th made him his Seneschal and commander of all his
land."

"Sir Knight," saith Messire Gawain, "Needs must the King miscarry that
setteth aside the counsel of his good knights for the leasings of a
traitor."

Thereupon the knight departed from Messire Gawain. Right heavy is he
of this that he hath said, that the King hath put Lancelot in prison.
Never tofore did he aught whereby he wrought so much to blame.

BRANCH XXXIV.

TITLE I.

Hereupon the story is silent of Messire Gawain and Meliot and speaketh
of King Claudas that hath assembled a great folk by the counsel of
Briant of the Isles to come into the land of King Arthur, for he
knoweth that it is disgarnished of the good knights that wont there to
be, and he knoweth all the secret plottings of the court and what power
King Arthur hath withal. He draweth toward his land the nighest he may,
and hath won back the kingdom of Oriande all at his will. But they of
Albanie still hold against him and challenge the land the best they
may. Tidings thereof come to the court of King Arthur, and they of the
country sent him word that so he send them not succour betimes they
will yield up the land to King Claudas, and oftentimes they long after
Lancelot, and say that so they had a defender like him, the islands
would be all at peace. The King sent Briant of the Isles thither many
times, that ever incontinent returned thence discomfit, but never sent
he thither him that should have power to protect the land against King
Claudas. King Arthur was sore troubled, for no witting had he of
Messire Gawain nor Messire Ywain nor of others whereby his court had
use of right to be feared and dreaded and of high renown throughout all
other kingdoms. The King was one day in the hall at Cardoil, right
heavy; and he was at one of the windows, and remembered him of the
Queen and of his good knights that he wont to see oftener at court,
whereof the more part were dead, and of the adventures that wont to
befall therein whereof they saw none no longer. Lucan the Butler seeth
him right heavy and draweth nigh unto him quietly.

II.

"Sir," saith he, "Meseemeth you are without joy."

"Lucan," said the King, "Joy hath been somewhat far from me sithence
that the Queen hath been dead, and Gawain and the other knights have
held aloof from my court so that they deign come hither no longer.
Moreover, King Claudas warreth upon me and conquereth my lands so that
no power have I to rescue m