This giant knight was called Sir Carados; and Sir Lancelot, when about betaking himself to these and similar recreations, did hear doleful tidings out of Lancashire, how that Sir Tarquin was playing the eagle in the hawk’s eyrie, amongst his brethren and companions.  From Winchester he rode in great haste, succouring not a few distressed damsels and performing many other notable exploits by the way, “until he came to a vast desert,” “frequented by none save those whom ill fortune had permitted to wander therein.”  Sir Tarquin, like the dragon of yore, entailed a desert round his dwelling:  so fierce and rapacious was he that no man durst live beside him, save that he held his life and property of too mean account, and too worthless for the taking.

The knight was pricking on his way through this almost pathless wilderness, when he espied a damsel of such inexpressible and ravishing beauty that none might behold her without the most heart-stirring delight and admiration.  To this maiden did Sir Lancelot address himself, but she hid her face and fell a-weeping.  He then inquired the cause of her dolour, when she bade him flee, for his life was in great jeopardy.

“Oh, Sir Knight!” uncovering her face as she spoke, “the giant Tarquin liveth hereabout, and thou wert as good as dead should he espy thee so near his castle.”

“What!” said the knight, “and shall Sir Lancelot of the Lake flee before this false and cruel tyrant?  To this purpose am I come, that I may slay and make an end of him at once, and deliver the captives.”

“Art thou, indeed, Sir Lancelot?” said the damsel, joy suddenly starting through her tears; “then is our deliverance nearer than we hoped for.  Thy fame is gone before thee into all countries, and thy might and thy prowess, it is said, none may withstand.  This evil one, Sir Tarquin, hath taken captive my true knight, who, through my cruelty, betook himself to this adventure, and now lieth in chains and foul ignominy, without hope of release, until death break off his fetters.”

“Beshrew me,” said Lancelot, “but I will deliver him presently, and cut off the foul tyrant’s head, or lose mine own by the attempt.”

Then did he follow the maiden to a river’s brink, near to where, as tradition still reports, now stand the Knott Mills.  Having mounted her before him on his steed, she pointed out a path over the ford, beyond which he soon espied the castle, a vast and stately building of rugged stone, like a huge crown upon the hill-top, which presented a gentle ascent from the stream.

Now did Sir Lancelot alight, as well to assist his companion as to bethink himself what course to pursue; but the damsel showed him a high tree, about a stone’s-throw from the ditch before the castle, whereon hung a goodly array of accoutrements, with many fair and costly shields, on which were displayed a variety of gay and fanciful devices.  These were the property of the knights then held in durance by Sir Tarquin.  Below them all hung a copper basin, on which was carved in Latin the following inscription, translated thus—­