Book 3, Canto 4 Summary

Britomart and Red Cross continue for a bit, but eventually part ways. Britomart comes to the seashore and meets a knight who refuses her passage. This is Martinell, a knight told by his mother to avoid women for he would be killed by a strange virgin someday. Britomart quickly dispatches him, leaving him on the beach for dead, and continues on, scorning the many jewels that litter this part of the beach.

Martinell's mother, Cymoent, hears of his defeat and quickly collects him, speeding down to the bottom of the ocean (she is a sea nymph) to ask Tryphon for aid. The tale then shifts to Arthur and Guyon as they chase after the maiden in the woods. The two part at a fork in the road, and it is Arthur who spies the girl in the woods. He tries to...