‘No. Don’t talk so,’ the queen replied. ‘You know well enough that I cannot live after you are gone. Once you are slain, I will accept my own death as meekly as any martyr who died for Christ Our Saviour.’
‘Well, madam, since this is the day when our love may be undone for ever, I assure you that these knights will purchase my death at a very high price. I am more sorry for you than for myself. Oh, how I wish for a suit of armour! It would be dearer to me than the lordship of all Christendom. Then, with breastplate and halberd, my deeds would be remembered in the mouths of men.’
‘I wish that these men would take me and kill me here, so that you might escape.’
‘That will never be, dear queen. God defend me from such dishonour. Christ will be my shield. Christ will be my armour.’
He took his sword in his right hand, and his cloak in his left. Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred had taken up a great wooden bench, with the help of the other knights, and began to pound it against the door. ‘Fair lords,’ Lancelot called out, ‘leave off your bellowing! I will open the door for you. Then you can do what you like with me.’
‘Do so!’ Sir Agravain shouted back. ‘Open it. It will do you no good to fight against us. If you let us into the chamber, we will not kill you. We will wait to bring you into the presence of the king.’
Lancelot unbarred the door very cautiously and opened it a fraction. Only one man could come through at a time. So one of the knights thrust himself into the space. He was a good and mighty knight, Sir Collgrevaunce of Gore by name. As soon as he came forward, he struck at Lancelot. But the noble knight deflected the blow and with his own sword he attacked his opponent. Collgrevaunce fell instantly, killed with one blow upon his helmet. Lancelot then dragged the dead knight into the chamber, barred the door once more, and with the help of the queen donned the armour of the fallen man.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the door, Sir Agravain and Sir Mordred were shouting abuse. ‘Traitor knight, traitor warrior, leave the queen’s chamber now!’
‘Sirs,’ Lancelot said calmly, ‘please stop all this noise. I tell you this, Sir Agravain. I will not be your prisoner tonight. I suggest that you all turn around and leave quietly. Slander me no more. I promise you, on my word of honour as a knight, that if you now depart in peace I will appear before you all tomorrow morning. I will stand before the king, too, and then let us see which of you will call me a traitor to my face. I will answer for myself, as truthfully as a knight should, and I will swear that I came to the queen with no manner of mischief in mind. I will prove this, if necessary, in trial by combat.’
‘Shame upon you, traitor!’ Sir Mordred called out. ‘We will slay you, if we please. Do you not know that King Arthur has given us the choice of killing you or arresting you?’
‘Ah, sir knights, is there no graciousness or generosity among you? In that case, stand guard and defend yourselves.’ With that he flung open the chamber door, and strode among them with his sword raised high. With his first stroke he killed Sir Agravain, and then proceeded to dispatch the others with the greatest ease. Within a short time they lay dead upon the floor, since not one of them could withstand the prowess and strength of Lancelot. Sir Mordred alone escaped. He had been wounded, and had fled from the scene in great haste.
Sir Lancelot returned to the queen. ‘Madam,’ he said, sighing, ‘you must know that our true love is now in mortal jeopardy. King Arthur will always be my foe. But if you wish I will take you under my protection and save you from any dangers that threaten you.’
‘That is not the best course, sir. Enough, and more than enough, harm has already been done. Be still. Venture no more. I have only one request. If you learn that I have been sentenced to death tomorrow, I ask you to rescue me by any means in your power.’
‘Have no fear, lady. While I am alive I will be your saviour. Do not doubt it.’ And with that he kissed her, and the two of them exchanged rings. He left the queen and returned to his lodgings.
Wherein Lancelot gathers his knights
When Sir Bors and his kinsmen saw Sir Lancelot return safely, they were overjoyed. ‘Jesus mercy!’ Lancelot exclaimed. ‘You are all armed to the teeth. What is the meaning of this?’
‘Sir,’ Bors replied, ‘when you set off to see the queen all of us that share your blood – and all those who support you – were so afraid of treachery that we leaped out of bed naked and ran for arms. Some of us even dreamed that we were already fighting, sword in hand. We all believed that some great strife was about to break upon us, and so we prepared ourselves. As you can see, we are ready for anything.’
‘My dear nephew,’ Lancelot replied, ‘I must tell you that I have this night been harder pressed than at any other time in my life. God be thanked that I managed to escape imminent danger.’ Then he told them the story of the night’s adventures, as I have already related to you. ‘Therefore, my comrades,’ he concluded, ‘be of good heart and spirit. I hope that you will assist me in any way you can. For believe me. Great war is now upon us.’
‘Sir,’ Bors replied, ‘we will accept any fate that Almighty God bestows upon us. In your company we have received much reward and honour. Now we are willing to face with you the pain as well as the prosperity.’
The other knights took up the same refrain. ‘Look,’ one of them said to Lancelot, ‘do not be disconsolate, sir. There is no company of knights in the world who can defeat us. We will match blow for blow, and strike for strike. We will call for all those whom we love, and who love us; together we will achieve victory. Have no fear. Joy follows jeopardy.’
‘God thank you all,’ Lancelot replied. ‘You have comforted me in my distress. And you, Sir Bors, dear nephew, have reassured me. I ask you now to act before it grows late. I wish you to go among the knights that attend the king, and find out who are friends and who are foes. I need to know the measure of my support.’
‘I will go at once, sir. I will return before seven o’clock, and let you know who is with you.’
Sir Bors called to him all the knights who supported Lancelot’s cause, some twenty-two of them; when they were armed and on horseback, they all pledged allegiance to Lancelot. These in turn were joined by one hundred and forty other knights, from North Wales and from Cornwall. When they were gathered together, Lancelot rode in front of them and addressed them.
‘I must tell you in earnest truth that I have always been a supporter of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere. When the queen sent for me to speak with her, I feared treachery. Not that I suspect the lady herself. Far from it. But I suspected that there would be an attempt on my life. God be thanked, I prevailed.’ Then he told them the story of the events in the queen’s chamber. ‘Therefore I know well, my fair lords, that open warfare will be declared against me. I have slain Sir Agravain, the brother of Sir Gawain, and twelve of his kinsmen. I am sure that King Arthur sent these knights against me. In his malice and anger he is certain to condemn the queen to burning at the stake. I cannot permit that to happen. She will not die for my sake. It may be that I will be taken in battle, but I intend to fight for Queen Guinevere and to prove by combat that she is a true and faithful wife.’
‘My lord Lancelot,’ Sir Bors replied, ‘I advise you to take the good with the bad. Since events have fallen out in this way, I believe that you must defend yourself forcefully. Surely there is no band of Christian knights who can defeat you? I will also counsel you, my lord, to protect the queen. If she is in distress, and about to suffer for your sake, it is your duty to rescue her. Otherwise the shame of your name will stretch to the ends of the world. Since you were surprised in her company, it is your responsibility to take her part and ensure that she is not put to death. I do not know whether you were with her rightfully or wrongfully, but I do know this. If she should die, the shame would lie upon your head for ever.’
‘Jesus defend me from all shame,’ Lancelot said. ‘I call upon the blessed Saviour, too, to protect the life and good name of our sovereign lady. She cannot be
condemned for my sake. So, my lords, friends and kinsmen all of you, what will you do?’
They called out in one voice. ‘We will do as you do!’
‘Then let me put the case to you. I believe that King Arthur, our lord, will in the heat of anger consign his wife to the fire. His evil counsellors will urge him on. So what, lords, is it best for me to do?’
Sir Bors stepped forward. ‘You must rescue the queen. If she is burned, it will be for your sake. If you are caught, then you are likely to suffer the same fate or perhaps an even more shameful one. You must be resolute. Save her.’
Lancelot listened to them very gravely. ‘My fair lords,’ he replied, ‘you know well that I will never do anything to dishonour you or my own blood. You also know that I am determined to save the queen from a cruel death. If you now counsel me to rescue her at all costs, you must also be aware that I will wreak much harm in the process. I am likely to destroy some of my best friends. There are other knights who, in loyalty to me, will desert their sovereign. These are not outcomes I seek or desire. And tell me this. Once I have rescued Queen Guinevere, where will I take her?’
‘That is the least of the problems,’ Sir Bors told him. ‘How did Sir Tristram behave in a similar plight? Did he not follow your advice and keep Isolde for almost three years in your own castle of Joyous Garde? Since that castle belongs to you, why not use it for the preservation and safety of the queen? If the king condemns her to death by burning, you have every right to ride to her protection. You can keep her in Joyous Garde until the wrath of the king has passed. Then you may lead her back to him, and earn the gratitude of both of them.’
‘I am not sure that the example of Sir Tristram is a good one,’ Lancelot replied to him. ‘Do you not recall that when he brought Isolde back to King Mark, that false king slew him with a sharp spear? The lance pierced his heart even as he played the harp before the queen. It grieves me still to speak of his death, because he was one of the finest knights in the world.’
‘All that is true enough,’ Bors said. ‘But remain steadfast. Surely you know that there is no comparison between King Arthur and King Mark? Arthur has always kept his word. He is honourable.’
They discussed the matter for a long time, until they all agreed that for better or worse they would rescue the queen. If she were condemned to death, she would be kept safe in Lancelot’s castle. They rode out to a wood close to Carlisle, and awaited the judgement of the king.
Wherein Guinevere is brought to trial
Sir Mordred had escaped, severely wounded, from Lancelot; weak from the loss of blood, he was still able to mount his horse and make his way to the king. He explained what had happened to his sovereign, and described how all the other knights had been killed.
‘God have mercy on us!’ cried the king. ‘How can this be? Do you say that you found him in the queen’s chamber?’
‘Yes, sir, in God’s name it is the truth. He was not armed but, having dispatched Sir Collgrevaunce, he donned that trusty knight’s armour. Then he fell upon us.’
The king was disturbed by this news. ‘Sir Lancelot is a mighty warrior. He has no rival. I bitterly regret that he has now turned against me, for in becoming my foe he will surely break up the fellowship of the Round Table. He has so many noble kinsmen that our unity will be gone for ever. There is something else. To save my honour, I must also consign my wife to the flames.’ Arthur bowed his head in sorrow.
A short time later, the proclamation was made about the trial of the queen. The verdict itself was not in doubt. She was led to the Stone of Judgement, in the field of the fifty footsteps, where the evidence was pronounced against her. She stood in silence, with her head bowed, before the great lords of the court.
Just as the trial ended, Sir Gawain stood up and addressed the king. ‘My lord Arthur,’ he said, ‘I would advise you not to be too hasty in pronouncing death upon Queen Guinevere. Can you not declare a delay in judgement? There are many reasons for urging this. One of them is simple. It may be that, when Lancelot was found in the lady’s chamber, he was there with no malicious intent. You know from your own experience that the Lady Guinevere has many reasons for showing gratitude to Sir Lancelot. He has saved her life on several occasions, and has done battle for her when no other knight was willing to do so. It may well be that she sent for him out of the goodness of her heart, in the wish to reward him for all his generous deeds. If she sent for him secretly, that was because she knows that there are many scandalmongers and gossips at the court who would love to sow mischief. She may have made the wrong decision, but things we do for the best often turn out to be for the worst. That is a law of life. I am sure, sir, that Queen Guinevere is a true and faithful wife. As for Sir Lancelot, I know that he will challenge to the duel any knight who dares to impugn the modesty of the queen or the honour of his own conduct.’
‘That may well be true. Lancelot trusts so much in his own strength that he fears no man. But I refuse to take your advice, Sir Gawain. The law is the law. The queen must go to the stake and, if I catch Lancelot, I will condemn him also to a shameful death.’
‘God forbid, sir king, that I should live to see such a thing!’
‘Why do you say that? You have no reason to love him. He has just slaughtered your brother, Sir Agravain, and he almost killed Mordred. Has he not also murdered two of your sons, Sir Florens and Sir Lovell?’
‘I know that. I bitterly regret the death of my two sons. But I warned them all – brothers and sons alike – about the outcome of any struggle with Lancelot. They refused my advice. So I will not meddle with him or try to take revenge upon him. They put themselves in the path of perils. They are the cause of their own deaths.’
King Arthur listened to him gravely. ‘Prepare yourself, Sir Gawain. Put on your finest armour and then, with your brothers Gaheris and Gareth, attend upon the queen. Bring her to the place of judgement and consign her to the fire.’
‘No, my most noble king. I cannot do it. I will never escort my lady, the queen, to a miserable and dishonourable death. I could not endure to see her tied to the stake, and I will play no part in her death.’
‘Then see to it that your brothers take your place.’
‘My lord, they know well enough what shame will fall upon them. But they are too young and inexperienced to refuse you.’
Gaheris and Gareth stepped forward from the company of knights, and addressed the king. ‘Sir, you may command us to be there,’ Gareth said. ‘That is your right. But we will attend against our wishes. Will you not excuse us?’ The king shook his head.
‘Very well,’ Gaheris said. ‘But we will not wear armour or bear arms. We will give the queen the kiss of peace.’
‘In the name of God, then, prepare yourselves.’ The king was very stern. ‘She shall be brought to judgement very soon.’
Gawain cried out in sorrow. ‘Alas that I should live to see this unhappy day!’ He turned away, weeping, and rushed out of the hall.
Very shortly after, Queen Guinevere was commanded to put on a plain smock, and was escorted from the castle to the place of execution. She made full confession of her sins to the priest in attendance, even as the assembled lords and ladies grieved for her.
Sir Lancelot had placed one of his men among the courtiers to give him good warning of the event. As soon as this man saw the queen being led forward, he leaped on to his horse and rode to the wood in order to inform Lancelot. The knights broke from their cover and, with Lancelot in the front rank, they galloped across the field towards the queen. The assault was a fierce one, and Lancelot himself killed a score of worthy knights. By ill fortune he also killed Gawain’s two young brothers, Gareth and Gaheris, who were in fact unarmed. In the alarm and heat of battle, he had failed to recognize them. The French books tell us that he dealt them mighty blows about their heads, so that they fell to the ground with their brains spilling out. Yet Lancelot never saw them. They were found lying in a pile of corpses.
When Lancelot had killed
or put to flight all of his opponents, he rode up to Guinevere. He gave her a gown and girdle, to put over her plain smock; he asked her to sit behind him on his horse and, when she was safely seated, he told her to be of good cheer. All would be well. As they rode off together, she praised God for her deliverance from death. And, of course, she also thanked her rescuer.
They made their way to Lancelot’s castle, Joyous Garde, where he entertained her in knightly fashion. Many great lords, and other knights of his affinity, assembled there to pledge their allegiance to the queen. When it was clear that King Arthur and Sir Lancelot had become enemies, there were some who welcomed the news. There were others, however, who prophesied more woe and warfare. They were right.
The Vengeance of Gawain
When King Arthur was told about Sir Lancelot’s daring rescue of the queen, and of the death in battle of many knights, he was distraught. When he was informed of the deaths of Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, he fainted from the sorrow he felt. When he was roused from his swoon, he spoke to those around him. ‘I curse the day that I was crowned! I have lost the fairest fellowship of noble knights that ever served a Christian king. Forty knights have been killed within the last two days. Sir Lancelot and his kin will never ride by my side again. Such is the outcome of this war. I have lost my lordship over the bravest warriors in the world.’ He stood up, and remained very still before his throne. ‘My lords, I solemnly charge you to keep silent. You must not inform Sir Gawain of the fate of his two young brothers. If he hears of this, he will go out of his mind.’ He put his hand to his mouth in a gesture of fear or of fury. ‘How could Lancelot do such a thing? He knew well enough that Gareth loved him better than any other man alive.’
‘That is true, sire,’ one of the knights told him. ‘But they were slain in the raging torrent of battle, when Lancelot was surrounded by spears and swords. He struck out at them without knowing who they were.’
The Death of King Arthur Page 28