The Story of The Lady of Shalott,
Elayne la Blanke,
Elaine the Fair,
Elaine, the Lady of Astolat,
To the fair dame of Guildford

from Malory: Morte Darthur

'… And so by the way the kynge lodged at a towne that was called Astolat, that ys in English Gylforde, and there the kynge lay in the castell… So when sir Launcelot was in hys lodgyng and unarmed in his chambir, the olde barown, sir Barnarde com to hym and welcomed hym in the beste maner. But he knew not sir Launcelot… So thys olde barown had a doughtir that was called that tyme the Fayre Maydyn off Astolat, and ever she behylde sir Launcelot wondirfully.

And, as the booke sayth, she keste such a love unto sir Launcelot that she cowde never withdraw hir loove, wherefore she dyed. And her name was Elayne la Blanke.)

So thus as she cam to and fro, she was so hote in love that [she] besought sir Launcelot to were uppon hym at the justis a tokyn of hers.

"Damesell," seyde sir Launcelot, "an if I graunte you that, ye may sey that I do more for youre love than ever y ded for lady or jantillwoman." Then he remembered hymselff that he wolde go to the justis disgysed, and because he had never aforne borne no maner of tokyn of no damesell, he bethought hym to bere a tokyn of hers, that none of his bloode thereby myght know hym. And then he seyde,

"Fayre maydyn, I woll graunte you to were a tokyn of youres uppon myne helmet. And therefore what ys hit? Shewe ye hit me."

"Sir," she seyde, "hit ys a rede sleve of myne, of scarlet, well embrowdred with grete perelles."

And so she brought hit hym. So sir Launcelot resseyved hit and seyde, "Never dud I erste so much for no damesell." Than sir Launcelot betoke the fayre mayden hys shylde in kepynge and prayde her to kepe hit untill tyme that he com agayne…"

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