Kabanata Kabanata 270 · How King Mark slew by treason his brother Boudwin, for

. How King Mark slew by treason his brother Boudwin, for

good service that he had done to him.

Now turn we to another matter that fell between King Mark and his

brother, that was called the good Prince Boudwin, that all the people

of the country loved passing well. So it befell on a time that the

miscreant Saracens landed in the country of Cornwall soon after these

Sessoins were gone. And then the good Prince Boudwin, at the landing,

he raised the country privily and hastily. And or it were day he let

put wildfire in three of his own ships, and suddenly he pulled up the

sail, and with the wind he made those ships to be driven among the navy

of the Saracens. And to make short tale, those three ships set on fire

all the ships, that none were saved. And at point of the day the good

Prince Boudwin with all his fellowship set on the miscreants with

shouts and cries, and slew to the number of forty thousand, and left

none alive.

When King Mark wist this he was wonderly wroth that his brother should

win such worship. And because this prince was better beloved than he in

all that country, and that also Boudwin loved well Sir Tristram,

therefore he thought to slay him. And thus, hastily, as a man out of

his wit, he sent for Prince Boudwin and Anglides his wife, and bade

them bring their young son with them, that he might see him. All this

he did to the intent to slay the child as well as his father, for he

was the falsest traitor that ever was born. Alas, for his goodness and

for his good deeds this gentle Prince Boudwin was slain. So when he

came with his wife Anglides, the king made them fair semblant till they

had dined. And when they had dined King Mark sent for his brother and

said thus: Brother, how sped you when the miscreants arrived by you?

meseemeth it had been your part to have sent me word, that I might have

been at that journey, for it had been reason that I had had the honour

and not you. Sir, said the Prince Boudwin, it was so that an I had

tarried till that I had sent for you those miscreants had destroyed my

country. Thou liest, false traitor, said King Mark, for thou art ever

about for to win worship from me, and put me to dishonour, and thou

cherishest that I hate. And therewith he struck him to the heart with a

dagger, that he never after spake word. Then the Lady Anglides made

great dole, and swooned, for she saw her lord slain afore her face.

Then was there no more to do but Prince Boudwin was despoiled and

brought to burial. But Anglides privily gat her husband’s doublet and

his shirt, and that she kept secretly.

Then was there much sorrow and crying, and great dole made Sir

Tristram, Sir Dinas, Sir Fergus, and so did all knights that were

there; for that prince was passingly well beloved. So La Beale Isoud

sent unto Anglides, the Prince Boudwin’s wife, and bade her avoid

lightly or else her young son, Alisander le Orphelin, should be slain.

When she heard this, she took her horse and her child; and rode with

such poor men as durst ride with her.