The Pope commands Arthur to make Peace.

[Into] alle landys northe and southe Off thys werre the word spronge, And yit at Rome it was fulle couthe

2248

Then was A bischope at Rome
Off Rowchester, wyth-outen lese;

Tylle ynglande he the message Come,

2256

To karllylle ther the kyngè was.

The popis lettre oute he nome

In the paleis by-fore the desse,
And bade them do the popis dome,

And holde yngland in Reste and pes:
Redde was it by-fore Alle by-dene,
The lettre that the pope gonne make,
"How he moste haue a-zeyne the quene,

2260

2264

The Bishop asks Launcelot to give up the Queen.

The kynge a-zeyne it wolde nogte bene

To do the popys comaundemente,
Blythely A-yeyne to haue the quene;

Wolde he noght that ynglonde were shente;
Bot gawayne was of herte so kene,

That to hym wolde he neuyr Assente
To make A-cordè hem by-twene,
While Any lyffe were in hym lente.

Through the sente of Alle by-dene,

Ganne the kynge A lettre make,

2272

2276

The bysschope in message yede by-twene 2280

To syr launcelot du lake,

And Askyd, "yiffe he wolde the quene

Cortessly to hym by-take,

Or yngland enterdyt shuld bene,

2284

And torne to sorow for ther sake."

launcelot Answeryd, wyth grete fauoure,

As knyght that hardy was and kene,

Syr, I haue stande in many A stoure Bothe for the kynge and for the quene; Fulle colde had bene hys bestè towre,

2288

Yiff that I nadde my selfè bene.
he quytes it me wyth lytelle honoure,
That I haue seruyd hym Alle by-dene."

2292

The Bishop promises the Queen a kind Reception.

The bysschope spake wyth-outè fayle,
Thoughe he were nothynge A-froughte,

“Syr, thynke that je haue venquysshid many A

bataille

2296

Throwgh grace that god hathe for you wrought ; ye shalle do now by my counsayle,

Thynke on hym that you dere bought,

Wemen Ar frele of hyr entayle,

Syr, lettes not ynglande go to noght."
"Syr bysshope, castelles for to holde,
Wete you wele I haue no nede,
I myght be kynge yif that I wolde
Off Alle benwike, that Rychè thede;
Ryde in to my landys bolde

2300

2304

Withe my knyghtes styffe on stede;

The quene, yif that I to them yolde,
Off hyr lyffe I haue grette drede."

2308

"Syr, be mary that is mayden floure,

And god that Alle shalle rede and Ryght,

She ne shalle haue no dyshonoure,

2312

There-to my trouthe I shalle you plyght;

Bot boldely brought in-to hyr boure,

To ladyes, and to maydens bryght,
And holden in welle more honoure

2316

A Truce is made between Arthur and Lancelot.

Than euyr she was by day or nyght."

66

Now, yif I grandè suche a thynge, That I delyuere shalle the quene,

Syr bysshope, say, my lorde the kynge,

2320

Syr gawayne, and hem Alle by-dene,
That thay shalle make me A sekerynge,

A trews to holdè vs by-twene."

Then was the bysshope woundyr blythe 2324 That launcelot gaffe hym thys Answere; Tylle hys palfray he wente as swythe,

And tylle karllyllè gonne he fare.

Tythandys sone were done to lythe

2328

Whiche that launcelotis wordis ware;

The kynge and courte was Alle fulle blythe,

A trews they sette and sekeryd thare;
Through the Assent of Alle by-dene
A syker trews there they wrought,

Though gawayne were of hert[è] kene

There a-yenstè was he nogte,

2332

To hald A trews hem by-twene

2336

While launcelot the quene home broght;

Bot *ouermente thar hym nevyr wene

Or eyther other herte haue sought.

* MS. ou or on with o over. Is overmente, beyond this, more than this?

Lancelot brings the Queen to Karlylle,

A syker trews gonne they make,

And wyth ther sealès they it bande:

2340

There-to they thre bisshopys gon take,
The wiseste that were in Alle the lande,
And sent to launcelot du lake.
At Ioyus gard the they hym fande :
The lettres there they hym by-take,
And there-to launcelot held hys hande.
The bisshopis than wente on her way
To karlylle, there the kyngè wase,
"Launcelot shall come that other day
Withe the lady proude in pres."

2344

2348

he dight hym I A Riche Araye,

2352

Wete ye wele, wyth-outen les,

An hundreth knyghtis, for sothe to saye,

The beste of Alle hys oste [he] chese.