the four evangelists which set in writing a part of Jesu Christ’s deeds that He did sometime when He was among you an earthly man; for wit ye well never erst ne might no knight know the truth, for ofttimes or this Our Lord showed Him unto good men and unto good knights, in likeness of an hart, but I suppose from henceforth ye shall see no more.  And then they joyed much, and dwelled there all that day.  And upon the morrow when they had heard mass they departed and commended the good man to God:  and so they came to a castle and passed by.  So there came a knight armed after them and said:  Lords, hark what I shall say to you.

CHAPTER X

How they were desired of A strange custom, the which they would not obey; and how they fought and slew many knights

This gentlewoman that ye lead with you is a maid?  Sir, said she, a maid I am.  Then he took her by the bridle and said:  By the Holy Cross, ye shall not escape me tofore ye have yolden the custom of this castle.  Let her go, said Percivale, ye be not wise, for a maid in what place she cometh is free.  So in the meanwhile there came out a ten or twelve knights armed, out of the castle, and with them came gentlewomen which held a dish of silver.  And then they said:  This gentlewoman must yield us the custom of this castle.  Sir, said a knight, what maid passeth hereby shall give this dish full of blood of her right arm.  Blame have ye, said Galahad, that brought up such customs, and so God me save, I ensure you of this gentlewoman ye shall fail while that I live.  So God me help, said Percivale, I had lever be slain.  And I also, said Sir Bors.  By my troth, said the knight, then shall ye die, for ye may not endure against us though ye were the best knights of the world.  Then let them run each to other, and the three fellows beat the ten knights, and then set their hands to their swords and beat them down and slew them.  Then there came out of the castle a three score knights armed.  Fair lords, said the three fellows, have mercy on yourself and have not ado with us.  Nay, fair lords, said the knights of the castle, we counsel you to withdraw you, for ye be the best knights of the world, and therefore do no more, for ye have done enough.  We will let you go with this harm, but we must needs have the custom.  Certes, said Galahad, for nought speak ye.  Well, said they, will ye die?  We be not yet come thereto, said Galahad.  Then began they to meddle together, and Galahad, with the strange girdles, drew his sword, and smote on the right hand and on the left hand, and slew what that ever abode him, and did such marvels that there was none that saw him but weened he had been none earthly man, but a monster.  And his two fellows halp him passing well, and so they held the journey every