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