The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-11-06


 assisting as well as they could for their great fright.
 When he was in armor Launcelot flung wide open the door, and such a fight was there as never was before nor since. or these 14 knights who sought to take or kill him Launcelot slew all but Modred, Sir Agravaine being the first to fall Mod red, though severely wounded, escaped and fled with all haste to tell the King Launcelot, when the fight was ended, turned to Guenever, the Queen, and said: Madam, now all Is brought to an end For Arthur, after this nights work, will ever be my enemy. And as for you, you stand in mortal jeopardy. If 1t be your will will take you with me out of dan- ger to some place where the vengeance of our enemies may not follow or where I can defend you" That may not be-" replied the Queen; that would do more harm, to take me with you. Let me be with the harm you have done me all ready. But if you see that they go to put me to death by fire, as the law is, then I do not forbid you to rescue me-"
 Bending down, Launcelot kissed the Queen, and each gave to the other ring. Retiring to his lodgings, Launce- lot gathered together his kin and his fast friends, some two and 20 knights of fame, with their following, and said: "Ye know well that since I came into this country have striven with all my night to be true to King Arthur and to the Lady Guenever. This night. because the Quen sent for me to speak with me, I went to her. There was snare laid for me, but I excuse the Queen from being privy to it-I cannot believe she was. However, 1t Is only by Gods grace that am not slain." Then he told them all that had befallen him in the Queens chamber, and they swearing fealty to him, he rode away with them to little wood overlooking Carlisle, where they lay in ambush until the morrow to see what would happen.
 Sir Modred, when he came to the King. told him Launcelot had been surprised In the Queens chamber and how he alone of all the knights which fell upon him there had escaped alive
 He told the story so as to make Launce- lot and the Queen appear as guilty as possible, and the King was sorely grieved.
 "Alas!' cried Arthur, that that knight of marvellous prowess, the Launcelot whom trusted and whom l made a knight, should thus have sinned against me. Now is the noble fellow ship of the Round Table broken up for ever; now will there be war-for many a knight will stand by Launcelot. And now 1t has befallen so that I cannot help but that the Queen must suffer death. My majesty and the law de- mand it." Sir Gawaine urged the King not. to be overhasty he pointed out that though Launcelot was found in the Queens chamber, 1t did not follow that he went there for any i'll pur- pose: that the Queen was much be- holden to Launcelot and, perhaps, had sent for him to thank him for some service; that 1t was likely that she sent for him to come privately in or der to avoid the scandal which the wag- ging tongues of the court gossips might make out of an innocent visit did they see him go to her. For offtimes," said he. i've do many things that we think for the best and yet they turn out for the worst. Launcelot has killed two of my brothers; but I warned them
 and I bear the knight no resentment for what he has done."
 But Modred urged on the Kings re- sentiment. and it was decreed that Queen Guenever should. on the next day, be burned by fire publicly Arthur
 summoned his knights-those who had remained with him and ad not gone with Launcelot-and ordered them to form a guard, for well he knew that
 there might be rescue attempted Sir Gawaine replied that, while he would follow Arthur to the death in battle he would never witness such a scene. My heart" said he, twill never suffer me to see such a shameful ending for such a noble Queen as Guenever" And so Sir Gawaine would not even look upon l it, and his brothers, Sir Gaheris and Sir | Gareth, agreed to go to the place of execution-but not In afmor. We will be there in peaceful guise, but with no harness of war upon us'' said they Then in Gods name go as ye will"
 said the King, "the law of this realm
 must and will be executed
 So amid a great concourse of people they brought out the pale and woeful Queen, the fairest that ever sat upon throne. The fagots were piled, the fire was lighted. But suddenly into the throng came dashing Launcelot and his knights. The Kings men, who strove to oppose them, were cut down without | mercy and the Queen rescued and borne away by Launcelot to his strong castle of the Garde Joyous-which people say | | snow called Berwick. Sir Launcelot and thither Hooked to him many great lords and some kings and many noble knights; so that he had considerable army. Now. at that time when LaunceIot and his knights charged into the mar
 ket place at Carlisle and rescued the Queen from the fire, 1t chanced' that he.
 Launcelot. slew Sir Gaherls and Sir Gareth, they being in plain clothing
 and he not recognizing them in the press and excitement of the combat Alas! that this war ever begun," cried Arthur, flor now have I lost in three days forty knights and also the allegi- Sir Gawaine heard that his brothers. Gareth and Gaheris, had been killed by Launcelot he said: My most gracious lord and my uncle, now I make you a vow by my knighthood that from this