Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XI CHAPTER XI

CHAPTER XI

How a servant of Sir Aglovale's was slain, and what vengeance
Sir Aglovale and Sir Percivale did therefore.

AND when she was awaked she sent a squire after them
with spending enough.  And so when the squire had overtaken
them, they would not suffer him to ride with them,
but sent him home again to comfort their mother, praying
her meekly of her blessing.  And so this squire was
benighted, and by misfortune he happened to come to a
castle where dwelled a baron.  And so when the squire
was come into the castle, the lord asked him from whence
he came, and whom he served.  My lord, said the squire,
I serve a good knight that is called Sir Aglovale: the
squire said it to good intent, weening unto him to have
been more forborne for Sir Aglovale's sake, than he had
said he had served the queen, Aglovale's mother.  Well,
my fellow, said the lord of that castle, for Sir Aglovale's
sake thou shalt have evil lodging, for Sir Aglovale slew my
brother, and therefore thou shalt die on part of payment.
And then that lord commanded his men to have him away
and slay him; and so they did, and so pulled him out of
the castle, and there they slew him without mercy.

Right so on the morn came Sir Aglovale and Sir Percivale
riding by a churchyard, where men and women were
busy, and beheld the dead squire, and they thought to bury
him.  What is there, said Sir Aglovale, that ye behold so
fast?  A good man stert forth and said:  Fair knight, here
lieth a squire slain shamefully this night.  How was he
slain, fair fellow? said Sir Aglovale.  My fair sir, said the
man, the lord of this castle lodged this squire this night;
and because he said he was servant unto a good knight
that is with King Arthur, his name is Sir Aglovale,
therefore the lord commanded to slay him, and for this cause is
he slain.  Gramercy, said Sir Aglovale, and ye shall see
his death revenged lightly; for I am that same knight for
whom this squire was slain.

Then Sir Aglovale called unto him Sir Percivale, and
bade him alight lightly; and so they alighted both, and
betook their horses to their men, and so they yede on foot
into the castle.  And all so soon as they were within the
castle gate Sir Aglovale bade the porter:  Go thou unto thy
lord and tell him that I am Sir Aglovale for whom this
squire was slain this night.  Anon the porter told this to
his lord, whose name was Goodewin.  Anon he armed him,
and then he came into the court and said:  Which of you
is Sir Aglovale?  Here I am, said Aglovale: for what
cause slewest thou this night my mother's squire?  I slew
him, said Sir Goodewin, because of thee, for thou slewest
my brother, Sir Gawdelin.  As for thy brother, said Sir
Aglovale, I avow it I slew him, for he was a false knight
and a betrayer of ladies and of good knights; and for the
death of my squire thou shalt die.  I defy thee, said Sir
Goodewin.  Then they lashed together as eagerly as it
had been two lions, and Sir Percivale he fought with all the
remnant that would fight.  And within a while Sir Percivale
had slain all that would withstand him; for Sir Percivale
dealt so his strokes that were so rude that there durst
no man abide him.  And within a while Sir Aglovale had
Sir Goodewin at the earth, and there he unlaced his helm,
and struck off his head.  And then they departed and took
their horses; and then they let carry the dead squire unto
a priory, and there they interred him.