Bab Bab 497 · How when Sir Lancelot heard of the death of King Arthur,

. How when Sir Lancelot heard of the death of King Arthur,

and of Sir Gawaine, and other matters, he came into England.

And when he heard in his country that Sir Mordred was crowned king in

England, and made war against King Arthur, his own father, and would

let him to land in his own land; also it was told Sir Launcelot how

that Sir Mordred had laid siege about the Tower of London, because the

queen would not wed him; then was Sir Launcelot wroth out of measure,

and said to his kinsmen: Alas, that double traitor Sir Mordred, now me

repenteth that ever he escaped my hands, for much shame hath he done

unto my lord Arthur; for all I feel by the doleful letter that my lord

Sir Gawaine sent me, on whose soul Jesu have mercy that my lord Arthur

is full hard bestead. Alas, said Sir Launcelot, that ever I should live

to hear that most noble king that made me knight thus to be overset

with his subject in his own realm. And this doleful letter that my

lord, Sir Gawaine, hath sent me afore his death, praying me to see his

tomb, wit you well his doleful words shall never go from mine heart,

for he was a full noble knight as ever was born; and in an unhappy hour

was I born that ever I should have that unhap to slay first Sir

Gawaine, Sir Gaheris the good knight, and mine own friend Sir Gareth,

that full noble knight. Alas, I may say I am unhappy, said Sir

Launcelot, that ever I should do thus unhappily, and, alas, yet might I

never have hap to slay that traitor, Sir Mordred.

Leave your complaints, said Sir Bors, and first revenge you of the

death of Sir Gawaine; and it will be well done that ye see Sir

Gawaine’s tomb, and secondly that ye revenge my lord Arthur, and my

lady, Queen Guenever. I thank you, said Sir Launcelot, for ever ye will

my worship.

Then they made them ready in all the haste that might be, with ships

and galleys, with Sir Launcelot and his host to pass into England. And

so he passed over the sea till he came to Dover, and there he landed

with seven kings, and the number was hideous to behold. Then Sir

Launcelot spered of men of Dover where was King Arthur become. Then the

people told him how that he was slain, and Sir Mordred and an hundred

thousand died on a day; and how Sir Mordred gave King Arthur there the

first battle at his landing, and there was good Sir Gawaine slain; and

on the morn Sir Mordred fought with the king upon Barham Down, and

there the king put Sir Mordred to the worse. Alas, said Sir Launcelot,

this is the heaviest tidings that ever came to me. Now, fair sirs, said

Sir Launcelot, shew me the tomb of Sir Gawaine. And then certain people

of the town brought him into the castle of Dover, and shewed him the

tomb. Then Sir Launcelot kneeled down and wept, and prayed heartily for

his soul. And that night he made a dole, and all they that would come

had as much flesh, fish, wine and ale, and every man and woman had

twelve pence, come who would. Thus with his own hand dealt he this

money, in a mourning gown; and ever he wept, and prayed them to pray

for the soul of Sir Gawaine. And on the morn all the priests and clerks

that might be gotten in the country were there, and sang mass of

Requiem; and there offered first Sir Launcelot, and he offered an

hundred pound; and then the seven kings offered forty pound apiece; and

also there was a thousand knights, and each of them offered a pound;

and the offering dured from morn till night, and Sir Launcelot lay two

nights on his tomb in prayers and weeping.

Then on the third day Sir Launcelot called the kings, dukes, earls,

barons, and knights, and said thus: My fair lords, I thank you all of

your coming into this country with me, but we came too late, and that

shall repent me while I live, but against death may no man rebel. But

sithen it is so, said Sir Launcelot, I will myself ride and seek my

lady, Queen Guenever, for as I hear say she hath had great pain and

much disease; and I heard say that she is fled into the west. Therefore

ye all shall abide me here, and but if I come again within fifteen

days, then take your ships and your fellowship, and depart into your

country, for I will do as I say to you.