“Why should I spare you?” said Sir Launcelot.  “Sir,” cried the knight, “I beseech you of your knighthood to spare me.”

“What claim have you upon knighthood,” said Sir Launcelot, “who would attack a single knight, three men against one man?”

Then the other of those knights who had been staggered by Sir Launcelot’s blow, but who had by now somewhat recovered himself, came and kneeled to Sir Launcelot, and said:  “Sir, spare his life, for we all yield ourselves unto you, for certes, you are the greatest champion in all the world.”

Then Sir Launcelot was appeased, but he said:  “Nay, I will not take your yielding unto me.  For as you three assaulted this single knight, so shall you all three yield to him.”

“Messire,” said the knight who kneeled:  “I am very loth to yield us to that knight, for we chased him hither, and he fled from us, and we would have overcome him had you not come to his aid.”

“Well,” said Sir Launcelot, “I care nothing for all that, but only that you do as I will.  And if ye do not do it, then I must perforce slay your companions and you two.  Wherefore you may take your choice.”

[Sidenote:  The three knights must yield to the one knight] Then said that knight who kneeled:  “Messire, I see no other thing to do than to yield us as you would have, wherefore we submit ourselves unto this knight whom you have rescued from us.”

Then Sir Launcelot turned to that knight to whom he had brought aid in that matter, and he said:  “Sir Knight, these knights yield themselves unto you to do as you command them.  Now I pray you of your courtesy to tell me your name and who you are.”

“Sir,” said that knight, “I am Sir Kay the Seneschal, and am King Arthur’s foster-brother, and a knight of the Round Table.  I have been errant now for some time in search of Sir Launcelot of the Lake.  Now, I deem either that you are Sir Launcelot, or else that you are the peer of Sir Launcelot.”

“Thou art right, Sir Kay,” said Sir Launcelot, “and I am Sir Launcelot of the Lake.”  So thereat they two made great joy over one another, and embraced one another as brothers-in-arms should do.

Then Sir Kay told Sir Launcelot how it was with those three knights who had assailed him; that they were three brethren, and that he had overthrown the fourth brother in an adventure at arms and had hurt him very sorely thereby.  So those three had been pursuing him for three days with intent to do him a harm.

[Sidenote:  Sir Kay taketh submission of the three knights] Now Sir Kay was very loath to take submission of those three knights, but Sir Launcelot would have it so and no other way.  So Sir Kay consented to let it be as Sir Launcelot willed.  Thereupon those three knights came and submitted themselves to Sir Kay, and Sir Kay ordained that they should go to Camelot and lay their case before King Arthur, and that King Arthur should adjudge their case according to what he considered to be right and fitting.