So when the queen had mayed, and all were bedecked with herbs, mosses, and flowers in the best manner and freshest, right then came out of a wood Sir Maleagans with eightscore men well harnessed, and bade the queen and her knights yield them prisoners.  “Traitor knight,” said Queen Guenever, “what wilt thou do?  Wilt thou shame thyself?  Bethink thee how thou art a king’s son, and a knight of the Table Round, and how thou art about to dishonor all knighthood and thyself?” “Be it as it may,” said Sir Maleagans, “know you well, madam, I have loved you many a year and never till now could I get you to such advantage as I do now; and therefore I will take you as I find you.”  Then the ten knights of the Round Table drew their swords, and the other party run at them with their spears, and the ten knights manfully abode them, and smote away their spears.  Then they lashed together with swords till several were smitten to the earth.  So when the queen saw her knights thus dolefully oppressed, and needs must be slain at the last, then for pity and sorrow she cried, “Sir Maleagans, slay not my noble knights and I will go with you, upon this covenant, that they be led with me wheresoever thou leadest me.”  “Madame,” said Maleagans, “for your sake they shall be led with you into my own castle, if that ye will be ruled, and ride with me.”  Then Sir Maleagans charged them all that none should depart from the queen, for he dreaded lest Sir Launcelot should have knowledge of what had been done.

Then the queen privily called unto her a page of her chamber that was swiftly horsed, to whom she said, “Go thou when thou seest thy time, and bear this ring unto Sir Launcelot, and pray him as he loveth me, that he will see me and rescue me.  And spare not thy horse,” said the queen, “neither for water nor for land.”  So the child espied his time, and lightly he took his horse with the spurs and departed as fast as he might.  And when Sir Maleagans saw him so flee, he understood that it was by the queen’s commandment for to warn Sir Launcelot.  Then they that were best horsed chased him, and shot at him, but the child went from them all.  Then Sir Maleagans said to the queen, “Madam, ye are about to betray me, but I shall arrange for Sir Launcelot that he shall not come lightly at you.”  Then he rode with her and them all to his castle, in all the haste that they might.  And by the way Sir Maleagans laid in ambush the best archers that he had to wait for Sir Launcelot.  And the child came to Westminster and found Sir Launcelot and told his message and delivered him the queen’s ring.  “Alas!” said Sir Launcelot, “now am I shamed for ever, unless I may rescue that noble lady.”  Then eagerly he asked his armor and put it on him, and mounted his horse and rode as fast as he might; and men say he took the water at Westminster Bridge, and made his horse swim over Thames unto Lambeth.  Then within a while he came to a wood where was a narrow way; and there the archers were laid in ambush.