Kabanata Kabanata 485 · How Sir Launcelot passed over the sea, and how he made

. How Sir Launcelot passed over the sea, and how he made

great lords of the knights that went with him.

Truly, said Sir Launcelot, I thank you all of your good saying,

howbeit, I wot well, in me was not all the stability of this realm, but

in that I might I did my devoir; and well I am sure I knew many

rebellions in my days that by me were peaced, and I trow we all shall

hear of them in short space, and that me sore repenteth. For ever I

dread me, said Sir Launcelot, that Sir Mordred will make trouble, for

he is passing envious and applieth him to trouble. So they were

accorded to go with Sir Launcelot to his lands; and to make short tale,

they trussed, and paid all that would ask them; and wholly an hundred

knights departed with Sir Launcelot at once, and made their avows they

would never leave him for weal nor for woe.

And so they shipped at Cardiff, and sailed unto Benwick: some men call

it Bayonne, and some men call it Beaune, where the wine of Beaune is.

But to say the sooth, Sir Launcelot and his nephews were lords of all

France, and of all the lands that longed unto France; he and his

kindred rejoiced it all through Sir Launcelot’s noble prowess. And then

Sir Launcelot stuffed and furnished and garnished all his noble towns

and castles. Then all the people of those lands came to Sir Launcelot

on foot and hands. And so when he had stablished all these countries,

he shortly called a parliament; and there he crowned Sir Lionel, King

of France; and Sir Bors [he] crowned him king of all King Claudas’

lands; and Sir Ector de Maris, that was Sir Launcelot’s youngest

brother, he crowned him King of Benwick, and king of all Guienne, that

was Sir Launcelot’s own land. And he made Sir Ector prince of them all,

and thus he departed.

Then Sir Launcelot advanced all his noble knights, and first he

advanced them of his blood; that was Sir Blamore, he made him Duke of

Limosin in Guienne and Sir Bleoberis he made him Duke of Poictiers, and

Sir Gahalantine he made him Duke of Querne, and Sir Galihodin he made

him Duke of Sentonge, and Sir Galihud he made him Earl of Perigot, and

Sir Menadeuke he made him Earl of Roerge, and Sir Villiars the Valiant

he made him Earl of Bearn, and Sir Hebes le Renoumes he made him Earl

of Comange, and Sir Lavaine he made him Earl of Arminak, and Sir Urre

he made him Earl of Estrake, and Sir Neroneus he made him Earl of

Pardiak, and Sir Plenorius he made Earl of Foise, and Sir Selises of

the Dolorous Tower he made him Earl of Masauke, and Sir Melias de Lile

he made him Earl of Tursauk, and Sir Bellangere le Beuse he made Earl

of the Launds, and Sir Palomides he made him Duke of the Provence, and

Sir Safere he made him Duke of Landok, and Sir Clegis he gave him the

Earldom of Agente, and Sir Sadok he gave the Earldom of Surlat, and Sir

Dinas le Seneschal he made him Duke of Anjou, and Sir Clarrus he made

him Duke of Normandy. Thus Sir Launcelot rewarded his noble knights and

many more, that meseemeth it were too long to rehearse.