“And in many a land they speak thus, that Kay, Arthur’s seneschal, Was a firebrand, hell-born, yet I wot well far other the tale I'ld tell. From reproach would I gladly free him, tho’ few but should say me nay, Yet a gallant man and a worthy, I swear was this knight, Sir Kay. And my mouth to this truth beareth witness, and more would I tell to thee; Unto Arthur’s Court came strangers in many a company, And their manners and ways were diverse, nor all there might honour claim, But Kay an he saw false dealing, he counted such ways as shame, And his face he turned from the sinner, yet he who dealt courteously, And true man with true men would hold him, Kay served him right heartily. And one who fall well discernèd the manner of men was Kay, Thus he did to his lord good service, for his harsh words drave far away The men who would falsely vaunt them good knights and true to be, Ill was he to them as a hailstorm, sharp as sting of an angry bee. Small wonder that these deny him his honour and knightly fame, True servant and wise they found him, and for this cause upon his name Their hatred doth still heap slander”
—
Parzival by Wolfram von Eschenbach, Book VI: Arthur
“Although Keii might be unpleasant and quite mannerless, he still had not lost the pride of nobility. Indeed, he was so brave that he wouldn’t avoid any monster: he dared fight it no matter how large it seemed to him and whatever his chances of success. You should also know that Arthur was zealous in virtue and in his faultless youth has chosen such attendants as were free of deceit. How could Keii have remained one of them for even a short time if he had been as evil as many have said? The truth is that he liked to scoff and spared no one. That was his chief failing”
Diu Crône by Heinrich von dem Türlin, Chapter Two: The Tankard
I love it when there are little “yes, he’s an asshole, but he’s our asshole and we love him” asides about Kay in Arthurian texts
"When Kay the seneschal heard the news he made all the right noises, but really he was his usual resentful self. But so what? When it comes to the crunch a malcontent can sometimes be worth two men, while sweet-tongued flatterers vanish like froth"
The First Continuation of Chrétien De Troyes' Perceval