hill in the worship
of Saint Michael. And on the morn the king removed with his great
battle, and came into Champayne and in a valley, and there they pight
their tents; and the king being set at his dinner, there came in two
messengers, of whom that one was Marshal of France, and said to the
king that the emperor was entered into France, and had destroyed a great
part, and was in Burgoyne, and had destroyed and made great slaughter
of people, and burnt towns and boroughs; wherefore, if thou come not
hastily, they must yield up their bodies and goods.

CHAPTER VI. How King Arthur sent Sir Gawaine and other to Lucius, and
how they were assailed and escaped with worship.

THEN the king did do call Sir Gawaine, Sir Bors, Sir Lionel, and Sir
Bedivere, and commanded them to go straight to Sir Lucius, and say ye to
him that hastily he remove out of my land; and if he will not, bid him
make him ready to battle and not distress the poor people. Then anon
these noble knights dressed them to horseback, and when they came to the
green wood, they saw many pavilions set in a meadow, of silk of divers
colours, beside a river, and the emperor's pavilion was in the middle
with an eagle displayed above. To the which tent our knights rode
toward, and ordained Sir Gawaine and Sir Bors to do the message, and
left in a bushment Sir Lionel and Sir Bedivere. And then Sir Gawaine and
Sir Bors did their message, and commanded Lucius, in Arthur's name to
avoid his land, or shortly to address him to battle. To whom Lucius
answered and said, Ye shall return to your lord, and say ye to him that
I shall subdue him and all his lands. Then Sir Gawaine was wroth and
said, I had liefer than all France fight against thee; and so had I,
said Sir Bors, liefer than all Brittany or Burgoyne.

Then a knight named Sir Gainus, nigh cousin to the emperor, said, Lo,
how these Britons be full of pride and boast, and they brag as though
they bare up all the world. Then Sir Gawaine was sore grieved with these
words, and pulled out his sword and smote off his head. And therewith
turned their horses and rode over waters and through woods till they
came to their bushment, whereas Sir Lionel and Sir Bedivere were
hoving. The Romans followed fast after, on horseback and on foot, over
a champaign unto a wood; then Sir Bors turned his horse and saw a knight
come fast on, whom he smote through the body with a spear that he fell
dead down to the earth; then came Calib