senteth to the King his son and the head of the Giant.

"Certes," said he, "might I have presented him to you on live, much
more joyful should I have been thereof."

"This believe I well," saith the King, "Howbeit, of so much as you have
done am I well pleased, and your guerdon shall you have."

And he looketh at his son and lamenteth him right sweetly, and all they
of the castle after him. Thereafter he maketh light a great show of
torches in the midst of the city, and causeth a great fire to be made,
and his son be set thereon in a brazen vessel all full of water, and
maketh him be cooked and sodden over this fire, and maketh the Giant's
head be hanged at the gate.

VII.

When his son was well cooked, he maketh him be cut up as small as he
may, and biddeth send for all the high men of his land and giveth
thereof to each so long as there was any left. After that he maketh
bring the sword and giveth it to Messire Gawain, and Messire Gawain
thanketh him much thereof.

"More yet will I do for you," saith the King. He biddeth send for all
the men of his land to come to his hall and castle.

"Sir," saith he, "I am fain to baptize me."

"God be praised thereof," saith Messire Gawain. The King biddeth send
for a hermit of the forest, and maketh himself be baptized, and he had
the name of Archis in right baptism; and of all them that were not
willing to believe in God, he commanded Messire Gawain that he should
cut off their heads.

VIII.

In such wise was this King baptized that was the lord of Albanie, by
the miracle of God and the knighthood of Messire Gawain, that departeth
from the castle with right great joy and rideth until he has come into
the land of the King of Wales and bethought him he would go fulfil his
pledge. He alighted before the hall, and the King made right great
cheer when he saw him come. And Messire Gawain hath told him: "I come
to redeem my pledge. Behold, here is the sword."

And the King taketh it in his hand and looketh thereon right fainly,
and afterward maketh great joy thereof and setteth it in his treasury
and saith: "Now have I done my desire."

"Sir," saith Messire Gawain, "Then have you betrayed me."

"By my head," saith the King, "That have I not, for I am of the lineage
of him that beheaded S. John, wherefore have I better right to it than
you."

"Sir," say the knights to the King, "Right loyal and courteous knight
is Messire Gawain, wherefore yield him that which