r Mordred, set upon Sir
Lamorak in a privy place, and there they slew his horse. And so they
fought with him on foot more than three hours, both before him and
behind him; and Sir Mordred gave him his death wound behind him at his
back, and all to-hew him: for one of his squires told me that saw it.
Fie upon treason, said Sir Tristram, for it killeth my heart to hear
this tale. So it doth mine, said Gareth; brethren as they be mine I
shall never love them, nor draw in their fellowship for that deed.

Now speak we of other deeds, said Palomides, and let him be, for his
life ye may not get again. That is the more pity, said Dinadan, for
Sir Gawaine and his brethren, except you Sir Gareth, hate all the good
knights of the Round Table for the most part; for well I wot an they
might privily, they hate my lord Sir Launcelot and all his kin, and
great privy despite they have at him; and that is my lord Sir Launcelot
well ware of, and that causeth him to have the good knights of his kin
about him.

[1] "Y-wis" (certainly); Caxton, "ye wis"; W. de Worde, "truly."

CHAPTER LIX. How they came to Humber bank, and how they found a ship
there, wherein lay the body of King Hermance.

SIR, said Palomides, let us leave of this matter, and let us see how we
shall do at this tournament. By mine advice, said Palomides, 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
weened best to have won worship they lost it, for manhood is not worth
but if it be medled 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 hilled over with red silk, and the vessel landed fast
by them. Therewith Sir Tristram alighted 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 Tr