pon his back, and asked him what cheer. Well, said Sir
Belliance. Ah, Sir, yet shall I show you favour in your mal-ease. Ah,
Knight Sir Belliance, said Sir Lamorak, thou art a fool, for an I had
had thee at such advantage as thou hast done me, I should slay thee; but
thy gentleness is so good and so large, that I must needs forgive thee
mine evil will. And then Sir Lamorak kneeled down, and unlaced first his
umberere, and then his own, and then either kissed other with weeping
tears. Then Sir Lamorak led Sir Belliance to an abbey fast by, and there
Sir Lamorak would not depart from Belliance till he was whole. And then
they sware together that none of them should never fight against other.
So Sir Lamorak departed and went to the court of King Arthur.

Here leave we of Sir Lamorak and of Sir Tristram. And here beginneth the
history of La Cote Male Taile.

BOOK IX.

CHAPTER I. 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 over-thwartly, 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 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, he answered, I had a father, a noble knight, and as he
rode a-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 asleep he all to-hew 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 of 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, Si