{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart014.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart014.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart014.htm","text":"CHAPTER XV\nYet of the same battle.\nTHEN Lucas saw King Agwisance, that late had slain Moris de la\nRoche, and Lucas ran to him with a short spear that was great,\nthat he gave him such a fall, that the horse fell down to the\nearth. Also Lucas found there on foot, Bloias de La Flandres,\nand Sir Gwinas, two hardy knights, and in that woodness that\nLucas was in, he slew two bachelors and horsed them again. Then\nwaxed the battle passing hard on both parties, but Arthur was\nglad that his knights were horsed again, and then they fought\ntogether, that the noise and sound rang by the water and the\nwood. Wherefore King Ban and King Bors made them ready, and\ndressed their shields and harness, and they were so courageous\nthat many knights shook and bevered for eagerness. All this\nwhile Lucas, and Gwinas, and Briant, and Bellias of Flanders,\nheld strong medley against six kings, that was King Lot, King\nNentres, King Brandegoris, King Idres, King Uriens, and King\nAgwisance. So with the help of Sir Kay and of Sir Griflet they\nheld these six kings hard, that unnethe they had any power to\ndefend them. But when Sir Arthur saw the battle would not be\nended by no manner, he fared wood as a lion, and steered his\nhorse here and there, on the right hand, and on the left hand,\nthat he stinted not till he had slain twenty knights. Also he\nwounded King Lot sore on the shoulder, and made him to leave that\nground, for Sir Kay and Griflet did with King Arthur there great\ndeeds of arms. Then Ulfius, and Brastias, and Sir Ector\n<26>encountered against the Duke Eustace, and King Cradelment,\nand King Clariance of Northumberland, and King Carados, and\nagainst the King with the Hundred Knights. So these knights\nencountered with these kings, that they made them to avoid the\nground. Then King Lot made great dole for his damages and his\nfellows, and said unto the ten kings, But if ye will do as I\ndevise we shall be slain and destroyed; let me have the King with\nthe Hundred Knights, and King Agwisance, and King Idres, and the\nDuke of Cambenet, and we five kings will have fifteen thousand\nmen of arms with us, and we will go apart while ye six kings hold\nmedley with twelve thousand; an we see that ye have foughten with\nthem long, then will we come on fiercely, and else shall we never\nmatch them, said King Lot, but by this mean. So they departed as\nthey here devised, and six kings made their party strong against\nArthur, and made great war long.\nIn the meanwhile brake the ambushment of King Ban and King Bors,\nand Lionses and Phariance had the vanguard, and they two knights\nmet with King Idres and his fellowship, and there began a great\nmedley of breaking of spears, and smiting of swords, with slaying\nof men and horses, and King Idres was near at discomforture.\nThat saw Agwisance the king, and put Lionses and Phariance in\npoint of death; for the Duke of Cambenet came on withal with a\ngreat fellowship. So these two knights were in great danger of\ntheir lives that they were fain to return, but always they\nrescued themselves and their fellowship marvellously When King\nBors saw those knights put aback, it grieved him sore; then he\ncame on so fast that his fellowship seemed as black as Inde.\nWhen King Lot had espied King Bors, he knew him well, then he\nsaid, O Jesu, defend us from death and horrible maims! for I see\nwell we be in great peril of death; for I see yonder a king, one\nof the most worshipfullest men and one of the best knights of the\nworld, is inclined unto his fellowship. What is he? said the\nKing with the Hundred Knights. It is, said King Lot, King Bors\nof Gaul; I marvel how they came into this country without\n<27>witting of us all. It was by Merlin's advice, said the\nknight. As for him, said King Carados, I will encounter with\nKing Bors, an ye will rescue me when myster is. Go on, said they\nall, we will do all that we may. Then King Carados and his host\nrode on a soft pace, till that they came as nigh King Bors as\nbow-draught; then either battle let their horse run as fast as\nthey might. And Bleoberis, that was godson unto King Bors, he\nbare his chief standard, that was a passing good knight. Now\nshall we see, said King Bors, how these northern Britons can bear\nthe arms: and King Bors encountered with a knight, and smote him\nthroughout with a spear that he fell dead unto the earth; and\nafter drew his sword and did marvellous deeds of arms, that all\nparties had great wonder thereof; and his knights failed not, but\ndid their part, and King Carados was smitten to the earth. With\nthat came the King with the Hundred Knights and rescued King\nCarados mightily by force of arms, for he was a passing good\nknight of a king, and but a young man.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK I CHAPTER XV","type":"page"}