_How they came to Humber bank, and how they found a ship there, wherein
lay the body of king Hermance._
Sir, said Palamides, let us leave off this matter, and let us see how
we shall do at this tournament. By mine advice, said Palamides, let us
four hold together against all that will come. Not by my counsel, said
Sir Tristram, for I see by their pavilions there will be four hundred
knights, and doubt ye not, said Sir Tristram, but there will be many
good knights, and be a man never so valiant nor so big yet he may be
overmatched. And so have I seen knights done many times: and when they
wend best to have won worship they lost it. For manhood is not worth
but if it be meddled with wisdom: and as for me, said Sir Tristram, it
may happen I shall keep mine own head as well as another. So thus they
rode until that they came to Humber bank, where they heard a cry and a
doleful noise. Then were they ware in the wind where came a rich vessel
covered over with red silk, and the vessel landed fast by them.
Therewith Sir Tristram alight and his knights. And so Sir Tristram went
afore and entered into that vessel. And when he came within, he saw a
fair bed richly covered, and thereupon lay a dead seemly knight, all
armed, save the head was all be-bled, with deadly wounds upon him: the
which seemed to be a passing good knight. How may this be, said Sir
Tristram, that this knight is thus slain? Then Sir Tristram was ware of
a letter in the dead knight’s hand. Master mariners, said Sir Tristram,
what meaneth that letter? Sir, said they, in that letter ye shall hear
and know how he was slain, and for what cause, and what was his name;
but sir, said the mariners, wit ye well that no man shall take that
letter and read it but if he be a good knight, and that he will
faithfully promise to revenge his death, else shall there no knight see
that letter open. Wit ye well, said Sir Tristram, that some of us may
revenge his death as well as others, and if it be so as ye mariners
say, his death shall be revenged. And therewith Sir Tristram took the
letter out of the knight’s hand; and it said thus:—Hermance king and
lord of the Red City, I send unto all knights errant recommending unto
you noble knights of Arthur’s court, I beseech them all among them to
find one knight that will fight for my sake with two brethren that I
brought up of nought, and feloniously and traitorly they have slain me,
wherefore I beseech one good knight to revenge my death. And he that
revengeth my death, I will that he have my Red City and all my castles.
Sir, said the mariners, wit ye well this king and knight that here
lieth was a full worshipful man, and of full great prowess, and full
well he loved all manner of knights errant. Truly, said Sir Tristram,
here is a piteous case, and full fain I would take this enterprise upon
me, but I have made such a promise that needs I must be at this great
tournament or else I am shamed. For well I wot for my sake in especial
my lord Arthur let make this justs and tournament in this country; and
well I wot that many worshipful people will be there at that tournament
for to see me. Therefore I fear me to take this enterprise upon me,
that I shall not come again betimes to this justs. Sir, said Palamides,
I pray you give me this enterprise, and ye shall see me achieve it
worshipfully, or else I shall die in this quarrel. Well, said Sir
Tristram, and this enterprise I give you, with this that ye be with me
at this tournament, that shall be as at this day seven night. Sir, said
Palamides, I promise you that I shall be with you by that day if I be
unslain or unmaimed.