_How the knight yielded him, and how Beaumains made him to go unto king
Arthur’s court, and to cry Sir Launcelot mercy._
Then came there many earls, and barons, and noble knights, and prayed
that knight to save his life, and take him to your prisoner: and all
they fell upon their knees and prayed him of mercy, and that he would
save his life, and, Sir, they all said, it were fairer of him to take
homage and fealty, and let him hold his lands of you, than for to slay
him: by his death ye shall have none advantage, and his misdeeds that
be done may not be undone; and therefore he shall make amends to all
parties, and we all will become your men, and do you homage and fealty.
Fair lords, said Beaumains, wit you well I am full loth to slay this
knight, nevertheless he hath done passing ill and shamefully. But
insomuch all that he did was at a lady’s request I blame him the less,
and so for your sake I will release him, that he shall have his life
upon this covenant, that he go within the castle and yield him there to
the lady, and if she will forgive and quit him, I will well; with this
that he make her amends of all the trespass he hath done against her
and her lands. And also, when that is done, that ye go unto the court
of king Arthur, and there that ye ask Sir Launcelot mercy, and Sir
Gawaine, for the evil will ye have had against them. Sir, said the red
knight of the red lawns, all this will I do as ye command, and certain
assurance and sureties ye shall have. And so then when the assurance
was made, he made his homage and fealty, and all those earls and barons
with him. And then the maiden Linet came to Sir Beaumains and unarmed
him, and searched his wounds, and stinted his blood, and in likewise
she did to the red knight of the red lawns. And there they sojourned
ten days in their tents, and the red knight made his lords and servants
to do all the pleasure that they might unto Sir Beaumains. And so
within a while the red knight of the red lawns went unto the castle and
put him in the lady Liones’ grace, and so she received him upon
sufficient surety; so all her hurts were well restored of all that she
could complain. And then he departed unto the court of king Arthur, and
there openly the red knight of the red lawns put him in the mercy of
Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawaine, and there he told openly how he was
overcome and by whom, and also he told all the battles from the
beginning unto the ending. Mercy, said king Arthur and Sir Gawaine, we
marvel much of what blood he is come, for he is a noble knight. Have ye
no marvel, said Sir Launcelot, for ye shall right well wit that he is
come of a full noble blood, and as for his might and hardiness there be
but few now living that is so mighty as he is, and so noble of prowess.
It seemeth by you, said king Arthur, that ye know his name, and from
whence he is come, and of what blood he is. I suppose I do so, said
Launcelot, or else I would not have given him the order of knighthood;
but he gave me such charge at that time that I should never discover
him until he required me, or else it be known openly by some other.