him all ready armed to go unto
horseback, the king said: Nay, Tramtrist, it will not avail to compare
thee against me; but thus much I shall do for my worship and for thy
love; in so much as thou art within my court it were no worship for me
to slay thee: therefore upon this condition I will give thee leave for
to depart from this court in safety, so thou wilt tell me who was thy
father, and what is thy name, and if thou slew Sir Marhaus, my brother.

CHAPTER XII. How Sir Tristram departed from the king and La Beale Isoud
out of Ireland for to come into Cornwall.

SIR, said Tristram, now I shall tell you all the truth: my father's name
is Sir Meliodas, King of Liones, and my mother hight Elizabeth, that
was sister unto King Mark of Cornwall; and my mother died of me in the
forest, and because thereof she commanded, or she died, that when I were
christened they should christen me Tristram; and because I would not be
known in this country I turned my name and let me call Tramtrist; and
for the truage of Cornwall I fought for my eme's sake, and for the
right of Cornwall that ye had posseded many years. And wit ye well, said
Tristram unto the king, I did the battle for the love of mine uncle,
King Mark, and for the love of the country of Cornwall, and for to
increase mine honour; for that same day that I fought with Sir Marhaus I
was made knight, and never or then did I battle with no knight, and from
me he went alive, and left his shield and his sword behind.

So God me help, said the king, I may not say but ye did as a knight
should, and it was your part to do for your quarrel, and to increase
your worship as a knight should; howbeit I may not maintain you in this
country with my worship, unless that I should displease my barons,
and my wife and her kin. Sir, said Tristram, I thank you of your good
lordship that I have had with you here, and the great goodness my lady,
your daughter, hath shewed me, and therefore, said Sir Tristram, it may
so happen that ye shall win more by my life than by my death, for in the
parts of England it may happen I may do you service at some season, that
ye shall be glad that ever ye shewed me your good lordship. With more I
promise you as I am true knight, that in all places I shall be my lady
your daughter's servant and knight in right and in wrong, and I shall
never fail her, to do as much as a knight may do. Also I beseech your
good grace that I may take my leave at my lady, your daug