_How Sir Tristram overcame the battle, and how Elias desired a man to
fight body for body._
So on the morn, Elias the captain came and bade king Mark come out and
do battle. For now the good knight Sir Tristram is entered, it will be
a shame to thee, said Elias, for to keep thy walls. When king Mark
understood this, he was wroth, and said no word, but went unto Sir
Tristram and asked him his counsel. Sir, said Sir Tristram, will ye
that I give him his answer? I will well, said king Mark. Then Sir
Tristram said thus to the messager, Bear thy lord word from the king
and me, that we will do battle with him to-morn in the plain field.
What is your name? said the messager. Wit thou well my name is Sir
Tristram de Liones. Therewithal the messager departed, and told his
lord Elias all that he had heard. Sir, said Sir Tristram unto king
Mark, I pray you give me leave to have the rule of the battle. I pray
you take the rule, said king Mark. Then Sir Tristram let devise the
battle in what manner that it should be. He let depart his host in six
parts, and ordained Sir Dinas the seneschal to have the fore ward, and
other knights to rule the remnant: and the same night Sir Tristram
burnt all the Sessoins’ ships unto the cold water. Anon as Elias wist
that, he said, It was of Sir Tristram’s doing, for he casteth that we
shall never escape, mother’s son of us; therefore, fair fellows, fight
freely to-morrow, and miscomfort you nought for any knight, though he
be the best knight in the world: he may not have ado with us all. Then
they ordained their battles in four parts, wonderly well apparelled and
garnished with men of arms. Thus they within issued, and they without
set freely upon them; and there Sir Dinas did great deeds of arms. Not
for then Sir Dinas and his fellowship were put to the worse. With that
came Sir Tristram, and slew two knights with one spear. Then he slew on
the right hand and on the left hand, that men marvelled that ever he
might do such deeds of arms. And then he might see sometime the battle
was driven a bow draught from the castle, and sometime it was at the
gates of the castle. Then came Elias the captain rashing here and
there, and hit king Mark so sore upon the helm that he made him to
avoid the saddle; and then Sir Dinas gat king Mark again to horseback.
Therewithal came in Sir Tristram like a lion, and there he met with
Elias, and he smote him so sore upon the helm that he avoided his
saddle. And thus they fought till it was night, and for great
slaughter, and for wounded people, evereach party drew to their rest.
And when king Mark was come within the castle of Tintagil, he lacked of
his knights an hundred; and they without lacked two hundred: and they
searched the wounded men on both parties. And then they went to
council; and wit you well, either party were loth to fight more, so
that either might escape with their worship.
When Elias the captain understood the death of his men, he made great
dole; and when he wist that they were loth to go to battle again he was
wroth out of measure. Then Elias sent word unto king Mark in great
despite, whether he would find a knight that would fight for him, body
for body, and if that he might slay king Mark’s knight, he to have the
truage of Cornwall yearly: and if that his knight slay mine, I fully
release my claim for ever. Then the messager departed unto king Mark,
and told him how that his lord Elias had sent him word to find a knight
to do battle with him, body for body. When king Mark understood the
messager he bad him abide, and he should have his answer. Then called
he all the baronage together, to wit what was the best counsel. They
said, all at once, To fight in a field we have no lust, for had not
been Sir Tristram’s prowess, it had been likely that we never should
have escaped. And therefore, sir, as we deem, it were well done to find
a knight that would do battle with him, for he knightly proffereth.