_How the truth was known by the maiden of the lake, and of divers other
matters._
And so it befell that the damsel of the lake, her name was Nimue, the
which wedded the good knight Sir Pelleas, and so she came to the court,
for ever she did great goodness unto king Arthur, and to all his
knights, through her sorcery and enchantments. And so when she heard
how the queen was an angered for the death of Sir Patrise, then she
told it openly that she was never guilty, and there she disclosed by
whom it was done, and named him Sir Pinel, and for what cause he did
it. There it was openly disclosed, and so the queen was excused, and
the knight Pinel fled into his country. Then was it openly known that
Sir Pinel enpoisoned the apples at the feast, to that intent to have
destroyed Sir Gawaine, because Sir Gawaine and his brethren destroyed
Sir Lamorak de Galis, to the which Sir Pinel was cousin unto. Then was
Sir Patrise buried in the church of Westminster, in a tomb, and
thereupon was written, Here lieth Sir Patrise of Ireland, slain by Sir
Pinel le Savage, that enpoisoned apples to have slain Sir Gawaine, and
by misfortune Sir Patrise eat one of those apples, and then suddenly he
brast. Also there was written upon the tomb, that queen Guenever was
appealed of treason of the death of Sir Patrise by Sir Mador de la
Porte, and there was made mention how Sir Launcelot fought with him for
queen Guenever, and overcame him in plain battle. All this was written
upon the tomb of Sir Patrise, in excusing of the queen. And then Sir
Mador sued daily and long to have the queen’s good grace. And so by the
means of Sir Launcelot he caused him to stand in the queen’s grace, and
all was forgiven. Thus it passed forth till our Lady day, Assumption.
Within a fifteen days of that feast the king let cry a great justs and
a tournament that should be at that day at Camelot, that is Winchester.
And the king let cry that he and the king of Scots would just against
all that would come against them. And when this cry was made, thither
came many knights. So there came thither the king of Northgalis, and
king Anguish of Ireland, and the king with the hundred knights, and Sir
Galahalt the haut prince, and the king of Northumberland, and many
other noble dukes and earls of divers countries. So king Arthur made
him ready to depart to these justs, and would have had the queen with
him: but at that time she would not, she said, for she was sick and
might not ride at that time. That me repenteth, said the king, for this
seven year ye saw not such a fellowship together, except at Whitsuntide
when Galahad departed from the court. Truly, said the queen to the
king, ye must hold me excused. I may not be there, and that me
repenteth. And many deemed the queen would not be there because of Sir
Launcelot du Lake, for Sir Launcelot would not ride with the king; for
he said that he was not whole of the wound the which Sir Mador had
given him. Wherefore the king was heavy and passing wroth, and so he
departed towards Winchester with his fellowship. And so by the way the
king lodged in a town called Astolat, that is now in English called
Gilford, and there the king lay in the castle. So when the king was
departed, the queen called Sir Launcelot unto her, and said, Sir
Launcelot ye are greatly to blame, thus to hold you behind my lord:
what trow ye, what will your enemies and mine say and deem? nought else
but see how Sir Launcelot holdeth him ever behind the king, and so doth
the queen, for that they would be together; and thus will they say,
said the queen to Sir Launcelot, have ye no doubt thereof.