Launcelot of the Lake
by: Matt Seddelmeyer
by: Matt Seddelmeyer
Welcome back to King Arthur week! On this episode of Medieval Mythbusters: Did Sir Launcelot really knock over other knights and their horses with a single blow of his spear? Is it humanly possible to behead another human with a single blow to the neck? These and many more myths to come on Medieval Mythbusters. Just who are these Medieval Mythbusters? Sir Adam Savage and Sir Jamie Hyneman both combine for over 30 years of mythbusting experience. They don't just tell the myths; they put them to the test.
"So, Jamie. How familiar are you with Launcelot and his adventures and what is the deal with the lake?"
"Well, Adam. Launcelot was born of King Ban and Queen Helen of Britany. King Ban was a close ally of King Arthur. After being attacked by his enemy Claudus, King Ban and Queen Helen fled with their son Launcelot. In their flight from their home King Ban died, at which point Helen turned back to be with him in his dying moments. Prior to returning to her husband, Queen Helen left Launcelot at the edge of a lake. Launcelot was grasped by a nymph of the lake named Viviane who raised Launcelot until he was ready for knighthood. Thus he is known as Launcelot of the Lake."
Back at the tournament grounds the build team is busy setting up for the first myth.
"As I understand, the first myth we want to test is whether it is possible to knock over a knight and his horse in one blow with a spear. How are we ever going to test this one with live horses? You remember the last myth we conducted with animals!"
The medieval PETA agreed not to file suit over the dragon tests if the Medieval Mythbusters promised not to use living animals in any further testing. The build team has constructed wooden horses mounted on tracks such that two people can charge each other in a joust.
"Yes, Adam. When Launcelot turned eighteen his guardian Viviane took him to King Arthur's court where he was made a knight. He never lost in tournaments and won the admiration of Queen Guenever. Soon thereafter, Launcelot's nephew, Sir Lionel, and Launcelot left in search of adventures. A very short while into their quest, Lionel was taken while Launcelot slept under a shade tree. Launcelot came to find that Sir Turquine had taken Lionel, as well as many other knights of the round table. According to the myths of the round table, Launcelot and Turquine charged at each other and upon striking each other simultaneously with their spears were struck to the ground with their horses. To test this myth I challenge you to a joust!"
Sir Adam and Sir Jamie have competed on many myths, but never to this magnitude. I don't think they checked with their medieval insurance company before conducting this myth. Too late! The wooden horses with Adam and Jamie atop are off! Pulled by a rope and pulley system and, shhhh, living horses. With a huge collision of spears and wood, Adam and Jamie lie on the ground as well as the wooden horses.
"Bleep! Bleep Bleep Blah Bleep Bleep! We're done with this myth!"
"So are we saying plausible?"
"Yes d#@n it! We are both lying on top of wood chips that used to be our horses!"
Such poor spirits and they still have one myth to go.
"Let me guess, Jamie! To test the second myth we are going to try and cut each other's heads off!"
"Non-sense, Adam. We might get injured doing that."
For the second myth a select few Knights of the Round Table have been invited to behead pig carcasses.
"Now for the background to this myth. Throughout the adventures of Sir Launcelot, he was said to have beheaded Sir Turquine as well as Sir Phelot."
"Ah yes, Sir Phelot. Didn't he have his wife trick Sir Launcelot into climbing a tree to save her bird? Then Sir Phelot came about and waited at the base of the tree to slay Sir Launcelot when he came down?"
"That is correct, Adam; and you thought your head got messed up in our previous myth."
Each of the knights took swings at the pigs, easily beheading them. One of the knights even tried with one arm, but only cut to the neck bone.
"Ha ha! You only got it half way!"
Sir Adam grabbed the knight's sword and started hacking away. An hour later, the pig was decapitated and everyone's stomach was sore from laughing at Sir Adam. Sir Adam is definitely not going to become a knight anytime soon.
"And so, it is plausible to knock an opposing knight and his steed to the ground. It is definitely confirmed that a true knight can behead another if necessary."
"Remember folks, we are what you might call professionals. Please under no circumstances try this at home."
Author's Note: This was a compilation of many of the stories of Launcelot throughout his life. It started from his birth to his first round of adventures. I mainly took the action portions of the stories to test as myths, but I also tried to add in details surrounding the stories for clarification. Sir Launcelot of the Lake will be back in later stories. He was the greatest Knight in King Arthur's court. Many of the best stories from the Round Table involve Launcelot in some way. In the stories I read Launcelot was spelled as previous, but I have seen it as Lancelot. I do not think there is a difference and if so I can make changes. I hope you enjoyed.