o the wedding. And because of her fair speech
Sir Mordred trusted her well enough, and gave her leave to go. And so
when she came to London she took the Tower of London, and suddenly in
all haste possible she stuffed it with all manner of victual, and well
garnished it with men, and so kept it.

Then when Sir Mordred wist and understood how he was beguiled, he was
passing wroth out of measure. And a short tale for to make, he went
and laid a mighty siege about the Tower of London, and made many great
assaults thereat, and threw many great engines unto them, and shot great
guns. But all might not prevail Sir Mordred, for Queen Guenever would
never for fair speech nor for foul, would never trust to come in his
hands again.

Then came the Bishop of Canterbury, the which was a noble clerk and an
holy man, and thus he said to Sir Mordred: Sir, what will ye do? will
ye first displease God and sithen shame yourself, and all knighthood? Is
not King Arthur your uncle, no farther but your mother's brother, and on
her himself King Arthur begat you upon his own sister, therefore how
may you wed your father's wife? Sir, said the noble clerk, leave this
opinion or I shall curse you with book and bell and candle. Do thou thy
worst, said Sir Mordred, wit thou well I shall defy thee. Sir, said the
Bishop, and wit you well I shall not fear me to do that me ought to do.
Also where ye noise where my lord Arthur is slain, and that is not so,
and therefore ye will make a foul work in this land. Peace, thou false
priest, said Sir Mordred, for an thou chafe me any more I shall make
strike off thy head. So the Bishop departed and did the cursing in the
most orgulist wise that might be done. And then Sir Mordred sought the
Bishop of Canterbury, for to have slain him. Then the Bishop fled, and
took part of his goods with him, and went nigh unto Glastonbury; and
there he was as priest hermit in a chapel, and lived in poverty and in
holy prayers, for well he understood that mischievous war was at hand.

Then Sir Mordred sought on Queen Guenever by letters and sonds, and by
fair means and foul means, for to have her to come out of the Tower of
London; but all this availed not, for she answered him shortly, openly
and privily, that she had liefer slay herself than to be married with
him. Then came word to Sir Mordred that King Arthur had araised the
siege for Sir Launcelot, and he was coming homeward with a great host,
to be avenged upon Sir Mordre