thur thanked them. And then every man agreed to make
war, and to aid after their power; that is to wit, the lord of West
Wales promised to bring thirty thousand men, and Sir Uwaine, Sir Ider
his son, with their cousins, promised to bring thirty thousand. Then
Sir Launcelot with all other promised in likewise every man a great
multitude.

And when King Arthur understood their courages and good wills he thanked
them heartily, and after let call the ambassadors to hear their answer.
And in presence of all his lords and knights he said to them in this
wise: I will that ye return unto your lord and Procuror of the Common
Weal for the Romans, and say ye to him, Of his demand and commandment I
set nothing, and that I know of no truage nor tribute that I owe to him,
nor to none earthly prince, Christian nor heathen; but I pretend to have
and occupy the sovereignty of the empire, wherein I am entitled by the
right of my predecessors, sometime kings of this land; and say to him
that I am delibered and fully concluded, to go with mine army with
strength and power unto Rome, by the grace of God, to take possession
in the empire and subdue them that be rebel. Wherefore I command him and
all them of Rome, that incontinent they make to me their homage, and
to acknowledge me for their Emperor and Governor, upon pain that shall
ensue. And then he commanded his treasurer to give to them great and
large gifts, and to pay all their dispenses, and assigned Sir Cador to
convey them out of the land. And so they took their leave and departed,
and took their shipping at Sandwich, and passed forth by Flanders,
Almaine, the mountains, and all Italy, until they came unto Lucius. And
after the reverence made, they made relation of their answer, like as ye
to-fore have heard.

When the Emperor Lucius had well understood their credence, he was sore
moved as he had been all araged, and said, I had supposed that Arthur
would have obeyed to my commandment, and have served you himself, as him
well beseemed or any other king to do. O Sir, said one of the senators,
let be such vain words, for we let you wit that I and my fellows were
full sore afeard to behold his countenance; I fear me ye have made a rod
for yourself, for he intendeth to be lord of this empire, which sore is
to be doubted if he come, for he is all another man than ye ween, and
holdeth the most noble court of the world, all other kings nor princes
may not compare unto his noble maintenanc