his shield and the hauberk, and had he not fallen he had been
slain. How now, said Sir Tristram, I wist well by the manner of their
riding both that Sir Palamides should have a fall. Right so Sir
Launcelot rode his way, and rode to a well to drink and to repose him,
and they of Northgalis espied him whither he rode, and then there
followed him twelve knights for to have mischieved him, for this cause,
that upon the morn, at the tournament of the Castle of Maidens, that he
should not win the victory. So they came upon Sir Launcelot suddenly,
and scarcely he might put upon him his helm and take his horse but they
were in hands with him. And then Sir Launcelot gat his spear and rode
through them, and there he slew a knight, and brake his spear in his
body. Then he drew his sword and smote upon the right hand and upon the
left hand, so that within a few strokes he had slain other three
knights, and the remnant that abode he wounded them sore, all that did
abide. Thus Sir Launcelot escaped from his enemies of North Wales, and
then he rode forth on his way to a friend, and lodged him till on the
morn, for he would not the first day have ado in the tournament,
because of his great labour. And on the first day he was with king
Arthur, there as he was set on high upon a scaffold, to discern who was
best worthy of his deeds. So Sir Launcelot was with king Arthur, and
justed not the first day.