_How Sir Galahalt did do cry a justs in Surluse, and queen Guenever’s
knights should just 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 which 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 unto king Arthur’s court. For and 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 justs in the country of Surluse, the
which country was within the lands of king Arthur, and there he asked
leave to let cry a justs. 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 justs. 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, 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 justs that should last eight days:
and how the haut prince with the help of queen Guenever’s knights
should just 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 justs. And at the day of justing
there came in Sir Dinadan disguised, and did many great deeds of arms.