than the queen.”
“Sir, I well know that I bore a child by my lord King Uther, but I do not know what has become of him.”
Then the king took Merlin by the hand, saying, “Is this my mother?”
“Truly, sir, yes.”
Then Sir Ector came in and bore witness as to how he had fostered Arthur by King Uther’s commandment. Then King Arthur took his mother, Queen Igraine, in his arms and kissed her, and both of them wept. Then the king proclaimed a feast that lasted eight days.
One day there came into court a squire on horseback leading a knight who was mortally wounded. He said that there was a knight in the forest who had set up a pavilion by a well and that this knight “has slain my master, a good knight. His name was Miles. Thus, I beseech you that my master might be buried and some knight will avenge my master’s death.” The news of this knight’s death then spread quickly through the court, and every man gave his opinion.
Then the young squire Grifflet sought out King Arthur and requested that the king raise him to the Order of Knighthood for all the service he had done for him. “You are young and tender of age,” said King Arthur, “to take on such an office.”
CI.22
“Sir,” said Grifflet, “I beseech you to make me a knight.”
“Sir,” said Merlin, “it would be a pity to lose Grifflet, for he will be a passing good man when he is older, and he shall stay by your side all his life. If he risks his life with yonder knight at the fountain, he will be in great peril of never returning, for that knight is one of the best knights of the world and a strong man of arms.”
“Well,” said King Arthur, “you shall be made knight as you desire. Now,” said Arthur unto Grifflet, “since I have made you a knight, you must give me a gift.”
“Whatever you would like,” said Grifflet.
“You shall promise me by the faith of your body that when you have jousted with that knight at the fountain—whether on horseback or on foot—that you will immediately return to me without pursuing the matter further.”
“I will promise you,” said Grifflet, “to do exactly as you desire.” Then Grifflet took his horse hastily and positioned his shield and took a spear in his hand, and rode a great distance until he came to the fountain. Nearby he saw a rich pavilion, and under a cloth canopy stood a horse well saddled and bridled, and on a tree hung a shield of many colors, with a great spear next to it.
Then Grifflet struck the shield with the butt of his spear so that the shield fell down. With that, the knight came out of the pavilion and said, “Fair knight, why have you struck down my shield?”
“Sir, because I would joust with you,” said Grifflet.
“Sir, it is better if you do not,” said the knight, “for you are young and just recently made a knight, and your skill is not equal to mine.”
“No matter,” said Grifflet, “I wish to joust with you.”
“I would rather not,” said the knight, “but since I must, I will prepare myself. From whence do you come?” said the knight.
“Sir, I am from King Arthur’s court.”
Then the two knights ran together so that Grifflet’s shield shattered. Then the knight smote Grifflet through the shield and his left side and broke his spear so that the end of it stuck in Grifflet’s body. Horse and man fell to the earth.
When the knight saw him lying on the ground, he dismounted and was sorry, for he thought that he had slain him. Then he unlaced his helmet to give him some air. With the truncheon still in him he set him on his horse and commended him to God and said, “He had a mighty heart! If he might live, he will prove to be a passing good knight.”
CI.23
Thus Sir Grifflet rode forth to the court, where passing great sorrow was made for him. But through good medicine he was healed and saved.
Then twelve aged knights came to the court from the emperor of Rome. And they asked Arthur to do tribute to the emperor for possession of his realm, or else the emperor would destroy him and all his land.
“Well,” said King Arthur, “you are messengers, therefore, you may say whatever you will; if you were not merely messengers, you would die for what you have said. This is my answer: I owe the emperor no tribute, and I will give him none, unless it will be on a fair field of battle with sharp spear or sharp sword. And it will not be a long time in coming, by the soul of my father Uther!”
Then the messengers departed exceedingly angry, and King Arthur was just as angry, for they came in an evil time, when the king was exceedingly angry about the wound of Sir Grifflet.
So he commanded a man of his chamber to have his best horse and armor ready before daybreak, “and all that it is fitting that I should have on my person be outside the city before tomorrow daybreak waiting for me.”
Just as he commanded, he met with his man and his horse, and so mounted, positioned his shield and took his spear, and bade his chamberlain wait there until he returned. So Arthur rode along a short distance until it was day.
Then he was suddenly aware of three churls chasing Merlin who would have slain him. Then the king rode up to them and commanded them: “Flee churls!” Then they were afraid when they saw a knight coming to them, and they fled.
“Ah, Merlin!” said Arthur, “here you would have been slain despite all your crafts, if I had not been here!”
“No,” said Merlin, “that is not true, for I could have saved myself if I had wanted to. But you are nearer to death than I, for you ride toward death and God is not on your side.” So they went on talking thus until they came to the fountain with the pavilion beside it. Then King Arthur saw an armed knight sitting in a chair.
“Sir knight,” said Arthur, “why are you waiting here, not allowing any knight to ride past unless he joust with you? I suggest that you cease that custom.”
“This custom,” said the knight, “I have followed and will follow despite anyone telling me ‘no.’ Whoever is upset with my custom, let him try and make me amend it.”
“I will amend it,” said Arthur.
“And I shall defend against you,” said the knight. Then he took his horse and positioned his shield and took a spear in his hand; they came together so hard that each struck the other in the middle of the shield and shattered their spears. Then immediately Arthur pulled out his sword.
“Nay, nay, not so fast,” said the knight. “It would be better that the two of us run at one another with sharp spears again.”
“I would be happy to,” said Arthur, “if I had any more spears here.”
“I have enough,” said the knight. Then a squire came forward bringing two spears, and Arthur chose one and the knight chose another. Then they spurred their horses and came together with all their might so that each broke the spear of the other down to their hands. Then Arthur put his hand on his sword.
“Nay,” said the knight, “you shall do better. You are as good a jouster
