"A deceitful damosel arrives in Camelot with a powerful sword, Sir Balin le Savage, the most powerful knight in the world, takes the sword . . ."

www.gradesaver.com book 2 chapters 1-4. Title

"King Arthur . . . the other knights of the round table also tried, but failed. . . Suprisingly, Balin succeeded. 

The young woman praised Balin claiming only the most worthy knight could have handled the challenge."

http://www.gradesaver.com book-2 chapters 1-4

"to write Balin's name on the tomb and deal with his sword. . . realizing only the strongest knights could lift it, he predicted that no knight would claim it unless he be Sir Lancelot or Sir Galahad"

 Sir Galahad was better than Lancelot in every way.

www.gradesaver.com book 2 16-19

"The brothers continued to fight until Balin fell. He asked for the name of his vanquisher, and when Balan revealed himself"

A knight who wielded a sword that only he and someone as good and as worthy as Sir Lancelot or the good knight sir Galahad could use, was wounded to death by his younger brother.

www.gradesaver.com book-2 chapters 16-19

"Arthur lamented the loss of two of his best knights"

www.gradesaver.com book-2 16-19

"Balin and his brother helped Arthur in the renewed war against the twelve kings. They were the best knights on Arthur's side"

www.timelessmyths.com/arthurian Balin le Savage

"At that Parcenet was very much astonished, for Sir Pellias was held by

many to be the best knight-at-arms alive,"

www.celtic-twilight.com/camelot. Sir Pellias the Gentle Knight

"But to all that they said Sir Pellias replied, 'Stay me not in that which I would do, for I do tell you all that I have several times undertaken adventures even more perilous than this and yet I have 'scaped with no great harm to myself.'"

He was currently unarmed and ready to fight a terribly strong knight on the latter's home ground.

www.celtic-twilight.com/camelot. Sir Pellias encounters the sorrowful lady in arroy

"Now this stone was of such a size that five men of usual strength could hardly lift it. But Sir Pellias lifted it forth from its place with great ease, and, raising it with both hands, he ran quickly toward that Red Knight and flung the rock at him with much force."

This is talking about five men in the terms of strength they used back then which is; needless to say a lot higher than today's standard.

www.celtic-twilight.com/camelot. Sir Pellias encounters the sorrowful lady in arroy

"Then had Sir Gawaine such a grace and gift that an holy man had given to him, that every day in the year, from underne till high noon, his might increased those three hours as much as thrice his strength,"

Gawaine at base strength was no weakling!

http://www.fullbooks.com/Le-Morte-Darthur Chapter XXI

"Now, Sir Gawaine thought that he should easily overcome his adversary in this assault . . . for there was hardly any knight in that realm equal to Sir Gawaine for prowess. . . excepting by King Arthur. . . Sir Gawaine was cast with great violence out of the saddle"

The knight that just overthrew the very strong man is named Sir Marhaus. A marvelous knight. A different version of this story said that they fought on foot and Gawaine's strength did increase but, that did not push Marhaus back.

www.celtic-twilight.com. The lady of the lake sits by the fountain in Arroy

" 'Messire, I make my vow, that thou art one of the most terrible knights in the world. For thou hast done unto me this day what only one knight in all the world hath ever done, and that is King Arthur, who is my uncle and my lord.' "

This is Sir Gawaine remarking about Sir Marhaus's strength.

www.celtic-twilight.com. The lady of the lake sits by the fountain in Arroy

"And in that encounter the spear of Sir Gawaine burst even to the hand-guard, but the spear of Sir Pellias held, so that Sir Gawaine was cast out of his saddle with terrible violence, smiting the earth with such force that he rolled thrice over in the dust and then lay altogether motionless as though bereft of life."

www.celtic-twilight.com. The Lady of the Lake Finds Sir Pellias wounded.

"King Arthur was entirely successful in that assault . . . For the spear of Sir Pellias burst to pieces, and the spear of King Arthur held; and Sir Pellias was cast with passing violence out of his saddle for the distance of more than half a spear's length behind the crupper of his horse. Nor did he altogether recover from that fall for a long time, so that King Arthur had to wait beside him for a considerable while ere he was able to lift himself up from the ground whereon he lay."

And here is the knig himself. Since he was wearing something from the lady he loved, he was psicologically strengthened to the point where he was practically invincible. That day he had already overthrown Sirs Gawaine, Ewain/Uwaine and sir Geraint prior to this meeting.

www.celtic-twilight.com. The white champion meets two knights at the mill.

"Percival was so angry that the sky all became like scarlet before his eyes. . . he ran unto Sir Boindegardus and catched the spear in his hands and wrestled with such terrible strength that he plucked it away from Sir Boindegardus. . . he brake it across his knee and flung it away.

Then Sir Boindegardus . . . drew his bright, shining sword with intent to slay Percival. But when Percival saw what he would be at, he catched up his javelin and, running to a little distance, he turned and threw it at Sir Boindegardus with so cunning an aim that the point of the javelin entered the ocularium of the helmet of Sir Boindegardus and pierced through the eye and the brain and came out of the back of the head." 

This was his first battle. He was an untrained youth of maybe 17 and he was also unarmed except for those little homemade javelin the story speaks about.

http://www.sacred-texts.com. Chapter 1.  page 277

"Then Sir Launcelot was filled with amazement, and he said: 'Is not that knight Sir Boindegardus?' And Percival said: 'Ay.' Then Sir Launcelot said: 'Fair youth, know that thou hast slain one of the strongest and most terrible knights in all the world.' "

Here Sir Lancelot speaks about the knight that little Percival slew with respect. When Lancelot so respects a knight, you can be certain that he is a very good knight.

www.sacred-texts.com. Chapter 2. page 281

 "the name of Sir Percival became very famous in all courts of chivalry, and many said: 'Verily, this young knight must be the peer of Sir Launcelot of the Lake himself.' "

www.sacred-texts.com. Chapter 5 page 318

"So King Arthur and Sir Lamorack and Sir Percival and several others went unto that pavilion which was the pavilion of the Round Table, and there King Arthur showed Sir Percival a seat which was immediately upon the right hand of the Seat Perilous.And upon the back of that seat there was a name emblazoned in letters of gold; and the name was this:

                      PERCIVAL OF GALES

Right next to the seat perilous, the seat that only sir Galahad could sit in!! This could only mean that Percival is a very great knight or will be.

www.sacred-texts.com. Chapter 5 page 327

"For after this he performed many glorious services to the great honor of his knighthood and achieved so many notable adventures that the world spoke of him as being second in worship only to Sir Launcelot of the Lake. Yea; there were many who doubted whether Sir Launcelot himself was really a greater knight than Sir Percival; and though I may admit that Sir Launcelot had the greater prowess, yet Sir Percival was, certes, the more pure in heart and transparent of soul of those two."

www.sacred-texts.com. Chapter 5 page 327

Sir Nabon was so huge of frame and the blows he struck were so heavy that they drove Sir Tristram back as it were in spite of himself. . . 

it was as though new strength and life came back to him, and of a sudden he rushed that battle . . . with threefold fury, and . . . Sir Nabon was astonished and fell back before his assault. Then . . . Sir Tristram . . . rushed in upon him and smote him again and again and yet again. And so he smote Sir Nabon down upon his knees. Then he smote Sir Nabon's head from off his body so that it rolled down into the dust upon the ground.

At the begining of the battle, Sir Tristram felt that this was the biggest and strongest knight he had ever faced. It was a fact that Tristram was bigger that Lancelot himself but Lancelot was better breathed; whatever the final part is supposed to mean.

www.sacred-texts.com. chapter 2 page 205

"Sir Tristram leaped aside and turned the blow very skilfully; and therewith a memory of his knightly prowess came upon him and he, upon his part, lashed a blow at Sir Tauleas that Sir Tauleas received very unexpectedly. And that blow struck Sir Tauleas so terrible a buffet upon the head that the brain of Sir Tauleas swam, and he swayed about and then fell down from off his horse."

Sir Tauleas was a giant and a perilously strong man; this fight took place when Tristram lost all of his sanity. Needless to say, Tauleas was slain.

www.sacred-texts.com.  Chapter 2 page 236

Thus they fought still more than half a day. . . By then Sir Tristram waxed more fresher than Sir Marhaus, and better winded and bigger; and with a mighty stroke he smote Sir Marhaus upon the helm such a buffet that it went through his helm, and through the coif of steel, and through the brain-pan, and the sword stuck so fast in the helm and in his brain-pan that Sir Tristram pulled thrice at his sword or ever he might pull it out from his head; and there Marhaus fell down on his knees, the edge of Tristram's sword left in his brain-pan. 

Sir Tristram's first knightly battle ever; he beat the veteran and probably equal to Lancelot, Sir Marhaus.

http://www.fullbooks.com/Le-Morte-Darthur6. page 289

Thus they fought, hurling here and there nigh two hours, and either were wounded sore. Then at the last Sir Breunor rashed upon Sir Tristram and took him in his arms, for he trusted much in his strength. Then was Sir Tristram called the strongest and the highest knight of the world; for he was called bigger than Sir Launcelot, but Sir Launcelot was better breathed. So anon Sir Tristram thrust Sir Breunor down grovelling, and then he unlaced his helm and struck off his head.

Sir Tristram defeated a knight that had a custom that; in the long run, killed a large number of good nights. This knight was a strong man, or had very strong genes as his son would later prove.

www.fullbooks.com/Le-Morte-Darthur7. page 322

"Then Sir Galahad(/Galahaut) and Sir Tristram met together so hard that either bare other down, horse and all, to the earth. . . Sir Tristram . . .  drove Sir Galahad aback on the one side and on the other, so that he was like to have been slain. 
With that came the King with the Hundred Knights, and all that
fellowship went fiercely upon Sir Tristram. . . And
therewithal Sir Tristram took his own sword by the point, and put
the pommel in the hand of Sir Galahad."

Sir Tristram fought Sir Galahad/ Galahaut the haut prince pretty soon after fighting his father. the battle was strong for the prince proved himself against one of the best in the world. The prince also planned it so that there was no way Tristram could win for he was avenging his blood. In an honorable fight Tristram would have won.

www.fullbooks.com/Le-Morte-Darthur7. Page 323

"Sir Lamorak jousted and did such deeds of arms that Nabon and all
the people said there was never knight that ever they saw do such
deeds of arms; for, as the French book saith, he for-jousted all
that were there, for the most part of five hundred knights, that
none abode him in his saddle."

There are few knights who have jousted this number and remained in their saddle. One would also be Sir Pellias

www.fullbooks.com/Le-Morte-Darthur7. page 344

"and there by great force that knight smote down Sir Tristram from his horse and had a great fall. Then Sir Tristram . . . and so he alighted upon foot, and avoided his horse, and cast his shield upon his shoulder, and drew his sword, and there they fought a long battle . . . And there withal Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak sware that never none of them should fight against other, nor for weal nor for woe."

The one and only fair fight that Tristram and Lamorak de Galis ever had against each other. The joust went to sir Lamorak and the battle on foot was a tie.

www.fullbooks.com/Le-Morte-Darthur8. Page 369-370.

"meanwhile there came Sir Palomides, the good knight . . . And to brief this matter he smote down Sir Tristram and Sir Lamorak both with one spear"

Sir Palomides beat them at a game in which both of them were better than he would ever be. Their excuse, they were tired out from fighting each other.

www.fullbooks.com/Le-Morte-Darthur8 page 370

"And within a while came King Arthur, and met with Sir Lamorak,
and jousted with him; and there he smote down Sir Lamorak, and
wounded him sore with a spear, and so he rode from him; wherefore Sir Lamorak was wroth that he would not fight with him on foot, howbeit that Sir Lamorak knew not King Arthur."

Now king Arthur was and always will be a better knight than Palomides. I still say that Sir Lamorak was tired.

www.fullbooks.com/Le-Morte-Darthur8 page 374

"Sir Tristram's spear brake in pieces, and Sir Launcelot by malfortune struck Sir Tristram on the side a deep wound nigh to the death; but yet Sir Tristram avoided not his saddle, and so the spear brake. Therewithal Sir
Tristram that was wounded gat out his sword, and he rushed to Sir
Launcelot, and gave him three great strokes upon the helm that
the fire sprang thereout, and Sir Launcelot abashed his head
lowly toward his saddle-bow."

This is what happens when Tristram and Lancelot fight.

www.fullbooks.com/Le-Morte-Darthur8 page 411

"they came together so fiercely that either bare down other to the earth, and sore were they bruised. . .  And then Beaumains threw his shield from him, and proffered to fight with Sir Launcelot on foot; and so they rushed together like boars, tracing, rasing, and foining to the mountenance of an hour; and Sir Launcelot felt him so big that he marvelled of his strength, for he fought more liker a giant than a knight, and that his fighting was durable and passing perilous. For Sir Launcelot had so much ado with him that he dreaded himself to be shamed,"

Lancelot; a man whose strength was amazing, felt his strength dwarfed by this "Beaumains."

www.fullbooks.com/Le-Morte-Darthur5 Page 214-215

" 'Truly that is truth, said Beaumains, but it doth me good to feel your might, and yet, my lord, I showed not the utterance.' "

Sir Lancelot felt that he was going to loose a fight to a knight who was not fight with all his might!!

www.fullbooks.com/Le-Morte-Darthur5 page 215

" 'IN God's name, said Sir Launcelot, for I promise you, by the
faith of my body, I had as much to do as I might to save myself
from you unshamed, and therefore have ye no doubt of none earthly knight.' "

Sir Lancelot himself admits that he was doing all he could to not loose that fight.

www.fullbooks.com/Le-Morte-Darthur5 page 215

"AND then thus they fought till it was past noon, and never would
stint, till at the last they lacked wind both . . . they were so amazed that either took other's sword instead of his own.
Thus they endured till evensong time, that there was none that beheld them might know whether was like to win the battle"

Sir Beaumains/ Sir Gareth fought a knight all day and at the evening, no one could tell who could win. Considering the fact that the other knight was a veteran and Gareth a rookie.

www.fullbooks.com/Le-Morte-Darthur5. page 238-239

" 'When Sir Beaumains heard her say so, he . . . doubled his pace unto the Red Knight, and there they fought a new battle together. But Sir
Beaumains then doubled his strokes. . . And, sir, now I will thee tell that every day my strength increaseth till noon, and all this time have I seven men's strength.' "

Gareth defeated this man at full strength on both sides. 

www.fullbooks.com/Le-Morte-Darthur5. page 240