[Le morte darthur]

¶And here begynneth the historye of La cote male tayle

¶Capitulum primum

AT the Courte of kynge Arthur there cam a yo∣nge man and bygly made / and he was ryche∣ly bysene / and he desyred to be made knyghte of the kyng but his ouer garmēt sat ouerthwart∣ly / how be hit / hit was ryche clothe of gold / ¶What is your name said kynge Arthur / Syre saide he / my name is Breunor le noyre / and within shorte space ye shalle knowe that I am of good kyn / It maye wel be said sir kay the Seneschal / but in mockage ye shalle be called la cote male tayle / that is as moche to saye the euyl shapen cote / Hit is a grete thynge that thou askest said the kyng / And for what ca∣use werest thou that ryche cote / telle me / for I can wel thynke for somme cause hit is / Syre he ansuerd I had a fader a noble knyght / And as he rode on huntynge vpon a daye hit happed hym to leye hym doune to slepe / And there came a knyght that had ben longe his enemy / And whan he sawe he was fast on slepe / he alle to hewe hym / And this same cote had my fader

on the same tyme / and that maketh this cote to sytte soo euyll vpon me / for the strokes ben on hit as I fond hit / and neu••r shalle be amendyd for me / Thus to haue my faders dethe in re¦membraunce I were this cote tyl I be reuengyd / and by cau∣se ye are callyd the moost noblest kynge of the world I come to you that ye shold make me knyght / Sir said sir Lamorak and sir Gaherys / hit were wel done to make hym knyght / for hym besemeth wel of persone / and of countenaunce / that he shall pre¦ue a good man and a good knyght / and a myghty / for sire and ye be remembryd euen suche one was sire launcelot du lake / whanne he came fyrste in to this Courte / and full fewe of vs knewe from whens he came / and now is he preued the man of moost worship in the world / and all your courte and alle yo∣ur Round table is by sire launcelot worshipped and amended more than by ony knyghte now lyuynge / that is trouthe saide the kynge / and to morou att your request I shalle make hym knyght ¶ So on the morou there was an herte founden / and thyder rode kynge Arthur with a company of his knyghtes to slee the herte / And this yonge man that sire kay named la cote male tayle was there lefte behynd with Quene Gueneuer / and by sodeyne aduenture ther was an horryble ly¦on kepte in a stronge Toure of stone and it happend that he at that tyme brake loos / and came hurlynge afore the Quene & her knyghtes ¶And whanne the Quene sawe the lyon / she cryed and fledde / and praide her knyghtes to rescowe her / And there was none of hem alle but twelue that abode / and alle the other fledde / ¶ Thenne saide La cote male tayle Now I see wel that alle coward knyghtes ben not dede / and there with alle he drewe his swerd / and dressid hym afore the lyon / And that lyon gaped wyde and came vpon hym raump∣pynge to haue slayne hym / And he thenne smote hym in the myddes of the hede suche a myghty stroke / that it clafe his hede in sonder / and dasshed to the erthe / ¶ Thenne was hit tolde the Quene how the yonge man that sire kay named by scorne La cote male tayle hadde slayne the lyon / With that the kyng came home ¶And whanne the Quene tolde hym of that aduenture / he was wel pleased / and said / vpon payne of myn hede he shalle preue a noble man and a feythful Knyghte

and true of his promyse / thenne the kynge forth with al ma∣de hym knyght / Now sire said this yonge knyght I requyre you and alle the knyghtes of youre courte / that ye calle me by none other name but la cote male tayle / in soo moche that syr kay hath soo named me / soo wille I be called / I assente me wel therto said the kynge

¶Capitulum secundum

THenne that same daye there came a damoysel in to the courte / and she brought with her a grete black shelde / with a whyte hand in the myddes holdynge a swerd Other pyctour was there none in that shelde / whan kyng Ar∣thur sawe her / he asked her from whens she came / and what she wold / Syr she said I haue ryden longe and many a day with this sheld many wayes / and for this cause I am come to yo∣ur courte / There Was a good knyght that ought this sheld / & this knyght had vndertake a grete dede of armes to enchieue hit / and soo it mysfortuned hym / another stronge knyght met with hym by sodeyne aduenture / and there they fought longe / & eyther wounded other passynge sore / and they were soo wery / that they lefte that bataille euen hand / Soo this knyghte that ought this shelde sawe none other way but he must dye / & thē∣ne he commaunded me to bere this shelde to the Courte of ky∣nge Arthur / he requyrynge and prayenge somme good knyʒt to take this shelde / and that he wold fulfylle the quest that he was in / Now what saye ye to this quest said kynge Arthur / Is there ony of you here that wille take vpon hym to welde this shelde / ¶Thenne was there not one that wold speke one word / thenne sir kay took the shelde in his handes / Sire knyʒt said the damoysel what is your name / wete ye wel said he my name is sir kay the seneschal that wyde where is knowen / Syre said that damoysel laye doune that shelde / for wete ye wel it falleth not for you / for he must be a better knyʒt than ye / that shalle welde this shelde / damoysel sayd syr kay wete ye wel I toke this sheld in my handes by youre leue / for to behold it

not to that entent / but goo where someuer thou wilt / for I will not go with you / Thenne the damoysel stode stylle a grete why∣le / and byheld many of tho knyghtes / Thenne spak the kny∣ght La cote male tayle / fayre damoysel I wille take the shel∣de and that aduenture vpon me / soo I wyst I shold knowe / wheder ward my iourney myght be / for by cause I was thys daye made knyght I wold take this aduenture vpon me / what is your name fayre yonge man said the damoysel / My name is said he la cote male tayle / wel mayst thou be called so said the damoysel / the knyʒt with the euylle shapen cote / but & thou be soo hardy to take vpon the to bere that shelde and to fo¦lowe me / wete thou wel / thy skyn shalle be as wel hewen as thy cote / As for that said la cote male tayle whan I am soo hewen I wille aske you no salue to hele me with alle / And forth with all ther came in to the Court two squyers & brouʒt hym grete horses and his armour and his speres / and anone he was armed and tooke his leue / ¶I wold not by my will said the kynge that ye took vpon you that hard aduenture / sir said he / this aduenture is myn / and the fyrst that euer I took vpon me / and that wille I folowe what someuer come of me ¶Thenne that damoysel departed / and la cote male tayle fast folowed after / And within a whyle he ouertook the damoysell and anone she myssaid hym in the fowlest maner

¶Capitulum Tercium /

THenne sire kay ordeyned sir dagonet / kynge Arthurs foole to folowe after la cote male taile / and there sir kay ordeyned that sir Dagonet was horsed and armed and bad hym folowe la cote male taile / and profer hym to Ius¦te and soo he dyd / and whan he sawe la cote male tayle he cry¦ed and badde hym make hym redy to Iuste / Soo sir la cote ma¦le tayle smote sir Dagonet ouer his hors croupe / Thenne the damoysel mocked la cote male tayle / and said fy for shame / now art thou shamed in Arthurs courte / whan they sende a foole to haue adoo with the / and specially at thy fyrst Iustes / thus she rode longe and chyde / ¶ And within a whyle there

••••ne sir Bleoberys the good knyght / and there he Iusted with la cote male tayle / and there syre Bleoberys smote hym so sore that hors and alle felle to the erth / Thenne la cote male tayle arose vp lyghtely and dressid his sheld / and drewe his suerd and wold haue done bataill to the vtteraūce / for he was wode ••••••oshe / Not soo said Bleoberys de ganys / as at this tyme I wille not fyghte vpon foo•••• / Thenne the damoysel Maledysaūt 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hym in the foulest man̄er / and badde hym ••orne ayene coward / A damoysel he said I pray you of mercy to myssa me no more / my gryef is ynough though ye gyue me no more / I calle my self neuer the wers knyght / whan a marys sone fa∣yleth me / and also I dompte me neuer the wers knyght for a falle of sir Bleoberys / Soo thus he rode with her two dayes / and by fortune there came sir Palomydes and encountred with hym / and he in the same / wyse serued hym as dyd Bleoberys to fore hand / ¶what dost thou here in my fel••uship saide the damoysel maledysaunt / thou canst not sytte no knyghte / nor withstande hym one buffet / but yf hit were sir dagonet / A fair damoysel I am not the wers to take a falle of sire Palamy∣des / and yet grete disworship haue I none / for neyder Bleo∣berys not yet palamydes wold not fyghte with me on foote / 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for that said the damoysel wete thou wel they haue desda∣••ne and scor••e to lyghte of their horses to fyghte with suche a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 knyght as thou ••••te / Soo in the meane whyle ther cam sir Mordred / sir Gawayns broder / and soo he felle in the felau¦ship with the damoysel maledy••aunt / And thenne they came a¦••ore the castel Orgulous / and there was suche a customme that there myght no knyght come by that castel / but outher he must Iuste or be prysoner / or at the lest to less his hors and his har¦ne••s / and there came oute two knyghtes ageynst them / and sir mordred Iusted with the formest / and that knyght of the cas∣tel smote sire Mordred doune of his hors / and thenne la cote male tayle Iusted with that other / and eyther of hem smote o∣ther doune hors and alle to the erthe / And whanne they auoy¦ded their horses / thenne eyther of hem took others horses / ¶And thenne la cote male tayle rode vnto that knyght that smote doune sire Mordred and Iusted with hym / And there syre La cote male tayle hurte & wounded hym passynge sore

and putte hym from his hors as he had ben dede / So he torned vnto hym that mette hym afore / and he took the flyght toward the castel / and sire la cote male tayle rode after hym in to the Castel Orgulous / and there la cote male tayle shewe hym

¶Capitulum iiij

ANd anone there came an honderd knyʒtes about hym and assaylled hym / and whan he sawe his hors shold be slayne / he alyghte and voyded his hors / & putte the brydel vn¦der his feete / and so put hym out of the gate / And whan he had soo done / he hurled in amonge hem / and dressid his bak vnto a ladyes chamber walle / thynkynge hym self that he had leuer dye there with worship / than to abyde the rebukes of the damoi¦sel Maledysaunt / And in the meane tyme as he stood & fouʒt that lady whos was the chamber wente oute slyly at her posi∣erne / and without the gates she fond la cote male tayles hors and lyghtly she gate hym by the brydel / and teyed hym to the posterne / And thenne she wente vnto her chambre slyly ageyn for to behold hou that one knyghte fought ageynst an honderd knyghtes / And whan she had behold hym longe / she wente to a wyndowe behynde his bak / and said thou knyght thou fygh∣test wonderly wel / but for alle that at the last thou must ne∣des dye / But and thou canst thorou thy myʒty prowesse wyn∣ne vnto yonder posterne / for there haue I fastned thy hors to abyde the / but wete thou wel thou must thynke on thy wor∣ship / & thynke not to dye / for thou maiste not wynne vnto that posterne without thou doo nobly and myghtly / whan la cote male tayle herd her saye so / he gryped his swerd in his handes and putt his sheld fayre afore hym / & thorou the thyckest prees he thrulled thorou them / And whan he came to the posterne / he fond there redy four knyghtes / and at two the fyrst strokes he slewe two of the knyghtes / & the other fledde / & soo he wanne his hors and rode from them / and alle as it was it was reher∣ced in kynge Arthurs courte / hou he slewe twelue knyghtes within the castel Orgulous / and so he rode on his waye / And in the meane whyle the damoysel said to sir Mordred I wene my foolysshe knyʒt be outher slayn or takē prysoner / thēne we¦re they ware where he came rydyng / And whan he was come

to them / he told alle how he hadde spedde / and escaped in despy¦te of them alle / and somme of the best of hem wille telle no ta¦les / Thou lyest falsly saide the damoysel / that dare I make go∣od / but as a foole and a dastard to alle knyghthode / they ha¦ue lete the passe / that may ye preue said La cote male tayle / with that she sente a currour of hers that rode alweye with her for to knowe the trouthe of this dede / and soo he rode thydder lyghtly / and asked how and in what maner that la cote ma¦le tayle was escaped oute of the castel / ¶Thenne alle the knyghtes cursyd hym and said that he was a fende and noo man / For he hath slayne here twelue of oure best knyghtes / & we wende vnto this daye that hit had ben to moche for sir laū∣celot du lake or for sire Tristram de lyones / And in despyte of vs alle he is departed from vs and maulgre oure hedes / ¶With this ansuer the currour departed and came to Male∣dysaunt his lady / and told her alle how syr la cote male ta∣yle had spedde at the castel Orgulous / Thenne she smote doun her h••ed / and sayd lytel / By my hede said sir Mordred to the damoysel ye are gretely to blame so to rebuke hym / for I war∣ne you playnly he is a good knyghte / and I doubte not / but he shalle preue a noble knyghte / but as yet he may not yet sytt sure on horsbak / for he that shalle be a good horsman / hit must come of vsage and excercyse / But whan he cometh to the stro∣kes of his swerd / he is thenne noble and myghty / and that sa¦we sire Bleoberys and sir Palamydes / for wete ye wel they are wyly men of armes / and anon they knowe whan they see a yonge knyghte by his rydyng / how they ar sure to yeue hym a falle from his hors or a grete buffet / But for the moost par¦ty they wille not lyghte on foote with yonge knyghtes / For they are wyght and strongly armed / For in lyke wyse sir la∣uncelot du lake whan he was fyrste made knyghte / he was of∣ten putte to the werse vpon horsbak / but euer vpon foote he re∣couerd his renomme / and slewe and defoyled many knygh∣tes of the round table / And therfor the rebukes that sir Laun¦celot dyd vnto many knyghtes causeth them that be men of pro¦wesse to beware / for often I haue sene the old preued knygh¦tes rebuked and slayne by them that were but yonge begyn∣ners / Thus they rode sure talkynge by the way to gyders /

¶ Here leue we of a whyle of this tale and speke we of sire Launcelot du lake /

¶Capitulum Quintum

THat whan he was come to the courte of kynge Arthur thenne herd he telle of the yonge knyghte la cote male tayle how he slewe the lyon / & how he tooke vpon hym the aduenture of the black shelde / the whiche was named atte that tyme the hardyest aduenture of the world / Soo god me saue said sir Laūcelot vnto many of his felawes / it was sha∣me to alle the noble knyghtes to suffre suche a yonge knyghte to take suche aduenture vpon hym for his destructyon / for I wille that ye wete said sire launcelot / that that damoysel ma∣ledysaunt hath born that shelde many a day for to seche the most proued knyghtes / and that was she that Breunys saunce py¦te took that sheld from her / and after Tristram de lyones resco¦wed that shelde from hym / and gaf it to the damoysell ageyne A lytil afore that tyme that sir Tristram fought with my ne∣uewe sire Blamore de Ganys for a quarel that was betwixe the kynge of Irland and hym / Thenne many knyghtes were sory that sir La cote male tayle was gone forth to that aduen¦ture / Truly said sir launcelot I cast me to ryde after hym / and within seuen dayes sir launcelot ouertook la cote male tayle / And thenne he salewed hym / and the damoysel maledysaunt / And whan sir Mordred sawe sir laūcelot / thenne he lefte their felauship / and soo sir launcelot rode with hem al a day / and e∣uer that damoysel rebuked la cote male taile / and thenne sire launcelot ansuerd for hym / thenne she lefte of / and rebuked sir launcelot / Soo this meane tyme syre Tristram sente by a da∣moysel a letter vnto sire launcelot excusynge hym of the wed¦dynge of Isoud le blaunche maynys / and said in the letter as he was a true knyʒt / he hadde neuer adoo flesshly with Isoud la blaunche maynys / and passynge curtoisly & gentyly sir tris¦tram wrote vnto sire launcelot / euer bysechyng hym to be his good frende / & vnto la beale Isoud of Cornewaile / and that sire

Launcelot wold excuse hym yf that euer he sawe her / ¶ And within shorte tyme by the grace of god said sir Tristram that he wold speke with la Brale Isoud and with hym ryghte hastely•• / Thenne sire Launcelot departed from the damoysel / & from syr la cote male taile for to ouersee that letter / and to wryte another letter vnto syre Tristram de lyones / and in the meane whyle la cote male tayle roode with the damoysel vntyl they came to a castel that hyght Pendragon / and there were syxe knyghtes stode afore hym / and one of hem profered to Ius¦te with la cote male tayle / And there la cote male tayle smote hym ouer his hors croupe / ¶And thenne the fyue knyghtes sette vpon hym all at ones with their speres / & the•••• they smo∣te la cote male tayle doun•• hors and man / And thenne they a lyght sodenly / and sette their handes vpon hym all attones / and toke hym prysoner / and soo ledde hym vnto the castel / & kepte hym as prysoner / And on the morne sir Launcelot arose and delyuerd the damoysel with letters vnto sir Tristram / & thenne he took his way after la cote male tayle / & by the way•• vpon a brydge there was a knyghte profered sire Launcelot to Iuste / and sire Launcelot smote hym doune / and thenne they foughte vpon foote a noble batail to gyders and a myghty / & at the laste sire Launcelot smote hym doune grouelynge vpon his handes and his knees / And thenne that knyghte yelded hym / and sire launcelot receyued hym fayre / Syr said the kn∣yght I requyre the telle me your name / for moche my herte ye¦ueth vnto you / Nay said sire Launcelot as at this tyme I wil not telle you my name / onles thenne that ye telle me your na∣me / Certaynly said the knyght my name is sir Nerouens that was made knyght of my lord sir Launcelot du lake / A New∣uens de lyle said sire Launcelot I am ryght gladde that ye ar proued a good knyghte / for now wete ye wel my name is sir Launcelot du lake / Allas said sire Nerouens de lyle what ha¦ue I done / and there with al flatlyng ••e felle to his feet / and wold haue kyst them / but sir Launcelot wold not lete hym / & thenne eyther made grete ioye of other / And thenne sire Nero∣uens told sir Launcelot that he shold not goo by the castel of Pendragon / for there is a lord myghty knyght / and many knyghtes with hym / and this nyght I herd say that they toke

a knyght prysoner yesterday that rode with a damoysel / & they saye he is a knyghte of the round table

¶Capitulum vj

A Said sir Launcelot that knyght is my felawe / & hym shalle I rescowe or els I shalle ••ese my lyf therfore And there with alle he rode fast tyl he came before the Castel of Pendragon / and anone there with alle there cam vj knyghtes / and alle made hem redy to sette vpon sire Launcelot at ones / thenne sire Laūcelot feutryd his spere / and smote the formest that he brake his bak in sonder / and thre of them hytte and thre fayled / And thenne sire launcelot past thorou them / and lyghtly he torned in ageyne / and smote another knyghte / thorugh the brest and thorou oute the bak more than an ell / & ther with alle his spere brak / Soo thenne alle the remenaunt of the four knyghtes drewe their swerdes and lasshed at syre Launcelot / And at euery stroke sire launcelot bestowed so his strokes that at four strokes sondry they auoyded theyr sadel•• passynge sore wounded / and forthe with alle he rode hurlynge in to that castel / And anon the lord of the castel that was that tyme cleped sir Bryan de les yles the which was a noble mā and a grete enemy vnto kyng arthur / within a whyle he was armed and vpon horsbak / And thenne they feutryd their spe∣res and hurled to gyders soo strongly that bothe theire horses rasshed to the erthe / And thenne they auoyded their sadels / & dressid their sheldes and drewe theire swerdes and flange to gyders as wood men / and there were many strokes yeuen in a whyle / at the last sir launcelot gaf to sir Bryan suche a buffet that he kneled vpon his knees / and thenne sir launcelot ras∣shed vpon hym / and with grete force he pulled of his helme / and whanne sire Bryan sawe that he shold be slayne he yelded hym and put hym in his mercy and in his grace / Thenne sire launcelot made hym to delyuer alle his prysoners that he had within his castel / and therin sir laūcelot fonde of arthurs kn∣yghtes thyrtty / and / xl / ladyes / and soo he delyuerd hem / and thenne he rode his waye / and anon as la cote male tayle was delyuerd he gat his hors and his harneis / and his damoysel

Maledysaunt / the meane whyle syre Neroueus that sir Laun∣celot had foughten with alle afore at the brydge / he sente a da∣moysel after sir Launcelot to wete hou he spedde at the Castell of Pendragon / And thenne they within the castel merueylled what knyght he was whan sir Bryan and his knyghtes de∣lyuerd alle tho prysoners / haue ye no merueille said the da∣moysel / for the best knyghte in this world was here / and dyd this iourney / and wete ye wel she said it was sire launcelott Thenne was sir Bryan ful gladde and soo was his lady / & alle his knyghtes / that suche a man shold wynne them / And whan the damoysel and la cote male tayle vnderstood that it was syr Launcelot du lake that had ryden with them in felau¦ship / ¶And that she remembryd her hou she had rebuked hym and callyd hym coward / thenne was she passynge heuy

¶Capitulum septimum

SOo thenne they took their horses and rode forth a pas after sire Launcelot / And within two myle they ouer took hym / and salewed hym / and thanked hym / and the damoysel cryed sir Launcelot mercy of her euyll dede / and sayenge / for now I knowe the floure of alle knyghthode is departed euen bitwene sire Tristram and you / For god kno∣weth said the damoysel that I haue soughte you my lord sir Launcelot and sir Tristram longe / and now I thanke god I haue mette with you / and ones at Camelot I mette with sir Tristram / and ther he rescowed this blak shelde with the why∣te hand holdynge a naked swerd / that sir Bruyns saunce py∣te had taken from me / Now fayre damoysel said sir Launcelot who told you my name / Syre said she / there came a damoysell from a knyghte that ye fought with all at the brydge / and she told me your name was sir Launcelot du lake / blame haue she thenne said sire Launcelot / but her lord sire Neroueus ha∣th told her / But damoysel said sire Launcelot vpon this coue∣naunt I wille ryde with you / so that ye wille not rebuke this knyght sir La cote male tayle nomore / for he is a good knyght and I doubte not he shalle preue a noble knyght / and for his

sake and pyte that he sholde not be destroyed / I folowed hym to socoure hym in this grete nede / A / Ihesu thanke you said the damoysel / for now I wil say vnto you and to hym both / I re¦buked hym neuer for no hate that I hated hym / but for grete loue that I had to hym / For euer I supoosed that he had ben to yonge and to tendyr to take vpon hym these aduentures / And therfore by my wille I wold haue dryuen hym aweye for Ialousy that I had of his lyf / for it maye be no yong kny∣ghtes dede that shal̄ enchyeue this aduenture to the ende / Per¦dieu said sire Launucelot hit is wel said / and where ye are cal¦led the damoysel Maledysaunt I wille calle you the damoy∣sel Bien pensaunt / and soo they rode forthe a grete whyle vn¦to they came to the Bordoure of the countrey of Surluse / and there they fond a fayr vyllage with a stronge brydge lyke a fortresse / And whanne sir launcelot and they were at the brid∣ge / there starte forth afore them of gentilmen and yomen ma∣ny that saide / Faire lordes ye maye not passe this brydge and this fortresse by cause of that black shelde that I see one of you bere / And therfore there shalle not passe but one of you at ones / therfore chese you whiche of you shalle entre withynne this brydge fyrste / Thenne sir Launcelot profered hym self fyrst to entre within this brydge / Syr said La cote male tayle I bi∣seche you lete me entre within this fortresse / and yf I may spe¦de wel / I wille sende for you / and yf it happend that I be ••••ayn there it goth / And yf soo be that I am a prysoner taken / then∣ne maye ye rescowe me / I am lothe said sir launcelot to lete you passe this passage / Syre said la cote male tayle I praye you lete me putte my body in this aduenture / Now goo youre waye said sire Laūcelot / and Ihesu be your spede / So he entrid and anone there mette with hym two bretheren / the one hyʒte syr Playne de force and the other hyght sir Playne de am••u••s And anone they mette with sir la cote male tayle / and forste la cote male tayle smote doune Playne de force / and after he smote doune playne de amours / and thenne they dressid them to their sheldes and swerdes / and badde la cote male tayle a∣lyghte / and soo he dyd / and there was dasshyng and foynyng with swerdes / and soo they began to assaile ful hard la cote male tayle / and many grete woundes they gaf hym vpon his

heed and vpon his brest and vpon his sholders / And as he myght euer amonge he gaf sadde strokes ageyne /

And thenne the two bretheren traced and trauercyd for to be of bothe handes of sire la cote male tayle / but he by fyne force & knyghtly prowesse gate hem afore hym / And thenne whan he felte hym self soo wounded / thenne he doubled his strokes / & gaf them soo many woundes that he feld them to the erthe / & wold haue slayne them had they not yelded them / And ryʒt soo sire la cote male tayle tooke the best hor•• that there was of them thre / and soo rode forth his waye to the other fortresse & brydge and there he mette with the thyrd broder whoos name was sire Plenorius / a ful noble knyghte / and there they Ius∣ted to gyder / and eyther smote other doune hors and man to the erthe / And thenne they auoyded their horses / and dressid their sheldes / and drewe their swerdes / and gaf many sad stro¦kes / and one whyle the one knyght was afore on the brydge / and an other whyle the other / And thus they foughte two houres and more / and neuer rested / And euer sire Launcelot and the damoysel ••eheld them / ¶Allas said the damoysel my knyghte fyghteth passynge sore and ouer longe / ¶Now may ye see said sir Launcelot that he is a noble knyghte for to con∣sydre his fyrste bataile / and his greuous woundes / And euen forth with all so wounded as he is / it is merueile that he may endure this longe batail with that good knyghte /

¶Capitulum Octauum

THis meane whyle syre la cote male tayle sanke ryghte doun vpon the erthe / what forwounded and what for∣bled he myghte not stande / Thenne the other knyghte hadde pyte of hym / and sayd fayr yonge knyghte desmaye you not / for had ye ben fresshe whan ye mette with me / as I was / I wote wel that I shold not haue endured so longe as ye ha¦ue done / and therfore / for youre noble dedes of armes / I shall shewe to you kyndenes and gentylnesse in alle that I maye / And forth with al this noble knyght sir Plenorius took hym vp in his armes / and ledde hym in to his toure / And thenne

he commaunded hym the wyn / and made to ••••rche hym and to stoppe his bledynge woundes / ¶Syre said la cote male toyle withdrawe you from me / and hyhe you to yonder brydge ag••∣yne / for there wille mete with you another maner knyght than euer was I / why said Plenorius / is there another maner kn∣yght behynde of your felauship / ye said la cote male tayl•• / ther is a moche better knyght than I am / what is his name sayd Plenorius / ye shalle not knowe for me / said la cote male tayle wel said the knyght / he shalle be encountred with / alle / what someuer he be / Thenne sir Plenorius herd a knyght calle / that sayd syr Plenorius where art thou / outher thou must delyuer me the prysoner that thou hast led vnto thy toure / or els come and doo bataile with me / Thenne Plenorius gat his hors / and came with a spere in his hand walloppynge toward syr laun∣celot / and thenne they beganne to feutre their speres / and came to gyders as thonder / and smote eyther other so myghtely that their horses felle doune vnder them / And thenne they auoyded their horses / and pulled out their swerdes / & lyke two bulles they lasshed to gyders with grete strokes and foynes / but euer syr launcelot recouerd ground vpon hym / and sire Plenorius traced to haue gone aboute hym / But sire launcelot wold not suffer that / but bare hym backer and backer / tyll he came nyyhe his toure gate / And thenne said sire launcelot I knowe the wel for a good knyght / but wete thou wel / thy lyf and dethe is in my hand / and therfore yelde the to me / and thy prysoner The other ansuerd no word / but strake myʒtely vpon sir laū∣celots helme that the fyre spr••nge out of his eyen / thenne syre Launcelot doubled his strokes soo thyck / and smote at hym so myghtely that he made hym knele vpon his knees / And there with sir launcelot lepte vpon hym / and pulled hym grouelyng doune / Thenne sir Plenorius yelded hym / and his toure / and alle his prysoners at his wille / thenne sir launcelot receyued hym and took his trouthe / and thēne he rode to the other bryd¦ge / and there sir launcelot Iusted with other thre of his brethe¦ren / the one hyght Pillounes / and the other hyght Pellogris and the thyrdde sir Pellandris / and fyrst vpon hor••bak sir la∣uncelot smote hem doune / and afterward he bete them on foote / and made them to yelde them vnto hym / and thenne he retorned

vnto sir Plenorius / and there he fond in his pryson kyng Ca¦rados of scotland and many other knyghtes / and alle they were delyuerd / And thenne sire la cote male tay••e came to sire launcelot / and theune sir launcelot wold haue yeuen hym alle these fortresses and these brydges / Nay said la cote male tayle I wille not haue sire Plenorius lyuelode / with that he wylle graunte you my lord sire launcelot to come vnto kynge Arth∣urs courte and to be his knyght and alle his bretheren I will pray you my lord to lete hym haue his lyuelode / I wille wel said sire launcelot / with this that he wille come to the Courte of kynge Arthur and bicome his man / and his bretheren fy∣ue / And as for you sir Plenorius I wille vndertake said sir Launcelot at the next feest soo there be a place wyded that ye shalle be knyght of the round table / Syr said Plenorius atte next feest of Pentecost I wille be at Arthurs courte / and at that tyme I wille be guyded and ruled as kynge Arthur & ye wille haue me / Thenne sir Launcelot and sire la cote male tayle reposed hem there vnto the tyme that sire la cote male ta∣yle was hole of his woundes / and there they hadde mery chere and good rest and many good gamys / and there were many fayre ladyes /

¶Capitulum Nonum /

ANd in the meane whyle came sir kay the seneschal and sire Brandyles / and anone they felaushypped wyth them / And thenne within ten dayes thēne departed tho knygh¦tes of Arthurs Courte from these fortresses / And as sir laū∣celot came by the castel of Pendragon / there he putte sir Bry∣an de les yles from his landes / for cause be wold neuer be with hold with kynge Arthur / and alle that castel of Pendragon / and alle the landes therof he gaf to sire la cote male tayle / & thēne sir launcelot sente for Neroneus that he made ones kn∣yghte / and he made hym to haue alle the rule of that castel / & of that countrey vnder la cote male tayle / and soo they rode to Arthurs courte al holy to gyders / And at Pentecost next fo∣lowynge there was sire Plenorius and sir la cote male tayle called otherwyse by ryght syr Breunes le noyre bothe maade

knyghtes of the table round / and grete londes kynge Arthur gaf them / and there Breune le noyre wedded that damoysell Maledysaunt / And after she was called Beau viuante / but euer after for the more party he was called la cote male tayle and he preued a passynge noble knyghte and myghty / & many worshipful dedes he dyd after in his lyf / and sire Plenorius proued a noble knyght and ful of prowesse / and alle the da¦yes of their lyf for the moost party they awayted vpon sir laū∣celot / and sire Plenorius bretheren were euer knyghtes of ky∣nge Arthur / and also as the frensshe book maketh mencyon / syr la cote male tayle auengyd his faders dethe /

¶Capitulum x

NOw leue we here sire la cote male tayle / and torne we vnto sir Tristram de lyones that was in Bretayne / whanne la beale Isoud vnderstode that he was wedded / she sent to hym by her mayden Bragwayne as py••eous letters as co∣ude be thoughte and made / and her conclusion was / that / and hit pleasyd syr Tristram / that he wold come to her courte / and brynge with hym Isoud la blaunche maynys / and they shold be kepte as wel as she her self / Thenne sir Tristram called vn¦to hym sir kehydius / and asked hym whether he wold go with hym in to Cornewaile secretely / He ansuerd hym that he was redy at al tymes / And thenne he lete ordeyne pryuely / a lytel vessel / and therin they wente syr Tristram / kehydius / Dame Bragwayne and Gouernaile sir Tristrams squyer / So when they were in the see / a contraryous wynde blewe hem on the co¦stes of Northwalys nygh the castel peryllous / Thenne sayd sir Tristram here shalle ye abyde me these ten dayes / and Gouer∣naile my squyer with you / And yf so be I come not ageyne / by that daye / take the next way in to Cornewaile / for in thys forest are many straunge aduentures / as I haue herd saye / & somme of hem I caste me to preue or I departe / And whanne I maye / I shalle hyhe me after you / Thenne sir Tristram and ••ehydius took their horses and departed from their felauship / And soo they rode within that forest a myle and more / And

at the last sir Tristram sawe afore hym a lykely knyʒt armed syttynge by a welle / and a stronge myghty hors passyng ny∣ghe hym teyed to an Oke and a man houynge and rydynge by hym ledynge an hors lade with speres / And this knyghte that satte atte welle / semed by his countenaunce to be passyng heuy / Thenne sire Tristram rode nere hym / and said fayr knyʒt why sytte ye soo droupyng / ye seme to be a knyght erraunt by your armes and harneis / and therfor dresse you to Iuste with one of vs or with bothe / There with all that knyght made noo wordes / but took his shelde and bokeled hit aboute his neck / and lyghtely he took his hors and lepte vpon hym / And thē∣ne he took a grete spere of his s••nyer / and departed his waye a furlonge / Sire kehydius asked leue of sir Tristram to Iuste fyrst / doo your best said sire Tristram / soo they mette to gyders and there sir kehydius had a falle / and was sore wounded / on hyghe aboue the pappys / ¶Thenne sir Tristram said / knyʒt that is wel Iusted / Now make you redy vnto me / I am redy said the knyght / And thenne that knyght took a gretter spere in his hand / and encountred with sir Tristram / and there by grete force that knyght smote doune sir Tristram from his ho∣rs and had a grete falle / Thenne sir Tristram was sore asha∣med / and lyghtly he auoyded his hors / and put his sheld a¦fore his sholder and drewe his swerd / And thenne sire Trys∣tram requyred that knyghte of his knyghthode to alyghte vp¦on foote and fyghte with hym / I wille wel said the knyght and soo he alyghte vpon foote / and auoyded his hors / and cast his shelde vpon his sholder / and drewe his swerd / and there they fought a longe bataile to gyder ful nyghe two houres / ¶Thenne sir Tristram said fayr knyght hold thyn hand / & telle me of whens thou arte / and what is thy name / ¶As for that said the knyght / I wille be auysed / but and thou wolt telle me thy name / peraduenture I wille telle the myn /

¶Capitulum xj

NOw fayr knyght he said / my name is sire Tristram de lyones / Syre saide the other knyght / and my name is sir lamorak de galys / A sir lamorak said sir Tristram / well

be we mette / and bethynke the now of the despyte thou dydest me of the sendyng of the horne vnto kynge Markes courte to the entente to haue slayne or dishonoured my lady the Quene la Beale Isoud / and therfore wete thou wel said sir Tristram the one of vs shalle dye or we departe / Sire said sir Lamorak remembre that we Were to gyders in the yle of seruage / and at that tyme ye promysed me grete frendship / thenne sire Tristram wold make no lenger delayes but lasshed at sir Lamorak / & thus they foughte longe / tyl eyder were wery of other / Thenne sir Tristram seid to sir Lamorak in alle my lyf mette I neuer with suche a knyght that was soo bygge and well brethed as ye be / therfore said syre Tristram hit were / pyte / that ony of vs both shold here be meschyeued Syr said sire Lamorak for youre renomme and name I wille that ye haue the worship of this bataille / and therfor I will yelde me vnto you / And ther with he took the poynte of his swerd to yelde hym / Nay said sir tris¦tram ye shalle not doo soo / for wel I knowe your profers and more of your gentylnesse than for my fere or drede ye haue of me / And there with alle sir Tristram profered hym his swerde and said sire Lamorak as an ouercomen knyghte I yelde me vnto you / as to a mā of the most noble prowesse •• that ••uer I mette with alle / Nay said sir Lamorak I wille doo you gen∣tylnesse / I requyre yow lete vs be sworne to gyders that ne∣uer none of vs shalle after this day haue adoo with other / and there with alle syre Tristram and sire Lamorak sware that ne¦uer none of hem shold fyghte ageynst other nor for wele / no•• for woo

¶Capitulum xij

ANd this meane whyle there came sire Palomydes the good knyght folowynge the questynge beest that hadde in shap a hede lyke a serpents hede / and a body lyke a lybard / buttocks lyke a lyon / and foted lyke an herte / and in his body there was suche a noyse as hit had ben the noyse of thyrtty coupel of hoūdes questyng / and suche a noyse that beest made where someuer he wente / & this beest euermore syr palo∣mydes folowed / for hit was called his quest / & ryʒt so as he fo¦lowed this beest / it came by syr Tristram / and soone after cam

Palamydes / and to breue this matere / he smote doune sir tris∣tram and sir Lamorak bothe with one spere / and soo he depar∣ted after the beste Glatysaunt / that was called the questynge beest / wherfore these two knyghtes were passynge Wrothe / that sir Palomydes wold not fyghte on foote with hem /

¶Here men may vnderstande / that ben of worship that he was neuer fourmed that alle tymes myght stande / but somtyme he was putte to the werse by male fortune / And at somme tyme the wers knyghte putte the better knyghte to a rebuke / Then∣ne sire Tristram and sire Lamorak gate sire kehydius vpon a sheld betwixe them bothe / and ledde hym to a fosters lodge / & there they gaf hym in charge to kepe hym well / and with hym they abode thre dayes / Thenne the two knyghtes toke their hor¦ses / and at the crosse they departed / And thenne said sir Tris¦tram to sire Lamorak I requyre you yf ye happe to mete wyth sir Palamydes / say hym that he shal fynde me atte same welle there I mette hym / and there I sire Tristram shalle preue whe∣ther he be better knyght than I / and soo eyther departed from other a sondry way / and sire tristram rode nyghe there as was sire kehydius / and sire Lamorak rode vntyl he came to a chap¦pel / and there he putte his hors vnto pasture / and anone there came sir Melyagaunce that was kynge Bagdemagus sone / & he there putte his hors to pasture / and was not ware of sir la¦morak / and thenne this knyght sire Melliagaunce maade his mone of the loue that he hadde to quene Gueneuer / and there he made a woful complaynte / All this herd sire Lamorak / and on the morne sir lamorak took his hors and rode vnto the fo∣rest / and there he mette with two knyghtes houynge vnder the wood shawe / Faire knyghtes said sire Lamorak what doo ye houynge here and watchynge / And yf ye be knyghtes arraunt that wille Iuste / loo I am redy / Nay sir knyght they said / not soo / we abyde not here for to Iuste with you / but we lye here in a wayte of a Knyghte that slewe our broder /

¶What knyght was that said sir Lamorak that ye wold fa∣yne mete with all / Syre they said / hit is sire launcelot that sle∣w•• oure broder / And yf euer we maye mete with hym / he shal not escape but we shalle slee hym / ¶ Ye take vpon you a

grete charge saide sire Lamorak / for sire launcelot is a noble proued knyʒt / As for that we doute not / for there nys none of vs but we are good ynough for hym I will not bileue that said sir Lamorak / For I herd neuer yet of no knyght the da¦yes of my lyf but sir launcelot was to bygge for hym

¶Capitulum xiij /

RYyght soo as they stode talkynge thus / syre Lamorak was ware hou syr launcelot came rydynge streyghte toward them / thenne sire Lamorak sale Wed hym / and he hym ageyne / And thenne sire lamorak asked sir launcelot / yf there were ony thynge that he myght doo for hym in these marches / Nay said sire launcelot not at this tyme / I thanke you / thenne eyther departed from other / and sir Lamorak rode ageyn ther as he lefte the two knyghtes / and thenne he fond them hydde in the leued woode / Fy on you said sir Lamorak fals cowar¦des / pyte and shame it is / that ony of you shold take the hyhe ordre of knyghthode / Soo sir Lamorak departed fro them / and within a whyle he mette with sire Melyagaunce / And thenne syre Lamorak asked hym / why he loued Quene Gueneuer as he dyd / for I was not fer from you whanne ye made yo∣ur complaynte by the chappel / Dyd ye soo said sir Melyagaū∣ce / thenne wille I abyde by hit / I loue quene gueneuer what wille ye with hit / I wille preue and make good / that she is the fayrest lady and moost of beaute in the world / ¶ As to that said sire Lamorak I say nay therto / for quene Morgause of Orkeney moder to sire Gawayne and his moder is the fay∣rest quene and lady that bereth the lyf / That is not so sayd syre Melyagaunce / and that wille I preue with my handes vpon thy body / Wille ye soo said sire Lamorak / and in a better quarel kepe I not to fyghte / Thenne they departed eyther from other in grete wrathe / And thenne they came rydyng to gyder as hit had ben thonder / and eyther smote other so sore that the∣ir horses felle bakward to the erthe / And thenne they auoyded their horses and dressid their sheldes / / and drewe their swerdes And thenne they hurtled to gyders as wylde bores / and thus

they fought a grete whyle / For Melyagaunce was a good man and of grete myght / but sire Lamorak was hard bygge for hym / and putte hym alweyes a bak / but eyther had wo∣unded other sore / ¶And as they stode thus fyghtynge / by for¦tune came sire Launcelot and sire Bleoberys rydynge / And thenne sire launcelot rode betwixe them / and asked them / For what cause they fought soo to gyders / and ye are bothe knygh¦tes of kynge Arthur /

¶Capitulum xiiij

SYr said Melyagaunce I shalle telle you for what ca∣use we doo this bataille / I praysed my lady Quene Gueneuer / and said she was the fayrest lady of the world / and sire Lamorak said nay therto / For he said quene Morgause of Orkeney was fayrer than she and more of beau∣te / A syre Lamorak why saist thou soo / hit is not thy parte to disprayse thy pryncesse that thou arte vnder theire obeyssaunce¦dn we alle / and there with he alyghte on foote / and sayd for this quarel make the redy / For I wille preue vpon the / that Quene Gueneuer is the fayrest lady and moost of boun∣te in the world ¶Syre said sire Lamorak I am loth to haue adoo with you in this quarell / For euery man thyn∣keth his owne lady fayrest / and though I prayse the lady / that I loue moost / ye shold not be wrothe / For though my la¦dy quene Gueneuer be fayrest in your eye / wete ye wel Quene Morgause of Orkeney is fayrest in myn eye / and soo euery knyght thynketh his owne lady fayrest / and wete ye wel syr ye are the man in the world excepte sire Tristram / that I am moost lothest to haue adoo with alle / But and ye wille nedes fyghte with me I shal endure you as longe as I may / ¶Thenne spake sire Bleoberys / and said / my lord sire Laū∣celot / I wyste you neuer soo mysauysed as ye are now / For syre Lamorak saith you but reason and knyghtely / ¶For I warne you I haue a lady / and me thynketh that she is the fayrest lady of the world / were this a grete reason that ye sh∣old he wrothe with me for suche langage / And wel ye wote / that syr Lamorak is as noble a knyght as I knowe / and he

hath oughte you and vs euer good wille / and therfore I pr∣aye you be good frendes / ¶Thenne sire Launcelot sayd vnto sir lamerak / I pray you foryeue me myn euylle wylle / And yf I was mysauysed I wille amende hit / Syre sayde sir Lamorak the amendys is soone made betwixe you and me And soo sir Launcelot and sire Bleoberys departed / and syr Melyagaunce and sir Lamorak took their horses / and eyther departed from other / And within a whyle came kynge Ar∣thur and mette with sir Lamorak and Iusted with hym / and there he smote doune sire Lamorack / and wounded hym sore with a spere / and soo he rode from hym / wherfore sir Lamorak was wrothe that he wold not fyghte with hym on foote / hou be it that sire Lamorak knewe not kynge Arthur

¶Capitulum xv

NOw leue we of this tale / and speke we of sire Trist∣ram / that as he rode he mette with sir kay the seneschal and there sire kay / asked sir Tristram of what coūtrey he was / he ansuerd that he was of the countrey of Cornewail Hit maye wel be said sir kay / for yet herd I neuer that euer good knyghte came oute of Cornewaile / that is euyl spoken said sir Tristram / but and it please you to telle me your name I requyre you / Syre wete ye wel said sire kay that my name is sire kay the seneschal / Is that your name said sir Tristram / now wete ye well that ye are named the shamefullest knyghte of youre tonge that now is lyuynge / how be it ye are called a good knyght / but ye are called vnfortunate / and passyng ouer thwarte of your tonge / And thus they rode to gyders tyl they came to a brydge / And there was a knyghte wold not lete hem passe / tyl one of hem Iusted with hym / and so that knyʒt Iusted with sir kay / and there that knyght gaf sir kay / a falle / his name was sire Tor syre Lamoraks half broder / and then∣ne they two rode to theyre lodgynge / And there they fonde sire Brandyles / and sir Tor came thyder anone after /

¶And as they satte atte souper these foure knyghtes / thre of

them spa•• alle shame by Cornysshe knyghtes / ¶Syr Tristram herd alle that they saide / and he sayd but lytell / but he thoughte the more / but at that tyme he discouerd not his name / Vpon the morne sir Tristram took his hors / and abode them vpon their way / And there syre Brandyles proferd to Iuste with sir Tristram / and sir Tristram smote hym doune ho∣rs and alle to the erthe / Thenne sire Tor le fyse de vayshoure encountred with syre Tristram / and there sire Tristram smote hym doune / and thenne he rode his waye / and sir kay folowed hym / but he wold not of his felauship / Thenne sire Brandy∣les came to sir kay / and said I wold wete fayne what is that knyghtes name / Come on with me said sir kay / and we shall praye hym to telle vs his name / Soo they rode to gyders / tylle they came nyghe hym / and thenne they were ware where he sat by a welle / and had putte of his helme to drynke at the welle And whanne he sawe them come / he laced on his helme lyght¦ly / and took his hors / and proferd hem to Iuste / Nay said syre Brandyles we Iusted late ynough with you / we come not in that entent / But for this we come to requyre you of knyght∣hode to telle vs your name / My fayre knyghtes sythen that is your desyre / and to please you ye shal wete that my name is sir Tristram de lyones neuewe vnto kynge Mark of Corne∣wayle / In good tyme saide sire Brandyles / and wel be ye fonden / and wete ye wel that we be ryght gladde that we ha∣ue fonde you / and we be of a felauship that wold be ryʒt glad of your company / For ye are the knyghte in the world that the noble felauship of the round table mooste desyreth to haue the company of / God thanke them said sir Tristram of theyre grete goodenes / but as yet I feale wel that I am vnabyl to be of their felauship / For I was neuer yet of suche dedes of worthynes to be in the company of suche a felauship / A sayde sire kay and ye be syre Tristram de lyones ye are the man cal¦led now moost of prowesse excepte sir launcelot du lake / For he bereth not the lyf crysten ne hethen that can fynde suche ano∣ther knyght to speke of his prowesse and of his handes and his trouthe with alle / For yet coude there neuer creature saye of hym dishonour and make hit good / ¶Thus they talked a grete whyle / and thenne they departed eyther from

other suche weyes as hem semed best /

¶Capitulum xvj /

NOw shall ye here what was the cause that kynge Ar∣thur cam in to the forest perillous / that was in North¦walys by the meanes of a lady / her name was An∣nowre / and this lady came to kynge Arthur at Cardyf / and she by fayre promyse and fayre bihestes maade kynge Arthur to ryde with her in to that forest perillous / and she was a grete sorceresse / and many dayes she hadde loued kynge arthur / and by cause she wold haue hym to lye by her / she came in to that Countrey / Soo whanne the kynge was gone with her / many of his knyghtes folowed after kynge arthur / whan they myst hym / as sir launcelot Braundyles and many other / and when she had brought hym to her toure / she desyred hym to lye by her and thenne the kynge remembryd hym of his lady / and wold not lye by her for no crafte that she coude doo / Thenne euery daye she wolde make hym ryde in to that forest with his owne knyghtes to the entent to haue had kynge arthur slayne / For whan this lady annoure sawe that she myʒt not haue hym at her wille / thenne she laboured by fals meanes to haue destro∣yed kynge arthur and slayne / Thenne the lady of the lake that was alwey frendely to kynge arthur / she vnderstoode by her subtyl craftes that kynge arthur was lyke to be destroyed And therfore this lady of the lake that hyght Nyneue cam in to that forest to seke after sire Launcelot du lake / or sire Tris∣tram for to helpe kynge arthur / for as that same day this lady of the lake knewe wel that kynge arthur shold be slayne / on∣les that he hadde helpe of one of these two knyʒtes / and thus she rode vp and donne tyl she mette with sire Tristram / and a∣none as she sawe hym / she knewe hym / O my lord sir Tristram she said well be ye mette / and blessid be the tyme that I haue mette with you / for this same day / and within these two houres shalle be done the foulest dede that euer was done in this land O fair damoysel said sir Tristram maye I amende hit / Come on with me she said and that in alle the haste ye maye / for ye shal see the most worshipfullest knyʒt of the world hard bestad

¶Thenne said sire Tristram I am redy to helpe suche a noble man / he is neither better ne wer•• said the lady of the lake but the noble kynge Arthur hym self / God defence said sir Tryst∣ram that euer he shold be in suche distresse / Thenne they rode to gyders a grete pas vntyl they came to a lytel turret a castel / & vndernethe that c••stel they sawe a knyghte standynge vpon foote fyghtynge with two knyghtes / And soo sir Tristram bi¦held them / and at the laste the two knyghtes smote doune the one knyghte / and that one of hem vnlaced his helme to haue slayne hym / And the lady Annoure gat kyng Arthurs suer•• in her hand to haue stryken of his hede / And there with alle came sire Tristram with alle his myghte / cryenge / Traytresse / Traitresse leue that / And anone there sire Tristram smote the one of the knyghtes thorou the body that he felle dede / and thē∣ne he rasshed to the other / and smote his bak in sonder / and in the meane whyle the lady of the lake cryed to kyng Arthur lete not that fals lady escape / Thenne kynge Arthur ouerto∣ke her / and with the same swerd he smote of her heed / and the lady of the lake took vp her heed and henge hit vp by the hey¦re of her sadel bowe / And thenne sir Tristram horsed kyng Ar¦thur / and rode forth with hym / but he charged the lady of the lake not to discouer his name as at that tyme / whan the ky∣nge was horsed / he thanked hertely sire Tristram / and desyred to wete his name / but he wold not telle hym / but that he was a poure knyght auenturous / and soo he bare kynge Arthur fe¦lauship tyl he met with somme of his knyghtes / And within a whyle he mette with sir Ector de marys / and he knewe not kynge Arthur nor sir Tristram / and he desyred to Iuste with one of hem / Thenne sire Tristram rode vnto sir Ector / and smo∣te hym from his hors / And whanne he hadde done soo / he cam ageyne to the kynge / and said my lord yonder is one of your knyghtes / he may bere you felauship / and another day that de∣de that I haue done for you I truste to god ye shalle vnder∣stande that I wold do you seruyse / Allas said kyng Arthur lete me wete what ye are / Not at this tyme said sir Tristram / Soo he departed and lefte kynge Arthur and sir Ector to gy¦ders

¶Capitulum xvij

ANd thenne at a day sette sire Tristram and sire Lam••¦rak mette at the welle / and thenne they took kehydi∣us at the fosters hous / and soo they rode with hym to the ship / where they lefte dame Brangwayne and Gouernayle and soo they sayled in to Cornewaile all holy to gyders / and by assent and enformacyon of dame Brangwayn whan thye were landed they rode vnto sire Dynas the seneschal / a trusty frende of sir Tristrams / and so dame Brangwayne and syre Dynas rode to the courte of kynge Marke / and told the que¦ne la Beale Isoud that sir tristram was nyghe her in that co∣untrey / thenne for very pure Ioye la beale Isoud swouned / & whan she myghte speke / she said gentyl knyʒt Seneschall help that I myght speke with hym / outher my herte wille brast / ¶ Thenne sir Dynas and dame Brangwayne broughte syr•• tristram and kehydius pryuely vnto the •• courte vnto a cham∣ber where as la beale Isoud hadde assygned hit / and to telle the ioyes that were betwixe la b••ale Isoud and sire tristram / there is no tonge can telle it / nor herte thynke hit / nor pen wry¦te hit / And as the Frensshe book maketh mencyon at the fyrst tyme that euer sir kehydius sawe la beale Isoud / he was soo enamoured vpon her / that for very pure loue he myghte neuer withdrawe hit / And at the last as ye shall here or the book be ended / sire Kehydius dyed for the loue of la beale Isoud / and thenne pryuely he wrote vnto her lettres and ballades of the moost goodlyest that were vsed in tho dayes / ¶ And whanne La beale Isoud vnderstood his letters she hadde pyte of his cō¦playnt / and vnauysed she wrote another letter to comforte hym with alle / And sire tristram was alle this whyle in a turret at the commaundement of la beale Isoud / and whan she my∣ght / she came vnto sire tristram / So on a day kynge Mark pla¦yed at the chesse vnder a chamber wyndowe / and at that tyme sire tristram and sire Kehydius were within the chamber ouer Kyng Marke / and as it myshapped sir tristram fonde the let¦ter that Kehydius s••nt vnto la beale Isoud / also he had foūd the letter that she wrote vnto Kehydius / & at that same tyme la Beale Isoud was in the same chamber / Thenne sir tristram

came vnto la Beale Isoud and said / Madame here is a let∣ter that was sente vnto you / and here is the letter that ye sent vnto hym that sente you that letter / Allas madame the good loue that I haue loued you / and many landes and rychesse haue I forsaken for your loue / and now ye are a traytresse to me the whiche dothe me grete payne / but as for the sir kehydi∣us I broughte the oute of Bretayne in to this Coūtrey / and thy fader kynge Howel I wanne his landes / how be it I wed¦ded thy syster Isoud le blaunche maynys for the goodenes she dyd vnto me / And yet as I am t••ue knyghte she is a clene mayden for me / but wete thou wel syr Kehydius for this fals¦hede and treason thou hast done me / I wille reuenge hit vpon the / And there with alle sir Tristram drewe oute his swerd / and said sire kehydius kepe the / and thenne la Beale Isoud swouned to the erthe / And whanne sir kehydius sawe sir tris¦tram come vpon hym / he sawe none other bote / but lepte oute at a bay wyndowe euen ouer the hede where sat kynge •• Marke pla¦yenge at the chesses / And whanne the kynge sawe one come hurlynge ouer his hede / he sayd / Felawe what arte thou / and what is the cause thou lepest oute at that wyndowe / ¶ My lord the kynge said Kehydius / hit fortuned me that I was a slepe in the wyndowe aboue your hede / and as I slepte I slommeryd / and soo I felle doune / And thus sir kehydius excused hym

¶Capitulum xiij

THenne sir Tristram dredde sore lest he were discouerd vnto the kynge that he was there / wherfore he drewe hym to the strengthe of the Toure / and armed hym in suche armour as he had for to fyghte with hem that wold with stande hym / And soo whanne sire Tristram sawe / there was no resystence ageynst hym / he sente Gouernaile for his hors and his spere / and knyghtely he rode forth oute of the castel open∣ly that was called the castel of Tyntagil / And euen atte ga∣te he mette with Gyngalyn syr Gawayns sone / And anone sir Gyngalyn putte his spere in hīs reyste / and ranne vpon ••ire Trystram and brake his spere / and sire Tristram at that

tyme had but a swerd / and gaf hym suche a buffet vpon the helme that he fylle doune from his sadel / and his swerd s••ode adoune / and carf a sonder his hors neck / And so sire tristram rode his waye in to the forest / and alle this doynge sawe kyng Mark / And thenne he sente a s••uyer vnto the hurte kynghte and commaunded hym to come to hym / and soo be dyd / And whanne kynge Marke wyst that it was sir Gyngalyn / he wel comed hym / and gaf hym an hors / and asked hym what kn∣yght hit was that had encoūtred with / hym / Syr said sir gyn∣galyn / I wote not what knyʒt he was / but wel I wote that be sygheth and maketh grete dole / Thenne sir Tristram within a whyle mette with a knyght of his owne that hyghte sir Fer∣gus / And whan he had mette with hym he made grete sorowe in so moche that he felle doune of his hors in a swoune / and in suche sorowe he was in thre dayes and thre nyghtes / Thenne at the laste sir Tristram sent vnto the courte by sir Fergus for to spere what tydynges / And so as he rode by the way he met with a damoysel that came from sir Palamydes to knowe and s••ke how sir Tristram dyd / Thenne sir Fergus told her / how he was al most out of his mynde / ¶Allas said the damoysel where shalle I fynde hym / In suche a place said sire Fergus ¶Thenne sir Fergus fond Quene Isoud seke in her bedde / makynge the grettest dole that euer ony erthely woman made And whan the damoysel fonde sire Tristram / she made grete do¦le by cause she myʒt not amende hym / for the more she made of hym / the more was his payne / And at the last sir Tristram to¦ke his hors and rode aweye from her / And thenne was it thre dayes or that she coude fynde hym / And thenne she broughte hym mete and drynke / but he wold none / and thenne another tyme sir Tristram escaped awey from the damoysel / and it hap¦ped hym to ryde by the same castel where sire Palamydes and sir Tristram dyd bataille whan la beale Isoud departed them / And there by fortune the damoysel mette with sire Tristram a¦geyne makynge the grettest dole that euer erthely creature ma¦de / and she yede to the lady of that castel / and tolde her of the mysauenture of sire Tristram / allas said the lady of that castel where is my lord sir tristram / Ryght here by your castel said the damoysel / In good tyme saide the lady / is ••e soo nyghe me / he

shalle haue mete and drynke of the best / and an harp I haue of his / where vpon he taught me / For of goodely harpynge he bereth the pryde in the world / So this lady and damoisel bro∣ught hym mete and drynke / but he ete lytel therof / Thenne vpon a nyght he putte his hors from hym / And thenne he vn¦laced his armour / and thenne sir Tristram wold go in to the wildernesse and brast doune the trees and bowes / and other∣whyle whan he fond the harp that the lady sente hym / thenne wold he harpe and playe therupon / and wepe to gyders / and somtyme whan sire Tristram was in the woode that the lady wyst not where he was / thenne wold she sytte her doune and playe vpon that harp / Thenne wold sire Tristram come to that harp / and herken ther to / and somtyme he wold harpe hym self Thus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 there endured a quarter of a yere / thēne at the last he ranne his way / and she wiste not where he was become / And thenne was he naked and waxed lene / and poure of flesshe / and soo he felle in the felauship of herd men and sheepherdes / and dayly they wold gyue hym somme of their mete / & dry∣nke / And whan he dyd ony shrewd dede / they wold bete hym with roddes / and soo they clypped hym with sheres and ma∣de hym lyke a foole

¶Capitulum xix

ANd vpon a day Dagonet kynge Arthurs foole came in to Cornewaile with two squyers with hym / and as they rode thorugh that forest / they came by a fayre welle / where sir Tristram was wonte to be / and the whether was hote / and they alyghte to drynke of that welle / and in the meane whyle their horses brake lous / ¶ Ryght soo sire Tristram came vnto them / and fyrst he sousyd sire Dagonet in that welle / / & af∣ter his squyers / and there at lough the sheepherdes / and forth with al he ranne after their horses and broughte hem ageyne / one by one / and ryghte soo wete as they were / he made hem le¦pe vp / and ryde their wayes / ¶ Thus sire Tristram endured there an halfe yere naked / and wold neuer come in town / ne vyllage / The meane whyle the damoysel that syre Palomydes sente to seke sir Tristram she yede vnto sir Palomydes / and told

hym alle the meschyef that sir Tristram endured / Allas sayd sir Palomydes hit is grete pyte that euer soo noble a Knyght shold be soo mescheued for the loue af a lady / But neuerthe∣les I wille goo and seke hym / and comforte hym and I may ¶Thenne a lytel before that tyme la Beale Isoud had co••¦maunded sir Kehydius oute of the Conutrey of Cornewaile / Soo sir Kehydius departed with a dolorous herte / and by ad¦uenture he mette with sir Palamydes / and they enfelaushypped to gyder / and eyther complayned to other of theire ho•••• lou•• that they loued la beale Isoud / Now lete vs said sir Palomy¦des seke sire tristram that loued her as wel as we / and lete vs preue whether we maye recouer hym / Soo they rode in to that forest / and thre dayes and thre nyghtes they wold neuer take their lodgynge but euer soughte sir tristram / And vpon a tyme by aduenture they mette with Kynge Mark that was ryden from hys men al alone / whanne they sawe hym / syre pa∣lomydes knewe hym / but sir Kehydins knewe hym not / A fa∣ls kynge said sir Palomydes / it is pyte thou hast thy lyf / For thou arte a destroyer of alle worshipful Knyghtes / and by thy meschyef and thy vengeaunce thou hast destroyed that mooste noble Knyght sire tristram de lyones / And therfor defende the said sir Palomydes / for thou shalt dye this day / that were sha¦me said Kyng Mark / for ye two are armed and I am vnar∣med / As for that said sir Palomydes I shalle fynde a remedy therfore / here is a Knyʒt with me / and thou shalt haue his har¦neis / Nay said kyng Mark I wille not haue adoo with yow for cause haue ye none to me / For alle the mysease that sir tris∣tram hath / was for a letter that he fond / for as to me I dyd to hym no displeasyre / and god knoweth I am ful sory for his disease and malady / Soo when the kyng had thus xcused hym / they were frendes / and kyng Mark wold haue had them vnto tyntagil / but syr Palomydes wolde not but torned vnto the Realme of Logrys / and sir kehydius saide that he wolde goo in to Bretayn / ¶ Now torne we vnto sir Dagonet ayene that whanne he and his squyers were vpon horsbak / he demyd that the sheepherdes had sente that foole to araye hem so / by ca∣use that they laughed at hem / and soo they rode vnto the kepers of beestes and alle to bete them / Syr tristram sawe them bete

that were wonte to gyue hym mete and drynke / thenne he ran thyder / and gat sir Dagonet by the hede / and gaf hym suche a falle to the erthe / that he brysed hym sore so that he lay stylle / And thenne he wrast his swērd oute of his hand / And ther with he ranne to one of his squyers / and smote of his hede / & the other fled / And soo sir Tristram took his waye with that swerd in his hand rennynge as he hadde ben wylde woode / ¶Thenne sir Dagonet rode to kyng Mark and told hym hou he had spedde in that forest / And therfore said sir Dagonet / Beware kynge Mark that thou come not aboute that welle / in the forest / For there is a foole naked / and that foole and I foole mette to gyders / and he hadde almost slayn me / ¶A said kynge Mark / that is sir Matto le breune / that felle oute of his wytte by cause he lost his lady / For whan sir Gaherys smote doune sir Matto and wanne his lady of hym / Neuer syns was he in his mynde / and that was pyte / ••or he was a good knyght /

¶Capitulum xx

THenne sir Andred that was cosyn vato sir Tristram / made a lady that was his peramour to say and to no∣yse hit that she was with sire Tristram or euer he dyed / And this tale she broughte vnto kynge markes courte that she bu∣ryed hym by a welle / and that or he dyed / he besoughte kynge Marke to make his cosyn sir Andred kynge of the countre of Lyonas / of the whiche sir Trystram was lord of / Alle this dyd sir Andred by cause he wold haue had sire tristrams lā¦des / ¶And whanne kynge Mark herd telle / that sir tristram was dede / he wepte / and made grete dole / But whanne quene Isoud herd of these tydynges / she maade suche sorowe / that she was nyghe oute of her mynde / And soo vpon a daye she tho∣ught to slee her self / and neuer to lyue after sir tristrams deth And soo vpon a day la beale Isoud gat a swerd pryuely / and bare hit in to her gardyn / and there she pyghte the swerd thorugh a plumme tree vp to the hyltes / soo that hit stak fast and hit stode brest hyhe / And as she wold haue ronne vpon the swerd and to haue slayne her self / ¶Alle this aspyed kyng

Marke / how she kneled doune and saide / swete lord Ihesu ha∣ue mercy vpon me / for I maye not lyue after the dethe of syr Tristram de lyones / for he was my fyrst loue / and he shalle be the last / and with these wordes came Kyng mark and took her in his armes / and thenne he took vp the swerd / and bare her away with hym in to a Toure / and there he made her to be kept and watched her surely / and after that she lay longe seke nyʒ at the poynte of dethe / This meane whyle ranne sir Tristram naked in the forest with the swerd in his hand / and soo he cam to an hermytage / and there he leid hym doun and slepte / and in the meane whyle the heremyte stale aweye his swerd / and leid mete doune by hym / Thus Was he kepte there a ten dayes And at the last he departed and came to the herd men ageyne / And there was a gyaunt in that countre that hyght Tawleas And for fere of sir Tristram more than seuen yere he durst ne∣uer moche goo at large / but for the moost party he kepte hym in a sure castel of his owne / and soo this Tauleas herd telle / that sir Tristram was dede by the noyse of the courte of kynge Marke / Thenne this Tauleas wente dayly at large / And soo he happed vpon a daye he came to the herd men wandryng and langerynge / And there he sette hym doun to reste among them The meane whyle ther cam a knyght of Cornewaile that ledde a lady with hym / and his name was sir Dynaunt / & whanne the gyaunt sawe hym / he wente from the herd men and hydde hym vnder a tree / and soo the knyght came to that welle / and there he alyghte to repose hym / And as soone as he was from his hors / this gyaunt Tauleas came betwixe this knyght and his hors / and toke the hors and lepte vpon hym / So forth with he rode vnto sir Dynaunt / and took hym by the coller / & pulled hym afore hym vpon his hors / and there wolde haue stryken of his hede / Thenne the herd men said vnto sire Tristram / helpe yonder knyght / helpe ye hym seid sir tristram / we dare not said the herd men / Thenne sir tristram was ware of the swerd of the knyght there as hit lay / and soo thyder he ranne / and took vp the swerd and stroke of sir tauleas hede and so he yede his way to the herd men

¶Capitulum xxj

THenne the knyght took vp the gyaunts hede / and ba∣re hit with hym vnto kynge Marke / and told hym / what aduenture betyd hym in the forest / and how a naked man rescowed hym / from the grymly gyaunt Tauleas where hadde ye this aduenture said kynge Marke / forsothe sa∣id syr Dynaunt at the fayre fontayne in your foreste / where many aduenturous knyʒtes mete / and there is the madde man wel said kyng Mark I wille see that wild man / So within a day or two kynge Marke commaunded his knyghtes / & his hunters that they shold be redy on the morne for to hunte / and soo vpon the morne he wente vnto that forest / And whanne the kynge came to that welle / he fonde there lyenge by that welle a fayr naked man / and a swerd by hym / Thenne kyng Ma∣rk blewe and straked / and there with his knyghtes came to hym / and thenne the kynge commaunded his knyghtes to ta∣ke that naked man with fayrenes / and brynge hym to my castel / Soo they did saufly & fayre and cast mantels vpon sir Tristram and soo ledde hym vnto Tyntagyll / and there they ba¦thed hym and wasshed hym and gaf hym hote suppynges til they had brought hym wel to his remembraunce / but alle this whyle there was no creature that knewe sir Tristram nor what man he was / Soo hit felle vpon a daye that the quene la beale Isoud herd. of suche a man / that ranne naked in the foreste / and how the kynge had brought hym home to the Courte / Thenne la Beale Isoud called vnto her dame Brangwayne and said come on with me / For we wille goo see this man / that my lord brought from the forest the last daye / So they pas¦sed forthe / and spered where was the seke man / And thenne a squyer told the quene that he was in the gardyn / takynge his rest / and repose hym ageynst the sonne / Soo whan the que¦ne loked vpon sir Tristram she was not remembryd of hym / but euer she heid vnto dame Brangwayne / me semeth I shold haue sene hym here to fore in many places / but as soone as sir Tristram sawe her / he knewe her wel ynough / And thenne he torned awey his vysage / and wepte / Thenne the quene hadde alweyes a lytel brachet with her that sir Tristram gaf her the fyrst tyme that euer she came in to Cornewaile / & neuer wold that brachet departe from her / but yf syre Tristram was nyghe

there as was la Beale Isoud / and this brachet was sente from the kynges doughter of Fraunce vnto syre Tristram for grete loue / and anone as this lytel brachet felte a saueour of syr Tristram she lepte vpon hym and lycked his learys and his erys / and thēne he whyned and quested and she smelled at his feet and at his handes / and on all partyes of his body that she myghte come to / A my lady sayd dame Brangwayn vnto la beale Isoud / Allas allas said she I see it is myn own lord syr Tristram / And therupon Isoud felle doune in a sw∣oune and soo laye a grete whyle / And whan she myght spe∣ke she said / my lord sir Tristram blessid be god ye haue your lyf / and now I am sure ye shalle be discouerd by this lytel bra¦chet / for she wille neuer leue you / And also I am sure as so∣one as my lord kynge Mark doo knowe you / he wil bannyssh you oute of the countrey of Cornewaile / or els he will destroye you / For goddes sake myn owne lord / graunte kynge Marke his wille / and thenne drawe you vnto the Courte of kyng ar∣thur / for there are ye byloued / and euer whan I maye I shalle sende vnto you / And whan ye lyst ye may come to me / and at alle tymes erly and late I wille be at your commaundement / to lyue as poure a lyf as euer dyd quene or lady / O madame said sir Tristram goo from me / for mykel anger and daunger haue I escaped for your loue

¶Capitulum xxij

THenne the quene departed / but the brachet wold not from hym / and there with alle came kynge Marke and the brachet sat vpon hym / and bayed at them all / There with al syr Andred spak and said syr this is sir Tristram I see by the brachet / Nay said the kyng I can not suppose that / Thenne the kyng asked hym vpon his feith what he was / and what was was his name / ¶So god me help said he / my name is sir Tristram de lyones / now do by me what ye lyst / A saide kyng Mark me repenteth of your recouer / & thenne he lete calle his barons to Iuge sir Tristram to the dethe / thēne many of his barons wold not assente therto / and in especyal syr Dynas the seneschal / & sir Fergus / And so by thaduyse of them al sir Tristram was banysshed out of the coūtrey for x yere / & therup¦on he took his oth vpon a book before the kyng & his barons /

And soo he was made to departe oute of the Countrey of Cor∣newaile / and there were many barons brought hym vnto hys shyp / of the whiche somme were his frendes / & somme his foes / And in the meane whyle there came a knyghte of kynge Ar∣thurs / his name was Dynadan / and his comyng was for to seke after sir Tristram / thenne they shewed hym where he was armed at alle poyntes goynge to the shyp / Now fayre knyʒte said sir Dynadan or ye passe this courte that ye will Iuste with me / I requyre the / with a good wille said sir Tristram / & the∣se lordes wille gyue me leue / Thenne the Barons graunted therto / and soo they ranne to gyders / and there sire Tristram gaf sire Dynadan a falle / And thenne he praid sir Tristram to gyue hym leue to goo in his felauship / ye shalle be ryght wel∣come said thenne sire Tristram / and soo they took theyr horses and rode to their shyppes to gyders / and whanne sire Tristram was in the see / he said / Grete wel kyng Marke and all myn enemyes / and saye hem I wille come ageyne whan I maye / And wel am I rewarded for the fyghtynge with sire Mar∣haus / and delyuerd all this countrey from seruage / and wel am I rewarded for the fetchyng and costes of Quene Isoud oute of Irland / and the daunger that I was in fyrst & last and by the way comynge home what daunger I had to bryn¦ge ageyne Quene Isoud from the castel Pluere / and well I am rewarded whanne I foughte with sir Bleoberys for syre Segwarydes wyf / and Well am I rewarded whan I fouʒt with syre Blamore de ganys for kynge Anguysshe / fader vn¦to la Beale Isoud / and well am I rewarded whan I smo∣te doune the good knyghte syre Lamorak de galys at Kyng Markes request / And wel am I rewarded whan I fought with the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / and the kynge of Northgalys / and bothe these wold haue put his land in serua¦ge / and by me they were put to a rebuke / and wel I am re∣warded for the sleynge of Tauleas the myghty gyaunte and many other dedes haue I done for hym / and now haue I my waryson / And telle Kynge Mark that many noble knyghtes of the table roūd haue spared the barons of this countrey for my sake / Also am I not wel rewarded whan I fought with the good knyght sir Palomydes and rescowed quene Isoud

from hym / And at that tyme kynge Marke said afore all his barons I shold haue ben better rewarded / nad forth with alle he took the see /

¶Capitulum xiij

ANd at the next landynge faste by the see / there mette with sir Tristram & with sir Dynadan sir Ector de ma∣rys and sir Bors de ganys / and there sir Ector Ius∣ted with syr Dynadan / and he smote hym and his hors doun And thenne sir Tristram wold haue Iusted with syre Bors and sir Bors said that he wolde not Iuste with no Cornysshe knyghtes / for they are not called men of worship / and all this was done vpon a brydge / and with this came sire Bleoberys and syr Dryaunt / and sir Bleoberys profered to Iuste with syr Tristram / and there sir Tristram smote doune syr Bleobe∣rys / Thenne said sire Bors de ganys / I wist neuer Cornyssh knyghte of soo grete valoure nor soo valyaunt as that knyʒt that bereth the trappours enbroudred with crounes / And then¦ne sir Tristram and syr Dynadan departed fro them in to a fo¦rest / and there mette them a damoysel that came for the loue of sire launcelot to seke after somme noble knyghtes of kyng Ar¦thurs courte for to rescowe sir launcelot / and soo sir launcelott was ordeyned / for by the treason of quene Morgan le fay to ha¦ue slayne sir launcelot / and for that cause she ordeyned thyrtty knyghtes to lye in a wayte for sir launcelot / and this damoy¦sel knewe this treason / And for this cause the damoysel came for to seke noble knyghtes to helpe syr Launcelot / For that ny∣ght or the day after syr launcelot shold. come where these xxx knyghtes were / And soo this damoysel mette with syre Bors and sire Ector and with sir Dryaunt / and there she told hem alle four of the treason of Morgan le fay / and thenne they pro¦mysed her that they wold be nyghe where sire launcelot shold mete with the xxx knyʒtes / & yf soo be they set vpon hym / we wil do rescowes as we can / so the damoysel departed / and by aduenture the damoisel met with sir tristram & with sir Dyna∣dan / & there the damoysel told hem al the treason that was or∣deyned for sir launcelot / Fair damoysel said sir tristram bryng me to that same place where they shold mete with sir launcelot Thenne said sir Dynadan what will ye do / hit is not for vs to fyghte with thyrtty knyghtes / and wete you wel I wylle

not therof / as to matche one knyght two or thre is ynough and they be men / But for to matche xv knyghtes that wille I ne¦uer vndertake / fy for shame said sire Tristram / doo but youre parte / Nay said sir Dynadan I will not therof / but yf ye wil lene me your sheld / for ye bere a sheld of Cornewaile / and for the cowardyse that is named to the knyʒtes of Cornewaile by your sheldes ye be euer forborne / Nay said syr Tristram I will not departe from my sheld for her sake that gaf it me / But one thyng said sir Tristram I promyse the syr Dynadan / but yf thou wilt promyse me to abyde with me / here I shalle slee the For I desyre no more of the / but ansuer one knyghte / And yf thy herte wille not serue the / stande by and loke vpon me and them / Syre said syre Dynadan I promyse you to loke vpon & to doo what I may to saue my self / but I wold I had not mette with you / Soo thenne anone these thyrtty knyghtes cam fast by these four knyghtes / and they were ware of them / and eyther of other / And soo these thyrtty knyghtes lete for thys cause that they wold not wrathe them yf caas be that they had adoo with syr launcelot / and the four knyghtes lete them passe to this entent that they wold see and beholde what they wo∣ld doo with syr launcelot / and soo the thyrtty knyghtes paste on / and came by sir Tristram and by sir Dynadan / and then¦ne sir Tristram cryed on hyghe / loo here is a knyght ageynste you for the loue of sire launcelot / and there he slewe two with one sperd and ten with his swerd / And thenne came in syte Dynadan and he dyd passynge wel / and soo of the thyrtty knyghtes there wente but ten awey / and they fledde / Al this bataille sawe sir Bors de ganys and his thre felawes / and thenne they sawe wel hit was the same knyghte that Iusted with hem at the brydge / thenne they took their horses and rode vnto syr Tristram and praysed hym and thanked hym of his good dedes / and they alle desyred syre Tristram to goo wyth hem to their lodgynge / and he said nay / he wold not go to no lodgynge / Thenne they alle four knyghtes praid hym to telle hem his name / Faire lordes said syr Tristram / as at this tyme I wille not telle you my name /

¶Capitulum xxiiij /

THēne sir Tristram & sir Dynadan rode forth theire weye tyl they came to the sheepherdes & to the herde men / & the∣re

they asked hem yf they knewe ony lodgynge or herberough there nyghe hand / ¶ Forsothe syrs sayde the herde men / here by is good lodgynge in a castel / But there is suche a customme that there shalle no knyghte be herberowed but yf he Iuste with two knyghtes / and yf he be but one knyghte / he must Iuste with two / And as ye be therin soone shalle ye be matched / There is shrewde herberowe said syre Dynadan / lodge where ye will / for I wille not lodge there / Fy for shame sayd sir Tristram are ye not a knyghte of the table round / wherfore ye may not with your worship refuse your lodgynge / Not soo said the herd men / for and ye be beten / and haue the wers ye shalle not be lodged there / and yf ye bete them ye shalle be wel herberowed A said syr Dynadan they are two sure knyghtes / Thenne sire Dynadan wold not lodge there in no manere / but as sire Tristram requyred hym of his knygthode / and so they rode thyder / and to make shorte tale syr Tristram and sir Dy∣nadan smote hem doune bothe / and soo they entred in to the cas¦tel and had good chere / as they coude thynke or deuyse / And whanne they were vnarmed and thought to be mery and in good rest / there came in at the yates syre Palomydes and syre Gaherys requyrynge to haue the customme of the castel / what aray is this said sire Dynadan / I wold haue my rest / that may not be said sir Tristram / Now must we nedes defende the cus∣tomme of this castel / in soo moche as we haue the better of the lordes of this castel / and therfore saide sire Tristram / nedes muste ye make you redy / In the deuyls name said sir Dyna∣dan came I in to your company / and so they made them redy And sir Gaherys encountred with sire Tristram / and syr Ga∣herys had a falle / and sir Palamydes encountred with sir Dy¦nadan / and sir Dynadan had a falle / thenne was hit fall for falle / Soo thenne muste they fyghte on foote / that wold not syr Dynadan / for he was so sore brysed of the falle that syre Palomydes gaf hym / Thenne sir Tristram vnlaced syre Dy∣nadans helme / and praid hym to helpe hym / I wille not sayde syr Dynadan for I am sore wounded of the thyrtty knyghtes that we hadde but late agoo to doo with alle ¶But ye fa∣re said sire Dynadan vnto syr Tristram as a madde man and as a man y^t is oute of his mynde y^t wold cast hym self awey

and I may curse the tyme that euer I sawe you / For in al the world are not two suche knyghtes that ben so wode as is sire launcelot and ye syr Tristram / for ones I felle in the felauship of syr launcelot as I haue done now with you and he set me a werke that a quarter of a yere I kepte my bedde / Ihesu de∣fende me said syr Dynadan from suche two knyghtes / and spe¦cially from your felauship / Thenne said syre Tristram I will fyghte with hem both / Thenne syr Tristram badde hem come fo∣rth both / for I wille fyghte with you / thenne syr Palomydes and syr Gaherys dressid them / and smote at hem bothe / thenne Dynadan smote at syr Gaherys a stroke or two / and torned from hym / nay said sir Palomydes / it is to moche shame for vs two knyghtes to fyghte with one / And thenne he dyd byd syr Gaherys stande a syde with that knyght that hath no lyste to fyghte / Thenne they rode to gyders and fought longe / and atte¦last syr Tristram doubled his strokes / and drofe syre Palomy∣des a bak / more than thre strydes / And thenne by one assente syre Gaherys and syr Dynadan wente betwixe them / and de∣parted them in sonder / And thenne by assent of syr Tristram they wold haue lodged to gyders / But syre Dynadan wold not lodge in that castel / And thenne he cursed the tyme that e∣uer he came in their feauship / and soo he took his hors / and his harneis / and departed / thenne sir Tristram prayd the lor∣des of that castel to lene hym a man to brynge hym to a lodg∣ynge / and soo they dyd / and ouertoke sir Dynadan / and rode to their lodgynge two myle thens with a good man in a pry¦ory / and there they were wel at ease / And that same nyght sir Bors and sire Bleoberys and sir Ector and syre Dryaunt / abode stylle in the same place there as sire Tristram fouʒt with the thyrtty knyghtes / and there they mette with syr Launcelot the same nyght / and had made promyse to lodge with syr Col¦greuaunce the same nyght /

¶Capitulum xxv

BVt anone as the noble Knyghte syre launcelot herd of the shelde of Cornewayle thenne wyst he wel that hy••

was sire Tristram that fought with his enemyes / And thenne syre Launcelot praysed syre Tristram / and called hym the man of moost worship in the world / ¶Soo there was a knyght in that pryory that hyght Pellinore / and he desyred to wete the name of sire Tristram / but in no wyse he coude not / and so syr Tristram departed and lefte sir Dynadan in the pryory / for he was soo wery and soo sore brysed that he myghte not ryde / Thenne this knyght syre Pellinore said to sire Dynadan / sy∣then that ye wille not telle me that knyghtes name I will ry¦de after hym / and make hym to telle me his name / or he shall dye therfore / Beware sir knyght said sir Dynadan / for and ye folowe hym / ye shalle repente hit / Soo that knyghte sire Pelli∣nore rode after sire Tristram and requyred hym of Iustes / thē∣ne si•• Tristram smote hym doune and wounded hym thoruʒ the sholder / and soo he past on his way / And on the next day folowyng syr Tristram mette with pursyuaūts / and they told hym that there was made a grete crye of turnement bitwene kynge Carados of scotland and the kynge of Northwalys / & eyther shold Iuste ageyne other at the castel of maydens / and these pursyuaūtes sought alle the coūtrey after the good knyʒ∣tes / and in especyal kynge Carados lete make sekynge for sir launcelot du lake / and the kyng of Northgalys lete seke af∣ter sir Tristram de lyonas / ¶And at that tyme syr Tristram thought to be at that Iustes / and soo by aduenture they mette with sire kay the seneschal and syr Sagramor le desyrus / and syr kay requyred sir Tristram to Iuste / and sire Tristram in a maner refused hym / by cause he wold not be hurte nor brysed ageynste the grete Iustes that shold be bifore the castel of may¦dens / and therfore he thought to repose hym and to reste hym / And alway sir kay cryed sir knyʒt of Cornewaile Iust with me / or els yelde the to me as recreaunte / whan sir Tristram herd hym saye soo / he torned to hym / and thenne sire kay refused hym and torned his bak / Thenne syr Tristram said as I fyn¦de the / I shalle take the / Thenne sire Kay torned with euylle wylle / and syre Tristram smote syr kay doune / and soo he ro∣de forthe / ¶ Thenne syre Sagramor le desyrus rode after syre Tristram / and maade hym to Iuste with hym / and there syre Tristram smote doune syre Sagramor le desyrus from his hors

and rode his way / and the same day he mette with a damoysel that told hym that he shold wynne grete worship of a knyʒt aduenturous that dyd moche harme in alle that countrey / ¶Whanne sir Tristram herd her say soo / he was gladde to goo with her to wynne worship / So sire Tristram rode with that da¦moysel a vj myle / and thenne mette hym syre Gawayne / and there with alle syre Gawayne knewe the damoysel / that she was a damoysel of Quene Morgan le fay / Thenne sir Gawa∣yne vnderstode that she ladde that knyght to somme meschyef / Faire knyght said sire Gawayne whyder ryde you now wyth that damoysel / Syr said sire Tristram I wote not whyder I shalle ryde / but as the damoysel wylle lede me / Syr saide syre Gawayne ye shalle not ryde with her / for she and her lady did neuer good but ylle / And thenne sir Gawayne pulled oute his swerd / and said / damoysel / but yf thou telle me anon / for what what cause thou ledest this knyʒt with the thou shalt dye for hit ryght anone / I knowe alle your ladyes treason / & yo∣urs / Mercy syre Gawayne she said / and yf ye wille saue my lyf / I wille telle you / Saye on said sir Gawayne / and thow shalte haue thy lyf / Syre she said Quene Morgan le fay my lady hath ordeyned a xxx ladyes to seke & aspye after sir la¦ūcelot or sir tristram / & by y^e trainys of these ladyes who y^• may fyrst mete ony of these two knyghtes they shold torne hem vn¦to Morgan le fays castel / sayenge that they shold doo dedes of worship / & yf ony of tho two knyʒtes cam there / there be xxx knyghtes lyenge and watchyng in a toure to wayte vpon sir launcelot or vpon syre tristram / Fy for shame said sire Gawa¦yne that euer suche fals treason shold be wrought or vsed in a quene and a kynges syster / and a kynge and quenes dough¦ter

¶Capitulum xxvj

SYr said sire Gawayne wille ye stande with me / and we wille see the malyce of these thyrtty knyghtes / syr said sir tristram goo ye to hem / and hit please you / and ye shal see I wille not fayle you / for hit is not long a go syn I and a felawe mette with thyrtty knyʒtes of that quenes felauship

And god spede vs soo that we may wynne worship / So thē∣ne sir Gawayne and sire tristram rode toward the castel where Morgan le fay was / and euer sir Gawayne demed wel that he was sire tristram de lyones by cause he herd that two kn∣yghtes had slayne and beten thyrtty knyghtes / And whanne they came afore the castel sir Gawayn spak on hyghe / and sa∣id Quene Morgan le fay sende oute youre knyghtes / that ye haue leyd in a watche for sir laūcelot & for sir tristram / Now said sir Gawayne I knowe your fals treason / and thorou all places where that I ryde men shall knowe of your fals trea∣son / and now lete see sir Gawayn / whether ye dare come out of your castel ye thyrtty knyghtes / thenne the quene spak and al the thyrtty knyghtes attones / and said / sir Gawayne ful wel wetest thou what thou dost and saist / For by god we knowe the passynge wel / But alle that thou spekest / and dost / thow saist hit vpon pryde of that good Knyghte that is there with the / For there be somme of vs that knowen full wel the han∣des of that knyght ouer alle wel / And wete thou wel sir ga∣wayne / hit is more for his sake than for thyn that we wylle not come oute of this castel / For wete ye wel sir Gawayne the Knyght that bereth the armes of Cornewaile / we knowe hym / and what he is / thenne sir Gawayne and sir tristram de¦parted and rode on their wayes a day or two to gyders / and there by aduenture they met with syr Kay and syr Sagramor le desyrus / And thenne they were glad of syr gawayne / and he of them / but they wiste not what he was with the shelde of Corne Waile / but by demynge / And thus they rode to gyders a daye or two / And thenne they were ware of syr Breuse saū∣ce pyte chacynge a lady for to haue slayne her / for he had slayn her peramour afore / Hold you all stylle said syr Gawayne & shewe none of you forthe / and ye shalle see me reward yonder fals Knyght / for and he aspye you he is so wel horsed that he wille escape awey / And thenne syre Gawayne rode betwix syr Breuse and the lady / and said fals knyghte leue her / and ha∣ue adoo with me / whan syr Breuse sawe no moo but syre ga∣yne he feutryd his spere / and syr Gawayne ageynst hym / and there syr Breuse ouerthrewe syr Gawayne / and thenne he rode ouer hym / & ouerthwart hym twenty tymes to haue destroyed

hym / and whan sire Tristram sawe hym doo soo vylaynous a dede / he hurled oute ageynste hym / And whan syr Breuse sa∣we hym with the shelde of Cornewaile / he knewe hym well / that it was syre Tristram / and thenne he fledde / and sir Tris∣tram folowed after hym / and syr Breuse saunce pyte was so horsed that he wente his waye quyte / and sir Tristram folowed hym longe / for he wold fayne haue ben auengyd vpon hym / And soo whanne he hadde longe chaced hym / he sawe a fayre welle / and thyder he rode to repose hym / and teyed his hors til a tree /

¶Capitulum xvij

ANd thenne he pulled of his helme and wasshed his vysage / and his handes / and soo he felle on slepe / ¶In the meane whyle came a damoysel that had so∣ught sir tristram many wayes and dayes within this land / And whanne she came to the welle she loked vpon hym / & had forgeten hym as in remembraunce of sire Tristram / but by hys hors she knewe hym / that hyghte passe Brewel / that had ben sire Tristrams hors many yeres / For whanne he was mad in the forest / syr Fergus kepte hym / Soo this lady dame Bran∣gwayne abode stylle tyl he was awake / Soo whanne she sawe hym wake / she salewed hym / and he her ageyn / for eyther kn∣ewe other of old acqueyntaunce / thenne she told hym how she had sought hym longe and brode / and there she told hym hou she hadde letters from quene la beale Isoud / Thenne anon sire Tristram redde them / and wete ye well / he was gladde / for the∣ryn was many a pyteous complaynte / Thenne sir Tristram sa¦id / lady Brangwayne ye shalle ryde with me tyl that turne¦ment be done at the castel of maydens / And thenne shalle ye bere letters and tydynges with you / And thenne sire tristram took his hors and sought lodgynge / and there he mette wyth a good auncyent knyght and prayd hym to lodge with hym Ryʒt so came Gouernaile vnto sir Tristram / that was glad of that lady / Soo this old knyghtes name was sir Pellow∣nus / and he told of the grete turnement that shold be att the Castel of maydens / And there sir launcelot and xxxij knyʒtes

of his blood had ordeyned sheldes of Cornewaile / and ryʒte soo there came one vnto syr Pellounes / and told hym that sir Persydes de bloyse was come home / thenne that knyght helde vp his handes and thanked god of his comynge home / and there sir Pellounes told syr Tristram that in two yeres he had not sene his sone syr Persydes / Syr said sir Tristram I kno∣we your sone wel ynough for a good knyght / soo on a tyme syr Tristram and syr Persydes came to their lodgynge both at ones / and soo they vnarmed hem / and putte vpon hem their clothynge / And thenne these two knyghtes eche welcomed o∣ther / And whanne syr Persydes vnderstode that sir Tristram was of Cornewaile / he said he was ones in Cornewaile / and there I Iusted afore kynge Marke / And soo it happed me at that tyme / to ouerthrowe ten knyghtes / and thenne came to me syre Tristram de lyones and ouerthrewe me / and took my lady awey from me / and that shalle I neuer forgete / but I shalle remembre me and euer I see my tyme / A said sir trys∣tram now I vnderstande that ye hate syr Tristram / what dome ye / wene ye that sir Tristram is not able to withstande your ma¦lyce / yes said sir Persydes I knowe wel that sir Tristram is a noble knyght and a moche better knyght than I / yet shalle I not owe hym my good wille / ¶ Ryght as they stode thus talkynge at a bay wyndowe of that castel / they sawe many knyghtes tydynge to and fro toward the turnement / And thenne was sire Tristram ware of a lykely knyght rydyng vp¦on a grete black hors / and a black couerd shelde / what knyʒte is that said sire Tristram with the black hors & the blak sheld he semeth a good knyʒt / I knowe hym wel said sir Persydes he is one of the best knyghtes of the world / thenne is it syre Launcelot said sir Tristram / nay said syre Persydes / hit is syr Palomydes / that is yet vncrystened /

¶Capitulum xxviij

THenne they sawe moche people of the countrey salewe sire Palomydes / And within a whyle after / ther cam a squyer of the castel / that told syre Pellounes that was lord of that castel / that a knyght with a blak sheld had

smyten doune thyrten knyʒtes / Fayr broder said sir Tristram vnto syr Persydes / lete vs caste vpon vs clokes / and lete vs goo see the play / Not soo said sir Persydes / we wille not goo lyke knaues thyder / but we wille ryde lyke men and good knyghtes to withstande oure enemyes / Soo they armed them and took their horses and grete speres / and thyder they went there as many knyʒtes assayed hem self before the turnement And anone sir Palomydes sawe sir Persydes / and thenne he sente a squyer vnto hym and said / goo thou to the yonder kn∣yght with the grene sheld and therin a lyon of gooldis / and say hym I requyre hym to Iuste with me / and telle hym that my name is sire Palomydes / whanne sir Persydes vnderstood that request of syre Palomydes / he made hym redy / and there anone they mette to gyders / but syre Persydes had a falle Thenne syre Tristram dressid hym to be reuengyd vpon sir pa¦lomydes / and that sawe syre Palomydes that was redy / and soo was not sire Tristram and took hym at auauntage / and smote hym ouer his hors tayle whanne he had no spere in his reyste / Thenne starte vp syre Tristram and took his hors lyʒ∣tely / and was wrothe oute of mesure / and sore ashamed of that falle / Thenne sire Tristram sente vnto syr Palomydes by Gouernaile and prayd hym to Iuste with hym at his request Nay said sire Palomydes as att this tyme I wille not Iuste with that knyght / for I knowe hym better than he weneth / And yf he be wrothe / he may ryghte it to morne att the castel of maydens / where he maye see me and many / other knyghtes with that came syr Dynadan / and whanne he sawe sire Tristrā wrothe / he lyst not to Ia••e / lo sayd sir Dynadan / here may a mā preue / Be a man neuer soo good yet maye he haue a falle / & he was neuer soo wyse but he myght be ouersene / and he rydeth wel that neuer fylle / Soo syre Tristram was passynge wrothe and sayd to syre Persydes and to syre Dynadan I wille re¦uenge me / Ryghte soo as they stood talkyng there / there came by sir Tristram a lykely knyght rydyng passynge soberly and heuyly with a blak shelde / what knyght is that said sir Tris∣tram vnto syr Persydes / I knowe hym well said sir Persy∣des / for his name is sire Bryaunt of Northwalys / soo he paste on amonge other knyghtes of Northwalys / And there came

in syre launcelot du lake with a sheld of the armes of Cor∣newaile / and he sente a squyer vnto syr Bryaunt / and requy∣red hym to Iuste with hym / wel said syr Bryaunt / sythen I am requyred to Iuste / I wille doo what I may / and there syre launcelot smote donne syr Bryaunt from his hors a gre∣te falle / And thenne syr Tristram merueiled what knyght he was that bare the sheld of Cornewaile / what so euer he be sa∣id syr Dynadan I warante you he is of Kynge Bannys blood / the whiche ben knyghtes of the moost noble prowesse / in the world for to accompte soo many for soo many / Thenne there came two knyʒtes of Northgales / that one hyghte Hewe de la montayne / and the other syr Madok de la montayne / & they chalengyd sire launcelot foote hote / Syr Launcelot not refusyng hem but made hym redy / with one spere he smote hem doune bothe ouer their hors croupes / and soo sir launcelot rode his way / By the good lord said sire Tristram he is a good knyght that bereth the shelde of Cornewaile / and me semeth he rydeth in the best maner that euer I sawe knyghte ryde / Then∣ne the kynge of Northgalys rode vnto syre Palomydes / and praid hym hertely for his sake to Iuste with that knyght that hath done vs of Northgalys despyte / Syr said sir Palomydes I am ful lothe to haue adoo with that knyght / and cause why is / for as to morne the grete turnement shalle be / And therfor I wille kepe my self fresshe by my wille / Nay said the kyng of Northgalys I pray you requyre hym of Iustes / syre sayd syr palomydes I wille Iuste at your request / and requyre that knyght to Iuste with me / and often I haue sene a man haue a falle at his owne request

¶Capitulum xix

THenne sir palomydes sente vnto sir launcelot a squyer and requyred hym of Iustes / Fair felawe seid sir la∣uncelot / telle me thy lordes name / Syre said the squyer my lor¦des name is syr Palomydes the good knyght / In good hou∣re said sir launcelot / for there is no knyght that I sawe thys seuen yeres that I had leuer adoo with all than with hym /

And so eyther knyghtes made hem redy with two grete speres Nay said syr Dynadan ye shalle see that sir Palomydes will quyte hym ryght wel / hit may be soo said sir Tristram / but I vndertake that knyght with the sheld of Cornewayle shal gy¦ue hym a falle / I bileue hit not said sir Dynadan / Ryght so they spored their horses / and feutryd their speres / and eyther hytte other / and syr palomydes brake a spere vpon sire launce∣lot / and he sat and meued not / but sir Launcelot smote hym so lyghtly that he made his hors to auoyde the sadel / and the stro¦ke brake his shelde and the hauberke / and had he not fallen / he had be slayne / how now said sir Tristram / I wiste wel by the maner of their rydyng bothe that sire Palomydes shold haue a falle / Ryght so sir launcelot rode his way and rode to a well to drynke and to repose hym / and they of Northgalys aspyed hym whyther he rode / and thenne there folowed hym twelue knyghtes for to haue meschyeued hym / for this cause that vp¦on the morne at the turnement of the castel of maydens that he shold not wynne the vyctory / Soo they came vpon sir launce¦lot sodenly and vnnethe he myght putte vpon hym his helme / and take his hors but they were in handes with hym / & then∣ne sir launcelot gat his spere and rode thorou them / and there he slewe a knyght and brake his spere in his body / Thenne he drewe his swerd and smote vpon the ryght hand and vpon the lyfte hand soo that within a fewe strokes he had slayne o∣ther thre knyghtes / and the remenaunt that abode he wounded hem sore alle that dyd abyde / Thus syr launcelot escaped from his enemyes of Northwalys / and thenne sir launcelot rode his way tyl a frende & lodged hym tyl on the morne / for he wold not the fyrste daye haue adoo in the turnement by cause of his grete labour / And on the fyrst day he was with kyng Arthur there as he was set on hyhe vpon a schaffold to discerne who was best worthy of his dedes / So sir launcelot was with kyng Arthur / and Iusted not the fyrst daye /

¶Capitulum xxx

NOw torne we vnto sir Tristram de lyones that comma∣unded Gouernaile his seruaunt to ordeyne hym a blak sheld with none other remembraunce therin /

And soo syre Persydes and syr Tristram departed from the∣ir hooste syr Pellounes / and they rode erly toward the tur∣nement / and thenne they drewe hem to kynge Carados syde of Scotland / and anone knyʒtes beganne the felde what of ky∣nge Northgalys party / and what of kynge Carados party / & there began grete party / Thenne there was hurlyng and rassh∣ynge / Ryght soo came in syr Persydes and sire Tristram / and soo they dyd fare that they put the kyng of Northgalys abak Thenne came in syre Bleoberys de ganys and syre Gaherys with them of Northaglys / and thenne was sir Persydes smy¦ten doune / and alle moost slayne / For moo than xl horsmen wente ouer hym / For syr Bleoberys dyd grete dedes of armes and syre Gaherys fayled hym not / whanne sire Tristram by∣held them / and sawe hem doo suche dedes of armes / he meruey∣led what they were / Also sir Tristram thought shame that sir Persydes was soo done to / and thenne he gat a grete spere in his hand / and thenne he rode to sire Gaherys and smote hym doune from his hors / And thenne was sire Bleoberys wroth and gate a spere and rode ageynst sir Tristram in grete yre / & there syre Tristram mette with hym / and smote sir Bleoberys from his hors / Soo thenne the kynge with the honderd knygh¦tes was wrothe / and he horsed sire Bleoberys and sir gaherys ageyne / and there beganne a grete medle / and euer sir tristram held them passynge shorte / and euer sir Bleoberys was pas∣synge besy vpon syre Tristram / and there came sir Dynadan a¦geynst syre Tristram / and sire Tristram gaf hym suche a buffet that he swouned in his sadel / Thenne anone sir Dynadan cam to sire Tristram / and said syr I knowe the better than thow¦wenest / But here I promyse the my trouthe I wille neuer co∣me ayenst the more / for I promyse the that swerd of thyn shal neuer come on myn helme / with that came sir Bleoberys / and syr Tristram gaf hym suche a buffet that doune he leyd his he∣de / and thenne he raught hym so sore by the helme / that he pul∣led hym vnder his hors feet / And thenne kyng Arthur blewe to lodgynge / Thenne syre Tristram departed to his pauelione / and sire Dynadan rode with hym / and sire Persydes & kyng Arthur thenne and the kynges vpon bothe partyes merueylled what knyght that was with the blak shelde / Many said their

aduyse / and some knewe hym for syre Tristram / and helde the∣ir pees and wold nought say / Soo that fyrste day kyng Ar∣thur and alle the kynges and lordes that were Iuges gaf sir Tristram the pryce / hou be hit they knewe hym not but named hym the knyght with the black sheld

¶Capitulum xxxj

THenne vpon the morne sire Palomydes retorned from the kynge of Northgalys / and rode to kyng Arthurs syde where was kynge Carados and the kynge of Irland / & syr launcelots kynne and sir Gawayns kynne / S••o sire palo¦mydes sente the damoysel vnto sire Tristram that he sente to seke hym whanne he was oute of his mynde in the forest / and thys damoysel asked sire Tristram / what he was / and what was his name / As for that said sir Tristram telle sir Palomydes ye shalle not wete as at this tyme vnto the tyme I haue broken two speres vpon hym / But lete hym wete thus moche said sir Tristram / that I am the same knyghte that he smote doune in ouer euenyng at the turnement & telle hym playnly / on what party that syre Palomydes be / I wille be of the contrary parte Syre said the damoysel ye shalle vnderstande that sir Palomy¦des wille be on kyng Arthurs syde / where the moost noble kn∣yghtes of the world ben / In the name of god said sir Tris∣tram / thenne wille I be with the kynge of Northgalys by ca∣use syr Palomydes wille be on kynge Arthurs syde / and els I wold not but for his sake / ¶Soo whanne kynge Arthur was come they blewe vnto the felde / and thenne there began a grete party / and soo kynge Carados Iusted with the kynge of the honderd knyghtes / and there kynge Carados hadde a falle / thenne was there hurlynge and rasshynge / and ryght so cam in knyghtes of kynge Arthurs / and they bare on bak the kynge of Northgalys knyghtes / Thenne sir Tristram came in and beganne so roughly and soo bygly that there was none myght withstande hym / and thus sire Tristram dured longe / ¶ And at the last syr Trystram felle amonge the felauship of kynge Ban / and there felle vpon hym syr Bors de ganys / and syr Ector de marys / and sire Blamor de ganys / & many

other knyghtes / And thenne sir Tristram smote on the ryght hand and on the lyfte hand that alle lordes and ladyes spak of his noble dedes / But at the last syre Tristram shold haue had the werse / had not the kynge with the honderd knyghtes ben / And thenne he came with his felauship and rescowed sir Tristram / and brought hym awey from tho knyghtes that bare the sheldes of Cornewaile / and thenne sir Tristram sawe another felauship by them self / and there were a xl Knygh∣tes to gyder / and sir Kay the Sene••chal was there gouerno∣ur / Thenne sire Tristram rode in amongest them / and there he smote doune syr Kay from his hors / and there he fared among tho Knyghtes lyke a grey hound among conyes / Thenne s••re launcelot fond a Knyght that was sore wounded vpon the he∣de / Sir said sir launcelot who wounded you so sore / Sire he sa∣id a Knyght that bereth a black shelde / and I maye curse the tyme that euer I mette with hym for he is a deuyl and no man Soo sire launcelot departed fro hym / & thought to mete with sir Tristram / and soo he rode with his swerd drawen in his hand to seke sir Tristram / and thenne he aspyed hym how he hurled here and there / and at euery stroke syr Tristram wel nygh smo¦te doune a knyght / O mercy Ihesu said the kynge syth the ty∣me I bare armes sawe I neuer no knyght do so merueillous dedes of armes / And yf I shold sette vpon this knyght said sir Launcelot to hym self I dyd shame to my self / & there with al sir launcelot put vp his swerd / And thēne the Kyng with the C Knyʒtes / and an honderd more of Northwalys set vpon the twenty of sir launcelots kyn / and they xx Knyʒtes held them euer to gyder / as wylde swyne and none wold faile other / & so whan sir Tristram beheld the noblesse of these xx Knyghtes / he merueiled of their good dedes / for he sawe by their fare and by theil reule that they had leuer deye than auoyde the felde / ¶Now Ihesu saide syre Tristram wel maye he be valyaunte and ful of prowesse that hath suche a sorte of noble Knygh∣tes vnto his kynne / and ful lyke is he to be a noble man that is their leder and gouernour / he mente hit by sir Launcelot du Lake / ¶ Soo whanne syre Tristram had be holden them long / he thouʒt shame to see / ij / C knyʒtes batteryng

vpon twenty knyghtes / ¶ Thenne sire Tristram rode vnto the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / and said syre leue youre fyghtynge with tho twenty knyghtes / for ye wynne no wor∣ship of them / ye be soo many / and they soo fewe / And wete ye well they wille not oute of the felde I see by their chere and countenaunce / and worship gete ye none and ye slee them / therfore leue your fyghtynge with them / for I to encreace my worship / I wyll ryde to the twenty knyghtes and helpe them with all my myghte and power / ¶Nay said the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / ye shall not do so / Now I see youre courage and curtosy / I wille withdrawe my knyʒ∣tes for your pleasyr / for euermore a good knyght wylle fa∣uoure another / and lyke wille drawe to lyke /

¶Capitulum xxxij

THenne the kyng with the honderd knyghtes withdre∣we his knyghtes / And al this whyle and long tofore syr launcelot had watched vpon syr Tristram with a very purpos to haue felaushipped with hym / And thenne so∣denly syr Tristram / syr Dynadan / and Gouernaile his man ro¦de their waye in to the forest that no man perceyued where they wente / Soo thenne kynge Arthur blewe vnto lodgynge / and gaf the kynge of Northgalys the pryce by cause syr Tristram was vpon his syde / Thenne syr launcelot rod here and there so wood as lyon that fauted his fylle by cause he had loste syre Tristram / and soo he retorned vnto kynge Arthur / and then∣ne in alle the felde was a noyse that with the wynde hit my∣ght be herd two myle thens / how the lordes and ladyes cryed the knyght with the blak shelde hath wonne the felde ¶Allas said kynge Arthur where is that knyght become / hit is shame to alle tho in the felde so to lete hym escape awey from you / but with gentylnes and curtosy ye myght haue brought hym vnto me to the castel of maydens ¶ Thenne the noble kynge Arthur wente v••to his knyghtes and comforted them in the best wyse that he coude / and sayd / my fayre felawes be not dysmayed / how be hit ye haue loste

the felde this daye and many were hurte and sore wounded / and many were hole / ¶ My felawes said kynge Ar∣thur loke that ye be of good chere / for to morne I wille be in the feld with you and reuenge you of youre enemyes ¶Soo that nyght Kynge Arthur and his knyghtes reposed them self / ¶The damoysel that came from la Beale I∣soud vnto syr Tristram alle the whyle the turnement was a∣doynge she was with Quene Gueneuer / and euer the Quene asked her for what cause she came in to that Countr••▪ ¶Madame she ansuerd I come for none other cause but from my lady la Beale Isoud to wete of your welfare / F••r in no wyse she wold not telle the Quene that she came for syr Tris∣trams sake / Soo this lady dame Brau••wayne took her leue of Quene Gueneuer / and she rode after syr Tristram / And as she rode thurgh the forest she herd a grete crye / thenne she commaunded her squyer to goo in to that forest to wete what was that noyse / and soo he came to a welle and there he fond a Knyght bounden tyl a tree cryeng as he had ben wod•• and his hors and his harneis standynge by hym / And whan he as¦pyed the squyer / ther with he abraide / and brake hym self lo∣os and took his swerd in his hand / and ranne to haue fla∣yne that squyer / Thenne he took his hors and fledde all that e∣uer he myght vnto dame Brangwayne / and told her of his aduenture / Thenne she rode vnto syr Tristrams pauelione / and told sire Tristram what aduenture she had fonde in the forest / Allas said syr Tristram vpon my heede there is somme good Knyghte at meschyef / Thenne sire Tristram tooke his hors and his swerd / and rode thyder / there he herd how the Knyght com¦playned vnto hym self and sayd / I woful knyght syre pa∣lomydes what mysauenture befalleth me / that thus am defoiled with falshede and treason thorou syre Bors and syre Ector / Allas he sayde why lyue I soo longe / And thenne he gat his swerd in his handes / and maade many straunge sygnes and tokens / and soo thorou his ragynge he threwe his swerd in to that fontayne ¶Thenne sir Palomydes way∣led and wrange his handes / And at the laste for pure sorow he ranne in to that Fontayne ouer his bely / and soughte after

his swerd / Thenne sir Tristram sawe that and ranne vpon syr Palomydes / and helde hym in his armes fast / what arte thou said Palomydes that holdeth me soo / I am a man of this fo∣rest that wold the none harme / Allas said sire Palomydes I maye neuer wynne worship where syr Tristram is / For euer where he is / and I be there thenne gete I no worship / And yf he be awey / for the moost party I haue the gree / onles that sir Launcelot be there or syr Lamorak / Thenne sire Palomydes said ones in Irland syr Tristram putte me to the werse / and another tyme in Cornewaile and in other places in this land what wold ye do said syre Tristram & ye had sir Tristram / I wold fyghte with hym said sir Palomydes and ease my hert vpon hym / and yet to saye the sothe syre Tristram is the gen∣telyst knyght in this world lyuynge / what wil ye doo sayd sir Tristram wille ye goo with me to youre lodgynge / Nay sayde he I wille goo to the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / for he rescowed me from sire Bors de ganys / and sir Ector / & els had I ben slayne traitourly / Syre Tristram said hym suche kynde wordes that syre Palomydes wente with hym to his lod¦gynge / Thenne Gouernaile wente to fore / and charged dame Brangwayn to goo oute of the way to her lodgynge / and byd¦ye syre Persydes that he make hym no quarels / And so they rode to gyders tyl they came to sire Tristrams pauelione / and there syre Palomydes had alle the chere that myght be had all that nyghte / But in no wyse sire Palomydes myʒt not knowe what was syr Tristram / and soo after souper they yede to reste And syr Tristram for grete trauaile slepte tylle it was daye / And syr Palomydes myghte not slepe for anguysshe / and in the daunynge of the daye he tooke his hors pryuely / and rode his waye vnto syr Gaherys and vnto syr Sagramour le desy∣rus / where they were in their pauelions / for they thre were fe∣lawes at the begynnynge of the turnement / And thenne vp∣on the morne the kynge blewe vnto the turnement vpon the thyrdde daye /

¶Capitulum xxxiij•• /

SOo the kynge of Northgalys and the kynge with the honderd knyghtes they two encountred with kyng ca∣rados and with the kynge of Irland / and there the kynge with the honderd knyghtes smote doune kynge Cara∣dos / and the kynge of Northgalys smote doune the kynge of Irland / With that came in syr Palomydes / and whan he cam he made grete werke / for by his endented shelde he was well knowen / Soo came in kynge Arthur / and dyd grete dedes of armes to gyders / and putte the kynge of Northgalys and the kynge with the honderd knyghtes to the werse / With this came in syr Tristram with his black shelde / And anone he Iusted with syre palomydes / and there by fyne force syr Tristram s••o¦te syre palomydes ouer his hors croupe / Thenne kynge Arthur cryed Knyght with the black shelde make the redy to me / and in the same wyse sir Tristram smote kynge Arthur / And then∣ne by force of kyng Arthurs knyghtes the kynge and sir pa∣lomydes were horsed ageyne / Thenne kyng Arthur with a gre¦te egre herte he gate a spere in his hand / and therupon the one syde he smote syr Tristram ouer his hors / Thenne foote hote syr Palomydes cam vpon sir Tristram as he was vpon foot to ha¦ue ouer ryden hym / Thenne sir Tristram was ware of hym / & there he stouped a syde / and with grete yre he gate hym by the arme / and pulled hym doune from his hors / Thenne syre pa∣lomydes lyghtely arose / and thenne they dasshed to gyder my∣ghtely with their swerdes / and many kynges / Quenes and lordes stode and beheld them / And at the laste syre Tristram smote syre palomydes vpon the helme thre myʒty strokes / and at euery stroke that he gaf hym he said haue this for syre Tris¦trams sake / With that syre Palomydes felle to the erthe groue¦lynge / Thenne came the kynge with the honderd knyghtes / & broughte syre Tristram an hors / and soo was he horsed ageyn By thenne was syr Palomydes horsed / and with grete yre he Iusted vpon syr Tristram with his spere as hit was in the reyste and gaf hym a grete dasshe with his swerd / ¶Thenne sir Tristram auoyded his spere / and gate hym by the neck with his bothe handes / and pulled hym clene oute of his sadel / and soo he bare hym afore hym the lengthe of ten spe¦res / & thenne in the presence of hem al he lete hym falle at his

aduenture / Thenne sire Tristram was ware of kynge Arthur / with a naked suerd in his hand / and with his spere sir Tris¦tram ranne vpon kynge Arthur / and thenne kynge Arthur boldely abode hym and with his swerd he smote atwo his spe¦re / and the•••• with alle syre Tristram stonyed / and soo kynge Arthur gaf hym thre or four grete strokes or he myʒt gete out his swerd / and at the last sir Tristram drewe his swerd and assailed other passynge hard / with that the grete prees depar¦ted / thenne sir Tristram rode here and there and dyd his gre¦te payne that xj of the good knyghtes of the blood of kynge Ban that was of sire launcelots kyn / that daye syre Tristram smote doune / that alle the estates merueilled of his grete dedes and alle cryed vpon the knyght with the black sheld

¶Capitulum xxxiiij

THenne this crye was soo large / that sir launcelot herd it / And thenne he gate a grete spere in his hand / and came towardes the crye / Thenne sir launcelot cryed / the knyght with the blak shelde make the redy to Iuste with me / whanne sire Tristram herd hym say so he gate his spere in his hand / and eyther abeyshed doun their hedes / and came to gy∣der as thonder / and sire Tristrams spere brake in pyeces / and syr launcelot by male fortune stroke sir Tristram on the syde a depe wounds nyghe to the dethe / But yet syr Tristram auoyded not his sadel / and soo the spere brak / there with all sir tristram that was wounded gate oute his swerd / and he rasshed to sir launcelot / and gaf hym thre grete strokes vpon the helme that the fyre sprange there oute / and sir launcelot abeyshed his he∣de ••owely toward his sadel bowe / And there with alle sir tris¦tram departed from the felde / for he felte hym soo woūded that he wende he shold haue dyed / and sir Dynadan aspyed hym and folowed hym in to the forest / Thenne sir launcelot abode & dyd many merueyllous dedes / Soo whan sire Tristram was departed by the forests syde / he alyght & vnlaced his harneis and fress••ed his woūd / thēne wende sir Dynodan that he shold

haue dyed / Nay nay saide sire Tristram / Dynadan / neuer drede the / for I am herte hole / & of this wounde I shal soone be hole by the mercy of god / ¶By that sir Dynadan was ware where came palomydes rydynge streyghte vpon them / And thenne syre Tristram was ware that syre Palomydes came to haue destroyed hym / and so syre Dynadan gaf hym warnyng and saide sire Tristram my lord ye are soo sore wounded that ye may not haue adoo with hym / therfore I wille ryde agey∣nst hym and doo to hym what I maye / And yf I be slayne ye maye praye for my soule and in the meane whyle ye maye withdrawe you and goo in to the castel / or in the foreste that he shalle not mete with you / ¶ Syre Tristram smyled and said I thanke you syre Dynadan of your good wylle / but ye shalle wete that I am able to handle hym / And thenne anone hastely he armed hym and took his hors / and a grete spere in his hand and said to syre Dynadan Adieu / & rode toward syre Palamydes a softe paas

¶Thenne whanne sire Palomydes sawe that / he made counte∣naunce to amende his hors / but he dyd hit for this cause / For he abode sire Gaherys that came after hym / ¶And whanne he was come he rode toward syre Tristram / ¶Thenne syre Tris∣tram sente vnto syr palomydes and requyred hym to Iuste with hym / And yf he smote doune sir Palomydes / he wold doo no more to hym / And yf it so happend that sire Palomydes smo¦te doune syr Tristram he badde hym do his vtteraunce / So they were accorded / thenne they mette to gyders / and syre Tristram smote doune sir palomydes / that he had a greuous falle / soo that he laye stylle as he hadde ben dede / And thenne sire Trys∣tram ranne vpon syr Gaherys / and he wold not haue Iusted But whether he wolde or not syre Tristram smote hym ouer his hors croupe that he laye stylle as though he had ben dede / And thenne syr Tristram rode his waye and lefte syre Persy∣des squyer within the pauelions / and syre Tristram and syre Dynadan rode to an old knyghtes place to lodge them / And that olde knyght had fyue sones at the turnement / for whome he prayed god hertely for their comyng home / ¶And so as the frensshe book saith they cam home al / v / wel beten / And whan syr Tristram departed in to the forest syr laūcelot held alwey

••he stoure lyke hard as a man araged that took no heede to hym self / and were ye wel there was many a noble knyghte ageynst hym / And whanne kyng Arthur sawe sir Launcelot doo soo merueyllous dedes of armes / he thenne armed hym / & took his hors and his armour / and rode in to the felde to helpe syr launcelot / and so many knyghtes came in with kyng Ar∣thur / and to make short tale in conclusion the kyng of North¦galys / and the kynge of the honderd knyghtes were putte to the wers / and by cause syre launcelot abode and was the last in the feld / the pryce was yeuen hym / But sir Laūcelot wold neyther for kyng / Quene ne knyghte haue the pryce / but whe¦re the crye was cryed thorugh the felde / syr launcelot sir laun¦celot hath wonne the felde this day / syre Launcelot lete make an other crye contrary syr Tristram hath wonne the feld / for he beganne fyrst and last he hath endured / and soo hath he do∣ne the fyrst day / the second and the thyrd day /

¶Capitulum xxxv

THenne alle the estates and degrees hyhe and lowe sa∣yd of syr launcelot grete worship / for the honour that he dyd vnto syr Tristram / and for that honour doyng to sir Tristram he was at that tyme more preysed and renou∣med than and he had ouerthrowen v C knyghtes / and all the peple holy for this gentylnes / fyrst the estates bothe hyhe and lowe / and after the comynalte cryed at ones syre Launcelot hath wonne the felde who soo euer saye nay / Thenne was syre Launcelot wroth and ashamed / and soo there with alle he ro∣de to kynge Arthur / Allas said the kynge we are alle dys∣mayed that syr Tristram is thus departed from vs / By god said kynge Arthur he is one of the noblest knyʒtes that euer I sawe hold spere or swerd in hand / and the moost curteyst knyght in his fyghtyng / for ful hard I sawe hym sayd kyng Arthur whanne he smote syr Palomydes vpon the helme thry¦es / that he abasshed his helme with his strokes / and also he sa¦id / here is a stroke for syr Tristram / and thus thryes he sayd / Thenne kynge Arthur / syr launcelot / and sire Dodynas le sa∣ueage took their horses to seke sir Tristram / and by the menes

of syr Persydes / he had told kyng Arthur where syr Tristram was in his pauelione / but whanne they came there / syr Trist∣ram and sir Dynadan were gone / thenne kynge Arthur and syr launcelot were heny / and retorned ageyne to the castel of maydens makyng grete d••le for the hurte of syre Trystram / & his sodeyne departynge / Soo god me helpe said kyng Arthur I am more heuy that I can not mete with hym / thenne for al the hurtes that alle my knyghtes haue had at the turnement Ryght soo came sir Gaherys and told kynge Arthur how syr Tristram had smyten doune syr Palomydes / and it was atte syr Palomydes owne request / Allas said Kyng Arthur that was grete dishonoure to syre Palomydes in as moche as syre Tristram was sore wounded / and now may we alle kynges and knyʒtes and men of worship saye that syre Tristram may be called a noble knyght and one of the best Knyghtes that e∣uer I sawe the dayes of my lyf / For I wille that ye al kyn∣ges and Knyghtes knowe said Kynge Arthur that I neuer sawe Knyghte doo so merueyllously as he hath done these thre dayes / for he was the first that began and that lengest▪ held on sauf this last day / And though he was hurte it was a manly aduenture of two noble Knyghtes / and whan two noble men encountre nedes must the one haue the werse lyke as god wil suffre at that tyme / ¶As for me said sir launcelot for alle the landes that euer my fader lefte me I wold not haue hurte sir Tristram and I had knowen hym at that tyme / that I hurt hym was for I sawe not his sheld / For and I had sene his black sheld / I wold not haue medled with hym for many causes / for late he dyd as moche for me as euer dyd Knyght and that is wel knowen that he had adoo with thyrtty Knyʒ∣tes / and no helpe saue syr Dynadan / And one thynge shalle I promyse said syr launcelot / syr Palomydes shalle repente it as in his vnkyndely delynge for to folowe that noble knyght that I by myshap hurted thus / Syr launcelot sayd alle the worship that myght be said by sir Tristram / Thenne kyng Ar¦thur made a grete feest to alle that wold come / And thus we lete passe Kynge Arthur / and a lytyl we wille torne vnto sir Palomydes that after he had a falle of sire Tristram / he was nyghe hand araged oute of his wyt for despyte of sir Tristram

And soo he folowed hym by aduenture / And as he came by a ryuer in his woodenes / he wold haue made his hors to haue lepte ouer / and the hors fayled footynge / and felle in the Ry∣uer / wherfore syre palomydes was adrad lest he shold haue ben drouned / and thenne he auoyded his hors / and swamme to the land / and lete his hors goo doune by aduenture /

¶Capitulum xxxvj /

ANd whanne he came to the land he took of his harne∣is / and satte rorynge and cryenge as a man oute of his mynde / Ryght so came a damoysel euen by syr Palomydes that was sente fro syr Gawayne and his broder vnto sir mor∣dred that lay seke in the same place with that old knyʒt whe∣re syr Tristram was / For as the Frensshe book saith syr Per¦sydes hurte soo syr Mordred a ten dayes afore / and had not ben for the loue of sir Gawayne and his broder / syr Persydes had slayne sir Mordred / and soo this damoysel came by sir pa¦lomydes / and s̄he and he had langage to gyder / the whiche ple¦asyd neyther of them / and soo the damoysel rode her Wayes tyl she came to the old knyghtes place / & there she told that old knyght how she mette with the woodest knyght by aduenture that euer she mette with all / what bare he in his sheld said sir Tristram / hit was endented with whyte and black saide the damoysel / A said sir Tristram that was sir palomydes / the go∣od knyght / For wel I knowe hym said sir Tristram for one of the best knyghtes lyuynge in this realme / Thenne that old knyght took a lytel hackney and rode for syre palomydes / and brought hym vnto his owne manoyr / and ful wel knewe sire Tristram syr Palomydes / but he said but lytel / for at that ty∣me syr Tristram was walkyng vpon his feet / and wel amen¦ded of his hurtes / and alweyes whan sire Palomydes sawe syr Tristram / he wold behold hym ful merueillously / And euer hym s••med that he hadde sene hym / Thenne wold he saye vnto syre Dynadan and euer I may mete with syre Tristram he shal not escape myn handes / I merueile said sir Dynadan y^t

ye booste behynde syr Tristram / for it is but late that he was in youre handes / and ye in his handes / why wold ye not holde hym whanne ye hadde hym / for I sawe my self twyes or thry∣es that ye gat but lytel worship of sir Tristram / thenne was syr Palomydes ashamed / Soo leue we them a lytyl whyle in the old castel / with the old knyght sir Darras / ¶ Now shall we speke of Kynge Arthur / that said to sir Launcelot had not ye ben / we had not lost syre Tristram / for he was here dayly vn¦to the tyme ye mette with hym / and in an euylle tyme sayd Arthur ye encountred with hym / My lord Arthur said Laun¦celot ye putte vpon me that I shold ben cause of his departy∣cyon / god knoweth hit was ageynste my wille / But whan men ben hote in dedes of armes ofte they hurte their frendes as wel as their foes / And my lord said sir launcelot ye shal vn¦derstande that sir Tristram is a man that I am loth to offende for he hath done for me more than euer I dyd for hym as yet / But thenne sir Launcelot made brynge forth a book and thē∣ne sir launcelot said / here we are ten Knyghtes that wil swe∣re vpon a book neuer to reste one nyght where we rest another this twelue moneth vn tyl that we fynde syr Tristram / And as for me said syre Launcelot I promyse you vpon this book that and I may mete with hym / outher with fayrenes or foul¦nesse I shalle brynge hym to this courte / or els I shalle dye therfore / And the names of these ten knyghtes that hadde vn¦dertake this quest were these folowynge / Fyrst was sir Laun¦celot / syr Ector de Marys / syr Bors de ganys and Bleoberis and syre Blamor de ganys / and Lucan the botteler / syr Vwa¦yne / syr Galyhud / Lyonel and Galyodyn / Soo these x noble knyghtes departed from the courte of kynge Arthur / and soo they rode vpon their quest to gyders vntyl they came to a cro∣sse where departed four wayes / and there departed the felau∣ship in four to seke syr Tristram / And as syr launcelot rode by aduenture he mette with dame Brangwayn that was sent in to that countrey to seke sir Tristram / and she fled as faste as her palfrey myght goo / Soo sire Launcelot mette with her and asked her why she fledde / ¶A fayre knyghte said dame Brangwayne I flee for drede of my lyf / for here foloweth me syr Breuse saunce pyte to slee me / Hold you nyghe me sayd

sir launcelot / Thenne whanne sire Launcelot sawe sir Breuse saunce pyte / syr launcelot cryed vnto hym / and said / fals kn∣yght destroyer of ladyes and damoysels / now thy last dayes be come / whanne sire Breuse saunce pyte sawe sire launcelots sheld he knewe hit wel / for at that tyme he bare not the armes of Cornewaile / but he bare his owne shelde / And thenne syre Breuse fled / and syr Tristram folowed after hym / But sir Breuse was soo wel horsed that whan hym lyst to flee he my∣ght wel flee / and also abyde whan hym lyst / And thenne sire launcelot retorned vnto dame Brangwayne and she thanked hym of his grete labour /

¶Capitulum xxxvij

NOw wille we speke of sir Lucan the buttelere that by fortune he came rydyng to the same place there as was syr Tristram / and in he came in none other entente / but to aske herberowe / thenne the porter asked what was his name / Telle your lord that my name is syr Lucan the botteler a knyghte of the round table / Soo the porter wente vnto syre Darras lord of the place / and told hym who was there to as¦ke herborouʒ / Nay nay seid syr Daname that was neuewe to syr Darras / saye hym that he shalle not be lodged here / But lete hym wete that I syr Daname wyll mete with hym anon and bydde hym make hym redy / So sire Daname came forth on horsbak / and there they mette to gyders with speres / and sir Lucan smote doune syr Daname ouer his hors croupe / and thē¦ne he fledde in to that place / and sir Lucan rode after hym / & asked after hym many tymes / Thenne syr dynadan said to sire Tristram hit is shame to see the lordes cosyn of this place de∣foiled / Abyde said sir Tristram and I shalle redresse it / and in the meane whyle syr Dynadan was on horsbak and he Ius∣tid with Lucan y^e botteler / & ther sir lucan smote dynadā thurʒ the thyck of the thyghe / and soo he rode his way / and sire tris∣ram was wrothe that sir Dynadan was hurte / & folowed af¦ter and thought to auenge hym / and within a whyle he ouer∣took sir lucan / and hadde hym torne / and soo they mette to gy¦ders soo that sire Tristram hurt sir Lucan passynge sore / and

gaf hym a falle / With that came sire Vwayne a gentyl knyʒt And whanne he sawe sire Lucan soo hurte / he called syre tris∣tram to Iuste with hym / Faire knyght said sire Tristram telle me your name I requyre you / Syre knyghte wete ye wel my name is syre Vwayne le fyse de roy Vreyne / A saide sire Tris¦tram by my wille I wold not haue adoo with you at no ty∣me / ye shalle not soo said sir Vwayne but ye shalle haue adoo with me / And thenne sire Tristram sawe none other boote but rode ageynst hym and ouerthrewe syr Vwayn and hurte hym in the syde / and soo he departed vnto his lodgynge ageyne / And whanne sire Dynadan vnderstood that syr Tristram had hurte sir Lucan / he wold haue ryden after syr Lucan for to haue slayne hym / but sir Tristram wold not suffre hym / ¶Thenne syr Vwayne lete ordeyne an hors lytter / and bro∣ught sir Lucan to the abbey of Ganys / and the castel there by hyght the castel of Ganys / of the whiche syr Bleoberys was lord / And at that Castel sire launcelot promysed alle his fe∣lawes to mete in the quest of syr Tristram / Soo whan sir tris¦tram was come to his lodgyng / ther came a damoisel y^t told sir Darras that thre of his sones were slayne at that turnement and two greuously woūded that they were neuer lyke to hel¦pe them self / And alle this was done by a noble knyghte that bare the black shelde / and that was he that bare the pryce / ¶Thenne came there one and told syr Darras that the same knyght was within hym that bare the black sheld / Thenne sir Darras yede vnto sir Tristrams chamber / and there he fond his sheld and shewed it to the damoysel / A syr said the damoysel that same is he / that slewe your thre sones / Thenne withoute ony taryenge sir Darras putte syre Tristram and syre Palo∣mydes and syr Dynadan within a strong pryson / and there sir Tristram was lyke to haue dyed of grete sekenesse / and eue∣ry day syr Palomydes wold repreue sir Tristram of old hate betwixe them / And euer sir Tristram spak fayre and said ly∣tel / But whan sir Palomydes sawe the fallynge of sekenesse of sir Tristram thenne was he heuy for hym / and comforted hym in alle the best wyse he coude / And as the Frensshe booke saith there came fourty knyghtes to sire Darras / that were of his owne kyn / and they wold haue slayne sire Tristram and

his two felawes / but sire Darras wold not suffre that but kepte them in pryson / and mete and drynke they had / So sire Tristram endured there grete payne / for sekenesse had vnderta¦ke hym / and that is the grettest payne a prysoner maye haue For alle the whyle a prysoner may haue his helthe of body / he maye endure vnder ••he mercy of god and in hope of good de¦lyueraunce / But whanne sekenes toucheth a prysoners bo•••• / thenne may a prysoner say al welthe is hym be••afte / and then¦ne he hath cause to wayle and to wepe / Ryʒt so dyd syre Trist∣ram whanne sekenes had vndertake hym / for thenne he tooke suche sorou that he had almost slayne hym self

¶Capitulum xxxviij

NOw wille we speke and leue sir Tristram / syre Palo∣mydes / & syr Dynadan in pryson / and speke we of o∣ther knyghtes that soughte after syre Tristram many dyuerse partyes of this land / and some yede in to Cornewaile / and by aduenture syr Gaheryse neuewe vnto kyng Arthur came vnto Kynge Mark / and there he was wel receyued / and satte atte kynge Marks owne table & ete of his owne messe / ¶Thenne kynge Mark asked sir Gaheryse what tydynges there were in the royalme of Logrys / Syre said syr Gaheryse the Kyng reg¦neth as a noble knyght / and now but late there was a grete Iustes and turnement as euer I sawe ony in the realme of Logrys / and the moost noble knyghtes were at that Iustes / But there was one knyght that dyd merueyllously thre da∣yes / and he bare a black shelde / and of alle knyghtes that e∣uer I sawe he preued the best knyʒt / thrnne said Kyng mark that was syre launcelot or syre palomydes the paynym / Not soo said syr Gaherys / for bothe syre launcelot and sire Palomydes were on the contrary party ageynst the Knyght with the blak shelde / thenne was it sir Tristram said the kyng / ye said sir Ga¦heryse And there with all the Kyng smote doun his hede / & in his herte he feryd sore that syre Tristram shold gete hym suche worship in the Royame of Logrys / where thorou that he hym self shold not be able to withstande hym / Thus syre Gaheryse

had grete chere with kynge Marke / and with quene la Bea¦le Isoud the whiche was gladde of syr Gaheryse wordes / For wel she wist by his dedes and maners / that it was syr Trist∣ram / And thenne the kynge made a feest Royal / and to that feest came sir Vwayne le fyse de roy Vreyne / and somme callid hym Vwayne le blaunche maynys / And this syr Vwayn cha¦lengyd alle the knyghtes of Cornewaile / Thenne was the ky∣ng woode wroth that he had no knyghtes to ansuer hym / Thenne sire Andred neuewe vnto kynge Mark lepte vp and said I wille encountre with syr Vwayne / Thenne he yede and armed hym and horsed hym in the best maner / And there syre Vwayne mette with syre Andred and smote hym doune that he swouned on the erthe / Thenne was kynge Marke sory and wrothe oute of mesure that he had no knyghte to reuenge his neuewe sir Andred / Soo the kynge called vnto hym syr Dy∣nas the seneschal / and praid hym for his sake to take vpon hym to Iuste with sir Vwayne / Syr said syr Dynas I am ful bothe to haue adoo with ony knyght of the round table / yet said the kyng for my loue take vpon the to guste / Soo syr Dynas made hym redy / and anone they encountred to gyders with gre¦te speres / but sire Dynas was ouerthrowen hors and man a grete falle / who was wrothe but kynge Marke / Allas he said haue I no knyght that wille encountre with yonder knyghte Syr said sir Gaheryse for your sake I wille Iuste / So sir Ga∣herys made hym redy / and whanne he was armed he rode in to the felde / And whanne sir Vwayne sawe syr Gaheryses sheld he rode to hym and said / sir ye doo not youre parte / For sire the fyrst tyme ye were made Knyght of the round table ye sware that ye shold not haue a do with your felauship wetyngly And par dy sir Gaheryse ye knewe me s by my shelde & so do I knowe you by your sheld / and thouʒ ye wold breke your othe / I wold not breke myn / for there is not one here nor ye that shall thynke I am aford of yow / but I durst ry∣ght wel haue adoo with you / and yet we be sister sones / Then∣ne was sir Gaheryse ashamed / and soo there with alle euery knyght wente their way / and sir Vwayne rode in to the coun∣trey / Thenne kyng mark armed hym and tooke his hors and his spere with a squyer with hym / And thenne he rode afore sir

Vwayne / and sodenly at a gap he ranne vpon hym as he that was not ware of hym / and there he smote hym al most thurgh the body / and there lefte hym / So within a whyle there cam sir Kay / and fonde sir Vwayne / and asked hym how he was hurte / I wote not said sir Vwayne why nor wherfore / but by treason I am sure I gat this hurte / for here came a knyghte so¦denly vpon me or that I was ware / and sodenly hurte me / ¶Thenne there was come syre Andred to seke kynge Marke ¶Thou traytour knyght said sir kay / and I wiste it were thou that thus traitourly hast hurte this noble knyghte / thow sholdest neuer passe my handes / Syre saide sir Andred I dyd neuer hurte hym / and that I wylle reporte me to hym self / Fy on you fals knyghtes said syr kay / for ye of Cornewaile ar nought worthe / Soo syr kay made cary syr Vwayne to the abbay of the black Crosse / and there he was helyd / And then∣ne syr Gaherys took his leue of kynge Mark / But or he de∣parted he sayd / syre kynge ye dyd a foule shame vnto you & your Courte whan ye bannysshed sir Tristram out / of this coū¦trey / for ye neded not to haue doubted no knyght and he had ben here / and soo he departed

¶Capitulum xxxix

THenne there came syre kay the Seneschal vnto kynge Marke / and there he hadde good chere shewyng oute∣ward / Now fayre lordes said he wille ye preue ony aduenture in the forest of Morris in the whiche I knowe wel is as hard an aduenture as I knowe ony / Syr said sir kay / I wille preue hit / And sir Gaheryse said he wold be auysed For kynge Mark was euer ful of treason / and there with al syr Gaheryse departed and rode his waye / And by the same waye that syre Kay shold ryde / he leyd hym doune to reste chargynge his squyer to wayte vpon sir kay / and warne me whanne he cometh / Soo within a whyle sir kay came rydynge that way / and thenne sir Gaheryse tooke his hors and met hym and sayd sire kay ye are not wyse to ryde at the request of ky∣nge Mark for he deleth alle with treason / Thenne said sire kay I requyre you lete vs preue this aduenture / I shal not fayle

you said sir Gaherys / and soo they rode that tyme tyl a lake / that was that tyme called the peryllous lake / And there they abode vnder the shawe of the wood / ¶The meane whyle kyng Marke within the castel of Tyntagyl auoyded alle his barōs & alle other sauf suche as were pryuy with hym / were auoyded oute of his chamber / And thenne he lete calle his neuewe sir Andred / and badde arme hym and horse hym lyghtely / & by that tyme it was mydnyght / And soo kynge Marke was ar∣med in blak hors and alle / and soo att a pryuy posterne they two yssued oute with their varlets with them / and rode tylle they came to that lake / Thenne sir Kay aspyed them fyrst and gat his spere / and profered to Iuste / And kynge Mark rode ageynst hym / and smote eche other ful hard / for the mone sho¦ne as the bryght day / And there at that Iustes sir Kayes hors fylle doune / for his hors was not so bygge as the kynges hors and sir kayes hors brysed hym ful sore / Thenne sire Gaherys was wrothe that sir kay had a falle / Thenne he cryed knyght sytte thou fast in thy sadel / for I wille reuenge my felawe / Thenne kynge Marke was aferd of syr Gaherys / and so with euyl wylle kynge Marke rode ageynst hym / and sir Gaherys gaf hym suche a stroke that he felle doun / So thenne forth with all syr Gaheryse ranne vnto syr Andred and smote hym from his hors quyte that his helme smote in the erthe / and nyhe had broken his neck / And there with al syr Gaherys alyghte and gate vp sir Kay / And thenne they yode bothe on foote to them / and badde them yelde them / and telle theire names other they shold dye / Thenne with grete payne sire Andred spak fyrst & said hit is kynge Marke of Cornewaile / therfore be ye ware what ye do / and I am sir Andred his cosyn / Fy on you bothe said sir Gaheryse for a fals traitour / and fals treason hast thou wrouʒt / and he both vnder the fayned chere that ye made vs / it were pyte said sir Gaherys that thou sholdest lyue ony lenger / Saue my lyf said kynge Marke and I wil make amendys & consyder that I am a kynge anoynted / it were the more sha∣me said sir Gaherys to saue thy lyf / thou arte a kynge enoyn∣ted with creme / and therfore thou sholdest holde with alle men of worship / And therfor thou arte worthy to dye / with that he lasshed at kyng Mark without sayeng ony more &

couerd hym with his sheld and defended hym as he myghte / and thenne sir kay lasshed at sir Andred / and there with all kynge Marke yelded hym vnto syr Gaherys / And thenne he kneled adoune / and made his othe vpon the crosse of the suerd that neuer whyle he lyued he wold be ageynst arraunt knygh¦tes / And also he sware to be good Frende vnto sir Tristram / yf euer he came in to Cornewaile / By thenne sir Andred was on the erthe / and sir Kay wold haue slayne hym / lete be said sir Gaherys / slee hym not I pray you / It were pyte said syre kay that he shold lyue ony lenger / for this is nygh cosyn vn¦to syr Tristram / and euer he hath ben a traytour vnto hym / & by hym he was exyled oute of Cornewaile / and therfor I will slee hym sayd sir Kay / ye shalle not said sir Gaherys sythen I haue gyuen the kynge his lyf / I pray you yeue hym his lyf / And there with alle sir Kay lete hym goo / And soo sir Kay and syre Gaherys rode their way vnto Dynas the Seneschal for by cause they herd say that he loued wel sir Tristram / Soo they reposed them there / and soone after they rode vnto the ro∣yamme of Logrys / And soo within a lytel whyle they mette with sire Launcelot that alweyes had dame Bragwayn with hym / to that entente / he wende to haue mette the sooner with sir Tristram / and syr launcelot asked what tydynges in Corne¦waile / and whether they herd of sir Tristram or not / Syr Kay and sir Gaherys ansuerd and said that they herd not of hym Thenne they told sir launcelot word by word of theire aduen¦ture / Thenne syr launcelot smyled and said / hard hit is to take oute of the flesshe that is bred in the bone / and soo maade hem mery to gyders

¶Capitulum xl

NOw leue we of this tale / and speke we of syr dynas hat had within the castel a peramour / and she loued another knyghte better than hym / And so whanne syr Dynas wente oute on huntynge / she slypped doune by a tuell / And took with her two brackets / and soo she yede to the kny∣ght that she loued / and he her ageyne / ¶And whanne sir

Dynas come home / and myst his peramour and his brachets thenne was he the more wrother for his Brachets than for the lady / Soo thenne he rode after the knyght that had his per¦amour and badde hym torne and Iuste / So syr Dynas smo∣te hym doune that with the falle he brake his legge and his ar¦me / And thenne his lady and peramour cryed sire Dynas mercy / and said she wold loue hym better than euer she dyd / Nay said sir Dynas I shalle neuer truste them that ones by∣trayed me / and therfor as ye haue begonne so ende / for I wyll neuer medle with you / And so sir Dynas departed and tooke his brachets with hym / and soo rode to his castel / Now wil we torne vnto sir launcelot that was ryght heuy that he coude ne∣uer here no tydynges of sir Tristram / for al this whyle he was in pryson with sir Darras / Palomydes / & Dynadan / Thenne dame Brangwayne took her leue to goo in to Cornewaile and syr launcelot / syr kay / & syr Gaherys rode to seke sir Tristram in the countrey of Surleuse / Now speketh this tale of sir tris¦tram and of his two felawes / for euery daye syre Palomydes brauled and sayd langage ageynst syr Tristram / I merueyle said sir Dynadan of the syr Palomydes / and thou haddest syre Tristram here / thou woldest do hym no harme / / For and a wolf and a shepe were to gyders in a pryson / the wolf wold suffre the sheep to be in pees / and wete thou wel said sire Dynadan this same is sire Tristram at a word / and now maist thou doo thy best with hym / & lete see now yf ye can skyfte it with your handes / thenne was sire Palomydes abasshed and said lytyl / syr Palomydes thenne said syr Tristram / I haue herd moche of your maugre ageynst me / but I wille not medle with you as at this tyme by my wille / by cause I drede the lord of this place that hath vs in gouernaunce / for and I dredde hym not more than I doo the / soone hit shold be skyfte / soo they peaced them self / Ryght soo came in a damoysel and said knyghtes be of good chere for ye are sure of your lyues / and that I herd say my lord syre Darras / Thenne were they gladde alle thre / For dayly they wende they shold haue dyed / ¶Thenne soone after this syr Tristram fylle seke that he wende to haue dyed / thenne syr Dynadan wepte / and soo dyd sire Palomydes vnder them bothe makyng grete sorou / ¶ Soo a damoysel

came in to them and fonde them mornynge / Thenne she wente vnto sire Darras / and told hym how that myghty knyghte that bare the black shelde was lykely to dye / That shake not be sayd sir Darras / for god defende whanne Knyghtes come to me for socour that I shold suffre hem to dye within my pry¦son / Therfor said sir Darras to the damoysel / fetche that knyʒt and his felawes afore me / And thenne anone sir Darras sa∣we sir Tristram brought afore hym / he said sire Knyghte me repenteth of thy sekenesse / for thou arte called a ful noble kn∣yght / and soo hit semeth by the / And wete ye wel it shall ne∣uer be said that syr Darras shalle destroye suche a noble kny∣ght as thou arte in pryson / how be hit / that thou hast slayn / iij of my sones / where by I was gretely agreued / But now shalt thou goo and thy felawes / and youre harneis & horses haue ben fayre and clene kepte / and ye shall goo where hit lyketh you vpon this couenaunt / that thou Knyght wilt promyse me to be good frende to my sones two that ben now on lyue / and also that thou telle me thy name / Syr said he as for me my na¦me is sir Tristram de Lyones / and in Cornewaile was I born and neuewe I am vnto Kynge Marke / And as for the deth of your sones I myght not doo with alle / For and they had ben the next kyn y^t I haue / I myʒt haue done none other wyse / And yf I had slayne hem by treason or trechery I hadde ben worthy to haue dyed / Alle this I consyder said syr Darras / that alle that ye dyd was by force of knyghthode / and that was the cause I wold not putte you to deth / But sythe ye be syr Tristram the good knyght I pray you hertely to be my good frend and to my sones / Syr said sire Tristram I promyse yow by the feithe of my body euer whyle I lyue I wille do yow ser¦uyse / for ye haue done to vs but as a naturel Knyghte ought to doo / Thenne sir Tristram reposed hym there tyl that he was amended of his sekenesse / And whanne he was bygge and stronge / they took their leue / and euery knyght took their hor∣ses and soo departed and rode to gyders tyl they came to a crosse way / Now felawes said syr Tristram here wylle we de∣parte in sondry wayes / and by cause sire Dynadan hadde the fyrst aduenture of hym I wille begynne

¶Capitulum xlj

SOo as sir Dynadan rode by a welle / he fond a lady makyng grete dole / what eyleth you said sir Dynadan Syre knyght said the lady I am the wofullest lady of the world / for within these fyue dayes / here came a knyght called sir Breuse saunce pyte / and he slewe myn owne broder / And euer syns he hath kepte me at his owne will / and of al men in the world I hate hym moost / And therfor I requyre you of knygthode to auenge me / for he wille not tary but be he∣re anone / Lete hym come said sire Dynadan / And by cause of honour of alle wymmen I wylle doo my parte / With this cam syr Breuse / And whan he sawe a Knyght with his lady / he was wood wrothe / And thenne he said sir Knyght kepe the from me / soo they hurled to gyder as thonder / and eyther smo¦te other passynge sore / But syre Dynadan putte hym thurgh the sholder a greuous wounde / and or euer sir Dynadan my∣ght torne hym syr Breuse was gone and fledde / Thenne the lady prayd hym to brynge her to a Castel there besyde but fo∣ur myle thens / and soo sir Dynadan brought her there / & she was welcome / for the lord of that castel was her vnkel / and soo syre Dynadan rode his way vpon his aduenture / Now tor∣ne we this tale vnto syre Tristram that by aduenture he cam to a castel to aske lodgynge / wherin was quene Morgan le fay / & soo whan sire Tristram was lete in to that castel / he had good chere alle that nyght / And vpon the morne whan he wold ha¦ue departed / the Quene said / wete ye wel ye shall not departe lyghtely / for ye are here as a prysoner / Ihesu defende said syr Tristram / for I was but late a prysoner / Fayr knyght sayd the quene ye shalle abyde with me tyl that I wete what ye ar and from Whens ye come / And euer the Quene wold set syr Tristram on her owne syde / and her peramour on the other sy∣de / And euer Quene Morgan wold beholde syr Tristram / & ther at the knyght was Ialous / and was in wille sodenly to haue ronne vpon syr Tristram with a swerd / but he lefte it for shame / thēne the quene said to sir Tristram telle me thy name &

I shalle suffre you to departe whan ye will / vpon that couena∣unt I telle you my name is syr Tristram de lyones / A sayd Morgan le fay / and I had wyst that thou sholdest not haue departed soo soone as thou shalt / But sythen I haue maade a promyse / I wille holde hyt / with that thou wilt promyse me to bere vpon the a shelde that I shall delyuer the / vnto the cas∣tel of the hard roche where kynge Arthur hath cryed a grete turnement / and there I pray you that ye wille be / and to doo for me as moche dedes of armes as ye maye doo / For att the Castel of maydens syr Tristram ye dyd merueillous dedes of armes as euer I herd knyght doo / Madame said syr Tristram lete me see the shelde that I shalle bere / Thenne the shelde was brought forth / and the feld was guldyssh with a kynge and a quene therin paynted / and a knyght standynge aboue them vpon the kynges hede / and the other vpon the quenes / Madame said sir Tristram this is a fayre shelde and a myʒty But what sygnefyeth this kynge and this quene / and that knyght standynge vp bothe their hedes / I shalle telle you said Morgan le fay hit sygnefyeth kynge Arthur and quene gue¦neuer and a knyght that holdeth them both in bondage and in seruage / who is that knyght said syre Tristram / that shalle ye not wete as at this tyme / said the quene / but as the Frensshe book saith Quene Morgan loued sir launcelot lest / and euer she desyred hym / and he Wold neuer loue her / nor doo no thyng at her request / and therfore she held many Knyghtes to gyder / for to haue taken hym by strengthe / And by cause she demed that syr Launcelot loued Quene Gueneuer peramour / and she hym ageyne / therfore Quene Morgan le fay ordeyned that sheld to put sir launcelot to a rebuke to that entent that kyng Arthur myght vnderstande the loue bitwene them / Thenne sir Tristram took that sheld and promysed her to bere hit atte tur¦nement at the castel of the hard roche / But sir Tristram knewe not that that sheld was ordeyned ageynst syr launcelot / but afterward he knewe hit

¶Capitulum xlij

SOo thenne sire Tristram took his leue of the Quene / and took the sheld with hym / Thenne came the knyʒte that helde Quene Morgan le fay / his name was syre Hymeson / and he made hym redy to folowe syre Tristram / fayr frende said Morgan ryde not after that knyght / for ye shalle not wynne no worship of hym / Fy on hym coward saide sire Hemyson / for I wyst neuer good knyghte come oute of Cor∣newaile / but yf hit were syr Tristram de Lyones / what & that be he said she / Nay nay said he / he is with la beale Isoud and this is but a daffyssh knyght / Allas my fair frende ye shalle fynde hym the best knyght that euer ye mette with alle / For I knowe hym better than ye doo / for your sake said sir Hemyson I shalle slee hym / A fayr frende said the Quene me repenteth that ye wylle folowe that knyght / for I fere me sore of youre ageyne comynge / with this / this knyghte rode his waye woode wrothe / and he rode after syr Tristram as fast as he hadde ben chaced with knyghtes / Whanne sir Tristram herd a knyghte come after hym soo fast / he retorned aboute / and sawe a knyʒt comynge ageynst hym / And whanne he came nyghe to sir Tris¦tram / he cryed on hyghe syr knyght kepe the from me / Thenne they rasshed to gyders as hit had ben thonder / and sir Hemy∣son brysed his spere vpon syr Tristram / but his harneis was soo good that he myght not hurte hym / And syre Trystram smote hym harder and bare hym thorou the body / and fylle ouer his hors croupe / Thenne sire Tristram torned to haue do∣ne more with his swerd / but he sawe soo moche blood go from hym that hym s••med he was lykely to deye / And so he depar∣ted from hym / and came to a fayre manoyre to an old knyʒt and there syre Tristram lodged

¶ Now leue to speke of sir Tristram / and speke we of the knyght that was wounded to the dethe / thenne his varlet aly∣ght and took of his helme / and thēne he asked his lord whether there were ony lyf in hym / there is in me lyf saide the knyghte but hit is but lytyl / and therfore lepe thou vp behynde me / whan thou hast holpen me vp / and holde me fast that I falle not / and brynge me to Quene Morgan le fay / for depe drauʒ∣tes of dethe drawen to my herte that I may not lyue / for I wold fayne speke with her or I dyed / For els my soule wyll

be in grete perylle and I dye / for with grete payne his varlet brought hym to the Castel / and there syr Hemyson fylle doun dede / whanne Morgan le fay sawe hym dede / she made grete so∣rou oute of reason / And thenne she lete despoylle hym vnto his shyrde / and soo she lete hym putte in to a tombe / And aboute the tombe she lete wryte / Here lyeth syr Hemyson slayne by the handes of sire Tristram de lyones / ¶ Now torne we vnto syre Tristram that asked the knyght his hoost yf he sawe late ony knyghtes aduenturous / Sir he said the last nyght here lodged with me Ector de marys and a damoysel with hym / and that damoysel told me that he was one of the best knyghtes of the world / that is not soo said sir Tristram / for I knowe four bet¦ter knyghtes of his owne blood / and the fyrst is syr launce∣lot du lake / calle hym the best knyght / and sir Bors de ganys Syr Bleoberys / syr Blamor de ganys and syr Gaheris / nay said his hoost / sir Gawayne is a better knyght than he / that is not soo said syr Tristram / for I haue mette with hem bothe / & I felte syr Gaherys for the better knyght and sir Lamorak I calle hym as good as ony of them / excepte sir launcelot / Why name ye not sir Tristram said his hoost / for I accompte hym as good as ony of them / I knowe not sire Tristram said tris¦tram / thus they talked and bourded as longe as them lyste / and thenne wente to reste / And on the morne sir Tristram de∣parted and took his leue of his hoost / and rode toward the roche deure / and none aduenture had sire Tristram but that / & soo he rested not tyl he came to the castel where he sawe fyue C¦tentys

¶Capitulum xliiij

THenne the kynge of Scottes and the kyng of Irland helde ageynst kynge Arthurs knyghtes / and there be∣ganne a grete medle / So came in syr Tristram and dyd mer∣ueillous dedes of armes / for there he smote doune many knyʒ∣tes / And euer he was afore kynge Arthur with that shelde / And whanne kynge Arthur sawe that shelde / he meruyylled gretely in what entente hit was made / but Quene Gueneuer demed as it was wherfor she was heuy / Thēne was ther a da∣moysel

of Quene Morgan in a chamber by kynge Arthur / And whan she herd kynge Arthur speke of that shelde / thēne she spak openly vnto kynge Arthur / syre kynge wete ye well this sheld was ordeyned for you to warne you of your sha∣me and dishonour / and that longeth to you and your Quene / And thenne anone that damoysel pyked her awey pryuely / that no man wyst where she was become / Thenne was kynge Arthur sadde and wrothe and asked from whens came that damoysel / there was not one that knewe her / nor wyste where she was become / Thenne Quene Gueneuer called to her sir Ec¦tor de marys / and there she made her complaynte to hym / and said I wote wel this sheld was made by Morgan le fay / in despyte of me and of sir Launcelot / wherfore I drede me sore lest I shold be destroyed / And euer the kynge bihelde syre Tristram that dyd soo merueillous dedes of armes that he wō¦dred sore what knyght he myght be / and wel he wyst hit was not syr launcelot / And hit was told hym that syr Tristram was in petyte Bretayne with Isoud la blaunche maynys / for he demyd and he had ben in the realme of Logrys / syr la∣uncelot or somme of his felawes that were in the quest of syr Tristram that they shold haue fond hym or that tyme / So ky∣ng Arthur had merueylle what knyght he myghte be / And euer syr Arthurs eye was on that shelde / Alle that aspyed the Quene / and that made her sore aferd / Thenne euer syr Tristram smote doune knyghtes wonderly to beholde what vpon the ry∣ght hand and vpon the lyfte hand that vnnethe no knyʒt my∣ght withstande hym / And the kyng of Scottes and the kyng of Irland beganne to withdrawe hem / Whanne Arthur aspy∣ed that / he thought that that Knyght With the straunge sheld shold not escape hym / Thenne he called vnto hym syre Vwayn la blaunche maynys / and bad hym arme hym and make hym redy / Soo anone kynge Arthur and sir Vwayne dressid them bifore sir Tristram and requyred hym to telle hem where he had that shelde / Syr he said I had it of Quene Morgan le fay sis¦ter vnto kynge Arthur

¶Soo here endeth this history of this book / for it is the firste book of sire Tristram de lyones / and the second book of sir tris¦tram foloweth