Page:Lancashire Legends, Traditions, Pageants, Sports, Etc., with an Appendix Containing a Rare Tract.djvu/317

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By force of arms great victories wanne,
And conquest home did bring.
 
Then into England straight he came,
With fifty good and able
Knights, that resorted unto him,
And were of his Round Table.
 
And he had jousts and tournaments,
Whereto were many prest;
Wherein some knights did far excell,
And eke surmount the rest.
 
But one Sir Lancelot du Lake,
Who was approved well,
He for his deedes and feats of armes,
All others did excell.

When he had rested him awhile,
In play, and game, and sport,
He said he would go prove himselfe.
In some adventurous sorte.
 
He armed rode in [Lancashire]
And met a damsel faire,
Who told him of adventures great,
Whereto he gave good eare.
 
'Such wolde I find,' quoth Lancelot,
'For that cause came I hither';
'Thou seem'st,' quoth she, 'a knight full good,
And I will bring thee thither.

'[In Mamecestre] a knight doth dwell,
That now is of great fame;
Therefore tell me what knight thou art,
And what may be thy name.'
 
'My name is Lancelot du Lake;'
Quoth shee: 'It likes me than;
Here dwells a knight who never was
Yet matcht with any man.