_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 no wise 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 in so much she should have been dead for my sake, me
seemeth 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 thousand fold 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 shower 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 recommand 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 eyes. 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 sarpis of gold about their quarters,
and the horse trapped in the same wise down to the heels with many
ouches, 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 alight, 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 knights 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:—