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Le Morte Darthur Characters

2007-12-13T22:11:22Z

Matthias:

This shall become a list of all characters in the Caxton Morte D’Arthur. A division is (provisorically) made between MAIN Characters (on top) and minor characters (further below), each within ordered alphabetically (use common sense: (King) Arthur under A, Duke of Tyntagil under T, etc..
Since there are often lots of variants of spellings, alternatives should be given in brackets behind the name. Generally, a spelling with <i>i</i> has been chosen as main spelling, <i>e</i>'s at the end were omitted, i.e. the "standard" name follows a somewhat modernised spelling.

(Important) Appearances should be abbreviated in the Book.Chapter format (e.g. I.1). If there are earlier mentions of a special relation to sb., please replace with the earlier mention. If there are contradictions, state both.

Current distinctions are made between kings, knights and others. Special groupings are listed in the end. Crosslinking is currently missing.
Suggestion for genealogy: List only the closest relations (i.e.: Gawain: Son of Lot of Lothien and Morgause). Note proper reference as above. Do not list further relations that can be easily deduced, i.e. Gawain being nephew to Arthur due to Morgause being Arthur's half-sister (on the mother's side); UNLESS it is especially important at one point.
These suggestions are free to debate.
Feel also free to move characters around...especially from unimportant to important. Importance is to be seen not in the whole book but also for high importance in smaller parts.

Characters added for Books: 1 (complete); 13 (complete)

=Main Characters=
Main Characters take a prominent role in at least one part of the book. Generally, replacing their name would screw up the narrative and/or relation at whole. They are notable for certain feats or deeds (often in other Romaunces of their own) or their genealogical relations. Omitting them or changing their name would create confusion/irritation.

==Kings==

===Arthur===
Son of Uther Pendragon and Igraine. Declines allegiance to Rome twice (I.23, V.1) and consequently becomes Roman Emperor, conquering the empire (V). Lets slay all children born on May Day due to a prophecy of Merlin (I.27)

===Bans of Benwic===
Ally to Arthur by advice of Merlin (I.10ff.); at war with King Claudas.

===Bors of Gaule===
Ally to Arthur by advice of Merlin (I.10ff.); at war with King Claudas. He is lead to the magic ship and send on a journey by God (meeting Galahad and Percival) (XVII.1-11); As fortold by Percival's sister he is the only knight that returns to Arthur's court and brings news about Percival and Galahad (VII.18)

===King Claudas===
At war with Bans of Benwic and Bors of Gaule (I.10).

===The King with the Hundred Knights===
Wages war against Arthur (I.8ff). Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).

===Lot of Lothien and Orkney (Lott)===
Husband to Morgause (I.2), father to Gawain (I.2), Gaheris, Aggrevain and Gareth (I.19). Wages war against Arthur (I.8ff). Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).

===Pellinore of the Isles (Pellynore)===
Hunts the Questing Beast (Beast Glatisant) (I.19). Fights and defeats Arthur who is saved only by Merlin. Prophecied to be father of Parcival and Lamorake of Wales; also prophecied to tell Arthur Mordred's name and thus herald the end of his realm (I.23f)

===Royns of North Wales (Ryens, Ryons)===
Wages war against Lodegreaunce (I.17), enemy to Arthur. Eventually overcomes the 11 kings and challenges Arthur to accept him as overlord - Arthur declines (I.26) and Royns musters a great host (I.27)

===Uriens of Gore (Uryens)===
Husband to Morgan le Fey. Father to Ewayns le Blanche Mayn (I.2). Wages war against Arthur (I.8ff); Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12); Father of Sir Uwain (I.12)

===Uther Pendragon===
Father to Artus, married to Igraine after begetting Arthur on her without her knowledge. Is assisted by Merlin. Goes into battle a last time before he dies of illness (I.1-I.5).

==Knights==

===Aggrevain===
Son of Morgause and King Lot of Lothien (I.19).

===Ector===
Foster-father of Arthur, selected by Merlin; father of Kay (I.3). Asks for his son to be made seneschall (I.6).
"Hector de Marys" - same guy?
Is defeated by Galahad (XVII.1) and (magically) denied entrance to castle "Carbonek" as he has fallen from the service of the Lord and is not a knight of the Quest. He claims to be Lancelot's brother as well. (XVII.16)

===Gaheris===
Son of Morgause and King Lot of Lothien (I.19).

===Galahad===
Son of Lancelot du Lake. Knightd by his father (XII.1), destined to draw Balyn's sword out of the stone, which he does (XII.3-5). Therewith he follows his father as most powerful knight in the world. Is resembling Lancelot greatly and stems in the ninth degree from Christ (XII.7). Takes a lance from Arthur's knights but acquires a shield later, which comes from Ioseph of Armathye (XII.9-10). Defeats a fiend assisted by angels (XII.12) Is without sin and therefore defeats their embodiments (XII.13-16) but without slaying them. He duels with Lancelot and Parcival (nobody recognising the other) and is victorious, then flees (XII.17)

He successfully fights Sirs Hector and Gawayn, almost killing the later. (XVII.1) Receives the magic "Sword of the Strange Girdles" (Sword of David) from King Solomons magic ship (XVII. 7). Is a virgin and has therefore special powers. (VXIII.18) Is fortold, by Percival's sister, to be buried near the city of Sarras.(XVII. 1) Receives visons and is said to be destined to end the Quest for the Grail and to learn secrets from God (XVII.9)Furthermore he is deeply devout. (e.g. several mentions of attending mass, praying etc. throughout XVII - .12 for instance)

===Gareth===
Son of Morgause and King Lot of Lothien (I.19).

===Gawain===
Son of Morgause and King Lot of Lothien (I.2). Is told to never achieved the grail since he is wicked but refuses to repent (XIII.16).

===Sir Kay (Kaynus, Kaynes)===
Son of Sir Ector (I.3), foster-brother of Arthur. Asks Arthur to fetch hsi sword upo which occasion Arthur pulls the sword in the stone out of the stone (I.3). Kay himself is claiming to have done it but tells the truth upon oath. He is made seneschall by Arthur and at various occasions portraied as arrogant and condescending, esp. on Gareth.

===Lamorake of Wales===
Son of King Pellinore (I.24).

===Lancelot du Lake===
Long time most powerful knight in the world (even if he does not say so himself) until he is followed in this by his son Galahad (XII.5) by whom he is eventually defeated (without first knowing it) (XIII.17). Sinful in his love to Guinevere (adultery). He repents and confesses and swears to avoid her whenever possible after being unable to reach the Grail (XII.17-20). Was led to the grail on Solomon's ship, saw it and was punished (as he sees it) for 25 sinful years with 25 days of "coma" after trying to go nearer. (XVII.15-16)

===Mordred===
Bastard-son of Arthur and Morgause (I.19). Survives the May Day Massacre intended to kill him, is taken up by a foster father and later brought to Arthur's court [a story which Mallory says he will tell later but in fact never tells] (I.27)

===Parcival (Percyvall)===
Son of King Pellinore (I.24). Eventually defeated by Galahad (XIII.17) Has an unknown ,deeply spiritual, sister, who seeks him out in the company of Galahad and aids him in his quest. (XVII.4-11)

==Others==

===Gwenhyvere===
Daughter of King Lodegreaunce of Camylerde (I.17), later wife to Arthur (???).

===Igraine (Igrayne)===
Wife to the Duke of Tyntagil (I.1), who is said to be wise and evades a seduction by Uther. Later wife of Uther Pendragon (I.2), and mother of Arthur by said Uther through a plot furthered by Merlin (I.2)

===Merlin (Merlyn, Merlyon)===
Eminence Grise, prophet, magician, generally not liked too much by friends and foes alike; prophecies the end of Arthur's court as well as various events. Reveals Arthur's descent (I.7). Advises Arthur to call for King Ban of Benwic and Bors of Gaule (I.10). Advises Arthur further in his battles against the 11 kings (I.12ff). Explains Arthur's origin (I.21). Advises Arthur to kill all May Day children (I.27). [list them!]; ultimately falls in love with Nineve, a lady of the lake, and becomes trapped by her under a stone (IV.1) where he remains.

===Morgan le Fey===
Third sister, daughter of Igraine and the duke of Tyntagil (and thus half-sister to Arthur). (I.2). Sister to Elayne and Morgause. Learns Necromancy in a nunnery. Later marries Kyng Uriens of Gore whi is father of Sir Ewain the blanche Mains (I.2).

===Morgause (Margeuse, Margawse)===
Wife to King Lot of Lothien, mother to Gawain; daughter of Igraine and the duke of Tyntagil (and thus half-sister to Arthur). Siter to Elayne and Morgan le Fey (I.2). Mother of Gaheris, Agrevain and Gareth (I.19). Visits King Arthur's court and begets Mordred on him (I.19)

==Groupings==

===The 11 Kings===
The 11 Kings swear an oath to destory Arthur: Duke of Candebenet, Brandegoris of Strangore, Clarihaus of Northuberland, The King with the Hundred Knights, Lot of Lothien, Uriens of Gore, Idres of cornwall, Cradilmans, Anguisshauns, Nentres of Garlot, Carados. (I.12) Eventually subdued by King Royns.

=Minor Characters=
These characters are often only names without further porminence. They are knights that get defeated, participate in jousts, quests, and battles or ladies offering a quest. Generally they could easily be replaced by any other name and nobody would ever notice.

==Kings==

===Anguisshauns of Ireland (Anwysshauns)===
Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).

===Brandeforis of Strangore===
Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).

===Carados===
Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).

===Duke of Candebenet===
Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).

===Clarihaus of Northumberland===
Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).

===Cradilmans (Cradilmente, Cradilmasse)===
Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).

===Idres of Conrwall===
Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).

===Lodegreaunce of Camylarde===
Is attacked by Royns; Arthur asists Lodegreanunce (I.17). Father to Gwenhyvere.

===Morganore (Morganoure)===
Seneschall of the King with the Hundred Knights (I.14). Killed by Ban (I.16).

===Nentres of Garlot===
Husband to Elayne (I.2); Among the 11 kings swearing an oath against Arthur (I.12).

==Knights==

===Annecians===
Godson of King Bors, noble knight. (I.17)

===Bagdemagus===
Contemplates taking on the adventure of the shield of Ioseph of Armathye (XII.9).

===Barcias (Barsias, Brascias, Brastias)===
A knight of the Duke's of Tyntagil (I.3). Escorts Arthur later (I.6). Made warden upon the North (I.7), messenger to Ban and Bors (I.10).

===Bawdewyn of Britain===
Escorts Arthur (I.6). Is made Constable (I.7).

===Bloyas de Flaundres===
A knight fighting on Arthur's side (I.15).

===Borre===
Son of Arthur and Lyonors (I.17)

===Bors===
Cousin to Lancelot (XII.1)

===Bryaunte===
A knight fighting on Arthur's side (I.15).

===Clarinaus de la Forest Savage===
A knight fighting on Arthur's side (I.14).

===Egglamore (Egglame)===
Flees from Pellinore (I.25)

===Ewayns le Blaunche Mayn===
Son of King Uriens of Gore (I.2)

===Gracian===
A lord of France. Sent back to hold his castle (I.11)

===Gryfflet (Gryflett, Gryflette)===
Son of God[!] of Cardal (I.10).

===Gwenhaus===
Brother to Ban and Bors, a wise clerk (I.11).

===Gwynas===
A knight fighting on Arthur's side (I.15).

===Gwyniarte de Bloy===
A knight fighting on Arthur's side (I.14).

===Jordans===
A knight of the Duke's of Tyntagil (I.3).

===Ioſeph of Armathye===
Took the blood of Christ Ioſeph of Armathye (XIII.10) and bore a shield which is passed on to Galahad by prophecy (XIII.11). His legend is told in (XIII.10-1).

===La Cote Male Tayle===
A stranger who comes to Arthur's court, wearing the damaged coat in which his father was murdered. He becomes one of Arthur's knights. (IX.1)

===Ladynas===
Duels with Gryfflet in a joust between Arthur's knights and Bors and Bans(I.11).

===Lardans===
Knight fighting against Arthur (I.14).

===Lionel===
Cousin to Lancelot (XII.1).

===Lucas the Butler===
Son of Duke Corneus (I.10).

===Lyonses (Lionse)===
Lord of Bayarne, servant(?) of Bans and Bors (I.10).

===Marys de la Roche===
Fights for Arthur (I.15).

===Melias de Lille===
First squire to Galahad, then knighted by him (XIII.12). Shortly thereafter falling prey to pride and greed and almost mortally wounded but rescued by Galahad and taken care of by a hermit (XIII.13-4).

===Naram===
Knows King Royns (I.26).

===Palomydes===
Follows King Pellinore in hunting the Questing Beast later (I.19).

===Placidas===
A knight of France (I.10). Sent back to hold his castle.

===Pharyaunce (Pheriaunce)===
Lord of Bayarne, servant(?) of Bans and Bors (I.10).

===Duke of Tyntagil===
Husband to Igrayne and commander of the castles of Tyntagil and Terrabil. Is in war with Uther Pendragon and eventually defeated and killed in the siege of Terrabil. (I.1-I.2)

===Ulfyus (Vlfyus)===
A knight in Uther Penragon's service. Helps him to get to Igraine (I.1-I.2) and in battle (I.3). He later serves as guard for Arthur (I.6) and is made Chamberlain (I.7); is messager to Bors and Ban together with Brastias (I.10). He later fights for Arthur, good on foot (I.14) but rescued by Arthur who regards him an 'old friend'; Among the eleven assaulting the three kings (I.17); accuses Igraine to be cause of Arthur's problems but then shifts blame to Merlin (I.21).

===Uwain (Uwayne)===
Son of King Uriens (I.12). Wounded critically when bearing the shield of Ioseph of Armathye (XII.9)

==Others==

===Archbishop of Canterbury===
...

===Elayne (Elaine)===
Wife to King Nentres of Garlot (I.2), daughter of Igraine and the duke of Tyntagil (and thus half-sister to Arthur). Sister to Morgause and Morgan le Fey.

===Lady of the Lake===
Gives Caliburn (Excalibur) to Arthur (I.25) in exchange for a later request. She later requests the head of Balyn who kills her for former deeds against his kin (II.?).

===Lyonors===
Daughter of the Earl of Sanam, gets a child with Arthur: Borre (I.17)

==Groupings==

===40 knights===
40 knights side with Arthzragainst the three kings in I.17: Lyonses, Pheriaunce, Ulfius, Brascias, Ector, Kay, Lucas the Butler, Gryfflet la Fyse de Deu, Marrys de La Roche, Gwynas de Bloy, Bryaunte de la Forest Saveage, Bellaus, Morians of the Castle Maydyns, Flaundres of the Castle of Ladies, Annecians, Ladinas de la Rouse, Emerause, Caulas, Graciens la Castilion, Bloyse de la Case, Colgrevance de Goore [and presumably 20 more].

===12 nuns===
(nameless) Bring Galahad to Lancelot to be knighted (incognito) (XII.1).

===7 Brothers of the Castle of Maidens===
Allegories of the seven sins. Driven away by Galahad; slain by Gawain, Gareth and Uwain (XIII.15; explanation in XIII.16)

Note: Wikipedia has a file of [Arthurian Characters http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Arthurian_characters]. These are, however, drastically reduced in number compared to the high number of characters in the Morte d'Arthure. They are, of course, the most well known. (As has been said in the seminar: who woul generally assume the Round Table to consist of 150 knights, some of them eventually deceased and replaced by new ones?) This article does NOT look at the Morte exclusively but at the big Arthurian Tales more in general.

Le Morte Darthur Book 9

2007-12-13T22:01:50Z

Matthias:

{{Template:Malory 21 Books}}

Book 9

Marriage & Fidelity: [Chapter 16] A sorceress tries to seduce Arthur, but he refuses as he remembers being married.

Honour/Chivalry: [Chapter 8] The knight Pleorius spares LCMT's life out of fairness and receives mercy as well after he is defeated, because he fought bravely. He becomes a knight of the round table.

Chapter 1:
A young man comes to Athur's court and asks to be knighted. He wears a “ryche clothe of gold” that sits awkwardly upon him, as if it was struck by a sword. He gives his name as Breunor le noyre, but is called “cote male tayle” by the seneshal in mockery. As the king asks him why he wears that coat, the would-be knight replies that it belonged to his father, a noble knight, who was struck dead in his sleep by an old enemy, wearing that coat at the time of his death. Since then he wears the coat as a reminder of his fathers death until he has taken his revenge. Sir Lamorak and Sir Gaherys speak in favour of the aspirant, claiming that he is of good countenance and may well become a worthy knight just as Sir Lancelor du lake. The stranger is allowed to stay at Athur's court and saves Queen Gueneuer's life when she is attacked by a lion during a hunting trip. Athur rewards him by knighting him and the new knight asks to be called by no other name than “La cote male tayle” from now on.

Chapter 2:
A damsel comes to Athur's court, carrying a “great black shield with a white hand holding a sword emblazoned upon it. This shield, she reports, belongs to a knight who, while already dying after a duel with another knight, asked her to bring the shield to the king's court to call for a noble knight to take the shield and with it the quest that its dying owner was no longer able to fulfil. “Le Cote male tayle” takes the shield and the quest and takes his leave from Arthur to follows the damsel.

Chapter3:
Sir Kaye orders the king's fool, Sir Dagonet, to dress and arm like a knight and ride after “La cote male tayle” (LCMT) and challenge him for a joust. The fool does a s he is told and is smitten down from his horse, but the damsel (who now is named Maledysaut) mocks LCMT, that this is his standing at Arthur's court that a fool is sent to joust with him. LCMT encounters two other knights, Sir Bleoberys and Sir Palomydes, both of whom joust with him and throw him out of his saddle but refuse to fight him on foot. Sir Mordred, Gawain's brother, arrives and falls “in the felauship with the damoysel maledysaunt. They come to a castle called Orgulos, where every passing knight has to joust or become either prisoner or leave his horse and harness behind. Two knights come out of the castle and challenge Mordred and LCMT. Mordred is thrown from his horse, but LCMT wounds one knight badly and follows the other into the castle where he slays him.

Chapter 4:
In the castle, LCMT is attacked by a hundred knights. He ushers his horse out of the gate of the castle, to avoid it being slain in the fight. He then puts his back to a wall of a lady's Chamber, determined to rather fight to the death here than endure more rebukes by the damsel Maledysaunt. Meanwhile, the lady, who own the chamber, notices the fight and finds LCMT's horse, tying it to the gate from the outside. She tells LCMT where to find his horse and he fights his way out of the castle, killing twelve knights in the end.

Chapter 5:
Lancelot hears of LCMT's deeds and that he undertook the adventure of the black shield. He tells his fellows that bit was a shame to give to such a young knight a quest that may well lead to his destruction. He rides after LCMT to accompany him. Mordred leaves as he sees Lancelot arriving. Whenever the damsel rebukes LCMT, Lancelot answers for him. The damsel stops rebuking LCMT and rebukes Lancelot instead. While riding with LCMT and the damsel, Lancelot receives a letter (delivered by yet another damsel) from Tritstan, in which Tristan asks him to excuse him from the weeding of Isould. Lancelot leaves LCMT and the damsel to oversee that letter and to write another one to Tristan. Meanwhile, LCMT and the damsel arrive at a castle called Pendragon, where they are met by six knights. They joust with LCMT and take him prisoner. Lancelot, in the meantime, delivers the letter (together with the post-damsel) and then rides after LCMT, meeting, jousting with and beating up another of those bridge-knights, thereby discovering that this one is no other than Nerouens de lyle, who was knighted by Lancelot himself. Nerouens tells Lancelot of a knight with a damsel being taken prisoner in the aforesaid castle.

Chapter 6:
Lancelot rushes to the rescue, butchering the six knights in front of the castle and beating the lord of the castle into submission. The lord is named Bryan des les isles and happens to be a great enemy of Arthur, and hold 30 of Arthur's knights prisoner (including LCMT) who are now set free. LCMT and the damsel understand that their companion and rescuer is none other as Lancelot.

Chapter 7:
The damsel apologises for rebuking Lancelot and reveals that she rebuked LCMT not out of hatred but out of love – fearing for his life because of his youth and, thus, trying to drive him away from her for his own protection. They come to a fortified bridge, where only one of them is allowed to enter. LCMT volunteers and starts to hack his way through the knights he finds on the other side. Tired and wounded from his fights, he then meets an knight called Plenorius and jousts with him. Lancelot and the damsel witness the fight (from the other side?).

Chapter 8:
LCMT sinks down to the earth due to his wounds but his opponent has mercy and takes him to his tower to care for his wounds. Lancelot comes and challenges Plenorius, defeating him and freeing his prisoners, among them the king of Scotland. Plenorius' life is spared and he is asked to join Arthur's knights of the round table.

Chapter 9:
Plenorius and LCMT are made knights of the round table. LCMT is now called by his true naem, Breunes le noyre, and marries the damsel Maledysaunt. The text then says that LCMT and Plenorius both prove to be noble knights of king Arthur and that LCMT avenges his father, “as the frensshe book maketh mencyon”.

Chapter 10:
We leave LCMT and turn our attention to Tristram who is in Brittany when (la beale) Isoud understands that he is married and sends him a letter via her maiden Bragwayne. She begs of him to come to her court and bring Isoud (la blanche maynys) with him. Tristram asks Sir Kehydiuswhether he would go with him to Cornwall secretly. Tristram, Kehydius, Dame Bragwayne and Gouernaile, Tristram's squire begin their journey, when the wind blows their boat on the coast of Northwales. They meet a knight and challenge him to a joust. The unknown knight wounds Kehydius, throws Tristram out of his saddle and even matches him on foot. Tristram stops the fight and asks the knight for his name.

Chapter 11:
The knight introduces himself as Lamorak. Both decide to end their fight, both offering to be the one to yield. Both swear never to fight each other again.

Chapter 12:
Palomydes, who is on a quest to hunt a strange beast named Glatysaunt, that has a head like a serpend, a body like a lybard (?) and buttocks like a lyon, meets Tristram and Lamorak. They joust an he smites both of them down and continues his way without giving them the chance to fight him on foot. Tristram and Lamorak part at a crossing. Lamorak comes to a chapel where he hears Melyagaunce, king Bademagus' son, mourn about his love to queen Gueneuer. Lamorak rides through a forest where he meets two knights laying in waiting for Lancelot, whom they accuse to have slain their brother.

Chapter 13:
Lancelot arrives and the two knight hide. Lamorak calls them cowards and that it is a shame that they take the high order of knighthood. Lamorak meets Melyagaunce again and the two quarrel about the question, who is the most beautiful woman in the world. Mel. Insists on Gueneuer, Lamorak names queen Morgause of Orkney, the mother of Gawaine. They fight. Lancelot arrives and rides between them, demanding them to stop as they are both knights of Arthur.

Chapter 14:
Melagaunce and Lamorak tell Lancelot about their quarrel and then depart in different directions. Lamorak meets Arthur without recognizing him. They joust and Lamorak is thrown from his horse and wounded. Arthur does not stop to fight with him on foot, so they don't recognize each other.

Chapter 15:
Tristram meets Kay, Tor and Brandyles. They joust a little and then become friends.

Chapter 16:
A lady named Annowre, a great sorceress, comes to Arthur in Cardif and asks him to ride with her into a perilous forest. When he accompanies her she brings him to her tower and desires “to lye by him” but the king “remembry ym of his lady and wold not lye by her for no crafte that she coude doo” [MARRIAGE/MORAL] As the sorceress sees that she can not force her will upon Arthur, she seeks to destroy him. She asks him to ride into the forest with his knights every day to see him slain. The lady of the lake, Nyneue, understands that Arthur is in danger and seeks Tristram to help him. Tristram rescues Arthur but noes not reveal his identity to him.

Chapter 17:
Tristram and his companions travel to Cornwall. They secretly enter king Mark's castle in Cornwall, to see (la beale) Isoud. Tristram and (la beale) Isoud are full of joy. [As the French book says] Kehydius fell love with Isoud when he first saw her and wrote her many loveletters and poems since then. Tristram finds the letters and, thus, discovers that Kehydius is in love with (la beale) Isoud. He attacks him with his sword. Kehydius saves himself by jumping out of the window. This is noticed by king Mark, who happens to play chess under the window. Kehydius manages to talk his way out of the situation.

Chapter 18:
Assuming that his secret entry has been discovered, Tristram arms himself and rides out of the castle openly, thereby encountering and unhorsing the knight Gyngalin, Gawayn's son. Tristram gets mad due to his sorrow and leaves his horse and armour aside and starts to live half naked in the fellowship of herdsmen and shepherds. A lady from a castle sends him a harp and food.

Chapter 19:
Dagonet, King Arthur's fool, comes across the mad Tristram. Tristram puts him and his squires into a well and humiliates him, while shepherds laught at Dagonet. Tristram runs naked in the woods for half a year. Palomides finds out about Tristram's madness. Kehydius and Palomides set off to look for Tristram. They encounter King Mark. Palomides wants to avenge Tristram and fight Mark, but Mark refuses. Mark and Palomides reconciliate.
Dagonet tries to attack the shephers, but Tristram attacks him and his squire and defeats them. Dagonet goes to King Mark and tells him of the incident. Mark claims that the madman is a Sir Matto le Breune.

Chapter 20:
Sir Andred spreads tumours that Tristram is dead and that he asked Mark to make Andred the lord of the country of de Liones. La Beale Isoud attempts to commit suicide, but she is stopped by King Mark, who puts her in a tower.
Tristram slays the giant Tauleas and rescues Sir Dinant.

Chapter 21:
Dinant informs King Mark of the giant-killing madman. King Mark goes to the forest and finds Tristram lying with a sword at his side. King Mark takes Tristram to Tintagil. Nobody recognises Tristram. Tristram is cared for in the castle. La Beale Isoud goes looking for the strange madman, but when she sees Tristram she doesn't recognise him until her little dog recognises him. La Beale Isoud asks Tristram to leave Cornwall fearing King Mark's rage.

Chapter 22:
Tristram gets banished from Cornwall for 10 years. Sir Dinadan arrives from the court of King Arthur looking for Tristram. Tristram and Dinadan joust, Dinadan is defeated. Dinadan joins Tristram's fellowship. Tristram rebukes King Mark for his ingratitude and leaves.

Chapter 23:
Tristram and Dinadan joust with Bors, Ector, Bleoberis and Driant.
A damosel encounters first Tristram, then the other four knights. The damosel knows of a plot by Morgan le Fay to have Launcelot ambushed and killed by 30 knights. The four knights agree to help the damosel. They promise to be close to the place where the ambush would be to help Launcelot if needed. Tristram promises to help Launcelot as well, but Dinadan fears for his life.
When the four knights see the 30 knights, they do not attack each other. When Tristram arrives, he slays the majority of the 30 knights. Bors invites Tristram to his lodging, but Tristram refuses and keeps his incognito.

Chapter 24:
Tristram and Dinadan come to a castle, where the custom is that they have to fight and defeat two knights to get admitted to the castle. Dinadan fears for his life again, but Tristram insists they fight the two knights. They defeat the knights and get into the castle. Shortly after Palomides and Gaheris arrive at the castle. According to the custom, Tristram and Dinadan hae to fight them now. They joust with the two, but Dinadan refuses to fight on foot. Dinadan leaves the three at the castle and departs, cursing the day he joined Tristram. Tristram overtakes Dinadan and they come to a priory.

Chapter 25:
A knight at the priory, Pellinore, wants to find out Tristram's name and jousts with him. Tristram defeats him. Tristram learns of a great tournament between King Carados of Scotland and the King of Northgalis (North Wales) held at the Castle of Maidens. Tristram jousts with Sir Kay and Sir Sagramore le Desirous and defeats both. Gawaine rescues Tristram from Morgan la Fay's plot to kill Tristram. Morgan la Fay had sent out 30 ladies to lure Tristram and/or Launcelot to a castle where they would be ambushed by 30 knights. Gawaine marvels at Morgan le Fay's immorality and wonders how such an evil person can be a queen.

Chapter 26:
Tristam and Gawaine challenge Morgan le Fay and her 30 knights, but they dare not come out. Gawaine and Tristram encounter Kay and Sagramore. They see Sir Breuse Saunce Piteé chasing a lady to kill her. Gawaine tries to stop him, but he is nearly killed. Tristram attempts to revenge Gawaine, but Breuse gets away. (Tristram's shield of Cornwall is already well-known.)

Chapter 27:
Dame Bragwaine finds Tristram and gives him letters form La Beale Isoud (At first, Bragwaine does not recognise Tristram). Tristram stays with the old knight Sir Pellounes (All the while Tristram keeps his incognito). Pellounes finds out that Sir Persides, his son, has returned home. Sir Launcelot starts bearing the shield of Cornwall. Tristram meets Persides. Persides tells him that he was once defeated by Tristram in Cornwall. Tristram and Persides see Palomides ride to a tournament.

Chapter 28:
Tristram and Persides ride to a tournament to see Palomides' deeds. Persides jousts with Palomides and gets knocked down. Palomides takes advantage of Tristram's unreadiness and brings him down, too. Tristram wants revenge, but Palomides says he will get his revenge the next day at the Castle of Maidens. Dinadan comes by and comments on Tristram's fall. Tristram watches Launcelot joust with Sir Briant of North Wales. Launcelot bears the shield of Cornwall. The King of Norhtgalis demands that Palomides joust with Launcelot.

Chapter 29:
Launcelot jousts with Palomides and defeats him. Launcelot gets attacked by 12 knights of Northgalis who want to prevent him from winning the big tournament. Launcelot defeats the 12 knights, but cannot participate in the first day of the tournament, because he is tired.

Chapter 30:
Tristram gets a black shield with no sign on it to keep his incognito. Tristram and Persides go to the big tournament and join the party of King Carados of Scotland. Persides almost gets slain by Bleoberis and Gaheris of North Wales. Tristram avenges Persides by defeating the two. The King with the Hundred Knights gets angry with Tristram and helps Bleoberis and Gaheris. Tristram gets attacked by his former companion Dinadan. Tristram defeats him, and Dinadan swears never to fight him again. At the end of the day, Tristram gets the prize. He is called the Knight with the Black Shield.

Chapter 31:
The next day Palomides joins the party of King Arthur. He sends a damosel to Tristram to find out what his name is (Tristram is still incognito). Tristram will not tell his name. He declares that he will fight against any party that Palomides has joined, so he joins the party of the King of Northgalis. Tristram wreaks havoc among his opponents, smiting down Sir Kay and many others. Launcelot desires to fight Tristram, but his party (20 men) is attacked by the 100 knights of the King with the Hundred Knights and 100 knights of the King of Northgalis. Tristram asks the King with the Hundred Knights to stop the fight. the king agrees.

Chapter 32:
Sir Launcelot wants to meet Tristram, but Tristram has already withdrawn to the forest. The King of Northgalis gets the prize of the day, as Tristram was on his side. The lords and the ladies cry out that the Knight with the Black Shield has won the prize. King Arthur promises to join the tournament the next day. Bragwaine sets out to look for Tristram. She finds Palomides in the forrest, tied to a tree. Palomides frees himself, but he is despaired. Bragwaine finds Tristram and tells him of Palomides. Tristam rides to Palomides and comforts him.

Chapter 33:
The next day King Arthur joins the tournament and puts the King of Northgalis and the King with the Hundred Knights to the worse. Tristram jousts with Palomides again and defeats him. King Arthur challenges Tristram. Tristram defeats Arthur in a joust. Then Arthur takes Tristram by surprise and knocks him down, too. Tristam beats Palomides twice more. Tristam and King Arthur fight each other with their swords. Tristram does more deeds and all cry upon the Knight with the Black Shield.

Chapter 34:
Launcelot and Tristam joust. Tristram's spear breaks, but Launcelot give Tristram a nearly mortal wound with his; both stay in their saddles. Tristram retreats from the field. Dinadan follows him fearin Tristram would die. Palomydes follows Tristram intending to kill him. Dinanan offers to fight Palomydes for Tristram, but Tristram defeats Palomydes himself. He also beats Gaheris. Launcelot wins the field that day in Tristram's absence, but refuses to take the prize and declares Tristram to be the winner.

Chapter 35:
All people declare Launcelot the winner, but he refuses the prize and praises Tristram instead. Tristram is not to be found. Gaheris tells Launcelot and King Arthur how Palomydes attempted to take advantage of Tristram's wound. Launcelot and King Arthur disapprove of Palomydes' dishonourable behaviour. Palomydes turns almost mad and follows Tristram. He nearly drowns after he makes his horse jump over a river.

Chapter 36:
Palomydes starts crying and a damsel crosses his way that was sent by Sir Gawayne and his brother to go to the castle, where Mordret – who had been hurt in a fight against Palomydes – and Tristam are. She talks to Palomydes and has a conversation about him with Tristam, as she reaches the castle. Because of the fact that he knows Palomydes as a very good knight, he invites him to come to his castle.
King Arthur speaks with Lancelot about the need of finding Sir Tristam. Then they (Arthur, Lancelot, Ector, Bors, Lucan Ywaine and others) swear on the bible to find him and ride different ways. On his way Lancelot meets a woman who is in fear to be killed by Sir Breuse. So he helps her and makes Breuse fleeing away.

Chapter 37:
Sir Lucas comes to the castle, where Tristam is, too. He tells the porter to be a knight of the Round Table, but the lord of the castle Darras’ nephew Daname doesn’t let him in and wants to fight with him. Then follow some fights:

Daname vs. Lucas (D. falls from his horse)
Dynadam vs. Lucas (D. gets hurt)
Tristam vs. Ywain

Then Ywaine comes to the castle, too and is very wroth about Lucas being hurt. So he fights with Tristam, too and sends Lucas to an abbey for his wounds to be healed.
Meanwhile a damsel tells Darras that a knight with a black shield had killed his three sons. Because of the fact that they find a black shield in Tristam’s chamber, Tristam, Palomydes and Dynadan are put into prison. There Tristam gets very sick.

Chapter 38:
Gaheryse goes to Cornwall and comes to the castle of King Mark, where he is invited to eat. They talk about a tournament where a knight with a black shield was the best of all knights: Tristam. Then the king gets afraid of Tristam to be better than he is. Then the king makes a feast and Ywaine appears, who wants to fight with anyone of them, but nobody wants to, instead of Andret who loses the fight. Then the king wants Dinas to do so and Ywein reminds him to be a knight of the Round Table and isn’t allowed to fight against another member. Then he rides away but is followed by Mark who nearly kills him. Tristam doesn’t recognize him and tells this to Sir Kay who crosses his way. As Andret appears, who is searching for Mark, Sir Kay accuses him to have done that.

Chapter 39:
King Mark asks Sir Kay if he wants to do the best adventure ever and he wants to, but is warned by Gaheris not to do so, but he doesn’t care. So Gaheris waits on a way Kays has to cross and tells him that he shouldn’t go on his own, because Mark has got bad intentions. So the both of them go to a sea, where Mark and Andret appear as anonymous knights and fight with Gaheris and Kay. As Andret falls from his horse he tells them that they are King Mark and Andret. Then Gaheris tells them to be honourless and should be killed, but they don’t kill them and let King Mark swear to be friendly to Tristam if he should meet him.
Then they ride to Logrys where they meet Sir Lancelot, they tell what happened and are very happy.

Chapter 40:
They cannot find Tristam and Bragwaine goes back to Cornwall. Tristam is still in prison and is hated by Palomydes but they decide not to fight. Then a damsel tells them that they are not going to die. Tristam’s sickness gets worse and worse and the damsel recognizes that and tells this to Darras who decides to let him free. Being freed from prison, Tristam and Darras speak about the legitimating of having killed Darras three sons because of the law of knighthood. Then Tristam doesn’t leave the castle until he isn’t ill anymore.

Chapter 41:
Sir Dinadam meets a damsel who is big sorrow because her brother had been killed 5 days ago by Sir Breuris Same Pité and since then has been kept under his will. So he fights with Breuris and makes him flee away.
Then he brings her to a castle she wants to go to and rides away. Then he comes to a castle where Morgan la Fay doesn’t want to let him go away until she gets to know his name and where he comes from. Then he tells her his name and she wants him to attend a tournament and to fight with a special shield (a knight stands on the heads of a queen and a king: could be Lancelot who stands on Guenever’s and Arthur’s heads). She doesn’t want to tell him what the picture on the shield is about.

Chapter 42:
Sir Tristam rides with the shield to the tournament. Meanwhile Sir Hemison – Queen la Fays knight- is willing to follow him, but the queen doesn’t want him to, because she is afraid that he could die. But he doesn’t care, fight against Tristam and nearly dies.
Before he dies he asks a passing knight to bring him to Morgan la Fay, because he wants to speak to her before he dies, but as she comes to him he is already dead.
Tristam comes to a castle where the lord of the castle tells him that Sir Ector has been there, too. Then they talk about who belong to the best knights ever, like Sir Lancelot. But Tristam doesn’t include himself and rides away. Then he comes to a castle with 500 tents.

Chapter 43:
There King Arthur and his knights fight against the Scottish and the Irish and Tristam fights very well, so that king Arthur asks himself who that good knight might be and what his shield is all about. Then a damsel of La Fay appears and tells him that the shield should warn him of dishonour. Then she disappears and nobody knows where she came from. Then Queen Guenever speaks with Sir Ector about her fear according Lancelot, but King Arthur is just interested in who that good knight could be and doesn’t care about the rest. Then he decides not no let him escape and asks him with Ywain from whom he got that shield and he answers that he got it from Arthur’s sister: La Fay.

{{Template:Malory 21 Books}}

Le Morte Darthur Book 9

2007-12-13T21:49:11Z

Matthias:

{{Template:Malory 21 Books}}

Book 9

Chapter 1:
A young man comes to Athur's court and asks to be knighted. He wears a “ryche clothe of gold” that sits awkwardly upon him, as if it was struck by a sword. He gives his name as Breunor le noyre, but is called “cote male tayle” by the seneshal in mockery. As the king asks him why he wears that coat, the would-be knight replies that it belonged to his father, a noble knight, who was struck dead in his sleep by an old enemy, wearing that coat at the time of his death. Since then he wears the coat as a reminder of his fathers death until he has taken his revenge. Sir Lamorak and Sir Gaherys speak in favour of the aspirant, claiming that he is of good countenance and may well become a worthy knight just as Sir Lancelor du lake. The stranger is allowed to stay at Athur's court and saves Queen Gueneuer's life when she is attacked by a lion during a hunting trip. Athur rewards him by knighting him and the new knight asks to be called by no other name than “La cote male tayle” from now on.

Chapter 2:
A damsel comes to Athur's court, carrying a “great black shield with a white hand holding a sword emblazoned upon it. This shield, she reports, belongs to a knight who, while already dying after a duel with another knight, asked her to bring the shield to the king's court to call for a noble knight to take the shield and with it the quest that its dying owner was no longer able to fulfil. “Le Cote male tayle” takes the shield and the quest and takes his leave from Arthur to follows the damsel.

Chapter3:
Sir Kaye orders the king's fool, Sir Dagonet, to dress and arm like a knight and ride after “La cote male tayle” (LCMT) and challenge him for a joust. The fool does a s he is told and is smitten down from his horse, but the damsel (who now is named Maledysaut) mocks LCMT, that this is his standing at Arthur's court that a fool is sent to joust with him. LCMT encounters two other knights, Sir Bleoberys and Sir Palomydes, both of whom joust with him and throw him out of his saddle but refuse to fight him on foot. Sir Mordred, Gawain's brother, arrives and falls “in the felauship with the damoysel maledysaunt. They come to a castle called Orgulos, where every passing knight has to joust or become either prisoner or leave his horse and harness behind. Two knights come out of the castle and challenge Mordred and LCMT. Mordred is thrown from his horse, but LCMT wounds one knight badly and follows the other into the castle where he slays him.

Chapter 4:
In the castle, LCMT is attacked by a hundred knights. He ushers his horse out of the gate of the castle, to avoid it being slain in the fight. He then puts his back to a wall of a lady's Chamber, determined to rather fight to the death here than endure more rebukes by the damsel Maledysaunt. Meanwhile, the lady, who own the chamber, notices the fight and finds LCMT's horse, tying it to the gate from the outside. She tells LCMT where to find his horse and he fights his way out of the castle, killing twelve knights in the end.

Chapter 5:
Lancelot hears of LCMT's deeds and that he undertook the adventure of the black shield. He tells his fellows that bit was a shame to give to such a young knight a quest that may well lead to his destruction. He rides after LCMT to accompany him. Mordred leaves as he sees Lancelot arriving. Whenever the damsel rebukes LCMT, Lancelot answers for him. The damsel stops rebuking LCMT and rebukes Lancelot instead. While riding with LCMT and the damsel, Lancelot receives a letter (delivered by yet another damsel) from Tritstan, in which Tristan asks him to excuse him from the weeding of Isould. Lancelot leaves LCMT and the damsel to oversee that letter and to write another one to Tristan. Meanwhile, LCMT and the damsel arrive at a castle called Pendragon, where they are met by six knights. They joust with LCMT and take him prisoner. Lancelot, in the meantime, delivers the letter (together with the post-damsel) and then rides after LCMT, meeting, jousting with and beating up another of those bridge-knights, thereby discovering that this one is no other than Nerouens de lyle, who was knighted by Lancelot himself. Nerouens tells Lancelot of a knight with a damsel being taken prisoner in the aforesaid castle.

Chapter 6:
Lancelot rushes to the rescue, butchering the six knights in front of the castle and beating the lord of the castle into submission. The lord is named Bryan des les isles and happens to be a great enemy of Arthur, and hold 30 of Arthur's knights prisoner (including LCMT) who are now set free. LCMT and the damsel understand that their companion and rescuer is none other as Lancelot.

Chapter 7:
The damsel apologises for rebuking Lancelot and reveals that she rebuked LCMT not out of hatred but out of love – fearing for his life because of his youth and, thus, trying to drive him away from her for his own protection. They come to a fortified bridge, where only one of them is allowed to enter. LCMT volunteers and starts to hack his way through the knights he finds on the other side. Tired and wounded from his fights, he then meets an knight called Plenorius and jousts with him. Lancelot and the damsel witness the fight (from the other side?).

Chapter 8:
LCMT sinks down to the earth due to his wounds but his opponent has mercy and takes him to his tower to care for his wounds. Lancelot comes and challenges Plenorius, defeating him and freeing his prisoners, among them the king of Scotland. Plenorius' life is spared and he is asked to join Arthur's knights of the round table.

Chapter 9:
Plenorius and LCMT are made knights of the round table. LCMT is now called by his true naem, Breunes le noyre, and marries the damsel Maledysaunt. The text then says that LCMT and Plenorius both prove to be noble knights of king Arthur and that LCMT avenges his father, “as the frensshe book maketh mencyon”.

Chapter 10:
We leave LCMT and turn our attention to Tristram who is in Brittany when (la beale) Isoud understands that he is married and sends him a letter via her maiden Bragwayne. She begs of him to come to her court and bring Isoud (la blanche maynys) with him. Tristram asks Sir Kehydiuswhether he would go with him to Cornwall secretly. Tristram, Kehydius, Dame Bragwayne and Gouernaile, Tristram's squire begin their journey, when the wind blows their boat on the coast of Northwales. They meet a knight and challenge him to a joust. The unknown knight wounds Kehydius, throws Tristram out of his saddle and even matches him on foot. Tristram stops the fight and asks the knight for his name.

Chapter 11:
The knight introduces himself as Lamorak. Both decide to end their fight, both offering to be the one to yield. Both swear never to fight each other again.

Chapter 12:
Palomydes, who is on a quest to hunt a strange beast named Glatysaunt, that has a head like a serpend, a body like a lybard (?) and buttocks like a lyon, meets Tristram and Lamorak. They joust an he smites both of them down and continues his way without giving them the chance to fight him on foot. Tristram and Lamorak part at a crossing. Lamorak comes to a chapel where he hears Melyagaunce, king Bademagus' son, mourn about his love to queen Gueneuer. Lamorak rides through a forest where he meets two knights laying in waiting for Lancelot, whom they accuse to have slain their brother.

Chapter 13:
Lancelot arrives and the two knight hide. Lamorak calls them cowards and that it is a shame that they take the high order of knighthood. Lamorak meets Melyagaunce again and the two quarrel about the question, who is the most beautiful woman in the world. Mel. Insists on Gueneuer, Lamorak names queen Morgause of Orkney, the mother of Gawaine. They fight. Lancelot arrives and rides between them, demanding them to stop as they are both knights of Arthur.

Chapter 14:
Melagaunce and Lamorak tell Lancelot about their quarrel and then depart in different directions. Lamorak meets Arthur without recognizing him. They joust and Lamorak is thrown from his horse and wounded. Arthur does not stop to fight with him on foot, so they don't recognize each other.

Chapter 15:
Tristram meets Kay, Tor and Brandyles. They joust a little and then become friends.

Chapter 16:
A lady named Annowre, a great sorceress, comes to Arthur in Cardif and asks him to ride with her into a perilous forest. When he accompanies her she brings him to her tower and desires “to lye by him” but the king “remembry ym of his lady and wold not lye by her for no crafte that she coude doo” [MORAL] As the sorceress sees that she can not force her will upon Arthur, she seeks to destroy him. She asks him to ride into the forest with his knights every day to see him slain. The lady of the lake, Nyneue, understands that Arthur is in danger and seeks Tristram to help him. Tristram rescues Arthur but noes not reveal his identity to him.

Chapter 17:
Tristram and his companions travel to Cornwall. They secretly enter king Mark's castle in Cornwall, to see (la beale) Isoud. Tristram and (la beale) Isoud are full of joy. [Insert: As the French book says] Kehydius fell love with Isoud when he first saw her and wrote her many loveletters and poems since then. Tristram finds the letters and, thus, discovers that Kehydius is in love with (la beale) Isoud. He attacks him with his sword. Kehydius saves himself by jumping out of the window. This is noticed by king Mark, who happens to play chess under the window. Kehydius manages to talk his way out of the situation.

Chapter 18:
Assuming that his secret entry has been discovered, Tristram arms himself and rides out of the castle openly, thereby encountering and unhorsing the knight Gyngalin, Gawayn's son. Tristram gets mad due to his sorrow and leaves his horse and armour aside and starts to live half naked in the fellowship of herdsmen and shepherds. A lady from a castle sends him a harp and food.

Chapter 19:
Dagonet, King Arthur's fool, comes across the mad Tristram. Tristram puts him and his squires into a well and humiliates him, while shepherds laught at Dagonet. Tristram runs naked in the woods for half a year. Palomides finds out about Tristram's madness. Kehydius and Palomides set off to look for Tristram. They encounter King Mark. Palomides wants to avenge Tristram and fight Mark, but Mark refuses. Mark and Palomides reconciliate.
Dagonet tries to attack the shephers, but Tristram attacks him and his squire and defeats them. Dagonet goes to King Mark and tells him of the incident. Mark claims that the madman is a Sir Matto le Breune.

Chapter 20:
Sir Andred spreads tumours that Tristram is dead and that he asked Mark to make Andred the lord of the country of de Liones. La Beale Isoud attempts to commit suicide, but she is stopped by King Mark, who puts her in a tower.
Tristram slays the giant Tauleas and rescues Sir Dinant.

Chapter 21:
Dinant informs King Mark of the giant-killing madman. King Mark goes to the forest and finds Tristram lying with a sword at his side. King Mark takes Tristram to Tintagil. Nobody recognises Tristram. Tristram is cared for in the castle. La Beale Isoud goes looking for the strange madman, but when she sees Tristram she doesn't recognise him until her little dog recognises him. La Beale Isoud asks Tristram to leave Cornwall fearing King Mark's rage.

Chapter 22:
Tristram gets banished from Cornwall for 10 years. Sir Dinadan arrives from the court of King Arthur looking for Tristram. Tristram and Dinadan joust, Dinadan is defeated. Dinadan joins Tristram's fellowship. Tristram rebukes King Mark for his ingratitude and leaves.

Chapter 23:
Tristram and Dinadan joust with Bors, Ector, Bleoberis and Driant.
A damosel encounters first Tristram, then the other four knights. The damosel knows of a plot by Morgan le Fay to have Launcelot ambushed and killed by 30 knights. The four knights agree to help the damosel. They promise to be close to the place where the ambush would be to help Launcelot if needed. Tristram promises to help Launcelot as well, but Dinadan fears for his life.
When the four knights see the 30 knights, they do not attack each other. When Tristram arrives, he slays the majority of the 30 knights. Bors invites Tristram to his lodging, but Tristram refuses and keeps his incognito.

Chapter 24:
Tristram and Dinadan come to a castle, where the custom is that they have to fight and defeat two knights to get admitted to the castle. Dinadan fears for his life again, but Tristram insists they fight the two knights. They defeat the knights and get into the castle. Shortly after Palomides and Gaheris arrive at the castle. According to the custom, Tristram and Dinadan hae to fight them now. They joust with the two, but Dinadan refuses to fight on foot. Dinadan leaves the three at the castle and departs, cursing the day he joined Tristram. Tristram overtakes Dinadan and they come to a priory.

Chapter 25:
A knight at the priory, Pellinore, wants to find out Tristram's name and jousts with him. Tristram defeats him. Tristram learns of a great tournament between King Carados of Scotland and the King of Northgalis (North Wales) held at the Castle of Maidens. Tristram jousts with Sir Kay and Sir Sagramore le Desirous and defeats both. Gawaine rescues Tristram from Morgan la Fay's plot to kill Tristram. Morgan la Fay had sent out 30 ladies to lure Tristram and/or Launcelot to a castle where they would be ambushed by 30 knights. Gawaine marvels at Morgan le Fay's immorality and wonders how such an evil person can be a queen.

Chapter 26:
Tristam and Gawaine challenge Morgan le Fay and her 30 knights, but they dare not come out. Gawaine and Tristram encounter Kay and Sagramore. They see Sir Breuse Saunce Piteé chasing a lady to kill her. Gawaine tries to stop him, but he is nearly killed. Tristram attempts to revenge Gawaine, but Breuse gets away. (Tristram's shield of Cornwall is already well-known.)

Chapter 27:
Dame Bragwaine finds Tristram and gives him letters form La Beale Isoud (At first, Bragwaine does not recognise Tristram). Tristram stays with the old knight Sir Pellounes (All the while Tristram keeps his incognito). Pellounes finds out that Sir Persides, his son, has returned home. Sir Launcelot starts bearing the shield of Cornwall. Tristram meets Persides. Persides tells him that he was once defeated by Tristram in Cornwall. Tristram and Persides see Palomides ride to a tournament.

Chapter 28:
Tristram and Persides ride to a tournament to see Palomides' deeds. Persides jousts with Palomides and gets knocked down. Palomides takes advantage of Tristram's unreadiness and brings him down, too. Tristram wants revenge, but Palomides says he will get his revenge the next day at the Castle of Maidens. Dinadan comes by and comments on Tristram's fall. Tristram watches Launcelot joust with Sir Briant of North Wales. Launcelot bears the shield of Cornwall. The King of Norhtgalis demands that Palomides joust with Launcelot.

Chapter 29:
Launcelot jousts with Palomides and defeats him. Launcelot gets attacked by 12 knights of Northgalis who want to prevent him from winning the big tournament. Launcelot defeats the 12 knights, but cannot participate in the first day of the tournament, because he is tired.

Chapter 30:
Tristram gets a black shield with no sign on it to keep his incognito. Tristram and Persides go to the big tournament and join the party of King Carados of Scotland. Persides almost gets slain by Bleoberis and Gaheris of North Wales. Tristram avenges Persides by defeating the two. The King with the Hundred Knights gets angry with Tristram and helps Bleoberis and Gaheris. Tristram gets attacked by his former companion Dinadan. Tristram defeats him, and Dinadan swears never to fight him again. At the end of the day, Tristram gets the prize. He is called the Knight with the Black Shield.

Chapter 31:
The next day Palomides joins the party of King Arthur. He sends a damosel to Tristram to find out what his name is (Tristram is still incognito). Tristram will not tell his name. He declares that he will fight against any party that Palomides has joined, so he joins the party of the King of Northgalis. Tristram wreaks havoc among his opponents, smiting down Sir Kay and many others. Launcelot desires to fight Tristram, but his party (20 men) is attacked by the 100 knights of the King with the Hundred Knights and 100 knights of the King of Northgalis. Tristram asks the King with the Hundred Knights to stop the fight. the king agrees.

Chapter 32:
Sir Launcelot wants to meet Tristram, but Tristram has already withdrawn to the forest. The King of Northgalis gets the prize of the day, as Tristram was on his side. The lords and the ladies cry out that the Knight with the Black Shield has won the prize. King Arthur promises to join the tournament the next day. Bragwaine sets out to look for Tristram. She finds Palomides in the forrest, tied to a tree. Palomides frees himself, but he is despaired. Bragwaine finds Tristram and tells him of Palomides. Tristam rides to Palomides and comforts him.

Chapter 33:
The next day King Arthur joins the tournament and puts the King of Northgalis and the King with the Hundred Knights to the worse. Tristram jousts with Palomides again and defeats him. King Arthur challenges Tristram. Tristram defeats Arthur in a joust. Then Arthur takes Tristram by surprise and knocks him down, too. Tristam beats Palomides twice more. Tristam and King Arthur fight each other with their swords. Tristram does more deeds and all cry upon the Knight with the Black Shield.

Chapter 34:
Launcelot and Tristam joust. Tristram's spear breaks, but Launcelot give Tristram a nearly mortal wound with his; both stay in their saddles. Tristram retreats from the field. Dinadan follows him fearin Tristram would die. Palomydes follows Tristram intending to kill him. Dinanan offers to fight Palomydes for Tristram, but Tristram defeats Palomydes himself. He also beats Gaheris. Launcelot wins the field that day in Tristram's absence, but refuses to take the prize and declares Tristram to be the winner.

Chapter 35:
All people declare Launcelot the winner, but he refuses the prize and praises Tristram instead. Tristram is not to be found. Gaheris tells Launcelot and King Arthur how Palomydes attempted to take advantage of Tristram's wound. Launcelot and King Arthur disapprove of Palomydes' dishonourable behaviour. Palomydes turns almost mad and follows Tristram. He nearly drowns after he makes his horse jump over a river.

Chapter 36:
Palomydes starts crying and a damsel crosses his way that was sent by Sir Gawayne and his brother to go to the castle, where Mordret – who had been hurt in a fight against Palomydes – and Tristam are. She talks to Palomydes and has a conversation about him with Tristam, as she reaches the castle. Because of the fact that he knows Palomydes as a very good knight, he invites him to come to his castle.
King Arthur speaks with Lancelot about the need of finding Sir Tristam. Then they (Arthur, Lancelot, Ector, Bors, Lucan Ywaine and others) swear on the bible to find him and ride different ways. On his way Lancelot meets a woman who is in fear to be killed by Sir Breuse. So he helps her and makes Breuse fleeing away.

Chapter 37:
Sir Lucas comes to the castle, where Tristam is, too. He tells the porter to be a knight of the Round Table, but the lord of the castle Darras’ nephew Daname doesn’t let him in and wants to fight with him. Then follow some fights:

Daname vs. Lucas (D. falls from his horse)
Dynadam vs. Lucas (D. gets hurt)
Tristam vs. Ywain

Then Ywaine comes to the castle, too and is very wroth about Lucas being hurt. So he fights with Tristam, too and sends Lucas to an abbey for his wounds to be healed.
Meanwhile a damsel tells Darras that a knight with a black shield had killed his three sons. Because of the fact that they find a black shield in Tristam’s chamber, Tristam, Palomydes and Dynadan are put into prison. There Tristam gets very sick.

Chapter 38:
Gaheryse goes to Cornwall and comes to the castle of King Mark, where he is invited to eat. They talk about a tournament where a knight with a black shield was the best of all knights: Tristam. Then the king gets afraid of Tristam to be better than he is. Then the king makes a feast and Ywaine appears, who wants to fight with anyone of them, but nobody wants to, instead of Andret who loses the fight. Then the king wants Dinas to do so and Ywein reminds him to be a knight of the Round Table and isn’t allowed to fight against another member. Then he rides away but is followed by Mark who nearly kills him. Tristam doesn’t recognize him and tells this to Sir Kay who crosses his way. As Andret appears, who is searching for Mark, Sir Kay accuses him to have done that.

Chapter 39:
King Mark asks Sir Kay if he wants to do the best adventure ever and he wants to, but is warned by Gaheris not to do so, but he doesn’t care. So Gaheris waits on a way Kays has to cross and tells him that he shouldn’t go on his own, because Mark has got bad intentions. So the both of them go to a sea, where Mark and Andret appear as anonymous knights and fight with Gaheris and Kay. As Andret falls from his horse he tells them that they are King Mark and Andret. Then Gaheris tells them to be honourless and should be killed, but they don’t kill them and let King Mark swear to be friendly to Tristam if he should meet him.
Then they ride to Logrys where they meet Sir Lancelot, they tell what happened and are very happy.

Chapter 40:
They cannot find Tristam and Bragwaine goes back to Cornwall. Tristam is still in prison and is hated by Palomydes but they decide not to fight. Then a damsel tells them that they are not going to die. Tristam’s sickness gets worse and worse and the damsel recognizes that and tells this to Darras who decides to let him free. Being freed from prison, Tristam and Darras speak about the legitimating of having killed Darras three sons because of the law of knighthood. Then Tristam doesn’t leave the castle until he isn’t ill anymore.

Chapter 41:
Sir Dinadam meets a damsel who is big sorrow because her brother had been killed 5 days ago by Sir Breuris Same Pité and since then has been kept under his will. So he fights with Breuris and makes him flee away.
Then he brings her to a castle she wants to go to and rides away. Then he comes to a castle where Morgan la Fay doesn’t want to let him go away until she gets to know his name and where he comes from. Then he tells her his name and she wants him to attend a tournament and to fight with a special shield (a knight stands on the heads of a queen and a king: could be Lancelot who stands on Guenever’s and Arthur’s heads). She doesn’t want to tell him what the picture on the shield is about.

Chapter 42:
Sir Tristam rides with the shield to the tournament. Meanwhile Sir Hemison – Queen la Fays knight- is willing to follow him, but the queen doesn’t want him to, because she is afraid that he could die. But he doesn’t care, fight against Tristam and nearly dies.
Before he dies he asks a passing knight to bring him to Morgan la Fay, because he wants to speak to her before he dies, but as she comes to him he is already dead.
Tristam comes to a castle where the lord of the castle tells him that Sir Ector has been there, too. Then they talk about who belong to the best knights ever, like Sir Lancelot. But Tristam doesn’t include himself and rides away. Then he comes to a castle with 500 tents.

Chapter 43:
There King Arthur and his knights fight against the Scottish and the Irish and Tristam fights very well, so that king Arthur asks himself who that good knight might be and what his shield is all about. Then a damsel of La Fay appears and tells him that the shield should warn him of dishonour. Then she disappears and nobody knows where she came from. Then Queen Guenever speaks with Sir Ector about her fear according Lancelot, but King Arthur is just interested in who that good knight could be and doesn’t care about the rest. Then he decides not no let him escape and asks him with Ywain from whom he got that shield and he answers that he got it from Arthur’s sister: La Fay.

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Le Morte Darthur Book 9

2007-12-07T13:56:58Z

Matthias:

Book 9

Chapter1:
A young man comes to Athur's court and asks to be knighted. He wears a “ryche clothe of gold” that sits awkwardly upon him, as if it was struck by a sword. He gives his name as Breunor le noyre, but is called “cote male tayle” by the seneshal in mockery. As the king asks him why he wears that coat, the would-be knight replies that it belonged to his father, a noble knight, who was struck dead in his sleep by an old enemy, wearing that coat at the time of his death. Since then he wears the coat as a reminder of his fathers death until he has taken his revenge. Sir Lamorak and Sir Gaherys speak in favour of the aspirant, claiming that he is of good countenance and may well become a worthy knight just as Sir Lancelor du lake. The stranger is allowed to stay at Athur's court and saves Queen Gueneuer's life when she is attacked by a lion during a hunting trip. Athur rewards him by knighting him and the new knight asks to be called by no other name than “La cote male tayle” from now on.

Chapter 2:
A damsel comes to Athur's court, carrying a “great black shield with a white hand holding a sword emblazoned upon it. This shield, she reports, belongs to a knight who, while already dying after a duel with another knight, asked her to bring the shield to the king's court to call for a noble knight to take the shield and with it the quest that its dying owner was no longer able to fulfil. “Le Cote male tayle” takes the shield and the quest and takes his leave from Arthur to follows the damsel.

Chapter 3:
Sir Kaye orders the king's fool, Sir Dagonet, to dress and arm like a knight and ride after “La cote male tayle”
(LCMT) and challenge him for a joust. The fool does a s he is told and is smitten down from his horse, but the damsel (who now is named Maledysaut) mocks LCMT, that this is his standing at Arthur's court that a fool is sent to joust with him. LCMT encounters two other knights, Sir Bleoberys and Sir Palomydes, both of whom joust with him and throw him out of his saddle but refuse to fight him on foot. Sir Mordred, Gawain's brother, arrives and falls “in the felauship with the damoysel maledysaunt. They come to a castle called Orgulos, where every passing knight has to joust or become either prisoner or leave his horse and harness behind. Two knights come out of the castle and challenge Mordred and LCMT. Mordred is thrown from his horse, but LCMT wounds one knight badly and follows the other into the castle where he slays him.

Chapter 4:
In the castle, LCMT is attacked by a hundred knights. He ushers his horse out of the gate of the castle, to avoid it being slain in the fight. He then puts his back to a wall of a lady's Chamber, determined to rather fight to the death here than endure more rebukes by the damsel Maledysaunt. Meanwhile, the lady, who own the chamber, notices the fight and finds LCMT's horse, tying it to the gate from the outside. She tells LCMT where to find his horse and he fights his way out of the castle, killing twelve knights in the end.

Chapter 5:
Lancelot hears of LCMT's deeds and that he undertook the adventure of the black shield. He tells his fellows that bit was a shame to give to such a young knight a quest that may well lead to his destruction. He rides after LCMT to accompany him. Mordred leaves as he sees Lancelot arriving. Whenever the damsel rebukes LCMT, Lancelot answers for him. The damsel stops rebuking LCMT and rebukes Lancelot instead. While riding with LCMT and the damsel, Lancelot receives a letter (delivered by yet another damsel) from Tritstan, in which Tristan asks him to excuse him from the weeding of Isould. Lancelot leaves LCMT and the damsel to oversee that letter and to write another one to Tristan. Meanwhile, LCMT and the damsel arrive at a castle called Pendragon, where they are met by six knights. They joust with LCMT and take him prisoner. Lancelot, in the meantime, delivers the letter (together with the post-damsel) and then rides after LCMT, meeting, jousting with and beating up another of those bridge-knights, thereby discovering that this one is no other than Nerouens de lyle, who was knighted by Lancelot himself. Nerouens tells Lancelot of a knight with a damsel being taken prisoner in the aforesaid castle.

Chapter 6:
Lancelot rushes to the rescue, butchering the six knights in front of the castle and beating the lord of the castle into submission. The lord is named Bryan des les isles and happens to be a great enemy of Arthur, and hold 30 of Arthur's knights prisoner (including LCMT) who are now set free. LCMT and the damsel understand that their companion and rescuer is none other as Lancelot.

Chapter 7:
The damsel apologises for rebuking Lancelot and reveals that she rebuked LCMT not out of hatred but out of love – fearing for his life because of his youth and, thus, trying to drive him away from her for his own protection. They come to a fortified bridge, where only one of them is allowed to enter. LCMT volunteers and starts to hack his way through the knights he finds on the other side. Tired and wounded from his fights, he then meets an knight called Plenorius and jousts with him. Lancelot and the damsel witness the fight (from the other side?).

Chapter 8:
LCMT sinks down to the earth due to his wounds but his opponent has mercy and takes him to his tower to care for his wounds. Lancelot comes and challenges Plenorius, defeating him and freeing his prisoners, among them the king of Scotland. Plenorius' life is spared and he is asked to join Arthur's knights of the round table.

Chapter 9:
Plenorius and LCMT are made knights of the round table. LCMT is now called by his true naem, Breunes le noyre, and marries the damsel Maledysaunt. The text then says that LCMT and Plenorius both prove to be noble knights of king Arthur and that LCMT avenges his father, “as the frensshe book maketh mencyon”.

Chapter 10:
We leave LCMT and turn our attention to Tristram who is in Brittany. He receives a letter from Isoud, begging him to come to her court.

Chapter 11:
Tristram and Lamorak introduce themselves and decide to end their fight, both offering to be the one to yield. Both swear never to fight each other again.

Chapter 12:
Palomydes, who is on a quest to hunt a strange beast named Glatysaunt, meets Tristram and Lamorak, smiting both of them down and continuing his way without giving them the chance to fight him on foot. Tristram and Lamorak part at a crossing. Lamorak comes to a chapel where he hears Melyagaunce, king Bademagus' son, mourn about his love to queen Gueneuer. Lamorak rides through a forest where he meets two knights laying in waiting for Lancelot, whom they accuse to have slain their brother.

Chapter 13:
Lancelot arrives and the two knight hide. Lamorak calls them cowards and that it is a shame that they take the high order of knighthood. Lamorak meets Melyagaunce again and the two quarrel about the question, who is the most beautiful woman in the world. Mel. Insists on Gueneuer, Lamorak names queen Morgause of Orkney, the mother of Gawaine. They fight. Lancelot arrives and rides between them, demanding them to stop as they are both knights of Arthur.

Chapter 14:
Melagaunce and Lamorak tell Lancelot about their quarrel and then depart in different directions. Lamorak meets Arthur without recognizing him. They joust and Lamorak is thrown from his horse and wounded. Arthur does not stop to fight with him on foot, so they don't recognize each other.

Chapter 15:
Tristram meets Kay, Tor and Brandyles. They joust a little and then become friends.

Chapter 16:
A lady named Annowre, a great sorceress, comes to Arthur in Cardif and asks him to ride with her into a perilous forest. When he accompanies her she brings him to her tower and desires “to lye by him” but the king “remembry ym of his lady and wold not lye by her for no crafte that she coude doo” [MORAL] As the sorceress sees that she can not force her will upon Arthur, she seeks to destroy him. She asks him to ride into the forest with his knights every day to see him slain. The lady of the lake, Nyneue, understands that Arthur is in danger and seeks Tristram to help him. Tristram rescues Arthur but noes not reveal his identity to him.

Chapter 17:
Tristram and Kedius, his companion privately enter king Mark's castle in Cornwall, to see Isoud. There Tristram finds out that Kedius is in love with Isoud and attacks him with his sword. Kedius saves himself by jumping out of the window, but this is notices by king Mark.

Chapter18:
Assuming that his secret entry has been discovered, Tristram arms himself and rides out of the castle openly, thereby encountering and unhorsing the knight Gyngalin, Gawayn's son. Tristram gets mad due to his sorrow and leaves his horse and armour aside and starts to live half naked in the fellowship of herdsmen and shepherds. A lady from a castle sends him a harp and food.

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Chapter 19:
Dagonet, King Arthur's fool, comes across the mad Tristram. Tristram puts him and his squires into a well and humiliates him, while shepherds laught at Dagonet. Tristram runs naked in the woods for half a year. Palomides finds out about Tristram's madness. Kehydius and Palomides set off to look for Tristram. They encounter King Mark. Palomides wants to avenge Tristram and fight Mark, but Mark refuses. Mark and Palomides reconciliate.
Dagonet tries to attack the shephers, but Tristram attacks him and his squire and defeats them. Dagonet goes to King Mark and tells him of the incident. Mark claims that the madman is a Sir Matto le Breune.

Chapter 20:
Sir Andred spreads tumours that Tristram is dead and that he asked Mark to make Andred the lord of the country of de Liones. La Beale Isoud attempts to commit suicide, but she is stopped by King Mark, who puts her in a tower.
Tristram slays the giant Tauleas and rescues Sir Dinant.

Chapter 21:
Dinant informs King Mark of the giant-killing madman. King Mark goes to the forest and finds Tristram lying with a sword at his side. King Mark takes Tristram to Tintagil. Nobody recognises Tristram. Tristram is cared for in the castle. La Beale Isoud goes looking for the strange madman, but when she sees Tristram she doesn't recognise him until her little dog recognises him. La Beale Isoud asks Tristram to leave Cornwall fearing King Mark's rage.

Chapter 22:
Tristram gets banished from Cornwall for 10 years. Sir Dinadan arrives from the court of King Arthur looking for Tristram. Tristram and Dinadan joust, Dinadan is defeated. Dinadan joins Tristram's fellowship. Tristram rebukes King Mark for his ingratitude and leaves.

Chapter 23:
Tristram and Dinadan joust with Bors, Ector, Bleoberis and Driant.
A damosel encounters first Tristram, then the other four knights. The damosel knows of a plot by Morgan le Fay to have Launcelot ambushed and killed by 30 knights. The four knights agree to help the damosel. They promise to be close to the place where the ambush would be to help Launcelot if needed. Tristram promises to help Launcelot as well, but Dinadan fears for his life.
When the four knights see the 30 knights, they do not attack each other. When Tristram arrives, he slays the majority of the 30 knights. Bors invites Tristram to his lodging, but Tristram refuses and keeps his incognito.

Chapter 24:
Tristram and Dinadan come to a castle, where the custom is that they have to fight and defeat two knights to get admitted to the castle. Dinadan fears for his life again, but Tristram insists they fight the two knights. They defeat the knights and get into the castle. Shortly after Palomides and Gaheris arrive at the castle. According to the custom, Tristram and Dinadan hae to fight them now. They joust with the two, but Dinadan refuses to fight on foot. Dinadan leaves the three at the castle and departs, cursing the day he joined Tristram. Tristram overtakes Dinadan and they come to a priory.

Chapter 25:
A knight at the priory, Pellinore, wants to find out Tristram's name and jousts with him. Tristram defeats him. Tristram learns of a great tournament between King Carados of Scotland and the King of Northgalis (North Wales) held at the Castle of Maidens. Tristram jousts with Sir Kay and Sir Sagramore le Desirous and defeats both. Gawaine rescues Tristram from Morgan la Fay's plot to kill Tristram. Morgan la Fay had sent out 30 ladies to lure Tristram and/or Launcelot to a castle where they would be ambushed by 30 knights. Gawaine marvels at Morgan le Fay's immorality and wonders how such an evil person can be a queen.

Chapter 26:
Tristam and Gawaine challenge Morgan le Fay and her 30 knights, but they dare not come out. Gawaine and Tristram encounter Kay and Sagramore. They see Sir Breuse Saunce Piteé chasing a lady to kill her. Gawaine tries to stop him, but he is nearly killed. Tristram attempts to revenge Gawaine, but Breuse gets away. (Tristram's shield of Cornwall is already well-known.)

Chapter 27:
Dame Bragwaine finds Tristram and gives him letters form La Beale Isoud (At first, Bragwaine does not recognise Tristram). Tristram stays with the old knight Sir Pellounes (All the while Tristram keeps his incognito). Pellounes finds out that Sir Persides, his son, has returned home. Sir Launcelot starts bearing the shield of Cornwall. Tristram meets Persides. Persides tells him that he was once defeated by Tristram in Cornwall. Tristram and Persides see Palomides ride to a tournament.

Chapter 28:
Tristram and Persides ride to a tournament to see Palomides' deeds. Persides jousts with Palomides and gets knocked down. Palomides takes advantage of Tristram's unreadiness and brings him down, too. Tristram wants revenge, but Palomides says he will get his revenge the next day at the Castle of Maidens. Dinadan comes by and comments on Tristram's fall. Tristram watches Launcelot joust with Sir Briant of North Wales. Launcelot bears the shield of Cornwall. The King of Norhtgalis demands that Palomides joust with Launcelot.