CHAPTER XVIII

How Sir Launcelot passed over the sea, and how he made
great lords of the knights that went with him


TRULY, said Sir Launcelot, I thank you all of your good
saying, howbeit, I wot well, in me was not all the stability
of this realm, but in that I might I did my devoir; and
well I am sure I knew many rebellions in my days that by
me were peaced, and I trow we all shall hear of them in
short space, and that me sore repenteth.  For ever I dread
me, said Sir Launcelot, that Sir Mordred will make trouble,
for he is passing envious and applieth him to trouble.  So
they were accorded to go with Sir Launcelot to his lands;
and to make short tale, they trussed, and paid all that
would ask them; and wholly an hundred knights departed
with Sir Launcelot at once, and made their avows they
would never leave him for weal nor for woe.

And so they shipped at Cardiff, and sailed unto Benwick:
some men call it Bayonne, and some men call it
Beaune, where the wine of Beaune is.  But to say the
sooth, Sir Launcelot and his nephews were lords of all
France, and of all the lands that longed unto France; he
and his kindred rejoiced it all through Sir Launcelot's
noble prowess.  And then Sir Launcelot stuffed and
furnished and garnished all his noble towns and castles.
Then all the people of those lands came to Sir Launcelot
on foot and hands.  And so when he had stablished all
these countries, he shortly called a parliament; and there
he crowned Sir Lionel, King of France; and Sir Bors [he]
crowned him king of all King Claudas' lands; and Sir
Ector de Maris, that was Sir Launcelot's youngest brother,
he crowned him King of Benwick, and king of all Guienne,
that was Sir Launcelot's own land.  And he made Sir Ector
prince of them all, and thus he departed.

Then Sir Launcelot advanced all his noble knights,
and first he advanced them of his blood; that was Sir
Blamore, he made him Duke of Limosin in Guienne
and Sir Bleoberis he made him Duke of Poictiers, and
Sir Gahalantine he made him Duke of Querne, and
Sir Galihodin he made him Duke of Sentonge, and Sir
Galihud he made him Earl of Perigot, and Sir Menadeuke
he made him Earl of Roerge, and Sir Villiars the
Valiant he made him Earl of Bearn, and Sir Hebes le
Renoumes he made him Earl of Comange, and Sir
Lavaine he made him Earl of Arminak, and Sir Urre
he made him Earl of Estrake, and Sir Neroneus he made him
Earl of Pardiak, and Sir Plenorius he made Earl of Foise,
and Sir Selises of the Dolorous Tower he made him Earl
of Masauke, and Sir Melias de Lile he made him Earl of
Tursauk, and Sir Bellangere le Beuse he made Earl of the
Launds, and Sir Palomides he made him Duke of the
Provence, and Sir Safere he made him Duke of Landok, and
Sir Clegis he gave him the Earldom of Agente, and Sir
Sadok he gave the Earldom of Surlat, and Sir Dinas le
Seneschal he made him Duke of Anjou, and Sir Clarrus
he made him Duke of Normandy.  Thus Sir Launcelot
rewarded his noble knights and many more, that meseemeth
it were too long to rehearse