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Updated: June 4, 2025
Then the ten knights drew their swords and set on the hundred and eighty men of Sir Malgrace. They fought so well that they overthrew forty. Still, they could do little against such numbers, and soon all were wounded. When the queen saw this, she cried out: "Sir Malgrace, do not slay my noble knights, and I will go with you. I would rather die than cause them further harm."
"My lord King," cried Sir Malgrace, "you have heard this offer. I accept." The king was very sorry that Sir Lancelot had made the offer. However, it was impossible to withdraw it. A squire came and disarmed Sir Lancelot, so that his head and left side were without cover; and since he had only one arm to fight with, he could not use his shield.
The herald blew his trumpet once, but Sir Lancelot did not appear; twice, and still he did not come. Then up started several knights and begged the king to let them fight instead of Sir Lancelot. "He has been trapped," they said, "or he would be here." While the king was hesitating whom to choose, in rode Sir Lancelot. He dashed up to Sir Malgrace. "Here I am, traitor," he said.
The knights said that they would rather perish than be prisoners to Sir Malgrace. However, upon an order from their lord, the archers tied up the wounds of the queen's followers, and put them on horseback. Then the whole company rode slowly towards the castle of Sir Malgrace. Sir Malgrace kept close to the queen for fear she would escape.
The body of Sir Malgrace was carried off the field and taken to the castle of his good father; Queen Guinevere was proclaimed innocent of treason; and Sir Lancelot was honored more than ever by his king and his queen. Every year King Arthur's knights held a grand tournament among themselves, and contended in friendly combat for a prize. This prize was a diamond.
All the company was astonished. Sir Lancelot was very angry. "If you say the queen is a traitress," he cried, "you shall fight with me, although you were afraid just now." "I am not afraid to fight," said Sir Malgrace. "When and where will you meet me in combat?" asked Sir Lancelot. "In eight days," replied Sir Malgrace, "in the field near Westminster." Sir Lancelot agreed to this.
Then Sir Malgrace ordered his archers to stand guard on the road and shoot down any knight they saw. "But if he should be Sir Lancelot," he said, "be sure that you do not venture very close to him, for he is hard to overcome." Meantime the little maid reached Arthur's Court in safety. She found the king and his knights very anxious because the queen had not returned.
Then I will entertain him in this castle with the best I have, and to-morrow you shall all go back to the court." Then the queen said: "Peace is always better than war. I will do the best I can." So she went down to Sir Lancelot, who still beat upon the gate, and besought him to come in peaceably, for Sir Malgrace was sorry for what he had done.
They took good care of all the ladies of the Court, but they loved the queen most. When Sir Malgrace heard that the queen was out a-Maying with only a few knights, and these not fully armed, he determined to take her prisoner. So he called together eighty men-at-arms and a hundred archers, and set out. Soon he came upon her and her attendants.
The little maid waited until she thought the time for escape had come, and rode off as quietly as she could. Sir Malgrace saw her go, and suspected that the queen had sent her. He ordered his archers to shoot at the child, but she escaped unhurt. "Madam," said Sir Malgrace to the queen, "I know well that you have sent for Sir Lancelot, but you may be sure that hither he shall never come."
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