Chapter Chapter 266 · How Sir Tristram was hurt, and of a war made to King

. How Sir Tristram was hurt, and of a war made to King

Mark; and of Sir Tristram how he promised to rescue him.

Now turn we again unto Sir Tristram and to King Mark. As Sir Tristram

was at jousts and at tournament it fortuned he was sore hurt both with

a spear and with a sword, but yet he won always the degree. And for to

repose him he went to a good knight that dwelled in Cornwall, in a

castle, whose name was Sir Dinas le Seneschal. Then by misfortune there

came out of Sessoin a great number of men of arms, and an hideous host,

and they entered nigh the Castle of Tintagil; and their captain’s name

was Elias, a good man of arms. When King Mark understood his enemies

were entered into his land he made great dole and sorrow, for in no

wise by his will King Mark would not send for Sir Tristram, for he

hated him deadly.

So when his council was come they devised and cast many perils of the

strength of their enemies. And then they concluded all at once, and

said thus unto King Mark: Sir, wit ye well ye must send for Sir

Tristram, the good knight, or else they will never be overcome. For by

Sir Tristram they must be foughten withal, or else we row against the

stream. Well, said King Mark, I will do by your counsel; but yet he was

full loath thereto, but need constrained him to send for him. Then was

he sent for in all haste that might be, that he should come to King

Mark. And when he understood that King Mark had sent for him, he

mounted upon a soft ambler and rode to King Mark. And when he was come

the king said thus: Fair nephew Sir Tristram, this is all. Here be come

our enemies of Sessoin, that are here nigh hand, and without tarrying

they must be met with shortly, or else they will destroy this country.

Sir, said Sir Tristram, wit ye well all my power is at your

commandment. And wit ye well, sir, these eight days I may bear none

arms, for my wounds be not yet whole. And by that day I shall do what I

may. Ye say well, said King Mark; then go ye again and repose you and

make you fresh, and I shall go and meet the Sessoins with all my power.

So the king departed unto Tintagil, and Sir Tristram went to repose

him. And the king made a great host and departed them in three; the

first part led Sir Dinas the Seneschal, and Sir Andred led the second

part, and Sir Argius led the third part; and he was of the blood of

King Mark. And the Sessoins had three great battles, and many good men

of arms. And so King Mark by the advice of his knights issued out of

the Castle of Tintagil upon his enemies. And Dinas, the good knight,

rode out afore, and slew two knights with his own hands, and then began

the battles. And there was marvellous breaking of spears and smiting of

swords, and slew down many good knights. And ever was Sir Dinas the

Seneschal the best of King Mark’s party. And thus the battle endured

long with great mortality. But at the last King Mark and Sir Dinas,

were they never so loath, they withdrew them to the Castle of Tintagil

with great slaughter of people; and the Sessoins followed on fast, that

ten of them were put within the gates and four slain with the

portcullis.

Then King Mark sent for Sir Tristram by a varlet, that told him all the

mortality. Then he sent the varlet again, and bade him: Tell King Mark

that I will come as soon as I am whole, for erst I may do him no good.

Then King Mark had his answer. Therewith came Elias and bade the king

yield up the castle: For ye may not hold it no while. Sir Elias, said

the king, so will I yield up the castle if I be not soon rescued. Anon

King Mark sent again for rescue to Sir Tristram. By then Sir Tristram

was whole, and he had gotten him ten good knights of Arthur’s; and with

them he rode unto Tintagil. And when he saw the great host of Sessoins

he marvelled wonder greatly. And then Sir Tristram rode by the woods

and by the ditches as secretly as he might, till he came nigh the

gates. And there dressed a knight to him when he saw that Sir Tristram

would enter; and Sir Tristram smote him down dead, and so he served

three more. And everych of these ten knights slew a man of arms. So Sir

Tristram entered into the Castle of Tintagil. And when King Mark wist

that Sir Tristram was come he was glad of his coming, and so was all

the fellowship, and of him they made great joy.