_How Sir Launcelot came to the hermitage where the archbishop of
Canterbury was, and how he took the habit on him._
But sithen I find you thus disposed, I insure you faithfully I will
ever take me to penance, and pray while my life lasteth, if that I may
find any hermit either grey or white that will receive me. Wherefore,
madam, I pray you kiss me, and never no more. Nay, said the queen, that
shall I never do, but abstain you from such works. And they departed.
But there was never so hard an hearted man, but he would have wept to
see the dolour that they made. For there was lamentation as they had
been stung with spears, and many times they swooned. And the ladies
bare the queen to her chamber, and Sir Launcelot awoke, and went and
took his horse, and rode all that day and all that night in a forest,
weeping. And at the last he was ware of an hermitage and a chapel stood
betwixt two cliffs, and then he heard a little bell ring to mass, and
thither he rode and alight, and tied his horse to the gate, and heard
mass. And he that sang mass was the bishop of Canterbury. Both the
bishop and Sir Bedivere knew Sir Launcelot, and they spake together
after mass. But when Sir Bedivere had told his tale all whole, Sir
Launcelot’s heart almost brast for sorrow, and Sir Launcelot threw his
arms abroad, and said, Alas, who may trust this world! And then he
kneeled down on his knees, and prayed the Bishop to shrive him and
assoil him. And then he besought the bishop that he might be his
brother. Then the bishop said, I will gladly: and there he put an habit
upon Sir Launcelot, and there he served God day and night with prayers
and fastings.
Thus the great host abode at Dover. And then Sir Lionel took fifteen
lords with him, and rode to London to seek Sir Launcelot. And there Sir
Lionel was slain and many of his lords. Then Sir Bors de Ganis made the
great host for to go home again. And Sir Bors, Sir Ector de Maris, Sir
Blamor, Sir Bleoberis, with more other of Sir Launcelot’s kin, look on
them to ride all England overthwart and endlong, to seek Sir Launcelot.
So Sir Bors by fortune rode so long till he came to the same chapel
where Sir Launcelot was. And so Sir Bors heard a little bell knell that
rang to mass, and there he alight, and heard mass. And when mass was
done, the bishop, Sir Launcelot, and Sir Bedivere came to Sir Bors. And
when Sir Bors saw Sir Launcelot in that manner clothing, then he prayed
the bishop that he might be in the same suit. And so there was an habit
put upon him, and there he lived in prayers and fasting. And within
half a year there was come Sir Galihud, Sir Galihodin, Sir Blamor, Sir
Bleoberis, Sir Williars, Sir Clarrus, and Sir Gahalantine. So all these
seven noble knights there abode still. And when they saw Sir Launcelot
had taken him unto such perfection, they had no list to depart, but
took such an habit as he had. Thus they endured in great penance six
year, and then Sir Launcelot took the habit of priesthood, and a
twelvemonth he sang mass. And there was none of these other knights but
they read in books, and holp to sing mass, and rang bells, and did
bodily all manner of service. And so their horses went where they
would, for they took no regard of no worldly riches. For when they saw
Sir Launcelot endure such penance, in prayers and fasting, they took no
force what pain they endured, for to see the noblest knight of the
world take such abstinence, that he waxed full lean. And thus upon a
night there came a vision to Sir Launcelot, and charged him, in
remission of his sins, to haste him unto Almesbury,—And by then thou
come there, thou shalt find queen Guenever dead: and therefore take thy
fellows with thee, and purvey them of an horse bier, and fetch thou the
corpse of her, and bury her by her husband the noble king Arthur. So
this vision came to Launcelot thrice in one night.