_How Sir Lamorak sent an horn to king Mark in despite of Sir Tristram,
and how Sir Tristram was driven into a chapel._
So he departed from him with Sir Driant, and by the way they met with a
knight that was sent from Morgan le Fay unto king Arthur, and this
knight had a fair horn harnessed with gold, and the horn had such a
virtue that there might no lady nor gentlewoman drink of that horn but
if she were true to her husband, and if she were false she should spill
all the drink, and if she were true to her lord she might drink
peaceably. And because of queen Guenever, and in the despite of Sir
Launcelot, this horn was sent unto king Arthur, and by force Sir
Lamorak made that knight to tell all the cause why he bare that horn.
Now shalt thou bear this horn, said Lamorak unto king Mark, or else
choose thou to die for it. For I tell thee plainly, in despite and
reproof of Sir Tristram thou shalt bear that horn unto king Mark his
uncle, and say thou to him that I sent it him for to assay his lady,
and if she be true to him he shall prove her. So the knight went his
way unto king Mark, and brought him that rich horn, and said that Sir
Lamorak sent it him, and thereto he told him the virtue of that horn.
Then the king made queen Isoud to drink thereof, and an hundred ladies,
and there were but four ladies of all those that drank clean. Alas,
said king Mark, this is a great despite; and sware a great oath that
she should be burnt, and the other ladies. Then the barons gathered
them together, and said plainly, they would not have those ladies burnt
for an horn made by sorcery, that came from as false a sorceress and
witch as then was living. For that horn did never good, but caused
strife and debate, and always in her days she had been an enemy to all
true lovers. So there were many knights made their avow, if ever they
met with Morgan le Fay that they would shew her short courtesy. Also
Sir Tristram was passing wroth that Sir Lamorak sent that horn unto
king Mark, for well he knew that it was done in the despite of him; and
therefore he thought to quit Sir Lamorak. Then, always, Sir Tristram
used to go to queen Isoud when he might, and ever Sir Andred his cousin
watched him night and day, for to take him with La Beale Isoud. And so,
upon a day, Sir Andred his cousin espied the hour and the time when Sir
Tristram went to his lady. And then Sir Andred gat unto him twelve
knights, and he set upon Sir Tristram secretly and suddenly, and there
Sir Tristram was taken with La Beale Isoud, and then was he bound hand
and foot, and so was he kept until the next day. And then by assent of
king Mark, and of Sir Andred, and of some of the barons, Sir Tristram
was led unto a chapel which stood upon the sea rocks, there for to take
his judgment; and so he was led bound with forty knights. And when Sir
Tristram saw there was none other remedy but needs that he must die,
then said he, Fair lords, remember what I have done for the country of
Cornwall, and in what jeopardy I have been in for the weal of you all.
For when I fought for the truage of Cornwall with Sir Marhaus the good
knight, I was promised for to be better rewarded, when ye all refused
to take the battle; therefore, as ye be good gentle knights, see me not
thus shamefully to die, for it is shame to all knighthood thus to see
me die. For I dare well say, said Sir Tristram, that I never yet met
with no knight but I was as good as he, or better. Fie upon thee, said
Sir Andred, false traitor that thou art with thy vaunting, for all thy
boast thou shalt die this day. O Andred, Andred, said Sir Tristram,
thou shouldst be my kinsman, and now thou art to me full unfriendly,
but and there were no more but thou and I, thou wouldst not put me to
death. No! said Sir Andred, and therewith he drew his sword and would
have slain him. When Sir Tristram saw him make such countenance, he
looked upon both his hands that were fast bound unto two knights, and
suddenly he pulled them both to him and unwrast his hands, and then he
lept unto his cousin Andred and wrested his sword out of his hands,
then he smote Sir Andred that he fell to the earth, and so Sir Tristram
fought till he had killed ten knights. So then Sir Tristram gat the
chapel and kept it mightily. Then the cry was great, and the people
drew fast unto Sir Andred, more than an hundred. When Sir Tristram saw
the people draw unto him, he remembered that he was naked, and shut
fast the chapel door, and brake the bars of a window, and so he lept
out and fell upon the crags in the sea. And so at that time Sir Andred
nor none of his fellows might get to him at that time.