CHAPTER X
 
 How Sir Urre came into Arthur's court for to be healed of
 his wounds, and how King Arthur would begin to handle
 him
 
 
 THEN as the French book maketh mention, there was a
 good knight in the land of Hungary, his name was Sir
 Urre, and he was an adventurous knight, and in all places
 where he might hear of any deeds of worship there would
 he be.  So it happened in Spain there was an earl's son,
 his name was Alphegus, and at a great tournament in
 Spain this Sir Urre, knight of Hungary, and Sir Alphegus
 of Spain encountered together for very envy; and so
 either undertook other to the utterance.  And by fortune
 Sir Urre slew Sir Alphegus, the earl's son of Spain, but
 this knight that was slain had given Sir Urre, or ever he
 was slain, seven great wounds, three on the head, and four
 on his body and upon his left hand.  And this Sir
 Alphegus had a mother, the which was a great sorceress;
 and she, for the despite of her son's death, wrought by her
 subtle crafts that Sir Urre should never be whole, but ever
 his wounds should one time fester and another time bleed,
 so that he should never be whole until the best knight of
 the world had searched his wounds; and thus she made
 her avaunt, wherethrough it was known that Sir Urre
 should never be whole.
 
 Then his mother let make an horse litter, and put him
 therein under two palfreys; and then she took Sir Urre's
 sister with him, a full fair damosel, whose name was
 Felelolie; and then she took a page with him to keep
 their horses, and so they led Sir Urre through many
 countries.  For as the French book saith, she led him so
 seven year through all lands christened, and never she
 could find no knight that might ease her son.  So she
 came into Scotland and into the lands of England, and by
 fortune she came nigh the feast of Pentecost until King
 Arthur's court, that at that time was holden at Carlisle.
 And when she came there, then she made it openly to be
 known how that she was come into that land for to heal
 her son.
 
 Then King Arthur let call that lady, and asked her
 the cause why she brought that hurt knight into that
 land.  My most noble king, said that lady, wit you well
 I brought him hither for to be healed of his wounds, that
 of all this seven year he might not be whole.  And then
 she told the king where he was wounded, and of whom;
 and how his mother had discovered in her pride how she
 had wrought that by enchantment, so that he should never
 be whole until the best knight of the world had searched
 his wounds.  And so I have passed through all the lands
 christened to have him healed, except this land.  And if I
 fail to heal him here in this land, I will never take more
 pain upon me, and that is pity, for he was a good knight,
 and of great nobleness.  What is his name? said Arthur
 My good and gracious lord, she said, his name is Sir Urre
 of the Mount.  In good time, said the king, and sith ye
 are come into this land, ye are right welcome; and wit
 you well here shall your son be healed, an ever any
 Christian man may heal him.  And for to give all other
 men of worship courage, I myself will assay to handle
 your son, and so shall all the kings, dukes, and earls that
 be here present with me at this time; thereto will
 I command them, and well I wot they shall obey and do after
 my commandment.  And wit you well, said King Arthur
 unto Urre's sister, I shall begin to handle him, and search
 unto my power, not presuming upon me that I am so
 worthy to heal your son by my deeds, but I will courage
 other men of worship to do as I will do.  And then the
 king commanded all the kings, dukes, and earls, and all
 noble knights of the Round Table that were there that
 time present, to come into the meadow of Carlisle.  And
 so at that time there were but an hundred and ten of the
 Round Table, for forty knights were that time away;
 and so here we must begin at King Arthur, as is kindly to
 begin at him that was the most man of worship that was
 christened at that time.