t I have put all these knights to death, and so I ensured
her to do all the villainy unto King Arthur's knights, and that I should
take vengeance upon all these knights. And, sir, now I will thee tell
that every day my strength increaseth till noon, and all this time have
I seven men's strength.

CHAPTER XVIII. 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 loath 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 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 Launds, all this will I do as ye command, and siker assurance and
borrows 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 Launds. 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 Launds yede unto the castle, and put him in
her grace. And so she received him upon sufficient surety, so all her
hurts were well restored of all that she could complain. And