ody
shirt, that were be-bled with old blood. When Alisander saw this he
stert aback 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 wore 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 eyen. And therefore this shall be
your charge that I shall give thee.

CHAPTER XXXV. How it was told to King Mark of Sir Alisander, and how he
would have slain Sir Sadok for saving his life.

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 leapt 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 Alisander was well horsed and harnessed. Then he jousted
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.

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
weened 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 slew 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's 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