[Le morte darthur]

¶And here foloweth the Enleuenth book whiche is of sir la∣uncelot

¶Capitulum primum

NOW leue we syr Tristram de lyones / & speke we of sire launcelot du lake and of sire Gala¦halt syr launcelots sone hou he was goten / and in what maner as the book of Frensshe reherceth Afore the tyme that syre Galahalt was goten or borne / there came in an hermyte vnto kynge Arthur vpon whytsonday / as the knyghtes satte at the table round / And whan the heremyte sawe the syege perillous / he asked the kyng and alle the knyghtes why that sege was voyd / Sir Arthur and alle the knyghtes ansuerd / ther shalle neuer none sytte in that syege / but one / but yf he be destroyed / ¶Thenne sayd the hermyte wote ye what is he / nay said Arthur / and alle the Knyghtes / we wote not who is he / that shalle sytte therin / thenne wote I said the heremyte / for he that shal sytte there is vnborne and vngoten / and this same yere he shalle be goten that shalle sytte ther in that syege perillous / and he shall wyn¦ne the Sancgreal whan this hermyte had made this mensyon he departed from the courte of kynge Arthur / And thenne af∣ter this feeste syr launcelot rode on his aduenture tyl on a ty∣me by aduenture he past ouer the pounte of Corbyn / and there he sawe the fayrest toure that euer he sawe / and ther vnder was a fayre Towne ful of peple and alle the peple men and wy∣mmen cryed at ones / welcome sir Launcelot du lake the flou∣re of alle knyghthode for by the alle we shalle be holpen oute of daunger / what mene ye said sire Launcelot that ye crye soo vpon me / A fayr knyght said they alle here is within thys Toure a dolorous lady that hath ben therin paynes many wyn¦ters and dayes / for euer she boyleth in scaldynge water / & but late said alle the peple sire Gawayne was here and he myght not helpe her / and soo he lefte her in payne / Soo may I saide syr Launcelot leue her in payne as wel as sire Gawayne dyd Nay said the peple we knowe wel that it is sir Laūcelot that shalle delyuer her / wel said launcelot / thenne shewe me what I shalle doo / thenne they brought sire launcelot in to the toure And when he came to the chamber there as this lady was the dores of yron vnlocked and vnbolted / And so syr launcelot

wente in to the chambre that was as hote as ony stewe / And there syr launcelot toke the fayrest lady by the hand / that euer he sawe / and she was naked as a nedel / and by enchauntemēt Quene Morgan le fay and the Quene of Northgalys hadde put her there in that paynes by cause she was called the fairest lady of that countrey / and there she had ben fyue yeres / and neuer myghte she be delyuerd oute of her grete paynes vnto the tyme the best knyghte of the world had taken her by the hand / Thenne the peple broughte her clothes / And whanne she was arayed / syre launcelot thoughte she was the fayrest lady of the word / but yf it were Quene Gueneuer / thenne this la¦dy said to sire Launcelot / syre yf hit please yow wille ye goo with me here by in to a chappel that we may yeue louyng and thankynge vnto god / ¶Madame said sir launcelot cometh on with me I wille goo with yow / So whanne they came there and gaf thankynges to god / alle the people both lerned and lowde gaf thankynges vnto god and hym / and sayd sir kn∣yght syn ye haue delyuerd this lady / ye shall delyuer vs from a serpent that is here in a tombe / Thenne syr launcelot tooke his shelde and said brynge me thyder / and what I may doo vnto the pleasyr of god and yow I wille doo / ¶Soo whanne sir Laūcelot came thydder / he sawe wryten vpon the tombe letters of gold that said thus / Here shalle come a lybard of kynges blood / and he shalle s••••e this serpent / and this lybard shalle engendre a lyon in this foreyn countrey the whiche lyon shall passe alle other knyghtes / Soo thenne sir launcelot lyfte vp the tombe / and there came out an horryble & a fyendly dragon spyttynge fyre oute of his mouthe / Thenne sir launcelot drewe his swerd and fought with the dragon longe / and atte laste with grete payne sir launcelot slewe that dragon / There with alle came kynge Pelles the good and noble knyght / and sa∣lewed syr launcelot and he hym ageyne / Fair knyghte sayd the kynge / what is your name / I requyre you of your knyʒt∣hode telle me

¶Capitulum ij

SYr said launcelot wete yow wel my name is syre la∣uncelot du lake / & my name is sayd the kyng / Pelles

kynge of the foreyn countrey / and cosyn nyghe vnto Ioseph of Armathye / And thenne eyther of them made moche of other / and soo they wente in to the Castel to take theyr repaste / and anone there came in a doune at a wyndowe / and in her mouth there semed a lytel censer of gold / And there with alle there was suche a sauour as alle the spyecery of the world had ben there / And forth with all there was vpon the table al maner of metes and drynkes that they coude thynke vpon / Soo cam in a damoysel passynge fayre and yonge / and she bare a ves∣sel of gold betwixe her handes / and therto the kynge kneled deuoutely / and said his prayers / and soo dyd alle that were there / O Ihesu said sir launcelot what maye this meane / thys is said the kynge the rychest thyng that ony man hath lyuyng And whanne this thynge goth aboute / the round table shall be broken / and wete thow wel said the kynge this is the holy Sancgreal that ye haue here sene / Soo the kynge and sir laū¦celot ladde their lyf the moost parte of that daye / And fayne wold kynge Pelles haue fond the meane to haue hadde syre Launcelot to haue layne by his doughter fayre Elayne / And for this entent the kyng knewe wel that syr launcelot shold gete a chyld vpon his doughter / the whiche shold be named sir Galahalt the good knyghte / by whome alle the forayn coun∣trey shold be broughte oute of daunger / and by hym the holy graale shold be encheued / ¶ Thenne came forth a lady that hyghte Dame Brysen / and she said vnto the Kynge / Syr we¦te ye wel / syre Launcelot loueth no lady in the world but all only Quene Gueneuer / and therfore wyrche ye by counceylle and I shalle make hym to lye with your doughter / & he shall not wete but that he lyeth with Quene Gueneuer / O fayre lady dame Brysen said the kyng / hope ye to brynge this about syr said she vpon payne of my lyf lete me dele / for this Bry∣sen was one of the grettest enchauntresses that was at that ty¦me in the world lyuynge /

¶Thenne anone by dame Brysens wytte she maade one to co∣me to syr launcelot that he knewe wel / And this man brouʒt hym a rynge from Quene Gueneuer lyke as hit hadde come from her / and suche one as she was wonte for the moost parte to were / & when sir laūcelot sawe that tokē wete ye wel he was

neuer soo fayne / where is my lady said syr launcelot / in the cas¦tel of Case said the messager but fyue myle thens / Thenne sir launcelot thoughte to be there the same nyghte / And thenne this Brysen by the commaundement of kynge Pelles lote sen¦de Elayne to this castel with xxv knyghtes vnto the castel of Case / Thenne syr launcelot ageynst nyght rode vnto that cas∣tel / and there anone he was receyued worshipfully with suche peple to his semyng as were aboute Quene Queneuer secrete Soo whanne sir Launcelot was alyghte / he asked where the Quene was / Soo dame Brysen said she was in her bedde / & thenne the peple were auoyded / and sir launcelot was ledde vnto his chamber / And thenne dame Brysen broughte sir la∣uncelot a cup ful of wyne / and anone as he had dronken that wyn / he was soo assoted and madde that he myghte make no delay / but withouten ony lette he wente to bedde / and he wende that mayden Elayne had ben Quene Gueneuer / wete yow wel that sir launcelot was glad and soo was that lady E∣layne / that she had geten sir launcelot in her armes / For well she knewe that same nyght shold be goten vpon her Galahalt that shold preue the best knyghte of the world / and soo they lay to gyders vntyl vndorne on the morn / and alle the wyndo¦wes and holes of that chamber were stopped that no man ere of day myghte be sene / And thenne sire launcelot remembryd hym / and he arose vp and wente to the wyndowe /

¶Capitulum Tercium

ANd anone as he had vnshet the wyndowe the enchaū¦tement was gone / thēne he knewe hym self that he had done amys / Allas he sayd that I haue lyued so long now I am shamed / Soo thenne he gat his swerd in his hand and said thow traitresse what arte thow that I haue layn by alle this nyghte / thow shalt dye ryghte here of my handes / Thenne this fayr lady Elaye skypped oute of her bedde al na¦ked and kneled doune afore sir launcelot / and sayd Fair cur¦teis knyghte comen of kynges blood / I requyre yow haue mer¦cy vpon me / ¶And as thow arte renoumed the moost noble

knyghte of the world / slee me not / for I haue in my wombe hym by the / that shal be the moost noblest knyʒte of the world A fals traitresse said syr launcelot why hast thow bytrayed me / anone telle me what thow arte / Syr she said I am Elayn the doughter of Kynge pelles / wel said sire Launcelot I wyl forgyue yow this dede / and there with he took her vp in his ar¦mes / and kyssed her / for she was as fayr a lady and there to lusty and yonge and as wyse as ony was that tyme lyuyng So god me helpe said sir launcelot I may not wyte thys to yow / but her that made this enchauntement vpon me as by∣twene yow and me / and I may fynde her that same lady Bry¦sens shehalle lese her hede for wytchecraftes / for there was ne∣uer knyghte deceyued soo as I am this nyghte / And soo syre Launcelot arayed hym / and armed hym / and toke his leue myldely at that lady yonge Elayne / and soo he departed / Thenne she said my lord sir launcelot I biseche yow see me as soone as ye may / for I haue obeyed me vnto the prophecy that my fader teld me / And by his commaūdement to fulfille this prophecy I haue gyuen the grettest rychesse and the fayrest flo∣ure that euer I had / and that is my maydenhode that I shalle neuer haue ageyne / and therfore gentyl knyʒt owe me youre good wille / And soo syr launcelot arayed hym and was ar∣med / and toke his leue myldely at that yonge lady Elayne / & soo he departed / and rode tyl he came to the Castel of Corbyn / where her fader was / and as fast as her tyme came she was de∣lyuerd of a fayr chylde / and they crystened hym Galahalt / & wete ye wel that child was wel kepte and wel nourisshed / & he was named Galahalt by cause syr Launcelot was so na∣med at the fontayne stone / And after that the lady of the lake confermed hym sir Launcelot du lake / Thenne after this lady was delyuerd and chirched / there came a knyghte vnto her / his name was sire Bromel la pleche / the whiche was a grete lord and he hadde loued that lady longe / and he euermore desyred her to wedde her / and soo by no meane she coude putte hym of / Tyl on a day she said to syr Bromel / wete thow wel sir knyʒt I wille not loue yow / for my loue is set vpon the best knyʒt of the world / who is he said syr Bromel. syr she said it is syre Launcelot du lake that I loue and none other / and therfore

wowe me no lenger / ye saye wel said sir Bromel / And sythen ye haue told me soo moche / ye shalle haue but lytel Ioye of sir launcelot / for I shal slee hym where someuer I mete hym / sire said the lady Elayne / doo to hym noo treason / wete ye wel my lady said Bromel / and I promyse yow this twelue moneth I shalle kepe the pounte of Corbyn for syr launcelots sake / that he shalle neyther come ne goo vnto yow / but I shall me∣te with hym /

¶Capitulum Quartum

THenne as hit felle by fortune and aduenture sire Bo∣rs de ganys that was neuewe vnto sir Launcelot cam ouer that brydge / and ther syre Bromel and sire bors Iusted / & sir Bors smote syre Bromel suche a buffet that he bare hym ouer his hors croupe / And thenne syre Bromel as an hardy knyghte pulled out his suerd / and dressid his sheld to doo bataille with syr Bors / And thenne syr Bors alyʒte / and auoyded his hors / and there they dasshed to gyders ma∣ny sadde strokes / and long thus they foughte / tyl att the laste syr Bromel was leyd to the erthe / and there syre bors began to vnlace his helme to slee hym / Thenne syr bromel cryed syre bors mercy / and yelded hym / vpon this couenaunt thou shalt haue thy lyf said syr bors / soo thou goo vnto syr launcelot vp on whytsondaye that next cometh and yelde the vnto hym as knyghte recreaunt / I wille doo hit said syr bromel / and that he sware vpon the crosse of the swerd / and soo he lete hym de∣parte / and syr bors rode vnto kynge Pelles / that was within Corbyn / And whanne the kynge and Elayne his doughter wist that syr bors was neuewe vnto syr launcelot / they made hym grete chere / Thenne said dame Elayne / we merueyle whe∣re sir Launcelot is / for he came neuer here but ones / Meruelle not said sir bors / for this half yere he hath ben in pryson with quene Morgan le fay kyng Arthurs syster / Allas said dame Elayne that me repenteth / and euer syr bors beheld that child in her armes / and euer hym semed it was passynge lyke sire launcelot / Truly said Elayne wete ye wel this child he gat vp on me / Thēne sir bors wepte for Ioye / & he praid to god it myʒt

preue as good a knyghte as his fader was / And soo cam in a whyte douue / and she bare a lytel censer of gold in her mo∣uthe / and there was alle maner of metes and drynkes / and a mayden bare that Sancgreal / and she said openly / wete yow wel syr Bors that this child is Galahalt that shalle sytte in the sege peryllous and encheue the Sancgreal / and he shalle be moche better than euer was sir Launcelot du lake / that is his owne fader / & thenne they kneled doune / & made theyre deuocyons / and there was suche a sauour as alle the spyecery in the world had ben there / And whanne the douue took her flyghte / the mayden vanysshed with the Sancgreal as she cam Syr said sir Bors vnto kynge Pelles / this Castel may be na¦med the castel aduenturous / for here be many straunge aduen¦tures / that is sothe said the kynge / for wel maye this place be called the aduentures place / for there come but fewe knyghtes here that gone aweye with ony worship / be he neuer so strong here he may be preued / and but late sire Gawayne the good knyght gate but lytyl worship here / for I lete yow wete said kynge Pelles / here shalle no knyght wynne no worship / but if he be of worship hym self and of good lyuynge / and that lo∣ueth god and dredeth god / and els he geteth no worshyp here be he neuer soo hardy / that is wonderful thyng said syr Bors what ye meane in this Countrey / I wote not / for ye haue ma∣ny straunge aduentures / and therfor I wyl lye in this Cas∣tel this nyghte / ye shalle not doo so said kynge Pelles by my counceyll / for hit is hard and ye escape withoute a shame / I shalle take the aduenture that wille befalle me said syr Bors thenne I counceyle yow said the kynge to be confessid clene / As for that said sire Bors I wille be shryuen with a good wylle / Soo syr Bors was confessyd / and for al wymmen sir Bors was a vyrgyne / sauf for one / that was the doughter of kynge Brangorys / and on her he gat a child that hyghte E∣layne / and sauf for her syre Bors was a clene mayden / and soo sir Bors was ledde vnto bed in a fayr large chamber / and many dores were shette aboute the chamber / whan sir Bors as¦pyed alle tho dores / he auoyded alle the peple / for he myght ha¦ue no body with hym / but in no wyse syr Bors wold vnarme hym / but soo he leid hym doune vpon the bedde / and ryght soo

he sawe come in a lyghte that he myght wel see a spere grete & longe that came streyghte vpon hym poyntelynge / and to syre Bors semed that the hede of the spere brente lyke a tapre / and anon or syr Bors wyst / the spere hede smote hym in to the shol¦der an hand brede in depnesse / and that wound greued syre Bors passynge sore / And thenne he leyd hym doune ageyne for payne / and anone there with alle there came a knyght ar¦med with his shelde on his sholder and his suerd in his hande and he bad sir Bors aryse syr knyʒte and fyghte with me / I am sore hurte he said / but yet I shal not fayle the / And thenne syr Bors starte vp and dressid his shelde / and thenne they lasshed to gydders myghtely a grete whyle / and at the laste syr Bors bare hym bakward vntyl that he came vnto a chā∣ber dore / and there that knyghte yede in to that chamber & rested hym a grete whyle / And whan he hadde reposed hym he came out fresshely ageyne / and beganne newe bataille with sir bors myghtely and strongly

¶Capitulum Quintum

THenne sir Bors thought he shold no more goo in to that chamber to reste hym / and soo syr Bors dressyd hym betwixe the knyghte and that chamber dore / and there sir Bors smote hym doune / and thenne that knyght yelded hym what is your name said syr Bors / Syr said he / my name is pedyuere of the streyte marches / Soo syre Bors made hym to swere at whytsonday next comyng to be atte court of kyng ar¦thur / and yelde hym there as a prysoner as an ouercome kn∣yghte by the handes of syr Bors / Soo thus departed syr pe∣dyuere of the strayte marches / And thenne syre Bors layd hym doune to reste / and thenne he herd and felt moche noyse in that chamber / and thenne sir Bors aspyed that ther came in / he wist not whether at the dores nor wyndowes shot of arowes and of quarels soo thyck that he merueylled / and many felle vpon hym and hurte hym in the bare places / And thenne syre Bors was ware where came in an hydous lyon / soo sire bors dressid hym vnto the lyon / & anone the lyon berafte hym his sheld & with his suerd syr bors smote of the lyons heed /

Ryght soo syre Bors forth with all sawe a dragon in the co∣urte passynge horryble / and there semed letters of gold wry∣ten in his forhede / and sir Bors thoughte that the letters made a sygnyfycacyon of kynge Arthur / Ryghte soo there came an horryble lybard and an old / and there they foughte longe / & dyd grete batail to gydere / And at the laste the dragon spytte oute of his mouthe as hit had ben an honderd dragons / and lyghtely alle the smal dragons slewe the old dragon and ta¦re hym all to pyeces / Anone with alle there came an old man in to the halle / and he sa••te hym doune in a fayre chayre / and there semed to se two edders aboute his neck / and thenne the old man had an harp / and there he sange an old songe how Ioseph of Armathye came in to this land / thenne whanne he had songen / the old man bad sir Bors go from thens / for he∣re shall ye haue no mo aduentures / and ful worshypfully ha∣ue ye done / and better shalle ye doo here after / And thenne sir Bors semed that there came the whytest doune with a lytel golden senser in her mouthe / And anone there with alle the tē¦pest ceased and passed that afore was merueyllous to here / Soo was alle that Courte ful of good sauours / Thenne syre Bors sawe four children berynge four fayre tapres / and an old man in the myddes of the children with a senser in hys owne hand / and a spere in his other hand / and that spere was called the spere of vengeaunce

¶Capitulum Sextum

NOw said that old man to sire Bors / goo ye to your cosyn syr Launcelot / and telle hym of this aduenture the whiche had ben most conuenyent for hym of al erthely kn∣yʒtes / but synne is soo foule in hym / he may not encheue suche holy dedes / for had not ben his synne he bad past al the knyʒtes that euer were in his dayes / and telle thou sir launcelot of alle worldly aduentures he passeth in manhode & prowesse al other But in this spyrytuel maters he shalle haue many his better / And thenne sir Bors sawe four gentylwymen come by hym pou••ely bisene / & he sawe where that they entrid in to a chamber where was grete lyʒte as it were a somer lyghte / & the wymen

kneled doune afore an aulter of syluer with foure pyllowes and as hit had ben a bisshop kneled doune afore that table of syluer / And as sire Bors loked ouer his hede / he sawe a swerd lyke syluer naked houynge ouer his hede / and the cle∣renes there of smote soo in his eyen that as att that tyme syre Bors was blynde / and there he herd a wys that said go hens thou syre Bors / for as yet thow arte not worthy for to be in this place / and thenne he yede backward to his bedde tyl on the morne / And on the morne kynge Pelles made grete Ioye of sir Bors / and thenne he departed and rode to Camelot / and there he fonde sire launcelot du lake / and told hym of the ad∣uentures that he had sene with kynge Pelles at Corbyn / Soo the noyse sprange in Arthurs Courte that launcelot had geten a childe vpon Elayne the doughter of Kynge Pelles / wherfor Quene Gueneuer was wrothe / and gafe many rebukes to sir launcelot / and called hym fals knyghte / & thenne sire laūcelot told the quene all / & how he was made to lye by her by enchaū∣tement in lykenes of the Quene / Soo the quene helde sir laū¦celot excused / And as the book saith kyng Arthur had ben in Fraunce / and had made warre vpon the myghty kyng Clau¦das / and had wonne moche of his landes / And whanne the kyng was come ageyne / he lete crye a grete feest that al lordes & ladyes of al Englond shold be there / but yf it were suche as were rebellions ageynst hym

¶Capitulum vij

ANd when dame Elayne the doughter of kyng Pelles herd of this feeste / she wente to her fader and requyred hym that he wold gyue her leue to ryde to that feest / The kyng ansuerd I will wel ye go thyder / but in ony wyse as ye loue me / and wile haue my blessyng that ye be wel bisene in the rychest wyse / and loke that ye spare not for no cost / aske and ye shalle haue alle that yow nedeth / Thenne by the aduyse of dame Brysen her mayden alle thynge was apparaylled vnto the purpose that there was neuer no lady more rychelyer byse∣ne / So she rode with xx knyʒtes & x ladyes & gētilwymen to y^•

nombre of an honderd horses / And whanne she came to Ca∣melot / kynge Arthur and quene Gueneuer sayd and all the knyghtes / that dame Elayne was the fayrest and the best by∣sene lady that euer was sene in that Courte

¶And anone as kynge Arthur wyste that she was come / he mette her / and salewed her / and soo dyd the moost party of al the knyghtes of the round table / bothe syr Tristram / sir Ble∣oberys and syr Gawayne and many moo that I wille not re∣herce / But whanne syre Launcelot sawe her he was soo asha∣med / & that by cause he drewe his swerd on the morne whan he had layne by her / that he wold not salewe her nor speke to her / & yet syre Launcelot thought she was the fayrest woman that euer he sawe in his lyf dayes / But whanne dame Elayn sawe syre Launcelot that wold not speke vnto her / she was so heuy that she wend her herte wold haue to brast / For wete you wel oute of mesure she loued hym / And thenne Elayne sayd vnto her woman dame Brysen the vnkyndenesse of syr Laun∣celot sleeth me nere / ¶A pees madame said dame Brysen I wille vndertake that this nyghte he shalle lye with yow / and ye wold hold yow stylle / that were me leuer sayd dame Elayne than alle the gold that is aboue the erthe / Lete me dele said dame Brysen / ¶Soo whanne Elayne was bro∣ughte vnto quene Gueneuer eyther made other good chere by countenaunce but nothynge with hertes / But alle men & wym¦men spake of the beaute of dame Elayne and of her grete Ry∣chesses / thenne at nyghte the quene commaunded that dame Elayne shold slepe in a chamber / nyghe her chamber and alle vnder one roofe / & soo it was done as the quene commaunded ¶Thenne the quene sent for syre Launcelot & badde hym come to her chamber that nyghte / or els I am sure said the Quene / that ye will go to your ladyes bed dame Elayn / by whome ye gat Galahalt / A madame said syr Launcelot neuer saye ye so For that I dyd was ageynste my wille / thenne said the que¦ne loke that ye come to me whan I send for yow / Madame sa¦id launcelot I shall not fayle yow but I shall be redy at your commmandemēt / this bargayn was soone done & made bitwene them / but dame Bryson knewe it by her craftes / & told hit to her lady dame Elayne / ¶ Allas said she how shall I

doo / lete me dele said dame Brysen / for I shalle brynge hym by the hand euen to your bedde / and he shalle wene that I am Quene Gueneuers messager ¶Now wel is me sa∣id dame Elayne / for alle the world I loue not soo moche as I doo syr launcelot /

¶Capitulum viij

SOo whanne tyme came that alle folkes were a bedde / Dame Brysen came to syr launcelots beddes syde and said Syre launcelot du lake slepe yow / My lady quene gwe¦neuer lyeth and awayteth vpon yow / O my fayre lady sayd syr launcelot I am redy to goo with yow where ye will haue me / Soo syr launcelot threwe vpon hym a long gowne / and his suerd in his hand / and thenne dame Brysen took hym by the fynger and ledde hym to her ladyes bedde dame Elayne / And thenne she departed and lefte them in bedde to gyders / wete yow wel the lady was gladde and soo was syr launce∣lot / for he wende that he had had another in his armes / ¶Now leue we them kyssynge and clyppynge as was kyn∣dely thyng / & now speke we of quene gueneuer that sente one of her wymen vnto syr launcelots bed / ¶And whan she came there / she fond the bedde col••e / and he was away / soo she came to the Quene and told her alle / Allas said the Quene whe∣re is that fals knyghte become / Thenne the quene was nyghe oute of her wytte / and thenne she wrythed and weltred as a mad woman / and myght not slepe a four or fyue houres / ¶Thenne syre launcelot had a condycion that he vsed of cust∣omme he wolde clater in his slepe / and speke ofte of his lady Quene Gueneuer / Soo as syr launcelot had waked as longe as hit had pleasyd hym / thenne by course of kynde he slepte / & dame Elayne bothe / And in his slepe he talked and clatered as a Iay of the loue that had ben betwixe Quene Gweneuer and hym / ¶ And soo as he talked soo lowde the Quene herde hym there as she laye in her chamber / & when she herde hym soo clater she was nyghe woode and out of her mynde / and for anger and payne wist not what to do / ¶And

thenne she coughed soo lowde that syre launcelot awaked and he knewe her hemynge / ¶ And thenne he knewe well that he lay not by the Quene / and there with he lepte out of his bed as he had ben a wood man in his sherte / and the quene mett hym in the floore / and thus she said / fals traytour knyʒt that thow arte / loke thow neuer abyde in my Courte and auoyde my chamber / and not soo hardy thow fals traytour knyʒt that thow arte that euer thow come in my syghte / Allas sayd syr launcelot / and there with he tooke suche an hertely sorowe atte her wordes that he f••lle doune to the floore in a swoune / And there with alle Quene Gueneuer departed / And whanne syr Launcelot awoke of his swoune / he lepte oute at a bay wyn∣dowe in to a gardyne / and there with thornes he was alle to cratched in his vysage and his body / and soo he ranne for the he wyst not whyder / and was wylde wood as euer was man and soo he ranne two yere / and neuer man myghte haue grace to knowe hym

¶Capitulum Nonum

NOw torne we vnto Quene Gueneuer and to the fayr lady Elayne that whanne dame Elayn herd the que∣ne soo to rebuke syr launcelot / and also she sawe how he swouned / and hou he lepte oute at a bay wyndowe / Thenne she said vnto quene Gueneuer Madame ye are gretely to bla∣me for syr launcelot / for now haue ye lost hym / for I sawe & herd by his countenaunce that he is mad for euer / Allas ma∣dame ye doo grete synne / and to your self grete dishonour / for ye haue a lord of your owne / and therfor it is youre parte to loue hym / for there is no quene in this world / hath suche an other kynge as ye haue / And yf ye were not I myghte haue the loue of my lord syr Launcelot / and cause I haue to loue hym / for he had my maydenhode / and by hym I haue borne a fayre sone / and his name is Galahalt / and he shalle be in his tyme the best knyghte of the world /

¶Dame Elayne said the Quene whanne hit is daye lyght I charge yow and commaunde yow to auoyde my Courte

And for the loue ye owe vnto sire launcelot discouer not his counceylle / for and ye doo / it wille be his dethe / As for that sa∣id dame Elayne I dar vndertake he is marred for euer / and that haue ye made / for ye nor I are lyke to reioyce hym / for he made the moost pytous grones whanne he lepte oute at yonder bay wyndowe that euer I herd man make / Allas sayd fayre Elayne / and allas said the Quene Gueneuer / for now I wo∣te wel / we haue loste hym for euer / So on the morne dame E∣layne took her leue to departe and she wold no lenger abyde / Thenne kynge Arthur brought her on her waye with mo than an honderd knyghtes thurgh a forest / ¶And by the way she told sir Bors de ganys alle how hit betyd that same nyghte And how sir launcelot lepte out att a wyndowe araged oute of his wytte / Allas said syr Bors where is my lord sir laun¦celot become / Syr said Elayne I wote nere /

Allas said syre Bors betwixe yow bothe ye haue destroyed that good knyghte / As for me said dame Elayne I sayd ne¦uer nor dyd neuer thynge that shold in ony wyse displease hym / but with the rebuke that Quene Gueneuer gaf hym I sawe hym swoune to the erthe / And whanne he awoke he took his swerd in his hand naked sauf his sherte / and lepte oute at a wyndowe with the grysylyest grone that euer I herd man make ¶Now fare wel dame Elayne saide syre Bors / and hold my lord Arthur with a tale as long as ye can / for I wylle torne ageyne to Quene Gueneuer / and gyue her a hete / and I requyre yow as euer ye wylle haue my seruyse make good watche and aspye yf euer ye may see my lord sire Launcelot

¶Truly sayd fayr Elayne I shalle doo alle that I may do for as fayne wold I knowe and wete where he is become as yow or ony of his kynne / or Quene Gueneuer / and cause gre¦te ynough haue I therto as wel as ony other / And wete ye wel said fayre Elayne to sire Bors / I wold lese my lyf for hym / rather than he shold be hurte / but allas I cast me neuer for to see hym / and the chyef causer of this is dame Gueneuer ¶ Madame said dame Brysen the whiche had made the en∣chauntement before betwix sir launcelot and her / I pray you hertely lete syre Bors departe / and hye hym with al his myʒt

as fast as he may to seke syre Launcelot / For I warne yow he is clene out of his mynde / and yet he shall be wel holpen / & but by myracle / Thenne wepte dame Elayne / and soo dyd syre Bors de ganys / and soo they departed / and syre bors ro¦de streyghte vnto Quene Gueneuer / and whanne she sawe sir Bors / she wepte as she were wood / Fy on your wepyng sa∣id sir Bors de ganys / for ye wepe neuer but whan there is no bote / Allas said sir Bors that euer syr launcelots kynne sa∣we yow / for now haue ye lost the best knyght of oure blood / and he that was alle oure leder and oure socour / and I dare saye and make it good that all kynges crysten nor hethen may not fynde suche a knyghte for to speke of his nobylnesse and curtosye with his beaute and his gentylnesse / Allas said sire Bors what shalle we doo that ben of his blood / Allas sayd Ector de marys / Allas said Lyonel

¶Capitulum x

ANd whanne the Quene herd them saye soo / she felle to the erthe in a dede swoune / and thenne syr Bors took her vp / and dawed her / & whanne she was awaked she kneled afore the thre knyghtes / and helde vp bothe their handes and besoughte them to seke hym / and spare not for noo goodes but that he ••e founden / for I wote he is oute of his mynde / & sir Bors / syr Ector / and syr Lyonel departed from the quene for they myght not abyde no lenger for sorowe / and thenne the quene sent them tresour ynough for theyr expencys / and so they took their horses and their armour and departed / and then ne they rode from countrey to countrey in forestes and in wyl∣dernes and in wastes / and euer they laid watche bothe att fo∣restes and at alle maner of men as they rode to herken and spe¦re after hym / as he that was a naked man in his sherte with a / swerd in his hand / ¶ And thus they rode nyghe a quarter of a yere endlonge and ouerthwarte in many places forestes and wildernes / and oftymes were euylle lod∣ged for his sake / and yett for alle theire laboure and sekynge coude they neuer here word of hym / ¶ And wete yow well

these thre knyghtes were passynge sory / Thenne at the laste sire Bors and his felawes mette with a knyghte that hyght syr Melyon de Tartare / Now fayre knyʒt said sir Bors / whether be ye awey / for they knewe eyther other afore tyme / Sir said Melyon I am in the way toward the courte of kyng Arthur Thenne we praye yow sayd sire Bors that ye wille telle my lord Arthur and my lady quene Gueneuer and alle the fe∣laushyp of the roūd table that we can not in no wyse here telle where syr launcelot is become / ¶Thenne sire Melyon departed from them / and sayd that he wold telle the kynge and the que¦ne and alle the felaushyp of the round table as they had de∣syred hym / Soo whanne sire Melyon came to the Courte of kynge Arthur / he told the kynge and the quene and al the felauship of the round table what sir Bors had said of syre Launcelot / Thenne sire Gawayne sire Vwayne / syr Sagramor le desyrus / syr Aglouale / and syre Percyuale de galys tooke vpon them by the grete desyre of kynge Arthur / and in especi∣al by the quene to seke thorou out all Englond walys & Scot¦land to fynde sire launcelot / and with hem rode eyghten kn∣yghtes moo to bere them felauship / and wete ye wel / they lac∣ked no maner of spendyng / and soo were they thre and twen¦ty knyghtes / ¶Now torne we to syre Launcelot / and speke we of his care and woo / and what payne he there endured / for cold / honger and thurste he had plente / ¶And thus as these noble knyghtes rode to gyders / they by one assente departed / & thenne they rode by two / by thre / and by foure / and by fyue / & euer they assigned where they shold mete / And soo sir Aglo∣uale and syr Percyuale rode to gyders vnto theyr moder that was a quene in tho dayes / And whanne she sawe her two so∣nes / for Ioye she wepte tendyrly / And thenne she sayd / A my dere sones / whanne your fader was slayne / he l••fte me iiij so∣nes / of the whiche now be tweyn slayne / And for the dethe of my noble sone syre Lamorak shalle my herte neuer be gladde / And thenne she kneled doune vpon her knees to fore Aglo∣uale and sir Percyuale / and besoughte them to abyde at home with her / A swete moder said syr Percyuale we may not / For we be come of kynges blood of bothe partyes / and therfor mo∣der it is our kynde to haunte armes and noble dedes / Allas

my swete sones thenne she sayd▪ for your sakes I shalle lese my lykynge and lust / and thenne wynde and weder I may•• not endure / what for the dethe of your fader kynge Pellenore that was shamefully slayne by the handes of syr Gawayne / and his broder syre Gaherys / and they slewe hym not manly but by treason / A my dere sones this is a pyteous complaynte for me of your faders dethe / consyderynge also the dethe of sire Lamorak that of knyʒthode had but fewe felawee / Now my dere sones haue this in your mynde / Thenne there was but we¦pynge and sobbynge in the Courte whanne they shold depar∣te / and she felle in swounynge in myddes of the Courte /

¶Capitulum xj

ANd whanne she was awaked / she sente a squyer after them with spendynge ynough / And soo whanne the squyer had ouertake them / they wold not suffre hym to ryde with hem / but sente hym home ageyne to comforte theyr moder / prayenge her mekely of her blessynge / And so this squ∣yer was benyghted / and by mysfortune he happend to come to a castel where dwellid a Baroune / ¶ And so whanne the squyer was come in to the castel / the lord asked hym / from whens he came / and whome he serued / my lord sayd the squy¦er I serue a good knyghte that is called sire Aglouale / the squyer said it to good entente / wenynge vnto hym to haue ben more forborne for syr Aglouals sake / ••han he had said he had serued the quene Aglouals moder / wel my felawe said the lord of that Castel / for syre Aglouals sake thow shalt haue euyl lodgynge / for sir Aglouale slewe my b••odr / and ther∣for thow shalt dye on party of payement / ¶And thenne that lord commaunded his men to haue hym aweye and slee hym / and soo they dyd / and soo pulled hym oute of the castel / and there they slewe bym without mercy / ¶Ryghte so on the mo∣rne came sire Aglouale and sire Percyuale rydynge by a chir¦che yerd where men and wymmen were besy / and beheld the dede squyer / and they thoughte to berye hym / what is there said sir Aglouale / that ye behold soo fast / A good man starte forthe /

and said / fayre knyghte here lyeth a squyer slayne shameful∣ly this nyght / How was he slayne fayr felawe said sir Ag∣louale / my fayr syr said the man / the lord of this castel lodged this squyer this nyght / and by cause he said he was seruaunt vnto a good knyghte that is with kynge Arthur / his name is syr Aglouale / therfor the lord commaunded to slee hym / & for this cause is he slayne / Gramercy said syr Aglouale / and ye shalle see his dethe reuenged lyghtely / for I am that same knyght for whome this squyer was slayne / Thenne sir Aglo∣uale called vnto hym syr Percyuale / and badde hym alyghte lyghtely / and soo they alyghte bothe / and betoke theire horses to their men / and soo they yede on foote in to the Castel / And also soone as they were within the castel gate / syre Aglouale badde the porter goo thow vnto thy lord and telle hym / that I am syr Aglouale for whome this squyer was slayne this nyʒt Anone the porter told this to his lord whos name was Gode wyn / anone he armed hym / and thenne he came in to the court and said whiche of yow is sir Aglouale / here I am said A∣glouale / for what cause slewest thow this nyghte my moders squyer / I slewe hym said syr Goodewyn by cause of the / For thow slewest my broder syr Gawdelyn / As for thy broder sayd syr Aglouale I auowe hit / I slewe hym / for he was a fals knyghte and a bitrayer of ladyes and of good knyghtes / & for the dethe of my squyer thow shalt dye / I defye the said sir Goodewyn / thenne they lasshed to gyders as egerly as hit had ben two lyons / and syr Percyuale he fought with alle the re∣menaunt that wold fyghte / And within a whyle syr Percy∣uale had slayne alle that wold withstande hym / For syr per∣cyuale delt soo his strokes that were soo rude that there durste no man abyde hym / And within a whyle sir Aglouale had sir Goodewyn at the erthe / and there he vnlaced his helme / & strake of his hede / and thenne they departed and took theyre horses / and thenne they lete cary the dede squyer vnto a pryo∣cy / and there they entered hym /

¶Capitulum xij

ANd whanne this was done / they rode in to many coun¦treyes euer enquyryng after syr Launcelot / but neuer

they coude here of hym / and at the laste they came to a Castell that hyghte Cardycan / and there syre Percyuale and sire a∣glouale were lodged to gyders / and pryuely aboute mydnyʒt sir Percyuale came to aglouals squyer / and sayd aryse & ma¦ke the redy / for ye and I wylle ryde awey secretely / Sir said the squyer I wold ful fayne ryde with yow where ye wold haue me / but and my lord your broder take me / he wille slee me / as for that care thow not / for I shalle be thy waraunt / & soo syr Percyual rode tyl it was after none / and thenne he came vpon a brydge of stone / and there he fond a knyght that was bounden with a chayne faste aboute the wast vnto a pyl∣ler of stone / O fayre knyghte said that bounden Knyghte / I requyre the lose me of my boundes / what knyghte are ye sayd syr Percyuale / and for what cause are ye soo bounden / Syre I shalle telle yow said that knyght I am a knyʒte of the table round / and my name is syre Persydes / and thus by aduentur I came this waye / and here I lodged in this castel atte bryd∣ge foote / and therin duelleth an vncurtois lady / and by cause she profered me to be her peramour / and I refused her / she sette her men vpon me sodenly or euer I myghte come to my wepen and thus they bonde me / and here I wote wel I shal dye but yf somme man of worship breke my bandes / Be ye of good chere said syr Percyuale / and by cause ye are a knyghte of the round table as wel as I / I trust to god to breke youre ban∣des / and there with syr Percyuale pulled out his swerd and strake at the chayne with suche a myght that he cutte a two the chayne / and thoru syr Percydes hauberk and hurte hym a ly¦tel / O Ihesu said sir Persides that was a myghty stroke as e∣uer I felt one / for had not the chayne be / ye hadde slayn me / & there with al sire Persydes sawe a knyghte comyng oute of a Castel al that euer he myghte flynge / Beware syr saide syre Percydes yonder cometh a man that wille haue adoo with you Lete hym come said syre Percyuale / and so he mette with that knyghte in myddes of the brydge / and sire percyuale gaf hym suche a buffet that he smote hym quyte from his hors / & ouer a parte of the brydge that had not ben a lytil vessel vnder the brydge / that knyghte had ben drouned / and thēne sire percyual tooke the knyghtes hors and made sire percydes to mounte vp

hym / and soo they rode vnto the castel / and bad the lady dely¦uer syre Persydes seruaunts / or els he wold slee alle that e∣uer he fonde / and soo for fere she delyuerd them alle / Thenne was syre Percyuale ware of a lady that stode in that toure / A madame sayd syre Percyuale what vse and customme is that in a lady to destroye good knyghtes / but yf they wylle be your peramour / for sothe this is a shameful customme of a la¦dy / And yf I had not a grete mater in my hand / I shold fordoo your euylle custommes / and soo syr Percydes brouʒte syr percyuale vnto his owne castel / and there he made hym gre¦te chere alle that nyghte / And on the morne whanne syr percy¦uale had herd masse / and broken his fast / he badde syr persy∣des ryde vnto kynge Arthur / and telle the kynge how that ye mette with me / and telle my broder syre Aglouale how I re∣scowed yow / and bydde hym seke not after me / for I am in the quest to seke sir launcelot du lake / And though he seke me he shalle not fynde me / and telle hym I wille neuer see hym nor the courte tyl I haue fond syre Launcelot / Also telle sir kay the Seneschal and to syr Mordred that I truste to Ihesu to be of as grete worthynes as eyther of them / for telle them I shal neuer forgete theire mockes and scornes that they did to me that day that I was made knyghte / And telle them I wil neuer see that Courte tyl men speke more worship of me than euer men dyd of ony of them bothe / And soo syre percydes de∣parted from syr percyuale / and thenne he rode vnto kyng Ar¦thur / and told there of sire percyuale / And whan sire Aglo∣uale herd hym speke of his broder syr percyuale / he sayd / he de∣parted from me vnkyndely /

¶Capitulum xiij

SYr sayd syre percydes on my lyf he shalle pr••ue a no¦ble knyghte as ony now is lyuynge / And whanne he sawe sire kay and syr Mordred / syr percydes said thus / My fayre lordes bothe syr percyuale greteth yow wel bothe / and he sente you word by me that he trusteth to god or euer he come to the courte ageyne to be of as grete noblesse as euer were ye bothe and mo men to speke of his noblesse than euer they did

yow / hit maye wel be sayd syr kay and syre Mordred / but at that tyme whanne he was made knyghte / he was ful vnly••e to preue a good knyght / As for that sayd kynge Arthur / he must nedes preue a good knyghte / for his fader and his bre∣theren were noble knyghtes / And now wille we tourne vnto syr Percyuale that rode longe / and in a forest he mette a kn∣yghte with a broken shelde and a broken helme / and as soone as eyther sawe other redyly they made them redy to Iuste / and soo hurteled to gyders with alle the myghte of theyr horses / & they to gyders soo hard that syre Percyuale was smyten to the erthe / and thenne syr Percyuale arose lyghtely / and caste his shelde on his sholder and drewe his swerd / and badde the other knyghte alyghte and doo we bataille vnto the vttermest wylle ye more sayd that knyghte / and there with he alyghte / and putte his hors fro hym / and thenne they came to gyders an esy paas / and there they lasshed to gyder with noble suer∣des / and somtyme they stroke / and somtyme they foyned / and eyther gaf other many grete woundes / Thus they fought nere half a daye / and neuer rested but ryghte lytel / and there was none of them both that had lasse woundes than xv / and they bledde soo moche that it was merueyl they stode on their feete / But this knyghte that foughte with syre Percyuale was a proued knyghte and a wyse fyghtynge knyghte / and syre percyuale was yonge and stronge not knowyng in fyghtyng as the other was / Thenne sir percyuale spake fyrste and sayd syre knyghte hold thy hand a whyle stille / for we haue fouʒ∣ten for a symple mater and quarel ouer longe / and therfor I requyre the telle me thy name / for I was neuer or this tyme matched / Soo god me help sayd that knyghte / and neuer or this tyme was there neuer knyght that wounded me soo sore / as thow hast done / and yet haue I foughten in many batails and now shalt thow wete that I am a knyghte of the table round / and my name is syr Ector de marys broder vnto the good knyghte syr launcelot du lake / Allas said syr percyual and my name is syre percyuale de galys that hath maade my quest to seke syr launcelot / and now I am seker that I shall neuer fynysshe my quest / for ye haue slayne me with your han¦des / It is not soo said sire Ector / for I am slayne by youre

handes / and maye •• lyuote / therfor I requyre yow sayd sire Ector vnto syr Percyuale ryde ye here by to a pryory / & bryn∣ge me a preest that I may receyue my saueour / for I may not lyue / And whanne ye come to the courte of Kynge Arthur / telle not my broder sire launcelot how that ye slewe me / For thenne he wold be your mortal enemy / But ye may say that I was slayne in my quest as I soughte hym / Allas said sire Percyuale ye saye that thynge that neuer wille be / for I am soo faynte for bledynge that I maye vnnethe stande / how shold I thenne take my hors /

¶Capitulum xiiij

THenne they made bothe grete dole oute of mesure / this wille not auayle said sire Percyuale / And thenne he kneled doune and made his prayer deuoutely vnto al myghty Ihesu / for he was one of the best knyghtes of the world that at that tyme was / in whome the veray feythe stode moost in

¶Ryght soo there came by / the holy vessel of the Sancgreal with alle maner of swetnes and sauour / but they coude not re∣dyly see who that bare that vessel / but syre Percyuale hadde a glemerynge of the vessel and of the mayden that bare hit / for he was a parfyte clene mayden / and forth with al they bothe were as hole of hyde and lymme as euer they were in theire lyf dayes / thenne they gaf thankynges to god with grete myl¦denesse / O Ihesu said syr Percyuale what maye this meane / that we be thus heled / and ryghte now we were at the poynt of dyenge / I wote ful wel said sire Ector what it is / It is an holy vessel that is borne by a mayden / and therin is parte of the hooly blood of oure lord Ihesu crist blessid mote he be but it may not be sene said syr Ector / but yf hit be by a par∣fyte man / Soo god me help said syr Percyuale I sawe a da¦moysel as me thoughte alle in whyte with a vessel in both her handes / and forth with al I was hole / Soo thenne they toke their horses and their harneis and amended theire harneis as wel as they myghte that was broken / and soo they mounted vpon theyr horses / and rode talkynge to gyders / And there sir Ector de marys told sire Percyuale how he hadde soughte his

broder syr launcelot longe / and neuer coude here wetynge of hym / in many straunge aduentures haue I ben in this queste And soo eyther told other of their aduentures /

¶Here endeth the enleuenth booke /