บทที่ บทที่ 278 · How Sir Galahalt did do cry a jousts in Surluse, and Queen

. How Sir Galahalt did do cry a jousts in Surluse, and Queen

Guenever’s knights should joust against all that would come.

But as the book saith, King Mark would never stint till he had slain

him by treason. And by Alice he gat a child that hight Bellengerus le

Beuse. And by good fortune he came to the court of King Arthur, and

proved a passing good knight; and he revenged his father’s death, for

the false King Mark slew both Sir Tristram and Alisander falsely and

feloniously. And it happed so that Alisander had never grace nor

fortune to come to King Arthur’s court. For an he had come to Sir

Launcelot, all knights said that knew him, he was one of the strongest

knights that was in Arthur’s days, and great dole was made for him. So

let we of him pass, and turn we to another tale.

So it befell that Sir Galahalt, the haut prince, was lord of the

country of Surluse, whereof came many good knights. And this noble

prince was a passing good man of arms, and ever he held a noble

fellowship together. And then he came to Arthur’s court and told him

his intent, how this was his will, how he would let cry a jousts in the

country of Surluse, the which country was within the lands of King

Arthur, and there he asked leave to let cry a jousts. I will give you

leave, said King Arthur; but wit thou well, said King Arthur, I may not

be there. Sir, said Queen Guenever, please it you to give me leave to

be at that jousts. With right good will, said Arthur; for Sir Galahalt,

the haut prince, shall have you in governance. Sir, said Galahalt, I

will as ye will. Sir, then the queen, I will take with me [Sir

Launcelot] and such knights as please me best. Do as ye list, said King

Arthur. So anon she commanded Sir Launcelot to make him ready with such

knights as he thought best.

So in every good town and castle of this land was made a cry, that in

the country of Surluse Sir Galahalt should make a joust that should

last eight days, and how the haut prince, with the help of Queen

Guenever’s knights, should joust against all manner of men that would

come. When this cry was known, kings and princes, dukes and earls,

barons and noble knights, made them ready to be at that jousts. And at

the day of jousting there came in Sir Dinadan disguised, and did many

great deeds of arms.