ye must hold
me excused, I may not be there, and that me repenteth. And many deemed
the queen would not be there because of Sir Launcelot du Lake, for Sir
Launcelot would not ride with the king, for he said that he was not
whole of the wound the which Sir Mador had given him; wherefore the king
was heavy and passing wroth. And so he departed toward Winchester with
his fellowship; and so by the way the king lodged in a town called
Astolat, that is now in English called Guildford, and there the king lay
in the castle.

So when the king was departed the queen called Sir Launcelot to her,
and said thus: Sir Launcelot, ye are greatly to blame thus to hold you
behind my lord; what, trow ye, what will your enemies and mine say and
deem? nought else but, See how Sir Launcelot holdeth him ever behind
the king, and so doth the queen, for that they would have their pleasure
together. And thus will they say, said the queen to Sir Launcelot, have
ye no doubt thereof.

CHAPTER IX. How Sir Launcelot rode to Astolat, and received a sleeve to
wear upon his helm at the request of a maid.

MADAM, said Sir Launcelot, I allow your wit, it is of late come since
ye were wise. And therefore, madam, at this time I will be ruled by your
counsel, and this night I will take my rest, and to-morrow by time I
will take my way toward Winchester. But wit you well, said Sir Launcelot
to the queen, that at that jousts I will be against the king, and
against all his fellowship. Ye may there do as ye list, said the queen,
but by my counsel ye shall not be against your king and your fellowship.
For therein be full many hard knights of your blood, as ye wot well
enough, it needeth not to rehearse them. Madam, said Sir Launcelot,
I pray you that ye be not displeased with me, for I will take the
adventure that God will send me.

And so upon the morn early Sir Launcelot heard mass and brake his fast,
and so took his leave of the queen and departed. And then he rode so
much until he came to Astolat, that is Guildford; and there it happed
him in the eventide he came to an old baron's place that hight Sir
Bernard of Astolat. And as Sir Launcelot entered into his lodging, King
Arthur espied him as he did walk in a garden beside the castle, how he
took his lodging, and knew him full well. It is well, said King Arthur
unto the knights that were with him in that garden beside the castle, I
have now espied one knight that will play his play at the jousts to t