where he was welcome. And when he heard of these
adventures they marvelled of his noble deeds. Now turn we unto Sir
Lamorak, that when he was departed from Sir Tristram he rode out of the
forest, till he came to an hermitage. When the hermit saw him, he asked
him from whence he came. Sir, said Sir Lamorak, I come from this valley.
Sir, said the hermit: thereof I marvel. For this twenty winter I
saw never no knight pass this country but he was either slain or
villainously wounded, or pass as a poor prisoner. Those ill customs,
said Sir Lamorak, are fordone, for Sir Tristram slew your lord, Sir
Nabon, and his son. Then was the hermit glad, and all his brethren,
for he said there was never such a tyrant among Christian men. And
therefore, said the hermit, this valley and franchise we will hold of
Sir Tristram.

So on the morrow Sir Lamorak departed; and as he rode he saw four
knights fight against one, and that one knight defended him well, but
at the last the four knights had him down. And then Sir Lamorak went
betwixt them, and asked them why they would slay that one knight, and
said it was shame, four against one. Thou shalt well wit, said the four
knights, that he is false. That is your tale, said Sir Lamorak, and
when I hear him also speak, I will say as ye say. Then said Lamorak: Ah,
knight, can ye not excuse you, but that ye are a false knight. Sir, said
he, yet can I excuse me both with my word and with my hands, that I will
make good upon one of the best of them, my body to his body. Then spake
they all at once: We will not jeopardy our bodies as for thee. But wit
thou well, they said, an King Arthur were here himself, it should not
lie in his power to save his life. That is too much said, said Sir
Lamorak, but many speak behind a man more than they will say to his
face; and because of your words ye shall understand that I am one of the
simplest of King Arthur's court; in the worship of my lord now do your
best, and in despite of you I shall rescue him. And then they lashed all
at once to Sir Lamorak, but anon at two strokes Sir Lamorak had slain
two of them, and then the other two fled. So then Sir Lamorak turned
again to that knight, and asked him his name. Sir, he said, my name is
Sir Frol of the Out Isles. Then he rode with Sir Lamorak and bare him
company.

And as they rode by the way they saw a seemly knight riding against
them, and all in white. Ah, said Frol, yonder knight jousted late with
me and smote