be.  Sir, said Sir Launcelot, ye saw yesterday so many worthy knights that then were sworn that they may not leave it in no manner of wise.  That wot I well, said the king, but it shall so heavy me at their departing that I wot well there shall no manner of joy remedy me.  And then the king and the queen went unto the minster.  So anon Launcelot and Gawaine commanded their men to bring their arms.  And when they all were armed save their shields and their helms, then they came to their fellowship, which were all ready in the same wise, for to go to the minster to hear their service.  Then after the service was done the king would wit how many had undertaken the quest of the Holy Grail; and to account them he prayed them all.  Then found they by tale an hundred and fifty, and all were knights of the Round Table.  And then they put on their helms and departed, and recommended them all wholly unto the queen:  and there was weeping and great sorrow.  Then the queen departed into her chamber so that no man should apperceive her great sorrows.  When Sir Launcelot missed the queen he went into her chamber, and when she saw him she cried aloud:  O Sir Launcelot, ye have betrayed me and put me to death, for to leave thus my lord.  Ah, madam, said Sir Launcelot, I pray you be not displeased, for I shall come as soon as I may with my worship.  Alas, said she, that ever I saw you; but he that suffered death upon the cross for all mankind be to you good conduct and safety, and all the whole fellowship.  Right so departed Sir Launcelot, and found his fellowship that abode his coming.  And so they mounted upon their horses and rode through the streets of Camelot; and there was weeping of the rich and poor, and the king turned away and might not speak for weeping.  So within a while they came to a city, and a castle that hight Vagon.  There they entered into the castle, and the lord of that castle was an old man that hight Vagon, and he was a good man of his living, and set open the gates, and made them all the good cheer that he might.  And so on the morrow they were all accorded that they should depart every each from other; and then they departed on the morrow with weeping and mourning cheer, and every knight took the way that him best liked.

CHAPTER IX

How Galahad gat him A shield, and how they sped that presumed to take down the said shield

Now rideth Sir Galahad yet without shield, and so he rode four days without any adventure.  And at the fourth day after evensong he came to a White Abbey, and there he was received with great reverence, and led to a chamber, and there he was unarmed; and then was he ware of two knights of the Round Table, one was King Bagdemagus, and that other was Sir Uwaine.  And when they saw him they went unto him and made of him great solace, and so they went to supper.