 Chapter 6-9, Book 19, Volume 2 of Lamort-Darther. Chapter 6 Then that nights that were hurt were searched, and soft salves were laid to their wounds, and so it passed on till supper time, and all the cheer that might be made them there was done unto the queen and all her nights. Then when season was they went into their chambers, but in no wise the queen would not suffer the wounded nights to be from her, but that they were laid within draughts by her chamber, upon beds and pillows, that she herself might see to them that they wanted nothing. So when Soloncelot was in his chamber that was assigned unto him, he called unto him Solavane, and told him that night he must go speak with his lady Dame Guinevere. Sir, said Solavane, let me go with you, and it please you, for I dread me sore of the treason of Semélia-grosse. Nay, said Soloncelot, I thank you, but I will have nobody with me. Then Soloncelot took his sword in his hand, and privily went to a place where he had aspired a ladder to forehand, and that he took under his arm, and bare it through the garden, and set it up to the window, and there and on the queen was ready to meet him. And then they made, either to other, their complaints of many diverse things, and then Soloncelot wished that he might come unto her, which ye well, said the queen, I would as faint as ye, that ye might come in to me. Would you, madam, said Soloncelot, with your heart that I will with you? Very truly, said the queen, now shall I prove my might, said Soloncelot, for your love. And then he set his hands upon the bars of iron, and he pulled at them with such a might that he brassed them clean out of the stone walls, and there with all one of the bars of iron cut the brawn of his hands through out to the bone, and then he left into the chamber of the queen. Make ye no noise, said the queen, for my wounded knights lie here fast by me. So to pass upon this tale Soloncelot went unto bed with the queen, and he took no force of his hurt hand, but took his pleasantce and his liking until it was in the dawning of the day, and which ye well he slept not but watched, and when he saw his time that he might tarry no longer he took his leave and departed at the window, and put it together as well as he might again, and so departed unto his own chamber, and there he told Solavain how he was hurt. Then Solavain dressed his hand and staunched it, and put up on it a glove, that it should not be a spide, and so the queen lay lung in her bed until it was nine of the clock. Then Smeleagrance went to the queen's chamber, and found her ladies there ready clothed. Gizhu Mercy, said Smeleagrance, what aleth you, madam, that ye sleep thus lung? And right there with all he opened the curtain for to behold her, and then was he where, where she lay, and all the sheet and pillow were bed-bled with the blood of Soloncelot and of his hurt hand. Then Smeleagrance aspired that blood. Then he deemed in her that she was forced to the king, and that some of the wounded knights had lain by her all that night. Ah, madam, said Smeleagrance, now I have found you a false traitress unto my Lord Arthur. For now I prove well it was not for naught that she laid those wounded knights within the bounds of your chamber. For I will call you of treason before my Lord King Arthur. And now I have proved you, madam, with a shameful deed, and that they be all false, or some of them. I will make good, for a wounded knight this knight has lain by you. That is false, said the queen. And that I will report me unto them all. Then when the ten knights heard Smeleagrance's words, they spake all in one voice, and said to Smeleagrance, Thou sayest falsely, and wrongfully puttest upon us such a deed, and that we will make good any of us. Choose which thou list of us, when we are whole of our wounds. Ye shall not, said Smeleagrance, away with your proud language, for here ye may all see, said Smeleagrance, that by the queen this knight a wounded knight had lain. Then they were all ashamed when they saw that blood. And which ye will, Smeleagrance was passing glad, that he had the queen at such an advantage, for he deemed by that to hide his treason. So with this rumour came in Ceylon's lot, and found them all at a great array. CHAPTER VII What array is this, said Ceylon's lot. Smeleagrance told them what he had found, and showed them the queen's bed. Truly, said Ceylon's lot, ye did not your part nor nightly, to touch a queen's bed while it was drawn, and she lying therein. For I daced say my lord Arthur himself would not have displayed her curtains, she being within her bed, unless it had pleased him to have lain down by her, and therefore ye have done unworshiftly and shamefully to yourself. I what not what ye mean, said Smeleagrance. But well I am sure, there hath one of her wounded knights lain by her this night, and therefore I will prove with my hands that she is a traitorous unto my lord Arthur. Beware what you do, said Ceylon's lot, for any ye say so, and ye will prove it, it will be taken at your hands. My lord Ceylon's lot, said Smeleagrance, I read you beware what ye do, for though ye are never so good a knight, as ye what well ye are renowned the best knight of the world. Yet should ye be advised to battle in a wrong quarrel, for God will have a stroke in every battle. As for that, said Ceylon's lot, God is to be dread. But as to that I say nay plainly, that this night there lay none of these ten wounded knights, with my Lady Queen Guinevere, and that will I prove with my hands that ye say untruly in that now. Hold, said Smeleagrance, here is my glove that she is traitorous unto my lord King Arthur, and that this night one of the wounded knights lay with her, and I receive your glove, said Ceylon's lot, and so they were sealed with their signets, and delivered unto the ten knights. At what day shall we do battle together, said Ceylon's lot? This day eight days, said Smeleagrance, in the field beside Westminster, I am agreed, said Ceylon's lot. But now, said Smeleagrance, said then it is so that we must fight together, I pray you, as ye be a noble knight, await me with no treason, nor non-villainy the meanwhile, nor non-for-you. So God help me, said Ceylon's lot, ye shall write well wit, I was never of no such conditions, for I report me to all knights that ever have known me. I fared never with no treason, nor I loved never the fellowship of no man that fared with treason. Then let us go to dinner, said Smeleagrance, and after dinner ye and the queen and ye may ride all to Westminster. I will well, said Ceylon's lot. Then Smeleagrance said to Ceylon's lot, pleaseth it you to see the estures of this castle. With a good will, said Ceylon's lot. And then they went together from chamber to chamber, for Ceylon's lot dread no perils. For ever a man of worship and of prowess dreadeth least all perils, for they wean every man be as they be, but ever he that faredeth with treason put as oft a man in great danger. So it befell upon Ceylon's lot that no peril dread, as he went with Smeleagrance, he trod on a trap, and the board rolled, and there Ceylon's lot fell down more than ten fathom into a cave full of straw, and then Smeleagrance departed, and made no fair as that he nist where he was, and when Ceylon's lot was thus missed they marveled where he was become, and then the queen and many of them deemed that he was departed as he was well to do suddenly, for Smeleagrance made suddenly to put away Sleavain's horse, that they might all understand that Ceylon's lot was departed suddenly. So it passed on till after dinner, and then Sleavain would not stint until that he ordained litters for the wounded knights, that they might be laid in them, and so with the queen and them all, both ladies and gentle women and other, went unto Westminster, and there the knights told King Arthur how Smeleagrance had appealed the queen of Hytreason, and how Ceylon's lot had received the glove of him, and this day, eight days, they shall do battle for you. By my head said King Arthur, I am a fear to Smeleagrance, hath taken upon him a great charge, but where is Ceylon's lot, said the king? Sir, said they all, we want not where he is, but we deem he is ridden to some adventures, as he is oft times won't to do, for he hath Sleavain's horse. Let him be, said the king, he will be founden, but if he be trapped with some treason. CHAPTER 8 So leave we Sleon's lot, lying within that cave in great pain, and every day there came a lady, and brought him his meat and his drink, and wooed him, to have lain by him. And ever the noble knight Sleon's lot, said her nay. Sleon's lot, said she, ye are not wise, for ye may never out of this prison, but if ye have my help, and also your lady, Queen Guinevere, shall be Brent in your default, unless that ye be there at the day of battle. God defends, said Sleon's lot, that she should be Brent in my default, and if it be so, said Sleon's lot, that I may not be there, it shall be well understood, both at the king and at the queen, and with all men of worship, that I am dead, sick, Luther in prison. For all men that know me, will say for me, that I am in some evil case, and I be not there that day, and well I what, there is some good night either of my blood, or some other that loveth me, that will take my quarrel in hand. And therefore, said Sleon's lot, which ye will ye shall not fear me, and if there were no more women in all this land but ye, I will not have a do with you. Then art thou shame, said the lady, and destroyed forever. As for world shame, Jesus defend me, and as for my distress, it is welcome whatsoever it be that God sendeth me. So she came to him the same day that the battle should be, and said, Sleon's lot, me thinketh ye are too hard-hearted, but wouldest thou but kiss me once, I should deliver thee, and then armor, and the best horse that is within Somalia grant is stable, as for to kiss you, said Sleon's lot. I may do that and lose no worship, and which ye will, and I understand, there were any disworship, for to kiss you I would not do it. Then he kissed her, and then she got him, and brought him to his armor, and when he was armed she brought him to a stable, where stood twelve good courses, and bade him choose the best. Then Sleon's lot looked upon a white courser, the which liked him best, and anon he commanded the keepers fast to saddle him, with the best saddle of war that was there, and so it was done as he bade. Then got he his spear in his hand, and his sword by his side, and commended the lady unto God, and said, Lady, for this good deed I shall do you service, if ever it be in my power. Chapter 9 Now leave we Sleon's lot, wallop that he might, and speak we of Queen Guinevere, that was brought to a fire to be brent, for Somalia grants us sure him thought, the Sleon's lot should not be at that battle. Therefore he ever cried upon King Arthur, to do him justice, other else bring forth Sleon's lot due lake. Then was the king and all the court, full sure abashed and shamed, that the Queen should be brent in the default of Sleon's lot. My Lord Arthur said to Lavain, he may understand that it is not well with my Lord Sleon's lot, for an he were alive, so he be not sick oother in prison, which ye well he would be here, for never heard ye that ever he fail his part, for whom he should do battle for. And therefore said Sleon, my Lord King Arthur, I beseech you give me license to battle here this day, for my lord and master, and for to save my lady the Queen. Gramercy gentle Sleon said King Arthur, for the idea say all that Somalia grants puteth upon my lady the Queen is wrong, for I have spoken with all the ten wounded knights, and there is not one of them, and he were whole and able to do battle, but he would prove upon Somalia grants his body, that it is force that he puteth upon my Queen. So shall I said Sleon's lot, in the defense of my Lord Sleon's lot, and ye will give me leave. Now I give you leave, said King Arthur, and do your best, for idea well say there is some treason done to Sleon's lot. Then was Sleavain armed and hoarse, and suddenly at the list end he wrote to perform this battle, and right as the heralds should cry, less as lay allay, right so came in Sleon's lot, driving with all the force of his horse, and then Arthur cried, ho, and abide. Then was Sleon's lot called on horseback to fore King Arthur, and there he told openly to fore the King and all, as Somalia grants had served him first last. And when the King and the Queen, and all the Lords, knew of the treason of Somalia grants, they were all ashamed on his behalf. Then was Queen Gweneva sent for, and set by the King, in great trust for a champion. And then there was no more else to say, but Sleon's lot and Somalia grants, dressed them unto battle, and took their spears, and so they came together as thunder, and there Sleon's lot bear him down, quite over his horse's croop. And then Sleon's lot alighted, and dressed his shield on his shoulder, with his sword in his hand, and Somalia grants, in the same wise, dressed him unto him, and there they smote many great strokes together. And at the last Sleon's lot smote him such a buffet upon the helmet, that he fell on the one side to the earth, and then he cried unto him aloud, Most noble knight, Sleon's lot, du lake, save my life, for I yield me unto you, and it require you, as ye be a knight and fellow of the table round, slay me not, for I yield me as overcome, and whether I shall live or die, I put into the king's hands endures. Then Sleon's lot wist not what to do, for he had leave her than all the good of the world he might have been revenged upon Somalia grants. And Sleon's lot looked up to the queen Guinevere, if he might aspire by any sign or countenance what she would have done, and then the queen wagged her head upon Sleon's lot, as though she would say slay him. For well knew Sleon's lot by the wagging of her head, that she would have him dead. Then Sleon's lot bade him rise for shame, and perform that battle to the utterance. Nay, said Somalia grants, I will never arise until ye take me as Yolden and Recreant. I shall proffer you large prophets, said Sleon's lot. That is for to say I shall unharm my head and my left quarter of my body, all that may be unarmed, and let bind my left hand behind me, so that he shall not help me, and right so I shall do battle with you. Then Somalia grants started upon his legs, and said on high, My Lord Arthur, take heed to this proffer, for I will take it, and let him be disarmed and bowed down, according to his proffer. What say ye, said King Arthur, unto Sleon's lot? Will ye abide by your proffer? Ye, my Lord, said Sleon's lot, I will never go from that I have once said. Then the knight's part is of the field, disarmed Sleon's lot. First he is head, and sith in his left arm, and his left side, and they bound his left arm behind his back, without shield or anything, and then they were put together. Which ye well, there was many a lady and knight, marveled that Sleon's lot would jeopardy himself in such wise. Then Somalia grants came with his sword all on high, and Sleon's lot showed him openly his bare head and his bare left side, and when he weaned to have spritten him upon the bare head, then lightly he avoided the left leg and the left side, and put his right hand in his sword to that stroke, and so put it on side with great slight, and then with great force Sleon's lot smote him on the helmet, such a buffet that the stroke carved the head in two parts. Then there was no more to do but he was drawn out of the field, and at the great instance of the knights of the table round the king suffered him to be interred, and the mention made upon him, who slew him, and for what cause he was slain, and then the king and the queen made more of Sleon's lot due lake, and more he was cherished than ever he was forehand. Then as the French book Meketh mentioned, there was a good night in the land of Hungary, his name was Ure, and he was an adventurous night, and in all places where he might hear of any deeds of worship there would he be. So it happened in Spain there was an Earl's son, his name was Alfegus, and at the great tournament in Spain, this Sir Ure, Knight of Hungary, and Sir Alfegus of Spain, encountered together for very envy, and so either undertook other to the utterance. And by fortune Sir Ure slew Sir Alfegus, the Earl's son of Spain, but this night that was slain, had given Sir Ure, or ever he was slain, seven great wounds, three on the head, and four on his body, and on his left hand. And this Sir Alfegus had a mother, though which was a great sorceress, and she, for the despite of her son's death, wrought by her subtle crafts, that Sir Ure should never be whole, but ever his wounds should one time fester and another time bleed, so that he would never be whole, until the best night of the world had searched his wounds, and thus she made her abhorrent, where through it was known that Sir Ure should never be whole. Then his mother let make an horse-litter, and put him therein under two palpheries, and then she took Sir Ure's sister with him, a full-fair damsel, whose name was Felle Ololi, and then she took a page with him to keep their horses, and so they let Sir Ure through many countries, for as the French book saith, she let him so, seven year, through all lands christened, and never she could find no night that might ease her son. So she came into Scotland into the lands of England, and by fortune she came nigh the feast of Pentecost unto King Arthur's court, that at that time was Holden at Carlyle, and when she came there, then she made it openly to be known how that she was come into that land for to heal her son. Then King Arthur let call that lady, and ask her the cause why she brought that hurt night into that land. My most noble king, said the lady, which you well, I brought him hither for to be healed of his wounds, that of all his seven year he might not be whole, and then she told the king where he was wounded and of whom, and how his mother had discovered in her pride how she had wrought that by enchantment, so that he should never be whole until the best night of the world had searched his wounds. And so I have passed through all the lands christened to have him healed except this land, and if I fail to heal him here in this land I will never more take pain upon me, and that is pity, for he was a good night and of great nobleness. What is his name, said Arthur? My good and gracious Lord, she said, his name is the oray of the mount. In good times said the king, and sith he are come into this land, ye are right welcome, and which you well here shall your son be healed, and ever any Christian man may heal him. And for to give all other men of worship courage I myself will say to handle your son, and so shall all the kings, dukes and earls that be here present with me at this time, there too will I command them, and well I what they shall obey, and do after my commandment, and which you well said, King Arthur unto oray sister, I shall begin to handle him, and search unto my power, not presuming upon me that I am so worthy to heal your son by my deeds, what I will courage other men of worship to do as I will do. And then the king commanded all the kings, dukes and earls, and all other noble knights of the round table that were there that time present to come into the meadow of Carlisle, and so at that time there were but a hundred and ten of the round table, for forty knights were at that time away, and so here we must begin at King Arthur, as is kindly to begin at him that was the most man of worship that was christened at that time. Chapter 11 Then King Arthur looked upon Sir Oray, and the king thought he was a full likely man when he was whole, and then King Arthur made him to be taken down off the litter, and laid him upon the earth, and there was laid a cushion of gold that he should kneel upon. And then noble Arthur said, fair knight, me repenteth of thy hurt, and for to courage all other noble knights I will pray thee softly to suffer me to handle your wounds. Most noble christened king said Oray, do as ye list, for I am at the mercy of God and at your commandment. So then Arthur softly handled him, and then some of his wounds renewed upon bleeding. Then the king Clarence of Northumberland searched, and it would not be. And then Sir Barant La Appre, that was called the king with a hundred knights, he assayed and failed, and so did King Uriens of the land of Goa, and so did King Anguish of Ireland, so did King Nantres of Garloth, so did King Caradoth of Scotland, so did the Duke Galahead, the Horde Prince, so did Constance Dine, that was Sir Caradoth's son of Cornwall, so did Duke Chellien's of Clarence, so did the Earl of Baus, so did the Earl Lambial, so did the Earl Aristos. Then came in Sir Gawain with his three sons, Sir Gingelin, Sir Florence, and Sir Lovell. These two were begotten upon Sir Brandile's sister, and they all failed. Then came in Sir Agravain, Sir Gheharis, Sir Mordred, and the good knight Sir Gareth, that was a very knighthood worth all the brethren. So came knights of Launcelot's kin, but Sir Launcelot was not that time in the court, for he was at that time of funny adventures. Then Sir Lionel, Sir Ekta de Maris, Sir Bors de Gannis, Sir Blamour de Gannis, Sir Blioberis de Gannis, Sir Galahantain, Sir Galihodin, Sir Menadjuke, Sir Villiers de Valiant, Sir Hebeys de Renumes, all these were of Sir Launcelot's kin, and all they failed. Then came in Sir Sagramour de Desiris, Sir Daudinus de Sauvage, Sir Dinadane, Sir Bruin de Lenoir, that Sir Kaye named La Cotte Mal-tellé, and Sir Kaye de Sénéchelle, Sir Kaye de Strage, Sir Meliot de L'Ogris, Sir Petit Pays of Winchelsea, Sir Galeron of Galway, Sir Melion of the Mountains, Sir Kedek, Sir Owain de Lesavutre, and Sir Ozana le Cure-Hadi. Then came in Sir Astramour and Sir Gromir, Gommos son, Sir Crosselme, Sir Servoise Le Bruis, that was called a passing strong knight, for as the Vuxethe, the chief lady of the lake, feasted Sir Launcelot and Servoise Le Bruis, and when she had feasted them both at sundry times she prayed them to give her a boon, and they granted it her, and then she prayed Sir Servoise that he would promise her never to do battle against the Launcelot du lake, and in the same way as she prayed Sir Launcelot never to do battle against Sir Servoise, and so either promised her. For the French book Seth that Sir Servoise had never courage nor lost to do battle against no man, but if it were against giants and against dragons and wild beasts. So we pass unto them that at the king's request made them all that were there at that high feast, as of the knights of the table round, for to search the oray. To that intent the king did it, to wit which was the noblest knight among them. Then came Sir Aglervale, Sir Durnore, Sir Tore that was begotten upon Ares, the cowherd's wife, but he was begotten for Ares wedded her, and King Pelinore begot them all. First Sir Tore, Sir Aglervale, Sir Durnore, Sir Lamarack, the most noblest knight one that ever was in Arthur's day as for a worldly night, and Sir Percy Vale that was peerless except Sir Galahad in Holy Deeds, but they died in the quest of the Sangrayale. Then came Sir Griffley Lafiz de Dier, Sir Lucan the Butler, Sir Bedivier his brother, Sir Brandiles, Sir Constantine, Sir Caddo's son of Cornwall, that was king after Arthur's days, and Sir Cleggis, Sir Sedoc, Sir Dines L'Escénicale of Cornwall, Sir Fergus, Sir Drian, Sir Lambigus, Sir Clarus of Claremont, Sir Clodrus, Sir Hectimoya, Sir Edward of Cnavern, Sir Dinas, Sir Priamas that was christened by Sir Tristum the Novel Knight, and these three were brethren. Sir Helene Leblanc that was son to Sir Bors, he begot him upon King Brandigoris' daughter, and Sir Brian de Listinoise. Sir Gautier, Sir Reynolds, Sir Gallimier were three brethren, the Salon slot, one upon a bridge in Sir Cay's arms. Sir Grian the Petite, Sir Belanger Levers that was son to the Good Knight, Sir Alessandre Leophelin, that was slain by the treason of King Mark. Also that traitor king slew the noble knight Sir Tristum as he sat harping before his lady, Labol Izzod, with a trenchant glaive for whose death was much bewailing of every night that ever was in Arthur's day. There was never none so bewailed as was Sir Tristum and Sir Lamarack, for they were traiterously slain. Sir Tristram by King Mark and Sir Lamarack by Sir Gawain and his brethren. And this Sir Belanger revenged the death of his father Alessandre, and Sir Tristram slew King Mark, and Labol Izzod died swooning upon the corpse of Sir Tristram whereof was great pity. And all that were with King Mark that were consenting to the death of Sir Tristram were slain, as Sir Andred and many other. Then came Sir Hebeys, Sir Morganois, Sir Centrail, Sir Sapinabales, Sir Belanger the Orgolus, that the Good Knight Sir Lamarack won in plain battle. Sir Nerovius and Sir Plenaeoris. Two Good Knights that Sir Lancelot won. Sir Darris, Sir Harry Le Fis Lake, Sir Erminide, Brother to King Hormons, for whom Sir Palamedes fought at the Red City with two brethren, and Sir Selysays of the Dolores Tower, Sir Edward of Orkney, Sir Ironside, that was called the Noble Knight of the Red Lawns, that Sir Gareth won for the love of Dame Leonaise. Sir Arach de Gravant, Sir de Grón Sonsie Valanie, that fought with the Giant of the Backlow, Sir Epinogris that was the King's son of Northumberland, Sapelius that loved the Lady Etard, and he had died for her love, had not been one of the Ladies of the Lake, her name was named Nimui, and she wedded Sapelius, and she saved him that he was never slain, and he was a full Noble Knight. And Sir Lamiel of Cardiff that was a great lover, Sir Plain de Faurs, Sir Melios de Lille, Sir Bohart le Cure Hadie that was King Arthur's son, Sir Maddox de la Porte, Sir Carl Grévance, Sir Havise de la Foreste Sauvage, Sir Maddox, the Good Knight that was betrayed with his wife, sure for she made him seven year a werewolf, Sir Persaunt, Sir Pertilope, his brother that was called Green Knight, and Sir Périmonnaise, brother to them both that was called the Red Knight, that Sir Gareth won when he was called Bermains. All these hundred knights and ten searched Sir Ure's wounds by the commandment of King Arthur. Chapter 12 Mercy Jesu said King Arthur, where is Soloncelot du Lake that he is not here at this time? Thus as they stood in spake of many things, there was expired Soloncelot that came riding toward them and told the King. Peace said the King. Let no manner thing be said until he come to us. So when Soloncelot aspired King Arthur, he descended from his horse and came to the King, and saluted him and them all. And none as the maid, Sir Ure's sister, saw Soloncelot. She ran to her brother, there as he lay in his litter, and said, Brother, here is come a night that my heart giveth greatly unto. Fair sister said Sir Ure, so doth my heart light against him, and certainly I hope now to be healed, for my heart giveth unto him, more than to all these that have searched me. Then said Arthur unto Soloncelot, ye must do as we have done, and tell Soloncelot what they had done, and showed him them all that had searched him. Jesus, you defend me, said Soloncelot, when so many kings and knights have assayed and failed, that I should presume upon me to enchieve that all ye my lords might not enchieve. Ye shall not choose, said King Arthur, for I will command you four to do as we all have done. My most renowned Lord Soloncelot, you know well I dare not nor may not disobey your commandment, but an I might orderst, which you will I would not take upon me to touch that wounded knight in that intent that I should pass all other knights. Jesus, you defend me from that shame. Ye take it wrong, said King Arthur. Ye shall not do it for no presumption, but for to bear as fellowship. In so much ye be a fellow of the table round, and which ye will, said King Arthur, and ye prevail not and heal him. I dare say there is no knight in this land may heal him, and therefore I pray you, do as we have done. And then all the kings and knights, for the most part, prayed Soloncelot to search him, and then the wounded knight's array set him up weakly, and prayed Soloncelot heartily, saying, courteous knight, I require thee, for God's sake, heal my wounds. For me, thinketh ever, Sitheth, since you came here, my wounds grieve me not. Ah, my fair Lord, said Soloncelot, jesu would that I might help you. I shame me sore that I should be thus rebuked, for never was I able in worthiness to do so higher thing. Then Soloncelot kneeled down by the wounded knight, saying, My Lord Arthur, I must do your commandment, the which ye sore against my heart. And then he held up his hands, and looked into the east, saying secretly to himself, Thou blessed Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, I beseech thee of thy mercy, that my simple worship and honesty be saved, and thou blessed trinity. Thou mayest give power to heal this sick knight, by thy great virtue and grace of thee, but good Lord never of myself. And then Soloncelot prayed sore to let him see his head, and then devoutly kneeling, he ransacked the three wounds that they bled a little, and forthwith all the wounds fair healed, and seemed as they had been whole a seven year, and in likewise he searched his body other three wounds, and they healed in likewise. And then the last of all he searched the which was in his hand, and an on it healed fair. Then King Arthur and all the kings and knights kneeled down, and gave thankings and lovings unto God, and to his blessed mother. And ever Soloncelot wept as he had been a child that had been beaten. Then King Arthur let array priests and clerks in the most devoutest manner, to bring inso-ore within Carlisle, with singing and loving to God. And when this was done, the king let clothe him in the richest manner that could be thought. And then were there but few better made knights in all the court, for he was passingly weddle made and bigly, and Arthur asked Soloncelot how he felt himself. My good Lord, he said, I felt myself never so lusty. Will ye joust and do deeds of arms, said King Arthur? Sir, said, array. And I had all that lunged unto jousts. I would be soon ready. Chapter 13 Then Arthur made a party of hundred knights, to be against an hundred knights. And so upon the morn they jousted for a diamond, but they jousted none of the dangerous knights. And so for to shorten this tale Sir Aure and Sir Lavain jousted best that day, for there was none of them, but he overthrew and pulled down thirty knights. And then by the assent of all the kings and lords Sir Aure and Sir Lavain were made knights of the table round. And Sir Lavain cast his love unto Dame Felly Lowly, Sir Aure's sister. And then they were wedded together with great joy. And King Arthur gave to every of them a barony of lens. And this Sir Aure would never go from Soloncelot. But he and Sir Lavain waited ever more upon him. And they were in all the court accounted for good knights and full desires in arms. And many noble deeds they did, for they would have no rest but ever sought adventures. Thus they lived in all that court with great no bless and joy long time. But every night and day Sir Agravain, Sir Gawain's brother, awaited Queen Venova and Soloncelot du Lake to put them to rebuke and shame. And so I leave here of this tale and over skip great books of Soloncelot du Lake, what great event he ventures he did when he was called Le Chevaleur du Chariot. For as the French book said, because of despite that knights and ladies called him the knight that rode in the chariot, like as he would judge to the gallows, therefore in despite of all of them that named him so, he was carried in a chariot a twelve month, four, but little after he had slain Sir Melligrance in the Queen's quarrel he never in a twelve month came in horse-brook. And as the French book said, he did that twelve month more than forty battles. And because I have lost the very matter of Le Chevaleur du Chariot, I depart from the tale of Soloncelot and here I go unto the mort of King Arthur and that course Sir Agravain. And hereafter followeth the most piteous history of the mort of King Arthur, the which is the twentieth book. End of book nineteen, chapters ten through thirteen, read by David Cole, Medway, Massachusetts. Chapters one to five, book twenty, volume two of Le Mort d'Arthur. This is a LibriVox recording, all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain, for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org, read by Nathan at antipodeanwriter.wordpress.com. Le Mort d'Arthur, volume two by Sir Thomas Mallory. Chapter one. How Sir Agravain and Sir Mortrid were busy upon Sir Gawain for to disclose the love between Soloncelot and Queen Guinevere. In May, when every lusty heart flourishes and burgeoneth, for as the season is lusty to behold and comfortable, so man and woman rejoice and gladden of summer coming with his fresh flowers, for winter with his rough widens and blasts, causeth a lusty man and woman to cower and sit fast by the fire. So in this season, as in the month of May, it befell a great anger and unhapp that stinted knot to the flower of shulery of all the world was destroyed and slain, and all was long upon two unhappy nights the which were named Agravain and Sir Mortrid that were brethren unto Sir Gawain. For this Sir Agravain and Sir Mortrid had ever a privy hate unto the Queen Dame Guinevere and to Sir Lancelot, and daily and nightly they ever watched upon Sir Lancelot. So it mishapt. Sir Gawain and all his brethren were in King Arthur's chamber, and then Sir Agravain said thus openly and not in no council that many nights might hear it. I marvel that we all be not ashamed both to see and to know how Sir Lancelot life daily and nightly by the Queen, and all we know it so, and it is shamefully suffered of us all that we all should suffer so noble of King as King Arthur is so to be shamed. In spake Sir Gawain and said, Brother Sir Agravain, I pray you and charge you move no such matters no more before me for which you will, said Sir Gawain, I will not be of your council. So God me help, said Sir Gawain and Sir Gawain. We will not be knowing, Brother Agravain, of your deeds. Then will I, said Sir Mortrid. I leave well that, said Sir Gawain, for ever unto all unhappiness, Brother Sir Mortrid, there too will ye grant, and I would that ye left all this, and made you not so busy for I know, said Sir Gawain, what will fall of it? Fall of it, what fall may, said Sir Agravain, I will disclose it to the King, not by my council, said Sir Gawain, for and there rise war, and a rack betwixt Sir Lancelot and us, which ye will, Brother, there will many kings and great lords hold with Sir Lancelot. Also, Brother Sir Agravain, said Sir Gawain, ye must remember how of time Sir Lancelot hath rescued the King and the Queen, and the best of us had all been full cold at the hard route, had not Sir Lancelot been better than we, and that hath he proved himself full off'd, and as for my part, said Sir Gawain, I will never be against Sir Lancelot for one day's deed, when he rescued me from King Karados of the Dolores Tower, and slew him, and saved my life. Also, Brother Sir Agravain and Sir Mortrid, and likewise Sir Lancelot, rescued you both, and three score and two from Sir Turkwin. Me thinketh, Brother, such kind deeds and kindness should be remembered. Do as ye list, said Sir Agravain, for I will lane it no longer. With these words came to them King Arthur. Now, Brother, stint your noise, said Sir Gawain. We will not, said Sir Agravain and Sir Mortrid. Will ye so, said Sir Gawain, then God speed you, for I will not hear your tales nor be of your council. No more will I, said Sir Gareth and Sir Gaharis, for we will never say evil by that man, for because, said Sir Gareth, Sir Lancelot made me night, by no manner owe I to say ill of him, and there with all they three departed, making great dole. Alas, said Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth, now is this realm wholly mischieved, and the noble Fellowship of the Round Table shall be disparpled, so they departed. Chapter 2. How Sir Agravain disclosed their love to King Arthur, and how King Arthur gave them license to take him. And then, Sir Arthur asked them what noise they made. My Lord, said Agravain, I shall tell you that I may keep no longer. Here is I and my brother, Sir Mortrid, break unto my brother Sir Gawain, Sir Gaharis, and to Sir Gareth. How this we know all, that Sir Lancelot holdeth your Queen, and hath done long, and we be your sister's sons, and we may suffer it no longer. And all we want, that ye should be above Sir Lancelot, and ye are the King that made him night. And therefore, we will prove it, that he is a traitor to your person. If it be so, said Sir Arthur, which you will, he is none other, but I would be loath to begin such a thing, that I might have proofs upon it, for Sir Lancelot is an hardy night, and all ye know, he is the best night among us all. And but if he be taken with the deed, he will fight with him, that bringeth up the noise, and I know no night, that is able to match him. Therefore, and it be sooth, as ye say, I would he were taken with the deed. For as the French book saith, the King was full loath there too, that any noise should be upon Sir Lancelot and his Queen. For the King had a deeming, but he would not hear of it, for Sir Lancelot had done so much for him, and the Queen so many times that with ye well, the King loved him passingly well. My Lord said, Sir Graham, ye shall ride to mourn a hunting, and doubt ye not, Sir Lancelot will not go with you. Then when it draweth toward night, ye may send the Queen word, that ye will lie out all that night, and so may ye send for your cooks. And then upon pain of death, we shall take him that night with the Queen, and either we shall bring him to you dead or quick. I will well, said the King. Then I counsel you, said the King, take with you sure fellowship. Sir, said Agrivene, my brother, Sir Mordred, and I will take with us twelve nights at the round table. Beware, said King Arthur, for I warn you, ye shall find him white. Let us deal, said Sir Agrivene, and Sir Mordred. So on the mourn, King Arthur rode a hunting, and sent word to the Queen that he would be out all that night. Then Sir Agrivene and Sir Mordred got to them twelve nights, and hit them self in a chamber in the castle of Carlisle, and these were their names. Sir Colgravence, Sir Mador de la Porte, Sir Gingelaine, Sir Meliot de l'Ogris, Sir Petit Passé of Wiltresi, Sir Galaron of Galway, Sir Melion of the Mountain, Sir Astromor, Sir Gromor Sumojur, Sir Cacelaine, Sir Florence, Sir Lavel. So these twelve nights were with Sir Mordred and Sir Agrivene, and all they were of Scotland, Uther of Sir Gawain's kin, either well-willers to his brethren. So when the night came, Sir Lancelot told Sir Bors, how he would go that night and speak with the Queen. Sir, said Sir Bors, you shall not go this night by my counsel. Why? said Sir Lancelot. Sir, said Sir Bors, I dread me ever of Sir Agrivene, that waiteth you daily to do you shame, and us all, and never gave my heart against no going, that ever ye went to the Queen, so much is now. For I mistrust that the King is out this night from the Queen, because per adventure he hath lain some watch for you and the Queen, and therefore I dread me sore of treason. Have ye no dread, said Sir Lancelot, for I shall go and come again and make no tarrying. Sir, said Sir Bors, that me repenteth, for I dread me sore that you're going out this night shall wroth us all. Then, nephew, said Sir Lancelot, I marvel much why ye save us, said them the Queen hath sent for me, and which ye will, I will not be so much a coward, but she shall understand, I will see her good grace. God speed ye well, said Sir Bors, and send ye sound, and safe again. Chapter 3 Hal Sir Lancelot was a spy in the Queen's chamber in Hal Sir Agrivene, and Sir Mordred came with twelve knights to slay him. So Sir Lancelot departed and took his sword under his arm, and so in his mantle, that noble knight put himself in great jeopardy, and so he passed till he came to the Queen's chamber, and then Sir Lancelot was likely put into the chamber. And then, as the French book saith, the Queen and Lancelot were together, and whether they were a bed or at other manner of desports me, lest not hereof make no mention, for love that time was not as is nowadays. But thus as they were together there came Sir Agrivene and Sir Mordred with twelve knights with them at the round table, and they said with crying voice, Traitor Knights, Sir Lancelot, Delake, now art thou taken? Thus they cried with a loud voice, that all the court might hear it, and they all fourteen were armed at all points, as they should fight in a battle. Alas, said Queen Guinevere, now are we mischieved both. Madame, said Sir Lancelot, is there here any armour within your chamber that I might cover my poor body with all? And if there be any, give it to me, and I shall soon stint their malice by the grace of God. Truly, said the Queen, I have none armour, shield, sword, nor spear. Wherefore, I dread me, sore, our long love is come to a mischievous end, for I hear by their noise there be many naval knights, and will I what they be surely armed, and against them ye may make no resistance. Wherefore, ye are likely to be slain, and then shall I be Brent. For any might escape them, said the Queen, I would not doubt, but that ye would rescue me in what danger that ever I stood in. Alas, said Sir Lancelot, in all my life, thus was I never bestowed, that I should be thus shamefully slain, for lack of mine armour. But ever and once, Agrivene and Sir Maudred cried, Traitor Knight, come out of the Queen's chamber for wit thou, well thou art so beset, that thou shalt not escape. Oh, Jesus, mercy, said Sir Lancelot, this shameful cry and noise I may not suffer, for better were death, at once then, thus to endure this pain. Then he took the Queen in his arms, and kissed her, and said, Most noble Christian Queen, I beseech you as ye have been ever, my special good lady, and I at all times, your true poor knight unto my power, and as I never failed you in right and or in wrong, sit on the first day, King Arthur, may be knight, that ye will pray for my soul, if that I hear be slain. For well, I am assured, that so bores my nephew, and all the remnant of my kin, with Sir Levene and Sir Ur, that they will not fail you to rescue from the fire, and therefore, my own lady, you recovered yourself. What some ever come with me, that ye go with Sir Bores, my nephew, and Sir Ur, and they all will do you all the pleasure, that they can, or may, that ye shall live like a Queen upon my lands. Nay Lancelot, said the Queen, wit thou well, I will never live after thy days, but and thou be slain, I will take my death, as meekly for Jesus Christ's sake, as ever did any Christian Queen. Well, Madam, said Lancelot, Sith it is so, that the day is come, that our love must depart, which ye well, I shall sell my life as dear as I may, and a thousandfold, said Lancelot, I am more heavier for you than for myself, and now I'd leave her then to the Lord of all Christendom, but I had sure armour upon thee, that men might speak of my deeds, or ever I was slain. Truly, said the Queen, I would, and it might please God, that they would take me and slay me, and suffer you to escape. That shall never be, said Lancelot, God defend me from such a shame, but Jesus be thou my shield and mine armour. Chapter four, how Sir Lancelot slew Sir Col Gromance, and armed him in his harness, and after slew Sir Abramaine, and twelfth of his fellows. And therewith, Sir Lancelot wrapped his mantle about his arm well and surely, and by then they had gotten a great form out of the hall, and therewith all they rashed the door. Fair Lords, said Sir Lancelot, leave your noise and your rashing, and I shall set open this door, and then may you do with me what it likeeth you. Come off then, said they all, and do it, for it availeth thee not to strive against us all, and therefore let us into this chamber, and we shall save thy life until they'll come to King Arthur. And Lancelot unbarred the door, and with his left hand he held it open a little, so that but one man might come in at once, and so they came striding a good night, a much man and large, and his name was Col Gromance of Gore, and he with a sword struck at Sir Lancelot mightily, and he put aside the stroke and gave him such a buffet upon the helmet that he felt grovelling dead within the chamber door. And then Sir Lancelot with great might drew that dead night within the chamber door, and Sir Lancelot with help of the Queen and her ladies was lightly armed in Sir Col Gromance's armour. And ever stood Sir Agrivene in some order crying, Traitor Knight, come out of the Queen's chamber. Leave your noise, said Sir Lancelot unto Sir Agrivene, for which you well, Sir Agrivene, you shall not prison me this night, and therefore, and you do by my counsel, go ye all from this chamber door, and make not such crying in such manner of slander as you do, for I promise you by my knighthood, and ye will depart, and make no more noise, I shall as to mourn appear, or for you all before the King, and then let it be seen, which of you all, other else you all, that will accuse me of treason, and there I shall answer you as a knight should it, that hither I came to the Queen for no manner of mal-engined, and that will I prove, and make it good upon you with my hands. Fire on thee, Traitor, said Sir Agrivene, and Sir Mortrid, we will have the mawgre thy head, and slay thee if we list, for we let thee wit, we have the choice of King Arthur to save thee, or to slay thee. Ah, sirs, said Sir Lancelot, is there none other grace with you, then keep yourself. So then, Sir Lancelot set all open the chamber door, and mightily and nightly, he strode in amongst them, and anon at the first buffet he slew Sir Agrivene, and twelve of his fellows after. Within a little while after, he laid them cold to the earth, for there was none of the twelve that might stand Sir Lancelot one buffet. Also, Sir Lancelot wounded Sir Mortrid, and he fled with all his might, and then Sir Lancelot returned again unto the Queen, and said, Madam, now wit ye well, all our true love is brought to an end, for now, walking Arthur, ever be my foe, and therefore, Madam, and at like ye that I may have thee with me, I shall save you from all manner adventures dangerous. That is not best, said the Queen. Miss Seymouth, now ye have done so much harm, it will be best ye hold ye still with this, and if ye see that as to mourn they will put me unto the death, then may ye rescue me, as ye think best. I will well, said Sir Lancelot, for have ye no doubt, while I am living, I shall rescue you. And then he kissed her, and either gave other a ring, and so there he left the Queen, and went until his lodging. Chapter 5. How Sir Lancelot came to Sir Bors, and told him how he had sped, and in what adventure he had been, and how he had escaped. When Sir Bors saw Sir Lancelot, he was never so glad of his homecoming as he was then. Jesus, mercy, said Sir Lancelot, why be ye all armed? What meaneth this? Sir, said Sir Bors, after ye were departed from us, we all that be of your blood, and your well willers, were so drenched that some of us leapt out of our beds naked, and some in their dreams caught naked, swords in their hands. Therefore, said Sir Bors, we deem there is some great strife at hand, and then we all deem that ye were betrapped with some treason, and therefore we made us thus ready what need that ever ye were in. My fair nephew, said Sir Lancelot unto Sir Bors, now shall ye wit all that this night I was more hard to be stead than ever I was in my life, and yet I escaped, and so he told them all how and in what manner as ye have heard to fall. And therefore, my fellows, said Sir Lancelot, I pray you all that ye will be of good heart in what need some ever I stand, for now is war come to us all. Sir, said Bors, all is welcome that God sendeth us, and we have had much wheel with you and much worship, and therefore we will take the woe with you as we have taken the wheel. And therefore they said all, there were many good nights. Look ye, take no discomfort, for there nist no bands of nights under heaven, but we shall be able to grieve them as much as they may us. And therefore, discomfort, not yourself by no manner, and we shall gather together what we love and that loveeth us, and what that ye will have done shall be done. And therefore, Sir Lancelot, said they, we will take the woe with the wheel. Grant mercy, said Sir Lancelot, of your good comfort, for in my great distress, my fair nephew ye comfort me greatly, and much I am beholding unto you. But this, my fair nephew, I would that ye did in all haste that ye may, or at beforth days, that ye will look in their lodging that be lodged here nigh about the king, which will hold with me, and which will not. For now I would know which were my friends from my foes. Sir, said Sir Boers, I shall do my pain, for at be seven o' the clock I shall witth of such as ye have said before, who will hold with ye. And Sir Boers called unto him, Sir Lionel, Sir Ector de Marys, Sir Blamore de Gannis, Sir Bleobares de Gannis, Sir Gahulentine, Sir Gally Hoden, Sir Gally Hudd, Sir Menaduke, Sir Villiers de Valiant, Sir Herbiez de Renounis, Sir Levéin, Sir Ur of Hungary, Sir Nerounes, Sir Plénie Eurus. These two knights, Sir Lancelot made, and the one he won upon a bridge, and therefore they would never be against him. And Harry Lefiz de Lake, and Sir Sasees of the Dolores Tower, and Sir Melias de Lille, and Sir Blanchet de Buse, that was Allysandre's son, Leolophon, because his mother Alice Lebelle Pellerin, and she was keen unto Sir Lancelot, and he held with him. So there came Sir Palimides, and Sir Saphir, his brother, to hold with Sir Lancelot, and Sir Claesius of Sardoc, and Sir Dines, Sir Clareos of Claremont. So these two and twenty knights drew them together, and by then they were armed on horseback, and promised Sir Lancelot to do what he would. Then they fell to him, what of North Wales and of Cornwell, for Sir Lamerick's sake, and for Sir Tristan's sake, to the number of a four-score knights. My lords, said Sir Lancelot, which you well, I have been ever since I came into this country well-willed unto my lord, King Arthur, and unto my lady, Queen Guinevere, unto my power, and this night, because my lady the queen sent for me to speak with her, I suppose it was made by treason, albeit I dare largely excuse her person, notwithstanding I was there by a forecast near Slane, but as Jace who provided me, I escaped all their malice and treason. And then, that noble knight, Sir Lancelot, told them all how he was hard-bisted in the Queen's chamber, and how, and in what manner he escaped from them. And therefore, said Sir Lancelot, which you well, my fair lords, I am sure there is nests but war unto me and mine, and for because I have slain this night these knights, I what well, as is Sir Agrivene, Sir Guine's brother, and at least twelve of his fellows, for this cause now I am sure of mortal war, for these knights were sent and ordained by King Arthur to betray me. And therefore the King will in his heat and malice judge the Queen to the fire, and that may I not suffer, that she should be Brent for my sake, and I may be heard and suffered and so taken, I will fight for the Queen, that she is a true lady unto her lord, but the King in his heat, I dread me, will not take me as I ought to be taken. End of Book 20, Chapters 1-5. Read by Nathan at anti-bideonwriter.wordpress.com Chapter 69, Book 20, Volume 2 of Le Morte d'Arthur. This is a LibriVox recording, all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Nathan at anti-bideonwriter.wordpress.com. Le Morte d'Arthur, Volume 2 by Sir Thomas Mallory. Chapter 6 of the Council on Advice that was taken by Sir Lancelot and his friends for to save the Queen. My Lord Sir Lancelot said, Servoors, by mine advice ye shall take the woe with the wheel, and take it in patience, and thank God of it. And said, Then it is fallen as it is, I counsel you keep yourself, for an ye will yourself, there is no fellowship of knights christened, that shall do you wrong. Also I will counsel you, my Lord Sir Lancelot, that an my lady, Queen Guinevere, be in distress in so much, as she is in pain for your sake, that you nightly rescue her, and ye did otherwise. All the world will speak of you, shame to the world's end. In so much as ye were taken with her, whether ye did right or wrong, it is now your part to hold with the Queen, that she be not slain, and put to a mischievous death, for an she, so die, the shame shall be yours. Jesus defend thee from shame, said Sir Lancelot, and keep and save my Lady the Queen from villainy and shameful death, and that she never be destroyed in my default. Wherefore, my ther lords, my kin, and my friends, said Sir Lancelot, what will ye do? Then they said all, We will do as ye will do, I put this to you, said Sir Lancelot, that if my Lord Arthur, by evil counsel, will to mourn in his heat, put my Lady the Queen to the fire, there to be Brent. Now I pray you counsel me what is best to do. Then they said all at once with one voice, Sir, us thinkest best that ye nightly rescue the Queen, in so much as she shall be Brent it is for your sake, and it is to suppose, and ye might be handled, ye should have the same death or a more shameful a death. And, Sir, we say all, that ye have many times rescued her from death for other men's quarrels. Us, Seameth, it is more your worship that you rescue the Queen from this peril, in so much she hath it for your sake. Then Sir Lancelot stood still and said, My fair Lords, which ye well I would be loath to do that thing that should dishonour you or my blood, and which ye well I would be loath, that my Lady the Queen should die a shameful death. But an it be so that ye will counsel me to rescue her, I must do much harm or I rescue her, and per adventure I shall there destroy some of my best friends that should much repent me, and per adventure there be some, and they could well bring it about or disobey my Lord King Arthur. They would soon come to me, the witch I will loath to hurt, and if so be that I rescue her, where shall I keep her? That shall be the least care of us all, said Sir Bors. How did the noble knight, Sir Tristan, buy your good will? Kept not he with him, la belle, his sword, near three-year enjoyous guard, the witch was done by your alpha device, and that same place is your own. And in likewise, may ye do and ye list, and take the Queen lightly away, if it so be, the King will judge her to be rent. And in joyous guard ye may keep her long enough until the heat of the King be passed, and then shall ye bring again the Queen to the King with great worship, and then, per adventure, ye shall have thank for her bringing home, and love and thank, where other shall have mourned. That is hard to do, said Sir Lancelot, for by Sir Tristan I may have a warning, for when by means of treaties Sir Tristan brought again, la belle, his sword unto King Mark from joyous guard, look what befell on the end how shamefully that false traitor King Mark slew him as he sat harping her for his lady, la belle, his sword, with a ground and glaive he thrust him in behind to the heart. It grieveeth me, said Sir Lancelot, to speak of his death, for all the world may not find such a knight. All this is truth, said Sir Bors, but there is one thing shall courage you and us all. Ye know well King Arthur and King Mark were never like of conditions, for there was never yet man could prove King Arthur untrue of his promise. So, to make short tale, they were all consented that for better or for worse, if so were that the King were on the mourn brought to the fire, shortly they all would rescue her, and so by the advice of Sir Lancelot, they put them all in an embushment in a wood as nigh Carlile as they might, and there they abode still to wit what the King would do. Chapter 7 Hal Sir Mordred rode hastily to the King to tell him hope the affray and death of Sir Agravain and the other knights. Now turn me again unto Sir Mordred, that when he was escaped from the noble knight, Sir Lancelot he anon gatt his horse and mounted upon him, and rode unto King Arthur, saw wounded and smitten and all for bled, and there he told the King all how it was and how they were all slain, save himself all only. Chesu, mercy, how may this be, said the King, took ye him in the Queen's chamber? Ye so God me help, said Sir Mordred. There we found him unarmed, and there he slew Kaldravans, and armed him in his armour, and all this he told the King from the beginning to the ending. Chesu, mercy, said the King, he is a marvellous knight of prowess, alas, he saw repenteth, said the King, that ever Sir Lancelot should be against me. Now I am sure the noble fellowship of the round table is broken for ever, for with him will many a noble knight hold, and now it is fallen so, said the King, that I may not with my worship, but the Queen must suffer the death. So then there was made great ordnance in this heat that the Queen must be judged to the death, and the law was such in those days that whomesoever they were of what estate or degree, if they were found guilty of treason, there should be none other remedy but death, and either the men overtaking with the deed should be causer of their hasty judgment. And right, so was it ordained for Queen Guinevere, because Sir Mordred was escaped, so wounded, and the death of 13 knights of the round table. These proofs and experiences caused King Arthur to command the Queen to the fire there to be burnt. Then spake Sir Gwain and said, my Lord Arthur, I would counsel you not to be over hasty, but that ye would put it in respite this judgment of my Lady the Queen for many causes. One it is, though it were so that Sir Lancelot were found in the Queen's chamber, yet it might be so that he came to the Fornunneval. For ye know, my Lord, said Sir Gwain, that the Queen is much beholden unto Sir Lancelot, more than unto any other knight. For off times he hath saved her life and unbattle for her. When all the court refused the Queen, and per adventure she sent for him for goodness and for none evil, to reward him for his good deeds that he had done to her in times past. And per adventure my Lady the Queen sent for him to that intent that Sir Lancelot should come to her good grace privily and secretly, weaning to her that it was best so to do. In a stewing and dreading of slander, for off times we do many things that we wean it be for the best, and yet per adventure it turneth to the worst. For I dare say, said Sir Gwain, my Lady your Queen is to you both good and true. And as for Sir Lancelot, said Sir Gwain, I dare say he will make it good upon any knight living that will put upon himself villainy or shame, and in likewise he will make good for my Lady Dengwenevere. That I believe well, said King Arthur, but I will not that way with Sir Lancelot for he trusteth so much upon his hands and his might that he doubteth no man, and therefore for my Queen he shall never fight more for she shall have the law. And if I may get Sir Lancelot which you will, he shall have a shameful death. Jesus defend, said Sir Gwain, that I may never see it. Why say ye so? said King Arthur, for seeth he have no cause to love Sir Lancelot for this night last past. He slew your brother, Sir Gwain, a full good night, and almost he had slain your other brother, Sir Mordred, and also there he slew 13 noble knights. And also, Sir Gwain, remember you, he slew two sons of yours, Sir Florence and Sir Lovell. My Lord, said Sir Gwain, of all this I have knowledge of whose deaths I repent me sore. But in so much I gave them warning, and told my brethren and my sons beforehand what would fall in the end in so much they would not do by my counsel. I will not meddle me thereof, nor revenge me nothing of their deaths. For I told them it was no boot to strive with Sir Lancelot, how beard I am sorry of the death of my brethren and of my sons, for they are the causes of their own death. For oft times I warned my brother, Sir Agrawain, and I told him the perils the witch be now fallen. Chapter 8 How Sir Lancelot and his kinsmen rescued the Queen from the fire and how he slew many knights. Then said the noble King Arthur to Sir Gwain, dear nephew, I pray you make you ready in your best armour with your brethren, Sir Geheras and Sir Gareth, to bring my Queen to the fire, there to have her judgment and receive the death. Nay, my most noble Lord, said Sir Gwain, that will I never do, for with you well, I will never be in that place where so noble a Queen, as is my Lady Dame Guinevere, shall take a shameful end. For with you well, said Sir Gwain, my heart will never serve me to see her die, and it shall never be said that ever I was of your counsel of her death. Then said the King to Sir Gwain, suffer your brothers, Sir Geheras, and Sir Gareth, to be there. My Lord, said Sir Gwain, with you well, that they will be loathed to be there present because of many adventures that which be like that of all. They are young and full unable to say, you know, and spake, Sir Geheras, and the good night, Sir Gareth, unto Sir Arthur. Sir, you may well command us to be there, but with you well, it shall be sore against our will. Then we be there by your straight commandment, ye shall plainly hold us there excused. You will be there in peaceable wise, and bear none harness of war upon us. In the name of God, said the King, then make you ready, for she shall soon have her judgment anon. Alas, said Sir Gwain, that ever I should endure to see this woeful day. So Sir Gwain turned him and wept heartily. And so he went into his chamber, and then the Queen was led forth without gullile. There she was disballed into her smock. So then her ghostly father was brought to her to be shriven of her misdeeds. Then was there weeping and wailing and ringing of hands of many lords and ladies. There were but few in comparison that would bear any armour for to strengthen the death of the Queen. Then was there one that Silancelot had sent and to that place for to aspire what time the Queen should go into her death anon, as he saw the Queen dispoiled into her smock and so shriven, then he gave Silancelot warning. Then was there but sparing and plucking up of horses, and right so they came to the fire. And who that stood against them? There were they slain. There might none withstand Silancelot, so all that bear arms and withstood them, there were they slain, for many a noble knight. For there were slain Sir Belyonsley, Ogrullus, Sir Secuaredes, Sir Grifflay, Sir Brandyles, Sir Agblavale, Sir Tore, Sir Garter, Sir Gillimer, Sir Reynolds, Three Brethren, Sir Damus, Sir Priamus, Sir Kay the Stranger, Sir Drianth, Sir Lambegas, Sir Hemindi, Sir Petalope, Sir Perimonis, Two Brethren that were called the Green Knight and the Red Knight. And so in this rushing and hurling as Silancelot thrang here and there, it mishapt him to slay Geherus and Sir Gareth, the noble knight, for they were unarmed and unaware. For as the French book said, Silancelot smote Sir Gareth and Sir Gareth upon the brain pans, where through they were slain in the field, albeit in very truth, Silancelot saw them not. And so were they found dead among the thickest of the press. Then when Silancelot had thus done and slain and put to flight all that would withstand him, then he rode straight into Duane, Guernivere, and made a kirtle and a gown to be cast upon her. And then he made her to be set behind him and prayed her to be of good cheer. Which ye well, the Queen was glad that she was escaped from the death. And then she thanked God, and Silancelot. And so he rode his way with the Queen as the French book saith unto Joyce Gard, and there he kept her as a noble knight should do. And many great lords and some kings sent Silancelot many good knights and many noble knights drew unto Silancelot. When this was known openly that King Arthur and Silancelot were at a debate, many knights were glad of their debate and many were full heavy of their debate. Chapter 9 Of the sorrow and lamentation of King Arthur for the death of his nephews and other good knights and also for the Queen, his wife. So turn we again into King Arthur that when it was told him how and in what manner of wise the Queen was taken away from the fire. And when he heard of the death of his noble knights and in a special of Segar Harris and Segaroth's death, and the King swooned for pure sorrow. And when he awoke of his swoon and he said, Alas! that ever I bear crown upon my head for now have I lost the fairest fellowship of noble knights that ever held Christian King together. Alas! my good knights be slain away from me. Now within these two days I have lost forty knights and also the noble fellowship of Silancelot and his blood. For now I may never hold them together no more with my worship. Alas! that ever this war began now fair fellows of the King I charge you that no man tells so guane of the death of his two brethren. For I am sure, said the King, when so guane heareth tell that Segaroth is dead he will go nigh out of his mind. Mercy, Jesus, said the King, why slew he Segaroth and Segar Harris? For I dare say as for Segaroth he loved Silancelot above all men earthly. That is truth, said some knights. But they were slain in the hurtling as Silancelot thrang in the thick of the press. And as they were unarmed he smote them and whist not whom that he smote and so unhappily they were slain. The death of them, said Arthur, will cause the greatest mortal war that ever was. I am sure, whist so guane that Segaroth was slain. I should never have rest of him till I had destroyed Silancelot's kin and himself both or the else he to destroy me. And therefore, said the King, which you will my heart was never so heavy as it is now. And much more I am sorryer for my good knights lost than for the loss of my fair queen for queens I might have enough. But such a fellowship of good knights shall never be together in no company. And now I dare say, said King Arthur, there was never Christian king held such a fellowship together. And alas, that ever Silancelot and I should be a debate. Ah aggravain, aggravain, said the King, Jesu, forgive it thy soul for thine evil will that thou and thy brother some ordered hadst unto Silancelot hath caused all this sorrow. And ever among these complaints the king wept and swooned. Then there came one unto Segarhwane and told him out the queen was led away with Silancelot and Nya, 24 ninth slain. Hope Jesu defend my brethren, said Segarhwane. The well-wised I that Silancelot would rescue her with or else he would die in that field. And to say the truth, he hath not been a man of worship had he not rescued the queen that day in so much she should have been bred for his sake. And as in that, said Segarhwane, he hath done but a knightly and as I would have done myself and I had stood in like a case. But where are my brethren, said Segarhwane? I marvel I hear not of them. Truly, said that man, Segarhwane and Segarheras be slain. Jesu defend, said Segarhwane. All the world I would not that they were slain and in a special my good brother, Segarhwane, Sir, said the man, he is slain and that is great pity. Who slew him, said Segarhwane. Sir, said the man, Lansalot slew them both. That may I not believe, said Segarhwane, that ever he slew my brother. Segarhwane, for I dare say my brother, Garth, loved him better than me and all his brethren and the king both. Also, I dare say and Sir Lansalot had desired my brother, Segarhwane, with him, he would have been with him against the king and us all and therefore I may never believe that Sir Lansalot slew my brother. Sir, said this man, it is noised that he slew him. End of Book 20, Chapter 69. Read by Nathan at antipodeonwriter.wordpress.com Chapters 10-13, Book 20, Volume 2 of Le Morte d'Arthur. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Read by Nathan at antipodeonwriter.wordpress.com Le Morte d'Arthur, Volume 2 by Sir Thomas Mallory, Chapter 10. Helping Arthur at the request of Sir Garhwane concluded to make war against Sir Lansalot and laid siege to his castle called Joyous Guard. Alas, said Sir Garhwane, now is my joy gone and then he fell down and swooned and long he lay there as he had been dead. And then when he arose of his swoon he cried out sorrowfully and said Alas and right so Sir Garhwane ran to the king crying and weeping, O King Arthur, my uncle, my good brother Sir Garhweth is slain and so is my brother Sir Garhweth Harris, the witch were two noble knights then the king wept and he both and so they fell a-swooning and when they were revived then spake Sir Garhwane Sir, I will go see my brother Sir Garhweth. He may not see him, said the king, for I caused him to be interred and Sir Garhweth both, for I well understood that ye would make over much sorrow and the sight of Sir Garhweth should have caused your double sorrow. Alas, my lord, said Sir Garhwane, how slew he my brother Sir Garhweth. My no good lord, I pray you tell me, truly, said the king, I shall tell you how it is told me. Sir Lancelot slew him and Sir Garhweth both. Alas, said Sir Garhwane, they bear none arms against him, neither of them both. I what not how it was, said the king, that as it is said, Sir Lancelot slew them both in the thickest of the press and knew them not and therefore let us shape a remedy for to revenge their deaths. My king, my lord, and my uncle, said Sir Garhwane, which ye will now I shall make you a promise that I shall hold by my knighthood that from this day I shall never fail Sir Lancelot until the one of us have slain the other and therefore I require you, my lord and king, dress you to the war for which ye will I will be revenged upon Sir Lancelot and therefore as ye will have my service and my love now haste ye there too and assay your friends for I promise unto God, said Sir Garhwane, for the death of my brother Sir Garhweth I shall seek Sir Lancelot throughout certain king's realms but I shall slay him or else he shall slay me. Ye shall not need to seek him so far, said the king, for as I here say Sir Lancelot will abide me and you in the joyous guard and much people draweth unto him as I here say. That may, I believe, said Sir Garhwane, but my lord, he said, assay your friends and I will assay mine. It shall be done, said the king, and as I suppose I shall be big enough to draw him out of the biggest tower of his castle. So then the king sent letters and rits throughout all England, both in the length and the breadth, fought to assummon all his knights and so unto Arthur drew many knights, jukes and earls, so that he had a great host. And when they were assembled the king informed them how Sir Lancelot had bereft him, his queen. Then the king and all his host made them ready to lay siege about Sir Lancelot where he lay within joyous guard. Thereof heard Sir Lancelot and pervade him of many good knights for with him held many knights and some for his own sake and some for the queen's sake. Thus they were on both parties well furnished and garnished with all manner of thing that longed to the war. But King Arthur's host was so big that Sir Lancelot would not abide him in the field for he was full oath to do battle against the king, but Sir Lancelot drew him to his strong castle with all manner of victual and as many noble men as he might suffice within the town and the castle. Then came King Arthur with Sir Gwain with a huge host and laid a siege all about joyous guard both at the town and at the castle. And there they made strong war on both parties but in no wise Sir Lancelot would ride out nor go out of his castle of long time. Neither he would none of his good knights to issue out neither none of the town nor of the castle until 15 weeks were passed. Chapter 11 of the communication between King Arthur and Sir Lancelot and how King Arthur reproved him. Then it befell upon a day in harvest time Sir Lancelot looked over the walls and spoke on high unto King Arthur and Sir Gwain. O lords both with ye well all is in vain that ye make at this siege for here win ye no worship but mourn and dishonour. Then it list me to come myself out and my good knights. I should full soon make an end of this war. Come forth said Arthur unto Lancelot and thou durst and I promise thee I shall meet thee in midst of the field. God defend me said Sir Lancelot that ever I should encounter with the most noble king that made me knight. Fire upon thy fair language said the king but wit ye well and trust it I am thy mortal foe and ever will to my death day for thou hast slain my good knights and full noble men of my blood that I shall never recover again. Also thou hast lain by my queen and hold in her many winters and sit them like a traitor taken her from me by force. My most noble lord and king said Sir Lancelot ye may say what ye will for ye what well with yourself will I not strive but there as ye say I have slain your good knights I what well that I have done so and that me saw repenteth but I was enforced to do battle with them in saving of my life for else I must have suffered them to have slain me. And as for my lady Queen Guinevere accept your person of your highness and my lord Sir Gawain there is no knight under heaven that dare make it good upon me that ever I was a traitor unto your person and where it please you to say that I have holding my lady your queen years and winters unto that I shall ever make a large answer and prove it upon any knight that beareth the life accept your person and Sir Gawain that my lady Queen Guinevere is a true lady unto your person as any is living unto her lord and that will I make good with my hands. Albeit it hath life to her good grace to have me in shiurty and to cherish me more than any other knight and unto my power I again have deserved her love for oft times my lord ye have consented that she should be burnt and destroyed in your heat and then it fortune'd me to do battle for her for I departed from her adversary they confessed their untruth and she fall worshipfully excused and at such times my lord Arthur said Sir Lancelot ye loved me and thanked me when I saved your queen from the fire and then ye promised me forever to be my good lord and now me thinketh ye reward me full ill for my good service and my good lord me seemeth I had lost a great part of my worship in my knighthood and I had suffered my lady your queen to have been burnt and in so much she should have been burnt for my sake for sin than I have done battles for your queen and other quarrels than in mine own me seemeth now I had more right to do battle for her and right quarrel and therefore my good and gracious lord said Sir Lancelot take your queen and to your good grace for she is both fair, true and good File on the false requient knight said Sir Gwein I let thee wit my lord mine uncle King Arthur shall have his queen and the morgue of thy visage and slay you both whether it please him it may well be said Sir Lancelot but wit you well my lord Sir Gwein and me list to come out of this castle you should win me and the queen more harder than ever ye won a strong battle File on thy proud words said Sir Gwein as for my lady the queen I will never save her shame but thou false and requient knight said Sir Gwein what cause has thou to slay my good brother Sir Gareth that loved thee more than all my kin alas thou madeest him knight thine own hands why slew thou him that loved thee so well for to excuse me said Sir Lancelot it helped with me not but by jesu and by the faith that I owe to the high order of knighthood I should with his good will have slain my nephew Sir Bors de Gannis at that time but alas that ever I was so unhappy said Lancelot that I had not seen Sir Gareth and Sir Gheharis thou liest requient knight said Sir Gwein thou slewest him and despiteeth me and therefore wit thou well I shall make war to thee and all the while that I may live that me repented said Sir Lancelot for well I understand it helpeth not to seek none accordment while ye Sir Gwein are so mischievously set and if ye were not I would not doubt to have the good grace of my lord Arthur I believe it well false requient knight said Sir Gwein for thou hast many long days overled me and us all and destroyed many of our good knights ye say as a pleaseth you said Sir Lancelot and yet mayest never be said on me and openly proved that ever I by forecast of treason slew no good knight as my lord Sir Gwein ye have done and so did I never but in my defence that I was driven thereto in saving of my life ah false knight said Sir Gwein that thou meanest by Sir Lamerick wit thou well I slew him you slew him not yourself said Sir Lancelot it had been over much on hand for you to have slain him for he was one of the best knights christened of his age and it was great pity of his death Chapter 12 How the cousins and kinsmen of Sir Lancelot excited him to go out to battle and how they made him ready well well said Sir Gwein to Lancelot said them thou embradest me of Sir Lamerick wit thou well I shall never leave thee till I have yet such a veil that thou shalt not escape my hands I trust you well enough said Sir Lancelot and ye may get me I get but little mercy but as the French book seeth the no-booking Arthur would have taken his queen again and have been accorded with Sir Lancelot but Sir Gwein would not suffer him by no manner of mean and then Sir Gwein made many men to blow upon Sir Lancelot and all at once they called him false rector at night and when surposed again it's Sir Héctor de Marys and Sir Lionel heard this outcry they called to them Sir Palamides Sir Saphria's brother and Sir Levein with many more of their blood and all they went on to Sir Lancelot and said thus my lord Sir Lancelot witty well we have great scorn of the great rebukes that we heard Gwein say to you wherefore we pray you and charge you as ye will have our service keep us no longer within these walls for which you well plainly we will ride into the field and do battle with them for ye fare as a man that were a feared and for all your fair speech it will not avail you for which you well Sir Gwein will not suffer you to be accorded with King Arthur and therefore fight for your life and your right and ye dare alas said Sir Lancelot for to ride out of this castle and to do battle I am full loath and Sir Lancelot spake on high unto Sir Arthur and Sir Gwein my lords I require you and beseech you Sithon that I am thus required and conjured to ride into the field that neither you my lord King Arthur nor you Sir Gwein come not into the field what shall we do then said Sir Gwein is this the king's quarrel with thee to fight and it is my quarrel to fight with thee Sir Lancelot because of the death of my brother Sir Gareth then must I need unto battle said Sir Lancelot now which you well my lord Arthur and Sir Gwein ye will repent it when so ever I do battle with you and so then they departed either from other and then either party made them ready on the mourn for to do battle and great purveillance was made on both sides and Sir Gwein led to purve many nights fought away upon Sir Lancelot fought over set him and to slay him and on the mourn at Undern Sir Arthur was ready in the field with three great hosts and then Sir Lancelot's fellowship came out at three gates in a full good array and Sir Lionel came in the foremost battle and Sir Lancelot came in the middle and Sir Bors came out at the third gate thus they came in order and rule as full noble knights and always Sir Lancelot charged all his knights and in the wise to save King Arthur and Sir Gwein Chapter 13 Hal Sir Gwein justed and smoked down Sir Lionel and Hal Sir Lancelot horessed King Arthur then came forth Sir Gwein from the king's host and he came before and profited just and Sir Lionel was a fierce knight and likely he encountered with Sir Gwein and there Sir Gwein smoked Sir Lionel throughout the body that he dashed to the earth like as he had been dead and then Sir Ectodomerus and other more bear him into the castle then there began a great stew and many people were slain and there the Sir Lancelot did what he might to save the people on King Arthur's party for Sir Palamides and Sir Bors and Sir Saphria over three many nights for they were deadly knights and Sir Blamour de Gannis and Sir Blair O'Bearis de Gannis with Sir Belanger Lebus these six nights did much harm and ever King Arthur was nigh about Sir Lancelot to have slain him and Sir Lancelot suffered him and would not strike again so Sir Bors encountered with King Arthur and there with a spear Sir Bors smote him down and so he alighted and drew his sword and said to Sir Lancelot shall I make an end of this war and that he meant to have slain King Arthur not so hardy said Sir Lancelot upon pain of thy head that thou touch him no more for I will never see that most noble king that made me knight he is slain, he shamed and there with all Sir Lancelot alighted off his horse and took up the king and hoist him again and said thus my lord Arthur for God's love stint this strife for you get here no worship and I would do mine utterance but always I forbear you and ye nor none of yours forbeareth me my lord remember what I have done in many places and now I am evil rewarded then when King Arthur was on horseback he looked upon Sir Lancelot and then the tears brassed out of his iron thinking on the great courtesy that was in Sir Lancelot more than in any other man and there with the king rode his way and might no longer behold him and said alas that ever this war began and then either parties of the battles withdrew them to repose them and buried the dead and to the wounded men they laid soft salves and thus they endured that night till on the mourn and on the mourn by undermed they made them ready to do battle and then sabours let the forward so upon the mourn there came Sir Gwayne as brim as any boar with a great spear in his hand and when Sir Boars saw him he thought to avenge his brother Sir Lionel of the despite that Sir Gwayne did him the other day and so they that knew either other futured their spears and with all their might of their horses and themselves they met together so furloughnously that either bear other through and so they fell both to the earth and then the battles joined and there was much slaughter on both parties then Sir Lancelot rescued Sir Boars and sent him into the castle but neither Sir Gwayne nor Sir Boars died not of their wounds for they were all hopin then Sir Levene and Sir Ur prayed Sir Lancelot to do his pain and fight as they had done for we see ye for bear and spare and that doth much harm therefore we pray you spare not your enemies no more than they do you alas said Sir Lancelot I had no heart to fight against my lord Arthur for ever me seem if I do not as I ought to do my lord said Sir Bellomides though ye spare them all this day they will never con you think and if they may get you at a vile ye are but dead so then Sir Lancelot understood that they sent him truth and then he strained himself more than he did a forehand and because his nephew Sir Boars was so wounded and then within a little while by even some time Sir Lancelot and his party better stood for their horses went in blood past the fetlocks and there was so much people slain and then for pity Sir Lancelot withheld his knights and suffered King Arthur's party for to withdraw them aside and then Sir Lancelot's party withdrew them into his castle and either parties buried the dead and put salve unto the wounded men so when Sir Gwane was hurt they on King Arthur's party were not so orgulous as they were to forehand to do battle of this war was noise through all Christendom and at the last it was noise before the pope and he considering the great goodness of King Arthur and of Sir Lancelot that was called the most noblest knights of the world wherefore the pope called under him a noble clerk but at the time was there present the French booksaith it was the Bishop of Rochester and the pope gave him bulls under led unto King Arthur of England charging him upon pain of interdicting of all England that he take his Queen Dame Guinevere unto him again in accord with Sir Lancelot End of book 20 chapters 10 to 13 read by Nathan at anti-pityandwriter.wordpress.com chapters 14 through 18 book 20 volume 2 of Le Monde d'Artille this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Le Monde d'Artille volume 2 by Sir Thomas Mallory chapter 14 how the pope sent down his bulls to make peace and how Sir Lancelot brought the Queen to King Arthur so when this Bishop was come to Carlisle he showed the King these bulls and when the King understood these bulls he nosed what to do full feign he would have been accorded with Sir Lancelot but Sir Guine would not suffer him but as for to have the Queen thereto he agreed but in no wise Sir Guine would not suffer the King to accord with Sir Lancelot but as for the Queen he consented and then the Bishop had of the King his great seal and his assurance as he was a true anointed King that Sir Lancelot should come safe and go safe and that the Queen should not be spoken unto of the King nor of none other for no thing done a four-time past and of all these appointments the Bishop brought with him sure assurance in writing to show Sir Lancelot so when the Bishop was come to Joyce guard there he showed Sir Lancelot how the Pope had written to Arthur and unto him and there he told him the perils if he withheld the Queen from the King it was never in my thought said Lancelot to withhold the Queen from my Lord Arthur but in so much she should have been dead for my sake Massimith it was my part to save her life and put her from that danger till better recover might come and now I thank God said Sir Lancelot that the Pope had made her peace for God know it said Sir Lancelot I will be a thousand fold more glattered to bring her again than ever I was of her taking away with this he may be sure to come safe and go safe and that the Queen shall have her liberty as she had before and never for no thing that had been surmised a four this time she never from this day stand in no peril for else said Sir Lancelot I dare adventure me to keep her from an harder hour than ever I kept her it shall not need you said the Bishop to dread so much for what you well the Pope must be obeyed and it were not the Pope's worship nor my poor honesty to what you distress neither the Queen neither in peril nor shamed and then he showed Sir Lancelot all his writing both from the Pope and from King Arthur this is sure enough said Sir Lancelot for full well I dare trust my Lord's own writing in a seal for he was never shamed of his promise therefore said Sir Lancelot under the Bishop you shall ride under the King of War and recommend me unto his good grace and let him have acknowledging that this same day eight days by the grace of God I myself shall bring my lady Queen Guinevere unto him and then say ye unto my most redoubted King that I will say largely for the Queen that I shall none except for dread nor fear but the King himself and my Lord Sir Gawain and that is more for the King's love than for himself so the Bishop departed and came to the King at Carlisle and told him all how Sir Lancelot answered him and then the tears brassed out of the King's iron then Sir Lancelot pervade him on hundred nights and all were clothed in green velvet and their horses trapped their heels and every night held a branch of olive in his hand and tokening of peace and the Queen had four and twenty gentle woman following her in the same wise and Sir Lancelot had twelve coarsers following him and on every coarser sat a young gentleman and all they were arrayed in green velvet with sarps of gold about their quarters and the horse trapped in the same wise down to the heels with many ouches he set with stones and pearls and gold to the number of a thousand and she and Sir Lancelot were clothed in white cloth of gold tissue and write so as ye have heard as the French book make it mention he rode with the Queen from joyous guard to Carlisle and so Sir Lancelot rode throughout Carlisle and so in the castle that all men might behold and with you well there was many a weeping eye and then Sir Lancelot himself alighted and avoided his horse and took the Queen and so led her where King Arthur was in his seat and Sir Gawain sat up for him and many other great lords so when Sir Lancelot saw the King and Sir Gawain then he led the Queen by the arm and then he kneeled down and the Queen both with you well then was there many bold night there with King Arthur that wept as tenderly as though they had seen all their kina for them so the King sat still and said no word my most redoubted King ye shall understand by the Pope's commandment and yours I have brought to you my Lady the Queen as right required and if there be any night of what some ever degree that he be except your person that will say or dare say but that she is true and clean to you I hear myself Sir Lancelot Dulac will make it good upon his body that she is a true lady unto you but liars ye have listened and that have caused debate betwixt you and me for time have been my Lord Arthur that ye have been greatly pleased with me when I did battle for my lady your Queen in full well ye know my most noble King that she have been put to great wrong or this time and sithin it please you at many times that I should fight for her misimith my good Lord I had more cause to rescue her from the fire and so much she should have been Brent for my sake for they that told you those tales were liars and so it fell upon them for by likelihood had not the might of God been with me I might never have endured fourteen nights and they armed in a forepurposed and I unarmed and not purposed for I was sent for unto my lady your Queen I won't not for what cause but I was not so soon within the chamber door but a non Sir Agriven and Sir Mordred called me traitor and recreation night they called thee right said Sir Gawain my Lord Sir Gawain said Sir Lancelot and their quarrel they proved themselves not in the right well well Sir Lancelot said the King I have given thee no cause to do to me as thou hast done for I have worshiped thee and nine more than any of all my nights my good Lord said Sir Lancelot so ye be not displeased you shall understand I in mine have done you oft better service than any other nights have done in many diverse places and where ye have been full hard bested diverse times I have myself rescued you for many dangers and ever unto the my power I was glad to please you and my Lord Sir Gawain both in jousts and tournaments and in battle set both on horseback and on foot I have often rescued you and my Lord Sir Gawain and many more of your nights in many diverse places for now I will make a vaunt said Sir Lancelot I will that ye all wit that yet I found never no manner of night but that I was over hard for him and I had done my utterance thanked be God how be it I have been matched with good nights as Sir Tristram and Sir Lamarack but ever I had a favor unto them and a deeming what they were and I take God to record said Sir Lancelot I never was wroth nor greatly heavy with no good night and I saw him busy about to win worship and glad I was ever when I found any night that might endure me on horseback and on foot how be it Sir Carrados of the Dolores Tower was a full noble night and a passing strong man and that won't he my Lord Sir Gawain for he might well be called a noble night when he by fine force pulled you out of your saddle and bound you over thwart a forum to his saddle bow and there my Lord Sir Gawain I rescued you and slew him before your sight also I found his brother Sir Turquan in likewise leading Sir Gawain your brother bound in a forum and there I rescued your brother and slew that Turquan and delivered three score and four of my Lord Arthur's nights out of his prison and now I dare say Sir Lancelot I met never with so strong nights nor so well fighting as was Sir Carrados and Sir Turquan for I fought with them to the other most and therefore said Sir Lancelot unto Sir Gawain Massimeth you are of right to remember this for and I might have your good will I would trust a God to have my Lord Arthur's good grace chapter 16 of the communication between Sir Gawain and Sir Lancelot with much other language the king may do as he will said Sir Gawain but with thou well Sir Lancelot thou and I shall never be accorded while we live for thou has slain three of my brethren and two of them you slew traitorly and piteously for they bear none harness against thee nor none would bear God would they had been armed said Sir Lancelot for then had they been alive and with he well Sir Gawain as for Sir Gareth I love none of my kinsmen so much as I did him and ever while I live said Sir Lancelot I will be well Sir Gareth's death not all only for the great fear I have of you but many causes cause me to be sorrowful one is for I made him night another is I won't well he loved me above all other nights and the third is he was passing noble true courteous and gentle and well conditioned the fourth is I whisked well and non as I heard that Sir Gareth was dead I should never after have your love but everlasting war betwixt us and also I whisked well that ye would cause my noble lord Arthur forever to be my mortal foe and as jay's would be my help said Sir Lancelot I slew never Sir Gareth nor Sir Gawain by my will but alas that ever they were unarmed that unhappy day but thus much I shall offer me said Sir Lancelot if it may please the king's good grace and you my lord Sir Gawain I shall first begin its sandwich and there I shall go in my shirt barefoot and at every 10 miles end I will found and garb make in house of religion of what order that you will assign me with an whole convent to sing and read day and night and a special for Sir Gareth's sake and Sir Gareth's and this shall I perform from sandwich unto Carlisle and every house shall have sufficient livelihood and this shall I perform while I have any livelihood in Christendom and there is none of all these religious places but they shall be performed furnished and garnished in all things as in holy place opt to be I promise you faithfully and this Sir Gawain we think it were more fairer holier and more better to their souls than ye my most noble king and you Sir Gawain to war upon me for thereby shall you get none avail then all knights and ladies that were there wept as they were mad and the tears fell on King Arthur's cheeks Sir Lancelot said Sir Gawain I have right well heard thy speech and I great proffers but with thou well let the king do as it pleased him I will never forgive my brother's death and in the special the death of my brother Sir Gareth and if my uncle King Arthur will accord with thee he shall lose my service for with thou well thou art both false to the king and to me Sir said Lancelot he beareth not the life that may make that good and if ye Sir Gawain will charge me with so high a thing he must pardon me for then needs must I answer you nay said Sir Gawain we are past that at this time and that caused the pope for he hath charged my uncle the king that he shall take his queen again and to accord with thee Sir Lancelot as for this season and therefore thou shalt go safe as thou camest but in this land thou shalt not abide past fifteen days such summons I give thee so the king and we were consented and accorded or thou camest and else said Sir Gawain with thou well thou should not have come here but if it were mugger thy head and if it were not for the pope's commandment said Sir Gawain I should do battle with my own body against thy body and prove it upon thee that thou has been both false unto my uncle king Arthur and to me both and that shall I prove upon thy body when thou art departed from hence wheresomever I find thee Chapter 17 How Sir Lancelot departed from the king and from joyous guard over seaward and what nights went with him then Sir Lancelot sighed and therewith the tears fell on his cheeks and then he said thus alas most noble Christian realm whom I have loved above all other realms and in thee I have gotten a great part of my worship and now I shall depart in this wise truly me repented that ever I came in this realm that should be thus shamefully banished undeserved and causeless but fortune is so variant and the wheel is so movable there is none constant abiding and that may be proved by many old chronicles of noble Ector and Troyas and Alessander the mighty conqueror and many more other when they were most in their royalty they alighted lowest and so farath it by me said Sir Lancelot for in this realm I had worship and by me and mine all the whole round table have been increased more in worship by me and mine blood than by any other and therefore wit thou well Sir Gawain I may live upon my lands as well as any night that here is and if he most redoubted king will come upon my lands with Sir Gawain to war upon me I must endure you as well as I may but as to you Sir Gawain if it ye come there I pray you charge me not with treason nor felony for and ye do I must answer you do thou thy best said Sir Gawain therefore highly fast that thou were gone and with thou well we shall soon come after and break the strongest castle that thou hast upon thy head that shall not need said Sir Lancelot for an eye where as orduous set as ye are wit you well I should meet you in midst of the field make thou no more language said Sir Gawain but deliver the queen from thee and pike thee lightly out of this court well said Sir Lancelot and I had wist of this shortcoming I would have advised me twice or that I had come hither for and the queen had been so dear to me as ye noise her I durst have kept her from the fellowship of the best knights under heaven and then Sir Lancelot said unto Gwenevere and hearing of the king in the mall madam now I must depart from you in this noble fellowship forever and sith and it is so I beseech you to pray for me and say me well and if you be hard bested by any false tongues lightly my lady send me word and if any knight's hands may deliver you by battle I shall deliver you and therewith all Sir Lancelot kissed the queen and then he said all openly now let's see what he be in this place that dare say the queen is not true unto my lord Arthur let's see who will speak and he dare speak and therewith he brought the queen to the king and then Sir Lancelot took his leave and departed and there was neither king duke nor earl baron nor knight lady nor gentlewoman but all they wept as people out of their mind except Sir Gawain and when the noble Sir Lancelot took his horse to ride out of Carlisle there was sobbing and weeping for pure dole of his departing and so he took his way on to joyous guard and then ever after he called it the Dolores guard and thus departed Sir Lancelot from the court forever and so when he came to joyous guard he called his fellowship unto him and asked them what they would do then they answered all wholly together with one voice they would as he would do my fair fellows said Sir Lancelot I must depart out of this most noble realm and now I shall depart it grieve with me sore for I shall depart with no worship for a flamed man departed never out of a realm with no worship and that is my heaviness forever I fear after my days that men shall chronicle upon me that I was flamed out of this land and else my fair lords be ye sure and I had not dread shame my lady queen Guinevere and I should never have departed then spake many noble knights as Sir Palomides Sir Saphir his brother and Sir Bellinger LeBose and Sir Ur with Sir LeVane with many others Sir and ye be so disposed to abide in this land we will never fail you and if ye list not to abide in this land then this none of the good knights that here be will fail you for many causes one is all we that be not of your blood shall never be welcomed to the court and sit than it liked us to take apart with you in your distressed and heaviness in this realm wit you well it shall like us as well to go in other countries with you and there to take such part as ye do my fair lords said Sir Lancelot I well understand you and as I can thank you and ye shall understand such livelihood as I am born unto I shall depart with you in this manner of wise that is for to say I shall depart all my livelihood and all my lands freely among you and I myself will have as little as any of you for have I sufficient that may long to my person I will ask none other rich array and I trust to God to maintain you on my lands as well as ever were maintained any nights then spake all the nights at once he have shame that will leave you for we all understand in this realm will be now no quiet but ever strife and debate now the fellowship of the round table is broken for by the noble fellowship of the round table is King Arthur upborn and by their no bless the king and all his realm was in quiet and rest and a great part they said all was because of your no bless chapter 18 how Sir Lancelot passed over the sea and how he made great lords of the nights that went with him truly said Sir Lancelot I thank you all of your good saying how be it I won't well in me was not all the stability of this realm but in that I might I did my Duvoir and well I am sure I knew many rebellions in my days that by me were peace and I try we all shall hear them in short space and that me so repentive forever I dread me said Sir Lancelot that Sir Mordred will make trouble for he is passing envious and applied him to trouble so they were accorded to go with Sir Lancelot to his lands and to make short tail they trust and paid all that would ask them and holy and hundred nights departed with Sir Lancelot at once and made their avows they would never leave him for wheel nor for wall and so they shipped at Cardiff and sailed unto Benwick some men call it Bayonne and some men call it Bone where the wine of Bone is but to say the sooth Sir Lancelot and his nephews were lords of all France and of all the lands that longed unto France he and his kindred rejoiced at all through Sir Lancelot's noble prowess and then Sir Lancelot's stuffed and furnished and garnished all his noble towns and castles then all the people of those lands came to Sir Lancelot on foot and hands and so when he had established all these countries he shortly called a parliament and there he crowned Sir Lionel King of France and Sir Boris he crowned him King of all King Claudus lands and Sir Ector de Maris that was Sir Lancelot's youngest brother he crowned him King of Benwick and King of all Guine that was Sir Lancelot's own land and he made Sir Ector Prince of them all and thus he departed then Sir Lancelot advanced all his noble knights and first he advanced them of his blood that was Sir Blamour he made him Duke of Limousin in Guine and Sir Blaeoveris he made him Duke of Poitiers and Sir Gahaladentine he made him Duke of Cairn and Sir Gallaudon he made him Duke of Santonge and Sir Gallaud he made him Earl of Perigo and Sir Menaduke he made him Earl of Rhaegh and Sir Villar the Valiant he made him Earl of Bairne and Sir Hebeys Le Ranoum he made him Earl of Comange and Sir Levain he made him Earl of Arminac and Sir Ur he made him Earl of Astrak and Sir Neronius he made him Earl of Pardiac and Sir Planorius he made Earl of Foise and Sir Celestes of the Dolores Tower he made him Earl of Massauc and Sir Meliasteliel he made him Earl of Tersauc and Sir Balangère Le Beuz he made Earl of the Launs and Sir Palomides he made him Duke of the Provence and Sir Saphir he made him Duke of Landoc and Sir Cleges he gave him the Earl de Mavagente and Sir Sadock he gave the Earl de Mavserlain and Sir Dynas Le Sénéchal he made him Duke of Anjou and Sir Clares he made him Duke of Normandy thus Sir Lancelot rewarded his noble knights and many more that Massimith it were too long to rehearse end of book 20 chapters 14 through 18