he was.

And when Sir Launcelot was thus missed they marvelled where he was
become; and then the queen and many of them deemed that he was departed
as he was wont to do suddenly. For Sir Meliagrance made suddenly to put
away aside Sir Lavaine's horse, that they might all understand that Sir
Launcelot was departed suddenly. So it passed on till after dinner; and
then Sir Lavaine would not stint until that he ordained litters for the
wounded knights, that they might be laid in them; and so with the
queen and them all, both ladies and gentlewomen and other, went unto
Westminster; and there the knights told King Arthur how Meliagrance had
appealed the queen of high treason, and how Sir Launcelot had received
the glove of him: And this day eight days they shall do battle afore
you. By my head, said King Arthur, I am afeard Sir Meliagrance hath
taken upon him a great charge; but where is Sir Launcelot? said the
king. Sir, said they all, we wot not where he is, but we deem he is
ridden to some adventures, as he is ofttimes wont to do, for he hath Sir
Lavaine's horse. Let him be, said the king, he will be founden, but if
he be trapped with some treason.

CHAPTER VIII. How Sir Launcelot was delivered out of prison by a lady,
and took a white courser and came for to keep his day.

SO leave we Sir Launcelot lying within that cave in great pain; and
every day there came a lady and brought him his meat and his drink,
and wooed him, to have lain by him; and ever the noble knight, Sir
Launcelot, said her nay. Sir Launcelot, said she, ye are not wise, for
ye may never out of this prison, but if ye have my help; and also your
lady, Queen Guenever, shall be brent in your default, unless that ye
be there at the day of battle. God defend, said Sir Launcelot, that she
should be brent in my default; and if it be so, said Sir Launcelot, that
I may not be there, it shall be well understanded, both at the king and
at the queen, and with all men of worship, that I am dead, sick, outher
in prison. For all men that know me will say for me that I am in some
evil case an I be not there that day; and well I wot there is some good
knight either of my blood, or some other that loveth me, that will take
my quarrel in hand; and therefore, said Sir Launcelot, wit ye well ye
shall not fear me; and if there were no more women in all this land but
ye, I will not have ado with you. Then art thou shamed, said the lady,
and destroyed for ever. As for wo