s well arrayed both for the peace and for the war. And King Arthur
met with them ten mile out of London, and there was great joy as could
be thought or made. And on All Hallowmass at the great feast, sat in the
hall the three kings, and Sir Kay seneschal served in the hall, and Sir
Lucas the butler, that was Duke Corneus' son, and Sir Griflet, that was
the son of Cardol, these three knights had the rule of all the service
that served the kings. And anon, as they had washen and risen, all
knights that would joust made them ready; by then they were ready on
horseback there were seven hundred knights. And Arthur, Ban, and Bors,
with the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Sir Ector, Kay's father, they
were in a place covered with cloth of gold like an hall, with ladies and
gentlewomen, for to behold who did best, and thereon to give judgment.

CHAPTER XI. Of a great tourney made by King Arthur and the two kings Ban
and Bors, and how they went over the sea.

AND King Arthur and the two kings let depart the seven hundred knights
in two parties. And there were three hundred knights of the realm of
Benwick and of Gaul turned on the other side. Then they dressed their
shields, and began to couch their spears many good knights. So Griflet
was the first that met with a knight, one Ladinas, and they met so
eagerly that all men had wonder; and they so fought that their shields
fell to pieces, and horse and man fell to the earth; and both the French
knight and the English knight lay so long that all men weened they had
been dead. When Lucas the butler saw Griflet so lie, he horsed him again
anon, and they two did marvellous deeds of arms with many bachelors.
Also Sir Kay came out of an ambushment with five knights with him, and
they six smote other six down. But Sir Kay did that day marvellous deeds
of arms, that there was none did so well as he that day. Then there came
Ladinas and Gracian, two knights of France, and did passing well, that
all men praised them.

Then came there Sir Placidas, a good knight, and met with Sir Kay, and
smote him down horse and man, where fore Sir Griflet was wroth, and met
with Sir Placidas so hard, that horse and man fell to the earth. But
when the five knights wist that Sir Kay had a fall, they were wroth out
of wit, and therewith each of them five bare down a knight. When King
Arthur and the two kings saw them begin to wax wroth on both parties,
they leapt on small hackneys, and let cry that all men