Pelownes is the seaside castle where Sir Palamides is ordered to face justice for killing a knight at the tournament of Lonazep. Its place in the episode is defined by an interrupted journey: Palamides is being taken there under guard when Sir Launcelot intervenes, and he returns instead to Joyous Gard, still alive and freed from his escort.

The Place of Judgment

After a company of knights and retainers captures Sir Palamides, a twelve-knight tribunal finds him guilty of the death of their lord and Sir Safere not guilty. The captors release Safere, who parts from Palamides in grief. On the following morning, they prepare to convey Palamides to the dead knight’s father, at whose hands he is to receive justice. His legs are bound beneath an old horse, and Pelownes is named as the castle by the sea where the sentence is to be carried out.

The Rescue on the Road

The escort passes near Joyous Gard on its way to Pelownes. Sir Tristram, told that Palamides is being led to his death, arms himself and rides after the party, despite being angry with Palamides; he will not allow a noble knight to die such a shameful death. But Sir Launcelot encounters the escort first, stopping beside a well to drink after removing his helmet. Seeing Palamides bound, he decides to rescue him rather than let him be taken on.

An Unreached Destination

Launcelot first asks the twelve escorting knights to release Palamides, then fights them when they refuse. He knocks the foremost rider down with his spear, brings down three more before the spear breaks, and continues with his sword until all twelve have been felled or wounded. He takes a horse, frees Palamides, and turns back toward Joyous Gard. There Palamides sees Tristram arriving to help him; Launcelot, wearing a golden shield, is not at first recognized by Tristram. Pelownes therefore remains the intended site of judgment, not the scene of Palamides’s execution: Launcelot’s intervention changes the outcome before the party reaches the castle.