_How Beaumains came to king Arthur’s court and demanded three petitions
of king Arthur._
When Arthur held his Round Table most fully, it fortuned that he
commanded that the high feast of Pentecost should be holden at a city
and a castle, the which in those days was called Kink-Kenadon, upon the
sands that marched nigh Wales. So ever the king had a custom that at
the feast of Pentecost, in especial afore other feasts in the year, he
would not go that day to meat until he had heard or seen of a great
marvel. And for that custom all manner of strange adventures came
before Arthur as at that feast before all other feasts. And so Sir
Gawaine, a little tofore noon of the day of Pentecost, espied at a
window three men upon horseback, and a dwarf on foot. And so the three
men alight and the dwarf kept their horses, and one of the three men
was higher than the other twain by a foot and a half. Then Sir Gawaine
went unto the king and said, Sir, go to your meat, for here at the hand
come strange adventures. So Arthur went unto his meat with many other
kings. And there were all the knights of the Round Table, save those
that were prisoners or slain at a recounter. Then at the high feast
evermore they should be fulfilled the whole number of an hundred and
fifty, for then was the Round Table fully complished. Right so came
into the hall two men well beseen and richly, and upon their shoulders
there leaned the goodliest young man and the fairest that ever they all
saw, and he was large and long and broad in the shoulders, and well
visaged, and the fairest and the largest handed that ever man saw, but
he fared as though he might not go nor bear himself, but if he leaned
upon their shoulders. Anon as Arthur saw him there was made peace and
room, and right so they went with him unto the high dais, without
saying of any words. Then this much young man pulled him aback, and
easily stretched up straight, saying, King Arthur, God you bless, and
all your fair fellowship, and in especial the fellowship of the Table
Round. And for this cause I am come hither, to pray you and require you
to give me three gifts, and they shall not be unreasonably asked, but
that ye may worshipfully and honourably grant them me, and to you no
great hurt nor loss. And the first done and gift I will ask now, and
the other two gifts I will ask this day twelvemonth wheresoever ye hold
your high feast. Now ask, said Arthur, and ye shall have your asking.
Now sir, this is my petition for this feast, that ye will give me meat
and drink sufficiently for this twelvemonth, and at that day I will ask
mine other two gifts. My fair son, said Arthur, ask better, I counsel
thee, for this is but a simple asking, for my heart giveth me to thee
greatly that thou art come of men of worship, and greatly my conceit
faileth me but thou shalt prove a man of right great worship. Sir, said
he, thereof be as it may, I have asked that I will ask. Well, said the
king, ye shall have meat and drink enough, I never defended that none,
neither my friend nor my foe. But what is thy name I would wit? I
cannot tell you, said he. That is marvel, said the king, that thou
knowest not thy name, and thou art the goodliest young man that ever I
saw. Then the king betook him to Sir Kay, the steward, and charged him
that he should give him of all manner of meats and drinks of the best,
and also that he had all manner of finding as though he were a lord’s
son. That shall little need, said Sir Kay, to do such cost upon him;
for I dare undertake he is a villain born, and never will make man, for
and he had come of gentlemen he would have asked of you horse and
armour, but such as he is, so he asketh. And since he hath no name, I
shall give him a name that shall be Beaumains, that is Fair-hands, and
into the kitchen I shall bring him, and there he shall have fat browis
every day, that he shall be as fat by the twelvemonth’s end as a pork
hog. Right so the two men departed, and beleft him to Sir Kay, that
scorned him and mocked him.