Stories of the Days of King Arthur

by Charles Henry Hanson

“I fear not to tell you my name,” answered Tristram. “I am Tristram, the son of King Meliodas of Lyonesse.”

“Truly,” said Bleoberis, “I am right glad to meet with you. Are you not the same knight that slew Sir Marhaus, and overthrew Sir Palomides at a tournament in Ireland?”

“Yea,” quoth Tristram. “And now tell me your name.”

“With a good will. I am Bleoberis de Ganis, cousin to Sir Lancelot, who is called one of the best knights of the world.”

“That is truth,” said Sir Tristram, “for Sir Lancelot is peerless of courtesy and of knighthood; and for his sake I would fight no more with you.”

Sir Bleoberis thanked him for his courtesy, and proposed that the lady should choose with which of them she would go. Sir Tristram assented, for he thought she would come to him. But the lady was angered because he had not at the first undertaken to rescue her, and she reproached him sharply, and begged Sir Bleoberis to take her to her lord. Sir Tristram was wondrous wroth, and answered that if her lord had been away he would have been the first to ride after her. So Bleoberis took the lady to her husband Segwarides, and she told him that Sir Tristram had rescued her, at which Sir Segwarides was well pleased.

After this King Marke ever plotted to destroy Sir Tristram, and he bethought him to send him into Ireland to ask for La Beale Isoude to be given to King Marke for his queen, for he was unwedded. But King Marke hoped that Sir Tristram would fall into some peril and be destroyed on the journey. However, Tristram undertook the adventure, for he knew nothing of his uncle’s malice against him. Accordingly he set sail, but a tempest drove him back on the coast of England, not far from Camelot; and there he set up a pavilion, and hung his shield over the entrance. Anon there came by two of King Arthur’s knights, Sir Ector de Maris and Sir Gringamor, and they touched the shield, and bade him come forth and joust. Sir Tristram made ready, and smote both of them down with one spear, bruising them sorely. Then they asked him whence he came. “Fair knights,” said Tristram, “I am of Cornwall.”

“Alas!” said Sir Ector, “now am I ashamed that any Cornish knight should overcome me.” And in his mortification he put off his armour, went on foot, and would not ride.

Now it chanced that at that time Sir Bleoberis de Ganis and his brother Sir Blamor had accused King Anguisance of Ireland of treason before King Arthur, and he was summoned to come to Camelot by a given day and make answer, on forfeiture of all his lands. King Arthur was at that time with Sir Lancelot, at his castle of Joyous Gard; but he had appointed King Carados of Scotland and another king to be the judges. When the day came, King Anguisance was there before the judges, and Sir Blamor came forward and charged him with having murdered a cousin of his by treasonable means. King Anguisance was much abashed, for he understood that he must meet Sir Blamor in open field to disprove his charge, or find a knight to meet him; because in those times all such accusations were determined by the ordeal of battle. Now the king knew that Sir Blamor was a noble knight, and he did not know where to find one to meet him. But the judges gave him three days wherein to make ready, and he went to his lodgings greatly cast down.

All this heard Govemale, who was riding near Camelot, and he told Tristram. “By my faith,” said Sir Tristram, “that is the best news I have heard this seven years; for now will the King of Ireland be in need of my help, and for his love will I undertake the battle.” So he sought King Anguisance, and told him that in gratitude for the kindness he had shown him in Ireland, and for La Beale Isoude’s sake, he would take the battle in hand for him on two conditions—namely, that King Anguisance would swear the accusation was unjust, and would promise him after the battle to give him what boon he might ask. To all this the king gladly assented, and sent word to the judges that he had found a champion. On the day set the two knights met in the field, and when they withdrew to make ready, Sir Bleoberis said to Sir Blamor: “Brother, you will find that knight the mightiest you ever had to do with. I know him right well, for I have had to do with him. But do thou remember of what kin we are come, and that none of our kindred was ever shamed in battle, but would rather suffer death than be shamed.”