XIII.
"Sir," saith the Knight, "He that would go before the Saviour of the World ought of right to apparel him as fairly as he may. I am by confession purged of all wickedness and of all the misdeeds that ever I have committed, and do repent me truly thereof, wherefore at this moment am I fain to die."
Therewithal he holdeth forth the axe, and Lancelot taketh it and seeth that it is right keen and well whetted.
"Sir," saith the Knight, "Hold up your hand toward the minster that you see yonder."
"Sir," saith Lancelot, "Willingly."
"Thus, then, will you swear to me upon the holy relics that are within this minster, that on this day year at the hour that you shall have slain me, or before, you yourself will come back here and place your head in the very same peril as I shall have placed mine, without default?"
"Thus," saith Lancelot, "do I swear and give you thereto my pledge."
With that, the Knight kneeleth and stretcheth his neck as much as he may, and Lancelot taketh the axe in his hands, and then saith to him, "Sir Knight, for God's sake, have mercy on yourself!"
"Let cut off my head!" saith the Knight, "For otherwise may I not have mercy upon you!"
"In God's name," saith Lancelot, "fain would I deny you!"