Charrette

This section of Lancelot was called the Charrette. The Vulgate Charrette was a rework of Chretien de Troyes' earlier verse romance, called Le Chevalier de la charrette ("Knight of the Cart"; it was also known simply by its title, "Lancelot"), c. 1175.

Many of the scenes and incidences in the Charrette followed the original tale by Chretien. The biggest difference between the Vulgate and Chretien's versions was that in the Vulgate Charrette, Lancelot was no longer anonymous knight. In the Chretien's version, we don't know the identity of the hero, until Lancelot fought Meleagant in the first duel in Gorre. Also, in the beginning of the Charrette, Meleagant explained why he had abducted Guinevere was due to his jealous rivalry with Lancelot.

Sir Thomas Malory had his own version of the Charrette. Malory had placed the Charrette episode in Book XIX of Le Morte d'Arthur (c. 1469). The biggest difference between Malory's and the Vulgate version was the timeframe. The Vulgate version had set the episode before the birth of Galahad and the Grail Quest. While Malory's Charrette took place after the Grail Quest. More precisely, it was set just before Arthur discovered the adultery of Guinevere and Lancelot, and the hostility between the Orkney and Ban's clans (Book XX).

• Knight of the Cart

• Meleagant

• Argodras the Red

Knight of the Cart

Lancelot wandered throughout the kingdom, dwelling in the wild forest for a whole year. When he was in the forest outside of Camelot, the Lady of the Lake found him on Easter and healed him.

On Candlemas Eve, Niniane, the Lady of the Lake, found Lancelot in Cornwall. She took him home and restored his sanity. By Easter, Lancelot had regained his health and strength. Niniane sent Lancelot back to Logres. She advised her protégée to be at the forest of Camelot at a certain date.

On Ascension Day, Meleagant arrived, boasting of capturing a lot of people from Logres and would not release them until a knight could safely escort Guinevere through the forest, outside of Camelot.

Sir Kay, Arthur's seneschal, tricked Arthur into offering him a boon. Kay wished to be the Queen's escort and protector. Kay had a delusion that he could defeat Meleagant. Arthur had little choice but to let Kay escort his wife through the forest. Arthur could not refuse without breaking his word. Kay escorted the queen through the forest, and was attacked and captured by Meleagant. Guinevere became Meleagant's prisoner and they set out for the kingdom of Gorre.

Gawain berated his uncle for letting his wife go with Sir Kay. Gawain persuaded Arthur and the other knights around the Round Table to rescue Guinevere. Gawain and many knights set out at once. Gawain went off by himself to rescue the queen.

Lancelot arrived at the scene and attacked Meleagant and his knights. Though Lancelot managed to unhorse Meleagant, the villain's knights killed Lancelot's horse. Meleagant fled with his prisoners. Gawain arrived and saw Lancelot, though he could not recognise his friend because of Lancelot's new armour. Gawain found Sir Kay's horse.

Taking Sir Kay's horse, Lancelot set out in pursuit after Meleagant. Lancelot again caught up with Meleagant. Again, Meleagant's men killed Lancelot's horse and rode away with the prisoners. Lancelot decided to follow Meleagant on foot. (According to Chretien, Lancelot had ridden both horses to death, pursuing his enemies.)

Lancelot then encountered a dwarf driving his cart. The dwarf would only agree to lead the hero to Meleagant if he rode in the cart with him. Lancelot hesitated before getting in the cart.

Gawain caught up with Lancelot and was surprised to see the knight get on the cart, because during those days, the cart was normally a pillory for criminals. Only a disgraced knight would be forced to ride in a cart: a knight that had been found guilty of treason, murder or another felony. A crowd would subject a knight who committed no crime or who was not wounded, to mockery and hold in contempt, if he was found riding in a cart.

When Gawain asked the dwarf if he had seen the queen, he was also asked to get in the cart with the other knight if he wanted to find the queen. Gawain refused, but said he would follow the cart on his own warhorse.

They arrived in town when the townspeople mocked the knight in the cart. Though both knights received lodging in a hostel from a damsel and her sister, she treated Gawain with great respect but the other knight she held in contempt, since Lancelot had ridden in the cart.

In the morning, they saw that the queen had passed through the town with her abductor. It was only then that Gawain recognised his friend. The damsel gave the unnamed knight a horse to compensate for her rudeness to the knight. The two knights immediately set out after the queen.

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They met a damsel in the woods, who knew where Meleagant was taking the queen. The damsel promised to guide them, provided that they do something for her in the future. She told them the identity of the abductor and that he was taking the queen to the kingdom of Gorre, that belonged to Meleagant's father, King Baudemagus. Baudemagus had been one of Galehaut's vassals in the war against Arthur (See Galehaut). Two possible paths could be chosen to enter Gorre. She led them to a fork in the road. One road led to the Underwater Bridge and the other more perilous path led to the Sword Bridge. Gawain chose the Underwater Bridge, while Lancelot took off for the Sword Bridge.

The story then followed along the same line as Chretien's work in several points. Lancelot did not recognise the damsel's sister when she offered Lancelot accommodation in the forest. The damsel tested Lancelot's bravery and chivalry by trying to seduce the hero.

Lancelot promised to escort the damsel, and he found Guinevere's comb. Lancelot gave the comb to the damsel but kept a single strand of her hair under his shirt (I think I gonna be sick).

Lancelot also defended the girl against an unwanted suitor before Lancelot arrived at a monastery. A monk told Lancelot that only one knight was destined to lift up the stone slab from the tomb and read the inscription within. Lancelot easily lifted the slab and read the inscription. The tomb belonged to Galahad, the first Christian king of Hoselice (Wales) and the son of Joseph of Arimathea.

The following part about Simeon's tomb is not found in Chretien's Charrette. The monks were surprised at Lancelot's strength and took the hero to the cave of Simeon's tomb. Simeon was the cousin of Galahad of Hoselice. Lancelot entered the cave and saw a tomb surrounded by a ring of fire.

As the hero approached the tomb, Lancelot heard a voice that warned him to stay away from the fire, because he was not the hero destined to win in this adventure. The spirit of Simeon foretold that only the Good Knight (Galahad) would succeed and walk through this fire and release his (Simeon's) torment. Simeon also informed Lancelot that the hero's real name was Galahad, and that it would be his son (Galahad) who would sit on the Siege Perilous and win the quest of the Holy Grail. Simeon also told Lancelot that his mother (Helen or Elaine) was still alive and living as a nun in the Royal Minister, in Gaul (France).

The hero continued his journey until he arrived at the Sword Bridge, where his two new companions did not want the hero to sacrifice his life in attempting to cross the bridge. For the bridge was like a sharp sword. Below the bridge was black, swirling water, and on the other side of the bridge were two huge lions. Further beyond the bridge, he could see the castle where the queen had been imprisoned.

The hero was determined to cross the bridge, but he decided to not wear his gauntlets or iron shoes, to protect his hands and feet. He did this so he could better grip the sword, so he would not fall into the water (which he would surely drown). The hero safely crossed to the other side, with deep cuts to his hands, feet and knees. Instead of being immediately attacked by lions, he found that the awesome beasts had vanished. He realised the lions were only illusions to scare off intruders.

Meleagant

At the tower, King Baudemagus and his son Meleagant watched the knight crossing the Sword Bridge. The father admired the knight's courage and determination to rescue the queen, while the son held nothing but contempt for the hero. Baudemagus unsuccessfully tried to persuade his son to return the queen to the hero without a fight. Meleagant was determined to kill the new arrival, to prove that no knight was better than the stranger was. The father was equally determined to welcome the hero and offer him counsel.

We learned that the King of Gorre had protected the queen from his son's lust. The king had been against the abduction of the queen and many people of Logres, but was powerless to let them leave his country.

Baudemagus welcomed the new knight, trying to make peace between the hero and his son, without success. He only managed to postpone the combat for one day, because of the hero's injured hands and feet.

At the duel, the hero was seriously weakened at first because of his injured hands and feet. However, the queen was watching the combat from the tower with Baudemagus. It was only then that the name of the knight of the cart was revealed; he was called Lancelot of the Lake. With renewed strength from glancing at the queen, he overcame Meleagant.

Lancelot overheard the king asking Guinevere to spare his son's life. The queen agreed to do so, since Baudemagus had protected her from his own son. Lancelot immediately stopped fighting. Meleagant was ashamed that his father would plead for his life. He refused to admit defeat. They agreed to continue the fight one year from then, to be held at Arthur's court. The queen and her people were allowed to leave.

At first, the queen refused to talk to her lover. Lancelot was distressed, and went to find Gawain. Lancelot encountered some knights of Gorre who had not heard of Meleagant's defeat, and went to arrest him. Baudemagus and Guinevere thought that Lancelot had died. Both were upset with the news. Guinevere blamed herself for her lover's death. Lancelot heard news that the queen had died. He tried to hang himself, but the people prevented him. A few days later, he found out that the news was false.

Lancelot returned to Baudemagus' castle. The queen and Lancelot were reconciled. That night, Lancelot went to her chamber. To enter through the window, Lancelot had to pull the bars away, but he cut his finger. Lancelot and the queen spent the night making love. When he left, Lancelot's finger had bled on the sheets.

Meleagant discovered the bloody sheets, and blamed the queen for spending a night with Sir Kay. Kay whose wounds had not healed, and who was sleeping in the next room. Meleagant accused the queen of committing adultery.

Kay was wounded and too weakened to defend himself in combat. Guinevere secretly sent a message to Lancelot about her plight. Lancelot challenged Meleagant's accusations against the queen and Sir Kay.

They were to fight once again, but Baudemagus managed to persuade the queen to end the fight. Lancelot was determined to leave once more to find Sir Gawain at the Underwater Bridge. But before he and his companions could reach the bridge, he met a dwarf. The dwarf convinced him to follow him, leaving his companions behind. Lancelot's companions were distressed when they learned that Lancelot had been ambushed and held in captivity. The companions continued their way to the bridge and rescued Gawain from drowning.

They told Gawain that Lancelot had already freed the queen, but a dwarf had abducted Lancelot. They brought Gawain to the castle. Guinevere was upset that her lover had been captured, but she had no choice but to leave Gorre with her people, and return to her husband in Logres. Baudemagus promised to try to find and rescue Lancelot. However, a letter arrived from Lancelot saying that he had returned to Camelot.

Upon returning to Camelot, Gawain realised that Lancelot had not returned to Camelot at all, and the letter was false. Weeks later, a tournament was to be held, where Queen Guinevere would attend.

Lancelot heard of the tournament and was rather depressed because he was being held in prison by the seneschal of Meleagant. The wife of the seneschal tried to comfort Lancelot, and she gave him permission to attend the tournament on the condition that he return to prison after the tournament. Lancelot promised the seneschal's wife that he would return to prison.

Lancelot was given the seneschal's red armour, weapons and warhorse. On the first day of the tournament, he did so well that Guinevere thought it might be her lover who had come in disguise. She sent a message to Lancelot, ordering her champion to do worse. Lancelot immediately performed badly at the tournament. The queen realised that it was her lover in the red armour. The next day she ordered to Lancelot performs badly again, before she ordered her lover to perform at his best. That day, he overcame all his adversaries.

Afterwards, Lancelot returned to his prison. Meleagant was angry when heard that Lancelot had been allowed to leave the prison, despite the fact that the hero had returned as promised. Meleagant was determined that Lancelot would never be able to leave his prison.

Meleagant had a new tower built at a remote island on the inlet. Rarely any people traveled this remote part of Gorre. The tower was built within two months. Lancelot was imprisoned in the new dungeon. This time, Meleagant had the door walled in, so that Lancelot could never leave. There was only a small window, to allow Lancelot to receive a meagre amount of stale bread and stagnated water.

As the time approached for the appointed time of the combat between Lancelot and Meleagant, the wicked knight arrived at Camelot. Meleagant told the court that he did not see Lancelot in court. Meleagant challenged the king's court that Lancelot must meet him at the next appointed time, a year from now to face him. Gawain promised to face Meleagant, as Lancelot's second, if Lancelot did not meet at the next appointment.

Meleagant returned home and told his father that Lancelot was not at Camelot to face him, boasting that Lancelot would not face him, since he was a coward. Baudemagus rebuked his son, saying that only a fool would boast of his superiority. This only angered Meleagant more.

One of Baudemagus' daughters, overhearing the conversation, realised that Lancelot must be detained somewhere in Gorre. She immediately set out to find the hero. For a few months, she traversed through Gorre without finding anyone knowing the whereabouts of the hero.

Finally, the lady came upon a tower she had never seen before. She was surprised to find no door and was convinced that Meleagant had Lancelot locked away at this tower. Baudemagus' daughter found that Lancelot was serious weakened and his health had deteriorated due to lack of proper food and drinking tainted water.

Baudemagus' daughter revealed her identity to Lancelot. She told him that she was the damsel who had told both him and Gawain about the two perilous bridges, as well as the damsel who requested for him to cut off the arrogant knight who had insulted the hero about riding the cart. She had come to rescue Lancelot. She found a pickaxe, which she gave to Lancelot to break out of his dungeon.

Baudemagus' daughter brought the hero to her castle, where she nursed Lancelot to health. When he had grown healthy and strong after months of rest and exercises, it was time for Lancelot to leave. In gratitude, Lancelot promised to defend her rights and her life if she ever required his assistance.

By a stroke of luck, Lancelot arrived about the same time as Meleagant. Meleagant was saying that since Lancelot had not arrived at the appointed time, he challenged Gawain to fight with him. Gawain had was already fully armed and mounted when Lancelot arrived.

Lancelot insisted that he would fight with Meleagant, because the villain had mistreated him while in prison. Lancelot warned Meleagant that this time he would not spare Meleagant. Reluctantly, Gawain gave all his armour and weapons to his friend.

Mounted upon a strong and swift horse of Gawain, Lancelot jousted with his mortal enemy. Because they were evenly matched with the lances, they unhorsed one another. They sprang to their feet and attacked each other with swords. After the two knights fought long and with great ferocity, Lancelot gained the upper hand in the combat.

Lancelot first severed Meleagant's right hand, before opening his enemy's belly with a deep slash. Then Lancelot smashed in Meleagant's helmet, so that his enemy could not even plead for mercy. Then Lancelot ripped the helmet off his enemy's head before he lopped off Meleagant's head. The story ended with Lancelot having fully avenged himself for his ill treatment at Meleagant's hand.

Argodras the Red

Arthur and his court celebrated Lancelot's victory over Meleagant with a feast. Arthur and his court were also afraid to tell Lancelot of the death of Galehaut. Lancelot wasn't aware of his friend's death and no one informed him of it on his return.

Despite having defeated Meleagant fairly, he was further troubled by a red knight who was Meleagant's cousin. The red knight accused Lancelot of treacherously killing Meleagant, when the hero refused to spare his enemy. Lancelot refuted the charge and agreed to a duel at Baudemagus' court on the feast of Mary Magdalene.

During his journey to Baudemagus' kingdom, he found four guards around a casket. To his grief, Lancelot discovered it to be the casket of Galehaut. Lancelot would have probably killed himself in grief, but one of the damsels of the Lady of the Lake arrived and instructed the hero to take the body to Dolorous Guard, where his friend could be buried. Why Dolorous Guard? So that Lancelot could be buried with his friend at his own death.

The knights guarding the casket refused to let anyone move the casket from the church. So Lancelot fought and killed three knights. Lancelot spared the fourth knight on the condition that he would take Galehaut's body to the tomb at Dolorous Guard.

So Lancelot travelled with the casket, heading first towards the kingdom of Baudemagus. At Floego Castle, he saw that the people were about to burn Meleagant's sister for treason. A knight accused her of freeing Lancelot from Meleagant's prison and the court had found her guilty. Recognising the damsel, the hero decided to defend the lady.

The accuser was no match against Lancelot. Lancelot unhorsed the other knight, knocked him senseless with his sword, then Lancelot threw the knight into the fire that was meant for Meleagant's sister.

The people released Meleagant's sister to Lancelot, who escorted her back to her residence at Galefort Castle. There, Lancelot discovered that her accuser was the brother of the red knight who had challenged him. The red knight was named Sir Argodras. Lancelot also learnt that Baudemagus didn't yet know of his son's death (Meleagant).

Lancelot stayed at Galefort for the night before he continued on his journey, and he had a small adventure. Lancelot enjoyed hospitality in the tent of another knight. Lancelot had disarmed him when he entered his tent. Another knight in red armour went into the tent and abducted the host's squire. The two knights were enemies. The red knight stole Lancelot's armour and horse.

Lancelot pursued the red knight on foot and encountered a black knight. Lancelot asked the black knight if he could borrow his armour. The black knight agreed on the condition that Lancelot would give him the armour when the black knight asked for it in the future. So Lancelot donned the black knight's armour and took the horse, and continued on his pursuit of the red knight. Lancelot defeated the red knight and his companions, but befriended the red knight, who was named Arramant, whom he did not recognise when they were fighting. (Lancelot would later meet the Black Knight in Gawain at Corbenic.)

Lancelot then went to Windesant, where Baudemagus was currently holding court. Baudemagus didn't recognise Lancelot, because the hero was wearing a different armour and shield. Nor did the hero want to be recognised and be the one to tell the king, whom he liked, that he had killed Meleagant in combat.

Lancelot confronted his accuser; ready to defend himself against the charges that Argodras had laid on him. Both knights proved they were excellent knights, but as the fighting continued, Lancelot showed himself superior. Lancelot killed Argodras, giving him no time to plead for mercy.

Though Lancelot refused to give his name, Baudemagus already suspected who he was, and that his son was dead. Baudemagus asked the hero to remove his helmet. Baudemagus immediately recognised Lancelot and embraced the hero, like he would a friend or a son. Lancelot was reluctant to tell the king that he had killed his son, and Baudemagus did not want to hear the news from Lancelot's lips, or else he might hate Lancelot. So Baudemagus asked him the favour that he should send someone else to bring the news to him three days after Lancelot departed.

Lancelot stayed with Baudemagus overnight, before beginning his journey to Dolorous Guard. One maiden asked the hero if she could accompany him to Dolorous Guard as an escort and protector, and Lancelot agreed.

At noon, a disreputable knight tried to forcibly kiss the maiden, who was under Lancelot's protection. After taunting Lancelot, they fought and the hero overcame the knight. Lancelot spared the knight; in return that Patrides of Golden Circle inform Baudemagus that Lancelot had killed Meleagant in combat. Lancelot heard of his cousin's adventure (Sir Bors) from Patrides.

Lancelot and the maiden continued on the journey while Patrides performed the task that he had been given. A couple of days later, Patrides told King Baudemagus of his son's death at Lancelot's hand. Baudemagus mourned for Meleagant. Baudemagus discovered that his son was buried at the Castle of the Four Stones.

Lancelot arrived at Dolorous Guard, where he had Galehaut's body buried in a tomb beneath the altar of a former mosque, but it was now a church.