night's name was Perimones, and the Blue
Knight's name was Sir Persant of Inde. These three brethren told King
Arthur how they were overcome by a knight that a damosel had with her,
and called him Beaumains. Jesu, said the king, I marvel what knight he
is, and of what lineage he is come. He was with me a twelvemonth, and
poorly and shamefully he was fostered, and Sir Kay in scorn named
him Beaumains. So right as the king stood so talking with these three
brethren, there came Sir Launcelot du Lake, and told the king that there
was come a goodly lord with six hundred knights with him.

Then the king went out of Carlion, for there was the feast, and there
came to him this lord, and saluted the king in a goodly manner. What
will ye, said King Arthur, and what is your errand? Sir, he said, my
name is the Red Knight of the Red Launds, but my name is Sir Ironside;
and sir, wit ye well, here I am sent to you of a knight that is called
Beaumains, for he won me in plain battle hand for hand, and so did never
no knight but he, that ever had the better of me this thirty winter; the
which commanded to yield me to you at your will. Ye are welcome, said
the king, for ye have been long a great foe to me and my court, and now
I trust to God I shall so entreat you that ye shall be my friend. Sir,
both I and these five hundred knights shall always be at your summons to
do you service as may lie in our powers. Jesu mercy, said King Arthur, I
am much beholden unto that knight that hath put so his body in devoir to
worship me and my court. And as to thee, Ironside, that art called the
Red Knight of the Red Launds, thou art called a perilous knight; and if
thou wilt hold of me I shall worship thee and make thee knight of the
Table Round; but then thou must be no more a murderer. Sir, as to that,
I have promised unto Sir Beaumains never more to use such customs, for
all the shameful customs that I used I did at the request of a lady
that I loved; and therefore I must go unto Sir Launcelot, and unto Sir
Gawaine, and ask them forgiveness of the evil will I had unto them; for
all that I put to death was all only for the love of Sir Launcelot and
of Sir Gawaine. They be here now, said the king, afore thee, now may ye
say to them what ye will. And then he kneeled down unto Sir Launcelot,
and to Sir Gawaine, and prayed them of forgiveness of his enmity that
ever he had against them.

CHAPTER XXIV. How King Arthur pardoned them, and demanded of t