[Sidenote:  Sir Launcelot and his companions lie near the place of tournament] Now the place where Sir Launcelot and those three knights who were with him lay hidden was not far from the highway, so, whence they lay, they could see all that goodly procession of folk taking their way toward the lists, and they could look down upon the meadow of battle, which, as hath been said, was not more than three furlongs distant, and they could see the crowds of people of high and low degree taking their places upon those seats according to their rank and station.  And they could see how the knights-contestant arrayed themselves upon this side of the field and upon that, and how the esquires and attendants hurried hither and thither, busying themselves in making their lords ready for the encounter that was soon to befall.  Yea, all this could they see as plainly as though it lay upon the palm of a hand.

So they saw that about noontide all those who had come thither had taken their places, and that the field was clean, and that the two parties of combat were arrayed in order for battle.

Then Sir Launcelot perceived that the party of the King of North Wales was very much greater than the party of King Bagdemagus; for while the party of the King of North Wales had nigh eight score of helms, the party of King Bagdemagus had hardly four score of helms.  So Sir Launcelot perceived that that party of King Bagdemagus would have much labor to do if it was to win in the battle.

[Sidenote:  How the battle began] Now, all being prepared, the marshal stood forth and blew upon his trumpet, and therewith those two parties of knights rushed the one against the other, each in so great a cloud of dust that one could hardly see the knights in their passage.  Therewith they met in the midst of the meadow of battle, with such a crash and uproar of splintered lances as was terrible to hear.

And for a while no man could see what was toward, so great was the dust and the tumult.  But by and by the dust raised itself a little and then Sir Launcelot perceived that the party of King Bagdemagus had been pushed back by that other party, as might have been supposed in such a case.

So Sir Launcelot looked upon the battle for some while and he saw that the party of King Bagdemagus was pushed farther and farther back.  Then by and by Sir Launcelot said to his knights-companion:  “Messires, methinks now is our time to enter this engagement.”

Therewith he and they rode forth out of that woods, and they rode down the hill and across the fields and so came into that meadow-of-battle.

[Sidenote:  Sir Launcelot and his companions enter the battle] At that time the party of the King of North Wales was so busily engaged in its assault upon the party of King Bagdemagus that very few of those knights engaged were aware of those four knights coming, and those who were aware of them thought but very little of the coming of so small a number.  So no one interfered with their coming, wherefore they were able to bear down with great speed upon the flank of the party of the King of North Wales.  Therewith they struck that flank with such force that both horses and horsemen were overturned by their assault.