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 he 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 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.

CHAPTER IV. How the battle was finished or he came, and how King Arthur
founded an abbey where the battle was.

THEREWITHAL came one to King Arthur, and told him that King Pellinore
was within three mile with a great host; and he said, Go unto him, and
let him understand how we have sped. So within a while King Pellinore
came with a great host, and saluted the people and the king, and there
was great joy made on every side. Then the king let search how much
people of his party there was slain; and there were found but little
past two hundred men slain and eight knights of the Table Round in their
pavilions. Then the king let rear and devise in the same place whereat
the battle was do