nd saw in midst of the ship a knight lie all
armed save his helm. Then knew he that it was Sir Percivale of Wales,
and then he made of him right great joy; but Sir Percivale was abashed
of him, and he asked him what he was. Ah, fair sir, said Bors, know ye
me not? Certes, said he, I marvel how ye came hither, but if Our Lord
brought ye hither Himself. Then Sir Bors smiled and did off his helm.
Then Percivale knew him, and either made great joy of other, that it
was marvel to hear. Then Bors told him how he came into the ship, and
by whose admonishment; and either told other of their temptations, as
ye have heard to-forehand. So went they downward in the sea, one while
backward, another while forward, and everych comforted other, and oft
were in their prayers. Then said Sir Percivale: We lack nothing but
Galahad, the good knight.

_And thus endeth the sixteenth book, which is of Sir Gawaine, Ector de
Maris, and Sir Bors de Ganis, and Sir Percivale. And here followeth the
seven-teenth book, which is of the noble knight Sir Galahad._

BOOK XVII.

CHAPTER I. How Sir Galahad fought at a tournament, and how he was known
of Sir Gawaine and Sir Ector de Maris.

NOW saith this story, when Galahad had rescued Percivale from the twenty
knights, he yede tho into a waste forest wherein he rode many journeys;
and he found many adventures the which he brought to an end, whereof the
story maketh here no mention. Then he took his way to the sea on a day,
and it befell as he passed by a castle where was a wonder tournament,
but they without had done so much that they within were put to the
worse, yet were they within good knights enough. When Galahad saw that
those within were at so great a mischief that men slew them at the entry
of the castle, then he thought to help them, and put a spear forth
and smote the first that he fell to the earth, and the spear brake to
pieces. Then he drew his sword and smote thereas they were thickest,
and so he did wonderful deeds of arms that all they marvelled. Then
it happed that Gawaine and Sir Ector de Maris were with the knights
without. But when they espied the white shield with the red cross the
one said to the other: Yonder is the good knight, Sir Galahad, the haut
prince: now he should be a great fool which should meet with him to
fight. So by adventure he came by Sir Gawaine, and he smote him so
hard that he clave his helm and the coif of iron unto his head, so that
Gawaine fel