¶Cpitulum iiij

AT that tyme ther was a knyghte / the whiche was the kynges sone of Irelond and his name was Launce∣or / the whiche was an orgulous knyʒt / and counted hym self one of the best of the Courte / and he had grete despyte at Ba∣len for the encheuynge of the swerd that ony shold be acoun∣ted more hardy or more of prowesse / and he asked kynge Ar¦thur yf he wold gyue hym leue to ryde after Balen and to re¦uenge the despyte that he had done / Doo your best said Arthur I am right wroth said Balen I wold he were quyte of the despyte that he hath done to me and to my Courte / Thenne this Launceor wente to his hostry to make hym redy / In the meane whyle cam Merlyn vnto the Court of kyng Arthur and there was told hym the aduenture of the swerd and the deth of the lady of the lake / Now shall I saye yow said Merlyn / this sa¦me damoysel that here standeth that broughte the swerde vnto your Court / I shalle telle yow the cause of her comynge / she was the falsest damoysel that lyueth / say not so said they / She Page  [unnumbered] hath a broder a passynge good knyght of prowesse and a ful true man / and this damoysel loued another knyght that helde her to peramour / and this good knyght her broder mett with the knyght that held her to peramour and slewe hym by force of his handes / whan this fals damoysel vnderstood thys / she wente to the lady lyle of Auelione / and besought her of help / to be auengyd on her owne broder