One day it chanced that Gamelyn stood in his brother’s yard and thought of all his good cornfields left unsown, and all his houses in ruins and his noble oaks cut down through his brother’s mismanagement.  As he stood and pondered thus, his brother John came by and asked in a surly voice if dinner was ready.  Gamelyn became furious at this treatment.  “Go,” he cried to his brother, “and cook it yourself!  I’ll be your servant no longer.”  His brother was amazed at this boldness.  “How now, Gamelyn!” he said; “you have never spoken like this before.  What ails you?” “By my faith,” answered Gamelyn, “never before did I think of all the wrongs I have suffered at your hands.  My parks are broken up, my fields lie unsown, my houses are in ruins.  All the goods my father left me are wasted through you.  A curse on you, brother!” His brother was angry at this answer, yet he feared Gamelyn’s strength too much to face him alone, so he called to his men, “Here, my men, beat this proud rascal for me and teach him to behave himself to his betters.”

Down came the servants armed with staves.  Gamelyn looked around for something with which to defend himself and found a pestle standing by the wall.  This he snatched up and wielded so vigorously that the men fled this way and that, and his brother ran for safety up into a tower.  Looking down from the window he was seen by Gamelyn.  “Come down, brother,” Gamelyn called up to him, “and I will treat you as I treated your men.”  “Not so whilst you hold that pestle,” answered his brother, “but if you will lay it aside I will come down and grant you whatever you ask.”  Gamelyn was ready enough to believe his brother.  He laid aside his pestle and answered, “All I ask is the land that my father left me.”  “That you shall have,” his brother replied, “and all the damage it has suffered these many years I will make good.”  So the two kissed, and peace was made for a season.

No long time after the news came that a wrestling-bout was arranged, with a ram and a ring as prizes for the winner.  Gamelyn thought that he would enter as a competitor.  He asked his brother for a horse and set off.  John hoped that he would never come back and barred the gate after him.

Gamelyn came to the fair and alighted from his horse.  Just by him stood a franklin mourning the death of his two sons.  “How did that befall?” asked Gamelyn.  “It was the champion wrestler who threw them both and slew them.  Great reward would I give to any man who would avenge them.”  “I am ready,” answered Gamelyn.  “Do you hold my horse and guard my clothes while I wrestle, and I will promise to make the champion pay dearly for your sons’ deaths.”  “Thanks be,” answered the franklin, “I shall be avenged.  Never fear for your horse and clothes, I will guard them safely for you.”  Gamelyn pulled off his shoes, stript off his coat and went barefooted into the ring.  There stood the champion boasting of his successes.  “Who art thou, poor fool,” he cried, “that comest here courting destruction?  Better men than thou have perished here to-day!”