The Story of King Arthur and His Knights

In spring, Arthur and his Court travel through the Forests of Usk and stop to rest in the shade. At this time, his Court includes Kay, Gawaine, Ewaine, Pellias, and seven other knights. A wounded knight in white and azure—later named as Sir Myles of the White Fountain—approaches the group on horseback with his page. Arthur orders his knights to help the injured man. After he is treated, the injured knight is brought to Arthur’s pavilion with his page.

The page and Sir Myles came from the north seeking adventure. Myles defeated six other knights in a fortnight (14 days). That morning, they discovered three damsels tossing a ball in front of a castle. When they learned he was in search of adventure, one damsel gave him directions to a bridge. Myles and his page followed the directions and found a castle beyond the bridge. On the bridge was a black shield with a brass hammer, and a sign indicating that whoever hits the shield does so at his peril. Myles hit the shield with the hammer, and a knight in sable emerged from the castle on horseback. He challenged Myles, and they fought with spears. The Sable Knight wounded Myles, took his shield, and hung it on an apple tree with other shields.

Arthur is offended by the Sable Knight’s lack of courtesy, specifically, not checking on the severity of Myles’s injuries and stealing his shield. Arthur’s knights agree, and Griflet, a squire, asks Arthur to knight him and allow him to go after the Sable Knight. Arthur hesitates because Griflet is young and inexperienced, but reluctantly agrees. Griflet watches over his armor in a chapel of the forest all night and is knighted by Arthur after taking the Sacrament in the morning. As Griflet rides off to face the Sable Knight, Sir Myles dies.

Later that evening, Griflet returns with severe injuries and no shield. As his wounds are treated in Arthur’s tent, he tells Arthur about his adventure. Griflet met the same damsels and found the same bridge as Myles. The Sable Knight tried to talk the young Griflet out of fighting, but Griflet could not be persuaded. After the Sable Knight pierced Griflet in the side with his spear, he took Griflet’s shield, and helped him onto his horse so he could get help.

King Arthur, furious, decides to fight the Sable Knight himself the next day. He cannot be talked out of his decision and stays up all night pacing in his pavilion. In the morning, he rides his white war-horse towards the bridge. The beautiful spring day cheers up Arthur. He admires the landscape of the Valley of Delight and sees the damsels, who invite him to feast with them for a few days. He refuses, saying he is going after the Sable Knight. The damsels tell him that two knights in two days have been beaten by the Sable Knight, and that he should eat before going into battle. They send for pages who bring food and drink.

Arthur picnics with the damsels, keeping his identity a secret. Afterwards, they show him the path to the Sable Knight. He encounters three men with knives chasing an old, bearded man. When Arthur rides towards them, they drop their weapons and flee. The old man turns out to be Merlin. Merlin foresees Arthur suffering in this adventure and asks to come along. Arthur agrees, and they ride off together.

Arthur and Merlin reach the bridge of the Sable Knight. Arthur remarks on the huge number of shields in the apple-tree. Merlin foresees Arthur’s shield will not end up in the tree today. Arthur hits the shield on the bridge, summoning the Sable Knight, who demands his shield. Arthur refuses to hand it over and challenges the knight.

They fight on horseback, and both break their spears in the first pass. Arthur acknowledges his opponent’s skill and asks to move to battle on foot with swords. The Sable Knight refuses, and his two squires bring new spears. Again, both spears break in the joust. Again, Arthur asks to fight with swords, and the Sable Knight has two more spears brought out. In the third joust, Arthur’s spear breaks, but the Sable Knight’s does not. Arthur’s horse falls over, but Arthur lands on his feet. Arthur demands the knight fight him with a sword on foot, and the Sable Knight refuses, demanding Arthur’s shield. Arthur pushes the Sable Knight’s horse over, so the knight ends up on foot.

Then, they fight furiously with swords. Arthur’s sword breaks as he lands a powerful hit. When the Sable Knight recovers his wits, he hits Arthur, damaging his shield and severely wounding his head. Arthur refuses to yield and wrestles him to the ground, causing the Sable Knight to lose consciousness. Arthur takes off his helmet and discovers the knight is King Pellinore, who waged war against Arthur twice.

Arthur puts a dagger at Pellinore’s throat as he comes to, but Pellinore is able to push it away easily because Arthur is beginning to faint due to blood loss. Pellinore flips Arthur, gaining the upper hand. Merlin intervenes, telling Pellinore that he is about to kill King Arthur, but this revelation makes Pellinore more determined to kill Arthur.

Merlin uses his staff to cast a spell and Pellinore falls to the ground, asleep. Merlin helps Arthur get on his horse and leads it into the forest. They travel to a hermit’s sanctuary, where the hermit and Merlin treat Arthur’s wounds. Arthur convalesces, near death, for two days.

On the second day, Lady Guinevere and her court come to the hermit’s sanctuary, hoping he can cure her sick page. She sees Arthur, but Merlin does not reveal his identity. Guinevere orders her doctor to treat Arthur, and Arthur begins to heal. In three days, after Guinevere and her court leave the sanctuary, Arthur is completely recovered. He continues to think about Guinevere, desiring to serve her as a knight.

Four days after being cured by Guinevere’s doctor, Arthur tells Merlin he wants a rematch with Pellinore. Merlin tells Arthur about Arroy, also called the Forest of Adventure, and a lake of enchantment where a woman’s arm emerges holding the sword Excalibur. No knight has ever been able to reach the woman’s arm in the lake. Arthur desires Excalibur, and Merlin guides him to Arroy. When they arrive later that day, they follow a white doe with a golden collar. It leads them to a table full of food under a bower, and a page invites King Arthur, by name, to eat. Merlin assures Arthur that the food is safe, foreseeing his success in this adventure, and they feast. Afterwards, they ride through the forest to a plain filled with flowers. The enchanted lake lies in the middle of this plain. As Arthur ponders how to get the sword, the Lady of the Lake approaches. Arthur greets her, identifying her as Fay, a kind of immortal magical being, and she tells him her name is Nymue. Nymue reveals that the lake is an illusion hiding a castle and welcomes Arthur.

Arthur explains that he broke his sword in the battle with Pellinore, and now seeks Excalibur. Nymue warns him of the danger but supports his quest by calling for a boat with a whistle. Arthur boards the boat, which takes to the arm holding the sword. He grabs the sword and scabbard, and the arm goes under the water. The boat returns to the shore, Arthur thanks Nymue, and rides off with Merlin and Excalibur.

After lodging with the hermit for another night, Arthur and Merlin ride back to the Sable Knight, Pellinore. Arthur forbids Merlin from working magic and challenges Pellinore again. Pellinore agrees, and pages bring them spears. The spears shatter in their joust, and they fight on foot with swords. Arthur uses Excalibur to defeat Pellinore without sustaining any injuries. When Pellinore asks for Arthur to spare his life, Arthur offers to restore Pellinore’s title and lands in exchange for his two sons. The narrator notes that these sons, Sir Aglaval and Sir Lamorack, become knights of the Round Table. Pellinore’s wounds are treated and he hosts Arthur and Merlin for the night.

In the morning, Arthur and Merlin have a pleasant ride through the beautiful forest. Arthur thinks about his success, and the narrator sends good wishes to the reader—that they might also find success and joy. Merlin asks Arthur if he prefers the sword or scabbard, and Arthur replies that he prefers Excalibur’s blade. Merlin explains that the scabbard keeps the wearer from being wounded, such as in his fight with Pellinore. Being protected by magic angers Arthur and he threatens to return Excalibur. However, Merlin persuades him to keep the sword by explaining he needs to protect himself because, as king, his life belongs to the people.

Arthur treasures the bright sword Excalibur and has a special box made for it, only taking it out for battle. The narrator explains that although Arthur keeps Excalibur for the rest of his life, he loses the scabbard in an adventure that will be included later in the book. The narrator ends the chapter, and Part 2, with a blessing for the reader from God.