inful lady in this land, and never creature could
make her merry; but lived in fasting, prayers, and alms-deeds, that all
manner of people marvelled how virtuously she was changed. Now leave we
Queen Guenever in Almesbury, a nun in white clothes and black, and there
she was Abbess and ruler as reason would; and turn we from her, and
speak we of Sir Launcelot du Lake.

CHAPTER VIII. How when Sir Lancelot heard of the death of King Arthur,
and of Sir Gawaine, and other matters, he came into England.

AND when he heard in his country that Sir Mordred was crowned king in
England, and made war against King Arthur, his own father, and would let
him to land in his own land; also it was told Sir Launcelot how that
Sir Mordred had laid siege about the Tower of London, because the queen
would not wed him; then was Sir Launcelot wroth out of measure, and said
to his kinsmen: Alas, that double traitor Sir Mordred, now me repenteth
that ever he escaped my hands, for much shame hath he done unto my lord
Arthur; for all I feel by the doleful letter that my lord Sir Gawaine
sent me, on whose soul Jesu have mercy that my lord Arthur is full hard
bestead. Alas, said Sir Launcelot, that ever I should live to hear that
most noble king that made me knight thus to be overset with his subject
in his own realm. And this doleful letter that my lord, Sir Gawaine,
hath sent me afore his death, praying me to see his tomb, wit you well
his doleful words shall never go from mine heart, for he was a full
noble knight as ever was born; and in an unhappy hour was I born that
ever I should have that unhap to slay first Sir Gawaine, Sir Gaheris
the good knight, and mine own friend Sir Gareth, that full noble knight.
Alas, I may say I am unhappy, said Sir Launcelot, that ever I should
do thus unhappily, and, alas, yet might I never have hap to slay that
traitor, Sir Mordred.

Leave your complaints, said Sir Bors, and first revenge you of the death
of Sir Gawaine; and it will be well done that ye see Sir Gawaine's tomb,
and secondly that ye revenge my lord Arthur, and my lady, Queen Guenever
I thank you, said Sir Launcelot, for ever ye will my worship.

Then they made them ready in all the haste that might be, with ships and
galleys, with Sir Launcelot and his host to pass into England. And so
he passed over the sea till he came to Dover, and there he landed with
seven kings, and the number was hideous to behold. Then Sir Launcelot
spered of men o