me, and charged me to yield unto your grace.”  “Thou art welcome,” said King Arthur, “for thou hast been long a foe to me and mine, and truly I am much beholden to the knight who sent thee.  And now, Sir Ironside, if thou wilt amend thy life and hold of me, I will entreat thee as a friend, and make thee Knight of the Round Table; but thou mayst no more be a murderer of noble knights.”  Then the Knight of the Redlands knelt to the king, and told him of his promise to Sir Beaumains to use never more such shameful customs; and how he had so done but at the prayer of a lady whom he loved.  Then knelt he to Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain, and prayed their pardon for the hatred he had borne them.

But the king and all the court marvelled greatly who Sir Beaumains was.  “For,” said the king, “he is a full noble knight.”  Then said Sir Lancelot, “Truly he is come of honourable blood, else had I not given him the order of knighthood; but he charged me that I should conceal his secret.”

Now as they talked thus it was told King Arthur that his sister, the Queen of Orkney, was come to the court with a great retinue of knights and ladies.  Then was there great rejoicing, and the king rose and saluted his sister.  And her sons, Sir Gawain, Sir Agravain, and Sir Gaheris knelt before her and asked her blessing, for during fifteen years last past they had not seen her.  Anon she said, “Where is my youngest son, Sir Gareth? for I know that he was here a twelvemonth with you, and that ye made a kitchen knave of him.  Then the king and all the knights knew that Sir Beaumains and Sir Gareth were the same.  “Truly,” said the king, “I knew him not.”  “Nor I,” said Sir Gawain and both his brothers.  Then said the king, “God be thanked, fair sister, that he is proved as worshipful a knight as any now alive, and by the grace of Heaven he shall be found forthwith if he be anywhere within these seven realms.”  Then said Sir Gawain and his brethren, “Lord, if ye will give us leave we will go seek him.”  But Sir Lancelot said, “It were better that the king should send a messenger to Dame Lyones and pray her to come hither with all speed, and she will counsel where ye shall find him.”  “It is well said,” replied the king; and sent a messenger quickly unto Dame Lyones.

When she heard the message she promised she would come forthwith, and told Sir Gareth what the messenger had said, and asked him what to do.  “I pray you,” said he, “tell them not where I am, but when my lord King Arthur asketh for me, advise him thus—­that he proclaim a tournament before this castle on Assumption Day, and that the knight who proveth best shall win yourself and all your lands.”  So the Lady Lyones departed and came to King Arthur’s court, and there was right nobly welcomed.  And when they asked her where Sir Gareth was, she said she could not tell.  “But, lord,” said she, “with thy goodwill I will proclaim a tournament before my castle on the Feast of the Assumption, whereof the prize shall be myself and all my lands.  Then if it be proclaimed that you, lord, and your knights will be there, I will find knights on my side to fight you and yours, and thus am I sure ye will hear tidings of Sir Gareth.”  “Be it so done,” replied the king.