"Alas," said the queen, "I made this dinner for a good intent, and never for none evil; so Almighty God help me in my right."
"My lord the king," said Sir Mador, "I require you, as ye be a righteous king, give me a day that I may have justice."
"Well," said the king, "I give the day this day fifteen days, that thou be ready armed on horseback in the meadow beside Westminster. And if it so fall that there be any knight to encounter with you, there mayest thou do the best, and God speed the right. And if it so fall that there be no knight at that day, then must my queen be burnt, and there shall she be ready to have her judgment."
"I am answered," said Sir Mador; and every knight went where it liked him.
So when the king and queen were together, the king asked the queen how this case befell?
The queen answered, "So God me help, I wot not how, nor in what manner."
"Where is Sir Launcelot?" said King Arthur, "and he were here, he would not grudge to do battle for you."
"Sir," said the queen, "I wot not where he is, but his brother and his kinsmen deem that he is not within this realm."
[For, within a little while before, it happened on a day that Queen Guenever was displeased with Sir Launcelot and forbade him the court, and that Sir Launcelot full sadly left the court and departed into his country and dwelt with the hermit Sir Brasias.]
"That me repenteth," said King Arthur, "for and he were here he would soon stint this strife. Then I will counsel you," said the king, "that ye go unto Sir Bors, and pray him to do that battle for you for Sir Launcelot's sake, and upon my life he will not refuse you; for right well I perceive that none of all these twenty knights that were with you in fellowship at your dinner will do battle for you: [which would be] great slander for you in this court."