begynner, of all Instrumentes of musyke ye are the best, therefor
gentyl knyght, said Arthur, ye are welcome to this courte.[16]

The description of the combat between King Arthur and Accolon is
perhaps the most interesting of the kind which the "Morte d'Arthur"
contains. Accolon of Gaul had by the aid of Morgan le Fay obtained
possession of Arthur's enchanted sword and scabbard.[17]

And thenne they dressyd hem on bothe partyes of the felde, & lete
their horses renne so fast that eyther smote other in the myddes of
the shelde, with their speres hede, that bothe hors and man wente
to the erthe. And thenne they sterte up bothe, and pulled oute
their swerdys, * * * And so they went egrely to the battaille, and
gaf many grete strokes, but alweyes Arthurs swerd bote[18] not like
Accolon's swerd. But for the most party euery stroke that Accolon
gaf he wounded sore Arthur, that it was merucylle he stode. And
alweyes his blood fylle from him fast. When Arthur behelde the
ground so sore bebledde he was desmayed, and thenne he demed
treason that his swerd was chaunged, for his swerd boote not
styl[19] as it was wont to do, therefore he dredde hym sore to be
dede, for euer hym seemed that the swerd in Accolons hand was
Excalibur, for at euery stroke that Accolon stroke he drewe blood
on Arthur. Now knyghte, said Accolon unto Arthur, kepe the wel from
me, but Arthur ansuered not ageyne, and gat hym suche a buffet on
the helme that he made hym to stoupe nygh fallynge doune to the
earthe. Thenne Sir Accolon with drewe hym a lytel, and cam on with
Excalibur on hyghe, and smote Syr Arthur suche a buffet that he
felle nyhe to the erthe. Thenne were they wroth bothe, and gaf eche
other many sore strokes, but alweyes Syr Arthur lost so muche blood
that it was merucille he stode on his feet, but he was so ful of