Then Sir Launcelot received him and took his troth;and then he rode to the other bridge,and there Sir Launcelot jousted with other three of his brethren,the one hight Pillounes,and the other hight Pellogris,and the third Sir Pellandris.And first upon horseback Sir Launcelot smote them down,and afterward he beat them on foot,and made them to yield them unto him;and then he returned unto Sir Plenorius,and there he found in his prison King Carados of Scotland,and many other knights,and all they were delivered.And then Sir La Cote Male Taile came to Sir Launcelot,and then Sir Launcelot would have given him all these fortresses and these bridges.Nay,said La Cote Male Taile,Iwill not have Sir Plenorius'livelihood;with that he will grant you,my lord Sir Launcelot,to come unto King Arthur's court,and to be his knight,and all his brethren,I will pray you,my lord,to let him have his livelihood.I will well,said Sir Launcelot,with this that he will come to the court of King Arthur and become his man,and his brethren five.And as for you,Sir Plenorius,I will undertake,said Sir Launcelot,at the next feast,so there be a place voided,that ye shall be Knight of the Round Table.Sir,said Plenorius,at the next feast of Pentecost I will be at Arthur's court,and at that time I will be guided and ruled as King Arthur and ye will have me.Then Sir Launcelot and Sir La Cote Male Taile reposed them there,unto the time that Sir La Cote Male Taile was whole of his wounds,and there they had merry cheer,and good rest,and many good games,and there were many fair ladies.
CHAPTER IX
How Sir Launcelot made La Cote Male Taile lord of the Castle of Pendragon,and after was made knight of the Round Table.
AND in the meanwhile came Sir Kay,the Seneschal,and Sir Brandiles,and anon they fellowshipped with them.And then within ten days,then departed those knights of Arthur's court from these fortresses.And as Sir Launcelot came by the Castle of Pendragon there he put Sir Brian de les Isles from his lands,for cause he would never be withhold with King Arthur;and all that Castle of Pendragon and all the lands thereof he gave to Sir La Cote Male Taile.And then Sir Launcelot sent for Nerovens that he made once knight,and he made him to have all the rule of that castle and of that country,under La Cote Male Taile;and so they rode to Arthur's court all wholly together.And at Pentecost next following there was Sir Plenorius and Sir La Cote Male Taile,called otherwise by right Sir Breunor le Noire,both made Knights of the Table Round;and great lands King Arthur gave them,and there Breunor le Noire wedded that damosel Maledisant.
And after she was called Beauvivante,but ever after for the more part he was called La Cote Male Taile;and he proved a passing noble knight,and mighty;and many worshipful deeds he did after in his life;and Sir Plenorius proved a noble knight and full of prowess,and all the days of their life for the most part they awaited upon Sir Launcelot;and Sir Plenorius'brethren were ever knights of King Arthur.And also,as the French book maketh mention,Sir La Cote Male Taile avenged his father's death.
CHAPTER X
How La Beale Isoud sent letters to Sir Tristram by her maid Bragwaine,and of divers adventures of Sir Tristram.
NOW leave we here Sir La Cote Male Taile,and turn we unto Sir Tristram de Liones that was in Brittany.When La Beale Isoud understood that he was wedded she sent to him by her maiden Bragwaine as piteous letters as could be thought and made,and her conclusion was that,an it pleased Sir Tristram,that he would come to her court,and bring with him Isoud la Blanche Mains,and they should be kept as well as she herself.Then Sir Tristram called unto him Sir Kehydius,and asked him whether he would go with him into Cornwall secretly.He answered him that he was ready at all times.And then he let ordain privily a little vessel,and therein they went,Sir Tristram,Kehydius,Dame Bragwaine,and Gouvernail,Sir Tristram's squire.So when they were in the sea a contrarious wind blew them on the coasts of North Wales,nigh the Castle Perilous.Then said Sir Tristram:Here shall ye abide me these ten days,and Gouvernail,my squire,with you.And if so be I come not again by that day take the next way into Cornwall;for in this forest are many strange adventures,as I have heard say,and some of them I cast me to prove or I depart.And when I may I shall hie me after you.
Then Sir Tristram and Kehydius took their horses and departed from their fellowship.And so they rode within that forest a mile and more;and at the last Sir Tristram saw afore him a likely knight,armed,sitting by a well,and a strong mighty horse passing nigh him tied to an oak,and a man hoving and riding by him leading an horse laden with spears.And this knight that sat at the well seemed by his countenance to be passing heavy.Then Sir Tristram rode near him and said:Fair knight,why sit ye so drooping?ye seem to be a knight-errant by your arms and harness,and therefore dress you to joust with one of us,or with both.Therewithal that knight made no words,but took his shield and buckled it about his neck,and lightly he took his horse and leapt upon him.And then he took a great spear of his squire,and departed his way a furlong.Sir Kehydius asked leave of Sir Tristram to joust first.Do your best,said Sir Tristram.So they met together,and there Sir Kehydius had a fall,and was sore wounded on high above the paps.