t a privy message to Briant and bore him on hand that, and
he might do so much as that King Arthur should forbid Lancelot his
court, and that it were ill with him with the King, he would have much
liking thereof and would help him betimes to take vengeance on his
enemies, for, so Lancelot were forth of his court, and Messire Gawain,
the rest would scarce abide long time, and thus should they have all
their will of King Arthur's land. Briant sent word back to King Claudas
that Messire Gawain and Messire Ywain began to hold them aloof from the
court, and that as for most part of the other he need not trouble him a
whit, for he might so deal as that in short time Lancelot should be
well trounced, would they or nould they.

XVIII.

Tidings are come to King Arthur's court that the King of Oriande is
dead and his people destroyed, and that Lancelot hath conquered his
kingdom and slain the King, and reconquered all the lands wherein he
had set the false Law and the false believe by his force and by dread
of him. And the more part say in the court that they of the realm of
Oriande nor those of the other islands will not let Lancelot repair to
court, and are doing their endeavour to make him King; and nought is
there in the world, and he command them, they will not do, and that
never was no folk so obedient to any as are they of all these lands to
him. Briant of the Isles cometh one day privily to King Arthur, and
saith: "Sir," saith he, "Much ought I to love you, for that you have
made me Seneschal of your land; whereby meseemeth you have great
affiance in me, and my bounden duty is it to turn aside that which is
evil from you and to set forward your good everywhere, and, did I not
so, no whit loyal should I be towards you.

XIX.

"Tidings are come to me of late that they of the kingdom of Oriande and
Albanie and of the other islands that are your appanages have all
leagued together, and have sworn and given surety that they will aid
one another against you, and they are going presently to make Lancelot
their King, and will come down upon your land as speedily as they may
wheresoever he may dare lead them, and they have sworn their oath that
they will conquer your kingdom just as you now hold it, and, so you be
not garnished against them betimes, you may have thereof sore trouble
to your own body as well as the loss whereof I tell you."

"By my head," saith the King, "I believe not that Lancelot durst think
this, nor