[Le morte darthur]

Here foloweth the viij book the which is the first book of sir Tristram de Lyones / & who was his fader & his moder / & hou he was borne and fosteryd / And how he was made knyghte

¶Capitulum primum

HIt was a kyng that hyghte Melyodas / and he was lord and kynge of the countre of Lyonas And this Melyodas was a lykely knyght as ony was that tyme lyuynge / And by fortune he wedded kynge Markys syster of Cornewaille / And she was called Elyzabeth that was callyd bothe good and fair And at that tyme kynge Arthur regned / and he was hol•• kynge of Englond / walys and Scotland & of many other royammes how be it there were many kynges that were lordes of many countreyes / but alle they held their landes of kyng Arthur / for in walys were two kynges / and in the north we¦re many kynges / And in Cornewail and in the west were two kynges / ¶Also in Irland were two or thre kynges and al were vnder the obeissaunce of kyng Arthur / So was the kynge of Fraunce and the kyng of Bretayn and all the lordshippes vnto Rome / So whan this kyng Melyodas hadde ben with his wyf / within a whyle she waxid grete with child and she was a ful meke lady / and wel she loued her lord / & he her ageyne / soo there was grete ioye betwixe them / Thenne ther was a lady in that countrey that had loued kynge Me∣lyodas longe / And by no meane she neuer coude gete his loue therfore she lete ordeyne vpon a day as kynge Melyodas rode on huntynge / for he was a grete chacer / and there by an en∣chauntement she made hym chace an herte by hym self alone / til that he came to an old Castel / and there anone he was taken prysoner by the lady that hym loued / Whanne Elyzabeth kyng Melyodas myst her lord / and she was nyghe oute of her wytte and also as grete with child as she was she took a gentylwo¦man with her / and ranne in to the forest to seke her lord / And whanne she was ferre in the forest she myghte no ferther for she byganne to trauaille fast of her child / And she had ma¦ny grymly throwes / her gentylwoman halp her alle that she myghte / And soo by myracle of oure lady of heuen she was delyuerd with grete paynes / But she had taken suche cold for the defaute of helpe that depe draughtes of deth toke her / that nedes she must dye and departe oute of this world / ther was

none other boote / And whanne this quene Elyzabeth sawe that ther was none other bote / thenne she made grete dole / and said vnto her gentylwoman / whan ye see my lord kyng Me∣lyodas recommaunde me vnto hym / and telle hym what pay∣nes I endure here for gis loue / and how I must dye here for his sake for defaute of good helpe / and lete hym wete that I am ful sory to departe out of this world fro hym / therfor pray hym to be frende to my soule / Now lete me see my lytel child / for whome I haue had alle this sorowe / And whanne she sa¦we hym she said thus / A my lytel sone thou hast murthered thy moder / and therfore I suppose thou that arte a murtherer soo yong / thou arte ful lykely to be a manly man in thyn age / And by cause I shal dye of the byrthe of the / I charge the gentylwoman / that thou pray my lord kynge Melyodas tha whan he is crystned lete calle hym Trystram that is as moch to saye / as a sorouful byrthe / And ther with this quene gafe vp the ghoost and dyed / Thenne the gentylwoman leyd her vnder an vmbre of a grete tree / and thenne she lapped the ch∣yld as wel as she myght for cold / Ryghte soo ther came the Barons folowynge after the quene / ¶And whan they sawe that she was dede / and vnderstood none other but the kynge was destroyed /

¶Capitulum secundum

THenne certayne of them wold haue slayne the child / by cause they wold haue ben lordes of the countrey of Lyonas / But thenne thorou the faire speche of the gentylwo∣man / and by the meanes that she made / the moost party of the Barons wold not assente ther to / And thenne they lete cary home the dede quene / and moche dole was made for her / Thenne this meane whyle Merlyn delyuerd kynge Melyodas out of pryson on the morne after his quene was dede / And so when the kynge was come home / the moost party of the barons ma∣de grete ioye / But the sorou that the kyng made for his quene that myghte no tong telle

Soo thenne the kynge lete entere her rychely / and after he le∣te crystene his child as his wyf had commaunded afore her

deth / And thenne he lete calle hym Trystram the sorouful bo∣rne child / ¶Thenne the kynge Melyodas endured seuen ye∣res withoute a wyf / And alle this tyme Trystram was nou¦rysshed wel / ¶Thenne hit befell•• that kynge Melyodas wedded kynge Howles doughter of Bretayne / and anone she hadde children of kynge Melyodas / thenne was she heuy and wrothe / that her children shold not reioyce the Countrey of Lyones / wherfor this quene ordeyned for to poysone yong Tristram / So she lete poyson be put in a pyece of syluer in the chamber where as Trystram and her children were to gyders / Vnto that entente that whanne Trystram were thursty he sho∣ld drynke that drynke / And so hit felle vpon a daye the que∣nes sone as he was in that chamber / aspyed the pyece with poyson / and he wende hit hadde ben good drynke / and by ca∣use the child was thursty he tooke the pyece with poyson and dranke frely / and there with al sodenly the child brast & was dede / whanne the quene Melyodas wyst of the dethe of her sone wete ye wel that she was heuy / But yet the kyng vndersto∣de no thynge of her treason / ¶Not withstandynge the quene wold not leue this / but efte she lete ordeyne more poyson / and putte hit in a pyece / And by fortune kyng Melyodas her hus¦band fond the pyece with wyn where was the poyson / and he that was moche thursty took the pyece for to drynke ther oute And as he wold haue dronken therof / the Quene aspyed hym / and thenne she ranne vnto hym / and pulled the pyece from hym sodenly ¶The kyng merueilled why she dyd soo / and remembryd hym how her sone was sodenly slayne with poyson / And thenne he took her by the hand and sayd / thou fals traitresse thou shalte telle me what manere of drynke this is / or els I shalle slee the / And ther with he pul¦led oute his swerd / and sware a grete othe that be shold slee her / but yf she told hym trouthe / A mercy my lord sayd she / and I shalle telle you alle / And thenne she told hym why she wold haue slayne Trystram / by cause her chyldren shold reioyce his land / wel said kyng Melyodas / and therfor shal ye haue the lawe / And soo she was dampned by the assente of the Barons to be brent / and thenne was ther made a grete fyre / & ryght as she was at the fyre to take her execucion / yong

Trystram knelyd afore kynge Melyodas / and besought hym to gyue hym a bone / I wylle wel said the kynge ageyne / ¶Thenne saide yonge Trystram gyue me the lyf of thy que∣ne my stepmoder / That is vnryghtfully asked said kyng Me¦lyodas / for thou oughte of ryght to hate her / for she wold ha∣ue slayne the with that poyson and she myghte haue hadde her wille / And for thy sake moost is my cause that she sholde dye Syr saide Trystram as for that I byseche you of your mercy that ye wille forgyue hither / And as for my parte god forgy¦ue it her and I doo / and soo moche it lyked your hyhenes to graunte me my bone / for goddes loue I requyre you hold yo∣ur promyse / Sythen hit is soo said the kynge I wille that ye haue her lyf / thenne said the kynge I gyue her to you / and go ye to the fyre and take her / and doo with her what ye wylle / Soo syre Trystram wente to the fyre / and by the commaunde¦ment of the kyng delyuerd her from the dethe / But after that kynge Melyodas wold neuer haue adoo with her as at bedde and borde / But by the good meanes of yong Trystram he ma¦de the kynge and her accorded / But thenne the kynge wold not suffre yonge Trystram to abyde no lenger in his courte

¶Capitulum iij

ANd thenne he lete ordeyne a gentylman that was wel lerned and taughte / his name was gouernayle / and thenne he sente yonge Trystram with Gouernayle in to Fraunce to lerne the langage / and nurture / and dedes of armes / And there was Trystram more than seuen yeres / ¶ And thenne whanne he wel couthe speke the langage and hadde lerned alle that he myght lerne in that countreyes / then¦ne he came home to his fader kynge Melyodas ageyne / and so Trystram lerned to be an harper passynge alle other that there was none suche called in no countrey / and soo in harpynge & on Instrumentys of musyke he applyed hym in his yongthe for to lerne / And after as he growed in myght and strengthe he laboured euer in huntynge and in haukynge soo that neuer

gentylman more that euer we herd rede of / ¶And as the book sayth / he beganne good mesures of blowyng of beestes of venery and beestes of chace / and alle manere of vermayns / and alle these termes we haue yet of haukyng and huntyng And therfore the book of venery / of haukynge and hunty∣nge is called the book of syr Trystram / Wherfor as me semeth alle gentylmen that beren old armes oughte of ryght to ho∣noure syre Trystram for the goodly termes that gentilmen ha¦ue and vse / and shalle to the daye of dome / that there by in a maner alle men of worship maye disseuer a gentylman fro a yoman / and from a yoman a vylayne / For he that gentyl is wylle drawe hym vnto gentil tatches / and to folowe the cus∣tommes of noble gentylmen ¶Thus syr Trystram endured in Cornewaile vntyl he was bygge / and stronge / of the age of xviij yeres / And thenne the kynge Melyodas had grete ioye of syr Trystram / and soo had the quene his wyfe / For euer after in her lyf by cause syre Trystram saued her from the fyre she dyd neuer hate hym more after / but loued hym euer after / and gaf Trystram many grete yeftes for eue¦ry estate loued hym / where that he wente

¶Capitulum quartum

THenne it befelle that kynge Anguysshe of Irland / sente vnto kynge Marke of Cornewaile for his tru∣age that Cornewaile had payed many wynters / And alle that tyme kynge Marke was behynde of the truage for s••¦uen yeres / And kyng Marke and his Barons gaf vnto the messager of Irland these wordes and ansuere that they wo∣ld none paye / and bad the messagyer goo vnto his Kynge Anguysshe / and telle hym we wille paye hym no truage / but telle youre lord / and he wille alweyes haue truage of vs of Cornewaile / bydde hym sende a trusty knyghte of his land / that wille fyghte for his ryght / and we shalle fynde another for to defende oure ryght / with this ansuer the messagers de∣parted in to Irland / ¶And whanne kynge Anguysh vn∣derstood the ansuere of the messagers / he was wonderly wroth

And thenne he callyd vnto hym syr Marhaus the good kn∣yght that was nobly preued / and a knyghte of the table ro∣und / And this Marhaus was broder vnto the quene of Ir∣land / ¶Thenne the kynge sayd thus / Fayre broder sir Mar¦haus I praye yow goo in to Cornewaile for my sake and do bataille for our truage that of ryght we oughte to haue / and what someuer ye spende ye shalle haue suffyciently more than ye shal nede / Syre saide Marhaus wete ye wel that I shalle not be bothe to doo bataille in the ryght of you and your land with the best knyght of the table rounde / for I knowe them for the moost party what ben theire dedes / and for to auaunce my dedes and to encreace my worship I wylle ryght gladly goo vnto this iourneye for oure ryghte.

¶Soo in alle haste there was made purueaunce for syr mar¦haus / and he hadde al thynge that to hym neded / and soo he de∣parted out of Irland / and arryued vp in Cornewaile euen fast by the castel of Tyntagil / And whan kynge Marke vn∣derstood that he was there arryued to fyghte for Irland / ¶Thenne made kynge marke grete sorou whan he vnderstood that the good and noble knyghte sire Marhaus was come / For they knewe no knyght that durste haue adoo with hym / For at that tyme syre Marhaus was called one of the famo∣sest and renoumed knyghtes of the world

¶And thus syre Marhaus abode in the see / and euery daye he sente vnto kynge Marke for to paye the truage that was behynde of seuen yere / outher els to fynde a knyght to fyghte with hym for the truage / This maner of message syre Mar∣haus sente dayly vnto kynge Marke / ¶Thenne they of Cornewayle lete make cryes in euery place that what knyght wold fyghte for to saue the truage of Cornewaile he sholde be rewarded soo that he sholde fare the better the terme of hys ••yf / ¶Thenne some of the Barons sayde to kynge Marke / and counceiled hym to sende to the courte of Kynge Arthur for to se••••e ••yre Launcelot du lake that was that ty∣me named for the merueilloust Knyght of alle the worlde / ¶Thenne there were somme other Barons that counceylled the Kynge not to doo soo & said that it was laboure in vayn /

by cause syr Marhaus was a knyght of the round table / ther for ony of hem will be loth to haue adoo with other / but yf hit were ony knyght at his owne request wold fyghte dysguysed and vnknowen / Soo the kynge and alle his barons assented that it was no bote to seke ony knyght of the round table / ¶ This meane whyle came the langage and the noyse vnto kynge Meliodas hou that sire Marhaus abode bataille faste by Tyntagil / And how kyng Marke couthe fynde no maner kn∣yghte to fyghte for hym / Whan yong Trystram herd of thys / he was wrothe and sore ashamed that ther durst no knyghte in Cornewaile haue adoo with syr Marhaus of Irland /

¶Capitulum quintum

THere with al Trystram wente vnto his fader Kynge Meliodas and asked hym counceil what was best to doo for to recouer Cornewaile from truage / For as me semeth said sir Tristram it were shame that syr Marhaus the quenes broder of Irland shold goo aweye onles that he were foughten with alle ¶As for that said kyng Meliodas Wete you Wel sone Tristram that syre Marhaus is called one of the best knyghtes of the World and knyghte of the table round / And therfore I knowe no knyghte in this countre that is able to matche with hym / ¶ Allas saide syre Tristram that I am not made knyght / And yf sir Marhaus shold thus departe in to Irland / god lete me neuer haue wor∣ship and I were made knyght I shold matche hym / And syr said Trystram I pray you gyue me leue to ryde to kynge Mark / and soo ye be not displeasyd / of kynge Mark•• wille I be made Knyght / I wille wel saide kyng Meliodas that ye be ruled as your courage wille rule you

¶Thenne sir Trystram thanked his fader moche / And thenne he made hym redy to ryde in to Cornewaile / ¶In the meane whyle there came a messager with letters of loue fro kynge Faramon of Fraunces doughter vnto syre Trystram that we¦re ful pyteous letters & in them were wryten many compla∣yntes of loue / but syre Tristram had no Ioye of her letters nor

••••gard vnto her / Also she sente hym a lytel brachet that was ••assynge fayre / But whan the kynges doughter vnderstood that sy•••• Trystram wold not loue her / as the book sayth / she dyed for sorou / ¶ And thenne the same squyer that broughte the letter and the brachet came ageyne vnto syr Trystram / as after ye shalle here in the tale ¶Soo this yonge syre Trystram rode vnto his eme kynge Marke of Cornewa∣yle / ¶And whanne he came there / he herd say that ther wold ne knyghte fyghte with syre Marhaus / Thenne yede sir Tris∣tram vnto his eme and sayd / syre yf ye wylle gyue me thor∣dre of knyghthode / I wille doo bataille with syr Marhaus / what are ye said the kynge and from whens be ye comen / Sir said Trystram I come fro kynge Melyodas that wedded yo∣ur syster and a gentylman wete ye wel I am

¶Kynge Marke behelde sir Trystram and sawe that he was but a yonge man of age / but he was passyngly wel maade and bygge / ¶Faire syre said the kynge what is youre name and where were ye borne / Syre sayd he ageyne / my name is Trystram / and in the countreye of Lyones was I borne / Ye saye wel said the kynge / and yf ye wille doo this batayll I shalle make yow knyghte / Therfore I come to you sayd syre Trystram and for none other cause

¶But thenne kynge Marke made hym knyghte / And there with al anone as he had made hym knyght he sente a messa∣ge•• vnto syre Marhaus with letters that said / that he hadde fonde a yonge knyghte redy for to take the bataile to the vtter mest / hit may wel be said syre Marhaus / ¶But telle kynge Marke I wille not fyghte with no knyghte but he be of bl∣ood royal / that is to saye outher kynges sone outher quenes sone borne of a prynce or pryncesse /

¶whanne Kynge Marke vnderstood that / he sente for syre Trystram de lyones and tolde hym what was the ansuer of syr Marhaus / ¶Thenne sayd syre Trystram sythen that he se¦yth s••o / lete hym wete that I am comen of fader syde and mo¦der syde of as noble blood as he is / ¶For syre now shalle ye knowe that I am kynge Melyodas sone borne of youre own syster dame Elyzabeth that dyed in the forest in the byrthe of me / O Ihesu said kynge Mark ye are welcome faire neuewe

to me / ¶Thenne in alle the haste the kynge lete horse syr Tris¦tram and arme hym in the best maner that myghte be had or goten for gold or syluer / ¶And thenne kynge Marke sente vnto sir Marhaus / and dyd hym to wete that a letter born mā than he was hym self shold fyghte with hym / and his name is sir Trystram de lyonas goten of kynge Melyodas / and bo∣rne of kynge Markes syster / Thenne was sir Marhaus glad and blythe that he shold fyghte with suche a gentylman / and soo by the assente of kynge Mark and of syr Marhaus they lete ordeyne that they shold fyghte within an Iland nyghe syr Marhaus shyppes / and soo was syr Trystram putte in to a vessel bothe his hors and he and all that to hym longed bo∣the for his body and for his hors / Syre Trystram lacked no¦thynge / And whan kynge Marke and his Barons of Cor∣newaile beheld how yonge syr Trystram departed with suche a caryage to fyghte for the ryghte of Cornewaile / there was neyther man ne woman of worship but they wepte to see and vnderstande soo yonge a knyght to Ieoparde hym self for their ryghte /

¶Capitulum sextum

SOo to shorten this tale whan / syr Trystram was arry∣ued within the Iland / he loked to the ferther syde / & there he sawe at an anker syxe shippes nyghe to the land / and vnder the shadowe of the shippes vpon the land / there houed the noble knyghte syr Marhaus of Irland / Thenne syr Trys¦tram commaunded his seruaunt gouernail to brynge his hors to the land and dresse his harneis at al manere of ryghtes / And thenne whan he had soo done / he mounted vpon his hors And whan he was in his sadel wel apparailled / & his shelde dressid vpon his sholder / Trystram asked Gouernayle where is this knyghte that I shal haue adoo with alle / Syre sayd Gouernaile / see ye hym not / I wende ye had sene hym yonder he houeth vnder the vmbre of his shippes on horsbak with his spere in his hand and his sheld vpon his sholder / That is trouthe sayd the noble knyght syre Trystram now I see hym wel ynouʒ Thenne he commaunded his seruaunt Gouernayle

to goo to his vessaile ageyne / and commaunde me vnto myne eme kynge Marke / and praye hym / yf that I be slayn in this bataille for to entere my body as hym semed best / & as for me lete hym wete I will neuer yelde me for cowardyse / and yf I be slayne and flee not / thenne they haue lost no truage for me And yf soo be that I flee or yelde me as recreaūt / bydde myn eme neuer berye me in Crysten beryels / And vpon thy lyf sa∣id syr Trystram to Gouernayle / come thou not nyghe this I∣land tyl that thou see me ouercomen or slayne / or els that I wynne yonder knyght / soo eyther departed from other sore we pynge

¶Capitulum septimum

ANd thenne syr Marhaus auysed syr Trystram and sa∣id thus / yonge knyght syr Trystram what dost thou he¦re / me sore repenteth of thy courage / for wete thou wel I haue ben assayed / and the best knyghtes of this land haue ben as∣sayed of my hand / And also I haue matched with the best kn∣yghtes of the world / and therfor by my counceille retorne a∣geyne vnto thy vessaile / And faire knyght and wel preued knyght said syre Trystram thou shalt wel wete I maye not forsake the in this quarel / for I am for thy sake made knyght And thou shalt wel wete that I am a kynges sone born and goten vpon a quene / and suche promyse I haue made att my neuews request and myn owne sekyng that I shalle fyghte with the vnto the vttermest / and delyuer Cornewaile from the old truage / And also wete thou wel syr Marhaus / that this is the grettest cause that thou couragest me to haue adoo with the / For thou art called one of the moost renoumed kn∣yght••s of the world / and by cause of that noyse and fame / that thou hast / thou gyuest me courage to haue adoo with the / for neuer yet was I preued with good knyghte / And sy∣then I toke the ordre of knyghthode this day / I am wel plea∣syd that I maye haue adoo with so good a knyght as thou arte / And now wete thou wel syr Marhaus that I caste me to gete worship on thy body / And yf that I be not preued / I trust to god that I shal be worshipfully preued vpon thy bo¦dy / and to delyuer the countrey of Cornewaile for euer fro al

maner of truage from Irland for euer / whanne syr Marhau•• had herde hym saye what he wold / he saide thenne thus ageyn Fair Knyght sy••hen it is soo that thou castest to wynne wor¦ship of me / I lete the wete / worship may thou none lese by me yf thou mayst stande me thre strokes / for I lete the wete / for my noble dedes preued and sene / Kyng Arthur made me kny∣ghte of the table round / Thenne they beganne to feutre theyre speres / and they mette soo fyersly to gyders / that they smote eyther other doune / bothe hors and all / But sir Marhaus smo¦te syr Trystram a grete wounde in the syde with his spere / & thenne they auoyded their horses / and pulled oute their swer∣des / and threwe their sheldes afore them / And thenne they las∣shed to gyders as men that were wyld and couragyous / And whan they hadde stryken soo to gyder longe / thenne they lefte her strokes / and foyned at their brethes and vysours / & when they sawe that that myght not preuaile them / thēne they hurt led to gyders lyke rammes to bere eyther other doun / thus they fought stylle more than half a day / and eyder were wounded passyng sore / that the blood ranne doune fresshly fro them vp¦on the ground / By thenne syr Trystram waxed more fressher / than syr Marhaus and better wynded and bygger / and with a myghty stroke he smote syr Marhaus vpon the helme suche a buffet that hit went thorou his helme / and thorou the coyfe of stele and thorou the brayn pan / and the swerd stak soo fast in the helme and in his brayn pan that sir Trystram pulled thry∣es at his swerd or euer he myght pulle it out from his hede / & there Marhaus felle doun on his knees the edge of Tristrams swerd left in his brayne pan / And sodenly syr Marhaus rose grouelynge / and threwe his swerd and his shelde from hym / and soo ranne to his shippes and fledde his waye / and sir tris¦tram hadde euer his shelde and his swerd / And whan sir Tris∣tram sawe sir Marhaus withdrawe hym / he said A sir knyght of the roūd table why withdrawest thou the / thou dost thy selfe and thy kyn grete shame / for I am but a yong Knyghte / or now I was neuer preued / and rather than I shold withdra∣we me from the / I had rather be hewen in C pyeces / Syr mar¦haus ansuerd no worde but yede his way sore gronynge / well sir knyght said sir Tristram I promy••e the thy suerd and thy

sheld shal be myn / and thy sheld shalle I were in al places where I ryde on myn aduentures and in the syghte of kyng Arthur and alle the round table

¶Capitulum viij

ANon sir Marhaus and his felauship departed in to Ir∣land / And as soone as he came to the kynge his bro∣der / be lete serche his woundes / ¶ And whan his hede was serched / a pyece of syre Trystrams swerd was founden therin / and myghte neuer be had oute of his hede for no surge¦ons / and soo he dyed of syr Trystrams swerd / and that py∣ece of the swerd the quene his syster kepte hit for euer wyth her / for she thoughte to be reuengyd and she myghte / ¶Now torne we ageyne vnto syr Trystram that was sore wounded / and ful sore bled that he myʒt not within a lytel whyle when he had take cold vnnethe stere hym of his lymmes / And thē¦ne he sette hym doune softely vpon a lytel hylle / and bledde fast / Thenne anone came Gouernaile his man with his vessel And the kynge and his barons came with procession ageynst hym / And whan he was come vnto the land / Kynge Marke toke hym in his armes / and the kynge and sir Dynas the se¦nescal ladde syr Tristram in to the castel of Tyntygail / And thenne was he serched in the best maner / and leid in his bedde / And whan kynge Marke sawe his woundes / he wepte hertely and soo dyd alle his lordes / So god me help said kyng Mark I wolde not for alle my landes that my neuewe dyed / Soo syr Trystram laye there a moneth and more / and euer he was lyke to deye of that stroke that sir Marhaus smote hym fyrst with the spere / For as the Frensshe book saith / the speres hede was enuenymed that syr Trystram myghte not be hole / Then¦ne was kynge Mark and alle his barons passynge heuy / For they demed none other / but that syr Trystram shold not reco∣uer / Thenne the kynge lete sende after alle manere of leches & surgens bothe vnto men and wymmen / and there was none / that wold behote hym the lyf / Thenne came there a lady that was a ryght wyse lady / & she said playnly vnto kyng mark and to sir Trystram and to alle his barons that he shold neuer

be hole / but yf sire Trystram wente in the same countrey that the venym came fro / and in that countrey shold he be ho••pe•• or els neuer / Thus said the lady vnto the Kynge / whan ky∣nge Marke vnderstood that / he lete purueye for syr Trystram a faire vessel / wel vytailled / and therin was put syr Trys∣tram and gouernail with hym / and sir Tristram toke his harp with hym / and soo he was putte in to the see to sayle in to Ir∣land / and soo by good fortune he arryued vp in Irland e∣uen fast by a castel where the Kynge and the quene was / and at his arryuayl he sat and harped in his bedde a mery lay su¦che one herd they neuer none in Irland afore that tyme / ¶And whan it was told the Kyng and the quene of suche a Knyght that was suche an harper / anone the Kyng sente for hym / and lete serche his woundes / and thenne asked hym his name / thenne he ansuerd I am of the countrey of Lyonas / & my name is Tramtryst that thus was wounded in a bataille as I fought for a ladyes ryght / So god me help said kyng Anguysshe ye shal haue al the helpe in this land that ye may haue here / But I lete you wete in Cornewaile I had a gre∣te losse / as euer hadde kynge / for there I lost the best knyghte of the world / his name was Marhaus a ful noble knyghte and Knyght of the table round / and there he told syr Trystrā wherefore syr Marhaus was slayne / Syr Trystram made sem blaunt as he had ben sory / and better knewe he how hit was than the kynge

¶Capitulum ix

THenne the kynge for grete fauoure maade Tramtryst to be put in his doughters ward and kepyng by cau∣se she was a noble surgeon / And whan she had serched hym / she fond in the bottome of his wound that therin was poyson / and soo she heled hym within a whyle / and therfore Tramtrist cast grete loue to la beals Isoud / for she was at that tyme the fairest mayde and lady of the worlde / And there Tramtryst lerned her to harpe / and she beganne to haue a grete fantasye vnto hym / And at that tyme sir Palamydes the sarasyn Was in that countrey and Wel cherysshed With the kynge and the

quene / And euery day syr Palamydes drewe vnto la beale Isoud / and profered her many yeftes / for he loued her passy∣ngly wel / Al that Aspyed Tramtryst / and ful wel knewe he syr Palamydes for a noble knyght and a myghty man / And wete ye wel syr Tramtryst had grete despyte at syr pa∣lomydes / for la beale Isoud told Tramtryst that Palamydes was in wylle to be crystened for her sake / Thus was ther gre¦te enuy betwixe Tramtryst and syr Palamydes / Thenne hit befelle that kynge Anguysshe lete crye a grete Iustes and a grete turnement for a lady that was called the lady of the la∣undes / and she was nyghe cosyn vnto the kynge / And what man wanne her / thre dayes after he shold wedde her and ha∣ue alle her landes / This crye Was made in England / walys Scotland and also in Fraunce and in Bretayne / It befelle vpon a day la beale Isoud came vnto syr Tramtryst and told hym of this turnement / he ansuerd and sayd fayr lady I am but a feble knyghte / and but late I had ben dede / had not your good ladyship ben / Now fayre lady what wold ye I shold doo in this matere / wel ye wote my lady that I maye not Iuste / A Tramtryst said la beale Isoud why wille ye not haue ado at that turnement / wel I wote syr Palamydes shall be there / and to doo what he maye / And therfore Tram∣tryst I pray you for to be there / for els syr Palamydes is ly∣ke to wynne the degree / Madame said Tramtrist as for that / it may be soo / for he is a proued knyght / and I am but a yong knyght and late made / and the fyrst batail that I dyd it myshapped me to be sore wounded as ye see / But and I wyst ye wold be my better lady / at that turnement I will be so that ye wille kepe my counceille and lete no creature haue knouleche that I shalle Iuste but your self / and suche as ye wil to kepe your counceil / my poure persone shall I Ieoparde there for your sake that perauentur sir Palamydes shal kno∣we whan that I come / Therto said la beale Isoud do your best & as I can said la beale Isoud I shal purueye hors and ar∣mour for you at my deuyse / as ye will soo be hit said syr Trā¦trist I wille be at your cōmaundement / So at the day of Ius∣tes / ther cam sir Palamydes with a black sheld / & he ouerthrew many knyghtes that alle the peple had merueylle of hym /

For he putte to the werse syr Gawayne / Gaherys / Agrauayn Bagdemagus / kay / Dodyus le saueage / Sagramo•• le desy∣rus / Gumret le petyte / and Gryflet le fyse de dieu / Alle these the fyrste daye syr Palamydes strake doune to the erthe / And thenne alle maner of knyghtes were adred of sir Palamydes and many called hym the knyght with the black sheld•• / Soo that day syre Palamydes had grete worshyp / ¶Thenne cam kynge Anguysshe vnto Tramtryst / and asked hym why he wold not Iuste / Syr he said I was but late hurte / and as yet I dare not auenture me / ¶Thenne came there the same squyer that was sente from the kynges doughter of Fraunce / vnto syr Trystram / And whanne he had aspyed syre Iristrā he felle flat to his feete / Alle that aspyed la Bele Isoud / what curtosye the squyer made vnto syr Trystram / And ther∣with al sodenly syr Trystram ranne vnto his squyer whos na¦me was Hebes le renoumes / and praid hym hertely in noo wyse to telle his name / Syr said Hebes I wille not discouer your name / but yf ye commaunde me

¶Capitulum x

THenne syr Trystram asked hym what he dyd in those countreyes / syr he sayd / I came hyder with syr Gawa¦yn for to be made knyght / And yf it please you of your han∣des that I may be made knyghte / Awaite vpon me as to morn secretely / and in the feld I shal make you a knyght / Thenne had la beale Isoud grete suspecyon vnto Tramtryst that he was somme man of worship proued / and ther with she com¦forted her self / and cast more loue vnto hym than she had do∣ne tofore ¶And soo on the morne syr Palamydes maade hym redy to come in to the feld as he dyd the fyrst day / And there he smote doune the kynge with the C knyghtes and the kynge of Scottes / ¶Thenne had la beale Isoud ordeyned and wel arayed syr Trystram in whyte hors and harneis / And ryght soo she lete putte hym oute at a preuy posterne / & soo he came in to the feld as it had ben a bryght angel / And anone syr Palamydes aspyed hym / and ther with he feutrid a spere vnto syr Tramtrist / and he ageyne vnto hym / And

there syr Trystram smote doune syr Palamydes vnto the erth And thenne there was a grete noyse of peple / some sayd / syre Palamydes hadde a falle / some said the knyght with the blak shelde had a falle / And wete you wel la beale Isoud was passynge gladde / And thenne sire Gawayne and his felawes ix had merueille what knyghte it myght be that had smyten doune syr Palamydes / Thenne wold there none Iuste with Tramtryst / but alle that there were forsoke hym / moost & lest / Thenne syr Trystram made Hebes a knyght / and caused hym to put hym self forthe / and dyd ryght wel that day / So af∣ter syr Hebes held hym with syr Trystram / And whan syre Palamydes had receyued this falle / wete ye wel that he was sore ashamed / And as pryuely as he myght / he Withdrewe hym oute of the feld / Alle that aspyed syre Trystram / and lyghtly he rode after syre Palamydes and ouertoke hym / and badde hym torne / for better he wold assaye hym / or euer he departed Thenne syr Palamydes torned hym and eyther lasshed at other with their swerdes / But at the fyrste stroke syre Trystram smote doune Palamydes / and gaf hym suche a stroke vpon the hede that he felle to the erthe / Soo thenne Tris∣tram badde yelde hym / and doo his commaundement or els he wold slee hym / whan syre Palamydes beheld his countena∣unce / he dredde his buffets soo / that he graunted al his as kyn∣ges / Wel said / said sir Tristram / this shalle be your charge / Fyrst vpon payne of your lyf that ye forsake my lady la be∣ale Isoud / and in no maner wyse that ye drawe not to her / Also this twelue moneth and a day / that ye bere none armo∣ur nor none harneis of werre / ¶Now promyse me this or here shalt thou dye / Allas saide Palamydes for euer I am asha∣med / ¶Thenne he sware as syr Trystram hadde commaunded hym / Thenne for despyte and anger / syre Palamydes cutte of his harneis / and threwe them aweye / And soo syr Trystram torned ageyne to the Castel where was la beale Isoud / and by the weye he mette with a damoysel that asked after syre launcelot that wanne the dolorous gard Worshipfully / & this damoysel asked sire Tristram What he Was / For it Was tolde her that it Was he that smote doune syr Palamydes / by Whom the x knyghtes of kynge Arthurs Were smyten doune /

Thenne the damoysel prayd syr Trystram to telle her what h•• was / And whether that he were syr Launcelot du lake / for she demyd that there was no knyght in the world myghte do su∣che dedes of armes / but yf it were Launcelot / Fayre damoysel sayd syr Trystram wete ye wel that I am not syr launcelot for I was neuer of suche prowesse / but in god is al that he maye make me as good a knyght as the good knyght sir laū¦celot / Now gentyl knyght said she / put vp thy vysure / & whan she beheld his vysage / she thouʒt she sawe neuer a better mās vysage / nor a better farynge knyght / And thenne whan the damoysel knewe certaynly that he was not syre launcelot / thenne she took her leue and departed from hym / And then∣ne syre Trystram rode pryuely vnto the posterne where kepte hym la beale Isoud / and there she made hym good chere and thanked god of his good spede / Soo anone within a whyle the kynge and the quene vnderstood that hit was Tramtryst that smote doune syre Palamydes / thenne was he moche ma∣de of more than he was before

¶Capitulum xj

THus was sir Tramtryst longe there wel cherysshed / with the kynge and the quene / and namely with la¦beale Isoud / So vpon a daye / the quene and la beale Isoud made a bayne for syre Tramtryst / And whan he was in his bayne / the quene and Isoud her doughter romed vp & doune in the chamber / and there whyles Gouernail and He∣bes attendyd vpon Tramtryst / & the quene beheld his swerd there as it laye vpon his bedde / And thēne by vnhap the que∣ne drewe oute his swerd / and beheld it a longe whyle / and bothe they thoughte it a passynge fayre swerd / but within a foote and an half of the poynte there was a grete pyece there of oute broken of the edge / And whan the quene aspyed that gap in the swerd / she remembryd her of a pyece of a swerd / that was foūde in the brayne pan of syre Marhaus the good knyght that was her broder / Allas thenne said she vnto her doughter la beale Isoud / this is the same traytour knyghte that slewe my broder thyn eme / Whanne Isoud herd her saye

soo / she was passynge sore abasshed / for passyng wel she loued Tramtryst / and ful wel she knewe the cruelnes of her moder the quene / Anon there with alle the quene went▪ vnto her ow∣ne chamber / and soughte her cofre / and there she toke oute the pyece of the swerd that was pulled out of syr Marhaus hede after that he was dede / / And thenne she ranne with that pyece of yron to the swerd that laye vpon the bedde / And whanne she putte that pyece of stele and yron vnto the swerd / hit was as mete as it myghte be / whan it was newe broken / And thē∣ne the quene gryped that swerd in her hand fyersly / & with alle her myghte she ranne streyghte vpon Tramtryst where he sat in his bayne / And there she hadde ryued hym thorou hadde not syr Hebes goten her in his armes / and pulled the suerd from her / and els she hadde threst hym thorou / Thenne whanne she was lettyd of her euyl wylle / she ranne to the kynge An¦guyssh her husband and sayde on her knees / O my lord here haue ye in your hous that traitour knyght that slewe my bro¦der and your seruaunt that noble knyght syr Marhaus / who is that said kynge Anguysshe and where is he / Syr she said hit is syr Tramtryst the same knyght that my doughter helyd Allas said the kynge therfore am I ryght heuy / for he is a ful noble knyght as euer I sawe in felde / ¶But I charge you said the kyng to the quene that ye haue not ado with that knyght / but lete me dele with hym / Thenne the kynge went in to the chambre vnto syr Tramtryst / and thenne was he gone vnto his chambre / and the kynge fond hym al redy armed to mounte vpon his hors / whanne the kynge sawe hym al redy armed to goo vnto horsbak / the kynge said nay Tramtryst hit wille not auaile to compare the ageynst me / But thus moche I shalle doo for my worship and for thy loue in soo moch as thou arte within my courte / hit were no worship for me to slee the / Therfore vpon this condycyon I wille gyue the leue for to departe from this courte in saufte / so thou wilt telle me who was thy fader / and what is thy name / and yf thou slewe syr Marhaus my broder

¶Capitulum xij

SYr said Trystram now I shalle telle you alle the tro∣uthe / my faders name is sir Melyodas kynge of Lyo∣nas / & my moder hyʒt Elyzabeth that was sister vnto kynge Marke of Cornewaile / & my moder dyed of me in the foreste / And by cause therof she commaunded or she dyed that whan I were crystened / they shold crystene me Trystram / & by cause I wold not be knowen in this countrey I turned my name and lete me calle Tramtryst / & for the truage of Corne¦wayle I fought for myn emes sake / & for the ryght of Cor∣newaile that ye had posseded many yeres / And wete ye well said Trystram vnto the kynge I dyd the bataille for the loue of myn vnkel kynge Marke / and for the loue of the countreye of Cornewaile / and for to encreace myn honoure / For that sa∣me day that I fought with sir Marhaus I was made knyʒt And neuer or than dyd I no bataile with no knyght / & fro¦me he went alyue & lefte his sheld & his suerd behynde / so god me helpe said the kyng I may not say but ye dyd as a kny∣ght shold / & it was your part to doo for your quarel / & to en¦creace your worship as a knyght shold / how be it I may not mayntene you in this countrey with my worship onles that I shold displease my barons & my wyf / & her kyn / Syr said Tr∣ystram I thanke you of your good lordship that I haue had with you here / and the grete goodenes my lady your doughter hath shewed me / & therfor said sir Tristram it may so happen that ye shalle wynne more by my lyf than by my dethe / for in the partyes of Englond it may happen I may doo you scruyse at some season that ye shal be glad that euer ye shewed me yo¦ur good lordship / ¶With more I promyse you as I am true knyʒt that in all places I shal be my lady your douʒters ser∣uaunt / & knyʒt in ryght & in wrong / & I shal neuer fayle her to doo as moche as a knyght maye doo

¶Also I byseche your good grace that I may take my leue at my lady your doughter and at alle the Barons and kny∣ghtes / I wille wel said the kynge / ¶Thenne sire Tristram wente vnto la beale Isoud / and tooke his leue of her / And thenne he tolde her all what he was and how he had chaunged his name by cause he wold not be knowen / & hou a lady told hym he y^t shold neuer be hole tyl he cam in to this coūtrey where

the poyson was made / where thorou I was nere my dethe had not your ladyship ben / O gentyl knyght said la beale Isoud ful wo am I of thy departynge / for I sawe neuer man that I oughte soo good wille to / and there with all she wepte her¦tely / Madame said sire Trystram ye shalle vnderstande that my name is sir Trystram de lyones goten of kyng Melyodas and borne of his quene / And I promyse you feythfully that I shal be alle the dayes of my lyf your knyghte / Gramercy sa¦id La beale Isoud / and I promyse you there ageynste that I shalle not be maryed this seuen yeres but by your assent / and to whome that ye wille I shalle be maryed to / hym wylle I haue / and he wille haue me yf ye wil consente / And thenne syre Trystram gaf her a rynge and she gaf hym another / and ther with he departed fro her / leuynge her / makynge grete dole and lamentacion / and he streyghte wente vnto the Courte a∣monge alle the Barons / and there he took his leue at moost and leest / and openly he said amonge them all / Faire lordes now it is soo that I muste departe / Yf there be ony man here that I haue offended vnto / or that ony man be with me gre∣ued / lete complayne hym here afore me or that euer I depart and I shal amende it vnto my power / And yf there be ony that wil profer me wronge or say of me wrong / or shame be∣hynde my bak / saye hit now or neuer / and here is my body to make it good body ageynst body / And alle they stood stylle / ther was not one that wold saye one word / yet were there some knyghtes that were of the quenes blood and of sire Mar∣baus blood / but they wold not medle with hym /

¶Capitulum xiij

SOo sir Tristram departed and toke the see / & with good wynde he arryued vp at Tyntagyl in Cornewaile / & whan kyng Mark was hole in his prosperite ther cam tydynges that sir Tristram was arryued and hole of his wo∣undes / therof was kynge marke passyng glad / & soo were alle the barons / & whan he sawe his tyme he rode vnto his fader ky∣ng melyodas / & there he had al the chere that the kyng & the quene coude make hym / And thenne largely Kyng Melyo∣das and his quene departed of their landes and goodes to sire Trystram / ¶Thenne by the lycence of Kyng

Melyodas his fader he retorned ageyne vnto the court of ky∣nge Mark / and there he lyued in grete ioye long tyme / vntyl at the laste there befelle a Ialousye and an vnkyndenes betw∣yxe kynge Marke and sir Tristram / for they loued bothe one lady / And she was an erles wyf that hyght syre Segwary∣des / And this lady loued syre Trystram passyngly wel / And he loued her ageyne for she was a passynge fayr lady / And that aspyed sir Tristram wel / ¶ Thenne kynge Mark vnderstood that and was Ialous / for kyng Marke loued her passyngly wel / Soo it felle vpon a day / this lady sent a dw∣erf vnto sir Tristram and badde hym as he loued her / that he wold be with her the nyʒt nexte folowynge / Also she charged you that ye come not to her but yf ye be wel armed / for her lo∣rd was called a good knyghte ¶Syre Trystram an¦swerd to the dwerf / recommaunde me vnto my lady / and telle her I wille not fayle but I wille be with her the terme that she hath sette me / and with this ansuer the dwerf departed / And kynge Marke aspyed that the dwerfe was with syre Trystram vpon message from Segwarydes wyf / thenne kyng Marke sent for the dwerfe / And whanne he was comen / he maade the dwerf by force to telle hym alle why and wherfore that he came on message from sire Tristram

¶Now said kynge Marke goo where thou wolt / and vpon payne of dethe that thou saye no word that thou spakest with me / soo the dwerf departed from the kynge / ¶And that same nyghte that the steuen was sette betwixt Segwarydes wyfe & syr Trystram kynge Marke armed hym / and made hym redy and took two knyghtes of his counceylle with hym / and soo he rode afore for to abyde by the waye / for to awayte vpon sir Trystram / ¶And as sire Trystram came rydynge vpon hys waye with his spere in his hand / kynge Marke came hurt∣lynge vpon hym with his two knyghtes sodenly / And alle thre smote hym with theyre speres / and kynge Marke hurte syre Trystram on the brest ryght sore / And thenne syre Tris∣tram feutryd his spere / and smote his vnkel kynge Marke soo sore that he rasshyd hym to the erthe / and brysed hym that he laye stylle in a swoune / and longe hit was or euer

he myghte welde hym self / And thenne he ranne to the one kn∣yght / and ef••e to the other / and smote hem to the cold erthe / that they laye stylle / And ther with alle sir Tristram rode fo∣rthe sore wounded to the lady / and fonde her abydynge hym at a posterne

¶Capitulum xiiij

ANd there she welcomed hym fayre / and eyther halsed other in armes / and soo she lete putte vp his hors in the best wyse / and thenne she vnarmed hym / And soo they soup••d lyghtely and wente to bedde with grete ioye and plesaunce / and soo in his ragyng he took no kepe of his grene wound that kynge Marke had gyuen hym / And soo syr Tris¦tram bebled both the ouer shete and the nether & pelowes / and hede shete / and within a whyle ther came one afore that war∣ned her that her lord was nere hand within a bowe draughte Soo she made sir Trystram to aryse / and soo he armed hym / and tooke his hors and so departed / By thenne was come seg¦warydes her lord / and whan he fond her bedde troubled & bro∣ken and wente nere and beheld it by candel lyghte / thenne he sawe that there had layne a wounded knyght / A fals tra∣itresse thenne he said / why hast thou bitrayed me / and there with alle he swange oute a swerd and said / but yf thou telle me who hath ben here / here thou shalt dye / A my lord mercy sa∣yd the lady / and helde vp her handes / sayeng / slee me not / and I shall telle you alle who hath ben here / Telle anone said seg∣warydes to me alle the trouthe / Anone for drede she saide here was sir Trystram with me / and by the way as he came to me ward / he was sore wounded / A fals traitresse said segwarides where is he become / sir she said he is armed and departed on ho∣••e bak not yet hens half a myle / ye saye wel said segwarydes thenne he armed hym lyghtly / and gate his hors and rode af¦ter syre Tristram that rode streyght waye vnto Tyntagyl / And within a whyle he ouertoke sire Tristram / And thenne he ••adde hym torne fals traitour knyghte / and syr Tristram anon torned hym ageynst hym / And there with al segwarides smo¦te syr Trystram with a spere that it alle to braste / ¶And

thenne he swange oute his swerd / and smote fast at syr Tris¦tram / Syre knyght said syre Trystram I counceyle you that ye smyte no more how be it for the wronges that I haue do∣ne you / I wille forbere you as longe as I maye / ¶Nay sa¦yd Segwarides that shalle not be / for outher thou shalt dye or I / Thenne syre Tristram drewe oute his swerd and hurt¦led his hors vnto hym fyersly / and thorou the waste of the body he smote syre Segwarides that he felle to the erthe in a swoune / And soo sire Tristram departed and lefte hym there And soo he rode vnto Tyntagil and tooke his lodgynge secre∣tely for he wold not be knowen that he was hurte

¶Also sir Segwarides men rode after theyr maister / whome they fond lyenge in the feld sore wounded / and brouʒt hym home on his shelde / and there he lay longe or that he were ho∣le / but at the laste he recouerd ¶ Also kynge Marke wold not be aknowen of that sir Tristram and he hadde mette that nyght / And as for syre Trystram he knewe not that ky∣nge Marke had mette with hym / And soo the kynges astaū∣ce came to sir Tristram to comforte hym as he laye seke in his bedde / But as longe as kynge Marke lyued / he loued neuer sire Trystram after that / though there was fayre speche / loue was there none / And thus it past many wekes and dayes / & alle was forgyuen and forgoten / For sire Segwarydes durste not haue ado with sir Tristram by cause of his noble prowesse And also by cause he was neuewe vnto kynge Marke / ther∣fore he lete it ouer slyp / for he that hath a pryuy hurte is loth to haue a shame outward

¶Capitulum xv /

THenne hit befelle vpon a daye that the good knyghte Bleoberys de ganys broder to Blamore de ganys / & nyghe cosyn vnto the good knyght sir launcelot du la¦ke / This Bleoberys came vnto the courte of kynge Marke / & there he asked of kynge Marke a bone to gyue hym what yeft that he wold aske in his courte

¶Whanne the kyng herd hym aske soo / he merueilled of hys

askynge / but by cause he Was a knyghte of the round table / & of a grete renomme / kynge Marke graunted hym his hole as∣kynge / thenne saide sire Bleoberys I Wille haue the fayrest lady in your Courte that me lyst to chese / I maye not say nay sayd kynge marke / Now chese at youre aduenture

And soo sir Bleoberys dyd chese syr segwarydes wyf / and to∣ke her by the hand and soo wente his waye with her / and soo he tooke his hors and gart sette her behynde his squyer and rode vpon his way / When sir segwarydes herd telle that his la¦dy was gone with a knyght of kynge Arthurs courte /

¶Thenne he armed hym and rode after that knyght for to re¦scowe his lady / soo whan Bleoberys was gone with this la¦dy / kyng Mark and all the courte was wroth that she was a∣wey / thenne were there certayne ladyes that knewe that there was grete loue bitwene sir Tristram and her / and also that la¦dy loued sir Tristram aboue alle other knyghtes / Thenne there was one lady that rebuked sir Tristram in the horryblest wy¦se / and called hym coward knyghte / that he wold for shame of his knyghthode see a lady soo shamefully be taken aweye / fro his vnkels courte / But she ment that eyther of hem hadde loued other with entiere hert / But sire Tristram ansuerd her thus / Faire lady it is not my parte to haue adoo in suche ma¦ters whyle her lord and husband is present here / And yf hit hadde ben that her lord hadde not ben here in this courte / thenne for the worship of this courte perauentur / I wold haue ben her champyon / And yf so be / sir segwarides spede not wel / it may happen that I wille speke with that good knyght / or euer he passe from this countrey / Thenne within a whyle came one of sir segwarydes squyers / and told in the court that sir segwari¦des was beten sore and wounded to the poynte of dethe / as he wold haue rescowed his lady / sir Bleoberis ouerthrewe hym and sore hath Wounded hym / Thenne was kynge marke heuy therof / and alle the courte / When sire Tristram herd of this / he Was ashamed and sore greued / And thenne Was he soone ar∣med and on horsbak / & gouernaile his seruaunt bare his shelde and spere / And soo as sire Tristram rode fast / he mette With sir Andret his cosyn that by the commaundement of kynge Ma∣rke Was sente to brynge forth & euer it laye in his power / ij /

knyghtes of Arthurs Courte that rode by the countrey to seke their aduentures / Whan syr Trystram sawe sir Andret / he as∣ked hym What tydynges / Soo god me helpe said syre An∣dret / ther was neuer worse with me / for here by the commaun∣dement of kynge Mark I was sente to fetche two knyghtes of kynge Arthurs courte / and that one bete me / and wounded me / and sette nought by my message / Faire cosyn said sir tris¦tram ryde on your way / and yf I may mete them / it may hap¦pen I shal reuenge you / So syr Andret rode in to Cornewaile And syr Tristram rode after the two knyghtes the whiche one hyght Sagramor le desyrus / & the other hyght Dodynas le saueage /

¶Capitulum xvj /

THenne within a whyle syr Trystram sawe hem afore hym two lykely knyghtes / Sir said Gouernaile vnto his maister / sir I wold counceile you nought to haue ado with hem / for they ben two preued knyghtes of Arthurs Courte / As for that said syr Trystram haue ye no doute / but I wille haue adoo with hem to encreace my worship / for it is many daye sythen I dyd ony dedes of armes / doo as ye lyste said Gouernaile / and there with alle anone syr Trystram as¦ked them / from whens they came / and Wheder they wold / and what they dyd in tho marches / Syre Sagramore loked vpon syre Tristram / and hadde scorne of his wordes / & asked hym ageyne / Fair knyghte be ye a knyght of Cornewaile / where by aske ye hit said sir Tristram / For it is seldom sene said sir Sa¦gramore that ye Cornysshe knyghtes ben valyaunte men of armes / For within these two houres there mette vs one of you cornysshe knyghtes / and grete wordes he spak / and anon with lytel myght he was leyd to the erthe / And as I trowe sayd sir Sagramore ye shal haue the same handsel that he hadde Faire lordes said sire Tristram it may soo happen that I maye better withstande than he dyd / and whether ye will or nyl / I wil haue ado with you / by cause he was my cosyn that ye bete And therfore here do your best / & wete ye wel but yf ye quyte you the better here vpon this ground / one knyʒt of cornewaile shal bete you both / whan sire Dodynas le saueage herd hym saye soo he gatte a spere in his hand and said / sire knyghte

thy self / And thenne they departed and came to gyders as it had ben thonder / And syr Dodynas spere brast in sonder / but syr Trystram smote hym with a more myght / that he smote hym clene ouer the hors croupe that nyghe he hadde broken his neck / whanne syre Sagramour sawe his felawe haue suche a falle / he merueylled what knyʒt he myght be / And he dresseth his spere with alle his myght / and syr Trystram ageynst hym and they came to gyders as the thonder / and ther sir Tristram smote syr Sagramore a stronge buffet that he bare his hors & hym to the erthe / and in the fallyng he brake his thygh / whan this was done / syr Trystram asked hem / Fayre knyghtes will ye ony more / Be there no bygger knyʒtes in the courte of ky∣nge Arthur / it is to you shame to say of vs knyʒtes of Corne¦wayle dishonoure / for it may happen a Cornysshe knyght may matche you / that is trouthe said syr Sagramore / that haue we wel preued / but I requyre the sayd syre Sagramore telle vs youre ryght name by the feythe and trouthe that ye owe to the hyghe ordre of knyghthode / ye charge me with a grete thy∣nge said syr Trystram / and sythen ye lyst to wete hit / ye shal knowe and vnderstande that my name is syr Trystram de ly∣onas kynge Melyodas sone / and neuewe vnto kynge Marke Thenne were they two knyghtes fayne / that they had mette with Trystram / and soo they praid hym to abyde in their fela∣uship / Nay said sire Tristram / for I must haue ado with one of your felawes / his name is syr Bleoberys de ganys / god spe¦de you wel said syr Sagramore and Dodynas / Syre Trys∣tram departed and rode on ward on his waye / And thenne was he ware before hym in a valeye where rode syr Bleoberys with sir Segwarydes lady that rode behynde his squyer vpon a palfroy

¶Capitulum xvii

THēne syr Trystram rode more than a paas vntyl that he had ouertake hym / Thenne spak syr Trystram aby¦de he said knyght of Arthurs courte / brynge ageyne that lady or delyuer her to me / I wille doo neyther said Ble¦oberys / for I drede no Cornysshe knyght soo sore that me lyste

to delyuer her / why said syr Tristram may not a Cornysshe kn∣yght doo as wel as another knyght / this same daye two kn∣yghtes of your Courte within this thre myle mette with me / And or euer we departed / they fonde a Cornyssh knyght go∣od ynough for them bothe / what were their names said Bleo¦beris / they told me said syr Trystram that the one of them hy∣ghte syr Sagramore le desyrus / and the other hyghte Dody∣nas le saueage / A said syr Bleoberys haue ye met with them Soo god me helpe they were two good knyghtes and men of grete worship / And yf ye haue bete them bothe / ye must nedes be a good knyght / but yf it soo be / ye haue bete them bothe / yet shalle ye not fere me / but ye shalle bete me / or euer ye haue thys lady / Thenne defende you said syr Tristram / soo they departed and came to gyder lyke thonder / and eyder bare other doune hors and alle to the erthe / Thenne they auoyded their horses / and lasshed to gyder egerly with swerdes and myghtely / now tracyng and trauersynge on the ryght hand and on the lyfte hand more than two houres / And somtyme they rasshed to gy¦der with suche a myght that they laye bothe grouelynge on the ground / Thenne sir Bleoberis de ganys starte abak / and said thus / Now gentyl good knyght a whyle hold your handes / & lete vs speke to gyders / Saye what ye wille said Trystram / & I wille ansuere you / Sire saide Bleoberys I wold wete of whens ye be / and of whom ye be come / and what is your na∣me / Soo god me help said syr Trystram I fere not to telle you my name / Wete ye wel I am kynge Melyodas sone / and my moder is kyng Markes sister / and my name is sir Tristram de Lyonas and kynge Marke is myn vnkel / Truly said Bleo¦berys I am ryght gladde of you / for ye are he that slewe mar¦haus the knyght hand for hand in an Iland for the truage of Cornewaile / Also ye ouercame sir Palamydes the good kny∣ght at a turnement in an Iland / where ye bete sir Gawayne & his nyne felawes / Soo god me helpe said sir Trystram wete ye wel that I am the same knyʒt / Now I haue told you my name / telle me yours with good will / Wete ye wel that my name is sir Bleoberys do g••n••s / and my broder hyghte sire Blamore de ganys / that is called a good knyght and we be syster children vnto my lord sir Laūcelot du lake that we calle

one of the best knyghtes of the world / That is trouthe said sir Tristram / sir Launcelot is called pierles of curtosy and of kn∣yghthode / and for his sake said sir Trystram I will not with my good wille fyghte no more with you for the grete loue I haue to sir Launcelot du lake / In good feith said Bleobe∣rys / as for me / I wille be lothe to fyghte with you / But sy∣then ye folowe me here to haue this lady / I shal profer you ky∣ndenys curtosy and gentilnes right here vpon this ground / This lady shalle be betwixe vs bothe / and to whome that she wille go / lete hym haue her in pees / I wille wel said Tristrā For as I deme she wille leue you / and come to me / ye shalle preue hit anone said Bleoberys

¶Capitulum xviij

SOo whan she was sette betwixe them bothe / she sayd these wordes vnto sir Tristram / wete ye wel syr Tris∣tram de lyones that but late thou was the man in the world that I moost loued and trusted / And I wende thou haddest loued me ageyne aboue alle ladyes / But whan thou sawest this knyght lede me awey thou madest no chere to resco¦we me / but suffred my lord Segwarydes ryde after me / but vn tyl that tyme I wend thou haddest loued me / And ther∣fore now I wille leue the / and neuer loue the more / & there with alle she went vnto sir Bleoberys / whan syr Tristram sa¦we her doo soo / he was wonderly wrothe with that lady & asha∣med to come to the courte / sir Tristram said sir Bleoberys ye are in the defaute / for I here by those ladyes wordes / she before this day trusted you aboue alle erthely knyghtes / and as she saith ye haue deceyued her / therfore wete ye wel / ther may noo man hold that wille aweye / and rather than ye shold be her∣tely displeasyd with me / I wold ye had her / and she wold abyde with you / Nay said the lady / so god me help I wil ne∣uer goo with hym / For he that I loued most / I wende he had loued me / And therfore sire Trystram she said ryde as thou cam / for though thou haddest ouercome this knyʒt as ye was lykely / with the neuer wold I haue gone / And I shall pray this knyghte soo faire of his knyghthode that or euer he passe

this countrey / that he wille lede me to the Abbeye / there my lo∣rd syr Segwarydes lyeth Soo god me helpe said Bleoberis I lete yow wete good knyght sire Trystram by cause kynge Marke gaf me the choyse of a yefte in this courte / and so this lady lyked me best / Not withstandynge she is wedded and hath a lord / and I haue fulfylled my quest / she shall be sent vnto her husband ageyne / And in especyal moost for youre sake sir Trystram / And yf she wold goo with you / I wold ye had her / I thanke you said syr Trystram / but for her loue I shal beware what manere a lady I shalle loue or truste / For had her lord syr Segwarydes ben away from the courte I shold haue ben the fyrst that shold haue folowed yow / but sythen ye haue refused me / as I am true knyght I shalle her knowe passyngly wel that I shal loue or trust / and soo they took theyr leue one fro thother and departed / And soo sir tris¦tram rode vnto Tyntagyl / and syr Bleoberys rode vnto the ab¦bay where syr segwarydes lay sore wounded / and there he de∣lyuerd his lady / and departed as a noble knyght / & whan sir segwarydes sawe his lady / he was gretely comforted / and thenne she told hym that sir Trystram had done grete bataill with syre Bleoberys / and caused hym to brynge her ageyne / These wordes pleasyd sir segwarydes ryght wel that sir tris¦tram wold doo soo moche / and soo that lady told alle the bata∣ill vnto kynge Marke betwixe syr Trystram and sir Bleobe∣rys

¶Capitulum xix

THenne whanne this was done / kynge Mark cast al∣weyes in his hert how he myght destroye syr Tristram And thenne he ymagyned in hym self to sende sir tris¦tram in to Irland for la beale Isoud / For sir Trystram had soo preysed her beaute and her goodnes that kynge Mark sa∣id he wold wedde her / where vpon he praid syr Trystram to ta¦ke his wey in to Irland for hym on message / And all this was done to the entente to slee syr Tristram / Not withstandy∣nge syr Trystram wold not reffuse the message for no daūger nor peryl that myght falle for the pleasyr of his vnkel / but

to goo he made hym redy in the most goodlyest wyse that my∣ght be deuysed / For sir Tristram tooke with hym the mooste goodlyest knyghtes that he myght fynde in the courte / & they were arayed after the gyse that was thenne vsed in the goo∣dlyest maner / So sir Tristram departed and toke the see with alle his felauship / And anone as he was in the brode see / a tempest toke hym and his felauship and drofe them bak in to the coste of England / And there they arryued fast by Came¦lot / and ful fayne they were to take the land / ¶And whan they were landed sir Tristram sette vp his pauelione vpon the land of Camelot / and there he lete hange his shelde vpon the pauelione / And that same day came two knyghtes of kynge Arthurs / that one was sir Ector de marys and sir Morganor And they touched the shelde / and badde hym come oute of the pauelione for to Iust and he wold Iust / ye shalle be ansuerd sa¦id sir Tristram and ye wille tarye a lytel whyle / Soo he made hym redy / and fyrste he smote doune sir Ector de marys / and after he smote doune sir Morganor alle with one spere / and so∣re brysed them / And whan they laye vpon the erthe / they as∣ked sir Tristram what he was / and of what countrey he was knyghte / Faire lordes said sir Tristram wete ye wel that I am of Cornewaile / Allas said sire Ector now am I ashamed / that euer ony Cornysshe knyghte shold ouercome me / And thenne for despyte syre Ector put of his armour fro hym / and wente on foot and wold not ryde

¶Capitulum xx

THenne it felle that sire Bleoberys and sire Blamore de ganys that were bretheren they hadde assomoned the kyng Anguysshe of Irland for to come to Arthurs Court vpon payne of forfeture of kyng Arthurs good grace And yf the kynge of Irland came not in at the day assigned and sette / the kynge shold lese his landes / So by hit happend that at the day assigned kyng Arthur neither sire Launcelot myght not be there for to gyue the Iugement / for kynge Ar∣thur was with sir launcelot at the castel ioyous gard / And so

kynge Arthur assigned kyng Carados and the kyng of scot¦tes to be there that day as Iuges / So whan the kynges were at Camelot / kynge Anguysshe of Irland was come to kno∣we his accusars / Thenne was there Blamore de ganys and appeled the kynge of Irland of treason / that he hadde slayne a cosyn of his in his courte in Irland by treason / The kyng was sore abasshed of his accusacion / for why / he was come att the somons of kynge Arthur / And or that he c••me at Came∣lot / he wist not wherfore he was sente after / And whanne the kyng herd sir Blamor saye his wille / he vnderstood wel there was none other remedy but to ansuere hym knyghtly / for the custome was suche in tho dayes / that and ony man were appe¦aled of ony treason or murther / he shold fyghte body for body / or els to fynde another knyght for hym / And alle maner of Murtherers in tho dayes were callid treason / So whan kyng Anguysshe vnderstood his accusynge / he was passynge heuy / for he knewe sir Blamor de ganys that he was a noble kny∣ght / and of noble knyghtes comen / Thenne the kynge of Ir∣land was symply purueyed of his ansuere / therfore the Iu∣ges gaf hym respyte by the thyrdde daye to gyue his ansuere / Soo the kynge departed vnto his lodgynge / the mean whyle ther came a lady by sir Trystrams pauelione makyng grete do¦le / what eyleth you said sir Tristram that ye make suche dole / A fayre knyght said the lady I am ashamed onles that som good knyght helpe me / for a grete lady of worship sente by me a fayre child and a ryche vnto sir launcelot du lake / and here by there mette with me a knyghte and threwe me doune fro my palfray •• and took aweye the child from me / wel my lady said syr Tristram / and for my lord syr Launcelots sake I shalle gete you that child ageyne / or els I shalle be beten for hit / And soo sire Tristram tooke his hors / and asked the lady whiche wey the knyght rode / And thenne she tolde hym And he rode after hym / and within a whyle he ouertoke that knyght / And thenne syr Tristram badde hym corne and gyue ageyne the child

¶Capitulum xxj

THe knyghte torned his hors / and he made hym redy to fyghte / And thenne sir Trystram smote hym with a swerd suche a buffet / that he tombled to the erthe / And thenne he yelded hym vnto sir Tristram / thenne come thy waye sayd sire Trystram and brynge the child to the lady ageyne / Soo he took his hors wekely and rode with sir Trystram / and thenne by the waye syr Trystram asked hym his name / Then¦ne he said my name is Breunis saunte pyte / Soo whanne he hadde delyuerd that child to the lady / he said / sir as in this the child is wel remedyed / Thenne sir Trystram lete hym goo a∣geyne that sore reyentyd hym after / for he was a grete ••oo vn¦to many good knyghtes of kynge arthurs courte / ¶Thenne whan sir Tristram was in his pauelione / Gouernaile his man cam / and told hym how that kynge anguysshe of Irland was come thyder / and he was putte in grete distresse / and there go¦uernaile told sir Trystram / how kynge anguysshe was somo∣ned and appealed of murther / Soo god me help said sir Tris∣tram these ben the best tydynges that euer cam to me this vij ye¦re / for now shalle the kynge of Irland haue nede of my helpe for I dare saye there is no knyght in this countrey that is not of arthurs courte dare doo bataille with syre Blamore de ga∣nys / and for to wynne the loue of the kyng of Irland I wil take the batail vpon me / and therfor gouernaile brynge me I charge the to the kyng / Thenne Gouernaile wente vnto kynge anguysshe of Irland and sal wed hym fayre / the kynge wel∣comed hym / and asked hym what he wolde / Syr saide Gouer∣naile / here is a knyghte nere hande that desyreth to speke with you / he badde me saye he wolde doo you seruyse / what Knyght is he saide the Kynge / syr he said hit is sir Tristram du ••yonas that for your good grace ye shewed hym in your landes wyll rewarde you in these countreyes / Come on felawe said the ky∣nge with me anone / and shewe me vnto sir Trystram / soo the Kyng took a lytel hackney and but fewe felauship with him vntyl he came vnto sir Trystrams pauelione / and whanne syre Trystram sawe the Kynge / he ranne vnto hym and wold haue holden his styrope / But the kynge lepte from his hors lyght∣ly / and eyther hal••ed other in armes / my gracious Lord sayde sire Trystram gramercy of your grete goodnesses shewed vn¦to

me in your marches and landes / And at that tyme I pro¦mysed you to doo my seruyse / and euer it laye in my power / & gentyl knyght said the kynge vnto sir Tristram / now haue I grete nede of you / neuer had I soo grete nede of no knyghtes helpe / How soo my good lord said sire Trystram / I shalle telle you said the kynge I am assomoned and appeled fro my co∣untrey for the deth of a knyght that was kyn vnto the good knyght sir Launcelot / wherfor sir Blamor de ganys broder to sir Bleoberys hath appeled me to fyghte with hym / outher to fynde a knyght in my stede / And wel I wote said the kyng these that are come of kynge Bans blood as sir Launcelot & these other are passynge good knyghtes and hard •• men for to wynne in bataille as ony that I knowe now lyuynge / Syre said sir Trystram / for the good lordship ye shewed me in Ir¦land and for my lady youre doughters sake / La Beale I∣soud I wille take the bataille for you vpon this condycyon / that ye shalle graūte me two thynges / that one is that ye shal swere to me that ye are in the ryght that ye were neuer consen¦tynge to the knyʒtes dethe / Syr thenne said sir Tristram when that I haue done this bataille yf god yeue me grace that I spede that ye shalle gyue me a reward what thynge resonable that I wille aske of you / Soo god me help said the kyng ye shal haue what someuer ye will aske / It is wel said / said sir Trystram

¶Capitulum xxij

NOw make your ansuer that youre Champyon is redy For I shalle dye in your quarel rather than to be r••¦••r••aunt / I haue no doubte of you said the kynge / that and ye shold haue adoo with sir Launcelot du lake / Syr said sir Tris¦tram as for sire Launcelot he is called the noblest knyghte of the worlde / And wete ye wel that the knyghtes of his blood are noble men and drede shame / And as for Bleoberys broder to syr Blamor I haue done bataille with hym / therfore vpon my hede / it is no shame to calle hym a good knyght / It is noy¦sed said the kynge / that Blamor is the hardyer knyghte / ••ire as for that lete hym be / he shal neuer be refused / & as he were

the best knyght that now bereth shelde or spere / Soo kyng An∣guysshe departed vnto kynge Carados / and the kynges that were that tyme as Iuges / and told hem that he hadde fonde his champyon redy / Thenne by the commaundementes of the kynges sir Blamor de ganys and sire Tristram were sente for to here the charge / And whan they were come beforne the Iu∣ges / there were many kynges and knyghtes biheld sire Tris∣tram / and moche speche they had of hym by cause he slewe sir M••••haus the good knyght / and by cause he foriusted sir Pa∣lomydes the good knyght / ¶So when they had taken theire charge / they withdrewe hem to make hem redy to doo bataile / Thenne said sir Bleoberys to his broder sir Blamore / fayr de¦re broder remembre of what kyn we be come of / and what a man is sir launcelot du lake / neyther ferther nor nere but bro¦ther children / and ther was neuer none of oure kyn that euer was shamed in bataille / and rather suffre deth broder than to be shamed / Broder said Blamore haue ye no doute of me / for I shal neuer shame none of my blood / hou be it I am sure that yonder knyghte is called a passynge good knyght as of his tyme one of the world / yet shal I neuer yelde me nor say the lothe word / wel may he happen to smyte me doun with his grete myʒt of chyualry / but rather shalle he slee me than I shal yelde me as recreaunt / God spede you wel said Bleoberys for ye shal fynde hym the myghtyest knyght that euer ye hadde a¦do with all / for I knowe hym for I haue had ado with hym God me spede said Blamor de ganys / and therwith he tooke his hors at the one ende of the lystes / and sire Trystram atte other ende of the lystes / and soo they f••utryd theyre speres / & came to gyders as it had ben thonder / and there sir Tristram thorou grete myght smote doune sir Blamore and his hors to the erthe / Thenne anone sir Blamor auoyded his hors and pulled oute his swerd / and threwe his shelde afore hym / and ladde sir Trystram alyghte / for though an hors hath failed me I truste to god the erthe wil not faile me / And thenne syre Trystram alyght and dressid hym vnto batail / and there they lasshed to gyder strongly as racyng and tracyng / foynynge and dasshyng many sad strokes that the kynges and knygh∣tes had g••••te wonder that they myghte stande / for euer they

fought lyke wood men so that there were neuer knyghtes se∣ne fyghte more fyersly than they dyd / for sire Blamore was so hasty he wold haue no rest that alle men wondred that they had brethe to stande on their feet / and alle the place was blo∣dy that they fought in / And at the laste syre Tristram smote sir Blamor suche a buffet vpon the helme that he there felle do∣nne vpon his syde / and sir Trystram stode and beheld hym /

¶Capitulum xxiij

THenne whan sir Blamor myghte speke / he said thus Syre Tristram de Lyones I requyre the as thou art a noble knyghte and the best knyghte that euer I fond that thou wilt slee me oute / for I wold not lyue to be made lord of alle the erth / for I haue leuer dye with worship than lyue with shame / and nedes sir Tristram thou must slee me / or els thou shalt neuer wynne the feld / for I wille neuer saye the lothe word / And therfore yf thou dare slee me / slee me / I re∣quyre the / whanne sir Tristram herd hym saye soo knyghtely / he wyste not what to doo with hym / he remembryng hym of bo∣the partyes of what blood he was comen / and for sir Launce∣lots sake he wold be lothe to slee hym / and in the other party in no wyse he myghte not chese / but that he must make hym to saye the lothe word or els to slee hym / Thenne syre Tristram starte alak and went to the kynges that were Iuges / and ther he kneled doun to fore hem and besoughte hem for their wor∣shippes and for kynge Arthurs and sir Laūcelots sake that they wold take this mater in theyr handes / For my fayre lor∣des said sir tristram hit were shame and pyte / that this noble knyght that yonder lyeth shold be slayne / for ye here wel / sha∣med wille he not be / and I pray to god that he neuer be slayne nor shamed for me / And as for the kyng for whome I fyghte fore I shalle requyre hym as I am his true champyon and true knyght in this felde that he wille haue mercy vpon this knyghte / So god me helpe said kynge Anguysshe I wil for your sake syre tristram be ruled as ye wylle haue me / For I knowe you for my true knyghte / ¶And therfore I

wylle hertely pray the kynges that ben here as Iuges to take hit in theire handes / And the kynges that were Iuges called syr Bleoberys to them / and asked hym his aduyse ¶My lor¦des said Bleoberys / though my broder be beten and hath the wers thorou myghte of armes I dare saye though syre Trys∣tram hath beten his body / he hath not beten his herte / and I thanke god he is not shamed this daye / And rather than he shold be shamed / I requyre you sayd Bleoberys lete sir Tris¦tram slee hym oute / It shalle not be soo said the kynges / for his parte aduersary bothe the kynge and the champyon haue pyte of syre Blamors knyghthode / My lordes said Bleoberys I wille ryght wel as ye wille /

¶Thenne the kynges called the kynge of Irland and fond hym goodely and tretabyl / And thenne by alle their aduyses syre Tristram and syre Bleoberys toke vp sire Blamore / and the two bretheren were accorded with kynge Anguysshe / and kyssed and made frendys for euer / And thenne sire Blamor and sire Trystram kyssed to gyders / and there they made the∣ir othes that they wold neuer none of them two betheren fy∣ghte with syre Trystram / and syre Trystram made the same oth And for that gentyl bataille alle the blood of syre Launcelot loued sire Trystram for euer /

¶Thenne kynge Anguysshe and syre Tristram toke theire le∣ue ande sailed in to Irland with grete noblesse and ioye / ¶Soo whanne they were in Irland the kynge lete make it knowen thoroute alle the land how and in what manere syre Trystram had done for hym ¶ Thenne the Quene and alle that there were made the moost of hym that they my∣ghte / But the Ioye that la beale Isoud made of syr Tristram there myghte no tonge telle / for of alle men erthely she loued hym moost

¶Capitulum xxiiij

THenne vpon a daye kynge Anguysshe asked syr Tris¦tram why he asked not his bone / For what someuer he had promysed hym / he shold haue hit withoute fayle

Syre sayd sire Trystram now is hit tyme this is alle that I wylle desyre that ye wylle gyue me la beale Isoud youre do∣ughter not for my self but for myn vnkel kynge Marke that shalle haue her to wyf / for soo haue I promysed hym / Allas said the kynge I had leuer than alle the land that I haue / ye wold wedde her youre self / Syre and I dyd than I were shamed for euer in this world / and fals of my promyse / Therfore said sire Trystram I praye you hold your promyse that ye promysed me / for this is my desyre that ye wylle gyue me la Beale Isoud to goo with me in to Cornewaile for to be wedded to kynge Marke myn vnkel / ¶ As for that sayd kynge Anguysshe ye shalle haue her with you to doo with her what it please you / that is for to saye yf that ye lyst to wedde her your self that is me leuest / And yf ye wille gyue her vnto kynge Marke youre vnkel that is in youre choyse /

¶Soo to make short conclusion la beale Isoud was made re¦dy to goo with syre Trystram and dame Bragwayne wente with her for her chyef gentylwoman with many other / thenne the quene Isouds moder gaf to her and dame Bragwayne her doughters gentilwoman and vnto Gouernaile a drynke and charged them that what day kynge Marke shold wedde that same daye they shold gyue hym that drynke / soo that kynge Marke shold drynke to la beale Isoud / and thenne said the Quene I vndertake eyther shalle loue other the dayes of their lyf / Soo this drynke was yeuen vnto dame Bragwayne and vnto Gouernaile / And thenne anone syre Trystram tooke the see / and la Beale Isoud / and whan they were in theire ca∣ban hit happed soo that they were thursty / and they sawe a ly¦tel flacked of gold stande by them / and hit semed by the co∣loure and the taste that it was noble wyn /

Thenne sire Trystram toke the flacket in his hand / and sa∣yd Madame Isoud here is the best drynke that euer ye drank that dame Bragwayne youre mayden and Gouernayle my seruaunt haue kepte for them self / Thenne they lough and ma¦de good chere and eyther dranke to other frely / and they tho∣ughte neuer drynke that euer they dranke to other was soo swete nor soo good / But by that theyr drynke was in their

bodyes / they loued eyther other so wel that neuer theyr loue de¦parted for wele neyther for wo / And thus it happed the loue fyrste betwixe sire Tristram and la beale Isoud / the whiche loue neuer departed the dayes of their lyf / soo thenne they say∣led tyl by fortune they came nyghe a castel that hyght Pluere And there by arryued for to repose them wenyng to them to ha¦ue hadde good herborouʒ / but anon as sir Trystram was with in the castel / they were taken prysoners / for the customme of the castel was suche who that rode by that castel and brought ony lady he must nedes fyghte with the lord that hyghte Breunor And yf it were soo that Breunor wanne the feld / thenne sh∣old the knyght straunger and his lady be putte to dethe what that euer they were / and yf hit were so that the straunge kny∣ghte wanne the feld of sir Breunor / thenne shold he dye and his lady bothe / this custome was vsed many wynters / for hit was called the castel pluere that is to saye the wepynge castel

¶Capitulum xxv

THus as sire Trystram and la beale Isoud were in pry¦son / hit happed a knyght and a lady came vnto them / where they were to chere them / I haue merueille said Tristram vnto the knyʒt and the lady what is the cause the lord of this Castel holdeth vs in pryson / hit was neuer the custome of no place of worship that euer I came in / whan a knyghte and a lady asked herborugh / and they to receyue hem / & after to des∣troye them that ben his gestes / Syr said the knygʒt this is the old custome of this castel that whan a knyght cometh here / he must nedes fyghte with our lord / and he that is weyker muste lese his hede / And whan that is done yf his lady that he bryn∣geth / be fouler than our lordes wyf / she must lese her heede / And yf she be fayrer preued than is oure lady / thenne shal the la∣dy of this castel lese her heede / Soo god me help said sire Tris∣tram this is a fowle custome and a shameful / But one auaū∣tage haue I said sir Trystram I haue a lady is fayre ynouʒ fayrer sawe I neuer in alle my lyfe dayes / And I doubte

not for lack of beaute she shalle not lese her heed / and rather than I shold lese my heede I wille fyghte for hit on a fayre felde / ¶ Wherfore Syre knyght I pray you telle your lord that I wille be redy as to morne with my lady and my selfe to doo batail yf hit be so I maye haue my hors and myne armour / Syre said that knyght I vndertake that youre desyre shalle be spedde ryght wel /

And thenne he sayd take youre rest and loke that ye be vp by tymes and make you redy and your lady / for ye shall wan∣te no thynge that you behoueth / and ther with he departed and on the morne by tymes that same knyghte came to sire Trys∣tram and fetched hym oute and his lady & brouʒte hym hors and armour that was his owne / and badde hym make hym redy to the feld / for alle the estates and comyns of that lord∣ship were there redy to behold that bataille and Iugement /

¶ Thenne came syre Breunor the lord of that Castel wyth his lady in his hand muffeld / and asked syre Trystram whe¦re was his lady / for and thy lady be fayrer than myn wyth thy swerd smyte of my ladyes hede / and yf my lady be fayrer than myn / with my swerd I muste stryke of her heed / And yf I maye wynne the / yet shalle thy lady be myne / and thou shalt lese thy hede / ¶Syre said Trystram this is a fowle custome and horryble / and rather than my lady shold lese her heed / yet had I leuer lese my hede /

¶Nay nay said sire Breunor the ladyes shalle be fyrst she∣wed to gyder / and the one shalle haue her Iugement / Nay I wille not soo said sire Tristram / For here is none that wille gyue ryghteuous Iugement / But I doubte not said sir Tris∣tram my lady is fayrer than thyne / And that wille I preue and make good with my hand / And who someuer he be that wille saye the contrary I wille preue hit on his hede And there with sire Tristram shewed la beale Isoud / and torned her thryes aboute with his naked swerd in his hand And whanne syre Breunor sawe that he dyd the same wy∣se torne his lady / But whanne syre Breunor beheld la beale Isoud / hym thought he sawe neuer a fayrer lady / and then∣ne he dradde his ladyes hede shold be of / and soo al the peple

that were there present gaf Iugement that la beale Isoud was ••he fayrer lady and the better made / how now said sir Tristrā¦me semeth it were pyte that my lady shold lose her heed / but by cause thou and she of long tyme haue vsed this wycked cus¦tome / and by you bothe haue many good knyghtes and la∣dyes ben destroyed / for that cause it were no losse to destroye you bothe / Soo god me help said sir Breunor for to saye the so••he / thy lady is fayrer than myn / and that me sore repenteth And soo I here the peple pryuely saye / for of alle wymmen I sawe none soo fayre / and therfor and thou wilt slee my lady I doute not but I shal slee the and haue thy lady / ¶Thou shalt wynne her said sir Trystram as dere as euer knyʒt wan lady / And by cause of thyn owne Iugement as thou woldest haue done to my lady yf that she had ben fouler / and by cause of the euyl custome gyue me thy lady said Trystram / & there with alle sir Tristram strode vnto hym and toke his lady from hym / and with an auke stroke he smote of her hede clene / wel knyght said sir Breunor now hast thou done me a despyte /

¶Capitulum xxvj

NOw take thyn hors sythen I am lady les I wil wyn thy lady and I may / thenne they took their horses / & came to gyders as hit had ben the thonder / and sire Trystram smote sir Breunor clene from his hors / and lyʒtely he rose vp And as sir Trystram came ageyne by hym / he threst his hors thorou oute both the sholders that his hors hurled here and the∣re / and felle dede to the ground / And euer sir Breunor ranne after to haue slayne sire Tristram / but sire Tristram was ly∣ght and nymel and voyded his hors lightely / And or euer sir Trystram myght dresse his sheld and his swerd / the other gaf hym thre or foure sadde strokes ¶ Thenne they rasshed to gyders like two bores tracyng and trauercyng myʒ∣tely and wysely as two noble knyghtes / For this sire Breu∣nor was a proued knyghte and hadde ben or than the dethe of many good knyghtes / that it was pyte that he had so long en∣dured / Thus they fouʒt hurlyng here & there nyʒ two houres &

eyder were wounded sore / thenne at the last sir Breunor rass∣hed vpon sir Trystram and tooke hym in his armes / for he tr∣usted moche to his strengthe / Thenne was sir Trystram called the strengest and the hyest knyght of the world / For he was called byggar than sir laūcelot / but sir Launcelot was better brethed / Soo anone sire Trystram thrust syr Breunor doune grouelynge / and thenne he vnlaced his helme / and strake of his hede / And thenne al they that longed to the castel cam to hym and dyd hym homage and feaute prayenge hym / that he wold abyde there stylle a litel whyle to fordo that foule custom Syr Trystram graunted ther to / the meane whyle one of the knyghtes of the castel rode vnto sire Galahad the haut prynce the whiche was sir Breunors sone / whiche was a noble knyʒt and told hym what mysauenture his fader hadde and his mo∣der

¶Capitulum xxvij

THenne came sir Galahad and the kyng with the hon∣derd knyghtes with hym / and this syr Galahad pro∣fered to fyghte with sir Trystram hand for hand / and soo they made them redy to go vnto bataile on horsbak with gre¦te courage / Thenne sir Galahad and sir Trystram mette to gy¦ders soo hard that eyder bare other doune hors and alle to the erthe / And thēne they auoyded their horses as noble knyghtes and dressid theire sheldes and drewe their swerdes wi••h Ire & rancour / and they lasshed to gyder many sadde strokes / and one whyle strykynge another whyle foynynge / tracynge and tra∣uersynge as noble knyghtes / thus they fought long nere half a day and eyder were sore wounded / At the last sire Trystram waxed lyghte and bygge / and doubled his strokes and drofe syr Galahad abak on the one syde and on the other / so that he was lyke to haue ben slayne / With that came the kynge with the honderd knyghtes and all that felauship went fyersly vp on sir Tristram / whan sir Trystram sawe them comyng vpon hym / thenne he wist wel he myghte not endure / ¶Thēne as a wyse knyght of werre he said to sir Galahaud the haut prynce syre ye shewe to me no knyghthode for to suffre alle youre men to haue adoo with me al at ones / ¶And as me semeth ye be a

noble knyghte of your handes / hit is grete shame to you / So god me helpe said sire Galahad there is none other waye but thou must yelde the to me / outher els to dye said sir Galahad to sir Trystram I wille rather yelde me to you than dye / for that is more for the myght of your men than of your handes / And ther with alle sir Trystram tooke his owne suerd by the poynte / and put the pomel in the hand of sir Galahad / there with alle came the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / and hard beganne to assaylle sir Trystram / lete be said sir Galahad be ye not soo hardy to touche hym / for I haue gyuen this kny∣ght his lyf / that is youre shame said the kynge with the C knyghtes / hath he not slayne your fader and your moder / As for that said syre Galahad I may not wyte hym gretely for my fader had hym in pryson / and enforced hym to doo bataill with hym / and my fader had suche a customme that was a sha¦meful custome that what knyght came there to aske herborouh his lady must nedes deye but yf she were fayrer than my mo∣der / And yf my fader ouercame that knyght he must nedes de∣ye / This was a shameful customme and vsage / a knyghte for his herberowe askynge to haue suche herborage / ¶And for this customme I wold neuer drawe aboute hym / So god me helpe said the kynge this was a shameful customme / Truly said syre Galahad soo semed me / and me semed it had ben grete pyte that this knyght shold haue ben slayne / for I dare saye he is the noblest man that bereth lyf / but yf it were sir laū¦celot du lake / Now fayre knyght said sir Galahad I requyre the telle me thy name / and of whens thou arte / and whyder thou wolt / Syr he said my name is sir Trystram du lyones & from kynge Marke of Cornewaile I was sente on message vnto kynge Anguysshe of Irland for to fetche his doughter to be his wyf / & here she is redy to go with me in to Cornewai∣le / and her name is la beale Isoud / and / sir Trystram said sir Galahad the haut prynce / wel be ye fonde in these marches / & soo ye wille promyse me to goo vnto syr Launcelot du lake / and accompanye with hym / ye shalle goo where ye wylle / and your fayre lady with you / And I shalle promyse you neuer in al my dayes shal suche custommes be vsed in this castel as haue ben vsed / Syr said syre Trystram now I lete you wete

soo god me helpe I wende ye had ben syr launcelot du lake / whan I sawe you fyrste / and therfore I dredde you the more And sire I promyse you said sir Tristram as soone as I may I wille see sir launcelot / and enfelaushippe me with hym / for of alle the knyghtes of the world I moost desyre his felou∣ship

¶Capitulum xxviij

ANd thēne sir Tristram took his leue whan he sawe his tyme and tooke the see / And the meane whyle word came vnto sir Launcelot and to sir Trystram that sire Carados the myghty kynge that was made lyke a gyaunt / that fought with sir Gawayn and gaf hym suche strokes that he swouned in his sadel / and after that he took hym by the col¦ler / and pulled hym oute of his sadel / and fast bounde hym to the sadel bowe / and so rode his wey with hym toward his cas¦tell / And as he rode by fortune sir Launcelot mette with sire Carados and anone he knewe sire Gawayne / that lay bounde after hym / A said sir Launcelot vnto sire Gawayne how stande it with you / Neuer so hard said sir gawayn onles that ye helpe me / for so god me help without ye rescowe me I knowe no kn∣yght that may but outher you or syr Trystram / where for sir Launcelot was heuy of sir Gawayns wordes / And thenne sir Launcelot bad sir Carados leye doune that knyghte / & fyghte with me / thou arte but a foole saide sire Carados / for I wylle serue you in the same wyse / as for that said sir Launcelot spa∣re me not / for I warne the I wille not spare the / And then∣ne he bond sir Gawayne hand and foot / and so threwe hym to the ground / And thenne he gate his spere of his squyer / and departed from syr launcelot to fetche his cours / and soo eyther met with other / and brake their speres to their handes / & then∣ne they pulled out swerdes / and hurtled to gyders on horsbak more than an houre / And at the laste sire launcelot smote sir Carados suche a buffet vpon the helme that it perched his bra∣yne pan / So thenne sir Launcelot toke sir Carados by the col∣ler and pulled hym vnder his hors feet / And thenne he alyʒte and pulled of his helme / and strake of his hede / And thenne

sir Launcelot vnbounde sir Gawayne / soo this same tale was told to sir Galahad and to sir Trystram / here maye ye here the noblenes that foloweth sir launcelot / Allas said syr Trystram and I had not this message in hand with this fayre lady / truly I wold neuer stynte or I had fonde syre Launcelot / Thenne sire Trystram and la beale Isoud wente to the see & come in to Cornewaile / and there alle the barons mette hem /

¶Capitulum xix

ANd anone they were rychely wedded with grete nob∣ley / But euer as the frensshe book sayth sir Trystram and la beale Isoud loued euer to gyders / ¶Thenne was there grete Iustes and grete torneyenge / and many lor¦des and ladyes were at that feest / and sir Trystram was most preysed of alle other / thus dured the feest longe / and after the feest was done / within a lytel whyle after by the assent of two ladyes that were with quene Isoud / they ordeyned for hate and enuy for to destroye dame Bragwayne / that was mayden and lady vnto la beale Isoud / and she was sente in to the forest for to fetche herbes / and there she was mette & bo∣unde feete and hand to a tree / and soo she was bounden thre dayes / And by fortune sir Palamydes fond dame Bragwa∣yne / and there he delyuerd her from the dethe / and brought her to a nonnery there besyde for to be recouerd / whanne Isoud the quene myst her mayden / wete ye wel she was ryght heuy as e∣uer was ony quene / for of alle erthely wymmen she loued her best / the cause was for she came with her oute of her countreye / And soo vpon a day quene Isoud walked in to the forest to putte aweye her thoughtes / and ther she wente her self vnto a welle / and made grete mone / and sodenly there came Palamy¦des to her / and had herd alle her complaynte / and sayd Mada¦me Isoud and ye wille graunte me my bone / I shalle bryn∣ge to you dame Bragwayne sauf and sound / And the que∣ne was so glad of his profer / that sodenly vnauysed she graū¦ted alle his askynge / wel madame said Palamydes I trust to your promyse / And yf ye wille abyde here half an houre / I shal brynge her to you / I shall abyde you said la beale Isoud

And sir Palamydes rode forth his way to that nonnery / and lyghtly he came ageyne with dame Bragwayne / but by her good wille she wold not haue comen ageyne / by cause for loue of the quene she stood in auēture of her lyf / Notwithstandyng half ageynst her wille she wente with sir Palamydes vnto the quene / And whan the quene sawe her / she was passyng glad Now madame said Palamydes remembre vpon your promy∣se / for I haue fulfilled my promyse / Sir Palamydes said the quene I wote not what is your desyre / But I wille that ye wete how be it I promysed you largely I thought none euyl nor I warne you none ylle wille I doo / Madame said sir pa¦lamydes / as at this tyme ye shalle not knowe my desyre / but bifore my lord your husband there shalle ye knowe that I wil haue my desyre that ye haue promysed me / And therwith the quene departed and rode home to the kynge / and sir palamy∣des rode after her / And whan syr Palamydes came before the kynge / he said sir kyng I requyre you as ye be a ryghteuous kynge that ye wille Iuge me the ryght / Telle me your cause sa¦id the kynge and ye shalle haue ryght /

¶Capitulum xxx

SYre said Palamydes I promysed your Quene Isoud to brynge ageyne dame Bragwayne that she had lost vpon this couenaunt that she shold graunte me a bone that I wold aske / and without grutchynge outher auysemēt she graunted me / what saye ye my lady said the kynge / hit is as he saith soo god me help said the quene / to saye the sothe / I promysed hym his askynge for loue and ioye that I had to see her / Wel madame said the kynge / and yf ye were hasty to graunte hym what bone he wold aske / I wylle wel that ye performe your promyse / Thenne said Palamydes I will that ye wete that I wille haue your quene to lede her and gouerne her where as me lyst / There with the kynge stood styll / and be thought hym of sir Trystram / and demed that he wold resco∣we her / And thenne hastely the kynge ansuerd take her with the aduētures that shal falle of hit / for as I suppose thou wylt

not enioye her noo whyle / As for that said Palamydes I dare ryght wel abyde the aduenture / and soo to make short tale / sir Palamydes toke her by the hand / and said Madame grutche not to goo with me / for I desyre no thynge but your own pro¦myse / As for that said the quene I fere not gretely to go with the / hou be it thou hast me at auauntage vpon my promyse / For I doute not I shalle be worshipfully rescowed fro the / As for that said sir Palamydes be it as it be maye / So quene Isoud was sette behynde Palamydes / and rode his way / anon the kynge sente after syr Trystram / but in no wyse he coude be foūde / for he was in the forest an huntyng / for that was alwe∣yes his custome / but yf be vsed armes / to chase and to hunte in the forestes / Allas said the kynge now I am shamed for euer that by myn owne assente my lady and my quene shalle be deuoured / Thenne came forth a knyght his name was lam¦begus / and he was a knyght of syr Trystram / My lord sayd this knyght sythe ye haue truste in my lord sire Tristram / we¦te ye wel for his sake I wille ryde after your quene and re∣scowe her / or els I shal be b••ten / Gramercy saide the kynge / & I lyue sir Lambegus I shal deserue hit / And thenne sir Lam¦begus armed hym / and rode after as fast as he myghte / And thenne within a whyle he ouertoke sir Palamydes / And then∣ne sir Palamydes lefte the quene / what arte thou saide Pala∣mydes / arte thou Trystram / nay he saide I am his seruaunte / and my name is sir Lambegus / that me repenteth saide Pala∣mydes / I hadde leuer thou haddest ben sire Trystram / I bileue you wel said Lambegus / but when thou metest with sir Trys∣tram thou shalt haue thy handes ful / And thenne they hurtled to gyders and alle to braste their speres / and thenne they pul¦led oute their swerdes / and hewed on helmes and hauberkes / At the laste sire Palamydes gaf sir Lambegus suche a wonnd that he felle doun lyke a dede knyghte to the erthe / Thenne he lo¦ked after la beale Isoud / and thēne she was gone he nyst whe¦re / wete ye wel sir Palamydes was neuer soo heuy / So the qu∣ene ranne in to the forest / and there she fond a wel / and theryn she hadde thoughte to haue drouned her self / And as good for¦tune wold ther came a knyght to her that hadde a Castel ther by his name was sire Adtherp / And when he fonde the quene

in that meschyef / he rescowed her / and broughte her to his cas∣tel / And whanne he wyst what she was he armed hym / and took his hors and said / he wold be auengyd vpon palamydes and soo he rode on tyll he mette with hym / and there sir Pala∣mydes wounded hym sore / and by force he made hym to telle hym the cause why he dyd bataille with hym / and how he had ladde the quene vnto his castel / Now brynge me there said pa∣lamydes or thou shalt dye of my handes / Sir said sir Adtherp I am soo wounded I may not folowe / but ryde you this way and hit shalle brynge you in to my castel / and there within is the quene / Thenne sire Palamydes rode styll tyl he came to the Castel / And at a wyndowe La Beale Isoud sawe sir Pa∣lamydes / thenne she made the yates to be shette strongly / And whan he sawe he myght not come within the castel / he putte of his brydel and his sadel / and putte his hors to pasture / and sette hym self doune atte gate lyke a man that was oute of his wytte that retchyd not of hym self /

¶Capitulum xxxj

NOw torne we vnto sir Tristram that whanne he was come home / and wyste la Beale Isoud was gone with syr Palamydes wete ye wel he was wrothe oute of me∣sure / Allas said sir Trystram I am this day shamed / Thenne he cryed to Gouernaile his man / haste the that I were armed and on horsbak / for wel I wote Lambegus hath no myghte nor strengthe to withstande sir Palamydes / Allas that I haue not ben in his stede / Soo anone as he was armed and horsed sir Tristram and Gouernaile rode after in to the forest / and within a whyle he fond his knyght Lambegus al moost woū¦ded to the dethe / and syre Trystram bare hym to a foster / and charged hym to kepe hym wel / And thenne he rode forth and there he fond syr Adtherp sore wounded / and he told hym hou the quene wold haue drouned her self had not he ben / And how for her sake & loue he had taken vpon hym to doo bataille with sir Palamydes / where is my lady said sire Trystram / Syr said the knyght she is sure ynough within my Castel / &

she can hold her within hit / Gramercy said syre Trystram of thy grete goodenes / and soo he rode tyl he came nyghe to that Castel / and thenne syr Trystram sawe where syr Palamydes sat at the gate slepynge / and his hors pastured fast afore hym Now goo thou Gouernaile said sire Tristram / and byd hym awake / and make hym redy / So Gouernayle rode vnto hym / and said sir Palamydes aryse and take to the thyn harneis but he was in suche a study he herd not what Gouernayle said So Gouernaile came ageyne and told syre Trystram he sle∣pte or els he was madde / Goo thou ageyne said sire Tristram / and bydde hym aryse / and telle hym that I am here his mor∣tal foo / So Gouernaile rode ageyne and putte vpon hym the but of his spere / and said sir Palamydes make the redy / for wete ye wel syr Tristram houeth yonder and sendeth the word he is thy mortal foo / And there with all sire Palamydes arose stylly withoute wordes and gate his hors / and sadeled hym / and brydeled hym / and lyghtely he lepte vpon / and gat his spere in his hand / and eyder feutryd their speres and hurt∣led faste to gyders / and there Tristram smote doune sire Pa∣lamydes ouer his hors tayle / Thenne lightely sire Palamydes putte his sheld afore hym and drewe his swerd / And there beganne stronge bataill on bothe partyes / for both they fought for the loue of one lady / and euer she laye on the walles and behelde them / hou they foughte oute of mesure / and eyther we¦re woūded possyng sore / but Palamydes was moche sorer woū¦ded / thus they fought tracynge and trauercyng more than two houres that wel nygh for dole and sorowe la beale Isoud swo∣uned / ¶Allas she said that one I loued and yet doo / and the other I loue not / yet it were grete pyte that I shold see sir pa¦lamydes slayne / for wel I knowe by that tyme the ende be done sir Palamydes is but a dede knyʒt / by cause he is not cry¦stened I wold be bothe that he shold dye a sarasyn / And there with alle she came doune and bisought sire Trystram to fyghte no more / A madame saide he what meane you / wille ye haue me shamed / wel ye knowe I wille be ruled by you / I wylle not your dishonour saide la beale Isoud but I wold that ye wold for my sake spare this vnhappy sarasyn Palamydes / Madame said syre Trystram I wille leue fyghtynge at this

tyme for your sake / ¶Thenne she said to sire Palamydes this shalle be your charge that thou shalt goo oute of this coun∣trey whyle I am therin / I wille obeye your commaundement said sire Palamydes / the whiche is sore ageynst my wylle ¶Thenne take thy waye said la beale Isoud vnto the Courte of kynge Arthur / and there recommaūde me vnto quene Gue¦neuer / and telle her that I send her word / that ther be withyn this land but four louers / that is sire Launcelot du lake and Quene Gueneuer and sire Trystram de lyonas and quene I∣soud

¶Capitulum xxxij

ANd soo syre Palamydes departed with grete heuynes And sir Tristram took the quene and brouʒte her agey¦ne to kynge Marke / and thenne was there made grete Ioye of her home comynge / who was cherysshed but sir Tryst∣ram / Thenne sir Trystram lete fetche syr Lambegus his knyʒte fro the fosters hous and hit was longe or he was hole / but at the last he was wel recouerd / thus they lyued with Ioye and play a long whyle / But euer sir Andred that was nygh cosyn to syr Trystram lay in a watche to wayte betwix sir Trystram and la beale Isoud for to take hem and sklanndre hem / Soo vpon a day syr Tristram talked with la beale Isoud in a wyn¦dowe / and that aspyed sir Andred and told it to the kynge / Thenne kynge Marke took a swerd in his hand and came to sir Tristram and called hym fals traitour / and wold haue stry¦ken hym / But sir Trystram was nyghe hym and ranne vnder his swerd and tooke hit oute of his hande / And thenne the kynge cryed where are my knyghtes and my men / I charge you slee this traitour / But at that tyme there was not one wold meue for his wordes / Whanne syre Trystram sawe that there was not one wold be ageynst hym / he shoke the swerd to the kynge and made countenaunce as though he wold haue st∣ryken hym / And thenne kynge Marke fledde / and sire tristram folowed hym and smote vpon hym fyue or sixe strokes fla∣tlynge on the neck that he made hym to falle vpon the nose / & thenne sir Tristram yede his waye and armed hym and tooke

his hors and his men / and soo he rode in to that forest / And there vpon a daye syr Trystram mette with two bretheren that were knyghtes with kynge Marke / and there he strake of the hede of the one / & wounded the other to the dethe / and he maade hym to bere his broders hede in his helme vnto the kynge / and thyrtty moo there he wounded / And whan that knyght came before the kynge to saye his message / he there dyed afore the kynge and the quene / Thenne kynge Marke called his coun∣ceill vnto hym / and asked aduyse of his barons what was best to doo with sire Trystram / Syr said the barons in especyal Syre Dynas the Seneschal / syr / we wille yeue you counceyll for to sende for sir Tristram / for we wille that ye wete / many men wille holde with syre Trystram / and he were hard bestad And syr said sire Dynas ye shalle vnderstande that sir Trist∣ram is called pyerles and makeles of ony Crysten knyghte / and of his myghte and hardynes we knewe none soo good a knyght / but yf hit be sire Launcelot du lake / And yf he de∣parte from your Courte and goo to kynge Arthurs courte / wete ye wel he wille gete hym suche frendes there that he wylle not sette by your malyce / And therfore syre I counceyle yow to take hym to youre grace / I wylle wel said the kynge that he be sente for / that we maye be frendes / Thenne the Barons sente for syr Tristram vnder a sauf conduyte / And soo whan syre Tristram came to the kynge / he was welcome / and no re∣hersail was made / and there was game and playe / and then¦ne the kynge and the quene wente on huntynge and sir Tris¦tram

¶Capitulum xxxiij

THe kynge and the quene made their pauelions & the∣ire tentes in that forest besyde a Ryuer / and ther was dayly huntynge and Iustynge / for there were euer x∣xx knyghtes redy to Iuste vnto alle them that came in at that tyme / And there by fortune came sire Lamerak de galys and sir Dryaunt / and there syre Dryaunt Iusted ryght wel / but at the laste he had a falle / Thenne sire Lamerak profered to Iuste / And whan he began he ferd so with the thyrtty knyʒtes

that there was not one of hem but that he gaf hym a falle / and somme of them were sore hurte / I merueyle said kyng Mark what knyght he is that / doth suche dedes of armes / Sir said sire Tristram / I knowe hym wel for a noble knyght / as fewe now ben lyuynge / and his name is sir Lamorak de Galys / it were grete shame saide the kynge that he shold goo thus aweye on∣les that somme of you mette with hym better / Syre said syre Tristram me semeth it were no worship for a noble man to ha∣ue adoo with hym / And for by cause at this tyme he hath done ouer moche for ony meane knyghte lyuynge / therfore as me se¦meth hit were grete shame and vylony to tempte hym ony mo¦re at this tyme / in soo moche as he and his hors are wery bothe For the dedes of armes that he hath done this daye and they be wel consydered / it were ynough for sir Launcelot du lake / ¶As for that said kynge Marke I requyre you as ye loue me and my lady the Quene La beale Isoud take youre ar∣mes and Iuste with sire Lamorak de Galys / ¶ Syre said sir Tristram ye byd me doo a thynge that is ageynst knygthode / And wel I can deme that I shal gyue hym a falle / For hit is no maystry / for my hors and I ben fresshe bothe / and so is not his hors and he / and Wete ye wel / that he wil take hit for grete vnkyndenes / For euer one good is bothe to take another at disauauntage / But by cause I wil not displease yow / as ye requyre me / soo wille I do and obeye your commaundemēt And soo sire Tristram armed hym and took his hors / & putt hym forth / and there sire Lamerak mette hym myghtely / and what with the myght of his owne spere / and of sire Tristram spere syr Lamoraks hors felle to the erthe / and he syttynge in the sadel / Thenne anone as lyghtly as he myghte he auoyded the sadel and his hors / and put his shelde afore hym and dre∣we his swerd / And thenne he badde sir Tristram a lyghte thou knyght and thou darst / Nay said sire Tristram I wil no more haue adoo with the / for I haue done to the ouer moche vnto my dishonour and to thy worship / ¶As for that said sir Lamorak I can the no thanke / syn thou hast foriusted me on horsbak I requyre the and I biseche the / and thou be sir Tris¦tram / fyghte with me on foote / ¶ I wylle not soo

said ore Tristram / And wete ye wel my name is sire Tristrā de lyones / and wel I knowe ye be sire Lamorak de Galys / And this that I haue done to you was ageynst my wylle / but I was requyred therto / but to saye that I wille doo atte youre request / as at thys tyme I will haue no more ado with you / for me ••hameth of that I haue done / ¶As for the shame said sire Lamorak on thy party or on myne / beare thou hit & thou wilt / For though a marys sone hath fayled me / now a Quenes sone shalle not fayle the / And therfore and thou be suche a knyghte as men calle the / I requyre the / alyghte / and fyghte with me / Syre Lamorak said sire Tristram I vnder∣stande youre herte is grete / and cause why ye haue / to saye the fothe / for hit wold greue me and ony knyght shold kepe hym fresshe / and thenne to stryke doune a wery knyghte / for that knyghte nor hors was neuer fourmed that alwey myght stā¦de or endure / And therfore said sire Tristram I wille not ha¦ue adoo with you / for me forthynketh of that I haue done / as for that said sire Lamorak I shal quyte you and euer I see my tyme /

¶Capitulum xxxiiij

NOo he departed from hym with sire Dryaun / and by the weye they mette with a knyʒt that was sente from Morgan le fay vnto kynge Arthur / and this knyght hadde a fayre horne harnest with gold / and the horne had suche a ver¦tue that ther myght no lady ne gentilwoman drynke of that horne / but yf she were true to her husband / And yf she were fals she shold spylle alle the drynke / And yf she were true to her lord she myght drynke peasyble / and by cause of the que¦ne Gueneuer and in the despyte of sire Launcelot this horne was sente vnto kynge Arthur / and by force sire Lamorak ma¦de that knyghte to telle alle the cause why he bare that horne / ¶ Now shalte thou bere this horn sayd Lamorak vnto kyng Marke or els chese thou to dye for it / For I telle the playnly in despyte and repreef of sire Tristrams thou shalte bere that horne vnto kynge Marke his vnkel / and say thou to hym that

I sent hit hym for to assay his lady / ¶And yf she be true to hym he shal preue her / Soo the knyghte wente his waye vnto kynge Marke and broughte hym that ryche horne / and sayd that sir Lamorak sente hit hym / and there to he told hym the vertue of that horne ¶Thenne the kynge maade Quene Isoud to drynke therof / and an honderd ladyes / and there were but four ladyes of alle tho that dranke clene / ¶Allas saide kynge Marke this is a grete despyte / and swa¦re a grete othe / that she shold be brente and the other ladyes / ¶Thenne the Barons gadred them to gyder and said playn¦ly they wold not haue tho ladyes brente for an horne maade by sorcery that came from as fals a sorceresse and wytche as tho was lyuynge / For that horne dyd neuer good but caused stryf and debate / and alweyes in her dayes she had ben an enemy to alle true louers / Soo there were many knyghtes made their a∣uowe / and euer they met with Morgan le fay that they wold shewe her short curtosye / ¶Also sir Tristram was passynge wrothe that sire Lamorak sente that horne vnto kynge Marke for wel he knewe that hit was done in the despyte of hym / And therfor he thoughte to quyte sire Lamorak / ¶Thenne syre Tristram vsed dayly and nyghtely to go to quene Isoud whanne he myght / and euer syre Andred his cosyn watched hym nyght and daye for to take hym with la Beale Isoud / And soo vpon a nyght syre Andred aspyed the houre and the tyme whan sir Trystram wente to his lady / ¶Thenne syre Andred gate vnto hym twelue knyghtes / and at mydnyghte he sette vpon sire Tristram secretely and sodenly / and there sire Tristram was take naked a bedde with la beale Isoud / and thenne was he boūd hande and foot / and soo was he kepte vn¦tyl daye / ¶And thenne by the assent of kynge Marke and of syr Andred and of somme of the Barons syre Tristram was ledde vnto a chappel that stode vpon the see rockes there for to take his Iugement / and soo he was ledde bounden with fourty knyghtes / And whan sire Tristram sawe that there was none other boote / but nedes that he must dye / thenne said he fayr lor∣des remembre what I haue done for the Countreye of Corne∣waile / and in what Ieopardy I haue ben in for the wele of you alle / For whan I fouʒt for the truage of cornewaile with

sir Marhaus the good knyght / I was promysed for to be bet∣ter rewarded / whanne ye alle reffused to take the bataille / ther¦fore as ye be good gentyl knyghtes / see me not thus shame∣fully to dye / for it is shame to alle knyghthode thus to see me dye / For I dare saye said sire Tristram that I neuer met with no knyght but I was as good as he / or better / Fy vpon the said sir Andred fals traitour that thou arte with thyn auaū∣cynge / for alle thy boost thou shalt dye this daye / O Andred Andred said sir Tristram thou sholdest be my kynnesman / and now thou art to me ful vnfrendely / but and there were no mo but thou and I / thou woldest not putte me to deth / No said sir Andred / and ther with he drewe his swerd / and wold haue slayne hym / Whanne sir Tristram sawe hym make suche coun∣tenaunce / he loked vpon bothe his handes that were fast boun∣den vnto two knyghtes / and sodenly he pulled them bothe to hym / and vnwrast his handes / and thenne he lepte vnto his co¦syn syr Andred and wrothe his swerd oute of his handes / thenne he smote sir Andred that he fylle to the erthe / and soo sir Tristram foughte tyl that he hadde kylled x knyghtes / So thenne sir Tristram gate the chappel and kepte hit myghtely / thenne the crye was grete / and the peple drewe faste vnto sire Andred moo than an honderd / whanne sir Tristram sawe the peple drawe vnto hym he remembryd he was naked / & sperd fast the chappel dore and brake the barrys of a wyndowe / and soo he lepte oute and fylle vpon the crackys in the see / And so at that tyme sir Andred nor none of his felawes myghte ge¦te to hym at that tyme /

¶Capitulum xxxv

SOo whanne they were departed / Gouernaile and sire Lambegus and sire Sentraille de lushon that were sir Tristrams men soughte their maister / whanne they herd he was escaped / thenne they were passynge gladde / and on the rockes they fond hym / and with tuels they pulled hym vp / And thenne sire Tristram asked hem where was la beale Iso∣ud / for he wende she had ben had aweye of Andreds peple / Syr said Gouernaile she is put in a lazar cote ¶Allas

said syre Trystram this is a ful vngoodely / place for suche a fayre lady / And yf I maye she shalle not belonge there / And soo he took his men and wente there as was la Beale Isoud / and fette her aweye and broughte her in to a forest to a fayre manoyre / and sire Tristram there abode with her / Soo the good knyghte badde his men goo from hym / For att this tyme I maye not helpe you / soo they departed alle sauf Gouernaile / And soo vpon a daye sir Tristram yede in to the forest for to disporte hym / and thenne hit happend / that there he felle on slepe / And there came a man that sire Tristram a∣fore hand had slayne his broder / And whan this man hadde foūd hym he shotte hym thorou the sholder with an arow / and sir Tristram lepte vp and kylled that man / And in the me∣ane tyme it was told kynge Marke / how sir Tristram and la beale Isoud were in that same manoir / and as soone as euer he myght thyder he came with many knyʒtes to slee sir Tristram And whanne he came there / he fond hym gone / and there he took la beale Isoud home with hym / and kepte her strayte that by no meane neuer she myght wete nor sende vnto Trystram nor he vnto her / And thenne whanne syre Tristram came to∣ward the old manoir / he fond the trak of many horses / and ther by he wiste his lady was gone / And thenne sir Tristram took grete sorou / and endured with grete payne long tyme / for the arowe that he was hurte with al was enuenymed / Thenne by the meane of la Beale Isoud she told a lady that was cosyn vnto dame Bragwayne / and she came to sir Trist∣ram and told hym that he myght not be hole by no meanes / For thy lady la beale Isoud maye not helpe the / therfor she byd¦deth you haste in to Bretayne to kynge Howel / and there ye shal fynde his douʒter Isoud le blaunche maynys / and she shal helpe the / Thenne sir tristram and gouernaile gat them shypp∣yng / and soo sailed in to Bretayne / And whan kynge Howel wist that it was sir tristram / he was ful gladde of hym / Syre he said I am comen in to this countrey to haue help of your do∣ughter / For hit is tolde me / that there is none other may hele me but she / and soo within a whyle she heled hym /

¶Capitulum xxxvj

THere was an Erle that hyghte Gryp / And this Erle maade grete werre vpon the kynge / and putte the ky∣nge to the werse / and byseged hym / And on a tyme syre kehydyus that was sone to kynge Howel / as he yssued oute / he was sore wounded nyghe to the dethe /

¶Thenne Gouernaile wente to the kynge and said / syre I counceyle you to desyre my lord syre Tristram as in your nede to helpe you / I wille doo by your counceylle said the kynge / and soo he yede vnto syr Trystram and praid hym in his war¦ris to helpe hym / for my sone kehydyus may not goo in to the felde ¶Sire said sir Tristram I wille goo to the feld and doo what I maye / Thenne sir Tristram yssued out of the towne with suche felauship as he myght make / and dyd suche dedes that alle Bretayne spake of hym / And thēne at the last by grete myghte and force he slewe the Erle Gryp with his owne handes / and moo than an honderd knyghtes he slewe that daye / And thenne sire Tristram was receyued worship∣fully with procession ¶Thenne kynge Howel enbra∣ced hym in his armes / and said sire Tristram alle my kyng∣dome I wille resygne to the / God defende said sir Tristram / For I am beholden vnto you for youre doughters sake to doo for you / ¶ Thenne by the grete meanes of kynge Howel & kehydyus his sone by grete profers there grewe gre¦te loue betwixe Isoud and sire Trystram / for that lady was bothe good and fayre / and a woman of noble blood & fame ¶And for by cause sir Tristram had suche chere and Rychesse and alle other plesaunce that he hadde / all moost he hadde for∣saken la beale Isoud / And soo vpon a tyme sir Trystram a∣greed to wedde Isoud la blaunche maynys / And at the laste they were wedded / and solempnly held theyr maryage / And soo whanne they were abedde bothe / sire Tristram remembryd hym of his old lady la beale Isoud / And thenne he toke su∣che a thought sodenly that he was alle desmayed / and other che¦re maade he none but with clyppynge and kyssynge as for other flesshly lustes sire Trystram neuer thoughte nor hadde adoo with her / suche mencyon maketh the frensshe booke

Also it maketh mencyon that the lady wende there had ben no pleasyr but kyssynge and clyppynge / ¶And in the meane tyme there was a knyght in Bretayne his name was Suppy¦nabyles / and he came ouer the see in to Englond / And thenne he came in to the court of kynge Arthur / and there he met with sir Launcelot du lake / and told hym of the maryage of syre Tristram / Thenne said sire Launcelot / Fy vpon hym vntrue knyghte to his lady that soo noble a knyghte as sir Trystram is shold be foūde to his fyrst lady fals / la beale Isoud / quene of Cornewaile / But saye ye hym this / said sire Launcelot that of alle knyghtes in the world I loued hym moost / and had moost ioye of hym / and alle was for his noble dedes / and le∣te hym wete the loue bitwene hym and me is done for euer / And that I gyue hym warnyng from this daye forth as his mortal enemy

¶Capitulum xxxvij

THenne departed syr Suppynabyles vnto Bretayne a¦geyne / and there he fond sir Tristram / and told hym / that he had ben in kynge Arthurs courte / Thenne said sir Tris¦tram herd ye ony thynge of me / Soo god me help saide syre Suppynabyles / there I herd sire Launcelot speke of you gre¦te shame / and that ye be a fals knyght to your lady / and he bad me doo you to wete that he wille be your mortal enemy in eue¦ry place where he may mete you / That me repenteth said Tris∣tram / for of alle knyghtes I loued to be in his felauship / Soo syre Tristram made grete mone and was ashamed that noble knyghtes shold deffame hym for the sake of his lady / And in this meane whyle la beale Isoud maade a letter vnto Quene Gueneuer complaynyng her of the vntrouthe of sir Tristram and how he hadde wedded the kynges doughter of Bretayne / Quene Gueneuer sente her another letter / and badde her be of good chere / for she shold haue Ioye after sorou / for sire tristram was so noble a knyʒt called / that by craftes of sorcery ladyes wolde make suche noble men to wedde them / but in the ende Quene Gueneuer said hit shal be thus / that he shalle hate her / and loue you better than euer he dyd to fore ¶ So leue

we sire Trystram in Bretayne and speke we of sire Lamerak de galys / that as he sayled his shyp felle on a rok and perys∣shed all / saue sire Lamerak and his squyer / and there he swam myghtely / and fysshees of the yle of s••ruage toke hym vp and his squyer was drouned / and the ship men had grete laboure to saue sire Lamoraks lyf / for alle the comfort that they coude doo / and the lord of that yle hyght syre Nabon le noyre a gre∣te myghty gyaunt / And this sir Nabon hated alle the knygh¦tes of kynge Arthurs / and in no wyse he wold doo hem fa∣uoure / And these fysshers told sir Lamorak alle the gyse of syre Nabon / how there came neuer knyghte of kynge Arthurs but he destroyed hym / And atte last bataille that he dyd was slayne syr Nanowne le petyte / the which he put to a shameful dethe in despyte of kynge Arthur / for he was drawen lymme meale / That forthynketh me said sir Lamerak for that knygh¦tes dethe / for he was my cosyn / And yf I were at myn ease as wel as euer I was I wold reuenge his dethe / Pees sa∣yd the fysshers and make here no wordes / for or euer ye depar¦te from hens syre Nabon must knowe that ye haue ben here / or els we shold dye for your sake / So that I be hole said Lamo∣rak of my disease / that I haue taken in the see / I wille that ye telle hym that I am a knyʒt of kynge Arthurs / for I was ne¦uer aferd to reneye my lord /

¶Capitulum xxxviij

NOw tourne we vnto sire Trystram that vpon a daye he took a lytel Barget and his wyf Isoud la blaūche maynys with sire kay hedyus her broder to playe hem in the cos¦stes / And whan they were from the land / there was a wyn∣de drofe hem in to the coste of walys vpon this yle of seruage / where as was syre Lamorak and there the Barget all to rofe and there dame Isoud was hurte / and as wel as they myʒte they gate in to the forest / and there by a welle he sawe Segwa¦rydes and a damoysel / And thenne eyther salewed other / syre sayde Segwarydes I knowe you for sire Tristram de Lyones the man in the world that I haue moost cause to hate by cause

ye departed the loue bitwene me and my wyf / but as for that sayd Segwarydes I wil neuer hate a noble knyʒt for a lyʒt lady / And therfore I pray you be my frende and I wille be yours vnto my power / for wete ye wel / ye are hard bestad in this valey / and we shalle haue ynough to doo eyther of vs to socoure other / And thenne sir Segwarydes brought sir Trys∣tram to a lady there by that was borne in Cornewaile / and she told hym alle the peryls of that valey / and how ther cam neuer knyght there but he were taken prysoner or slayne / wete you wel fair lady said sir Trystram that I slewe sire Marhaus and delyuerd Cornewaile from the truage of Irland / And I am he that delyuerd the kynge of Irlande from sire Bla∣mor de ganys / and I am he that bete sire Palamydes / and we¦te ye wel I am sire Trystram de lyones that by the grace of god shalle delyuer this woful yle of seruage / So sir Tristram was wel eased / thenne one told hym there was a knyghte of kyng Arthur y^t had wrackyd on the rockes / what is his name said sir Tristram / we wote not said the fysshers but he kepeth it no counceil but that he is a knyghte of Kynge Arthurs / and by the myghty lord of this yle he setteth nought by / I praye you said sir Tdestram and ye maye brynge hym hyder that I maye see hym / And yf he be ony of the Knyghtes of Arthurs I shalle knowe hym / Thenne the lady prayed the fysshers to brynge hym to her place / Soo on the morowe they brouʒt hym thyder in a fysshers rayment / And as soone as sire Tristram sawe hym he smyled vpon hym and knewe hym wel / but he knewe not sir Tristram / Fair sir saide sire Tristram me semeth by your chere ye haue ben diseased but late / and also me thyn∣keth I shold knowe you here to fore / I wille wel said sir La∣morak that ye haue sene me and mette with me / Fair sir saide sir tristram telle me your name / vpon a couenaunt I wil telle you said sir Lamorak / that is / that ye wil telle me whether ye be lord of this Iland or noo that is called Nabon le noyre / For sothe said sir tristram I am not he nor I hold not of hym I am his foo as wel as ye be / and soo shal I be foūde or I de¦parte oute of this yle / Wel said sir Lamorak syn ye haue saide soo largely vnto me / My name is sire Lamorak de galis sone vnto kynge Pellinore / forsothe I trowe wel said sir tristram /

for and ye said other / I knowe the contrary / What are ye sa∣id syre Lamorak that knoweth me / I am sir Trystram de ly∣ones / A syre remembre ye not of the falle ye dyd yeue me o∣nes / and after ye refused me to fyghte on foot / that was not for fere I had of you said sire Tristram / but me shamed att that tyme to haue more a doo with you / for me semed ye hadde ynough / but sire Lamorack for my kyndenes many ladyes ye putte to a repreef / whan ye sente the horne from Morgan le fay to kynge Marke where as ye dyd this in despyte of me / Well said he / and it were to doo ageyne / soo wold I doo / for I had leuer stryf and debate felle in kyng Marks courte rather than Arthurs courte / for the honour of bothe courtes be not y lyke As to that said sir Tristram I knowe wel / ¶But that that was done it was for despyte of me / but alle youre malyce I thanke god hurte not gretely / Therfor said sir Tristram ye shal leue alle your malyce / and soo wille I and lete vs assay hou we may wynne worship bitwene you and me vpon this gy∣aunt sir Nabon le noyre / that is lord of this Iland to destroye hym / Sir said sir Lamorak now I vnderstande your knyght∣hode / it maye not be fals that alle men saye / for of your bounte nobles and worship of alle knyghtes ye are pyerles / And for your curtosy and gentilnes I shewed you vngentilnesse / & that now me repenteth

¶Capitulum xxxix

IN the meane tyme there cam word that sir Nabon had made a crye that alle the peple of that yle shold be at his castel the fyfthe day after / ¶And the same daye the sone of Nabon shold be made knyghte / and alle the knyghtes of that valey and there about shold be there to Iuste / and all tho of the Royamme of Logrys shold be there to Iuste with them of Northwalys / and thyder came fyue honderd knyghtes / and they of the countrey brought thyder syre Lamorak and sir Tris¦tram and syre kehydyus and sire Segwarides / for they durst none other wyse doo / and thenne sir Nabon lent sire Lamorak hors and armour at sire Lamoraks desyre / and sire Lamorak Iusted and dyd suche dedes of armes that Nabon and all the

peple said there was neuer knyʒt that euer they sawe do suche dedes of armes / for as the Frensshe book saith he foriusted all•• that were there for the moost party of fyue honderd knyghtes that none abode hym in his sadel Thenne sir Nabon profered to playe with hym his playe / for I sawe neuer no knyghte doo soo moche vpon a daye / I wille wel said sire Lamorak playe as I may but I am wery and sore brysed / and there eyther gate a spere / but Nabon wold not encountre with sire Lamo∣rak / but smote his hors in the forhede and soo slewe hym / and thenne sire Lamorak yede on foote and torned his shelde and drewe his swerd / and there beganne stronge bataill on foote / But sir Lamorak was so sore brysed and shorte brethed that he tracyd and trauercyd somwhat abak / Fair felawe said syre Nabon hold thy hand and I shalle shewe the more curtosye / than euer I shewed knyght by cause I haue sene this daye thy noble knyghthode / And therfore stand thou by and I wil wete whether ony of thy felawes wille haue adoo with me / Thenne whan sir Tristram herd that / he stepte forth and said Nabon le∣nde me hors and sure armour and I wille haue adoo with the wel felawe said sir Nabon goo thou to yonder pauelione and arme the of the best thou fyndest there / and I shalle playe a merueillous playe with the / Thenne said sire Tristram loke ye playe wel or els peraduentur I shalle lerne you a newe play that is wel said felawe said sir Nabon / So whan sir Tristram was armed as hym lyked best and wel shelded and swerded / he dressid to hym on foote / For wel he knewe syr Nabon wold not abyde a stroke with a spere / therfore he wold slee alle kny∣ghtes horses / Now fair felawe said sir Nabon lete vs playe / Soo thenne they foughte longe on foote tracynge and trauer¦cynge smytynge and foynynge longe withoute ony rest / Atte last sir Nabon praid hym to telle hym his name / Syre Nabon I telle the my name is sir Tristram de lyones a knyʒt of Cor∣newail vnder kynge Marke / thou art welcome said sir nabon / for of alle knyghtes I haue moost desyred to fyghte with the or with sir Launcelot / Soo thenne they went egerly to gyders and sire tristram slewe sire nabon / and soo forth with he lepte to his sone / and strake of his hede / and thenne al the countrey sayde / they wold holde of sire Tristram / nay saide sire Tristram

I wille not soo / here is a worshipfull knyght sir Lamorak de galys that for me he shalle be lord of this countreye / for he ha∣th done here grete dedes of armes / nay said sir Lamorak I wil not be lord of this countrey / for I haue not deserued it as wel as ye / therfore gyue ye hit where ye wille for I will none ha¦ue / wel saide sire Tristram syn ye nor I wille not haue hit / lete vs yeue hit to hym that hath not so wel deserued hit / Doo as ye lyst said Segwarydes / for the yefte is yours for I wil none haue and I had deserued hit / Soo was it yeuen to seg¦warydes wherof he thanked hem / and soo was he lord / & wor∣shipfully he dyd gouerne hit / And thenne sir Segwarydes delyuerd alle prysoners and sette good gouernaunce in that valey / and soo he torned in to Cornewaile / and told kynge Mark and la beale Isoud how sir Tristram had auaunced hym to the yle of seruage / and there he proclamed in al Cor¦newaile of alle the aduentures of these two knyghtes / so was hit openly knowen / But ful wo was la Beale Isoud when she herd telle that sire Tristram was wedded to Isoud la bla∣unche maynys /

¶Capitulum xl

SOo torne we vnto sir Lamorak that rode toward Ar∣thurs courte / and sire Tristrams wyf and Kehydyus took a vessel and sailed in to Bretayne vnto kynge Howel where he was welcome / And whan he herd of these aduētures they merueilled of his noble dedes / Now torne we vnto sir La¦morak that whan he was departed from sire Tristram / he rode oute of the forest tyll he came to an hermytage / whan the here∣myte sawe hym / he asked hym from whens he came / sir said sir Lamorak I come fro this valey / sir said the hermyte therof I merueille / For this xx wynter I sawe neuer no knyght passe this countrey / but he was other slayne or vylaynously woun¦ded or passe as a poure prysoner / Tho ylle customs said sir la¦morak are fordone / for sir Tristram slewe your lord syr Nabon and his sone / thenne was the heremyte gladde and all his bre¦theren / for he said ther was neuer suche a tyraunt among cry∣s••en men / And therfor said the hermyte this valey and fraūceis

we wille holde of sire Tristram / Soo on the morowe sir Lamo¦rak departed / And as he rode he sawe four knyghtes fyghte a¦geynst one / and that one knyght defended hym wel but atte last the four knyghtes had hym doune / And thenne sir Lamo¦rak wente betwixe them / and asked them why they wold slee that one knyght / and said hit was shame four ageynst one / Thou shalt wel wete said the four knyghtes that he is fals / that is youre tale said sir Lamorak / And whanne I here hym also speke / I wille say as ye saye / ¶ Thenne said Lamorak / a knyght can ye not excuse you / but that ye are a fals knyghte / Syr said he yet can I excuse me both with my word & with my handes / that I wille make good vpon one of the best of them my body to his body / ¶Thenne spake they al attones / we wil not Ieopardy our bodyes as for the / But wete thou wel they saide and kynge Arthur were here hym self it shold not lye in his power to saue his lyf / That is to moche said / said sire La∣morak / but many speke ••••hynde a man more than they wylle saye to his face / And by cause of your wordes ye shalle vnder∣stande that I am one of the symplest of kynge Arthurs co∣urte / in the worship of my lord now doo your best / and in despy¦te of you I shalle rescowe hym / And thenne they lasshed alle at ones to sir Lamorak / but anone at two strokes syre Lamo∣rak had slayne two of them / and thenne the other two fledde ¶Soo thenne sire Lamorak torned ageyne to that knyghte / & asked hym his name / syre he sayde my name is sire Frolle of the oute Iles / thenne he rode with sire Lamorak and bare hym company / And as they rode by the waye / they sawe a semely knyght rydynge ageynst them / and all in whyte / A said Frol yonder knyght Iusted late with me and smote me doune / ther¦fore I wil Iuste with hym / ye shal not doo soo said sire Lamo¦rak by my counceil / and ye wille telle me your quarel whether ye Iusted at his request / or he at yours / Nay said sir Frol / I Iusted with hym at my request / Syr said Lamorak / thēne wil I coūceile you dele no more with hym / for me semeth by his co∣untenaunce he shold be a noble knyght / and no Iaper / for me thynketh / he shold be of the table round / therfor I wil not ••••a¦re said sir Frol / and thenne he cryed and said / sir knyʒt mak••

the redy to Iust / That nedeth not said the whyte knyghte / For I haue no luste to Iuste with the / but yet they feutryd theyr speres / and the whyte knyghte ouerthrewe sire Frol / and thē¦ne he rode his waye a softe paas / Thenne sir Lamorak rode af∣ter hym / and praid hym to telle hym his name / for me semeth ye shold be of the felauship of the round table / Vpon a coue∣naunt said ••e I wille telle you my name / soo that ye wylle not discouer my name / and also that ye wille telle me yours / Thenne said he my name is sir Lamorak de galys / And my name is sir Launcelot du lake / thenne they putte vp their suer¦des / and kyssed hertely to gyders / and eyder made grete Ioye of other / Syr said sir Lamorak and hit please you I wyll do you seruyse / God defende said Launcelot that ony of soo noble a blood as ye be shold doo me seruyse / Thenne he saide more I am in a quest that I must doo my self alone / Now god spede you said sir Lamorak / and so they departed / Thenne sir Lamo¦rak came to sir Frol and horsed hym ageyne / what knyght is that said sir Frol / sir he said it is not for you to knowe nor it is no poynte of my charge / ye are the more vncurteis saide sire Frol / and therfore I wille departe fro yow / ye may doo as ye lyst said sir Lamorak / and yet by my company ye haue saued the fayrest floure of your garland / soo they departed

¶Capitulum xlj

THenne within two or thre dayes syr Lamorak fond a knyghte at a welle slepynge / and his lady sate with hym and waked / Ryght so came sir Gawayne and toke the knyghtes lady / and sette her vp behynde his squyer / Soo syre Lamorak rode after syre Gawayne / and said sire Gawayne / torne ageyne / And thenne said sir Gawayne what wylle ye do with me / for I am neuewe vnto kyng Arthur / syre said he for that cause I wil spare you / els that lady shold abyde wyth me / or els ye shold iuste with me / Thenne sire Gawayne tor∣ned hym and ranne to hym that ought the lady with his spe¦re / but the knyght with pure myght smote doune syre Gawa∣yne / and took his lady with hym / Alle this sir Lamorak saw and said to hym self / but I reuenge my felawe / he will say of

me dishonour in kynge Arthurs courte / Thenne sire Lamorak retorned and profered that knyght to Iuste / Syr said he I am redy / and there they came to gyders with alle their myght / and there sir Lamorak smote the knyght thorou both sydes / that he fylle to the erthe dede / thenne that lady rode to that knyghtes broder that hyght Belliaūce le orgulus / that duelled fast ther by / and thenne she told hym how his broder was slayne / Allas said he I wille be reuengyd / and soo he horsed hym / & armed hym / and within a whyle he ouertook syre Lamorak / and badde hym torne and leue that lady / for thou and I must playe a newe playe / for thou hast slayne my broder syre Froll that was a better knyghte than euer were thou / It myghte wel be said sir Lamorak / but this day in the felde I was foūd the better / Soo they rode to gyder / and vnhorsed other / & torned their sheldes / and drewe their swerdes / and foughte myghtely as noble knyghtes preued by the space of two houres / So thē∣ne sir Bellyaunce prayed hym to telle hym his name / Syr sa¦id he my name is sire Lamorak de galys / A said syr Belly¦aunce / thou arte the man in the world that I moost hate / for I slewe my sones for thy sake / where I saued thy lyf / and now thou hast slayne my broder syr Frol / Allas how shold I be acoorded with the / therfore defende the / for thou shalt dye ther is none other remedy / ¶Allas said sir Lamorak ful wel me ought to knowe you / for ye are the man that moost haue done for me / And there with alle sire Lamorak knelyd doune / and bisought hym of grace / Aryse said sir Bellyaunce / or els there as thou knelest I shalle slee the / That shal not nede saide sire Lamorak / for I wyl yelde me vnto you / not for fere of yow / nor for your strengthe / but your goodenes maketh me ful both to haue adoo with you / wherfore I requyre you for goddes sa¦ke / and for the honour of knygthode forgyue me al that I ha∣ue offended vnto you / Allas said Belleaunce leue thy knely∣nge or els I shal slee the withoute mercy / Thenne they yede ageyne vnto batail / and either wounded other that al the gro∣und was blody there as they foughte / And at the laste Bel∣leaunce withdrewe hym abak and sette hym doune softely vp∣on a lytil hylle / for he was so faynte for bledyng that he my∣ght not stande / Thenne sir lamorak threwe his shelde vpon his

bak / and asked hym what chere / wel said syr Belliaunce / A syr yet shalle I shewe you faueour in your male ease / A kn∣yght syr Belliaunce said syr Lamorak thou arte a foole / for and I had had the at suche auauntage as thou hast done me I shold slee the / but thy gentylnes is so good and so large / that I must nedes forgyue the myn euylle wille / And then∣ne sire Lamorak knelyd adoune / and vnlaced fyrst his vm∣berere / and thenne his owne / and thenne eyther kyssed other with wepynge teres / Thenne sire Lamerak ledde sir Belliaūce to an Abbay fast by / and there sire Lamorak wold not departe from Bellyaunce tyl he was hole / And thenne they sware to gyders that none of hem shold neuer fyghte ageynst other / So syre Lamorak departed and wente to the courte of kynge Ar¦thur /

¶Here leue we of sire Lamorak and of sir Tristram