noble knights, as Sir Brandiles, Sir Uwaine les Avoutres, and Sir Kay,
Sir Bedivere, Sir Meliot de Logres, Sir Petipase of Winchelsea, Sir
Godelake: all these came with King Arthur, and more that cannot be
rehearsed.

Now leave we of these kings and knights, and let us speak of the great
array that was made within the castle and about the castle for both
parties. The Lady Dame Lionesse ordained great array upon her part for
her noble knights, for all manner of lodging and victual that came by
land and by water, that there lacked nothing for her party, nor for
the other, but there was plenty to be had for gold and silver for King
Arthur and his knights. And then there came the harbingers from King
Arthur for to harbour him, and his kings, dukes, earls, barons, and
knights. And then Sir Gareth prayed Dame Lionesse and the Red Knight
of the Red Launds, and Sir Persant and his brother, and Sir Gringamore,
that in no wise there should none of them tell not his name, and make
no more of him than of the least knight that there was, For, he said,
I will not be known of neither more nor less, neither at the beginning
neither at the ending. Then Dame Lionesse said unto Sir Gareth: Sir, I
will lend you a ring, but I would pray you as you love me heartily let
me have it again when the tournament is done, for that ring increaseth
my beauty much more than it is of himself. And the virtue of my ring is
that, that is green it will turn to red, and that is red it will turn in
likeness to green, and that is blue it will turn to likeness of white,
and that is white it will turn in likeness to blue, and so it will do
of all manner of colours. Also who that beareth my ring shall lose no
blood, and for great love I will give you this ring. Gramercy, said Sir
Gareth, mine own lady, for this ring is passing meet for me, for it will
turn all manner of likeness that I am in, and that shall cause me that
I shall not be known. Then Sir Gringamore gave Sir Gareth a bay courser
that was a passing good horse; also he gave him good armour and sure,
and a noble sword that sometime Sir Gringamore's father won upon
an heathen tyrant. And so thus every knight made him ready to that
tournament. And King Arthur was come two days to-fore the Assumption
of our Lady. And there was all manner of royalty of all minstrelsy that
might be found. Also there came Queen Guenever and the Queen of Orkney,
Sir Gareth's mother.

And upon the Assumption Day, when mass a