_How Sir Tristram served in war king Howel of Britanny and slew his
adversary in the field._
There was an earl that hight Grip, and this earl made great war upon
the king, and put the king to the worse, and besieged him. And on a
time Sir Kehydius, that was son to king Howel, as he issued out he was
sore wounded nigh to the death. Then Gouvernail went to the king and
said, Sir, I counsel you to desire my lord, Sir Tristram, as in your
need to help you. I will do by your counsel, said the king. And so he
went unto Sir Tristram and prayed him in his wars for to help him, for
my son Sir Kehydius may not go into the field. Sir, said Sir Tristram,
I will go to the field, and do what I may. Then Sir Tristram issued out
of the town with such fellowship as he might make, and did such deeds
that all Britanny spake of him. And then at the last, by great might
and force, he slew the earl Grip with his own hands, and more than an
hundred knights he slew that day. And then Sir Tristram was received
right worshipfully with procession. Then king Howel embraced him in his
arms and said, Sir Tristram, all my kingdom I will resign to thee. God
defend, said Sir Tristram, for I am beholden unto you for your
daughter’s sake to do for you. Then by the great means of king Howel
and Kehydius his son, by great proffers there grew great love betwixt
Isoud and Sir Tristram, for that lady was both good and fair, and a
woman of noble blood and fame. And for because that Sir Tristram had
such cheer and riches, and all other pleasance that he had, almost he
had forsaken La Beale Isoud. And so upon a time Sir Tristram agreed to
wed Isoud la Blanche Mains. And at the last they were wedded, and
solemnly held their marriage.
And in the mean while there was a knight in Britanny, his name was
Suppinabiles, and he came over the sea into England, and then he came
unto the court of king Arthur, and there he met with Sir Launcelot du
Lake, and told him of the marriage of Sir Tristram. Then said Sir
Launcelot, Fie upon him, untrue knight to his lady; that so noble a
knight as Sir Tristram is, should be found to his first lady false, La
Beale Isoud, queen of Cornwall. But say ye him this, said Sir
Launcelot, that of all knights in the world I loved him most, and had
most joy of him, and all was for his noble deeds; and let him wit the
love between him and me is done for ever, and that I give him warning
from this day forth as his mortal enemy.