Chapter Chapter 27 · How tidings came to Arthur that King Rience had overcome

. How tidings came to Arthur that King Rience had overcome

eleven kings, and how he desired Arthur’s beard to trim his mantle.

This meanwhile came a messenger from King Rience of North Wales, and

king he was of all Ireland, and of many isles. And this was his

message, greeting well King Arthur in this manner wise, saying that

King Rience had discomfited and overcome eleven kings, and everych of

them did him homage, and that was this, they gave him their beards

clean flayed off, as much as there was; wherefore the messenger came

for King Arthur’s beard. For King Rience had purfled a mantle with

kings’ beards, and there lacked one place of the mantle; wherefore he

sent for his beard, or else he would enter into his lands, and burn and

slay, and never leave till he have the head and the beard. Well, said

Arthur, thou hast said thy message, the which is the most villainous

and lewdest message that ever man heard sent unto a king; also thou

mayest see my beard is full young yet to make a purfle of it. But tell

thou thy king this: I owe him none homage, nor none of mine elders; but

or it be long to, he shall do me homage on both his knees, or else he

shall lose his head, by the faith of my body, for this is the most

shamefulest message that ever I heard speak of. I have espied thy king

met never yet with worshipful man, but tell him, I will have his head

without he do me homage. Then the messenger departed.

Now is there any here, said Arthur, that knoweth King Rience? Then

answered a knight that hight Naram, Sir, I know the king well; he is a

passing good man of his body, as few be living, and a passing proud

man, and Sir, doubt ye not he will make war on you with a mighty

puissance. Well, said Arthur, I shall ordain for him in short time.