Le Morte Darthur
that were there, for that prince was passingly well beloved. So La
Beale Isoud sent unto Anglides, the prince Boudwin’s wife, and bad her
avoid lightly, or else her young son Alisander le Orphelin should be
slain. When she heard this, she took her horse and her child, and rode
her way with such poor men as durst ride with her.
CHAP. XXXIII.
_How Anglides, Boudwin’s wife, escaped with her young son, Alisander le
Orphelin, and came to the castle of Arundel._
Notwithstanding, when king Mark had done this deed, yet he thought to
do more vengeance; and with his sword in his hand he sought from
chamber to chamber, to find Anglides and her young son. And when she
was missed, he called a good knight that hight Sir Sadok, and charged
him, by pain of death, to fetch Anglides again, and her young son. So
Sir Sadok departed, and rode after Anglides. And within ten mile he
overtook her, and bade her turn again, and ride with him to king Mark.
Alas, fair knight, she said, what shall ye win by my son’s death, or by
mine? I have had over much harm, and too great a loss. Madam, said
Sadok, of your loss is dole and pity; but, madam, said Sadok, would ye
depart out of this country with your son, and keep him till he be of
age, that he may revenge his father’s death, then would I suffer you to
depart from me, so ye promise me for to revenge the death of prince
Boudwin. Ah, gentle knight, Jesu thank thee, and if ever my son
Alisander le Orphelin live to be a knight, he shall have his father’s
doublet and his shirt with the bloody marks; and I shall give him such
a charge that he shall remember it while he liveth. And therewithal
Sadok departed from her, and either betook other to God. And when Sadok
came to king Mark, he told him faithfully that he had drowned young
Alisander, her son; and thereof king Mark was full glad.
Now turn we unto Anglides, that rode both night and day by adventure
out of Cornwall, and little and in few places she rested. But ever she
drew southward to the sea side, till by fortune she came to a castle
that is called Magouns, and now it is called Arundel in Southsex. And
the constable of the castle welcomed her, and said she was welcome to
her own castle; and there was Anglides worshipfully received, for the
constable’s wife was nigh her cousin. And the constable’s name was
Bellangere, and that same constable told Anglides that the same castle
was hers by right inheritance. Thus Anglides endured years and winters,
till Alisander was big and strong. There was none so wight in all that
country, neither there was none that might do no manner of mastery
afore him.
CHAP. XXXIV.
_How Anglides gave the bloody doublet to Alisander her son the same day
that he was made knight, and the charge withal._
Then upon a day Bellangere the constable came to Anglides and said,
Madam, it were time that my lord Alisander were made knight, for he is
a passing strong young man. Sir, said she, I would he were made knight;
but then must I give him the most charge that ever sinful mother gave
to her child. Do as ye list, said Bellangere, and I shall give him
warning that he shall be made knight. Now it will be well done that he
may be made knight at our Ladyday in Lent. Be it so, said Anglides, and
I pray you make ready therefore. So came the constable to Alisander,
and told him that he should at our Ladyday in Lent be made knight. I
thank God, said Alisander, these are the best tidings that ever came to
me. Then the constable ordained twenty of the greatest gentlemen’s
sons, and the best born men of the country, that should be made knights
that same day that Alisander was made knight. So on the same day that
Alisander and his twenty fellows were made knights, at the offering of
the mass there came Anglides unto her son, and said thus: O fair sweet
son, I charge thee upon my blessing, and of the high order of chivalry
that thou takest here this day, that thou understand what I shall say
and charge thee withal. Therewithal she pulled out a bloody doublet and
a bloody shirt, that were be-bled with old blood. When Alisander saw
this, he start back and waxed pale, and said, Fair mother, what may
this mean? I shall tell thee, fair son; this was thine own father’s
doublet and shirt that he ware upon him that same day that he was
slain. And there she told him why and wherefore: and how for his
goodness king Mark slew him with his dagger afore mine own eyes. And
therefore this shall be your charge, that I shall give thee. Now I
require thee and charge thee upon my blessing, and upon the high order
of knighthood, that thou be revenged upon king Mark for the death of
thy father. And therewithal she swooned. Then Alisander leaped to his
mother, and took her up in his arms, and said, Fair mother, ye have
given me a great charge, and here I promise you I shall be avenged upon
king Mark when that I may, and that I promise to God and to you. So
this feast was ended. And the constable, by the advice of Anglides, let
purvey that Sir Alisander was well horsed and harnessed. Then he justed
with his twenty fellows that were made knights with him. But, for to
make a short tale, he overthrew all those twenty, that none might
withstand him a buffet.
CHAP. XXXV.
_How it was told to king Mark of Sir Alisander, and how he would have
slain Sir Sadok for saving of his life._
Then one of those knights departed unto king Mark, and told him all how
Alisander was made knight, and all the charge that his mother gave him,
as ye have heard afore time. Alas, false treason, said king Mark, I
wend that young traitor had been dead. Alas, whom may I trust? And
therewithal king Mark took a sword in his hand, and sought Sir Sadok
from chamber to chamber to slay him. When Sir Sadok saw king Mark come
with his sword in his hand, he said thus: Beware, king Mark, and come
not nigh me, for wit thou well that I saved Alisander his life, of
which I never repent me, for thou falsely and cowardly slewest his
father Boudwin traitorly for his good deeds. Wherefore I pray almighty
Jesu send Alisander might and strength to be revenged upon thee. And
now beware king Mark of young Alisander, for he is made a knight. Alas,
said king Mark, that ever I should hear a traitor say so afore me. And
therewith four knights of king Mark drew their swords to slay Sir
Sadok. But anon Sir Sadok slew them all in king Mark’s presence. And
then Sir Sadok passed forth into his chamber, and took his horse and
his harness, and rode on his way a good pace. For there was neither Sir
Tristram, neither Sir Dinas, nor Sir Fergus, that would Sir Sadok any
evil will. Then was king Mark wroth, and thought to destroy Sir
Alisander, and Sir Sadok that had saved him, for king Mark dread and
hated Sir Alisander most of any man living. When Sir Tristram
understood that Alisander was made knight, anon forthwithal he sent him
a letter, praying him and charging him that he would draw him to the
court of king Arthur, and that he put him in the rule and in the hands
of Sir Launcelot. So this letter was sent to Alisander from his cousin
Sir Tristram. And at that time he thought to do after his commandment.
Then king Mark called a knight that brought him the tidings from
Alisander, and bade him abide still in that country. Sir, said that
knight, so must I do, for in mine own country I dare not come. No
force, said king Mark. I shall give thee here double as much lands as
thou haddest of thine own. But within short space Sir Sadok met with
that false knight and slew him. Then was king Mark wood wroth out of
measure. Then he sent unto queen Morgan le Fay and to the queen of
Northgalis, praying them in his letters that they two sorceresses would
set all the country in fire, with ladies that were enchantresses, and
by such that were dangerous knights, as Malgrin, and Breuse Sance Pité;
that by no means Alisander le Orphelin should escape, but either he
should be taken or slain. This ordinance made king Mark for to destroy
Alisander.
CHAP. XXXVI.
_How Sir Alisander wan the prize at a tournament, and of Morgan le Fay.
And how he fought with Sir Malgrin and slew him._
Now turn we again unto Sir Alisander, that at his departing from his
mother took with him his father’s bloody shirt. So that he bare with
him always till his death day, in tokening to think on his father’s
death. So was Alisander purposed to ride to London by the counsel of
Sir Tristram to Sir Launcelot. And by fortune he went by the sea-side,
and rode wrong. And there he won at a tournament the gree, that king
Carados made. And there he smote down king Carados, and twenty of his
knights, and also Sir Safere a good knight, that was Sir Palamides’
brother, the good knight. All this saw a damsel, and saw the best
knight just that ever she saw. And ever as he smote down knights he
made them to swear to wear no harness in a twelvemonth and a day. This
is well said, said Morgan le Fay, this is the knight that I would fain
see. And so she took her palfrey and rode a great while, and then she
rested her in her pavilion. So there came four knights: two were armed,
and two were unarmed, and they told Morgan le Fay their names. The
first was Elias de Gomeret, the second was Car de Gomeret; those were
armed: that other twain were of Camiliard, cousins unto queen Guenever,
and that one hight Sir Guy, and that other hight Garaunt; those were
unarmed. There these four knights told Morgan le Fay how a young knight
had smitten them down before a castle. For the maiden of that castle
said that he was but late made knight and young. But as we suppose, but
if it were Sir Tristram, or Sir Launcelot, or Sir Lamorak the good
knight, there is none that might sit him a buffet with a spear. Well,
said Morgan le Fay, I shall meet that knight or it be long time, and he
dwell in that country.
So turn we to the damsel of the castle, that when Alisander le Orphelin
had forjusted the four knights, she called him to her, and said thus:
Sir knight, wilt thou for my sake just and fight with a knight of this
country, that is and hath been long time an evil neighbour to me, his
name is Malgrin, and he will not suffer me to be married in no manner
wise for all that I can do, or any knight for my sake. Damsel, said
Alisander, and he come while I am here I will fight with him, and my
poor body for your sake I will jeopard. And therewithal she sent for
him, for he was at her commandment. And when either had a sight of
other they made them ready for to just, and they came together eagerly,
and Malgrin bruised his spear upon Alisander, and Alisander smote him
again so hard that he bare him quite from his saddle to the earth. But
this Malgrin arose lightly and dressed his shield and drew his sword,
and bad him alight, saying, Though thou have the better of me on
horseback, shalt thou find that I shall endure like a knight on foot.
It is well said, said Alisander. And so lightly he voided his horse,
and betook him to his varlet. And then they rashed together like two
boars, and laid on their helms and shields long time by the space of
three hours, that never man could say which was the better knight. And
in the meanwhile came Morgan le Fay to the damsel of the castle, and
they beheld the battle. But this Malgrin was an old roted knight, and
he was called one of the dangerous knights of the world to do battle on
foot: but on horseback there were many better. And ever this Malgrin
awaited to slay Alisander, and so wounded him wonderly sore, that it
was marvel that ever he might stand, for he had bled so much blood: for
Alisander fought wildly and not wittily. And that other was a felonious