{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart416.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart416.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart416.htm","text":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XVII CHAPTER X\n \n Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends and Sagas\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n BOOK XVII\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n CHAPTER X\n \n How they were desired of a strange custom, the which they\n would not obey; wherefore they fought and slew many\n knights.\n \n \n THIS gentlewoman that ye lead with you is a maid?\n Sir, said she, a maid I am. Then he took her by the\n bridle and said: By the Holy Cross, ye shall not escape\n me to-fore ye have yolden the custom of this castle. Let\n her go, said Percivale, ye be not wise, for a maid in what\n place she cometh is free. So in the meanwhile there came\n out a ten or twelve knights armed, out of the castle, and\n with them came gentlewomen which held a dish of silver.\n And then they said: This gentlewoman must yield us\n the custom of this castle. Sir, said a knight, what maid\n passeth hereby shall give this dish full of blood of her\n right arm. Blame have ye, said Galahad, that brought\n up such customs, and so God me save, I ensure you of\n this gentlewoman ye shall fail while that I live. So God\n me help, said Percivale, I had liefer be slain. And I also,\n said Sir Bors. By my troth, said the knight, then shall\n ye die, for ye may not endure against us though ye were\n the best knights of the world.\n \n Then let they run each to other, and the three fellows\n beat the ten knights, and then set their hands to their\n swords and beat them down and slew them. Then there\n came out of the castle a three score knights armed. Fair\n lords, said the three fellows, have mercy on yourself and\n have not ado with us. Nay, fair lords, said the knights\n of the castle, we counsel you to withdraw you, for ye be\n the best knights of the world, and therefore do no more,\n for ye have done enough. We will let you go with this\n harm, but we must needs have the custom. Certes, said\n Galahad, for nought speak ye. Well, said they, will ye die?\n We be not yet come thereto, said Galahad. Then began\n they to meddle together, and Galahad, with the strange\n girdles, drew his sword, and smote on the right hand and\n on the left hand, and slew what that ever abode him, and\n did such marvels that there was none that saw him but\n weened he had been none earthly man, but a monster.\n And his two fellows halp him passing well, and so they\n held the journey everych in like hard till it was night:\n then must they needs depart.\n \n So came in a good knight, and said to the three\n fellows: If ye will come in to-night and take such harbour\n as here is ye shall be right welcome, and we shall ensure\n you by the faith of our bodies, and as we be true knights,\n to leave you in such estate to-morrow as we find you,\n without any falsehood. And as soon as ye know of the\n custom we dare say ye will accord therefore. For God's\n love, said the gentlewoman, go thither and spare not for\n me. Go we, said Galahad; and so they entered into the\n chapel. And when they were alighted they made great\n joy of them. So within a while the three knights asked\n the custom of the castle and wherefore it was. What it\n is, said they, we will say you sooth.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XVII CHAPTER X","type":"page"}