Chapter Chapter 289 · How King Mark let do counterfeit letters from the Pope, and

. How King Mark let do counterfeit letters from the Pope, and

how Sir Percivale delivered Sir Tristram out of prison.

Now turn we unto King Mark, that when he was escaped from Sir Sadok he

rode unto the Castle of Tintagil, and there he made great cry and

noise, and cried unto harness all that might bear arms. Then they

sought and found where were dead four cousins of King Mark’s, and the

traitor of Magouns. Then the king let inter them in a chapel. Then the

king let cry in all the country that held of him, to go unto arms, for

he understood to the war he must needs. When King Mark heard and

understood how Sir Sadok and Sir Dinas were arisen in the country of

Liones he remembered of wiles and treason. Lo thus he did: he let make

and counterfeit letters from the Pope, and did make a strange clerk to

bear them unto King Mark; the which letters specified that King Mark

should make him ready, upon pain of cursing, with his host to come to

the Pope, to help to go to Jerusalem, for to make war upon the

Saracens.

When this clerk was come by the mean of the king, anon withal King Mark

sent these letters unto Sir Tristram and bade him say thus: that an he

would go war upon the miscreants, he should be had out of prison, and

to have all his power. When Sir Tristram understood this letter, then

he said thus to the clerk: Ah, King Mark, ever hast thou been a

traitor, and ever will be; but, Clerk, said Sir Tristram, say thou thus

unto King Mark: Since the Apostle Pope hath sent for him, bid him go

thither himself; for tell him, traitor king as he is, I will not go at

his commandment, get I out of prison as I may, for I see I am well

rewarded for my true service. Then the clerk returned unto King Mark,

and told him of the answer of Sir Tristram. Well, said King Mark, yet

shall he be beguiled. So he went into his chamber, and counterfeit

letters; and the letters specified that the Pope desired Sir Tristram

to come himself, to make war upon the miscreants. When the clerk was

come again to Sir Tristram and took him these letters, then Sir

Tristram beheld these letters, and anon espied they were of King Mark’s

counterfeiting. Ah, said Sir Tristram, false hast thou been ever, King

Mark, and so wilt thou end. Then the clerk departed from Sir Tristram

and came to King Mark again.

By then there were come four wounded knights within the Castle of

Tintagil, and one of them his neck was nigh broken in twain. Another

had his arm stricken away, the third was borne through with a spear,

the fourth had his teeth stricken in twain. And when they came afore

King Mark they cried and said: King, why fleest thou not, for all this

country is arisen clearly against thee? Then was King Mark wroth out of

measure.

And in the meanwhile there came into the country Sir Percivale de Galis

to seek Sir Tristram. And when he heard that Sir Tristram was in

prison, Sir Percivale made clearly the deliverance of Sir Tristram by

his knightly means. And when he was so delivered he made great joy of

Sir Percivale, and so each one of other. Sir Tristram said unto Sir

Percivale: An ye will abide in these marches I will ride with you. Nay,

said Percivale, in this country I may not tarry, for I must needs into

Wales. So Sir Percivale departed from Sir Tristram, and rode straight

unto King Mark, and told him how he had delivered Sir Tristram; and

also he told the king that he had done himself great shame for to put

Sir Tristram in prison, for he is now the knight of most renown in this

world living. And wit thou well the noblest knights of the world love

Sir Tristram, and if he will make war upon you ye may not abide it.

That is truth, said King Mark, but I may not love Sir Tristram because

he loveth my queen and my wife, La Beale Isoud. Ah, fie for shame, said

Sir Percivale, say ye never so more. Are ye not uncle unto Sir

Tristram, and he your nephew? Ye should never think that so noble a

knight as Sir Tristram is, that he would do himself so great a villainy

to hold his uncle’s wife; howbeit, said Sir Percivale, he may love your

queen sinless, because she is called one of the fairest ladies of the

world.

Then Sir Percivale departed from King Mark. So when he was departed

King Mark bethought him of more treason: notwithstanding King Mark

granted Sir Percivale never by no manner of means to hurt Sir Tristram.

So anon King Mark sent unto Sir Dinas the Seneschal that he should put

down all the people that he had raised, for he sent him an oath that he

would go himself unto the Pope of Rome to war upon the miscreants; and

this is a fairer war than thus to arise the people against your king.

When Sir Dinas understood that King Mark would go upon the miscreants,

then Sir Dinas in all the haste put down all the people; and when the

people were departed every man to his home, then King Mark espied where

was Sir Tristram with La Beale Isoud; and there by treason King Mark

let take him and put him in prison, contrary to his promise that he

made unto Sir Percivale.

When Queen Isoud understood that Sir Tristram was in prison she made as

great sorrow as ever made lady or gentlewoman. Then Sir Tristram sent a

letter unto La Beale Isoud, and prayed her to be his good lady; and if

it pleased her to make a vessel ready for her and him, he would go with

her unto the realm of Logris, that is this land. When La Beale Isoud

understood Sir Tristram’s letters and his intent, she sent him another,

and bade him be of good comfort, for she would do make the vessel

ready, and all thing to purpose.

Then La Beale Isoud sent unto Sir Dinas, and to Sadok, and prayed them

in anywise to take King Mark, and put him in prison, unto the time that

she and Sir Tristram were departed unto the realm of Logris. When Sir

Dinas the Seneschal understood the treason of King Mark he promised her

again, and sent her word that King Mark should be put in prison. And as

they devised it so it was done. And then Sir Tristram was delivered out

of prison; and anon in all the haste Queen Isoud and Sir Tristram went

and took their counsel with that they would have with them when they

departed.