_How a young man came into the court of king Arthur, and how Sir Kay
called him in scorn La Cote Male Taile._
At the court of king Arthur there came a young man and bigly made, and
he was richly beseen, and he desired to be made knight of the king, but
his over garment sat overthwartly, howbeit it was rich cloth of gold.
What is your name? said king Arthur. Sir, said he, my name is Breunor
le Noire, and within short space ye shall know that I am of good kin.
It may well be, said Sir Kay the seneschal, but in mockage ye shall be
called La Cote Male Taile, that is as much as to say, the evil-shapen
coat. It is a great thing that thou askest, said the king; and for what
cause wearest thou that rich coat? tell me; for I can well think for
some cause it is. Sir, said he, I had a father a noble knight, and as
he rode on hunting, upon a day it happed him to lay him down to sleep.
And there came a knight that had been long his enemy. And when he saw
he was fast on sleep, he all to-hewed him; and this same coat had my
father on the same time, and that maketh this coat to sit so evil upon
me, for the strokes be on it as I found it, and never shall be amended
for me. Thus to have my father’s death in remembrance I wear this coat
till I be revenged; and because ye are called the most noblest king in
the world I come to you that ye should make me knight. Sir, said Sir
Lamorak and Sir Gaheris, it were well done to make him knight, for him
beseemeth well of person and of countenance, that he shall prove a good
man, and a good knight and a mighty; for Sir, and ye be remembered,
even such one was Sir Launcelot du Lake when he came first into this
court, and full few of us knew from whence he came, and now he is
proved the most man of worship in the world, and all your court and all
your Round Table is by Sir Launcelot worshipped and amended more than
by any knight now living. That is truth, said the king, and to-morrow
at your request I shall make him knight. So on the morrow there was an
hart found, and thither rode king Arthur with a company of his knights
to slay the hart. And this young man that Sir Kay named La Cote Male
Taile was there left behind with queen Guenever, and by sudden
adventure there was an horrible lion kept in a strong tower of stone,
and it happened that he at that time brake loose, and came hurling
afore the queen and her knights. And when the queen saw the lion, she
cried, and fled, and prayed her knights to rescue her. And there was
none of them all but twelve that abode, and all the other fled. Then
said La Cote Male Taile, Now I see well that all coward knights be not
dead: and therewithal he drew his sword and dressed him afore the lion.
And that lion gaped wide, and came upon him ramping to have slain him.
And he then smote him in the midst of the head such a mighty stroke
that it clave his head in sunder, and dashed to the earth. Then was it
told the queen how that the young man that Sir Kay named by scorn La
Cote Male Taile had slain the lion. With that the king came home. And
when the queen told him of that adventure he was well pleased, and
said, Upon pain of mine head he shall prove a noble man, and a faithful
knight, and true of his promise. Then the king forthwithal made him
knight. Now Sir, said this young knight, I require you and all the
knights of your court, that ye call me by none other name but La Cote
Male Taile; insomuch as Sir Kay so hath named me, so will I be called.
I assent me well thereto, said the king.