ht or
other man that might protect the land, they would take it in right good
part, and he should hold the land of him, for they might not safeguard
it at their will without a champion, for that land without a lord may
but little avail. They of the land loved Lancelot well, as I tell you.
King Arthur was at Cardoil, and so were his knights together with him.
He thought to be assured in his kingdom and to live peaceably; but what
time he sate at meat one day in Cardoil, behold you thereupon a knight
that cometh before the Table Round without saluting him.

"Sir," saith he, "Where is Lancelot?"

"Sir," saith the King to the knight, "He is not in this country."

"By my head," saith the knight, "that misliketh me. Wheresoever he be,
he is your knight and of your household; wherefore King Claudas sendeth
you word that he is his mortal enemy, and you also, if so be that for
love of him you receive him from this day forward, for he hath slain
his sister's son, Meliant of the Waste Manor, and he slew the father of
Meliant likewise, but the father belongeth not to King Claudas.

IV.

Meliant was the son of his sister-german, wherefore much grieveth he of
his death."

"Sir knight," saith the King, "I know not how the covenant may be
between them as of this that you tell me, but well know I that King
Claudas holdeth many a castle that King Claudas ought not of right to
have, whereof he disherited his father, but meet is it that each should
conquer his own right. But so much I tell you plainly, that never will
I fail mine own knight and he be such as durst defend himself of
murder, but and if he hath no will to do this, then well may I allow
that right be done upon him. But, sith that he will not love his own
death, neither I nor other ought greatly to love him and he refuse to
redress his wrong. When Lancelot shall know these tidings, I know well
that such is his valour and his loyalty that he will readily answer in
reason, and will do all that he ought to do to clear himself of such a
charge."

"Sir," saith the knight, "You have heard well that I have told you.
Once more, I tell you plainly, King Claudas sendeth you word that so
you harbour his enemy henceforward and in such manner as you have done
heretofore, he will be less than pleased with you."

V.

With that the knight departeth, and the King remaineth at Cardoil. He
sendeth for Briant of the Isles, his seneschal, and a great part of his
knights, and de