¶Capitulum primum

ANd yf so be ye can descryue what ye bere / ye ar worthy to bere the armes / As for that said syr Tristram I wille ansuere you / this sheld was yeuen me / not desyred / of quene Morgan le fay And as for me I can not descryue these armes for it is no poynt of my charge / and yet I truste to god to be∣re hem with worship / Truly sayd kynge Arthur ye oughte not to bere none armes / but yf ye wist What ye bare / But I pray you telle me youre name / to what entente said syre Tristram / for I wold wete said Arthur / Syre ye shalle not wete as at this tyme / thenne shalle ye and I doo bataille to gyders sayd Kyng Arthur / why said syre Tristram wylle ye doo bataille with me but yf I telle you my name / and that lytyl nedeth you and ye were a man of worshyp / for ye haue sene me thys day haue had grete traueylle / And therfore ye are a vylayno∣us knyght to aske bataille of me consyderynge my grete tra∣ueylle / how be hit I wyl not fayle you / and haue ye no doub¦te that I feare not you / though ye thynke ye haue me atte a grete auauntage / yet shalle I ryght wel endure you / And there with all kynge Arthur dressid his shelde and his spere and syre Tristram ageynst hym / and they came soo egerly to gyders / And there kynge Arthur brake his spere all to pye∣ces vpon syr Tristrams shelde / But sir Tristram hitte Arthur ageyne that hors and man felle to the erthe / And there was kynge Arthur wounded on the lyfte syde a grete wounde and a peryllous / Thenne whannne sir Vwayne sawe his lord Ar∣thur lye on the ground sore wounded he was passynge heuy / And thenne he dressid his shelde and his spere / and cryed a Page  [unnumbered] lowde vnto syr Tristram and said knyght defende the / So they came to gyder as thonder / and syr Vwayne brysed his spere / alle to pyeces vpon syre Tristrams shelde / and syre Tristram smote hym harder and sorer with suche a myʒt that he bare hym clene oute of his sadel to the erthe / with that syr Tristram tor∣ned aboute and said Fair knyghtes / I had no nede to Iuste with you / for I haue had ynough to doo this daye / Thenne a∣rose Arthur / and wente to syr Vwayn and said to sire Tris∣tram we haue as we haue deserued / For thurgh our orgulyte we demaunded bataille of you / and yet we knewe not youre name / Neuertheles by seynt crosse said syre Vwayne he is a stronge knyght at myn aduyse as ony is now lynyng / Thenne sir Tristram departed / and in euery place he asked & demaunded after sir Launcelot / but in no place he coude not he¦re of hym whether he were dede or on lyue / wherfor sir tristram made grete dole and sorowe / Soo syr Tristram rode by a forest and thēne was he ware of a fayre toure by a mareyse on that one syde / and on that other syde a fayr medowe / And there he sawe ten knyghtes fyghtynge to gyder / And euer the nere he came / he sawe how ther was but one knyght dyd bataille ageynst nyne knyghtes / and that one dyd soo merueyllously that syre Tristram had grete wonder that euer one knyʒt my∣ght doo soo grete dedes of armes / and thennne within a lytell whyle he had slayne half their horses / and vnhorsed them / and their horses ranne in the feldes and foreste / Thenne syre Tristram had soo grete pyte of that one knyght that endured soo grete payne / and euer he thought hit shold be syr palomy∣des by his shelde / and soo he rode vnto the knyghtes and cry∣ed vnto them / and bad them seace of their bataille / for they did them self grete shame soo many knyghtes to fyghte with one / Thenne ansuerd the maister of tho knyghtes / his name was called Breuse saunce pyte that was a•te that tyme the mooste meschyeuoust knyght lyuynge / and said thus / syr knyʒt what haue ye ado with vs to medle / And therfor and ye be wyse / departe on your way as ye cam / for this knyghte shalle not es∣cape vs / that were pyte said syr Tristram that soo good a kn∣yght as he is shold be slayne soo cowardly / And therfore I warne you I will socoure hym with all my puyssaunce

¶Capitulum secūdum

SO syre Tristram alyghte of his hors by cause they we¦re on foote that they shold not slee his hors / And thē¦ne dressid his sheld with his swerd in his hand / and he smo¦te on the ryght hand and on the lyfte hand passyng sore that Wel nygh at euery stroke he strake doun a knyght / And when they aspyed his strokes / they fled all with Breuse saūce pyte vnto the toure / & sir Tristram folowed fast after with his suerd in his hand / but they escaped in to the toure / and shytte sire Tristram withoute the gate / ¶And whanne sire Tristram sawe this / he retorned abak vnto syr Palomydes / and fond hym syttyng vnder a tree sore wounded / A faire knyght saide syre Tristram wel be ye fonde / Gramercy said sir palomydes of yo∣ur grete goodenes / for ye haue rescowed me of my lyf and sa¦ued me from my dethe / what is your name said sir Tristram / he said my name is syr Palomydes / O Ihesu said syr Tristrā thou hast a fayre grace of me this daye / that I shold rescowe the / and thou arte the man in the world that I mooste hate / but now make the redy / for I will doo bataille with the / what is your name sayd palomydes / my name is sir Tristram your mortal enemy / hit may be soo said sir palomydes / But ye ha∣ue done ouer moche for me this day that I shold fyghte with you / for in as moche as ye haue saued my lyf / hit wille be no worship for you to haue adoo with me / for ye are fressh and I am wounded sore / And therfor and ye wille nedes haue ado with me / Assigne me a day and thenne I shal mete with you withoute fayle / ye saye wel said sir Tristram / Now I assigne you to mete me in the medowe by the ryuer of Camelot / where Merlyon sette the peron / soo they were agreed / Thenne sir Tris¦tram asked syr Palomydes why the ten knyghtes dyd bataill with hym / for this cause said sir palomydes / as I rode vp myn aduentures in a forest here besyde / I aspyed where laye a dede Knyght / and a lady wepynge besyde hym / And whanne I sawe her makynge suche dole / I asked her who slewe her lorde ¶Syre she said the falsest knyght of the world now lyuyng and he is the moost vylayne that ouer man herd speke of / Page  [unnumbered] and his name is sir Breuse saunce pyte / thenne for pyte I ma¦de the damoysel to lepe on her palfroy / and I promysed her to be her waraunt / and to helpe her to entyere her lord / And soo sodenly as I came rydynge by this toure / there came oute syr Breuse saunce pyte / and sodenly he strake me from my hors / And thenne or I myghte recouer my hors / this sir Breuse sle∣we the damoysel / and soo I took my hors ageyne / and I was sore ashamed / and so beganne the medle betwixe vs and this is is the cause wherfore we dyd this bataille / Well said sir tris¦tram now I vnderstande the maner of your bataiylle / but in ony wyse haue remembraunce of your promyse that ye haue ma¦de with me to doo bataille with me this day fourtenyght / I shal not fayle you said sir Palomydes / wel said sir Tristram as at this tyme I wille not fayle you tyl that ye be oute of the daū¦ger of your enemyes / So they mounted vpon theyr horses / & rode to gyders vnto that foreste / and there they fond a fayre welle / with clere water burbelynge / fayr sir said sir Tristram to drynke of that water haue I courage / and thenne they a∣lyght of their horses / And thenne were they ware by them whe¦re stood a grete hors teyed to a tree / and euer he neyhed And thenne were they ware of a fayr knyght armed vnder a tree lackyng no pyece of harneis saue his helme lay vnder his heede / By the good lord said sir Tristram yonder lyeth a wel farynge knyght / what is best to doo / Awake hym said sir pa∣lomydes / so sir Tristram awaked hym with the but of his spe∣re / And soo the knyght arose vp hastely and putte his helme vpon his hede / and gat a grete spere in his hand / and without ony moo wordes he hurled vnto sir Tristram / and smote hym clene from his sadel to the erthe / and hurte hym on the lyfte syde that sir Tristram lay in grete perylle / Thenne he wallopped ferther / and fette his cours / and came hurlynge vpon sir palo¦mydes / and there he strake hym a parte thorou the body that he fylle from his hors to the erthe / ¶ And thenne this straunge knyght lefte them there / and took his way thurgh the foreste / With this sir Palomydes and sire Tristram were on foote and gat their horses ageyn / and eyther asked counceylle of other / what was best to done / By my hede said sir Tristram I wyll folowe this strong knyght that thus hath shamed vs / ¶ Well Page  [unnumbered] said sir Palomydes / & I wylle repose me here by with a frend of myn / Beware said sire Tristram vnto Palomydes that ye fayle not that day that ye haue set with me to do bataill / for as I deme ye wille not hold your day / for I am moche bygger than ye / As for that said sir Palomydes / be hit as hit be maye for I feare you not / For and I be not seke nor prysoner I wil not fayle you / But I haue cause to haue more doubte of you that ye wille not mete with me / for ye ryde after yonder strong knyght / And yf ye mete with hym / hit is an hard aduenture and euer ye escape his handes / Ryght soo sir Tristram and sir Palomydes departed / and eyther took their wayes dyuerse

¶Capitulum iij

ANd so syre Tristram rode longe after this stronge kn∣yght / And at the laste he sawe where lay a lady ouer thwarte a dede knyght / Faire lady said sir Tristram who hath slayne your lord / Syr she said here came a knyght rydyng as my lord and I rested vs here / and asked hym of whens he was / and my lord said of Arthurs courte / therfore said the stronge knyght I wille Iuste with the / for I hate alle these that ben of Arthurs Courte / And my lord that lyeth here dede amounted vpon his hors / and the stronge knyght and my lord encountred to gyder / and there he smote my lord thorugh oute with his spere / and thus he hath broughte me in grete woo and dammage / That me repenteth said sire Tristram of your grete anger / and hit please you / telle me your husbandes name / syr said she his name was Galardoun that wold ha∣ue preued a good knyghte / Soo departed sir Tristram from that dolorous lady and hadde moche euylle lodgyng / Thenne on the thyrdde day syr Tristram mette with syr Gawayne and with sir Bleoberys in a forest at a lodge and eyther were so¦re wounded / Thenne syre Tristram asked syr Gawayne and syr Bleoberys yf they met with suche a Knyghte with suche a cognoyssaunce with a keuerd shelde / Faire syr said these kn∣yghtes suche a knyght met with vs to oure grete dommage / & fyrst he smote doune my felawe syre Bleoberys & sore woūded Page  [unnumbered] hym / by cause he badde me I shold not haue ad• with hym For why he was ouer stronge for me / That strong knyght to∣ke his wordes at scorne and said he said it for mockery / And thenne they rode to gyders / and soo he hurte my felawe / And Whan he had done so / I myght not for shame / but I must Iuste with hym / And at the fyrst course he smote me doune / and my hors to the erthe / And there he had al moost slayne me / and from vs he took his hors / and departed / and in an euyll tyme we mette with hym / Faire knyghtes said sir Tristram soo he mette with me / and with another knyght that hyght Palomy¦des / and he smote vs bothe doune with one spere / and hurt vs ryght sore / By my feythe said sir Gawayne by my counceil ye shalle lete hym passe / and seke hym no ferther / for at the nexte feest of the round table vpon payne of my hede ye shalle fynde hym there / By my feythe said sir Tristram I shall neuer reste tyl that I fynde hym / And thenne sir Gawayne asked hym his name / thenne he said my name is sir Tristram / and so ey∣ther told other their names / and thenne departed syr Tristram / and rode his way / And by fortune in a medowe sire Tristram mette with sir Kay the seneschal and sir Dynadan / What ty∣dynges with you said sir Tristram with you Knyghtes / Not good said these knyghtes / why soo said sir Tristram I praye you telle me / for I ryde to seke a knyght / what cognoyssaunce bereth he said sir Kay / He bereth said sir Tristram a couerd sheld close with a clothe / By my hede said sir Kay that is the same Knyght that mette with vs / for this nyght we were lod∣ged within a wydowes hous / and there was that knyght lod∣ged / And whanne he wyst we were of Arthurs court / he spak grete vylonye by the kynge / and specially by the Quene Gue∣neuer / ¶ And thenne on the morne was waged bataille with hym for that cause / And at the fyrst recoūtre said sir kay he smote me doune from my hors / and hurte me passynge sore / And whanne my felawe syr Dynadan sawe me smyten doune and hurte / he wold not reuenge me / but fledde from me / And thus is he departed / And thenne sir Tristram asked them theyr names / and soo eyther told other their names / And soo syre Tristram departed from syr kay / and from sir Dynodan / and so he past thurgh a grete forest in to a playne tyl he was ware Page  [unnumbered] of a pryory / and there he reposed hym with a good man syxe dayes

¶Capitulum quartum

ANd thenne he sente his man that hyght Gouernaile / & commaunded hym to goo to a Cyte there by to fetche hym newe harneis / for hit was long tyme afore that / that syre Tristram had ben refresshed / his harneis was brysed & broken And whanne Gouernaile his seruaunt was come with his ap¦parail / he toke his leue at the wydowe / and mounted vpon his hors / and rode his way erly on the morne / And by sodeyn ad¦uenture syr Tristram mette with sir Sagramore le desyrus / & with sir Dodynas le saueage / And these two knyghtes mette with syre Tristram and questyoned with hym / and asked hym yf he wold Iuste with hem / Faire knyghtes said sir Tristram with a good wylle I wold Iuste with you / But I haue promysed at a day sette nere hand to do bataille with a strong knyght / And therfore I am lothe to haue adoo with you / for and hit mysfortuned me here to be hurte I shold not be able to doo my bataille / whiche I promysed / As for that said Sa∣gramor maulgre your hede ye shalle Iuste with vs / or ye passe from vs / well said syr Tristram / yf ye enforce me therto I must doo what I may / And thenne they dressid their sheldes / and came rennynge to gyder with grete yre / But thurgh syr Trist∣rams grete force he strake syr Sagramor from his hors / Then¦ne he hurled his hors ferther / and said to sir Dodynas / knyʒte make the redy / and soo thorou fyne force syre Tristram strake Dodynas from his hors / And whanne he sawe hem lye on the erthe / he took his brydel / and rode forth on his way and his man Gouernaile with hym / Anone as sir Tristram was paste syr Sagramore and sir Dodynas gate ageyne their horses / & mounted vp lyghtely and folowed after sir Tristram / And whan syre Tristram sawe them come soo fast after hym / he retor¦ned with his hors to them / and asked them what they wold Hit is not longe ago sythen I smote you to the erthe at your owne request / and desyre / I wold haue ryden by you / but ye wold not suffre me / and now me semeth ye wold doo more ba¦taille with me / That is trouthe said sire Sagramore and syre Page  [unnumbered] Dodynas / for we wille be reuengyd of the despyte ye haue do¦ne to vs / Faire knyghtes said sir Tristram that shall lytyl ne¦de you / for all that I dyd to you / ye caused hit / wherfore I re∣quyre you of your knygthode leue me as at this tyme / for I am sure and I doo bataille with you I shalle not escape with oute grete hurtes / and as I suppose ye shalle not escape alle lotles / And this is the cause why I am soo loth to haue ado with you / For I must fyghte within these thre dayes with a good knyght and as valyaunt as ony is now lyuynge / and yf I be hurte I shalle not be able to doo bataille with hym / What Knyght is that said sir Sagramor that ye shalle fyghte with alle / Syrs said he it is a good knyght called sir Palo∣mydes / By my hede said sir Sagramor and sire Dodynas ye haue cause to drede hym / for ye shall fynde hym a passyng go∣od knyght / and a valyaunt / And by cause ye shalle haue ado with hym / we wille forbere you as at this tyme / and els ye shold not escape vs lyghtely / But fayr knyght said sir Sa∣gramour telle vs your name / Syr said he my name is sir Tris¦tram de lyones / A said Sagramor and sir Dodynas well be ye fonde / for moche worship haue we herd of you / And thenne ey¦ther took leue of other / and departed on their way /

¶ Capitulum v

THenne departed sire Tristram and rode streyghte vnto Camelot to the Peron that Merlyn had made to fore where sire Lancyor that was the Kynges sone of Irland was slayne by the handes of Balyn / and in that same place was the fayr lady Columbe slayn that was loue vnto sir Lanceor for after he was dede she took his suerd and threst hit thorou her body / And by the crafte of Merlyn he made to entiere this kn∣yght Lanceor and his lady Columbe vnder one stone / And at that tyme Merlyon profecyed / that in that same place shold fyghte two the best knyghtes that euer were in Arthurs da∣yes / and the best louers / ¶Soo whanne syre Tristram came to the tombe where lancyor and his lady were buryed / he Page  [unnumbered] loked aboute hym after sir Palomydes / Thenne was he ware of a semely knyght came rydyng ageynst hym all in whyte / with a couerd shelde / Whanne he came nyghe sir Tristram he said on hyghe ye be welcome syr Knyght / and wel and truly ha∣ue ye hold your promyse / And thenne they dressid their shel∣des and speres / and came to gyder• with alle theire myghtes of their horses / and they met so fyersly that bothe their horses and Knyghtes fylle to the erthe / And as fast as they myʒte auoyded theyre horses / and putte their sheldes afore them / and they strake to gyders with bryght swerdes as men that were of myght / and eyther woūded other wonderly sore that the blood ranne out vpon the grasse / And thus they fought the space of four houres / that neuer one wold speke to other one word / & of their harneis they had hewen of many pecys / O lord Ihesu said Gouernaile I merueyle gretely of the strokes my mais∣ter hath yeuen to your mayster / By my hede said sir Laūcelots seruaunt your maister hath not yeuen so many but your mais¦ter hath receyued as many or more / O Ihesu saide Gouernaile it is to moche for sir palomydes to suffre or sir Launcelot / And yet pyte it were that eyther of these good knyghtes shold des∣troye others blood / Soo they stode and wepte bothe / and made grete dole / whan they sawe the bryghte swerdes ouer couerd with blood of their bodyes / Thenne at the last spake syr laun∣celot and said knyght thou fyghtest wonderly wel / as euer I sawe knyght / therfor and hit please you telle me your name / Syr saide syre Tristram that is me lothe to telle ony man my name / Truly said sir launcelot and I were requyred I was neuer loth to telle my name / Hit is wel said said sir Tristram thenne I requyre you to telle me your name / fayr knyghte he said my name is sir launcelot du lake / Allas said sire Trist∣ram what haue I done / for ye are the man in the world that I loue best / Faire knyght said sir Launcelot telle me your name Truly said he my name is sir Tristram de lyones / O Ihesu sa¦id sir launcelot what aduenture is befalle me / And there with syr launcelot kneled doune and yelded hym vp his suerd And there with alle sir Tristram kneled adoune / and yelded hym vp his suerd / And soo eyther gaf other the degree / And thenne they bothe forth with all went to the stone / and set them Page  [unnumbered] doune vpon hit / and toke of their helmes to kele them / and eyther kyst other an honderd tymes / And thenne anone after they took of their helmes and rode to Camelot / and there they mette with sir Gawayne and with sir Gaherys that had made promyse to Arthur neuer to come ageyne to the court tyl they had brought syr Tristram with them

¶Capitulum sextum

REtorne ageyne said sir launcelot for your quest is do∣ne / for I haue mette with sir Tristram / loo here is his owne persone / Thenne was syr Gawayne gladde / and said to sire Tristram ye are welcome / for now haue ye easyd me grete¦ly of my labour / For what cause said sir Gawayne came ye in to this courte / Fair sir said sir Tristram I came in to thys countrey / by cause of syr Palomydes / for he and I had assyg∣ned at this day to haue done bataille to gyders at the Peroun And I merueyle I here not of hym / And thus by aduentur my lord syre Laūcelot and I mette to gyders / With this came Kynge Arthur / And whan he wyst that there was sir Tris∣tram / thenne he ranne vnto hym and toke hym by the hand / And saide sire Tristram ye are as welcome as ony Knyghte / that euer came to this Courte / And whanne the Kynge had herd how sire Launcelot and he had foughten / and eyther had wounded other wonderly sore / thenne the Kynge maade grete dole / Thenne sir Tristram told the Kynge how he came thydder for to haue had adoo with sire Palomydes / And / thenne he told the kynge how he had rescowed hym from the nyne knyghtes and Breuse saunce pyte / And how he fond a Knyght lyeng by a well / and that Knyght smote doune sir Palomydes and me / but his sheld was couerd with a clothe / Soo sir Palomy¦des lefte me / and I folowed after that Knyghte / and in ma∣ny places I fonde where he had slayne Knyghtes / and forius¦ted many / By my hede said sir Gawayne that same Knyghte smote me doun and sire Bleoberys and hurte vs sore both / he with the couerd shelde / A sayd sir Kay that Knyght smote me adoune & hurte me passynge sore / & fayne wolde I haue knowen hym but I myʒt not / Ihesu mercy said Arthur what Page  [unnumbered] knyghte was that with the couerd shelde / I knowe not saide sir Tristram / and so said they all / now said kyng Arthur then∣ne wote I for it is sir laūcelot / thēne they al loked vpon sir laū∣celot & said ye haue begyled vs with your couerd shelde / Hit is not the fyrst tyme said Arthur he hath done soo / My lord sayd sir Launcelot truly wete ye wel I was the same knyght that bare the couerd shelde / And by cause I wold not be knowen that I was of your Courte I said no worship of your hows That is trouthe said sir Gawayne / sir kay / and sir Bleoberys Thenne kynge Arthur took sir Tristram by the hand / & wente to the table round / Thenne came Quene Gueneuer and many ladyes with her / and alle tho ladyes sayden at one voyce / wel∣come sir Tristram / welcome said the damoysels / welcome sayd knyghtes / welcome said Arthur for one of the best knyghtes / and the gentylst of the world / and the man of mooste wor∣ship / for of alle maner of huntynge thou berest the pryce / and of alle mesures of blowynge thou arte the begynnynge / and of alle the termes of huntyng and haukyng ye are the begyn∣ner / of all Instrumentes of musyke ye ar the best / therfor gen¦tyl knyght said Arthur ye are welcome to this courte / And also I pray you said Arthur graunte me a bone / it shall be at your commaundement said Tristram / wel said Arthur I will desyre of you that ye wille abyde in my courte / Syr saide syre Tristram therto is me •othe / for I haue adoo in many countre¦yes / Not soo said Arthur / ye haue promysed hit me / ye maye not say nay / Syr said sir Tristram I wille as ye wille / Then∣ne wente Arthur vnto the seges about the round table / and lo¦ked in euery syege / the whiche were voyde that lacked knygh∣tes / And thenne the kynge sawe in the siege of Marhaus let∣ters that saiden / this is the syege of the noble knyght sir Tris∣tram / And thenne Arthur made sir Tristram knyght of the ta¦ble round with grete nobley and grete f•est as myghte be tho∣ught / for sir marhaus was slayne afore by the handes of sire Tristram in an yland / and that was wel knowen at that ty∣me in the courte of Arthur / for this marhaus was a worthy knyght / And for euylle dedes that he dyd vnto the countrey of Cornewaile / sire Tristram and he foughte / And they foughte soo longe tracynge and trauer•ynge tylle they fylle bledynge Page  [unnumbered] to the erthe / for they were so sore wounded that they myght not stande for bledynge / and sir Tristram by fortune recouerd and syre Marhaus dyed thurgh the stroke on the hede / Soo leue we of sir Tristram and speke we of Kyng Marke /

¶Capitulum vij

THenne Kynge Marke had grete despyte of the renou¦me of sir Tristram / and Thanne he chaced hym oute of Cornewaile / yet was he neuewe vnto Kynge Marke / but he had grete suspecyon vnto sire Tristram by cause of his Quene la Beale Isoud / for hym semed that there was to moche lo∣ue bitwene them bothe / Soo whan sir Tristram departed oute of Cornewaile in to Englond / kynge marke herd of the grete prowesse that sir Tristram dyd there / the whiche greued hym so¦re / Soo he sente on his party men to aspye what dedes he dyd / And the Quene sente pryuely on her party spyes to knowe what dedes he had done / for grete loue was bitwene them tweyn Soo whan the messagers were come home / they told the trouth as they had herd that he passed alle other knyghtes / but yf it were sir launcelot / Thenne kynge Marke was ryght heuy of these tydynges / and as glad was la Beale Isoud / Thenne in grete despyte he took with hym two good Knyʒtes / and two squyers / and desguysed hym self / and took his way in to En∣glond to the entente for to slee sir Tristram / and one of these ij Knyghtes hyght Bersules / and the other Knyʒt was called Amant / Soo as they rode Kynge marke asked a knyght that he met where he shold fynde Kynge Arthur / he said at Came∣lot / Also he asked that Knyghte after sire Tristram whether he herd of hym in the courte of Kynge Arthur / wete you wel sa¦id that Knyʒt ye shall fynde sir Tristram ther for a man of as grete worship as is now lyuyng for thurʒ his prowesse he wā the turnement of the castel of maydens / that standeth by the hard roche / And sythen he hath wonne with his owne handes thyrtty Knyghtes that were men of grete honour /

¶And the laste batail that euer he dy•e / he foughte with syre Page  [unnumbered] Launcelot / and that was a merueilous bataille / And not by force syr launcelot brought sir Tristram to the Courte / and of hym kynge Arthur made passynge grete ioye / and soo maade hym knyght of the table round / and his seate was where the good Knyghtes sir Marhaus seate was / Thenne was Kyng Marke passynge sory whanne he herd of the honour of sir Tris¦tram / and soo they departed / Thenne said Kyng Marke vnto his two Knyghtes / Now wille I telle you my counceylle ye are the men that I trust moost to on lyue / and I wille that ye wete my comynge hyder is to this entente / for to destroye sir Tristram by wyles or by treason / and hit shalle be hard yf e∣uer he escape our handes / Allas said sir Bersules what mene you / for ye be sette in suche a waye / ye are disposed shamefully For sir Tristram is the Knyʒt of moost worship that we kno∣we lyuynge / And therfor I warne you playnly I wyll ne∣uer consente to doo hym to the de the / and therfor I wyll yelde my seruyse / and forsake you whan kynge Mark herd hym say so / Sodenly he drewe his swerd and said A traitour / & smote syr Bersules on the hede that the suerd wente to his teeth / Whanne Amant the knyghte sawe hym doo that vylaynous dede / and his squyers / they said hit was foul done / and me∣schyeuously / wherfore we wille doo the no more seruyse / and wete ye wel / we wil appeche the of treason afore Arthur / Thenne was Kynge Marke wonderly wrothe / and wold ha∣ue slayne Amant / but he and the two squyers held them to gy¦ders / and sette nought by his malyce / whanne Kynge marke sawe he myght not be reuenged on them / he said thus vnto the Knyght Amant / wete thou wel / and thou apoeche me of trea¦son / I shalle therof defende me afore Kynge Arthur / but I re¦quyre the that thou telle not my name that I am Kyng mark what someuer come of me / As for that said sir Amant I wil not discouer your name / and soo they departed / and Amant and his felawes took the body of Bersules and buryed hit

¶Capitulum Octauum

THenne kynge Mark rode tyl he came to a fontayne / and there he rested hym / and stode in a doubte whether he wold ryde to Arthurs courte or none / or retorne a∣geyne to his countrey / And as he thus rested hym by that fon¦tayne / ther came by hym a knyght wel armed on horsbak / and be alyghte and teyed his hors vntyl a tree / and sette hym do∣une by the brynke of the fontayne / and there he made grete lā¦gour and dole / and made the dolefullest complaynte of loue / that euer man herd / and al this whyle was he not ware of ky∣nge Marke / And this was a grete parte of his complaynte / he cryed and wepte sayenge O fayre Quene of Orkeney ky∣nge Lots wyf and moder of sir Gawayne and to sire Gaheris and moder to many other / for thy loue I am in grete paynes / Thenne Kynge Marke arose and wente nere hym / and sayd / Fayr knyght ye haue made a pyteous complaynte / Truly sa∣id the knyght / hit is an honderd parte more reufullyr than my herte can vtter / I requyre you said Kyng Marke telle me yo∣ur name / Sir said he as for my name I wil not hyde it from no knyght that bereth a shelde / and my name is sire Lamorak de galys / But whan sire Lamorak herd Kynge Mark speke thenne wist he wel by his speche that he was a Cornysshe kny∣ght / Syr said sir Lamorak / I vnderstande by your tonge ye be of Cornewaile wherin there duelleth the shamefullest kynge that is now lyuynge / for he is a grete enemy to alle good kn∣yghtes / and that preueth wel / for he hath chaced oute of that Countrey syr Tristram that is the worshipfullest knyght that now is lyuynge / and alle knyghtes speken of hym worship / And for Ialousnes of his quene he hath chaced hym oute of his countrey / Hit is pyte said sir Lamorak that euer ony su∣che fals knyght coward as kynge Marke is shold be matched with suche a fayre lady and good as la Beale Isoud is / for alle the world of hym speketh shame / and of her worshyp that ony Quene maye haue ¶ I haue not adoo in this matere said kynge marke / neyther noughte wille I speke therof Wel said said syre Lamorak syre can ye Page  [unnumbered] telle me ony tydynges / I can telle you said syr Lamorak / that there shalle be a grete turnement in hast besyde Camelot at the castel of Iagent / and the kynge with the C knyʒtes & the kyng of Irland as I suppose make that turnement

¶ Thenne there came a knyght that was callid sire Dyna∣dan / and salewed them bothe / And whan he wyst that kynge Marke was a knyght of Cornewaile / he repreued hym for the loue of kynge Marke a thousand fold more / than dyd sir la¦morak / thenne he profered to Iuste with kynge Mark / and he was ful lothe therto / But sir Dynadan edgyd hym soo / that he Iusted with sir lamorak / & sir lamorak smote kyng marke so sore that he bare hym on his spere ende ouer his hors tayle / And thenne kynge Marke arose ageyne / and folowed after sir lamorak / but sir Dynadan wold not Iuste with sire Lamo∣rak / But he told kynge Marke that sire Lamorak was syre kay the s•neschall / that is not soo said kynge Mark / for he is moche byggar than sir kay / and soo he folowed and ouerto∣ke hym / and badde hym abyde / what wille ye doo said sir La∣morak / Syr he said / I will fyghte with a swerd / for ye haue shamed me with a spere / And there with they dasshed to gyders with swerdes / and sir Lamorak suffred hym / and forbare hym And kynge Marke was passyng hasty / and smote thycke stro¦kes / Syr Lamorak sawe he wold not stynte and waxyd som¦what wrothe / and doubled his strokes / for he was one of the noblest knyghtes of the world / and he bete hym soo on the hel¦me that his / hede henge nyʒ vn the sadel bowe whan sir lamorak sawe hym fare soo / he said / syr knyght what chere me semeth ye haue nyghe your fylle of fyghtynge / hit were pyte to doo yow ony more harme / for ye are but a meane knyght / therfore I gy∣ue you leue to goo where ye lyst / Gramercy said kyng Mark For ye & I be not matches / Thenne sir dynadan mocked kyng Marke and said ye are not able to matche a good knyght / as for that said Kyng Mark at the first tyme that I Iusted with this Knyʒt ye refused hym / Thynke ye that it is a shame to me said syr Dynadan / Nay syr it is euer worship to a Knyʒt to refuse that thyng that he may not atteyne / therfor your wor¦ship had ben moche more to haue refused hym as I dyd / for I warne you playnly he is able to bete suche fyue as ye / and Page  [unnumbered] I be / for ye Knyghtes of Cornewaile are no men of worship / as other Knyghtes are / And by cause ye are no men of wor∣ship / ye hate alle men of worship / for neuer was bredde in yo∣ur countrey suche a Knyght as is sir Tristram /

¶Capitulum ix

THenne they rode forth alle to gyders Kynge Mark / sir Lamorak & sir Dynadan tyl that they came to a bryd∣ge / And at the ende therof stode a fayre Toure / Thenne sawe they a Knyght on horsbak wel armed braundysshyng a spere cryenge and proferynge hym self to Iuste / Now said sir Dy∣nadan vnto Kyng Mark / yonder ar two bretheren that one hy∣ght Aleyn / and the other hyghte Tryan that will Iuste with ony that passeth this passage / Now profer your self said Dyna¦dan to Kynge Mark / for euer ye be leide to the erthe / Thenne Kynge Marke was ashamed / and there with he feutryd hys spere / and hurtl•d to sir Tryan / and eyther brake their speres / all to pyeces / and passid thurgh anone / Thenne syr Trian sent Kynge Mark another spere to Iuste more / But in no wyse he wold not Iuste no more / Thenne they came to the castel al thre Knyghtes / and praid the lord of the castel of herburgh / ye are ryght welcome said the Knyghtes of the castel / for the loue of the lord of this castel / the whiche hyght sir Tor le fyse aries / & thenne they came in to a fayr courte wel repayred / and they had passynge good chere tyl the lieutenaunt of this castel that hyght Berluse / aspyed Kyng Marke of Cornewaile / Then∣ne said Berluse / syr Knyght I knowe you better than ye we¦ne / for ye are Kynge Marke that slewe my fader afore myne owne eyen / and me hadde ye slayne hadde I not escaped in to a wood / but wete ye wel for the loue of my lord of this cas¦tel I will neyther hurte you ne harme you nor none of your felauship / But wete ye wel whan ye are past this lodgynge / I shalle hurte you and I may / for ye slewe my fader traito∣urly / But fyrst for the loue of my lord sir Tor / and for the lo¦ue of sir Lamorak the honourable Knyght that here is lodged ye shal haue none ylle lodgynge / For hit is pyte that euer ye shold be in the company of good Knyghtes / for ye ar the most Page  [unnumbered] vylaynous knyght or kynge that is now knowen on lyue / for ye are a destroyer of good knyghtes and alle that ye doo is but treason /

¶Capitulum x

THenne was Kynge Marke sore ashamed / and sayd but lytyl ageyne / But whanne sir Lamorak and sir Dynadan wyst that he was kynge Marke / they were sory of his felauship / Soo after souper they wente to lodgynge / Soo on the morne they arose erly / and kynge Marke and sir Dyna¦dan rode to gyders / and thre myle fro their lodgynge there met with hem thre knyghtes / and sir Berluse was one / and that other his two cosyns / Syr Berluse sawe kynge Marke / and thenne he cryed on hyghe traytour kepe the from me / for wete thou wel that I am Berluse / Syr knyght said sir Dynadan / I counceylle you to leue of at this tyme / for he is rydynge to Kynge Arthur / And by cause I haue promysed to conduyte hym to my lord kynge Arthur / nedes must I take a part with hym / how be hit I loue not his condycyon / and fayne I wold be from hym / wel dynadan said sir Berluse me repenteth that ye wille take party with hym / but now doo your best / And thē¦ne he hurtled to Kynge Marke and smote hym sore vpon the shelde / that he bare hym clene out of his sadel to the erthe / That sawe sir Dynadan / and he feutryd his spere / and ranne to one of Berluses felawes / and smote hym doune of his sa∣del / Thenne Dynadan torned his hors / and smote the thyrdde knyght in the same wyse to the erthe / for sire Dynadan was a good knyght on horsbak / and there byganne a grete batail for Berluse and his felawes helde them to gyders strongly on •ote And soo thurgh the grete force of sir Dynadan / kyng Marke had Berluse to the erthe / and his two felawes fledde / and had not ben syre Dynadan kynge Mark wold haue slayne hym / And soo syre Dynadan resoowed hym of his lyf / for ky∣nge Marke was but a murtherer / And thenne they took their horses / and departed / and lefte sir Berluse there sore woūded Thenne kynge Mark and sir Dynadan rode forth a four leges englysshe tyl that they came to a brydge where houed a kny∣ght on horsbak armed and redy to Iuste / ¶ Loo sayd Page  [unnumbered] syr Dynadan vnto Kynge Marke / yonder houeth a Knyghte that wille Iuste / for there shalle none passe this brydge / but he must Iuste with that Knyght / Hit is wel said kynge marke for this Iustes falleth with the / Syr Dynadan knewe the kn∣yght wel / that he was a noble Knyght / and fayne he wold ha¦ue Iusted / but he had had leuer Kyng Mark had Iusted with hym / but by no meane kynge Marke wold not Iuste / Thenne syr Dynadan myght not refuse hym in no maner / And then∣ne eyther dressid their speres and their sheldes / and smote to gyders soo that thorou fyne force syr Dynadan was smyten to the erthe / and lyghtely he arose vp / and gat his hors / and requyred that Knyght to doo bataille with suerdes / And he an¦suerd and said Fair Knyght as at this tyme I may not ha¦ue adoo with you nomore / for the customme of this passage is suche / Thenne was sir Dynadan passynge wrothe / that he myʒt not be reuenged of that Knyghte / and soo he departed / and in no wyse wold that Knyght telle his name / But euer sir Dy¦nadan thought he shold knowe hym by his shelde that it shold be sir Tor

¶Capitulum xj

SOo as they rode by the way / Kynge Mark thenne be∣ganne to mocke sir Dynadan and said I wend yow Knyghtes of the table round myʒt not in no wyse fynde their matches / ye say well said sir Dynadan / as for you on my lyfe I calle you none of the best knyghtes / But sythe ye haue such a despyte at me / I requyre you to Iuste with me / to preue my strengthe / Not soo said Kynge Mark / for I wille not haue ado with you in no maner / But I requyre you of one thyng that whanne ye come to Arthurs courte discouer not my name / for I am there soo hated / It is shame to you said sir Dynadan / that ye gouerne you soo shamefully / for I see by you ye ar ful of cowardyse and ye are a murtherer / and that is the grettest shame that a Knyght may haue / for neuer a Knyght beynge a murtherer hath worship / nor neuer shalle haue / for I sawe but late thurʒ my force ye wold haue slayn sir Berluse a bet¦ter Knyghte than ye / or euer ye shal be / & more of prowesse Page  [unnumbered] ¶Thus they rode forth talkynge tyl they came to a fayre pla¦ce where stood a knyght and prayd them to take their lodgy∣nge with hym / Soo at the request of that knyght / they reposed them there and made them wel at ease / and had grete chere / For al arraunt knyghtes were welcome to hym / and specially alle tho of Arthurs courte / Thenne sire Dynadan demaunded his hoost what was the Knygytes name that kepte the brydge For what cause aske you it said his hoost / for hit is not long ago said syr Dynadan sythen he gaf me a falle / A fayr kny∣ght said his hoost / therof haue ye no meruaylle for he is a pas∣synge good knyght / and his name is sir Tor the sone of ari¦es le vayshere / A said sir Dynadan was that sir Tor / for tru∣ly soo euer me thought / Ryght as they stode thus talkyng to gyders / they sawe come rydynge to them ouer a playne vj kn∣yghtes of the courte of kynge Arthur wel armed at al po∣yntes / And there by theire sheldes sire Dynadan knewe them wel / The fyrst was the good knyght sir Vwayne the sone of Kynge Vryens / the second was the noble knyght sir Bran∣dyles / the thyrd was Ozana le cure hardy / the fourthe was Vwayne les auenturous / The fyfthe was syr Agrauayne / The vj sir Mordred broder to sir Gawayne / Whanne sir Dyna¦dan had sene these vj knyghtes / he thought in hym self he wold brynge kynge Marke by some wyle to Iuste with one of them And anone they toke their horses & ranne after these knyghtes wel a thre myle englysshe / Thenne was kynge Marke ware / where they sat al syxe aboute a welle / and ete and drank su∣che metes as they had / and their horses walkyng and somme teyed / and their sheldes henge in dyuerse places aboute them Loo said sir Dynadan yonder ar Knyghtes arraunt that wyl Iuste with vs / God forbede said Kynge Mark / for they be syx and we but two / As for that said sire Dynadan lete vs not spare / for I wille assaye the formest / and there with he maade hym redy / whanne kynge Marke sawe hym doo soo as fast as sir Dynadan rode toward them Kynge marke rode froward them with alle his mayneal meyny / Soo whan sire Dynadan sawe Kynge Marke was gone / he sette the spere oute of the reest / and threwe his sheld vpon his bak / and came rydynge to the felauship of the table round / And anone sire Vwayne Page  [unnumbered] knewe sir Dynadan / and welcomed hym / and soo dyd al his felauship /

¶Capitulum xij /

ANd thenne they asked hym of his aduentures / & whe¦ther he had sene syr Tristram or sir launcelot / So god me helpe said sir Dynadan I sawe none of them sythen I de∣parted from Camelot / what Knyght is that said sir Brandy¦les that soo sodenly departed from you / and rode ouer yonder felde / Syr said he / hit was a Knyghte of Cornewaile / and the moost horryble coward that euer bestrode hors / what is his na¦me said alle these knyghtes / I wote not said sir Dynadan / Soo whan they had reposed them / and spoken to gyders / they took their horses / and rode to a castel where duellid an old kn∣yght that made alle Knyghtes erraunt good chere / Thenne in the meane whyle that they were talkynge came in to the cas∣tel syr Gryflet le fyse de dieu / and there was he welcome / and they alle asked hym whether he had sene sire Launcelot or syre Tristram / Syrs he ansuerd I sawe hym not sythen he depar∣ted from Camelot / Soo as sir Dynadan Walked and beheld the castel / there by in a chamber he aspyed Kynge Marke / and thenne he rebuked hym / and asked hym why he departed soo / Syr said he for I durst not abyde by cause they were so many But how escaped ye said Kyng Mark / syr said sir Dynadan they were better frendes than I wend they had ben / who is Capytayn of that felauship said the Kynge / thenne for to fere hym sir Dynadan sayd that it Was sir Launcelot / O Ihesu sa¦id the Kyng myghte I knowe sir Launcelot by his shelde / ye said Dynadan / for he bereth a shelde of syluer and black ben∣dys / Alle this he said to fere the kyng / for sire launcelot was not in his felauship / Now I pray you said kyng Mark that ye wille ryde in my felauship / that is me lothe to doo said syre Dynadan by cause ye forsoke my felauship / Ryght soo sir Dy¦nadan went from kyng Mark & wente to his own felauship and soo they mounted vpon their horses / & rode on their wa∣yes / and talked of the Cornyssh knyghte / for Dynadan told them that he was in the castel where they were lodged / hit is Page  [unnumbered] wel said said sir Gryflet / for here haue I brought sir Dagonet kynge Arthurs foole that is the best felawe and the meryest / in the world / ¶ Wille ye doo wel said sir Dynadan I haue told the Cornysshe Knyght that here is sir Launcelot / and the Cornysshe Knyght asked me what shelde he bare / Truly I told hym that he bare the same shelde that sir Mordred bereth / wyl ye doo wel said sir Mordred I am hurte and maye not wel be¦re my shelde nor harneis / And therfore put my shelde and my harneis vpon sir Dagonet / and lete hym sette vpon the Cor∣nysshe Knyght / that shalle be done said sir Dagonet by my fe∣ythe / Thenne anone was Dagonet armed hym in Mordreds harneis and his shelde / & he was sette on a grete hors & a spe¦re in his hand / Now said Dagonet shewe me the Knyght / & I trowe I shalle bere hym doune / Soo alle these Knyghtes rode to a woode syde / and abode tyl Kynge Marke came by the way / Thenne they putte forth sir Dagonet / and he came on al the whyle his hors myght renne streyght vpon Kynge Mark And Whanne he came nyghe Kynge Marke / he cryed as he were wood / and said kepe the Knyghte of Cornewaile / for I wille slee the / Anone as Kynge Mark beheld his shelde / he sa¦id to hym self / yonder is sir launcelot Allas now am I destro¦yed / and there with all he made his hors to renne as fast as it myghte thorugh thycke and thynne / And euer sire Dagonet folowed after Kynge Mark cryenge and rat•ynge hym as a wood man thurgh a grete forest / whanne sir Vwayne and sire Brandyles sawe dagonet soo chace Kynge Marke / they lau∣ghed all as they were wood / And thenne they toke theire hor∣ses / and rode after to see how sir Dagonet spedde / for they wo∣ld not for no good that sire Dagonet were shente / for Kyng Arthur loued hym passynge wel / and made hym Knyght his owne handes / And att euery turnement he beganne to make Kynge Arthur to laughe / Thenne the knyghtes rode here and there cryenge and chacyng after kynge Marke that alle the fo¦rest range of the noyse /

¶Capitulum xiij

SOo kyng Mark rode by fortune by a welle in the way where stood a Knyght erraunte on horsbak armed att al poyntes with a grete spere in his hand Page  [unnumbered] And whanne he sawe Kynge Marke comynge fleynge / he sa∣id Knyght retorne ageyne for shame and stand with me / & I shalle be thy waraunt / A fayr Knyght said Kyng Marke lete me passe / for yonder cometh after me the best knyght of the world with the blak bended sheld / Fy for shame said the kn∣yght he is none of the worthy Knyghtes / and yf he were syre launcelot or sir Tristram I shold not doubte to mete the bet∣ter of them bothe / Whanne Kynge Marke herd hym saye that word / he torned his hors and abode by hym / And thenne that stronge Knyght bare a spere to Dagonet / and smote hym so so∣re that he bare hym ouer his hors tayle / and nyghe he had bro∣ken his neck / And anone after hym came sir Brandyles / and whanne he sawe Dagonet haue that falle / he was passynge wrothe / and cryed Kepe the Knyght / and soo they hurtled to gyders wonder sore / But the Knyght smote sir Brandyles so sore that he wente to the erthe hors and man / Syre Vwayne came after and sawe alle this / Ihesu said he / yonder is a stro∣nge Knyght / And thenne they feutryd their speres / and this Knyght came soo egerly that he smote doune sir Vwayne / Thenne came Ozana with the hardy hert / and he was smyten doune / Now said sire Gryflet by my counceyl lete vs sende to yonder arraunt Knyght / and wete whether he be of Arthurs Courte / for as I deme it is sir Lamorak de galys / Soo they sente vnto hym / and prayd the straunge Knyghte to telle his name / and whether he were of Arthurs courte or not / As for my name they shalle not wete / but telle hem I am a Knyʒt ar¦raunt as they ar / and lete them wete that I am no Knyghte of Kynge Arthurs Courte / and soo the squyer rode ageyne vnto them and told them his ansuer of hym / By my hede said sir Agrauayne he is one of the strongest Knyghtes that euer I sawe / for he hath ouerthrowen thre noble Knyghtes / and ne¦des we must encountre with hym for shame / So syr Agraua∣yne feutryd his spere / and that other was redy / & smote hym doune ouer his hors to the erthe / And in the same wyse he smo¦te sir Vwayne les auoultres and also sir Gryflet / thenne had he serued hem alle / but sir Dynadan / for he was behynde / and sir Mordred was vnarmed and Dagonet had his harneis / ¶Soo whan this was done this stronge Knyght rode on his Page  [unnumbered] his way a softe paas / and kynge Marke rode after hym / pray synge hym mykel / but he wold ansuer no wordes / but syghed wonderly sore / hangynge doune his hede / takyng no hede to his wordes / Thus they rode wel a thre myle Englysshe / and then¦ne this Knyght called to hym a varlette / and badde hym ryde vntyl yonder fayr manoyre / and recommaunde me to the lady of that castel and place / and praye her to sende me refressh∣ynge of good metes / and drynkes / And yf she aske the what I am / Telle her that I am the knyght that foloweth the Gla∣tysaunt beest / that is in Englysshe to saye the questynge beeste for that beest where someuer he yede / he quested in the bely with suche a noyse / as it hadde ben a thyrtty couple of houndes

¶Thenne the varlet wente his way and came to the manoyr and salewed the lady / and told her from whens he came / And whan she vnderstode that he came from the knyghte that folo∣wed the questynge beeste / O swete lord Ihesu she sayd whan shalle I see that noble Knyghte my dere sone Palomydes / Allas wille he not abyde with me / and there with she swou∣ned and wepte / and made passynge grete dole / And thenne al¦so soone as she myghte she gaf the varlet alle that he axyd / And the varlet retorned vnto sir Palomydes / for he was a var¦let of kynge Marke / And as soone as he came / he told the kn∣yghtes name was sir Palomydes / I am wel pleasyd said ky∣nge Marke but holde the styll and seye no thynge / ¶ Thenne they alyghte and sette them doune and reposed them a why∣le / Anone with alle kynge Marke felle on slepe / whanne syre Palomydes sawe hym sound a slepe / he took his hors and ro∣de his way and said to them / I wille not be in the companye of a slepynge Knyghte / And soo he rode forthe a grete paas

¶Capitulum xiiij

NOw torne we vnto sire Dynadan that fonde these seuen knyghtes passynge heuy / And whanne he wyste how that they sped / as heuy was he / My lord Vwayne said Dy∣nadan / I dare ley my hede it is sir Lamorak de galys / I pro∣myse you alle / I shalle fynde hym / and he may be founde in Page  [unnumbered] this countrey / and soo syre Dynadan rode after this knyghte / And so dyd kyng Marke that sought hym thurgh the forest Soo as Kyng Mark rode after sir Palomydes / he herd a noy∣se of a man / that made grete dole / Thenne kyng Mark rode as nyghe that noyse as he myght and as he durst / Thenne was he ware of a knyght that was descended of his hors / and hadde putte of his helme / and there he made a pyteous complaynte / and a dolorous of loue

¶Now leue we that / and talke we of sire Dynadan that ro∣de to seke syr Palomydes / And as he came within a foreste / he mette with a Knyght a chacer of a dere / Syr said sire Dyna∣dan mette ye with a Knyghte with a shelde of syluer / and ly¦ons hedes / ye fayr knyghte sayd the other / with suche a knyght mette I with but a whyle agone / and strayte yonder waye he yede / Gramercy said sir Dynadan / for myght I fynde the trak of his hors I shold not fayle to fynde that Knyghte / Ryghte so as sir Dynadan rode in the euen late / he herd a doleful no∣yse as it were of a man / ¶Thenne sir Dynadan rode toward that noyse / And whanne he came nyghe that noyse / he alyghte of his hors / and wente nere hym on foote / Thenne was he wa¦re of a knyght that stood vnder a tree and his hors teyed by hym / and the helme of his hede / and euer that knyght made a doleful complaynte as euer made knyghte / And alweyes he made his complaynte of la Beale Isoud the Quene of Cor∣newaile / and said A fayr lady why loue I the / for thou art fayrest of alle other / and yet shewest thou neuer loue to me / nor bounte / Allas yet must I loue the / And I may not blame the fayre lady / for myn eyen ben cause of this sorowe / And yet to loue the I am but a foole / for the best knyghte of the world loueth the / and ye hym ageyne / that is sir Tristram de Lyones And the falsest kynge and Knyghte is youre husband / and the moost coward and ful of treason is your lord kyng ma∣rke ¶Allas that euer so fayre a lady and pyerles of alle other shold be matched with the moost vylaynous knyght of the world / Alle this langage herd Kynge Marke / what sir Palomydes said by hym / wherfore he was adradde / whanne he sawe sire Dynadan lest and he aspyed hym / that he wold telle syre Palomydes that he was Kynge Marke / and there Page  [unnumbered] for he withdrewe hym and took his hors and rode to his men where he commaunded hem to abyde / And soo he rode as fast as he myght vnto Camelot / & the same day he fonde there Amant the knyght redy that afore Arthur had appeled hym of trea∣son / and soo lyghtely the Kynge commaunded them to do ba∣taile / And by mysauenture kynge Marke smote Amant tho∣rugh the body / And yet was Amant in the ryghtuous quarel And ryghte soo he took his hors and departed from the court for drede of sir Dynadan that he wold telle syr Tristram and sir Palomydes what he was / ¶Thenne were ther maydens / that la Beale Isoud hadde sente to sire Tristram that knewe sir Amant wel

¶Capitulum xv

THenne by the lycence of Kynge Arthur / they went to hym and spak with hym / for whyle the troncheon of the spere stake in his body / he spak / A fayr damoysels said Amant / recommaūde me vnto la Beale Isoud / and telle her that I am slayn for the loue of her and of sir Tristram / And there he told the damoysels how cowardly Kyng Mark had slayne hym and sire Bersyles his felawe / ¶And for that dede I appeled hym of treason / and here am I slayne in a ryghtuous quarel / and alle was by cause of sir Bersyles & I wold not consente by treason to flee the noble knyght sir tris¦tram / Thenne the two maydens cryed alowde that alle the co∣urte myght here it / and said O swete lord Ihesu that knowest alle hydde thynges / why suffrest thow soo fals a traytour to vaynquysshe and slee a trewe knyght that fought in a ryght∣uous quarel / Thenne anone hit was spronge to the Kyng and the quene and to alle the lordes that it was kynge Mark that had slayne syr Amant / and sire Bersules afore hand / wher∣for they dyd theire bataille / Thenne was Kyng Arthur wroth oute of mesure / and so were alle the other knyghtes

But whanne sire Tristram knewe alle the matere / he maade grete dole and sorowe oute of mesure / and wepte for sorou for the losse of the noble knyghtes syr Bersyles & of sir Aman• Page  [unnumbered] ¶Whanne sir Launcelot aspyed sir Tristram wepe / he wente hastely to Kynge Arthur and said syre I pray you gyue me leue to retorne ageyne to yonder fals kynge and knyghte / I pray yow said kynge Arthur / fetche hym ageyne / but I wold not that ye slewe hym for my worship / Thenne sir launcelot armed hym in alle haste / and mounted vpon a grete hors / & toke a spere in his hand and rode after kynge Marke / And from thens a thre myle englysshe / sir launcelot ouertook hym / and badde hym torne recreaunt kyng and knyght / For why∣der thou wilt or not thow shalt go with me to kyng Arthurs Courte / Kynge Marke retorned and loked vpon sir Launce∣lot / and said Faire syr what is your name / wete thou wel sa¦id he my name is sire Launcelot / and therfor defende the / And whanne Kynge Marke wiste that it was sire Launcelot / and came soo fast vpon hym with a spere / he cryed thenne on lowde I yelde me to the sir launcelot / honourable Knyghte / But sire Launcelot wold not here hym / but came fast vpon hym / kyng Marke sawe that / and maade no defence but tombled adoune out of his sadel to the erthe as a sak / and there he lay stylle / and cryed sire launcelot mercy / Aryse recreaunt knyghte and Kynge / I wylle not fyghte said Kynge Marke / But whe∣ther that ye wille I wil goo with yow /

Allas Allas said sire Launcelot that I maye not gyue the one buffet for the loue of sire Trestram and of la Beale Isoud And for the two knyghtes that thou hast slayne traitourly / And soo he mounted vpon his hors and brouʒt hym to kyng Arthur / and there Kynge Marke alyghte in that same place and threwe his helme from hym vpon the erthe / and his suerd and fylle flat to the erthe of kynge Arthurs feet and putte hym in his grace and mercy / ¶Soo god me help said Arthur ye are welcome in a maner / and in a maner ye ar not welcome / In this maner ye are welcome that ye come hyder maulgre thy hede as I suppose / ¶That is trouthe said kynge Marke / and els I had not ben here / For my lord sir launce∣lot brought me hyder thurgh his fyne force / and to hym am I yolden to as recreaunt / ¶Wel said Arthur ye vnderstande ye oughte to doo me seruyse / homage and feaute / And neuer Page  [unnumbered] wold ye doo me none / but euer ye haue ben ageynst me / and a destroyer of my knyghtes / now / how wille ye acquyte you / Sir said Kynge Marke / Ryght as your lordship will requyre me vnto my power / I wille make a large amendys / For he was a fayre speker and fals there vnder / Thenne for grete pleasyr of syr Tristram to make them tweyne accorded / the kyng with¦held kynge Marke / as at that tyme / and made a broken loue day bitwene them /

¶Capitulum xvj

NOw torne we ageyne vnto sir Palomydes how sir Dy¦nadan comforted hym in alle that he myghte from his grete sorow / what Knyghte are ye said sir Palomydes / syre I am a knyght erraunt as ye be that hath soughte you longe by your sheld / Here is my sheld said sir Palomydes / wete ye wel and ye wille oughte / there with I wille defende hit / Nay said sir Dynadan I wille not haue adoo with yow / but in good maner / And yf ye wil ye shal fynde me sone redy / Syr said / sir Dynadan whyder ward ryde you this way / By my hede sayd sir Palomydes I wote not but as fortune ledeth me / Herde ye or sawe ye ought of sir Tristram / So god me help of sir Trist∣ram I bothe herd and sawe / and not / for thenne we loued not Inwardly wel to gyders / yet at my meschyef sir Tristram rescowed me from my dethe / and yet or he and I departed by bothe our assentes we assigned a day that we shold haue met at the stony grane / that merlyon sette besyde Camelot / & there to haue done bataille to gyders / how be hit I was letted sayd sir Palomydes that I myght not holde my daye / the whiche greueth me sore / but I haue a large excuse / For I was pry∣soner with a lord and many other moo / and that shalle syre Tristram ryght wel vnderstande / y^t I brake hit not of fere of cowardyse / And thenne sir Palomydes told sir Dynodan the same day that they shold haue mette / Soo god me helpe sayd syre Dynadan that same day mette sire Launcelot and sir Tris¦tram at the same graue of stone / ¶ And there was the moost myghtyest bataille that euer was sene in this land betwyxe Page  [unnumbered] two knyghtes / for they fought more than two houres / And there they bothe bledde soo moche blood / that alle men meruey¦led that euer they myght endure hit /

¶And so at the laste by bothe their assentes they were made frendes and sworne bretheren for euer / and no man can Iuge the better knyght / And now is sir Tristram made a Knyghte of the round table / and he sytteth in the sege of the noble kn∣yght sire Marhaus / ¶By my hede said sir Palomydes syre Tristram is ferre bygger than sir Launcelot / and the hardyer Knyghte / ¶ Haue ye assayed them bothe saide syre Dynadan / ¶I haue sene syre Tristram fygh∣te said syre Palomydes / but neuer sire Launcelot / to my we∣tynge / But at the fontayne where sire Launcelot lay on slepe there with one spere he smote doune sire Tristram / and me said Palomydes / but at that tyme they knewe not eyther other Faire Knyghte said sir Dynadan as for sir launcelot and sir Tristram lete them be / for the werst of them wille not be lygh∣ly matched of no knyghtes that I knowe lyuynge / No said sire Palomydes god defende but and I had a qua∣rel to the better of them bothe / I wold with as good a wylle fyghte with hym as with yow

¶Syre I requyre you telle me your name and in good feith I shalle hold you company / tyl that we come to Camelot / and there shall ye haue grete worship now at this grete turnement for there shalle be the Quene Gueneuer / and la Beale Isoud of Cornewaile / wete yow wel syre Knyght for the loue of la Beale Isoud I wille be there and els not / but I wille not ha¦ue adoo in Kynge Arthurs courte / Sir said Dynadan I shal ryde with yow and doo you seruyse / so ye wille telle me youre name / Syre ye shalle vnderstande my name is syre palomydes brother to Safere the good and noble Knyghte / And Syre Segwarydes and I we be Sarasyns borne of fader and mo∣der / ¶Syre said sire Dynadan I thanke you moche / for the tellyng of your name / For I am gladde of that I knowe your name / & I promyse you by the feyth of my body ye shalle not be hurte by me by my will / but rather be auaun∣ced / And therto wille I helpe yow with all my power I pro∣myse you / doubte ye not / And certaynly on my lyf ye shalle Page  [unnumbered] wynne grete worship in the Courte of Kynge Arthur / And be ryght welcome / Soo thenne they dressid on their helmes / & putte on their sheldes / & mounted vpon their horses / and toke the brode way toward Camelot / And thenne were they ware of a castel / that was fayre and ryche / and also passyng strong as ony was with in this reame

¶Capitulum xvij

SYr Palomydes said Dynadan here is a Castell that I knowe wel / and therin duelleth Quene Morgan le fay Kynge Arthurs syster / And kynge Arthur gafe her this Castel / the whiche he hath repented hym sythen a thousand ty¦mes / for sythen kynge Arthur and she haue ben at debate and stryfe / but this castel coude he neuer gete nor wynne of her by no maner of engyne / And euer as she myght she made werre on kynge Arthur / And alle daungerous knyghtes she with∣holdeth with her for to destroye alle these knyghtes that Kynge Arthur loueth / And there shalle noo Knyghte passe this way but he muste Iuste with one knyght or with two or with thre And yf hit happe that Kyng Arthurs knyght be beten / he shal lefe his hors and his harneis / and alle that he hath / and hard yf that he escape / but that he shalle be prysoner /

¶Soo god me helpe said Palomydes this is a shameful cus∣tomme and a vylaynous vsaunce for a Quene to vse / And namely to make suche werre vpon her owne lord / that is cal∣led the floure of chyualry that is Crysten or hethen / and with alle my hert I wold destroye that shameful customme / And I wille that alle the world wete she shalle haue no seruyse of me / And yf she sende oute ony knyghtes / as I suppose she wil for to Iuste they shalle haue bothe their handes ful /

And I shalle not fayle you said sir Dynadan vnto my pu∣yssaunce vpon my lyf / Soo as they stode on horsbak afore the Castel / there came a Knyght with a reed sheld and ij squye∣rs after hym / And he came streyght vnto syre Palomydes the good Knyghte / and sayd to hym / Fayre and gentyl Knyʒt Page  [unnumbered] erraunt I requyre the for the loue thou owest vnto knyghthode that ye wille not haue adone here with these men of thys Cas∣tell / for this was sire Lamorack that thus said / For I came hydder to seke this dede / and hit is my request / And therfor I biseche you knyght lete me dele / and yf I be beten / reuenge me / In the name of god said Palomydes / lete see how ye wil spede / and we shalle behold you / ¶ Thenne anone came forth a knyght of the Castel and profered to Iuste with the knyʒte with the reed sheld / Anone they encountred to gyders / and he with the reed shelde smote hym soo hard that he bare hym ouer to the erthe / There with anone came another Knyght of the cas¦tel / and he was smyten so sore that he auoyded his sadel / And forth with alle came the thyrd knyghte / and the knyght with the reed shelde smote hym to the erthe / Thenne came sir Palo∣mydes and besought hym that he myght helpe hym to Iuste Faire knyght said he vnto hym suffre me as at this tyme to ha¦ue my wylle / For and they were twenty knyghtes I shalle not doubte them / And euer there were vpon the wallys of the castel many lordes and ladyes that cryed and said wel haue ye Iusted knyght with the reed shelde / ¶But as soone as the Knyght had smyten hem doune / his squyer toke their horses / & auoyded their sadels and brydels of the horses / and tourned them in to the forest / and made the knyghtes / to be kepte to the ende of the Iustes / Ryght soo came oute of the castel the fourth Knyght / and fresshly proferd to Iuste with the knyghte with the reed shelde / and he was redy / and he smote hym soo hard / that hors and man felle to the erthe / & the knyghtes bak brak with the falle and his neck also / O Ihesu said syr Palomydes that yonder is a passyng good knyʒt / and the best Iustar that euer I sawe / By my hede said sir Dynadan he is as good as euer was sir launcelot or sir Tristram what knyghte someuer he be /

¶ Capitulum xviij

THenne forthe with alle came a knyght oute of the cas¦tel with a shelde bended with blak and with whyte /

¶And anone the knyghte with the reede shelde and Page  [unnumbered] And he encountred soo hard / that he smote the Knyght of the Castel thorou the bented shelde and thurgh the body / and bra¦ke the hors bak / Faire Knyghte said syr Palomydes ye haue ouer moche on hand / therfor I praye you lete me Iuste / for ye had nede to be reposed / Why sir said the knyght / seme ye that I am weyke and feble / and sir me thynketh ye profer me wrong and to me shame whan I doo wel ynough / I telle yow now as I told you erst / for and they were twenty knyʒtes I shal bete them / And yf I be beten or slayne thenne may ye reuen∣ge me / And yf ye thynke that I be wery / and ye haue an ap∣petyte to Iuste with me / I shalle fynde you Iustynge ynough / Syr said Palomydes I said it not by cause I wold Iuste with you / but me semeth that ye haue ouer moche on hand / & ther∣for and ye were gentyl said the Knyght with the reed sheld ye shold not profer me shame / therfor I requyre you to Iuste with me / and ye shalle fynde that I am not wery / Syth ye re¦quyre me said sir palomydes / take kepe to your self / ¶Thenne they two Knyʒtes came to gyders as fast as their horses my∣ght renne / and the Knyght smote sir Palomydes so sore on the shelde that the spere wente in to his syde a grete wounde and a perillous / And there with alle sir Palomydes auoyded his sadel / And that Knyght torned vnto sir Dynadan / And when he sawe hym comynge / he cryed a loude and said / syr I wyll not haue ado with you / but for that he lete it not / but cam stre∣yghte vpon hym / Soo sire Dynadan for shame put forthe hys spere and alle to sheuerd hit vpon the Knyght / But he smo∣te syr Dynadan ageyne soo hard that he smote hym clene from his sadel / but their horses he wold not suffre his squyers to me¦dle with / and by cause they were knyghtes erraunt / Thenne he dressid hym ageyne to the castel and Iusted with seuen knyʒ¦tes moo / and there was none of hem myght withstande hym / but bare hym to the erthe / And of these twelue Knyghtes he slewe in playne Iustes four / And the eyght knyghtes he ma¦de them to swere on the crosse of a suerd / that they shold neuer vse the euylle custommes of the castel / And whan he had ma¦de them to swere that othe / he lete them passe / And euer stode the lordes and the ladyes on the Castel walles cryeng and sa¦yenge / knyghte with the reed shelde ye haue merueyllously Page  [unnumbered] wel done as euer we sawe Knyght doo / And therwith came a knyght oute of the Castel vnarmed and said / Knyghte with the reed sheld ouer moche dammage hast thou done to vs this day / therfor retorne whyther thou wilt / for here ar no moo wille haue adoo with the / for we repente sore that euer thow camest here / for by the is fordone the old customme of this cas¦tel / And with that word he tourned ageyne in to the Castel / and shytte the yates / Thenne the Knyght with the reede sheld torned and called his squyers / and so past forth on his waye and rode a grete paas / And whanne he was past sire Palomy∣des wente to sir Dynadan and said I had neuer suche a sha∣me of one Knyght that euer I met / And therfore I caste me to ryde after hym / and to be reuenged with my swerd / for on horsbak I deme I shalle gete no worship of hym / Syre Palo∣mydes said Dynadan ye shalle not medle with hym by my co∣unceil for ye shal gete no worship of hym / and for this cause / ye haue sene hym this day haue had ouer moche to done & ouer moche trauailed / By almyʒty Ihesu said Palomydes I shall neuer be at ease tyl that I haue had adoo with hym / Syr sa∣id Dynadan I shalle gyue you my beholdynge / wel said Palo¦mydes / thenne shall ye see how we shalle redresse our myghtes Soo they took their horses of their varlets / and rode after the Knyght with the reed shelde / & doune in a valey besyde a fon∣tayne they were ware where he was alyghte to repose hym / and had done of his helme / for to drynke at the welle

¶Capitulum xix

THenne Palomydes rode faste tyl he came nyghe hym / And thēne he said Knyght remembre ye of the shame ye dyd to me ryght now at the Castel / therfore dresse the / for I wille haue adoo with the / Fair knyʒt said he to Palomydes of me ye wynne no worship / for ye haue sene this daye that I haue ben trauailed sore / As for that said Palomydes I wille not lete / for wete ye wel I wil be reuenged / wel said the kn∣yght I may happen to endure you / And there with all he moū∣ted vpon his hors and took a grete spere in his hand redy for Page  [unnumbered] to Iuste / Nay said palomydes I wille not Iuste / for I am sure at Iustynge I gete no pryce / Fair knyght said that Knyghte It wold biseme a knyght to Iuste and to fyghte on horsbak ye shalle see what I wille doo said Palomydes / and therwith he alyghte doune vpon foote / and dressid his shelde afore hym and pulled oute his swerd / Thenne the knyghte with the re∣ed sheld descended doune from his hors / and dressid his sheld afore hym / and soo he drewe oute his suerd / And thenne they came to gyders a softe paas / and wonderly they lasshed to gy¦ders passyng thyck the moūtenaunce of an houre / or euer they brethed / Thenne they tracyd and trauercyd and waxed won¦derly wrothe / and eyther behyght other dethe / they hewe so fast with their suerdes that they cutte in doune half theire swerdes / and mayles that the bare flesshe in some place stode aboue the∣yr harneis / ¶And whan sir Palomydes beheld his felawes swerd ouer hylled with his blood / hit greued hym sore / some whyle they fayned / some whyle they strake as wyld men / But at the last sir Palomydes waxed faynte by cause of his first wounde that he had atte castel with a spere / for that wo∣und greued hym wonderly sore / Faire knyght said Palomy∣des me semeth we haue assayed eyther other passyng sore / and yf hit may please the / I requyre the of thy knyghthode telle me thy name / Sir said the knyʒt to Palomydes / that is me loth to doo / for thou hast done me wronge / and no knyghthode to pre¦fer me bataille / consyderynge my grete trauaylle / ¶ But and thou wolt telle me thy name / I wille telle the myn / Syr said he wete thou wel my name is palomydes / A syr ye shall vnder¦stande my name is sir Lamorak de galys / sone and heyre vnto the good knyghte and kynge / kynge Pellenore / and syr Tor the good knyght is my half broder / Whanne sire Palomydes herd hym saye soo he kneled doune and asked mercy for oul∣tragyously haue I done to you this daye / consyderyng the gre¦te dedes of armes I haue sene you done / shamefully and vn∣knyghtely I haue requyred you to doo bataille / A syre Palo∣mydes said sir Lamorak / ouer moche haue ye done and sayd to me / And ther with he enbraced hym with his both handes / and said Palomydes the worthy knyght in alle this land is noo better than ye nor more of prowesse / and me repentyd sore that Page  [unnumbered] we shold fyghte to gyders / So it doth not me said 〈◊〉 Palomy¦des / and yet am I sorer wounded than ye ben / ¶But as for that I shalle soone therof be hole / But certaynly I wold not for the fayrest castel in this land / but yf thou and I had met for I shalle loue you the dayes of my lyfe afore al other kn∣yghtes excepte my broder sir Safere / I saye the same said syre Lamorak excepte my broder sir Tor / Thenne came sire Dyna∣dan / and he made grete ioye of sir Lamorak / ¶Thenne theire squyers dressid bothe their sheldes and their harneis / and stop¦ped their woundes / And there by at a pryory they rested them alle nyghte /

¶Capitulum xx

NOw torne we ageyne / whan sire Gaynys and sir bran¦dyles with his felawes came to the Courte of kyng Arthur / they told the kynge / syr Launcelot and sir Tristram / how sire Dagonet the foole chaced Kynge Marke thurgh the forest / and how the stronge knyght smote▪ them doune al seuen with one spere / There was grete laughynge and Iapynge atte Kynge Marke and at sire Dagonet / But all these knyghtes coude not telle what knyʒt it was that rescowed kyng mark Thenne they asked kynge Marke yf that he knewe hym / and he ansuerd and said / he named hym self the Knyght that fo∣lowed the questynge beest / and on that name he sente one of my varlets to a place where was his moder / and when she herd from whens he cam / she made passyng grete dole and discouerd to my varlet his name and said / O my dere sone sire Palomy∣des why wolt thou not see me / and therfor syr said kyng ma∣rk it is to vnderstande his name is sir Palomydes a noble kn∣yght / Thenne were alle these seuen knyghtes gladde that they knewe his name / ¶Now torne we ageyne / for on the morne they toke their horses bothe sir Lamorak / Palomydes Dynadā with their squyers and varlets tyl they sawe a fayre castel / that stood on a montayne wel closed / and thyder they rode and there they fond a knyght that hyght Galahalt that was lord of that castel / and there they had grete chere and were wel eased / Syr Dynadan said sire Lamorak what wil ye doo Page  [unnumbered] sir said Dynadan / I wylle to morowe to the courte of kynge Arthur / ¶By my hede said sir Palomydes I wille not ryde these thre dayes / for I am sore hurte / and moche haue I bled And therfor I wille repose me here / Truly said sir Lamorak / and I wille abyde here with you / And whan ye ryde / thenne wille I ryde / onles that ye tary ouer longe / Thenne wyll I ta¦ke myn hors / therfor I pray you syr Dynadan abyde and ry¦de with vs / Feythfully said Dynadan I wylle not abyde for I haue suche a talent to see sir Tristram that I may not abyde longe from hym / / A Dynadan said syre Palomydes now do I vnderstande / that ye loue my mortal enemy / and therfore how shold I trust you / wel said Dynadan I loue my lord syre Tristram aboue all other / and hym wille I serue and do ho∣noure / So shalle I said syre Lamorak in al that may lye in my power / Soo on the morne sir Dynadan rode vnto the court of kynge Arthur / And by the way as he rode he sawe where stode an erraunt Knyght / and made hym redy for to Iuste / Not soo said Dynadan for I haue no wylle to Iuste / with me shalle ye Iuste said the knyght or that ye passe this waye / whether aske ye Iustes by loue or by hate / The knyght ansuerd wete ye wel / I aske hit for loue & not for hate / hit maye wel be soo said syre Dynadan / but ye profer me hard loue / whan ye wylle Iuste with me with a sharp spere / But fayre knyghte sayd syre Dynadan fythe ye wylle Iuste with me / mete wyth me in the Courte of Kynge Arthur / and there shalle I Iuste with you / Wel said the Knyght sythe ye wille not Iuste with me I pray yow telle me your name / ¶Syr kny∣ght said he my name is syre Dynadan / A said the Knyghte / ful wel knowe I you for a good knyghte and a gentyl / and wete yow wel I loue you hertely / ¶Thenne shalle here be no Iustes sayd Dynadan betwix• vs / Soo they departed / And the same day he came to Camelot where lay Kynge Arthur / And there he salewed the Kynge and the quene / syre Launce¦lot and syre Tristram / and alle the Courte was gladde of sir Dynadan / for he was gentyl wyse and curtrys / and a good Knyghte / And in especyal the valyaunt Knyght sir Tristram loued syre Dynadan passyng wel aboue alle other knyghtes sauf sir launcelot ¶Thenne the kynge asked Page  [unnumbered] syr Dynadan what aduentures he had sene / Sire said Dyna∣dan I haue sene many aduentures / and of somme kyng mark knoweth / but not alle / Thenne the Kynge herkened syr Dyna¦nadan how he told that sir Palomydes and he were afore the castel of Morgan le fay / and how syr Lamorak toke the Ius∣tes afore them / and how he foriusted twelue Knyghtes / and of them four he slewe / And how after he smote doune sir Palo¦mydes and me bothe / I may not byleue that sayd the kynge For sir Palomydes is a passyng good knyghte / that is very trouthe said sir Dynadan / but yet I sawe hym better preued hand for hand / And thenne he told the kyng alle that batail And how sir Palomydes was more weyker and more hurte / and more lost of his blood / And withoute doubte sayd sir dy¦nadan had the bataille lenger lasted / palomydes had be slayn O Ihesu said Kynge Arthur this is to me a grete merueylle Syr said Tristram merueylle ye no thynge therof / for at myn aduys / there is not a valyaunter knyghte in the World ly∣uynge / for I knowe his myght / And now I wille saye yow I was neuer soo wery of knyghte but yf it were sir launcelot And there is no knyghte in the world excepte syr Launcelot I wold dyd soo wel as sir Lamorak / Soo god me help sa∣id the kyng I wold that knyght syre Lamorak came to thys Courte / syr said Dynadan he wille be here in shorte space / and syr Palomydes bothe / but I fere that Palomydes may not yet trauayle

¶Capitulum xxj /

THenne within thre dayes after the kynge lete make a Iustyng at a pryory / And there made hem redy many Knyghtes of the round table / For syr Gawayne and his bretherē made them redy to Iuste / But Tristram / Laūcelot nor Dynadan wold not Iuste / but suffred sir Gawayne for the loue of kyng Arthur with his bretheren to Wynne the gree yf they myght / Thenne on the morne they apparayled them to Iuste syr Gawayne and his four bretheren / and dyd there gre¦te dedes of armes / and sir Ector de marys dyd merueyllously wel / But sire Gawayne passed alle that felauship / wherfore Page  [unnumbered] kynge Arthur and alle the knyghtes gafe sire Gawayne the honour at the begynnynge / ¶ Ryght soo kynge Arthur was ware of a knyght and two squyers / the whiche came oute of a forest syde with a sheld couerd with leder / And thenne he came slyly and hurtlyd here and there / And anone with one spere he had smyten doune two knyghtes of the round table Thenne with his hurtlyng he lost the keuerynge of his sheld thenne was the kynge and alle other ware that he bare a reed shelde / O Ihesu saide Kynge Arthur see where rydeth a stoute Knyghte he with the reed shelde / And there was noyse & cry∣enge Beware the knyght with the reed shelde / Soo within a lytel whyle he had ouerthrowen thre bretheren of sire Gawa∣yns / Soo god me help said Kynge Arthur me semeth yonder is the best Iuster that euer I sawe / with that he sawe hym en∣countre with sire Gawayne / and he smote hym doune with soo grete force that he made his hors to auoyde his sadel / ¶How now said the Kyng sire Gawayne hath a falle / wel were me / and I knewe what knyght he were with the reed shelde / I kno∣we hym wel said Dynadan / but as at this tyme ye shalle not knowe his name / By my hede said syr Tristram he Iusted bet∣ter than sir Palomydes / And yf ye lyst to knowe his name / wete ye wel his name is sir Lamorak de galys / As they sto∣de thus talkynge / sire Gawayne and he encountred to gyders ageyne / And there he smote sir Gawayne from his hors / and brysed hym sore / And in the syghte of Kynge Arthur he smo∣te doune twenty knyghtes besyde sire Gawayne and his bre∣theren / And soo clerely was the pryce yeuen hym as a knyght pyerles / Thenne slyly and merueyllously syr Lamorak with drewe hym from alle the felauship in to the forest syde / Al this aspyed Kynge Arthur / for his eye wente neuer from hym / ¶Thenne the Kynge syr Launcelot syr Tristram and syr dy¦nadan took theire hackneis / and rode streyght after the good knyght syr Lamorak de galys / And there fond hym / And thus said the kyng / A fayr knyght wel be ye fonde / Whanne he sawe the kynge / he put of his helme and salewed hym / and whanne he sawe sir Tristram / he alyghte doun of his hors and ranne to hym to take hym by the thyes / but sir Tristram wold Page  [unnumbered] not suffre hym / but he alyghte or that he came / and eyder took other in armes / and made grete ioye of other / The kynge was gladde / and also was alle the felauship of the round table / excepte sire Gawayne and his bretheren / And whanne they wyst that he was syre Lamorak / they had grete despyte at hym and were wonderly wrothe with hym / that he had putte hym to dishonour that day / Thenne Gawayn called pryuely in coū¦ceille alle his bretheren / and to them said thus / Faire brethe∣ren here may ye see whome that we hate / kynge Arthur loueth And whome that we loue he hateth / ¶And wete ye wel my fayr bretheren / that this sir Lamorak wille neuer loue vs / by cause we slewe his fader Kynge Pellenore / for we demed that he slewe our fader Kynge of Orkeney / And for the despyte of Pellenore syr Lamorak dyd vs a shame to oure moder / ther∣fore I wille be reuenged / Syr said sir Gawayns bretheren / lete see how ye wylle or maye be reuenged / and ye shalle fyn¦de vs redy / Wel said Gawayne hold you stylle and we shalle aspye oure tyme /

¶Capitulum xxij

NOw passe we oure matere / and leue We sire Gawayn and speke of Kynge Arthur that on a day sayd vn¦to Kynge Marke / Syr I pray yow gyue me a yefte that I shall axe yow / Syr said Kyng Mark I will gyue you what someuer ye desyre and hit be in my power / Syre gramercy sa∣id Arthur / This I wille aske yow that ye wille be good lo∣rd vnto sir Tristram / for he is a man of grete honour / and that ye wille take hym with yow in to Cornewaile / & lete hym see his frendes / and there cherysshe hym for my sake / Syre said Kynge Marke I promyse yow by the feythe of my body and by the feythe that I owe to god and to yow I shalle wor∣shippe hym for your sake in alle that I can or may / Syr said Arthur / and I wylle forgyue yow alle the euylle wylle that euer I oughte yow / and so be that ye swere that vpon a book afore me / with a good wille said Kynge Marke / and soo he there sware vpon a boook afore hym and alle his knyghtes / & ther with kynge Mark and sire Tristram toke eyther other by Page  [unnumbered] the handes hard knyt to gyders / But for alle this kynge ma∣rke thought falsly / as it preued after / for he put sir Tristram in pryson / and cowardly wold haue slayne hym / Thenne so∣one after kynge Marke took his leue to ryde in to Cornewa∣yl / and sir Tristram made hym redy to ryde with hym / wherof the moost party of the round table were wrothe and heuy / & in especial sir launcelot and sire Lamorak and sir Dynadan were wrothe oute of mesure / For wel they wyst kyng Marke wold slee or destroye sir Tristram / Allas said Dynadan that my lord syr Tristram shalle departe / and sir Tristram toke suche sorowe that he was amasyd lyke a foole / ¶ Allas said sir Launcelot vnto kynge Arthur what haue ye done / for ye shall lese the moost man of worship that euer cam in to your court It was his owne desyre said Arthur / and therfore I myghte not doo with alle / for I haue done alle that I can and made them at accord / Accord said sir launcelot fy vpon that accord For ye shalle here that he shalle slee sir Tristram / or put hym in a pryson / for he is the moost coward and the vylaynst kyng and knyght that is now lyuyng / And there with sire Laun∣celot departed / and cam to kynge Mark / and said to hym thus Syr kyng wete thou wel the good knyght sir Tristram shalle goo with the / Beware I rede the of treason / for and thou me∣schyeue that knyght by ony maner of falshede or treson by the feythe I owe to god and to the ordre of knyghthode I shall slee the myn owne handes / Syr launcelot said the kyng ouer moche haue ye said to me / and I haue sworne and said ouer largely afore kynge Arthur in herynge of alle his knyghtes / that I shal not sle nor bitraye hym / It were to me ouer mo∣che shame to breke my promyse / ye saye wel said sir Launcelot but ye are called so fals and ful of treason that no man man byleue yow ¶For soth it is knowen wel wherfor ye came in to this countrey / and for none other cause but for slee sir tris¦tram / Soo with grete dole Kynge Marke and sir Tristram ro¦de to gyders / for hit was by sir Tristrams wil and his mea∣nes to goo with kyng Marke and all was for the entente to see la Beale Isoud / for without the syghte of her syr Tristrā myght not endure

¶Capitulum xxiij

NOw torne we ageyne vnto sire Lamorak / and speke we of his bretheren / syr Tor whiche was kynge Pelle¦nors fyrst sone and bygoten of Aryes wyf the couherd for he was a bastard and sire Aglouale was his fyrste sone begoten in wedlok / syre Lamorak / Dornar / Percyuale / these were his sones to in wedlok / ¶Soo whanne kynge Marke and sire Tristram were departed from the Courte / there was made grete dole and sorowe for the departynge of sir Tristram Thenne the kynge and his knyghtes made no manere of Io∣yes eyghte dayes after / And atte eyghte dayes ende ther cam to the courte a knyghte with a yonge squyer with hym / And whanne this knyghte was vnarmed / he went to the ky∣nge and requyred hym to make the yonge squyer a knyghte / Of what lygnage is he come said Kynge Arthur / Syre sayd the knyght he is the sone of kyng Pellenore that dyd you som¦tyme good seruyse / And he is broder vnto syr Lamorak de ga¦lys the good knyghte / wel sayd the kynge for what cause de¦syre ye that of me that I shold make hym knyghte / wete you wel my lord the Kynge that this yonge squyer is broder to me as wel as to sir Lamorak / and my name is Aglauale Syre Aglouale sayd Arthur for the loue of sire Lamorak and for his faders loue he shalle be made knyghte to morowe / ¶Now telle me said Arthur what is his name / Syre sayd the Knyght his name is Percyuale de Galys /

Soo on the morne the kynge made hym knyght in Camelott / But the Kynge and alle the knyghtes thoughte hit wold be longe or that he preued a good knyghte ¶Thenne at the dyner whanne the Kynge was set at the table / and euery kn∣yʒt after he was of prowesse / the kyng commaunded hym to be sette amonge meane Knyghtes / and soo was sire Percyuale s•tte as the Kynge commaunded / Thenne was there a mayden in the Quenes court that was come of hyhe blood / & she was domme & neuer spak word / Ryght so she cam streyght in to the halle / & went vnto sir Percyuale & toke hym by y^e hād & said a Page  [unnumbered] lowde that the kyng and all the knyghtes myght here hit / A∣ryse syr Percyuale the noble Knyght and goddes knyght and go with me / and soo he dyd / And there she broughte hym to the ryght syde of the sege perillous / And said Fair knyghte take here thy sege / for that sege apperteyneth to the and to none other / Ryght soo she departed and asked a preste / And as she was confessid and houseld thenne she dyed / Thenne the kynge and alle the courte made grete ioye of syr Percyuale

¶Capitulum xxiiij

NOw torne we vnto sir Lamorak that moche was there preysed / Thenne by the meane of sir Gawayn and his bretheren / they sente for her moder there besydes fast by a Castel besyde Camelot / and alle was to that entente to slee sir Lamorak / The Quene of Orkeney was there but a whyle but sir Lamorak wyst of their beynge / and was ful fayne / & for to make an ende of this matere he sente vnto her / and ther betwixe them was a nyght assygned that sir Lamorak shold come to her / Therof was ware syre Gaherys / and there he rode afore the same nyght and waited vpon sire Lamorak / and thē∣ne he sawe where he came all armed / and where sire Lamorak alyghte / he t•yed his hors to a preuy posterne / and so he wēt in to a palour and vnarmed hym / And thenne he wente vnto the Quenes bedde / and she made of hym passynge grete Ioye and he of her ageyne / for eyther loued other passynge sore / ¶Soo whan the Knyght syr Gaherys / sawe his tyme / he cam to their beddes syde alle armed with his swerd naked / and so¦denly gat his moder by the here and strake of her hed• / whanne sir Lamorak sawe the blood dasshe vpon hym all hote / the whi∣che he loued passynge wel / wete yow wel he was sore abasshed and desmayed of that dolorous knyght / And there with al sir Lamorak lepte out of the bedde in his sherte as a knyght des∣mayed sayenge thus A syre Gaherys knyght of the table ro∣und foule and euylle haue ye done and to yow grete shame Allas why haue ye slayn your moder that bare you with more ryght ye shold haue slayne me / ¶The offence hast thou •o•e Page  [unnumbered] sayd Gaherys not withstandynge a man is borne to offre his seruyse / but yet sholdest thow beware with whome thow me∣dlest / for thow hast putte me and my bretheren to a shame / and thy fader slewe our fader / and thow to lye by our moder is to moche shame for vs to suffre / And as for thy fader kyng Pel∣lenore my broder sir Gawayne and I slewe hym / ye dyd hym the more wronge said sire Lamorak / For my fader slewe not your fader / it was Balyn le saueage / and as yet my faders dethe is not reuenged / leue tho wordes said sir Gaherys / For and thou speke felonsly I wil slee the / But by cause thow arte naked I am ashamed to slee the / but wete thou wel / in what place I may gete the / I shalle slee the / and now my mo¦der is quyte of the / and withdrawe the / and take thyn armo∣ur that thow were gone / Syre Lamorak sawe there was none other bote but fast armed hym and took his hors and rode his way makynge grete sorowe / But for the shame and doloure he wold not ryde to kynge Arthurs Courte / but rode another waye / But whan hit was knowen that Gaherys had slayne his moder / the kynge was passynge wrothe and commaunded hym to goo oute of his courte / wete ye wel sire Gawayn was wrothe that Gaherys had slayne his moder / and lete sire La∣morak escape / And for this matere was the kynge passynge wro••e and soo was sir Lamorak and many other knyghtes Syr said sir Launcelot here is a grete meschyef befallen by fe¦lony / and by fore cast treason that your syster is thus shame¦fully slayne / And I dare saye that it was wrouʒte by treson And I dare saye ye shalle lese that good Knyghte sir Lamo∣rak the whiche is grete pyte / I wote wel and am sure and sir Tristram wyste hit / he wold neuer more come within your co∣urte / the whiche shold greue yow moche more and alle youre knyghtes / God defende said the noble Kynge Arthur that I shold lese sire Lamorak or sir Tristram / for thenne tweyne of my chyef knyghtes of the table round were gone / Syre saide syre Laūcelot I am sure ye shalle lese sir Lamorak for sir Ga¦wayne and his bretheren wille sle hym / by one meane or oth∣er / for they amonge them haue concluded and sworne to slee hym and euer they may see their tyme / That shalle I lette sa∣yd Arthur

¶Capitulum xxv

NOw leue we of sire Lamorak / and speke of sire Ga∣wayns bretheren & specially of syr Agrauayne and syre Mordred as they rode on theire aduentures they mette with a Knyghte fleynge sore wounded / and they asked hym what tydynges / Faire Knyghtes said he here cometh a knyght after me that wylle slee me / with that came sire Dynadan ry∣dynge to them by aduenture / but he wold promyse them no help But sir Agrauayne and sire Mordred promysed hym to resco¦we hym / There with alle came that knyght streyght vnto them And anone he proferd to Iuste / That sawe syre Mordred and rode to hym but he strake Mordred ouer his hors tayle

¶That sawe sire Agrauayn and streyghte he rode toward that knyght / And ryghte soo as he serued Mordred soo he serued Agrauayne / and said to them / Syrs wete ye wel bothe that I am Breuse saunce pyte that hath done this to yow / And yet he rode ouer Agrauayne fyue or syxe tymes /

¶Whan Dynadan sawe this / he muste nedes Iuste with hym for shame / And so Dynadan and he encountred to gyders / that with pure strengthe sir Dynadan smote hym ouer his hors ta∣yle / Thenne he took his hors and fledde / for he was on foot one of the valyauntest knyghtes in Arthurs dayes / and a grete des¦troyer of alle good knyghtes / Thenne rode sir Dynadan vnto sir Mordred and vnto sir Agrauayne / Syre knyght said they alle wel haue ye done / and wel haue ye reuenged vs / wherfor we praye yow telle vs youre name / Faire sirs ye ouʒte to kno¦we my name the whiche is called sire Dynadan / Whanne they vnderstood that it was Dynadan / they were more wroth than they were before / for they hated hym oute of mesure by cause of sir Lamorak / For Dynadan had suche a custome that he loued alle good Knyghtes that were valyaunt / and he hated al tho that were destroyers of good knyghtes / And there were none that hated Dynadan but tho that euer were called murtherers Thenne spack the hurt knyght that Breuse saunce pyte hadde chaced / his name was Dalan / and said yf thou be Dynadan / thow slewest my fader / Hit may wel be so said Dynadan / but thenne it was in my defence and at his request / By my hede said Dalan thow shalt dye therfore / and there with he dressid Page  [unnumbered] his spere and his shelde / And to make the shorter tale syre Dynadan smote hym doune of his hors that his neck was nyʒ broken / And in the same wyse he smote syre Mordred and sir Agrauayne / And after in the quest of the Sa•egreal cowar∣dly and felloynsly they flewe Dynadan / the whiche was gre∣te dammage / for he was a grete bourder and a passyng good knyght ¶And soo sire Dynadan rode to a Castel that hyght Beale valet / And there he fonde sire Palo∣mydes that was not yet hole of the wound that syr Lamorak gaf hym / And there Dynadan told Palomydes all the tydyn∣ges that he herd and sawe of syre Tristram / and how he was gone with kynge Marke / and with hym he hath alle his wyll and desyre / There with syre Palomydes waxed wrothe / for he loued la Beale Isoud / And thenne he wyste wel that syre Tristram enioyed her

¶Capitulum xxvj

NOw leue we sire Palomydes and sire Dynadan in the castel of Beale valet / and torne we ageyne vnto ky∣nge Arthur / There came a Knyght oute of Cornewail his name was Fergus / a felawe of the round table / And ther he told the Kynge and sir Launcelot good tydynges of sir Tristram / and there were brought goodly letters / and how he lefte hym in the castel of Tyntagil

¶Thenne came the damoysel that broughte goodly letters vn¦to kynge Arthur and vnto sire launcelot / and there she hadde passynge good chere of the Kynge and of the Quene Guene∣uer and of sire Launcelot / ¶Thenne they wrote good∣ly letters ageyne / But fyre Laūcelot badde euer sire Tristram beware of kynge Marke / for euer he called hym in his letters Kynge Foxe / As who saith / he fareth alle with wyles and treason / wherof sire Tristram in his herte thanked syre Laū∣celot ¶Thenne the Damoysel went vnto la Beale Isoud and bare her letters from the Kynge and from syre Launce∣lot / whereof she was in passynge grete Ioye

¶Faire damoysel said la Beale Isoud / how fareth my Page  [unnumbered] Lord Arthur and the Quene Gweneuer / and the noble knyʒt syr Launcelot / she ansuerd and to make short tale / moche the better that ye and sire Tristram ben in Ioye /

God rewarde them said la beale Isoud / for sir Tristram suffereth grete payne for me and I for hym / So the damoysel departed and broughte letters to Kynge Marke / And whanne he had redde them / and vnderstood them / he was wrothe with sir Tris∣tram / for he demed that he had sente the damoysel vnto Kyng Arthur / For Arthur and Launcelot in a maner threted kyng mark / And as Kynge mark redde these letters / he demed tre∣son by syr Tristram / Damoysel said Kynge marke / wille ye ryde ageyne and bere letters from me vnto Kynge Arthur / sir she said I wille be at your commaundement to ryde whan ye wille / ye saye wel said the Kyng / come ageyne said the Kyng to morne / and fetche your letters / Thenne she departed / & told them how she shold ryde ageyne with letters vnto Arthur Thenne we praye you said la beale Isoud and sir Tristram that whanne ye haue receyued your letters / that ye wold co∣me by vs that we may see the pryuete of your letters / Al that I may doo madame ye wote wel I must doo for sir Tristram for I haue ben longe his owne mayden / Soo on the morne the damoysel went to kynge marke to haue had his letters and to departe / I am not auysed said kynge marke as at this tyme to sende my letters / Thenne pryuely and secretely he sent let∣ters vnto kynge Arthur and vnto Quene Queneuer / and vn¦to sir launcelot / So the varlet departed / and fond the Kynge and the Quene in walys at Carlyon / And as the kyng and the Quene were at masse the varlet came with the letters / And whanne masse was done the kynge and the Quene ope∣ned the letters pryu•••• by them self / And the begynnynge of the kynges letters 〈◊〉 wonderly short vnto Kynge Arthur / and badde hym entermete with hym self and with his wyf / & of his knyghtes / For he was able ynough to rule and kepe his wyf

¶Capitulum xvij

Page  [unnumbered]WHanne kynge Arthur vnderstood the letter / he musyd of many thynges / & thouʒt on his systers wordes que¦ne Morgan le fay that she had sayd betwixe quene gue¦neuer and sir Launcelot / And in this thoughte he studyed a grete whyle / Thenne he bethought hym ageyne how his syster was his owne enemy / and that she hated the Quene and sir launcelot / and soo he putte all that oute of his thoughte

¶Thenne Kyng Arthur redde the letter ageyne / and the lat∣ter clause said that Kynge Marke tooke sire Tristram for his mortal enemy / wherfor he put Arthur oute of doubte he wold be reuengyd of sir Tristram / Thenne was kyng Arthur wroth with kynge Marke / And whanne quene Gueneuer redde her letter and vnderstood hit / she was wrothe oute of mesure / for the letter spak shame by her / and by sir launcelot / And soo pryuely she sente the letter vnto sir Launcelot / And whanne he wyste the entent of the letter / he was soo wrothe that he le∣yd hym doune on his bedde to slepe / wherof sir Dynadan was ware / for hit was his maner to be preuy with alle good kny∣ghtes / And as sire launcelot slepte he stale the letter oute of his hand and red it word by word / And thenne he made gre¦te sorow for anger / and soo sir Launcelot awaked / and went to a wyndowe / and redde the letter ageyne / the whiche maade hym angry / Syre said Dynadan wherfore be ye angry / disco∣uer your hert to me / For sothe ye wote wel I owe yow good wylle / how be hit I am a poure knyght and a seruytour vnto yow and to alle good knyghtes / For though I be not of wor¦ship my self I loue alle tho that ben of worship / It is trouth said sir Launcelot / ye are a trusty knyght / and for grete trust I wille shewe yow my counceylle / And whan Dynadan vn¦derstood alle / he said this is my counceyl / Sette you ryght no∣ught by these thretys / For kynge marke is soo vylaynous / that by fayre speche shalle neuer man gete of hym / ¶ But ye shalle see what I shalle doo / I wille make a lay for hym / & whan hit is made I shalle make an harper to synge hit afore hym / Soo anone he wente and made hit / and taughte hit an harper that hyght Elyot / And whanne he coude hit / he taught hit to many harpers ¶ And soo by the wylle of sire Launcelot and of Arthur the harpers went streyghte in to Page  [unnumbered] walys / and in to Cornewaile to synge the laye that sire Dy∣nadan made by kynge Marke / the whiche was the werste lay that euer harper sange with harp or with ony other Instrumen¦tys

¶Capitulum xviij

NOw torne we ageyne vnto sire Tristram and to Kyng Marke / As syr Tristram was at Iustes and att tur∣nement / hit fortuned he was sore hurte bothe with a spere and with a swerd / but yet he wanne alweyes the degre And for to repose hym / he wente to a good knyght that duel¦led in Cornewaile in a Castel whos name was Syr Dynas le Seneschall / Thenne by mysfortune there came oute of Sess∣oyne a grete nombre of men of armes / and an hydous hoost / & they entred nyghe the castel of Tyntagyl / and her Capytayns name was Elyas a good man of armes / Whan Kyng Mark vnderstode his enemyes were entred in to his land / he maade grete dole and sorow / for in no wyse by his wille kyng Mark wold not sende for sir Tristram for he hated hym dedely / Soo whan his counceill was come / they deuysed and cast many pe∣ryls of the strengthe of her enemyes / And thenne they conclu¦ded all at ones and said thus vnto kynge Marke / Syr we∣te ye wel ye must sende for sire Tristram the good knyghte or els they wylle neuer be ouercome / For by sire Tristram they must be foughten with alle / or els we rowe ageynst the streme ¶Wel said Kynge Marke I wille doo by your counceylle / but yet he was ful bothe ther to / but nede constrayned hym to sonde for hym / Thenne was he sente for in alle hast that myʒte be that he shold come to Kynge Marke / And whanne he vn∣derstood that Kynge Marke had sente for hym / he mounted vpon a softe ambuler and rode to Kynge Marke / And when he was come / the Kynge said thus / Faire neuewe syr Tristrā this is alle / Here be come oure enemyes of Sessoyne / that are here nyghe hand / and withoute taryenge they must be mette with shortly or els they wylle destroye this countrey / Syr said sir Tristram wete ye wel alle my power is at your commaun¦dement / And wete ye wel syre / these eyght dayes I may bere Page  [unnumbered] none armes for my woundes ben not yet hole / And by that day I shalle doo what I may / ye saye wel said kynge Marke / Thenne goo ye ageyne and repose yow and make yow fresshe And I shalle go and mete the Sessoyns with alle my power Soo the Kyng departed vnto Tyntagyl and sir Tristram went to repose hym / and the Kyng made a grete hoost and departed them in thre / The fyrste parte ledde syr Dynas the Seneschall and sir Andred ledde the second parte / and sir Arguys ledde the thyrd parte / and he was of the blood of Kyng Mark / and the Sessoyns had thre grete batails / and many good men of armes / And soo Kynge Marke by the aduyse of his Knygh∣tes yssued oute of the Castel of Tyntagyl vpon his enemyes And Dynas the good knyghte rode oute afore / and slewe ij Knyghtes his owne handes / and thenne beganne the batayls / And there was merueyllous brekyng of speres and smytyng of suerdes / and slewe doune many good knyghtes / And euer was syr Dynas the Seneschal the best of Kyng Markes par¦ty / And thus the bataille endured longe with grete mortalyte But at the last Kynge Mark and sire Dynas were they ne∣uer soo lothe they withdrewen hem to the castel of Tyntagyll / with grete slaughter of peple / and the Sessoyns folowed on fast / that ten of them were put within the gates and four sla∣yne with the porte coloyse / Thenne Kyng Marke sente for sire Tristram by a varlet that told hym alle the mortalyte /

¶Thenne he sente the varlet ageyne and bad hym telle Kyng Mark that I wille come as soone as I am hole / for erste I maye doo hym noo good / Thenne Kynge Mark hadde his an∣suer / There with came Elyas and badde the Kynge yelde vp the castel / for ye maye not hold it no whyle / Sir Elyas said the kyng so wyll I yelde vp the castel yf I be not soone resco∣wed / Anone Kyng Marke sente ageyne for rescowe to sir tris¦tram / By thenne sir Tristram was hoole / and he hadde goten hym ten good Knyghtes of Arthurs / And with hem he rode vnto Tyntagyl / And whanne he sawe the grete hoost of Sess∣oyns he merueylled wonder gretely / And thenne sir Trystram rode by the woodes and by the dyches as secretly as he myght tyl he came nyghe the gatys / And there dressid a Knyghte to hym / whan he sawe that sir Tristram wold entre & sir tristram Page  [unnumbered] smote hym doune dede / And soo he serued thre mo / And eue∣ryche of these ten knyghtes slewe a man of armes / Soo sir tris¦tram entryd in to the castel of Tyntagyl / And whan kynge Marke wyst that sir Tristram was come he was glad of his comyng / and soo was alle the felaushyp / and of hym they ma¦de grete Ioye

¶Capitulum xxix

SOo on the morne Elyas the capytayne came / and bad kynge Marke come oute / and doo bataille / for now the good knyghte sir Tristram is entryd / It wylle be shame to the sayd Elyas for to kepe thy walles / whan kynge Mark vn¦derstode this / he was wrothe and sayd no word / but went vn¦to sir Tristram and axed hym his counceyl / Sire said sir Tris¦tram wylle ye that I gyue hym his ansuer / I wille wel sayd Kynge Marke / Thenne sir Tristram said thus to the messagere Bere thy lord word from the kynge and me that we wyl do batail with hym to morne in the playne felde / what is your na¦me said the messager / wete thou wel / my name is sir Trystram de Lyones / There with alle the messager departed and told his lord Elyas alle that he had herd / Syr saide sire Tristram vnto Kynge Marke I praye yow gyue me leue to haue the rule of the bataill / I pray yow take the rule said kyng mark Thenne sire Tristram lete deuyse the bataille in what manere that it shold be / He lete departe his hoost in syxe partyes / and ordeyned sir Dynas the Seneschal to haue the fore ward / & other knyghtes to rule the remenaunt / And the same nyghte syre Tristram brente alle the Sessoyns shyppes vnto the cold water / Anone as Elyas wyst that he said hit was of sir Tris¦trams doynge / for he casteth that we shalle neuer escape moder sone of vs / Therfore fayre felawes fyghte frely to morowe / & myscomforte yow noughte for ony knyʒt though he be the best knyght in the world / he maye not haue a doo with vs alle /

¶Thenne they ordeyned theyr batails in four partyes won∣derly wel apparailled and garnysshed with men of armes Thus they within yssued / and they withoute sette frely vpon them / and there sir Dynas dyd grete dedes of armes / not for Page  [unnumbered] thenne sir Dynas and his felauship were put to the werse / with that came sire Tristram and slewe two Knyghtes with one spere / thenne he slewe on the ryght hand and on the lyfte hande / that men merueylled that euer he myght do suche dedes of armes / And thenne he myght see somtyme the bataille was dryuen a bowe draughte from the castel / and somtyme it was at the gates of the Castel / Thenne came Elyas Capytayne rashynge here and there / and hytte kynge Mark so sore vpon the helme that he made hym to auoyde the sadel / And thenne sir Dynas gate kynge Mark ageyne to horsbak / There with alle came in sir Tristram lyke a lyon / and there he mette with Elyas / and he smote hym so sore vpon the helme that he auoy¦ded his sadel / And thus they fought tyl it was nyghte / and for grete slauʒter and for wounded peple eueryche party dre∣we to their reste / And whan kynge Marke was come within the castel of Tyntagyl / he lacked of his knyghtes an honderd and they withoute lacked two honderd / and they serched the wounded men on bothe partyes / And thenne they wente to counceil / and wete yow wel eyther party were lothe to fyghte more / soo that eyther myght escape with their worship

¶Whan Elyas the capytayn vnderstode the dethe of his men / he made grete dole / And whan he wyst that they were lothe to goo to bataille ageyne / he was wrothe oute of mesure / Thenne Elyas sente word vnto Kyng Mark in grete despyte whether he wold fynde a Knyght that wold fyghte for hym / body for body / ¶And yf that he myght slee Kynge Markes kn∣yghte / he to haue the truage of Corne Waile yerely / And yf that his knyght slee myn / I fully releece my clayme for euer Thenne the messager departed vnto Kynge Marke and told hym how that his lord Elyas had sente hym word to fynde a Knyght to doo bataille with hym body for body / whanne kyng Marke vnderstood the messagyer he badde hym abyde / and he shold haue his ansuer / Thenne called he alle the Baronage to gyder to wete what was the best counceyll / They sayd all at ones to fyghte in a felde we haue no lust / for had not ben syr Tristrams prowesse / hit had ben lykely that we neuer shold haue escaped / And therfor sir as we deme / hit were wel done to fynde a knyʒt that wold do batail with hym for he knyʒtly Page  [unnumbered] profereth

¶Capitulum xxx

NOt for thenne whan alle this was said / they coude fyn¦de no Knyght that wold doo bataille with hym / Syre kynge said they alle / here is no knyght that dare fyghte wyth Elyas / Allas said kynge Marke thenne am I vtterly ashamed and vtterly destroyed / onles that my neuewe sire Trist∣ram wylle take the bataille vpon hym / wete yow wel they sa∣yd alle he had yesterday ouer moche on hand / and he is wery for trauaille / and sore wounded / where is he said Kyng mark Syr said they he is in his bedde to repose hym / Allas said ky∣nge Marke / but I haue the socoure of my neuewe sir Tristram I am vtterly destroyed for euer / There with one wente to syr Tristram there he lay and told hym what kynge Marke had sayd / And there with sire Tristram aroos lyghtely / and putt on hym a longe gowne / and came afore the Kynge and al the lordes / And whan he sawe hem alle soo desmayed / he asked the Kynge and the lordes what tydynges were with hem / Neuer werse said the Kynge / And there with he told hym alle how he had word of Elyas to fynde a knyʒt to fyghte for the tru∣age of Cornewail / and none can I fynde / And as for yow said the kynge and alle the lordes we maye aske no more of yow for shame / For thurgh your hardynes yesterday ye saued alle your lyues / Syre said syr Tristram now I vnderstande ye wold haue my socour / reason wold that I shold doo al that lyeth in my power to doo / sauynge my worship / and my lyf / how be hit I am sore brysed and hurte / And sythen sir Elyas profereth soo largely / I shalle fyghte with hym or els I will be slayne in the felde / or els I wille delyuer Cornewaile from the old truage / And therfore lyghtely calle his messager and he shalle be ansuerd / for as yet my woundes ben grene and they wille be sorer a seuen nyght after than they ben now / And ther for he shalle haue his ansuere / that I will doo bataill to morn with hym / Thenne was the messager departed bro∣ught before kynge Marke / Herke my felawe said sir Tristram goo fast vnto thy lord and bydde hym make true assuraunce on his party / for the truage / as the kyng here shalle make on his party / and thēne telle thy lord sir Elyas that I sir Tristram kynge Arthurs knyght / and knyghte of the table round / Page  [unnumbered] wylle as to morne mete with thy lord on horsbak / to doo batail as longe as my hors maye endure / And after that to doo ba∣taille with hym on foote to the vtteraunce / the messager behelde syre Tristram from the top to the too / And there with alle he departed and came to his lord and told hym how he was an¦suerd of sir Tristram / And there with alle was made hostage on bothe partyes / and made hit as sure as hit myghte be / that whether party had the vyctory / soo to ende / And thenne were bothe hostes assembled on bothe partyes of the felde / withoute the castel of Tyntagyl / & ther was none but sir Tristram & sir Elyas armed / Soo whan the poyntement was made they de¦parted in sonder / and they came to gyders with alle the myght that their horses myghte renne / And eyther knyghte smote o∣ther soo hard that bothe horses and knyghtes wente to the er∣the / Not for thenne they bothe lyghtely aroos and dressid the∣ir sheldes on their sholders with naked swerdes in their han∣des / and they dasshed to gyders that hit semed a flammynge fyre about them / Thus they tracyd and trauercyd and hewe on helmes and hawberkes / and cutte awaye many cantels of their sheldes / and eyther wounded other passynge sore / so that the hote blood felle fresshly vpon the erthe / ¶ And by thenne they had foughten the mountenaunce of an houre / sir Tristram waxte faynte and forbledde / and gaf sore a bak / That sawe sire Elyas / and folowed fyersly vpon hym / and wounded hym in many places / And euer sire Tristram tracyd and tra¦uercyd / and wente froward hym here and there / and couerd hym with his shelde as he myghte alle weykely / that alle men said he was ouercome / For sir Elyas hadde gyuen hym twen∣ty strokes ageynst one / ¶ Thenne was there laughyng of the Sessoyns party and grete dole on Kynge Markys party / Allas said the Kynge We are ashamed and destroyed all for euer / for as the book saith syr Tristram was neuer so matched but yf it were sir launcelot / Thus as they stode and beheld bothe partyes / that one party laughynge and the other party wepynge / Syre Tristram remembryd hym of his lady la bea∣le Isoud that loked vpon hym / And how he was lykely ne∣uer to come in her presence / Thenne he pulled vp his shelde that erst henge ful lowe / And thenne he dressid vp his shelde vnto Page  [unnumbered] Elyas / and gaf hym many sadde strokes twenty ageynst one and alle to brake his shelde and his hauberk / that the hote bl∣od ranne doune to the erthe / Thenne beganne kynge Mark to laughe and alle Cornysshe men / and that other party to wepe / And euer sir Tristram said to sir Elyas yelde the / ¶Thenne whanne sir Tristram sawe hym soo stakkerynge on the groūd he said syr Elyas I am ryght sory for the / for thou arte a passynge good knyghte as euer I mette with alle excepte sire Launcelot / ther with alle sir Elyas fylle to the erthe / & there dyed / what shalle I doo said sir Tristram vnto Kynge marke for this bataille is at an ende / Thenne they of Elyas party de∣parted / and kynge Marke took of hem many prysoners to re¦dresse the harmes and the scathes that he had of them / and the remenaunt he sente in to their countrey to borowe oute their fe¦lawes / Thenne was sire Tristram serched and wel helyd / yet for alle this Kynge Marke wold fayne haue slayne sir Tris∣tram / ¶But for alle that euer sire Tristram sawe or herd by kynge Marke yet wold he neuer beware of his treason / but e∣uer he wold be there as la Beale Isoud was

¶Capitulum xxxj

NOw wille we passe of this mater / and speke we of the harpers that sir Launcelot and sir Dynadan hadde sente in to Cornewaile / And at the grete feest that kyng ma∣rke made for Ioye that the Sessoyns were putte oute of his Countrey / Thenne came Elyas the harper with the lay that Dynadan had made and secretely broughte hit vnto sir Tris∣tram and told hym the lay that Dynadan had made by ky∣nge Marke / And whan sir Tristram herd hit / he said O lord Ihesu that Dynadan can make wonderly wel and ylle / there as it shalle be / ¶Syr said Elyas dare I synge this songe afore Kynge Marke / ye on my perylle said sire Tristram / for I shalle be thy waraunt / Thenne at the mete cam in Elyas the harper / & by cause he was a curyous harper men herd hym syn∣ge the same lay that Dynadan had made / the whiche spak the moost vylony by Kyng Marke of his treason / that euer man herd / whan the harper had songe his songe to the ende / kynge Marke was wonderly wrothe ¶ And sayd / thow Page  [unnumbered] harper how durst thow be soo bold on thy heede to synge thys songe afore me / Syr said Elyas wete yow wel I am a myn¦strel / and I must doo as I am commaūded of these lordes that I bere the armes of / And syre wete ye wel that sir Dynadan a knyghte of the table round made this songe / and made me to synge hit afore yow / Thow sayest wel sayd kynge Marke And by cause thow arte a mynstral / thow shalt go quyte / but I charge the hyhe the fast oute of my syghte / Soo the harper departed and wente to sir Tristram and told hym how he had sped / Thenne syre Tristram lete make / letters as goodely as he coude to launcelot and to sire Dynadan / And soo he lete con∣duyte the harper oute of the coūtrey / but to say y^t Kyng Mark was wonderly wrothe he was / for he demed that the lay that was songe afore hym was made by sir Tristrams counceylle / wherfore he thoughte to slee hym / and alle his wel wyllars / in that countrey

¶Capitulum xxxij

NOw torne we to another mater that felle bitwene kyng Marke and his broder that was called the good pry∣nce Bodwyne that alle the peple of the countrey loued passy∣nge wel / So hit befelle on a tyme that the mescreaunts Sa∣rasyns londed in the countreye of Corne Waile soone after the∣se Sessoyns were gone / And thēne the good prynce Boudw∣yne at the landynge he areysed the countrey pryuely and ha∣stly / And or hit were day / he lete put wylde fyre in thre of his owne shyppes / and sodenly he pulled vp the •ayle / And with the wynde he made tho shyppes to be dryuen amonge the nauye of the Sarasyns / And to make shorte tale tho thre shippes set on fyre alle the shippes that none were saued / And atte poynt of the day the good prynce Boudwyn with all his felauship sette on the mescreauntes with shoutes and cryes and slewe to the nombre of xl / M / and lefte none on lyue / whan kynge Marke wyst this he was wonderly wrothe that his broder sh∣old wynne suche worship / And by cause this prynce was bet∣ter byloued than he in all that countrey / And that al so Boud¦wyn loued wel sir Tristram / therfore he thoughte to slee hym Page  [unnumbered] And thus hastly as a man oute of his wytte he sente for pr∣ynce boudwyn / & Anglides his wyf / & bad them brynge theyre yonge sone with them that he myght see hym / Alle this he dyd to the entente to slee the child as wel as his fader / for he was the falsest traitour that euer was borne / Allas for his goode∣nes and for his good dedes this gentyl prynce Boudwyn was slayne / Soo whan he came with his wyf Anglydes the Kynge made them fayre semblaunt tyl they had dyned / And whanne they had dyned / Kynge Marke sente for his broder and said thus / Broder how spedde yow whan the mes¦creaunts aryued by yow / me semeth hit had be youre parte to haue sente me word that I myght haue ben at that Iourneye for it had ben reason that I had had the honour and not you Syre said the Prynce Boudwyn it was soo that and I had taryed tyl that I had sente for yow / tho myscreauntes hadde destroyed my countrey / Thou lyest fals traytour said Kynge Marke / for thou arte euer aboute for to wynne worship from me / and put me to dishonour / and thow cheryst that I hate / And there with he stroke hym to the hert with a daggar / that he neuer after spake word / Thenne the lady Anglydes made grete dole and swouned / for she sawe her lord slayne afore her face / Thenne was there no more to doo but prynce Boudwyn was despoylled and brought to buryels / But Anglydes pry¦uely gat her husbandes dobblet and his sherte / and that she kepte secretely / Thenne was there moche sorowe and cryenge / and grete dole made sir Tristram / sir Dynas / sir Fergus / and so dyd alle knyghtes that were there / for that prynce was pas¦syngly wel byloued / Soo la Beale Isoud sente vnto An∣glydes the prynce Boudwyns wyf and badde her auoyde lyʒ¦tely or els her yonge sone Alysander le Orphelyn shold be sla¦ye / whanne she herd this / she took her hors and her child / and rode with suche poure men as durst ryde with her /

¶Capitulum xxxiij

NOt withstandynge whan Kyng Marke had done this dede / yet he thought to doo more vengeaunce / and with Page  [unnumbered] his swerd in his hand / he sought from chamber to chamber to seke Anglydes and her yonge sone / And when she was myste / he called a good knyghte that hyghte Sadok / and charged hym by payne of dethe to fetche Anglydes ageyne / and her yo∣nge sone / So syre Sadok departed / and rode after Anglydes / And within ten myle he ouertoke her / and badde her torne a∣geyne and ryde with hym to Kynge Marke / Allas fair knyʒt she said / what shalle ye wynne by my sones deth or by myn / I haue hadde ouer moche harme and to grete a losse / Madame said Sadok / of your losse is dole and pyte / but madame said Sadok wold ye departe oute of this countrey with your sone / and kepe hym tyl he be of age / that he may reuenge his faders dethe / thenne wold I suffer yow to departe from me / So ye pro¦myse me to reuenge the dethe of prynce Boudwyn / A gentyl knyght Ihesu thanke the / and yf euer my sone Alysander le Orphelyn lyue to be a knyght / he shal haue his faders dobblet and his shert with the blody markes / and I shalle gyue hym suche a charge that he shalle remembre hit whyles he lyueth / And there with al Sadok departed from her / and eyther by toke other to god ¶And when Sadok came to kyng Ma•ke he told hym feythfully that he had drouned yong Aly¦sander her sone / and therof kynge Marke was ful gladde / ¶Now torne we vnto Anglydes that rode bothe nyghte and day by aduenture oute of Corne Waile / and lytyl and in fewe places she rested / but euer she drewe southward to the see syde / tyl by fortune she came to a castel that is called Magouns / & now hit is called Arundel in southsex / and the Conestable of the castel welcomed her and said she was welcome to her owne castel / and there was Anglydes worshipfully receyued / for the Conestables wyf was nyghe her cosyn / and the Conestables name was Belangere / and that same Conestable told Angly¦des that the same Castel was hers by ryght enherytaunce / Thus Anglydes endured yeres and wynters tyl Alysander was bygge and stronge / there was none soo wyght in all that Countrey / neyther there was none that myghte doo no manere of maystry afore hym /

¶Capitulum xxxiiij

THenne vpon a day Bellangere the Conestable came to Anglydes and sayd Madame it were tyme my lord Alysander were made knyʒt / for he is a passyng strong yonge man / Syre said she I wold he were made knyghte / But thenne must I yeue hym the moost charge that euer syn∣ful moder gaf to her childe / Doo as ye lyste sayd Bellange∣re / and I shalle gyue hym warnynge that he shalle be maade knyght / Now hit wyl be wel done that he may be made knyght at oure lady day in lente / Be hit soo said Anglydes / and I pray yow make redy therfore / Soo came the Conestable to A∣lysander and told hym that he shold at oure lady in lente be made knyghte / I thanke god said Alysander these are the best tydynges that euer came to me / Thenne the Conestable ordey∣ned twenty of the grettest gentylmens sones and the best born men of the countrey that shold be maade knyghtes that same day that Alysander was made knyght / Soo on the same daye that Alysander and his twenty felawes were made Knygh∣tes / at the offrynge of the masse there came Anglydes vnto her sone and sayd thus / ¶ O fayre swete sone I charge the vpon my blessynge and of the hyghe ordre of chyualry that thou ta¦kest here this day / that thow vnderstande what I shalle saye / and charge the with alle / There with alle she pulled out a blo¦dy dobblet and a blody sherte that were bebledde with old blo∣od / whanne Alysander sawe this / he starte abak and waxed paale / and sayd fayre moder what maye this meane / I shall telle the fayre sone / thus was thyne owne faders dobblett and sherte that he ware vpon hym that same daye that he was sla∣yne / and there she told hym why and wherfore / And hou for his goodenes kynge Marke slewe hym with his daggar afore myn owne eyen / And therfor this shalle be your charge that I I shalle gyue the

¶Capitulum xxxv

NOw I requyre the / and charge the vpon my blessyng Page  [unnumbered] and vpon the hyghe ordre of knyʒthode that thow be reuengyd vpon kynge Marke for the dethe of thy fader / and there with all she swouned / Thenne Alysander lepte to his moder / and took her vp in his armes and sayd Fair moder ye haue gyuen me a grete charge / and here I promyse yow I shalle be auen¦gyd vpon Kynge Marke / whanne that I may / and that I promyse to god and to yow ¶ Soo this feest was endyd / and the conestabyl by the aduyse of anglydes lete pur¦ueye that Alysander was wel horsed and harneysid / Thenne he Iusted with his twenty felawes that were made knyghtes with hym / but for to make a shorte tale he ouerthrewe alle tho twenty that none myght withstande hym a buffet / ¶ Thenne one of tho Knyghtes departed vnto Kynge Marke / and told hym alle how Alysander was maade Knyghte / and alle the charge that his moder gaf hym as ye haue herd afore tyme ¶Allas fals treason said Kynge Marke I wende that yo∣nge traitour had ben dede / Allas whome may I truste / And there with alle kynge Marke took a swerd in his hand / and soughte sire Sadok from chamber to chamber to slee hym / ¶Whanne sir Sadok sawe kynge Marke come with his suerd in his hand / he sayd thus / Beware Kynge Marke and come not nyghe me / for wete thow wel that I saued Alysander his lyf / of whiche I neuer repente me / for thow falsly and co∣wardly slewe his fader Boudwyn traytourly for his good dedes / wherfore I pray almyghty Ihesu sende Alysander my∣ghte and strengthe to be reuengyd vpon the / and now beware Kynge Marke of yonge Alysander / for he is made a knyghte / ¶Alas said Kynge Marke that euer I shold here a tray∣tour saye soo afore me / ¶ And there with foure Knyghtes of kynge Markes drewe theire swerdes to slee syre Sadok / but anone sir Sadok slewe hem alle in Kynge Markes presence / And thenne sire Sadok past forthe in to his chamber / and to∣ke his hors and his harneis / and rode on his waye a good paas / For there was neyther syre Tristram / neyther syre Dy∣nas nor syre Fergus that wold sir Sadok ony euylle wylle / ¶Thenne was Kynge Marke wrothe / and thoughte to destro∣ye syre Alysander and syre Sadok that had saued hym / for kynge Marke dredde and hated Alisander moost of ony man Page  [unnumbered] lyuynge whanne sir Tristram vnderstood that Alysander was made knyghte / Anone forth with alle he sente hym a letter pra¦yenge hym and chargynge hym that he wold drawe hym to the Courte of Kynge Arthur / and that he putte hym in the ru¦le and in the handes of sire Launcelot

¶Soo this letter was sente to Alysander from his cosyn syr Tristram / And at that tyme he thought to doo after his com∣maundement / Thenne kynge Mark called a knyght that bro∣ughte hym the tydynges from Alysander / and badde hym a∣byde stylle in that countrey / Syre sayd that knyght soo muste I doo / for in myn owne countrey I dare not come / No force said Kynge Marke / I shalle gyue the here double as moche landes as euer thow haddest of thyne owne / But within short space sir Sadok mette with that fals knyght / and slewe hym Thenne was Kynge Marke wode wrothe oute of mesure ¶Thenne he sente vnto Quene Morgan le fay / and to the que¦ne of Northgalys prayenge them in his letters that they two sorceresses wold sette alle the countrey in fyre with ladyes that were enchauntresses / And by suche that were daungerous knyghtes as Malgryn Breuse saunce pyte / that by no meane Alysander le Orphelyn shold escape / but outher he shold be taken or slayne / This ordenaunce made kyng Marke for to des¦troye Alysander

¶Capitulum xxxvj

NOw torne we ageyne vnto sire Alysander that at his departynge his moder toke with hym his faders blody sherte / Soo that he bare with hym alweyes tylle hys dethe daye in tokenynge to thynke on his faders dethe

¶Soo was Alysander purposed to ryde to london by the coū∣ceille of sire Tristram to syre Launcelot / And by fortune he wente by the see syde / and rode wronge / and there he wanne at a turnement the gree / that Kynge Carados made / And there he smote doune Kynge Carados and twenty of his knyghtes and also sire Safere a good knyght that was sire Palomydes broder the good knyght / ¶Alle this sawe a damoysel / and Page  [unnumbered] sawe the best knyghte Iuste that euer he sawe / And euer as he smote doune knyghtes / he made them to swere to were none harneis in a twelue monethe and a day / This is wel sayd / saide Morgan le fay / this is the knyght that I wold fayne see / And soo she took her palfroy and rode a grete whyle / and thenne she rested her in her pauelione / So there came four kn∣yghtes two were armed and two were vnarmed / and they told Morgan le fay their names / the fyrst was Elyas de go¦meret / the second was Carde Gomoret / tho were armed / that other tweyne were of Camylyard / cosyns vnto Quene Gue¦neuer / and that one hyʒt Guy / and that other hyght Garaūt tho were vnarmed / There these four Knyghtes told Morgan le fay how a yonge knyghte had smyten them doune before a Castel / For the mayden of that Castel said that he was but late made knyghte and yonge / But as we suppose but yf hit were sire Tristram or sire Launcelot or sire Lamorak the good knyʒ there is none that myʒt sytte hym a buffet with a spere / well said Morgan le fay I shalle mete that knyght or it be longe tyme / and he dwelle in that countrey

¶Soo torne we to the damoysell of the Castel that whanne Alysander le Orphelyn hadde fori•sted the four Knyghtes she called hym to her and said thus / Syre knyghte wolt thou for my sake Iuste and fyghte with a knyghte for my sake of this countrey that is and hath ben long tyme an euyll neyghbour to me / his name is Malgryne / and he wylle not suffer me to be maryed in no maner wyse for all that I can doo / or ony knyght for my sake /

¶Damoysel said Alysander and he come whyles I am he∣re I wylle fyghte with hym / and my poure body for your sa¦ke I wille Ieoparde / And there with alle she sente for hym / for he was at her commaundement / And whan eyther hadde a syghte of other / they made hem redy for to Iuste / and they cam to gyder egerly / and Malgryn brysed his spere vpon Alysan¦der / and alisander smote hym ageyne so hard that he bare hym quyte from his sadell to the erthe / But this Malgryne aroos lyghtly and dressid his sheld and drewe his suerd / and badde hym alyʒte / sayēg thouʒ thou haue the better of me on horsbak Page  [unnumbered] thow shalt fynde that I shalle endure lyke a knyght on foot It is wel said said Alysander / and soo lyghtly he auoyded his hors and bitoke hym to his varlet / And thenne they ras¦shed to gyders lyke two bores and leyd on their helmes and sheldes longe tyme by the space of thre houres that neuer man coude saye whiche was the better Knyghte

¶And in the mene whyle came Morgan le fay to the damoy¦sel of the Castel / and they beheld the bataylle / But this mal¦gryne was an olde roted Knyghte / and he was called one of the daungerous knyghtes of the world to doo bataille on foot but on horsbak there were many better / And euer this Mal∣gryne awayted to slee Alysander / and soo wounded hym won¦derly sore / that it was merueylle that euer he myghte stande / for he had bledde soo moche blood / for Alysander fought wyld¦ly and not wyttely / And that other was a felonous knyʒte and awayted hym / and smote hym sore / And somtyme they rasshed to gyders with their sheldes lyke two bores or rammes and fylle grouelynge bothe to the erthe /

¶Now knyghte sayd Malgryn hold thy hand a whyle / & telle me what thow arte / I wylle not said Alysander / but yf me lyst / But telle me thy name / and why thow kepest thys countrey / or els thow shalt dye of my handes / wete thow well sayd Malgryne that for this maydens loue of this Castel I haue slayne ten good knyghtes by myshap / and by outerage and orgulyte of my self I haue slayne ten other knyghtes / Soo god me helpe sayd Alysander this is the fowlest confes∣syon that euer I herd knyghte make / nor neuer herd I speke of other men of suche a shameful confession / wherfore hit were grete pyte & grete shame vnto me that I shold lete the lyue ony lenger / therfore kepe the as wel as euer thow mayst / for as I am true knyghte eyther thow shalte slee me or els I shal slee the / I promyse the feythfully

¶Thenne they lasshed to gyders fyersly / And at the last A∣lysander smote Malegryne to the erthe / And thenne he racyd of his helme / and smote of his hede lyghtely /

¶And whanne he hadde done and ended this bataille / anone he called to hym his varlet the whiche brought hym his hors And thēne he wenyng to be strong ynouʒ wold haue moūted Page  [unnumbered] And soo she leyd sire Alysander in an hors lyttar and ledde hym in to the Castel / for he he had no foote ne myʒt to stande vpon the erthe / for he had syxtene grete woundes / and in espe¦cyal one of them was lyke to be his dethe /

¶Capitulum xxxvij

THenne Quene Morgan le fay serched his woundes / and gaf suche an oynement vnto hym that he shold ha¦ue dyed / And on the morne whanne she came to hym he camplayned hym sore / And thenne she put other oynements vpon hym / And thenne he was out of his payne / Thenne cam the damoysel of the Castel and said vnto Morgan le fay / I pray yow helpe me that this Knyghte myghte wedde me / for he hath wonne me with his handes / ye shalle see said Morgan le fay what I shalle saye Thenne Morgan le fay wente vnto Alysander and bad in ony wyse that he shold refuse this lady and she desyre to wedde yow / for she is not for yow / Soo the damoysel came and desyred of hym maryage / damoysel sayd Orphelyn I thanke yow but as yet I caste me not to marye in this countrey / Syre she said sythen ye will not mary me / I pray yow in soo moche as ye haue wonne me that ye wyl gyue me to a Knyghte of this countrey that hath ben my frende / & loued me many yeres / with alle my herte said Alysander I wylle assente therto / Thenne was the Knyʒte sente for / his na∣me was Geryne le grose / And anone he made them hand fast / and wedded them / Thenne came Quene Morgan le fay to A∣lysander and badde hym aryse and putte hym in an hors lyttar and gaf hym suche a drynke that in thre dayes and thre nygh¦tes he waked neuer but slepte / and soo she brought hym to her owne castel that at that tyme was called la Beale regard / Thenne Morgan le fay came to Alysander and asked hym yf he wold fayne be hole / who wold be seke said Alysander and he myghte be hole / wel said Morgan le fay thenne shalle ye pro∣myse me by youre knyghthode that this daye twelue monethe and a daye ye shalle not passe the compas of thys Castel / and withoute doubte ye shalle lyghtely be hole / I assente said sire Page  [unnumbered] Alysaunder / And there he made her a promyse / thenne was he soone hole / And whanne Alysander was hole / thenne he repen¦tyd hym of his othe / for he myghte not be reuengyd vpon ky∣nge Marke / Ryght soo there came a damoysel that was cosyn to the Erle of pase / and she was cosyn to Morgan le fay / and by ryght that castel of la Beale regard shold haue ben hers by true enherytaunce / Soo this damoysel entred in to this cas¦tel / where lay Alysander / and there she fond hym vpon his bed passynge heuy and alle sad

¶Capitulum xxxviij

SYre knyghte said the damoysel / and ye wold be mery I coude telle yow good tydynges / wel were me said Alysander / and I myghte here of good tydynges / for now I stande as a prysoner by my promyse / Syr she sayd wete ye wel that ye be a prysoner and werse than ye wene / for my lady my cosyn Quene Morgan le fay kepeth yow here for none o∣ther entente but for to doo her pleasyr with yow whan hit ly∣ked her / O Ihesu defende me said Alysander from suche plea∣syr for I had leuer cutte awey my hangers than I wold do her suche pleasyr / As Ihesu helpe me said the damoysel / and ye wold loue me and be ruled by me I shalle make youre de∣lyueraunce with your worshyp / Telle me said Alysander / by what meane / and ye shalle haue my loue / fayre knyghte sayd she / this castel of ryght ought to be myn / And I haue an vn¦kel the whiche is a myghty Erle / he is Erle of pase / and of al folkes he hateth moost Morgan le fay / and I shalle sende vn¦to hym / and praye hym for my sake to destroye this castel / for the euylle custommes that ben vsed therin / And thenne wylle he come and sette wylde fyre on euery parte of the castel / and I shalle gete yow oute at a pryuy posterne / and there shall ye haue your hors and your harneis / ye say wel damoysel sayd Alysander / and thenne she sayd ye may kepe the rome of thys Castel this twelue moneth / and a day / thenne breke ye not yo∣ur othe / Truly fayr damoysel said Alysander ye saye sothe / And thenne he kyste her and dyd to her plesaunce as it plea∣sed them bothe at tymes and leysers / Soo anone she sent vnto Page  [unnumbered] her vnkel and badde hym come and destroye that castel / for as the book saith / he wold haue destroyed that castel afore tyme / had not that damoysel ben / Whanne the Erle vnderstood her let¦ters / he sente her word ageyne that on suche a day he wold co∣me and destroye that castel / Soo whan that day came she she∣wed Alysander a posterne where thorou he shold flee in to a gardyn / and there he shold fynde his armour and his hors / whanne the day came that was sette thydder came the erle of pase with four honderd knyghtes / and sette on fyre all the par¦tyes of the castel / that or they seaced they lefte not a stone stan¦dynge / And alle this whyle that the fyre was in the Castell / he abode in the gardyn / And whan the fyre was done / he lete make a crye that he wold kepe that pyece of erthe / there as the castel of la beale regard was a twelue monethe and a daye / from alle manere knyghtes that wold come / Soo hit happed there was a duke that hyʒte Ansirus / and he was of the kyn of sir launcelot / And this knyght was a grete pylgrym / for euery thyrdde yere he wold be at Iherusalem / And by cause he vsed alle his lyf to goo in pylgremage men called hym duke Anserus the pylgrym / And this duke had a douʒter that hyʒt Alys that was a passyng fayre woman / And by cause of her fader she was called Alys le beale pylgrym / And anone as she herd of this crye / she wente vnto Arthurs courte & sayd o∣penly in heryng of many knyghtes / that what Knyghte maye ouercome that Knyght that kepeth that pyece of erthe shal ha∣ue me and alle my landes / whan the Knyghtes of the round table herd her saye thus / many were gladde / for she was passy∣nge fayre and of grete rentes / Ryght so she lete crye in castels and townes as faste on her syde as as Alysander dyd on his syde / Thenne she dressid her pauelione streyghte by the pyece of the erthe that Alysander kepte / So she was not so soone there / but there came a Knyght of Arthurs courte that hyghte Sa∣gramore le desyrus / and he proferd to Iuste with Alysander / & they encountred / and Sagramore le desyrus brysed his spere vpon sire Alysander / but sire Alysander smote hym soo harde that he auoyded his sadel / And whanne la Beale Alys sawe hym Iuste soo wel / she thought hym a passynge goodly knyʒt on horsbak / And thenne she lepte oute of her pauelione / & toke Page  [unnumbered] sir Alysander by the brydel / and thus she sayd / fayre knyght I requyre the of thy knyghthode / shewe me thy vysage / I dar wel said Alysander shewe my vysage / And thenne he put of his helme / and she sawe his vysage / she said / O swete Ihesu / the I must loue / and neuer other / thenne shewe me your vy∣sage said he /

¶Capitulum xxxix

THenne she vnwympeled her vysage / And whanne he sawe her / he said here haue I fond my loue and my lady / Truly fayre lady said he I promyse yow to be your knyghte / and none other that bereth the lyf / Now gentil knyghte said she telle me your name / My name is said he A∣lysander le Orphelyn / Now damoysel telle me your name sayd he / my name is said she / Alys la beale pilggrym / And whan we be more at oure hertes ease both ye and I shalle telle other of what blood we be come / Soo there was grete loue betwyxe them / And as they thus talked / there came a Knyghte that hyghte Harsouse le Berbuse and axed parte of sir Alysan∣ders speres / Thenne sire Alysander encountred with hym / and at the fyrst sir Alysander smote hym ouer his hors croupe / And thenne there came another knyghte that hyʒt sire Hew∣gon / And sire Alysander smote hym doune as he dyd that o∣ther / Thenne sire Heugon profered to do bataille on foote / syre Alysander ouercame hym with thre strokes / and there wold ha¦ue slayne hym had he not yelded hym / Soo thenne Alisander made bothe tho Knyghtes to swere to were none armour in a twelue moneth and a day / Thenne sire Alisander alyʒte doun and wente to reste hym and repose hym / Thenne the damoysell that halp sire Alysander oute of the castel in her play told Alys all to gyder how he was prysoner in the castel of la bea∣le regard / and there she told her how she gat hym oute of pry¦son / Syr said Alys la Beale pylgrym me semeth ye ar moche beholdynge to this mayden / that is trouth said sir Alysander / And there Alys told hym of what blood she was come / Syre wete ye wel she said that I am of the blood of Kynge Ban that was fader vnto sir Launcelot ye wys fayr lady sa¦yd Alysander my moder told me that my fader was broder Page  [unnumbered] vnto a kynge / and I am nyghe cosyn vnto sire Tristram / Thē∣ne this whyle came there thre knyghtes / that one hyʒt Vayns / and the other hyght Haruys de le marches / and the thyrdde hyght Peryn de la montayne / and with one spere sire Alysan¦der smote them doune alle thre / and gaf them suche fallys / that they hadde no lyste to fyghte vpon foote / Soo he made them to swere to were none armes in a twelue moneth / Soo whanne they were deperted sire Alysander beheld his lady Alys on hors bak as he stood in her pauelione / And thenne was he soo enamoured vpon her that he wyst not whether he were on hors∣bak or on foote / Ryght so came the fals Knyght syr Mordred and sawe sir Alysander was assoted vpon his lady / and ther with alle he took his hors by the brydel / and ledde hym here & there / and had cast to haue ledde hym oute of that place to ha∣ue shamed hym / whanne the damoysel that halpe hym out of that Castel sawe how shamefully he was ledde / Anone she le¦te arme her and sette a sheld vpon her sholder / And ther with she mounted vpon his hors / and gatte a naked swerd in her hand / and she threst vnto Alysander with alle her myght / and she gaf hym suche a buffet that he thought the fyre flewe oute of his eyen / And whanne Alysander felte that stroke he loked about hym / and drewe his swerd / And whan he sawe that she fledde / and soo dyd Mordred in to the forest / and the damoysel fledde in to the pauelione / So whanne Alysander vnderstood hym self how the fals knyght wold haue shamed hym / hadde not the damoysel ben / thenne was he wrothe with hym self that syre Mordred was soo escaped his handes / But thenne sire Alysander and Alys hadde good game at the damoysel hou sadly she hytte hym vpon the helme / ¶Thenne sir Alysander Iusted thus day by day / and on foot he dyd many batails with many knyghtes of kynge Arthurs court and with many kn∣yghtes straungers / therfore to telle alle the batails that he did it were ouer moche to reherse / for euery day within that twelue moneth he had adoo with one Knyght or with other / and some day he had adoo with thre or with foure / And there was neuer knyght that putte hym to the werse / & at the twelue monethes ende he departed with his lady Alys la beale pylgrym / and the damoysel wold neuer goo from hym / and soo they went in Page  [unnumbered] to theyr countrey of Benoye / and lyued there in grete Ioye /

¶Capitulum xl

BVt as the book sayth / kyng marke wold neuer stynte tyll he had slayne hym by treason / / and by Alys he gat a child that hyght Bellengerus le Beuse / and by good fortune he came to the courte of Kynge Arthur / and preued a passynge good Knyghte / and he reuenged his faders dethe for the fals Kynge Marke slewe bothe syre Tris•ram & Aly∣sander falsly and felo•sly / and hit happed so that Alysander hadde neuer grace ne fortune to come to Kynge Arthurs court For and he had comen to sire launcelot alle knyghtes sayd / that knewe hym / he was one of the strengest knyghtes that was in Arthurs dayes / and grete dole was made for hym Soo lete we of hym passe and torne we to another tale So hit bef•lle that •ire Galahalt the haute prynce was lord of the countrey of Surluse / wherof came many good knyghtes / And this noble prynce was a passynge good man of armes and euer he helde a noble felaushyp to gyders / And thenne he came to Arthurs court / & told hym his entent / how this was his wyll / hou he wold lete crye a Iustes in the coūtrey of Sur¦luse / the whiche countrey was within the landes of kynge Ar¦thur / and there he axed leue to lete crye a Iustes / I wyl gy∣ue yow leue said Kynge Arthur / But wete thow wel sayd Kynge Arthur / I maye not be there / Syre said Quene Gue∣neuer please hit you to gyue me leue to be at that Iustes / with ryght good wille said Arthur / for sire Galahalt the haute prynce shall haue yow in gouernaunce / Syr said Galahalt I wille as ye wylle / sir thenne the quene I wille take with me and suche knyghtes as pleasen me best / do as ye lyst said ky∣nge Arthur / So anone she commaunded sire Launcelot to ma¦ke hym redy with suche knyghtes as he thought best / Soo in e∣uery good towne and castel of this land was made a crye / that in the countrey of Surluse syre Galahalt sholde make a Iustes that shold laste eyghte dayes / And how the haute pr∣ynce with the help of Quene Gueneuers knyghtes shold Iuste Page  [unnumbered] ageyne alle manere of men that wold come / whanne this crye was knowen / kynges and prynces / dukes and Erles / Ba∣rons and noble knyghtes made them redy to be at that Iustes And at the daye of Iustyng there came in sire Dynadan / dis∣guysed / and dyd many grete dedes of armes

¶Capitulum xlj

THenne at the request of Quene Gueneuer and of ky∣nge Bagdemagus / sir Laūcelot came in to the rayeng but he was desguysed / and that was the cause that fe¦we folke knewe hym / and there mette with hym sir Ector de marys his owne broder / and eyther brake their speres vpon other to theyr handes / And thenne eyther gate another spere / And thenne sire launcelot smote doune syr Ector de marys his owne broder / That sawe sire Bleoberys / and he smote sir laun¦celot suche a buffet vpon the helme that he wyst not wel where he was / Thenne sir launcelot was wrothe / and smote sir Ble∣oberys so sore vpon the helme that his hede bowed doune back∣ward / And he smote efte another buffet that he auoyded his sadel / and soo he rode by / and threst forth to the thyckest / whan the kynge of Northgalys sawe sire Ector and Bleoberys lye on the ground / thenne was he wroth / for they came on his par¦ty ageynst them of Surluse / So the kynge of Northgalys ran to sire Launcelot / and brake a spere vpon hym all to pyeces There with sire Launcelot ouertook the kynge of Northgalys and smote hym suche a buffet on the helme with his suerd that he made hym to auoyde his hors / and anone the kyng was hor¦sed ageyne / So bothe the kynge Bagdemagus and the kyng of Northgalys party hurled to other / and thenne beganne a stronge medle / but they of Northgalys were ferre bygger whanne sire launcelot sawe his party goo to the werst / he th∣range in to the thyckest prees with a suerd in his hand / & there he smote doune on the ryght hand and on the lyft hand and pulled doune knyghtes and racyd of their helmes that alle men hadde wonder that euer one knyght myghte doo such dedes of armes / whanne sire Mellegaunt that was sone vnto kyng Bagdemagus saw how sir Launcelot ferd / he merueiled Page  [unnumbered] gretely / And whan he vnderstood that it was he / he wyst wel that he was desguysed for his sake / Thenne sire Malegeaunt prayd a Knyghte to slee sir launcelots hors outher with suerd or with spere / At that tyme Kynge Bagdemagus mette wyth a Knyghte that hyght Sauseyse a good knyghte / to whom he sayd / Now fayr Sauseyse encounter with my sone Malege∣aunt / and gyue hym large payment / for I wold he were well beten of thy handes that he myghte departe oute of this feld / And thenne sir Sauseyse encountred with syr Malegeaunt / and eyther smote other doune / And thēne they fought on fo∣te / and there Sauseyse had wonne syre Malegeaunt / hadde not there come rescowes / So thenne the haute prynce blewe to lod∣gynge / And euery knyghte vnarmed hym / and wente to the grete feest / ¶Thenne in the meane whyle there came a damoy∣sel to the haute prynce / and complayned that there was a kn¦yghte that hyght Goneryes that withhelde her alle her landes Thenne the knyghte was there presente and caste his gloue to hym or to ony that wold fyghte in her name / Soo the damoy∣sel took vp the gloue alle heuyly for defaute of a champyon / Thenne there came a varlet to her and sayd damoysel / wille ye doo after me / ful fayne said the damoysel / thenne goo ye vnto suche a knyght that lyeth here besyde in an ermytage / and that foloweth the questyng best / and pray hym to take the bataille vpon hym / and anone I wote wel he wille graunte yow / ¶So anone she took her palfroy / and within a whyle she fond that knyght that was sire Palomydes / And whan she requy∣red hym / he armed hym and rode with her / and made her to go to the haute prynce / and to aske leue for her knyght to doo ba¦tail / I wille wel said the haute prynce / Thenne the knyghtes were redy in the feld to Iuste on horsbak / and eyther gatte a spere in their handes and mette soo fyersly to gyders that the∣ir speres alle to sheuerd / Thenne they flange out swerdes / and syr Palomydes smote sire Gonereys doune to the erthe / And thenne he racyd of his helme and smote of his hede / Thenne they wente to souper / and the damoysel loued Palomydes as peramour / but the book saith she was of his kyn / Soo thenne Palomydes desguysed hym self in this manere / in his shelde he bare the questynge beest and in alle his trappours / ¶ And Page  [unnumbered] whanne he was thus redy / he sente to the haute prynce to gyue hym leue to Iuste with other knyghtes / but he was adoubted of sire launcelot / The haute prynce sente hym word ageyne / that he shold be welcome / and that syre Launcelot shold not Iuste with hym / Thenne sire Galahalt the haute prynce lete crye what knyght someuer he were that smote doune sir Palo∣mydes shold haue his damoysel to hym self /

¶ Capitulum xlij

HEre begynneth the second daye / anone as sire Palomy¦des came in to the felde / syr Galahalt the haute prynce was at the raunge ende / and mette with sire Palomy∣des / and he with hym with grete speres / And thenne they cam soo hard to gyders that their speres alle to sheuered / But syr Galahalt smote hym soo hard that he bare hym backward ouer his hors / but yet he lost not his styropes / ¶Thenne they drewe their swerdes and lasshed to gyder many sadde strokes / that many worshipful knyghtes lefte their besynes to behold them But at the last sire Galahalt the haut prynce smote a stroke of myghte vnto Palomydes sore vpon the helme / but the helme was soo hard that the swerd myght not byte but slypped and smote of the hede of the hors of sir Palomydes / whan the haut prynce wyst and sawe the good knyght falle vnto the erthe / he was ashamed of that stroke / And there with he alyghte doune of his owne hors / and prayd the good knyghte Palo¦mydes to take that hors of his yefte / and to forgyue hym that dede / Syre said Palomydes I thanke yow of your grete good¦nes / for euer of a man of worship / a knyghte shalle neuer •a∣ue disworship / and soo he mounted vpon that hors / and the haute prynce had another anone / Now said the haute prynce I relece to yow that maiden / for ye haue wonne her / A said pa¦lomydes the damoysel and I be at your commaundement / So they departed and sire Galahalt dyd grete dedes of armes / And ryght soo came Dynadan / and encountred with syr Ga¦lahalt / and eyther came to other so fast with theire speres that their speres brak to their handes / But Dynadan had wende the haute prynce had ben more wery than he was / And thenne Page  [unnumbered] he smote many sadde strokes at the haute prynce / but whan dy¦nadan sawe he myght not gete hym to the erthe / he said My lo∣rd I pray yow leue me / and take another / the haute prynce knewe not Dynadan / and lefte goodely for his fayr wordes / And soo they departed / but soone there came another / and told the haute prynce that hit was Dynadan / for soth sayd the pry∣nce therfor am I heuy that he is soo escaped from me / for with his mockes and Iapes / now shalle I neuer haue done with hym / And thenne Galahalt rode fast after hym / and bad hym abyde Dynadan for kynge Arthurs sake / Nay said Dynadan soo god me helpe we mete no more to gyder this daye / Thenne in that wrathe the haute prynce mette with Melyagaunt / and he smote hym in the throte that and he had fallen his neck had broken / and with the same spere he smote doune another kny∣ght / Thenne came in they of Northgalys / and many straūgers and were lyke to haue putte them of Surluse to the werse / for syr Galahalt the haut prynce had ouer moche in hand / Soo there came the good knyghte Semound the valyaunt wyth fourty knyghtes / and he bete them al abak / Thenne the Que∣ne Gueneuer and sire launcelot lete blowe to lodgynge / and euery knyghte vnarmed hym / and dressid hem to the feeste /

¶Capitulum xliij

WHanne Palomydes was vnarmed he axed lodgynge for hym self and the damoysel / Anone the haute pry∣nce commaunded them to lodgynge / And he was not so soone in his lodgynge / but there came a Knyghte that hyght Archa¦de / he was broder vnto Gomoryes that Palomydes slewe afo∣re in the damoysels quarel / And this Knyght Archade called •yre Palomydes traytour / and appelyd hym for the dethe of his broder / By the leue of the haute prynce sayd Palomydes I shalle ansuer the / whan sire Galahalt vnderstood theyre quarel / he badde them goo to dyner / and as soone as ye haue dyned / loke that eyther knyghte be redy in the felde / So when they hadde dyned they were armed bothe / and tooke their hor¦ses / and the quene and the prynce and syr Launcelot were set to behold them / and soo they lete renne their horses / and there sir Palomydes bare Archade on his spere ouer his hors tayle Page  [unnumbered] And thenne Palomydes alyght and drewe his swerd / but syr Archade myght not aryse / and there syr Palomydes racyd of his helme / and smote of his hede / ¶Thenne the haute prynce and Quene Gueneuer wente vnto souper / ¶Thenne Kynge Bagdemagus sente aweye his sone Melyagaunt by cause syr Launcelot shold not mete with hym / for he hated sire launce∣lot / and that knewe he not

¶Capitulum xliiij

NOw begynneth the thyrdde daye of Iustynge / and att that daye Kynge Bagdemagus made hym redy / and there came ageynst hym kynge Marsyl / that had in yefte an Iland of syre Galahalt the haute prynce / And this yland had the name Pomytayn / Thenne hit befelle that Kyng Bag¦demagus and kynge Marsyl of Pomytayn mette to gyders with speres / and Kynge Marsyl had suche a buffet that he felle ouer his hors croupe ¶ Thenne came therin a Knyght of Kynge Marsyl to reuenge his lord / And kynge Bagdemagus smote hym doune hors and man to the erthe ¶Soo there came an Erle that hyght arrouse / and sir Breuse and an honderd knyghtes with hem of Pometayne / and the Kynge of Northgalys was with hem / And alle these were a∣geynst them of Surluse / And thenne there beganne grete ba∣taylle / and many Knyghtes were caste vnder hors feet / And euer Kynge Bagdemagus dyd best / for he fyrste beganne / & euer he helde on / Gaherys Gawayns broder smote euer at the face of Kynge Bagdemagus / And at the laste kynge Bag∣demagus hurtled doune Gaherys hors and man

¶Thenne by aduenture syre Palomydes the good Knyghte mette with syre Bleoberys de Ganys / syre Bleoberys broder / And eyther smote other with grete speres / that both theyre hor¦ses and Knyghtes felle to the erthe / But syre Blamore had suche a falle that he had al moost broken his neck / for the blo∣od braste oute at nose / mouthe and his eres / but at the laste he recouerd well by good surgyens / Thenne therecam in the duke Page  [unnumbered] Chaleyns of Claraunce and in his gouernaunce there came a knyghte that hyghte Elys la noyre / And there encountred with hym Kynge Bagdemagus / and he smote Elys that he made hym to auoyde his sadel / ¶ Soo the Duke Chaleyns of Claraunce dyd there grete dedes of armes / and of soo late as he came in the thyrdde daye there was no man dyd soo wel ex∣cepte kynge Bagdemagus and sire Palomydes that the pryce was gyuen that day to Kynge Bagdemagus /

¶And thenne they blewe vnto lodgynge and vnarmed hem and wente to the feest / ¶ Ryght soo came Dynadan and moc¦ked and Iaped with Kynge Bagdemagus that alle knygh¦tes lough at hym / for he was a fyne Iaper and wel louynge alle good knyghtes / ¶Soo anone as they had dyned / there came a varlet berynge foure speres on his bak / & he came to Palomydes / & sayd thus / here is a Knyʒte by hath sente yow the choyse of foure speres / and requyreth yow for yo∣ur lady sake to take that one half of these speres / and Iuste with hym in the felde / ¶ Telle hym said Palomydes I wyll not fayle hym / whanne sire Galahalt wyste of this / he badde Palomydes make hym redy / ¶ So the Quene Gueneuer the haute prynce and sire Launcelot they were set vpon schafhol∣des to gyue the Iugement of these two Knyghtes /

¶Thenne syre Palomydes and the straunge knyght ranne so egerly to gyders that their speres brake to their handes / Anon with alle eyther of them tooke a grete spere in his hand and alle to sheuered them in pyeces / And thenne eyther tooke a gretter spere / And thenne the knyghte smote doune syre Pa∣lomydes hors and man to the erthe / And as he wold haue passed ouer hym / the straunge knyghtes hors stumbled and felle doune vpon Palomydes ¶ Thenne they drewe their swerdes and lasshed to gyders wonderly sore a gre¦te whyle / ¶Thenne the haute prynce and sire Launcelot sayd they sawe neuer two knyghtes fyghte better than they dyd / but euer the straunge knyght doubled his strokes / and putte Palomydes abak / there with alle the haute prynce cryed hoo / and thenne they wente to lodgynge / And whanne they were vnarmed / they knewe hit was the noble knyʒt syr Lamorak ¶Whanne syr Launcelot knewe that hit was sir Lamorak he Page  [unnumbered] made moche of hym / for aboue alle erthely men he loued hym best excepte sire Tristram / ¶ Thenne Quene Gueneuer commended hym / and soo dyd alle other good knyghtes made moche of hym excepte sire Gawayns bretheren / Thenne quene Gueneuer said vnto sire launcelot syr I requyre yow that & ye Iuste ony more / that ye Iuste with none of the blood of my lord Arthur / soo he promysed he wold not as at that tyme

¶Capitulum xlv

HEre begynneth the fourthe daye / thenne came in to the felde the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / and alle they of Northgalys and the duke chaleyns of Cla∣raunce / and Kynge Marsyl of pomatyn / and there came Sa∣fyr Palomydes broder / and there he told hym tydynges of his moder / and his name was called the Erle / And so he appeled hym afore kynge Arthur / for he made warre vpon oure fader and moder / and there I slewe hym in playne ba∣taille / Soo they wente in to the feld / and the damoysel wyth them / and there came to encountre ageyne them sire Bleobe∣rys de ganys / and sir Ector de marys / sire Palomydes encoū∣tred with sir Bleoberys / and eyther smote other doune / And in the same wyse dyd sire Safere and sir Ector / and tho two couples dyd bataille on foote / Thenne came in sire Lamorak & he encountred with the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / and smote hym quyte ouer his hors tayle / And in the same wyse he serued the kynge of Northgalys / and also he smote doune Kynge Marsyl / And so or euer he stynte / he smote doune with his spere and with his suerd thyrtty knyghtes whan Duke Chaleyns sawe Lamorak doo soo grete prowesse / he wolde not medle with hym for shame / and thenne he charged all his kn∣yghtes in payne of dethe that none of yow touche hym / For hit were shame to alle good knyghtes and that Knyght were sha¦med / ¶Thenne the two Kynges gadred them to gyders / and alle they sette vpon sire Lamorak / and he faylled them not / but rasshed here and there smytyng on the ryght hand and on the lyfte & racyd of many helmes / so that Page  [unnumbered] the haute prynce and Quene Gueneuer said they sawe ne∣uer knyghte do suche dedes of armes on horsbak / Allas sayd Launcelot to kynge Bagdemagus / I wylle arme me / and hel¦pe syre Lamorak / and I wylle ryde with yow said kyng bag¦demagus / And whanne they two were horsed they came to sir Lamorak that stood amonge thyrity knyghtes / and wel was hym that myght retche hym a buffet / and euer he smote ageyn myghtely / Thenne came there in to the prees sir launcelot / and he threwe doune sir Mador de la porte / And with the trunche¦on of that spere he threwe doune many knyghtes / And kynge Bagdemagus smote on the lyfte hand and on the ryʒt hand merueylously wel / And thenne the thre kynges fledde abak There with all thenne sire Galahalt lete blowe to lodgynge / & alle the heroudes gaf sire Lamorak the pryce / ¶ And alle this whyle foughte Palomydes / •ire Bbeoberys / sire Safere / sir Ec¦tor on foot / neuer were there foure knyghtes euener matched / And thenne they were departed and had vnto their lodgyng and vnarmed hem / and soo they wente to the grete feeste / But whanne sire Lamorack was come in to the courte quene Gueneuer took hym in her armes and sayd syr wel haue ye done this daye / Thenne came the haute prynce and he maade of hym grete Ioye / and soo dyd Dynadan for he wepte for Ioye But the Ioye that sire Launcelot made of sir Lamorak there myghte no man telle / thenne they wente vnto rest / and on the morne the haute prynce lete blowe vnto the felde

¶Capitulum xlvj

HEre begynneth the fyfthe daye / soo hit befelle that syre Palomydes came in the morne tyde / and profered to Iuste there as kynge Arthur was in a Castel there be¦sydes Surluse / and there encountred with hym a worshipful duke / and there sire Palomydes smote hym ouer his hors cro∣upe / And this duke was vnkel vnto kynge Arthur / Thenne sire Elyses sone rode vnto Palomydes / and Palomydes ser∣ued Elyse in the same wys• / whanne sire Vwayne sawe thys Page  [unnumbered] he was wrothe / Thenne he took his hors / and encountred with syr Palomydes / and Palomydes smote hym soo hard / that he wente to the erthe hors and man / And for to make a short ta∣le / he smote doune thre bretheren of syre Gawayns / that is for to say Mordred Gaherys and Agrauayne / O Ihesu said Ar¦thur this is a grete despyte of a Sarasyn that he shalle smyte doune my blood / And there with alle kyng Arthur was wo∣ode wrothe / and thoughte to haue made hym redy to Iuste / That aspyed sire Lamorak that Arthur and his blood were discomfyte / And anone he was redy and axed Palomydes yf he wold ony more Iuste / why shold I not said Palomy∣des / Thenne they hurtled to gyders and brake their speres / and alle to sheuerd them / that alle the castel range of theyr dyn∣tys / Thenne eyther gate a gretter spere in his hand / and they came soo fyersly to gyders / but sir Palomydes spere all to brast and syre Lamorak dyd holde / there with alle sire Palomydes lost his steroppes and lay vp ryght on his horsbak / And thē∣ne sire Palomydes retorned ageyne and took his damoysel / and sir Safere retorned his way / Soo whan he was departed kynge Arthur came to syr Lamorak and thanked hym of his goodnes / and prayd hym to telle hym his name / Syr sayd Lamorak wete thow wel / I owe yow my seruyse / but as att this tyme I wylle not abyde here / for I see of myn enemyes many aboute me ¶ Allas sayd Arthur now wote I wel / it is syre Lamorak de galys / O Lamorak abyde with me / and by my croune I shalle neuer fayle the / and not soo hardy in Gawayns hede / nor none of his bretheren to doo the ony wronge / Syre said syre Lamorak wronge haue they done me and to yow bothe / That is trouth sayd the kyng for they slewe theyre owne moder and my syster / the whiche me sore greueth / It hadde ben moche fayrer and better that ye had wedded her / for ye are a kynges sone as wel as they ¶O Ihesu sayd the noble Knyght sire Lamorack vnto Ar∣thur her dethe shalle I neuer forgete / I promyse yow and ma¦ke myn auowe vnto god I shalle reuenge her dethe as soone as I see tyme conenable / And yf hit were not at the reuerence of your hyhenes / I shold now haue ben reuenged vpon syre Gawayn & his bretheren / truly said arthur I wil make you at Page  [unnumbered] acord / Syr said Lamorak as at this tyme I may not abyde with yow / for I muste to the Iustes / where is syre launcelot and the haute prynce syre Galahalt / Thenne there was a da∣moysel that was doughter to kynge Bandes / and there was a Sarasyn knyghte that hyghte Corsabryn / and he loued the damoysel / and in no wyse he wold suffre her to be maryed / for euer this Corsabryn noysed her and named her that she was oute of her mynde / and thus he lette her that she myght not be maryed

¶Capitulum xliiij

SOo by fortune this damoysel herd telle that Palomy∣des dyd moche for damoysels sake / soo she sent to hym a pensel / and prayd hym to fyghte with sire Corsabryn for her loue / and he shold haue her / and her landes of her fa∣ders that shold falle to her / Thenne the damoysel sente vnto cor¦sabryn and badde hym goo vnto sire Palomydes that was a paynym as wel as he / and she gaf hym warnyng that she had sente hym her pensel / and yf he myghte ouercome Palomydes she wold wedde hym / whanne Corsabryn wyste of her dedes / thenne was he wood wroth and angry / and rode vnto Sur∣luse where the haute prynce was / and there he fond sire Pa∣lomydes redy the whiche had the pensel / Soo there they waged batail either with other afore Galahalt / wel said the haute pr∣ynce / this daye muste noble knyghtes Iuste / and at after dy∣ner we shall see how ye can spede / Thenne they blewe to Iustes And in cam Dynadan / and mette with sir Geryn a good kn∣yght / and he threwe hym doune ouer his hors croupe / and sire Dynadan ouerthrewe four knyʒtes moo / and there he dyd gre∣te dedes of armes / for he was a good knyʒt / but he was a scof¦fer / and a Iaper and the meryest knyght among felauship that was that tyme lyuynge / And he hadde suche a customme that he loued euery good knyghte / and euery good knyght loued hym ageyne / ¶ Soo thenne whanne the haute prynce sawe Dynadan doo soo wel / he sente vnto syre la∣uncelot / and bad hym stryke doune syre Dynadan / And whan that ye haue done so brynge hym afore me and the noble quene Page  [unnumbered] Gueneuer / Thenne sir Launcelot dyd as he was requyred / Thenne sire Lamorak and he smote doune many knyghtes / & racyd of helmes / and drofe alle the knyghtes afore them And soo sire Launcelot smote doune sire Dynadan / and ma∣de his men to vnarme hym / and soo brought hym to the quene and the haute prynce and they lough at dynadan so sore that they myghte not stande / wel said sire Dynadan yet haue I no shame / for the old shrewe sire Launcelot smote me doune / So they wente to dyuer / alle the Courte had good sporte at Dy∣nadan ¶Thenne whanne the dyner was done / they blewe to the felde to beholde sire Palomydes and Corsabryn / Syre Palomydes pyght his pensell in myddes of the felde / & thēne they hurtled to gyders with their speres as it were thon¦der / and eyther smote other to the erthe / And thenne they pul¦led oute their swerdes / and dressid their sheldes / and lasshed to gyders myghtely as myghty knyʒtes / that wel nyghe there was no pyece of harneis wold hold them / for this Corsabryn was a passynge folonous knyghte / Corsabryn said Palomy∣des wylte thow releace me yonder damoysel / and the pensell / Thenne was Corsabryn wrothe oute of mesure / and gaf Palo¦mydes suche a buffet that he kneled on his knee /

¶ Thenne Palomydes arose lyghtely / and smote hym vpon the helme / that he felle doune ryʒt to the erthe / And ther with he racyd of his helme / and sayd Corsabryn yelde the or ellys thou shalt dye of my handes / Fy on the said Corsabryn / doo thy werst / thenne he smote of his hede / And there with all cam a stynke of his body whan the soule departed / that there myʒt no body abyde the sauoure / Soo was the corps hadde aweye and buryed in a wood by cause he was a paynym /

¶Thenne they blewe vnto lodgynge / and Palomydes was vnarmed ¶Thenne he wente vnto Quene Gue∣neuer / to the haute prynce / and to syre launcelot / ¶Syre sayd the haute prynce / here haue ye sene this day a grete myrakel by Corsabryn / what sauour there was whanne the soule departed from the body / There for syre we wylle requyre yow to take the baptym vpon yow / and I promyse yow alle knyghtes wyll sette the more by yow / and say more worship by yow

¶Syre said Palomydes I wille that ye alle knowe / that in Page  [unnumbered] to this land I came to be crystened / and in my herte I am crystened / and crystend wille I be / ¶ But I haue made suche an auowe that I maye not be crystend tyl I haue done seuen true batails for Ihesus sake / And thenne wil I be crystend / And I truste god wylle take myn entent for I meane truly / Thenne sire Palomydes prayed Quene Gue∣neuer and the haute prynce to soupe with hym / And soo they dyd bothe sire Launcelot and sire Lamorak / and many other good knyghtes / Soo on the morne they herd their masse / and blewe the felde / and thenne knyghtes made them redy /

¶Capitulum xlviij

HEre begynneth the syxthe day / Thenne came therin syr Gaherys / and there encountred with hym syre Ossaise of Surluse / and sir Gaherys smote hym ouer his hors croupe / And thenne eyther party encountred with other / and there were many speres broken / and many knyghtes cas• vn∣der feete / ¶Soo there came in sir Dornard and sir Aglouale that were bretheren vnto sire Lamorak / and they mette with o∣ther two knyghtes / and eyther smote other soo hard that all four knyghtes and horses felle to the erthe / whan sire Lamo∣rak sawe his two bretheren doune / he was wrothe oute of me∣sure / And thenne he gat a grete spere in his hand / and there with alle he smote doune four good knyʒtes / and thenne his spere brake / Thenne he pulled oute his suerd / and smote abo∣ute hym on the ryght hand and on the lyfte hand / and ra∣cyd of helmes and pulled doune knyghtes that alle men mer¦ueylled of suche dedes of armes as he dyd / for he ferd so that many knyghtes fledde / Thenne he horsed his bretheren ageyne and sayd bretheren ye oughte to be ashamed to falle so of yo∣ur horses / what is a Knyght but whan he is on horsbak / I sett not by a knyght whanne he is on foote / for all batails on fo∣te ar but pelowres batails / For there shold no Knyghte fygh¦te on foote / but yf hit were for treason / or els he were dryuen therto by force / therfore bretheren sytte faste on your horses or els fyghte neuer more afore me / with that cam in the duke Page  [unnumbered] Chaleyns of Claraunce / and there encountred with hym the Erle Vlbawes of Surluse / and eyther of hem smote other do∣une / Thenne the knyghtes of bothe partyes horsed their lordes ageyne / for syr Ector and Bleoberys were on foote wayty∣nge on the duke Chaleyns / And the kynge with the honderd knyghtes was with the erle of Vlbawes / with that came Ga¦herys / and lasshed to the Kynge with the honderd Knyghtes and he to hym ageyne / Thenne came the Duke Chaleyns / and departed them / thenne they blewe to lodgynge / and the knyʒ∣tes vnarmed them and drewe them to their dyner / and atte myddes of their dyner in came Dynadan and beganne to ray∣le / Thenne he beheld the haute prynce that semed wrothe with somme faute that he sawe / for he hadde a customme he loued no fysshe / and by cause he was serued with fysshe / the whiche he hated therfore he was not mery / whan sir Dynadan had aspy¦ed the haute prynce / he aspyed where was a fyss•• with a gre¦te hede / and that he gatte betwixe two dysshes / and serued the haute prynce with that fysshe / And thenne he said thus / sir ga¦lahalt wel may I lyken yow to a wolf / for he wille neuer ete fysshe but flesshe / thenne the haute prynce lough at his wordes wel wel said Dynadan to launcelot / what deuylle doo ye in this Countrey / for here may no meane knyʒtes wynne no wor∣ship for the / sir Dynadan said Laūcelot I ensure the I shalle no more mete with the nor with thy grete spere / for I maye not sytte in my sadel when that spere hyttyth me / And yf I be happy I shalle beware of that boystous body that thow be∣rest / wel said launcelot make good watche euer / god forbe∣de that euer we mete but yf hit be at a dysshe of mete / Thenne lough the Quene and the haute prynce / that they myghte not sytte at their table / thus they made grete Ioye tyl on the morn And thenne they herd masse / and blewe to felde / And quene Gueneuer and all the estates were set and Iuges armed cle∣ne with their sheldes to kepe the ryghte

¶Capitulum xlix

Page  [unnumbered]NOw begynneth the seuenth bataill / there cam in the du∣ke Cambynes / and there encountred with hym syr A¦rystaunce that was counted a good knyghte / & they mette soo hard that eyther bare other doune hors and man ¶Thenne came there the Erle of lambayle and helped the du∣ke ageyne to hors / Thenne came there syr Ossayse of Surluse / and he smote the erle Lambayle doune from his hors / Thenne beganne they to doo grete dedes of armes / and many speres we¦re broken / and many knyghtes were caste to the erthe

¶Thenne the kynge of Northgalys and the Erle Vlbawes smote to gyders that alle the Iuges thought it was lyke mor¦tal dethe / This meane whyle quene Gueneuer and the haute prynce and syr laūcelot made there syre Dynadan make hym redy to Iuste / I wold said Dynadan ryde in to the felde / but thenne one one of yow tweyne wille mete with me / Per dieu sayd the haute prynce ye maye see hou we sytte here as Iuges with oure sheldes / and alweyes mayst thow beholde whether we sytte here or not / Soo syr Dynadan departed and tooke his hors and mette with many knyghtes / and dyd passynge wel / And as he was departed / syre Launcelot desguysed hym self / and putte vpon his armour a maydens garment fresshe∣ly attyered / Thenne sire Launcelot made sire Galyhodyn to le¦de hym thorugh the raunge / and alle men had wonder what damoysel it was / And soo as sire Dynadan came in to the raunge / sire Launcelot that was in the damoysels araye gatte Galyhodyns spere and ranne vnto sir Dynadan / And alwa∣yes sire Dynadan loked vp there as syre Launcelot was / and thenne he sawe one sytte in the stede of sire Launcelot armed / But whanne Dynadan sawe a maner of a damoysel he drad peryls that it was syre launcelot desguysed / but syre Launce¦lot came on hym so fast that he smote hym ouer his hors cro∣upe / and thenne grete scornes gate sire Dynadan in to the forest there besyde / & there they dispoylled hym vnto his sherte and putte vpon hym a womans garment / and so brought hym in to the felde / and soo they blewe vnto lodgynge / And euery knyght wente and vnarmed them / thenne was sir Dynadan brought in among them alle / And whanne Quene Gueneuer sawe sir Dynadan brought soo amonge them alle / thenne she Page  [unnumbered] lough that she fylle doune / and soo dyd alle that there were / wel sayd Dynadan to launcelot thow arte soo fals that I can neuer beware of the / Thenne by alle the assente they gaf syre Launcelot the pryce / the next was sire Lamorak de galys / the thyrd was sir Palomydes / the fourthe was kynge Bagdema¦gus / soo these four Knyghtes had the pryce / and there was grete Ioye / and grete nobley in alle the Courte / And on the morne Quene Gueneuer and sir Launcelot departed vnto ky∣nge Arthur / but in noo wyse syr Lamorak wold not go with them I shalle vndertake said sire launcelot that and ye wyll goo with vs / kynge Arthur shalle charge syre Gawayne and his bretheren / neuer to doo yow hurte / As for that sayd syre Lamorak I wylle not truste sire Gawayne nor none of his bretheren / and wete ye wel sir Launcelot / and hit were not for my lord Kynge Arthurs sake / I shold matche sire Gawayn and his bretheren wel ynouʒ / But to say that I shold trus∣te them / that shal I neuer / and therfor I pray you recomma∣unde me vnto my lord Arthur and vnto alle my lordes of the round table / And in what place that euer I come I shal do you seruyse to my power / and syr it is but late that I reuen¦gyd that whan my lord Arthurs kynne were put to the werse by sire Palomydes / Thenne sir Lamorak departed from sir laū∣celot / and eyther wepte at their departynge

¶ Capitulum l

NOw torne we fro this mater / and speke we of sir tris¦tram of whome this booke is pryncipal of / and leue we the kynge and the quene / syr Launcelot / and syre Lamorak / and here begynneth the treason of kynge Mark that he ordeyned ageynst syr Tristram / There was cryed by the cos¦tes of Cornewaile a grete turnement and Iustes / and al was done by sir Galahalt the haut prynce / and kynge Bagdema∣gus to the entent to slee Launcelot or els vtterly destroye hym and shame hym / by cause sir launcelot had alweyes the hyher degree / therfore this prynce and this kynge made this Iustes ageynst sire Launcelot / And thus her coūceyll was discouerd Page  [unnumbered] vnto Kynge Marke wherof he was ful gladde / Thenne Kyng Marke bethoughte hym that he wold haue syre Tristram vnto that turnement desguysed that no man shold knowe hym / to that entente that the haute prynce shold wene that sir Tristram were syre launcelot / Soo at thise Iustes came in syr Tristram / And at that tyme sire launcelot was not there / but whan they sawe a Knyʒt desguysed doo suche dedes of armes / they wende hit had ben sir launcelot / And in especyal Kynge Mark sayd hit was syre launcelot playnly / Thenne they sette vpon hym bothe Kynge Bagdemagus and the haute prynce and theyre Knyghtes that hit was wonder that euer sire Tristram myght endure that payne / Not withstandynge for alle the payne that he had syr Tristram wanne the degree at that turnement / and there he hurte many Knyʒtes and brysed them / and they hurte hym and brysed hym wonderly sore / ¶ So whanne the Iustes were alle done / they knewe wel that hit was sire Tristram de Lyones / and all that were on Kyng markes party were glad that sir Tristram was hurte / and the remenaunt were sory of his hurte / for syre Tristram was not soo behated as was syre Launcelot within the Reame of Englond / Thenne came Kyng Marke vnto syre Tristram / and sayd fayre neuewe I am so∣ry of your hurtes / Gramercy my lord said syre Tristram /

¶Thenne Kynge Marke made sir Tristram to be putte in an hors bere in grete sygne of loue / and said fayre cosyn I shalle be your leche my self / and soo he rode forthe with sire Tristram and brought hym to a Castel by day lyghte / And thenne Ky∣nge Mark made syre Tristram to ete / And thenne after he gaf hym a drynke / the whiche as soone as he •ad dronke / he fell on slepe / And whanne it was nyghte he made hym to be caryed to another castel / and there he putte hym in a stronge pryson / & there he ordeyned a man and a woman to gyue hym his mete and drynke / Soo there he was a grete whyle / thenne was syr Tristram myssed / and no creature wyst where he was become when la beale Isoud herd hou he was myssed pryuely she went vnto sir Sadok & praid hym to aspye where was sir Tristram Thenne when Sadok wyst hou sir tristram was myssed & anon aspyed that he was put in pryson by kyny mark & the traito∣urs of Magōs / thēne sadok & two of his cosyns leid them in an Page  [unnumbered] enbusshement fast by the castel of Tyntagyl in armes / And as by fortune there came rydynge Kynge Marke and foure of his neuewes / and a certayn of the traytours of Magouns whanne sir Sadok aspyed them / he brake oute of the busshe∣ment / and sette there vpon them / And whan kynge Mark as¦pyed sire Sadok / he fledde as fast as he myghte / and there sir Sadok slewe alle the four neuewes vnto Kynge Marke / But these traitours of Magons slewe one of Sadoks cosyns a grete wound in the neck / but Sadok smote the other to the dethe / Thenne sir Sadok rode vpon his way vnto a Castel that was called Lyonas / and there he aspyed of the treason and fe¦lony of kynge Marke / Soo they of that castel rode with syre Sadok tyl that they came to a Castel that hyghte Arbray / & there in the toune they fond syre Dynas the Seneschal / that was a good Knyght / But whan sire Sadok had told syre Dynas of alle the treason of Kynge Marke / he defyed suche a Kynge / and sayd he wold gyue vp his landes that he held of hym / And whanne he said these wordes alle manere Knygh∣tes sayd as syre Dynas said / Thenne by his aduys and of sire Sadoks he lete stuffe alle the townes and Castels within the Countrey of Lyones and assembled all the peple that they myght make

¶Capitulum lj

NOw torne we vnto Kynge Marke that whan he was escaped from sir Sadok / he rode vnto the Cas•el of Tyn¦tagyl / and there he made grete crye and noyse / & cry∣ed vnto harneis alle that myghte bere armes / Thenne they so∣ught and fond where were dede four cosyns of kyng Markes and the traytour of Magouns / Thenne the kynge lete entyere them in a chappel / thenne the kynge lete crye in alle the coun∣trey that helde of hym to goo vnto armes / for he vnderstood to the werre he must nedes / Whanne Kynge Marke herde and vnderstood how syre Sadok and sir Dynas were arysen in the Countrey of Lyones / he remembryd of wyles and treason / Lo thus he dyd / he lete make and counterfete letters from the pope Page  [unnumbered] and dyd make a straung clerke to bere them vnto kyng ma∣rk / the whiche letters specyfyed that kynge Marke shold ma¦ke hym redy vpon payne of cursyng with his hoost to come to the pope to helpe to goo to Iherusalem for to make warre vp¦on the Sarasyns / whan this clerk was come by the meane of the Kynge / anone with alle kyng marke sente these letters vn¦to sire Tristram and badde hym saye thus / that and he wold goo werre vpon the mescreauntes / he shold be had oute of pry¦son / and to haue alle his power / whanne sire Tristram vnder∣stood this letter / thenne he sayd thus to the Clerke / A kynge Marke euer hast thou ben a traytour / and euer wylle be / but Clerke said sire Tristram Say thou thus vnto Kynge marke Syn the Appostle pope hath sente for hym / bydde hym goo thy∣der hym self / for telle hym traitour Kynge as he / is I wylle not goo at his commaūdement / gete I oute of pryson as I may for I see I am wel rewarded for my true seruyse / Thenne the Clerke retorned vnto kynge Marke and told hym of the ansuer of sire Tristram / wel sayd Kynge marke yet shal he be begyled / Soo he wente in to his chamber and counterfete let¦ters / and the letters specyfyed that the pope desyred sire Tri∣stram to come hym self to made werre vpon the mescreauntes whan the Clerke was come ageyne to sir Tristram and tooke hym these letters / thenne sire Tristram behelde these letters / & anone he aspyed they were of kynge Markes counterfetynge A said syre Tristram fals hast thow ben euer kynge Marke / and soo wolt thou ende / Thenne the Clerke departed from sire Tristram and came to kynge Marke ageyne / By thenne there were come four wounded knyghtes within the castel of Tyn∣tagil / and one of them his neck was nyghe broken in tweyn Another had his arme stryken awey / the thyrdde was borne thurgh with a spere / the fourth had his t•eth stryken in tweyn And whanne they came afore kynge Marke they cryed and sayd / kynge / why fleest thow not for alle this countrey is a∣rysen clerely ageynst the / thenne was kynge Marke wrothe oute of mesure / and in the meane whyle there came in to the countrey sire Percyuale de galys to seke sire Tristram / And whan he herd that syre Tristram was in pryson / syr Percyual Page  [unnumbered] made clerely the delyueraunce of sir Tristram by his knyghtly meanes / And whan he was soo delyuerd / he made grete Ioye of syre Percyuale / and soo echone of other / Syr Tristram sa∣yd vnto sire Percyuale / and ye wille abyde in these marches I wylle ryde with yow / Nay said Percyuale in this countrey I maye not tary / for I muste nedes in to walys / ¶Soo syre Percyuale departed from sire Tristram / and rode streyghte vn¦to Kynge Marke / and told hym how he had delyuerd syre Tristram / and also he told the kyng that he had done hym self grete shame for to putte sir Tristram in pryson / For he is now the knyght of moost renomme in this world lyuynge

And wete thow wel the noblest knyghtes of the worlde loue syr Tristram / and yf he wille make werre vpon yow / ye maye not abyde hit / That is trouthe said kynge Marke / but I may not loue sire Tristram by cause he loueth my Quene and my wyf la beale Isoud / A fy for shame said syr Percyuole say ye neuer so more / Are ye not vnkel vnto sir Tristram / and he your neuewe / ye shold neuer thynke that soo noble a Knyghte as sire Tristram is that he wold doo hym self soo grete a vy∣lony to holde his vnkels wyf / how be it said syr Percyuale he may loue your Quene synles by cause she is called one of the fayrest ladyes of the world / Thenne syr Percyuale departed from Kynge Marke / Soo whan he was departed Kyng Mark bethought hym of more treson / Not withstādyng kyng mark graunted syre Percyuale neuer by no manere of meanes to hurte sire Tristram / Soo anone Kynge Marke sente vnto syre Dynas the Seneschal that he shold putte doune alle the peple that he had reysed / for he sente hym an othe that he wold goo hym self vnto the pope of Rome to warre vpon the mescreaun∣tes / and this is a fayrer werre than thus to areyse the peple / ageynst youre kynge / whanne sir Dynas vnderstood that ky∣nge marke wold goo vpon the mescreauntes / thenne sire Dy∣nas in alle the hast putte doune alle the peple / and whan the peple were departed euery man to his home / thēne Kyng mark aspyed where was sire Tristram with la Beale Isoud / and there by treason Kynge Marke lete take hym and put hym in pryson contrary to his promyse that he made vnto syre Percy∣uale / whan Quene Isoud vnderstood that syr Tristram was Page  [unnumbered] in pryson / she made as grete sorowe as euer made lady or gen∣tylwoman / Thenne sire Tristram sent a letter vnto la Beale Isoud and praid her to be his good lady / and yf hit pleased her to make a vessel redy for her and hym / he wold goo with her vnto the reame of Logrys that is this land / ¶whanne la beale Isoud vnderstood syre Tristrams letters and his entent she sente hym another / and badde hym be of good comforte / for she wold doo make the vessel redy and alle thynge to purpos ¶Thenne la beale Isoud sente vnto syre Dynas and to sadok and prayd hem in ony wyse to take Kynge Marke / and put hym in pryson vnto the tyme that she and syre Tristram were departed vnto the Royamme of Logrys / whan sir Dynas the Seneschall vnderstood the treason of Kynge Marke / he promy¦sed her ageyne and sente her word that Kynge Marke shold be put in pryson / And as they deuysed hit soo it was done / And thenne syre Tristram was delyuerd oute of pryson / and anone in alle the haste Quene Isoud and syr Tristram went and took their counceyll with that they wold haue with them whan they departed

¶Capitulum lij

THenne la Beale Isoud and sire Tristram took their vessel / and came by water in to this land / and so they were not in this land four dayes / but there came a crye of a Iustes and turnement that Kynge Arthur lete make / whanne sire Tristram herd telle of that turnement he desguysed hym self / and la Beale Isoud / and rode vnto that turnement And whan he came there he sawe many Knyghtes Iuste and turneye / and so syr Tristram dressid hym to the raunge / and to make short conclusion / he ouerthrewe fourten Knyghtes of the round table / whanne sir Launcelot sawe these Knyghtes thus ouerthrowen / sire launcelot dressid hym to sir Tristram / That sawe la Beale Isoud how sire launcelot was come in to the felde / ¶Thenne la Beale Isoud sente vnto sire Launcelot a rynge / and badde hym wete that it was sir Tristram de lyones whanne sir launcelot vnderstood that there was syre Tristram he was ful gladde / and wold not Iuste / thēne sire Launcelot Page  [unnumbered] aspyed whyder syre Tristram yede / and after hym he rode / and thenne eyther made of other grete Ioye / And soo sire Launce¦lot broughte sire Tristram and la beale Isoud vnto Ioyous gard that was his owne Castel that he had wonne with his owne handes / And there sire Launcelot put them in to welde for their owne / And wete ye wel that Castel was garnysshed and furnysshed for a Kynge and a quene Royal there to ha¦ue soiourned / and syre Launcelot charged alle his people to honoure them and loue them as they wold doo hym self / ¶Soo sire launcelot departed vnto kynge Arthur / and then∣ne he told Quene Gueneuer how he that Iusted soo wel atte last turnement was sire Tristram / and there he told her how he hadde with hym la beale Isoud maulgre kynge Marke / & soo Quene Gueneuer told alle this vnto kynge Arthur / ¶whanne kynge Arthur wyste that sire Tristram was esca¦ped and comen from kynge Marke / and bad broughte la be∣ale Isoud with hym / thenne was he passynge gladde / So by ••use of sire Tristram kynge Arthur lete make a crye / that on may day shold be a Iustes before the castel of Lonazep / And that Castel was fast by Ioyous gard / And thus Arthur deuysed that alle the knyghtes of this land and of Corne∣waile and of Northwalys shold Iuste ageynste alle these co∣untreyes / Irland / Scotland / and the remenaunt of walys & the countrey of Gore and Surluse and of Lystynoyse / & they of Northumberland and alle they that helde landes of arthur a this half the see / whanne this crye was made / many knygh∣tes were gladde and many were vngladde / ¶ Syre said laū¦celot vnto Arthur by this crye that ye haue made ye wyll put vs that ben aboute yow in grete Ieopardy / for there be many Knyghtes that haue grete enuye to vs / therfore when we shal mete at the daye of Iustes there wille be hard skyfte amonge vs / As for that said Arthur I care not / there shal we preue who shal be best of his handes / Soo whan sir launcelot vnder∣stode wherfore kynge Arthur made this Iustyng thēne he ma¦de suche purueaunce that la beale Isoud shold behold the Ius∣tes in a secrete place that was honest for her estate /

¶Now torne we vnto sire Tristram and to la beale Isoud / how they maade grete Ioye dayly to gyders with alle manere Page  [unnumbered] of myrthes that they coud deuyse / and euery day sir Tristram wold goo ryde on huntyng• / for sire Tristram was that tyme called the best chacer of the world / and the noblest blower of an horne of alle manere of mesures / for as bookes reporte / of syre Tristram came alle the good termes of venery and of hū¦tynge and alle the syses and mesures of blowynge of an hor∣ne / and of hym we had fyrste alle the termes of haukyng / & whiche were beestes of chace and beestes of venery / and whi∣che were vermyns / and alle the blastes that longen to all ma∣ner of gamen / Fyrste to the vncoupelynge / to the sekynge / to the rechate / to the flyghte / to the dethe / and to strake / and ma∣ny other blastes and termes / that all maner of gentylmen ha∣ue cause to the Worldes ende to preyse sir Tristram and to praye for his soule

¶Capitulum liij

SOo on a daye la beale Isoud sayd vnto sir Tristram I merueyle me moche said she / that ye remembre not your self how ye be here in a straunge countrey and here be ma∣ny peryllous knyghtes / and wel ye wote that kyng Marke is ful of treason / and that ye wylle ryde thus to chace and to to hunte vnarmed ye myghte be destroyed / ¶ My fayr lady and my loue I crye you mercy I wille no more doo soo Soo thenne sire Tristram rode dayly on huntynge armed and hi• men berynge his shelde and his spere / Soo on a day a ly∣tyl afore the monethe of may syre Tristram chaced an hert pas¦synge egerly / and soo the herte passed by a fayr welle / And thenne sir Tristram alyghte and putte of his helme to drynke of that burbley water / Ryght soo he herd and sawe the quest∣ynge beest come to the welle / whan syre Tristram sawe that be∣ste / he putte on his helme for he demed he shold here of sir Pa∣lomydes / for that beste was his quest / ¶Ryght so sir Tristram sawe where came a knyghte armed vpon a noble courser / and he salewed hym / and they spake of many thynges / and thys knyghtes name was Breuse saunce pyte / and ryght so with alle there came vnto them the noble knyghte sire Palomydes / and eyther sal•wed other / and spake fair to other Page  [unnumbered] Fair knyghtes said sir Palomydes I canne telle yow tydyn∣ges / what is that said tho knyghtes / Syrs wete ye wel that Kynge Marke is put in pryson by his owne knyghtes / and alle was for loue of sire Tristram / for kynge Marke hadde put syre Tristram twyes in pryson / And ones sire Percyuale de∣lyuerd the noble knyghte sire Tristram oute of pryson

¶And at the laste tyme Quene La beale Isoud delyuerd hym / and wente cleryly aweye with hym in to this reame / & alle this whyle kynge Marke the fals traytour is in pryson / Is this trouthe said Palomydes / Thenne shall we hastely he∣re of sire Tristram / And as for to say that I loue la Beale Isoud peramours I dare make good that I doo / and that she hath my seruyse aboue alle other ladyes / and shalle haue the terme of my lyf / And ryght soo as they stood talkynge / they sawe afore them where came a Knyghte alle armed on a grete hors / and one of his men bare his sheld / and the other his speres / And anone as that Knyght aspyed them he gatte his shelde and his spere / and dressid hym to Iuste

¶Fair felawes said sire Tristram yonder is a Knyghte wil Iuste with vs / lete see whiche of vs shalle encountre with hym for I see wel he is of the courte of Kynge Arthur

¶It shalle not be longe or he be mette with alle said sire Pa∣lomydes / for I fonde neuer noo knyght in my queste of this Glastynge beest / but and he wold Iuste I neuer refused hym ¶As wel may I said Breuse saunce pyte folowe that beest as ye / Thenne shalle ye doo bataille with me said Palomydes / Soo syre Palomydes dressid hym vnto that other Knyghte syre Bleoberys that was a ful noble Knyghte nyghe kynne vnto sire Launcelot / And soo they mette soo hard / that syre Palomydes felle to the erthe hors and alle /

Thenne sir Bleoberis cryed a lowde and said thus / make the redy thou fals traytour knyghte Breuse saun•e pyte / for wete thow certaynly I wille haue adoo with the to the vtteraunce for the noble knyghtes and ladyes that thou hast falsly bi∣traid ¶Whanne this false knyght and traitour Breuse saunce pyte herde hym saye soo / he took his hors by the brydel and fledde his waye as faste as euer his hors myghte renne / for sore he was of hym aferd / ¶ Whan syr Bleoberys Page  [unnumbered] sawe hym flee he folowed faste after thorugh thycke and tho∣rugh thynne / And by fortune as sir Breuse fledde / he sawe euen afore hym thre knyghtes of the table round / of the whi∣che tho one hyghte sire Ector de marys / the other hyghte syre Percyuale de galys / the thyrdde hyghte sir Harre de fyse lake a good knyght and an hardy / And as for syr Percyuale he was called that tyme of his tyme one of the best knyghtes of the world and the best assured / when Breuse sawe these kny∣ghtes he rode streyghte vnto them and cryed vnto them & pra∣yd them of res•owes / what nede haue ye said sire Ector / A fayr knyghtes saide syre Breuse here foloweth me the moost traytour knyght and moost coward and moost of vylony / his name is Breuse saunce pyte / and yf he may gete me he wylle slee me withoute mercy and pyte / Abyde with vs said sir per¦cyuale and we shalle waraunt yow / Thenne were they ware of syre Bleoberys that came rydynge alle that he myghte / Thenne sir Ector put hym self forth to Iuste afore them alle / when sire Bleoberis sawe that they were four knyghtes / and he but hym self / he stode in a doubte / whether he wold torne or hold his waye / Thenne he said to hym self I am a knyght of the table round / and rather than I shold shame myn othe & my blood I wille hold my way what soo euer falle therof / And thenne sire Ector dressid his spere and smote either other pas¦synge sore / but sire Ector felle to the erthe / That sawe sir Per¦cyuale and he dressid his hors toward hym all that he myghte dryue / but sir Percyuale had suche a stroke that hors and man felle to the erth / ¶Whanne sir Harre sawe that they were bothe to the erthe / thenne he said to hym self / neuer was Breuse of suche prowesse / Soo sire Harre dressid his hors / & they mette to gyders soo strōngly that bothe the horses and kn∣yghtes felle to the erthe / but sire Bleoberis hors beganne to re¦couer ageyne / That sawe sire Breuse and he came hurtlyng / & smote hym ouer and ouer and wolde haue slayne hym as he lay on the ground / Thenne syr Harre le fys• lake arose lyghte∣ly and toke the brydel of sir Breuse hors and said / ¶Fy for shame stryke neuer a Knyght when he is at the erthe / for this Knyght may be called no shameful knyghte of his dedes / for yet as men may see there as he lyeth on the groūd he hath done Page  [unnumbered] worshipfully / and putte to the werse passynge good knyghtes Therfore wylle I not lete saide sire Breuse / thow shalte not chese said syr Harre as at this tyme / Thenne whanne sir Br∣use sawe that he myghte not chese nor haue his wylle / he spak fayre / Thenne syre Harre lete hym goo / And thenne anone he made his hors to renne ouer syre Bleoberys / and rasshed hym to the erthe lyke yf he wold haue slayne hym / Whanne syre Harre sawe hym doo so vyloynsly / he cryed traytour knyʒt le∣ue of for shame / and as sir Harre wold haue taken his hors to fyghte with sir breuse / thenne sir Breuse ranne vpon hym as he was half vpon his hors and smote hym doune hors & man to the erthe / and had nere slayne syr Harre the good kn∣yght / That sawe sire Percyuale / and thenne he cryed traitour knyghte what dost thou / And whan sire Percyuale was vpon his hors / syr Breuse tooke his hors and fledde all that euer he myght / and syre Percyuale and syre Harre folowed after hym fast / but euer the lenger they chaced the ferther were they behynde / Thenne they torned ageyne and came to syr Ector de marys and to syre Bleoberys / A fayr knyghtes said Bleo∣berys why haue ye socoured that fals knyght & traitour / why said sire Harre what knyght is he / for wel I wote hit is a fals knyght said sir Harre and a coward and a felonous kn∣yght / Syr sayd Bleoberys he is the moost coward knyghte / and a deuourer of ladyes and a destroyer of good Knyghtes and specyally of Arthurs / what is your name saide sir Ector my name is Syr bleoberys de ganys / Allas fair cosyn sayde Ector / forgyue it me / for I am sir Ector de marys / thenne syre Percyuale and sire Harre made grete ioye that they met with bleoberys / but alle they w•re heuy that syr breuse was esca∣ped them wherof they made grete dole

¶ Capitulum liiij

RYght soo as they stood thus / there came sir Palomydes And whanne he sawe the shelde of bleoberys lye on the erthe / ¶Thenne said Palomydes he that oweth Page  [unnumbered] that sheld / lete hym dresse hym to me / for he smote me doune he∣re fast by at a fontayne / and therfore I wylle fyghte for hym on foote / I am redy said Bleoberys here to ansuer the / for we¦te thow wel syr knyʒt it was I / and my name is Bleoberys de ganys / wel arte thou met saide Palomydes / and wete thow wel my name is Palomydes the sarasyn / and eyther of them hated other to the dethe / ¶Syre Palomydes sayd Ector were thow wel there is neyther thow nor none knyght that bereth the lyf that sleeth ony of oure blood / but he shalle dye for hit / ther¦for and thow lyste to fyghte goo seche sire laūcelot or sir Tris∣tram and there shalle ye fynde your matche / with hem haue I mette said Palomydes / but I had neuer no worship of them / was there neuer no maner of knyghte said sire Ector but they that euer matched with yow / yes sayd Palomydes / there was the thyrdde a good knyght as ony of them / and of his age he was the best that euer I fond / for and he myghte haue lyued tyl he had ben an hardyer man / there lyueth no knyghte now suche / and his name was syre Lamorak de galys / And as he had Iusted at a turnement / there he ouerthrewe me / and xxx knyghtes moo / and there he wanne the degree / And at his de¦partynge there mette hym syre Gawayne and his bretheren / & with grete payne they slewe hym felonsly vnto alle good kny∣ghtes grete domage / Anone as sir Percyuale herd that his broder was dede syr Lamorak / he felle ouer his hors mane sw∣ounynge / and there he made the grettest dole that euer maade knyghte / ¶And whan syr Percyuale aroos / he said / Allas my good and noble broder syre Lamorak / now shalle we ne∣uer mete / and I trowe in alle the wyde world a man maye not fynde suche a knyght as he was of his age / and hit is to moche to suffre the dethe of our fader kynge Pellenore / & now the dethe of our good broder sir Lamorak / Thenne in the me∣ane wyhle there came a varlet from the court of kyng Arthur and told them of the grete turnement that shold be at Lona∣zep / and how these landes Cornewail / & Northgalys shold be ageynst alle them that wold come

¶Capitulum lv

Page  [unnumbered]NOw torne we vnto sir Tristram that as he rode on hun¦tynge / he mette with sire Dynadan that was comen in¦to that countrey to seke syre Tristram / Thenne sire Dy∣nadan told sire Tristram his name / but sire Tristram wold not telle hym his name / wherfore syr Dynadan was wrothe / For suche a foolysshe knyghte as ye are said sire Dynadan I sawe but late this day lyenge by a welle / and he fared as he slepte / and there he lay lyke a foole grymmynge and wold not speke / and his shelde lay by hym / and his hors stode by hym / and wel I wote he was a louer / A fayr syr said syre Tristram are ye not a louer / mary fy on that crafte said sir dy¦nadan / that is euylle said said sire Tristram / for a knyʒt maye neuer be of prowesse / but yf he be a louer / it is wel said said sir Dynadan / Now telle me your name syth ye be a louer / or els I shalle doo bataille with yow / As for that said sir Tristram hit is no reason to fyghte with me / but I telle yow my name And as for that my name shalle ye not wete as at this tyme Fy for shame said Dynadan arte thow a knyghte and darste not telle thy name to me / therfore I wil fyghte with the / As for that said sir Tristram I wylle be aduysed / for I wil not doo batail / but yf me lyst / And yf I doo batail said sire Trist∣ram ye are not able to withstande me / Fy on the coward sayd syre Dynadan / and thus as they houed styl they sawe a kn∣yght came rydyng ageynst them / Lo said sir Tristram see whe∣re cometh a knyght rydynge wyll Iuste with you / Anon as sir Dynadan beheld hym he said that is the same doted knyʒt that I sawe lye by the welle neither slepyng ne wakyng / wel sa∣yde sire Tristram I knowe that knyght wel with the couerd shelde of asure / he is the kynges sone of Northumberland / his name is Epynegrys / and he is as grete a louer as I knowe / and he loueth the kynges doughter of walys a ful fayre lady And now I suppose said sire Tristram / and ye requyre hym / he wille Iuste with yow / and thenne shalle ye preue whether a lo¦uer be a better knyghte or ye that wylle not loue no lady / wel said Dynadan now shalt thou see what I shall do / There with alle sire Dynadan spake on hyghe and said sir knyghte make the redy to Iuste with me / for it is the custome of erraūt knyʒ∣tes one to Iuste with other / Sir said Epynegrys is y^t the rule Page  [unnumbered] of yow arraunt knyghtes for to make a knyght to Iuste will he or nyll / / As for that sayd Dynadan make the redy / for here is for me / And there with al they spored theyr horses & mett to gyders soo hard that Epynegrys smote doune sir Dynadan Thenne sir Tristram rode to sire Dynadan and sayd how now me semeth the louer hath wel spedde / Fy on the Coward sayd syre Dynadan / and yf thow be a good Knyghte reuenge me / Nay said syr Tristram I wylle not Iuste as at this tyme / but take your hors and lete vs goo hens / God defende me sa∣yd syre Dynadan from thy felaushyp / For I neuer sped wel syn I mette with the / and soo they departed / wel sayd sir tris¦tram / peraduenture I coude telle yow tydynges of sir tristram God defende me said Dynadan from thy felaushyp / for sir tris¦tram were mykel the werse / and he were in thy company / and thenne they departed / Syre said sir Tristram yet it may hap∣pen I shal mete with you in other places / so rode syr Tristram vnto Ioyous gard / and there he herd in that toune grete no∣yse and crye / what is this noyse said sire Tristram / Syre sayd they here is a knyght of this castel that hath ben longe among vs / and ryght now he is slayne with two knyghtes / And for none other cause / but that oure knyghte sayd that sir Laū¦celot were a better Knyght than syre Gawayne / that was a symple cause said sir Tristram for to slee a good knyght for to saye wel by his mayster / That is lytel remedy to vs sayde the men of the toune / For and sire Launcelot had ben here / soone we shold haue ben reuenged vpon the fals knyghtes / whan syre Tristram herd them saye soo / he sente for his shelde / & for his spere / and lyghtly within a whyle he had ouertake them / and badde them torne and amende that they had mysdone / What amendes woldest thow haue sayd the one Knyghte / & therwith they tooke theyr cours / and eyther mette other so hard that syr Tristram smote doune that knyghte ouer his hors ta∣yle / Thenne the other knyght dressid hym to syr Tristram / and in the same wyse he serued the other knyghte / ¶And thenne they gate of their horses as wel as they myghte and dressyd their sheldes and swerdes to do their bataile to the vtteraunce Knyghtes said sire Tristram ye shalle telle me of whens ye ar and what be youre names / for suche men ye myʒte be ye shold Page  [unnumbered] hard escape my handes / and ye myghte be suche men of suche a countre / that for alle your euylle dedes ye shold passe quyte / wete thow wel syre Knyghte sayde they we feare not to telle the oure names / for my name is syr Agrauayne / and my na¦me is Gaherys bretheren vnto the good Knyghte sire Gawa∣yne / and we be neuewes vnto kyng Arthur / wel sayd sir tris¦tram for Kynge Arthurs sake I shalle lete yow passe as att this tyme / But hit is shame said sire Tristram that sire Ga∣wayne and ye be comen of soo grete a blood that ye foure bre∣theren are soo named as ye be / For ye be called the grettest des¦troyers and murtherers of good Knyghtes that ben now in this reame / for it is but as I herde saye that syr Gawayne & ye slewe amonge yow a better knyght than euer ye were / that was the noble knyghte syre Lamorak de galys / and hit hadde pleased god sayd syre Tristram I wold I had ben by syre Lamorak at his deth / thenne sholdest thou haue gone the same way said sir Gaherys / Fayre knyghte said syre Tristram ther must haue ben many moo knyghtes than ye are / And there with alle sire Tristram departed fro them toward Ioyous gard And whanne he was departed / they took theyre horses / and the one said to the other / we wylle ouertake hym and be reuen¦ged vpon hym in the despyte of sire Lamorak

¶ Capitulum lvj

SOo when they hadde ouertake sire Tristram / sir Agra¦uayne badde hym torne traytour knyght / that is euyll sayd / said sir Tristram / and ther with he pulled out his suerd / and smote syr Agrauayne suche a buffet vpon the helme that he tombled doune of his hors in a swoune / and he hadde a greuous wounde / And thenne he torned to Gaherys / and sire Tristram smote his swerd and his helme to gyders with suche a myght that Gaherys felle oute of his sadel / and soo sir Trist∣ram rode vnto Ioyous gard and there he alyght and vnarmed hym / Soo sire Tristram told la beale Isoud of alle his aduen¦ture as ye haue herd to forne / And whan she herd hym telle of sire Dynadan / syr said she is not that he that made the song by Page  [unnumbered] kynge Marke / that same is he said sire Tristram / for he is the best bourder and Iaper and a noble knyghte of his handes / and the best felawe that I knowe / and alle good knyghtes loue his felauship / Allas syre said she why broughte ye not hym with yow / haue ye no care sayd syr Tristram / for he rydeth to seke me in this countre / and therfore he wylle not awey tyl he haue met with me / And there sire Tristram told la Beale Isoud how sir Dynadan helde ageynste alle louers / Ryght so there came in a varlet and told sir Tristram how there was co¦me an erraunt knyght in to the toune with suche colours vpon his sheld / that is syre Dynadan said syre Tristram / wete ye what ye shalle doo said sire Tristram / send ye for hym my la∣dy Isoud / and I wylle not be sene and ye shal here the me∣ryest knyghte that euer ye spak with alle and the maddest tal¦ker / and I praye yow hertely that ye make hym good chere / Thenne anone la beale Isoud sente in to the toune / and prayd syr Dynadan that he wold come in to the castel / & repose hym there with a lady / with a good wylle sayd syre Dynadan / & soo he mounted vpon his hors and rode in to the castel / & there he alyghte / and was vnarmed / & brought in to the castel / A∣none la Beale Isoud came vnto hym / and eyther salewed o∣ther / thenne she asked hym of whens that he was / Madame sa¦yd Dynadan I am of the courte of Kynge Arthur / & knyʒte of the table round / and my name is syre Dynadan / what doo ye in this countrey sayd la Beale Isoud / Madame sayd he I seke syre Tristram the good knyght / for hit was told me that he was in this countrey / hit may wel be said la Beale Isoud but I am not ware of hym / madame said Dynadan I mer∣ueylle of sire Tristram and moo other louers what eyleth them to be soo mad and soo foted vpon wymmen / Why said la bea∣le Isoud / are ye a Knyght and be no louer / it is shame to you where for ye may not be called a good knyʒte / but yf ye ma∣ke a quarel for a lady / God defende me sayd Dynadan / for the Ioye of loue is to short / and the sorow therof and what cometh therof dureth ouer longe / A said la Beale Isoud say ye not soo / for here fast by was the good knyght sire Bleoberys that foughte with thre knyghtes at ones for a damoysels sake / & he wanne her afore the kynge of Northumberland / hit was so Page  [unnumbered] said sire Dynadan for I knowe hym wel for a good knyʒte and a noble and comen of noble blood / for alle ben noble kn∣yghtes of whome he is comen of / that is sire Launcelot du la∣ke / Now I pray yow said la Beale Isoud / telle me wylle ye fyghte for my loue with thre knyghtes that done me grete wronge / and in soo moche as ye be a knyʒt of kyng Arthurs I requyre yow to doo batail for me / Thenne syr Dynadan sa∣yd I shalle say yow ye be as fayr a lady as euer I sawe o∣ny / and moche fayrer than is my lady quene Gueneuer / but wete ye wel at one word I wylle not fyghte for yow wyth thre knyghtes / Ihesu defende me / Thenne Isoud lough / & had good game at hym / Soo he had alle the chere that she myghte make hym / and there he lay alle that nyght / And on the morn erly syr Tristram armed hym and la beale Isoud gaf hym a good helme / and thenne he promysed her that he wold mete with syr Dynadan / And they two wold ryde to gyders vnto Lonazep where the turnement shold be / and there shal I ma¦ke redy for yow where ye shalle see the turnement / Thenne de∣parted sir Tristram with two squyers that bare his sheld & his speres that were grete and longe /

¶Capitulum lvij

THenne after that syr Dynadan departed / and rode his way a grete paas vntyl he had ouertake sir Tristram And when syr Dynadan had ouertake hym / he kne∣we hym anone / and he hated the felauship of hym aboue all other knyghtes / A said syre Dynadan art thow that coward knyght that I mette with yesterday / kepe the / for thou shalte Iuste with me maulgre thy hede / wel said sire Tristram and I am bothe to Iuste / and soo they lete theyr horses renne / and syr Tristram myssid of hym a purpos / & sir Dynadan brak a spe¦re vpon sire Tristram / and there with syre Dynadan dressid hym to drawe out his swerd / Not soo said sir Tristram / why are ye soo wrothe I wille not fyghte / Fy on the coward sayd Dynadan thow shamest alle knyghtes / As for that said syre Tristram I care not / for I wille wayte vpon you and be vnder Page  [unnumbered] your protectyon / for by cause ye are so good a knyght ye may saue me / The deuylle delyuer me of the said syr Dynadan / for thou arte as goodely a man of armes and of thy persone as euer I sawe and the moost coward that euer I sawe / what wolt thow doo with tho grete speres that thou caryest with the I shalle gyue them said sir Tristram to somme good knyght whan I come to the turnement / And yf I soe yow doo best / I shalle gyue them to yow / Soo thus as they rode talkyng they sawe where came an erraunt knyght afore them that dressyd hym to Iuste / Loo said syr Tristram yonder is one wylle Iuste now dresse the to hym / a shame betyde the said sire Dynadan / Nay not soo said Tristram for that knyght besemeth a shrewe / Thenne shalle I said syr Dynadan and soo they dressid their sheldes and their speres / and they mette to gyders soo hard / that the other knyght smote doun sir Dynadan from hys hors Loo said sir Tristram hit had ben better ye had lefte / Fy on the coward said sire Dynadan / Thenne sir Dynadan starte vp and gat his swerd in his hande / and profered to do batail on foote / whether in loue or in wrathe saide the other knyghte / lete vs doo bataille in loue said sir Dynadan / what is your name said that knyght I pray yow telle me / wete ye wel my name is sir Dynadan / A Dynadan said that knyght and my na∣me is Gareth the yongest broder vnto syre Gawayne / thenne eyther made of other grete chere / for this Gareth was the best knyghte of alle tho bretheren / and he preued a good Knyghte Thenne they took their horses / and there they spak of sir Tris∣tram how suche a coward he was / and euery word sir Tristram herd and lough them to scorne / Thenne were they ware where came a knyght afore them wel horsed and wel armed / and he made hym redy to Iuste / Fair knyghtes said syr Tristram / lo∣ke betwixe yow who shalle Iuste with yonder knyghte / for I warne yow I wille not haue adoo with hym / thenne shall I said syr Gareth / and soo they encountred to gyders / and there that knyght smote doune sire Gareth ouer his hors croupe How now saide sire Tristram vnto syre Dynadan / dresse the now and reuenge the good knyght Gareth / That shall I not said sir Dynadan / for he hath stryken doune a moche bygger Page  [unnumbered] knyghte than I am / A said sire Tristram now sire Dynadan I see and fele wel your herte fayleth yow / therfore now shalle ye see what I shalle doo / And thenne sire Tristram hurtled vnto that knyghte / and smote hym quyte from his hors / And whanne sire Dynadan sawe that / he merueyled gretely / And thenne he demed that hit was sire Tristram / Thenne this kny∣ght that was on foot pulled oute his swerd to doo bataille / what is your name said sire Tristram / wete ye wel sayde that knyghte my name is syre Palomydes / what knyghte hate ye moost said syr Tristram / Syr knyeght said he I hate sir Tris¦tram to the dethe / for and I may mete with hym the one of vs shalle dye / ye saye wel said sir Tristram / and wete ye wel that I am sire Tristram de lyones / and now doo your werste whanne sire Palomydes herd hym saye soo he was astonyed / And thenne he said thus I praye yow sir Tristram forgyue me alle myn euylle wylle / And yf I lyue I shal doo you ser∣uyse aboue alle other knyghtes that ben lyuynge / and there as I haue owed yow euylle wylle me sore repenteth / I wote not what eyleth me / for me semeth that ye are a good knyghte / & none other Knyghte that named hym self a good knyghte shold not hate yow therfor I requyre yow syr tristram take no displeasyr at myn vnkynde wordes / Syr Palomydes said sire Tristram ye say wel / and wel I wote ye are a good knyghte for I haue sene you preued and many grete enterpryses ha∣ue ye taken vpon yow / and wel encheued them / therfor said sire Tristram and ye haue ony euyll wille to me / now maye ye ryghte hit / for I am redy at your hand / Not soo my lord sire Tristram I wille doo yow knyghtly seruyse in alle thynge as ye wyl commaunde / and ryght soo I will take yow said syre Tristram / and soo they rode forthe on theyr wayes talkyng of many thynges / O my lord sire Tristram said Dynadan / foule haue ye mocked me / for god knoweth I cam in to this coūtrey for your sake / and by the aduyse of my lord sire Launcelot / And yet wold not sire Launcelot telle me the certeynte of you where I shold fynde yow / Truly said sir Tristram syre Laun∣celot wiste wel where I was / for I abode within his owne cas∣tel /

¶Capitulum lviij

Page  [unnumbered]THus they rode vntyl they were ware of the Castel lo∣nazep / And thenne were they ware of foure honderd tentys and pauelions / and merueylous grete ordena∣unce / Soo god me helpe saide sire Tristram yonder I see the grettest ordenaunce that euer I sawe / Syre said Palomydes / me semeth that there was as grete an ordenaunce att the castel of maydens vpon the roche where ye wanne the pryce / for I sa∣we my self where ye foriusted thyrtty knyghtes / ¶Syr sayd Dynadan and in Surluse at that turnement that Galahalt of the longe Iles maade the whiche there dured seuen dayes / was as grete a gadrynge as is here / for there were many nacy¦ons / who was the best said sire Tristram / sire it was sir Laun¦celot du lake and the noble knyghte sire Lamorak de galys / and sir launcelot wanne the degree / I doubte not said sir Tris¦tram but he wanne the degree / So he had not ben ouermatched with many knyghtes / and of the dethe of sire Lamorak sayd syre Tristram hit was ouer grete pyte / for I dare say / he was the clenest myʒted man and the best wynded of his age / that was on lyue / for I knewe hym that he was the byggest kny∣ght that euer I mette with all but yf hit were sire Launcelot / Allas said sire Tristram ful woo is me for his deth / And yf they were not the cosyns of my lord Arthur that slewe hym / they shold dye for hit / and all tho that were consentyng to his dethe / And for suche thynges said sire Tristram I feare to dra¦we vnto the courte of my lord Arthur / I wylle that ye wete hit said sire Tristram vnto Gare•h / Syre I blame yow not sa¦id Gareth / For wel I vnderstande the vengeaunce of my bre∣theren sire Gawayne / Agrauayne / Gaherys / and Mordred / But as for me said sire Gareth I medle not of their maters therfore there is none of them that loueth me / And for I vn∣derstande they be murtherers of good knyghtes I lefte theyre company / and god wold I had ben by sayd Gareth whanne the noble knyghte syre Lamorak was slayne / Now as Ihesu be my help said sir Tristram / it is wel said of you / for I had le¦uer than al the gold betwixe this & Rome I had ben there / ye wys said palomydes & soo wold I had ben there / & yet had I neuer the degree at no Iustes nor turnement there as he was / but he put me to the werse or on foot or on horsbak / & that day Page  [unnumbered] that he was slayne he dyd the most dedes of armes that euer I sawe knyghte doo in alle my lyfe dayes

¶ And whan hym was gyuen the degree by my lord Arth∣ur / syre Gawayne and his thre bretheren Agrauayne / Gahe∣rys and sire Mordred sette vpon syre Lamorack in a pryuy place / and there they slewe his hors / and so they fought with hym on foote more than thre houres bothe biforne hym and be∣hynd hym / and sire Mordred gaf hym his dethes wound / behynde hym at his bak / and alle to hewe hym / for one of his squyers told me that sawe hit / Fy vpon treason said sir Trys¦tram / for hit kylleth my herte to here this tale / So it doth myn said Gareth bretheren as they be myn I shall neuer loue them nor drawe in their felauship for that dede / Now speke we of other dedes said Palomydes / and lete hym be / for his lyf ye maye not gete ageyne / that is the more pyte said Dynadan / For sire Gawayne and his bretheren excepte yow sire Gareth / haten alle the good knyghtes of the round table for the most party / for wel I wote and they myght pryuely / they hate my lord sire Launcelot and al his kynne / and grete pryuy despy∣te they haue at hym / and that is my lorde syre launcelot wel ware of / and that causeth hym to haue the good knyghtes of his kyn aboute hym /

¶Capitulum lix

SYre said Palomydez lete vs leue of this matere / and lete vs see how we shalle doo at this turnement / By myn aduyse said Palomydes lete vs foure holde to gyders a∣geynste alle that wyl come / Not by my counceil said sire Tris∣tram / for I see by their pauelions ther wil be four honderd kn∣yghtes / and doubte ye not said sir Tristram but there wil be ma¦ny good knyghtes / and be a man neuer soo valyaunt nor soo bygge / yet he may be ouermatched / And soo haue I sene kn∣yghtes done many tymes / And whanne they wend best to haue wonne worship they loste hit / For manhode is not worthe / but yf it be medled with wysedome / And as for me said sir Trys∣tram hit maye happen I shalle kepe myn owne hede as wel as another / Soo thus they rode vntyl that they came to hum∣ber bank where they herd a crye and a doleful noyse / ¶Thenne were they ware in the wynde where came a ryche vessel hylled Page  [unnumbered] ouer with reed sylke / and the vessel londed fast by them / There with sire Tristram alyghte and his knyghtes / And so syre Tristram wente afore and entred in to that vessel ¶And whanne he came within he sawe a fayre bedde rychely couerd / and there vpon laye a dede semely knyghte all armed sauf the hede was al bebledde with dedely woundes vpon hym / the whi¦che semed to be a passynge good knyghte / ¶How may thys be said sire Tristram / that this knyghte is thus slayne / Thenne syre Tristram was ware of a letter in the dede knyʒtes hande / Maister maronners said sire Tristram what meaneth that let∣ter / Syre sayd they / in that letter ye shalle here and knowe hou he was slayne / and for what cause / and what was his name / But sire said the maronners wete ye wel that no man shall take that letter and rede hit but yf he be a good knyghte / and that he wille feythfully promyse to reuenge his dethe / els shal there no knyghte see that letter open / wete ye wel said sir Tris¦tram that somme of vs may reuenge his dethe as wel as other And yf hit be soo as ye maronners saye / his dethe shalle be re¦uenged / And there with sire Tristram took the letter oute of the knyghtes hande / and hit sayd thus / Harmaunce kynge & lord of the reed Cyte I send vnto alle knyghtes erraunt re∣commaundynge vnto yow noble knyghtes of Arthurs courte I byseche them alle amonge them to fynde one knyghte that wylle fyghte for my sake with two bretheren that I brought vp of nought and felonsly and traytourly they haue slayne me / wherfore I byseche one good knyghte to reuenge my deth And he that reuenged my dethe I wille that he haue my rede Cyte and alle my castels / Syre said the maronners wete ye wel this kynge and knyghte that here lyeth was a ful wor∣shipful man and of ful grete prowesse / and ful wel he loued alle maner knyghtes errauntes / Soo god me help said sire Tristram here is a pyteous caas / and ful fayne I wold take this enterpryse vpon me / but I haue made suche a promyse that nedes I muste be at this grete turnement / or els I am shamed For wel I wote for my sake in especyal my lord Arthur lete make this Iustes and turnement in this countrey / and well I wote that many worshipful people wylle be there att that turnement for to see me / therfor I fere me to take this enterpryse Page  [unnumbered] vpon me that I shal not come ageyne by tyme to this Iustys Syr said Palomydes / I pray yow gyue me this enterpryse / and ye shall see me encheue it worshipfully / outher els I shal dye in this quarel / wel said sire Tristram / and this enterpryce I gyue yow with this that ye be with me at this turnement / that shalle be as this day seuen nyght / Syre said Palomydes / I promyse yow that I shalle be with yow by that day / yf I be vnslayne or vnmaymed

¶Capitulum lx

THenne departed sire Tristram / Gareth / and sir Dyna∣dan / and lefte sire Palomydes in the vessel / and so sir Tristram behelde the maronners how they sayled ouer longe humber / And whan sir Palomydes was oute of theyre syghte / they toke theyr horses and beheld aboute them / And thenne were they ware of a Knyght that came rydyng agey∣nst them vnarmed / and nothynge aboute hym but a swerd / And whan this knyghte came nyghe them / he salewed them / & they hym ageyne / Faire knyghtes sayd that knyght I praye yow in soo moche as ye be knyghtes erraunt that ye wille come and see my castel and take suche as ye fynde there / I praye yow hertely / and soo they rode with hym vntyl his Castel / & there they were brought in to the halle that was wel apparail¦led and soo they were there vnarmed and sette at a bord / & whan this knyghte sawe sire Tristram anone he knewe hym / And thenne this Knyght waxed pale and wroth at sir tris¦tram / whan sire Tristram sawe his hoost make suche chere / he merueylled and said Syre myn hoost what chere make yow wete thou wel said he I fare the werse for the / for I knowe the sir Tristram de lyones / thou slewest my broder / And therfore I gyue the somons I wille flee the / and euer I maye gete the at large / Syr knyght said sir Tristram I am neuer ad∣uysed that euer I slewe ony broder of yours / And yf ye say that I dyd I wille make amendys vnto my power / I wyll none amendys said the knyʒt but kepe the from me / So whan he had dyned sir Tristram asked his armes & departed / & so they rode on their wayes / & within a whyle / sir Dynadan sawe whe¦re cam a knyʒt wel armed & wel horsed without shelde / syre Page  [unnumbered] Tristram said sir Dynadan take kepe to your self / for I dar vn¦dertake yonder cometh your hoost that will haue ado with you Lete hym come said sir Tristram I shall abyde hym as wel as I may / anone the knyghte whanne he came nyghe sir Tristram he cryed and bad hym abyde and kepe hym / So they hurtled to gyders / but sir Tristram smote the other knyght so sore that he bare hym ouer his hors croupe / That knyght arose lyghte∣ly and took his hors ageyne / and soo rode fyersly to sir Tris¦tram and smote hym twyes hard vpon the helme / Sir knyʒte said sir Tristram I pray yow leue of and smyte me no mo∣re / for I wold be lothe to dele with yow / & I myʒt chese / for I haue your mete and your drynke within my body / for al that he wold not leue / and thēne sir Tristram gaf hym suche • buf¦fet vpon the helme that he felle vp soo doune fro his hors / that the blood brast oute at the ventayls of his helme / and soo he lay styll lykely to be dede / Thenne sire Tristram said me repen¦teth of this buffet that I smote so sore / for as I suppose he is dede / and soo they lefte hym and rode on their wayes / ¶So they had not ryden but a whyle but they sawe rydyng ayenst them two ful lykely knyghtes wel armed and wel horsed & goodly seruauntes aboute them / the one was Berrannt le a∣pres / and he was called the kynge with the honderd Knyʒtes and the other was sir Segwarydes whiche were renomed two noble Knyghtes / So as they cam eyther by other / the Kynge loked vpon sir Dynadan that at that tyme he had syre Trist∣rams helme vpon his sholder / the whiche helme the kynge had sene to fore with the Quene of Northgalys / and that quene the kynge loued as peramour / & that helme the quene of north galys had gyuen to la Beale Isoud / & the quene la Beale Isoud gaf it to sir Tristram / Syr Knyghte sayd Berraunt where had ye that helme / what wold ye said sire Dynadan / for I wylle haue adoo with the said the kynge for the loue of her that owed that helme / and therfore kepe yow / Soo they departed and came to gyders with alle their myghtes of the∣yr horses / and there the kyng with the honderd knyghtes smo∣te sire Dynadan hors and alle to the erthe / and thēne he com¦maunded his seruaunt goo and take thou his helme of / and kepe hit / Soo the varlet wente to vnbockel his helme / What Page  [unnumbered] helme / what wolt thou doo said sir Tristram / leue that helme to what entente sayd the kynge wille ye sire knyght medle with that helme / Wete yow wel said sir Tristram that helme shalle not departe from me or it be derer boughte / Thenne make you re¦dy said sir Beraunce vnto syre Tristram / Soo they hurtled to gyders / and there syr Tristram smote hym doun ouer his hors tayle / / and thenne the kynge arose lyghtely / and gatte his hors lyghtely ageyne / And thenne he strake fyersly att syre Tristram many grete strokes / And thenne syre Tristram gaf• sir Beraunce suche a buffet vpon the helme / that he fell• doune ouer his hors sore stonyed / Loo said Dynadan that helme is vnhappy to vs tweyne / for I had a falle for hit / and now sir kynge haue ye another fake /

¶Thenne Segwarydes asked who shal Iuste with me / I pr∣aye the said syre Gareth vnto Dynadan / lete me haue this Ius¦tes / syr said Dynadan I pray yow take it as for me / that is no reason said tristrā / for this Iustes shold be yours / ¶ Att a word said Dynadan I wille not therof / ¶ Thenne Gareth dressid hym to syre Segwarides / and there syre Segwarides smote Gareth and his hors to the erthe / ¶Now sayd syr Tristram to Dynadan Iuste with yonder knyghte / I wil not therof said Dynadan / Thenne wille I said syr Tristram / and thenne syr Tristram ranne to hym / and gaf hym a falle / and soo they lefte them on foote / and syre Tristram rode vnto Io∣yous gard / and there sir Gareth wold not of his curtosy haue gone in to this castel / but syre Tristram wold not suffre hym to departe / And soo they alyghte and vnarmed them / & hadde grete chere / But whan Dynadan came afore la Beale Isoud he cursed the tyme that euer he bare syr Tristrams helme / and there he tolde her how syre Tristram had mocked hym / Thenne was there laughyng and Iapynge at syr Dynadan that they wiste not what to doo with hym

¶ Capitulum lxj

NOw wille we leue them mery within Ioyous gard & speke we of syr palomydes / thēne sir palomydes sail¦led euen longes hūber to the costes of the see / where was a fair Page  [unnumbered] castel / And at that tyme hit was erly in the mornynge afore daye / Thenne the maronners wente vnto sire palomydes / that slepte fast / Syre knyghte saide the maronners ye muste aryse / for here is a castel there ye muste goo in to / I assente me sayd sire Palomydes / and there with alle he aryued / And thenne he blewe his horne that the maronners had yeuen hym / And whanne they within the Castel herd that horne / they put forthe many knyghtes and there they stode vpon the walles / and said with one voys / welcome be ye to this castel / and then¦ne it waxed clere day / and sire Palomydes entred in to the cas¦tel / And within a whyle he was serued with many dyuerse metes / Thenne sire Palomyders herd aboute hym moche wepy∣nge and grete dole / what may this meane said sir palomydes / I loue not to here suche a sorou / and fayne I wold knowe what it meaneth / thenne there came afore hym one whos name was sir Ebel that said thus wete ye wel sir knyghte this dole and sorowe is here made euery daye / ¶And for this cause / we had a kynge that hyght Hermaunce and he was kynge of the ••ed cyte / and this kyng that was lord / was a noble kn∣yght large and lyberal of his expense / And in the world he loued no thynge soo moche as he dyd erraunt knyʒtes of ky∣nge Arthurs courte / and alle Iustynge huntynge and al ma¦ner of knyʒtly games / for so kynde a kynge and knyghte had neuer the rule of poure peple as he was / and by cause of his goodenes and gentylnesse we bemone hym / and euer shalle / And alle kynges and estates may beware by oure lord for he was destroyed in his owne defaute / for had he cherisshed them of his blood / he hadde yet lyued with grete rychesse and reste / but alle estates may beware by our kynge / But allas sayd Ebel that we shalle gyue alle other warnynge by his dethe / ¶Telle me said palomydes / and in what manere was youre lord slayne and by whome / Syr said sir Ebel / oure kyng br∣ought vp of children two men that now are peryllous knygh¦tes / & these two knyghtes oure kynge had soo in cherete that he loued no man nor trusted no man of his blood / nor none other that was aboute hym / And by these two knyghtes oure kyng was gouerned / and soo they ruled hym peasybly and his lan¦des / and neuer wolde they suffre none of his blood to haue Page  [unnumbered] no rule with oure kynge / And also he was soo free and soo gentyl / and they so fals and deceyuable that they ruled hym peasybly / and that aspyed the lordes of our kynges blood / & departed from hym vnto their owne lyuelode / Thenne whan these two traytours vnderstoode that they had dryuen alle the lordes of his blood from hym / they were not pleased with that rule / but thenne they thoughte to haue more / as euer hit is an old sawe / gyue a chorle rule / and there by he wylle not be suf¦fysed / for what someuer he be that is ruled by a vylayne born and the lord of the soyle to be a gentilman born / that same vy¦layne shalle destroye alle the gentylmen aboute hym / therfor al estates and lordes / beware / whome ye take aboute yow / And yf ye be a knyght of Kyng Arthurs courte remembre this ta∣le / for this is the ende and conclusion / my lord and kyng ro∣de vnto the forest here by by the aduyse of these traytours / and there he chaced at the reed dere armed at alle pye•es ful lyke a good knyght / and soo for labour he waxed drye / And then∣ne he alyghte / and dranke at a welle / And whan he was a lyghte by the assente of these two traytours that one that hy∣ght Helyus he sodenly smote our kynge thurgh the body with a spere / and soo they lefte hym there / And whan they were de¦parted / thenne by fortune I came to the welle / and fond my lord and kyng wounded to the dethe / And whan I herd his complaynte / I lete brynge hym to the water syde / and in that same shyp I put hym a lyue / And whan my lord kynge her∣maunce was in that vessel / he requyred me for the true feyth I owed vnto hym for to wryte a letter in this maner /

¶Capitulum lxij

REcommaundynge vnto kyng Arthur & to al his kny∣ʒtes erraūt bisechyng them al that in so moche as I ky¦ng Hermaūce kyng of the reed cyte thus am slayn by felony & treason thurʒ two knyghtes of myn own & of myn own br∣yngyng vp & of myn owne makyng that som worshipful kn∣yʒt wil reuenge my deth / in so moche I haue ben euer to my po¦wer wel willyng vnto Arthurs court / & who that wil aduen∣ture his lyf with these two traitours for my sake in one batail I kyng hermaūce kyng of the rede cyte frely gyue hym all my Page  [unnumbered] landes and rentes that euer I welded in my lyf / This letter said Ebel I wrote by my lordes commaundement / and thenne he receyued his creatoure / and whan he was dede / he comman∣ded me or euer he were cold to put that letter fast in his hand / And thenne he commaunded me to putte forthe that same ves¦sel doune humber / and I shold gyue these maronners in com¦maundement neuer to stynte vntyl that they came vnto Logris where all the noble knyghtes shall assemble at this tyme / & there shalle somme good knyghte haue pyte on me to reuenge my dethe / for there was neuer kynge nor lord falslyer ne trai∣tourlyer slayne than I am here to my dethe / ¶ Thus was the complaynte of our kyng Hermaūce / Now said sir Ebel ye kno¦we alle how our lord was bitrayed / we requyre you for god¦des sake haue pyte vpon his dethe / and worshipfully reuenge his dethe / and thenne may ye weld alle thise landes / For we alle wete wel / that & ye may slee these two traytours the reed cyte and alle tho that ben therin will take you for their lord / Truly said sire Palomydes hit greueth my herte for to here you telle this doleful tale / and to saye the trouthe I sawe the same letter that ye speke of / and one of the best knyghtes on the er∣the redde that letter to me / and by his commaundement I cam hydder to reuenge your Kynges deth / and therfor haue done / and lete me wete where I shall fynde tho traitours / for I shal neuer be at ease in my herte tyl I be in handes with them / ¶ Syr said sire Ebel thenne take your ship ageyne / and that shyp must brynge you vnto the delectable yle fast by the reed Cyte / and we in this castel shalle pray for yow / and abyde yo∣ur ageyne comynge / for this same castel and ye spede wel must nedes be yours / for oure kyng Harmaunce lete make this cas∣tel for the loue of the two traytours / and so we kepte it with stronge hande / & therfore ful sore are we threted / ¶ wote ye what ye shal do said sir Palomydes what somme euer come of me / loke ye kepe wel this castel / for & it mysfortune me soo to be slayn in this quest / I am sure there wil come one of the best knyghtes of the world for to reuenge my deth / and that is sir Tristram de lyones or els sir Launcelot du lake

¶Thenne sir Palomydes departed from that castel / And as he cam nyghe the Cyte / there cam out of a shyp a goodly knyʒt Page  [unnumbered] armed ageynst hym with his shelde on his sholder / and his hand vpon his swerd / And anone as he came nyghe sir Pa∣lomydes he said sir knyghte what seke ye here / leue this queste for it is myn / and myn it was or euer it was yours / & therfor I wille haue hit / Syr knyght said Palomydes it may wel be that this quest was yours or it was myn / but when the letter was take oute of the dede kynges hand at that tyme by lyke∣lyhode there was no knyght had vndertake to reuenge the deth of the kynge / And soo at that tyme I promysed to reuenge his dethe / And soo I shalle or els I am ashamed / ye say wel sayd the knyghte / but wete ye wel thenne wille I fyʒte with yow / and who be the better knyghte of vs bothe / lete hym take the bataille vpon hand / I assente me said sire Palomydes / & thenne they dressid their sheldes / and pulled out their swerdes and lasshed to gyder many sadde strokes as men of myghte / & this fyʒtyng was more than houre / but at the last sir Palomy¦des waxed bygge and better wynded / soo that thenne he smote that knyght suche a stroke / that he made hym to knele vpon his knees / Thenne that knyghte spak on hyghe / and sayd gentyll knyght hold thy hand / Syr Palomydes was goodely & with drewe his hand / Thenne this knyght sayd wete ye wel knyʒt that thou arte better worthy to haue this bataille than I / and requyre the of knygthode telle me thy name / Syr my name is Palomydes a knyghte of Kynge Arthurs and of the table ro∣und that hyder I came to reuenge the dethe of this dede kynge

¶ Capitulum lxiij

WEl be ye fond said the knygyte to Palomydes / for of alle knyghtes that ben on lyue excepte thre I had le∣uest haue yow / The fyrste is sire Launcelot du lake & sir Tristram de lyones / the thyrd is my nyʒ cosyn syr Lamorck de galys / and I am broder vnto kynge Harmaunce that is dede & my name is sir Hermynde / ye saye wel said sir Palomydes / & ye shal see how I shal spede / & yf I be there slayn / goo ye to my lord sir laūcelot or els to my lord sir Tristram / & pray them to reuenge my deth / for as for sir Lamorak hym shal ye neuer see in this world / Allas said sir Hermynde how may that be / he is Page  [unnumbered] slayne said sire Palomydes by sire Gawayne and his brethe∣ren / Soo god me helpe said Hermynd there was not one for one that slewe hym / that is trouthe said sire Palomydes / for they were four daungerous knyghtes that slewe hym / as Syr Gawayne / syr A grauayne / sire Gaherys and sire Mordred / but sire Gareth the fyfthe broder was awey / the best knyght of them alle / And soo syre Palomydes told Hermynde alle the manere / and how they slewe sir Lamorak all only by treason So sir Palomydes took his ship / and aryued vp at the delecta¦ble yle / And in the meane whyle syr Hermynde that was the kynges broder he arryued vp att the reed Cyte / and there he told them how there was comen a knyghte of kynge Arthurs to auenge kynge Hermaunce dethe / and his name is sire Pa∣lomydes the good knyght / that for the moost party he foloweth the best Glatysaunt / Thenne alle the Cyte made grete Ioye / for mykel had they herd of sire Palomydes and of his noble pro¦wesse / Soo lete they ordeyne a messager and sente vnto the / ij / bretheren / and had them to make them redy / for there was a knyght comen that wold fyghte with them bothe / Soo the mes¦sager wente vnto them where they were at a Castel there besyde and there he told them how there was a knyght comen of ky∣nge Arthurs courte to fyghte with them bothe at ones / he is welcome said they / But telle vs we pray yow yf hit be sire launcelot or ony of his blood / he is none of that blood said the messager / thenne we care the lesse said the two bretheren / for with none of the blood of sire launcelot we kepe not to haue a doo with alle / wete ye wel said the messager that his name is sire Palomydes that yet is vncrystened a noble knyght / well said they and he be now vncrystened / he shalle neuer be cryst∣end / Soo they apoynted to be at the cyte within two dayes / And whanne sire Palomydes was come to the Cyte they ma¦de passynge grete Ioye of hym / and thenne they beheld hym / and sawe that he was wel made / clenely and byggely / and vn¦maymed of his lymmes / and neyther to yonge nor to old / and soo alle the peple preysed hym / and though he was not cryst∣ened yet he byleued in the best maner / and was fulfeythful & true of his promyse / and wel condycyoned / And by cause he made his auowe that he wold neuer be crystened vnto the t•∣me Page  [unnumbered] that he had encheued the beste Glatysaunt / the whiche was a ful wonderful beest and a grete sygnyfycacyon / for Merlyn profecyed moche of that beest / And also sire Palomydes auo∣wed neuer to take ful crystendome vnto the tyme that he had done seuen batails within the lystys / So within the thyrd day there came to the Cyte these two bretheren / the one hyght He∣lyus / the other hyʒt Helake / the whiche were men of grete pro∣wesse how be hit that they were fals and ful of treason / and but poure men borne / yet were they noble bnyʒtes of their han∣des / And with hem they brought fourty knyghtes to that en¦tent / that they shold be bygge ynough for the reed Cyte / Thus came the two bretheren with grete bo•aunce and pryde / for they had put the reed Cyte in fere and dammage / Thenne they were broughte to the lystes / and sire Palomydes came in to the place and sayd thus / be ye the two bretheren Helyus & Helake that slewe your kynge and lord syr Hermaunce by felony and treason / for whome that I am comen hyder to re∣uenge his dethe / wete thow wel said sir Helyus and sir He∣lake that we ar the same knyghtes that slewe kyng Harma∣unce / And wete thow wel sire Palomydes sarasyn / that we shalle handle the so or thou departe that thou shalt wysshe that thou werest crystened / Hit maye wel be said sir Palomydes / for yet I wold not dye or I were crystened / and yet soo am I not aferd of yow both / but I truste to god that I shal dye a better crysten man than ony of yow both / and doubte ye not said sir Palomydes eyther ye or I shalle be lefte dede in this place

¶ Capitulum lxiiij

THēne they departed and the two bretheren came aye∣nst sir Palomydes / and he ageynst them as fast as the∣ir horses myght renne / And by fortune sir Palomydes smote Helake thorou his shelde and thurgh the brest more than a fa¦dom / Alle this whyle sir Helyus helde vp his spere / and for pryde and orgulyte he wold not smyte sire Palomydes wyth his spere / but whan he sawe his broder lye on the erth / and fa∣we be myʒt not •el•e hym self / thēne he said vnto sir palomydes Page  [unnumbered] helpe thy self / and there with he came hurtlynge vnto sir Palo¦mydes with his spere / and smote hym quyte from his sadel Thenne sire Helyus rode ouer sir Palomydes twyes or thryes And there with sir Palomydes was ashamed / & gat the hors of sir Helyus by the brydel / & therwith al the hors areryd / & sir Palomydes halp after / & so they felle both to the erthe / but anone sir Helyus starte vp lyghtely & there he smote sir Palo¦mydes a grete stroke vpon the helme that he kneled vpon his owne knee / Thenne they lasshed to gyder many sad strokes / & tracyd and trauercyd now bakward / now sydelyng hurtlyng to gyders lyke two lores / & that same tyme they felle both gro¦uelyng to the erthe / Thus they fought styll withoute / ony repo¦synge two houres and neuer brethed / & thēne sir Palomydes waxed faynt and wery / & sir Helyus waxed passyng strong & doubled his strokes / & drofe sir Palomydes ouerthwart and endlonge alle the feld / that they of the cyte whan they sawe sir Palomydes in this caas they wept & cryed & made grete dole / & the other party made as grete joye / Allas said the men of the Cyte that this noble knyght shold thus be slayne for our kyn¦ges sake / & as they were thus wepyng & cryeng / sir Palomy∣des that had suffred an honderd strokes that it was wonder / that he stode on his feet / At the last sire Palomydes beheld as he myght the comen peple how they wepte for hym / and then∣ne he said to hym self / A fy for shame syr palomydes why han¦gest thou thy hede soo lowe / & there with he bare vp his sheld / & loked sir Helyus in the vysage / and he smote hym a grete stro¦ke vpon the helme / and after that another and another / And thenne he smote sir Helyus with suche a myghte that he felle to the erthe grouelynge / and thenne he rassyd of his helme from his hede / and there he smote hym suche a buffet that he departed his hede from the body / And thenne were the peple of the Cyte the Ioyefullest peple that myght be / Soo they brought hym to his lodgynge with grete solempnyte / and there alle the peple became his men / And thenne sire Palomydes prayd them all to take kepe vnto alle the lordship of Kynge Hermaunce / for fair sirs wete ye wel I maye not as at this tyme abyde with yow / for I muste in alle haste be with my lord kyng Arthur at the castel of Lonazep the whiche I haue promysed / Page  [unnumbered] Thenne was the peple ful heuy at his departynge / for alle that Cyte profered sir Palomydes the thyrd parte of their goodes / soo that he wold abyde with hem / but in no wyse as at that ty¦me he wold not abyde / and soo sire Palomydes departed / and soo he came vnto the castel there as sire Ebel was lieutenaunt / And whanne they in the castel wyste hou sire Palomydes had sped there was a Ioyeful meyny / and soo sir Palomydes depar¦ted / and came to the castell of Lonazep / And whanne he wys• that sire Tristram was not there / he took his way ouer humber and came vnto Ioyous gard where as sir Tristram was and la Beale Isoud / Syr Tristram had commaunded that what knyght erraunt came within the Ioyous gard as in the toune that they shold warne sire Tristram / Soo there came a man of the toune / and told sire Tristram how there was a Knyghte in the toune a passynge goodely man / what manere of man is he said sire Tristram / and what sygne bereth he / Soo the man told sire Tristram alle the tokens of hym / that is Palomydes said Dynadan / it maye wel be said sir Tristram / go ye to hym said sire Tristram vnto Dynadan / Soo Dynadan wente vn∣to sire Palomydes / and there eyther made of other grete Ioye / and soo they laye to gyder that nyghte / And on the morne er¦ly came sire Tristram and sire Gareth / and took them in the∣yr beddes / and soo they arose and brake their fast

¶Capitulum lxv

ANd thenne sire Tristram desyred sire Palomydes to ry¦de in to the feldes and woodes / So they were accorded to repose them in the foreste / And whanne they hadde played them a grete whyle / they rode vnto a fayre welle / and anone they were ware of an armed knyght that came rydyng ageynste them / and there eyther salewed other / Thenne this ar¦med knyghte spak to sire Tristram and asked what were these knyghtes that were lodged in Ioyous gard / I wote not what they ar said sir Tristram / what knyʒtes be ye said that knyʒte for me semeth ye be no knyghtes erra•nt by cause ye ryde vn∣armed / whether we be Knyghtes or not / we lyste not to telle Page  [unnumbered] the oure name / wilt thou not telle me thy name said that kn∣yght / thenne kepe the for thou shalt dye of my handes / & there∣with he gate his spere in his handes / and wold haue ronne sir Tristram thurgh / that sawe sir palomydes / and smote his hors trauerse in myddes of the syde that man and hors felle to the erthe / And ther with sire palomydes alyghte and pulled out his swerd to haue slayne hym / lete be said sir Tristram / slee hym not / the knyght is but a foole / it were shame to slee hym but take awey his spere said sire Tristram / and lete hym take his hors and goo where that he wille / Soo whan this knyghte arose he groned sore of the falle / and soo he took his hors / and whan he was vp / he torned thenne his hors and requyred sir Tristram and sir palomydes to telle hym what knyghtes they were / Now wete ye wel said sir Tristram that my name is sir Tristram de Lyones / and this knyghtes name is sir palomy∣des / when he wyste what they were / he took his hors with the spores by cause they shold not aske hym his name / and so ro∣de fast awey thurgh thyck and thynne / Thenne came there by them a knyghte with a bented sheld of asure whos name was Epynogrys / and he cam toward them a grete wallop / whether or ye rydynge said sir Tristram / my fayre lordes said Epyno∣grys I folowe the falsest knyght that bereth the lyf wherfor I requyre yow telle me whether ye sawe hym / for he bereth a shelde with a caas of reed ouer it / So god me help said Tristram su∣che a knyʒt departed from vs not a quarter of an houre agon we pray yow telle vs his name / Allas said Epynogrys why lete ye hym escape from yow / and he is soo grete a fo vnto al erraunt knyghtes his name is Breuse saunce pyte / A fy for shame said sire palomydes / Allas that euer he escaped myne handes / for he is the man in the world that I hate moost / Thenne euery knyghte made grete sorowe to other / and so Epy¦nogrys departed and folowed the chace after hym / Thenne sir Tristram and his thre felawes rode vnto Ioyous gard / and there sir Tristram talked vnto sire palomydes of his batail hou he sped atte reed Cyte / and as ye haue herd afore so was hit ended / Truly said sir Tristram I am gladde ye haue wel sped for ye haue done worshipfully / wel said sir Tristram we must forward to meen / and thenne he deuysed how it shold be / and Page  [unnumbered] syr Tristram deuysed to sende his two pauelions to sette them fast by the welle of Lonazep / and therin shalle be the Quene la beale Isoud / Hit is wel said / said sir Dynadan but when sire Palomydes herd of that / his herte was rauysshed oute of mesure / Not withstandynge he sayd but lytel / Soo when they c•me to Ioyous gard / sire Palomydes wold not haue gone in to the castel / but as sire Tristram took hym by the fynger / & ladde hym in to the castel / And whanne sire Palomydes sawe la Beale Isoud he was rauysshed so that he myghte vnneth speke / Soo they wente vnto mete / but Palomydes myghte not ete / and there was alle the chere that myght be hadde / And on the morn they were apparaylled to ryde toward Lonazep / ¶Soo sir Tristram had thre squyers / and la beale Isoud had thre gentylwymmen and bothe the Quene and they were ry∣chely apparailled / and other peple had they none with them / but varlets to bere their sheldes and their speres ¶ And thus they rode forthe / So as they rode / they sawe afore them a route of knyghtes / hit was the knyght Galyhodyn with / xx / knygh¦tes with hym / Fair felawes said Galyhodyn / yonder comen foure knyghtes and a ryche and a wel fayre lady / I am in wylle to take that lady fro them / That is not of the best coun¦ceil said one of Galyhodyns men / but sende ye to them / and we¦te what they wille saye / and soo hit was done / there came a sq∣uyer vnto sire Tristram / and asked them whether they wold Iuste or els to lese their lady / Not soo said sire Tristram telle your lord I byd hym come as many as we ben and wynne her and take her / Syre said Palomydes and hit please you le∣te me haue this dede / and I shalle vndertake them all foure / I wyll that ye haue it said sire Tristram at your pleasyr / Now goo and telle your lord Galyhodyn / that this same knyghte wylle encountre with hym and his felawes

¶ Capitulum lxvj

THenne this squyer departed and told Galyhodyn / & thenne he dressid his shelde / and put forthe a spere / & sir Palomydes another / and there sire Palomydes smote Galy¦hodyn soo hard that he smote bothe hors and man to the erthe Page  [unnumbered] And there he had an horryble falle / And thenne came ther an other knyght / and in the same wyse he serued hym / and soo he scrued the thyrd and the fourthe that he smote them ouer their horse croupes / and alweyes sire Palomydes spere was hole / Thenne came sixe knyghtes moo of Galyhodyns men / & wold haue ben auenged vpon sire Palomydes / lete be sayd sir Galyhodyn not soo hardy / none of yow alle medle with this knyght / for he is a man of grete bounte and honoure / & yf he wold ye were not able to medle with hym / and ryghte soo they helde them styll / And euer sire Palomydes was redy to Iuste / And whan he sawe they wold no more / he rode vn∣to sire Tristram / Ryght wel haue ye done said sir Tristram / & worshypfully haue ye done as a good knyghte shold / This Galyhodyn was nyghe cosyn vnto Galahalt the haute prynce And this Galyhodyn was a kynge within the countrey of Surluse / Soo as sir Tristram / syr Palomydes / and la Bea∣le Isoud rode to gyders they sawe afore them four knyghtes and euery man had his spere in his hand / the fyrst was sire Gawayne / the second sir Vwayne / the thyrd sir Sagramor le¦desyrus / and the fourthe was Dodynas le saueage / Whan sir palomydes beheld them that the four knyʒtes were redy to Ius¦te / he praid sir Tristram to gyue hym / leue to haue adoo with them also lo•ge as he myghte holde hym on horsbak / And yf that I le smyten doune I pray yow reuenge me / wel said sire Tristram I wille as ye wille / and ye are not soo fayne to ha¦ue worship but I wold as fayne encreace your worship / and there with all sir Gawayne put forth his spere / & sir Palomy∣des another / and so they cam so egerly to gyders that sir Pa∣lomydes smote sire Gawayne to the erthe / hors and alle / and in the same wyfe he serued Vwayne / sir Dodynas / and Sagra¦more / Alle these four knyʒtes sir Palomydes smote doun with dyuers• speres / And thenne sire Tristram departed toward Lonezep / And whanne they were departed thenne came thyd∣der Galyhodyn with his x knyʒtes vnto sir Gawayne / & ther he told hym alle how he had sped / I merueyle said sire Ga∣wayne what knyghtes they ben / that ar so arayed in grene / & that knyʒt vpon the whyte hors smote me doun said galihodyn & my / iij / felaws / & so he dyd to me said gawayn / & wel I wote Page  [unnumbered] said sire Gawayne that outher he vpon the whyte hors is sire Tristram or els sire Palomydes / and that gay bysene lady is quene Isoud / Thus they talked of one thynge and of other And in the meane whyle sir Tristram passed on / tyl that he came to the welle where his two pauelions were sette / & there they alyghted / and there they fawe many pauelions and gre∣te araye / Thenne sire Tristram lefte there sire Palomydes and sire Gareth with la beale Isoud / and sir Tristram and syre Dynadan rode to Lonezep to herken tydynges / and sire Trist∣ram rode vpon sire Palomydes whyte hors / And whanne he came in to the castel / sir Dynadan herd a grete horne blowe / & to the horne drewe many Knyghtes / Thenne sire Tristram as∣ked a Knyght what meaneth the blast of that horne / Sir said that Knyght it is alle tho that shalle holde ageynst kyng Ar¦thur at this turnement / The fyrste is the kynge of Irland / & the Kynge of Surluse / the Kynge of Lystynoyse / the kyng of Northumberland / and the kynge of the best parte of walys / with many other countreyes / and these drawe them to a coun¦ceylle to vnderstande what gouernaunce they shalle be of / but the Kynge of Irland whos name was Marhalt and fader to the good knyghte sir Marhaus that sire Tristram slewe had alle the speche that sir Tristram myghte here it / He said lordes and felawes lete vs loke to our self / for wete ye wel Kynge Arthur is sure of many good Knyghtes / or els he wold not with soo fewe knyghtes haue adoo with vs / therfore by my co∣unceyl late euery Kynge haue a standard and a cognoissaun∣ce by hym self that euery knyghte drawe to their naturel lord and thenne maye euery Kyng and capytayne helpe his knyʒ∣tes yf they haue nede / whan sir Tristram had herd all their co∣unceyl / he rode vnto Kynge Arthur for to here of his counceyl

¶ Capitulum lxvij

BVt sir Tristram was not soo soone come in to the pla∣ce but sire Gawayne and sir Galyhodyn wente to ky∣nge Arthur and told hym that same grene Knyʒte in the gre∣ne harneis with the whyte hors smote▪ vs two doune / and / vj / Page  [unnumbered] of oure felawes this same day / wel said Arthur / and then∣ne he called sir Tristram and asked hym what was his na∣me / Syre said sire Tristram ye shalle holde me excused as att this tyme / for ye shalle not wete my name / And there sir Tris¦tram retorned and rode his way / I haue merueylle said Ar∣thur that yonder knyght wille not telle me his name / but goo thow Gryflet le fyse de dieu / and praye hym to speke with me betwixe vs / Thenne sire Gryflet rode after hym and ouertoke hym / and said hym that kyng Arthur praid hym fo: to spe∣ke with hym secretely a parte / vpon this couenaunt said sir tris¦tram I wille speke with hym that I wille torne ageyne / soo that ye wille ensure me not to desyre to here my name / I shalle vndertake said sir Gryflet that he wille not gretely desyre hit of you / Soo they rode to gyders vntyl they cam to kyng Ar∣thur / Fair sir said Kynge Arthur what is the cause ye wylle not telle me your name / Syr said sir Tristram withoute a ca∣use I wille not hyde my name / vpon what party will ye hold said kynge Arthur / Truly my lord said sir Tristram I wote not yet on what party I wille be on vntil I come to the felde And there as my herte gyueth me / there wille I hold / but to morowe ye shalle see and preue on what party I shall come & there with al he retorned and wente to his pauelions / And vpon the morne they armed them alle in grene / and came in to the felde / and there yonge knyghtes beganne to Iuste and dyd many worshipful dedes / Thenne spacke Gareth vnto sire Tristram and praid hym to gyue hym leue to breke his spere for hym thoughte shame to bere his spere hole ageyne / whan sir Tristram herd hym say soo he lough / and sayd I pray yow doo your best / Thenne sir Gareth gate a spere and profered to Iuste / That sawe a knyght that was neuewe vnto the kynge of the honderd knyghtes / his name was Selyses and a good man of armes / Soo this knyght Selyses thenne dressid hym vnto sir Gareth / and they two mette to gyders soo hard / that eyther smote other doune hors and alle to the erthe / so they we¦re both brysed and hurte and there they lay tyl the Kyng with the honderd knyghtes halp Selyses vp / and syr Tristram and sir Palomydes halpe vp Gareth ageyne / and so they rode with sir Gareth vnto their pauelions / and thenne they pulled of his Page  [unnumbered] helme / And whanne la Beale Isoud sawe sire Gareth bry∣sed in the face / she asked hym what eyled hym / Madame sa∣id sire Gareth I had a grete buffet / and as I suppose I gaf another / but none of my felawes god thanke them wold not rescowe me / Forsothe said Palomydes hit longed not to none of vs as this daye to Iuste / for there haue not this day Iusted no preued knyghtes / and nede•y ye wold Iuste / And whan the other party sawe ye prof•red your self to Iuste / they sonte one to yow a passynge good knyght of his age / for I knowe hym wel his name is Selyses / and worshipfully ye met with hym / and neyther of yow are dishonoured / & therfor refresshe your self that ye may be redy and hole to Iuste to morowe / As for that said Gareth I shalle not fayle yow and I may bestryde myn hors /

¶Capitulum lxviij

NOw vpon what party said Tristram is hit best / we be with alle as to morne / Syr said Palomydes ye shalle haue myn aduyse to be ageynst Kynge Arthur as to morne for on his party wille be syre Launcelot and many good knygh∣tes of his blood with hym / And the moo men of worship that they be / the more worship we shalle we wynne / That is full knyghtely spoken said sir Tristram / and ryght soo as ye coun¦ceile me / soo wille we doo / In the name of god said they all Soo that myghte they were lodged with the best / And on the mo•ne whan it was day they were arayed alle in grene trap pours sheldes and speres / and la Beale Isoud in the same co∣loure and her thre damoysels / And ryghte soo these four kn∣yghtes came in to the feld endlonge and thurgh / And so they ledde la beale Isoud thyder as she shold stande and beholde all the Iustes in a bay wyndowe / but al wayes she was wympeld that no man myʒt see her vysage / And thenne these thre knyʒ∣tes rode streyght vnto the party of the kynge of Scottes / whan Kyng arthur had sene hym doo all this he asked sir laū¦celot what were these knyʒtes & that quene / sir said launcelot I can not say you in certayn / but yf sir Tristram be in this co∣untrey or sir palomydes / wete ye wel it be they in certeyn / and Page  [unnumbered] la beale Isoud / Thenne Arthur called to hym syre kay and said goo lyghtely and wete how many knyghtes there ben he¦re lackynge of the table round / for by the seges thou maiste knowe / Soo wente syr kay and sawe by the wrytynge in the •eges that there lacked ten knyghtes / and these ben their na∣mes that ben not here / Syr Tristram / syr Palomydes / syr Per¦cyuale / syr Gaherys / syr Epynogry• / syr Mordred / syre Dy∣nadan / syr la cote male tayle and syr Pelleas the noble knyʒt wel said arthur somme of these I dar vndertake ar here thys day ageynst vs / Thenne came therin two bretheren cosyns vn∣to syre Gawayne the one hyght syr Edward / that other hyʒte syr Sadok the whiche were two good knyghtes / and they as¦ked of Kynge arthur that they myght haue the fyrst Iustes / for they were of Orkeney / I am pleased said Kynge arthur / Thenne syr Edward encountred with the Kynge of Scottes / in whos party was syre Tristram and syr Palomydes / & syre Edward smote the Kynge of Scottes quyte from his hors / and syr Sadok smote doune the Kynge of Northwalys / and gaf hym a wonder grete falle that there was a grete crye on kynge arthurs party / and that made syr Palomydes passyng wrothe / and soo syr palomydes dressid his shelde and his spe¦re / and with alle his myght he mette with syr Edward of or∣keney that he smote hym soo hard / that his hors myghte not stande on his feet / and soo they hurtled to the erthe / and then∣ne with the same spere syr Palomydes smote doune syre Sa∣dok ouer his hors croupe / O Ihesu said arthur what Knyghte is that arayed all in grene / he Iusteth myghtely / wete you wel said syr Gawayne he is a good Knyghte and yet shall ye see hym Iuste better or he departe / and yet shalle ye see saide syre Gawayne another bygger Knyghte in the same coloure than he is / for that same Knyghte said syre Gawayn that smote doune ryghte now my four cosyns / he smote me doune within these two dayes and seuen felawes moo / This meane whyle as they stood thus talkynge there came in to the place syr tris¦tram vpon a black hors / and or euer / he stynte he smote doune with one spere four good Knyghtes of Orkeney that were of the Kynne of sir Gawayn / & sir Gareth & sir Dynadan eue∣ryche of them smote doun a good Knyʒt / Ihesu seid arthur yōder Page  [unnumbered] knyghte vpon the black hors doth myghtely and merueyllo∣usly wel / Abyde you said sir Gawayne that knyght with the black hors beganne not yet / Thenne syr Tristram made to horse ageyne the two kynges that Edward and Sadok had vn∣horsed at the begynnynge / And thenne sire Tristram drewe his swerd and rode in to the thyckest of the prees ayenst them of Orkeney / and there he smote doune knyghtes / and rasshed of helmes and pulled awey theire sheldes / and hurtled doun many knyghtes / he ferd soo that sire Arthur and alle knygh∣tes had grete merueille whan they sawe one knyghte doo soo grete dedes of armes / and sire Palomydes fayled not vpon the other syde / but dyd so merueyllously wel that al men had wonder / For there kynge Arthur lykened syre Tristram that was on the black hors lyke to a wood lyon / and lykened syr palomydes vpon the whyte hors vnto a wood lybard / and sir Gareth and sir Dynadan vnto eger wolues / But the custom was suche amonge them that none of the kynges wold helpe other / but alle the felauship of euery standard to helpe other as they myght / but euer sire Tristram dyd soo moche dedes of armes that they of Orkeney waxed wery of hym / and so with drewe them vnto Lonezep

¶Capitulum lxix

THenne was the crye of Heraudes and alle manere of comyn peple the grene knyghte hath done merueyllo∣usly and beten all them of Orkeney / & there the heraudes nom¦bred that syr Tristram that satte vpon the black hors had smy¦ten doune with speres and swerdes xxx knyghtes / and sir pa¦lomydes had smyten doune twenty knyghtes / and the moost party of these / l / knyʒtes were of the hous of kyng Arthur / & proued knyʒtes / So god me help said Arthur vnto sir laūcelot this is a grete shame to vs to see four knyghtes bete soo many knyghtes of myn / & therfor make yow redy for we wyll haue adoo with them / Syr said launcelot wete ye wel that there ar two passynge good knyghtes and grete worship were hit not to vs now to haue adoo with them / for they haue this day sore Page  [unnumbered] trauaylled / As for that said Arthur I wille be auengyd / & therfor take with yow sire Bleoberys and sir Ector / and I wille be the fourthe sayd Arthur / Syre said Launcelot ye shal fynde me redy / and my broder sir Ector and my cosyn sir ble¦berys / And soo whanne they were redy and on horsbak / Now chese said sir Arthur vnto sir laūcelot with whome that ye wil encountre with alle / Sir, said Launcelot I wille mete with the grene knyghte vpon the black hors that was syre Tristram / & my cosyn sir Bleoberys shalle matche the grene knyghte vpon the whyte hors that was sir Palomydes / and my broder syre Ector shall matche with the grene knyʒt vpon the whyte hors that was sir Gareth / Thenne must I said sir Arthur haue a doo with the grene knyghte vpon the gryseld hors / and that was sire Dynadan / Now euery man take heede to his felawe said sir launcelot / and soo they trotted on to gyders / and ther encountred sire Launcelot ageynste syre Tristram / ¶ Soo syr Launcelot smote sir Tristram soo sore vpon the shelde that he bare hors and man to the erthe / but sir launcelot wend that it had ben sire Palomydes and soo he passed forthe / And then∣ne sire Bleoberys encountred with sire Palomydes / and he smote hym soo hard vpon the shelde that sire Palomydes and his whyte hors rustled to the erthe ¶Thenne sir Ector de marys smote sire Gareth soo hard that doune he felle of his hors / And the noble kynge Arthur encountred with sir Dy∣nadan / and he smote hym quyte from his sadel / And thenne the noyse torned a whyle how the grene knyghtes were sla∣yn doune / whanne the Kynge of Northgalys sawe that syre Tristram had a falle / thenne he remembryd hym how grete de∣des of armes sir Tristram had done / Thenne he made redy ma¦ny knyghtes for the customme and crye was suche that what knyght were smyten doun and myghte not be horsed ageyne by his felawes outher by his owne strength that as that daye he shold be prysoner vnto the party that had smyten hym do∣une / Soo came in the Kynge of Northgalys and he rode strey∣ghte vnto sire Tristram / And whanne he came nyghe hym / he alyghte doune sodenly and bytoke sir Tristram his hors / and sayd thus Noble knyghte▪ I knowe the not / of what countrey that thow arte / but for the noble dedes that thow haste done Page  [unnumbered] this day take there my hors / and lete me doo as wel I maye For as Ihesu me helpe thow arte better worthy to haue myne hors than I my self / Gramercy said sir Tristram / & yf I may shalle quyte yow / loke that ye goo not ferre from vs / And as I suppose I shalle wynne yow an other hors / And ther with sire Tristram mounted vpon his hors / and there he mette with Kynge Arthur / and he gaf hym suche a buffet vpon the helme with his swerd that kynge Arthur had no power to kepe his sadel / And thenne sir Tristram gaf the Kynge of Northgalis kynge Arthurs hors / thenne was there grete prees about kyng Arthur for to horse hym ageyne / But sire Palomydes wold not suffre kynge Arthur to be horsed ageyne / but euer sir Pa¦lomydes smote on the ryght hand and on the lyfte hand my∣ghtely as a noble knyght / And this meane whyle sir Tristrā rode thorou the thyckest of the prees / and smote doune knygh∣tes on the ryʒt and on the lyfte hand and racyd of helmes and soo passed forth vnto his pauelions / and lefte syr Palo¦mydes on foot / and syr Tristram chaunged his hors and des∣guysed hym self alle in reed hors and harneis /

¶Capitulum lxxij

ANd whan the Quene la Beale Isoud sawe that syre Tristram was vnhorsed and she wist not where he was thenne she wept gretely / But sir Tristram whan he was redy came dasshynge lyghtely in to the feld / And thenne la Beale Isoud aspyed hym / and so he dyd grete dedes of armes with one spere that was grete / syr Tristram smote doune fyue knyʒ¦tes or euer he stynte / Thenne syr Launcelot aspyed hym redy∣ly that it was syr Tristram and thenne he repentyd hym that he had smyten hym doune / and soo syr Launcelot went oute of the prees to repose hym and lyghtely he came ageyne / and now whanne syr Tristram came in to the prees thorou his gre¦te force / he put syre palomydes vpon his hors / and syr Gareth and syre Dynadan / and thenne they beganne to do merueyl∣lously / but sir Palomydes nor none of his two felawes kne∣we not who had holpen them on horsbak ageyne / But euer syre Tristram was nyghe them / and socoured them / and they Page  [unnumbered] not hym by cause he was chaunged in to reed armour / and al this whyle sir launcelot was awry / Soo whanne la Brale Isoud knewe sir Tristram ageyne vpon his horsbak / she was passynge gladde / and thenne she lough and make good chere / And as hit happend sir palomydes loked vp toward her whe∣re she lay in the wyndowe / and he aspyed how she laughed and there with he took suche a reioycynge that he smote doune what with his spere and with his suerd alle that euer he mett for thurgh the syghte of her he was soo enamoured in her loue that he semed at that tyme / that and bothe sir Tristram and sir Launcelot had ben bothe ageynst hym they shold haue won∣ne no worship of hym / and in his herte as the book saith syre Palomydes wysshed that with his worship he myghte haue a doo with sir Tristram bifore alle men by cause of la Beale I∣soud / ¶Thenne syre Palomydes beganne to double his stren∣gthe / and he dyd soo merueyllously that alle men had wonder of hym / and euer he caste vp his eye vnto la Beale Isoud / And whanne he sawe her make suche chere / he ferd lyke a lyon that there myghte no man withstande hym / and thenne syre Tristram beheld hym how that sire Palomydes bestured hym / and thenne he said vnto sir Dynadan / soo god me help sir Pa∣lomydes is a passynge good knyghte and a wel endurynge / But suche dedes sawe I hym neuer doo / nor neuer herd I telle that euer he dyd soo moche in one day / it is his day said Dyna¦dan / and he wold saye no more vnto syr Tristram / but to hym self he sayd / and yf ye knewe for whos loue he doth alle these dedes of armes / soone wolde syre Tristram abate his courage / Allas said syre Tristram that syre Palomydes is not cryste∣ned / Soo said Kynge Arthur / and soo said all tho that behelde hym / Thenne alle peple gaf hym the pryce as for the best kny∣ght that day that he passed syr launcelot outher syre Tristram wel said Dynadan to hym self alle this worship that syre Pa¦lomydes hath here this daye he maye thanke the Quene Isoud For had she ben aweye this daye / syre Palomydes had not ge∣ten the pryce this daye ¶ Ryght soo came in to the felde syr launcelot du lake and sawe and herd the noyse and crye and the grete worship that syre Palomydes had he dressid hym ageynst syr Palomydes with a grete myghty spere / and Page  [unnumbered] alonge / and thought to smyte hym doune / And whanne syre Palomydes sawe sir launcelot come vpon hym soo fast / he ran vpon sire launcelot as fast with his swerd as he myght / and as sire launcelot shold haue stryken hym / he smote his spere on syde / and smote it atwo with his swerd / And sir palomy∣des rasshed vnto sire launcelot and thoughte to haue putt hym to a shame / and with his swerd he smote his hors neck that sire launcelot rode vpon / and thenne sir launcelot felle to the erthe / Thenne was the crye huge and grete / see how sir Palo∣mydes the sarasyn hath smyten doune syre launcelots hors ¶Ryght thenne were there many knyghtes wrothe with syre Palomydes by cause he had done that d•de / therfor many kny∣ghtes held there ageynst that it was vnknyghtely done in a turnement to kylle an hors wilfully but that hit had ben do¦ne in playne batail lyf for lyf

¶Capitulum lxxj

WHanne sir Ector de marys sawe sir launcelot his bro∣der haue suche a despyte / & so set on foot / thenne he gat a spere egerly / & ran ageynst sir palomydes / & he smote hym so hard that he bare hym quyte from his hors / that sawe sir tristrā that was in reed harneis / & he smote donne syr Ector de ma∣rys quyte from his hors / thenne sir launcelot dressid his sheld vpon his sholder / & with his suerd naked in his hand / & so cam streyʒt vpon sir palomydes fyersly & said wete thou wel thow hast done me this day the grettest despyte that euer ony worsh∣ipful knyʒt dyd to me in turnement or in Iustes / & therfore I will be auengid vpon the / therfor take kepe to your self / ¶ A mercy noble knyʒt said palomydes / & forgyue me myn vnkyn¦dely dedes for I haue no power nor myʒt to withstande you / & I haue done soo moche this daye that wel I wote I dyd neuer so moche nor neuer shal in my lyf dayes / & therfore moost no∣ble knyʒt I requyre the spare me as at this day / & I promyse you I shal euer be your knyʒt whyle I lyue / And ye putte me from my worship now / ye putte me from the grettest wor∣ship that euer I had or euer shalle haue in my lyf dayes / wel Page  [unnumbered] sayd sire launcelot / I see for to say the sothe ye haue done mer¦ueyllously wel this day / and I vnderstande a parte for whos loue ye doo hit / and wel I wote that loue is a grete maystresse And yf my lady were here as she nys not / wete yow wel sa∣id sire Palomydes ye shold not bere awey the worship / But beware your loue be not discouerd / for and syr Tristram may knowe hit ye wille repente hit / And sythen my quarel is not here / ye shall haue this day the worshyp as for me consyderyng the grete trauaylle and payne that ye haue had this day / it we¦re no worship for me to putte yow from hit / And there wyth all sir launcelot suffred sit Palomydes to departe / ¶Thenne sir Launcelot by grete force and myghte gate his owne hors ma∣ulgre xx knyghtes / Soo whanne sire Launcelot was horsed / he dyd many merueylles / and soo dyd sir Tristram / and syre palomydes in lyke wyso / Thenne sir laūcelot smote doune with a spere sir Dynadan / and the kynge of scotland / and the ky∣nge of walys / and the kynge of Northumberland / and the kynge of Lystynes / Soo thenne sire laūcelot and his felawes smote doune wel a fourty knyghtes / Thenne came the kyng of Irland and the kynge of the streyte marches to rescowe syre Tristram and sire Palomydes / There beganne a grete medle / & many knyghtes were smyten doune on bothe partyes / and al∣weyes sir launcelot spared sir Tristram / and he spared hym / And sir Palomydes wold not medle with sir launcelot / and soo there was hurtelynge here and there / And thenne Kynge Arthur sente oute many knyghtes of the table round / and sir palomydes was euer in the formest fronte / and syre Trystram dyd soo strongly wel that the kynge and alle other had mer¦ueylle / And thenne the kynge lete blowe to lodgynge / and by cause sir Palomydes beganne fyrste / and neuer he went nor ro¦de oute of the feld to repose / but euer he was doynge merueyll∣ously wel outher on foote or on horsbak / and lengest durynge Kynge Arthur and alle the kynges gaf sir Palomydes the ho¦nour and the gree as for that daye / Thenne syr Tristram com∣maunded sir Dynadan to fetche the Quene la Beale Isoud and brynge her to his two pauelions that stode by the welle / And soo Dynadan dyd as he was commaunded / But when sir Palomydes vnderstode and wyst that sire Tristram was in Page  [unnumbered] the reed armour / and on the reed hors / wete ye wel that he was gladde and soo was sir Gareth and sire Dynadan / For they alle wende that syre Trystram had be taken prysoner And thenne euery knyghte drewe to his Inne / And thenne kynge Arthur and euery knyghte spake of tho knyghtes / but aboue alle men they gaf sire Palomydes the pryce / and alle knyghtes that knewe sire Palomydes had wonder of his de∣des / Syre said sir Launcelot vnto Arthur as for sir Palomy∣des and he be the grene knyghte I dare say as for this daye he is best worthy to haue the degree / for he reposyd hym neuer / ne neuer chaunged his wedys / And he beganne fyrste and lon∣gest held on / and yet wel I wote said sir Launcelot that ther was a better knyght than he / and that shalle be preued or we departe vpon payne of my lyf / ¶Thus they talked on eyther party / and soo sire Dynadan rayled with sir Tristram & said what the deuyl is vpon the this day / for sir palamydes strength febled neuer this day but euer he doubled his strengthe

¶Capitulum lxxij

ANd thou sire Tristram faryst alle this daye as though thou haddest ben a slepe / and therfor I calle the coward wel Dynadan said sir Tristram / I was neuer called co¦ward or now of no erthely knyghte in my lyf / and wete thou wel syr I calle my selfe neuer the more coward though syre Launcelot gaf me a falle / for I oute cepte hym of al knygh∣tes / And doubte ye not syr Dynadan and syr Launcelot haue a quarel good / he is to ouer good for ony knyght that now is lyuynge / and yet of his sufferaunce largesse / bounte / and cur∣tosy I calle hym knyght pyerles / and soo sire Tristram was in maner wrothe with syr Dynadan / But alle this langage syr Dynadan said by cause he wold angre syre Tristram for to cause hym to awake his spyrytes & to be wrothe / for wel kne∣we syr Dynadan that and syr Tristram were thorouly wrothe syre Palomydes shold not gete the pryce vpon the morn / And for this enten•e syr Dynadan said alle this raylynge and lan∣gage ageynst sir Tristram / Truly said syre palomydes / as for syr launcelot of his noble knyʒthode / curtosye and prowesse / Page  [unnumbered] and gentilnes I knowe not his pyere / for this day sayd syre Palomydes I dyd ful vncurtoisly vnto sire launcelot and ful vnknyghtely / and ful knyghtely and curtoisly he dyd to me ageyne / for and he had ben as vngentyl to me as I was to hym this daye I had wonne no worship / And therfor sayd Palomydes I shal be sire launcelots knyght whyles my lyfe lasteth / Thys talkynge was in the howses of Kynges / But alle kynges lordes and knyghtes sayd of clere knyghthode / & of pure strengthe / of bounte / of curtosye / syr Launcelot and sir Tristram bare the pryce aboue alle knyghtes that euer were in Arthurs dayes / And there were neu•r knyghtes in Arthurs dayes dyd half soo many dedes as they dyd / as the book sa∣yth / no ten knyghtes dyd not half the dedes that they dyd & there was neuer knyghte in their dayes that requyred sir la∣uncelot or sire Tristram of ony quest soo hit were not to theyre shame but they performed their desyre

¶Capitulum lxxiij

SOo on the morne syre Launcelot departed and sir tris∣tram was redy and la Beale Isoud with sir Palo∣mydes and sir Gareth / And soo they rode alle in gre∣ne ful fresshely bysene vnto the forest / and sir Tristram left sir Dynadan slepynge in his bed / and so as they rode / it happ•d the kynge and launcelot stode in a wyndowe / and sawe syre Tristram ryde and Isoud / Syre sayd Launcelot yonder ry∣deth the fayrest lady of the world excepte youre quene Dame Gueneuer / who is that said sir Arthur / Sir sayd he / it is que¦ne Isoud that oute taken my lady your quene she is make∣les / Take your hors said Arthur / and araye yow at alle ryʒ∣tes as I wylle doo / and I promyse yow said the kynge / I wille see her / ¶Thenne anone they were armed & horsed / and eyther took a spere and rode vnto the forest / Syre said launcelot it is not good that ye goo to nyghe them / for wete ye wel there are two as good knyghtes as now are ly∣uynge / and therfore sir I pray yow be not to hasty / For perad¦uenture there wille be somme knyghtes ben displeased and we Page  [unnumbered] come sodenly vpon them / As for that sayd Arthur I wyll see her / for I take no force whome I greue / Syr said launcelot ye putte your self in grete Ieopardy / As for that said the ky∣nge we wille take the aduenture / Ryght soo anone the Kyng rode euen to her / and salewed her / and said god yow saue / Syr said she ye are welcome / thenne the kynge beheld her / and lyked her wonderly wel / with that came sire palomydes vnto Arthur and said vncurtois knyght what sekest thow here / thou art vncurtois to come vp•n a lady thus sodenly / therfor with∣drawe the / Syr Arthur took none hede of sire palomydes wor¦des / but euer he loked stylle vpon Quene Isoud / Thenne was sir Palomydes wrothe / and there with he took a spere / and cam hurtelynge vpon Kynge Arthur / and smote hym doune with a spere / whan sire launcelot sawe that despyte of sir Palomydes he sayd to hym self I am loth to haue adoo with yonder kny∣ght / and not for his owne sake but for sir Tristram / And one thynge I am sure of / yf I smyte doune sir palomydes I must haue adoo with sire Tristram / and that were ouer moch for me to matche them bothe / for they are two noble knyghtes / not withstandynge whether I lyue or I dye nedes muste I re∣uenge my lord / and so wille I what someuer befalle of me / And there with sir launcelot cryed to sir palomydes / kepe the from me / And thenne sir launcelot and sire Palmydes ras∣shed to gyder with two speres strongly / But sire Launcelot smote sir palomydes soo hard that he wente quyte oute of his sadel and had a grete falle / whanne sire Tristram sawe syre palomydes haue that falle / he sayd to sire Launcelot / syr kny∣ght kepe the / for I must Iuste with the / As for to Iuste with me said sir launcelot I wille not fayle yow / for no dr•de I haue of yow / but I am lothe to haue adoo with yow and I myghte chese / for I will that ye wete that I must reuenge my special lord that was vnhorsed vnwarly and vnknyghtely / And therfor though I reuengyd that falle / take ye no disp∣leasyr therin / for he is to me suche a frende that I may not see hym shamed / anone sir Tristram vnderstode by his parson and by his knyghtely wordes that it was sir launcelot du lake / and veryly sir Tristram demed that it was kynge Arthur he that sir Palomydes had smyten doune Page  [unnumbered] And thenne sir Tristram put his spere from hym / and putte sire Palomydes ageyne on horsbak / and sir launcelot put kyng Arthur on horshak and soo departed / So god me helpe sayd sire Tristram vnto Palomydes ye dyd not worshipfully when ye smote doune that knyght soo sodenly as ye dyd / And we∣te ye wel ye dyd your self grete shame / for the knyghtes cam hyder of their gentilnesse to see a fayre lady / and that is eue¦ry good knyghtes parte to behold a fayr lady / and ye hadde not adoo to playe suche maystryes afore my lady / wete thow wel hit wille tourne to angre / for he that ye smote doune was kynge Arthur / and that other was the good knyght sire la∣uncelot / But I shalle not forgete the wordes of •ire launcelot whan that he callyd hym a man of grete worship / there by I wyst that it was kynge Arthur / And as for sire launcelot / and there had ben fyue honderd knyghtes in the medowe / he wold not haue refused them / and yet he said he wold refuse me / By that ageyne I wyst that it was sir launcelot / for e∣uer he forbereth me in euery place / and sheweth me grete kynd¦nesse / and of alle knyghtes I oute take none saye what men wille say / he bereth the floure of al chyualry / saye hit hym who someuer wille / and he be wel angred / and that hym lyst to do his vtteraunce withoute ony fauour / I knowe hym not on lyue but sir launcelot is ouer hard for hym / be hit on horsback or on foote / I may neuer byleue sayd Palomydes that kyng Arthur wille ryde soo pryuely as a poure erraunt knyghte / A said sir Tristram ye knowe not my lord Arthur / for all knyʒ∣tes maye lerne to be a knyghte of hym / And therfore ye may be sory said •ire Tristram of your vnkyndely dedes to so noble a kynge / And a thynge that is done may not be vndone sayd Palomydes / Thenne sire Tristram sente quene Isoud vnto her lodgynge in the pryory there to behold alle the turnement /

¶Capitulum lxxiiii

THenne there was a crye vnto all knyghtes that when they herd an horne blowe they shold make Iustes as they dyd the fyrst day / And lyke as the bretheren sire Page  [unnumbered] Edward and sir Sadok beganne the Iustes the fyrst daye / sir Vwayne the kynges sone Vreyn and sir lucanere de buttelere beganne the Iustes the second day / And at the fyrst encountre syr Vwayne smote doune the kynges sone of S•ottes / and syr Lucanere ranne ageynste the kynge of walys / and they brake their speres alle to pyeces / and they were soo fyers bothe / that they hurtled to gyders that bothe felle to the erthe / ¶ Thenne they of Dorkeney horsed ageyne syr Lucanere / And thenne came in syr Tristram de Lyones / and thenne syr Tristram smo¦te doune syr Vwayne / and syre Lucanere and syre Palomy∣des smote doune other two Knyghtes / and syre Gareth smote doune other two Knyghtes / Thenne said syre arthu• vnto syr Launcelot / see yonder thre knyghtes doo passyngly wel / & na∣mely the fyrst that Iusted / Sir said launcelot that Knyghte beganne not yet / but ye shalle see hym this day doo merueyl∣lously / and thenne came in to the place the dukes sone of Or∣keney / and thenne they beganne to do many dedes of armes / ¶Whan syre Tristram sawe them soo begynne / he said to Pa∣lomydes / how fele ye your self / maye ye doo this daye as ye dyd yesterday / Nay said Palomydes I fele my self soo wery and soo sore brysed of the dedes of yesterday that I maye not endu∣re as I dyd yesterday / That me repenteth said syre Tristram / for I shall lacke yow this day / Sire Palomydes saide truste not to me / for I maye not doo as I dyd / alle these wordes said Palomydes for to begyle syr Tristram / Syr said syr Tristram vnto syr Gareth thenne muste I truste vpon yow wherfor I praye yow be not ferre from me to rescowe me / and nede be sa∣id Gareth I shalle not fayle yow in alle that I maye doo ¶Thenne syr Palomydes rode by hym self / and thenne in des¦pyte of syr Tristram he putte hym self in the thyckest prees a¦monge them of Dorkeney / and there he dyd soo merueyllous dedes of armes that alle men had wonder of hym / for there myghte none s•ande hym a st•oke / whanne syre Tristram sawe syre Palomydes doo suche dedes / he merueylled and sayd to hym self / he is wery of my company / Soo syr Tristram beheld hym a grete whyle and dyd but lytel els / for the noyse and crye was soo huge / and grete / that syre Tristram merueylled / from w•ens came the strengthe that sire Palomydes had there Page  [unnumbered] in the felde / Syr said sire Gareth vnto syr Tristram / remembre ye not of the wordes that syr Dynadan sayd to yow yesterday when he called yow coward / for sothe sir he said it for none yf for ye are the man in the world that he moost loueth / and alle that he sayd was for your worship / And therfore said sir Ga∣reth to sir Tristram lete me knowe this daye what ye be / & won∣dre ye not soo vpon sire Palomydes / for he enforceth hym self to wynne alle the worship and honour from yow / I maye well byleue it said sir Tristram / And sythen I vnderstande his euyl wylle and his enuy / ye shalle see / yf that I enforce my selfe / that the noyse shalle be lefte that now is vpon hym /

Thenne sire Tristram rode in to the thyckest of the prees / & then∣ne he dyd soo merueyllously wel / and dyd soo grete dedes of armes that alle men sayd that sire Tristram dyd double so mo¦che dedes of armes as syre Palomydes had done afore hand / And thenne the noyse wente playne from sire Palomydes / and alle the peple cryed vpon sir Tristram / O Ihesu said the peple see how sire Tristram smyteth doune with his spere soo many knyghtes / And see saide they all how many knyghtes he smy¦teth doune with his suerd / and of how many knyghtes he ras∣shed of their helmes and their sheldes / and soo he bete them al of Orkeney afore hym / How now said sir launcelot vnto ky∣nge Arthur / I told yow that this daye there wold a knyʒt playe his pagent / yonder rydeth a knyʒt ye may see he doth kny¦ghtely / for he hath strengthe and wynde So god me help said Arthur to Launcelot ye saye sothe / for I sawe neuer a better knyghte / for he passeth fer sire Palomydes / Syre wete ye well sayd launcelot hit muste be soo of ryghte / for hit is hym selfe that noble knyght syr Tristram / I maye ryght wel byleue it said Arthur / But whan sire Palomydes herd the noyse and the crye was torned from hym / he rode oute on a parte / and be∣held sir Tristram / And whanne sire Palomydes sawe sir Tris¦tram do so merueyllously wel / he wepte passyngly sore for des¦pyte / for he wiste wel / he shold no worship wynne that daye / for wel knewe sire Palomydes whanne sire Tristram wold put forth his strengthe and his manhode he shold gete but ly∣tyl worship that daye

¶Capitulum lxxv

THenne came kynge Arthur and the kynge of North∣galy• / and sir Launcelot du lake and sire Bleoberis sire Bors de ganys / sir Ector de maris / these thre kny∣ghtes came in to the feld with sire launcelot / And thenne sire Launcelot with the thre knyghtes of his kynne dyd soo grete dedes of armes that alle the noyse beganne vpon sir launcelot / And soo they bete the kynge of walys and the kyng of scot∣tes ferre abak / and made them to auoyde the felde / but sir Tris∣tram and sir Gareth abode stylle in the felde and endured all that euer there came / that alle men had wonder that ony kny∣ght myght endure soo many strokes / But euer sir launcelot & his thre kynnesmen by the cammaūdement of syr launcelot for∣bare sir Tristram / Thenne said sir Arthur is that sir Palomy∣des that endureth soo wel / nay sayd sir launcelot / wete ye wel it is the good knyght sir Tristram / for yonder ye maye see syr Palomydes beholdeth and houeth and doth lytel or noughte / And sire ye shalle vnderstande that sire Tristram weneth thys day to bete vs alle oute of the felde / And as for me said sire launcelot I shal not bete hym / bete hym who soo wil / Sir said Launcelot vnto Arthur ye may see how sir Palomydes houeth yonder / as though he were in a dreme / wete ye wel he is ful he¦uy that Tristram doth suche dedes of armes / Thenne is he but a foole said Arthur / for neuer was sire Palomydes / nor neuer shalle be of suche prowesse as sir Tristram / And yf he haue o∣ny enuy at sir Tristram and cometh in with hym vpon his sy¦de he is a fals knyghte / ¶As the kynge and sir Launcelot thus spake / sir Tristram rode pryuely oute of the prees / that none aspyed hym / but la Beale Isoud and sir Palomydes / for they two wold not lete of their eyen vpon sir Tristram / ¶And whanne sir Tristram cam to his pauelions he fond sire Dynadan in his bedde a slepe / Awake said Tristram / ye ouʒt to be ashamed soo to slepe whan knyghtes haue ado in the feld Thenne syr Dynadan arose lyghtely and said syr what wylle ye that I shalle doo / make yow redy said syr Tristram to ryde with me in to the felde / Soo whan syr Dynadan was armed be loked vpon syre Tristrams helme and on his shelde / and Page  [unnumbered] whan he sawe soo many strokes vpon his helme and vpon his shelde / he said in good tyme was I thus a slepe / For hadde I ben with yow / I must nedes for shame there haue folowed yow / more for shame than ony prowesse / that is in me / that I see wel now by tho strokes that I shold haue ben truly beten as I was yesterdaye / Leue youre Iapes said sire Tristram / & come of that we were in the felde ageyne / what sayd sire Dy∣nadan is your herte vp / yester daye ye ferd as though ye had dremed / Soo thenne sir Tristram was arayed in black harne∣is / O Ihesu said Dynadan what eyleth yow this day / me se∣meth ye be wylder than ye were yesterday / Thenne smyled syr Tristram and sayd to Dynadan awayte wel vpon me / yf ye see me ouermatched / loke that ye be euer behynde me / and I shalle make yow redy way by goddes grace / Soo sir Tristram and syre Dynadan took their horses / Alle this aspyed sir pa¦lomydes / bothe their goynge and their comynge / and soo dyd la Beale Isoud / for she knewe sir Tristram aboue alle other

¶Capitulum lxxvj

THenne whanne sire Palomydes sawe that sir Tristram was desguysed / thenne he thoughte to doo hym a sha∣me / Soo syre Palomydes rode to a knyghte that was sore wounded that satte vnder a fayre welle from the felde / Syr knyghte said sire Palomydes I pray you to lene me yo∣ur armour / and your shelde / for myn is ouer wel knowen in this felde / and that hath done me grete dommage / and ye shall haue myn armour and my shelde that is as sure as yours / I wille wel said the knyghte that ye haue myn armour and my shelde / yf they may doo yow ony auayle / So sire Palomy∣des armed hym hastely in that Knyghtes armoure & his sheld that shone as ony crystall or syluer / and soo he came rydynge in to the felde / And thenne ther was neyther sire Tristram nor none of kynge Arthurs party that knewe sir Palomydes / ¶And ryght soo as sir Palomydes was come in to the feld syr Tristram smote doune thre Knyghtes euen in the syght of sir Palomydes / And thenne sir Palomydes rode ageynst syre Page  [unnumbered] Tristram / and eyther mette other with grete speres / that they braste to their handes / And thenne they dasshed to gyder with swerdes egerly / Thenne sire Tristram had merueylle what kn∣yghte he was that dyd bataill so knyghtely with hym / Then∣ne was sir Tristram wrothe / for he felte hym passynge stronge so that he demed he myghte not haue adoo with the remenaunt of the knyʒtes by cause of the strengthe of syre palomydes ¶Soo they lasshed to gyder and gaf many sadde strokes to gyders / and many knyghtes merueylled what knyghte he myghte be that soo encountred with the black knyghte sir tris¦tram / ful wel knewe la Beale Isoud that there was syre palomydes that fought with sir Tristram / for she aspyed al in her wyndowe where that she stode / as syr palomydes chaunged his harneis with the wounded knyghte / And thenne she be∣ganne to wepe so hertely for the despyte of syr palomydes that ther she swouned / Thenne came in syr laūcelot with the knygh¦tes of Orkeney / And whanne the o•her party had aspyed sir Launcelot / they cryed / retorne / retorne / here cometh syre launce¦lot du lake / Soo there came knyghtes and sayd syr launce∣lot ye must nedes fyghte with yonder knyght in the black har∣neis that was syr Tristram / for he hath al moost ouercome that good knyghte that fyghteth with hym with the syluer shelde that was syr palomydes / Thenne sir launcelot rode betwix sir Tristram and syr palomydes / and syr launcelot said to palo¦mydes / syr knyghte lete me haue the batail / for ye haue nede to be reposed / Syr palomydes knewe syr launcelot wel / and so dyd syre Tristram / but by cause syr Launcelot was ferre har∣dyer knyght than hym self / therfor he was gladde / and suffred syr launcelot to fyghte with syr Tristram / For wel wyste he that syre launcelot knewe not sir Tristram / and there he hope that syr launcelot shold bete or shame syre Tristram / wherof syre palomydes was ful fayne / and soo syr launcelot gaf syr Tristram many sadde strokes / but syre launcelot knewe not sir Tristram / but sir Tristram knewe wel syre launcelot /

And thus they fought longe to gyders that la Beale Isoud was wel nygh oute of her mynde for sorou / thenne syr Dyna¦dan told sir Gareth how y^• knyʒt in the black harne is was sir tristrā & this is laūcelot y^• fyʒteth with hym y^t must nedes haue Page  [unnumbered] the better of hym / for sir Tristram hath had to moche trauaylle this day / Thenne lete vs smyte hym doune said syre Gareth / so it is better that we doo said sire Dynadan thenne sir Tristram be shamed / for yonder houeth the stronge knyghte with the syl¦uer shelde to falle vpon syre Tristram yf nede be / Thenne forthe with alle Gareth rasshed vpon syre launcelot / and gaf hym a grete stroke vpon his helme soo hard that he was astonyed And thenne came syr Dynadan with a spere / and he smote syr launcelot suche a buffet that hors and alle felle to the erthe O Ihesu said syr Tristram to syre Gareth and syre Dynadan fy for shame why dyd ye smyte doune soo good a knyght as he is / and namely whan I had adoo with hym / now ye doo your self grete shame / and hym no disworship / For I helde hym resonable hote though ye had not holpen me / Thenne cam syre palomydes that was desguysed and smote doune syr Dy¦nadan from his hors / Thenne syr launcelot by cause syr Dyna¦dan had smyten hym afore hand / thenne syr launcelot assai∣led syre Dynadan passynge sore / and syre Dynadan defended hym myghtely / But wel vnderstood syr Tristram that syre Dynadan myghte not endure syr launcelot / wherfor syr Trist∣ram was sory / Thenne came syre palomydes fresshe vpon syre Tristram / And whanne syr Tristram sawe hym come / he tho∣ughte to delyuer hym at ones by cause that he wold helpe syre Dynadan by cause he stode in grete perylle with syr Launcelot ¶Thenne syre Tristram hurteled vnto syre palomydes & gafe hym a grete buffet / and thenne sir Tristram gate sir palomy∣des and pulled hym doune vnder nethe hym / And so felle sir Tristram with hym / and syr Tristram lepte vp lyghtely and lefte sir palomydes and wente betwixe sir launcelot and Dy∣nadan / and thenne they beganne to do bataille to gyders / ¶Ryght soo sire Dynadan gat sir Tristrams hors and said on hyghe that sir Launcelot myght here it / my lord sir Tristrā take yours hors / And whanne sire Launcelot herd hym ne∣neme sir Tristram / O Ihesu said launcelot what haue I done I am dishonoured / A my lord syre Tristram said Launcelot / why were ye desguysed / ye haue put your self in grete perille this daye / But I praye you noble Knyghte to pardone me / for and I had knowen yow we had not done this bataille / Page  [unnumbered] Sir said sir Tristram this is not the fyrst kyndenes ye shewed me / soo they were bothe horsed ageyne / Thenne all the people on the one syde gaf sir laūcelot the honour and the degree / & on the other syde all the people gaf to the noble knyʒt sir tristram the honour and the degree / but launcelot sayd nay ther to / for I am not worthy to haue this honour / for I wil reporte me vn¦to alle knyghtes that sir Tristram hath ben lenger in the felde than I / and he hath smyten doun many moo knyghtes thys day than I haue done / And therfore I wille gyue sire Trist∣ram my voyce and my name / and so I praye alle my lordes & felawes soo to doo / Thenne there was the hole voyce of dukes and Erles / Barons and knyghtes / that syr Tristram thys day is preued the best knyghte

¶Capitulum lxxvij

THenne they blewe vnto lodgynge / and Quene Isoud was ledde vnto her pauelions / but wete yow wel she was wrothe oute of mesure with syr Palomydes / for she sawe alle his treason from the begynnynge to the endynge / And all this whyle neyther syr Tristram neyther sir Gareth nor Dyna¦dan knewe not of the treason of sir Palomydes / but afterward ye shalle here that there bef•lle the grettest debate betwixe syre Tristram and sire Palomydes that myghte be / So whanne the turnement was done / sir Tristram Gareth and Dynadan rode with la Beale Isoud to these pauelions / And euer sire Pa∣lomydes rode with them in theyr company desguysed as he was But whanne sir Tristram had aspyed hym that he was the sa¦me knyghte with the sheld of syluer / that helde hym soo hote that day / Sir knyghte said sire Tristram wete yow wel here is none that hath nede of youre •elauship / and therfore I praye yow departe from vs / ¶Sire Palomydes ansuerd ageyne as though he had not knowen sir Tristram / wete yow wel sir kn∣yghte from this felauship wille I neuer departe / for one of the best knyghtes of the world commaunded me to be in this com¦pany / and tyl he discharge me of my seruyse I wille not be dis¦charged / by that sir Tristram knewe that it was sir palomydes A sir palomydes sayd the noble knyghte sire Tristram ar ye su∣che a knyghte ye haue ben named wronge / For ye haue longe Page  [unnumbered] ben called a gentil knyʒt / And as this daye ye haue shewed me grete vngentilnes / For ye hadde al mooste broughte me vnto my dethe / But as for yow I suppose I shold haue done wel ynough / but sir launcelot with yow was ouer moche / for I knowe no knyght lyuynge but sire launcelot is ouer good for hym and he wylle doo his vttermest / Allas said sir Palo∣mydes ar ye my lord sir Tristram / ye sir and that ye knowe wel ynough / by my knyghthode said Palomydes vntyl now I kne¦we yow not I wende that ye had ben the Kynge of Irland / for wel I wote ye bare his armes / His armes I have said syre Tristram / and that wille I stand by / For I wanne them ones in a f•lde of a ful noble knyghte / his name was sir Marhaus and with grete payne I wanne that knyghte / for there was no∣ne other recouer but sir Marhaus dyed thorugh fals leches / & yet was he neuer yolden to me / Sir said Palomydes I wend ye had ben torned vpon sir Launcelots party / and that caused me to torne / ye say wel said sir Tristram / and so I take you & I forgyue yow / Soo thenne they rode in to their pauelions / and whan they were alyʒt they vnarmed them and wesshe theyre faces and handes / and soo yode vnto mete and were sette atte their table / But whanne Isoud sawe sir Palomydes she chaū¦ged thenne her colours & for wrath she myght not speke / Anon sir Tristram a spyed her countenaunce and said Madame / for what cause make ye vs suche chere / we haue ben sore trauailed this day / Myn owne lord said la Beale Isoud for goddes sa¦ke be ye not dyspleasyd with me / for I maye none other wyse doo / for I sawe thys day how ye were bitrayed and nyghe bro∣ughte to your dethe / Truly syre I sawe euery dele how and in what wyse and therfor syr how shold I suffre in your presence suche a felon and traytour as sir Palomydes / For I sawe hym with myn eyen / how he beheld yow whan ye wente oute of the felde / for euer he houed stylle vpon his hors til he sawe yow co¦me in ageynward / And thēne forth with al I sawe hym ryde to the hurte knyghte and chaunged harn•is with hym / And then∣ne streyghte I sawe hym how he rode in to the felde /

¶And anone as he had foūde yow / he encountred with yow / and thus wilfully sir Palomydes dyd bataille with yow / & as for hym sir I was not gretely aferd but I dred sore laūcelot Page  [unnumbered] that knewe yow not / Madame said Palomydes ye maye saye what so ye wyll / I may not contrary yow but by my knyghtho¦de I knewe not sir Tristram / ¶Sir Palomydes said sir Tris¦tram I wille take your excuse / but wel I wote ye spared me but lytel / but alle is pardonned on my party / Thenne la beale Isoud held doune her heed and said no more at that tyme /

¶Capitulum lxxviij

ANd there with alle two knyghtes armed cam vnto the pauelione / and there they alyghte bothe / and came in armed at alle pyeces / Faire knyghtes sayd syre Tristram / ye ar to blame to come thus armed at alle pyeces vpon me why∣le we ar at oure mete / yf ye wold ony thynge whan we were in the felde / there myghte ye haue easyd your hertes / Not so said the one of tho knyghtes we come not for that entent / But wete ye wel sir Tristram we be come hydder as your fren¦des / And I am come here said the one for to see yow & thys knyghte is come for to see la Beale Isoud / Thenne said sire Tristram I requyre yow doo of your helmes that I maye see yow / that wille we doo at your desyre sayd the knyghtes • / And whanne their helmes were of / sir Tristram thought that he shold knowe them / Thenne said sir Dynadan pryuely vnto syr Tristram / syr that is sire Launcelot du lake that spak vnto yow fyrst / and the other is my lord Kynge Arthur / Thenne said sir Tristram vnto la Beale Isoud Madame aryse for he∣re is my lord kynge Arthur / thenne the kynge and the quene kyssed and sire launcelot and syr Tristram braced eyther o∣ther in armes / and thenne there was Ioye withoute mesure / & at the request of la Beale Isoud kynge Arthur and Laun∣celot were vnarmed / and thenne there was mery talkynge ¶Madame said sire Arthur hit is many a day sythen that I haue desyred to see yow / for ye haue ben praysed soo ferre / and now I dar say ye are the fayrest that euer I sawe / & sir Tris¦tram is as fayre and as good a knyghte as ony that I kno∣we / therfor me besemeth ye are wel besett to gyders /

Syr god thanke yow said the noble knyʒt sire Tristram and Isoud / of your grete goodenesse & largesse ye ar pyerles / Thus Page  [unnumbered] they talked of many thynges and of alle the hole Iustes / But for what cause sayd kynge Arthur were ye sir Tristram ageynst vs / ye are a knyght of the table round / of ryghte ye shold haue ben with vs / Syre said sir Tristram here is Dyna¦dan and sire Gareth your owne neuewe caused me to be ayenst yow / My lord Arthur sayd Gareth I may wel bere the bla∣me but it were sir Tristrams owne dedes / That may I repente sayd Dynadan / for this vnhappy sire Tristram broughte vs to this turnement / and many grete buffets he caused vs to haue Thenne the kynge and launcelot lough that they myghte not sytte / what knyght was that sayd Arthur that held yow soo short / this with the sheld of syluer / Syr said sir Tristram here he syt•eth at this bord / what said Arthur was hit sire Palo∣mydes / wete ye wel hit was he said la Beale Isoud / ¶ So god me help said Arthur that was vnknyghtely done of you of soo good 〈◊〉 Knyghte / for I haue herd many peple calle you a curtois knyghte / Sir said Palomydes I knewe not sir Tris¦tram / for he was soo desguysed / Soo god me helpe sayd la∣uncelot it maye wel be / for I knewe not sir Tristram / But I merueyle why ye torned on oure party / That was done for the same cause said launcelot / As for that said sir Tristram I haue pardonned hym / and I wold be ryght bothe to leue his felauship / for I loue ryght wel his company / soo they lefte of and talked of other thynges / And in the euenynge kyng ar¦thur and sir launcelot departed vnto their lodgynge / but wete ye wel sir Palomydes had enuy hertely for alle that nyght he had neuer rest in his bedde / but wayled and wepte oute of mesure / Soo on the morn sire Tristram Gareth and Dynadan arose erly / and thenne they wente vnto sire Palomydes cham∣ber / and there they fond hym fast on slepe / for he had al nyʒt watched / and it was seene vpon his chekes that he had wept ful sore / Say no thynge said syr Tristram / for I am sure he hath taken anger and sorowe for the rebuke that I gaf to hym and la Beale Isoud

¶Capitulum lxxix

THenne sir Tristram lete calle sir Palomydes / and bad hym make hym redy / for it was tyme to go to the felde whan they were redy they were armed and clothed al in reed bothe Isoud and alle they / and soo they sad her pas∣synge fresshely thurgh the feld in to the pryory where was her lodgynge / and thenne they herd thre blastes blowe / and euery kynge and knyghte dressid hym vnto the felde / and the fyrste that was redy to Iuste was sir Palomydes and sir Kaynus be straunge a knyghte of the table round / And soo they two en¦countred to gyders / but sire Palomydes smote sir Kaynus soo hard that he smote hym quyte ouer his hors croupe / and forth with alle sir Palomydes smote doune another knyght and br∣ake thenne his spere & pulled oute his swerd and did won∣derly wel / And thenne the noyse beganne gretely vpon sir pa¦lomydes / loo said Kynge Arthur yonder palomydes begynneth to play his pagent / So god me help said Arthur he is a pas∣synge good knyght / And ryght as they stood talkyng thus in came sir Tristram as thonder / and he encountred with syre Kay the Seneschall / and there he smote hym doune quyte from his hors / and with that same spere sir Tristram smote doune thre knyghtes moo / and thenne he pulled oute his swerd and dyd merueyllously / Thenne the noyse and crye chaunged from syr Palomydes and torned to sir Tristram and alle the peple cryed O Tristram O Tristram / And thenne was sir Palomy∣des clene forgeten / How now said Launcelot vnto Arthur / yonder rydeth a knyght that playeth his pagents / So god me help said Arthur to launcelot ye shalle see this daye that yon∣der two knyghtes shalle here doo this day wonders / Syr said Launcelot the one knyght wayteth vpon the other / and enfor¦ceth hym self thurgh enuy to passe the noble knyght sire Trist∣ram / and he knoweth not of the pryuy enuy / the whiche syre Palomydes hath to hym / For all that the noble syre Tristram dothe is thorou clene knygthode / And thenne sire Gareth and Dynadan dyd wonderly grete dedes of armes as two noble knyghtes soo that Kyng Arthur spak of them grete honour & Page  [unnumbered] worship / and the kynges and knyghtes of sir Tristrams syde did passyngly wel / and helde them truly to gyders / Thenne sir Arthur and sir Launceloot took their horses and dressid them and gete in to the thyckest of the prees / And there syr Trist∣ram vnknowyng smote doune kyng Arthur / and thenne syre launcelot wold haue rescowed hym / but there were soo many vpon sir launcelot that they pulled hym doune from his hors / And thenne the kynge of Irland and the kynge of Scottes with their Knyghtes dyd their payne to take kynge Arthur / and sir launcelot prysoner / whanne syr Launcelot herd hem say soo he ferd as hit had ben an hongry lyon / for he ferd so that no knyghte durste nyghe hym / Thenne came sir Ector de maris and he bare a spere ageynst sire Palomydes / and brast it vpon hym alle to sheuers / And thenne syr Ector came ageyne and gaf sire Palomydes suche a dasshe with a swerd that he stou∣ped doune vpon his sadel bowe / And forth with alle syre Ec∣tor pulled doune sir Palomydes vnder his feete / And thenne syr Ector de marys gate sir launcelot du lake an hors / and brought hit to hym / and badde hym mounte vpon hym / But sir Palomydes lepte afore and gatte the hors by the brydel / & lepte in to the sadel / Soo god me helpe said launcelot ye are better worthy to haue that hors than I / Thenne sir Ector br∣oughte syr launcelot an other hors / gramercy sayd launce∣lot vnto his broder / ¶And so when he was horsed ageyne / with one spere he smote doune four knyghtes / And thenne sir Launcelot broughte to kynge Arthur one of the best of the iiij horses / Thenne syr launcelot with kynge Arthur and a fewe of his Knyghtes of sire Launcelots kynne dyd merueyllous dedes / for that tyme as the booke recordeth syr launcelot smote doune and pulled doun thyrtty knyghtes / Not withstandyng the other parte held them soo fast to gyders that kyng arthur and his knyghtes were ouermatched / And whanne sir Tris∣ram sawe that what labour Kyng Arthur / and his knyghtes and in especyal the noble dedes that syre launcelot dyd with his owne handes he merueylled gretely

¶Capitulum lxxx

Page  [unnumbered]THenne sir Tristram called vnto hym syr Palomydes / syr Gareth and syr Dynadan / and sayd thus to them my fayre felawes wete ye wel that I will torne vnto kynge Arthurs party / for I sawe neuer soo fewe men doo soo wel / and hit wille be shame vnto vs knyghtes that ben of the round table to see our lord kynge Arthur and that noble kn∣yght sire Launcelot to be dishonoured / It wille be wel do sa∣id sire Gareth / and syr Dynadan / do your best said palomy∣des / for I wille not chaunge my party that I came in with al That is for my sake said sir Tristram / god spede yow in your Iourneye / and soo departed syr Palomydes fro them / Thenne sir Tristram Gareth and Dynadan torned with sir launcelot And thenne syr launcelot smote doune the kynge of Irland quyte from his hors / and so syr launcelot smote doune the ky∣nge of Scottes and the Kynge of walys / and thenne sir ar∣thur ranne vnto syre Palomydes and smote hym quyte from his hors / and thenne syr Tristram bare doune alle that he mett Syr Gareth and sir Dynadan dyd there as noble knyghtes / thenne al the partyes beganne to flee / Allas said Palomydes that euer I shold see this day / for now haue I lost al the wor¦ship that I wanne / and thēne sir palomydes wente his way waylynge / and soo withdrewe hym tyl he came to a welle and there he putte his hors from hym / and dyd of his armour and wayled and wepte lyke as he had ben a wood man / Thenne many Knyghtes gaf the pryce to syre Tristram / and there were many that gaf the pryce vnto syre Launcelot / ¶Fair lordes said sir Tristram I thanke yow of the honour ye wold yeue me / but I pray yow hertely that ye wold gyue your voys to syr launcelot / for by my feythe said syre Tryst∣ram / I wille gyue sir launcelot my voys / but syre launcelot wold not haue hit / and so the pryce was gyuen betwix them bothe / Thenne euery man rode to his lodgynge and syr bleobe∣ris and syr Ector rode with sir Tristram and la Beale Isoud vnto her pauelions / Thenne as syr Palomydes was atte well waylynge and wepynge / there came by hym fleyng the kyng of walys and of Scotland / and they sawe syre Palomydes in that arage / Allas said they that soo noble a man as ye be / shold be in this araye / & thenne tho kynges gat sir palomydes Page  [unnumbered] hors ageyne / and made hym to arme hym and mounte vpon his hors and soo he rode with hem makyng grete dole / ¶Soo whan sire Palomydes came nyghe the pauelions there as syre Tristram and La beale Isoud was in / thenne sire palomydes prayd the two kynges to abyde hym there the whyle that he spake with sir Tristram / And whanne he came to the porte of the pauelions / syre palomydes said on hyghe where arte thow syr Tristram de lyones / Syr said Dynadan that is palomydes what sir Palomydes wille ye not come in here amonge vs / Fy on the traytour sayd Palomydes / for wete yow wel and hit were day lyght as it is nyght I shold slee the myn owne handes / And yf euer I maye gete the said Palomydes thou shalt dye for this dayes dede / Sir Palomydes said sir Tristram ye wyte me with wronge / for had ye done as I dyd ye hadde wonne worship / But sythen ye gyue me soo large warnynge / I shalle be wel ware of yow / Fy on the traitour saide Palo∣mydes / and there with departed / Thenne on the morne sir Tris¦tram / Bleoberis and sir Ector de marys / sir Gareth / syr Dy∣nadan what by water and what by lond they brought la be∣ale Isoud vnto Ioyous gard / and there reposed them a vij nyghte / and made alle the myrthes and disportes that they coude deuyse / and kyng Arthur and his knyghtes drewe vn¦to Camelot / and syre Palomydes rode with the two kynges / And euer he made the grettest dole that ony man coude thynke for he was not alle only soo dolorous for the departyng from la beale Isoud / but he was a parte as sorouful to departe from the felauship of sir Tristram / for sire Tristram was soo kynd and soo gentyl that whanne sire Palomydes remembrid hym therof he myghte neuer be mery

¶Capitulum lxxxj

SO at the seuen nyghtes ende / sir Bleoberys & syr Ec¦tor departed from sir Tristram and from the Quene / & these two good knyghtes had grete yeftes / and sir Gareth and sir Dynadan abode with sir Tristram / & whan sire Blebeorys and sir Ector were comen there as the Quene Gueneuer was Page  [unnumbered] lodged in a castel by the sce syde / And thorou the grace of god the quene was recouerd of her maladye / ¶ Thenne she asked the two knyghtes from whens they came / they sayd that they came from sir Tristram and from la beale Isoud / how doth sir Tristram said the quene and la Beale Isoud / Truly sayd tho two knyghtes he dothe as a noble knyght shold doo / and as for the Quene Isoud she is pyerles of alle ladyes / for to speke of her beaute bounte and myrthe / and of her goodenesse we sawe neuer her matche as ferre as we haue ryden and gone O mercy Ihesu said quene Gueneuer soo sayth alle the people / that haue sene her and spoken with her / God wold that I had parte of her condycyons / and it is mysfortuned me of my se∣kenesse whyle that turnement endured / And as I suppose / I shalle neuer see in alle my lyf suche an assemble of knyghtes and ladyes as ye haue done / Thenne the knyghtes told her hou Palomydes wanne the degree at the fyrst daye with grete no∣blesse / And the second day sir Trystram wanne the degree / and the thyrdde day syre launcelot wanne the degree / wel said que¦ne Gueneuer who dyd best alle these thre dayes / Soo god me help said these knyghtes sir launcelot and sire Tristram hadd• leest dishonour / And wete ye wel sir palomydes dyd passynge wel and myghtely / but he torned ageynst the party that he cam in with alle / and that caused hym to lese a grete parte of hys worship / for it semed that sir Palomydes is passyng enuyous Thenne shalle he neuer wynne worship said Quene Gueneuer for and it happeth an enuyous man ones to wynne worshyp he shalle be dishonoured twyes therfore / And for this cause alle men of worship hate an enuyous man / and wille shewe hym no fauour / And he that is curtois and kynde and gentil hath fauour in euery place /

¶Capitulum lxxxij

NOw leue we of this mater / and speke we of sir Pa∣lomydes that rode and lodged hym with the two kyn¦ges wherof the kynges were heuy / Thenne the kynge of Ir∣land sent a man of his to syr Palomydes and gaf hym a gre¦te courser / and the Kynge of Scotland gaf hym grete yeftes / Page  [unnumbered] and fayne they wold haue had sire Palomydes to haue aby∣den with them / but in no wyse he wold abyde / and soo he depar¦ted / and rode as auentures wold guyde hym / tyl it was nyʒ none / And thenne in a forest by a welle syr Palomydes sawe where lay a fayre wounded knyght and his hors bounden by hym / and that knyght made the grettest do•e that euer he herd man make / for euer he wepte and ther with he syghed as th∣ough he wold dye / Thenne syre Palomydes rode nere hym and salewed hym myldly and sayd / fayr knyghte why wayle ye soo / lete me lye doune and wayle with yow / for doubte not I am moche more heuyer than ye are / for I dare say sayd Palo∣mydes that my sorowe is an honderd fold more than yours is and therfor lete vs complayne eyther to other / Fyrst saide the wounded knyghte I requyre yow telle me your name / for & thow be none of the noble knyghtes of the round tabble / thou shalt neuer knowe my name / what someuer come of me / Faire knyghte said Palomydes suche as I am be it better or be hit w•rse wete thou wel that my name is sire Palomydes sone & heyre vnto kynge Astlabor / and sir Safyr and sir Segwary∣des are my two bretheren / and wete thou wel as for my self I was neuer crystened / but my two bretheren ar truly crystend O noble knyghte said that knyghte / wel is me that I haue mette with yow / and wete ye wel my name is Epynogrys the kynges sone of Northumberland / Now sytte doune sayd Epynogrys / and lete vs eyther complayne to other / Thenne syre Palomydes beganne his complaynte / Now shalle I telle yow said Palomydes what wo I endure I loue the fairest Quene and lady that euer bare lyf / and wete ye wel her na∣me is la Beale Isoud kynge Markes wyf of Cornewaile / That is grete foly said Epynogrys for to loue Quene Isoud For one of the best knyghtes of the world loueth her / that is sir Tristram de lyones / that is trouthe said Palomydes / for no man knoweth that mater better than I doo / for I haue ben in sir Tristrams felauship this moneth and with la beale Isoud to gyders / and allas said Palomydes vnhappy man that I am now haue I loste the felauship of syre Tristram for euer & the loue of la beale Isoud for euer / and I am neuer lyke to see her more / and sir Tristram & I ben eyther to other mortal enemyes Page  [unnumbered] wel said Epynogrys / sythe that ye loued la Beale Isoud / loued she yow euer ageyne by ony thyng that ye coude thynk• or wyte / or els dyd ye reioyse her euer in ony pleasyr / Nay by my knyghthode said Palomydes I neuer aspyed that euer she loued me more than alle the world / nor neuer had I ple¦syr with her / But the laste daye she gaf me the grettest rebuke that euer I had / the whiche shalle neuer goo from my herte / & yet I wel deserued that rebuke / for I dyd not knyghtely / & therfor I haue lost the loue of her and of sir Tristram for e∣uer / & I haue many tymes enforced my self to doo many de∣des for la beale Isoud sake / and she was the causer of my worship wynny•ge / Allas said sir Palomydes now haue I lost alle the worshyp that euer I wanne / for neuer shalle me be∣falle suche prowesse as I had in the felauship of sir Tristram

¶Capitulum lxviij

NAy nay sayde Epynogrys youre sorowe is but Iapes to my sorowe / for I reioyced my lady and wanne her with my handes / and loste her ageyn allas that daye / Thus fyrst I wanne her said Epynogrys My lady was an Erles doughter And as the Erle and two knyʒtes cam from the turnement of Lonezep / for her sake I sette vpon this erle and on his two knyghtes my lady there beynge present / and soo by fortune there I slewe the erle and one of the knyghtes and the other knyghte fledde / and soo that nyghte I had my lady / And on the morne as she and I reposed vs atte thys welle syde / there came there to me an erraunt knyghte his na∣me was syr Helyor le preuse an hardy knyght / and this sir• Helyor chalengyd me to fyghte for my lady / And thenne we wente to bataille fyrst vpon hors and after on foote / But at the last sir Helyor wounded me soo that he lefte me for de∣de / and soo he toke my lady with hym / And thus my sorowe is more than yours / for I haue reioy•ed and ye reioy•ed neuer That is trouthe said Palomydes / but sythe I can neuer recouer my self I shalle promyse yow yf I can mete with sir Helynor I shalle gete yow your lady ageyne or els he shalle bete me / Thenne sire Palomydes made sir Epynogrys to take his hors Page  [unnumbered] and so they rode to an hermytage / and there sir Epynogrys re¦sted hym / And in the meane whyle syre Palomydes walkd pryuely oute to reste hym vnder the leues / and there besyde he sawe a knyghte come rydynge with a sheld that he had sene sir Ector de marys bere afore hand / and there came after hym a ten knyghtes / and soo these x knyghtes houed vnder the le¦ues for hete / And anone after there came a knyʒt with a gre∣ne shelde / and there in a whyte lyon / ledynge a lady vpon a palfroy / Thēne this knyʒt with the grene sheld that semed to be maister of the ten knyghtes he rode fyersly after sire Helyor / For it was he that hurte sir Epynogrys / And whanne he cam nyghe sir Helyor / he badde hym defende his lady / I will defende her said Helyor vnto my power / and soo they ranne to gyders soo myghtely that eyther of these knyghtes smote other doune hors and all to the erthe / and thenne they wanne vp lyghtely and drewe their swerdes and their sheldes / and lasshed to gy¦ders myghtely more than an houre / Alle this sire Palomydes sawe and behelde but euer at the last the knyghte with sir Ec∣tors shelde was byggar / and att the laste this knyghte smote sir Helyor doune / and thenne that knyghte vnlaced his helme to haue stryken of his hede / And thenne he cryed mercy / and praid hym to saue his lyf and badde hym take his lady / ¶Thenne sire Palomydes dressid hym vp by cause he wyste wel that that same lady was Epynogrys lady / and he pro∣mysed hym to helpe hym / Thenne sir Palomydes wente strey∣ghte to that lady and toke her by the hand and asked her whe¦ther she knewe a knyghte that hyghte Epynogrys / Allas she said that euer he knewe me or I hym / for I haue for his sa∣ke loste my worship / and also his lyf greueth me moost of al Not so lady said Palomydes / come on with me / for here is E∣pynogris in this hermytage / A wel is me said the lady and he be on lyue / whether wylt thow with that lady said the kny∣ght with syr Ectors shelde / I will doo with her what me lyst said Palomydes / wete yow wel sayd that knyghte thou spe∣kest ouer large / though thou semest me to haue at auauntage / by cause thow sawest me doo bataille but late / Thou wenest sir knyghte to haue that lady away from me so lyghtly / nay thy∣nke hit neuer not / and thow were as good a knyghte as is Page  [unnumbered] syr launcelot or as is sir Tristram or sir Palomydes / but thow shalt wynne her derer than euer dyd I / and soo they went vn¦to bataille vpon foote / and there they gaf many sadde strokes / and eyther wounded other passyng sore / / and thus they fouʒt stille more than an houre / Thenne sire Palomydes had merueil what knyghte he myghte be that was soo stronge and soo wel br•thed durynge / and thus said Palomydes / knyʒt I requy∣re the telle me thy name / wete thow wel said that knyghte I dar telle the my name / soo that thow wilt telle me thy name / I wille said palomydes / Truly said that knyghte / my name is Safyr sone of kynge As•labor and sire palomydes and syre Segwarydes are my bretheren / Now and wete thou wel / my name is sir Palomydes / Thenne sir Safyr kneled doune vpon his knees and prayd hym of mercy / and thenne they vnlaced their helmes / and eyther kyssed other wepynge / And in the meane whyle sire Epynogrys aroose oute of his bedde / and herd them by the strokes / and soo he armed hym to helpe sire Palomydes yf nede were

¶Capitulum lxxxiiij

THenne sir Palomydes tooke the lady by the hand / & broughte her to sire Epynogrys / and there was grete ioye betwixe them / for eyther swouned for Ioye / whan they were mette / Fair knyght and lady said sir Safer / it we∣re pyte to departe yow / Ihesu send yow Ioye eyther of other / Gramercy gentyl knyghte said Epynogrys / and moche more thanke be to my lord sir Palomydes / that thus hath thurgh his prowesse made me to gete my lady / ¶Thenne sir Epynogrys requyred sire Palomydes and sire Safere his brother to ryde with them vnto his castel for the sauf gard of his person / Sire said Palomydes we will be redy to conduyte you by cause that ye are sore wounded / and soo was Epynogrys and his lady horsed / and his lady behynde hym vpon a softe ambuler / And thenne they rode vnto his castel where they had grete chere and Ioye as grete as euer sir Palomydes and sir Safere had in their lyfe dayes / Soo on the morne sir Safere and sir palo∣mydes departed and rode as fortune ledde them / and soo they Page  [unnumbered] rode alle that daye vntyl after none / And at the last they herd a grete wepynge and a grete noyse doune in a manoir / Syre said thenne sir Safere lete vs wete what noyse this is / I wil wel said sir palomydes / and soo they rode forth tyl that they came to a fayr gate of a manoir / and there satte an old man sayenge his prayers and bedes / Thenne sire palomydes and sir Safere alyghte and lefte their horses / and wente within the gates / and there they sawe ful many goodely men wepynge / ¶Fair syrs said palomydes wherfore wepe ye / and make this sorowe / Anone one of the knyghtes of the castel beheld sir palomydes / and knewe hym / and thēne wente to his selawes and said Fair felawes wete ye wel al / we haue in this Cas¦tel the same knyght that slewe oure lord at Lonezep / for I knowe hym wel it is syre palomydes / Thenne they wente vn¦to harneis alle that myghte bere harneis / some on horsbak / and some on foote to the nombre of thre score / And whan they we∣re redy / they came fresshly vpon syr palomydes and vpon syr Safere with a grete noyse and sayd thus / kepe the syre palo∣mydes. for thow arte knowen / and by ryght thow must be dede for thow hast slayne oure lord / and therfore wete ye wel / we wille slee the / therfore defende the / Thenne sir palomydes & syr Safer the one sette his bak to the other / and gaf many grete strokes / and took many grete strokes / and thus they fouʒte with a twenty knyghtes and fourty gentilmen / and yomen nyghe two houres / But at the last though they were bothe sir palomydes and syr Safere were taken and yolden and putte in a stronge pryson / and within thre dayes twelue knyghtes passed vpon them / and they fond sir palomydes gylty / and syr Safyr not gylty of their lordes dethe / And whan sir Sa∣fyr shold be delyuerd there was grete dole betwixe syr palomy¦des and hym / and many pyteous complayntys that sir Sa∣fyr made at his departynge / there is no maker can reherce the tenthe parte / Fair broder said palomydes lete be thy dolour and thy sorou / And yf I be ordeyned to dye a shameful dethe wel¦come be it / but and I had wist of this deth that I am demed vnto I shold neuer haue ben yolden / Soo syr Safere depar∣ted from his broder with the grettest dolour and sorou that e∣uer made knyghte / ¶And on the morne they of the castel Page  [unnumbered] ordeyned twelue knyghtes to ryde with syre Palomydes vnto the fader of the same knyght that syr Palomydes slewe / and soo they bound his legges vnder an old s•edes bely / And then¦ne they rode with syr Palomydes vnto a Castel by the see syde that hyghte Pelownes / and there syr Palomydes shold haue Iustyce / thus was their ordenaunce / and so they rode with syr palomydes fast by the Castel of Ioyous gard / ¶And as they passed by that Castel / there came rydynge oute of that cas¦tel by them one that knewe syr palomydes / And whan that knyghte sawe sire palomydes bounden vpon a croked courser / the knyght asked syre palomydes / for what cause he was led so / A my fair felawe and knyghte sayd palomydes / I ryde to¦ward my dethe for the sleynge of a knyght at a turnement of Lonezep / & yf I had not departed from my lord syr Tristrā as I ouʒte not to haue done / now myʒt I haue ben sure to haue had my lyf saued / But I pray yow syr knyght recommaun∣de me vnto my lord sir Tristram and vnto my lady Quene I∣soud / & say to them / yf euer I trespaced to them / I aske them foryeuenes / And also I biseche yow recommaunde me vnto my lord kynge Arthur and to alle the selauship of the round table vnto my power / Thenne that knyghte wepte for pyte of syr palomydes / and there with alle he rode vnto Ioyous gard as faste as his hors myghte renne / ande lyghtly that knyght descended doune of his hors and wente vnto sir Tristram / and there he told hym all as ye haue herd / and euer the knyghte wepte as he had ben madde

¶Capitulum lxxxv

WHen sir Tristram herd how sir palomydes went to his deth / he was heuy to here that / and said how be it that I am wroth with sir palomydes / yet wil not I suffre hym to dye so shameful a deth for he is a ful noble knyʒt / & thenne anon sir Tristram was armed & toke his hors & two squyers wyth hym / & rode a grete paas towarde the castel of pelownes where sir palomydes was Iuged to deth / & these twelue knyytes that led sir palomydes passed by a welle where as sir laūcelot was whiche was alyghte there & had teyed his hors to a tree & ta∣ken of his helme to drynke of that welle / & whan he saw these Page  [unnumbered] knyghtes / syr launcelot putte on his helme / and suffred them to passe by hym / And thenne was he ware of sire Palomydes bounden and ledde shamefully to his dethe / O Ihesu said laun¦celot what mysauenture is befalle hym that he is thus ledde to¦ward his dethe / Forsoth said launcelot it were shame to me / to suffre this noble knyght soo to dye and I myʒte helpe hym therfor I wille helpe hym what someuer come of hit / or els I shal dye for syr Palomydes sake / ¶And thenne sir launcelot mounted vpon his hors and gate his spere in his hand / and rode after the twelue knyghtes that ledde sir Palomydes / Fair knyghtes said sir Launcelot whyder lede ye that knyʒt / it bysemeth hym ful ylle to ryde bounden / Thenye these twelue Knyghtes sodenly torned their horses / and said to sir launce∣lot / syr Knyghte we counceille the not to medle with this kn∣yght / for he hath deserued deth / and vnto dethe he is juged / that me repenteth said launcelot that I may not borowe hym with fayrenesse / for he is ouer good a knyghte to dye suche a shame¦ful dethe / And therfor fayre knyghtes said syr launcelot kepe yow as wel as ye can / for I will rescowe that knyght or dye for it / Thenne they beganne to dresse their speres / and sir laun¦celot smote the formest doune hors and man / and so he serued thre moo with one spere / and thenne that spere brast / and there with al sir launcelot drewe his swerd / and thenne he smote on the ryght hand and on the lyfte hand / thenne within a why∣le he lefte none of tho twelue knyghtes / but he had leyd them to the erthe / and the moost party of hem were sore wounded / & thenne syr Launcelot took the best hors that he fonde and lou∣sed sire Palomydes / and sette hym vpon that hors / and so they retorned ageyne vnto Ioyous gard / & thenne was sir Palo∣mydes ware of sir Tristram how he came rydynge / And whan sir Launcelot sawe hym / he knewe hym wel / but sir Tristram knewe not hym by cause syre Launcelot had on his sholder a golden shelde / Soo syr launcelot made hym redy to juste with syr Tristram / that sire Tristram sholde not wene that he were syre Launcelot / Thenne sir Palomydes cryed on lowde to syr Tristram O my lorde I requyre yow juste not with this kny∣ght / for this goode knyght hath saued me from my dethe / whan syre Tristram herde hym saye so / he came a softe trottyng Page  [unnumbered] paas toward them / And thenne syre Palomydes sayd / My lord syr Tristram moche am I beholdynge vnto yow of youre grete goodenes that wold profer youre noble body to rescowe me vndeserued / for I haue gretely offended yow / Not with∣standynge said sire Palomydes here mette we with this noble knyghte that worshipfully and manly rescowed me from xij knyghtes / and smote them doune alle and wounded them sore

¶Capitulum lxxxvj /

FAyre knyght said syr Tristram vnto syre Launcelot / of whens be ye / I am a knyght erraunt sayd sir laū∣celot that rydeth to seke many aduentures / what is yo∣ur name said sir Tristram / syre at this tyme I wille not telle yow / Thenne syre launcelot sayd vnto sir Tristram and to pa¦lomydes / now eyther of yow ar mette to gyders / I wille depar¦te from yow / Not soo said syr Tristram I pray yow of knyʒ∣thode to ryde with me vnto my Castel / wete yow wel said syr Launcelot I may not ryde with yow / for I haue many dedes to doo in other places / that all this tyme I maye not abyde with yow / A mercy Ihesu said syr Tristram I requyre yow / as ye be a true knyghte to the ordre of knyghthode / playe you with me this nyghte / Thenne sire Tristram had a graunte of syre launcelot / how be it though he had not desyred hym / he wold haue ryden with hem / outher soone haue come after them for syr launcelot cam for none other cause in to that Countrey but for to see syr Tristram / And whanne they were come with in joyous gard / they alyght / and their horses were ledde in to a stable / and thenne they vnarmed them / And whanne syre Launcelot was vnhelmed / sir Tristram and syr Palomydes kn∣ewe hym / Thenne sire Tristram took syr launcelot in armes / & soo dyd la B•ale Isoud / and Palomydes kneled doune vp¦on his knees / and thanked syr Launcelot / whan syr launcelot sawe sir Palomydes knele / he lyghtely toke hym vp and sayd thus / wete thou wel sir Palomydes I and ony knyght in this land of worship oughte of veray ryght socoure and rescowe Page  [unnumbered] soo noble a knyghte as ye are proued and renoumed thurgh oute alle this reame endlonge and ouerthwart / And thenne was there joye amonge them / and the oftyner that syre Palo∣mydes sawe la Beale Isoud / the heuyer he waxed day by day Thenne sir launcelot within thre or four dayes departed / and with hym rode sir Ector de marys / and Dynadan and sir Pa¦lomydes were there lefte with sire Tristram a two monethes & more / But euer sire Palomydes faded and morned that alle men had merueylle wherfore he faded soo aweye / So vppn a day in the daunynge sire Palomydes wente in to the foreste by hym self alone / and there he fond a welle / and thenne he loked in to the welle / and in the water he sawe his owne vysage hou he was distourbled and defaded nothyng lyke that he was what may this meane said sire Palomydes / and thus he said to hym self / A Palomydes / Palamydes / why arte thow dyffa¦ded thou that was wonte to be called one of the fayrest knyʒ¦tes of the world / I wille no more lede this lyf / for I loue that I maye neuer gete nor recouer / And there with all he le∣yd hym doune by the welle / And thenne he beganne to make a ryme of la Beale Isoud and hym / ¶And in the meane whyle syr Tristram was that same day ryden in to the forest to chace the herte of greese / but sire Tristram wold not ryde on huntynge neuer more vnarmed by cause of syr Breuse saun∣ce pyte / and soo as sir Tristram rode in to that forest vp and doune / he herd one synge merueyllously lowde / and that was syre Palomydes that lay by the welle / And thenne syr Tris∣tram rode softely thyder / for he demed / there was some knyght excaunt that was at the welle

¶ And whanne sire Tristram came nyghe hym / he descended doune from his hors and teyed his hors fast tyl a tree / and thenne he came nere hym on foote / and anone he was ware where lay sire palomydes by the welle and sange lowde and meryly / and euer the complayntes were of that noble Que∣ne La Beale Isoud / the whiche was merueyllously and wonderfully wel sayd / and ful dolefully and pytously made And alle the hole songe the noble knyghte sire Tristram herd from the begynnynge to the endynge / the whiche greued and troubled hym sore ¶ But thenne at the last whanne Page  [unnumbered] sir Tristram had herd all sir Palomydes complayntes he was wrothe oute of mesure & thouʒt for to slee hym there as he lay Thenne syr Tristram remembryd hym self that sir Palomydes was vnarmed and of the noble name that sir Palomydes had and the noble name that hym self had / and thenne he made a restraynte of his anger / & so he wente vnto sire Palomydes a softe paas and said sir Palomydes I haue herd youre com∣playnte and of thy treason that thow hast owed me so longe And wete thou wel therfor thow shalt dye / And yf it were not for shame of knyʒthode / thow sholdest not escape my han∣des / for now I knowe wel thow hast awayted me with trea∣son. Telle me said syre Tristram how thow wolt acquyte the / Sir said Palomydes thus I wille acquyte me / as for Que∣ne la beale Isoud ye shal wete wel that I loue her aboue all other ladyes in this world / and wel I wote it shalle befalle me as for her loue as befelle to the noble knyghte syre Kehy∣dius that dyed for the loue of la Beale Isoud / and now sir Tristram I wil that ye wete that I haue loned la Beale I∣soud many a day / and she hath ben the causer of my worshyp And els I had ben the moost symplest knyght in the world For by her / and by cause of her / I haue wonne the worshyp that I haue / for when I remembryd me of la Beale Isoud I wanne the worship where someuer I came for the most par∣ty / and yet had I neuer reward nor bounte of her the dayes of my lyf / and yet haue I ben her knyght gwerdonles / And therfor syr Tristram as for ony deth I drede not / for I hadde as lyef dye as to lyue / And yf I were armed as thow arte / I shold lyghtely doo batail with the / wel haue ye vttered yo∣ur treason said Tristram / I haue done to yow no treason said Palomydes / for loue is free for alle men / and though I ha∣ue loued your lady / she is my lady as wel as yours / how be it I haue wronge yf ony wronge be / for ye reioyce her / and ha¦ue your desyre of her / and soo had I neuer nor neuer am ly∣ke to haue / and yet shall I loue her to the vttermest dayes of my lyf as wel as ye

¶Capitulum lxxxvij

THenne said syr Tristram I wil fyghte with yow to the vttermest / I graunte saide palomydes / for in a better Page  [unnumbered] quarel kepe I neuer to fyghte / for & I dye of your handes / of a better knyghtes handes may I not be slayne / And sythen I vnderstande that I shalle neuer reioyce la beale Isoud / I haue as good wylle to dye as to lyue / Thenne sette ye a day said sir Tristram that we shalle doo bataille / this day / xv / dayes said pa¦yd Palomydes wille I mete with yow here by / in the medowe vnder Ioyous gard / Fy for shame said sire Tristram; wille ye sette soo longe day / lete vs fyghte to morn / Not soo sayd pa∣lomydes / for I am megre and haue ben longe seke for the loue of la Beale Isoud / and therfore I wille repose me tyl I ha¦ue my strengthe ageyne / Soo thenne sire Tristram and syr pa¦lomydes promysed feythfully to mete at the welle that day xv dayes / I am remembryd said sir Tristram to Palomydes / that ye brake me ones a promyse whan that I rescowed yow from Breuse saunce pyte and ix knyghtes / and thēne ye promysed me to mete me at the peron and the graue besydes Camelot / where as at that tyme ye fayled of your promyse / wete you wel said Palomydes vnto sir Tristram I was at that day in pry∣son so that I myghte not holde my promyse / So god me helpe said sir Tristram / and ye had holden your promyse this werk had not ben here now at this tyme / Ryghte soo departed syre Tristram and sire Palomydes / And soo sire palomydes tooke his hors and his harneis / and he rode vnto Kynge Arthurs Courte / and there syr palomydes gat hym four knyghtes and four sergeaunts of armes / and soo he retornod ageynward vnto Ioyous gard / And in the meane whyle syr Tristram cha¦ced and hunted at alle maner of venery / and aboute thre dayes afore the bataille shold be / as syr Tristram chaced an herte ther was an Archer shot at the herte / and by mysfortune he smote syr Tristram in the thyck of the thygh / and the arowe slewe sir Tristrams hors & hurte hym / whan sir Tristram was so hurte / he was passynge heuy / and wete ye wel he bled sore / and then∣ne he took another hors / and rode vnto Ioyous gard with gre∣te heuynesse more for the promyse that he hadde made with sir palomydes as to doo bataille with hym within thre dayes after than for ony hurte of his thyʒ / wherfor ther was neyther man ne woman that coude chere hym with ony thynge that they co∣de make to hym / neyther Quene la Beale Isoud / for euer he Page  [unnumbered] demed that syr launcelot had smyten hym soo / that he shold not be able to doo bataille with hym at the day sette /

¶Capitulum lxxxviij

BVt in no wyse there was no knyghte aboute syr Tris∣tram that wold byleue that euer syr Palomydes wo∣ld hurte sir Tristram neyther by his owne handes nor by no∣ne other consentynge / thenne whan the fyftenth day was come sir Palomydes came to the welle with four knyʒtes with hym of Arthurs courte and thre sergeauntes of armes / And for this ententente syr palomydes broughte the knyʒtes with hym and the sergeaunt of armes / for they shold bere record of the bataille betwixe syre Tristram and syr Palomydes / And the one sergeaunt brought in his helme / the other his spere / the th∣yrd his swerd / Soo thus Palomydes came in to the folde / & there he abode nyghe two houres / and thenne he sente a squyer vnto syr Tristram / and desyred hym to come in to the felde / to holde his promyse / whan the squyer was come to Ioyous gard Anone as sir Tristram herd of his comynge he lete commaun∣de that the squyer shold come to his presence there as he lay in his bedde / My lord sir Tristram said Palomydes squyer wete yow wel my lord Palomydes abydeth yow in the felde / and he wold wete whether ye wold doo bataille or not / A my fair broder said sir Tristram wete thou wel that I am ryght heuy for these tydynges / therfor telle sire Palomydes / and I were wel atte ease I wold not lye here nor he shold haue noo ne¦de to sende for me / and I myghte outher ryde or goo / and for thow shalt saye that I am no lyer / syre Tristram shewed hym his thye that the wounde was sixe Inches depe / and now thou hast sene my hurte / telle thy lord that this is no fayned mater and telle hym that I had leuer than all the gold of kyng Ar∣thur that I were hole / & telle palomydes as soone as I am ho∣le I shal seke him endlong & ouerthwart & y^t I promyse you as I am true knyʒt / & if euer I may mete with hym / he shal haue batail of me his fylle / & with this the squyer departed / & when palomydes wist y^t tristrā was hurt he was glad & said now I Page  [unnumbered] am sure I shalle haue no shame / for I wote wel I shold ha∣ue had hard handelynge of hym / and by lykely I muste ne∣des haue had the werse / For he is the hardest knyghte in bata∣ylle that now is lyuynge excepte sir Launcelot / And thenne departed syr Palomydes where as fortune ladde hym / & with∣in a moneth sir Tristram was hole of his hurte / And thenne he took his hors / and rode from countray to countrey / and all straunge aduentures he acheued where someuer he rode / and al¦weyes he enquyred for sire Palomydes / but of alle that quar∣ter of sommer syr Tristram coude neuer mete with sir palomy¦des / But thus as sir Tristram soughte and enquyred after sire Palomydes / sir Tristram encheued many grete batails whe¦re thorugh alle the noyse felle to syr Tristram / and it seaced of sir launcelot / & therfor syre launcelots bretheren and his kyn¦nesmen wold haue slayne sire Tristram by cause of his fame / But whanne syre launcelot wyste how his kynnesmen were sette / he said to them openly wete yow wel that and the enuy of yow alle be soo hardy to wayte vpon my lord sire Tristram with ony hurte / shame / or vylony / as I am true knyghte / I shalle slee the best of yow with myne owne handes / Allas fy for shame shold ye for his noble dedes awayte vpon hym to slee hym / Ihesu defende said launcelot that euer ony noble kn∣yghte as syre Tristram is shold be destroyed with treason / Of this noyse and fame sprange in to Cornewaile / and amonge them of Lyonas / wherof they were passynge gladde / and made grete Ioye / And thenne they of Lyonas sente letters vnto sire Tristram of recommendacyon / and many grete yeftes to mayn¦tene sir Tristrams estate / and euer bitwene sir Tristram resor¦ted vnto Ioyous gard where as la Beale Isoud was that loued hym as her lyf /