Kabanata Kabanata 159 · How Tristram enterprized the battle to fight for the truage

. How Tristram enterprized the battle to fight for the truage

of Cornwall, and how he was made knight.

Therewithal Tristram went unto his father, King Meliodas, and asked him

counsel what was best to do for to recover Cornwall from truage. For,

as meseemeth, said Sir Tristram, it were shame that Sir Marhaus, the

queen’s brother of Ireland, should go away unless that he were foughten

withal. As for that, said King Meliodas, wit you well, son Tristram,

that Sir Marhaus is called one of the best knights of the world, and

Knight of the Table Round; and therefore I know no knight in this

country that is able to match with him. Alas, said Sir Tristram, that I

am not made knight; and if Sir Marhaus should thus depart into Ireland,

God let me never have worship: an I were made knight I should match

him. And sir, said Tristram, I pray you give me leave to ride to King

Mark; and, so ye be not displeased, of King Mark will I be made knight.

I will well, said King Meliodas, that ye be ruled as your courage will

rule you. Then Sir Tristram thanked his father much. And then he made

him ready to ride into Cornwall.

In the meanwhile there came a messenger with letters of love from King

Faramon of France’s daughter unto Sir Tristram, that were full piteous

letters, and in them were written many complaints of love; but Sir

Tristram had no joy of her letters nor regard unto her. Also she sent

him a little brachet that was passing fair. But when the king’s

daughter understood that Sir Tristram would not love her, as the book

saith, she died for sorrow. And then the same squire that brought the

letter and the brachet came again unto Sir Tristram, as after ye shall

hear in the tale.

So this young Sir Tristram rode unto his eme, King Mark of Cornwall.

And when he came there he heard say that there would no knight fight

with Sir Marhaus. Then yede Sir Tristram unto his eme and said: Sir, if

ye will give me the order of knighthood, I will do battle with Sir

Marhaus. What are ye, said the king, and from whence be ye come? Sir,

said Tristram, I come from King Meliodas that wedded your sister, and a

gentleman wit ye well I am. King Mark beheld Sir Tristram and saw that

he was but a young man of age, but he was passingly well made and big.

Fair sir, said the king, what is your name, and where were ye born?

Sir, said he again, my name is Tristram, and in the country of Liones

was I born. Ye say well, said the king; and if ye will do this battle I

shall make you knight. Therefore I come to you, said Sir Tristram, and

for none other cause. But then King Mark made him knight. And

therewithal, anon as he had made him knight, he sent a messenger unto

Sir Marhaus with letters that said that he had found a young knight

ready for to take the battle to the uttermost. It may well be, said Sir

Marhaus; but tell King Mark I will not fight with no knight but he be

of blood royal, that is to say, other king’s son, other queen’s son,

born of a prince or princess.

When King Mark understood that, he sent for Sir Tristram de Liones and

told him what was the answer of Sir Marhaus. Then said Sir Tristram:

Sithen that he saith so, let him wit that I am come of father side and

mother side of as noble blood as he is: for, sir, now shall ye know

that I am King Meliodas’ son, born of your own sister, Dame Elizabeth,

that died in the forest in the birth of me. O Jesu, said King Mark, ye

are welcome fair nephew to me. Then in all the haste the king let horse

Sir Tristram, and armed him in the best manner that might be had or

gotten for gold or silver. And then King Mark sent unto Sir Marhaus,

and did him to wit that a better born man than he was himself should

fight with him, and his name is Sir Tristram de Liones, gotten of King

Meliodas, and born of King Mark’s sister. Then was Sir Marhaus glad and

blithe that he should fight with such a gentleman. And so by the assent

of King Mark and of Sir Marhaus they let ordain that they should fight

within an island nigh Sir Marhaus’ ships; and so was Sir Tristram put

into a vessel both his horse and he, and all that to him longed both

for his body and for his horse. Sir Tristram lacked nothing. And when

King Mark and his barons of Cornwall beheld how young Sir Tristram

departed with such a carriage to fight for the right of Cornwall, there

was neither man nor woman of worship but they wept to see and

understand so young a knight to jeopardy himself for their right.