_The copy of the letter written for to revenge the king’s death, and
how Sir Palamides fought for to have the battle._
Recommending unto king Arthur and to all his knights errant, beseeching
them all that insomuch as I king Hermance, king of the Red City, thus
am slain by felony and treason through two knights of mine own, and of
mine own bringing up, and of mine own making, that some worshipful
knight will revenge my death, insomuch I have been ever to my power
well willing unto Arthur’s court; and who that will adventure his life
with these two traitors for my sake in one battle, I king Hermance,
king of the Red City, freely give him all my lands and rents that ever
I held in my life. This letter, said Ebel, I wrote by my lord’s
commandment; and then he received his Creator, and when he was dead he
commanded me or ever he was cold to put that letter fast in his hand;
and then he commanded me to put forth that same vessel down Humber, and
I should give these mariners in commandment never to stint until that
they came unto Logris, where all the noble knights shall assemble at
this time;—And there shall some good knight have pity on me to revenge
my death, for there was never king nor lord falselyer ne traitorlyer
slain than I am here to my death. Thus was the complaint of our king
Hermance. Now, said Sir Ebel, ye know all how our lord was betrayed, we
require you for God’s sake have pity upon his death, and worshipfully
revenge his death, and then may ye hold all these lands. For we all wit
well that, and ye may slay these two traitors, the Red City and all
those that be therein will take you for their lord. Truly, said Sir
Palamides, it grieveth my heart for to hear you tell this doleful tale.
And to say the truth, I saw the same letter that ye speak of; and one
of the best knights on the earth read that letter to me, and by his
commandment I came hither to revenge your king’s death; and therefore
have done, and let me wit where I shall find those traitors, for I
shall never be at ease in my heart till that I be in hands with them.
Sir, said Sir Ebel, then take your ship again, and that ship must bring
you unto the Delectable Isle, fast by the Red City, and we in this
castle shall pray for you and abide your again-coming; for this same
castle, and ye speed well, must needs be yours; for our king Hermance
let make this castle for the love of the two traitors, and so we kept
it with strong hand, and therefore full sore are we threated. Wot ye
what ye shall do, said Sir Palamides; whatsoever come of me, look ye
keep well this castle. For, and it misfortune me so to be slain in this
quest, I am sure there will come one of the best knights of the world
for to revenge my death, and that is Sir Tristram de Liones, or else
Sir Launcelot du Lake.
Then Sir Palamides departed from that castle. And as he came nigh the
city, there came out of a ship a goodly knight armed against him, with
his shield on his shoulder, and his hand upon his sword. And anon as he
came nigh Sir Palamides he said, Sir knight, what seek ye here? Leave
this quest, for it is mine, and mine it was or ever it was yours, and
therefore I will have it. Sir knight, said Palamides, it may well be
that this quest was yours or it was mine, but when the letter was taken
out of the dead king’s hand, at that time by likelihood there was no
knight had undertaken to revenge the death of the king. And so at that
time I promised to revenge his death. And so I shall, or else I am
ashamed. Ye say well, said the knight, but wit ye well then will I
fight with you, and who be the better knight of us both, let him take
the battle upon hand. I assent me, said Sir Palamides. And then they
dressed their shields and pulled out their swords, and lashed together
many sad strokes as men of might; and this fighting was more than an
hour; but at the last Sir Palamides waxed big and better winded, so
that then he smote that knight such a stroke that he made him to kneel
upon his knees. Then that knight spake on high and said, Gentle knight,
hold thy hand. Sir Palamides was goodly, and withdrew his hand. Then
this knight said, Wit ye well, knight, that thou art better worthy to
have this battle than I, and I require thee of knighthood tell me thy
name. Sir, my name is Palamides, a knight of king Arthur, and of the
Table Round, that hither I came to revenge the death of this dead king.