h she in her
brother, that is mighty and puissant, for he hath her in covenant that
he will destroy all them that believe in the New Law, in all places
where he may get at them, and, when he shall have destroyed them in
Great Britain and the other islands, so that my Lady might not see none
therein, so well is she with the Gods wherein she believeth, that she
will have her sight again all whole nor until that hour is she fain to
see nought."

VIII.

"Damsel," saith the King, "I have heard well that which you tell me of
this that you have in charge to say; but tell your Lady on my behalf,
that the Law which the Saviour of the world hath established by His
death and by His crucifixion never will I renounce, for the love that I
have in Him. But tell her that she believe in God and in His sweet
Mother, and that she believe in the New Law, for by the false believe
wherein she abideth is she blinded in such sort, nor never will she see
clear until she believe in God. Tell her moreover, I send her word
that never more shall there be Queen in my land save she be of like
worth as was Queen Guenievre."

"Then I tell you plainly," saith she, "that you will have betimes such
tidings as that good for you they will not be."

The damsel departeth from Cardoil, and cometh back to where the Queen
was, and telleth her the message King Arthur sendeth her. "True," saith
she, "I love him better than all in the world, and yet refuseth he my
will and my commandment. Now may he no longer endure!"

She sendeth to her brother King Madeglant, and telleth him that she
herself doth defy him and he take not vengeance on King Arthur and
bring him not into prison.

BRANCH XXVII.

TITLE I.

This history saith that the land of this King was full far away from
the land of King Arthur, and that needs must he pass two seas or ever
he should approach the first head of King Arthur's land. He arrived in
Albanie with great force of men with a great navy. When they of the
land knew it, they garnished them against him and defended their lands
the best they might; then they sent word to King Arthur that King
Madeglant was come in such manner into the land, with great plenty of
folk, and that he should come presently to succour them or send them a
knight so good as that he might protect them, and that in case he doth
not so, the land will be lost. When King Arthur understood these
tidings, it was not well with him. He asked his knights whom