Capitulum VII.
Soo whanne this crye was made, unto Joyous yle drewe knyghtes to the nomber of fyve honderd, and wete ye wel there was never sene in Arthurs dayes one knyght that dyd soo moche dedes of armes as syre launcelot dyd thre dayes to gyders. For as the booke maketh truly mencyon, he had the better of all the five honderd knyghtes, and ther was not one slayne of them. And after that syr launcelot maade them alle a grete feest, and in the meane whyle came syr Percyval de Galys and syr Ector de Marys under that Castel, that was called the Joyous yle. And as they beheld that gay castel, they wold have gone tho that Castel, but they mgyhte not for the brode water, and brydge coude they fynde none. Thenne they sawe on the other syde a lady with a sperhauk in her hand, and sir Percyval called unto her, and asked that lady who was in that Castel. Fair knyghtes she said, here within thys castel is the fayrest lady in this land, and her name is Elayne. Also we have in this castel the fayrest knyghte and the myghtyest man that is I dar saye lyvynge, and he called hym self le chevaler mal fett, how came he in to these marches sayd syr Percevale. Truly said the damoysel, he came in to this countrey lyke a madde man with dogges and boyes chacyng him thorou the Cyte of Corbyn, and by the holy vessel of the Sanke greal he was broughte in to his wytte ageyne, but he wil not doo batail with noo knyghte, but by undorne or by one. And yf ye lyste to come in to the castel sayd the lady ye muste ryde unto the ferhter syde of the castel, and there shalle ye fynde a vessel that wille bere yow and your hors. Thenne they departed, and came unto the vessel. And thenne syre Percyval alyghte, and sayd to sire Ector de Marys, ye syalle abyde me here untyl that I wete what maner a knyghte he is. For it were shame unto us in as moche as he is but one knyghte, and we shold both doo batail with hym, doo ye as ye lyste said sire Ector, and here I shalle abyde yow untyl that I here of yow. Thenne passed sire Percyval the water. And whanne he cam to the Castel gate, he bad the porter goo thow to te good knyghte within the Castel, and tell hym, here is come an erraunt knyghte to Juste with hym. Sir said the porter ryde ye within the castel, and there is a comyn place for Justynge that lordes and ladyes maye behold yow. So anone as syr launcelot had warnynge, he was soone redy, and there syr Percyval and sir launcelot encountred with suche myghte, and theire speres were soo rude that both the horses and the knyghtes felle tho the erthe. Thenne they avoyed their horses,
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