_How king Arthur held a parliament at York, and how he ordained how the
realm should be governed in his absence._
Now leave we of Lucius the emperor, and speak we of king Arthur, that
commanded all them of his retinue to be ready at the utas of Hilary for
to hold a parliament at York. And at that parliament was concluded to
arrest all the navy of the land, and to be ready within fifteen days at
Sandwich; and there he shewed to his army how he purposed to conquer
the empire which he ought to have of right. And there he ordained two
governors of this realm, that is to say, Sir Bawdwin of Britain, for to
counsel to the best, and Sir Constantine, son to Sir Cador of Cornwall,
which after the death of Arthur was king of this realm. And in the
presence of all his lords he resigned the rule of the realm and
Guenever his queen unto them, wherefore Sir Launcelot was wroth, for he
left Sir Tristram with king Mark for the love of Beale Isould. Then the
queen Guenever made great sorrow for the departing of her lord and
other, and swooned in such wise that the ladies bare her into her
chamber. Thus the king with his great army departed, leaving the queen
and realm in the governance of Sir Bawdwin and Constantine. And when he
was on his horse he said with an high voice, If I die in this journey,
I will that Sir Constantine be mine heir and king crowned of this realm
as next of my blood. And after departed and entered into the sea at
Sandwich with all his army, with a great multitude of ships, galleys,
cogges, and dromons, sailing on the sea.