{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/mart/mart433.htm","path":"neu/mart/mart433.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/mart/mart433.htm","text":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XVIII CHAPTER IV\n \n Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends and Sagas\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n BOOK XVIII\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n CHAPTER IV\n \n How Sir Mador appeached the queen of treason, and there\n was no knight would fight for her at the first time.\n \n \n AND ever Sir Mador stood still afore the king, and ever\n he appealed the queen of treason; for the custom was\n such that time that all manner of shameful death was\n called treason. Fair lords, said King Arthur, me repenteth\n of this trouble, but the case is so I may not have\n ado in this matter, for I must be a rightful judge; and\n that repenteth me that I may not do battle for my wife,\n for as I deem this deed came never by her. And therefore\n I suppose she shall not be all distained, but that some\n good knight shall put his body in jeopardy for my queen\n rather than she shall be brent in a wrong quarrel. And\n therefore, Sir Mador, be not so hasty, for it may happen\n she shall not be all friendless; and therefore desire\n thou thy day of battle, and she shall purvey her of some\n good knight that shall answer you, or else it were to me\n great shame, and to all my court.\n \n My gracious lord, said Sir Mador, ye must hold me\n excused, for though ye be our king in that degree, ye are\n but a knight as we are, and ye are sworn unto knighthood\n as well as we; and therefore I beseech you that ye be not\n displeased, for there is none of the four-and-twenty knights\n that were bidden to this dinner but all they have great\n suspicion unto the queen. What say ye all, my lords?\n said Sir Mador. Then they answered by and by that they\n could not excuse the queen; for why she made the dinner,\n and either it must come by her or by her servants. Alas,\n said the queen, I made this dinner for a good intent, and\n never for none evil, so Almighty God me help in my\n right, as I was never purposed to do such evil deeds, and\n that I report me unto God.\n \n My lord, the king, said Sir Mador, I require you as\n ye be a righteous king give me a day that I may have\n justice. Well, said the king, I give the day this day\n fifteen days that thou be ready armed on horseback in the\n meadow beside Westminster. And if it so fall that there\n be any knight to encounter with you, there mayst thou\n do the best, and God speed the right. And if it so fall\n that there be no knight at that day, then must my queen\n be burnt, and there she shall be ready to have her judgment.\n I am answered, said Sir Mador. And every\n knight went where it liked them.\n \n So when the king and the queen were together the\n king asked the queen how this case befell. The queen\n answered: So God me help, I wot not how or in what\n manner. Where is Sir Launcelot? said King Arthur; an\n he were here he would not grudge to do battle for you.\n Sir, said the queen, I wot not where he is, but his brother\n and his kinsmen deem that he be not within this realm.\n That me repenteth, said King Arthur, for an he were here\n he would soon stint this strife. Then I will counsel you,\n said the king, and unto Sir Bors: That ye will do battle\n for her for Sir Launcelot's sake, and upon my life he will\n not refuse you. For well I see, said the king, that none\n of these four-and-twenty knights that were with you at\n your dinner where Sir Patrise was slain, that will do battle\n for you, nor none of them will say well of you, and that\n shall be a great slander for you in this court. Alas, said\n the queen, and I may not do withal, but now I miss Sir\n Launcelot, for an he were here he would put me soon\n to my heart's ease. What aileth you, said the king, ye\n cannot keep Sir Launcelot upon your side? For wit ye\n well, said the king, who that hath Sir Launcelot upon his\n part hath the most man of worship in the world upon his\n side. Now go your way, said the king unto the queen,\n and require Sir Bors to do battle for you for Sir Launcelot's\n sake.","title":"Le Morte d'Arthur BOOK XVIII CHAPTER IV","type":"page"}