d not worth of prowess 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, I shall be from henceforward at all times
at your commandment; for, sir, said Sir Ontzlake, as God would, as I was
hurt but late with an adventurous knight through both my thighs, that
grieved me sore, and else had I done this battle with you. God 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 it
not 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 miles 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