Then Sir Tristram said thus to the messenger: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 messenger.Wit thou well my name is Sir Tristram de Liones.Therewithal the messenger 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 parties,and ordained Sir Dinas the Seneschal to have the foreward,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 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 battle in four parties,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 rushing 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 everych 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 loath 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 loath 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 forever.Then the messenger 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 messenger,he bade 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.
CHAPTER XXI
How Sir Elias and Sir Tristram fought together for the truage,and how Sir Tristram slew Elias in the field.
NOT for then when all this was said,they could find no knight that would do battle with him.Sir king,said they all,here is no knight that dare fight with Elias.Alas,said King Mark,then am I utterly ashamed and utterly destroyed,unless that my nephew Sir Tristram will take the battle upon him.Wit you well,they said all,he had yesterday overmuch on hand,and he is weary for travail,and sore wounded.Where is he?said King Mark.Sir,said they,he is in his bed to repose him.Alas,said King Mark,but I have the succour of my nephew Sir Tristram,I am utterly destroyed for ever.
Therewith one went to Sir Tristram where he lay,and told him what King Mark had said.And therewith Sir Tristram arose lightly,and put on him a long gown,and came afore the king and all the lords.And when he saw them all so dismayed he asked the king and the lords what tidings were with them.Never worse,said the king.And therewith he told him all,how he had word of Elias to find a knight to fight for the truage of Cornwall,and none can I find.And as for you,said the king and all the lords,we may ask no more of you for shame;for through your hardiness yesterday ye saved all our lives.
Sir,said Sir Tristram,now I understand ye would have my succour,reason would that I should do all that lieth in my power to do,saving my worship and my life,howbeit Iam sore bruised and hurt.And sithen Sir Elias proffereth so largely,I shall fight with him,or else I will be slain in the field,or else I will deliver Cornwall from the old truage.And therefore lightly call his messenger and he shall be answered,for as yet my wounds be green,and they will be sorer a seven night after than they be now;and therefore he shall have his answer that I will do battle to-morn with him.