Blamore

Blamore is a knight of the Round Table in Le Morte d'Arthur, brother to Bleoberis and kinsman to Sir Launcelot. He is principally attested in the trial by combat against Sir Tristram, where he serves as champion in a treason accusation against King Anguish of Ireland.

When King Anguish is summoned to court, "Sir Blamore de Ganis appealed the King of Ireland of treason, that he had slain a cousin of his in his court in Ireland by treason" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Chapter XX). Blamore's reputation precedes him: "It is noised that Blamore is the hardier knight" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Chapter XXII). Before the combat, his brother Bleoberis encourages him: "have ye no doubt of me, for I shall never shame none of my blood" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Chapter XXII).

In the fight itself, Sir Tristram unhorses Blamore, who responds with characteristic stubbornness: "Then anon Sir Blamore avoided his horse and pulled out his sword and threw his shield afore him, and bade Sir Tristram alight: For though an horse hath failed me, I trust to God the earth will not fail me" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Chapter XXII). Defeated, Blamore asks Tristram to kill him rather than live in shame: "I require thee, as thou art a noble knight, and the best knight that ever I found, that thou wilt slay me out, for I would not live to be made lord of all the earth, for I have liefer die with worship than live with shame" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Chapter XXIII). Tristram spares him, and "Sir Blamore and Sir Tristram kissed together" and swore never to fight each other again (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book VIII, Chapter XXIII).

Blamore also appears in tournament, where "Sir Blamore had such a fall that he had almost broken his neck, for the blood brast out at nose, mouth, and his ears, but at the last he recovered well by good surgeons" (Le Morte d'Arthur, Book X, Chapter XLIV).