s my lord Arthur; for he is full straitly bestead with a false
traitor, that is my half-brother, Sir Mordred; and he hath let crown him
king, and would have wedded my lady Queen Guenever, and so had he done
had she not put herself in the Tower of London. And so the tenth day of
May last past, my lord Arthur and we all landed upon them at Dover; and
there we put that false traitor, Sir Mordred, to flight, and there it
misfortuned me to be stricken upon thy stroke. And at the date of this
letter was written, but two hours and a half afore my death, written
with mine own hand, and so subscribed with part of my heart's blood. And
I require thee, most famous knight of the world, that thou wilt see my
tomb. And then Sir Gawaine wept, and King Arthur wept; and then they
swooned both. And when they awaked both, the king made Sir Gawaine to
receive his Saviour. And then Sir Gawaine prayed the king for to send
for Sir Launcelot, and to cherish him above all other knights.

And so at the hour of noon Sir Gawaine yielded up the spirit; and then
the king let inter him in a chapel within Dover Castle; and there yet
all men may see the skull of him, and the same wound is seen that Sir
Launcelot gave him in battle. Then was it told the king that Sir Mordred
had pight a new field upon Barham Down. And upon the morn the king rode
thither to him, and there was a great battle betwixt them, and much
people was slain on both parties; but at the last Sir Arthur's party
stood best, and Sir Mordred and his party fled unto Canterbury.

CHAPTER III. How after, Sir Gawaine's ghost appeared to King Arthur, and
warned him that he should not fight that day.

AND then the king let search all the towns for his knights that were
slain, and interred them; and salved them with soft salves that so sore
were wounded. Then much people drew unto King Arthur. And then they
said that Sir Mordred warred upon King Arthur with wrong. And then
King Arthur drew him with his host down by the seaside, westward toward
Salisbury; and there was a day assigned betwixt King Arthur and Sir
Mordred, that they should meet upon a down beside Salisbury, and not far
from the seaside; and this day was assigned on a Monday after Trinity
Sunday, whereof King Arthur was passing glad, that he might be avenged
upon Sir Mordred. Then Sir Mordred araised much people about London,
for they of Kent, Southsex, and Surrey, Estsex, and of Southfolk, and
of Northfolk, held the most par