Therewith he was filled with a great rage and fury and was likewise overwhelmed with great fear lest, if Sir Tristram should escape from that castle with his life, he would reclaim those possessions that he, Sir Andred, had seized upon.

[Sidenote:  Sir Andres betrays Sir Tristram to King Mark] So therewith he withdrew himself from that balcony very softly, into the apartment behind.  And he sat down in that apartment for a little while as though not knowing rightly what to do.  But after a little while he arose and went to King Mark; and King Mark looked up and beheld him and said, “What news do you bring, Messire?” Thereunto Sir Andred made reply:  “Lord, know you who that madman is whom Sir Launcelot hath fetched hither?” King Mark said, “Nay, I know not who he is.”  But with that he fell to trembling throughout his entire body, for he began to bethink him who that madman was.  “Lord,” said Sir Andred, “it is Sir Tristram, and me-seems Sir Launcelot was aware who it was, and that he was plotting treason when he fetched him hither.”

At that King Mark smote his hands together and he cried in a terrible voice, “I know it!  I know it!” And then he said:  “Blind!  Blind!  How was it that I knew him not?” Then after a little he fell to laughing and he said to Sir Andred:  “Lo!  God hath assuredly delivered that traitor, Sir Tristram, into mine hands so that I may punish him for his treasons.  For, behold! he is here in our midst and he is altogether unarmed.  Go, Messire, with all haste, gather together such force as may be needful, and seize upon him and bind him so that he may do no further harm to any man.  Then let justice be executed upon him so soon as it is possible to do so.”  And Sir Andred said:  “Lord, it shall be done according to your demands and upon the instant.”

Therewith Sir Andred went forth from where the King was, and he armed himself in complete armor, and he gathered together a number of knights and esquires and he led them to that place where he knew Sir Tristram would be; and there he found Sir Tristram sitting sunk in thought.  And when Sir Tristram beheld those armed men come in thus upon him, he arose to defend himself.  But then Sir Andred cried out in a loud voice:  “Seize him ere he can strike and bind him fast, for he is unarmed and may do you no harm!”

[Sidenote:  The castle folk seize Sir Tristram] With that a dozen or more of those who were with Sir Andred flung themselves upon Sir Tristram, shouting and roaring like wild beasts.  And they bore him to the earth by numbers, and after a while, by dint of great effort, they held him and bound his hands together by the wrists.  Then they lifted up Sir Tristram and stood him upon his feet, and lo! his bosom heaved with his struggles, and his eyes were all shot with blood and his lips afroth with the fury of his fighting; and his clothes were torn in that struggle so that his body was half naked.  And they held him there, a knight in armor with a naked sword standing upon his right hand and another armed knight with a naked sword standing upon his left hand.