that he would have the heart to do me evil."

"By my head," saith Briant, "Long time have I had misgivings both of
this and of him, but one ought not to tell one's lord all that one
knows, for that one cannot be sure either that it be not leasing or
that folk wish to meddle in his affairs out of envy. But nought is
there in the world that I will conceal from you henceforward for the
love that you bear me and for that you have affiance in me, and so may
you well have, for I have abandoned my land for you that marched with
your own, whereby you may sorely straiten your enemies, for well you
know that in your court is there no knight of greater puissance than am
I."

XX.

"By my head," saith the King, "I am fain to love you and hold you dear,
nor shall you never be removed from my love nor from my service for
nought that may be said of any, so manifestly have I seen your goodness
and your loyalty. I will bid Lancelot by my letters and under my seal
that he come to speak with me, for sore need have I thereof, and when
he shall be here we will take account of this that you have told me,
for this will I not, that he nor none other that may be my knight shall
dare rise in arms against me, for such power ought lord of right to
have over his knight, and to be feared and dreaded of him, for elsewise
is he feeble, and lordship without power availeth nought."

XXI.

The King sent his letters by his messenger to Lancelot. The messenger
sought him until he found him in the kingdom of Oriande, and delivered
him the letters and the seal of the King. So soon as he knew that which
the letters say, he took leave of them of the land, that were right
sorrowful. He departed thence and came back to Cardoil, bringing with
him all the knights that he had in charge, and told the King that he
had reconquered for him all the islands, and that the King of Oriande
was dead and that his land was attorned to the Law of Our Lord. The
King bade Briant of the Isles that he should make forty knights come
armed under their cloaks ready to take Lancelot prisoner as soon as he
should command them. The tidings come to Lancelot, there where he was
in his hostel, that the King had made knights come all armed to the
palace. Lancelot bethought him that some need had arisen and that he
would arm himself likewise, so he made him be armed and came to the
hall where the King was.

"Sir," saith Briant, "Lancelot thinketh him of something, for he hath