“Nay, Sir Kay,” said Lancelot, who knew him by the device on his shield, “I ask none of your help; leave them to me.” So Sir Kay stood back, and very soon Sir Lancelot had stricken all of them to the earth. They cried out, “Sir Knight, we yield to thee as a man of might.”
“I will not have you yield to me,” answered Lancelot. “If you will yield to Sir Kay the Seneschal, I will spare your lives, but not otherwise.”
“Fair Knight,” said they, “we are loath to do that, for we should have overcome Sir Kay had not you been here; therefore to yield to him we have no reason.”
“As for that,” said Lancelot, “make your own choice whether you live or die; but if you yield, it must be to Sir Kay.”
So, to save their lives, they did as he commanded, and he swore them to go to King Arthur’s court on the next Whitsunday, and put themselves at the grace and mercy of Queen Guenever, saying that Sir Kay had sent them. Then Lancelot suffered them to depart; and he and Sir Kay went into the lodging. Then Sir Kay saw who it was, and he knelt down and thanked him for having twice saved his life.
“I have done no more than I ought to do,” answered Sir Lancelot.
When Sir Kay was unarmed, he asked for meat; and as he was sore hungered, he ate heartily. He was lodged in the same chamber with Sir Lancelot; but he slept very sound, and in the morning Lancelot rose, leaving him still asleep, took Sir Kay’s armour and shield, mounted his horse, and rode away. When Sir Kay arose, and saw that Sir Lancelot had got his armour and left him his own, he said,—
“Now, by my faith, I know well that he will grieve some of King Arthur’s knights, for they will think that it is I, and they will be bold with him; and because of his armour and shield, I am sure that I shall ride in peace.” So then he thanked his hostess, and departed.
Meanwhile Sir Lancelot rode on through the forest till he came to a fair open country full of rivers and green meadows. On the roadside he saw three pavilions, with white shields hanging before them and great spears leaning beside. The knights who lodged in the pavilions were sitting beside them; and Sir Lancelot rode past, and spoke not a word. Then the knights said to one another, “It is the proud Sir Kay; he thinketh no knight is as good as he, but the contrary is often proved.” Then one of the knights, who was named Sir Gaunter, said, “By my faith I will ride after him, and assay him for all his pride, and you may see how I shall speed.” With that he armed him, took his spear and shield, and rode hard after Sir Lancelot. And when he came near him he called out, “Abide, thou proud knight Sir Kay, for thou shalt not pass quietly.”
So Sir Lancelot turned, and when they encountered, Sir Gaunter’s spear broke on his shield, but he smote down Sir Gaunter, horse and man. Then one of the other knights, whose name was Sir Gilmere, said, “Yonder knight is not Sir Kay; he is far mightier.”