Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XX CHAPTER XIV

CHAPTER XIV

How the Pope sent down his bulls to make peace, and how
Sir Launcelot brought the queen to King Arthur

SO when this Bishop was come to Carlisle he shewed the
king these bulls.  And when the king understood these
bulls he nist what to do: full fain he would have been
accorded with Sir Launcelot, but Sir Gawaine would not
suffer him; but as for to have the queen, thereto he agreed.
But in nowise Sir Gawaine would not suffer the king to
accord with Sir Launcelot; but as for the queen he
consented.  And then the Bishop had of the king his great
seal, and his assurance as he was a true anointed king that
Sir Launcelot should come safe, and go safe, and that the
queen should not be spoken unto of the king, nor of none
other, for no thing done afore time past; and of all these
appointments the Bishop brought with him sure assurance
and writing, to shew Sir Launcelot.

So when the Bishop was come to Joyous Gard, there
he shewed Sir Launcelot how the Pope had written to
Arthur and unto him, and there he told him the perils
if he withheld the queen from the king.  It was never in
my thought, said Launcelot, to withhold the queen from
my lord Arthur; but, insomuch she should have been
dead for my sake, meseemeth it was my part to save her
life, and put her from that danger, till better recover
might come.  And now I thank God, said Sir Launcelot,
that the Pope hath made her peace; for God knoweth,
said Sir Launcelot, I will be a thousandfold more gladder
to bring her again, than ever I was of her taking away;
with this, I may be sure to come safe and go safe, and
that the queen shall have her liberty as she had before;
and never for no thing that hath been surmised afore this
time, she never from this day stand in no peril.  For
else, said Sir Launcelot, I dare adventure me to keep her
from an harder shour than ever I kept her.  It shall not
need you, said the Bishop, to dread so much; for wit you
well, the Pope must be obeyed, and it were not the Pope's
worship nor my poor honesty to wit you distressed,
neither the queen, neither in peril, nor shamed.  And
then he shewed Sir Launcelot all his writing, both from
the Pope and from King Arthur.  This is sure enough,
said Sir Launcelot, for full well I dare trust my lord's
own writing and his seal, for he was never shamed of his
promise.  Therefore, said Sir Launcelot unto the Bishop,
ye shall ride unto the king afore, and recommend me
unto his good grace, and let him have knowledging that
this same day eight days, by the grace of God, I myself
shall bring my lady, Queen Guenever, unto him.  And
then say ye unto my most redoubted king, that I will say
largely for the queen, that I shall none except for dread
nor fear, but the king himself, and my lord Sir Gawaine;
and that is more for the king's love than for himself.

So the Bishop departed and came to the king at
Carlisle, and told him all how Sir Launcelot answered
him; and then the tears brast out of the king's eyen.
Then Sir Launcelot purveyed him an hundred knights,
and all were clothed in green velvet, and their horses
trapped to their heels; and every knight held a branch of
olive in his hand, in tokening of peace.  And the queen
had four-and-twenty gentlewomen following her in the
same wise; and Sir Launcelot had twelve coursers
following him, and on every courser sat a young gentleman,
and all they were arrayed in green velvet, with sarps
of gold about their quarters, and the horse trapped in the
same wise down to the heels, with many ouches, y-set with
stones and pearls in gold, to the number of a thousand.
And she and Sir Launcelot were clothed in white cloth of
gold tissue; and right so as ye have heard, as the French
book maketh mention, he rode with the queen from
Joyous Gard to Carlisle.  And so Sir Launcelot rode
throughout Carlisle, and so in the castle, that all men
might behold; and wit you well there was many a
weeping eye.  And then Sir Launcelot himself alighted
and avoided his horse, and took the queen, and so led her
where King Arthur was in his seat: and Sir Gawaine sat
afore him, and many other great lords.  So when Sir
Launcelot saw the king and Sir Gawaine, then he led the
queen by the arm, and then he kneeled down, and the
queen both.  Wit you well then was there many bold
knight there with King Arthur that wept as tenderly as
though they had seen all their kin afore them.  So the
king sat still, and said no word.  And when Sir Launcelot
saw his countenance, he arose and pulled up the queen
with him, and thus he spake full knightly.