Le Morte Darthur / by Syr Thomas Malory ; the original edition of William Caxton now reprinted and edited with an introduction and glossary by H. Oskar Sommer ; with an essay on Malory's prose style by Andrew Lang

[leaf 399r]

Book Twenty: morte of kynge Arthur

¶ Capitulum primum

IN May whan euery lusty herte floryssheth and burgeneth / For as the season is lusty to beholde and comfortable / Soo man and woman reioycen and gladen of somer comynge with hys fresshe floures / for wynter with his rouȝ wyndes and blastes causeth a lusty man and woman to coure / and sytte fast by the fyre / So in this season as in the monethe of May it byfelle a grete angre and vnhap / that stynted not til the floure of chyualry of alle the world was destroyed & slayn / and alle was long vpon two vnhappy knyghtes the whiche were named Agrauayne and sire Mordred that were bretheren vnto sir Gawayne / for this sir Agrauayne and sir mordred had euer a preuy hate vnto the Quene dame Gueneuer and to syr launcelot / and dayly and nyghtly they euer watched vpon sir Launcelot / Soo it myshapped syr Gawayne and alle his bretheren were in kynge Arthurs chamber / and thenne sir Agrauayne sayd thus openly and not in no counceylle that many knyghtes myghte here it / I merueylle that we alle be not ashamed bothe to see and to knowe how sire Launcelot lyeth dayly and nyghtly by the quene / and al we knowe it so and it is shamefully suffred of vs alle that we alle shold suffre soo noble a kyng as kynge Arthur is soo to be shamed /

¶ Thenne spak sir Gawayne and sayd / broder sir Agrauayn I pray yow and charge yow meue no suche maters no more afore me / for wete ye wel sayd syr Gawayne I wylle not be of your counceylle / Soo god me help sayd sir Gaherys and sir Gareth we wylle not be knowynge broder Agrauayne of your dedes / Thenne wylle I sayd syre Mordred I leue well that sayd syre Gawayne / for euer vnto alle vnhappynes broder syr Mordred there to wille ye graunte / and I wold that ye lefte alle this / and made you not soo besy / for I knowe sayd syr Gawayne what wylle falle of hit / Falle of hit what falle may sayd syr Agrauayne / I wille disclose it to the kyng / Not by my counceylle sayd syr Gawayne / for and there ryse warre and wrake betwyx syr launcelot and vs / wete you wel broder there will many kynges and grete lordes hold with syr

[leaf 399v] Launcelot / Also broder sir Agrauayne sayd sire Gawayne ye must remembre how oftymes syr Launcelot hath rescowed the kynge and the quene / and the best of vs all had ben ful cold at the herte rote / had not sir launcelot ben better than we / And that hath he preud hym self ful ofte / And as for my parte sayd sir Gawayne I wylle neuer be ageynst sir launcelot for one dayes dede whan he rescowed me from kynge Carados of the dolorous toure / and slewe hym and saued my lyf/ Also broder sir Agrauayne and sir mordred in lyke wyse sir Launcelot rescowed yow bothe and thre score and two from sir Turquyn / Me thynketh broder suche kynde dedes and kyndenes shold be remembryd / doo as ye lyst sayd syr Agrauayne for I wylle layne it no lenger /

¶ With these wordes came to them kynge Arthur / Now broder stynte your noyse sayd syre Gawayne / we wylle not sayd syr Agrauayne and sir Mordred / wylle ye soo sayd sir Gawayne / thenne god spede yow for I wil not here your tales ne be of your counceyll / no more wyll I sayd sir Gareth and sir Gaherys / for we wyl neuer saye euylle by that man / for by cause sayd syre Gareth syr launcelot made me knyghte by no manere owe I to say ylle of hym / and there with al they thre departed makynge grete dole / Allas sayd syr Gawayn and sir Gareth now is this Realme holy mescheued / and the noble felaushyp of the round table shalle be disparpyld / soo they departed

¶ Capitulum ij

ANd thenne sir Arthur asked hem what noyse they made / my lord sayd Agrauayye I shal telle yow that I may kepe noo lenger / here is I and my broder syre Mordred brake into my broder syr Gawayne / syr Gaherys / and to syre Gareth / how this we knowe alle that syr Launcelot holdeth your quene and hath done longe / and we be your syster sones / & we may suffre it no lenger / and alle we wote that ye shold be aboue syr launcelot / and ye are the kynge that made hym knyghte / and therfor we wille preue hit that he is a traytoure to your persone / yf hit be soo sayd syr Arthur wete yow wel he is none other / but I wold be lothe to begynne suche a thynge

[leaf 400r] but I myght haue preues vpon hit / for sir launcelot is an hardy knyghte / and alle ye knowe / he is the best knyghte among vs alle // and but yf he be taken with the dede / he wylle fyghte with hym that bryngeth vp the noyse / and I knowe no knyȝt that is able to matche hym / Therfore and it be sothe as ye saye I wold he were taken with the dede / For as the Frensshe book sayth the kynge was ful lothe therto that ony noyse shold be vpon syr launcelot and his quene / for the kynge had a demynge / but he wold not here of hit / for syr launcelot had done soo moche for hym and the quene soo many tymes that wete ye wel the kynge loued hym passyngly wel / My lord sayd syre Agrauayne ye shal ryde to morne on huntynge / and doubte ye not syr launcelot wille not goo with yow / Thenne whan it draweth toward nyghte / ye may sende the quene word that ye wil lye oute alle that nyghte / and soo may ye sende for your cokes and thenne vpon payne of deth we shalle take hym that nyght with the quene / and outher we shal brynge hym to yow dede or quyck / I wille wel sayd the kynge / thenne I counceylle yow sayd the kynge take with yow sure felauship / syre sayd Agrauayne my broder sir Mordred and I wil take with vs twelue knyghtes of the round table / Beware sayd kyng arthur / for I warne yow ye shalle fynde hym wyghte / lete vs dele sayd sir Agrauayne and sir Mordred / Soo on the morn kynge Arthur rode on huntynge / and sente word to the quene that he wold be oute alle that nyghte / Thenne sir Agrauayne and sire Mordred gate to them twelue knyghtes / and dyd them self in a chamber in the Castel of Carleyl / and these were their names / syr Colgreuaunce / syr Mador de la porte / syre Gyngalyne / syr Melyot de Logrys / syre Petypase of wynchelsee / syr Galleron of Galway / syr Melyon of the montayne / sir Astamore / syre Gromore somyr Ioure / syr Curselayne / syr Florence / syr Louel / So these twelue knyghtes were with sir mordred and sir Agrauayne / and al they were of Scotland outher of syr Gawayns kynne / outher wel willers to his bretheren / Soo whan the nyghte came sir Launcelot told syre Bors how he wold goo that nyghte and speke with the quene / Sir sayd sir Bors ye shal not go this nyghte by my coūceil Why sayd sir launcelot / Sir sayd sir Bors I drede me euer of

[leaf 400v] sir Agrauayn that wayteth yow dayly to do yow shame and vs al / and neuer gaf my herte ageynst no goynge that euer ye wente to the Quene soo moche as now / for I mystrust that the kynge is oute this nyghte from the quene by cause perauentur he hath layne somme watche for yow and the Quene / and therfor I drede me sore of treason / Haue ye no drede sayd syr Launcelot / for I shalle goo and come ageyne and make noo taryenge / Sir said sir Bors that me repenteth / for I drede me sore that your goynge oute thys nyghte shalle wrathe vs alle Fair neuewe sayd sire launcelot I merueylle moche why ye saye thus sythen the quene hath sente for me / and wete ye wel I wille not be soo moche a coward / but she shalle vnderstande I wille see her good grace / God spede yow wel sayd sir bors and send yow sound and sauf ageyne

¶ Capitulum iij /

SOo sir Launcelot departed and took his swerd vnder his arme / and soo in his mantel that noble knyghte putte hym self in grete Ieopardy / and soo he past tyl he came to the quenes chamber / and thenne sir launcelot was lyȝtely putte in to the chamber / And thenne as the Frensshe book sayth the quene and Launcelot were to gyders / And whether they were a bedde or at other maner of disportes / me lyst not herof make no mencyon / for loue that tyme was not as is now adayes /

¶ But thus as they were to gyder / there came sir Agrauayne and syre Mordred with twelue knyȝtes with them of the round table / and they sayd with cryenge voys / Traytour knyghte syr launcelot du lake now arte thou taken And thus they cryed with a loude voys that alle the Courte myghte here hit / and they all xiiij were armed at al poyntes as they shold fyghte in a bataille / Allas sayd quene Gueneuer now are we mescheued bothe / Madame sayd sir Launcelot is there here ony armour within your chambre that I myght couer my poure body with al / And yf there be ony gyue hit me / and I shalle soone stynte their malyce by the grace of god Truly sayd the quene I haue none armour sheld swerd nor

[leaf 401r] spere / wherfore I drede me sore / our longe loue is come to a myscheuous ende / for I here by theire noyse there ben many noble knyghtes / and wel I wote they ben surely armed / ageynste them ye may make no resystence / wherfore ye are lykely to be slayne / and thenne shalle I be brente / For and ye myghte escape them said the quene / I wold not doubte but that ye wold rescowe me in what daunger that euer I stoode in / Allas sayd syr Launcelot in alle my lyf thus was I neuer bestadde that I shold be thus shamefully slayne for lack of myn armour / But euer in one sir Agrauayne and sir Mordred cryed Traytour knyghte come oute of the Quenes chamber / for wete thow wel thou arte soo besette that thow shalte not escape / O Ihesu mercy sayd sir Launcelot this shameful crye and noyse I may not suffre / for better were deth at ones than thus to endure this payne / thenne he took the quene in his armes / and kyste her / and sayd moost noble crysten Quene I byseche yow as ye haue ben euer my specyal good lady / and I at al tymes your true poure knyghte vnto my power / and as I neuer fayled yow in ryghte nor in wrong sythen the fyrst day kynge Arthur made me knyghte that ye wylle praye for my soule / yf that I here be slayne / for wel I am assured that sir Bors myn neuewe and all the remenaunt of my kynne with syr Lauayne and syr Vrre that they wylle not fayle yow to rescowe yow from the fyre / and therfor myn owne lady recomforte your self what someuer come of me that ye go with sire Bors my neuew and sir Vrre / and they all wylle doo yow alle the pleasyr that they can or may / that ye shall lyue lyke a Quene vpon my landes / Nay launcelot sayd the Quene / wete thow wel / I wyll neuer lyue after thy dayes / but and thou be slayne I wyl take my deth as mekely for Ihesus Crystus sake / as euer dyd only crysten Quene / wel madame sayd laūcelot / sythe hit is soo that the day is come that oure loue muste departe / wete yow wel I shalle selle my lyf as dere as I maye and a thousand fold sayd syr Launcelot I am more heuyer for yow than for my self / And now I had leuer than to be lord of al crystendome that I had sure armour vpon me / that men myghte speke of my dedes or euer I were slayne / Truly sayd the Quene I wold and it myghte please god / that

[leaf 401v] they wold take me and slee me / and suffer yow to escape / That shal neuer be sayd sir launcelot / god defende me from suche a shame / but Ihesu be thou my sheld and myn armour /

¶ Capitulum iiij

ANd there with syr Launcelot wrapped his mantel aboute his arme wel and surely / and by thenne they had geten a grete fourme oute of the halle / and there with all they rasshed at the dore / Fair lordes sayd syre Launcelot leue your noyse and your rassyng / and I shalle sette open this dore / and thenne may ye doo with me what it lyketh yow / Come of thenne sayd they alle / and do hit / for hit auayleth the not to stryue ageynst vs alle / and therfor lete vs in to this chamber / and we shalle saue thy lyf vntyl thow come to kyng Arthur / Thenne launcelot vnbarred the dore / and with his lyfte hand he held it open a lytel / so that but one man myghte come in attones / and soo there came strydyng a good knyghte a moche man and large / and his name was Colgreuaunce / of Gore / and he with a swerd strake at syr launcelot myȝtely and he put asyde the stroke / and gaf hym suche a buffett vpon the helmet / that he felle grouelynge dede within the chamber dore / and thenne syre Launcelot with grete myghte drewe that dede knyght within the chamber dore / and syr Launcelot with helpe of the Quene and her ladyes was lyghtely armed in syr Colgreuaunce armour / and euer stode sir Agrauayn and sir Mordred cryenge traytoure knyghte come oute of the quenes chamber / leue your noyse sayd syr launcelot vnto sir Agrauayne / For wete yow wel sir Agrauayne ye shall not prysone me this nyghte and therfor and ye doo by my counceylle / goo ye alle from this chamber dore and make not suche cryeng and suche maner of sklaunder as ye doo / for I promyse you by my knyghthode and ye wil departe and make no more noyse / I shal as to morne appiere afore yow alle before the kyng / and thenne lete it be sene whiche of yow all outher els ye all that wille accuse me of treason / and there I shal ansuer yow as a knyghte shold that hydder I cam to the quene for no maner of male engyne / and that wyl I preue and make hit good vpon

[leaf 402r] yow with my handes / Fy on the traytour sayd sir Agrauayn and sir Mordred / we wylle haue the maulgre thy hede / and slee the yf we lyste / for we lete the wete we haue the choyse of kynge Arthur to saue the or to slee the / A sirs sayd sir launcelot / is there none other grace with you / thenne kepe your self Soo thenne sir Launcelot set al open the chamber dore / and myghtely and knyghtely he strode in amongest them / and anone at the fyrst buffet he slewe sir Agrauayne and twelue of his felawes after within a lytel whyle after he layd hem cold to the erthe / for there was none of the twelue that myghte stande sir launcelot one buffet / ¶ Also syr Launcelot wounded syr Mordred and he fledde with alle his myghte / And thenne syre launcelot retorned ageyne vnto the Quene and sayd madame / now wete yow well all oure true loue is brought to an ende / for now wille kynge Arthur euer be my foo / and therfore madame and it lyke yow that I maye haue you wyth me / I shalle saue yow from alle manere aduentures daungerous / that is not best sayd the quene / me semeth now ye haue done soo moche harme / it wylle be best ye hold yow stylle with this / And yf ye see that as to morne they wylle put me vnto the dethe / thenne may ye rescowe me as ye thynke best / I wyll wel sayd sir launcelot / for haue ye no doubte whyle I am lyuynge / I shalle rescowe yow / and thenne he kyste her / & eyther gaf other a rynge / and soo there he lefte the quene / and went vntyl his lodgynge

¶ Capitulum Quintum /

WHan syre Bors sawe syr launcelot / he was neuer soo gladde of his home comynge as he was thenne / Ihesu mercy sayd syr Launcelot why be ye all armed what meaneth this / Sir sayd sir Bors after ye were departed from vs / we alle that ben of youre blood and youre well wyllers were soo dretched that somme of vs lepte oute of oure beddes naked / & some in their dremes caughte naked swerdes in their handes / therfor said sir Bors we deme / there is some grete stryf at hand / & thēne we all demed that ye were betrapped with som treason / & therfor we made vs redy what nede that euer ye were in / My fayre neuewe sayd sir launcelot vnto sir bors now shal ye wete al that this nyȝt I was more harder bestad wan euer I was in my lyf & yet I escaped / And so he told

[leaf 402v] hem alle how and in what maner as ye haue herd to fore / And therfore my felawes said sir Launcelot I pray yow all that ye wylle be of good herte in what nede someuer I stande for now is warre come to vs alle / Sir sayd sir Bors alle is welcome that god sendeth vs / and we haue had moche wele with yow and moche worshyp / and therfor we wille take the wo with yow as we haue taken the wele / And therfore they sayd alle there were many good knyghtes / loke ye take no discomforte / for there nys no bandys of knyghtes vnder heuen / but we shalle be able to greue them as moche as they maye vs And therfor discomforte not your self by no maner / and we shalle gadre to gyders that we loue / and that loueth vs / & what that ye wil haue done shalle be done / And therfor syr Launcelot sayd they we wil take the woo with the wele / Graunt mercy sayd sir Launcelot of your good comforte / for in my grete distresse my fayr neuewe ye comforte me gretely / and moche I am beholdyng vnto yow But thys my fayre neuewe I wold that ye dyd in all haste that ye may or it be forth dayes that ye wille loke in their lodgynge that ben lodged here nyghe aboute the kynge which wyll hold with me and whyche wylle not / for now I wolde knowe whiche were my frendes fro my foes Sir said syr Bors I shalle doo my payne / and or it be seuen of the clok I shalle wete of suche as ye haue sayd before who will holde with yow

¶ Thenne sire Bors called vnto hym sire Lyonel / syr Ector de marys / sir Blamor de ganys / sir Bleoberys de ganys / syre Gahalantyne / syr Galyhodyn / sir Galyhud / Sir menadeuke/ sir Vyllyers the valyaunt / sir Hebes le renoumes / sir lauayne syr Vrre of Hongry / sir Nerouneus / sire Plenorius /

¶ These two knyghtes sire launcelot made / and the one he wanne vpon a brydge / and therfor they wold neuer be ageynst hym/ And Harre le fyse du lake and syre Selyses of the dolorous Toure / and sir Melyas de lyle / and sire Bellangere le beuse that was syr Alysanders sone le orphelyn / by cause hys moder Alys la Beale pelleryn and she was kynne vnto sir Launcelot / and he held with hym /

¶ Soo there came syre Palomydes and sir Safyr his broder

[leaf 403r] to hold with syr launcelot / And syre Clegys of Sadok and syr Dynas / syr Claryus of Cleremont / So these two & twenty knyghtes drewe hem to gyders / and by thenne they were armed on horsbak / and promysed sir Launcelot to doo what he wold /

¶ Thenne there felle to them what of Northwalys and of Cornewaile for sir Lamoraks sake and for sire Tristrams sake to the nombre of a four score knyghtes

¶ My lordes sayd syre Launcelot wete yow wel / I haue ben euer syns I came in to this Countrey wel wylled vnto my lord kynge Arthur / and vnto my lady Quene Gueneuer vnto my power / and this nyghte by cause my lady the quene sente for me to speke with her / I suppose it was made by treason how be hit / I dare largely excuse her persone / not withstandynge I was ther by a fore cast nere slayne / but as Ihesu prouyded me I escaped alle theyir malyce and treason /

¶ And thenne that noble knyghte sire Launcelot told hem al how he was hard bestad in the quenes chamber / and how and in what manere he escaped from them / And therfore sayd sir Launcelot wete yow wel my fayre lordes I am sure ther nys but werre vnto me and myn / And for by cause I haue slayn this nyghte these knyghtes I wote wel as is sire Agrauayne syr Gawayns broder / and at the leste twelue of his felawes / for this cause now I am sure of mortal warre / for these knyghtes were sente and ordeyned by kynge Arthur to bitraye me / And therfore the kynge wylle in his hete & malyce Iuge the quene to the fyre / and that maye I not suffre that she shold be brente for my sake / for and I may be herd and sufferd and soo taken / I wyll fyghte for the Quene that she is a true lady vnto her lord / but the kynge in his hete I drede me wylle not take me as a I oughte to be taken

¶ Capitulum vj

MY lord syre Launcelot sayd sir Bors by myn aduys ye shalle take the wo with the wele / and take hit in pacyence / and thanke god of hit /

¶ And sythen

[leaf 403v] hit is fallen as hit is / I counceylle yow to kepe youre self / for and ye wylle your self / ther is no felaushyp of knyghtes crystened that shalle do you wrong / Also I wyll counceyll yow my lord syr Launcelot / that and my lady quene Gueneuer be in distresse / in soo moche as she is in payne for your sake that ye knyghtly rescowe her / and ye dyd other wayes / al the world wylle speke of yow shame to the worldes ende / in so moche as ye were taken with her / whether ye dyd ryghte or wrong / It is now your parte to holde with the quene that she be not slayne and put to a mescheuous dethe / for and she soo dye / the shame shalle be yours / Ihesu defende me from shame sayd syre Launcelot and kepe and saue my lady the quene from vylony and shameful deth / and that she neuer be destroyed in my defaute / wherfore my fayre lordes my kynne and my frendes sayd sir Launcelot what wylle ye doo / Thenne they sayd all we wille doo as ye wylle doo / I putte this to yow sayd sir launcelot that yf my lord Arthur by euyll counceyll wyll to morn in his hete putte my lady the Quene to the fyre there to be brente / Now I praye yow counceylle me what is best to doo / Thenne they sayd alle at ones with one voys / Syre vs thynketh best that ye knyghtly rescowe the quene in soo moche as she shal be brente / it is for youre sake / and it is to suppose and ye myghte be handelyd ye shold haue the same dethe or a more shamefuller dethe / and syre we say al that ye haue many tymes rescowed her from dethe / for other mens quarels / vs semeth it is more youre worshyp that ye rescowe the quene from this perylle / in soo moche she hath it for your sake

¶ Thenne sir launcelot stood styl and sayd / my fayre lordes wete yow wel I wold be lothe to doo that thynge that shold dishonoure yow or my blood / and wete yow wel I wold be lothe that my lady the quene shold dye a shameful dethe / but and hit be soo that ye wylle counceylle me to rescowe her / I muste doo moche harme or I rescowe her / and peraduenture I shal there destroye somme of my best frendes / that shold moche repente me / and peraduenture there be somme / and they coude wel brynge it aboute / or disobeye my lord kynge Arthur they wold soone come to me / the whiche I were loth to hurte / & yf so be þ^t I rescowe her where shal I kepe her / that shal be

[leaf 404r] the leste care of vs alle sayd sir Bors / how dyd the noble knyghte sire Tristram by your good wylle kepte not he wyth hym la beale Isoud nere thre yere in Ioyous gard / the which was done by your elthers deuyse / and that same place is your owne / and in lyke wyse may ye doo and ye lyst / and take the Quene lyghtely away / yf it soo be the kynge wylle Iuge her to be brente / and in Ioyous gard ye may kepe her longe ynough vntyl the hete of the kynge be past / And thenne shalle ye brynge ageyne the quene to the kynge with grete worshyp / and thenne peraduenture ye shalle haue thanke for her bryngynge home and loue and thanke where other shalle haue maugre / That is hard to doo sayd sir launcelot / for by sir Tristram I may haue a warnynge / for whanne by meanes of treatyce syr Tristram brought ageyne la Beale Isoud vnto kynge Mark from Ioyous gard loke what befelle on the ende / how shamefully that fals traitour kyng marke slewe hym / as he sat harpynge afore his lady la beale Isoud / With a groundyn glayue he threst hym in behynde to the herte / hit greueth me said sir launcelot to speke of his dethe / for alle the world may not fynde suche a knyghte / Alle thys is trouthe sayd syre Bors / but there is one thynge shalle courage yow and vs alle / ye knowe wel Kynge Arthur & kyng marke were neuer lyke of condycyons / for there was neuer yet man coude preue kynge Arthur vntrewe of his promyse / Soo to make short tale they were alle consented that for better outher for worse / yf soo were that the quene were on that morne broughte to the fyre / shortly they al wold rescowe her / And soo by the aduyse of syr launcelot they putte hem all in an enbusshement in a woode as nyghe Carleil as they myght And there they abode stylle to wete what the Kynge wold do /

¶ Capitulum vij

NOw torne we ageyne vnto syre Mordred / that whan he was escaped from the noble knyghte sire Launcelot he anone gat his hors and mounted vpon hym / and rode vnto Kynge Arthur / sore wounded and smyten / and alle

[leaf 404v] forbled / and there he told the kynge alle how hit was / and how they were alle slayne sauf hym self al only / Ihesu mercy how maye this be said the Kynge / toke ye hym in the quenes chamber / Ye soo god me helpe sayd sir Mordred there we fonde hym vnarmed / and there he slewe Colgreuaunce & armed hym in his armour / and alle this he told the kynge from the begynnynge to the endynge

¶ Ihesu mercy sayd the kynge he is a merueyllous knyghte of prowesse / Allas me sore repenteth sayd the Kynge that euer syr launcelot shold be ageynst me / Now I am sure the noble felaushyp of the round table is broken for euer / for with hym wille many a noble knyghte holde / and now it is fallen soo/ sayd the Kyng / that I may not with my worshyp / but the quene must suffer the dethe / Soo thenne there was made grete ordynaunce in this hete / that the quene must be Iuged to the deth And the lawe was suche in tho dayes that what someuer they were / of what estate or degree / yf they were fonde gylty of treson / there shold be none other remedy but dethe / and outher the men or the takynge with the dede shold be causer of their hasty Iugement / and ryghte soo was it ordeyned for quene gueneuer / by cause sir Mordred was escaped sore wounded / and the dethe of thyrtten knyghtes of the round table / these preues & experyences caused kynge Arthur to commaunde the quene to the fyre there to be brente / Thenne spake sir gawayn and sayd my lord Arthur I wold counceylle yow not to be ouer hasty / but that ye wold putte it in respyte this Iugement of my lady the quene for many causes /

¶ One it is though it were so that sir Launcelot were fonde in the quenes chamber / yet it myghte be soo that he came thyder for none euylle / for ye knowe my lord said syr gawayne that the quene is moche beholden vnto syr launcelot more than vnto ony other Knyghte / for oftyme he hath saued her lyf / and done batail for her whan al the Courte refused the quene / and parauenture she sente for hym for goodenes and for none euyl to rewarde hym for his good dedes that he had done to her in tymes past / And peraduenture my lady the quene sente for hym to that entente that syr Launcelot shold come to her good grace pryuely and secretely / wenynge to her that hit was best so to do in eschewyng & dredyng

[leaf 405r] of sklaunder / for oftymes we doo many thynges that we wene it be for the best / & yet peraduenture hit torneth to the werst/ For I dare say sayd syre Gawayne my lady your Quene is to yow bothe good and true / And as for sir Launcelot sayd sir Gawayne I dare saye he wylle make hit good vpon ony knyghte lyuyng that wylle putte vpon hym self vylony or shame / and in lyke wyse he wylle make good for my lady dame Gueneuer / that I byleue wel said kyng Arthur / but I wil not that way with sir Launcelot for he trusteth soo moche vpon his handes and his myghte that he doubteth no man / and therfore for my Quene he shalle neuer fyghte more / for she shall haue the lawe / And yf I maye gete sir Launcelot wete you well he shal haue a shameful dethe / Ihesu defende sayd sir Gawayn that I may neuer see it / why saye ye soo sayd kynge Arthur/ For soth ye haue no cause to loue sir Launcelot / for this nyghte last past he slewe your broder sir Agrauayne a ful good knyghte / & al moost he had slayne your other broder sir mordred And also there he slewe thyrtten noble knyghtes / and also sir Gawayne remembre ye he slewe two sones of yours sire Florence and sir Louel / my lord sayd sir Gawayne of alle thys I haue knouleche of whos dethes I repente me sore / but in so moche I gaf hem warnynge / and told my bretheren and my sones afore hand what wold falle in the ende / in soo moche / they wold not doo by my counceyll I wyl not medle me therof nor reuenge me no thynge of their dethes / for I told hem it was no bote to stryue wyth sir launcelot / how be it I am sory of the deth of my bretheren & of my sones / for they are the causers of theyre owne dethe / For oftymes I warned my broder sir Agrauayne / and I told hym the peryls the which ben now fallen

¶ Capitulum viij

THenne sayd the noble Kynge Arthur to syre Gawayne / dere neuewe I pray yow make yow redy in your best armoure with youre bretheren syre Gaherys and syre Gareth to brynge my Quene to the fyre there to haue her Iugement and receyue the dethe

¶ Nay my moost noble

[leaf 405v] lord sayd sir Gawayne that wylle I neuer doo / for wete yow wel / I wylle neuer be in that place where soo noble a Quene as is my lady dame Gueneuer shalle take a shameful ende / For wete yow wel sayd sire Gawayne my herte wylle neuer serue me to see her dye / and it shalle neuer be sayd that euer I was of youre counceylle of her dethe / Thenne sayd the kyng to syr Gawayne / suffer your broder syr Gaherys and syr Gareth to be there / my lord sayd sire Gawayne wete yow wel / they wille be lothe to be there present by cause of many aduentures the whiche ben lyke there to falle / but they are yonge & ful vnable to saye yow nay / Thenne spak sire Gaherys & the good knyghte sire Gareth vnto syre Arthur / syre ye may wel commaunde vs to be there / but wete yow wel it shalle be sore ageynst oure wylle / but and we be there by youre strayte commaundement / ye shall playnly hold vs there excused / we wyl be there in peasyble wyse and bere none harneis of warre vpon vs / In the name of god sayd the kynge thenne make you redy / for she shalle soone haue her Iugement anone / Allas sayd syr Gawayne that euer I shold endure to see this woful daye / Soo sir Gawayne torned hym / and wepte hertely / and so he wente in to his chamber and thēne the quene was led forth withoute Carleil / and there she was despoylled in to her smok And soo thenne her ghoostly fader was broughte to her to be shryuen of her mysdedes / Thenne was there wepynge & waylynge and wryngynge of handes of many lordes and ladyes / But there were but fewe in comparyson that wold bere ony armour for to strengthe the dethe of the quene / Thenne was ther one that sire Launcelot had sente vnto that place for to aspye what tyme the quene shold goo vnto her dethe / And anone as he sawe the quene despoylled in to her smok / and soo shryuen / thenne he gaf sir launcelot warnynge / thenne was there but sporynge and pluckynge vp of horses / and ryghte so they cam to the fyre / And who that stood ageynste them there were they slayne / there myghte none withstande sir Launcelot / so all that bare armes and withstoode hem there were they slayne ful many a noble knyghte / For there was slayne sir Bellyas le orgulous / Sir Segwarydes / Sir Gryflet / sir Brandyles / syre

[leaf 406r] Agloual / syr Tor / syr Gauter / sire Gyllymer / syr Reynold iij bretheren / syr Damas / syr Pyramus / syr Kay the straunger / sir Dryaunt / sir Lambegus / syr Hermynde / syr Pertylope / syre Perymones two bretheren that were called the grene knyght and the reed knyghte / And soo in this rassynge and hurlyng as syre Launcelot thrange here and there / it myhapped hym to slee Gaherys and syr Gareth the noble knyghte / for they were vnarmed and vnware / For as the Frensshe booke sayth/ syr Launcelot smote syr Gareth and syr Gaherys vpon the brayne pannes where thorou they were slayne in the felde how be hit in veray trouthe syr launcelot sawe hem not / and soo were they fonde dede amonge the thyckest of the prees /

¶ Thenne whan syr launcelot had thus done and slayne / and putte to flyghte alle that wold withstande hym / Thenne he rode streyghte vnto dame Gueneuer and maade a kyrtyl and a gowne to be cast vpon her / and thenne he made her to be sette behynde hym / and prayd her to be of good chere / wete yow wel / the Quene was gladde that she was escaped from the dethe / And thenne she thanked god and sir Launcelot / and soo he rode his way with the Quene as the Frensshe book saith vnto Ioyous gard / and there he kepte her as a noble knyghte shold doo / & many grete lordes and somme kynges sent syr Launcelot many good knyghtes / and many noble knyghtes drewe vnto sir Launcelot /

¶ whan this was knowen openly that kyng Arthur and sire launcelot were at debate / many knyghtes were gladde of their debate / and many were ful heuy of their debate

¶ Capitulum ix

SOo torne we ageyne vnto kynge Arthur that whan it was told hym / how and in what maner of wyse the quene was taken awey from the fyre / And whan he herd of the deth of his noble knyghtes / and in especyal of syr gaheris and sir Gareths deth / thenne the kyng swouned for pure sorou And whan he awoke of his swoun / thenne he sayd

¶ Allas that euer I bare croun vpon my hede / For now haue I loste the fayrest felaushyp of noble knyghtes that euer helde crysten

[leaf 406v] kynge to gyders / Allas my good knyghtes ben slayne aweye from me / now within these two dayes I haue lost xl knyȝtes / & also the noble felaushyp of syr laūcelot and his blood / for now I may neuer hold hem to gyders no more with my worshyp / Allas that euer this werre beganne / Now fayr felawes sayd the kynge I charge yow that no man telle sir gawayn of the dethe of his two bretheren / for I am sure sayd the kyng whan sir Gawayne hereth telle that sir Gareth is dede he wyll goo nyghe oute of his mynde / Mercy Ihesu said the kyng why slewe he syre Gareth and sire Gaherys / for I dar saye as for syre Gareth he loued sir Launcelot aboue al men erthely / that is trouthe sayd some knyghtes / but they were slayne in the hurtlyng as sir launcelot thrange in the thyck of the prees / and as they were vnarmed / he smote hem and wyst not whome that he smote / and soo vnhappyly they were slayne / The dethe of them sayd Arthur wyll cause the grettest mortal werre that euer was / I am sure wyste sir Gawayne that syr Gareth were slayne I shold neuer haue reste of hym tyl I had destroyed syr launcelots kynne and hym self both / outher els he to destroye me / and therfor sayd the kynge wete yow well my herte was neuer soo heuy as it is now / and moche more I am soryer for my good knyghtes losse / than for the losse of my fayre quene / for quenes I myghte haue ynowe / but suche a felaushyp of good knyghtes shalle neuer be to gyders in no company / and now I dare say sayd kyng Arthur there was neuer crysten kynge helde suche a felaushyp to gyders / & allas that euer syr launcelot & I shold be at debate / A Agrauayn Agrauayn sayd the kyng Ihesu forgyue it thy sowle / for thyn euyl wyl that thou and thy broder syre Mordred haddest vnto syr launcelot hath caused al this sorowe / and euer amonge these complayntes the kyng wepte and swouned

¶ Thenne ther came one vnto syr Gawayne and told hym / how the Quene was ladde awaye with syr launcelot / & nygh a xxiiij knyghtes slayne / O Ihesu defende my bretheren sayd sir gawayne / for ful wel wyst I that syr launcelot wold rescowe her / outher els he wold dye in that felde / and to saye the trouth he had not ben a man of worshyp had he not rescowed the quene that day / in so moche she shold haue ben brente for his sake

[leaf 407r] And as in that sayd sir Gawayne he hath done but knyȝtly/ and as I wold haue done my self and I had stand in lyke caas / but where ar my bretheren sayd sir Gawayne / I merueyll I here not of hem / Truly sayd that man sir Gareth and syr Gaherys be slayne / Ihesu defende sayd sir Gawayne / for alle the world I wold not that they were slayne / and in especyal my good broder sir Gareth / syr sayd the man he is slayne and that is grete pyte / who slewe hym sayd sir Gawayn Sir sayd the man Launcelot slewe hem bothe / that may I not byleue sayd syr Gawayne that euer he slewe my broder syre Gareth / For I dar say my broder Gareth loued hym better than me and alle his bretheren / and the kynge bothe / Also I dare say and sir Launcelot and desyred my broder syr Gareth with hym / he wolde haue ben with hym ageynst the kynge and vs al / and therfore I may neuer byleue that syr launcelot slewe my broder. Sir sayd this man it is noysed that he slewe hym

¶ Capitulum x

ALlas sayd sire Gawayne now is my Ioye gone / and thenne he felle doune and swouned / and long he lay there as he had ben dede / And thenne whanne he aroos of his swoune / he cryed oute sorowfully and sayd Allas / and ryȝte soo syr Gawayne ranne to the kynge cryenge and wepynge O kynge Arthur myne vnkel my good broder syr Gareth is slayne / soo is my broder syr Gaherys / the whiche were / ij / noble knyghtes / Thenne the kynge wepte and he bothe / and so they felle on swounynge / And whan they were reuyued thenne spak sir Gawayne / syr I wyl go see my broder syr Gareth / ye may not see hym sayd the kynge / for I caused hym to be entered and syr gaherys bothe / For I wel vnderstood that ye wold make ouer moche sorowe / and the syghte of sir Gareth shold haue caused your double sorowe / Allas my lord sayd syr Gawayne how slewe he my broder sir gareth myn own good lord I praye yow telle me / Truly sayd the Kyng I shal telle yow as it is told me / syre Launcelot slewe hym & sir Gaheris bothe / Allas sayd sire Gawayne they bare none armes

[leaf 407v] ayenst hym neyther of hem both / I wote not how it was said the kynge / but as it is sayd sire launcelot slewe them bothe in the thyckest of the prees / and knewe them not / and therfor lete vs shape a remedy for to reuenge their dethes / My Kynge my lord and myn vnkel sayd sire Gawayne wete yow wel now I shal make yow a promyse that I shalle holde by my knyghthode / that from this day I shalle neuer fayle sir launcelot vntyl the one of vs haue slayne the other / And therfore I requyre yow my lord and kynge dresse yow to the werre for wete yow wel I will be reuenged vpon sire launcelot / & therfor as ye wylle haue my seruyse and my loue now haste yow therto and assaye your frendes / For I promyse vnto god said sir Gawayne for the dethe of my broder sir gareth I shalle seke syr launcelot thorou oute seuen kynges Realmes / but I shalle slee hym or els he shalle slee me / ye shall not nede to seke hym soo ferre sayd the Kynge / for as I here saye sir Launcelot will abyde me and yow in the Ioyous gard / and moche peple draweth vnto hym as I here saye / That may I byleue sayd sir gawayne / but my lord he sayd assaye your frendes / and I wyll assaye myn / it shalle be done sayd the kynge / and as I suppose I shal be byg ynouȝ to drawe hym oute of the byggest toure of his Castel / So thenne the kynge sente letters and wryttes thorou oute alle Englond bothe in the lengthe and the brede / for to assomone alle his knyghtes / And soo vnto Arthur drewe many knyghtes dukes and Erles / soo that he had a grete hoost / and whan they were assemblyd the kyng enformed hem how syr launcelot had berafte hym his quene / Thenne the kynge and all his hoost made hem redy to laye syege aboute sir Launcelot where he laye within Ioyous gard / Therof herd sir Launcelot and purueyed hym of many good knyghtes / for with hym helde many knyghtes / and some for his owne sake and somme for the quenes sake / Thus they were on bothe partyes wel furnysshed and garnysshed of alle maner of thyng that longed to the werre / But kyng Arthurs hoost was soo bygge that syr launcelot wold not abyde hym in the felde / For he was ful lothe to doo batail ageynst the kyng / but syre launcelot drewe hym to his strong castel with al maner of vytail / And as many noble men as he myghte suffyse within the

[leaf 408r] Towne and the Castel / Thenne came kynge Arthur with sire Gawayne with an hughe hoost / and layd a syege al aboute Ioyous gard both at the Towne and at the Castel / & there they made stronge werre on bothe partyes / but in no wyse syre Launcelot wold ryde oute nor go out of his Castel of long tyme / neyther he wold none of his good knyghtes to yssue oute neyther none of the Towne nor of the Castel vntyl xv / wekes were past

¶ Capitulum xj

THenne it befel vpon a daye in heruest tyme / syr launcelot loked ouer the walles / and spak on hyghe vnto Kynge Arthur and sir Gawayne / my lordes bothe wete ye wel al is in vayne that ye make at this syege / for here wynne ye no worshyp but maulgre and dishonoure / for and it lyste me to come my self oute and my good knyghtes I shold ful soone make an ende of this werre / Come forthe sayd Arthur vnto Launcelot and thou darst / and I promyse the / I shalle mete the in myddes of the felde / God defende me sayd sir Launcelot that euer I shold encountre with the moost noble kyng that made me knyghte / Fy vpon thy fayre langage sayd the kynge / for wete yow wel and trust it I am thy mortal fo / & euer wylle to my deth daye / for thou hast slayne my good knyghtes / and ful noble men of my blood that I shal neuer recouer ageyne /

¶ Also thow hast layne by my Quene & holden her many wynters / and sythen lyke a traytour taken her from me by force / my moost noble lord and kyng sayd sir launcelot ye may say what ye will / for ye wote wel with youre self wil I not stryue / but there as ye say I haue slayn your good knyghtes I wote wel that I haue done soo / and that me sore repenteth / but I was enforced to doo batail with hem / in sauyng of my lyf or els I muste haue suffred hem to haue slayne me / and as for my lady Quene Gueneuer except your persone of your hyhenes / and my lord sire Gawayne there is noo knyghte vnder heuen that dar make it good vpon me / that euer I was a traytour vnto youre persone / And where hit please yow to saye that I haue holden my lady youre Quene

[leaf 408v] yeres and wynters / vnto that I shal euer make a large ansuer / and preue hit vpon ony knyghte that bereth the lyf excepte youre person and sire Gawayne that my lady Quene gueneuer is a true lady vnto your persone as ony is lyuyng vnto her lord / and that wylle I make good with my handes / how be it / it hath lyked her good grace to haue me in chyerte and to cherysshe me more than ony other knyghte / and vnto my power I ageyne haue deserued her loue / for oftymes my lord ye haue consented that she shold be brente and destroyed in your hete / and thenne it fortuned me to doo batail for her / and or I departed from her aduersary they confessid their vntrouthe / and she ful worshypfully excused / And at suche tymes my lord Arthur sayd sir Launcelot ye loued me / and thanked me whan I saued your quene from the fyre / & thenne ye promysed me for euer to be my good lord / and now me thynketh ye rewarde me ful ylle for my good seruyse / and my good lord me semeth I had lost a grete parte of my worshyp in my knyghthode / and I had suffered my lady youre Quene to haue ben brente / and in soo moche she shold haue ben brente for my sake / For sythen I haue done batails for your Quene in other quarels than in myn owne / me semeth now I had more ryght to doo batail for her in ryghte quarel / and therfor my good and gracyous lord sayd syr launcelot take your quene vnto your good grace / for she is bothe fayr true and good / Fy on the fals recreaunt knyght sayd sire Gawayne / I lete the wete my lord myn vnkel Kynge Arthur shalle haue his Quene and the maulgre thy vysage / and slee yow bothe whether it please hym / It may wel be sayd sire Launcelot / but wete ye wel my lord sire Gawayne / and me lyst to come oute of this Castel ye shold wynne me and the quene more harder than euer ye wanne a stronge bataille / Fy on thy proude wordes seyd sir Gawayne / as for my lady the Quene I wil neuer saye of her shame / but thow fals and recreaunt Knyghte / saide syre Gawayne what cause haddest thow to slee my good broder syr Gareth that loued the more than al my kynne Allas thow madest hym knyght thyn owne handes / Why slewe thow hym that loued the soo wel / for to excuse me sayde sir Launcelot it helpeth me not / but by Ihesu / and by the feyth

[leaf 409r] that I owe to the hygh ordre of knyȝthode / I shold with as a good wylle haue slayne my neuewe sir Bors de ganys / at þ^t tyme / but allas that euer I was so vnhappy sayd laūcelot þ^t I had not sene syr Gareth and sir Gaherys / Thow lyest recreaunt knyght sayd sir Gawayne / thow slewest hym in despyte of me / And therfore wete thou wel I shalle make warre to the / and alle the whyle that I may lyue / That me repenteth said sir Launcelot / for wel I vnderstande it helpeth not to seke none accordement whyle ye syr Gawayne ar soo mescheuously sette / And yf ye were not / I wold not doubte to haue the good grace of my lord Arthur / I byleue it wel fals recreaunt knyght sayd sir Gawayne / for thow hast many longe dayes ouer ladde me and vs alle / and destroyed many of oure good knyghtes / ye saye as it pleaseth yow sayd syr launcelot / & yet may it neuer be sayd on me / and openly preued that euer I before cast of treason slewe no good knyghte as my lord syre Gawayne ye haue done / And soo dyd I neuer / but in my defense that I was dryuen therto in sauynge of my lyf /

¶ A fals knyghte sayd syre Gawayne that thow menest by syre Lamorak / wete thow wel I slewe hym / ye slewe hym not youre self sayd sir launcelot / hit had ben ouer moche on hand for yow to haue slayne hym / for he was one of the best knyghtes crystned of his age / and it was grete pyte of his dethe /

¶ Capitulum xij

WEl sayd sir Gawayne / to Launcelot sythen thou enbraydest me of sire Lamorak / wete thow well I shalle neuer leue the tyl I haue the at suche auaille that thou shalte not escape my handes / I truste yow wel ynough sayd syr launcelot / and ye may gete me / I gete but lytel mercy/ but as the Frensshe book saith / the noble kyng Arthur wold haue taken his Quene ageyne / and haue ben accorded with syr Launcelot / but syr Gawayne wold not suffer hym by no maner of meane / And thenne syre Gawayne made many men to blowe vpon syr launcelot / And all at ones they called hym fals recreaunt knyght / Thenne when syr Bors de ganys

[leaf 409v] syr Ector de marys and sir lyonel herd this oute crye / they called to them syre Palomydes sir Safyrs broder / and sir Lauayne with many moo of their blood / and alle they went vnto sir launcelot and sayd thus / My lord sir launcelot wete ye wel we haue grete scorne of the grete rebukes / that we herd gawayn saye to yow / Wherfor we pray you & charge you as ye wille haue oure seruyse / kepe vs noo lenger within these walles / for wete yow wel playnly we wille ryde in to the feld / and doo bataille with hem / for ye fare as a man that were aferd / and for alle your fayr speche it wil not auayle yow / For wete yow wel / sire Gawayne wille not suffer you to be accorded with kynge Arthur / and therfore fyghte for youre lyf and your ryghte and ye dar / Allas sayd syre launcelot for to ryde oute of this Castel and to doo batail I am ful lothe / Thenne syre launcelot spak on hyghe vnto syr Arthur & syre Gawayne my lordes I requyre you and biseche you sythen that I am thus requyred and coniured to ryde in to the felde / that neyder you my lord kynge Arthur nor you syre Gawayne come not in to the felde / What shal we doo thenne sayd syr Gawayne / is this the kynges quarel with the to fyghte / and it is my quarel to fyghte with the syr laūcelot / by cause of the deth of my brother syre Gareth / Thenne muste I nedes vnto bataill said syr launcelot / now wete you wel my lord Arthur and syre Gawayne ye wil repente it when someuer I doo bataylle with you / And soo thenne they departed eyther from other / and thenne eyther party made hem redy on the morne for to doo batail / and grete purueaunce was made on bothe sydes / and syr Gawayne lete purueye many knyghtes for to wayte vpon sir launcelot for to ouersette hym / and to slee hym / And on the morne at vndorne syre Arthur was redy in the felde with thre grete hoostes / And thenne syr launcelots felaushyp came oute at thre gates in a ful good araye / and syre lyonel came in the formest batail / and syr launcelot came in the myddel / and syre Bors came oute at the thyrd gate / Thus they came in ordre & rule as ful noble knyghtes / and alwayes syr launcelot charged all his knyghtes in ony wyse to saue Kynge Arthur & syr Gawayne

[leaf 410r]

¶ Capitulum xiij

THenne came forth sir Gawayne from the kynges host and he came before and proferd to Iuste / and sir Lyonel was a fyres knyghte / and lyghtely he encoūtred with syr Gawayne / & there sir Gawayne smote syr lyonel thurgh oute the body / that he dasshed to the erthe / lyke as he had ben dede / And thenne sir Ector de marys and other more bare hym in to the Castel / thenne there beganne a grete stoure & moche peple was slayne / and euer syr launcelot dyd what he myghte to saue the peple on kynge Arthurs party / for syr palomydes and syr Bors and syr Safyr ouerthrowe many knyghtes / for they were dedely knyghtes / and syre Blamor de ganys / and syr Bleoberys de ganys with sir Bellangere le bewse / these syxe knyghtes dyd moche harme / and euer kynge Arthur was nyghe aboute syr launcelot to haue slayn hym / & syr launcelot suffred hym / and wold not stryke ageyne / Soo syr Bors encountred with kynge Arthur / and there with a spere syr Bors smote hym doun / & soo he alyghte and drewe his swerd / and sayd to syr launcelot / shalle I make an ende of this werre / & that he mente to haue slayn Kynge Arthur Not soo hardy sayd syr launcelot vpon payn of thy hede / that thou touche hym no more / for I wille neuer see that most noble kynge that made me knyghte neyther slayn ne shamed / & there with al syr laūcelot alyght of his hors & tooke vp the kynge & horsed hym ageyn / & sayd thus / my lord Arthur for goddes loue stynte this stryf / for ye gete here no worshyp / and I wold doo myn vtteraūce / but alweyes I forbere yow / & ye nor none of yours forbereth me / my lord remembre what I haue done in many places / & now I am euylle rewarded Thenne whan kyng Arthur was on horsbak / he loked vpon syr launcelot / & thēne the teres brast out of his eyen / thynkyng on the grete curtosy that was in syr laūcelot more than in ony other man / & therwith the Kynge rode his wey / & myghte no lenger beholde hym / & sayd Allas that euer this werre began / & thēne eyther partyes of the batails withdrewe them to repose them / & buryed the dede / & to the woūded men they leid softe

[leaf 410v] salues / and thus they endured that nyȝt tyll on the morne / & on the morne by vndorne they made hem redy to doo bataille / And thenne syr Bors ledde the forward /

¶ Soo vpon the morne there came syre Gawayne as brym as ony bore with a grete spere in his hand / And whan sir Bors sawe hym / he thoughte to reuenge his broder syre Lyonel of the despyte that syr Gawayn dyd hym the other daye /

¶ And so they that knewe eyther other feutryd their speres / and with alle theire myghtes of their horses and hem self / they mette to gyder soo felonsly / that eyther bare other thorowe / and soo they felle both to the erthe / and thenne the batails ioyned / and there was moche slaughter on bothe partyes / Thenne sir launcelot rescowed syr Bors and sente hym in to the Castel / But neyder syr Gawayne nor syr Bors dyed not of their woundes / For they were alle holpen / Thenne syr Lauayne and sir Vrre prayd syr Launcelot to doo his payne / and fyȝte as they had done / for we see / ye forbere and spare / and that doth moche harme therfor we praye yow spare not youre enemyes noo more than they done yow / Allas sayd sire Launcelot I haue no herte to fyghte ageynst my lord Arthur / For euer me semeth I doo not as I oughte to doo / My lord sayd sir Palomydes though ye spare them alle this day / they will neuer conne yow thank And yf they may gete yow at auayle / ye are but dede /

¶ So thenne syr Launcelot vnderstood that they sayd hym trouth & thenne he strayned hym self more than he dyd afore hand / and by cause his neuewe sir Bors was sore wounded / And thenne within a lytel whyle by euensong tyme sire Launcelot and his party better stode / for their horses wente in blood past the fytloks / there was soo moche people slayne / And thenne for pyte syr launcelot withhelde his knyghtes / and suffred kynge Arthurs party for to withdrawe them on syde / And thenne sir launcelots party withdrewe hem in to his Castel / and eyther partyes buryed the dede / & putte salf vnto the wounded men / Soo whan syre Gawayne was hurte / they on kyng Arthurs party were not soo orgulous as they were to fore hand to do bataill / Of this werre was noysed thorou al crystendome & at the last it was noysed afore the pope / and he consyderyng the grete godenes of kynge Arthur / & of sir laūcelot that was

[leaf 411r] called the moost noblest knyghtes of the world wherfore the pope called vnto hym a noble Clerke that att that tyme was there presente / the Frensshe book sayth / hit was the Bisshop of Rochestre / and the pope gaf hym bulles vnder lede vnto kynge Arthur of Englond / chargynge hym vpon payne of enterdytynge of al Englond that he take his quene dame Gueneuer vnto hym ageyne and accorde with syr Launcelot /

¶ Capitulum xiiij

SOo whan this Bisshop was come Carleyl / he shewed the kynge these bulles / And whan the kyng vnderstood these bulles / he nyst what to doo / ful fayne he wold haue ben accorded with sir launcelot / but sir Gawayne wold not suffre hym / but as for to haue the quene / ther to he agreed But in no wyse syre Gawayne wold not suffer the kyng to accorde with syr Launcelot / but as for the quene he consented / And thenne the Bisshop had of the kynge his grete seal / & his assuraunce as he was a true ennoynted kynge / that syre Launcelot shold come sauf / and goo sauf / and that the quene shold not be spoken vnto / of the kynge / nor of none other / for no thynge done afore tyme past / and of alle these appoyntementes / the Bisshop broughte hym sure assuraunce & wrytynge to shewe sir Launcelot / So whan the Bisshop was come to Ioyous gard / there he shewed sir launcelot how the pope had wryten to Arthur and vnto hym / and there he told hym the peryls yf he withhelde the quene from the kyng / It was neuer in my thoughte saide laūcelot to withholde the quene from my lord Arthur / but in soo moche she shold haue ben dede for my sake / me semeth it was my parte to saue her lyf and putte her from that daunger tyl better recouer myghte come / & now I thanke god sayd sir Launcelot that the pope hath made her pees / for god knoweth sayd syr launcelot I wylle be a thousand fold more gladder to brynge her ageyne than euer I was of her takyng away / With this I maye be sure to come sauf / and goo sauf / and that the quene shal haue her lyberte as she had before / and neuer for no thynge that hath ben surmysed

[leaf 411v] afore this tyme / she neuer fro this day stande in no peryll / for els sayd sir launcelot I dare auenture me to kepe her from an harder shoure than euer I kepte her / It shal not nede yow sayd the Bisshop to drede soo moche / For wete yow wel the pope muste be obeyed / and it were not the popes worshyp nor my poure honeste to wete yow distressyd neyther the quene / neyther in perylle nor shamed / And thenne he shewed sir launcelot alle his wrytynge / bothe from the pope and from kynge Arthur / this is sure ynough / sayd sir Launcelot / for ful well I dare trust my lordes owne wrytynge and his seale / for he was neuer shamed of his promesse

¶ Therfore sayd sir Launcelot vnto the Bisshop / ye shall ryde vnto the kynge afore / and recommaunde me vnto his good grace / and lete hym haue knowlechynge that this same daye eyghte dayes by the grace of god / I my self shall brynge my lady Quene Gueneuer vnto hym / and thenne saye ye vnto my most redoubted kyng that I will say largely for the quene / that I shalle none excepte for drede nor fere / but the kyng hym self and my lord sire Gawayn / and that is more for the kynges loue than for hym self / Soo the Bisshop departed and came to the kynge at Carleyl / and told hym alle how sir laūcelot ansuerd hym / and thenne the teres brast oute of the kynges eyen / Thenne sire Launcelot purueyed hym an honderd knyghtes / and alle were clothed in grene velowet / and theyr horses trapped to their heles / and euery knyghte helde a braunche of olyue in his hande in tokenyng of pees / and the quenne had four and twenty gentylwymmen folowyng her in the same wyse / and sir Launcelot had twelue coursers folowynge hym / and on euery courser sat a yonge gentylman / and alle they were arayed in grene veluet with sarpys of gold about their quarters / and the hors trapped in the same wyse doune to the helys with many ouches y sette with stones and perlys in gold to the nombre of a thowsand / and she and sir Launcelot were clothed in whyte clothe of gold tyssew / and ryght soo as ye haue herd as the Frensshe book maketh mencyon / he rode with the quene from Ioyous gard to Carleyl / and so syr Launcelot rode thorou oute Carleyl and soo in the castel that alle men myȝt beholde / & wete you wel ther was many a

[leaf 412r] wepynge eyen / and thenne syr Launcelot hym self alyghte and auoyded his hors and toke the quene / and soo led her where kynge Arthur was in his seate / and syre Gawayn sat afore hym / and many other grete lordes / Soo whan syre launcelot sawe the kynge / and syr Gawayne / thenne he lad the quene by the arme / and thenne he kneled doune and the quene bothe

¶ Wete yow wel thenne was there many bold knyghte ther with kynge Arthur that wepte as tendyrly / as though they had sene alle their kynne afore them / Soo the kynge sat stylle / and sayd no word / And whan syre Launcelot sawe his coūtenaunce / he arose and pulled vp the quene with hym / & thus he spak ful knyghtely

¶ Capitulum xv

MY moost redoubted kynge ye shalle vnderstande by the popes commaundement and yours I haue brouȝt to yow my lady the quene as ryghte requyreth / And yf there be ony knyghte of what someuer degree that he be excepte your persone that wylle saye or dar say but that she is true & clene to yow / I here my self syr Launcelot du lake wylle make it good vpon his body that she is a true lady vnto yow / but lyars ye haue lystned / & that hath caused debate betwixt yow & me / For tyme hath ben my lord Arthur that ye haue ben gretely plesyd with me whan I dyd batail for my lady youre quene / & ful wel ye knowe my moost noble kynge / that she hath ben put to grete wrong or this tyme / & sythen it pleasyd yow at many tymes that I shold fyghte for her / me semeth my good lord I had more cause to rescowe her from the syre in soo moche she shold haue ben brente for my sake / For they that told yow tho tales were lyers / & soo it befelle vpon them / for by lykelyhode had not the myght of god ben with me / I myghte neuer haue endured fourten knyghtes & they armed & afore purposed & I vnarmed & not purposed / for I was sente for vnto my lady your quene I wote not for what cause / but I was not so soone within the chamber dore but anon syre Agrauayn & syr mordred called me traytour & recreaunt knyghte / They called the ryght sayd syr Gawayn

¶ My lord syre Gawayn said syre Launcelot in their quarel they preued hem self not in the ryght / wel wel syr launcelot

[leaf 412v] sayd the kyng / I haue gyuen the no cause to do to me as thou hast done / For I haue worshypped the and thyn more than ony of alle my knyghtes / My good lord sayd sire launcelot soo ye be not displeasyd / ye shalle vnderstande / I and myn haue done yow ofte better seruyse than ony other knyghtes haue done in many dyuerse places / and where ye haue ben ful hard bestadde dyuerse tymes / I haue my self rescowed yow from many daungers / and euer vnto my power I was glad to please yow and my lord syr Gawayne bothe in Iustes and turnementes and in batails sette bothe on horsbak and on foote/ I haue often rescowed yow and my lord syr Gawayne and many moo of your knyȝtes in many dyuerse places / for now I wil make auaunt sayd sir launcelot I wyl that ye al wete that yet I fonde neuer no maner of knyghte / but that I was ouer hard for hym and I had done my vtteraunce / thāked be god / how be it I haue ben matched with good knyghtes as sir Tristram and syr lamorak / but euer I had a faueour vnto them and a demyng what they were / and I take god to record sayd syr launcelot I neuer was wrothe nor gretely heuy with no good Knyghte and I sawe hym besy aboute to wynne worship / and glad I was euer when I fonde ony knyghte that myghte endure me on horsbak and on foote / hou be it sir Carados of the dolorous toure was a ful noble knyȝte & a passynge stronge man / & that wote ye my lorde syr Gawayne / for he myghte wel be called a noble knyghte whan he by fyne force pulled out of youre sadel / and bonde you ouerthwarte afore hym to his sadel bowe / and there my lorde syre Gawayne I rescowed yow and slewe hym afore your siȝte Also I fonde his broder syr Turquyn in lyke wyse ledyng sir Gaherys youre broder boūden afore hym / and there I rescowed your broder and slewe that Turquyn / & delyuerd thre score and foure of my lorde Arthurs knyghtes oute of his pryson And now I dare say sayd launcelot I mette neuer with so stronge knyghtes nor so wel fyghtyng as was sir Carados & syr Turquyn / for I fought with them to the vttermest / & therfor saide sir launcelot vnto syr Gawayne me semeth ye ought of ryghte to remembre this / for & I myȝt haue your good wil I wolde truste to god to haue my lorde Arthurs goode grace

[leaf 413r]

¶ Capitulum xvj

THe Kynge maye doo as he wylle sayd sire Gawayne But wete thow wel syre Launcelot thow and I shalle neuer ben accorded whyle we lyue / for thou hast slayne thre of my bretheren / and two of them ye slewe traytourly and pytously / for they bare none harneis ageynst the nor none wold bere / god wold they had ben armed sayd sire Launcelot / for thenne had they ben on lyue

¶ And wete ye wel syre Gawayne as for sire Gareth I loue none of my kynnesmen so moche as I dyd hym / and euer whyle I lyue sayd sir launcelot I wille bewaile sir Gareths deth not al only for the grete fere I haue of yow / but many causes causen me to be sorouful / one is / for I made hym knyghte / another is / I wote wel he loued me aboue alle other knyghtes And the thyrd is / he was passynge noble / true curteys & gentyl / and wel condycyoned / the fourth is / I wyst wel anone as I herd that sir Gareth was dede / I shold neuer after haue your loue but euerlastynge werre betwixe vs / and also I wist well that ye wold cause my noble lorde Arthur for euer to be my mortal foo / And as Ihesu be my help sayd syr Launcelot I slewe neuer sir Gareth nor sir Gaherys by my wylle / but allas that euer they were vnarmed that vnhappy daye / But thus moche I shalle offre me said sir launcelot yf hit may please the kynges good grace and yow my lord sire Gawayne I shalle fyrst begynne at Sandwyche / and ther I shal goo in my shert bare foot / and at euery ten myles endes I wylle founde & garmake an hows of relygyon of what ordre that ye wyl assygne me with an hole Couent to synge and rede day & nyghte in especyal for syr Gareths sake and sir gaherys / And this shal I performe from Sandwyche vnto Carleil / And euery hows shal haue suffycyent lyuelode / and this shal I performe whyle I haue ony lyuelode in Crystendom / and there nys none of al these relygyous places / but they shal be performed / furnysshed and garnysshed in alle thynges as an holy place oughte to be / I promyse yow feythfully /

¶ And this sir Gawayne me thynketh were more fayrer holyer & more better to their soules than ye my most noble kyng &

[leaf 413v] yow sire Gawayne to warre vpon me / for there by shall ye gete none auayle / Thenne alle knyghtes and ladyes that were there wepte / as they were madde / and the teres felle on kyng Arthurs chekes / Sire Launcelot sayd sir Gawayne I haue ryghte wel herd thy speche / and thy grete profers / but wete thow wel / lete the kynge doo as hit pleasyd hym / I will neuer forgyue my broders dethe / and in especyal the deth of my broder syre Gareth / And yf myn vnkel kynge Arthur wylle accorde with the / he shalle lese my seruyse / for wete thow wel/ thow arte bothe fals to the kynge and to me / Sir said launcelot he bereth not the lyf / that may make that good / And yf ye sir Gawayne wylle charge me with soo hyghe a thynge / ye muste pardonne me / for thenne nedes muste I ansuere yow/

¶ Nay sayd sir Gawayne we are past that at this tyme / and that caused the pope / for he hath charged myn vnkel the kyng that he shalle take his Quene ageyne / and to accorde with the syr Launcelot as for this season / and therfor thow shalte goo sauf as thow camest / But in this land thou shalte not abyde past xv dayes suche somons I gyue the / soo the kyng and we were consented and accorded or thow camest / and els sayd syre Gawayne wete thow wel thou sholdest not haue comen here / but yf hit were maulgre thy hede / And yf it were not for the popes commaundement sayd syre Gawayne I shold do bataille with myn owne body ageynst thy body / and preue it vpon the / that thow hast ben bothe fals vnto myn vnkel kyng arthur and to me bothe / and that shalle I preue vpon thy body whan thow arte departed from hens where someuer I fynde the

¶ Capitulum xvij

THenne syr launcelot syghed / and there with the teres felle on his chekes / and thenne he sayd thus / Allas moost noble Crysten Realme whome I haue loued aboue al other realmes / and in the I haue geten a grete parte of my worshyp / and now I shalle departe in this wyse / Truly me repenteth that euer I came in this realme that shold be thus shamefully bannysshed vndeserued and causeles / but fortune

[leaf 414r] is soo varyaunt / and the whele soo meuable / there nys none constaunte abydynge / and that may be preued by many old Cronykles of noble Ector and Troylus and Alysander the myghty Conquerour / and many moo other / whan they were moost in their Royalte / they alyghte lowest / and soo fareth it by me sayd sir Launcelot / for in this realme I had worshyp and by me and myn alle the whole round table hath ben encrecyd more in worship by me and myn blood than by ony other And therfor wete thow wel sire Gawayne I may lyue vpon my landes as wel as ony knyghte that here is / And yf ye moost redoubted king wylle come vpon my landes with syr Gawayne to werre vpon me / I must endure yow as wel as I maye / But as to yow fir Gawayne yf that ye come there I pray yow charge me not with treason nor felony / for and ye doo / I must ansuer yow / doo thou thy best sayd sir Gawayne / therfore hyhe the fast that thow were gone / and wete thou wel we shalle soone come after and breke the strengest Castel that thow hast vpon thy hede / That shalle not nede sayd sir Launcelot / for and I were as orgulous sette as ye are / wete you wel I shold mete yow in myddes of the felde / Make thow no more langage sayd syre Gawayne / but delyuer the quene from the / and pyke the lyghtely oute of this Courte / wel sayd syr Launcelot / and I had wyst of this shorte comynge / I wolde haue aduysed me twyes or that I had comen hyder / for and the Quene had be soo dere to me as ye noyse her / I durst haue kepte her from the felaushyp of the best knyghtes vnder heuen And thenne syr Launcelot sayd vnto Gueneuer in heryng of the kynge and hem all / Madame now I muste departe from you and this noble felauship for euer / & sythen it is soo / I byseche yow to praye for me / and saye me wel / and yf ye be hard bestad by ony fals tonges / lyghtly my lady sende me word / and yf ony knyghtes handes may delyuer yow by bataill / I shall delyuer yow / and there with all sir launcelot kyst the Quene/ and thenne he sayd al openly now lete see what he be in this place that dar saye the Quene is not true vnto my lord Arthur lete see who will speke and he dar speke / And ther with he broughte the Quene to the Kyng / and thenne sir Launcelot toke his leue and departed / and ther was neyther Kyng duke / ne

[leaf 414v] erle / baron ne knyghte / lady nor gentylwoman / but alle they wepte as peple oute of their mynde / excepte sir Gawayn / and whan the noble sir Launcelot took his hors to ryde oute of Carleyl / there was sobbynge and wepynge for pure dole of his departynge / and soo he took his way vnto Ioyous gard / And thenne euer after he called it the dolorous gard / And thus departed sir Launcelot from the courte for euer / And soo whan he came to Ioyous gard he called his felaushyp vnto hym / & asked them what they wold do / thēne they ansuerd all holy to gyders with one voys they wold as he wold doo / my fayre felawes sayd syr Launcelot I must departe oute of this moost noble realme / and now I shalle departe / hit greueth me sore / for I shalle departe with no worshyp / for a flemyd man departed neuer oute of a realme with noo worshyp / and that is my heuynes / for euer I fere after my dayes that men shalle cronykle vpon me that I was flemed oute of this land / and els my fayre lordes be ye sure and I had not dred shame my lady Quene Gweneuer and I shold neuer haue departed / Thenne spak many noble knyghtes as sir Palomydes / sir Safyr his broder / and sir Bellangere le bewse / and sir Vrre with sir Lauayne with many other / Sir and ye be so disposed to abyde in this land / we wyll neuer fayle yow / & yf ye lyst not to abyde in this land / ther nys none of the good knyȝtes that here ben will fayle yow / for many causes / One is / All we that ben not of your blood shalle neuer be welcome to the Courte / And sythen hit lyked vs to take a parte with yow in youre distresse & heuynesse in this realme / Wete yow wel it shall lyke vs al as wel to goo in other countreyes with yow / and there to take suche parte as ye doo / My fayre lordes sayd sir launcelot I wel vnderstande yow and as I can / thanke yow / and ye shalle vnderstande suche lyuelode as I am borne vnto I shal departe with yow in this maner of wyse / that is for to say / I shalle departe alle my lyuelode and alle my landes frely amonge yow / and I my self wylle haue as lytel as ony of you for haue I suffycyaunt that may longe to my person / I wylle aske none other ryche araye / and I truste to god to mayntene yow on my landes as wel as euer were mayntened ony knyȝtes / Thenne spap all the knyghtes at ones / he haue shame that

[leaf 415r] wylle leue yow / For we alle vnderstande in this realme wyll be now no quyete but euer stryf and debate / now the felauship of the round table is broken / for by the noble felaushyp of the round table was Kynge Arthur vp borne / and by their nobles the kynge and alle his realme was in quyete and reste/ and a grete parte they sayd all was by cause of your noblesse

¶ Capitulum xviij

TRuly sayd sir Launcelot I thanke yow alle of youre good sayenge / how be it / I wote wel / in me was not alle the stabylyte of this realme / but in that I myght I dyd my deuoyr / and wel I am sure I knewe many rebellyons in my dayes that by me were peased / and I trowe we alle shalle here of hem in shorte space / and that me sore repenteth / For euer I drede me sayd syr launcelot that syr Mordred wille make trouble / for he is passyng enuyous & applyeth hym to trouble / So they were accorded to go with sir Launcelot to his landes / and to make shorte tale / they trussed and payd alle that wold aske hem / and holy an honderd knyghtes departed with sir laūcelot at ones / and made their auowes / they wold neuer leue hym for wele nor for wo / & so they shypped at Cardyf / & sayled vnto Benwyk / somme men calle it bayen and somme men calle it Beaume where the wyn of beaume is But to saye the sothe / syre Launcelot and his neuewes were lordis of alle Fraunce and of alle the landes that longed vnto Fraunce / he and his kynred reioyced it alle thurgh syr Laūcelots noble prowes / And thenne sir Launcelot stuffed & furnysshed and garnysshed alle his noble townes and castels/ Thenne alle the peple of tho landes came to syr Launcelot on foote and handes / and so whan he had stabled alle these countreyes / he shortly called a parlement / and there he crouned syr Lyonel kynge of Fraunce / and sire Bors crouned hym kynge of al kynge Claudas landes and sir Etct;tor de marys/ that was sir launcelot yongest broder / he crouned hym Kynge of Benwyk and kynge of alle Gyan that was sir launcelot owne land / and he made sir Ector prynce of them alle / & thus

[leaf 415v] he departed / Thenne sir Launcelot auaunced alle his noble knyghtes / and fyrste he auaunced them of his blood / that was syr Blamor / he made hym duke of Lymosyn in gyan / and sir Bleoberys he made hym duke of poyters / and sir Gahalantyn he made hym duke of Ouerne / & sir Galyhodyn he maade hym duke of Sentonge / and sir Galyhud he made hym erle of perygot / and sir Menadeuke he made hym Erle of Roerge / and sire Vyllyars the valyaunt he made hym erle of Bearne / and syr Hebes le renoumes he made hym Erle of Comange / and syr Lauayne he made hym Erle of Armynak / and sire Vrre he made hym erle of Estrake / and syr Neroneus he made hym Erle of pardyak / and sire Plenorius he maade Erle of foyse and sir Selyses of the dolorous toure he made hym erle of masauke / and sir Melyas de lyle he made hym Erle of Tursank and sir Bellangere le bewse he made erle of the laundes / and sire Palomydes he made hym duke of the prouynce / and syre Safyr he made hym duke of Landok / and syr Clegys he gafe hym the erldome of Agente / and syr Sadok he gaf the Erldom of Surlat / and sir Dynas le Seneschal he made hym duke of Anioye / and sir Clarrus he made hym duke of Normandye/ Thus syr launcelot rewarded his noble knyghtes / & many mo that me semeth it were to longe to reherce

¶ Capitulum xix

SO leue we syr Launcelot in his landes / and his noble knyghtes with hym / and retorne we ageyne vnto kynge Arthur and to syr Gawayne that made a grete hoost redy to the nombre of thre score thousand / and al thynge was made redy for their shyppyng to passe ouer the see / & so they shypped at Cardyf / and there kynge Arthur made sir Mordred chyef ruler of alle Englond / and also he put quene Gueneuer under his gouernaunce by cause syr Mordred was kynge Arthurs sone he gaf hym the rule of his land and of his wyf / and soo the kynge passed the see and landed vpon syr launcelots landes / and there he brente and wasted thurgh the vengeaunce of syr gawayne al that they myghte

[leaf 416r] ouerrenne / whan this word came to syr Launcelot that kyng Arthur and sir Gawayne were landed vpon his landes / & made a full grete destructyon and waste / thenne spake syr Bors & sayd my lord sir laūcelot it is shame that we suffre hem thus to ryde ouer our landes / for wete yow wel / suffre ye hem as longe as ye will / they wille doo yow no faueour / and they may handle yow / Thenne said sir Lyonel that was ware and wyse My lord syr Launcelot I wyll gyue this counceylle / lete vs kepe oure stronge walled Townes vntyl they haue hongre & cold / and blowe on their nayles / and thenne lete vs fresshely sette vpon hym / and shrede hem doune as shepe in a felde / that Alyaunts may take ensample for euer how they lande vpon oure landes / Thenne spak kynge Bagdemagus to syre Launcelot / syre youre curtosy wyll shende vs alle / and thy curtosy hath waked alle this sorowe / for and they thus ouer our landes ryde / they shalle by processe brynge vs alle to noughte whyles we thus in holes vs hyde / Thenne sayd syre Galihud vnto sir Launcelot / syre here ben knyghtes come of kynges blood that wyl not longe droupe / & they are within these walles / therfor gyue vs leue lyke as we ben knyȝtes to mete them in the feld and we shalle slee them / that they shal curse the tyme that euer they came in to this countrey /

¶ Thenne spak seuen bretheren of northwalys / and they were seuen noble knyghtes / a man myghte seke in seuen kynges landes or he myghte fynde suche seuen Knyghtes / Thenne they all said at ones / syr launcelot for crystes sake lete vs oute ryde with sir Galyhud / for we be neuer wonte to coure in castels nor in noble Townes / Thenne spak sir Launcelot that was mayster & gouernour of them alle / my fayre lordes wete yow wel I am full lothe to ryde oute with my knyghtes for shedynge of crysten blood and yet my lendes I vnderstande ben full bare / for to susteyne ony hoost a whyle / for the myghty warres that whylome made kyng Claudas vpon this countrey vpon my fader kyng Ban & on myn vnkell Kyng Bors / how be it we will as at this tyme kepe oure strong walles / & I shalle sende a messager vnto my lord Arthur a treatyce for to take for better is pees than allwayes warre / So sir laūcelot sente forth a damoysell & a dwerfe with her / requyrynge Kynge Arthur to

[leaf 416v] leue his warrynge vpon his landes / and so she sterte vpon a palfroy / and the dwerf ranne by her syde / And whan she cam to the pauelione of kynge Arthur / there she alyghte / and ther mette her a gentyl knyghte syr Lucan the butteler & said / fair damoysel come ye from syr Launcelot du lake / ye syr she sayd / therfor I come hyder to speke with my lord the kynge / Allas said sir Lucan my lord Arthur wold loue launcelot / but sir Gawayne wyl not suffer hym / And thenne he sayd I praye to god damoysel ye may spede wel / for alle we that ben aboute the kynge wold sir launcelot dyd best of ony knyght lyuynge / And so with this lucan ledde the damoysel vnto the kynge where he sat with sir Gawayne / for to here what she wold saye / Soo whan she had told her tale / the water ranne out of the kynges eyen / and alle the lordes were ful glad for to aduyse the kynge as to be accorded with syr launcelot / sauf al only syre Gawayne / and he sayd my lord myn vnkel / What wyl ye doo / wil ye now torne ageyne now ye are past thus fer vpon this Iourney / alle the world wylle speke of yow vylony / Nay sayd Arthur wete thou wel sir Gawayne I wylle doo as ye wil aduyse me / and yet me semeth sayd Arthur his fayre profers were not good to be refused / but sythen I am comen soo fer vpon this Iourney / I wil that ye gyue the damoysel her ansuer / for I maye not speke to her for pyte / for her profers ben so large

¶ Capitulum xx

THenne sir Gawayne sayd to the damoysel thus / Damoysel saye ye to sir launcelot that it is wast labour now to sewe to myn vnkel / for telle hym / and he wold haue made ony labour for pees / he shold haue made it or this tyme / for telle hym now it is to late / & saye that I sir Gawayn soo sende hym word / that I promyse hym by the feythe I owe vnto god and to knyghthode / I shal neuer leue hym / tyl he haue slayne me / or I hym / Soo the damoysel wepte & departed / and there were many wepyng eyen / and soo sir lucan broughte the damoysel to her palfroy / and soo she came to syr launcelot where he was among all his Knyghtes / & whan

[leaf 417r] syr launcelot had herd his ansuer / thenne the teres ranne doune by his chekes / And thenne his noble knyghtes strode aboute hym / and sayd sir launcelot / wherfor make ye suche chere thynke what ye are / and what men we are / and lete vs noble knyghtes matche hem in myddes of the felde / that maye be lyghtely done sayd sir Launcelot / but I was neuer soo lothe to doo batail / and therfore I praye you fayre sirs as ye loue me be ruled as I wylle haue yow / for I wylle alweyes flee þ^t noble kynge / that made me knyghte / And whan I may noo ferther / I muste nedes defende me / and that wyll be more worshyp for me and vs alle / than to compare with that noble kynge whome we haue alle serued / Thenne they helde theire langage / and as that nyghte they tooke their rest / And vpon the morne erly in the daunynge of the daye / as knyghtes loked oute / they sawe the Cyte of Benwyk byseged round aboute / and fast they beganne to sette vp ladders / and thenne they defyed hem oute of the Towne / and bete hem from the walles wyghtely / Thenne came forth sire Gawayne wel armed vpon a styf stede / and he came before the chyef gate with his spere/ in his hand cryenge / syr Launcelot where arte thow / is there none of you proude knyghtes dare breke a spere with me / Thenne sir Bors made hym redy / and came forth oute of the Towne / and there sir Gawayne encountred with syre Bors And at that tyme he smote sire Bors doune from his hors / and al moost he had slayne hym / and soo sire Bors was rescowed and borne in to the Towne / Thenne came forth sir Lyonel broder to syr Bors / and thoughte to reuenge hym / and eyther feutryd their speres / and ranne to gyder / and there they mette spytefully / but sir Gawayn had suche grace that he smote sir Lyonel doune / and wounded hym there passynge sore / & thenne syr Lyonel was rescowed / and borne in to the towne/ And this sir Gawayne came euery day / and he fayled not/ but that he smote doune one knyghte or other / Soo thus they endured half a yere / and moche slauȝter was of peple on both partyes / Thenne hit befelle vpon a day / syr Gawayne came afore the gates armed at alle pyeces on a noble hors with a grete spere in his hand / and thenne he cryed with a lowde voys / where arte thow now thou fals traytour syre Launcelot /

[leaf 417v] why hydest thow thy self within holes and walles lyke a coward / loke oute now thow fals traytour knyghte / and here I shal reuenge vpon thy body the dethe of my thre bretheren / Alle this langage herd sir launcelot euery dele and his kyn and his knyghtes drewe aboute hym / and alle they sayd at ones to sir Launcelot /

¶ Sir Launcelot now must ye defende yow lyke a knyghte / or els ye be shamed for euer / for now ye be called vpon treason / it is tyme for yow to stere / for ye haue slepte ouer longe and suffred ouer moche / Soo god me helpe sayd sire Launcelot I am ryghte heuy of sire Gawayns wordes / for now he charged me with a grete charge / And therfor I wote it as wel as ye that I muste defende me / or els to be recreaunt / Thenne syr launcelot badde sadel his strongest hors / and bad lete fetche his armes / and brynge alle vnto the gate of the Toure / and thenne sir Launcelot spak on hygh vnto kynge Arthur / and sayd my lord Arthur and noble kynge that made me knyghte / wete yow wel / I am ryghte heuy for your sake / that ye thus sewe vpon me / and alweyes I forbere yow / for and I wold haue ben vengeable / I myghte haue mette yow in myddes of the felde / and there to haue made your boldest knyghtes ful tame / and now I haue forborne half a yere / and suffred yow and sire Gawayne to doo what ye wold doo / and now I may endure it no lenger / for now muste I nedes defende my self / in soo moche syr Gawayne hath apeeled me of treason / the whiche is gretely ageynste my will that euer I shold fyghte ayenst ony of your blood / but now I maye not forsake hit / I am dryuen there to as a beste tyll a baye / Thenne sir Gawayne sayd sir Launcelot / and thou darst doo batail / leue thy babblynge / and come of / and lete vs ease our hertes / Thenne syr Launcelot armed hym lyghtely / & mounted vpon his hors / and eyther of the knyghtes gat grete speres in their handes / and the hooste withoute stood stylle all a parte / and the noble knyghtes came oute of the Cyte by a grete nombre / in so moche that whan Arthur sawe the nombre of men and knyghtes / he merueylled and sayd to hym self / Allas that euer sir launcelot was ageynst me / for now I see he hath forborne me / and so the couenaunt was made / there shold no man nyghe hem / nor dele with hem / tyl the one were

[leaf 418r] dede or yelden

¶ Capitulum xxj

THan syr Gauwayn and syr Launcelot departed a grete waye in sonder / & than they cam to gyder with al their hors myght as they myght renne & eyther smote other in myddes of their sheldes / but the knyghtes were soo stronge & theyr sperys so bygge that their horses myȝt not endure her buffettes / & so their horses fyl to therthe / & than they auoyded their horses & dressyd her sheldes afore them / Than they stode to gyders & gaf many sad strokes on dyuers places of theyr bodyes that the blood braste oute on many sydes and places / Thenne had Syr Gauwayn suche a grace and gyfte that an holy man had gyuen to hym That euery day in the yere from vnderne tyl hyhe none hys myght encreaced tho thre houres as moche as thryse hys strengthe / and that caused syr Gauwayn to wynne grete honour /

¶ And for hys sake kyng Arthur maad an ordenaunce that al maner of bataylles for ony quarellys that shold be done afore kyng Arthur shold begynne at vndern / & al was done for syr Gawayns loue / that by lyklyhode yf Syr Gauwayn were on the one parte he shold haue the better in batayl whyle his strengthe endured thre houres / but there were but fewe knyghtes that tyme lyuyng that knewe this aduauntage that syr Gauwayn had / but kyng Arthur all onelye / Thus syr Launcelot faught with syr Gauwayn / & whan syr Launcelot felte hys myght euer more encreace syr Launcelot wondred & dredde hym sore to be shamed For as the frensshe book sayth Syr Launcelot wende whan he felte syr Gauwayn double his strengthe that he had ben a fende and none erthely man / wherfore Syr Launcelotte traced and trauersyd and couerd hym self wyth his shelde and kepte his myght and his brayde duryng thre houres / And that whyle Syr Gauwayn gaf hym many sadde bruntes

¶ And many sadde strokes that al the knyghtes that behelde syr Launcelot meruaylled how that he myȝt endure hym / but ful lytell vnderstood they that trauaylle that Syr Launcelot had for to endure hym

¶ And thenne whan hit was paste none Syr Gauwayn had noo more but hys owne myght / Thenne syr

[leaf 418v] Launcelot felte hym so come doun / than he stratched hym vp & stode nere syr Gauwayn / & sayd thus my lord syr Gauwayn now I fele ye haue done / now my lord syr Gauwayn I must do my parte for many grete & greuous strokes I haue endured you this day with grete payne / Than sir Launcelot doubled his strokes & gaf sir Gauwayn suche a buffet on the helmet that he fyl doun on his syde / & syr Launcelot wythdrewe hym fro hym / why withdrawest thou the sayd syr Gawayn now torne ageyn fals traytour knyght & slee me / for and thou leue me thus whan I am hole I shal do batayl wyth the ageyn / I shal endure you syr by goddest grace / but wyt thou wel syr Gauwayn I wyl neuer smyte a fellyd knyght / & so syr Launcelot wente in to the cyte / & syr Gauwayn was borne in to kyng arthurs pauyllyon / & leches were brought to hym & serched and salued with softe oynementes / & than syr Launcelot sayd now haue good day my lord the kyng for wyt you wel ye wynne no worshyp at this wallys / & yf I wold my knyghtes oute brynge ther shold many a man deye / Therfore my lord Arthur remembre you of olde kyndenes / & how euer I fare Ihesu be your gyde in al places

¶ Capitulum xxij

ALas said the kynge that euer this vnhappy warre was begonne / for euer syr Launcelot forbereth me in al places / & in lyke wyse my kynne / & that is sene wel thys day by my neuew syr Gauwayn / Thanne kyng Arthur fyl seek for sorowe of syr Gauwayn that he was so sore hurt / and by cause of the warre betwyxt hym and syr Launcelot / So than they on kyng arthurs partye kepte the syege wyth lytel warre withoutforth / & they withinforth kepte theyr walles / & deffended them whan nede was / Thus syr Gauwayn laye seek thre wekes in his tentes wyth al maner of leche crafte that myȝt be had. & assone as syr Gawayn myȝt goo & ryde / he armyd hym at al poyntes & sterte vpon a courser and gate a spere in his hande / and so he came rydyng afore the chyef gate of barwyk / and there he cryed on heyght where art thou sir Launcelot come forth thou fals traytour knyȝt & recreante for I am here sir Gauwayn wyl preue this that I say on the / Alle thys langage sir Launcelot herde / & than he sayd thus / sir Gawayn me repentys of your sayeng that ye wyll not sease of

[leaf 419r] your langage for you wote wel Syr Gauwayn I knowe your myght and alle that ye may doo /

¶ And wel ye wote syr Gauwayn ye may not gretelye hurte me / Come doune traytour knyght sayd he & make it good the contrarye wyth thy handes / For it myshapped me the laste bataylle to be hurte of thy handes

¶ Therfore wyte thou wel I am come thys day to make amendys / For I wene thys day to laye the as lowe as thou laydest me / Ihesu deffende me sayd syr Launcelot that euer I be so ferre in your daunger as ye haue ben in myn / for than my dayes were doon / But syr Gauwayn sayd syr Launcelot ye shal not thynke that I tary longe / but sythen that ye so vnknyghtelye calle me of treson ye shalle haue bothe your handes ful of me / And than syr Launcelot armed hym at al poyntes and mounted vpon his hors / and gate a grete spere in hys hande and rode oute at the gate / And bothe the hoostes were assembled / of hem wythoute and of them wythin / & stode in a raye ful manlye / And bothe partyes were charged to holde them stylle / to see and beholde the bataylle of these ij noble knyghtes / And thenne they layed their speerys in their reystys and they came to gyder as thondre / and syr Gawayn brake his spere vpon syr Launcelot in an hondred pyeces vnto his hande / & syr Launcelot smote hym wyth a gretter myght that syr Gauwayns hors sete reysed / and so the hors and he fyl to the erthe /

¶ Thenne syr Gauwayn delyuerlye auoyded / his hors and put his shelde afore hym / and eygyrlye drewe his swerde and bad Syr Launcelot alyghte traytoure knyght / for yf thys marys sone hath faylled me / wyt thou wel a kynges sone and a quenes sone shal not faylle the /

¶ Than syr Launcelot auoyded his hors & dressyd his shelde afore hym and drewe hys swerde and soo stode they to gyders and gaf many sad strokes that all men on bothe partyes had therof passyng grete wonder /

¶ But whan Syr Launcelot felte Syr Gawyns myght soo meruayllously encrees / He than with helde his courage and his wynde / & kepte hym self wonder couert of his myght / and vnder his shelde he trasyd and trauersyd here & there to breke syr Gauwayns strokes & his courage / and syr Gauwayn enforced hym self with al his myght and power to destroye syr Launcelot for as the frensshe

[leaf 419v] book sayth / Euer as Syr Gawayns myght encreased Ryght soo encreasyd his wynde and hys euyl wylle / Thus syr Gawayne dyd grete payne vnto Syr Launcelot thre houres that he had ryght grete payne for to deffende hym / And whan the thre houres were passyd that syr Launcelot felte that syr Gawayn was comen to hys owne propre strengthe / Thenne Syr Launcelot sayd vnto syr Gawayn now haue I prouyd you twyse . That ye are a ful daungerous knyght and a wonderful man of your myght / and many wonderful dedes haue ye doon in your dayes / For by your myght encresyng you haue dysseyued many a ful noble and valyaunte knyght / And now I fele that ye haue doon your myghty dedes / Now wyte you wel I must do my dedys /

¶ And thenne Syr Launcelot stode nerre syr Gauwayn / and thenne syr Launcelot doubled hys strokes / And syr Gauwayn deffended hym myghtelye but neuerthelesse syr Launcelot smote suche a stroke vpon sir Gauwayns helme / and vpon the olde wounde that syr Gauwayn synked doun vpon hys one syde in a swounde / And anone as he dyd awake he wauyd and foyned at syr Launcelot as he laye / and sayd traytour knyght wyt thou wel I am not yet slayn / Come thou nere me and perfourme thys bataylle vnto the vttermyst /

¶ I wyl nomore doo than I haue doon sayd syr Launcelot / For whan I see you on fote I wyll doo bataylle vpon you alle the whyle I see you stande on your feet / but for to smyte a wounded man that may not stonde god deffende me from suche a shame / and thenne he tourned hym and wente his waye toward the cytee / And syr Gauwayn euermore callyng hym traytour knyght / and sayd wyt thou wel syr launcelot whan I am hoole I shal doo bataylle wyth the ageyn

¶ For I shal neuer leue the tyl that one of vs be slayn / Thus as thys syege endured & as syr Gauwayn laye seek nere a monthe / and whan he was wel recouerd and redy wythin thre dayes te do bataylle ageyn wyth syr Launcelot Ryght so came tydynges vnto Arthur from Englond that made kyng Arthur and al his hoost to remeue /