for ever shall it have no disturbance of me."

"Your pledge," saith Lancelot, "will I not accept save you come in
thither."

"Sir," saith the knight, "You have sore wounded me in such sort that I
cannot mount but with right great pain."

Lancelot helpeth him until he was mounted again on his horse, and
leadeth him into the castle with him, and maketh him present his sword
to the Vavasour and his daughters, and yield up his shield and his
arms, and afterward swear upon hallows that never again will he make
war upon them. Lancelot thereupon receiveth his pledge to forego all
claim to the castle and Marin turneth him back to Gomeret. The
Vavasour and his daughters abide in great joy.

III.

The story saith that Lancelot went his way by strange lands and by
forests to seek adventure, and rode until he found a plain land lying
without a city that seemed to be of right great lordship. As he was
riding by the plain land, he looketh toward the forest and seeth the
plain fair and wide and the land right level. He rideth all the plain,
and looketh toward the city and seeth great plenty of folk issuing
forth thereof. And with them was there much noise of bag-pipes and
flutes and viols and many instruments of music, and they came along the
way wherein was Lancelot riding. When the foremost came up to him,
they halted and redoubled their joy.

"Sir," say they, "Welcome may you be!"

"Lords," saith Lancelot, "Whom come ye to meet with such joy?"

"Sir," say they, "they that come behind there will tell you clearly
that whereof we are in need."

IV.

Thereupon behold you the provosts and the lords of the city, and they
come over against Lancelot.

"Sir," say they, "All this joy is made along of you, and all these
instruments of music are moved to joy and sound of gladness for your
coming."

"But wherefore for me," saith Lancelot.

"That shall you know well betimes," say they. "This city began to burn
and to melt in one of the houses from the very same hour that our king
was dead, nor might the fire be quenched, nor never will be quenched
until such time as we have a king that shall be lord of the city and of
the honour thereunto belonging, and on New Year's Day behoveth him to
be crowned in the midst of the fire, and then shall the fire be
quenched, for otherwise may it never be put out nor extinguished.
Wherefore have we come to meet you to give you the royalty, for we have
been told that you are a good kn