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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Lancelot
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(of the Lake) Brought up to be a perfect knight by a fairy in a lake, he was a leading member of the knights of the *Round Table until his affair with *Guinevere. This precipitated the warfare that destroyed King *Arthur's court. The king besieged Guinevere and her lover in Lancelot's castle of Joyous Gard and then pursued Lancelot to France; returning in haste (to prevent Mordred usurping the kingdom) Arthur was killed in the ensuing battle. Guinevere became a nun and Lancelot a priest. His carnal love handicapped him in the quest for the *Holy Grail, which was successfully achieved by his son *Galahad.
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