Beaumains

Also known as: Sir Beaumains · Family: Arthur's knights · Role: young man · First appears: Book VII, Chapter I

At the feast at Kynke Kenadonne in Book VII, Beaumains came before King Arthur seeking three gifts, beginning with enough meat and drink for a year. King Arthur granted this and charged Sir Kay to maintain him, but Sir Kay named him Beaumains, “that is Fair-hands,” and put him among the kitchen boys. Beaumains endured the year meekly and mildly, while Sir Gawaine and Sir Launcelot offered him lodging, food, drink, gold, and clothes; neither knew that Sir Gawaine was his near kinsman. At the year’s end, King Arthur granted him the damosel’s adventure and agreed that Sir Launcelot should make him knight, for Beaumains would accept knighthood from none other.

With horse and armour, Beaumains left the court and rode after the damosel. He defeated Sir Kay, then fought Sir Launcelot to an even stand, and slew two knights and the Knight of the Black Laund. The Green Knight challenged him for the death of his brother Sir Perard, but after Beaumains overcame him, he spared him at the damosel’s request; the Green Knight then did homage, guarded him from treason, and pledged thirty knights to his service. Beaumains continued through the Pass Perilous, defeated the Red Knight, and accepted his homage and promise of service to King Arthur. He then overcame Sir Persant, who recognized him as the victor over his brothers Sir Percard, Pertolepe, and Sir Perimones, and granted him homage, fealty, and a hundred knights. Later, Sir Launcelot made him knight and his identity as the king’s son of Orkney was revealed.

At the siege of the castle, Beaumains challenged the Knight of the Red Launds and declared his love for Dame Lionesse, vowing, “I love her, and will rescue her, or else to die.” He defeated the Red Knight of the Red Launds, spared him on condition that he seek Dame Lionesse’s forgiveness and make amends, and received his homage and fealty. Dame Lionesse withheld her full love until Beaumains was counted among worthy knights, but promised to remain true to him and love no other; she also sent Gringamore to take his dwarf and learn his kindred and name. Beaumains later slew Sir Gherard le Breusse and Sir Arnold at the water of Mortaise, and killed Sir Percard in a spear encounter.