The Noble Acts newly found, of Arthur of the Table round.  
To th● tune of flying Fame.  
WH●n Arthur first in Court b●gan,  
and was approved King:  
By force of Arms great Victories won,  
and conquest home did bring:  
Then into Britain strait he came,  
where fifty good and able  
Knights then repaired unto him,  
which were of the Round-table.  
And many Iustes and Tournaments,  
before him there were breast:  
Wherein both Knights did then excel,  
and far surmount the rest:  
But one Sir Lancelot du Lake,  
who was approved we●:  
He in his sight and deeds of Arms,  
all other did excel.  
When he had rested him a while,  
to play and game and sport;  
He thought he would approve himself,  
in some adventurous sort:  
He armed rode in Forest wide, and met a Damsel fair,  
Who told him of adventures great: whereto he gave good ear.  
Why should I not (quoth Lancelot tho)  
for that cause came I hither.  
Thou seemist (quoth she) ● Knight right good  
and I will bring thee thither,  
Whereas the mightiest Knights doth dwell  
that now is of great fame:  
Wherefore tell me what Knight thou art,  
and then what is thy name:  
My name is Lancelot du Lake.  
Quoth she, it likes me than:  
Here dwells a Knight that never was  
e'er matched of any man:  
Who hath in Prison threescore Knights  
and four, that he hath won?  
Knights of King Arthur's Court they be,  
and of the Table-round;  
She brought him to a river then,  
and also to a tree,  
Whereas acopper Basin hung,  
his fellow's Shields to see,  
He struck so hard, the Basin broke;  
When Tarquin heard the sound,  
He drove a Horse before him strait,  
whereon a Knight lay bound,  
Sir Knight (than said Sir Lancelot tho)  
bring me that Horseload hither,  
And lay him down, and let him rest,  
we'll try our force together:  
For as I understand, thou hast,  
as far as thou art able,  
Done great despite and shame unto  
the Knights of the Round-table,  
If thou be of the Table-round,  
(quoth Tarquin speedily)  
Both thee and all thy fellowship,  
I utterly defy.  
That's overmuch (quoth Lancelot tho)  
defend thee by and by,  
They put their spurs, unto their Steeds,  
and each at other fly:  
They couch their Spears, and Horses run,  
as though there had been thunder,  
And each stroke there amidst the shield,  
wherewith they broke in sunder:  
Their Horse's backs broke under them,  
the Knights were both astounded:  
To void their horses they made great haste  
to light upon the ground:  
They took them to their Shields full fast,  
their Swords they drew out then:  
With mighty strokes most eagerly,  
each one to other can,  
They wounded were, and bled full sore,  
for breath they both did stand;  
And leaning on their Swords a while,  
quoth Tarquin hold thy hand  
And tell to me what I shall ask.  
say on quoth Lancelot tho.  
Thou art (quoth Tarquin) the best Knight  
that ever I did know,  
And like a Knight tha● did hate:  
so that that thou be not he,  
I will deliver all the rest,  
and eke accord with thee.  
That is 〈…〉 (quoth Lancelot then)  
but sith it so must be,  
What is that Knight thou hatest so,  
I pray thee show to me:  
His name's Sir Lancelot du Lake,  
He slew my brother dear:  
Him I suspect of all the rest,  
I would I had him here.  
Thy Wish thou hast, but now unknown▪  
I am Lancelot du Lake,  
Now Knight of Arthur's Table-round,  
King Hand ●onne of Benwake:  
And I defy thee do thy worst,  
Ha, ha, (quoth Tarquin tho)  
One of us two shall end our lives,  
before that we do go:  
If thou be Lancelot du Lake,  
then welcome thou shalt be:  
Wherefore, see thou thyself defend,  
for now I thee defy.  
They hurled them together so,  
like two wild Boars, so rashing:  
And with their Swords & Shields they ran  
at one another lashing.  
The ground ●●s●rinkled was with Blood:  
Tarquin began to faint,  
For he gave back, and bore his Shield  
so low he did repent.  
That soonee spied Sir Lancelot tho,  
he leapt upon him then:  
He pulled him down upon his knee,  
and rushed-off his Helmne:  
And then he struck his neck in two,  
And when he had done so.  
From prison threescore Knight and 〈◊〉,  
Lancelot delivered tho.   

Imprinted at London by W.I.