Book 8 Summary

A king named Melodias has a pregnant wife who he loves very much. Another lady loves Melodias, and she puts a spell on Melodias so that as he was hunting he came to her castle where she imprisons him. His pregnant wife searches for him, goes into labor and delivers Tristram before she dies.

Melodias eventually marries this woman, who tries to poison Tristram so that he will not gain the crown and it would go to one of her children. Melodias finds out and condemns her to be burned, but Tristram asks for the life of his stepmother. His father assents, but sends Tristram away. He takes his teacher and tutor, Gouvernail, into France, where he learns how to play the harp and all other musical instruments and where he becomes an expert in hunting and hawking.

King Anguish of Ireland demands...