letters well devised, that an they will come and see King Arthur
and his court, and so help him in his wars, that he will be sworn
unto them to help them in their wars against King Claudas. Now,
what say ye unto this counsel? said Merlin. This is well
counselled, said the king and all the barons.

Right so in all haste there were ordained to go two knights on
the message unto the two kings. So were there made letters in
the pleasant wise according unto King Arthur's desire. Ulfius
and Brastias were made the messengers, and so rode forth well
horsed and well armed and as the guise was that time, and so
passed the sea and rode toward the city of Benwick. And there
besides were eight knights that espied them, and at a strait
passage they met with Ulfius and Brastias, and would have taken
them prisoners; so they prayed them that they might pass, for
they were messengers unto King Ban and Bors sent from King
Arthur. Therefore, said the eight knights, ye shall die or be
prisoners, for we be knights of King Claudas. And therewith two
of them dressed their spears, and Ulfius and Brastias dressed
their spears, and ran together with great raundom. And Claudas'
knights brake their spears, and theirs to-held and bare the two
knights out of their saddles to the earth, and so left them
lying, and rode their ways. And the other six knights rode afore
to a passage to meet with them again, and so Ulfius and Brastias
smote other two down, and so passed on their ways. And at the
fourth passage there met two for two, and both were laid unto the
earth; so there was none of the eight knights but he was sore
hurt or bruised. And when they come to Benwick it fortuned there
were both kings, Ban and Bors.